The Fall of the House of Usher is a gothic horror drama miniseries created by Mike Flanagan. Loosely based on the short story of the same name and other works by Edgar Allan Poe.
Original release date: October 12, 2023
In a flashback, Madeline confronts Griswold, who reveals that he knows the siblings are Longfellow’s illegitimate children. They join forces with Dupin to uncover Fortunato’s hidden files. In the present, Roderick hallucinates Perry, Camille, and Leo at their funeral. The surviving Usher children’s discussion devolves into jealousy over their father’s favoritism. Madeline pressures Victorine to start human trials. In the future, Dupin later admits he lied about the informant’s existence to pit the family against each other. Roderick, Madeline, and Pym find photographic evidence of Verna and suspect she is another illegitimate child. During an interview with Verna, Victorine hears a strange chirping. Paranoid that Bill is sleeping with Verna, Tamerlane insults Bill, leading to a breakup. Roderick visits Victorine to reveal his condition and his need for her work but discovers Al dead. Al had dumped her after discovering that Victorine had booked Verna’s surgery and forged her signature on falsified data. With Al threatening to expose the Ushers, Victorine impulsively threw a bookstand at her, fatally injuring her. Desperate, she used the heart mesh on Al, and has been driven to madness by the mesh’s chirping and believing Al was still alive. Realizing Al’s dead body is useless, Victorine commits suicide in front of her father.
* * *
[mechanical chirping]
[upbeat music playing]
[Verna] You’re looking the wrong way, Gatsby.
Daisy’s done run off with the hoi polloi.
[Roderick] As she should.
Growing up, my mom used to tell us that ravens were the minions of Satan, ’cause Noah threw them…
Threw them overboard and they still survived the flood.
Yeah. Heard that one before.
They’re not considered bad omens in every culture though.
A lot of people believe ravens bring good fortune.
Not sure I want to know my fortune.
Oh, why?
See how your line splits here?
Your life will take a complete change of course.
Tonight.
[siren wails]
♪ Woah, listen to the music ♪
♪ Woah, listen to the music ♪
♪ Woah, listen to the music ♪
♪ All the time ♪
♪ Then I know you’re not there ♪
It’s your turn.
I don’t really feel like dancing.
It’s not about dancing, it’s about being seen.
Make a friend.
Kiss her as the ball drops, make sure she’ll remember.
[sighs]
[man on TV] Under the direction of Mr. Alex Parker, who owns this wonderful building, the former Times Tower, and this has become a New Year’s tradition for the last 75 years…
Thank God he’s got you to call the shots.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Nothing but a compliment.
If it was our birthday he’d forget to eat cake if I didn’t take a bite first.
Women are the natural leaders of the species.
Ancient Egypt had it right.
The ball is gonna drop. You decide on your resolution?
You already asked us that.
Change the world.
Remember?
Your brother answered for you.
What do you want?
That is what I want.
Do I seem like I can’t speak for myself?
You strike me as a queen without a crown.
How about this?
If you could be rich or famous, which…
Rich.
Okay. You’re rich.
You never have to work again.
What now?
What do you do with your life?
[man] Getting closer now.
Less than 20 seconds coming up.
I’d never let a man have power over me, and I’d figure out how to live forever.
[crowd] Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!
[man] Happy new year!
Cheers to you, Cleopatra.
[Auguste] You always had a way with the ladies.
Over the years, I mean.
But, you seemed happily married when I met you.
[Roderick] I was.
What went wrong?
Doesn’t matter now.
That when it started?
New Year’s 1980? You’re not at home with Annabel Lee, you’re locking lips with some other woman at a bar.
Had to.
Why?
I’ll get to that.
What did you do, Roderick?
You and Madeline.
You said this is your confession.
Confess.
[pastor] In death around thee…
And their will shall overshadow thee Be still
The night, tho’ clear, shall frown
And the stars shall not look down From their high thrones in heaven
With light like Hope to mortals given
But their red orbs, without beam
To thy weariness shall seem…
Who are they?
As a burning and a fever…
The mothers.
Perry, Leo, Camille.
[pastor] Which will cling to thee forever
Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish
Now are visions never to vanish
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more, like dewdrops from the grass
Just say, “This is a very difficult moment for me,
please respect my privacy at this time.”
This is a very difficult moment for me, please respect my privacy at this time.
You got it.
Juno.
You okay?
Yeah.
Just take my arm.
Juno, you’ve got his side? Okay.
I’m fine.
Heads down, just nods, sad smiles, we are not talking to anyone.
Well, you did it.
You bought out the whole place.
Want a drink?
No bartender?
Fuck, no bartender, this is a private conversation.
Your date can sit with our dates.
Nothing for them, they’re on duty.
Ah.
This is Tony.
Tony, this is who’s left.
I asked Tony if he had to follow us everywhere, even to take a piss.
He isn’t being forthcoming.
[Tammy] Mine did.
To the door at least.
Not sure if he was supposed to, but he did, dirty boy!
[Victorine] This is mental.
And protect us from what exactly?
Leo jumped. Julius saw the whole thing.
He was high as fuck, not battling some corporate assassin.
So Dad’s overreacting?
This is not Dad.
This is Aunt Mad.
[Victorine] What, for real?
For real.
Those NDAs better be locked up tighter than Alcatraz if that guy thinks he’s staying outside my place.
Right.
Right, the hookers.
The only people out for Usher blood are Ushers.
It’s kind of why I wanted to do this. I mean, there are three of us left.
Half of us.
And look, I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but we have to pull together now, don’t we?
She might be right.
[Victorine] You remember when they showed up?
The Littles, I mean.
I remember when you showed up.
God, how annoyed we were.
And watching them trying to fill that hole.
The drugs, the fame, the spending.
All of it, just fucking sad, man.
[Tammy] You have the same hole, Vic.
I don’t know if you see it, but you have it too.
Camille tried to fill hers with information, Perry tried to fill it with… anything really, and Leo tried to fill his Dad hole with the love of his fans.
Dad hole.
He went out to check the fucking mail, he’d end up balls-deep in an Insta follower.
Dad hole.
You two never had to worry about it.
Original OG kids came up in the same house as Dad.
Not true.
Not true, Vic.
Not true.
Oh, boo-fucking-hoo.
My mother was a nurse.
A single nurse.
I don’t want to hear how hard it was being stuck in the same house as the legendary Annabel Lee.
Only one he ever thought to marry.
[Frederick] Well, true until Juno.
Mmm! Nope. No. No, you don’t talk about the junkie to me.
Look, we are sorry Dad’s Dad.
And he dove off of our mother into a sea of strange pussy and we have been meeting the fruits ever since.
And this is tragic, but for all we know there are three more coming to take their place.
There, I said it.
Dad’s whole thing is just keeping the door open for every bastard he has in the free world.
Okay, just because the door’s open doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a seat at the table.
Come on, he throws us the food and watches us fight for it.
You know that. Especially us.
You seem to be faring just fine.
Yeah, Dad really loves the heart squeezer.
[Tammy] For some reason.
Really, Tamerlane?
How goes it with your homeo-hipster subscription boxes?
Let me know when Gwyneth bends you over and takes one dry with her legal team.
Well, I for one, I can’t wait to hear how she feels about her generic brand doppelganger.
Didn’t Camille have her face ripped off by one of your flying monkeys?
Chimps. I’m sorry, did you people not graduate second grade science?
I mean, how fucking hard is that?
Well, this has been fun.
I want to know what sunbaked, half-rotten carcass Camille dug up on you before she died.
[Victorine scoffs]
Yeah, you got me.
I’m killing the Ushers one by one.
Guess who’s next?
[Frederick] Okey-dokey.
I thought we were gonna be toasting our dead siblings or something.
Fuck off, Froderick.
Froderick and Maderlane.
You two, you’re just like Dad and Mads.
Linking arms, side by side, playing Red fucking Rover, trying to get me to break through, so what?
You can knock me down?
Well, guess what?
I don’t need to break through.
Because I’m going over the top.
Oh, fuck off, Ray-Bans!
I don’t care what Pym says, it was her, she’s the informant.
Do you think the 50 mill is still on the table?
[sighs] Probably not.
Not with all the dead people and stuff.
[Morrie wheezing]
Am I your daughter?
Two blinks. She said yes.
That’s great, jellybean.
I’m sorry. Can you say that again?
Her blood-ox levels are looking much better…
Is my name Lenore?
[doctor] Given the damage to her lung, she’ll need to remain on oxygen.
Did you miss me?
[doctor] This is all good news.
With third degree caustic burns covering this much of a body…
Am I better at bowling than Dad?
Her organs are functioning much better than expected.
[Lenore] Think I’ll be the next RBG?
She’s not a Magic 8 ball, honey. I’m going to take her home.
I don’t think she’s bothering her. I think Morrie’s excited to talk to her.
No, I mean Morrie.
I think it’s time I take her home.
We’ve still got a long road to hoe.
We’re weeks away from even the possibility of skin grafts.
We have everything we need at home.
I’ve been working on this for a little bit and I’m just about ready to bring her back.
Um, most patients in her condition remain in intensive care for 40 to 80 days.
Most patients in her condition are not industry royalty.
I could build a suite in one day that would put your best bed to shame.
Dad.
It’s true.
She’s incredibly fragile.
She has zero physical defense, no protection from…
She has the entire arsenal of the Usher family.
That’s better protection than any patient you’ve ever had.
Are you mistaking me for a civilian? I’m not a fucking civilian.
You think I don’t know what I’m talking about?
No, of course not.
You play your cards right and don’t piss me off, maybe I’ll hire you on.
Morrie, honey.
Honey, we can get through this, we can do it.
Don’t you want to come home?
[Victorine] Are you fucking kidding me?
So, you’re going to pull out now? On the day I buried three of my…
Well, I’m sorry I didn’t know about the fucking surgery until tonight!
I’ve gotta learn from the office that you literally booked me for surgery next week, Victorine.
Well, fuck me, I thought you’d be happy.
Who’s the candidate?
We’re supposed to be partners in this, I haven’t even vetted the candidate.
Look, she’s one of yours. I will get her file.
It doesn’t matter because we’re not ready, Victorine!
Do you remember this?
Yeah.
What is it?
Say it.
That’s our prototype.
No, baby, it’s our beginning.
The first stab at it works, Al.
I know it works. It’s not that.
You know what else it is?
$200 million of Roderick Usher’s money and, for some reason, right, for whatever reason… he wants it right now.
So if he says human trials, you’d better believe, babe, we’re doing human trials.
There’s no way you could have gotten clearance for this.
Oh, no.
No, no, no.
Okay. Al.
No, Vic. No, you didn’t. What did you do?
Baby, it’s not like that.
You didn’t.
No, tell me that my signature isn’t on falsified data.
Listen, the reports are fine.
Tell me right now…
It’s… It’s… that my signature isn’t on falsified reports, Victorine!
Al, fucking… Don’t be a fucking child!
Shit, how do you think this industry works?
It is… It is filled…
It is hard enough as it is, and as a woman…
As a woman you should know it is infinitely harder.
Oh, don’t you dare.
You sang a different tune when that money, my money…
Usher money, Fortunato money, came rolling into your clinic.
And into your bank account.
Yeah, I think I’m out.
What do you mean, “out”?
You’re right. I let this go too far.
Wait, out of… Out of us?
Wow.
You’re not gonna say anything, Al, about the NDA?
Whoa.
Well, it doesn’t cover illegal activities, so…
Yes, it most certainly fucking does.
Yeah, that’s a… That is a Pym Special.
And you signed it. And I’m telling…
I’m asking you…
Okay, babe, I’m begging you, please.
Don’t do this.
Because they… they will just rip you apart into pieces and even after they win, and they will…
Al, they will win. Okay? Please.
Baby, please don’t do this.
You’re not who I thought you were.
What are you going to do, Al?
Goodbye, Vic.
Wait.
You’re not going to tell anyone!
Of course I’m going to tell.
And I don’t fucking care if you sue me or you rip me apart!
You Ushers… I really didn’t want to think it, but… you’re all fucking monsters.
[yells]
[Victorine] Hi, it’s me again.
Listen, just…
Look, I am sorry.
Okay, please, just call me back.
We can work this out.
Just… This is my… This is my third message…
Don’t do me like this, please.
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[soft mechanical chirping]
[chirping continues]
Oh.
[beeps]
Oh, my. You didn’t take up smoking, did you?
Oh, no.
It’s just chirping. It’s weird. Sorry.
How did you get past Kevin Costner in the hall?
It is for your own protection, all of you, to keep you safe.
And good morning, how are you?
What do you want?
I’m just making the rounds. Checking on my ducklings.
Seeing if anything unusual is happening.
[chirping continues]
Sorry. Do you hear that?
Listen.
I hear a delightful rumor that you’re moving forward with human trials.
We are working on it.
When?
Can I ask why you’re interested in HeroVesta all of a sudden?
I’m now taking an interest.
You and Dad.
Lucky me.
It’s important.
Maybe the most important thing right now.
We need to get it on a fast track.
So we can implement a very special human study on a candidate that will surprise you.
A candidate we cannot risk. Do you understand?
[chirping echoing]
Am I boring you?
Mmm? No. No, sure.
Look, whilst I appreciate your sudden and not at all alarming interest in HeroVesta, don’t you have bigger fish to fry?
Like what?
Not to put too fine a point on it, but aren’t you still on trial?
[scoffs]
Not for much longer, I would imagine.
You know, I think I see where they get it.
The Pym Reaper.
If only we had a chessboard and a beach.
Hmm.
Love Bergman.
Can I ask you something man to man, Arthur?
Yes, Auguste.
You’re a smart man.
You could be anywhere, doing anything.
You know what they are, why do you do this?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Roderick Usher.
Neither would you, by the way.
Apologies for the wait, gentlemen.
We’re here during my lunch hour to discuss the recent tragedies that have been suffered by the defense, and Mr. Pym’s motion for a continuance.
[Auguste] Why?
None of the deceased were defendants in this trial.
Mr. Dupin insinuated early on that there was an informant close to the family, and since then, we believe the family is under attack.
I was told these deaths were accidental.
We are still investigating, Your Honor, but a continuance is warranted and needed in this case.
I wouldn’t have thought counsel would be this opportunistic, but I suppose I’m not surprised.
Just what is he implying?
Three dead bodies in a week, Mr. Dupin.
And until we know why this happened, and how it’s related to Mr. Dupin’s informant…
I’m sorry, who said it’s related?
How can we know it isn’t? You won’t disclose.
For their safety.
Continuance isn’t the end of the world, Mr. Dupin.
But, Your Honor, this is bullshit!
This family has repeatedly managed to evade prosecution, no matter how much evidence stacked against them, no matter how many testified, no matter how many bodies they pile up, they always slip through the cracks.
It’s almost supernatural, Your Honor.
And you’re going to let them do it again.
I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’re not intending to imply what you’re implying.
I’m not implying anything, Your Honor.
Your Honor, if I may?
Perhaps we can avoid a continuance after all.
Mr. Dupin can help us cut through this mess if he simply identifies his informant and allows an investigation to take its course.
[Roderick] Who was it, by the way?
I mean, things all got so… Well…
You know how they got.
I guess it got lost in the shuffle, but it doesn’t possibly matter now, Auggie.
Just… out of curiosity.
Who was it?
Who was your informant?
Oh, come on. I get why you didn’t answer that day, but now, Auggie, it’s done, it’s all over.
[sighs]
There was never an informant.
Oh, I’m impressed, Auggie.
I didn’t think that you had it in you.
Come on.
There’s no ethics to your defense, and I’m supposed to run my case by the book.
There’s even more scrutiny on me because you’re so unscrupulous so, yeah, one time I play your way.
Relax, Auggie, I mean it.
It was good. This would have been a fun one.
I’m as sorry as you we couldn’t play it through.
Watching you shit on your principles would have been worth every fucking penny.
Fuck you.
Drag me, you fucking honey badger.
We got you off your white horse and down in the mud.
I shouldn’t have pointed at the kids.
But, Roderick, if I’d thought for a moment they’d start dying…
Easy there.
No. Let’s play in the mud. You’re right.
I pointed at the kids, figured it would stir you all up.
Pressure the fault lines. Maybe even pitch you against each other.
Hell, you might eat each other alive but, hey, it could finally crack the fortress.
Let you all knock it down from inside.
But, Roderick, I didn’t imagine for a moment the kids would start dying.
Figured you might torture them a bit.
But I never imagined in a million years any of them would end up dead.
You really stepped in it this time.
Why, if it weren’t for you, they would all still be alive today.
[heart thumping]
[thumping continues]
[screaming]
[gasps]
[thunder rumbling]
[sighs]
Auggie, let me relieve you of that burden.
No one died for your lie.
So don’t carry that.
You see, one had nothing to do with the other.
So, just…
You can let that go.
And the mind of guilt… is full of scorpions.
And I wouldn’t wish their sting on anyone.
Never waste your time on guilt or shame.
Is their alchemy a savage cross to bear?
And he’ll change everything.
You could track how many prescriptions of your drugs are being written.
Know which drugs are underperforming and where.
Customize your sales force, annihilate the competition.
Yeah, but I don’t much love computers.
And they take up half the building and…
They’ll only get smaller.
Much smaller, and fast, and you’re expanding anyway, aren’t you?
Roddie says you’re building a new campus?
We are. Yeah.
Well, I, you know… I’m interested.
Well, that is forward thinking of you.
Not many men want to listen to me talk about tech for half an hour.
Oh, I doubt that.
Well, maybe not the radio version, anyway.
I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
How do you take your coffee?
How do you take your morning coffee?
That’s top of my mind for me right now.
In solitude.
Uh-huh.
So, this computer… what, company that you’re pitching, this is your company?
Yes.
And why would a woman want to run her own company?
Same reason a man would.
Yeah, I get it, but why go it alone?
You could be doing more sitting at that desk outside my door in one day than you could on your own.
A secretary can’t build you an algorithm to triple your sales…
You think you’re the first to walk in here with a computer infrastructure pitch?
You’re right, we’re expanding, and we are buying all that stuff already.
I’m not sure why you’re talking to me this way.
Take a guess, sweetheart, you’re a pretty smart girl.
Mmm.
Smart girls are only sexy until they don’t wanna fuck you, and then they’re competition, and then what do you do?
You take them down a peg.
Well, Roderick Usher’s sister. Mmm.
It’s funny, I just had a very interesting conversation with Roderick Usher only a few days ago, and now suddenly his sister’s in my office to pitch me some sort of computer thing that will require me to, what?
Computerize all our records, right?
“Why don’t you let me take all those sensitive company papers that my brother was just talking about out of the basement and computerize them for you.”
And even if this is innocent, well, I don’t know just what to do.
So you figured you’d humiliate me?
No. No, no, no. No, I don’t wanna humiliate you.
I don’t need to.
You do realize the entire company knows about you, right?
Yeah, you’re the go-to gossip around here for decades.
You two are an office fairytale.
Longfellow knocks up his secretary. Ooh. Such a scandal.
I was here, you know?
I worked for your father.
I knew your mother.
And she was a great secretary. She was a full-service secretary.
Until her brain rotted.
Until she killed a giant.
Until she killed a great man.
And it must have been so tough for you growing up.
I don’t know why he didn’t just claim you as heirs.
Would have made such a difference.
Everybody knew about you anyway, but here you both are, working the mail room.
Pitching from the fringes.
I don’t need nor want to humiliate you, you’re doing fine on your own.
And I know it’s not your fault.
But hey, it worked out pretty good for me, what with the old man gone.
That’s the way this business works.
Chairs empty out, sad to say, but they don’t stay empty long.
So I’m grateful for that part of it.
So don’t misread me here, Madeline, I’m actually on your side.
You and Roderick.
I’m helping. Ask him.
I’m giving him a hand up.
And I can do the same for you.
It just has to make sense.
So just don’t… And this is important…
Don’t fuck with me, Madeline.
Either of you. Do not fuck with me.
Fuck me, now that’s fine. Hell, you’ll climb that ladder fast.
Men have to climb on their bellies in the dirt, but women, they can climb it on their backs.
On their knees.
World’s unfair that way, but it works, so you can fuck me any time you want.
But don’t you ever fuck with me, Madeline Usher. Do you get me?
I get you.
[Annabel] That’s disgusting.
That’s men.
I don’t understand why you went in there in the first place.
To look him in the eye.
Now I know what we’re up against and it’s not much.
Testosterone, hubris, aftershave.
I’m relieved.
I mean, shit. What if he was smart?
Don’t have to be smart to be dangerous.
I’m not scared of rattlesnakes ’cause they’re so smart.
[Auguste] He’s smart, all right.
Don’t misjudge him, he’s misjudged you.
Don’t make the same mistake. People misjudge me all the time.
Everywhere I go.
Used to make my blood boil.
But now I get it.
It’s an opportunity.
He’s underestimated you. That’s a gift.
A failure of imagination.
He sees you as formidable, he locks down, closes ranks, shuts the doors, battens the hatches.
But… he doesn’t think much of you, either of you.
And that’s great for us.
[Madeline] I agree.
This one gets it, Roddie.
[Auguste] So we learned two things.
First, he isn’t worried about you, which is great.
And second… those records still exist.
In hard copy.
In the basement.
Best time to destroy them will be during construction.
They can get lost in the move to the new campus, disappear quietly before everything gets computerized.
So, that gives us our clock too.
I don’t like this. I’m sorry, I don’t.
[Auguste] And you’re right.
This is dangerous.
And once we do this next part, there is no going back.
Well, we’re doing it.
[Roderick] So what are we looking at?
And this.
This is from Leo’s phone.
Double the security detail.
It’s ridiculous. Leo jumped off a balcony, Julius saw it.
No one in the room with Cami, and no one could have made these things happen.
[Madeline] I know that face.
I really had to dig back and I thought I was a little nuts but I thought it through again and again and I can’t deny it.
I know that face. You know her too.
New Year’s Eve 1980.
That New Year’s.
Don’t tell me you don’t remember.
Arthur, please leave us.
No, he stays.
I’m sorry, you just mentioned New Year’s in front of another person.
We don’t have many rules, but that one’s yours.
So you remember?
‘Course I remember.
You remember that bar?
I remember a bar.
You stubborn, stubborn man.
I remember we were drunk and maybe a little high, and definitely a little fucking distracted that night.
And since we’ve both sworn to never discuss that night again, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
But let me take the ride with you, Mads.
You’re saying that imaginary bartender that you dreamed up 40 years ago is back, hasn’t aged a day and is…
Maybe I’m saying, “Gee, Roderick, did you happen to, I don’t know, fuck that pretty bartender all those years ago?”
“Now you’ve got another heir running around, and maybe this one’s psychotic.”
Tell me everything.
This woman looks remarkably like a certain bartender we met back in 1980 just up the street from here, in fact.
The bar’s long gone now.
I already checked, but I know I’m right.
And since my brother likes to stick his dick into anything that moves, you’ve got new bastards popping up like new smart phones, and maybe this one is crazy and wants to be first in line.
Beef up security, let Pym do what he does.
[Arthur] I’m on it.
I assume I’m authorized to negotiate on your behalf with this individual?
Unless you object right now, I assume I’m authorized to approach these negotiations from a… hostile posture.
Text me the location of the bar, where it used to be, anyway.
I’ll go from there.
I’ll return with the receipt. Once the transaction is complete.
Her eyes, Arthur.
The receipt.
I’d like it to be her eyes.
Both of them.
Extracted.
With patience.
[Victorine] I know you’re having second thoughts and that’s totally normal.
But this… this might be the single most important thing you’ve ever done.
[chuckles]
It might be the most important thing you ever do, and I’m, well, you know what, I’m jealous of you, quite frankly.
It’s not that I don’t want to be an important person.
I mean, who doesn’t?
I just…
[chirping]
it’s about being the first.
That’s where I get scared.
[distorted] Just because it’s all happening so fast.
I suppose I’d feel better as well
if I could talk to Dr. Ruiz.
[chirping]
I’m sorry?
What’s more important to you… being famous or saving lives?
You’ve always dreamed about one of those.
Not so much the other.
Ever think the balance was off in that equation?
As a scientist, I mean.
Excuse me?
Dr. Ruiz, she’s supposed to be performing my surgery
and I haven’t gotten to talk to her yet.
I’d kind of like to hear what she has to say about it.
I’m… I’m sorry. Just…
[chirping]
Do you…
Do you hear that?
Hear what?
[chirping continues]
Dr. Ruiz, yes, of course she is… She’s performing the surgery.
Really?
Yes.
Do you know the term “operant conditioning”?
It’s what a horse has that lets them know a rider might be nervous or hesitant.
[chirping intensifies]
They read erratic behavior.
Not fear, not exactly.
But animals learn real quick to avoid that person.
That’s you. In a nutshell.
You’re so out of touch with your human side… you can’t even listen to anything outside your own head.
You really don’t hear that?
[chirping stops]
Do have Dr. Ruiz give me a call.
And if she says I should do this, I’ll do it.
No questions asked.
[sighs]
[mechanical chirping]
[phone ringing]
Shit.
Shit.
Oh, shit.
[voicemail] You’ve reached Alessandra Ruiz. Leave a message.
[beeps]
[sighs]
It’s me again.
Listen, you have to call me back, I am losing it.
Every time the phone rings, I think it’s you, and every time it’s not, I get…
Please, Ali.
Please.
Look, she’ll do the trial if you will.
This all hinges on you.
I love…
I will give you anything you want.
Just name your price.
[chirping]
[sighs]
[operatic music playing]
Could have saved some room and brought another bouquet.
I know, I know.
I know, it’s better for the environment.
Watching a plant grow is more therapeutic than if it’s in a bouquet.
Who wants to watch their favorite flower die slowly in a vase?
[chuckles]
It’s looking good so far. You built it so fast.
Hmm.
Better look good. It cost enough.
Are there gonna be reporters?
When she comes home?
Probably.
I hate that.
Well, just talk to Pym.
He’ll tell you what to say or what not to say.
That feels so gross.
Come here.
You understand who we are in the world, don’t you?
We’re part of a kingdom. We’re like royalty.
People fear that. They envy that.
They want to tear it down. They want to tear us down.
Now, do you know that I’ve had…
Eleven personal death threats since I turned 30? Not Fortunato. Me.
Someone once mailed me a bullet with my name etched in the casing.
Now you don’t have to worry about that. Not now.
But you will.
Someday soon.
Now, if you could see the paper trail of shit that Pym has protected this family from over the years, it’s… it’s thicker than a phonebook.
That’s what that man does for us.
So, if he tells you to say something, you say it.
If he says to keep quiet about something, you keep quiet.
Because he’s also protecting you.
Okay.
I’m sorry.
Attagirl.
You’ve got to be smart.
You have to realize, you can’t trust people.
Not you. Not anyone.
Hell… look at your own mother.
[scoffs]
Your mother, who looked us in the eyes… and said that she was going out with her girlfriends that night. And lied.
Your own mother who lied.
I’m so glad Mama’s coming home.
So she can heal.
So we can all start to heal.
[sighs] Yes.
We’ve almost got her.
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs] God.
You can’t be fucking serious.
Ma’am?
Who are you talking to?
I’m sorry?
Do you have a date out here? Keep it down, I’m trying to work.
Ma’am, I haven’t been talking to anyone.
[Bill] Jesus, Tam, did you just fall asleep in mid-sentence?
No!
But… say that again.
I was just saying, just, like, a few weeks.
Just a postponement.
For the last time, we’re not postponing the launch.
With everything that’s happened, you need a break.
Listen to me, Bill, because I really don’t wanna go through this again.
The optics will be fine.
A few “my heart will go on” tweets will pad it out.
You can’t even sit upright because you’re so tired.
I haven’t seen you sleep in like…
I mean, it’s been a fucking long time, Tammy. Like, horror movie long.
Well, Billy Boy,
I guess that’s why you’re in front of the camera and not me, right?
You’re making approvals you don’t even remember making.
Every executive does that.
The trial’s been suspended, Tam.
The trial! If what is happening right now feels like a bridge too far to the United States government, maybe take a page out of their book!
Absolutely not. I would like to be successful.
Okay, then, do it for me, please. As a favor.
Did you just say do it for you?
For you?
[chuckles]
I’m sorry, Bill, just who do you think you are in this?
You have one job, you smile, you jazz-ercise,
and you bring that army of fitness fuckers with you.
You are a face, you’re not a mouthpiece, so just smile and shut the fuck up.
Okay, then.
From a strictly business perspective, you can’t sell health… unless you look healthy.
If you try to tell me what to do with my business one more time…
Our business. Ours.
That’s cute.
I have hand selected every single aspect of this company.
Every single aspect, including you.
BILLT.
Hey now.
Let’s just finally say it.
You were selected. You were chosen. You headhunted.
Baby, we met at VidCon.
Did you think that was an accident? I had a list.
I think I still have the grid I made.
It was between you and Yogi Yohann.
You are just trying to hurt me.
No, honey, it’s true.
You fit the brand better than Yogi. And you were so eager.
And it worked out pretty well before the head got boring, but never forget, I can easily replace you.
I’ll just find another fitness guru with a hot ass and a snappy slogan.
Wow.
I mean, there is no Goldbug without me, Tammy.
It isn’t a lifestyle brand without me.
That is what I bring.
Without me, it is just a lowly-ass box of cosmetics.
Fucking stop it! Stop it!
What the…
Don’t stand there and look all hurt, you asshole.
You think I don’t know.
You are fucking that whore behind my back.
What the fuck are you talking about?
You think I’m stupid?
I have seen her on four of your streams, BILLT.
The bodyguard out there saw you two taking a walk in the park this afternoon!
That was you, you psycho! I was walking with you!
You’re fucking some whore!
Some fucking knock-off off-brand me!
It is pathetic, so yes, forgive me for finally being honest, but you are a product!
You are a fucking mascot, and don’t forget, I own the BILLT name now, so you are an asset.
And I don’t care who you fuck, as stupid as that sounds, but if you fuck me on this launch, I will fuck a trench through you.
You are losing it, honey.
And those girls, the goddamn hookers, that was always you!
And I always fucking hated it! I hated it!
Every minute of it!
You done?
I walk out that door and I’m not coming back.
Fucking great.
[Roderick] You must be enjoying this.
This impossible… bullshit.
Never touched her.
Well, no more than Mads did. Anyway…
The truth.
It’s impossible anyway. Isn’t it?
[metallic clinking]
Fuck you too.
Maybe this is just a psycho bastard like she said. Maybe it’s nothing.
Maybe I’m losing my mind.
The doctor says not to trust it.
And dementia’s a nasty little bitch.
Or maybe I know what’s actually happening here.
Crazy as it sounds.
If all this crazy bullshit is right, then maybe I know how to stop it.
You dare me?
Mmm.
Take ’em five at a time.
You’ll go to sleep on the chair.
Won’t feel a thing.
Just drift… off.
Of course, not the best look for your product.
This khopesh was in someone’s belly circa 2000 BCE.
Just go out like a warrior in ancient Egypt.
[strains]
[strains, sighs]
Takes 10 seconds to fall 70 floors. That’s no time at all.
And you don’t even feel it. You fucking… You can do 10 seconds.
Some wind in your hair.
That’s quite a view.
[laughs]
[gasps]
Wasn’t so hard.
You fucking coward.
You fucking coward.
Ten seconds, you’d save them all.
[exhales]
[upbeat music playing]
[Victorine] Oh.
Dad.
Will you turn it down?
[volume decreases]
Um…
What… What are you doing here?
Well, I was just… I… Well…
I think we should talk, if that’s okay.
Yeah, okay.
I… I hope I’m not interrupting.
No. No, I’m just in project mode, you know.
I know, I’m excited. Um…
[sighs]
Uh…
Look, I’m shit at preambles.
I made a life by getting to the point, so…
I’ll get to the point.
I’m sorry.
You and your brothers and your sisters, I always thought of you as a pride of lions.
And a young lioness has to grapple with her…
She has to grapple with her siblings before she goes off to hunt, right?
Just learn how to use her claws and… and her teeth and her strength, before she can go off and slaughter the water buffalo.
I… I want to apologize.
For turning you kids against one another.
I… I wanted to make you stronger.
And I was… I was wrong.
And… your work…
Well, I may need your work more than you know.
I am not strong.
I am… I am not brave.
And your work…
Well, it can make a big difference for me, so I am here to support you with everything… everything I’ve got.
It may even be a matter of…
I’m sorry, can you just turn the music off?
I’m trying to… Trying to talk with you.
Well, no, I’d very much rather not.
Because, you see, there’s a…
There’s a problem.
Because if I turn it off…
Look, I’ll show you, maybe you can… You can help me fix it.
[music turns off]
[mechanical chirping]
[whispers] See?
It’s just… It’s just… loud.
I mean, do you… do you hear that?
Because people keep telling me, they can’t hear it.
Yeah, I can hear it.
Right?
And you were… You were saying? About my work?
What is that?
Your support, it means so much to me.
And I think… I think it works.
Well, it does.
It does work.
You’re not going to tell anyone!
Of course I’m going to tell.
And I don’t fucking care if you sue me or you rip me apart!
You Ushers…
Fuck.
I really didn’t want to think it, but… you’re all fucking monsters.
[yells]
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Oh, God!
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just… I just… I just wanted to hit the door.
I just wanted to stop you.
Look, babe, okay, wait, hang on. Okay. Just hang on there.
[panting]
Okay.
[gasps]
[groaning]
[man speaking indistinctly]
[groaning]
[knock on door]
[man] Okay in there, Ms. Usher?
[groaning]
Fuck off!
[man] You okay?
I heard noises.
Just want to make sure everything…
[hesitates]
Have you never heard a woman getting eaten out before?
Fuck off you pervert or I’ll replace you with someone less cringe.
[groaning]
This was an accident.
This was an accident, you hear me?
I mean, you just… You said you were going to tell, Al.
You didn’t mean that, did you?
You believe me, right? Yeah. Yeah. You believe me.
No.
No, no, no. Ali.
Okay. I take it back, I take it back.
[chirping]
I forgot.
What the fuck is that noise?
And that smell?
Dad!
[Roderick] Yeah.
I remember now!
[gasps]
There you are!
So, I’ve been calling you and calling you all…
Don’t take that tone with me.
I’m sorry, Dad, she’s…
she’s not being a team player, but you see, it works.
You’re… You’re fully funded.
Let’s just get out of here and we’ll get the paperwork started.
No.
No, not until she apologizes.
Not until she promises to be a team player.
Well, she’s… she’s quite dead.
Isn’t she?
Yes, that would explain it, wouldn’t it?
Like, why it’s… it’s making that sound.
It’s just pumping a… dead useless heart.
Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry. I’m just…
I can fix it.
No, no.
Yeah, I can fix this.
No, no, no… Oh!
You know, I wish you’d just jumped.
Maybe then I wouldn’t have to do this.
Who am I kidding?
‘Course I would.
Because the work is everything.
Success is… Success is everything.
[sobs] No.
And if we’re going to succeed, we just need a better heart.
No!
[gasping]
Oh. [gasps]
Daddy?
[gasps]
[thuds]
[chirping continues]
