The Breakthrough (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
ON TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2004
A MURDER INVESTIGATION BEGAN
IT WOULD BECOME
THE SECOND LARGEST CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
IN SWEDISH HISTORY
[poignant theme music playing]
[theme music fades]
[Karin] I can see… his face now.
It's not blurry.
It's clear now. I can actually…
I can see what he looks like.
[hypnotherapist] Good. What do you see?
[Karin] Well, he's White.
And his eyes are… brown,
I think.
Straight nose, uh…
And, uh, no glasses, um…
[Lollo] I mean, I don't know.
It looks awfully vague.
-It's all we have.
-[sighs] It looks like it could be anyone.
So… So I don't think
we should go public with it.
'cause it could be any old man out there.
We're gonna have to go public to point out
that we're actually doing something,
so that's what we're gonna do.
Well, it's your call.
[bleak music playing]
[John sighs]
[reporter] Yesterday,
police released a facial composite
of the male suspect wanted
for the double murder in mid-October.
Members of the public
have been urged to come forward
if they have information
concerning the suspect's identity.
[camera shutters click]
[journalist 1] Would you say
the composite is your last chance
to find the killer?
We're following several lines of inquiry,
but that's all I can say for now.
[journalist 2] Do you believe the murder
has to do with the boy's religion?
[representative] Not as far as we know.
-Yep.
-Stina Eriksson, Corren.
What do you say to those afraid
to let their children go outside and play?
We have, uh, police officers
at every school in town.
[Stina] So, at the start of this case,
you said you that were convinced
you'd catch the culprit.
Yep, that's right.
And I firmly believe
that we are very close now.
[Stina] How close?
Soon.
Define soon.
Are we talking today or tomorrow?
-In a week?
-Next question.
[journalist 3] Are you confident there are
no risks in releasing the composite?
Are you not concerned that by doing so,
the killer may be triggered in some way?
[representative] That's it. We'll get back
to you once we have more information.
[indistinct overlapping chatter]
[heavy breathing]
[unsettling music playing]
[heavy breathing continues]
SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDER
AT TIME OF CRIME
[unsettling music continues]
Is there anything that you want to bring
when we go to the hospital?
No, don't think so. And I gotta go now.
Call if you need anything.
[unsettling music continues]
[music fades]
[players chatting indistinctly]
[coach] Make some space.
That's it, Jocke, push forward!
Erik, keep going!
Get on the ball
and keep driving them back. Come on now.
Great, great, now play on!
[showers gushing]
MANHUNT AIDED BY FACIAL COMPOSITE
[teammates laughing]
You seen Ante much lately?
No. He's completely lost it.
-What?
-Don't recognise him.
What's going on, do you think?
He just went fucking nuts
at a pizza house in Berga,
screaming a whole load
of racist shit at the pizza guy.
[sighs]
[doorbell rings]
Hey.
Can I… come in?
[Ante] Yeah.
What's that flag about?
[exhales] Is it not allowed then?
Yeah.
[Ante] So, what do you want?
Why did you quit on us?
I don't like playing anymore.
[clears throat]
Is that why you've come round?
[exhales]
Last year, the whole squad went
to the police to get swabbed
for the double murder.
Mm.
All of us with one exception.
[exhales nervously]
Okay.
Why didn't you?
I think you should just leave.
Come on, go.
-Can you tell me why not?
-Can you just go?!
-[cans clatter]
-[coach grunts]
Are you fucking deaf? Just go!
[door opens, closes]
GO HOME
SWEDEN FOR THE SWEDISH!
[brooding music playing]
Elena?
[TV reporter] Since the release
of the facial composite,
the police have received
more than 300 tips
without getting any closer
to cracking the case.
The double murder in Linköping
on October 19th
is still an unsolved mystery.
The trail of the killer
ends at Djurgårdsgatan,
where his hat was recovered.
[brooding music continues]
[music fades]
[John] Well, I really hoped that
you didn't feel it necessary to move.
We can't take it anymore, we just can't.
No, we must get away from here.
Maya can't even go to school.
And she can't walk past where he died.
Adnan,
he so loved Linköping.
Where we live.
Garden.
Everyone here.
Everything, he…
he loved everything about Linköping.
I… think I see him. Everywhere.
I can't sleep at night.
I can't eat.
-Yeah, I know.
-[Saad] Can't do anything.
I understand.
Yeah?
So why haven't you caught him yet?
The monster who murdered him? Huh?
I really don't know.
-You swore to me.
-[John] Yes.
You looked into my eyes and swore to me.
-Yeah.
-[Saad] So, why?
Why haven't you arrested him yet?
What's your plan, huh?
Tell me, I want to know!
Where are the witnesses?
Where the hell's
the fucking killer? Where?!
[John] I understand your frustration.
The only thing I can say is that we, uh…
We're all working hard to solve this.
I won't stop.
You have my word.
I will keep working… till I catch him.
I swear.
[emotional music playing]
Okay.
[sniffs]
Okay.
[door closes]
[mobile phone ringing]
Anna?
Now?
[clears throat]
Okay.
[Anna] Hey, little Henry.
[John breathes shakily]
[emotional music continues]
[music turns ominous]
[music fades]
[TV reporter] According to estimates,
as many as 12,000 people are believed
to have died in the tsunami.
But since many are still missing,
the death toll…
-Oh.
-[TV reporter] At least two Swedes…
[telephone rings]
[TV reporter continues indistinctly]
Come, go to Mummy. There we are.
-Hello.
-[man] Is this John Sundin?
Yeah, speaking.
[man] This is Fred,
I'm manning the tip-off hotline.
-Okay.
-We have a possible new eyewitness.
-You told us to let you know.
-Okay, okay. I'm on my way.
[receiver clatters]
[sombre music playing]
[lift dings]
John.
We may have a witness who saw
a man sprint down Stengatan.
And if indeed this man is the perpetrator,
he then took off in a westward direction.
-John!
-What?
You should hand this over to me.
You know that Lollo and I can handle it.
I know you can,
it's just never gonna be that simple.
I can't write down
all that's going round in my head
and then hand it over, I can't.
But you really shouldn't be here.
Anna will need you at home.
She'll be all right.
Okay.
Bye, John.
[door closes]
[sombre music continues]
[doorbell rings]
-Hi.
-[man] Hi.
Uh, I got these for you.
-Your magazines.
-Oh.
They're my… wife's magazines.
Mm-hmm. Well, goodnight then.
[man] Thanks.
[sombre music continues]
WE'RE THINKING OF YOU!
[music ends]
I saved them all.
Uh…
I, uh… I want to assure you that everyone…
We're all working around the clock.
We're on the case.
-We're swabbing as many people--
-But that is exactly what you said before.
Yeah, well it's just how…
uh, we work in cases like this.
-We work systematically, carefully.
-Yeah.
Yeah, I understand.
Um… Uh, I must get going.
But, uh… I'll keep you updated.
[sombre music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music fades]
[John] We'll join you for the countdown.
Yeah, I'll just get my wife.
[muted party walla]
[upbeat music pounds]
[whispering] Hi. There you are.
Hey, it's time soon.
Let go.
I thought we could watch
the fireworks from the terrace.
-No, I'm not doing that.
-Please. Let's go outside together.
-Here, I can wrap him up in--
-No!
[John] Oh, come on.
We're gonna leave tomorrow.
Going home to my parents'.
-[baby fusses]
-I can't do this alone, John.
-But you're not alone, though.
-So, you think you're home enough, do you?
[man on TV] Ring out!
Ring wild bells
To the wild sky
[man continues indistinctly]
[baby fusses]
[sighs]
Look, this is so unfair.
What do you expect me to do,
just drop everything? Huh?
We have nothing in this investigation,
it has gone absolutely nowhere,
and you think I should come home--
That is precisely why we're going,
so you don't have to think about us.
You're in the police too.
You know exactly what it is
that we're dealing with here.
-[baby fusses]
-What should I do, just drop it?
-Come on, go.
-[baby fusses]
[Anna] Go!
[John] Please, Anna, can you…
-Will you come with me?
-Just go. [sniffs]
-Go outside!
-Okay.
[John groans softly]
-[baby fusses]
-[Anna sobs lightly]
[melancholy music playing]
[party walla]
[party-goers] Three, two, one!
[cheering]
[overlapping chatter]
[fireworks continue popping, sparking]
[melancholy music continues]
[fireworks banging]
[reporter 1]
It's getting beyond a joke.
Her headlines are like
something out of the '50s.
Don't get me wrong, I respect the fact
that Gunnel has worked there for what,
like, a hundred years? But…
[reporter 2] How hard can it be
to write a headline?
-Someone else should do it.
-[reporter 1] You'd do much better.
[reporters laugh]
[Stina] Is this seat taken?
[light rock music playing from speakers]
I'd like to sit alone.
-Stina Eriksson from Corren.
-Yeah, I know who you are.
We have, um, an office down at the station
if you'd like to set up
an interview for later.
I don't actually want an interview.
I'd just like a casual chat at the bar
with you, all right?
This double murder has affected us all.
It's not like we get immune
to it from reporting it… you know?
I get that it's hard for you.
How so?
'Cause you haven't arrested anyone yet.
Uh…
Wouldn't say it's hard. It's the job.
Yeah, I guess so, but…
but switching off must be difficult.
-Yeah.
-[Stina] You live with it all the time.
It is not easy.
How do you do it?
The investigation is very much alive,
so… you focus on that.
Oh. I see.
But there are…
[inhales]
…there are times
when I wanna give up on it.
-Same for everyone, though.
-[Stina] Yeah.
-But like I said…
-[clears throat]
If you'd like… an interview,
just get in touch with the press office.
Mm. Yes.
[Stina sniffs]
-Take care and have a nice evening. Bye.
-Ah, thank you.
[light rock music continues]
[music stops]
[Francy] John.
[footsteps approaching]
JOHN SUNDIN:
"THERE ARE TIMES I WANT TO GIVE UP"
[ominous music playing]
[footsteps retreating]
What the hell is going on here?
I mean, Linköping has its own Hans Holmér.
Yeah, I can't wait see John
turning up at the press conference
and standing there,
waving a pistol around in the air.
Yeah, wanna see that.
[thought-provoking music playing]
[radio reporter 1] A day of remembrance
and sadness in Linköping.
One year has passed since the inexplicable
and shocking double murder.
It's been a year of mourning and loss…
[radio reporter 2]
Six hundred and fifty DNA swabs
and 4,500 police interrogations
have yet to yield any results.
[radio reporter 1]
Now five years after the murders
and without anyone held accountable,
grief is spilling over
into anger and frustration
over an investigation
that's making no headway.
[radio reporter 3] Ten years have passed
since an eight-year-old boy
and a 56-year-old woman were found
murdered in broad daylight in Linköping.
These murders have left their marks
on a community living in what seems like…
[radio reporter 4]
…at least 10,000 interviews
and thousands of men have left DNA swabs,
but still no match.
If the killer's alive,
he's still at large.
16 YEARS AFTER THE MURDERS
[exhales slowly]
-Hey, John.
-Hey.
-[colleague] Am I intruding?
-No.
Good, I'd like to talk to you.
Uh, right now?
-Yes, if you're not busy.
-No.
Not at all.
After 16 years,
a bit longer won't hurt. [chuckles]
How are you anyway? Settling in?
Still got a lot of removal boxes
all over my place but, uh, it's fine.
-It's not Stockholm is it?
-No, but I like it.
It's nice.
[chuckles] Well,
what do you wanna talk about?
I had a budget meeting yesterday, John.
We can't keep putting resources on this,
so you should prepare a transfer
to the cold case unit.
[distressing music playing]
[inhales slowly]
You're needed elsewhere now.
[scoffs quietly]
They got me.
I guess so.
I'm sorry.
Binder 223.
All tenants within
a radius of two kilometres.
-[colleague] Okay.
-Have a look.
This is a good one, 314.
Know what's in here?
List of bus passes, October '04.
-Hold on.
-We thought he took a bus.
-Hold on.
-Should take a look.
John, look, I've gone through it all.
-You know what?
-No.
It is flawless.
It might be the most
thorough investigation I've ever seen.
You bet your arse it is.
[colleague] It's the largest investigation
since the Palme assassination.
All the police work you've done on this
is textbook stuff,
-There's no more we could've done.
-We can.
-'Cause we haven't arrested him yet.
-No.
-No!
-It's just how it is.
We're police, John, and that's the job.
-You have to accept that.
-I won't.
You're a great detective, the best we got,
and we need you on other cases--
We've got to find him and arrest him,
'cause we owe that to the relatives.
There are other relatives
out there that need you, John.
I'm gonna crack this, Miran.
You have two weeks, all right?
Then you close the file.
After that, I expect you
to work on other cases.
[John clears throat]
Henry.
Hey, mate. Hey, sorry I'm late.
How did it go?
Whe… Where, uh…
-So, where's your suitcase?
-[man] Hi, John.
[footsteps approaching]
Hey, Anders. All right?
-What are you doing here?
-Uh…
-Henry rang me for a lift, so, uh…
-Oh, okay. Well…
I'm grateful, but I'm here now.
I'll take that.
No, I've got it.
I'm gonna stay at Mum's.
Uh… This is my weekend.
I got stuck at work, uh…
[melancholy music playing]
[inhales] So then,
tell me how your match went. You win?
[footsteps retreating]
Uh, Henry scored twice.
Really? That's great!
-[Anders] See you.
-All right.
Anders, will you tell Anna that I say hi?
Oh, yeah, sure.
[melancholy music continues]
[radio presenter] We now turn
to a case that has baffled police
for over four decades.
Forty-four years
after a series of unsolved murders,
police in California have arrested a man
who they believe is
the notorious Golden State Killer.
This breakthrough was made possible
by using new DNA technology.
Using a genealogy website to map the DNA,
officers were able
to identify the suspect.
CALIFORNIA'S WORST SERIAL KILLER CAUGH
WITH THE HELP OF A GENEALOGY WEBSITE
[music becomes intriguing]
[keyboard clacking]
I'LL SOLVE YOUR FAMILY MYSTERY
[woman] I mean, I've looked for him
my entire adult life.
How long did it take you, like, a week?
-An hour, actually.
-[laughs]
So, who is it?
Yeah, so, I've mapped your family
from the early 18th century until now.
[woman] Oh, I thought we could go
straight to who my dad is.
Well, it says "father unknown"
in the paperwork.
[woman] Oh yes, I know that.
Uh, come on, then. Who is it?
Yeah, well, he's called Stig Nilsson.
He lives here in town.
N… No, it… it's not him.
What? Course it is.
A hundred percent certain.
Uh… Uh… that's impossible.
No, your DNA match is perfect.
Do I sense you're not happy?
Uh… Well, he lived not too far from us,
but, uh… all the kids were
absolutely terrified of Stig Nilsson.
Well, even so, you now know
who your dad is, don't you?
But… this can't be…
Why on earth would my mum…
With him?
Well, your family history
in the 18th century is very interesting.
For example, there's Anna-Karin and Leif,
and they are of particular interest.
They had two daughters that--
[woman sighs]
[inhales]
Right.
-How did it go?
-Is this what my life's come to, huh?
Dig up shit for everyone
like a historical vacuum cleaner?
Just know you're
the world's best vacuum cleaner.
If they just understood
how effective this method is, huh?
What we could achieve,
but no one really does.
[contemplative music playing]
-[sighs, scoffs]
-[man] Drive.
[music fades]
DNA genealogy?
-Yeah. Yep.
-Seriously?
And he has a lecture
here in town next week.
There are no more resources.
You have turned over every stone possible.
No, and for the reason that
genealogy wasn't on our radar till now.
They got the Golden State Killer
by using this method.
And if there's a tiny chance
that this can help us too,
then it's worth giving it a try.
Is this method actually even legal?
No idea.
Gotta trust me.
So, you pivot and research forward
to the ancestors' descendants.
And you go all the way to present day.
And then, if you find people
in the right age-range and sex,
you pivot again
and you go back into their family tree.
You compare how many centimorgans
are an identical match.
So…
Any questions?
[spectator coughs]
[man] No?
The café then.
[indistinct chatter]
-Ah. Thank you, there you go.
-Thanks so much.
-[spectator] Thank you.
-Thanks, there you go.
We need to get as many people to swab
as we can for the database.
Hi, Per.
Uh, John Sundin, Linköping police.
-Hi, Per Skogkvist.
-Hi.
-Pleasure. Good lecture.
-Want one? I'm good, thanks.
I'd really like to talk to you though
if you've got a sec?
-Sure.
-If we could find somewhere quieter…
-Absolutely, yeah.
-When you're done here.
Thanks so much. You're a Sundin.
Classic military name.
-Excuse me.
-Really?
-Ta.
-There you are.
You familiar with
the double murder in Linköping in 2004?
-Absolutely.
-[John] Good.
Uh… I thought we could, uh…
use your method in, uh…
the case.
And for you to come and assist us.
We've tried… everything.
We've swabbed 6,000 people now.
Interviews. We've gone through it all
time and again, but it's like this killer…
Per, he doesn't exist.
He's like a ghost.
Mm, but you do have the killer's DNA?
[John] Yeah, yeah.
Great. I can solve it then.
But look, I need a favour in return.
I'm building a DNA-bank.
-Ah, but…
-Wait. We need as many swabs as we can.
Do you want my help or not?
I do, you bet.
[inhales]
I got a big old drive ahead of me,
so I should hit the road.
Yeah, course, you get going.
I'll, uh… I'll be in touch with you soon.
Good.
-[sniffs] Hey, can I ask you something?
-[exhales] Sure.
Why do you make all this sound so easy?
Because it is.
If you have their DNA,
sooner or later, I will find them for you.
Because DNA is like our shadow.
It's unique for everyone.
You can't get rid of it.
See ya soon.
[pensive music playing]
[poignant theme music playing]
[music fades]