(CHORUS SINGING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
NARRATOR: This is the story of Alejandro.
(BOY IN SPANISH)
(WOMAN IN SPANISH)
NARRATOR: (IN ENGLISH) His mother was an artist.
NARRATOR: (IN ENGLISH) And he was her project.
She gave him everything.
So, he wished for everything.
(EERIE CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
EERIE VOICE: (ECHOING) Ale...
DOLORES: Alejandro!
(WINCES)
Hijo!
Ale!
Alejandro!
NARRATOR: But she had a recurring dream...
- DOLORES: Ale! - NARRATOR: ...of Alejandro
wearing all blue...
DOLORES: Hijo!
NARRATOR: ...leaving the safe world she created,
where he'd face the dangers
she tried so hard to keep him from.
(GRAND MUSIC PLAYING)
Hi, hi, hello, hi.
Uh, my name is Alejandro.
I am originally from El Salvador,
but I live in New York now.
Um, and I have a lot of ideas for toys.
Toys these days are wonderful,
but they are a little bit too preoccupied with, um...
uh, fun.
Um, I have a few ideas for toys that include
a doll that is kind of like a Barbie,
except she has her little fingers crossed
behind her back.
This, I believe, will add much tension and intrigue
their uniquely complicated lives.
Like Marjorie, for instance.
She should have a little picture
of a spot inside of her mouth,
which she's texting to a friend
because she's worried that it might be something.
Something bad.
I am career-oriented,
uh, detail-focused,
and enjoy, uh,
teamwork.
NARRATOR: Alejandro did not get the job.
It was as if he had sent his dreams into a void.
And the void replied with an email?
Signed by no one in particular.
Sent by a mysterious "do not reply" address.
So, what's exciting about FreezeCorp
is that we are the only
cryogenics facility in the world
that tends exclusively to artists.
NARRATOR: And so he got a job at FreezeCorp.
- A cryogenics facility, - (WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(ON TV) In fact...
NARRATOR: Which got him a work visa
to stay in the United States.
(QUIRKY MUSIC PLAYING)
Alejandro thinks of his job as a long, careful,
- but steady course. - (SHOES SQUEAK)
At the end of it, there is a job at Hasbro.
At FreezeCorp, he was assigned to Bobby Asencio...
(BEEPS)
...an unknown painter,
who exclusively did paintings of eggs.
BOBBY: They're not eggs.
They're hope.
They are a promise,
possibilities,
a mystery.
What's inside the egg?
I don't know.
Is it a hen?
Is it a hen with a tragic life or a beautiful life?
I don't know. I don't know this hen.
You get me right, Elizabeth? I could feel that you get me.
NARRATOR: His wife, Elizabeth, was an art critic.
When Bobby was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1996,
she decided to keep every piece of paper
he ever touched,
becoming the guardian of his legacy.
In the ultimate act of perseverance,
Bobby chose to freeze himself.
BOBBY: I'm going to the future.
I'm going on a long, long journey.
I don't know what awaits me,
but maybe people will understand my eggs there.
(INSPIRING MUSIC PLAYING)
(FREEZER BUZZING)
NARRATOR: There is no data that suggests
that Bobby will ever get into the future.
Legally,
this company provides a form of euthanasia.
- But that's just on paper. - (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
In practice, if you are approved for "euthanasia,"
you drink our patented CryoPreserve,
and then brr! Your organs get a big chill.
And you go to sleep.
Our scientists are working around the clock
to one day discover
how to bring our patients back.
NARRATOR: Life had told Bobby, "No."
Instead of accepting that,
he did the implausible.
He froze himself,
so he could hopefully come back and try again.
Alejandro found this inspiring.
After all, he immigrated
to the most competitive place on Earth,
in hopes to become a world-famous toy designer.
ALEJANDRO: A slinky that simply
refuses to go downstairs.
Forcing the child to go on the journey, step by step.
The joy comes not from watching something happen,
but by achieving it.
(THUDS)
(GRAND CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(MACHINE BUZZES LOUDLY)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GENERATOR BEEPING)
- (BEEPING STOPS) - RECEPTIONIST: Alejandro?
- (MACHINE LOADING) - Hi.
Was the backup disconnected?
Um...
What?
Was the backup disconnected?
The backup is currently connected.
Uh-huh.
All right. We... We're closing up.
(BEEPS)
SHARON: I was just suggesting...
ELIZABETH: ...I sign them...
She's here.
(SIGHS) Brace yourself.
ELIZABETH: ...sign a contract without reading it?
Like some teenager getting a phone at MetroPCS?
SHARON: No, I know... I know you read the contract,
- which is why I'm surprised... - ELIZABETH: What's the limit?
- A limit to what? - A limit to the amount
of times you're going to hike the prices.
Or am I and my poor, frozen husband
going to be held to ransom indefinitely? Hello.
Hi.
This is Alejandro. He is the archivist assigned to Bobby.
Oh.
Hi... Hi, Elizabeth, it's so nice to meet you
and put a... and put a face to the name.
Oh, it's very nice to meet you too, Alejandro.
You're doing a wonderful job.
Yes, I would like to think that the astronomical
hike in prices for the Deluxe package,
might benefit you in some way,
but I suppose your bosses are just
gobbling up the profits.
SHARON: Nobody's gobbling up anything,
it is, uh, simple inflation.
We're now getting a lecture on economics
from the good doctor here. Pace University, was it?
Hm. Uh, yes, but it is in the contract as per the signed...
We can... How about...
How about we chat in my office?
Shall we?
- Sharon? - Yes.
(WHISPERING) The backup generator was disconnected.
SHARON: What?
What?
(WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY)
(RHYTHMIC DRUMMING)
SHARON: Alejandro, will you,
uh, stop by my office tomorrow?
Um, yeah. Yes. What did you...
What did you wanna talk about?
- (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) - Let's talk tomorrow.
I didn't realize I was interrupting a meeting,
shall I get you a coffee?
Oh, (CHUCKLES FORCEDLY) No...
(FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING)
NARRATOR: Faced with a challenge,
Alejandro called his mother.
Dolores was always ready to solve his problems.
(WATER PATTERS)
(CLOCK TICKING LOUDLY)
(DIAL TONE BEEPING)
Ale!
(AUTOMATED VOICE IN SPANISH)
SPRAY: (IN ENGLISH) What are you talking about?
I didn't eat your ****ing Oreos,
you ****ing wiener.
- (DOOR CLOSES) - Hey, good night.
SPRAY: Good night.
Can I have some though?
MAN: No!
- SPRAY: Please? - MAN: Get your own.
NARRATOR: That night, Dolores was supposed
to work on a monument proposal
on the subject of "the Salvadorian artist."
But instead she thought about Ale.
- (CLOCK TICKING) - Her delicate little creation.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
- Hi, good morning. - Morning.
Uh, you wanted to talk to me?
Uh, yes, can I have a moment to get settled?
(DOOR OPENS)
(WATER BUBBLING)
(SHARON SIGHS)
Okay, you can come in.
- (SHARON CLEARS THROAT) - ALEJANDRO: How are you?
Great. How are you?
I'm good.
SHARON: (COUGHS) Okay.
Excited to have this check-in.
(INHALES) Alejandro,
this is really hard
- but, um... - Oh, no.
But, unfortunately, given the incident,
we can't continue having you as a part of this team.
But nothing happened.
The backup generator was unplugged.
And the subject could have been at risk.
But nothing happened.
That is like removing all the fire extinguishers
- from a building. - ALEJANDRO: And then putting
them back before there's a fire.
It's more like parking in front of a fire hydrant.
For which you get a ticket. (CHUCKLES FORCEDLY)
B... But why?
If there was no actual fire...
- I... B... But, uh... - ALEJANDRO: ...we proved that
it's an honest mistake and it wasn't your intention
and that you won't do it again.
I... I mean, don't you think...
Uh, my thoughts don't count. You just would, you would.
- ALEJANDRO: But... - You would get a ticket.
But if you don't employ me...
- We know. - Then, you do know, okay.
But... But then I don't... I don't have a work visa.
- We know. - ALEJANDRO: If I don't
have a work visa, then I can't be here.
We know.
Who is "we"?
(TICKING)
SHARON: We here at FreezeCorp.
ALEJANDRO: Look, I just need a little bit more time
because I'm already applying for this other job at Hasbro
that I'm really excited about.
No disrespect to... to FreezeCorp and the...
the FreezeCorp family. - SHARON: Uh, uh...
ALEJANDRO: Or... Or I can do this part-time.
- SHARON: Alejandro, I... - ALEJANDRO: Or as an intern.
- SHARON: Alejandro... - ALEJANDRO: Or whatever you...
- SHARON: Listen, I have to go. - ELIZABETH: No more archive.
What a terrible shame.
SHARON: Elizabeth, I am not...
ELIZABETH: You'll keep his corpse frozen
or you're gonna throw that out as well?
SHARON: We are simply moving Bobby
from the Deluxe Chamber with archive
to the Basic as per your...
ELIZABETH: And will you simply help me take his archive
to the dumpster?
Or must I break my back doing that myself?
SHARON: No one is going to be moving...
ELIZABETH: Don't you belittle me!
You middle of the road, middle, middle, middle
middle, middle manager!
SHARON: (ON TV) ...working around the clock to one day
- discover... - Hi.
SHARON: ...how to bring our patients back.
Hello.
Cannot believe that woman!
Screaming at me like that.
Threatening to throw Bobby's body out.
Did you see that?
I'm very grateful to you, by the way,
for helping me like this.
- (CLANGS) - (ELIZABETH GRUNTS, HUFFS)
What were we thinking?
And what are we supposed to do with all this stuff anyway?
I can see Bobby's going
to wake up in the future and his wife's gone
and thrown away all his things!
ALEJANDRO: I don't think you need to throw anything out.
He didn't leave an insane amount of stuff.
I... I would argue you never needed
that big space to begin with.
So, why don't you just make room for it somewhere else?
I don't suppose you would
have any time for a little side project, would you?
(PIPE HISSING)
ALEJANDRO: What do you normally use this space for?
ELIZABETH: Oh, I live here.
- (BEEPS) - Oh.
I live, uh, part of the year here,
part of the time in Maine,
and part of the time in Asheville.
Did you hear the way she screamed at me?
How do you put up with her?
- Did she ever yell at you? - ALEJANDRO: Well...
I... As it turns out, I got... I got laid off.
Oh, Alejandro!
That woman, she is out to ruin us all!
And she's a thief, as well, you know.
Um, well, sure.
And she...
doesn't listen to reason.
I put up quite a fight.
Thank you.
- Thank you for... - Thank you.
For the job and the memories...
But mainly, she...
they didn't wanna sponsor me anymore.
I'm actually from El Salvador.
Oh, El Salvador?
Pupusas?
- Yes. - And those, uh, nuns
they killed in the 80s, yes.
R... Right. So now,
I'm looking for... for a new job.
- Oh you are? - ALEJANDRO: That will maybe
- sponsor me. - ELIZABETH: Oh.
Well...
I'm not sure I could, uh, offer anything formal.
But, uh, maybe freelance?
And, uh, then we could see?
(ELIZABETH'S VOICE ECHOES INDISTINCTLY)
Did you use FileMaker Pro at the facility?
No, we used Google Sheets.
(LAUGHS) No, no, you can't...
you can't compare that to FileMaker Pro.
NARRATOR: It's basically the same,
except FileMaker is harder to use and not free.
Do you know FileMaker Pro?
Yeah, I love it.
Oh, my goodness, that's splendid.
Oh, yes.
My, uh, former assistant,
Celeste, she ran away with an Italian,
and I could not even begin to tell you,
but anyway, she had this bright idea
of setting up a database
so that I could keep a track of all Bobby's paintings
wherever they were, you know, two over here,
couple over here in this gallery,
and to have a sense of order
to have a sense of perspective.
I mean, FileMaker is the Cadillac of archival software,
you know, recommended by Gagosian,
recommended by the Whitney,
and apparently very, very easy to set up.
And that's what she promised me.
And that's what she failed to deliver.
Because the thing about (CHUCKLING BITTERLY)
Celeste of course, is that she was on drugs.
- Oh, no. - ELIZABETH: She was constantly
coming in with dirty shoes, always in the alleys.
You know, that's a very, very clear sign.
And the whole thing just didn't work!
None of the databases matched.
Any assistant of mine
will have to come up to Maine a fair bit.
Do you garden?
Oh, I... I could garden.
Oh, that's great, so you can drive us up there.
Oh, no, I... I don't know how to drive.
I'm looking now for the pictures of the begonias,
you'll see them when you drive us up there.
But the begonias this year were so beautiful,
and the sweet peas' just beginning,
just the little shoots starting.
And I think next year, the pinks particularly...
Oh, my goodness,
where are these photographs? I'm really thinking
that I couldn't have seen these photographs.
Oh, my goodness me, this software drives me insane.
I can never, ever find what you want,
and it's so hard on the nails.
They said it's likely to be in the Dropbox now.
Now, we... we... we... Maybe in the (GROANS) iCloud...
(GROANS) How do you get into the iCloud thing?
They told me once, and it made no sense!
Where are these photographs? (GROANING)
Let me... If...
ELIZABETH: You know, when you're looking for something
- and you can never find it. - May... May I...
I want someone to invent the thing
where you say, "Look for the photograph
"of the blooms," and then suddenly there are...
And, they probably have, but nobody's told me about it.
I bet I can help you with that. If...
ELIZABETH: No, no, no, Alejandro.
They say it's simple,
let's hear from them, how simple it is!
Right this minute.
I was on with them most of the day yesterday.
(CALL RINGING)
AUTOMATED VOICE: Apple Support.
To securely verify your iden...
No, none of those options.
AUTOMATED VOICE: In a few words,
please tell me why you're calling.
- ELIZABETH: Human. - AUTOMATED VOICE: Thank you
- for contacting Apple... - ELIZABETH: Human being.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Please hold for an Apple advisor...
(AUTOMATED VOICE CONTINUES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
ELIZABETH: No, none of those options. No. Other.
Other.
- Other. - SERVICE REP: Hello, ma'am.
- Are you still there? - Well, of course, I'm here.
Where else will I be?
You've been holding me hostage on this call.
- I need my photographs. - SERVICE REP: Ma'am...
ELIZABETH: You're holding up an important meeting!
Uh... I'm sorry about the hold.
But w... w... where are... where are my photographs?
You've hidden them again, you've hidden them from me!
Your... Your pictures should be on the Photos app.
ELIZABETH: Well, I deleted them because you told me
that there would be a back up in the Cloud!
(SHOUTING) What is the Cloud anyway? I don't understand!
They wouldn't just disappear like that, ma'am.
Stop interrupting me! Listen!
I need my photographs.
You... You've hidden them from me,
you keep hiding things from me.
Where are my photographs?
You have erased my memories...
(ECHOING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
And if that isn't enough,
I was forced to switch to voice memos
instead of texting!
Because your tiny, tiny, tiny keyboard is
too bloody small...
Well, you can enlarge the keyboard.
Don't interrupt me!
(SERVICE REP GASPS)
(SHOUTING) I want to text with my fingers!
- (REP SCREAMING ECHOES) - (ALARM BEEPING)
(WOMAN IN SPANISH)
(DRAMATIC CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CLOCK TICKING)
(SIGHS WEARILY)
(IN ENGLISH) Uh, Alejandro Martinez.
Yes, hi. That's me.
WOMAN: Mr. Khalil's ready for you.
Thank you.
(CHORUS SINGS OMINOUSLY)
All right, so, you got to get another sponsor.
Pronto, rapido.
What happened to the toy people?
They won't hire you?
I don't know. I mean, t... t...
they're just not going to be taking applications
- for a while. - Okay, okay, look,
you... you don't have a while. You have a month
to find someone to co-sign your visa,
and if you don't, you have to leave the US.
(TICKING)
Yeah, I... I... I've been working on that,
I... I started freelancing for this lady,
- um, she's, um... - (CHORUS SINGS)
Well, whatever, it'll just be a few hours here and there.
Also today? Well, (CHUCKLES) that's rapido.
You think this lady can sponsor you?
I... I mean, we'll see.
"We'll see."
Well...
That's a better slogan for us.
We'll see.
Look, other thing is,
you can't take money right now.
Hope this lady's not paying you.
W... What do you mean?
You can't take money till they officially sponsor you.
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR: The rules of the game are as follows:
First, he must find a sponsor for a work visa,
then he must submit it
by paying application and lawyer fees
totaling up to around $6,000.
And only then,
is Alejandro allowed to earn money.
Money, that he needs so he can submit his application
to well... earn money.
And he must do it before the fall
of the last grain of sand.
The maze is impossible to navigate,
unless of course, he's willing to bend the rules.
Cash. You need cash.
(TRAIN RUMBLING)
(CRAIGSLIST MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: (WHISPERING) Craigs...
(INHALES DEEPLY, HISSING) list...
(HEART THUMPING)
(EXHALES) Craigs...
(HISSING) list...
Craigs...
list...
(CREATURE BLEATING)
Despair...
Confusion...
(SNIFFS) Misguided journeys...
IKEA BILLY bookcase...
This...
is Craigslist.
Alejandro.
Come on, we're going to this shitty party.
Oh, I... I can't come. But thank you.
Why not? Just come.
This invite said it was an "all white party"
so I'm going in all red.
It's gonna be at this shitty loft,
- and everyone there sucks. - ALEJANDRO: Um, thank you,
but I have a lot of stuff to do.
I... I just have to solve this mess.
Okay, well, I'll text you
- if it ends up being fun. - (GUN FIRING ON TV)
Tell me...
Bowflex.
No bed bugs, clean Bowflex.
Um... no, that's okay, just... just jobs?
- Marketing Associate. - No, something more cash.
(GRUNTS)
- It is the gigs you seek. - Exactly, yes.
Cleaning boy kink...
Oh, um... Any... Anything else?
Sell salon packages, make up to $200 an hour...
Yes! Yes! Yes, perfect!
(BICYCLE WHEEL CREAKING)
Hi, can I ask you a question about your hair?
Hi, quick question about your hair? Okay...
Hi, can I ask you a question about your hair?
(CELL PHONE BUZZING)
ELIZABETH: Alejandro, this is Elizabeth,
speaking to you as if from a walkie-talkie,
since that man told me I could not enlarge the keyboard.
This is so last minute,
but could you meet me in 20 minutes?
(DOOR BELL CHIMES)
I'm late. I'm... I know I'm late,
I'm so late, I don't know, how late am I?
- Oh, that's okay... - Can you move the table
- so I can get in? - Oh yeah. Okay.
It's a little bit of a squeeze. (GROANS)
- Okay. Great. - Yes, well, I've...
- How are you? - I've just been held up.
The other people holding me up all day.
- Oh, no. - Obstacles, obstacles.
I went to the upholster,
you know, for the little bench under the window?
- The... The nook? - The nook!
The nook, yeah. Exactly, very good.
Yeah, so I was getting some new, um, cushions made,
you know, and I went to pick them up, and they're horrible!
- They're awful. - Oh, no.
They're red velvet, if you can imagine. Excuse me?
Excuse me? I've been waiting for a very long time.
Uh, is something going on? Are you closed?
Oh, I'm... Uh... I'm...
I'm sorry. Do you...
- Do you know what you'd like? - I'd like this charged.
Red velvet. Who am I?
Cleopatra, lying around eating grapes?
She said that I had picked it.
As if.
Uh, they have a... they have a goat cheese salad
- that looks good. - Oh, this menu...
What is it with walnuts? Walnuts, walnuts, walnuts.
It's like a cafe for squirrels.
WAITER: Uh, well, the... well, the walnuts,
they go very nicely with the salad.
Do I look like I need educating on fine cuisine?
Oh, no, no, no. I wasn't saying that...
Don't scream at me.
Uh, I wasn't. (CHUCKLES)
ALEJANDRO: I'll... I'll have the goat cheese salad.
But is it possible to do it with no cheese?
Yeah. Awesome.
Um, oh, well, all right. I'll have the same thing.
But I'll have it with cheese. And, uh, and uh...
An iced tea...
please.
Awesome.
They like it when you say "please."
It's like giving them a little morsel for them to nibble on.
Don't you like goat's cheese?
Oh, no. I'm... I'm... I'm vegan.
Oh.
Who else is vegan?
Um, I don't know.
- Um, uh, a lot of people... - Bill Gates.
Someone awful.
Extortionate. I mean,
one of the most horrible lunches
I've had for a long time, and not for the first time.
I am vowing never to come here again.
Uh, how many paintings is the gallery returning?
Oh, uh, they never understood Bobby's work,
Alejandro, that's the truth of it.
The poor paintings,
they used to sit in the back room,
and they'd never made any attempt to market them.
Um, but there's interest now.
- Yeah. I, um, I bet. - ELIZABETH: That's the thing.
Having a young man of your intelligence,
who now has an insight
into Bobby's working methods, uh,
I truly believe that together, we could curate a show.
Oh!
- Yes. - Right? And I mean,
curators have no imagination.
I mean, none of them see what I see.
- Yeah. - ELIZABETH: But if we (SCOFFS)
do their homework for them...
We could pitch it around even.
We could pitch it around, exactly.
Was there something wrong with your salad, Alejandro?
Oh... no.
- No, no, it's fine. - It's just I can't help
noticing that they neglected to hold the cheese
as we specifically asked them to.
WAITER: Oh, I don't think you said no cheese, uh,
- I'm sorry. - We did and, uh,
this young gentleman cannot eat cheese.
It... It's... It's... It's fine.
You tell him.
- I, um, I'm vegan. - He's allergic.
- To goat cheese or... - Everything.
Oh, I apologize. We'll... We'll refund the salad.
Well, that's not what we want.
Uh, O... Okay, I...
I just don't know what else I could do, I...
- I can't go back in time. - Fetch somebody else who'll...
- WAITER: I'm sorry... - ...say something different.
I'll get my supervisor.
Oh, you're gonna hold us hostage now?
Okay, so get my supervisor or don't?
Those are the choices. I either get him
or I don't get him.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(DIAL UP TONE BEEPING)
So, Elizabeth, you... you were
mentioning pitching the show around?
- Elizabeth... - I don't have any more time
to waste on you.
Uh, yes,
once we have gathered the paintings,
we curate a show, and we get a reputable gallery
to take them, you know, Gagosian,
Pace, maybe even the Whitney.
And we sell them, and pay Bobby's bills.
And if you help me do that, I promise you,
I'll sponsor you...
- (TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING) - ...and we'll get your visa.
That sounds... That sounds great.
It's so simple, Alejandro.
And this is it. This is it, the sky's the limit.
Now, let's go get those paintings.
Should Alejandro go help her?
CELESTE: She'll be right out, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: How's everything going, Celeste,
since you worked for me?
Your skin looks better.
Thank you.
And how are you? Are... Are you okay?
Well, there is no colored ink in the Epson.
- And no cartridge. - Mmm. The Epson.
I was always intrigued
by your insistence on us having an Epson.
You swore by them, so you said,
and then you chose the most
expensive cartridge on the market,
and then lo and behold, suddenly gone
in a puff of smoke,
flown to Italy, and I could never quite work out
how you managed to fund that particular escapade.
So you think I broke into your house,
stole an ink cartridge,
bought a plane ticket,
flew to Italy and paid for my Master's
by presenting them with ink?
Easy, Celeste. Remember your skin.
Oh, I thought you had five.
We already returned two.
Oh, the database is in such disarray,
I mean, nobody can find anything.
- (BREATHING DEEPLY) - Alejandro's going to have
- to sort it all out. - (THUDS)
He's, uh, helping me curate an exhibition, by the way.
- CELESTE: An exhibition? - Hm.
A solo show, just Bobby's eggs?
Do I have to speak slower?
Good luck with that.
Maybe a Marriott breakfast buffet
will show some interest if you're lucky.
Oh! (CHUCKLES SARDONICALLY) Now she has taste.
Just try a pseudonym this time
if you're going to write your husband a glowing review.
BOBBY: Everyone's laughing at me.
They think I slept with you for exposure.
ELIZABETH: Don't scream at me.
They hate my eggs.
Bobby, I was just trying to help.
Well, she was...
she was on something, right? (CHUCKLES)
Drugs. Drugs and vodka.
- She reeked of it. - I mean, I...
I can smell it all the way from here.
Thank you for all of your help.
You're probably thinking, "What am I doing,
running around with a crazy lady?"
No, I...
I... I enjoy working with you.
Where are my bloody keys?
I wouldn't put it past her for taking them.
I mean, she was always taking things
when she was with me.
I'm not going back there!
No, here. Let's open your bag,
and we'll search for everything, and we'll...
we'll put every item here, one by one.
- And we'll find it like that. - Oh.
- One by one. Yeah. - ALEJANDRO: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Good thinking. - Um, um, um, I'll hold this
- while you take this out. - All right. Huh.
- That's good. Very, very good. - One by one.
One by one. One by one.
- Is it any of these? - ELIZABETH: No.
You know, people are always asking me,
"Elizabeth, why don't you relax?
Why are you always so tense?
Why are you always obsessing about Bobby and..."
You know, they don't know what it is
to really want something, you know?
To really, you know, be on a mission,
all... all out there. Alone.
(ENCHANTING MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR: Bobby met Elizabeth at a show at his commune.
He was feeling down
because his work did not make the show.
He felt invisible.
- Until she came in. - Make your own rules up...
You invited... You invited me!
Late?
BOBBY: Excuse me, ma'am.
- No smoking in here. - Ma'am?
NARRATOR: He could tell no one understood her.
Just like no one understood his eggs.
He invited her upstairs
to show her his paintings.
BOBBY: What do you think?
That's beautiful.
BOBBY: This one I call A Shy Egg.
Oh.
His cousin...
- Intellectual Egg. Yeah. - (CHUCKLES) Oh. Right.
- Oh. - And that one is
- Eggs for Dinner. - ELIZABETH: Ah...
- Oh. - I want people who don't even
like art to see the hope, the mystery,
the beauty, and one day be like,
(SNAPS FINGERS) ding!
I dream of having my own show.
- Hm? - Thirteen Eggs.
- Yeah, but no one likes them.
NARRATOR: The unlikely pair
became a love for the ages.
She saw him,
and he didn't walk away.
I wanna tell you that I called the company today.
And they said they're gonna send a syringe,
and you will have to inject me.
(GASPS) No...
BOBBY: Don't look at me like that's weird, okay?
You're gonna have to inject me so you can freeze my inside
as I slowly die.
(SOFTLY) Okay...
BOBBY: I know this is not fair to you.
And it's really, really expensive.
But we could cover the fees
if we sell some more paintings.
We'll make it work!
- Oh! - A-ha!
I'll make sure of it.
We have... We'll sell your paintings.
Gonna have to paint some bigger eggs.
ELIZABETH: How are the shelves coming?
- (OBJECTS CLATTERING) - Uh, great.
I just think that we have the wrong screws, maybe.
(CLATTERS)
I think we need to put that Blue Egg
back where we had it before,
because we need to finish with something very strong.
- But (SIGHS) I am not now... - Okay.
I'm not sure now about whether any of this is gonna work.
(SIGHS) God, I'm not sure.
I don't know. I don't know.
Well...
- (SIGHS HEAVILY) - What about...
ending it with this one?
Oh, no, Alejandro! Not that one!
That's so unresolved.
Look at that egg, it's just like negative space.
Bobby didn't even sign it!
I know, I know, but... but...
There's just something that feels so...
hopeful and... optimistic about it.
Even if it's so messy
and... and unresolved. It's...
I don't know, it just feels so...
so Bobby, in a way.
(OPTIMISTIC CHIMES PLAYING)
I happen to like the later work.
When it... When it's just at its most erratic
and optimistic.
(ENCHANTING MUSIC PLAYING)
I think it's because they were made to fund his journey.
They were made with the intention
of waking him up.
With the hope that he would wake up in the future.
And that way, the show doesn't end with an ending,
but with a... "to be continued."
"To be continued."
I like that (LAUGHS).
ALEJANDRO: Yeah, like his life.
Thirteen Eggs.
- Thirteen Eggs. - Yeah.
Why did you say that?
'Cause he wrote that in his sketchbook...
Thirteen Eggs! Yeah, Thirteen Eggs.
That was Bobby's dream show.
That was the exhibition he always wanted.
Well, then... Let's call it that.
That's it! That's our show.
Oh, Alejandro, that is brilliant.
That... You are brilliant.
That is perfectly... We have it.
We have the concept.
We just need to track down the rest of his paintings
and find the final piece, and then we have the show.
So, if you can add this one into the FileMaker now.
And then we can have a fully comprehensive list.
(DRAMATICALLY SCARY MUSIC PLAYING)
So, you go and, uh, enter in the database,
so that it all syncs, that way I have access
to the exact same database
from here or the iPad, or in Maine.
You absolutely have to make it all sync up,
so there will, at long last, be order.
Can you show it to me? Show it to me now.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
There's no reason to overwhelm the software at this point.
With excess information like that.
- Oh. - It's a very delicate system.
- Powerful, but delicate. - Oh, right. Okay.
(LILTING MUSIC PLAYING)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: (ECHOING) Craigslist...
(HISSING) List...
Wait in line for the new iPhone, $60...
(INHALES) Teach me to use Twitter so I can
be famous! $100... $20...
Untangle my necklace... (HISSING)
Clean the windows...
Paint the wall... Wake me up at 3:00 a.m.
to make my flight...
(CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
ALEJANDRO: A toy truck with a tire that slowly deflates.
Children must play knowing
that they're running out of time.
(IN SPANISH)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: (IN ENGLISH) Coat check
at Lower East Side night club,
$75 plus tips.
(SLURRING) Give me my coat, man.
I lost the ticket, but I told you it's black.
- Black? - Yes, black.
NARRATOR: And while Alejandro confronted things
he never thought he'd face,
Dolores faced a challenge of her own.
Not being able to help.
ALEJANDRO: Felicity just got a Venmo request
for the California Roll she had with Marjorie
two weeks ago on a playdate.
A blow she didn't see coming.
(DINGS)
Hi, can I ask...
So sorry.
I'm sorry.
Hi, can I ask you a question about your hair?
Have you ever wondered how to get salon-quality
for 50...
(VOICE FROM CELL PHONE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
So...
I was wondering should I, like, send you
an invoice or...
- or how does that work? - Yeah.
How many have you sold?
Oh, um...
I think I haven't... yet.
But the, uh...
the Craigslist ad said $200
- an hour? - Yeah, if you sold something.
ALEJANDRO: But it... it gave an hourly rate.
NARRATOR: The promise was riddled with trickery.
(DISCORDANT MUSIC PLAYING)
ALEJANDRO: But I... I've worked at least,
like, 10 hours.
I need...
- to get paid. - MAN: Look, man.
You're barely speaking up,
you're whispering to these ladies,
Look at these two over here.
Hey, ladies.
I like that jacket. That's yellow, right?
- Yeah... - Just a real quick question
- about your hair. - WOMAN: What?
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
ELIZABETH: I knew... (LAUGHS)
BINGHAM: Not front row, I hope.
Oh, Bingham, this is the magnificent Alejandro,
I've been telling you about. This is Bingham,
- (BELL TOLLS) - He's our newest,
well, our first foundation intern.
- Oh. - And... And he gardens.
- And uh, what's even better... - (CHUCKLES)
...he's gonna drive me up to Maine.
Oh, great!
Hey there, Ale.
ELIZABETH: He's a very clever boy.
He's at Columbia, I've known him
since he was a tiny, tiny tot.
- (CHUCKLES) - Uh, his father is a very,
very, uh, important collector.
- Oh, wow. - NARRATOR: Bingham's father
forced him to take the internship
after he wrecked the car.
And I have other talents too.
I'm not implying
- any nepotism. - Mm-hmm.
And what I should have mentioned is
he knows FileMaker Pro.
- Oh, good. - (CHUCKLES) No. No, no.
I said I might be able to figure out FileFinder Pro.
More importantly, Ale, what is this lady doing
not using Google Sheets?
Oh...
I mean FileMaker Pro is the Cadillac
of archival software.
That's what we say. That is... That's the truth of it.
And look he... he put up the shelves.
BINGHAM: Oh, yeah. And you did have the right screws.
Oh, are you sure?
Uh, yes, it's just drywall.
What kind of screws did you think you'd need?
Well, hopefully, it doesn't fall off
in the middle of the night, right?
She's been having trouble sleeping.
- So... - BINGHAM: Oh.
I think it'll be okay, Alejandro. (CHUCKLES)
Um, anyway, I have to go.
I have a hot date,
uh, with a photographer (CHUCKLES)
who wants to take my picture.
Well, have a wonderful time. Don't keep him waiting.
Tell your mother I sent my love.
- And kisses. - ALEJANDRO: Bye.
- Bye. - I'll see you soon.
- Yup. - Yeah.
ELIZABETH: A breath of fresh air.
What a team.
You two are going to have a lot of fun in Maine.
Blue.
I know which...
I know which painting we're missing.
- Oh, which one? - Blue...
Egg on Yellow Satin.
The... The egg is blue?
ELIZABETH: No, no, no, no! The egg is grey!
Blue Egg on Yellow Satin.
- ALEJANDRO: Where is it? - She has it. She's got it.
Look for it, look.
NARRATOR: She was Dalia,
Bobby's most promising student.
Now this is your best egg.
It's brilliant.
(SIGHS) I'm so jealous.
BOBBY: This will look great at your place.
Okay.
She stole it.
That's our 13th egg.
Without it, there is no show.
NARRATOR: Elizabeth immediately noticed
that the painting was gone.
And Bobby came clean about giving it to Dalia
as a gift, to which Elizabeth said...
That pathetic tramp stole it.
NARRATOR: They never even spoke about the affair.
Well, the good news is
that we have so many other fantastic...
- No, no, no, we need Blue... - ...paintings that...
... Egg on Yellow Satin.
I know, but
- given that we don't have... - What, I can't have
Blue Egg on Yellow Satin?
Well, have you tried reaching out?
I screamed as much as I could!
Right, right.
I don't know, the whole thing seems like a terrible idea.
What, the show?
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
ELIZABETH: Well, I said to her, "Name your price."
And... And what she wanted was an apology.
She wanted an apology from me!
An apology for what?
An apology for I don't know what!
NARRATOR: Messy, Unresolved Nightmarish Interiors
by Dalia Park
Spoiled an Otherwise Fantastic Show
at Columbia University
by Elizabeth Asencio.
I can't deal with these people, Alejandro.
It's not healthy for me, it's not good for me.
No, no, we're not doing the show.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(GLASS BREAKING)
(CHORUS SINGING)
No pro bono, kid.
Why are we even talking?
Has this lady agreed to sponsor you?
Um, not... not... not yet, but I'm working on it.
And even if it does work out,
I... I have to pay for half of your fees upfront, right?
KHALIL: Listen, uh,
you need to get creative
and find a way to get that money.
- Okay? - ALEJANDRO: Yes.
No, I'm... I'm on it.
My little Craigslist jobs are barely keeping me afloat,
and with things at work are getting tricky...
Hold on a sec, okay?
What's going on here?
She... (SIGHS) I think she won't let us
mail her the notice.
No! No.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
ALEJANDRO: (IN ENGLISH) "No, no, I already told you
I don't have a permanent home address."
(WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) "Sometimes I stay with my cousins,
sometimes I stay with my Mom if she's sick."
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) "My mail gets lost there."
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) "It's better for me
to pick up the documents here."
Okay, we can do that.
Okay, listen. I'm going to get started with the paperwork.
But make yourself indispensable to this lady.
As for the money, well, how much is your rent?
(SIREN WAILING)
(IN SPANISH)
ALEJANDRO: Si.
(PULLEY CREAKING)
(ALEJANDRO IN SPANISH)
(DOLORES IN SPANISH)
(DIAL TONE BEEPING)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: (IN ENGLISH) You have a message.
Do you wish to speak to Craigslist?
- Yes. - (EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
- Speak. - (FEEDBACK FROM TOY PHONE)
(CLEARS THROAT)
(ON MICROPHONE) Need to rent a room in Bushwick, $850.
Two roommates. Need subletter immediately.
TRAVIS: Hey...
What's goin' on?
This is Travis. He's going to sublet my room.
Hey. What's going on?
- Okay. - Uh, room's that way, Travis.
Um, yeah, I can't afford to make rent
and pay for the lawyers and all the other
immigration stuff, so I thought,
"Well, why don't I just sublet my room,
"and sleep on the couch?"
- If that's okay? - Oh, I mean, of course.
Can you just tell him to be super careful
around my baby whatever's?
Hey, uh, do you have Wi-Fi?
Yeah, uh, it's on the fridge.
I mean, this is just, like,
I keep getting these emails that are like,
"I put your necklace on, and it immediately broke.
"Can you refund me?" And I'm like,
"No. (CHUCKLES) Sorry."
(SIGHS) I mean, this sucks so much for you.
Can't you just apply to the toy thing from your mom's?
Oh, I can only apply for it from within the US.
So you have to stay in the US
to apply online, from within the US?
Yeah.
- But it's online. - (CELL PHONE BUZZING)
So, like, it could be anywhere.
Oh, um, I'm sorry, I have to go.
Okay.
- Just change your IP. - (OBJECTS CLATTERING)
(FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING)
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOORBELL BUZZES)
- (CHILDREN LAUGHING) - Hi.
- Hi? - Uh, I'm looking
for Dalia Park.
Yeah! I'm... I'm Dalia Park.
Oh... Oh, great! Uh...
Hi, uh, my name is Alejandro Martinez.
- Mm-hmm. - Uh, I work for, um,
Elizabeth Asencio?
Leave. Your boss is a monster.
- Okay. - Why do you think her husband
was handing out paintings to girls left and right?
- Sure. - I named my price,
an apology.
That's it. They're free, you know?
Well, actually, that's what this is.
Um, Elizabeth?
(OBJECTS CLATTERING)
- Okay. - (CHILDREN CHATTERING)
- (SIGHS) - ELIZABETH: Dear Dalia,
I won't lie, I'm still deeply, deeply hurt
by what transpired between you and Bobby.
(SIGHS WEARILY) - I cannot even bring myself
to say this to your face, and God knows that if I tried,
things would get messy, so I wrote it down instead.
I'm not just hurt by the affair,
but for the name calling, the demonizing,
the pain that came with the fun you had.
Galleries all over downtown referred to me as the Hydra
for many years.
I have, however,
come to realize that my retaliations
through the cruel and childish review
of your painting in the Columbia group show was worse.
- The truth is... - (DALIA SIGHS)
...I didn't even bother to spend a minute
with your painting.
I did not see your work.
I saw my pain. And I weaponized it.
I understand that my venomous words
contributed to you not being included on other shows,
causing a domino effect on your career.
You did not deserve that.
And Bobby does not deserve for his legacy
to be forgotten over my mistake either.
The painting in your possession
is the only thing keeping us
- from getting Bobby a show... - (DALIA SIGHS)
...which we need to get some money to keep him frozen.
- Frozen! What a narcissist. - (LAUGHING)
But you called him out on that even before I did!
Take my sincere apology, not for me,
but for Bobby, and the time you spent together,
- w hich I'm now willing... - (BOTH LAUGHING)
...to accept brought him immense joy.
I hope you've made it to the end of this
- without me jumping at you... - (BOTH CRYING)
...and betraying what I actually feel.
Sincerely, Elizabeth.
(SIGHS HAPPILY)
(SOFTLY) Thank you.
Can I at least read the damn thing?
No, no.
(PRINTER WHIRRING)
- Mortifying. - Well, we got the painting.
We did. We did, we did.
We have our 13 eggs, thank you, Alejandro.
Did you see how many children she had?
All from different fathers, clearly.
- She runs a daycare. - Ah! There he is.
Our knight in shining armor.
- Oh, me? - ELIZABETH: Oh, you.
We'd be lugging this through the subway
- if it wasn't for you. - (CELL PHONE BUZZES)
Oh! Finally, you answer,
I've been waiting an hour on this virtual queue.
SERVICE REP: If I may please have your name and account...
Yes!
- And your name is? - Ah, she's
- such a nightmare. - ELIZABETH: Alonso?
ALONSO: Yes... BINGHAM: I get it, and I do
feel bad for her but, like, yikes.
ELIZABETH: This is no way to do business, is it?
Could she be making this any harder on herself?
Well, I have, I've been on for days
talking to your company.
It... It's no surprise to me...
I don't think she's a nightmare.
ELIZABETH: ...in such disarray.
Well, how much longer will it take?
- (SCOFFS) - Well, thank you for nothing,
it's a total waste of time.
- Shall we? - BINGHAM: Sure. To the loft?
Uh, well, Alejandro and the painting to the loft
and I need to get to the MET before the Klee closes.
Okay, uh...
those are in opposite directions.
Well, the Klee closes in an hour and a half,
and Alejandro has to get to the loft to work urgently.
They're in opposite directions,
I'm sorry. I'm... I'm not like you Elizabeth,
I can't just bend the rules of time and space.
Don't make me go in an Uber!
Not after all they've done.
NARRATOR: She's banned from the app.
Bingham can take you to the MET.
And you'll take the car to the loft.
The car would cost him 18% of his net worth.
Looks like she's all mine.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)
Pathetic.
Tragic.
Could she make this any harder on herself?
What's a visa?
When I was in high school,
I probably ran over someone, but my dad just fixed it.
Oh, hello, hello.
That show was so horribly curated,
I could only stay five minutes.
Hm.
They're, uh... They're, uh... They're clever.
Your ideas, very clever.
Is this your dream? Your big dream, the toys?
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) Um...
Maybe.
Yeah.
You know, I've been applying through this thing
called the Talent Incubator Program.
Well, you have talent.
Thank you. Um...
Yeah, no, it's just complicated because
they only look at applications once in a while
and they haven't gotten back to me.
They? Who's "they"?
-"They" who? - Well, "they"...
They, the company.
You don't get anywhere in life
if you're hoping for answers from an entity.
Get a name and become a problem for them.
Anyway, first things first,
The show, and then your visa.
And we have a lot of work to do.
(FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING)
(ENCHANTING MUSIC PLAYING)
(SOFTLY) Hey, what's going on?
(DOOR CLOSES)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(ENCHANTING MUSIC CONTINUES)
ALEJANDRO: One of those snakes that pop out of a can,
except this snake comes with a little sign hanging
- from its neck saying... - (SQUEAKS)
(ALEJANDRO READING)
ELIZABETH: (ON VOICEMAIL) Hello, Alejandro, this is Elizabeth, it's Saturday.
11:00 a.m., Bingham and I
are making good time on the road,
he's just stopped to get some tea.
Uh, kombucha, good for the digestion, he says.
Let me know if you have any troubles getting in the loft.
The first gallerist arrives at one,
the Whitney at four, let's hope they love the eggs.
I hope you're well. Let's teach you how to drive,
so we can do this trip together next time.
You're sorely missed.
(HANGS UP)
(CHIMES)
ELIZABETH: (INTERNALLY) Bobby.
We did it.
We found all your paintings.
Catalogued them, and synced the databases.
We will get you your show.
Oh.
(BINGHAM SIGHS)
(BINGHAM SIGHING WEARILY)
There will, at last...
(SIGHS) - ...be order. (ECHOES)
(BINGHAM SIGHS WEARILY)
(COMPUTER WHIRRING)
- (COMPUTER CHIMES) - (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BINGHAM YAWNS)
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
WOMAN: Hm.
Thank you.
(CELL PHONE BUZZING)
- Hi. - ELIZABETH: (ON PHONE) Alejandro,
we need to talk.
EERIE VOICE: Ale...
Ale...
ELIZABETH: I just clicked on to the database here in Maine.
- Oh, okay. - And, uh,
the database does not match.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
On my iPad, Alejandro, it declares
that Egg on Red Satin is still at the Kraushaar gallery,
when you know perfectly well
that we brought it back to the loft.
- ALEJANDRO: Yes, I know that... - ELIZABETH: Oh, I'm sorry,
was that a different Alejandro
who brought all those paintings back
with me to the loft. having devoured
an entire salad on my dime at, uh, Le Grainne's Cafe?
No, no, that...
- That was me, I was there. - ELIZABETH: All the salad
your twin could eat!
What's so difficult about this project, Alejandro?
No, it... it's... it's not difficult.
No, it's not... I don't think it's difficult.
ELIZABETH: I remember distinctly asking you
to code Blue Egg as UMBIMC.
NARRATOR: Under My Bed In Maine Cottage.
Not UMCIMC.
NARRATOR: Same, but couch.
Okay, I think... I think maybe...
- Excuse me? - Well, I think, maybe...
- You thought maybe? - ALEJANDRO: Let's just see
if you're connected to the Internet...
You think that I may not be connected to the Internet?
Well, I don't know, I don't know
if you're connected to the Internet, I'm not there,
- so how could I... - Don't scream at me!
I'm not screaming. I just... I'm just saying
if you want me to help you from here,
then you need to tell me what's going on there.
ELIZABETH: Oh, I'm your IT now?
Oh, I see, so I suppose since I work for you now,
it's time for me to start misrepresenting my abilities
- at FileMaker Pro? - No.
- No... - Do not scream at me!
(ALEJANDRO BREATHING HEAVILY)
ELIZABETH: How can we have a show
- if the databases are a mess! - (HYDRA GROWLING)
ALEJANDRO: No, no. Elizabeth, let me talk.
The whole point of the... of the database
is to tell us where the paintings are.
And we know where they are,
they're right here in front of me.
- (HYDRA GROWLING) - (METALLIC CLANG)
(THUDS)
BOBBY: You could solve a problem,
but she'll come back at you with two more.
She's the Hydra.
- (HYDRA GROWLING ECHOES) - My iPad still has games on it.
You told me you'd look
into removing the app, but then you also told me
that you knew FileMaker Pro,
so here am I with Darts on my iPad.
What? (CHUCKLES) What?
Well, okay, okay, all right, Elizabeth, are we talking
about the databases or are we talking about the iPad?
This is what is going to happen.
You are going to burn a disk...
Burn a disk? - ...of the master copy
of the database in the loft.
- Then you are going to... - (MULTIPLE ELIZABETHS TALKING)
...make copies of that CD-ROM, and overnight them here,
the Asheville house and extras at Bingham's.
- ALEJANDRO: No. No, Elizabeth. - I will want tracking numbers.
- I will corroborate... - No, no, no.
...the information matches the information
on the iPad when I get to those computers.
ALEJANDRO: Let's just make sure that you're connected
- to the Internet. - ELIZABETH: We can revisit
the sponsorship conversation, once I have the disk!
Even if I did that, I'm not sure
how you would insert
- a CD-ROM into your iPad. - (HYDRA HISSING)
BINGHAM: Elizabeth.
I can take a crack at it.
Bingham will take a crack at it.
No, Elizabeth.
I don't have a lot of time. Days at this point.
Alejandro, I question if you are ready for this job.
(RUMBLING)
Elizabeth, I'm ready.
I... I... I'll figure it out.
We're so close. Elizabeth, please.
(HISSING)
Okay, okay. I'll... I'll send you the disk.
Please.
(COMPUTER WHIRRING)
All right, that'll be $250.
$250?
WOMAN: Yup. For overnighting these three.
You need them to get there tomorrow, right?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Yes.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEEPS)
WOMAN: This ****ing machine. Do you have cash?
(DISCORDANT MUSIC PLAYING)
B... B... But I'm sorry, that's just not the amount
I should have. According to my calculations,
that is not the amount I should have in my account.
BANK AGENT: What balance were you expecting?
Well, I... I don't know.
Zero would be great. (CHUCKLES) Just...
Just get me to zero.
Again, every time you overdraft,
the bank must impose a penalty of $35.
(CHUCKLES) So, uh, what? Like an $8 sandwich
becomes a $45 sandwich?
- BANK AGENT: $43. - (CLOCK TICKING)
Again, that's the policy, Mr. Martinez.
But that... (WINCES) that makes absolutely no sense.
I distinctly recall making a cash deposit.
Hm. And that deposit was flagged
as potentially fraudulent.
So, it's on hold now.
For your protection.
Right, but then that hold made me overdraw.
For your protection.
(CHUCKLING BITTERLY) I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, but do I seem protected right now?
Why would you let this happen?
Why not just have my card get declined?
That's not the way things work.
ALEJANDRO: But that is the way things should work.
Otherwise, the bank is just benefitting
from my misfortune.
From the misfortune of people
who can't afford to make any mistakes.
From people who have no margin of error.
It's... policy.
It is what it is.
No.
No. Look at me.
Just look at me.
I know that you can hear me.
I know that you can hear my voice
when I tell you that I know that this is not your fault.
You didn't do this, the bank did this.
And there is no reason for you to be defending them to me.
Please. Please, at this point,
I'm not even asking for my money back,
I'm just asking for you to tell me
that you agree with me, because I know that you do.
I know that there's still a person in there.
And I know that she can hear me.
Please.
- (GUN COCKS) - I stand with Bank of America.
(CATS MEOWING)
LILY: So I, like, started crying,
like, full Pisces move.
Tear, tear, tear. So dramatic.
- (GIGGLES) - SPRAY: Oh my God, Alejandro.
- Hey, what's up? - Um...
Nothing... Nothing much.
Nice. Uh, this is Lily.
Michael's GF. She's kind of been holding court here,
(CHUCKLES) inviting a lot of her friends over,
even though we're trying to get ready to go to a thing.
LILY: So much fun. (CHUCKLES)
Wait, Alejandro, are you from El Salvador?
SPRAY: Yeah, I was telling you about Alejandro.
He's gonna be the coolest toy designer at Hasbro.
I don't think you were, Spray.
I literally was, just one minute ago, telling you.
My God.
I'm, like, always on a little trial
- (CHUCKLES) with you. - (CHUCKLES FORCEDLY) Okay.
LILY: Feel like I would have remembered.
But hello. (GIGGLES) Wait, speaking of,
have you guys seen the Cabbage Patch things?
So funny.
- (LILY GIGGLES) - What... What's the...
What's the Cabbage Patch thing?
LILY: @HasbroOfficial posted it. (CHUCKLES)
They, like, gave them smartphones,
and they, like... It comes up with a funny message like,
-"Oh, are u ghosting me?" - (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
"Ah, your Uber's here."
So ****ing funny. Like, who thinks of that?
How did they think of that? I love it.
(LILY LAUGHING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: Craigs...
I'm here for a... for a job that you've shown me before.
- Sell salon packages... - ALEJANDRO: No.
The one I kept turning down.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
Cleaning boy.
That one.
(CRAIGSLIST MAN LAUGHING WICKEDLY)
CRAIGSLIST MAN: A boy to clean my apartment.
You clean...
I watch.
And then...
Who knows...?
(CRAIGSLIST MAN LAUGHS WICKEDLY)
I... I... I'm Alejandro.
Yeah, I know.
(DOOR CLOSES DISTANTLY)
ALEJANDRO: So do you think the buzzer was broken or...
That works.
You've done this before...
For kink, I mean?
(SCOFFS) Yeah.
You can drink and work. Not precious about it.
- Great. - Do the windows.
Hm? Hm, hm?
(MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
Um, nice, nice windows.
MAN: What?
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
Um, I don't... I don't know I'm just...
I'm just saying nice... nice windows.
- You okay? - Yeah.
No, yeah.
And I applied to be a part
of the Hasbro Talent Incubator Program, and I...
but I'm... I'm running...
do you make the decisions?
Or... Or... Or who does?
and I know there's rules, but just...
Just give me a name.
Who do I talk to? I just...
I... I... just...
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
Did you lose your keys?
ALEJANDRO: No, I gave them to Travis.
I don't know who that is.
- LILY: Right...? - ALEJANDRO: He's the subletter.
He's why I can't go into the room.
- WOMAN: Hey, hey... - Are you okay?
ALEJANDRO: You think I don't want to go to parties?
You think... You think I don't want to go to bars?
I can't... I can't even sleep.
You can go in there. Trent's not even there right now.
ALEJANDRO: And I don't want him to come back
and find me in his bed.
SPRAY: It's your bed.
And he's literally never even here.
- WOMAN: Yeah, yeah... - What do you mean
he's never here?
I mean, I've never seen him one single time,
and I don't know what his face looks like.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION CONTINUES)
WOMAN: Oh, okay, awkward turtle...
ELIZABETH: Do you know FileMaker Pro?
Bingham will take a crack at it...
BINGHAM: What's a visa?
WOMAN: I'm s... I'm like... I'm gonna just go.
(NOTIFICATIONS CHIME)
(CELL PHONE LOCK CLICKS)
(CELL PHONE BUZZING)
Why did you want to see me, then? What's the matter?
Uh, nothing's the matter.
Hey, um... would you be interested
in becoming a paralegal?
What, like...
You mean, like, here?
(CHUCKLES) Yes, here.
I can get you on a visa, get you some training.
All right? It's not rocket science.
You're a hard worker and most of all, you're patient.
You speak Spanish, you're sane.
Uh, you seem trustworthy.
(CHUCKLES) These are basically the requirements
for being a paralegal.
Oh.
Thank you but I... I don't even know, um, law.
You know how to email? It's just emails.
Emails and... and filing.
You know, straightforward stuff.
(CELL PHONE BUZZES)
Oh, I'm... I'm sorry.
Do... Do you mind if I take this? It might be about work.
Uh-huh. Go. Go, go, go, go.
Uh, hello?
Hi, this is Nadine Moore from the Roosevelt Island
Fine Arts Gallery, is this Alejandro?
Yes. - NADINE: Hi! Oh, my God, yay!
So I got the PDF for the show you sent out.
Sorry we hadn't replied.
I'll... I'll go straight to the point.
We were supposed to have a show open tomorrow night,
had a lot of dealers and, well, the community excited
but due to circumstances out of our control, whatever...
Point is, we want the Asencio show.
We want the eggs. We need the eggs!
- Insane, I know. - (CHUCKLES)
Like... Like... Like, tomorrow?
ELIZABETH: Where's my disk?
I suppose you'll be charging me
by the minute for this call.
I got Bobby a show.
Excuse me?
ALEJANDRO: A... A solo show, a... a real show.
Oh, then the New Museum called back?
No, no, no, um...
ELIZABETH: Well, what, then? The... The Whitney...
No, it's, um... - ...would like to revisit?
It's The Roosevelt Island Fine Arts Gallery.
Say that again.
Elizabeth, I know they're not as reputable...
Those people show evil Mickey Mouses
and glittery Marilyn Monroes.
Yes, that investors do pay a lot of money for.
You lied to me!
What... Okay, what lie?
What is a lie? I don't believe I have lied, Elizabeth.
You told me that you would only pitch
to real institutions!
Nobody's gonna take us seriously now.
ALEJANDRO: This is the only way. Think of the eggs.
ELIZABETH: You're trying to destroy me,
to destroy his legacy.
You only came to me,
so that you could go laughing off to the bank
and then scurrying off to Guatemala.
I know you're in cahoots with these people.
And I know you want to sell his eggs to the Chinese,
so that you can get your green card.
For what? So that you can make Barbies for Toys-R-Us?
Well, don't bother!
Don't you worry your pretty little head.
I am fine.
(CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
I don't need you.
I have something better.
(MUSIC STOPS)
I have Bingham.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SWORD CLATTERS ON GROUND)
ALEJANDRO: Do you think he gives a shit about you?
Do you think he gives a shit about Bobby or any of this?
(CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
You are not from the same universe.
He has no idea what it's like to desperately want something.
He knows FileMaker Pro.
No one knows shit about FileMaker Pro.
(PERCUSSIVE BEAT PLAYING)
He's helping with the website.
He knows all about the widgets.
You know nothing of widgets.
Why are you bringing up the website right now, Elizabeth?
Why... Why are you making everything so difficult?
Oh, that's rich coming from you.
(WHOOSHING SOUND)
You...
who adore difficulty.
You cannot get enough of it.
You seek it out round every corner.
Not Mexico City, not Montreal, not Berlin.
Nowhere easy to migrate to.
And not a doctor, not a software designer.
Nothing that anybody's
gleefully handing out visas for.
No.
An aspiring... maker of toys.
(CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Well...
if we're doing that,
why don't we address the elephant in the room?
You want to keep your husband frozen.
You want to be this high-society lady,
keep eating your $28 salads.
With what money?
We're both so tired, Elizabeth.
Let's go sell some paintings.
Yes, well, you need to drop the theatrics,
Alejandro.
We have work to do.
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
I'll see you soon.
(MAJESTIC MUSIC PLAYING)
We're doing well on time for once.
Have you ever been to, uh, Roosevelt Island before?
No.
ELIZABETH: "It's practically Manhattan."
That's what the curator woman said.
Three times on the phone.
Elizabeth, Elizabeth.
My beautiful Hydra.
How dare you?
I know.
(SIGHS) What I don't know is how you ever put up with me.
How do you put up with this stupid, womanizing,
soon to be frozen cutlet of a husband?
Don't forget a narcissist.
It's your scales.
Stop it.
Where's Bingham?
Well, I have it on good authority
that he's been working the docks.
Uh-huh. How do you mean "working"?
There is an underbelly of closeted fishermen
that little tricks like Bingham fall into.
NARRATOR: Bingham was not working the docks.
In fact, he was just awarded a Guggenheim grant
to further pursue being cute in the arts.
The deviousness in those eyes, Alejandro.
You'll be hearing all about it on 20/20,
you mark my words.
Where's Blue Egg on Yellow Satin?
I thought you had Blue Egg on Yellow Satin.
It's on the station!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
The egg is alone in Manhattan!
Someone will steal the egg!
- No one's gonna steal the egg. - ELIZABETH: No, they will!
We have to stop the tram.
They can't... They're not gonna let you do that.
Stop the tram! We have to.
I don't think you can even do that.
- They can't stop the tram. - Stop the tram.
- Excuse me? - We have to go back.
There's a very, very valuable egg on the station.
We need it for the show that will save my husband's legacy
and his body.
We can't do that, lady.
Stop the tram now, immediately!
- MAN: Listen, lady, I can't. - Right now, stop it!
- What do you mean? - I can't.
I'm a customer and I'm telling you to.
- MAN: I can't. - Serve me!
- Who the hell are you?
Do it now!
I can't... I can't do... It's not possible.
Do it now, immediately! Do it now, instantly!
(ROARS) Now!
(SIGHS)
(WHIRRING)
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAJESTIC MUSIC PLAYING)
So we only have one wall?
Well, it's our best wall.
I thought this was a solo show.
Just you, solo on this wall.
We have to reserve the other areas, unfortunately.
We already have some interest in the eggs.
ALEJANDRO: Well, they're clearly not all gonna fit.
Yes, they won't all fit, unfortunately.
The show is called Thirteen Eggs.
NADINE: Well, we can hang some near the restroom,
but that'll still only get you up to 12.
Call it Twelve Eggs. Easy.
It's like an even dozen.
I'll tell you what will happen now.
We are leaving this place. We are taking our eggs.
Elizabeth.
You can put them in your back office.
You can put them in your catalog
and send them in your email blast, I don't care.
But there will be no compromised version
of this show.
NADINE: So it's all or nothing, then?
It's all or nothing.
NARRATOR: They didn't get Bobby his show,
but they sold all 13 paintings.
Insufferable.
ALEJANDRO: "Just call it an even dozen."
(ELIZABETH LAUGHING)
Oh, Bobby, forgive me. Forgive us.
(ELIZABETH LAUGHS)
Do you think he'd hate this?
I'd like to think he'd have known it had to be this way.
For him, for me.
For a wonderful young man by the name of Alejandro.
You just seem so convinced that this is gonna work out.
That he will wake up in the future.
That he will be healed.
Probably sounds idiotic to you. (EXHALES)
No.
No, it really doesn't.
It sounds brave.
Brave?
ALEJANDRO: Yeah.
He took a nap.
That's the extent of his bravery.
Oh, poor him.
How gutsy.
Journeying into the unknown.
Meanwhile, who stays behind
and makes sure that he arrives safely?
The Monster.
I'm the thorns that protect the rose.
I assured him I was strong enough for this.
But...
if it works out, my Lord, I'll... I'll be so old.
A handsome young painter married to some old hag.
ALEJANDRO: No, Elizabeth,
when he wakes up, he's gonna have a lot to thank you for.
You've had a lot of patience.
It takes a very, very special person
to deal with the impossible.
(CELL PHONE BUZZING)
DOLORES: (ON PHONE) Ale.
(ALEJANDRO IN SPANISH)
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
ELIZABETH: (ON VOICEMAIL, IN ENGLISH) Alejandro, many apologies
for you to be receiving this information now
but when you return to the loft,
you're about to discover my inert frozen body.
I just drank the cherry-flavored CryoPreserve
to freeze my insides and catch up with Bobby in the future.
Well, wish me a good trip.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
BOBBY: Elizabeth, Elizabeth.
My beautiful Hydra.
Maybe I'll come and join you.
BOBBY: Why?
Will you do me a favor? Will you wait for me?
I'll be waiting for you with my arms wide open.
(ELIZABETH EXHALES)
ELIZABETH: (ON VOICEMAIL) I called that woman ahead of time.
They know to come and get me now.
She said, "Elizabeth, I didn't know you were terminally ill.
"I'm so sorry."
Moron.
Anyway, with what we made tonight,
we'll be able to keep us both frozen for a while.
But also, there's enough to repair the cottage and sell.
There's already interest in the loft.
I've written to realtors.
Please see to this, and by God please, please, please, please
sort the databases
and have them reflect the most recent sales.
I'll have much work to do when I get back,
so I'll need this done properly.
I trust the government won't have any issues
with my sponsorship of you,
even though they know I'm not around.
I certainly hope not.
I've left you a glowing recommendation letter
addressed to "Whom it may concern."
I wasn't sure who to address it to. The President?
I've left detailed instructions
for the accountant.
This process has been so difficult.
But I must say, meeting someone who understands me
has made it all feel attainable.
You've been an absolute delight.
I'll miss you.
I'll miss you drinking wine at a snail's pace.
I'll, uh, miss you getting that little smile on your face
and writing in your little notebook.
(WISTFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
No, listen, Alejandro, it's gonna work.
The doctors, you know, who told Bobby he was gonna die
and that nothing could be done, they were imbeciles.
Anything can be done.
I think we've proved that to ourselves now.
All I needed was a little more time
and, uh... and I think I needed you.
So thank you for getting the show
and, uh, I want you to promise me
that you don't just plump for these, um,
unacceptable options that the thoughtless people
who run this planet are gonna put in front of you.
When they tell you you can only turn left or right,
you let them know that you're going up.
Always send the food back,
uh, stand up for yourself
and remember, it's not just a matter of everything
or nothing at all.
It's everything or everything.
Oh, and by the way,
the name of the idiot at the toy company...
is Brian Kissane.
I had to negotiate an entire day
of the phone tree for that one.
Go and inform him that you work there now.
Go, do it. Do it.
You know, Alejandro, I really...
cannot believe that with all that time on your hands,
you did not fix those databases.
(VOICE NOTE WHOOSHES)
(SIGHS)
(DOG BARKS DISTANTLY)
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)
ALEJANDRO: Hi. I need to talk to Brian.
- Is he expecting you? - ALEJANDRO: No.
But I need to talk to Brian right now. Instantly, please.
- Thank you. - I'm sorry.
If he is not expecting you, how did you get in here?
You seem confused. I just need to talk to Brian.
Is that Brian? That's Brian.
Brian? Brian?
- Brian? Hi. - Yes?
Can you excuse us? Brian and I need to have a little meeting.
Thank you.
- Hi, Brian. - Hi.
My name is Alejandro Martinez. We've been corresponding
quite a little bit regarding my application.
Oh, did your aunt or someone call the other day?
ALEJANDRO: Yeah, see,
I felt compelled to kindly follow up,
given that you have implemented one of my ideas.
- Excuse me? - ALEJANDRO: Yeah.
We have a problem here, Brian. Because it seems like
you took one of the ideas from my application,
then you presented it as if it were your own.
What are... What are you referring to
when you say I took your idea?
Don't scream at me. The little messages
on the Cabbage Patch dolls' smartphones.
Uh-huh.
ALEJANDRO: That was in my application, Brian.
Remember?
Susana has a screenshot
of an annoying post that Marjorie made.
Oh.
Uh, I mean...
Look, it is possible that...
the two of us both came up with...
Uh-huh. And isn't it also possible
that if I were to post a side-by-side comparison
of the idea that I came up with a year ago
and the idea that you guys produced a month ago,
well, that wouldn't go so well?
Yes, that is possible.
And don't you think there is a world
where if I were to go to your bosses and tell them
that you're taking ideas from people's applications
and not even hiring them, they wouldn't love that?
There is also this world, yes.
Yeah, so, actually, I think this is what's gonna happen.
You are going to hire me and you're gonna put me
in the Hasbro Talent Incubator Program.
Sure. Great. Yes.
We are always looking for new talent.
Well, from within the US and its territories.
What?
The dropdown menu in the application, Brian.
I think that you've never sat and thought about this,
that it only allows you to select
one of the 50 states or its territories.
And if you're not applying from one of those places,
then you're out of luck,
'cause the website won't let you through.
- Did you know that, Brian? - No, I did not know.
ALEJANDRO: Oh, well, now you know.
So this is what's going to happen.
You are going to call the website people
and you're gonna say, "Hi, it's me from upstairs.
"I want you to put 'other' as part of the options."
That way, no one gets stuck in that step
and anyone can apply from anywhere.
- Great. - ALEJANDRO: Great.
And you're also going to sponsor me,
which is really expensive and really long.
But you're gonna do it and I'm not even gonna hear about it.
You're just gonna send me an email saying it's all done.
Okay.
- Okay. Great. - BRIAN: Great.
So I know my tone has been a little... stern.
BRIAN: Mm.
But I want you to know that I look forward
to seeing you every single day.
- Wonderful. I can't wait. - ALEJANDRO: Yeah.
BRIAN: Welcome.
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOLORES IN SPANISH)
(WHEELS SQUEAKING)
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR: (IN ENGLISH) FreezeCorp
and its many competitors
all woke their clients from their slumber
after finally figuring out how.
Some had been frozen for a few years prior,
some decades ago.
Upon waking up in the future,
patients stayed under observation
at the Center For The Recently Awoken.
ROBOT: May I serve you coffee or tea prior to the mingle?
Leaving. None of those options.
- May I serve you coffee... - Leaving. Done.
...prior to the mingle?
ELIZABETH: I am not going to this idiotic mingle.
- The mingle is mandatory... - ELIZABETH: Leaving.
ROBOT: ...unfortunately.
ELIZABETH: Other. None of those options.
Coffee, fruit cup.
- May I offer something else? - Leaving. Done.
Could you please leave the little guy alone?
ELIZABETH: You are, once again, siding with the robot.
Humiliating me in front of a toaster on wheels.
(BLEEPS)
We're supposed to relax, Elizabeth.
- Ease into this thing. - I am very relaxed!
I'm very relaxed as well.
- Okay? - Good!
What are you looking at?
WOMAN: And what do you do?
ELIZABETH: Bobby's a very talented painter.
WOMAN: Oh.
And, uh, we are looking to mount a solo show
just as soon as we can locate all his paintings.
Well, we'll see, you know?
- We'll see what? - I don't know.
Do people even care about paintings anymore?
To be honest, I'm not sweating that right now.
What do you do?
What do you mean you're not sweating it?
- (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) - WOMAN: I'm a poet.
- Oh. - Because of this whole thing,
I'm in a substantial amount of debt, so...
BOBBY: I'm sure you write beautiful poems.
Welcome to the future, ma'am.
The bar will reopen after the speeches.
I would like a glass of white wine.
- Please. Oh. - MC: Hello, everyone.
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
And welcome to the future.
Now, I bet you're all wondering,
"I woke up for this?"
Uh, sorry, but the bar will reopen after the speeches.
I would like
- a glass of white wine. - (SHUSHING)
I mean, the wine is there
and all of these people are drinking.
And I don't see the difference.
Um, if you could just wait a few minutes,
it'll just be a moment.
No, you're the one who's supposed to wait.
- You're the waiter, right? - BARTENDER: If you just listen
to the speeches and enjoy the speeches.
ELIZABETH: What speeches? I can't hear any speeches.
- As you can see... - (ELIZABETH CONTINUES ARGUING)
...you're each wearing different colors.
Each color represents the decade
- that you went to sleep in. - (ELIZABETH CONTINUES ARGUING)
Please.
BARTENDER: I cannot help you at this moment.
That woman's crazy.
- ELIZABETH: You could... - If you'll excuse me,
I'm here to serve you. However, we are closed.
ELIZABETH: I'm not sure I... I do feel
like excusing you, in fact.
And don't walk away from me like that.
You say you're here to serve me,
but you're clearly not here to serve me
anything other than insubordination.
And quite a lot of cheek.
BARTENDER: Ma'am, you're not allowed to be back here.
ELIZABETH: Well, I think I am.
I mean, if you're not allowed to serve me any wine,
I think I'm allowed to come back here.
And by the way, the state of this kitchen
is absolutely revolting.
Don't walk away from me.
And don't scream at me like that.
(CELESTIAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Oh, my God. That's Alejandro Martinez.
He designed all those toys, um...
My Little Problems, with his mother Dolores.
(ELIZABETH CONTINUES ARGUING INDISTINCTLY)
(CELESTIAL MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
NARRATOR: Alejandro lived a long and beautiful life.
Alejandro?
NARRATOR: Near the end of it,
he took a nap for hundreds of years...
ELIZABETH: Is that really you?
NARRATOR : ...to stand in front of a cave, wearing all blue,
lovingly looking at the Monster.
Oh, my God.
NARRATOR: Just as Dolores dreamt many years ago.
Alejandro.
The databases are out of sync.
- They do not match. - (CHUCKLES)
I compared the copy on my laptop,
which has the key for the letter D missing,
which you might think is a suspicious
and maybe convenient occurrence...
They are done.
What?
ALEJANDRO: The databases match.
The project is finished.
What do you mean?
I know FileMaker Pro.
Do you promise?
I did it.
Order reigning supreme at last?
Elizabeth? Come out.
Let me show you how the databases match.
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(CELESTIAL MUSIC PLAYING)