(suspenseful dramatic music)
- [Sarah] No voice sounding.
No touch of human hand.
No face with blooming flesh.
No lips, nor eyes, are
in that land.
I know it not a soul,
nor dost thou.
All is a blank before us.
All waits undreamed of
in that region,
that inaccessible land.
(eerie dramatic music)
- Twitch.
Consent.
Sunset.
Vanilla bean.
Peacock.
Meadow.
Domineer.
Twitch.
Consent.
Sunset.
Vanilla bean.
Peacock.
- [Sarah] Where am
I now?
(elevator door rattles)
- [Henry] And we'll be able to,
uh,
speak with the, uh.
- The deceased? No.
No, not exactly, Mr. Nichols.
We're not reaching into
an astral plane
or into the afterlife here, no.
Our technology at HDTA allows us
to simulate human consciousness.
In this case, your wife's.
- [Henry] Like AI?
- AI is incapable of
giving meaning
to its calculations and
its predictions.
Our simulations operate
using personal experiences
and memories, not,
not algorithms.
- Henry, this is who you
wanted to see.
- I know, I know.
And this, uh, this?
- We call them Whisperers.
- He's good?
- Dr. Caul? Oh yes, he's
our very best.
(eerie dramatic music)
Here he is.
- It's a pleasure to meet you.
- Afternoon.
- Doctor of what exactly?
- Psychology and parapsychology.
- Parapsychology?
You mean like ghosts
and seances?
- Yes. I find that it
compliments my doctorate
in neuroscience quite well.
Should we begin?
- Mm-hmm.
- Mr. Nichols, when I start,
I'll be reciting a series
of primer words.
- What words?
- Words of meaning
are used to primer and guide,
if you will, the simulation.
- Words serve as a sort
of phase-lock.
Meadow, domineer, twitch,
consent,
sunset, vanilla bean, peacock.
- Peacock?
- Mm-hmm.
- These words meant
something to Mrs. Nichols?
- Well, that's really something
that only Mr. Nichols
can speak to.
- These are merely
words that carry
a certain amount of
trackable data.
For us these words will help
us conduct a better interaction
between you and the simulation.
- Our minds create a
flowing stream of thought,
but in a simulation, it's
much more like a torrent.
- They help the
simulation stay focused.
- Precisely. And any
deviation from these words
will negatively impact the
entire process.
Also, you must avoid any
reference to the here and now.
- Here and now?
(sighs) Fellas, I thought I
was just talking to my wife.
- You'll be speaking
to a simulation
of your wife's consciousness.
And it may seem real,
but I assure you
this is not her
spirit or her soul.
It's just a feedback
loop of ones and zeros.
Do you understand?
(soft suspenseful music)
(suspenseful dramatic music)
(eerie dramatic music)
(box warbling)
(box beeping)
(eerie music)
(Rachel rambling faintly)
- [Rachel] Running through,
running on the beach.
Too much sand, Henry hates sand.
I can't stand. It's like he's
strutting around like a peacock.
I mean a f*cking peacock-
- Meadow. Domineer.
- Twitch, consent, sunset,
vanilla bean, peacock.
(static warbles and hisses)
(Rachel rambling faintly)
- Rachel?
- [Rachel] What is
he doing here?
(Rachel speaking indistinctly)
Henry?
- [Henry] It's me, babe.
- [Rachel] Henry, what are
you doing here?
Faithfulness, spineless
heel, sleeping around.
Yeah, that's him all right.
- I just wanted to
hear your voice.
- [Rachel] You can hear
my voice anytime.
- I know. I've missed you.
- [Rachel] Is everything okay?
I can't stand you. I
can't stand you.
- Everything's fine.
- [Rachel] I would leave but I
don't even know were I would go.
- Rachel, there are some things
I didn't get to say to
you before you-
(Rachel speaking indistinctly)
- [Henry] I hope you know
that I love you.
(Rachel speaking indistinctly)
- [Rachel] Sleeping around.
Of course I do.
But Henry, you're
starting to worry me.
- I hope that you know
that if I ever hurt you,
it was never my intention.
- [Rachel] Never my intention
to hurt me but you did...
Henry, I don't know what
this is about.
But can it wait
until I get home?
We can talk then.
- [Henry] Home? You can't,
you're-
(box rattling)
- [Rachel] I'm what?
(static crackling)
I can't feel
my hands. (gasps)
Corpse, death is death!
(box crackling)
Where am I, where am I!
I don't understand what's
happening to me.
Henry? Henry, where am I?
Let me out of here!
- Meadow, domineer, twitch,
consent, sunset, vanilla bean,
peacock.
(intense dramatic music)
- Where is she? Where's my wife?
- Mr. Nichols, your
wife is deceased.
- That was my wife.
- No, as we already told you,
that was nothing more
than a simulation.
Your wife is gone.
- Shut up!
What happens to her now?
- I'm afraid that's classified.
- [Henry] Roger?
- Mr. Nichols, I am sorry
for your loss.
- Go f*ck yourself. You creep.
(Roger sighs)
- A peacock?
- Mr. Nichols bought his
wife a peacock pendant.
An apology gift for the
first time he was caught
being unfaithful.
- You'll be hearing from us.
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(switch clicks)
(device warbles)
(device crackles and whooshes)
(somber music)
(somber music continues)
- Franklin.
- Ellis.
- Got a minute?
- Sure.
- It's beautiful up here.
I'd like to think that all those
twinkling lights down there
are all HTDA devices. (chuckles)
Too much competition for that
to be true though, right?
- I don't like Nichols.
- All right, don't have
to worry about him.
He's taking his deep
pockets elsewhere.
- I'm sorry.
- You more than anyone knows
how important this
Auburn project is.
It could fundamentally
reshape the entire process
of the justice system.
But Franklin, if you
need time off.
- No, no.
I'm fine.
- Okay.
Franklin, the DOJ is
doing psych evals
on all the HTDA senior staff.
It's mandatory.
(ominous music)
(pills rattle)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
- [Becca] I can't believe
you're making me
call the home phone.
Answer your texts, like a
normal person.
Pop, it's coming up on a year.
I know it's hard for you.
It's hard for me too.
Look, text me or just call me
like a psychopath or whatever.
Just talk to me. Don't
make me ambush you.
Love you.
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(intercom buzzes)
(Caul clears throat)
- Yes?
- [Engineer] Dr. Caul,
we're ready for you.
- All right.
- You haven't been involved
in this step for a while,
Dr. Caul.
- [Caul] No, I haven't.
- (clears throat) We
figured this was important
if you were taking part.
(machine softly whirring)
- Okay, I'm gonna start
with Wernicke's area.
(machine whirring)
(machine warbling)
Okay, good.
Now Broca.
(machine whirring and warbling)
(Liam speaking distortedly)
Initiate synaptic
transmission.
- Dr. Caul, how're we
doing today?
- Simulate action potential.
Why are you here?
- Ellis sent me down to observe.
- I'm to be observed?
- The process, observe
the process, not you.
If all goes well, the DOJ
will be taking a deep dive
into this process so.
- The vesicles able to
bridge the cleft
to the postsynaptic neurons?
- [Engineer] Looks like
just about all of them.
(Devon sighs)
- This is the youngest person
HTDA has ever simulated.
- First juvenile SC.
- Why the son, not the father?
- Mr. Auburn's somatosensory
association area
was too badly damaged.
The b*llet.
- What does that do?
- [Caul] Tactile senses;
touch, temperature.
- And that's
important for an SC?
- For a simulated consciousness,
the relationship between the
somatosensory association area
and Wernicke's area is
very important.
The Wernicke is
cognitive language,
comprehension and the like.
We'd know a lot more
about that relationship
if we spent more
time on research
and less on the vanity projects.
- This is a vanity project?
(Caul sighs)
- Oh, um, we need a
release for Prichard.
- The suicide?
- The very few
simulations we've done,
there's been no signs
of degradation.
It'd be very helpful.
- No,
there's no time for research.
We have to prove that this
is viable tech.
- You mean monetizable?
- Prichard is getting purged.
There'll be others.
Unfortunately.
Ellis wants you to stay focused
and be prepared for
tomorrow's dry run.
- Have you been able
to contact the mother?
The primer words are incomplete.
One conversation with
her would be the key.
- [Devon] We're, we're
working on it.
- [Caul] You know how vital
the correct words are
to this process.
- It will be okay.
- The greatest lie ever told.
(suspenseful music)
- [Whisperer] For here,
there are no tears.
(suspenseful music continues)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
[Whisperer] Franklin,
for here is no fear.
(suspenseful music)
(ominous music)
(Caul sighs)
(box whirring)
(ominous music continues)
(machine whirring)
(ominous music continues)
- Nick.
- Dr. Caul?
Isn't it a little late for you
to be lurking around the office?
- Have you purged Prichard yet?
- Prichard? Ah, I'm not sure.
- How much?
- Why don't we double
whatever it was last time?
(device chiming)
Whatever you need, Dr. Caul.
(switch clicks)
(device warbles)
(Devon sighs)
- You sure we need him?
- [Devon] Dr. Caul.
- The device is already
set up for you, Dr. Caul.
- The cingulate cortex is absent
from the limbic system routines.
I just wanna say
that unfortunately we're
still in the process
of compiling all the
information necessary
to complete Liam Auburn's
string of primer words.
(Caul clears throat)
(box warbles)
Shall we start?
- Let's.
(static hisses)
(Liam rambling faintly)
- [Liam] Shouldn't be
talking to strange men.
(Liam continues
rambling faintly)
- Cyan, dice.
- [Liam] We should let me talk
to him and find out more.
We should me stay to speak-
- Toast, woods.
(Liam continues
rambling faintly)
- Liam?
- [Liam] I don't know. Yes?
- Liam, I am a friend
of your father's, James.
- [Liam] Okay.
- Liam, I just wanna
ask you a few questions,
if that's okay?
- [Liam] Mom and Dad wouldn't
let anything bad happen to me.
Okay. Okay.
- Liam, what were you
doing home from school
in the middle of the day
on February 12th?
- [Liam] Spring break vacation.
That's why Dad stayed
home and Mom went to work.
- And was your dad
expecting any visitors?
- [Liam] I don't think so.
We're supposed to go to
the comic store.
- [Devon] Liam, do you
know if your father
got into any arguments
with any other adults,
that you can remember?
- [Liam] Dad fights
with Kevin all the time.
Always about how to run
the business.
Sometimes it really scares me.
When I'm bigger I'll
help back someone into-
- Who's Kevin?
- [Liam] A manager at
my dad's shop.
Dad got me for Christmas.
- [Devon] And do they
fight often?
- [Liam] Sometimes.
There's no way out, there's
no light to guide my way-
- Do you think that Kevin
could ever harm your dad?
- [Liam] And how do I get home?
- Or you?
- I can't see my hands,
my feet.
I don't know. I don't know,
I don't know.
It's cold, it's dark
and I want to be home.
- Um, Liam?
- [Liam] Sometimes.
(ominous music)
(melancholic music)
(melancholic music continues)
(phone chiming)
- Hello?
- Uh, this is Dr.
Caul from HTDA.
- How can I help you?
- Well, I'm, I'm really,
I'm really here to help you.
- My account was resolved.
So if you're coming
for more money.
- No, no. No, no, it's not that.
Um, I'm, I'm, I'm here to
talk about Adam.
- What about my husband?
I thought HTDA didn't do
charity cases.
- Well, there, there's,
there's been a shift
ever since the
Ehrenfest Foundation
situation last year.
There's now some internal belief
that this technology must be
at, at some point made
available to everyone, so.
- Right.
- Mrs. Prichard.
I am with HTDA, but I'm
not here for HTDA.
(lock buzzes)
- [Sylvie] Come in.
(door clicks)
Want a copy?
Can't even give 'em away.
- [Caul] Uh, there.
- So?
- Uh, so, um-
There were, uh, certain
things in your file
that drew our, my attention.
- Such as?
- Suicide is not as
common amongst our clients
as one might think.
There's still a lot that we
don't know about the simulations
and a lot we can
learn from them.
- So this is a charity case
with an added touch of
lab-rat academia.
- Sure.
- Look, I've already
moved on from this.
- Uh, uh, Mrs. Prichard.
Mrs. Prichard.
- Sylvie.
- Sylvie.
Everyone deserves a chance
to say goodbye.
- Is that why people do this?
- I think so. Yeah.
Closure of one form or another.
- How does it work?
- The device?
Well, our consciousness is
comprised of three parts.
Our superego; morality.
Our ego; reality. The id;
instant.
And these three parts, they
each have a distinct voice.
And these voices, well,
they converse
and they combine to, um, well,
to form our consciousness.
And that shapes our
thoughts, choices we make.
(sighs) In a simulation,
well, these voices,
sometimes they all talk
at the same time.
Sometimes to themselves.
Sometimes to each other.
This device, well,
taps into that.
And we use our primer words to
act as a sort of phase-lock,
which allows all of these
voices to sort of come together
as one coherent stream of
consciousness.
- Has anyone ever wanted to hear
all the voices speaking at once?
- You don't wanna
hear everything.
(device clicks)
(ominous music)
You ready?
(dramatic music)
- [Adam] Falling, falling,
falling.
It's not worth speaking anymore.
I don't hear myself. No
one hears me.
(Adam speaking faintly)
- Cedars.
- How has it gotten
to this place?
- Attenuate.
Contrast.
(Adam speaking faintly)
- [Adam] Falling away, falling.
Wanna help but no
one to help me.
- Affix, fragile.
- [Adam] I don't want help.
Wasting, wasting, wasting.
How's it gotten to this?
I wanna make it all better,
but-
- Adam?
- It's impossible.
I can't be here anymore.
(Adam rambling)
Sylvie? Not here.
She shouldn't be here.
Shouldn't see this.
Shouldn't see me.
Are you okay?
They can't make me do this.
- I've been thinking
about us a lot.
- [Adam] Things haven't
been great, have they?
(Adam rambling)
- They have not.
What happened?
Where did we veer off course?
- [Adam] I thought it was us
that was broken for the
longest time, Sylvie.
(sighs) As it turns
out it was me.
A broad statement, but
the only time
I ever felt happy was
on that trip to Japan.
Letting go. In that little
mountain town, Hakone.
The bus pulled into that
sleepy street.
The morning fog was still thick.
We found that little diner.
The old lady cooked us
udon and curry.
Maybe knowing. Nothing
moved outside, Sylvie.
- I remember.
- But outside of that memory,
everything's been chaos.
(device warbling)
A cacophony I can't seem to
turn the volume down on anymore.
As long as I'm here.
- I understand.
I really do.
(solemn music)
- Did you, um, did you
get something from that?
- [Sylvie] I did.
- Closure?
- [Sylvie] Confirmation.
- Okay. Uh, thank you, Mrs.
Prichard, Sylvie.
- [Sylvie] Bye, Dr. Caul.
(ominous music)
(box whining)
(ominous music continues)
(dramatic music)
- Cedar, attenuate.
Contrast.
(Adam rambling)
Cedar, attenuate, contrast,
affix.
(Adam continues rambling)
(static crackling)
Cedar, attenuate, contrast,
affix, fragile.
(Adam continues rambling)
Fog.
- [Adam] Hello?
- You can hear me? Good.
I am Dr. Caul.
I'm gonna read you
something. (clears throat)
Adam Prichard, son, brother,
husband,
died on Tuesday, March the 31st,
2029,
at his home in Metrocalus.
When asked to describe
himself in one word,
he chose temeritous.
Born September 5th, 1983,
to Jim and May Prichard,
Adam was always known to
have his headphones on
and listening to music from
across the spectrum of genres.
Turning his appreciation
for music into a career,
Adam wrote countless
reviews and articles
for a number of music
industry platforms.
- [Adam] Enough.
- What, what is not
written here?
- [Adam] That I k*lled myself.
(solemn music)
- Adam, are you aware
that you are not you?
- [Adam] Am I not me?
- No, no, you are a
simulated consciousness
compiled from data
and raw material
taken from the brain
of your deceased body.
- [Adam] Does that not
make me who I am?
- Adam, how do you know
that you took your own life?
- [Adam] Whether I'm
that Adam or not,
it's something I knew I
would likely do.
- In my past experiences,
a simulated
consciousness tends to, um,
well, deteriorate after
it's been active too long.
Experiences a, a form
of psychosis.
However, it seems that those
who have taken their own lives
don't suffer the same
degradation.
- [Adam] And what is it
you're looking for, Dr. Caul?
- I don't know.
I'm hoping maybe you can
help me find out.
(ominous music)
- [Becca] Dad, you have
to speak to me.
Call me back.
Dad, you have to speak to me.
Call me back.
(ominous music)
(phone buzzing)
- Yeah, Devon?
- We got Mrs. Auburn,
the mother.
(dog barking)
(birds chirping)
(doorbell ringing)
- Mrs. Auburn?
Hi, uh, we're with HTDA.
We spoke yesterday about
interviewing you
and processing your home to
help us with your son's case?
- Come in.
- [Devon] Thank you.
Uh, Mrs. Auburn, uh,
thank you so much
for agreeing to speak with us
and giving us access
to your home
during this very, very
difficult time.
We recognize your hesitance,
and I'd like to assure you
we will be sympathetic
throughout this entire process.
Okay? Is it okay if we begin?
Great. I am going to
record this.
And while you and I are
having our conversation,
my colleague is going
to look around
your, your beautiful home.
Would that be okay?
(floor creaking)
Um, so Mrs. Auburn, some of
these questions,
they, they may be a bit
uncomfortable to hear,
but please know that
I'm asking them
as a way to, uh, to piece
together a, a bigger picture.
A picture that's, well,
that may help catch the person
who committed this
heinous crime.
Do you understand that?
- Yes.
- Okay.
Okay. Uh, so how long have
you lived here?
- [Mrs. Auburn] Well, we bought
it shortly after we married.
And Liam came not
too long after.
15 years or so.
- [Devon] What kind of
child was he?
Was he precocious, was
he inquisitive,
was he rambunctious?
- [Mrs. Auburn] He was,
Liam was all those things.
- [Devon] How about his
relationship with his dad?
- He was a carbon copy
of his father.
There was very little
that they disagreed on.
I think Liam so wanted
to be like his father
that when he had a
different opinion,
he would change it to
align with his father's.
- Hm. And sports?
Did he have any favorite
sports, belong to any clubs?
- [Mrs. Auburn] Archery,
like his father.
- Naturally. Naturally.
How about, uh, behavior?
Did, uh, did Liam
exhibit any odd behavior,
any, uh, fidgets, any tics?
- These are rather
odd questions.
- [Devon] I know. Mrs. Auburn,
I'm sorry.
Would, would you like a moment?
- Um, no, I'm, I'm, I'm sorry.
You should continue.
- Uh, so, um, odd behavior?
- Wait, how, how is
asking questions
about my son's life gonna help?
- [Devon] Well, uh, we're
trying to formulate a picture
of Liam, all of his nuances,
so as to better inform
our simulation of your son
so that we can assist
with the investigation
to the best of our ability.
- What does it matter?
(ominous music)
- I'm sorry?
- What does it matter?
None of this is going to bring
Liam back, or my husband.
- No. No, it won't.
But, uh, I'm not sure if
you're aware of our technology--
- Fully aware of what
your technology does,
but it doesn't matter,
that's not Liam in that box.
It's just a remnant, an echo.
- But don't you wanna
catch who did this?
The person who did this
to your family,
they're still out there.
- What will it change?
My family will still be gone.
I'm trying to move as far
beyond this as I possibly can.
Can you understand that?
- Oh, I can. I can, Mrs. Auburn.
And you have my sympathy.
But we need to continue
with the interview to ensure
we've gathered sufficient
details regarding Liam's life.
(ominous music)
- [Becca] Dad, you have
to speak to me.
Call me back.
- [Mrs. Auburn] I'm fully aware
of what your technology does.
But it doesn't matter,
that's not Liam in that box.
It's just a remnant, an echo.
It doesn't matter, that's
not Liam in that box.
It's just a remnant, an echo.
(ominous music continues)
(suspenseful music)
- [Caul] Adam.
- [Adam] Dr. Caul?
- [Caul] You can call
me Franklin.
- [Adam] Okay. Franklin.
Franklin, you don't
have a family?
All of this, this
experiment takes time.
And I'd imagine some sacrifice.
- Now, you and Sylvie, did
you ever consider children?
- [Adam] (scoffs) To bring
a child into our chaos
would've been parental
negligence from the start.
- You both seem
pretty even keel.
- [Adam] It's not all
wrecking ba*ls.
Chaos can be quietly
destructive too, Franklin.
- Fair enough.
Adam, I'm going to ask
you a series of questions,
if that's okay.
- [Adam] That's what I'm
here for, right?
- You don't have to answer
if you don't want to.
- [Adam] Okay.
(Caul clears throat)
(ominous music continues)
- All right.
What do you call the world?
What is your original face?
When you can do nothing,
what can you do?
When the many are
reduced to one,
what is the one reduced to?
- [Adam] These are koans.
- Yes. Yes, they are.
Have you ever wished you
could go to sleep
and never wake up?
- [Adam] Yes.
- How connected did you feel
to the people around you?
- [Adam] Oddly, Franklin,
I feel more connected
to the ones I love now
than before I was gone.
- Can you tell me, um, a
little bit more about Hakone?
The stillness?
- [Adam] I've said
enough about that.
Let me tell you about
the emptiness.
- The emptiness?
- [Adam] There was a day that
wasn't particularly different
than any other, but
when I got home,
I stood at my kitchen sink.
I just stood there, jacket
still on, shoes still on,
still shouldering my
bag carrying my laptop.
I think my keys were
even still in my hand.
It wasn't until Sylvie
came home that I realized
that I had been standing there
for what ended up
being three hours.
I looked at that empty sink,
into the black hole
of the drain.
I'm sure I cried because
my face was wet
when Sylvie touched it.
She said she was scared.
Then she said something
comforting to me,
but I couldn't hear her
words anymore.
I felt nothing for her fear,
or her love.
I just felt empty.
That is if you can
feel emptiness.
I went to the office
the next day
and during some droning meeting
that's when I realized
I didn't care anymore,
about anything.
(ominous music)
(static crackling)
(Whisperer speaking faintly)
- [Devon] For the
past two years,
we have been working to
secure a government contract.
And now the DOJ has given
us that opportunity.
We've all worked very
hard for this.
I think that about covers it.
Thank you very much.
Caul.
Caul!
- Yeah.
- Ellis seems to think that
you need to be reminded
that this is the most
important thing
that we've ever done.
That you've ever done.
- I know.
But not for the reasons
you and Ellis think it is.
- (sighs) Fine, Caul.
Just don't derail this. Okay?
And remember your psych eval.
Ellis is insistent.
- [Caul] So, so you, you do
feel something.
Can you describe, can
you describe it to me?
- [Adam] It feels like a fluid
stream, but not like water.
- Mm-hmm, but, but it is a
sensation. Is it tactile?
- [Adam] Yes. I don't know.
You're trying to back
me into a description
that makes sense to you.
- I'm sorry.
- [Adam] I feel your
frustration.
I'm frustrated too.
- We just, you're, you're
the first simulation
that, that's gone on this
long without degrading.
I just, I just don't
understand why.
- [Adam] Maybe I'm not
a simulation.
- (scoffs) I don't think
that's possible.
- [Adam] Why not?
- Well, I know you, I mean,
I made you.
I coded and sourced you.
- [Adam] And here I am
talking about my feelings.
What else qualifies me
to be among the living?
Aside from the lack of vessel,
am I not a living entity?
- I don't know.
I guess I'm tired of
not knowing.
- [Adam] Everything
will be okay.
(Caul laughing)
What's so funny?
- Everything will be okay.
It's the, uh, it's the
greatest lie ever told.
- [Adam] How so?
- Well, it's, it's what
everybody wants to believe,
you know, it's what
everybody clings to
as though it's the truth.
But, um, well, more
often than not,
everything's not okay.
- [Adam] Franklin, you're
a very dour man.
Has anyone ever told
you that before?
- Yeah, often.
My wife, she, uh, she
would say the same thing.
- [Adam] Franklin?
- Yeah.
- [Adam] What happened to her?
- (sighs) I, uh.
(gasps) I told her every,
everything would be okay.
(ominous music)
No, please, please wait.
I don't know if I ever told you,
um,
but, uh, when I was young,
my father made me stand in a
stream in the middle of winter.
Punishment for something,
I guess.
He said it was a lesson
in the principle
of sufficient reason.
Law of reason and consequence.
It was my first, uh,
my first lesson in psychology.
(ominous music continues)
(Sarah scoffs)
(water sloshing)
(glass clunks)
Please.
Why are you leaving me?
- [Sarah] Where am I now?
(dramatic music)
(intense dramatic music)
(box crackling)
(doorbell chiming)
- [Sylvie] Please. Can
I offer you anything?
- No, no. Thanks.
- [Sylvie] So?
- Um, just wanted to, uh,
ask you a few
questions about Adam.
If that'd be okay?
Before he k*lled himself,
did, did you have a sense
the two of you were
drifting apart?
- I guess maybe I should
have, but when you're in it.
At that point it had
been a long time
of Adam and I being
distant with one another.
And he told me directly
that he was...
I probably wouldn't
have heard it.
- Well, I'm sure
that's not true.
- Are you? Because you
know us so well.
- [Caul] Well, I didn't mean
to imply anything by that.
- Yeah, Dr. Caul, I
have things to do.
- What would've happened
if it had been the
other way around?
If you had gone to Adam and
told him you were in pain,
would he have listened?
- I think what happened,
happened. Adam wanted out.
Wouldn't have mattered
if I tried to stop him.
- But you did, didn't you?
- [Sylvie] Excuse me?
- What did you say to him when
you found him in the kitchen?
Huh?
When you saw him crying
there by the sink,
what did you say to him?
- How did you?
- Please,
just tell me what you said.
- Get out.
- I- I just wanna know
what you said.
- Get out now!
- I just wanna know
what you said to him.
(dramatic music)
(door thuds)
Please.
Please, just tell me
what you said.
What did you say to Adam?
Please.
(solemn music)
- It'll be okay.
That's what I said to him.
(solemn music continues)
(ominous music)
- [Caul] Adam.
- [Adam] Franklin.
- I have to ask you a question.
Did you ever think that
Sylvie might be at risk?
- [Adam] Why do you ask?
- Well.
(lock clicks and buzzes)
- [Adam] Franklin wait,
why did you ask that?
(lock buzzes)
- It's nothing.
- [Adam] Franklin, for here
is no fear. Turn around.
(box crackling)
(static hissing)
(door creaking)
- [Devon] An olive branch
by way of grapevines.
- Come on in. I already
have one open.
(door creaking)
Ellis tell you to bring
me that bottle?
- Nope, nope. I am here
on my own volition.
- Mm-hmm. How does that feel?
- I don't agree with everything
Ellis says and does, Caul.
- No?
- Believe it or not.
Look, where HTDA goes
after this Auburn project,
I don't know.
But I do know it is the most
important thing right now,
and I think that much
we can both agree on.
- But you do see where
this is going, don't you?
- I don't.
Consumer products,
government contracts.
I. What do you do with something
so particularly intimate?
- You see it as something more.
- I didn't say that.
- Devon, we were at a
turning point.
We were approaching some sort
of technological singularity
and HTDA is treating it like
some sort of pocket game.
- Okay. A contract with the
DOJ is hardly a pocket game.
- They feel the same
emotions as you and I do.
There, there's a, a
self-awareness.
You must see that.
What if, just, just consider.
What if we are not so much
simulating as, as capturing?
- I don't think that's the case.
I don't, I think, I think
our soul, our spirit,
whatever it is you
wanna call it,
I think it bursts into a
kaleidoscope of energy.
I think it touches those
closest to us.
And then that's it.
- Well, I think we should
be focusing on what happens
to a consciousness after
it's been transferred on--
- Caul, I did not, I
did not come here
to debate this with you.
I don't disagree with you,
but right now we need to focus
on what will keep the lights on.
And don't let Ellis's
stoic aspirations fool you.
We are still very
much fledgling.
At least our department is.
And this government contract,
it'll keep the lights on
for a long, long time.
- And take the research
out of our hands, right?
Out of my hands.
- Yes. Maybe so.
- Yeah, hi, is Sylvie there?
(ominous music)
Um.
Uh, no, I'm, I'm nobody.
I'm sorry. Sorry for calling.
(ominous music continues)
(static crackling)
(ominous music continues)
- [Adam] Franklin.
- Yes.
- [Adam] Why did you
ask me about Sylvie?
Franklin?
Franklin?
- (panting) Adam.
Sylvie's dead.
- [Adam] What have
you done?
- I'm so sorry.
- [Adam] I don't wanna
be here anymore.
Don't keep me here.
(ominous music continues)
- [Matthews] We're looking
forward to a good show, Ellis.
- Well, it's a little more
than a performance,
deputy director.
- Yeah.
- Are you okay?
- Yes, Devon, I'm, I'm fine.
Thank you for asking.
- [Matthews] Well, let's
get to it then.
- [Ellis] Absolutely.
Gentlemen, are we ready?
- Yes. Yes, of course.
First of all, thank you
all very much for coming.
Uh, members of the DOJ,
Deputy Director Matthews,
and our member from the
prosecution team.
(Devon sighs)
For several years, we at
HTDA have provided service
to a purely domestic base
in search of closure,
clarification, and comfort.
And as fulfilling as
those pursuits have been,
our aim has always been
to do more, to be more,
and providing our service
to the legal system
could fundamentally balance
the scales of justice
for the better.
3:00 PM on a Wednesday, a
father and son are m*rder*d
in their quiet middle
class suburban home.
Random valuables are
taken, no forced entry.
It is our deepest
hope here at HTDA
that we can provide clues
and confirmation
by simply having a conversation
with the simulation of
Liam Auburn, the son.
So, without any further
delay, let's proceed.
(device beeping)
(box warbling)
(dramatic music)
(Liam rambling)
- Cyan, dice,
toast,
(static crackling)
wood.
(Liam continues rambling)
Attenuate, fog
(static crackling)
And cyan, dice.
(box warbling)
Toast.
Wood.
(Liam continues rambling)
Arrows, window.
(Liam continues rambling)
- Liam.
Liam, I'm a friend of
your father's.
I'd like to ask you a few
questions, if that's okay?
- [Liam] Yeah, that's okay.
- Liam, do your parents
keep anything
very important in the house?
- [Liam] Like expensive stuff?
- Sure.
- [Liam] My mom has some
pretty necklaces,
but she's always
making fun of Dad
for having all the
money in the world,
but only buying her
costume stuff.
(Devon chuckles)
- I mean, do you have
keys to your house?
- [Liam] Why would
I need those?
- To let yourself in
after school.
- [Liam] We never
lock our doors.
- Really?
- [Liam] The only door that's
ever locked in the house
is my dad's office.
And he's usually in
there all the time.
- Liam, did your father
ever get into any arguments
with any other adults,
that you can remember?
- [Liam] Kevin, Kevin. He
wants to hurt Mom and Dad.
Kevin, fighting about
how to run the business.
He scares me.
- Who, who is Kevin?
- [Liam] Tell him, tell
him what we know.
A man that works at
my dad's shop.
- And do they fight often?
- [Liam] Sometimes.
- Liam, do you think that Kevin
could ever harm your dad or you?
- [Liam] Sometimes he's
sitting in his car
outside of the house.
He doesn't think I see him,
but I do
with my spy binoculars Dad
bought me for Christmas
and I see him out there
looking at our house.
Yes, I should tell Mom or
Dad that he's out there,
but I'm afraid he'll
hurt them or me.
But he's a mean man
with meaner eyes.
- Liam, Liam, it's okay,
we're here for you.
(box crackling)
- [Liam] I wanna go home.
I wanna go home.
I- I wanna go home to see
my mom and dad.
- Cyan.
- [Liam] I just.
- Dice, toast, woods,
ocean, light.
- [Liam] I wanna be with them.
- Dice, toast, woods,
arrow, windows.
(box crackling)
(suspenseful dramatic music)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
- [Becca] Dad, I need to
hear your voice.
Tomorrow's the anniversary and
I need to know you're okay.
- [Whisperer] Franklin,
listen to us.
Hear us, hear us.
There is no fear.
(dramatic music continues)
(Whisperer speaking faintly)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
- [Sarah] Where am I now?
(static crackling)
- [Adam] Franklin.
Please end this.
- What are you?
- [Adam] Whatever I am,
I'm in pain.
Please do this for me.
Please, let me be with her.
(lock buzzes)
(static continues crackling)
(box whirring)
- Adam?
(lock buzzing)
(static crackling)
(ominous music)
(Adam rambling)
- Caul!
I am the herald of good news
but I'm not gonna shout
it through your door.
(knuckles rapping)
Are you okay?
- [Caul] Yeah, I'm fine.
- Well, aren't you going
to invite me in?
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay, great. Let's
have a toast here.
(door creaking)
- [Caul] So, Devon,
what are we toasting to?
Full termination of the project?
The liquidation of HTDA?
- How about to a
three-year trial study
exclusively with the DOJ?
- What?
- Mm!
We are no longer taking
on consumer facing clients
to keep the lights on.
The government is our
one-and-only,
at least for the next
three years.
- What about the demonstration?
- Hm, demonstration went off
the rail toward the end there,
but the information we
got from Liam's SC
proved to be
absolutely invaluable.
They said the device could
be a strong supplement
toward gathering
forensic evidence.
- And my research?
- Your research will have to be
put on the back burner
for right now.
But just for right now, Caul.
Oh, come on, you certainly
wear excitement
different than most.
Is there something wrong?
- Tomorrow it'll be a year.
- A year for?
(gasps) Oh God.
A year?
I'm sorry, Caul. I did
not, I did not realize.
Well, here's to Sarah.
Hm? She would be so proud of
the work that you've done.
(Adam speaking faintly)
- [Sarah] Where am I now?
- What is that?
- You can hear that?
- Yeah.
Yeah. What is it?
(Adam rambling)
- [Adam] I should be deep
in the ground decomposing.
There should be a blank
spot in the lives
of those who knew me.
I shouldn't be here.
(Adam rambling)
- Caul?
- I need to do research.
We're doing research.
Starting with the
Prichard simulation.
- Caul.
- What?
What, he was just
another SC to you.
You were going
to purge him.
- Did you even consider
how his wife might
feel about this?
- She doesn't matter anymore.
(Adam rambling)
- Jesus Christ.
Caul, but why?
Why are you doing this?
You, you have to know
at some point
you would be able to
continue your research.
- Yeah. When, when, huh?
You, you just told me
that research
is HTDA's lowest priority.
- But that doesn't make
this right, Caul.
What you're doing here is...
Caul, we're on early,
unstable ground with the DOJ.
If they find out about any
of this, we're-
Caul, you're risking
years of work and effort,
and, and resources for,
for what?
For what,
extracurricular studies? For?
- [Adam] Maybe knowing
the end was coming
made the sweet moment sweeter.
We can't do this.
- Caul?
- [Adam] We can't stop.
We shouldn't be here in the-
- Are you doing this to
relieve you of your guilt?
- [Adam] We need to be
here for her.
And it seems we need to
be here for him.
We can't-
- Jesus Christ, Caul.
You cannot do this!
The ethical
implications of this.
- Ethical implications?
- [Devon] Yes!
I have to tell Ellis.
You have to
get out of this
before we lose everything.
- Ellis will shut me down.
- Yes, Caul, yes.
He will make an example of you.
- [Caul] Wait Devon.
(Adam continues rambling)
Devon, wait!
Devon. Devon, please.
Just listen!
- No, no, no. You.
Caul, I'm so done.
I am so done with you,
with this,
with this f*cking insanity.
All I do is protect you and you,
you hold yourself in some
kind of higher regard
than the rest of us.
You know, I do hope he
makes an example out of you.
I'm done!
- What?
- I'm done!
I would prepare for the
worst, if I were you, Caul.
(bottle thuds)
(Devon grunts)
(Devon thuds)
(dramatic music)
(Caul panting)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- [Whisperer] It'll be okay.
Cedar, rook, attenuate,
contrast, affix.
All of this is for not, Caul.
Cyan, toast, dice, arrows,
windows.
Adam is mine. To matter is me.
Twitch, consent, sunset.
As you will be soon be me.
Peacock.
It's so simple.
(ominous music)
No longer would you have
to live with your pain.
You'd be free.
End your pain.
Your words are meaningless.
It's so simple.
Be with Sarah.
(box crackling)
(dramatic music)
Everything.
(box warbling)
Will be okay.
(ominous music)
(box crashing)
(Caul grunts)
(eerie ominous music)
(dramatic music)
(melancholic music)
(somber music)
(box rattles)
(device whirs)
- [Sarah] It's coming in
and out of the darkness.
A stillness making my
teeth buzz with anxiety.
Anxiety, it's coming for me.
It's coming in and out
of the darkness.
(Sarah rambling)
(box crackling)
- [Caul] Honeysuckle, ocean,
bridge, gratitude,
flight, anxiety.
(box crackling)
Sarah.
Sarah.
- [Sarah] It comes for me,
and only me.
It comes in the night,
in the day.
It never leaves me.
I just want it to be over,
to be done, to be gone.
(somber music)
- Sarah.
I, uh.
I miss you.
- [Sarah] No map there,
no guide,
no voice sounding, no
touch of human hand,
no face with blooming flesh,
no lips, nor eyes, are
in that land.
I know it not our soul,
nor dost thou,
all is a blank before us,
all waits undreamed of
in that region,
that inaccessible land.
(somber music)
- Sarah?
(wheel whirring)
(wheel squelching)
(somber music continues)
(Caul sobs)
(somber music continues)
(somber music continues)
(somber music continues)
- [Becca] Dad? Dad!
(footsteps tapping)
Dad, are you home?
Dad?
Dad?
You okay, Pop?
- Why are you here?
- Well, you don't answer
my voicemails or texts
I show up unannounced,
that's how this works.
Doesn't look like
you've changed much.
The house?
- You know, your,
your mother,
she believed that when we die,
we enter a, another
plane of existence.
That our souls, our
consciousness
became unencumbered with
physical form.
But if our bodies
are just receptors or receivers
for consciousness, if our
consciousness is,
I don't know, broadcast
from somewhere else,
the question becomes
what happens to it
when there's no body there
to receive the signal?
- I don't know, Pop.
It's nice to know
that Mom believed
there was something
else beyond this.
(Caul sighs)
It's comforting.
What do you believe?
- I don't know.
Maybe nothing.
And after all my work,
my research on death and dying,
as to everything I've learned,
that I'm just more contested
there's just nothing at
all after this.
Maybe there shouldn't be.
- Can we not do this?
Not today.
Not on her anniversary.
Do you want coffee?
I want coffee.
(Caul sobs)
- I tried, I tried to save her.
I really wanted to save her.
- Yeah, we all did.
It's not your fault.
Everyone's pain is their own.
Where do you keep the
coffee filters? Hm?
- Oh, wait, wait.
Just, just wait for a minute.
(bin lid clangs)
- Are you all right, Pop?
(dramatic music)
- What?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
- This is a lot of wine bottles.
Maybe you should ease up a bit.
It'll be okay.
(dramatic music continues)
Dad?
Dad!
(ominous music)
Dad!
(phone buzzing)
- [Whisperer] Where am I now?
(ominous music continues)
- [Psychologist] Thank you
for coming. Dr. Caul.
Dr. Caul, uh, we're gonna start.
Um, I'm gonna ask you
a series of questions,
which you're not
obligated to answer,
but the more you do,
the better we can assess you.
You understand?
Okay. Let's start.
Uh, how long have you
been an employee
at Haptic Transitional
Diagnostic and Attunement?
- [Caul] 11 years.
- In that time, have you
taken regular vacations?
- [Caul] No.
- [Psychologist] Have you
suffered a recent loss?
Is there a history of mental
illness in your family?
- Um.
Hm, my father.
He, uh, he suffered
from schizoaffective disorder.
- [Psychologist] Mm-hmm.
- God, he was a brilliant man.
- [Psychologist] Excuse me?
- My father was, he
was brilliant.
He was a physicist.
First thing he taught me,
was the, uh,
the principle of
sufficient reason.
He k*lled himself.
- [Psychologist] How
old were you?
- Ten.
(Psychologist sighs)
- [Psychologist] Do you think
this had a lasting
impression on you?
(Caul sighs)
- Um.
I used to think grief was, um-
Grief is a, it's a,
it's a whisper.
- [Psychologist] Say again.
- I used to think grief
was something
that you had cured.
- [Psychologist] Mm-hmm.
- You, you healed from.
Um, that, that you got fixed.
- [Psychologist] And now?
What is, what is
grief to you now?
- Something you live with.
(solemn ominous music)
(solemn ominous music continues)
(solemn ominous music continues)
(solemn ominous music continues)
(solemn ominous music continues)
(solemn ominous music continues)
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Creep Box (2023)
Moderators: Maskath3, sidolanters, GabrielAlejo2341
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