Original subtitles

Are you content?

Of course not.

Grief, fear,

anxiety, pain, shame.

It's all too much for any reasonable person to bear.

That's why we're so glad you've chosen

to join us here in our secluded community paradise.

The Our Friends campus was designed

as a prototype community with a quality of life

you won't find anywhere else in the world.

You'll live and work peacefully

in a stable environment that is safe, efficient,

and fair.

And of course, free of illness, wars,

and all of the emotional inconveniences

that have plagued humanity since the beginning of time.

Moments from now, all those dark feelings, painful memories,

and even triggering words that may be holding you back

will be washed away,

so you can begin anew down a path of perfect contentment.

This is truly just the beginning.

With your help, and others just like you,

we can soon implement our vision throughout the rest of--

Fuck!

Please stand clear.

Your personal waste will be incinerated

in 3, 2, 1.

Our Friends welcome you.

Joy?

Are you content?

Quite content.

And you?

Quite content.

Oh, I touched you.

My apologies.

No, it was my fault.

Oh.

Your Wellness Connect appointment is today.

Yes.

Time for work.

Have a pleasant day.

It's the better you you never knew you needed.

The vitamin from Our Friends.

And you're not you without us.

The vitamin.

Are you content?

Quite content.

And you?

Quite content.

You see these little sacs running down your back?

Those are tumors.

Huh.

You missed your last annual physical.

You know Our Friends suggest a physical every year.

Yes, but it isn't mandatory.

You're a bit abnormal, aren't you, Joy?

Not on purpose.

These tumors should kill you in about a month.

We have an injection that will cure you, but...

It says they want you to stop taking your vitamin

for one day following the treatment

for it to take full effect.

Not take my vitamin?

Oh, surely that isn't necessary.

It says it is.

But everyone takes their vitamin.

Every day.

Everyone.

It's the better you you never knew

you always needed.

The vitamin.

From Our Friends.

It's only one day.

No need to tell anyone.

Joy.

Are you content?

Quite content.

And you?

Quite content.

Ah, Christopher and Samantha's social gathering is this evening.

Yes.

Time for work.

Have a pleasant day.

This will allow you to arrive in our community

free of any emotional baggage you carry.

These bins are an opportunity to let go

and provide space for complete clarity and...

Are you content?

Quite content.

And you?

Joy?

Are you content?

I have cancer.

That sounds unpleasant.

The medical engineer can cure it.

Good.

She told me I wasn't allowed to take my vitamin for one day.

Not take your vitamin?

But Our Friends want us to take our vitamin.

I know.

You're not you without us,

the vitamin from Our Friends.

It's part of the treatment.

I might die if I take it.

But you feel...

-Content? -Content.

Good.

Mostly.

Mostly.

I feel a bit...

...blech.

But you can take your vitamin again tomorrow?

Yes.

Are you content?

Leave me alone.

William, Joy, meet the newest addition to our cohort.

Ah, yes.

I heard that Our Friends were sending us a replacement couple.

Frank and Michelle, is it?

Yes.

Nice to meet you.

How did you two meet?

Oh, it's a pleasant story, actually.

Um, earlier this morning, I signed up for Settle,

the partner-matching service from Our Friends.

We were paired instantly.

No other options.

It's almost like we were meant for each other.

That's how Christopher and I met as well.

What do you do?

I am a civil engineer for Our Friends.

And I'm a network engineer for Our Friends.

Christopher, I hear rumors that you may be

on track to become an actual Friend yourself.

We'll see.

And Joy.

What do you do?

I'm a waste management engineer.

What does that entail?

Engineering the management of waste.

And do you enjoy it?

No.

I-- I-- I mean, yes.

Yes, it's very pleasant.

Hmm.

You're a bit abnormal, aren't you?

It's a girl.

Her name is Beth.

Hm. Adorable.

Lovely.

How cute.

I feel so maternal.

What was that?

Hm.

Ah.

Odd noises and facial leaks are common

prior to administering the first dose of the infant vitamin.

Mm-hmm.

Joy?

Joy?

Hm?

Are you content?

Mm-hmm.

Um...

What great news.

Our baby will be the same age

as Christopher and Samantha's.

I'll select yes.

Wait.

Joy?

Are you content?

Yes. Of course.

I just...

Maybe we should take a few days to think about it.

Time for work.

Yes.

Joy.

You will take the vitamin today, won't you?

Of course.

Hm.

Ah.

Quite content.

The vitamin from Our Friends.

You're not you without us.

Joy?

It's so interesting.

You're acting strange.

I'm messaging Wellness Connect.

No.

No. I-- I'm fine.

I'm okay.

Really.

I'm feeling something.

I don't understand.

I didn't take my vitamin today.

And I'm not going to take it tomorrow.

But Our Friends want us to take the vitamin.

I don't care what Our Friends want.

I want you to feel what I'm feeling.

How?

Don't take your vitamin.

But isn't it best to be normal?

Just for one day.

Then we'll go back to being normal.

Are you content?

Quite content.

Um, I am a bit hungry.

What's happening?

Here.

Eat something.

How is it?

It's great.

You know, actually...

Actually, it's not great.

It's um...

Bleh.

Whoa, this is scary.

What happened?

I don't know.

So...

Um...

Do you feel okay?

I think-- I think so.

Hm.

It feels...

Um...

Can I feel it?

Um, try again.

It feels even better.

I don't think I'm feeling what you're feeling.

Um...

Maybe, if I touched you?

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

How's this?

It's okay.

That's better.

Did I hurt you?

Um...

Uh...

No, I-- I don't think so.

Um, do it.

Do it again.

-That's the feeling. -Mm-hm.

Is this what dying feels like?

We have to tell the others.

William, Joy, are you content?

Completely.

We're playing WOA, World of Average Humans.

It's the latest game from Our Friends.

You play a character that's different from yourself.

For example, in real life I'm a wellness engineer.

but in the game

I play an assistant wellness engineer.

That sounds fun.

Where's Beth?

The childcare center.

We're encouraged to leave her there as long as we like.

Some days we don't pick her up at all.

It's very convenient.

Where are your VR sets?

You'll need them to play.

We, um, we haven't opened 'em yet.

Will and I actually discovered

something pretty stimulating ourselves.

Is it WOA 2?

I was told that wouldn't be available until next quarter.

Something more stimulating than WOA?

No, it's nothing like that.

It's-- it's nothing like anything, really.

You two seem... different.

Well, we stopped taking our vitamin.

But everyone takes their vitamin.

Everyone.

Just do it and never question why.

The vitamin from Our Friends.

Our Friends want us to take the vitamin.

But once I stopped taking mine,

I started feeling all of these things.

What kind of things?

Things I can't even describe.

It's like...

The world is brighter.

Hmm.

You're seeing a different light spectrum?

We're-- we're not explaining it very well.

Um, perhaps if we showed you?

We call that "sinking".

Can we play WOA again?

William and Joy?

Y-Yes.

Neither of you have reported to work in the past three days?

Our Friends are concerned.

Are you unwell?

Uh...

Because if so, I can escort you to a Wellness Connect facility.

No.

We feel fine.

Why have you not reported to work?

The new series of videos came out.

And we lost track of time.

For three days?

Please report to work tomorrow.

Have a pleasant evening.

Do you think Our Friends know what we're doing?

We don't even know what we're doing.

Maybe we're the only people ever to have done it.

Maybe.

You know, I've realized...

I don't really remember my life.

What do you mean?

I...

What's the furthest back you can remember?

I don't know.

I remember...

I remember when you said that you had cancer.

All I could think was, "I hope my new partner is pleasant."

I remember thinking,

"I hope she has dark hair.

And no cancer."

You're not you without us.

The vitamin from Our Friends.

The vitamin from Our Friends.

It's the only thing that matters.

I don't want trouble.

You're like me.

What? Stupid?

I'm not stupid.

Am I?

You have an officer coming around here asking questions.

That's stupid.

Leave me alone.

And don't let them find out you're awake.

You have no idea what they're capable of.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Joy!

What are you doing?

We're going inside.

I'm going down to the water.

Why?

There's water inside the house.

In faucets.

It's much cleaner.

Will?

It's going to be fine.

Are you content?

Quite content.

William, Joy, have you taken your vitamin this morning?

No, not yet.

Why?

The vitamins appear to be missing.

Huh.

Maybe the last people to vacation here

took the vitamins with them by mistake.

Well, what should we do?

We're supposed to take them every day.

Our Friends want us to.

We need to take our vitamin.

It's the only thing that matters,

the vitamin from Our Friends.

Mm-hmm.

But the shuttle bus isn't coming back

until tomorrow morning.

So, there's not really much we can do.

Christopher,

you're on the Friend promotion track.

What do you think we should do?

It is just one day.

I don't know. Yeah, Michelle, why don't you try?

That's a good adjustment. That's a good adjustment.

Yeah, let's try that.

When Joy and I, it--

It was different but this is-- This is good.

Like-- like a better different or-- or-- oh.

Something doesn't feel right.

I know it hurts a bit at first.

No, um, not a bit, a lot.

Oh.

Um, Christopher,

can I talk to Samantha

for a moment?

I don't think I can do this.

It's okay. That's okay.

You-- you don't have to do anything

you don't want to do.

I know, but...

I want to feel what you're feeling.

Well, there is another way.

Just try to relax.

Does that feel all right?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Does that feel...

Oh, oh, that feels, um...

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Why don't you two go and work together for a bit?

Better?

I wish...

What?

I wish I had a better word

for how I'm feeling.

And Michelle, what about you?

Today I wasn't completely satisfied

with my mid-day squeeze pouch.

So, I had a second one.

Yesterday I had to wait in the same line

for 17 minutes

and it made me want to burn the whole building down.

I didn't do it though.

Uh, we-- we took her off the infant vitamin.

We didn't sleep at all last night.

-Shh. -Ah!

Sorry, I uh,

I found that doing that occasionally helps.

Does anyone know anything about the Welcome Center?

It's where I work.

Yeah, but what are we welcoming?

I remember that place.

What?

I-- I-- not well.

I can't really...

There was-- There was a building

called the "Welcome Center".

And that's where I was.

That's where I was before I met Michelle

and before I met all of you.

Hmm. Yeah.

You said that Frank and Michelle

were a replacement couple for our cohort.

But who are they replacing?

Does that mean we can be replaced?

If new couples are coming to the Welcome Center?

Our Friends gave me tier two access.

I could probably get you into some restricted areas

of the center.

Really?

You'd do that?

Of course.

You can't be serious?

It's completely empty after hours.

No, sure.

The assistance of overseas partners,

the Our Friends Baby Adoption Program

allows our community to grow at a phenomenal speed,

protecting new life from suffering

the harsh realities of the outside.

With enough generations of data,

we'll soon be able to introduce the vitamin beyond our gates.

The barriers that surround our community

are in place for your protection.

What is this?

Once on the vitamin,

we're confident you won't ever want to leave here.

Some lingering worries about leaving your life

on the outside behind.

In a few short moments, you'll be able to sample the vitamin

and see for yourself how good and perfect contentment feels.

Chris!

It won't open.

What?

It's locked. I'm trying.

I don't know what to do.

Joy?

Hmm.

You're a Friend?

I am.

And I'm very concerned about you, Joy.

At first, I thought it might be best to remove you.

Remove?

That just means move you to a different sector

of the community.

Well, then why don't you just say move?

That would be better. You're right.

I'll talk to someone about it.

Why are we forced to take the vitamin?

No one's forced you to do anything.

Well, what's happening where I work then?

Something's going on above me,

and everything smells like burning, and--

What is it? What's-- what's happening?

-Are you hiding something from us? -Slow down, Joy.

You're asking questions that you do not need the answers to.

All you need to know is what we've been doing here

one day might impact the rest of the world.

Why am I here then? Have I broken the rules?

Well, other than repeatedly ditching work,

depriving your cohort of the vitamin,

and breaking into restricted areas,

you have a propensity for curiosity that we find--

Pleasant?

Disruptive.

The natural leaders in your cohort are

Samantha and Christopher,

and yet, you have easily seized control.

I don't control anyone.

Joy, let's be honest with each other.

You be honest then.

Look,

I strongly suggest that

you start taking your vitamin again.

If you don't, I think you're going to be... displeased

with the consequences.

Am I the only one that sees this as a good thing?

Yes.

They want us to take the vitamin,

but we don't have to.

And if we cause any trouble, they'll just move us?

No. They'll re-move us.

What's the difference?

I don't think we want to find out.

We just need to be more careful.

No more missing work.

No more rule-breaking.

We just--

We do what we're supposed to do out there.

What's removal?

You've been talking to a Friend.

They said I have to start taking my vitamin again,

or... I'd be displeased with the consequences.

Sounds like you should take it.

You don't?

I have nothing left to lose.

What would they do to us?

My partner and I stopped taking the vitamin together, too.

A long time ago.

We liked the way it felt to not feel content all the time.

It was new to feel uncomfortable.

And it was exciting.

We learned a lot.

We learned about Our Friends,

about this place, about what's beyond this place.

We blended in until eventually we slipped up.

And they took him away, and he never came back.

Have you ever been outside this place?

You wanted to know about removal.

But what you find out there might not be

as important as what you could lose in here.

You need to ask yourself what matters most to you.

Knowing the truth or being content.

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want you to worry.

Let's just leave it. I won't talk to her anymore.

You can't talk to her anymore.

What do you mean, can't? What, you're forbidding me?

You just said that you weren't gonna talk to her.

Maybe she was sent here to watch us.

I thought that we agreed that

we were gonna be more careful.

What if she can help us?

If she knows what we're thinking,

she knows what we're feeling.

Does she want to help us?

No.

It's just... Our Friends control everything we do.

Everything we say.

Everyone we partner with.

You didn't want to partner with me?

No, no, it's not that.

I just-- you know, I would have liked a choice.

We had a choice.

They didn't make us partner.

They didn't make us take the vitamin.

We chose that.

Excuse the interruption, but...

Sam had an idea.

Um...

I would like to try sinking with William,

if that's okay.

And I'd like to sink with you, if you'd like.

I don't see why not.

Do you want to play WOA?

I don't know. I...

I still like it.

I find it pleasant.

Well, your turn.

Um,

I-- I didn't like it when you sinked with Christopher.

- But you said that you-- - I know.

I felt the...

I've never felt that kind of pain before.

Pain where?

Where was the pain?

Um...

It-- it was in my head, I-- I guess.

And, uh...

It felt like my chest was collapsing.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

Will, I like Joy very much.

I want to sink with her more than anyone else.

You do?

Yes.

That's okay.

Uh, I've actually been thinking.

And...

The person that I...

Enjoy spending the most time with

and the person that I feel most connected to is...

Actually Michelle.

Really?

I feel the same way.

- You do? - What--

- What's happening right now? - I--

I know that Friends always assign women with men.

But I don't know. I--

I feel like I've known you.

I feel most like myself with you.

What-- What does that mean?

Who else would you feel like?

I feel the same.

- I'm so glad. - No. Stop. Hey. Hey!

She's my part-- She's my partner.

Frank, um, I'm sorry.

I don't think I want to be.

Okay.

Yeah, cool. That's--

Well, that's just lovely.

That's lovely. Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

So what's the-- What's the plan now?

Are you-- Are you gonna move in with Samantha?

Huh?

Yeah?

You-- you think that's smart? You think that's blending in?

Our Friends will remove every last one of us.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

-Frank, we'll figure it out. -Don't. Don't.

Don't! This is wrong.

This is wrong. All of this is wrong.

This is your fault.

All of this. This whole situation is your fault.

Frank. That's not fair.

Don't you talk to me!

-I'm sorry. -Hey, Frank.

Hey. Stop!

What is happening?

Frank. Frank. Frank. Frank!

- Stop! Stop! - Frank, stop!

Enough! Hey! Stop it!

- Stop! - No! Stop it!

Oh, fuck.

Why is he so heavy?

- Steady. - I'm trying.

Are you content?

Quite content. Go back inside.

Okay, come on. Hurry.

Frank's going to be okay.

He has a bit of a sore head, but he's all right.

Christopher's with him.

You can stay here as long as you want.

Thank you, Joy.

Oh, you don't have to thank me.

Thank you.

I--

I discovered something the other night,

and I wanted to share it with you.

What do you think?

Are you gonna leave me for him?

What?

I just wanna know.

William, you're my partner.

Only because we were assigned together.

I thought this was what you wanted.

And if it's not...

I just want to take the vitamin.

Of course, it's what I want.

You're so much more than just the person

I was paired with.

Then...

What's Christopher?

He's just...

I only want to want you.

I won't sink with him again.

I won't even touch him.

Are you content?

We were assigned as the replacement.

We were assigned...

Joy.

Are you content?

Joy?

Are you content?

Michelle?

It's improper to touch.

Are you not feeling well?

Michelle.

I think we should go.

Oh, please. Shh, shh, shh. It's okay.

Do you want me to--

No, she doesn't like it when you do it.

Please stop crying.

Please.

Shh. Stop crying.

Shh. It's okay.

It's okay. Shh, shh, shh.

I'm sorry, I can't. I can't do this.

-Sam, we said we weren't-- -Chris, I have to. I can't.

I can't. Please, just...

Joy, may I speak to you in private?

Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea.

Please, it's important.

Joy, are you content?

Not you, too.

I just can't stop thinking about Michelle.

I meant are you content with William?

I don't think he's content with me.

That's not possible.

I want to spend all of my time with you.

I want you to be mine.

Soon I'll be made a Friend, then you and I will be

completely protected.

Protected from what?

And...

Be my partner.

I...

Um...

Chris.

William?

William! William, please.

Just, please, open the door, it's...

Joy, are you content?

You seem unwell.

What did you do?

What did you do?

Are you content?

-William. -Touching is not appropriate.

-What? -You shouldn't touch.

I'm glad you decided to come back.

I did warn you that this would happen,

if you didn't take the vitamin.

William is at home.

He's fine.

A bit boring, but he's fine.

We've decided to leave Frank unpaired.

We will move him to a place where we house undesirables.

And Michelle is going to be re-paired with a new man.

I think she actually prefers women.

And we prefer to keep things simple.

I take it Chris isn't going to be made a Friend?

No.

And he was never really in consideration.

-And me? -What's that?

Well, you haven't said what's going to happen to me.

Would you care to take a guess?

Um...

I don't know the word for it.

Um...

Can you throw people out?

Like you would throw out waste.

It's what you did to my neighbor, isn't it?

And her partner.

Wow.

You really are a downer.

Morgan has been sick for quite some time.

Somebody found her unconscious in your elevator last night.

Her partner became a Friend.

And he wasn't allowed to bring her with him.

So, he chose to leave her behind.

I think he was trying to make it easier on her.

I want to earn your trust.

Why?

Joy.

Would you like to know our actual process

for choosing new Friends?

Come on. You're a curious person.

But you knew that before you stopped taking the vitamin.

That little wonder drug tidies up

our internal messiness pretty well.

But there are certain core tendencies

that still seem to squirm their way to the top.

And that is how we identify potential.

But a foggy picture can only be so useful.

So, we provide opportunities for clarity.

My cancer treatment.

Just a push in the right direction.

So-- so this was just some kind of test?

And you passed.

In the face of danger, you chose to pursue knowledge.

When granted that knowledge,

you shared for the benefit of others,

or you withheld information for their comfort.

You can be made a new Friend immediately.

No, I--

I want to see William.

Joy.

The William you knew is not there anymore.

You saw that.

And whether you become a new Friend or not,

he'll be re-paired.

It's best for both of you.

This would be your new home.

For the first year, your only job would be to learn.

No partner.

No cohort.

Just you.

And the collected knowledge of the world.

All of it.

And if I say no?

You go home.

Well, to a new home.

With a new partner.

And a new cohort.

And you don't have to take the vitamin,

but any more disruptions will not be tolerated.

Hello, Friend.

And welcome.

As a new Friend, think of yourself as a gatekeeper.

Helping to stabilize our ever-growing community

while enabling everyone within it to thrive.

And whether you stay or go,

any interaction with your previous cohort

will result in termination.

If I say yes?

Your life gains meaning.

During your learning year, you'll be exposed to truths

about our collective human history

that can be, well, alarming.

If any of the images or facts you encounter

become too upsetting,

don't hesitate to request Friend-class vitamins,

which provide a customizable level of emotional relief.

This is your time to grow

and get a complete education customized for you.

But if you need a further escape from any of the harsh realities

you'll encounter,

we also have a vast library of entertainment available

showcasing the many precious mysteries of the world.

Everybody likes to watch animals whose instincts

and intelligence are sometimes remarkable.

Two slices of toast are neatly arranged on each plate.

This is a sandwich for forks.

An open-face creation, in other words,

with a cheese, milk, and tuna fish mixture on top.

Today the forest speaks to us still,

reminding us of our past,

the natural world

and perhaps, a chance to know ourselves.

Johnny, you fool.

What difference does it make whether you get a raise

or a partnership or anything?

I let you down.

I'll always let you down.

I'm no good, Jane.

Johnny, don't say that!

Michelle!

Are you content?

We return now to the female organs.

Male sperm are deposited at the upper end of the vagina

near the cervix.

The sperm move into the tubes and approach the egg.

Are you content?

Will.

You-- you don't know me.

But you did.

Um, you loved me.

I think, uh...

And I know that I love you.

I hurt you.

And um, I'm-- I'm really, really sorry.

'Cause you're the only thing in this place

that I really care about.

Well, um, you and...

...this person I'm growing inside of me.

Will.

I'm growing a person in my stomach.

You know, there's a world out there.

It's terrifying, and broken,

and beautiful, and delicate, as well.

I think I know how to get there.

I wish you could come and see it with us.

Anyway...

I just wanted you to know that.

Before whatever happens, happens.

I don't think I understood most of what you just said,

but I'm really glad that you're here.

I didn't take it.

What?

I just thought that you wanted to be with Christopher

and so I-- I wanted you to be happy.