Truth & Treason (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[musical swirl]
[gentle music]
[laughter]
[Karl] Keep up, Salomon!
[Rudi] Where are we going anyways?
[Karl] Let's race, boys. Come on!
[Salomon] Oh, I know where we're going.
[Karl] Go! Jump, you pansies.
We don't have to do this.
This was your idea.
It was a great idea from down there.
Helmuth's worried he's going to
mess up his beautiful hair.
Easy!
All right. I'll go if you do. On
the count of three. One.
Woah, hang on, hang on!
You blokes are bloody cowards.
I don't see you jumping.
Two!
Yes you do.
Whoo! Haha!
[Karl] That was nothing! Jump, Rudi!
Oh, bother. Three!
Jump, pansies!
Let's go!
Helmuth! Helmuth!
What was I thinking?
Helmuth! Helmuth! Helmuth! Helmuth!
Helmuth!
One people! One Reich!
One bridge
Salomon! You coming with us
to pick up Gerhard?
I don't know, when does his train arrive?
Saturday, half six.
[Salomon] Ah, the big brother returns.
I'll have to see if I can make it.
Uh-oh.
[Rolf] You boys are more than late.
More than late? I knew we were
late, but not more than late.
[Rolf] Where's your uniform, Karl?
It's at the cleaners, Rolf.
[Rolf] Like last week? Note that.
[stifles a laugh]
What are you laughing at?
Nothing.
Nothing?
Well, then I think you need to
tell me how sorry you are
for laughing at me. For nothing.
Why don't you talk to me, Rolfi?
Shut up.
Your girlfriend's just about to
tell me how sorry she is.
Sorry.
That's right, you little pansy.
Nobody calls my friend a pansy.
Move.
I'm gonna report you, Karl! You hear me?!
[Rolf] You'll regret this!
[Emma] Honey, it's ready!
[Emma] You coming?
Morning.
How was the night shift?
Oh, don't you look handsome.
Mom, please, you're spitting on me.
[Helmuth] Morning, Hugo.
Morning.
I'll give it to you when I'm done.
How was Hitler youth?
What did you do?
It was good.
We, uh
Well, it was mostly combat training.
Combat training?
What kind of combat training?
Weaponry?
No, mostly just fisticuffs.
Oh, so hand to hand.
Right. Hand to hand.
Well, do you have to hit anyone?
No, I
I didn't.
I just
I was observing mostly.
This time.
[Emma] Big day today, eh?
It's Helmuth's first day
at his new job at City Hall.
What did they say?
The youngest intern they've ever hired.
Are you nervous?
Not really.
I mean, a bit, I suppose,
but I feel ready.
[Hugo] Have you written your
patriotic statement?
[Helmuth] Never before has
Germany been more fatherland
to us than it is now.
In this Athenian age,
the dawn of the
national-socialistic millennium.
Examine the unblemished faces
you pass on the street,
their strong builds.
The industrious manner with
which they carry themselves.
Oh, sorry. I'm so sorry.
This is a people,
a nation destined for greatness.
Gone are the fears of former years.
Gone the uncertainty of a
people yearning for protection.
Gone the buckled knees
of a downtrodden working class.
All right. Pick him up.
Today, our nation stands strong and tall
on the shoulders of our Führer,
Adolf Hitler.
Gone are the plutocrats.
The wealth infested aristocracy.
Gone the sprawling estates
of the decadent bourgeoisie.
They're ready for you.
As we distill the essence of the
previous statement,
two questions arise.
First, what lifts us above the
other industrialized nations,
and second point
or uh or question.
How did we arrive at this great
juncture in history?
The answer to both queries is
one and the same.
It's nothing less than our
German perseverance,
our blood, our very nature.
That was very good. Good answer.
Oh, is it Kunkel?
- Helmuth Kunkel.
- Yes. My last name is Kunkel.
[Mohns] Very well done.
We shall use your statement
in the office newsletter.
What do you think of that?
- That would be
- [Mohns] Perfect!
Just leave your notes
with Fräulein Kluge here.
[Mohns] She'll type them up.
Uh or I could
Welcome to Upper Administration.
[Elli] Your notes?
Right now?
[Werner] So you're the gifted writer
they've been talking about.
The "youngest intern we've ever hired."
[Helmuth] So I've heard.
Says here you know shorthand.
Since when did they teach shorthand at
Brackdam Secondary School?
I taught myself.
Huh.
Bet that was exciting.
Come on.
This is your desk.
But for today, all this needs
to be filed and archived.
[Werner] We call this
"the dungeon." At least I do.
Where we file everything into oblivion.
That back there is for
tenured public officials
and civil servants.
This here is for state employees
and service workers.
Chronological.
That's where we keep archived
copies of banned literature.
Locked for obvious reasons.
And these are policy updates,
both regional and national.
It's all alphabetical, basically.
And all that is just other
administrative things.
You'll figure it out.
Welcome to Upper Administration.
[gentle music]
- Hello, Papa.
- Hi.
Hey, you two.
You left it in your other coat.
Ah, that's where it was.
What, they didn't have school today?
- Got out early.
- We're going to a matinee.
Why don't you knock
off early and come with us?
I can't. I'm late for a meeting already.
But I will see you both tonight.
Say goodbye to Papa.
- Bye.
- Bye, bye now.
Hey.
If I can quit, so can you.
- We'll see you tonight.
- Right.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Bye.
[man] Morning sir.
[phone ringing]
Julius said he would
start the meeting without you.
I'd be downstairs.
[man yelling in pain]
[Erwin] It's come to this, has it?
[Julius] Still smoking?
I thought Anne made you quit.
[Erwin] She did.
See, my wife's trying to get me to quit.
She’s a good German.
The Führer doesn’t smoke,
so she stops smoking.
Of course the Führer doesn't buy
stolen pistols off
the black market either.
[Erwin] Are you married?
I ask if you’re married,
but I suppose I’m not
being completely honest.
We brought in your wife this morning.
Hilde, right? And your daughter.
They’re just down the hall.
We’ll chat with them in a few minutes.
But you knew that, right?
That if we caught you, we’d have
to bring in your family as well.
Question them.
Yeah, you thought this through
before you planned your
little coup, right?
Oh, maybe not.
How do they always forget that part?
Well, let's not drag this out, Albert.
Who sold you the firearms?
I found them.
Hm.
[screaming in pain]
[casual chatter and laughing]
[Salomon] Gerhard!
Hey! Look who finally shows up!
[Gerhard] Why weren't you at the
train station?
How was France?
A joke. A walk in the park.
Great food, though.
[Emma] Salomon, are you coming
up for dessert?
Can't pass up on that now, can I?
Of course he is.
Yeah, well, it sounds like
the French were much easier
this time than when I was there in '14.
That was no joke.
You know, I have to tell you,
ever since I married your mother,
she's been talking about you nonstop.
Those two get on well.
Yes, they do.
Come on.
So, what do you think of Hugo?
[short laugh]
Yep, that's what I thought.
Mom sure seems happy though, huh?
Still on the honeymoon, I guess.
Can you keep a secret?
Where'd you get that?
It's a short wave.
I know what it is. Where'd you get it?
Le Marché Noir. The French black market.
Shh. Turn it down!
The reception on
this thing is incredible.
You can get news from anywhere.
Russia, Holland, the BBC.
Wait, wait. Go back.
Mendelssohn.
I'm surprised at you.
Listening to a banned composer
on an illegal wireless.
[clicks tongue]
[Gerhard] That is a capital offense.
Now, this this is more like it.
Yeah. Banned American music.
Completely different.
Come on, up you get.
[Helmuth] I can't
[laughing] Come on, little brother!
[laughing and chattering]
- I can't.
- Yes you can.
Gerhard's definitely home.
Yeah.
Well, the bishop asked him to say
a few words at church tomorrow.
You could come and
hear him if you wanted to.
Just if you want to.
Probably not this time.
But don't worry, he'll do great.
He's got a good head on his shoulders.
So does Helmuth.
Yeah, he does.
They're just very different.
And they're going to wake the neighbors.
That's it!
Shh!
What's all the racket?
We were dancing.
What?
[Gerhard] You know, just fooling around.
Oh. Yeah, well, it's getting late,
[Hugo] and I'm sure your mother
will be dragging both of you
to church in the morning,
so you should
True. I'll tuck him in.
[Hugo] And you. You need to go.
It's past curfew.
I'm glad you made it back in one piece.
Me too.
See you at church.
Yeah, I'll be there.
Don't have too much fun without me.
I'm done with this.
Oh, thank you.
And like I said, it's getting late
so be sure not to read it tonight.
I won't. I mean, I will be sure.
Not too
Right.
Night, boys.
Night.
[laughing] Relax.
[humming Mendelssohn tune]
[Guard] Heil Hitler.
Heil.
You're out late. It's past curfew.
I live here.
[Guard] Papers, please.
[solemn music]
Where are you coming from?
Hammerbrook.
[Guard] Salomon Schwarz Salomon?
Religious affiliation Mormon?
What is that?
It's a church.
Huh. There it is. Jew. See?
[Guard] His mother is
a half Jew. Right there.
[BBC radio]nearly impossible
to discern the truth
with Hitler's Nazi propaganda machine
twisting the truth beyond recognition.
Thus prompting
Winston Churchill to proclaim,
"Our brave bomber crews
will bring death and destruction
over Nazi Germany.
The blood of a Europe
suppressed by Gestapo terror
must not remain unatoned."
How many more of your
neighbors will be arrested
on the street in broad
daylight without warrant,
never to be seen again?
How long will you tolerate the
brazen disregard for the truth?
How long will you
[Mendelssohn tune]
[warm greetings]
Girls, nice to see you.
Elise, Anna.
[organ playing music]
[Arthur] Brothers and sisters,
I welcome you here
this beautiful Sabbath morning.
For those visiting today,
my name is Bishop Arthur Zander,
and I'll be conducting this service.
Heil Hitler.
Heil Hitler.
Our opening hymn will be
"Do What is Right, Let the
Consequence Follow."
After which Brother Lüdermann
will give us our invocation.
Do what is right,
the daydawn is breaking,
Hailing a future of
freedom and light
What happened?
Nothing. I fell.
You fell? Off what, a building?
Later
How's it coming?
"Dear Private Orbach,
I know I speak on behalf of the
whole congregation
when I tell you how proud we are
of your service in the
That's good. Let'ssee,
your insatiable desire
to defend the Reich,
bodes well for the Fatherland.
That's beautiful.
[Arthur] But that's why you are
doing this and not me.
Oh! What about City Hall?
How's the new job?
It's great! Great. Thank you for
your recommendation.
Bishop, a word?
You're on your way, young man.
You mark my words.
Yes, Otto?
[Otto] This is a church.
No place for salutes.
This is not a political rally.
[Arthur] I understand that.
[Arthur] You see, the thing is,
I just think it's important
[trailing off]
He's right.
[Anne] There you go.
Max. Max!
What's for dinner?
Knödel.
Here you go.
[Max] Oh, can I go play football
after school tomorrow?
Uh, ask your mama.
No,
- we spoke about this.
- [Max] Please?
[Anne] No. No, no. You have
to study. You're lacking.
And what did you and mama do today?
We went to the zoo.
- [Erwin] The zoo?
- Mhmm.
And what did you see?
We saw a lion. It had a huge mane.
And we even saw a wolf!
[Lisl] Which, I'm not sure
was a wolf or a fox.
But instead of hunting
or chasing after their food,
they dig holes in the snow and
then they jump into the holes
[Lisl] to get the food.
And did you know that a group
of lion is called a pride?
Wow.
[Lisl] And we saw tortoises.
We even saw bats.
Smile.
At the dinner table.
We learned that they used echolocation.
And echolocation is when
[air raid alarm]
[Anne] Come on. Max, Come on. Let's go.
[Erwin] It's alright.
We'll be safe in the shelter.
Why do they make
you sit here for so long?
There are no bombs dropping.
[air raid horn continues]
Seems vague.
Not even a proper unit number
or commanding officer.
Yeah, that's right.
I step on a train eastbound.
Find out when I get there.
You're taking it with you?
No.
It's staying.
[Hugo] You got everything?
Everything I need.
For the train ride.
Thanks, mama.
Bye. I love you.
You sure we don't
want to come to the station?
I can't.
[Hugo] We're proud of you.
[Gerhard] You stay out of trouble, okay?
Look after these two lovebirds.
I'll take that.
Let's go.
Is this work work or church work?
It's church.
[Charlotte] Come on, let's get
you to bed, big boy.
Say goodnight to papa.
- Goodnight, papa.
- Goodnight.
[laughing and chattering]
How are things at work?
Uh, good.
Looks like they're going to
publish my patriotic statement
in the department newsletter.
Ah, you're on your way,
young man. Mark my words.
[organ playing music]
Ignore it. We go in.
What's he going to do?
No, you go on.
Do you want to get turned in?!
Don't be an idiot.
Salomon!
Go!
[solemn music]
[Arthur] Our 12th
Article of Faith states
and you can turn there
with me if you like
"We believe in being subject to
kings, presidents,
rulers, magistrates,
in obeying, honoring,
and sustaining the law."
[Arthur] Would not this
include our Führer
and the current laws of the Reich?
Each of us must ask ourselves,
can we pick and choose which of
God’s laws we’ll follow?
Only the commandments
we find most convenient?
The ones we happen to agree with?
I don't I don't understand.
"Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself."
Yes.
[Otto] Your entire life you’ve
come inside this chapel
and learned of the
peaceable things of the kingdom.
Of brotherhood, and kindness,
and love.
We can’t allow a lifetime
of what we’ve learned
inside these doors to be lost
because of what was
outside them this morning.
[Otto] I love my country,
but there are things
more important than patriotism.
But what do we do?
We do what we can.
[gentle music]
[gentle music]
What are you reading?
Thomas Mann.
They didn't burn this one, did they?
I guess they missed it.
His brother Heinrich
is even harder to find.
Brother Berndt tore it down.
Everyone's very upset.
Not everyone.
I think it's just a matter of time now.
I could hide you.
[scoffs]
With Hugo in the house,
that would be interesting.
Not there, somewhere else.
I don't
I'm German.
As much as you are.
As much as Karl or Rudi.
Or Bishop Zander.
I'm not going anywhere.
[gentle music plays]
[radio static as scanning]
[BBC radio] From London, this is the BBC.
For our German listeners, the truth.
Not the propaganda spoon-fed
to you by those sly foxes
on the People's Radio.
And straight off the wire,
we report of the latest unprovoked attack
by Hitler's troops,
which took the lives of
17,000 innocent civ
[gentle music continues]
[din of police entering building]
[Mendelssohn tune]
[police ordering in German]
[arguing in German]
[crash]
Salomon Schwarz!
[banging on door]
Open the door Jew!
[churchbells tolling]
[greeting churchgoers]
[clears throat]
Let's go.
[footsteps]
You know, I joined this church in 1933,
February the 19th.
They baptized me a
little pond behind my house.
There was ice on the
surface when I stepped into it,
but when I came up out of the water,
well I didn't feel the cold.
And I knew my life
would never be the same.
And our Führer had
just become Reich Chancellor.
It was an incredible time.
Here was a leader who
believed in so many of the things
I'd learned to embrace in this church.
He didn't drink, didn't smoke,
believed in fasting, giving to the poor.
There were just too many similarities
for it to be a coincidence.
And I still believe that.
We can’t always expect to understand
why things happen the way they do.
Not yet, anyway.
[Arthur] People look at our
little congregation
and think we
we’re sympathetic to the enemy,
which couldn’t be further from the truth.
That’s why we have to avoid
even the appearance of evil.
[Arthur] Never let anything
shake your faith.
Be true to your convictions
and God will use you to further
the work of His Reich.
[gentle music]
Am I making any sense here?
Yes.
Alright then. I'll let you
get back to your typing.
Bishop?
Hmm?
I have a lot of work to do.
Do you mind if I borrow the typewriter?
[foreboding music]
[Mendelssohn tune]
[dramatic music builds]
[man] Hey, whose down there?
[music peaks and fades out]
[suspensful music]