Becomers, The (2023)

[bunniefuu]

(dark rumbling tones)

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(dark rumbling tones continue)

(computer chirps)

(computer chirps)

(computer chirps and buzzes)

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] I met my

lover on a blind date.

I remember how pretty

and pale they looked,

standing in the sulfur rain.

We didn't conjoin that night.

We blinked goodbye and

agreed to meet again soon.

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music continues)

We saw each other more and

more over the next few months.

One muggy night, we

made squash steak wraps

and got tipsy on black drink.

After conjoining, we said "I

love you" for the first time.

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music continues)

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(footsteps crunching)

(birds chirping)

- [Hunter] Wait!

No. Help!

(g*n fires)

- Somebody! (pants)

(dramatic abstract music)

Please help!

(dramatic music continues)

Help!

Help!

Help, please!

Please!

(gasps) Oh, my God! Thank you, God!

I need to go to a

hospital. My phone is dead.

Ow! Jesus!

The baby.

Can you hear me?

Do you have a phone?

Do you have

a phone?

(shades clatter)

(hunter wheezes)

(Francesca screams)

(Francesca screams)

(liquid bubbles)

(liquid sizzles)

(dark music)

(shoe thumps)

(shoe thumps)

(fire crackles)

(flesh squelches)

(baby thumps)

(pot sizzles)

(cheerful lounge music)

(cheerful lounge music continues)

(cheerful lounge music continues)

(cheerful lounge music continues)

- [Machine] Get outta my

way! Get outta my way!

Watch out! Watch out!

Let me go! Let me go!

I've gotta start my crazy ride!

(cheerful lounge music continues)

(distant traffic hums)

- [Narrator] My lover

was a somewhat well-known

ceramics artist.

They exhibited their work in

galleries across the planet.

I didn't like my job at the Gamma Center.

Pulse colliders bored me, but I made do.

I had my lover and they

gave my life meaning.

(distant traffic hums)

- Be with you in one minute.

(door clicks open)

(upbeat music from radio)

(door squeaks)

Hi. Looking for a room?

- Please.

- All right, well, you're

in luck. We got some.

How many nights next?

- [Radio Host] It's a beautiful

day in the Windy City,

and we have a lot of exciting

stories to share with you.

First off, Governor Jack

Olatka is still missing

after being kidnapped while

vacationing on Lake Michigan.

Enforcement have not released

any additional information.

Lieutenant Governor Kittredge was-

- Okay, so, a week?

You want the weekly rate?

- Please.

- Okay.

All right. Gotcha.

Single? Double?

Queen?

I'll get you the queen. That's

a double rate, all right?

Set you up good there. You got a name?

- Francesca.

- And that...

Okay. Do you got a ID, maybe?

Little card with your picture on it?

- Excuse me?

- Look, I need an ID or a credit card.

Here, just give me two of these.

Go ahead.

There you go.

This is a deposit, okay?

You get this back when you

leave, unless you break something

or, you know, go nuts

on the wifi, all right?

- Thank you.

- Oh, you're welcome.

(distant traffic hums)

That's your digs.

Go ahead. Don't be shy.

Okay?

All right. Got your room key here.

Okay. The shower's got one

of those massaging heads.

You turn it all the way to the right.

It gives you like a karate

job. It's pretty nice.

Aforementioned mini fridge,

nukie-wave, basic cable,

but you can order movies

and whatever you order,

it just says "movie" on the

bill, so don't worry about it.

No coffee maker, but we put

out some breakfast stuff

in the morning, so you

can help yourself to that.

Oh, right. Yeah.

Almost forgot.

(curtain rings scraping)

There you go.

Not the mountains of

Fiji, but this isn't Fiji.

(footsteps clacking)

- Thank you.

- You're, you're welcome.

You're, uh, a sight for

sore eyes, you know?

We usually just get, uh,

a parade of weirdos coming

through here, but, you know,

I'm not judging or

anything, they pay the rent.

Probably a good thing I'm not judging.

Um, if you need anything, my name's Gene.

I'll be here all night.

Just call down, or buzz down.

(door clicks open)

I'm around. Okay?

(distant traffic hums)

(door thuds)

(dark music)

(mouse clicks)

(keyboard clacks)

- If you would just let me

finish, I would get to my point.

- If you would just let me

finish, I would get to my point.

What the people of this country

need is jobs, not handouts.

If you would just let me finish.

I'm afraid neither of you

are going to have the time

to finish because we have to

cut to break for a commercial.

- [TV Announcer] We all know

it's hard to feel confident-

- We all know it's hard to feel confident

when you don't look your best.

(distant traffic hums)

(dark music)

(dark music continues)

(dark music continues)

- Beautiful night, huh?

(eyes buzzing)

- It is.

- You know, when I was little,

I used to sit in the backyard

and try to think of

names for all the stars.

It's not easy.

Tutu. Glitter Goob.

Lonely Little Blue Boy.

Hey, this came for you today.

It doesn't have a name on it, but 336.

That's you.

- Oh, great. (chuckles)

Yes, I've been expecting this. Thank you.

- Yeah, you're welcome. Sorry.

Yeah, I would've got it to

you sooner, but um, I, uh...

I don't know. I don't know

what happens to my time.

This doesn't even work. Needs a battery.

(packaging rustles)

(packaging rustles)

(dark pulsating tones)

(upbeat dance music from radio)

(upbeat dance music from radio continues)

(muffled electronic tones)

- [Radio Host] That was "I'm at the Club".

(suspenseful music)

(traffic hums)

- [Narrator] After dating

for two year-long summers,

my lover and I connected our pods.

I loved how dark and cuddly it was,

cooking grass stew and

watching screen songs,

nestled together.

(distant distorted squawking)

(distant distorted squawking)

(suspenseful music continues)

- Yeah, just wanted to know

if you've seen this girl here.

We've, uh, been looking for her.

Seen her around somewhere?

(dark music)

You haven't seen her?

All right.

Okay.

Well, if you see anything, let me know.

- [Gene] Okay.

(dark music continues)

(dark music continues)

(dark music continues)

(bag unzips)

(door lock clicks)

(dark music continues)

(suitcase unzips)

(plastic bags rustling)

(knocks on door)

- Francesca?

It's Gene.

Hey.

Sorry.

Uh...

Can we talk?

Is it true what that cop said?

Did you...

Did you burn your baby in a trash can?

That's a really awful thing

to do. You know that, right?

Why would you do that?

Are you running from

your family or something?

- [Francesca] I...

Can't say.

- Did they...

I'm sorry. Can you take

off your mask, please?

And the sunglasses?

I have something to say to you,

and I can't say it to a g*dd*mn mask.

Can you take it off, please?

Look, all I'm trying to say is,

I don't care what you

did before you came here.

That's none of my business.

I'm not trying to judge

you or anything like that.

I don't care if you burned

your baby in a garbage can.

(sighs) I just, I've seen a

lot of things working here.

I mean, all kinds of things,

and I just get this, this vibe off of you.

I can't help it. I don't

think you can help it, either.

What I'm trying to say is I think

you're a really special person, Francesca.

It's okay. (chuckles)

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I'm just trying to say

that if you're in trouble,

you can come and stay with me.

Okay?

You're out in the open here.

The cops are already here.

They're gonna be back.

My place ain't much,

but it's out of the way.

You don't have to worry

about rent or anything.

Internet, groceries.

I'll take care of that.

(Gene chuckles)

(clears throat) Sorry.

Just a lonely guy.

(Gene sighs)

I'm just really lonely, Francesca.

(no audio)

(faint electronic tones whining)

(electronic tones crackling)

(body thumps)

(dramatic percussive music)

(dramatic percussive music continues)

(dramatic percussive music continues)

(dramatic percussive music continues)

(hurried footsteps thumping)

(distant traffic hums)

(food crunches)

(eerie music)

- Excuse me, sir.

- I don't have any money.

- [Francesca] I'm not

looking for money. I just-

- [Shopper] I gotta go, I'm late. Sorry.

(eerie music continues)

(cart rattling)

(cart rattling)

(eerie music continues)

(eerie music continues)

(container clatters)

- [Carol] Oh, my gosh.

Oh my, gosh, thank you.

You're a lifesaver. Thank you so much.

- [Francesca] Not a problem.

Looks like I was in the right

place at the right time.

- [Carol] You can say that again.

(Carol grunts)

- [Francesca] Do you need some help?

- [Carol] That would be great, actually.

- I'll get this side and

you can get that one.

- Sounds like a plan.

(container thumps)

Whew!

Oh, God.

That was so nice of you.

This has been a semi-stressful morning,

and you made it that much better.

- [Francesca] I don't, uh, need that.

- Oh.

- I'm trying to get just a

little further down the road.

I don't know how far you're going,

but maybe you could drop me at a bus stop?

- I'm not really headed nearby.

I'm basically jumping on

the freeway from here.

- Okay.

Have a nice day.

- Wait! (sighs)

I'm sorry.

I'm not being a good Christian.

You went out of your way to help me.

Of course I can give you a ride.

- Yeah?

- Shotgun is all yours.

So, where are you from?

- Oh, uh...

Far away.

- Far like Florida, or far like Peoria?

- More like Florida.

- You don't say!

I went to college in

Gainesville. Communications.

I never lived in one place

more than a couple years before that.

Met my husband there.

Geez. I'm telling you my whole life story.

Something about meeting a new person

just makes you wanna open up.

(Carol chuckles)

- [GPS] Navigating route to home.

You will arrive at your

destination in 55 minutes.

- I think there's a gas station

coming up here in a few miles.

That work for you?

- Sure thing.

(dark music)

- [Narrator] But there were

signs of things to come.

Black clouds consumed our sibling planet

and covered its surface in ice.

The news was strange, scary,

yet our little lives

were as normal as ever.

- [Radio Host] In recent

times, we have seen

our personal liberty

under attack like never-

- [GPS] Your destination is on the left.

- [Radio Host] Unprecedented

restrictions have been enforced

on our daily lives.

Many of us were forced to

give up our basic freedoms,

all in the name of public health.

We've been told, "Oh,

stay home, wear masks."

(car clacks)

(car door slams)

(Carol sighs)

(keys clinking)

(keys clinking)

(door clicks open)

(door thuds)

(dark music continues)

(floorboards creaking)

- Hello?

(Carol clearing throat)

Hello? Anybody home?

- [AI Assistant] Hello,

Carol. Welcome home.

Is there anything I can

help you with, Carol?

- Um...

No?

(Carol sighs)

(no audio)

(garage door humming)

(garage door humming)

(car door clicks open)

(car door slams)

(Carol retches softly)

(Carol retches softly)

(Carol retches)

(Francesca pants)

(Francesca wheezes)

(Francesca screams)

(intense music)

(intense distorted music continues)

(intense distorted music continues)

(drawer scrapes open)

- [Narrator] I was accepted

into graduate school

for vacuum studies.

My lover sold the ceramics

at the traveling markets.

The together moments felt special, rare.

We conjoined with others sometimes,

and saw each other less and less.

(no audio)

(Carol sighs)

(refrigerator door clicks open)

- [AI Assistant] With an

estimated population of 2,940,000,

The city of Chicago also

has the largest population

of any city in the

Midwestern United States.

Would you like to learn about

popular tourist attractions

in the city of Chicago?

- No.

- [AI Assistant] Okay.

- How do you make marmalade?

- [AI Assistant] Would you

like to hear the recipe

for homemade orange marmalade?

- Yes.

- [AI Assistant] To prepare

homemade orange marmalade,

you'll need three pounds

of seedless oranges...

(garage door humming)

(ominous music)

Eight cups of water, and

eight cups of white sugar.

(metal clinks)

(water splashes)

- Carol! I'm home!

(Carol sighs)

(ominous music swells)

(door creaks)

(clippers click)

Back from a run?

- Oh.

Yes.

Hi!

Welcome home.

- You got everything from the store?

- Yes.

Of course.

- And you brought it down

to the basement okay?

- Oh.

No. (chuckles)

I guess I forgot, before I

took a shower. (chuckles)

- Are you okay?

- Yeah!

- Are you sure?

- Are you okay?

(Gordon sighs)

- Uh, yeah. Yes.

I'm just under a little

bit of pressure right now,

for obvious reasons.

- Mm-hm.

- Okay. I'll go bring the

stuff in from the trunk.

Don't worry about it. I got it.

(brooding music)

- Okay, so, I am, like, really thrilled

that I got invited to the hot

tub tonight, but I... (sighs)

- (chuckles) It's okay, honey.

You can tell me.

- (sighs) Okay.

I have a

vestigial tail.

- A, a what?

- A vestigial tail.

My spine just kind of

extends out a little bit.

- [Gordon] Whoa! (laughs)

- [Contestant 1] Should

I tell him first, or...

(Gordon laughs)

I guess I can keep him in front of me

the whole time or something?

(muffled objects clunking)

- [Contestant 2] Well, he's

gonna find out eventually right?

- I guess.

(Gordon laughs)

- [Contestant 2] Can I see it?

(crickets chirping)

- [Narrator] All the

planet's livestock died,

one year-long winter.

The produce couldn't be trusted.

The government put a chemical in the water

that made everyone temporarily sterile.

My lover stocked up rock

bread and canned seaweed.

We canceled our plans to vacation

by a lake in the Salt Valley.

"Maybe next year", we said.

(Gordon snores)

(muffled electronic tones)

(Gordon snores)

- Psst!

Hey.

Hi.

(Gordon snores)

(faint electronic tones whining)

(Gordon snores)

(distorted electronic buzzing)

(ominous music)

(door thuds)

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music continues)

(Carol squawking)

(ominous music continues)

(Carol squawking)

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music continues)

Lover.

Lover, lover, lover.

I missed you much.

- I missed you more than anything.

Okay?

We found each other.

(ominous music continues)

Debbie's place was

pretty small.

But she really made it her own.

Everyone in the building knows her.

She's lived there a long time.

(Debbie chuckles)

Our job's not too bad, either.

I saw a lot of the city.

- You drove the bus?

- Yeah. (chuckles)

- That

is against protocol.

(Debbie sighs)

That is a class five vessel.

- Okay.

But wouldn't it be weirder

if she didn't go to work?

I mean, isn't the second protocol

more important than the seventh?

(Debbie tuts)

- You just taught

yourself to drive the bus?

- It wasn't that hard.

- Lover, You...

You have to be careful.

I love you.

(Debbie sighs)

I want you to be safe.

- I know.

I love you, too.

Tell me more about this situation.

- Honestly...

I don't know what Carol was up to.

The husband

didn't really ask.

Their relationship seems

troubled.

But they're healthy.

No irregularities,

strong proteins,

and

the house is really,

really nice.

- Hm.

Sounds like you've done a lot

of great work, sweetheart.

- Thanks.

It was tough.

But this seems like a good opportunity.

- I guess we're gonna have

to start assimilating,

sooner rather than later.

- Mm.

What time is it?

(alarm clock buzzing)

(button clacks)

- Oh.

(Gordon sighs)

(footsteps thumping)

(Gordon sighs)

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music continues)

You're up early.

- Oh, yeah.

I couldn't sleep. I

went for a little walk.

(suspenseful music continues)

- You're not wearing any pants.

- It's warm outside. I

just went around the block.

I thought I'd make us breakfast.

- What's going on here?

- Excuse me?

- Something's up with you.

- I just...

I know you, or we have been

under a lot of stress lately.

- Who have you been talking to?

- I don't know what you're talking-

- Don't lie to me. Carol!

Who have you been talking to?

(electronic tones crackling)

(Carol yelps)

You think this is a f*cking game?

You wanna destroy me?

If I go down, you go down with me!

What happened to your...

(Carol shrieks)

(body thumps)

- Oh, no.

Did I

k*ll him?

- I'm not sure.

- I didn't mean to. I

just got so worked up.

I was usually in cont-

- Don't panic.

I'm sure it's fine. Let's be quick.

It's okay.

You're okay.

I see a little life in there.

(device chirping)

One, 1000.

Two, 1000.

Three, 1000.

(gentle synth music)

(device chirps)

All set!

(gentle synth music continues)

There's that beautiful face.

(peaceful synth music)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

(peaceful synth music continues)

- [Narrator] Things were changing fast.

The government decreed all

art production ill*gal,

and my lover stopped

making their ceramics.

I attended school over holo phone.

I'll never forget those uncertain months,

scared and snuggled

inside our little pods.

- What do you miss most about...

I was gonna say home, but...

(eerie music from TV)

(Gordon sighs)

(muffled chatter from TV)

- Walking to the river at sunset.

- The green of the sky on

the black of the water.

- Sitting on that broken bench.

- Drinking salt wine

from our lava glasses.

- I knew I forgot to pack something.

(Carol chuckles)

- There's something I wanna try.

- Okay.

(warm synth music)

(warm synth music continues)

(muffled chatter from TV)

- [TV Host] And required

large buildings to house them.

- Huh.

- Mm, not bad, right?

- Not bad.

- Mm.

(flesh squelches)

(Gordon breathes deeply)

- I missed your orifice.

- Oh, I missed your orifice so much.

(warm synth music continues)

(flesh squelches)

Oh, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover.

- Sweetheart.

Oh, you mean the world to me.

(flesh squelches)

(Gordon breathes heavily)

(Carol and Gordon croaking)

(Carol moans)

- I love conjoining with you.

(warm synth music continues)

(Carol and Gordon croaking)

(Carol breathes deeply)

(Gordon retches)

(Gordon coughs)

(Gordon groans)

Hey, lover.

- Hey. Good morning.

(Gordon groans)

- Oh.

- (exhales deeply) I'm

having a rough take.

- I can see that.

(gasps) Oh.

I think I can fix your

skin with this stuff.

- You bled him in time, right?

Like, he was still breathing?

- Yeah.

Yes.

You're just having a tough morning.

Are you hungry?

- A little bit.

- Let's see.

(refrigerator door thuds)

(bowls clack)

(muffled object scraping)

(jar clacks)

(door lock whirs)

(muffled object scraping)

Feeling better?

Yeah. Kind of.

No sense in staying in bed all day.

- I just heard something downstairs.

A lot of things falling over.

- Okay?

- He was working on something down there.

- Did he say what?

- No.

I assumed

she knew.

- Okay.

- Do you hear anything?

- [Gordon] Mm-mm.

- Look.

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

- [Neighbor 1] Carol! Hi!

Sorry to just drop by

unannounced like this. (chuckles)

- Oh!

Don't worry about it.

- [Neighbor 2] Is Gordon home?

- He is.

- [Neighbor 1] Oh, uh, we can

just come back another time.

- Hello.

- [Neighbor 1] Gordon! Hi.

We just realized we hadn't

checked in on you guys in a while

and, uh, we made Bloody

Mary's, so we just figured-

- [Neighbor 2] Why not see

if you two wanted to join us.

(ominous music continues)

Cheers!

- Cheers!

- Yes, cheers.

- Cheers.

- To reconnecting with old friends.

- Well said. (chuckles)

(ominous music continues)

- So, we owe you guys an apology.

- Yeah, we have not been the best friends

that we could have been.

- Lately, we spend most of our time

just keeping up with the little one!

- And you know, that's not an

excuse for being out of touch,

and we, we have been out of touch

and for that, we are, we are truly sorry.

- Apology accepted.

- Thank you.

But also, um...

- We're, um...

We're, uh, worried about you.

- Look. We're not here to

tell you that you're crazy.

Or...

(neighbor 1 chuckles)

I, um...

I'm sorry. I'm using the exact

wrong choice of words here.

- We're not the only ones

that you've lost touch with.

I mean, Brandon,

Danielle, Beth, Ann,

Corey, Lucia?

We checked in with all

of them and they said

you haven't been returning

any of their calls or texts.

- Everyone changes as they get older,

but it's like you two became

completely different people

during this whole thing.

- [Neighbor 1] You're not

saying the things we went over.

- But it's true! I'm sorry!

And some of the things that you

said to us or to our friends

like, they just don't make any sense.

So, you're done now? You're

not gonna back me up on this?

- [Neighbor 1] Well, you know,

obviously you're gonna say

what you wanna say, so you

might as well just say it.

- I can assure you

that you have nothing to

be concerned about anymore.

We'd love to have you

both back in our lives

and we miss our other friends, too.

- It's just not that easy, Carol!

- I mean, some of the

things you guys posted

before you quit Facebook?

(sighs) I mean, they weren't just weird.

They were, they were really scary.

- It's just a crazy,

crazy time to be alive,

and then the timing of everything,

it's just been bizarre.

- And we know neither of you

have a violent bone in your body,

but some of the things you posted

did, did sound violent and

the things you wrote about the governor

and Governor Olatka is

still missing and...

Gordon, are you okay?

(Gordon breathes deeply)

- Yeah. He hasn't been feeling well.

I'll be there soon, lover.

(door slides closed)

(Carol pants)

It's nothing serious. Just a bug.

- Carol, if you know anything,

you should consider calling the police.

- There's no reason to

be concerned.

Do you two want to come inside?

Maybe it's better if we finish

this conversation indoors.

- Um, we should, we

should really get going.

- You know, I've got a Zoom call

that I need to be on in an hour.

- [Neighbor 2] Just, just be safe, okay?

(tense music)

(bags unzip)

(tense music continues)

- I wore this in my last body.

It's a pretty color.

Don't you think?

- We should get going.

- Yeah.

You're right.

(tense music continues)

3-7-1-8.

(keypad bleeps)

0-7-7-3-4.

(keypad bleeps)

(door lock whirs)

(Carol gasps)

(door bleeps)

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(switch clicks)

(Jack mumbles)

(Jack mumbles)

- Excuse me?

(Jack mumbles)

- Please.

(Jack mumbles)

(suspenseful music continues)

(metal clinks)

(Jack coughs)

I'm a human f*cking being,

you stupid f*cking as*h*le!

Do you want me to sh*t all over myself

and starve to death down here?

(Jack pants)

- Who are you?

- What kind of sick, f*cked up mind games

are you trying to play here, huh?

I've got a news flash for you.

You're not going to get inside my head.

(chuckles) No, no, no, no, no.

The governor of the state of Illinois

is not gonna be Stockholm syndromed

by a pair of milk toast amateurs

who believe every g*dd*mn

fairytale they read in chat rooms!

(no audio)

I...

I, I just want some food and some water,

and some fresh clothes.

- [Gordon] Someone should watch him.

- [Carol] I'll do it.

- I'll be back.

(footsteps clacking)

- You're afraid of him, aren't you?

- He's better now.

- If you let me go, we can

both get outta this alive.

I'll tell the feds it was all his idea.

That he had you brainwashed.

There's something different about you.

You don't believe all that mumbo jumbo.

I, I, I know what you're thinking.

"What about the allegations?

What the junior staffer said?"

(Jack sighs)

Okay.

Between you and me?

There's some truth in that.

There is

some truth in there.

Just...

Please listen to me.

I am not the devil.

I do not worship the devil.

I do not sacrifice children.

And I am certainly not

part of any worldwide

global conspiracy to

cover, cover, cover...

- There you go.

I didn't know what you wanted,

so I got you a little bit of everything.

(door creaks)

(door thuds)

(keypad bleeps)

- We can't take their car.

I don't even think we

can take their clothes.

This is so, so bad!

I grew tear ducts.

- That was fast.

- Too fast.

- How much longer do you think?

- It's never happened

this fast before. I...

I don't know.

We need new bodies, and

we need them immediately.

(garage door humming)

(Gordon gasps)

(eerie music)

- Hey, guys.

- Hi!

- How are you feeling?

- Good.

- Well, I'm starving.

- Yes. How are you guys feeling tonight?

- Nervous.

But the good kind.

There's a lot of energy out

there in the Universe tonight.

- We couldn't agree more.

- We've been preparing

for this day for a while.

I don't think I'm alone

when I say there were times

it felt like today would never

get here, but here it is.

Woo! (chuckles)

- I just want to say

thank you, all of you.

To Harris, for being such

a strong, confident leader.

To Burt and Larissa for

their tireless devotion.

Without your planning

and attention to detail,

we couldn't have pulled off any of this.

To Carol and Gordon

for taking the biggest risk of all.

Tonight, this house is a holy place.

Future generations will travel here

to see where it all started.

To remember what we did.

- Around goes the circle.

- Well said.

- [Cult] Around goes the circle.

- Around goes the circle.

- Around goes the circle.

- f*ck yeah. Let's get dressed.

(footsteps clacking)

(eerie music continues)

(eerie music continues)

- Ours are...

Upstairs.

(Gordon breathes deeply)

- You know who wouldn't

be in this situation?

Debbie.

- I have to tell you something.

I broke a protocol.

- Which one?

- The first.

I didn't...

I couldn't dissolve all my evidence.

- Sweetheart, when?

- My second body.

When I found her,

she was giving birth

and I dissolved her body,

but I couldn't do it to her young.

There was something inside

of me. I couldn't produce.

- What did you do with it?

- I don't wanna tell you.

- You lied to me.

- I didn't lie.

- Withholding the truth

is just as bad as lying.

- Don't look at me like that.

Please don't look at me like that.

- How am I supposed to look at you?

- I just...

Oh! (sobs)

f*ck these stupid tear ducts.

(Carol sniffles)

- You need any hope in here?

Oh, Carol.

It's scary, I know,

but you're doing the right thing.

The rest of the world's gonna

catch up, sooner or later.

(Kathleen sighs)

(Kathleen sighs)

I'll let everyone know you just

need a couple more minutes.

- It's happening.

(dark music)

- [Kathleen] Thank you, circle.

Aww.

You two look just perfect.

- [Harris] Are you ready,

sister and brother?

- Ready As we'll ever be.

(Jack grumbling)

(dark music continues)

(Jack grumbling)

- [Harris] Shut the f*ck up, devil.

(dark music continues)

- [Burt] Help me with the lights, brother.

- [Gordon] You got it, brother.

- [Larissa] The circle is watching us.

Can you feel it, sister?

- Yes?

I can?

(Jack coughs)

- [Harris] Let's do this.

Desires.

- Stay still or you're a f*cking dead man.

- (mumbles) A f*cking dead man.

- [Harris] All set over there, brother?

- [Burt] Good enough. We're ready.

(dark music continues)

- Let the ceremony begin.

These six members of the

Order of the White Circle

have gathered here tonight

to fulfill the destiny

given to us by our god.

The forces of evil have controlled

this world for too long.

Tonight, we the purebred children of God,

begin reclaiming what is rightfully ours,

from the devil-worshiping elite.

These demons

have taken every liberty from us!

They've victimized the innocent.

Their perverse desires

and manufactured diseases

have sullied this once pure land.

But as with any revolution,

blood must be shed,

and tyrants must be destroyed.

Around goes the circle.

- [Cult] Around goes the circle.

What in the sh*t!

(Harris sighs)

Sister.

Brother.

This isn't a dress rehearsal!

We're not here to practice

beheading this demon.

- You psychotic piece of sh*t nut bag!

- Stay still, baby raper.

- Oh, f*ck you.

f*ck you, too!

f*ck you all! f*ck your god!

(Jack growls)

(Jack pants)

- Sorry. We're...

We-

- Just in the excitement,

we forgot.

We'll go get changed.

Right now.

- [Burt] We have to start

the whole thing over?

- [Harris] Uh, yeah. Probably.

If we stop and cut it up,

it just sounds so fake.

(Gordon croaking)

(Carol croaking)

(Gordon croaking)

(body grumbles)

(Gordon croaking)

(Carol croaking)

- Maybe like tilt it up a little bit?

I don't like that the top of

my head gets cut off all right?

- All right.

- Is there a cricket down here?

- [Cult] Around goes the circle.

- [Harris] Did you hear that?

- We're ready.

- All right. Take two.

- [Burt] Okay, just take

a step further back,

so you're closer to everyone.

- Yeah, I got it. I got it.

But as with any revolution,

blood must be shed and

tyrants must be destroyed.

Around goes the circle.

- [Cult] Around goes the circle.

- God damn it!

(Harris breathes heavily)

What does the circle say?

- Uh...

We're sorry. We just weren't

entirely comfortable with-

- That is not what I asked you.

Hold this.

What does the circle

teach us?

Naked, we entered this world,

and naked, we shall change it.

You can't start a revolution

in your boxer briefs.

Usurper!

What the...

(intense distorted synth music)

- [Kathleen] Demons! Devils among us!

The circle was telling the truth!

The angel fire is dawning!

(energy rumbles)

(intense music continues)

- [Larissa] Burt! Do something.

- [Burt] Surrender to me, demon.

Give me your demon powers.

Open thy portal.

- f*ck you, you piece of sh*t!

- Please don't k*ll me!

- Okay, I know this is a lot.

- Stand back, demon.

- We don't wanna hurt you.

We're just gonna put you to sleep.

- [Burt] I take it back!

It was the rest of them!

It was the rest of them!

- [Larissa] One true

light. One true light.

- [Burt] Please.

(indistinct yelling)

(weapons thumping)

(energy crackling)

(muffled footsteps thump)

(lock clacks)

(Carol pants)

(somber synth music)

(somber synth music continues)

(somber synth music continues)

(sword clunks)

- [Narrator] It was clear that our lives

had permanently changed.

Our security, our sustainability,

our old jobs and our favorite

foods were gone forever.

If we were going to survive,

we had to become something new.

We took the injections.

The serums did strange

things to our insides,

but we prayed it was for the best.

(Carol sobs)

(somber music continues)

(Carol sobs)

(somber music continues)

(Carol sobs)

(somber music continues)

(Carol wails)

(somber music continues)

(dramatic newscast music)

- Nearly a week after being kidnapped,

Governor Olatka managed

to escape his captors,

members of an extremist cult

known as the Order of the White Circle.

Late last night, a woman in Deerfield

spotted a confused governor

wandering the streets.

He was returned to his family

home in Oak Park this morning.

Illinois State Police are

working closely with the FBI

to investigate this act

of domestic terrorism.

The whereabouts of White Circle members

Carol and Gordon Arnold

and Kathleen Wilson,

are currently unknown.

Sources say three other members

committed ritual suicide

in the house where the governor was held.

Authorities are asking citizens

to report any information they may have.

- The subject robot has not yet completed

the transformation process

in the duplicating lab.

Where did you get him?

- [Actor] We bought him

new on the black market.

- [Femmy] I'm going to make

meself some lunch soon.

Would you like anything?

- Excuse me?

- Would you like a little

food from the refrigerator?

- No, thanks.

I'm

not really that hungry.

- [Femmy] All right. Suit yourself, then.

(eerie music from TV)

- I don't know what she wants me to do.

- Well, like, none of this is

my fault. Did you tell her?

Well, what did she tell Derrick?

Look, you just need to

talk to her for me, okay?

'Cause she's not answering

my calls. Like...

Can you hang on a sec?

Hi, Dad.

- Hello.

- What's up?

- I...

Like your sweater.

- Gee. Thanks.

- I used to have one just like it.

- You mean Mom?

You said you used to

have a sweater like this.

You meant to say Mom?

- Oh.

Either way,

it looks nice.

(bleak music)

(door creaks)

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] I finished school

and was hired to develop

quantum thrusters for

transgalactic vessels.

But my work was top secret

and I couldn't talk about it at home.

My lover was forced to

take a part-time job

designing silicon cup

wear for the space force.

They were so sad that

they needed black drink

to fall asleep at night.

I didn't know how to help

them and it made me scared.

When the evacuation

lotteries were announced,

I signed us both up immediately.

- It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?

- [Guard] It certainly is, sir.

(leaves rustle)

(birds chirping)

(clock chimes)

- Jesus f*cking Christ!

Would you put some f*cking clothes on?

They're gonna be here any minute!

Are you deaf?

Move!

(brooding opera music)

- Femmy, you've outdone yourself.

- [Femmy] Oh, thank you, Mr. Kittredge.

- Barry.

Barry! How many times

do I have to remind you?

You're practically family,

as far as I'm concerned.

- Hey!

You made me call you Mr.

Kittredge, until we were engaged.

(husband laughs)

- I think a toast is in order.

Lord knows we've all had a tough year,

but we've all got our health,

and our loved ones with us.

Cheers.

- Cheers to that.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

- So, Whitney, how's school?

- [Whitney] It's fine,

I guess. I don't know.

- It's a good thing you're

not a communications major.

(husband laughs)

- This looks delicious, Femmy. Thank you.

- [Femmy] You're very welcome.

(brooding opera music continues)

(fork clinks)

(Jack retches softly)

- I, I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

(body grumbles)

(Jack retches)

(water splashes)

(chaotic percussive music)

(chaotic percussive music continues)

(chaotic percussive music continues)

(chaotic percussive music continues)

(door squeaks)

- [Barry] Hey, Jack

(alcohol trickles)

(floorboards creaking)

Nostrovia.

(glasses clink)

(Jack gulping)

I bet you know what's coming, huh?

- What?

- Jesus. (sighs)

I can only imagine what that week

must have been like for you.

Nobody deserves that.

Tied up, treated like an animal.

Just bizarre.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to dredge anything up.

That is to say that you've been

through a lot lately, Jack.

Got a lot on your plate.

A lot of healing to do.

And continuing to govern

the state of Illinois

with the added stress and scrutiny

isn't in your best interest right now.

- Okay.

You're right.

- I'm...

Right?

You're not gonna call

me a f*cking traitor?

You're not gonna chuck

that glass at my head?

- Why would I do that?

- Something changed you in that basement.

What was it?

(Jack sighs)

- I don't want to hurt

any more people.

I've been treating people

like food, or something.

Something to consume.

I just...

I just can't figure out how to survive,

without hurting people.

- Just saying it out loud

is a great place to start.

You're making the right choice, Jack.

(phone vibrates)

(Barry sighs)

(phone vibrates)

This is Norton.

I should take this.

Peter?

Hi.

Really?

(Jack sighs)

Where?

She what?

Jesus.

Yeah.

I'm with him now! (chuckles)

Yeah, all discussed. We're

all on the same page.

Yeah. Right thing.

Well, I don't want to keep you. (chuckles)

Okay. Yeah, talk later.

Bye-Bye.

They found her, Jack.

- Excuse me?

- Kathleen Wilson.

The escaped cult member.

- Where?

- Gas station bathroom outside Rockford.

She's dead, Jack.

k*lled herself.

- Oh... (sighs)

I'm, I'm sorry. I-

- Whoa there, Chief.

I knew you'd be happy, but...

Well, I know how much you

like the gory details.

It's the way she did it.

She poured some kind of acid onto herself.

Her hair, guts, everything

melted into a puddle.

Uh, just bones and some shreds of clothes.

They identified her with dental records.

(chaotic electronic tones)

(rumbling tones)

(eerie music)

(device chirping)

(device chirping)

(acid crackles)

(water splashes)

(water splashes)

- I'm sorry I was so prickly earlier.

(Kathleen sighs)

- I'm sorry, too.

But that's in the past now.

- Yeah.

Wow.

- Hey.

This is us.

We'll find each other again.

I promise.

- I know.

- Just in case.

(bag zips)

- I love you.

I trust you.

- Oh, sweetheart.

I love you more than anything.

(eerie music continues)

(eerie music continues)

(device chirping)

(device chirping)

(crew chattering)

(footsteps clacking)

- [Interviewer] Beautiful home

you've got here, Mr. Olatka.

- Thank you.

- We ready?

All right.

In three, two, one.

A few weeks ago, Illinois

Governor Jack Olatka

was on vacation when he was kidnapped

by the White Circle extremist cult.

Since his rescue, Mr. Olatka

has resigned the governorship,

saying he needed time to

heal and focus on his family.

Mr. Olatka is currently

under investigation

for sexual misconduct, and yesterday,

his wife announced she's

filing for divorce.

It is a stunning fall from grace

for a man whose political

star once shone so brightly.

Mr. Olatka, thank you

for speaking with me.

- You're welcome.

- Let's go back to the

night you were abducted.

A lot of people, including

members of your own party,

have accused you of hiding

out on Lake Michigan,

in order to avoid the

allegations made against you.

Why wasn't security tighter?

Was there an intelligence failure?

- I can't answer that.

- Mr. Olatka, you contacted

us for this interview.

- I know.

- You don't seem interested

in answering my questions.

- Um...

Where do I look to talk to the...

- You can look in the camera behind me.

(Jack breathes heavily)

- Lover?

I miss you so much.

I can sense in my insides

that you are alive,

and out there, somewhere.

(gentle music)

You must be very scared.

- Mr. Olatka.

- Together, we escaped our dying planet.

We traveled across six

galaxies in our flesh pods

without a guarantee that we

would survive the landing,

or be able to find each other.

But we did.

And I know we'll be able

to find each other again.

(gentle music continues)

Lover?

I am pregnant.

- Mr. Olatka.

- Don't call me that!

I am sick of this body and its limitations

and the responsibilities.

Please.

Can I finish, please?

- By all means, continue

- Based on the date of conception

and the cycles of the moon

I should give birth in 13 of our days.

I will signal for you as often as I can,

and I will listen for your signal.

I understand that you need to do

whatever possible to survive, but,

I think there might be another way,

that doesn't end human lives.

I...

I'm so sorry.

This was a foolish way

to relay this message.

I love you

very much.

- [Interviewer] How many

times did I tell you?

No! You are not getting this footage!

- Why would they even,

what are they saying?

- It's going on air. It's going on air.

- The world needs to see this.

- Let's do this!

Let's go, let's go!

- Let's outta here!

(engine revs)

(tires screech)

- [Narrator] My lover and I

were selected by the lottery

and given a month to vacate our pods.

(clock chimes)

I'll never forget the little

extra squeeze they gave me,

when we palmed goodbye.

While our planet died around us,

there was a love that saw us through.

(clock chimes)

(knife clacks)

(knife clacks)

- Is it okay if I stand here?

- [Femmy] It's your house.

(knife clacks)

- Would you sell me your blood?

- Excuse me?

- I just need a small amount.

I'll pay you.

- How much?

- Do you want one of the cars?

(door clicks open)

(door thuds)

- See you tomorrow.

- It's all yours.

- Thank you very much.

(bag thuds)

(car door slams)

(seatbelt clicks)

(engine revs)

(upbeat rock music)

(upbeat music continues)

(upbeat music continues)

Have you ever sat on an empty beach

With the sun and the

stars and the sea so deep

And ask yourself again, is this for me

With a piece of paper

as blank as night

And the words don't

seem to come out right

And you ask yourself

again, is this for me

- Excuse me. Can I get a ride?

- [Lady] No, I'm sorry. Can't.

Have you ever sat on an empty cliff

With the sun and the

stars and the sea adrift

And ask yourself again, is this for me

Do you wish you had

all the things you need

Do you wish you had

all the things you see

And ask yourself again, is this for me

Is it enough now to be alone

Is it enough now to be on your own

Is it enough now to be alone

Is it enough now to be on your own

- Another orange soda, ma'am?

To be on your own

I do know

(upbeat music continues)

Have you ever sat on an empty beach

With the sun and the

stars and the sea so deep

And ask yourself again, is this for me

(Femmy squawking)

Do you wish you had

all the things you need

Do you wish you had

all the things you see

And ask yourself again, is this for me

Or is it enough now to be alone

Is it enough now to be on your own

Is it enough now to be alone

(Femmy whimpers)

Is it enough now to be on your own

To be on your own

(engine hums)

Have you ever sat on an empty beach

With the sun and the

stars and the sea so deep

And ask yourself again, is this for me

With a piece of paper

as blank as night

And the words don't

seem to come out right

And you ask yourself

again, is this for me

Is it enough now to be alone

(flesh squelches)

- Lover. (moans)

- I'm here, I'm here. It's okay, I'm here.

- I was so scared you wouldn't make it.

(Femmy screams)

(Femmy screams)

Here it comes! (screams)

(flesh squelches)

(flesh squelches)

(Femmy pants)

(substance squelches)

Welcome to the world, little one.

- It's

a big,

crazy place.

But you're gonna be safe with us.

- And you'll never be alone.

We promise.

We promise.

We promise.

(baby screeches)

- Hey.

Look.

(baby screeches)

- [Narrator] I can't imagine our story

is very different from your own.

I hope your vessels warp safely

and you find your lovers soon.

(moody minimalist music)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)

(moody minimalist music continues)