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01x04 - Episode 4

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.

01x04 - Episode 4

Post by bunniefuu »

(tension music)

[Francis] I'm not a spy.

You have it in your blood.

[director]
Your father, his betrayal.

It stains your file.

[Virgile] I know what it is
to be tortured.

- [Anne] How did you do?
- Engineer, it's dangerous.

[Martine]
Who were these men?

[Anne] I called.

[Emily] United States Embassy.

[Lyudmila]
Yesterday a probe was launched.

[Boris, in Russian] The orbital b*mb
sent him a message.

[in Russian]
Your objective: to find the probe.

They will get it back.

[Francis]
She's in Algeria.

[Francis]
Radagast ira sur place.

[Virgile] We have to go.

They suspect you
and want to trap you.

[Boris] Those numbers in my watch...

It's our life insurance.

(dramatic music)

[in Russian]
Dad, go away, quickly!

(deaf hiss)

(panting breath)

(groans of pain)

[in Russian] Here I am.

- Dad, don't move. I'm here.
- Leave me.

(exclamation of worry)

(he's coughing)

[Lyudmila] No!

No Please !

(Lyudmila hurle)

Non !

(panting breath)

[Virgil] Francis!

Go on !

(action music)

(g*nsh*t)

(g*nsh*t)

Help me please !

(panting breaths)

Press the wound.
(g*nsh*t)

(panting breath)

(engine roar)

- [Virgile] The army is coming, we're off.
- [Lyudmila] No!

- Please !
- He's losing too much blood.

[Francis]
We can't move it.

(doors slamming)

Do not worry.

They are allied with the Soviets,
they will heal you.

Go on ! Must go.

No Francis...

[Lyudmila] Please...

[Francis] Come with me.
The Algerians will take care of your father.

He will live.

[Francis] Come.

[Lyudmila]
I won't leave without him.

(He hits the ground)

[Virgil] Come on!

I... I'm sorry.

(tragic music)

I'll take you west.
I promise you.

The orbital b*mb
has communicated with the probe.

Tell them I have it.

(dramatic music)

(exclamations of fear)

(she shouts)

My name is Lyudmila Golubeva,
I am Russian.

Contact General Bakharin
in Moscow.

(slow music)

(alarm siren)

(soft music)

(indistinct remarks)

Sorry, I didn't want to wake you up.

[Anne] I wasn't sleeping.

Were you at a convention?

Yes.

So, tell me.

Bah...

It was in London.

Again ?
(Francis nods)

[Francis]
I absolutely had to be there.

And there was this researcher, this...

What was his name again...

You weren't in London.

(melancholy music)

Talk to me.

I can not.

Not now.

I am sorry.

Tonight,
pretend I'm not there.

I'm going to sleep on the couch.

If you're not here, I'd rather
you find a couch somewhere else.

[Francis]
Just let me kiss Paul.

(church bells)

(church bells)

(intriguing music)

[in Russian]
Comrade Director.

Dmitri Sergeyevich Yemeline.
7th office.

Do you have Boris Golubev?

He's in Prague,
awaiting surgery.

General Bakharin is there.

There's a problem
with the orbital b*mb,

the answer was in the probe.

Now Bakharin knows that we know.

And for your men?

Only one body was found.

Americans ?

Or the French.

Bring back Golubev and his daughter.
Make them speak.

If Bakharin is a problem,

I'll take care of it.

(birdsong)

(soft music)

(we touch)

Anne told you I was here?

[Charles]
Do you want to talk about it?

Have you found
Radagast and Luna?

Neither of them
returned to Moscow.

Did you understand
what they found in the probe?

Always not.

[Charles]
I spoke to my source, Olga.

Apparently the KGB thinks

that the Russian army is hiding things
about the orbital b*mb.

- Radagast must have figured out what.
- We have to find them quickly.

Did you argue with Anne
because of your mission?

She's not stupid,
she knows I'm lying to her.

Lying is not the problem.

The problem is knowing
why we lie.

Listen to me.

I came to get you,
because you are different.

You analyze, you seek
the global vision, the facts,

cold truth.

But to see you here, now,
back at your father's...

This shift, I know it.
You make it personal.

You wanted me to recruit Radagast,
I did.

[Charles]
The KGB is agitated, the CIA is agitated,

and we are stuck in the middle.

We can calm things down.

We need to calm things down.

Are you going to abandon
Radagast and Luna?

(dramatic music)

Non.

We can't
drop them now.

Francis, it's not personal.

You are going to take a break.

What if we find Luna?

- She'll tell us what Boris found.
- You have a wife !

You have a son,
a job at CNES,

and soon a promotion
with the congratulations of the SDECE.

Don't make the same mistake
your dad did.

It's not personal.

(the door closes)

(the music intensifies)

(indistinct remarks)

[in Russian] Your father,

did he get something out of the probe?

He took a few things apart.

He is the only one who can answer.

The KGB agents wanted to k*ll us.

My father needs protection.

(low music)

Please, comrade Bakharin.

Its survival depends

what he will remember.

[Bakharin]
Take her to her father's room.

How is he ?

We do our best.

Talk to him.
Then it may be too late.

(soft music)

Dad ?

Papa...

(panting breath)

He moved.

You have to tell the doctor.

Go get him, I stay with him.

Dad, can you hear me?

We're in Prague, at the hospital.

Yemeline is there. He found us.

Leave me.

No, dad.
If you help Bakharin, he will protect you.

My watch.

Take it

and save yourself.

The KGB will k*ll you.

Leave me.

Find the French.

No, dad,
I can't give up on you.

Save yourself.

Save yourself.

Leave me.

I'll get you out of here.

I'll get you out of here, dad.

(dramatic music)

(horns and engine roar)

[doctor]
Who provides you with this?

Since when ?

I took painkillers
gradually,

and after a year,
that was not enough.

I moved on to that.

And there too, the doses are increasing.

I know what you are going to tell me.

I risk getting edema.

It's going to k*ll me little by little
from not sleeping or eating.

I say.

[doctor] I know
of a new centre, in Biarritz.

In front of the ocean.

I don't have time
to go on vacation.

I offer you a deal.

I make your order

and you promise
to come back to see me.

It's over, this crap.

[doctor] And we'll talk about Biarritz again,
okay?

There are 2 boxes.
Come back in 2 weeks.

Two boxes ?

- It's barely 5 days.
- Reduce the doses.

Two boxes, two weeks.

(slow music)

If not for you,
for your family.

Yeah.

(tension music)

Good day Mrs.
This is Francis Mareuil.

- Give me Mr. Contignet.
- [woman] There is his assistant.

- No, him directly.
- [woman] One moment.

It's worth bothering him.

- [woman] He's in a meeting.
- It is important.

- [woman] I'll give you the assistant.
- No, it's personal.

[woman] Look, that's not possible.
I take a message?

Well... Tell him
I'll be at my desk.

- [woman] Noted, thank you.
- Thank you.

(suspense music)

"I'll Drown In My Tears"
(Sonny Thompson et Lula Reed)

[Virgile] Once,
I rented a big apartment.

It had to be decorated, furnished.

I moved too much,
I was never there.

Who is it ?

Lula Reed.

If you want to feel your guts,

you have to listen to Robert Johnson.

The devil would have tuned his guitar
on the side of a road.

He had sold her his soul.

When I listen to Robert Johnson...

I feel all his pain.

All his pain.

Bluesmen call it
the blue devil.

The Blue Devil.

(he sighs)

Do you want vodka?

Thanks, I don't drink.

You want to stay in control.

Hein ?

You, your life
is about solving problems,

equations, probabilities...

In real life,
you have to know how to let go.

I know what's in the probe.

(tension music)

I spent hours
in front of this photo.

Look, each element
is square,

to the millimeter.

This bias module
was added at the last moment.

See the dial with the zeros?

Before, there had to be
a series of numbers...

that the probe and the orbital b*mb
have exchanged.

Do you think Luna has them?

And what are the numbers for?

It can be a code
describing the state of the b*mb,

a flight plan,
the coordinates of a target...

Do your friends from SDECE
know you're there?

I promised Luna to help her.

Must find her.

That's a great way.

You, your devil, he's not blue.

It's red.

(intriguing music)

(a door opens)

(panting breath)

[woman]
Good evening, see you tomorrow.

(the woman approaches)

(nervous breathing)

[Lyudmila] Madame !

Madame !

(eerie music)

Madam,
please wait.

Do you work
at the French Embassy?

Yes.

I need help.
I work with the French.

They are looking for me.
If they arrest me, I will die.

I beg you.

Who is looking for you?

The KGB.
They're watching your embassy.

- Who are you ?
- Lyudmila Golubeva.

Boris Golubev's daughter.

[Lyudmila]
He's in danger too.

We must make it pass to the West
and call France...

- Francis Mareuil...
- [woman] Not so fast.

You are going to explain everything to me calmly.

And we'll call
my superiors.

(tyre squeal)

[Lyudmila, in Russian]
No!

Help !

Help !

(the woman sobs in fear)

(Lyudmila screams)

(scary music)

AC...

14 - 23. AC...

14 - 23...

AC - 14 - 23.

[Larry, in English]
Charles.

Thought I'd
seen it all in hypocrisy,

but you win the prize.

What are you talking about ?

You kidnapped Luna.

How did you know?

The registration plate.

[in French]
Ah, touched.

(Charles acquiesce)

- [Charles] Luna is still in Prague?
- Yes.

- In one piece?
- She is fine.

What did his father find in the probe?

She won't say anything
until we exfiltrate her father.

[Charles] And is it possible?

No chance.

Between the STB and the KGB,
there are more agents than patients.

So take her across the border
and interrogate her here.

[Virgile] Yuri Melia, KGB.

We caught
him while he was fleeing Algeria.

Whether she knows it or not,
Luna works for the KGB.

It makes no sense,
they tried to k*ll her.

This girl is part of the KGB plan

and you always believed her.

It's a barrel of dynamite
ready to explode.

We don't need that here.

It is only useful
to us to know what this probe is for.

We'll get her talking there.

Wait, Luna is French through her mother.

If anything happens to him,

you will deal with us.

- Give me carte blanche.
- No.

[Larry]
There's a b*mb above our heads.

Much more is at stake
than our diplomatic disagreements.

You don't give a f*ck
that she's French.

You just want to be in the loop.

That's what you want.

I want all the information
on the b*mb.

It's clear ?

[Virgil] Francis.

He must come with us.

Damaging Luna will be less productive

than reassure her with someone
she trusts.

(intriguing music)

Take.

We have a few hours before arriving
at the Czechoslovakian border.

[Virgile]
You will see him again, your red devil.

Don't forget that your goal
is to get her to talk.

[in Russian]
Is everything in place?

We're monitoring the hospital,
but we haven't found her.

We will expand the search

and monitor
French and American agents,

in case she contacted them.

Your General Bakharin,

he resented being removed
from Golubev's oversight.

He threatens to call my superiors.

Should I be worried?

Non.

Let's find the girl

and the problem will be solved.

Yes.

(howls and barks)

(screams)
(lullaby for children)

(howls and barks)

(sobs)

(Lyudmila begs in Russian)

(howls and barks)

(Lyudmila hurle)

(frightened sobs)

I'm going back to town.

[Lyudmila] Please help me,
please mom...

(screams get louder)

(Lyudmila hurle)

(heavy breathing)

Take. Turn around.

You can't talk
about what you don't know.

A passage to the East
is precious.

(Virgil sniffles)

Here, put your hand on my shoulder.

We have a bit of a walk.
Luna is on the other side of the border.

Lets' go.

(kids having fun in the distance)

(intriguing music)

Hello Anne.

My name is John Summer.

I work with your husband.

- Did something happen to him?
- No, he's fine.

We protect it.

- We ?
- The CIA.

We protect him
and his family.

The situation with my niece,
was that you?

Yes.

Thank you.

What does my husband do, exactly?

He helps us.

- But with the SDECE?
- No.

When we work with someone,
we check their political ideas.

If he is a communist.

My husband is not a communist.

Not your husband.

Charles Contignet.

(eerie music)

Sit down.

Think about the consequences
for your niece.

For you, for your family.

What are you expecting from me ?

Your assistance,

to discover the hidden side
of Contignet.

Welcome to Czechoslovakia.

(suspense music)

Do you t*rture them?

sleep deprivation,

loss of spatio-temporal landmarks,

reduction in food and water,
exposure to stress.

[Francis] Are you going to put her
to the lie detector?

[in English]
Please don't do this.

Francis.

Francis...

I made you come,
don't screw it up.

Go ahead.

(soft music)

(Lyudmila moans)

(she sniffles)

(panting breath)

(she moans in relief)

Help me please.

I will do everything for.

Tell them to leave me alone.

Eat.
Then you go to sleep.

Lyudmila.

It is important.

[technician]
No food during the test.

You can eat.

How long have I been here?

[Francis] Three days.

Don't worry,
I'll get you out of here.

The French were going to help me.

- Why did the CIA kidnap me?
- They didn't know.

They acted urgently.

I don't want to talk to them,
I want to talk to France.

That's what I'm here for.

And my father ?

He was operated.

He is fine but he is watched
by the Czechoslovakian police and the KGB.

- They will repatriate him to Moscow.
- We have to get him out of there.

The CIA and SDECE
are investigating the possibility, but...

In the probe...

what your father found
are numbers?

(intriguing music)

You know it ?

Lyudmila,
you have to trust me.

I am not a scientist,
nor a spy.

I have no value.

If I give out those numbers, I lose
my only guarantee of helping my father.

I am your guarantee.

Did you know they tortured me?

But why ?

- Why ?
- You worked for the KGB.

You were spying on your father.

[Virgile] You tried to trap
him in Berlin.

And us with.

[Virgile] We have to be sure
that the KGB is no longer manipulating you.

I had no choice.

And then I lied to them for you.
I took risks.

No Please...

Non...

Francis...

Tell the SDECE to help me
and my father.

And then
I'll tell you where the numbers are.

I promise you.

It's not me you have to convince.

[in Russian]
Brian Nash,

le CIA post chef.

He's been out for two nights.

If the CIA got their hands on Lyudmila,
he'll lead us there.

We don't let go anymore.

Why didn't you tell me?

You didn't need to know.

I got trapped.

She had no choice.

It's the KGB.

They broke his hand.

Do you still want
to take her to the West?

So, make him spit the piece.

What if she doesn't talk?

We will forget that she is French.

(suspense music)

[Yemeline] Stop !

(tires screeching)

If he noticed we were following him,
he must have walked us out.

Unless he just spotted us.

In this case,
we are in the right direction.

[Yemeline] The border is 5 km away.

How many men do you have?

As much as it takes.

So we dig.

Everywhere. House after house.

From here to the border.

[Josef] Alright.

(soft music)

Lyudmila.

Thanks for letting me sleep.

If you don't cooperate,
the CIA will continue to t*rture you.

Will you let them?

I will do everything to avoid it.

(she breathes nervously)

[Francis]
Me too, I lied for you.

I took risks.

(light blow)

They listen to us.

I do not know.

[Jim, in English] It's not normal,
Brian should be there.

- When was he supposed to arrive?
- 3 hours ago.

[Jim] Still nothing?

[Virgile] What does the protocol say?

[Jim] Let's get out.

I want to help my father.

Give me the numbers.

Proceed west.

The SDECE will find a solution
for your father.

The KGB will take him back to Moscow.
It is now that it is possible.

Do you have other choices?

Yes.

Negotiate the numbers
with people in my country.

- What's going on ?
- Let's get out right now.

Is this one of your methods?

She told you where they are?

- [Virgile] Numbers!
- No.

Here we go, come on.

[Virgil] Hurry up.

Cars arrive,
we have to flee on foot.

You go with me,
she, with the others.

- [Francis] Where?
- Elsewhere.

I'm not leaving without her.

[Virgil] Hold her.

(dramatic music)

Leave me, please.

They will t*rture me.

(Francis halète)

Francis !

Go !

[in Russian]
Diplomats! We are diplomats!

- Over there.
- Yes.

Over there !

(suspense music)

[Virgile] Stop.

We don't have time here.
The tunnel is further west.

She was going to give me the numbers.

If we get her back,
she'll tell us everything.

(whistle blows)

[Virgil] Come here.

Over there !

(she is out of breath)

(whistle)

[in Russian]
Joseph,

we separate to cover
more area.

Over there, I...

Very well.

Over there !

The tunnel is over there.

[in Russian]
They are here!

[Virgile] We have to slow them down.

(fire)

[Virgile] Go !

(she moans)

[Yemeline, en russe]
Silence !

Shut your mouth

or I k*ll you. Understood ?

Acquiesce.

Who is it ? The CIA or the French?

Both.

Francis Mareuil?

What was in the probe?

Numbers.

It's Mareuil who has them?

(she struggles to breathe)

Yes.

[Yemeline]
Go get them and bring them back to me.

Understood ? Nod.

Never forget,

we have your father.

And wherever you hide,
I will find you.

Even underground.
Do you believe me ? Nod.

(whistle blows)

(melancholy music)

- [Virgile] Get down, they're coming!
- Two more minutes.

We don't f*cking have time.
Go!

Come on, go! Come down.

(panting breath)

[Josef, in Russian]
This way!

[Josef] Did you hear?

Over there !

[Virgil] Francis!

Go on !

Come on, come on!

(tension music)

[Francis] Let's get out.

Virgil!

- Where is my husband?
- Help us,

and I continue to protect Francis.

The orbital b*mb is just a satellite
carrying a nuclear payload.

[Francis]
An encrypted message.

The b*mb receives the message
by sending new digits.

[Charles]
He got the code.

Only he can tell us
what it is for.

[Charles] We have to talk to him.

(suspense music)

- [female] Professor?
- Yes.

Professor Golubev?
Francis Mareuil.

[Francis]
What are numbers for?

- Does Luna have them?
- Yeah.