- "Forgive me for the harm I've caused this world. None may atone for my actions…but me. And only in me shall their stain live on. All I can be is sorry. And that is all I am."— Helly
Irving, Helly and Mark all wake up in their Outie bodies. Mark is mid-conversation with Ms. Cobel/Selvig, but his shock at seeing his former boss is quickly overshadowed by the revelation that he has a sister. Irving is working on one of his all-black paintings, which seem to fill his house. Helly is also mid-conversation at a dinner party, albeit a much fancier one. Helly is informed that she has to give a speech in 20 minutes. Helly’s new friend introduces Gabby Arteta, the senator’s wife that Devon met while pregnant. But something she says gives Helly pause:
“Gabby, this is Helena Eagan”.
Cue theme song.
Dylan is fighting for his life trying to hold both switches.
Mark ducks into an empty room to try and get his bearings, but he’s quickly interrupted by Devon and her baby- the first baby he’s ever seen. Mark almost gets the chance to talk privately with Devon and explain what’s going on, but he’s interrupted by the night’s purpose- it’s a reading of Ricken’s new book, The You You Are. Mark left his copy at the office, so he has to share with a fellow Ricken-enthusiast named Rebeck. Devon promises to talk later.
Meanwhile, Irving explores his home. He has a dog named Radar, and a room full of war medals. There’s also a trunk full of yet-more military memorabilia: a navy uniform, and an old picture of a young man labeled “dad”. He removes a panel at the bottom of the trunk, and reacts with surprise to what he sees.
At Ricken’s party, the book reading starts. Mark is awed to realize that the author of the book that changed his life is also his brother-in-law. Before it can sink in, Cobel shows up and asks if she, too, can read from Rebeck’s book.
At the Lumon event, Helly starts to figure out the truth. She’s a Lumon heiress and possible future CEO, and her severance was a stunt to prove that the process is safe and ethical.
At the dinner party, Mark can’t suppress a smile listening to Ricken read. Devon says she needs a minute to breastfeed her baby before they can talk, so Mark decides to speak with his idol. To his surprise, Ricken thinks that Mark’s genuine compliments are made out of sarcasm or pity. Finally, Mark manages to pay Ricken an honest compliment, which he appreciates. Ricken is about to show Mark a picture of his late wife before he gets called away. Mark goes to meet Devon when he’s stopped by Cobel, who is growing suspicious about his behavior. Mark manages to play it off, but as he leaves he calls her “Ms. Cobel”. Devon has to deal with a crying baby, and leaves Mark to wait in her room. Devon leaves her baby with “Mrs. Selvig”, and goes to talk with her brother.
Back at the Lumon event, Helly watches a recording of herself giving a canned speech about how great severance is, and how amazing it was to grow up as a member of the Eagan family.Cobel speeds away in her car, desperately trying to inform Milchick about Mark breaking containment.
Irving lifts up the trunk’s bottom panel to reveal a trove of severance-related newspaper clippings and stolen Lumon documents, including a list of severed workers. It’s on this list he finds Burt’s address.
Helly ducks into the bathroom, panicking. An old man, quickly revealed as her father, comes in after her. He reveals a couple cryptic pieces of information- Helena will one day “sit with him at [his] revolving”, and Lumon has plans to give everyone in the world a severance chip. Before she has the time to process that, it’s time to start her speech. Helena stares at herself in the mirror and repeats the statement she was forced to read in the break room.
Irving hurriedly gets dressed, and rushes outside. With some trial and error, he’s able to locate and start his car. He passes by Cobel speeding in the opposite direction. Cobel finally manages to tell Milchick what’s happened. Milchick goes to the security office to switch everyone back, and Cobel promises she’ll “take care” of Helly. Milchick runs into a barricaded security door, and can only plead with Dylan to let go of the switches.
Back at the dinner party, Mark has finished telling his sister what’s going on with him. Devon tells Mark about his late wife. Mark asks why Cobel is at the party, which Devon responds to with confusion- does Mark mean Mrs. Selvig? The two put together the fact that Cobel already knows about the OTC protocol being engaged- and last Devon saw her, she had the baby.
Milchick takes a pocket knife out and starts sawing through the belt that Dylan used to barricade himself. As he works, he tries to reason with Dylan by offering various perks. Dylan angrily says that the only perk he wants is to remember his son being born. Milchick offers to give Dylan information about his kids (that’s kids plural, he has 2 more) if Dylan opens the door.
Devon tells Ricken what’s happened, and Ricken decides to search the house in case Cobel actually left her back there.
Irving finds Burt’s house, and sees him celebrating his retirement with a man that appears to be his husband.
Baby Eleanor is found safe and sound, which a random partygoer quickly takes credit for.
Helly is ready to give her speech, but she’s all but tackled by Cobel, who hisses “is it you”? Helly coldly tells Cobel she plans to kill Lumon. Cobel responds that it’s her friends who will suffer if she goes through with the speech, not Lumon. Helena walks onstage and starts to speak. She tells the attendees that she’s an Innie, and the public perception of severance is a lie.
Mark finds a picture of his wife, who he recognizes as Ms. Casey.Irving walks up to Burt’s house and pounds on the door.
Milchick saws through the belt.
“Devon!” Mark screams,
“She’s ALIVE!”
Milchick tackles Dylan, ending the OTC protocol and switching everyone back.
Tropes found in this episode include:
- Book Ends: Ricken's reading includes him asking the audience "who are you?", which is the very first line of the first episode. This episode also starts and ends with the same three characters switching between innie and outie personalities.
- Cliffhanger: A huge one.
