The cameras are waiting. Kendall sits patiently in his chair as the last touches of make-up are applied to him. He can see himself reflected in the window opposite. He looks almost like a human being.

"Are you ready?" Karolina asks from her chair, as the make-up artist steps away.

"Sure."

"Before we start recording, I just want to ask you a few questions off the record. Just to make sure you're the real Kendall Roy." Karolina smiles apologetically.

"I'm not my innie," says Kendall, realising what she means.

"I know, we just have to check before you go on air. So, what is your full name?"

"Kendall Logan Roy."

Karolina nods and ticks a box on her clipboard. "And when were you born?"

"Christmas Day, 1979."

"Mmm hmm." Karolina ticks another box. "Where did you grow up?"

"New York. And England, for a bit."

"Good. And where did your father grow up?"

"Dundee and Quebec."

"Excellent. Lastly, what colour are or were your mother's eyes?"

"My mother's eyes?" Kendall tries to picture them, but all he can see is black hair, angular features and a cold expression. "Uh… blue, I think?"

"It says here that they are brown," says Karolina, looking at her notes. "Which is good, your father said you definitely wouldn't know that one." She titters. Kendall smiles back politely.

"So… I think we're ready to start rolling." Karolina looks around.

Kendall clears his throat and looks directly into the camera ahead. He waits for the lights to go up and for Karolina to give him the signal before he starts talking.

"I wish to make a statement clarifying recent events," he says, sounding stilted and forced. He tries to relax. "As most of you know, I have struggled with my sobriety for some time. Recently, I had a relapse." He closes his eyes to demonstrate shame, then opens them again. "While under the influence of drugs, I had what can only be described as a psychotic break." Karolina is nodding encouragingly to him off-camera.

"During this psychotic episode, I came to believe that I was actually my innie. I made some false and defamatory statements about how I believed my innie was being treated. This was all untrue conjecture on my part.

"I take my role at Waystar Royco very seriously, and agreed to be severed, along with my two siblings, to demonstrate that it is an effective way of maintaining security and confidentiality. I would never have done this if I believed that severance has a detrimental effect on employees. Nor would my father have allowed me to.

"I care about my innie, and all Waystar employees deeply. My claims were false and made as a result of drug use. I am taking a break from my role at Waystar to go back into rehab until I am recovered. When I'm ready, I intend to return to the severance program. Thank you."

He waits for the cameras to stop rolling. At last Karolina gives him the signal and he relaxes.

"Thanks, Kendall." Karolina stands. "That should set everybody's minds at rest."

Kendall stands too. "Will my innie, uh, be punished?"

Karolina frowns. "Your innie doesn't exist right now, Ken."

"Right, but if I go back, after rehab…"

"Why don't you just focus on getting better, Kendall." Karolina pats his arm. Kendall nods and turns to where his father's lackeys are waiting to take him back to rehab.

PING!

Ken opens his eyes. The elevator doors open and Ron is standing there waiting for him.

"Hey, man," says Ron, as Ken steps out of the elevator. "Welcome back." He gives him an awkward hug, slapping him on the back.

"What happened?" asks Ken.

"You tell me. You went out into the real world. What happened there?"

Ken tries to recall the last thing that happened to him. "I woke up at some kind of party? I saw… my father… I guess. I made a scene, said that I was an innie and that everything they've heard about severance is a lie."

Ron whistles. "Then what?"

"I was tackled to the ground… by his bodyguard, I think? Then I woke up here."

"You did good, man. You got the message out there."

"When was that? Last night?"

Ron shakes his head. "That was three months ago, dude."

"Three months? I've been gone for three months?"

"We didn't know where you went. They said you were taking a sabbatical? Then this morning they said you were coming back."

"Did you get in trouble, for triggering the Overtime Contingency Protocol?"

"They don't know that was me. Or if they do, they haven't said."

Ken nods. "Good."

"Come see Pinky and the Brian." Ron slaps him on the back again. "They've missed you, too."

Ken follows Ron down the hall to rejoin his team. His friends. His family.