The decline of mankind is staggering, even on television, making it difficult to comprehend how Carol (Rhea Seehorn) experiences it as it transpires around her in *Pluribus*. In the inaugural episode of Vince Gilligan’s new series on Apple TV+, Carol comes home and tunes into C-SPAN. A man dressed in a suit stands still behind a podium, and a number for Carol to call appears on the screen.

While the man on television, a politician named Davis Taffler, enlightens Carol that the majority of humanity has either died or been united by a virus, crawling tickers scroll at the bottom of the screen.

Here are the tickers:

“Carol, when you’re ready you can contact us at this number. No urgency. We understand you have questions.”

“You are protected.”

“Your existence is yours.”

“Landlines exclusively.”

“Simply dial zero, around the clock.”

“We’re unable to read minds.”

“We’re not extraterrestrials.”

“Signal from beyond.”

“Davis Taffler, U.S.D.A”

“We’re united.”

“Your existence is yours.”

The show’s reiteration of “Your existence is yours” carries a menacing tone, particularly since a) those joined by the virus are trying to grasp Carol’s immunity, and b) the virus appears eager to proliferate.

*Pluribus* debuts on Nov. 7 on Apple TV, with a new episode released every Friday.