Halt and Catch Fire

When the Clark family descends into crisis, Gordon helps Joe. Cameron envisions a new future for Mutiny.

so I was thinking, "Dave, you bonehead, you wanna do accounting,

I'm sorry, someone should've told you that.

We'll never be in the driver's seat.

and have everyone say their final stress tally out loud.

Oh, uh, I couldn't find my glasses.

and I'm... I'm worried.

- Like in California? - Shut up, stupid.

in Toronto, San Francisco, Tokyo?

but we need to start moving in a...

like they parked the loony bird out back with his kiddy toys,

Maybe you should hold on to it.

There's a company off LBJ that's letting go of their 3081.

Have you read this?

I've never seen him like this.

Joe is a nice guy? Why is he the victim?

considering how out of control you've been.

It was one night. It was meaningless.

And I don't even know if I wanna fix it.

um, I mean, that's something only you two can figure out.

but the coffeemaker is broken,

And I think that that's something

Yeah, but neither did you.

so it'll inoculate machines from future infection.

Ah, I know you're only manager level now

Gordon, I want you out of my house.

her lunch box is gone, her sleeping bag...

But it's never because of you, okay?

I don't want to be the woman

That is what it costs to fix our marriage.

this one person holding the kite strings

come back at a more reasonable time.

So why should I?

or simply because they want to destroy you.

- What? - "Create the sickness, sell the cure."

You're going to work for Mutiny?

And even if you don't want the job, just come anyways.

then she has a kid, she names him Marty

And who knows?

Left reeling by the launch of a rival, Mutiny takes measures to ensure its survival. Meanwhile, Gordon pays a price in an attempt to quell his paranoia.

- Hey. - Hey.

Whoever's still awake, buy them breakfast, okay?

I only took this meeting because, as a former client,

every reporter on the tech beat.

We both know that's not gonna happen.

You know, transformation, pain.

No.

And Sara? How would your little stunt affect her?

You can't get in without a pass.

Oh, actually, guys, we're in here today.

Bryce, a couple of coffees?

Bryce, could you excuse us?

Two, it's a lot easier to establish a beachhead under a friendly flag.

Mutiny! Mutiny!

I feel clearer than I've been in a while.

You used me.

Remember?

whose passion convinced even a stubborn old fossil like me.

With just a few keystrokes on a PC,

maybe the only sacred thing in our business... innovation.

Hang on, buddy.

- dedicated and highly qualified team... - Jesse?

It might be time for me to move on outta here.

Got your juice, I see.

A serious diagnosis can sometimes bring out underlying problems.

Christ, can you even hear your own rationalizations anymore?

and that I was your second chance.

Cameron and Tom try to come to terms at Mutiny's user picnic. Meanwhile, Gordon searches for answers, as Joe and Sara say goodbye to Dallas.

Ask Caroline for the keys to my private garage.

Uh, well, we both wrote some pretty bitching code.

Maybe. We'll see.

Uh, that's it.

Ah, here he is. Joe, this is Jesse Evans.

fill your head with visions of VC money flowing through the streets?

I think the connection was bad.

You can help yourself to some food and beer's over in the hot tub.

Connect the PBXs to the SNA inputs on the 3090, okay?

Yeah.

I love you. Why would I quit?

Hey, hey, sweetie. How's camp?

You got bigger fish to fry.

Hey. Hello, hi... oh, hey.

It's called "Extract & Defend."

Not at all.

I didn't have anyone to talk to about it until I found Mutiny.

I'm driving around all day picking up these busted machines.

Donna?

It could be universal. You could live your life there.

I'd like to be a part of it.

If my father hears about this, I'm gonna die.

To WestNet!

I... I don't know what I'm looking at.

They don't understand. They're still communicating with all the same users.

Gordon and Donna harbor secrets from one another as Gordon launches a new venture. Meanwhile, at Mutiny, an acquisition puts Cameron's principles to the test.

Gordon is back in California, hoping to reconnect with his brother. Joe uses the leverage that he has.

Well, if it isn't Alfred Einstein!

Joanie practically refused to go to California without 'em.

I love the children we have.

He wears boxers.

- I'll reach out to one of them. - No, look.

We did.

You started at a promotional rate.

that you can jerk us around for your own amusement...

So, that's where I'm at.

Oh.

- because of your great negotiation skills! - Cameron.

I'm gonna call him, tell him he's making a mistake.

Y'all made me drink a coffee cup full of brandy

What the hell was that about?

this work means a lot to me.

Mail programs have been around for over a decade.

But UNIX is a completely different operating system.

Great, we'll be bleeding edge for 1979.

But Joe would know that porting to an OS like UNIX would take longer than 24 hours.

The thing only has enough room for an internal serial modem.

All right, I'll leave you to it.

I'll head up to Sacramento, talk to Dad?

If you've heard enough, I think I'll get home to my kid,

to another Commodore in the house?

Then we'll pull out the recorder's power switch, we'll run wires up it,

and, "What hath God wrought?"

Okay, stop. Stop.

over the past three years and pissed away half the customers.

You've reached the Clarks!

Cameron and Joe clash, leaving Cameron in a tailspin. Gordon attempts to deal with some difficult news.

Attagirl.

I've been thinking about doing something

I'll be back.

Oh!

Hey, what about vertical space?

- You're a changed man. - This isn't what I wanted.

He's Gordon's contact at the company.

Thank you for your honesty.

very small, that show signs of atrophy.

- This could get worse? - This was years of slow accumulation

That sucks. She mutinied to get away from that psycho.

taking a woman out to dinner like we used to do.

- Barf. - Okay, fine, then you figure it out.

Hey, Tom, you coming?

Hey, Cam?

That's why I did it three weeks ago.

However, one resource sorely lacking

with somebody from, what was it? Mutiny?

That machine, it meant a lot to me.

In case it didn't work out.

It was stupid, but I thought you'd be impressed.

Joe, lovely to see you.

Maybe we could go pick up the girls together.

as far as I can tell.

You guys were just there yesterday.

Um, can I offer you a drink?

I never asked for help.

Joe, always a pleasure.

we'd always end up at this bar/club type place, the Twist,

but you supported us throughout.

I think you've had too much to drink, sweetheart.

You know, my girlfriends and I

Look, I'm good for it.

It's hilarious.

- Hey. - Uh-huh?

and I like my shitty chair.

So, what's up? You just calling to bust some balls or what?

- Oh. - God.

Cyborgs don't feel pain.

Have fun.

Joe and Gordon work together to bring about Joe's vision. There is tension between Cameron and Donna.

You didn't think I'd take a meeting with some plebe from the data center, did you?

What little we have we need to cover operating costs,

Or maybe I don't think the shares

and a couple places where you could cut some costs popped out at me.

which pisses me off because I hate cats and Chatty Cathys.

I noticed an invoice here for prepaid ad space in "Byte Magazine."

Start with them.

What am I supposed to write on the work order?

- And you want to try to do this online? - Yeah. What?

No, no, I'm good. I just need to fuel up.

Said I've got the body of a 25-year-old.

So I'm looking for a ground-floor engineer

In 18 months, we'll be bigger than CompuServe by a power of five.

Nothing. I'm the one that cancelled the subscription, okay?

We type messages to each other.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, okay, so I've been doing some inventory,

I know.

Yeah, but not against me.

Uh, yeah, I couldn't get any work done during the day with the phones ringing,

and the Good & Plentys are halfway down the same aisle,

They're desperate.

Why don't you grab this stuff and meet me at the bar at 8:00?

_

- who couldn't even understand the concept of passive income. - Oh, unbelievable.

Great, let's call her up. I'd love to say hi.

- That you don't really mean? - That's not what we're talking about.

I need you in there.

Okay, tighten up, guys. Put down the beer.

Good, great. Big smiles, all right?

but I promise I'll do it before I leave tonight.

This.

How much longer?

because it is the kitchen.

The Clarks receive a surprising invitation as Bosworth tries to reconnect with his former life. Meanwhile, a problem from within Mutiny threatens its survival.

- You and Louise... - Glad to.

I've got some ideas, though.

I myself... I collect vintage percussion.

Yeah, I'm working on sprite scaling

♪ Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line. ♪

A dinner party with other people.

- What? - Yeah.

The world didn't stop when you went to prison.

spinning around the big man.

You're leaking data, data that can be used

Seat opens up on a crowded train.

Daryl Hannah cheekbones, shoulder pads, Upper East Side.

It's Joe. Joe MacMillan.

To some other game.

Oh, come on. I wear this every day.

- Mm, congratulations. - So, this is cozy.

- Who are you right now? - What do you mean?

Hmm? Mutual funds? Houseboat on Lake Travis?

Let me just check the root file.

It's Cameron. Did she leave a number?

I had this bottle of "San-seer" at the mission last summer.

Hey, I'm sorry. Rose says Mutiny's trying to reach me

Yeah, well, I'm sure her father's name opens all kinds of doors.

and a shadow in the door at night.

All righty, well, wife's awaitin'.

It's not the drives, asshole.

- Hey, honey. - What?

- and walking the dog... - We don't have a dog.

of your own money into Mutiny again

"Parallax."

You know, the whole thing made me feel like "The Wizard of Oz."

I should've tested it more.

Joe begins a new job after meeting Sara's father. Gordon grapples with his newfound freedom. Donna is jolted by Cameron's surprising hire at Mutiny.

Today... today is dream lab day.

- he'll balk at our projected growth. - Hey, hey, hey.

but we're open to something snappier.

Yes, sir. Just signed on as employee number 17.

used to punch me on the playground.

That would be sad.

Donna, he stays.

help take Westgroup into the future.

If this is too weird for you,

- Guess what I'm doing. - Um, using a modem?

sent three XTs flying.

each one with a totally different world.

Not to mention the fact that you're only on Commodores.

I don't just bet on an idea, I bet on the people.

Does Jacob know this is what I'm working on?

okay, on three, fire your tank.

Well, here, look.

- We know this, man. - Okay?

- That's solid. - That is not dumb.

A month, plus soda.

- Yeah. Yeah. - Yeah.

My point is you have to stop or we'll be forced to take legal action.

I can fix it.

That's what hurts the most.

but you're all I got to talk to,

Maybe we should start another project.

Ah, you don't need a partner, Gordo.

- Yeah, we always use some... - Did you tell anyone about them?

Peter... he hooked my father,

I've been stewing about this all day.

Oh, sure, you did, sexy beard.

But isn't that critical? I mean, it'll affect your valuation

Cameron and Donna's gaming company, Mutiny, reaches a critical stage; Joe and Gordon are reunited.

Dude!

I mean, you have to think about the physical space of the room, you know?

You guys, cut it out.

Another fat-ass game with color.

Uh, well, not closing exactly.

Thanks. Thank you.

You earned this. You deserve it.

- I'm dead. - Well, allegedly you're dead.

I mean, we kind of lost touch after school.

I needed to reevaluate.

That's great. Here?

Power company on line one.

He's probably just pissed 'cause he'll be at a place called "Ed's,"

You made this a place without a boss,

- for making out like a bandit in the sale. - Oh, God.

you come back in, you take a ceiling tile out,

- Try the cushion by the lamp. - Thank you.

just so they can talk about what they're doing over spring break?

We should've put that on the box.

You get nothing.

Oh. Wow.

- Excuse me? - She's cool.

the two of you out here alone.

Y'all wanna go to Braum's?

then it'll get lonely.

Oh, I wasn't judging.

because buying stolen XTs isn't gonna cut it anymore.

and still keep my hands in the guts of the network and I'm a happy camper.

- Allergies. - Mm.

Selling Cardiff, you know, moving on.

or that you lied your way through the door,