Original subtitles

My name is Rosa,

and I'm 25 years old.

I would like to find generous man

to be my future husband.

I do believe...

...American man

who will be kind, sharing, and loves to travel.

Since I was a child...

I am Elena, environmental engineer...

- I enjoy moonlight walks... - I will be a good wife...

...and I'm looking forward to meet a husband... -...and intelligent man

to create a family.

Hello.

My name is Nina, and I'm from Livny.

I'm a good cook.

Some say that food is the key to man's heart, so,

I hope so.

I like lilies. I like to grow them.

Having roots is important for me, so...

Come here and say hi.

This is Dasha, my daughter.

She is my sunshine.

So, I hope you're out there

watching us now, and... like what you see.

...like what you see.

Nina!

Karl.

My God.

I'm sorry, customs took so long, so many questions.

Quite all right. You're here.

That's all that matters.

You're even more beautiful in person.

Thank you.

Lilies, you remembered! - Yes, yes.

, Dasha.

Thank you to welcome us to America.

I can't believe you're really here.

Me too.

It could take weeks, maybe months, to believe this is really happening.

Do you always travel by driver?

Hagen isn't only a driver,

he takes care of everything around the estate.

My father adopted him from an orphanage in Hungary.

Don't expect too much conversation,

he was born without a tongue.

That's you new home, Dasha.

Home? That's castle.

When I was a boy, this place was full of life.

My father used to throw lavish ballroom parties and masquerades.

There was always something going on.

It's so beautiful.

The house is fully stocked during the winters,

so you'll never need to leave the grounds.

We are far from prying eyes.

The closest neighbor is 20 miles away.

Do you ever get lonely?

Not anymore.

- She's asking if Hagen lives with us. - No.

No, no, Hagen lives in the barn.

Just down the road.

By his own choice.

I think he likes to be alone.

Ladies,

this is Maria.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Hello.

This must be Dasha.

So very lovely.

Like a little angel sent from heaven.

Maria never had children of her own,

so she's been looking forward to this.

Say hello to Maria.

Hello.

I'm sorry, it's been a long flight.

She is so tired.

Perfectly understandable.

So why don't we go upstairs, freshen up,

and have a little rest before dinner?

It's a good idea.

Is this everything?

You said not to bring much, so...

I did.

Because I had Maria go out and get you each a brand new wardrobe.

That's so kind of you.

This way.

How did you know our sizes?

I took look at your physical exams.

I wanted to surprise you.

Wow. So many doors.

What is behind this one?

That's Maria's side of the house.

It's off limits. She likes her privacy.

But, this door...

...is of great significance.

This is where the princess sleeps.

Karl, it's amazing.

Dashinka, what do you say?

Thank you.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't you settle in, get comfortable.

I'm gonna show your mom the master bedroom.

And we... have an elevator.

It's the only other access to the second floor.

I prefer to take the stairs.

She's old and has a mind of her own.

Funny how life is.

One day you're struggling to feed your child...

...and the next you have servants at your feet.

Mom?

I-I really wish you had come visit us in Russia.

Nina...

You know I don't fly.

The idea of putting my life into somebody else's hands...

...terrifies me.

Mom?

Are you having doubts?

No, no... It's just...

my mother and sister, they worry about me and Dasha.

Which reminds me...

It's yours for whenever you feel the need to call home.

Thank you, Karl.

It means so much.

- Dasha? - Reign?!

Reign!

No! - Dasha?

Are you okay? Did the dog hurt you?

He'd never hurt her. He's well trained.

He only attacks on command.

I saw a woman in the closet.

A woman in the closet?

It's just a mannequin.

It's my ex-wife's wedding dress.

She liked to keep it.

I-I just put it away.

What is this room?

My son's.

Your son?

You never mentioned a son.

I didn't mention it, because I wasn't ready to talk about it.

He was born with mitochondrial disease.

By the time we realized something was wrong,

many of the organs in his body were already destroyed.

I cannot imagine how you and your wife suffered.

Took a toll on both of us.

Eventually, we grew apart and...

...she left...

Never even said goodbye.

I'm sorry.

Dasha.

Did you enjoy Maria's cooking?

Russian food is very different.

One of these days, I have to cook you a nice Russian meal.

I forgot to mention,

that we have frequent power outages.

That noise you hear

is a backup generator. It's very old.

Sometimes the house shakes.

I think house is too big.

It scares me.

Well, you always liked a good adventure.

And it's haunted.

Dashinka, it was just a mannequin.

You saw it yourself.

But I heard her breathing.

No.

That was my mother.

It's morning in Russia.

That's right.

Sometimes I forget the world isn't flat.

Do you like the house?

Yes, of course.

Who wouldn't?

After our many late-night rendezvous...

I thought I painted the perfect picture of you.

But you're nothing like I imagined.

I'm sorry, it's been a long day, I'm must look so bad.

Quite the contrary.

The only word that comes to mind is "Aphrodite."

You may now kiss the bride.

Thank you, Maria.

I'd like you to meet some friends.

First off, this is John Buchanan.

He's an old family friend.

Hello. Thank you for coming.

The pleasure is all mine.

Yes, thank you, John.

It's amazing what money can buy.

This is my cousin Claire.

She is the Iron Lady of the family.

Congratulations, dear.

And her son, Keller. He's a fine young man.

He's in med school. He is going to be a brilliant surgeon one day.

Better be. I'm paying for his education.

Just remember, darling.

The key to a successful marriage

is knowing how to keep to other happy.

Just not too happy.

Just wait 'til I make him real Russian dinner.

He will eat from my hand like Reign.

I'd like to make toast

to my friend, Karl Frederick,

and his new bride,

and her lovely daughter, Dasha.

It's been over a year

since Karl was faced with terrible tragedy

and I must admit I was worried.

But I assured him

it was not the end,

that there were others out there...

other fishes in the sea, with children...

like Tyler.

So...

we were there for you then,

we are here for you now...

and now Dasha and Nina are here, too.

To new beginnings.

To new beginnings.

When communism fell

it was like Wild West.

Uneducated hoodlums with the biggest balls

took control of everything,

factories, oil, gas.

They became powerful overnight.

I'm sorry. I don't remember meeting you.

I'm sorry.

This is Cranston.

He's a longtime family friend.

For years, he helped me run the clinic here in the house.

I read somewhere about your clinic.

Didn't health inspectors shut it down

after a young girl died?

A young girl died...

...here?

But first, okay.

Let's get the record straight.

She was of legal age.

Here on an extended stay after a breast augmentation.

She kept demanding something for the pain,

so I gave her diamorphine.

Little did I know,

she brought cocaine to the party.

Morphine is a depressant.

Cocaine is a stimulant.

One slows down the heart,

the other speeds it up.

Yeah, it's called speed-ballin'.

Sounds like you've been doing some digging, Yuri.

When I hear my niece is leaving everything behind

for a man she hardly knows,

I must put my nose in the dirt.

- Yuri. - It's quite all right.

None of it's a secret.

It's just not relevant.

Well, it's getting late.

I should be going.

Are you okay to drive?

He'll be fine.

Vodka's like water to the Russian blood.

Isn't that right, Yuri?

That's right.

And now that we live so close...

I'll be sure to visit...

...often.

Please do.

Karl?

I'm sorry.

I should have knocked.

No, don't be silly.

Mi casa es su casa.

Would you like some?

I had no idea.

Nina,

I'm 63 years old.

I've survived the rollercoaster of life.

I've had heartache and tragedy

like no one else.

I think I've earned my vices.

I swear to Dasha everything would be different.

I thought you were different.

What are you talking about?

Just don't ever do it around Dasha.

What are you doing?!

What are you doing?!

No!

No! No!

No!

There.

Just like new.

Hola, Maria!

Hagen, Hagen, I need your help!

Maria, are you okay?

I lowered the lamp to dust it,

but now it won't go back up.

Maybe I can help.

My father was a mechanic on a ship,

and I watch him work winches like this.

Pull on the chain.

Harder.

My father was very handy.

He used to say if he was stranded on the island,

all he need is a hammer to survive.

There.

The braking mechanism was stuck.

Maybe it needs oil.

Maria, can I ask you something?

Of course.

Last night, I walked in on Karl doing...

Cocaina.

Yes, um...

It started when Tyler became ill.

The drugs helped him to cope with the pain.

Thank you for sharing that.

The situation?

The situation is getting worse by the day.

Not to mention all the snow we're having.

It's not gonna be easy getting up here.

Not my problem!

Already paid him a lot of money.

Just get him up here.

You better be as good as you say.

Is everything okay?

Yeah. My cousin, Claire,

she has a friend who's an expert in old homes.

I'm trying to get him up here to fix the power situation.

In worst case, we can use candles.

Can be very romantic.

Dashinka, are you catching a cold?

It's a fever.

That's a shame.

I was really hoping the three of us could go horseback riding tomorrow.

What a wonderful idea.

You two should still go.

I can watch Dasha.

Newlyweds should spend time alone, no?

Sure. That sounds like a great idea.

Stop it.

Not now. Please, not now.

I said stop it!

Damn it! It's not your decision!

She's done it. The perfect crime.

Has she killed him?

Not yet.

But she will.

David?

Drink this tea.

Every drop.

It's coming back to me, Karl.

It's like riding a bike.

...even my life.

But you're not going to live to enjoy it.

It's so beautiful, Karl.

Maria?

All right, Nina. How 'bout you show me what you got?

Mama!

C'mon, Nina!

Please!

Slow down!

Whoa, whoa.

Nina?!

Nina?!

Nina...

Dasha?!

Dasha?! Dasha, no!

Dasha!

Dasha!

Dasha!

Dasha! Come, come!

Dasha.

Dasha, come on, baby.

Come on, Dasha!

Come on!

Dasha?

Dasha?!

Dasha!

Dasha!

You can't do this. We're so close!

Not after everything!

Thank God! God!

My daughter!

No, no, no!

Maybe we should take her to the hospital.

The snow makes the roads impassable.

The best thing to do right now

is to get her out of these wet clothes

and into a warm bed.

We have plenty of medical supplies left over

from Mr. Frederick's clinic if we need it.

What happened to you?

It's nothing.

Silly me. I fell from the horse.

But you, Dashinka,

why were you so far away from the house?

To look for you.

But you knew I was going for the ride with Karl.

You knew I was coming back.

I saw a ghost.

- A ghost? - A lady ghost.

Dashinka, there is no such things as ghosts.

She said he is going to do bad things to us.

Who?

Karl! She said if we don't leave

he'll kill us both!

Dasha, stop it!

That's enough.

I'm sorry, sweetheart.

Why, Karl?

'Cause I do.

I just do.

Karl, I'm grateful

you saved Dasha's life.

What was she doing out there anyway?

I don't know.

She says she got scared.

She says she saw a ghost.

A ghost?

Yes.

What else did she say?

That's it.

Why didn't you slow down, Karl?

I could have been killed. - Nina...

You said that you could ride.

How was I supposed to know that saddle would come loose?

I secured it myself. It's a perfectly fine saddle.

What the hell do you want me to say?

Mr. Frederick, terribly sorry to bother you so late at night.

We had a terrible accident on Windham Road,

and, unfortunately, the driver was killed,

and we think he may have been coming from one of the homes up here.

So, I wanted to stop and check

to see if you know the name Yuri Vokhov.

- Aw. - Yuri?

Yeah... Yeah, we...

we-we-we do know him. He's...

My wife and I recently got married.

Yuri was her uncle, and he was here recently, at a...

little ceremony we had, and...

As I recall, he had too much to drink.

Tried to get him to stay the night, but he...

he insisted on driving home.

We're terribly sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to come in uninvited.

I saw you working in the cold

and thought you might want something warm to eat.

So, I understand you're from Hungary.

I never been to Hungary, but I hear it's very beautiful.

I guess we are both far from home.

Karl says you like living here.

We have so many bedrooms,

why would you like to sleep here...

in the cold... alone...?

I want to believe that Karl is a good man...

but, between you and me,

something is not right.

Hagen...

Did you write the warning for me, on the kitchen window?

"Run."

Was that you?

It was you, wasn't it?

Are we in some kind of danger?

Hagen, please!

Maria?

Is everything okay?

Everything is fine.

I want to talk to Grandma.

We talked with her yesterday.

You talked to her yesterday

about Uncle Yuri.

You never let me talk.

Okay. Maybe she's still awake.

This phone has been disconnected

due to non-payment.

Please contact Bell One Cellular

to pay the past-due amount...

What's the matter?

I'll be back.

You stay here.

Don't go anywhere.

Is Maria okay?

Yeah.

I mean, no. No, she's-

she's not feeling well.

She's-she's been up all night vomiting.

I hope she feels better.

Nina, is there something you wanted to ask me?

Yes.

My phone is not working.

Dasha and I wanted to call my mother.

Didn't you call her yesterday?

Yes, I did.

And the day before.

Maybe it's the connection, Nina.

The message says its... disconnected.

I guess I'll have to call the phone company.

Well, how 'bout the house phone?

They're obsolete, at least in America.

For such a big house and so far from everything,

what if there is an emergency?

Here. There's only one.

International calls are expensive,

so make it quick.

It's okay.

I'll call my mom later.

Nina...

I-I'm...

I'm sorry.

I know you've been chomping at the bit

to make yourself useful around here, and...

since Maria's under the weather...

how 'bout you make that Russian meal we've been talkin' about?

Just you and me?

Maybe a little candlelight?

Sure.

Why not?

Maria is not feeling well,

so Karl asked me to make him Russian dinner tonight.

For just the two of us.

You're a big girl. You can entertain yourself, right?

Maybe you can eat dinner in the playroom

and watch a movie.

What's the matter?

What's wrong?

He-he came into my room last night.

What did he do?

He sat next to me...

...and he touched me.

Touch you?

How?

Like how you pet a dog.

Well, I'm sure he was just checking

that you were feeling better.

Dasha...

Okay.

All you ever do is work.

Don't you do anything for fun?

Do you want to pull me?

My mama's having dinner with Karl,

so I have to stay busy.

I don't want to eat with him anyway.

You're good at this.

The boy...

who lived here...

Were you friends with him?

I knew it.

I girl would go crazy around here with no friends.

What did you used to do for fun?

Wow!

He like movies.

I like movies.

I like vampire movies,

monster movies,

space movies,

all kinds of movies.

What's your favorite?

Well, you've really outdone yourself, haven't you, Nina?

It's roasted apples, potatoes and duck,

one of Dasha's favorites.

Well, if it's Dasha's favorite,

it must be good.

Mmh, mmh, mmh.

That is something.

Damned power outages are happening way too frequently.

Yes.

Last night, the generator woke me up.

You were not in bed.

I was down in the cellar refueling the generator.

Dasha says that you were in here room.

Are you accusing me of something?

I just want to know why you were in here room.

She also says that...

...you touched her.

I was checking to see if she had a fever.

In case you forgot, she almost drowned.

What else is bothering you, Nina?

I know you haven't been happy,

so let's just get it out.

You have those, and I'll have these.

I can make a boat.

See how mine floats?

No, you're hurting me!

No!

You never wanted a wife.

Did you?

No.

But, I have to admit, you made a believer out of me.

I mean, you're an amazing cook,

devoted wife,

a wonderful mother,

and you give a mean blowjob.

The truth is, Nina,

you've made this very difficult for me.

I don't understand what you're talking about.

No.

Of course, you don't.

Why would you?

I was watching a show, the other night,

about the Donner Party.

You ever heard of the Donner Party?

No.

1846, 87 American settlers

got trapped in the Sierra Mountains,

in a blizzard, snowstorm.

Temperatures dropped below freezing,

food supplies ran dry.

Of the 87, 48 actually survived.

Do you know why?

They ate the dead.

Their loved ones.

So, it got me to thinking

about you and me and Dasha...

If it was just the three of us trapped alone

in this big house, without food,

getting hungrier and hungrier...

What does this has to do with anything...

...for Dasha's sake.

It was a big mistake for us to come here.

Would you kill me?

And eat me?

What?

Would you kill me and eat me

for Dasha's sake?

Would you take a knife,

carve me up...

and eat me?

You really are crazy, aren't you?

It's really a pretty simple question.

I just wanna know

if we see eyes to eye.

No, Karl.

We don't.

Well?

It's been really swell.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for dessert.

There is no dessert.

No worries.

Maria made an amazing apple pie, just yesterday.

Do you like it a la mode?

I'm sorry, Karl.

Tomorrow, I'm taking Dasha,

and we are leaving.

Mr. Fredrick, you did the right thing.

I should have told her the truth.

The truth would not have made any difference.

You are blinded by her beauty.

But I can see the wolf in sheep's clothing.

Karl!

Let me out!

Karl, I'm freezing!

Karl!

Karl.

Please let my mom go.

Please?

Please let my mom go.

I beg you, please.

I will do anything.

Anything.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Don't hurt my mom.

Please.

What is going on here?

I beg you. I beg you.

That's enough!

No more games!

It's time for you to join Tyler. - No!

I hate you! You're a monster!

I hate you!

Come this way!

Son of a bitch.

A puppy!

I love you, Daddy.

I love you, Son.

You.

Do you see what you've done?

It's nice to see you, too.

Wake up.

If you touched a hair on her head

I'll kill you.

Even know how to use it?

My father taught me many things.

Take me to her.

What are you gonna do, Nina?

I'm a respected man,

and you're what...

exactly?

Ordered by mail...

Delivered...

You think the police are gonna believe you?

No.

But maybe they will believe Lucia.

You talked to Lucia?

I found her in the cellar.

Right.

That was an accident.

Like the saddle?

Let's just cut the crap,

You want the truth?

She had it coming.

She carried the disease in her family. She never told me.

You think I would've married her,

let alone let her bear my child?!

For Christ's sake, he was dying the moment he was born!

I'm sorry,

but that has nothing to do with my daughter.

I-I'm tired of this song and dance, really.

Wooh!

Why don't you just do us both a favor?

You summon the courage, and you pull the fucking trigger.

Do it.

Do it!

Do it!

Please, Karl, just give her to me.

Please, Karl.

Please.

I'm sorry, Nina,

but I can't let you go.

Therein lies one simple question.

Is there any way we can make this marriage work?

Go to hell.

I want my daughter!

No!

No!

I'm very sorry...

...it's come down to this, Nina.

No!

No, please!

I'm begging you, no!

No!

Dasha...

I want to see Dasha.

You'll be happy to know I managed to save both thumbs, and an index finger.

You don't feel any pain because I've had you

on a steady drip of diamorphine

for several weeks now.

The snow has melted.

Spring is in the air.

A new day.

Where is Dasha?

Dasha...

She's fine.

She's resting.

I respect you, Nina.

As a woman.

And a mother.

I could've easily blown your head off, but...

...the truth is...

...something stopped me.

My father used to always say,

"Any woman who can survive a month"

with a Fredrick

"is a keeper."

My mother lasted four years before she tried to steal me away.

The memories of that night...

...seared into my brain.

The unspeakable acts he did to her.

Afterward, he pulled me aside. He said, "Karl..."

there's nothing more sacred to a man than his son.

"Nothing."

But you taught me something, Nina.

A mother's love also matters.

That's why I've decided to spare you.

I want to give you a chance.

A chance that Lucia and my mother never had.

Do you want that chance, Nina?

Good.

Good.

Now, let's take a little stroll. Shall we?

Dasha?

Dasha's fine.

She's just sleeping.

Maria,

could you give us a moment alone?

Why is she...

Because this is why she's here.

To make a difference for you...

...for me...

...for my son.

Say hello to Tyler.

He's beautiful, isn't he?

Just a boy

who wants nothing more

than to grow up,

go to school...

...play ball...

...have that first kiss...

Tyler needs a stem cell transplant.

He also needs lungs...

...and a heart.

I... I put him on a donors list.

I offered to pay the board millions,

but they said that his chance of survival

was too low.

I could've gotten the organs in Mexico on the black market,

but you...

you never know what you're getting.

So, my Russian colleagues

tested hundred of children

to find the perfect match.

A young, healthy donor.

Nina...

He's my flesh and blood.

I had to do this.

- Please... - Shh, shh, shh.

They say, "Mother is God"

on the lips of children."

Tyler's going to need a mother. I'm not going to live forever.

The marriage papers we signed are very real.

Everything I have is yours after I'm gone.

Look on the bright side.

Dasha will always be here...

living in Tyler.

The others will be here soon.

We should prepare for surgery.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Please just take her back and increase her dosage.

I want her heavily sedated during surgery.

And put Reign away.

I don't want him bothering our guests.

- Please... - Please, please, Maria...

Are you kidding me?

If I had my way, you would've been dead a long time ago.

I am the one who has been loyal to him!

Fed him, clothed him.

One day, this will all be mine!

And I will be more of a mother to Tyler

than you could ever be!

Sleep tight...

forever.

No...

Dasha!

Dasha!

Mom... Mama!

We can't leave without my mom!

Stop the car! Stop the...

No!

After everything my family's done for you...

this is how you repay us?

He's not a very nice man, Dasha.

After the wedding,

he murdered your Uncle Yuri.

That's right.

He ran your uncle's car off the road,

and he set the poor bastard on fire with gasoline.

Not a nice thing to do.

At least, when I kill,

it's for the greater good.

You do it 'cause you're told

like a fucking dog.

You know what happens when dogs misbehave?

Take her!

Welcome! Welcome, welcome, welcome.

Don't mind him.

He's just the groundskeeper.

Darling.

Just on time.

Karl, this is Doctor Gorvinski, transplant specialist,

and the founder of Russian Love-Line.

Pleasure to meet you.

So sorry for the delays.

It's first time I ever have problem

with visa.

It's like there is resurgence of Cold War tensions.

Yes, yes, terrible, terrible, terrible.

Let's go inside. It's beginning to rain.

Shall we? - Yes.

Come, come. - Everyone?

Keller.

Make me proud.

All right? Go on.

Fuck! Fuck!

- What the hell is going on? - It's nothing!

The emergency generator will kick on.

There.

Karl.

These are not Tyler's most recent X-Rays we did.

They're in my study

on my desk.

Shall we start with the girl?

Yes.

9-1-1, what's your emergency?

My daughter...

I can't hear you, ma'am. Can you speak louder?

He's going to kill my daughter.

Are you okay, ma'am?

Ma'am?

Hello?

I need you to talk to me. Are you in danger?

Are you alone right now?

Ma'am?

It's time for you to return to the angels in Heaven.

What are you doing on the floor?

Olga?!

Maria, stay with the surgeon.

Everyone else, come with me.

Jesus Christ.

Nina.

I don't understand.

She was on a heavy dosage of diamorphine.

There's no way that she could...

Nina...

Nina, Nina...

Nina.

If she wants to get to her daughter,

she's got to have access to the second floor.

Buchannan. - Yeah?

I want you to cover the staircase.

Maybe we should just give her her daughter back, for Christ's sake?

Nephew, I love you,

you got potential, but if you ever wanna be like me,

you better grow some balls tonight!

It's a battlefield out there, kid.

That woman and her daughter are nothing but cannon fodder!

You cover the elevator. You see her, and you shoot to kill!

I had enough cocaine in that urn

to kill a goddamn horse.

Sooner or later, her heart's gonna give out.

All right, Cranston, you cover the perimeter.

The rest of you, I want you to look everywhere fast!

I don't want my son waiting any longer than he has to!

I didn't sign up for this madness.

I'm going out for a cigarette.

Stairs.

The window!

What the...

Mom?!

Stay.

Reign! Bad men! Attack!

Guys, what the fuck is going on here?!

Fuck this.

Keller?!

Keller!

I'm sorry!

What are you doing?

I've had enough.

I'm leaving.

Is there a back door?

I don't want to go down there.

You can't leave! Tyler needs you!

Can't you hear? Men are dying!

Somebody?

Somebody talk to me!

Guys?!

What the hell is going on?

That's it. I'm out of here.

Please, please, I beg you.

I'm sorry.

But the truth is

that boy is already dead.

Dasha!

I kill you!

I kill you!

Nina.

I don't know how you keep going

with all that coke you snorted.

Your heart's gotta be ready to explode.

You know,

you fooled me, Nina.

For a minute there,

I really believed that you loved me.

The way you looked in my eyes.

And then, you had to go and do this!

I brought you here from nothing! I gave you a life women can only dream of!

And in return, you try to kill my son!

Mama!

Dasha?

What are you doing out of bed?

Dasha! Run!

You're so like your mother. It's uncanny.

Dasha, I'm not gonna hurt you.

You see...

my son...

is really, really sick,

and he needs your help.

Dasha! Don't listen to him!

Dasha...

I'm not gonna kill you.

I just need to borrow a few things.

Now, give me the gun.

Give it to Daddy.

You're not my daddy.

You little ungrateful...

123

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Merry Christmas!

No, Santa Claus, don't come to town. Aw, no.

God, you're killin' me with this Qallunaat shit.

Come on, turn it off, bro. Please?

God. Okay, come on.

Isn't it supposed to be on, like,

police radio or something, Officer?

It ison police radio.

Captain Pendleton has dispatch play Christmas music

on Christmas Eve.That's stupid.

It's just one night a year.

Yeah, Christmas maybe, but they

have been shoving their way of life

on people everywhere they show up.

You know, they want me to live my life off of three wise guys

who followed a star to a barn to find some magic kid?

And that's supposed to be more spiritual

than-than our ancestors dancing on the northern lights

while they watch down on us?

Qallunaat Christmas makes me feel like such a loser.

It's your lucky day.

Every year, Captain Pendleton makes a big show

at our Christmas party.

He pardons an inmate in the holding cell.

It's been a slow year, and he didn't have anyone to pardon,

so... you're it. Congrats.

Wait. What?!

Okay, so, you-you're pulling in your own brother

on a bullshit charge just to let me go?

Now, come on, Yuka.

I mean, I know you're a sellout,

but bullshit you are not.

How can you stand working

for that lying sack of shit every day?

It's tough, Jack. Just the sound of his voice

makes me want to punch something.

Yeah, well, unless you're the lead sled dog.

Guess the view's pretty much the same.

I'm sorry for dragging you in, Jack, but...

Nah.

You won't be alone for a couple hours and...

...you'll get some turkey.What?

Really?

What about some pie? I want some pie.

If you're lucky.If I'm...

Fuck Santa Claus!

Cheer up, Jack. You'll be back on that barstool in an hour.

Whoa.

What the hell is that?

I don't know.

I mean, it's too much of a point to be the northern lights.

Must be a low polar orbit satellite.

No, no, no.

It must be for you,

'cause "Yuka" means "shining" and "brilliant" in Inuit, right?

Although not

so fucking brilliant when you fuckin' arrest me.

All right! Gather around.

Time for a little Secret Santa here!

And it's no secret that I'll be your Santa again.

Can I get a "ho ho ho"?

Ho! Ho! Ho!

You people'd have to go 1,500 miles to the North Pole

to find a better Santa than me.

Would you take that, dear?

Doesn't the base know it's Christmas Eve?

Hey, Santa, how about our own power grid for Christmas?

Eat shit, Buzz.

That does it. Mayor's on the naughty list!

You heard him.Bad boy.

- All right, all right. - Arch Houghton? Where's Arch?

Okay.

- There you go. - Merry Christmas.

I got you, too. Get over here.

Hey, look-- she busted her brother!

Your Christmas is saved, Lane!

Jack! Jack! Jack!

All right.

Jack! Jack! Jack!All right, all right.

Take it easy. Take it easy.Jack! Jack! Jack! Jack!

She's got work to do. Mayor?

Yes, sir.Get over here.

He knows what it is.Booze for him...

This guy needs it in here.

Look at that, honey.

Great.

Three cheers for the mayor!

Hip, hip, hooray!

So, when do I get pardoned?

I'll come back and get you

after Captain Pendleton's done hearing himself talk.

So is that when I get pie-- after that?

'Cause I'm kind of hungry now.

Yes. Don't worry.

You'll get your pie.

I promise.

It won't be long.

As I have been since I started this tradition

some... 20 years ago?

You know, every Christmas Eve...

I like to look out that window there,

and I envision those... those Three Wise Men

just looking up at that Star of Bethlehem.

Same stars that my ancestors looked at

when they first arrived to tame

and make this the great 49th state of Alaska.

Before that... what was there out here?

Bunch of bears and Eskimos?

That's about it.

Tonight, above all nights,

I thank Jesus...

for my responsibilities He has bestowed upon me.

First,

to my duty to defend my country

and work to support our neighbors

at the Cheney Air Force Listening Station

with their state-of-the-art LRD radar.

We may just be a modest little community down here.

Little outpost 151, but we support

that high-tech station with our low-tech values.

Yes.Am I right?

- Yeah. - Yeah!Now, I know

it's a hassle when they get a little greedy

with our power grid, but they rely on us for supplies,

and we offer police protection

outside that base 365 days out of the year.

Yeah! Yes!

Tonight we got a duty

to a... a greater superior officer.

So, on this night, night before His birthday,

He would have us remember that He wants us to be kind

to strangers and visitors and stuff.

"I was hungry, you gave me something to eat."

"I was thirsty and you

"gave me something to drink.

I was a stranger, and you said, 'Come on inside here.'"

And all the folks said, "When-when was this?"

And you said, "When you were being nice to a stranger,

you were being nice to me." Right?

But the point is, you all know

what I'm saying. Unless you've been living

in a cave somewhere, you know

every year, I am kind to a stranger

as long as they ain't killed nobody,

or tried to terrorist-attack that Air Force base.

That would be a red line.

So tonight, once again,

I would like to pardon a stranger.

Yuka, dear, could you please go fetch the stranger

to be kind to?

Of course I won't call him a stranger,

seeing it was your brother Jack you brought in here,

and I've known Jack since about ever.

I shouldn't say that.

Jack?

Hey, Jack?

Goddamn grid.

Jack?

Jacko.

Wake up.

How'd you get in there?

Who are you?

I want to be pardoned.

Just like you...

will want to be pardoned.

Meet Sergeant Yuka Mongoyak,

a woman with a knack

for detecting the most subtle of mistruths.

On this night, a night of the most powerful of myths,

that skill will be tested like never before.

She's about to learn

that the truth can take many different forms,

depending on how you look at it.

Because tonight, Sergeant Yuka's vantage point

is at the very heart...

of The Twilight Zone.

You're traveling through another dimension,

a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.

It is the middle ground between light and shadow,

between science and superstition.

And it lies between the pit of one's fears

and the summit of one's knowledge.

You are now traveling through a dimension of imagination.

You've just crossed over into The Twilight Zone.

Hey!

Hey. What is taking so long?

Someone's in here, Captain!

Is Jack screwing around again?I don't know

who this is in cell three, or how he got here.

What the hell are you talkin' about?

I got all these people up here.

They're waiting for me.

He wants to be pardoned.

What the fuck is this?

An elf escape from Santa's workshop?

Who...

who-who is...

who the hell is this,

and wh-why... why is he wearing a suit?

You're throwing a party.

I'm dressed for the best party.

One thing, though,

and I hate to be the one, but...

I actually came from the North Pole, and...

there's no workshop up there.

Just a bunch of snow.

Came from the North Pole?

Yeah, I just... flew over it

on my way over here.

I've been everywhere.

I'm actually a...

I'm an extreme tourist.

It's a thing. Have you heard about it?

Mayor put you two up to this?

Don't look at me.

No, I actually have my own YouTube channel.

It's called The Aggro Traveler's Bucket List.

I legally had my name changed in California

to A. Traveler.

I visit the hardest places to get to.

Most people, they end up on Thanksgiving

at Montage Kapalua Bay, and they're like,

"I should've gone to Iglaak, Alaska,

"to be pardoned by Captain Lane Pendleton

on Christmas Eve. Duh."

Are you shittin' me?

I mean, they-they've heard about this?

They've heard about me all the way up here?

Are you kidding me?

Any aggro traveler anywhere in the world knows

about Captain Lane Pendleton's Christmas Eve pardons.

That to be here in Iglaak on Christmas Eve sits...

high on any extreme tourist bucket list.

Ride a train to the top of Jungfraujoch.

Dive off Stari Most bridge.

Kiss Dee Dee Ramone's tombstone at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Get pardoned by Captain Lane Pendleton

on Christmas Eve in Iglaak,

Alaska.

I did not realize.

I could see it, though.

I could.Would that mean, um...

Captain Pendleton, would you...

would you pardon me tonight?

Yeah...

Well, let me think about that

one...

Have you committed any crime?

Only waiting so long to come here.

Y-You know, you said you got a YouTube.

Maybe you can video me-me pardon you,

and put it on the show, if you want.Yeah. Absolutely.

You know what, I'll video it...

Just a phone.

I'll throw it up online,

and that way all the extreme tourists

can see for themselves just how truly charming

you and this town are.Well, it's a good town.

If you do this tonight, Captain,

there'll be a lot more people just like me here next year.

Yeah, you know that-that show Alaskan Trooperson Nat Geo,

they just totally blew us off.

I think it's just 'cause the Air Force base up the road

doesn't like people poking around.

What kind of phone is this?

Jesus, look at that thing.

Who makes that?

It's a Russian design.

It's Russian-made?

The Russians don't makeanything.

They steal everything.No, no,

that actually already has an 8K video resolution.

It's a beta, but...

I'm sure if I said it was for Captain Pendleton,

I could get you one.

Well, they're just across our front yard there,

across the Chukchi Sea, the Russians. I know.

They know all about you.

All right, well, doesn't look like it's gonna be Jack's night,

so give him his phone back, unlock him.

I gotta pardon this guy.

Captain.

We should run a 10-29 active warrants search.

Now? There's not gonna be anybody there tonight.

It's all done online.

Well, what is your concern, Sergeant?

You said it. Russian-made things are crap.

This is not

a Russian phone.

Why is he lying?

This could be a 10-96.

All right, you check it out,

and I'll pardon him?But what if we get a hit?

We'll arrest him again.

You have I.D.?

Ooh. Bright.

Right down here, we call this "The Corridor."

I got to tell you, this is incredible.

The crowd's gonna be excited to see you.

Hey, lookee here,

lookee here, the Good Lord has brought us

an honest-to-goodness stranger

to actually pardon here tonight.

Now, Jack Mongoyak

is back there sleeping it off,

but I'm not too worried.

We'll just pardon him next year. He'll be back.

Meanwhile,

this guy may be a stranger, everybody,

but he's... he's a great guy.

In fact, he's... he's a little bit of a celebrity.

He's got a-a show

on the YouTube.

Yeah.

Yeah. And-and it's about visiting cool places. Right?

So I figure since he's here tonight,

we must be... cool, too.

And I'm not talking about the weather.

Let me, just do this here.

All right.

Hey, this is A. Traveler, and I am finally,

finally here.

I am so far up north,

I'm a hundred miles from the Arctic Circle

here in Iglaak, Alaska. Everyone say "hello!"

Hello!

Now, it is Christmas Eve.

That means you know who this is.

And I'm not talking about no Santa Claus.

It's Captain Lane Pendleton, everyone!

No, no...

Houghton.Sir, would-would it be okay if I...

got a selfie with the troopers?What the hell!

All right!Thank you.

I want to know how he got in the cell.

Did you put him in there?No.

Everybody say "Iglaak" on three, okay? One, two,

three.

Iglaak!

There was that set of keys missing from last winter,

and we never changed the locks, because Lupino lost them

in six feet of snow, and we figured no one'd find them.

All right, all right,

let's do this thing. Houghton, grab the chair.

And, ladies and gentlemen, attention!

Back there.

All right, all right, come on back here.

Merry Christmas, John.

It's Sergeant Yuka Mongoyak.

Yeah.

Party's in full swing.

The pardoning just started, which is why I called.

Have you had any guests check in?

May go by the name of A. Traveler, wearing a black suit,

five-nine, not from here.

City type.Thank you, just...

I.D. says California.

No?

Okay.

All right, well, you have a nice Christmas.

With the power vested in me...

...I hereby declare you pardoned

from our jail cell in Iglaak...

Alaska. And, of course, from all of us,

Merry Christmas, sir.

Thank you.

Can I... can I say something?

Um...

on part of my journey up here,

I rode the Trans-Siberian Railway

nonstop for eight days,

from Moscow to Vladivostok.

And along that ride,

so many people came up to me

to ask me about that tough American sheriff in Iglaak

that they all admired.

Now, they even said

that the North Koreans told the Russians

that if they ever were gonna attack the United States,

that they'd have to go around Captain Pendleton

and the entire town of Iglaak, Alaska!

That's right. That's right.

That's the truth!

Crank up the music.

Merry Christmas. This is Sergeant Yuka Mongoyak

with the Alaska State Troopers Iglaak Post.

Sorry to trouble you on Christmas Eve,

but I'm inquiring to see if there are any personnel

considered AWOL from your Air Force base?

Shall we get this party going?

Yeah!

Or have any alerts been issued on suspicious individuals

in the area?

I appreciate your help.

You, too.

Merry Christmas.

Captain Pendleton just pardoned me...

and you're looking to put me back in jail?

You haven't believed a single word out of my mouth, have you?

Captain Pendleton does, but...

not you.

Now, that's the first honest thing you've said.

Don't you want to open up the present that I brought for you?

What you'd like most for Christmas?

I don't believe in Christmas.

You believe in what you believe.

Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Jack?

Hey, Jack?

What? What?

I brought you

some turkey and stuffing.Okay, thanks.

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

When the fuck am I getting out of here, Yuka?

Are you fucking me over?

And by the way, do you see any pie on here?

Turkey now, pie later.

Bullshit.

Hey, Jack?

What would you say is the thing I'd want most for Christmas?

Fuck Christmas.

Okay, yeah, but...

what if?

I don't know.

Maybe to be one of them.

I honestly don't know if you know who you are anymore.

I know who I am.

And I'm proud of who I am.

At least I'm doing something.

Yeah, theirway.

Everybody!

Where is your Christmas spirit, Yuka?

You having a good time? You want a drink?

No, I'm good, thank you.

10-97 on "A. Traveler."

Well, he's a good guy.

I knew there wouldn't be any priors on him.

Do you want to release Jack when he sobers up?

I mean, we brought him in intending to release him.

I know he's drunk, but come on.

Everyone is. It's Christmas.

He wasn't disorderly in the first place

or resisted arrest.

Give me a chance for a twofer pardon.

Never done one of those before.

Yes, Captain.

Very jolly of you.

All right, go fetch him.

Let's do it.

Thank you.

Dance break!

No. There's still more song left.

Fucking Air Force base.

Come on, now.

This town exists because of that base.

At this time next year,

we will not be sharing a power grid.

Stop your campaigning.

We already reelected you last month.

God.

I'm getting so sick of you, Colchack.

The Air Force does not ask to tap into our power grid.

If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here, so shut up.

John, John, you've had too much to drink.

Stop talking about the fucking grid and fix it!

Hey!

Hey, relax. It'll come back on.

It always does, everybody. Geez.

All right.There you go.

Et voil�.

Now, listen, before you crank up

the Christmas karaoke over there,

it does occur to me that we've got a...

another prisoner back there to offer a Christmas pardon to.

What do y'all think?

Yeah.Yeah, let's do it.

It's a twofer!

All right, all right. Arch, go grab

Jack Mongoyak, bring him out here.

I wouldn't pardon Jack Mongoyak.

You're missing some tools from your snow machine shed.

No, not that we're aware of.

Now you know.

About a thousand dollars' worth.

They're in the trunk of Jack Mongoyak's car.

Back at the bar where Sergeant Mongoyak picked him up.

Jack's never stole a thing in his life.

Fine.

Don't believe me.

I-Ida?

You mind running

down the road and checking on Jack's car?

Sure thing, Captain.

Can I finish the song now?

Um...

How-How'd you know about the tools?

Captain,

just 'cause he said it doesn't mean it's true.

Like everything else he's said tonight.

And if Trooper Lupino finds the tools,

I'd guess you stole them and put them there.

And if they're not there...

wh-what would make you say such a thing?

It's 'cause I know things...

about this town.

And I know things about you people.

Rita,

you're on a strict two-drink limit,

but that's your fifth glass of eggnog.

Not counting the two shots of Patr�n you had

before you left the house.

So what?

It's Christmas.

And Jacques,

do you think your ex-wife will be expecting

those delinquent child support payments in her stocking?

What the hell are you talking about?

That's not true. That's not even true.

And, Mr. Colchack, your bid on the construction

of the airfield runway out beyond the lagoon

was the lowest of all three bidders.

You piece of shit.

I knew it.Mayor Matheson over here

awarded the project to the Russian company

across the Bering Strait.That has not been determined.

Now, see, I warned you about this asshole!

How could you reelect him?

Like you didn't go down on all the Air Force brass

to get that bid for the cargo loading apron at the base,

Buzzy.Going down on?

Now, that'ssomething you know about.

Hang on to this, honey!You wish, bitch!

Hey, hey!

For crying out loud!

Hey, don't you touch me!

Let go of me! Thanks.

The party's over, everybody. Come on.Break it up.

Grab your coats and get your drunk heinies

out of here. Everybody.

Take it easy.

Merry Christmas.

Drive home safe. Let's go.

Get him home safe.

All right. Merry Christmas.

How the hell did he get in that cell?

And how'd you know all these things?

A. Traveler.

Is that even your real name?

Hey, 15, this is Post.

Y-You got a 10-71 on those tools yet?

Post, this is 15. It's 10-23.

There were no tools in Jack's car.

Repeat, negative on stolen tools.

Everyone's having a drink.

See?

He's lying.Wait a minute.

You did know right where to go with Matheson and Colchack

to set them off.

How?

Well, they've hated each other

ever since Buzz tried to feel up Dottie Matheson

ten years ago at this very party.

That is an unsubstantiated rumor,

and how did you know that?!

How's he know that? What, are you...

What are you, friend?

You a Russian spy? Man in Black?

If you're Santa Claus,

you're a little late delivering your toys.

I'm Special Agent Douglas Heyes

from the Anchorage field office.

Iglaak is a small town,

but there exists widespread corruption

that could affect the security of the United States of America.

You have any Bureau identification?

Undercover special agents don't have I.D., Sergeant.

Who's under investigation?

I'll tell you who's under investigation.

You are.

And you're going right back into that cell

until we can confirm with the Bureau in Anchorage.

Hey. Yo.

What's the story with my pie?

Yo, Captain, I'm supposed to be getting

some pie.

I know the reasons you don't trust me.

But we'll work well together once Captain Pendleton's removed

and you replace him.

When you're the lead sled dog.

Jack, you're pardoned.

Hell no.

It's 30 below, I-I'm too drunk to drive,

and I'm not leaving till I get some motherfucking pie.

You've reached the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

Anchorage Field Office.

If this is an emergency,

please use our directory to contact

a field agent directly.

We're sorry, but there is no agent

that matches the information provided.

Our hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m....

I'll go see.

Yuka.

I'll go with you.

What the actual fuck?

What the actual what?

Did you see that?!

Get those guns off me.Yuka?

I saw something.

Right?

Yeah, he looked like a fucking snail.

He had antennae coming out his h-head.

Yuka, you're awfully quiet.

She saw it.

She saw it. We all saw it.

She may not be saying anything, but she saw it!

No one saw anything because that's insane.

It's probably shadows from your flashlights or something.

Antennae?

You two are tripping on cheese log.

Take off the hat.

Now, I've been nothing but nice to you.

Nothing but nice.

So, you need to consider

if it's worth the irreversible remorse

to further address me...

...with such rude intentions.

Especially when I know things...

about you, Captain Pendleton.

All you need to know is I got you locked up in my jail.

And to be exact,

this jail is officially considered

Alaska State Trooper Post 151.

What's the primary purpose of Post 151?

To serve the public good.

By the support and protection

of an acknowledged temporary vulnerability

outside of the Cheney Air Force Listening Installation.

It's the point at which the Air Force facilities' power grid

connects and is shared with the town of Iglaak's

Okay.

That's enough.There's a camouflage shed somewhere nearby

that houses the connection point between the Air Force base

and the town's power grid.

He's experiencing a mental breakdown of some kind.

So, if a hostile force were to invade,

they'd just have to destroy

That location

is classified information.

Classified is actually the most...

lucrative type of information.

Isn't it, Captain Lane Pendleton?

That's right, she doesn't know.

Captain Pendleton has sold the information

to our neighbors across the Chukchi Sea.

The Russians.

Nothing you've said has been the truth.

You want the truth?

You can't handle the truth.

I'm sure anyone can understand the captain's motivation

There is no motivation

'cause there has been no corruption.

20 years

as the big cheese in Iglaak, Alaska.

It's not a location, nor is

Alaska State Trooper an occupation,

where anyone can make any real money

or actually make any real impact on the world.

You shut your mouth.

Especially someone like you, Lane Pendleton,

would have made a great impact.

You shut your mouth.

The best impact.

I'm gonna put a hole in this insect.

But you gave up on that idea.

You gave up on yourself, you just...

gave up.

I never gave up on anything.

I'm Agent Marius Constant from the National

Reconnaissance Office.

Captain will save a lot of money and headache

and maybe lives if he just confesses

that he told the Russians about the location of the shed.

He's lying!

At this very minute,

Russian Spetsnaz forces are on their way to sabotage

what I know is the location

of the shed.

Thing is,

my people are going to intercept them.

I'm going there right now,

to warn the Americans or the Russians.

He stays here.

I thought he'd never leave.

Now we can talk.

So, I'm just trying to prove to everybody here

what you've known for all these years,

that he doesn't care about this area,

this land, or your people.

That he's a liar.

See, I told you I knew what you wanted for Christmas.

So this is my gift to you.

Soon, you're gonna be the one giving the orders around here.

Don't be afraid of me, Yuka.

I mean, you don't know this--

and how would you know-- but...

you and I are a lot alike.

We have a lot of bosses above us.

There's always a bigger boss to be in awe of or afraid of.

But you and I,

we're worker ants

who get the job done.

Today I will.

You won't.

But you know what? I'll keep my promise, though.

I'll put in a good word.

You'll be running this place.

But working for us.

Captain Pendleton, this is Post.

10-19. Return to base.

10-39. Urgent.

10-39. Urgent.

Pendleton, can you hear me?

Our intelligence indicated

that you would be vulnerable to attack,

somewhere in this vicinity,

on this day.

So, in order to ensure the success of the invasion,

Pendleton needed to lead us to the power source

of the Air Force early discrimination system

in order to remove it.

And you let Pendleton go.

Is it because maybe you thought it'd get rid of him

or give you his job or both?

You'll never have to worry

about Captain Pendleton again.

Or, Christmas, for that matter.

What's with the gun, Yuka?

I mean, why do you want to kill me?

You knew what I was.

I did nothing but lie to you.

Only,

once I said something that might benefit you,

you chose to ignore it.

See, that's not a lie.

You willingly accepted the lie.

That's worse.

Now it's too late.

No.

It's not too late.

Just arrived at the mesosphere.

Captain Pendleton, respond!

Do not go to the shed!

All units respond.

Does anyone have a 20 on Captain Pendleton?

Captain Pendleton, this is Post. 10-19.

Repeat, 10-19. Do not go to the shed.

Fuck!

Hey, bro.

You know, if you could,

you know, like, use your magic and open my cell, too...

Whoa.

That's a cool trick, man.

Thanks.

Arch!

Arch!

Any 20 on Captain Pendleton?

Yeah. A while ago, I saw him going south on Nixon,

but, just now,

he tore off toward County Highway.

No! Get off me!Break it up, ladies!

Break it up!Get the fuck off me! Get off!

Captain Pendleton!

Captain Pendleton!

Step away from the structure

with your hands raised above your head.

You brought a Remington shotgun to a Russian invasion?

Put the gun down, Sergeant.

He lied about that, too.

Lane Pendleton,

you're under arrest.

Really, Yuka?

Out here?

Now?

You're here.

So the Traveler wasn't lying about what you did.

You came to meet your Russian contacts to tip them off.

Well, maybe...

it'll be better with you guys running things.

Let me guess.

You're getting my job.

Is that what he told you?

Yeah. Yeah, see...

it's only a lie

if we choose to believe it.

That's pretty good.

Definitely worth the wait.

The most dangerous lies come in the form

of beautifully wrapped gifts.

On this evening, Sergeant Yuka discovered

that there's no difference between myth and mistruth.

She unwrapped her fateful present far too late

on this dark and silent night

in The Twilight Zone.