Project Almanac

So, we're really doing this, huh?

- Right now? - Yup.

Okay, we got to present this properly.

- Where should I go? - Come to the right.

- To the right? - Come on.

Okay?

Hi, my name is...

Hi. My name is David Raskin

and I'm applying for the MIT Physics Fellowship.

What I've developed is an intelligent propulsion experiment

which allows me to...

I think I'm getting into that too early. I should talk about them more, right?

I first became interested in the sciences...

No, that was not the way to start.

- What if I walk at you like... - Can you just go?

All right, watch.

Hi. My name is David Raskin.

Take it down, like, four notches, Seacrest.

- What? - Come on!

I'd like to introduce you to my engineers, Adam Le and Quinn Goldberg,

and it's my sister, Christina Raskin, behind the camera.

- Would you not... Hold on one second. - I'll hold it so you can point...

Dude, you're distracting him.

- What if it looks like you built it? - Close your eyes.

No, it's not gonna look like I built it.

All right. Like that?

Let's put this up, Chris.

Okay, the smartphone's connected to the Wi-Fi. Ready.

Wait, wait, wait.

Beginning to lift the craft.

Take the controller.

I want you to notice these marks on my fingers.

All right, cutting off power now.

Dude, you're getting into MIT!

These marks on my hand are read

by the modified motion sensor on the computer.

It allows my hands to manipulate this craft

with uncanny precision.

That's nuts!

The motion sensors are routed through my smart phone

with an 802.11 g, 64 gigahertz wireless.

Chris, watch out. Coming your way.

- Ta-da! - Yes!

All right, let's take this thing to its max altitude!

Come on, let's go!

- Oh, shit! - Grab the computer.

Go, go, go!

Okay, so, unlike other static systems,

my algorithm tracks gestures while the operator is moving.

Elevation, 140. 151, David. 170!

It should have a vertical reach of about 250 feet.

What is that? Is that my phone?

David, I think I lost signal.

- What do you mean you lost signal? - The call's interrupting the Wi-Fi.

Who could possibly be calling you right now?

- Everyone you know is standing right here! - It's not connecting, David.

Guys, it's not responding! It's not responding.

I don't see it anymore!

It's gone. It's dropping!

- Guys, run! - Which way do I go?

- Which way? - Go! Quinn, run!

Oh, shit!

The experiment was a complete success.

Thank you for your consideration, MIT.

Christina, I need you to put that laundry away.

Yes. I will do it later, I promise.

David's daily ritual.

Checking for the letter, day 37.

Quinn. Yeah, it came.

No, I don't know if I got in yet, but it's really... It's big.

All right, well, come over then. Come on!

Go show her. David, go show her.

Christina, I need you to put that laundry away.

Yeah, I will.

And I'm not gonna tell you again. Good.

- Can you see this stain here? - No, Mom...

- I got two job interviews today. - Mom, look, look. It came.

Oh, my God!

Christina, give me that. It's a family moment.

Wait for me, wait for me!

I'm growing a beard, David. Open it.

- Shut up. - Christina, be more supportive.

Okay, I want you to listen. I want you to know whatever happens...

Oh, my God.

- David... - Shut up.

You shut up.

"On behalf of the admissions committee,

"we're delighted to inform you

"that you have been admitted to the MIT class of 2018."

- Congratulations! - Yay!

Yo, Adam, she didn't get into anything.

We're celebrating, right?

You know, your father would be so proud of you.

Dude!

David?

What's the matter?

"We've reviewed your request

"and we're pleased to award you $5,000 in financial aid."

What?

Wait! What about the other $40,000?

Mom, how are you gonna afford that?

- Look, dude, let me see that. - Please, turn that off.

God, dude, look at those.

Perfect little tree trunks. Those legs are like...

Good job, David.

- Sorry to hear about MIT. - Yes, sir.

I also didn't get a scholarship to MIT, Dr. Lou.

Also didn't sprout wings and fly.

- Still a few scholarships left, David. - I'll look into those, sir. Thank you.

Yo, just pretend it's not me.

If you could say one thing to MIT, what would it be?

This is stupid.

Wrong answer, dude. You know what?

- Maybe you don't want to go. - I do wanna go.

Dude, I think these nuggets were frozen before Obama was elected.

David, prove it. Prove that you wanna go.

How am I gonna prove that I wanna go to MIT?

How about for a free ride, every day, your mom shows up

and publicly hands you your fungal medication?

Only if your mom does the application. You know what I mean?

- Oh, yeah! - Oh, yeah.

What if MIT was like,

"Go up to Sarah Nathan and just start making out with her."

Why would MIT want me to make out with people?

Because MIT believes in bold risk takers.

I take risks. I'm a risk taker.

Yeah. Name one risk you took.

- Right now. - Exactly.

That's not... That's too big.

This is what I'm saying, dude,

if I had your brain and bone structure, I would be unstoppable.

I mean, aren't you sick of having sex with your hand?

- What? - I'm sorry.

He sniffs Sharpies. You drug addict.

You totally are stupid, dude.

Hey, look. Hey, hey, dude, check this out.

Bam.

- Hey, that's cool. - Right?

Well, you see, that's my problem. I can't get the UIs to interact.

You got to put the L2 cache in ad hoc mode.

Obviously...

What are you doing?

Oh, my God, Jessie Pierce.

Dude, I would literally give away all my earthly possessions for one date with her.

What, are you gonna give her your Xbox and a coupon at Chipotle?

Will you please get in the car?

Bye, guys, see you later.

- Chris, come on! - Coming!

Look at the bright side, David, you're gonna have so much free time now.

Hey, Jessie, what are you doing tonight?

- David wants to take you out! - You're such an idiot.

- Dude, I'm hooking you up. - Shut up, Quinn.

Yo, keep it up, ladies! You know, you wouldn't...

David, what the shit, man?

- Why do you drive this car? - So embarrassing.

- This is the best part of my day. - One day, this car is going to kill us.

Don't let them see me.

Yo, relax! It's a classic!

C'mon. Just move that piece of shit!

I think it's my starter relay. Give me that Leatherman, please.

Well, actually, I believe it's the fuselage valve, but what do I know?

You're confusing my car with an airplane, but...

David, you got this?

Yeah, no, I got it.

- Please tell me you got it working. - Come on, come on, come on.

Dude, if you want a permanent fix,

just let me know. I'll take a look at your car.

Sure, you're gonna fix my car?

What the hell is that? Oh, shit.

Oh, my God.

David?

This doesn't make any sense.

Mom, goddang.

The house will pay for MIT,

and Aunt Chloe says your sister and I can move into her apartment.

I can't let you sell this house, Mom.

There's got to be something that I can do. I can get a job.

It's too late for that, David.

You tried to get a scholarship. It didn't work.

Well, none of this would have happened if...

David. Come on.

I'm sorry.

I miss your father, too. But he would have wanted this.

You're just as smart as him, you know. I'm not gonna let that go to waste.

Okay.

It is what it is, David.

There's nothing you can do about it now.

What are you, sulking?

God! You scared the shit out of me.

I'm not sulking.

Dude, you should be happy.

You're getting what you wanted. I'm the one who's getting screwed.

This isn't what I wanted, Chris.

I remember this thing.

I'm trying to solve this, okay?

How are you solving this in the creepy attic?

It's dumb. You know, there's this one last scholarship

where I have to submit a proposal for an experiment

and I thought maybe if I got it,

Mom wouldn't have to sell the house.