The Lockdown (2024) Movie Script
1
(BELL DINGING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
WARDEN: Hello.
My name is Warden Cetan.
And this is Hkantaut Prison.
(BIRDS CAWING)
Every inmate that
comes through this gate
is either serving
a life sentence
or awaits execution
on death row.
For the very first time,
please join us
inside the walls of Hkantaut
as champions fight
for a new chance at life.
(PRISON BUZZER RINGING)
(GUARD SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(PRISONERS MUMBLING)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(KEYS CLINKING)
(SINGING CONTINUES)
(GATE SHUTS)
(SINGING ENDS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
(CHAINS JINGLING)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
EXECUTIONER: (IN THAI)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(BUZZING)
MONK: (SINGING CONTINUES)
(SLOWED BREATHING)
(BUZZING)
(SINGING ENDS)
(CHAINS CLATTERING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL DINGING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(HORNS BLARING,
SIRENS WAILING)
(DOG BARKING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOTTLES CLANKING)
these are the same guys.
They're making the rounds.
Okay, see?
This is what I'm talking about.
There's no police presence
anywhere.
WOMAN: (SCREAMS) Hey, is that--
Give me--
Give me my meds!
THUG: No!
WOMAN: (SHRIEKS)
Give me my fuckin'... Hey!
Give me my fuckin' medicine!
How important is it?
(SOBS)
You're willing to
die for this shit?
WOMAN: Leave me alone!
What the hell are you doing?
Just call it in.
Charlie!
WOMAN: Stop!
Call it in, Wells.
Shit!
Hey!
Get the hell away from her!
Hey, give her her medicine!
Get the hell out of here!
Fuck off, lady!
Look, I am a journalist.
I have footage of
this entire thing
and my partner
has already called the police.
Really?
Yeah.
So, I suggest you get out
of here before the cops arrive.
Mm.
So, what you gonna do about it?
OPERATOR:
9-1-1, what's your emergency?
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
Shit!
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
(SCREAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
Charlie, come on! Hey! Hey!
Whoa! It's me, it's me.
(PANTING)
You're done. It's done.
We've got to go.
We got to get out of here.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING
IN DISTANCE)
WELLS: Jesus!
(PHONE RINGING)
Separated mandible.
Shattered cheekbone.
I know it looks bad,
but I was protecting this woman
from imminent danger,
and then they attacked me.
You inserted yourself
into imminent danger.
Wells told you what happened.
What was I supposed to do?
Just sit there and watch
this woman get stabbed?
Wait for law enforcement
to show up,
like you've been trained to do.
The minute you get all kung fu,
the story becomes about you
and not the bad guy.
I have to suspend you.
Two weeks, unpaid leave.
It's out of my hands.
Wait, what? Now I'm going to get
fired for protecting this woman?
No, I didn't say that.
Corporate is trying to
get ahead of it.
They are concerned
about a lawsuit.
Well, corporate
should be more concerned
with releasing a story
that is gonna save lives.
They're having me
pull you off the story too.
You cannot be serious.
Liz, come on, I've been
working on this for weeks.
Our insurance carrier requires
an internal investigation.
Liz... (SIGHS) Oh, my God.
What do you want me to say?
Call it a vacation,
if that helps.
This is bullshit.
I did the right thing,
and you know it.
I know your heart
is in the right place,
but I am telling you,
your inability to
control your anger
is starting to have
real consequences.
This is not the first time
we've had this conversation.
(EXHALES)
(DOOR SHUTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
Your conditioning sucks.
Yeah, fuck you too.
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
You left the door wide open.
Yeah, well, I had a rough night.
(GROANS, LAUGHS)
Still...
your takedown defense
is an embarrassment.
Well, that's why
I'm a journalist.
Thought you were
a crusader for the homeless.
You're such a dick.
So, how long are you
suspended for?
Do you want to talk about it?
What do you think, Jack?
Okay.
Did you hear back
from that company yet?
Venum? Yeah, last week.
And?
They're interested in doing
something with the gym
as long as I keep
winning fights.
Hey. That's fucking--
that's great!
Yeah. Yeah, it's something.
Hey, you got a minute?
I got all the time in the world.
Come on,
I wanna show you something.
It's the deed to the building.
Yeah. It needs to be transferred
into one of our names
in order to settle Mom's estate.
Okay.
JACK: There's a problem.
His name's on it.
Of course it is.
The lawyers say that
we can't transfer title
without his signature.
So... let's just have him
declared legally dead.
Dad's not dead.
Well, he might as well be.
Look, I know
this is a sore subject...
No, it's not
a sore subject, Jack.
It just...
It's a pointless conversation.
And I don't want to deal
with this right now.
Charlie! Hey! Seriously?
Maybe it's time
we give this place up.
My first memories are of
Dad training fighters here.
We practically
grew up in this gym,
Charlie, this place
means a lot to me.
Well, I wish I could say
I shared the same fond memories.
JACK: Charlie...
What, Jack? What is your plan?
You want to just
swing by the prison
and ask him to sign it?
It's already cleared.
(SIGHS) And if he doesn't?
Max doesn't care
about you or me, or anyone.
People do change, Charlie.
He-- He's been in there,
like, 20 years.
You're too young
to remember what he was like.
And you've built him up to be
this great guy, and he's not.
Like, he's the guy
who gets caught with drugs
in a foreign country
and abandons his family.
People like that,
they don't change, Jack.
Narcissists never change.
I mean, just...
look what it did to Mom.
I gotta do it.
If you give him any chance
to screw us, he will.
You give him way too much power.
He's in prison.
(SIGHS)
(HESITATES) Okay, if he says no,
you know what we do?
We turn around,
and we come home.
What if I told you
that I already
bought you a plane ticket?
I would tell you
that was stupid.
Did you?
We leave in two days.
Jack!
What else are you gonna do?
You don't have a job!
Charlie, come on. Please.
I don't want to do this alone.
Fine. I'll go. Okay.
Okay?
Okay, all right.
CHARLIE: Okay, okay.
It's a bad idea.
You're welcome.
Bolo gets one of these
every night,
so make sure you
rotate the flavors.
You really think
it's a good idea
to be leaving in the middle
of an investigation? (CHUCKLES)
Cans go in recycling.
CHARLIE: (SIGHS, MUMBLES)
"Shrimp and lobster"?
So, this prison
is in Thailand?
No, Hkantaut Prison
is actually in Myanmar,
but Jack has us
flying into Bangkok.
WELLS: When are you coming back?
Well, Jack is in charge
of the itinerary, so...
WELLS: That must be
driving you crazy.
CHARLIE: Ooh.
It'll probably be a week.
So, in theory, I could be
cat sitting Bolo for months.
Hey, I want you
to send me those files.
Not gonna happen.
Why?
WELLS: Do you even
want to keep your job?
Come on, Wells,
we've been working
on the story for weeks.
I just want to see it
through to the end with you.
You're not playing
the game, Charlie.
If you want to get things done,
you gotta play by their rules.
Optics matter.
Please don't lecture me
on optics, all right?
Just send me the files.
Okay, what else? Oh!
I need to FaceTime
with Bolo each morning,
which is nighttime here.
It's a cat, for Christ's sake.
And this cat gets very sad
if we don't talk,
so promise me, Wells.
I promise, I promise.
CHARLIE: Thank you.
What's the name
of the hotel again?
It is the Riva Arun
on the river.
Maybe text that to me?
Okay, Dad.
(BOLO MEOWS)
Oh, it's just my little Bolo!
(GASPS) You are so handsome.
All right, you be good
for Wells, okay?
I'll miss you.
Okay, FaceTime.
Every night.
Yeah, I got it.
Oh, stay out of my fridge.
(SPEAKS THAI)
JACK: Hey, I'm really happy
you're here, sis.
Well, someone's gotta
look after you.
Don't point that thing at me.
JACK: Why?
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
I'm serious, stop.
Cut it out.
What? You afraid
it'll steal your soul?
CHARLIE: No.
That asshole James at KTD
ran our entire story
on the thug incident.
You have any idea what it's like
to be turned into a gif? Hm?
Well, it's good
you're here then.
Let's not pretend
like this is for my benefit.
Come on, when's the last time
you took a vacation?
Look at this place.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
Did you know that
the city is actually
sinking two centimeters
every year?
Well, we better enjoy it then.
I'm working on it.
Good.
Here, want some?
Yeah.
So, how long did you say
the drive was?
A few hours.
A few?
Three.
To the border.
Oy.
Well, I guess we should go
get the shitty part over with.
Shall we?
Let's do it.
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
Thank you.
(GROANS)
You're gonna thank me
when this is over.
Okay, Jack.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO)
(SIGHS)
JACK: Thank you.
It's like the entrance
to your apartment.
I didn't get into journalism
for the money.
I know.
You did it to beat up bums.
Too soon?
Are you sure
you want to do this?
Demons get stronger
the more you ignore them, sis.
(SIGHS)
JACK: Thank you.
(BUZZER RINGS)
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
I'm just gonna
wait for you outside.
JACK: Charlie, please.
I really don't want to
talk to him, Jack.
JACK: Okay.
Just... Can you stay
with me, then? Please?
Yeah?
Yeah.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
Hey, Dad.
Been a while, Jack.
I don't know exactly
what to say or...
where to start.
How's my gym?
Your gym?
Your mother sell it?
JACK: No, she didn't sell it.
Well, that's a...
that's a surprise.
Actually, she's passed away.
Sorry.
Yeah. Well...
two packs of cigarettes,
a bottle of wine.
Every day for 30 years.
I'm not surprised.
Fuckin' asshole.
Charlie. Hold on a minute.
I'm not gonna sit here
and listen to his bullshit.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
JACK: Char...
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
I have been waiting
a long time...
for you to visit.
I got this picture.
It's a little faded.
I think you were eight.
And... I think she was 13.
What's with the briefcase?
Actually, I've been
running the gym.
Training fighters and...
I've been trying to turn
the place around for...
one or two years now.
That's good.
JACK: Anyway...
We need your signature
on the deed
in order to transfer title
to one of our names.
It could be Charlie or me.
It doesn't really matter.
Really?
Yeah.
This is the deed here.
That's why you're here?
That's my gym, Jack.
That's my gym, Jack!
You're gonna
earn your victories,
just like in the ring!
I'm not just gonna
give that to you!
Tell your sister goodbye,
or hello, or whatever.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SHUTS, LOCK CLICKS)
(SIGHS)
Jack.
Hey. You okay?
His gym.
What a fucking waste of time...
Hey. Come here.
...and a life and...
CHARLIE: I'm sorry.
(SIGHS)
I'm sorry.
But you know what?
I'm proud of you.
(SIGHS)
It took a lot for you
to come here and face him.
I mean, look at me, I just ran.
And you know what, fuck him.
Seriously, what has he
ever done for us?
Nothing.
And we always
figure it out, don't we?
Now, let's get back to Bangkok.
We have a whole city
we're going to explore.
Go see some fights,
have some pad thai.
Find you a girlfriend.
Let's go.
Not going to let him
ruin anything else.
(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUFFLED CHEERING)
(MUSIC SWELLS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
WOMAN: (GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
(DINGS)
The water, come on!
Let's see some aggression,
all right?
When you get her in the clinch,
knee her up.
That's what she's doing to you.
You do it to her.
Knee her up.
Exhale on
every strike, okay?
MAX: You take care
of her this round.
This round!
All right? Set her up
for the spinning kick!
(BELL DINGING)
Go! Go get her!
(CROWD CHEERING)
REFEREE: Fight!
(GRUNTS)
Set it up!
(CROWD CHEERING)
Yep! Good!
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Sure, the high-speed stuff
is gonna be insane.
Hello, fight fans,
and welcome to death row.
There's only two ways
to leave Hkantaut.
First is in the box.
The second is
by victory in the ring.
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
The only way to leave alive
is as a champion.
(SCREAMS)
Watch it live on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
Fighting for Freedom,
where the champions go free.
KUKRIT:
It's the perfect setup.
Freedom from captivity.
Violence rewarded
regardless of the crime.
What's all this?
Who are these guys?
Max, meet my nephews.
They both just earned
graduate degrees in marketing
in America.
I'm Kukrit.
I create the content.
Satra here does our analytics
and social media.
You must be very proud.
We're taking the summer
away from Bangkok
to help Uncle monetize
the fight promotion.
"Monetize."
Well, that's a big word.
Max, let him explain.
Well, you see,
in the age of devices,
everyone now watches TV
on their phones.
KUKRIT: When live sports are
marketed as a must-see event,
fans pay to watch, right?
Look at the UFC. They proved it.
My nephews have assured me
that this will pave the way
for an early retirement.
SATRA:
We use all the platforms,
TikTok, Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter.
We're selling
heroes and villains,
so we either want the fans
to love or hate the fighters.
So far, they don't think
our challenges are good enough.
KUKRIT: They gotta
be better, a lot better.
Something with a... backstory.
Okay. Well, sounds like
you got it all figured out.
We're not done.
We know nothing
about matchmaking.
But Uncle here tells us
that you're the best.
WARDEN: I want to
make you an offer.
If you can deliver
what my nephews need,
I'll grant your release.
My release?
Barring the platform
is successful, of course.
You need fighters?
Villains.
Foreigners, ideally.
Huh?
Well, that's going
to be a problem
because, uh, we don't have
any of those here.
I trust you're gonna
figure it out.
Show me the girl again.
ARANYA: Hello, my friends,
and welcome to death row.
There's only two ways
to leave Hkantaut.
First is in the box...
(UPBEAT CLUB MUSIC PLAYING)
JACK: Here's to that.
CHARLIE: Salud!
Clearly, a thinly sliced--
I swear to God.
(LAUGHS)
Good. Good. Good. Good.
(LAUGHS)
CHARLIE: Have a good night.
Thank you.
(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
(HORN BLARING)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(PHONE RINGING)
Hey there, Mr. Bolo.
How is my little monster?
Well, I know you're not
talking about me.
I'm going to need
the number to HR.
WELLS: (LAUGHING)
Hey, Wells, check out this view.
BARTENDER: And here are your
Bloody Marys, sir.
Ah. Thank you, sir.
WELLS: Looks like we got
the short end of the stick.
You did.
So, when are you coming home?
Friday.
WELLS: You just got there.
And I'm anxious to get back
'cause you never sent me
the files.
WELLS: Maybe you should stay
a little longer.
Funny.
(GROANS) I feel like
utter dog shit.
Say hello to Wells.
Hello, Wells.
WELLS: (CHUCKLES) Hey!
This guy.
Hey, Wells,
just give me server access.
Not gonna happen, Charlie.
Come on.
Say bye, Bolo.
Wait, Wells, don't--
(BEEPS)
Damn it. Asshole.
Cheers.
Mm.
Mr. Hightower,
a call for you.
Well, go see who it is.
(GROANS)
(EXHALES)
You ready?
His only condition
was that you talk to him.
I'm here, aren't I?
We're here to see Max Hightower.
Please, place your bags
on the table
and complete forms.
JACK: Copy.
GUARD: Yaba! Yaba!
Face the wall!
Hands up over your head!
What's going on here?
Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
You bring yaba into prison.
Yaba? What is yaba?
Meth! You bring meth.
No, no, nobody's--
Charlie, be cool, be cool!
Hang on a second.
(GRUNTS)
(ALARM BLARING)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
(CLAMORING)
CHARLIE: Jack!
(GROANS)
(SCREAMS)
Stop! Stop! Stop!
We're going to cooperate,
all right?
Just wait!
We're cooperating.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
We're cooperating.
Run.
(BOTH GROANING)
(TASER BUZZING)
(ALARM FADES OUT)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENING)
We need to talk.
(GROANS LIGHTLY)
(KEYS CLINKING, DOOR OPENING)
GUARD: Come!
(PRISONERS SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY)
(PRISONERS CLAMORING)
Please don't leave.
Please, can you help me?
Do you speak English?
GUARD: (YELLS IN THAI)
seen my brother Jack?
Have you seen Jack, please?
GUARD: (YELLS IN THAI)
Can I--
I need to speak with
someone at the embassy.
Please, English.
Do you speak English?
JACK: Charlie, Charlie!
CHARLIE: Jack! Jack!
Oh, my God, Jack!
(CRYING) Are you okay?
JACK: Yeah, are you okay?
CHARLIE: Yeah. I'm all right.
JACK: What is going on?
CHARLIE: I don't know.
Jack.
CHARLIE: Hey.
JACK: You okay? You all right?
This is not what I meant.
Got exactly what you asked for.
Foreigners. Trained to fight.
Who are they?
His own children.
Jesus Christ.
How'd you pull this off so fast?
Sometimes you've got to think
outside of the box.
This carries a considerable
degree of risk, Max.
They're perfect.
They really are perfect.
WARDEN: You sure?
BOTH: Yeah.
WARDEN: We have
a limited amount of time
before someone comes looking.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING
IN DISTANCE)
(FLIES BUZZING)
WARDEN: (EXHALES)
Max, you motherfucker.
"Wagyu and lamb"?
(BOLO MEOWS)
(MEOWING)
(SHUTTER CLICKS)
Maana, Bolo.
(CHAINS CLANKING)
Okay.
There are police
and there are real courts
in this country.
Wells knows we're here, huh?
Right? Right?
We'll get...
Jack.
We'll get a lawyer.
We'll get the U.S. Embassy.
Jack, he screwed us.
He fuckin' screwed us.
You think Max had something
to do with this?
I know he did.
How? He's an inmate.
Jack, think about it.
Why did he change his mind?
What are you--
What are you saying?
The gym, Jack,
why did he reconsider?
You think he just had
this change of heart
all of a sudden?
No, Charlie.
(DOOR OPENING)
Go.
Stop.
Jack and Charlene Hightower.
My name is Warden Cetan.
You-- You speak English.
Thank God.
Look, we have not been
given access
to counsel or a phone call.
That's what happens
when you assault my guards.
Okay, this has all been
a misunderstanding.
We came here to visit our dad.
WARDEN: You are being held
for intent to
distribute illegal drugs.
No. No. No.
Look, it is our legal right
to be given access
to an attorney.
Charlie! Charlie!
(GROANS)
All right, okay!
(COUGHS)
All right, breathe through it.
Breathe, breathe. You all right?
Everything here is
under my discretion.
Including a right to counsel.
What are you talking about?
WARDEN: It means
I can keep you
both here indefinitely.
JACK:
This is fucking insane, man.
You think we're drug smugglers?
CHARLIE: What you're doing here
is against international law.
JACK: Yes.
You have two options.
Fight for your freedom
or rot in this cell.
Today, you'll both be introduced
to the general population.
GUARD: Up!
What?
GUARD: (SPEAKS IN THAI)
Go!
CHARLIE: Jack! Jack!
Hey, help.
My name is Jack Hightower.
My sister Charlie and I
have been falsely accused
of drug smuggling.
(GROANS)
Up. Up!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(CHATTER CONTINUES)
SIMON: American.
Simon.
Jack.
You British?
Essex.
Dallas, Texas.
I haven't met many Yanks
since I've been in here.
How long has that been?
Long enough.
What's it like?
Total fucking shit.
But it can be better
if you know how to
work the system.
What do you mean by that?
The only reason
I'm not starving to death
is I work for the fight team.
Look.
There must be
an execution today.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
What's their deal?
They don't like farang.
Farang?
Foreigner.
Careful, mate,
they can smell fear.
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
give them a pack of cigarettes
every day
or they'll fuck you up.
Tell them I don't smoke.
Yeah?
He don't smoke. No smoke.
No smoke?
(ALL CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
(YELLS IN THAI)
(PRISONERS CHEERING)
(GRUNTS)
(ALL CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
learn to fight like that, huh?
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
new here.
Yeah. How does this work?
You got cigarettes?
I'll spot you.
(SPEAKS THAI)
So, everyone here
has to buy food?
Well, they give you two bowls
of rotten rice every day,
and if you don't
want to eat that,
you have to buy your own.
The only exception is
if you're on the fight team.
You don't seem
much like a criminal.
I crossed the border
after a full moon party
and got popped
with seven hits of ecstasy
and a life sentence.
Can't your family do anything?
They tried.
Did they at least
let you talk to a lawyer?
A lousy public defender
that didn't do much.
How about you?
It's a long story.
Hey, will you tell me more
about the fight team?
They get better food?
Better everything.
And who's that old white guy
that I saw training them?
That's Max, a total asshole.
He runs the fight teams.
Rumor has it
he introduced the pardon thing.
So the pardons are real?
Sure, but they're rare.
And he's an inmate?
As much as any of us, I guess.
He's close with the warden.
He lives in his own
private part of the prison.
Everyone comes here
before lockup.
When's that?
3:30 in the afternoon
to 6:30 in the morning.
That's... Jesus, 15 hours?
Hey!
What the hell?
(IN THAI)
You need to apologize.
For what?
(IN THAI)
(SPEAKING THAI)
(GRUNTS)
(PRISONERS CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
(GUARDS SHOUTING)
(CLAMORING STOPS)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERING)
Do you think she's good enough?
What, to fight Jeeja?
Yeah, who else?
Jeeja is a coldblooded killer.
KUKRIT: I'm not worried
about the matchup.
For this to really work,
we need our fans to care
about who we want them to.
You know,
like Women of Wrestling.
Your favorite show, no?
It's not my favorite show.
KUKRIT: No, you love that shit.
I know you do.
Just get on with the gig.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
There was an execution today.
(CELL DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR SHUTS)
Warden wanted me to talk to you.
You can tell the warden
the only thing we want
is to speak with a lawyer.
I don't think you get it.
You're in a death factory.
Unless you figure out
how to survive...
you won't.
It's rare foreigners
are given a chance to fight.
I suggest you take it.
(CELL DOOR OPENS)
(CELL DOOR SHUTS)
Oh, fuck!
(SIGHS)
You were right.
Jack... (SNIFFS)
JACK: No.
You were right.
This is all my fault.
CHARLIE: This is not your fault.
Okay? You hear me?
It's not your fault.
Don't go spiraling on me
right now, okay?
I need you,
I need you here with me, okay?
(SNIFFS)
CHARLIE: Jack?
(SIGHS) Yeah.
I'm here. I'm here.
CHARLIE: We need to buy
ourselves some time.
Now, the fight team, they...
they get better food.
They get better treatment.
JACK: Right.
But why is it so important
to them that we fight?
I don't know.
But it gives us
a degree of leverage.
Yeah. Leverage.
You think every new inmate,
that they get this
kind of attention?
They need us for something.
I don't know what, but they do.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello, fight fans.
They're here for one reason.
And one reason only.
Reigning prison champions
calling you on
their path to freedom.
(IN THAI)
(GRUNTS)
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(IN THAI)
(BELL DINGING)
Champions behind bars
fighting for redemption.
(CROWD CHEERING)
ARANYA: Who will face
the deadly duo next?
Only on
the Fighting for Freedom app,
where the champions go free.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
might be training with us.
Who the fuck are you?
And who told you that? Max?
Simon, meet my sister Charlie.
Lovely to meet you as well.
Uh...
I'm supposed to
get you some food.
Don't take it personal.
What was that about?
We've met.
Here you are.
Enjoy.
There he is.
So nice of you to join us.
Are you even an inmate?
Yeah. With privileges.
You're just
such a piece of shit.
You sound just like your mother.
Listen...
the important thing
is that I can
get you out of here.
Yeah, let's cut the bullshit.
You wouldn't help anyone
unless it was good for you.
We have conditions.
Well, I'm listening.
CHARLIE: We want our own
shared cell,
with new sleeping mats
and new bedding.
From now on,
we eat with the fight team,
we share the same privileges.
And we each get two cartons
of cigarettes every week.
I can do that.
Training starts right now.
PRISONER: (SPEAKING THAI)
(SPEAKS THAI)
four cartons!
Four!
JACK: ...we're drug smugglers.
You think...
Here you go.
Thanks.
Ooh! What is this?
Uncle's cheap-ass whiskey?
Yes, good shit.
KUKRIT: Mm.
All right, so I was thinking
we block North America,
keep the rollout to Asia.
Smart.
I'm targeting ads utilizing
Japanese and South Korean data
and filtering
with the martial arts fans
who identify as
"more than casual."
KUKRIT: Nice.
We need to introduce
our villains now.
Let us see how
Americans can fight.
GUARD: Up!
CHANCHAI: Pay attention.
Work harder.
Be smarter in the ring.
Fight for the honor
of your nation.
Fight as Nai Khanom Tom
did many centuries ago.
You're late.
This is when the guards
let us out.
Yeah, well, I'll talk
to somebody about that.
Right now we're running!
You two lead!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(IN THAI)
Fair enough.
And what do you suppose
we do when we're done?
If they become champions...
they get pardons.
If not...
they keep fighting
until they do.
If they lose, they're done.
(PRISONERS CHEERING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
You got a second?
LIZ: Uh, what's up?
Is... is that Charlie's cat?
(BOLO MEOWING)
Check your inbox.
What's this?
It's the footage we shot.
And she's right.
There is a story here.
Let me guess,
Charlie put you up to this?
Actually, she has no idea.
She's in Thailand
with her brother.
Charlie's in Thailand?
She didn't tell you that,
either, huh?
No.
WELLS: No?
Well, I was hoping
you'd heard something from her.
She was supposed to be back
this past Friday.
Uh, seeing as this is the first
I'm hearing of this,
I don't know what to say.
Do... Do you know
where they were staying?
The Ruva Sala or something.
It's by the river.
Maybe you should
look into that, Wells.
And get that cat out of here.
(BOLO MEOWING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
You said we would be
up and running by now.
KUKRIT: We're moving
as fast as we can.
We promise it will be
worth the wait.
The appetite for this is huge.
You wanted to see me?
Come in.
Show Max what you showed me.
Just press that "play" button.
ARANYA: Jack, American
and all-around bad boy,
moving from prison fight
to his first battle in the ring.
We're ready for the first fight.
ARANYA: The moment we've all
been waiting for...
We need videos of them fighting
to build the audience up.
You know, get them invested.
They need more time.
I thought they were
trained fighters, Max.
All right. You're the boss.
(DOOR OPENS)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
They used to do it
with machine guns.
They'd force the prisoners
to turn their backs
so that the spirits
wouldn't see the guards
when their souls left the body.
Jesus.
What do they do now?
Lethal injection.
Executioner wears a hood.
Where do they go?
They leave the bodies outside,
and if a family member shows up,
they can claim it.
And if they don't?
SIMON: They're cremated.
Monk puts the ashes
in little urns,
puts them inside of
a plastic shopping bag
that he carries around
with him sometimes.
Gives me nightmares.
Ten more laps.
MAX: Go get me some water.
Your first fight's
here tomorrow.
You're fighting Lek.
You're fighting Netra.
Per her request.
If you win...
you're that much closer
fighting for the championship.
And if we lose?
Losing is never an option...
Jack.
Ew. Nasty.
(LINE BEEPS)
AUTOMATED VOICE:
We're sorry, your call--
(MEOWS)
(LINE BEEPS)
WOMAN: (SPEAKING THAI)
Is there any chance
you could put me in touch
with your manager?
WOMAN: Please hold.
MANAGER: (GREETING IN THAI)
My name's Cameron Wells.
I have a colleague
who is a guest at your hotel.
Her name's Charlie Hightower.
She's staying with her brother.
MANAGER: Yeah, I'm afraid
they never checked out,
but we are holding their bags
at the front desk.
When was the last time
you saw them?
Lek, an eager contender
trying to move up the ranks
in the prison fight team.
Winning is his only thought.
LEK: (IN THAI)
(BELL DINGING)
His opponent, Jack.
An American
and all-around bad boy,
moving from prison fight
to his first battle
in the ring.
We're drug smugglers.
The moment we've all
been waiting for.
Degenerate American drug dealers
fight live tonight,
only on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
(DINGS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(HOOTING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(CHEERING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CLAMORING)
Bang!
Our social's gonna eat this up.
Woohoo!
He's dropping his lead.
So come over the top
with a right-hander or kick.
(GASPS) Okay.
How do you feel?
Good.
Good.
You got this.
Right.
All right.
Over the top.
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD BOOING)
Get him some water!
(ALL BOOING)
How about that?
That was fucking badass.
Incredible.
Your boy can take a shot.
Will he be good enough
to fight Lam?
Given time.
What about the girl,
you think she can go
three rounds?
Given time.
She has to be competitive
in order for this thing to work.
Oh, she'll be competitive.
KUKRIT: All right,
so I got this angle here, okay?
This will slow it down
and then cut to the second angle
where it's wider.
SATRA: Right.
KUKRIT: This one, look at this.
SATRA: So just a clean cut,
or is there a transition...
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
I can't do this.
Wait. You okay?
Breathe, focus.
You're gonna be fine, okay?
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
CHANCHAI: Come on.
Breathe.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
Focus. Use your jab.
Keep yourself at distance.
Okay? Good luck.
(EXHALES)
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
REFREE: Come on!
Fight!
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Use your body, Charlie.
React. Breathe.
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
(GRUNTS)
Hi-yah!
(GRUNTS)
One, two, three.
(BOTH GRUNT)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(CROWD BOOING)
(BOOING CONTINUES)
Holy shit, we just made it
to the next level.
When can this be cut by?
Give me 24 hours.
Yeah?
We fucking did it!
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(CELL DOOR SHUTS)
Hey.
Sit down.
(CRIES SOFTLY)
It's okay.
It's okay, Charlie.
It's okay.
(SOBS)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
JACK: Charlie.
You got beat up, didn't you?
Yeah.
I'm fine, fine.
All right.
Fine.
You okay?
Yeah.
JACK: Yeah?
Yeah.
Hey. Look at me.
We made it, though. Right?
Good.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(SIGHS)
We'll make it through, Char.
We always do.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC FADES)
You feeling all right, then?
Max wants to see you.
Come on.
Sit down.
Jack, your Muay Thai is good.
It's... very good.
And, Charlie...
for someone who's not trained
as a professional fighter...
you surprised me.
In a good way.
So what, you...
you think we got a chance?
Maybe.
Listen.
I know every fighter in here.
I know their strengths,
and I know their weaknesses.
So, if you two would
just trust me...
just trust me...
I can get you out of here.
What do you say?
Charlie?
I don't need anything from you.
Let's go. Kick. Wow.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
Two!
Kick!
MAN: Hey!
Knee.
Two! Yes, yes!
CHANCHAI: Good, Charlie, good.
Breathe, breathe.
Own the inside,
own the inside, own the inside!
That-a-boy. Yeah.
Get away. There you go.
All right. Keep your distance.
Relax. Nice, nice.
Weakness to let emotion
cloud your mind. Come on.
Strength is knowing
your opponent.
One-two. (GRUNTS) Back. Ooh!
(GRUNTS) Kick!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Who's getting excited?
Next up is
our championship round.
Will the evil American
survive another bout,
or will Lam and Jeeja
finally earn their freedom?
(BELL DINGING)
Give me freedom!
Don't miss the action
live on death row,
only on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
(MUSIC SWELLS, FADES)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(HORN BLARING)
(THUNDER CLAPS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DINGS)
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)
How can I help you, sir?
I'm Cameron Wells.
I have a reservation.
Welcome to Riva Arun, Mr. Wells.
I have you here
for seven nights.
KUKRIT: It's hard to overhype
the power
of mobile push
notification technology.
SATRA: We've triggered
a significant campaign
highly targeted to
a demographic with
a known discretionary income.
Each one is invited
to join our
exclusive Fighting
for Freedom community,
which then lets them
watch our premiere event
this week for free.
This week?
If we wait any longer,
the risk of them being here
will outweigh the reward.
How come I'm getting
this information now?
Just get us
two good championship fights.
We need to pay off the buildup.
It will be a good test
of our model.
CHANCHAI: Come on, Charlie.
Nice. Nice. Control.
Again. That's it, good.
Yes. The more you're in control,
the better your technique is.
Okay? Get some water.
MAX: Chanchai!
It's going to be impossible
for you to avoid the clinch,
so you need to learn
the art of disengagement.
Otherwise this fight's
going to be over.
(GRUNTS)
MAX: Pull him down.
Never seen the prick
act like that before.
Normally he just stands around
with his arms crossed
and barks at his fighters.
MAX: Dump the clinch!
(LAUGHS)
Lookin' good.
CHARLIE: Well,
Jack was supposed
to be his legacy.
MAX: Good. Hurt him, hurt him.
PRISONER: Uma! Uma!
Good, Jack!
WELLS: Thank you.
(BOLO MEOWS)
No walk-up.
I just have a question.
I'm looking for
these two people.
Their father's an inmate here.
GUARD: Who?
Max Hightower.
This is Charlie
and Jack Hightower.
His children.
I don't know.
WELLS: Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Does someone have
access to the footage
from the cameras outside?
Maybe I can take a look.
Visitors need appointment.
You are not the police.
Okay, so how do I make
an appointment?
Here.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
Do you work here?
I'm looking for my friends.
These two.
Charlie and Jack Hightower.
They came here to
visit their father.
I understand they were
brought in for a drug charge.
Drugs? Jack won't even
take aspirin.
MONK: Is there anything else?
What... What exactly
do you do at the prison?
I look after the bodies
of the executed
and guide them on their journey.
That's kind of dark.
In this situation,
the condemned man
knows his destiny
and can clear his conscience.
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOG BARKING)
GUARD: Sir, one of
the Americans' friends
came looking for them.
WARDEN: When?
GUARD: Earlier today.
WARDEN: Cancel any
and all visitations
until further notice.
Get me the tape.
Okay, sir.
Hey, Jack.
Hey, Char.
You know I love you, right?
Good.
JACK: I love you too, sis.
I have reason to believe
they're being held
against their will.
That's a serious accusation.
(BOLO MEOWS)
Well,
what happens if someone
is caught committing a crime
while visiting the prison?
Are you a lawyer?
Just a friend.
WARDEN: We've taken this
as far as it can go.
We need to cancel the fight
and get rid of them.
We have a deal.
WARDEN: The minute you let them
come into my prison,
they became
my problem to handle.
The risk is the same,
whether they fight or not.
Send them in.
Is, uh... Is everything okay?
How much?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
176,293 subscribers.
Holy shit.
That's a little over
350,000 U.S.
And we're going to get
a lot more sign-ups day of.
Wait outside.
(DOOR SHUTS)
That's a lot of money.
You can retire very nicely
with that kind of money.
I think you want out of here
worse than I do.
Let 'em fight.
Let 'em fight.
Let them fucking fight.
(CROWD CHEERING IN DISTANCE)
(SPEAKS THAI)
during the walkout,
you're going to get
some audience shots.
Camera two,
you'll go wide and cover.
Camera three and four,
you're good.
Okay. We go live in ten.
The lightened ring
makes a huge difference.
Thank you.
This could've been
so much bigger
if they let us play it out.
We're good.
We have a strong
proof of concept
that we can build from.
Build from?
We're tearing it all apart.
Hey, it worked.
That's all that matters.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(MUSIC TURNS UPBEAT)
(CROWD CHEERING, HOOTING)
(CROWD BOOING)
(BELL DINGING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS, GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Aah!
(BELL DINGING)
Move!
(PANTING)
(GASPS, PANTS)
You're doing
everything right, Charlie.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
Congratulations, Max.
Tomorrow you'll be a free man,
with a fresh start.
It's a shame your children
won't be joining you.
What?
Only champions
ever leave this place alive.
You know that.
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING, WHISTLING)
(GRUNTS)
(EXCLAIMS)
Yah!
(GROANS)
Hi-yah!
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
Let them fight.
Charlie, look out!
(MUSIC SLOWS DOWN,
CHEERING BECOMES MUFFLED)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Round's over!
Call her out!
Charlie! Charlie!
Charlie, no! No!
The round was over!
JACK: Charlie!
No! No!
No! No! Charlie!
No! Charlie!
(CROWD CHEERING)
This is not some
conspiracy theory, Liz.
I cannot put this on the air
until you can corroborate
what the monk told you.
What about TikTok and YouTube?
What about them?
If I could create
enough public awareness
of what's really going on,
the authorities
will move on this.
Well, it can't hurt.
If you can just
get me something,
I will get you on air.
(LINE BEEPS)
ARANYA: ...take on
American brother and sister,
the bad boy combo,
Jack and Charlie.
Live tonight, only.
Excuse me. What was that?
It's the stupid adverts.
Can you let me see it again?
Sure.
Next up is
our championship round.
Prison champion
Lamsongkram Saenchai
and Jeeja Aromdee
take on
American brother and sister,
bad boy combo,
Jack and Charlie,
live tonight, only.
Thanks.
Holy shit.
JACK: (SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)
MAX: (CLEARS THROAT)
You know...
I've spent my whole life
trying to live up to your...
legacy.
And everything
Mom ever said about you is true.
You're right, Max.
You have to earn your victories.
I should have never
given you a second chance.
(MUFFLED CHEERING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(WHISTLING, CHEERING)
(BELL DINGS)
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
MAX: Stay out of the clinch!
He's killing you in there!
You hear me?
(PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(MUSIC BECOMES MUFFLED)
(HIGH-PITCHED RINGING)
(CELL DOOR OPENS)
(JACK GRUNTS)
CHARLIE: Jack? Jack!
(GROANS, THUDS)
Let me. Jack! Hey, hey!
Stay with me, all right?
All right.
I'm right here.
I'm right here, Jack.
I'm right here.
Hey. Hey, Jack? Jack...
WELLS: Okay. Yeah.
Hold this for me.
Hold onto that for me.
Yes.
Thank you.
Ready.
I'm Cameron Wells,
and I'm standing outside
Hkantaut Prison in Myanmar,
just across the border
from Thailand.
I came here to look
for my colleague
Charlie Hightower
and her brother Jack.
They arrived a few weeks ago
to visit their estranged father,
who's serving
a life sentence here.
But they haven't been
heard from since.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Wake up.
JACK: Hey, hey, hey. What? Hey!
What's going on? Charlie!
Jack!
Charlie! No, no, Charlie!
Jack! Jack!
Jack and Charlie Hightower are
being illegally detained here,
forced to participate
in a fight promotion
run by the prison.
(CLAMORING)
JACK: Help!
No! No!
No, don't!
Jack!
Please! Please!
JACK: Please help!
CHARLIE: We've done-- Jack!
JACK: No! No!
CHARLIE: Jack!
I tell you this with the hopes
that you'll join me
in urging the authorities
to assist in their immediate
and unconditional release.
CHARLIE: (PANTING)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(SINGING STOPS)
(CHAINS CLATTERING)
(GRUNTS)
(BELL TOLLING)
SATRA: Uncle's gonna be
pissed if we're not out of here.
KUKRIT: So we just go, man.
Where the fuck is Nuke, man?
SATRA: He's late, man.
KUKRIT: Fuckin' asshole
should fucking be here.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(SIRENS WAILING
IN DISTANCE)
(SHOUTING IN THAI)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Get your dirty hands...
I'm the protector!
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
You'll live to regret this.
I'm coming back!
I'm coming back for you. (YELLS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
JACK: You knew.
How?
Your good friend.
Oh, my God. There you are.
Oh, my God. There you go.
Wells? What happened?
With Bolo?
(BOLO MEOWS)
What... We were-- Wha...
How did you find us?
WELLS: It wasn't easy.
This was you?
WELLS: No.
I had help.
MONK: It was your father
who truly revealed
what was happening.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
MONK: When a double execution
was scheduled,
at the last moment,
I notified the police.
He asked me to give you this.
"I know I haven't
earned my victory yet,
but you and Charlie did
a long time ago."
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
CHARLIE: (SOBS)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
Brought to you only by Kaboose.
Kicking your ass into gear.
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS, FADES)
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(BELL DINGING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
WARDEN: Hello.
My name is Warden Cetan.
And this is Hkantaut Prison.
(BIRDS CAWING)
Every inmate that
comes through this gate
is either serving
a life sentence
or awaits execution
on death row.
For the very first time,
please join us
inside the walls of Hkantaut
as champions fight
for a new chance at life.
(PRISON BUZZER RINGING)
(GUARD SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(PRISONERS MUMBLING)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(KEYS CLINKING)
(SINGING CONTINUES)
(GATE SHUTS)
(SINGING ENDS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
(CHAINS JINGLING)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
EXECUTIONER: (IN THAI)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(BUZZING)
MONK: (SINGING CONTINUES)
(SLOWED BREATHING)
(BUZZING)
(SINGING ENDS)
(CHAINS CLATTERING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL DINGING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(HORNS BLARING,
SIRENS WAILING)
(DOG BARKING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOTTLES CLANKING)
these are the same guys.
They're making the rounds.
Okay, see?
This is what I'm talking about.
There's no police presence
anywhere.
WOMAN: (SCREAMS) Hey, is that--
Give me--
Give me my meds!
THUG: No!
WOMAN: (SHRIEKS)
Give me my fuckin'... Hey!
Give me my fuckin' medicine!
How important is it?
(SOBS)
You're willing to
die for this shit?
WOMAN: Leave me alone!
What the hell are you doing?
Just call it in.
Charlie!
WOMAN: Stop!
Call it in, Wells.
Shit!
Hey!
Get the hell away from her!
Hey, give her her medicine!
Get the hell out of here!
Fuck off, lady!
Look, I am a journalist.
I have footage of
this entire thing
and my partner
has already called the police.
Really?
Yeah.
So, I suggest you get out
of here before the cops arrive.
Mm.
So, what you gonna do about it?
OPERATOR:
9-1-1, what's your emergency?
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
Shit!
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
(SCREAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
Charlie, come on! Hey! Hey!
Whoa! It's me, it's me.
(PANTING)
You're done. It's done.
We've got to go.
We got to get out of here.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING
IN DISTANCE)
WELLS: Jesus!
(PHONE RINGING)
Separated mandible.
Shattered cheekbone.
I know it looks bad,
but I was protecting this woman
from imminent danger,
and then they attacked me.
You inserted yourself
into imminent danger.
Wells told you what happened.
What was I supposed to do?
Just sit there and watch
this woman get stabbed?
Wait for law enforcement
to show up,
like you've been trained to do.
The minute you get all kung fu,
the story becomes about you
and not the bad guy.
I have to suspend you.
Two weeks, unpaid leave.
It's out of my hands.
Wait, what? Now I'm going to get
fired for protecting this woman?
No, I didn't say that.
Corporate is trying to
get ahead of it.
They are concerned
about a lawsuit.
Well, corporate
should be more concerned
with releasing a story
that is gonna save lives.
They're having me
pull you off the story too.
You cannot be serious.
Liz, come on, I've been
working on this for weeks.
Our insurance carrier requires
an internal investigation.
Liz... (SIGHS) Oh, my God.
What do you want me to say?
Call it a vacation,
if that helps.
This is bullshit.
I did the right thing,
and you know it.
I know your heart
is in the right place,
but I am telling you,
your inability to
control your anger
is starting to have
real consequences.
This is not the first time
we've had this conversation.
(EXHALES)
(DOOR SHUTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
Your conditioning sucks.
Yeah, fuck you too.
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
You left the door wide open.
Yeah, well, I had a rough night.
(GROANS, LAUGHS)
Still...
your takedown defense
is an embarrassment.
Well, that's why
I'm a journalist.
Thought you were
a crusader for the homeless.
You're such a dick.
So, how long are you
suspended for?
Do you want to talk about it?
What do you think, Jack?
Okay.
Did you hear back
from that company yet?
Venum? Yeah, last week.
And?
They're interested in doing
something with the gym
as long as I keep
winning fights.
Hey. That's fucking--
that's great!
Yeah. Yeah, it's something.
Hey, you got a minute?
I got all the time in the world.
Come on,
I wanna show you something.
It's the deed to the building.
Yeah. It needs to be transferred
into one of our names
in order to settle Mom's estate.
Okay.
JACK: There's a problem.
His name's on it.
Of course it is.
The lawyers say that
we can't transfer title
without his signature.
So... let's just have him
declared legally dead.
Dad's not dead.
Well, he might as well be.
Look, I know
this is a sore subject...
No, it's not
a sore subject, Jack.
It just...
It's a pointless conversation.
And I don't want to deal
with this right now.
Charlie! Hey! Seriously?
Maybe it's time
we give this place up.
My first memories are of
Dad training fighters here.
We practically
grew up in this gym,
Charlie, this place
means a lot to me.
Well, I wish I could say
I shared the same fond memories.
JACK: Charlie...
What, Jack? What is your plan?
You want to just
swing by the prison
and ask him to sign it?
It's already cleared.
(SIGHS) And if he doesn't?
Max doesn't care
about you or me, or anyone.
People do change, Charlie.
He-- He's been in there,
like, 20 years.
You're too young
to remember what he was like.
And you've built him up to be
this great guy, and he's not.
Like, he's the guy
who gets caught with drugs
in a foreign country
and abandons his family.
People like that,
they don't change, Jack.
Narcissists never change.
I mean, just...
look what it did to Mom.
I gotta do it.
If you give him any chance
to screw us, he will.
You give him way too much power.
He's in prison.
(SIGHS)
(HESITATES) Okay, if he says no,
you know what we do?
We turn around,
and we come home.
What if I told you
that I already
bought you a plane ticket?
I would tell you
that was stupid.
Did you?
We leave in two days.
Jack!
What else are you gonna do?
You don't have a job!
Charlie, come on. Please.
I don't want to do this alone.
Fine. I'll go. Okay.
Okay?
Okay, all right.
CHARLIE: Okay, okay.
It's a bad idea.
You're welcome.
Bolo gets one of these
every night,
so make sure you
rotate the flavors.
You really think
it's a good idea
to be leaving in the middle
of an investigation? (CHUCKLES)
Cans go in recycling.
CHARLIE: (SIGHS, MUMBLES)
"Shrimp and lobster"?
So, this prison
is in Thailand?
No, Hkantaut Prison
is actually in Myanmar,
but Jack has us
flying into Bangkok.
WELLS: When are you coming back?
Well, Jack is in charge
of the itinerary, so...
WELLS: That must be
driving you crazy.
CHARLIE: Ooh.
It'll probably be a week.
So, in theory, I could be
cat sitting Bolo for months.
Hey, I want you
to send me those files.
Not gonna happen.
Why?
WELLS: Do you even
want to keep your job?
Come on, Wells,
we've been working
on the story for weeks.
I just want to see it
through to the end with you.
You're not playing
the game, Charlie.
If you want to get things done,
you gotta play by their rules.
Optics matter.
Please don't lecture me
on optics, all right?
Just send me the files.
Okay, what else? Oh!
I need to FaceTime
with Bolo each morning,
which is nighttime here.
It's a cat, for Christ's sake.
And this cat gets very sad
if we don't talk,
so promise me, Wells.
I promise, I promise.
CHARLIE: Thank you.
What's the name
of the hotel again?
It is the Riva Arun
on the river.
Maybe text that to me?
Okay, Dad.
(BOLO MEOWS)
Oh, it's just my little Bolo!
(GASPS) You are so handsome.
All right, you be good
for Wells, okay?
I'll miss you.
Okay, FaceTime.
Every night.
Yeah, I got it.
Oh, stay out of my fridge.
(SPEAKS THAI)
JACK: Hey, I'm really happy
you're here, sis.
Well, someone's gotta
look after you.
Don't point that thing at me.
JACK: Why?
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
I'm serious, stop.
Cut it out.
What? You afraid
it'll steal your soul?
CHARLIE: No.
That asshole James at KTD
ran our entire story
on the thug incident.
You have any idea what it's like
to be turned into a gif? Hm?
Well, it's good
you're here then.
Let's not pretend
like this is for my benefit.
Come on, when's the last time
you took a vacation?
Look at this place.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
Did you know that
the city is actually
sinking two centimeters
every year?
Well, we better enjoy it then.
I'm working on it.
Good.
Here, want some?
Yeah.
So, how long did you say
the drive was?
A few hours.
A few?
Three.
To the border.
Oy.
Well, I guess we should go
get the shitty part over with.
Shall we?
Let's do it.
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
Thank you.
(GROANS)
You're gonna thank me
when this is over.
Okay, Jack.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO)
(SIGHS)
JACK: Thank you.
It's like the entrance
to your apartment.
I didn't get into journalism
for the money.
I know.
You did it to beat up bums.
Too soon?
Are you sure
you want to do this?
Demons get stronger
the more you ignore them, sis.
(SIGHS)
JACK: Thank you.
(BUZZER RINGS)
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
I'm just gonna
wait for you outside.
JACK: Charlie, please.
I really don't want to
talk to him, Jack.
JACK: Okay.
Just... Can you stay
with me, then? Please?
Yeah?
Yeah.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
Hey, Dad.
Been a while, Jack.
I don't know exactly
what to say or...
where to start.
How's my gym?
Your gym?
Your mother sell it?
JACK: No, she didn't sell it.
Well, that's a...
that's a surprise.
Actually, she's passed away.
Sorry.
Yeah. Well...
two packs of cigarettes,
a bottle of wine.
Every day for 30 years.
I'm not surprised.
Fuckin' asshole.
Charlie. Hold on a minute.
I'm not gonna sit here
and listen to his bullshit.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
JACK: Char...
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
I have been waiting
a long time...
for you to visit.
I got this picture.
It's a little faded.
I think you were eight.
And... I think she was 13.
What's with the briefcase?
Actually, I've been
running the gym.
Training fighters and...
I've been trying to turn
the place around for...
one or two years now.
That's good.
JACK: Anyway...
We need your signature
on the deed
in order to transfer title
to one of our names.
It could be Charlie or me.
It doesn't really matter.
Really?
Yeah.
This is the deed here.
That's why you're here?
That's my gym, Jack.
That's my gym, Jack!
You're gonna
earn your victories,
just like in the ring!
I'm not just gonna
give that to you!
Tell your sister goodbye,
or hello, or whatever.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SHUTS, LOCK CLICKS)
(SIGHS)
Jack.
Hey. You okay?
His gym.
What a fucking waste of time...
Hey. Come here.
...and a life and...
CHARLIE: I'm sorry.
(SIGHS)
I'm sorry.
But you know what?
I'm proud of you.
(SIGHS)
It took a lot for you
to come here and face him.
I mean, look at me, I just ran.
And you know what, fuck him.
Seriously, what has he
ever done for us?
Nothing.
And we always
figure it out, don't we?
Now, let's get back to Bangkok.
We have a whole city
we're going to explore.
Go see some fights,
have some pad thai.
Find you a girlfriend.
Let's go.
Not going to let him
ruin anything else.
(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUFFLED CHEERING)
(MUSIC SWELLS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
WOMAN: (GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
(DINGS)
The water, come on!
Let's see some aggression,
all right?
When you get her in the clinch,
knee her up.
That's what she's doing to you.
You do it to her.
Knee her up.
Exhale on
every strike, okay?
MAX: You take care
of her this round.
This round!
All right? Set her up
for the spinning kick!
(BELL DINGING)
Go! Go get her!
(CROWD CHEERING)
REFEREE: Fight!
(GRUNTS)
Set it up!
(CROWD CHEERING)
Yep! Good!
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Sure, the high-speed stuff
is gonna be insane.
Hello, fight fans,
and welcome to death row.
There's only two ways
to leave Hkantaut.
First is in the box.
The second is
by victory in the ring.
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
The only way to leave alive
is as a champion.
(SCREAMS)
Watch it live on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
Fighting for Freedom,
where the champions go free.
KUKRIT:
It's the perfect setup.
Freedom from captivity.
Violence rewarded
regardless of the crime.
What's all this?
Who are these guys?
Max, meet my nephews.
They both just earned
graduate degrees in marketing
in America.
I'm Kukrit.
I create the content.
Satra here does our analytics
and social media.
You must be very proud.
We're taking the summer
away from Bangkok
to help Uncle monetize
the fight promotion.
"Monetize."
Well, that's a big word.
Max, let him explain.
Well, you see,
in the age of devices,
everyone now watches TV
on their phones.
KUKRIT: When live sports are
marketed as a must-see event,
fans pay to watch, right?
Look at the UFC. They proved it.
My nephews have assured me
that this will pave the way
for an early retirement.
SATRA:
We use all the platforms,
TikTok, Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter.
We're selling
heroes and villains,
so we either want the fans
to love or hate the fighters.
So far, they don't think
our challenges are good enough.
KUKRIT: They gotta
be better, a lot better.
Something with a... backstory.
Okay. Well, sounds like
you got it all figured out.
We're not done.
We know nothing
about matchmaking.
But Uncle here tells us
that you're the best.
WARDEN: I want to
make you an offer.
If you can deliver
what my nephews need,
I'll grant your release.
My release?
Barring the platform
is successful, of course.
You need fighters?
Villains.
Foreigners, ideally.
Huh?
Well, that's going
to be a problem
because, uh, we don't have
any of those here.
I trust you're gonna
figure it out.
Show me the girl again.
ARANYA: Hello, my friends,
and welcome to death row.
There's only two ways
to leave Hkantaut.
First is in the box...
(UPBEAT CLUB MUSIC PLAYING)
JACK: Here's to that.
CHARLIE: Salud!
Clearly, a thinly sliced--
I swear to God.
(LAUGHS)
Good. Good. Good. Good.
(LAUGHS)
CHARLIE: Have a good night.
Thank you.
(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
(HORN BLARING)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(PHONE RINGING)
Hey there, Mr. Bolo.
How is my little monster?
Well, I know you're not
talking about me.
I'm going to need
the number to HR.
WELLS: (LAUGHING)
Hey, Wells, check out this view.
BARTENDER: And here are your
Bloody Marys, sir.
Ah. Thank you, sir.
WELLS: Looks like we got
the short end of the stick.
You did.
So, when are you coming home?
Friday.
WELLS: You just got there.
And I'm anxious to get back
'cause you never sent me
the files.
WELLS: Maybe you should stay
a little longer.
Funny.
(GROANS) I feel like
utter dog shit.
Say hello to Wells.
Hello, Wells.
WELLS: (CHUCKLES) Hey!
This guy.
Hey, Wells,
just give me server access.
Not gonna happen, Charlie.
Come on.
Say bye, Bolo.
Wait, Wells, don't--
(BEEPS)
Damn it. Asshole.
Cheers.
Mm.
Mr. Hightower,
a call for you.
Well, go see who it is.
(GROANS)
(EXHALES)
You ready?
His only condition
was that you talk to him.
I'm here, aren't I?
We're here to see Max Hightower.
Please, place your bags
on the table
and complete forms.
JACK: Copy.
GUARD: Yaba! Yaba!
Face the wall!
Hands up over your head!
What's going on here?
Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
You bring yaba into prison.
Yaba? What is yaba?
Meth! You bring meth.
No, no, nobody's--
Charlie, be cool, be cool!
Hang on a second.
(GRUNTS)
(ALARM BLARING)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
(CLAMORING)
CHARLIE: Jack!
(GROANS)
(SCREAMS)
Stop! Stop! Stop!
We're going to cooperate,
all right?
Just wait!
We're cooperating.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
We're cooperating.
Run.
(BOTH GROANING)
(TASER BUZZING)
(ALARM FADES OUT)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENING)
We need to talk.
(GROANS LIGHTLY)
(KEYS CLINKING, DOOR OPENING)
GUARD: Come!
(PRISONERS SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY)
(PRISONERS CLAMORING)
Please don't leave.
Please, can you help me?
Do you speak English?
GUARD: (YELLS IN THAI)
seen my brother Jack?
Have you seen Jack, please?
GUARD: (YELLS IN THAI)
Can I--
I need to speak with
someone at the embassy.
Please, English.
Do you speak English?
JACK: Charlie, Charlie!
CHARLIE: Jack! Jack!
Oh, my God, Jack!
(CRYING) Are you okay?
JACK: Yeah, are you okay?
CHARLIE: Yeah. I'm all right.
JACK: What is going on?
CHARLIE: I don't know.
Jack.
CHARLIE: Hey.
JACK: You okay? You all right?
This is not what I meant.
Got exactly what you asked for.
Foreigners. Trained to fight.
Who are they?
His own children.
Jesus Christ.
How'd you pull this off so fast?
Sometimes you've got to think
outside of the box.
This carries a considerable
degree of risk, Max.
They're perfect.
They really are perfect.
WARDEN: You sure?
BOTH: Yeah.
WARDEN: We have
a limited amount of time
before someone comes looking.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING
IN DISTANCE)
(FLIES BUZZING)
WARDEN: (EXHALES)
Max, you motherfucker.
"Wagyu and lamb"?
(BOLO MEOWS)
(MEOWING)
(SHUTTER CLICKS)
Maana, Bolo.
(CHAINS CLANKING)
Okay.
There are police
and there are real courts
in this country.
Wells knows we're here, huh?
Right? Right?
We'll get...
Jack.
We'll get a lawyer.
We'll get the U.S. Embassy.
Jack, he screwed us.
He fuckin' screwed us.
You think Max had something
to do with this?
I know he did.
How? He's an inmate.
Jack, think about it.
Why did he change his mind?
What are you--
What are you saying?
The gym, Jack,
why did he reconsider?
You think he just had
this change of heart
all of a sudden?
No, Charlie.
(DOOR OPENING)
Go.
Stop.
Jack and Charlene Hightower.
My name is Warden Cetan.
You-- You speak English.
Thank God.
Look, we have not been
given access
to counsel or a phone call.
That's what happens
when you assault my guards.
Okay, this has all been
a misunderstanding.
We came here to visit our dad.
WARDEN: You are being held
for intent to
distribute illegal drugs.
No. No. No.
Look, it is our legal right
to be given access
to an attorney.
Charlie! Charlie!
(GROANS)
All right, okay!
(COUGHS)
All right, breathe through it.
Breathe, breathe. You all right?
Everything here is
under my discretion.
Including a right to counsel.
What are you talking about?
WARDEN: It means
I can keep you
both here indefinitely.
JACK:
This is fucking insane, man.
You think we're drug smugglers?
CHARLIE: What you're doing here
is against international law.
JACK: Yes.
You have two options.
Fight for your freedom
or rot in this cell.
Today, you'll both be introduced
to the general population.
GUARD: Up!
What?
GUARD: (SPEAKS IN THAI)
Go!
CHARLIE: Jack! Jack!
Hey, help.
My name is Jack Hightower.
My sister Charlie and I
have been falsely accused
of drug smuggling.
(GROANS)
Up. Up!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(CHATTER CONTINUES)
SIMON: American.
Simon.
Jack.
You British?
Essex.
Dallas, Texas.
I haven't met many Yanks
since I've been in here.
How long has that been?
Long enough.
What's it like?
Total fucking shit.
But it can be better
if you know how to
work the system.
What do you mean by that?
The only reason
I'm not starving to death
is I work for the fight team.
Look.
There must be
an execution today.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
What's their deal?
They don't like farang.
Farang?
Foreigner.
Careful, mate,
they can smell fear.
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
give them a pack of cigarettes
every day
or they'll fuck you up.
Tell them I don't smoke.
Yeah?
He don't smoke. No smoke.
No smoke?
(ALL CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
(YELLS IN THAI)
(PRISONERS CHEERING)
(GRUNTS)
(ALL CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
learn to fight like that, huh?
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
new here.
Yeah. How does this work?
You got cigarettes?
I'll spot you.
(SPEAKS THAI)
So, everyone here
has to buy food?
Well, they give you two bowls
of rotten rice every day,
and if you don't
want to eat that,
you have to buy your own.
The only exception is
if you're on the fight team.
You don't seem
much like a criminal.
I crossed the border
after a full moon party
and got popped
with seven hits of ecstasy
and a life sentence.
Can't your family do anything?
They tried.
Did they at least
let you talk to a lawyer?
A lousy public defender
that didn't do much.
How about you?
It's a long story.
Hey, will you tell me more
about the fight team?
They get better food?
Better everything.
And who's that old white guy
that I saw training them?
That's Max, a total asshole.
He runs the fight teams.
Rumor has it
he introduced the pardon thing.
So the pardons are real?
Sure, but they're rare.
And he's an inmate?
As much as any of us, I guess.
He's close with the warden.
He lives in his own
private part of the prison.
Everyone comes here
before lockup.
When's that?
3:30 in the afternoon
to 6:30 in the morning.
That's... Jesus, 15 hours?
Hey!
What the hell?
(IN THAI)
You need to apologize.
For what?
(IN THAI)
(SPEAKING THAI)
(GRUNTS)
(PRISONERS CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
(GUARDS SHOUTING)
(CLAMORING STOPS)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERING)
Do you think she's good enough?
What, to fight Jeeja?
Yeah, who else?
Jeeja is a coldblooded killer.
KUKRIT: I'm not worried
about the matchup.
For this to really work,
we need our fans to care
about who we want them to.
You know,
like Women of Wrestling.
Your favorite show, no?
It's not my favorite show.
KUKRIT: No, you love that shit.
I know you do.
Just get on with the gig.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
There was an execution today.
(CELL DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR SHUTS)
Warden wanted me to talk to you.
You can tell the warden
the only thing we want
is to speak with a lawyer.
I don't think you get it.
You're in a death factory.
Unless you figure out
how to survive...
you won't.
It's rare foreigners
are given a chance to fight.
I suggest you take it.
(CELL DOOR OPENS)
(CELL DOOR SHUTS)
Oh, fuck!
(SIGHS)
You were right.
Jack... (SNIFFS)
JACK: No.
You were right.
This is all my fault.
CHARLIE: This is not your fault.
Okay? You hear me?
It's not your fault.
Don't go spiraling on me
right now, okay?
I need you,
I need you here with me, okay?
(SNIFFS)
CHARLIE: Jack?
(SIGHS) Yeah.
I'm here. I'm here.
CHARLIE: We need to buy
ourselves some time.
Now, the fight team, they...
they get better food.
They get better treatment.
JACK: Right.
But why is it so important
to them that we fight?
I don't know.
But it gives us
a degree of leverage.
Yeah. Leverage.
You think every new inmate,
that they get this
kind of attention?
They need us for something.
I don't know what, but they do.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello, fight fans.
They're here for one reason.
And one reason only.
Reigning prison champions
calling you on
their path to freedom.
(IN THAI)
(GRUNTS)
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(IN THAI)
(BELL DINGING)
Champions behind bars
fighting for redemption.
(CROWD CHEERING)
ARANYA: Who will face
the deadly duo next?
Only on
the Fighting for Freedom app,
where the champions go free.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SPEAKS IN THAI)
might be training with us.
Who the fuck are you?
And who told you that? Max?
Simon, meet my sister Charlie.
Lovely to meet you as well.
Uh...
I'm supposed to
get you some food.
Don't take it personal.
What was that about?
We've met.
Here you are.
Enjoy.
There he is.
So nice of you to join us.
Are you even an inmate?
Yeah. With privileges.
You're just
such a piece of shit.
You sound just like your mother.
Listen...
the important thing
is that I can
get you out of here.
Yeah, let's cut the bullshit.
You wouldn't help anyone
unless it was good for you.
We have conditions.
Well, I'm listening.
CHARLIE: We want our own
shared cell,
with new sleeping mats
and new bedding.
From now on,
we eat with the fight team,
we share the same privileges.
And we each get two cartons
of cigarettes every week.
I can do that.
Training starts right now.
PRISONER: (SPEAKING THAI)
(SPEAKS THAI)
four cartons!
Four!
JACK: ...we're drug smugglers.
You think...
Here you go.
Thanks.
Ooh! What is this?
Uncle's cheap-ass whiskey?
Yes, good shit.
KUKRIT: Mm.
All right, so I was thinking
we block North America,
keep the rollout to Asia.
Smart.
I'm targeting ads utilizing
Japanese and South Korean data
and filtering
with the martial arts fans
who identify as
"more than casual."
KUKRIT: Nice.
We need to introduce
our villains now.
Let us see how
Americans can fight.
GUARD: Up!
CHANCHAI: Pay attention.
Work harder.
Be smarter in the ring.
Fight for the honor
of your nation.
Fight as Nai Khanom Tom
did many centuries ago.
You're late.
This is when the guards
let us out.
Yeah, well, I'll talk
to somebody about that.
Right now we're running!
You two lead!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(IN THAI)
Fair enough.
And what do you suppose
we do when we're done?
If they become champions...
they get pardons.
If not...
they keep fighting
until they do.
If they lose, they're done.
(PRISONERS CHEERING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
You got a second?
LIZ: Uh, what's up?
Is... is that Charlie's cat?
(BOLO MEOWING)
Check your inbox.
What's this?
It's the footage we shot.
And she's right.
There is a story here.
Let me guess,
Charlie put you up to this?
Actually, she has no idea.
She's in Thailand
with her brother.
Charlie's in Thailand?
She didn't tell you that,
either, huh?
No.
WELLS: No?
Well, I was hoping
you'd heard something from her.
She was supposed to be back
this past Friday.
Uh, seeing as this is the first
I'm hearing of this,
I don't know what to say.
Do... Do you know
where they were staying?
The Ruva Sala or something.
It's by the river.
Maybe you should
look into that, Wells.
And get that cat out of here.
(BOLO MEOWING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
You said we would be
up and running by now.
KUKRIT: We're moving
as fast as we can.
We promise it will be
worth the wait.
The appetite for this is huge.
You wanted to see me?
Come in.
Show Max what you showed me.
Just press that "play" button.
ARANYA: Jack, American
and all-around bad boy,
moving from prison fight
to his first battle in the ring.
We're ready for the first fight.
ARANYA: The moment we've all
been waiting for...
We need videos of them fighting
to build the audience up.
You know, get them invested.
They need more time.
I thought they were
trained fighters, Max.
All right. You're the boss.
(DOOR OPENS)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
They used to do it
with machine guns.
They'd force the prisoners
to turn their backs
so that the spirits
wouldn't see the guards
when their souls left the body.
Jesus.
What do they do now?
Lethal injection.
Executioner wears a hood.
Where do they go?
They leave the bodies outside,
and if a family member shows up,
they can claim it.
And if they don't?
SIMON: They're cremated.
Monk puts the ashes
in little urns,
puts them inside of
a plastic shopping bag
that he carries around
with him sometimes.
Gives me nightmares.
Ten more laps.
MAX: Go get me some water.
Your first fight's
here tomorrow.
You're fighting Lek.
You're fighting Netra.
Per her request.
If you win...
you're that much closer
fighting for the championship.
And if we lose?
Losing is never an option...
Jack.
Ew. Nasty.
(LINE BEEPS)
AUTOMATED VOICE:
We're sorry, your call--
(MEOWS)
(LINE BEEPS)
WOMAN: (SPEAKING THAI)
Is there any chance
you could put me in touch
with your manager?
WOMAN: Please hold.
MANAGER: (GREETING IN THAI)
My name's Cameron Wells.
I have a colleague
who is a guest at your hotel.
Her name's Charlie Hightower.
She's staying with her brother.
MANAGER: Yeah, I'm afraid
they never checked out,
but we are holding their bags
at the front desk.
When was the last time
you saw them?
Lek, an eager contender
trying to move up the ranks
in the prison fight team.
Winning is his only thought.
LEK: (IN THAI)
(BELL DINGING)
His opponent, Jack.
An American
and all-around bad boy,
moving from prison fight
to his first battle
in the ring.
We're drug smugglers.
The moment we've all
been waiting for.
Degenerate American drug dealers
fight live tonight,
only on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
(DINGS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(HOOTING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(CHEERING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CLAMORING)
Bang!
Our social's gonna eat this up.
Woohoo!
He's dropping his lead.
So come over the top
with a right-hander or kick.
(GASPS) Okay.
How do you feel?
Good.
Good.
You got this.
Right.
All right.
Over the top.
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD BOOING)
Get him some water!
(ALL BOOING)
How about that?
That was fucking badass.
Incredible.
Your boy can take a shot.
Will he be good enough
to fight Lam?
Given time.
What about the girl,
you think she can go
three rounds?
Given time.
She has to be competitive
in order for this thing to work.
Oh, she'll be competitive.
KUKRIT: All right,
so I got this angle here, okay?
This will slow it down
and then cut to the second angle
where it's wider.
SATRA: Right.
KUKRIT: This one, look at this.
SATRA: So just a clean cut,
or is there a transition...
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
I can't do this.
Wait. You okay?
Breathe, focus.
You're gonna be fine, okay?
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
CHANCHAI: Come on.
Breathe.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
Focus. Use your jab.
Keep yourself at distance.
Okay? Good luck.
(EXHALES)
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
REFREE: Come on!
Fight!
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Use your body, Charlie.
React. Breathe.
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
(GRUNTS)
Hi-yah!
(GRUNTS)
One, two, three.
(BOTH GRUNT)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(CROWD BOOING)
(BOOING CONTINUES)
Holy shit, we just made it
to the next level.
When can this be cut by?
Give me 24 hours.
Yeah?
We fucking did it!
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(CELL DOOR SHUTS)
Hey.
Sit down.
(CRIES SOFTLY)
It's okay.
It's okay, Charlie.
It's okay.
(SOBS)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
JACK: Charlie.
You got beat up, didn't you?
Yeah.
I'm fine, fine.
All right.
Fine.
You okay?
Yeah.
JACK: Yeah?
Yeah.
Hey. Look at me.
We made it, though. Right?
Good.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(SIGHS)
We'll make it through, Char.
We always do.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC FADES)
You feeling all right, then?
Max wants to see you.
Come on.
Sit down.
Jack, your Muay Thai is good.
It's... very good.
And, Charlie...
for someone who's not trained
as a professional fighter...
you surprised me.
In a good way.
So what, you...
you think we got a chance?
Maybe.
Listen.
I know every fighter in here.
I know their strengths,
and I know their weaknesses.
So, if you two would
just trust me...
just trust me...
I can get you out of here.
What do you say?
Charlie?
I don't need anything from you.
Let's go. Kick. Wow.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
Two!
Kick!
MAN: Hey!
Knee.
Two! Yes, yes!
CHANCHAI: Good, Charlie, good.
Breathe, breathe.
Own the inside,
own the inside, own the inside!
That-a-boy. Yeah.
Get away. There you go.
All right. Keep your distance.
Relax. Nice, nice.
Weakness to let emotion
cloud your mind. Come on.
Strength is knowing
your opponent.
One-two. (GRUNTS) Back. Ooh!
(GRUNTS) Kick!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Who's getting excited?
Next up is
our championship round.
Will the evil American
survive another bout,
or will Lam and Jeeja
finally earn their freedom?
(BELL DINGING)
Give me freedom!
Don't miss the action
live on death row,
only on
the Fighting for Freedom app.
(MUSIC SWELLS, FADES)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(HORN BLARING)
(THUNDER CLAPS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DINGS)
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)
How can I help you, sir?
I'm Cameron Wells.
I have a reservation.
Welcome to Riva Arun, Mr. Wells.
I have you here
for seven nights.
KUKRIT: It's hard to overhype
the power
of mobile push
notification technology.
SATRA: We've triggered
a significant campaign
highly targeted to
a demographic with
a known discretionary income.
Each one is invited
to join our
exclusive Fighting
for Freedom community,
which then lets them
watch our premiere event
this week for free.
This week?
If we wait any longer,
the risk of them being here
will outweigh the reward.
How come I'm getting
this information now?
Just get us
two good championship fights.
We need to pay off the buildup.
It will be a good test
of our model.
CHANCHAI: Come on, Charlie.
Nice. Nice. Control.
Again. That's it, good.
Yes. The more you're in control,
the better your technique is.
Okay? Get some water.
MAX: Chanchai!
It's going to be impossible
for you to avoid the clinch,
so you need to learn
the art of disengagement.
Otherwise this fight's
going to be over.
(GRUNTS)
MAX: Pull him down.
Never seen the prick
act like that before.
Normally he just stands around
with his arms crossed
and barks at his fighters.
MAX: Dump the clinch!
(LAUGHS)
Lookin' good.
CHARLIE: Well,
Jack was supposed
to be his legacy.
MAX: Good. Hurt him, hurt him.
PRISONER: Uma! Uma!
Good, Jack!
WELLS: Thank you.
(BOLO MEOWS)
No walk-up.
I just have a question.
I'm looking for
these two people.
Their father's an inmate here.
GUARD: Who?
Max Hightower.
This is Charlie
and Jack Hightower.
His children.
I don't know.
WELLS: Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Does someone have
access to the footage
from the cameras outside?
Maybe I can take a look.
Visitors need appointment.
You are not the police.
Okay, so how do I make
an appointment?
Here.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
Do you work here?
I'm looking for my friends.
These two.
Charlie and Jack Hightower.
They came here to
visit their father.
I understand they were
brought in for a drug charge.
Drugs? Jack won't even
take aspirin.
MONK: Is there anything else?
What... What exactly
do you do at the prison?
I look after the bodies
of the executed
and guide them on their journey.
That's kind of dark.
In this situation,
the condemned man
knows his destiny
and can clear his conscience.
(BUZZER RINGS)
(DOG BARKING)
GUARD: Sir, one of
the Americans' friends
came looking for them.
WARDEN: When?
GUARD: Earlier today.
WARDEN: Cancel any
and all visitations
until further notice.
Get me the tape.
Okay, sir.
Hey, Jack.
Hey, Char.
You know I love you, right?
Good.
JACK: I love you too, sis.
I have reason to believe
they're being held
against their will.
That's a serious accusation.
(BOLO MEOWS)
Well,
what happens if someone
is caught committing a crime
while visiting the prison?
Are you a lawyer?
Just a friend.
WARDEN: We've taken this
as far as it can go.
We need to cancel the fight
and get rid of them.
We have a deal.
WARDEN: The minute you let them
come into my prison,
they became
my problem to handle.
The risk is the same,
whether they fight or not.
Send them in.
Is, uh... Is everything okay?
How much?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
176,293 subscribers.
Holy shit.
That's a little over
350,000 U.S.
And we're going to get
a lot more sign-ups day of.
Wait outside.
(DOOR SHUTS)
That's a lot of money.
You can retire very nicely
with that kind of money.
I think you want out of here
worse than I do.
Let 'em fight.
Let 'em fight.
Let them fucking fight.
(CROWD CHEERING IN DISTANCE)
(SPEAKS THAI)
during the walkout,
you're going to get
some audience shots.
Camera two,
you'll go wide and cover.
Camera three and four,
you're good.
Okay. We go live in ten.
The lightened ring
makes a huge difference.
Thank you.
This could've been
so much bigger
if they let us play it out.
We're good.
We have a strong
proof of concept
that we can build from.
Build from?
We're tearing it all apart.
Hey, it worked.
That's all that matters.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(MUSIC TURNS UPBEAT)
(CROWD CHEERING, HOOTING)
(CROWD BOOING)
(BELL DINGING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS, GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Aah!
(BELL DINGING)
Move!
(PANTING)
(GASPS, PANTS)
You're doing
everything right, Charlie.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
Congratulations, Max.
Tomorrow you'll be a free man,
with a fresh start.
It's a shame your children
won't be joining you.
What?
Only champions
ever leave this place alive.
You know that.
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING, WHISTLING)
(GRUNTS)
(EXCLAIMS)
Yah!
(GROANS)
Hi-yah!
(CROWD CHEERING)
(BELL DINGING)
Let them fight.
Charlie, look out!
(MUSIC SLOWS DOWN,
CHEERING BECOMES MUFFLED)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Round's over!
Call her out!
Charlie! Charlie!
Charlie, no! No!
The round was over!
JACK: Charlie!
No! No!
No! No! Charlie!
No! Charlie!
(CROWD CHEERING)
This is not some
conspiracy theory, Liz.
I cannot put this on the air
until you can corroborate
what the monk told you.
What about TikTok and YouTube?
What about them?
If I could create
enough public awareness
of what's really going on,
the authorities
will move on this.
Well, it can't hurt.
If you can just
get me something,
I will get you on air.
(LINE BEEPS)
ARANYA: ...take on
American brother and sister,
the bad boy combo,
Jack and Charlie.
Live tonight, only.
Excuse me. What was that?
It's the stupid adverts.
Can you let me see it again?
Sure.
Next up is
our championship round.
Prison champion
Lamsongkram Saenchai
and Jeeja Aromdee
take on
American brother and sister,
bad boy combo,
Jack and Charlie,
live tonight, only.
Thanks.
Holy shit.
JACK: (SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)
MAX: (CLEARS THROAT)
You know...
I've spent my whole life
trying to live up to your...
legacy.
And everything
Mom ever said about you is true.
You're right, Max.
You have to earn your victories.
I should have never
given you a second chance.
(MUFFLED CHEERING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(WHISTLING, CHEERING)
(BELL DINGS)
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
MAX: Stay out of the clinch!
He's killing you in there!
You hear me?
(PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL DINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(MUSIC BECOMES MUFFLED)
(HIGH-PITCHED RINGING)
(CELL DOOR OPENS)
(JACK GRUNTS)
CHARLIE: Jack? Jack!
(GROANS, THUDS)
Let me. Jack! Hey, hey!
Stay with me, all right?
All right.
I'm right here.
I'm right here, Jack.
I'm right here.
Hey. Hey, Jack? Jack...
WELLS: Okay. Yeah.
Hold this for me.
Hold onto that for me.
Yes.
Thank you.
Ready.
I'm Cameron Wells,
and I'm standing outside
Hkantaut Prison in Myanmar,
just across the border
from Thailand.
I came here to look
for my colleague
Charlie Hightower
and her brother Jack.
They arrived a few weeks ago
to visit their estranged father,
who's serving
a life sentence here.
But they haven't been
heard from since.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Wake up.
JACK: Hey, hey, hey. What? Hey!
What's going on? Charlie!
Jack!
Charlie! No, no, Charlie!
Jack! Jack!
Jack and Charlie Hightower are
being illegally detained here,
forced to participate
in a fight promotion
run by the prison.
(CLAMORING)
JACK: Help!
No! No!
No, don't!
Jack!
Please! Please!
JACK: Please help!
CHARLIE: We've done-- Jack!
JACK: No! No!
CHARLIE: Jack!
I tell you this with the hopes
that you'll join me
in urging the authorities
to assist in their immediate
and unconditional release.
CHARLIE: (PANTING)
MONK: (SINGING PRAYER)
(SINGING STOPS)
(CHAINS CLATTERING)
(GRUNTS)
(BELL TOLLING)
SATRA: Uncle's gonna be
pissed if we're not out of here.
KUKRIT: So we just go, man.
Where the fuck is Nuke, man?
SATRA: He's late, man.
KUKRIT: Fuckin' asshole
should fucking be here.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(SIRENS WAILING
IN DISTANCE)
(SHOUTING IN THAI)
(RAIN PATTERING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Get your dirty hands...
I'm the protector!
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
You'll live to regret this.
I'm coming back!
I'm coming back for you. (YELLS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
JACK: You knew.
How?
Your good friend.
Oh, my God. There you are.
Oh, my God. There you go.
Wells? What happened?
With Bolo?
(BOLO MEOWS)
What... We were-- Wha...
How did you find us?
WELLS: It wasn't easy.
This was you?
WELLS: No.
I had help.
MONK: It was your father
who truly revealed
what was happening.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
MONK: When a double execution
was scheduled,
at the last moment,
I notified the police.
He asked me to give you this.
"I know I haven't
earned my victory yet,
but you and Charlie did
a long time ago."
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
CHARLIE: (SOBS)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
Brought to you only by Kaboose.
Kicking your ass into gear.
(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS, FADES)
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)