Severance has captivated audiences with its innovative narrative, particularly in the climactic final episodes of its first season, which unveil the Overtime Contingency Protocol. This concept introduces a startling twist to the storyline, showcasing a controversial procedure practiced by Lumon Industries. The protocol involves implanting a chip into an employee’s brain through surgical means, effectively severing their memories between their work life and personal life. When an employee enters the Lumon office, their external persona, known as the “outie,”is locked away, while only their workplace persona, the “innie,”remains active.
Central characters Mark, Irving, and Dylan labor in Lumon’s Macrodata Refinement (MDR) department. Their perception of the company begins to shift after the arrival of Helly, as they start to grapple with the ethical dilemmas surrounding their situation. Initially, they believe that as innies, they are permanently confined to the office, devoid of any knowledge about their outies’ lives. By the end of season 1, however, the four employees devise an intriguing method to transcend their corporate confines, raising substantial questions about reality and autonomy.
The Overtime Contingency: Awakening “Innies”Beyond the Severed Floor
The introduction of the Overtime Contingency Protocol in episode 6 marks a critical juncture in Severance. In a dramatic scene, Milchik utilizes this protocol to interrogate Dylan about a card he misappropriated from the O&D department. By activating Dylan’s innie in the outside world, Milchik bypasses the natural constraints of time, resulting in a profound revelation for Dylan: his outie has a son he was previously unaware of.
The procedural brochure for the Overtime Contingency outlines a complex series of steps that require meticulous execution. Here’s a brief overview of the steps involved:
“OVERTIME CONTINGENCY PROTOCOL TWO USERS REQUIRED
The following procedure should only be performed under circumstances authorized by a supervisor, and must be executed by two operators. If you have not received authorization to perform this Overtime Contingency Protocol, return this Quick Reference Guide to its original location immediately.
Steps 1 through 13 of the Overtime Contingency Protocol are to be executed by User A only. Following execution of this protocol, USER B should ensure Chip Command terminal is left tidy for future users.
STEP 1 Locate the Chip Control terminal and engage TRACKBALL to awaken screen.
STEP 2 ENTER the following: SHIFT + CTRL + ALT on keyboard to activate SYSTEM COMMAND WINDOW.
STEP 3 ENTER the following: SHIFT + C + 1 + CTRL + ENTER into field to proceed to SYSTEM FUNCTION WINDOW.
STEP 4 Continuing to hold SHIFT, scroll to SELECT MANAGE MODE from drop-down menu and CONFIRM. WALL DISPLAY names will illuminate to SALMON.
STEP 5 Rotate the FUNCTIONS switch and SWITCH it to the MANAGE position.
STEP 6 ENTER desired name into JUMP TO field to search for CHIP DISPLAY. Enter ENTER and select file from right-hand MENU.
STEP 7 An ALT SEARCH OPTIONS WINDOW will appear. To engage multiple CHIP DISPLAYS, scroll TRACKBALL to select additional desired names. CONFIRM when finished.
STEP 8 When all CHIP DISPLAYS are engaged, a CONFIRM LIST WINDOW will appear alongside a :20 COUNTDOWN. (If countdown elapses, system will reset)
STEP 9 If list is correct, SELECT YES. This will open an OPEN CIRCUIT WINDOW and reset the COUNTER at: 20. (If countdown elapses, system will reset.)
STEP 10 [Illegible]
STEP 11 Return to Chip Control terminal and ENTER: SHIFT + CTRL + ALT to open SYSTEM COMMAND WINDOW.
STEP 12 ENTER the following: SHIFT + C + 2 + CTRL + ENTER into field to proceed to CONTINGENCY OPTION WINDOW.
STEP 13 Continuing to hold SHIFT, scroll to SELECT OVERTIME from list. Hit ENTER to initiate and ENGAGE OVERTIME WINDOW and: 20 COUNTDOWN. (If COUNTDOWN elapses, system will reset.)
Steps 14 through 17 of the Overtime Contingency Protocol are to be executed by USER A and USER B simultaneously. During this time, USER A should verbally direct USER B in completing these steps to ensure proper timing of the protocol sequence.
USER A
STEP 14 Locate and FLIP OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCH A to ON position, holding in place. Then instruct USER B to do the same with OVERRIDE LEVER B.
STEP 16 Alongside USER B, continue to HOLD OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCHES A and B in place for desired duration of Overtime Contingency (NOT TO EXCEED 90 MINUTES).
STEP 17 To conclude Overtime Contingency, RELEASE OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCH A and verbally direct USER B to release OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCH B.
USER B
Wait for verbal instructions from USER A.
STEP 15 When instructed to do so by USER A, FLIP OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCH B to ON position, holding in place.
STEP 16 Alongside USER A, continue to HOLD OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCHES A and B in place for desired duration of Overtime Contingency (NOT TO EXCEED 90 MINUTES).
STEP 17 Wait for verbal instruction from USER A. When given the cue, RELEASE OVERRIDE LEVER SWITCHES B.”
With access to this procedural brochure, Dylan manages to utilize Mark’s security card—previously acquired from Graner—to gain entry into the protocol room. Despite the requirement for two operators, Dylan challenges the odds and succeeds in activating the outies of Mark, Helly, and Irving in the thrilling finale of season 1.
The True Purpose of the Overtime Contingency Protocol
Overtime Protocol: A Last Resort
Despite their extensive tenure at Lumon, Dylan, Irving, and Mark remain largely oblivious to the Overtime Contingency Protocol, underscoring the company’s tendency to reserve its use for critical situations. When Milchik decides to implement the protocol, it is driven by his concern over potential breaches in confidentiality caused by Dylan’s innie, which could uncover the hidden truths of Lumon’s operations. Notably, Milchik acts unilaterally, choosing not to consult Cobel due to her stringent measures aimed at maintaining the separation between innies and outies.
This disregard for protocol ultimately results in chaos during the season’s conclusion. As the employees learn about the existence of the Overtime Contingency, they take advantage of this unique opportunity to catch glimpses of their outies’ realities. Consequently, Mark, Helly, and Irving’s innies gain insight into the lives they were meant to forget, paving the way for revelations that extend far beyond their expectations.
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