Today's the day.
Today's the day. Come on, Greg, I'm still having that spam issue.
- Absolutely. - Is that you, Jay?
Amanda, get down here.
Get over here.
- Looking sharp. - Thanks.
You did it.
We did it.
Please, no jinxing. Let's just get her online first.
No jinxing. No jinxing.
Come on, no jinxing?
This is just regular afternoon champagne.
- Sure. - Nothing celebratory about it.
Sure, like you said in Monte Carlo.
Lock it up about Monte Carlo.
Let's get this show on the road. Where's my engineer? Where's Blair?
- Blizzy. - Hey, hey.
This thing gonna work?
I don't know. I did my job.
Did y'all do yours?
Let's light it up, Blair.
- Me? - Absolutely.
Come on.
- Let's go. - All right.
Okay.
Are we happy?
Just one second.
All levels in the green.
Adaptive shielding is fully engaged. We're happy.
We're happy!
Oh, shit.
- Go ahead. - Yes.
- I told you! I told you. - Congratulations.
Hey, guys, listen up, listen up, listen up.
I swear to God, I'm gonna make this one brief.
- Yeah, right. - Hey, hey, knock it off.
You're all fired. Who's laughing?
Oh, my God. I am...
so proud of each and every single one of you.
Guys, we are standing on the precipice of greatness.
Take it in.
I believe that this moment will be marked
as the day that mankind stepped beyond our finite understanding of reality...
and into the infinite.
Through this door are worlds.
Worlds that have cured diseases that still ravage ours.
Through these doors are worlds that have reversed climate change,
saved species from extinction, crushed poverty.
Through these doors are worlds that have ended war.
We will visit these worlds.
We will find the best technology,
the brightest ideas...
and we'll bring them home.
We'll bring them home.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
- Yeah? - Yeah!
To building a perfect world.
- Let's go. Let's go. - Hey!
Let's go. Holy shit.
What the fuck?
Holy shit.
What the fuck?
That's right.
Thank you.
Hey, why aren't you out there?
What's going on?
Jason told me you want to be the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
Come on, the first human being in superposition?
Sign me all the way up.
That's some Neil-Armstrong-level shit right there.
There's so much we don't know about how it all works.
We should keep the pedal down on your training,
extra mental conditioning.
Just to be safe.
Okay. Anything you say, Doc.
But tonight, we dance.
Get out.
Come on!
Go, Jason. Go, Jason.
Hey.
Go, Jason.
Okay. Let's try this again.
A good place.
Where we can start over.
Where people are kind, and we can have a good life.
A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can start over.
Just leave.
Please.
Where people are kind.
Where we can have a good life again.
Mom.
Mom, you okay?
Yeah. I'm fine. Let's keep looking.
A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can have a good life.
Oluko.
Yes, Sandra?
I'm sorry to interrupt.
It's fine.
He's here.
I've never had a job interview in someone's home before, Mr. Vance.
This is our family home.
My grandfather built the lab in the garage years ago
for his more sensitive R&D.
Recently, I've adopted the practice.
That's very interesting.
Here he is.
Ryan, I'd like to introduce you to Leighton Vance.
It's kind of cruel, huh?
Parents giving identical twins the same name.
I know, it's very weird...
but we're not brothers.
You're not brothers?
No.
I go by Oluko. Means teacher.
- Okay. - I know it's confusing
if we both go by Leighton, but, Oluko, Leighton.
Okay, I'm sorry. Oluko?
- Teacher and... - Thank you.
But you're both... You're both Leighton Vance, huh?
Wow.
I believe it's a lucid dreaming technique.
If you spin around in your dream, it engages the senses.
You're not dreaming or tripping.
Please, have a seat, Mr. Holder.
Okay, is this how your planet makes first contact?
We're not aliens or hallucinations or spirits or--
Glitches in the simulation?
Sorry.
Sorry to interrupt. What's happening? What is happening right now?
This isn't a trick.
My father and mother were both killed when I was young.
My parents are still alive, as far as I know.
I went to UChicago, studied chemistry, physics, computer science.
And I went on a journey to access the deeper levels of consciousness.
And after school, I built a box
capable of putting a human being into superposition.
We're the same person.
- Different choices. - Different lives.
You talking about multidimensional travel?
- We don't call it that. - Yeah, too comic book.
We travel the breadth of all possible realities.
Let's say I believe you both. At all.
Why am I here?
- I need a chemist. - We.
We...
hear you're the best.
I gotta get inside before they move it again.
There are no guarantees you'll find your world.
If Jason 2 moved back and forth between specific worlds,
you know it can be done. I just need to make sure my Lilac Wings works.
I wish you wouldn't do this.
But if you have to,
I'll help you get ready for what's in there.
So, this is your sister's house?
No, this is just where I've been working on my Lavender Wings.
It's easier if I just show you.
- Thank you. - Here we go. Yeah.
We have a lot of fun drinks in here.
Actually, I think there was a Zima in here last week.
What is going on?
What?
The marigolds.
The gladiolus.
Leighton's favorite.
The coffee machine?
It's vintage Belle Epoque.
It was a gift from Chuck Yeager to Leighton's grandfather.
This isn't what you think.
Hey, hey.
- Hey, hey, hey. - Ryan, what the fuck?
I just wanna introduce you to the Leighton Vance of this world.
It's okay.
He's been helping me,
and I'm sure he's not the one that tried to kill you.
What? I tried to kill you?
For what it's worth, I...
I'm sorry.
And I bet he is too.
Dinner's ready. I hope you both love fondue.
But in other news, we got the results back.
The drug we made is a 99.87% match to the ampoule, Amanda.
We're so close.
- Mazel. - Yeah.
Hold up.
I guess now is as good a time as any other.
Now that the Box is back, they want to move it
and study it.
You don't have much time.
Also, I had a visitor.
Before they moved the Box...
Another Leighton.
Might have been yours actually.
He wanted me to join some
doctors-without-multiverse-borders kind of thing.
He's building a technology trading network across realities.
He says he wants to build a perfect world.
Sounds like someone I know.
What did you say?
I'm ambitious, as ambitious as the next Leighton,
but changing the course of an entire world is some god-level shit.
I'm not messing around with that.
He's actually doing it.
That's only the half of it.
He's doing it with other versions of himself.
What you working on?
I think the differences in your drug could actually be an improvement.
It might help suppress
some of the reactiveness of our subconscious emotional states.
Is that gonna make world-targeting a little easier?
- Maybe. - Okay.
We have two options.
We can keep working on your version until we achieve a 100% match,
- or we can-- - What's the faster option?
Yeah.
Okay.
You feel good about this?
Yeah, whatever it takes to get home.
Okay.
All right.
So, Jason used to say that other realities are all around us...
Okay.
...and if our consciousness were more fluid,
we could reach out and touch them.
So, what is consciousness?
Easy, easy.
Yeah, well, there's several theories. Which one you want?
Boiled down.
Boiled down, one's awareness of one's memories,
thoughts, feelings, sensations, environments.
- The mind. - Great.
But we can't just tune our minds into other realities
because our own consciousness and observation,
as well as the observation of others...
- Prevents superposition. - ...prevents superposition. Right.
As you know, inside the Box,
we're still observers
stopping superposition.
That's where your drug comes in.
It turns off the region in the prefrontal cortex
that generates consciousness.
Exactly.
This is a lot.
Have you talked to anybody about that?
What?
The PTSD I got from multidimensional travel in a magic box?
Who would I talk to?
You can talk to me if you want.
Hey, you got this.
A stable world.
A peaceful world.
One...
where people mind their own business...
where it's easy to blend in
with less complications
like facial recognition or CCTV or digital footprints,
where the Dessens live far away and aren't...
criminals or famous.
And maybe less stupid shit like racism and global warming.
That'd be nice.
I can't find them anywhere.
Yeah.
Us too...
I'm gonna ask this lady.
Excuse me. Hi.
We're looking for the computers.
I'm sorry?
Do you have public computers?
No, we don't have computers here.
Got you. Okay, thank you.
Did we go back in time?
No, I mean, the Box doesn't work that way.
Have you got anything?
Not yet. You?
No, not really.
I've only been through 20 issues, though.
It may have been an overly optimistic plan.
Hey.
So, I looked up the phone book, and there's no Dessens listed.
- Really? - Yeah,
and I think I know why this world is so technologically behind.
They never went to the moon.
Wait.
Yeah, this world... They never got to the moon.
- Why? - Well...
Look, JFK lost to Nixon, and then Nixon defunded NASA.
Why would that affect technology?
Well, the development of the microchip
and the microprocessor were all a direct result of the race to space.
Without that competition, then scientists, they never would have worked together
or got the funding and the drive to push the tech that far that fast.
How do people live without computers?
Without the Internet, computer isn't a huge win.
Shit.
I didn't even think of that.
How are you supposed to watch stuff? How do you...
listen to music or find stuff to buy?
Well,
in the time before time, you know, like,
your dad's and my generation?
See, we had these things that were called stores.
And like we'd drive to them and, like, go inside,
buy a physical album,
or like, rent a DVD or a VHS.
- Gotcha. - It was pretty cool.
There was no such thing as your parents checking up on you
all the time, huh?
Relax, pal.
Seriously, I think you may have just brought us to the perfect world.
- I have this too. - Okay.
What're you thinking?
Yeah. It is nice, but you got another one?
Yeah.
500. Four weeks at 20%.
Can you just give us a second?
I mean, that barely gets us
- a few nights at the hotel. - Yeah.
Should we pawn the gun?
We might need it.
Okay.
No.
I still have my hair tie.
Anything you can do to help us.
We're really in a bind.
For all of this, I can do 1500.
Can we make it 12 weeks?
I can do ten. That'll cost you 25%.
It's a deal.
Here's one for a dog walker.
Just one dog?
Yeah.
Just the one.
Taxi driver.
Feels like you probably need a license for that one.
But can you even get any job without ID?
Not a good one.
- What? - Here's one for a paper boy.
They have paper boys in this world.
Hey, what about school?
Like, I know making money is the main thing right now,
but, you know, after you guys have jobs, can we maybe figure that out?
Guess I couldn't persuade you to give homeschooling a try?
That's, like, literally the most uncool thing you've ever said.
Yeah, okay, I get it.
We're not gonna make you stay home, pal.
But, you know, your mom...
Your mom's saying we should be cautious, which I agree with.
- Yeah. - We are strangers in a strange land.
Just moved here,
so we're still figuring a lot out,
but in the meantime, we don't want our son to fall behind.
How old is he?
He's 17.
So, he'd be joining us as a senior?
He would, yeah.
Let's start with your address, make sure you're within our zone.
25 North Milwaukee. Is that...
- Perfect. - Great. Okay.
I mean, that place is temporary, but...
Do you have a phone number for emergency contact?
- No, I don't actually. Sorry. - Not a problem.
Just add that to the list along with your son's birth certificate,
his immunization records, proof of residency, and his transcripts.
That's a little tricky.
Part of the reason why we relocated is we had a house fire.
We lost everything, including our papers.
I am so sorry to hear that.
Thank you.
I mean, we're working on getting new papers, but...
Well, if you have your Social Security numbers,
you'd be surprised how quickly they replace those things.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I just have to say you really remind me of someone.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, a lovely woman named Daniela Dessen.
Very involved in the PTA. I mean,
- you could be her twin. - That's funny.
Safe word?
You tell me.
Tomato.
- Hello. - Hi.
- Hey, kiddo. - Hi.
How was your day?
You're looking at it.
Please don't mess with the safe word. It freaks me out.
Sorry.
So, how'd it go?
Can we talk in the hall?
So, what, would they not take him?
Actually, he could start right away.
The registrar recognized me.
Charlie of this world went to that school.
- What, the Dessens are in Chicago? - They were.
Apparently, they moved to California three years ago.
Which is good news,
but he can't go to that school
and wherever he does go,
we have to provide papers within 30 days.
So,
we need a plan.
He needs to get back in school.
He can't start if we're going to take him back out again.
There's a guy on the crew who knows... has a friend who needed some papers,
so I have a number of someone that may be able to help us.
We should also do some research on the Dessens, huh?
- No more surprises. - Yeah, agreed.
Be a lot easier if we weren't in Chicago.
Yeah.
After we get rid of the Box.
Also, in the good news column...
I got a little gig today.
Seriously?
Yeah.
I spoke to the hotel manager,
if I clean three rooms a day, ours is free, and if I clean more, I get cash.
It's low five.
Like a... maybe a common last name, not too common, you know?
Yeah, yeah, something between Smith and Shufflebottom.
Yeah.
If she gets too needy, let me know.
It's okay.
Do you do background checks?
Absolutely, yeah. You got some names for me?
Yeah. Jason, Daniela, and Charlie Dessen.
You and your family?
Yeah.
Well, because I just want to know what anyone who looked into us might...
or, you know, knew us, might find.
Is...
Is that weird?
I deal in weird.
All right, well, so let's...
Yeah, what...
What might those people be looking for?
Last known address, employment records,
education, criminal records, maybe?
So, who's after you?
Really, I just want to know if anyone is looking into us,
what they might find,
and if there is any way that it could connect us back to Chicago.
Is it a loan shark?
I mean, you don't strike me as the jealous-lover type.
I haven't done anything wrong. Promise.
See, it helps if I know who's looking for you, you know.
I can guarantee total confidentiality. Mum's the word to the missus.
Listen.
We are just looking for a new start.
All three of you?
Yeah.
Hey.
What's going on?
I...
am leaving in the morning.
What are you talking about? We're not done training.
Leighton says the city's putting more security
around the Box, so I...
so I say just... we should get on with it.
I need to show you something.
Sit down.
Please.
Velocity was asked by the city to investigate a video
that was taken the moment the Box reappeared in the park.
Most people still think it's just part of the art installation,
but the city needs to be quietly sure.
Oh, my God.
- Is that... - It must be.
After everything we went through.
Everything we survived.
He never made it home.
I'm not pretending I'm some kind of saint.
I just want to go home and have my life, but this...
- this kills me. - Ryan.
- Amanda, listen to me. - Ryan...
I see you, okay? I see you hurting.
And how every day that you come in and help me,
you just lose a little bit more of your own peace,
and I can't let you do this anymore.
I can't. I've opened up all your old wounds.
The least I can do is get on with it.
And maybe I can...
I can pay back your help with a little bit of justice along the way. Okay?
Listen to me. Hey, hear me out.
I'm going to try my hardest to get home
and kick the ever-loving shit out of Jason 2.
For Jason and Daniela and Charlie.
And for me and you.
Jason told me you want to be the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
We should keep the pedal down on your training.
Just to be safe.
You came looking for me.
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
- Ryan? - Yeah?
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
I'm sorry I didn't--
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
It's because of you I've survived this long.
- Good morning. - Jesus.
Hi.
What are you doing at the park at the ass crack of dawn?
I'm coming with you.
I thought the Box was the last place you wanted to go.
I was pretty clear about that, huh?
Yeah.
I may not have stranded you here, but my work made it possible.
I need to make some things right.
Starting with us.
At least this time I know what I'm getting into.
Wow. Well, okay.
Great. Shall we?
Let's do it.
What you got there?
A lot of worlds look the same.
Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out if you're in the right place.
This way...
I'll know when I'm back.
The "make things right," that's... that's about Jason 2?
It's about a lot of things.
Okay, but one of those things has to be your desire
to give him a swift kick in the dick. Come on.
- Fuck that guy. - Fuck that guy.
Yeah.
Did you get used to this?
I'll never get used to this.
Okay.
So, we know memories, details, feelings,
all guide our connection to worlds, right?
How about a warm-up?
I'll choose the first door.
Yes, please.
- Okay? - Okay.
How are you feeling?
Good, confident... scared.
Okay.
Close your eyes.
Take a deep breath in.
Imagine Lake Michigan on a clear, sunny day.
Exhale.
It's not too hot, it's not too cold. Inhale.
You're on a sailboat
with a gentle wind pushing you up the shoreline.
Exhale.
Good.
Okay.
Hey...
Is this what you were going for?
Not really. No.
Let's go.
- Come on. - Okay.
Bye.
Wow.
I was thinking about a safe, beautiful Chicago.
What were you thinking about?
I was thinking just about all the things you said.
And that I'm glad that you're here.
And that I'm pretty sure I left my shades at Leighton's.
Sorry.
Well, there you have it. All of that somehow equals zoo.
It also equals Lilac Wings works.
Up top.
- That's great. - Yeah.
You choose the next door.
Try to stay calm.
Focus on a memory of your home world
or a person.
Something positive.
Rainier's eruption liquified most of the Pacific Northwest.
They're already dealing with massive crop death.
Goddamn.
And do we have any idea how big this will get?
They're projecting millions of deaths globally this year.
Millions.
Are they concerned about drastic weather changes?
Yeah, but for now their focus is food.
UV grow operations are being set up, but it's not enough.
They need to take action soon.
What about the world where they had several nuclear blasts?
That's right.
They managed to solve their food supply issue.
Yeah, wasn't it something to do with shade-tolerant cereals?
Pull up that world's map. I'll go see their Leighton.
Okay.
- Hey. You're early. Good. - Hey.
Well,
it's all here.
It's the whole kit.
Just be sure to do things in the order we discussed.
Social Security cards are first, then driver's license.
Passports are last. That's very important.
Also, you know,
I was able to track down some of those names you shared with me.
If anyone ran a background check on you,
they'd learn that Jason Ashley Dessen and Daniela Vargas Dessen's
last known address was 1949 Green Street in San Francisco, California.
They'd also discover that you have a 17-year-old son named Charlie,
a senior at a magnet school in the Mission.
You taught English at Stanford, and that...
that your wife works at an art gallery in the Mission.
It's all there in the file.
Amazing.
Good old San Francisco.
Did you leave your heart there?
Yeah.
- So... - No need to count it. I trust you.
All right. Well...
happy trails, Mr. Stewart.
Yeah.
I really can't thank you enough.
- Pleasure. - All right.
- See you around. - Yeah.
- Yeah? - It's me.
Pinot noir?
Correct. And also, yes, please.
- Hey. - Hi.
I only did three rooms.
Well, at least this room is free tonight.
Come here. I wanna show you something.
What?
I made us some dinner.
Well, when I say made,
I got takeout from the diner that you like down the street.
Where's Charlie?
I gave him 20 bucks and told him not to be home before 10:00.
Yeah.
Listen, how...
how are you?
With everything?
I'm fine.
Yeah?
Yeah.
How are things at the Box?
Really good. I've been out to the pool maybe a few times.
I'm just really... just trying to, you know, puzzle out how to get it done.
Right.
How long do you think it might take?
Don't know.
Also, been...
I guess waiting until we have all the stuff, you know.
Jobs and papers and Charlie's school.
I mean, hopefully a new home.
We're basically there now, right?
Yeah,
back on track to having a normal life.
That would be good.
Yeah.
Can you close your eyes?
Close your eyes.
Give me your hand.
I know that we've been through a lot.
And I really just cannot imagine going through it with anyone else but you.
Wait.
What? What?
- Stop. - Stop.
Okay.
It's late.
What?
- Hey. - What?
Are you okay?
Sorry.
Hey. What's going on?
I just...
Nothing, I just thought Charlie would be back.
Yeah.
But...
are you okay?
We just haven't been able to be together.
So...
Yeah.
We can be together. Of course.
It's just...
Can we...
Can we be us?
Oh, shit.
This isn't my world.
Fuck, I suck at this.
Would you hold this?
Why does the drug wearing off only bother me?
You seem fine. I just can't do this.
I'm starving.
Same.
Okay.
- Let's get some food, get some rest. - Yeah.
We'll come back with more positive vibes.
Wait, what are you saying about my vibes currently?
They're not positive?
I'm saying you're grumpy as fuck, Ryan.
That's fair.
Come on.
Why do you always stay here?
You love this place?
Yeah, it's great.
In every world, they always take cash and never ask questions.
Nice, like an inter-dimensional hostel.
That's me.
Okay.
- That was fun. - Yeah, it was great.
I've never drank an Angry Grandma before.
That was delicious.
It was a good drink.
- It was. - Yeah, I liked it.
Tasted like Pop Rocks.
I don't know if they have them in your world. I'm exhausted.
I'm so tired.
I'm gonna sleep for 12 hours.
I'm gonna sleep for 13. I win.
Good night.
- Good night. - Good morning.
Good "norning."
- Rest. - You too.
Hey, did you notice no one had phones?
- Is that right? - Yeah,
and one guy was listening to what looked like a badass Walkman.
I am feeling this vibe.
Next door is it. I call it.
I'm calling it.
Am I right? Tell me I'm right.
I feel it.