The Discarded

Down, on the ground!

Get on the ground!

Wyatt to Viceroy,

we have a runner, I repeat, we have a runner.

VICEROY ON Acknowledged.

Pursue runner with authority to shoot to kill.

Copy.

Double water rations for anybody who speaks up.

Nobody saw a fucking thing.

If you run, you kill one of your own.

Second chances are rare in life.

But here at The Program,

we believe you are one opportunity away

from dignity and self-respect.

Our motto is simple.

Work for life, work for all.

A life without debt is within your reach.

A fulfilled term at The Program

guarantees you financial freedom.

Young man, why are you here today?

My student loans were too much.

I don't even know how much I owe right now.

And what about you?

My daughter, she was sick.

I was working multiple jobs to pay for her treatment.

I was living off credit.

Stories like yours are far too common.

But that is about to change.

Your application's been reviewed,

and everything checks out okay.

According to our assessment,

the debt you're carrying and your overall credit rating,

you're a perfect fit.

Congratulations, I'll send you a copy of our assessment.

Work for life,

work for all.

Just one more piece of tape.

Hey, how's it going?

It's good, how are you, Maggie?

Good, thank you.

Here, it's the best I could do today.

- You don't gotta. - No, take it.

Thank you.

He's getting big.

Healthy appetite.

Fuck!

Travis, goddammit, you fucking scared me.

What are you doing here?

I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry.

What's that?

Happy birthday.

I don't even like fucking flowers.

They just wilt and die.

You still have this?

That old woman was crazy.

She was right about us.

Have you thought about what I asked?

You're a worker, Maggie, you're not eligible.

Not eligible.

You've been drinking, I can smell it on you.

Don't do that.

We don't have to turn this into a fight.

We, there's no we.

You know what I meant.

I work in the morning and I'm tired.

So thank you for the flowers and the card,

but you gotta go.

You hear me?

You remember when we used to go

to the old grain elevators?

We'd climb up top and overlook the lake?

Okay, you need to go now.

Well...

Keep it, I don't want it.

Happy birthday, Maggie.

Call you debtors, takers.

They tell you to get a job, to enlist in The Program.

To leave your community, your mothers and your fathers

and your siblings and your friends,

just when things are at their worst.

My own son enlisted in The Program a year-and-a-half ago.

I haven't heard from him since.

No visits, no calls, nothing.

For all intents and purposes, those who have enlisted him

have disappeared.

We need answers.

But more importantly, we need to discourage the young people

from buying into this ridiculous promise.

At least it's a chance to start over.

I'm sick of borrowing.

Better to keep borrowing than enlisting.

Yeah, some choice.

Come in.

Maggie.

There you go.

Thank you.

Maggie, take a seat.

There's no easy way of saying this,

but you've been here long enough.

You understand the challenges we face here at the clinic.

As far as trainees go, Maggie, you're among the best.

And you're gonna make a great nurse some day, I'm sure.

I've almost satisfied my training hours.

I have my certification exam next month.

I've been working towards this tirelessly.

I understand your struggle, I do.

But I have a dozen trainees.

I have to make some choices.

Please.

I've invested everything into this.

Why you?

Why should I pick you and not someone else?

I feel I've proven myself during my time here.

I've gone above and beyond, working overtime,

off-the-clock, and unpaid, just to help out.

I stumbled onto your website.

What?

Seems like we both have some choices to make.

I fucking can't believe this.

Do you want to be a nurse, yes or no?

Fuck you.

What brings you here, Maggie?

I want in.

Come on, we've been through this.

I'm serious.

It's not possible.

You're nowhere near eligible.

You simply aren't carrying enough debt.

I can't pay my bills, my rent is past due.

Oh, and did I mention I lost my job?

I'm desperate and running out of options.

I understand.

And it's hard to fathom,

but your credit is actually too good.

Fuck that.

Look, even if I tried to push your application through,

it'd end up back on my desk as denied.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't be promoting the competition,

but why don't you go across the street and get a loan,

use the credit to get back on your feet.

I don't want another loan.

I have enough debt.

What I want is to be rid of it.

I want to help, I do.

Then do it.

Why don't you move back in with me?

Not a chance.

You aren't the right fit for The Program.

Maybe not, but they don't pick 'em, you do.

So pick me.

I need your help.

Fix the application, make me eligible.

I could lose my job.

Please, Travis.

I can't.

I just can't.

Fuck off.

Go on.

Is this?

Your ticket in to The Program.

Thank you, Travis, thank you.

This is the best thing to happen to me in a long time.

I was starting to freak out.

There you go.

To a new start.

Wait.

Like we used to.

You know what my favorite thing about this place is?

Yeah, I think I do.

You gonna sing with me?

That depends how many of these we have.

You know, Mags, your term at The Program

is going to be a while,

a couple years at least.

Is this your idea of celebrating?

No, I just want you to know what to expect.

It's either this or more debt.

I'm just saying.

What are you saying?

No, forget it, this is good, it is.

To you.

To a new start.

Once you've reviewed the contract,

accept the terms and conditions on page 56.

Everything all right?

Travis, is it?

Yes, sir, is everything okay?

Sit.