Suzhal - The Vortex (2022) s01e08 Episode Script

Nila, you're a riddle.
One second,
you'd be really close to me.
But the next, you'd push me away.
A mango is raw before it ripens.
So too, a banana.
You're like a tender coconut.
Can't tell if you're ripe or unripe.
Did I read what you wrote
word-for-word?
How about those last two lines I added?
Do you know who a protective demon is?
This God right here, is it not?
Isn't he who'd rise up
when a woman's in trouble?
You're my protective demon.
Understand that.
Doctor here's what I don't understand.
You said Nila was abused,
and for a long time too.
Why didn't she
tell our father about it?
What about our mom?
She could've at least told.
Nandini, do you know how that sounds?
Does a goat not know
when it is led to slaughter?
-Doctor, it's a mute creature.
-Exactly!
The same can be said
about sexually abused children.
The shame and betrayal
they feel upon being violated
The disgust, the cowering
Above all that
The guilt that it's somehow
all their fault, eats away at them.
Anyway, Nandini,
this session is not about Nila.
It's about you.
What about me?
Take a look.
Mom said I used to dance possessed
at the Goddess' festival in childhood.
I don't remember much of it.
Check out the festival in town. Many dance
as if possessed for Goddess.
I'm sure they do.
That's common.
But, normally children
don't dance that way.
Why be disturbed?
Didn't you sleepwalk
when you were a child?
I don't remember it.
I only heard it said.
Ever wondered why you don't remember?
See! Plenty of gaps in your memory.
Come on, doctor.
Is forgetting even a problem?
Do you know
when a lizard cuts off its own tail?
When it sees a threat.
In psychology,
we call this defense mechanism.
When something disturbing
happens to us,
we employ many techniques
to distance ourselves from the trauma.
One of them
is dissociative amnesia.
Some bury what happened
deep inside their subconscious.
As those repressed memories
are not properly addressed,
during stressful times,
these manifest as fainting,
sleepwalking etc.
What do I do about it doctor?
only you can help yourself. Right?
The only thing on Nandini's mind
is the sexual abuse of her sister.
Isn't it natural for her to feel that way
after her sister's loss?
It's not that.
But now she's using repression
as a defense mechanism.
I've seen it for two years haven't I?
Rather than coping
with her repressed trauma
she's hiding behind her sister's issue.
It's clear what happened
to her as a child.
-Need any help, sir?
-No thanks.
I've been the union lawyer
at Vadde Cements for 20 years.
Till three years ago,
there were no conflicts
between the workers and management.
"Three years ago?"
You mean until Trilok took over?
That was a mere coincidence.
Once Trilok took over,
construction and cement industry
saw a downturn.
Bonuses were slashed.
The workforce had no work.
No money to pay their wages.
In the end
we had to shut down the company.
That's why the laborers
went on strike?
I don't know why
they went on strike that day. But
having foreseen
such a situation a year ago,
Shanmugam and I got together
to renegotiate the workers' contract.
Here it is.
But you find fault with whatever I do.
I wanted to settle down.
What are you saying?
Do you wish to abandon
such a huge factory
and work under someone
with folded hands?
This is our town! Our land!
"Our town! Our land!"
You can stay here.
Do business,
provide jobs and pay salaries.
Once you leave these walls?
You're a money minded capitalist.
One who sucks the blood
out of impoverished workers.
I'm not the only villain here.
You are too!
Sir. Let him rest.
-Ma'am?
-Sir?
-In which room Trilok Vadde is?
-One second, sir.
-He's in ICU--
-He's in the ICU
Battling for his life.
At least now, please leave him in peace.
He's innocent. He has nothing to do
with the fire.
I know, sir.
Please come down here.
Let's talk.
According to the new contract
of the workers,
no matter what condition factory
is in when you shut it down,
they're entitled for
a year's compensation
-So what?
-During fire accidents
there tend to be casualties.
But when your factory caught fire,
workers were on strike.
Luckily, no one died that day.
Are you trying to suggest
someone should have died?
I didn't mean that way.
Just pointing the coincidence.
Normally, you lock
the generator room from the inside.
That day, it was locked outside.
What are you getting at?
I tried to prove this fire was caused
by faulty maintenance.
Trilok got suspicious
and told the police to arrest Shanmugam.
That was right.
What did Trilok ask you
to put in the report?
Never mind what Trilok said.
Do you know who started the fire?
It was Shanmugam.
He had used paint thinner
to start the fire.
Can you prove it?
Sir, I can't prove that Shanmugam
bought the thinner.
I know who bought it & from where.
Who?
Inspector Regina.
Inspector Regina bought paint thinner
from the store,
put it in her Jeep
and went to the factory.
Here's another interesting thing.
The one who signed that workers' contract
was not Trilok.
It was Mukesh Vadde.
So
The three of you orchestrated
a bogus strike,
cleared out the workers
and torched down the factory.
Shanmugam agreed to take the blame
and turn himself in to the police.
If he had done so,
insurance company
would've compensated you.
But, there's a twist of fate!
He couldn't do that
as his daughter got into trouble.
I underestimated you, Mr. Kothandaraman.
Why don't you take next step now?
As all the 3 villains
are in front of you.
I figured it all out!
You all did wrong.
But none of you are villains.
Your factory was running a loss.
Knowing the families in town
would suffer if the factory shut down,
the factory's owner,
the union leader, and the police inspector
set the factory on fire.
You planned to pay out compensation
with the insurance money.
Like you said,
Shanmugam did it for the workers,
Regina for the town,
and I for the factory.
That's how we justified it to ourselves.
Parents always justify
whatever they do for their children.
My share of the money would go to my son.
He'd be secure after I was gone.
Same with Regina and Shanmugam.
A cut of the money that came in
would go towards their children's future.
But look how it all turned out.
What a waste!
That's why I'm not very angry
at Shanmugam or Regina
for what they did to my son.
they're also experiencing the same.
It's okay if you never want
to speak to me.
But you were willing to murder
another man's son.
Does it not seem wrong to you?
The time we were apart or even now,
my trust in you is steady as rock.
Your actions may be good or bad.
But you are not a bad man.
That's what I believed too.
I can't claim that anymore.
Sir, it's not just you.
Any cop would've come to the same
conclusion that Trilok was guilty.
Exactly. Any cop would feel that way.
That's how we're trained, huh?
Easwaran is a savage. Looks the part too.
Rumor he's capable
of making human sacrifices.
On the other hand, there's Trilok.
A rich man. An arrogant man.
A fair-skinned outsider.
Doesn't mean he's the villain?
Instead of seeing man
as just a man we say,
This is a snake. It's poisonous.
"This is a spotted deer.
It's harmless and innocent."
We've started profiling people so.
Sir, what else do we do?
How do we treat
or question a suspect?
When I met or interacted with someone,
I was haughty to think
I was a good judge of people's character.
I never doubted my assessment, Sundaram.
Maybe one learns this the
hard way.
Hello? What is it, Muthu?
Really?
Regina and Shanmugam
are heading to the district headquarters.
"I, Shanmugam, son of Arumagam,
and union leader of Vadde Cements"
"along with Regina Thomas Vadivelu,
the police inspector of Sambaloor"
"inflicted on Trilok Vadde,
son of Mukesh Vadde"
"a violent and near-fatal beating."
"For this grave crime, we surrender
to the District Superintendent of Police."
"We present this statement
being sound mind and under no duress."
It should not have gone this far.
I understand you are a grieving mother.
But for that
Anyways, it's all too late now.
Do what's to be done.
Sakkarai, no one should know
your involvement in this. Got it?
It was me, who hastily
That's your issue. Handle it.
Look Sakkarai.
Everyone leads their life
with some guilt.
It's a mark of one's experience.
Find out who killed the children.
-Sir?
-Sir?
Calm down, have some tea.
Kothandaraman is here.
What he wants?
Factory's insurance report is done.
You need to sign off on it.
Read it out.
"The investigation into the fire accident
at Vadde Industries in Sambaloor,"
"revealed a few suspects. However,
as there is lack of formal evidence"
"I conclude it was knowingly
set ablaze by unknown persons"
"and complete this investigation."
"I hence recommend the compensation
be paid to affected party."
-Sundaram?
-Sir.
Give me that.
-Sundaram?
-Sir!
However we look at it,
there's a connection with the fire.
Not just Trilok who came late that night.
We're missing someone else too.
If we could just find that person
-Hello?
-Who could it be?
It's Vadivelu, sir.
Good God
-He's on the line.
-Tell him I'm busy.
Hello? He's busy at the moment.
Please call him later.
-Sir, Chakravarthy!
-He's in there.
Lakshmi, you
Look in to this, Sundaram.
Come. What's wrong?
-Nandini's missing.
-What?
I don't know if I should be concerned.
Her phone's off.
Did you check
the CCTV cameras at the hospital?
We don't have CCTV cam.
Doctor!
Spare me the talk
about doctor-patient confidentiality.
-What happened with Nandini?
-It's sensitive, it'd breach her privacy.
She's missing from your hospital.
You're the one responsible.
We investigate on what you say.
Or should I deal like
a professional too?
Nandini's life might be in danger.
Please, try to understand.
Nandini was also sexually abused
as a child, like her sister.
You know who abused her?
She's buried it
deep in her subconscious.
Only she can find that demon
hidden in her subconscious.
Sakkarai!
What if both of them were
abused by the same man?
Could be, right?
Their abuser figured her therapy
reignited these memories,
abducted her probably out of fear.
Yes, sister?
Please manage for tonight.
Sister?
What is it?
No one to take care
of your mom tonight too?
I got this.
You look for Nandini.
-You can go sister.
-All right, my boy.
See you, ma'am.
A girl came by, son.
Not her. I know Lakshmi here.
May be it's Shanmugam's daughter.
Who? Nandini?
Never mind! Tell me in detail.
I was cooking in the kitchen.
And I heard the door open.
I glanced out.
She seemed to be caring over your mother.
Thinking she was no stranger,
I went back.
-Fine. You may leave.
-All right. See you.
Nandini wasn't abducted.
She left the hospital by herself
What's wrong?
-She took my gun!
-Your revolver?
Like Nila, she's out for revenge.
What if he kills her,
like he killed Nila?
DAY 9: MAYANA KOLLAI:
THE CRADLE CEREMONY
Today's last day of Mayana Kollai.
Where the Goddess finds
and eliminates the demon.
Calms down & relaxes on the swing.
Day nine!
I've checked the train station
and the bus stop.
Traffic police
haven't spotted her either! Over!
Any news from Muthu?
Muthu & the others
are searching the festival site.
Nandini's house is locked.
Think everyones at the festival.
Tonight's the cradle ceremony too!
It'll be hard to look for them.
Shall I check the house again?
I'm at the house. But, no one
Sakkarai, you?
What are you doing here?
Asked you a question!
I asked what you are doing here?
Sakkarai, no point keeping this from you.
Pushparaj keeps calling,
saying he'd come by.
But, I can't even look at his face now.
I feel uneasy to go meet him.
Where is Devi?
-She went to Mayana Kollai.
-Who? Devi?
It's like
She thinks this misfortune is because
she left our Goddess and the town
and feels guilty about it.
When something bad happens,
we think we are at fault, right?
Look! Nandini's missing from the hospital.
She took off without a word.
I came here looking for her.
She didn't come here.
Maybe she left to Coimbatore?
My brother-in-law is in jail too.
Pick up, sister.
Sundaram, get on the line.
Even if she didn't
tell her parents
-she would've informed her uncle.
-Call him.
Hurry.
I can't get through!
Had he stayed home that day
instead of the flag hoisting
Nila would have definitely
told him and left.
-Guna had gone to the flag hoisting?
-Yes.
He carries the skull every year.
I'm aware of that. But, that night
It was the priest who carried the skull!
Don't skip this like
you skipped the flag hoisting!
The night Nila went missing?
He came back tired from the temple
the next morning.
We're missing someone
Guna wasn't there at the factory fire.
So
What are you getting at?
When they were kids, their father's temper
made them come running here.
As they are all grown up now,
they stopped coming.
At what age did Nila
and Nandini stop coming?
When they were 12 or 13.
Selvi!
Selvi!
Do you know where Guna is?
Nandini's life is in danger.
Please tell.
I wasn't even aware of what went on
right in front of me! God!
Trace Guna's phone now, Sundaram.
Nandini.
Listen calmly to what I say.
Nila's death was an accident.
As you called me, to meet tonight,
Nila called me that night
wishing to meet.
I went
with no questions asked.
Nila?
What are you doing here
at this hour, dear?
You came here
because factory is burning?
Are you scared?
I'm here, aren't I?
Hey!
The tank!
Nila!
Get up, Nila.
What's wrong, Nila?
Are you hurt?
-Get up Nila!
-Adhisayam
Okay. Get up!
Nila!
Hey!
Nila!
Nila
-Come. Get up!
-Nila
-Nila!
-Let's go home!
Nila!
Nila!
Adhisayam!
Nila
Nila!
Nila
Nila!
Nila!
Oh, God!
Nila
Oh, my God!
Nandini
Forgive me, Nandini.
Don't cry.
I called the cops right away,
wanting to confess.
I wanted to turn myself in.
But, I couldn't do it.
I just hung up.
HC Sundaram reporting to SI sir!
-Go ahead!
-Guna's phone is switched off.
I know. Tell me the location.
His last call was tagged at a tower
near the old cemetery.
All right.
Nandini Don't cry, Nandu!
Don't touch me!
I came here to kill you.
Nandini, I didn't kill Nila.
I'm not justifying what I did.
But
the love I have for you is pure.
You call that love?
Oh! Do I disgust you?
As a child, how fond I was of you.
How much I trusted you!
Now I can't be normal
around anyone!
I cannot bring myself to trust any man!
All because of you.
Why didn't you
tell your father right then?
Never mind that.
Why did you leave your sister alone?
I don't know.
I don't know!
I don't know!
I've betrayed her.
Stop, everyone!
What's wrong, Goddess?
Your rage not been quenched?
The feast has been laid!
The blood has been let!
But, Your rage remains unquenched?
Goddess' rage remains unquenched.
Nandini, you abandoned me
and left town.
I lost everything.
Even when I was among
all these people, I felt alone.
That was when Nila
But, I feel the pain of Nila's death
more than any of you ever could.
No one will ever understand!
Nila is dead
Nandini!
Nila is dead because of me.
Nandini.
I can't live this lie anymore.
I'm tired of it.
Nandini
You and I need to be together.
Let's run away from this place!
I'll take care of you, dear.
Nandini.
I know deep down in your heart,
you wish to be with me too.
Come along.
I'll take good care of you.
It's okay, dear.
Don't cry.
Let's go.
-Let go
-Let's go.
Nandini!
Nandini!
Leave, Nandini!
Get away from here.
I'm talking to you!
Get away from here, Nandini!
Nandini!
What's the matter with you?
Leave!
Get up and go!
Oh, demon!
What sins have you committed, you demon?
You who live
in the confines of cemeteries
as a disgraced being as a vermin,
I will vanquish you and make you one
with the ashes, the worms, and the dust!
Nandini!
The Goddess rests!
Oh, Goddess!
You've been through enough.
Let it be I killed him.
What happened to you and Nila
No one should know!
What happened, must come out.
Secrets that lie buried
must come to light.
Angalamman awoke the sleeping demon
and slaughtered him.
Now, she rests.
More than 90% of sexually abused children
have been abused
by someone they know and trust.
Child abuse casts a shadow
the length of lifetime.