The Box

- That's a big mistake. That's a very big mistake.

If you ever wanna see your mom's basement again,

you Cheeto hacker freak,

you better start talkin'.

How did you get into the database?

Give me the codes!

Who hired you?

Tell me the name of your employer.

'Cause we'll beat it out of you.

I'll get names, I'll get dates.

I'll drag anything I want out of you.

No one you're protecting is worth that.

So what do you say?

Are you gonna cooperate with us?

Uh, okay. Um, hold on.

- Was something wrong? - No, no, it was fine.

But could you just, you know,

add some more spice?

Spice?

Yeah! You know, spice it up!

Forget about just reciting the line.

- By now you've probably gathered,

this is an audition.

Even good actors have bad days.

- Well, do you understand what I'm telling you or not?

- Yeah, no, I understand. - Okay, so, come on.

Do it again.

Tell me who you're working for!

Tell me who you're working for, now!

Uh, uh, okay. All right, all right.

We'll be in touch.

- Is there anything else you want me to do?

No, we've heard enough.

Thank you.

Okay.

Welcome to Hollywood.

Meet Tyler Stevens, a struggling actor.

He's 25 years old, which means he's at that age where he's

beginning to question if it's ever gonna happen for him.

He's become bitter and irritable.

His authentic charm is beginning to wane

as the fishes of doubt spider whip through his subconscious.

- So what I actually ordered was double-sided prints.

What you guys printed was one side.

There's supposed to be a resume on the back?

Um, okay.

- He encounters many obstacles along his journey,

yet he continues, nonetheless.

Aggressively adhering to his health routines,

forced positivity, and networking.

Are you Tyler?

- Yeah. - Great.

He finds work where he can,

but he only takes jobs that don't interfere

with his rigorous audition schedule.

After hundreds of cattle calls,

the stars are gone from his eyes.

Many of his peers would've given up by now,

but there's something about Tyler

that's just a little bit more stubborn.

I sent you an email last week,

but just in case you didn't get it, it's Tyler Stevens

underscore Acting at Gmail dot com.

And who am I you might ask?

A booming voice from the sky?

Maybe I'm his conscience.

A silent narrator guiding him

incalculably closer to his destiny.

Tyler Stevens first crossed my radar

at a local film festival last summer.

He had starred in a short film that was

not entirely remarkable, aside from its lead.

And that's where this story begins.

Hey, man! Glad you're able to make it!

- Yeah, thanks, guy. Thank you for the invite.

Yeah.

Oh and thank you for the filmmaker pass.

Yeah, absolutamente. (chuckles)

Anyway, I'm gonna go, uh, mingle. Work the room.

I suggest you do the same.

Business cards and cocktails is the name of the game.

No, I'm not that guy.

I'm actually not any of these people.

I wasn't there that night.

But it's the short film Tyler was in that soon came

to the attention of a certain casting director in Hollywood.

Marcy Whitman.

But he didn't know that yet.

The truth is, no amount of networking

can out-compete sheer happenstance.

The collision of talent and luck.

Speaking of networking...

Jerry Thomas.

I'm sorry, I'm sure you get this a lot,

but you're Jerry Thomas.

I am. Guilty.

(chuckles) Do you mind?

- Oh, please, sit down. - I'm an actor.

- This guy's a former child actor.

Just in case you were wondering.

He was famous for that hit show

"Meet the Chadwicks" I believe it was called.

Did a few after-school specials.

He wasn't quite one of the Coreys, but almost.

- Look, I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan.

I loved Meet the Chadwicks as a kid.

I'm sure you get that a lot, too.

- Tyler's fishing for connections here,

and he's not gonna get very much.

A couple of nuggets of wisdom and a pat on the back,

but he's hoping just one person will give him the big break

that he so desperately needs.

- Look, I get you probably feel stuck right now, man.

You wanna break out, get out. Get your name out.

I mean, it's about...

Well, the question really is, like,

I mean, is it really what you wanna be doing?

Is it really you?

And if so, then great, man. Chase your dreams.

And do what you love.

- But just out of curiosity, I mean, what's it like?

What's it like, being famous?

Look, man. I'm gonna be honest with you.

It's just another form of captivity.

You're just upgrading your cage.

No, I'm serious.

You're stuck now. You'll be stuck then.

But for different reasons.

Hey. You all set?

Yes.

Uh, well, look, I actually have to head out.

I have a plane to catch, but um,

it was nice talking with you, Tyler, and hey,

best of luck to you.

Thanks.

Take care.

- "You can reach out or touch. It is a virus.

And it'll spread through this city like you've never seen.

And yes, you can quote me on that, sir.

And yes, you can quote me on that, sir.

And yes, you can quote me on that, sir.

And yes, you can quote me on that, sir."

Hello?

What the hell?

This can't be happening.

Let me out!

Let me out of here!

Let me out!

It's always the same.

Every time I go to sleep, I'm in that place.

I used to think it was a nightmare.

It's not that.

When did it start?

Do you remember the first time?

No.

I keep asking myself that.

It's like deja vu.

Like the chicken and the egg.

I don't remember.

- Does it have something to do with "The Box?"

It has everything to do with that.

Tell me.

Lewis slowly stirs.

Sits up.

He glances outside, hopes to catch a glimpse

of the future through the window pane.

This is the language of a screenplay.

Does an actor become the role he is playing,

or does the role become him?

Hey!

Stevens.