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[wailing hum]
[birdsong]
[gentle music builds]
[generator sputters then starts]
[words sizzle]
[lights clunk on]
[monitors beeping]
[sighs]
What is going on here?
This can't be right.
[pen scratching]
[watch beeps]
[dramatic music builds]
[music stops abruptly]
[gentle birdsong]
Safety.
[safety clicks off]
[loud rumbling in distance]
[annoyed sigh]
[Michelle]: Goddammit, Daniel.
Come on.
[can thuds in wheelbarrow]
Boo!
[items clatter]
Morning, Dad.
[Daniel]: Very funny, sweetheart.
You're back early.
[Michelle]: Telescope scared the birds.
Sorry.
Hey, Michelle, can you take a look at this?
Because this star was marked as a naked star,
but I think there might be exoplanets.
- Daniel, you know I'm done with this.
- No, I know that you're retired,
but this is really important.
- Not more important than our kids.
I think we need to rethink
this whole holistic homeschooling curriculum.
I can't do this without you.
- Traditional school isn't an option.
I think it is an option,
because that's what a school is for. Kids go to that.
- No, if our kids grow up learning the same way we did,
then there is no hope for future generations.
Was our generation that bad?
Ugh.
Michelle, please!
All I know...
- You're better at this than I am.
- ...is it wasn't good for our family
when you and I were down in that bunker,
our, our minds light years away.
- I, I know but--
- You promised the kids that you wouldn't work on weekends.
We could spend more time with them.
[sighs heavily]
[Daniel]: Come on, kids, let's go!
Do you, uh, do you want us to get you an ice cream?
[Michelle]: I'm good, thanks.
Okay.
Is it okay if you guys do the arcade without me?
I just gotta run a quick errand.
I'll give you 20 dollars each.
[Maddy]: Really?
- Okay, just don't tell your mother.
What's the errand?
[whimsical music playing]
[bell on door jingles]
[sleepy country music playing on radio]
[sighs]
- I like the disguise, the fishing gear.
You fit right in.
- It's not a disguise, Daniel. I'm going fishing after this.
Oh. Salmon? Bass?
- So, uh, I appreciate you seeing me on the weekend.
I know you've got kids.
- Actually, it's really great timing that we're meeting today
because um...
- What was that? - What?
You looking over your shoulder
like you're checking for something.
Well, I'm trying to be safe.
I don't want anyone to hear this.
- You think anyone actually wants to listen to this?
- Well, I know this intel is classified.
- [chuckling] - Who told you that?
Well, I just assumed,
being off grid in the bunker, camouflaged.
- Uh, Cold War ended a long time ago.
Trust me, no one cares.
- Well, I think if you just take a look at what I have here,
you'll see that there's some anomalies.
- I asked for this meeting, so let me go first.
I'm retiring, Daniel.
And I get the distinct feeling that no one else at NORAD
wants or cares for your very detailed reports.
Hell, I barely look at them and I get paid to.
- But--
But... I like you.
And I like Michelle, and I know you're patriots.
Also, I owe Michelle's father, Ming, a debt of gratitude.
A big one, actually.
So, on my way out of the agency,
I'm going to renew a 20-year contract for you.
You can email your reports to our server, so if anyone ever--
- Teddy, I am serious. I found something.
No, you didn't, Daniel.
Not this time, not the other times.
It's an error, or an omission.
Or maybe a subconscious game you play on yourself
to keep yourself interested.
But we both know that there's no discernible evidence
of life in space.
Even if there was something else out there,
you're never gonna find it with a 50-year-old telescope.
If you'd just take a look.
- With this contract... - Teddy--
- ...you can take care of your family.
You can live a good life, write a book, whatever.
- Please--
- I am trying to help you, Daniel.
But if you open that file, I'm going to change my mind.
Now...
I'd like to go fishing.
[clears throat]
I've enjoyed getting to know you over the years.
You're a smart man.
Now you have the freedom to do anything you want.
I hope you do something with it.
[bell on door jingles]
Just get the bill, please.
[gasoline pouring]
Come on, kids! Let's go!
[solemn music playing]
[engine starts]
[phone ringing]
[Ming]: Hello?
[Daniel]: Hi, Ming.
[Ming]: Daniel... is that you?
- Can I trouble you for some help with my work?
- Don't you have colleagues you can call about this stuff?
- Nope. I only have you, Ming, unfortunately for us both.
Okay. What's on your mind?
I think I found something.
What's that?
- I don't know. I need a second opinion.
- You share a roof with an astrophysicist.
What does she say?
Well, she won't even look.
[sighs]
I miss her, Daniel.
Will she ever speak to me again?
Daniel?
[Ming]: Daniel?
[Daniel]: I gotta go.
[Ming]: Please.
- Sorry. [Ming]: Daniel--
[call beeps off]
Who was that?
It was your father.
- You know, you are a real piece of work.
- Most wives-- - I'm not your wife.
- Well, darling, most partners--
I'm not your darling, either.
- What I'm trying to say is that I think you should look at it
as a good thing that I keep in touch with your father.
- I haven't spoken to my father in years,
and I'm supposed to be happy that you guys call each other
for pillow talk?
- I can't help it, he's a true genius,
one of only two that I know.
And since, y'know, you don't want to talk to me
about work anymore, I'm grateful he answers my phone calls.
- He answers because you are giving him hope.
False hope... that he's gonna be a part of this family.
You're right.
Sorry.
Thank you.
Come here.
Have a night cap with me.
Just one.
Okay.
[crickets]
[tender music]
- You think the kids know we're on a break?
- Please... can we just call it a fight?
Pretty smart, though.
They probably know something's going on.
Yeah, they are.
Smart, loving, and tough.
- Mm-hmm. - Hmm.
Thank you.
For being the star that keeps our family in orbit.
[scoffs]
[chuckles softly]
What?
Nothing. That was very sweet.
What is it?
- It's just, you don't think of anything else, do you?
I've always been this way.
You used to call it a passion, now you call it an obsession.
But whatever you call it,
I've had it the same way since we met.
I see you every day and I miss you so much.
How is that possible?
- I know what you mean, I miss you, too.
We miss you.
- I'm gonna be a better father. I promise.
I want you to admit something, though.
What?
- We had a lot of amazing times in that bunker.
- Oh yeah, that's easy. Of course we did.
Late nights, early mornings.
Do you remember when you found the black hole
in the 63 Messier galaxy?
Yeah, we just smoked a joint.
- And now on the list of largest black holes is 11-01C,
Holmgrun 15A, and Pac Man.
Pac Man. [giggles]
- We spent more nights on that crappy couch
than we did our own bed.
I know you're up to something.
What? I didn't say anything.
[chuckles softly]
- All right, I'll bite. What's in the papers?
- Oh, the papers? Oh, nah, you wouldn't be interested in that.
Oh, my God, forget I asked!
Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait.
You, you see that...
see the gravitational force here?
Yeah, I see. Wait.
- I think there may be an Exoplanet there.
Oh, my God.
Daniel, th-
Yeah?
- When's the next time the telescope is gonna have
a clear viewing plane? Six months?
Seven minutes and 35 seconds.
Daniel! Oh, my God!
[energetic rock music playing]
[Daniel]: 52 seconds.
Wait, wait, wait. Not yet.
[music stops]
[music resumes]
[monitor beeping]
[Michelle]: Holy sh--
[gentle birdsong]
[calm music playing]
Mom?
[Maddy]: Frankie, wake up.
[music builds]
Hey!
You said we would go hunting.
[sleepy exhale]
Morning, kids.
- You found something, didn't you?
We sure did.
[whimsical music]
What a night.
Are they gonna come kill us?
[Michelle]: No, no, everything is fine.
[Daniel]: They don't even know we're here.
And if they did, they wouldn't care, probably.
I'm getting my gun.
- No, no, no, no, no, Maddy, Maddy.
They've been there since probably before humans
have existed.
This doesn't change anything.
It's just, now we know they're there.
[Francois]: How?
You said you can't see them. How do you know they're there?
- Okay, let's pretend that Earth is here in the dining room.
Okay? And that the kitchen is a solar system
7.3 light years away.
And this light is like the star in that solar system.
Are you with me?
Yeah.
- So, right here we have Planet Y.
And Planet Y we can't see,
but we know that Planet Y is in the Goldilocks zone
relative to it's solar system's star.
So, Planet Y should have the right temperature,
the right liquid water, atmosphere, gravity,
all the things needed for life to prosper.
I get it.
- Good. You can tell by its shadow, nothing's happening.
It's just like any other planet.
But we can tell by the effect of the light,
that something is happening here.
Something purposeful.
Something conscious.
Because based on the gravity in this solar system,
that light should be much brighter.
So, something is dimming this light by about 75%.
- And we know that any advanced civilization would try
to capture the energy from its nearest star.
We call it a Dyson sphere.
- Yeah, it's like a massive solar panel.
So, based on our data,
we know that something is purposefully capturing
that star's light energy.
- You said they probably don't know we're here.
Could we send a signal, say what's up, or something?
Yeah. Yeah, you could.
You just need a clear viewing horizon
and a transmitting radio telescope--
[Maddy]: No!
No signals! Mom, make them stop!
Oh, sweetie, sweetie.
- I don't want there to be aliens.
- So, what are you gonna call them?
What do you want to call them?
How about 959 Elite?
What's that?
- It's our area code. All the rappers do it.
You listen to rap?
♪ Stay poppin', grindin'
♪ Tryin' to build a dream with a team 'round me ♪
♪ Rockin' like I'm next to rest can't stop this ♪
♪ Ignited by the most high line nonsense ♪
[scanner whirring]
[phone ringing]
[rap music fading]
[Voicemail]: You've reached Teddy. Do not leave a message.
[call beeps off]
- Okay, we have just under a week until 959 Elite orbits
its star and then we lose visual,
and I could really use your help. You up for it?
Of course I'll help.
You're like the most famous explorer
since Christopher Columbus.
- Columbus wasn't all he was cracked up to be.
Hey, what are you doing?
Scanning your papers?
[Daniel]: Yeah.
- Oh. What's your plan for--
I'm just backing up.
- Hmm. Can I talk to you outside for a sec?
Yeah, sure.
Keep an eye on them.
[Michelle]: So, I want to start out by saying
that I am so proud of you, Daniel.
I still can't believe it.
And the fact that we got to do that together, it's...
one of the greatest nights of my life.
Yeah, me too.
We gotta talk about what we're gonna do next,
cause it's gonna have serious consequences and--
I know. I know, I know.
I mean, I still can't believe it.
I mean, all those years of scanning nothingness,
with no hope.
But now, this is the greatest single discovery
in the history of physics.
Daniel, Daniel...
- Of astronomy, of--
...we can't tell anybody.
What?
There's gonna be panic.
An overnight increase in defense spending.
Institutional paranoia. People are gonna freak out.
- For decades, this is all I've done.
I know.
- Just searching and... for life in space.
And this whole time you thought if we found something
we were just gonna keep it to ourselves? I--
- Well, I mean, I thought we would find a single-celled
amoeba.
But Dyson spheres...
Yeah.
...advanced civilization.
We are not ready for this.
Think about what we already have in our very near future,
genetic engineering, artificial intelligence,
ecological collapse.
We can't even handle that.
[sighs]
- You have such little faith in humanity.
Not without reason.
[crickets chirping]
Hey, what's the matter?
My mind's racing.
You gonna go for a drive?
Yeah.
- All right, well just be safe, okay?
I will.
[♪ Catch Yer Own Train by The Silver Seas]
♪ I wish I was strong
♪ But I've known from the start ♪
♪ Instead of waiting to so long to reveal what's behind ♪
♪ But there's no use in talking ♪
♪ You made up your mind
♪ So baby, you and I are not the same ♪
♪ You say you like the sun, I like the rain ♪
♪ So before we go, do it all again ♪
[computer beeps]
♪ You better catch yer own train ♪
♪ I wish I was light
♪ I would shine through this tunnel ♪
♪ To the light on the other side ♪
♪ And I will break down this wall ♪
♪ So we could finally see the truth of it all ♪
[keys clacking]
♪ But baby, you and I are not the same ♪
♪ You say you like the sun, I like the rain ♪
♪ So before we go do it all again ♪
♪ You better catch yer own train ♪
[electricity booms off]
[unsettling music]
[computer buzzing]
[music intensifies]
[dramatic percussive music]
[pheasant clucks]
[drone humming]
Ah, come on!
Where do you think that came from?
I don't know.
[music stops]
[data beeping]
[loud bang above]
Hey bud, what are you doing?
- Power's out. I'm trying to get Wi-Fi.
- Why don't you just use your phone?
Mobile's down as well.
Is that my laptop?
Yep.
Do you know my password?
Reddwarf1979.
Huh.
What are you guys up to?
- The cell network's down. He's trying to find internet.
[hatch creaks closed]
[unsettling music]
[drone humming]
[humming recedes]
[leaves rustle]
[Daniel]: Nice shot.
[unsettling music continues]
[signal beeps]
[ominous music]
[Michelle]: Kids, get to the house, now, go.
[Daniel]: Go, go, go.
[music intensifies]
[drone buzz approaches]
Go, go, go, go. Get inside.
[panting]
[drone bangs on window]
- Kids, grab some clothes. We're leaving.
Look after the kids.
- Oh, my--
[sighs]
[humming continues]
[loud humming]
Dad...
don't go.
- It's going to be okay. Take those papers.
[tense chase music]
[humming intensifies]
[papers shuffling]
Frankie, the gun!
[engine sputters then starts]
Mom, what's happening?
I don't know.
[engine revs]
[humming continues]
[gunshot cracks]
- Ooh! Oh, my gosh! Mom, I got it!
Maddy, careful!
[engine roars]
Daniel!
[object buzzes past]
[gunshot cracks]
Daniel, let's go, let's go, let's go!
Get in!
Everyone okay?
[engine revs]
[gunshot cracks]
[intense humming continues]
Holy shit!
[panting]
[distant buzzing]
Maddy, get out.
You two okay?
- Yeah. [exhale of relief]
What was that?
- I don't know. We're okay though, right? Okay, let's go.
Here.
- I emailed the printouts to Teddy.
What?!
- So, wait, 959 blew up the shed?
- No, that's impossible. They're light years away.
What about, um, wormholes?
Wormholes are nonsense, honey.
Wormholes are not nonsense.
- Okay, do you think that 959 travelled here in a wormhole
last night, Michelle?
No, I didn't think so.
It's the government. They're trying to keep us quiet.
Everyone turn off your phones.
I left mine at the house.
[Maddy]: They know about the bunker.
What were the drones looking for?
I don't know.
[Francois]: So, what do we do now?
We head upstate.
Ming's?
- Really? - We get to meet Grandpa?
- Well, he would know how the government would respond
in this situation.
It's true.
- Yeah, so we don't have much of a choice.
[somber music playing]
[truck rumbling]
[crickets chirping]
[gasoline pouring]
[unsettling music playing]
[Maddy]: Dad, I'm hungry.
Me too, sweetheart.
- I think there's someone in there.
[tense music]
Hey there. How y'all doin'?
[Daniel]: Okay. How are you?
I'm good.
- I'm Daniel, this is Michelle, and these are our children,
Francois and Maddy.
- It's nice to make your acquaintance.
I'm Sam, and uh, th-, come on, this is my granddaughter,
Eloise.
[Michelle]: Sorry to intrude, but have you heard anything
about what's going on?
Come on in. Come on.
An army cadet biked through yesterday.
Fella kept telling folks to shelter in place.
You guys hear anything?
[Michelle]: No, unfortunately not.
[drone buzzing]
[Sam]: You folks hungry?
[Sam]: Coffee?
Yes.
So uh, this is your place?
About 16 months now.
- It's pretty new then. What did you do before?
I was a veterinarian.
Had to give that up, though.
Hmm.
I get the feeling I'm not supposed to ask you why,
but I kinda can't help myself.
[both chuckle]
- Well, I'll spare you the sad details.
But, I lost my wife to a pretty wicked sickness.
And after that...
I couldn't put down a dog, cat, or even a hamster
without tearing up.
Oh, Sam, I'm sorry.
That's okay.
That's life.
It's beautiful.
But sad sometimes, too.
Anyhow, I moved up here to be closer to my son,
and to look after Eloise from time to time, which is nice.
Yeah.
- Her parents are on a canoe trip up north.
Supposed to be back yesterday morning, but...
all the gas stations ran dry when the blackout hit.
So, my guess is, they're stranded up there.
Trying to round up enough fuel so I can go fetch 'em.
[kettle whistling]
Ah, Sam, wish I could help.
[radio buzzing]
Come on!
[Daniel]: What is it?
[Francois]: The battery went out.
What do you got there?
Just the lost and found.
[Francois]: No way!
[somber music playing]
Do you mind if I uh...
No, you can have it.
Yeah? Thank you.
[batter sizzles]
- You know, that's new, having that door locked.
Yeah?
- Didn't take more than about six hours of no power or phones
before my mind started thinking the worst.
[soft laugh]
- Well, I am grateful you opened your door to our family.
- Well, the whole reason I started this place is because
I love welcoming folks.
Yeah.
- Y'know, hearing of their travels,
where they're off to next.
In my mind, that's who I am, welcoming to one and all.
Hmm.
Didn't matter where from.
I was happy to have 'em.
Can I be really honest with you about something?
Yeah, of course.
Something scared me today.
More than the power outage,
or the cadet,
or even the drones.
When you walked up to the front door today...
...I hesitated before I let you in.
I want to tell myself that's because
I may have to ration our supplies,
be smart for my granddaughter but...
...I'm not certain that's the truth.
Perhaps the truth is, I hesitated...
...because you're different.
I mean...
[sighs]
...we're strangers.
- It's a strange time. - Yeah.
I always believed myself to be a decent...
...a decent man.
But perhaps I'm not being honest with myself.
Perhaps, deep down...
...I'm rotten.
But what really scared me was the th-
...the thought that maybe, just...
...just maybe...
we're all rotten.
[dramatic music]
[plate scraping]
[Francois]: I didn't get anything on the CB.
You sound surprised.
- I know we're in the middle of nowhere.
No offense.
- [laughing] - None taken, young man.
- But even at the farm, I picked up tons of chatter.
And with the internet and phones out,
I thought people would have been using their radios.
Yeah, that is weird.
[Francois]: And the static sounds weird, too.
How so?
- Like an empty channel usually sounds like a deep crackle.
This static sounds more like a high-pitched hum.
Let me see that.
[high-pitched humming]
[dramatic music continues]
- It's too bad my other granddaughter, Allison,
isn't here.
She's great with technical stuff.
Where is she?
- She walked over to the next town.
Trying to see what she can find out.
[gasoline pouring]
[music swells]
Eloise, give me a hand?
[plates clang]
[tense music]
Maybe we should head out?
Yeah, let's go.
Hittin' the road?
- Yeah, we should probably keep moving.
[Daniel]: Thank you, Sam.
- No, it's my pleasure. Be safe out there.
Yeah, you too.
[door opens]
Thanks again.
Michelle...
[Sam exhales]
Sorry.
[tense music continues]
What the?
[car door shuts]
[music intensifies]
You okay?
- Yeah, let's just get outta here.
[Maddy]: How far are we from town?
Which town?
Our town.
Very far. Why?
- I just saw a car from the gas station
where you filled the jerry cans.
Like a similar car?
The exact same one.
Francois and I played tic tac toe on the windshield.
It's parked back there.
Was there anyone else there?
[engine starts]
[eerie music]
[suspenseful music]
It's following us.
[engine revs]
- Okay, we're, we're about 30 miles from the next town,
so maybe we can lose them.
What? We shouldn't be out of gas.
Oh, shit!
What?
[sighs]
Sam stole our gas.
He stole our gas? How?
- I don't know, but when I was leaving, he made it very clear
that we were not welcome back.
[music intensifies]
[car accelerates]
- Okay, maybe I can speed up through this tunnel,
and then we can pull over on the side,
and then shoot the tires out.
Everybody, hang on.
[tires screech]
[car brakes screech]
Daniel, stop, stop.
I think it's being controlled remotely.
What?
- If it enters the tunnel, it'll lose connection.
[Maddy]: Then let's go.
[car brakes squeak]
We can't.
[truck shuts off]
[grumbles]
Goddammit!
[crickets chirping]
[Francois]: You think other countries are blacked out, too?
[Maddy]: I've been watching for planes
since the grid shut down.
Haven't seen even one.
- But there's gotta be a network, right?
The drones and self-driving cars.
What if...
...what if the network's not actually down?
Francois, turn on your radio again.
[static crackling]
The static sounds normal now.
- Yeah, because we're in a concrete shell.
You're not getting any signals.
It's impossible to shut down radio communication.
- So someone flooded it with signals instead.
- Must be the same thing with the internet,
it's up, just flooded.
[Maddy]: Why would someone shut down the radios?
I don't know.
[Maddy]: But they can't reach us in here, right?
[pensive music]
[music turns ominous]
[latch rattles]
[engine revs]
Ahh! [panting]
[engine revs]
[car groans]
[ropes creaks]
Come on!
[engine revs]
[thrilling music crescendos]
[electric car shuts off]
[relieved sigh]
[chuckles]
[Daniel]: Help me cut the battery
and push the car out of the way.
[truck rumbling]
[birdsong]
[Michelle]: Daniel, look.
[Daniel]: They're probably trying to connect
to the solar panels.
[drones buzzing]
[Francois]: Should we pull over?
[Daniel]: We're only 500 miles from Ming's.
I have an idea.
[metal scraping]
[Daniel]: Let's go, Maddy!
Perfect.
[gasoline drips]
Half an inch.
- The perimeter of the tank is about 114 inches in width,
and 144 inches in length.
[Daniel]: How many cubic inches in a gallon?
231.
Attaboy.
- All right, so that's 35 gallons of gas down there.
Maddy, how many five-gallon jugs is that?
Seven jugs of water coming up.
- You don't even understand what we're doing, do you?
- Water is more dense than gasoline.
So, if we displace the exact amount of gas with water,
only the gas can get pumped out.
[glass shatters]
[Francois]: Overhearing the plan isn't the same
as understanding it.
[Maddy]: Shut up, Frankie.
[jugs rasp on floor]
[Daniel]: How's it going over there?
Almost there.
- You're the biggest nerd in a family full of nerds.
Hey!
What do you mean?
Well, you all are!
Done!
Good, get over here.
[Daniel]: We ready?
[gasoline hisses]
[all laugh happily]
Yeah!
Good job, buddy!
Good job, sweetie.
[♪ Wanna Be Loved by The Red Clay Strays]
♪ Everybody's waiting for a break ♪
♪ Like fast cars and freedom
♪ Everybody wants the same old things ♪
♪ Tell me what will it bring
♪ My friend, I'm tired of being this way ♪
♪ I'm tired of running straight ♪
♪ Oh God, I need to know you're still above ♪
♪ I just wanna be loved
♪ Can you tell me I'm worthy or important ♪
♪ Am I working hard enough
♪ Oh, I just wanna be loved
[sighs]
How are you feeling?
Just about... about seeing your dad again?
I'll be fine.
- You haven't changed your feelings about him at all?
Changed my feelings?
You know what I mean.
- He left me alone to watch my mother die
while he was off working on some secret project.
That doesn't just go away.
You know, you're just like him.
Our kids should be home, safe,
but you just had to let the world know how smart you are.
♪ I just wanna be loved
♪ Can you tell me am I worthy or important ♪
♪ Am I working hard enough
♪ Oh, I just wanna be loved
♪ I just wanna be loved
♪ And I want someone to want me ♪
♪ I want somebody there
♪ And I need someone to need me ♪
♪ I need someone who cares
[truck turns off]
Why don't you guys stay here?
Ming?
I don't think he's here.
There's a Faraday cage back there,
but the generator's not on.
[exhales]
- It's lovely to see you, Michelle.
How are you? Are you well?
[Ming]: I've been...
Well, look at these beautiful children!
[Francois]: Hi.
Hello, young man.
I hear so much about you and your brilliant mind.
And this brave, young lady who fears nothing and no one.
It's an absolute pleasure.
[Maddy]: Do we call you Grandpa?
- Uh, perhaps your mother would like me to earn such a title,
with at least a few moments of kindness.
The first of which, with your parents' blessing,
I suggest be ice cream.
Good to see you, Daniel.
Good to see you, Ming.
[Ming]: One thing for certain that makes life worth living,
is mint chocolate chip.
[Maddy]: You have ice cream?
- I need to talk to you, Ming. Really need your help.
I found something, and we don't have a whole lot of time,
so I'd love for you to look at some of these files I have
and go--
- Daniel, let me have this moment.
Thank you.
Francois, your father tells me you're quite a chess player,
but maybe not as good as Maddy here.
[Francois]: He's lying.
[Ming]: Ah, don't worry about it. It's just a rumor.
Who knows how these things get started?
[emotional music playing]
- Can't believe we ever thought we could improve on this.
[cork pops]
[alcohol pours]
- Maybe we just needed something to fill our days.
- Took me a long time to get used to sitting still.
Was hit with a ton of sadness when I finally did.
I needed you back then, Dad.
I'm not sure I could ever forgive you.
- I didn't expect you would. Or even think you should.
But if it's okay with you,
I'd like to savor you being here all the same.
[exhales heavily]
- Did you get a chance to look at Daniel's files?
Yeah.
And?
- I guess we'd better wake Daniel.
- It's not the government that's following you.
[Michelle]: Who is it then?
[Ming]: For thousands of years, human beings have been
the dominant species on this planet.
But that's no longer the case.
About seven years ago, a team of engineers developed
the first artificial consciousness.
We were strict about not allowing the AI access
to the internet.
But the engineers couldn't resist seeing their work's
full potential.
They decided to smuggle a network hub into the lab.
But as soon as the AI was online,
it stopped communicating.
Come on.
[Daniel]: How did you know about all this?
- Because I was the senior safety engineer on the project.
Soon after that, the NSA shut us down.
Scattered engineers across other projects and...
forced me into retirement.
Why didn't you tell me this?
- I never talked about this outside the lab. Not to anyone.
Not even to your mother.
[somber music playing]
But I continued my work.
I even designed a virus to attack its foundational design.
But I got stuck on the motivation problem.
[Francois]: What kind of virus?
Here.
Have a look for yourself.
[Francois]: Cool.
[Daniel]: What was the motivation problem
you were stuck on?
- It was like I was trying to set a bear trap,
but I don't know what a bear likes to eat.
Or if the bear eats at all.
[gate latch clanks]
For years, the artificial intelligence did nothing.
Why did your email change that?
[Francois]: I knew it was AI.
[Maddy]: No, you didn't.
- Yeah, cause um, when the page requests were so high,
I thought--
- You're just trying to show off.
No, I'm not!
- Does the AGI view 959 as a threat?
[Ming]: Maybe.
Maybe a threat to us, maybe a threat to itself.
Not sure.
- So, that's it for us? We're not in charge anymore?
- It seems the golden age of humanity
has come to an unceremonious end.
But you're left with a difficult choice.
To either let an artificial general intelligence subsume
control over our planet, or...
send a signal to the stars in hopes of a better future.
- That's not our decision to make.
Maybe not.
But no one else knows what's out there.
[horse grunts softly]
[Daniel groans]
- This can't really be happening, right?
I mean, this is so surreal.
I know.
Any lean on what you think we should be doing?
- I don't think we should send the signal.
There are too many unknowns with an alien civilization,
and when it comes to AGI, it's something we created.
So, we might be able to have an understanding.
- Strange, I don't feel like I understand it at all,
and I don't feel like there's been much room
for a conversation.
We haven't really tried.
Yeah, it bombed our house.
It bombed the shed.
And it's been following us, but hasn't hurt us.
For all we know, it's trying to protect us.
- I don't know, I have a lot of trouble trusting some robot
my dad helped build.
- I think robot seems a little derisive.
- You know, it's strange. I had the exact opposite instinct.
If we had to choose between AGI and 959,
which one offers us the most hope for the future
of our ecosphere?
Not just for human beings, but for all living beings.
- When it comes to an alien civilization,
we have zero information to go on.
Where in seven years, the AGI, that horse, the crickets,
the trees, they don't seem to be affected by any of this.
The natural world is continuing on
as if nothing happened at all.
If we send an SOS into space, Michelle...
the range of possibilities becomes infinite,
including a space war, which we will most surely lose.
- 959 hasn't blown themselves up,
or trashed their ecosystem the way we have.
They have survived and cooperated harmoniously,
long enough to build Dyson spheres.
That requires a cultural evolution
that we lack as humans.
- What about ants? They're efficient builders.
Would you call them culturally evolved?
[Michelle scoffs]
- You know, you're looking for the path that's most likely
to take us back to the world the way it was.
Of course I am.
- I'm not looking for the best path back.
I'm looking for the best path, period.
- That is a giant gamble when...
when you're risking the entire knowable world.
- I don't think it's any riskier than letting AGI take over.
- We just can't know. - No.
We're just gonna have to guess.
And quickly.
In 16 hours, 959 will orbit behind its star,
and we lose the ability to send a signal to it for two years.
[dramatic music playing]
[crickets chirping]
Hey.
[Michelle]: Hey.
- Before we go, can I ask you something?
Yeah, what's up?
Um, I was thinking a lot...
about what we talked about last night.
- Yeah, I've been thinking a lot about it, too.
- It doesn't matter to me what we choose.
I stayed up all night going back and forth on it and I...
I realize...
all that matters is spending the rest of my life with you.
So, hoping against all odds...
that you'll marry me.
Daniel.
Daniel, I'm--
- I love you more than anything in this world.
Yeah, I love you, too.
You're still the same guy that I met in college. But...
...for us to have a future, you'd have to evolve.
I will. I'll change.
You always say that.
I'm gonna prove it this time.
- Oh yeah? - Yeah.
All right, ask me then.
[Francois]: Where are we going?
[Daniel]: Greenbank, West Virigina.
There's a transmitting telescope we can use
to send a signal to 959.
But it's an abandoned government facility.
So, it's going to have redundant power
through generators and solar.
We're not going to be able to make it in
without being detected.
- And the nearest air base to Greenbank is in Washington,
so once we trip the alarm, we'll have only 12 minutes
before the bombers could arrive.
[Maddy]: Uh, guys?
What are those?
Weather balloons.
[Maddy]: Doing what?
Probably looking for us.
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies]
Everyone hold on.
[engine revs]
[signal beeps]
[engine roaring]
[engine turns off]
- All right, you guys stay put. We'll be right back.
There.
Ming!
[Maddy]: What do you think the AI even wants?
[Francois]: Bear trap.
[grunting]
[door crashes open]
[prybar clangs to floor]
Thanks.
- I think this might actually work.
What might work?
Tell me what you're doing.
You gave me an idea.
[generator rattling]
[switch clicks]
[Michelle]: Oh, yes!
Okay.
Okay, give me a second.
Okay, you can give me the coordinates.
- Horizontally at 127 degrees, vertically 136.
[telescope motor grinds]
[Francois]: Gramps couldn't trap the AI
because he didn't know what motivated it.
But if this all started from an email Dad sent,
I'm pretty sure the AGI would be curious about any file I send
from his inbox.
And if I send a collapsing zip file with Gramps's virus inside,
it could corrupt any program that tries to read it.
We'll hide that corruption behind another zip file.
So?
- If this AI opens this attachment,
this could freeze the whole network.
I don't totally understand,
but sounds like you should do it.
[Daniel]: Okay, you can turn the transmitter on.
Narrow the focus.
[motor humming]
[Francois]: The AI might still be scraping emails.
Damn!
No signal.
I don't think we should.
We have to try.
[panel sizzles and pops]
[tense music building]
[Daniel]: What happened to the power?
Electrical box blew a fuse.
[tense music continues]
- Here. Use this to bypass the fuse.
[engine revs]
[Francois]: One bar.
[drone hum]
[Maddy]: Francois, look!
Daniel.
They're early.
Two bars. I'm connecting.
[bombers roaring overhead]
They knew we were coming.
[power sizzles on]
Three minutes.
[exhales]
[dramatic music]
And send.
Think it worked?
[tense music playing]
[loud explosion]
Yeah!
It worked!
We did it.
Oh, my God!
Okay.
[heavy exhale]
Wait.
Look.
[Francois]: It's sort of beautiful.
Oh, my God.
[truck approaches]
[Michelle]: What just happened?
Francois? Maddy?
Where's Maddy?
Francois?
[Ming laughing happily]
You did it?
[Maddy squeals]
I'm so proud of you!
What happened?
We just did it!
- Hey, are you okay? - Yeah, I'm okay!
Did you see the bombers explode?
- Yes, I saw the bombers. That was incredible!
Did you two just save humanity?
[Maddy]: It was awesome. So fun!
[Daniel]: Were you driving?
[Maddy]: Yeah. Can I do it again?
Absolutely not.
- I figured the D was for drive,
but I really had to force it there.
- Oh, dear God. I'm so proud of you both.
You guys are heroes. Gimme five.
So good!
- You... you have to show me how you do that. [laughs]
Yeah, come on.
[Radio]: Please be advised,
the US Government has communication again,
and is taking extreme measures to prevent another unknown
digital attack on our infrastructure.
The government agencies and corporations are in the process
of decommissioning all data centers.
Already being coined The Great Unplug of the 21st Century.
Humanity may need to return to an agrarian existence
for a period.
At this time, remember to reclaim and to reconfirm.
[radio clicks off]
Humans are in control again.
Just gonna keep making the same mistakes we always do.
Maybe we can learn from this.
Maybe we can change.
Yeah, we always say that.
I don't want to go back to the way things were.
Me neither.
[music builds]
[music]