Poacher (2023) s01e04 Episode Script

1
Hey, lower him.
Easyyou'll break
his neck again.
"Due to mental stress
I commit suicide.
No one is to be blamed
for this but me.
Do not blame my sister and
brother-in-law for my crimes."
Someone tipped him off.
There goes our
prime suspect.
At least you and your family will be
spared - the guilty party's gone.
Why don't you both take
a break, get some food.
Go to the canteen.
I don't believe this is suicide.
From everything I have heard
about Raaz - he was too bold.
- Murder?
- Sir, he was a habitual poacher.
He must have had connections with
other gangs, and organized crime units.
And we had so many
leaks early on
someone must have heard
we were after him.
And if we did catch him
he would have told us everything -
so they had motive.
That's truebut the fact is,
Raaz is gone.
And whatever knowledge
he had about this case
or any other syndicate,
went with him.
Unless we get it classified as a
high priority murder case.
Then we can find out who did this,
and we can follow the trail.
Is that a trail you
really want to follow?
We're trying to save
our DFO's job
and you want to hunt gangs
across the country?
I'm trying to save a species.
Sorry, Sir.
Sir, at leastlet me go to
the site, just to see for myself.
We don't have much time
and the police may not give the
crime scene the attention it deserves.
Sir, you won't mind if I go home?
I'll work from there.
If you still have a home.
I thought we were keeping
a low profile on this.
Going there now - you're peering out of
the trenches and putting us all in danger.
I'll be careful.
I need to see Raaz's body,
and the suicide site.
Are you coming?
I never shy away from
a dead body-viewing.
Can I suggest we take the
Chief Conservator with us?
He has good Forest Department
contacts over there.
Yeah.
- Nagesh?
- Hello, Sir.
ListenI have confirmation that
Ravi Don is out of the country.
- What do you have?
- Not much, Sir.
We can barely see
inside the house.
- How far are you?
- 30 meters away.
Are you fucking stupid? You need
to be looking down their throat.
Get closer to the house.
Track his wife's every
movement, and update me.
How, Sir?
We'll be spotted.
Use your head. Do I have to
spoon-feed you everything?
Papa, the PTA meeting
was today.
Yeahhow did it go?
I have 'room for improvement'.
Can I go?
Wait a minute.
Sorry, I got held up
and couldn't leave.
Achala
Was it life or death
what you were doing?
I love train samosas.
My wife thinks I'm crazy.
It's not the samosa,
it's the environment.
If you had the same samosa
at home, you'd spit it out.
Would you like some?
The groundskeeper won't willingly
give us the information we need.
We can't interrogate him.
No, and we can't tell him
who we are, either.
What is it?
Thambi?
How do you know Raaz?
I'm his niece, and this is
his close friend, Santosh.
I just want to collect
his personal belongings.
Of course.
What happened?
It's nothing -
what are you doing here?
- I slept over last night.
- Yeah?
Sorry dear, I didn't know.
I was working.
Last night we
waited for you.
- You did?
- But you came home so late.
Auntie was saying
you should act like a normal
Uncle and be home with us.
I want to be normal.
But there's a little problem
with elephants.
What problem?
I want to save them for you, Zoya,
so that when you grow up
there will still be thousands of
them roaming the jungle.
Wouldn't that be nice?
But there are some bad men,
hunting elephants.
Do you want your Uncle
to save them?
Then I'll have to work a lot.
But once they're saved,
I'll spend more time with you.
Can I see the elephants?
- It's better not to.
- Why?
They'll get scared.
Even though elephants are huge,
they're afraid of humans.
They just want to be left alone in
the jungle, in silence and peace.
Uncle, why do you like
turtles so much?
Because they're so interesting.
They carry their homes
on their back.
They're strong, they're good swimmers,
they live for hundreds of years
I wish I could be a turtle.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Listen, I'm going to
slip out quietly.
Don't tell anyone
you saw me, okay?
If you can keep this secret,
this turtle is yours, okay?
- Deal?
- Deal.
Done?
How long before you forgive me?
I married a computer programmer
who got a job in Delhi
but refused to move
his family there.
You don't think I wanted to?
But I prefer that you all
have clean air and water.
So he says. And then I
made a deal with him.
He works for 2 weeks a month
in Delhi, and the rest at home.
And then when he was home,
he was home.
He was a husband and a father.
Not sneaking out at night,
missing his son's life
- lying about where he is.
- When did I lie?
Seriously? What do you do then,
when you're out all night?
And why can't you bloody well
do what you say you will?
I can't go on like this, Alan.
You can't even be present for a second
without checking that damn thing!
- I was just checking the date.
- The 9th.
I want to show you something.
- Fine, show me.
- Not now.
Tonightlate.
- Gerson?
- Hi Krishna.
- Have you met the SHO?
- No, I just got here.
SHO Sir - I'm Krishna SP, from the
Kerala Forest Department.
And this is Gerson D'Costa,
of the Forest Department here.
We'd like to examine the body
you found at the estate, yesterday.
- Now?
- If that's alright?
- Do you have an official order?
- Hmm, from Neel Banerjee.
Raaz stayed here. He came
for a short while, so
Those were his cooking utensils
And herehe slept here.
Sometimes we played cards,
and hung out.
But he didn't talk much,
he was the silent type.
I was close to my Uncle.
He couldn't have committed suicide.
Well
I was the first one to see his body,
hanging from the tree.
Comeyou see that branch?
Raaz's body was
hanging there, like this.
And his things were
come, I'll show you.
Over here
The money was here,
and the gun was there.
And one of his shoes was
lying here, and the other there.
Andlook at this.
This
- Can you send me these photos?
- Sure.
I agree with you - Raaz didn't
climb up there and hang himself.
He wasn't that kind of guy.
And look here.
See his socks?
Totally clean and white.
If Raaz climbed that tree,
his sock would be a little dirty.
Now look at Raaz, and look
how thin the branches are.
He would have struggled
when he hanged himself
and the branch would have
snapped, right? But it didn't.
So that means someone
came here, murdered Raaz
and made it look like suicide.
We should examine the
handwriting in the note.
I want to see his body.
Why here?
Don't know. The chief
asked me to come with you.
Follow me.
Magnificent creatures.
There's been an ongoing
battle for years
between activist groups and the
government, to ban the use of elephants
in religious ceremonies
and weddings, but
the public seems to want it.
Despite the torture to these
magnificent creatures.
They're supposed to walk for
16 hours a day, eat on the move
and feel free to play,
but in 'God's Own Country'
Well, you can see for yourselves.
I have read Morris Finn's
second interrogation report
where he has stated that pruning the
tips of the tusks of captive elephants
produces small bits of ivory
that sustain the ivory trade?
It is something we
need to address, Sir.
They claim it's for
hygiene and safety
but in fact, it is to constantly sell
their ivory tips to low-level buyers.
- You'll have to let this go.
- Why, Sir?
There's a reality that you
are both mildly aware of.
You're allowed to gallivant around the
countryside and stop the big poachers
because it doesn't bother
the people in power.
And because, the public at large
don't really want poaching.
But, if your work upsets the
status quo high above us all
then you lose that
power to protect
and seal the fate of
these beautiful creatures.
The fact is,
the owner of this estate
was one of the largest contributors
to the election campaign last year.
And there are many many more
such estate owners and temples
who keep captive elephants,
doing the same.
So
if you meddle with them
you're cutting yourselves
off at the knees.
And besides, the economic
reality is that
sustaining the market at low levels
preserves elephant lives as a result.
So there's an ethical argument
to letting it go.
It's their punishment for
being on the same planet as us.
Keep going on with your
investigation, catch the bad guys.
I'll have your backs,
I'll fight for you.
Unless
you fly too high.
Hey, that's him.
SHO Sir, this is Mala
and Santosh, from my team.
Mala - SHO Rodriguez, and Gerson,
from the local Forest Department.
You're also a range officer?
Yes, Sir.
I needed information from you.
And now we need your official
statement about Raaz's death.
HeyI trusted you.
Hey!
Hello, hello -
please, please come.
Rope marks around his neck,
and it appears as though
some vultures got to him.
But no other visible signs
of struggle or injury.
- Cause of death?
- Suicide.
- You're sure?
- Yeah, see for yourself.
The rope marks,
and the broken neck.
- Thambi believes it was a murder.
- How so?
He showed us the crime scene -
his socks were completely clean
implying that his shoes were
removed after he was hanged.
And that branch wasn't strong
enough to sustain Raaz's weight.
Which means if Raaz struggled,
the branch would have snapped.
- And the money and gun
- What money?
- Found at the crime scene.
- There was no money there.
Thambi took photographs.
What crime scene is this?
He's making it up.
Fine, forget the money.
- But it's clear, this was murder.
- That's nonsense, Madam.
It's clear this is suicide. Why would
I challenge my doctor's report?
- So no postmortem?
- What's the point?
- We can at least do a toxicology test
- Why?
Sir, if we classify this as a high priority
murder case, maybe we can find the truth.
There's nothing to find. You read
too many detective novels.
Sir, we need to determine if other
poaching gangs are active or not.
And you're too afraid to
do extra paperwork.
Madam, the Forest Department thinks
they can bully their way around here.
Stop acting like you
care about conservation.
- You just want your cut, that's it.
- Say that again!
- Fine, I'll speak to the Superintendent.
- Go ahead.
But without my recommendation,
or the attending physician's
the Superintendent won't
do anything.
It doesn't matter what this guy's
done to warrant this end.
But his death will be
classified as a suicide.
And he did it when he felt pressured
by the Forest Department.
His note clearly indicates this.
Harish, take them out.
How can you do this
when you know the truth?
Let it go.
You have plenty to do on this case,
and this SHO won't budge.
There is no point in
ruffling more feathers here.
Papa
Thank you.
It's from Ma,
but she's still angry.
She wants to know what time
you're both going out tonight?
- Midnight.
- So late?
Yeah, Mala?
Sir, do we still have Poyya's relative
Yadu, and the others, in custody?
No, we had to let them go.
I have an idea that may help us
catch Poyya - I'll call you back.
What?
- Where are you?
- Doing an inspection.
- I need you.
- I'll sit this one out.
So you're not
going to help me?
Mala, I want to help, but I can't
watch you do this to yourself again.
- Then you shouldn't have
- Don't.
How many times are you
going to play the guilt card?
As many as it takes.
Shit.
Back again?
I still don't know
where Poyya is.
Heyif there's any way to
get a message to Poyya
his life's in danger - someone's
out there, hunting his accomplices.
If they find him
it'll be much worse than if we do -
they will make him suffer.
It seems our friend Yadu has
suddenly remembered where Poyya is.
Finally, progress. Tell me
In Nagavilli, Karnataka,
near Bangalore.
Yadu can arrange for us to
meet Poyya, via an intermediary.
I think if Yadu tells Poyya he's
bringing money for him, it could work.
Where?
Yadu suggested a bus stand in Kasargode,
on the Karnataka-Kerala border.
Great! Leave now. Pick me up
from Kozhikode, I'll wait there.
Just us? Are you
sure about this?
Charging at Poyya at a bus
stand might get dangerous.
Really? If it's too dangerous for you,
just send me Yadu and sit this one out.
Well, well
Hello, Mr. Illampally.
He was a poacher, wanted in the
recent case of elephant slayings.
Brother, get me a veggie special.
And while they're calling it a suicide
I wouldn't be surprised if the Forest
Department dished out their own justice.
It could have been some
enforcement officer
who hit him too hard
during interrogation.
But the sad truth is,
we'll never find out.
And whatever this Raaz
knew died with him
You youngsters worry too much.
People these days
they don't smoke or drink.
What has this world come to?
I just don't like taking
things from strangers.
My dear, what's bothering you?
- You wouldn't understand.
- Maybe not.
I have no kids
and my wife's dead.
But that doesn't mean I'm annoyed
at the world. I can still laugh at it.
- You're lucky, then.
- How?
I'm not lucky -
I'll be dead soon.
My point exactly.
That should cover both of us.
Nice to see you again.
Glad you could make it.
What's your problem?
Try travelling with this joker for a
few hours, you'll end up like me.
- Like it's been a picnic for me.
- Shut it.
Stop it, both of you.
We need to stay cool.
The real assholes are out there.
I don't understand
what the big deal is?
So a few elephants died,
why are you all so bothered?
Every individual counts.
They're the engineers
of the forest.
Meaning?
Their droppings spread crucial
nutrients throughout the forest.
Trees also disperse their
seeds through elephants.
So what, most forests
don't have elephants.
But these forests always have.
When they move and feed, they bulldoze
through the bush like a tornado
debarking and ripping trees apart.
Churning up soil, destroying their path,
and in turn, allowing for regeneration.
And for smaller species to coexist.
And I thought you two
didn't get along.
- And have you ever
- It's unfortunate that
If they die out
the jungle will saturate, stop growing,
and every living thing in it will perish.
We humans are nested in
the same environment.
The only reason you're not coughing to death
when you inhale, is because of these forests.
And what about my sister?
The elephants steal
all of her crops.
Even after a harvest, she barely
has enough to feed her family.
So it's okay for them
to cause this?
Elephants have genetic memories.
They forage for 16 hours a day
in the direction that their
memory tells them to go.
And if they arrive at a place
where a new paddy field
or highway has been built
it's their God-given habitat
We've taken it from them,
so they're going to lash out.
Try telling that to
your starving child.
- Yeah?
- I spent the day on the CDRs again.
I found another connection -
Sasi Illampally.
He wasn't on our first list
of suspects for this case
but Morris would call him frequently.
Illampally would then call Morris back
and travel to Trivandrum
the next day to meet him.
This happened thrice.
I know this Illampally -
I arrested him a few years ago.
Back then, he was a newcomer
to the trade. I know where he is.
I'm back late tonight,
hopefully with Poyya.
- We can pick him up tomorrow.
- Okay, okay
Sir
Thanks for coming.
We need to discuss this.
Dina picked these up, when she
raided Morris Finn's workshop.
- Where's Dina?
- She's keeping a low profile.
The Head of the Forest Force has
launched an investigation against her
Some internal issue.
But Dina believes that it's not just
foreign buyers ordering the ivory
- but ones within India.
- That can't be, Sir.
I mean, minor cases aside
there's never been a major
market for ivory within India.
At least not in my lifetime.
But the China trade routes were closed
years ago, and are still monitored.
Just look carefully
at the sculptures.
Actually yeah, you're right.
I mean, there's no way a
Chinese buyer would ask for this.
No, only Indians would.
Trace where this all goes.
To Delhi and wherever else
Sir, we have leads on many
potential poachers right now.
But I think we should start
surveillance on this art dealer in Delhi.
And we should go after her
as soon as we're done here.
Yesproceed.
But I still don't want to
include other organizations.
Especially after today's
meeting with the Chief.
And if this is a regular
affluent buyer in Delhi
she's not going anywhere.
Where is Mala?
En route to Kasargode,
to track a suspect.
That's a beautiful area.
She's probably lost in
paradise right now.
We're supposed to go to the bus
stand sign, Poyya should be there.
There's the sign.
Be careful, he might
have a knife or dagger.
There he is.
Let go of me -
who are you assholes?
I had no choice, Poyya.
They told me people were
after you, your life was in danger.
And you fell for it?
Let go of my hands!
Relax Poyya -
if you talk, you'll be okay.
Where are you taking me?
Keep walking.
Keep walking.
Stay still!
Okay, you can go.
- What do you mean?
- I can handle this.
I'm not leaving you
alone with him.
He knows me,
he won't do anything.
He'll
I don't need you any more!
Go.
I'll be fine.
Right, Poyya?
You won't hurt me.
See? Docile as a leopard.
Get out.
State your full name.
You're back, doctor?
No, but I need help surveilling
a suspect in this case.
So speak to the
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
I have a contact there
who can help.
Shekhar? Yeah, he's great.
But it has to stay under your charge.
Can you call the suspect,
in your patented way?
You know, as a marketing expert,
I do enjoy my prize giveaways
but what's in it for me?
Come on, this could be
the biggest case of our careers.
- Don't make me beg.
- Fine.
But you better bring back
some banana halwa.
Done.
Ready?
- It's so late, where are we going?
- You'll see.
- Perfect.
- What's perfect?
- These are ideal conditions for them.
- For whom?
Why are we here? I've seen this
place a hundred times.
Not like this you haven't.
The boots are back here.
How will we see in
the pitch darkness?
What's this?
For a few weeks a year,
this happens here.
Come.
I'm not just a programmer.
I also deal with protection
and conservation.
And this is what I'm trying
to protect - the ecosystem.
There are some people
who would destroy it all
and I'm trying to catch them.
If we turn a blind eye towards them,
we're slowly committing suicide.
Why didn't you tell me?
It's better that you and John
don't know anything about it.
I work anonymously.
And Achala
the case I'm on now, is the
most important of my life.
And you have to trust me it's
as important to me
as our family is.
I understand. And if it's that
important, then I support you.
But you have to be honest
with me, don't hide anything.
Didn't your mother used to say that
the slow flame makes the best food?
I'll tell you everything, in time.
When it's safe.
And then you emerged from
the forest, carrying the tusks
and made the trip back up river.
And Raaz took the tusks,
to sell to Morris Finn.
Can you confirm this?
I remember you.
Of all the officers who arrested
me before, you were the nice one.
Tell me - where are
Ivan Das and Ravi Don?
Even if you manage to get
through me, there are 5 guys outside.
And I assure you
if you got away, all law enforcement
in India would be looking for you.
You'd never be able
to return home.
Ravi Don -
we never dealt with.
And I don't know
where Ivan Das is.
We all fled on our own,
after the first raids started.
What are you going
to do to me?
Still here?
No big deal, just wanted to
make sure you were okay.
I'm fine.
He claims he doesn't know
where any of the others are.
But he admits to poaching
elephants, like Aruku said.
So that's a start, we have
our first official poacher.
Sir!
Hey!
Let go of it!
It's a small puncture, nothing serious.
There's a first aid kit inside.
Where the hell did you get this?
It's harder to kill yourself
than you thought, isn't it?
No more hiding spots for you.
Are you okay?
- You were alone with him, he could have
- I'm fine!
Everyone's safe.
I'm going to wash this off.
Mala? What time is it?
- It's late, Ma.
- Are you okay?
Dear, what is it?
Ma
Ma, I almost died.
Ma I would have gone
leaving you all alone.
I'm sorry, Ma.
I'm sorry.