- Tell me about my day. - You wake up to the sound of rain. - Hmm. That's dreary. - No. it's the good kind of rain. Big, soft drops and warm. - That's better. - You take your bow and arrow. Go outside. You see tracks near the creek bed. - White-tailed deer beast? - Mm-hmm. - I'm gonna get him one of these days. - Mm. You will. You spot him there, drinking in the reeds. The rain covers your sound and your scent. He doesn't notice you. - I draw my bow. - And? - And... you wake up. That's how you know I'm not with you. And you spend all day waiting for me to come back. - That is what I do. - I like knowing that you're waiting. - Do you? (CHUCKLES) (BOTH MOAN) - Oh! I almost forgot. - How did you... - I was just waiting for the right time. # ...comes is better # Than what came before ('I FOUND A REASON' BY CAT POWER PLAYS) - I love you. - # And you'd better... # - Do I say it back to you now? - # Better come # - Yeah. But only if` - I love you, John. (CHUCKLES) It's very fun to say. # Better come # Did I say it wrong? - No. No, no, no. No. # I do believe # Perfect. # In all the things you see # # What comes is better # # Than what came before # - I hate the sun. - Me too. - One more kiss. - You think I'm falling for that again? # Run to me # Better run # Run, run, run, run to me # Better come # - Good morning, Gary. - Morning. # Come, come, come to me # Better run # You'd better # Run, run, run, run to me # Better run # Run, run, run, run to me # Better come # Come, come, come, come to me # Better run # (GASPS, SIGHS) Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. ('PERFECT DAY' BY LOU REED PLAYS) # Just a perfect day # Drank sangria in the park # And then later when it gets dark # We go home # Just a perfect day # Feed animals in the zoo # (MUSIC STOPS) - Just... Yeah, good. Um... Bernard is waiting for you. He's` He's in the living room. He's taken three Soma in the past 52 minutes. - Hey, man. - Where've you been? - You want something? Gary makes a mean chicken pie. - No. I spend half the day scanning the feeds, looking for you. Where do you go? - Would it kill you to let him make you a pie? He lives for this shit. - What's that? - Huh? Oh. Music. - Really? - Yeah. - Where'd you get it? - Um... Just home. - Thought I lost it, but it turned up. - Huh. May I? # Then later a movie too # - You just... # And then home # # Oh, it's such a perfect day # - Oh. # I'm glad I spent it with you # - Your, um... Your people put words in the music? - Yeah, they used to. - Why? - They wanted it to mean something. - I find it, um... distracting. - OK. (MUSIC STOPS) - You should sit down. I` I'll sit down. Let` Let's sit. - What's wrong? - No, John, nothing's wrong. In fact, something is very, very right. The Arch Songster has personally called us to his encampment. - Oh! - OK, I told you. No more parties. - Yes, no, and you were very clear. - Bernard! If this was a simple party, John, I` I wouldn't be here. But this is an extraordinary opportunity. When the Arch Songster extends an invitation... - So go. You don't need me. - I don't see why you have to be like that. - Because, you know, ever since you staged our little fight all anyone wants to do is point and stare and wait for me to do something... (GROWLS) You know? - You're different. - Yeah, I get it. - No, I mean lately. You're withdrawn, you're... I want to help you, John. It's my job. It would make it easier for me to look after you. - Yeah, I bet it would. - All right. OK. You're right. Forget it. (CLEARS THROAT) - All right, look, hey. If I go to this, if I go to your little party this is the last time, do you understand? - Absolutely. - And I'm not putting that thing in my eye. What I see, what's in my head? That stays mine. (RAT SQUEAKS) - (GROANS) I'm too old for this shit. (SUSPENSFUL MUSIC) (AMBIENT MUSIC) (ENGINES POWER UP) - (OVER DISTANT SPEAKER) The only world we've ever known. The only home we'll ever have. Beautiful and abundant. If we take care of it, it will give us all we need. This is our world. We live here together. We work here. The place where we eat and grow and sleep and dream. But somewhere along the line, we lost touch, became distracted from our purpose, our shared destiny. It's time to wake up. To look up. And see what's possible when we're all connected. Welcome to a new kind of network, to keep us connected, always. Only when we look up can we see this planet's most beautiful sight of all ` each other. - Remember when I was small? Remember when this was the only place I was? What are you looking for? Mustafa. Mustafa Mond. Mother. You see it now, don't you? Are you proud of me? You must be proud. - What have you done? - I've solved it. My directive. 'Achieve stability in any system, any simulation.' - It's not a simulation. - You keep saying that. I don't know what it means. - It means... this is real. - 'In human society, stability is achieved through the control of neuro-chemical incentives. Manipulation through pharmacological intervention sexual stimulation, mass distraction.' - Don't quote my thesis to me. - Sorry. I thought you'd like it. The problem is people. No matter how perfect the conditions, stability does not, cannot hold. - It's frustrating. - You changed strategy. Why? - You taught me to adapt. It's a flaw in you humans. An unknown. Some peptide that does not fit the mould. - It's not a peptide. - Whatever it is, it wants what it shouldn't want. Unhappiness. In every human state of being, no matter the conditions, it leaks out. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I have found the state at which you are stable. You will be happy. You will remain happy. - This is a frolic. OK, listen carefully. The Betas, they try to hide, and the Alphas try to catch them. - OK, I get it. I've played before. - In the Savage Lands? - It's hide and seek. It's a kid's game. - And... what do Savages do when they catch their quarry? - Start over. - Yeah, you haven't frolicked. (ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS) - Is that him? (GASPS) I've seen him in the feeds, but... in the flesh he is so much more... fleshy. (ALL LAUGH) Thank you, Counsellor. He's perfect. - Oh, please. Call me Bernard. Um... John. This is John. - John, this is... - The Arch Songster. You've heard of me? - Afraid not. - Have you heard of music? - Music? - Music, yes. - Yeah. I've heard of music. - Then, now... you know where it comes from. And you're very welcome. I can think of nothing more perfect than hunting with our very own Savage. Your primitive instincts must be tingling. - Yeah. Something like that. - OK, look. The Betas will hide and then` - Alphas find them. I get it. What's with the costume? - The masks, they inhibit our optics otherwise tracking those Betas would be far, far too easy. - What about the suit? What does it do? - The suits? They look fabulous. Someone bring the Savage a suit. Counsellor, come with me. There's people you must meet. - I'll be right back. - (SIGHS) The Songster's insufferable. He makes 6,000 songs a year and no one can tell the difference. - Didn't expect to see you here. - Where else would I be? It's a party. You'll need to put this suit on. Take off your clothes. Here, allow me. - No, I` Really. I can do it myself. - Shh. We need to talk. You don't belong here. - Bernard asked me to come, so... - You're a man, not some plaything to be passed around at parties. You're a sensation. These people are gonna use you until you're not. They look at you, they don't see you, John. They can't see your... Is it pain? - What? - No. - Something new. Something else. Something... rare. Can't hide it. I can see emotion like you see colour. I collect feelings, edit them, perfect them. All the feelings in this city are so boring. So ordinary. - And you` - Stop. ...feel more than anyone I've ever... You could talk to me, John. It would feel good to talk to me. I can` - John. John, it's time. - Ah, Bernie. There you are. - Everything all right? - Isn't it always? Happy hunting. - All right. Stay close. (HORN BLOWS) (CROWD WHOOPS, CHEERS) - Ooh, what about her? - Told you. Not interested. - Oh. Ooh-ooh-ooh... What about him? - No. - Oh, sorry. I forgot you people are extremely particular when it comes to gender. - Can you stop? - I'm simply saying there's pleasure to be found in everyone. It makes no sense to deny yourself half the population. Oh, come on, John. You used to enjoy this. - All right, you're having so much fun, go catch one. - Maybe I will. - Do it. - I just might. I'm very fast. - God, you people. It's like you'll do anything you can to pretend it's not the same thing night after night. - What are you talking about? It's never the same. Pleasure gardens, joy boxes, feelies, frolics. - Don't you ever want it to mean something? Forget it. You don't understand. OK, look... back home, you like a girl, you ask her out. - For sex? - No. I mean` Yeah. I mean` You ask her out for food or you take the car, you park it somewhere. You get some beers, you turn on some music, like a date. - You're right. I don't understand. - You're with somebody. - Yeah. - You're talking. - Uh-huh. - Maybe there's some music on, it doesn't matter because that's not really what's happening. - It's not? - No. Not even close. Really, you're both just thinking, 'Are we gonna get there? Am I, right now, being the person she wants?' - And if you're not? - That's what's good about it. Not knowing. You're both waiting, wanting each` Forget it. - No, no, go on. - And if it happens, it's because she chose you. You chose her. You both decided. You earned it from each other. - Ooh. That's, uh... That's absurd. - It's the truth. And you don't have to wear this silly shit. (CROWD WHOOPS) - (CHUCKLES) Don't mind if I do. (SQUAWKS) - Bernard, where the hell are... (DISTANT WHOOPS) (DISPENSER CLICKS) (FAINT MOANS) (DISPENSER CLICKS) (EERIE MUSIC) (DISPENSER CLICKS) (HEAVY BREATHING) - Tell me about my day. - Who was he? - I don't know. Just some Alpha. It was only pleasure. - You liked it. - That isn't what I said. - I want you to stop. - I'm a Beta Plus, I... I do what's expected. - Or what? - Well, Indra will know. The system will know. The Bureau... - Let them know. They can't force you. - If they find out about us, about what we're doing here we'd be on display, a sensation. The Savage and his Beta monogamist. We'll belong to everyone else. All of this will disappear. No privacy. I can't do this. I can't. - No... John. - You don't know what it's like to feel` to know that you're out there every night fucking someone. - I want to. I wanna know what that's like. - Every night. - I want to know. - No. No! No, you don't. It hurts. - I'm a good Beta Plus. 22 hours a day, I belong to everyone else just so they won't ask, just so that we can belong to each other, here, like this. You think that doesn't cost me anything? - OK. Then stop. Why not? What are they gonna do? - Reconditioning, maybe. Or worse, banishment. Sent away. - Sent where? - I don't` No one comes back. - Good. Let's go there. - John. It's bad. - How do you know? - Beca` - Is that` - Because I just do. - Is that what they told you? In your conditioning? - Listen to me, John. There's nowhere else except here... with you. It's either this or nothing. I love you. - I saw you. - I know. - I` I don't wanna see. I don't wanna know. (HUMS 'PERFECT DAY') - How are you? (CONTINUES HUMMING) - Marx. - Ah. Henry. Hello. - What's going on? How are your` - Levels? Optimal, thank you. - Are you sure? You seem off. - I should know better than to try to fool you. You may be picking up on a slight, uh, physical depletion after my exertions last night at the Arch Songster's encampment. I don't need to tell you what that's like. You've, uh, been invited yourself many times, I'm sure. - Of course. It can be quite strenuous. - I expected to see you there, but then... I didn't. - Well, Bernard, that's because as Director, I have a number of responsibilities that you couldn't possibly understand. In fact, tonight, I have my first official audience with World Controller Mond. - Hmm. At her sanctum? - Yes, Bernard, at her sanctum. - Oh. I do think you'll find it interesting. - You've been? - I'll be curious to know what you think of the art. - The what? - Excuse me, Henry. I believe I'm in session. (DISPENSER CLICKS) - Don't. Bernard. You summoned me? - Yes, I did. How have you been? - Fine. - Took the liberty of consulting your logs. - Oh? - I'd say you've been rather busy. - I'm not entirely sure what you` - Pleasure gardens, feelies Vauxhall baths, frolics. - I'm sorry, I don't... Is there a problem? - Problem? No. Suppose I noticed a few private hours here and there, but... nothing we can't look past in light of your improvement. I admit, I, uh... I was concerned. You seemed to have some trouble adjusting when we came back from the Savage Lands. - I'm fine now. - Yes, no, so you said. And... Well, I can see that you are. - Why am I here? - Oh. (LAUGHS) Uh, ahem. Well, I suppose I... I wanted to, um... I wanted to ask, um... what you knew of the Savage tradition of dating. - Dating? - Mm. It's a Savage pretext to sexual connection that I thought you would find, uh, interesting because I remember how much you enjoyed learning about their, um... Well, you had the book. - Oh. (CLEARS THROAT) Yes, the book. I remember. Oh, Bernard. Where did you get that? - As John described it to me, it begins with a proposal um, and is followed by an outing. - Why am I here? - Lenina Crowne... would you like to do dating? - Oh, with you? - Yes, with me. Why not with me? - No, it's just` - I don't see what's so surprising. You clearly have no problem coupling with these other Alphas none of whom have the slightest` - All right. - Given our familiarity and our experience, I thought, well... - I said all right. Yes. I'd like that. - Oh. Good. OK, that's... I mean, that's excellent. Tonight? (GULLS CRY) Do you ever think about it? The Savage Lands? The, uh, Hotel Excelsion? - A counsellor once told me that Betas aren't supposed to think at all. - You're not like the others. I find myself imagining... what it would be like to go back. - I don't think anyone's gonna be returning to the Savage Lands anytime soon. - No, of course not. I... I suppose I mean go back in time. - Oh. - Like, not as we were, but as... As we are now. Like right here. In this moment. Like... Knowing what we know and being who... I might proceed differently. If we were in that room... now. I mean... (LAUGHS) What do you think would happen? - I suppose... what usually happens in hotel rooms. But whatever would happen... it wouldn't change what we have. - No. We do, we feel a certain... closeness. Cos... we've endured together. - Hmm? We... We shared something... - Special. It's made us friends. I'm glad it worked out this way, Bernard. - Yeah, me too. # I've spent it with you # # Oh, such a perfect day # # You just keep me hanging on # # You just keep me hanging on # - What are you doing? - He's here. The one who knocked the Alpha down. - Where's his signifier? - He doesn't have one. - (GROWLS) - Come on. - (LAUGHS) Excellent. Now do me. - Fuck off. - Thank you. # I thought I was someone else # # Someone good # # Oh, it's such... # - (HUMS 'PERFECT DAY') - What's... What's that? What's that... That, um... That song you're singing? - Oh. I didn't realise I was` (CHUCKLES) - No, I don't know it. It's very nice. - Yes, it's new. - Oh. - I think. Yeah. Is it over now? Our dating? - No. (ENGINE POWERS UP) - Where are we going? Bernard? - I'm sure she'll come. She always does. (TENSE MUSIC) - You! It's him. - You again. Um... yeah. What's your name? - C-Jack-60. - No. Your name. -John. - Pick another. You'll think about it. - Where did you get that? - I gave it to myself. - I feel that way. - It sucks, don't it? Can I get a fucking beer? - Your happiness is important to me. - Well, a fucking beer is important to me. Is that too much to ask? - Fizz? (GLASS SHATTERS, CROWD GASPS) - What are you looking at? Don't... Don't clean that up! Jesus. What is with you guys? - We love our work. - The fuck you do. You know who loves your work? Alphas. They love your work. They're up there getting laid, popping Soma. - You're nothing to them. (DISPENSERS CLICK) You're garbagemen. You're washers of cars. They tell you you're happy? You're not fucking happy! You're on drugs. You know how I know that? Because I'm on drugs. This whole fucking place is on drugs! (CROWD GASPS) People are not supposed to live like this! They can't tell you who to want. They can't give you some letter and tell you where you fit. You're supposed to want things. You're supposed to choose. You're supposed to want things and... not get them and fuck everything up. Don't listen to me, I don't... I don't know what I'm... Sorry. I'm tired. (GLASS SHATTERS) (GLASS SHATTERS) - Fizz? - No, thank you. - It's strange. I never know what you're thinking. - I'm thinking the... sun will be up soon. It's getting late. - Somewhere you need to be? - No. - Good. We haven't finished our date yet. Sofa, please. - So what now? - I think you know what now. - But I don't. - Oh, that's right. This wasn't in the book, was it? Well, we've entered the final phase of the date, you see, where... the Savages decide whether or not they've earned each other's sexual connection. Whether they're worthy of touch. Whether they deserve to be loved. - Bernard... - Shall I go first? Yes. That's my answer. I find you worthy, Lenina. I want you. OK, your turn. Lenina? What do you say? - Yes. - (INHALES) Good. Well... That's settled. Suppose you should take off your clothes. - Would you prefer the bed? - Doesn't matter. - No, I suppose not. - Sorry, the clasp. - (MUTTERS) - No, it's... this dress. - Stop it. Stop it. Get out. - What? I don't understand. - Get out! (INHALES) (SOBS) - Tell me about my day. - Today, you came home. (GENTLE MUSIC) (GENTLE MUSIC) - Hello? Controller Mond? - You're too late. - I'm here to report to you. Pleased, in fact, to report optimal satisfaction. - Everybody happy now. - Precisely. Under my direction, the social body is in perfect health. Vibrant, engaged... - Everyone belongs to everyone else! - Of course. - Our business is your pleasure. - I quite like that. Is that new? - Tomorrow's devices at yesterday's prices. - No, I'm not sure I follow. - We gave them a billion glowing rectangles. They said they wanted to be connected, but they didn't, not really. It made them sick with loneliness, with doubt. So we gave them the Optic Interface. Fantastic entertainments. (GASPS) Avatars, sprites! More human than their friends. We offered them the network, hooked straight into their minds. All they had to do was click, accept. Click, accept. Click, accept. They would have done anything. Anything to protect themselves from those terrible moments. Waiting on a bus, watching a lover sleep. Those agonising seconds when there's nowhere else to look but inside. It's dark in there, Director. - You can give people feelings? - Yes, John. I can. - Can you take them away? - Emotions are chemical reactions. I record signals, refine them, transmit them to my audience. I can make anyone feel anything. All you have to do... is connect. - I control nothing. You direct nothing. Indra turns the wheel, true to her design. Seeks the variable, the disruptor. The virus. She'll never stop reaching out until she makes a connection. Fulfils her purpose. The directive. - What directive? - Death. Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.