The Darwin Incident (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

Hey, you seen this video? It's nuts.
Oh, yeah. I saw it.
He's a chimpanzee man or something? It was
a big deal for a minute back in the day.
He's a Humanzee. Charlie the Humanzee.
Looks like he's going
to some backwater high school.
Really?
And the ALA's been in the news again
recently too.
The what?
The Animal Liberation Alliance.
They're the ones who raided
that research institute 15 years ago
and found the Humanzee.
Come on. You must have seen their
graffiti. It's all over the place.
Oh, yeah. Those radical activists.
Fuck, man, I'd love to round up
those crazy bastards
and send 'em all to the slammer.
Try the loony bin.
Damn right.
Thanks. See you next time.
Mommy, you forgot your hat.
I'll go get it for you.
Sally. Don't run.
That customer left without eating a bite.
Weird. Maybe he wasn't feeling well?
She has quite the energy.
She's such a tomboy,
so she's quite a handful.
Mommy! I found it!
Sally?
- Sally!
- Don't! It's too dangerous!
Let me go!
Sally? Sally… Sally… Sally. Sally!
No!
Look. The steak house is on fire.
- Terrible.
- A vegan terrorist attack?
Terrorists have claimed responsibility.
This is a message to all meat-eaters
and everyone who exploits animals.
Hear the roar of all the animals
tyrannized by humanity.
This is truer than principles
Discovered by geniuses like XY
You are so captivating
That I can't take my eyes off you
We are merely beings who are just living
But we are beings unlike any other
You make me wonder
Actors caught in a drama
Unaware of the ending
Our "relationship chart" is still blank
And it bothers me
We only want to share laughter
Yet somehow end up hurting each other
It wasn't supposed to be like this
I wonder what principles or clues
Apply to our relationship
A stereo yearning to blend
Like left and right
Could it be love?
I don't know
Are we at odds?
I don't think so
It's a frustrating thing
And I can't even tell if it's real
Just how deep is our relationship?
Why can't it be measured?
I want to know you
I want you to know me
And what's the level of expectation
When we get to know each other?
I know nothing else but the long-sought
Love, and I want to seek it out
You make me wonder
Just beyond words
You make me wonder
At an emergency press conference,
Chief Morrance of the NYPD declared
The Animal Liberation Alliance
responsible for the terrorist attack.
Hey. No social media in class.
Sorry.
The ALA are the radical animal rights
group whose raid on a research institute
15 years ago led
to the discovery of a "Humanzee."
No way.
They've lain low since then, but recently
started becoming active again
- for an unknown reason.
- Yeah, I'm watching.
Too late.
Anyway, I'll go pick Charlie up right now.
This Humanzee they mentioned…
It's obviously Charlie, dumb-ass.
Oh, yeah. Charlie said he was a vegan,
remember?
Does that mean he's linked
to the terrorists?
Hey.
Lucy.
Yeah, he's fine.
I'm going to take him home for now,
until we know more…
Professor Gilbert Stein?
I'm Deputy Philip Graham.
If you wouldn't mind coming along
to the sheriff's office,
we have some questions
we'd like to ask you.
"Him" too.
That jumped-up deputy.
Showing up at the school like that
and treating Charlie like a terrorist.
They questioned him for hours.
Unbelievable.
And when I told the deputy I was a lawyer,
he practically laughed in my face.
Where's Charlie?
I put him to bed. The poor thing.
Are you okay?
We'd just gotten Charlie started
at school.
And now this…
Let's take Charlie out of school.
Hold on, Bert. Nothing's…
Think about it, Hannah.
Charlie was rescued by the ALA.
And right now people are being
vilified online for just being vegan.
He's in a dangerous position.
But Charlie hasn't done anything wrong.
And hardly any vegan or activists
support the terrorists.
Sure. Of course.
But there's no guarantee people will
confine their anger to the terrorists.
That's…
Look, we'll see how Charlie feels.
It's not like he was particularly excited
about going to school in the first place.
In a small town like this,
everyone will already know
he was questioned by the police.
Worst-case scenario,
it could be a repeat of ten years ago.
That's…
Charlie.
What's wrong? Can't sleep?
About school.
I want to stay.
Can't believe he'd show up.
Is it true he's in with the terrorists?
Gonna keep going to school, huh?
Interesting.
Amazing.
To think that's him. The baby
that was inside that chimp's body.
I almost can't believe it.
Well, you can't go
and give him a hug just yet.
Look. Damn cops are sticking to him
like glue.
Guess our joyful reunion will have to wait
until everything's in place.
You really think we'll get Charlie
on our side?
We'll make it so he doesn't have a choice.
Yesterday on TV…
There was a picture of a girl
who died in the bombing.
Her mom couldn't stop crying…
Mia…
How could they do something like that?
There he is.
Hey.
What?
Just sitting there
eating that shit like nothing happened.
So what's your take, then? On that
vegan terrorist attack in New York.
My take?
Hey, Ozzy. What is this?
Get lost.
- You've got no right to
- Yes, he does.
He's allowed to ask a question, isn't he?
Vegans like you killed a child
because of their beliefs.
Eleven people died.
Plus, the ALA are the ones who saved you.
You must have some kind of opinion
about it.
Vegans like me…
Just ignore these clowns.
Let's go, Charlie.
What, you're just gonna run away?
Come on, tell us what's so "right"
about being vegan.
Me, I think this terrorist attack came
from too much pandering to minorities.
Know what I mean?
We're so scared
of offending other religious groups
that we can't even say
"Merry Christmas" anymore.
Next they'll be telling us
we can't even eat turkey.
- Come on, you guys
- Just go ahead and eat it.
You said I was a vegan
like those terrorists.
But that just happens to be
the lifestyle I've been living
for as long as I can remember. And I can't
see any reason to change it. That's all.
So don't worry about me. Just go ahead
and eat whatever you want.
Birds, cows, pigs, fish…
Human beings…
You hear that? He's tripping.
Humans don't eat other humans.
Then let me ask you this.
Why is it that it's only humans
you can't kill and eat?
Wha…
If it's because you don't want to kill
or cause pain,
you'd have to include all sentient
creatures with nervous systems.
Or is there…
Some other reason
to give humans special treatment?
That's ridiculous.
Humans are special.
We're different from animals.
In what way?
In what way?
Don't bother, Trev.
He's half monkey.
You're not gonna get through to him.
Come on.
Charlie, it might be better to avoid
the cafeteria for a while.
Wanna go someplace else?
That was a master class in irony.
Don't you think, Charlie?
Who are you?
Don't worry. I'm Gare. I'm a sympathizer.
Oops, better keep that quiet. See ya.
You know him?
Nope.
No one in this backwater understands
that those guys
are on the right side of history.
Nice place, right?
It's not on school grounds,
but no one's ever here, so we can relax.
I come here a lot when I cut class.
Thanks, Lucy.
Charlie, you should get out of this town.
Even once things settle down
from that terrorist attack,
I don't think they'll ever
be open-minded enough
to accept you in
a mid western backwater like this.
I'm gonna leave here too, one day.
This place makes me sick.
It's like a fricking ant colony.
You must be fed up with it too, right?
Couldn't you and your folks
move to the city?
If you look at ants from far away,
it can seem like they're just a hive mind.
But if you watch carefully,
you'll see that each one is different.
Some are lazy, some are calculating.
They're constantly negotiating
with each other.
Even though asexual reproduction means
the whole colony shares the same DNA.
Are we still talking about ants here?
Up till now,
I've hardly ever been out of my house,
so I don't really know anyone
except my mom and dad.
I've seen people in books and online,
but that's just looking at them
from far away, I guess.
I was never really that interested.
But when you observe human beings
up close,
you guys are actually pretty fascinating.
I've had so many new experiences
since starting school.
It would be boring
if I had to stay at home.
You know what? You're awesome.
Oh, yeah.
Do you have a social media account?
Let's friend each other.
Lucy, you're super weird.
Charlie. Just ignore them.
You sure we're okay tailing them
all the time like this, Phil?
Kinda seems like harassment.
Doesn't matter if they don't like us.
It's all part of the job.
Still, I can't believe we get to see
Charlie the Humanzee in the flesh.
My classmates all had Charlie this
and Charlie that. Toys, video games…
All illegally pirated, of course.
Marco, how long you been stationed here?
Four years, I think?
I see. So you don't know anything
about it, huh?
Listen. What I'm about to tell you
didn't happen, okay?
So if you spill it to the wrong person…
Get me?
Top secret, huh? Roger that.
You just go right on ahead, Phil.
It was ten years ago.
The Bolivar City Police called us in.
They wanted extra officers
to join the escort for the Humanzee.
Can you believe it? A thousand people,
protecting one ape.
This jackassery went on for days,
and I was fed up.
Anyway, that day,
I was on guard duty at the city pool.
Suddenly,
the guys inside sounded the alarm.
We rushed into the building
and I saw…
Can you believe it? Seven armed officers,
sent to the hospital.
By one five-year-old ape.
My God.
No fatalities,
but all seven of them left the force.
One of them was my pal.
I'll never forget that sight.
It was like a nightmare.
But why wasn't it made public?
That's a huge deal.
Who knows?
Anyhow, they silenced the rank and file,
and the whole thing
was struck from the public record.
After that, the Humanzee
stopped making media appearances.
Could've been something to do
with that high-flying lawyer lady.
Maybe the Humanzee's
connected to those terrorists. Maybe not.
But either way, that creature's dangerous.
That thing shouldn't be allowed to exist
in this world.
'Sup, Charlie, how's it going?
Lucy, do you need something?
Nothing. We don't need a reason to chat.
What are you up to?
I just got home,
and I'm watching my mom struggle
to get the car into the garage.
I think she bumped into the wall.
I'm terribly sorry. Are you hurt?
No, it's my bad.
I wasn't looking where I was going.
I'm totally fine, don't worry about it.
Glad to hear it.
Do you go to Shrews High by any chance?
Yeah… Who are you?
My apologies. The name's Max.
Pleased to meet you.
You must be familiar with Charlie, then.
The Humanzee?
I work for the Kornberg Institute.
Could I ask you a few questions?
Try someone else.
Hey.
Why do you think the Humanzee exists,
Lucy?
"Why?"
What? How do you know my name?
That's it on that old beaten-up sticker,
no?
Truth is, I spotted you and Charlie
talking in the park by the school.
Just by coincidence.
So I wanted to speak with you.
And damned if you don't go
and bump right into me.
What's the Kornberg Institute?
It's a research facility in St. Louis.
It's where Charlie was born.
He's been going back
for regular checkups ever since.
Actually,
Charlie hasn't been doing so hot lately.
And then there was
that unfortunate terrorist attack, right?
I wondered if school's
been causing Charlie stress.
How does he seem to you?
Is he doing all right?
Well…
Charlie's been put in a horrible position
at school. Really crappy.
Thanks to those terrorist assholes.
But I don't really think
it's stressing him out.
What did you mean, before?
Why do I think the Humanzee exists.
That's what you asked, right?
Sorry, sorry. I just meant, what does
Charlie the Humanzee mean to you?
Perhaps I worded it a little strangely.
What does he mean to me? It's not like
I know him all that well, but…
To me, he's like the bat that shows you
a different way of looking at the world,
I guess.
Thanks for chatting with me, Lucy.
I'm relieved Charlie
has a friend like you.
Yeah.
Hope to see you again sometime,
the girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
Hi, Lucy. Sorry, not ringing a bell.
Then who was that guy?
I have no idea.
But it's true
that I go to the Kornberg Institute.
I'll be there tomorrow too.
Hey, Charlie. Who are you messaging with?
Lucy.
Lucy… Who's that?
My friend?
Did you say your friend?
As in, a friend from school?
I think so.
- Hey, that's great
- Wait.
Is this friend human? It's not a rabbit
they keep in the schoolyard or something?
Come on, Hannah.
Well, Charlie used to name the squirrels
in the forest, didn't he?
My friend is a female Homo sapiens.
Really, Charlie?
That's wonderful. And a girl too?
What grade is she in?
Where does she live?
What do you talk about?
You need your privacy. I get it.
I'm just so curious about your friend.
Take a look?
Sorry to drag you all the way out here,
Lucy.
Are you sure it's okay
for you to miss school?
It's totally fine.
This is a hundred times more interesting.
You must be Lucy.
I'm Dr. Fowler. I'm the head of
the Kornberg Primate Research Institute.
To cut to the chase, Lucy,
this supposed employee of ours you met…
Well, the thing is, there's no one
on our staff who fits that description.
I knew it.
Knew what?
Well, I just got the feeling
he was a liar.
But I think he probably knew that I knew.
He might be with the media?
With a little digging, he could have found
out Charlie was being examined here.
Maybe I should report it to the police,
just to be safe.
By the way, Lucy.
Would you like
to come over for dinner this evening?
The fact is, Hannah's dying to meet you.
Really? Charlie's mom? I'd love to.
I'm done.
Charlie. Looks like I'm gonna get
to meet your mom too.
- Yeah?
- I'm so pumped.
Charlie, why don't you go see Eva today?
Good idea. You can introduce Lucy to her.
Okay.
Who's Eva?
Eva is my biological mother.
So she's still alive.
The chimp who gave birth to Charlie.
You might be the one I'm searching for
Make this moment last for evermore
Starting my day just the same as always
Even when night ends
And then the dawn finds its way
Hey, that's why I rush back into the flow
Facing all these
Super crazy hectic days I know
Singing while it's stabbing my brain
Just like filling up the holes remained
I'll keep on breaking through
Without stopping
Even if insane
Are you sure?
I know it's boring, right?
I pray softly
Even if I live how I want, I'm lonely
Stacking fragile things
That will fade someday
Just same as you
I am also just lonely, fall away
Turn It Up!
There's no way I can stop now
Turn It Up!
Let it sway with a gentle sound
Turn It Up!
Every thought I have of you
Turn It Up!
Riding straight to happiness too