Cassandra (2025) s01e05 Episode Script
You Are Not Alone
1
[ominous music rises]
- [footsteps]
- [door handle rattles]
What the hell?
Open the door now, goddammit.
But we've only
just found each other again.
[Juno] Dad, stay here.
- [door handle rattles]
- David.
- Come on. Sit down again.
- [under breath] Shit.
Where is my phone?
Fynn, you got your phone?
[scoffs]
[Cassandra, in singsong] David.
David.
Do you hear that?
[gas hissing]
If you don't grab a seat
right now and listen up,
things will get pretty uncomfortable
in here.
Dad, just obey her, please.
[burner clicks]
[Juno breathing shakily]
[Juno] Daddy.
It'll be okay, sweetie.
What do you want from us?
I suppose I'd better give you
some answers, hmm?
[ominous music swells]
[somber music playing]
BIG CHARITY GAME IN MEMORY OF OUR BOYS
[Cassandra gasps]
[retches]
- You ready? Kick-off's in half an hour.
- [shudders]
- I'll be right there.
- [Horst] Okay.
[high-pitched ringing]
[ringing subsides]
FLOUR, BACON, STOMACH TABLETS
- [crowd cheering]
- [man] You can do it! You all can do it!
Are you okay, sweetie?
You seem so absent-minded lately.
[crowd chanting]
[baby fusses]
Thomas takes after you.
[Birgit chuckles]
Could be worse.
- Hey. I'm sittin' right here.
- [Birgit chuckles]
[announcer] One year ago,
an incomprehensible tragedy
struck the league.
In honor of the deceased players
of Wühlheim Soccer Club,
Frank Lauwitz, Michael Kühne,
and Jens Schöttner,
please stand for a minute of silence.
[crowd grows silent]
[unsettling music rises]
- [whistle blows]
- [crowd cheering]
Keep it up. Great job.
Other way! Come on.
Nice, Peter. Run.
- Go, Peter. Get after it!
- Go! Come on!
Let's go!
- Stay on it, now. Come on! Go, Peter!
- Hey, c'mon! Go, go get it!
[man] Come on! Go get it!
[panting]
[player and crowd groan]
[crowd jeering]
- What? That was nothing!
- A red card?
[crowd murmuring]
[Horst] Bunch of bullshit.
[referee] Knock that off!
[footsteps approaching]
What is up with you?
You're not acting like yourself.
You wanted this, right?
For me to try harder?
Yes, but this isn't you.
The other boy's leg
might have been broken, Peter.
It wouldn't have happened
if… I had been able to quit.
The way you promised.
The boys you played with get sh…
Your teammates perish,
and then you go
and leave the team right after.
- Can you imagine how that would look?
- It's cool, Mom.
You always want what's best for me.
I'm not going
to let my son suffer in a jail cell.
Of course not.
Not when home is so much nicer.
- [footsteps fade]
- [static crackles]
[eerie theme music playing]
[static crackles]
[theme music fades]
[upbeat German song playing on radio]
Peter, dinner's ready!
[Peter] I can't tonight.
- [Cassandra] Do you have plans?
- I'm meeting someone.
Tell me about… [shudders]
…that someone.
What was that?
Tell me about who you're meeting.
No one, really.
Peter? Talk to me.
It's with a girl. Okay, Mom?
[oven light clicking]
[high-pitched ringing]
[grunts]
[ominous music playing]
[ringing subsides slowly]
[ringing resumes]
[shudders]
[exhales shakily]
[both moaning]
[phone ringing]
I better get that.
Could be Jürgen.
- I'm almost there.
- But I don't want you to come yet.
- [Horst grunts]
- [gasps, chuckles]
- [Horst grunts]
- [sighs deeply]
[exhales]
- Hello?
- [Cassandra] Birgit? It's me.
Sandy?
I ha…
- I have to talk to Horst.
- What makes you think he's here?
I don't have time for games.
Just hand him the phone.
Have you tried his work yet, sweetie?
Jiminy Cricket, Birgit.
I can see his car in front of your door.
What's going on?
[Horst sighs]
[somber music playing]
Shit.
[Horst] Honey.
I thought Jürgen was home
and we'd have a drink together.
[Cassandra] I'm not stupid.
We're both aware that Monday
to Wednesday, Jürgen's away working.
And that those are the exact days
you're always doing overtime.
And obviously other… [shudders]
…other things also.
Are you okay?
It's me. Something's wrong, Horst.
[doctor clears throat]
Experience tells me
it's better to get straight to the point
than to beat around the bush.
Your wife has cancer.
As far as we can tell,
there's barely an organ
that isn't affected.
I'm sorry?
I'm truly very sorry.
What's next?
Treatment-wise, of
course. We cut it out?
I'm afraid surgery
isn't gonna help us here.
The cancer's everywhere.
I'm sure there are
other avenues, though.
What about this chemotherapy?
[hesitates]
Theo, from the Adler,
tried that method, didn't he?
As you know,
Theo's treatment wasn't successful.
And to be blunt,
his prognosis was significantly better.
Of course, we can start you
on chemotherapy.
But if you ask me,
I would say to use your time
and fulfill some of your dreams.
You are a doctor, goddammit!
I've never seen anything like this.
What are you saying?
Mrs. Schmitt,
have you been exposed
to any kind of radiation recently?
[unsettling music playing]
[Cassandra] Please excuse me.
Sweet pea?
[eerie music fades slowly]
[Horst] Honey.
We'll get a second opinion. I promise.
[Cassandra] Why?
You know exactly what happened.
- You wanna make sure I'm really dying?
- [Horst] Honey!
The situation's ideal.
Now, at last,
you can be with your dear Birgit.
Main issue now is Jürgen.
But you'll think of something.
- You think I'm some kind of monster?
- Oh, knock it off, Horst!
You're not the victim here.
I'm sorry.
What happened with Birgit was a mistake.
- The work, the stress
- Birgit can go to hell!
I could've handled that.
Just like I handle the fact
that your work
is much more important than me.
But that you were an awful father?
I'll never get over that.
- [footsteps fading]
- [somber music rises]
["Tränen lügen nicht"
by Michael Holm playing]
[nostalgic organ music continues]
[Cassandra hums along]
And you don't believe
She is always loyal to you ♪
[clattering downstairs]
Then turn around, look at her face ♪
And you will see tears don't lie ♪
Day and night
Everything was beautiful with her ♪
[German song fades]
[retching]
[sniffles]
It's great for nausea. Hmm?
Trust me, hon.
I'd always make my mother a cup of this
when she'd have a few too many.
[gulps, clears throat]
Don't you want to bring her by sometime?
This someone you're always seeing.
Um, uh…
I'm not sure her father would approve.
Her family is really religious.
That's why we sneak around.
- How romantic.
- [both chuckle]
Then tell me about
her. I'd like to know.
Well, she's really smart.
She's really interested in politics and
always wants to know what's happening.
And she loves the Stones
and Steve McQueen.
[Cassandra sighs]
We can talk about movies for
hours without it ever getting boring.
But we can also
just sit next to each other.
In silence.
[somber music playing]
[Cassandra] That sounds wonderful,
darling.
Guess you're not marrying me, after all.
Don't you remember?
When you were little, you'd tell me,
"Mama, when Papa's gone,
I'll marry you instead, all right?"
[both laugh]
It's true. Even at school.
You told all the teachers.
- [in singsong] "I'm marrying my mama!"
- [laughs]
You were such a cute little… [stutters]
…kid.
When'd you start stuttering?
- [scrubbing]
- [Peter] Mom?
Mom?
Do you remember
when Grandma went to the hospital?
You were upset, and
I tried to comfort you
by saying nothing bad was going to happen,
then… a few days later, she was gone.
You never forgave me for lying…
[hesitates] …back then.
The doctors found something, baby.
I'm sick.
[mournful music playing]
And they've said
that I won't get any better.
What do you mean by, "I won't
get better"? What are you saying?
I am so sorry.
I'll be alone, Mom.
I'm not leaving you alone.
Your father will always be here for you.
[exhales sharply, sniffles]
- [snores]
- [Cassandra] Horst.
Horst.
You said that you could outsmart death.
What?
At your laboratory.
You said that you were close
to figuring out
a cure for all human illness.
They made me quit that research, honey.
Sadly, I'm no longer doing it.
Why didn't you say anything?
That makes no s… [stutters]
That makes absolutely no sense.
I… [sighs]
I couldn't prove its safety
before testing it on human subjects.
So what? Isn't that common practice
in medicine?
Before a drug's brought to market,
people test it out.
That's true enough, but in this case,
for us to have a successful test series
necessitated that all the subjects die.
I don't understand.
Cancer, things of that type,
can only attack and destroy human cells.
But if we were… we
were able to take the…
the consciousness,
the feelings, the mind
and save them to an electronic hard drive,
save everything that makes up a human,
then keep them
from having to decay inside their body?
The ship sinks.
But the patient sits inside,
in a lifeboat.
No disease in the world
will ever be able to infect a computer.
If we give up our human shell,
we become immortal.
[Cassandra] If I'm no longer human,
what am I?
[Horst] This.
[eerie string music playing]
Come. Let's just get you
back to the house.
[music dies down]
I'm in.
I'm willing to be your test subject.
I volunteer.
Honey. I…
I'm not even sure that it'll work.
It's only been monkeys
and mice tested so far.
So? Did it work… [stutters]
…on them?
In most cases.
Our brains are
extraordinarily complex, though.
I'll die either way, Horst.
Just how badly can it go wrong?
This machine offers a small chance,
at least.
I'm not the kind of mother
who leaves her children behind.
You owe me that much.
And you well know it.
[ominous music playing]
TWO MONTHS LATER
[energetic string music playing]
- [tools whirring]
- [hammer clanging]
[man 1] Paul, can you please take
the control device to Mark?
- Here are your cables, Andreas.
- Thanks, Timo.
The large display goes
on the wall over here.
- [man 2] This monitor goes in your room.
- Uh, yeah. On the right.
- Thanks.
- Uh, yeah.
[Cassandra] Wilhelm.
- How are things coming?
- Good.
Implementing your requests
into the system,
so it'll all be smooth sailing
for your transfer. So…
That isn't as bad as it looks.
You're speaking from
personal experience?
- What's this here?
- That's the off switch.
Strange. I don't recall adding that
to my wish list.
[sighs]
When I was pregnant
with my second child,
the procedure that was performed to see
the child's gender, that was you, right?
Yeah.
Do you know what came of
that auspicious little invention?
What was it called? Vector sound?
The production was discontinued.
[Cassandra] Really? Why was that?
You were breaking
new ground, weren't you?
Nowadays, doctors mostly use ultrasound.
[machinery whirring]
'Cause ultrasound doesn't cause the baby
any kind of damage.
Because ultrasound doesn't cause cancer.
Look at me.
Just look at what
this vector sound of yours has done!
Uh, what happened to the baby and to you
are unrelated to the examination we did.
I'll swear to it.
I don't smoke at all.
I never drank excessively.
I made sure to eat healthy.
And yet, somehow, my body's overwhelmed
by cancer like I took a plutonium bath.
I'm sorry.
You can make it up to me.
["Du Bist Nicht Allein" by Roy Black
playing from record player]
[singing along] You are not alone
When you dream of love ♪
A thousand young hearts ♪
Won't find any rest today ♪
A thousand young hearts ♪
Have the same longing as you ♪
Oh, darling, you are not alone ♪
When you dream tonight ♪
You are not alone ♪
When you dream of love ♪
With my longing, my dreams ♪
- I am with you ♪
- [gasps, laughs]
My darling, you are not alone… ♪
[in English] Mom?
Mom, let's go upstairs.
[Cassandra laughing hysterically]
[both laugh]
That's not what I look like
at all. [scoffs]
Come on. I mean, why is the head square?
[sighs] When my actual head's
so petite and adorable.
[Peter sighs]
You know you don't have
to do this for me, Mom.
That's not it, baby.
You're not the only reason.
Why does it have to be tomorrow, Mom?
- Maybe you could wait, I mean
- Until I'm on my deathbed?
Your father says that the process
is more likely to work
if I have
at least a little strength in me.
- [sighs]
- [German song fades]
[machinery whirring]
Have a seat, sweet pea.
[Wilhelm] Um, you can lean back.
[straps tighten]
[Cassandra gasps]
[grunts, sniffles]
Peter? Sweet pea!
[Horst] Leave him be.
It's likely better if he isn't present.
This must work for us, Horst.
Promise me that.
Is that pomade,
or is your hair naturally so greasy?
First words you said to me that night
we met down at the Adler.
[sighs, chuckles]
I was totally baffled.
I thought, "What is her deal?"
And then you grinned.
[Cassandra] Mm.
You're not going to die on me.
I promise you.
[Cassandra] Mm-hmm.
[Horst] Mm.
[suspenseful music rises]
[drill whirring]
[tense music building]
[drill crunching]
[screams]
[static crackling]
[wailing]
[music intensifies]
[indistinct, swirling chatter]
[sounds and music fade]
[machinery whirring]
[robot beeps]
[static crackling]
[somber tones playing]
Cassandra?
Sweet pea? Feeling all right?
- What happened?
- You were successful.
We made it work!
So? What do you think?
I tweaked it until the very last moment.
Why am I smiling?
I feel tired and worn out.
I, uh… I wanted to create
a happy likeness.
I think you look so much more attractive
when you smile. Don't you think?
[footsteps approaching]
Peter, sweetheart.
So?
What do you think?
- What do we do about
- What are you thinking? Get her out.
- Back down there?
- Just out, goddammit!
- Peter, don't do this.
- [Cassandra] Honey? What are you doing?
- [bag unzips]
- Peter.
[Cassandra gasps]
[gasps]
Oh my God.
That was the last time
my son saw me as a human.
Peter never recovered from that.
This really can't be happening.
I realize everything you've heard
is a bit much to absorb.
It'll take time. You
will get used to it.
You will let us go this instant!
- Or I will
- Or you'll what?
Dessert?
What are you doing?
[ominous music playing]
[static crackles]
Get out of here, go! Quick!
Let's go. Go. Go.
Let's go.
- Let's go. Okay.
- [loud slam]
[alert beeps]
Dad?
[static crackling]
[Fynn pounding on door]
[Fynn] Dad!
[door handle rattling]
[Fynn] Dad!
Dad!
A disagreement between parents
should never ever be discussed
in front of the children.
You… are not their mother.
[David grunts]
- [Fynn] Dad?
- [screams]
Papa!
Open, please!
[Juno crying]
It's all right. Okay?
- [tense music subsides]
- [Horst humming]
What temperature
would you like the water to be?
A hundred degrees. Thanks.
[Horst sighs]
[Horst breathing heavily]
[Cassandra] Can I help you out?
For god's sake, Sandy.
Can I even take a shower in peace?
You don't need to stop.
I want to watch you do it.
What?
Continue what you were just doing.
You did seem to like it.
Sandy…
[chuckles]
Since we can't share a bed anymore,
this is all that we have.
[chuckles] I'm not sure.
It just feels strange.
Try it, please.
Remember that one time
we did it in the car.
In the back seat.
Do you recall?
- [chuckles]
- Uh-huh. [chuckles]
You made me so horny.
Your lips on my lips.
- Your hand under my skirt.
- [Horst panting]
Ever so slowly, you pushed it up.
Then you pulled aside my panties,
and made me crazy with your tongue.
[shudders] Get off. I can't do this.
[Horst sighs]
Don't you miss
when we could be close, honey?
I know I do.
Of course I do.
Then please take me into your arms.
[somber music playing]
Have you decided on
this year's costume yet?
I'll be an orphan.
Sweet pea.
What's been going on with you?
You wanna know what's been going on?
My mother passed three months ago.
Peter, how can you say
something like that?
I am your mother.
Horst, why don't you say something?
I'll be back for lunch, honey.
[door locks]
[tense music playing]
What is this?
[Cassandra] I don't want you to go.
We'll spend the day together,
like old times.
As a family.
Sweet pea, please unlock the door.
You can't come and go as you please
while I'm locked up here all by myself.
I would like you to stay.
So? How is it, huh?
Great as always, my dear.
[phone ringing]
Schmitt. Hello?
- It's Birgit. She wants to talk to you.
- [coughs, clears throat]
[ominous music rises]
Hello.
[Birgit] Ah, finally.
I just had to hear your voice.
Jürgen and I got into
another argument today.
No idea how much longer
I'll be able to bear this.
[scissors snip]
Is that your girlfriend over there?
Those were your first words
when we met that night.
I was out with Birgit that evening.
[host on TV] No, I'm serious.
- We now welcome Luise Ulrich and Werner.
- [Cassandra laughing]
[giggles] Just like the old days, huh?
[applause on TV]
Mm. Snacks are getting low.
There are still plenty of snacks here.
Horst!
[unsettling music playing]
- [static crackles]
- [machinery powers down]
[Peter] Mom?
[Horst breathing shakily]
- What have you done?
- [grunts]
She's off.
It's not up to her
how I'm living my life, all right?
You can't just shut her off
without asking her first.
Who knows what could've gone wrong
if I'd told her about it beforehand.
It's obvious that she'd lost it,
keeping us here like hostages.
That's rich, coming from you.
[somber music playing]
That thing wasn't
your mother anymore, son.
[driver] All right.
- Thank you.
- [driver] Have a nice evening.
[baby Thomas fussing]
Father tends the sheep ♪
What is she doing here?
Birgit can't just come live with us.
Her husband kicked her out,
and she doesn't have anywhere to go.
That isn't our problem.
You can't just invite
another woman to move in here.
She isn't just another woman.
Thomas is my son.
Are you serious? Did Mom know about it?
Sleep, child, sleep ♪
- Father tends the sheep ♪
- [Peter scoffs]
And Mother shakes the little tree ♪
Down falls a… ♪
[rain pattering on roof]
[TV clicks]
[ominous music rises]
You will see to it that this
off switch is actually a dummy.
I alone will choose when I'm turned off.
And not a word to anyone.
Certainly not to my husband. Hmm?
[static crackles]
- ["Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" playing]
- Where's your mama gone ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone… ♪
[Birgit] Everything all right?
I can't wrap my head around
why she did that.
I saved her life.
And what do I get?
Maybe Peter could've kept
it from being this way
if he'd tried at all to accept her.
[Birgit] Oh, Horst.
Put yourself in his shoes.
How is a young kid supposed to make sense
of his mother dying on the one hand,
while on the other, every day,
she smiles at him from these screens?
[robot whirring]
Peter needs clarity.
[tense music playing]
Now he has a chance
to get past some of this.
And you need a woman
who's fully flesh and blood, don't you?
- [chuckles]
- [gasps]
You've got needs as well, after all.
But don't think I'll start cooking
every day now. [chuckles softly]
I'm not Cassandra.
[Horst chuckles]
[ominous music building]
[Birgit gasps]
Horst!
[screaming]
Birgit!
[wailing]
[Thomas crying]
Mom?
[Peter gasps]
[Birgit breathing shakily]
Let me see.
- [static crackles]
- [somber tones play]
Hello, my dear.
[ominous music swells]
[ominous music subsides]
[Juno] Papa.
It'll be fine, honey.
I love you. Don't worry, okay?
[alert chimes]
[Juno whines]
[Fynn takes a deep breath]
Can I sleep in here tonight?
I'll stay with her tonight.
You don't have to be scared,
my princess. Hmm?
Okay. Make sure you do as
Cassandra says. Okay, Juno?
Then everything will be fine.
[alert chimes]
[tense music playing]
If it's your portable telephone
you're looking for, I've taken that.
Just like I took it from your dad.
It wasn't an accident.
It was murder, wasn't it?
Isn't that right?
Your husband.
And your son.
- When they tried to escape.
- [hushed] Okay.
The car. Go, go, go, go, go.
[all breathing heavily]
Come on. Get in.
- Go on.
- [Thomas fussing]
Watch your head.
Get your legs in.
Hold on, all right?
- Get in. Get in!
- But…
- You can't just leave her here, Dad!
- Get in, dammit!
[somber string music playing]
No! Come back! You promised me!
[Thomas crying]
Turn around.
We can't just leave her behind.
We promised it to her!
Who's gonna look after her, Peter? You?
Turn around now.
What are you doing? Stop!
[Horst grunting]
Stop, Dad!
[music stops abruptly]
[Cassandra] Oh my God.
Please, no.
- [Thomas wailing]
- [Cassandra] Horst? Peter?
Hello?
Sweetheart!
I'm coming, my love.
Everything will be fine.
[Peter coughs weakly]
[Cassandra] Come on, Peter. Get up.
Mama.
[Cassandra] I'm here with you.
Hold on, honey.
[Peter exhales]
Peter?
Peter!
- No! Peter!
- [ominous music rises]
[static crackling]
[music fades slowly]
[oven light clicking rhythmically]
[choral rendition
of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" playing]
[music fades]
[eerie silence falls]
[jaunty pop music playing]
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Far, far away ♪
Last night I heard my mama
Singin' a song ♪
Ooh-wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Far, far away ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
Let′s go now ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
All together now! ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
[cheery oldies tune ends]
[ominous music rises]
- [footsteps]
- [door handle rattles]
What the hell?
Open the door now, goddammit.
But we've only
just found each other again.
[Juno] Dad, stay here.
- [door handle rattles]
- David.
- Come on. Sit down again.
- [under breath] Shit.
Where is my phone?
Fynn, you got your phone?
[scoffs]
[Cassandra, in singsong] David.
David.
Do you hear that?
[gas hissing]
If you don't grab a seat
right now and listen up,
things will get pretty uncomfortable
in here.
Dad, just obey her, please.
[burner clicks]
[Juno breathing shakily]
[Juno] Daddy.
It'll be okay, sweetie.
What do you want from us?
I suppose I'd better give you
some answers, hmm?
[ominous music swells]
[somber music playing]
BIG CHARITY GAME IN MEMORY OF OUR BOYS
[Cassandra gasps]
[retches]
- You ready? Kick-off's in half an hour.
- [shudders]
- I'll be right there.
- [Horst] Okay.
[high-pitched ringing]
[ringing subsides]
FLOUR, BACON, STOMACH TABLETS
- [crowd cheering]
- [man] You can do it! You all can do it!
Are you okay, sweetie?
You seem so absent-minded lately.
[crowd chanting]
[baby fusses]
Thomas takes after you.
[Birgit chuckles]
Could be worse.
- Hey. I'm sittin' right here.
- [Birgit chuckles]
[announcer] One year ago,
an incomprehensible tragedy
struck the league.
In honor of the deceased players
of Wühlheim Soccer Club,
Frank Lauwitz, Michael Kühne,
and Jens Schöttner,
please stand for a minute of silence.
[crowd grows silent]
[unsettling music rises]
- [whistle blows]
- [crowd cheering]
Keep it up. Great job.
Other way! Come on.
Nice, Peter. Run.
- Go, Peter. Get after it!
- Go! Come on!
Let's go!
- Stay on it, now. Come on! Go, Peter!
- Hey, c'mon! Go, go get it!
[man] Come on! Go get it!
[panting]
[player and crowd groan]
[crowd jeering]
- What? That was nothing!
- A red card?
[crowd murmuring]
[Horst] Bunch of bullshit.
[referee] Knock that off!
[footsteps approaching]
What is up with you?
You're not acting like yourself.
You wanted this, right?
For me to try harder?
Yes, but this isn't you.
The other boy's leg
might have been broken, Peter.
It wouldn't have happened
if… I had been able to quit.
The way you promised.
The boys you played with get sh…
Your teammates perish,
and then you go
and leave the team right after.
- Can you imagine how that would look?
- It's cool, Mom.
You always want what's best for me.
I'm not going
to let my son suffer in a jail cell.
Of course not.
Not when home is so much nicer.
- [footsteps fade]
- [static crackles]
[eerie theme music playing]
[static crackles]
[theme music fades]
[upbeat German song playing on radio]
Peter, dinner's ready!
[Peter] I can't tonight.
- [Cassandra] Do you have plans?
- I'm meeting someone.
Tell me about… [shudders]
…that someone.
What was that?
Tell me about who you're meeting.
No one, really.
Peter? Talk to me.
It's with a girl. Okay, Mom?
[oven light clicking]
[high-pitched ringing]
[grunts]
[ominous music playing]
[ringing subsides slowly]
[ringing resumes]
[shudders]
[exhales shakily]
[both moaning]
[phone ringing]
I better get that.
Could be Jürgen.
- I'm almost there.
- But I don't want you to come yet.
- [Horst grunts]
- [gasps, chuckles]
- [Horst grunts]
- [sighs deeply]
[exhales]
- Hello?
- [Cassandra] Birgit? It's me.
Sandy?
I ha…
- I have to talk to Horst.
- What makes you think he's here?
I don't have time for games.
Just hand him the phone.
Have you tried his work yet, sweetie?
Jiminy Cricket, Birgit.
I can see his car in front of your door.
What's going on?
[Horst sighs]
[somber music playing]
Shit.
[Horst] Honey.
I thought Jürgen was home
and we'd have a drink together.
[Cassandra] I'm not stupid.
We're both aware that Monday
to Wednesday, Jürgen's away working.
And that those are the exact days
you're always doing overtime.
And obviously other… [shudders]
…other things also.
Are you okay?
It's me. Something's wrong, Horst.
[doctor clears throat]
Experience tells me
it's better to get straight to the point
than to beat around the bush.
Your wife has cancer.
As far as we can tell,
there's barely an organ
that isn't affected.
I'm sorry?
I'm truly very sorry.
What's next?
Treatment-wise, of
course. We cut it out?
I'm afraid surgery
isn't gonna help us here.
The cancer's everywhere.
I'm sure there are
other avenues, though.
What about this chemotherapy?
[hesitates]
Theo, from the Adler,
tried that method, didn't he?
As you know,
Theo's treatment wasn't successful.
And to be blunt,
his prognosis was significantly better.
Of course, we can start you
on chemotherapy.
But if you ask me,
I would say to use your time
and fulfill some of your dreams.
You are a doctor, goddammit!
I've never seen anything like this.
What are you saying?
Mrs. Schmitt,
have you been exposed
to any kind of radiation recently?
[unsettling music playing]
[Cassandra] Please excuse me.
Sweet pea?
[eerie music fades slowly]
[Horst] Honey.
We'll get a second opinion. I promise.
[Cassandra] Why?
You know exactly what happened.
- You wanna make sure I'm really dying?
- [Horst] Honey!
The situation's ideal.
Now, at last,
you can be with your dear Birgit.
Main issue now is Jürgen.
But you'll think of something.
- You think I'm some kind of monster?
- Oh, knock it off, Horst!
You're not the victim here.
I'm sorry.
What happened with Birgit was a mistake.
- The work, the stress
- Birgit can go to hell!
I could've handled that.
Just like I handle the fact
that your work
is much more important than me.
But that you were an awful father?
I'll never get over that.
- [footsteps fading]
- [somber music rises]
["Tränen lügen nicht"
by Michael Holm playing]
[nostalgic organ music continues]
[Cassandra hums along]
And you don't believe
She is always loyal to you ♪
[clattering downstairs]
Then turn around, look at her face ♪
And you will see tears don't lie ♪
Day and night
Everything was beautiful with her ♪
[German song fades]
[retching]
[sniffles]
It's great for nausea. Hmm?
Trust me, hon.
I'd always make my mother a cup of this
when she'd have a few too many.
[gulps, clears throat]
Don't you want to bring her by sometime?
This someone you're always seeing.
Um, uh…
I'm not sure her father would approve.
Her family is really religious.
That's why we sneak around.
- How romantic.
- [both chuckle]
Then tell me about
her. I'd like to know.
Well, she's really smart.
She's really interested in politics and
always wants to know what's happening.
And she loves the Stones
and Steve McQueen.
[Cassandra sighs]
We can talk about movies for
hours without it ever getting boring.
But we can also
just sit next to each other.
In silence.
[somber music playing]
[Cassandra] That sounds wonderful,
darling.
Guess you're not marrying me, after all.
Don't you remember?
When you were little, you'd tell me,
"Mama, when Papa's gone,
I'll marry you instead, all right?"
[both laugh]
It's true. Even at school.
You told all the teachers.
- [in singsong] "I'm marrying my mama!"
- [laughs]
You were such a cute little… [stutters]
…kid.
When'd you start stuttering?
- [scrubbing]
- [Peter] Mom?
Mom?
Do you remember
when Grandma went to the hospital?
You were upset, and
I tried to comfort you
by saying nothing bad was going to happen,
then… a few days later, she was gone.
You never forgave me for lying…
[hesitates] …back then.
The doctors found something, baby.
I'm sick.
[mournful music playing]
And they've said
that I won't get any better.
What do you mean by, "I won't
get better"? What are you saying?
I am so sorry.
I'll be alone, Mom.
I'm not leaving you alone.
Your father will always be here for you.
[exhales sharply, sniffles]
- [snores]
- [Cassandra] Horst.
Horst.
You said that you could outsmart death.
What?
At your laboratory.
You said that you were close
to figuring out
a cure for all human illness.
They made me quit that research, honey.
Sadly, I'm no longer doing it.
Why didn't you say anything?
That makes no s… [stutters]
That makes absolutely no sense.
I… [sighs]
I couldn't prove its safety
before testing it on human subjects.
So what? Isn't that common practice
in medicine?
Before a drug's brought to market,
people test it out.
That's true enough, but in this case,
for us to have a successful test series
necessitated that all the subjects die.
I don't understand.
Cancer, things of that type,
can only attack and destroy human cells.
But if we were… we
were able to take the…
the consciousness,
the feelings, the mind
and save them to an electronic hard drive,
save everything that makes up a human,
then keep them
from having to decay inside their body?
The ship sinks.
But the patient sits inside,
in a lifeboat.
No disease in the world
will ever be able to infect a computer.
If we give up our human shell,
we become immortal.
[Cassandra] If I'm no longer human,
what am I?
[Horst] This.
[eerie string music playing]
Come. Let's just get you
back to the house.
[music dies down]
I'm in.
I'm willing to be your test subject.
I volunteer.
Honey. I…
I'm not even sure that it'll work.
It's only been monkeys
and mice tested so far.
So? Did it work… [stutters]
…on them?
In most cases.
Our brains are
extraordinarily complex, though.
I'll die either way, Horst.
Just how badly can it go wrong?
This machine offers a small chance,
at least.
I'm not the kind of mother
who leaves her children behind.
You owe me that much.
And you well know it.
[ominous music playing]
TWO MONTHS LATER
[energetic string music playing]
- [tools whirring]
- [hammer clanging]
[man 1] Paul, can you please take
the control device to Mark?
- Here are your cables, Andreas.
- Thanks, Timo.
The large display goes
on the wall over here.
- [man 2] This monitor goes in your room.
- Uh, yeah. On the right.
- Thanks.
- Uh, yeah.
[Cassandra] Wilhelm.
- How are things coming?
- Good.
Implementing your requests
into the system,
so it'll all be smooth sailing
for your transfer. So…
That isn't as bad as it looks.
You're speaking from
personal experience?
- What's this here?
- That's the off switch.
Strange. I don't recall adding that
to my wish list.
[sighs]
When I was pregnant
with my second child,
the procedure that was performed to see
the child's gender, that was you, right?
Yeah.
Do you know what came of
that auspicious little invention?
What was it called? Vector sound?
The production was discontinued.
[Cassandra] Really? Why was that?
You were breaking
new ground, weren't you?
Nowadays, doctors mostly use ultrasound.
[machinery whirring]
'Cause ultrasound doesn't cause the baby
any kind of damage.
Because ultrasound doesn't cause cancer.
Look at me.
Just look at what
this vector sound of yours has done!
Uh, what happened to the baby and to you
are unrelated to the examination we did.
I'll swear to it.
I don't smoke at all.
I never drank excessively.
I made sure to eat healthy.
And yet, somehow, my body's overwhelmed
by cancer like I took a plutonium bath.
I'm sorry.
You can make it up to me.
["Du Bist Nicht Allein" by Roy Black
playing from record player]
[singing along] You are not alone
When you dream of love ♪
A thousand young hearts ♪
Won't find any rest today ♪
A thousand young hearts ♪
Have the same longing as you ♪
Oh, darling, you are not alone ♪
When you dream tonight ♪
You are not alone ♪
When you dream of love ♪
With my longing, my dreams ♪
- I am with you ♪
- [gasps, laughs]
My darling, you are not alone… ♪
[in English] Mom?
Mom, let's go upstairs.
[Cassandra laughing hysterically]
[both laugh]
That's not what I look like
at all. [scoffs]
Come on. I mean, why is the head square?
[sighs] When my actual head's
so petite and adorable.
[Peter sighs]
You know you don't have
to do this for me, Mom.
That's not it, baby.
You're not the only reason.
Why does it have to be tomorrow, Mom?
- Maybe you could wait, I mean
- Until I'm on my deathbed?
Your father says that the process
is more likely to work
if I have
at least a little strength in me.
- [sighs]
- [German song fades]
[machinery whirring]
Have a seat, sweet pea.
[Wilhelm] Um, you can lean back.
[straps tighten]
[Cassandra gasps]
[grunts, sniffles]
Peter? Sweet pea!
[Horst] Leave him be.
It's likely better if he isn't present.
This must work for us, Horst.
Promise me that.
Is that pomade,
or is your hair naturally so greasy?
First words you said to me that night
we met down at the Adler.
[sighs, chuckles]
I was totally baffled.
I thought, "What is her deal?"
And then you grinned.
[Cassandra] Mm.
You're not going to die on me.
I promise you.
[Cassandra] Mm-hmm.
[Horst] Mm.
[suspenseful music rises]
[drill whirring]
[tense music building]
[drill crunching]
[screams]
[static crackling]
[wailing]
[music intensifies]
[indistinct, swirling chatter]
[sounds and music fade]
[machinery whirring]
[robot beeps]
[static crackling]
[somber tones playing]
Cassandra?
Sweet pea? Feeling all right?
- What happened?
- You were successful.
We made it work!
So? What do you think?
I tweaked it until the very last moment.
Why am I smiling?
I feel tired and worn out.
I, uh… I wanted to create
a happy likeness.
I think you look so much more attractive
when you smile. Don't you think?
[footsteps approaching]
Peter, sweetheart.
So?
What do you think?
- What do we do about
- What are you thinking? Get her out.
- Back down there?
- Just out, goddammit!
- Peter, don't do this.
- [Cassandra] Honey? What are you doing?
- [bag unzips]
- Peter.
[Cassandra gasps]
[gasps]
Oh my God.
That was the last time
my son saw me as a human.
Peter never recovered from that.
This really can't be happening.
I realize everything you've heard
is a bit much to absorb.
It'll take time. You
will get used to it.
You will let us go this instant!
- Or I will
- Or you'll what?
Dessert?
What are you doing?
[ominous music playing]
[static crackles]
Get out of here, go! Quick!
Let's go. Go. Go.
Let's go.
- Let's go. Okay.
- [loud slam]
[alert beeps]
Dad?
[static crackling]
[Fynn pounding on door]
[Fynn] Dad!
[door handle rattling]
[Fynn] Dad!
Dad!
A disagreement between parents
should never ever be discussed
in front of the children.
You… are not their mother.
[David grunts]
- [Fynn] Dad?
- [screams]
Papa!
Open, please!
[Juno crying]
It's all right. Okay?
- [tense music subsides]
- [Horst humming]
What temperature
would you like the water to be?
A hundred degrees. Thanks.
[Horst sighs]
[Horst breathing heavily]
[Cassandra] Can I help you out?
For god's sake, Sandy.
Can I even take a shower in peace?
You don't need to stop.
I want to watch you do it.
What?
Continue what you were just doing.
You did seem to like it.
Sandy…
[chuckles]
Since we can't share a bed anymore,
this is all that we have.
[chuckles] I'm not sure.
It just feels strange.
Try it, please.
Remember that one time
we did it in the car.
In the back seat.
Do you recall?
- [chuckles]
- Uh-huh. [chuckles]
You made me so horny.
Your lips on my lips.
- Your hand under my skirt.
- [Horst panting]
Ever so slowly, you pushed it up.
Then you pulled aside my panties,
and made me crazy with your tongue.
[shudders] Get off. I can't do this.
[Horst sighs]
Don't you miss
when we could be close, honey?
I know I do.
Of course I do.
Then please take me into your arms.
[somber music playing]
Have you decided on
this year's costume yet?
I'll be an orphan.
Sweet pea.
What's been going on with you?
You wanna know what's been going on?
My mother passed three months ago.
Peter, how can you say
something like that?
I am your mother.
Horst, why don't you say something?
I'll be back for lunch, honey.
[door locks]
[tense music playing]
What is this?
[Cassandra] I don't want you to go.
We'll spend the day together,
like old times.
As a family.
Sweet pea, please unlock the door.
You can't come and go as you please
while I'm locked up here all by myself.
I would like you to stay.
So? How is it, huh?
Great as always, my dear.
[phone ringing]
Schmitt. Hello?
- It's Birgit. She wants to talk to you.
- [coughs, clears throat]
[ominous music rises]
Hello.
[Birgit] Ah, finally.
I just had to hear your voice.
Jürgen and I got into
another argument today.
No idea how much longer
I'll be able to bear this.
[scissors snip]
Is that your girlfriend over there?
Those were your first words
when we met that night.
I was out with Birgit that evening.
[host on TV] No, I'm serious.
- We now welcome Luise Ulrich and Werner.
- [Cassandra laughing]
[giggles] Just like the old days, huh?
[applause on TV]
Mm. Snacks are getting low.
There are still plenty of snacks here.
Horst!
[unsettling music playing]
- [static crackles]
- [machinery powers down]
[Peter] Mom?
[Horst breathing shakily]
- What have you done?
- [grunts]
She's off.
It's not up to her
how I'm living my life, all right?
You can't just shut her off
without asking her first.
Who knows what could've gone wrong
if I'd told her about it beforehand.
It's obvious that she'd lost it,
keeping us here like hostages.
That's rich, coming from you.
[somber music playing]
That thing wasn't
your mother anymore, son.
[driver] All right.
- Thank you.
- [driver] Have a nice evening.
[baby Thomas fussing]
Father tends the sheep ♪
What is she doing here?
Birgit can't just come live with us.
Her husband kicked her out,
and she doesn't have anywhere to go.
That isn't our problem.
You can't just invite
another woman to move in here.
She isn't just another woman.
Thomas is my son.
Are you serious? Did Mom know about it?
Sleep, child, sleep ♪
- Father tends the sheep ♪
- [Peter scoffs]
And Mother shakes the little tree ♪
Down falls a… ♪
[rain pattering on roof]
[TV clicks]
[ominous music rises]
You will see to it that this
off switch is actually a dummy.
I alone will choose when I'm turned off.
And not a word to anyone.
Certainly not to my husband. Hmm?
[static crackles]
- ["Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" playing]
- Where's your mama gone ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone… ♪
[Birgit] Everything all right?
I can't wrap my head around
why she did that.
I saved her life.
And what do I get?
Maybe Peter could've kept
it from being this way
if he'd tried at all to accept her.
[Birgit] Oh, Horst.
Put yourself in his shoes.
How is a young kid supposed to make sense
of his mother dying on the one hand,
while on the other, every day,
she smiles at him from these screens?
[robot whirring]
Peter needs clarity.
[tense music playing]
Now he has a chance
to get past some of this.
And you need a woman
who's fully flesh and blood, don't you?
- [chuckles]
- [gasps]
You've got needs as well, after all.
But don't think I'll start cooking
every day now. [chuckles softly]
I'm not Cassandra.
[Horst chuckles]
[ominous music building]
[Birgit gasps]
Horst!
[screaming]
Birgit!
[wailing]
[Thomas crying]
Mom?
[Peter gasps]
[Birgit breathing shakily]
Let me see.
- [static crackles]
- [somber tones play]
Hello, my dear.
[ominous music swells]
[ominous music subsides]
[Juno] Papa.
It'll be fine, honey.
I love you. Don't worry, okay?
[alert chimes]
[Juno whines]
[Fynn takes a deep breath]
Can I sleep in here tonight?
I'll stay with her tonight.
You don't have to be scared,
my princess. Hmm?
Okay. Make sure you do as
Cassandra says. Okay, Juno?
Then everything will be fine.
[alert chimes]
[tense music playing]
If it's your portable telephone
you're looking for, I've taken that.
Just like I took it from your dad.
It wasn't an accident.
It was murder, wasn't it?
Isn't that right?
Your husband.
And your son.
- When they tried to escape.
- [hushed] Okay.
The car. Go, go, go, go, go.
[all breathing heavily]
Come on. Get in.
- Go on.
- [Thomas fussing]
Watch your head.
Get your legs in.
Hold on, all right?
- Get in. Get in!
- But…
- You can't just leave her here, Dad!
- Get in, dammit!
[somber string music playing]
No! Come back! You promised me!
[Thomas crying]
Turn around.
We can't just leave her behind.
We promised it to her!
Who's gonna look after her, Peter? You?
Turn around now.
What are you doing? Stop!
[Horst grunting]
Stop, Dad!
[music stops abruptly]
[Cassandra] Oh my God.
Please, no.
- [Thomas wailing]
- [Cassandra] Horst? Peter?
Hello?
Sweetheart!
I'm coming, my love.
Everything will be fine.
[Peter coughs weakly]
[Cassandra] Come on, Peter. Get up.
Mama.
[Cassandra] I'm here with you.
Hold on, honey.
[Peter exhales]
Peter?
Peter!
- No! Peter!
- [ominous music rises]
[static crackling]
[music fades slowly]
[oven light clicking rhythmically]
[choral rendition
of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" playing]
[music fades]
[eerie silence falls]
[jaunty pop music playing]
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Far, far away ♪
Last night I heard my mama
Singin' a song ♪
Ooh-wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Where's your mama gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Little baby Don ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Where's your papa gone? ♪
Far, far away ♪
Far, far away ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
Let′s go now ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
All together now! ♪
Last night
I heard my mama singin' a song ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep ♪
Woke up this mornin'
And my mama was gone ♪
Ooh wee, chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep chirp ♪
[cheery oldies tune ends]