Severance

Devon! Devon!

No, no, no. Listen, we're not happy, we're miserable.

Burt!

- They torture us down there! - Devon!

We're prisoners!

Burt!

She's alive!

- Yeah. Okay. - Mmm. Okay.

Mark? Here. Will you take her for a second?

- It's okay. I got her. Yeah. - Be careful with her.

- Don't go far though. - Mm-hmm. I won't.

Mark.

So, this is you now?

Yeah.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

- Are you sure? - Yeah.

What's my name?

Persephone.

Can you spell that?

- Never. - Okay.

Babe...

- Okay. - ...need help with this diaper.

Oh, boy.

I think she wants mommy.

Fetid moppet.

Father.

We'll have someone from the floor liaise with the outies.

We need to find out who they talked to. Promptly.

I need you to go see all of them.

Find out every word they said and who they said it to.

And shall I fire them?

Let Kier guide your hand.

Of course.

Please, sit.

We've commandeered the footage taken by guests.

Natalie is already doing outreach to media.

And the severed employees who were involved are being dealt with.

Thank you for acting so quickly.

You saved us from disaster.

Will Mr. Eagan be joining?

Just me.

I personally owe you a debt of gratitude.

It cost me dearly.

It did.

And still, you proved your loyalty tonight.

Which is why we'd like to ask you back.

An apology is warranted.

I apologize.

My father apologizes.

The Board apologizes.

We've treated you poorly.

I'm sorry.

I welcome your contrition.

I'm so glad.

There's much damage to control.

I recommend we start by scouring the feed,

and I need to interview Dylan G. to see how he gained access to the--

We have something else in mind.

We'd like to offer you a promotion.

Severance Advisory Council.

I never heard of such a thing.

It's a brand-new initiative. You'd be spearheading its formation.

Your expertise is greatly valued.

Which is why I should be running the severed floor.

Mr. Milchick has been promoted to floor manager.

You don't value me.

You fear me.

We fear no one.

And if we didn't hold you in such high esteem,

we wouldn't be making this generous offer.

I'll put some thought to it.

Thank you for coming in, Harmony. Mr. Drummond will see you out.

I don't need an escort.

Ready?

Earlier this evening,

at an event where I was excited to share my status as a severed individual

with a group of friends and allies,

I made the poor decision to consume alcohol

while on a non-Lumon medication for an arm rash.

This had an inebriating effect,

which caused me to say some deeply regrettable things.

- Ah, Mr. Milchick. - Apologies for the hour.

Is everything all right?

How's your night been... ...Mr. Bailiff?

Fine. Uh, they're showing Barber of Seville on TV.

So I've just been here.

Wonderful. And you're feeling well?

Oh, God. What did I eat in there?

We just need to know if anything of note occurred.

Anything at all.

W-Why don't you tell me what's going on, Mr. Milchick?

In the moment, I thought I was being funny.

But in the hours since this outburst,

I've been reminded just how seriously my family's company

affects the lives of real people around the world.

You know, your innie is a friend of mine.

I feel confident he'd approve of me saying so.

And he's a man of principle, which is rare.

Which is what makes this so difficult.

You're firing me?

When Lumon falters,

it's our cherished workers and their families who suffer first.

So for the fear and insecurity this has caused, I must sincerely atone.

You were involved in a physical altercation

with another employee this evening.

It was brief but violent.

And I regret to say that you were the aggressor.

- Wait-- - As such,

I'm afraid we've no choice but to terminate your employment,

effective immediately.

Distrust of Lumon has been sadly endemic since its founding.

My words provided more fuel for a pernicious hate and derision.

You can't just do that. What... What happened?

Did I break something? Or I-I can... I can pay. I-I have cash upstairs.

When I said my innie was being tortured...

What am I supposed to tell my wife?

This was a joke and a lie.

I'm sorry.

I'm committed to this company with every part of me.

But I'm also human.

Just like my innie...

and just like you.

Well, that was more drama than I planned.

I guess so.

I'll let you know if we do another reading.

Yes, please do.

And don't punish the baby, Ricken. This wasn't its fault.

Of course. Good night, Rebeck.

I'm not the only one who heard you say it.

- It's not like I made this up. - Right. You know, I'm just--

We can reschedule the reading to next month. It's fine.

I just have to decide if I'm going to restart

- with chapter 1. - So what?

So you said, "She's alive."

- If I may-- - I'm trying to help you.

If I may, I really did feel it was clear you were referencing the baby.

- Patton had just saved her. - Well, he found her, yeah.

And I think that your workie was excited.

I have to say, Mark, he really is a jewel.

Guys, obviously I was referencing the baby.

Yeah.

- Okay? - Yes.

No... Yeah. I agre... I think Ricken is right.

I agree.

I... Babe, will you take her for a second?

Uh, yep.

So let's... ...Occam's razor this shit.

You're looking for Eleanor,

you find this picture, which obviously is of interest to you,

- so you pick it up. - Right.

And then when Patton found Eleanor--

- Saved her, I'd still say. - Okay, whatever, yes.

- You still had it with you. - Yeah.

Yeah. I think it's the only thing that makes sense.

Okay. And Eleanor was in the study because...

Because Mrs. Selvig left her in there.

- Or Cobel, whatever the fuck. - Right.

Perhaps "Cobelvig" would be a helpful nomenclature.

And assuming that "She's alive" really was about the baby--

I mean, you don't think it was?

- I do think it was. - Then why are you saying it like that?

I don't... Sorry, I'm just exhausted.

- It's been a weird fucking night, Mark. - Oh, my God.

Why are you getting aggressive

- with me right now? - Oh, my God! Th--

- Okay, guys. Okay, okay. - Whatever.

Let's deal with what we know to be true, all right?

Mark's workie went to great lengths to awaken himself to alert us to abuses.

Um, he was inspired by my book.

He found great meaning in it. Profundity.

Um--

Oh, goddamn it, Rebeck.

- Honey, can-- Got her? - Yeah.

What the fuck are you even saying?

Why are you being a dick to me? I'm trying to help you.

- I'm just trying to get-- - Good evening, Dr. Hale.

- Good evening. - Seth Milchick from Lumon.

Is Mark Scout here by chance?

Uh, yes, he is.

Um, come in.

Thank you.

Mr. Scout.

I imagine you have a few questions.

Oh, you could say that.

May I sit with you?

Right this way.

You must be Devon.

Okay. So...

That is a magnificent helmet.

Thank you.

What happened tonight is what we call the "overtime contingency."

It's a safeguard we employ

if we ever need to access your work personage off company grounds.

Yeah, you never told me about this.

OTC disclosure can be found in your start paperwork.

It seems the tech was commandeered by one of your office mates,

allowing him to wake the rest of you for a period of 39 minutes.

Innie Mark was here in this house.

I know. I talked to him.