Episode Six

- Boyage.

“- Last resort contains adult themes and language.”

Listener discretion is advised.

- She doesn't love you. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. She up in left you Michelle, abandoned you twice once in New York and now here. - When it actually matters,

Lady Instagram is nowhere to be found. - It's MJ. - Not Pamela, Pamela Grissum. - She's retired. - Why the fake ID?

- Pamela did things I couldn't do. - What kind of things? - I thought we were here to talk about Nikki. - Well, I'm just here to learn. - Anything you can tell me with regards to you?

- I was concerned. And it's a good thing I went to. She'd probably be dead by now.

“- Are you saying you saved Nikki's life?”

- I'm saying I was the fly in there all of a while or whatever. Fill us lined all these people up. And each one was supposed to help her with the signal, but she didn't count on me, did she?

- Hold on there, did the signal? - Yeah, wait, didn't Nikki. - Explain it to me like I'm from Mars. - That's what they call it. Fill us in Jonah, their sound therapy bullshit

was a front for this experiment. All these machines they have, they were listening to the fucking cosmic void. Aliens, dude, something beyond our comprehension. - Aliens.

- Something, and they're hearing it, and amplifying it, and getting Nikki involved, and pre-sooned everyone's losing their minds because it really can't be controlled, right? It's bigger than they are.

Bigger than any of us. I mean, look what happened to Heather. - What did happen to Heather? - You don't believe me. - I want to, I'm trying.

- Heather came back. - Hasn't. - She was dead, and then she wasn't. Full resurrection mode. - Jesus Christ.

“- That's not a bell, you can un-ring detective.”

- I got six bodies being autopsy, guys, we speak. All very much dead, I assure you. I've got two witnesses who would rather play upon an old country lawman's ulcer than speak the truth, and I've got a fugitive who has somehow escaped

the notice of the Ancius, most well-equipped task force ever assembled in this humble county. So don't just sit there, miss Michelle Pamela, MJ, Grisubian, and pretend your ex-girlfriend

wouldn't give you up in a New York second.

- She must have changed the settings. - Did you hear what I just said? - Nikki's got nothing on me. I went there to rescue her, which, as I said, is the only reason she's alive at all.

So how about a thank you, and a fucking phone call, or is that off limits for us Yankees doodles? (laughing) Detective Swain? - You with me?

- Yeah, you know, I went some honest answers, and I want them now. - You heard something didn't you? - No, you're worried about me. That's how it starts.

Voices in the back of your head, usually family, but it's not them, it's some version of what they used to be. Then, wow, it's just a matter of time. Once the signal reaches you, it's pretty much toast city. - My grandma used to keep me out of her cookie jar

but telling me it was haunted. - I've seen it, okay, Phyllis can do things no one should be able to do. - And what was Nikki doing Michelle? When people were dying and coming back to life

and running around and being possessed by aliens or that goes to Charles Manson or what have you, what exactly was your friend, Mr. God of Dawn? - How about drugs? Massive amounts of drugs, detective?

- I don't know why she came. It was a mistake. I try to get her to leave, but she wouldn't listen.

She's always been that way.

If I could do it all over again, I would never have dated her. She's a parasite. - You really don't have shit, do you?

or was it Nikki by herself?

When did she snap? - You're not following. It's the sound. And I can tell you for a fact that Nikki didn't kill Jonah.

- How do you know? - Because she was with me. - That's convenient. - If Elvero was still around, you could ask him. - Oh, she already talked to that.

- What? - Alvaro Taurus, Nikki stabbed him with a kitchen at 14 times. But that ain't news is it, given her history? - So, what do you need me for?

- I want to clear you Michelle. Send you on home with nothing but a slap on the wrist in some sour memories.

- Long as you cooperate with us.

(phone ringing) - Yes? - Yeah, long as you cooperate, everything will be fair and daddy. - I know a con when I smell it.

- Yeah, but you do.

“What happens when we dig into Pamela Grosim's escapator?”

What kind of fun was she up to? I'm still a merchandise, narcotics, blackmail? You know, just hold it. A fake ID like this can get you some serious jail time. - Depends on the stain.

- Yes, it does. And you're in mine now. I'm cozy with all sorts of people. The goodies, the baddies, and the in-betweenies. - Nikki doesn't deserve this.

She's got the heart of a lion and the soul of a bigger lion. Whatever she did, it's because she had to understand she fucking had to. - I don't believe that, and neither do you.

(upbeat music) - Episode six, signal boost. (upbeat music) - Susan? - Nikki.

- Everything okay? - Yeah, it's just these potatoes. - Uh-huh, they are so fucking sad. - Right, sad potatoes. Are they in?

Look at 'em. (laughing) - I see it now. - Melling colleagues, buzz. - Girl of those assholes.

- Girl of 'em 'til they bleed. (laughing)

“- Wow, if you start to eat bastards, it's funny.”

Don't you get it? Laugh! (laughing) - Matt, I'll show 'em. - How's your friend?

- Michelle's just someone I used to know. - Dodge it. She refused to go to diagnostics. - So did I. - And look at you now.

- Yeah. - Look at us. - What's next for these sad boys? - Oh, here, stop 'em with this. - Why?

- You don't cook much, huh? - Microwave and takeout. - It releases steam when you bake 'em. - That's fucking weird. I wanted to thank you.

- For what? - For helping me get my head straight. I was so wrapped up in my damage. I couldn't hear what Phil is trying to tell me. But now I do, and it's incredible.

“I'm lighter and stronger at the same time, you know?”

- I guess that means you'll be right in some checks.

- Oh, she'll never have to worry about money again.

Believe me, we've got a big plans. - Like what? - Well, Oliver is gonna build some security for us so we have absolute privacy. Then we'll start rolling out satellite centers

all over the country, Vermont, Illinois, Texas, California, Washington, in six or seven years, if everything goes right, we'll have our first locations in Europe and Asia. - Fantastic.

- And who's gonna be in charge of these places? - We are. We get to be the first Niki. We're like auditory astronauts. - Sonic, missionary.

- There's no limit, the sky is where it starts. Ah, ah, Susan. (crickets chirping) - Oh, I'm fine. - Are you?

- Yeah, it's the price we pay. - Do you? Do you miss it? - Miss what? - Being pregnant.

(laughs) - Who the hell have you been talking to? - No one.

- I don't understand.

I mean, I've thought about it.

I've thought about a lot of things, but no, this isn't the time for a motherhood. I mean, how would that even work? - Sure. My bed.

My two favorite people. - How convenient. - Good morning. - Susan, after the potatoes, I want you to start dicing for the salad.

- Yes, chef. Big day ladies, we need fuel. - So the enhancer's ready? It will be. - Great, that's terrific, fellas.

- Susan? - Yeah.

“- Can you go into the porch and harvest us some basil?”

- We'll do. - And don't let Nicky near the oven. - Someone was asking about you. - How is she? - Just stubborn.

- That's Michelle. - I think you should talk to her. I didn't ask her to come. - Oh, I know. But she's here now.

- And I want everyone to benefit from the change. Don't you? - Absolutely. Good. (speaking in foreign language)

I, sorry, I'm, Nicky, look at me. You're gonna come through this. - Shield food. - Some of them won't, some of them can't except the gift I'm offering.

But that's up to them. - It is what you do, yes. - You're very important to me. I hope you realize that. - What you will always do.

- I trust you, Nicky. From a moment I saw you, I knew you were special. We'll open up new paths together, new connections. There's so much more to hear and to be. - Kill her.

(gentle music) - There, you see that wave in quadrant two? - I see it. - The filter pushes a closer to this wave over here. Now, these are just representations you understand.

Visual heristics. - Yes, Jonah, I was hoping we could--

- The problem is I've never been able to match them up.

Well, not exactly, but that's the point of this whole system to keep the waves in sync. - And if they go out of sync. Well, if they go too far, we get something like what we had a couple nights ago.

It overwhelms all my mods. And that's what scares me, Kwame. The possibility that I won't be able to reset and the signal goes ahead and does whatever the hell it wants.

“Not that it wants per se, but does that make sense?”

- In basic terms, what doesn't make sense is why you're avoiding my study? - I'm not avoiding. I just thought someone should see this in case-- - In case, won't.

- I know it's not your field, but it's adjacent, right? Are we the Venn diagram here? - Please, look at this. - Okay, what am I supposed to notice? - The number of chromosome mutations in your wife's blood

is like nothing I've seen before. And invasions, translocations, certain strands are actually being substituted with entirely new genetic messaging. - That doesn't sound good.

- It's fantastic. I mean, I think it's fantastic. I'm very excited. - No trace of disease, then. - No, what were you expecting?

- She's had some history. - Um, elevated proteins, eye, neutral count. This is the opposite of disease. It's not hyperbolic to say that Phyllis is being rewritten from the inside.

- How? - I'm not sure. She's not the only one though. - No?

“- I ran the same test on a sample of my own blood,”

while not as dramatic. There are definite changes in some of the sequences. I imagine the same is true for all of us. - Electromagnetism. - Sorry.

When I first heard the signal, I was logging vast amounts

of electromagnetic activity. I couldn't explain it, but it was all tuned to this one frequency, the frequency Phyllis found. She knew exactly where to look, which means it was working in her already before I made a single diode.

- Extraordinary. That's one way to put it. - We're at the threshold, Jonah. The evidence is right in front of us. Think of the applications.

The opportunities it presents. We own these results. And we can synthesize them, however we want. - Am I the only one who's worried about this? - Maybe you're in the wrong story.

- Ross? - Ross!

“- Why are you trying to bypass my safeguards?”

- I'm controlling on an opponent.

- Sir, process. - Sir, yes, sir, yes, sir. - Fuck! - Excellent case case case case case case case case. - Excellent case case. - Something's over writing a program.

- I didn't think that was possible. - Don't let him hurt, don't let him hurt me. - Jonah. - Please don't let him hurt. - Or slide that panel over, you see it?

- Yes. - Okay, now I'll flick the toggle switch and move the dial counterclockwise. - What would that do? - I'm hoping it'll restore the filter.

Is that what we want? - Why me? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I won't let you down.

It's just a matter of time, you know?

What? The purpose of a bomb is to detonate,

“pretending otherwise is anti-scientific.”

Fuck off. It's Nicky. Like I said. I thought you wanted to see me. Change my mind.

Well, I'd like to see you. Yeah, so I'm locked in. Not really my choice. The door's not locked, Michelle. Mind is well-be.

What do you mean? I get too close to it. I feel nauseous. Like, where's the any hangover I've ever had?

I can't even see straight.

Why'd you come? I told you why. Does anyone know you're here? Who my friends with Nick? Who would I tell?

It's not safe for them. This isn't safe for anyone, is it? Phyllis is... she's doing her best to build something here, something meaningful. Sounds like a crusade.

“If you like, since when did you care about crusades?”

I don't know. This place has a way of getting inside you. I've noticed. Maybe you could just play along. You blame me, huh?

For what? You're a little outburst with fan girl. Why would I blame you? I called you, right? Just before she saw you,

I could hear her up in your business. Can't say it helped. But no. It was me. It was all me.

And I need to take ownership of my faults. Is that what Phyllis is telling you? Phyllis accepts me. She knows I have more to offer. Nick, this is a scam, okay?

A scam with some serious end of the fucking world vibe. As you know, I know you. I know you're a straight up basic bitch with a foul temper and a weird obsession with windmills. And if there's any part of you that misses that person with all of her flaws and her pain and her ridiculous pig-headed shenanigans, I teach you to go ahead and grab her now before it's too late.

Stop trying to confuse me. Where about to there gonna kill me, babe? What? No joke. I heard Phyllis talking to that AI lady.

That can't be right. Phyllis and Jonah are good people. Nicky. Get me out of here. Please.

They don't want to hurt us. Do they? We'll find a way. Together. No.

I'm... I haven't... Nicky. Do you love me? Of course I do. Why?

Who needs reasons? One will do. Because you trusted me. And I fucked that up somehow. I fucked it all up.

Big mouth, big trouble. Here. Put these in earplugs. They'll cancel the effects of the signal. Reduce them anyway.

But I don't hear anything.

Believe me. What about you? I can handle it. You're so like a junkie. Can you reach the door?

What? Can you reach the...

Hey, I don't feel sick over here.

Great.

“If anyone sees us, let me do the talking.”

You don't have to shout. Stay close. Where are we going? Basement. Why?

Ross? Yes, Nicky. Is there something wrong with the elevator? Is there something wrong with the elevator? Your box drunk.

Your box drunk. Jouble ladies? Oh, hey. Overall, we're just trying to go downstairs. I'm headed there myself.

Allow me. Magic touch? Could be storm related. After you? Thanks.

Nice day. Huh? He said night's day. Oh, sure. Aren't they all though?

Uh-huh. Last stop. Men's wear electronics lost and found. Okay, then, I'll see you around. Hey, that rhymes.

Yes, it does. Looks like I'm going your way.

“This place is bigger than I thought it'd be.”

We haven't officially met. Sorry. Alvaro, this is Pamela. Nice to meet you, Pamela. So what's your story?

Funny. She's funny. hysterical.

I always see the worst in people,

because my big brother ditched me at a Chuckie cheese when I was eight. Ha ha ha. Now that's funny. What I miss. Where'd you say you were headed?

Um... Diagnostics. Phyllis... Once or chat. That's the other direction, Nicky.

Right. Duh. Well, thanks again. You're looking great, by the way. Just fantastic.

What the hell was that about? I said keep your mouth shut. Keep my what? Take your earplugs out. No way!

These walls are lined with lead.

The signal can't reach. Not without an amplifier. This is batshit. How are we getting out of here? We have to wait until Alvaro's gone.

And circle back. How about we find my phone? We shall or yours. We get some reception. And we call the Coast Guard.

Or the Sheriff's Department. Or somebody's big brother. And we tell them what's going on.

“Then we write the worst fucking yelp review”

in the history of the internet. Listen. Remember that big net I was working on? Yeah. It's all wired up now.

Thanks to me. And if Phil is activated. We're screwed. Total sonic shit show. Niki.

The control room is behind us. That's where Jonah's equipment is. So if we elevate her. Someone's coming. In here.

Oh my god. Who's that? Her name's Heather. I thought she left. Is she dead?

You clean this up right now. She. Something happened. I will not be sheltered responsible. You hear me child.

I can't stay here. Get out. Hey. Nick. This isn't right.

We have to. Get out. You're so fresh-fucking great! [Music] Chipmunk? It's lunchtime?

Did you hear me?

What's wrong? Did you know? No, what?

That it would change you.

Us. That's the point. No, not like this. I'm Jonah, honey. You've been working too hard.

I'm worried about you. You're worried about me? Yeah, you spend so much time down here.

“I think maybe you've lost sight of our goals.”

Okay, let's not provoke hate. What you don't like is that I'm mostly protected from the effects of the signal here. What you don't like is that there are limits to what we can understand without a bunch of boring analyses and safety tests. And what you especially don't like is that someone, anyone, but me above all, would even suggest that we've gone too fucking far with this whole quasi-theraputic, trans-humanistic, crypto-cosmologic operation, and it's time to pull the plug. Literally.

I see the problem now. Good. They don't speak to you. They? It's so simple.

They're lonely.

And they're reaching out to help.

Who is? They! Them out there! It's not just a bunch of random static. It's a consciousness of fully formed sentient energy that's as old as the solar system.

What? What have they sound like? Lots of people. My aunt, that bartender and the Philippines, they even sound like you sometimes, doesn't matter. I hear them because I listen.

They chose me, Jonah, and I chose all of you. We'll find another way to treat your illness. No, you're doubting again. As some other way, we can control the damage, your genome. What part of Kwame's study did you not understand?

“Okay, well, morphology isn't my bag, but you'll forgive me if I think this kind of radical mutation isn't mine.”

I'm more! More than I was. More than I believed I could be. Please join us. I don't want to do this without you.

You've already done it. And now, I have to undo it. Jonah, think about this. I have. Chipmong?

Honeybee. Ross? Ross isn't here. What's wrong with your vocal processor? Nothing.

We sound like this. My legs. I need you to shut down the receiver. You know we can't do that. Ross.

Don't look at me.

“I wasn't the one who slaves her to the interface.”

There's nothing left. Her tire OS is completely corrupted. I can't get a lock. She's just... Good.

Out with the old. How can you say that? She wasn't our child, Jonah.

There was never gonna be a Rosalind that was your dream.

And it died a long time ago. Fine. You want to see the analog version, huh? What are you doing? I'm using my hands, fellas.

I'm gonna get these cables out of you. You're gonna stand there and watch out. Stop. Here I am. Moving on.

Jonah. Oh, what do you mean? I just saw her with Pamela. Or whatever her name is. They were headed to Diagnostics.

What happened to Jonah? We're gonna disable the filter and boost the signal. Understand? Okay. You're gonna disable the filter and boost the signal.

Understand? It's time, Alvaro. I think it's safe now. Nick. You with me?

She thought I was done. I think it's safe now. I think it's safe now. Nick, you with me? She thought I was done.

I think it's safe now. Nick, you with me? She thought I was done. Or shallow, I guess. Do I need to forgive her for that?

I don't imagine she cares. Heather, I forgive you. I know you didn't mean to be a crass, overbearing, no at all.

But I'm also glad I never have to find out.

It's good to have you back, babe. MJ? Yes. Do me a favor. The next time I want to talk about it,

“take me straight to the nearest precinct and don't look back.”

That's not gonna happen. That has to happen. It's the only way to get over myself. Heather was right. You are an idiot.

Do we time won't absolve you, Nick? It'll just dial up the bitterness. You'll be even more bitter than you already are,

because you'll wonder why feeling bad was supposed to make you feel good.

It's the selfish choice. And it will make a liar out of your mom, too. Let's go. What the hell? Your earplugs, hurry.

Oh, fuck. And the big rock candy mountain. Oh, no. There's a land that's free and bright. Key.

Door. Now. She was dead. It's fearless.

She triggered the enhancer.

As in, not alive. Michelle. I need you to do something for me. What?

“I need you to tear that fucking net down.”

I'm not leaving you. I'm going to the control room. But if I can't shut it off, we need a backup plan. So we do one and then the other. There's no time.

Please, Michelle. I'm scared, okay? I know you are. And that's good. The fear will keep you honest.

I'll meet you at the dock when it's over. At the dock. I promise. God, I hate you. Don't be late.

Mickey. Susan? Listen. Listen, Mickey. Where are you?

Can you hear it? I can hear it. No. Stay away. How do you serve?

This isn't happening. Mickey. Mickey. Mickey. Who?

Who? Who? Who? Who? Last resort.

Produced by Nerf Tank Media. Written and created by Chance Mealuk. Directed by Melanie Armor. Featuring. Jennifer O'Donnell.

Jessica Blank. Eric Jensen. Robin Kurtz. George Sheffy. Ashley Atkinson.

Jennifer Lane Williams. Jason Howard. Michael Luoya. Adam Irrigoyan. Adrian D. Williams.

Dio Olito Kun. Lisa Bosner. Will Manning. And Erin Crone.

“Sound design and mix by David Tatashore.”

Music by Chad Rains. Recorded at Silver Sound Studio. In New York City.