EPISODE SIX
[rumble of city]
The mob action went well.
Your cell has been noticed. Good job.
Who came up with the name, Night of the Hanging Bots?
Someone said it online...
and it stuck.
- I thought it was you. - No.
Grassroots creativity, then.
That's good.
We'll discuss a new hit in a couple of weeks.
Why don't we do it ourselves?
Please, give us a chance.
Meaning?
I have some ideas.
This is stupid. We spend a day preparing and a month waiting.
We should do it every day.
One flash mob after another. Everyone would know about our cell.
Everyone would know the Liquidators.
They would.
And you would be sorry.
You, as the leader, would go down for ten years.
Your sister's underage so she might get a suspended sentence.
But that's not any better.
No parents, a brother in jail. She'd end up on the streets.
You want a revolution?
You Trotskyist.
I got you out of that shit,
gave you a cover
and a job. So watch and learn.
Learn from the smart people.
You want to be independent?
- Are you ready for it? - I don't see the problem.
Bars! I told you, sit tight.
Wait.
Your time will come.
Are we clear?
Yeah.
One more thing.
There's a guy in your group.
Egor Safronov. Do you know him?
[minimalist piano music playing]
[deep booming]
[electronic bleeping]
[music builds]
[music continues to build]
[gunshot]
Hi, Pavel.
This is unexpected.
I thought I'd drop by.
Well, come on in.
Sorry for the mess. My servants took the day off.
- Do you need help? - No, thanks.
I brought you some food.
You came to feed a stray dog?
Let's talk about the case.
I've been looking through the archives.
Check it out.
It appears that Safronov once operated on Toropov's son.
Really?
Are they friends?
No, they're not.
The surgery didn't succeed. The boy died.
- Toropov even sued Safronov. - Why do I need to know this?
Well...
I think you were mistaken.
Maybe you should see Safronov as a friend, not a foe.
I agree that he's guilty.
But why don't we assume
Safronov wasn't acting of his own free will?
Maybe you should assume I'm not interested anymore.
- Why? - Because...
I was suspended, remember?
So?
Are you just going to give up?
Pavel.
Remember what you said?
We should act, go through with it.
You act and go through with it. Let's see how long you last.
[distant echoing rumble]
It's really something, this... reality show.
Who is this guy?
An actor?
Just a guy off the street.
Off the street? He doesn't look like it.
We glammed him up, of course. Nobody wants to see paupers.
Did you show it to anyone else?
Of course.
We test it on focus groups.
Mostly middle-class traditional families.
The results are very good: 82% of people want to buy this model.
No wonder.
The video is impressive.
It would make a nice presentation for the upcoming TV show.
A show?
I thought it was a business tender.
And I thought your Arisa would be dancing for the Minister
over a month ago.
No. Forget it.
We don't set the rules anymore.
The auction will decide which bot is the best.
It will be broadcast live
along with the Early Retirement Program presentation.
Awesome.
And which genius came up with that idea?
No idea.
But the Minister loves it.
So...
So the tendering process turns into a robot free-for-all.
And your Arisa has to win.
Shit. What do we do?
Comparing Arisa's specs with other bots is easy.
She'd win hands-down.
But a show? How can we prepare her for that?
Simple. Every show has a script.
We just need to find out what they'll compete in and drill Arisa.
How? We can't program her.
We can only teach her.
Let Safronov do it.
If she has chosen him as her family,
let him deal with the family business.
[male voice on TV] After copulation, where the male has to balance
on the female's back, she lays the eggs...
[TV narration continues]
Georgy.
Huh?
If I have to stay here...
you'll have to move.
[TV switches off]
- Where to? - Well...
The best option would be your flat but I know that's impossible.
But you can't stay in the living room. You should take Lev's study.
OK?
Sure.
Thanks a lot.
Just don't touch anything. Lev hates it.
Alla, wait. Just a minute.
What's wrong?
I know you were living your life and I was living mine.
But now, like it or not, we're under the same roof again.
So help me.
I'm trying to make up for everything. To make us...
well, make us feel like a family again.
Like what?
Like a family, Alla. A family.
Safronov. I have a husband.
He's waiting for me in Australia.
For me and my kids.
If it wasn't for you we'd have already left
and started a new life.
Instead, I'm caught up in some sketchy situation.
The cameras are practically inside my bed.
Explaining to my own daughter that I'm better than an electronic doll.
And you talk about family?
Our family, Alla.
The one we had for 13 years.
Remember, we used to fight, too.
So many broken dishes...
Are you ready to move on from all that?
No, Safronov.
I'm not ready.
I've already moved on.
You should do the same.
The family you're talking about is gone and won't come back.
Don't touch me.
Don't bring this up ever again.
I need some air.
I was wrong.
Alla doesn't always lie.
This time, she was sincere.
Hi, guys.
- Egor! - [Bars] Zhanna, stop.
Guys?
Bars, what's going on?
Come on.
Go away.
Go on.
- Zhanna! - Come inside.
[door slams]
I hadn't thought about it for ages. I was suddenly overwhelmed.
I know I can't do it. I love Lev,
and I won't cheat on him.
Especially not with Safronov.
I understand.
I really do. I'm just jealous.
Compared to you, I have nothing to remember.
- You idiot. - Same to you.
[relaxed jazz playing in background]
[bot] Here.
- Anything else? - No.
Tell me how Lev is doing.
Well, he's fine.
Missing us.
He says the house feels empty and wants us to furnish it together.
Tell him what's going on.
How? What would I say?
That I'm living with my ex and he's making moves on me?
Lev is an angel, but nobody would put up with that.
You're my only hope.
I need to get custody as soon as I can and get out of here.
The court date is a month away.
- What? - Yeah.
We have to change it.
You're smart. Think of something.
Daddy, look.
What do we have here?
I'm sorry. I told her you were busy.
It's fine.
What's this? A hospital?
Not just any hospital. The one you work at now.
- Oh. - See? The doctor is you.
And Arisa and I are your nurses.
- Wow! Amazing. - [Alla] Right.
What a happy family.
[Georgy] Hi. Is something wrong?
Nothing.
I'm just tired. I need a rest.
Bye, everyone.
Mommy! Look at my picture.
It's not fatigue. It's alcohol intoxication.
Stop it.
You're intoxicating me.
Why?
I just warned you that Alla was lying again.
Warned me!
Who said I wanted to know that?
[bleep]
Call Zhanna.
[rock music blaring]
[ringtone]
EGOR
Don't even think about it.
[ringtone continues]
- [woman] Do you like it? - [man] It's rad.
Vic.
Vic!
What is it?
We're ready. Are you coming?
In a minute.
Is that Safronov?
Yeah, it's him.
The man who stole our most valuable asset
is now advertising your company?
Unfortunately.
- I don't get it. - You don't need to.
Let's just say it's an unpleasant necessity.
An unpleasant necessity?
[she laughs]
You're working with the man you wanted to kill.
And now it's just unpleasant? Sure!
Of course it's unpleasant!
[laughing]
[bleep]
[ambient music playing]
[male voiceover] Cronos presents a new generation of empathic bots.
Arisa.
The first robot capable of reading human feelings.
Arisa, a member of your family,
a teacher, a helper,
a friend.
Preorder today.
CRONOS TO THE FUTURE - TOGETHER
[city rumble]
Hi.
Let's go for a run in the park.
What's this?
Not only does Toropov give you clothes but he's getting you back in shape?
Why Toropov?
You're right about getting fit.
I'll need it when I'm performing a six-hour surgery.
Then run, Safronov, run.
I need my coffee.
How about coffee, then we go running together?
Run, Safronov.
Fine.
[singing softly]
- Good morning. - Morning.
Dr. Safronov, I work with Major Varlamov.
I thought you said "good" morning.
[ambient music playing]
Hi.
I couldn't make it earlier. Has Vic left?
Mrs. Svetlana, Mr. Maslovsky is here to see you.
- I can see that. Off you go. - How do you live with this guy?
Vic likes him.
Come on.
- What's wrong with Borya? - See for yourself.
Did he hurt himself?
Sveta, where...
What happened to Borya?
He's not here.
God, I missed you.
Me, too. Work has been crazy.
- Maslovsky. - Yes?
Shut up.
[panting]
I never complained about Varlamov.
I thought it was you. Why was he suspended?
Considering his MO, they probably had their reasons.
Of course. Do you like Toropov's MO better?
Do you know who you're working for? He's a murderer.
An accomplice, at the very least.
Look, madam...
there is no concrete evidence against Toropov
in Sergey Panin's murder case.
- I'm not talking about him. - Who, then?
Toropov was involved in kidnapping and killing 12 underage children.
[Maslo] I prefer your natural color.
- It doesn't suit me anymore. - You're crazy.
I'm sorry. I forgot you don't like being called that.
Could we not meet at Vic's house, though?
Are you nervous?
It's my house, too.
Why is my husband working with Safronov?
- He was involved in all this? - In covering it up, at least.
His firm was making bots with the kidnapped kids' faces.
What for?
Imagine. A child doesn't come home.
The parents call the police. The search begins.
At that moment, they let the doppelganger bot loose.
Calls start coming in about sightings, CCTV camera data.
The picture becomes distorted.
The time of the kidnapping, the geolocation.
So the investigation thinks the child has run away.
Sometimes they do.
Only once they had arrested several bot kids
did they figure out the criminals' MO.
Sveta, baby.
You know I'm always on your side.
Vic really has no other option.
What can we do if Arisa only listens to Safronov?
Lose the tender?
Is that even possible?
It looks that way.
If we only knew what tests the bots would be assigned,
or could bribe a panel member...
Vic is trying but it's not working.
And Arisa is becoming a loose cannon.
Isn't this wonderful?
Wonderful?
Your husband's company losing?
Of course.
I thought Vic was invincible.
But if what you're saying is true...
Maslovsky...
Do you want us to be together?
Yes.
Then find a way to sabotage your own tender.
Let me take a look at Borya.
What's wrong with him?
Maslovsky.
Igor, talk to me.
Sveta, this conversation is over. Vic is more than a boss. He's a friend.
Is that why you're fucking his wife?
That sounds like real friendship.
- You want me to stop? - I want you to be a man.
Come on. You're the brain behind Cronos.
Vic is turning you into a doormat. Not to mention what he did to me.
So leave him.
Are you kidding me?
So he and my dad can put me back in the nuthouse?
[bleep]
I'm just a bargaining chip for them.
While my father relies on Vic, you and I have no way to get rid of him.
Great.
The problem is, I'm worth even less to Losev.
If Vic goes, so do I.
- Not true. Daddy thinks highly of you. - Highly?
He doesn't even remember my name.
He will.
Are you up to something?
I'll deal with it.
If what you're saying is true,
why isn't Toropov in jail?
He said he was following orders and didn't know what the bots were for.
And they believed him?
Not Varlamov.
But Toropov pulled some strings and the charges were dropped.
Pavel had to leave the Homicide Squad.
And start picking on me to prove he was right?
But he was right. You were covering for Toropov.
I admit, you didn't have a choice. Now you do.
And what is it?
Talk to Varlamov.
He's not an easy man.
He's harsh, maybe unfair sometimes, but he's not Toropov.
Are you sure you're not putting your kids in even more danger by siding with him?
Think about it.
[Georgy] Guys, I'm home.
Hi, everyone.
[sighing]
Georgy, I brought you a towel.
Thanks.
- How was your run? - It was fine.
What?
Now you're not being sincere, either.
The family lie detector!
Come on.
Let's put your lie-detecting abilities to the test.
Get dressed.
Lyosha, you're a genius.
The sky is the limit for you.
- I'm sorry, Vic. Can't talk now. - [hangs up]
Later.
[Maslo] So you didn't get the tasks?
It's almost like they were planning to play by the rules.
Where were you?
At your place. Sveta called me to check on Borya.
That idiot.
Did she ask about Safronov?
She did.
I had to tell her how desperate things are.
Maybe you should be kinder to her. She's weak and traumatized.
Listen, Maslo.
Don't tell me how to talk to my wife.
[ambient music playing]
[panting]
Son,
Mommy needs to go out for a while.
- Come on, quick! - Where are we going?
Look! We're on TV!
[male voiceover] Arisa, a member of your family, a teacher, a helper...
Oh, God.
...a friend.
Not this, too!
Preorder today.
That was intense.
[rock music blaring]
[Bars] Call Egor.
[Zhanna] Why?
You wanted to see him.
So call him.
Do it.
- [bleep] - [dial tone]
[Vic] Well?
I think it's perfect.
Has it already been aired?
What's the problem, Safronov? Don't want to be a star?
The problem is, you made my private life public without my consent.
Privacy, private space. Ever heard of those?
What is it with people today? Everybody lectures me.
- Vic... - Shut up.
Let's sort this out, Safronov.
What do you prefer, visiting your son in jail
or living in a happy, wealthy family?
Didn't we tell you that you would be filmed?
Didn't we tell you the tender would be broadcast?
I overreacted.
Arisa, sit down.
We're doing this... together.
I suggest we call a truce until we're finished.
Deal?
Deal.
On one condition.
You already have your video.
You don't need the cameras in my house.
[Maslo] Vic, do you have a death wish? Attacking Safronov in front of her!
When she got up I thought we'd have another corpse.
We will, Maslovsky.
Not now, though. After the tender.
[electronic hip-hop playing]
[music continues inside club]
Hi, Egor.
I'm glad you made it.
I've been here before, remember?
Of course. I told Bars how I feel about it.
But once he's made up his mind it makes no difference.
- Why didn't you answer my calls? - Because of him, of course.
- And now? - Now he wants to see you.
[Bars] Egor, hi.
Easy, easy.
Sorry about last time. I needed to be sure.
Of what?
That you weren't a spy.
Why would I be?
You were in jail.
Yeah, but only for 24 hours.
See? They let you go too soon. Think about it.
- You could have ratted on us. - [Zhanna] Come on, Bars.
If he did, we wouldn't be here right now.
See? Exactly.
Now we're all here and safe... welcome home.
Come on.
- She's a bot. - [Egor] I know.
It's not like that.
Bots are evil and all that,
but Arisa really is different.
She's smart.
And she's such a good friend to Sonya.
Sounds great.
Can you show us, though?
Show you what?
This Arisa of yours.
I didn't take any pics.
I don't mean pics. I mean the real thing. Why don't you bring her on Thursday?
I don't know. There's always people around.
Come on. Zhanna wants to see her, too. Right?
It's a good idea.
What if this Arisa is really a special robot?
You know, Egor, I don't kill sentient beings, even if they are bots.
What do you say?
[rock 'n' roll blaring]
Bars, this is freaking me out.
- What is? - You said, no more Egor.
I mean, V.S. said.
Not only was he here all night, but now you want...
his bot to come over.
A bot at Bot. Net!
It's a bomb.
Are you finished?
Now listen to me.
V.S. doesn't trust me to plan a mission.
He doesn't think we can do it.
I'll prove to them that we're big boys.
We'll get him a bot that's supposed to be up for tender.
And Egor...
will bring it here.
[imitates gunshot]
[door opens]
Gleb, you're the only one who doesn't stare at the girls in my office.
Not my cup of tea.
I have boys, too.
Not my cup of tea, either.
Shame. As a minority shareholder you should take an interest
in what we offer our clients.
- Here. - [bleep]
Is that an advance payment?
A bonus.
Your idea of a controlled radical organization has worked.
According to the polls,
the Night of the Hanging Bots has been seen negatively by the public,
consolidating the Liquidators' image as extremely dangerous mavericks.
Just the way we planned it.
Just make sure your Liquidators don't start going off-script.
Vic. I created the Liquidators and I'll destroy them if we need to.
Anything else?
I need your people to keep an eye on the Safronovs.
Why not your security? Don't you trust them?
They're not smart enough. Guarding the office is one thing...
OK, I get it.
HONEY. INCOMING CALL
Answer.
Hi.
I missed you so much.
You have no idea how sick I am of being apart.
I'm sure you are.
What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me?
- I'm just tired. - Tired?
Why? It's morning out there. The day just started.
I'm not tired of work. I'm tired of the constant lies.
- I don't understand. - Neither do I. I'm at a loss.
When you asked me to pay your kids' tuition, I was understanding.
When you wanted to stay in Moscow to spy on Safronov, I agreed.
But what's going on now? Are you back together?
It's driving me up the wall. Please, don't play me for a fool.
- Lev. - It's not OK.
I'm not playing you.
- It's not what you think. - Come on!
I saw the ad. Your family and Arisa.
- Are you leaving me? - No!
- It's just that in this situation... - There's always a situation.
You always hide important things from me.
I just didn't want to upset you.
I need to know you're not lying.
I'm sorry but I don't believe you right now.
I just don't.
[bleep]
Shit.
[sighs]
Search, "Next flight to Sydney from Moscow."
[bleep]
[female voice] S7 Airlines, September 18.
MOSCOW-SYDNEY, SEPTEMBER 18 BOOK A TICKET
[Egor] This is Arisa, our bot.
[Alla] Good morning.
- You're early today. - [Egor] Hi, Dad.
[Sonya] The early bird gets served by Arisa first.
Don't talk like that. Arisa is our bot, not a servant.
It's not me, it was Egor who said it.
[Arisa] Thanks, Egor. I like it.
Georgy, would you like an omelet?
[doorbell]
It's Marina. I'll get it.
What's going on?
Did you give my family antidepressants?
I'm sorry.
I don't understand.
What happened? I came as soon as I could.
- Don't ask questions. Just play along. - Along with what?
I'm going back to Lev.
The world is changing.
My daughter is talking to her father again.
[cocktail piano playing in background]
I want to help you and Vic with the tender.
Do you? How?
I want to be a co-host of the broadcast.
It's time for me to come back to life.
Well, if that's what you want.
I'd prefer you to have some kids.
Maybe.
Anyway, this would be a start.
First of all, I need to be closer to Vic.
We live like strangers, not like man and wife.
You want to connect with your husband?
Am I right?
You cut to the chase, as always.
Well. I'm all for it.
Great.
Will you help me get the gig?
[dramatic music over speakers]
This is way too macho.
What do you expect from a retired army general?
Garanenko is a general?
And his bot is a Private First Class.
Hi. Am I interrupting?
Hi.
Vic, can I talk to you for a minute?
Sveta, hi. I have to go.
You're not going anywhere.
As I said, when at work, I work.
This is about work, too.
Vic, I know I haven't been supporting you enough.
I want to make up for it.
I'll be the host of the tender.
Are you serious?
And on top of that, I'll use all of my skill and charm
to present your bot to the audience.
From what I heard, it would be much easier for you
if you knew what the tests were.
We'd like to know that.
In that case, here.
[bleep]
- What is it? - The script for the show.
Just, please...
These documents are top secret, restricted, and confidential.
It took me a dozen signatures to get them.
You're solid gold.
I know.
OK, I'll let you get back to work.
[bleep]
[muffled yelp]
Bars, stop it.
How many times did I tell you not to come to Cronos?
You want them to see me with the Liquidators' leader?
Katya, keep your panties on. I'm not that famous.
Tell that to Security.
They're out of control,
checking everybody because of the tender.
Wait. You, too?
Not that much.
After all, I'm Maslovsky's PA, and he's Toropov's right-hand man.
Still, don't put me at risk. Got it?
I'm sorry. It won't happen again.
It's just...
I need to know...
about the bot your bosses are grooming for the tender.
Arisa?
She's a cool piece of kit.
Judging by her specifications,
she's another step towards replacing humans.
How upset will your bosses be if we dismantle it?
You can't get to her.
Maybe others can't.
But I know just the right person.
[alert]
S7 AIRLINES
LAST CALL
Sonya, Egor. We're going to the water park.
- Yes! Can we get ice cream? - Yep.
- Yes! - Of course.
- Sorry, Mom. I'm busy. - With what?
Egor, why don't we have some quality time?
I'll come, too. Come on.
Right, Sonya?
[Sonya] Yes! I missed you so much! Let's go to the water park.
Go get ready. Do you mind?
No. I just thought you were going to prepare for your new job.
It's OK. I can do it later.
I asked Marina to come too.
I came over specially.
If you say so...
Alright. Sonya, Egor, we'll wait downstairs.
Alla is lying.
What is it this time?
I don't have that information.
[Alla] Sonya, are you ready?
Come on.
[Georgy] Can I talk to you for a minute?
I'll be right there. Did you forget something?
No. I just wanted to say thank you.
- For what? - For everything.
For your patience.
For agreeing to stay here with me and this obstinate bot.
I talked to Vic yesterday. There will be no more cameras.
I know it's not much, but I hope you'll feel a bit more comfortable.
Sorry for holding you up. I'll start preparing for my job.
Have a good time.
[door closes]
- Resume. - [bleep]
[melancholy music playing]
- [alert] - Last call for your flight.
Do you want to check in online?
CONFIRM
[bleep]
- Do the kids know where we're going? - No.
Are you going to tell them?
Yes. Later.
This is so reckless.
Lev saw the goddamn ad.
What, in Australia? God.
One question.
Did you consider what Toropov would do to Safronov
when he finds out that three-quarters of the family presenting the bot
have gone to Sydney?
God...
That's what I'm saying.
Pull in.
- What? - Pull in!
[Sonya] What's wrong with Mommy?
Nothing. Everything's fine.
She's just car-sick. It will pass.
[sighs]
How long was I asleep?
Four hours, 32 minutes, 15 seconds.
- Did Alla call? - No.
You received a delayed email from her.
How do you know?
I register all incoming calls,
social network notifications, and emails for you.
Can you read it to me?
[in Alla's voice] "Dear Georgy,
when you receive this letter, Egor, Sonya, and I will be far away.
I'm sorry, but you and Toropov gave me no choice.
I was forced to take the kids and go to Lev in Australia."
What? Australia?
Call Alla.
Shall I keep reading?
- [dial tone] - [cuts out]
OK...
[tense music playing]
Georgy, I register dangerous emotional arousal.
May I offer you a sedative?
To hell with your meds. She stole the paperwork and my kids.
- I'm going to the airport. Step aside. - No.
- Step aside. - No.
Step aside. I order you.
You can't drive a vehicle in your current emotional state.
What?
I'll dismantle you. Let me...
[piercing tone]
Georgy.
I have analyzed Alla's latest activity online.
Last night she booked three tickets to Sydney,
and the flight took off 38 minutes ago.
[ambient music playing]
[rumble of trains]
[sounding horn]
Georgy, your behavior is worrying me.
You are under a lot of stress.
Maybe you should consult a psychologist.
If you mean suicide, relax.
Killing myself isn't my style. It's you who's going to jump.
I am not designed to safely withstand a fall from great heights.
Right. That's what I want.
I lost my family because of Toropov.
He'll lose you because of me.
It won't make us even
but at least he'll fail at the tender. Get out.
I understand your intention but I must refuse.
I don't care. Get out of the car.
It's impossible, Georgy. I'm your only protection...
It is possible.
Alright.
Then I'll jump.
[Arisa] This is a lapse in judgment.
I won't be able to help you.
Do your best. Aren't you even going to try?
Let me go!
Forgive me.
[crack]