The Believers (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

[bees buzzing]
[electronic music playing]
I have a brief idea.
We need to make a one-of-a-kind amulet.
There you go, Father Peung.
Father Peung, that's not bad.
- Peung rhymes with
- "Newly built?"
[bell chiming]
- "Rely on," asshole.
- [Game] What's next?
Do we need to find someone to bless it?
Well, how about Monk Ekachai?
Not famous and not mass enough.
Most people don't know who he is.
Okay, then
how about a famous monk?
[music stops]
ABBOT'S RESIDENCE
MONK VEERA ITSAVARO
Note. Why did Monk Dol come back?
I don't know.
Look, he brought a ton of stuff.
[bell chiming]
What about Monk Dol?
[Monk Dol] Namaskar, Father.
Today, I've come to request your guidance
on the motion to change the sect.
[tense music playing]
I'm planning on staying here
during Buddhist Lent.
Have you thought about it carefully?
I have considered it carefully.
My decision to stay here
might be of some help to the temple,
more or less.
[Game] Uh
That's interesting.
But shouldn't we try
one of the more famous monks?
Monk Dol has a pretty big fan base
on social media.
This could help with going viral,
giving a boost to our sales.
Is he gonna stay here long?
I don't know about that.
But let's just ask him first.
Is this what they call
prayers getting answered?
- Dear.
- [Dear] Hmm?
Ask Monk Dol for us.
[monk chanting in Pali] May your
moral virtue continuously grow
[theme music playing]
THE BELIEVERS
SUBSTANCES
Brother,
the amulets should be ready for release
after the end of Buddhist Lent.
Win and Dear will handle the videos,
[Game] and I'll stay here
to prepare everything.
Um.
This book lists temples with sacred
substances around the country.
You should look into it.
I stuck some Post-its in it.
Thank you.
If you're planning to ask them,
having a monk with you
might make things easier.
I can't go with you, though.
But I can contact the temples I know
ahead of time.
Please do that. Thank you.
What would you think
if we chose Monk Dol?
[bell chiming]
- Hey.
- [Game] Hm?
I saw your brother's clip the other day.
It looked pretty good.
Fuck that, you enjoy watching that stuff?
What stuff?
You know, life coach shit.
Why? Is your life lacking inspiration?
What the fuck should I watch then?
Well, general stuff, like
for content, like a variety show.
You can watch sports or something.
Watch porn or whatever.
Don't you have porn on your computer?
No, I don't.
The internet here is too slow.
[chuckles softly]
You jerk.
So? Who do you think of
when you do it? Dear?
Fuck you, you're a real pain in the ass.
[both laughing]
Damn.
- Hey, Win.
- Huh?
That night, you didn't do anything
to Father Kiw, right?
[thrilling music playing]
He was on the floor when I came in.
Why did you go there?
To negotiate with him.
Why? You don't believe me?
It's not like that. I do.
I don't think anything like that.
I'm just asking.
[Game] Okay?
- Okay.
- [Game] Yeah.
[music stops]
[Dear] Venerable Brother.
Oh.
Namaskar, Brother.
What is it, Dear?
Why did you come back?
The temple seems to be
facing some issues, right?
[soft music playing]
[Monk Dol] I saw it on the news.
So I just thought
I might be able to help the temple
in some way.
So
how long do you plan to stay this time?
As long as my merit dictates, I suppose.
How have you been?
Uh.
I've been quite busy lately.
We've been preparing for a new project.
What project?
We're going to make sacred objects.
Sacred objects?
These things are based on superstition.
They can only work on weak people.
But some people are different.
Some people really need
to rely on these things.
As a monk from a forest temple,
you might not see the necessity
of these things, but for most people,
if we put superstition aside,
it can help them connect more
with the temple and Buddhism.
Actually, I'm not well-versed
in these things.
[Dear] Well,
we want to create something
that can provide solace for people.
And if it can also help make
Phummaram Temple more lively,
I think it might be good.
I have nothing against what you are doing,
if it's something you have to do.
Umm
So
would it be possible to
ask you to come and help us
collect the substances
to make the sacred objects?
[music crescendos and fades]
[bell chiming]
Not even asking me to come along?
What? Just stay here and get things ready.
["Sadhu" by Milli playing]
How did you get Monk Dol to come?
I let Dear talk to him.
Here you go.
[Game] Brother,
I'll leave these two with you.
MONK CAVE
Namaskar, Father.
May you be blessed. Come, let's go inside.
What you need to get is
leklai in Kanchanaburi.
What do you plan for the temple to do
with the income from sacred objects?
Provide scholarships for orphans
or enhance job skills for the disabled.
There's no need for a construction
in the temple.
I rejoice in the plan.
Number 12, Sorapong.
It's for three years.
Number 13, Jiraphat Kongphairat.
[Game] Next, 108 wan plants in Phrae.
Please get in.
INSTANT KARMA
Let me see.
[man] How is it?
[Game] Relic powder in Khon Kaen.
WELCOME TO KHON KAEN
[chanting in northeastern dialect]
[man] May you be well.
[monks chanting in Pali]
[song ends]
[door closes]
We won't be staying the night
at a temple here.
We need to ask you to stay
in outside accommodation
because our next destination
is in a different direction.
[Dear] Is that alright?
[car engine revving]
We're going out. Do you need anything?
That's all right. I've taken care of it.
Please excuse us.
[soft music playing]
[Dear] Let's take the stairs.
Only one floor.
Oh, here you go.
[music fades]
Thank you. Goodbye.
- Can you do it?
- [woman] Sure.
Okay. Give it a good clean over there.
Yeah.
- [Monk Ekachai] Game.
- Yes?
Sign this for me.
APPOINTMENT OF MONK'S ASSISTAN
Are you appointing me as an assistant?
Yes, this should make it easier
to do things moving forward.
Absolutely.
Here you go.
Have you talked to Win?
Yes. He just mentioned that
after Khon Kaen, they're heading to
Nakhon, and will come back here.
What about creating the mold
at the factory?
They said the 3D model is finished,
and they'll send it to us.
If we're good with it,
they can create the mold tomorrow.
- That's good.
- Okay.
- [phone buzzing]
- Please excuse me.
[ominous music playing]
You should answer the call.
[music stops]
Dear.
- I'll drive. Let's take turns.
- It's okay.
I have a driver's license.
You couldn't even make it
out of your alley.
Hey.
Remember our talk
about the retreat pavilion?
I just feel like
we've been using him this much.
Shouldn't we at least do this for him?
Um.
But now's not the time.
We can do multiple things at once.
Why?
Why what?
Forget it.
- What's up with you?
- [car door closes]
[car engine starts]
[melancholy music playing]
Please come out.
Two rooms under Win.
[music stops]
Two rooms without breakfast.
I'll give this room to Monk Dol.
[Win] This is your room.
[Dear] Oh.
Is there something?
Nothing.
I just wanted to watch the sea.
Because since I was ordained,
I haven't been here again.
When were you ordained?
[relax music playing]
Since I was a novice monk.
My family was poor.
My parents passed away when I was young.
So, my grandmother made me
become a novice monk.
So, you never got to live a teenage life?
You could say that.
Don't you have any regrets?
It happened a long time ago.
Whether I regret it or not,
what good would it do now?
Have you ever felt lonely?
Why do you think I'd feel lonely?
Umm
Because you're a monk
who was ordained since a young age.
Actually, my life is quite
similar to yours.
My mom passed away,
and my dad got remarried.
Sometimes, I feel like
I'm alone in this world.
If you learn to live with yourself,
you can live with loneliness.
[Monk Dol] People
say they love themselves,
but can't stand being with themselves.
They constantly look to someone else,
or something to give them fulfillment.
I guess that's true.
So, you've never felt lonely, have you?
I
[children laughing]
[music stops]
Dear. Let's get something to eat.
[Dear] I have to go now.
Can you get my shoes for me? Over there.
"NARUETHIP VITAMIN WATER"
HOTTEST DRINK OF THE YEAR
[suspenseful music playing]
[clapping]
POL. MAJ. KRITSANAPHOL ATCHARIYAPHON
INVESTIGATION INSPECTOR
[door opens]
[door closes]
[mouse clicking]
What's going on outside?
Oh.
[Au] The chief just secured
his golden ticket,
he's getting transferred to Bangkok.
Oh, fuck.
Where do these guys get all this money?
Why don't you try it?
Oh.
Where would I find the money?
My child is still young.
Hey, try going through the superintendent.
Aren't you guys buddies?
Let me know when you're ready
to bring in the team. See you.
[door opens]
PHUMMARAM TEMPLE
[door closes]
[music fades]
[water draining]
[melancholy music playing]
[laughs] Wait, let me capture this.
[music stops]
- [Win] What?
- You're drying your hair with a bath mat.
Shit, who put them
so damn close together?
[Dear] They weren't, though.
[Dear laughing]
How would you survive without me?
I just used the wrong towel.
[laughs]
Do it again. Go there and start over.
I'll take it from the start.
You're a pain in the ass.
- Here.
- Ouch!
You jerk.
I already wiped my feet with this one.
Hey, ask Game where he's at now.
He said there's just packing left.
It's almost done.
[switch clicking]
Are you going to bed?
[Dear] No.
It was too bright.
[somber music playing]
- Win.
- Huh?
About the pavilion,
I just feel for him, you know?
He's done so much for us.
Shouldn't we return the favor?
Just wait a little longer.
Let's clear this stuff first.
[Win exhales heavily]
[Win sighs]
How long are we gonna
keep doing this?
Until we pay off the debt.
What if it doesn't work this time?
We'll find other ways.
[Dear] Aren't we going to try
something else?
It will work. Trust me.
[music stops]
[woman on TV] Our mind is frustrated,
or sad and solemn,
or heavily burdened.
If we practice breathing
in and out regularly,
our mind will be conscious
and focused only on the breathing.
Take notes of your body and your feeling.
That is called Bhavana.
[melancholy music playing]
Setting your mind is difficult
Mom?
Mom.
Mom.
[woman on TV] Breathe in, breathe out
Dear.
[doorknob clicking]
[door closes]
Why didn't you lock the door?
Someone could break in.
My mom asked me to bring you
chicken coconut soup.
She's gone.
[phone keypad clacking]
Uh Hello,
there's been a death in the house.
The address is 48/3 Moo 5,
Soi Chanwinij 3.
Yes, the Public Health Center.
She had lymphoma.
Yes.
Yes, okay.
The hospital staff are on their way.
How long have you been sitting this way?
Is it a bad karma
if I feel relieved that my mom's died?
I don't think it is.
Who knows what you've been through?
Only you do.
Why didn't she tell me before she died
where she wanted her funeral to be held?
My mom was a Buddhist. But when she met
my dad, she followed him to the church.
If I decide for her,
will she go to her eternal resting place?
There might not even be such a place.
Who knows where one goes after death?
Do good, go to heaven,
do bad, go to hell, or some other realm?
Haven't you read Stephen Hawking?
He said, "There is no God."
As for me,
I don't believe in life after death.
If I die, pay the undertaker to handle it.
Don't trouble yourself.
[inhales deeply]
Shouldn't you comfort me a little?
My mom just died.
[melancholy music continues]
[Win] Sorry for your loss.
[crying]
[sobbing]
[sobbing continues]
[siren wailing]
[Dear crying and sobbing continues]
[music stops]
[tense music playing]
[bag zipping]
"WISH COMES TRUE" BUDDHA
If you're looking to make merit,
please head outside.
The main hall is closing soon.
- Thank you.
- Sure thing.
I heard that the liaison here
was dealing drugs?
Has he been caught?
Oh.
I have no idea, but I heard
the police were chasing after him.
I think they might have caught him.
But please don't worry.
He has nothing to do with the temple.
- Is that so?
- Yes, we're clean.
[Game] Feel free to make merit outside.
[music stops]
Is the temple closed now?
[ominous music playing]
Mr. Akkarachai.
Isn't it strange
for someone from a well-known family
to be sitting at a temple, counting money?
Nothing strange about it.
[theme music playing]