The Believers (2024) s01e09 Episode Script

[thrilling music playing]
[gasps]
Shit!
[pants]
[gasps]
Shit!
NARUETHIP WATER
Shit.
[breathes shakily]
Shit!
[engine starts and revving]
[panting]
[engine revving]
[phone buzzing]
[breathes shakily]
DEAR: COPS RAIDED THE TEMPLE
POLICE
[melancholy music playing]
THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY
OF SACRED OBJECTS
[indistinct police radio conversation]
[truck door closes]
[indistinct police radio conversation]
- [truck door closes]
- [engine starts]
[siren blaring]
[siren blaring in the distance]
[theme music playing]
THE BELIEVERS
[tense music playing]
[Yod sighs]
[Yod exhales heavily]
Where is your other friend?
We haven't talked for a while.
[clacking]
[Yod] If he doesn't surrender,
his charge will worsen.
[paper rustling]
[Yod clearing throat]
These are your rights.
Have a look.
What's your duty at the temple?
[pen clacking]
Do you know your punishment
will be reduced if you confess?
I have nothing to say.
Can I wait for my lawyer?
Feel free to get a lawyer.
Got one?
You know, your friend
already confessed everything.
[Monk Dol] What is this all about?
[sighs] Do you realize
you've become one of those scammers?
[Yod] Let me put it this way. Before this,
those three
used to run an NFT game company,
but their business failed.
I assume they came to the temple
with a hidden motive to gain benefit,
like embezzling temple's money
to pay off their debt.
And most importantly, those people
are involved in a drug case.
[tense music continues]
MAKE MERI
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION
WIN DEAR GAME DONATED COFFIN
[shutter clicking]
What's it this time?
It's about the drug case.
Isn't it over yet?
So have you arrested Chaiyong?
We have received more evidence,
but we can't reveal it yet
as it may affect the case.
I'd like to ask you to gather
the temple's income and expense accounts,
the list of board members,
and all the financial documents for me.
[door closes]
[vital sign monitor beeping]
[indistinct police radio conversation]
Is he not better at all?
Doctor said blood disease patients
are immunodeficient.
His condition has fluctuated
since last time you met him.
But then again,
all conditioned things are impermanent.
[indistinct police radio conversation]
Has he been conscious
or responsive at all?
Father. The police are here.
He can only make
incomprehensible noises in his throat.
Does the abbot have
any personal bank accounts?
Probably in the safe back there.
Could you open it and show me?
It's his personal item.
I don't know the combination.
Then I'll have to confiscate
the safe for investigation.
Do you have any bank accounts?
Ah! Oh!
Damn!
[man] Can you?
[woman] Sir.
[indistinct police radio conversation]
Hi, officers.
- [police] Mr. Akkarachai's father?
- Yes. Is my son okay?
Is he home?
No, he's been out for work
and hasn't come home for many days.
What is it? What happened?
You've been to Phummaram Temple, right?
I asked someone to buy
several Pra Peung Luang amulets,
but I didn't go there myself.
Are you sure?
The Kietthara family is listed
as a major donor of the temple.
What does this have to do with my son?
Did he commit a crime?
[sighs]
Mr. Akkarachai's suspected of
being involved in a drug case
and using temple for money laundering.
[tense music continues]
[line ringing]
Shit.
Shit.
- Hey.
- Game.
[shakily] Many policemen came.
Where are you?
Calm down, alright?
What'd you do? What the fuck do you mean,
"calm down"? Where are you?
Upcountry. I'll take care of this
when I go back. Okay?
What's with Phummaram Temple?
Have you done some fucked up shit?
I need to go.
Take care of Dad and Mom.
Send me your location now.
Game. Think things through
before you do anything.
Um.
Do you suspect me too?
[music stops]
You were ordained
at a forest temple for a decade.
Why did you suddenly
become a city temple monk?
What could the reason be if not money?
I
[tense music playing]
intend to spread Buddhism widely,
and the three of them
have always been supportive of me.
I could see their good intentions.
[exhales]
[Yod] These three, you mean?
[Yod sighs]
Do you truly believe
that these three came to the temple
because they wanted to support Buddhism?
[tense music swells]
Where'd the money come from?
From last month's merit-making.
That will be all for today.
But if I need further information,
I may invite you to the station.
Of course.
I'll do anything I can do to help.
Thank you for your cooperation.
[indistinct police radio conversation]
[Au] All done, bro.
See you at the station.
MONK EKACHAI: I TOOK CARE OF TANG ISSUE
WANT TO COME AND TALK?
- [inhales deeply]
- [gear shifting]
[engine revving]
[pants]
NARUETHIP
I heard you had already
returned to the forest temple.
What was the reason
why you came back here?
I wanted to come back
and help the temple out
when it was in trouble.
Why?
Could it be that you have
a personal relationship with those three?
[sighs]
Since the drug case,
fewer people have been
coming to the temple,
so the temple had to organize activities
to attract the people back.
So you decided to join them
in making sacred objects?
You can say so.
Is a forest monk like you
obsessed over material things too?
It's a strategy
to make people come back to the temple.
The revenue will be used
to fund the ongoing construction
of the retreat pavilion.
Venerable.
Do you know how much more money
was made from selling sacred objects
than the cost of building the pavilion?
[sighs]
If you're really not involved in this,
please give me your cooperation
in telling us everything
to help with the case.
I don't really know the background
and details of this.
But I believe that
none of them has bad intentions.
Oh, wow.
[inhales deeply]
You still won't believe me
when I say those three are evil?
They've been using you the whole time.
All three of them?
[thrilling music playing]
[Win] With all these allegations,
do you have evidence?
Let me ask you one thing.
Why did you suddenly choose a small,
unknown temple like the Phummaram Temple?
Famous temples receive a lot of donations.
What's wrong with choosing a small temple?
Wasn't it because
it's an ideal drug dealing spot?
Say or think however you want,
but you're a police officer,
you should know
that imagination alone won't do.
[exhales heavily]
Then let me tell you my imagination.
What if the truth is
you all came to sell drugs
and tried to launder your dirty money.
Otherwise, how would an unknown temple
have become this prosperous?
What's strange about people making merit?
Don't you know how much Thais crave merit?
You said all that, but temple's accounts
are transparent and verifiable.
Have you checked?
You must be confident that
you've moved money without any trace.
[Yod exhales heavily]
[sighs]
Want some water?
Not only did you sell drugs,
you also deceived people.
What are you talking about?
The sacred objects.
Every temple sells those.
People are willing to pay
to buy their peace of mind.
How is this deception?
What's this?
[Yod] Huh?
Do you know him?
[sighs]
[Pairach] After the accident,
I was hospitalized.
A man and a woman came in and offered me
this amulet with 200,000 baht in cash.
They asked me to tell the reporters
that I survived because of
[exhales]
[clearing throat]
The security cameras at the hospital
weren't broken.
They captured all.
I could immediately tell
who those two people were.
[thrilling music continues]
Do you know advertising?
When we make products,
we have to do marketing.
We look for actors, influencers,
or celebrities to promote them.
You think they really use the products?
If you say this is deception,
then all the products in this world
are violating this law.
[laughing] You're good at
getting on people's nerves. I like you.
It's fun talking to you.
Don't let me find out
that you were the one
who pushed the truck into a ditch.
[phone buzzing]
INCOMING CALL
PUI
[indistinct police radio conversation]
[music stops]
The police said
you all
exploited the temple for money.
You sold drugs in the temple
and made up stories
to deceive people.
It's not true, right?
Or have you
been used by them as well?
And you
who are proficient
and skillful
with a future ahead of you,
what did you do this for?
I suppose you must have used me as well.
I'm sorry.
[tense music playing]
Is my lawyer here yet?
You think a lawyer can help you?
You devil scumbag,
leeching off religion.
Isn't it normal?
If it's really illegal,
can you arrest us all?
Why don't you think of a temple as an
economic unit with money going in and out?
The product is peace of mind.
Go if you have faith.
Don't go if you don't.
The rich donate more.
The poor donate less.
No one is forced here.
It wouldn't be a problem
if all the revenue went to the temple,
but this isn't the case.
The revenue only went to you
and your friends.
We only came to do volunteer work.
We didn't touch the temple's account.
The account is under the temple's name.
This is true.
But don't you find it strange
that the temple's income
was distributed to so many accounts
while the abbot was lying ill in bed?
He can't even get up.
I doubt he could handle
such complex transactions.
It would have to be done by someone
younger who was skillful, smart,
and evil.
Almost forgot.
[Yod] Umm.
A monk's assistant is someone who
handles the temple's money, isn't it?
APPOINTMENT OF MONK'S ASSISTAN
MR. AKKARACHAI
[Yod] This is a great evidence
of embezzlement.
Not to mention the Narcotics Control Act.
That's even worse.
Hey.
Does your mother know
you did this shit to the temple?
Did you see her face when I arrested you?
She looked so shocked.
What a pitiful sight.
- [angrily] You bastard!
- [police] Hey!
Wait for your lawyer.
I also want to know how many years
he can help reduce your sentence to.
[door opens]
[door closes]
PHUMMARAM TEMPLE
THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY
OF SACRED OBJECTS
[thrilling music playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[music stops]
What did you mean by that?
What did you do?
[tense music playing]
I saw you were stressed about Tang,
so I wondered
how you would deal with him.
What do you mean?
Are you going to leave him lying there?
How do you know?
Did you kill Tang?
Game.
Tang was inside your place.
How could I be the one who killed him?
Why did you do this?
Aren't you a monk?
This is
[hesitates] This, this is
Are you accusing me of being a murderer?
What about you three?
You were the ones who started all this.
If this temple was a company,
Tang has caused damage to it,
so he deserved to get fired.
[hesitates] This isn't firing someone.
It's murder.
And the reason why
Father Kiw is this way is
Father's health has been deteriorating.
With old age comes many diseases.
[Game inhales deeply]
This is normal.
[breathes shakily]
He can't do much for the temple.
His presence won't help
develop the temple anyway.
[breathes shakily]
But you three
have done so much for our temple.
We've achieved so much,
thanks to the three of you.
Think about this carefully.
Your friends have been arrested,
while you, the monk's assistant,
are on the run.
With all the evidence,
how will you get out of this?
[gulping]
What do you want?
Just tell me what you want. Whether
Whether it's ten million, twenty million,
or whatever, you tell me.
Calm down.
I don't mean you any harm,
nor Win or Dear.
I have always admired your skills
from the bottom of my heart.
I just want you all
to help spread Buddhism
even further.
That's all.
[panting]
Sir!
Put the case off for now.
We have witnesses and evidence ready.
I'm about to throw them in jail.
Shut up, bastard.
You know that the higher-ups
are keeping an eye on me.
You're so careless.
You're gonna make trouble like last time.
Plus, have you closed your drug case?
I'm working on it.
I'm having my men work
on the case right now.
And this case is related to it.
You think I don't know what method
you used to question the witnesses?
I've received complaints.
[sighs]
In here,
there are other people's men
besides yours.
Who is stopping you?
The fact that we're close,
doesn't mean you can stick your nose
into all my business.
[tense music continues]
[door closes]
Fuck it.
[breathes shakily]
[shakily] Fuck this shit.
[stomping]
[police] Sign here.
[door opens]
Dear.
Where's Monk Dol?
He left.
Let's go.
[siren blaring in the distance]
[line busy beeping]
[shouting] Win!
Monk Dol knows everything now.
Who are you calling?
My mom.
Monk Ekachai must've found out, too.
Fuck it.
- What?
- Just fuck it.
Whatever will be, will be.
So what if they knew? What can we do?
I'm fucking tired of thinking.
If you want out, go ahead.
Start a new life. I've wired your share.
- I don't want this anymore.
- [angrily] How could you say that?
Monk Dol said he loved me.
[tense music continues]
Did you already know?
[angrily] Was it also a part of your plan?
I thought you knew.
[shakily] Did you think I'd seduce a monk?
Are you crazy?
Dear.
[man clearing throat]
[thrilling music playing]
The person who helped you out
invites you for a meal,
unless you wanna go back in there.
This way.
[door opens]
[indistinct chattering]
[indistinct chattering continues]
[woman] Please have a seat.
Take a seat.
[thrilling music continues]
Are you hungry?
Want to dig in?
I've ordered for you.
Excuse me, please give them some water.
Don't you remember me?
I used to make merit at Phummaram Temple.
I run many kinds of business
in this province.
I'm also a bit in politics.
What do you want?
Why did you help us?
You're Win.
And you're Dear, right?
Did I get their names right, Game?
Win and Dear are from here. Right?
Win's mom works at the district office.
What district is it again?
Maybe I've visited the area.
Just tell us what you want.
[exhales]
I really admire you all.
The limited edition of the amulet
you made was so awesome.
Seriously, I've been trying to do this
many times.
Even famous temples
couldn't do it as well as this.
It's not just about the sales.
Your branding vision is so rad.
You attracted so many influential people
to buy your products.
Look at me.
I also bought them.
I spent millions on them.
Just now, you asked me
why I helped you, right, Win?
I think you should thank
your friend right here
for helping you stay out of jail.
Businesspeople like you probably know
that nothing comes for free.
[Monk Ekachai] It doesn't sound bad,
does it?
[breathes shakily]
[shakily] What do I get from spreading it?
It's to help your friends
get out of jail.
You all
just have to come back
and do what you're good at.
That's all.
This time, you'll have to do it
on a larger scale
[Monk Ekachai] with more targets,
but you'll have to work with a partner.
Don't worry.
The cake we're dividing will be bigger
because this time, you will have to run
a provincial temple.
There will be less risk.
I have a good backup.
[shakily] What if
If you don't cooperate,
I think the jail term will be long.
You all are still young.
It would be such a shame.
Why does it have to be us?
[sobbing]
[sobbing]
Because you guys
[groans]
are so good at this.
[sobbing]
[sobbing]
[inhales sharply]
[thrilling music continues]
What do you say?
But I don't have any other choice for you.
I think it's a pretty good offer.
You don't have to do much.
Just do what you've been doing.
Talk to me if there's a problem.
But if you don't do it
[door opens]
[door closes]
[gagging]
[Dear breathes heavily]
[gagging]
[Win gagging]
[bowls and glasses clicking]
[Win spitting and panting]
Well?
[breathes shakily]
Come on. Let's eat
before the food gets cold.
[thrilling music crescendos]
[music stops]
[ominous music playing]
[shouting] Hey!
Are you just gonna leave?
Let him be.
[exhales sharply]
[sighs]
PHUMMARAM TEMPLE
[car departing]
[ominous music continues]
[music fades out]
[Monk Dol] Dear,
if you're reading this letter,
do you remember when I told you
that love without suffering
must be the one you don't cling to
or feel possessive of?
But in the end,
- it was me who succumbed to this desire.
- [somber music playing]
Thank you so much for coming into my life
and testing my heart.
You've made me realize that
I was totally wrong about myself,
thinking I was good.
There are many areas
I need to train myself in.
I want you to forget about everything.
This might be our karma from the past.
I ask for your forgiveness,
and I am determined
not to create new karma ever again.
From now on, I truly wish you happiness
and ultimately be free from all suffering.
MONK DOL
[monks chanting in Pali] Things that are
good do exist.
Things that are bad do exist.
Things that are neither good
nor bad do exist.
Things consisting of happiness do exist.
A charitable mind
leads to good karma and heaven.
These happen to commoners
with hearts full of joy.
Do we have to tell Win?
About what?
Father Kiw.
[chanting continues in the background]
There's no need.
Um.
[monks chanting in Pali] Things that
we are neither attached to
nor are the sources of attachment
do exist.
All these merits
are happily shared with all beings
Let's go.
Yeah. Let's go.
[lighter clicks]
[thrilling music playing]
[sighs, sniffs]
[exhales deeply]
What the fuck are you doing here?
What's the matter?
Get the fuck out of my house.
Chill.
I talked to your mom.
About what?
Just a little chat.
About what? You fuck.
You.
I told her what fucked up shit
her beloved son has done.
You bastard!
Fuck, let go of me.
Ouch!
I said let go.
Thought you were a brainiac.
Don't you want to know about your dad?
[mouse clicking]
Please buy one for me.
Anuwat
disappeared 18 years ago.
[Win's dad] Hello?
You have arrived?
I'll be right back, Win.
Sit and play here.
[Yod] He was a public school teacher,
a board members of the
Teachers' Saving Cooperative.
His background was clean.
But
But what?
[angrily] But what, you bastard?
How do you know about my dad?
I'm not telling you,
unless you're willing to cooperate.
Cooperate to do what?
Expose the corruption and drug dealing
business of those politicians.
I know what you got into,
or my boss wouldn't have let you go.
What you need to do
is give me their information.
[Win coughing]
[moaning]
[car door closes, engine starts]
[music stops]
[engine revving]
[melancholy music playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
Mom.
[water tap creaking]
[Win's mom] Dinner is on the table.
[water running]
[Win's mom crying]
[crying continues]
[Win's mom sobbing]
[sobbing continues]
[melancholy music continues]
[silent speaking]
THAILAND PASSPOR
PASSPORT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
INCOMING CALL
WIN
DELETE, BLOCK THIS CONTAC
BLOCK THIS CONTACT?
[silent crying]
[sniffs]
[Win] Fuck.
[Win's dad] Hey. Wait. Hey.
Shit! [sniffs]
Kid, where did your dad go?
I'm closing soon.
[thrilling music playing]
PUEAN AUTOSOUND
FIX TVS, SPEAKERS, ALL AUDIO DEVICES
[Win's mom] Win!
[panting] Win.
Where's dad?
[Win] Shit!
[Win's dad] Win.
One day, when you grow up,
many things you see
may turn out to be nothing.
[thrilling music continues]
[whoosh]
[Win's dad] Win.
Don't believe in everything you see, son.
THE BELIEVERS
["Sadhu' by Milli playing]