- [Foucault] It's been two
years since the Bentham Grid went online in New York City. (man exhales) (dramatic music) It was a technological marvel. The Grid takes all those
things unique to you, your social security
number, your passport, your debit and credit accounts, and links them to one thing. (dramatic music) Your DNA.
(dramatic music) With just a touch, the
Grid collects a tiny sample of your genetic material,
ID'ing you instantly. - Greg Brewster.
- Then, a purchase can be deducted directly from
your personal accounts, or you can unlock and start your car. - [Car] Cid Batista. - [Foucault] And it all works
within a margin of error of 0.001 percent.
(dramatic music) The ultimate social network. No cash has to change hands,
no ID cards have to be shown. No keys have to be carried.
- Masaki Kashiwa. - [Foucault] Today, you can't
do anything in New York City without The Grid knowing who you are and where you are.
- Julia Richards. - [Foucault] After just
six months in service, the state legislature
passed an unprecedented bill giving law enforcement complete
access to the Grid's data. As a result, there hasn't
been a reported case of identity theft in over 18 months. NYPD case clearances have
soared above 90 percent, and fugitive have been found
and captured in record numbers. - [Computer] Thank you for using the Grid. (dramatic music) - Mayor Reed, I think the
question everyone here is asking is is the right to
privacy effectively dead in New York City?
(dramatic music) - The crime rate in this
city is now lower than that of Cheyenne, Wyoming, I think anyone, including my fellow
law-abiding New Yorkers would happily sacrifice
a little bit of privacy for that kind of personal safety. - [Foucault] Many held the
launch of the Bentham Grid as the funeral for American crime. (dramatic music) But it was the day that something else began.
(dramatic music) (bar beeps)
(dramatic music) - Plurality detected.
- Target just got picked up on 8th Avenue.
(dramatic music) - Alana Winston.
- Looks like she's a reporter. (dramatic music) - [Pollard] Send in Foucault. (dramatic music) - [Computer] Have a
nice day, Mr. Foucault. (dramatic music) - We are still without
answers as to what caused a small plane to crash
in Ossining, New York, just two days ago, over the last 48 hours, search teams--
- I'm on mobile, in pursuit. (dramatic music) - Don't get into another
foot chase, Foucault. Just walk up behind her,
hit her with the decap, and bring her in.
(dramatic music) I got a connection on a car coming to you. (dramatic music) - Miss Winston, I'm Inspector Foucault. You're gonna have to come with me. (dramatic music) - Shit. Here we go.
(dramatic music) - [Foucault] Alana! (dramatic music) - Activate every Grid note
we can get in that area. Declare it an undeclared,
that's currency, trains, doors, anything we can get our hands on. Box her in and shut her down.
- Grid lockdown. (dramatic music)
- Out of the way! (Alana pants and grunts)
(dramatic music) - Look out, will ya, slow down! (dramatic music)
- Target identified. (car honks)
(dramatic music) - Move, shit, she's fast.
- Stay on her. Come on, people, let's go.
(dramatic music) Got the eyes in the sky, Foucault. Looks like she's coming to you. - [Alana] Move! - [Foucault] Alana! - [Car] Danger. (car honks)
Danger. Danger, danger.
(dramatic music) - Target's heading south on Broadway. (dramatic music)
(computer beeps) - [Man] Introducing the new iHolo. New groundbreaking Holo Screen technology. Featuring a razor sharp 3D hologram. (glass shatters)
(dramatic music) - Foucault, what happened?
- Hey, hey! - Foucault.
(dramatic music) - Pollard, I lost her, I need some help. You gotta get me backups,
send me whatever you got. She's dodging all the Grid points. - I don't have her either,
but I'll bet ya lunch, she's trying to get lost in the park. - [Computer] Scanning Grid. (dramatic music) - I think I got her, sir.
- We got her. She's entering the park, 30 seconds. Nice and easy, don't let her in the park. (dramatic music)
- Target locked. - I got her.
(dramatic music) Miss Winston, you can't beat the Grid. (explosion booms)
(dramatic music) - Sir, she's down.
(dramatic music) - Oh.
(Pollard sighs) (dramatic music)
(crowd chatters) - Bring her in. (dramatic music)
(crowd chatters) (dramatic music) Been with these two lovely
ladies for over an hour now. All the standard questions
have yield actually diddly piss and the bio scans didn't tell me anything. (Grid beeps) - There are no clear differentiating
aging characteristics. There are no free radicals. Skin elasticity
calculations are inclusive. - [Pollard] Almost like
they're the same person. - Isn't it the one who ran?
(dramatic music) - They both ran.
(dramatic music) (scanner dings)
(dramatic music) My name is Inspector Foucault. I'm gonna ask you a few questions. - I've already answered
all their questions. - It's really important that
you answer them honestly and with no cognitive stress. I don't want you to
think about the answer. Just respond with whatever
pops into your head. - Begin interview.
- How old are you, Alana? (Grid beeps) - Your mother never told you it was rude to ask a lady her age?
(dramatic music) - Just answer the question please. - Fine.
(dramatic music) I'm 28. - I'm 28. - You'll be 29 soon.
- Unfortunately, that's what comes after 28.
(dramatic music) - [Foucault] You're married. - No. Engaged.
- Our records say you're married.
- Well, your records must be wrong because I'm not
married, not yet at least. - When's the wedding?
- Three weeks. (dramatic music)
- A few weeks. - Cognitive stress levels
are slightly elevated. Simmel.
(fingers snap) Help me sync up these profiles. (dramatic music)
(Grid beeps) Pay attention to the way
they answer the questions. One gives a specific date, the other gives a point of reference based
on her current timeline. We ask reference based time questions. The cognitive stress levels rise on the one who really
has to think about it. Then, eventually the one
who doesn't belong here will screw up 'cause she
can't get the math right. - When did the Bentham Grid go online? - Almost two years ago.
- January, 2021. - Am I here because of
my civil rights piece? - Is that a serious question? - When did the U.N. move
its headquarters to Geneva? - December.
- About a year ago. - 2022.
- What the hell is this pop quiz all about?
(dramatic music) - A small aircraft crashed in Ossining. Do you remember when that happened? - That happened two days ago. - I remember it happening.
- It's been on every broadband feed in the city. - I know it was recent,
I just can't remember the exact date.
(dramatic music) - [Computer] Warning,
cognitive stress levels high. (dramatic music) - That plane crash happened two days ago. It's really strange
that you'd have trouble remembering that.
- She doesn't remember? - She'd remember it if she
were supposed to be here. We got her, Foucault,
Omega's our plurality. (dramatic music) - You don't belong here, do you, Alana? (dramatic music)
- I want an attorney. - The Alana Winston that belongs in 2023 is actually sitting in the next room. She's about to be released with an apology for the misunderstanding
that took place here today. (dramatic music) The Alana Winston that
I'm looking at, however, doesn't exist, at least not yet. So tell me. What would a person who doesn't even exist need with an attorney?
- Fuck you. - Why did you come back? - You haven't seen what I've seen. We have to stop the Grid.
- When does time travel become possible?
(dramatic music) - You've replaced freedom
with the illusion of safety. But we're not safe, Foucault. And neither are you.
(dramatic music) We keep coming back. You can't possibly stop us all. - Well, I hope they're better than you. This afternoon, they'll pack you off to our penitentiary on Ellis Island. Enjoy your stay with us, Alana. (somber music)
(Grid beeps) (Simmel sighs) - Plurality confirmed.
- Alana Winston was the 19th plurality to
be identified and captured by the Immigration Special
Investigations Unit. These pluralities brought us
questions rather than answers. None of them had a criminal record before we detained them,
they were educated, employed. See you around, Simmel. We would ask.
(scanner dings) But they would give us nothing. But the next plurality--
(dramatic music) Would change everything.
(Grid beeps) - [Computer] Warning. Plurality detected.
(Grid beeps) Jacob Foucault.
(Grid beeps) Target locked. (Grid beeps)
(dramatic music) Sending all available agents. (Grid beeps)
(dramatic music) (ominous music) - [Narrator] Watch Dust. Like this video, subscribe for new visions of the future every week. It is the business of the
future to be dangerous. Your future is Dust.
"Plurality" by Dennis A. Liu
After the state of New York gives the police access to "The Grid," a new technology that allows people to purchase anything with a quick scan of their fingerprint, crime drops almost instantly. However, they also discover that certain people are popping up in two places at once.