The Purifiers (2004) - full transcript

NARRATOR: The moon
is like a bullet.

Silver, smiling,
beautiful... violent.

What happens to us when
doubt is all we have?

When dreams are the medicine...

The antidote to madness?

Who are we?

What are we?

Why are we numb?

Senseless?

Unable to nurture hope?

RADIO: Our daily stats tell us
that crime levels have fallen



yet again in every category.

Yesterday was down
2% on average,

another remarkable
achievement which

the city authorities were quick
to claim responsibility for.

The city election
enters its final phase

with no clear
picture emerging as

to who will be the outright
winner, although the relatively

unknown Moses appears to have
upset the usual status quo,

and may well have
caught the younger vote.

In the gray zones, a serial
stalker has yet to be caught.

His latest victim,
an 18 year old woman,

was attacked in the early
hours of this morning.

Police are warning women to
be vigilant if they intend

to be out late this weekend.



The weather for the
rest of the weekend

looks like this, a mixture
of sunshine and showers.

[glass shattering]

Come here.

[screaming]

[screaming]

Shh, shh, shh.

WOMAN: What are you doing?

What... what are you doing?

This could be easy, or
this could be difficult. So,

what's it going to be?

[grunting]

Give me the tape, Sam.

[siren]

NARRATOR: What do
you believe in?

Friendship?

Family?

Loyalty?

Trust?

Do you remember kindness?

Care?

Benevolence?

Goodness?

I try.

I try to remember
all those things,

but somehow it begins
to slip as I fall.

Fall into a deeper sleep.

I dream of the wind
and the rain being

caught in the natural
storm, cleansed...

Cleansed for a moment,
and then... and then you

realize it won't last for long.

And then you wake.

And then you roar at the world,
and the world roars back.

Yes, the world roars back.

Push back!

Come on!

Careful, Johnny.

You never know what
might happen next.

[shouting]

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, baby!

[shouting]

Come on!

Come on!

NARRATOR: The first fight's
always the toughest.

But it gets easier.

You ready, Raz?

Yeah.

Stick tight, and be calm.

He thinks he can win quickly.

He can't.

Remember, only fools
forget to be afraid.

How's he doing?

He's all right.

A bit scared, though.

What's in the letter?

Let's deal with this, first.

Finish him off!

Come on!

Yes!

Some help?

No way.

I got you that.

No, watch, watch, watch.

I'm not sweaty.

Come on!

WOMAN: You can't.

MAN: Man, you're a cheating dog.

I can see it.

Take a shot.

He's got it.

What's up, John?

There's been a
meeting called tonight.

Who by?

Moses.

So, what do you think?

I'm not sure.

It's been tried before,
finding common ground

between the clubs.

But it's pretty clear we're all
doing it for different reasons.

Shouldn't we be
seen to be interested?

Why?

Why?

Otherwise maybe we're
seen as being nothing.

Insignificant.

You know how it is.

The Purifiers... yesterday's men.

Where'd you get that from?

In the big picture...

The really big picture
against the likes of Moses?

Come on.

Tell me, who are be?

Whoever we want to be.

No.

No, we can't be.

If we look weak,
or we don't engage,

then they'll join together,
with or without our blessing.

And then what?

They come in here
with everything.

All we've built just...

Falls apart.

He's got a point.

But we can stand back
and do our own thing.

I mean, we've done that.

They take, we don't.

But they get stronger, and we...

Well, we...

We at least have a
reason for being here.

Don't forget what it was like.

How it used to be before John.

Shit, I'm not saying that.

That's not what I'm saying.

What are you saying, Sol?

I'm saying... we should
at least go see Moses,

and find out what they want.

We know what they want.

I say we vote on it.

Sure.

You're right.

We should vote on it.

All those who want
us to be present

at the meet, raise their hands.

I want to go, John.

Sorry.

OK, so we're going to the meet.

But let's agree on one thing...

If trouble kicks off,
we get out of there.

If some are left behind,
it's up to them to get home.

Are we agreed?

NARRATOR: The city has
been divided into zones.

We keep to our own space.

That's the rule.

The only rule.

It's safer that way.

But tonight we enter the
central zones, where fear is

in the silence of every street.

And Moses, the self-proclaimed
savior of the dispossessed,

is king.

His world is political,
violent, out of control.

And very, very dangerous.

Welcome.

Look at us, here tonight.

Together, as one.

I am Moses.

These are my friends
and business associates.

This is our home, which
we love and protect.

We love this place.

You see?

You see how we feel
about this place?

We love this space.

We love this city.

This is our city,
the same as you.

We feel the same way you feel.

The Pumas.

Proud.

Laughing in the face
of any man who thinks

he might be bigger or better.

The new boys, the Eels.

We welcome you.

Valuable friends.

And the Angels bring their
intelligence and strength.

Worthy foes.

Worthy friends.

Our neighbors, the Wolves.

You see, it is possible.

You can be in the same
place at the same time.

Here is the proof.

And finally, John.

John and his Purifiers.

Still there, John?

Looking after your team.

Still there, fighting
the bad guys.

Brilliant.

Brilliant and beautiful.

Look at us.

Look around you.

Success, hope, vision, belief.
We're different.

We never gave up.

We never accepted the
shit that was on offer.

No, we said. No!

No! No!

You see how it is.

Think of how it could be.

We are the future.

We are the truth.

The only truth
that matters to us.

We believe.

What do we believe in?

We believe in the possibility.

This is our business.

We are our own government,
church, and finally.

We are the only
people to turn to when

our communities are in trouble.

We are the
infrastructure, the safest

net that people can land on
when they feel forced to jump.

We are the law. We are the law.

We are the law!

Look around you.

Look at us.

We're beautiful.

We are beautiful, and it's time
we took what was rightly ours.

So where we are.

Alone we are strong.

Independent.

But together, we are an army.

Look at what's coming.

If people vote for me...
When people vote for me...

If I win... when I win...

I'm on the inside, standing
shoulder to shoulder with them.

The establishment.

I'm offering you the chance
to stand there with me.

Have power.

Real power.

Start to reap the rewards
of being in control.

Change your world.

Make it a better place.

For you.

Become part of a city that no
longer stands back and watches

as you clean up their mess. No.

No.

Become part of a city
that embraces you.

[inaudible]?

Reward you.

If you're in, then
tomorrow we create together.

If you're not, go now.

Tomorrow we grow.

We work out ways of turning
our strengths into one force,

to make our businesses
work together.

Tomorrow we discuss the details.

Tonight, if you are in...

Enjoy the freedom of the zones.

If you're not with us...

Then you're against us.

It would be smart to leave.

Quickly.

And quietly.

Until tomorrow, then.

Good night.

What do you think, John?

I don't like it.

Surely what he was
saying made sense?

Come on, Sol.
We've been here before.

You know we can't trust them.

Maybe he meant what he said?

That it's time for
us to be rewarded?

And what does that mean?

Unite, alongside him?

Them?

Take control?

Exactly.

Control who the fuck feels
they can walk into our lives

and bring their
poison with them.

What, you think that's
what they have in mind?

You think that the Wolves,
Moz and his crew, the Angels

will follow that idea?

I mean, look at those guys.

They've put their
cards on the table.

They're gangsters.

And what are we, John?

Maybe it's us that are out
of touch with the real world?

What are you saying?

Oh, you want to go
along with this?

Us and them together?

You think the years we spent
trying to change things

are going to be helped by this?

By them?

They don't do what we do.

Maybe the truth isn't so
bleak as you think it is.

Maybe...

Maybe you want it
to sound like that.

He means take control of
running drugs from the top

to the bottom of the city.

He means taking control of
every slippery piece of shit

that we can get our
hands on together.

Under his control.

Is that what bothers you, John?

Oh, man.

You should know
better than that.

You're right.

OK, I'm sorry.

What was it they said?

It would be smart to
leave quickly and quietly.

Hey ho.

Let's go.

Oh, John.

Oh, John.

Why did you have
to spoil the fun?

When?

Let the others deal with it.

Tell them all the
deal is a dream,

and that the
Purifiers are history.

Done.

John, John.

Beautiful John.

[whistling]

[shouting]

[engines revving]

Split.

We'll meet at the station.

If trouble runs into
you, run from it.

Got it?

Remember, we've gotta get back.

Sol, stick with Raz.

Don't worry.

I'll look after him.

[siren]

Oi!

Shit! Come on.

Glad to see you, man.

Have you seen the others?

Shh.

They're down there, waiting
for things to calm down.

- What, everyone?
- Yeah.

Get down there. Go.

I'll keep watching.

Go.

This doesn't feel right.

You know how it is, John.

Frances!

[grunting]

[glass shattering]

This way!

Quick!

Where are they?

We've gotta get out of
here, so call them again.

This is the last train.

Come on, Raz.

Come on.

There's no answer.

We can't leave them!

Not here.

Not alone.

- What about Sol?
- Same.

No reply.

I'm not going.

What do you mean,
you're not going?

Listen... Sol's with Raz.

He'll take care of him.

They'll be fine.

Now come on, we've gotta go.
- Li.

- No.
- This is crazy.

You can't stay.

Not against all of them.

Come on.

Li!

I said we've gotta go.

Li!

Don't look at me that way.

What way?

We agreed, home first.

No matter what happened,
we had to get back.

We left them.

We didn't leave them.

We stuck to the plan.

We left them behind.

You want Something?

You want something to eat?

What about you?

You want something?

Yes, we do.

You want a menu?

No.

We know what we want.

What was that?

Speak English.

English.

Understand?

I said English.

English!

Shut up!

Huh?

[snorting]

Huh?

Huh?

- You want to order now?
- Fuck you!

No, fuck you!

[shouting]

[shouting]

[shouting]

[glass shattering]

[shouting]

[shouting]

[screaming]

SINGER: You were born
under a bad sign.

I can hear it when they call.

You were born under a bad sign.

I can hear it...

What happened to the truce?

You were there.

You heard what they said.

You know what the deal is.

This is not what we agreed!

Sol?

Sol?

Sol, help me!

Sol!

Sol!

Sol!

FEMALE VOICE: We
left them behind.

MALE VOICE: We left them behind.

[ringing]

Where are you?

Where have you been?

It's bad here, John.

Very bad.

They have Raz.

Can you hear me?

John?

Slow down.

Tell me where you are.

I can hardly hear you.

I'm in the building where
they had the meeting.

They have Raz.

They took him inside.

He looked hurt.

What shall I do?

Where are you?

When can you get here?

We're on the train, Sol.

The line's breaking up.

Did you say you're on a train?

John?

You're leaving us?

We agreed.

Fuck the agreement.
You're leaving us?

Nice.

What if he won't come?

He'll come back.

You were too good.

MALE VOICE: The only
people to turn to when

our communities are in trouble.

MALE VOICE: We are
the infrastructure.

The safest net that
people can land on when

they've been forced to jump.

We are the law.

MALE VOICE: We are the law.

MALE VOICE: We are the law!

What's happening?

Let's go.

- Where?
- Back.

We're going back?

We're going back.

Yes!

[engines revving]

[music playing]

SINGER: Fearsome.

A heart of summer sun.

Don't let them take it away.

[engines slowing down]

[engines revving]

Going somewhere?

Trying to.

Look like you're going back.

Well, we left something behind.

Something important?

Very.

You know, I've always had
a soft spot for you, John.

You're cute.

But you're dumb.

Thanks.

- Is this the one?
- That's her.

One of my girls
has seen you around.

And?

Can't place you.

So?

Gave her a bad feeling.

Well, maybe that's because she
knew I was coming to get you.

[laughter]

Her first.

Come on.

You like?

Get up, Frances!

You like?

[explosion]

[ringing]

It's them.

Good. Don't answer it.

Like I said, he's an easy read.

He's a fool.

No, no, no.

He's a dreamer, not a fool.

He believes in people like you.

He thinks you care about
the same things he does.

What happened there, Sol?

When did you realize you'd
made the wrong choice?

The day you left.

You stayed with
him all this time.

Can I trust you, Sol?
- What do you mean?

Are you to be trusted?

Of course.

Are you?

Trust.

Trust?

Fuck trust, Moses.

I've been sitting
at home watching

you become king of the hill.

Yes, I stood by him.

And look where it got me.

Still in the shit.

Still getting nowhere.

And they keep saying,
this is our time.

My time.

Well, time for me to
sit up there beside you.

Become a king.

I deserve it.

I fucking deserve it!

I'll call them again.

Where are you going?

I can't get a signal.

Well, be careful.

Where's she going?

She's going to find a phone.

Why's it so quiet?

Well, this is what he wants.

People too scared to
come out at night.

Curfewed, and not willing
to do anything about it.

What a wonderful life.

He sold his ideas pretty well.

Well, that's what he does.

He sells empty dreams.
Gives people hope.

It's hypnotic.

Easy.

Your hand.

It's fine.

Give it to me.

Give me your hand.

What are you
doing here, Frances?

What do you mean?

You don't have to do this.

I mean, you could do anything.

Move on, get away from here.

Find something better.

Is there somewhere
better than this?

Seriously.

You can get out.

You know that, don't you?

I know.

Do you want me to go?

No.

Hi.

Are you open?

What do you think?

Nice.

Got a problem?

No.

Good.

Do you have a phone I can use?

Yeah, she's in here.

Yeah, no.

No, none of the others.

Just her.

Yeah.

I'll keep her in here.

Don't worry.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Now, that's not very nice.

[shouting]

Get off!

[screaming]

Bitch.

What happened in there?

Bad service.

You all right?

Angels.

Time to stop running, John.

I hear you.

So, how do you want to do this?

So, John, it looks like there
are two of us to your one.

Praise the lord.

He can count.

Bastard!

That's for the cafe.

So, John, looks like there
are now three to your one.

I'll go.

Alone.

With you in the car.

But they have to be left behind.

You see?

That's what I've always
liked about you, John.

You've got a firm
grasp on reality.

All right.

Let's play it your way.

They stay here, you come
with us to meet the man.

Hm?

John.

Get her home this time, Frances.

Home.

They're not gonna take you.

They'll take me.

Moses wants me back.

That's right, Johnny.

He wants you back.

[music playing]

So what happens now?

Well, this is all
very civilized, John.

Is it?

You know, I don't
think it's too late

to tell Moses you're sorry.

Yeah.

Tell him you made a mistake.

That you now want to be
a part of the family.

The family?

Part of the family, John.

The new family.

One that doesn't try
to hold back change.

One that can move with every
twist and turn of the planet.

Or maybe you didn't get
it the first time around?

I got it.

You know, I never quite
understood you, John.

I mean, you're
the oldest, right?

The most experienced.

Yet you can't see what's
right in front of you.

It's over, baby.

Your way... it's over.

Your gang.

You asked them to make
the wrong decisions.

Now look at the mess they're in.

All broken up.

That's on you, John.

At least one of you had the good
sense to look to the future.

What does that mean?

[laughter]

Oh... I need to take a piss.

Pull it over.

WOMAN: Why don't you come
down here and join me?

Come on.

Here's a thought, John...

No matter you think you are, and
who the people around you are,

there's always a chance
you'll end up disappointed.

[shouting]

Don't you think it's all one
big disappointment, Johnny?

Even you... the mighty you...

Ending up here.

Betrayed by your own people.

It's a sad song, John.

It's a sad song.

Get out of the car.

Get out of the fucking car!

They won't be coming.

We thought you...

I'm OK.

You gotta go. - Sure.

Together.

We go together.

Not without you.

Not without Raz.

Raz won't be coming.

What do you mean,
Raz won't be coming?

He's not coming, Li. Go.

Go now.

Not coming?

You've got to go, Li.

With you?

No.

Listen to me.

[ringing]

Yeah?

Yes.

I know.

OK.

I'll set him up.

I'm looking for her.

No, it's OK.

I'll find her.

She'll do what I ask her to do.

OK.

Bye.

You said just now
that you were going

to call him and set him up.

What does that mean?

You said just now
that you were going

to call him, and set him up.

Is that John?

Is that John?

Li... don't do this, Li.

[slapping]

[shouting]

I'm sending John a text.

Telling him we're OK.

What?

Have you seen him?

I mean, is he close by?

What am I supposed to do, man?

Well... what if...

I mean, what if...

Oh, fuck.

You scared the shit
out of me, mate.

Where'd you come from?

Do you want to finish?

What?

No.

I was just... trying to
get in touch with you.

Find out where you were.

Well, here I am.

Just give me a minute.

SAM: Where are you going?

Stay in the car, OK?

Anything happens,
leave without me.

Frances...

Yeah?

Be careful.

Take me to Raz.

Bring her round.

SINGER: Y'all ready for this?

Y'all ready for this?

Y'all ready for this?

Johnny!

Johnny!

Hello, John.

Had a busy night, have we?

You see, even your own people
don't care about you anymore.

Do you know what they want?

They want the same as
the rest of us, Johnny.

Only you're in the way.

Until now!

[grunting]

Your little friend...

What was his name?

Rose?

Raz!

Raz.

That's right.

[screaming]

We got him, Johnny.

I finished him.

Yeah, Johnny.

We finished him.

Finished him!

Left him lying there in his
own pathetic, cowardly bile.

Introduced him to the grave!

Well... we did do
[inaudible], Johnny!

[shouting]

What did you do?

Tell me again.

What did you do?

What did you do?

NARRATOR: You become like them.

Hopeless.

Violent.

You leave the world
of dreams behind.

You enter their world.

You become an animal,
in search of revenge.

[music playing]

SINGER: Y'all ready for this?

Y'all ready for this?

Y'all ready for this?

[creaking]

So, Frances... here we are.

Tell me, was it
really that easy?

I heard that you and
John were pretty close.

Do you think he knew, or
has he just lost his touch?

Frances.

The real world is not
a place for dreamers.

Don't you agree?

I mean, look at you.

Playing along with
his tired ideals,

but really only using
him to keep a closer

eye on what was happening.

You're very good.

Just not good enough.

Hello, Frances.

It's her.

She's a cop.

Good.

Then get out.

How far did you take it,
Frances, in the line of duty?

How far did you...

Played the game?

Sol!

Come and join the party.

Say hello to your friend.

You two have a lot in common.

Both betrayed the
very person who gave

you his most prized possession.

Isn't that right, John?

That thing you value
above everything else.

That very thing that
brought you back here.

Trust.

Isn't that right, John?

So here we are again.

You and me.

Old friend.

Friends.

Are we not, John?

You could have
been part of this.

- Not this.
- No?

Too bad.

The reasonable man adapts
himself to the world,

while the unreasonable
man persists in trying

to adapt the world to himself.

Where you lie in that
tight little paradigm?

Can you change?

Or does the world
have to change to you?

It may seem like I'm
being unreasonable, John,

but I'm the one
looking to the future

while you're the one
stuck in the past.

Your world is in freefall.

It's over.

Don't you see what
you have done for me?

All the others... amazing.

I told them you could do it,
but no one would believe me.

But you did it.

Ran through them as
if they weren't there.

Beautiful.

You did that!

All the others in disarray,
torn apart by you.

Only me left now, to
pick up the pieces.

Aw, I'll stick them
all together again,

but this time, in a better way.

More, uh... how would
you say it, John?

Integrated.

Offer them something new.

What are you offering, John?

A myth.

I'm offering something bigger.

A new and better
version of the truth.

And now here we are
again, you and me.

What do you think?

Exciting.

This is it.

This is it, John.

What do you think?

What do I think?

Seeing you again, Moses...

Being here... reminded
me of something.

What we are, and what
we've done has meaning.

Real meaning.

What you are means nothing.

You've stopped dreaming, Moses.

This is... it's empty.

Cheap.

A poor imitation of something
we already know doesn't work.

Very good.

Stay out of this.

NARRATOR: We try.

We do.

To win.

To not fail.

Here we are, you and me.

Lost again.

For a moment we are quiet
as the ocean swirls,

the moon pulls us closer,
and the stars sparkle as

though we were insignificant.

And we... we try.

We do.

[click]

Want to call it a day, John?

That's what happens, John.

You try to do the right thing.

You try to make every
little moment count.

You want to help.

You really want to help.

And what's your reward, John?

The reward, John, is a world
that couldn't give a shit.

They hate you!

They hate us all.

You never understood
that like I did.

You were too busy
dreaming to notice.

[shouting]

Now I'm not feeling
so charitable.

[grunting]

[screaming]

So, here we are again.

What happens next?

What happens next, Moses?

Do I finish it?

Or do I leave?

Quickly, and quietly?

You leave.

Safely?

Safely.

And Frances?

What about Frances?

Tell them!

She's safe.

Frances, leave.

Now!

Fast!

John.

John?

John!

This is not the end!

You understand that, don't you?

It's unstoppable!

This is just the beginning.

Next time we meet, I
am going to kill you.

Do you understand that, John?

Next time, you're a dead man!

You're a dead man, John.

Sol!

What happened?

We have to move. Now.

Moses. - What happened?

Moses beat John.
He's coming for us.

Let's go.

You drive.

OK.

[inaudible].

[shouting]

No!

You bastard!

Frances.

Frances?

We've got some
unfinished business.

I don't know what to say.

I'm sorry.

Sorry, John.

What now?

Now... now I walk away.

And I don't look back.

And you... you've gone.

NARRATOR: The moon
like a bullet.

Silver, smiling,
beautiful, violent.

Tonight the world
is deathly silent.

Tomorrow it roars again.

[music playing]

SINGER: Well, the
moon's like a bullet.

Cars full of silver,
and well fed.

Shining headlights
through your window.

Everything, everything.

Take it down.

Come on.

Take it down.

You're in some sort
of dark corner.

Dark, dark.

No help.

No reason.

You've got no reason.

You've got no reason.

You got no reason.

You got no reason
for doing this to me.

Darkness and filth.

The stench of reality.

Hey!

The stink of everything.

Spiders' eyes,
landlady sidewalks,

bars, buildings, grass,
no grass, light, no light!

Nothing belongs to you.

You're walking through a sea of
fire, but you can pick it up!

Cause you can pick it up!

Or they're gonna cut you up.

I'm walking through
a sea of fire.

And I'm here.

And I'm 12.

Uptown.

It's so easy.

Downtown.

Life might please ya.

Down, down he goes.

The boy from Glasgow.

Uptown!

Downtown!

Uptown!

Downtown!

Uptown!

Downtown!

I live downtown!

She lives uptown!

I live downtown!

She lives downtown!

I live uptown!

I live downtown!

Uptown, life is easy.

Downtown, life might please ya.

Down, down we go.

Down, down we go.