Death Cipher (2025)

[bunniefuu]

(remote clicks)

(static buzzes)

(woman whimpering)

(water pouring)

(water pouring)

(water pouring)

(water pouring)

(water pouring)

I did everything you asked, please.

You like this?

You sick b*stard?

You're all sitting in Acadia

laughing, aren't you?

Well, I'm done climbing.

(horn blaring)

No, no. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.

Please, please, please, I'll keep going.

(horn blaring)

I'm just so tired

Don't you have any f*cking mercy?

(horn blaring)

Fine.

This better work (static buzzing)

(creepy music)

Hiding is not the answer.

I know why or upset.

But it's not my fault.

I didn't wanna move here either.

But we just have to make do.

(trash rustling)

I hear you.

(trash rustling)

Got you.

(metal tapping)

Don't gimme attitude,

Clarence. You're safe now.

(latch clicking)

I don't understand why you moved back

if you're never gonna be in the office.

What's the point of

writing under a pseudonym

if we tell everyone who I am?

A few reporters in the

bullpen isn't gonna hurt.

No. You put my real name on the byline

and that'll be the story. Not my writing.

You're a story. We should embrace it.

Die you stupid f*cking c**t.

That was the first email I

woke up to this morning.

You're still getting hate mail?

Some people will never forgive.

Do you remember calling

me in tears begging for a job?

Hmm. Doesn't ring a bell.

You said that being a

journalist was all you had.

And good reporters make their deadlines.

I'll have the garbage strike

story in by noon tomorrow.

8:00 AM - Sure.

I know this isn't as

exciting as the National.

It's not much different than

our days of the weekly pirate.

Hey, I broke that story on

the star quarterback juicing.

Even back then, you never

really threw yourself at a story

unless it's at your heart on fire.

Great halftime speech coach.

Hey, but when you're in, you're all in.

That story's coming any

minute. Just give it some time.

Great reporters make a story

where no one else sees one.

And that's what got

us here in the first place.

Freddy.

Just make that garbage

strike piece a real banger. Okay?

Okay.

(cube clicks)

(email dings)

(tense string music)

(string music builds)

(string music crescendos)

(doorbell rings)

Yeah.

Groceries.

(door buzzer sounds)

(footsteps climbing stairs)

(knock knock)

Just set them down.

I'll, I'll grab 'em later.

I need a signature.

You must be new.

How'd you know?

I have an arrangement with Mr. Klein?

What kind of arrangement?

I have leprosy.

Oh. Oh.

What is that?

A very contagious skin

disease. I'm covered in boils.

That sucks.

So can you just leave the groceries?

Yeah.

Uh.

I hope you feel better.

(footsteps moving away)

(door opening)

(dramatic music)

(intense percussion)

(dramatic music builds)

(dramatic music resolves)

(phone rings)

Hello?

Is this Nora Farrow?

Who's this?

My name's Sarah Hoffman.

My daughter, Emma works at your paper.

Look, I don't know

how you got this number

but these prank calls are getting old.

This isn't a prank. When

Emma got to New York

New York?

Emma Hoffman?

She worked out in the mail room. Right?

Have you heard from her recently?

I'm at a different paper now.

Oh, I see. Well, Emma

mentioned you in her journal.

You're reading your daughter's journal.

I haven't heard from her in three weeks.

Her last call worried us.

Well, what'd she say?

Something about going to California.

She kept rambling about some puzzle,

but she wouldn't give us details.

I didn't know her

that well, Mrs. Hoffman.

But she knew you. She looked up to you.

She wrote a lot about you

when she started working there.

She said, you're a great reporter.

Have you spoken to anyone at the paper?

She was just an intern.

She stopped coming in so

they let her go. End of story.

What about the police?

They think she ran off.

You said she mentioned something about

going to California.

She had one of those

video diaries. A vlog.

I can send it to you.

I'm at a really small paper now.

Even if I wrote something,

it might not go anywhere.

If you don't write

it, no one will. Please!

Hey Hoff mates. I have

some news to share with you.

I also have some news to share with my mom.

Mom, can you say hi?

Oh, honey.

Just say hi. It's okay.

You know I don't like the camera.

- Mom, can you just

- Okay. Hi, everybody.

Thank you. Okay. Okay.

Okay, so I have something to tell you.

Okay, I got the internship.

I got the internship.

- What?!

- At the national.

(excited yelling)

Oh my gosh!

I got it. I have to move to New York.

Wait? What? Move to New York?

Yes. Move to New York.

No, she's commuting.

No, she's commuting.

Of course you can.

You can come visit. I probably

will have a futon you can sleep on.

Sometimes.

I will be visiting every weekend.

Okay. Every weekend.

Hey, honey, you be careful up there.

The subway strangler

just m*rder*d a few people.

That was 30 years ago.

I'll be fine, Dad.

Don't forget to call

me when you get there.

I won't, Mom. I promise.

Okay. And no texting and driving.

I won't. I won't. I'll call

you from the road. I swear.

Okay.

Dad, are you gonna miss me?

Of course. I'm gonna miss you, honey.

Who else are gonna spend all my

money when you're not here?

- Dad!

- Charlie!

Okay.

Squish.

Squish together.

Okay, wave!

Wave goodbye!

- Bye.

- Bye, honey.

Bye, guys.

Careful

We love you, sweetheart!

- Watch out for the freakazoids.

- Bye, Mom!

(Emma laughs)

(mouse clicks)

(inquisitive music)

Being out here...

watching the waves crash in and out.

It's so certain.

Not everything in life is like that.

Sometimes you take a risk

and you don't know if it's gonna pay off.

Yeah, I think my dad would say

that's gonna be what makes me an adult.

Learning life isn't fair.

(background chatter)

I would give anything to be a kid again.

Anything

Then there's Arcadia.

And I can't give up

without knowing if it's real.

It's almost time.

I will check back in when I can.

Bye for now.

(mouse click)

I'm surprised you're up this early.

I'm driving into work. They've

got me on the early shift.

Well, what do you do?

I push boxes in a warehouse.

It's nothing exciting, but

what I'm doing with the climb...

that's my real work.

The climb?

I can't say much. There are rules.

What kind of rules?

It's called the hidden ladder.

Emphasis on hidden.

How'd you find out about it?

I spend a lot of time on the internet.

Working these kinds of hours

you don't really make friends.

But with the climb you

kind of just find each other.

So you're working with other people?

I can't say

I can't say - You just did.

Well, I can't say anymore.

I think Emma's missing

because of this game.

It's not a game. And

she's not the only one.

Well, who else has gone missing?

(silence)

If you can't talk about

it, why take my call?

You sound pretty

One email told you I was pretty?

It was written good.

I mean... well.

Can you give me anything?

Big Jake's Mattress Surplus.

What?

I can't say anything else.

Unless?

Unless you

send me pics of your boobs.

(call ends)

(western theme music plays)

(western theme music ends)

Well, hey there, friend.

You look mighty tired.

I got just what you need.

I'm big Jake. And this is

Big Jake's Mattress Surplus.

(Big Jake laughs)

We're roping in big

savings for all our customers.

So giddy up and get on down here.

Whoa!!! What's going on?

Where am I?

Howdy, partner!

We got the best deals

this side of the Pecos.

(bell dings)

Wow!

Is that really what

you're selling a queen for?

We'll have a shootout

with any pitiful soul...

who dares face us at high noon.

Well, how can you afford such a good deal?

Because I'm crazier than

a deranged pickle thimble!

And I wanna pass those savings on to you!

Gee, Mr. Big Jake, it sure

sounds like you have the best...

in mind for your customers.

I would follow you to the end of the earth.

(awkward silence)

Well, I think Arcadia is far enough.

Why don't you save that devotion

for the golden rivens

we're going to be giving away.

Did you just say golden ribbons?

No, dummy!

Now whatever you need,

we got it here at Big Jake's.

So why don't you come on down...

and find a place to

rest your weary bones.

(western theme music plays)

(western theme music ends)

(keyboard clicks)

(driving music plays)

(keyboard clicks)

(sighing)

At least someone around

here got some beauty sleep.

(phone rings)

Pissy Polly's calling.

Hey, Freddy.

Where's the waste management story?

I think I'm on something interesting.

Give me a day to sniff it out?

I'm gonna have a 300

word hole on the front page

if you don't gimme

something by five today.

Fine.

Don't gloat just because

you don't have a boss.

Enjoy your worm.

(chewing)

(mysterious music plays)

(email dings)

(tense music swells)

(music fades)

Didn't think I'd hear from you again.

If you asked for a pick of

my boobs. I'm hanging up.

Then what did you send me?

Just open it.

It's a dog. Cute.

They sent it to me.

You're supposed to figure

these things out on your own.

Well, I need your help.

I'm trying to find Emma.

It's steganography.

What's that?

Images with hidden messages.

Well, how do I decode it?

I'll send you a website to help...

but you're breaking

one of the rules right now.

Send it over.

(sighing)

(mysterious music plays)

Key code?

The picture is the key.

(music intensifies)

(keyboard clicks)

(phone rings)

Hello?

It smell like onions here.

What?

He wants to give you a message.

Who does?

He Who Sits Atop The Ladder.

He says she broke the rules.

There are consequences.

We're sending you a number.

Call it.

(phone dings)

(phone dings)

(line ringing)

Hello?

Yes. Hi. Who am I speaking with?

This is Colt. And you are?

No...

Kay.

Well I'm glad you called, Kay.

I know it must've been hard for you.

How do you know that?

Well, believe it or not, I was sitting...

right where you are about a year ago.

I doubt that.

Is someone forcing you to make this call?

Why do you ask?

Well, we get that, sometimes.

Someone in your life

puts a g*n to your head...

Is that some sort of threat?

Oh, no. No, it's not. I'm sorry.

That was just a poor choice of words.

Why are you doing this?

I'm not doing anything.

Alright, I need to confess something.

Okay.

Alright, look, the thing is... I've

only been doing this a few weeks.

So I really apologize if this

process feels a little rough.

Rough is one word for it.

Well...

yeah, I could relate though.

Trust me.

Prove it.

Hmm.

I couldn't sleep.

I really wasn't eating much.

And, uh, I knew I needed help.

So that's what led me to call.

Whenever the phone would ring...

or someone would knock on the door...

I would feel this crushing anxiety

And I couldn't bear to see another human.

So I wanted to hold up inside

and never come out again.

All I wanted to do was hide in the dark...

and just...

give into my addiction.

Addiction?

Yeah.

I drank whiskey.

How about you?

Um... wine.

And why do you think you drink so much?

Because it makes me feel good.

Come on. You can do better than that.

You're rejecting my reason for drinking?

Well, the substance only

covers up something else.

Yeah, what's that?

Pain.

How'd you stop drinking then?

I lost a close family member

and that was my wake up call.

Did it have something

to do with a website?

What?

I read somewhere the

internet driving kids to suicide.

It wasn't suicide.

Um...

If you still want help, I can

set you up with an advocate.

Well, what's that?

It's kind of like a sponsor.

But I am required to tell you...

that we are not affiliated with AA.

Well, what are you, then?

How did you get this number if

you don't know who you're calling?

I guess I'm still a little drunk.

Could could you be my advocate?

Oh, we try to pair women with women here.

Well, if you're just gonna

pass me off to some stranger...

maybe I should hang up.

I'm allowed to do a

few sessions to assess.

Maybe that'll help me

find a better fit for you.

How's that sound?

Great. How soon can we start?

Hey, Hoffmates.

I'm sorry. I'm in the greatest

city in the world and...

and I can't even afford it.

It's like I'm sitting in a

Ferrari without the keys.

So why not rewatch the classics?

My mom and I would do that every weekend.

Her favorite is Lauren McCall.

And mine is Humphrey Bogart.

Those were real movie stars, right?

Living glamorous lives.

I did discover something, though.

It's like a puzzle, but

nothing is what it seems.

Like...

You think you're looking at a picture.

But really it's hiding something.

It could be like, like a website

with too much code or...

or a video with a secret message.

(inquisitive music)

That's a lot of code for a blank page.

Good call, Emma.

(children's theme music plays)

Today's word is... Conformity.

(sighing)

Ralphie. What's the matter?

The teacher got onto me today...

'cause I didn't color in the lines.

(crowd awws)

That must have been embarrassing.

It was horrible. And all the

other kids laughed at me.

(crowd awws again)

Sounds like you learned your lesson.

(crowd laughs)

What?

We should always do what we're told...

and never disobey those in authority.

(crowd cheers)

Oh honey, you know

I wanted to be a singer.

Your father was kind enough to point out...

how raspy my voice was.

Trust me. No one would've

wanted to hear that racket.

(crowd laughs)

Hey, stinky toes. Did you

get in trouble at school again?

It's just that pesky teenage

angst. Take it from me.

Take it from me.

Trying to be different

will only cause friction.

When Jason sophomore, the captain

of the cotton ball team, took me to prom.

He wanted to sleep with me

and kept asking and asking.

And I was so rude.

I just said no.

But then I realized how silly I was.

Everyone has sex, right?

How do you think we ended up

with Jenny Sock in the first place?

(all laugh)

Shouldn't we be able to

make our own choices instead...

of having to give into

the pressures of society...

or some ambiguous authority?

(all laugh)

When you get older, you'll understand.

Never rock the boat.

I'm pregnant.

(yelling)

(inquisitive music)

(keyboard clicks)

(keyboard clicks)

(yawning)

You think Freddy's gonna be

pissed I turn in a different story?

Life's a lot simpler in there, isn't it?

Simple.

But boring.

(phone ringing)

Hey Freddy, - I finally

understand why I hired you.

I finally understand why I hired you.

I thought it was because

you valued me as a friend.

I want to get this piece

up on the site this afternoon.

Well, that's a front page story.

We can print it as a

nationwide feature tomorrow.

That, that's not even first section.

I'm bumping an AP wire for you.

And don't think that I didn't notice...

that you overshot the word count.

You know I was gonna write

10,000 words just to spite you.

Jasmine's gonna call you in

an hour to vet the sources, so...

be nice to her.

Aye, aye, Captain.

And Nora?

Yeah?

Good work.

So, have you had a drink

since the last time we spoke?

No, I haven't.

Have you?

Oh no. I haven't had

a drink in almost a year.

You can become an

advocate after only a year.

Well, no, I became an associate.

What does that mean?

Well, I screen new calls, and

I match people with advocates.

Why volunteer your time?

I made some mistakes in the past.

And I want to help people

avoid the path that I took.

Well, what'd you do?

Bad things.

If you were such a bad guy,

why do you all of a sudden...

care about helping other people?

I came to realize that

people are what really matter.

And the relationships we leave

behind is what defines our legacy.

You had this realization...

because you lost your wife?

Your father?

Your dog?

What do you think

defines someone's legacy?

Was Einstein a good dad?

Because I think we remember

him for his theories, not his kindness.

Have you ever confessed your sins?

What is this church?

Well, yeah, you can

say that. Kind of. Yeah.

Wait, what?

The Freedom Network is faith-based.

We believe that God offers

the best path to sobriety.

You're sh1tting me.

Do you believe in God?

I used to.

And what happened?

(scoffing)

I grew up in a trailer park.

And the girl who bullied

me all through high school...

grew up in a five

bedroom, four bath mansion.

Well, you can still confess.

It might do you some

good to say it out loud.

Look, I don't need a priest.

You've given me career goals.

And talked around my questions.

But if we're gonna move forward, I

need you to give me something real.

Fine.

When I was in third grade...

my mom hurt her back in a car accident.

When she got out of the

hospital, she never complained.

Not once. It was kind of strange.

And my dad found out

that she had been going...

to different doctors trying...

to get her hands on

any pain pills she could.

We thought she'd come back from it.

I spent so many nights

crying, begging her to give it up.

And she promised me she would.

And my dad saw what I couldn't.

She was never gonna change. So he left.

Do you ever talk to your father?

My dad passed away a few years ago.

I'm actually staying at his old place.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

My brother, you know,

he was my favorite person.

Mr. Sunshine.

Always smiling.

Always having a good time.

And man, it was infectious.

Some days, it was enough

to keep me out of the bottle.

Other days? Yeah, not so much.

How'd you stop drinking then?

He was m*rder*d.

He had the brightest soul I've ever seen.

Someone just blew him out like a candle.

How was he m*rder*d?

It doesn't matter

If someone offed my brother, I'd

want to dive deeper into the bottle.

You making a joke right now?

No, no. I didn't mean to...

You know what? I think

we ought to call it a day.

I'm sorry. I just, sometimes, I say sh*t.

It's fine.

(video call dings)

(ambient synth music)

(music fades)

What do you think about freedom?

I guess I already know.

You're always trying to escape.

Hmm. Now I might be

the wrong person for this.

The editor of the

Sewanee Sentinel said you...

were the best source in town.

Oh, well, I retired from that

garbage heap a decade ago.

And old Gordon still thinks

that gossip's better than facts.

I'm looking into the

Chiropractic Institute...

of American Orthodoxy.

I can't find anything about

them except a website.

Hmm. I never heard of it. Sorry.

That's what they said at the Sentinel.

I thought you were

calling about the separatists.

The separatists?

Well, mainstream media folks

called 'em the Sewanee Seven.

I didn't see anything

about them in my research.

Well, you wouldn't.

Government covered it all up.

Ms. Barry, you're, you're starting

to sound like a conspiracy theorist.

Well, today's conspiracy

will be tomorrow's headlines.

Do you have any sources on this?

I was there. I'm the source.

The separatist had a

compound outside of town.

Declared themselves

independent from the United States.

They were calling themselves

the Children of the Cyber Dawn.

And one day in '92, Feds showed up

and a week later all but one were dead.

How did I never hear about this?

It sounds like a huge story.

Happened two days before Waco.

That's incredible.

And some would say

Waco was a distraction.

The most famous domestic

seizure in US history...

was a distraction?

Hey, now, I told you

I'm only good for gossip.

What were the group's goals?

Oh, it was something

to do with the internet.

I didn't even have a

computer back in those days.

And well, they never gave interviews.

Now they had something up on the web.

But feds yanked it down.

Can you send me any

stories you wrote on it?

I only wrote one.

Only one?

A bunch of G men

marched into our office...

and shut the coverage down.

Now I can fax you a copy of what I have.

Yeah, I think our

office has a fax machine.

And I should warn you.

About what?

You're on the edge of

something deep and dark.

And if you step off the ledge...

now, you might not find the light again.

Let me get that fax number for you.

(ambient industrial drone)

(keyboard clicks)

Okay. Just scan the fax and

email it to me as soon as you can.

Thanks, Jasmine.

(corporate music)

(Narrator) Welcome to the

CIAO instructional series.

This is part seven. How

to crack the uncrackable.

Many people struggle with severe back pain.

One possible remedy

is spinal flow expansion.

Step one, take a seat in

position with your legs crossed.

Step two, fill a bucket with water.

Step three, pour water over yourself...

to create a conductive

layer on your skin.

Step four, lift your chin...

and press your fingers

against your neck...

to promote circulation.

Silly Goose. You need more water.

Now you have the red light.

(ominous swell)

You may notice the

distinct smell of onions.

But rest assured that is totally normal.

We wish you well on

your back health journey.

And remember, he who sits

atop the ladder is golden rivens.

Hey Huff mates. So, ooh, I...

finally made it out of the city.

I thought I'd go for a

hike because I used...

to go all the time back at home.

And now I live in Queens.

Thinking a lot about paradise.

And some people call it heaven.

Some people call it nirvana.

And the ancient Greeks called it Elysium.

The place where the blessed go after death.

And I'm not religious,

But it's kind of interesting, right?

And I've been thinking about what...

paradise will look like for me.

I don't think it's where

I'm gonna end up...

wherever I end up after I die.

I think it's becoming a

real reporter at the National.

And getting to tell the truth every day.

I am so jealous of all the

people out there getting...

to do the real work.

(phone dings)

I would give anything to do that.

(phone vibrates)

I've got a g*n, as*h*le.

Don't think I won't sh**t.

(tense string music building)

(intercom static)

Who are you?

Look behind you.

(footstep creaking)

(creepy piano notes)

(police sirens)

You called the police, right?

The patrolman just left.

No sign of forced entry.

He called it a prank.

So we pull the plug.

We've only scratched

the surface of this thing.

No story is worth dying for.

Did I lose you?

I'll have the next

piece ready by tomorrow.

I guess now's a good time to tell you.

The AP picked up your

story for a syndication.

Why the hell didn't you lead with that?

'Cause I was busy making

sure my friend was okay.

Such a p*nsy.

I guess it's only a matter of time...

before I lose you to a bigger paper.

Are you sure you're ready

to get back in the game?

I was never out.

It's gonna be so nice having all

this extra space with your ego gone.

Love you too,

(orchestral music continues)

Ben Whitley?

(video call ringing)

Hey.

Oh hey.

Um.

Have you had a drink since we last spoke?

No.

Look, I, um...

I want to apologize for yesterday.

I let my anger get the best of me...

and I shouldn't have

done that. I'm sorry.

Does that happen a lot?

When I drink? Yeah.

I always heard alcohol

reveals who you really are.

Maybe.

But I believe that God can

change someone's heart.

So you've changed then?

After my brother died...

I couldn't hide my drinking from anyone.

You know, I got lost in

the rage and the hate.

And I just wanted to punish everyone.

But then the fog cleared.

And I realized I only really

wanted to punish myself.

Yourself?

Yeah.

I called him.

Like...

two in the morning.

And I told him to come over.

And I really don't even

remember doing that.

But...

he was shot...

walking over to my place.

Later on I got a call.

And they told me that

my brother was k*lled...

15 feet from my apartment steps.

That sucks.

Yeah.

But the only thing that really

helped me out was the Bible.

You just opened it and found an answer?

Well no, it's not that simple.

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

Okay, don't worry.

You don't have to say it.

But there's probably somebody out...

there who has something against you.

I can think of a few people.

Okay, now what if they forgave you?

I'd say they've

finally given it to sense.

So you have a clean conscience?

Do you always wear a tie?

It's an old habit.

You worked in an office, right?

I'm gonna guess day trader,

That's incredible.

Wall Street?

A smaller firm far from Wall Street.

Well, how far?

You know, you always seem to

get more out of me than you give.

Maybe I'm just better at this than you.

Okay, well then help me out.

I haven't left my

apartment in three months.

You know, we tend to isolate ourselves...

when we feel guilty about something.

Everyone keeps telling

me I should feel guilty.

Have you done something wrong?

I did my job.

I don't think you believe that.

I think we've had enough for today.

I'll talk to you later.

No wait. This is progress.

(ominous string music)

Of course, there's no

trace of Ben Whitley online.

This address isn't even real.

Nothing on the ladder seems to be

Interesting.

(synth wave theme)

(Narrator) They tormented him.

Pushed him to the edge.

And now he must fight back.

Nothing can stop him.

I hate him because he's handsome.

And he's got a better mustache than me.

So k*ll him and k*ll him dead.

(Narrator) But he

couldn't be k*lled so easily.

Do you see him? I've heard

about this portal to a Forever City.

(Narrator)He always shows

up where you least expect.

(painful scream)

Those were two of my best men.

Let me take care of him.

(Narrator) But what she

wanted was for Jack Arcadia...

to take care of her.

Nothing we do and nothing we are...

in this world is permanent.

Okay, - Does anybody even want

Does anybody even want

to actually try to k*ll this guy?

What's that smell?

That's a smell of freedom - And onions.

And onions.

This is a portal to a wonderful place.

Where does it go?

(gasping)

Paradise.

Where is everybody?

Found you.

(laughing)

You're too late.

I'll see you in Arcadia.

Like hell you will.

(Narrator) Vogler Pictures presents...

Ben Whitley as...

Jack Arcadia in...

Arcadia Calling.

(synth wave theme fades)

(inquisitive music)

(percussion hits)

Ben f*cking Whitley.

Whitley. W-H-I-T-L-E-Y.

And can you double check the

FOIA request? Thanks Jasmine.

Let me know what you find out.

(tense music)

Is there supposed to be another code?

Huh.

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(beep)

(printer whirring)

(paper ejecting)

(phone ringing)

Mrs. Hoffman?

You said you were gonna

write a story about Emma.

I did. I sent it to you.

You mentioned her one time.

The rest of this is about

some online puzzle.

Oh, Emma's the reason I found it, so...

You promised me you would tell her story.

I, I've been investigating...

and it's led to some

more complex details.

You mean more interesting.

I don't think that's true.

You made my daughter

a footnote in all this...

because it's not as

tantalizing as mystery websites...

and coded messages.

I'm a journalist. I can't

let one person dictate...

how the story unfolds.

I know why she stopped

writing about you in her journal.

It's the same reason you use a pseudonym.

So you looked me up then?

Yeah, I did. I was wrong about you.

You're not the one to tell her story.

You only care about telling your own

(dial tone)

(ambient music)

(video call ringing)

What are you doing?

Nothing.

And I haven't had a

drink since we last spoke.

If that's what you're gonna ask next.

Okay, well...

do you want one?

I want to disappear.

Um.

If you're expressing suicidal...

That's not what I mean.

Oh,

Did you really read some

story in an ancient book...

and feel better about

your brother dying?

Do you believe in grace?

We said it at the table,

sometimes, when I was a kid.

(chuckling)

No. Not that.

Grace is getting

something we don't deserve.

Are we talking about God again?

We've all done bad things.

And God has given us

something that we don't deserve.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Okay, but...

we only call them

mistakes because we feel bad.

We've all sinned.

We just got to own up

to it. That's the first step

We call mistakes sins

to get leverage over others.

When I was at Brock and Waller...

I always wanted something from people.

Every relationship that I had benefited me.

And if you ask anyone there,

they'd say that I was selfish...

and just hard to work with.

But God changed your

heart. Now all is forgiven.

Exactly.

And I know you've had

your difficulties with God but...

No.

Not difficulties.

You know that high school

bully I told you about?

What I didn't tell you

is that she was my...

best friend in elementary school.

We used to solve puzzles

together. It was kind of our thing.

We'd write secret messages in class...

and study ciphers in the library.

We even used to make

these little decoder things.

What were they called?

Flexagons?

Look, I know you had a rough life.

Hard time.

But I don't think I'm

doing a good job here.

And I think it's time to get

you with a real advocate.

Yeah, you're right. Thank

you for your help. I have to go.

All right, I'll send you their...

(scissors cutting)

(phone ringing)

Hey, Freddy. I'm still researching

the next piece, so I might...

Doesn't matter.

What?

The feds showed up at

the office 10 minutes ago.

They're shutting your story down.

What the hell?

Legal's already weighed in.

There's nothing we can do about it.

What about the first f*cking amendment?

They said it was a

matter of national security.

This is about the FOIA request.

I'm looking in a Ben Whitley

and they want me to stop.

Okay, well have you found him yet?

No, but the girl... Emma. She's missing.

And if I don't write this story then...

no one else is gonna look for her.

I can't put the paper

in jeopardy for one story.

Freddy, please don't do this.

I wanna help her.

It's already done.

(swelling tense music)

(voices chattering)

The inside is safe. The

outside can't come in.

(repeating phrase)

(phone ringing)

Brock and Waller investments.

This is Alison. How may I direct your call?

I was calling to speak to Colt.

Colt? Phillips.

Phillips. Yeah. Is he there?

Oh, um...

Mr. Phillips doesn't work anymore.

Oh, um...

I know this is strange, but...

we just started dating...

and I kind of get the sense

that he's hiding something.

Oh, I can't speak

about his personal life.

Well, but you knew him though.

You said your name was Allison, right?

- Yes.

- It's just he gets

It's just...

He gets so mad,

sometimes... Allison, and, um...

I know he has a good heart.

But...

He proposed and I just wanna make sure...

Did you say yes?

Was that a mistake?

Allison?

Hold on.

(footsteps)

(door closing)

Do you know why he got fired?

No.

He beat some guy half

to death in a bar fight

Because of his brother?

No. This was months after Nick had died.

Months?

Yes, but I I, I really have to go.

Oh, do you know the name Ben Whitley?

I'm so sorry. I I don't, I

I really, really have to go.

No.

(tearing sheet)

(video call ringing)

Oh hey, I wasn't expecting...

Your brother died months

before you left Brock and Waller.

What does that matter?

You made it sound like he

was the reason you got sober.

Okay.

I got way too comfortable with you.

I let some personal information slip.

And that's exactly why we're

getting you a real advocate.

Your brother is Nicholas Phillips.

I never told you his name.

He was shot walking

up to your apartment...

by the father of one of the girls...

he r*ped and k*lled.

He was innocent.

And the papers...

They printed nothing but lies about him.

He was innocent.

You know, I spoke to

Allison at your old work.

She seems to think you're a violent man.

What is this?

Well this is me proving

all your God is love...

and mercy talk is bullshit.

Well, people really

think they know you...

just because they saw you make mistakes.

That's the bullshit!

Do you know who Ben Whitley is?

Who?

Where is Arcadia?

Okay, obviously you've been drinking.

I'm not an alcoholic.

Are you working with them?

So you pretended to be an addict...

just to get information out of me?

I only lied to get to the truth.

Yeah. And how's that working out for you?

(ambient music)

(ambient music intensifies)

(ambient music swells)

(keys dinging)

(line ringing)

Why can't you just apologize?

It won't save my job.

Is that all you care about? Your job?

Why are you bringing this up now?

Because they called the office today.

The dms and the texts were

bad. But this is my career.

It's gonna blow over

When?

Because it's been a month

and it's only getting worse.

You're about to take vows.

That promise you stick

by me no matter what.

Mason told me they've

found other stories.

Other sources you've faked.

The content for

everything I wrote was true.

I just added some additional...

- That Phillips kid...

wasn't even on the

suspect list for the police, Nora.

Everyone suspects the boyfriend.

I just went through what I had.

You claimed you spoke to

someone inside the department.

Do you really think this is my fault?

You don't like that,

Nora? That's beautiful.

I mean she's like a modern

day Picasso. I can't believe it.

Oh my gosh. Alright, ready?

Mess it around. Mess it around.

Get it all out.

Star.

You want a star.

Let's build a star. How about that?

Let's mess around, mess

around, mess around.

Get 'em all jumbled up.

What is that?

Square!

I mean, come on. Nice job.

Harvard or Princeton? Which one?

(laughing)

I don't know. I think

Harvard would be ideal.

But... you wanna go to

Princeton? Did you say?

I guess Princeton it is!

Gotta say hi to the camera first.

Say hi to daddy.

Say hi.

Good job.

Let's go.

(yelling excitedly)

Why are you always filming me?

You ready for our big date?

Yes.

I believe I am.

- Very nice.

- Thank you.

Mama!

You know what? Let me just

go check on Nora real quick.

Why are you filming?

To get video evidence

of you bailing on her date.

I'm not bailing. She just needed me.

What do you want

me to tell the babysitter?

I can't leave her.

Okay. I'll drive her home.

(dramatic percussion)

(dramatic percussion ends)

(line ringing)

Who is this?

Mom?

It's Nora.

Oh, bullshit. I ain't

heard from her in years.

I was calling to make sure you're okay.

And what makes you think I ain't.

Has anyone been by the house lately?

Some fella came by and

asked to see some pictures...

and some movies.

Who was it?

He said he was doing a

story or something on you.

And you just gave him videos of us?

Maybe.

Some guy you don't know

asks for home movies and you...

I was having one of my bad days.

So things got a little fuzzy.

Did he tell you his name or anything?

I thought he was from your paper.

My paper?

The National.

Chris something.

Said he was your fiance.

Oh, thanks for telling me

you were getting hitched.

I won't expect an

invitation to the wedding.

I'm not with the national anymore.

Did you get fired?

Why do you think I got fired?

You were always in trouble.

I saw in your eyes the day you left.

I said to myself, oh, she's

gonna burn the world down...

and come crawling back to her mommy.

But I can't help you darling.

I got enough troubles of my own right...

I don't want your help.

You were always so ungrateful.

All the times I took care of you...

and you just left me here to rot.

I'm done with you.

My show's coming on.

(sad strings music)

(music fades)

Hey Hoffmates.

I am somewhere in the

middle of Ohio right now.

I have been driving all day.

And I am now in this...

old timey gas station.

Probably gonna sleep in my car tonight.

I know this whole thing

probably looks insane.

How do I explain it?

You know when you find something out and...

and it totally changes your perspective.

Like, tilts your world off its axis.

I dunno. Maybe you haven't.

I hadn't until a couple days ago.

And now I can't stop thinking about it.

I can't stop pursuing it. I...

I need to know if it's real.

I know some of you probably

think that this is stupid.

I don't know. Maybe it is.

But I have to try.

Don't give up on me, yet.

Still got a lot of road ahead of us.

(phone ringing)

Chris.

I didn't know we were talking now.

You're the one calling me.

I don't like being threatened.

Did you visit my mom?

No. Of course not.

Look, we agreed not to contact each other.

Saying you never wanna see

me again really isn't an agreement.

Okay. This is getting

pathetic. You need to stop.

Look, if you've got something from me...

it's not what it looks like.

I'm working on a story.

Oh, are you still

trying to be a reporter.

I am a reporter and

you may not respect me.

Oh, respect?

You're the one who was always obsessed...

with what schools we went to.

No one cared that you

graduated from some state school.

Easy to say when you have

Northwestern on your resume.

We all respected you until

you gave us a reason not to.

You never respected yourself.

That's why you did what you did.

And you're not a reporter because of that.

Now don't contact me again.

(inquisitive music)

Chris, I miss you more than I can even say.

Please write back or I

don't know what I'll do.

Love, Nora.

sh*t.

Go f*ck yourself. I quit.

What the hell?

(dialing)

Pick up, Freddy.

Hi. You've reached Freddy Henshaw.

Managing editor of the Jackson Daily...

(video call ringing)

If you're gonna yell at me,

I've had enough for one day.

You've got 60 seconds...

to tell me about this game.

Game?

Your email said that the

game made you lie to me.

Was that a lie, too?

Why should I trust you?

Well, you made it seem like you...

don't have much of a choice.

I didn't send that email.

This isn't a game. It's...

They went to my mom's house.

Kay, why don't you just stop this?

I can't.

You know, I bought this

after you ripped me a new one.

And I've been sitting

here for about an hour...

just thinking how good it would feel...

to down this whole thing.

I shouldn't have yelled at you.

You know, it's not just that.

The thing is... I miss my brother.

When his girlfriend got m*rder*d...

and he got blamed...

It destroyed him.

You know he called me?

When things started to get really bad.

He called me.

I was too drunk to say anything helpful.

Why are you telling me this?

Because...

I decided to forgive you.

Just like that?

Forgiveness sits better than hate.

I broke the rules.

That's why they made me call you.

Why call me, though?

I don't know.

Well...

What are the rules?

I'd be breaking one

of them if I told you.

You know, I think who's ever behind this?

They want me to help you.

No, you should walk away.

I'm not an alcoholic.

I'm not worth your time.

Look, let me decide

what's worth my time. Okay?

The ladder makes you face

things you you never wanted.

Okay? You should...

You should get out, please.

Kay.

What is it that you're not telling me here?

(door knocks)

What is it?

There's someone at my door.

You weren't expecting anyone?

I have to buzz people

up to get to that door, so no.

This is my address.

If I don't come back in

two minutes, call the cops.

Don't go and investigate. Kay!

(noisy racket)

(ominous synth music)

Who's there?

(silence)

(dragging noise)

(wood snapping)

I got your message.

So you're not gonna fire me?

The email read as pretty authentic.

You know I'd never leave a paper trail.

You're still not running your story.

Why did you hire me after the

National proved I faked those sources?

Because I knew you'd be cheap.

Do you think I'm a bad person?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Then why hire me?

Because if it were me.

I wouldn't want you to

give up on our friendship...

just because I screwed up.

I found this old tape

and I think it might...

help me find Ben Whitley.

We have some old VCRs

down in storage, I think.

I need one. Tonight.

(droning synth music)

(clicking on)

(static)

It is been hours.

Can somebody just answer me?

I know this is a part of your game.

But what are we doing

if you don't want me...

to make it to the next rung?

Ben, is he making you do this?

No, no. I'm not giving up, yet. I swear.

Not yet. I...

So that's it?

(horn blaring)

Mom.

Dad.

I don't know if you'll

ever get to see this.

But I want you to know...

I wanted you to know that I really love you

And it's not gonna make

any sense right now but...

I'm doing this for you.

He can't control me anymore.

(screaming)

(horn blaring)

(intense orchestral music)

No stories were dying for.

(button clicking)

(button clicks)

Why can't you just apologize?

It won't save my job.

Is that all you care about? Your job?

Why are you bringing this up now?

Because they called the office today.

The dms and the texts were

bad. But this is my career.

It's gonna blow over

When?

Because it's been a month

and it's only getting worse.

You're about to take vows.

That promise you stick

by me no matter what.

Mason told me they've

found other stories.

Other sources you've faked.

The content for

everything I wrote was true.

I just added some additional...

- That Phillips kid...

wasn't even on the

suspect list for the police, Nora.

Everyone suspects the boyfriend.

I just went through what I had.

You claimed you spoke to

someone inside the department.

Do you really think this is my fault?

You're Nora Farrow.

Yes.

You fabricated this whole thing.

I faked one source,

but the rest of that st...

This whole thing has been a lie.

I told you.

They made me call you.

Did they make you

pretend to be an addict?

Or lie about our connection?

I didn't know until yesterday.

The last time we talked...

and I asked you...

if you knew the reason why.

Were you lying then?

How'd you get here?

One minute I was in my apartment.

The next I was here.

With this tape player.

And this note.

What does it say?

Whatever happens in this apartment...

we'll make it go away.

So you gonna punish me?

There's the door.

You really can't leave, can you?

I'm finally meeting the real you.

The real me?

You are pretending, too.

All that violence inside

wants so badly to come out.

You're true to yourself.

Even to the end.

I'll give you that.

(intense percussive music)

They want you to k*ll me.

They won't make it go away.

It'll be front page news.

You can't trust them.

But I can trust you, though?

(screaming)

(breathing hard)

My brother would still be alive...

if you didn't print his name.

I didn't pull that trigger.

But you aimed the g*n.

(sad droning music)

You're right.

I'm sorry.

I guess you, uh...

want to be alone?

What are you gonna do?

I need to make it to the next rung.

You're not gonna solve all

these puzzles holed up in here.

Don't.

They changed them.

They're trying to tell me something.

Look, if you stay in here...

you'll wither away

until there's nothing left.

Maybe that's what I deserve.

I know you don't believe in God, but...

There has to be

something outside of all this.

Something that makes this matter.

That makes you matter.

The world punished me for what I did...

and then they moved on.

Another year or two and

no one will remember.

I'll remember.

You're gonna forgive me again?

That only lasted until you

found out who I really was.

Okay? I'm gonna tell

you to do the one thing...

that you've been

running from this whole time.

Yeah. What's that?

Why can't you leave this apartment?

Because everyone out there hates me.

I thought you said they

wouldn't remember who you are.

They won't, but...

I'm safe in here, okay?

Safe from what, Nora?

It is time to forgive.

I'm the one that messed up.

Who do I forgive?

I hate myself.

You made a mistake. You've paid for it.

It's time to move on.

Nora.

Emma?

Come outside.

(hopeful piano music)

(swelling drones)

(voices murmuring)

(voices fade)

Go ahead.

What's that smell?

Onions.

(energetic synth wave music)