01x06 - The Numbers Behind the Numbers

[bunniefuu]

Hi there. I'm out
delivering smiles.

So, how's the family, Bill?

The lousy brats and the
human buzz saw? Kidding.

Yeah, right.

What's it all for,
right? All the hard work.

It sure as hell is not for me.

All right,

so what's the old crystal ball
machine got for me today, huh?

Back to the northeast? That's
always been good turf for me.

- Nice net last month.
- Well, thank you.

It's the best January
in years, but hey.

Well, this is a shock really.

What?

Well, it's the last
thing I want to do, Jack.

But looks like you're coming off
rotation on a permanent basis.

Wait, wait.

You're a numbers guy, Bill.

I just told you that was
the best January in years.

Yeah, well, there's the numbers

and then there's the
numbers behind the numbers.

No, not yet.

This time next year,
you are in the red.

Says who? A bunch
of g*dd*mn wire...

Come on, Bill.

You remember when your Reggie was
learning to swim at the company picnic?

He goes under...

This is Processor Assisted Logic, Jack.
You can't sell your way around it.

That's my job! Isn't it?

So how does a processor know
who can sell and who can't sell

if it can't be sold itself?

You tell me that.

I have got big days coming.
I've got big plans, personally.

Well, that'll serve you well.
Gonna land you right on your feet.

No. No, no, no, I know
the job. Thirty years.

That's a whole lifetime on
other people's doorsteps.

I know the job. You want me
out there! g*dd*mn it, Bill!

I'm out there on the street. I've
seen life rip right through people.

I see the stained sofas.

I see the tired eyes looking
up at me from the scrap heap,

looking for anybody to tell
them that it's gonna be okay.

And I do it. I do
it with a VegiDice.

I do it with a PermPerfect

or whatever other crap
y-y-you put in my hand.

And I'm out there saving
people with it, Bill.

I know this job.
It's saving lives!

That's the job.

That's the job.

And... And that's
gonna save you...

too, isn't it?

Putting me back out there, knowing
you did what's right. Right?

Hiya, Jack. Sell out
before lunch again?

Well...

time to move on, Shirl.

Turn the page.

Turn the page?

You know, I got a family
I've hardly seen in 20 years.

I guess that never came up.

Been a long time, and always imagined
that I would be coming home...

with something.

Where are you right now, Jack?

Life on the road
moves pretty fast.

What's that?

Hands in the grooming
area, please.

Hands in the grooming
area, please.

That's the damndest foul-up I
ever did see on that machine.

Gosh, talk about a hazard.
Well, I saved this as evidence.

Someone owes you a new
one is my thinking.

I saw you blink there for a bit.
Well, thank God. You're still with us.

I'm the one who sprang you from
that devil's-own sink unit.

Henry Mason. But plain
old Hank will do.

I never thought I'd have
it in me to save a life

or guessed it'd
feel half so good.

I'm grateful to you, mister.

I don't know what got your
head under that water,

but accidents happen
to each of us.

The important thing is
it doesn't happen again.

Thank you. Than... Thank you.

I tore the roller arms right off
that sucker to fetch you out.

He got his.

I guess I got mine too, far as laid off
for destruction of company property.

- Don't... You...
- Bastar... b*stards.

You bite your tongue. I
know what you're gonna say.

Okay, us Masons have seen hardship
before and never not come through.

All right? This is why they put
the tighter notches on the belt.

Gosh, she's a beaut tonight.

Always wanted to go.

Same here, mister.
What a dream, right?

My old man used to say,
"No one is not a dreamer."

Now he sounds like a wise man.

Well, a salesman.

- Hank Mason, is that you?
- Jack!

Goodness, it is
great to see you.

I was half scared you
might never remember.

No.

Come on, and what kind of
guy would I be to forget you?

- How you been all this time?
- You know, can't complain.

Mr. Walter has been awful kind
to let us camp on his spread.

At least, kind enough once I showed
him this with your name on it.

Ah. Your contract.
Lot A-1. There it is.

Had it for a while. Been
holding on to it maybe...

Yeah, yeah.

I'm embarrassed to say your
launch got pushed back a bit.

They should've called you.

- But...
- We might've missed it.

You know, we've been living in
the truck since I got laid off.

Yeah.

You know, prices on our units,
they just keep climbing.

If you ever had a mind to sell,
I could get you set up for life.

No, sir.

You gave me this gift.

And dreaming on it has been our
one spot of grace in rough waters.

What's waiting a little longer?

That's one beautiful
frame of mind, pal.

I'll start working on getting
you up there first thing.

I'm forever in your debt.

And us in yours, Jack.

f*ck.

I'm sorry about all this, Walt.

Don't look like
they're packing up.

Our outfit does launch services
with a provider at Vista Park.

I must've given him your
address by accident,

and it was hectic when
I was cutting the deal.

Maybe give him a
couple more days?

I'll get it all worked out, make
it more than worth it for you.

Gotten into the moon
game, huh? Just like pops.

A little different.
I'm in real estate.

You know... I saw a
rocket the other night.

Thought it might have
come from this direction.

It wouldn't be too hard to get
you some work launching for us.

No chance. I shut
that all down when...

Hey, I wanna show you
something. Come on.

Morning, kid.

Morning. No Jack yet, huh?

- It sounds like you got a bone a pick.
- He's just...

He's always telling people
what they wanna hear.

You know, he likes you, kid.

I can tell he's really
looking out for you.

Yeah.

Now, what's the most he's ever sold
in a week? He's got the record, right?

Nine. Three A-Plexes.

All right. Well, I'm at six
after those golf course guys.

Kept telling me I was just like
them before their first million.

That means I got the whole day to
close four if I wanna top Jack.

With that attitude, he's gonna
wanna piss you off more often.

Apricot, which the ancients
called the fruit of forgiveness

of unhinged men
rehinging, atoning,

just nosing to the grindstone
of general stability.

- Well, you look pretty good.
- I look normal, Shirley,

which I have come to accept
is more important than good.

Occasionally.

Good morning, ma'am. This is Joey
Shorter with Brightside Lunar Residences.

Now, a new opportunity
just rolled across my desk

that I'd love to talk to you
about if you have the time.

I try not to get
back here too much.

Well, I got you beat.

Been ducking this
place for 40 years.

Genius, your old man.

Yeah, so I heard.

He never really bothered
to let me get to know him.

Fathers and sons.

If you ask me, it was
built not to work.

Used to think the same thing.

You know, I hit a rough
patch a while back,

and I just kept hearing
his voice telling me,

"No one's not a dreamer."

Yeah. That one.

Yeah, well, it set me back on my feet,
remembering that, so I probably...

owe him more than
I care to admit.

Did he ever tell you about the
subterranean power unit we drew up?

Lunar temps swing
500 degrees in a day.

Now, if you can harness that,

we could've had enough juice to
run a whole damn mining operation.

One of those, all that land he bought,
he had enough to build a whole community.

Well, I never thought
about it like that,

but maybe you should tell those
real estate people you work for.

Yeah. They know.

Jack.

This might be hard for you to
see, but the day it happened,

I got everything I
could off the tarmac.

Now, as crazy as this sounds,

if your daddy is
anywhere, he's in there.

The music can't stop, Shirl.

Which means what?

These things, they're
worth something now.

We stop selling, everybody
panics, and it all falls apart.

We keep smiling, keep selling,

we can make enough money
to make things right.

- You mean pay people back?
- Sure.

- Who pays the new customers back?
- We'll find newer customers...

- That's not a solution, Jack.
- But it'll buy us enough time to find one.

We sold big at that club,

and none of them wanna
launch anytime soon.

One day, they might.

What if Jenkins had big plans,
and maybe broke ground even?

What if he just never
finished what he started?

More likely, he just
robbed everyone.

Here.

A hundred and forty-three?

We sell 143 units, we got all the refunds
we need and this whole thing's over.

So you're with me?

The music can't stop.

I was thinking.

That rich lady at the club, the
one batting her eyes at you?

Let's sell her our whole mess.

That's pretty good, Shirl.

One check. We're free and
clear. Pocket change for her.

You think we can pull this off?

You're not that bad a liar.

I guess so.

Good afternoon, guest. Can I
help you with transportation?

Thank you for coming, ma'am.

I "apogolize." I ceased
investigations prematurely.

Apologize.

I thought you were
supposed to shred these.

Let's say they fell out
of the feeder tray and...

failed to be
"sucessfully" reloaded.

Brightside.

Joey, what a heavenly surprise! Don't
you tell me you don't remember me.

Of course, Mrs. Billings.

Is your boss around?

No, I haven't seen him all day,
but I can tell him you called.

You know, I've been
begging Jack for months

to send one of you over to this
dungeon he's banished me to.

People here are
very well-funded.

Yeah?

Seems a shame to leave that
money on the table. But you know,

little boys hate owing
their mothers anything

since they actually owe
them g*dd*mn everything.

Well, you know, I could
head down there today

- if you think it's worth the trip.
- What an idea.

Maybe best not to
advertise it all to Jack.

Yeah, I can do that.

Hey, what was that?

Something stale
on the south side.

You good for new leads? I got a few
from the club I could throw your way.

Yeah, I don't need your help.

Loud and clear.

Hey, listen.

You don't want this
grudge holding you back.

It won't.

Well, I want to
put it behind us.

And since you're on a
pretty good run lately, I...

I talked to Jenkins

about bumping you to
Senior Sales Partner.

I had to stick my
neck out a little,

but I wanted you to know how
important you are around here,

and the extra cash
shouldn't hurt either.

How about I take the
promotion when I earn it

and not because you feel guilty?

I don't need handouts.

Okay, it is not a handout.

Listen. This is where your boss
talks and you listen. Got it?

This is a good thing for you. You
might wanna act a little grateful.

I got a lot of work to
do, so I'll see you later.

Okay. Right. Well,
hey, go get 'em! Right?

You know, a couple of entries
on the right side of the ledger,

it's got a way of
fixing everything.

Yeah. You know, you could've
just said you're sorry.

Are you doing the
head-in-your-hands thing again?

It's just, the twins should have
a Senior Sales Partner as a dad.

Okay. Unlock the door or...

I'm gonna pee on this
carpet right this minute!

Okay. I have something to tell you,
Herbie, that I think will help.

Turns out, I'm not as
pregnant as I thought I was.

No.

No. No, not like that.

Like, maybe, I never was.

I mean, I was sure of
it, and we were so happy.

But then, Dr. Ergomano
had this different opinion

which I realized was
actually correct.

I thought we could just, you
know, fix it at the club. But...

So... you lied to me then?

No. It's not a lie if
I believed it. Right?

No.

I think, technically, it is.

W-We can make it true, Herbie.

Does this entryway look
8-30B compliant to you?

Jesus, is that
good? Where are we?

With respect, ma'am, the
documents show one John Billings,

father to Jack, as the
"incorportating" officer.

And an assets and
"libatillities" cross-reference

shows that John as the owner

of an extensive extra-atmospheric
launch facility which,

"susquebent" to his
demise and financial ruin,

transferred to a former associate,
one Walter Greene, where...

So... they own this launchpad?

Or Billings who runs the
company owns it? Or his dad?

Exactly. The licensed premises of
John Billings's registered entity,

i.e. the Brightside
"Corportation."

Wait.

Wait.

This is f*cking it?

Well,

while we can't conclude this
is all the "it" there is,

it certainly is an "it."

- This f*cking dump is all they've got.
- Yeah.

Good luck getting to the
moon from this place, right?

Oh, my God, it's all bullshit.

Hey!

- Ma'am? Ma'am?
- Get down!

Direct contact is well-beyond
current prerogative.

Final warning, lady.

f*ck off!

Mrs. Mayburn.

We got him.

You got him.

I feel a "bingo" coming on.

B-8. B-8, lucky
ladies and gents.

That's me.

You know, I'm not sure anyone
here would survive the trip up.

They don't know that.

This is a desperate
and lonely place, Joe.

G-47.

Trish over here.

She lost her husband last
year, and a lung last month.

She would buy anything if you smile
and tell her you like her hair.

Yeah, I don't know,
it just feels a little

wrong.

You're right, you're right.

What a decent, caring,
incorruptible young man you are.

- I-24.
- You must visit your mother often.

Well, I used to go
around almost every day,

but it's harder
now with the job.

Yeah, and she's, well...
and here I am wide-awake.

And Jack's in agony over
the slightest visit.

B-7.

I have that.

They haven't called
that number yet.

They don't check. Unless
you're gonna rat me out.

- No, never.
- N-36.

- Bingo. Bingo!
- Bingo!

Stop the draw. Bring me
my dumb box of chocolates.

Oh, boy.

They never stood a chance.

All right.

I ought to head out and try
to make a few more sales.

What? And make me eat
my chocolates alone?

Nah.

No, never.

Let me tell you something.

An honest day's work is
no f*cking joke, Shirley.

Welcome home, champ.

What are you,

rewarding me to mold my behavior
like the dog with the bell?

Listen.

I'm very, very accepting of it.

Well, let me show you something.

Try to only get very, very...

excited.

Whose is this?

Yours.

Mine? Who's coming
to k*ll me for it?

It's honest American
business, Ed.

I saw an opening. Flipped our
moon unit for twice the price.

No, you didn't. You didn't.

Yeah, don't argue with
a bag of money, right?

We still want a spot up
there, we can buy two.

Kind of had my heart set
on that one, Shirley. Ours.

I'd be happy anywhere with you,
Ed. I'm happy here. Right now.

Who even needs the moon? Yeah?

Okay.

I didn't humiliate myself
in that place, Shirley,

'cause I felt iffy about you, or I
wanted to do better business deals.

I mean, love isn't some frozen pizza
you can just have now or later.

That's not what this is.

Okay, then it's a managed f*cking exit
from the quagmire you believe me to...

Did I say any of that?

Bag says it, Shirley.
Bag says it all.

No... Jesus, Ed, I love you.

You know, I wouldn't be surprised
if you expected me to piss it away

in my usual manner, freeing you forever
from our dumb dreams together. Jesus.

You ever been up there?

Ha! You'd have to
k*ll me and ship me.

That was a gift from
my late husband.

Say, Joey...

there are some things you
should know about Jack.

And all of the
Billings men, really.

Okay.

They are insufferable dreamers.
But don't hold that against him.

It's the only way he knows to
show he cares, and he does care.

He loves you. He just gets a couple
of things dead wrong sometimes.

Can you see that?

'Cause you probably got some of
it in you too. After all, he is...

- Get dead, space scum!
- I'm not quite sure I can help with that.

Get a taste of rough-and-ready
lawman, you one-eyed Gargon savage!

Buck. Buck M...

Mr. Manzell?

Who asked, interloper?

You some Gargon-sympathizing
rat fink?

Don't bother, Joe.

Somebody probably let him
watch all his reruns again.

He's not on the moon?

If you told him he was,
he'd probably believe you.

N-No. Freeze, brain-scrambler!

M-Mr. Manzell. Mr. Manzell.

- Mr. Manzell!
- He's warming up.

A neutron gas attack.

Cover your ears and
nose, Mr. Jenkins.

- Mr. Jenkins.
- I'm out of a*mo.

Come on, Mr. Jenkins.
Stay down, stay low.

Senior partner. Sales.

Hey, pal.

Hit me with some of that insufferable
sunshine of yours, will you?

Well, Betty, bad.
Joey, bad. Jack, bad.

Our twins who don't actually
exist, more bad than when they did.

Christ.

You see, there's pain, Eddie.

And then there's
lying to yourself.

That's the world in a nutshell.

Get another one
over here, please.

She's on the hook,
our wealthy widow.

- Dinner and a sales pitch.
- Good.

I came by for a pep talk. I feel
like I stepped into a funeral.

Sorry. Get this done,
Jack, please. 143.

Okay. To the moon.

Good evening, guest.

Would you like me to assist
you with transportation?

Hey. Hey!

Hey, kid. I got a meeting
I'm about to... Joey, what?

I just ran into Buck Manzell.

Yeah. What a guy.

What a fella, right? I heard
that he was back in town.

No, don't... don't do that.

- Welcome back to The Vista Motor Lodge.
- You f*cking liar.

Hey. Look, I don't know what
you think you know, Joe.

- But it's not the whole story.
- Come on, Jack.

What are we selling
here, pieces of paper?

- I mean, is there anything real?
- Hey, it's all real.

How do you think anything
real in this world

gets started by guys
like you and me?

I don't think I'm
anything like you.

Grow up, kid. We're both nobody.

You think I didn't try
to do this the right way?

Go around hat-in-hand, get
laughed out of every room.

I'm about to have a
meeting with an investor

who can get this whole thing
up and running with one deal.

- It's getting realer every day.
- What the f*ck are you talking about?

We all believed you, Jack.

- I mean, I lied to everybody. I...
- You did the job I asked.

Better than most.

That's not lying. That's
making things possible.

Look at me, kid.

This is the most important
lesson of your life.

Getting stuck in the
details and the doubt?

It'll k*ll you. I've been there.

You just knew that
I'd fall for it.

Right? When you...
When you first met me,

- because I'm just the right kind of loser.
- No. Stop!

Don't do that. I'm gonna build
every unit we sold, trust me.

Trust you? Stan Jenkins
is a f*cking turtle.

All right, keep it down, keep it
down. Think about if this gets out.

Do you want to be the one
who k*lled their dreams?

Who blew up their investments?

That's our ship coming in.

And I met her at the club, so really
you're the one who made it happen.

You should be a g*dd*mn partner.

Quit f*cking dreaming.