Before the World Set on Fire (2023)

[bunniefuu]

[leaves crunching]

[buzzing of insects]

[suspenseful music]

[birds chirping in distance]

[indistinct chatter]

[fire crackling]

[sighs]

[water running]

[indistinct chatter]

Anya Davis?

Hi, I'm--

Sorry, I'm Cole Keating,

the philosophy department.

-Oh, hi.

-I was on the hiring committee.

-Right.

-Can I?

Yes, yes, yes.

Sure, sure.

Your dissertation

on the Nietzschean will

of individualism

was fascinating.

-Thank you.

-So, I really admire you.

You um-- You cover Nietzsche?

No, no, I focus on

the practices and aesthetics

of the 18th century,

so, Diderot, Voltaire.

-Right. Enlightenment.

-Yes.

Um, although I teach a survey

course here and there.

We're so lucky to get you.

Thanks. [chuckles]

Uh, so, will I see you

at the fire tonight?

Sorry, will you see me

at the fire tonight?

Oh, do you not--

-[chuckling]

-No.

Um, so back in 1886,

when Eastling was all men,

at the end of a term,

the students all decided

to burn their books.

It only happened once,

but it sort of

became a tradition.

Oh, yeah,

like a ritual of sorts, right?

Yeah, it's tonight.

So see you there?

Yeah, sure.

[soft piano melody]

[indistinct chatter]

Hi.

Hi.

-You're new.

-Yes.

I'm a new hire

in the philosophy department.

Anya-- Dr. Davis.

Do you believe in all that,

burning of books?

They say

it's this Eastling tradition,

the burning of literature

and the like.

It's actually a serious

practice with meaning.

I hear it's treated as a joke...

people just throwing

their sh*t into the fire...

leaving the world outside

behind.

When really,

what it actually means...

it's eliminating ideology that

may threaten any kind of power.

Burning a person...

burning a mind.

Yeah, I understand that.

So, basically,

all these lunatic co-eds

have taken this practice

and turned it

into a kind of celebration.

A reason to get drunk.

I don't think that's

what education should be about.

All right, Anya,

I think we're ready for you.

[Dean Johnson] Anya,

can I get you anything?

No, thank you.

This is Joanna Higgins.

She's investigating

the death of Wilder Hewitt.

[Joanna] We've spoken to all of

the students from your seminar.

Wow. All of them?

Except Mara Headley.

We can't get in touch with her.

-Have you heard from her?

-[Anya] No.

And Selena?

Selena Ferreira, my student?

We've spoken with her.

-So, she's okay?

-[Dean Johnson] Yes.

Okay.

We've learned you did

a recording of the class?

Reed Harris shared it with us.

Yes, uh, per my instructions,

I was required to record

all remote classes.

What's strange is

from this specific seminar,

the recording stops.

Is there

a reason you stopped it?

That I stopped the recording?

It stops with Reed Harris

saying, and I quote,

"The Upashans have

a theory about this."

He goes on to argue

with Molly Stanovitz.

It gets a little out of hand.

You call five minutes.

Yes, yeah, I had-- I had called

a break in the class.

Yes, and at that point,

someone stopped the recording

and didn't restart it.

We assumed that person was you.

[soft suspenseful melody]

[Dean Johnson]

Students, faculty,

and staff of Eastling,

greetings.

This message is to inform you

that all classes

will remain being conducted

online and only online.

This is necessary as we

continue

to deal with the outbreak.

As your Dean,

I ask you to please

remain safe and stay tuned

for further updates.

Thank you.

[computer chimes]

-[video call chimes]

-Hi, Dr. Davis.

Oh, hi, Mara. Hi.

[Mara] I can't hear you.

-Hello? Hello, hello, hello?

-Hi, hi.

I can hear you.

-How are you?

-[Mara] Um, I'm okay.

I mean, all my classes

have been on here,

-so I'm kind of--

-[video call chimes]

-[Mara] Hi, Reed.

-Hi.

Hey.

-Did you just wake up?

-[phone buzzing]

[Reed] Yeah, so?

[Mara] Oh, no. Sorry--

-I'll be right back.

-[Reed] Where's Wilder?

He's not with you?

No, we, um...

uh, we had a fight last night,

so I came back to my dorm.

Oh.

Cool.

[Wilder] This is Wilder.

Leave a message after the beep.

-[phone chiming]

-[Reed] Hey.

[Hanna] Hey.

[Reed] You're not part of

this class unless somehow

I've missed you out of

the six people that are in it.

-Are you, like, here to troll?

-Dr. Davis is my mom.

-[soft music plays]

-What's that in your background?

That's music.

I knew that,

but I mean, like, what kind?

-Hanna?

-Hi.

How did you even get in here?

Your calendar synced

to my phone.

And all your passwords are saved

there, too, by the way.

Uh, you always use the same one.

Okay, so--

So where is everyone?

Aren't you two

in the same house?

No, Hannah's actually

with her dad this week.

So what are you

listening to exactly?

[Hanna] Polish jazz.

Yeah, I knew that.

Yeah, during

the communist takeover,

jazz was totally repressed.

And when Stalin died,

a new wave began.

Krzysztof Komeda? Like--

Wow.

Polish jazz is the b*mb.

My dad plays in a band that kind

of emulates the movement.

It's not as good, but--

[Anya] Hannah, it's really

not time for a concert.

Well, it's not a concert.

It's just a conversation,

but fine.

I'll leave.

Reach out to the others,

and then we can start

officially, officially.

[Reed] Cool.

[phone buzzes]

-[video call chimes]

-[Molly] Hey!

-[Kasper] Hello!

-[Reed] Hi!

It's my favorite Molly!

[vocalizes]

I don't want to see that.

Put that away.

Also, how many Mollys

do you even know?

A lot. Like, 12.

Yeah, I don't feel special.

-Kasper! Nice place, dude.

-Oh, thank you.

Yeah, they decided

to give all the funding

to foreign student housing,

but I'm chill,

because I'm off campus.

Okay, the dorms aren't that bad.

But anyway,

I mean, how are you guys?

I don't know. Just vibing.

I mean, this whole thing

is so f*cking weird.

So what are the signs

of this thing?

The-- the sweat?

Feels weird to say.

Like, the bubonic plague?

Well, actually,

"sweat" is much easier to say,

because it's one syllable,

"bubonic" is three.

Oh, come on, Molly.

You know what I mean.

Actually, I don't,

because I've never experienced

the bubonic plague.

[scoffs] Why don't you tell us

about it, Kasper?

Come on, you're--

you're from Germany, right?

So, in your homeland,

isn't that the origin

of all these hateful

and evil things in the world?

I think that's

what Molly is getting at.

What, like, the plague?

Mm, no, the whole world

blames Germany for,

like, every problem.

I swear to God.

Where is Dr. Davis?

Oh, God.

She is looking so hot today.

Okay, um,

she went to get coffee.

Oh, coffee's super important,

by the way.

Okay, wait, you guys,

there's this rumor

that it, like,

started from this leak

in a botched experiment

in the lab at Decker Hall.

Yeah, I heard that, too.

Now, I-- I'm not so sure

that's a rumor, Molly.

I think that actually happened.

-Really?

-[phone buzzing]

[Kasper] I mean,

it did start somewhere, right?

A-- and if someone

did do it on purpose,

like, uh-- like it was

a deranged science major

or-- or faculty,

what would the purpose be?

Why?

I mean, I happen to think

that it was just

an honest mistake, you know?

I-- I-- it doesn't exactly lead

to world domination.

We are all crazy.

People do crazy sh*t sometimes.

You don't even know.

Oh, my God,

put your computer down.

It's, like, super disorienting.

-Yeah, but, guys...

-Sorry.

...someone at Jasper's party

had it,

which really disturbs me

because I was there,

and so was Wilder.

Oh, my God, no way. Who?

Uh, Jessica Williams,

the art history major.

Oh, yeah,

yeah, yeah, I know her.

But, like, we're fine.

Only, like,

three people have it anyway.

-No, five.

-No, I heard eight.

Okay, this is ridiculous.

Like, the entire student body

is, like, what?

800 students?

So why do we all

have to quarantine

and not just those,

like, six or eight people?

Well, you know, they don't know

how it spreads, right?

If people have touched, uh--

Yeah, I've touched a lot of

people in the last week, so...

Well, all of that

is under investigation, Reed.

Wait, wait, wait, the Sweat

or how many people I've touched?

No, but seriously,

Mara, come on.

This is a question

of the individual

versus the greatest good, right?

So, if you want

to selfishly go out

and-- and do whatever,

go to a party

with your boyfriend,

you could catch it

from some Hawaiian student,

and then you go give it

to your barista,

and they go into the city,

and they give it to whomever,

and then we're all f*cked,

the whole planet.

But isn't that where you'd get

herd immunity?

[Reed] Herd immunity?

I-- I'm sorry,

are you an anti-vaxxer?

No, okay, I'm just saying

that sometimes you have to

make these decisions.

Like, in nature, they accept

that the weakest

don't always survive.

You-- so, you're talking

about Darwinism?

I'm sorry, but we're at a tiny

liberal arts school.

What is your point?

Okay, I'm just playing

devil's advocate.

Like, if we were to go out,

people would survive.

Like, humanity would survive.

I heard that when you get it...

it drips into your sinus system,

and it can make you go blind.

Your eyes get all milky

-like some old dog.

-What?

Yeah, dude.

-Think about it, Mara.

-Stop it.

Your beautiful blue eyes

will get all foamy

-like a cappuccino.

-[phone buzzing]

[Mara] No,

you're just making that up.

It's not funny.

[Reed] It also f*ck

with your, uh,

I don't know if I can say

this in front of--

[Molly] ...anyways,

so, thank you.

All right, guys, all right.

Who are we still missing?

Um, Parker, Selena.

All right, so what do you think?

Two more minutes?

[Reed] And Wilder.

[Mara] Yeah, he'll be here

soon.

Molly, Molly, bo-bally, banana,

tana, poppoly, me, my, mo Molly.

-Where's Hillary?

-She went home.

-f*ck. To the city?

-Yeah.

She didn't want

to be holed up here any longer

than she had to be.

I mean, you know,

she's like a real hypochondriac,

plus her dad's not really

doing well.

-Sorry to hear that.

-Yeah, he's really old.

Well, send her my love.

Um, who-- who is Hillary?

Hillary is Molly's girlfriend.

She was the TA

in my early Greek seminar.

I tried to f*ck her,

but she's g*y.

Well, actually, she's bi.

She just wasn't into you, so...

-She told me that...

-That's just not true.

...multiple times.

I'm [indistinct] you know,

actually. [indistinct].

-[computer chimes]

-Hello!

Hey, Selena.

I'm sorry I'm late, Dr. Davis.

I had to go

to the clinic this morning.

I, um, I thought

I had the Sweat.

Oh, my God, really?

-[Selena] Yeah.

-I'm so sorry I'm late.

I went for a run.

-What's up?

-How was that for you?

Well, no one's out,

and my endorphins are flowing,

so I feel really good.

Last night,

I threw my own personal rave.

Oh, I did the same thing, too.

I pretended

I was in a club in Berlin

-with all the lights.

-Exactly.

-But I wasn't in Berlin.

-Okay, Parker, thank you.

Can you--

can you take a seat and join us?

-[computer chimes]

-Hey. Sorry.

-[computer chimes]

-[synthetic voice] Recording.

Okay, let's start.

Sorry, can I just say one thing?

I-- It's relevant, I promise.

[laughing] No.

I sold Lucinda and the Argonauts

to Fox Pictures.

I'm so excited.

I can't believe it.

-[Parker] That's amazing.

-It is so popular in Germany.

What's that?

A-- a young adult novel.

-[Anya] Congratulations, Selena.

-Okay.

Thank you.

But we need

Lucinda and the Argonauts?

Come on, Molly.

I just don't really know

what this has to do

with philosophy.

Oh, but it has, like,

everything to do

-with philosophy.

-Okay.

Anyway, Lucinda is faced

with so many

fight-or-flight situations.

You know, monsters, saboteurs,

the natural elements,

all working against her.

There is a big fight on the sea,

so you don't know

if she's gonna make it or not.

And then, over the course

of 300 or so odd pages,

you realize

that she's superhuman.

[doorbell chimes]

-[Molly] Oh, I...

-[Parker] Nice, Molly.

...did not mean

to send that to everybody.

[Parker] Okay, wait.

You kind of may have a point.

[indistinct] it feels medieval.

Like, maybe we're going back

to the biblical plagues

of the Greeks and Romans.

You know,

Nietzsche was a classicist.

-[clears throat]

-Really?

Yeah, he was. Yeah, actually.

Parker, thank you.

And Selena, thank you.

I, um, I--

I wanted to start

today's seminar by taking a look

at Nietzsche's roots

to classicism,

which, of course, is covered

in this week's reading.

So, if we go back

to Greek mythology,

what we have here is--

is a kind of storytelling,

a way of transcribing

the human experience

in a way that I think

Nietzsche has felt

that we have strayed from

or, um, lost contact with.

So, what I'm talking about...

is a storytelling.

Mythology is a storytelling

that sort of encompasses

the carnal,

the animal, the spiritual,

the intellectual, even madness,

all of these elements

of the human experience

come together.

And then also, um,

this-- this idea of...

destiny and fate being, um,

being based on one's type

or one's character.

As Plato says, uh,

character is destiny.

But so what you have

with the rational philosophers

who have completely strayed

from this type of...

of storytelling,

what we have with them

is more of a-- a--

a-- a doctrinization

and a-- a rationalization,

a separation

of all of these elements, uh...

in a way that I think

Nietzsche finds...

much less complex, you know?

Uh, this--

this experience of living,

you know,

the Leibniz philosophy, Kasper.

Yeah, philosophy of life.

Kierkegaard was also

implicated in this.

-Schopenhauer, too, actually.

-[Anya] Right.

So now look, I mean...

Nietzsche's a philosopher

who is-- He's-- he's--

he's very difficult to explore

in a session like this.

I mean, we could spend

forever really--

Sorry, can we just go back

to this idea

of fate and destiny

being based on your type

-or your character?

-[Anya] Yeah, yeah.

Okay, so character is destiny,

as Plato says,

but what about circumstance

and chance shaping your destiny?

I mean, I was raised

by two women, two moms, okay?

And, you know,

they lived in, like,

a completely separate reality.

They were cool and progressive,

you know, sure,

but they are incredibly

brilliant, both of them,

and they essentially forced me

to come here.

I mean,

I didn't even really know

if I wanted to pursue college,

higher education in general,

but they wanted

a higher existence for me,

-so now I'm here.

-Because that's what you wanted.

Well, no, even if I want this,

I want that,

I'm still living

their trajectory for me

by getting a degree.

Yes, Molly.

Before we get into this,

I-- I-- I think it's crucial

that in-- in order to understand

these somewhat

controversial ideas here

that we really need to, um,

we really need to know

about the 19th century

in terms of the historical,

political, philosophical climate

in which Nietzsche emerged.

So, look,

the 19th century can-- can--

can really be separated

into two very distinct parts.

We have before 1848, 1850,

and after.

Can anyone speak to me

about what is happening

in Europe

at this time?

Well, the revolutions of 1848...

[Wilder] Sorry,

it's just, like...

...are some of the largest--

...kind of sounds like

we're just kind of reading

from an encyclopedia.

Sorry?

[Wilder] No, it's just

not very challenging.

I mean, this seminar, right,

this whole class is supposed

to be a challenging discussion,

supposed to move things forward,

I just...

I'm not really challenged.

We just started the discussion,

like, a few minutes ago, um--

I know, but challenge me,

or I'll challenge you.

So, uh...

so what we see happening here

in the middle

of the 19th century is this,

like, major reconstruction

or reconstitution

of liberal values

with the restitution

of the Bourbon monarchy

in France

and with the apotheosis

of Bismarck in Germany.

So, these two events, in a way,

sort of denied

all of this progress

that the revolutions in--

in France

and in America had made

in the previous century.

Um, up to this point,

history and politics

and art and philosophy

were all sort of converging

and building unilaterally,

cohesively, on top

of one another

towards this notion of progress.

Um, but now, all of a sudden,

there's this sort of

terrifying reversal.

And-- and you know,

this-- this of course,

really, um,

throws things on their head.

So, a large sense

of-- of nihilism looms.

Um, and what we have now

with Nietzsche

and his contemporaries

are, um-- Or let's look

at these artists.

So, the-- the--

the celebrated artists

of the time

are Van Gogh, Monet, Manet.

Uh, what you're looking at here

is the emergence

of an avant-garde

for the first time, you know?

Uh, you have a, uh,

an avant-garde class,

a rejection of institutions,

of religions, of--

The, uh, the-- the rejects,

the Salon des Refuss.

[Anya] Right. That's right.

These people become the stars

of the moment.

Nietzsche...

is re-evaluating

our whole philosophical

tradition, in a sense.

There is no longer any sort of

pan-universal set of truths

for which we could all sort of

ascribe meaning.

Um, it's the individual

that must search

for the salvation.

So, who

and what does he introduce

to express

this ultimate aspiration?

-Anyone?

-He introduces the Ubermensch.

Okay, Mara, okay.

So, let's unpack that.

Well, through Ubermensch,

Nietzsche introduces

the idea of a superior man,

who can rise above conventional

Christian morality

to create and impose

his own set of values.

Well, that's just bullshit

because what you're describing

is patriarchy.

Not patriarchy. Hierarchy.

And hierarchy should,

and does, exist.

I mean,

even in this class, right?

Yeah, there's a hierarchy

created by who will progress

and excel in this environment.

You know, who will get an A

at the end of the semester.

[Wilder] Exactly, Mara.

And I feel like it's, uh,

the most important part of

that is to consider

what happens if society

or this class

or structure accepts

the Ubermensch, right?

The Ubermensch may harm others,

may overtake others.

Therefore, one adheres

to suffering,

accepting the earth,

but aiming to be above it,

to be above mankind.

You're really cute.

Are you dating?

Isn't that one of the theories

Hitler used

to define the Holocaust?

Creating and perfecting

the master race, yeah.

Uh, I--

I do want to state, though,

before we kind of delve

into that,

that-- that-- that--

that it was through

misinterpretation, of course,

that Hitler and others were able

to exploit Nietzschean--

The Lebensborn program.

-The what?

-His Das Lebensborn-Programm.

The Lebensborn program

was created by Hitler to, um,

in a sense, spring to life

the master race, right?

So basically, he created

breeding facilities

where Aryan women

were recruited,

uh, to be impregnated

by genetically pure SS officers.

42,000.

There were 42,000 babies

produced during that time.

Yeah, my grandfather

was one of them.

He-- he was born

from the program.

Really? That is fascinating.

So this--

this Sweat, right, this--

this illness

that's going around campus,

could just be, like,

some kind of mindset.

Like some kind of

psychological

or sociological experiment.

I mean, not even real.

Yeah, I mean,

I have thought this all along,

you know?

So, one person is so convinced

that they have it,

then it spreads

to another person

who also feigns illness,

and eventually,

we all have it, right?

Or we think we do,

and then we succumb

to some kind of, like,

widespread hysteria.

Well, okay, Selena, I guess if--

if we're going to

switch gears here,

if we were to view this moment

through a Nietzschean lens,

we might...

see it as mass hysteria or--

or conformity of sorts

of the weaker man,

-the weaker spirit.

-[Wilder] Yes, yes.

But I still feel like

that's missing something.

I mean, it's-- it is a theory

about power and control,

the masses,

the conformity of the herd, yes.

But you're missing

that if we become above man,

if we become the Uberman,

then we can't get sick.

I mean, not in that way.

I thought suffering

was elevated in the Ubermensch.

Uh, uh, it is, it is.

So, I'm not sure I'm--

I-- I'm not sure I'm following

or agreeing

with your point, Wilder.

Can we go back for a second?

Nietzsche denounced God, right?

Like, threw him out?

Well, you know, this idea

of throwing off religion

is kind of a sort of part

of the moral nihilism

of Nietzschean philosophy.

So, really, if you're a follower

of anything of--

of an institution,

of a religion, of whatever,

you're hoarding

your individualism.

Okay, but he also claimed

there was a crisis of nihilism.

He didn't throw God away.

He admitted

that the death of God

would profoundly disrupt

society.

Remember, religion at this time

was the construct

through which individuals

organized

their sense of the world.

Therefore, the loss of God

was a loss of coherence,

-a loss of objective truth.

-[Anya] Yeah. Yes.

God, I forgot

how smart you are, Parker.

Um, who here believes in God?

Reed, we're not going to do

a poll

on people's religious beliefs.

I feel like it's valuable

to the discussion.

Uh, Wilder,

-what about you, man?

-What?

-Do you believe in God?

-No.

So you're an agnostic?

-I'm an atheist.

-Whatever, same difference.

Actually, they're not similar

at all.

You don't believe in God.

We got it.

Mara, what about you?

Do you believe in God?

I-- I have a feeling

that might affect your coupling.

Are we really doing this?

Why are you so interested

in our relationship?

Good question.

[Anya] Um...

Mara does not believe in God.

...okay, look--

-I'm right here.

-Okay, all right, cool.

While I do think

that personal beliefs

can be relevant

to our discussions,

I'm-- I'm-- I'm really not sure

why it's coming up

right here, Reed.

But Anya, you yourself

always talk about

how you're from Pittsburgh,

how that's shaped

your personal views,

how you move through the world.

I mean, shouldn't we be doing

the same thing?

How did we get to Pittsburgh?

Yeah, I didn't know that.

When did she mention

being from Pittsburgh?

Where's Pittsburgh?

Look, I-- it's possible

that I have mentioned things

in previous classes.

The point is

is that no one has to adhere

to any of these theories,

obviously, in order to study--

Wait, okay,

so I was raised Catholic, right?

I, like,

went to a Catholic high school.

Okay, can we--

No, wait, Dr. Davis, I--

I promise I'm gonna

make my point really quick,

-and it's relevant.

-[Anya] All right.

Like, all that we were

talking about earlier, right?

How you're bringing influences

to your being,

or you wanting to be like them,

or whatever.

But, see, as I grew up,

I made the decision

not to be Catholic anymore.

Can you-- Selena,

can you please stop

co-opting the class,

just to interrupt Dr. Davis

and say something

completely irrelevant?

What Selena is saying

is not completely unrelated.

Let's take a second here.

I-- it is clear that people pray

to a higher spiritual being,

or a god, or institution,

or the like, in dark times

because they want something

to believe in.

I mean, much like we're doing

in this class right now.

Yeah, I mean,

God has stood the test of time

because much of society

-is entirely hopeless.

-Right.

And our judgment

of others is fickle.

I mean, actually, Molly,

when you think about it,

there is no right and wrong

when it comes to beliefs.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

So you're saying Hitler,

and like, all of his beliefs,

attempting to exterminate

the entire Jewish population

was correct?

[Wilder] No, that's not

what I'm saying at all.

Or the way

the Russians decided to hide

what actually happened

at Chernobyl

in order to glorify

their country

and maintain

their politics, their beliefs.

That's all a-okay?

It's not an issue of morality,

which is the trap

that this conversation

keeps falling into.

So, if it's not an issue

of morality...

what is the metric

that defines this?

[Molly] Well, I'm not--

I'm not moralizing though.

[Wilder] not morality,

-it's vitality.

-That's right.

The strength of character

is all.

-That's right.

-Yeah.

It's an issue of vitality.

And by the way, Molly, you know,

those are two

more obvious examples, right?

You know, kind of generic.

You can be a little more

specific is all I'm saying.

I'm sorry my digression offended

so many people.

Wow, Molly, I am so impressed

with you apologizing

for your behavior.

I am just pointing out

to you, Wilder,

that what you are saying,

despite your expertise

on all subjects all the time,

is not always correct.

Yeah, but I never said I was.

Well, then it's an incredibly

calculated performance.

Oh, no one's gonna back me up.

Okay, cool.

That's awesome. Great.

At my bar mitzvah,

my pants split

during the chair dance.

Oh.

Never set foot

in a synagogue again.

So, you gave up

the entirety of Judaism

because your pants split?

Well that and the whole

singing in Hebrew part.

That's pretty tough.

[Reed] Don't worry

about it, dude.

I went to so many

bar mitzvahs when I was a kid.

I technically lost

my virginity at one.

I got a BJ

from this girl with braces.

Oh, my God. Reed, shut up.

Shut-- Just stop talking.

Nobody wants to hear

about your BJ.

I mean, we were having--

All of you,

have you been present recently?

Because we were having

a very intense conversation

about the Holocaust,

and all you can think about

-is getting head?

-Could-- could we just try--

[Molly] That's so insensitive

and disgusting!

Okay, Molly.

What, oh, oh, I'm being

the crazy one right now?

No, I just--

I'm gonna ask us all

to just return

to a more respectful way

of talking to each other.

Well, it's not my fault

that Reed loves to just listen

to the sound of his own voice.

What's wrong with listening

to the sound of my own voice?

Your voice tells you a lot

about your being.

The Upanishads actually came up

with a lot of their philosophies

based on questions

about the origins of the voice.

[Molly] Stop and listen

to Dr. Davis

and stop being so disrespectful.

[Anya] I'd like to end this now.

[Molly] Shut up! Oh, my God.

I can't even

handle this anymore, bye!

-[Wilder] Reed?

-[Anya sighs]

Reed, can I, uh,

can I tell you something?

-[Reed] I'd be honored.

-Wilder.

You're an idiotic representation

of your generation.

A pig.

You're a pig grappling through

the vines of intelligentsia,

plotting against

our prolonged thought

trying to move things forward,

and then chewing our ideas

with your slime.

-You're just--

-Uh, okay.

Let's take ten.

[computer chiming]

[laughs]

[sighs]

Dr. Davis, we are missing

significant information

pertaining

to what actually happened

during the rest of the class

and the lead-up to the jump.

We've been in contact

with everyone involved.

We have testimonies

from your students

and your daughter.

You've been in contact

with my daughter?

We're just asking questions.

We've had to question

everyone involved.

So that's why he's here?

Professor Keating's the head

of the Standards Committee.

[Anya] Uh-huh.

Right.

So then he told you

we were f*cking?

No, I hadn't.

And that I had called him

during the break in the class?

-So it's my fault now?

-Fault? No.

I mean, I just-- I assumed

that's why you were here.

[Dean Johnson] Is this true?

[Cole] Yes,

she called me that day.

That's not what I'm asking you.

I'm asking you

if you were in a relationship

with her.

I don't see why that matters.

[Dean Johnson]

Because you're the head

of the Standards Committee,

Cole.

[Joanna] What exactly

did she tell you, Mr. Keating,

on that phone call?

-It's good to see you.

-Like, it's been that long?

It's been like five days.

Well, uh, yeah, but I mean,

feels like longer.

A lot has happened.

Like before the world

set on fire. [chuckling]

-Can you come over tonight?

-Yeah.

Uh, I got to finish this outline

for this grant application.

My Diderot research.

Um, are you okay?

[sighs]

Yeah, it's just

my seminar just got so crazy.

Which one was that?

Just like my only one,

the one with Wilder Hewitt.

Oh, what's up with him?

I thought you liked him.

I do like him, it's just...

he's just very volatile today.

So, uh, students, like,

so a lot of his kind, you know,

any of his type...

they can totally have

their heads stuck

up their own asses.

You know what I mean?

They think they know

everything about everything,

and you can't teach them.

But you can influence them.

And, you know, it's--

Often it's the most difficult

ones that teach us the most.

She said the class was hard

and that she felt overwhelmed.

Why didn't you tell us this?

[Cole] I-- It didn't seem

like it was important.

You didn't think

it was important?

It was a conversation

with an academic colleague.

[Dean Johnson] Mm-hmm.

Okay, Cole,

I think you should go.

Is there anything else

that you'd like to tell us?

It seemed like

she was drawn to him.

[Dean Johnson]

Drawn to him in what way?

In the way that a teacher

is drawn to a bright student.

[Joanna] What did you talk about

with Wilder?

Many things.

We-- we spoke often.

It seemed very much

part of his process.

It's-- it's normal,

it's standard

that I speak with my students.

What-- what is it

that you think I know?

Let's not jump

to any conclusions.

I'm not jumping to conclusions.

I'm just--

I'm simply asking questions.

I teach philosophy.

It's the nature of what I do.

December 2nd, 2009.

Does that date ring a bell?

No.

[Joanna]

There was a custody hearing.

Your daughter

was five years old, correct?

[sighs] Yes.

During the hearing,

your ex-husband, Phil Archer,

claimed that you were unable

to leave the house

for six weeks.

Yes, I was severely depressed

during my divorce.

That you were living

in a state of alarming disarray,

and according

to your daughter's testimony

during the proceedings,

"I saw Mommy eating.

Eating roots and plants

from the garden.

She said she wanted

to go back to the earth,

to the way

things were supposed to be."

What does this have to do

with anything?

Uh, well, um...

what strikes me

about that statement

from your daughter, Anya,

is that it sounds very similar

to some of the things

that Wilder was talking about

just before he jumped.

Relevant

to the Nietzschean theories

you were discussing

in that class?

Yeah, I just-- I'm-- I'm sorry,

I don't-- I don't understand.

[Joanna] Your daughter brings up

a level of instability...

-Oh my God, instability.

-...which was also mentioned.

In December of 2014,

you resigned

from your last position

at Jones College.

Can you tell us about that?

What is going on here?

A student flung himself

from his window

-during your class, Anya.

-I know!

So I'm sure you can understand

-the urgency of the matter.

-I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I need a minute.

-[low somber music plays]

-[bell tolling in the distance]

-[Cole] Hey.

-Hi.

[Cole] I've been looking

for you everywhere.

Sorry.

I'm just, uh,

really glad you came.

I didn't think you would.

Hi, Wilder.

Hi, Professor Keating.

I'm glad you two met, uh,

as you know, Anya,

we don't really have

traditional majors here,

but I'd say Wilder's focus

is our department.

Uh, where do you live?

Oh, uh, the housing

over on Ponce.

Why?

Wanted to walk you home.

Great.

I'll see you tomorrow.

I'm in your seminar.

Great. See you tomorrow.

[Cole] Interesting kid.

[Anya] Yeah.

What'd you guys talk about?

[Anya] Oh.

The bonfire.

[computer chiming]

Kasper, Vlad?

Vlad, Vlad, Vlad, Vlad, Vlad.

-Seriously?

-Oh, Vlad!

[Vlad] Hey, hey! Parker!

-What's up, man?

-[computer chiming]

Oh, bye, Vlad.

Molly, how are you doing?

I know that was

a little tense before.

So sorry I got so upset,

you guys.

[Selena] What do you want?

I want to be lonely

Is that Selena Ferrara

on vocals?

Oh, I didn't realize

I was still on.

-Hi, guys.

-Hi.

Um, hey, is-- is Reed coming?

-Or is he-- Oh.

-[computer chimes]

[Parker] Yo! Reed, man.

I miss you.

It's been too long.

When we're-- When this is done,

we're going to Bubby's, okay?

As soon as this is done,

the day this is f*cking over.

Oh. Has anyone heard

about Dr. Davis and Dr. Keaton?

[Molly] No, why?

I saw them getting drinks

at Bubby's the other day.

[Molly] Yeah, okay, but maybe

they like their happy hour.

I mean, I sure do.

[Reed] Yeah, me too.

Yeah, she's also new.

It could be routine.

Maybe, yeah, maybe, I--

I saw them not once, though,

not twice, three times,

and last week.

Gossip!

You think they're f*cking, bro?

I don't think

they're grading papers.

-Hello.

-[Reed] Hey, Wilder.

Hi.

That was really

emotional before,

and I just want

to discuss our feelings.

You know,

you kind of attacked me there

with that poetic gibberish

that sounded like it was

from Planet of the Apes.

Okay, they speak English

in Planet of the Apes.

-No, they don't.

-Yeah, they do.

[sighs]

-[clears throat]

-[computer chimes]

Okay, guys, so we're back.

Uh, I wanted to start

this next half

by just grounding us

in some text.

Really?

All right, guys, look, I, uh--

I know you don't want

to acknowledge

that there's any kind of

hierarchy here,

but I am your professor.

I am trying to lead you

in a discussion.

[Reed] I don't believe

in hierarchy.

Oh, wow, Reed, that might be

the first thing

you and I actually agree on.

Uh, your question

of my authority

or hierarchy

in this context is what?

Is directed at academia?

Yes, I mean, the institution.

And you bringing it up,

you yourself are questioning it.

You know, Reed, yes,

he's being an as*h*le dickhead,

but he still has

the authority to question you

just like you have

the authority to question him.

I mean, Plato, Socrates,

that was like the first

student-teacher

relationship, right?

But look at where

hierarchy has gotten us.

We live in a completely

patriarchal, r*cist society.

This isn't a philosophy,

it's gender studies.

Oh, well, thank you

for bringing up my minor.

Also, I hate it when

any time a woman loves to talk

about patriarchy or equality,

a man has to

question it and be like,

"Oh, do you know

gender studies?"

It's, like, so frustrating.

All this

male versus female bullshit.

I mean, God,

we've been dealing with it

since the beginning

of f*cking time.

We are still dealing with it.

Ah, I mean, for example, okay,

at the beginning of this class,

Parker brought up

the fact that you are

in a sexual relationship

with Dr. Keaton.

[Parker] Whoa, whoa,

whoa, Molly!

What? You did.

And just by the way,

if you were a man,

do you think anybody would be

saying something like that?

[sighs]

Right, um...

I, uh--

I'm gonna disregard

that last statement

that you made, Molly, about my

personal life, and I am--

I'm just gonna read

the text now.

Uh, this is

from Beyond Good and Evil.

"What inspires

respect for women,

and often enough even fear,

is her nature, which is

more natural than man's.

The genuine, cunning, suppleness

of a beast of prey.

The tiger's claw

under the glove.

Her inner wildness."

Men oppress women,

because they know

they're a force

to be reckoned with.

Well, Nietzsche also claims

that the emancipation of women

from feminism is merely just a--

I mean, kind of a resentment

of some women

against other women

because they're better

physically constituted

and more able to bear children.

It sounds like a little bit

of a compliment from Nietzsche,

layered with this

bit of misogyny, no?

No, exactly,

Kasper, because literally,

any time a woman is

competing against another woman,

it's inherently misogynist,

because it's

for the benefit of a man.

That's, like, the first thing

I've heard in this class

that makes sense.

Look, Lucinda and the Argonauts

is a great example

of a text

that actively engages with--

-Are you serious?

-No, no, no!

We are still questioning

if men are the greater sex,

and that's insane!

Right, but that's

because they are, I mean--

In Nietzsche's theory, right,

a woman's whole purpose--

Her whole purpose, her goal,

is to give birth

to an Ubermensch.

Which is just a theory.

Right, but her

ability to do that

dictates her relationship

to man.

Nietzsche talks

about the Ubermensch

that literally translates

to "superman."

Okay, so, Wilder,

you're actually

interpreting it literally.

You know, Wilder,

I think that

that interpretation is valid.

Okay, thank you, yes,

more than valid, but--

-So you're agreeing with him?

-No, I'm not, I'm just--

I'm saying

that it's interesting,

and that I'm acknowledging it.

Look, it's impossible

to talk about Nietzsche

and-- and sort of

skip over misogyny.

It's-- it's in his writings.

But wouldn't it be interesting

to think of misogyny

as a part of, perhaps,

an overall strategy...

of Nietzsche's to demonstrate

that our attitude

towards gender and sex

is completely cultural?

And it's often incredibly

destructive

to our-- our potential

as individuals

and as a species, and...

perhaps it's something

to be overcome.

It's an interesting, I mean,

glorified, positive reading.

But it's all besides the point,

because when it

comes down to it,

men did come first.

And were created first.

According to the Bible?

-Yeah, which is--

-So we're interpreting

the Bible literally?

Yeah, it's a source

of mythological creation.

Okay, but we've seen

in this class, right,

mythology, philosophy,

and it's also--

There's plenty

of scientific evidence

that backs this up.

Okay, Nietzsche had very

controversial views on this.

Next text.

"From the beginning,

nothing has been

more alien, repugnant,

or hostile to woman than truth.

Her great art is the lie

and highest concern

is mere appearance and beauty."

Oh, Selena,

the prime example of that.

-Wilder.

-Excuse me, I'm sorry?

Well, no, it's just,

you obviously

put a lot of effort

into your appearance

just to come onto this

online class.

You know what I mean?

-Easy, Wilder.

-Oh, my God.

That is just offensive.

It's not offensive,

it's just an observation.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

This whole f*cking seminar

is offensive.

Yeah, this whole seminar

is offensive.

It's f*cking biased,

and set in a bunch

of made-up beliefs!

-None of you--

-[Reed] Selena!

-None of you...

-Selena!

...can even comprehend

or understand the fact

that I might actually

have a brain.

-Yeah, and that I--

-Stop, stop, stop!

I-- I--

-There's something wrong

with your eyes.

What? What is it?

[gasps] Oh, my God.

Oh, my God, you guys,

help me, tell me what to do.

Help me! Tell me what to do.

Wash out your eyes

with water and--

I have to go.

I have to go, just--

Where did she go?

Maybe someone

should go check on her?

[Parker] Yeah, yeah,

yeah, I'm on it, all right.

Reed, the eye thing,

is it really

a sign of the Sweat?

-I thought you were joking.

-I thought I was joking, too.

Well, if you were joking,

then how do you explain

her eyes actually being white?

I don't f*cking know. Pink eye?

-Seriously?

-Look, has anyone been

in contact with her

in the last few days?

I left--

I left cookies at her door.

But long story.

-[Wilder laughs]

-[Reed] What's so funny, weirdo?

Look, guys, I-- I, um--

I'm not so sure

that we should continue.

Yeah, it--

it doesn't feel right.

I think I'm--

I'm gonna go, and check on her.

No, Mara. Mara, Mara,

just stay, stay.

We should absolutely continue.

What else can we do?

No, I-- I actually think

that-- that we should

probably just end this.

No, Anya, we should absolutely

continue.

Nothing can be done for Selena.

-How do you know?

-Because I do.

Look, we have an obligation

to continue this class.

What obligation, I can

leave whenever I want, okay?

It's a free zone.

Okay, then go ahead.

"I love all who are,

like heavy drops,

falling one by one

from the dark clouds

that lowers over man.

They herald the coming

of the lightning,

and succumb to the heralds."

I feel sick.

I'm going to call-- call Selena.

Hey, um--

I, uh--

So, what are we doing?

Uh, we're gonna continue.

-Really?

-Next quote.

"Lead back to the earth

the virtue that flew away,

as I do.

Back to life, back to the body,

that it may give

the earth meaning.

A human meaning."

Okay.

Does anyone have

anything to say?

Anyone?

Mara?

I think that on this notion

of virtue

and the power of virtue,

I think that he's saying

that we need to ground

ourselves.

Right, but we can't

ground ourselves

in something that's unfit.

Right, but what I'm saying

is that I think we need to--

We need to find-- No, we need

to find something--

Hey, Wilder, I think

Mara was speaking.

-I was.

-Oh, well, I speak through her.

She speaks through me.

-No, but that isn't--

-Shh. Mara.

Mara. Mara.

I just need you to give me

a second so I can figure

these ideas out for myself.

What's the point

when your analysis

is gonna be so generic?

You're not moving

anything forward.

You're afraid, Mara.

-You're afraid.

-Stop telling me what I feel.

I can tell you whatever

I want to tell you.

That is not okay for you to say.

Yeah, you're right, it's not.

The Earth has become small,

and on it hops the last man

who makes everything small.

Therefore, one must sacrifice

themselves to the Earth

so that the Earth

of the superman

may hereafter arrive.

That's incomprehensible.

It's not incomprehensible.

It's so clear.

It's just difficult and--

and it's difficult to inhabit

and understand,

but it is possible.

No, I don't think it is.

That's just because you're

convincing yourself of that.

Because our reality has

superimposed certain ideas,

certain images into your brain,

you think that

it's not possible.

But there's been no proof,

no actual proof

that this can't be achieved.

And look, right now,

right now, this is our chance.

I mean, we're all gonna

become extinct anyway.

What are you talking about?

Oh, my God, Mara!

Come on, stop-- stop acting

like you don't know me.

It's me.

If you want to keep on

pretending,

then you can join the throngs

of women like Selena

who prost*tute themselves,

and end up infected.

[laughs] So what are you

gonna do?

I mean, either stay or go.

Go. Go, leave. Leave the call.

Hang up on me like you did

last time.

If you're not strong enough

to continue this work,

then you should leave.

You are not God, Wilder.

-[computer chimes]

-[Anya sighs]

[computer chimes]

The f*ck just happened?

I don't know.

Did either of them answer?

No, but maybe--

maybe Parker's there.

-I'm gonna call him.

-I'll call too.

Reed, give me the number.

I hope she's okay.

It feels real bad.

What all of you are

not realizing

is that this Sweat,

this-- this illness,

it has the potential to wipe us

all out entirely.

I mean, look at what just

happened to one of our own.

We don't know what that was.

We have to face

the consequences.

We have to be ready.

Ready-- ready for what?

-[computer chimes]

-We--

We have to prepare ourselves.

We have to take risks.

Anya, Anya, tell them.

Tell them what you told me

last night.

Last night?

"Our minds are

the most dangerous.

Man is but a rope

between the animal

and the superman.

A rope over an abyss.

Wilder, what?

What is great about man is that

he is a bridge,

not a goal."

Wilder, you have to stop.

[laughs] I knew. I knew it.

I knew you were never really

devoted to me, Mara, I knew.

I knew this would never last.

We-- we have to

endure the unthinkable.

We have to

get ready for the pain.

Wilder, Wilder,

you have to listen to me, okay?

You have to stop this.

Everything-- everything

is pitted against us.

Wilder, don't-- What are

you doing, okay?

Listen to me, Wilder,

I care about you, okay?

I'm coming over.

I'm coming now, okay?

[Molly] Wait, how far

do you live?

Um, close, five minutes.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Not-- not close enough.

See, that's the problem.

We can never be close enough.

Okay, I'm gonna

meet you there, okay?

-I'll come right now.

-No, wait, it's better

if it's just me, I know him.

You don't,

you don't know me, Mara.

You really don't know me.

I don't know me. No one knows.

-[Mara] Wilder.

-[Wilder] No one.

[Mara] Please,

I'm on my way, okay?

I'm coming right now.

Dude, Mara's on her way.

Everything's gonna be okay.

-Sit down, okay?

-It's going to be fine.

Anya? Anya, we're in this

together, right?

Like you said, right?

We're doing this work together.

Dr. Davis.

[Wilder] "Lo, for I am

a herald of the lightning,

a drop out of the cloud."

But I am not the lightning.

The lightning, however,

is the superman.

Anya, Anya,

don't-- don't be afraid.

I-- I have imagined this moment.

This beautiful,

beautiful moment.

Do you trust me?

Trust me.

Wilder.

This is just the beginning.

[Molly] Don't-- [screaming]

Oh, my God!

Oh!

Is anybody there?

What's happening?

Students of Eastling, hello.

I hope you are all

keeping safe and well

during this challenging time.

I come to you with grave news,

but also with some news of hope.

All of you know the challenges

our college has faced

over these past few weeks.

Ours is a small

and familiar campus.

And so it is with great sadness

that I share with you

the passing

of undergraduate fellow

Wilder Buck-Hewitt.

Wilder had just

begun his junior year.

And those of you who knew him

or may have

encountered Wilder on campus

may remember his generous

and formidable academic spirit.

We ask for privacy

regarding Wilder's sudden death

from his peers,

faculty, and friends.

Now, as we take

this time to mourn Wilder,

we also take this opportunity

to open our campus again.

We believe that this outbreak,

or what has been

referred to as the Sweat,

has been contained.

And so over the next two weeks,

we will start

making our way back to class.

Now, I know this has been

a difficult time for all of us.

It is my promise to you that

Eastling College will come back,

and we will be better than ever.

Thank you, and take care.

[somber

piano instrumental playing]

[bell chiming in distance]



We've been going

through the testimonies,

and there's been

a kind of unanimous statement

between the students

who witnessed what happened

that you didn't

try to stop Wilder

as he went towards his window.

With all due respect,

nobody could stop him,

but I was actively

trying to keep him online.

Kasper Krogmann said that Wilder

was encouraging you to join him.

According

to some of your students,

it appears

as if Wilder believed that, uh,

through jumping, he was flying

to prove a higher existence.

I mean, it's clear

that something went wrong here.

He clearly

grabbed onto these ideas

in some kind of state,

and created

an alternate truth for himself.

That he existed above all of us,

of humanity, per se.

That he was actually

trying to align himself

with the Ubermensch?

Sorry, David, wh--

what is it that you're implying?

That-- that I was complicit?

That I somehow influenced

the death of my own student?

Anya, I'm sorry

to have to put you through this,

but it's something

that we absolutely--

David, David, please,

I-- I just can't sit here,

and listen to you

sort of defend or glorify

the-- the shortcomings

of the institution.

I-- I mean, you've really spent

the greater part

of this interrogation--

[woman]

This is not an interrogation.

Well, whatever this is,

you've spent

the greater part of it

sort of illuminating and...

broadcasting my...

private and personal frailties,

of which I have many.

I-- I suppose

this is of interest of you,

because you-- you need

to assign blame for what

transpired

in my class, of course.

I mean, this is--

It's-- This is

an issue of liability, right?

You know,

it is my responsibility

to sort of open

the door to-- to becoming,

but it is not my responsibility,

and it is not

in my charge what becomes.

I did not take

Wilder Hewitt's life.

What transpired in my class

is incredibly heartbreaking,

and please,

never underestimate the depth

of suffering

that I have incurred.

But...

I-- I reject

your moral accountability

of this situation

and-- and honestly,

shame on me for ever spending

any portion of my life

trying to gain acceptance

in a realm

that purports a notion...

of radical...

intellectual freedom

without the capacity for--

[clock ticking]

[Dean Johnson]

Anya, as you know,

we have security cameras

all over campus.

Yes.

And we've been checking them

to see what might have happened

near Decker Hall.

Science building.

Anya, what we're

about to share with you

is strictly confidential.

[Joanna] 18th September,

we have security footage

of Wilder Hewitt

entering Decker Hall.

That date is about a week

before the campus shut down

due to a highly

infectious virus.

So Wilder,

he wasn't studying science.

Decker Hall is all labs.

How did he get access?

Only faculty have access

after 7:00 p.m., correct?

That's right.

Sorry, where is this going?

There's significant evidence

that this Sweat, this virus

that spread

all over campus was caused

by a leak in one of those labs.

So, that night,

the night of September 18th,

was the last time Wilder Hewitt

visited Decker Hall.

According to our footage,

he visited two times

prior to that night on his own.

[clock ticking]

And you think

that I knew about these visits?

I don't know what you knew,

but we have clear evidence

that your card was used

to let him in

on the night in question.

[fire crackling]

[Wilder] Sometimes I think

there never really was a plan.

We were all just

put here on this earth

to wither and squander, and...

wither away and not make

any progress at all.

When I think that I feel scared.

I feel defeated.

Then I hear this voice.

This voice like, inside.

And this voice

tells me that there is a plan.

It's not going to

be easy to understand.

But it's higher.

Higher than anything

I've ever imagined.

I don't think

I'm even ready to understand it.

Not yet, anyway.

But I was hoping that maybe

you could help me understand it.

Because I don't think

I can do it alone.

I feel--

I feel so alone.

Am I alone?

Dr. Davis?

[clock ticking]

[insects buzzing]

[contemplating melody playing]

[music fades]