ReEntry (2025)

[bunniefuu]

You ready?

Yeah. You don't have to

help if you don't want to.

- It's okay.

I-- I can do it.

You're doing great.

It's nice and quiet.

Yeah.

Okay.

It's almost over.

Don't go.

Don't go.

Two minutes, lovebirds.

Copy that.

Yeah.

Clear.

Pressure and air lock.

Reactor uplink in 2, 1.

I changed my mind.

I never even...

Please.

Elenore.

Don't go.

It'll be 10 seconds, Ellie.

He'll be in and out.

See? We're just stepping

through a door.

c*ck at Alicia's after.

No big deal.

Yeah, right.

Drinks at mine.

But first we swap

your wedding ring.

It's metal.

I can't wear it.

What?

The EgoTag will keep

us in constant signal.

Won't lose him for a second.

It's his lifeline.

I-- I-- I understand.

Hey, I'm putting it on

my right hand.

It doesn't matter

what hand you put it on.

I understand it's a loaded

metaphor--

It's not-- the metaphor

is not the problem, Lucas.

Hey, we talked about this, okay?

I can't increase my heart rate.

-Okay.

-Hey.

Hey. Hey.

I love you.

And I'll be right back.

I promise. Hey.

I swear.

Taking position.

Copy.

Systems ready when you are.

Cute.

Your levels are looking good.

You want a count down?

I got it.

5, 4, 3,

2, 1.

All right, all right.

Let's bring him back.

Prep for re-entry in seven.

Jesus.

sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!

All right!

Ellie!

-No, no, no.

-No! No!

Power down!

No!

Power down!

No!

Stop. Come back.

-No!

-Power down!

-No!

-Power down!

No! Let me go!

Power down! Power down!

Let me go!

Back off, back off!

Optometry,

how can I help you?

Optometry,

how can I help you?

Try these.

I think they might

look really nice.

Okay.

- Yeah, that looks good.

- Mm-hmm.

- Lucas!

- Lucas!

We did it!

We did it.

Hello?

Ellie?

You there, Ellie?

Yeah.

Hi.

It's Alicia.

Yeah.

I-- I know.

Oh, um, are you home?

Uh, yes. I'm about to go out,

though. Why? Wh--

Forget that.

Stay right where you are.

No, I'm pulling up!

I didn't know

how else to do it.

Hey there.

Hey.

-No, I can't.

-It's fine.

I've got lab work tomorrow.

It's a sip.

You'll be fine.

It wa-- it was--

it was really a whole year?

Yeah, 14 months.

Wow.

I just-- I walked through,

the lights went out,

I thought it was a blackout.

We never stopped looking.

But then nobody was there.

Ellie, I'm-- I'm-- I'm so sorry.

Ellie, is everybody okay?

Yeah, fine,

everybody's fine now.

Yeah.

Do I have a-- a

death certificate?

Yeah, and a tombstone.

What about the trials?

Did Rohan go through?

- No.

- What'd you do?

What did we do?

Um, we had to announce.

You went public

with the research?

Yeah.

But you had

a whole rollout plan.

Um, everyone has a plan

until you lose an astronaut

in a private lab accident.

The federal agents

were at the door.

I pressed the panic button.

Wait, uh, so it was just

a m-- a m-- a minute

this whole time?

It wasn't even a minute.

Oh, my God, that's so unfair.

Ellie, we didn't know

something like this

was gonna happen.

Yeah, you did.

I'm just saying we

didn't do it on purpose.

Of course not.

Accidents aren't on purpose.

Everybody just slow down.

Slow down.

Just...

Alicia, this-- I mean,

this proves your theory.

I was in an alternate universe.

Maybe.

Well, wasn't that big news?

Quite.

What does the EgoTag say?

It said that you were gone

for less than a second,

.7813 something.

But on your end?

On my end,

we couldn't track it.

It's-- it's a miracle

I even walked out.

I'll tell us more tomorrow.

Uh, I need tea.

I-- I-- I can't drink right now.

Okay. Oh, I'll help you.

Hey, did the president call?

Yeah, I think so.

What, you didn't take the call?

Mm-mm.

Hey, listen.

I can retire now.

We can move anywhere we want.

When?

Right now.

Okay.

All right.

-Okay.

-Okay.

Yeah, really?

Alicia!

- Hmm?

- I'm retiring.

Mazel.

No, I'm done.

I got it.

Is that official, or should

I talk to somebody

who's not drunk?

Yeah, definitely.

Uh, tell them tomorrow.

Uh, in the morning,

you got a bunch of tests,

then a press conference,

then a debrief with the NSA,

and then you

have the sponsorship contract,

which is what,

um, six months left?

Then you can give your

two weeks' notice

and then you're out.

Are you joking?

It's not my company anymore.

What do you want from me?

Sorry, I should

let you be alone.

Hey.

hey, I'm

sorry about before.

I know how hard

you worked all year.

I love him too.

I was never gonna leave him.

I know.

I promised.

I know.

L-- let's just get to bed.

Um, we need sleep.

It's all just a shock.

Life's weird.

What?

You're still here.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Wow.

Yeah.

-Thanks.

-Yeah.

So, uh, who won

the Super Bowl last year?

I-- I-- I don't know.

What'd you do for Halloween?

Sexy costume, what else?

Really?

No.

Of course not.

I turned off the porch light

and I ate all the candy

I bought.

What about Thanksgiving?

Um, I went to my sister's.

Oh.

What were you gonna do

tonight before we arrived?

Go out.

Huh.

With-- with some friends.

Right.

Could I have some honey?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thanks.

How serious were

you about retiring?

Completely.

I mean, look, um,

I can talk to 'em tomorrow,

and it can't be

that complicated.

I mean, who cares?

We can go be near

your mom, start a family.

Does anyone else know yet?

We were...

We just came straight here.

Lots of people are gonna care.

It'll be an--

an international news story.

Well, I'll keep it

boring, you know?

We won't do any interviews

and...

Well, there'll be news

vans outside for weeks.

Yeah.

Let me-- uh, what did--

What did Alicia mean

when she said it's not her

company anymore?

She sold it.

Uh, a tech company rebranded

it and made it

their East Coast campus.

Why?

To raise capital and continue

searching for you.

Wait, I mean, she...

Uh, she's...

That's all she's been

doing this whole year?

Uh...

Yeah, uh, that's what

we've all been doing.

Um...

It-- there's been no Christmas

photos, no New Year's.

We just-- um...

Uh, you disappeared,

and we stood staring

at the empty space and...

Then when people

went back to their lives, I--

I had to put myself back

together and I went back

to work.

I mean, what else

was I supposed to do?

Nothing, nothing.

Oh, God, why do I...

I feel guilty for telling

you that I had to move on.

Just-- hey, hey, don't.

You don't need to.

It's fine.

Hey.

Shh.

But what are these tests

you have to do tomorrow?

Well, I don't know.

Just to see if I have any

superpowers,

or if I've aged at all.

A basic systems check.

-Basic systems check.

-Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I could do

a systems check.

-Really?

-Yeah.

Hmm.

Lips.

Check.

Nose.

Check.

Oh.

You okay?

Hmm.

Nothing's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

I'm just...

-Taking it all in.

-Yeah.

You know, people don't come

back from the dead that often.

Hardly ever.

Hey, you wanna

know something weird?

Hmm.

What?

You've been married

to me a year longer

than I've been married to you.

And you-- you're--

Uh-huh.

You're a year older.

Oh.

Great.

Thanks a lot.

You're married

to an old lady now.

Tell me something happy.

Well, we can probably keep

the life insurance money.

No.

Something different.

Your face makes me happy.

Hmm.

Your face when I proposed.

Keep going.

The best day of my life.

Mm, tell me.

Well--

Hmm.

It was a beautiful

afternoon on the beach.

- We just finished our picnic.

- Pretzel sandwiches and wine.

No.

No, we ate at Carlito's.

The day I proposed?

No, we didn't.

-Yes, we did.

-What?

Absolutely, we did.

Yes, I had short rib.

You-- you had--

-What?

-Plain chicken.

You accused me of trying

to fatten you up so NASA--

What?

Wouldn't send you

into space anymore.

Yes.

That must have been

some other time.

No.

We had the-- the day I proposed,

we had pretzel sandwiches

on the beach.

No, I don't even

like pretzels, Lucas.

Okay, maybe it was--

it was paninis, okay?

That's-- that's not

the important part.

No, Carlito's.

Oh, my God.

Do you wanna turn into

one of those old couples

bickering that correct

each other's memories?

-Yes, I do. I do.

-You do?

Do you really?

Okay, maybe I don't.

-Okay.

-Okay.

Can I finish my story?

-Sure.

-Please?

Oh, my God.

All right.

After we had our delicious

panini pretzel sandwiches

and/or Carlito's chicken

and ribs...

Hmm.

...we walked along the water.

And I was telling you about

this crazy genius named

Dr. Alicia Barnes who wanted

to hire me out

from under NASA to test out

some wild theories

she had about the multiverse.

I was so excited.

Yeah.

This could be the start

of a new chapter in our lives.

And I remember because

you said, "Our lives."

Hmm.

Like you wanted

our future together.

And then we kissed.

Mm-hmm.

That was a good kiss.

I know.

And then I looked into

your eyes and I said,

"I wanna show you something."

Huh?

And then I led you

to the Old Town Carousel.

No, wait.

And I forget what I said to

get you to cover your eyes.

Do you remember?

No.

It was something.

Uh, anyway, you

covered your eyes.

Why would I do that?

I forget.

And then we walked

in, and all of our family

and friends were there.

No, we were alone on the beach.

It was...

That was one of the best

parties we ever threw.

Did you fall asleep?

I love you.

Hello?

Hey there.

Oh, sorry.

You okay?

-God.

-My bad.

Yeah, just give me a second.

Want some coffee?

I made you breakfast.

Oh, you looked so

peaceful, I went for a run.

Oh, did you find clothes?

Um, the box in the basement?

I didn't know what

to do with them.

Oh, it's fine.

Oh, what's up? You want cream?

All right.

Hey, uh, I was thinking, um,

maybe you could

come by the labs today.

We could eat in the commissary.

Oh, um, well, I'll be

a while getting ready, so...

Oh, late lunch?

Sure, yeah.

Hey, did you have

a good time last night?

Mm-hmm.

Me too.

All right.

I'll see you later.

Well, as long as it arrives

on time, I have no problem.

But can I please have a drink?

Double foam, triple shot

mocha with fudge and sprinkles?

Thank you, Quinton.

He's my favorite part of

my new corporate hell.

I got your text.

Oh, okay.

Um, can I ask you

about that ring?

He can take it

off in a few days.

Okay.

We just need

a few more biometrics.

Uh, that's fine.

Um, did it say what happened?

Not exactly.

The ring was a beacon

which had three functions.

First one was basic

information like his heart rate,

and the second was a tag

number that identified our

Lucas from any

potential parallel Lucases.

Wait.

It did that?

Uh, parallel Lucases

are possible?

Don't worry.

The code-block

matches so far.

Uh, it's a giant tag number

attached to DNA markers.

We're still testing,

but that part's fine.

But it will tell us

eventually for certain?

It should.

Wh-- what was the third thing?

The third thing?

You said the ring

does three things.

Ah, yeah, um, it was, uh,

it's kind of like a lifeline.

If something went wrong,

if, uh, he was stuck in a loop,

something like that,

then he could use it

as a last resort.

What if he was in the wrong

place and he took the ring off,

what would happen?

What, he'd blow up?

Disintegrate, but yes.

It was only for horrible,

impossibly unlikely,

but statistically

non-zero contingencies.

But you didn't tell me that

you gave him a suicide pill.

Let's not renegotiate

the premise here, Ellie.

He was going to other worlds...

and all he experienced

was walking through that door.

He wasn't gonna

resort to it at all.

Look, he's fine.

So, are you all right?

Yeah.

It's okay if you're not.

Actually, um,

if you have a second,

something is very wrong.

There she is.

Elenore Bello!

It is so nice to meet you.

Has Alicia filled you in on

any of the itinerary for today?

No.

Well, I'm Avi Walia, CEO.

We're all super

honored to be here.

Alicia is the first quantum

computing company

I bought when I hit a trillion.

She's like my Lebron.

I'm not a company, sweetheart.

Lucas told me the news.

I'm so, so ecstatic for you two.

Uh, thank you.

Um, I'm sorry, what--

what news exactly

are you talking about?

Retiring.

He's retiring.

I can't believe it, but,

uh, he's a hero,

so he can do what he wants.

I think it's so great you

guys are gonna start a family.

Super great.

I just, uh, I just wish you

weren't taking him away from us.

Anyway, we got

a busy day ahead of us.

Shall we, uh, go

meet your husband?

Press conference at

noon, a quick lunch at 1:00,

a couple of evals

in the afternoon.

Actually--

She's only here

for the lunch with Lucas.

Really? You don't wanna

be next to him on stage?

Avi.

I just thought that

you'd wanna be there.

I'm not trying to be difficult.

It's a historic moment.

It'll be in the textbooks,

Ellie.

The press is so eager

for your perspective.

Is that my Ellie Belly?

Lucas, I was just saying

to your wife--

You okay?

Yeah, fine.

You-- you-- you told them?

Ye-- yeah, everything.

They know I'm retiring, right?

Loud and clear.

And ev-- everybody's in there?

Yes.

We can all go in together.

She's not coming.

Right, but we were

just discussing--

No, she's not coming in.

Uh, I'll be right back, okay?

And so friends, Americans,

citizens of all countries,

let me tell you,

it's great to be back.

A year ago, the world thought

Commander Lucas Bello

was lost forever...

discovering

the possibility of a multiverse

or parallel worlds.

Good news, Elenore.

Your husband's a specimen.

Test results from this morning.

-Hi.

-Mm.

You want the spoilers?

-Sure.

-He's about 11% faster,

stronger, smarter

than he was before

he went through that door.

Was that expected?

No.

So, is that a red flag or what?

Um, it could be a good day.

He's excited.

Performs well.

Um, or it could be--

might be

the result of the transfer.

Okay.

Um,

what are the other

possibilities?

Well, we're testing for that.

The data's still

a bit scrambled.

Scrambled,

or could, um, could the--

Could the ring have switched

signals with another version

of itself?

What are you talking about?

Um,

what if there's

a parallel universe so close,

so close to ours

that there's another you

doing the same experiment.

Um, and their Lucas

walks through at the exact

same time as our Lucas, and...

they switch places.

Yeah, we thought of that.

I'm not saying it's impossible,

because there are infinite

possibilities, but the chances?

No, no way.

The EgoTag, it has a signature

that matches down

to the billionth place.

We're still sifting, but--

Hey.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Those the results?

Mm-hmm.

They good?

Mm.

Something wrong?

So do we just sit?

Sure.

If you like.

Is there anything you

wanna talk about?

Well, I just came back

from an alternate dimension.

We could talk about that.

And how are things going?

Fine.

Fine.

In my brain, it was--

I was gone for like a second.

And what about you, Ellie?

Do we have to do this?

No.

Uh, we're evaluating

him to return to work,

but he's retiring.

Right, but I just need

the evaluation to get back.

Why?

Um, I don't know.

Uh, just, uh, in case

we change our minds.

I don't know.

It's just-- it's-- it's--

It's an evaluation, I pass,

and then-- and then we go.

- There's no pass or fail.

- I'm only here to help.

Okay, good.

Lucas, could you give us

the room for a moment?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, you got it.

I thought you might

like a moment alone.

Losing a husband,

only to have him return.

He didn't return.

Can't be easy.

Or...

Anyway, um, I don't

think he's my husband.

Tell me more.

He told a story

that never happened.

Fake memory.

Just for the sake of argument,

could he have forgotten

the memory or misremembered?

No.

It w-- it wasn't

a random memory.

You know what?

Forget it.

Hey, there.

You ran off,

I didn't have a key.

I would've, uh, texted

but I don't have a phone

anymore.

Walia offered me a-- a car.

I-- I guess my old

one's gone now.

Yeah.

Hey.

It's weird.

I-- I went to work for a day,

and when I came back,

my wife had sold all my stuff.

Ellie, c-- c-- can

I h-- can I hold you?

I don't even know what's

happening anymore.

I'm so sorry, Ellie.

I don't know what I

would do if I lost you.

Hey, you hungry?

I don't know.

Oh.

Um...

Ah.

No, it's o--

We could just--

We could just sit together.

Yeah.

Just give me a minute.

I am gonna make you

the perfect combination.

You always do that.

You know, it's funny.

I was just thinking,

it could've been worse.

You could've been

remarried when I got back.

Oh.

Do you remember that dinner

by the bridge?

You had a seersucker suit on.

Oh, yeah.

Do you remember

what color it was?

Yeah, it was a...

It was a lemon yellow.

We played Would you rather?

- Did we?

- We did.

I said,

"Would you rather

swim fully clothed

to that bridge, or uh--"

"Dance fully naked on the deck?"

Swim.

Dance.

And then I asked if

you still wanted kids.

Yeah, someday.

When I know I'll be around.

What?

What's-- what's wrong?

Then you asked

me what was wrong.

Do you remember that?

I think so.

I said,

"I wanted to know when."

When I said,

"When I'm gonna be around."

But when is that?

I don't--

I just took a job.

I don't-- I don't-- I don't

remember this part.

You needed more time, you said.

I said, fine, um, uh, but

I'm in my mid-30s, so...

Yeah.

You know, it's funny.

It's I--

I, uh, I don't remember this.

I mean, I-- I believe you,

I just--

It wasn't a big fight.

But why do we

have to do this now?

You're the one

raising your voice.

- I have-- like, why--

- Why can't I talk about it?

Can I have one

year at my new f*cking job?

We decided to wait until you

retired and...

...we had dessert.

It's getting late.

Mm, yeah.

Thanks for this.

Oh!

Rohan.

- Oh, my man.

- Oh, my man.

- How are you?

- My man!

You were dead, man.

Yeah, I was just between

realities, you know?

-Hi.

-Hi.

Mm.

Now that is a handsome man.

Which one?

Oof, take your pick.

I think we already did.

Mm.

Technically,

I was between realities.

And what,

they don't have postcards

between realities?

No, just no stamps, okay?

How are you?

How's the insomnia?

Mmm.

Oh, God, sorry to hear it.

Mm.

I know. I know.

What's it been?

Five years

or something like that?

Uh, no, man, we did the lake

house a year ago.

You don't remember?

- Oh, God, that was...

- Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That was-- that was

right before I left.

Yeah. God, no, no,

just it feels like forever.

You know, uh--

The way he describes it,

he was gone for a second.

Oh, really?

How weird.

Yeah.

How weird for both of you.

You know, I-- I read

your eulogy at the Kennedy

Space Center.

Best speech I ever gave.

-Oh, yeah?

-Now you ruined it.

Oh, come on, I'm doing

you a favor.

-Oh, yeah?

-You get to do it again.

Okay?

I heard mixed reviews.

Seems like his old self.

He does seem like that.

Mm-hmm.

- Hi.

- Good to see you.

You too.

I have someone you can meet.

Oh.

Uh, Alicia, can I talk to you?

Elenore.

Where's-- where's--

where's your champagne?

I-- I ha-- I had some.

Um, I-- can I ask--

Um, could we get some more

champagne please?

You should have some champagne.

Oh, okay.

Sure, fine.

I...

Listen.

Hmm.

I-- I think something went

wrong and the guy who came back

isn't Lucas.

Of course something went wrong,

how many times

do I have to say it?

No.

He has memories that never

happened to me,

and I have memories--

Mm, don't know.

I mean, maybe he mistook

the occasion

that you were remembering

for a different one.

It was our engagement.

Oh.

I don't think he knows.

Are you saying that two

things went wrong

with my experiment?

I'm saying I'm scared.

I got it.

We pull off the EgoTag.

If he is an alien, poof, he

disappears into a fine mist.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I bought 100 bottles,

you don't want it?

Uh, I gotta go.

Yeah.

Before-- before the eulogies?

It's time to pay your respects

to our dearly departed

and recently returned

second favorite astronaut.

All right, let's go.

Uh, get yourself a drink and,

uh, gather around, everybody.

It's time for the, uh,

serious part of the evening.

What?

I can be serious.

Yes, you tell them,

sweet cheeks.

Thank you.

Now, uh, ev-- everybody,

uh, we are gathered here

to deliver our saddest,

most heartbreaking eulogies

for this dead man right here.

Hey, you wanna lay on the couch?

No.

No.

No, absolutely not.

Come on.

Uh.

No.

- Okay.

- And, uh, no cheating.

Mm-mm, no saying how

nice it is to have his sorry a*s

home again.

I'll go.

Lucas Bello was an

extraordinary individual.

Throughout his illustrious

career,

Lucas contributed

significantly--

-Hey. Hi.

-Hi.

To the advancement

of space exploration.

Missions were marked

by groundbreaking

discoveries and...

You having a good time?

- Yeah. I mean...

- But beyond the accolades

and accomplishments...

...this part is

kinda weird, but...

Hmm. Mm-hmm.

...touched with his

genuine warmth...

It's nice.

It is nice.

...the very essence

of courage, intellect,

and unwavering dedication.

So, um...

But he also had a knack

for turning the most...

...this isn't my world, is it?

Um...

How did you know?

Hey there.

Lucas' true legacy--

How did you know?

Lies in the countless

lives he touched with his

-genuine warmth and compassion.

-A lot of little things.

In those moments,

Lucas's unwavering support

and, uh, unshakable

friendship helped me

find strength and solace.

Um, Lucas and I shared

countless hours of, um...

Besides, you're not my Ellie.

Oh, my God.

I thought I was going crazy.

What do we do?

Well, we could announce it

right now, bum everybody out.

That seems like a bad idea.

To Lucas!

To Lucas!

Okay.

I am coming.

It was beautiful, honey,

and I don't care

that if I'm breaking the rule.

Uh, I don't care.

Um, Elenore...

Hi.

...isn't it a miracle...

-Hi.

-Hi. I, um, I'm drunk.

I was drunk. Um...

God, I am so happy for you.

Did you really mean

what you said before?

Are you, um-- did you tell him?

Who-- who are you?

Do you wanna speak?

No, no.

Go ahead.

She-- she is overwhelmed,

as she should be.

Uh, we are all so

grateful to be here...

Is he yours?

No.

And really, there is one

person that we have to thank,

because she swore--

Really?

How different is it?

Not very.

She would never give up.

We could be, uh--

And she didn't.

Neighbors.

Yeah.

You deserve all

the credit, Alicia.

- Mm.

- To Alisha!

Uh-huh.

To Alisha! Speech!

Speech!

Speech!

Yeah! Speech, yeah.

Come on!

Speech! Let's hear it.

Ugh.

Lucas Bello was

my best friend.

Now he is dead.

Nothing will ever be

right in the world again,

and it's all my fault.

That's all.

Good night.

Stay as long as you want.

Finish the food.

Hey, you wanna walk home?

It's like three miles.

Yeah, yeah,

we've had a few drinks.

All right, sure.

So your Ellie is a bit

of a lightweight, huh?

Ah, yeah, but you're both

snappy when you drink.

What's she like?

I don't know.

I don't know if

it's a good idea.

Come on, I'm out here freezing.

She's just like you.

She's even got

the three freckles

behind her ear.

I used to kiss them.

Yeah, my Lucas used to do that.

What'd he call it?

Sprinkles.

Sprinkles.

Yeah.

Yeah.

How is she different?

I don't know.

Come on.

No, uh, really, I-- I--

I think she wore more makeup,

or maybe you did something

with your eyes, or...

Less eyeliner?

Yeah.

You walk different.

How?

You stare at the ground.

Or maybe mine does

too now, I don't know.

I don't know what makes

a difference between you

and what could've

changed in a year.

I mean, maybe there's

a trillion different versions

of Lucas who were

stupid enough to leave

a trillion different versions

of Ellie to cry for a year

on her own.

I don't know.

You know what this feels like?

Like my husband died

and my mind spent a year

creating a ghost.

How am I different?

Barely noticeable.

It's uncanny when you

see it though, isn't it?

I was gonna say,

if we're so similar,

if it's down to the last

decimal point, right?

Mathematically

identical or close to it,

we could accept it.

you know, I could

accept it, right?

Because we're not-- we're

not separate humans,

we're us.

You know, I came back

from a mission changed a little,

damaged. You too.

We always married.

We always loved each other.

But we didn't.

Close.

We pretend nothing happened.

Or something did, but not this.

I don't think that I can.

Yeah.

That's what she'd say too.

Hi.

Get in.

We're going to the lab.

How many cars do you have?

What?

Oh, I dunno.

I was just lying on my bed,

letting the hangover wash

over me.

When I sobered

up enough and remembered

what you said

about the experiment.

He knows.

You spoke with him

about it at the party.

Well, did you ask

him about his world?

Do you have, uh,

like, a solar system?

Uh, yeah, of course.

Of course, we

have a solar system.

On what side is

the human heart?

Uh, it's-- it's center left.

Do you have the Hadron Collider?

Yeah.

What's the price of gold?

No idea.

What's the most recent

scientific advancement?

Alicia Barnes discovers

the multiverse.

Aha!

You're even more of

a suck up than he is.

What else?

I don't know.

A bunch of celebrities died.

You wanna talk about that?

It's the little things

from what I can tell.

Do you have the Fields

Medal, and did I win it twice?

One time, yes.

Second time, you got beat

up by this kid in Sheboygan.

Please.

There is no kid in Sheboygan.

Hmm.

Okay.

If you are an

overlapping parallel,

you could be different

in a million ways.

We can't triangulate

where you're from,

or we could just reset

the beacon.

You could be any possible

Lucas, but the data,

uh, from your tag is

still computing,

and it says that you

are the same,

so the differences must

be microscopic.

Our worlds could be

on top of each other.

I mean, there are probably

worlds where we're all pandas

or something,

or I'm a ballet dancer

and you're a fisherman, maybe.

Uh, yeah.

There are worlds

that blew themselves up.

Huh.

Or who knows?

Everything is possible.

But for this cosmic f*ck-up

to happen, we needed

to have crossed with a world

that still had me create

this experiment and still

had you walking through

the door

at the exact moment that we did.

And that is so vanishingly tiny

a chance.

What do we do now?

We will launch as many

probes as we can to search

for the second tag with

the same number as yours.

So you're saying you wanna

send a few dozen messages

in a bottle into what could

be trillions of worlds?

Yeah, and they're all

trained on you.

If one comes back

with different coordinates,

then maybe we could locate him.

I-- is it, uh, uh, ill*gal?

Uh, would be if there were

laws for this sort of thing.

Well, uh, then why

are we-- we doing this?

Because I sent him out there.

Well, what if I just walked

back through the door?

Suicide, probably.

There isn't a-- any chance?

Not a chance of a chance.

I can't even begin to tell

you how improbable this is.

It's like two snowflakes

are the exact same copy

of each other, but those

snowflakes are all

the snowflakes everywhere.

Hmm?

Look, every evolutionary

step, every event in history,

every...

Everything that all

three of us chose in life,

all broke in the same direction,

and we finally get you

walking through that door.

But the second you found

out that there is another you,

you might have started

to make counterfactual

decisions for no other

reasons other than to

assert your individualness,

which is, in fact,

the exact sort of thing

that our Lucas would do.

So you are right back

to where you started.

This was a bad idea.

I'm sorry.

I-- I don't know where he is.

It's okay.

Hey, sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry I'm late.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Are you all right?

Yeah. I was just, uh,

I was just walking around.

All night?

Where were you walking?

Just places I like to go.

The climbing gym,

the fabrication lab

at the engineering school.

What were you looking for?

I just wanted things

I'd recognize.

Did Ellie ever come to any

of these places with you?

-No.

-Yes.

You came to the 3D printer

to use to-- for the earrings

you were designing once.

Right.

Do you feel estranged

from everything else?

I don't know.

How does that make

you feel, Ellie?

I don't know.

Um, he could have called.

I don't have a phone.

Get a phone.

Are you-- you waiting for

me to get you a phone?

Well, I c-- I can't get a phone.

I-- I tried.

I don't--

I-- turns out I have no

bank accounts.

Well, that's what you do

when someone's dead.

No, I'm not-- look,

I'm not blaming you.

I'm, I-- I didn't think you'd

want me home anyway.

It feels invasive.

Right? It doesn't-- it doesn't

feel like-- it doesn't feel

like my place anymore.

And why would that be, Lucas?

Nothing.

Sorry.

This is just-- I'm sorry.

It's just-- just kind

of a weird dynamic.

It is a bit weird, isn't it?

Ellie, why don't you tell Lucas

how you felt about last night?

Actually, I-- I don't blame you.

In fact, when I think

about it,

I-- I really appreciate

you did that.

Wow, that's very

gracious of you, Ellie.

S-- so do we win therapy?

You can't win therapy.

Then what's the point?

Lucas, do you

want to be back home?

Of course.

Look, I know I'm not the--

I know I've changed.

But if you're open,

maybe we could--

We could start fresh, you know?

Not to replace anybody,

but maybe we could just

keep each other company.

- Good.

- That's very good.

Ellie?

Yeah.

Okay.

How about this?

For the next few days,

you two could revisit the places

you frequented together.

Reminisce a little.

You might feel less

estranged when you

remember everything

the two of you have shared.

We'll revisit again

in a few days.

That won't work.

No, but listen, I think

I have a better idea.

What? Stop reminiscing

immediately and go somewhere

we've never been?

Yeah, that's exactly it.

Have you been to the Palacio?

No, but that's because

you're a cheapskate.

Wait, are you a cheapskate?

No.

Yeah.

Maybe a little, but that's good,

'cause I haven't been either.

Let's go.

What do you think?

Therapy kind of works.

Mm-hmm.

Something bubbly?

-Mm-hmm.

-Yeah.

Could we start with champagne?

Very good, sir.

Yeah.

Oh, thank you.

How chivalrous.

Yes. There you go.

Nothing but the best.

Oh.

All right.

This is good,

this is good champagne.

-It is.

-What is that?

It is.

Don't even-- don't worry.

Don't worry about it.

Don't look at it.

Trust me on this.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

Do you remember the old

Italian waiter who sang

to you on our honeymoon?

-And then--

-Mm.

Sat with us

for a whole 10 minutes?

Yes.

Oh, my God.

That was, uh...

Tell me something that

you've never told me before.

Oh, okay.

Um, before I stepped

through--

Mm-hmm.

I ordered a basket of candy

bars from around the world.

Yeah, that-- that came already.

Oh, God, yeah.

About a week after

you disappeared.

Of course, yeah.

For some reason in the back

of my head, I thought it was--

I thought it was

still in the mail.

I don't know.

You tell me something.

I don't know. I'm...

There isn't anything.

Did you eat the candy bars?

Yeah, one night.

Yeah.

One night, huh?

I was grieving.

Well...

Roasted mushrooms

with chimichurri,

and a smoky avocado crostini.

Thank you.

Now I just want a candy bar.

What was she even talking about?

I-- I don't know.

I don't know.

-Thank you.

-She has that, uh, the accent.

Yeah.

It's like...

I-- I...

Garbanzos con espinacas.

Mm.

Aged garlic humus

with asparagus spears.

Wow.

I'm sorry, how many--

how many more plates?

Six more.

Wait, what is that? I like that?

That's from the movie

we saw with the professor.

What movie?

Oh, I never saw it.

Hmm.

Then I-- I guess that's

the first time that you've

liked something about me.

True.

True.

Well...

And for your final course...

Oh, God.

...a coconut rice pudding

with a brulee top

and macadamia dust.

Ooh, macadamia dust.

I tap. I can't.

I cannot.

- No.

- Yeah, nope.

You're gonna let your date

eat you under the table?

What was the favorite?

Tuna tartare, seaweed taco.

Number 4 for me.

- Number 4?

- Mm-hmm.

Can't beat the roasted

mushrooms.

How dare you?

Mushrooms, number 1,

chicken liver, number 2.

Ch-- chicken-- chicken liver?

You-- you like--

Yes.

You like

the slimy chicken liver?

I said what I said.

I know you're very cute.

Very cute,

but you're very wrong.

Crostini's number 3.

Oh, God.

Okay, s-- look, stop. STOP.

-No.

-This is gibberish.

You're disrespecting

the tuna taco.

-Admit it.

-Disrespecting?

Yeah, admit it.

Admit you're wrong on that.

-I will not admit it.

-Admit it.

-Say it with your mouth.

-I...

Lucas, Lucas, I was dizzy

when I ate the tuna, flustered

by your handsomeness.

-Flustered?

-Flustered.

Uh-huh.

How can you-- please forgive me.

No.

-No.

-Yes.

-I will never.

-Please.

Mm-mm.

Mm-mm.

One sec.

Okay.

Gimme one sec, all right?

-Okay.

-I'm coming right back.

-Okay.

-Don't worry about it.

I'll give you one sec.

Don't worry about it.

I'm coming right back.

-I'll trust that.

-Uh-huh.

Did you pay the bill?

Yep, and I spoke

to the authorities

about your rankings.

-Oh, yeah?

-Yeah.

They said my tuna taco

was correct, and that I was

such a good person that I

won a free night at the hotel.

Oh.

Really?

And you're expecting me to...

Beg forgiveness.

Beg?

What?

What's wrong?

You laughed.

Oh.

Yeah.

You didn't like it?

No.

No.

It's just-- it's-- it's not you.

It's just-- it's-- it's--

It's just something that

happens when it feels so good.

It's--

I've always done it.

Oh.

All right.

Okay.

Your Ellie doesn't--

No.

We're not the other person.

I know.

God, it's so easy

to imagine you are.

Your face, I used to stare at

your face, or I don't know,

her face,

for God knows how long.

Hours.

It's t*rture now.

Hey. Look.

I'm sorry. Um...

Phew.

This is a...

This is a terrible

situation to be in.

You didn't have to bring

me here.

Look, maybe-- I think we just--

I think we need some space.

Okay? so--

I mean, maybe you stay here.

I'm-- I'm gonna go.

What, you're leaving?

What?

Is that what you do?

Look--

When you're turned on, I'm

your wife in a fun new outfit.

And then a switch flips

and now I'm the other woman?

It's really selfish.

Look, fine, fine.

What do you want?

What do we--

Do we just--

do we abandon them?

Well, are they

dead or aren't they?

I have no idea.

None of you have any idea

what's going on, you know?

Here's an idea,

don't run bumbling

experiments that could

ruin everybody's life

when you have no idea

what will happen!

That's not fair, Ellie.

How is that not fair?

I stayed.

I waited for you.

You left.

If there's a chance

that they--

There's an infinitesimal

chance, Ellie.

There's-- it's so small,

there's no math for how small.

So what do we do?

Well, you don't want me.

I mean, do you wanna stay

and-- and-- and get a divorce?

No.

No, of course not.

Or do you wanna take your

chances through the door?

Do it again?

Ellie, I never should've

done it in the first place.

Why?

Why did you go then?

Why?

I'm sorry.

Ellie, I'm sorry.

No.

You have to send him back.

It's okay.

I don't need coffee.

And you said

you left him in the hotel.

Yeah.

That's a $100 billion

piece of research

just wandering about.

Okay.

But what is he to me?

Do you want us

to keep him in the labs?

For how long?

Until we make headway

with the probes,

till we're ready

to send him back out.

I can't promise

anything will come of it.

Maybe he goes out

and never comes back,

like the first--

All right.

How about this?

What if he is your husband?

But he's not.

I know he's not, actually.

But practically, in all

senses, he is your husband.

I-- I'm telling you, he's not.

Okay.

How do you know if someone

is just behaving differently

because they have new inputs?

Say, for example, a person

hates basketball now

because his father died

and they watched it together.

A person gets kicked

in the head by a horse,

and suddenly, his whole

personality changes.

New medications, whatever.

How do you know

they're the same person

with an adapted personality

rather than a completely

different one

from a different universe?

You see what I'm saying?

Yeah.

The fact is, I could be

switching every morning

from one Alicia, happy,

buzzed with coffee,

to my depressed-a*s

self every night.

Are those two different people?

I tried.

What happened?

It felt wrong.

What kind of wrong?

He loves her.

He's only

just lost her and he's grieving.

She's probably a big-time b*tch.

It only gets harder

if people find out.

Well, what if he won't

keep up appearances?

For you? He'd do it.

You can tell him if he doesn't,

Walia will invoke every clause

in that contract with an army

of lawyers and demand

that he goes around the world

telling everybody

that Distant Aeronautics

discovered the multiverse.

That would not be good.

Mm.

But if you can give me

a bit more time.

Okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Oh, don't thank me.

I'm counting on the other

Alicia to figure it out

on her end.

She's probably super smart.

Okay, can we just

hold for one second?

Yes.

Hello!

Hi.

Um, well, we're really right

back in the swing of things.

And, um...

Astronaut training.

This guy Lonie, I remember,

uh, uh, I was telling--

I was telling him about that--

You did, really, yeah.

I was telling him about...

Morning.

Hey!

Morning.

So, are you ready?

Yeah.

You sure you wanna come?

Uh, do you want me to?

Well, how could I

want anything else?

Do you always answer

a question with a question?

Why?

Do you like it?

I don't know.

Should I?

Uh, it's really just

little mathematical

differences in a wave equation.

What did it feel like?

It-- it's--

it just felt like blinking.

Did you see anything

in the alternate universe,

- like aliens?

- No.

No, no, no.

And what about you, Ellie?

What is it like to be

married to the first

inter-universal explorer?

Oh, uh, well, amazing.

What is it?

-It's amazing.

-Oh?

-Yeah.

What did you imagine

it to be like for him?

Who knows?

Uh, he could've seen

dinosaurs or, you know,

gone to a universe full

of smoking hot babes

and he wouldn't be

interested in coming back.

Oh, no, no.

She-- she keeps me very

interested in coming back.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-Have a good one.

-Thank you.

Who's next?

Uh, I don't know.

-How many are in?

-Can I get some water?

How many more do we have to do?

I'm having a wonderful time.

Being Mrs. to an American hero

isn't just a privilege,

it's a responsibility.

For a s-- for a second back

there, I thought

you were gonna say smoking

hot dinosaurs.

I should have.

You would leave

me for dinosaurs.

-Here.

-What is-- what is this?

Makeup remover.

Oh.

Thanks.

Hey, Ellie, I, um...

You know, whatever...

Whatever you said

to him before he left,

mine said something

like that to me too.

I-- I'm sorry.

Don't apologize for him.

No, I'm sorry for me.

Well, Lucases leave Ellies.

That's the problem.

I just--

I know he'd want me to say it.

What do you think--

What do you think your

Lucas would do right now?

Five minutes.

You ready?

Yep.

Uh, we'll be right there.

-Lucas?

-Yeah, yeah, we're all good.

Thanks, Vicky.

Do you think he'd pretend

nothing happened?

Hmm.

I don't know.

What would you do?

Come here.

Huh?

You got something.

Oh.

Thank you.

Maybe you just stay here with

me.

Um, lucky man.

If you really think about it,

it's not even climate change,

it's climate exchange.

We're about to have an infinite

resource pool.

Why colonize Mars?

We can just colonize

a vacant Earth.

Oh!

There he is, everybody.

Our cosmic man.

Hey.

How it's going?

-Hi.

-Interviews go well?

Uh, yeah, fantastic.

Yeah.

Smile for socials.

-Oh, uh...

-Sure.

Ellie.

Everybody say multiverse.

-Oh, um...

-Multiverse!

Gorgeous.

Oh, let's do a...

Let's do one of these, yeah?

-Hmm?

-Hey.

Oh.

Hey, uh, what if we

take one more, huh?

What do you say we do one more?

Quinton, come get this on video.

We're gonna do a ceremonial

removal of the EgoTag--

I don't--

- What?

- I don't think that is, um--

- No, no.

- And donate it

to the Smithsonian.

-I don't think--

-Don't touch that.

Our head of research, everybody.

Care to tell us why?

Because I have more

experiments to do on it.

Because science.

Because in what world do you

take off his tag without asking?

Well, could you

tell us about the experiments?

No!

Are you a child?

I already said no.

How long do you want me

to stand here all day

and say no?

Thank you, guys.

Thank you so much.

We will have time for

some questions in just

a few minutes from our

fantastic CEO right here,

Mr. Walia. Um--

Uh, uh, always happy

to take questions.

That's why we brought

you here today.

Is it secure?

Yeah, it's fine.

What in the world made you think

you could take of your tag?

Hey, I didn't know

he was gonna do that.

You would have disintegrated

in front of everybody.

You think we want

that on our conscience?

Of course not.

Look at this.

Yeah.

Oh, do I have to explain?

This has been

to other universes.

Yours specifically.

It came back last night.

The EgoTag signal

traced wasn't yours.

It was his.

Are you saying that you

can get him back?

Where is she?

I hope so.

Oh, there she is.

I was trying to clean up that,

uh, that colossal mess

that you just made.

Don't come in here like that.

This is my building!

Ellie, we have a team

of brilliant scientists

that can take this over.

Oh.

Are you saying that you

can replace Alicia Barnes?

Yeah, I just want you to

think about the fact that--

We would go with her.

What is this?

Hmm?

Where's Lucas?

You think you can fire me?

It's been a long time coming.

We have to move forward.

I could set up another

reactor in two weeks.

Not with my patents, you can't.

Your patents?

Oh.

Huh! That's rich.

- Yes, my patents!

- I bought them.

You weasel.

You think you own this?

You think you own this?

You haven't created

anything in your life apart

from your morning smoothies.

And there you are

thinking you've acquired

an entire field of science.

Do you have any sense

of how many little decisions

it takes to make something?

All you have is one single

path to an idea

that any idiot could have.

And yet there are billions of

other ways of getting there,

you dummy.

I don't have to steal

from the company I built.

I could just make

another one tomorrow.

Do you know what you just did?

I have to call security now

because you just made this ugly.

Lucas, what are you--

Ellie.

No.

Ellie, listen.

Please don't do this.

There's no version of

me that doesn't love

every version of you.

Maybe some of them stay

and try to convince you

to love them.

Maybe some of them are willing

to settle for what we have,

but you don't want that.

And there isn't a version

of me that wouldn't die

for what you want.

I'm gonna walk through

the door and God, I don't--

God, I hope--

I hope he comes out.

You-- you-- you don't know that.

But--

No, he will.

He will.

He'll come through.

If he's anything like me,

he'll come back for you.

Stop this now!

Listen to me.

If you wanna fire me, fine.

But if you want your

precious mascot to please

all your shareholders,

you need Lucas Bello.

I have Lucas Bello.

Not that one.

Are you telling me

this isn't Lucas Bello?

That's what I'm telling you.

Now, do your PR team

a favor and let me fix this.

Go ahead.

What, did you think I

would keep him here?

Thank you.

T-minus one minute

to initiation.

Let's go, lovebirds.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Taking position.

Stepping through

in 5, 4, 3,

2, 1.

Can I have my ring back?

Yeah.

-Hi.

-Hi.