Shell of Fear (2024)

[bunniefuu]

-Laura.

-Samuel.

What time is it?

08:30.

I fell asleep three hours ago.

-Let me sleep.

-Get up, lazybones!

I brought you some chips.

You're early. Is that on purpose?

Why would I do that?

I wanted to call you yesterday

to tell you to come early, but I forgot.

Why did you want me to come early?

We need to look at your pictures.

That's gross, it's so early.

-Want some?

-No.

No, thank you.

-For the groceries.

-Thank you.

No, thank you. As always.

After five years

you still thank me every time.

And after five years you still

buy me food and clean my house.

Listen, why don't you come with me

next Saturday?

I... I don't think that...

It's just a supermarket, Samuel.

I'm not ready yet.

-I'll be with you.

-Laura!

I can't.

Fine.

See you Saturday, then.

You want me to come on time,

or be early like today?

Whatever you like.

Fine.

Bye.

Always on time.

Being on time is what reliable people do.

-Are you sure you're comfortable?

-Yes, don't worry.

How do you feel today?

-Relaxed.

-Liar.

I can see when you're lying.

After five years of daily therapy

you still think you can fool me?

What's bothering you?

Laura.

Your maid makes you nervous?

She's a friend.

If she's a friend

then why are you nervous?

I think she fell in love with me.

She was weird today.

And yesterday.

The day before, too.

The way she looks at me,

the way she speaks to me...

Today she showed up early

and brought me some chips I love.

But I hadn't even asked for them.

What about you?

How do you feel about this?

I'm confused.

I long to see her

but then I always try to push her away.

What do you feel for her?

I care for her.

If she decided to stop seeing you,

how would you feel?

I think I'd be sad.

You think?

Yeah, I mean, I like her,

both physically and as a person.

But I don't think that's enough to...

She asked you to leave this house.

-How do you know that?

-Logic.

Your agoraphobia

has trapped you here for five years.

And even if our therapy helped you

to overcome the fear of people,

you still can't accept that

real life is outside this house.

You're still too scared that the trauma

you suffered could happen again.

Hey. I know you better than you do.

Trust me.

Your doubts aren't your feelings,

you know very well what you feel.

They're about the fact that, in order to

get what you want and stay with Laura,

you need to get out of here.

What should I do?

We're in an advanced phase

of your systematic desensitization.

We already found the nature of your fear.

We've done all the physical

and pharmaceutical procedures.

You're surrounded by people again.

Right now, I think the only thing to do

is to follow your instinct.

Embrace your feelings.

Love can be a way to overcome your fear.

-Hi, handsome.

-Daphne.

Are you turned on already

or do you need some help?

I forgot to call you.

You can stay home tonight.

I had to come. I need your money.

That's not news.

I know. It's my job.

What, you're paying me before?

Come on, get out of here.

What's up?

Something's wrong.

I'm not in the mood.

Let me calm you down.

You said you wanted your money.

Here it is. Now leave.

You've changed.

You know nothing.

You're thinking about a woman.

Maybe. So what?

You need to let her go.

What if I don't want to?

You'll lose me.

Why didn't you just take the money?

Clients in love are the worst.

They won't be clients for long.

And you pay me 200 every time.

I can't afford to respect your feelings.

Will you call her?

Yes, I will.

Why?

I'm attracted to her.

I like her body.

She pleases me sexually.

So it's just physical pleasure.

She's very good at it.

I don't doubt it.

You don't seem convinced, though.

I'm not convinced by your answers.

Come on, then. Why do I do that?

You're not in my head.

We could talk about this.

However, you read a lot.

So I think you know who Oedipus is.

-I do.

-So don't play dumb.

Your mother was a prost*tute

and your father her rich and violent pimp.

With the money you inherited, you can

live without a job for the next 40 years.

Sure, the moral misery you grew up into,

the choices you made without a guide,

-the accident, the agoraphobia...

-Get to the point.

You blame your parents

for everything in your life.

Daphne may be a sex machine, but

that's not why you can't do without her.

She's a prost*tute like your mother,

and you pay her with your father's money.

And this makes you a real Oedipus.

Plus, your affection for Daphne forbids

you from having a story with Laura,

the same story that could lead you

to overcome your fear.

Comfort zone, huh?

And we're back to the start.

Nice analysis.

I'm here to help you, not comfort you.

I do what's right for you,

not what you think is right.

Soon things will have to change, Samuel.

Don't let the ghosts of the past

influence you.

You must make this change.

When will this happen?

When will I do it?

Soon, I hope. For everybody's sake.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Better than those chips.

Maybe.

I need to apologize.

For what?

For the other day.

For asking you to leave here.

I thought you...

Well, that maybe with me you could...

Forget it.

Don't apologize.

You did what was right for you. It's okay.

No, it's not okay.

I will do it, sooner or later. Believe me.

That's the point, though, Samuel.

Sooner or later but when?

I'm working on it.

You know it can't work like this.

What do you mean?

Don't play dumb, Samuel.

I see how you look at me

and you're not stupid.

We've been more than friends for a while.

Wait, wait, wait.

What do you mean?

You want me to say it? Fine.

I'm in love with you, Samuel.

I love you like a teenager,

and even a blind person

could see it's the same for you.

But how can we stay together?

How can we have a story?

Even if we say let's do it,

how can we make this work

if you can't even step outside that door?

"Sooner or later I'll do it," you say.

But when?

You gave me a set of your keys,

but it's not enough

to make me part of your life.

This house is my life, Laura.

And if you love me like you say,

you should understand that.

I suffer for you, Samuel.

But I can't be your nurse,

I can't be the nanny of the man I love!

I can't become a prisoner myself!

What are you trying to say?

I can't come here anymore.

Are you abandoning me?

I'm sorry.

Tony, you're early.

Hey! Stop!

Stop!

Who the f*ck are you? Why are you here?

Calm down, Mancini.

We'll be quick and painless.

-Get out of my house!

-Stop!

We're not here to hurt him.

-What do you want from me?

-Shut up and listen.

Our boss had an idea.

He told me you never leave this house,

is it true?

-It's none of your business.

-I'll take that as a yes.

Well...

If you got out of here, you'd know no one

cares about anyone anymore.

Governments do their sh*t

and people praise them.

Same sh*t every day.

That's why the boss had this idea.

We'll eradicate the problem.

We'll strike a blow

against this shitty world.

A god without believers

isn't a real god, is it?

Bombs are already in place.

We'll hit soon.

The problem is we have enemies.

And the police too.

Those b*stards

have files on almost all of us.

But they've no proof to arrest us

and they don't know where the bombs are.

But soon they'll know.

This is where you come in.

-What do you mean?

-You'll push the button.

A man with no criminal record

who never leaves the house.

The police will never get you.

And they'll need a warrant

to come inside this house.

This is why we'll give you

a remote control in two days.

At 9a.m. on the third day from now,

you'll push the button.

You'll be on the other side this time,

Samuel.

You think the boss didn't tell me

what happened to you?

This time you'll blow up the b*mb

and we'll hit this shitty world.

-I won't...

-You won't do it, of course.

We knew you'd play the hero.

That's why we're

keeping an eye on her, too.

She looked pretty sad this morning

when she left here.

You shouldn't treat nice girls this way.

See? You'll cooperate.

See you in 48 hours.

Who's sent you? Because the man I know

would do more than this.

That's why they call him The Snake.

Is something wrong?

-Did you see anyone on the stairs?

-What?

Forget it.

Can I come in or are we

going to stay at the door today?

Yes, sorry. It's a bad time.

Tell me everything.

Have you seen Laura today?

-Yes.

-What happened?

She left her keys. She won't come anymore.

How do you feel?

How do I feel? How do you think?

It sucks!

But you chose to suffer instead of facing

your fear and following your desire.

-I didn't know what to do.

-She cornered you, huh?

She gave you an ultimatum

and you weren't ready.

-I told you I didn't know what to do!

-That's not true. You knew and you did it.

You're not suffering because you miss her,

nor because she's hurting at your refusal.

You're suffering because she was

your only chance to get out of here,

to overcome your fear.

You were defeated once again.

-You suffer because you failed.

-You're not helping me at all!

You make me miserable.

You enjoy my failures.

Don't be stupid, Samuel.

I show you how things are.

I encouraged you to get close to her.

I failed. It doesn't matter.

I'll find another method to help you.

Your methods are pure crap!

You're shaken by something else,

evidently.

Don't change the subject.

Who should I have met on the stairs,

Samuel?

It's none of your business.

Who did you meet today besides Laura?

You know what?

Get out.

Get the f*ck out,

I don't want to see you anymore.

See you on Monday.

Laura! What are you doing here?

It's your fault.

What?

It's your fault.

-I didn't...

-They found me.

-No, I didn't want them to...

-I'm dead because of you.

No!

sh*t...

Damn.

Who's there?

Don't hurt me!

What's your name? What do you want?

-Sonia Petrucci.

-What the hell are you doing here?

I need a place to stay, please.

I don't want to hurt you.

Put those scissors away.

Thanks.

Speak.

May I know your name?

I'm Samuel. Now talk.

I need a place to spend the night.

I'll leave at dawn, I swear.

Why my house?

The window was open.

What are you running away from?

I don't want to involve you

in my problems.

You snuck into my house.

I'm already involved.

And I have my own problems.

-So speak to me or I'll kick you out.

-I'm running away from the police.

Great. What did you do?

Do you know Leverpharma?

-The pharmaceutical company?.

-That one.

They make drugs for the nervous system.

Antidepressants, tranquilizers.

I took their stuff for years.

Do you have any boxes left?

No, my therapist threw them all out

when I was done.

Maybe there's some trash here.

Can I see it?

Why are you interested in my drugs?

You want to know my story or not?

You're lucky.

This was from the C26N series.

So what?

You weren't part of the experiment.

What are you talking about?

Can I have a shower?

You're out of your mind.

I'm not going to keep

these sweaty clothes on.

Do you have any spare clothes for me?

No I don't have any spare clothes for you.

-Not even your girlfriend's?

-I don't have...

Okay, have your shower.

I'll take care of the rest.

Thank you.

Thanks, Daphne.

This isn't what I meant

when I said I'd be waiting for your call.

For you.

I hope my clothes look good on her.

And I hope they're

a little more restrained than usual.

I loved chemistry since I was a child.

I studied hard,

but my parents were against it

because they wanted me to be a lawyer.

But I never cared about authority.

I've always done my own thing.

Six months ago, the dream.

A permanent contract with Leverpharma.

And like every dream, it didn't last.

Why? What happened?

I was nobody.

Still no PhD, manual labor,

zero responsibility.

My team was just a small part of

an entire branch on cancer treatments.

That sounds like a good thing, doesn't it?

Not if you create

your own guinea pigs to work on.

What did you just say?

My team creates drugs

that give patients cancer.

They falsify drug facts,

giving wrong information.

All the drugs of the C19N series

given to patients for various diseases,

from depression to panic attacks,

are actually harmful.

And the crazy thing is that there's

an entire branch that creates antidotes.

Double money.

Impossible.

Sending a man into a black hole

and hoping he'll come back is impossible.

But not this.

This is why I wanted

to check your medications.

That's bullshit. You want me to believe

that a nobody with no responsibility

discovers the criminal scam

of the century in just a few days?

I was seeing a researcher

from another team.

People talk in bed. I heard it from him.

Of course, that explains it.

Well, what about your escape?

I felt betrayed.

I'm not a criminal

and don't want to be one.

I could never be part of such atrocity.

I found the evidence

and put it on a hard drive.

I caught them.

Do you think I'm stupid?

Tell me honestly.

You want me to believe

that these super-secret files

were at the disposal

of the first idiot with a hard drive?

I was helped, okay?

-Your special researcher?

-The IT engineer.

You've certainly

done a lot for your company.

I didn't sleep with him.

I'll pretend to believe that.

So the managers found out about you

and reported you to the police?

No. The police can't know anything.

They're looking for me because I broke

into a supermarket during my escape.

You didn't think about the cameras?

I had no time. I was running for my life.

For your life?

Leverpharma hired two hitmen to k*ll me.

They already k*lled everyone

who helped me.

I'm the last.

-You said hitmen?

-Yes.

You said two?

Yes.

One with a beard and one with long hair?

Yes. You've seen them?

Maybe this house isn't

the safest place for you.

Five years ago

I was part of an anarchist group.

Bloodthirsty madmen, out of their minds.

Don't ask me why I was there. I just was.

We wanted to scare

the sh*t out of this country.

I hated everything that was authority.

Our leader called himself The Snake.

I think you may have met many bad guys,

but The Snake is the worst

the world has seen.

He's ruthless.

And Machiavellian.

But most of all, patient.

He wanted to be on the front page.

Detonating a b*mb

in the central square on carnival day...

that was the plan.

Targeting politicians and businessmen

was one thing, but...

k*lling children, families...

It was too much.

So I decided to quit.

But of course,

The Snake didn't like that.

Then a few days later,

while I was having breakfast in a caf,

I heard a couple

having a fight in the square.

He was beating her.

So I decided to go out and stop him.

Their fight saved my life.

A few moments after I left,

a b*mb exploded in the caf.

It was for me.

And so it's been five years

since I set foot outside this apartment.

Agoraphobia, my therapist says.

I kept myself alive in here

to watch my life dying out there.

I'm scared to live in the present

because of my past.

But the truth is I'm just alone.

I...

I end up losing everyone I love.

I've had enough.

I have to make a change in my life.

You know...

Your story is full of holes.

I think you probably lied

to me about everything.

My instincts tell me to kick you out.

But of this I'm sure:

you're scared.

I can see it in your eyes.

And I, more than anyone,

know what it means to live in fear.

That's why I'm going to help you.

We'll fight our fears together.

So I'll pretend to believe you

and I'll help you...

if you'll help me

get out of this damned house.

What do you think?

How did they find you?

The Snake has resources.

I'm surprised it took five years to do it.

Those g*ons...

I don't know them, they must be new.

What does he want from you?

-He wants to use me.

-For what?

I don't know if I can tell you.

I thought we should help each other.

He wants me to detonate a b*mb

by remote control.

A b*mb? And where's the remote control?

They're bringing it tomorrow night.

I have to press the button

on Tuesday morning.

-Where are the bombs?

-I don't know. I've no idea.

What happens if you don't do it?

-She'll be dead.

-Who?

Laura. The woman I think I love.

Okay.

What if it's a bluff?

A bluff?

You haven't left the house

for five years, Samuel.

How can you tell

if what they say is true or not?

The Snake never lies. I know him well.

You said he's not stupid. He knows

you've been stuck in here for five years.

How can't you think

that he's maybe playing with you?

He wants to be clean,

no matter what he does.

He wants to make me do

the thing that made me quit.

What if he just wants you to believe this?

You're not going out to see if

the b*mb actually did blow, huh?

Maybe he has another goal.

Which is?

To get to me.

What?

You're right,

I didn't tell you everything.

What do you have to do with The Snake?

You're a f*cking liar!

-He sent you, didn't he?

-No.

-You came here to k*ll me in my sleep.

-You're wrong.

And stop bullshitting me.

-Who the f*ck are you really?

-I can't breathe.

Tell me the truth!

He's a partner of Leverpharma!

Roberto Leccia.

That's his real name, isn't it?

Yes.

Born in 1976 in Brescia,

eight years in youth anarchist groups,

married to Barbara Levi.

How do you know these things?

It was in the information

that I got on the hard drive.

How long has he been

a partner of Leverpharma?

Five years. Probably since you quit.

sh*t, it's impossible.

That's why it's the same hitmen.

But The Snake couldn't possibly have

known that you'd break into my house.

Unless... you're his accomplice.

I swear it's not like that.

-How can I believe you?

-You can't, Samuel.

You're not just a prisoner of these walls,

you're a prisoner of other people's words.

You're forced to trust words. And mine

are as good as those of the hitmen.

Just like they told you

about bombs and anarchy,

I'm telling you that the bombs

are a bluff and they want me!

So they managed to make me

run to your house,

where you'd keep me

because you're scared of the bombs.

The Snake wants to k*ll

two birds with one stone.

Listen, both versions

are crazy and full of holes,

but you have no proof

to decide who to believe.

It's up to you!

But you said you wanted to help me.

We need a plan.

Do you think it will work?

I don't know. All we can do now is hope.

-Let's go through it one more time. Okay?

-Okay.

At 4:45 p.m. tomorrow

they'll bring me the remote control.

-But I'll be gone by 2 p.m.

-Correct.

When the g*ons come, they won't find you.

So if they really only want you,

they'll be forced to continue

the b*mb bluff with me.

In the meantime

I'll call the police anonymously

and tell them the K*llers

are in your house.

Okay, I'll hold them,

and I'll tell the cops the K*llers

stole the Leverpharma hard drive.

And evil will be punished.

Sounds good.

It's sh*t, but it's our only option.

And then we'll wait.

For what?

For The Snake to show up.

No, he'll never do that, believe me.

Yes, he will. He wants his revenge.

And when he's here...

I'll k*ll him.

Expecting someone?

-Who's there?

-Samuel, it's me.

What are you doing here at this time?

I'll be frank with you, Samuel.

I've stuck with you for five years now,

and even though it's a bit unprofessional,

I care about you as a friend.

But also, I've been doing this job

for 15 years and nobody,

and I mean nobody, has ever

treated me the way you did.

I don't make a habit of getting angry,

you know that.

But I kept thinking about it tonight.

And you hurt me.

Are you here for an apology?

I'm here to finish our last session.

I don't think you're busy.

Or maybe you're waiting for someone?

No, not at all. Why?

You must really hate sleeping

if you make yourself two cups of coffee.

Oh, no, no, no. This...

This one is cold.

You're still acting quite strange.

Laura's goodbye shocked me.

If I wasn't as sure as I am that you're

incapable of hiding something from me,

I would say that you're

hiding something from me.

You're right.

I haven't told you everything.

I called Daphne again.

Was she the one I should've met

yesterday on the stairs?

That's right.

Then why all this difficulty telling me?

You've always been at ease

speaking about Daphne.

I was afraid you'd blame me.

For what?

For not choosing Laura.

For calling Daphne again

and choosing not to overcome my fear.

Don't be silly, Samuel. I'm not here

to scold you, but to help you.

By the way, I have to thank you.

For what?

I saw a documentary on TV last night.

They were talking about harmful drugs.

It seems a pharmaceutical company

is in trouble.

Nothing new.

But...

they said the name of the drug. C19N.

And I thought about the pills

you gave me for my panic attacks.

C26N.

Good ones.

I always do my homework.

I knew that C19N

was a little too aggressive.

I opted for something milder.

I just thought to say thank you.

When did you get so interested in drugs?

I sleep with a prost*tute

on a daily basis.

I need to know things,

it may be dangerous.

I'm glad you opened up.

-It's good for you.

-And I'm sorry I lied.

Don't worry.

See you tomorrow at 5?

Speaking of that, you wouldn't be able to

come a little later, like around 8 p.m.?

Daphne was only free at 5.

I'll do my best, but I can't promise.

I already made an exception today.

At least let me find a clean apartment.

Heard everything?

-Yes.

-I'll make some coffee.

Don't, it's almost dinner time.

There's not much food in the house.

Since Laura's gone, I...

You could ask this Daphne.

She satisfies other kinds of appetites.

Is it true?

That I regularly see a prost*tute?

No, I mean that you miss this Laura.

That you're shaken.

Let's see what food we've got.

Are you worried about the plan?

No.

Like you said, we just have to hope.

You've told me almost nothing about you.

Tell me more.

There's not much to say,

except that I always manage

to end up in the wrong situations.

But there must be something you like.

Sci-fi movies, rap music.

Are you in touch with your family?

Not as much as I'd like.

I'm still afraid that

I disappointed them with my choices.

They gave me everything

when I was a child.

I think I didn't give back enough.

I wish I could have been

a better daughter.

Are you alone now?

The only person I was seeing

is dead because of me.

If I'd minded my own business,

he'd still be alive

and we wouldn't be in this situation.

Well, if it's any consolation,

I'm not perfect either.

First, I lied to my therapist.

Laura's goodbye didn't shock me.

Yes, maybe I had feelings for her.

Maybe it was love, but it wasn't enough.

I only miss the cleaning lady.

It's horrible to say, but it's true.

Don't you feel bad for her pain?

No. Frankly, I couldn't care less.

My therapist said

I could have changed my life with her.

The problem is that I would have

moved from one house to another,

from one prison to another.

I'm not made for love.

It doesn't belong to me.

I'm sorry.

I'm not.

Why did you choose to believe me?

Well, if The Snake

had wanted me dead or in jail,

he would've done it long ago.

And the coincidences between his threat,

your arrival, and your story.

are definitely a lot.

In fact, there are so many things

that I still can't explain.

You finally got there!

This is not to say

that I still trust you totally.

But at least you didn't try

to break my nose.

I was hoping for something nicer.

I'm agoraphobic.

I don't know how to be nice.

No, we shouldn't.

It's true, we shouldn't.

Sonia! Sonia, it's late. You have to go.

Okay, I'll get ready.

-Who is it?

-It's me, Samuel.

Laura...

-Can I come in?

-Yes. Yes, of course.

-How are you?

-Fine, thank you.

I see no one is cleaning for you anymore.

Nope, no one.

What about groceries? How do you eat?

Why are you here?

I want to apologize.

I made a mistake.

I still think everything I told you,

but...

I love you, Samuel.

I miss you.

I can't live without you.

I'll wait for you, I promise.

I'll respect your time.

And as for the future, my expectations...

I don't care.

I only care about you.

Well, this isn't the reaction

I was hoping for.

No, Laura, it's just a bad time.

Is something wrong?

No, nothing.

You're still seeing that wh*re,

aren't you?

-Daphne has nothing to do with this.

-Unbelievable.

-I'm so stupid.

-Come back in a few days...

I always do the wrong thing.

-Laura, please...

-No! Don't try.

You deserve your loneliness.

-Where are you going?

-To the bathroom.

No, you can't use it.

-Why?

-It's broken.

-Sure, how do you do it? Let me pass.

-Laura, you can't.

Samuel, who's in that bathroom?

That wh*re is hiding in there, isn't she?

Let me pass!

What did you do?

What's your plan?

I help you. You help me.

You want to cut her up?

Yes.

What then?

We throw her in the garbage.

Yes, but then what are you going to do?

We'll wait for the K*llers

and k*ll them too.

You want to k*ll everyone?

If they were really following her,

they'll be here any minute.

We can't wait until 4:45 anymore.

We tear Laura apart,

k*ll the K*llers and call the police.

You'll say that you were running away from

me when you broke into the supermarket.

I'll say I stole all the Leverpharma data.

I'll confess everything

regarding The Snake.

I'll be imprisoned, you'll be free.

Why would you do that?

They'll have to take me out of this

f*cking house to take me to prison.

Somehow we'll both have what we want.

You want to get out of here

to end up in another cell?

From one prison to another?

You're not thinking!

I just k*lled the woman who loved me most

in the last five years.

Yes, I'm not thinking

And your therapist?

What do you mean?

When they arrest you and try to figure

out whether you're lying or not,

they'll ask you a lot of questions

and he'll say that you made it all up,

that it was all a lie.

You haven't been outside in five years.

He still has his notes

in his briefcase, right?

Then we'll steal the case.

How?

By any means necessary.

They're sticking to the plan,

even though Laura's dead.

Why?

Because I was right.

They weren't keeping

an eye on your friend.

It was a lie.

The bombs, the blackmail...

-They want me.

-Then why are you still here?

If I run away, the police will find me.

And after what I did, I'm screwed anyway

I won't ever be able to sleep again.

It's better if they k*ll me now.

I won't let them hurt you.

Why didn't you let her in?

Sorry, what?

The girl. Why didn't you let her

come into the bathroom?

She would've found me. So what?

I could have been another one

of your wh*res. Why did you k*ll her?

She didn't have to know about you.

Nor about the b*mb, nor anything else.

She could have left, but he didn't.

She had to die.

You're crazy.

-She would've talked to my therapist.

-So what?

He would've started to say things like,

"You don't hide anything."

I'm tired of being told what to do!

I just want to get out of

this f*cking house and change my life.

And k*lling Laura helped with that.

No, no, no.

You don't understand.

If my therapist had come to know about

you, he would have wanted to meet you.

He wants to help me.

But he actually wants me

to stay locked up in this f*cking house.

He constantly mortifies me,

he always gets in the way,

he's always one step ahead.

It's as if he's in my head.

Getting rid of my fear

isn't the real problem.

The real problem is getting rid of him.

You're raving.

You distort reality at your own will.

I think you're so scared that you can

no longer decide what's right for you.

You think everyone's plotting against you,

even the ones who want to help you.

sh*t, you're crazy.

You're out of control!

You only think about yourself!

You asked me for help,

you got me into this,

and now a woman is dead,

and soon we will be too.

It's you who doesn't want

to get out of here,

not Tony forcing you to stay.

Tony?

You said Tony.

How do you know his name?

I never told you.

I don't... please...

What the f*ck are you really?

Well, well, Mancini,

always ready for action.

Typical of you.

I hope I didn't interrupt something.

Stop right there. Otherwise...

Such a hurry!

Won't you even offer me a coffee?

Enough games. I know everything.

Would you be so kind as to update me?

I'm missing some pieces.

Your theatrics are over.

If The Snake wants her,

he has to k*ll me first.

Interesting.

Your life must be worthless if you're

willing to sacrifice it for someone else.

Or maybe you fell in love.

Stop. Don't you dare touch her.

Nice female. Interesting.

Calm down, Mancini, I have no reason

to hurt your girlfriend. I'm here for you.

Don't bullshit me.

She found out everything

about The Snake and Leverpharma.

That's why you're here from the beginning.

This is good, Mancini, really good.

I don't know who the f*ck this b*tch is

and I'm sick of this chit-chat.

No. No, things aren't like that.

Your bombs were a bluff.

You're looking for her

to take her to The Snake.

Leverpharma hired you so that

The Snake could make more money

from the harmful drugs and the antidote.

You came here

because you knew I would've kept her here.

Your imagination has no limits.

I give you credit for that, Mancini.

Now listen to me like you've never

listened to anyone before in your life.

I don't know who this girl is

and I don't know what she wants from you.

She's surely filled your head with

bullshit by exploiting your weaknesses,

maybe with some numbers in bed,

to get more credibility.

You think the bombs aren't real?

I want to remind you that

five years ago they almost k*lled you.

You don't believe me?

Fuses, fertilizer, bags, balaclavas,

even a van to put them in place.

Look here.

Are you ready to do your duty?

Or shall we k*ll your beloved friend?

You're too late.

I already did it.

It's not possible.

Yes, it is.

Now you have nothing against me.

So tell The Snake to f*ck off.

I'll never detonate those bombs.

k*ll me. You're only doing me a favor.

I pity you, Mancini.

It must be hard

to make one mistake after another.

Oh, God.

She's the one we were keeping an eye on.

So she definitely can't be

the person in that room.

I'll give you one last chance.

Are you ready to do your job, or not?

I'm ready.

Who are you?

There's no Leverpharma plot, is there?

You didn't run away.

You've not been chased by any hitmen.

Tony.

He sent you, didn't he?

Otherwise how could you know

all those things about me?

Tell me who you are.

I can't tell you the truth.

Why?

To protect you.

From whom?

From yourself.

I don't need it.

You know what I want to know.

"You can't learn the truth about

a man's intentions by asking for it."

Marcel Proust.

In the Shadow of

Young Girls in Flower, 1919.

I'm not asking for it.

I demand it.

Wow! The tension is a bit high,

don't you think?

We've been friends for a long time.

I'm on your side.

The truth, Tony.

Alright.

Let's do this. I'll tell you everything.

And in return, you stop

treating me like a criminal.

Deal?

It depends on what you're going to say.

I'll take that as a yes.

Stop!

I'm not running anyway.

Stay seated.

Speak.

There are two kinds of truths.

Simple truths,

whose opposite is clearly absurd,

and profound truths, the opposite of which

has in turn a profound truth.

Niels Bohr in his biography, 1967.

What is it?

Quote mania today? What does it mean?

That if you want to become a real

truth-seeker at least once in your life,

you have to doubt everything

as deeply as possible.

Descartes, Discourse on the Method, 1637.

Stop playing!

Tell me who you really are.

What do you want from me?

Why did you become my therapist?

Why did you send Sonia?

I'll answer all your questions.

But please make yourself comfortable.

It won't be easy for you

to accept what I'm going to say.

Please.

What's the price

you're willing to pay for the truth?

Any price.

Including with your life?

Because that's what's at stake. Your life.

Yes.

Even with your life, Samuel?

sh*t, you can bet on it.

Let's start from the beginning, then.

I never met Sonia Petrucci before.

Bullshit.

Are you going to do this the whole time

or will you shut your mouth and listen?

I never met her but I know her well.

Character, habits, peculiarities,

attitudes, purposes, motivations.

I know who she is

and where she comes from.

Sonia works for you.

She lied to me from the beginning.

Se didn't lie to you,

she never worked for me.

You were the one who was incapable

of seeing her true nature.

And yet it's all been so clear,

right in front of your eyes.

I don't understand.

Tell me, Samuel, when did

Sonia Petrucci enter your apartment?

Two days ago, after...

After Daphne had left your room, bitter,

after Laura had left you,

after two g*ons had entered your apartment

to get you stuck in a terror plot.

How do you know these things?

And after we had a fight

and you kicked me out.

A collapse on all sides.

A very heavy weight

for a single man in a single day.

It all happened so quickly

in those few hours.

The stress must have

been tremendous, no doubt.

And you sent Sonia to distract me,

to ease my suffering.

I didn't send Sonia here.

You did it all by yourself.

Sonia Petrucci never existed, Samuel.

She entered my apartment.

She used my f*cking bathroom.

We slept,

ate and f*cked together.

I didn't make it up.

Samuel, try to think lucidly.

No, I...

Please, think about it. Focus on it.

Did you see her talk to

anyone else besides you?

Daphne gave her some clothes.

Did Daphne give them to her directly?

No. Sonia was in the shower.

And when I came here last night,

you kept looking at the bathroom door.

Was she hiding in there, for you?

Yes, she was hidden.

And Laura?

Did Laura ever see her?

When Laura came here to tell you

she loved you, and you k*lled her,

was Sonia there?

How do you know that I k*lled Laura?

Was Sonia there?

No, she was... No.

The K*llers,

when they came in, they talked to her.

Especially the one with the goatee.

These two are a case in point.

What does that mean?

It means you created Sonia, Samuel.

You made up a woman that's just like you.

A woman who possesses all the features you

like the most, both physical and mental.

She completes you. She doesn't judge you.

She runs away from authorities,

living in fear.

You even share your enemy.

The story she told you was full of holes,

because they're the holes

that your brain can't fill,

just like it happens in dreams.

The whole Big Pharma story

is a figment of your imagination.

Do you really believe it's so easy to

steal secret data from a super-computer?

That all the secrets of

a multinational corporation

are kept on a single hard drive?

You had doubts about that, too.

It's your mind simplifying things

because it can't provide answers.

You built causes and consequences.

She was all your projection,

which came from your mind.

And you knew it.

You had the truth in front of your eyes.

Part of you had doubts about her.

But you ignored it.

She knew about my past.

She knew about your past

because you know about your past.

She knew everything you knew.

Your brain created the situation

and you lived it in third person.

No. No!

You want your f*cking proof?

Fine, I have proof.

There were bodies here. I...

I k*lled them all. They were...

It's impossible.

Samuel.

None of them were real.

I... I don't.

You've been living here alone

for five years now.

You've never seen anyone.

Nobody has ever come in here except me.

You wanted Laura to arrive early,

and she was early. Remember?

I remember their voices,

their steps, their smell.

"The more abstract

the truth you want to teach,

the more you have to seduce

the senses to it as well."

Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, 1886.

I indulged you. I played your game.

For five years I supported your

projections, both positive and negative,

to use them in your favor,

to help you see the truth.

I put my hopes on Laura,

considering how you described her

and your fictional relationship.

I really believed there was

a chance for you to heal.

But it's been so hard.

Then you got confused, things got messy...

Your projections started

to interact with each other,

starting with Sonia's arrival.

And for your mind it became unbearable.

That's why you dreamed

of k*lling them all.

Tabula rasa.

Or did you really think you can handle

two armed men on your own?

You're good, Tony.

sh*t, you're really good at this.

But you forgot some details.

Meaning?

If they were all my projections,

how could you know everything every time?

How could you be one step ahead?

Our talks about Laura, Daphne...

You knew everything

even before I told you.

They spoke to you, huh?

It's time, Samuel.

We've come to the point where I ask

you the same question again.

Would you pay the price for the truth

with your own life?

Without hesitation.

Open my briefcase, then.

What's inside?

The truth about you.

What does that mean?

It's so obvious.

It means that...

You too don't exist, Samuel.

I made you up.

You're a figment of my imagination.

Your experiences, your memories,

your dreams, they're all mine.

Your past is my past.

I'm the one who's stuck in this house.

I bet you can't remember how you

entered this house five years ago.

I'm not the therapist, I'm the patient.

And my therapist suggested

that I push you,

my mental projection, out of this house.

If I did it, I would've been free now...

and you would be dead.

But you slipped out of my hands

and started to believe.

that I was your therapist.

-It's not like that...

-Stop being a problem, accept the truth!

How can you possibly not realize

that we're the same person?

You almost succeeded when you

thought I was behind everything.

You got rid of all our projections!

Speaking of them, didn't you realize

that they were perfect for our situation?

Daphne, the most Freudian sexual impulse,

turned into flesh and bone.

You paid her with the money

of an infinite inheritance.

Do you really believe this crap?

And Laura, sweet Laura.

The desire for a stable relationship,

for true love,

the one I'm not able to stand!

The projection of the desire to heal,

to get out of this house.

Sure, you see the house like this,

but it's not like this.

I'm in a shitty hospital room.

That's where The Snake comes from.

He's the representation of our illness,

of what keeps us imprisoned.

Never seen in person, like every illness,

we can only see its effects.

Sonia's been the most expl*sive effect,

a projection created directly by you.

But you and I share the same mind.

You can't do anything without my

knowledge, because you are my product.

That's why Sonia wanted to protect you

before you k*lled her.

She didn't want you to find this out.

We met every day at 5 p.m. Weird, huh?

It's the time they give me my drugs,

the ones that allow me

to be disassociated from you.

The same ones which you thought were

dangerous with that Leverpharma sh*t,

to save yourself.

I only made two exceptions

last night and today.

Remember?

You don't know how much

they tormented me before allowing me.

But I felt that I was close

to the solution.

You're not real, Samuel.

And now that I've told you,

I beg you to get out of here.

I want to get better. And I'm sorry,

but for that to happen,

you have to die.

Come in!

I told you they were something else.

Good evening, doctor.

Good evening, Tony. Dinner time.

Please, be patient. I'm almost done here.

I'm proud of you, Tony.

What's for dinner tonight?

The chef was inspired today.

Fish.

Nice.

We have to celebrate.

We have a guest tonight.