Stoic, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Welcome home, girls.

Come on, mind your head.

Come on, this way.

McCrea! Patrick!

Graves, give me his phone.

What was that about?

Other firearms?

All secure.

Fall in, line up!

Seven of you, two women.

I'm not gonna stand here

and bollock all of you,

'cause some should know better.

We had a few surprises

in that job, didn't we?

But you all

handled yourselves well

and we got the job done,

and that's all that matters.

Thanks to the four of you

that came on board

at the last hour. Appreciate it.

Now, Jacko's inside, resting up,

and I think we all understand

the reality of that situation.

And the women,

well, they're our problem now.

Boss.

Pope?

If the women are a liability,

then--

Mr. Rhodes wants them, so...

All right, lads.

We're all guests

at this beautiful house.

You got one night, have a beer,

do a line of coke,

whatever floats your boat,

and it's back to business.

Marco, four hours of stag.

And they'll give, uh,

Patrick over another go.

This time, don't f*ck up.

And please, boys,

lose those armbands.

Larkin, pick it up.

And stand up straight, will you?

Off you go then.

You're honored.

Mother has taken

an interest in you.

And your denial.

Denial of any offence upon you.

Of any slight.

Any fear.

Any pain.

Denial of family, of ego, need.

Your denial of personal loss

will form a basis of loyalty.

The Bonnets

are only for the loyal.

He wishes to speak, Mother.

How long?

Fail.

Dad?

Oi, Bollocks! You got my razor?

Assuming I'm "Bollocks," no.

Who are you shaving for?

It's only us.

Peasants.

That being said,

there are a couple of lovelies.

Hey! Don't touch the livestock.

If you hurt them, you're liable.

Yeah, I'm liable

to get my rocks off.

It's easy to be them.

Don't think about them.

Concentrate on yourself.

Mother.

Your call is well timed.

I have negotiated your stay

of execution

with our competitors

at great cost.

Thank you, Mother.

You are appeased for now,

but I have guaranteed

your blood one day.

I understand.

Do you want to know length

of your appeasement?

Yes, please.

Another four years of life.

That includes

this Western prison time.

Do not remain

longer than necessary.

Was that a derision?

We're not Westerners, Aerellius.

No, Mother.

Four years. Thank you.

Goodbye.

Mother.

Yes?

I must ask for help.

You dare ask for more?

People smugglers.

I won't spare resources

for bottom-feeders.

Deal with them yourself.

Attend your incarceration.

No more outside attention.

You ask too much.

And she stepped on his ba*ls!

It's bloody freezing.

Here. Get this down you.

Get in there.

No, I don't do water.

You "don't do water?"

How do you pass basic?

I said, "I don't."

I didn't say I can't.

He passed basic f*cking moaning.

f*ck it.

Oi! Go on, lad!

Go on! Go on!

Right. Who am I this morning?

"Oh, I've been shot!"

I've been shot!

Why? Why?

f*ck off!

It wasn't even your blood.

Yeah, it was someone's.

It was Jacko's.

How is he?

Anyone?

He's back at the house.

Snug as a bug.

He'll be all right.

Brutal day.

Oi! Delete that.

Delete what?

Delete it, lad.

Just delete it, mate.

Like I've taken your spirit?

Is that r*cist?

And from the delete file.

All right?

No. It's not all right.

For today,

for those two we slaughtered,

and those two lasses.

we could do 30 years apiece.

And I'm not doing it

for your selfies.

Thanks for this.

Don't thank me.

Hot tub, the lights.

It's my daughter's birthday.

I could be a host,

but never a father.

Lot of guys out there

for taking down

a group of civilians.

One of them doesn't look

old enough to drink.

Yeah.

He's good for making the tea.

You know, it's four of us

before the recce.

Rhodes gave me some

information,

said it was a g*ng of five men.

Turns out, it was 12,

bunked together.

Two houses knocked through.

So, you dug up a list

of dishonourable discharges.

And the girls?

Yeah. Rhodes ID'd them as mules.

So, just orders.

What?

Make a better life for them?

You gonna shut them up?

Just one night.

Then after that,

we'll dust down before dark.

How long?

Three days, tops.

Jesus. This is the last time.

You're on the leash.

So am I.

I want to deliver to the Coast

like always, like we used to.

Remember?

Now, these sick

f*ck, they want them hooked.

They wanna collect addicts.

"Collect?"

That f*ck's not coming here.

No, Rhodes is gonna send men.

I mean, what do you expect?

Expect that this is a stopover

till you find somewhere else.

I owe you a favor,

but this is it.

Here.

Huh?

Girls and drugs.

It was never like this.

No.

No, it wasn't.

sl*very.

Wow.

Well, don't beat yourself up.

Look at the London elite.

All sat on an immigrant

sl*ve population.

Every civilisation

since whenever.

It's tolerated.

We supply the tolerable.

"The Banality of Evil."

Hannah Arendt.

Hmm.

Very good.

I read.

Boss? Boss?

You gonna do something

about that?

Is he new?

He's last minute.

I'll do it.

Thanks.

The lad knew the risks.

So did I.

I just don't get

this waiting around.

It's contract complete.

Only takes one of us

to look after two birds.

Job's done, gear's safe.

Everything has to be delivered.

All I'm saying

is it doesn't mean

we all have to stand around.

If you want your

beer token, just stay put.

If one leaves, we all lose out.

You know that.

And we all know what Rhodes

does to men who run out on him.

In the meantime, on me, lads.

Hey!

Thank you very much, boss.

Oh, yes! Come on, lad.

Not for you, Patrick.

You're on stag in ten.

Please help.

Don't worry about getting out.

Worry about me getting in.

How many?

Eight.

More are coming.

When?

Soon.

Come on, Patrick. Get going.

Good luck.

Where did you get that?

Found this on the stable door.

But it wasn't there

when we got here.

Did you see anyone?

Put it down.

What?

Put it down!

Mr. Carlisle,

with all due respect,

it's just a hat.

Don't laugh.

Don't any of you bloody laugh.

I know you've all been

through sh*t in your lives.

But that's the Western

definition of sh*t. The Stoics?

It's a different breed.

Pain and suffering...

it's like oxygen to them. Fuel.

They're like barnacles.

You've got to crush 'em,

and then crush 'em again.

I heard they use

whatever's around.

They're not allowed

mechanical weapons.

Fine.

We have r*fles.

You pull a weapon on a Stoic,

he'll beat you to death with it.

Look, if you don't believe me,

listen to him.

They're like enforcers

for ancient Scottish

or Nordic smugglers

or something.

Smugglers?

They're better

at making enemies.

Toying with them.

I heard they only k*ll

one at a time.

Watch you sleep. Watch you...

I don't know.

17th century psychopaths.

Live like monks.

Ancient guards for feudal lords.

They're out to set up

their own smuggling routes.

They have their own morality.

"The Men in Bonnets."

I was obliged to facilitate

your delivery.

So, consider it facilitated.

Somehow, you've offended.

My bet is the girls.

So, the bonnet is a warning.

And then it's a whistle.

If you hear that then...

Let me guess. We run.

If you hear that, it's too late.

So, you're going?

Yeah.

Keep out of the house.

Feed the horses.

Party's over, boys.

Bollocks to this.

I'll find this guy tonight.

No, you won't.

You've had a drink.

You all have.

Listen, you've heard the man.

We'll go to the stables.

We're buying into this?

Could be one guy prating about.

Or not.

In the morning, Marco,

you scout

quarter mile radius north.

McCrea, quarter of a mile south.

Die. Stoic.

Stoic.

You shouldn't boast.

Boast?

You take your enemy's buttons

and use them as trophies.

Acknowledgements of lives taken.

Whatever they did

when still alive.

Wake up now! Wake up!

Who's playing games?

Limburg's gone.

It's a joke.

Limburg doesn't joke.

He wouldn't know

where that was either.

If it was this stoic,

how did he know where it was?

How did he get past the wires?

He's watching all of us.

Graves, Larkin, I

want wires at 50 and 100 yards.

Destroy that.

He can't watch us all at once.

We sleep in shifts.

Marco, McCrea, get out there

and bury him.

Brace, come in.

Go ahead.

I've found an encampment.

East, northeast,

about half a mile.

McCrea, come in.

McCrea, go ahead.

Marco's found an encampment.

East, northeast.

Proceed there?

Negative. Wait.

Come on out!

Come on then!

Marco, come in.

Marco, come in.

Marco, key the switch

if you can't communicate.

What's going on, boss?

Return to base.

Boss, you don't want me

to proceed

to Marco's position?

Negative.

I'm not convinced

this is one man.

Copy that.

For crying out loud.

No one's saying anything.

That's how I like it.

Did you let them girls go?

We've been tear-assing

through a field after 'em.

You know, sometimes...

I don't mind what happens...

to anyone.

I don't understand why.

I just don't mind.

Yeah. Glass people everywhere.

What?

You can see right past 'em.

Yeah.

No beggar stole my stride.

Are we glass?

Single f*cking glazing, pal.

I grew up.

I wanted out.

I joined the army.

I wanted out of that.

I do this.

I'd sprint off an arm

if I could.

If...

...you weren't alone.

Wanna know what I think?

I think

you let them girls go 'cause...

they're not glass anymore.

And that scares you.

Being scared is the only thing

I'm good at.

Brace wants the girls out.

Get up.

Ask her was it one man or more?

You saw men last night.

How many?

One man.

One man. And?

He was fast. Quiet.

He moves fast. Quiet.

He moved like a cat.

He moved quiet like a cat.

"Like a cat?" Oh.

What did he say? Nothing?

Nothing.

Nothing?

What did he look like?

Tall. White.

Had on a jacket.

And did he look at you?

He looked straight at me.

I thought we were dead.

Death smiled at us.

Theatrics.

Death smiled, eh?

Someone needs a plan, sir.

Boss.

Yeah?

And Marco?

Well, he's either dead

or he's k*lled this b*stard.

I mean, we'll soon find out.

Well, shouldn't we move back

into the house?

I want simple structures

with sight lines.

Not a labyrinth

that he can hide in.

We need to send more men.

I ain't sending any more men.

He's got the advantage.

It's just one man.

One man?

He could live here.

He could bring his clan down.

He could have traps

put in places

that we don't even know.

I just told you,

I'm not gonna give him

the advantage, right?

If he wants those women,

he can come to us.

Where'd you get those?

What flavor?

Very salted.

The young one.

Nah. The older one.

For f*ck's sake.

Laters.

What are you waiting for?

What are you? Hey?

Hey?

So, what are we thinkin'?

Stay and fight this guy?

I mean, what's it to us?

We weren't even contracted

for this.

Yeah, if he's got Limburg

and Marco,

they can handle--

Handle what? Two men. No word.

So, what are we doing then?

What are you doing here?

I have no work.

You do now.

And you're good at it, mate.

Oh, you Westerners.

Always lying

and flattering each other.

It's negotiation training,

that's all.

You trade in people.

I do what I'm told.

You trade so that you may live?

Yeah.

And you are more important

than the people you trade, yes?

Someone's daughter.

Someone's sister.

You gonna k*ll me or not?

Not yet.

You aren't accepting

the situation.

All this hesitating and whining.

You're all looking inward

because you're scared.

Clinging on to each other

like a f*cking gaggle.

What makes you so special?

I am secondary to others.

I accept my pain

is of no consequence to others.

To you, that is special.

k*lled much?

Yes.

Ever k*lled an innocent?

Yes. I could have saved a child.

So, you're making amends.

Oh, I am going to prison for it.

And you're gonna k*ll us

all anyway?

Yes.

This man,

he isn't gonna forgive you.

You need to go straight at him.

Because the problem

is your solution.

And if you don't meet this man

head-on,

face-to-face,

you'll rot from fear.

I could live. Hmm?

Do good.

But how would these women live?

Will they be beaten? Go mad?

Would they be sold

further down the sl*ve chain?

And now, tied and bound...

you promise to do good?

I can change.

Make this...

...temporary.

Oh, everything is temporary.

All, your pain,

you define yourselves by it.

By what you've missed,

what's upset or offended.

It's always you. Never others.

Your disappointments

are your obsessions.

Oh, Christ. Have you finished?

Then you trade on them.

You think therapy

and victimhood is currency.

Whoever garners

the most pity wins.

Very wise, mate.

But people can change.

No, no.

Their circumstances change,

and they react.

All right, lads.

Carlisle said these f*ck

don't do g*ns.

I'll believe that when I see it.

Be careful what you wish for.

Jesus Christ!

Hello?

Hello.

Let the girls go.

That's not our decision.

Come on!

Come on, you soft b*stard!

Here's your warning!

Here's your f*ck' hat!

Whoo! Come on!

Come on, you soft b*stard!

Graves, what the hell

are you doing?

Snaring the prick.

Thanks, John.

I got it. I got it.

Okay, Francis.

Yes?

Mr. Rhodes.

Yeah, sorry to bother you.

We have an escalated situation.

Yeah, I know.

You've got a body in the cellar,

livestock to shift,

and Carlisle sh*t himself

over some stray knocking about.

Stoics. Bonnets.

-They were over years ago.

-Yeah.

But he's k*lled two of my men,

taken one of my weapons.

Well, that's on you.

You pay the piper.

So, k*ll him and move on.

Look, Brace, is it?

Yeah?

Look, you're an entire unit.

If this scrapper was a Stoic,

I'd wanna k*ll him myself.

Indelible f*ck.

They go from benign

to malignant in a heartbeat.

Females are the worst.

Brace, tell me.

He just emptied a mag

into the sky.

What's going on now?

He's just stood there.

Wait. Hold fire.

Sir?

Wait.

Jesus Christ.

Sir, we can k*ll this guy.

No. Was that him firing?

Yeah, into the sky.

All his a*mo?

Yeah.

How do you know?

My man in there had two mags

on him.

They are indeed extremists.

I'm on my way.

Sir, do you want us to relocate?

No. Stay put. I want my scalp.

Keep him alive at all costs.

McCrea, take the women upstairs.

Let's go, boys.

Checking in.

Nothing to report.

Okay.

Report before making

any movements.

Copy that.

Rhodes texted.

He, uh, wants the girls

on the needle.

Using our batch?

Just to subdue.

In the morning, McCrea.

Boss.

I could use a bit.

Leave it out. What's the worry?

He has no weapon.

He has belief. Philosophy.

Well, I'll take b*ll*ts

over philosophy.

Belief?

We're mercenaries.

We're not paid to believe

in anything. We're trained.

He's a believer.

It's an experience for him.

No.

We're only here

'cause if we leave,

Rhodes will track us

and k*ll us.

Stuck between a fanatic

and a psycho.

Choose your poison.

Belief isn't everything.

Some people believe

the world's flat.

It's not what they believe.

It's the fact

they choose to act on it.

You guys remember the tsunami

in Japan, 2011?

Completely destroyed

the Fukushima power stations.

Wiped out.

Hundreds of thousands

evacuated.

Towns abandoned.

It's a no-go zone.

Now, the Japanese have this

cultural belief in ghosts.

And, um, well, taxi drivers

reported, you know,

figures waving 'em down,

saying, "Am I dead?"

Dad?

The figure gets in the back,

he gives them a place,

and the driver knows

it's an exclusion zone,

but he goes anyway.

He finds his street,

feels right, gets out,

goes to the back,

and opens the door,

and there's nothing.

He bows, closes the door,

gets in his car,

and drives away.

The ghost is, uh...

...exorcised.

Insane.

Sanity's got nothing

to do with it.

It's belief.

And that's what we're dealing

with out there.

So, we're gonna sit tight.

See what happens.

Well, we might

as well believe in ghosts.

We're chasing one.

Patrick!

Get to the perimeter now!

No. No.

Hey.

Help!

Help!

Don't worry, ladies.

Just a little taste.

We don't want you

getting all spirited now.

Mag's half full.

This guy doesn't give a fig,

does he?

Where are your drugs?

Where are your drugs?

One of them's just a Wain!

I'm worthy.

f*ck!

Oh, we're dead. We are dead men.

Where's the rest of it, boss?

Oh, no. No! Jesus Christ.

Pope, get out there.

We go out after him.

Boss.

Go ahead.

Plume of smoke.

Estimate, one mile.

Directions?

Marco said, east by north-east.

Pope, directions?

East north-east.

He's burning it.

Rhodes' can't turn up,

and we've got one bag.

Unless we use this prick

as compensation.

At least we have a plan now.

Rhodes' baiting this prick

with our lives.

How's that for a plan?

He was gonna be your savior,

wasn't he?

And now, he's robbed your gear.

Oh.

You don't know who to hate more.

Don't worry, girls. Soon...

...you won't care who you hate.

Don't touch anything.

Well, he hasn't burnt all of it.

He was drawing us here.

If we leave,

Rhodes will k*ll us.

He's got a thing for the stoic.

And the stoic is risking

his life for the women.

He can be baited.

Rhodes gets his psycho

and we get to live.

This is how we bait him.

All right, move out.

Pope!

Coming!

Frances, relax.

Stay in here.

Why?

I don't want-- No, no, no.

Morning, Michael.

That was a fun one.

Sir, we're scheduled to stop.

No.

Keep moving.

How many is Rhodes gonna bring?

Enough to protect himself.

So, when Rhodes gets here,

we can go.

Do you think he's left now?

What about if we give him

one of the women?

Did you bury Pope deep?

Deep enough.

Listen, Rhodes is hours away.

We sit tight, and we

face outwards.

So, what happened

to baiting this guy?

Check the traps.

Larkin, you good?

Yeah.

Listen, stay with the women.

Safest place. You understand?

-Yeah?-Yeah.

-Go on now.

-Yes, boss.

All right.

Come out!

What's wrong with you?

Come out, boy!

I'll trade her for the gear!

She's on a f*cking plate, boy!

You lost your f*cking ba*ls,

boy!

Show yourself!

Get in here! Get in here!

What the f*ck you

doing out there?

You nasty b*stard.

We're all nasty b*stards.

What are you gonna do with that?

You wanna make

a name for yourself, huh?

Do it.

I'm in charge here.

Go!

No!

No!

If this b*tch says

I'm stepping on her toes...

Thinks she's f*cking Boudica.

Yes?

Good morning.

This is Mr. Rhodes.

I believe Mother

may remember me.

We handled a consignment

together

out of the Shetlands, 2010.

Would you kindly ask

if she will speak to me?

Mr. Rhodes,

please don't have Seneca

ask me puerile questions.

I remember you.

I'm flattered.

It's been a while, Mother.

How are you?

Do you have any bonnets

operating

in the northern border?

Yes. You're smuggling people.

You've provoked

his sensibilities.

Your awareness is unsurprising.

He called for

permission to act.

He did not know

he was persona non grata.

I see.

May I ask which Stoic it be?

Aurelius.

Aurelius.

Is that it?

I was concerned

we would have a conflict

of interest in my...

having to deal with your man.

There may be conflict

to your interests, Mr. Rhodes.

My interests are in offering

vulnerable people a new life.

Thank you for your time,

Mother...

...f*ck.

Seneca!

Mother?

I want to send a message

to Aurelius.

Mararat!

Follow this for 12 miles

until you reach the A-Road.

No. They still have Sophia.

I'll get her out.

More men are on their way.

We need to get her out tonight.

Oh, I don't need your help.

They shot at us.

Only with b*ll*ts.

You had b*ll*ts.

Why did you use them up?

Faith.

They put all their faith

in b*ll*ts.

Then discharge all their faith.

"Mother."

What does it say?

"Mararat."

k*ll them...

all.

Graves, sir.

Pleasure to meet you.

Distance, mate.

So, you've seen him?

Yeah.

And?

He's a bloke.

-Just a bloke?

-Mm.

A suicidal bloke.

"Suicidal?"

They don't recognise

enough pain.

Do you want him dead or alive?

Dead. Lucky for you.

So, we're all going out, sir?

From what I hear,

you fluffed him up

with a sniff already.

He'll be back for the other.

You boys...

...you don't seem cohesive.

And I have to say,

you don't seem

particularly invested

in k*lling this man.

You said you wanted him alive,

sir.

Alive until I get here.

Get the house open.

What's your name?

Aurelius.

Like Marcus Aurelius?

Hmm.

I'm Jane.

So, these men in hats...

Bonnets.

I know how it must sound

to modern ears.

There are women, too.

Women in bonnets?

I wouldn't say that to them.

How long have you been a sl*ve?

I graduated and worked in a bar.

I got on the gear, and in debt.

I lost everyone.

My dealer's g*ng

became my family.

I was thrown between gangs

for years. A mule.

A toy.

A sl*ve.

People using people.

I'm using you.

No.

I would have done this anyway.

Why?

It's your instinct?

Code.

My clan.

They're controlled by a leader.

A code.

If we fail the code,

we're bankrupt.

And the leader can smell it.

What's the code?

It's like,

self-preservation

is an abomination.

Decadent.

It limits you.

Leaves other people suffering.

Self-preservation

keeps you alive.

It leaves you cowed.

Self-serving.

You have family?

They are safer without me.

I have you, this mess...

...and then a debt.

Then I will see them.

Soon there'll be more men.

g*ns. How will you do it?

Sheer bloody-mindedness.

They'll match you.

No. They won't.

This is exciting.

Wait.

Aurelius.

Look at all them...

Wow.

Yes?

Mother.

I have your boy.

Would you like him returned?

Emotional blackmail.

What a nasty little ploy.

What would you have me?

Just k*ll him?

Or t*rture him all night?

You never fail to disappoint,

do you, Mr. Rhodes?

You still expect us to scream?

Pain, sir, is fuel.

Apparently, pain is fuel.

Fill your boots, boys.

This is for Limburg.

And this is for Marco.

Move!

Someone was

inspired to be a hero.

Tried to save the mate.

Give us a twirl.

Come on, give us a twirl!

Get in the corner.

You like this?

Ooh. That's nice, isn't it?

You people...

aren't the only ones.

I've slaved, suffered,

didn't complain.

There are many forms

of stoicism.

You, Mother, your cult!

So f*cking pious.

Indulging yourself

like a true Westerner.

Finish him off outside.

Come on, you f*ck.

Get out of here, you f*ck'...

f*cking callous f*ck!

Piss on the f*ck.

Oi! What the f*ck?

Where's your respect? Eh?

Check him.

He's dead.

Let's have a drink.

Oh.

You don't know

what you're missing, boys.

I've heard, if lucky,...

...the bearer would offer up

a button,

therefore, surrendering

the remainder of their lives

in subjugation to the Bonnets.

How do you think this one died?

How do you think he lived?

I want my trophy.

Um, are the women subdued

for the journey?

I didn't wanna waste product.

So, I didn't.

Get the needles.

Get it done, now.

I can go with him.

No.

He can force himself.

I dreamt...

that the earth rose up

and took me today.

And here we are. Mother's...

...coveted Aurelius.

My trophy.

Your desires and securities

are now for nothing.

Your pain and what you think

is pain is worthless.

You are secondary to others.

Their concerns

are now only your concerns.

Do you understand?

How do you know that he'll...

He'll know.

You two need help.

We'll get it.

Where are you going?

To prison.

Aurelius!

We owe you everything.

We owe you everything.

Do you understand?

Do you understand, Aurelius?

We owe you everything!

And I you.