Project: High Council (2023) s01e02 Episode Script

You're asking for it.
Hey! Face is off-limit.
I told you that the
face is off-limit.
Enough. Don't touch the face.
Then?
-Then, Kahar kneed his head.
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
The warden is here.
-He is here?
He is going up.
-Warden? Warden?
What is wrong with you?
Warden..
-Warden?
You're lucky.
Get out of here!
Ayam.
No, I'm serious.
Why are you so upset with me?
You were the one who asked me
to settle with Kahar. I did it.
That jerk won't mess
up with us anymore.
What else is bothering you?
Answer me, Ayam!
Ayam!
My dad just bought this glasses.
The old one is only
for my long-sightedness.
I've been wearing
that since I was a kid.
Three years ago, I started
having short-sightedness.
In that three years,
I can't see anything distant.
It got worse and
my power increased.
But when he found out
that I got accepted here,
my dad was so happy that
he got me this bifocal glasses.
He even had to withdraw
money from his EPF savings.
All that, just to support me
coming here, and buy all my needs.
My mum helped too.
She sold all her
jewelleries to the pawn shop.
Considering all their hardships and
difficulties to send me here,
if not I would have
called them to take me home.
Kelantan is a long way from here.
Lord of the Flies is a
1954 debut novel,
by Nobel Prize-winning
British author William Golding.
The story is about a group of
boys stranded on an island,
and their disastrous
attempt at governing themselves.
So, aside from the exploration of
what would young boys turn into,
when left to their own devices.
Themes include tension between
groupthink and individuality,
between rational
and emotional reactions.
But above all, carries
the message that all men,
are capable of evil.
Because according
to the writer,
boys will just end up
killing one another in the end!
And this is when I completely
disagree with the book!
Evil is a product
of bad nurture.
Humans are intrinsically good,
and want to
co-exist in harmony.
Well thats a lie.
Because in the end, there will
always be predators and prey.
The strong will rule,
and the weak will suffer.
Which is ridiculous!
We have proven that
we are capable at
living in symbiosis
of each other!
What symbiosis?
The great white shark doesn't need
a stupid latchy fish to survive.
The remora is a parasite.
Mankind have morals,
values, ethics and compassion.
And this elevates us to
the top of the food chain.
Because at the end of the day,
men is the meanest
predator of them all.
There's no need to be shocked.
I'm a gentleman,
and a man of his words.
Too much!
Fakhri.
What is the matter with you?
-Your friend has crossed the line.
I warned you,
but you ignored me.
I told you not to interact with
him. Yet, you still get involved.
That's why he's targetting you.
-Targetting me?
Targetting me? Let me
show him my target.
Where are you going now?
Are you going to have a battle?
Are you going to fight him?
This school has rules and law.
There's only two options.
You either settle,
or you join the election.
But you have settled it with
him, what else do you want?
So, I need to join the election?
Fakhri.
That's not what I meant.
Fakhri.
Come in.
Recently, I received
a report from someone.
I will not mention any names.
It's about ragging and fighting
that happened in the school.
As usual, I will investigate
thoroughly and fairly.
These names that I will call,
please see me in my office
after this assembly.
Abdul Kahar bin Abu Yamin.
Hakeem Rizal bin Hilmi.
Zahrin Abas bin Zabir.
Abdul Ikhsan bin Ajis.
Azam bin Anyau.
Nor Fakhri bin Firdaus Ismet.
Thank you.
What did you guys talk about?
I thought you hate him.
Don't be jealous just
because I ignored you.
It's nothing. They just suspected
that someone reported our dorm.
They know I wouldn't do it.
So, it's either you or..
Hey.
Don't simply accuse me.
Why are you so anxious?
They're not suspecting you.
Alright, now tell me what happened.
I didn't know what happened, sir.
-As soon as we arrived our dorm,
our stuff was everywhere.
-Things were broken.
Ikhsan was already on the floor.
His glasses broke too.
We don't know who did it.
But, I was told
that you were there.
You saw the fifth
formers, led by Kahar.
But I was in the dorm
at that time. I,
Zahrin,
-and Hakeem
were all in the dorm.
-If you don't believe us
you can ask Fahmi.
-You can ask Ariz,
and Naim. They can
all be our witnesses.
Kahar, this isn't your
first time in this office.
I am not comfortable whenever
your name is associated
with cases like this.
I don't like to call
your dad to come here.
Either you were in it or not,
I suggest that you be careful.
I heard you were called too.
Kahar mentioned my name.
He wanted me to cover for him.
Oh dear, Naim.
I have no choice.
I'm sorry.
There is no one who
can confirm the report.
But what I can do for now is,
I can tell the corporation
that you will be there
to pick up some things to
replace everything that was
broken and I will
settle all the bills.
Other than that, as long as we
have no proof and witness,
I can't simply
put blame on people.
This school has rules.
I agree. This school
has too many rules.
Fakhri!
-I don't want to.
Fakhri! Mum doesn't love
me like she loves you.
Just punch me back.
Naim, are you okay?
What are you thinking about?
I'm okay.
What's the matter?
It's just that, ever since
Fakhri joined this school
it's been messing up my mind.
Did you tell your mum
that Fakhri is here?
Fakhri told me not to.
-Fakhri?
What does he know?
And what do you know?
Look, I know
the way we are raised and
survive here is similar out there.
But, we still cannot deny
that 16 is way too young.
We don't have to act like adults.
There are many things that we
still need to rely on our parents.
Hey.
Call your mum.
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached.
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached.
Hello.
Hello, mum.
I have something to tell you.
Hello.
Good evening, sir.
I am looking for my son.
My name is Firdaus Ismet.
Mr. Firdaus Ismet, yes
I recognised the name.
Fakhri is here.
Fakhri is in Kudrat.
Your son is Naim, right?
Naim?
Dad, why did you call
the emergency line?
I lost my phone.
-Fakhri!
What else are you
hiding from me? Tell me now.
Why didn't you tell me
that Naim is there too?
Naim.
Where's my stuff?
-Oh, your stuff. Hold on.
Never mind.
That can wait.
Let's talk about this.
We found out who reported it.
-So?
So, tell everyone in
your batch to cut him off.
One more thing.
I'm sure you know what to do.
Then?
Do you want me to do it now?
-That's not what I meant.
Give me my stuff first.
-Oh, hold on.
Let me go and get it.
Naim?
Supplier?
Mia.
Do you want it?
-Of course.
I'm sorry.
What are you staring at?
I didn't know you are a..
-Girl?
So, girls can't buy it?
Girls can't smoke or sell it?
-Of course you can.
No one said you can't.
I'm sorry, miss.
Don't call me miss.
I just finished my SPM.
You are a fourth former, right?
-Yes, I am.
Okay, Mia.
Thank you.
Where are you going?
Back to the dorm.
Ayam, can I borrow
your phone for a minute?
I walked the whole school but
all the public phones are broken.
Can I borrow yours?
Never mind.
You shouldn't have
reported it, Ikhsan.
Do you think it's fun
for me to ignore you?
What do you think you're doing?
-Eating.
Didn't you get the memo?
-I don't care.
You didn't say anything
to the principal.
Now you're acting
like you're on my side?
Ikhsan!
Ikhsan.
Ikhsan.
-What do you want?
I took it from the workshop.
My dad used to have
this kind of problem too.
Loan shark.
He taught me this.
That's enough.
-Ikhsan.
It's okay.
Let me do it.
If it weren't for me,
this wouldn't happen.
No, you have done
everything right.
But, this place is the problem.
Huh?
I'm sorry I couldn't back
you up with the report.
I promised my dad that I would
stay here until I finish SPM.
That's why I was
scared to intervene.
It's not an excuse.
But..
So what if you back me up?
You will suffer too.
So, what are you going to do now?
I don't know.
I can't report it again.
Look at what happened.
Wake up!
Everyone, wake up!
Ostrich, now.
Kahar, come on.
We have license.
Jibam.
You don't have to do it.
Later you'll report it, right?
Let the others do it.
They were the ones at fault.
Their fault is to be
Jibam's roommates.
Oh, dear.
You are stubborn.
Never mind.
Everyone, "Njet-Steng" now!
Wow, you're strong.
Everyone, plank!
Hey, what's your problem?
That's enough.
Let's stay like this
for half an hour. Alright?
It will take time,
but they will forget about it.
Didn't you see how the
others stare at me last night?
Just ignore them.
Peace be upon you.
-Peace be upon you too.
Do you want to be cut off too?
If yes, I'd be glad to do it.
It's okay.
I don't need your help.
Okay.
You were asking for it.
What are you doing?
Don't disturb me.
He's not even my friend.
I don't know what's his problem.
At this point, you will cut the
epidermis, the upper layer.
From above the pelvis,
right up to the jaw.
And you will cut
through the dermis,
right through the
middle of the body.
Sir.
When are we supposed to do this?
Next week, Azam.
Why, Azam?
It's just that.. Are
we speaking in English or Malay?
Up to you. Even the
ministry can't decide.
Up to you.
-Actually, I can't do it.
We are doing it when
the rat is still alive.
What if the mice have families?
Maybe their parents are waiting.
We can't just kill them.
They have feelings too.
Animals don't have feelings.
No, Azam has a point.
Mice have a lot of
similarities with humans.
In terms of anatomy and physiology.
Even genetics.
That's why they are
commonly used in a lot of labs.
They are the best
example to represent humans.
Even to predict our behaviour.
Now, I'm going to digress
from the syllabus a bit,
and share with you this
fascinating experiment on mice
to exemplify human behaviour.
There was this researcher
called John Calhoun
who placed a community of
mice in a large manmade habitat
to protect them from
diseases and predators.
Now, space was abundant.
Food and water,
constantly supplied.
The only thing required
of the mice was to exist.
A 'Mice Utopia, if you will.
Initially, the mice would
strive exploiting the bounties.
But soon enough, they began
to establish hierarchies.
The alpha males became
more aggressive.
Displaying violence
for no apparent reason.
And eventhough
food was abundant,
some of them opted
for cannibalism.
At times, some of them would rape
the others regardless of gender.
Forced away from the collective,
the omegas started
to eat and sleep alone.
In this time of violence
and hostility,
a new generation emerged.
Having grown in
turbulent times where
parental and social
relations were scarce.
They mature with the great
talent for turning a blind eye.
Spending their waking hours eating,
drinking and grooming themselves.
In fact they groomed themselves
so much that Mr. Calhoun
began to call these
mice the beautiful ones.
Eventually, through the aggression
of the alpha males and
the beautiful ones
lack of conviction,
the Utopia came to
its inevitable end.
Extinction.
Yes, Ikhsan?
-Was there any variables
that they could have changed?
To help the mice survive.
I can think of one thing
he could have provided them.
A choice.
A choice to leave Utopia.
Are you sure you are
going to stop trying?
Just hold on a little more.
I'm not leaving because
of my misfortunes.
But I can't let others take the
consequences of my misfortunes.
I'm sure you understand.
I do.
I really do understand.
Have you called your dad?
I'll call him first thing tomorrow.
I don't get why people
are so scared of Kahar.
How does this shitty system like
High Council remains this long?
There can't be no one who
was brave enought to protest.
Here.
Use my phone, don't
use the office's phone.
Can you follow me?
Why did you bring us here?
I heard you guys talking about
the High Council system.
For us to know how the
system can survive,
we need to find out
how it was invented, correct?
It was the year 1968.
Kudrat was barely a boy,
not even five years old.
That time, all kinds of
kids entered this place.
Most of them were
from small villages.
So, surprise! All of them
started having different cliques.
They're trying to be
the leader of the pack.
That was the start of
huge fights in this place.
The fights only stopped after the
passing of these three,
Abdul Ghaffar bin Aziz,
Rafizi bin Rashid, and
Mazli bin Maznan.
Regretting on what happened, all
leaders of each pack discussed.
They wanted to stop the
fights from happening.
Yes, that's when High
Council was established.
It's an entity to monitor students,
assisted by a few leaders,
and led by the highest
leader in the hierarchy.
But, the very first
High Council was realistic.
They know they can't stop
this behaviour forever.
They know that sooner or later,
any of these boys might rebel.
That's when they created
the rules of settle,
election, and
controlled fights.
That's how they look for
the alpha for each year.
Just give them a show, at least
they can relief their stress.
Or as they call it, Catharsis.
And that's how High Council
can survive this long.
They believe without High Council,
we would have killed each other.
Just like these three people.
Also, like the mice
in Mr. Sin's lesson.
So, do you believe everything?
That's a tricky question.
You know what, just like the
very first High Council,
I'm a realist. As much as I
hate the current High Council,
I believe in the system.
The cycle will only
stop when the world ends.
Yes. Unless, there's a leader
who uses his authority correctly.
He can end this once
and for all, permanently.
But, come on Fakhri.
People join the election to be
powerful, to do whatever they want.
Only the crazies would step
down when they have the power.
Am I right?
Suddenly, I feel sad.
Until when should
we live like this?
Two more years.
Just hold out.
You said, only the leader can
dismiss High Council, right?
What should I do
to join the election?