One Trillion Dollars (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
Money has never
played a role in my life.
I thought this made me free,
but that's just bullshit.
It pervades everything.
It has infected us. Made us dependent.
Money determines
every second of our lives.
Even though it's nothing more
than printed paper,
we believe it's worth something.
We have to believe in it.
If we don't, everything collapses.
I'm all done.
Call if you have anything.
If not, I'll come back.
We'll see. Come on back.
Hey, John! Happy birthday, dude.
- Drinking already?
- You know it.
- You coming later?
- Bye.
Morning.
- Hey, Speedy Gonzales.
- Hey.
- How are you?
- Doing good.
How was it at the Charité?
Since when do you care?
Don't try to pretend.
That doctor you delivered
those samples to. Is she cute?
I fell in love with her voice.
You know when you hear a voice
and think it's your dream girl?
Oh, and she asked for your number.
- Really?
- Yup.
I gave her mine.
Here, you can jump in the saddle again.
Thank you. Spandau?
You kidding me?
- Asked for you explicitly.
- Who?
No idea. Some guy.
You'll get a big tip.
It'll be a quickie. Just do it.
Thanks.
Sorry, man. Not today.
I have to get booze for tonight
or we'll be drinking water.
All right.
And crushed ice, or the
caipirinhas taste like shit.
- Cocktail umbrellas, too?
- Yeah, why not?
Bye.
John Pohlmann?
Was Spandau too far for you?
Karasch. I'm an heir locator.
I've been hired
to seek the potential heirs
of an estate.
For that I would need
your signature
on this consent form, please.
And also,
a saliva sample for a DNA match.
Sorry, but there's nobody
I'd inherit anything from.
My client
is willing to compensate you
for your time.
And who is your client?
I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.
Two thousand.
Feel free to count it yourself.
- For a DNA sample?
- Yes, and for not working
as a bike messenger
until the claim is settled.
- For how long?
- Forty-eight hours max.
For twice the amount.
Twice the amount.
Oh, shit, public utilities?
- Hello.
- Hello.
Right.
I'll be in touch.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Scary.
Bro, that was scary.
Who was that?
Santa Claus.
Why?
Why did he give you that?
Huh?
Why'd he give you all that money?
That should be enough
for the electricity bill.
Why'd he give you so much money?
Have you ever seen
this much money, dude?
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear John
Happy birthday to you
John! John! John!
Oh, my God, he's 25!
You're 25
You're 25
You're 25
- Hey. Hey.
- Hey!
- Happy birthday, kid.
- Thanks, man.
Come in. Where's Deyna?
Babysitters don't just fall
from the sky, you know.
- Lino!
- Marvin!
- Looking good.
- Doing all right, yeah?
- This is for you.
- My first tie?
With a compass and an altitude meter.
Dude, are you out of your mind?
Tonight the two of us
are gonna live it up!
Pizza for Johnny!
- What?
- Got any cash left?
Cash!
I'll be right back, okay?
- Keep the change.
- Wow. Thanks.
Take care, bro.
Guys, the pizza's here!
One, two, three!
Four, five!
You didn't sign anything, did you?
No, I did. That consent form.
You idiot!
Dude, I had to sign in blood.
Is that a bad sign?
- You can't sign something
- Is that for me?
you didn't read.
That's just stupid, bro.
That is really damn stupid, bro.
Lino, chill.
He was just some nutjob.
Who would we inherit anything from?
Hey.
Hey.
That's mine.
- Hello?
- Kick them out and pack a bag.
Can't you do that somewhere else?
- Give me a second.
- Yeah.
What was that?
Kick them all out
and pack a bag. Okay?
No way. Unless you got some more
of those envelopes for me.
You'll never have to worry
about money again.
I'll pick you up in an hour.
Take it or leave it.
"Take it or leave it"?
Guys, wake up!
You need to get out.
Dude, you don't even know these people.
You have no idea where they'll
take you. What if it's a scam?
I'm serious.
They'll pull a bag over your head
and do some
Guantanamo-style waterboarding.
They're psychos, dude.
Nobody just hands out money like that.
Bro, until they realize
I'm the wrong guy,
I might get some more cash.
Cool, right?
- Yeah, but
- Just chill.
I'll call when I know what's going on.
Let's go.
- "Let's go."
- Look at him, dude!
All right then.
- Are we flying in that?
- We're not, no.
- You are.
- You're not coming?
My work is done here.
All righty, then.
- See you.
- Yup.
Welcome, Mr. Pohlmann.
How are you today?
I'm fine, thank you.
Please come on board.
Sorry, where are we actually flying to?
To Florence.
Good morning, Signor Pohlman.
- My name is Marco Benetti.
- John.
My colleagues, Salvatore Totti
and Michaela Gentili.
- Hi!
- We'll accompany you to the estate.
Estate?
- Where are we going?
- You'll find out there. Sir
I'll ride with her.
Welcome to Villa Vacchi.
Will you please follow me,
Signor Pohlmann.
Please wait here.
I will announce your arrival
to Signor Vacchi.
Signor Pohlmann,
if you will follow me, please.
This way.
- Good day.
- Hello.
Thank you, Farnese.
This is my grandfather,
Cristoforo Vacchi.
Good morning, Signor Pohlmann.
I trust you had a pleasant journey?
You may sit down, please.
My name is Franca Vacchi.
Our family have been in Florence
for several centuries
working as lawyers and asset managers.
These documents confirm that.
Well, before this goes
any further, I'd like to say
I have no idea what I'm doing here.
Listen, my mother's dead,
our father left us, I don't know him.
My brother and I, we're
We're orphans.
And I don't mean that it isn't cool.
The jet and the limo and all of that.
It's
It's really cool.
But we've got nothing to inherit.
So I think
this whole thing
is a misunderstanding.
I'm sorry. Sorry.
No.
It is not.
Your name is Giovanni Pohlmann,
is that correct?
John. Please.
So,
John
You are the heir
to a considerable fortune.
We invited you here to inform you
of the amount and the general
terms of the inheritance,
and if you agree to accept it
To discuss with you the steps necessary
for the transfer of ownership.
Not so fast, please.
I don't get any of this.
I mean,
who died?
Come, John.
We have something to show you.
Okay.
Since 1525,
we have archived here all the
descendants of Giacomo Fontanelli.
The waves of emigration in
the 19th and 20th centuries
have presented us
with enormous challenges
I have to admit, particularly
during the Second World War,
as you can see here
from the original family tree.
But over the past two years,
using the most modern means,
we have located all the original
hereditary lines
that had been lost
in the past centuries.
Including yours.
May I show you?
In the Fontanelli family tomb,
we were able to secure
mitochondrial DNA
that helped us
to complete missing lines.
You spied on me?
Yes.
What the hell? Are you serious?
We had all potential heirs
under surveillance.
So why am I the only one here, then?
What about, for example,
Kenji Takahashi?
He is three days older then you.
Yeah, so what?
Follow me.
"I, Giacomo Fontanelli,
by the salvation of my soul,
decree that whoever will be
my youngest male descendant,
in the year of our Lord 2023,
on September 23rd,
'ex lege aetas legitima',
shall inherit
all my earthly belongings."
"Ex lege" what?
"Ex lege aetas legitima".
It's Latin.
Refers to the age of legal adulthood
prescribed in the Middle Ages.
That was 25 years at the time.
That would be you.
Okay. And what's the catch?
There is no catch.
But there is one important addition.
Of course. And that is?
Giacomo Fontanelli had a dream
which was so bright and intense
that the rest of his life
was determined by it.
In this dream he saw a time
that was "D annis futuris".
That is, 500 years in the future.
He described it as an age
of screaming misery
and abject fear,
in which no one saw a way out.
"Nec usquam spes erat".
Nowhere was there hope.
He also saw God in his dream.
God's will was that
he should bequeath all his fortune
to whoever would be
his youngest male descendant
on the 500th anniversary of his dream.
This heir is chosen
to give people back their lost future.
And that's me?
Come on, guys.
You're kidding right?
The original amount
was not much by today's standards,
not even 10,000 euros.
However,
your ancestor had a strong ally.
Time.
Through compound interest,
the inheritance has grown to a sum
whose magnitude most certainly
puts the heir in a position
to be able to influence world events.
So how big is the fish?
How much is it?
I suggest we go back
to the conference room.
Come on, spit it out.
How much is it?
Five million, 10 million, 20?
It's one trillion.
A thousand billion dollars.
Did he just say
one trillion dollars?
Precisely.
Once the will is executed,
the money is yours.
You can do whatever you want with it.
But what did this
What did this Giacomo see in his dream?
I mean, what should the heir do?
He saw the heir doing the right thing.
"The right thing."
What's that supposed to be?
Whatever gives humanity back
its lost future.
John.
I have to ask you.
Are you ready
to accept the inheritance?
Can I?
I need a bit of fresh air.
One
freaking trillion dollars.
Shit!
I accept the inheritance.
Then allow me to congratulate you.
You will become
the richest person in the world.
Come.
The reading of the will
will be in five days.
Until then, you will stay here.
Okay. Cool.
Do you have a pool?
There's still a lot to do.
You've already met Farnese.
He's at your disposal around the clock.
We're aware you might feel the need to
tell your friends about the inheritance.
But that will be possible only
after the reading of the will.
There are thousands
of descendants worldwide.
Should it become known that
a trillion-dollar inheritance is outstanding,
it would trigger a flood of litigation.
This will be your accommodation
in the next few days.
Wow. Am I sleeping on that?
This way.
Your ancestor drew up rules on how
to reward our work as asset managers.
We have documented all the receipts.
You can review them at your leisure.
And when the will is probated, you
have to certify to the probate court
that the assets
were properly managed by us.
- Is that for me?
- Yes.
We have an appointment tomorrow
in Florence
at the Belizean consulate.
You need to change your citizenship
to avoid inheritance tax.
How did you know my size?
John, are you following all of this?
Sure.
Farnese is your private secretary.
During my stay, he takes care of me,
but in reality,
he's supposed to make sure
I don't tell anyone
about the inheritance.
I am supposed to clear your
family in front of the court,
and become a citizen of Belize.
The only thing that I didn't get
was the tax part.
Wouldn't it be a first step
towards a better future
if everyone paid their taxes?
We are obliged to provide the heir
with as large a sum as possible
at the reading of the will.
But after that,
if you want to give half
to the state, we won't stop you.
- Half of it?
- Fifty percent.
All German nationals are subject
to unlimited taxation in Germany.
Tax bracket three, 50 percent,
$500 billion.
If you have any further questions
- I'll ask Farnese.
- Correct.
Shit.
John, why the hell
would they give you money?
No idea, man.
Because they're crazy.
- And it's not a scam?
- I don't think so.
Take a look at this.
Does that look like a scam to you?
Dude, where are you?
It's a damn castle.
Okay, how much money is it?
I'm not allowed to say.
Oh, bullshit.
Don't be like that.
I'll call you tomorrow.
Everything's cool.
Are you a millionaire now or what?
Bye.
Very funny.
The shoes didn't fit.
Greetings.
Please put this on.
Giovanni Fontanelli?
It would have actually been nice
if you asked me before you just
Your mother was a Fontanelli by birth.
My mother's dead.
It's part of the agreement that you
take the name of your ancestors.
A Belizean passport
grants visa-free entry to 156 countries
including, of course,
the Schengen Area.
We levy neither inheritance tax
nor capital gains tax.
Welcome.
Thank you.
So what are we going to do next?
- Heading back.
- Come on.
I want to get something to eat.
I'm starving.
I've never been to Florence.
Is there a place where we can eat?
Please get in the car. Your safety
is the most important thing for us.
You're the richest man in the world.
You're a lucrative target
for a kidnapping.
Technically I'm not yet
the richest man in the world.
So I'm going to get
something to eat now.
I'm not about to sit in this
stupid car again for ages.
Are you coming?
Come on. Where's
your favorite restaurant?
Just follow him.
Thank you.
A pizzeria would have been fine.
You asked where to get a good meal.
So is there anything you can recommend?
They're known
for their carbonara pasta.
- Thank you.
- Thirty-six euros for pasta?
They don't put bourbon
into it or anything?
But it sounds good, I'll take it.
As the main course?
Surprise me.
I would like the risotto, please,
and for the gentleman, pasta Carbonara.
And for the main course,
beef fillet, please,
- and the fish of the day for me.
- Thank you very much.
Cheers.
Always by the stem, never by the glass.
Otherwise the wine will get warm.
What do you know about me?
Pictures in the archive?
Do you think that's fair?
I don't know anything about you,
and you, I guess,
know everything about me.
Level playing field.
I get to ask you three questions,
and you have to answer them honestly.
Two.
Okay. Fine with me. Two.
First question.
You and your family managed
the assets for centuries
without anybody knowing about it.
Why didn't you just keep the money?
Nobody would have ever known.
God would have known.
Okay, that is really strange.
Second question.
How many times have you been
to this restaurant?
- Never before.
- I knew it!
No, really, I knew it.
This place doesn't suit you at all.
You are trying to impress me,
aren't you?
That's a third question.
Let me get this straight.
The money is not for me,
I'm supposed to save the world with it.
Feed the masses, end wars.
Things like that, right?
I think I'm just gonna keep
a few million,
and donate the rest to the poor.
- That would be an option, yes.
- But?
But?
What do you mean by poverty?
- People who are starving.
- According to the WHO,
that would be 800 million people.
And if you divide one trillion
by 800 million,
each person will get $1250.
Do you think that's enough
to change anything?
Okay, I got it.
But 500 years ahead.
So,
what would you do with the money?
What's wrong?
It's better if we left now.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten involved.
We're obliged to stay neutral.
It doesn't matter
what I would do with the money.
I'm not the heir. I'm sorry.
We didn't even have our pasta yet.
Shall we?
What took you so long?
He wanted to get something to eat.
Why didn't you come along?
With Lorenzo, you were there.
I always thought
I'd only have to do this once.
He is
a very common man.
Susanna makes the best
ricotta mezzaluna.
You can't get them better
anywhere else.
So,
how does it feel to be
the richest man in the world?
Hungry.
Do you mind if I?
Yes, of course. Please.
A 2013.
A perfect Morellino di Scansano.
From my father's cellar.
Gregorio Vacchi,
I am the uncle of Franca.
- John.
- I know.
The man we have been waiting
500 years for.
Hope I'm not a disappointment.
Don't worry about that.
After 500 years, the expectations
are so high, no one could fulfill them.
No need to wait any longer.
Here you are.
Looking good.
And so what?
What are you going to do now?
You mean,
how am I saving the world?
No, I mean tomorrow.
What are you doing tomorrow?
There's a tailor coming in
to take my measurements.
Sartoria Marchesi.
He's my father's tailor.
And if you ask me,
he was already my grandfather's too.
That will do.
We are going on an excursion tomorrow.
- Where to?
- To Florence.
To my tailor's.
Good night, sir.
It was a pleasure.
- Andrea.
- Gregorio.
- How are you?
- Good, and you?
I saw you yesterday.
At the golf tournament.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
A real beauty. Isn't it?
It would suit me well too, wouldn't it?
It would only be appropriate,
for the richest man in the world.
How much does something like that cost?
Half a million?
More like one million.
You can't get a car like that
in a store.
Only regular customers get it,
or family and friends.
Andrea's father and Piero Ferrari
went to school together.
Yeah, it's like that.
But for twice the price,
he might consider it.
Who?
Andrea.
I can talk to him.
Crazy man.
You can get a whole palace
for that money in Berlin.
My friend, to select the fabric
and the cuts for the suits,
it took us more or less
two hours, right?
Do you know how much your fortune
has increased in that time?
By nine million.
You need to learn to think
in different terms.
You know, John,
money doesn't make you
a different person.
Nor does it make you a better one.
But what you do with money,
that shows who you really are.
Hey, guys. Where were you?
We were looking for you.
What the hell?
Oh, look who's there.
You made it.
They don't tell you the truth.
You're in danger.
What?
There was an accident
on the road up the mountain.
Don't look.
Hey, John.
Let's meet there early tomorrow.
Let's go, guys.
What is it?
Excuse me.
It's about Signor John.
We can't find him.
What?
What the hell happened?
He's gone.
- Where did he go?
- A bicycle is missing.
Go. Find him!
What happened here?
- They're tracking you.
- What?
We don't have much time.
They're already on their way here.
Come on.
Wait.
Who the hell is Lorenzo Fontanelli?
Was he supposed to inherit before me?
He's dead, right?
Shit!
They claim it was an accident,
but that's a lie.
Lorenzo was my brother.
Who are you?
I'm a police officer in Friuli.
After Enzo's death,
I took a leave of absence.
The Vacchis didn't know me.
Then I applied for the security job
under an assumed name.
I must prove that someone
is killing the heirs
to gain control over the fortune
and all the power that comes with it.
Because they are afraid of this power?
If I find out
who comes after Enzo and you,
maybe I can prove who killed him.
It has to be one of the heirs.
I have to get back.
I can't let Benetti see me here.
Please, John.
Help me.
I just know one name.
Kenji Takahashi from Osaka.
He's just three days older than me.
And after that?
I don't know.
Some guy from Paris.
Paris.
What's his name?
No idea.
Thank you.
Come on, we need to go.
What?
What?
Yeah, I have the next name.
Yeah, he's with me.
I told you
that you were destined
for something very special.
But first,
you need to understand who you are
and where you are from.