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01x01 - Episode 1

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Totems". Aired: February 18, 2022.*
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In 1965, in the midst of the Cold w*r, a French rocket scientist is thrown in the field for a nearly impossible spy mission and falls for a Soviet woman secretly working for the KGB.

01x01 - Episode 1

Post by bunniefuu »

[Requiem] My code name: Requiem.

It will bring us bad luck.

[Virgile] Do you believe in luck?

I believe in causality.

A cause leads to a consequence

which becomes the cause
of another consequence.

[Virgile] Here, take this.

I'll make you cross the border,
it's not luck.

(rhythmic music)

Minefield

(rhythmic music)

When it blows, you have to stay glued to me
in a straight line. OK ? Go on !

Go! Go on !

[Virgil] Come on.

Go on !

Get excited! Come back.

(barking)

sh*t !

(barking)

(barking)

Stop ! Stop !

[Virgil] Requiem! Requiem!

Give me your hand.

Put your feet in my footsteps.

- (screams)
- [Virgile] OK?

(fire)

Come on, go!

(fire)

(he screams)

(fire)

[Virgil] Come on, come on. Quickly.

(fire)

(they gasp)

Gently.

Gently.

(they gasp)

So, Requiem, lucky? Eh ?

(he's laughing)

(soft music)

(voice)

(rhythmic music)

Mr. Director?

Hello.

Francis, I don't have time.

I want to attend the test.

What are you talking about ?

A heavyweight, escorted by the
American army, left empty.

None of our motors
need such space.

I take
it that you and the steering committee

attend the demonstration
of the Rocketdyne XLR-89-5,

1,670 kg, a thrust
of more than 1,500 kilonewtons.

These trials involve
NASA, the CIA

and the French secret services.
There are necessary validations.

[Francis] This is ridiculous.

How long
will I pay for my father?

(rhythmic piano music)

(rhythmic piano music)

(rhythmic piano music)

[in Russian]

- Did you see his smile?
- She's going to hire you!

(rhythmic piano music)

[in Russian]
KGB.

Come with us.

What did I do ?

Let's go.

Could you explain to me?

Advance.

Bonjour, Lyudmila Borisovna.

How long has it been since you saw
your father?

The space center is recruiting.

He is looking for an assistant.

Recruiting assistant at the OKB1 center

You're going to get hired.

Forget the music, for now.

("American Folklore" by Sheila)

[Francis] Come with me.

I give him a demonstration.

Not too loud, the music.

Do you have the Animals
or the Supremes?

(bell)

Because Sheila...

("American Folklore" by Sheila)

Hello, Anna.

Charles, good evening.

Come in, come in.

It's for Paul.

And this is for you,

with my sincere apologies
for this intrusion.

Are you kidding?

Francis will be delighted to see you.
Give me that.

- [Charles] There you go.
- Thank you.

[Francis] Do you see the W?
It's Cassiopeia.

And there is the North Star.

I can ?

Charles !

Don't, don't, continue.

[Charles] I'm interested.

The North Star is important

because it is in the axis of rotation
of the Earth.

Seen from the ground, all the constellations
revolve around it.

Do you know Charles?
A friend of your grandpa.

[Francis] Go see mom.

[Charles] Here, Paul.
Happy Birthday.

[Paul] Thank you.

It was a long time ago.

[Charles] It's been two years.

Two years.

The number of reports
on the conquest of space

has tripled here in two years.

Are you in charge of it?

Hum.

Francis...

I know what you go
through in your job.

[Charles] Our services can help you.

Can you give me a few moments?

Francis, this is Larry Goldstein
from the CIA.

My service works with his.

[Larry] Delighted.

[in English] Charles has told me nothing
but good things about you.

I know it's cavalier,
but we need your expertise

on documents.

It's about a Russian space project.

Technology
that I haven't seen anywhere.

On what subject ?

[Charles] A guidance system.

Immerse yourself,

take your time.
See what inspires you

and we'll talk about it tomorrow.

[Charles] Attention,
this is a top secret document.

You don't have to tell anyone about it.

[Larry, in English]
He can keep a secret?

Charles...

There is no other way.

[Charles] Larry is my godson.

Surgeons never operate on
their own family.

The cover of Requiem
was fried by the Stasi.

We need to act fast
to figure out what's going on.

(someone knocked)

Francis, the camera.

You forgot the film.

Sorry.

You never forget that kind of thing.

I see you are concerned.

Is it Charles?

I didn't expect to see him again.

And what did he want?

My opinion on documents.

He has a lot of nerves.

Two years without seeing you
and he asks for a favor.

I say.

Are you coming to bed?

No, I still have work to do.

Please.

It's tonight if we want another one.

(Mermaid)

You were better
this morning, huh?

I'll get you back to your fit wife.

He can't hear you.

- I'm taking care of it.
- Why ?

Your niece is here.

Mr. Lamant, Mireille is taking you back
to your room.

Martine.

- What is happening ?
- One of my teachers is sick.

One.

I know you have issues.

Your mother told me about it.

I too was anxious
about the exams.

I am pregnant.

I don't want to keep it.

One.

Wait for me at the cafe in front of the entrance.

The blonde, do you know who it is?

His niece.

[driver] Her name is Martine.

(The engine will not start)

(he screams)

(eerie music)

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

What are you doing here ?

I asked you to wait for me at the cafe!

I thought you weren't coming.

To abort is to k*ll a living being.

I do not care.

The conditions of these ab*rtion
are dangerous.

Looked.

A woman who has had an ab*rtion.

The guy who operated on her
didn't know anything about it.

She landed here
with a uterine infection.

Looked.

She won't be able to have any more children.

You think I don't know?

I'm afraid of running into a butcher.

That's why I come to see you.

I tried to imagine everything.

Marriage, the baby, life together.

But I can not.

It's not good.

But love can come.

It's being built.
Look at Francis and me.

Stop with Francis and you!

Would you be together without Paul?

Obviously.

[Martine] It's not true.

I see your smiles
are mechanical.

There is no flame in your eyes.

He lights up more
when he talks about his rockets.

Not with you.

Neither do you, for that matter.

Pardon.

I can't help you.

I'm sorry.

(carries)

A concern ?

Non.

Want to tell me about it?

No, really, it's fine.

The woman at this number, Jacqueline,

she has a particular method,

with less risk.

I don't see what you're talking about.

When you have such a discussion,
check the walls.

(panting breath)

(intriguing music)

Someone there ?

Please !

Hey!

- (they speak German)
- Where am I?

What are you doing ?

Where am I?

[officer] Put your hands
under your thighs.

Your scent permeates the fabric
you're sitting on.

So that our dogs find you,
if necessary.

Where am I?

[officer]
In the German Democratic Republic.

There is a mistake.

Francis Mareuil?

[officer]
Born December 23, 1932 in Rouen.

Aerospace engineer at CNES.

[officer] Married, one child.

Want to see them again?

So answer our questions.

You have documents of ours.

Where are they ?

Documents
on a new guidance system.

I do not understand.

(the halète)

(he's coughing)

[officer] Hands under the thighs.

Documents stolen from the USSR
by your secret services.

Many documents
pass through my hands.

Can you be more specific?

Answer a question
with a question.

Jesuit education, huh?

What is your relationship with the
SDECE agent, Charles Contignet?

Charles didn't provide me with any documents,
if that's the question.

(he screams)

(soft piano music)

[in Russian]
You will become a great pianist.

They'll give you an apartment
and I won't hear you play anymore.

(carries)

Sit down.

I await your explanations.

I called, they said
I didn't have the right profile.

You are his daughter.

Go see it.

Why ?

It must.

I work with the Svetlanova Orchestra,
I can't work with him.

You must be by your father's side.

But why ?

Because he will trust you.

On the contrary, he hates me.

He won't understand
why I'm coming back into his life.

After 10 years.

It's not true
that your father hates you.

The record you recorded,
he bought it, he listens to it.

[Yemeline] Lyudmila,

I know people,
I know how they think.

Your father needs you.

(soft piano music)

(she shouts)

You are no longer
in the Svetlanova orchestra.

You'll get the job with your dad.

[Yemeline] We want to know
if he informs the Americans.

Understood ?

Acquiesce.

(she's crying)

(muffled cries)

[officer]
Where are the Russian documents?

(muffled cries)

(he's coughing)

They talk about a satellite
carrying a nuclear payload.

[in Russian]
An orbital bombardment system.

Where are they ?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Open your ears.

[officer] Instead of asking you
the wrong questions,

visualize the scene that will follow
and the possible consequences.

(carries)

[in loudspeaker]

[man]
Paul, do you like strawberry flavor?

[Paul] Yeah, that's my favorite.

(he screams)

[man] Can I walk with you?

I'm going in this direction.

And I have other lollipops.

[Paul] If you want.

[man] Are you coming home from school alone?

[Paul] Yes, I live on the street there.

It's the same lollipops
as last time.

[officer] Your head.

Or your son's.

A b*llet will not make the difference.

Charles gave me documents.

Russians.

I barely read them.
They are at my house.

In my trunk.

I'll give them to you,
but leave my son.

Please.

(telephone dial)

[in English]
It's over.

Drink. It's water.

Drink.

You lasted almost 24 hours.

It's good.

It is very good.

And my son?

He is fine. Your family is fine.

(he sobs)

We are in France?

Yes, we are in France.

Why ?

[officer] We'll explain.

Come.

Come.

(soft music)

(voice)

(alarm)

(soft music)

(typewriter)

Francis.

Francis !

Francis !

Why ?

Calm down. I'll explain.

- I thought I died.
- I say.

You weren't risking anything, I was watching.

They tortured me
and threatened my son!

- I say.
- Why ?

- Why ?
- A test.

What ?

- A test ?
- A mission in Germany.

I wouldn't put you through that

if it wasn't necessary.
You understand ?

You want to use me,
like my father.

Don't come near me
or my family anymore.

It's understood ?

(soft music)

[man, in Russian]
First man in space.

First long-term mission.

First simultaneous flight.

First lady.

The success of the Vostok program

left America far behind.

And now,

the Voskhod program takes over.

We share this success together.

It is our common work
that will lead us

to the moon,

definitively proving

the superiority of socialism.

Boris,

a speech !

[in Russian]
The Indestructible Union

free republics

Was reunited forever
By Great Russia

Fruit of the will of the peoples

Long live the united, the powerful

Soviet Union !

Be glorious, our free fatherland

Sure bulwark of the friendship of peoples!

(alarm)

[in Russian]
Yes?

[woman]
Hello, comrade Golubev.

Your daughter is at the reception,
for a personal question.

Comrade Golubev?

Lyudmila?

[woman] Yes.

I cannot receive it.

Tell him I'm busy.

(soft music)

Virgil.

- Do you work with Contignet?
- No, with the CIA.

During the w*r,
I supported General Giraud,

the Yankees candidate.

When De Gaulle beat him,
I became a plague victim.

The CIA reached out to me.

You have been good.

You remained lucid.

You spoke
before you lost control.

When we crack, we speak without restraint.

When one speaks

before breaking down nervously,
we can dose, play the watch.

Training serves to postpone this moment.
Even the best have their limits.

[Virgile] Everyone is talking.

There's your stuff behind.

I'll take you back to your office.
You can't disembark like that.

You think I'll pretend
like nothing happened?

f*ck you all.

You will pass the message to Contignet.

I know what it is to be tortured.

I was just trying to be nice.

(word in Russian)

[in Russian]
What do you want?

Hello, I saw this.

You need an assistant
and I need a job.

I had an accident.

You, my assistant?
That does not make any sense.

Please.

Do you even know what I'm doing here?

You send people into space?

The job requires skills
that you don't have.

If you need,
I can give you money.

I spent my childhood
trying to get your attention,

to exist in front of your rockets...

I realized it was useless.

I can be stubborn sometimes.

Grandma said I take after you.

I don't know your life,
you don't know mine.

I assure you
that I can be your assistant.

I can learn.

If you had heard me play, you would know
that I am rigorous and hardworking.

Forgive me for leaving home.

I beg you.

I need you.

Tomorrow I'm going to Berlin.

You will accompany me.

Tonight, come to my house.

It's the only place
where I feel like I belong.

I would like to spend my life here.

In the morning, what motivates you?

Facing a problem.

Find the solution.

Skip to next.

[director] And your horizon?

- Space.
- [director] Space?

Your record includes a reference
to your father.

His betrayal.

You have nothing to do with it,

but it stains.

The mission that the SDECE offers you,

it is a chance
to right this injustice.

Show them your loyalty.

And the closed doors will reopen.

You will no longer be a guest,
you will organize the tryouts,

to go up there, Francis. Space !

Did they tell you
where they want to send you?

[Francis] In Germany.

[director] On the other side of the wall.
East Berlin. At a convention.

To meet a Soviet physicist.

Chertok.

Or maybe Glushko.

[director] Or Golubev.

Many would dream
of being in your place.

I am not a spy.

[director] The SDECE chose you.

Before, espionage meant
knowing each other's positions.

Now, that's all.

Your horizon.

He is near.

The mission in Berlin,
is it the CIA or the SDECE?

Both.

It was permitted thanks to our Totems.

Your Totems?

Exchange of information
between services.

The word was created after the w*r.

Those who carry the information

are sacred, no one touches them.

Kind of like Indian totems.

[Charles] From now on, I'm
your case officer.

I'll tell you what you need to know.

You tell me everything you learn.

Who is Virgil?

A kind of chaperone,

in the field.

In East Berlin,

the only guarantee
that everything goes well is him,

you too.

Go home and pack your bags.

And Anne, what do I tell her?

[Charles] You're lying to him.

("Speak to me of love" by Lucienne Boyer)

Do you still practice your French?

I read.

I kept Mom's books
on the sly.

[Boris] I keep the records,

until the day they find them.

[in Russian]
We will stay 3 days in Berlin.

I will need

of 2 suits and 5 shirts.

I change my shirt
at each intervention.

Iron them and shine my shoes.

- And your cleaning lady?
- I fired her.

She stuck her nose in my business.

Hurry up.

You only have one hand.

(lock)

(carries)

Finally you're here !

Ah !

Why didn't you
answer me at work?

I am sent to a congress
at the last moment.

I spent the night getting ready.

Get dressed, we have to go to the opera.

Oh no, I can't.
I'm leaving there.

What ? Now ?

Where are you going ?

In London.

Why didn't you tell me about
it sooner?

Because I am replacing a colleague.

The Gautiers took these places
months ago.

What are they going to think?

They'll think I'm working,
that's all.

-Francis?
- [Francis] Yeah?

Are you happy with me?

Yes.

Me too.

Maybe we could be more?

Anne,
a car is waiting for me downstairs.

Attends.

Take your raincoat.
It's always raining in London.

Thank you.

I call you.

(carries)

Good evening.

[Anne] Sorry to call so late.
I want to talk to Jacqueline.

The orbital b*mb

bypasses radar systems
to hit strategic points:

military bases, nuclear stockpiles,

decision-making centers, etc.

What are the numbers on the right?

The nuclear charge,
2 to 5 megatons.

Enough to wipe Paris off the map.

Where do these documents come from?

Olga.

I said I would tell you.

Olga is a Russian source
that we process at SDECE.

He had access to these documents,
but cannot go further.

On the other hand, your target, yes.

Professor Golubev?

Code name: Radagast.

Radagast ignore

that its navigation system
equips the orbital b*mb.

When he finds out,
it could open a breach,

that you should use.

[Charles] Radagast is Soviet,

but he is an anti-nuclear pacifist.

He served two years in the gulag
under Stalin.

He came out when he died.

Radagast is Francophile.

[Charles] His wife was French.

You will be the intermediary
between him and us.

International Congress
of Ballistics and Aerodynamics

On the other side, we know each other better.

[in English]
Passport, please.

Thank you.

Passport, please.

Go for it.

Francis Mareuil?

And.

[in German]
Reason for your visit?

A scientific congress.

In East Berlin.

There is only one Berlin.

Follow me.

Heinrich !

Come here !

Fabric Hotel.

He's French,
no need to talk to him.

Hold.

Everything is in order, follow him.

(rhythmic music)

(soft music)

[woman] I work with Prof. Golubev.

I can pass the message on to him.

[Virgile]
You were unknown to the eastern services.

Now that they've arrested you,
they're going to put you on file.

- What do you want ?
- See what happens.

Are you sent by the CIA?

[Virgil] Beware.

[in Russian]
Get away!

- [Lyudmila] Can I go west?
- [Francis] There are risks.

[man] No!

(g*nsh*t)

(epic music)