Holy War - TV miniseries, coming-of-age thriller drama

HOLY WAR TV mini series - the bible Logline When his girlfriend is missing, a Norwegian teenager joins the Muslim extremist organization suspected of kidnapping her to conduct an undercover investigation, only to discover the real face of his enemies.

written by Piotr Matecki

00 47 91170178

pprojekt@gmail.com

Why this series?

I am fascinated by the radicalization process. How people open up to ideologies and follow them until they hurt other people, abandoning their humanity, empathy, morality along the way. Creating an ideological facade that justifies killing and hurting others. I believe we are all exposed to this influence whether it is American imperialism, Islamic extremism, conspiracy theories, neocolonialism, racism, chauvinism and all accompanying justifications and arguments. It is so easy to find ideology that explains all the complex issues and live by it without giving it second thoughts. It's so relieving to have some OTHERS to blame for all our fears and defeats.

We live in a world full of tribalism, where many decision makers' agendas are to gain profits from war, political chaos, domination of one arbitrarily defined group over the other. No matter the side, they share one motto: "divide and conquer". The most susceptible are the most vulnerable: poor, living in fear, inexperienced, the young.

I want to show how the young man elbows his way through the world, where others manipulate him to gain control over his mind and soul. Will he make it? Will he find his own path? Is it even possible?

I believe this is a universal question for all of us. Are we living our own lives or just follow some agendas at the expense of other people.

Story questions Can a teenager compete with a charismatic, manipulative teacher in creating a worldview? Are we free to think and feel what we want or are we a product of our environment, community, family, authorities?

Is there a common ground between western and Islamic culture, where they can have a dialog and focus on co-creating society?

Are we, citizens of the Western culture, who are just living our daily lives, responsible for atrocities and exploitation which our governments commit in Muslim, African, Asian and South American countries?

Is the unconscious sufficient argument for us as western consumers, not to react to the injustice behind the mass production chain created by world corporations?

Theme Only you can give meaning to your life.

Finding your own way in life won't be easy, but is worth it.

Story world Norwegian town. few hundred thousand inhabitants. Peaceful and quiet, not much is going on on the streets. Good cars, no beggars, comfortable houses. Surrounded by mountains, hills, forests. Placed over the fjord, open blue space, which gives a feeling of openness and calms the eyes. Three major arenas of the story are: - the high school environment, full of tensions between two tribes: Natives Norwegians and Muslim Immigrants; - Quaran school circle where traditionally dressed Muslim boys follow their charismatic Mullah; - protagonist's house, surrounded by the forests, place where our hero is under pressure from his racist, authoritarian father; Similar from the outside, these worlds have different dynamics and create a different emotional space for our protagonist. At school he is a WARRIOR, fighting for his status.

At Quaran school, the main arena of protagonist's internal struggle, he is a double agent, a TRICKSTER, but here he will also find friendliness, brotherhood, support and warmth and he will become a NEWBORN, which he so desperately craves at his home, from his father. Father thinks his main responsibility is to make his son a tough guy, train him, demand from him and give him instructions. Our hero obeys as he transforms from a CHILD to a HEALER who will save his own father from his spiritual death.

Genre and Tone Coming-of-age thriller drama. A realistic story, told in a fairly fast paced way. It is a chain of events, caused by or reacted to by our protagonist which we follow and which creates the tempo. The focus is not on chase scenes or other action scenes, but on a causative chain of events, which create tension and danger for our protagonist and his allies. The chain of events is dense. The dangling cause throughout the story is whether the missing girl will be found. Dead or alive. And during his efforts to discover the mystery of her kidnapping, will our protagonist manage to stay himself, not to be influenced and changed by his powerful antagonists?

Majestic Norwegian nature is the background for human struggles. Fjord, mountains, forest are silent witnesses of the hectic efforts to push our characters' agendas, with all their craze and dramas.

Characters Descriptions

ARNE, 17, protagonist, a native Norwegian teenager, in pursuit of his way of life, overwhelmed by events, still grieving after the suicide of his mother, blaming his father, Tom, for not saving the mother. Arne craves to find Mari, his girlfriend, and in pursuit of this goal he gets into trouble, gets close to the Quaran school teacher, Mullah Abdullah, who is said to be the head of the extremist organisation. Arne's arc leads him from being a passive, obedient son, naive teenager, to becoming a fully fledged player in the game of manipulation between adult authorities. At the end of his arc he becomes a completely self-aware person, capable of making moral judgments and finding his own way, free from ideology and authorities.

TOM, 50, ally/antagonist, a father, a policeman, an ex-military suffering PTSD syndrome and anger issues after his service in Iraq. He tries to protect his son in the only way he knows - by pushing him to join the military and become a "real man".

Tom, thanks to Arne, goes from being emotionaly burnt out, hiding behind cynicism and racist views, to becoming alive again and finding a partner - a Muslim woman Hannah.

MULLAH ABDULLAH, 65, antagonist/false ally - charismatic teacher of Quaran school for boys, a wolf in sheep's clothing, perceived by the protagonist as a hidden agent of ISIS, recruiting boys for jihad. He is a tragic character, who ends up inciting a violent circle which goes out of control. Being a man of ideas, believing in the superiority of Muslim culture over Western civilisation, he calls for Holy War (Jihad), by which he understands ones moral and spiritual fight. But his zealous students misinterpret his words and turn his ideas into terror actions.

SAYID, 25, a zealous student of Mullah Abdullah's teachings, who brings his ideas to life. He threatens Arne and his father's life and is behind the kidnapping of Mari.

AMIRA, 17, ally, teenage Muslim schoolmate, has a crush on Arne. A trickster figure, who sometimes helps Arne and sometimes sets him up.

MARI, 17, THE MISSING GIRL, a daughter of rich parents, sexually exploited by her father, Kristoffer Hansen, is behind the idea of kidnapping herself. She wants revenge on her parents and wants to escape with Sayid whom she is in love with. Her way to achieve her plan is to get the ransom money.

SVEN, 19, a bullying and brutal friend of Arne, a copy of Arne's father, sharing with Tom right wing and racist views.

HANNAH, 42, teacher at the school, Muslim, mother of Amira, supportive towards Arne. At the beginning she naively believes in the good intentions of everyone around her. Her arc leads her to become a strong voice supporting Arne, a motherlike figure for the protagonist.

HOLY WAR - TV MINISERIES - PILOT

Written by Piotr Matecki

+4791170178 pprojekt@gmail.com

EXT. SPEEDWAY RACE TRACK -- DAY. ARNE, 17, gets on his speedway bike. He has a racing suit on, with number 7 on it. Engine roars. Arne checks his mobile phone. COACH, 60, approaches him.

COACH What?! Give it to me!

Arne hands the telephone to the coach.

COACH (CONT’D) Low. Remember, stay low on the curves.

Arne nods.

COACH (CONT’D) Let the force do it’s job.

The starter fires a shot into the air. Five riders throw themselves into the race. The bikes pass the finish line for the first time - first lap. Roaring engines, hectic rivalry, audience cheers. Second lap of the race track passes. Arne is third. The competition becomes more and more aggressive. Arne tries to overtake the rider in front of him, by making an impressive and dangerous shortcut on the inside of the curve.

He succeeds.

He is second now. Front wheel of his motorcycle lifts up and his bike speeds up in pursuit of the first rider, with number 3 on his back. Third lap passes. Fourth. Arne speeds up on the straight section and again daringly overtakes the first rider. His bravado makes him the leader.

Arne increases the gap between him and the four other riders.

Now he is indisputably the leader of the race. There are three laps to complete.

Arne notices a girl in a red jacket in the crowd of spectators. He loses focus and his bike becomes unstable. He falls, rolls over and the bike is thrown into the air. It falls in the middle of the track. Arne gets up and runs towards the stands.

Mari!

ARNE

The girl in the red, puffy, feather-lined jacket does not respond and continues walking away. A crash of metal parts from behind, from the racetrack is heard.

Arne quickly jumps over the benches and catches up with the girl. He grabs her arm in excitement.

2.

Mari.

ARNE (CONT’D)

The girl turns back to him and takes off her earphones. Arne is confused.

What?

THE GIRL

ARNE I’m... I’m sorry, I thought you were... I took you for someone else.

OK. Bye.

THE GIRL

The girl puts on her earphones and leaves. Arne breathes heavily.

Arne slowly goes back to the track through the whistling and laughing audience. There is a mess - two motorcycles lay on the ground, one rider is laying on the edge of the track, the other rider throws his helmet towards Arne in fury.

DRIVER NO. 3 You fucker!!! Get the fuck down here.

Coach is looking at Arne with disgust.

COACH Well. And when you finish boys, get the fuck out of here.

Coach points at the exit of the racetrack.

EXT. SCHOOLYARD -- DAY. Arne approaches the schoolyard gate. His eye is black, he has some scratches on his face. A small poster with a photo of a girl in a red, feather-lined winter jacket catches his attention. It reads: MISSING!!! Marianne Hansen.

Arne enters the schoolyard. He dials a number on his mobile, but there is no response.

Shit.

ARNE

Arne approaches a group of schoolmates. All of similar age, their backpacks and notebooks indicate they are students, taking a break from classes.

3.

One of them is SVEN, 19, tall, bulky, blond hair and small swastika on his neck. Nervous moves and hands all over the place, high energy and self-confidence.

SVEN That was great! What about the bike?

ARNE Have you heard anything about Mari?

SVEN No worries, she’ll be back soon.

Stay alive until she does.

Boys chatter and laugh.

SVEN (CONT’D) Man, you could kill someone.

ARNE I wish I had.

SVEN You little romantic fuck.

ARNE Do you have anything positive to say?

SVEN The positive thing is that now this Muslim bitch will have to finish the project by herself.

ARNE What? Which one?

SVEN I know her. But... she’s one of them.

Arne looks at the girl pointed at by Sven. She is wearing a hijab and is surrounded by other girls dressed in the same way.

ARNE What’s her name?

Arne rushes towards the group of Muslim girls.

SVEN A goat! Why the fuck do you care?

4.

Sven and his schoolmates laugh nastily. Arne is serious, leaves them and goes towards the girls.

SVEN (CONT’D) What are you doing?!

Sven looks confused, seeing Arne contacting THEM - Muslims.

Arne!

SVEN (CONT’D)

EXT. SCHOOLYARD -- DAY. Arne approaches the group of Muslim girls. They immediately stop chattering, a few of them leave immediately after Arne’s appearance.

ARNE Do you know Mari? One of you made a project with her.

AMIRA Yes. What about her?

AMIRA, 17, dark eyes, pretty face, hair covered with a blue hijab, throws a challenging look to Arne. Other girls retreat, one of them pulls Amira by her sleeve.

ARNE I haven’t heard from her for three days now. Do you know where she is?

AMIRA Maybe she escaped with her boyfriend?

ARNE I am her boyfriend.

AMIRA Oh, sorry, I didn’t know.

ARNE Please let me know if you hear anything. She may have problems.

A can of coke hits Arne in the back of his head.

AMIRA So may you...

5.

Arne leans towards Amira and puts a hand on his head. Grimace of pain on his face. Arne turns back and sees a group of Arabic looking boys looking at him with hostility.

KARIM Hey, fucker, keep your hands off.

MALIK Want to talk? Talk to the men, you pussy.

Arne takes a quick glance at the group, judges the number of the boys and decides to retreat. He takes his backpack and goes towards the exit of the schoolyard.

Chicken!

KARIM

MALIK Go, cry to your mum.

Halfway to the exit Arne notices a person standing by the gate. It is TOM, 50, well built, tall, severe looking man with short haircut and military style jacket. He looks coldly at Arne, which makes Arne stop. The triumphant laughter of the Muslim boys is heard. Arne locks eyes with Tom and after a while throws his backpack on the ground and turns back.

EXT. SCHOOLYARD -- DAY. Karim laughs and talks to his schoolmates who surround him, when Arne jumps on his back with his full weight. The boys begin to fight, they jerk each other and throw punches.

Arne’s fist lands on Karim’s face and Karim staggers. Then he responds and hits Arne in the stomach and face. All boys present in the schoolyard run towards the two fighting and create a circle around them. Audience is clearly split in two, some cheer Arne, others Karim. Sven is particularly active, giving Arne directions how to punch.

SVEN Get him down! Down! Face, right in the face.

Arne falls down and loses his dominance. Karim holds his hands and throws punches at Arne’s head. It is a miserable defeat.

The disruption attracts the attention of the teacher, HANNAH, 42, good looking, dark-skinned woman, who runs towards the fight. She wades through the cheering crowd and throws herself right in the middle of the fight, between the boys.

Hannah pulls Karim off Arne.

6.

HANNAH Stop it! Stop right now!

Arne gets up slowly, breathing heavily.

HANNAH (CONT’D) Are you OK? Tom approaches them.

TOM It was terrible.

HANNAH Yes. I will need to talk to the parents.

Hannah helps Arne to get up, cleans his clothes and examines his face.

TOM (to Arne) You are weak.

Hanna turns to Tom in astonishment.

HANNAH Excuse me?! Did you see what just happened?!

TOM Yes. He lost.

Hannah is indignant.

HANNAH How can you say that? Who are you?!

TOM I’m his father.

Tom turns back and heads towards the exit. Arne follows.

Hannah looks after them in shock. Amira looks at Arne and smiles at him.

INT. CAR -- DAY. Tom drives his Jeep. Arne sits next to him. A rock ballad ends on the radio.

7.

RADIO SPEAKER And now we have a short announcement about a missing person. Marianne Hansen, age 17, blonde, 165 cm, last seen three days ago in the city center, she was wearing a red, feather-lined jacket...

Tom switches off the radio. Arne jumps up in his sit. He was all ears. Arne wants to turn the radio on again, but Tom stops him with a gesture.

TOM Don’t. Focus.

Arne swallows the response, he only looks bitterly through the window.

INT. MILITARY ACADEMY -- DAY. Arne enters the building, Tom follows. There is a big sign, written in golden letters: MILITARY ACADEMY ELVERUM. Arne approaches a reception desk. A SOLDIER, 26, Asian, in complete field uniform of the Norwegian army, sits behind the desk, focused on his job, clicking on the computer keyboard.

ARNE Hi. We... I am here to enroll into the academy.

Soldier continues to write. Tom observes the situation leaning on the wall in the background.

ARNE (CONT’D) I want to apply for the one year preparation program for underage candidates.

Soldier picks up the phone and dials.

SOLDIER I have sent it now. Please check if everything is OK. Soldier puts down the telephone. He gets back to his screen.

SOLDIER (CONT’D) One moment.

Arne nods. Tom approaches the counter and slams the desk.

8.

TOM What’s this? What is your job here?!

Soldier looks at Tom in astonishment. He stands up.

SOLDIER I beg your pardon?

TOM Stand straight when you talk to a higher rank officer.

SOLDIER Sir, please calm down.

TOM No, you better get together and follow your drill soldier.

SOLDIER Wow. You really don’t need to shout.

Soldier puts an application form on the counter. it and moves away from Tom, who at this point is stands in a confrontational posture opposite the Soldier’s body posture shows he is conciliatory. in the document.

Arne grabs all red and soldier.

Arne fills

SOLDIER (CONT’D) Please fill it in and just sign the document by both parents.

Arne finishes, passes the document to Tom, who signs it. Tom thrusts it to the soldier. Soldier takes it and nods.

TOM (quietly) My wife... I’m a widower.

SOLDIER OK. I’m sorry.

TOM (again bossy) You have it in his profile. You can check.

SOLDIER That’s fine. We will process it and send you and update. ... Sir. Tom seems satisfied.

9.

TOM At ease, soldier.

Tom winks at the confused soldier and leaves. Arne follows.

INT. TOM'S HOME, KITCHEN -- NIGHT. Arne prepares supper, puts beans, cheese and bread on the table. Tom sits by it and reads a newspaper. Arne puts one plate in front of Tom, one for himself and one additional by an empty chair.

TOM Someone’s coming?

Arne sits down and makes himself a sandwich. He eats quietly.

Tom puts away the newspaper. Starts to crack walnuts.

TOM (CONT’D) This missing girl. Do you know her?

Yes.

ARNE

TOM People say she was kidnapped by the Muslims from the Quaran school. I would have checked it, but they won’t issue a warrant.

Tom observes Arne, who avoids eye contact.

TOM (CONT’D) Political correctness. Always the same. Special license for these Muslim parasites.

ARNE What do we do with the track?

TOM (to himself) Or maybe she just wants some attention from her parents.

Once she spends all the money, she’ll be back.

ARNE You said I can earn myself by working somewhere.

10.

TOM Parents say she’s been gone for three days. Liars.

She is.

ARNE

TOM Oh, so you were close?

ARNE We were... schoolmates.

TOM Do not engage in any bullshit with these spoiled, rich girls.

Tom stands up, approaches the wall calendar and places his finger on twentieth of June.

TOM (CONT’D) Focus on the exams. That is your future.

Arne nods.

EXT. TOM'S GARAGE -- NIGHT. Arne sneaks to the JEEP in darkness. He quietly puts the keys into the ignition switch and unlocks the steering wheel. He begins to push the car out of the garage and further down the road. The car disappears silently in the night.

EXT. SVEN'S HOUSE -- NIGHT. Arne parks by the house. He honks. Sven comes out and jumps into the car.

SVEN Yes, man. Let’s do it! Finally a good idea.

Sven puts a baseball bat on the backseat.

ARNE What’s that for?

For fun.

SVEN

Sven laughs, Arne drives.

11.

EXT. QUARAN SCHOOL -- NIGHT. The Jeep slowly approaches a fence which surround a complex of buildings. Arne and Sven look at one of them, which has a small minaret tower. Characteristic Islamic decorative elements and architecture details, soaring arcs of the cloisters, ceramic, colorful tiles.

SVEN That’s why it is great to have a father in the police. You know what’s going on in the city.

ARNE We are just going to observe the school. If we find anything suspicious, we give clues to my father.

SVEN OK. You observe from the outside.

Sven opens the door. Arne stops the car.

SVEN (CONT’D) I will take a look from the inside.

Sven gets out of the car and takes his baseball bat.

ARNE What?! It’s just a rumor. Sven!

SVEN Well, let’s find out.

Sven smiles to Arne and runs towards the fence.

Shit.

ARNE

Arne follows Sven and climbs over the fence. Sven sneaks towards the door of the Islamic School.

EXT. QUARAN SCHOOL -- NIGHT. Sven breaks the small glass window and opens the door from the inside.

ARNE What the fuck? Sven. Let’s get back.

12.

SVEN We will find some trace of her, I feel it.

Arne reluctantly goes inside. Boys begin to sniff around, looking through books, documents, chairs, cabinets and shelves.

I knew it!

What?

SVEN (CONT’D) ARNE

Sven shows Arne a book.

ARNE (CONT’D) Quaran. So what?

SVEN I knew they’d have this terrorist shit here.

ARNE It is just Quaran. That’s what they read, you moron. Like a Bible for us.

Arne is annoyed by Sven, continues to search among endless boxes with clothes, tools, books. Suddenly a bright, warm glow fills the room. Arne returns to Sven.

ARNE (CONT’D) What are you doing?!

Sven holds in his hands a Quaran book in flames.

SVEN Burning this shit.

The book is completely alight and Sven cannot hold it any longer because of the heat. He throws it on the floor, where it lights up a rug. Sven and Arne try to extinguish the fire with their boots. But it quickly spreads out of control.

ARNE I’ll find water.

Arne runs around in search of a sink. He finds a toilet and fills a bucket with water. Arne comes back and throws water on the burning rug, but the fire is out of control. It becomes hot, smoke fills the room. Arne coughs, Sven runs out of the building leaving him alone.

13.

Arne!

SVEN (O.S.)

Arne tries to cover the fire and suffocate the flames with another blanket. It only lights up the fire. Arne runs out of the building.

Come on!

SVEN (CONT’D)

The boys run towards the fence, climb it and jump on the other side.

SVEN (CONT’D) We’re out of here!

The Jeep leaves with the engine roaring.

INT. TOM'S HOUSE, ARNE'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT. Arne sits on the bed. He is shaking. He looks like he is about to burst into tears.

ARNE Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Arne dials a number on his mobile phone.

VOICE MAIL (MARI’S VOICE) Hi. It’s me. Please tell me something nice.

“Beeeeep” sound comes after. Arne throws his mobile phone across the room and buries his face in his hands.

EXT. QUARAN SCHOOL -- DAY. MULLAH ABDULLAH, 65, dressed in traditional Muslim long dress, it is grey, he has long beard, glasses. He is a tall, well-built man whose movements are slow, but firm and intentional. Firemen around finis their job examining the burnt elements of the building and collecting their equipment.

MULLAH Thank you for your courage and dedication.

One of the firemen nods. Mullah smiles to him widely.

MULLAH (CONT’D) As-Salam Aleikum.

14.

The building itself is not very damaged, only two windows are burnt out, traces of black soot on the walls, mess on the floor, some elevation elements dropped out and felt on the ground. Tom approaches Mullah from behind, unseen by him.

TOM Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.

Mullah turns towards Tom surprised.

TOM (CONT’D) They cut the electricity. The controller will come right after me.

MULLAH Allah has made his decision, now the insurance will make its.

Mullah bursts in loud laughter. Tom hands Mullah his visit card.

TOM Tom Jonnsen, local police.

Mullah smiles politely to Tom and observes him intensely.

MULLAH Tom, Tom, dear Tom. It is extremely nice to meet you. How can I help you?

TOM I need your statement and they have to determine the cause of the fire.

MULLAH We all know what the cause is. In these flames our sins are cleansed.

You know, detective, we are not all heroes like you.

Mullah smiles. Tom looks at him confused.

MULLAH (CONT’D) Have you been to East? Paragliding in Dubai? Visiting Taj Mahal with your wife?

TOM I’ve been to... Iraq.

15.

Tom approaches the scene of fire and inspects some elements on the ground. Mullah follows him intrigued.

A soldier?

MULLAH

TOM Do you have enemies here? Some threats lately?

MULLAH Fortunately not any more! We learned each other pretty well. We are all children of a God, aren’t we? It just takes time to some to realize it.

TOM Please drop by today to the police station.

Tom leaves.

MULLAH Thank you for your engagement!

TOM That’s just my job.

MULLAH But the way you perform it, gives it a human mark, your personal mark and expresses who you are.

Tom stops, looks like is about to say something, but resigns.

Waves to Mullah and leaves. Mullah observes him sharply.

INT. QUARAN SCHOOL -- DAY. SAYID, 25, enters the small room full of screens and electronic devices. He has dark skin, dark hair, sharp look, quick, nervous moves, seriousness and anger on his face.

Wears traditional Muslim long dress and a small cap on top of his head. Two other boys, FATIM, 22, and FAROUK, 24, both of similar appearance and dressed alike, are by his side.

SAYID Give me the discs.

Fatim dives behind the desk and removes discs from the computers. He hands them to Sayid, who hides it in his pocket.

16.

SAYID (CONT’D) This is between us.

Fatim and Farrouk nod.

This...

SAYID (CONT’D)

Sayid points at discs in his pocket.

SAYID (CONT’D) ...has burnt.

Fatim and Farrouk nod again.

EXT./INT. QUARAN SCHOOL -- DAY. Sayid approaches Mullah. They walk slowly into the building.

SAYID Mawlawi, tell us what to do.

MULLAH Well, boys. This is the moment of trial. Our journey begins. In this world, we will have to be humble and careful, before we finally achieve our goal and make our statement.

SAYID Shall we look for them?

Mullah approaches a big, silver, metal box, which looks solid and is protected by cipher locks.

MULLAH No. But we need to move it to a safer location.

Mullah puts his hands on the box and caresses it gently. The smile on his face disappears. He looks severe. Sayid nods and gets to work accompanied by two other boys. They manage to lift the box with huge effort and they move it towards the minivan seen in the background through the open door of the garage.

EXT. SPEEDWAY TRACK -- DAY. Arne enters the speedway track and approaches the coach.

17.

ARNE I need to get back on the track.

COACH You need to slow down.

ARNE I fucked up, I know.

COACH You also owe us for two months.

ARNE I will pay. Soon.

COACH Pay for the track. Apologize to the guys. Pay for their repairs.

Coach pats Arne on his arm.

COACH (CONT’D) Behave like a man. Then we can talk.

Coach turns back and leaves. Arne, angry and bitter, goes towards the exit.

EXT. SPEEDWAY TRACK, PARKING -- DAY. Arne sees Amira walking towards him.

AMIRA Not racing today?

Arne shakes his head.

AMIRA (CONT’D) That’s a pity. I wanted to support you.

ARNE Your religion doesn’t forbid it?

AMIRA Mhm. Yes. Like all the pleasant things.

Amira looks Arne in the eyes, flirting. Arne responds with a similar look, intrigued.

Like...?

ARNE

18.

Amira takes a box of cigarettes from her bag and lights up one of them.

AMIRA Like living your life.

Amira offers a cigarette to Arne.

ARNE No, thanks.

AMIRA Come on, sin with me.

Arne shakes his head.

AMIRA (CONT’D) It doesn’t have to be cigarettes...

Arne smiles. Amira rolls her eyes and laughs loudly. Suddenly she notices something on the other side of the street, her face becomes serious, she throws the cigarette on the ground and rushes to leave.

AMIRA (CONT’D) I need to go.

ARNE Wait. Do you know something about Mari?

AMIRA I don’t. You better ask him.

Amira points at the white van standing with its engine on, on the other side of the street. Its driver, unrecognizable from the distance, puts his elbow out of the window and observes Amira and Arne.

AMIRA (CONT’D) No, just kiddin. Keep away from them.

ARNE Why? Who is it?

Amira leaves distressed, in a rush. Arne looks at the van for a while. Then he moves towards it.

Arne approaches the van and nods to the driver. It is Sayid.

ARNE (CONT’D) Hi. Do you know anything about Mari Hansen?

19.

Sayid looks intensely at Arne with a hostile look on his face.

ARNE (CONT’D) The girl, who is missing. You must have seen the posters...

Sayid drives away with a roaring engine and tires screeching.

Arne looks after him breathing heavily, distressed.

INT. POLICE STATION -- DAY. Arne enters the police station. He nods to Tom, who sits behind a glass wall by a desk, talking to a man, whose back is only visible. Tom gets up and leaves his cubicle.

TOM Why are you here?

ARNE I need to pay for the track.

TOM I told you that now it’s time to learn. I won’t pay for this until you pass the exams.

ARNE Then I will loose the whole season.

I will never catch up to the others.

TOM I can’t talk now.

Tom closes the door to his office and lowers his voice.

ARNE What happened?

TOM Someone’s burnt the Quaran school.

Now they are the victims.

The man in the office turns towards the door and Arne is eye to eye with Mullah Abdullah, who smiles to him politely.

TOM (CONT’D) Go home. We’ll talk later.

Arne slowly retreats.

20.

INT. SCHOOL, TOILETTE -- DAY. Sven sneaks into the school toilet. He hides behind the door and is listening to everything. He hears moans and groans. He looks through the crack in the door and sees Amira kissing some guy passionately. Sven takes the mobile phone out of his pocket and starts recording. The smile on his face indicates the excitement and satisfaction.

INT. SCHOOL, CORRIDOR -- DAY. Arne walks the school corridor. Sven runs towards him.

SVEN Look! Look what I’ve got!

Sven pushes his mobile phone screen. Arne plays the video sent by Sven.

ARNE Why did you do it?

Arne seems confused and disgusted.

SVEN We need to sabotage them. They are all one mob. If some Muslim finds out about the fire, I will put it on YouTube. If she doesn’t shut them up.

ARNE You are a moron. Why would she get involved?

SVEN What? She is one of them. You will see it will work.

Arne sees Amira at the other end of corridor, talking to Hannah.

ARNE No it won’t.

Why?

SVEN

Arne grabs Sven’s phone and runs away. Sven watches him go in astonishment.

Hey!

SVEN (CONT’D)

21.

EXT. HANNAH'S HOUSE -- DAY. Arne knocks on the door. He is holding a hammer in his hand.

Amira opens and smiles seeing Arne.

ARNE Do you have a brush?

AMIRA Sweeping brush?

Arne nods. Amira laughs.

AMIRA (CONT’D) Yes, I have one.

Great.

ARNE

Arne kneels, puts Sven’s phone on the ground and smashes it with a hammer.

ARNE (CONT’D) Can you bring it now?

Amira looks at Arne in astonishment.

AMIRA OK. What is that about?

INT. HANNAH'S HOUSE -- DAY. Amira sits by the table in the kitchen. She watches a short movie on Arne’s mobile phone.

AMIRA What an asshole!

ARNE Yes. It was on his phone. He sent it to me. And I...

Arne takes the phone from Amira and taps the screen.

ARNE (CONT’D) ...delete it.

AMIRA Wow. How generous. How can I pay you back?

22.

ARNE Take me to them. And tell me about the guy from the van.

AMIRA Oh, so you want to meet Sayid.

DOORBELL. Amira gets up and opens the door. Hannah enters the kitchen. She is surprised to see Arne, but welcomes him with a smile.

AMIRA (CONT’D) Well, here is a better source to talk to.

HANNAH What? Hello, Arne. Can I help you somehow?

AMIRA Here you have your Mother Theresa.

She’s all yours.

Amira goes out of the kitchen. She points at her mobile phone.

AMIRA (CONT’D) And... Thanks.

Hannah sits by Arne.

HANNAH How is school? Tell me everything!

INT. SAYID’S HOME -- DAY. Sayid approaches Fatim, who sits by the computer.

Anything?

SAYID

FATIM It is burnt, but I managed to grab around sixty percent of the footage.

Show me.

SAYID

Fatim nods and plays the footage. For few seconds he skips footage showing just the entrance to the quaran school, where nothing is happening. At some point footage shows a Jeep which approaches the gate. One man gets out.

23.

He has a hoodie which covers his head. Face is not recognizable. Another man leaves the Jeep, also in a hoodie, and they both climb up and jump over the fence. Sayid gets closer to the screen, trying to see more.

SAYID (CONT’D) Fuck! Who is this?

He hits the desk with a fist.

SAYID (CONT’D) I will find them. You look for this car.

Sayid unplugs the disc and hides it in his pocket. He addresses his companions, Fatim and Farrouk, in a severe manner.

FARROUK This policeman had a Jeep like this one.

Shit.

SAYID

Sayid nods and loses himself in thoughts. Then he puts his hands on Farrouk’s arms and looks him in the eyes.

SAYID (CONT’D) No one knows about it. Don’t bother him. We solve it ourselves.

Fatim and Farrouk nod simultaneously.

INT. HANNAH'S CAR -- DAY. Hannah drives her car. Arne sits by her as a passenger.

HANNAH It’s good that you came. I will introduce you to a man who is the most respected person in our Muslim community.

Arne nods.

ARNE Do you think he will help?

Hannah smiles.

HANNAH Well, he owes me.

24.

INT. HANNAH’S OFFICE SPACE -- DAY. Hannah knocks at the door.

HANNAH After the Quaran school burnt down, they didn’t have anywhere to go.

There is some movement and indistinct chatter behind the door. Then silence. Hannah knocks again. The door opens.

HANNAH (CONT’D) Hi, Farouk. This is Arne. Is Mullah Abdullah here?

Mullah Abdullah appears behind Farouk, who is confused and speechless at seeing Arne.

HANNAH (CONT’D) This is the man I told you about.

Our teacher and spiritual guide for these young men.

MULLAH Oh, welcome. Be my guest.

Mullah smiles widely, opens the door and approaches Arne with open arms. Arne instinctively steps back.

HANNAH Mullah Abdullah is a noble man, respected by everyone.

MULLAH Come on in, my friend.

Arne shakes Mullah’s hand and glances over his arm. Arne notices boys in Muslim clothes, long dresses, small round hats put in the middle of their heads, who crowd inside the empty office space. Arne is scared. Hannah is jovial and smiles in a friendly way to everyone.

HANNAH If anyone can help you find any clues about this girl you are looking for, it is him. When he asks, everyone has to answer.

Hannah grabs a package from her bag and hands it to a still dumbstruck Farrouk.

25.

HANNAH (CONT’D) Here, I brought you some cake, boys. You better behave and learn about your culture and history.

Arne walks slowly among the Muslim boys kneeling on small carpets used for prayers.

Shoes!

SAYID

Mullah looks severely at Sayid, who stands in front of Arne in a hostile position.

Do not...!

MULLAH

Mullah raises his finger and points at Sayid. Arne takes off his shoes and steps back. Mullah puts his arm over Arne’s shoulder.

MULLAH (CONT’D) ...make our guest feel uncomfortable.

Sayid lowers his eyes and sits down.

MULLAH (CONT’D) There are only friends here for you, dear Arne. And I will be happy to hear about your needs.

Mullah turns towards his students.

MULLAH (CONT’D) Boys, that will be all for today.

See you on Thursday.

Muslim boys get up and collect their carpets and books. They begin to walk out of the office space. Mullah invites Hannah and Arne to a separate room with a gesture.

INT. HANNAH’S OFFICE SPACE -- DAY. Hannah sits by Mullah and they both look at Arne in a friendly way.

ARNE I thought to ask... Maybe...

Hannah nods encouragingly to Arne.

26.

ARNE (CONT’D) Maybe someone from your... from your... community knows something about Mari Hansen.

HANNAH This girl has been missing for a few days now. No one knows where she is.

Yes.

MULLAH

Arne looks at Mullah with a questioning look. Hannah smiles to Arne, stands up and grabs his hand. Mullah grins to Arne.

HANNAH I told you. Come on.

Arne slowly follows Hannah. Mullah smiles to Arne. Hannah whispers to Arne.

HANNAH (CONT’D) His word is more than gold. He will do it.

Hannah bows towards Mullah. Arne makes a clumsy bow too and they both leave.

Do what?

ARNE

HANNAH Anything he can.

Arne follows Hannah unsure what has just happened.

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR -- DAY. Arne walks through the corridor, lost in his thoughts. Sven approaches him.

SVEN That was stupid. With the phone.

Sven’s schoolmates surround Arne.

SVEN (CONT’D) At first I was mad. But then you gave me a great idea.

Arne is reluctant, he just wants to pass Sven by.

27.

ARNE I have math.

SVEN Oh. OK. Just one thing. Between us.

Sven puts arm around Arne’s shoulder and lowers his voice so that only Arne can hear him.

SVEN (CONT’D) You will find out what they know.

If they know about the fire and me.

Do you understand?

ARNE And how would I do that?

SVEN By... joining them.

Arne laughs nervously.

ARNE Give me a break with your ideas.

How would I do that? They would never talk to me.

SVEN This’s how.

Sven punches Arne right in the face and spectacularly throws him on the opposite wall. Arne, who initially loses balance, gets back on his feet and takes a fighting position. Sven throws a series of punches at him. Students run towards the fight and surround it. Muslim boys look from the distance.

SVEN (CONT’D) Traitor! Muslims-lover.

ARNE What are you...?

Sven’s punch reaches Arne’s cheek. Amira appears. She grabs Sven by his shirt, but he pushes her away. Amira turns towards her Muslim schoolmates.

AMIRA Do something. Help him!

Muslim boys, among them Farrouk and Fatim, look at Amira disoriented, as if not sure if they should jump in.

AMIRA (CONT’D) Arne helped me against him.

28.

Amira points at Sven.

AMIRA (CONT’D) Will you do something?!

Amira is angry and looks firmly at her Muslim schoolmates.

AMIRA (CONT’D) Or should I call Sayid?

At the sound of this name, Fatim and Farrouk jump towards Sven and grab him by his hands and neck. Sven is all red because of punching Arne, who by this time lays on the ground beaten and defeated by Sven’s tantrum.

SVEN You see? That’s how.

Sven winks at Arne. Muslim boys hold him firmly. Arne gets to his feet breathing heavily.

Traitor!

SVEN (CONT’D)

EXT. STREET -- DAY. Arne goes with his backpack.

Arne!

KRISTINE

He turns back and sees KRISTINE HANSEN, 48, elegant, nice looking woman. She holds a whole stack of posters of Mari, the missing girl.

KRISTINE (CONT’D) Will you help me with these? I was in the shopping malls, park, by the lake and on the train station.

Kristine speaks fast, looks with a blank look around. She seems tired, as if she hadn’t slept for few nights.

KRISTINE (CONT’D) You could take it to the west part.

I haven’t been there yet. By the museum and further up to the sports field.

Arne nods.

ARNE Are you OK?

29.

KRISTINE Yes, yes, I’m fine. We just need to do it today. I’m fine, thank you.

It will be... twelve places for you to cover.

Kristine meticulously counts twelve posters and hands them to Arne.

ARNE She will be back. I’ll find her.

Kristine looks at him with a suddenly focused and intense look. Tears appear in her eyes, while she puts her palm on Arne’s cheek.

KRISTINE I know. I know. It is just a bad time. For us all.

Kristine looks for a while at Arne with a soft and friendly look.

KRISTINE (CONT’D) You are a very good boy. For her.

It’s just that she... she cannot appreciate things.

Suddenly she goes back to her nervous behavior, her eyes are all over the place, she moves hastily and looks like she is hypnotized.

KRISTINE (CONT’D) (mumbling to herself) OK, let’s do it. Let’s do it. Let’s do it.

She leaves in a rush.

ARNE (to himself) I will.

EXT. STREET -- DAY. Sayid sits in his white van opposite the police station. He observes cars going in and out of the police parking lot.

Then a brown Jeep appears. It parks in front of the building and Tom gets out of the car. Tom heads to the entrance and disappears into the building.

Gotcha.

SAYID

30.

INT. ARNE'S HOME, ARNE'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT. Arne lays on the bed. He looks at the ceiling on which there is a poster he got from Kristine with a photo of Mari smiling. The rest of the posters which Arne got from Kristine lay by Arne’s bed on the floor.

INT. SCHOOL, CORRIDOR -- DAY. Arne goes through the corridor. A teacher approaches him.

TEACHER Arne, you are asked to come to the principal’s office.

ARNE I have classes.

TEACHER Now. It is important.

Arne turns back.

INT. SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE -- DAY. Arne enters the Principal’s office. It is a large room, with a big table in the middle. Mullah Abdullah is sitting by this table. When Arne appears, the men stop their friendly chat and both welcome Arne with smiles.

PRINCIPAL Come here! Sit with us.

Arne takes a place.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) Listen, Arne, we all know there are tensions between Muslim students and Nor... non-Muslim students.

The Principal looks at Mullah confused by the blunder he just committed.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) That’s why we have arranged a special cultural program. It is called BRIDGE. The Principal clears his throat.

31.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) It’s aim is to increase the knowledge about our cultures. On both sides.

Arne nods. Mullah looks at Arne in a friendly, but intense way.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) We would like to invite you Mullah asked specifically about you...

Mullah opens his arms widely towards Arne.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) ...to be the leader of this project.

Arne listens surprised.

ARNE What... What would I do?

PRINCIPAL The idea is that you would be a kind of journalist, and would spend a lot of time in the Muslim community.

The Principal looks at Mullah to assure he puts it right.

Mullah nods slowly, but firmly.

PRINCIPAL (CONT’D) You’d take notes, do interviews, take photos and prepare a presentation which will be shown to the whole school at the end of the year.

Mullah smiles at Arne and nods his head.

ARNE I don’t know. I have to prepare for the enrollment.

PRINCIPAL I know about your plans, Arne. And this program can only help you. I will issue a special recommendations for you, which will be an additional asset for you in the military academy.

32.

Mullah stops smiling and looks sharply at the principal.

ARNE I... I need to ask my father.

PRINCIPAL I understand. Take your time. But not too long. We would like to start next week.

The Principal gives Arne a notebook with the school logo on the cover.

MULLAH Insha’Allah.

PRINCIPAL Yes. Insha’Allah, exactly.

INT. SVEN’S HOUSE -- DAY. PHONE RINGS - “VALKIRIA” by Richard Wagner. Sven holds an oldschool mobile phone with a swinging, razor type opening flap.

A male figure in the background sits in the armchair and there are noises of a football game from the TV. A man shouts some indistinct words from time to time. Sven fights with the phone to pick it up.

SVEN’S FATHER Turn it off!

SVEN Yes, yes, a second.

Sven finally picks up the phone.

EXT. STREET -- DAY. Arne with the phone by his ear.

ARNE We need to talk!

SVEN (with lowered voice) You owe me the smartphone, you moron!

33.

INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATION ARNE I ‘m coming to you.

SVEN (quietly) No way! Not today.

Right now!

ARNE

SVEN I will come to you.

Why?

ARNE

SVEN Because my father knows.

ARNE About fire? Finally!

SVEN No. That you are... a traitor.

What?!

ARNE

SVEN’S FATHER (V.O.) Who’s this?

SVEN Nobody, dad. A friend.

Sven sighs deeply.

SVEN (CONT’D) I need to make it credible for everyone.

ARNE (angry) Be at my place at eleven or I will tell my father and yours everything.

SVEN (softer) No! OK. END INTERCUT.

34.

Arne hangs up.

INT. ARNE’S HOME, KITCHEN -- NIGHT. Arne opens the door and Sven enters. Arne leads him to the kitchen.

ARNE You need to confess.

SVEN What? That you sucked my dick on your sixteenth?

ARNE They will come after me and my father. I will not take the blame for you.

SVEN You tell him then.

ARNE I’m not a snitch. I didn’t do it.

And I don’t want him to be fired because of his son became a criminal!

Sven looks at Arne with respect. Then he continues laying out his logic in a softer, more friendly manner.

SVEN Look, no one knows ANYTHING. Stop hanging around, spreading hysteria.

Look at Tom. Be tough like him.

ARNE I’m not taking this shit anymore for you. Tomorrow you will go to the police and tell them about the fire. We will solve it the right way.

Sven is angry again. He slams his hand on the table. Arne silences him with a gesture.

SVEN My father will kill me, you know that.

ARNE I really don’t care. This shit is coming to me now.

35.

SCREAMS and BANGING from above. Arne jumps up.

ARNE (CONT’D) Fuck! Again.

Arne runs towards the stairs.

INT. ARNE'S HOME, TOM’S BEDROOM -- NIGHT. Arne enters Tom’s bedroom followed by Sven. Tom is on the floor, crawling and shaking, his body is stiff, he has a bright red face and his mouth is full of saliva. This is epilepsy attack.

ARNE Bring me some water.

SVEN Is this a seizure?

ARNE No. One of his epileptic attacks.

Sven is in shock. He rushes out of the room.

Arne kneels by his father and takes his head in his arms.

Sven brings a glass of water. Arne throws the water into Tom’s face. Then he takes off the pillow case, rolls it up and stuffs it into Tom’s mouth, trying to keep it open.

ARNE (CONT’D) Blue pills. In the drawer.

Arne points at the cupboard by the bed. Sven looks for the pills.

SVEN There’s nothing here.

ARNE Blue! They must be there.

SVEN They aren’t!

ARNE Damn. He left them at work.

SVEN What can I do?

ARNE Can you drive?

36.

Sven nods.

EXT. STREET, BY THE POLICE STATION -- NIGHT. Sven stops Tom’s Jeep with its tires screeching at the entrance to the Police Station. He runs into the building.

Sayid, Farim and Farrouk observe the situation from their white van parked on the opposite side of the street.

Sven is talking to the policewoman and explains something gesturing a lot. The policewoman nods and leaves her desk.

Sven is pacing around impatiently. After a few seconds the policewoman comes back and hands Sven a small package. Sven rushes out of the Police Station, gets into the car and heads back in the direction he came from.

Sayid then turns on his engine and follows the Jeep.

INT. TOM'S HOME -- NIGHT. Arne leads Tom to the bed. He supports him by holding father under his arms. Tom looks half conscious.

TOM They are coming.

ARNE Drink. Relax.

TOM They are here.

ARNE I know. You are safe.

Run. Run!

TOM

ARNE Sleep. Go to sleep.

Arne leaves the bedroom.

INT. TOM'S HOME -- NIGHT. Arne enters the kitchen and sees three masked men. He jumps back with surprise, but two of the men grab him by the arm and neck and throw him on the floor. Sven is already sitting there on the floor, with his mouth covered with a kitchen towel.

37.

One of the masked man points a knife at Sven.

MASKED MAN (SAYID) Do you work for the Hansens?

What?

ARNE

MASKED MAN (SAYID) Did they send you? To find their daughter?

No.

ARNE

Sayid turns on the oven and puts a towel on the stove burner.

After a while the towel begins to burn. Arne starts breathing quicker. He follows each move of his captors.

MASKED MAN How much do they pay you?

ARNE They don’t.

The fire almost goes out, but Sayid ads another towel to it and this time it becomes bigger.

MASKED MAN 1 Why are you after her then?!

ARNE I love her!

The masked men look at each other. Sayid throws the burning towel into the sink where it goes out.

MASKED MAN 1 You know her?

ARNE I’m her boyfriend.

The masked man looks at his accomplice.

MASKED MAN 1 Are you sure she knows about it?

All the masked men begin to laugh.

MASKED MAN 1 (CONT’D) (to his accomplices) Let’s go.

38.

GUNSHOT. Sayid and one of his accomplices storm out of the kitchen into the garden. The third masked boy falls down and Tom, who staggers into the kitchen with a gun in his hand, and grabs the boy. Tom hits the boy with a fist. Arne grabs Tom to stop the beating. The boy skillfully slips out of Tom's grasp and escapes out of the house.

Tom gets up and he leans on the wall. He looks weak and dazed. Sven removes towel from his mouth.

SVEN What was that?

ARNE Dad. It’s OK. Give it to me.

Arne grabs the gun and takes it carefully from Tom’s hand.

Then he puts it on the top of the kitchen cupboard. Both Sven and Arne hold Tom and lead him towards the stairs.

TOM What was that? Who were they?

Tom is weak, sweats and almost faints away. The boys carry him up the stairs.

INT. ARNE'S BEDROOM -- DAY. Arne opens his eyes. Someone is shaking his arm.

Get up.

TOM

Arne sleepily looks at the clock. It says 6:00 AM. TOM (CONT’D) It’s the weekend. You can’t stay here all day.

Tom is fully dressed in an outdoor jacket and large boots.

ARNE Do you want breakfast?

TOM I made sandwiches. Let’s go.

Arne slowly gets up.

39.

EXT. FOREST -- DAY. Tom and Arne carry rifles. They go through the forest. Tom leads Arne towards the top of a hill.

TOM Who was that? Yesterday?

ARNE I don’t know.

TOM What did they want?

Money.

ARNE

Tom notices a movement amongst the trees and orders Arne to stop with a gesture. There is a moose a short distance away.

In complete silence Tom gives Arne instructions to lay down and prepare for the shot. Arne obeys and prepares. He takes a few deep breaths and hesitates. Looks at Tom who pushes the boy to shoot with a cold look.

Arne looks through the viewfinder and... the SHOT echoes in the forest.

The moose escapes. Arne missed the target. The bullet hits a tree a meter above the moose. Tom seems disappointed and he looks down at his son.

TOM Well. Dinner is on you then.

They take the guns and prepare to move away.

TOM (CONT’D) I heard them asking you about the Hansens. What do you have to do with them?

Arne is taken by surprise by this question. He steps back.

TOM (CONT’D) Yes, I was aware. So? What’s the story?

Tom gets closer to Arne and locks his cold, investigative look on his son. Arne steps back again.

Nothing.

ARNE

40.

Tom grabs Arne by his arm.

Tell me.

TOM

ARNE I am... Mari’s boyfriend.

Arne frees himself from his father’s grasp.

ARNE (CONT’D) But how would you know this?!

Arne pushes Tom away angrily.

ARNE (CONT’D) I think they were the kidnappers.

Tom stiffens. Arne runs away.

Arne!

TOM

EXT. PARKING BY THE SHOPPING MALL -- DAY. Tom packs shopping bags from the shopping trolley into the trunk of the car. He notices Kristine Hansen on the other side of the parking lot with a stack of posters in her arms.

She is putting up a poster about the missing Mari.

When Kristine sees Tom she quickly heads towards him.

KRISTINE Have you found anything?

TOM Not yet, Mrs. Hansen.

KRISTINE I called to the forest management, they will keep an eye on new tracks and people in the area.

TOM It is two days, Mrs. Hansen. Let’s calm down a bit, please.

Kristine reaches for a piece of paper in her purse.

KRISTINE I also got this.

41.

Kristine hands Tom a sheet of paper with letters cut from different magazines, the type kidnappers send with demands.

Tom turns off the engine and jumps out of the car.

TOM What? This letter came by post?

KRISTINE It was in my mail box. But... but my husband said. We should wait with this.

TOM Please give it to me Mrs. Hansen.

KRISTINE I am sorry, I’m confused.

Tom empties a bag of vegetables onto the floor in his trunk and asks Mrs. Hansen to put the letter inside the bag. He seals it by rolling up the end and puts it on the car dashboard.

KRISTINE (CONT’D) I knew I should show you this. But Kristoffer said he will deal with this himself.

Tom gets into the car and turns it on.

TOM Please get in Mrs. Hansen. We need your statement right now.

Kristine gets into the passenger seat.

TOM (CONT’D) And call your husband and tell him to come to the Police Station right now.

Kristine nods. Tom accelerates rapidly and the car storms out of the parking lot with tires screeching. Tom calls.

TOM (CONT’D) Arne! Come to my office, immediately. It is about Mari’s case.

INT. POLICE STATION, INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY. Tom sits at the large interrogation table. Kristine Hansen sits on the other side. The shopping bag lays on the table.

42.

Tom takes the letter from the kidnappers out of it using tweezers and puts it on the tray.

TOM When did it come?

KRISTINE Today. I’ve found it in the morning.

SONIA, 40, a policewoman dressed in uniform, a good looking Indian type, dark hair, with an ironic smile, a bit overweight, enters the room.

TOM Sonia, please send it for examination. And take pictures.

Yes, boss.

SONIA

TOM Attach a note that there may be a trace of...

Tom raises the shopping bag to his eye level.

TOM (CONT’D) ...tomatoes, avocado and grapes.

SONIA Mmm, yummy.

Sonia picks up carefully the tray with the letter and then leaves.

INT. POLICE STATION, CORRIDOR -- DAY. Arne waits outside in the waiting room and observes his father interrogating Mari’s mother. Suddenly a hand lands on his shoulder. KRISTOFFER HANSEN, 55, a stocky, elegant man stands in front of him. Grey hair, delicate glasses, long, top quality coat make him look like a boss.

KRISTOFFER You know it, right?

Arne leans back in surprise.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) You know it’s just a childish game?

Arne swallows distressed.

43.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) We will find her. Don’t worry.

Kristoffer smiles at Arne and heads towards the interrogation room.

INT. POLICE STATION, INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY. Kristoffer takes a seat by his wife. He looks at her with a strong gaze. Kristine lowers her eyes in response. Tom observes them both. Tom turns on the projector and a photo of the letter from the kidnappers appears on the big screen. It is in the style of a classic ransom demand, created from different fonts and letters cut from newspapers. It reads: TEN MILLION CROWNS. CASH. OR MARI WILL DIE. ONE WEEK. KRISTOFFER A collage art, your favorite!

Kristine buries her head in her arms.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Did you do it yourself?

Kristine takes a deep breath and looks at Kristoffer with a cold, hateful look.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Finally the drama you’ve always craved for.

Tom bangs at the table with his palm. Kristoffer and Kristine look at him.

TOM What’s going on here Mr. and Mrs. Hansen?

INT. POLICE STATION -- DAY. Arne gets from gets

observes his father interrogating Mari’s parents. He a message on his phone. He looks at the phone. It is Amira. It reads: MEET ME AT THE SKATEPARK. NOW. Arne up, grabs his backpack and runs down the corridor.

EXT. SKATEPARK -- DAY. Youngsters chat and laugh. Arne walks into the skatepark area. His phone rings. He picks it up.

44.

Yes?

ARNE

AMIRA I thought... I have an idea.

Arne looks around. He sees Amira standing on the other side of the skatepark, her back turned to him, with her phone by her ear.

ARNE Why are you calling me?

AMIRA To make it more personal.

Amira holds out her hand and points to the group of Muslim boys, talking, laughing, spitting and drinking gathered around the outdoor tennis table nearby in the skatepark.

AMIRA (CONT’D) I know where she might go.

Where?!

ARNE

AMIRA Meet me at the station. Now. Arne hangs on. Amira goes towards the station. Arne follows in a distance.

INT. TRAIN -- DAY. Arne and Amira get on the train. There are a only a few passengers, so they can find seats easily. They sit down next to each other. Amira is tense. Arne, on contrary, seems excited.

ARNE She never told me, she had grandparents.

AMIRA She shared it when we were working on the project. Heritage, you know.

ARNE Thank you for helping me. That must be it. She escaped her parents.

Mhm.

AMIRA

45.

Arne looks around and watches the trees and fields passing by the window.

ARNE Which station is it?

AMIRA It is... one hour from here. Let me check.

ARNE Have you been there?

AMIRA Yyy, once. We were taking pictures of them and gathering their stories. It was about family heritage.

ARNE Amazing, you are amazing. Thank you. I feel this is it!

Arne becomes more and more excited about the idea of solving the mystery of Mari’s disappearance. Amira looks confused.

AMIRA I’m going to the bathroom.

Amira leaves. Arne smiles to himself. The train slowly stops.

It is the next station. A beeping sound indicates that the doors will close. Arne leans against the window and suddenly his smile freezes on his face. The doors close. The train moves away. Arne sees Amira outside the train, walking hastily along the platform towards the exit. Arne knocks on the window, but she doesn’t turn around.

ARNE What the...?

A 10 year old boy sits down by Arne. He looks calm and focused. He looks at Arne for a long time. Arne, confused and breathing heavily then smiles slightly at the boy when he finally notices him.

ARNE (CONT’D) (to himself) Damn. What’s going on?

BOY I can tell you.

Arne looks at the boy in surprise.

46.

What?

ARNE

BOY You will leave Mari Hansen alone.

You will not go near the Quaran school.

The boy recites sentences as if they were memorized, like a machine, not feelings attached.

BOY (CONT’D) You will stay away from Mullah Abdullah. Or else...

The boy smiles at Arne whose eyes are wide open. The sweet, childish voice continues.

BOY (CONT’D) Your father will get hurt. You will get hurt. And you will never see Mari again.

Arne approaches the kid and grabs him by the arms. The boy is small and fragile, very thin. His big eyes look at Arne with sympathy.

ARNE Who are you?

BOY And you will not ask me who I am.

The boy gives a sweet, childish smile to Arne. Then he picks up his schoolbag, gets up and goes towards the train exit.

The train arrives at the next station and slowly stops. Arne gets up and makes a move towards the boy.

BOY (CONT’D) Neither will you follow me.

The train stops and the doors opens. The boy smiles at Arne and leaves the train. Arne follows him with his eyes until the boy leaves the platform.

Fuck!

ARNE

Arne buries his face in his hands.

47.

EXT. CITY CENTER -- DAY. Arne walks through the city. A car pulls up beside him. It is a high-end, top-of the-range metallic silver Maybach.

Kristoffer Hansen gets out of the car. He approaches Arne and asks him to get in and sit at the wheel.

You drive.

OK.

MR. HANSEN ARNE

INT. HANSEN'S MAYBACH -- DAY. Arne takes the wheel and drives away. Kristoffer reaches to the mini bar hidden between the passenger seats. He grabs a bottle of whisky and a crystal glass. Kristoffer pours himself a double shot.

KRISTOFFER Do you love her?

Arne nods.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Can’t blame you.

Kristoffer opens the glove box and takes out a picture of Mari in a silver frame. He examines his daughter’s portrait intensely.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Do you know anything?

Arne shakes his head.

Not yet.

ARNE

They continue driving for a while. Kristoffer takes a sip of whisky.

Turn left.

KRISTOFFER

Arne turns left. A garbage truck stands in the way and blocks the street.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Use the horn.

Arne hesitates.

48.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Just use it.

Arne honks. A garbage man comes out from behind the truck irritated.

What?!

GARBAGE MAN

When the garbage man sees the Maybach, he raises his hand and smiles politely. He quickly jumps behind the wheel and moves the truck. Arne drives on further.

KRISTOFFER There is only one way to solve things. Power. Slow down.

Arne slows down. There is a big man, with a body builder posture, standing on the pavement. Kristoffer waves to him, the man nods in response.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) Stop. I want you to meet someone.

Arne stops. The big man opens the door and gets in and sits on the back seat. THOR, 35, stocky silhouette, sharp look, short red beard, bald. He nods to Kristoffer.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) This is Thor. He works for me. He will find Mari. And you...

Arne starts driving.

KRISTOFFER (CONT’D) You will get in touch with him, whenever you hear anything about her.

INT. ARNE'S HOME -- NIGHT. Arne wakes up. He gets up and goes out of his bedroom. He enters the bathroom and brushes his teeth.

On his way back to his room he takes a glance into Tom’s bedroom. The bed is empty.

Dad?

ARNE

Arne turns the light on.

49.

Dad?!

ARNE (CONT’D)

Arne notices something outside the window. It is a light in the garage.

INT. TOM’S GARAGE -- NIGHT. Arne enters the garage quietly, slowly opening the door. Tom is inside, sitting on a chair in front of the lit wall with Mari Hansen’s photo in the center of it. There are papers and post-it notes around the photo.

TOM Where do teenagers meet? Give me the locations.

Tom is excited, lost in his thoughts and work.

Arne, relieved, comes closer and takes a seat next to Tom. ARNE The skatepark, cinema, mall. What are you doing?

TOM (excited, focused) I will find her. I will. You will see.

Tom approaches the wall and makes notes on the small papers.

He writes: SKATEPARK, CINEMA, MALL. TOM (CONT’D) Where else?

ARNE By the fiord, in the old harbor.

Some are hanging around in their cars, driving up the hill, partying by the river in the old fishermen houses.

Tom makes notes on the wall. Then he sits down by Arne.

TOM And those from the speedway club?

Tom grabs a beer, opens it and hands it to Arne. Arne accepts, surprised.

50.

ARNE The parking lot by the library, with new asphalt is the best place for screeching and smoking your tires.

Tom smiles and his thoughts wander, then he points at a small child’s bicycle covered with dust leaning against the wall.

TOM Look, your bike. You were like... six when you were using it.

Mmm.

ARNE

Tom takes the bike and blows some of the dust off it.

TOM You were already riding like crazy then. We were always terrified with...

Tom looks at Arne.

TOM (CONT’D) ...with your mother.

Tom approaches Arne. Arne becomes tense and watches Tom carefully. Tom puts his hands on Arne’s head.

TOM (CONT’D) I know you were close.

Tom kisses Arne on his forehead.

TOM (CONT’D) I will find her.

Arne swallows and sighs.

There are strange sounds coming from outside. Tom approaches the window. A warm glow lightens up his face.

Oh my God!

TOM (CONT’D)

EXT. BY ARNE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT. Tom’s Jeep is burning. Giant flames cover the body of the car, make the surroundings lit as if it was daytime. Tom runs towards it and stops at a safe distance. The heat makes him step back a few meters. Arne follows Tom.

51.

TOM Don’t come any closer!

Arne stands by Tom at a safe distance as they watch the car burning. Tom takes his phone out of his pocket and calls.

TOM (CONT’D) Hello. We have a fire on Svartvegen 63 in Elverum. ... No ... only a car... Tom Jensen ... Yes ... OK ... No, no life in danger .... OK. Thank you.

Tom hangs up. He turns away from the fire, puts his arm around Arne’s shoulder and guides his son towards the house.

TOM (CONT’D) Let’s go inside.

EXT. SCHOOLYARD -- DAY. Arne approaches a group of Norwegian teenagers. He is angry.

ARNE Where is Sven?

MADS Haven’t seen him today.

Arne takes his mobile phone and makes a call. There is no answer.

Damn.

ARNE

INT. HANNAH'S HOUSE -- DAY. Arne knocks on the door. Hannah opens and smiles at him.

ARNE You need to help me!

HANNAH Come on. Come on in.

Arne comes into the house.

ARNE They are after me. They think I burnt the Quaran school.

52.

Arne follows Hannah, enters her kitchen and stops in astonishment. Mullah Abdullah sits by the table. There is a cup of tea in front of him.

HANNAH What is going, Arne?

ARNE (stuttering) They... There are some Muslim boys that... that are going after me.

Mullah smiles at Arne and sips his tea.

HANNAH What do you mean?

Hannah prepares another tea and invites Arne to sit down.

ARNE They want something from me. They are accusing me of something I didn’t do.

MULLAH Maybe you should listen to them more carefully. And make them listen to you.

Arne forces himself to appear calm. He responds to the friendly look of Mullah with a firm look.

Will they?

ARNE

HANNAH I heard about the “Bridge” program.

Great idea. Will you do it, Arne?

ARNE I do not have time. I need to prepare for my exams.

Hannah puts a cup in front of Arne who gets up.

HANNAH Arne. We need you. We all need to start talking to each other.

ARNE I’m sorry, I can’t.

Arne leaves.

53.

INT. POLICE STATION, TOM'S OFFICE -- DAY. Tom sits in his office. The phone rings.

TOM Tom Jonsenn. ... Yes ... Yes ...

What?!

Tom gets up and begins to pace around his desk nervously.

TOM (CONT’D) This is my case. I can manage. ...

No, I have the necessary experience. I was in reckon and intelligence if you would bother to look into my files. ... No! ...

Tom forcefully calms his tone down.

TOM (CONT’D) (coldly) I understand. ... I will. ... Yes, I will pick him up.

Tom hangs up the phone and slams the desk.

TOM (CONT’D) Son of a bitch!!!

INT. ARNE'S HOME, KITCHEN -- NIGHT. As usual Arne lays three plates on the table - one for him, second for Tom and the third one for his absent mother. Arne is serving the dinner from the pan.

ARNE Did you find out anything else?

Will the Hansens pay the ransom?

Tom is bitter. He looks at Arne with hostility and anger.

TOM They have taken the investigation away from me. Now I am on leave.

Arne throws the pan on the table.

ARNE You promised to find her!

TOM There is nothing I can do.

54.

Arne breathes heavily.

ARNE It was the same with mother. You were just standing aside and watching as she killed herself!

Tom gets up and slams Arne in the face. Arne runs away.

Arne!

TOM

Tom throws the third plate on the floor with anger. It breaks into pieces.

TOM (CONT’D) She won’t be back! Do you hear me?!

Tom slams on the chair heavily, sighing.

EXT. STREET -- NIGHT. Arne comes to Hannah’s house. He looks into the window and sees Hannah in her kitchen, laughing, singing and cooking.

Arne approaches the door, raises his hand to the doorbell, but freezes right before pushing it.

Arne lowers his hand and retreats. He walks down the street.

Amira comes from the opposite direction.

Arne!

AMIRA

Arne puts his hood on and speeds up.

AMIRA (CONT’D) I am sorry!

Amira runs after Arne.

AMIRA (CONT’D) They forced me to set you up.

Arne stops.

ARNE Who are they?

AMIRA I can’t tell you. This is too serious.

55.

ARNE Then leave me alone.

AMIRA Can I help you somehow?

ARNE Not really. Unless you have a place for me to stay tonight.

AMIRA I can easily arrange it.

Amira takes some keys out of her pocket and hands them to Arne.

AMIRA (CONT’D) For the office space which my mother manages.

ARNE And... your mother?

AMIRA She doesn’t need to know. You just have to disappear by noon tomorrow.

Arne grabs the keys.

ARNE What happens at noon?

AMIRA The psycho circus starts.

ARNE Whatever, I just need a break from my own circus.

Arne leaves.

Take care.

AMIRA

INT. POLICE STATION, TOM’S OFFICE -- DAY. Tom is in his office. He looks at Arne’s photo at his desk.

He calls his phone. There is no answer.

56.

INT. HANNAH’S OFFICE SPACE -- DAY. The Muslim boys fill the big room. They chatter, laugh. Upon seeing Arne laying on the ground on an old mattress, they become silent. Arne’s phone rings. He hangs up.

MULLAH Arne! My friend. How are you?

Mullah Abdullah approaches Arne and gives him a warm hug.

MULLAH (CONT’D) Boys, make some coffee. Today we will talk about friendship.

Mullah looks sharply at Arne.

MULLAH (CONT’D) And about making the right decisions in life.

Arne’s phone rings. He turns it off permanently. He follows other boys and enters the teaching room. Arne holds in his hand the notebook with the logo of the school - the one which he got from the Principal. Arne closes the door after himself.

THE END

The Episodes

Pilot 101 1. The girl MARI is missing - red winter jacket - she is seen on the posters all over the city, her parents look for her through newspapers. Her father is a rich oil mogul - he gives a statement on the radio, promises reward - we hear it in TOM's car. TOM is driving.

2. Outside the high school, ARNE has a conversation with AMIRA, who is a Muslim girl, attracted to him. She is asking him how he feels about Mari's disappearance. Arne is depressed and worried. Mari was his friend and crush. Now she is gone and her parents get crazy about this. It looks serious.

3. Amira is hit in her head with a can, thrown by one of the Muslim boys mocking and offending Arne. They don't want Arne to talk to Amira. They are jealous, and he, as white Norwegian, shouldn't talk to Muslim girls. That's the school ethic that many boys share. Arne gets into the fight with a Muslim boy, KARIM, who had hit and offended him. He does so just to impress his father Tom, who has just arrived to pick him up. Two circles of boys and girls are visibly divided and supporting two sides: white boys support and encourage Arne, dark skinned boys support Karim. Amira is concerned about Arne and tries to stop him, which makes Arne's friend SVEN angry - he encourages Arne to fight. Sven quarrels with Amira. HANNAH, 42, a muslim teacher, intervenes, but Arne loses. He is happy nonetheless - at least he has shown his father he is a man, as his father wants him to be. "You need to protect what you love. Always show that you are a MAN." - are the words, with which Tom comments his son's fight.

4. Tom drives with Arne to the military academy and enrolls Arne in the exams.

Tom is very active here, it is his dream for his son to be in the military. Arne obeys.

5. Supper at home - Tom elaborates on the case of missing girl. He makes suggestions that Mari was seen with some Muslim boys and probably is not missing - she just ran away from her parents with a guy. Tom in racist and violent statements make theories about her missing and that it has something to do with the Quaran school and the islamic environment around it. Arne puts a third plate on the table (to keep in memory his absent mother, which we will find out in next episodes).

6. In the night, Arne secretly takes Tom's Jeep and drives to Sven, his friend.

7. Boys drive to Quaran school at night. It is empty. Sven initiates break-in.

8. They search the place, but find nothing that would link Muslims to Mari's disappearance.

9. Sven tries to burn a Quaran and unintentionally ignites a fire. Boys do not manage to stop it, fire spreads, they escape.

10. Arne is scared in his room. What will be the consequences of the fire? Sven calls Arne in panic and tells him that he lost his wallet. It must have lost it in Quaran school.

11. The next morning fire squad leaves the site - the Quaran school is not completely burnt, but there is serious damage. MULLAH ABDULLAH looks at the destruction surrounded by his students, young boys in traditional Muslim outfits.

12. SAYID, the eldest student of Mullah watches the CCTV footage and sees the JEEP leaving the area at the time of the fire. Sayid transfers recording to his mobile disc and erases it from the CCTV disc. He informs his close colleagues that he will take care of it himself.

13. MULLAH ABDULLAH gives a statement at the police station - Tom is a policeman questioning him.

14. Arne visits Tom at the police station and demands his attention despite Tom being busy with Mullah. They quarrel discretly - Tom wants Arne to practise more to be sure he passes the exams to the military school. Arne asks for money to pay for the speedway track. Mullah sees Arne here, notices he is Tom's son and observes their relationship. Arne freezes, once he realizes whom Tom is interviewing. Arne and Mullah exchange looks.

15. Arne is at his speedway training - he has full professional outfit and a motorcycle with a number on the side. He rides like crazy.

16. After the training the owner of the track pushes Arne to pay the bills for the mechanics and use of the track. Arne doesn't have the money, asks for patience. Arne needs a sponsor to continue.

17. Amira visits Arne at the speedway track. She congratulates Arne on a great ride on his bike. She is flirting with Arne. She notices Sayid in his car and then she suddenly leaves.

18. Arne approaches Sayid with caution - he asks Sayid if he saw Mari. Sayid is hostile and tells Arne to mind his own business. Or else...

19. Sven spies on Amira and records her kissing another boy in the school toilet.

20. Arne takes the phone from Sven - he doesn't want Sven to harm Amira by spreading the video online. Sven quarrels with Arne and accuses him of sympathising with Muslims. They fight, but Arne does not give Sven his phone back.

21. Arne pays a visit to Amira and gives her Sven's phone. It is a pretext to meet Amira's mother, Hannah, who is a Muslim activist and a teacher at school - Arne asks her if she knows anything about Mari's disappearance.

22. Hannah is happy to help. She leads Arne to the guest house where the Quaran school moved. She wants Arne to meat Mullah Abdullah - Hannah respects mullah highly and informs Arne that he is the best man to ask about Mari and it will be wise for Arne to make friends with this nice, old teacher of Quaran, who is also a huge authority figure for all Muslims in the community. If there is anyone in the Muslim community who knows anything about Mari it is Mullah who will find it out. Situation is awkward - Arne suspects Mullah knows that his Jeep was at the premises at the night of the fire. But Mullah is jovial and friendly, does not show any resentment. Mullah promises Hannah to help Arne if he can.

23. The next day, upon arrival to school, Arne is asked to the principal's room.

Mullah Abdullah is there and invites Arne to the Cultural Exchange program - his task would be to document Muslim culture in the city and create a presentation for the whole school. Principal and Mullah agree that it is a great way to defuse tensions in the community and engage both sides in dialog. Arne hesitates. Does not give an answer.

24. Gangsters in disguise visit Arne and Tom at night - Tom fires in the air with his police gun. Bandits disappear. We see it is Sayid with his friends. He is angry, he couldn't properly search through Tom's house and did not find what he was looking for (we don't know yet what it is).

25. Arne visits Sven and pushes him to reveal that he is responsible for the fire.

Sven refuses. Instead he offers a plan: he wants Arne to infiltrate the islamic network and gather the evidence of their criminal activity. Sven believes it will make the fire case irrelevant, police will focus on the islamists. Arne just wants Sven to stop, he is not into this plan of espionage, he wants to calm everything down.

26. Tom looks at Arne's photos with Mari in son's room, showing they were very close. Some love letters. He is moved. He calls Arne, but his son doesn't answer.

27. Arne joins Quaran school with his notepad - he will take part in the Cultural Exchange Program. Mullah greets him with a smile. Sayid looks with wild, vicious eyes, stands in Arne's way, but does nothing. Arne turns off his ringing phone. He goes into Hannah's guest house, where the Quaran school holds its meetings temporarily. He follows Mullah and his students for a prayer. They close the door behind him.

Episode 102 Synopsis Arne follows Mullah in search of information about Mari. Mullah takes him to the family of refugees, then to the orphan, SARA, 10, little girl who survived war in Syria.

Instead of getting any answers about Mari's whereabouts, Arne gathers a lot of stories from Muslim people. These stories shake him and make him think.

At night, Tom suffers nightmares. He has those dreams from the war in Iraq, and these nights Arne takes care of him - makes him tea, talks to him, takes him back from the basement to the bed, while Tom sleepwalks and shouts out some sentences which only have meaning to himself.

At dawn, Tom wakes Arne up as if nothing had happened throughout the night.

He is severe and disciplined and orders Arne to follow him. They go hunting. Tom wants Arne to shoot a roe-deer. Arne refuses. Tom comments ironically that the dinner is on Arne then. At the grocery store they meet Sven. He is mumbling and is out of contact, looks very stressed. In a paranoid monolog Arne hears only that Sven is sure they are following him.

At school Sven presses Arne to use his bond with Muslims to find out if anyone found his wallet in the burnt Quaran school. Arne refuses and leaves. He doesn't want to have anything to do with this case anymore.

When they leave the toilet Sven suddenly punches Arne in the face and throws him on the ground. Students surround them in excitement. Arne is in shock.

Sven shouts out loud: You traitor! Muslims' friend!

After a while it is Muslim boys, inspired by Amira, who help Arne and defend him against Sven.

Arne gets closer to Mullah and wants to explore his world more. With his notepad in hand, pretending he is just fulfilling his duties as the Cultural Exchange Program participant, he actually dives deep into the Muslim community. Mullah takes Arne to the gym for Muslim boys, introduces him and allows Arne to train in this place. Arne is happy - free gym.

Tom receives the link to the movie from the kidnappers. Mari looks terrified, cries, is in a bad shape, pale, begs her parents to meet kidnappers' demands and pay them the money to set her free. Tom is in shock. He has no clue where to start investigation.

He hides the film from Arne. Tom calls for back up to his main office in Oslo.

In intimate conversation, which shows Mullah's authority, Mullah stops Sayid from attacking Arne and conducting any activities against him or his father. Mullah reveals he has his own plans towards Arne - he will make him the first Aryan Jihadist, the best ambassador of Islam, a converted zealous student of Quaran working for the whole organisation to recruit other native Norwegians. Sayid obeys Mullah's authority, but it is not easy for him.

Sayid's resentment towards Arne only grows, when he sees Arne being coached

by Mullah. He is jealous. And he looks for a way to get to Arne and Tom. He does so by getting to Sven. Arne's friend, Sven, is a drug user and he buys stuff from the guys controlled by Sayid. Sayid and his associates surround Sven at the selling point...

Cliffhanger Will Sayid harm Sven? What does he know about Sven's involvement in fire? Did he find

his wallet there?

Protagonist's arc stages Arne comes from complete reluctance towards Muslims to openness and curiosity.

Mullah puts him in relationship with some victims of the wars, refugees, underdogs, which wakes up Arne's empathy and makes him question Tom's clear worldviews (Muslims=enemies).

Episode 103 Synopsis Sayid ambushes Sven at the selling point and pushes him hard. If Sven will not cooperate with Sayid and keep an eye on Tom and Arne, giving Sayid regular reports on what they know about the kidnapping, he will not sell any drugs to Sven. This is the first step. Sayid suggests Sven, that he will have him as an enemy, if he doesn't cooperate.

Sven is terrified by the threats.

Arne continues cooperation with Mullah - apart from his task as the Cultural Exchange Program journalist, he gets a job at Mullah's renovation company calle "NEWWORLD renovations". For a few hours Arne carries paint cans, tools, transports cement with the truck. At the end of the day Arne gets paid by Mullah - it makes him happy, his first own money.

Tom is pressed by Mari's parents who visit him at the police station. He introduces detective JONATHAN, 30, who came from Oslo to lead the investigation with Tom. Jonathan gathers informations from parents and the way he does it makes Tom realize, that this man is an alien, complete stranger to this community probably he will probably not lead an effective investigation.

Arne conducts an interview with Mullah for the Cultural Program. Arne pretends to be an objective journalist, but the calm, warm and full of empathy voice of Mullah mesmerizes him. Mullah is sharing his stories from the East, war stories of the families he met and took care of, the descriptions of war atrocities, which deeply shake Arne.

When he comes back home, he does not want to speak to Tom. He goes straight to his room.

Tom visits Hannah as she seems a person who, as an insider, may know what is going on in the Muslim circles in the city. But as he cannot talk to her politely and all he says is judgmental and full of prejudice against Muslims, she gives him a lesson in refusing to talk. She tells him to come back with some more respect and in a calmer voice.

Arne is worried about Mari. Amira suggests that Sayid may know something, but doesn't want to tell anything else. So when Mullah invites Arne on a trip to the forest together with all the Quaran school students, Arne agrees. He observes closely Sayid and finds out that Sayid always has around him a few faithful colleagues, who support him

and behave as if he was the boss. Arne also notices Sayid's activity in the back of Mullah's renovation company warehouse where a huge, red container is placed.

On the trip to the mountains, Mullah gives his students a lesson. He lets them shoot with a real rifle at the targets they brought. Everyone was supposed to bring his own target - something he hates about this world. Some students shoot at pornographic pictures, others at beer cans, others at the pictures from their past. Mullah forbids Sayid to shoot at the moose. He gives boys a lesson, that animals are sacred. Arne listens with astonishment and awe. This lesson moves him deeply as it is in direct contradiction to what Tom teaches him.

Arne pushes Tom if he knows anything about Mari. Arne blames Tom for being passive and compares his attitude to the one that caused Arne's mother to commit suicide.

Tom did not react to his wife's depression and she hung herself. Conflict Arne-Tom increases.

At night Arne sneaks out of his home. He enters Mullah's warehouse with use of the key he was given by Mullah. Arne explores the surroundings of the red container, where he saw Sayid earlier that day. Sayid comes out of the darkness attended by his colleagues. Sayid: Looking for something...?

Cliffhanger Will Sayid kill or harm Arne?

Protagonist's arc stages Arne changes from being observer to sympathizing with Mullah and his teachings. He questions Tom even more.

Episode 104 Synopsis Instead of killing Arne, Sayid offers him a deal - Arne will spend a day helping Sayid in his activities and in the evening, in revenge, Sayid will show Arne what is in the red container. Arne accepts the deal.

Tom comes back to Hannnah - this time with more respect and his voice calm.

She invites him for a tea. Hannah promises to ask around and has her eyes open to help find anything about Mari. In fact she was doing it for a long time now and she has some clues. She shows Tom the photo of Sayid and reveals she saw Mari with him a couple of times.

Arne with Sayid visit his dealer SNIFF, 25. Sayid gives Arne a bag of pills and asks him to pass it to the dealer. Some kids approach them and buy pills. Arne feels awkward, tries to hide his face. Sayid takes Arne to Sniff's house - it is the same house, where lives the orphan girl, Sara, Mullah introduced Arne to. Sniff makes a dinner for all

of them. Sara is happy to see Arne and they play puzzle and draw. Sayid asks Sara to show her drawings to Arne. There is war, tanks, butterflies, soldiers, sun, burning houses and flowers on them. Sayid makes his point - Arne understands that Sniff earns money dealing, to keep these kids in good wealth. Sara draws a big, sunny house - it is a place Sayid promised to build for her and the other kids. Other...? Are there other? Arne looks differently at Sayid now, he sees what he does for "his people", despite Arne may not find his methods right.

Tom introduces his partner detective, Jonathan to Arne. The detective wants to talk to him. Arne gets to know from the detective that there is a film from kidnappers.

Arne reacts with eruption of anger aimed at Tom for not mentioning about the film. Arne storms out of the house.

Arne ends the day with Sayid back in the warehouse. Sayid now opens for him the red container. It is dark inside. Sayid invites Arne and Arne slowly goes inside. The door closes after him. Sayid and colleagues laugh and Arne soon realizes he is not alone here inside. Some man turns on the led light. Arne sees three young male faces emerging from the darkness.

Cliffhanger Is Arne in danger? What will happen to him? Has Sayid cheated on him? Who are these men?

Protagonist's arc stages Arne changes from being hostile and suspicious towards Sayid, to understanding partly his motivations, he sees Sayid is helping his peers and protecting them. Arne realizes things are not black and white here.

Episode 105 Synopsis Sayid opens the container and Arne goes out. They have a conversation, Arne wants to help men from the container, illegal refugees, hiding from authorities to fix the documents and legalize their stay in Norway. Sayid and colleagues laugh from Arne's naivity. Sayid says he has a plan for it, but it is not that easy. He just wants Arne to not interrupt him. Sayid declares he wants to save these men and help them live a decent life.

Arne has bitter feelings. At home he quarrels with Tom and refuses to call Muslims his enemies anymore. He asks Tom what he did on war to help these poor "bastards" as Tom call them. Arne leaves home.

Tom and Jonathan interrogate Mullah. They do not find any clues.

He meets with Amira, who warns Arne of Sayid. Arne doesn't want to listen to her and she doesn't want to elaborate on what she knows. Arne also doesn't want to listen

- he believes Sayid is an honorable man who wants only to help his peers. They split.

Arne meets Sven - he is on drugs. Sven behaves strange, apologizes to Arne for something.

Tom looks into Arne's backpack thrown by the porch and finds there hundreds of leaflets with the logo of the Quaran school. He is intrigued, tries to understand what is written there, but it is arabic. Tom pays a visit to Hannah and shows her the leaflets asking for help to read it. Once she sees the text, Hannah becomes pale and deeply moved.

We see Sayid feeding Mari - it is a garage somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

She is tied and scared, but Sayid treats her gentle. Sayid turns on the camera and Mari gives a statement - she says she is ok, but needs her parents to pay one million dollars to the kidnappers within two weeks. Otherwise... Mari cries.

Arne ends his speedway training. He approaches the track owner and wants to pay with the money he earned from Mullah. But the track is paid already. Arne got a silent sponsor - there is logo of Mullah's renovation company, NEWWORLD RENOVATIONS, on the fence of the track. Arne is surprised, but happy.

When Arne meets Mullah in front of Hannah's house and wants to thank him, Hannah storms out of her house. Tom follows her. She confronts Mullah at her backyard throwing leaflets at him. She screams in arabic that he cheated on her, is a devil himself and that she wants him to leave immediately. Mullah smiles and stops his zealous students from taking any action against Hannah. Mullah and his students leave Hannah's property. Arne stays inbetween confused. On one side there is Mullah encouraging Arne to follow him, on the other Tom looking with a severe and shocked look and Hannah pulling Arne towards her home. Mullah and students leave.

Arne stays with Hannah and Tom. Hannah explains them both, that leaflets were full of hate speech, encouraging young men to join jihad, holy war against the Western civilization. Tom and Arne come back home in silence.

Tom watches the second recording of Mari giving a statement. This time Tom shows the film to Arne, who is terrified. Tom calms him down: We will find her. She is alive. We will find her. Arne attacks Tom for being passive for few das and not looking for Mari and for not showing him the film. And not letting him act. Now bond with Mullah is cut. Arne storms out shouting loud: I was so close! I almost found her! This brings the attention of detective Jonathan, parents and Tom himself, who is shocked by these words - so that's what his son was into for the last days?

Maris's parents visit Tom, they are terrified and willing to pay. Jonathan suggests not paying the kidnappers, as Mari can be already dead. He clashes with Tom on this approach - Tom doesn't like this book rules, there is life at stake and money are not important in this case.

Cliffhanger Will they find Mari soon enough? Who is good, who is bad here?

Protagonist's arc stages Arne attraction to Mullah and Sayid deepens, so when there is direct confrontation between Hannah and Mullah he is torn. Arne is confused, frustrated, lost - had he assessed the situation wrongly?

Episode 106 Synopsis Tom informs Arne, that from now on he is under his surveillance the whole time and the only topic for Arne is to focus on the exams next week. Arne obeys. Tom wakes Arne up at dawn and begins rigorous training. Arne runs in the mud through the forest, Tom follows him on his bike.

Amira stops Arne in the forest, while he is running alone. She has a black eye, was beaten by somebody. Amira explains it was Sayid, and that she is afraid of him and must leave the town. Pressed by Arne, Amira reveals that Sayid is in love with her, desires her and stalks her everyday. Amira also reveals she knows Mari's whereabouts.

Amira will take Arne there. It may stop Sayid, hopefully for good, if he is arrested.

Tom and Jonathan interrogate Hannah, but she has no clue whether Mullah is involved in the kidnapping or not - she explains to them that the leaflets created by Mullah are full of a call to jihad and that she perceives it as highly dangerous, as it may be read as a call for an act of terror against western culture and Norwegian citizens. It is her interpretation though.

Sayid ends the recording of Mari. He unties her hands and kisses her on the lips.

She kisses him back and jumps up in excitement and joy. She is proud she acted so well this time and is sure her parents will pay the ransom now. She and Sayid are planning to escape with the money and use part of it to help Sayid's peers. Mari looks like she is crazy about Sayid, hanging on his shoulder, kissing him all the time. They discuss the use of the one million dollars they will get from her parents as the ransom. The money should be used for those in need, the guys hiding in the container, and to fix the documents for them. But also, what is Mari's biggest concern, they will use part of the money to escape from the country to go somewhere, where they can live a happy life together. Sayid reassures her that that's the plan.

Tom, with his partner Jonathan, interrogate Sven. Sven breaks under pressure and reveals that he was behind the fire in the Quaran school. Jonathan offers him a deal - he gathers all the information about Mari's disappearance and the police will put the fire case investigation on hold. Sven agrees.

Arne enters the abandoned house. He sniffs around and finally finds Mari there.

She is alone, listening to music, with her earphones on, she sings quietly. When Mari sees Arne she jumps up out of surprise. He wants to hug her, but Mari is distant and angry.

Arne finds out she is there voluntarily and she wants him to leave her alone. And not tell anyone, or else... Or what?! Arne is crushed, but quickly becomes angry. Mari warns

Arne that there are powerful people supporting her and he may get hurt if he crosses their path. HER path. Mari doesn't want to tell who is with her, but shares with Arne her perspective - she deserves money from her parents, because... We do not hear what she wants to tell Arne, because she bursts into tears and steps and conversations can be heard.

Arne escapes. Bitter, broken and confused.

Cliffhanger Why does Mari cooperate with Sayid? How to save her, if she doesn't want to be saved?

Protagonist's arc Arne finds out about Mari cooperating with Sayid. He is shocked and disillusioned. His love for her is gone and he realizes there is not one truth. He needs to pick a side.

Episode 107 Synopsis

Arne spends some nights at Hannah's house - they have a meaningful conversations on the fight and good and evil. For a moment Arne feels like his mother is back - the good female energy make him soften and rest. They make dinner together - Hannah, Amira and Arne. Arne knows Amira is stalked by Sayid and is about to leave home soon.

When Arne comes back home Tom again shows his strong arm - he orders Arne to come back home, stay there and train. Forget about all complications and just train to prepare for the exams to the military school. Arne obeys.

Amira pays Arne a visit. She is shaking. Sayid was again after her. He had seen Amira visiting Arne at home and is angry at her, jelaous, threatens her.

Tom is surprised seeing Amira - but he cannot say anything, he only forbid Arne to leave home, not to have visitors. Additionally Tom realizes this girl is muslim. He deosn't give any comments. He even puts a third plate on the table - this time it is for a living person, Amira, not an element of game between Arne and his father. Tom, Arne and Amira eat in silence.

Amira cleans the kitchen after the dinner and this simple activity make Tom shake and leave the home. Was it the presence of the long gone woman in this home, that shook him? Did Amira remind him of his wife who passed?

Tom runs through the forest and cries.

Mari calls Arne. She left him something in the forest, in THEIR place.

Arne goes to the old house in the forest. Here he finds Mari's Diary.

Arne reads Mari's diary. He is in shock.

Arne shouts out to Tom, that he has proof that Mari's father was sexually abusing her and this is how she will pay them back.

Tom confronts Mari's parents - maybe she escaped home? Maybe she had good reasons for that?

Tom's Jeep burns at night. Tom tries to stop the fire, Arne brings water, they

fight with the fire arm into arm, like a team. Then Tom grabs Arne and protects him from the fire. The car is completely burnt.

Arne invites Amira home again. They lock in his room. Arne wants to discuss something with Amira. We, audience, are not invited behind this door.

Tom sees Sven beating Amira. She screams, he is cruel. It all happens to quick for Tom to react. Sven takes Amira by force to his car and leaves.

Tom takes Arne to the exams to the military school - it is BIG DAY for Tom. His son will be a soldier soon, just like him. Tom does not say a word about the situation he witnessed with Sven and Amira.

Amira shows up right before exams - she has bloody stains under her eyes, scratches on the skin, cries. She tells Arne Sven raped her. Tom hears it. Arne looks like he is in shock, but the exam starts and Tom pushes him into the class.

Arne cannot focus on the exam, he delivers empty test and leaves.

Arne passes by Tom and storms out of the school. Tom cannot catch him.

Tom gets back home. He notices that the cupboard is open - it is where his gun... was. The weapon is missing. Tom is terrified. He finds a short note from Arne on the table. It reads: "I can protect who I love. I will show you I am a man." These are Tom's words from the beginning of the story.

Cliffhanger Will Arne kill someone? Who? Sven?

Protagonist's arc "Bad guys close in" opens up the way for "Dark night of the soul". Arne is about to get crazy and make a biggest mistake of his life.

Episode 108 Synopsis

Tom looks for Arne in the city. He cannot find him at school, on the streets, at Sven's.

Tom visits Hannah, begs for help. Together they visit mullah - Tom explains situation. He manages to go over his prejudices and hate towards mullah and asks him politely for help. Mullah is flattered that he is so important in this situation.

They all leave. Mullah knows that Sayid may know where Arne can be.

Old warehouse where mullah was storing his company materials. Arne was working in this place. Mullah, Sayid, Tom and Hannah enter the premise and see Arne pointing gun at Sven, who kneels in front of him. Tom is terrified, begs Arne to stop. Arne responds that Sven raped his muslim girlfriend Amira, and now Arne needs to kill Sven. To revenge Amira and to bring her honour back. Mullah and Sayid observe this situation with awe - is Arne finally on their side?

During the pertractations Arne goes va banque - he points gun at Tom and accuses him of causing death of his mother. In a short monologue Arne throws out all the grief and resentment he has against his father. It goes from grievances

regarding mother, Tom's teachings, his racist worldview and hostility against Muslims, his pride from being a soldier in Iraq. Arne throws Tom into his face, that he regards him a war criminal. The honesty and intensity of this verbal attack leaves Tom speechless and crushed. He kneels allowing Arne to put gun to his head. For Mullah and Sayid it is a clear sign that Arne is their man now. With a gentle smile Mullah intervenes and disarms Arne. Tom is broken. Mullah intervenes and disarms Arne. Mullah is quietly triumphant. Arne escapes. Tom hides his gun and broken leaves the scene.

Sayid pays a visit to Arne - he hugs him. Sayid calls Arne "brother". He asks Arne for help - they will meet the next day, Sayid will pick Arne up.

When Arne pays Mullah a visit at his home, he welcomes Arne as his son. He reveals him all his secrets, leaves Arne in his cabinet for the night. Arne looks through Mullah's documents and photos, archives and he realises mullah does not know anything about the missing of Mari and that he is only a man of faith, not a head of a terrorist net. The jihad he promotes is a spiritual fight.

Sayid meets Arne in the agreed place and takes Arne to the hidden house, where Mari is hiding. He asks Arne to cooperate. Now he can trust him and he wants Arne to be the messanger, who will bring the bag with money from Mari's parents.

Mari is suspicious towards Arne. Arne seems like he doesn't see her, keeps a distance, does not talk to Mari.

Arne visits Mari's father and takes money from him. "I know, what you did to her", says Arne. Mr. Hansen is terrified. Arne demands him to leave Mari alone and after she is back, leave this case alone.

Arne escapes with the case full of money. He gets to the train and sends Tom and Jonathan the coordinates of the house where Mari is hidden.

Sayid is waiting for Arne. He is furious, because Arne does not come to the appointed place.

Mullah discovers Sayid's little army - guns, other students who support Sayid.

Mullah clashes with Sayid - NO VIOLENCE! I told you. It is a spiritual fight. Mullah orders Sayid's loyal colleagues to take him to Sayid. Mullah's students who cooperate with Sayid, take Mullah to the hidden house. Mullah meets Mari here. He is surprised even more. Mullah calls Sayid: "What have you done?!" Police signals are heard. Policemen storm into the house.

Sayid comes back to the hidden house, swearing and angry. From the distance he sees there is police all around. Mari is being taken to the car. She is furious and hits her father in hysteria. Police has to grab her and calm her down.

Mullah is in handcuffs being taken to the police car. Sayid escapes.

Tom checks Arne's room - the son is gone.

Sayid gets into the old car with his bag full of guns.

Amira visits Tom, who does not understand what happened. She hands him a letter from Arne, which explains that the story with Sven beating her and Arne trying to shoot Sven was just a set up on Tom to make him act that way, which would convince mullah that he can trust Arne.

Mari finds a bag with money in the hiding place which only her and Arne knew. It is where Arne found her diary before. She is happy to see the money.

The three guys with whom Arne spent the night, leave the container. There

are three bags with a small amount of money for each of them. They are surprised, happy and cautiously leave the warehouse.

Arne carries a bag of rice. He is on the humanitarian mission as a volunteer.

He is happy.

Amira and Sven give a speech together in front of the school - this is the presentation prepared by Arne about the differences and similarities between Western and Muslim culture and the message is as follow: We are all children of one "GOD" - words of Mullah from the beginning of the series are explained by showing the stories of Sayid, Mari, Sara, Amira, Sven. The presentation is met with applause from the school audience.

Cliffhanger

Protagnist's arc Arne changes from the victim of the circumstances to the active director of the events. His masterplan proves to himself that he can manipulate others the same well, or better than them. He is a grown player, problem solver, a smart student putting into practice the teachings of all the mentors around him. He is a man. He is himself.

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created by Piotr Matecki

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