Original subtitles

But he's rich.

Oh, yeah.

You and I both know that paper was largely constructed by his post-docs.

Probably, but it'll be his name on the royalty check.

That's right. Are you trying to kill me?

Oh, my...

Hey.

Oh, my. The prodigal.

Glad to see this motley crew is still alive and kicking.

And still meeting at the same old watering hole.

You did not just call us old.

Look at you.

No, I just felt like I needed to, you know, plug into the brain trust.

No.

Look here, look here, it's a thrill that you've graced us.

It's been too long. Years.

Yeah, I've been hyper-focused on work.

Just like when you were my student.

Listen, I will always be your student.

All right, so are you just dropping by to say hi?

Or do you have something for us?

I just might. Maybe.

Yes.

- Bring it. - Okay.

Everybody here is, in one way or another, involved in the same basic pursuit.

On one hand, we're all just trying to make sense of the universe, our place in it.

And the work that we do creates technological change

that leads to cultural change.

So, the question,

how do we deal with the uncertainty of work

when we do not know the outcome?

But how does anyone deal with the uncertainty of unintended consequences?

Well, this is fair,

so let me use my old research as an example.

As you all know, we achieve superposition on a small scale, on particle scale.

What if that research led

to being able to put a human being in superposition?

Wait, so they could access other realities and return to ours?

Sure.

Okay, to understand the future, we only need to look to the past.

We know what will happen because we've done this all before.

Consider the invention of sailing ships,

which helped so many reach strange new worlds.

Now, these voyages led to discovery, commerce,

but also to the spread of disease, colonization,

- slavery. - Slavery.

Consider our lifetime's big bad, the Internet.

Repository of all information, shining capitalism.

But also depression,

isolation,

- cruelty, misinformation. - Yeah, that's right.

We built these great connectors of minds and ideas,

and most people just simply use them to masturbate.

Speak for yourself.

- That is not true. - Not true.

Dr. Dessen poses an ethical question.

Should we do a thing?

In this case, Dr. Kendall's analogy

of Europe's exploration/invasion of the new world...

- I'll see you. - Right.

But on an infinite scale.

Well, certainly the consequences are unknown...

Bye, baby.

Vast,

and obvious.

It would bring forth everything beautiful.

And everything terrible.

So, if it can be done, should it be done?

I'm sorry, but the question is pointless.

If it can be done, it will be done.

Humans, we can't help ourselves.

- Precisely. - You are not wrong.

Which is why the ship, space exploration,

the bomb, AI.

There's no stopping advancement because there's no stopping the human ego.

Combine that with the curiosity and desire to explore and we are unstoppable.

If we can imagine it, we will create it,

and the consequences of our creation,

it will be a reflection of humanity itself.

Just as Richard has already said so perfectly,

"Everything beautiful..."

"Everything terrible."

Hi.

Assuming it's not too early?

I'm offended you'd even ask.

He's spotless.

I'm still digging into his team,

but I haven't found anything that would explain

any sudden technological acceleration

or any connection to MacNamara Tech.

I wanna know how he beat us to market with a microprocessor.

And I hear his next announcement, it's a... a portable telephone.

Well, you should get someone inside.

Well, you should come back to the family business.

I like my freedom, Sheila.

What's this about?

So last fall...

Come on, I wanna know more.

It was your first day at school. How was it?

And this guy comes in asking for a background check on his own family.

Plus, new credentials for himself, his wife and his kid.

- It was pretty good, actually. - Yeah?

I... I met this kid named Eduardo.

He's in my art class.

We'll probably end up hanging out at some point this week.

Well, maybe you should invite him over.

To our hotel room?

Our new apartment.

When I get the package in the mail from my PI in the Bay Area...

that's where this family's from... she's included surveillance photos.

If you like it, which I think you might, it's ours.

It certainly feels a little like home to me.

I'm not following.

My PI misunderstood the assignment.

She spent the day surveilling this family in San Francisco.

I'm still not following.

Sheila, this family was in San Francisco and in Chicago at the same time.

Second floor on the right.

So...

Does that mean...

I'll finally destroy the box, my love.

So I start following him.

And several times a week Jason goes to this abandoned school

and works on this.

What's it do?

No clue.

But I don't think he knows either.

Recently it looks like he's been trying to destroy it.

So I'm at the school one day, taking pictures,

and this couple turns up.

They walk to the cube. Step inside. They don't come out.

So I make my way down.

I open the door and there's no one inside.

They had just vanished.

That's impossible.

Yes, it is.

There's no way, man.

Yo, I want one of those.

For what?

- I don't know. It looks cool. - Nerd.

- Bro, keep playing, bro. - Okay, yeah, no.

You guys heard that new Glass Daisy song?

Nah, I listen to a bunch of underground music you've probably never heard of.

I listen to everything. Try me.

Tyler, the Creator.

No?

Billie Eilish.

Nirvana.

Never heard of them.

- Told you. - You win.

Here's a mix of some of my favorites.

Thanks.

Make me a tape of some of the music you mentioned.

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

Did you play sports at your last school?

- No. - Good. Sports are boring.

Yeah, totally.

Do you skateboard?

No, I have terrible balance.

I could teach you.

Maybe.

He asked for a skateboard.

You got one, right?

- Yeah, I picked it up today. - Good.

- It's in our closet. - Great.

Hey, what do you want for Christmas?

How about a little bit more saltpeter?

It's so festive.

Yeah, well, I still got to fill up most of the 30-gallon drum with it.

When do you think it'll be finished?

It's a little tedious.

You know, I still got to work out how to detonate it,

without... blowing myself up with it.

Yeah.

Yeah, don't do that.

Don't do that?

Okay.

I'm getting strong Charlie Brown Christmas vibes.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

And I love it. It's our first tree in a new world.

Stay here. I have something for you.

It's just like the first one we bought together.

I thought it might be a good place to start our new collection.

Hey.

Sorry.

It's okay.

I drove...

by the old house the other day.

And I... I just keep thinking about it.

I... I miss it.

I miss our life.

I know.

I do, too.

Well, look what we do have.

Yeah.

And you're right.

It gets a little bit better every day.

I got a new job.

Really?

Where?

Thanks.

It looks pretty good.

Here you go. You ready?

Okay. Thanks.

I'll be back.

Number 68. Six, eight.

Okay.

- I can't believe I ran into you. - It's crazy.

How long has it been?

I don't know, years.

Years and years, like...

- Three. - Five.

I was gonna say, it was right before we moved to California,

- but... no, you're right... - Yeah.

- It's five years. - Five.

- Excuse me. - Okay.

- Did you... - Yes.

- Looks... - 100%.

Wait, he... he taught English.

Yes, English. But hated books.

Because he was always writing a better book.

- Oh, my God! Exactly. - Wait.

Wait, no, I think I remember. It was a serial killer stalking a novelist.

Mr. Stobbe.

No. Mr. Stobbe.

That's Mr. Stobbe.

Got you.

Well, I was away for a while, actually.

I came back six months ago.

Where'd you go?

I sort of became a nomad.

I bought an RV and I just traveled across the country for a couple years.

- Wow. - Yeah.

That sounds really fun.

Yeah. Yeah.

I think I was by myself for a bit too long, but...

So, do you miss California?

Very much.

We had amazing friends.

And Charlie loved his school.

So honestly, it's been a little hard being back.

Number 70. Seven, zero.

I think that's me. Wait.

- Yes. - Well...

Just take my number.

Just give me a call. I just... I'd love to grab dinner

- or something. - I'd love to.

Nice to see you.

Critical response team to negative pressure one.

Critical response team to negative pressure one.

Doctor.

You sure?

As sure as I can be.

The clear vials are the vaccine.

The blue vials are the treatment for the infected.

We couldn't source them from the same place.

I'm sorry it took a little longer.

Are you kidding? If this works, you've saved us.

So what happens now?

We've back-channeled with Velocity Pharmaceuticals.

They're willing to start production and seek approvals in tandem.

That's good.

Wanna see him?

Yeah.

Wanna talk to him?

He may be able to hear you.

And hearing familiar voices can bring back cognitive function

even though it's not visible.

The USAF board is sweating me like a whore in church.

I'll call Dick Bradley.

There he is. How was school?

Boring.

Yeah?

What are you working on?

Secret stuff.

Is this the new round of hypersonic propulsion?

Well, it's a long ways from ready.

But why don't you stay, listen in?

Because this will all be yours someday.

How's he doing?

Not out of the woods yet considering his age,

but he has a chance now.

You want to talk to him?

Let him rest.

You sure?

Yeah.

Could you read that one again?

What is something that you're passionate about and why?

Nothing.

No?

Okay, how about this?

Describe a time when you overcame a significant obstacle.

When I was 16, my family was forced to leave our house.

My school, their jobs, all of our friends,

and get into a box created by another version of my dad.

Charlie, you're gonna have to take it seriously.

I am.

You know, all the interesting stuff that's happened to me is kind of insane.

Stupid.

It's okay.

Yeah, except I decimated our dinner 'cause I'm a fucking idiot.

Why are you talking to yourself like that?

Sorry.

You know none of this is your fault.

You didn't build the box.

I don't know.

I think maybe I could do a better job dealing with it.

I think you need to be nicer to yourself.

When did you get so wise?

I think it was the world where we opened the door

to that abandoned Chuck E. Cheese.

That was your moment?

I gazed into the abyss

and saw a humanoid animatronic mouse gazing back at me,

and suddenly the universe made sense.

How do you feel about cereal night?

Come on, buddy, let's go.

Hey.

Hey.

What time is it?

It's late.

You didn't say it.

Van Gogh.

You want to try it again?

Vermeer.

- I don't... - It's... What? Not right?

Honey, I forgot.

I'm very stressed.

Honey. Stressed.

That's why I-I cannot remember the name...

of the artist that... Hey!

What fucking artist it was. The one that painted the dancers.

Is everything okay?

Degas!

Degas.

Degas.

Everything's fine.

Sorry... Sorry to wake you.

It's fine.

We need a better system.

How bad is it?

It's a walk in the park.

So you're C. He's J.

And she's D, Daniela.

Who's M for?

That would be my brother Max.

Well, it's a rad design.

He sketched it.

Nice. You got a good eye.

All right, we're almost done.

Do you regret going with him?

In a weird way, the box helped me move past regret.

What about your part in creating all this?

The box is the greatest scientific achievement probably ever.

I'm extremely proud of what we accomplished.

And also deeply ashamed.

All I can see now are the lives we destroyed.

Hey, hey.

We're scientists.

We're kind of supposed to dedicate our lives

to understanding the mysteries of existence.

We're supposed to push.

Discover.

Yeah.

Jason 2 used to say that.

You know, I hate agreeing with that guy, but he's so right.

This time. You guys just built a tool, okay?

All the fault lies with him for using it irresponsibly to hurt other people.

What?

Clear your mind.

Okay.

- Come here. - Okay.

Just trust me.

Okay.

What the fuck?

This is the place.

This is what it looked like, but the box, it wasn't covered in concrete.

It's to keep people from using it.

Yeah.

We should check this world out.

You lead.

Okay, everything in this room looks right.

Yeah.

Did Camilla or your girlfriend have keys?

Could they be looking in or even staying here sometimes?

Definitely.

Okay, even the order of the books is right.

Yes.

What?

I did this.

The day before Jason 2 took me to the box.

I dropped a hammer and it...

We're in the right place.

Wait a minute.

You said you couldn't get me here because you'd never been here, Amanda.

I did not think about your world.

I was remembering Jason 2.

The concrete around the box. That's something he would do.

If you're looking for a specific world, don't overthink the place.

Think about the person you want to find.

Ryan...

Oh, my God.

I think the box brought us here.

Because Jason 2 is here.

That means Jason never made it home.

- Oh, my God. - Yeah.

Now what? Do we just show up

and tell Daniela her husband isn't her husband?

Well, that asshole can prove he's Jason Dessen

'cause he is Jason Dessen.

Goddamn it.

- Let's go. We made a mistake. - Yeah.

Wait.

You didn't make a mistake.

Did you get stranded in another world by Jason Dessen?

Yeah.

This is your apartment, man.

This is your world. This is your life. It's everything.

Okay.

I was really hoping you'd come back, man.

Who are you?

Amanda.

Amanda Lucas?

Do you know me?

Yeah, I know of you.

Do you have any lavender wings?

How do you know about lavender wings?

I'll explain everything. I'll explain everything.

- What's he doing? - He's...

Hey, it's me. He's here. Should we meet up?

That's not good.

I'm thinking they might.

All right, hurry up, please.

Hey, man, who was that?

Help.

Now, would you just wait while I put some shit together, you guys?

Just... Please don't leave. Just stick around.

Okay. Let's...

Shit.

All right, what is happening?

Okay...

Shit.

I thought I was gonna have more time to explain it to you,

but you're gonna have to trust me. Just... Just...

It's okay. Just... Trust me.

I'm getting angry.

Hey. Come on in.

- Is that okay? - Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all right.

You fucker.

Okay.

- Okay. - Ryan.

I'd be lying if I said that wasn't impressive,

- but you need to calm down. - Fuck that guy. Why is he fucking here?

- You okay, Jason? - No.

Fuck. Fuck.

Got here as fast as I could.

Is that two Ryan Holders?

Who's the woman?

Unknown. Ops is running facial recognition.

Is that him?

Hey, you recognize him? Is that him?

I think so. I think so.

You think so?

- We don't have time for this! - Monsters!

- Hey, shut up and listen! - You shut up!

Hey, they might be watching us!

Who?

He's telling the truth, okay? He's been helping.

He's the one who I called. He's been trying to help me get home.

This motherfucker hasn't been helping you. Where's Charlie?

Where's Daniela? Where's Daniela?

Yes or no? Is that the Jason that ran your cell?

Yeah, yeah, that's fucking him.

Charlie and Daniela are safe. Look at me. Why would I lie to myself?

He's got the fucking scar on his cheek.

The woman and these other three, they have nothing to do with it.

- How far out are they? - Five minutes.

No, that's too long. I'm going in.

You tell SWAT team leader, I want everyone alive.

- Do you read me? I want everyone... - Hey.

Hey, no. No, no, no.

I said that I'd give you him.

The other three have nothing to do with it.

SWAT's here in five. What's your plan?

No, no, Jason!

Shit. Come on, let's go.

What the shit?

What's going on?

- I'm the president of the HOA! - Move, move!

Excuse me!

They're in a red Grand Wagoneer heading north on Pine.

I repeat, red Grand Wagoneer heading north on fucking Pine!

Really? Really?

Red Wagoneer, southbound on Wacker. Over.

Have they made you? Over.

I don't think so. We're too far back. Over.

Just follow. Don't engage.

Goddamn it.

Oh, my God. What the fuck?

Hang on, hang on.

Okay, where the fuck are you taking us, man?

- We are going back to the box. - Goddamn it.

Why are people after you?

Us. They're after you too now.

- Why? Why is that? - Why?

Why, because the Jason who I traded lives with...

Kidnapped him, okay? You kidnapped him, and you stole his fucking family!

- Ryan. - Yeah, I kidnapped him,

but he made it home.

But in the process, he made choices in the Corridor

that created other versions of himself.

More than one Jason returned?

Yeah, dozens. Dozens of them,

and a lot of dead Jasons in this city too, so...

- Goddamn it. - Oh, my God.

Daniela and Charlie escaped with one of us into the box.

And all those dead Jasons drew the attention of DARPA.

What the fuck is DARPA? Is this DARPA?

Look behind you. That's DARPA. R&D for the Department of Defense.

Infinite money, no oversight.

I've been evading them while they hunt down the other Jasons.

They pulled the whole kidnap-and-question routine with me once,

and they think all these Jasons are clones.

So...

And they think anyone who's known him more than ten years has to be involved.

And then we showed up.

Yeah, two Ryans in one room must have blown their tits off.

Oh, my God.

This is so great. Why does everything bad happen as a result of your fuck ups?

Fuck off.

And why did you bring another me here?

Talk to me, you cryptic fuck!

Fuck me!

What part of under the radar do you not understand?

The next one of you to open fire on the streets of Chicago

is getting reassigned to winters in McMurdo.

Copy.

Good! Fuck!

They'll never stop, brother.

Everyone you love will get dragged into this.

- I just got fucking home. - I know.

They're closing in.

We're gonna turn off. Hold on.

Turn.

Fuck! Drive, you...

Jason!

Come on. Let's go.

Let's go!

Come on.

Jason!

Come on! Let's move.

Come on.

Jason!

So good.

Yes, perfect. I love it.

- Okay, Mom. - Yes.

Come on, Mom. We gotta go.

- Okay. Okay, go. - Thank you. Yeah.

Have a great time.

- It's so nice to meet you. - It's so nice to meet you.

Bye.

Wait. I have...

- Yeah. - Thanks.

Have fun.

- Yeah. - Will do.

And... Yeah, just have fun.

Bye.

Yeah. Come on.

Why do you... All right.

Shit.

Okay.

- Hi. - Oh, my God.

Sorry.

What are you doing here?

I just... missed you.

I wanted to see you. Hi.

Hi.

I brought you some food.

Just in case you're staying late again.

Yeah. Well, I might have to.

Thank you.

I'm just... right in the middle

of everything right now.

What's... What's Charlie up to?

Prom.

That's right.

I'm sorry. I really wish I could have seen it.

I took a lot of pictures.

I'm sure.

What are these?

Just... just some notes that I've been taking.

Why?

Are you studying it?

- Just... Please, hear me out. Please. - Yeah?

What if I could build an on-off switch for the box?

Just... It can stay off-line.

No one can use it unless we decide.

Okay. I mean, I... I thought we already decided that we're destroying it.

You... But don't you think we should stay here just a little bit longer

before we go and detonate our escape hatch?

I think if you were changing the plan, we should have discussed it.

Well, maybe I was worried about how you might react.

So... wait a second.

Are you saying it's my fault that you lied to me?

Lied? I didn't lie to you.

- But? But? - I wanted to destroy it.

- But... - But what?

But I... All right, I can't. I can't.

It's fucking taunting me. This thing is like...

someone reached into my brain,

pulled out my dream, and made it real.

And I... I have no idea. I...

I'm aware that it's beyond anything that I could possibly have achieved.

Actually, it's not beyond what you could achieve.

It took him like 20 years and a team to build it.

- It's a different choice! - But I just wanna understand it.

That's at least...

Why?

I'm not saying that I'm doing a great job

of actually being in this life that we're in right now

because I'm... I'm fucking not!

But fuck me, am I trying!

And if you wanna do something else, you should let me know.

Okay.

I'm sorry I lied to you.

I'm gonna go home.

And try to get to bed early

because I switched for the early shift at work tomorrow

so that we could have dinner with Blair.

That's... that's tomorrow?

- Yeah, it's fine. - Fuck.

You don't have to come.

- Allegedly, she set it on fire. - Allegedly. A small fire.

Okay, the secrets are coming out.

Stop. Just stop it.

I, is Jason coming or should we just...

You know, probably not. He didn't think he can get away...

Daniela.

Sorry I'm late.

Well, never mind.

Jason, this is Theresa.

- Hi. - And you remember Blair.

- Hi. - Of course.

Nice to meet you.

- Good to see you again. - Good to see you.

- I'll give you guys a minute. - Well, hold... hold on.

- Yeah, should we have champagne? - Are we celebrating? Champagne...

- Never say no to champagne. - Why not? To old friends and new ones.

And to us for being back in Chicago.

Yeah, how about that?

Thank you.

Our home.

- You. - I'm having them.

It's done.

Did we order?

- No, right on time. - No.

Cabbage looks so good.

You're gonna scroll through the front.

- Okay, I'm gonna stay here and see. - It may be good.

- I know. Very cute. - I know.

Cute.

I'm just gonna skip to the restroom, and I'll be right back.

Sorry.

All right, we're not gonna do the branzino.

Sorry.

Thinking of getting maybe branzino. And we were gonna do that? I promise.

Okay. Maybe other things.

You two are so cute.

- Okay, let's see what... - Cheers.

Cheers.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Cheers.

Full disclosure. I have to go back out to the box tonight.

Or what's left of it.

Why?

I've already boxed and bagged most of the wreckage,

but I've gotta dispose of it.

You know, if someone found a bunch of advanced tech...

I'd rather not have that floating around.

Come on.

Daniela!

Yeah?

Daniela!

Hey, what's wrong?

Ask me.

Safe word?

Waldorf. I've been trying to call.

Charlie's on the phone with Bianca.

Okay. Call Charlie.

Charlie, Charlie, get out here!

- What happened? - Did you talk to me today?

Yeah, this morning.

- Since then? - No.

- Has anything, anything weird happened? - Nothing.

And you, did you see me or talk to me since breakfast?

- No. - Shit.

What's going on?

The box is back.

What do you mean?

It's respawned.

A new box right where the old one had been.

Wait, I don't understand.

- Someone connected to this world. - How?

God, I'm so fucking stupid.

The box spawns in worlds

where it doesn't exist or is not operational.

So, when I destroyed it,

it's just gone and done what it did the first time.

It's reconnected to this world.

So? What... What does that mean?

Guys.

What?