A Sacrifice (2024)

[bunniefuu]

WOMAN:

I'm sorry we have

to meet like this again.

It's all I can manage today.

Maybe next time

you can come in.

Don't worry. I understand

how difficult this is for you.

WOMAN:

This is an improvement.

You're not the first therapist

I've talked to,

but you're definitely

in my top ten.

I'm flattered, but actually

I'm a social psychologist.

Oh, great. So you're not

going to try to fix me?

[SCOFFS]

Wouldn't dream of it.

So, last time we met,

we were talking about friends,

creating a support system.

Sure. I've got friends, online.

[VIDEO PLAYING IN BACKGROUND]

VOICE [IN BACKGROUND]:

Release fear.

WOMAN:

People like me who don't

want to participate in

a society

that's coming to an end.

Like, what's the point?

Well, actually--

It's all right for you.

You'll be dead in 20 years.

We'll be the ones left to deal

with your scorched earth policy.

Meaning?

Fukushima, not an accident.

You think all these fires

and floods are a coincidence?

And haven't you noticed?

Nature knows

to target the cities

that fuel global disparity

and destroy the environment.

The world is disintegrating.

Civilization is unwinding.



BEN:

It's easy to see

how it happens.

The conspiracy cloud

begins with fear.

A distrust of society,

the need for truth

and order to calm the chaos.

Where groups

of likeminded people

exchange

counter-societal theories

and create connections

where none exist.

[PHONE PINGS]

Hi, Ben, it's Max.

I've got something

you might want to see.

I'll send you an address.

Jesus.

You think he changed his mind?

Hold it together.

We have to be quick.

They're clearing the scene.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING]

Okay, best behavior.

She got you in here.

[IN GERMAN]

Ben Monroe.

The ride-along.

Hands in pockets,

you're just observing. Okay?

Sure. Thank you.



What happened here?

Bad pills?

Very deliberately so.

NINA:

Looks like cyanide.

It wasn't accidental.

They k*lled themselves

in shifts,

so each person

and their possessions

could be precisely arranged.

And then there's this.

[CLEARS THROAT]

They've all got them.

Along with the black spot.

MAN [IN GERMAN]:

MAX: Suicide note?

[NINA SIGHS]

MAX: What?

NINA: "Sacrifice is redemption."

"We return to source,

so she may live."

Was this group

on your radar?

Up until now, they didn't

display any extreme ideologies.

BEN:

The minute someone mentions

sacrifice or redemption,

I'd smell cult.

NINA:

Don't be so sure.

You've probably heard

the sirens call

and don't even know it.

I'm done here.

Should we go outside?

Get some air?

MAX:

Yeah. Good idea.

[POLICE QUESTIONING

IN BACKGROUND]

[PHONE PINGS]

NINA:

Feeling better?

Oh, God, no.

It's my daughter.

She just landed.

I'm sorry about that. I--

I'm trying to break out

of the theoretical side of life,

you know.

Most people throw up the first

time they see a dead body.

I'm Nina.

Nice to meet you.

Paper?

A book actually.

I read your last one.

The Science of Loneliness.

Really?

A return to community

as the most important tenet

of a stable society.

Simple. Perfect.

Don't be shy.

We've all read it.

How else do you think

you got in here?

What did you mean before?

The sirens call...

Well, it all depends on

what you consider to be a cult.

[CHUCKLING]

Do you believe

in the afterlife?

Living by a set of rules

that dictates

whether you get in or not?

Not this heathen, no.

That group mentality

is all around us.

Ever served

in the armed forces?

Or maybe you have

a therapist

you wouldn't dream

of challenging.

I actually make a point

of avoiding all those things.

Very smart.

You have to be careful

who you give your power to.

Hm.

[PHONE PINGS]

f*ck.

[AIRPORT SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT]

Excuse me. Hi.

Is this...

Is this the right train

to Kreuzberg?

Gneisenaustrasse...

Yeah, you're good.

Yeah, this is right.

Thank you.

Want me to help you with that?

Erm... Yes, please. Thank you.

Curse or protection?

Hm?

Curse or protection?

Oh. My dad got it for me.

Curses are more my mom's thing.

[CHUCKLES]

Or maybe it's his way

of reminding you,

don't talk to strangers.

Mm.

Probably has a point, yeah.

Yeah, hm?

Well, I'm Mazzy,

so now we're not strangers.

Okay. I'm Martin.

Nice to meet you, Mazzy.

Yeah. Me too. I mean, you too.

Where are you coming from?

California. Yeah, San Diego.

And you?

I'm from Berlin,

so I'm going home.

I'm actually from Kreuzberg.

Kreuzberg? All right.

That's how you say it.

[LAUGHS]

Not "Cruise-berg."

So I suppose

we're going to the same place.

Yeah, I guess so.



BEN [ON INTERCOM]:

I'm on the fourth floor.

Come on up.

[DOOR BUZZES]

Mazzy!

No.

Come to Berlin, he said.

We'll paint the town, he said.

Honestly, the least

you could have done

was pick me up

from the airport.

Your address has like

five syllables in it.

My stuff is downstairs,

by the way.

I am so sorry.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity.

Max called

at the last minute.

I'm so sorry.

Right.

I've missed you so much.

Come here.

[BEN GROANS CHEERFULLY]

Oh, God, I'm going to die.

What time is it?

Before you do

anything at all,

could you please

just call your mom?

Let her know you're here,

and you're safe. Please.

No, I need a minute.

The whole ride to the airport

was just sex trafficking

and "raving consciously."

Right, but you wouldn't

know anything about that.

No, nothing.

[CLICKS TONGUE]

Hm--

Hi, Mom. I have not

had to use my pepper spray yet.

Dad says hello and I will call

you later. Love you. Bye.

How is she?

I tried calling her

yesterday

about your food

and your schedule.

Oh, no. Right, here.

She'll be fine.

Apparently, this is all

an exercise in trust.

She said that to you?

Oh, no.

I overheard her telling Mitch.

Mitch?

Yeah. Mitch.

Who do you think

she's off finding? Herself?

Okay.

He's some whiny tech bro.

Honestly, the whole thing

is really disgusting.

Uh, what chapter are you on?

It doesn't really

work like that.

It's okay.

He won't last.

I'm so glad you're here.

You know that?

[BEN GROANS]

[MAZZY'S PHONE BUZZES]

WOMAN [RECORDED, IN GERMAN]:

[DOOR OPENING]

MARTIN [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

[SMOOCHES]

[GIGGLES]

MARTIN:



MAZZY: Thank you.

BEN: Okay...

You have to go back

totally reformed. Okay?

That's part of the deal

because your grades

were offensive this year.

I know, but this is, like,

the best punishment ever.

And your end of the deal

is that you're going

to come home with me, right?

Well, I can't just leave at the

beginning of the academic year.

Okay? And the thumbscrews are on

to finish the book.

It's interesting.

Even you'd find it interesting.

Well, based on the last one...

I'm kidding. Go on.

All right.

Well, it's a follow-up, okay.

I'm calling it

The Power of Groupthink.

Is that bad? I thought

you said lonely was bad.

It depends.

I'm interviewing this girl.

She's kind of a hermit.

She won't even let me

in her apartment to talk to her.

She's kind of like those

hikikomori kids

I talked to in Japan,

right?

I don't know

if I made it to that chapter.

Right, anyway.

They're totally isolated,

they lock themselves

in their rooms,

sometimes for years,

living their lives online.

Gaming, chat rooms...

Cool.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Point is, there are all kinds

of predators

just waiting for them,

to welcome them into their

persecution fantasies.

Like what?

Mm-mm. You'll get nightmares.

Come on.





[GASPING]

BEN:

The first day

is always daunting.

Just give it a chance, okay?

Hey. Did you forget something?

Still think this is

the best punishment ever?

Have a good day.

Make some friends.

MAZZY:

Whatever, Dad.

TEACHER:

This process allows us

to quantify

the exact amount

of chemical substance

found within the base solution.

[PHONE BUZZES]

[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

You can expect to see

a question about this

on a test later in the semester.

Thank you all.

Wake up. It's over.

Hi.

Larissa.

Hi, I'm Mazzy.

American?

Yes.

Yes! Oh, I'm not

a fascist or anything.

It's just so great when there's

someone new from home.

Do I need to assert dominance

or anything?

Nah, they're just

a bunch of rich house-cats.

So, a group of us is going out

in Friedrichshain this weekend.

You wanna come?

Uh-- Pfft.

No, my dad would never let me.

Not even when I'm 30.

Ugh. Shame.

Well, maybe next time.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah?

WOMAN [IN GERMAN, OVER PA]:

[COIN CLINKING]

[PEOPLE CHATTING INDISTINCTLY]

[IN GERMAN]

[IN GERMAN]

[IN GERMAN]

[CHATTING DIES DOWN]

[IN GERMAN]

[SINGING BOWL CHIMING]

[CHANTING]

Om.



In The Origins of

Totalitarianism,

Hannah Arendt

talked about loneliness

as the common ground

for terror,

the essence

of a totalitarian government,

which bases itself

on the experience

of not belonging

to the world at all,

which is among the most radical

and desperate experiences

of man.

[BELL RINGS]

Well, have a great weekend.

[STUDENTS CHATTING]

Paper is due on Tuesday

in my inbox.

Thank you.

STUDENT:

That was a really great class,

thank you.

NINA:

You look better.

A lot of paperwork had to be

filed to get you cleared.

I hope it was worth it.

I learned a lot, actually.

That I have a weak stomach,

and that I'd make

a shitty criminal psychologist.

You can't unsee

that kind of thing.

I haven't slept in 20 years.

Which would make you

the perfect interview subject,

by the way.

You already owe me.

A preview of the book

would make us even.

My students never pay me

this kind of attention.

Well, I'm a novelty, Max.

You'll never leave.

Yep.

My assistant told me

you were catching the show.

I was early.

Are you ready

to compare case notes?

The BFV are desperate

for your insight.

MAX:

And I assume everyone

wants reassurance

that this is a one-off

and not a missed pattern?

Like I said, not on our radar.

The guy who owned the house

was a doctor, a naturopath.

Create

an appealing shopfront

to hide the sinister stuff

that's going on in the basement.

That's a little reductive.

Well, I get rewards in the

afterlife, they all offer that.

But what's the initial draw?

You can't just lead with death.

MAX:

Actual community. Belonging.

Not just likes

and feedback loops.

I think

it's bigger than that.

It's about simple answers

to the big questions.

Meaning in life is important.

Order in the universe

is important.

All things I could use

right now.

MARTIN [IN GERMAN]:

[STAMMERS]

[WHIMPERING DESPERATELY]

[SOBBING]

[SOBBING INTENSIFYING]





MAZZY: Oh, I've missed you.

ELSA: How are you?

Mazzy? This is

my colleague, Nina.

Oh. Hey, Nina.

Hi, Mazzy.

It's so lovely to meet you.

This is a nice surprise.

NINA: I know.

And look, no bodies.

[IN GERMAN]

Come on in.

[DOOR SLAMS]

Hey, who's the midlife

crisis bait?

Yeah.

She's just some nerd

from work.

Said every husband

to his gaslit wife ever.

This level of paranoia

is not healthy.

Okay. No, you're right.

Besides, what's good

for the goose...

Shut the f*ck up,

let me see.

Whoa. He's hot.

Mm-hm. I met him on the way

from the airport.

That soon?

Mm-hm.

Has he messaged you?

Yes. Look, twice.

Says he wants to meet up.

[GIGGLING]

Oh, God.

How long have you all

known each other?

Since Max deigned

to do a semester at Berkeley.

Yeah. Worst grades

of my academic career,

thanks to you two.

BEN: You're welcome.

MAX: Thank you.

Cheers.

MAX: Cheers.

How is Lydia?

Hey, Sofie.

No, it's okay. It's fine.

Well, according

to her therapist, uh,

my "inability to process"

is worse than the last

five years of our marriage.

And what about you, Nina?

Where did you study?

Cambridge.

Well, don't I feel tawdry?

You didn't want to stay

in England?

My family would never have

stood for it.

Do something meaningful

for society,

and then straight home.

[CHUCKLES]

Are they in Berlin?

My parents are long gone.

The rest are here though,

still keeping an eye on me.

So horribly conventional.

Apart from the bit where you

work for the government,

profiling dangerous criminals.

The devil has

all the best tunes.

[PHONE BUZZES]

[IN GERMAN]

[PHONE RINGING]

MAX:

[IN GERMAN]

What's wrong?

Uh-- We have to go.

Party's over.



[IN GERMAN]

NINA [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

[PHONE RINGS]

Yeah?

[SOBBING, IN GERMAN]

[IN GERMAN]



NINA [IN GERMAN]:

[SIGHS]

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

[SLURPS]

You hate it?

No, it's really...

It's amazing.

Sorry, I should have

asked first.

No, it's fine.

[PHONE RINGING]

I'm sorry. It's my dad.

[MAZZY SIGHS]

So, um, where's your mom?

Oh, um, she's back home.

Yeah, my parents split up

last year.

She's farmed me out

for the semester,

so that she can eat, pray,

love, or whatever.

That must be really hard.

What about you, do you live

with your parents or...?

Um, actually, my parents died

in a car accident

when I was a kid.

Oh, my God.

No, it's okay.

No, I-I'm so sorry.

No, no, it's okay. Don't worry.

It was a long time ago.

I barely remember it.

I went to live

with my grandmother.

Do you live with her now?

No, I live alone.

I'm not very good

at being alone.

Yeah, but, I mean,

I've got friends, right?

[LAUGHING]

Um-- Uh...

I work at an environmental NGO.

Oh.

And, um, you know,

giving something back

really helps to put things

into perspective.

Yeah. Heh.

Yeah,

I've been into gratitude

since before

it was even a thing,

so I understand.

Yeah, right.

Yeah, I get it.

Right.

MAZZY:

What's that?

You want to borrow it?

It'll really change

your perspective.

You know, we are shaped

by our intentions.

We create what we think.

Hmm?

It's German.

Oh, right. That's true.

Um...

Yeah. It's about mass extinction

and what can be done,

even though we've passed

the point of crisis.

Right.

We're all so f*cked, right?

Actually, I told my mom...

I told her

I'm not having children

to help keep

the population down.

And she started sobbing.

Wow.

I mean, exactly.

Overpopulation

is a big problem.

And we need people like you

who think of the bigger picture

and...

Actually...

you should come.

And... meet my group.

If you want to.

Really?

Yeah, sure.

NINA:

Thank you.

BEN:

And, there you go.

[NINA CHUCKLES]

Are you working me?

Only if you want to show me

the doctor's manifesto.

Unfortunately impossible.

Headlines, then?

He was making a point.

He was deeply affected

by environmental decline,

by social injustice

on every level.

So, revolutionary suicide.

Exactly.

He set up free healing centers

in low-income neighborhoods,

he was like a local saint.

With his own personal gospel,

no doubt.

He was of an era

that believed in community,

in social equality.

The '90s was a bumpy re-entry

for them.

Safety in dictatorship.

It's complicated.

And maybe for an American

not so easy to understand.

[SCOFFS]

Well, I doorstepped

the neighbors after you left.

Okay.

And they said that he became

increasingly paranoid,

started preaching

about the end of time,

systemic environmental

collapse.

He believed what they did

was for the greater good.

And there's the hook.

It's not a hook

if you truly believe in it.

Yeah, but it all ends the same

way. On a funeral pyre.

Robbed of their own free will.

I think they gave it away

willingly.

They were just trying to give

their lives some meaning.

So, all I have to do

is throw myself into the flames?

[IN GERMAN]

[BEN HUMMING]

BEN:

Is there any fruit

that you don't eat?

[PHONE PINGS]

Hmm?

There's something on the list

that your mom sent.

There are a lot of things

on that list actually.

Something about...

[VOICE FADING]

...seeds and nightshades.

HILMA [ON VIDEO]:

What will you sacrifice

for your planet today?

Don't be afraid to let go.

Release fear.

Embrace love.

[PEOPLE CHATTING INDISTINCTLY]

Hey.

Hey. You came.

Yeah. Hi.

[HILMA SPEAKING SOFTLY]

Are you sure

this is a good idea?

Yeah, it's fine.

Come on.

I want you to meet Hilma.

She leads the group.

HILMA: Martin.

Hi.

This is Mazzy.

She's a new... friend.

Hi.

Oh, what a pleasure it is

to meet you, Mazzy.

We're so happy

to welcome you here.

Thank you.

Martin's told me so many

great things about your group.

Yeah?

Oh, dear Martin.

So he has told you

about our cause?

Uh, yeah, a little.

Well, we strive

to release ourselves

from our destructive

behaviors,

our worldly attachments,

so that our beautiful Earth

may purify and heal.

Cool.

[HILMA LAUGHS]



Take this.

And remember, there's no

distinction between you and it.

All life is connected.

We are all part of the whole.

Right?

So, shall we?

I don't have a mask.

You can have mine.

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:

Why doesn't Hilma wear one?

She's not afraid.

Did you realize,

if we all lived

like middle-class Americans...

[HILMA CONTINUES IN BACKGROUND]

there would be no resources left

for most of Africa and Asia?

We need to realize

that we can only exist

if we think as a collective.



Feel the energy

that comes into being

when our collective focus

is woven together.

Let's visualize

our planet healed.

REPORTER [IN GERMAN]:

[FLIES BUZZING]

[BEN'S PHONE BUZZES]

MAZZY: Hey, Dad.

Hm?

Can I go to the Reichstag thing

with Larissa tomorrow?

Who's Larissa?

Larissa.

Larissa, from school.

Yeah, sure. Yeah.

It's great that you got

a new friend.

And are interested in

politics and architecture.

Okay, thanks.

Just be careful. okay?

Yep.

And check in with me

every few hours.

Yep, got it.

Seriously.

That girl on the news

has got everyone worried.

Hey. Dad?

Who was that woman

at Elsa's the other night?

Nina?

Just someone from work.

A colleague.

And you would tell me if you're,

like, dating anyone or...

something like that, right?

If I met someone

and it was serious,

yeah, I'd let you know.

Do you think you and Mom

would ever get back together?

I'll always love your mom,

you know that.

We are shaped

by our intentions.

We create what we think.



[BIRDS & INSECTS CHIRPING]

So...

Are you ready?

I'm not gonna freak out

or anything, am I?

No, no, no,

it's just mushrooms.

Nothing synthetic.

You know, real euphoria comes

from communing with the Earth.

And sometimes that means...

eating it.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

f*ck it. Let's do this.

All right.

[ECHOING]

Hilma was amazing.

Like, magical.



When she gave me this necklace,

I could feel her energy.

[ECHOING]

She gave me this ash.

It's from an ancient

rowan tree.

And it's to remind me

that she's transcendent.

That we all are transcendent.

[TREES CREAKING

AND LEAVES RUSTLING LOUDLY]

[DISTORTED VOICES WHISPERING]

VOICE [DISTANT]:

Mazzy!

Mazzy!

Mazzy?

Come to me.



Knowledge is born

of a lucid mind,

and purity is the gateway.

Have you gained clarity?

Existence is a lonely journey

of continuous death

and rebirth.

NINA:

So, what about you?

Is it just you and Mazzy

against the world?

Yeah, yeah.

Her mom and I

are still picking over

the divorce carcass,

you know.

But on the plus side,

she agreed to let me

have Mazzy

for the semester, so...

To modern parenting at work.

[PIANO PLAYING SOFTLY]

[WOMAN SINGING SOFTLY]

I think she's treating this

more as immersion therapy.

It must be hard for her

to be away from her daughter.

Cognitive adaption happens

faster than we think, though.

Actually, I think

it's more of a trust thing.

She's conflating

the breakdown of the marriage

with your ability

to parent.

Actually,

it's kind of specific.

We were at the beach

with Mazzy's friends

when she was younger,

and Mazzy had an accident.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I don't mean to pry...

No, no, it's fine, honestly.

She, um--

She got caught in a rip.

Happened really fast.

It was really frightening,

obviously.

Then when we got her to shore,

it all became about how...

I was watching the kids

and I didn't see it.



Sometimes after trauma,

we need somewhere

to put our fear and blame.

It's perfectly normal.

She stopped breathing.

But you saved her.

[MAZZY CRIES OUT]

BEN:

Actually, I kind of froze.

Her mom got there before I did

and pulled her out.

That's just a fear response.

Let it go.

It's all over now.

You're right.

It is all over now.

HILMA:

...strive to let go

of fear and hate.

Love heals all.

This is the absolute truth.

BEN:

The guy can't sing.

Don't... don't sing.

[LAUGHING]

Leave it to someone who can.

It's not, you know, it's...

...a basic principle of music.

He tried.

HILMA [ON VIDEO]:

I can feel your pain.

You'll never be alone again.



BEN:

Hey.

Why didn't you wake me up

when you went out last night?

[SIGHING]

You were exhausted.

I wanted to let you sleep.

Plus, you're 16,

you're responsible.

I got freaked out.

You keep telling me

to be careful,

and then you just go out.

I called Mom.

[GROANING]

Oh, don't worry,

she didn't pick up.

What's that in your hair?

Stop! What are you doing?

Wait a second.

Just calm down.

Don't tell me to calm down.

I f*cking hate all of this.

Why can't you just come home

and be normal?

You realize you've ruined

our lives by coming here?

Okay, Maz, your mom ended it.

Not the other way around.

You know that, right?

She asked me to leave.

I just needed to get away

and give us some space

for a minute.

She didn't tell you

to go to f*cking Europe!

[GROANING SIGH]

Where do you think you're going?

I'm going to Elsa's.

What?

And, no, I won't be home

for f*cking dinner.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[MAZZY CRYING]

MAX [OVER PHONE]:

Hey, Ben.

Hey. I'm in the doghouse.

What's wrong?

Now Mazzy's pissed with me,

and she's on her way

to your place.

Don't worry.

I'll keep an eye on her.

She can cool down here

and sleep over if she wants.

Yeah, that's probably

a good idea.

Try not to worry.

Thanks.

No problem.

[SIGHS]

Mazzy. What a surprise.

Come in.

I'm sorry to just turn up.

Our doors are always open.

I was looking for Martin.

Is he here?

No, dear. Is something wrong?

Come.

My dad,

he's just such an as*h*le.

Has he let you down?

Yeah, he lied to me.



He snuck out in the middle of

the night to meet some woman.

[SIGHS]

I came to Berlin for him.

To see him.

But it's always

only ever about him.

Is that what upsets you

the most?

I had this accident

when I was younger.

It was ages ago

and I'm fine now, but...

I don't know, I think it's the

reason that my parents split up.

Oh, there we are.

I can see that must make you

feel ashamed.

Perhaps you wonder

if your parents blame you

for their separation?

And that maybe he wouldn't

have left if it wasn't for you?

Untangle yourself

from your parents.

The sooner you stop

relying on them,

the more powerful

you will be.

MAZZY:

Hilma says

I need to turn away from him.

That weirdo

from the video you sent me?

What does that even mean?

It means f*ck him.

If he doesn't need me,

then I don't need him.

Wow. Okay.

Hey, let's go out.

Yeah, come on,

I want to go to Friedrichshain.

No way. My dad is even more

neurotic than usual

because of that girl

on the news.

Well, your dad

doesn't have to know.

I can't, okay?

I'm sorry, they'd be furious.

Okay, fine.

I have other friends, you know.

[IN GERMAN]

NINA [QUOTING]:

[DOOR BUZZES]

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Do you trust me?

Just go easy with the red pen,

please.

Pressure to deliver

is crippling.

I'm excited to read it.

The Power of Groupthink.

You know, I always thought

there was something mystical

about the idea

of mass consciousness.

Or absolutely terrifying.

[NINA CHUCKLES]

I think there really is

such a thing as a group soul.

I've seen how a group gains the

consciousness of an individual.

It's extraordinary.

Almost telepathic.



Everything you do

is for others.

The individual is swallowed

by this huge creature,

and whatever the creature does,

you're swept along with it.

You should probably

write that down.

[CHUCKLES]

Take it.

It's yours.

[IN GERMAN]

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

CONGREGATION [IN UNISON]:









[BIRDS CALLING]

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:



Don't be afraid to let go.

Release fear.

Embrace love.

Hi.

All is love, right?

Oh, my God,

where are you taking me?

[IN GERMAN]

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYING]

Seriously, where are we?

Come on.

[EXCITED WHOOPING]





MAZZY [ECHOING]:

No!

No!

Get off me! Let me go!

LARISSA [ECHOING]:

Come on.



[COUGHING, VOMITING]

We can't go home like this.

Come on.

No, please.

I need to lie down.

What? No, Maz, no.

Come on, we can sleep it off

in the park.



Hey, hey.

[LINE RINGING]

[MAZZY GROANS]

Sorry.

DISPATCHER [IN GERMAN]:



[SIGHS]

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Oh, man. Don't ever have kids.

You'll never get

a good night's sleep again.

[CALMLY]

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, we were worried about you.

MEMBER [IN GERMAN]:

No, no, please,

I just want to sleep.

I'll take care of this for you.

No, please don't call my dad.

You need to get the poison

out of your system.

We can't let you go home

like this.

Let them help you.

Okay, okay...

MAZZY:

Where's Larissa? Is she okay?

She's fine, she's fine.

I took care of her. All right?

They'll make you feel better,

I promise.

I'm so, so sorry.

No...

[MUTTERING IN BACKGROUND]

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

MAX: Ben I've been trying

to get hold of you.

It's Mazzy.

What?

She snuck out

and didn't come home

last night.

What do you mean?

[WHIMPERING]

[WHIMPERING]



Martin made the right decision

by bringing you here.

We'll take care of you now.

I'm so embarrassed.

I'm so sorry.

No!

You recognize what you've done.

That's redemption enough.

I know young people today

feel so empty.

But you're very special.

Sinless.

Unblemished.

I knew it

the first time we met.

No.

No, it's all right, Mazzy.

You'll never be alone again.

Now you're with people

who care about you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Okay.

Let us take care of you

from now on.

[IN GERMAN]

[IN GERMAN]

SOFIE [IN GERMAN]:

I'm sure

she's with friends,

it's just she's lying about

which friend

she was actually with...

Yeah, I'd appreciate that.

Thanks.

MAX: Anything?

No. God.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Hey. You okay?

You have to try and calm down.

It's only been a few hours.

[RAISING VOICE]

She's been gone all night.

Okay?

It's been 12 hours.

I'm going to call the police.

No, don't call the police yet.

I know the protocol. They won't

take it seriously for 24 hours.

I'll call my people.

They can help.

Really?

Max, what do you think?

I'm not a cop.

I don't know the protocols.

But if Nina's got contacts,

that will speed things up.

I mean,

am I overreacting, Max?

She probably got stranded

at some club,

and knows

she's in deep sh*t.

[BEN SIGHS]



This will make you feel better.

No...

Come on, just a little bit more.

Just a little bit more.

Good girl.

MARTIN:

Hey, Mazzy. It's all right.

MAZZY:

No! Don't go!

Mazzy!

[IN GERMAN]

Mazzy!

Mazzy!

As with any deep cleansing,

it will get worse

before it gets better.

Call my dad, please...

Just-- Please call my dad.

We are your family now.

[PHONE BUZZES]

[IN GERMAN]

[PHONE PINGS]

Hey.

MAX: What?

Take a look at this.

Who's that?

I don't know.

Sofie, do you know who that is?

I've got a lead!

An unconscious girl was seen

being carried into a community

center in Friedrichshain.

Did they call the police?

NINA: Of course.

BEN:

Thank God. Let's go.

Mom?

[IN GERMAN]

What will you sacrifice

for your planet today?

[DISTORTED SOUNDS]

HILMA:

Purity is the gateway.



Have you gained clarity?

Yes. Yes.

I f*cking hate you.

No!

How dare you disrespect me,

Mazzy.

Martin!

[DESPERATELY]

Martin, please.

Purity cannot be attained.

Martin, please.

It's such a shame.

[MAZZY SHOUTS IN PAIN]

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:



Please, no.

[MAZZY SQUEALING DESPERATELY]

You were exceptional, Mazzy.

I had such high hopes for you.

[MAZZY STRUGGLING

AND SCREAMING]



[IN GERMAN]

[IN GERMAN]

[REVULSION IN VOICE]

[DOOR SLAMS]



[SCREAMS FURIOUSLY]

That's all they said, right?

Nothing else?

I know as much

as you do.

NINA [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

NINA:



[NINA BREATHING DEEPLY]

NINA [IN GERMAN]:

[NINA BREATHING INTENSIFYING]



Ben Monroe.



He believed what they did

was for the greater good.

[BREATHING cl*max]

[WHISPERING, IN GERMAN]

MARTIN [IN GERMAN]:



[WHISPERS SOFTLY]

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:

NINA [IN GERMAN]:

BEN [IN GERMAN]:

She was seen being carried

in here apparently.

HILMA:

Ben.

I wish our first meeting was

under different circumstances.

I've heard so much about you,

about the influential

work you do.

So many people

must heed your words.

I'm sorry?

Your hypotheses

are so comforting.

Community and symbiosis

is the cure for so much

of what ails us as a planet.

We wouldn't be in this position

if we were thinking

of the whole.

Okay. I think there's been

a misunderstanding.

I'm looking for

my daughter Mazzy.

It's okay, Ben. Mazzy's safe.

She's with my friends.

What friends?

These are my friends.

They're my family.

You can trust them.

What? So she's safe?

HILMA:

It's important that

we populate our organization

with the most progressive

and brilliant minds.

Your writing on the subject

of collective consciousness

is so inspiring.

You have such undeniable

influence.

You possess

the mastery and power

to lead us

to global recognition.

I don't even know you. Okay?

We know you, Ben.

No, no, you've got me

all wrong.

You have no idea how to

reconnect with your daughter.

[WHISPERING IN BACKGROUND]

She's slipping through

your fingers again, Ben.

HILMA:

We can help you.

If you help us.

Do you really want her

to go back?

Stop!

Just stop talking, okay?

Where is she?

Huh?

Maz?

Ben, just listen to me

for a second, okay?

We're trying to help you.

[BEN HAMMERING ON DOORS]

She is safe.

She's so happy here.

She's met a wonderful boy.

We've given her a real sense

of belonging.

So you can start healing

your relationship.

She'll want to stay

and live here with you. With us.

That's what you really want,

isn't it?

What? You, me and Mazzy?

There is no you and Mazzy.

You don't even know her.

You're so lost in your pain.

Your rejection.

This egoism you have of not

being your daughter's savior.

We can rid you of that and

replace it with real purpose.

The power of knowing

you're changing the world.

Wouldn't it be wonderful

if we could all

experience it together?

What the f*ck is going on here?

Have you even had an original

thought in your whole life?

All that talk

about a group soul,

was that your idea or hers?

Oh, you've got the community

and the love,

but you're all alone

in there, aren't you?

And now what? You're holding

my daughter ransom?

I'm calling the police.

If we are ever threatened, we

will move our timeline forward.

What does that mean?

We are ready

to make the ultimate sacrifice.

To purify and start again.

CONGREGATION

[IN UNISON, IN GERMAN]:

I thought I could help Mazzy,

but maybe she can't be saved.

[IN GERMAN]

Choose to stay, Ben,

and Mazzy will have

a reason to exist.

[SHOUTING]

Exist?

Ben, the world

is disintegrating.

Civilization is unwinding.

What did you just say?

LOTTE:

And haven't you noticed?

The world is disintegrating.

Civilization is unwinding.

[IN GERMAN]

BEN:

Lake Liepnitz.

That's where you take them.

You're psychotic.

[DOOR OPENS]

Max, call whoever you know

at the police department.

Maz has been kidnapped.

MAX:

What? Do you know

where she is?

Lake Liepnitz. You hurry!



HILMA [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

[VOICE CRACKING]

[IN GERMAN]



NINA'S MOM:



[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]

[FLIES BUZZING]

[MARTIN INHALES SHARPLY]

HILMA [IN GERMAN]:

[WHISPERING AND WHIMPERING

IN BACKGROUND]



[PEOPLE GASPING]

[MUFFLED GASPING]

[SUFFOCATING]

[SCREAMING]





[FROGS CROAKING]

VOICE:

Mazzy!

[DISTORTED WHISPERING,

LAUGHTER]

Mazzy!

[DISTORTED WHISPERING]

[BIRDS TWEETING]

VOICE:

Over here.

Come to me.

[WHISPERING, GIGGLING]

MAZZY:

Hey. Can you help me?

Where am I?

VOICE:

Mazzy.

Come here.



[IN GERMAN]

[OFFICERS SHOUTING ORDERS]



LOTTE:

Let go.

Mazzy!

[DISTORTED VOICES]

[BEN GASPS]

[BEN GASPING, GROANING]

Come on, Maz...

Maz!

Mazzy. Hey! Come on!

Mazzy!

That's it, that's it.

You got it, you got it.

Breathe, breathe.

Let it out, let it out.

I got you.

That's it, that's it.

I got you.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

I love you so much.

I'm so sorry.

Existence is a lonely journey

of continuous death

and rebirth.

But I see you.

I can feel your pain.

SOFIE [IN GERMAN]:

[IN GERMAN]

And if you join our family,

you'll never be alone again.