A-Frame, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

(TUBE LIGHT FLICKERS)

(A-FRAME BUZZES)

()

(SINGING BOWL DINGS, SOUND)

()

Today, we're going to work

on releasing your worry,

pain, and fear.

(THUDS)

(EXHALES)

I'd like you to close

your eyes

and picture the beautiful

white light

that is your life force.

Now, we need your chakra

to flow freely.

It needs to move

to fight stagnation.

While I am doing this,

I want you to close your hand

around this amethyst.

I'd like you to clear your mind

and feel its energy.

And I'd like you

to do something different

from our previous sessions,

Donna.

I'd like you to hold

that crystal in your right hand

for the rest of the day.

All day?

DEBBIE:

As much as you can.

That is the strongest crystal

I have.

It will protect you

and push away

all negative energy.

Hold it tight.

Do not let it go.

(ENGINE WHIRRING)

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES IN DISTANCE)

(KEYS RATTLING)

(KEYS CONTINUES RATTLING)

I chose marigolds

for this week's meeting.

They're not the prettiest posy

in the grass,

and some people think

they smell like sh*t.

But damn it, they're resilient.

Just like all of you

are resilient.

So today, we get to choose

what's pretty

and what smells nice.

And I know this flower thing

has become a bit of a ritual.

But if you think about it,

everything we do

from birth certificate

to death certificate

could be defined

as some kind of ritual.

And the certificate thing

is funny to me

because if our life is a story,

the government gets

to write our first

and last page.

Which is a bit bureaucratic

for my taste,

but we get to write

the best parts.

So today, I wanna

talk about the positive things

that cancer has brought

to our outlook.

I want us to share the wisdom

that we've learned from living

with the disease.

For me, I've learned a lot

about time.

I used to think

that livin' a long life

would make me happy.

But now I'm convinced

that quantity has nothing

over quality.

We will stand

and we will fight,

but when our time comes,

it's okay to let go.

We were born to let go.

Now enough out of me.

Who would like to share?

I'll go.

(DOOR OPENS)

So, uh, I used to let everything

get to me.

(DOOR CLOSES)

-And--

-Excuse me, Stacy.

(FOOTFALLS APPROACHING)

Can I help you?

My doctor said

I should join this meeting.

What time did your doctor

say the meeting started?

12:30.

It's 12:38.

In this meeting,

we respect each other's time.

What's your name?

Donna.

Donna, I'm Linda.

Would you like

to join our meeting?

This just feels like a mistake.

I'm just gonna go.

LINDA:

Wait.

Were you recently diagnosed?

Yes.

It was last week.

Well, you're welcome to stay.

This is a safe place

if you wanna share.

I can see that

you're under a lot of stress.

We'd be interested

to hear what's on your mind.

It's bone cancer, in my hand.

I felt pain for over a year.

I thought it was arthritis.

Osteosarcoma,

that's what I have.

That's what Tom has.

Donna,

you're in the right place.

We're all fighters here.

And we're in your corner.

I promise you that.

So, okay, so the other day,

this guy tells me that

he's attracted to gap teeth.

And I was like,

"When the hell did the Gap

start selling teeth?"

Say, why does everyone

always say "Count Dracula"?

There's only one of him.

You like country music?

Well, George Straight?

Not what I heard.

Say, you think anyone ever

called Hitler a grammar n*zi?

So, I used to love hot dogs.

(DOOR OPENS)

-Rishi Azmi.

-He left--

Please don't step on my jokes.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Best food in the world

until I found out--

NURSE TEX:

The doctor's ready, Rishi.

One second.

Until I found out

how they're made.

It's actually pretty messed up.

-Oh, yeah?

-RISHI: Yeah.

They use zero dog, none.

Isn't that f*cked up?

Are you done, Mr. Dangerfield?

-Oh, hey, do you have a light?

-I don't smoke.

Me neither.

(DOOR OPENS)

I'm gonna burn down

the hospital.

-That's a new one.

-It's not a joke.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(WHEELS WHIRRING)

Are you Donna Walker?

I'm Sam.

I know about your condition.

Are you a patient?

No.

I'm a scientist.

And, as I was saying,

I know about the advanced

osteosarcoma in your hand.

How?

'Cause I've been looking

for somebody just like you.

Someone with bone cancer?

SAM:

Exactly.

Look, I've developed

a new treatment.

It's radical,

but the data is

uncommonly conclusive.

What does that mean?

It means I think I can help you.

Do they know you're here?

No, I just wanted to stop by

and give you my contact.

I know the severity

of your condition

is most likely gonna

require amputation,

and I just wanted

to give you an option.

And it looks like

you're already seeking

an alternative treatment, huh?

So, call me if things get bad.

()

Hey, anytime.

DR. SCHULTZ:

It's a wonderful time

for prosthesis.

Advancements are off the charts

and more happening every day.

Um, but the first thing we need

to do is schedule this surgery,

the sooner the better.

Now, this procedure is called

a trans-radial amputation,

and this surgery leaves

the elbow

and most of your arm intact,

which makes recovery easier

and also makes it more likely

that you're gonna be able

to use your arm

even after the amputation.

I-- I can't lose my hand.

You cannot keep it, Donna.

The cancer will most certainly

spread

and you do not want that.

Trust me.

Look, we can get you in

this week,

but this cannot wait.

The good news is that the cancer

is localized, for now.

You'll make a full recovery.

You'll lead a good life.

You're one of the lucky ones,

Donna.

()

(DONNA SOBBING)

()

(PHONE RINGING)

SAM (ON PHONE):

Hello?

How did you know about my hand?

I gained access

to the hospital records.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

How?

Well, it's not exactly

Fort Knox.

Like I said, I've been

looking for someone like you.

Someone like me?

What does that mean?

SAM (ON PHONE):

Your cancer is localized

and it's curable.

So long as it remains that way.

Which yours has.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

How do you know that?

Because I'm lookin' at

your current X-ray right now.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Jesus.

Hmm.

Look, this is a rare opportunity

for us both.

Your condition is unique.

I can treat you tonight.

If you can get here,

I'm ready for you.

How do I know

you're not some maniac?

SAM (ON PHONE):

You don't.

Look, just bring a g*n,

bring a sword.

Do whatever you gotta do

to feel safe, okay?

But you gotta come alone.

Why alone?

SAM (ON PHONE):

Because this is

sensitive research.

I don't know you.

I've put a great deal of work

into this.

And believe me,

I'm as invested

in your cure as you are.

All I ask is your discretion.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

This keeps getting worse.

SAM (ON PHONE):

You're gonna lose your hand

in two days.

Unless you believe in

the power of that crystal.

I'd say I'm your best bet.

I'll text you my address.

()

()

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

()

(SIGHS)

What the f*ck am I doing?

(CAR KEYS RATTLING)

(DOOR OPENS)

Welcome.

Where the f*ck are we?

The industrial zone.

Real estate's cheaper down here.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Come on. It's much nicer inside.

(FOOTFALLS APPROACHING)

(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)

(CREAKS, DOOR CLOSES)

(THUDS)

(TYPING ON KEYBOARD)

Uh, make yourself at home.

-Do you live here?

-Uh, yeah. Yeah.

Uh, just saves time.

So, you're really a scientist.

Guilty.

But I did not sh**t the deputy.

What?

Um, never mind.

Yes, I am a scientist.

I know it's a lot to take in.

Are you gonna hurt me?

SAM:

No.

Donna,

you see all these machines?

They're all here to help you.

That's the creepiest thing

anyone's ever said to me.

See that machine there?

I do. What is it?

It's a quantum dislocator.

DONNA:

Mm-hmm.

Uh, what exactly

does a quantum dislocator do?

It breaks down

carbon-based objects,

which is virtually everything,

and it shrinks them

to their atomic state.

What?

You familiar with string theory?

-Only from internet dates.

-SAM: Okay.

String theory suggests that

there are multiple universes

existing all at the same time

all around us, right,

and inside us.

Which makes sense when you

consider the fact

that everything we know

in this universe

has come from something smaller

than an atom.

Okay.

And what is it gonna do to me?

Well, it's gonna transfer

your particles

from one universe to another,

essentially making molecules in

your hand dimensional travelers.

-How?

-SAM: Okay.

That's hard to put into words,

but see the math up here?

I do.

That equation is the key.

Key to what?

That appliance.

The quantum dislocator.

Essentially, it generates

an artificial black hole,

microscopic in size,

and totally safe when contained

in the osmium casing

of the dislocator.

This is crazy.

I'm-- I'm not gonna send

my hand to a foreign dimension.

You see those guys?

(SQUEAKING)

I see rats.

Yeah.

They also had cancer.

Each one of these guys

have had their particles

successfully dislocated,

and then relocated,

and upon return,

they were sans cancer.

How?

Don't know.

But it seems as though

the disease

just doesn't travel well.

Or at all.

Do you have proof?

SAM:

Of course.

Watch.

(TYPING)

(CHAIR DRAGS)

(HATCH CLOSES, LOCKS)

(SIPS)

That doesn't mean anything.

There's 12-year-olds making

more convincing TikToks

right now.

SAM:

Keep watching.

Look, I don't mean

to be an as*h*le,

but this is all pretty

unbelievable.

Yeah.

It's good to be skeptical.

In fact,

it's mandatory for survival.

You don't have to do this.

I, uh, just was trying

to give you an alternative.

It's your hand,

it's your choice.

What's the worst

that can happen?

Well, worst thing is

if I'm full of sh*t,

you still have cancer

and they cut your hand off.

What's the best that can happen?

Well, tomorrow you get

a second opinion.

You say it's urgent,

you get a scan.

Comes back clean,

we know it worked.

But you need to make 'em think

it happened naturally.

Why's that?

Because I'm not ready.

And this isn't exactly legal.

And it's not totally abnormal

for cancer to cure itself.

It's rare, but it does happen.

Say it's the reiki.

That could be your story.

(LAB RATS SQUEAKING)

f*ck it.

(BUTTONS CLICKING)

(SAM TYPING ON KEYBOARD)

(CHAIR CREAKS)

All right.

Put it in.

(SIGHS)

(SQUEAKS)

No, you-- you gotta go about--

There you go.

Mm.

Al right, perfect.

(AIRLOCK WHIRRS)

(DONNA GROANS)

That's tight.

SAM:

Yeah. Airtight.

Don't want anything gettin' out.

How long is this gonna take?

Uh, process is instantaneous.

But the machine takes

a couple seconds

to run its cycle.

Am I gonna feel anything?

Yeah, you'll likely go numb.

But I was unable to confirm

that with my rat friends.

(SQUEAKING)

So, it might suck?

No evidence of that.

(A-FRAME PROTOTYPE BUZZING)

SAM:

You ready?

You already asked me that.

Just do it.

(PUSHES BUTTON)

(A-FRAME PROTOTYPE WHIRS,

BUZZES)

()

(A-FRAME PROTOTYPE BUZZING

SLOWS DOWN)

SAM:

Okay.

(PUSHES BUTTON,

UNLOCKS AIRLOCK)

Take it out.

(CHAIR CREAKS)

Come here.

Do you feel anything?

No, it's-- it's numb.

SAM:

As I suspected.

(BEEPING IN BACKGROUND)

I think

when you regain your feeling,

there's no pain.

That's a good sign.

What now?

Can you drive?

Yeah, I think so.

SAM:

Well, go home. Get some rest.

And, uh,

do whatever you gotta do

to get that second opinion.

I think you're gonna be

pleased with the results.

(BEEPING IN BACKGROUND)

Right.

Um, thank you?

SAM:

You're welcome.

Thank you.

And remember,

if you're cancer-free,

it happened naturally.

(BEEPING IN BACKGROUND)

Right.

Sure thing.

(SQUEAKING)

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(EXHALES)

(ENGINE WHIRRS)

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES IN DISTANCE)

(SCREAMS)

(ELEVATOR DOOR OPENS)

(MACHINES BEEPING)

(WHIRRING)

()

-Donna?

-(KNOCKS ON THE DOOR)

(BLOOD SQUIRTS)

Ow.

Tori,

we need some help in here.

Bring towels and a bandage.

Are you all right, Donna?

Yeah.

Wrap her up.

(RUSTLING)

Miss Walker, we have some news.

Yeah?

There is no need for amputation

right now.

Okay.

We need to test your blood.

That'll tell us everything

we need to know.

So am I, like, okay?

Well, you're not

out of the woods just yet.

Cancer can metastasize

to other parts of the body.

But this appears to be positive.

So, just hang tight.

Yeah.

()

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay, yeah. No.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I don't have f*cking cancer

anymore.

What?

WALTER:

Wait.

But, uh,

how's that even possible?

I-- I just woke up with no pain.

The day before surgery?

Yes.

Let's keep playing,

before my luck changes.

()

(BIRDS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE)

RACHEL:

I didn't change my life

after my diagnosis.

I couldn't afford to.

There's just so many things

I wanna do.

But, you know,

I have to manage my energy.

Change my expectations a little

and stay focused.

I knew I had cancer

before they even told me.

I could feel it.

But when they said

I had to lose my breast,

it changed things.

How did it make you feel?

I was pissed.

But I think I'm...

I think I'm also...

...afraid.

I haven't allowed myself

to be that in a long time.

LINDA:

It's okay to be afraid.

It's brave to be afraid.

It's actually smart.

Anyone who goes through this

is facin' a big change.

How we deal with the change

is what matters.

Donna, do you have anything

you'd like to share with us

about your experience this week?

I wasn't sure if I should

come back after last time.

Hey, you're welcome here.

You belong here if you wish to.

Well, my cancer's in remission.

Really?

I don't believe it myself,

actually.

They're still being safe

and they're testing me weekly.

But as of now, they're saying

that the cancer's undetectable.

Donna, that's terrific news.

Congratulations from everyone.

Look, I know I sound insane

when I say this,

but if it happened to me,

it can happen to anyone.

Seriously, miracles can happen.

Just hang in there.

(KEYPAD TYPING)

(TEXT TONE)

(FOOTFALLS APPROACHING

IN DISTANCE)

(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)

LINDA:

Donna, can I have a minute?

Yeah, sure. What's up?

These meetings are not

about creating false hopes

or placin' a value

on the amount

of time someone has left.

You don't tell cancer patients

to hang in there

and we don't talk

about miracles.

That's not in our control.

Congratulations

on your recovery,

but I'm gonna ask

that you not return.

Please, don't come back here.

(BIRDS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE)

(TEXT TONE)

(CRICKETS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE)

Cheers.

(CLINKS)

Cheers.

(SIPS)

Mm, that's a heavy one.

Hmm.

Yeah, it's a Malbec.

You taste the blackberry

and plum?

Nope.

Me neither. I don't even know

where I got this.

So I have some questions.

Okay, so let's do it.

Maybe I have some answers.

Okay.

Well,

it seems you've cured cancer.

Why are we keeping this

a secret?

Frankly because

that was not my intention.

Okay.

I'm a quantum scientist,

not an oncologist,

so the curing of cancer was

a side effect of my research.

There's still a missing piece.

Okay, so then why did you

practice on rats with cancer?

Because they were the only thing

I can get in the quantities

I needed.

Quantities? From who?

Uh, they are ethically sourced,

if that's what you're implying.

No, it's just the mammalian

genetics lab.

They work with big corporations.

Big orders, I...

Just-- I don't know,

I could have--

I could have got a couple

healthy models, but--

-Models?

-SAM: Yes.

That's what they call mice

that hurt.

Bred for experimentation.

DONNA:

Mm-hmm.

And pet store rats

are riddled with cancer,

but I would have to pretend

to be a snake farmer,

or something.

That's just too complicated.

You're a weird dude, Sam.

-That's what they tell me.

-DONNA: Yeah?

Who tells you?

Socialized human beings.

You don't know

any socialized humans.

(SQUEAKING)

DONNA:

So,

what's this big missing piece?

Evidence.

I need the molecule transfer

to occur

in a measurable interval.

What?

(CHUCKLES)

The machine we used

for your procedure,

it's housed in one unit, right?

So that means, like,

the entrance and the exit,

they exist right

on top of each other.

Which is an effective design,

but I didn't, um,

account for the rate in which

the molecule transfer

would occur.

Um, you familiar

with Planck time?

I have a feeling

I'm about to be.

Okay.

Um, Planck time,

or Planck distance,

it's the shortest unit

of measurement known

to modern science, right?

So, the transfer occurs

right now

in about one and a half

Plancks,

and that's imperceptible.

Now, I need to make

it percebtible.

Okay. How?

By moving the goalposts.

Right?

By separating the gates

with enough distance,

from entrance to exit,

we can potentially gain

enough Planck

to achieve

a quarter-second travel time.

Okay, so how far apart

do the gates have to be?

My math is correct,

which usually is

17 miles.

One of the gates is right here

in this room.

Looks like you can fit a person

through that.

That's the point.

Your procedure was a success.

Now it's time to send

a whole human being.

And in that quarter-second

travel time,

the absence of mass

will be recorded,

and that will be

the final piece.

I'm pretty sure

that can be faked.

Yeah,

but eliminating cancer can't be.

What are you saying?

I'm sayin'

I need another subject.

One with cancer,

where the disease is

spread throughout the body.

Preferably a terminal case.

Why?

There's always a risk involved

with anything,

so better to use a person

who had no option.

Just in case.

And are you sure you

have everything ready to go?

SAM:

Yeah.

Worked on the rats,

worked on you.

Never been more certain.

Now if we can

help a person in need,

all the better.

I'm guessing you already

have someone in mind.

I do, Rishi Azmi.

You know him.

He's about to get some bad news.

No one likes

the doctor's office,

and I blame the Internet.

It's the only place

you can get free porn.

(DOOR OPENS)

How're you feelin' today?

Same old same old.

Rishi, we have your results,

and it appears

that the treatment

has been ineffective.

We've detected new swellings

in the liver

and pancreas.

Have you been feeling

increased abdominal pain?

I-- I don't know.

It's about-- about the same.

Patients often develop

an increased pain tolerance

as the leukemia progresses.

It's a natural reaction.

This...

(SIGHS)

The swellings here

and here

pretty much tell us that

you are now in stage four

and trending to stage five.

How much longer do I have?

(DR. SCHULTZ SIGHS)

With leukemia, it's tricky.

People can live for years.

How much longer do I have?

But yours is progressing

pretty radically.

I don't wanna

create any false hope.

I would say within a year.

Though I do recommend that

we continue immunotherapy.

Does anyone here have cancer?

Cancer? Anyone?

No? Don't be shy.

No one?

Uh, just me, I guess.

Yeah. Yeah. I know. It sucks.

Uh, it-- it's okay, though.

It's okay.

You know, there's--

there's pros and cons,

just like anything in life.

You know, the best part

about having cancer

is that I got a whole

g*dd*mn career out of it.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

There's nothing like of

the guilt

that the bookers have

when they meet me.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

I mean, I haven't worked this

much in my entire f*ck' life.

So, you know, thank you, cancer.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

RISHI:

Hmm.

Probably the excruciating pain.

Keeps me up till the wee hours

of the morning.

Yeah.

Or-- or the crippling anxiety.

Yeah.

Or, you know, the deep,

deep sense of uncertainty.

I have-- I have jokes.

Don't worry.

Um...

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Uh, yeah,

but you know what's great

about having excruciating pain

from cancer

is that you can find

a sympathetic crowd anywhere.

(LAUGHING AND CHEERING)

AUDIENCE MEMBER 1:

Yeah!

And with sympathy

comes lowered standards.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 2:

Yeah.

Allow me to demonstrate.

You ready?

AUDIENCE:

Yeah!

All right, all right.

So, uh, I live

in a bad neighborhood, right?

And the other day I was

walkin' down the street

and this tough guy

comes up to me and he says,

"Hey, get out of here

or I'm gonna send you

to the hospital."

And I said, "Go ahead,

I was born in the hospital."

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

That's a bad joke.

But you laughed.

And I'm so grateful for you.

But you guys have been lovely.

And I have been Rishi.

Have a good night.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

AUDIENCE MEMBER 3:

Rishi!

Good job, Rishi.

Bravo.

So?

What-- what's the story?

W-- why are we here?

Right. I've had a big change.

You see, I-- I was supposed

to lose my hand, but--

I-- I heard

about your miraculous recovery.

You have the doctor gossiping

like a small-town esthetician.

DONNA:

But you see,

it wasn't miraculous.

There's this guy with a machine.

RISHI:

A machine?

DONNA:

Yes.

It has something to do

with particle transfer,

and cells, and atoms.

And as a side effect,

he cured cancer.

(UTENSILS CLINKING IN DISTANCE)

(BILLIARDS PLAYING

IN BACKGROUND)

How?

Well, he started with rats.

And then moved on to you.

Seems like

a natural progression.

Rishi,

I'm being serious right now.

He wants to meet you.

(BILLIARDS PLAYING

IN BACKGROUND)

So he sent you?

He did.

Timing's kinda perfect, I guess.

He knew

about your stage five diagnosis.

How?

DONNA:

Same way he knew about mine.

He hacked the clinic database.

What?

Are you serious?

Yeah, he's a little weird,

but it doesn't matter.

Because this actually works.

You heard the doctors.

(SCOFFS)

(GLASSES CLINKING IN DISTANCE)

What do I have to do?

You just have to go there.

He'll do the rest.

(UTENSILS CLINKING IN DISTANCE)

I need a drink.

()

DONNA:

So, this is where you bring

the ladies.

RISHI:

This is where

I work out material.

Looks like a tough crowd.

Used to be the only place

that ever booked me.

Seems you've graduated.

For now.

I'll end up back here one way

or another.

Well, hey, not for a while.

Maybe.

Honestly, I'm more afraid

of bombing than dying.

Here, I can do both.

It's a tactical advantage.

DONNA:

Pragmatist.

Now I know your secret.

You wanna know another one?

(SIGHS)

()

When are you gonna kiss me?

Anytime, cowboy.

(KISSES)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Linda's Boutique.

May I help you?

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Hey, Linda.

Uh, this is Donna from Group.

LINDA (ON PHONE):

Oh, yeah.

Hi.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Yeah, um,

I just wanted to apologize .

I was wrong and fully missed

the point of the meetings.

And I'm sorry.

Just wanted

to let you know that.

Hey. You're okay.

Everybody's still really happy

for you.

That's nice to hear.

Are you doin' anything

right now?

Nothing really.

Just pacing my apartment,

trying to figure out my life.

Do you like marigolds?

Yeah, sure.

I love 'em.

LINDA (ON PHONE):

I have way too many.

Why don't you come down here

and take some of these

off my hands?

Are you sure?

LINDA (ON PHONE):

Honey, they're gonna die.

I just wanna get them

the hell out of here.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Okay. I'm on my way.

(HANGS UP)

LINDA:

So, yeah, water them

as soon as you get home.

Find a good place for them.

They like sunlight,

but they

don't like to move too much.

This is really nice.

Please, they're explodin'

in my garden right now.

You're doing me a favor.

Is that your daughter?

LINDA:

She sure is.

16 and preg-Nancy.

It's gotta be tough.

Yeah, well, the way I see it,

she might have started young,

but she's making me a grandma.

So, I'm not gonna hold it

against her.

She gets enough grief

from her dad.

It's always dads

bringing the grief, huh?

LINDA:

No.

I've contributed my fair share,

too.

Unavoidable, I guess.

LINDA:

It was avoidable.

I got kicked out

of veterinarian school.

I was an alcoholic.

I stole equipment

from the school,

sold it, got caught.

Spent a year in jail.

Lost custody.

Kid's had a tough life.

I've been sober 11 years.

I opened a shop.

And I got my diagnosis.

It's ironic.

I do hair,

but I can't grow it.

I used what I learned from AA

and brought it

to my survivors group.

You're really strong.

LINDA:

Just a result of me f*ck' up

my life.

But this is my second chance,

right here.

I'm gonna teach Corey

everything I know.

And the shop will be hers,

I just wanna live long enough

to see my granddaughter.

Everything else

is a victory lap,

as far as I'm concerned.

Linda,

this is gonna sound crazy.

But I know a guy

who can help you.

Donna.

I'm not supposed to say

anything,

but he helped me.

I think he can help you, too.

Listen, Donna,

I'm not looking for miracles.

I stopped doin' that

a long time ago.

LINDA (ON SPEAKER):

Thank you for stopping by.

I have to get back to work.

()

Hello, Dr. Strange.

Hey. Uh, you got an ETA?

DONNA:

20 minutes or so.

Okay. We'll be there soon.

Bye.

(UNLOCKS DOOR)

(OPENS, CLOSES DOOR)

Hey. You ready?

Uh, not really.

You're nervous. I'm sorry.

I'm just a little edgy.

I get it.

()

(TYPING)

(INTERCOM BEEPS)

(CONTINUES TYPING)

Come in.

(DOOR BUZZES, OPENS)

(CONTINUES TYPING)

Hey, Sam?

(SAM CONTINUES TYPING)

DONNA:

Hey.

This is Rishi.

Rishi, Sam.

SAM:

Hey, Rishi.

Really nice to meet you.

Thank you for coming here

this evening.

I appreciate it.

Thanks for, uh, stalking me.

Hmm.

All right, what's your deal?

What are we doin' here?

Uh, well.

I was gonna give you the rundown

on the way over,

if that would be okay?

To where? I thought we're here.

SAM:

No, we are. I'm sorry.

This is the exit gate.

And we need to get you

to the entrance gate.

Entrance of what exactly?

The quantum dislocator.

That's right.

The quantum dislocator.

Yeah, Donna mention that.

Look, is this--

is this some kind of scam?

This feels really f*cking shady.

I can explain everything.

There's no pressure.

I just wanted to do it

on the way over there.

Fine.

It's not because I trust you.

Great!

Well, Donna,

I'm gonna need you to stay here.

Wait. Stay here? Why?

We don't want him to come

through the thing

and be alone.

You'll be here to greet him.

Cool?

All right, well,

I'm gonna set the timer for, uh,

35 minutes from now.

Okay. Got it.

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

Does it hurt?

No.

The whole procedure will

last a fraction of a second.

You won't feel a thing.

Isn't that what happened

to Veruca Salt?

Actually, uh,

it was Mike Teevee.

I get him confused, too.

I think I should mention

that you're gonna have

to take off all your clothes.

Excuse me?

Yeah.

(SIGHS) All right.

Well, then what the f*ck

am I supposed to wear

when I get out the other side?

I'll have Donna set up

with something

until I get back

with your clothes.

I mean,

what are you worried about?

I'm sure she's seen it anyway.

()

(VEHICLE HALTS, BRAKES SCREECH)

(ENGINE WHIRRS)

Cozy little dump.

Ready?

Sure.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

Welcome to the entrance gate.

This is the A-frame.

(A-FRAME BUZZING)

Does it always make that sound?

SAM:

Yeah. Pretty much.

I've been callin' it "snoring".

It gets more intense

when the cycle is initiated.

You wanna have a look inside?

(DOOR DEPRESSURIZES AND OPENS)

(A-FRAME BUZZING CONTINUES)

This is your camera.

Down here...

(STEPS)

...is your atomic scale.

What is that?

It measures relative

atomic mass.

Or, in our case,

the absence of it.

Why do you need a camera

and a scale?

To record the experiment.

Okay, for who?

SAM:

For us.

You're the first one

going through.

What? I thought

Donna already did this.

Well, Donna's procedure

was on the prototype.

-Prototype?

-SAM: Yeah.

Well, what the f*ck is this?

This is the refined application.

It's essentially the same as

the prototype, it's just bigger.

Essentially the same?

It's exactly the same.

Do you think I'm an idiot?

This is f*cking stupid.

Look, Rish.

You are stage four,

trendin' in the wrong direction.

And I know you're receiving

treatment.

But it's not gonna help you.

This, this is your cure.

Do it for Donna.

Probably not.

(DOOR OPENS)

(PHONE RINGING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Rishi, hey, what's up?

RISHI (ON PHONE):

You lied to me.

What?

No, what are you talking about?

Have you seen

this f*cking spaceship?

No.

RISHI (ON PHONE):

Yeah, exactly.

All right, I-- I'm--

I'm not doing this.

That guy's a f*cking creep.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Look, Rishi.

Sam's the only reason

I still have my hand.

Okay, look, I'm happy for you.

I'm happy.

But this is not just my hand.

If something goes wrong,

my whole a*s is fried.

And-- and, you know,

all my material dies with me.

And I can't risk that.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

No, Rishi? Rishi?

I'm-- I'm sorry.

()

(LIGHTS)

(TAKES A DRAG)

(DOOR OPENS)

Look, I'm--

I'm sorry about the Donna thing.

I wish

there was more transparency.

You don't have to do this.

I'll take you back.

But you really shouldn't be

smoking that in your condition.

(TAKES A DRAG)

f*ck it, I'm dead anyway.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(MICROPHONE FEEDBACK)

Okay, you hear me?

(A-FRAME BUZZING)

Rishi, say somethin'

if you can hear me.

Why did the chicken enter

the quantum dislocator?

(A-FRAME BUZZING)

I don't know. Why?

To get to the other side.

Come on, keep up, dumb a*s.

Okay, so...

(CLEARS THROAT)

It's gonna initiate

in 10 seconds.

(A-FRAME BUZZES)

Do I need to do anything?

No.

-Let's get to the other side--

-(MICROPHONE DISTORTION)

(A-FRAME BUZZING CONTINUES)

If it was easy,

everyone would do it.

(KEYPAD BEEPS)

(PUSHES)

(A-FRAME BUZZING INTENSIFIES)

(A-FRAME WHIRRING)

()

(A-FRAME BUZZING SLOWS DOWN)

()

(INDISTINCT SPEECH)

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

(PHONE RINGING)

Donna, I'm almost there.

DONNA (ON PHONE):

Sam, he's been gone too long.

SAM (ON PHONE):

Hey, hey, calm down.

The cycle is aggregating.

Everything is fine.

Hurry.

I'll be there in a minute.

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

(POWER FLUCTUATES)

()

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

DONNA:

Something's wrong.

-(COMPUTER BEEPS)

-(A-FRAME BUZZES)

SAM:

Relax.

It's gonna be a good thing.

(A-FRAME BUZZING INTENSIFIES)

A good thing?

A very good thing.

(A-FRAME BUZZING INTENSIFIES)

(GUSHES, SPLURTS)

(A-FRAME BUZZING SLOWS DOWN)

(RISHI SLITHERS)

(RISHI GURGLING)

(CHOKING)

(SCREECHES, GURGLES)

(SCREAMS)

(RISHI SQUEAKING)

(DONNA CRYING)

(DOOR SLAMS OPEN)

No, no, no! No! No!

Just calm down. Calm down!

DONNA:

No! No!

You're okay. Calm down.

DONNA:

No! No, no, no, no, no, no!

No.

(DONNA CRYING)

-No! No. No, no! No!

You're okay. You're okay.

(SCREAMS)

No!

-(CRIES)

-(SHUSHES)

You're okay.

(SIGHS)

(RISHI GROWLS)

(RISHI SLITHERS)

-(SCREECHING)

-(GROANS)

(INJECTS)

(RISHI SLITHERS)

()

(GRUNTS)

Good morning.

I made you breakfast.

f*ck you!

Okay.

Suit yourself.

And I'm not exactly sure

what this is,

but it's not Rishi.

Actually, I don't know

if a DNA swab

would come back human.

f*cking psychopath!

()

(CRIES)

()

()

()

(KNOCKING)

(DOOR OPENS)

Can I help you?

Are you Samuel Dunn?

Yes, I am.

I'm Detective Larson.

Missing Persons Unit.

I'd like to ask you

a few questions.

Okay. About what?

About a missing person.

Right.

DETECTIVE LARSON:

Can I come in?

Certainly. Uh...

(CLEARS THROAT)

Can I get you a coffee

or something?

No, thank you.

Mr. Dunn,

do you know a woman

named Donna Walker?

Uh, yes, I do.

How about a Rishi Azmi?

Rishi Azmi? No.

DETECTIVE LARSON:

He's been missing for two weeks.

And you've been linked

to his disappearance.

By who?

That's confidential.

When was the last time

you saw Donna Walker?

Uh, two or three weeks ago.

She's havin' health issues.

She's--

it's emotional rollercoaster.

This is Rishi Azmi.

I've never seen that guy

in my life.

Is he an actor or something?

What do you do for a living,

Mr. Dunn?

I'm a quantum physicist.

So you do what exactly?

I experiment

with quantum mechanics.

Theorize, write papers.

Trying to push the effort

forward

from my little

corner of the universe.

(SAM SCRUNCHING)

Okay.

Okay?

Is that it?

I'll be in touch.

Cool.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(CLOCK TICKING)

(TYPING)

(DOORBELL RINGS, DOOR OPENS)

Sir, we're closed.

Are you Linda Dixon?

Do I know you?

I think we have someone

in common.

()

()

What's going on?

I don't know.

You just seem off.

So, is everything all right?

Well, I'm sorry if I'm not

playing up to your standards.

WALTER:

Oh, okay.

I'm-- I'm not saying that.

I'm just saying...

I'm saying you seem different.

So, please tell us. What's up?

DONNA:

What's up?

Why don't you tell me, maestro?

SONIA:

Donna.

No, I mean, if Walter thinks

I suck, why not just say so?

We're here to rehearse.

You're wasting our time.

Why you acting like--

Seriously? You're gonna--

Okay, you know what?

-sh*t.

-SONIA: What?

-Fine. Okay.

-DONNA: No, no, no, no.

Sonya, I told you.

I'm not doing this. Right?

Waste our f*cking time?

No. I don't wanna do this.

All right?

Call me when you want

to rehearse. Right? I'm out.

Have fun. Okay? Bye.

Donna!

(PHONE RINGING)

LINDA (ON PHONE):

Hi, Donna.

Are you at the salon?

LINDA (ON PHONE):

Yes.

Okay. I'm coming.

Donna!

Look, I made a mistake.

I told Rishi we're safe.

And it cost him his life.

I have to live with that

forever.

I can't let you do

the same thing.

It's not your choice.

Sam healed you.

I'd like to try it myself.

It was different for me.

I didn't have to go

into that f*cking--

Whatever he's calling it.

The A-frame.

And like I said, he fixed it.

He's lying to you!

He's not.

There's proof.

Proof?

This is so f*cked up.

If this goes wrong, it's over.

It's over for me either way.

Easy choice.

What about your daughter?

And your granddaughter?

I'm sorry, Donna,

but I'm doing this.

Sam has nothing to gain

by k*lling me.

He's as invested as I am.

You're f*cking wrong!

You're just data to him.

I have to get back to work.

()

(GROANS)

(PHONE RINGS)

Donna, I wanna get out

in front of this with you.

What did you tell Linda?

I told her the same thing

that I told you.

Only I backed it up with proof.

f*ck your proof!

And by the way,

are you following me?

Well, I'm not exactly

stalking you,

but I, uh,

I did clone your phone.

(WHIRRING)

Oh my God.

You're such a f*cking creep.

Okay.

Well, it was nice talkin'

to you.

Um, check your inbox.

(KISSES)

Ciao.

f*ck!

(GRUNTS)

Okay,

It is October 27th, 2024.

This is Meatball.

Meat is about

to successfully travel

through the full-scale

dislocator,

the A-frame,

into a quantum parallel

and land back in my lab

approximately 17 miles

from here.

After the sequence begins--

It should take

roughly three seconds

to complete the journey,

where Meatball will find

her favorite meal waiting

for her.

(MEATBALL MEOWING)

She's excited.

I'll take that as you're ready.

Okay.

All right, Meat.

Phew.

Okay.

Ah, yeah,

time to initiate the cycle.

(KEYPAD BEEPING)

(PUSHES BUTTON, BUZZING)

There you have it.

Meatball has just become

That I've heard of anyway.

(SIGHS)

()

NURSE TEX:

Donna Walker?

()

()

()

(INTERCOM BEEPS)

Hello.

LINDA (ON INTERCOM):

I'm here.

Outstanding.

I'll buzz you in.

Door's unlocked.

(DOOR BUZZES)

(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)

(DOOR CREAKS, CLOSES)

SAM:

Hello. Welcome.

Make yourself at home.

Can I get you anything?

Donna.

What a pleasant surprise.

I'm not talkin' to you.

I'm here for her.

Fine by me.

(COMPUTER BEEPS IN BACKGROUND)

And I'm going

with you this time.

(COMPUTER BEEPS IN BACKGROUND)

As you wish.

Leavin' in five minutes.

(SAM TYPING ON KEYBOARD)

I gotta pee.

Now I know everything.

(MEATBALL MEOWING IN DISTANCE)

()

()

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

()

Say,

why did the chicken enter

the quantum dislocator?

I don't know.

To get to the other side.

()

(VEHICLE WHOOSHES)

(THUDS)

()

(A-FRAME BUZZING)

Linda, there's a robe

in the bathroom

if you wanna go change, please.

(GRUNTS)

Ow! God!

-(DOOR CLOSES, PRESSURIZES)

-(SAM GROANS)

(LOCKS)

Donna, what are you doin'?

Donna, open the door.

I knew you f*cked up somewhere.

What?

What are you talking about?

Tell me about the cat

in your little video.

What?

Because it's not the same one

that was in your apartment.

Yes, it is.

Sorry, the cat in the video

is a female.

(MEATBALL MEOWS)

She's excited.

The one with the unclipped nuts?

That's a male.

I learned that much

in veterinarian school.

Just forget about the cat.

This will save Linda's life.

Yeah, if it works.

It works.

Cool, you're going first.

You don't even know

the cycle code.

Is it not 67900?

That was in your video too,

genius.

By the way, my cancer's back.

So, I guess you're not God

after all.

Donna, let me out of here.

Donna, open the f*cking door!

Nope.

This is--

Fine.

I can't--

I can't go through

with my f*cking clothes on.

Then strip, playboy,

'cause this is happening.

()

Okay. Open the door.

(DOOR UNLOCKS, OPENS,

DEPRESSURIZES)

How much of this

did it take to k*ll Rishi?

Get back inside.

(DOOR CLOSES, PRESSURIZES)

(LOCKS)

(A-FRAME BUZZING)

Go ahead.

Let's do it.

(KEYPAD BEEPS)

f*ck it.

(PUSHES BUTTON)

(A-FRAME BUZZING INTENSIFIES)

(A-FRAME WHIRRS)

(GROANS)

()

(A-FRAME BUZZING INTENSIFIES)

(GUSHES, SPLURTS)

(A-FRAME BUZZING SLOW DOWN)

(COMPUTER BEEPING IN BACKGROUND)

(SAM SLITHERS)

(GASPS)

(SCREAMS)

()

()

(SAM SCREAMING IN DISTANCE)

(CAT MEOWS)

LINDA:

Today I wanna talk

about acceptance.

And when I say acceptance,

I don't mean surrender.

f*ck that.

I mean accept the good

in your life

despite the circumstances.

You can hate the disease,

you can hate the treatment,

but accept that you're here

to do something positive.

It doesn't matter how much time

you have.

A ticking clock

only makes the effort

more daring.

It is our job to be bold

and to survive the day.

Because that's the most

valuable thing there is,

money can't buy tomorrow.

If I've learned one thing

it's that control

is a life-suckin' illusion.

So, let's spend our time

with purpose

and intent.

Because whatever happens next

is none of our f*ck' business.