The Prisoner’s Dilemma
NEWS ROBOT
We interrupt this broadcast for a special bulletin.
THE NEWSREADER
President Sailor is in critical condition after a member of his own security detail opened fire inside the Oval Office. The President was hit in the chest, neck, and abdomen. It is unclear how the assailant managed to enter the Oval Office with-
CUT TO
ADAM CURTIS in another dimension
-paranoia was not a new thing. An influential political scientist called Richard Hofstadter published an article that caused a sensation. He said that there had always been a dark paranoia built into America from the very start.
The first settlers had come from Europe to America to flee from the corruption of power in the Old World. But although they had got away from the old power, they hadn’t got away from their suspicious minds.
CUT TO
KEVIN (flashback)
Have you ever heard of the Prisoner’s Dilemma?
Two prisoners are locked in two different cells. The police don’t have enough evidence to convict either of them if they both keep their mouths shut. Both prisoners know that. If they can stay quiet they’ll be home free.
So the police offer each of them a separate deal. They say to each one, “You should talk, and I’ll tell you why. If you stay quiet, and your friend snitches, your friend walks. Leaving you to take the full 20 year sentence.”
“If you talk, and he stays quiet then you go free. He gets the years”
“But if you both talk, then we’ll tell the judge you both cooperated. Each of you gets five years, max, rather than the full twenty.”
“Sure, maybe if you both stay quiet then maybe you both walk. But …”
(beat)
“ … Do you trust your friend enough to keep their mouth shut? Do they trust you? Because no matter what they do - it’s in your own best interests to talk.”
(beat)
Put yourself in that position. What would you do? Do you trust your friend to stay quiet, or do you snitch? Either you go free, or you get five years max.
What would you do?
KEVIN (cont)
The fact is - 99 percent of people snitch. People who have known each other for years turn on one another in an instant. Trust? Love? Loyalty?
KEVIN and HELOISE
They go right out the window.
HELOISE
It doesn’t even matter if you’re asked to incriminate a completely innocent person.
KEVIN
A couple of years ago there was this case in Norfolk where four guys-
HELOISE
-all implicated one another in a violent crime. But it turned out that none of them did it. All four of them implicated each other because they were stuck in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. No matter what anyone else did, they were better off snitching.
(beat)
KEVIN
Does this surprise you?
KEVIN and HELOISE
It shouldn’t.
KEVIN
But the important thing to remember is this. The Dilemma only exists if you play the game once. But if you play multiple times, then people remember what you did in the last round.
KEVIN and HELOISE
Suddenly-
HELOISE
you have an incentive to cooperate because you can punish the snitches in the next round. You know what comes out of that?
KEVIN
The Golden Rule.
(beat)
Do unto others-
HELOISE
as you would have them do unto you. Don’t snitch if you don’t want to be snitched on. See? Even in the darkest times, even if you’re stuck in an infinite Prisoner’s Dilemma, there’s still a way out. There’s still a ray of hope.
(beat)
HELOISE (cont)
My name is Heloise Grant. You don’t know who I am but you’ve probably heard of my late boyfriend Kevin. Kevin Fields. Or Sam Gregor, I guess from the news. As far as anyone knows, he was the first person ever affected by the Black Friday phenomenon. He also died because of it.
(beat)
I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself first.
(beat)
For the most part, my childhood was pretty happy. My parents and I have a great relationship. Not that there weren’t any challenges, but I never doubted that they loved me. Sometimes things were difficult, but I always knew I could go home.
HELOISE(cont).
I was always a good student. In fact, I used to do academic decathlon all the way through school. That’s where Kevin and I first interacted in a meaningful way. He seemed perfectly normal, I guess. Maybe a little more sad. I’ll be honest - I didn’t really pay him any attention until the infamous house party of my junior year.
SFX party music
HELOISE (cont).
It was the end of term and we wanted to blow off some steam. Everyone was absolutely wasted. It was just us suburban kids doing what bored suburban kids do and some of us got a little rowdy.
MUSIC
Of course, the police showed up.
POLICE SFX
HELOISE (cont).
He and I were both arrested before we could get away. They arrested about nine or ten of us. Though I guess ‘arrested’ is too strong a word. We weren’t in handcuffs or anything but they did take us down to the police station.
You have to understand that this was a huge deal for me. I never got in trouble - not serious trouble - until that party. So I was terrified. What would my parents say? Would this go on my record? Would it affect my college admissions?
But, you know, I’ve always been pretty calm under pressure. I figured that the best thing to do is wait and watch. And so, one by one the cops interviewed the kids and then their parents came to bail them out. This went on all night until it was just Kevin and I in the cell. That’s when he turned to me and asked me -
KEVIN (flashback)
Have you ever heard of the Prisoner’s Dilemma?
HELOISE (cont)
Like I said, at the time, I was scared shitless but trying to look calm, you know? I was sure my parents were going to ground me until I was thirty. Then Kevin goes “have you ever heard of the Prisoner’s Dilemma?”
(beat)
Of course I had. But I let him explain it anyway because, you know, why the hell not? But it was like the moment he finished talking one of the cops came over, opened the cell door, and asked me to follow him.
(beat)
We walked down a long corridor and he led me to a room with a table, two chairs, and a camera. I sat in the chair in front of the camera because … it seemed like the thing to do I guess.
(beat)
He was polite. He asked if I wanted anything to eat or drink. I asked for some water and he left the room to get it. He came back a few minutes later with a chilled bottle of water. I must have been thirsty because, when I tasted that first sip, I chugged the whole thing.
(laughs)
The cop was super nice. Of course, you know, you’re taught to see the police as friends. I did back then. He asked me how school was and if I had any friends. Did I know who organized the party? Did I know who brought the liquor? What about the drugs, did I know anything about that? Truthfully, I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t even know that there were drugs at the party. And I kept telling him that but he just didn’t listen.
(beat)
(sighs)
Finally he leaned in and said “Look, I know it wasn’t your house. But you know something about this party. So just give us a name and we can make this all easier for you. Do you know the other guy in the cell? He was at the party too.”
(beat)
I was about to tell them, again, that I didn’t know anything about the party, let alone any drugs. I was going to tell them that I knew Kevin. But then Kevin’s warning rang out in my mind. What if they were telling him the exact same thing? If he cooperated then they’d make this all easier ...
(beat)
I don’t actually know if it was because of what Kevin said, but at that moment I decided to say “I won’t answer any more questions until my parents get here.” And I kept my mouth shut. The cop just sighed, got up, and left. I spent the night in that room.
(beat)
They let me go the next morning. Kevin was outside the station waiting for me. He had a cup of coffee in his hand. When he offered it to me I said one thing.
HELOISE (flashback)
When did they let you out of jail?
HELOISE (cont).
It turns out that you can post your own bail. Did you know that? You don’t have to call someone to bail you out like they do on TV. You don’t even need cash or a money order. You can literally just use a credit card. By some absolutely bizarre stroke of luck, Kevin had turned eighteen the night before. He was a legal adult, so he just … paid his own bail. And the cops didn’t tell his parents about the party.
(beat)
I didn’t have to post bail. The police let me go, probably because I didn’t know anything. But my parents had a fit when the cops called them. I guess that’s why they made sure I spent the night at the station. For my own safety (laughs).
(long beat)
Kevin was always a bit mercurial. Kevin always ..
(beat)
He always felt that people weren’t very trustworthy. But then he was often going out of his way to prove himself wrong. And that’s one of the reasons I fell for him.
CUT TO Flashback
HELOISE
I don’t think your parents like me very much.
KEVIN
You are taking away their baby boy.
HELOISE
This is a no-win situation for us. If we stay together, your parents will hate me forever. And you’ll lose that relationship with them because of me.
KEVIN
(laughs)
I wouldn’t worry about what my folks want. It’s just zero-sum thinking. They’ll come around eventually.
HELOISE
They’re going to force us to make a choice.
KEVIN
And when they see that I consistently choose you, they’ll come around. Lots of parents are like that.
HELOISE
Why are you so optimistic? They’ve never shown that they’re willing to change.
KEVIN
I just … gotta have faith. They’re my parents. I’ve done a lot for them.
HELOISE
Which is why it’s unfair to you. To me. I don’t want to see you lose them over me.
I don’t think I could bear to see you in that kind of pain.
KEVIN
They don’t hate you. They just need time.
(beat)
I promise. Things will work out fine.
CUT TO Present
HELOISE
If you grow up around a lot of betrayal, you come to expect it. Over time those betrayals just add up. They pile up on you until you can’t take it anymore.
(beat)
I mean, I didn’t want to talk to the media after he’d been affected by the Black Friday phenomenon. That would have been a betrayal, wouldn’t it? When it first happened no one really knew what to do.
(beat)
Kevin’s family did not take it well.
CUT TO Flashback
KEVIN
My dad accused my mom of cheating on him. It’s not the first time he’s done it, but I think this time he’s really leaving for good.
HELOISE
(beat)
I’m so sorry Kev. I don’t know what to say-
KEVIN
My father really, really thinks that the Black Friday phenomenon proves his wife cheated on him over thirty years ago. It’s like … what the fuck?
HELOISE
He’s just confused. I mean, you’re the one who said they both needed more time to come to terms with what happened.
KEVIN
He’s had nothing but time! I’m his son and he’s having a fucking temper tantrum when I need him!
HELOISE
I’m sorry, Kevin. I’m so sorry I -
KEVIN
You don’t understand.
(beat)
My mom just … shut down. Didn’t deny it. She just got up and went to her room.
HELOISE
Which your father interpreted as an admission of guilt.
KEVIN
I tried giving them time.
(beat)
They’ll never change.
(beat)
It was stupid of me to think they could.
CUT TO Present.
HELOISE
Kevin and I didn’t start dating after the police thing. He went off to college and I went out of state. We didn’t see each other for years, but we kept in touch via social media. Then one year we were both in town for some reason and we both swiped right on one of those dating apps (laughs).
(beat)
You know what his first message was?
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KEVIN (via text message)
“When did they let you out of jail?!”
CUT TO
HELOISE (cont)
(laughs).
(beat)
Our first date was this absolutely deafening punk rock show. I think he used to go out with the singer. Or maybe her sister? Anyway we had a blast. I’m secretly a punk rock fan, and I never expected him to be into it. Kevin looks like the kind of guy who listens exclusively to Morrisey. You know. Sad music.
I’d never really been interested in dating anyone seriously. I kind of figured that your twenties are the time for when you’re getting started in life. A lot of things change quickly, and the best thing to do is be adaptable. I really didn’t think I’d find a lasting relationship during such a time of flux.
Also, I guess, there’s my parents’ influence on me. They didn’t get together until they were in their 30s. It just seemed more … realistic to look for that lifelong connection when I was older. Like, I figured that you can’t settle down with someone who is still learning about themselves. Someone who is less … formed? Settled?
(beat)
Kevin really changed that belief.
(beat)
He loved to cook - he said it was because his mom hated to do it. But he didn’t just love to cook, he loved to experiment. One time, he made this low temperature oven thing out of some tinfoil and some bricks. He set it up on the apartment balcony and spent twenty minutes explaining it to me. The oven was what he was experimenting with. The steak was incidental.
Another time, he made me a whole sushi dinner with specialized cocktails in the theme of Avatar the Last Airbender. The four elements, you know? Air, water, fire, and earth. By then we’d been dating for two years and I didn’t know he liked Avatar! I didn’t even know he knew anything about mixology!
He also had a ridiculously good memory. I remember when he asked for my number after our first date. He didn’t even write it down or ask me to text him. He just … remembered it and texted me the next day. Who does that anymore?
(beat)
I feel like I failed him. I think we all did. Especially after he was shot.
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[audio of Kevin’s accident]
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SFX hospital
HELOISE
Kevin I’ll be here for as long as you want me to. We can figure it out. You don’t have to carry this alone.
KEVIN
You don’t have to stay out of pity.
HELOISE
When will you learn that I actually care about you? Lots of people do.
KEVIN
My parents don’t care about me, otherwise they would have come to see me. And they’re biologically related to me. How can you care about me more than them?
HELOISE
Kevin, you aren’t being rational right now and I understand why. Just let me -
KEVIN
(angry)
Did you know I gave up a scholarship to stay near them? Yeah! A full ride in Australia to study the Great Barrier Reef. It was my dream. I gave up my dream for them.
(beat)
KEVIN (cont)
You know what they both said to me when I told them?
(beat)
They said that ‘family doesn’t abandon one another.’
(beat)
So much for that.
CUT TO Present
HELOISE
His first loyalty was always to his parents - to the very people who never were loyal to him.
(beat)
I think they resented him in some way because they had him young. I remember one Thanksgiving he was stuck out in Maine with me and my family in this HUGE blizzard. His mom just sent him text after text asking when he was coming home. Then accusing him of abandoning his family.
(beat)
Then out of nowhere she told him. “Fine. Stay with your whore. I wish you’d never been born anyway.”
(long beat)
What kind of parent does that?! AND DURING A FUCKING BLIZZARD! It’s not like he wanted to be stuck in the snow in fucking Maine. It’s not like he was lying about the weather. Seriously, what the fuck?
(beat)
I talked to my parents about it. I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help broker some kind of peace. But in the end, Kevin wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted to face his parents alone.
(beat)
I’m telling you all this so that you get a sense of how Kevin was traumatized long before the Black Friday phenomenon. Like, you’ve heard people say that he’d probably still be alive if it weren’t for the phenomenon.
(beat)
I don’t know if that’s true. He’d been alone for a long time. He’d been sad for a long time.
(beat)
He did seek help though. For his parental issues and the depression it caused. It was hard for him because he really wanted to have a good relationship with his parents. I think when his father accused his mother of cheating after Kevin transformed, he realized that it was never going to happen. That may have been what sent him down into his final depression.
(beat)
And then he got shot. His parents didn’t show up until the press announced his settlement.
CUT TO
KEVIN
(argument loud)
And you’re just being judgmental!
HELOISE
(indignant)
Judgmental? You were nearly killed! They never came to see you! Now that you’ve got this settlement they come out of the woodwork?
KEVIN
You’re just jealous!
HELOISE
Of what?! Your fucked up parents and their fucked up priorities?!
KEVIN
How. Fucking. DARE YOU.
HELOISE
You know, for someone so smart you can be incredibly fucking stupid!
KEVIN
GET OUT!
HELOISE
You just don’t want to face the truth! Remember the Prisoner’s Dilemma? Remember that? Your parents have always, always done what’s in their best interests. NOT YOURS!
KEVIN
OUT!
CUT TO
HELOISE (cont)
(beat)
I want this on the record. I didn’t leave Kevin. He told me to leave. He stopped taking my calls. Stopped returning my messages. He cut me out of his life.
(beat)
I don’t blame him for what he did. Kevin was depressed. That means he was sick and he wasn’t in his right mind.
(beat)
The settlement from his shooting didn’t help. I think it just highlighted that he was surrounded by people who only did what was in their self-interest. He probably felt trapped. And alone.
(beat)
Being trapped is a lot like being in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. See what I did there? A callback to when we first started talking.
(beat)
HELOISE (voice fades to KEVIN)
But the important thing to remember is this. The Dilemma only exists if you play the game once. But if you play multiple times, then people remember what you did in the last round. Suddenly, you have an incentive to cooperate! You know what comes out of that?
(beat)
The Golden Rule.
(beat)
Do unto others as you would have them do unto. Don’t snitch if you don’t want to be snitched on. See? Even in the darkest times, even if you’re stuck in an infinite Prisoner’s Dilemma, there’s still a way out. There’s still a ray of hope.
CUT TO
HELOISE
When you look at the scale of trauma that people of color have gone through … just imagine all of that history hitting you in at once. Kevin didn’t just get shot. He got shot because he looked like a Black man. In that moment he saw how little his life meant to his fellow human beings. People he had never harmed, people he had never met, hated him. His father hated him. His mother hated him. His society hated him. They only did what was in their narrow self-interest. Instead of the Golden Rule, we have … this. Whatever this is. It must have broken him.
(beat)
What is the logical response to learning that people you have never harmed hate you?
(beat)
HELOISE (cont)
Kevin got forty million dollars in his settlement with the police. Once he died, all of it went to his parents. The very people who belittled him his whole life. You know what they did? They gave a quarter of it BACK to the Police Brotherhood. It’s like we never learned anything.
(beat)
I keep thinking about the Prisoner’s Dilemma. I think it stuck with me because it shows that my perspective is fundamentally limited. I can never know what people will do. Will they betray me? Will they hurt me?
(beat)
But the best outcomes happen when we find a way to trust one another. And even in very dark situations, there is a way to build trust.
(beat)
I don’t blame Kevin for his despair. I don’t. I miss him every day. I wish I did more for him. I wish I could tell him how much I miss him. I wanted a life with him. He’ll never get that and …
(beat)
Neither will I.
CUT TO
NEO in another dimension
Why are you here?
THE ORACLE in another dimension.
Same reason. I love candy.
NEO in another dimension
But why help us?
THE ORACLE in another dimension.
We’re all here to do what we’re all here to do. I’m interested in one thing Neo, the future. And believe me, I know the only way to get there is together.