Shift

Donald arrives at the Dwayne Medical Center at RYT Hospital in Boston to meet with Thurman while he undergoes nanobot treatments. Donald is wary of entering the special chamber where the treatments occur, afraid of being infected by nanobots. Both the nurse and Thurman himself assure Donald that the nanobots are programmed only for Thurman’s DNA and can’t infect Donald. However, Thurman then begins talking about how the nanobots can be weaponized, used to undo the good that they were designed to accomplish. Thurman gives Donald the book The Order, instructing him to memorize it, and invites Donald and Helen to join him at the National Convention in 2052.

Troy is locked in his office as he works on a one-page report about the Silo 12 collapse. Troy recommends that in the future, older people—rather than people in their late teens—fill shadow and leadership roles. He adds that those who know the truth can be dangerous, contributing to chaos such as what occurred in Silo 12 if not carefully monitored. Troy hands his report over to Victor, the head of psych, in exchange for the pills he hasn’t taken while working on the report. Troy places the pills in his cheek, spitting them out when Victor leaves. Troy has decided he wants to remember.

Donald rushes home and is greeted by his wife and their dog, Karma. Donald rants about the contents of The Order, telling Helen that something awful is coming and that the book is a manual for what will happen afterward. Donald talks about how nanobots don’t need humans to spread and how they can hurt people. He says that the end of the world is coming. Helen is concerned and insists on calling the psychiatrist whom his sister, Charlotte, was seeing before she reenlisted. Donald tells Helen that the National Convention will be held in Atlanta at the CAD-FAC and that Thurman has invited her to attend with Donald.

Troy has begun spitting his pills into a napkin at mealtimes, but holding the pills in his cheek has caused ulcers on his gums. He knows that he needs to see a doctor, but he’s afraid they’ll know what caused the ulcers and he’ll be punished. Troy’s memories are still too vague to understand, and he has insomnia and paranoia, afraid that he’s being watched all the time.

Donald has begun taking the psychotherapeutic pills that were prescribed under Charlotte’s name to protect his political career. He’s in Washington, DC, meeting with Anna and Mick, but Mick never shows up despite Donald’s sending numerous text messages to remind him. Anna shows Donald some changes to his plans for the bunker, including the removal of elevators in favor of a central stairway. Donald notices other changes and complains that this is why he didn’t become an architect. They finish their meal, and Donald walks Anna outside. As she gets in her car and leaves, Donald gets a call from Mick. He learns that Mick has been in town all day and never received the emails about the meeting—or Donald’s texts.

Hal is in the medical suite. He’s belligerent and claims his name is Carlton. Dr. Henson says Hal isn’t responding to treatment, is a danger to others, and must be put into deep freeze. Troy agrees, signs the waiver, and holds Hal down as they prepare him for sleep. Troy walks with Hal and the medical team into the deep storage area where the women are kept. He reads the names on the containers, aware that they’re made-up names, but when he comes across two Helens, something stirs in his memory. Troy pauses at a pod marked “Helena” and recognizes the woman inside but can’t put the real name to the face. He thinks this woman wasn’t his wife but wanted to be. When Troy won’t respond to the doctors, they drag him out of the room and inject him with medication.

At the CAD-FAC site, Donald and Mick are riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) through a crowd at the 2052 National Convention. Tents have gone up above the underground bunkers, each representing a different state. Mick takes Donald to the South Carolina tent and leads him down a ramp into one of the bunkers. Donald thinks they’re going into one of the storage facilities but is surprised when he realizes that they’re walking into his design. Donald doesn’t understand because he believed his design had been built where the Tennessee tent was set up. Claustrophobic, Donald doesn’t want to go underground, but Mick convinces him. Mick takes Donald down two levels and into an apartment that appears ready for an occupant. Mick tells Donald that he loves him and that he told Thurman he wants to trade spots on the top team with Donald. Mick says everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.

Troy wakes in his own bed, confused and still wearing his workout clothes. He changes and boards an elevator but doesn’t push the button. When someone else boards the elevator, he makes his choice and arrives on the medical floor. He returns to the deep freeze room and uses his code to enter.

Donald anxiously waits for Helen to arrive at the convention, annoyed that his text messages aren’t going through because of cell-tower congestion. Anna comes to speak to him briefly. Thurman arrives, telling Donald that he needs to go to the Georgia tent once Helen arrives. Donald argues that he’s supposed to be at the Tennessee tent in less than an hour, but Thurman tells him Mick is taking his place at that tent. Then, Thurman announces that he has a surprise guest coming and that the 141st will do a flyover after the national anthem.

Troy returns to the cryopod marked “Helena.” He begins to remember chaos inside a hallway and pills that caused everyone’s fear to diminish. He remembers an intentional bombing meant to “put out fires” (159). A doctor catches Troy in the storage room, leads him back to medical, and prepares him for deep freeze, making Troy sign the waiver on himself. As they start the IV of blue liquid, Troy becomes convinced that they’re killing him.

Charlotte arrives, surprising Donald. She tells him that Thurman arranged for her to be on stage that night. As they talk, a message from Helen comes through on Donald’s phone. She’s at the Tennessee tent looking for him. Donald tries twice to reach her, but Anna stops him both times. As they discuss the situation, the flyover begins, and the planes drop bombs. People begin to panic and run for the tent. Anna and Charlotte guide Donald into the crowds, which are smaller than Donald thought they would be. They enter the ramp that leads into the bunker just as Donald remembers The Order and realizes what’s happening.