Altered Carbon

When everyone lies, telling the truth isn't just rebellion.

It's an act of revolution.

So think carefully when you speak it, because the truth is a weapon.

So how'd she die?

Did she fall? Jump?

Was she fucking pushed?

Who?

Just a little bubblefab street whore named Mary Lou Henchy.

I never heard of her.

From that height, it's the impact on the water killed her.

But when the cops went to spin her up, they found out she was coded Neo-C.

Maybe she kept it secret.

Not from me. We grew up together.

You're a senior sys op, interplanetary record and coding.

Listen, you got root access to the entire Protectorate database.

I'm just a systems tech. I don't handle religious conversions.

But you didn't do a religious conversion.

You faked her code.

You can't fake religious coding on a stack.

What the hell do you want from me?

How did she die?

Oh, God, I don't know.

- How did she die? - I don't know.

- How did she fucking die? - I don't know!

Put the gun down. Step away from him.

There's no witness on Mary Lou's conversion,

no personal statement, no four levels of fucking protocol.

- Just his office writing the re-code. - I don't know what he's talking about.

Someone runs you.

And you're gonna tell me who.

Hey, think about this.

CTAC doesn't handle religious coding. That's domestic systems jurisdiction.

They only touch DHF when someone's shipping between worlds,

and I don't think Mary Lou ever got close to jumping planets.

The reason why he has no answers is because what you are talking about

is not real.

There's no conspiracy.

Just a dead friend.

And you and me. You and me.

- Yeah. Yeah. - Oh...

Ah...

Go, go. Go. Go.

Hey.

She's all alone in there.

I know, Ryker.

I know.

I'm wearing your fucking boyfriend?

- You didn't think to mention that? - I have trust issues.

Yeah? With me or him?

With you. You don't find a killer, you go back on ice.

- Little conflict of interest there. - Bancroft sleeves me in a crooked cop.

Might as well have "shoot me" branded on my forehead.

And you don't say anything because you want me to fail

- so you can get Ryker back. - Ryker wasn't crooked.

In case you hadn't realized. When are you gonna get it?

Bancroft wasn't murdered.

So you've been following me the whole time to make sure this sleeve doesn't get damaged

because you knew people wanted to damage it.

You ever think some of them might be gunning for me, not Ryker?

I followed you because you're a fucking terrorist.

Dimi 1 came after me at the Raven.

Ever wonder why he was here? Why he knew my real name?

Then we got Dimi the Second, Mr. Disembodied.

Works me over in virtual, only he doesn't know my real name.

Just sees the skin, calls me Ryker.

But here's the best part.

He thinks that Ryker killed his so-called brother, Dimi the First.

- Now why would he think that? - Just get to the point.

Because Dimi the Second framed Ryker for the murder of a CTAC.

It turned out Dimi's a real fucking talker when he's chopping your body parts off.

Dimi the Twin framed Ryker?

Ryker's conspiracy, Bancroft's murder, they're connected.

How?

Fuckin' ask him.

I want to go in there and see her.

- Lizzie's getting better. - No thanks to you.

- This is not your decision. - Oh, it most certainly is.

You empowered me to make medical decisions for Miss Elizabeth.

That is what I'm talking about.

No one's ever called her Elizabeth in her life.

- Kovacs. - Not now.

I need to talk to you about Lizzie and this megalomaniac you call a hotel.

I don't have time for this.

I told you before, we're not friends. I don't owe you a goddamn thing.

I'm chasing down my fucking leads to get what I need.

Which, in case anyone is interested, is my freedom.

- If I may... - Did I fucking stutter?

No, your speech was quite clear,

- if a trifle laden with obscenities. - That's not what he meant.

Don't talk to me again unless you have something actual useful to say, okay?

That is a piece of rare, antique linen that...

you obviously are going to have dry-cleaned?

Professionally!

Hey, Kovacs. How'd you get in here?

The guards'll be fine. Well, except for the broken jaw and shattered leg.

Yeah, well, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. Hey!

Takeshi...

stop damaging the help.

Where is he?

- Can I get you a drink? - I asked you a question.

Laurens has gone to the Old City to minister to the masses.

I could get you a car if you'd like.

Or you could stay a while. With me.

Did you like what we did together?

Seems like a long time ago.

It was night before last.

Well, I've been in virtual for a while. Busy screaming and dying.

Because of the case?

There's not a lot of other reasons for people to wanna kill me.

Takeshi-san, listen to me.

I want you to drop the case.

I'll double whatever he's offering you.

Buy you a new identity anywhere in the Protectorate. A new life.

He'll never find you.

My husband dragged you here and he locked you into a deal

you had no choice but to accept.

Do you really think he'll set you free?

That's what the lease says. I expect him to honor it.

Mmm. Honor.

He threw you into a fight pit.

No. When you learn the truth, the only possible truth,

that Laurens pulled the trigger, that he was weak and he gave up,

he's a coward, he won't forgive you for that.

Your freedom, that thing you want so much,

he'll make sure you never see it.

You have no idea what he's capable of.

You're terrified.

He will want someone to punish.

And my family means everything to me.

Laurens will not allow what he loves to grow and change.

Our children, he's trapped them in kind of a benevolent dependence forever.

And when a Meth says "forever," it isn't hyperbole.

So you're afraid of what he'll do to all of you.

I don't believe in punishment.

I believe in reward.

I have an island. It's mine. Not even Laurens knows about it.

Built a complex there, with a clone tank, resleeving facilities...

Sometimes I decant the clones and let them play.

Do you understand what I'm offering you?

Imagine more of me.

A pack of bodies,

orchestrated by the same mind, with a singular focus.

You.

I'm multi-sleeved.

That could get you erased.

Mmm. Uncountable, my sins.

And you can have all of me, for as long as you'd like.

And when you're finished, your freedom.

I'm not here to save you, Miriam.

I believe I'm the one offering to do the saving.

Think about it.

But don't take too long. We're running out of time.

Hey, Mickey... I have another job for you.

You're gonna have to keep it quiet.

Whatever you say, Lieutenant.

Number two.

Thanks.

Officer Levine.

- Are you a believer? - What?

Faith, Officer.

You wear it openly.

- Ah. It's just a ring, man. - Is it?

I see a proud artifact of your heritage.

Forgive me.

You meet too few of the Chosen in this city.

Hey.

You a believer?

This is a restricted area.

I work for Bancroft.

Warning. You are entering...

You're gonna need these.

No prolonged skin contact. You touch them, you die.

City Father! City Father! City Father!

- You want chocolate? You want chocolate? - Yeah.

Who wants to play rock-paper-scissors? Yes!

Rock, paper, scissors.

What are you doing here, Kovacs?

I didn't send for you.

You put me in this body just to punish Ortega.

Go wait for me by the truck, little ones. Go on. Run along.

Keep your hands covered or risk getting infected.

You needed an effective sleeve.

She needed to be taught some respect.

Two birds, one stone.

- Petty move. Wasted my time. - Well, childish for someone your age, isn't it?

What could you possibly know about my age, Kovacs?

Good point. I'd have chosen a younger sleeve. Something more virile.

Oh. Yes.

No doubt.

But then a young man sees himself as a fighting and fucking machine, huh?

But the truth is, it's at this age that a man achieves real respect,

for he has battled many times and clearly triumphed.

Who...

Who are the most potent gods after all, huh?

- Thank you. - Odin.

Jupiter. Zeus.

A colossus is rarely a young man.

He is father. With many children.

You're infected.

Well, no one from the outside world will touch them.