Mia?
Mia! Mia, come back!
Mia? Mia, come back!
Come back!
Mummy!
Synthetic female voice: Atmospheric dome disturbances
within normal range.
Synthetic voice: This morning, you swam 1409 meters
- at a stroke rate of... - What's wrong with your voice?
Synthetic voice: Aaryan changed it.
Oh.
Synthetic voice: Do you like it?
I can live with it.
Synthetic voice: Suggested Senoxidine dosage, one tab.
Synthetic voice: Atmospheric pressure
within the dome, one ATM.
Radioactivity levels, within safe range.
Reduce coefficient 2.04 to 2.019.
Why is your texture so fuzzy?
Why does Sjøhus sound like your mother?
Are you serious? I'm changing it back.
I'm teasing. I like it.
Why don't we have something nice tonight?
I cultivated a new algae. Maybe you can use it?
Sounds good.
Sjøhus, how's pressure in feed pipe four?
Sjøhus: Lower than usual. Shall I run diagnostics?
No, that's all right.
Sjøhus: Pressure back to usual levels.
Hello.
You're not feeling too good?
I don't think I'm gonna get much sleep.
Me either.
You want to go to bed anyway?
Hmm.
Is that too much?
No, that's great.
- Mm. - Yeah. It's really much better.
Mm-hmm.
What if we're not good enough?
If we're not, who is?
It just makes me nervous. It's all so secretive.
We'll be fine.
- Hey. - Hmm.
I love you.
That's right.
Mia!
Sjøhus: It's 6:00 a.m.
Sjøhus: Your visitor has arrived.
Are you ready? Okay.
I'm Virginia. Your Assessor.
Your supporting material,
as previously reported,
places you in the top 0.1 percentile of citizens.
I'm therefore happy to confirm that under Article 96,
you qualify for in-person Assessment.
- Over the next seven days... - Can I just ask someth...
There's a lot to get through.
Sorry, I just...
Over the next seven days,
you'll undergo close observation and formal testing
to ascertain suitability for parenting.
In the event of a pass, your material
will be passed on for ex-utero gestation.
All other methods of reproduction
still remain forbidden.
In the event of a fail,
candidates will be notified immediately.
Candidates have the right to withdraw from Assessment
at any point up to and including the in-person questionnaire.
After which they waive any and all right
to future applications.
Assessor's decision is final. Clear?
- Yes. - Absolutely.
Finally, you are reminded:
Everything that takes place over the next seven days
is highly confidential.
And what are we being assessed on exactly?
It's just a little... opaque.
Opaque?
Not opaque... I just mean, not clear.
- That is what opaque means. - What Mia's trying to say is...
We couldn't find any specific criteria,
that's what I'm trying to say.
The less you know in advance, the better.
I want to get to know the real you.
- Is that a good idea? - Yes.
I was joking.
Hmm.
Good. Humor is important.
I'm sure that everyone says this...
but I...
We would be really great parents.
Everyone does say that.
So, who's first?
On a scale of one to ten,
how would you rate your current levels
of satisfaction with the relationship?
Nine, at least.
Describe Mia with three words.
Funny. Smart.
Sharp. She can be a little sharp.
But I like that. Keeps me on my toes.
We were in a lab
and he was absorbed in some code.
And I don't know why I took this moment to tell him,
but I said "I love you", it just popped out and he said,
"That's right."
How often do you have sex?
- Once or twice a week. - How are we defining sex?
Oral, manual, anal or full.
Do you achieve regular climax?
Yes.
Every time?
Would you like some water?
Is that part of the test?
- No, just water. - I'm fine. Thank you.
Tell me about your mother.
She expected a lot from me, but...
it was good.
She was sent to the Old World
when my sister and I were little,
so I only have a few memories.
- She was a dissident? - Yes.
Do you have any differences with the State?
No. Does it not say this in my file?
Why do you want a child?
We know how lucky we are. We feel...
We feel fulfilled...
...professionally and personally and want to share that.
Every child deserves the best possible start.
That sounds a little prepared.
It's our duty to help nurture
the future of this society.
It's a big thing, so, yes, we're prepared.
I want to give a child what I never had.
And what was that?
A sense of belonging.
You don't feel you belong?
Now, yeah. No, I meant as a child.
Everything's as per the instructions.
We thought that we could use this...
Not that we're presuming, but we...
Do you hear that?
Loose springs.
But there's no springs in that mattress.
Do you have somewhere else?
Yes, but there's actually no springs...
You take our room. We'll sleep in here.
Don't go to any trouble.
- It's no trouble. - Yeah, yeah.
It's no trouble at all.
Better.
I call it Aaryan's thinking cave.
Sjøhus, open Cooper slate.
I'm working on the cat's texture.
This is all virtually generated.
This is where you designed the virtual pets?
Not the prototypes, they were at the university,
but, yes, the second generation.
It's funny, I was in this seat right here when it struck me...
And what about you?
Do you have a work space?
Yes. Sure.
The airflow system allows
different micro-climates to coexist,
that's what allows for the variety.
It's very, er...
- colorful. - Colorful?
This is a template
for sustainable food production everywhere,
- it's a laboratory. - Colorful's right.
Nature wants to be noticed, but she's deceptive.
Underneath her beautiful façade, she provides energy and shelter.
And this greenhouse alone
contains over 1000 different species
- of plants and algae able to... - What's this one?
Oh... paphiopedilum.
It's also known as the Venus Orchid.
It's the oldest of its kind. Some live to be 100.
My mother gave it to me.
It's the only thing I have of hers.
Your mother?
Sorry, can you be careful?
- Sorry, she's sensitive.
I'll need full access to all areas.
- But you don't mean... - Full access.
It's already done. I programmed Sjøhus
to recognize your voice. Sjøhus?
Sjøhus: Welcome, Virginia.
I'll also need samples of urine, saliva,
blood, hair, vaginal mucus and semen.
I thought we already gave these.
You'd be surprised how many people cheat.
It'll do.
Mia synthesizes all the nutrients herself.
We can produce crops all year round
without depleting the soil.
May I? A little wine?
She's found a way of harnessing the soil microbials into energy
that powers all our work.
How did you get your scar?
The pet cull hadn't happened long before
and some people thought I was somehow responsible, so...
some activists decided to intervene.
Which is insane because Aaryan developed
virtual pets as a solution to the cull,
he wasn't responsible for it.
The pet cull was part of the disease prevention
and resource conservation program.
The problem was the State underestimated
the psychological importance of companionship
when they exterminated all the pets.
Especially during a time of upheaval, so...
I was tasked with creating an alternative. I did.
Just, not everybody saw it that way.
These people firebombed the university research lab
that Aaryan was working in.
I... I jumped out of a third floor window.
Broke my shoulder, my collar bone,
three vertebrae and these burn scars.
That must've been terrifying.
He's still traumatized by fire.
What happened to the people responsible?
They were sent to the Old World.
They got what they deserved.
Your mother was sent to the Old World.
Did she get what she deserved?
All that stuff about my mother.
She's just pushing buttons, okay?
It's obviously how it works.
We just need to stay cool, not react.
She likes you.
You jealous?
Yeah, embarrassingly so. I am.
Maybe I can make you not jealous.
Light, Sjøhus.
Being in a single bed
makes me feel like a teenager again.
Pervert.
Get on your back.
Ow! You just kneed me in the balls.
Sorry, do you want to complain,
or do you want your cock in my mouth?
- What was the first option? - Yeah.
You gonna fold those?
Don't make me laugh. I'm being very, very serious right now.
Okay.
Oh. Oh, fuck! Virginia! Virginia!
Oh, my God.
I need to assess all aspects of your relationship.
It's fine.
Seriously?
Just imagine I'm not here.
What? No.
- Aaryan? - Yeah?
I... Fuck.
Oh, hey.
Erm, these all came. Do you know what they are?
You sleep okay?
You gonna eat?
Mm.
Why don't you try? Yeah? You wanna try?
Yeah, that's, that's... That's really good.
It's really yummy. Whoa! What the f...
- You shouted at me. - I did not. I did not...
- You did, you shouted. - It was not. No, I...
- I raised my voice. - Did.
It's just not the same thing.
- Did. - No, I didn't.
- Did! - It was a little loud.
- Did! - Ha! No, it was not!
- Did. Did. Did. Did. - Okay, Virginia.
That's very cute, very charming.
- Did. - Okay.
- Did. Did. Did. - Virginia.
Virginia, could you stop?
- Virginia, please stop. - Did.
- Virginia. - Did.
- Virginia. - Yeah.
- Virginia. - Did! Did! Did!
Virginia!
Okay, that was... that was a shout, yeah?
Why don't we start again, hmm?
Hey! Why don't we try a game?
It's a train.
Oh, it's a bullet train.
Oh, it's going really fast. Oh, is it gonna crash?
Oh... Or it could go in the tunnel.
You don't want it to crash now. Come on.
Come on.
Pew! There it is!
All right.
- Spoon. - Spoon?
You wanna feed yourself? Okay, all right.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mm.
All right.
Sorry. It's kind of funny.
- Ooh...
- Ow, fuck. - Fuck.
- Oh, my God. - Are you okay?
I got shit in my eye.
- Yeah. - Oh, that's not good.
- Shit. - Shit!
Oh, it hurts.
- Fuck, I can't see. - Fuck!
- What? - Fuck! Shit!
It's fine. I just can't see.
What do you mean you can't see?
- Aaryan, are you okay? - Fuck!
Fuck. Shit. Shit. Fuck. Fuck.
Is it better?
I can see now. It just hurts like hell.
Sorry.
Wanna get some drops?
- Yeah. - Sorry.
One. Okay, a second.
Yeah, okay.
Let me get this out of your face.
Shit! Fuck!
Hey, can I see it? Lemme see.
Oh, my God.
- It's really red. - Ow.
Do you think this is normal?
I mean, it has to be, right?
Why don't we just... Let's set some rules.
Because children respond to boundaries, right?
- Yeah. - Yeah?
Okay.
Okay. We're gonna...
I'm gonna apologize.
- So just let me... - Yeah.
- Can you let me... - Yeah, okay, okay.
Hey, Virginia, sweetie...
We...
You gotta be kidding me.
She's having fun with us. We can clear this up.
It's everywhere.
Oh, my God.
Virginia!
- Okay. - Can you?
- Okay. - Virginia!
Virginia! You're not serious.
- Virginia! - Virginia!
Oh, shit. No, no, no, no.
This is crazy.
Stop!
This is not a toy!
End of test.
Are you sure that we can't get you any dessert or a drink?
Please, treat me normally.
No airs or graces. Oh...
Sjøhus: A delivery.
Sjøhus: A delivery has arrived.
- Can you? - Yeah.
- It's really heavy. - Okay.
- There. - Okay.
This could be your child's.
If you pass, of course.
You have until morning.
Okay. There's eight different types of those?
- Yeah. - So...
Do we know which one's which, or just...
No, I don't know yet, but we will figure it out.
Well, if we check the...
Does this say which orange piece
we're supposed to use for the bottom with the greens?
The grey pieces are the pieces
- that actually link it. - These connect...
They're the connectors.
...the orange.
No. The orange pieces just sit on top.
They're not doing any connecting.
- You use it to... - My God.
The grey bit connects the pipes.
- Okay. Okay! Put the grey. - That's it.
Then use them on top. Put that on top.
And then you just put that on top.
Well, you know the instructions
don't necessarily have to tell us the right thing.
You don't necessarily think
the instructions have to say the right thing?
Yes, that's what I said.
Okay.
Okay, wait.
Now, after this, I'm gonna need that wrench.
- Is it nearby? - The wrench?
- The little tool? Shit. - Okay, it's over there.
Gimme a second. Oh, my finger. Shit.
Okay, wait, wait...
- Yeah. Sorry. Got it. - I'll loose the head.
- Yeah, got it. I got it. - Okay. Wait.
Yeah. Oh, my God.
- I can't... - You are my savior.
Okay, okay.
But that's...
We've got that, so if you want that...
Mm-mm.
"Warning: For safety purposes, all parts must be used."
What are we gonna do with it?
I like it. You've done well.
Thank you. It was a team effort.
Would you get my bag?
I slept terribly.
Yeah.
Sjøhus, open Hawkeye slate.
One over 9.172 constant.
Rotate 0.3 to 0.41.
Maintain vert...
- Hi. - Hi.
Are you "you" now or...
It's always me.
Hmm.
When I was younger,
I had the stupidest looking cocker-poodle.
When it was time to hand over the pets for the cull,
the idea of him dying in a room
with some stranger was too much, so...
I got hold of some pentobarbital and I did it myself.
I remember him looking at me with...
his big, trusting eyes.
I cried for days.
A grown woman, can you believe it?
Did you ever get a virtual pet?
I know some people found it a comfort,
but I couldn't bear the thought of not touching him.
I mean, they were there to be held, not admired.
- Go ahead. - What?
Go ahead.
How do you do that?
Magic. Science.
He feels all funny.
It's the fur. I can make it solid,
but I can't get the texture right.
Same with skin, it's even harder...
I'm bored.
You wanna play a game?
- Sjøhus, lights!
We were playing tigers.
Sure.
- So is your back okay now? - Yeah, it's fine.
Okay.
Here. Here. Come on.
- Wait. You're so quick. - Wait.
Be careful now. Oh, nice.
Er... one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Hello?
Daddy?
- Okay. Okay, yeah... - You go.
All right. One,
two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Virginia?
♪ Virginia? ♪
♪ Where are you? ♪
♪ Virginia? ♪
I got you!
Where's Mummy?
I thought you were looking for me.
I thought you were hiding.
- I was hiding. - Okay.
Okay. Hey! Let's build a fort!
All right, nice.
Here?
Daddy, can I make another one over there?
Sure.
It's "Daddy?"
Don't let her get to you.
Are we doing the right thing?
Of course.
What if I can't do this?
What if I'm not cut out for it?
- You're not your mother. - What if I am, though?
She left you.
You would never do that.
Where's Virginia?
She can't have gone far.
Virginia?
Virginia!
- Virginia! - Virginia!
Virginia!
- What are those? - Where?
There!
Are those her shoes?
Oh, God! Oh...
Check there! Over there!
Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
- Can you breathe?
Are you okay?
- I've got you. - Get off me.
Get off!
No! No!
- Get off. - I got you.
- What were you doing? - I was being a starfish.
I thought you were dead.
I said I was being a starfish, you idiot.
Oh, great.
So next time, I'll just let you drown then, huh?
- Nice. - Virginia, I didn't...
Virginia.
You cannot behave like this if you want a child.
I want a real child, Aaryan.
Not... this.
This is how we get a real child!
Daddy?
Carry.
One, two, three.
You're indulging her.
All right. Off we go.
Oh.
Sjøhus: Unexpected atmospheric pressure change within the dome.
Imminent rainfall.
Faster, Daddy. Come on, faster!
Why do you stop?
I can't. My back. I can't.
Here. Get on my back.
- Just give me a minute, okay? - Come on, I'll carry you.
I don't want you. I want Daddy.
Well, I'm all you've got.
I want Daddy.
This is silly.
All that is happening right now is you're getting cold and wet.
It doesn't mean you hate me any less if you come inside,
but at least you'll be warm.
All right?
- Arms up. Arms up. Okay, okay.
Okay, okay.
Okay, okay. Almost there.
There you go, come on.
Mm.
Me. Me.
- It's okay. That's okay. - Not the eyes.
I won't get the eyes. I'll try.
There you go.
Let's take it all off.
- Done! - Done? Okay. Done.
I got you. Here you go.
My mother used to do this for me.
- What was she like? - She was beautiful.
Fearless. And infuriating.
I wanted to be her.
You have beautiful hair.
Can I wear some of your clothes?
- Yeah. Sure. Yeah. - Yeah?
Sjøhus: A delivery has arrived.
Mia!
In here.
It's a...
a dinner invite for tonight.
Someplace nice, I hope.
Er... It's here. We're the hosts.
What are you talking about?
Sjøhus: Your first guests have arrived.
- Hi. - Hi. Come on in.
Hello.
- Hey. - Hi, Aaryan.
Hi. Hi. Er, Mia, this is Serena.
Oh. Yeah, the Serena. Hi, um...
I've heard a lot of great things. I'm Mia.
- It's really nice to meet you. - Likewise.
- This is Holly and Amelia. - Holly, hi. And Amelia?
It is... it's really such a pleasure to meet you.
Are we going in?
Sorry. Kids... Amelia!
I'm gonna go make sure that everyone...
- Sure. - Okay.
Can I get you something to drink?
- We have wine, juice. - Thanks. Amelia...
How's Assessment going so far?
It's a fucking nightmare.
We thought we were a disaster
and then we got Amelia.
You'll be fine.
Serena, you have to come see this.
I should...
Sjøhus: More guests have arrived.
Hi. I'm Aaryan.
I'm Walter. And this is...
Oh, don't bother with all that. We shan't meet again.
They always stare.
They haven't seen a child in a while.
- You seen that girl? - Stealing our oxygen.
There's never anyone to play with.
- Welcome! - Oh, Jesus!
This is Virginia, our Assessor.
Mia. It's been too long.
Any chance of a drink over here?
- How do you two... - I was Walter's lab assistant.
- Oh, that makes sense. - Mia was the most
brilliant and dedicated assistant I ever had.
- High Praise. - Regrettably,
she abandoned me for a more exciting scientist.
Don't stare, sweetie.
I wanted to pursue my own work.
I still bear the scars from your departure.
Scratches, darling. All down your back, if I recall.
- Can I get anyone anything? - Is there alcohol in this?
- Yes, a bit, is that all right? - No.
I'm gonna need something stronger.
So, um, about Walter...
It's okay. You don't have to explain.
When I was his student, we had an affair
that I think Evie knows about.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure she knows about it.
It was completely inappropriate and he probably exploited me,
but, you know, he was actually a pretty good professor.
- Look at me, I'm shaking. - Mia...
These people are here to throw us off.
That's the game.
- We just have to stay calm. - Okay.
Can't believe I have to endure this.
So, Amelia, do you go to school?
- Amelia self-educates. - No schools in our district.
It's better, though. You get to follow your own interests.
- Amelia's an artist. - Oh!
Abstracts, mainly.
I would love to see your work some time.
Do you show your art at any exhibitions?
Not really. But I want to.
Virginia?
- Virginia. That's okay. - Virginia, could you...
Is she okay?
- I'm sure she's fine. - Oh, God.
- Okay, sweetie. - She doesn't look fine.
Sjøhus: Aaryan...
your mother has arrived.
Don't start. First thing I knew about this...
- What the hell is that? - Mom.
No, you stop calling me that.
You're not a child, anymore. It's Ambika, not Mom.
You know, I was having a perfectly nice time
in the gym when I got the call.
But as we all know, an invitation from the State
isn't really an invitation at all.
Okay. Can you just promise me one thing?
Don't say anything stupid or embarrassing?
You're so like your father.
Oh, Ambika, hi! How was your trip?
Nice to see you too, Mom.
- How's work, Ambika? - I'm not allowed to say.
Why? Is it very secret?
Ah, no.
Aaryan asked me not to talk in case I embarrass him.
I was joking.
I'm sure he was just teasing.
Virginia, stop it!
I design the modular estates.
- Virginia! - I hear they're fantastic.
How old is she supposed to be?
- Okay, I'm gonna clear plates. - I'll help.
Thank you.
Are we pretending this is okay?
Assessment is everybody's right, whether we agree with it or not.
- It's an indulgence. - How?
'Cause we don't have the resources.
That's for the state to decide, not you.
They reengineered Senoxidine to prevent reproduction,
- as well as aging and disease. - What about you, Holly?
She's sliding under the table.
What keeps you occupied?
Holly monitors border activity.
- That's fascinating. - What is?
Holly works by the border.
Honestly, I'm nowhere near. I just see the reports.
What's to report? I thought they were just dying.
Well, there are indications
that limited tracts of land may be survivable.
- Are you serious? - How long are they surviving?
The data's limited.
How long do people think?
- Years. - We don't know for sure.
So, they're reproducing?
Once the Senoxidine wears off, in theory.
I mean that's what we're trying to find out.
How would they have babies without the Assessment?
- From their own wombs. - Like in the Dark Ages.
You mean it's not forbidden there?
Virginia, I'm asking nicely... Come back to me.
- Think of the pain. - Yeah.
They must live such short and unhappy lives.
I'm really not supposed to talk about any of this.
We should be reducing the population, not increasing it.
I'm not sure this is the occasion
to talk about population control.
This is the exact occasion
to talk about population control!
- Okay, Virginia...
- Oh, shit. - Control that brat.
It was not like this in my day.
Sorry about this.
It's okay. It's okay, I'm not mad.
I'd like to propose a toast.
A toast!
To Mia.
And Aaryan. The future.
- Oh, my God! - all: The future!
Second time lucky, then?
Sorry, what do you mean second time?
Well, you must know that Aaryan and Serena applied?
- Oh... - Obviously, it didn't work out.
I guess things just got interesting.
- She didn't know that? - No, I didn't know.
We didn't get far at all.
I pulled out before the end of the questionnaire.
So Aaryan wanted to continue?
It didn't mean anything. I don't mean...
It's fine. He's right. It didn't mean anything. It was a mistake.
- I'm gonna make space. - Mia, this...
Oh, wow. Yeah, the future!
- The future! - Hooray.
- Ah, Jesus. - Well done, Ambika.
I didn't want to upset you.
Can we talk about this later?
Mia?
If you're concerned about resources,
stop taking Senoxidine.
- Good idea. - Great idea.
Let's grow old and die.
Why not throw ourselves into the abyss?
But maybe finish dessert first.
Hands up. Who wants to die to make room for the new people?
- Yeah. - Oh, come on.
- What about madam over there? - Me?
Why not? Last one in, first out.
God, you're a witch!
I think you'll find the witches are in the Old World
along with the other enemies of progress.
Enough! Mia's mother was sent to the Old World.
Oh, I know. I know exactly what happened to her.
She was exiled for spreading lies and misinformation.
She deserved exactly what she had coming...
Hey!
- Don't talk to her like that. - Oh, spare me your outrage.
You're all too young to remember the border, aren't you?
You were alive before the border?
How old are you?
I'm 153.
- What was it like? - You don't want to know.
You really do not want to know.
I do.
Virginia, will you sit down please?
- Oh, God, what now? - I wanna know.
It's okay. Stay there, Amelia.
Oh, well...
- Virginia! - I can tell you from...
- Oh, God. Ow. - Don't worry, it's fine.
- You comfortable? Right. - Hm.
In the beginning, all anyone could talk about
was how nice it was to finally have decent summers.
And then the summers never stopped.
Unbearable heat, endless storms...
No crops, no shelter. Nothing habitable.
Famine. Disease.
Countless species extinct.
Did you know we tore each other apart over scraps?
We'd finally done it. Destroyed ourselves.
All for greed and indifference.
And then one day, those of us who were left,
we found a solution.
A new world.
We had to be smarter than we were before,
because there wasn't room for everyone.
Choices had to be made.
It wasn't kind or nice,
but it was necessary for survival.
You think because we're able to drink wine and...
grow crops in greenhouses, and breed brats in bags,
you've somehow conquered nature.
You're wrong. It's borrowed.
And anything you take from nature...
sooner or later, she'll want it back.
So, forgive me if I don't smile politely
and go along with this whole fucking charade,
while you risk everything we have
just to scratch some vain and vestigial itch.
Fucking hubris will be the death of us.
All of us. I want no part of that.
There we are. That's the story. Was it fun?
- Oh, my God. Get off! - What happened?
- Get off me! - Hey...
She pissed all over me, the fucking little bitch!
- Oh, my God. - Here. Take this.
I'm sure you'll feel just awful.
Oh, my Gosh.
Can I get something to clean up?
Well, at least we know it runs in the family.
- Evie, please. - What does?
Being a bad fucking mother.
Mia!
Is Assessment always like this?
Oh, my God.
- Fucking barbarians! - Hey...
It's late. It's time for bed.
Evie was mean to me.
Thank you, Mummy.
Hm.
Hm, no, I...
I...
Aren't you a silly?
I didn't realize I had to tell you every detail
about my life before we met.
Assessment's not a detail.
Mia, it didn't mean anything, okay?
Serena said it herself, it meant nothing.
- It is not nothing. - Okay, maybe it's not nothing.
But it's not as big a deal as you...
Stop! Stop. Stop. Stop. Everything we went through.
The check-ups, the protocols, the application,
just imagining the life that we would have, and...
you never thought to mention that you did that with her, too.
Yeah, I'm sorry. I should've told you.
This can't just be another thing for you to be good at, Aaryan.
You need to want this with me.
- I guess I was scared. - Of what?
That you'd think I wasn't good enough
to raise a child with.
That if you knew Serena
felt I wasn't good enough, you'd feel the same.
What are you talking about?
I love you.
I want to have a child with you.
I thought that was obvious.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
This is really fucking hard.
Just two more days with her, then she's gone.
Virginia?
I think you're having a bad dream, okay?
I think you need to go back to bed.
Yeah.
No, Virginia. Your own bed. Not here.
That's okay. It's okay. Just let her sleep here.
7.19 reinstate.
7.06 comma maintain.
How do you think Aaryan's coping?
I'd say that we're both doing very well.
Sjøhus: Mia, incoming call from State Hospital West.
The doctor said that she had an embolism
and lost her speech and sound.
For good?
They don't know, they're running tests
They just said to get there as soon as I could.
Did you tell them you got Assessment?
What? No.
- Do you think you should? - Why?
I just don't know if it's okay for you to go.
She's my sister.
But Mia, you hardly ever see her.
I'm the only family she has.
I'm just saying we should check with Virginia.
- Check what? - Jesus!
My sister is in intensive care.
So I just need to make sure that she's okay.
- You have to see her? - Yes.
- Well then you must. - Thank you.
Will it affect Assessment?
Assessment will be terminated, yes.
There must be exemptions for an emergency.
Parents are exempt from emergencies?
- Aaryan is here. - I'll be fine.
You're assessed jointly, not as individuals.
- I have to see her. - This is a choice.
Parenthood is full of them.
You are assessing on whether we are fit to bring up a child.
This is expressly against regulations.
What kind of a person would I be if I didn't go?
This is a demonstration of my commitment to family.
You have until 6:00 a.m.
Not a moment later.
- Sjøhus, two degrees cooler. - Sjøhus: Temperature adjusted.
Were you having a nightmare? Did you dream about the fire?
In mine, I was drowning.
I don't think this is a good idea.
Hold me. Hold me. I'm scared.
Is this you now or...
- What's your hand doing there? - Nothing. Hey.
- How does it feel? - Okay, no, stop.
- Squeeze it. - What?
Squeeze it. Harder.
Harder.
Am I being assessed on this?
Okay. Oh, no, no, no. I can't. I can't.
- It appears that you can. - It's an involuntary reaction.
So's this.
No, stop.
Faster or slower?
No, no, no, no. Stop, stop. I can't do this to Mia.
All elements of Assessment
are subject to the discretion of the individual Assessor.
What do you mean? You're saying Mia wouldn't know?
Don't move.
No, no, no, stop. I can't...
I'm giving you a rare opportunity.
You're saying I have to do this?
- I think I make myself clear. - No.
You're a magician, Aaryan.
One of the architects of our time.
A prodigy.
You've built things no other man could.
And now you're a prisoner
of your own success, a captive of your talent.
No one can touch your achievements.
You're a genius.
- How was your sister? - It was a false alarm.
There was a... mix-up, someone with the same name.
I must've gone to every department
before they figured it out. It was very frustrating,
but, you know, a relief.
Caffeine. Triple shot.
Well, I'm glad your sister's okay.
- Thank you. - Me too, Mummy.
Can you keep an eye on Virginia? I'm gonna go for a swim.
- Can we talk? - No, I need to clear my head.
Then we can talk.
Wanna go play outside?
I just need to finish this thought.
Then we can go and play outside.
Okay.
Mummy! Mummy!
Sjøhus, open Hawkeye slate.
Okay, er... 2.9, reinstate profile 368.
Sjøhus, disable protocols.
Rescale 419 to 412.
♪ Once upon a time ♪
♪ There was a pretty fly ♪
♪ Then one day she flew away ♪
♪ She flew away ♪
Maintain all other variables and reduce 4.19 to 4.12.
Maintain density.
♪ Once upon a time ♪
♪ There was a pretty fly ♪
♪ She had a pretty life ♪
♪ This pretty fly ♪
♪ But one day she flew away ♪
♪ Flew away ♪
♪ And she had ♪
♪ This one pretty child ♪
♪ But one day ♪
♪ This...♪
♪ This pretty child ♪
♪ Flew away ♪
♪ Into the sky ♪
♪ Into the sea ♪
Mummy!
Daddy!
Mummy!
Mummy.
♪ Then one day she flew away ♪
♪ Flew away ♪
Aaryan!
Sjøhus: Emergency in greenhouse.
Virginia!
Virginia! Virginia!
Shit. [grunts] Sjøhus, open!
Sjøhus, open!
- Mia, get away! - Aaryan, Virginia's inside.
Aaryan, please.
Please.
Aaryan!
Come on. Come on!
Come on!
- Aaryan! - I am trying!
I can't fucking move!
I can't move.
Mia!
Come on. Okay.
Come on!
Okay. Okay. One, two!
Yeah, yeah, it's okay.
- Mia! - Aaryan. Aaryan, I can't.
Hey.
Virginia, please eat.
Come on.
- Virginia. - Just let her go.
You could've died.
Yeah. What about her?
I tried. I couldn't because of the fire.
Yeah, I know.
Do you?
I'm gonna be right back.
Mia...
You know all my work was in that greenhouse.
My orchid...
my entire life.
Do you have any idea how long it takes
to build something like that?
'Cause it doesn't just happen.
Are you listening?
Do you care? I...
Do you even know what you're doing anymore?
Assessment is a rigorous process
with a high threshold for success.
You've marked yourselves out as serious
and impressive candidates,
demonstrating high levels of competency.
So, it's therefore with...
regret that I must inform you
that your application has not been successful.
You can't do that.
We've done everything you asked.
- My decision is final. - No.
We did everything you asked.
I did everything.
Everything!
You can't fail me 'cause of that.
You told me I had to do it to pass Assessment!
I never said that.
You fucked her?
I did it for us.
- You fucked our child. - She's not our child.
Of course she is, that's the entire point.
She was not our child when she fucked me!
You said if Assessment was over, you'd let us know.
Why didn't you fail us at the time?
You can't do this. It's not right.
- Step aside. - Why did you not do that?
You can't do this, okay? It's not right.
- Please. - No, it's not right.
You can't. It's... Do you know the things I've done
for this society? The people I know?
Listen to me. Listen to me!
Fuck!
Hey. Hey.
There's something I want to show you.
Hi.
Oh, my gosh.
Hi. Hi.
Hi.
You okay?
Yes.
I haven't named her yet.
Hey. Hey.
Yes. Yes.
What? What's wrong?
Mia! What is it?
Her smell.
Her smell? What do you mean? I don't...
She... She doesn't smell of anything. She...
- She has no smell. - I'm gonna work on that, okay?
I'm gonna get it right, I promise.
No, I don't want right, I just want human.
So do I, but we can't have that. We tried.
I called in every possible favor.
They all said the same thing. Assessor's decision is final.
These are the rules we live by.
I... I can't do this anymore.
It's the price we pay to drink clean water,
to live, to breathe.
Then why does it feel like I'm suffocating?
We'll go back
to how it was before.
- I need to know why we failed. - Why?
What's the point?
'Cause I have to understand.
How is that going to help us?
Mia.
We love each other.
That's right.
You have five minutes.
It wasn't easy to find you. Grace, right?
They think it helps you keep less involved,
if you use a different name.
Look, if you're here to tell me what a monster I am...
Why did we fail?
Because you...
- ...you tricked Aaryan. - Aaryan made a choice.
You trusted him. Children lie, Mia.
No, we're not these kinds of people.
'Cause people like you couldn't possibly be not good enough.
What does that mean, people like me?
Do you even know how serious
an offense it is you even being here?
I could have you arrested.
I could have you exiled.
I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why we failed.
I've told you why you failed.
You're lying. I know you are.
'Cause I saved your fucking life.
I...
We...
- connected. - It's... It's common,
for candidates to feel a bond with their Assessor,
- it doesn't mean... - Why are you being like this?
What are you afraid of?
That you might actually feel something?
I've had to learn how to not feel.
What I'm...
What I'm trying to do here, Mia, is to help you.
You need to leave.
I actually thought there was a person behind the uniform,
that it couldn't all just be an act,
but there isn't, is there?
- You're a lonely bitter husk. - Yes. I'm a monster.
So it's normal for you to fuck someone's partner?
To nearly die? That's just what you do?
'Cause I have to say it sounds a little unprofessional.
Don't you think people ought to know that this is
- what Assessment is? - Everything that I did
is within the protocols.
But you failed for the same reason
that everyone fails, Mia.
You just weren't good enough.
What do you mean, everyone fails?
That's... That's a turn of phrase. I didn't mean...
How many people passed Assessment this year?
That's confidential information.
What about the last two years?
The last three? The last five? How many?
A 100? Ten? One? What? Do you think we can't find out?
That Aaryan and I don't know who to ask?
Six years.
That's the last time anyone passed.
So...
So, we never had a chance.
Then what is the point of any of it?
Stopping it would be bad for morale.
You could've just failed us. You didn't have to humiliate us.
No, I had to prove you weren't good enough.
What is wrong with you?
- How can you even do this? - Most can't.
Assessors usually burn out
within a few months, they find it too intense.
But if you can do it,
there are rewards.
- And what was yours? - A child.
They're gonna give me a child.
- Okay. - In the future.
If the numbers drop.
And you think that you would be ahead
of people like Aaryan and me?
We've made things for this society.
And what have you done? Just victimized innocent people?
I've done everything that they asked of me!
And I've been spat on.
I've been demeaned, I've been debased.
I've sacrificed every single part of me
that is left to...
to help the society to function,
and you fucking dare to look down on me.
There's no list. You must know that.
Of course, there's a list.
- Why would there be? - Because there has to be!
Because this society needs people
who know what it is...
to love a child.
You have no idea...
what it's like...
to hold...
to hold your child in your arms...
telling her that everything's gonna be okay...
even though she's dying.
That's when you really know what love is.
My daughter is not alive, but she's here, you know?
She's... she's present.
She's a part of me for every single second.
And you can't...
You can't, you can't possibly know
what that's like.
Not the way that I do.
I'm sorry about your daughter.
It's her birthday next week.
She drowned when she was eight.
So stupid.
Is it true what Holly said, that...
that people are surviving?
It's not much of a life.
But yes.
Would you go?
I'm old, Mia.
Without the Senoxidine, I won't last long.
And the Old World is not a nice place to be.
And this is?
Your supporting material places you
in the top 0.1 percentile of citizens.
Over the next seven days,
you will undergo close observation
and formal testing
to ascertain suitability for parenting.
In the event of a pass,
your material will be passed on for ex-utero gestation.
In the event of a fail,
candidates will be notified immediately.
Assessor's decision is final.
Is that clear?
I'm sure everyone says this, but...
we'd make really great parents.
Let me show you the room.
It's got everything you asked for.
Adequate.
I'll... I'll let you unpack.
Do you...
Do you ever keep in touch with the children
as they grow?
No. I don't.
I'll leave you to it.
Sorry, what time did you say you'd...
Border guard 1: Next, please.
Please prepare your belongings and Senoxidine.
Border guard 2: Name, please?
Mia Grey.
Officer 2: Please move along.
Please prepare your belongings and Senoxidine.
Border guard 3: Name, please.
Please prepare your belongings and Senoxidine.
Border guard 4: Next.
Border guard 5: Name, please.
Officer 1: Let's go.
Come on, hey, get up.
Eight, nine, ten.
Ready or not, here I come!
Synthetic voice: Chamber before Old World.
Approaching final chamber before Old World.
- Male guard: Let's go. - Female guard: No talking.
- Male guard: Ready? - Female guard: Stay in line.
Synthetic voice: Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five, four,
three, two, one.