Original subtitles

Thomas?

These nightmares every night.. It can't go on like this.

You have to do something

I'll get something.

You can't just get something. You have to talk about it.

I had to find her.

Don't be so hard on yourself

You did everything you could.

I did what I had to do.

That's different.

DARK WOODS

Reeperbahn, Hamburg

REEPERBAHN/HAMBURG Target is leaving the bar.

There he is

Stand by.

We have a visual.

Get into position.

He noticed something.

Go.

Police! Hands up!

We've got him.

See you.

Don't celebrate yet. Just you wait.

What did he say?

Head and founder of the first German special agency

against organised crime,

working in the red light district, the drug scene

witness protection, fencing and corruption.

I'm sure I forgot I forgot something,

but it's my great honour to appoint the most exemplary policeman in Hamburg

the new Chief of the Federal Police.

We expect a lot from you, Thomas Bethge.

My hero.

Thanks.

- Is this your new suit? - Yes.

Look after your sister. She isn't doing well.

- Congratulations, Thomas. - Excuse me.

Congrats, big brother.

Come on.

If he thinks he can just kick me out and live his life as if I'd never

never existed...

Sorry.

Sorry.

Come here. I'm proud of you.

Wait.

Hold this?

Stay here.

Sorry, could you take a photo of us?

- Come on. - Stay there. Just one.

- All these photos... - Face the camera.

Smile!

NEDERFACTORY, WEESENBURG

- Good morning. - Morning, Mr Neder.

- Could you sign this? - Yes. Pen?

Barbara is here

Let me handle this Please...

Please!

What if I say no?

We already talked about that.

There'll be a very advantageous settlement for you.

You'll get a new house.

I'll do all I can to ensure your wellbeing. You know You know I that.

Wellbeing? By leaving me for her?

Let's stop lying to each other.

You're the one who lied. Won't do it.

I know I what you're like.

What do you know?

You have to stop drinking.

You...

Let's talk properly.

Our daughter needs us. Even after we break up.

- Come here. - Stop it.

- I'll visit tomorrow, okay? - Yes, great.

- Dad. - Everything's fine.

She's been a little unstable lately.

No, she's just sad.

We'll manage this together.

Dad, it won't work out with Lisa.

Barbara, let's talk

ISEFORST Weesenburg, Lower Saxony

You didn't get me!

Wait.

What do you want?

Please keep moving

Anne Bach, Crime Squad. It's my first day.

Congratulations. Two corpses on your first day.

Take over. I think your colleagues got lost.

- Good morning - Morning.

Anne Bach, Homicide.

It appears this this was a violent crime.

We'll treat this as a crime scene. Want the branches removed...

- We know what we're doing. - Sorry.

I told you to turn right There it is.

- Good morning. - Morning.

Double murder. Shit.

- Two unhappy lovers united forever. - When do you think they died?

Seven weeks ago. They disappeared on May 21.

- Sorry, but this is a crime scene. - Anne Bach.

Lohse. What are you doing here?

- I was told I'd find you in Area 138. .Welcome

Jan Gerke.

You don't have to look at it if you don't like it.

I found this in the car park.

Maybe the victims Mid-to-late forties

- We know them. - He's coming.

Everything will be fine.

Just...

Just take our money and...

No!

Please don't.

Did you hear that?

Crows.

Often mistaken for jackdaws or ravens Same genus, different birds.

I meant the other thing. A gunshot, right?

- Doesn't hunting season start in August? - It's high season season for roe.

Let our colleagues do their jobs. Thanks

NIEDERSACHSEN WEESENBURG, LOWER SAXONY

Mum?

It's me.

Mum?

Mum!

Wake up!

Mum?

Mum...

Hello, Mrs...

- Where is she? - In there. She's not doing well.

- What do you want here? - I'll take you to Hamburg

want to talk to Theresa about her book.

I'm walking through magical woods.

- Let me handle this. - I'm scared of wild animals.

Come along.

- I won't run away from that bastard - Mum, he's sad too.

Sure.

Theresa, could you pack some stuff for your mother?

Will you take care of the cats? I'll call you every day.

- Dad will print it. - Yes.

My little girl...

Robert and you were a nice couple. You have to try again. That woman...

Mum, stop.

I have to get something.

- Theresa will manage. - It's important.

Will you move closer to us after the divorce?

There won't be a divorce.

Won't leave Theresa Theresa alone.

What's in your bag?

Robert will see.

You want to threaten him?

Barbara...

Cause of death, two shots from a small-calibre rifle.

She was abused and strangled before death. His tongue bone was broken

Both were were hidden under branches

We don't yet know if the woman was raped or sexually abused.

Sandra and Hans Frings, from Hamburg.

On May 21 their two teenage daughters reported them missing.

The car was found eight days later, 30 kilometres away in Winding.

- The killer probably escaped in it. - So there could be two?

He probably didn't cycle there.

If he drove the victims' car, who drove his car away? Two perpetrators?

Sorry.

Forensics is checking the car.

As soon as we have reinforcements, we'll search the woods.

Someone has to tell the daughters their parents are dead.

Thanks, Miss Bach So you'll do it.

Good job, guys.

Yes.

How?

Your parents were killed in the Iseforst.

We don't know who did it, but we'll do all we can to find the killer.

We talked about this.

It was obvious that this...

I don't want you to break up.

Knut...

I've had really a long day and I'm...

- I'll come over. - No, you won't.

Can you understand that? Yes, thanks.

Gave her a pill. She's sleeping

Maybe we should try to get her accepted in a therapeutic facility

I don't think she wants that. I think she needs rest.

She needs someone she trusts that she can talk to.

I've just become the Chief of Criminal Investigation. I can't do that.

I know.

But I'm on school holidays from Friday.

I could go down south with her for a few days.

Two weeks? Sun, air, water. No alcohol.

Stay in line!

How was your first week? Settled in?

I'm still learning.

Party woods Iseforst

- What's that? - A totem.

There's a legend Heinrich Himmler was buried here

by an American sergeant

- Nobody knows where exactly. - He certainly imagined things differently

This is the darkest province for most people.

Borderlands at the end of the world.

But there are stories buried everywhere here.

I'm not into nature

You should change that

- Are you ready? - Ready.

Four corpses.

Hidden under branches again.

Don't let it be a serial killer.

Both have entrance wounds but the bullets didn't exit.

Probably a small-calibre rifle at the chin again.

Shit!

There's talk of a serial killer. I'll be slaughtered at the press conference.

Forensics is investigating The task force is working non-stop.

- Everything's going normally, prosecutor. - If not, I'd be worried.

Don't worry. Worry. We're on it.

- Can I say everything's under control? - Yes.

- Tell me you're making progress. - They'd been dead for a week.

They are Anton Holt from Hanover and Merit Liebermann from Uelzen.

- When did they die? - July 12.

They were reported missing that day by their spouses.

Yes, the day we found the first couple.

While we were there, the second couple were murdered 752 metres away.

No way.

The shots were were fired around 11.30.

They weren't married. Maybe it was a husband who wanted to end it.

What about the first couple? There would be no link.

We have the same modus operandi And we have cut off branches.

What if this goes on? Six, eight...

- In Hamburg... - Stop.

Listen up!

We have to consider all possibilities, but let's assume it's a local.

Form teams. Go from house to house

Our profile says the killer or killers are male, sturdy,

can handle guns and have psychological problems.

Want results by the end of the week.

Behringer here.

Seems like Randow is planning something in prison.

Probably an act of revenge to build for pressure for the trial. We should be careful.

I think I bought too much

Hello, we're back!

- There you are. - Hello.

It was really nice.

Barbara is doing better. Now she just has to stay stable.

It's nice to see you like this again. Great earrings.

- Marianne picked them. - Really?

I should have taken Theresa The trip was great.

You could stay a little longer.

Stop worrying.

I'm fine. I'll start living again.

It's feels good.

You don't have to take care of me anymore.

What? Even go to my neighbour's party tonight.

What?

Things will be fine.

- You'll see her next week and you'll be free.

- Yes, it will Yes, it will soon be over.

Yes.

All right then...

Nice. I thought you'd cop out.

- Bubbly? - No, thanks.

Get something to eat

Good evening, Mrs Neder.

Hello

Your hands are smooth considering your job.

You take care of Carola's garden, right?

As a child, my mother taught me the importance of clean hands.

Do we know each other?

Barbara Neder. I live next door.

Should feel a little hurt now.

Sorry, I...

I'm married. One often forgets

I know.

Why put his carvings in the forest?

He is supposed to be weird, probably has violent mood swings

Crime Squad. Good evening

Nice carvings.

- Your colleagues were already here. - Are you often in the woods?

- You here because of the two dead walkers? - There are four dead people now.

Four?

We saw one of your carvings near the second crime scene.

- Is that possible? - Yes, I work everywhere in the forest

So, did you notice anything?

Trees, deer and boars

I don't think I can help you.

Okay. If you remember anything, contact us.

Have a nice evening.

What did they want?

They said two more were murdered.

Oh, God.

Cancel with Erika.

Lock the door. The children mustn't go into the forest.

The gardener.

Good.

If you remember anything else...

Thanks.

So, success?

People lock their doors but nobody saw anything.

Typical!

It's time we made progress.

- Hello. - Crime Squad.

- How can I help? - We're interviewing people in the area.

Because of the dead people in the lseforst?

Exactly.

I've never seen you around here before

- Where were you on May 21? - It's been almost three months.

Heiner?

Do you know what we did on May 21?

No.

A good friend of mine.

- Everything okay, dear? - Everything's fine.

And July 12?

Hey, where I on July 12? I on July 12? was

- Didn't you call in sick in July? - Right, I had a fever. 39.5 degrees

You went to the pharmacy, right?

I always keep the receipts.

- We might need a written statement. - No problem.

- Thanks. - Good luck

Did you do these? - Why? They're just old...

Something's missing

I think Barbara did something here.

Robert, it doesn't matter if she wants wants more

Buy her a new house. house. Give her 500,000 but don't let her blackmail you.

Bad enough everyone thinks I ruined your marriage.

If anyone did, it was me.

Don't be late

We still have plans tonight.

I know.

Come in.

Don't you want to sit?

You're looking good.

Relaxed.

There are many reasons for that.

And later we'll drink to it?

That depends on you.

Did you touch the files at the firm?

Concerned?

Six weeks, four corpses and we have nothing? Not even a suspect?

We're going through known sex offenders, but...

Gerke, you must deliver results!

The locals are scared shitless They won't let their kids walk the streets

Someone reports their neighbour every 10 minutes. Soon people will arm themselves

Dark Woods. This is what the press came up with

Nobody dares go there.

We must be ready. We need new structures. If the Soviet Union...

Mr Bethge! A call for you. Your brother-in-law.

- I'll call him later. - He says it's an emergency.

I'll be right there. Sorry.

Yes, Robert?

Her bed is untouched.

Yesterday I was here until s here until 10 p.m.

Did you have another fight?

No, your sister was surprisingly relaxed and pleasant.

- What did my colleagues say? - They're relaxed and pleasant too.

They just said Mum will return tonight.

- Did you bring this here? - What? No.

- Did you call the hospital? - Of course. Nothing.

Is there anything you can do?

Please

Maybe we need to think bigger. People like this keep moving.

There are said to be three serial killers in Northern Germany.

- Gerald? - Not now.

It's the chief of Hamburg's Federal Police.

Mr Bethge, what an honour.

Yes, I'll send a patrol...

see

- Crime squad? - Yes, Jan Gerke

- Neder. - Bach.

This way. This is my daughter, Theresa.

- Hello. - Hello.

Anne Bach

And... this is my brother-in-law Thomas.

Yes, we know the boss from Hamburg. Hi.

This is Anne Bach.

Thanks for coming so quickly.

This is how you found it?

You didn't change anything?

- Anything missing? - Her nightdress and toiletries bag.

Do you know what was in this bag?

No.

- And yesterday you... - I was here till 10!

Robert, let the man do his job.

We didn't argue about the divorce papers. She was relaxed and happy.

You're getting a divorce? - Yes.

So you had cause for celebration?

- Is that champagne yours? - No.

You found the empty bottle on the table when you came home?

- And one glass? - Yes.

There were those hints. That she might have someone new.

Mum doesn't have a new Iman.

We wanted to pick a new kitchen for her house. The alarm The alarm was set for 7 a.m.

We called all her friends.

Mum would never leave without feeding the cats.

And we wanted to sort out my poems today.

Maybe she zoned out.

You have to look for her

Missing people normally turn up within 24 hours.

- But mum... - Theresa?

Could you get me a glass of water?

- Just because she didn't feed the cats... - Treat this as a crime scene.

- With all due respect.. - Just do it.

And question the neighbours. People forget quickly.

We will.

Inspired by true events.

Subtitles SBS Australia 2021