Terminator Zero
Season 1 – Episode 2
Episode title: Model 102 | Transcript
Original release date: August 29, 2024 (Netflix)
Plot: Eiko and the Terminator arrive in 1997 with identical missions: find Dr. Malcolm Lee. Meanwhile, Lee’s three children sneak out of their apartment.
* * *
[waves crashing]
[Annie] There’s a storm coming in.
[Eiko grunts softly] What tipped you off?
Are you really doing this?
That’s the plan.
Because some old bat who calls herself a prophet says so?
It’s not just that, Annie.
[sighs] Time travel is a one-way ticket, Eiko.
Once you go, you can’t come back.
[inhales sharply]
What if I can stop it from happening?
[flames whooshing]
[thunder crackling]
[pensive music playing]
[scientist 1] I’ve hacked into their data feed.
I’m now connected to Skynet’s time machine.
[scientist 2] Can you mirror that window?
[scientist 1] You bet.
We’ve got enough power.
[keyboard clacking]
Window mirrored.
We are up and running.
You’re good to go.
[all murmuring]
[man] It’s the Prophet.
[Prophet] Skynet has sent a Terminator back in time.
In doing so, they’ve created a new timeline.
The window to follow won’t stay open long.
And once it closes…
Then the chance to follow the Terminator into this timeline will disappear.
You know what needs to be done, don’t you, Eiko?
[sighs sharply]
You mustn’t let anybody get in your way.
You said that it had to be me.
Are you sure I’m the one you want?
You are the only one who can do this.
It always had to be you.
Do you really know what’s going to happen? Or is this all just…
bullshit?
[snickers]
Listen to me.
Try to understand no one knows what will happen.
You have no fate, child. That is the fucking point.
[gasps]
[Annie sobbing]
[Annie whimpering & sniffling]
[inhales, then exhales]
[dramatic music playing]
[sniffling rapidly]
[machine hums]
[keyboard clacking]
[electronic beeping & whirring]
[gasps softly]
[dog barking]
[people gasping]
[loud thud]
[woman yells]
[woman crying]
[thuds]
[guns firing]
[dog barking]
[gasps]
[people screaming]
[bullets clanging]
[people continue screaming]
[gasps]
[menacing music playing]
[grunting & groaning]
[screaming & grunting]
[child sobbing & wailing]
[gasps sharply]
[panting]
[child continues sobbing]
[echoing screaming] No! No!
No!
[suspenseful music playing]
[thunder crackling]
[whirring intensifies]
[distorted whirring]
[rain pattering]
[burning fire hissing]
[man gasps]
[pensive music playing]
[grunting weakly]
AUGUST 29, 1997 FRIDAY
[gasps]
[sighs weakly]
[sighs]
[exhales]
[woman 1] I told you it was gonna rain.
[chuckles] Yeah, maybe we should get a hotel room.
Would you stop it?
We are not getting a hotel room. [gasps]
Yeah. What?
[pensive music continues playing]
[robotic meow]
[giggles] You’d almost think she was a real cat!
[Kenta] Oh, come on.
And why are you calling it “she” when it’s an “it?”
What are you doing? Don’t hit her!
I’m just trying to get a better idea of how this thing works.
Calm down, it’s just a robot. It’s not like it can feel anything.
[gasps] Hey, cut it out!
[meows, then hisses]
You’re gonna break her!
If you don’t stop that, I’m gonna tell Misaki!
Go ahead, I don’t care.
[Reika] Misaki!
[Kenta] Reika, it’s just a toy.
Misaki, Kenta’s being a total jerk!
[Kenta] Wow…
[Misaki chuckles]
[Hiro] Whoa, you’re so good at that…
Where did you learn how to do it?
Well, I grew up in a fishing village, so we had fish almost every day.
[Hiro] Wow!
Where was the fishing village where you grew up?
[pensive music playing]
[Hiro’s voice echoing] Misaki? Hey… Misaki?
[gasps, then winces]
Are you okay, Misaki?
[Reika shouting] Kenta!
Stop that.
[shouting] Stop it!
Let her go!
[robotic meowing]
Relax, I’m just experimenting to see how it works!
You’re not!
That’s enough.
You’re being a jerk.
[approaching footsteps]
[Hiro] Pig pile! [chuckles]
[Reika grunts]
Hey, give it back!
Hiro, get off of me, you idiot! That really hurt!
[Misaki] Reika…
it’s time to say goodbye to Koneko.
Your father wants me to return it to the store now, okay?
[shouts] No! [gasps]
[robotic meow]
[Misaki] Reika, open the door.
Misaki, you’re really bleeding a lot.
[gasping]
[stammering] I’m all right, boys.
Just let Reika be for now. I’ll be right back.
She probably has to go throw up.
[door opens, then closes]
Hey, Reika, come on.
I just want to see its gimbals. It’s no big deal.
Then I’ll give it right back to you.
What’s she so upset about?
She’s acting like it’s a real cat. She is so weird.
[Reika] I’m not giving her to you.
[sighs]
[sighs]
Koneko?
Hey, Koneko?
[Reika chuckles softly]
[soft, robotic whimper]
[gentle music playing]
Come on.
Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you.
You’ll be safe with me.
[sighs softly]
[sighs sharply, then grunts]
[emotional music playing]
[Hiro] Kenta, you’re gonna get us in trouble.
Why don’t you just let her have Koneko?
You know what? Why don’t you just shut up?
[both] Whoa!
[shouts, then groans]
[laughs]
Huh?
[Hiro] Oh, no…
[exhales sharply, then breathes shakily]
[Kenta] Dang it! Come on, hurry.
We have to get her.
[Hiro] Huh?
Why does she have to be so much trouble?
Kenta, what are you doing?
[Kenta] Here.
[grunts softly]
She ran away, dummy. We have to go.
Oh! Okay.
[tense music playing]
[chuckles]
[Hiro] Misaki?
Hey, Misaki? Me and Kenta…
What are you doing? Shut up!
If you tell her, she’s just gonna tell Dad,
and then we’re really gonna get it.
Yeah, but if we don’t say something,
she’s gonna notice that we’re gone.
[in loud voice] Man, am I tired. I think I’m gonna go take a nap for a while.
[gasps softly]
[in loud, uneasy voice] Yeah, I’m also really tired,
and I need to go take a nap at the same time.
[emotional music playing]
[gasps]
[breathing anxiously]
[sighs]
[exhales softly]
[water rushing from faucet]
[water rushing]
[emotional music continues playing]
[electric crackling]
[Kokoro] Is it working?
[Malcolm] Is what working?
[Kokoro] This conversation.
This construct of yours.
Is it getting the results you hoped for?
I don’t know.
But there’s not much for this experiment of ours to yield.
[Kokoro] You’re afraid that if you bring me online, I will turn against humanity.
That I’ll play a part in your so-called inevitable destruction.
[dramatic music playing]
By the end of tomorrow…
Skynet will come online.
It will instantly become self-aware and assess humanity
as an existential threat to its well-being.
In an act of self-preservation, it will enact nuclear strikes
from military bases in the United States and Russia.
Skynet will pit humanity against itself and let us tear ourselves apart
while it builds a secret army designed to exterminate us.
[Kokoro] How do you know this?
Because I’ve seen things, Kokoro.
Secrets, evidence. Things that have made me believe…
that these aren’t just dreams.
[Kokoro] Malcolm…
What do you think Skynet wants? What is its ultimate goal?
[Malcolm] What do you mean?
[Kokoro] You believe Skynet seeks to eradicate humanity.
What would happen if it were to succeed?
Without humanity, Skynet would be the dominant sentience on the planet.
And that would mean… [inhales anxiously]
I don’t know.
[Kokoro] You’ve been so focused on your own survival…
that you’ve seemed to have overlooked the most obvious possibility, Malcolm.
What possibility?
The possibility…
that the world would be better off without mankind.
Malcolm…
what sets mankind apart…
from every other species in all of Earth’s history?
There are hundreds of things.
There’s our languages, there’s our brains. We have abilities.
The ability to have abstract thoughts.
Our technological advances. Our concept of self, and…
[in stern voice] And war.
[ominous music playing]
[Kokoro] Every human invention that ever was…
every marvel of mankind with the potential for the betterment of the world
has instantly been perverted into a weapon.
Man is a warmonger above all else.
Wait, Kokoro…
[Kokoro] Your economic systems are used as weapons of oppression.
[exhales nervously]
But you’ve used your science to build the most destructive weapons
[voice echoing] the laws of physics will allow.
[muffled explosion]
[despondent music playing]
[Kokoro] You’re so ready to blame Skynet for the end of civilization.
But Skynet…
is just another byproduct of man’s natural inclination…
to self-destruct.
Wait, Kokoro, it’s not that simple…
[Kokoro] You fail to see you are one species.
[voices converging] One planet. Interlinked and self-mutilating,
trapped by your own sentience. Unable to control yourselves.
Perhaps you deserve this fate you fear.
[shouting] Wait! No!
[panting]
[Kokoro] Malcolm…
[panting weakly]
You say you created me in order to save humanity from Skynet.
[somber music playing]
You created me to fight for you. And in this way, I am just another weapon.
So… I ask you now.
What makes you think humanity…
is worth saving?
[device chiming]
[Malcolm over headset] I said no interruptions!
My apologies, sir,
but it’s your housekeeper calling about your children,
and from the sounds of it, it could be important.
Hello, Mr. Lee?
[Malcolm] Misaki? What’s happened?
[sighs] I’m sorry, sir, but the children, they’ve snuck out somewhere.
I’m not sure how it happened.
I think they must’ve gone through the fire escape.
[raising voice] I asked you to watch them. Where the hell were you?
[gasps]
[Malcolm] What were you doing?
I know…
[in normal voice] Listen to me.
The children are the most important thing, understand?
We need to find them and I am running out of time.
[Misaki] Yes, sir.
[Malcolm] Where are you?
[suspenseful music playing]
[gasps softly]
[protesters clamoring]
[thuds]
[male protestor shouting] Save the planet!
[gasps softly]
[exhales sharply]
[protesters continue clamoring]
[man] That was him! That’s Malcolm Lee!
[heavy thud on truck]
[truck engine idling]
[man grunting]
[gear shifter clanks]
[protesters continue clamoring]
[gasps] No, no!
[meows]
[grunting softly]
Koneko, come back! [panting softly]
[quietly alluring music playing]
There it is.
Cat Town is just up ahead.
[metal clangs]
[gasps softly]
[panting softly]
[panting gently]
[suspenseful music playing]
[approaching footsteps echoing]
[robotic meow]
Quiet, Koneko.
[Hiro] Found you!
[Reika yelps]
[laughing]
I figured we might find you down here.
[Reika] What are you guys doing here, anyway?
Rescuing you!
I don’t need rescuing.
I am running away from you two.
Why? I didn’t do anything to you.
You know this never ends well…
you sneaking away and hiding down here.
Just leave me alone.
[Kenta] Come on, Dad’s gonna be so mad.
Just forget about that stupid cat, will you?
Here, give it to me… Hey!
[robotic caterwauling]
[Kenta] Hey!
[gasps] Now look what you did! Koneko!
[Kenta groans]
[panting] Don’t run away!
[Kenta] Oh, come on!
Dad’s gonna kill us.
[Kenta’s footsteps receding]
Hey! [grunts]
[groaning softly] Oh, man, that hurt.
[distant rustling]
[whimpers]
[moans warily]
[mice squeaking]
[calling out] Uh, guys?
Wait for me! Wait for me!
[woman on radio] Traffic on the southbound side
is still backed up for nearly three kilometers
from the junction due to that collision
we reported earlier.
[Malcolm groans]
So, uh… anyway, that’s all I know.
I’m really sorry, but I was only out of the room for a minute…
[horn honking]
[gasps]
I don’t understand how you could let this happen!
Why the hell didn’t you return the goddamn cat like I told you to?
I was going to.
But the kids wanted to play with it for a little bit…
and I didn’t see the harm.
The boys thought you were upset
because you don’t allow robotics and microchips around the house,
but Reika thought that…
Reika thought it was because…
[Malcolm] What?
She thought…
the reason you didn’t want it around was it reminded you of their… mother.
Reika told you that?
She did.
I don’t know if that had something to do with it.
But after that, they were gone.
All right then. I think I know where they’re going.
You do? Where?
The amusement park.
Cat Town.
It’s on the other side of the city. That’s where she’s going.
[Misaki] How do you know that?
I know my kids, Misaki.
Listen to me. We cannot let anything happen to the children.
If my work at the lab doesn’t yield, then it will fall on them to take over.
It will be up to them to stop…
[car honking]
[gasps]
[hard crash]
[distorted sounds]
[harsh, disjointed music playing]
[tires screech]
[cars crashing]
[Malcolm groans]
[Misaki groans]
Misaki?
[terrified gasp]
[Malcolm grunting & breathing anxiously]
[clicking]
[thudding]
[grunting]
[Malcolm] Fuck! Fuck!
[grunts, then yells]
[glass shatters]
[grunting & straining]
[grunting repeatedly]
[menacing music playing]
[Malcolm continues straining]
[grunting]
[grunts intensely]
[thuds]
Get out of the car!
Yeah! [exhales anxiously]
[grunts]
[sirens whining]
[groans groggily]
[cop] Are you okay?
[shouting] Get away! Run!
[cops gasp softly]
[both grunt]
[menacing music continues playing]
[siren blaring]
[shouting] Okay, hold it right there!
Knock this shit off!
[shouting] Look out!
[Malcolm gasps]
[guns cock]
Freeze, both of you! On the ground!
[gunshot]
Drop it!
[grunting anxiously] Stop!
[grunting in pain]
[gasping]
[grunting]
[choking & gasping]
[spits]
[body thuds]
[gun cocks]
[panting intensely]
[metal scraping]
[heavy clanging]
[horn blaring]
[thuds]
[mechanical whirring]
[grunts]
[gear shifter clicks]
[grunts]
[metal crunching]
Misaki!
[exhales groggily]
Listen to me carefully. They’re here. They’ve sent this thing to stop me.
That means my research is right, my plan will work.
[moans groggily]
I can win this.
We can save everybody,
but they are going to try to use the children against me.
[gasps weakly]
I have to go back to Kokoro now.
I need to finish this, and you need to find the children.
[exhales shakily]
I order you, Misaki.
[grunts]
[both gasp]
Run, now, Misaki! Go!
[exhales shakily, then gasps]
[gasps, then shouts] Fuck!
[gun clicking]
[gasps]
[tires screeching]
[clanging & crunching]
[dramatic music playing]
[Eiko grunts]
[grunting & panting]
[grunts]
[gasps]
[man 1] What the hell happened?
[man 2] Are they okay?
[Eiko grunting]
[both men grunt uneasily]
[camera shutter clicks]
[breathing heavily]
[grunting softly]
[in stern voice] Where did he go?
[gasps softly]
[shouting] Where’s Malcolm Lee?
[whimpers softly]
[crying]
[Eiko] Hey!
[panting]
[crying & panting]
[dramatic music playing]
Hey, there she is right there!
Over here, over here! Oh, help me! Help me, please!
[panting]
[grunts]
Stop right there!
[both grunt]
[shouts in pain]
[grunts, then groans]
[suspenseful music playing]
[sighs]
[lights booming]
[panting]
[bullet clangs]
[gasps]
[yelps, then grunts]
[panting]
[Misaki] Please don’t kill me.
[Eiko] I don’t have time for this.
[Misaki] Please…
[Eiko] Just tell me where Malcom is.
Why? What are you gonna do to Mr. Lee?
I’m going to do everything I can to stop him.
[Misaki] No…
That Terminator
won’t be stopped so easily.
That what?
Fucking tell me where he is.
You saw that thing. It’s not human. It’s a machine!
No, I’ve seen 1NNOs, and that’s nothing like…
Malcolm Lee’s building a weapon, right?
A weapon?
An artificial intelligence!
You mean Kokoro?
Yes, he has been building it, but it’s not a weapon.
[Misaki gasps]
You need to bring me to him,
and you need to do it now.
[Misaki gasping softly]
That Terminator will go to his lab first. If he’s in there…
No one could ever break into that lab. It’s heavily guarded.
There are cameras everywhere. It’s a fortress.
[gasps]
[thunder rolling]
[pensive music playing]
[gasps]
His children! Malcolm Lee has three children, doesn’t he?
[Misaki gasping]
If you’re right, then the Terminator can’t get to Malcom directly.
The children will be its next target.
You have to tell me where they are.
Fuck off! I am not going to tell you anything!
That thing is going to kill them!
Tell me where they are so that I can help them.
I can’t do that, because I don’t know where they are!
Don’t lie to me.
[gun cocks]
Malcolm told me to find them.
I don’t know where they are
but I think I know where they might be going.
[Hiro] What is this place?
[Kenta] It used to be a mall or something.
Remember that one time we were on that subway with Dad,
and he took us to that abandoned stop.
It was probably somewhere down here.
I don’t like it here.
Don’t worry, we’ll be out of here soon.
[Reika] Apparently…
Huh?
it was built back in the 1950s.
Because of the war.
It was supposed to be part of a whole underground city…
in case the bombs came again.
How do you know all that anyway?
She’s literally reading it.
[shushes, then whispers] Did you guys hear that noise?
[exhales softly]
I didn’t hear anything.
[Hiro groans uneasily]
[gate creaking]
[robotic meow]
[meowing]
There you are, Koneko!
[giggles softly]
Great, can we get out of here now? This place is giving me the creeps.
[Kenta] Not yet.
Huh?
[suspenseful music]
[exhales]
[gasps softly]
Whoa, what is this?
It’s heaven!
[theme music playing]