Poacher (2023) s01e07 Episode Script

1
We have Morris Finn's confession.
He sold carved ivory to
Poonam Verma, poached to order.
And I can verify the confession,
Your Honour.
We also have a photograph
of Verma
taken by surveillance teams
in Delhi outside her gallery
which was used to identify her,
when shown to Morris.
Of course,
the call records also.
Do you have any other
evidence against Verma
other than this confession?
None. But we are working on it -
we just need to get her into custody.
Gentlemen, what you have here is a
confession from a known criminal and liar
who's made a complaint that he
was under duress from your officer
and forced to sign this confession.
This is not enough.
Your Honour, if you would
grant me the warrant
and let me hold her for a day,
we'll have all the evidence we need.
For all we know, she could be
ordering more ivory as we speak.
Okay - I'll issue it. But you'll need
that evidence to make this hold.
And while she may be
operating out of Delhi
you need to arrest her here in
Kerala, however the hell you do it.
Yeah, no problem.
You need to get Poonam
here first, somehow
and then we can
legally arrest her.
Sir, and what if we can't,
or she escapes?
Escape is not the issue.
It is getting her here
fast enough
before she wiggles
out of it with her contacts.
I'm sure she's connected
enough to get out of jail free.
Sir, why don't you
come with us?
I need to focus on
Ravi Don now.
How are you going
to get him?
Don't know, but I'm taking
that one on myself.
- Good luck.
- Sir, I hope this is my last turtle report.
How do you people put up
with this pollution?
- It's why I keep my kid away.
- SHO Sir! Sir
I'm Shekhar, from the Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau, we spoke earlier.
- Hey, sign in and make an appointment
- It's alright, I was expecting them.
Come in. I don't have
much time, so make it quick.
I have to pick up chole bhature
for my wife and kids
or I'll never hear the end of it.
My wife's agreed to cook for 6 nights
a week, but I'm responsible for the 7th.
What kind of world do we live in?
It's all because of this "feminism".
So tell me
These two represent the
Kerala Forest Department, and
Sir, we need your help to
apprehend an ivory seller
who's gotten many
elephants killed.
We need to get her on a
plane to Kochi, immediately.
Elephants?
I'm guessing this isn't top
priority for the Kerala Police?
- No, Sir.
- Call Sunita in.
She's a staunch vegetarian,
she'll help you.
- Yes, Sir?
- You know about elephants?
Sir?
See that? Nobody here
knows about wildlife.
Because animals can't
make complaints.
We city folk live in an
asphalt jungle.
We have nothing to do
with animal hunting.
If this was the
murder of a person
you have an accused, a weapon -
there's a will at least.
We city dwellers don't think
about wildlife crime
don't even want to
know about it.
Exactly, Sir. And by killing
these poor creatures
these monsters have created
a 10.5 nil rupees industry.
What? What's a 'nil'?
Sir, that's a trillion dollars.
Sunita, please help them
apprehend a local ivory dealer
who's ordering the death
of elephants in Kerala.
Yes, Sir.
And be wary - these rich people
are highly connected.
Keep as many others
out of this as possible.
And get that Constable Jivan
to help, he's reliable.
Sir.
Okay Madam, I have to leave now,
or my bhature will get cold.
Thank you, Sir.
Go ahead, start.
HiHello.
Can I talk to you
for a second. Now?
- What happened?
- What is this?
- I'm hosting a few friends, why?
- Why didn't you tell me?
It's like the other night when Zoya
was here, you didn't tell me either.
And now, all this.
What's the point of telling you?
Are you ever home?
This isn't an army operation
where everyone salutes
you and reports to you.
I asked you to take rest,
but do you? You don't.
And like a child, you sneak out
through the back door.
I'm too old to deal with this.
You're a workaholic, and if you want
to ruin your health, then go ahead.
But I refuse to repeat myself.
And one more thing.
The next time you want to
bribe Zoya, up the payment.
Yeah Nagesh
hold the line.
- Yeah, tell me.
- Yes, Sir. Still nothing to report.
Don's wife went out
a few times this week.
We even followed her
to the market.
And no packages or
parcels going in or out?
Nothing out of the
ordinary at all?
No, just the painters working
late nights for the past few days.
- And Don's wife
- What painters?
House painters.
- Fuck, why didn't you tell me earlier?
- It's just housework.
Asshole, you could have snuck inside as
one of them! Go now, join the painters.
- Sir?
- Don't you understand?!
Leave the iron stand, go inside,
and tell them you're there to help.
But Sir, I don't know anything
about house painting.
I don't fucking care, you don't
need to be a Picasso!
Just get inside there. And what's
the name of the company?
"Niram, Painting with Pride."
Go inside, tell them you want
to help - I'll get you permission.
Sorry Brother, gotta go.
- Hello, "Niram, Painting with Pride"?
- Yeah, go ahead.
I'm calling from the
Kerala Forest Department
I need you to do
something for me.
Forest Department? We have
nothing to do with you.
- BrotherI'm joining you.
- Who are you?
I'm the new guy - they sent me
from the office to help out.
Brother, we don't do favours,
we work for money.
Listen to me, 'brother.'
Either you help me, or the next call
will be from the Chief Minister.
And you can tell him
what you told me.
What are you talking about?
I've never seen you before.
Hello, Sir
Sure, Sir.
He's here right now.
Okay, Sir. Will do.
I don't know what's going on,
but you got the job. Here
Hold these.
Follow me.
Alright, here you go.
Cover this with grey.
- Fill it.
- Okay.
No, I heard he kicked her out.
She's gained weight -
that's her fault.
I hope he calls her, but to be
honest, I really can't stand her
18 CCTV cameras that
will see us coming.
A door that would withstand
a simple bombardment
and it's three floors.
It's impossible to penetrate
with our resources.
We can do it late tonight,
when everyone's asleep.
But do what?
I'm hungry.
Uh huh - not bad at all.
Have you done this before?
No, but Xavier gave me
a few tips before he left.
- It's looking good.
- Listen, do we get a break?
No - even if the sky falls,
we have to finish tonight.
Why?
Because I want the paint smell
out before the party this week.
Stop the chit-chat,
I'm paying you for overtime.
Yes, Madam.
- I just need a minute for the toilet.
- First room, over there.
We can go in the house?
- Is someone using my bathroom?!
- No, Madam.
Liar!
Hi, this is Ganavi, please leave a
message after the beep, thank you.
Ganavi, it's Neel -
please call me back urgently.
Ever since the SHO mentioned food,
I've been thinking of this place.
- The food is great here.
- And the service is terrible.
In Delhi, the worse the service,
the better the food.
This is Mala, a range officer
with the Kerala Forest Department.
Hello.
Is this the 'other woman'
that your wife calls me about?
- I wouldn't be caught dead with him.
- I like her.
And I'd rather chill with
my snakes. Got the stuff?
Yup, I raided the office.
Wow - looks like a real
professional operation.
- What's actually happening tonight?
- You're not coming.
We just needed these - I'm buying
you dinner to call it even.
No, the price of these things is my
involvement. No way am I missing out.
- Nupu, we don't even have a plan.
- What?
- I have an idea, but it's risky.
- What is it?
I'll need you to take my lead -
can you do that?
Hey rich kids, order or leave.
This isn't a fucking park.
Oh thanks, Ganavi.
Yeah, Neel. I'm down
with a virus, what is it?
It's really important - that guy
I was looking for, Ravi Don
he might return to
Trivandrum this week.
- 'Might' return?
- No, he will return.
Verified?
- Not yet, but it's a solid source.
- So you want me
to check the passenger list of every
incoming flight for the next 7 days?
Yes, something like that.
This would be a second favour.
No, it's part two of
the original favour.
Look, I'm already grateful to you,
but I'll owe you after this.
Please check all lists for
Trivandrum and Kochi.
- He could already be in the country.
- He could.
What kind of intelligence
man are you?
Aren't you supposed to verify all intel
at least thrice before acting on it?
Unless your instinct says
otherwise, Ganavi.
And now my instinct tells me -
you please do it.
- Hmm.
- You're the best, Ganavi.
If you ever need anything
in the wildlife world
Yeah, yeah, I know.
- Who is this? It's 3 am.
- Delhi Police.
Your vehicle was
involved in an accident.
You need to come
to the station with us.
Fuck.
Ohshe's pretty wretched,
so watch out.
Yet to meet an ivory dealer
who isn't wretched.
- What accident?
- What is all this?
There was no accident.
I'm Mala Jogi, range officer from
the Kerala Forest Department.
- You're Poonam Verma?
- Yeah.
- Then you know why we came.
- How would I know?
Morris Finn and his team of
poachers have been arrested.
They've identified you
as an ivory seller.
Ivory? I pray to Lord Ganesh,
how could I kill an elephant?
Well then if you and Lord Ganesh
don't mind, we'd like to see inside.
You can't just barge in like this,
we've done nothing wrong
Quiet!
- There's no basement, I'll check upstairs.
- Go ahead.
Very nice -
you have a daughter.
Stand back.
Shashi, back to bed.
I don't believe it.
I've never seen a workshop
like this before.
We got her.
I'm not so sure, guys.
The texture feels slightly off.
Eh!
- Jivan, take their phones.
- Give me the phone. Quickly.
Give me your phone.
- This Poonam Verma is smart.
- Why?
Because ivory needs extremely
high temperatures to burn.
It looks flawless,
but smells like plastic.
- I need to talk to you.
- Not without my lawyer.
Give me a minute, you may
not need your lawyer.
We know the entire stock
upstairs is fake.
You thought we would seize it,
and you'd go to court
and prove it's all a false case
because of the plastic stock.
You'd prove your innocence,
while embarrassing us, correct?
Don't worry,
this is your lucky day.
The Forest Department is
building a case against you.
But I'll take care of that
and let you go
if you're willing to
give me a cut.
You've been named in these interrogations,
and every Kerala newspaper has reported it.
So optics dictate that
we do something.
But if we claim we have no evidence
against you, then you walk.
This happens all the time,
you just have to play along with me.
Why should I?
Because the others
are not in on this.
Come with us to the station, deal with
the formalities, and then you're free.
Otherwise, range officers
will keep coming for you.
If you can keep me from arrest,
you won't regret it.
Finelet's go.
All fake, every last piece.
She didn't do anything.
You thugs will pay for this!
- Do you know who we are?
- Leave it, I'll be back soon.
- Why is she cooperating?
- Shh.
Neel, I have news.
But first I need something from
you to brighten up my crappy day.
I'll name a tigress in
Periyar reserve after you.
- How's that?
- I like the sound of that.
Okay listen, your Ravi Don is flying
from Doha into Kochi, at 7 am today.
You're sure?
Right, I stay up all night,
go through all of this trouble
just to bring you
the wrong intel.
You are the best, Ganavi.
And you owe me a tigress name.
Sending the flight details.
Great.
Now we got you,
motherfucker.
What?!
I told Poonam I want a cut of
her profits, and then I'd let her go.
So she thinks she'll pay
you off and get away?
It was the cleanest way to
detain her without arrest.
- You call this clean?
- And I thought I'd seen it all.
But you have another problem.
You must show your Kerala arrest
warrant to a magistrate here
and get a transit warrant,
to transfer Poonam to Kerala.
And the civil aviation authority
you need their permission to transport
a prisoner on a commercial flight.
- Poonam's lawyer is here.
- Let's go.
We have Poonam's phone
but come 9 am, her lawyer
will likely make a few calls
and she'll walk, before we
get the transit warrant in time.
And once she's out, she'll make some
payoffs and actually get away scot-free.
The only way to take these people
down is to go public with the story.
Tell the press that she's been
arrested, she confessed
and there's a mountain
of evidence against her.
Then nobody will
want to go near her.
If you want to take her to Kerala,
don't wait for a Delhi magistrate.
- Is that legal?
- It's at their discretion.
Call the Kerala Magistrate, ask if she'll
take Poonam without a transit warrant.
If she will, then we'll take
Poonam to the airport now.
- If not, then we're in trouble.
- Understood.
- Who the hell is calling so early?
- Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you.
I'm in Delhi, working under Neel
Banerjee on the elephant poaching case.
Why are you going out
of your way to help us?
My daughter loves elephants.
She'd never forgive me if she
found out I'd let their killers go.
That's the officer.
- I want to meet my client.
- You'll have to wait.
You cannot question
my client without me.
Yes Sir, I assure you -
there's been no interrogation.
So can we bring her to you
without a transit warrant, Ma'am?
Again, I'm sorry for waking
you, but it couldn't wait.
- When did you apprehend her?
- An hour ago.
I'll waive the transit
warrant requirement
but legally that can
only last for 24 hours.
Get her to me within that
time frame, and I'll take her.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Alan.
We have permission, but we
have 24 hours to deliver her.
If we leave now, we can
make the 9 am flight to Kochi.
And the civil aviation
authority's permission?
Can we transport her under the radar?
I mean, until she's arrested in Kerala
she's technically a civilian.
Sir, we're taking her for a
medical exam, and then to court.
Why don't you meet us at the court,
you can consult with her there.
'Consult with her there?' This is
bullshit, I want to see her now.
It's okay, we'll have
our chance shortly.
Fine, Ms. Sunita -
see you at the court.
But remember -
no questioning without me.
- Of course, Sir.
- Come.
Where's my lawyer?
Change in plans. You'll have
to come to Kerala with us
to deal with the formalities
there, with my boss.
Kerala? This wasn't the deal,
I'm not leaving Delhi.
Play along quietly, or we'll drag
you there and actually book you.
- Can I at least eat something?
- No time.
How are you feeling?
How do I look?
- You know about my
- Hmm.
- Can no one in Kerala keep a secret?
- Only the elephants.
So it's in your lungs?
Probably from all the Delhi air
I've eaten up in the last 50 years.
- Treatment?
- I don't know.
Meaning?
I'd have to stop working,
be bed ridden.
Out of commission
I'd have to let this all go.
What does your wife say?
Brother, listen to me - there's only
so much one can do for the world.
You have to know when to call
it quits and take care of yourself.
Believe me, I've seen what
it can do if you go too far.
In the end,
we're both expendable.
You know what the
problem is, Kishore?
We've spent our entire lives
fighting the wrong fights.
- You mean on the wrong team?
- No no, I mean the political one.
All of our time and
energy goes there.
And we ignore the real fight -
catching assholes like this.
But if we lose this fight,
it's over.
And I'm not going to let
some corrupt, lazy officer
take over for me
and drop the ball.
Even if this fight kills you?
- Welcome to Kerala, Ravi Don!
- Grab him!
Kerala Forest Department - you're
under arrest for dealing in ivory.
I didn't do anything!
What the fuck?!
- What the hell is this?
- You two, over there, quickly.
We have a warrant to
search the premises.
Who are you?!
- Forest Department.
- Ma'am!
Your husband's in
our custody.
I have low blood sugar. If I don't
eat something, I'll pass out.
Fine, Shekhar and I
will feed her
you go hold the plane,
in case we're late.
Just remember, security can't know
that we're transporting a criminal.
- Keep it discreet.
- Like I don't know that.
Let's make the deal now -
how much do you want?
I told you, it has to
be done in Kerala.
Why? It's easier to let me
go here, no one will know.
I can't, you have to deal
with my superiors.
Bullshit, you're making
this up as you go.
Yes I am, but I'm trying
to help you. Come on.
I'll sit here and eat.
- You can eat while you walk.
- No I can't!
Move.
- I need to use the washroom.
- Fuck.
Something's not right.
We now ask all remaining passengers
to board flight 88 to Kochi.
Don't we get to bypass the line?
Hold on, I'm thinking.
I needed more to eat.
Try fasting,
it's good for you.
- Lighters aren't allowed.
- Fine, keep it.
Auntie, where are you going?
Shit!
Get up, Auntie!
- Sir
- Yeah?
- We are closing the gate now.
- Can you wait a few minutes please?
No, Sir. Please board now
or you'll miss the flight.
Okay, can I speak to
the flight attendant?
- As you like.
- Thank you.
Wake up.
Hi, uhcan you delay closing the
gate for a few minutes please
I have two more people
coming in. Please.
Come on, wake up!
I havelow blood sugar.
- How are you related?
- She's
Her niece!
I'll get you something to eat as
soon as we clear security, okay?
Actually Madam, she's
I'm escorting her, she's rather unwell.
But we'll be fine, thank you.
- Madam, what's in this?
- Just water, nothing else.
I want my lawyer.
No. And if you keep this up,
the deal's off and you're finished.
- You sure she'll be okay?
- Yeah, this happens all the time.
We'll get you a meal
on the flight, Auntie.
Poonam Verma and Mala Jogi,
this is your final boarding call.
Please proceed to Gate 60,
boarding is about to close.
- Move!
- Why are we in such a rush, huh?
- Sir, pleasetake your seat.
- Ma'am, my friends are on the way
they have to make this flight, it's a
matter of life and death, please.
Sir, if it's a medical issue,
they can speak to the airline.
- Cabin door closed.
- Sir, pleasesit down.
What's the rush?
Mala Jogi, Poonam Verma!
Hurry up!
Sorry Ma'am,
the flight has left.
There is no deal, is there?