The Signal (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

1
[emotional music playing]
THE SIGNAL
[emotional music continues]
[Hadi] Paula?
[alarm blaring]
Paula!
Paula, please forgive me!
Paula!
I'm not the bad guy in this game.
I'm just a pawn.
[sighs] It's over, Hadi.
I won't let anyone scare me again.
No one.
[sighs]
Forgive me! I didn't want this.
You know that's not who I am!
They had my children!
[exhales sharply]
[alarm blaring]
[explosion rumbling]
[emotional music continues]
[woman on radio] Becker,
answer, from Eagle One.
Get ready to deploy.
Get back in range over
[man] Becker, copy
Thank you for your cooperation.
- So we're free?
- Of course.
- Why now, all of a sudden?
- You used to be carrying state secrets.
Now you're not.
- We'll get the press involved.
- Go ahead.
Ugh. You've already done it anyway!
- Sven.
- Rainer.
Bye.
Come. Let's go home.
[radio chatter]
- [emotional music continues]
- [birdsong]
[clock ticking]
[music fades]
[birdsong]
[woman on TV]
Following reports this morning
that a suspected extraterrestrial object
was shot down,
people all over the world have gathered
for impromptu protests
against the government's decision.
Come.
Eat something.
[intriguing music playing]
[gasps]
"What I'm about to tell you
has to stay secret."
"You can't write it down here."
DEPARTURE
[wind gusting]
[Paula gasps]
[man 1] Check the temperature
of the capsule.
When ready, send in the mechanics.
- [man 2] Captain!
- [man 3] Watch your step.
[Paula] I'm sorry.
[sighs] Didn't I teach you anything?
Don't ever apologize.
We do what we deem necessary
and then we live with the consequences.
[exhales shakily]
[man 1] Can you confirm
the landing position?
What are the consequences?
[man 4] Do we have a line
to Mission Control?
Can you check it? Okay.
It's lost.
They've decided to take it down.
They all agreed.
It was even quicker than I anticipated.
- For once, they were quick.
- [Paula gasps]
Apparently, there was a big row
about who would get to supply
the weaponry.
It's a great opportunity
for show of some muscle, isn't it?
A great chance for mankind
lost.
Then all the better.
How so?
Then it's a good thing they don't have
the right coordinates, isn't it?
[TV newscaster]
According to official reports,
repeated searches have so far failed
to turn up any traces
at the point of detonation.
Experts therefore believe
that the unidentified flying object
was not missed,
but rather, that no such object approached
Earth last night in the first place.
- Measurements seem to confirm this.
- It wasn't there.
Although the military
is staying tight-lipped,
it seems clear that they still expect a
- What?
- There was nothing there.
They shot at nothing.
- unknown or undisclosed point in time
- [gasps]
- There is still no information
- What happens now?
- Oh, uh
- the unidentified flying
For starters, some people are
going to be in a very bad mood.
- Why?
- all over the world were put on alert
- Charlie, on your arm, can I see it?
- the atmosphere.
- But Mom said it was a secret.
- Experts theorized an object from space
- could have an effect on the climate.
- Not secret from me! From other people.
- A small change in global temperature
- She said it's better I didn't understand.
Then I can't tell anyone about it.
- I think they're GPS coordinates.
- What's that?
Well, it's like an address.
Hey, I I think Mom fooled them.
Look here. This is a date and a time.
- Really?
- Well, um
Wait. That's in one and a half days.
37 hours.
[landline phone ringing]
Shit.
Who is that?
- I told you some people would be mad now.
- [cell phone ringing]
[rattling]
[low rumbling]
- [Benisha] Where are the coordinates?
- [sighs] Quite safe.
Let's say it's a family secret.
That's my girl.
They will set watchdogs on me.
Put me under constant surveillance
until I'm on that plane back.
I play along until I'm home.
And as soon as they think they've got it,
I'm off the hook.
But I need your help.
I want the world to know.
Paula, my love. Have you not seen enough?
I have seen what happens
when the greedy few take over. Yes.
But this concerns all of us.
When it's out, they can't take it back.
There's no chance.
And the whole world will be in a debate.
Hmm
Well, then
Nothing like a decision made.
Will you help me?
Nora?
Dear, please see to it
that the preparations are done.
We need to move quickly.
If we have to do this,
we better do it right.
[woman] It's getting dark.
Take out the lights.
[Benisha] I will do all I can
for your message to come through.
- Okay. Thank you.
- [vehicle engine starts]
Don't thank me.
[tense music playing]
- [crows cawing]
- [dog barking]
Sven! Thank God you're back.
We were worried about you.
This is all so crazy, isn't it?
Sh
They're coming back.
Who's coming back?
They figured out they
had the wrong coordinates.
They're gonna shoot it down.
This time for real.
- Shit! We don't have a car.
- Okay. Go around back through the field.
- Charlie. Charlie!
- Go. Quickly!
Kathrin, we need your car!
[vehicle approaching]
[tense music continues]
[radio chatter]
Come!
[Charlie yelps]
Hey. You okay?
[Charlie] I can't keep going!
Charlie! Think of Mom's message.
Yeah? This is our chance. Okay?
Heads up! Back there!
Out of the truck.
[man on radio] Foxtrot for Bravo.
Do you have contact?
- [Else] Oh.
- Bravo for Foxtrot. False alarm. Over.
- [Kathrin] Here!
- [Sven] Thank you.
- [Kathrin] Come on.
- [Sven] Thank you, Kathrin.
Drive through the woods
and be careful. Bye.
[starts engine]
[Charlie] Where are we going?
[Sven] I don't know.
We have to lose them first.
Then we have to figure out
where that place is.
- Should we Google it?
- [both chuckle]
Mom always told you that you'd
need a new phone eventually.
- It's off, anyway.
- It's probably better that way.
- You're so old-fashioned.
- Paranoid.
What is "paranoid"?
Um that you're scared of being followed.
That you always have the feeling
someone is after you.
Man, what an asshole.
- Papa, isn't he too close?
- Yeah, Charlie, he's he's way too close.
[thump]
Are you insane?
[tires squeal]
- [Charlie squeals]
- [glass smashes]
- Papa!
- Hold on, Char!
[emotional music swells]
[gasping]
Charlie.
Charlie.
- Charlie
- [gasps softly]
[Sven] Okay.
[Charlie whimpers]
[Sven] Charlie.
- [beep]
- [whirring]
- [music fades]
- [crows cawing]
[beep]
[signal beeping]
[pressing button repeatedly]
[signal beeping rhythmically]
[muffled music playing]
[loud breathing]
[lively sitar music playing]
[exhales]
[pots clattering]
[sighs]
[cutlery clinking]
[Benisha] That's my mother.
You should never forget
where you come from.
I'm just like a
Nora, what's English for "schnecke"?
It's been so many years. I still
cannot master this wretched language.
These weird diphthongs. How do you say it?
- [Nora] "Snail."
- [Benisha] Snail.
I always carry my house with me.
[sharp inhale]
Look at me, just chatting away.
You probably haven't had
a proper meal in days.
She must be famished, yes? Come on.
[grunts]
- [jingling]
- [dog panting and whimpering]
[clattering]
[sizzling]
[chopping]
[Benisha] Hmm.
- [Charlie] Wow!
- I see you've met the man of the house.
- Hi, Papa.
- [dog whines]
[pans clattering]
[Benisha] Shall we?
- [cutlery clinking quietly]
- [woodpecker drilling]
[birdsong]
[dog barking outside]
Why did she choose Mom?
I think you can ask her yourself.
[chuckles]
[clears throat] She wants to know
why you chose my wife.
[Benisha] Mm.
If you want to change the world
you pick the smartest people.
And, oh boy was she smart.
She was also, uh crazy enough
to want to change the world.
[sighs]
I, uh have no children, you know.
You know, she doesn't have children.
Your mother was To me, she was very
special, right?
- Very special.
- [Benisha] Yes.
[optimistic music playing]
My mom had promised me
that I might be able to hear again.
[Sven sighs]
That she would beat death.
You know, in a way
she has.
There's something
on its way to meet us, Charlie.
That is a gift.
It is our chance to throw a stick
into the wheel of history.
We cannot lose our chance.
Tell me
What did your mother want for it?
- To save it.
- [Benisha] Yes.
So, how can I help?
Your decision.
[shudders]
[gasps shakily]
Oh!
Oh, you beautiful child.
You're just smart, so smart.
Really are your mother's child.
Now
How how many hours did we sleep?
- Sorry?
- What time is it?
It's three o'clock.
- And what day?
- [Nora] Friday, September 8th.
Why?
It's in 14 hours.
- [woman] The camera team is ready now.
- [man 1] This isn't right.
- [man 2 singing]
- [man 3 yelling]
[poignant music playing]
Hi, I'm Matthew from CSS.
We have so many questions to ask you.
Welcome back to Earth.
So, we all want to know,
how warm is it in the cabin
when you go through the atmosphere?
[Paula breathing shakily]
[muffled voices]
[Matthew]your contemporaries.
And, uh so what is going to be
your next step right now?
Yeah, you must be very, very emotional
to be back here.
[emotional music swells]
Where exactly are we going?
It's way down south.
In the middle of nowhere.
Driving would take ages.
How long?
Google it.
It's switched off.
I'm so forgetful.
What is it, dear?
I just had a thought.
- [music fades]
- Maybe you can help me.
Sure.
If Hadi's just the pawn in this,
then who's the queen?
[man] Thirty minutes, you said?
[helicopter whirring]
[phone ringing]
Five missed calls.
From whom?
Don't know the number.
[phone chimes]
1 MESSAGE RECEIVED
MUDHI RED HAND
[quiet, eerie music playing]
[man] We're flying too low. One, two
No, low.
You have to turn left
and fly over W2 and W1.
FROM: GREGOR T. BKA:
MUDHI RED HAND
[ominous music playing]
[Nora] He knows we bombed the plane.
Charlie
[in German] Don't make a fuss now, dear.
You wouldn't want to worry the child.
I think I can see the sea.
Really?
[static humming faintly]
[in German] I am sorry.
- [in German] Please don't apologize.
- I would do it again, if necessary.
But that doesn't mean
it didn't break my heart.
I promised your wife one thing.
That I would make this encounter happen.
And that is what I'm doing.
Even if it meant saving it from her.
178 people
dead.
People die all the time.
That's what we do.
We are nothing but flowers
on a hot summer day.
[sighs]
We come, we go, just like that.
Hmm.
You're going to die too.
I am going to die sooner
rather than later.
It just doesn't matter.
You didn't die.
Other people did.
This is singular.
If history is a vicious cycle,
this is the break.
This is our chance at salvation.
[gasps]
We cannot let this chance go.
If this is how we do it
maybe we aren't worth saving.
Oh, cynics are nothing
but brokenhearted romantics.
- Have you ever heard that?
- I'm cynical.
What's that make you?
[scoffs]
Pragmatic.
Isn't any common murderer
ultimately just being pragmatic?
The difference between a murderer
and a national hero
is not the deed.
It's the cause.
[scoffs]
So being pragmatic.
What's that mean?
For us?
Charlie.
Don't make a fuss now, dear.
Come sit with me.
Nora?
What's going on?
[Sven] We talked so much,
my battery's almost dead.
We're finally gonna get you
a new one, don't try to resist.
- I'm low-tech.
- [chuckles] Really?
I don't want to be a data junkie.
You know that. I'm too old-fashioned.
Or paranoid.
Oh, no, no! No, no, no, no,
This can't be! I
Come, come, come here. Come to me.
I wish you had never found out.
Things would have been quite different
for all of us.
Well
Not to spoil the festive mood.
[radio chatter]
[solemn music playing]
[music fades]
[wind whistling]
[Benisha] Nora, what time is it, love?
[Nora] T minus 27 minutes.
Good, then we have enough time
to compose ourselves.
Step back, please.
This is not a time for weapons.
[man on radio] Fall back.
Join me, sir.
If you wish.
Let's see
if you can let go of the sadness.
Fuck you.
What did she say?
She says, "Screw you."
[laughs]
[sighs]
[rings bells]
- [sighs]
- [Paula] Sven, something crazy happened.
[Sven] What happened that was so crazy?
[clicking]
Paula?
Nothing, I I just wanted
to tell you that I listened to you.
- About what?
- Fox and Hare.
- Next time, I'll win.
- Huh?
I learned from the best.
I learned from you.
[bells ring]
Twenty seconds.
[rings bells]
Ten.
[bells echoing]
[bells ring]
[Sven sighs]
[sighs]
Nora, will you check the time, dear?
T plus 20.
[Sven gasps]
She must've listened
[Charlie] What?
Think how can the hare win?
In our game, what did I teach you?
What's the hare's only chance?
He always has to stay
two steps ahead of the fox.
That's right.
[ominous music playing]
[PA] Should you have any questions
or requests, just let us know
FLIGHT 7606 OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC
I'm supposed to give you this at 7:00.
[sighs]
[Hadi gasps]
[rattling]
- [Paula yelps]
- [Hadi] Shit! Oh!
Paula! Paula! Hey!
[Benisha] Nora, fetch the child, please.
[Sven] Uh
No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Leave her alone.
[man] Don't move.
Don't move.
Show me your arm, dear.
It's all correct.
[gasps]
It looks like we've been
led on a wild goose chase.
I always knew you were a smart child.
Well done.
But enough fun and games.
Where?
- Where what?
- Where are the correct coordinates?
Leave her alone!
I don't know.
- [Benisha] Where?
- She doesn't know!
All right.
[ominous music playing]
[sighs]
Where?
I don't know! I really don't!
[trembling]
- [yelps]
- [Charlie] Papa!
[Sven coughing]
- [breathing shakily]
- [Sven groaning]
[Paula and passengers screaming]
[Hadi] Hey! Ow!
Hey. Hey! What are you doing?
[screaming]
It was all for nothing.
I have to get to the cockpit.
[Hadi] Hey! Wait! Wait!
Paula!
- Let me through!
- You can't go in!
[Paula] I said to let me through!
[pilot]7606. We lost our cabin pressure.
What are you doing here?
- [Hadi] There was an explosion.
- [co-pilot] Get out!
- Get out!
- It's okay. We're not doing anything.
- We just need the intercom.
- [computer] Pull up.
- [Hadi] We need it.
- [pilot] No!
I'll ask again.
Where?
- I don't know where! [sobbing]
- [Sven groans]
[Benisha] All right.
[Sven panting]
[laughing weakly]
Oh, I'm such an idiot!
[coughs] It was so obvious all along!
- [coughing]
- What is?
[Sven] There are no other coordinates.
And and do you know why not?
Nothing's coming.
- Get him up.
- [radio squawks]
[groaning]
Think about it.
Who received the signal?
My wife.
Who did the math?
The calculations? My my wife.
The woman who could prove
the sun revolves around the Earth
if that's what she wanted to show.
The woman who was terrified
of her own hallucinations.
Only one other person could have
substantiated it, but you had him killed.
Along with 176
other completely innocent people.
For nothing. Not for any noble purpose.
For nothing at all.
[breathing heavily]
Common murderer.
Nora, dear? Just get all these people
in the choppers, please.
You think Mom was crazy?
Always two steps ahead of the fox.
- All right. We're done.
- [Sven] Don't worry.
You're certainly not
the first person in world history
to fall prey
to their delusions of grandeur.
[Benisha] Bring them here.
[Sven groaning]
Thank you for trusting me, my dear.
It was worth a try.
[sighs]
[kisses]
Make sure to do the girl first.
So she's not scared.
You are not serious.
[inhales sharply]
[sighs heavily]
What's that, dear?
Everything for this one singular goal.
I'm with you. Anything.
But it's
It's not here. Nothing is here.
We're done.
They'll catch us.
There's no point in doing this.
This is vengeance.
Thank you for offering yourself up
for this unsavory task.
You do it, dear.
[poignant music playing]
[radio chatter]
[Nora sighs shakily]
You watch her see it through.
[breathing unsteadily]
[Charlie trembling]
Nora.
Nora.
Please
[Charlie sobbing]
[Sven] Nora, Nora, Nora Please! Nora.
Nora, no!
Please
[gunshot echoes]
[gunshot echoes]
- [computer] Terrain.
- [pilot] Bravo Charlie, 7606.
We've lost our cabin pressure.
Descending to 5,000 feet.
- Sven.
- [electronic voice] Pull up. Terrain.
- Listen to me.
- [Hadi] It's okay. Take my hand.
- You have to listen to me very carefully.
- [Hadi] Take my hand.
- You have to listen to Carlotta above all.
- Pull up.
- Don't let go.
- [Paula] You can't do it alone.
- Terrain.
- [Hadi] Take my hand.
- You need each other. I need both of you.
- [Hadi] Just hold on.
- Just hold onto my hand.
- Remember when I said.
That some things are bigger than us.
I'm sorry.
I love you.
Stay down.
Till you can't hear us anymore.
[helicopter engines whirring]
- [Sven] Are you all right?
- Mm-hmm.
[Sven sighs] That was a close one.
[music fades]
Did we beat the fox?
[Sven chuckles softly]
[groans]
- Mom wasn't crazy.
- [sighs]
Or she was just crazy enough.
There isn't anything coming, is there?
There is!
I didn't understand it at first.
I didn't listen well enough.
It was all there.
She told us to put our pieces together.
- But we only have one piece.
- Mm-mm.
You have the right place.
But I
have the right time.
[beep]
[Paula] And one more thing.
St. Nicholas' Day is
our ten-year anniversary,
and this time, you can't cop out.
Okay? I want us to do something big.
Go away with Flitzi or something.
[chuckles]
We didn't meet on St. Nicholas' Day.
Our our anniversary is in the summer.
But, then, what's on St. Nich
[laughs]
[phone chirps]
Oh.
[phone beeps]
I have signal.
[laughs]
- [gentle, optimistic music playing]
- [beep]
[dialing tone]
[dialing]
THREE MONTHS LATER
[sighs]
[muffled sounds]
[reporter] After a long global search,
she was captured in a hideout
in rural Andhra Pradesh.
They caught her.
The philanthropist billionaire is accused
of the bombing of Flight 7606,
in which 178 people died,
including two German astronauts.
The scientists had received a grant
from Mudhi to work aboard the ISS.
Her arrest was made possible
thanks in large part
to the help of a former employee,
who has confessed to her own
complicity in the bombing.
She emphatically refused
to accept a plea bargain
in exchange for her cooperation
That's enough, yeah?
Let's have breakfast.
We have a long trip ahead of us.
[emotional music swells]
That way.
[music fades]
Why?
Hmm?
Why Mom, of all people?
[wind gusting]
I think
someone just needed to listen.
And Mom wanted to hear.
- Want some tea?
- Yeah.
[bottle squeaks]
[echoing thunderclap]
Hey. [gasps]
[low rumbling]
[poignant music playing]
[rumbling intensifying]
[crashing]
Papa.
It's the Voyager!
It's the real Voyager, Papa!
[emotional music swells]
[voice inside] Hello?
[gasps]
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
[creaking]
Hello?
[child] Hello
from the children of planet Earth.
[woman, in French] Hello, everyone!
[man, in German] Greetings to everyone.
[man, in Hebrew] Peace.
[man, in Hindi] Greetings
from Earth's inhabitants.
[reporter] Meanwhile, teams
of international experts have confirmed
that the incredible find
in the Waidu Desert
is indeed the Voyager 1 probe.
It was sent into space by humankind
in the 1970s,
carrying its signature golden record.
[man] The space agencies currently believe
that somebody out there
sent the probe back to us.
[woman 1, in Japanese] Hello.
[woman 2] For a brief moment today,
the world stood still.
We now know that someone is out there.
But we don't have to be afraid.
This someone wishes us well.
This event reminds us that a long time
ago, we wanted to be something.
That we had a common message.
At this moment, we feel a profound sorrow,
because we have not
lived up to that message.
We never came together,
we never became one.
[man, in Bengali]
Let there be peace everywhere.
[man, in Burmese] Greetings.
[woman, in Cantonese] How's everyone?
Wish you peace, health and happiness.
[wind gusting]
[emotional music playing]
[Sven chuckles]
I love
you.
[Sven sobs]
[woman] The message that we received today
did not come from a foreign planet
or another civilization.
It came from us.
We know what we have to do.
[man, in Latin] Greetings to you.
[woman] Something has to change.
[man, in Latin] We bear you goodwill,
and we bring peace through the stars.
[emotional music playing]
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
The darkest dreams ♪
Are my reality ♪
My mind a haze ♪
My waking is a thief ♪
You don't want to stay ♪
Here with me ♪
I am moving ♪
Through a silver stream ♪
[music fades]
[emotional instrumental music playing]
[music fades]