Original subtitles

[Ding]

♪♪

[Rumbling]

[Dishes, glasses rattling]

♪♪

[Gasps]

[Gasps]

[Screams]

[Gasps]

Somebody help!

[Screams]

Are you okay?

[Gasps]

[Groans]

[Groans]

[Chain clangs]

What the hell?

He speaks.

Welcome back, Demarcus.

Calm down, calm down, calm down.

What? I'm Dr. Bonnetville.

Yeah, I know who you are.

Why the hell did you strap me to this bed?

You bumped your head.

I'm so sorry. You took me by surprise.

I'm so sorry.

Admit to nothing.

Okay. Okay. Why am I in control?

What reality is this?

Which reality were you looking for?

Not this one.

Would you give us a moment?

I'd like to speak with the newly arisen Demarcus.

Are you sure? I'll be fine.

Okay.

I understand that you are a bit confused.

And I would really like to help clear things up.

[Door closes] But I must insist

that you remain calm.

Yeah, it's hard to remain calm

when you've strapped me to the bed.

Okay. Very well. Right.

Alright. There. Take this one off.

[Velcro unclasping]

And there you go.

Demarcus Haynes...

[Groans] ...age 33

born in Washington, D.C. to a Therease and William Haynes,

both now deceased.

That's not right.

Okay, most of it is, but my name is Demascus.

It says here on your license Demarcus Haynes.

And you have a sister.

Shaena's here?

Where am I? What is this?

You are at St. Elizabeth's Asylum and Sanitarium.

Asylum? Why?

Diagnosis -- permanent vegetative state

due to a non-traumatic brain injury.

Well, I guess it's not so permanent after all.

What are you saying?

What I am saying is that for the last 18 months,

you have slept, ate, and shat at regular intervals

but lacked any and all awareness until this afternoon.

Nah, I got to get the hell out of here.

Uh, you must please sit down.

This ain't it. Demarcus!

That's not my name. You -- Please sit down.

No, this is not my reality.

Something is wrong. Demarcus, yes.

I'm not supposed to be in -- Yes, you are.

I'm not supposed to be in control.

[Whirring]

[Rumbling]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[Rumbling]

Jesus.

[Rumbling stops]

Yo!

Hello?

Hey, yo!

So, Queen, my first pit bull, she -- she had the HPV,

and that shit would flare up when she was on her period.

And -- And then she got hit by this self-driving --

I'm sick of hearing about these dogs.

Moratorium on the talking about the dogs, bro.

-I have to agree. -Don't agree with me, muhfucka.

You're right. I'm sorry.

Okay, gentlemen, gentlemen.

Lloyd has the talking stick.

He not doing shit with it.

Lloyd: No, I'm trying to talk because I got the talking stick!

Shit or get off the pot, Lloyd.

Okay, Bluu! Please, Lloyd, continue.

No, it's fine. I'm done.

-It's cool. -Fuckin' about time.

Let somebody else have the floor.

That's a really good idea. Does -- Does --

Does anyone else have anything they would like to say?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. Um...

Ooh, ooh, Doc, ooh.

-Arnez? -Don't let him get that.

Ah, me?

How about you, Demarcus?

That's not funny, Doctor B. Demarcus is a vegetable.

He's a potato.

-Okay. -Dude has risen.

He's awake.

Demarcus, you have the talking stick.

It's Demascus.

And this is not my primary reality.

Then whose reality is it?

It's yours. It's -- It's all of yours.

I mean, you all belong here in this reality.

I don't know if y'all belong here, but I mean.

It tracks.

So -- So this -- this is like -- like a dream?

Oh, Dr. Bonnetville, you said we couldn't discuss our dreams.

You said that they weren't helpful.

I said your dreams were not helpful and perverted.

Demarcus' dreams, however,

may help him deal with processing his trauma.

Tell us about this primary reality.

It's Demascus, not Demarcus.

And right now, I am in DIRT.

Well, actually double DIRT.

I did DIRT in DIRT, and now it's --

What the hell is dirt? Why you keep saying dirt?

It's Digital Immersive Reality Therapy.

It allows me to travel to other realities, alternate realities.

But usually as a voyeur.

You -- You told me that. Not this you.

Another version of you.

A voyeur? Yes.

I can't control the narrative.

But you can. You do.

You control the narrative.

No, I don't need uplifting. Okay?

I need to get back to my reality.

Well, how do you plan on doing that?

I don't know. That's -- That's the question.

So -- So you saying there's, like, multiple realities

and there's, like, a different version of me?

Bro, there are infinite versions of you.

Yeah.

Where I come from, you -- you're Redd.

In my reality, we boys, friends.

That's weird.

I'm a solo dolo nigga.

Am I there, too?

Yeah. I encounter all of you.

Everyone here in one form or another.

So, Demascus, tell us about your primary self.

In my primary reality, I am a graphic designer.

I work for the government. I live in D.C.

I have a house. It's my mother's house.

I have friends. I have -- I have a life.

You're not, like, seeing someone?

It's complicated. Her name is Budhi.

Budhelia Banks.

Oh.

♪ Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks ♪

♪ Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks

Dr. Bonnetville: Alright, alright, alright.

Good job.

If I'm hearing you correctly,

you don't feel like you belong.

I don't belong here. Okay?

I -- I, me.

I am not Demarcus. Okay?

I am Demascus, and the real me is in your office doing therapy,

and I am in your office doing therapy.

But with locks. Like you --

Do you get what I'm saying?

I've seen that movie. I seen that movie.

Doc, I know how crazy I sound.

Whoa, whoa! I've seen that movie.

Hold on. We don't use that word, no.

Demascus: Okay, my bad, sorry, my bad.

But, do you understand me?

But you are in therapy now.

But let's keep the science fiction out of it, shall we?

Okay?

Bluu: Crackers and crayons.

Fucking -- I'm fucking tired of crackers and crayons!

You gonna eat yours?

Nah, man, you -- you can have them.

Fucking jumbo kind, too, like we're in kindergarten

because some people

can't stop breaking the fucking crayons!

Dornell!

No regard.

You really got to keep an eye

on the quiet crayon breaking muhfuckas.

[Chuckles] Yeah.

Thanks for the heads-up, man.

So, am I really in your other reality?

[Chuckles] Yeah, man. We best friends.

I'll put you on some game.

Yeah?

Mm-hmm.

I'm not really as bad off as these muhfuckas.

Mm-hmm. I'm here by choice.

By choice of the state.

Keep walking, Arnez.

I fuck with him, but he's actually all right.

You just got to watch him.

Keeps trying to off himself.

"Trying" being the operative word.

He's a stunt queen.

His words, not mine. Mm-hmm.

Sebs: What you want?

That's Sebs.

He suffers from debilitating white guilt.

He went full liberal and can't reconcile the fact

that he's actually the enemy.

I don't blame him. I get it.

Poor thing. Can even play chess anymore.

He used to be a master.

Colonizer!

Really doesn't like to be reminded of that.

That is Paranoid Lloyd.

He don't like to really have a permanent residence

on account of Sin Titulo.

What's Sin Titulo?

[Clears throat]

You really must be from another reality

if you don't know about the secret shadow organization

that runs the world, huh?

Man, that sound like the Illuminati.

The Illuminati is not real.

Sin Titulo is the truth.

But that nigga is Paranoid Lloyd.

He's paranoid?

Paranoid don't mean it's not the truth.

Paranoid don't mean there ain't

actually motherfuckers coming after you.

Sin Titulo killed his dogs.

What about you, R-- Bluu?

What's your deal, brother?

I'm like you, man.

I don't belong here.

Oh, shit. I think that's your girl.

Now it's time for "The Budhi Banks Show"!

Kids: Yay!

♪ Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks ♪

Budhi Banks.

That's not her.

That's her. She's cute, man.

[Whirring]

[Soft piano music playing]

♪♪

[Bell rings]

♪♪

Follow my lead.

Yeah.

Hey, hey.

Ahh. Naomi: Thank you.

It's good to see you.

Yes.

♪♪

Take your pills. Yeah. Uh-huh.

Thank you, Demarcus.

Fools they asses every time.

You didn't take -- Hey, hey, hey.

You didn't take the pill?

Hell no. Did you?

You said I should --

You said I should follow your lead, so...

I didn't swallow.

How was I supposed to know that?

Facts.

What's going to happen to me?

I don't know.

Hey.

[Whirring, beeping]

Hey.

Hey, my man.

Yo.

Wake your ass up.

[Plane rumbling, alarms beeping]

[Gasps]

No.

Woman on P.A.: ...please meet your family and friends

in the common room.

Demarcus!

Oh, my God, I can't believe it.

[Laughs]

I'm not him.

Well, I-I know, babe. It's probably all overwhelming,

but I want you to meet someone.

Drew!

[Laughs]

Bro...

you're alive, man.

It's so good to see you, man.

Thanks. I guess.

Demarcus, what are you talking about?

You've never met Drew.

Right, right, right, right. I can explain.

No, there's no need. I get it.

Wait, you do?

You must have heard me talk about him when I visited.

Something told me you were in there.

Yeah, or just hear me out.

Or I don't belong here.

I know.

You're probably upset with me because

I put you in this place, but I couldn't do it alone.

No, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey. It was a lot between --

I'm not -- I'm not upset. It's okay.

I'm not him. Alright?

But on behalf of Demarcus, I forgive you.

And so who are you?

I'm Demascus.

And I need you to help me get back to my primary reality.

How can we help? Don't encourage him.

DIRT. DIRT.

Digital Immersive Reality Therapy.

I need you to find out if DIRT exists in this reality.

Just stop, stop.

You have to stop talking like that,

or they ain't gonna let me bring you home.

What, you want me to come live with you?

Of course.

Mama would have wanted it that way.

And she's not alone anymore.

What about the baby?

I thought we weren't telling anyone about that yet.

I didn't know he was listening.

Look, the house is big enough for all of us, and

it won't be the first Black child to grow up with

a crazy uncle in the attic.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, "crazy,"

we -- we don't say that here.

The point is, we want you home in this reality.

So do whatever you have to do and say whatever you have to say

to get out of this place

and stop with the alternate-reality fantasies

because it sounds weirdo.

It always has.

What?

Been obsessed with this multiverse shit

since we were kids.

Hey, take this time to heal, bro.

My Tethur.

[Both laugh]

Yo.

Where's the --

Hey, it's -- it's just a book.

So you can put that wild imagination down on paper.

Yeah. [Clears throat]

[Sighs]

Get up. What?

Get up. I'm reading, man.

Get up. Hey. Chill.

Yo!

[Grunts] Hey, what the --

Hey, hey, what's up? What's up?

What's up?

Chill. No, you chill.

What's wrong, man? Alright, snap out of it.

Redd, stop! What's up?

What's up? Stop!

Snap out of it!

Yo! Yo!

[Grunts]

Stop!

Chill. Yo! Yo!

[Grunts]

God! Redd, stop! Redd! No!

Man, what's wrong with you?

Hey, snap out of it!

[Grunting]

-You don't know me! -Yes, I know you!

You fucking don't. I know you!

I know you across all realities, brother,

and you ain't never tried to hurt me, man.

This ain't you.

You good. Yeah.

Okay? Stop.

You a dad, bruh.

I'm a father. I'm a father.

Yeah.

Alright, I'mma get off you.

Okay. Okay, I'mma let go.

Yeah, yeah, we're good.

We good? Ooh!

[Chuckles] You good.

Come on.

Okay.

I know I haven't been the best friend.

I push people away.

But you, my Redd,

he ain't never let me do that.

Okay? Mm-hmm.

You got a daughter, man.

Her name's Tarantula.

My daughter named Tarantula?

Yeah.

Her name's Tarantula, bro.

Like?

Like the fucking spider, bro.

Mm-hmm.

I'mma be better.

Right? Okay.

I'm sorry. Mm-hmm.

Haven't been there, man. I'm sorry.

[Groans]

What the fuck?

I'm Bluu, nigga.

[Groans]

Hey!

Fuck you!

Hey, Redd, chill!

Yo, man!

Get off!

[Grunts]

Come on!

[Indistinct shouting]

[Alarms beeping]

Aw, shit.

Radio: Demascus, what the hell have you done?

I haven't done anything, man!

I just found it like this!

Where are you?

Fuck!

Mm.

Ah, too tight. Aah!

[Gasps]

Ow, whoa, stop, whoa, stop, stop, stop.

Sorry.

Sorry. You spooked me again.

I'm just not used to you being so present.

If y'all keep trying to kill me, I'm about to not be.

Oh, I got stabbed.

Well, it's a flesh wound.

It's a good thing you got so much flesh.

[Chuckles]

Um... What?

No, what were you about to say?

Who said I was about to say anything?

You bite your lip whenever you bite your tongue.

You don't know me.

I know you.

I mean, I -- I -- I know versions of you.

Many versions of you.

Well, you're very observant.

So, what were you about to say?

I was going to ask you what I was like.

Which version of you?

I guess the original, from your "primal" reality.

Primary reality.

Hm.

Um, well,

when we first met, you called me out on my shit.

So she's outspoken.

She was covered in paint, alizarin crimson.

She's uninhibited.

She's inspiring, and she made --

she made me believe that I could be anything.

It's dumb.

No.

That's all about you, though.

Who was I?

I mean, who am I?

If I'm being honest,

I don't know that version of you very well.

Then why do you keep trying to find me?

Her.

[Plane rumbling, alarm beeping]

Radio: Come back, Demascus.

Fuck you, bro!

Demascus. Alright, alright.

[Alarms continue]

[Groans]

Dr. Bonnetville: So what do you think the dream means?

I think it's pretty obvious.

It's like I'm sleepwalking,

and no one's flying the plane.

And I need to get back in the seat, accept control.

Accept my circumstances.

Interesting.

And all this talk of multiverse

and alternate-realities?

Dreams.

My way of processing a world that's just happening around me.

Say more about that.

Everything here is there, somewhere.

Like, how convenient is that?

And then they're like details.

The Budhi Banks TV show thing.

All: ♪ Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks, Budhi Banks ♪

Like, come on.

My brain is clearly rearranging things,

trying to process it all.

Fascinating.

Seems you've done a complete 180.

To what do we owe this sudden reversal?

Clarity of focus.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

Get back to reality.

Agreed.

One last question.

What is your name?

Demarcus.

My name is Demarcus Haynes.

[Engine whirring]

[Alarms beeping]

[Wheels thud, rumbling]

[Alarms beeping]

[Engine slowing]

Bluu: Phase 3. [Clears throat]

Bring all knowledge into one source for the masses

and create a "must see."

Phase Z -- Benevolent Autocracy.

Total world domination, but benevolently.

I asked you all to write down

your plans for the future.

Next time, I'll be a little more specific.

So let's open it up to the floor.

Does anyone have any feedback?

Arnez: I do.

Uh, well, I don't understand.

How are you going to become leader of the entire world?

Yeah, you're just a nigga strapped to a chair.

He said that word again. I can't stand that word.

-I hate that word. -Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd.

-Oh, you hate that word? -Yeah.

My bad.

I'm just going to play devil's advocate.

You ain't got no job, no money, no education.

You don't even have a GED. Bluu: Doesn't matter.

I could have a master's in fucking wizardry.

Niggas still gonna sleep.

Just worry about them later.

Next time, why not focus on more of the mundane

things like continued education, permanent housing?

Would anyone else like to discuss their plans

for the future?

Um...Demarcus?

Why do you always do that?

[Clears throat]

Well, I -- I want to accept this reality,

but if I'm being honest, it is hard.

[Chuckles]

The world that I built was so much bigger.

Had everything that I needed.

But I still wasn't happy.

And why do you think that is?

I avoided everything.

I cut myself off.

I mean, I put myself in a catatonic state

to avoid addressing my mother's death.

Even in my wildest dreams, I still didn't.

He's talking about his dreams again.

Arnez, you're right, I am.

And it's time that I let go of those fantasies.

I need to connect with the right here and right now.

My sister, she wants me home.

Right now, y'all,

I'm about to be a crazy-ass Black uncle.

I'm sorry, my bad, no, no, not crazy

because we don't use that word.

My bad.

Hey, that -- that's nice, man.

Thanks, Lloyd.

It's 2023, and I'm a Black man.

And the world is as inhospitable as ever.

And the only way to combat that shit

is to know thyself through and through.

So, um, I am going to take the time to find me.

Because I'm 33, and this is my year to be a martyr.

And this is martyrdom.

That's a big word.

It is.

♪♪

♪♪

[Bell rings]

♪ Love yours

♪ Huh

♪ Love yours

♪ No such thing

♪ No such thing as a life that's better than yours ♪

♪ No such thing as a life that's better than yours ♪

♪ Love yours

♪ No such thing as a life that's better than yours ♪

♪ No such thing, no such thing ♪

♪ Heart beatin' fast, let a nigga know that he alive ♪

♪ Fake niggas, mad snakes

♪ Snakes in the grass, let a nigga know that he arrived ♪

♪ Don't be sleepin' on your level ♪

♪ 'Cause it's beauty in the struggle, nigga ♪

♪ Beauty, beauty

♪ Goes for all y'all

♪ It's beauty in the struggle, nigga ♪

♪ Beauty, beauty

♪ Let me explain, yeah

♪ It's beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success ♪

♪ Hear my words or listen to my signal of distress ♪

♪ I grew up in the city and know sometimes we had less ♪

♪ Compared to some of my niggas down the block, man ♪

♪ We were blessed

♪ And life can't be no fairytale, ♪

♪ No once upon a time

♪ But I be goddamned if a nigga don't be tryin' ♪

♪ So tell me, mama please

♪ Why you be drinking all the time? ♪

♪ Does all the pain he brought you ♪

♪ Still linger in your mind? 33 years old.

I was born in Washington D.C.

to Therease Haynes.

I never knew my father.

He died.

My name is Demascus Haynes.

♪ No such thing as a life that's better than yours ♪

-♪ Love yours -♪ No such thing as a life

-♪ That's better than yours -♪ Love yours

♪ No such thing as a life that's better than yours ♪

-♪ Love yours -♪ No such thing

♪ No such thing

♪ For what's money without happiness? ♪

♪ Or hard times without the people you love? ♪

♪ Though I'm not sure what's 'bout to happen next ♪

♪ I asked for strength from the Lord up above ♪

♪ 'Cause I've been strong so far ♪

♪ But I can feel my grip loosening ♪

♪ Quick, do something before you lose it for good ♪

♪ Get it back and use it for good ♪

♪ And touch the people