04x07 - The Room Where It Happens

[bunniefuu]

Ooh, look at all those
Playpen profits going up.

Our wealthy foreign friends
are gonna love that.

They're this close to making
a huge investment in MQ.

Yeah. All thanks to me.

- And?
- I was also going to say,

and you Rachel,
you interrupted me.

You know, are there... are there
no rules about interrupting men?

David, I was talking about
the Playpen creators.

You know, the ones that
make us billions of dollars.

Some of us actually care about the
young people making these games.

- Rachel. Um...
- Yes?

- ...y-you're doing that thing again.
- What?

You know. Well, you're just...
you're just k*lling the buzz.

We're all feeling good and then you
just start bringing us all down.

David, I care about these kids.

That's why I live stream on Instagram,
to educate and empower them.

And one of them
reached out to me.

His name is Tyler, and
he suffers from anxiety,

and he said making games in
Playpen really helps him.

Isn't that nice?

Not really. It doesn't move the
needle for me if I'm being honest.

Oh, my God, it's not
about money. Okay?

- What we do here matters.
- Hmm.

Screw this sh*thole! I am out!

Dana. Um, I... I
just want to say,

I'm... I'm sorry about how all
the contract stuff shook out.

I hope there's no hard feelings

and... and just let me know
if there's anything I can do.

Uh, David, you can eat a d*ck.

Uh-huh. I understand you're
taking it a bit personally.

Maybe because you stole my game.

Yeah, I have... I have to make
the difficult financial decisions.

I mean, I k*lled Ian
and Poppy's expansion,

and they haven't
complained once.

You know, they respected
my decision as their boss,

and they just moved on to,
uh, cleaning up legacy code.

Respect this, David.

Will you flip him off?
My hands are full.

Of course.

Thanks, babe.

[Rachel] You got it, babe.

Take care.

- [Rachel] Don't talk to her.
- Uh, David Brittlesbee?

Yeah, that's me.

Ooh, look an orchid.

A gift from our wealthy foreign friends
excited for their new acquisition? Hi.

- [chuckles]
- [chuckles] You've been served.

- I'm sorry?
- [employee chuckling] Oh, sh*t.

You've been served.

[gasps] It's a...

It's a subpoena to appear
in front of C-Congress

about the serious issue of child
labor in the gaming industry.

See, this is what happens when you
only care about profits, David.

Shut up, Rachel. Shut up.

Wait. Rachel? Rachel Meyee?

- Yes. Do you follow me on Instagram?
- [chuckles]

- No. You've been served.
- [Rachel gasps]

[gasps]

This is it. [sighs]

- Oof. All the big players are here.
- Wow.

- EA, Activision, Rockstar.
- [gasps]

David. They have mugs. Do
you think we can keep these?

What? No. Put that down. This is
Congress. It's property of the government.

Sorry, I'm just
excited. [chuckles]

This is our chance for
our voices to be heard.

What? No, this is our
chance to blend in.

Why do you think I picked
these suits for us?

- I thought you wanted us to match.
- Yes. Match the chairs in the Congress.

They're the exact color. See?

- [scoffs, groans]
- Got it from a C-SPAN screen grab.

Nailed it.

[sighs] I don't
want to blend in.

We're actually in the
room where it happens.

Oh, enough of that, please.

I already had to listen to you sing
Hamilton in the Uber from the airport.

Okay. Well, we're on the right
side of history here, David.

Look, if we let Congress
legislate user-generated content,

the kids that make these
games are gonna lose out.

We have to stand up for them
and speak truth to power.

You will not speak. Okay?

There is no truth,
and we are the power.

All we need to do is make a
fake statement that says nothing

and inspires no follow-up
questions. Got it?

[scoffs]

Oh, Christ, there's
Dan Williams.

- Who?
- He's top dog over at, uh, Cold Alliance.

sh*t. He's coming
this way. [chuckles]

- David, we gotta stop meeting like this.
- [chuckles] Hey.

- Yeah.
- [Dan chuckles]

Hi. Dan Williams. And you are?

- Hi, I'm...
- She's nobody. Never mind her.

- Oh, okay.
- Okay.

[chuckles] Uh, nice suits.

Did you call each other, or did
you forget to call each other?

- [all chuckle]
- I like your suit too.

- Yeah. Nice color.
- Thank you very much.

Yeah, the purple in the tie
brings out the color of my lies.

[chuckles]

- Oh. Oh. Okay.
- I'm kidding. I was just...

- Congressional... Congressional joke.
- C-Congress.

This whole thing is
kind of crazy, right?

I'm not sweating it,
neither should you.

- No, no.
- And hey, we're all in this together.

Indeed. Well, good luck,
David, and whoever you are.

[Rachel, Dan chuckle]

[chuckles, inhales sharply]

Dumbass. Navy suit? Is he nuts?

I hope he likes it 'cause
they are gonna bury him in it.

- [chuckles]
- Hey, don't copy me though.

[orchestral music playing]

And that is Elysium.

Poppy, we have put so
much work into this.

[stammers] This expansion has
drained my body of more nutrients

than the baby has.

Which makes me really
hesitant to say this,

but I think we're
both thinking it.

[sighs]

It's incredible.

- It's the greatest thing we've ever made.
- The best thing.

- Oh, my God. I can't believe it.
- It's really good.

- My heart is... The goose bumps are...
- Same. I feel dizzy.

- [chuckles]
- Holy sh*t. All right.

Well, I mean... [stammers]
...what should we do next?

I don't know. Lunch, I reckon.
Something cheesy. [chuckles]

Oh, yeah. Well, yeah. Uh,
sure. We'll have lunch.

But I mean, like after that,
what's the next project?

Uh, well, we really... we
just finished this one.

- Yeah. Yeah. But-But we're like jamming.
- [chuckles]

- Yeah. Uh-huh.
- We've never worked this well together.

I just want to keep the
party rolling, you know?

I don't want it to end.

Yeah. W... Yes.
Well, actually...

Hey, guys.

Ooh, what you working on?

- [stammers] Uh...
- Just some legacy code.

- ...legacy code.
- Yeah. [chuckles]

Right. 'Cause you respected David's
decision to k*ll your expansion.

- She knows.
- [groans] Damn it.

- [sighs]
- What, you gonna rat us out?

- No. I hate David. [scoffs]
- [Poppy] Oh.

Is this it?

- [Poppy] Yeah. In all its glory.
- Ooh.

- [Poppy chuckles]
- Wow.

How much does it mean to you?

Because if I don't
get my game back,

I am going to f*cking
smash this thing.

- [laughs]
- [chuckles]

Come on. You think we
have one copy of it,

and it's just sitting on a
random hard drive on my desk?

Please. I am a professional.

That expansion is backed up
six ways to Sunday. [chuckles]

Honestly, Dana. Like, it's
a little bit sad. I mean...

- I'm embarrassed for you.
- If you want to smash it,

- go ahead and smash it...
- Yeah. Fun for all of us.

...but this is more about Mythic
Quest than it is about us.

- They own your game, not us.
- Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

[groans]

[gasps] Thank God! [pants]

Are you serious?

I meant to back it up!

I didn't think that we have to worry
about in-house hammer-wielding t*rrorists.

Okay. I'm sorry, you guys.
I don't know what to do!

I lost my job and Twilight
Forest all in the same day.

We wouldn't mind helping you.

It's just that we're a
little bit busy right now

because we were talking about
our new expansion and...

You know what?
Actually, though, no.

We-We will help you.

- You will?
- Mm-hmm.

We... We will?

Yeah. Yeah, because,
um... [clicks tongue]

Well, we are Dana's mentors.

[chuckles] That you are.

- Right? And-And we made her what she is.
- Mmm.

Uh...

She's come to us on her knees...

I am literally
standing on my feet.

...begging for our help.

And I feel like we should help,

but we should leave the premises
'cause we can't talk about, um,

- new games on MQ property.
- Ah.

Why can I not remember that?

- 'Cause you're stupid.
- Yeah. Okay.

- [Dana] You're being really mean today.
- Geez. Again. So mean for no reason.

I think my reputation within
the industry speaks for itself,

but here's my updated resume.

And here's mine. Thank you
so much for the opportunity.

What opportunity?

We're here to betray Dana.

Dana Studios is a sinking ship and we're
the rats hoping to scurry back aboard MQ.

[sucks teeth]

I'd like to assist someone
powerful, but less erratic.

Mmm. And I'm willing
to take any position

as long as I don't have to
interact with creatives,

unless, of course, I'm
punishing said creatives.

Okay.

Even if I wanted to
create two new jobs

which I don't, we
don't have the money.

[Andy] Hey, lady.

Andy, I'm in a
meeting. Please leave.

Got it.

L-Leave when you don't need me
and make love to you when you do.

Do you have a sticky note?
Can I write that down?

Andy, stop it.

Carol. You didn't.

Seems like she did.

Are you drunk?

I-I had a nip.

I'm so distraught.
I-I-I need you.

No, you don't.

What you need is to leave.

I'll leave right after I don't.

- [Jo gasps]
- [Brad] Uh-oh.

Handcuffs? What the
hell are you doing?

I bought these for our pleasure,
but I shall use them for my pain.

Incredible.

- [groans]
- [Brad] Carol.

Jo and I might be willing to
help you with, uh, this situation

if you'd be willing
to help us with ours.

That sounds like quid pro quo.

You know, we have a strict
company policy against that.

And what's the company
policy on this?

Okay, fine. Fine. Deal.

Don't do it.

- [Jo] Mmm?
- She breaks all her promises.

I never promised you
anything, you fool.

Your body made a
promise to mine.

Get him out of here.

{\an8}We at Mythic Quest

{\an8}stand ready to collaborate
with members of this committee,

{\an8}and our colleagues across
the gaming industry

{\an8}to engage in a meaningful dialogue
that propels necessary change.

{\an8}Child labor is a serious issue that we
at Mythic Quest wholeheartedly condemn

{\an8}and it's only through concerted efforts
and collective action that we can create

{\an8}a safer, more responsible gaming
environment for our youth.

{\an8}Agreed.

O-Obviously, it is
a nuanced issue.

[softly] What are you doing?

I am not throwing away my shot.

Ms. Meyee, what exactly is
the nuance in child labor?

{\an8}Uh, Senator, if I
may answer that...

Sorry. This question
is for Ms. Meyee.

Unless, of course, you were
trying to speak for a woman.

{\an8}Uh... No, ma'am.

{\an8}I-I have not nor will I
ever speak for a woman.

{\an8}Um, w-what I mean is
that I-I think it is,

{\an8}um, a bit black-and-white
thinking to call this child labor.

{\an8}It's complicated.

{\an8}What exactly is the good in profiting
off of an unregulated marketplace,

especially one made by children?

{\an8}[stammers] Uh... Well, they're
gonna play video games anyway,

{\an8}might as well make some
money off of it, right?

[senator] Well, your company
makes money off it too.

The gaming industry made
over 60 billion last year.

{\an8}Yes, it did. Um, thank you.

{\an8}Uh, but you know... [stammers]

{\an8}... we pro... we provide a platform
for artists to be able to make money.

{\an8}That-That's what my
boss is always saying.

{\an8}Right, David?

{\an8}I do not recall.

Look, all I'm saying is there's
whole villages of kids who lose limbs

digging diamonds
out of the earth.

This is not that. [chuckles]

But people have to feed
their families. So...

So, for the record, you're also
defending blood diamonds now?

{\an8}[crowd murmuring]

{\an8}I do not recall.

Okay, so Twilight
Forest is dead.

It's gone. MQ owns
it. Gotta move on.

But that doesn't mean you
can't do a version of it.

What do you mean a version?

Well, you just Friends
With Benefits it.

Am I supposed to
know what that means?

Have you ever heard
of twin films?

- Mm-hmm.
- Oh, you have? What is it?

Oh, I was just... I
was just liking...

- She's got no idea.
- ...the train you were on.

She's got no idea what
I'm talking about.

It's when two movies come out the
same year with the same basic premise,

like Friends With Benefits
and No Strings Attached.

Or, uh, Armageddon
and Deep Impact.

- A Bug's Life and Antz.
- Exactly.

Okay.

Yeah, you just have to make
small adjustments to it.

Like, instead of calling
it Twilight Forest,

you call it Evening Woods.

Ew. No, don't call
it that, though.

That-That sounds like a-a
shower gel for your privates.

I agree with Poppy.

- Okay. Well, yeah...
- Do a brainstorm.

...work... workshop the name,

but either way you just gotta
get it out to market before MQ.

Oh, Ian. That is smart.

Okay, let's, uh... let's Friends
With Benefits this b*tch.

- [Dana chuckles]
- Yeah! [chuckles]

Yeah. I mean, not
us though. You.

We did our part, and
um, you go work on that

and we're gonna leave
and go work on our thing,

- which is our next big expansion.
- Uh-huh.

What-What-What's the rush?

We should be celebrating.

I mean, you and I just
achieved two big things today.

We finished the expansion,
and we saved Dana's life.

Uh...

I mean, you guys just got
more drinks. I mean...

Can we get some more
chips over here?

I don't think we should leave
until I finish my chips.

No problem. If that's
what my partner wants,

- that's what my partner's gonna get.
- [chuckles]

You guys seem really good.

You know what? We did the work.

Mm-hmm. Boundaries, baby.

Boundaries.

- Good for you.
- [Poppy] Mmm.

What are you gonna do
when the baby comes?

Well, I'm gonna
take some time off.

Yeah, which is perfect.

Because that'll give her some time
to recharge with the newborn baby.

- Come back fresh...
- [Dana] Smart.

...and then she'll
be ready to work.

Well, yeah. Yeah. I
mean, we'll have to see.

Yes.

See what?

Well, just things are
gonna be different, right?

Because I-I gotta raise a kid.

Yeah. Which I
think is a-awesome.

- I mean, it'll be great.
- Yeah.

We'll have a baby in
the office and then...

Ooh, maybe I can design a crib.

Ooh. You're gonna...
You're gonna design a crib?

- Yeah. And then you could build it.
- I don't think so.

Well, either way,
we'll make it work.

Kinda sounds like you're
gonna make me work.

Oh, you're Poppy Li.
All you do is work.

No kid's gonna slow you down.

Don't say that.

- Say what?
- Don't-Don't say that all I do is work.

You-You don't know
what I'm gonna be like.

I'm changing. I mean, for all I know I
might end up living in the Netherlands.

But I don't want to
live in the Netherlands.

You wouldn't, I
would. With Storm.

What about me?

Look, I'm the one that's thinking
about the baby here so...

[Poppy] Why are you pointing at
yourself when you say the baby?

[Andy grunting, groaning]

Well, this is a new development.

All right, since we can't
talk sense into you, Mikey,

we brought Andy here to help.

Uh, no, I'm Mikey. He's Andy.

Whatever. Just do your thing.

Oh. Uh.

Hey, bud.

Fell off the wagon, huh?

[Andy sighs] Yeah.

- Hey.
- [Andy] What?

- Where are you under there?
- [grunting]

There he is. There's my guy.

Everyone in this room
loves you like crazy.

- I do not.
- No, we don't, do not say that.

Everyone in this room
wants you to get better.

I don't really care.

[Mikey] Everyone in this
room wants you to leave?

- [Brad] That's fine.
- [Jo] That would be great.

Okay. [chuckles]

Look, as much as this pains me,

if you don't stop drinking, I
can't be friends with you anymore.

I don't care.

Your breath smells
like an onion factory.

He can be a mean drunk.

Most of them are.

Okay.

Why any woman in this world wouldn't
just wanna scoop you up is beyond me.

- [scoffs]
- [Andy] Hmm.

But here's a simple truth:

if you don't get help, we can't
be roommates anymore either.

- Okay. I'll go.
- [Mikey] Mmm.

Especially if it means

saving the relationships of the
ones that mean the most to me.

To be clear, our
situationship is done.

I'll do it for Mikey then.

That's a relationship
I can't bear to lose.

Dear Lord. Give
him the key, Andy.

He can't because
he swallowed it.

[both chuckle]

You know me too well.

[both chuckle]

I love you, roomie. [chuckles]

Call Janitorial. Get a hacksaw.

- Brutal. I like it.
- Mmm.

You know, for the cuffs.

- Oh. Of course.
- [groans]

After you do that, we can discuss
our new job reassignments.

What reassignments? I told you,
there's no money to hire anybody.

But we helped you.

Yeah. And you promised that if
we help you, you'll help us.

- I don't recall that.
- [sighs]

- [Brad, Jo] Carol. Carol.
- I tried to warn you.

{\an8}[senator] Do you believe that it
is ethical to exploit children

{\an8}if they like doing
the work, as you say?

{\an8}Yes. N-No. I mean, no. No. No.

{\an8}Uh, what I... what I
was saying was, um,

{\an8}these kids, they-they get so much
more out of Playpen than just money.

{\an8}Uh. There-There's a young developer
named Tyler, who's ten years old.

{\an8}He reached out to me on Instagram and
told me that he suffers from anxiety,

and making games on Playpen is one
of the few ways that he finds peace.

And so I ask you, Senators, who
are we to take that from him?

Congress, Ms. Meyee.

We are the United
States Congress.

Regarding your young mentees, I've
collected a few pieces of advice

that you've been doling out
on your Instagram account.

Can we bring the monitor
over here please?

Thank you.

Mmm. Yeah. [swallows]

If you wanna make more money,

you've gotta add skins
to your games. Okay?

S-E-X it up.

[passes gas]

[clicks tongue] Oh, I just
farted. Did you guys hear that?

Yogurt gives me the toots.

- Yogurt toots. Hashtag yogurt toots.
- [passes gas]

Aw, I'm so glad that Playpennies
are helping you save for college,

FragMaster666.

Although higher education
is a total scam.

Trust me, I've been
there three times.

[chuckles]

- [dog barking]
- Bu-Butter, Butter, Butter. No, no, no.

Sir, I'm so sorry. It's
not you. He hates men.

- Butter! No, no!
- [dog growling]

Oh, my God, I know. Anxiety
is the worst. I have it too.

Although honestly, even
if you don't have anxiety,

you should take Lexapro
because it's like a miracle.

Trust me, kids, some
drugs are good. [chuckles]

[resident] Hey! Get
off my lawn, as*h*le.

I'm doing a live, dude.

- [resident] Go! Get!
- [sprinklers spray]

[shouts] Hey!

- [resident] Go home!
- Whatever.

All land should be public
anyway, you colonizing b*tch.

If I can, um...

H-How do we know, uh, that
those clips are even real?

You know, because videos
can be manipulated.

I mean, you guys have been
doing it since the '60s.

I'm sorry?

{\an8}[scoffs] I mean,
you get a soundstage

{\an8}and a... and a couple of
guys dressed as astronauts

{\an8}and, you know,
Stanley Kubrick...

[stammers] Are you saying that the
US government faked the moon landing?

{\an8}If I may interrupt a woman,
uh, she is not saying that.

{\an8}No, I am saying that.

{\an8}- That's not what we...
- No, I'm saying that.

{\an8}Look... [stammers] ...I give
you a piece of evidence, okay?

{\an8}So, Neil Armstrong, who you
guys love so much, right?

{\an8}If you shorten his
name? Neil A., right?

{\an8}What happens when you
spell that backwards?

What's that spell?

{\an8}Alien. Alien.

{\an8}- [crowd gasping, muttering]
- Mic drop.

Don't you think we should
have talked about this?

W-Well, I haven't
figured it out yet.

There's nothing to talk about.
I don't know what I'm gonna do.

What's to figure out? Can't
Storm take care of the baby?

No, Storm has a career.

He has to make money
like a normal person.

Yeah, I hadn't thought about
that. I don't really do money.

The reason that you can say you don't do
money is because you have so much of it.

I make money, okay?

- What is the difference?
- And it trickles down.

I am not having the
trickle-down conversation

- with you again.
- Voodoo economics.

Dana, back me up here.

I cannot hear you. I am working.

Look, the point is we're
partners and so we should have

- had a conversation about it.
- Uh-huh. Storm is my partner too.

He's a fling. That's what you
said. That's what you said.

- You said he was a fling.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But Storm and I were able to create
something that you and I never could.

I could get you pregnant.

- Ew.
- Dana.

- Dana, tell Poppy...
- No. Tell him to stop talking...

- ...I could get her pregnant.
- ...about getting me pregnant

'cause that's not what
I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the art piece.

Storm was able to help
me see my vision through.

He was able to put
my needs first.

That's something that you
have never been able to do.

[scoffs] Are we really
talking about Hera again?

- I mean, haven't we been through this?
- [sighs]

I ate the pizza. It is
what it is. You agreed.

But what if I don't want it
to be what "it is" anymore?

Well... [sighs] ...that would
mean that you changed your mind.

Well, I changed my mind.
People can change their minds.

So you pivoted?

That's sort of my thing.

If you need to think of this as being
your idea to understand it, then sure.

I've pivoted away from
wanting it to be what "it is."

Okay. I'll allow that.

Great. Thank you.

Wh-What way do I have to
pivot to get you to stay?

I don't... I don't think
that we should be...

Do we really need to talk about
this right now in front of...

Okay. She's gone.

Well, I hope our foreign friends
don't get, uh, C-SPAN or Fox

or any other news
outlet on Earth.

David, can I just...

Don't ever speak again.

David.

Wow, tough room.

Um. But hey, thanks for taking
the heat off of the rest of us.

I mean, we-we owe
you one. [chuckles]

f*ck off, Dan Williams.

Mythic Quest,
always a class act.

By the way, really nice
to meet you, Rachel Meyee.

- [chuckles]
- I'm never gonna forget that name.

Mmm.

[whistles]

Oh, and, uh, he died.

Alexander Hamilton.

He stood up for what he believed
in and he got shot dead.

And we are not sharing
an Uber to the airport.

- [knocking]
- Hey there, little update for you.

Uh, I just dropped Andy off at a
meeting. So, back on the wagon.

Sorry about all the drama yesterday.
I did not mean to get you involved.

Yeah.

I'm just going through
a lot right now.

Say no more. [chuckles]

Unless you want to.
I'm a good listener.

Terrible singer,
so, karaoke's out.

[both chuckle]

Seriously though, if you ever
need anything, I'm around.

Always got a minute.

[scoffs] How about an hour?

How about it?

- Poppy. Hey. [chuckles]
- [screams]

[sighs] I am pregnant.

Don't scare me like that unless you
want me to leak all over your shoes.

- [sighs] Look, I'm really sorry about...
- [sighs]

...how things got
heated back there.

Yeah. Look, it was
probably mostly hormones.

Oh. Yeah, I would n-never say
that about a pregnant woman.

- I was talking about your hormones.
- Mine?

Yeah, I have walked in on
you injecting yourself.

Those are B vitamins.

I think they be horse hormones.

[stammers, sighs] Look, I...

I'm sorry, I didn't know what to
say to you to make things better.

So I did something.

Okay?

Come with me.

What the hell?

[sighs]

[Poppy] What is my art
piece doing in the bullpen?

I bought it. I-I paid a shitload
of money for it. [chuckles]

I-I can't believe this.

Yeah. Yeah. I-I-I know.

It's kind of a big move but it
felt like the right thing to do.

And, I mean, I think this kind of
solves all the problems, doesn't it?

I mean, it-it-it gives
Storm a really big sale

and-and-and then he
won't have to worry.

And now you won't have to worry and...
and then maybe we can get back to work.

Ian, do you know what
this piece is about?

Uh. Robots?

It's about me.

I'm the machine and the
machine can't be fixed.

No matter how hard it works and
works and works, it can't fix itself.

Making this thing made me realize, I
don't wanna be the machine anymore.

Oh.

Maybe that's why I get
sad when I look at it.

Yes. Maybe that's why.

Because maybe, deep down, you
knew what this represented.

I mean, like in
your subconscious.

No.

No, I've done a ton of work to bring
my subconscious to the conscious.

Oh, my God. You are
never gonna get it.

[sighs] What? Are
you... Are you angry?

Yes.

I-I don't understand.
I fixed your problem.

You fixed your problem.

I did something good.

You did something selfish.

How is me spending so much
money on your art project

anything but good for you?

You know what, I'm gonna leave you
and your conscious-subconscious

to figure that out.

Wait. Poppy, don't go.

Just...

Just don't leave me.

I'll give you whatever you want.

Anything I want?

Yeah.

Ian.

[inhales deeply]

I want to put as much distance
between you and me as possible.

That's what you want?

That's what I want.

I'm sorry, but
that's what I need.

[inhales deeply, sighs]

I'm taking my leave of
absence starting now, okay?

Yeah.

[elevator bell dings]

["Cherry" playing]