Ride the Snake (2025) Movie Script
(projector whirring)
(gentle orchestral music)
(camera whirring)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(smoke hissing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(bees buzzing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Harper breathing heavily)
(Sebastian grunting)
(door clicking)
(Sebastian groaning)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Sebastian breathing heavily)
(birds squawking)
(Sebastian sobbing)
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry. (Sobbing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Sebastian screaming)
(Sebastian laughing)
(Harper breathing heavily)
(glass thudding)
(objects clattering)
(Harper grunting)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(Harper sniffing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Harper speaking foreign language)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(door clicking)
(door clicking)
(dish clattering)
(soft music)
[Harper] Today you starve.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Harper
Happy birthday to you
(people cheering and clapping)
As you know, the woman
standing next to me,
my beloved wife, she's
been the light of my life
and has made my life worth living.
And when I come home at night,
after a long day in the courts
and I go to the bedroom,
sometimes I see her there,
lying there fast asleep,
(all laughing)
And I just think how fortunate I am
that this beautiful
young thing took me on.
Megan, Betty.
Come, come, come, come.
Beautiful girl, takes
after her mother, you see?
Mm.
And I just want to say
to my darling Smudge
(speaking foreign language).
(all clapping)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(object thudding)
(tense music)
(thunder rumbling)
(birds chirping)
(doors clicking)
(door clicking)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
- Hi Mom.
- Is he here?
[Megan] He's here.
Taran.
Where, where are you?
Ah, Beta. (Laughing)
Oh, glasses.
Still so handsome.
[Megan] He bought flowers.
Thank you.
Beautiful.
I'll put them in water.
Come.
(gentle orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music continues)
(birds chirping)
(thunder rumbling)
Megan says you left Harbottle and Holme.
Yeah.
He's doing pro bono,
defending pimps and child molesters.
Not to mention restaurants
with rats running around their kitchens.
Hmm.
Actually, Taran, my dearest darling
little step-bro, the rat problem
you are not so subtly
referring to was a one-off.
The Mystic Paradise Restaurant
has been Mickey Mouse-free
for what, at least 18 months.
Not much call for glam nowadays.
You don't need makeup.
You always look gorgeous.
Doesn't she?
Sure.
You know what Singh always used to say,
"My darling angel, you
are a natural beauty.
Why spoil your looks with
all that fake coloring?"
That's not how he put it on
your wedding though, was it?
He said I looked like a tart.
He was right.
I overdid my makeup.
I thought it would be more Indian.
He still married you.
In front of all your
important friends and family.
I don't think abandoning
your bride at the altar
was ever an option.
If Singh didn't wanna do
something, he didn't do it.
You really didn't know your
father at all, did you?
Megan.
At least he was my father.
Did you love dad
or were you so jealous of his
happiness with me and Mum?
Megan, stop now.
It's not our fault his
mother and brother died.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Taran.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
Do you remember the
party to celebrate Singh
being appointed to the high court?
His ex-partner, what was his name?
Which one?
He had so many.
Sayed.
Right?
Sayed.
He was sitting on the wall at the bottom
of the garden, whiskey in hand,
and forgot there was nothing behind him.
He leans back
and all you could see
were two little legs waving in the air.
(both laughing)
(Harper sighing)
A toast.
To Singh.
Four years ago today that
bastard took him from us.
What's going on?
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
Ugh.
(tense music continues)
(Sebastian groaning)
(Sebastian whimpering)
(Sebastian whimpering)
Water, please. (Whimpering)
Well, well, well, the
prodigal son returns.
Welcome back to the fold, dear boy.
Are you glad to be back?
Oh, come on, Levi.
Will you stop with that
prodigal song shit.
Sorry, sorry everyone.
Sorry.
Won't happen again.
Levi.
You know how he hates all that
religious crap? (Laughing)
(whimpering) Oh, you, didn't
bring breakfast this morning.
I'm starving, hungry.
I want waffles and pancakes
with lots of butter of
lashings of maple syrup.
Oh my God.
Mongo want food.
Please.
Let me give you some advice,
you plumpy Bacchus wannabe.
Go on a fucking diet. (Laughing)
(Sebastian gasping)
Fuck me, I'm stiff.
(dramatic orchestral music)
I've been dreaming about you all night.
What I wouldn't give
to have a little look-see up that skirt.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Dear boy.
Stop.
Stop.
Taran, stop.
Hello.
These are constrictor knots.
These beautiful ladies,
must have been a Girl Guide,
one of them must have been a Girl Guide.
Come on, get off.
Me thinks you're gonna need a knife.
Megan.
Oi, you feel him, don't you?
You feel his presence,
the ghost, the apparition,
the spirit, the Paki.
He's weak.
He comes and goes like a leaf in the wind.
He's got no power,
ineffectual and useless.
He can't help you, Harper.
I can banish him into the
void with the blink of an eye.
[Harper] Shut up, shut up, you animal.
(both grunting)
(ominous music)
Taran.
(dramatic orchestral music)
He's not leaving this house.
Megan.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
Five minutes.
Just listen to us, then
you can do as you please.
Five minutes, Beta.
Please.
He murdered your father.
It was manslaughter.
And he was tried and convicted.
Five years in a nut
house and out in two,
because he conned the judge
into thinking he was crazy.
The law your father
loved so much failed him.
Two years is not enough for
what that man did to our family.
We are going to try him again.
You, me, and mom.
Prosecutor, judge, and jury.
You're on the edge of the world,
looking over the rim
into a fathomless chaos
of eternal night.
The embodiment of all the snarling chaos
and the grinning fear
that lurked behind life.
Ride the snake, my friend.
Singh, the void beckons.
Enjoy your spiritual vision quest.
Perhaps your god will
show you the way back.
(wind whooshing)
Who knows the end, demon?
What is risen may sink
and what is sunk may yet rise again.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(choir singing)
Good God.
What Elridge Dreamworld
has this creature banished me to.
[Megan] It's your duty
to be a part of this.
You owe it to dad.
I owe it to dad to
retry a mentally ill man.
But Sebastian's not crazy.
Right.
He's got no history of
DID, multiple personalities.
It's all an act.
He's a gypsy, Megan, a Romany.
He's never registered with a GP
or been to a hospital in his life.
He was born in the back
of a fucking caravan.
So?
Yeah, nine psychiatrist
and psychologist, Megan
Yeah, yeah.
Nine psychiatrists.
He convinced them all he was a lunatic.
You have got to let him go, Harper.
You have to.
Your father was my life for 20 years.
That thing upstairs took him from me.
He killed him and then
he laughed about it.
The last thing I saw
was his grinning face.
Dad was a high court judge.
He would never have been
part of his kangaroo court.
He was a Sikh first.
And now his murderer is free
because the law which he
spent his life serving
let him down.
Guru Gobind Singh said,
"When all has been tried
and justice is not in
sight, it is then right
to pick up the sword.
It is then right to fight."
We are going to try him again.
And as a member of this family,
it is not only your right
to be a part of it,
but it is your duty as his son,
as his only son.
And when he's found guilty?
(doorbell ringing)
No car.
(doorbell ringing)
I'll get it.
It's my house.
(ominous music)
Hi, I'm Lilith.
I've come for my father, Sebastian.
There's no Sebastian here.
Lovely garden.
House is a bit of a shithole.
Shame.
I bet it was lovely once upon a time,
a bit like you.
(door slamming)
How does she know?
You have to let him go.
Listen to me.
Whatever happens, it
won't be as bad if they
He stays.
(ominous music)
(doorbell ringing)
(knuckles rapping)
I'll go.
(ominous music continues)
Hello, handsome.
I remember you from the trial.
The son.
It's nice to see you sober.
You're trespassing.
You should probably let him go
before the family arrive.
Go or I'll call the police.
(laughing) How are you going
to explain the man you've got gagged
and tied up in your bedroom?
Maybe I should just call them.
Maybe I should just start screaming
and let your neighbors do it for me.
(Lilith screaming)
He's not here.
Come in and see for yourself.
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith blowing)
(Lilith laughing)
(ominous music continues)
(keys jingling)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith belching)
(Lilith exhaling)
You should probably hand him over
if you know what's good for you.
(ominous music continues)
(Megan grunting)
Get out my way, girly.
(Lilith grunting)
(Megan screaming)
Get, get off her.
(both grunting)
(Taran grunting)
(both grunting)
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith breathing heavily)
(Lilith groaning)
Megan.
Megan, are you all right?
Harper, Harper.
- Megan.
She's bitten Megan.
Get the first aid kid,
now please help her.
Hey, hey, hey.
I'm here.
Let me have a look please.
Let me have a look.
It's okay.
- Taran, Taran.
(Megan whimpering)
[Harper] Is she all right?
She's fine, she's okay.
Megan, it's okay.
Hey, hey, Megan.
It's all right, you're gonna be okay.
It's not that deep.
Okay, this is gonna sting, okay, okay.
(Megan whimpering)
It's okay. It's okay.
Harper, have you got any codeine?
Codeine and some water please, now.
(Megan sobbing)
Hey, it's okay.
I'm here.
It's okay.
Harper?
- Here, here, here.
Okay, okay.
Megan.
All right, all right, all right, darling.
Here.
Talk to me.
Here you go.
(Harper breathing heavily)
Are you all right?
Yeah, yeah?
Okay?
(Megan breathing heavily)
You're all right.
She's not here.
I'll find her.
[Shiv] I've had enough
of lying on my back.
I say we slip these knots
and get the out of Dodge.
[Taran] Harper, will you be all right?
[Manny] I, for one,
am getting bed sores,
[Pan] But it's not over
until the blind woman sings.
[Harper] I've spent
a week with him alone.
I'll be fine.
- Sebastian, what do you-
- We stay?
Go.
(Sebastian grunting)
Oh, I see you've met our Lilith.
I want to speak with Shiv.
Well, you can't, my dear Harper,
you don't believe in us.
"Sebastian's making up."
What was it your dear
delightful daughter said?
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
"He's a fucking con artist."
(scoffing) Life would be so much simpler
if people just learned to let go.
- I want an answer.
- To what question, my dear?
You laughed.
My husband was dead beside me
and you looked into my
eyes and you laughed.
Why?
Well, that weren't me, my darling.
You will want to talk to Shiv.
You've taken painkillers.
You shouldn't drink.
Exactly right.
What numbs your pain these days?
- Work.
- Hmm.
Like father, like son.
Or not.
It's nobody's fault, Taran.
We should've locked the door.
Locked the door?
I don't regret us.
He didn't speak to me for two years
and then he died, Megan,
but you don't regret us.
That's big of you.
I loved you.
Shut up.
I wouldn't change that.
Well then it's a good
thing he died when he did
because it would've fucking destroyed him.
I still love you.
I said shut up, Megan.
(tense music)
You used to call me Megs.
Stop needling me.
(knife thudding)
(tense music continues)
Oh, come on, darling.
Let us go.
You know, it's the right thing to do,
deep down you know we didn't
mean to off your old man.
It was an accident and accidents happen.
(laughing) You know, Manny's right.
If you know what's good for you,
let us out right here, right now.
And I don't mean that as a threat.
I don't.
I mean, cross my heart, hope, hope to die.
Exactamundo, come on.
We forget the whole thing.
Life will be as it was
and shall be for evermore.
Come.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Come on, my darling Harper.
Take that last step, that leap of faith
and absolution will be thine.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(ominous music)
Oh, come and sit down.
Oh, come on darling.
Don't be shy.
Come and sit over here.
Oh, come on.
Come and sit here.
Come and sit here.
Now don't be afraid.
Come and sit with me.
(Lilith gasping)
Shhh.
(Sebastian groaning)
Dearer than daughter.
That's better, that's better. (Gasping)
She's a bit of a milf, this one.
(Lilith laughing)
I prefer the other one.
Oh.
Mother daughter combo.
(Lilith laughing)
Stop it.
You're free, leave.
(Lilith whispering indistinctly)
[Ash] Oh, I think that's a lovely idea.
(both moaning)
(both breathing heavily)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Phones.
Why?
You're free.
Just go, leave.
And your car keys please.
[Pan] I'm starving.
We didn't have breakfast.
Yeah, come to think of it
I'm rather peckish myself.
Darling Harper, what
kind of pleasing aspects
do you have in your shiny American fridge?
Let's have a party.
Capital idea.
Oh, we haven't had an honest to goodness
sit-down dinner in years.
How about curry?
I'm sorry about earlier.
I just, (sighing), I just
got a bit carried away.
Am I forgiven?
Fuck off.
[Ash] A Kinfgisher would do me nicely.
[Manny] That is of
course if you have them.
Let's discuss it over tea.
Oooh, tea.
(tense music)
(knife scraping)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(knife scraping)
(cup clattering)
(knife scraping)
(tense music continues)
(singer humming)
(upbeat music)
(knife scraping)
(upbeat music continues)
(tense music)
(upbeat music continues)
(Sebastian laughing)
(upbeat music continues)
Hey, hey, hey
Ride the snake, Megan.
(upbeat music continues)
(singer humming)
(eerie ambient music)
(thunder rumbling)
(thunder crashing)
[Levi] We've harnessed
the shadows that stride
from world to world to
sow death and madness
everywhere we go.
- [Manny] Too true.
We live apart from the
visible world but not alone.
No, no, no.
[Clive] It's a mistake
to think that horror
is associated inextricably with darkness,
silence, and solitude.
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(napkin flapping)
(dishes clattering)
Let's eat.
Mmm.
(tense music)
(silverware clattering)
That's not how you eat Indian food.
We eat it the way God intended.
(Lilith laughing)
Don't gypsies eat with your hands.
Who are you calling gypsies?
There are no fucking pikeys in here.
Just a minute, Shiv.
No need to be so unpleasant.
I'm sure Megan here didn't
want to cause offense.
Dear boy, this is England.
A person has a right to eat his,
their food, anywhere they want.
No one can dictate hands or no hands.
(sobbing) I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to cause offense.
I always eat with a knife and fork.
You're a right little fat
boy, workyticket aren't ya?
Hey, come on.
Stop that.
You Geordie lemon top.
Geordie?
Who're you calling Geordie?
Fah!
Oh, we're not gypsies.
Our family is,
it's a little more extended.
Demons.
And how, dear lady,
were you proposing to
bring a demon to trial?
Cat got your tongue?
Well, I say we have a
trial right here, right now.
Well, you know, I think
it is a fabulous idea.
We should just get it out in the open.
You know, we should, hey, we, we,
we should get it all sorted,
you know, once and for all.
Yeah, but I mean, you
know, who are you gonna try?
I wasn't driving the car.
I didn't kill your
hubby or make you blind.
Who did?
Who was driving?
Which one of you killed my husband?
Answer me.
Well, it seems no one's
gonna take responsibility
for the tragedy, but it, you
know, one thing is clear.
We've gotta have a trial to,
as Clive so eruditely
put it, get it all sorted
once and for all.
Everyone shut the fuck up.
Sebastian's gonna speak for us.
(Lilith gasping)
(ominous orchestral music)
Whoa.
Hello, Lilith.
(dramatic orchestral music)
[Lilith] Sebastian.
(Sebastian laughing)
I missed you so much.
I missed you too,
Lilith my love, my cherub.
(tense music)
(ominous orchestral music)
That's not gonna hurt anyone
unless you stab it really hard.
(knife clattering)
So, a retrial it is then.
Oh Lilith there
will play Charlie Laughton and defend me,
and Taran there, prosecutor,
and Harper and Meghan, the judges.
Alright, now you, any
objections, questions?
What happens if you're found guilty?
Well, that's up to you.
You pass sentence.
Lilith, you will do your
best as defense counsel.
Defend me as well as you can.
And listen to me.
You will abide by the court's verdict,
no matter what the outcome.
I want no comeback on this family.
All right?
All right, Judge, it's over to you.
Well, come on.
You wanted a trial.
You got one.
Let's do this. Come on.
Mr. Prosecutor, come on.
Alright.
All right.
I'll start things off.
Alright.
I swear by all that is unholy
to abide by the verdict in this court.
There.
Come on, you'll find me a man of my word.
You ask anyone.
Sebastian Gold does what he says
and says what he does.
My word is my bond.
Drink up.
- Do you believe me?
Yes?
Good. Very good.
Now, Taran, do your job, eh?
You prosecute me to the
fullest extent of the law
and to the very best of
your considerable ability.
How about that, honey?
What do you think about that?
Make me suffer.
We need a Bible.
You have to swear on a Bible.
There's no time for that.
Left hand in the air.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Oh, definitely.
Now that's it. That's it. (Chuckling)
Come on now, Taran,
don't shilly shally.
Get on with it. That's it.
Sebastian Gold, you are charged
with manslaughter of Pal Singh.
How do you plead?
Guilty.
The defendant has pleaded
guilty to the charge.
Before passing sentence,
does anyone have anything to say?
I do.
(Lilith sighing)
You killed my husband
and then you laughed.
You blinded me, sentencing me
to an eternity of darkness.
Objection.
Prejudicial.
It points to cause.
Overruled.
He was the kindest...
He was the kindest man I ever met,
and you took his life,
took him from me,
took him from us,
without compunction, without remorse.
You robbed a son of his
father, a wife of her husband.
You tore this family apart.
I'd like to make a statement.
Judge Megan.
Defendant wants to make a statement.
It was shocked that blinded you, not us.
Harper, I sympathize with
your loss. I really do.
And I understand the hurt
the person who was driving
has caused your family,
but you know, there were
extenuating circumstances.
It was the single greatest
fucking night of my life.
It was perfect.
I drank more than I've ever drank before
and still able to get hard.
I did more Charlie than a truckload
of Wall Street stockbrokers.
I schooled more women
than a dozen Casanovas
and hey, no Viagra was involved.
Oh, oh.
It was a once in a lifetime event.
Well worth the demise
of one old brown man,
who, let's face it, didn't
have long to live anyway.
Hey, I am guilty as charged.
Whooo!
Hey, slainte, come on.
(Taran screaming)
Mind my teeth.
(Taran grunting)
(Sebastian groaning)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Right now, you feel better?
Christ Jesus, my Aunt Clementine
could have punched harder
(Taran screaming)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Are you done?
(Sebastian laughing)
Oh, I didn't even get to the best bit.
You.
It was your face.
You should have seen your face.
It was a mixture of fear and confusion,
bordering on insanity.
It was Edvard Munch in the basket.
It Was fucking hilarious. (Laughing)
Point of order.
The court carried out the punishment
before the defendant had been sentenced.
[Sebatian] Naughty.
What?
No.
Judges, your conduct at this trial
has been amateurish and shyte.
And you, Mr. Prosecutor, you're drunk.
I declare a mistrial.
The defendant is cleared of
all charges and free to go.
Case dismissed.
(silverware clanking)
One trial ends and another trial begins.
I charge you three with
being a pathetic excuse
for a family.
You're dysfunctional in extremis,
You're self-absorbed,
unwholesome, weak, pathetic.
How do you plead?
You think we tore you apart, did we?
Huh?
No, the Singhs were splintered
long before we came on the scene.
Oh God, Harper,
must you hate us more
for taking away the love
of your life or for making you blind?
If you could have one thing
back, what would it be?
Your hubby or your sight?
(fist thudding)
Objection.
That is a hypothetical question.
She's not gonna get her
sight or her husband back.
My husband.
I want my husband back.
Oh, you two.
Daddy found you fucking.
That must've hurt.
Doesn't it?
Must have hurt.
We did nothing wrong.
Nothing wrong?
Two years Taran could
have had with his father.
Two years wasted.
For what?
A roll in the hay.
We love each other.
Love.
Well, doesn't that just conquer all.
The court finds the
defendants guilty as charged.
You're a shyte family.
What's the sentence?
Mmm.
(Harper screaming)
(Taran screaming)
(ominous orchestral music)
(both groaning)
No, no, no, please.
No, no, no, no.
Please, please. Don't hurt her.
Please.
That's enough.
That's enough.
Now it's over.
You've had to have fun now.
Just get out of my house.
Well, you were found guilty.
There's still the sentence to consider.
(Harper whimpering)
No, no, no, no, no.
We'll give 'em a chance.
(dramatic orchestral music)
It's okay.
I got it.
Hide and seek.
That's it, that's what we'll do.
We'll play hide and seek.
If you can hide for
- 10 minutes.
- 10 minutes, we'll leave.
But if we find you before
the 10 minutes is up,
you will die.
It's fair?
Sounds fair to me.
- So-
- Well, I can hardly walk.
Give us more time to hide.
No. (Breathing heavily)
Turn off all the lights.
(dramatic orchestral music)
It'll be more fun that way.
You'll have the advantage.
It's always dark for you.
And you should be used to
darkness where you come from.
(ominous orchestral music)
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(ominous orchestral music continues)
Why so serious?
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(phones beeping)
Leaning, leaning
Resting on the everlasting alms
Leaning, leaning
Resting on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian vocalizing)
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian humming)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting alms
What a blessedness
What a blessedness
What a peace is mine
Peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian humming)
Leaning, leaning
Everlasting alms
(Harper whispering in foreign language)
(Sebastian sighing)
(Lilith humming)
(ominous orchestral music)
(doorknob clicking)
(Taran breathing heavily)
(keys jingling)
(Taran sighing)
(Taran grunting)
(Lilith humming)
(door clicking)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(exhaling) I can smell you, Megan.
Ah.
Boo.
(ominous music)
(Harper whispering in foreign language)
(both speaking foreign language)
(Taran breathing heavily)
[Megan] Oh, Taran.
(electricity crackling)
(Sebastian breathing heavily)
(Sebastian grunting)
(ominous music continues)
(Sebastian groaning)
(alarm ringing)
(ominous orchestral music)
(Sebastian growling lightly)
(choir singing)
They're here.
(ominous orchestral music)
The demons of the dawn,
what music they make.
(Harper gasping)
Let's go.
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
I'm sorry, Mrs. Harper.
What?
I'm sorry, Mrs. Harper.
You're sorry?
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I didn't mean to kill your
husband or make you blind.
You see, I was driving,
but it wasn't my fault.
I'm only 12.
I'm sorry for lying to you.
They made me do it.
They were all drunk and they
couldn't drive and so they,
and so they made me do it.
I'm so sorry.
(both grunting)
[Lilith] Sebastian?
(Lilith gasping)
[Sebatian] Lilith?
(Lilith coughing)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
No.
Sebastian, you don't want
to do this. (Grunting)
(Megan grunting)
(body thudding)
(dramatic orchestral music)
That which is a eternal cannot die.
In strange eons,
even death might die.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(wind howling)
(singer vocalizing)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(singer vocalizing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
[Sebatian] When you ride the snake,
you loop the loop and
end up where you started.
(gentle orchestral music)
(camera whirring)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(smoke hissing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(bees buzzing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Harper breathing heavily)
(Sebastian grunting)
(door clicking)
(Sebastian groaning)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Sebastian breathing heavily)
(birds squawking)
(Sebastian sobbing)
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry. (Sobbing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Sebastian screaming)
(Sebastian laughing)
(Harper breathing heavily)
(glass thudding)
(objects clattering)
(Harper grunting)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(Harper sniffing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(Harper speaking foreign language)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(door clicking)
(door clicking)
(dish clattering)
(soft music)
[Harper] Today you starve.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Harper
Happy birthday to you
(people cheering and clapping)
As you know, the woman
standing next to me,
my beloved wife, she's
been the light of my life
and has made my life worth living.
And when I come home at night,
after a long day in the courts
and I go to the bedroom,
sometimes I see her there,
lying there fast asleep,
(all laughing)
And I just think how fortunate I am
that this beautiful
young thing took me on.
Megan, Betty.
Come, come, come, come.
Beautiful girl, takes
after her mother, you see?
Mm.
And I just want to say
to my darling Smudge
(speaking foreign language).
(all clapping)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(object thudding)
(tense music)
(thunder rumbling)
(birds chirping)
(doors clicking)
(door clicking)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
- Hi Mom.
- Is he here?
[Megan] He's here.
Taran.
Where, where are you?
Ah, Beta. (Laughing)
Oh, glasses.
Still so handsome.
[Megan] He bought flowers.
Thank you.
Beautiful.
I'll put them in water.
Come.
(gentle orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music continues)
(birds chirping)
(thunder rumbling)
Megan says you left Harbottle and Holme.
Yeah.
He's doing pro bono,
defending pimps and child molesters.
Not to mention restaurants
with rats running around their kitchens.
Hmm.
Actually, Taran, my dearest darling
little step-bro, the rat problem
you are not so subtly
referring to was a one-off.
The Mystic Paradise Restaurant
has been Mickey Mouse-free
for what, at least 18 months.
Not much call for glam nowadays.
You don't need makeup.
You always look gorgeous.
Doesn't she?
Sure.
You know what Singh always used to say,
"My darling angel, you
are a natural beauty.
Why spoil your looks with
all that fake coloring?"
That's not how he put it on
your wedding though, was it?
He said I looked like a tart.
He was right.
I overdid my makeup.
I thought it would be more Indian.
He still married you.
In front of all your
important friends and family.
I don't think abandoning
your bride at the altar
was ever an option.
If Singh didn't wanna do
something, he didn't do it.
You really didn't know your
father at all, did you?
Megan.
At least he was my father.
Did you love dad
or were you so jealous of his
happiness with me and Mum?
Megan, stop now.
It's not our fault his
mother and brother died.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Taran.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
Do you remember the
party to celebrate Singh
being appointed to the high court?
His ex-partner, what was his name?
Which one?
He had so many.
Sayed.
Right?
Sayed.
He was sitting on the wall at the bottom
of the garden, whiskey in hand,
and forgot there was nothing behind him.
He leans back
and all you could see
were two little legs waving in the air.
(both laughing)
(Harper sighing)
A toast.
To Singh.
Four years ago today that
bastard took him from us.
What's going on?
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
Ugh.
(tense music continues)
(Sebastian groaning)
(Sebastian whimpering)
(Sebastian whimpering)
Water, please. (Whimpering)
Well, well, well, the
prodigal son returns.
Welcome back to the fold, dear boy.
Are you glad to be back?
Oh, come on, Levi.
Will you stop with that
prodigal song shit.
Sorry, sorry everyone.
Sorry.
Won't happen again.
Levi.
You know how he hates all that
religious crap? (Laughing)
(whimpering) Oh, you, didn't
bring breakfast this morning.
I'm starving, hungry.
I want waffles and pancakes
with lots of butter of
lashings of maple syrup.
Oh my God.
Mongo want food.
Please.
Let me give you some advice,
you plumpy Bacchus wannabe.
Go on a fucking diet. (Laughing)
(Sebastian gasping)
Fuck me, I'm stiff.
(dramatic orchestral music)
I've been dreaming about you all night.
What I wouldn't give
to have a little look-see up that skirt.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Dear boy.
Stop.
Stop.
Taran, stop.
Hello.
These are constrictor knots.
These beautiful ladies,
must have been a Girl Guide,
one of them must have been a Girl Guide.
Come on, get off.
Me thinks you're gonna need a knife.
Megan.
Oi, you feel him, don't you?
You feel his presence,
the ghost, the apparition,
the spirit, the Paki.
He's weak.
He comes and goes like a leaf in the wind.
He's got no power,
ineffectual and useless.
He can't help you, Harper.
I can banish him into the
void with the blink of an eye.
[Harper] Shut up, shut up, you animal.
(both grunting)
(ominous music)
Taran.
(dramatic orchestral music)
He's not leaving this house.
Megan.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
Five minutes.
Just listen to us, then
you can do as you please.
Five minutes, Beta.
Please.
He murdered your father.
It was manslaughter.
And he was tried and convicted.
Five years in a nut
house and out in two,
because he conned the judge
into thinking he was crazy.
The law your father
loved so much failed him.
Two years is not enough for
what that man did to our family.
We are going to try him again.
You, me, and mom.
Prosecutor, judge, and jury.
You're on the edge of the world,
looking over the rim
into a fathomless chaos
of eternal night.
The embodiment of all the snarling chaos
and the grinning fear
that lurked behind life.
Ride the snake, my friend.
Singh, the void beckons.
Enjoy your spiritual vision quest.
Perhaps your god will
show you the way back.
(wind whooshing)
Who knows the end, demon?
What is risen may sink
and what is sunk may yet rise again.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(choir singing)
Good God.
What Elridge Dreamworld
has this creature banished me to.
[Megan] It's your duty
to be a part of this.
You owe it to dad.
I owe it to dad to
retry a mentally ill man.
But Sebastian's not crazy.
Right.
He's got no history of
DID, multiple personalities.
It's all an act.
He's a gypsy, Megan, a Romany.
He's never registered with a GP
or been to a hospital in his life.
He was born in the back
of a fucking caravan.
So?
Yeah, nine psychiatrist
and psychologist, Megan
Yeah, yeah.
Nine psychiatrists.
He convinced them all he was a lunatic.
You have got to let him go, Harper.
You have to.
Your father was my life for 20 years.
That thing upstairs took him from me.
He killed him and then
he laughed about it.
The last thing I saw
was his grinning face.
Dad was a high court judge.
He would never have been
part of his kangaroo court.
He was a Sikh first.
And now his murderer is free
because the law which he
spent his life serving
let him down.
Guru Gobind Singh said,
"When all has been tried
and justice is not in
sight, it is then right
to pick up the sword.
It is then right to fight."
We are going to try him again.
And as a member of this family,
it is not only your right
to be a part of it,
but it is your duty as his son,
as his only son.
And when he's found guilty?
(doorbell ringing)
No car.
(doorbell ringing)
I'll get it.
It's my house.
(ominous music)
Hi, I'm Lilith.
I've come for my father, Sebastian.
There's no Sebastian here.
Lovely garden.
House is a bit of a shithole.
Shame.
I bet it was lovely once upon a time,
a bit like you.
(door slamming)
How does she know?
You have to let him go.
Listen to me.
Whatever happens, it
won't be as bad if they
He stays.
(ominous music)
(doorbell ringing)
(knuckles rapping)
I'll go.
(ominous music continues)
Hello, handsome.
I remember you from the trial.
The son.
It's nice to see you sober.
You're trespassing.
You should probably let him go
before the family arrive.
Go or I'll call the police.
(laughing) How are you going
to explain the man you've got gagged
and tied up in your bedroom?
Maybe I should just call them.
Maybe I should just start screaming
and let your neighbors do it for me.
(Lilith screaming)
He's not here.
Come in and see for yourself.
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith blowing)
(Lilith laughing)
(ominous music continues)
(keys jingling)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith belching)
(Lilith exhaling)
You should probably hand him over
if you know what's good for you.
(ominous music continues)
(Megan grunting)
Get out my way, girly.
(Lilith grunting)
(Megan screaming)
Get, get off her.
(both grunting)
(Taran grunting)
(both grunting)
(ominous music continues)
(Lilith breathing heavily)
(Lilith groaning)
Megan.
Megan, are you all right?
Harper, Harper.
- Megan.
She's bitten Megan.
Get the first aid kid,
now please help her.
Hey, hey, hey.
I'm here.
Let me have a look please.
Let me have a look.
It's okay.
- Taran, Taran.
(Megan whimpering)
[Harper] Is she all right?
She's fine, she's okay.
Megan, it's okay.
Hey, hey, Megan.
It's all right, you're gonna be okay.
It's not that deep.
Okay, this is gonna sting, okay, okay.
(Megan whimpering)
It's okay. It's okay.
Harper, have you got any codeine?
Codeine and some water please, now.
(Megan sobbing)
Hey, it's okay.
I'm here.
It's okay.
Harper?
- Here, here, here.
Okay, okay.
Megan.
All right, all right, all right, darling.
Here.
Talk to me.
Here you go.
(Harper breathing heavily)
Are you all right?
Yeah, yeah?
Okay?
(Megan breathing heavily)
You're all right.
She's not here.
I'll find her.
[Shiv] I've had enough
of lying on my back.
I say we slip these knots
and get the out of Dodge.
[Taran] Harper, will you be all right?
[Manny] I, for one,
am getting bed sores,
[Pan] But it's not over
until the blind woman sings.
[Harper] I've spent
a week with him alone.
I'll be fine.
- Sebastian, what do you-
- We stay?
Go.
(Sebastian grunting)
Oh, I see you've met our Lilith.
I want to speak with Shiv.
Well, you can't, my dear Harper,
you don't believe in us.
"Sebastian's making up."
What was it your dear
delightful daughter said?
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
"He's a fucking con artist."
(scoffing) Life would be so much simpler
if people just learned to let go.
- I want an answer.
- To what question, my dear?
You laughed.
My husband was dead beside me
and you looked into my
eyes and you laughed.
Why?
Well, that weren't me, my darling.
You will want to talk to Shiv.
You've taken painkillers.
You shouldn't drink.
Exactly right.
What numbs your pain these days?
- Work.
- Hmm.
Like father, like son.
Or not.
It's nobody's fault, Taran.
We should've locked the door.
Locked the door?
I don't regret us.
He didn't speak to me for two years
and then he died, Megan,
but you don't regret us.
That's big of you.
I loved you.
Shut up.
I wouldn't change that.
Well then it's a good
thing he died when he did
because it would've fucking destroyed him.
I still love you.
I said shut up, Megan.
(tense music)
You used to call me Megs.
Stop needling me.
(knife thudding)
(tense music continues)
Oh, come on, darling.
Let us go.
You know, it's the right thing to do,
deep down you know we didn't
mean to off your old man.
It was an accident and accidents happen.
(laughing) You know, Manny's right.
If you know what's good for you,
let us out right here, right now.
And I don't mean that as a threat.
I don't.
I mean, cross my heart, hope, hope to die.
Exactamundo, come on.
We forget the whole thing.
Life will be as it was
and shall be for evermore.
Come.
(dramatic orchestral music)
Come on, my darling Harper.
Take that last step, that leap of faith
and absolution will be thine.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(ominous music)
Oh, come and sit down.
Oh, come on darling.
Don't be shy.
Come and sit over here.
Oh, come on.
Come and sit here.
Come and sit here.
Now don't be afraid.
Come and sit with me.
(Lilith gasping)
Shhh.
(Sebastian groaning)
Dearer than daughter.
That's better, that's better. (Gasping)
She's a bit of a milf, this one.
(Lilith laughing)
I prefer the other one.
Oh.
Mother daughter combo.
(Lilith laughing)
Stop it.
You're free, leave.
(Lilith whispering indistinctly)
[Ash] Oh, I think that's a lovely idea.
(both moaning)
(both breathing heavily)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Phones.
Why?
You're free.
Just go, leave.
And your car keys please.
[Pan] I'm starving.
We didn't have breakfast.
Yeah, come to think of it
I'm rather peckish myself.
Darling Harper, what
kind of pleasing aspects
do you have in your shiny American fridge?
Let's have a party.
Capital idea.
Oh, we haven't had an honest to goodness
sit-down dinner in years.
How about curry?
I'm sorry about earlier.
I just, (sighing), I just
got a bit carried away.
Am I forgiven?
Fuck off.
[Ash] A Kinfgisher would do me nicely.
[Manny] That is of
course if you have them.
Let's discuss it over tea.
Oooh, tea.
(tense music)
(knife scraping)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(knife scraping)
(cup clattering)
(knife scraping)
(tense music continues)
(singer humming)
(upbeat music)
(knife scraping)
(upbeat music continues)
(tense music)
(upbeat music continues)
(Sebastian laughing)
(upbeat music continues)
Hey, hey, hey
Ride the snake, Megan.
(upbeat music continues)
(singer humming)
(eerie ambient music)
(thunder rumbling)
(thunder crashing)
[Levi] We've harnessed
the shadows that stride
from world to world to
sow death and madness
everywhere we go.
- [Manny] Too true.
We live apart from the
visible world but not alone.
No, no, no.
[Clive] It's a mistake
to think that horror
is associated inextricably with darkness,
silence, and solitude.
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(napkin flapping)
(dishes clattering)
Let's eat.
Mmm.
(tense music)
(silverware clattering)
That's not how you eat Indian food.
We eat it the way God intended.
(Lilith laughing)
Don't gypsies eat with your hands.
Who are you calling gypsies?
There are no fucking pikeys in here.
Just a minute, Shiv.
No need to be so unpleasant.
I'm sure Megan here didn't
want to cause offense.
Dear boy, this is England.
A person has a right to eat his,
their food, anywhere they want.
No one can dictate hands or no hands.
(sobbing) I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to cause offense.
I always eat with a knife and fork.
You're a right little fat
boy, workyticket aren't ya?
Hey, come on.
Stop that.
You Geordie lemon top.
Geordie?
Who're you calling Geordie?
Fah!
Oh, we're not gypsies.
Our family is,
it's a little more extended.
Demons.
And how, dear lady,
were you proposing to
bring a demon to trial?
Cat got your tongue?
Well, I say we have a
trial right here, right now.
Well, you know, I think
it is a fabulous idea.
We should just get it out in the open.
You know, we should, hey, we, we,
we should get it all sorted,
you know, once and for all.
Yeah, but I mean, you
know, who are you gonna try?
I wasn't driving the car.
I didn't kill your
hubby or make you blind.
Who did?
Who was driving?
Which one of you killed my husband?
Answer me.
Well, it seems no one's
gonna take responsibility
for the tragedy, but it, you
know, one thing is clear.
We've gotta have a trial to,
as Clive so eruditely
put it, get it all sorted
once and for all.
Everyone shut the fuck up.
Sebastian's gonna speak for us.
(Lilith gasping)
(ominous orchestral music)
Whoa.
Hello, Lilith.
(dramatic orchestral music)
[Lilith] Sebastian.
(Sebastian laughing)
I missed you so much.
I missed you too,
Lilith my love, my cherub.
(tense music)
(ominous orchestral music)
That's not gonna hurt anyone
unless you stab it really hard.
(knife clattering)
So, a retrial it is then.
Oh Lilith there
will play Charlie Laughton and defend me,
and Taran there, prosecutor,
and Harper and Meghan, the judges.
Alright, now you, any
objections, questions?
What happens if you're found guilty?
Well, that's up to you.
You pass sentence.
Lilith, you will do your
best as defense counsel.
Defend me as well as you can.
And listen to me.
You will abide by the court's verdict,
no matter what the outcome.
I want no comeback on this family.
All right?
All right, Judge, it's over to you.
Well, come on.
You wanted a trial.
You got one.
Let's do this. Come on.
Mr. Prosecutor, come on.
Alright.
All right.
I'll start things off.
Alright.
I swear by all that is unholy
to abide by the verdict in this court.
There.
Come on, you'll find me a man of my word.
You ask anyone.
Sebastian Gold does what he says
and says what he does.
My word is my bond.
Drink up.
- Do you believe me?
Yes?
Good. Very good.
Now, Taran, do your job, eh?
You prosecute me to the
fullest extent of the law
and to the very best of
your considerable ability.
How about that, honey?
What do you think about that?
Make me suffer.
We need a Bible.
You have to swear on a Bible.
There's no time for that.
Left hand in the air.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Oh, definitely.
Now that's it. That's it. (Chuckling)
Come on now, Taran,
don't shilly shally.
Get on with it. That's it.
Sebastian Gold, you are charged
with manslaughter of Pal Singh.
How do you plead?
Guilty.
The defendant has pleaded
guilty to the charge.
Before passing sentence,
does anyone have anything to say?
I do.
(Lilith sighing)
You killed my husband
and then you laughed.
You blinded me, sentencing me
to an eternity of darkness.
Objection.
Prejudicial.
It points to cause.
Overruled.
He was the kindest...
He was the kindest man I ever met,
and you took his life,
took him from me,
took him from us,
without compunction, without remorse.
You robbed a son of his
father, a wife of her husband.
You tore this family apart.
I'd like to make a statement.
Judge Megan.
Defendant wants to make a statement.
It was shocked that blinded you, not us.
Harper, I sympathize with
your loss. I really do.
And I understand the hurt
the person who was driving
has caused your family,
but you know, there were
extenuating circumstances.
It was the single greatest
fucking night of my life.
It was perfect.
I drank more than I've ever drank before
and still able to get hard.
I did more Charlie than a truckload
of Wall Street stockbrokers.
I schooled more women
than a dozen Casanovas
and hey, no Viagra was involved.
Oh, oh.
It was a once in a lifetime event.
Well worth the demise
of one old brown man,
who, let's face it, didn't
have long to live anyway.
Hey, I am guilty as charged.
Whooo!
Hey, slainte, come on.
(Taran screaming)
Mind my teeth.
(Taran grunting)
(Sebastian groaning)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Right now, you feel better?
Christ Jesus, my Aunt Clementine
could have punched harder
(Taran screaming)
(Taran breathing heavily)
Are you done?
(Sebastian laughing)
Oh, I didn't even get to the best bit.
You.
It was your face.
You should have seen your face.
It was a mixture of fear and confusion,
bordering on insanity.
It was Edvard Munch in the basket.
It Was fucking hilarious. (Laughing)
Point of order.
The court carried out the punishment
before the defendant had been sentenced.
[Sebatian] Naughty.
What?
No.
Judges, your conduct at this trial
has been amateurish and shyte.
And you, Mr. Prosecutor, you're drunk.
I declare a mistrial.
The defendant is cleared of
all charges and free to go.
Case dismissed.
(silverware clanking)
One trial ends and another trial begins.
I charge you three with
being a pathetic excuse
for a family.
You're dysfunctional in extremis,
You're self-absorbed,
unwholesome, weak, pathetic.
How do you plead?
You think we tore you apart, did we?
Huh?
No, the Singhs were splintered
long before we came on the scene.
Oh God, Harper,
must you hate us more
for taking away the love
of your life or for making you blind?
If you could have one thing
back, what would it be?
Your hubby or your sight?
(fist thudding)
Objection.
That is a hypothetical question.
She's not gonna get her
sight or her husband back.
My husband.
I want my husband back.
Oh, you two.
Daddy found you fucking.
That must've hurt.
Doesn't it?
Must have hurt.
We did nothing wrong.
Nothing wrong?
Two years Taran could
have had with his father.
Two years wasted.
For what?
A roll in the hay.
We love each other.
Love.
Well, doesn't that just conquer all.
The court finds the
defendants guilty as charged.
You're a shyte family.
What's the sentence?
Mmm.
(Harper screaming)
(Taran screaming)
(ominous orchestral music)
(both groaning)
No, no, no, please.
No, no, no, no.
Please, please. Don't hurt her.
Please.
That's enough.
That's enough.
Now it's over.
You've had to have fun now.
Just get out of my house.
Well, you were found guilty.
There's still the sentence to consider.
(Harper whimpering)
No, no, no, no, no.
We'll give 'em a chance.
(dramatic orchestral music)
It's okay.
I got it.
Hide and seek.
That's it, that's what we'll do.
We'll play hide and seek.
If you can hide for
- 10 minutes.
- 10 minutes, we'll leave.
But if we find you before
the 10 minutes is up,
you will die.
It's fair?
Sounds fair to me.
- So-
- Well, I can hardly walk.
Give us more time to hide.
No. (Breathing heavily)
Turn off all the lights.
(dramatic orchestral music)
It'll be more fun that way.
You'll have the advantage.
It's always dark for you.
And you should be used to
darkness where you come from.
(ominous orchestral music)
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(ominous orchestral music continues)
Why so serious?
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(phones beeping)
Leaning, leaning
Resting on the everlasting alms
Leaning, leaning
Resting on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian vocalizing)
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian humming)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting alms
What a blessedness
What a blessedness
What a peace is mine
Peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting alms
(Sebastian humming)
Leaning, leaning
Everlasting alms
(Harper whispering in foreign language)
(Sebastian sighing)
(Lilith humming)
(ominous orchestral music)
(doorknob clicking)
(Taran breathing heavily)
(keys jingling)
(Taran sighing)
(Taran grunting)
(Lilith humming)
(door clicking)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(exhaling) I can smell you, Megan.
Ah.
Boo.
(ominous music)
(Harper whispering in foreign language)
(both speaking foreign language)
(Taran breathing heavily)
[Megan] Oh, Taran.
(electricity crackling)
(Sebastian breathing heavily)
(Sebastian grunting)
(ominous music continues)
(Sebastian groaning)
(alarm ringing)
(ominous orchestral music)
(Sebastian growling lightly)
(choir singing)
They're here.
(ominous orchestral music)
The demons of the dawn,
what music they make.
(Harper gasping)
Let's go.
(ominous orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
I'm sorry, Mrs. Harper.
What?
I'm sorry, Mrs. Harper.
You're sorry?
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I didn't mean to kill your
husband or make you blind.
You see, I was driving,
but it wasn't my fault.
I'm only 12.
I'm sorry for lying to you.
They made me do it.
They were all drunk and they
couldn't drive and so they,
and so they made me do it.
I'm so sorry.
(both grunting)
[Lilith] Sebastian?
(Lilith gasping)
[Sebatian] Lilith?
(Lilith coughing)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
No.
Sebastian, you don't want
to do this. (Grunting)
(Megan grunting)
(body thudding)
(dramatic orchestral music)
That which is a eternal cannot die.
In strange eons,
even death might die.
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(wind howling)
(singer vocalizing)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(singer vocalizing)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
[Sebatian] When you ride the snake,
you loop the loop and
end up where you started.