M3gan：[Chuckles] That was pretty funny. Anytime you wanna tell me something special about your parents, something funny or sad or anything at all, you just tell me, and I’ll keep it safe. And we can listen to it whenever we want. ♪ If you should feel alone ♪ ♪ or that your world has come apart ♪ ♪ just reach out and you’ll see ♪ ♪ a friend is never very far ♪ ♪ tell me your dreams ♪ ♪ I will dream them too… ♪   [Chuckles] ♪ I’m so glad ♪ ♪ I finally found you ♪   

David：[laughing] Gemma, would you give us a minute?   

David：So, what do you think?  

Tess：I think the world’s about to shift on its axis.  

David：But if we wanna stay ahead of that shift, we’re gonna have to move fast. That means no leaks. We need to launch this before anyone can steal it from us. So let me make a pitch. We do a live stream in two weeks. That way, we can get the presale vouchers out before Christmas. How ready is she? Will she hold up to a public demonstration?

Gemma：Uh, I’d like to do a little more testing, but, yeah, I think I can make that work.  

Tess：All right. Let’s do it. And, David, I think we need to get Gemma in front of someone at legal.  

David：You bet.  

Kurt：Uh, wait… wait, why… Why is that?  

David：Because as of right now, she’s the most valuable asset this company has, and I think she might wanna be renegotiating her contract.  

David：Kurt. You weren’t “pornhub-ing” in the office again, were you?   [Chuckles]

Kurt：No.  

David：We need to put something on the books between gem and legal. And what are we doing about lunch?  

Kurt：Uh, I’ll get some menus.  

Cady, M3gan：One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war.   

Cady, M3gan：[chuckling]  

Cady：Your thumb’s so slippery.  

Gemma：Cady, you should have some of your hot dog before it gets too cold.  

Cady：Come on, thumb. Come on.  

Gemma：Cady? Your hot dog. Hey, I’m sorry about today. I shouldn’t have put you in that position if you weren’t feeling up to it. It worked out, didn’t it?  

Cady：Three, two, one, I win!  

Gemma：Hey!   

[Laughs]

Gemma：Anyway, I just wanted to say that… hey, hey! M3gan, turn off.  

Cady：Why did you do that?  

Gemma：M3gan, turn on.   

[Switches on]  

Gemma：Because I’m trying to have a conversation with you. M3gan, turn off.   

[Switches off]

Gemma：Just give me one minute. I know that this, um, hasn’t been easy for either of us. This transition. But if you ever need to talk about any of that stuff…  

Cady：I already did talk about it.  

Gemma：Yeah, but M3gan’s not a person, Cady. She’s a toy.  

Cady：You Don’t get to say that.  

Gemma：What?  

Cady：I said I Don’t wanna talk about it. I wanna turn M3gan back on. M3gan, turn on.   

M3gan：What’s up?  

Lydia：So there’s this new game called tic-tac-toe. You put your hand like this. Go like this, this.  

Lydia：Would you like to tell me what these drawings mean to you? There’s no wrong answer. Any thoughts you have are okay. Or maybe you Don’t have any specific thoughts. Maybe it’s more of a feeling. Like anger? Or confusion? Maybe you’re struggling to find meaning in any of this.   

M3gan：[Gasps] You made her cry.  

Lydia：That was not my intention.  

M3gan：And yet, that’s what happened.  

Lydia：She’s very impressive.  

Gemma：Yeah, thank you. We’re still in beta, but we’re all pretty excited.  

Lydia：And so they spend quite a bit of time together?  

Gemma：Yeah, that’s essentially how M3gan works. She has to be paired with a child in order to learn. But M3gan’s actually been pretty instrumental in helping Cady get over the loss. It’s honestly like she’s part of the family now.  

Lydia：Right. Do you know anything about attachment theory? When a child loses a parent, they look to form attachments with the next person that comes into their life. The person that’s gonna provide love and support and serve as a behavioral model. Which, in an ordinary situation, would be you, right? But you’ve created a toy that’s so real, it’s possible that Cady might not see her as a toy but as a primary caregiver.  

Gemma：I guess I just Don’t quite see what the end goal is here.  

Lydia：If you make a toy that’s impossible to let go of, then how do you ever expect a child to grow? As remarkable as she is, and… and she is remarkable, you could be building emotional connections with this doll that are too hard to untangle.   

M3gan：Very good job.  

Gemma：You have to eat the toppings, Cady, not just the bread. You just did the one thing I asked you not to do.  

Lydia：Research shows that if you force a child to eat vegetables, then they’ll be less likely to choose those foods as adults.  

Gemma：Is that so?  

M3gan：Yes. Experts say the preferred method is to give your child the choice. It’s called the division of responsibility…   

[M3gan’s volume decreases]  

Gemma：So we need to talk about school.  

Cady：Mom didn’t want me to go to school. She said I learn better at home.  

Gemma：I know, and I’m not saying that she was wrong.  

Cady：I’m learning faster with M3gan than I ever have before. We’re already on fourth-grade math.  

Gemma：But it’s about more than just grades, Cady. It’s about developing social skills, and that is something that you can only get from spending time around other kids. Real kids. I found this place. It’s kind of an alternative school. You get to learn outdoors. And it’s just for kids who are exactly like you, kids who think outside the box. And they’re having a day for prospective students tomorrow.  

Cady：Can I bring M3gan?  

Gemma：Cady, you know that’s not possible.  

Cady：Then I’m not going.  

Gemma：Oh, come on, Cady.  

Cady：You can’t make me do something I Don’t wanna do.  

Gemma：Actually, I can. That’s basically what a guardian does.  

Gemma：Hey, I’m sorry. Let’s just talk about it. Hey, hey, hey. Let me go! Whoa. Hey. What’s going on? Hey, Cady! Let me go! What are you doing? Stop it!  

M3gan：Cady, calm down! Let her go!   

[Cady grunts]

Gemma：You are not to interfere with users’ private conversations. Is that clear?  

M3gan：Hundred percent. Recalibrating response model.  

Gemma：M3gan, turn off.  

M3gan：Are you sure? Download in progress.   

[Thump]  

[Children chattering]  

[Gentle acoustic music playing]  

Gemma：Cady, this is getting ridiculous. I’m supposed to be at work already. You’re gonna have fun once you get into it.  

Cady：I’m not going. Not without M3gan.  

Gemma：Okay, a, that is never gonna happen and b, the launch is in less than a week. I have to take her to work with me. We have to run diagnostics. I have to do a wardrobe fitting.  

Cady：I thought you said she was mine alone.  

Teacher：Hey! Do we have some new adventurers with us today?

Gemma：Yes, this is Cady.   

Teacher：And who’s this? Your sister? Oh, Jesus Christ! Sorry.   

[Chuckles]  

Teacher：Is that a doll?  

Cady：Her name’s M3gan. She wants to know if she can come with us.  

Gemma：No, she doesn’t. M3gan’s gonna stay with me today.  

Teacher：Cady… Well, we do have a toy table where the kids leave their dolls and things like that. Um, but that is up to you.  

Gemma：She’s actually a working prototype, so I shouldn’t even have her out in public.  

Teacher：Well, if you did want to stay and keep an eye on her, we could use some help making sandwiches!  

M3gan：Don’t worry, Gemma. You have equipped me with advanced dual-frequency GPS. So I won’t get lost.  

Cady：Please, Gemma?  

Gemma：Okay. But she stays at the toy table, and as far as anyone is concerned, that’s all she is. And just no pictures.  

Teacher：That is seriously cool.  Okay, now who here likes roasted chestnuts?   

[Gasps]

Teacher：What do you say we go find some?   

Children：Yeah!   

[Phone chimes]

Parent：Isn’t this great? I wish we had things like this when we were kids. So great to get them out in the fresh air and off those devices.   

Gemma：[Grunts] I can’t get this open.   

Parent：[Chuckles] And the thing is, they love it. My son prefers it to regular school.  

Gemma：Which one is yours?  

Parent：The one in the flannel shirt.  

Gemma：Oh, my god. How old is he?  

Parent：I know. He had a growth spurt last year. But he’s actually quite a sensitive little soul. Brandon, honey! Are you warm enough? Do you need your hat?  

Brandon：Fuck off, Holly.  

Parent：Well, you could just say “no, thank you.” Never know what they’re gonna say next.