The You You Are – The show begins with Helly (Britt Lower) saying, “All I can be is sorry, and that is all I am” while Milchick (Tramell Tillman) conducts a scan to determine if she is being genuine. Blood from the laceration has soaked through the bandage. Milchick does not believe she is being genuine. The clock reads 1715. Removing the cassette from the recorder, he informs her they will try again in the morning. She looks inside the Macrodata Refinement Department to see it empty. When they reach the elevator, she gets in.
The elevator door opens, displaying Helly with a different outfit on. Milchick is staring at her face to face. Looking down at her outfit, she says, “Fu** me.” It is 9:08 am when they restart the session from last night. She reminds him of how many times she read the quote. He corrects her, saying it was 259, not 300. He orders her to start reading, with a bit of agitation. A strange voice can be heard in the background. She asks what it is, but he refuses to answer. Sighing, she reads, “Forgive me for the harm I have caused this world, none may atone for my actions but me. “The muffled voice can still be heard. Tears come to her eyes as she continues to read, “And only in me shall their stain live on, I’m really sorry, okay.” Her voice quivering, she repeats, “I’m sorry.” Milchick warns her there is to be no paraphrasing before ordering her to repeat it.
Mark Scout (Adam Scott) rushes down into the basement to answer a cellphone. The number has been blocked, along with others. He stuffs the phone inside a cardboard box.
In a restroom stall at Lumon Industries, Mark is holding Petey’s hand-drawn map. Irving “Irv” (John Turturro) approaches Mark to inquire about Helly who has been in the breakroom since yesterday. He suggests he check on her. Mark stuffs the map into the top drawer of his desk. Dylan (Zach Cherry) reminds Irv Mark isn’t in the position to check on Helly. When Burt (Christopher Walken) enters the room, Dylan immediately grabs something to use as a weapon. Burt identifies himself from Optics and Design and speaks to Irv. With his weapon, Dylan demands to know how Burt knew where the Macrodata Refinement Department was located. He contributes his knowledge to co-worker, Alice K. who remembers from the summit.
Mark asks Burt what he wants. Burt remembered Irv’s excitement about the new totes. He thought it was a good idea to bring them by to ensure Irv’s excitement didn’t distract him from doing his job. Dylan tells him to lay them on the desk and get back to his department. Burt invites them to a tour of the Optics and Design Department. Mark tries to convince Irv it is too soon to do the tour. Dylan warns him about Optics and Design disemboweling Lumon workers. Irv assures them he will be back by 1 pm. Dylan is sure Irv will die. As Irv walks out, Helly enters. Mark asks how many times she had to read the script before Milchick believed her. She says 1,072.
Irv heads to the Optics and Design office, utilizing the provided hand-drawn map from the tote bag.
She asks Dylan about the strange voice. Dylan says the crying baby. She describes the voice as sounding like an “angry, mumbly guy.” Mark reminds them of workers being prohibited from discussing the breakroom. Dylan suggests thinking about something she is truly sorry about. He utilizes the example of his outie making love to a MILF. He feels sorry for their husbands.
Irv appears to be lost
Mark admits the breakroom can be avoided by following Lumon’s procedures and protocols. He assures Helly she will learn.
Entering a room, Irv identifies himself to Felica (Claudia Robinson). Pointing in Burt’s direction, she warns him to not touch anything. Burt explains how the department operates. Irv is intrigued with Burt’s position allowing him to see all new art before anyone else. He admits “The Youthful Convalescence of Kier” made him cry. Burt looks at him strangely before telling him how all the art is returned to his department. Irv asks where Felicia went. He says she went for supplies while pulling out a piece of art. Burt gently touches Irv’s hand as he rubs his fingers along the frame. Irv hurriedly rushes off.
Helly startles Mark by walking upon him as he studies Peter “Petey” Kilmer’s (Yul Vazquez) map. She tells him about her 4% score. Congratulating her success, he asks if it feels good. She says, “I guess” without cracking a smile.
Irv heads back to his department when he sees Mark’s book lying in a chair. The book “The You You Are” was written by Mark’s brother-in-law, Dr. Ricken “Rick” Lazlo Hale Ph.D.
Helly asks Mark about Petey’s map. She runs away when he tries to grab it. Dylan reminds him they are not permitted to make maps. Mark claims to have found it in Petey’s things. Dylan questions why he didn’t turn it in. Helly accuses him of being a hypocrite for lecturing her for not heeding the regulations. He assures her it is not lecturing it is just his way of keeping out of the breakroom. She gives the map to Dylan who refuses to return it to Mark. Dylan says it probably took Petey weeks to draw the map. She asks why they aren’t permitted to draw maps. Mark says it is Eagan’s rule. She says maybe Petey’s outie found a way to get to the houses on the map. Mark denies Petey is trying to tell him something through the map. She accuses him of being more loyal to Lumon than his friends.
He tells her their workplace was balanced before she was hired. She describes their work as “bullshit.” He says they are supposed to work together as a family. She refuses to be part of their family, even if a razor was put to her throat. Holding up the map, she tells him Petey left it and he doesn’t care. While he shreds the map, he admits to not giving a shit. Irv rushes in to tell Mark there is an emergency.
Mark looks down at his brother-in-law’s book that is lying in a chair. Irv says he thought about telling Milchick but decided to start with Mark to avoid breaking the chain of command. They discuss the rules regarding contraband at Lumon. Mark opens the book to find a note from Rick to him. Dylan suspects it may be from Petey. Irv believes it is Lumon’s way to determine which of its employees are loyal. Mark admits the book will be turned into Milchick. Dylan reminds him of the book belonging to him. Irv agrees with Mark.
Helly opens up the shredder.
Dylan explains how the Optics and Design Department operates. When they return to the Macrodata Refinement Department, Helly is gone.
Helly bursts into Harmony Cobel’s (Patricia Arquette), demanding a camera. Milchick apologizes for Helly’s intrusion. Cobel demands to know what is going on. Helly demands a camera, so she can record her resignation for her outie. She threatens to cut out four of her fingers. Slamming the paper cutter guillotine on Cobel’s desk, Helly sticks four of her fingers underneath the cutter while holding the handle with her other hand. Cobel knows Helly is serious. Mark arrives just in time for Cobel to order Milchick to get the video camera.
Sitting in front of the video camera, Helly records her resignation to her outie.
Cobel leads Helly, along with Mark, Irv, Milchick, and Dylan to the elevator. Turning to Mark, Helly refers to him as boss, “This is where I should tell you to go to hell, except you are already here. She admits to never being sorry as she climbs into the elevator. With her recorded resignation in hand, the elevator drops Helly back off, where Cobel and the others are waiting.
Helly watches a video from her outie. Her outie admits to knowing about her threats to cut off her fingers. Her outie tells her she needs to accept the fact that she is not a person, she is the person who makes the decisions. Her outie assures her she will regret it if she injures her fingers. Her outie denies her resignation request before ordering the camera to be turned off.
Mark looks at a vacation website while he talks to his sister, Devon (Jen Tullock). He asks whose idea was the vacation. She warns him of not earning his uncle award. He receives a news alert about Petey. The article refers to Petey as a severed Lumon worker. Petey’s cellphone rings inside the cardboard box.
At Lumon, Mr. Grainer (Michael Cumpsty) asks Cobel about the board. She denies hearing anything. He assures her Petey was not their fault. She tells him to go to hell because she is not hugging him. The board has never admitted Petey reintegrated. She warns him they need to confiscate Petey’s chip. He alerts her of Petey’s cremation scheduled for Sunday. The cremation should destroy his chip. Cobel picks up a picture frame, with what looks like James Eagan. She says, “Wiles” over and over again.
Mark attends Petey’s wake. Ms. Selvig (Patricia Arquette) asks what he is doing at Petey’s wake. He tells her about the newspaper article that said Petey was a Lumon employee. He asks what is doing there. She claims Petey visited her shop. Grabbing his arm, she is happy they don’t have to go solo as long as they are both in attendance. When she suggests he pay his respects to Petey’s daughter, June Kilmer (Cassidy Layton), he utilizes the bathroom as an excuse. He orders a red wine at the bar. Ms. Selvig approaches June to give her condolences.
Petey’s ex-wife, Nina (Sahar Biblyan) introduces herself to Mark. She doubts Mark knew Petey, even though he worked at Lumon. He recognizes June when she approaches, but Nina hurriedly drags her away. June takes a seat behind Mark. She asks if he knew Petey. He admits to knowing him from work. She refers to him as “one of those.” She believes it is messed up that Lumon turns off their employees’ brains part of the time. He is not sure. A video of Petey playing guitar with June plays. June smiles while Ms. Selvig slips out to visit Petey’s coffin.
As the music plays, she utilizes a drill to access Petey’s brain. Mark has flashbacks of Petey in his last days. Ms. Selvig utilizes an instrument to remove the chip. Mark can no longer stand to watch the video, so he leaves. As Mark looks at Petey’s coffin, Ms. Selvig approaches to apologize, claiming to have cystitis. June hears them talking. When they arrive home, she asks if he found the funeral sad.
Instead of entering his home, he drives out to a desolate area, where he stands by a tree.
Cobel gives Petey’s chip to Milchick. He asks if the chip is Petey. She acknowledges it is Petey and orders him to take it to diagnostics when Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) enters the room. She asks her to give Mark a wellness session. Milchick questions what is wrong with Mark. She stares at him like saying don’t ask.
Burt is cleaning an art frame in the hallway when Irv approaches. Irv admits to not being fond of the piece. Burt admits the photo makes him nervous too. He tells Irv it was thrilling for someone from his department to visit Optics and Design. He claims to be embarrassed by his behavior when they last met. Irv assures him it was not embarrassing. Burt is confused. Irv asks if he is truly embarrassed. He says no and invites Irv to join him as he makes four more stops. Irv accepts his offer. Irv tells him about falling asleep at work. Burt quotes Kier’s original word. He believes Kier finds special ways to talk to them.
In the restroom, Mark reads a chapter “The Quitting Bell” from Rick’s book.
Clasping Irv’s hands between his, Burt thanks him.
Mark arrives at Ms. Casey’s office.
Helly informs Dylan she is leaving. He is staying to finish up some work. She walks into the restroom, with a cable in her hand. She grabs a trashcan. Dylan finds Mark’s book in the filing cabinet, which he guessed all along.
Ms. Casey lights a candle and asks Mark if he would like to create a clay sculpture. He agrees to do it as Cobel watches from her computer.
Irv walks back to the Macrodata Refinement Department with a smile on his face. Helly removes her key card necklace. Dylan reads Mark’s book. Helly throws her key card necklace in the trashcan. Irv stands in front of a door. Mark creates a sculpture out of clay. Helly places the trashcan in the elevator. Dylan continues reading the book. Irv opens a door to see a lot of people working. Mark continues sculpting. Helly removes the elevator ceiling cover. Mark completes his clay sculpture, which is a tree. Helly has a flashback of Mark commenting on her for learning the ropes. Wrapping the neck around her neck, Helly kicks the trashcan out from underneath her feet as the episode comes to an end.
Severance Review
Why was Cobel so determined to get Petey’s chip? What is in Lumon chips that they fear will raise a stink if the public finds out? One thing is for sure, Cobel would’ve done anything to get it, even drill into Petey’s brain during his own funeral.
Helly is at her breaking point. Her desperation is so powerful, she is willing to take her own life to escape Lumon.
It looks like everyone is starting to have doubts about Lumon. Irv who was thought to be one of Lumon’s most loyal workers is starting to have questions. With a second season already lined up, we can expect to wait at least six months to find out. The thing about second season announcements soon after the launch is it can turn some people off. It better be good or the show will lose half of its viewing audience. With 14 episodes to go, fasten your seatbelts, it is going to be a long ride.
Petey must have talked to June about Lumon. She is desperate for answers by the way she approached Mark at the funeral.
The episode deserves a 7. Get more Severance recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link to learn more.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
