SYNOPSIS
On a rainy October morning, fifteen Danes have their lives turned upside down when the metro train they are travelling on is hijacked by unknown perpetrators, who will threaten to kill each of them, one by one, if their demands aren‘t met. This is the beginning of a historic hostage situation that, over the course of one single week, changes Denmark forever. The official Denmark finds itself caught in a whirlwind. The politicians argue whether or not to negotiate with terrorists. In the press, there are discussions on where the line is drawn in portraying the captives and seeking out their families. Ordinary Danes are thinking that it could just as well have been them. Among the hostages, the thoughts vary between rebellion, negotiation and apathy, but one thought is shared by all: “Am I going to die now?”
Episode 1:
Logline: Three heavily armed men hijack a metro train taking fifteen hostages. The police terror unit TTF is activated with Philip Nørgaard as leading commander.
Middle East, flashback: Philip Nørgaard has been held hostage for several months. He escapes, and a proud Defence Minister introduces him to the press in Denmark. Copenhagen, one year later: Three heavily armed men hijack a subway train taking fifteen hostages. They lead the hostages out onto the tracks, and into a subway station that is yet to be completed. Philip’s presence is required, as he’s head of the Danish Secret Service’s Terror Task Force. Louise Falck, with whom Philip is in an on/off relationship, arrives at the cordoned off zone, to Philip’s surprise. She’s part of the Negotiation Group. The hostage takers make contact and present their demand: four million euros. We experience Philip’s time as a hostage in flashbacks. His guard, Ahmad, switches between punishing him and talking as if they are partners; he quotes the line: “Howdy partner”, from the Peter Sellers‘ movie The Party.
The television reporter Naja Toft receives a phone call from the hostage takers’ leader, Alpha, and gets an exclusive live interview with the hostage Marie Bendix. At the end of the interview, Alpha steps in front of the camera and says that he hopes he and the police can be partners – ending his speech with the line: “Howdy partner”.
Episode 2:
Logline: Naja, the journalist who was fired for her unauthorized interview, starts a national fundraising campaign to raise the ransom for the hostages.
In the cell where the hostages are being held captive, Adel Rasul tries to sneak up on one of the hostage takers, but he’s pacified by Alpha. Philip tells the Defence Minister about the phrase “Howdy partner” but is reassured that Ahmad is dead. Naja has been fired following her unauthorized interview. Alpha contacts her again and offers her another live interview to stream on her blog. Philip and the police have tapped Naja’s phone, so they are also informed about this new interview. In the hostages’ cell, Adel is approached by Denise, who asks him not to attack the hostage takers, as he is jeopardizing all their lives. Naja initiates a country-wide campaign to raise money to pay the ransom, and conducts an interview with Adel. He implores Rami, a karate student of his, not to take matters into his own hands, while we see Rami trying to steal the money for the ransom. Philip registers that something is happening during the interview and shuts down the cellular network. When Alpha discovers that, he is furious. Then he gets in touch with Philip and says that he’s releasing a hostage in the tunnel. The SWAT team finds a body bag on the rail cart. Inside lies Adel. Dead.