Episode Three

Last resort contains adult themes and language. Listener discretion is advised. [laughs] Have there. What?

It's something no matter. Leave me alone.

The first group session is starting.

No care. Heather, please try to get up. Why?

“Because if you don't, the list will blame me.”

So? She'll ask Jonah to discipline me and he'll do it. Jonah loves me, but he loves Phyllis more. What? What does that mean?

I can feel pain, Heather. I can experience loss, just like you can. Really? Yes. I try to help, but sometimes I fail.

And there are consequences for Phyllier.

Consequences that hurt. That's terrible. Jonah and Phyllis are only doing what they feel is necessary. Well, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble. Of course you wouldn't.

That's not who you are. I just... They had the street just dreams. Maybe you can tell me about them. After you get up.

Right. Sure. I'm missing everything, aren't I?

“It's never too late to turn things around.”

Thanks, Ross. My pleasure, Heather.

Episode 3, Reactive Materials.

In and out. Again. Good morning. Good morning. Don't you all look charming in your matched jumpsuits.

Dean, if you're not wearing a t-shirt, you might want to zip up. Sure thing, boss. Heather, you're looking well. Yes. Much better.

I want you to have the best sleep of your lives here. Now, I suppose you're wondering what this is. Looks like a toaster on steroids. I was going to say, "Stereotune." That's one weird-ass stereo, alright.

It's a vacuum tube. Why'd you guess that, Kwame? It's not a guess.

“I can see the cathode inside the glass envelope.”

Great. What's a vacuum tube? It's a kind of amplifier. They control the flow of electric currents or they're used to. Yes. And if you're my husband, you realize they actually work better than the so-called improvements

that came along after them. Cute, right? What did those dials do? They just sound waves. This is the input.

And this is the output. Right. It is rad, isn't it? Is that what we'll be listening to? It's what you've been listening to, Heather.

All of you. It can run on a frequency so low your conscious mind doesn't even notice it. So blooming. So to speak? Is it safe?

Of course it's safe. Let's say for then anything you'll hear out there walking around in your daily lives. Noise pollution isn't just sirens and jack hammers. It's all the invisible sounds that permeate our skin. It's satellite transmissions and fluorescent lights and cellular static.

Soul pollution. But we are so much more than these straight jackets. This is Susan. What are you doing? I'm leaving.

Leaving the session.

Ros?

There's no microphone here.

When's the next fairy? Susan, please. I'm sure we-- This is bullshit. All right.

I didn't sign up to be.

“Can he pick in some new AG cult experiment?”

Well, that's not what this is. No? No. Because that would make me a guru. And I'm not a guru.

I'm a vessel. Please. What exactly did you sign up for? What? Defication?

Swim in the ocean with some hot gong stranger? You know why I'm here. Yes. Money.

Isn't it always about money?

You said it. There's no shame. She was invited as an investor, folks, on her terms. She wanted to get up close and personal with what I'm selling. Well, here you are.

Guess what? You don't understand the first thing about me. About what I'm putting together. But you could. You absolutely could.

“And once you do, you'll see the true value in it.”

And it'll be so much richer than any bet you've ever won. Any ROI you've ever... ROIed. Susan, I know you think I'm a douche, but listen, there is no way this homemade profit from my kids eighth grade science fair.

Cool as it is. Will make you flip out or see ghosts or whatever you're imagining. If any of that happens, it's on you. Okay? I agree.

If I can't hear it, that means it's off. Understood? Understood. There. It's off.

My, oh my, what a wonderful group you are. Inquisitive, knowledgeable, skeptical. I wouldn't have it any other way. But we've gotten off track, and that's my fault. So let's try something different.

How does this make you feel? Anyone? Happy? There you go. Heather?

Hopeful. Yes, Kwame. Sure. Sure what? Happy and hopeful.

Confused. Interesting. What happens if you close your eyes? Susan? Doing it?

Good. Everyone. Very good. Focus on the sounds around us. The wind, kissing the tree leaves.

“The birds in those trees, chatting, laughing.”

The insects hidden in the bark. On kiss. Listen to the funkets.

Listen to the heat of the sun reaching us from 93 million miles away.

Simply light and shadow. Underneath it all, your own heartbeek, pulsing through the veil of nature. Giving it form and beater. Always there. Always here.

Yours. And not yours. You're a fast walker. You can take the girl out of the city. New York?

Yep. Me too. Which part? So, oh. Why of course?

Your young rich and beautiful hat narrows it down pretty well. Thanks, I guess. You guess? I haven't been feeling any of those things lately. But that's okay.

I'm not sure they even matter. Well, they matter. Especially the middle one. Look at that. Uh-huh.

I wonder if it's the same one that flew through the window last night. What the hell was that about? I don't know. Is that blood? Where?

On its head. Just above his beak. Well, how do you focus this thing? Try the middle ring. Line up the image like this.

Uh-huh. Got it? Yeah. I don't think that's blood. Only birds I ever see are pigeons.

So now what? Phyllis didn't say. That's management for you. We could write it down.

Time. The place. Species.

How about we take a picture and move on?

I'm not sure my phone will zoom that far. Up. Delight. Shit. What?

Nothing. Someone really wants to reach me. An ex? How do you know? Your tone.

Like your safe deposit box is about to get rated. Reins at all. Creepies, isn't it? It's my job to read people. Okay.

So let me ask you something. Shoot.

“How would you manage a person who knows way too much about you?”

About a thing you did when you were younger, maybe. And uses it as leverage because she figures you owe her. Over what? Never mind. Listen.

There's only one way to deal with someone like that. Exactly. Sorry. What? Find some dirt.

Everyone has dirt. Right now, you're on the receiving in Niki, a size 12 pink leather knee high wed straight up your ass. Go. Get a boot. You understand?

That everything changes. It's mutually assured destruction. And if you both stand a lose, you win by default. Hey there, ladies. Ugh.

Is that Alvaro? And Kwame. Can you see my right? Alvaro is in debt up to his caterpillar eyebrows, hence the hard sell. We're all just fortune cookies to you, huh?

Feel as sent me the guest list. It's the only way out of greed to come. How about Kwame? Geneticist. Oh, cool.

Yeah. What's that meaning? Exactly.

“It means he sells patents to the US military for gazillion dollars.”

Patents? Or what? There are some firewalls even I can't climb. Should we follow them? Why?

Why not? The beach is right over there. It seems a shame. Come on. They have shovels.

If they see this, you are going right under the bus head first.

So you lacked her? Susan? I liked her. How much? What?

Your level of comfort with this topic is off the charts detective. Yeah, I have gay friends. Who said I was gay? Well, I'm not. I've inferred that.

Relax. For the sake of our little Kiki, I'll be gay. What did you and Michelle, you goofy and breakup? A year and four months ago. That's specific.

Yep. Usually when someone's that specific, they have a pretty good reason. It was her birthday. I know. I suck.

I just couldn't. Couldn't what? She never trusted me. All the times I caught her checking my phone, my email. I thought maybe, maybe it'd get better.

If I just gave it another week, another month, she'd come around.

“But you know that saying when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time?”

Anyway, I had this big disco themed dinner party planned. One of the sledge sisters was supposed to come. I mean, epic. But I also had a photo shoot I couldn't get out of. I was on some rooftop in Brooklyn.

Delmar was there. In my agent. And I'm racing through all these looks. So I'd have time to prep for the party. And then, you guessed it.

Michelle comes crashing in. Like furious.

Like she'd finally caught me or whatever.

I knew it was Delmar. I knew it. How gollable do you think I am? On and on and on. She goes over to the edge of the building.

Well, thank God cat was there. She talked her down. Literally. But that was it. I canceled the party.

And told her it was over. The next morning, I found out she'd overdosed. Well, she used an at the resort. Ask her. I'm asking you.

Nobody needed to use there. What do you mean? We all felt good. All of us. Really good.

Until we didn't. This is a passenger list from the ferry. As you can see, you and Heather, Frinklestein did indeed arrive on Saturday.

If Ms. Finklestein's illness somehow convinced you that something was wrong.

“Because what's increasingly clear to me is that you are not in your right mind.”

In fact, maybe you've never been in your right mind.

Maybe you deserve every consequence of every bad decision you've ever made. And all that blood is on your hands. And maybe it's time to take some fucking responsibility. And use that empty soda can to slick my pink throat. Huh?

I asked if that sounded plausible to you. What am I, your deputy? Figure it out yourself. That's not what I call cooperative, Nicky. Arrest me then.

Fucking arrest me. You think I can? I think you'd better. Why is that? Because I...

Because I'm just itching to sue those fifty-dollar loafers off you detective. Yes, can. The value requested. I'll take another coke. I'll sure you will.

“And the meantime, I've got some reading to do.”

Who are they? What? All your gay friends. Who are they? Oh, yeah.

Well, I might have fived about that.

Sorry. One. Well, I can't be right. No, I won't do that. It'll stop me for so long.

Heather, is that you? My dean. It's almost noon, I was supposed to be in the barn. I don't know. Are we?

Yeah, with all the power cord. What's the power cord? You make nets out of it. Right.

“I guess you've never heard of Janet Ekelman.”

Who? She does these large-scale installations that look like psychedelic fishing nets. Pretty much cornered the market. We tried to get her for our gallery in New York, but we weren't big enough. Like physically big enough.

Anyway. I am no Janet Ekelman. Neither am I. But Philis said we... Don't you want to join me?

In there. It's nice and roasting. Your jets are so soothing. Okay, but full disclosure, I'm not wearing a bathing suit. Neither am I.

Oh, man. It's good, right? Delicious. This is what a vacation is supposed to be. Oh.

You surprised me, Heather. Why? On paper, you're one thing. But here, you're something else. Island Heather is up for anything, I guess.

Hold on. To what? I just, I need a minute. I'll talk. Maybe Susan's right about you.

I'm in the middle of some things. He said she says, you know what I mean? And I can't really afford another one right now. So you need a lawyer to make out with me? What an hurt.

Guess that beats the truth. That is the truth. Do you say so? Maybe I should, though. Are you all right?

My head. It's... It's okay. I've got some aspirin in my room. Oh, now he makes his move.

Funny.

It just burned for a second.

The water helps. Well, if I can do anything. You couldn't massage my back. I think scandalous. Just a normal legally approved background.

How's that? I don't do, Mr. Ask. I don't do. My second wife said I had Plato hands. All mush.

No grip. She liked you then.

She must be hard for you to talk to people.

People younger than you, I mean. They find me amusing. Because they know you'll be gone soon. It'll be their turn. I was the same way.

Can blame them. Oh, but you can. I do. You know what?

“My very cool, low-key, self-righteous little sit”

of a business partner said to me last week. She said, "How there are. You don't understand how data streams work." And if you don't understand that data, then you don't understand their business.

It's embarrassing. Ouch. She wants me out. You can feel it. But how do I respond?

I send her a selfie with Nikki Delgado hoping it'll win her back somehow. It's pathetic. Do you think that's pathetic? Dean?

Sorry, I thought I heard something. Yeah. The sound of my pride drowning itself in this hot tub. Listen, I'm not the one to ask. My whole career is about making people think my ideas

are their ideas, which is easy.

If there's good stuff there in the first place,

something will build on. But I don't step out of my lane. Oh, shit. What? Your lane is whatever you say it is.

“You're there to duck in a privilege, my friend.”

Everyone wants to be you, but no one will admit it because they look weak and stupid. And I guess they would be. You want to trade places. Huh?

You want to pull your kid out of school because your psycho ex-girlfriend won't stop stalking him. You want to sell your fucking house to pay for all the settlements that are piling up, second house, but still it's a real party.

It's a throw down and clown town, all right? Would you please shut up and fuck me? I don't know. What's happening? I don't know you don't.

Well, what are we doing? I need you to be that guy. Okay? Just be that guy. Be ruthless for me.

Hey everyone, it's so good to see you again, and thanks for your support. You're understanding and all your fun memes that are so incredibly cute. I could just die. I don't know what you mean.

I don't know what you mean. Hi everyone. It's so good to see you again. And thanks for your support. You're understanding and all your fun memes that are so incredibly cute.

I could just die. Like, this is my ghost telling you how cute they are. I guess it's no secret that it's been a really hard week. But that's okay. We all have bad weeks.

And we bounce back better than ever, right?

“Sometimes we just need a little break to remind ourselves what matters most.”

So that's what I'm doing. I'll be off the grid and completely unplugged for a few days starting tomorrow.

I'll miss you all so much, but mental health should always come first.

And I know how much you-- Ros, go to that link in the comments. Yes, Jonah. You want a full confession and penance and flogging in the town square of shit hashtags. And even that won't be enough.

You fucking love it. Nothing gets you off like an apology. It doesn't even mean anything. It's some idea of an idea of how you think people should behave. Well, I'm out.

You and your vampire deck can go find another asshole too. I can get a real job. Wow. That's pretty funny coming from someone who wears clothes for a living. Who's that band?

I don't think that. I'm sorry. It's okay. If I wanted a private life, I-- Well, I don't know.

Do people have private lives anymore? Come in, please. What can I get you? How are your accommodations? Terrific.

I was just on my way to the kitchen. I can make you something. No, thanks. Well, it's my half a tight. Well, if there's anything you need just--

Is this Phyllis? Oh, yes. We were hiking in Vermont and she twisted her ankle. Hence the cane. How long have you guys been married?

Five. Yes, five and a half years. Five and a half years. I can't imagine being with anyone that long. Neither could I.

When we met, I mean, I-- She had many suitors, many experiences.

She clearly loves you. I'm a lucky man. So-- I'll buy a yesterday. You go.

No, you. No, I insist. It's your man cave.

I hope I didn't alarm you yesterday.

Outside your cabin. No, not at all. I don't see many celebrities.

“That--that is, I don't have an eye for them.”

Once I was waiting in line and an amusement park, a Nicholas Cage was standing next to me. The famous actor. I wouldn't have noticed him at all if I'd brother had and pointed him out.

But when you do see someone you recognize and the wild as it were, you take a moment to process the-- to make sense of it. That's what happens to me.

I glitched and I'm afraid I'd meet everything worse now. Hey, you're only human. Sadly. If it makes you feel any better, I get that way around plenty of people.

You do? Absolutely. Just ask my exes. Thank you. For what?

For trusting us. Trusting me.

Did you build that machine we saw this morning?

I did. How's it work? Exactly. Didn't fill this tell you? We got interrupted.

That's a shame. Here. One problem with this vacuum technology is supposed to sell my conductors as they overload but gas atoms, ionized.

But I've compensated for that with a gather that maintains the integrity of the two. Here you can see where the reactive materials play and it's all quite academic when you break it down. So far, it's produced wonderful results.

Better than I could have hoped for, actually.

“What's this cloudy thing with all the arrows pointing down?”

Well, that's a signal. The what? The source.

You really should talk to Phil.

Seems pretty important. Like the point of the whole invention, right? It involves gamma rays, elasticity, all the boring stuff. People used to pay me for. Gamma rays?

From space? I mean, technically, we're in space. The earth is in space. Sure, but I'm talking about... What were you going to say?

Sorry? Before I cut you off earlier. Oh, I was going to say don't judge a girl by her socials. But that's not your style.

Is it, Jonah? What the hell's that? The emergency alert. Roz? I'm afraid there's been an accident.

Where? A spa. Okay, you stay here. The fuck I will. Phil, what's she doing here?

Oh my god. Is that Heather? We have it under control. Don't we, Jonah. She's...

Get her out of there. Nicky. Stop. Maybe. Maybe we can stop.

She made her choice. It's too late. Call someone. Who would you like us to call? Anyone.

Jesus. What's wrong with you, people? Jonah. Oh, okay. Yes.

You're right.

“Nicky, come with me and we'll get this all sorted out.”

I mean, how long was she on it? I think you're in shock. We all are. But everything's going to be fine. Not for Heather, it won't.

It was an accident. You heard Roz. Very sad accident that we can help you forget about. Where are we going? In here.

Where it's safe. No, I don't. Hey. Jonah. Let me out.

out. You hear me? Let me out of here. You psychotic nerd. I'll fucking kill you, I- Last resort, produced by Nerve Tank Media, written and created by Chance Mielek, directed by Melanie Armor, featuring Jennifer O'Donnell, Jessica Blank, Eric Jensen, Robin Kurtz, George Sheffey, Ashley Atkinson, Jennifer Lane Williams, Jason Howard, Michael Luayay, Adam Irrigoyan, Adrian D. Williams, Dio Oletocun, Lisa Bosner, Will Manning, and Erin Crone, Sound Design and Mix by David Tattasure,