Poacher (2023) s01e06 Episode Script

1
Hey Aruku.
You're not looking too good.
- Like hell, actually. Are you alright?
- Fine, Sir.
Yeah right, you seem more than 'fine'.
You're wasted - come on, get in.
It's real mongoose hair.
They can't be
look at these bristles.
They're either too hard,
or too soft.
And my detailing is not as fine as with
the other mongoose-hair brushes I have.
- Why did you sell me these fakes?
- You're calling him a liar?
I have to deliver my
canvases next week.
And they're sub-par
because of your fake bristles.
Should I catch a mongoose
and pluck it myself?
Poyya, don't!
You're insane.
Leave him!
Fucking lunatics!
Listen to me -
shouldn't you go home?
Just one drink, Sir.
Let's go.
- Would you really have killed him?
- Did you sell him fake brushes?
- Aruku, right? Can we join you?
- I usually sit alone.
Where did you just come from?
You look like hell.
I set a controlled fire.
You need to be careful
when starting a fire.
And once the area is cleared,
it has to be put out.
- You do this every day?
- During the dry season, yes.
That's great. Being around fires
all day, you must be thirsty.
Get my friend a bottle.
Drink upgulp it down.
I lost control, Lord!
I lost control, Lord!
Hey, another round!
We should have sat with you ages ago.
We never realized you were this much fun.
You could have - I've been
coming here for years.
Okay, bye. Goodnight.
Arukuhow well do you
know the forest?
I've been working in it
for decades.
I can navigate it in my sleep.
But Raaz could too.
Since he also lives on
the edge of the forest.
But the forest has changed so much,
none of us know it anymore.
Your talents are going to waste.
And you get paid peanuts,
putting out fires and saving the forest.
With those peanuts, I'm barely able to
feed my family, after paying rent.
Do you know where
the elephants are?
I know all of the
migratory routes
and where they like to hang out, but
those place are not easy to reach.
Sometimes I spend days inside
and watch them - they're magnificent.
Brother, how do you
reach those areas?
Follow the river and travel upstream.
It's a long walk, over a day.
Those areas crawl
with elephants.
The forest is thick there,
the bush is like a wall.
I used to know those routes
when I was younger
but it's all grown over now,
and the paths have disappeared.
Damn forest keeps moving.
- The forest is alive.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Brother
You wanna make
some extra money?
Relaxhave another.
Have it.
- Who's that?
- Don't know.
What are you doing here?
I thought we were
going next week.
It's moved up
to today.
Where's Poyya?
He didn't show.
Just go get your stuff.
Let's move.
- Hey
- What?
I have to go into the forest -
I'll be back in a week.
A week? Where are you going?
Why didn't you tell me?
I forgot.
Poyya - wake up!
Poyya!
Look at him,
he's passed out.
Wake up.
What happened?
- Come on.
- Splash water on him.
Sit sit sithere.
- What happened?
- This is normal for him.
He's covered in blood.
It's not mine,
it's that bloody artist's.
He won't bother you again.
FuckPoyya.
Get up, let's go.
- Ma's coming with us.
- Fine.
Waitdid you get the guns?
- What the fuck?!
- We need the guns.
Now?
This joker was supposed to get
them yesterday - where are they, huh?
- I thought it was next week.
- Plan's changed.
Give them now,
or not at all.
Here.
To load the gunpowder,
I've installed a ramrod.
Your coir pith
potash, and gunpowder.
It's all here, take it.
It's still heavy, close to 10 kg.
Feels like a .303 rifle.
When I test-fired this, you said
You haven't given me enough
time to rebore the barrel.
If you're in a rush, take it now,
or give me more time.
Fuck, it's like pulling teeth.
All of you are
working against me.
'Pulling teeth'that's funny.
For an elephant, you'll need to use the
breadth of 10 fingers of gunpowder.
Anything less would likely
result in injury, not death.
I know that!
I remember.
How much were you paid?
For the first time - 30,000 rupees.
After that - 87,000 each time.
Didn't you hesitate at all?
- I needed the money.
- Hmm, and the booze.
But you'd gotten by until
now without extra cash.
I'm getting old, Sir. I can't do
my job for much longer.
Younger guys will take over.
Shouldn't I save something
for my family?
I was just a contractor,
no pension.
I also figured there must be around
600 elephants in this forest.
- So killing one was no big deal.
- There used to be 600. Not anymore.
Just over there.
Keep an eye out,
as you walk.
For?
This is a forest, there are leopards,
snakes, elephants - all sorts of creatures.
Why do you like this
forsaken place?
I don't get it.
Years ago there was so much
poaching happening in this region
that most elephant bulls
were wiped out.
In this 4000 square
kilometer area, imagine
a sex ratio of one male
to one hundred females.
I can't believe how well
you know this terrain.
Poachers and hunters know the
terrain better than conservationists.
- Hey, watch for leeches, huh.
- Sir, they're good for cholesterol.
'Cholesterol'!
She may have already eaten.
- Should we run?
- Only if you have a death wish.
Still a better way to die than getting
your head smashed in kabaddi.
Camp here.
Hey, don't touch this.
Hold that rope.
Come on, come on.
I'll find dinner
Poyya.
Bearbear.
- See that python pushing against the tree?
- Yeah.
- It's digesting something.
- Oh.
Cook this.
- How long did you camp here for?
- Until we were done with the hunt.
It would range from
8 to 10 days.
This was our base
to find the elephant herds.
How far are the
guns from here?
Where did you get
the guns?
- The gunsmith made them.
- We arrested him a few days back.
He smuggled parts into the area,
piece-by-piece, and then assembled them.
It was my job to
mix the gunpowder.
Why don't you tell them how
you got that scar on your face?
Go ahead -
it's your own doing.
Shut up, asshole! We're in this mess
because you ratted us out!
Stop it!
- I'll tell them then.
- Piss off!
He was mixing the gunpowder,
and then heating it.
It becomes damp after
walking through the forest.
It has to be dried carefully
How much is in there?
Mummy!
Oh God!
Why the hell would
you use a match?
Not so fast,
you have to suck it up.
Why did you ask him how much
gunpowder was in there?
Who cares? We have enough
for several shots.
We'll head back at dawn,
and get him to a hospital.
- We're not going anywhere.
- What?
Accidents come with the job -
we all knew the risks.
We're not leaving here
without our trophy.
Nothing else matters.
- Where are you from?
- Thumponkarra.
- I don't know it.
- I do.
Every home there has
at least one poacher.
They hunted for a living. Now they
wait for lapses in patrolling
or for the laws to change,
so they can hunt again.
Poyya and Raaz are
from similar places.
How do you
know all of this?
My father was a poacher.
And if I was a boy,
I might have become one, too.
Instead, I'm hunting down
people like you.
And if I had my way, I'd have you
all wiped out from this earth.
- Why can't you get an honest job?
- Sir, what job could I possibly get?
What do you think these
officers used to do?
Hunters make the best
conservationists.
But that wouldn't satisfy
your blood lust.
- Your chauvinist desire to rule the world.
- Mala!
Hey.
- Where are you going?
- Nowhere.
- Huh?
- Nowhere.
That's good.
Because if you left us, it would be
tough for us to get out of here.
But we would eventually manage,
and then visit your home.
I'd like to meet your
wife and children.
Hunting time.
Sir
Go go go!
Make noises - scream!
Go, run run!
They're all females.
There
One shot.
- Heypull the trunk off first.
- Why the trunk?
- How else will you get to the tusks?
- Okay.
Why did you leave the carcass like this?
You could have covered it at least.
Why bother?
Which forest officer is going to come
this deep into the forest?
You lot are too lazy.
Hey, we nabbed you -
don't forget that.
Yeah, right
I surrendered.
Su
This is what he did
for a living.
It made him content.
Seeing that rotten
flesh decay
I've finally
figured him out.
He was habitual -
this is the only thing he knew.
I wonder
if he knew how hard it was to clean
up his mess, would he have done it?
Like these fuckers
who just kill and leave.
I wish I could do the
same thing to them.
Shoot them in the head, rip their
teeth out, and leave them to rot.
Let the jungle
feed on their remains.
Mala, I'm sorry.
You were right about me.
I was lazy, arrogant.
I never imagined this could happen,
and under my watch, too.
You couldn't possibly
patrol this entire region.
It's a manpower issue,
not your fault.
Not true.
I screwed this up.
Aruku even confessed to me,
and I didn't take him seriously.
I have to live with that.
But of everyone I've ever known
who's come through this forest
you might be the only one who
shouldn't be carrying any guilt.
- Please don't.
- Out of my way.
You think I won't
shoot you?
- Why would you kill him?
- Because I feel like it - move.
Don't!
Oh God.
I tried to stop him,
but couldn't.
It's time to go.
You have the rest of your life
to cry over your sins.
But we need to catch the
rest of those assholes now.
I've sent our coordinates, the team
will come document all of this.
You said there were
17 more elephants?
They're in different ranges, Sir.
We'd need to start from home base.
You never picked us up,
understand?
- Don't stop, don't stop.
- I have to, he's a range officer.
- Looks like a full househey Aruku.
- Hi, Sir.
Glad you're heading my way.
Nobody's passed by for hours.
What were you all doing out here,
so early in the morning?
- Huh?
- We were out drinking last night.
We played a game with fire,
and his face got burned.
I was taking him to
apply a forest remedy.
Playing with fire?
That's some game.
- You and I need to have a talk.
- Sure Sirlater.
Go.
You should have stopped
him from getting in.
If I had, it would have
been even worse.
You almost got us caught.
Doesn't matter, it's over -
we can go our separate ways.
We're going back in a few days,
and you're our guide.
- Our deal was one trip.
- No, we need more.
Ivan's injury set us back.
Just lay low, so nobody
gets suspicious.
Hey
Don't even think of walking away -
you're a part of this now.
Poyya, take care of those.
So how many times did
you all go out together?
5 trips - we poached
18 elephants.
When I hesitated, they coerced
me with booze and money.
If I told them no,
they would threaten me.
I have a son
in the hospital.
He's been disabled since birth,
and needs expert care.
It's expensive,
and I was broke.
- But I just couldn't do it anymore.
- So what changed your mind?
Yogi will be discharged soon,
he feels up to working again.
That would be great.
What's wrong?
- An elephant calf is stalking me.
- What?
Keep on drinking like this
and talking nonsense
and you'll end up in the
hospital with our son.
ArukuAruku!
- Therea spirit's calling my name.
- Aruku!
It's a man, not a ghost.
Go see who it is.
Oh, it's you, Poyya.
- I thought it was a ghost calling me.
- We're going out again next week.
You might become a ghost
if you don't come.
Your family
They look nice.
Leave them alone.
Aruku, I have nothing
to losenothing.
I'm just a shadow,
with no life.
Raaz has a
message for you.
In the food chain,
we hunters are at the top.
We're the ultimate predators.
We decide which animals survive,
and which die.
Hey, Aruku!
- Hop in, I'll give you a lift.
- Sir, I can walk.
Come on, I'll drop you
at the bus stand.
We need to talk,
remember?
- You're not looking too well.
- I'm fine, Sir.
Aruku, I know about
you and Raaz's gang.
Sir, please don't
tell anyone.
I never thought it would
turn out like this.
I didn't mean to - I'm sorry.
I won't do it again, Sir.
What the hell? All this guilt
for running moonshine?
Huh?
Everyone knows Raaz smuggles
illegal alcohol into his street bar.
If you hang with them,
you'll eventually get into trouble.
As a forest officer,
it's none of my business.
But I'm worried about you -
stop hanging out with those guys.
Fine, Sir.
Get your act together,
it's sad to see you like this.
Close the door.
You slaughtered elephants?
How could you?!
Up until now, didn't we live off
of what the forest provided?
Ma, we did need the money.
Papa, you need to turn yourself in,
and give evidence against the others.
What if they arrest me?
I'll take up more contracts, and
take care of everyone as best I can.
But you need to do it.
How many lifetimes will you
carry this burden for?
He's right, Aruku -
you know who you've killed?
The incarnation of God,
Lord Ganesh.
You will surely pay for
this in your next life.
You're already suffering today
for the sins of your last life.
But if you take punishment for
the sin you've committed now
you'll be spared
in your next life.
I should never have gone
with those demons.
Why did I go
drinking that night?
If my son wasn't unwell,
I'd kill myself.
That may be
but if you take your own life, it will
be even worse for your karma.
Sooner or later, you'll have
to pay for these sins.
Turning yourself in is
your only way out of this.
Sir
Yeah Aruku,
what is it?
- I need to tell you something.
- I'm busy.
It's important - elephants are
being poached in our forest.
What elephant poaching?
It's a gang.
They got deep into the forest
and poached 18 elephants.
I was with them.
But I can't do it anymore - I'm here
to confess, and give you their names.
That's very funny.
I never knew you had
a sense of humour.
Who put you up to this?
Was it Anthony? Anthony!
- Did you make him do this?
- Do what, Sir?
He says he's involved in the
poaching of 18 elephants.
Our little Aruku.
Sir, I'm telling the truth.
Right. So you led these
hunters deep into the jungle
camped with them for days,
right under our noses
and killed 18 elephants?
So, since 'Veerappan'
this is the biggest poaching
incident in the last 20 years.
You hear that? We have our very
own 'Veerappan' here! What a guy.
You're nutsderanged
to even think of this!
Go on. And on your way back,
go get your head checked.
I have a lot of work to do,
and I've had my laugh for the day.
It's the best I could do
with such short notice.
This is comprehensive.
We now need to get
Poonam Verma and Ravi Don.
I still think the big question
mark is here - the end buyers.
Yes Sir, give me a moment
Sure, Sure I can tell you -
Neel
The Minister wants an
update on Prabhas Peradi.
- He fully confessed.
- One minute, listentell him.
Just tell him, please.
Sir, he fully confessed.
He even admitted to
shooting an elephant himself.
We recovered a double-barrel gun
and cartridges from his home.
Good for you, but we may
still have to let him go.
Why, Sir? Even with
this confession?
Kishore, we're getting
pressure from above.
Sir, you can't do this, it would send a
fatal message to poachers everywhere.
I realize that, but
Sir, respectfully if that's the case,
thenI'll have to resign.
I can't turn a blind eye towards
this and keep working, sorry.
I'll see what I can do.
How is it that we are not all
on the same page on this?
Forget about all of this
nonsense.
Focus on the manhunting.
Any updates?
Sirwe have all of the on-the-ground
poachers, and their weapons, in custody.
We've found the poaching sites,
and elephant remains.
There are a dozen more sites,
Aruku will lead our teams there.
- Sir, this is Poonam Verma's?
- Arrest warrant.
It is the time to grab
the head of the snake.
I've informed the Bureau in Delhi,
they're sending Shekhar to help.
Sir, but this is a Kerala warrant,
issued by a magistrate here.
How will we get Verma
back here for arrest?
That's for you to figure out,
hunter.