S2E35-ReRun-REWATCH01-PT01-HelloMsCobel

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey there, Refiner, Welcome to sever, the Ultimate Severance Podcast.
This is your host Alanes with a note about this
week's podcast episode. It's a rerun. Finnip and I are
gearing up for the final rewatch of season two. We're
preparing to break down the enormous finale, Cold Harbor. Scripting
isn't complete yet, but I'm planning for three podcast episodes

(00:22):
to cover the one hour and twenty four minute finale.
This is what you can expect from Severed over the
next couple of weeks. This week and next will be
the reruns of the episode one rewatch podcast. Then, starting
on November sixth, there will be three straight weeks of
finale breakdown that will take us right into Thanksgiving. Over
the holidays will be more reruns and possibly a season

(00:43):
wrap up. Starting with the new year, be listening for
more origins episodes. We're already planning to break down the
Jim Carrey Kate Winslet movie The Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind, plus a big overview look at the Prisoner
TV series from the nineteen sixties. You've been incredibly faithful
to us, were certainly going to return the favor. I've
noticed that a number of hobby and fan made podcasts

(01:04):
will start a rewatch but then abandon it somewhere along
the way. I'm a completist with a sense of responsibility
to you as the listener. We're not going to leave
you hanging. Severed will complete the season, and we're going
to try to help fill the void between now and
the start of season three. So if you're ready, Refiner,
it's time to revisit the first rewatch episode of season two. Hello,

(01:26):
miss Kobell, Severed, the Ultimate Severance Podcast. Hey, they're Refiner,
so glad to have you back on the Severed floor.
Our full rewatch of season two is about to get underway.

(01:48):
A stern warning, you must have watched all ten of
the season two SEVERNCE episodes before you begin this podcast.
There are spoilers everywhere. I could reference anything from throughout
the entire series. You have been warned. As you're probably aware,
this is Severed, the Ultimate Severance Podcast. I'm your host
s allin as it's time, Refiner. We're starting a full

(02:10):
shot by shot, moment by moment rewatch of season two.
We'll dig into the details, look at the theories, and
try to figure out what's next for the MDR Crew.
Episode one of the second season, Hello Miss Cobell, was
originally released on January sixteenth of twenty twenty five. It
was directed by executive producer Ben Stiller and written by
series creator Dan Erickson. No pressure or anything, but it

(02:33):
had been just over one thousand days since we'd seen
the season one finale, though we we are thanks to
the WGA and SAG after a strikes. When this EPP dropped,
it had been nearly three years since we'd been given
any new info about the Innies or Luhman. To say
expectations for this new episode were high would be a
huge understatement. So how about it, Refiner, Let's open the

(02:56):
file called Hello Miss Kobell. There's a comprehensive three minute
recap of the first season. Check it out in case
you're fuzzy on those final S one moments. The episode
itself starts with a sound montage over black we're hearing
a compilation of the audio from the final moments of
the S one finale.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Devin no, no, listen, We're not happy, We're miserable. They
torture us down There.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
Were person.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
A line of white CG dissolves on this is an
Apple original. When it fades off, it's replaced by a
fifth season production. This is a new name in the
seventh production credits. Fifth Season is the former Endeavor Group.
This change is part of a buyout that resulted from
the WGA strike negotiations. The new agreement says a talent

(03:50):
agency can't hold more than a twenty percent stake in
a production company. The WGA claims rightly, it's a conflict
of interest. Eighty percent of Endeavor was sold off for
seven hundred and seventy five million dollars to a South
Korean production conglomerate, and Devers sold all of its scripted content,
including Severance. The buyers, CJNM, renamed the studio fifth season.

(04:14):
We come up on video of Mark freaking out in
the severed elevator. He was so freaked I at first
wondered if this might be a reintegrated Mark having a
bad reaction to switching. Nope, bit's just a very agitated
any Mark, still pumped up by those final moments at
beer House. When the door opens, Mark runs into the
severed floor elevator lobby. The analog clock on the far

(04:34):
wall tells us it's Mark's usual arrival time about five
after nine. We have no idea what day it is
or how long it's been since Mark was last here.
The tune we're hearing as Mark gets his bearings is
in nineteen sixty nine number from jazz pianist and Lexington,
Kentucky native Les McCann. It's called Burnon Cole. This cut

(05:05):
first appeared on his nineteen sixty nine album Much Less.
In the official season two teaser, this clip was replaced
with em in its front from the Who. Burnon Cole's
got a great bouncy rhythm for running. Plus it's a
little reminder that we are thirteen floors below ground. Being
on this severed floor is a little like being in
a coal mine, even if the Uennees don't realize it.

(05:25):
The macantune will transition to Theodore Schapiro music as Mark
is running. The opening sequence of Mark's run through the
halls is an epic unto itself. Ben Stiller asked Adam
Scott what his first reaction would be to discovering the
news about his thought to be dead wife. Adam said

(05:48):
he'd run. His first thought would be to run to
wellness to find her. It's the last place and he
Mark had seen Miss Casey. Ben Stiller loved the running
idea because it would mirror the walk Mark made at
the open of season one. Running also indicated this season
was going to be something new. This run is saying,
let's get down to business right away. There's another significance

(06:10):
to this run. And this is your last warning about spoilers.
This is a rewatch, which means I could reference any
episode of the season like this. The run you're watching
here at the top of the premiere is designed to
bookend the run Mark and Helly will make in the
final moments of the season. When Mark first steps into
the elevator lobby, you'll notice a series of big and sweeping,

(06:31):
but very controlled camera movements. So how are they getting
these dramatic shots? Ben Stiller gave away the game with
a picture post to his Blue Sky account. If you
check his post behind the scenes film shot number four
from December seventh of twenty twenty four, you can see
how they're doing it. The camera is mounted on an
enormous robotic arm called a bolt. It's more than twenty

(06:53):
feet long with numerous pivot points. This complex rig can
swing all around a human subject with very precise and
dramatic movements. Mark's arrival on the severed floor is a
perfect example. But since this rig does take up a
lot of room, it was necessary to put Adam over
a green screen and recreate the elevator door and wall
as CGI. The bolt unit could run alongside Adam while

(07:15):
swirling a camera in front of and around him. Using
the bolt for these running shots required pulling a side
wall out of the hallways. Running along where the wall
would be is a length of two rail track. The
robotic bolt is mounted on a platform that runs on
the track. This means the camera can run along, beside
or even ahead of the performer. In post, the removed

(07:37):
wall is replaced using CGI. Creating this opening running sequence
was a labor of obsession that took over five months.
There was a small dedicated crew working on it whenever
they could get access to the hallways. In addition to
the camera operators, shooting this scene also required a gaffer, grip,
cinematographer Jessica Legane, and production designer Jeremy Hindle. It grew

(07:58):
to be such a big assignment. Ben and Adams said
they had a wrap party just for the crew involved
with this sequence. Since shooting these scenes required tearing up
parts of the hallway, they could only do running sequences
when there was shooting happening in other places. Adam Scott
said he always knew when they were planning a running
scene for the next day, because the assistant directors would

(08:19):
want to know what color gatorade he preferred. Most of
this run happens in the actual halls, with Adam Scott
actually running in those areas where the bolt effects weren't needed.
The camera was mounted on what's called a pogo stick gimbal.
As the name implies, it's a single pole with a
handgrip on it. The head floats to dampen the movement
and keep the camera level. A pogo is smaller and

(08:40):
much easier to control than a steady cam. You can
also move a lot faster with a camera on a pogo.
Ben said a tall and rather strong camera operator was
chasing Adam with the camera. Most of the shots following
Adam through the halls are coming from this gimbal mounted camera.
At one point, when Mark comes around a corner and
the camera moves in front of him, the physics seemed

(09:00):
to slip just a bit. This is because Mark is
running on a treadmill. At this point, even with the
bolt arm, there were shots they could not get while
Mark was in motion. With Adam running on a treadmill,
it was possible to easily get shots of him running
from directly in front. He had a safety line attached
so he could go all out without worrying about falling
off the treadmill. Adam had to unbutton his jacket early

(09:24):
in the sequence. It was necessary in order to be running.
After he did this, Editor Jeff Richmond referred to his
look as the Superman because of the way his coat
billowed out like a cape. This run is not continuous,
which means it's not meant to be mapped. I know
it looks continuous, but there are ten different running segments

(09:44):
blended into this one run. If you watch in the background,
you'll notice that intersection. Sometimes the hallway Mark arrives in
will disappear when he turns, or a solid wall to
his left might become an open hallway when it's behind him.
These are usually points where the CGI team stitching the
action together. They did an amazing job creating a seamless

(10:04):
running sequence. Really have to look for the cuts. Mark
comes to an intersection where two hallways cross. He's stimied
for a moment, then continues his run to his left.
Just after making this four way decision, Mark passes by
a visible department. There are glass walls along a room
with purple carpeting. The dividers on the desks also include purple.
Unlike those departments Helly and Mark walk by in season one,

(10:27):
this furniture appears to be in use. The pieces aren't
wrapped in plastic. This department looks like it might house
ten to twelve people, but as Mark is passing, we
don't see anybody. At this point, we're fully into the
Theodore Schapiro music, which builds to a crescendo. As Mark
turns a final corner. The camera continues to lead him,
but he holds up. The camera reverses, going back towards

(10:49):
Mark's face. Then it does a slow whippan. Mark is
looking at a turn in the hallway up ahead. We
are now hand held walking to the corner. From Mark's
point of view, this is the former wellness office. It's
the last place any Mark saw him as Casey. The
wellness name tag next to the door was only partially removed.

(11:10):
You can still definitely read it. This seems uncharacteristically sloppy
for the lumined maintenance crew. It's like they left Mark
a taunt. He can see this was the place, but
it's not now Mark goes on in anyway, The intentionally
hacky deletion of the wellness department is more obvious inside
the waiting room. Remember how Ms Casey had two doors,

(11:30):
an enter and an exit. Each individual door has been
boarded up, so you can still see the outline. Mark
is looking at the sealed up doors. When the camera
angle reverses over Mark's shouldering down the hallway, we can
see the figure of a man in a suit. This
guy sparked quite a bit of speculation. A lot of
folks thought it was a reanimated Grainer. I don't think so.
There were also guesses of Miltchik, although the skin tone

(11:53):
seemed a little light. They aren't gonna tell us what
he's doing the entire season, but they do tell us
who's playing the According to the IMDb cast list for
this episode, the figure in the hallway is American writer, director,
and actor Adam Jepson. Adam has thirteen actor credits. He
has a movie listed in post production as of twenty
twenty two that he wrote, directed, and stars in. It's

(12:16):
called Could Be, although I don't think it's still in
post because it also has a listed box office of
fifteen thousand dollars. Adam Jepson has another Severance credit. We
will see him as Mark's any shadow during the woes
Hollow episode. Mark turns, but the mystery guy in the
hall has already disappeared. With wellness firmly shuddered, Mark decides

(12:37):
to leave. As he's going, don't miss the slightnesscoloration on
the wall to the left. You can clearly see the
outline of the spot where Bert had hung the painting
which first caused he and Irving to speak to each other.
Mark is now walking through the hall. Since Ms Casey
wasn't there no need to sweat through your suit, he
heads for Macrodata Refinement. He is at work after all.
As Mark is making his way over to MDR, this

(13:00):
would be a great time for you to take a
little break, Refiner. Severed will be right back. Hi.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
I'm Adam Scott. I play Mark S on Severance, which
you likely already know since you're listening to sever did
the Ultimate Severance Podcast.

Speaker 1 (13:19):
When Mark comes around the corner of the big door,
we get a Whippan to the diamond desk. It's surrounded
with people we've never met before. What is the young
lady to the left doing? As we pan over, it
looks like she's about ready to shoot a small white
ball like a basketball. She puts her hands down as
soon as she sees Mark. She's holding the small white
ball in her right hand when she stands. This is

(13:41):
a Leah Shockett playing the new Refiner character Gwndeln. Why
the older man to the far right is the first
to speak after the whippan.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
I suppose here Marcus.

Speaker 1 (13:51):
That's legendary character actor Bob Balaban. He along with Shockett
and Stefano Karanante in the middle. We're all announced as
new castman for season two. They were even listed on
IMDb prior to the season as being in all ten
of the new episodes. That is far from the case.
These guys are in this episode for about twenty minutes.
Then they each get one additional episode credit, but those

(14:14):
appearances are cameos at best. Marcus spends three days with
this group in Mdr Adam Scott said these scenes took
about two weeks to shoot. It felt like working with
an entirely new cast. He missed his old coworkers, of course,
but said it was fun to perform with this new group.
Any Mark is in no mood. He's confused and out
of breath.

Speaker 3 (14:34):
I'm Mark w.

Speaker 1 (14:35):
That doesn't help much. We then cut to a medium
shot of Aleiah Shockett. We can see from the clock
next to her it's now nine to ten am. Mark's
only been down here for five minutes and already things
are weird. Cut back to Mark As, whose brow has furrowed.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
Who are you people?

Speaker 1 (14:51):
Which is interesting. The first thing Markus says in the
second season is one more word than what he said
at the opening of the first season, who are you?
I doubt this was a coincidence. Stefano Karinante is the
guy in the middle with the black hair. His character
name is Dario. He turned in his chair as Mark
S entered, but didn't stand now. He points towards Mark

(15:13):
S and directs a question to Gwendolen.

Speaker 2 (15:15):
Why Stanghetti mostrano?

Speaker 1 (15:17):
And yeah? This guy is Italian, which means he often
speaks in Italian? How Italian is he? It's been noted
the three digit code on his employee badge is zero
three to nine, which is the international dialing code for Italy.
So what did he say there? The English closed captioning
only says speaking in Italian. I tried to write out

(15:39):
what he said, with no luck. Then I discovered one
of the languages Apple provides clothes captioning for is Italian.
When you turn that on, they write out what he says.
I took that phrase, which I won't even try to pronounce,
and dropped it into Google Translate. What he's saying is
why is he standing so strangely? In other words, why
are you standing weird?

Speaker 4 (16:00):
Stand normal?

Speaker 1 (16:01):
So we've got the Dylan like guy in Dario. He
also seems to be an Mdr go getter like Dylan.
I don't see any caricatures, but check the headcube on
his desk. It's not glass like Mark's. This headcube is
carved wood. We'll discover later that Dario's branch of lumen
was poor. So poor the head cubes or wood. Whether

(16:21):
it's wood or glass, he must have done something exceptional
to earn it. This group is kind of a shadow Mdr.
Dario has the Dylan role filled Gwendolyn. Why fills the
role for female refiner, and Mark W is an older,
fussy gentleman, a lot like IRV. Marks is, of course,
filling the role of middle age, nerdy white guy like
he did in the last MDR. Crew. Remember how concerned

(16:44):
IRV was about the replacement of those pictures. Mark W
seems to also be preoccupied with the details.

Speaker 3 (16:50):
Would you be open to using a different first name
to avoid confusion?

Speaker 1 (16:54):
This seems like a topic you'd save until after handshakes
and pleasantries. But not here, of course, is the severed floor.
We get down to business right away, no matter how
stilted and weird it might sound. Mark is considering this
request with a defeated look. As he's contemplating this odd
little man in the prospect of having a different name.
We get another Whippan. Remember the last time we were

(17:17):
seeing all of these Whippans. It was during the last
episode at the reading in beer house. The whippan settles
on a familiar face.

Speaker 5 (17:24):
Welcome back, Marcus.

Speaker 1 (17:31):
In a minute, there he is the Cheshire gran under
the flawless mustache. It's breakout star Tremmel Tillman back for
season two as Seth Miltchik. Today mister Ama is dragging
a blue cloud of Mark Face balloons behind him. We
saw these balloons in an official teaser from October of
twenty twenty four. Miltchik is looking dapper as usual in

(17:53):
a dark suit and turtleneck. He's management now no more
short sleeved white shirts for this up and coming exactive.
We cut to a title screen. It's about six seconds
of the word severance extruding out of a white background.
In this version of the word, the R is reintegrated.
Extra egg Fans fear not. The Emmy Award winning animator
is back for season two with an all new opening animation.

(18:16):
Ben Stiller said he decided not to use it here
because again he wanted to mimic the pilot episode. We
didn't have an opening animation there either. Coming back from
the opening screen, Mark is following mister Miltchik through the
severed floor hallways. Mark is now keeper of the balloons.

Speaker 2 (18:32):
Where are they?

Speaker 1 (18:33):
He's asking about the former MDR crew, the folks who
helped him pull off the OTC. Seth wants him to
hold his questions until they've arrived at the management office.

Speaker 3 (18:42):
Will they fire.

Speaker 1 (18:43):
Pilchick ignores Mark's further inquiries. He's more concerned about the balloons.

Speaker 5 (18:48):
You can see the balloons in the foury by my
old desk's old desk.

Speaker 1 (18:51):
They have a lot to talk about, and Seth doesn't
want those balloons distracting Mark. He assures Mark they won't
be taken. I don't think Mark cares what happens to
the balloons, but it's a way for Seth to change
the subject. Miltchik casually reveals some important exposition.

Speaker 4 (19:06):
What you all did five months ago was one of
the most painful moments in the history of this company.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
Mark echoed everyone with his response, It certainly could have been.
It doesn't seem like it, but we can't know. The
Innies have no way of marking the passage of time
when they aren't active sleeping. Inny could be on ice
for months and not realize it when they wake up.
This isn't the case here, but it could be. Dan

(19:31):
Erickson said in a Dexerto interview the five months thing
was a mind game. The idea is to indicate Luman
would never punish an inny, but due to the nies
poor choices and bad actions, they are now five months older.
That's a huge loss. Luman, in effect is saying, if
you keep making these stupid decisions, your life is going
to pass you right by. Miltchik continues to smartly march

(19:53):
towards the management office. He expounds upon the psychic injury
he sustained due to Mdr's actions.

Speaker 5 (20:00):
But you must be cut to heel, mustive way.

Speaker 1 (20:05):
This is a curism. We saw the sampler on the
wall in Harmony's town home during the episode in Perpetuity
it said we must be cut to heel. Keir does
like to get a little gross with his metaphors. As
they turned the corner into the management off as Mark
is confused.

Speaker 2 (20:19):
Wait, did you say your old office?

Speaker 1 (20:21):
This is another parallel to the series premiere. Harmony was
also moving into a new office the first time we
saw Mark visit. When Seth turns the corner, we formally
meet another addition to the cast Mark. This is Miss Wong,
a smiling young lady with black hair is seated behind
what used to be mister Miltchik's desk. Ms Wong is
being played by the very impressive and diminutive Sarah Bach.

(20:42):
She's just five to three born in August of two
thousand and six. Sarah was only sixteen years old when
she got the nod for this role. Prior to this,
the Raleigh, North Carolina native had appeared in a single movie, Bruiser.
From twenty twenty two, She was also a voice on
multiple Pink Fong Baby Shark sing along videos. Sarah has
a short called The Connoisseur Upcoming Plus. During the course

(21:05):
of the second season, Sarah announced she would be going
to Northwestern University in the fall. This decision was aided
in large part by fellow cast mate Brett Lauer, who
is a Northwestern alum.

Speaker 5 (21:15):
Miss Long Marcus Hello.

Speaker 1 (21:18):
Eltic says, this smiling pixie will be happy to mind
Mark's balloons while they chat. We cut to a wide
shot of the outer office. Ms Wong stands to retrieve
Mark's balloons. Seth and Mark adjourned frame left to sess
new office. Ms Wong is now standing frame right at
the end of her desk, holding the bauquet of mark
Faced balloons. This image was used in show promos. The

(21:39):
time on the frame centered analog clock is nine fifteen.
Mark's been back on the severed floor for a mere
ten minutes. There's a reverse angle cut to continuity. As
Mark enters cess office, you can shut it, severed. Patron
refiner Helly R. Pointed out something interesting here. Why can't
anyone call this adore? Remember what Cobell told Mark the

(21:59):
first time he visited here.

Speaker 6 (22:02):
Mark, come in, shut the thing.

Speaker 1 (22:04):
And now that they've put a spotlight on it, there
will be other times when this door is not called
a door. There's also a subtle ongoing gag associated with
whether or not this door is closed. WHOA This room
is now blue. Nothing much else has changed, but Seth
went with a powerful lumen blue for the paint job
on his walls. Harmony's walls were a nondescript white. The

(22:25):
carpet carried the blue theme for the room. Now we
go from blue carpet right into blue walls in the
corner of the office to Mark's right as he enters
as a freestanding floor lamp severed to Assistant researcher Vinnie P.
Contacted set decorator David Schlessinger for details. This is an
arrow delucee cubist floor lamp. It's Italian design Circle nineteen seventy.

(22:46):
This one is still wrapped in plastic. It could have
come from one of the departments. Mark and HELLI passed
in good news about hell. Mark is a bit concerned
about miss Wong, but Seth cuts him off.

Speaker 2 (22:58):
Is it normal for a child excuse the flatter.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
Mis Wong is not a topic Seth wants to discuss
if the macrodata revolt and the firing of Harmony Cobel
took place five months ago. Seth Miltchik has taken his
time setting up his office. There's a reverse cut to
a wide shot of CS new Diggs compared to Cobel's office.
The desk and credenza are in the same spot. Says
computer workstation is over against the wall, but it's on

(23:22):
the same stand Harmony had it on. We've seen her
use it next to her desk, so it formed an
L to her left the way it's sitting. Seth can
move it over by his desk if he wants. Ceys
Desk by the way is a classic retro design. It
was created in nineteen sixty five by architect Warren Plattner
for the Lehigh Leopold Design House. The entire wall to

(23:43):
the right from Mark's perspective is the Florida Ceiling vertical blind.
There are a number of cardboard file boxes sitting on
the floor. There's even one on cess desk. Yet they
expect any mark to believe it's been five months since
the OTC and Cobell's firing. Really don't miss the crate
sitting to the far right of screen along the vertical

(24:04):
blind wall. When this episode was first released, this crate
caused a major online stir. It's a very solid, very
professional looking square box about three feet on a side.
One side panel has been removed. The removed panel is
leaning up against the crate. The opening faces into the office.
Inside this cube is what might be a blue velvet pillow.

(24:27):
This setup kind of looks like what you'd get for
a big dog. Spoiler about the crate, it is never
seen or mentioned again in all of season two. A
leading theory at the time identified Miss Wong as being
a robot. This was supposed to be her shipping and
storage crate. Nice try, but no. Miss Wong is a
student on a fellowship who leaves for the North Pole

(24:48):
in the ninth episode, and she leaves by bus. No
crates were involved. Seth is moving one of the fileboxes
off his desk. The vibe attached to the entire office
is they just got here this morning. In this space
where Kobel had her massive triptych, Seth has hung a
small painting. It appears to be the tip of a
much larger iceberg. This was a choice prompted by Tremmel

(25:10):
Tillman's mention of icebergs as a great metaphor for Severance.
This piece is by artist Lisa Lebowski. It wasn't planned,
but this painting is of an iceberg in Newfoundland, not
far from where they shot episode eight Sweet Vitriol. Artist
Lisa Lebowski tells the story of this painting on her Instagram.
She even named the series Severed Icebergs long before there

(25:34):
was a Severance TV show. The original is four feet
high by six feet wide, painted on aluminum. Set. Decorator
David Schlessinger said they tried multiple sizes of this painting.
The larger versions dominated too much of the wall. David says,
the negative space around this piece is powerful. I also
feel like this tiny artwork in a big space is
metaphorically telling us Seth has some big shoes to fill

(25:57):
as manager of the Severed floor. The Bonzi tree in
the far right corner is a new addition. It's a
pretty zen kind of thing for such a buttoned down
guy as Miltchik. Whatever keeps you saying on the severed floor,
I guess Seth has a small sculpture on his credenza.
It's in the same spot where Harmony had a bust
of cure. You've probably seen the Wittgenstein duck rabbit illusion

(26:20):
as an illustration. It's a famous line drawing. Depending on
how you look at the drawing, you either see the
head of a duck or the head of a rabbit. Says.
Sculpture is a three D representation of this famous illustration.
Why is this particular piece significant. It's due to the
fact you can't perceive both animals at the same time.

(26:40):
When you can see one, the other is not at
all visible. This is much the same way severed workers
can only be perceived as either their any or audi
According to production designer Jeremy Hindel, use of both the
desk figurine and the iceberg picture were prompted by notes
from Tremmell Tillman. These are items he felt Miltchik would

(27:01):
want in his office. Mark As and Seth are about
to get into a pretty heated discussion. You might want
to grab a cup of coffee. First, refiner. Severed will
be here right back.

Speaker 7 (27:14):
Hello refiners, It's Mark Keller kier Egan on Severance. Don't
let your dreary, dead end job get you down. Do
what I do for a workday, pick me up. Listen
to Severed the Ultimate Severance Podcast.

Speaker 1 (27:32):
None of the infos Seth has provided is computing with Mark.

Speaker 2 (27:36):
S okay, what's happening?

Speaker 1 (27:37):
Seth pause is going through a filebox to look up
gravely at.

Speaker 5 (27:40):
Markus Coobell is no longer with this company.

Speaker 1 (27:43):
This might be the first truthful thing he's said. Seth
Miltchik is now the undisputed manager of the Severed floor,
with his own deputy manager in the outer office. This
all seems great for Seth, but it doesn't answer Mark's
central question. It's the one he was asking out in
the hall.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
What about my team?

Speaker 1 (28:01):
Seth thinks he's putting Mark at ease by telling him
they weren't fired. He also mentions their exploits from the
night of the OTC.

Speaker 8 (28:08):
Kelly R and Irving Bee both successfully made contact with
persons on the outside, just as you did.

Speaker 1 (28:13):
He sets another filebox on the floor. He's uncovering his
desk so he can see Mark. This is the first
time in five months Seth has felt the need to
sit at his desk. It hasn't been five months. In
the next episode, we'll discover this is the Monday morning
after the Friday night gala and OTC. Unpacking the office

(28:35):
is a great way to tell us any Mark is
being lied to. All of this is pretty obviously new,
not something that's been happening for five months. Miltchik said,
Helly Are and Irving Bee both made contact with outsiders.
Helly obviously, but Irving I don't believe any IRV actually
made contact his OUTI may have been standing there when

(28:56):
Bert's door opened, but his Inny didn't make a connection.
Mark did interact pretty extensively with his sisters, so that's true.
What about Dylan G, Well, he was never on the outside.

Speaker 5 (29:07):
Dylan G's oud. He learned what happened after the.

Speaker 1 (29:10):
Fact, which sounds so pleasant. Seth opens the top drawer
on the right side of his desk. He has a
newspaper sitting there, ready to be grabbed easily. A lot
of planning has gone into this meeting, even if SE's
office isn't unpacked, Miltchik comes around his desk to hand
the paper to Mark.

Speaker 4 (29:27):
The four of you have achieved international fame.

Speaker 1 (29:30):
International fame. Mark scans the front page. We cut to
a close up view of the Cure Chronicle.

Speaker 8 (29:37):
As a group, you've become known as the face of
severance reform.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
The cut allows us to see a huge chunk of
the heavily redacted front page. Very clearly, the Cure Chronicle
has been your trusted source for the goings on in
Kere in the greater world since eighteen ninety three. No
one at the Chronicle seems to have heard of the
concept of breaking volumes up by years. If this front
page is accurate, there's something weird happening with the volume number. Okay,

(30:04):
math break, but I'll keep it short. If this is
a daily paper, then we've been getting three hundred and
sixty five volumes per year since it began publishing in
eighteen ninety three. If you divide the current volume number
fifty one, nine hundred and three by three hundred and
sixty five, you get one hundred and forty two point
two years. If you add one hundred and forty two
years onto eighteen ninety three. This volume number indicates the

(30:27):
year right now is twenty thirty five. There are a
few ways to explain this. The most obvious, the world
of Severance is actually eleven years in the future. I'd
say no, If anything, they're a few years behind. It's
also possible to Gangado and d through a dummy number
on this mocked up paper, not like it's going to
be leaving the severed floor or anything. Another possibility could

(30:49):
be multiple daily editions. At some point in the paper's history.
In the early twentieth century, newspapers could be published two
or three times a day. This would have added edition
volume numbers to the count. Or, and this is always
my favorite choice, it's possible the writers didn't do the math.
Did you check the main story? Innies blow the whistle?

(31:11):
Look at that picture, Even if you've never heard of photoshop,
this front page looks phony. I guess it's realistic enough
to fool an ignorant macrodat, But wow, is that picture bad.
This has to be a mocked up front page just
for the Innies. No one on the outside would believe
the picture for a second. Those cars are ancient Cadillacs,

(31:32):
and who even has a ticker tape parade? They were
always pretty rare, but since ticker tape hasn't been used
in business since the early nineteen seventies, they definitely no
longer exist. I knew this was mocked up from shots
of a real ticker tape parade, but which one Reddit
was already on the case before I could even start
to search. This picture is from a ticker tape parade

(31:53):
held for President Dwight Eisenhower in Rio de Jannaro, Brazil,
in nineteen sixty. No mistake, This is all a fake.
It's a faked paper, a faked story, faked everything. Last
Saturday's celebration event never happened. So why would Luman go
to all of this trouble. Well, if the Nies think
this newspaper is the world's reaction to the OTC, it

(32:17):
takes away the power of what they did. If this
news is true, it means they're big move fizzled. No
one's going to free the innies. The article talks about
reforms Lumen is instituting worldwide thanks to the protests of
these brave innies. The Innies, of course, are no longer
available to speak for themselves. According to the article All
four Oudies game Speeches, Luhmann has instituted reforms designed to

(32:40):
improve the lives of the Innies. They list things like
top of the line recreational facilities, sexual liberations, improve snacks,
and the possibility for field trips. I believe something else
has been faked in this news story. We're told doctor
rick and Hale provided the benediction for this big celebration
on Saturday. Rick remember is kind of the anti kre

(33:01):
with his messages about not being ruled by the clock
or oppressed by your employer. Any Mark would recognize this
name because he's a big fan of Rickens's book The
uu Are. In the paragraph about doctor Hale's benediction, he
is listed as being the author of two titles, The
uu Are, which Mark is well aware of, and These

(33:22):
Values nine. How I let keir in I call bs
on this second title. We've seen all of the titles
of rickens books. He had them on display during the
finale of season one. I'm very sure he has not
written one called These Values nine. How I let keir
in I would venture this title is his fake. As

(33:43):
everything else about this front page, I didn't think rebel
Ricken would ever, kowtow to the cultish ways of kre
That's why I was so surprised by the turn he
takes later this season, at Natalie's urging, Ricken will rewrite
his groundbreaking any hit the U you are in the
authoritative style of Lumen. But that's not for a while.
For this news story, I'm sure the reason for including

(34:05):
this tidbit was directed at Mark. If Mark sees this
title and thinks his hero Ricken is also an acolyte
of Cure, it might make Mark more accepting of the
cult aspects of the Severed Floor. The article to the
right of the main story is about Lumen's ongoing drive
to recycle plastic waste. They do give recycling a lot
of lip service around Lumen. Remember the recycle bin we

(34:27):
saw in the interview booth just before we met Helly.
I wonder how much and just what they're actually recycling.
This article really gets into detail about cooking down the
plastic and avoiding hazardous fumes. Sounds like conditions found in
Lumen's ether factories. One line that did catch my attention
to this article dealt with new technology they claim to

(34:49):
have developed. They call it a scientific miracle. Instead of
taking a plastic bottle and making another plastic bottle out
of it, this story claims Lumen has the ability to
change the composition of plastic molecules. This technology of true
sounds more exciting than severance. Over on the left side

(35:09):
of the page, the story under the completely redacted headline
is about the activities of the Bird Creek Bandit. There
has been ongoing speculation this bandit might be Rigabi. We
don't get any confirmation about that this season. It's just
a theory. I think these break ins could also be
the work of Irving. Just because he has your name
and address doesn't always mean he's going to knock on

(35:29):
your door. If he suspects you of something, he might
decide to go through your stuff on his own. I'm
certain this paper is a mockup designed to fool the innies.
This response from the world would be the kind of
thing they were hoping for in their wildest dreams. With
this mock up, Lumen is letting the innies think they
fully accomplish their mission. Once they realize it doesn't change

(35:51):
anything about their day to day life, maybe they won't
try it again. Rather than let Mark have too much
time to ask questions. Seth snatches the fake copy of
the Cure Chronicle out of Mark's hands. Have a seat,
Mark only a severed and he, with no frame of
reference in a naive worldview, could possibly believe something this
badly mocked up. Even so, I agree with said not

(36:12):
letting Marc s look at it for too long. Seth
changes the subject as he returns to his desk.

Speaker 8 (36:18):
Shortly before your mutiny, reinstalled security doors to keep you
in Mdr.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
Yeah, and you seem pretty happy about them too. I
recall Seth opening and closing those doors dozens of times
the morning after they were installed. He was also the
one who met each Macrodad at the elevator that morning
so he could escort them to their newly secured offices.

Speaker 2 (36:38):
We've locked in now.

Speaker 5 (36:40):
I prefer the phrase safely situated. These doors help us
to ensure you all. I took nicely in your workspaces.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
Miltchake then retcon severed floor history.

Speaker 4 (36:49):
This accompanied a punitive rendition of the Cure hymn performed
by Miss Cobell.

Speaker 1 (36:53):
Punitive is an adjective which means something was intended as punishment.
If so, the hymn was an oddly timed punishment. These
security doors weren't installed until much later. In the episode
Hide and Seek, the gang left for O and D
against Cobel's strict orders. When Seth tracked them down and
hauled them back to MDR. That's when Cobell greeted their
return with her cure anthem. If it was punishment, it

(37:18):
felt like it was punishment for the field trip. That
night is when maintenance arrived to install the new locking doors.
The hymn and doors happened within the same twenty four
hour period, but they didn't seem all that connected.

Speaker 5 (37:31):
Do you recall I do?

Speaker 1 (37:33):
Well? Sure, he recalls the hymn. It was a pretty
weird day. Mark is stemied by this topic. What does
this have to do with anything? When Mark sits, we
can clearly see a large overstuffed chair to the left
of frame. It's sitting in the corner of the room.
This is the Fardos lounge chair, designed by Richard Fassenello
in nineteen sixty eight. It features three large rolls of

(37:55):
foam held together by straps. The chair was first publicly
featured at furniture exhibitions in Paris and Berlin in nineteen
seventy one. This chair is still made and offered by
es Passo. I could not find a price on a
new one, but if you'd like a replica of the
original nineteen sixty eight design, it's available from a place
called apt Deco for only nine thousand and seven hundred

(38:18):
and fifty dollars. This is discounted from an estimated retail
price of get Ready for It twenty three thousand, eight
hundred and sixty dollars. Miltchik looks intently across his desk.

Speaker 5 (38:31):
I locked you in a room like an animal, mark.

Speaker 1 (38:33):
Like a goat. Maybe you were also pretty upset when
they got out.

Speaker 5 (38:37):
As an unsevered man.

Speaker 4 (38:38):
I'll carry that knowledge the rest of my life.

Speaker 1 (38:41):
Seth must have been doing all of this against his will.
It didn't seem like it at the time, but that's
his story now. So if Seth wasn't the one making
these horrific decisions, who was?

Speaker 4 (38:52):
But for the past five months, we've been asking how
a sadist like Harmony Kobel could take fertile root in
lumen soil.

Speaker 1 (38:58):
Shocking that a winn tied Fellowship recipient would do such
a thing since she's not here. It's easy to use
Cobell as a scapegoat. They're gonna blame all of the
bad and ugly stuff about Mark's former treatment on Harmony.
She was the problem. We've gotten rid of her, so
problem solved. Seth even hints the ordeal may have prompted

(39:19):
a bit of soul searching within the Lumen organization. And
what that says about us, Yeah, like they're really looking
to change anytime soon. Pinning more crimes on the scapegoat,
Seth continues.

Speaker 4 (39:31):
We also know miss Cobell was at your sister's home
when you awoke there?

Speaker 1 (39:35):
Okay, who read it? It had to have been Harmony. Ricken
didn't really know, and Devon wouldn't say anything. Was somebody
at the party? A LUMIN informant, Dan Erickson was there,
you remember. I wonder what he told Lumen any. Mark
was also a bit put off by running into Cobell
on the outside.

Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yeah, why was that?

Speaker 1 (39:55):
To this point, Miltchik has been loading markup with some
pretty serious lies and half truths. Right here is where
he really takes it to the max. This is crazy stuff.
But Tremuelle Tillman could not be more earnest delivering these lines.

Speaker 4 (40:08):
We believe she developed an erotic fixation on you and
had plans to pursue both you and your audi in
what might be termed a thruple.

Speaker 1 (40:16):
Thrumple is a real word, kind of. It's a mashup
of three and couple. It shows up in your dictionary
dot com, Dictionary dot com, and on several word sites,
but it's not in Merriam Webster's and it is getting
underlined here in my word processor. First use of thrupple
was in nineteen ninety four. It appeared in a usenet

(40:37):
discussion about non traditional relationships. Usenet is one of the
original social media platforms, kind of like Reddit's granddad. The
French term menage twi is a good synonym for thrupple,
but menaje twin normally indicates sex. A thrumple isn't always
about sex. Some thruples are created to care for children
or run a household. Although Seth is making this sound

(41:00):
like pervy old harmony, Kobell was down for a sexy
marky mark thrupple. Since we've heard both Dan and Ben
describe the emotional development of the season two innies as
adolescents talking icky sex talk like this is probably a
good way to embarrass them into silence. A Mark Cobell
Thrupple does have some logistics issues. There aren't three physical people,

(41:23):
for one thing. Kobell may be able to switch between
Marks Inni and Audi, but they are still both going
to be housed in the same body. Mark's reaction is
what I'd expect. What although any Mark wouldn't know about it,
this gives a whole new perspective to Selvig's Camomial cookie visit.
If Harmony truly were going to make a move on Mark,
she's had several opportunities.

Speaker 5 (41:45):
Thankfully she failed at this.

Speaker 1 (41:47):
Miltjake has thrown a lot at Mark since he's been
in the office. Mark is doggedly trying to squeeze some
answers out of his elusive new manager.

Speaker 2 (41:56):
You still haven't told me where my team.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
Is Seth pauses with great gravitas. He looks down at
his desk for a moment.

Speaker 5 (42:02):
We tried for weeks to get them back Mark.

Speaker 1 (42:05):
Yeah, sure, Remember it's been three days since the OTC.

Speaker 5 (42:09):
None of them agreed.

Speaker 1 (42:10):
Even with all of the new carrots.

Speaker 5 (42:12):
We told them. Other reforms, but there wasn't enough.

Speaker 1 (42:15):
Yeah, the new reforms might be attractive to an Innie,
but they wouldn't mean much to an Audi. So, according
to Milchik, none of the other three Macrodaths felt the
urge to return to the severed floor.

Speaker 5 (42:27):
Except for me.

Speaker 1 (42:28):
It seems odd only mark S would come back. The
other Innies were pretty gung ho the day of the
waffle party. It seems like they'd want to keep it going.
Maybe their audies weren't as gung ho. Seth then adds
another lie onto the big pile. Mark is already buried in.

Speaker 5 (42:42):
Your Audi insisted on returning.

Speaker 1 (42:44):
No, he didn't.

Speaker 5 (42:45):
In fact, he begged us to let him back right away.

Speaker 1 (42:48):
In the very next episode, we'll see Miltchik practically begging
Audi Mark to come back. None of this is computing
with any Mark. The camera gets in close here as
things get tense. We're watching to pokes.

Speaker 2 (43:00):
So the other say they refused.

Speaker 1 (43:03):
Not that he doesn't believe you, Seth just wanting to clarify.
Seth solemnly nods his head. Yes, sure they did. Now
get along there. You've feisty any you've got data to refine.

Speaker 5 (43:14):
Well, I'd like to hear it from them?

Speaker 1 (43:17):
WHOA hold on a minute, there, Mark, ash, you mean
you don't trust manager Miltchik. Something to consider here. Could
you imagine any Mark having this same conversation last season
with Harmony Cobel. He'd have never been this brazen or combative.
Any Mark has matured. He's now more confident and more
willing to stand up for himself. On the other side

(43:39):
of the desk, seth Miltchik is not as formidable a
presence as Harmony. He's a good manager, but he's not
the authoritative figure Cobel was. This combination creates an interesting
dynamic between these two in future episodes. After Mark drops
the I'd like to hear it from them line, there's
a cut back to Miltchik's face. I thought my video

(44:00):
player had frozen. Tremmel Tillman does not move a muscle
for a good five seconds before responding that's not possible.
Mark is also stoned faced, but he doesn't have a comeback.
Once the camera realizes Mark has nothing to say, we
cut back to Milchik. After a couple more seconds of silence,
his mouth twists into a half grin. He then delivers

(44:20):
the most passive, aggressive, get out of my office line ever,
enjoy your balloons. Out in the halls, Mark is trudging
along dragging the bouquet of balloons. These balloons really have
nothing to do with the storyline, but they become a
huge emblem of the second season. We'll see numerous balloons
in the extra wag opening animation. The balloons have also
become an iconic part of the promotion of the series.

(44:43):
They show up in promos, and at the end of
the second season, the show took a huge balloon display
on tour internationally as a promotion. After a few steps
any Mark gives up on the balloons, He releases them
and they fly up to the ceiling. As Mark heads
on down the hall. We get a reverse shot from
a pie. We're looking right at the abandoned balloons as

(45:04):
Mark disappears into the distance. When your epic takedown of
the company fails and you've just had a demoralizing face
off with your new boss, what's in ny to do?

Speaker 3 (45:14):
Mark?

Speaker 1 (45:14):
Besides, he should probably get back to work. Even if
he doesn't know those people, he does have his files
to work on. Back at Mdr. Mark w is a
talkative sort.

Speaker 3 (45:24):
Yeah, we showed up about an hour before you did.

Speaker 1 (45:27):
What you mean you haven't been here for five months.
This crew was brought in just to meet Mark Gwendeln.
Why is sneaking a peek at Mark over the top
of the divider At this point, Mark's been on the
severed floor for exactly half an hour. Mark W says
this place, this MDR, is more cramped than their old one.
I've always thought of this MDR as being pretty roomy,

(45:48):
but I love the green carbon. Jeremy Hindel has credited
designer Oscar Neamier's use of monochromatic carpets as the inspiration
for mdr's vivid green rug. Mark W's old ms DR
department sounds colorful.

Speaker 3 (46:02):
Ours was a crumbla and the keyboards repuse.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
What is puce? It's a purplish brown color.

Speaker 3 (46:08):
They were purple, No, they were puse. I know because
it makes me nauseous.

Speaker 1 (46:11):
These two fight like an old married couple. Keep an
eye on gwendolen Wi's outfits. Tomorrow she'll be in green,
but the next day she's going to wear a puce dress.
I'd say it's an attempt to make Mark W nauseus,
But how would her Audie know? Mark w says he
hates sweets. I'm not sure how puce is synonymous with sweets.

(46:31):
He then hilariously renames everybody's favorite floor manager.

Speaker 3 (46:35):
Speaking of which, how much do we see of that,
mister milkshake?

Speaker 1 (46:38):
Mark Es quietly corrects.

Speaker 5 (46:40):
Him, Milt, Why.

Speaker 2 (46:43):
It's miltcheck.

Speaker 1 (46:44):
Gario lifts a pen and asks where he can find more.

Speaker 5 (46:47):
Of the incumpenses.

Speaker 1 (46:49):
I am curious as to what mdr does That requires
either pens or paper supply closet, which means nothing to
the guy who speaks Italian. As Mark passes, Gwendolen, why
falls into step with him?

Speaker 3 (47:03):
Did you really see the Audi world?

Speaker 5 (47:05):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (47:05):
This might be an attempt to sell the you guys
are heroes story to Mark s since none of it
is true. They'd have prepped her before Mark arrived. This
guy you're gonna meet has been in the Audi world.
Ask him about it. They might also be doing a
little bit of fact finding.

Speaker 2 (47:21):
How's the sky?

Speaker 1 (47:22):
Mark doesn't know.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
I was distracted by my brother in law.

Speaker 1 (47:26):
Gwendolen's surprise, She says, they made a list of what
they'd most like to see on the outside.

Speaker 2 (47:32):
Guy was amazing number one.

Speaker 1 (47:33):
Not surprisingly, brother in Law's didn't even make the list.
Mark is distracted by the supply closet. Some serious remodeling
has taken place here. This closet had been deep enough
to house four macrodats, several lamps and printers, and a
whole lot of paper. It is now shelves. You can't
walk into it anymore. So maintenance had a busy weekend.

(47:56):
Gwendolen why has definitely had her Rwandan coffee this morning?
She peppers Mark with questions, what state are we in?
What's wind lights?

Speaker 2 (48:05):
It just like getting breathed on? Kind of we'll.

Speaker 1 (48:06):
Discover Gwendolen Y and Mark W both come from an
MDR location in Grand Rapids, Michigan, even though they are
in the Upper Great Lakes region. Gwendolen says three of
us I guess out of her former MDR group, all
said Wyoming for their intake survey question. Gwendolen's rapid fire
attack on Mark S is interrupted by a tiny voice

(48:27):
glob of finers. Miss Wang is standing in the MDR doorway.

Speaker 3 (48:31):
Oh no, it's the ballgame.

Speaker 1 (48:33):
She's holding a tiny version of Miltchik's red rubber ball.
The get acquainted ballgame must be a standard for all
Lumen locations. The kitchenette, The four Macrodats and Miss Wang
are seated around the kitchenette table. She introduces herself. It's
her first day here.

Speaker 4 (48:49):
I guess something about me is that for this it
was a crossing guard.

Speaker 1 (48:56):
Hugh the crackpot theories I saw several based on Mis
Wang having been killed in a crossing guard accident. She's
now a prisoner on the severed and testing floors, just
like Miss Casey. My favorite twist on this theory involved
a drunken Mark scout as the one who killed Miss Wong.
Luman covered everything up. Of course, we cut to reactions

(49:16):
around the table about her crossing guard admission. Mark w
raises a.

Speaker 3 (49:21):
Hand, Why are you a child?

Speaker 1 (49:22):
She is very young. The schoolgirl uniform doesn't help. Still,
she's more than qualified when it comes to corraling these Macrodads.
Her answer is very.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
Logical because of when I was born.

Speaker 1 (49:34):
Don't miss the clock reflection frame left of Mark's head.
The time above Miss Wang's head is actually nine thirty
eight AM, but it shows as two twenty two in
this mirror. It's a subtle nod to season two. Miss
Wong rolls the ball across the table to Mark w
He's just full of information.

Speaker 3 (49:54):
I'm from the MDR Department of Branch five X.

Speaker 1 (49:56):
Not sure how Lumen does it, but normally an X
in a desig like that indicates experimental. This was also
Gwendolyn Wise, MDR.

Speaker 3 (50:05):
Kind of a fun fact about me is that I
thought I'd be permanently retiring when my brand shut down.

Speaker 1 (50:10):
Permanently retired is a lumin euphemism for dead, and he's
don't leave for a life of golf and leisure after retirement,
they just stop existing.

Speaker 3 (50:20):
So this is a nice surprise.

Speaker 1 (50:21):
MS Wong then calls on Mark s as the next
to contribute. Mark w seems a bit disappointed his selection
was made for him. Okay, he rolls the ball. Mark Esh,
you remember from last season, is great at coming up
with meaningless information about himself during this game. He gives
his name, says he's worked at Lumen for about two years, then.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
Pauses something about me.

Speaker 1 (50:44):
As he's thinking, he flashes on his oudy wedding picture.
He's shaky, like he might be experiencing a reintegration tremor.
Is he really needs to answer? This is starting to
feel like something's wrong.

Speaker 2 (50:57):
That I am lucky enough to made four new friends today.

Speaker 1 (51:02):
H He pulls it out, but that felt tense. Dario
noticed it. I think ms Wong also noticed it. Ms
Wong immediately asserts her authority. She reminds Mark she's a supervisor,
not a friend. Let's keep the distinction clear. She really
stares him down. Mark is smiling nervously. You can feel
the tension. We get reaction shots of the other refiners,

(51:22):
who are also visibly uneasy smiling. Mark corrects himself three
and her friends. He has a rather brittle look in
his eye. Mark Gas is feeling on the edge all
of these changes. This weird new assistant floor manager, these
whiny Macrodaths with their same name and puce keyboards. It's

(51:43):
getting to Mark, even as he tries to push it down.
Tense moment over.

Speaker 3 (51:47):
Okay, congratulations to our team.

Speaker 1 (51:50):
Mark Uswog smiles in the game continues as the Macrodaths
continue their ballgame. This would be a great time for
you to hit the vending machine. Refiner severed be right back.

Speaker 7 (52:03):
Hello, refiners, this is your beloved leader Ker Egan. Actually
it's Mark Geller who plays Ker Egan on Severance. For
the latest don stopping the MDR Rebellion, I like to
check in with Severed, the Ultimate Severance Podcast.

Speaker 1 (52:23):
We cut to a clock that says five to ten.
Suddenly it's the end of the day. There's a close
up of Dario's wooden headcube. It's inscribed to Dario R
with the word Grimaldi. Was this Dario's version of Allentown.
Grimaldi is a town in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
Since Dario was an Italian refiner, it would make sense

(52:44):
his file names are taken from places in Italy. Knowing
what we know about the file names here in kir
this raises a lot of questions. Was Dario also working
on rebuilding someone's tempers the same way Mark is working
on Gemma. Do all MDR our departments serve the same purpose?
Could the Lumin location in Italy have housed a thought

(53:05):
to be dead loved one of Dario's If it did,
what happened to this loved one when Dario was no
longer there to work on them? There is so much
we don't know about Lumen. Mark esh yawns, stretches and
decides he's done for the day. The long shot shows
us he is the last refiner still at the diamond desk.
Mark flips off the lights in MDR and heads to

(53:27):
the severed elevator. As you might be realizing this is
an all Any episode, we as viewers never leave the
severed floor the entire time. In the elevator, we experience
what Ben Stiller has referred to as the double Zollie.

(53:52):
We go from any to OUTI and back to any
all in one move. This was actually accomplished in a
single take. The elevator door reopens, we can see it's
nine oh four am. It's the start of mark second
day back after the OTC. In MDR. Gwendolen, why is
passing by with an armload of paper?

Speaker 9 (54:10):
What's a pity wing?

Speaker 6 (54:12):
Like?

Speaker 1 (54:12):
Well, hello to you too. Innies tend to be abrupt
and direct without a lot of preamble. Dylan is a
great example of this in our Crew. So, according to Gwendolen,
every severed floor has a perpetuity wing. That's interesting, as
we'll discover it. They're all a little different to.

Speaker 2 (54:29):
The Egans move.

Speaker 1 (54:30):
No, they don't. If they did, I think that might
be a little bit creepy. Gwendolen is guessing these figures
don't move here in Kere because it's an older branch
ars randomatronic You mean, like the Disney Hall of Presidents.
Since they do speak here in Cure, it probably wouldn't
be hard to add movements.

Speaker 2 (54:47):
Even to this little choreograph dance.

Speaker 1 (54:49):
Gwendolen demonstrates by putting her hand up by her head
and turning from side to side. Dario, our Italian refiner,
jumps in with stories from his MDR. We don't know
exactly where dark came from, but his MDR Space was
on a pretty strict budget.

Speaker 8 (55:04):
And my first pity win vegans were brooms.

Speaker 1 (55:07):
It's not a translation thing brooms. He really means brooms.
Dario's odd experiences, combined with his limited English, make these
descriptions unintentionally hilarious. As Dario and Gwendolen are talking mark
s grabs allumin posted from his desk drawer. The brooms,
according to Dario, each had a face made out.

Speaker 3 (55:27):
Of a plate, a plate.

Speaker 1 (55:30):
They were very poor. Gwendolen asks if his branch had
the CPR dummies. Dario says, yeah, they had the CPR dummies.

Speaker 3 (55:37):
What were those made of?

Speaker 1 (55:38):
Also? Brooms personal aside what CPR dummies. Mark w wonders
if they had an elevator we had.

Speaker 5 (55:46):
How do you say on a rope?

Speaker 1 (55:48):
I could never work at Dario's branch. I can't climb
a rope. Can you imagine making the switch to your
any only defined you are suspended from a rope? I
guess after you do it a few times, it's not
so shocking. Mark is something on the post it we're
not allowed to see. We cut to another end of day.
It's almost five fifteen. This time, both marks are seated
at the diamond desk. Dario and Gwendolen must be gone

(56:11):
for the day. There's a close up as Mark s
folds the post it into a tiny square. He's written
quite a note on it. The word Egan is visible.

Speaker 2 (56:19):
I'm head now good yeah.

Speaker 1 (56:21):
Mark W is also about to close things down for
the day. As he continues working, he offers up some
expositional small talk.

Speaker 3 (56:29):
You know, my old team was a bunch of dirtbags.

Speaker 1 (56:31):
Gwendolyn why was a part of his old team? I
don't know if he's including her in the dirt bags comment.

Speaker 3 (56:36):
We never had quota, not once.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
Since everything else is the same, I'm wondering if Waffle
parties at their branch were dependent on making quota, would
they still award a refiner of the quarter even if
no one had finished their files. Why is Mark W
even bringing this up? Well, he's comparing what he had
to what Mark S has lost. He can see Mark
Esh used to really like his coworkers, So I'm sorry.

(57:03):
Mark As silently nods at this and turns to go
good night, Mark. After mark As has retrieved his suit
code from the coat rack, he casually drops the tiny
post it into Mark W's suit code pocket. He puts
it in the outside breast pocket that no one ever uses.
Marcas goes to the severed elevator. There's another double zollie

(57:23):
and we are back on the severed floor at nine
oh four am. It is relentless, isn't it. This is
Mark's third day back after the OTC. So it's Wednesday morning.

Speaker 2 (57:33):
Hey ever got it?

Speaker 1 (57:35):
Mark has walked into a wall of anger. The new
MDR crew has already assembled at the Diamond desk. Standing
behind them and holding the blue post it note is
mister Milkshake. He immediately begins to read.

Speaker 8 (57:48):
Dear Audi, I don't know if this will reach you,
but I'm writing to alert you of the heinous conditions
in the severed office to which you have transferred to me.

Speaker 1 (57:56):
Check Gwendolen wise dress that is puce. I think the
fact anyone found this note is testament to the existence
of the code detectors. No way did Mark w just
happened to find this note in his coat pocket. Mark
As is trying to look surprised, maybe even a bit
confused at hearing these words. He's not doing a great
job of it.

Speaker 8 (58:16):
The branch is run by a shambalic Rube who goes
by milkshake.

Speaker 1 (58:21):
You can feel the shutter as he pronounces his new name.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Schambalic is a fairly
modern word. It's a combination of shambles and symbolic. It
means very disorganized or confused. The first printed use of
Shambalic can be traced to the Times of London in
nineteen seventy. Rube is North American English. It means a

(58:44):
naive or stupid person, usually from a rural area. The
first printed use of rube can be found in eighteen
ninety one. Mark As is trying to keep up appearances
as a shocked refiner. Oh my god, he's not doing
a great job of it. Miltchik continues to read this
highly insulting note.

Speaker 8 (59:03):
A man whose stupidity is rivaled only by that of
the nine Core Principles.

Speaker 1 (59:08):
So this note isn't just insulting Miltchik, it's also taking
shots at the cult of Ker Marcus. Maybe a youngster
isn't any but he's learned how to push buttons. Wow,
if looks could kill Mark W. Dario and Gwendolen are
shooting daggers in Marc S's direction. Miltchik continues, Mark has
written quite the tone on this post it.

Speaker 8 (59:29):
If you must continue to send me here, please consider
strapping a bomb to me so that I may explode
both milkshake and the very spirit of Keer Egan.

Speaker 1 (59:39):
And a bomb threat. Nice. It is of course signed.

Speaker 5 (59:43):
Wrathfully, your inny, Mark W.

Speaker 1 (59:46):
What makes this note even funnier is the thought of
milk toast Bob Balaban writing it. Mark Gus has been
standing in the entrance to MDR throughout this recitation. He
tries to sound both shocked and concerned.

Speaker 2 (59:59):
Oh my god, that's very serious.

Speaker 1 (01:00:02):
Mark tries out a few facial expressions here. It reminds
me of his attempt at kind eyes.

Speaker 3 (01:00:08):
Is it ernest?

Speaker 1 (01:00:09):
He wants to know if Mark S really considers him
a chambalic rube.

Speaker 2 (01:00:13):
Wait you think I wrote this note?

Speaker 1 (01:00:15):
Gwendolen wonders if this frame up was intended for all
of them or just Mark W. Mark W is thinking
this has to do with their shared first name.

Speaker 3 (01:00:24):
Clever way to secure the name for yourself. I suppose.

Speaker 1 (01:00:27):
Miltchik wonders why Mark S hates this team?

Speaker 2 (01:00:31):
I don't hate this team.

Speaker 1 (01:00:32):
I'm sure seems like it.

Speaker 5 (01:00:33):
You didn't even disguise your own handwriting.

Speaker 1 (01:00:36):
Maybe try writing it with your other hand next time.
Mark As drops the innocent act and gets intense with Miltchick.
He doesn't even know who this team is.

Speaker 2 (01:00:46):
I told you I want my team.

Speaker 1 (01:00:48):
Mark As gets right in Seth's face.

Speaker 2 (01:00:51):
Which part of that don't you understand?

Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
Tremuelle Tillman grabs Mark S's lanyard and yanks it from
around his neck.

Speaker 8 (01:00:57):
Marcus, at this time, I revoke your status as department chief.

Speaker 1 (01:01:01):
This honor will be transferred to his intended victim, Mark W.
I accept Meltchic then says Marks will be relegated to
the office. I guess he's meaning the management office. Mark
As will have to check in regularly to monitor his progress.
His former team is very let down.

Speaker 2 (01:01:20):
Do you even have a brother in law?

Speaker 3 (01:01:22):
Asshole?

Speaker 1 (01:01:22):
Mark As, who's face starts to twist into an impish
little grin.

Speaker 5 (01:01:26):
What's funny?

Speaker 1 (01:01:27):
Mark even snickers, he's really selling this.

Speaker 2 (01:01:30):
You don't know what I did to the kitchenet yet,
do you.

Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
The day after this episode dropped, I saw half a
dozen posts on Facebook and Reddit, all asking what did
Mark do to the kitchenette? Well? Nothing, He didn't do anything.
He's saying he did something as a way to distract
the rest of the group. It works like a charm. Seth,
followed by the other three from the new MDR, strides
quickly towards the kitchenette. As soon as they've all directed

(01:01:56):
their attention the other way, Marks bolts into the halls.
He's running while looking over his shoulder. I'd love to
know how many miles Adam Scott logged running in dress
shoes during the shooting of season two. Mark's destination was
the management office. He blows right past mis Wang. Mark
heads for mister Miltchick's credenza searching for something. As he

(01:02:17):
opens the drawers, he reveals the supplies for Seth's new hobby.
The tube with Japanese writing on it is shin kiyanaru.
It's used to cover the stumps of pruned branches. This
stuff is perfect for bonzai trees.

Speaker 5 (01:02:31):
He's definitely not supposed to do that.

Speaker 1 (01:02:33):
Mark as is frantically pawing through the credenza, he seems
to know what he wants, he just can't find it. Suddenly,
there it is. Mark found the speaker used to hail
the board.

Speaker 2 (01:02:43):
Mister Melchik got marcle Snr.

Speaker 3 (01:02:45):
Office.

Speaker 1 (01:02:45):
Mark plugs the speaker into the quarter inche Jack on
Seth's desk scott the speaker. This causes Seth to break
into a run. Inni's don't talk to the board.

Speaker 2 (01:02:54):
Blow is anyone there is? The board on its marks
from macrodata resimate.

Speaker 1 (01:02:59):
At least they're not so pose to talk to the board.
There is static and crackle on the speaker, but no acknowledgment.
Mark claims he's being as rational as he can under
the circumstances. He knows the board wants to do right
by severed people, which is why they need to get
him his team back. We can hear Seth bellowing in
the outer office.

Speaker 3 (01:03:18):
If you truly are.

Speaker 1 (01:03:19):
The face of Seven's reform, as you say, then they
deserve a chance. Mark is shouting into the speaker. When
Seth storms into the room.

Speaker 2 (01:03:27):
Please, they're my friends. You can't just make them disappear.

Speaker 3 (01:03:31):
Please.

Speaker 1 (01:03:32):
Miltchik roughly yanks the jack free. They glare at each
other but don't speak. Miltchik throws down the cord in
disgust and storms out of the room. Mark follows in
the halls. He's apologizing. Seth forced him into trying this
stunt with the board. He had to do it.

Speaker 3 (01:03:49):
It is clear your out.

Speaker 5 (01:03:51):
His fame has gone to you.

Speaker 1 (01:03:52):
In his head, yeah, sure, that's it. Mark is flailing.
He tries coowtowing to the cult. He claims he wants
his coworker's back so they can all serve kere together.
They arrive at the severed elevator.

Speaker 2 (01:04:06):
Are you firing me?

Speaker 1 (01:04:07):
No idea, He's not saying a thing. Seth has decided
the best way to deal with this wayward macrodat is
to send him home. His behavior is out of control.
It's not permanent, but Mark s doesn't know that it's
good to throw a little fear of God in them
now and then it makes the inies realize their existence
is dependent on their obedience.

Speaker 5 (01:04:28):
On you go.

Speaker 1 (01:04:29):
Miltchik is standing ominously in the lobby as the elevator
doors are about to close.

Speaker 5 (01:04:34):
Goodbye, Marc as.

Speaker 1 (01:04:37):
Wait as Mark is heading up to severed elevator, not
knowing if he's fired. This feels like a good time
for you to be heading up the elevator as well, Refiner.
This is where we're going to end part one of
Hello ms Kobel. You put in a good day. I
might even give you a bonus vending machine token next time.

(01:04:59):
And speaking of next time, next Thursday we'll visit the
all new and improved breakroom. We'll be getting the original
MDR crew back together, well minus Helly, and we'll talk
about that too. Don't miss it and tell your friends
who are fans of Severance. I'm very excited we're back
with rewatch episodes. I plan to continue dropping a new
rewatch on a regular basis, hopefully a new one each week.

(01:05:22):
I might need a week off here and there. These
early ups are loaded with info watch your feed. Once
I've completed the rewatch episodes for this season, I have
more origins episodes planned. I'm definitely going to be breaking
down the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If
you want to help support me as i'm creating the
Severed podcast, please get to the Severed Patreon page. Just

(01:05:42):
five dollars a month makes you a patron refiner. Signing
up is easy. Go to patreon dot com slash Severed pod.
That's patreon dot com slash Severed pod. Patreon refiners have
access to early and commercial free versions of the podcast.
Next time it's part two of Hello ms Kobel. Until then, refiner,

(01:06:02):
you need to shut down your workstation and get to
the elevator. Remember every time you show up here, it
means you decided to come back. Thanks for being here,
and as always, please stagger your exits.

Speaker 6 (01:06:13):
You've been listening to Severed, the Ultimate Severance Podcast. Severed
is written, produced, and hosted by Alan Stair.

Speaker 9 (01:06:20):
Severed is not endorsed by Red Hour Productions, Endeavor Content,
or Apple TV Plus. This podcast is intended for entertainment
and informational purposes only.

Speaker 6 (01:06:31):
Severance, the Severance logo, and all video and audio of
severance and severance characters are registered trademarks of Red Hour
Endeavor Content, Apple TV Plus, or their respective copyright holders.

Speaker 9 (01:06:42):
Please make sure to leave a five star rating and
review for Severed at Apple Podcasts.

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