01x04 - The Black Cat

Episode transcripts for the TV series, "The Fall of the House of Usher". Aired: October 12, 2023*
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The CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company faces his questionable past when his children start dying in mysterious and brutal ways.
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01x04 - The Black Cat

Post by bunniefuu »

[cat meowing]

[siren wailing]

I'm looking for a little p*ssy.

And I hate to be this guy,
but it's a very specific pussycat I need.

And this is the fifth place I've tried
and, f*ck me,

are you a sight for sore eyes

after the ogres
I've been dealing with all morning.

I need a black cat. Female.

About yay big.

Please tell me you can handle that.

[chuckles] Cutie.
I can handle that just fine.

- [cats meowing]
- How about this little guy?

Short-timer.
Scheduled to leave us tonight.

That reeks of euphemism, my lady.

Oh, well, our guests get one week
to find a home.

This isn't a no-k*ll shelter.

I have a soft spot for the short-timers.
Always have.

[sighs]

All black. It's gotta be black.

What about these two?
Not black, but siblings.

I'd ask you take them both though,
keep them together.

Important with siblings, really,
you keep them together.

What about that one?

No, not available.

That's a purebred British short-hair.

We've already had four applications
for her online.

But there are some really lovely cats

who won't make it
if someone doesn't intervene.

f*cking uncanny, innit?

[meows]

Like I said, she isn't available.

Yeah. Um, I don't think
you know what I am.

I'm a money b*mb.

New cages. New computer. New building.

I will adopt every cat in here
and donate it to an orphanage.

Set you up waterside in a new facility
with tiny little kitty hot tubs.

They'd hate that.

And dress you head to toe
in Louis Vuitton if I have to.

But I'm walking out of here with this cat.

[meows]

God, that's uncanny.

Uh... [sighs] Let me, uh...

Look, can you just, uh...
Yeah, just hold it like that.

- Yeah. Just like that.
- [clears throat]

[chuckles]

- [camera shutter clicks]
- [meowing]

You little fucker, you saved my life.

- [meows]
- [door opens]

Hey, guess who I found
just hanging outside the front door.

Bad news, though,

looks like someone nicked
the Gucci collar.

- [meows]
- Oh, sorry.

I guess Daddy's out getting
a latte or something.

- [cat growls, hisses]
- [yelps]

Little c**t!

- [cell phone ringing]
- [exhales]

Hey, Dad, I'm kind of busy.

The f*ck you say?

Say that again.

No.

[scoffs] No, that's bollocks.

No, she's not.

Nah.

[Roderick] Denial.

[phone clatters]

[inhales]

[Roderick] It's amazing how far
you can get on denial.

[cell phone vibrates]

You know why so many people
use denial to get by?

Because it really f*cking works.

Your granddaughter again? This late.
You want to take it? She okay?

She's fine.

The thing about denial is sometimes
problems do just go away on their own,

so it makes it feel like denial works.

The placebo effect.

[thudding]

[Roderick] It's just Madeline.

What's she doing down there?

Tinkering with her gigabyte or some such.

She's a genius. A real one.

I mean, like, four or five people
in a century genius.

She quit Mensa because she was bored.

Maybe we should fold her
into the conversation,

throw a little genius in the mix.

Where were we? Yeah. Denial.

Sometimes it works, like I said.

But other times, it doesn't.

It really f*cking doesn't.

[Leo] I don't believe this.

- This is f*cking off!
- We're still looking into it.

Well, what was she doing there
to begin with? Vic?

- What?
- This is your lab. Your animals.

I don't know. I didn't send her there.

Maybe, hmm? Maybe the $ million-bounty
had something to do with it?

[Leo] What the f*ck you been doing?

- Your little cyborg m*rder monkeys?
- You're not putting this on me.

My wife is in the ICU.
She's maimed. Maimed.

[Tammy] What are we even
talking about here?

There is the trial! I have to launch.

Sit down!

Be angry, be shocked, yell, whatever.
Do it in here.

This is the space I've allowed for it,
but when we go outside,

someone needs to make
a statement to the press.

We think it should be Leo.

Of course you think it should be Leo.

This is just awful. I'm so sorry.
Camille was such a...

Why is it talking? It really,
it shouldn't be talking right now.

She just said she's sorry.
How do you expect her to feel?

This is a crisis,
we need to mitigate the damage.

I'm saying that is why we had Camille.
This was her thing.

[Leo] "On behalf of myself
and the Usher family,

I'm saddened to announce the loss
of our beloved Camille L'Espanaye..."

[sniffles] "...aged ."

What the f*ck is this?

Yeah, that is awful. Are we going with ?

A f*cking robo-chimp
rips off my sister's face

- and I'm saddened!
- [Roderick] Enough!

Put it in your own words then,

plagiarize "Candle in the Wind"
for all I care,

but everyone toes the line.

This is not about sticking together,
it's about forming a f*cking wall.

And in case you haven't noticed,
Morella's in the hospital,

Prospero is dead, and Camille is dead.

So save the static until I figure out
what the f*ck is going on.

And until then, I don't care if Madeline
tells you to fart into a microphone

on national television, you f*cking do it.

We're at battle stations,
I'm the commanding officer,

I don't wanna hear anything but,
"Sir, yes, sir."

You get me?

Sir, yes, sir?

[Madeline] Now that
that's out of our systems,

we can head outside

- and Leo will do his part.
- [sniffles] Ah.

Have Tammy or Froderick
do your soundbites.

- Don't call me that.
- [Leo] f*ck this!

- Leo!
- What? Don't like it?

Cut me out the f*cking will!

Give my share to the next junkie tart
you find at the ER.

[sniffles]

[door opens]

- Is Juno in the will?
- [door closes]

Oh, no. Juno's not really
in the will. [chuckles]

Is she, Dad?

I am still in the room. So...

[Arthur] This is what I wanted you to see.

The night guard was supposed to be
Philip Fasullo.

He works most weeknight shifts.

[Madeline] Doesn't look like Philip.

[Arthur] He was called off.

Someone from Corporate
called his supervisor, stood him down.

We don't know who called,
and we don't know who that woman is.

- Do we have audio?
- We do not.

Why the f*ck not?

That isn't really a thing
typically with security cameras.

Stop right there.

Enhance.

[Arthur] That also isn't really a thing.

You can't enhance this image?

You see it all the time on TV.
They hit a button, it enhances it.

You can zoom in,
but that doesn't enhance it.

- Well then, please zoom in, Arthur.
- All right, fine.

- Recognize her?
- [Roderick] It's tough to tell.

Maybe if you could,
I don't know, enhance it.

Mads?

Um, I don't know. I don't think so.

We don't even have
any female security guards at RUE.

Not right now.

So all we know is she shouldn't be there.

Which means this was somehow intentional.

Do we think this is the same woman
from Perry's club?

I can't confirm that yet.

[Madeline] We don't need
to confirm anything, do we?

Tell everyone to take up arms.
We are at w*r.

I don't know who, I don't know how,

but I know what it feels like
when a b*llet flies by,

even if I can't hear the sh*t.

Whoever the f*ck this woman is,
find her now.

We haven't even made arrangements
for Perry yet, and now we have to, what?

How does it work? Double them up?

What's worse? A double funeral,
or attending two separate ones?

I don't even own anything funeral black.

- [Julius] We can get you something.
- I don't even own a black suit!

Oh, no, wait. That's not true.
I do have one.

False alarm. It's just f*cking satin!

I'll take care of it.

I can hear Camille's voice
in my head right now.

"Satin is silk for poor people,
no one should wear it to a funeral,

unless they d*ed in it." f*ck's sake.

This is tough and you can't
talk your way out of it, I get it.

I get it.

Just tell me what I can do.

Okay. Got it.

Have you seen Pluto
since you brought her back in?

I haven't seen her yet,
I worry she got back out.

I don't know. She's here. Promise.
Just skittish.

Might need to shake off some trauma.

I'm just pissed about the Gucci collar.

Don't sweat it.

I'll put out more food for her though.
Maybe we can coax her out.

Yeah.

[sighs]

- [cat snarls]
- f*ck!

Jules! Jules!

- [breathing heavily]
- [Julius] What?

Just missed her.

[people murmuring]

Your Honor, we should consider
the possibility this is intentional.

I'll give it a few more minutes.

With respect,
if I was a half hour late to court,

I'd expect to be charged with contempt.

- What are you suggesting, Mr. Dupin?
- Just an observation.

It feels like there are different
rules for people like the Ushers,

and apparently their counsel.

Save it for the jury, Mr. Dupin.

[doors open]

- [people murmuring]
- [doors close]

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

[judge] Mr. Dupin and I
were just discussing

the parameters
of contempt of court, Mr. Pym.

Yours and his own, it seems.

[Arthur] I'm afraid it couldn't be helped.

The Usher family has sadly been burdened
by another death in the family.

Camille L'Espanaye is dead.

So, I apologize.
It has been a... a busy morning.

[judge] Sorry to hear this.

[Arthur] The family,
understandably, is in shock.

I'm afraid I have no further information
at this time.

The government was, of course, unaware.

What happened exactly?

[judge] We are going to reconvene Monday,
barring further disruption.

Our sympathies are with the Usher family
during this very difficult time.

[gavel bangs]

- [judge] Court is adjourned.
- [clerk] All rise.

- Arthur.
- Not now.

[Roderick] So, why was she here?

I don't know.

Well, just tell me.
I'm going to find out anyway.

Pops, I don't know. I honestly don't.

Well, she was onto a scent
and she was here.

Which means she was onto something
to do with the work,

or she was onto something to do with you.

She had a nose for secrets. She was...

Had a knack for snooping.

You see, I can't tell if you're asking
if I'm the informant,

- or implying Camille was.
- It wasn't Camille.

- All right. If you say so.
- I say so.

- She was after you, or after the tech.
- God, just ask me already.

- Is it you?
- [scoffs]

Maybe you talked to the Feds.

Get a leg up on the others.
Didn't think it would go this far,

- now there's no way out of it.
- Don't be a f*cking twit.

You know what? f*ck you if you think that,
'cause I would bleed for this family.

- So why was she here?
- I don't know!

Maybe you told her
to go and get a profile done on me.

[sighs] I, um...

I think that she was looking
at the chimpanzees.

Why?

Because I think she wanted
to torpedo my project.

- Why?
- For fun? [sighs] I don't know.

You know how much money I spent
to smooth over those chimps?

- I do.
- You know what the waiver cost?

- I had to build ten miles of habitat.
- I know.

And this animal...
I mean, what did you do to it, Vic?

The device absolutely does not
increase aggression.

Where is it now?

It's dead.

No, not the monkey, for f*ck's sake,

the $ million of intellectual property
wrapped around its shitty, dead heart.

It's retrieved,
and the animal is irrelevant.

No, it's... it's priority one.

As people look into this,
it'll be at the center.

The monkey itself might be
a g*dd*mn crime scene.

Should I just pull the plug?
Put this out of its misery.

Free up money for Leo's video games,
or Tammy's bugs?

Okay, look. We're moving to human trials.

- That's what I've been waiting to hear.
- Yeah, we're ready.

Do you think you have the data
to get it approved?

Well, as a matter of fact, yeah. We do.

- This is excellent news.
- Mmm-hmm.

I know I've been, um...

It's important.

More than you know. It's important.

[Arthur] Her belongings.

I was able to grab these
before the police.

- We've been through her primary phone.
- How?

With the password.

You have her password?

We have all your passwords.

Oh, I guess that makes sense.

The only thing, and this is delicate,

so I'm going to need you
to treat this delicately,

do you understand?

I understand.

I don't actually understand at all
what you're saying.

What is delicate?

This was in Morrie's bag.
Do you recognize it?

No, that isn't hers.

We're sure it's hers.
We can't open it though.

Well, I'm telling you, this isn't hers.

That's fine.

We thought maybe you could, uh,
try a couple of common combinations,

see if it unlocks.

But it isn't hers.

I understand.

Maybe try anyway.

[Frederick sighs]

It's usually our anniversary.

- [phone vibrates]
- Nope. Um...

Lenore's birthday?

- [phone vibrates]
- Nope.

I can keep trying, but it'll lock me out.

Her company phone checks out.
Nothing out of the ordinary at all.

This one though... [chuckles]

And I really need to see
what's on that phone.

What about her ring?

Her wedding ring.
Have they found that yet?

[hesitates]

Where is that?

Please... try the phone.

[phone vibrates]

[inhales sharply]

Take a left up there.

I need to do some things
before I go back to the office.

I'll tell you where to go.

Don't be stupid, Madeline, this is crazy.

This is f*cking crazy.

[siren wailing faintly]

[raven cawing, flapping wings]

[metallic clinking]

[metallic clinking]

[Victorine] You sign there.

[chuckles]

Jeez. It's a lot of paperwork.

Seem like waivers, most of these.

It's all very standard, I promise.

It's a good thing I trust you.

Well, you know,
we have to trust each other.

- It's a big part of it.
- I suppose so.

Because you hear a lot of stories.

Like big pharmaceutical companies,
a lot of them,

they test their dr*gs
in lower-income countries.

Do you know that?

I have heard things like that, yes.

Always figured it was because people
were more likely to take the money.

Less likely to complain.

[hesitates] Maybe even reluctant
to report the side-effects.

Or less likely to even notice them.

Or maybe they don't know the risks,
or they don't understand them.

There is another edge
to that sword, though.

So, perhaps it offers them access
to medication and procedures

they might otherwise
not be able to afford.

Some of the smartest trials,
they happen in the places

where the need
for what's being tested is the highest.

I guess it's kind of like
why this opportunity is...

Why it's going to you.

You actually need it.

That's why I'm particularly
grateful for this.

That beautiful device being tested
in the good old US of A.

On someone who's life could really change.

I'm lucky to be a part of it.

Now, there you go. All done.

- Thank you.
- [chuckles]

This, uh, goes on my heart
like a pacemaker?

[chuckling] Oh, uh...

It's a quantum leap forward
from a pacemaker.

It's a predominantly passive implant.
At least, at first.

It'll gather real-time data about
your heart and entire vascular system,

evaluating its efficiency.

It can locate blockages
before they become clots, or strokes.

This can help prevent
numerous cardiovascular issues.

It can save your life.

And then, one day, if it all goes right,
it will take over,

keep your heart b*ating perfectly in rest,

stress, exercise, exertion, all of it.

For many, many more decades to come.

Okay then.

Okay then.

When do we start?

Uh, well, you know, um...

I need a couple more days
to make sure everything's above board.

We don't want to rush these things.
But I think by the end of the week.

Yeah. We'll be good to go.

And Dr. Ruiz will perform
the surgery herself?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. She is...

You know, she's very,
very excited about this too.

- Okay. [laughs]
- Okay.

[both laughing]

[Lenore] Dad, you gotta eat.

I don't think I've seen you eat
in two days.

[sighs] I'm okay, peanut.

Have you ever seen this phone?

Did your mom have it, maybe?

No, I haven't.
Why would mom have a second phone?

I don't think she did.
I think they made a mistake,

and someone else's phone
got mixed in with her things.

And I think that we should find
whoever this phone belongs to

- and get it back to them, right?
- Yeah, we should.

So, do you have...
I mean, I know you kids these days,

you can hack into all sorts of things,
can't you?

Teenagers are all about
hacking into stuff.

Not really.
You're thinking of hackers, Dad.

Well, do you have any idea
how we can get in there?

We use one of three things
to get into our phones

and it always works.

Passcode, our fingerprint, or our face.

Mine does that too.

[gasps] You don't say!

[sighs]

Well, sh*t.

[sighs]

The wallpaper on that one
is factory preset, if it matters.

What does that mean?

I mean, Mom uses pictures of cakes.

That's right. She did, didn't she?

So, probably not hers.

It's not hers.

Honey.

You're k*lling me.

Sorry.

I'm losing it. I don't get it.

I took enough of those yellow pills.

I should be in a two-day coma.

- I'm sorry.
- [sighs]

- Anything I can do?
- [sighs]

Well, now that you mention it.

Mmm, seriously? That's what you're
thinking about right now?

People grieve in different ways.

[chuckles]

Well, if it'll help you sleep...

Okay.

[exhales] Mmm.

[exhales, sniffles]

[exhales]

Creepy little f*ck.

[Julius] Hmm?

Oh, no, not you,
you're brilliant. [exhales]

- Oh!
- [thuds]

[Julius groans]

- Jules. Sorry! Jules!
- [groaning] My f*cking nose.

I'm sorry! f*ck!

What the...

Are you f*cking joking?

[breathing heavily]

Sorry, Jules, your cat left...
Your cat just...

I'm throwing away the sheets.
And probably burning the bed!

[exhales]

And we might have to move.

[Roderick] Displacement.

The other go-to coping mechanism
in my family.

It's when you direct your more
intense reactions

towards something or someone
that doesn't feel threatening.

So you get to react and be angry,

be abusive, be violent, even,

but you don't risk
significant consequences.

- I'm familiar.
- I bet you are.

How many nights did poor Ernie
bear the brunt meant for me?

Like I said, I'm familiar.

Napoleon was most like me in this way.

Of all of them.

Denial, displacement, projection.

But see, I wanted something better.

Something better for him. For all of them.

A trait of mine that seemed
to skip them somehow...

Sublimation.

That is something that is one of the few
coping mechanisms

that's considered positive.

Sublimation is when a person
chooses to redirect strong emotions

into an object or an activity
that's appropriate and safe.

So, instead of lashing out
at your employees,

you pour your energy into kickbox...

- [thuds]
- [breathing heavily]

What the hell?

I was talking! I was f*cking talking!

Jesus!

- The hell is wrong with you?
- Sorry. I'm sorry.

Don't you raise your voice to me.

You talk about displacement all you like,

don't point that sh*t at me, understand?

I will knock your g*dd*mn lights out,
you raise your voice at me.

You're right. [breath trembling]

Sorry. It's a...

That was... That was not your fault.

I do... I respect you, Auggie.
I do respect you. I always have.

You've had a funny way of showing it
over the years.

You remember the day we met?

Of course I do.

I thought a lot of things that day.

A lot of things I'd never thought before.

I saw the world different after we met.

Never imagined we'd end up here, though.

[doorbell buzzing]

[Roderick] Yes?

Hi there, sorry to bother.
I'm looking for Roderick Usher.

- Why?
- Are you Roderick?

[baby whines]

You'll have to tell me
who you are at some point.

Yeah, I just don't want you
to shut the door.

My name's Auguste Dupin,
and I'm trying to do a little good,

and I need some help doing that

and I'm hoping you're
the kind of man who'll help.

I'm a Medicare fraud investigator,

and I'm here
because you work at Fortunato.

Uh, please.

I have names on this list
and I've had doors shut on my face.

Just hear me out. I'm not after you.

I just want to get to the bottom
of some things.

Set some things right. Please.

- [baby whines]
- [Annabel] Come in.

[sighs]

Come on in.

Oh, thank you.

So, again,
if you could just look at these.

I don't know what those are.

Consent forms for a drug trial.

Dr. Brevit, see, on all of these...

- How well do you know Dr. Brevit?
- I don't know Dr. Brevit.

Who is Dr. Brevit?

He's an associate
of Fortunato's clinical trials division.

You're sure you don't know him?

I'm sorry.
I know you probably can't say a lot,

but if you'd just tell us
what you're after,

- if he can help, he will.
- Yeah.

See, a lot of these people apparently
didn't sign these forms themselves.

I believe some of these signatures
are forged.

And I believe this doctor has been
enlisting some of them in studies

without fully informing them,
or their families,

about possible side effects.

Major side effects.

Good Lord.

[Auguste] Some of them are dead now.

- And some of their bodies, well...
- Mr. Dupin, I...

[Auguste] Auguste is fine.

Auguste. Um, I don't know
much about the pharmaceutical industry,

but I do know my husband,

and if he had any idea
that any of this was going on,

he would have taken action.

Yeah, that's right.
I don't know anything about any of this.

I really don't.

You see, that's the thing.
You're on my list for a reason.

When Brevit enrolls a new patient,

that enrolment letter goes through
several departments for verification.

And some of them are even supposed
to contact the patient

and confirm the data, arrange payment,
things like that.

Confirm that they're competent
and actually consenting as well.

- What are you getting at?
- Well...

Your signature is here.

Next to Brevit's.

Here, can I?

[Auguste] And here.

Here. Here. And... and here.

- This isn't his signature.
- Honey, hang on.

It isn't, I can tell.

- Are you saying it was forged?
- No.

It isn't.

She's not saying that,
and this is not on the record, right?

- [Auguste] Yes, but...
- I cannot recall if I did or if I did not

sign these particular papers.

But I'm happy to look into it
as soon as possible.

I just don't recall.

Right now, at least.

A lot of people are having a hard time
recalling a lot of things.

What do they do to you all over there?

Everybody at Fortunato's
concussed or something.

I'm sorry.

You're a lower rung guy, I know that much.

Me too. We both got a boss, don't we?

And I get it, you say the wrong thing,
or she says the wrong thing,

it could knock you right off that rung.

Out of the job even.

I see that baby.

I see those homemade toys.

Someone knit those dolls,
carved that train.

You guys go hand to mouth. Just like me.

You've got another child.

Older boy by the look.

Sleeping I'm guessing,
and I don't count a lot of bedrooms,

so I figure they sleep with you.

Jar of honey up there
on the counter's almost gone.

Dried honey on the table and floors.

That's a home remedy for the older one.

And I see the elderberries, echinacea.
You're throwing a lot at it.

And he's sleeping now,
because he was up all night.

Coffee mugs by the sink says
one of you was up all night with him.

Trying to make him take the honey.

That many mugs,
I think both of you were up.

Shifts, probably.

You're good parents
who can't afford the medicine,

so, yeah, you're smart not to recall.

Don't want to risk it.
Can't afford to say the wrong thing.

Hard to say the wrong thing.

Even harder to do the right thing.

But if you change your mind...

{an}[footsteps receding]

{an}[door opens and closes]

[Rufus] It's bullshit.

And I'm sorry that it showed up
at your door.

I'll call Health and Human Services,
make sure they stop harassing our people.

They have no right.

- Yeah, but about the forms.
- f*cking people.

You know, they think that medicine
happens in a vacuum.

Like we lock ourselves in a clean,
empty room

with a beaker and a Bunsen burner
and a bunch of test tubes

and walk out with penicillin.

They have no respect for what it takes
to develop and test and market a drug.

The real laboratory, okay,
the real lab is the real world.

- The signatures on the forms...
- Do you know what the real world is, Rod?

Variables.

'Cause in the real world
there are side effects,

and surprises, and anomalies,
and acts of God,

and all of that, and we weather that.

For all the whiney little sheep out there,
we weather all of it.

The complaints, and the lawsuits,
and the investigator, and the whole mess.

Why? So their d*ck can stay hard
a little longer?

They can kick that headache
a little sooner?

And then they att*ck us for it.
f*cking people.

My signature was forged.

No, it wasn't.

Yes, it was.

It definitely was on at least
a half a dozen forms.

You a team player, Rod? Hmm?

You part of the Fortunato team?

Yeah, I am.

What does that mean to you? In your mind?

I don't know. I think it means...

Because if you come to me,

you tell me that your name was forged
on important internal documents,

documents that, apparently,
have been stolen I might add,

well, then you're not on the team at all.
You're on their team.

I'm just asking you to explain...

And I am explaining to you
that this company is a team.

We are a unit.
This isn't just about sticking together.

This is about forming a f*cking wall.

There are elements out there
that would thr*aten us if we let them.

We are all at f*cking battle stations
right now.

I am the commanding officer
and I don't wanna hear anything

that isn't, "Sir, yes, sir."
Do you get me?

- I get you.
- Then say it.

Sir, yes, sir.

Better.

Now, [exhales] I'm going
to look into this, okay?

And if there's some clerical error
with your signature,

well, we'll have that corrected.

It's all the same thing, isn't it?

I mean, everybody in this building,
we're on the same team.

Everybody approves everything.

No matter whose name is on the form.
So what's the point?

House can't be divided against itself,
can it?

I'm on the team, %, sir.

That's great.

And, Rod...

These clerical errors, they're old.

They're from before you showed
your true potential.

Before I took you under my wing,
as it were.

These kinds of errors,
they can't happen now.

You're in the officers' club now, son.

So, you can relax.

You just remember whose team you're on,
you'll be fine.

Totally.

Sir, yes, sir.

- You know what kind of car I drive, Rod?
- No.

No? Well, it's a Ferrari.

- Nice.
- Yeah, you bet your ass it's nice.

Ferrari GTS.

Rosso Dino red,
natural tan Tuscan leather interior,

Targa top, -speed gauge shifter,
. liter V,

puts out horses.

Goes zero to in under eight seconds.

It's not an ordinary car, Rod.

This is an extraordinary car, okay?
This is not a car for just anybody.

This is a car for a somebody.

You drive a car like that,
you make a statement.

About who you are, where you're going,
and how you get there.

You follow my lead,
you keep your nose clean,

your mouth shut, and your eyes open,

pretty soon you'll be driving
any car you want.

Parking it in the driveway of any house
that you could ever dream of buying.

Because I'm a Candy Man, Rod.

I'm Willy f*cking Wonka,
and this is my chocolate factory.

And you just got the Golden Ticket.

You play your cards right...

one day all this could be yours,
Charlie Bucket.

Now, let's get a drink, huh?
It's gotta be noon somewhere.

[Annabel] You should quit.

- We'd starve.
- I'll get a job.

How about a degree?
You gonna get one of those too?

- Hey, now.
- I'm sorry.

If I quit, I'm b*rned.
Gris would destroy me, I know too much.

Maybe I go to a competitor first.

I get in before Gris can destroy
my reputation. Or maybe...

He said I'm a part of the club now.

He's got my back.
Maybe I stay quiet just like he said.

Or you could do, I don't know,
anything else.

- This industry is ugly, Roderick.
- It doesn't have to be.

Jesus Christ, both of you.
They forged your signature, Roderick.

Your name, our name,
is on evidence of a crime.

Christ, nobody knows they're the fall guy
until they're falling.

You work for a competitor,
they'll never trust you.

You stay at Fortunato,
they'll never respect you.

You just ate a spoonful of their own sh*t
in front of them and smiled.

You can't be part of the club now.
You can't be an equal.

Not when they've watched you
eat their sh*t.

That's just nature.

Which is doubly f*cked
because your father built this company.

It's your birthright, Roderick.
Our birthright.

You're gonna go to work...

and you are going
to keep eating that sh*t.

And you're going to make Rufus Griswold
think it's your favorite food.

And then you're going to call this number.

Your wife is right.

It's the right thing to do.

We're going to call him tomorrow.

And you are going to become best friends...

with Auguste Dupin.

[Leo groans]

- Long night?
- Yeah. Sorry.

[grunting] It got away from me.

How is your nose?

Sore.

It's okay, though.

[groans] You find that little fucker yet?

Nah, I'm sure she's around here somewhere.

Listen, I know you've been through a lot
and I know what I signed up for.

You've always been very clear
about your recreational time.

[Leo] Don't complain about the dr*gs.

- It's getting to be a thing.
- [sighs]

Don't do it, Jules.

I'm not saying, "Just say no,"
I'm saying I'm worried about you.

Because you've always,
always had it under control,

like you've got some kind of magic power,
but, babe, you are off your game.

Slow down maybe.

Call it a favor to me,
if you like it better.

- Humor me?
- Mmm.

[softly] Okay.

[doorbell rings]

[panting] Sorry to show up like this
and... take a minute. [chuckles]

A lot of stairs. [chuckles]

[exhales]

[Leo] Want some coffee?

No, uh... No, thank you, I...

Uh, I'm fine, I...

This is nice.

You've not been here before,
have you?

No, uh...

I was at the tree-housey one,

but, I didn't, uh, didn't see this.
It's nice, it's fancy.

It's like an artisanal brewery,
or something.

[Leo] Well, it's gonna
change again shortly.

Boyfriend just resigned.
He's dead and he doesn't know it.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Hey, I was hoping for some dr*gs.

Sorry to be blunt about it, but that's it.
I... I want some dr*gs.

I'm going through a rough time,
and Morrie, you know, well...

Morrie, she's melted, you know.

It turns out she has
this burner phone, and...

[exhales] I can't help but wonder
why she was even at this...

Perry's orgy?

- Please, don't f*cking say that word.
- Sorry, uh...

Perry's cuddle puddle.

That can't be much better.

I need something to get me focused
and get my energy up,

and just make me feel not awful.

Just for a minute.

Something in coke for you?
You don't want the designer stuff.

[grunts] It's too dangerous.

Just stick to the classics.

Don't go overdoing it with this,
all right?

Just a few bumps a day
till the edge wears off.

- [cat snarls]
- f*ck!

- [groans]
- [Frederick] What the hell?

f*cking hell! Grab that cat!

- Uh...
- [Leo screams]

f*ck! [groans]

Grab that cat! I'm gonna skin it alive!

Is it your eye?

[Leo groaning]

[water running]

[Leo] f*ck!

You should wash that out really well.

[Leo] f*ck!

[groans]

- So...
- Oh, f*ck!

I'm just gonna take this cocaine,
if that's all right.

[Leo groans]

[Bill] We'll be in Points Park
tomorrow :-:, so come on out,


BILLT Nation for another pop-up pump up.

Today here in the studio,
we are extremely excited. Right, guys?


{an}to welcome the BILLT Nation
Goldbug contest winners.


Come on out, folks.

{an}As promised,
they get a tour of BILLT studios,


{an}along with a complete Goldbug makeover.

{an}All to celebrate the new
lifestyle brand Goldbug,


{an}which launches on Thursday.

{an}All right,
why don't you all head backstage,


get golden,
and we'll see you after the workout.


Everyone knows that life is short
and the universe is chaotic,


and so much is out of our control,
so the doomsayers will tell you.


I say, "Fine, but what about
what is in your control?"


How in tune are your mind,
your body, and the sacred Gaia energy?


I'm BILLT and you can too.

♪ We built this city ♪

[Bill] Your best days
are a lifestyle away. You ready?


Let's hit this warm-up!

- ♪ Built this city ♪
- ♪ BILLT this body ♪


- ♪ We BILLT this body with work and soul ♪
- ♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪


["We Built This City" playing]

♪ Say you don't know me ♪

♪ Or recognize my face ♪

♪ Say you don't care who goes ♪

♪ To that kind of place ♪

♪ Knee deep in the hoopla ♪

[Leo] f*cking hell!

♪ Sinking in your fight ♪

♪ Too many runaways ♪

♪ Eating up the night ♪

♪ Marconi plays the mamba ♪

♪ Listen to the radio ♪

♪ Don't you remember? ♪

♪ We built this city ♪

♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪

[Leo gasps]

- [breathing heavily]
- [thuds]

♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪

♪ Built this city ♪

Hey, um, thanks for coming.

Sure. I was surprised to get your call.

I, uh, I can't find it.

Little f*ck! I can't find it anywhere.

Hey now, I'm sure it's just...

Cats are predators. It's in their genes.

They were domesticated , years ago,
but that prey drive, it's there.

No matter how cute and tiny
you keep breeding them...

they leave little gifts.

Usually to teach you how to hunt.

It's harmless. Unless you're a mouse.

Harmless, yeah?

That look normal?

I'm a little surprised
she put 'em in the tub.

I found these all over.
One was on top of the fridge.

I didn't know where to throw 'em,
and to show you. Look...

you've gotta take it back.

Okay? Put it down, most likely.
The cat's a f*cking psychopath.

Mmm.

She's in the walls.

- What?
- Yep. Listen.

- [cat yowling]
- [Leo gasps]

Cats are actually apex predators,
you know?

It's all about hunting.

They can lengthen their spines
for short bursts of speed.

Thirty miles an hour.

They can narrow their shoulders and chests
to squeeze into tiny spaces.

Jump nine times their height
from a standing position...

and land on their feet

- almost every time they fall.
- [cat growling]

They eat their prey to get taurine.
An essential amino acid.

Cats don't make enough of it,
so they have to eat it.

They're predators because they're...

deficient.

A lot like your father. Aren't they, Leo?

Mmm. Heads up.

[cat yowling]

[Leo screaming and grunting]

- [screaming]
- [cat snarling]

- [panting]
- [cat meowing]

- [clattering]
- [cat snarling]

- [cat growling]
- [gasping]

f*ck, Jules. Maybe you're right.

Maybe I should take a break
from the dr*gs.

- [cat meowing]
- [breathing heavily]

[tense music playing]

[breathing heavily]

[frame thuds]

[breathing heavily]

All right, that's done it.

I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what.

Don't f*cking move!

I can buy a new wall.
I can buy a new loft!

I can even get Hemsworth
to send me a new hammer.

But you, you little sh*t!

- [grunting and screaming]
- [cat snarling]

- [snorts and sighs]
- [ECG beeping]

[Frederick exhales]

Hmm.

[whispers] Oh, it's nothing.

[snorts] Oh.

[breathes deeply]

[sighs]

Hey.

It's me. It's Freddie Bear. Are you awake?

[ECG beeping intensifies]

[Frederick groans]

[beeping steadily]

[exhales]

Oh, f*ck it.

Oh.

[Morrie wheezing]

[Frederick breathing heavily]

[groans softly]

[sighs]

Well, f*ck.

[Bill] I have no idea.

I find that hard to believe.

Look, I know the rules.

I would never see these girls
outside the house.

Yeah, 'cause I'd f*cking k*ll you.

Are you sure that it was her?

She was standing right behind you
wearing the same wig.

You had to have seen her, Bill.

Well, I didn't.
Did you get a freeze-frame?

It's a live stream.
You know I can't get a freeze-frame.

I'm sorry, Tam.

I should have seen her,

and I should have f*cking told her
to get lost.

[sighs]

Listen...

- Honey, you...
- What? No.

You gotta sleep.

Okay, seriously.

This isn't healthy. You've gotta...

I'm going to email Lauren and tell her
to tell Candy to give us a wide berth.

- It's unprofessional.
- [typing]

[piano music playing]

[footsteps approaching]

You look lost, old man.

Sorry. I guess I am.

I thought I'd distract you.

How are you feeling?

Fine.

- How's your leg?
- It's fine.

I was thinking, though.

What if I backed off the Ligodone
for a bit?

- Why?
- I don't know. Just been reading.

I mean, I love it. I do. I just thought...

Maybe see how I go without it
for a few days.

Darling, how would that look?

Besides, you're the proof positive.

You're a walking rebuttal
to all those assholes out there.

You've taken more Ligodone
than just about anybody I know,

and look at you.

- You're a vision. You're...
- [chuckles]

You're thriving. You're pain-free.

You are my most beautiful, perfect proof.

You know, I could use a little cheering up
now you mention it.

What do you say?

[gasps]

[breathing heavily]

[glass breaking]

[Juno] What's wrong?

Roddie!

- Roddie, Roddie, what's wrong?
- [breathing heavily]

Roddie!

[breath trembling]

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

Excuse us, please.

It's okay.

- She shouldn't have called you.
- Of course she should have.

- It's nothing.
- Don't insult me.

[sighs]

Doc came by a few nights ago to the house.

Unannounced.

And what is it?

CADASIL.

- Same as Mom.
- Okay.

And that's, uh...

That's five years on the outside.

It's pretty advanced, so...

It's less. Much less.

You know, I knew vascular dementia
can cause hallucinations,

but I just didn't think...

- And nothing like this.
- Okay.

Victorine.

Yeah, I thought the same thing.

If her contraption really works,
it could buy some time.

Prevent the strokes.
Mitigate the brain damage.

Good. Meds?

Beta-blockers, Risperdal.

Risperdal? He wants you on antipsychotics,
I'll rip his f*cking throat out.

Might do, frankly.

I mean, tonight, what I saw,
I mean, what I saw.

Victorine will get her little
heart miracle working first order.

- Same as Mom.
- Stop.

- Hey, what's all that...
- [thudding]

[thudding intensifies]

[Julius] Hey.

Hey!

Almost got her! [grunting]

sh*t!

[yells]

Leo, what's happening?

[Leo grunting]

- [frame crashes]
- If she runs, grab her!

[grunting]

I'm gonna flatten that c**t, I swear!

[grunting]

[yells]

Come here! [grunts]

[snarling]

[screaming]

What?

[Leo breathing heavily]

You don't see it?

Stop! Stop!

[body thuds]

[cars honking]

[cat meowing softly]

[sirens approaching]
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