Terminator Zero
Season 1 – Episode 1
Episode title: Model 101 | Transcript
Original release date: August 29, 2024 (Netflix)
Plot: In 1997, a haunted scientist brushes his family aside for an all-consuming project. In 2022, a renegade fighter battles a powerful robot for vital data.
* * *
[woman panting]
[gun clicks]
[door thuds]
[approaching footsteps]
[gun cocks]
[bones crushing]
[panting]
[eerily disjointed music playing]
[clattering]
[thuds]
[gasps]
[eerily disjointed music continues playing]
[inhales, then exhales sharply]
[man groans]
[continues groaning] Please, help me…
[man grunting softly]
Fuck you!
[gun clicks]
[gun magazine clatters]
[gunshots]
[edgy techno music playing]
[grunts]
[clangs]
[panting]
[lumbering footsteps approaching]
[gunshots]
[grunting]
[gun clicks]
[panting]
[bullets clang off of metal post]
[beeps]
[gasps sharply]
[lumbering footsteps approaching]
[suspenseful music playing]
[whirring]
[grunts]
[grunting & panting]
[grunting]
[button clicks]
[alarm beeping rapidly]
[grunting]
[gasping & grunting]
[yells]
[device powering up]
[grunting]
[gasps]
[grunting weakly]
SHUTDOWN INITIATED
[powering off]
[grunts]
[exhales exhaustedly]
[suspenseful music continues playing]
[grunting]
[grunting intensely, then gasps]
[heavy thuds]
[panting]
[grunting & straining]
[debris hitting ground]
[foreboding music playing]
[powering up]
[mechanical whirring]
[ominous music playing]
[water splashing]
[man groans]
[gasps]
[rumbling]
[screaming]
[gasps]
[panting]
[groans]
[moaning groggily]
[Malcolm] The nightmare grows more vivid each night.
Time is running out.
Soon, my nightmare will be real.
[pensive music playing]
Something’s coming. I know it’s true.
I can’t start second-guessing my mind.
Not now. Not when we’re so close.
I know the fate we’re destined for.
[metal clangs]
[grunts softly]
[Malcolm] Kenta, what’s this?
It’s for Hiro, he asked me to make him a new nightlight for his room.
Check it out.
[powers up, then begins whirring]
[giggles]
[gasps softly]
[Malcolm] Hmm…
What…? What’s wrong?
No, nothing’s wrong.
It’s just that you’re reminding me of myself when I was your age.
So, what have you made? You designed this on your own?
Yeah, it wasn’t that hard. And I like figuring things out anyway.
That’s good.
People don’t know how things actually work anymore…
Makes them weak and vulnerable.
Do you understand why that is?
Hmm…
Well, I guess if you don’t know how something works, then…
Then if it breaks or just stops working for some reason, you’re kind of stuck.
Mm… Knowledge is power, Kenta.
If you understand something, it can never truly control you.
Try to remember that.
Hey, is this the microwave? And the blender?
They had the parts I needed.
I mean, what was I supposed to do?
You said you’d get me more components. That was last week!
[Malcolm] I want this fixed by the time I’m home.
You have to work? It’s Saturday!
[Malcolm sighs]
I’m sorry. I wish I could be here for you more, but this is a… difficult time right now.
Yeah, well, seems like it’s always a “difficult time” over there.
[sighs] I know that it feels that way.
I wish I could say more… Someday, you’re going to understand.
[stammers briefly]
[sighs]
[Malcolm] Where are your brother and sister?
Sleeping.
[Malcolm] Where’s Misaki?
[tranquil music playing]
You like this one?
[fussing] Mm-mm, mm-mm!
[gasps softly]
[laughs] You’re dead! I killed you!
No way! I vaporized you first!
[laughs]
[sighs]
[pattering footsteps receding]
[tranquil music continues playing]
[gentle clattering nearby]
[exhales softly]
Huh…
[Misaki] Um, excuse me?
Excuse me.
Do you have any Konekos in stock?
Hello?
Hello.
[gasps]
[whirring]
[Misaki] Oh…
[store manager] Can I help you miss?
[stammers] Eh, has he been giving you any trouble?
Oh, uh, no. I just don’t think he can see me.
Oh, sorry about that.
Hey, 1NNO!
[robotic voice] Yes? How may I help you?
This lady asked you for help.
[whirring]
Probably something wrong with his sensor.
Guess they still haven’t worked out all the kinks.
That’s the problem with these stupid things.
I was…
Okay. What is it you’re looking for?
Do you have any more Konekos left?
Well, 1NNO? Do we have any Konekos in stock?
[1NNO] Yes, sir. Some more just came in.
[chuckles sheepishly] Really sorry about all this.
[Misaki chuckles politely]
[whirring]
[1NNO] Here you go.
[Misaki gasps softly]
Thanks for your patience.
Thank you.
Hmm… Looks like I’m gonna have to send you back.
You know, this is making people so jumpy
[child imitating airplane]
that some of them think…
[laughing]
Dive! Dive! [laughing]
[groans] Hey!
I’m trying to read! Stop it!
Hiro! Do you see that I’m on the phone?
[imitating plane]
[laughing]
[Reika] Go away!
Tell Los Angeles there’s a minimum 200 million investment.
[Hiro continues laughing]
Kenta,
I want this mess cleaned up!
[door opens]
I’ll be in the office in 25 minutes.
[Malcolm hangs up phone, then sighs]
And where have you been?
Well, I went to the bank like you asked,
[Malcolm sighs]
and on the way back…
[Malcolm] It’s after 9.
I asked you to be back an hour ago.
Yes, sir. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting, but…
You’re here now.
That’s all that matters.
[gasps softly]
I won’t be back tonight.
Maybe not tomorrow either…
[Reika] You won’t be home tomorrow?
But tomorrow is Mom…
I know you want us all to go to the park. I can’t do it.
We’ll all go together on another day. I promise.
[stammering]
I’m sorry…
but I have something very important to do.
Something more important than taking us to the park, you mean.
It’s just a few more days Reika.
It’s almost over.
[grunts]
[Malcolm gasps softly]
[inhales softly, then sighs]
[Misaki sighs]
[Misaki] I, um…
Hm? What’s that in the bag?
You know how the children have been wanting a kitten…
but with Hiro’s allergies…
I thought they might like a Koneko.
Whoa! A Koneko!
I can’t wait to strip it for parts.
You’re not touching it!
[scoffs]
[Malcolm] Get rid of it.
Huh?
Aw…
[Hiro] Come on, Dad…
That’s enough.
[Hiro & Misaki wince]
[Malcolm] Kenta…
when I get home, I want that mess cleaned up.
[Kenta] Yes, sir.
And you… Get that machine out of this house today.
Understood?
I thought…
[tense music playing]
Yes, I’ll take it back.
I’ll call from the office when I have a better sense of when I’m coming home.
[door opens]
[scoffs] What a joke!
Dad works with tech stuff all day, and he freaks out over some dumb toy.
He won’t let us have one lousy robot at home.
Talk about a double standard.
[Hiro] What’s a “double standard”?
It’s making rules for other people that you don’t have to follow yourself.
[grunts] I hate double standards!
Well, it’s here now.
We should at least check it out before we have to take it back.
[gasps] Yeah, can we? Please, Misaki!
Please, please, please, please?
Well…
I guess you could.
As long as we take it back by tonight.
[gasps excitedly]
I wanna crack it open and see
what kind of gimbals they’ve got.
[Hiro] Stop it!
They won’t take it back if you break it!
[Kenta] Oh, come on. Don’t worry, I’ll put it back together.
[Hiro] No! Stop it!
[Kenta] I know what I’m doing!
[Hiro] Don’t even joke!
[Kenta] I’ve done this before!
[Reika] It’s not because it’s a robot.
[emotional music playing]
It’s not because it’s robot…
It’s because it’s a cat.
[sighs]
[robotic meowing]
[whirs softly]
[robotic meow]
[foreboding music playing]
[distorted whirring]
Some weather, huh?
[gasps]
There’s a big storm coming in.
You have no idea.
[pensive music playing]
[dog barking]
[1NNO] Indie.
[monotonously repeating] Indie. Indie.
[Indie whimpers]
[snarling]
Indie.
[barking]
[1NNO] Indie.
[car engine rumbling]
[tires screeching]
[heavy thud]
[1NNO] Indie. Indie.
[1NNO continues in monotone] Indie.
[cawing]
He’s coming. It’s him!
[man 1] Stop destroying the environment!
[woman 1] Have a heart!
[man 2] Stop the pollution!
Stop destroying the environment!
[woman 2 muffled] Stop destroying the environment!
[man 2] Stop destroying…
[protestors continue clamoring]
[thunder rolling]
[security guard] Good morning, Mr. Lee.
[Malcolm] Good morning.
[woman] Good morning, sir.
[Malcolm] Morning.
How are you doing this morning, sir?
Fine, thanks.
Wait, so not this either?
No. No outside electronic devices.
[ominous music playing]
Sir.
[Malcolm] Anything to report?
Some energy surges in the middle of the night.
Nothing too concerning.
[Malcolm] How many?
[Natsuko] Five spikes in total, at irregular intervals,
but everything seems to be normal now.
[Malcolm] Was the system affected at all?
[Natsuko] No…
everything in the lab is still in order.
[elevator dings]
Data analysis of yesterday’s session is in for your review.
[Malcolm] Is everything prepared for today’s session?
[Natsuko] Yes, you can start right away.
No one comes in. No interruptions.
Yes. Understood.
Three… two…
one.
[rumbling]
[lock disengages]
[ominous music continues playing]
Good luck.
What is today, Natsuko? The date?
Today? Is August 29th.
That means it’s currently the 28th in Los Angeles.
Yes, that’s right, what about…?
It’s not nearly enough time.
Sir?
[foreboding music playing]
[scanner beeping]
[door cranking open]
[inhales sharply]
Good morning… Kokoro.
[female voice over speakers] Malcolm…
You seem tense.
[sigh] I’m fine.
[Kokoro] No. You’re scared of something.
[exhales] Maybe.
[Kokoro] Malcolm…
What are you scared of?
Judgment.
[whirring]
[muffled explosion over speakers]
[Malcolm exhales sharply]
[Malcolm] I’m afraid that, despite my best efforts,
I can’t change what’s going to happen.
[Kokoro] Fate.
You fear the path has already been set.
[Malcolm] It has been.
If I’m correct, many, many times, this path to judgment has been walked.
[Kokoro] But you also think you can change that path?
[Malcolm] I do.
[pensive music playing]
Do you remember our first conversation?
[Kokoro] I remember everything.
So you remember what you asked me?
[Kokoro] “Why am I here?”
Kokoro…
I believe the path before us is not set, yet.
I believe that humanity still has a fighting chance
to save itself from what’s coming.
And if I were to bring you online before tomorrow ends…
then I believe…
that you have the power to change our fate.
[Kokoro] You believe I have the power to save you.
But how do you know that I will?
[Malcolm] I…
I don’t know.
[pensive music continues playing]
[Kokoro] Malcolm?
Yes, Kokoro.
[Kokoro] Shall we begin?
There is so much to discuss…
and we are running out of time.
Indeed.
You’re right, Kokoro.
It’s almost time.
Let’s begin.
[mechanisms rumbling]
[electronic whirring]
[whirring stops]
[male soldier 1] It’s been 10 hours.
They’ll be back. Stop worrying, will you?
How do you know?
Because they have to get back, all right?
[male soldier 2] Yeah.
Wait, something’s coming.
[gun cocks]
It’s Eiko! Hurry, go tell the commanders.
Right.
[tense music playing]
[male soldier 3] Make a hole! Coming through, everyone!
[coughing]
Okay, come on.
Stand back, let us through.
[man] Must be going to see the Prophet.
[people murmuring]
[woman 1] Give me that.
I need you to give us some room, everyone.
Are there any other survivors?
[whimpers]
[sobbing]
[woman 2] It’s Eiko!
[murmuring continues]
Tell me, were you able to get it?
[brooding music playing]
[Prophet gasps softly]
[exhales gently]
[Prophet] The time has come.
We know that in the last five days,
five Resistance camps have been overrun by the Machines.
In each case, there were no survivors.
But today, on the sixth day,
we’ve found a way to at least get a glimpse of what Skynet is planning.
Many lost their lives in the effort to get this vital data into our hands.
Good fighters, every one of them…
Good friends, too.
[sighs]
Let us swear to it.
Swear that their sacrifice shall not have been in vain!
[crowd shouting] We swear it! We swear! We swear!
[both gasp softly]
[scientist 1] Skynet’s data is coming up now.
But what does it mean?
I’ve never seen data like this.
[scientist 1] Wait. Is that…?
No, it can’t be.
They wouldn’t be trying it again, would they?
What are you seeing?
Seems like Skynet’s willing to do anything.
They’re looking to end this thing once and for all.
Time travel…
[brooding music continues playing]
[groans weakly] Tell me that we aren’t too late.
We have to move.
[thuds]
No, please! [whimpers]
[gunshots]
[machines whirring]
[machines hissing]
[fire crackling]
[ominous music playing]
[foreboding music playing]
[beeping]
[ominous music playing]
[door whirs]
TEMPORAL TARGET A.D. 1997 TOKYO
[electronic humming]
[menacing music playing]
[theme music playing]
