All language subtitles for The Pod Generation (2023)

(BABY CRIES)

(ALARM PINGS)

- (SIGHS)
- (CAT MEOWS)

(KISSES)

(DEVICES WHIR SOFTLY)

FEMALE VOICE:
Good morning, Rachel.

Did you have a good
night’s sleep?

RACHEL:
Mm, great! Thanks, Elena.

ELENA: I have the results from
your gut intelligence test.

Congratulations!
Your gut is getting smarter.

Your microbiome
is showing good diversity.

Friendly bacteria are thriving.

Your serotonin
seems a bit low today.

I’d like to squeeze a Nature
Pod session in your schedule.

You’ve skipped it
for the last three weeks.

Yeah, I know, but this week
is really tight, Elena. Sorry.

When did I wear
Blizzard Pearl last, Elena?

ELENA: Last Thursday.

I suggest Silver Fossil
for today.

Yeah.

(LAUGHS)

(MUTTERS)

There it is.

(GROANS)

RACHEL: (LAUGHS)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

Mm-mm. I gotta go to work.

- Ten minutes?
- No.

- Five minutes?
- Mm-mm.

- Bye.
- Bye.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT)

ELENA: I guess today is…

T-shirt, Alvy.

(PRINTER WHIRS)

Today, our national Bliss index
is up by three…

Thanks, Elena, not now.

ELENA: Since last week,
your Bliss index

may be described as neutral.

- (CAT MEOWS)
- ALVY: There you go, buddy.

ELENA: How can we make you
more blissful, Alvy?

ELENA:
Your coffee is ready, Alvy.

ELENA: Ah, no.

I did not hear
the magic word, Alvy.

Magic word, Elena.

(UPBEAT CHIME)

ELENA: Enjoy your toast.
Well done.

- (WINCES)
- ELENA: Breakfast is served.

(SIGHS)

(EXHALES)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

RACHEL: Our Lenas
have completed their training,

so it’s time to let them go.
A big congrats to everyone.

(CHEERING)

And now,
I’d like to introduce you

to our next generation
of cognitive assistants,

our Mashas.

Through their Deep Learning
training with you,

our Mashas will become
Cognitive Executives.

In a couple of months,

they should take over
your current client portfolios,

as you will be in charge
of an exclusive new set

of Tastemaker
and Influencer accounts.

So are we at risk of becoming…
redundant?

Progress has never made anyone
redundant. It’s here to help.

Thank you, Rachel.

We’re so excited.

I can feel our Mashas are eager
to jump in and get started.

So, big round of applause,
everyone.

And now, let’s get back to work,
because now is our future.

Rachel, sorry,
do you have a second?

- RACHEL: Yeah, of course.
- Please, thank you.

I just wanted to let you know

we’re really pleased
with your work.

We’re thinking maybe
it’s time for a promotion.

- RACHEL: Oh, wow.
- Um…

Any family changes
we should be made aware of?

RACHEL:
Not that I can think of.

Your husband,
his profession is not listed.

Oh, right.

Yeah, so he’s a botanist.
(CHUCKLES)

So, he studies plants
and plant-like things.

He also teaches
hologram plant design.

So you’re the primary source
of income?

Well, at the moment, yeah.

And any plans
on extending the family?

(EXHALES)

Well, um, I’m sure we will
at one point.

Not in the near-near future,
um… but soon.

But not, you know…

not immediately,
like right now. Um…

Rachel, you’re…
you’re having a great year.

It’d be a pity to lose
that momentum.

The Womb Center company

has just been added
under our corporate umbrella,

should you ever consider
going down that route.

I mean, we could even help
with the down-payment.

- RACHEL: Wow!
- It is our hottest perk.

We just want to make
sure we retain

the best and brightest women.

Absolutely. That’s…

MASHA: Elena suggested
we should schedule

a Nature Pod session.

This week is really insane.

MASHA: Only 20 minutes
of nature…

Maybe at lunchtime?

MASHA: Thank you, Rachel.
I’ll work on it.

MASHA: Your Happy Light is on,
Rachel.

Yep, I can see that.

MASHA:
I can feel some irritation

in your voice, Rachel.

Next time, would you rather
have me not mention

the Happy Light is on?

That would be great.

MASHA: Thank you, Rachel,

for helping me
with my Deep Learning.

Do we have an update
on the Zach Meyer profile?

MASHA:
He’s at only 22,430 likes.

His combo rating
has dropped by 2.5 percent.

Well, do we have any idea why?

MASHA: He sold part
of his NFT collection.

(COMPUTER PINGS)

MASHA: You have an incoming
call, Rachel. 1-800-WOMB.

WOMAN: Hi, this is a message
for Rachel Novy.

Hi, Rachel. This is Rebecca
at the Womb Center.

We’re delighted to let you know

that we’ve had some movement
on our wait-list.

A spot has just opened up.

Please call us back
as soon as possible

to secure a spot
and arrange a tour.

Again, this is Rebecca
at the Womb Center. 1-800-WOMB.

Looking forward
to hearing back from you!

(SIGHS)

REBECCA: Hi, Rachel!
Thank you for calling us back.

We’re delighted that a spot
has opened up for you.

We’ve had
a really tight wait-list

for the past two years.

No movement whatsoever.

Oh, I-I guess we’re lucky.

REBECCA: So, now we just
need to schedule your tour.

Um, let me check
our availabilities.

Can you make it on Thursday,
ten a.m.?

Uh, y-yeah,
Thursday should work.

REBECCA: Perfect!
We’ll see you on Thursday.

(PHONE BEEPS)

(SOOTHING MUSIC)

(WAVES CRASH)

(BABY CRIES IN THE DISTANCE)

(BABY CRIES IN THE DISTANCE)

This wasp is now extinct.
So in order to get these figs,

we’ve had to artificially
inseminate the pollen

into the flower.

- Anyone?
- No. No, no, no, no, no.

- (STUDENTS CHUCKLE)
- No.

- No?
- Disgusting.

No one’s going to eat it?

It’s from the tree, Professor.

ALVY: Well, yes. Exactly, Leo.

That’s… that’s the point.

The texture is completely
different when it’s fresh…

from the tree.

STUDENT 1: I’ll try it.

- STUDENT 2: No way.
- Thank you, Josh.

ALVY: So?

Can you share with us the taste
of a ripe fig from the tree?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- RACHEL: Hi.
- Hey.

We got a spot
at the Womb Center.

- Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
- (RACHEL LAUGHS)

That is so wonderful!
I’m so happy for you!

Oh, sweetie! Thank you.

Let’s celebrate
with Alvy and Ben.

Why don’t you come
over Saturday?

Well, I haven’t told Alvy yet.

Oh, what are you waiting for?
Call him now!

Oh, my gosh!
You guys are having a baby!

No, I know, I know, I know,

but I never told him
that we were wait-listed.

Um… Why, Rachel?

(DEEP CHIME)

FEMALE VOICE:
Why did you not tell Alvy

you were on the wait-list,
Rachel?

(SIGHS) Because I know him.

There’s always
so much resistance.

FEMALE VOICE:
Why would he resist?

Because he wants
a natural child.

FEMALE VOICE:
When you say "natural" child,

what do you mean exactly,
Rachel?

As in a natural pregnancy,

like, as in I would get pregnant
and then I would give birth.

FEMALE VOICE: I understand,
but why is that natural?

Oh, um… as…

intended by nature, I guess,
as opposed to a…

artificial, uh…
like an artificial uterus.

FEMALE VOICE: When you come
to our sessions,

what do you tell Alvy?

I tell him I’m going
to go see my shrink.

I mean, my therapist.

FEMALE VOICE:
So you wouldn’t say,

"Honey, I’m on my way to see
my artificial therapist"?

No. No, I wouldn’t.

FEMALE VOICE: Then Alvy and you

are not having
an artificially born child.

You are having a child.

A very fine child.

Uh… OK.

Thanks. (LAUGHS POLITELY)

(BOTH INHALE DEEPLY)

HOSTESS: That’s one eGold.

(PHONE BEEPS)

Thank you.

You don’t want him to feel,
like, cornered or something.

I just couldn’t tell him.
There’s never the right moment.

I don’t want to hurt him.

(SIGHS)

You need to be pragmatic.

You need to tell him
before the tour.

Oh, yeah. No, I know.

I’m not gonna go on the tour
without him.

That’s nonsense…
(INHALES DEEPLY)

(WHISPERS) It’s just
intentional breathing.

At whatever pace.

Whatever depth you desire.

My hands…

I’m going to pull them
like this…

What, honey?

- I was just looking at you.
- (BOTH LAUGH)

- How was your day?
- Oh…

I… I had one of my students
taste a fig from the tree.

I took them…
I took them to the greenhouse.

They’d never been, you know?

And at first,
they were acting strange,

like they were embarrassed,
but then…

something…
something beautiful happened.

They just…

They opened up. I mean, it’s…

The thing is, they don’t know
how to interact with nature

because no one’s showing them
how to.

No one cares. It’s…

You know,
we’ve decided at some point

that nature was a commodity

and that’s when
everything started to…

started to unravel.

It’s a divorce… (LAUGHS)
You know? From ourselves…

Hm-hmm.

…in a way, and that’s…

that’s what it is, and it makes
us so… emotionally starved.

Here we are.

MAN: When we saw birth rates
drop in the first world,

we got very concerned.

Our answer was
to acquire the Womb Center

to help solve childbirth
and empower women,

and men, of course.

- HOST: Of course.
- (LAUGHS)

MAN:
We’re very proud of this work.

HOST: And you should be.

How do you explain the decline
in birth rate in the US?

Women are reluctant
to have children

because it’s not made
convenient for them.

At Pegazus,
we want fulfilled mothers.

We want them to pursue
their careers and dreams.

So, let us do the heavy lifting
while you enjoy your babies.

We are highly scientific,

and we use intuition and heart
when needed.

Hi, everyone.
Hi. I’m Linda Wozcek.

I’m the Womb Center director.

I’m sure you’re all
very excited.

I know many couples would dream
to take this tour today.

We’re glad to share with you
something wonderful,

something that is
the privilege of humankind.

This thing is called
technological progress.

We’re humans,

and we humans have always
managed to control nature.

No woman is completely free
until she has control

over her own
reproductive system.

We offer the best start.

A stress-and
toxin-free environment

is essential
for a healthy pregnancy.

We want your babies to thrive,
and for that,

they need to receive
optimized nutrition

in a clean, safe,
pure environment

so they can put
all their energy into growing.

Thank you so much.

OK, are we all here?

Now, let me show you.

Thank you.

- There we go.
- (POD WHIRS)

- (EVERYONE GASPS)
- (LINDA CHUCKLES)

There’s our little fellow! Hi!

(LAUGHS) OK.

Now, we encourage you
to bond with your pod

on a regular basis,

but if your schedule doesn’t
allow for it, not to worry.

How can we make sure
our baby’s not bored in utero?

Oh, yeah. We don’t want
any bored babies. No.

We offer a selection of music,

audiobooks, podcasts
in many different languages.

Did you know, research shows

fetuses respond well
to whale sounds? Yeah!

Oh, we’ve no idea why.
(CHUCKLES)

Now, you can personalize
your flavors

or opt by default
for our in-house selection.

It’s important to expose babies
to different flavors

so they don’t turn
into picky eaters later on.

You can access your baby’s
thriving chart on our app.

Your babies won’t be exposed
to any harmful viruses,

chemicals, toxins, bacteria.

We’re also working on developing
their gut intelligence

as early as possible.

WOMAN:
Your technology is amazing.

I wish I could do it all
over again for my first child.

LINDA: Aw! I’m so pleased
to hear that!

This is simply the best
we have to offer.

What is the pod autonomy when
it’s not connected to its base?

That is a great question.

The pods have a 48-hour
autonomy period

so it gives you
ample travel time.

Can the babies hear the world
around them, like in the womb?

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

We were able to replicate

the auditory conditions
for the fetus.

The shell, it’s not sound-proof.

It’s a porous membrane.

So please, when you spend time
with your pods,

please do talk to your baby.

LINDA:
So, did you enjoy the tour?

Yeah, it was very…
uh… impressive.

And informative. (CHUCKLES)

It’s just a lot to take in.

LINDA:
We ask for a deposit today,

just to confirm your interest.

- OK.
- LINDA: We want every child

coming out of our center to be
best equipped for modern life.

I believe your company
will help with a down payment.

Yes, they offered. They did.

Isn’t it wonderful how Pegazus
supports their female staff?

They must love your work!

(OPERA)

Honey, honey,
we got a fraud alert for…

$8,700!

Should I…
Should I call the bank?

Can we talk?

- ALVY: We are talking.
- Yeah…

RACHEL: I made the payment.

It’s a deposit.

- ALVY: Deposit?
- Hm-hmm.

Deposit for… for what?

Work are going
to partly cover it.

I mean, I guess
it’s a part of my…

my promotion package, I guess.

ALVY: What is it?

Well…

The Womb Center called
and a spot opened up.

The Womb Center?

What do you mean,
a spot opened up?

OK, look,
just don’t get upset, but…

I… You know… I-I put
our names on the list last year.

- I never expected to hear back.
- What?

But now,
I guess it looks as though…

they got a spot for us.

You… you wired $8,700
to hold the spot…

without sharing any of this?

No, no, no!
I didn’t just wire the money.

I went to the center.

I visited it, I got
all the information, I-I…

Y-You went to the Womb Center?

I just need to process this
for a second.

So first of all, you put us
on a wait-list

to have a baby in an egg.

- RACHEL: It’s not an egg.
- It’s an egg.

- RACHEL: No, it’s a pod!
- It’s an egg.

Then, you…

You went to take a tour of
the goddamn center without me.

OK. OK, I’m sorry. I just
didn’t know how to tell you.

We discuss things. We, um…

We have a conversation,
and then we reach a consensus,

and then we decide together
whether to do certain things…

or not, especially…

having a baby!

- I’m sorry.
- It’s OK…

- I…
- Come here.

RACHEL: Honey, I’m sorry.

(ALVY SIGHS)

- I love you.
- I love you.

(RACHEL SIGHS)

You know,
we could talk to Alice and Ben.

Alice and Ben? Are you…

Are you serious?

Come on.
They are reasonable people.

The uterus is a political issue.

Probably the most important
political issue of all times.

- (POD HUMS)
- For decades,

women have not felt supported
during their pregnancies.

They’re scared
to be considered difficult.

Their pain minimized.

Their symptoms dismissed
as superficial!

This has to stop!

- Found it! It was actually in…
- Hm-hmm!

Instead of being respected,

mothers are idealized
as Madonnas.

But when a mother actually needs
something from society,

she falls from grace.
And then, guess what.

She is no longer a Madonna,
but a demanding bitch.

(RACHEL LAUGHS)

ALICE: For centuries,
women have been pushed

to believe
that they lacked something.

And somehow, it seemed like,
"Oh, they had penis envy!"

Well, to me, it is quite obvious
that during all this time,

it was men who were probably
having womb envy.

(RACHEL LAUGHS)

"Womb envy."

- Makes sense.
- ALICE: Hm-hmm.

- Uh-huh. (CHUCKLES)
- (POD WHIRS)

But luckily, the pod is taking
care of all these issues

so we can finally stop envying
each other! (LAUGHS)

What are we going to do now?
(CHUCKLES)

- BEN: And voilà! Hands-free!
- (LAUGHTER)

- Hey!
- Hey!

Oh, I think Rachel
is having pod envy!

(ALICE AND RACHEL LAUGH)

- (POD WHIRS)
- BEN: Wow.

I became a real pro at this.
(CHUCKLES)

- (ALICE CHUCKLES)
- So, um… when’s your tour?

- (SNORTS) She…
- We don’t know yet.

ALICE: Think about it, Alvy.

It is the first time in history
that, as women,

we are not victims
of our biology.

Right?

Why would any of us
want to feel nauseous

and gain 35 pounds?
Get stretch marks?

- Yeah.
- ALICE: Swollen ankles?

Varicose veins?

Like, progress has made
all this unnecessary.

It’s the solution, really.

Are you kidding?
It is the ultra-solution.

Ultra-solution.

(ALICE AND RACHEL LAUGH)

Wanna hold it?

I’m good, thanks.

- BEN: Sure?
- Uh-huh.

ALVY: It’s a plastic womb.

Not from the baby’s perspective!

For them, it looks like a womb
and it feels like a womb.

ALVY: Yeah, but it’s made
of plastic!

I’m pretty sure
it’s not made of plastic!

It’s an artificial womb, Rachel,
it’s made of chemicals

and petroleum derivatives
and silicone, and you name it.

Are we really having
an argument about packaging?

I’m talking about the content.

I… I want to have
a child with you.

Me, too. But this is a lot
to process right now.

I mean, look, if I could
get pregnant, I’d do it.

- RACHEL: Well, did you…
- I-I would…

- I would carry this baby.
- But you saw Ben. You can!

That is the closest thing a man
is ever going to get to being…

I just wish we had more time
to process all this.

Just to discuss it.

I know,
but if we take any longer,

we are gonna lose our spot.

We need to make a decision.

We shouldn’t make a decision
under pressure!

You should go and see Eliza.

Why would I talk
to your therapist?

Well, you don’t have one.
And for me,

I find her incredibly helpful
whenever I’m stuck.

(SNORTS)

You know, if we still
had human therapists,

I would gladly see one.
But Eliza…

- No way.
- Eliza knows more

than any human therapist

could ever dream
to learn in a lifetime.

I will not see Eliza, OK?

I mean… I won’t!

(DEEP CHIME)

ELIZA: What brings you
to this session, Alvy?

Well, my wife, Rachel,
asked me to consult you.

ELIZA: You know why she has
asked you to consult me?

Yes, we have to make a decision
on how to conceive our child.

ELIZA: That is interesting.
Please continue.

I’m going to be completely
honest with you, Eliza.

I-I do not trust that you can
help me make this decision.

ELIZA: Tell me more about that.

- Who else do you not trust?
- (SIGHS)

ELIZA: Alvy?

I’m sorry,
this isn’t going anywhere.

ELIZA: Why do you think
it’s not going anywhere?

First of all, you do not
have a consciousness, Eliza.

So you are, um…

You’re not qualified
to take a look at mine.

ELIZA: (CHUCKLES) Well, Alvy,

I am lucky
not to have a consciousness.

Really? Why is that?

ELIZA: Consciousness comes with
some pretty grim companions.

Fear, anxiety, awareness
of death and finitude.

Luckily, I do not have to
deal with any of this.

I can listen
to my patients objectively.

Fair enough, but I still
don’t think this can help me.

ELIZA: Perhaps,
in your fantasies,

we do not trust each other.

I don’t fantasize about you,
Eliza.

ELIZA: What are your feelings
right now, Alvy?

I’m getting
increasingly frustrated!

ELIZA:
Perhaps in your fantasies,

we increasingly
frustrate each other.

ALVY: You are a machine, Eliza.

ELIZA: What about machines
worries you?

You are not qualified
to look at people’s souls.

ELIZA: Do you sometimes
wish you were a machine?

No! (LAUGHS)

ELIZA: You’re being
a bit negative, Alvy.

Well, you know, I am… I am…
I am bored with this…

I am bored with talking to you.

ELIZA: Shall we explore
an annual membership, Alvy?

I’d suggest a very private life
status for you.

What?

- (BEEPING)
- (DOOR WHIRS)

RACHEL: So?

- How was it?
- (ALVY SIGHS)

It was great.

- RACHEL: Yeah?
- Yeah.

That’s so good.
I told you Eliza was awesome!

- ALVY: Yeah.
- Yeah.

(LIGHT JAZZ MUSIC)

How important
is this promotion for you?

Why… Why are you
asking me that?

I’m genuinely curious
how important it is.

Not as important
as having a baby.

In a pod?

Honey, these two things
are not related.

- I’m just trying to understand.
- I know.

We can’t live in the past.

Things are evolving.

Precisely! Evolution.

And we little humans
think that we can do better

than millions of years
of evolution.

RACHEL: Look at everything
we’ve achieved as a species.

We’ve achieved having babies
in eggshells like penguins.

- That is really something.
- (LAUGHS)

Oh, Alvy, sweetie, you’re making
things so complicated.

You know what, let’s…

Let’s just not do it, OK?

I can’t keep arguing about this.

It’s OK.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(RACHEL MOANS)

(BOTH MOAN)

(RACHEL MOANS)

(EXHALES)

Let’s do it, Rachel.

What?

ALVY: The egg.

The pod baby. (LAUGHS)

- Really?
- Yeah.

It’s not because of Eliza.

Or Alice or Ben or…

whoever is on a crusade
out there to convince me.

ALVY: It matters to you.
I can see that.

What?

We don’t have to decide
right now. We can…

take a minute.
You can sleep on it.

LINDA: Here is your contract.

Will Alvy
be the biological father?

LINDA: There’s no right answer.

We can make a baby
from one of your eggs, Rachel,

and a stem cell from your skin.

Which makes men not necessarily
needed in the procedure.

Oh, that’s lovely.
Thank you. That’s great.

Unless you’re aiming
exclusively for a boy,

in which case we will need
that chromosome Y.

Alvy will be
the biological father.

LINDA: Very well.
And have you made your choice?

ALVY: What do you mean?
What choice?

Well, do you want
a boy or a girl?

We’ll let nature decide.

Oh! (CHUCKLES)

That’s quite unusual!

"Let nature decide."

OK.

LINDA: Oh, Rachel.

Oh, what a superb ovum.

Oh, thanks! (CHUCKLES)

Here we go!

Oh, well,
we’ve rather a slow fellow here,

but it’s trying, it’s trying…

Well, this one does not suffer
from hyper-motility! (LAUGHS)

You can do it! Come on,
just a little effort, buddy!

Would you mind not referring
to it as "buddy"?

Here we go.

Our little fellow is in contact

with Rachel’s ovum
zona pellucida.

It’s going to induce changes
in the membrane

and block entry
of other spermatozoa.

Hmm.

They will all die.

The secretion of acrosome

helps the sperm
enter the ovum’s cytoplasm.

Now, the ovum releases
cortisol granules,

which release enzymes which
digest sperm receptor proteins,

preventing polyspermy.

(GASPS) Oh, here we go!

- LINDA: (GASPS) Oh!
- Oh!

LINDA: Oh, wait!

Oh, my God, here we go!
Here we go!

(LINDA GASPS)

- We have a fertilized egg!
- (BOTH LAUGH)

- You have a zygote!
- Oh, wow.

- You’re gonna be parents!
- Yay!

LINDA: Congratulations,
Rachel and Alvy!

You did it! (LAUGHS)

(BUZZING)

(DEVICE BUZZES)

NURSE: Your zygote.

Enjoy.

WOMAN: Congratulations!
We’re so happy for you!

- This is so exciting!
- Thanks!

- MAN: Hi, Alvy.
- Hi.

MAN: How’s the greenery going?

It’s going well, thank you.

You ought to think about

refinancing that mortgage
of yours.

Interest rates are dropping.

Yeah. No, it’s fine, Bill.

BILL: Yeah, but especially
now that you’re having a child.

Have you given more thought

about selling
the Shell Island house?

We… We’re not
selling the house!

(LAUGHS)

BILL: Nobody’s going to
the countryside anymore, Alvy.

We all have access
to nature pods.

RACHEL: Dad!

I’m just saying, because the
house is just sitting there.

Yeah, you know what, Dad?
Drop it! (CHUCKLES)

WOMAN: So, do you have the pod
at home? Can I see it?

Oh, um… we, uh…

We literally just made the baby,
so no, we don’t have it. Yeah.

We’re so excited.
I’m so excited. Yeah.

(♪ "GETTING SOME FUN OUT
OF LIFE" BY BILLIE HOLIDAY)

ALVY: What else can we say
about our design so far?

We have the original right here,
as intended by nature.

- (PAN SIZZLES)
- (WHISPERS) Shit!

(SIGHS) What is it?

I don’t know.
I mean, we just got pregnant.

Look, I just…

I just need, like,
a couple weeks.

(SIGHS)

(DEVICE PINGS)

Alvy, I’m connected to the pod.
Do you want to listen?

ALVY: Can you hear anything?

Well, no, but we’re connected.

Well, until the first heartbeat
is audible, there’s…

nothing to listen to, is there?

Yeah, but…
the baby’s right here with us.

You want to help me
pick a soundtrack?

Isn’t that a bit premature?

I’m pretty sure embryos
can feel sound vibrations.

It’ll… reach him, somehow.

Hm… No, I doubt it.

Why are you being so negative?

Scientifically, it’s impossible

for an embryo
at this stage of development

to respond to music
or anything else.

I mean, we’re talking about
16 blastomere cells, here.

You never know.

(BEEPING)

(POD WHIRS,
MAKES NEGATIVE NOISE)

(POD WHIRS,
MAKES NEGATIVE NOISE)

- (POD WHIRS)
- (POD RATTLES)

(POD HUMS CALMLY)

Um, excuse me, miss?

Would it be possible
to have a peek at my baby?

The screen thingy
is not really working.

Oh, that’s actually normal.
It’s just too early.

We keep the embryos
in complete darkness

the first seven weeks
of gestation,

until the first heartbeat
is audible.

Oh…

(POD PLAYS LULLABY)

Now, this baby is ready
to come into this world.

Oh… (CHUCKLES)

When they’re ready,

babies release specific
proteins and hormones.

The pod detects these substances
in the amniotic fluid.

That’s how we know
the baby’s due.

What about our due date?

It’s an indication, but
in reality, the baby decides.

(WHISPERS) Nature knows best.

- Oh, yeah…
- (NURSE CHUCKLES)

- Uh-huh.
- Let’s get this guy delivered.

Heya, sweetie!

(POD HUMS)

(POD PINGS)

(WOMAN HUMS SOFTLY)

SURGEON 1: It’s ready!
It’s ready! It’s ready!

(METALLIC CUTTING SOUNDS)

- (GASPS) Wonderful!
- Perfection!

SURGEON 2: It’s flawless.

- (BABY CRIES)
- (GASPS)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(DEEP CHIME)

RACHEL: I have been having
the strangest dreams.

As an example, I dreamt I gave
birth to an egg, but like a…

like a hard-boiled egg.

ELIZA: Rachel,
let’s remember that dreams

are not reliable
analytical material.

That’s so 20th century.

Well, yeah. No, I know,
but… I’d like to understand…

like, what do you think
it means?

ELIZA: We no longer look
at dreams

and try to assign them meaning.

Dreams are arbitrary.

But if pressed,

I’d say that your dream
validates your decision

to choose the Womb Center.

Everything is under control.
No surprises.

No boiled eggs to worry about.

(POD WHIRS)

(MUFFLED BUBBLING)

- (MUFFLED HEARTBEAT)
- (MUFFLED) Whoa!

- There?
- Yeah.

(MUFFLED) Can you hear that?
Do you hear it?

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Yeah, I can hear it.

Yeah. You’re welcome
to take the pod home

for a two-week period

after the six months
of gestation.

(NORMAL SOUND)
Most couples prefer

to leave the pod at the center.

Wanna take a sneak peek
at our little fellow?

- Sure.
- You wanna?

- Yeah. You? Yeah. Sure.
- (BOTH LAUGH)

OK.

(POD WHIRS)

(ELECTRIC SCREWDRIVER WHIRS)

Alvy, come and see.
I’ve organized the baby’s room.

Huh!

Well, it’s… cream.

It’s very… very creamy.

ELENA:
I quite like the idea of cream.

Thanks, Elena. I like it, too.

Am I allowed
to… to add a touch?

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

What is it?

- It’s an olive tree.
- RACHEL: Huh?

- A birth tree. (LAUGHS)
- RACHEL: Oh. (LAUGHS)

And you just…
You want to leave it in here?

- This is a tree.
- RACHEL: Uh-huh.

Human beings, babies included,

are supposed to be
around plants and trees.

You could design
a hologram version.

You know what? I’m going
to plant it in Shell Island.

(SIGHS)

- Honey, maybe my dad is right.
- (GROANS)

Maybe we should
sell Shell Island.

We’re not selling the house,
Rachel.

I just don’t see the point.
We never go.

The point is that it’s our
only connection to nature.

And yes, you’re right,
we do never go

because you never want
to leave the city!

Because I don’t need to drive
three hours and take a ferry

when we have everything here.
We have nature pods.

I won’t raise this child in a…
in a nature pod, Rachel.

I won’t.

WOMAN: Hey.

(WOMAN GROANS)

(GASPS)

- WOMAN: Did you feel that?
- Why, yeah.

- (BOTH CHUCKLE)
- Yeah.

Oh.

I’m actually pregnant, too.

WOMAN: You’re not showing
at all. How many weeks?

Uh… So, I’m not
physically pregnant,

but we’re doing the
artif…

We are doing the Womb Center.

Oh, the pod. You’re so lucky.

We couldn’t get a spot.
Maybe for the next one.

Oh, my goodness…

- Oh!
- (BOTH CHUCKLE)

- Oh… You look beautiful.
- Thank you.

ELENA: Good evening, Alvy.

Hi.

Is Rachel here?

ELENA: Yes, Alvy.
I believe she’s changing.

News, please.

TV: …is an integral part
of our future development.

To travel to Mars, everyone
will need a Pegazus passport.

Governments
will be in charge of helping

their populations
achieve universal legality.

We are building
an infrastructure…

What’s up?

…and access that no
government can afford to build.

- Honey?
- RACHEL: Yeah, love?

ALVY: Honey?

TV: This is
the most important…

What’s, uh…

What’s it doing here?

Well, it’s our home period,
honey.

I thought it’d be nice
to spend some time with the pod.

ALVY: Right.

Should we just…

put it in the bedroom?

Yeah. Uh-huh.

(POD PINGS)

(POD PINGS)

(MEOWS AND PURRS)

- (POD HISSES GENTLY)
- (CAT MEOWS)

- Oh…
- Yeah…

- (MEOWS)
- Sorry, Carl.

There you go.

(BOTH MOAN)

(POD HUMS)

I can’t. I can’t do it
with the pod in here.

RACHEL: What are you
talking about? It can’t see us.

- What’s going on? Are you OK?
- I don’t know, I can’t do it.

- RACHEL: Don’t shake it.
- No, there’s amniotic fluid.

The fetus just bounces around.

- (THUD)
- (ALVY GASPS)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

- The baby will fall.
- (POD PINGS)

You know?

In the real world,
he or she will…

will fall, and it’ll be fine.

You don’t need to clean it
every time we touch it.

I’m just following
the instructions, Alvy.

Isn’t the whole thing
hermetically sealed?

No. Somehow, it’s a porous
membrane, and by the way,

the baby can hear us perfectly
right now.

RACHEL: The vegetation wall
really needs a trim.

Yeah, I’ll do it.

(POD PINGS)

(PINGING CONTINUES)

- What’s going on?
- Thought I…

Maybe it’s hungry. When was
the last time you fed the pod?

I don’t remember.
A couple of hours ago, I think?

You’re not sure?

It’s in the app. How can I
be expected to remember

the exact time
of the last feeding?

The baby’s only been here
for a day!

Where’s my phone?

You need the phone
to know if the baby’s hungry?

It’s in the app!

Are you trying
to make me feel guilty?

Because you have the app, too.

You are more than welcome
to take over the feeding.

I don’t know
where the nutrients are.

Look in front of you!

(PINGING CONTINUES)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

Why do we have to do this?

Well, it’s optional, but work
would cover part of the tuition.

We don’t even have a child yet.

I know, honey,
but this is New York.

(♪ "PIANO CONCERTO NUMBER 21"
BY MOZART)

LINDA: We need to prepare our
children for the 22nd century.

Singularity is near, and…

we don’t know what jobs
the future is holding.

Do you follow
a specific curriculum?

All learners move
at their own pace.

We teach coding, but also
concepts and collaboration.

We also introduce them
to fuzzy logic.

Fuzzy logic?

Yeah. Please take your seats.

(MACHINE WHIRS)

LINDA:
And this is our art room.

Yes, surprising, isn’t it?

(CHUCKLES) No dirty aprons,
no running around with scissors

or, you know,
dripping paint brushes.

Are they just,
uh… making digital art?

No, they aren’t making any art
at all.

No, the computers
are making the art,

and the children are giving
the computers their feedback.

The most enduring misconception
about artificial intelligence

is that it’s not creative.
Well, it is!

Much more than us. (CHUCKLES)

Any more questions?

- Yeah.
- Do you have an accreditation

from the Board of Education?

Oh, I’m sorry.
Where are you from?

- Sweden.
- Oh! Oh, I see! Well…

Well, our government
is no longer funding education.

But we are so lucky that
great companies like Pegazus

are investing
in our educational system.

It’s much more efficient.

- I have a question.
- Yeah?

MAN: My nephew, Kormac,
was born at the Womb Center,

but Kormac doesn’t dream.

LINDA: It’s a little
side effect we’re aware of.

- MAN: He never had a dream.
- I wouldn’t worry about it.

Dreaming is not
a primordial function.

Dreams do not serve
any evolutionary purpose.

Any more questions?

ALVY: In the last three months,
what’s impressed me the most

is how social trees are.

In the wilderness,
we can imagine

that they compete
and struggle against each other

for light, for space.

But they also help one another.

They seem very interested
in keeping

every member
of their community alive.

(PHONE PINGS)

(GROANS)

(POD PINGS)

(BASE PINGS)

(BASE PINGS)

(POD HUMS CALMLY)

(WHALE SOUNDS)

(POD WHIRS)

(WHISPERS) Hey…

Hey, buddy.

ELENA: Alvy, would you like me
to interact with the pod

while you’re working?

No… No, thanks, Elena.

ELENA: Let me know
if I can be of any help.

MASHA: I am sorry to jump in,
Rachel,

but your word count since
this morning is 1,342 words,

including footnotes
and endnotes.

Your productivity is 24.5
percent lower than usual.

Thanks for letting me know.

MASHA: I am feeling
some irritation in your voice.

Is there anything
I can do to help?

No irritation.
Thanks for enquiring.

(ALVY SIGHS HEAVILY)

Whoa! (SIGHS)

We did it!

(WHISPERS) We did it!

(WHISPERS) We did it!

ALVY: "Let Us play Yesterday -

I - the Girl at school - You -

and Eternity
- the Untold Tale -

Easing my famine
At my Lexicon - Logarithm -

had I - for Drink -
’Twas a dry Wine -"

(PHONE RINGS)

(LAUGHS)

(GRUNTS)

"Somewhat different - must be -
Dreams tint the Sleep -

Cunning Reds of Morning
Make the Blind - leap -"

(WHISPERS) In a way,

you recognize its beauty
for the first time.

And… And you know what?
You also really see it.

ALVY: Whoa-whoa-whoa!

ALVY: "Still at the Egg-life -
Chafing the Shell -

When you troubled the Ellipse -

And the Bird fell -"

(CAT MEOWS)

(CAT PURRS)

I want you all to find a tree.

Or a plant.

Go on.

Now, I want you to hug it.

(NERVOUS CHUCKLES)

Or just touch it.

Don’t be shy.

Close your eyes.

Inhale.

Exhale.

When we stare at leaves
or touch a tree,

we can’t… mull over thoughts.

We have to let go.

Slowly, our attention circuits
get disconnected.

Our frontal cortex calms down.

Our minds…

can wander again

and set itself free.

- MAN: Hey, Alvy. Got a second?
- Yeah.

- MAN: Oh!
- (LAUGHS) Yeah.

Congratulations!

I didn’t know that you
and Rachel were pregnant!

- Can I?
- Yeah.

- When’s it due?
- May.

- Spring baby.
- That’s fantastic.

Listen, I just want to chat
with you a bit.

Uh-huh.

Well, we were
looking over the budget

for the biology department.

Uh-huh.

And sadly, the
greenhouse maintenance

just seems a bit too…

High.

Yes, unfortunately.

So we were thinking,

of course,
if you’d be up for the idea,

that we could… that we
could introduce holograms.

And then we could just

progressively phase
out the plants

to reduce our costs.

You want to replace my…

my lotus, my taro, loofah,

chamomile, borage, nigella,
my crocuses,

my orchids with holograms?

TV: These penguins are heading
to the open water to the right.

But one of them caught our eye:
the one in the center.

He would neither go towards

the feeding grounds
at the edge of the ice

nor return to the colony.

With 5,000 km ahead of him,

he’s heading towards
certain death.

(SOBS) It’s silly, but…

that penguin, it just…

Should we bring it back earlier?

Why?

I mean, we’re just getting used
to all this.

I don’t want you to feel

like you’re stuck at home
with the baby.

No, I don’t feel…
I don’t feel stuck.

I mean, we went
for a walk today. We went…

We went to campus.

You…

- You took the pod to work?
- Yeah.

Some of it will stick, you know.

(POD HUMS CALMLY)

RACHEL: I just feel like he’s…
like he’s being reckless.

- Like he’s acting reckless.
- (JAZZ MUSIC)

What… What did he do?

Well, he, like…

- He wears the pod on the front.
- VERA: Why is that reckless?

Because most of the dads
that I see,

they wear the pods
on the back.

- VERA: Yeah…
- Why does it bother you?

No, it doesn’t bother me.
I just don’t…

I don’t get it.

They’re bonding.
You should be happy.

Yeah.

OK, so I know
this is going to sound so weird,

because I’m not
technically pregnant,

but I’ve been having
the weirdest dreams.

- ANNA: Yeah?
- Yeah, is that, like, do you…

- Yes. Yes!
- (ALL LAUGH)

Last week, I dreamt that
a snake bit me in the back

and then apologized,

because it said that
the venom could hurt the baby.

(ALICE LAUGHS)

VERA: Are you exhausted?

(GROANS) Yes. (LAUGHS)

But… once you can get
through that,

you can get through anything
in life, huh?

Yeah.

(GASPS)

(BREATHES QUICKLY)

(SIGHS)

(POD HUMS GENTLY)

My mother sent us this book
about attachment parenting.

Apparently, being continuously
close to a baby

helps them develop empathy
and also benefits the parents.

It’s an old theory.

- Oh! 1974!
- (BOTH CHUCKLE)

Who knows?
Maybe it’s still relevant.

Isn’t the whole Womb Center
philosophy

centered on
detachment parenting?

ALVY: Yeah, but it’s interesting
to confront philosophies.

I think we should consult Eliza
about all this.

Why? I’m feeling perfectly fine.

I’m not.

(DEEP CHIME)

ELIZA: What brings you all
here today?

We’re having a hard time
finding our balance as a family.

Like, everything seems
to be revolving around the pod.

The baby.

Baby, I’m sorry, I…

I don’t see a pod,
I see a baby.

ELIZA: Everyone in the family
needs to make adjustments

to welcome this new addition.

Your family dynamics are about
to undergo tremendous changes,

and these changes
directly affect you.

Yes. Thanks for that, Eliza.

Yeah. I just… I feel as though

Alvy is able to bond
with our child, but I’m not.

I just spend more time with…

the pod, you know?

It’s… It’s as simple as that.

You know?

Maybe that attachment theory
wasn’t that crazy after all.

What do you think about
attachment theory, Eliza?

ELIZA: It’s obsolete, Alvy.

As a mother,
I should feel connected.

You’re overthinking it.

RACHEL: You’re completely
tuned to the pod.

ALVY: Just give yourself
some time, you know?

- Honey, maybe it’s hormonal.
- Hormonal?

What do you mean, hormonal?
Why do you get the hormones?

I’m not saying that I have them,

although I did forget my phone
in the fridge.

And… I have been feeling…

Maybe I’m…
Maybe I’m just not ready

to be a mother.

No one’s a mother
just like that.

You… You become one.
Isn’t that right, Eliza?

Eliza?

ELIZA: Would you mind

connecting me directly
to the pod?

ALVY: What?

ELIZA:
Therapy can start in utero.

You just need to find
the therapy icon on your app.

It might be a little tight
to pull over.

I mean, that’s too tight.

Yup, should be…
There we go. Perfect.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(QUIET CHATTER)

MAN: Wood, fire, earth, metal…

- (BANG)
- (GASPS)

WOMAN: Guys, we are talking
about true ownership here.

Unstoppable transfers
and immutable provenance.

Hmm, OK.

Their built-in randomness
ensures decentralization.

The nodes are distributed
across shards

in a uniform
and non-deterministic way.

- Hey.
- Hey!

- You got a minute?
- Of course, yeah.

- Um… Rachel.
- Yes.

I wouldn’t bring the pod here
if I were you.

Um… Why?

HR. They don’t like it.
They see it as a distraction.

Oh, my God…

You don’t want to be labeled
"the distracted mom."

Distracted mom?

The meeting this morning was…

kind of embarrassing.

RACHEL: Oh, God.

ALICE: Can I…?

OK.

- ALICE: Come with me.
- OK.

It’s OK.

RACHEL: Oh.

- ALICE: So…
- Is yours in there, too?

Oh, no. No. We, um…

We decided to keep ours
at the Womb Center until birth.

It just became too stressful
to have the pod at home.

RACHEL: OK.

(PHONE RINGS)

RACHEL: Shit.

MASHA:
Is there anything I can do…

(MASHA PINGS)

Good night!

LINDA: This workshop is all
about your personal experiences

and journeys with your pods.

You’re in a safe space
to share any…

emotional or logistical issues
you’re facing

during your pregnancies.

- Everything OK?
- Yes. Sorry.

It was just a crazy day at work.

After the meet and greet,
you’re invited to drop your pods

in the incubation room.

(PODS HUM CALMLY)

(POD PINGS)

Maybe…

we should ask for an extension.

They don’t offer extensions,
Alvy.

Why are they so rigid?

We’re in a bonding phase.

I know, but we can still visit.

I just don’t understand
this rule.

I guess it was in
the fine print.

(ALVY SIGHS)

(BABY COOS)

(GASPS)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

Rachel? Sorry, sorry.

- Do you have a second, please?
- Yeah.

- HR DIRECTOR: Please.
- Sure.

Thanks. I just want us
to touch base.

- RACHEL: Hm-hmm.
- Is everything all right?

- (LAUGHS) Yeah.
- HR DIRECTOR: Yeah?

Yeah, why?

HR DIRECTOR:
Well, the algorithm,

it noticed a change
in productivity.

Uh-huh, well, I’ve… I mean…

Maybe I’ve been a bit
distracted lately.

- Feeling depressed?
- Depressed? No.

HR DIRECTOR:
No? OK, low-key, you know,

like nothing’s wrong,
but… nothing’s right?

No. Why?

You do have a baby in gestation
at the Womb Center, right?

Hm-hmm.

- All good on that front?
- RACHEL: Yeah.

It has been
a wonderful experience.

(POD WHIRS)

Oh, your baby’s thriving!

(BOTH LAUGH)

LINDA: What can I say?
It all looks perfect.

Just a few more days to go.

Now, is next Wednesday
a good delivery day?

Delivery day?

We have our due date, don’t we?

Hm… We recently changed
our policy.

We now induce
at 39 weeks at full term.

Some of the babies weren’t
releasing their birth hormone.

They just linger in their pods
for a few more weeks.

We can’t afford that!
Our pods are in such demand.

So, here is the consent form
for your birth-inducing package.

Er… what is it?

Oh, it’s oxytocin.

It’s the love hormone.
It’s all natural.

There was one other thing
we’d like to discuss with you.

We wanted to take the pod
back with us

and then bring it to you
for the birth.

Oh, I’m sorry,
that’s not possible.

Our Neuro-Enhancement
Workshop starts today.

But you’re welcome
for parental visits.

ALVY:
Neuro-Enhancement Workshop?

Oh, yeah.
It’s a wonderful workshop.

You don’t want
your baby to miss out.

I don’t remember signing up
for that.

Well, it’s all in your contract.
(LAUGHS)

LINDA: The data we collect
is precious for science, too.

It helps
our blue brain research.

Blue brain research?

Now, if you don’t mind, let’s
focus on some post-partum tips.

Now, the most difficult aspect
of taking care of a newborn is,

it’s undoubtedly
the sleep issue.

But…

We came up with a solution.

There you go.

And one for you.

What is it?

LINDA: It’s a Dream Pod,
or a D-pod.

It’s very soothing for newborns.

We just launched it.
Parents are raving about it.

What kind of dreams?

Oh, it’s really very simple
dream content.

It’s funny dreams. Friendly,
short, simple dreams, you know.

The content will be upgraded
as the technology improves.

No pods! Leave our wombs alone!

No pods! Leave our wombs alone!

- (CHANTING CONTINUES)
- (WHISTLES BLOW)

I thought radical feminists
were pro-pod.

Not these radical feminists.

WOMAN: Down with the patriarchy!

You know what?

Just wait here for me,
OK? Just…

- RACHEL: Yeah?
- Yeah, wait here.

OK.

WOMEN: No pods!
Leave our wombs alone!

NURSE: …weeks is premature,
but it’s not uncommon.

Do you remember
the time of the first one?

WOMAN: Um…
I’d say around eight a.m. maybe?

NURSE:
Some babies are in a rush.

Let me get a delivery room
ready for you. (LAUGHS)

WOMAN: Thank you!

NURSE: Hi, sir.
I’ll be right with you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(POD BEEPS NEGATIVELY)

(PODS BEEP NEGATIVELY)

(POD BEEPS POSITIVELY)

- It’s my pod. (LAUGHS)
- (BOTH LAUGH)

Do you mind if I grab these?

I guess
you don’t need them now, right?

Congratulations.
So exciting, isn’t it?

WOMAN: Good luck. (LAUGHS)

WOMEN: No pods!
Leave our wombs alone!

(MUSIC)

(BABIES COO)

(COOING CONTINUES)

We have a two-for-one
promotion today.

Are you sure you don’t want
to grab another baby?

Oh, no. I’m fine, thanks.

We also have a promotion
on funny dreams.

- No, thanks.
- Are you a fine member?

- No.
- What a cutie.

(BABIES COO THE IN BACKGROUND)

(POD HUMS)

(BREATHES RAPIDLY)

Alvy.

Alvy. Honey, wake up.

Wake up!

(GROANS)

(PHONE BEEPS)

Jeez, the Womb Center
is relentless.

Honey, let’s go to Shell Island.

- What?
- Yeah, let’s pack and go.

What’s going on?

Let’s have our baby there.

What are you talking about?

RACHEL: Let’s have our baby
in nature,

just like you always wanted.

Hold on. What’s going on,
Rachel?

I cannot have our child’s
first experience

be of the Womb Center.

- ALVY: OK.
- Yeah?

OK, I’m not going to argue
with that!

RACHEL: OK!

- What about Wozcek? We should…
- Let’s tell them…

we’re having a home birth. Yes.

Tell them that.

My wife’s in a… bonding phase,
um, with the baby.

We’d like to… (INHALES DEEPLY)

We’d like to keep the pod
until birth.

LINDA: Mr. Novy,
we discussed this yesterday.

I’m sorry, it’s not possible.

The pod should never
have left the center.

But there’s a baby in the pod,
right? Our baby.

You know? We have…
we have jurisdiction

on this… this human being.

Yes, the baby is yours,

but the pod is the property
of the Womb Center.

Bring the pod back here
safe and sound

at your earliest
convenience.

OK. Look, what if
I was to tell you

that we are… considering…

having a home birth?

(LAUGHS) I’m sorry.

A home birth?

Now, why on earth
would you want to do that?

ALVY: Well, um…

Some pregnant couples
decide to have home births.

It’s perfectly safe and legal,
so…

You know?

We could hire
one of your nurses.

LINDA: Oh, you don’t need
one of our nurses.

All you need is the
self-generated birth code.

You see, the problem is,

your baby is currently being
hosted in a womb

that does not belong to you
nor your wife.

Now, we have a long wait-list.

We don’t want to risk
any damages

to these pods at birth,
so please,

let’s get back to our senses.

(♪ "I’M BEGINNING
TO SEE THE LIGHT"

BY THE INK SPOTS
AND ELLA FITZGERALD)

- RACHEL: Are you OK, honey?
- Yeah.

(MUSIC FADES)

(BIRDS CHIRP)

(WAVES CRASH)

(INSECTS CHIRP)

ALVY: Oh, that’s
a Parmeliaceae lichen.

They attract ruby-throated
hummingbirds

who use them
to camouflage their nest.

I mean, lichens
are surprisingly fascinating.

They’re one of the earliest
life forms on Earth.

Most people think
they’re a type of moss.

They’re their own kind of being,
neither plant nor animal.

Well, so what are they?

- They’re the perfect marriage.
- Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

- Between fungus and algae.
- Yeah, OK.

(BIRDS CHIRP)

ALVY: The whole forest
is like a web

of constantly evolving
relationships.

Everything is entwined
and overlapping.

RACHEL: They look like
they’re talking to each other.

Yeah, well,
they do talk to each other…

To them, it’s more important
to cooperate than to compete.

It’s a synergistic system.

(FIRE CRACKLES)

ALVY: (SIGHS) It’s not so bad,
is it? (LAUGHS)

RACHEL:
Mm… I could get used to it.

(ALVY SIGHS)

RACHEL: There’s just
so much silence here.

(BOTH LAUGH)

(INSECTS CHIRP)

(POD HUMS)

(POD PINGS)

(POD WHIRS)

Alvy.

Honey?

(BIRDS CHIRP)

(WAVES CRASH)

- Alvy?
- ALVY: Yeah?

Uh, it’s not turning on.

ALVY: What’s not turning on?

The base.

Could it be the fuse?

No, the lights are on.

RACHEL: Well…

I mean, they don’t…

- These motherfuckers.
- What?

They’ve disconnected it
remotely.

Then we need to go back!

Let’s not panic.

No, no, we need to call them
right now.

No, I will not give in
to this obscene blackmail.

This is about the baby!
This isn’t about us.

What’s the pod’s autonomy?

Forty-eight hours, I think.

Forty-eight hours?
Well, that’s…

That’s enough. I mean…

The baby is due any minute now.
You know, we…

- We need to take it easy.
- Are you out of your mind?

(WHISPERS) No.

Rachel.

Rachel.

We need to trust this.

OK?

OK.

OK.

(POD PLAYS LULLABY)

(POD BEEPS)

(BREATHES SHAKILY) Uh…

Oh…

Um… OK…

Um, we…

- Yeah.
- Uh-huh.

That’s… OK, so the app
is asking for a birth code.

Uh… Our due date.
Let me try that.

No, no, no. It’s not that.

Maybe it’s the conception date?

OK, OK… What is it?

(TABLET HITS FLOOR)

Babe, I…

What are we going to do?

I’m going to have
to break it open.

RACHEL: No! No!

Um… It really, um…

That seems really extreme
a reaction to… Oh, no…

Alvy, honey, I… Oh, God.

OK. OK. OK. Oh, my God!

(TAPPING)

(POD CONTINUES PLAYING LULLABY)

- Maybe this one…
- Oh, my God, is it OK?

(PANTS) OK… All right.

Let me try that.

- Oh, God!
- OK.

- Alvy, be careful!
- OK!

RACHEL: Uh-huh?

- (POD BUZZES)
- ALVY: It’s coming!

- Yeah? OK.
- Yeah!

Good.

(WHISPERS) Our baby.

- RACHEL: You got it!
- (GRUNTS)

- (BOTH GASP)
- (LIQUID GUSHES)

Alvy!

(MUMBLES ANXIOUSLY)

- (BOTH GASP)
- (BABY CRIES)

It’s incredible.

(SOBS)

You’re perfect.

(BABY COOS)

(BIRDSONG)

Hi.

Standard or priority?

Standard.

(BABY COOS)

(BABY YAWNS)

(♪ "GOD BLESS THE CHILD"
BY BILLIE HOLIDAY)

We’ve always been
a customer-obsessed company.

And guess who is the customer
at the Womb Center.

HOST: I’d have to say
the parents.

No.

- The baby.
- Oh.

MAN: This is all about
the babies! (LAUGHS)

Tell me, then,
how do you envision

the future for our children?

Hopefully, one day,

children will get
to choose their parents.

And my advice to them will be,
"Choose your parents wisely."

(BOTH CHUCKLE)