It's clearly two time lines at this point. It's improbable, if not impossible to debate at this point. As if the two logos wasn't enough evidence- old one with William getting on train as well as lab coats in flash back scene and new one with old ford.
El Lazo/Lawrence should be the final proof we need, right? Not to mention MIB stating they had met before- duh, as El Lazo.
Some interesting things regarding that theory- we now know William and Logan are interested in purchasing Westworld and that it is "hemoraging cash". We know the MiB talks about Teddy being more real as being more "cost effective". The "reveal" it is two timelines will likely be William "opening up" a host and it having thousands of parts like MIB mentioned. On a side note: Cost cutting? What theme park would do that?
We know Delores has heard Arnold's voice before, and that's likely who we hear now. Although, in the day of the dead scene, ford is the voice she heard to tell her to sleep, and she fell back. Now, this took place in the "past", then we get an interview with "present" Ford. I, once again, don't believe these "interviews" are of a linear timeline.
In that conversation, we know Arnold wanted to have her destroy Westworld (or, by "this place", the control room/HQ). Then we hear her talk to herself or Arnold again saying "I didn't tell him anything". She's completely aware and sentient at this point as is Maive. Maive is wonderful, isn't she?
Side ramblings:
Delores says she hasn't seen Arnold in 34 years (when he died)- which means we have 6 years between Arnold's death and the major incident.
William and Logan also speak of Arnold's death as if its somewhat recent in the past few years (but not 34). Their timeline will assuredly be the "incident".
Blood transfusions work. Cool
Are most technicians at control hosts? When someone like Felix tries to "go outside of the box" with his bird tinkering, he is immediately redirected by another employee to stay in his current role, much like Westworld. Or, is this just symbolism that humans and hosts aren't too far apart in their desires of wanting more while others keep them down. Hmm...
And now for my insane theory of the week.
Bernard is not only a host. Bernard is Arnold. And not just the consciousness of Arnold like some may have guessed, but an exact physical clone of Arnold.
Bernard has no knowledge of Arnold but even an outsider like Logan does from 30 years ago?
We see a photo of Arnold in episode 3 I believe- it clearly isn't Bernard. But the precedent is already set that hosts see what they are programmed to see. Delores saw the picture of the lady in Times Square and said she saw nothing weird about it. Almost like her dad was crazy. So when Bernard sees the pic, is it because he IS Arnold? We already saw the Delos terms and services which allows cloning of your likeness even using your DNA. Why would they put that in there if it doesn't come up in the show.
In episode one when Abernathy (Delores' dad) says he wants to meet his maker, Ford looks at Bernard and says "you're in luck". Was ford talking about himself. Or about Bernard? Or... both? Then ford asks what he'd say to his maker and Abernathy responds about taking his mechanical dirty hand and getting revenge. Yikes.
The best part about this theory is- if he's an exact clone of Arnold- but would look 34ish during any of these interactions. So these interviews with Delores or Maive could be 34 years ago. Was his Skype with his wife in the present or the past? And knowing that Logan/Williams timeline is AFTER Arnold's death, if those interviews and phone call were the past, that would actually mean we could be in THREE timelines. Mind F, right?
Delores is clothes with Arnold/Bernard, naked with Ford. Ford freaked out about someone covering up a host before- is it because Arnold used to do the same as we're currently seeing?
The maze is Arnold's idea, we learned that tonight. Yet Bernard is the one who brings it up to Delores. Wouldn't it make more sense that Arnold planted that seed?
So why does Ford clone Arnold? He said he wasn't "nostalgic" while he was about to tear down the hotel with that giant machine. Yet he still likes to recount stories with old bill and maybe, just maybe he missed his friend and their friendly debates.
I don't necessarily believe this, but I'm going to be looking out for it as it's plausible.
Hey- the two timeline thing was too easy so now I'm reaching and saying three