♪ She's got a smile that it seems to me ♪
♪ Reminds me of childhood memories ♪
♪ Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky ♪
♪ Now and then when I see her face ♪
♪ She takes me away to that special place ♪
♪ And if I stare too long I'd probably break down and cry ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh Sweet child of mine ♪
I love you, Mama.
Aw. I love you too, darling.
My boys.
It's good to see you've downgraded your substance dabbling.
Come on, Pop. Take a hit.
I'll just end up ruminating about all the shell corps I've set up
to hide all our cash.
- Bermuda, Cayman, Zurich, Delaware. - Delaware.
Wow. Delaware.
Well, come on, Dad.
Now that we're on pace to triple the wealth of Gates, Elon Musk, and Zuck,
it's time to… …let loose a little bit.
We're celebrating!
Nah. No, no, I will stick with a glass of the Pappy.
No, come on, that's not all that we're celebrating, right?
No. Uh, Dad,
we have something for you in the grand salon.
I know that we have swung and missed so many times in our life,
but we have been listening to you with a level of clarity
that we have never had before,
and that is because of you.
Listen.
I am really excited.
I think that… …we delivered a big one.
Something that brings us together as a family, I think.
Okay. Where's your mother?
- Well… - Should she come?
Dad, fuck, just go.
- Salon? - It's at the grand salon, yes.
You know where it is, down and to the left.
You're gonna love it.
Oh.
Yeah… No, I, uh…
I don't mess around anymore, so you'll have to leave.
Scoot.
From the time they were born,
you instilled in them the importance of fulfilling your wishes above all else.
All their lives, they searched, attempted, and failed.
Until now, it seems.
Franny?
Don't act so fucking surprised, you smug idiot.
No, I-I-I… I had no idea.
I-I swear.
They knew exactly what you wanted,
and they did what was necessary to make it happen.
I admit I'm not…
upset.
You're…
You're so… you're so fucking hot.
Mmm.
Th-They were… They were right.
We're bound together like never before.
How… How can you not be th-the slightest bit thrilled?
I mean, you have to admit, you feel amazing.
I feel like a prisoner trapped inside a body that is not mine.
Everything that I had worked for, everything that I had earned,
my scars, my stretch marks…
the age I owned,
taken from me.
I know this is a lot to handle.
And I am gonna have a serious talking-to with the boys.
But know this…
I love you.
Y…
You are the only one.
Always have been.
And very soon,
you will understand just how much you've been given.
I understand just fine, Byron.
Do you remember when we got this?
Hon, I'm gonna be honest, these things have always been more your department.
Eighteenth century, French antique.
For surviving our 12th anniversary.
Yes.
Turn-of-the-century Italian chandelier from 1916.
Their value…
their beauty comes from their age.
I get it.
I was a goddamn work of art.
And the one thing you never bothered to notice is that some people are perfect,
just as they are.
I was hoping you'd get rid of that piece for decades.
That was my favorite piece, believe it or not.
A flea market find…
three months before we met.
If I could go back and talk to that girl…
now, that would be a gift.
Franny! No. No! Franny.
Help!
No. No. Franny.
Help! Somebody Help!
Franny! Franny!
- Hey. - Hi.
Wow, you came.
Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it for the world.
I love it. Last one bailed last minute with cold feet.
Um, can I get you, like, a coffee or something?
I don't really like coffee.
Yeah, me neither.
Okay, fine, I'm nervous.
I get it. I get it. I am too.
You? Why?
Look who I'm sitting across from.
I… I haven't been this way very long,
uh, and I'm still getting used to
a girl like you even talking to me at all.
Like me?
Bella, you would not be sitting there if you saw me before.
Stop. No offense, but I've never been able to be all that picky.
Hopefully, picky enough to walk right by me.
I… I was a mess. I was 345 pounds at my heaviest.
I was depressed and addicted to anything and everything considered edible.
Wow.
Yeah. Yeah, it was bad.
So bad that a couple of years ago, I had a gastric bypass
along with some skin removal.
Fucking brutal complications.
I had nerve damage in my legs. I could barely even walk without help.
And at my size back then, it was my only option, you know?
I spent a lifetime trying everything under the sun hoping to win that battle.
Diets, lifted weights, fucking fat camp.
God, tell me about it. Teas and powders and supplements.
And then after the bypass, I did the weight loss drugs.
Only lost 15 pounds.
And then I got pancreatitis from it, so I had to stop,
and then that wasn't an option.
I was desperate, and I would've done literally anything.
This was the easiest choice I ever made.
Did you go to one of those pop-ups I've been seeing?
Uh, yeah, yeah, not cheap.
I, uh, I did the payment plan, but still needed to max out three credit cards.
Is that why you're doing this? To pay it off?
I mean, yes, but…
I also know how I felt when I got the chance at a new life.
And when I learned there was more than one way to get it…
I wanted to help give other people that same feeling.
Oh, did…
did you think I was giving you an injection?
Uh, I mean… …I-I don't know. I…
A version of The Beauty can also be spread via bodily fluids.
- Sex? - Yes.
Oh. I'm-I'm sorry, is that… is that not okay?
Um. No. I… I mean, I just…
I… I didn't really think about it.
Okay.
It's just, um…
I-I should probably tell you.
I've never done that before.
Oh. You're a virgin?
- Well, don't say it like that. - No, I'm…
I told you, guys aren't exactly chasing me around.
No, no, I'm just surprised.
Well, it's not exactly how I imagined it.
But, uh, it will be worth it.
Um… Um…
I have…
Oh, hey, just, uh, keep that for now, okay? Not here.
Okay, I just want you to know that it's all here.
Yeah.
It wasn't easy to get.
You pawned stuff?
Am I proud of that?
No.
Will it be worth it?
Yes.
You know, you don't have to do this.
What do you mean?
I don't know, in high school, things just feel so intensified,
and the world is bigger than that.
I just want you to be happy and feel amazing about yourself.
For the right reasons.
Weird question, can I get pregnant from this?
No. Excellent question. And no. No, you can't.
The onset of infection kills any potential fertilization process.
I learned that in the concierge clinic. I should also add…
Full panel tested as of last week.
And, um, as you know, this is kinda, like, a new thing, so technically, there's--
- Risk of side effects. Yeah. - Yeah.
And I-I know I'll need boosters and stuff.
- Yes. - I… I know, and I don't care.
Can I tell you something?
Okay.
To make sure the… the dose that I'm giving you is strong, is good,
I, uh… I snuck a second dose at the clinic this morning.
Injected myself in the break room.
Is that safe? You… You did two doses?
Yeah, only two weeks apart.
And? No reaction?
I mean, it did hurt.
Got kinda dizzy, but…
when I woke up, everything was fine.
And I felt supercharged… …stronger than ever.
Look, Bella, I… I wanted to make sure that my customers get a dose,
get injected with the most powerful version of this miracle of science
that could possibly exist.
I guess you could say I…
I took the risk for you.
Whatever small chance of something bad happening…
it's worth it to me.
The world is changing so fast around us.
Living through such a moment in history is intense, you know?
Our grandkids will learn all about this in school one day.
Beautiful grandkids.
It's almost like no one will remember
when apes evolved to walk like man.
It'll be when man evolved…
…to become gods.
You feeling okay?
Yeah.
♪ On the marble street ♪
I'm sorry, I have to ask about payment now.
Oh, right.
♪ A procession spills in ♪
♪ At the White Sea wall ♪
♪ Waves crash and crash again ♪
♪ Darkness shining ♪
♪ Disappearing ♪
Nature's beauty is impressive.
You ready to see what science can do?
♪ Comes like a stranger and it drifts away ♪
♪ Day follows night, night follows day ♪
♪ Goodbye ♪
♪ Goodbye to beauty ♪
♪ Goodbye ♪
♪ Goodbye to beauty ♪
Bella?
Is that you?
I'm going to bed.
Wait just a second.
Where the hell have you been, young lady?
Out.
Excuse me?
Bella.
Bella, the school called, so I know you skipped today.
You won't answer your goddamn phone, so I had to cut my shift short!
Bella, I swear to God, if you're hungover again…
Bella!
Mama.
Help me.
Bella!
Help, mom, I can't…
Mommy, please. Help me.
Um. Uncontrolled synthesis resulting in age anomalies,
catastrophic physical deformities
including but not limited to multi-vaginal displacement,
craniofacial breast fusion and… Oh, my…
Whatever this is called here.
Look, h-here's a picture of a girl named Bella Grant, postinfection.
I mean, as you can see, her deformities, they're monstrous and catastrophic.
Look, right now about six million doses of The Beauty have been given
at about an 83% success rate.
We're still trying to get models
on how wide the sexually transmitted version has spread.
Data shows those mutations tend to be worse.
All in, we're looking at roughly 450,000 reported incidents so far.
Initial estimates have 50,000 joining one of several class action lawsuits,
uh, gathering steam.
That number will surely get higher.
Then we have a… a fire hose of local, state
and federal agencies launching investigations.
Attorneys General in eight states are prepping suits of their own.
And, uh, last but not least, there's the Department of Justice. So…
We reached out to the president.
After the secretary of defense turned into a nine-year-old,
and Senator Danson's daughter-in-law had to be institutionalized
with severe deformities…
…he has shifted his position on The Beauty and is no longer an ally.
The FDA is revoking approval and is moving to ban it starting tomorrow.
Stop the sales.
Shut down the clinics.
Keep the boosters flowing, free of charge.
Reach out to Bruce and the guys in finance
and start cutting checks as fast as we can.
So, you want to settle?
- That's what I said. - All right… …just…
Which ones and how high do you authorize legal to go?
Whatever it takes, I don't care.
- All right. - We pay until they stop asking.
Fine.
What the fuck are you two doing here?
This is a board meeting, yes?
Why is robot girl here?
To be a part of the problem-solving team.
This is some all-hands-on-deck war room shit, Dad.
We gotta find a way out of this.
Stop! We've already figured it out.
And you have done quite enough already. Tig, we're settling, we're writing…
Why the fuck am I explaining anything to you?
- You can't settle. - Your dad knows what he's doing.
There's not a lot of great options.
Shut your mouth! I didn't ask you to speak.
Stall. Deny. Bankruptcy restructure. Spin-off of assets.
Come on, guys!
There's always options at our level.
We have made billions and billions in profits since this thing hit.
We can't just give it away and be at breakeven or worse.
It's over.
The great Byron Forst calling it quits?
I never thought I'd see the day.
Oh, I'm not quitting.
I'm refocusing.
After the BP spill, they bit the bullet.
They paid 65 billion.
You sponsor some sporting events, you finance an art gallery,
you cut a ribbon at a solar farm that doesn't work,
everyone forgets and moves on.
We are not going to end up like the Sacklers, okay?
Footing the bill and losing the company?
No.
This thing my father built stays in this family.
Even if he has to go away for a little.
Away?
Well, I mean, a small prison sentence isn't completely off the table.
That is not happening. No way.
Did you not see the disclaimers we threw out there?
These people signed a fucking waiver.
Waivers. That's it.
You always cover your ass six ways to Sunday when it comes to this stuff.
Put down the checkbook.
No, this isn't about optics.
It's about fundamental change.
Fixing everything and everyone.
We will pay.
We will provide resources to those who were affected.
And we will restructure our company
so as that all resources can be focused on antidotes
and cures to the effects of The Beauty.
We will fix the things that I have broken and hopefully bring my wife back to me.
In whatever form, whatever way, whoever, however she wants.
'Cause she is and has always been the one person on this planet
that can open my eyes and help me see.
We were very sorry to hear about what happened.
Just awful. How is she?
She's stable, for now.
I've flown in the best cardiovascular surgeons from three countries,
they're scrubbing in as we speak.
She'll be fine, I know it, right?
The Beauty is probably the only reason why she's still alive.
I think…
I can help.
Considering your initial perspective on Ray's shortcomings, I'm counting on it.
My artificial intelligence models are breaking down
The Beauty's viral mechanisms and mutations.
They are giving shape to building blocks for nanotech
that could treat and maybe even reverse its effects.
Throw everything you've got at it.
Lives depend on it.
I think we're done here.
I'm heading to the hospital. Keep me posted.
Dad.
Dad, wait.
Dad, we have to talk.
You can't do this.
We're gonna spend the rest of our lives drowning in legal fees.
We'll lose everything!
Oh, God!
- All that matters to me is your mother. - Okay.
Fuck everything else.
Yeah, okay. Yeah, I was just trying to help.
Ask your mother how much help you've been.
Dad, you can't punish me for doing exactly what you wanted.
It should have been her choice!
You know what I really want?
For this to be the last time that I ever see or hear you.
Understood?
Fine!
But you can't get rid of my last name.
I'm the heir to this fucking throne!
Careful.
Dead men don't inherit shit.
Well, you know, there's plenty more where this came from.
So, don't get any ideas.
It's a shame we have to kick off our little summit with such hostility.
Diana had assured me this would be peaceful and productive.
How about we cut the fuckery and brass tacks this shit, junior?
Are we sure it's appropriate to have grown-up talk with a child present?
- Fuck this-- - Hey, just let it go.
Go ahead, let him have it.
Those prepubescent fingers probably couldn't squeeze off a round.
As unlikely as it may seem…
our interests have aligned when it comes to my father.
He is the past. I am the future.
His mess and his mania have become too untenable
for the family business and the world at large.
And where the fuck were you last week?
You think I have any idea the kind of shit he gets into?
However, his recent behavior has shown the kind of true monster that he is.
His selfish dosing of my sweet, innocent mother
has led to her life now hanging in the balance.
Classic. Only when shit ends up on your front lawn
do people like you start to care.
Oh. Better late than never, I guess.
So…
what do we do about him?
Initiate our succession plan.
It's time for new leadership.
The crown must be passed before any progress can be made.
But he will never do so willingly. Therefore, he must be eliminated.
A coup.
This is all some Game of Thrones motherfucker type shit.
He done got your mama and now you out here trying to take power from your dad.
This is the type of white people crazy shit I could fuck with.
I'm fucking with this.
Pass me the sword and I'm cutting that motherfucker's head clean off.
Hold up, hold-hold up.
The fuck we care about your corporate baloney?
Look, if we're gonna pull the world back from the brink,
you need what the company has to offer.
You need more of this.
The antidote to The Beauty.
It can change me back? Reverse what happened?
- Yep. - Give it to me.
No, don't get excited. They're full of bullshit.
Yesterday, we found the body of his lead scientist, Ray.
A casualty, no doubt, of Byron's ketamine-addled brain.
We dove into his computer systems.
In there, we discovered that in his attempt to perfect The Beauty,
he seems to have inadvertently found a reversal mechanism, a cure.
I'm sorry, is there an echo bouncing around somewhere?
'Cause robot lady over here tried making big promises like this and well,
it got fucked up. Look at small fry.
Well, maybe if they'd taken my shot instead of fucked.
But why should we buy anything you bitches is talking about?
Why else would I bother sitting across the table
from my father's most trusted hit man?
Look, once again you find yourselves without a lot of great options.
Diana here had her heart in the right place
but she was operating without the kind of insider knowledge
or access I have to put him right in our sights.
I'm sure that included a few dollars for her to, you know,
I don't know, play with her little Terminator friends, huh?
I trust him to finish what we all started.
Help me and you can rid yourself of this foul infection once and for all.
- Well, fuck me. - Mmm, mmm, mmm.
The irony. After all this,
you're all pretty satisfied with your sexy new selves, aren't you?
- Aren't you? - Very much so.
That's why I intend to perfect whatever boosters are needed to keep it that way.
And for your fidelity, I'll make these boosters available to you.
And you, are you ready to dive into the deep end of organic chemistry
for a chance at being normal again?
I have your word, yes? No matter what happens, you'll help me?
Last chance.
We will monitor every aspect of your transformation.
Every data set, every sim we've run shows that this should work.
But until we actually try it, no one knows.
You will be our first test.
Hey…
don't do this for me or anybody else.
I told you before that I'd always love you no matter what.
I love you too.
Let's do this.
Oh! What the fuck?
Hold him down. Hold him down.
- Is this supposed to happen? - It's all okay.
- It better be okay. - Guys, I'm gonna fucking kill you.
- Grab his legs, hold his legs. His legs. - Grab his legs! Grab his legs!
This happened in the tests?
Hold his legs.
The rebirth has begun.
Cooper.