Chimerica (2019) s01e04 Episode Script

- Do you know who that man is? - I can't help you.
- Do you have his name? - Wang Pengfei.
- What do you think was in his shopping bags? - If I find out, you'll be the first to know.
Do you have a personal number for Maria Dubiecki? - Why? What's going on? It was fraud on a massive scale.
- Hey, your girlfriend's on TV.
- "This is not just a Native issue.
" - "It's an American issue.
" - She's not my girlfriend anymore.
- I just need to borrow your phone.
- OK.
- How did you get this number? - I need to know where he is.
Do you have any idea what we're waking up to tomorrow? I mean, do you get that?! "Donald Trump is now the president elect of the United States of America!" Lee, you have to find him before they do.
Is he in danger? Mr Tang? Argh! I need to hear from you by tomorrow night.
Hi.
Hey.
Did you read the article yet? "Er I'm sorry.
I I just Things are crazy right now.
" - I'll read it right away, OK? - "I need you to get it in a newspaper.
" OK? It's already been firewalled here, - but the Western press - "Zhang Lin, I've been fired.
" So I can send it on, but right now I can't - "What?" - Why didn't you tell me? - "Er, it's OK.
" It's temporary.
Listen, I got another call coming in.
I'm gonna call you right back, OK? - Hi, Senator.
How are you? - "Oh, I'm just wonderful, Lee.
" I found what you're looking for.
My assistant will meet you today, 3:00 PM, the Quik Park, East 98th Street.
"If you're late, he won't wait.
" - Oh, good.
You're still here.
- Where else would I be? - You've got my phone.
- Oh.
Sorry.
Thank you.
I just picked up a new one.
Listen, I'm getting the address at three.
I need you to come with me.
I'm gonna spook him if I go on my own.
- The Tank Man? - I have a presentation in two hours.
- Where were you last night? - I told you.
Oh, emergency babysitting.
Don't let me be that woman.
Why would you want me to be that fucking woman? She is so annoying.
Yeah, OK, OK.
- I I went to see Senator Dubiecki.
- OK.
And you lied because Because it wasn't, like, my finest hour, and I don't need a moral lecture now, especially not from you.
- Excuse me? No, I didn't mean - Go on.
- Oh, please! This is so stupid, you know? I mean, this is just not important.
We have to go! - How am I not important? - No, you are! You are important! It's just that I need you to come with me right now, and instead you're gonna be spending the rest of the day, like, photoshopping Martin Luther King into car ads! Wait.
I'm sorry.
Tess, I didn't mean that.
I'm sorry.
I cannot believe I fell for your shit.
Wait.
- Skipping down Broadway like some prick in a musical! - What is wrong with me? - He's in danger, and I I - I didn't mean that.
I just - Let me know.
I hope you find him.
Really, really do.
- Please! - I am not insignificant because I never stepped in front of a fucking tank.
- Please don't go.
Please.
Please don't go.
I have Wang Pengfei's address.
- I don't have it yet, but I will.
- How? Maria.
She decided to help me out.
OK.
So, what do you want? - I want you there with me when I find him.
- I don't want him to freak out again.
- Lee, come on! It is the morning after the apocalypse.
I can't go AWOL.
Please.
Please.
I don't have the you know, the bedside manner.
He's already scared.
- Well, how about tomorrow? - I think he's in danger.
- It'll be too late, Mel.
- I can't do it.
I have got 800 words to write, and they can't all be, "Move to Canada.
" "I was very lucky.
" "You've reached the Melania Trump Euthanasia Fund.
" "How may we murder you?" - Hey.
This is Lee Berger.
I'm looking for Alex Sguerra.
Hey, what do you want? I know where he is.
You got a car, right? Let's go, Liuli! Go! Can I point out They LOVE to shop.
They love to SHOP.
They love to shop! Are we all set? I think so.
Got my, er, clicker, so I wanted to tell you what a pleasure it's been working with you over the last months.
- Oh, thanks, Zhao! You, too.
Other collaborations we have had, we have felt very pestered.
- Too much noise.
- Right.
- Sorry.
What kind of - Oh, you know.
Human rights, democracy, blah-blah-blah.
Everyone wants to tell you what's wrong with China.
No-one wants to hold the mirror up to themselves.
I wanted to commend you.
Thanks.
OK.
So, we are late to the party.
Um, the road to the Chinese market is already well trodden, and it is littered with the companies who have failed.
Uber, Mattel, eBay, Best Buy.
These are not mom-and-pop operations.
But they made the mistake of thinking that China was looking over the fence, wanting to BE America, when nothing could be further from the truth.
OK.
So, I am gonna show you a portfolio of seven customer segments.
And they are united by one thing.
They love to shop.
We only have to look at this picture to know that.
What's this an image of? Protest.
But more than that, this is the moment when China exchanged the dream of democracy for an economic miracle.
And, by the way, can I point out, the Tank Man has been shopping! Er, the most iconic image to come out of China, and at its heart is a man who has just been to the store.
To buy what? I mean, rice, a newspaper, dry dry duck tongue.
OK, let's look at the segments.
Um, the first I am calling the rural dreamer, in their 30s Sorry.
Er Late teens to mid-20s.
They have, um, a high brand awareness, er, minimal free time.
Lots of their money is sent home.
Um, a high brand awareness.
They Oh.
Er Dedique? Excuse us for one moment.
- I'll get the other - OK.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
She's just gone to, um Actually, you know, while we're waiting let's talk about the Luddite shopper, seeing as we're Mm.
The Luddite shopper.
The Luddite shopper is, er Um It's a I'm sorry.
Just, I, um Well, for a start, it takes me five years to build an accurate segmentation, and you have me on a on a six-month contract, and China is moving faster than we can collect the data.
I mean, this is a nation that's gone from famine to SlimFast in one generation, which is amazing.
But also, that's It's It's not a safe speed to be moving at, cos We're gonna be selling into a into a market where we can't see the data, where none of our customer information is protected from the state, and every single purchase made on one of our cards will be recorded by the government, which I'm sorry, but I do I do find that scary.
Because you're gonna be getting into bed with someone that you don't understand.
Which It just seems a bit lunatic.
Because, you know, this is the future.
It's the next hundred years, and we don't understand, and I think that might be a problem.
Right? OK.
Here we go.
- Hello.
- "It's David Barker.
Where are you?" Get out of the car.
I'm right behind you.
"I'm not driving.
I'll be there in one minute.
" Fuck off! Hey.
Jesus.
Come on.
You're 40 minutes late.
Do you have it? - You first.
- How do I know this is the only copy? - You're just gonna have to trust me.
Well, look, Maria is not a perfect woman.
She was born to a pair of immigrants in the back of a Ford sedan, and now she's a senator.
And she represents the interests of nearly 20 million people, and she represents them very well for the most part.
She has the right for this to be forgotten.
- I agree.
- Are you finished, cos - 1062 Stetson Avenue, Edison.
Wait! Edison, New Jersey? I thought you'd been kidnapped! You OK? Yeah.
Go.
This friend who gave you the tip-off He was, er, a protester who's lost his wife in the massacre.
You think the numbers are right on that? I heard some stuff about how the Western press inflated them.
I was there.
It was a government murdering its own citizens.
- At least we're not there yet.
- Sure, we are.
We just don't round 'em all up in one place, is all.
.
.
"in this country that have to go out.
" "We'll get them out.
We're going to secure the border" Sguerra Is that Mexican? Uh-huh.
- That's our man.
- Wang Penfei.
Ready? Mm-hm.
- Hey.
Can I get a manicure? - Yes, sure.
Er, can I go with this lady? Sure.
Pick your colour.
Can I talk to you about something? - Your boyfriend? - No, not I mean, we can get into that, but, um First up, I just wanna tell you I'm not a cop.
I'm not with immigration.
I'm a journalist.
I'm not gonna do anything to harm you or your husband.
I just wanna ask you about Wang Penfei.
Your hands are so dry.
I need lotion.
You know, if Wang Penfei was your husband, you'd be entitled to asylum in the US.
He'd be a political refugee.
It'd be a better life for you.
I don't know who you're talking about.
Hey! Hey! Hey.
Excuse me.
Wang Penfei? Don't worry, don't worry.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
Is your name Wang Penfei? It's OK! I just wanna talk to you! - The man in this picture Is it you? - We call the police.
You get out! You're illegal.
You're not gonna call the police.
Listen to me.
You're in danger.
I'm trying to help you.
- No.
Stop.
No filming! Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey! Hey! I'm not gonna I'm not gonna hurt you.
- This is getting out of control.
- This man in the photo.
Alex, shut up! Not me, not me! My brother! What? The Tank Man? Are you sure? - Look.
Look.
Look, this man.
- I don't know about this man.
- But you just said - Not my brother, this man.
No, this man here.
The soldier in the tank.
He was my brother.
Unknown hero.
Argh! Are you OK? Where's your brother now? He was executed.
But But he was a soldier.
He wouldn't run him over.
The Party were angry.
Everyone looks at the man with the shopping bag.
Nobody ever remembers the man in the tank.
That man was my brother, and he was very brave.
OK.
Wait, wait, wait.
Don't run.
Don't run! Don't run, don't run! Don't run! - Get on the floor! - OK.
Not armed! Not armed! Not armed! It's a camera.
Put it down on the ground.
Do what they say.
Get down! Get on the floor.
DON'T RUN! DO NOT RUN! NO! Don't run! Let go of him! He didn't do anything.
Let him go! Let go! Let him go! Argh! This is my country, you asshole! No! Was he legal? - I can't discuss that.
- No, but will he be deported? - I would say so.
- Because he's in danger, you know? - People looking for him.
- Don't worry.
We're not gonna let him out of our sight until he gets on that plane.
Wanna follow me, please? Got some people who wanna ask you a few more questions.
What's she doing here? This woman's been following me.
She's working for the Chinese government! Lee we're not interested in Mr Wang.
We're looking for you.
I'm Agent Patterson.
This is Agent Hodgkiss.
Department of Homeland Security.
- So you think I'm a terrorist? - You're a domestic terrorist, yes.
Excuse me?! We'd like to know what you can tell us about this person.
Leila? She's my ex-girlfriend.
We understand she's planning a major protest next year.
What do you know about that? - I don't know anything.
- Well, then, we'd like to know what kind of deal you wanna make.
- What do you mean, deal? Aside from any charges the owner of the salon may wish to bring, we have historic evidence of inciting a riot, rioting, conspiracy to riot, and destruction of property.
Wait.
What? When? That was a year ago! I was covering the protest! I even identified myself to the police officers as a journalist! A civilised society can't allow vandalism to be permitted under the guise of civil disobedience.
It's not a crime to be on the street.
It's not a crime to raise your voice.
You've visited a website promoting anti-capitalist protest 12 times, and liked two pages belonging to known agitators.
You're Facebook friends with six people we've already charged.
How did you know that? You know what? Fine.
Charge me.
- I'll pay the fine.
- The total sentence for these charges is 60 years in jail.
Or there's the other way.
- What? - You're a photographer.
- We just want you to - Document from the inside.
Anything big, we'd appreciate a heads-up.
- To inform, you mean? - You can use whatever word you like.
What do you wanna do? Charge me.
- I'm sorry? - Charge me! Bail's been posted.
You're free to go right now.
You'll get a letter with your court date soon.
You need to let us know if you intend to leave the country.
OK.
Thanks.
Wait.
Who posted it? Nice nose-job.
You posted my bail? I did.
You wanna tell me why Senator Dubiecki's office cancelled my access to the Clinton press conference today? Why would I know anything about that? Cos after Maria's office called, I called Maria.
Maria put me on hold.
She had me listening to Handel's fucking Water Music for a full nine minutes, and when I finally got through, she was awful frosty with me.
So I say to her, "What's this with the Clinton conference?" "Why am I in the fucking ejector seat?" Except I didn't curse.
I was very calm, very breezy.
But she wasn't.
She was not breezy.
Fucking Arctic wind coming down the line.
And you know what she said to me? She said, "Ask your fuckweasel photographer.
" One of the the most eloquent orators of her generation uses the word "fuckweasel", and hangs up on me.
What did you do to her, Lee?! - What the hell did you do? - I didn't do anything.
I I I just greased the I mean, whatever.
I - Well, I hope your greasy whatever was worth it! How dare you come into my home and lie to my face?! How dare you treat the truth as an inconvenience? How many times have I defended you?! How many times have I tried to scrape some off the mud off your name? Now, two days after an election, you fuck me in the ass! I'm sorry, Mel.
- I was just trying to - No! Your intentions are irrelevant.
This happened.
And now I am in the middle of a shit-show of your making.
Lee, I'm serious.
This is not a drill.
You and I we're done.
I hope you go fuckin' blind.
Just one second.
"They have been marching from Union Square.
" .
.
"all these people.
They're really" Take your possessions from the box, sir.
.
.
"Union Square, and they've walked up Fifth Avenue.
" "Maybe 40 blocks is how far we've marched with them, up to here.
" - I need to call Leila.
- I called her already.
They charged her too.
- What she say? Is she all right? She said you're a middle-class white guy.
You're probably gonna be OK.
So that's good.
I think I'm gonna need a lawyer, Frank.
I think that's true.
"That name that you gave me Wang Penfei was a soldier.
" He was driving the tank.
Yes, I know.
You knew that? All along? I wanted to know if he was all right.
"Well, he's not all right.
" "He's dead.
They shot him.
" And you just made a whole fucking mess for me here.
"I didn't do this, Lee.
You did.
" "You know how the Party used your photo?" As a portrait of their humanity.
Look, we went around him.
Did you know you make Communist propaganda? "But it wasn't them.
" It was Wang Penfei.
"We've known each other for nearly 30 years.
" But we only ever speak in your language.
I'm sorry.
Right here.
"And I feel like my neck doesn't HAVE those folds in real life.
" "Hello? Lee? Are you there?" - Yeah, yeah.
I'm here.
No, that's just a shadow.
I can take care of that.
Not our president! Not our president! Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like! Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like! I know you're a vegan, Drishani.
It's, like, 90 percent of your conversation.
But my ex is arriving in, like, 15 minutes, and I feel like I've still got pepper spray in my eyes.
I'd like to wash it out, so can you just be a sister and get me some fucking milk?! - "Please".
- Please! Yes.
Please.
Of course.
Please.
Hey.
Bollocks! Well, thank you for coming! I thought you you went back to England.
I landed this contract with Tesco.
This is a side project, pro bono.
I'm helping improve their outreach.
So, you're working for a multinational corporation and an anti-capitalist protest? It's kind of schizophrenic, isn't it? Isn't it?! They can't work me out.
It's hilarious.
So congratulations.
Who's the Oh! - You changed your number.
It's took me ages.
- I-I would've let you know, but I just I thought you didn't wanna speak to me again, so - You don't have to - Sorry.
I just need to tell you - You don't have to.
- I was not kind to you.
But it's our lives, isn't it? It's our lives, so - Lee? I know, I know.
- Because - I miss you.
No.
So, did you, um Did you ever find him? Er, no.
He doesn't wanna be found, Tess.
Ohhh! Thank you, Drishani! Hold that.
OK! Oh! Did you just take a picture?! Hey, man! Long time, no see! Google tells me you moved into wedding photography.
Yeah, well.
You know, I'm just paying the bills.
Er, do you accept international commissions? Well, I'll have to ask my bail agent.
Heyyyy! Ahhh! Ahhh! Ohhh! Hey.
Hey.
She's so great.
I'm so happy this worked out for you two.
The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.
- Ah, that's wonderful.
- Yes.
- It's from Mulan.
- Oh, come on! Hey, how's Tess? Yeah, she's She's good, I think.
- And when's the trial? Um three weeks.
Look on the bright side.
At least you GET a trial.
God bless America.
I'll show you how this little thing works.
Hey, Zhang Lin.
You've been studying! Very good.
What else did you hear? - "My teeth are too white.
" Hey.
I'm in Tiananmen, looking up at the hotel where I was staying.
I know you took that photo, Lee.
But you never understood it.
Hey Let's go, Liuli! Go! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! Liuli! 'It wasn't a photograph of protest, Lee.
'It was a photograph of surrender.
' That man wasn't important.
Liuli was important.
The others were important.
A million people speaking in one voice! - There's so much that that I want - "Some other time, maybe.
" Stop, stop, stop, stop! They've taken him! They've taken him!