Paranormal (2020) s01e01 Episode Script

1
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
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Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
Safety!
Safety!
-Safety!
-Reached safety!
Ready or not…
Ready or not…
Ready or not…
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
INSPIRED BY THE BOOK SERIES
WRITTEN BY DR. AHMED KHALED TAWFIK
President Gamal Abdel Nasser
witnessed an important military maneuver
in one of the military regions
inside the United Arab Republic.
The maneuver was executed
by an entirely mechanized infantry
targeting a streamlined armored vehicle
that was transporting
the troops to many crucial areas.
THE DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT PHARAONIC TOMB
I don't know who deserves pity the most.
This mouse, those miserable students…
or me.
Especially that a dignified professor
like me is unable to solve this maze.
I'm sorry, Dr. Refaat.
I don't know what happened.
Murphy's law number one.
"Anything that can go wrong…
will go wrong."
It's okay. Let it pass as a favor.
Spilling coffee is a good omen.
Can't good omens manifest
in a shape other than spilled coffee?
Or maybe good omens
have a grudge against caffeine?
Coffee doesn't spill by itself,
and it's no good
blaming good omens or fortune…
KNOWLEDGE
…or misfortune.
Speaking of misfortune,
some accuse me of bringing misfortune.
For example, why is it that I'm the person
who hates cardamom the most,
and yet, I get
the only cardamom seed in the pot?
It must be owing to my constant
late arrival to dinner parties.
The early bird catches the prey.
A good reason.
It is surely not because
I'm cursed or jinxed,
as the absurd say.
The only laws that I believe in
without the need for scientific proof
are those laid out
by a famous engineer named Murphy.
Such as,
"Always expect the worst
because that is what will happen."
My life can easily be
the only scientific proof to those laws.
Similarly, there are no demons nor ghosts.
It's bad enough that we undermine
the breeze that moves the curtains
and attribute it to some mythical monster.
Or undermine the rusty door hinges
and the effort they invest in squeaking
and say that the door
was closed by a demon.
We surely cannot undermine
the street lamppost and tree leaves
or doubt the physics of light and shadow
and say that it is a ghostly presence.
As Murphy set some laws,
Dr. Refaat Ismail laid out his own.
The first one is that nature operates
by the "1 + 1 = 2" law.
Cause and effect.
Anything outside of this equation
is considered beyond natural.
There is nothing paranormal.
On normal days, I wear my grey suit.
But since it is my 40th birthday
and I hate this day,
I will wear my classy suit.
The dark blue suit
that makes me extremely attractive.
Yes, Raeefa.
Today, I'm making lunch,
and Howaida might join us.
Don't forget your ring.
Are you wearing it or not?
I like this girl,
and I don't want her to run off.
If you truly like her, you'd be
the first to advise her to run away
from a dark destiny with me.
Why not on another day, Raeefa?
You know how much
I hate birthdays, surprises,
cakes, and candles.
What birthday?
I'm not even thinking about that.
There is no cake and whatnot.
It is just a normal gathering.
Elham was craving for mulukhia,
so I figured I'd cook it
along with the kufta you love.
Imagine how delicious that would be.
What is it that you want?
Please go out.
I never decided to adopt you.
I adopted you by force.
Some people make your heart skip a beat,
even if you haven't seen them
for 15 years.
Maggie.
I know now why I had a hunch
to wear my dark blue suit today.
You haven't lost
any of your honesty, Maggie.
Do not invite her! Raeefa will kill her.
-I'm done preparing both courses.
-Okay.
Now we add some cardamom for the taste.
And listen, I want you
to quit being awkward with Refaat.
I know my brother.
He's a bit of a dullard.
You have to loosen him up a bit.
I'm not being awkward, Raeefa.
Mr. Refaat is complex.
I don't know what to do!
"Mister"?
You add "mister" to your fiancé's name?
You are awkward.
I've been calling him that
since I was born.
You were his little cousin.
Now you're his grownup fiancée.
Soon, you will be his wife.
Spoil him a bit!
I bought him a necktie as a present.
I will give it to him today.
Look.
Good. Better than the two
worn-out ones he has.
Mom, I need to tell you
something important.
What is it, Taha?
Yesterday--
Listen, ask him
whether he has eaten or not.
Give him food, and if he says enough,
give him some more.
I will.
I didn't touch it, I swear!
You just got yourself a whipping, I swear!
You're going to get it, Taha!
Did I add cardamom or not?
Cardamom adds a lovely scent.
Taha!
Taha!
Where did that kid go?
Kids, did any of you see Taha?
Peace be upon you.
Peace be upon you.
Come in, Reda. Nice of you to drop by.
How are you, Talaat?
Come in.
Welcome.
Refaat hasn't arrived yet?
He's on his way here. Have a seat.
I beat him here even though
I came all the way from Mansoura.
-I hope you had a safe trip.
-How are you, Raeefa?
How are you, Reda?
-Kids!
-Kids!
Stop that! Enough!
I prepared your favorite food.
-Also, I baked a cake.
-Cake?
He asked me not too,
but he has no say in this!
Now I've seen everything.
Taha!
Hello, the beautiful bride-to-be.
Hello.
How are you?
How are you, gorgeous?
All good. Praise be to God.
Where are Medhat and Elham?
Welcome! Come in!
Here they are.
How are you, Reda?
It's so good to see you!
By the way,
Refaat is parked downstairs. I saw him.
Happy birthday…
Who's she?
Sorry for being late.
Who is she, Refaat?
That's what I was afraid of.
Raeefa started grinding her teeth.
Sorry, I was Refaat's classmate
at the university.
-You speak good Arabic.
-Yes, thank you.
Wow! She's perfect! God bless!
It is a pleasure to meet you.
Dr. Refaat's guests are always welcome.
This is my sister, Raeefa,
and this is Talaat, her husband.
And this, of course,
is Reda, my big brother.
Medhat is Talaat's brother,
and this is Elham, his wife.
By the way,
we're all friends since childhood.
And this is Howaida,
our relative and my fiancée.
Refaat is always busy due to his duties.
He forgets to wear the engagement ring.
After grinding her teeth so well,
she decided to bite me.
I thought I was wearing it.
Sorry, I forgot.
Seems like you had a lot of fun
back when you were at the university.
Allow me, Mr. Refaat.
I will take it off so it doesn't…
I mean, Refaat.
The necktie is a very strange invention.
I understand shirts and jackets.
They have jobs to do. But what is this?
A noose that we willingly wear.
Thank you.
Thank you, Howaida.
Thank you.
That's close enough. Thank you.
Enough!
-I'm sorry!
-It's okay.
-I'm sorry.
-It is okay. Thank you!
Refaat.
Isn't it appropriate for you to go back to
the countryside to check on your mother?
You haven't set foot there for two months.
I will, hopefully.
You will?
Pass me the lemon, Talaat.
Murphy's fourth law.
"That which you try to avoid the most
will happen to you among all people."
May I be excused?
I'm going to smoke
a cigarette on the balcony.
Taha.
Take this half of a reyal
and get me a pack of cigarettes.
I don't want to go down the stairs alone.
You can keep the change
and buy yourself some candy.
How lovely it is
for you to drop by, Ms. Maggie.
You know, I know all of Refaat's secrets.
I have some pictures to show you
of him as a kid. He was always balbous.
-Balbous?
-It means "naked."
Around a foreign woman, Egyptian men
always pretend to know all languages.
Don't be deceived by Refaat's looks now,
he was a real charmer.
Do you know who is his first love?
The grape leaves taste amazing, Raeefa.
You know, the first person
in history to roll grape leaves…
Don't even try, Refaat. Have some water.
Enough with this, folks.
Shiraz!
-Who is Shiraz?
-Who is Shiraz?
It's an air raid!
Everyone, to the basement!
-Ready or not?
-Where are the kids?
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
MANSOURA, 1940
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Safety!
Safety!
Safety!
You lost, Refaat.
I stood still so that you could catch me.
Raeefa, Refaat never caught anyone.
It's a stupid game, Medhat.
How can you find what you cannot see?
The game is stupid?
It's okay, Medhat.
Talaat will count. Hide with them, Refaat.
-But I never--
-Go and count, Talaat.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
-Not yet.
-Not yet.
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Where's Refaat?
Refaat!
Oh, my!
Refaat is at the Al Khadrawy house.
Of all the houses here,
he picked that one!
If Reda finds out,
we'll all be in trouble.
Who are you?
How long have you been living here?
I am Shiraz.
Would you like to play with me?
God, help us.
-Easy, Elham!
-I'm a guest of God.
A guest of God
is not to be treated unjustly.
Quickly! Move it!
I'm a guest of God. A guest of God
is not to be treated unjustly.
God, help us.
-Easy, kids.
-Careful.
Look ahead.
Watch your step, Elham.
Watch your step.
Wait. Be careful.
-Watch your step, Refaat!
-God, save us.
Are you all here, kids?
Mom, Taha's not here.
-What? He's not here?
-What?
Where is he then? Taha!
Where's Taha?
Taha!
Taha…
Where's Taha?
I sent him to buy me cigarettes.
-What?
-What?
You sent him to buy you cigarettes?
-I will go look for him.
-That's genius! Where are you going?
You'll only make things worse. I'll go.
I'll go. I'll look for him at the store.
Give me this. God, have mercy.
God, have mercy.
Guns are released. Everyone is in motion.
Turn the lights off.
-Turn the lights off.
-Taha!
-What was that?
-Taha must be upstairs.
Let's go look for him.
Elham, Howaida, watch the kids.
-Okay!
-And you, stay here!
-Give me that.
-Let's go.
Come in!
Come and drink.
Quiet! Mom doesn't like noise.
Quiet! Grandpa doesn't like noise either.
Come in. Wait for me here.
I don't feel safe. Let's leave this place.
This house feels scary.
Elham, we just saw
how normal this house is.
Or are you jealous of that girl
because she's pretty?
Envious? She's clumsy,
and she looks weird.
Dig in. We have juice and jelly.
Why those colors?
It's because we make them
from our own fruits.
Can you come here
and play with me every day?
Listen to me, Howaida.
Don't listen to Raeefa.
The way to a man's heart
is not through his stomach.
The way to a man's heart
is through his behind.
The more you slap that behind,
the more he'll fall for you.
Dear God! How is it right
to slap Refaat on his behind?
Keep your voice down.
She's an arashana, and she speaks Arabic.
What does "arashana" means?
It means "pretty woman," just like you.
I will look for him at Elham's.
Maybe he hid there.
Come with me, Talaat.
And you, Refaat, look for him at my flat.
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Safety!
Safety!
Safety!
I caught you!
Shiraz, do you pick easy spots
so I can catch you?
I make it easier for you
so that they won't make fun of you.
What would you do for me in return?
Just ask.
What should I ask for?
I want those berries up on the tree.
Are those berries?
Yes, we call them berries.
Shiraz, I love you.
You're so funny! I will tell them.
Shiraz, wait!
Hey! Listen to this!
Refaat said he loves me.
Taha!
Taha!
Taha?
Arashana?
I don't know how to translate this.
Am I an arashana?
No, on the contrary.
I didn't know that you're engaged.
Congratulations.
Taha!
I didn't expect that you could
get engaged and express your feelings.
Do you know how to say romantic things?
Or do you just say the opposite
of how you feel? Like back in the day.
Do I say the opposite of how I feel?
Yes. Sometimes, when you are silent
I'm sure you're killing us in your head.
That is true.
That's not true!
You're the only one I'd spare.
Taha!
Taha!
Taha!
If Reda asks, as usual,
just say we were playing near the canal.
I'm not going to lie.
You are cowards and too sensitive
because you are girls.
You're stupid. That girl is not normal.
And if anyone asks, I will tell the truth.
Raeefa is right.
We'll never come back here,
and we'll keep it a secret.
Don't cry. I'm here with you.
Everyone hates and abandons me.
I'm not abandoning you.
I'll always be by your side.
If you're willing to stay
by my side forever,
will you do as I ask?
We will play a game
that will always keep you by my side.
Hide and seek?
Yes, something like that.
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Ready or not?
Shiraz!
Shiraz!
Shiraz!
Shiraz!
Shiraz!
Reda!
Reda?
Reda!
Refaat went to the Al Khadrawy house
by himself, and he hasn't returned.
-I'm worried about him.
-What?
What made him go there?
-We didn't go there--
-Not now!
What's important is that we find Refaat.
I'm worried about him.
Shiraz!
Refaat!
Refaat!
Refaat!
-Refaat?
-Refaat!
-Refaat?
-Refaat!
Why does the estate look like this now?
Refaat!
-Refaat!
-Refaat?
-Refaat!
-Refaat!
Well done! You've found me. You won!
Get up on the railing
and jump to reach me.
The roof!
The house looks weird now.
I saw strange people downstairs.
I see them too. They're not real.
They're inside our heads.
If you jump and reach me,
you will never see them again
and we'll stay together.
Don't you want us to be together?
Refaat!
Come down, Refaat!
-Come down, Refaat!
-Come down, Refaat!
-Step back from the railing!
-Be careful not to fall!
Forget about them.
Jump, Refaat. Don't be scared.
I'll catch you.
DEATH
Get up and come here!
Come here, all of you.
Swear by this Quran that
you'll never go back near that estate.
That house is not what you think!
You live the good life,
clueless to everything!
Do you know how many families lived
in that estate after it burned down?
Do you know what happened to them?
They all died.
Some committed suicide,
some burned to death,
and one woman killed her kids.
Repeat after me. We swear not to
go near the Al Khadrawy house again.
"We swear not to go near
the Al Khadrawy house again."
Come here.
Stay here! If I see you outside, Taha,
your day will only get worse.
I will deal with you
when our guests leave!
Are you happy now?
She showed up because we talked about her.
Tell me. What happened?
The same thing happened
to you in the past, right, Refaat?
Who showed up?
Raeefa. Nothing happened.
Enough with that story.
The boy was scared,
and he might have hallucinated.
So what's for dessert?
Eat this.
But don't tell your mom
that I got this for you.
Don't be sad.
I should have never sent you out.
-It is my fault.
-It's not your fault.
I saw her yesterday.
I was afraid
that I might see her again downstairs.
Who did you see?
A strange-looking little girl.
She wore a white dress
and looked like a demon.
I see her too.
Really?
I see other things too.
For example…
Next to that dressing table,
I see a demon lady.
How are you, demon lady?
I hope you're all right.
Really? Okay.
Where?
And next to that stand,
I see the skinned-leg monster.
How are you, skinned-leg monster?
How's the leg?
Are you still using creams regularly?
Great!
Where?
Next to that curtain as well…
I see that girl.
But I don't see her with my eyes.
I see her with my mind.
And since the mind doesn't see,
you shouldn't be scared of it.
What do you mean?
It means that you have to humor your mind.
Your uncle does that,
and it greatly helps me.
Uncle.
Why did you wash down
the writing on the wall?
Thank you for the cigarettes, Taha.
Don't smoke when you grow up
because these are worse than demons.
I like to ride in the back.
You can sit at the front.
I'm sorry.
We couldn't have a word together today.
You saw how hectic it was.
I'm not upset. Can I just tell you
one thing before you head out?
Go ahead!
I really loved the gift
you got me last week.
Raeefa bought it.
I wanted to give you something in return.
I got you a tie,
but I didn't know that you hate ties.
I won't give it to you anymore.
On the contrary, it was just a joke.
I'd like my gift, please.
Here you go.
Green.
Now I have to wear a green tie
every time I see her.
It looks great.
I promise that from now on,
I will love neckties.
Good night.
Good night.
If I came to Egypt just to see that,
it would be totally enough for me.
So your first love was a ghost?
You're from Scotland,
and you believe in ghosts?
If that story never happened,
how did your brother break his leg?
I can't remember. It was a long time ago.
It must be
when we used to play up on the roof.
It was an abandoned house
with a bad reputation,
and we played there.
We made up that Shiraz story,
and everyone believed it
because it was an entertaining story.
And you all remember that in detail?
Maggie, all myths start like that,
just like a virus.
Someone tells a story and repeats it.
It starts going around.
Then the story turns
into an invented memory.
Then it becomes a part of history
that cannot be questioned.
And no one wants to believe
that it never happened.
Or you refuse to believe
that they happened.
By the way…
Maggie, I don't say
the opposite of how I feel.
Obviously, what I said upset you.
Or maybe I do say the opposite
of what I think. I don't know.
Maybe because
what I think of cannot be said.
Maybe if you say it, it turns out correct.
By the way,
I got you something for your birthday.
You remembered my birthday?
The only photo of us together
when we were students.
I saw it and took it without telling you.
And I was upset that I lost it.
I didn't tell your family,
but I learned Arabic
because I liked the poem
written on the back.
It was a nice evening.
I will never stop loving you, Maggie.
Until stars burn out and worlds disappear.
Until planets collide and suns wither.
Until the moon is dim…
and all seas and rivers are dry.
Until I am old and my memories fade.
Until my tongue is no longer capable
of saying your name.
Until my heart beats for the last time.
Only then, I might stop.
I might.
Refaat's fifth law.
"If your mind tries to trick you,
humor it."
You do not exist, Shiraz.
You don't exist.
Subtitle translation by: Farah Hawarneh