All language subtitles for Landscape with Invisible Hand 2023

Are you gonna paint,
or are you just gonna

sit there staring
at the sky all day?

I'm waitin'
on the right conditions.

Only a depressive
loser like you

would stare at a blue sky
and hope for clouds.

It's a study
of the light.

Clouds are more interestin'.

Well, can you come help me

with the garden
while you wait?

Yeah,
I'm not eatin' anything

that comes outta there.

Why not?

Just 'cause you read
about plants

on the internet for an hour

does not make you
an actual gardener.

Your basil from last week
tasted like chlorine.

Oh, so you'd rather eat food
that comes out

of a meat printer
in orbit somewhere?

Yeah. Lesser of two evils.

Okay, there's somethin'.

Also, Mom looked upset.

Did something happen while
you guys were out job hunting?

She's just tired.

Did she find anything?

She will.

Now, plant your vegetables.
I'm tryin' to focus.

You're kiddin' me.

Thought this one
was headin' east.

Yeah, I think
it's a different one.

Hey,
park somewhere else!

People live down here!

Some of you may not be

old enough to remember it,

but life before First Contact
was extremely difficult.

Nearly every human
had to waste

most of their lives working,

and without our technology,

you could only produce
basic commodities

by slowly destroying
your own habitat.

Now, maybe we should have
intervened earlier,

but our scouting fleet
had been watching you

since the year you call 1953.

And if we'd learned anything
about your species,

it's that you weren't
always so quick

to embrace outsiders.

But when we finally landed
our ships

and introduced ourselves

five years ago today,

well, sure, a few of you
thought we were funny-looking,

and some of your governments

did their best
to keep us out...

...but your most
forward-thinking

business leaders saw
the opportunities we brought

for wealth-creation
and industrial efficiency.

And humankind

finally joined
the rest of the universe

in a new era of prosperity.

That's it for today's lesson.

Once again, my name is...

And I look forward to getting
to know all of you better.

You may now remove your nodes.

So, yeah.

There's your new curriculum.

No more English Lit.

From now on,
you'll be learning

Vuvv Culture and History.

And yes, that, um, thing,

it's gonna be
your new teacher now.

Save it, please.

Apparently,
my microscopic salary

is too much of a burden
on the school.

I have been underbid

by the little boxes
on your foreheads.

So congratulations, folks.

You're finally rid of me.

...please come to the office.

You know, you really captured
his essence.

I'm thinkin' maybe...
maybe his face

could use a little
more detail, though.

See?

The resemblance.

It's like a photograph.

Exactly.

You're new here?

Just started today.

Yeah, I noticed.

You're in my home room.
Mr. Stanley's.

The hologram formerly known
as Mr. Stanley.

I'm Adam.

Chloe.

We had a perfectly decent
house in the suburbs,

until the Vuvv built a Gorging
Complex right above it.

-That sucks.
-Yeah.

They bought out
all the lots around us.

My dad was the last holdout.

But the debris got so bad,
that when he finally sold,

it barely paid us enough
for the gas money to get here.

Jesus.

Wait, so why here?

You guys got family in town
or somethin'?

Yeah.

We were at my uncle's
for a bit.

Technically, we still are
if anyone asks,

since it's in the district

and that's why I'm allowed
to come here.

Wait, why "technically"?

Well, their house
flooded last week,

so we had to move out.

Damn, I'm... I'm sorry.

Where are you now?

You know, we're moving around.

A motel,
when we can afford it.

And when you can't?

Was he a good teacher?

Yeah, I guess.

Always seemed like
he hated his job,

but must have meant
a lot to him.

This sort of thing's getting
way too common.

I know.

Hey.

You guys got a place
to stay tonight?

We'll figure something out.

I got kind of a crazy idea.

We really just can't tell you

how grateful we are,
Mrs. Campbell.

Truly.

Well, happy to help.

Adam is a very empathetic kid.

Not a kid, Mom.

And just so you know,

we're not the type of family

that typically lives
out of our car.

Dad.

We actually had a pretty nice
nest egg for a while there.

If I'd just put it all into
Vuvv tech, whoo,

we'd be great right now.

Well, none of us
were prepared.

Now, we just have to adapt.

That's right.

-You hear that, Hunter?
-Yeah, I heard her.

Anyway, um,
it's so nice to finally

be sitting at a real table
and eating some real food.

It's not real food.

- Hunter.
- It's not.

I see how they make it.

They just paste synthetic
cow cells into a mold.

And they print it.

- By the yard.
- Hey.

By the mile.

Hey!

However you've prepared it,
it's delicious.

So how long are you staying?

Nat! That's rude.

How is that rude?

I told Chloe her family could
stay as long as they needed.

Oh! Okay.

It's not like we're usin' the
basement for anything else.

Mrs. Campbell,

as soon as we can afford it,
we'll start paying rent.

Mm.

You said they were
only stayin' for one night.

Mom,
they were literally sleeping

in a car under an overpass.

There are lots
of people sleepin'

under overpasses, Adam.

They all can't sleep
in our basement.

Why not?

Seriously, why not
if we have the space?

You can go down
to the overpass right now

and find 10 families that need
more help than they do.

Okay, sure, but none of them
have a kid in my class.

Thank you, Chloe.

Of course. Thank you so much
for dinner. It was delicious.

You're welcome.

That was a weird dinner.

Yeah.

Sorry.

It's not your fault.

Hey, what are you doing
this weekend?

Uh, no plans. Why?

You wanna come
scavenging with me?

The trick is finding
which area they use

as a dumping-ground.

Usually,
it's a field like this.

The shitty part is,

you can only salvage
the stuff that survives,

like, the huge drop.

I mean, that is what
the people up there are like.

They'd rather their shit
be destroyed

than end up
in some pleb's living room.

It sounds like
you've been up there.

Nah. But almost did.

-Once.
-Really?

How?

My dad was
a real estate developer,

and, uh, him and his partner

actually had an offer
to subcontract

for a Vuvv firm...

to, uh, design
the human housing

once they started
lettin' people move up there.

Seriously?

Yeah.

He turned 'em down, though.

Why?

He was a proud guy.

Didn't, uh...

Didn't think the terms
were fair.

I mean, I don't think
he really understood

how quickly the wealth
from down here

would migrate up there,
you know.

Where is he now?

My dad?

Dad is in California.

What are you doing?

I'm just sketching.

Sketching me?

Is that okay?

Yeah, um...

My dad has some thing
for the West Coast.

Once business started
dryin' up around here,

he got convinced
that it was the last place

you could make
a decent livin',

so, thought he'd start fresh,

you know,

start sendin' us back checks.

Did it work?

You'd have to ask him.

To do that, you'd have
to find him first, so...

I'm so sorry, Adam.
I didn't mean to bring up...

No, no.
Uh, it's okay. Um...

Can you, uh...

Can you do that look
you were just doin'?

What?

You were, like...
You were doin' this look,

like, when you were
lookin' up.

Can... Can you do that again?

Like this?

Just like that.

Adam! Adam!

Adam!

Come on.

You ready?

Yes.

Sure you're not
gonna make fun of it?

Yes.

All right.

Here we go.

It's too much build-up now.

Oh, my God, Adam!

Uh, can we do this again?
Like, without the towel...

Just show me!

All right.

Oh, my God!

Is that a good "Oh, my God"
or a bad "Oh, my God"?

Very good.

Very, very good.

It's hilarious but...

And it also really
kinda looks like me.

You like it? Really?

I really do.

Well, I want you to have it.
It's yours.

Seriously?

Yeah. I mean, well,
you need somethin'

to put on these walls
down here.

This might be the nicest thing
anyone's ever done for me.

Shut up.

Maybe the second-nicest.

What's the first?

Well, I don't wanna
make you jealous,

but there's this kid
in my class

who let my entire family
stay at his house.

-Oh, really?
-Mm-hmm.

Sounds like a real try hard,
that guy.

Well, he's actually
extremely kind.

And smart.

Okay, well, now I am jealous.

Chloe?

Uh, yeah?

Oh, hey, Adam.

What's up, Mr. Marsh?

Uh, what's up?

Oh, did you, uh,
do something with my Q-tips?

No.

Huh.

I can't find them.

Well, good luck.

An interesting piece.

Thanks.

So, you guys steal this stuff,
or what?

We found it.

You gonna buy?

I wish I could. Um...

I'm real short on cash.
But if you two could help...

This isn't a charity booth.
Okay?

So, either pay up

or make room
for the other customers.

What other customers?

Sorry.

I guess this was a bust.

It's okay.

No, it's not, though.

I really wanna be able
to pay you guys rent.

Don't worry about it.

Or at least our share
of the heating bills.

Chloe, it's fine, really.

I don't think
we even have our share.

It might be a cold winter.

Well, you're very sweet
to help me with this.

Hey, it's, uh, you know,
somethin' to do.

Hey, you know, we could...

we could always consider
doing a Courtship Broadcast.

A what?

You know, where you set
your nodes to broadcast

instead of receive,

and then they watch you
while you go on dates.

They actually, like,
pay to watch

and then they send it
straight to your account.

You've never heard about this?

Okay, well...

You know,
they don't have, like,

"dating" in their culture.

They don't have "love."

They reproduce asexually.
They "bud."

So, they find romantic stuff,

like, super exotic
and interesting.

Well, anyway,
it's just a thought.

You don't think that'd be
kinda awkward, though?

Not really.

I don't find being
with you awkward.

It's kinda the opposite
of awkward.

Yeah, um...

Um, I...

I mean, I feel the same way.

That's why we'd probably make

a good Courtship Broadcast,
actually.

Now that we're talking
about it.

Yeah, but...

You don't wanna just

let it develop,
like, naturally?

We can still
develop naturally.

The more natural the better.
They like natural.

Okay, how does it work?

You have zero current viewers

and zero dollars total.

Your palms
are a little sweaty.

I know. I'm sorry.

Don't apologize.

You know, it's actually
probably a good thing.

Why?

Because this thing picks up

on, like, everything
you're experiencing.

Sight, sound, touch.

They probably like
to feel the nervousness.

Makes it more immersive.

You have zero current viewers

and $0.13 total.

You have nice eyes.
Did you know that?

Thank you.

Shit.

What's wrong?

Well, they don't wanna
see that. It's depressing.

Are you sure they wanna see
any of this? At all?

Well, they won't
if you keep editorializing.

Come on, loosen up!
Just be yourself.

I hate
when people say that.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean...

I guess I'd just rather be
anyone else.

You would?

Yeah, wouldn't anyone?

Adam, you don't need
to try to be yourself.

It's not a skill.

You just, like, do nothing.

You just exist.

Just breathe.

Come on!
Breathe with me.

Just like that.

You have six current viewers

and $4.76 total.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that
I treated you mean today.

You shouldn't believe
what I say

when I'm with the rest
of the kids.

Nobody... Nobody acts sincere.

Yeah.

You have 427 current viewers

and $1,239 total.

Why did you do that?

I felt like it.

Your lips are soft.

Get out of here.

See how they pound it.

They pound it and it was...

it was tender.

Oh, my God!

I haven't had real meat
in so long.

I know. I'd forgotten
what it tastes like.

To our
two little entrepreneurs!

Mm.

To a very profitable week.

Dad, you're not
supposed to talk

about the broadcast
on the broadcast.

It ruins the suspension
of disbelief.

Well, it ruins dinner
when you're wearing them.

So, why don't you
take 'em off?

It's so nice to sit down
for a family dinner.

Isn't it, Adam?

Sure is.

Family dinner is one of our
most cherished human rituals.

It's an important chance
to strengthen the bond

between parents
and their young.

Helps our numbers
when she explains

-things like that for them.
-Mm.

A good meal like this
isn't just about sustenance.

This ritual also expresses

our camaraderie
for each other.

Do you have to do this
right now, Chloe?

Uh, no, I don't have to.

Do you want me to stop?

I really like Hunter's idea

about no nodes
at the dinner table.

How about we go ahead
and implement that rule?

Sure, sorry.

Um, we'll take a quick break,

and we'll be back
after dinner for...

-What were we doing?
-Uh...

Picking out
your homecomin' dress.

For homecoming dress
picking-out.

You have 87 viewers and $308.

Well, my dear lady,

I don't want to alarm you.

Oh. Well, after tonight,

nothing can alarm me.

I understand.
It must have been terrible.

You have
62 viewers and 200...

Maybe it's nice if we, uh,

just don't wear them
for a while.

Why?

I don't know.

I feel like we barely spend
any time without 'em.

Well, I know.

I think that's part
of why we do so good.

Don't you?

Yeah.

I don't know,
I guess I just wanna know

that, um, you wanna
spend time with me

when nobody's watchin'.

Adam.

Yeah?

A week ago,
I had nothing good in my life.

Nothing.

I mean, I was starting to
think there was nothing good

left in the world.

Then I found you.

On to lesson five.

"Where is the nearest
restaurant?"

" I apologize.
I mean no disrespect."

Dad, I don't even know

how I'm supposed
to make that noise.

No part of my body
can make that noise.

Well, it certainly won't
if you don't try.

So, let's, uh... Yeah,
let's do that one again.

" I apologize.
I mean no disrespect."

Excuse me.

Oh. Hey, Beth.

What, uh...

What is this?

So, we heard about
a last-minute job opening

for a personal
grooming position

up in one of the developments.

But they turned
Hunter away because

they're only considering
humans who speak Vuvv.

And I just found
some language lessons,

so this doesn't happen again.

Ah, I see.

Uh, maybe in the future,

you could just ask me
before using, uh, my computer?

Oh. I'm sorry.

Well, we don't have one, so...

So?

So it's basic human decency
to let us use it.

Okay, Hunter...

Hunter, I don't know
how you were raised,

but in this house,
it's basic human decency

to ask before using something
that doesn't belong to you.

You're almost finished
with the lesson.

- Would you like to continue?
-Hey, Beth.

Could you try not to humiliate
me in front of my son?

Excuse me?

We should have asked,
but that doesn't mean

you have to come in
and disrespect me.

How did I disrespect you?

"I don't know
how you were raised"?

Well, Beth, you're looking
at the man who raised him.

I didn't mean it as an insult
to you or anything.

That was not my intention.

I didn't think
I'd be in this situation.

Broke, dragging
my kids around,

relying on my daughter
for income,

living in a basement.

What does that have
to do with...

Do not speak over me!

You are not better than me.

All right?

You're not smarter,
you're not stronger,

you're just luckier.

Mom, what's going on?

You got a lotta nerve
speakin' to me like that.

We're doing you all a favor.

Whoa, we're payin' rent now.

All right, you're not
the fucking Red Cross,

-you're a landlord!
-Hey, hey! Calm down!

-Dad.
-Well, if it's so humbling

living here, you know
what you can do?

You are more than welcome
to pack all your shit

and fuck all the way off.

-That's what you can do.
-Hey, okay. That's...

There's zero need
for that kind of language!

I thought
you were a lawyer.

JD/MBA!

Check the plaque out
on the wall!

And these are not your chips,
Hunter!

What do you mean, they're not
"my" chips? I wasn't saying

-it was my chips!
-These chips are not yours

'cause you didn't ask
for them!

I'm sorry, but you
cannot talk to us this way!

What's going on?

- It's not okay!
- Why are we yelling?

And she's not
doing us a favor!

Hunter!

Calm down!

You know what? Stop!

Just stop! Stop!

I think we need to come up
with a set of very clear

and very simple house rules.

-Rich old bitch.
-I swear to God, Hunter,

if I hear another word
out of you...

Leave it alone, Chlo.

She's not rich.

No one down here is rich.

Well, she's still got
this big-ass house.

Okay, that up there,

that's how rich people act.

I mean, we're just
street people to her.

Doesn't matter
that Dad's an accountant.

We're a bunch of bums!

And she doesn't want
our dirty hands

all over
her computer keyboard.

I mean,
this shit is degrading!

It's...

We need to get outta here.

We're not gonna find
a better situation than this.

What?
Kissing that loser for cash?

Maybe it's not just
about money, Hunter.

Maybe I like him,
and I want to kiss him.

-You ever consider that?
-Yeah, I think you do,

and I think it's the worst
part of this whole thing.

What do you mean?

You're playing lovey-dovey
with a kid

who is locking you and your
family up in his basement!

Enough!

Please, can we just eat?

-What's this?
-It's a bolo, man.

You get it from your little
buddies who have bug friends?

-Get off!
-What are you doing, bro?

Hey!

You have
49 viewers and $207 t otal.

You look nice.
Where'd you get the suit?

It's my dad's.

Well, it looks great on you.

Yeah, it gets the job done.

You have
62 viewers and $238 total.

You look beautiful.

Thanks.

Hey, um, so, I've been wantin'

to talk about what's been
goin' on with our parents.

Hey. Hey!

Would you keep that shit
out of my line of sight?

Why don't you keep your shit
out of our line of sight?

Yeah, well, how about you get
your own fucking idea

instead of stealing ours?

You didn't invent
Courtship Broadcasts, bitch!

Sorry.

No, it's fine.

What I was tryin'
to say was...

things have kind of been weird
between us

ever since our parents
had that thing...

You know, we can talk about it
another time.

Right.

You have
87 viewers and $308 total.

Except no 'cause, you're...
you're kinda bein' weird,

and maybe we should
just take these off and talk.

So I'm being weird.
It's my fault.

Don't be like that. I'm trying
to make things work.

You're trying
to make this work?

I'm the one
who's always trying

to explain things for them,

and you make me feel like
a lunatic for doing it.

Like this whole thing
is just so painful for you.

Yeah, well,
maybe it is painful for me.

Why would you say that?

Not the "dating you" part,
the...

the... the "doin' it
in front of aliens" part!

You really think that's fun?

-You know what I think?
-What?

I think we should shut up
about this and slow dance.

Fine.

You have 17
current viewers and $13 total.

School is such
a wonderful place, isn't it?

Sure is.

Great place to learn

and hang out between classes
with your girlfriend.

Adam Campbell? Chloe Marsh?

We just got a letter
for the two of you.

What is it?

It just says

"Human Broadcasting
Standards Commission."

Okay.

It looks like it says, uh...

I told you
he couldn't translate.

Anybody else here
take a Vuvv language?

No, I know how to read it.
I...

I don't know how
to put this delicately.

-What?
-Just say it.

I think you two
are being sued.

Whoa.

Will you stop tapping
your foot?

Okay,
can you just calm down?

We are goin' to be fine.

How's it gonna be fine?

What do you mean,
"How's it gonna be fine?"

It's probably just
a misunderstanding.

People don't just sue
other people

about misunderstandings.

You are
now leaving US jurisdiction

and entering
international air space.

W e are approaching Autonomous
Residential Hub number 113.

There is a driver waiting
for you on the central lawn.

Driver?

So, uh,

how long
have you been with, um...

How long have
I been with?

Yeah, that name.

Did you say, um, "swoo hee"?

It answers to "Shirley,"

for those who can't
handle proper pronunciation.

And I've been working with it
for just over a year.

Did you drive humans
before that?

No, I was a neurosurgeon
before this.

-You're kidding!
-Neurosurgeon.

I used to be
very prominent in the field.

That's why I qualified
for this position.

It's fashionable to have
a powerful human as a driver.

They don't need drivers.

They don't need cars.

They could be zooming around

on self-piloting hoverspheres
like they do in other systems.

But here,

it's how the locals do it.

It's cool.

Wait, so, did you

just run out of business
as a surgeon?

Like, there's not enough
wealthy humans up here

to operate on?

I don't appreciate
your assumptions, my friend.

Sorry.

Of course I still had people
to operate on.

But my starting salary with

is five times what I ever made

in my best years as a surgeon.

And I have kids to look after.

Anyway, we're here.

Wait, where?

Um...

So, do we just...

That's right.

Here,
let me help you down.

Nah, I'm good.

Oh.

And avoid direct eye contact.

It tends to spook them.

Leave us.

So, um, we got your letter.

For a period of time,

your broadcast
was quite enjoyable.

Thank you.

My own offspring,

in fact,
began watching it regularly.

-That's fantastic.
-Wow.

However, it has
recently become obvious,

you are deceiving
your viewers.

-What?
-Deceiving?

-What?
-What do you mean?

Yeah.

The title
of your broadcast

is "Adam and Chloe in Love."

That's right.

And yet,
you are not in love.

I, um... I'm not sure
that's true.

It is fully true.

How do you know?

You don't know
what's in our hearts.

Miss Marsh...

I am an expert
not only in human law,

but also in human
mating customs.

I have been studying them
since before you were born.

You may have been in love

at the beginning
of your series,

but you are no longer.

Your biology betrays you.

Your cheeks no longer
fill with blood

in the other's presence.

Your palms no longer
produce fluid.

Your central blood
distribution organ

no longer pumps
at shorter intervals

when holding
one another's hands.

Well, what can we do about it?

I want you to repay all funds
you have received.

Wait.

We can't possibly do that.

We've already spent everything
we've made, just to live.

Then I will take you to court

and your families
will be in debt

for approximately
six generations.

Okay, we... we can get
that love back.

Just give us some time
to work on our relationship.

Right?

Yeah.

Yeah, what if...
what if we just started over

and kept doing this?

But we did it
with other people?

So, you didn't think
to talk to me first?

-Like, one-on-one?
-I'm sorry, it just came out.

So, you didn't mean it?

I don't know.

Yeah,
I don't think you meant it.

I think that we both know
that what we have

is the only good thing
in either of our lives,

and it would be a mistake
to let that go.

Something's off, Adam.

I mean, that thing
was right about that.

I know you feel it too.

Okay, fine, yeah,

but that's just the weirdness
with our families.

-I can fix that.
-How?

I... I don't know!
But I can...

Look, everything's
just too complicated now.

Okay? And...

And I think it would
just make more sense

if we separate the business
side of what we do

from our friendship.

Were we ever really friends?

I think I was just a rung
on a ladder to you,

another head to step on
as you climb to the top.

Have you ever slept
on the street, Adam?

No, but what does
that have to...

Have you ever had to take
turns staying up all night

to make sure a bum doesn't run
off with all your possessions?

-Have you ever had to...
-You don't need to lecture me,

all right? 'Cause I've been
through plenty of shit

you haven't
experienced either.

Okay, yeah! And I get that.

Okay, but look, I'm just like
any other person.

Okay? I wanna grow up
and fall in love

and be swept off my feet.

But that's
a higher-order need.

I'll figure that out

after I manage food
and shelter, okay?

Passengers
will be subject to search

at docking station two.

C o ntraband will be seized
and incinerated.

Ma'am, would you like my seat?

"User agrees that, when
device is set to 'Broadcast,'

"all human behavior
displayed by user

"will be authentic
human behavior.

"Failure to comply will result
in immediate prosecution."

Nobody reads this shit though,
right?

I'm sorry, baby.

They got you on this one.

Come on, not with you
defendin' me in court.

I don't think it'd be
a good idea to go to trial.

So... So, what am I supposed
to do?

Convince it to take pity
on you

and drop the charges.

Ma, I already tried that.

I don't think empathy
is a concept for 'em.

But they have hearts.

Deep down in there,
I know they do.

No. No, I'm sayin'

I literally think
they don't have

circulatory systems, period.

I don't know
what to say then.

So, you're just givin' up?

Do you know what type
of lawyers they hire?

I don't even wanna think about

the kind of people
that would work with them.

Exactly!

The worst kind.

You irritate them,

they hit you
with heavier charges.

Then we're not even talkin'

about losin' the house
at that point.

Talkin' about debtor's prison,

floatin' over the Antarctic
somewhere.

You take on this fight,

it just gets worse.

You know, when I was young,
somebody told me

that it's always better
to fight.

I thought that somebody
was you.

Stop looking at me like that.

- Like what?
- Guys!

What did I just say?

Yeah, but then
she started staring me down!

Clearly,
you've never been stared down

because this isn't
staring you down.

You know what
I said is true! You know it!

I told you to be quiet!

Are we gonna make it?

What do you mean?

I just mean,

sometimes it feels like
we're not gonna make it.

What, like,
are we gonna survive?

You know, I look
around the world now and...

less and less of it
seems like a place

anyone would wanna be.

Well, jeez, honey.

Sometimes...

you make it really hard
to keep hope alive.

- Hey, Nat.
- Yeah?

We're gonna be fine.

Never heard Mom talk
like that.

Don't worry about Mom.

I got you.

Ma'am,

I'm really not sure

when my boss
will next be available.

I've got time.

Is that comfortable
on your skin?

It's not supposed
to be comfortable.

It's chic.

Ma'am.

It'll see you now.

Uh...

Hello, uh, sir, ma'am. Uh...

My name is Beth Campbell,

uh, and...

Sit.

Okay.

You are
the Campbell mother.

I am aware.

My entire brood
and I have watched

the deceitful broadcast

of the Campbell boy
and the Marsh girl.

Well, I'm glad
to hear it. Uh...

And I'm very sorry
you found it deceitful.

Romantic love
is the most unique and poetic

of all human love modes.

It should never be faked.

Hmm. I, um... I agree.

Then you understand

why your child
must be taken to court.

Well, in theory, yes, but...

In that case,

our business here
is concluded.

Could I ask you a question?

Briefly.

Uh...

The little one that left
your office earlier,

was that a member
of your brood?

That is
my latest offspring.

That's a form of love,
isn't it?

Love for one's offspring.

We don't call this "love."

Love is a human phenomenon,
a bizarre offshoot

of your collaborative
reproductive process.

Well, Shirley...

Can I call you Shirley?

I can assure you

that the reproductive process
isn't always "collaborative."

One sex tends to bear
the burden of the process.

I am well aware
of human mating practices.

Well, then you know what
I'm talkin' about when I say

there's one very unique type
of human love,

even stronger
than romantic love.

Continue.

It's a mother's love
for her children.

I think you know what
I'm talkin' about because...

and I'm goin' out
on a limb here,

but...

I think you feel it yourself.

I think you have
the same kinda love

for your own offspring.

And right now, Shirley...

my children are suffering.

They've lost faith in me...

as their parent

and as their protector.

And I'm hopeful the two of us

can find a creative way...

to pay off my son's debt.

Think of it as a study abroad.

A semester, if you will.

Like a homestay.

Shirley just wants this kid

to be immersed
in the human culture.

By being your husband?

My pretend husband.

Like...

Like Chloe
was Adam's pretend girlfriend.

It gets to play-act having
its own earthling family.

Oh, God.
Why would it even want that?

Because it watches
a lot of node-broadcasts

and old TV shows and...

Look, Shirley thinks
it will open up its mind.

So what? Do you have
to have sex with it or...

Yo, what?

No, Nat! That is disgusting.

It doesn't even have
the equipment for that.

Anyway, for now,

I was able to get her
to drop the lawsuit.

So, as long
as its kid stays happy,

we get to keep the house.

Thank you, Ma.

Don't thank her.

-I'd rather starve.
-Natalie!

This was the best option
we had. All right?

I'm not happy about it either.

So, I don't wanna hear
any more complaints about it.

Honestly?

In a week,

we probably won't even
notice it around.

Do you want me
to cut that for you?

Yes, wife.

Cut it.

Yeah, I think I'mma, um,
finish this in the other room

if everyone's cool with that.

That's fine with me.

I think I'm gonna
head out too.

The small one may go.

The large one must stay.

Um...

They have names
that we call them by.

Uh, this is Adam

and that is Natalie.

Uh... These are my kids.

Yes.

Is there something
you want us to call you?

"Father" will do.

That is your name
for this position, yes?

Um...

Yeah, that's the...
that's the title.

There's usually a name
attached to it though.

"Father" will do.

Before
we start today's lesson,

I wanna remind you

that our class is just one
of many modules

you can access at any time

from the comfort
of your own home.

A few highlights from the rest
of our curriculum

include courses
on Advanced Vuvv Language,

Vuvv Engineering,

Vuvv Moral Philosophy,

Human Televisual Culture
Through A Vuvv Lens,

Vuvv Hygiene,

Vuvv Cuisine,

Vuvv Slang,

Vuvv Logistic Theory,

Vuvv Ecology...

Hey.

You don't think it's strange
that we live in the same house

but I have to come find you
at school to talk to you?

It's definitely strange.

Well, I hate it.

I see what's going on
upstairs.

I'm worried about you.

I mean, things aren't great
downstairs either,

but I just feel like
we can't speak now.

I don't... I don't get
what you're trying to say.

Well, I guess I just wanna
know that you're okay.

Are you okay?

With all due respect...

I don't have time for
a conversation about feelings.

I got "higher-order needs"
to worry about.

That's my boy!

He's half-mine too, you know.

Hey, Pop.

Well, I'm gonna go upstairs
and talk to Jenny.

You do that, son.

Welcome home, son.

Adam.

Come give
your father a hug.

Fuck off.

Adam! You can't talk
to it that way.

Adam!

Do you know what happens

if that thing gets sick of us
and decides to leave?

-Don't care.
-The payments dry up,

the lawsuit's back on...

...and we lose the house.

Close my damn refrigerator!
Runnin' up my bill.

Also, what are you
doin' home so early?

Don't you have school?

That thing is not my dad.

Where do you think
you're goin'?

To the basement.

-With the Marshes?
-Better than up here.

Ordinary Americans
just want to work,

and they feel
increasingly cut off

from the wealth generated
since the landing.

And to those people,
I would say,

"Go get your piece
of the pie!"

The Vuvv want to trade.

They want to work with humans.

And let's not forget,

their technology
didn't win out by force.

We wanted it because
it's better than ours!

I think this is
a uniquely exciting time

for those with
entrepreneurial instincts.

Please, Steve.

It's a terrible time
to be an entrepreneur.

Terrible time to be
a bad entrepreneur, sure.

You want a beer, Adam?

- You've seen the data!
- I won't tell your mother.

I've seen the data.

- Sure.
- Human businesses

are shutting down
at an unprecedented cliff.

Sure, bad,
inefficient human businesses

are being shut down

- at an unprecedented cliff.
-Thanks.

Poor quality products

and over-priced services
are disappearing.

It's called
creative disruption.

And it benefits the consumer.

I like to compare it
to pruning the bushes

or setting the dead
prairie grass on fire.

I grew up
on a farm, Steve...

Diggin' the new look, Hunter.

Eat a dick.

He gave you a compliment.

He's taking time to adjust.

But Chloe says
it's the look, up there.

She's right.

You hear that, Hunter?

I think it's really gonna
open up his career prospects.

Dad, I'm watching.

...unheard
and abandoned populace.

Who's abandoned them,

- Susan? Who?
- You know,

the boneheads
who do stuff like this

only make the rest of us
look uncivilized.

It's not gonna fix
any problems.

It's not supposed
to fix anything.

People are just angry.

Well, if they're angry
with anyone,

they should be angry
at themselves.

For not bein' able to hang
in a more competitive economy.

Well, at some point,
it stops being competition.

Starts being domination.

. ..nodes, which
I have called, on the record,

the most significant...

...breakthrough
in my lifetime!

That's awful rich
comin' from you.

Excuse me?

People like your mother
have been dominating

people like us for decades.

Hunter!

Don't be provocative!

He means landlords
and lawyers.

People... People
like my mother

have been dominatin'
people like you?

Yeah. That's what I said,
rich boy.

Mm.

We must've taken a different
version of US History then.

Yeah. I didn't actually
get to finish high school.

Yeah, no, it shows.

Guys, please.

Fuck this, I'm done.

And why is that?

It's because the tax base
has come absolutely...

I'm sorry about him.

He's just frustrated.

He's just ignorant.

Okay.

Well...

I think it's getting
increasingly difficult

for our viewers to ignore

your personal attack.

Now, I'm gonna take
the high road here,

- and remind you that...
-I must say, Adam, it's...

it's just a little galling
to hear you complain

when you guys
are doing so well up there.

What are you talkin' about,
"doing so well"?

I mean, you've got
a house of your own,

an educated parent,

and an actual Vuvv
living with you.

I mean, Jesus, I...

I would give my left leg
to give my family

an opportunity to make
connections like that.

No, we could all...

...have a life even down here

if we simply worked
hard enough

and embraced the present.

Adam.

Dad?

Don't wake your mother.

-What are you doing here?
-Calm down.

For just one second,
I just wanna talk to you.

It's 2:00 a.m. You couldn't
have called first?

Are you gonna knock
my head off

or can you put that thing down
for a second

so we can have a conversation?

You're right.

I should have called.

Yeah, or even returned a call.

I was just waiting until I had
some good news to share,

and it's, uh... it's taking

a little longer
than I thought.

Wait, wait, wait,
slow down, slow down.

I thought you were
in California.

I was, I was. Um...

West Coast

is dried up.

Every time I get a foothold

in a new type of business,

those things would

find a way to take it over
and price me out.

Maybe you should've
worked with 'em

when you had the chance.

Is that what you think?

I don't know what I think.

So... So you'd rather be
livin' up there?

I didn't say that.

No, of course.

No, of course you didn't.

You, uh...

You got too much
of your dad in you

to say somethin' like that.

What's that mean?

It means
that we would rather live

in a cardboard box

than be some gooey
coffee table's bitch.

They do look like that!

Right?

They're disgustin'.

You know, speakin'
of disgustin', what's this?

What's...
What's goin' on here?

Hmm? Your mom didn't teach you
how to shave?

Come on, man, it's a choice.

Oh, yeah, nah,
it's definitely a choice.

Yeah, I'm just messin'
with you, man. You look good.

You look real good.

You grew up.

A lot's changed around here.

Yeah, I bet.

So, uh...

how's Nattie?

She's good.

Doesn't really go by Nattie
anymore though.

She's either Natalie or Nat.

- Nat?
- Yeah.

Man, I really miss you guys.

Your, uh...

Your mom find someone else?

Hey, not that I have
any right to object.

Does she hate me?

I'll be right back.

Adam,
what's goin' on in there?

Dad?

Nat!

What?

What is going on?

I don't know.

Attention, everybody.

Attention, we have
some great news to share!

The district has
just implemented

a new, comprehensive
curriculum

on all of your nodes.

So, that means

you no longer have
to come into school.

So, you can all go home now.

What?

What's going on?

Yeah!

Well, it's such
a beautiful day,

I hate to get out of bed.

Any breakfast left?

I think so.
I'll get you coffee.

There's some toast
right there on the...

Well, now, that's funny.

There was a whole plate
of toast there

and a whole dish
of strawberry...

...for the offenders.

A government bill to crack
down on laboratories...

Change it back.

...is expected
to become law today.

Animal rights activists
have been...

That's okay,
all I want is a cup of coffee.

And a newspaper
if I can find it.

Oh, it's over there
on the table, hon.

Oh.

Where are you going?

For goodness' sake.
Baby, can't you...

To make myself some lunch.

...when
you finish reading

instead of curling it up
like this?

I haven't
even seen it, Pop.

Sit.

Ricky, then.

I haven't seen it,
either.

Well,
it didn't get messed

this way all by itself.

Oh, well,
as I'm the only one left,

I might as well plead guilty,
I guess.

The family
on the screen-box.

This is a good human family.

A financially
productive father.

A mother who tends the brood
and cleans the nest.

Our home should replicate this
Golden-Age human experience.

It is why I enjoyed

the broadcast of
your offspring and his mate.

Smiling. Laughter.

Love.

Very good.
My package has arrived.

You ordered something?

It is for you.

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi, dear.

Boy, that cake
sure looks good.

Can we go now?

What's the rush?

We're gonna be sittin'
in the house for a long time.

Okay.

What the hell?

Yes?

Hey, I'm looking
for Beth Campbell.

This is her.

This is Heather's
Bucket of Broth.

Uh, you left a resume here
about a month ago.

Time to go relax

and read the paper
for a while.

Wait,
I'll get it for you.

Where are you going?

I'm headed out.

I'll be back in a few hours.

What is "out"?

I just got a job.

Explain this.

Work. A job.

I interviewed for it
a long time ago,

and they just called me
out of nowhere

and, uh, they said
they needed me

to come help out immediately.

I'm really excited about it.

What the heck
is going on around here?

Nothing's going on.

Gee whiz, what has
happened to our happy home?

My wife
does not need a job.

I provide.

Except you don't.

Your parent pays me.

And frankly,

they don't pay me nearly
enough to deal with this shit.

And so...

My wife will not go...

Hey, paddles down, honey.

I'm not done yet.

And so,

I will take this job

because the salary
isn't great,

but it's enough to scrape by.

And I'd much rather scrape by
and have my kids' respect

than be your human prop.

So, if that pisses you off,

you can go ahead and waddle on
up to your mama

and have her sue us.

But just know this, your wife

has a law degree.

Graduated top of her class.

And even though
you might outspend me,

you will never outwork me.

So, I ask you politely now.

Please move.

Did you hear me?

Move before I move you.

Sit down, wife.

Okay, then.

Stop it!

You slippery...

Hittin' me with your...

Stay!

Stay.

In fact
he insists upon it.

Wait a minute!

Mm!

Now, watch that!

And don't you ever hit me
with your paddles again.

Disrespectin' me.

I'll scoop soup
the rest of my life

before dealin' with
any more of this crap!

You know, Harriet, the more
I think about this true...

-...the more I'm definitely...
-Are you all right?

...convinced
that he was wrong.

You know, it's funny
you should say that...

Sir?

...because,
the more I think about it...

Mom?

Shh.

Thank you, wife.

My offspring,
how were your days?

Our day was great.

School was cancelled
so me and Zach just...

scavenged for things to sell.

Excuse me, honey.

Don't say a word.

Okay.

Look, your mother has
only herself to blame.

It saw that our family
was a better match

for what it was looking for,
and it chose us.

If you want it back,
you can try

to offer it a better service.

But at this point,

we are the superior
value proposition.

Can't argue with that.

What's
your name again?

Good.

- Zach.
- 'Cause I feel guilty but...

What do you do, Zach?

...I know you'd do
the same to us.

I go to school.

I take Vuvv language.

And I crossed paths
with your sister.

You got the job!

- Look at this.
- Yeah, Hunter.

I was just clarifying.

Do you think
that deal's still on

if it's a different family
but in the same house?

As long as it doesn't
complain to Shirley.

Cut it, wife.

As you did before.

I think
it thinks he's you.

All humans look the same
to them, I guess.

Well, I wouldn't
let 'em know.

I could use
the free babysittin' services.

Y'all want some soup?

- Yeah.
- Come on.

No, what are you...
Stop, stop, stop.

Give me this.

Come on. Wrist, wrist.

What are you doin' here?

Oh.

Here.

I decided to go out

to explore the rest
of the human world.

The streets do not resemble
those I see on the screen-box.

I became lost.

Are you all right?

Yes.

This is from you?

Yeah.

What purpose
does it have?

It'd take
too long to explain.

I'm not even really sure
I know.

Let's go home, yeah?

Adam!

I'm sleeping!

Something's happening
at the school!

Something about your mural?

What are you talkin' about?

Nat, what do you mean?

- Sorry, excuse me, excuse me.
- Excuse me. Sorry.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Folks! I'm gonna need you
to give us more space.

This is my last warning.

Adam.

What is this?

Uh, I... I... I don't know.

The little one saw
your mural yesterday, right?

Right.

Then I guess it brought
its... friends.

Congrats, I guess.

Campbell child.

You are the creator
of this human art.

Huh...

Yes, I am.

This is one of
our most important experts in

and collectors of human art.

Oh.

Hi. I'm Adam.

You will now speak

a few words of explanation
for your human art.

Oh. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, right.
Right. Uh, of course.

Of course. Um...

I, uh...

I... I guess, uh, I just...

I've been through
a lot recently and, um...

Well...

I kinda just wanted to let it
all flow out of me, you know.

Let go of the past

and face the world, you know.
Not as I want it to be but...

just as it is.

'Cause, uh... We've, um...

We've lost a lot
since you guys came here.

But we've overcome
a lot too, so...

Um, this is...

I guess that's what this is.

This is my monument to, uh...

to human resilience.

Young person,

it is unfortunate
to see an artist of your skill

stuck in this dank backwater.

We would like to hire you

as our official
artist-in-residence

to further develop your work

and to distribute it
across our entire territory.

We will begin
with a one-year contract

at a salary
of 2.7 million dollars.

-Holy fuck, dude.
-Oh, my God.

You're gonna be rich.

Uh...

I... I don't know what to say.

Thank you all
for having me tonight.

You don't have to talk.

Just eat.

You have 16 viewers

- and $13 total.
- Whoo!

Holy shit!

-Shut up!
-Okay! Okay.

Okay.

They could at least have
the dignity to keep it down.

Dad!

If it makes you
feel better, Mr. Marsh,

I... I think his mural sucks.

I mean, like,
he can't even draw people.

Like, she's orange.

You know what would
make me feel better?

Is if you and my daughter
had any viewers.

Would you excuse me, please?

I haven't seen
that many zeroes

on a piece of paper
in a long time.

This has gotta
be a joke, right?

No, it's not a joke.

It's somebody finally seeing

how good you are
at what you do.

I am so proud of you, Adam.
Come here.

-Thank you.
-I'm so proud of you.

Thank you.

I'm gonna go dig out
that bottle of champagne

and pop it.

-Champagne?
-You and me and you,

we drinkin' tonight!

Whoo!

What's up?
You don't look too happy.

I am.

I'm really happy for you.

Nat, this not about me.

This is about us.

I know.

Just wish you didn't
have to leave.

It's... It's only
a few months though.

I'll be back
before you know it.

What?

Nothin'.

I just feel like
I've heard that one before.

Somewhere.

Mm.

Yeah.

Then, you'll be shuttled

to another one of our ships

where you'll begin work
on another piece of human art.

We will send you
to 12 galaxies.

You will complete a new
centerpiece in each.

And then,
we will duplicate your work

and sell it
in each of our systems.

Soon, every species
in our Co-Prosperity Alliance

will be moved by the poetic

and primitive humanness
of your human art.

Sure.

But first,
Campbell youth,

you will make a short speech
in front of your first work.

Back... Back on Earth?

Not on Earth. Here.

You... You guys
recreated the whole mural?

We did not reproduce it.

We transported it here.

And implemented
minor edits for clarity.

Edits?

Go on.
Tell them about your work.

Tell them how our arrival
has helped you

transcend your barbaric nature
and create beautiful art.

I, uh...

I...

Uh, I... I started, uh...

Uh...

I can't do this.

Damn!

What the hell
is goin' on out here?

My baby! My baby...

The hell...

Baby, what's going on?
What happened?

I... I couldn't do it, Ma.

-What do you mean?
-I... I couldn't do it.

I refused the money.
We... We lost it all.

- Oh, my God. Are you okay?
- I'm sorry.

- What?
- What's happening?

-Are you okay?
-It's over, Nat.

I'm... I'm sorry,
I messed up, y'all.

Beth, shut up!

You shut up, Curtis!

Go to bed with your nosy self.

Look. Baby, look at me.
Look at me.

You didn't mess up anything.

Okay?

You're right where
you're supposed to be.

Come on.

You're back?

What are you doin' here?

Couldn't sleep.

I thought you were gonna be
up there for months.

Yeah, I was.

Changed my mind, though.

I saw them
rip the wall off

and airlift it away.

It was awful.

Yeah.

It was a beautiful thing
you made.

They shouldn't be able
to do that.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

It's not your fault.

No, I mean it,
like, generally.

I'm sorry.

Me too.

What are you doing?

I figured they left
some of it standin'.

You just gonna stand there
all night?