All language subtitles for The.Third.Degree.2024.WEB-DL-CinemaCity.1080p.English_Track01

So you were telling me that

we found you here
in this building, this night,

because you came
to murder your wife's lover?

Yes.

As I informed you, sir,

you may request a solicitor
anytime.

As I informed you,
I waived that right.

Do you mind
if I take notes?

No.

Sir William Douglas.

How do you account
for the blood on your hands?

That is blood, is it not?

I--I'm not sure.

I've been Inspector
for the Yard for...

over 20 years.
I can assure you it is blood.

W--What I meant to say is...

I'm not exactly sure
how it got there.

I--I don't recall.

There was a pool of blood

found in the main auditorium
of this building.

Yes, I...
I think I remember being there.

And finding
Sterling Gordon's body?

I guess so.

Same person
you requested in a letter

to meet you here tonight.

Yes.

Sterling, I must see you.

You know why.
8 PM at our club building

This must come to an end.

This letter?

Yes.

We found it next to this.

Which...
I believe you have handled.

It was in his chest.

- Sterling Gordon's?
- Yes.

And you pulled it out?

- I must have.
- And why did you do that?

Because I didn't know
if he was dead.

I--I thought maybe
if I--I pulled the knife out,

I could stop the bleeding.

But you've stated
your intention was to kill him.

Yes, but... after seeing all
that blood, I--

The same blood
that's on your hands.

Yes, the same blood.

And then?

And then I...
I must have blacked out.

And the reason
you asked Mr. Gordon

to meet you here
is because you suspected

he was having an affair
with your wife

- Is that right?
- No, no, no.

Suspected is the wrong word.
I know he was.

How is it that
you know that?

Welcome to check with
a former colleague of yours,

Constable Griffin.

His investigative reports
should satisfy you

into their affair,
as they did me.

Why didn't you confront
your wife first?

Because I've known Sterling
for over 20 years.

We attended Oxford together.

And his betrayal
on this matter,

well, I've already told you
my intention on meeting him.

I see.
So you thought it best

to meet him here and kill him?

Yeah, I wanted complete privacy
so I could remind him
of his vows

which he made
in this club over alters.

Which,
if he acknowledged he broke,

would mean his life
must be taken.

I'm also a member
of this Club Osiris,

and well aware of the
commitments we make here.

But there are many ways
to interpret those vows

and the penalties
for breaking them

and it's certainly
extremely debatable

whether or not you

should be the one
taking his life.

- Yes, well, I--
- Anyway,

we can revisit that later.

So, once inside,
you locked the front doors?

Yes.
Yes, but...

but Sterling was already here,

waiting for me
in the main auditorium.

- Are you sure about that?
- Yes, I'm sure.

And in fact,
if I locked the doors,

then how did you
gain entrance, Inspector?

We heard reports of screaming

inside the building.

And after finding
the front doors locked,

I remembered
the secret back entrance.

Right. And that's
where you found me, is it?

After fully searching
the building, yes.

Tell me something,

since the time you and
Mr. Gordon attended Oxford,

would you say
you've remained close friends?

Why are you asking that?

Well, I'm trying
to establish that

because you've known him
for so many years

you wouldn't be mistaken
that you pulled out

- this knife out of his--
- Of course,

I would not be mistaken.

William.

I hear you think
you've killed me.

But--but I--I saw you.
You... you were dead.

Sorry to disappoint.

Very much alive.

I came here
upon the inspector's request.

I got your note, gave it
to the inspector here.

Looks like someone's made
a rather royal mess of it.

Obviously, I couldn't attend
per your invite

for I had other plans
this evening.

William, it looks like you've
murdered the wrong person.

Mr. Gordon, please.

Inspector,
why exactly am I here?

Well, for Sir William
to see you very much alive.

Satisfied?

However, this has made me
late for a rendezvous.

I'm sure you know
of whom I speak.

- You sick son of a--
- None of that, sir.

Please. Sit down.

William,
you've already thought

you killed me
once this evening.

You really can't keep trying.

I don't know what sick game
you're playing, Sterling.

But you certainly
won't get away with this.

I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Please see the physician
I've referred you to.

Am I free to go?

Oh, by the way,
Gabrielle's outside.

She's as concerned as I am
you're losing your marbles.

- Is she here?
- She is.

Well, be careful.
She is beguiling.

I think I've dealt

with a few such women
in my life, thank you.

Not like her, you haven't.

She's a femme fatale,
as the French would say.

First things first.
The body, the knife,

the blood on your hands.

Hold on a minute.
I-- If--if...

If I saw Sterling

alive just now,
then who did I see?

Well, the truth is, sir,

we haven't found a body
or anyone actually dead.

- I beg your pardon?
- As of yet.

I'm sick of waiting.

William, what on earth
have you done?

Sterling just told me
you may have murdered a man.

No, I don't believe I have.

Well, then,
why was Stirling here?

Well, you may be the one who
has to answer that, Gabrielle.

We need
to have a serious talk,

but away from here.
Inspector, what is it exactly

you want to ask my wife?

Please.

Where were you
this evening, Lady Douglas?

Where your constables
found me, at our home.

And you spent
the entire day there?

Yes. Except for purchasing
some floral arrangements.

- And the name of that shop?
- The Rosebud.

Let me ask
the questions, sir.

They will confirm
you were there, will they?

Yes, of course, William.

Sir, I am the one asking
the questions.

Well, do you have
any of significance?

And if you do not,
can we go now?

If you could stay
a little longer,

- it might help to--
- You have no charges.

You don't even have
a dead body.

Please.
Indulge me.

Why would I?
Sterling is clearly alive.

I obviously
did not kill him, did I?

Well, you yourself remember
waking

next to a dead body
holding that knife.

Well, now
I have serious doubts

what I do
and I do not remember.

All I do know is I must have
a private conversation
with my wife.

Gabrielle, let's go.

If you could only accompany me

to the main auditorium

and where we found you
unconscious,

it might really help.

Yes. Yes, it could help restore
your memory, William.

Isn't that right,
Inspector?

That would be my hope.

You certainly recall
entering the building

and locking those front doors,
is that right?

Yes.

With keys
you no longer have.

When I came to,
they were gone.

I see.
What is peculiar

is that the only footprints
in here are yours.

You have mud on your shoes

from the rain
earlier this evening.

Mr. Gordon's shoes were clean.

There are
no other prints in here.

You must have stopped here
to survey the murder scene.

Yes. I do recall being here.

But you've been reading
far too many

Strand detective magazines,
Inspector.

William.
William, please.

William, stop.
We must talk.

Now, really?

'Cause you didn't seem
to want to before.

Well, not in front of him.
Look, whatever you think

is going on
between Sterling and myself,

I can assure you it is not.

I found his letters
to you, Gabrielle.

Well...
you know Sterling.

That's just him expressing
his poetic soul.

He gets infatuated
and carried--

Gabrielle,
I saw you with him.

William, it's not
what you think, it--

Nothing is what we think it is.

So this
is where I'm supposed

to have stabbed someone
to death, is it?

Someone you can't
even find?

Well, this is
where we found you.

Unconscious,
holding the knife

and where you remember being.

And the bump
on the back of your head

indicates you fell
against this chair.

Yes, well, I could have
a bump on the head

for numerous reasons.

Well, this is
where the body appears

to have been lying.

Appears? What kind
of language is that

for a Scotland Yard inspector?

Oh, my.
That's a great deal of blood.

Here.

Aren't you at all concerned
for your wife, sir?

No, not in the least.

How dare you, William?

Inspector, I have
absolutely no idea

what's happened here,

but I do not believe,
for one minute,

that I stabbed someone
and then fell

and bumped my head
on the back of a chair.

Would you please stop making
a jest of this, William?

And then, Inspector,
as you would have it,

whilst I was unconscious,
whoever I did stab

quickly recovered themselves,
took my keys,

whilst leaving a pool
of blood behind them.

But not
a single drop of blood

anywhere else
in the building.

- Well--
- If I may ask you, Inspector,

where is this dead person
that you speak of?

- If you could just--
- No. One second,

I'm not finished.

Inspector,
why did you present me

with my letter to Sterling
covered in blood

when Sterling
made it clear

he'd given you
the letter?

Certainly
wouldn't have been

crumbled and bloodied,
would it?

This is not a crime scene
you have here.

This is a mere circus.
And I'm leaving.

William. Stop.

You always were such
a clever boy, William.

I always liked that
about you.

I had a feeling
you'd figure out this ruse.

What are you
still doing here, sir?

Enjoying the show.

You are a conniving bastard,
aren't you?

Did you really think
you can get away

with framing me
for murdering someone,

whoever that may be,

and then simply
walking away with her?

William, you don't believe
I had anything to do with this?

If everyone
could just stop for a minute.

Indeed, William.

I fully intend
for you to hang.

And yes, we do
indeed have a body.

Fresh from White Chapel
this morning.

My height, my build,
just not me.

And as for Gabrielle, well,

she won't walk to me;
she'll run.

- Please don't say that.
- You are insufferable.

And I won't be spoken
to in this manner.

Sir William.
Not another step.

And you, sir,
put that blade down.

Not a chance in hell.

Gentlemen,
this cannot continue

in this manner.
- Oh...

Oh, this is all
becoming far too much.

I will not stand here
and be threatened

by a wife stealer.

I'd hardly call it stealing.

Believe me.
She belongs to me now.

Sir William, I will not
hesitate to use this--

Marvelous.

Who knew
you had that in you?

It's you that's responsible
for her behaviour.

It's got to end now.

- I'm not finished.
- Put it down, Sterling.

You can't be serious.

How many times
have you told me

you wished he were dead?

You must stop
saying such things.

Stop.

Darling, you're not going
to shoot me.

Not part of the plan.

Haven't you caused enough pain?

You know nothin' of pain.

Nothin'.
Nothin' of longin'.

You've gotten everything
you ever wanted in life

as if owed to you,
even Gabrielle.

Why did you seduce her

in this devious scheme
of yours?

You really think
this was my plan?

No more, Sterling.

He's not worth it,
Gabrielle.

No matter
what you've done.

You hear him?

He's so high and mighty
and I'm worth nothing?

Well, I'll be damned if I ever
take this from you again!

What the hell
have you done?

I didn't...
I didn't mean.

Oh, Sterling.

Is he dead?

Gabrielle?

Why?
Why did you kill him?

What?

You shot him.
Why?

What are you...
What are you talking about?

Have you lost your mind?

No, I haven't.
You're the one holding the gun.

Won't be
my prints on it.

You'll never
get away with this.

I already have.

You planned
this whole deception

Even the affair
with Sterling.

But the inspector was right,
you did commit a murder.

Oh, poor Sterling
didn't realize he was the one

who was actually
going to die.

Why?
Why would you do all this?

Your money, of course.
And yes, that does include

all of your estates
and investments.

Oh, and especially
those wonderful titles

that bring
everlasting fame.

Oh, I have always liked you,
William, truly.

Even when I was with him,
I was thinking of you.

Well, usually.

But I must admit,
I'm going to enjoy

having all that money
and power all to myself

- without your constant control.
- I'll kill you first.

Oh, William,
there was only one bullet in it.

I made sure.
Trust me, darling.

You would have killed me.
I don't believe it!

You just killed Sterling.

He was
a dispensable pawn!

I think you mean to say
that you killed him.

You ought to get used
to saying that, William.

Sir William.

Sir William?

Sir William?
Sir William?

Are you all right, sir?

Appears we were hit
by the same woman.

- I'm not sure what you mean.
- Where did she go?

She wasn't here
when I woke.

He's dead. And it appears
the killer used my revolver.

Which you were holding--

- No. No, no, no.
- What, what, what? What?

- It's not working.
- What?

- It's not working.
- What isn't working, Will?

I just don't think
that Sir William

would be this gullible.

We've been over this
a dozen times. Come on.

Sir William's ego
has been blinded

by the-- by the--
into a false sense of thinking

that he knows everything

and he's pulling
everyone's strings

like a puppet master
or something.

No, no, no, I get that.
I get that.
That's not my problem.

- I've got a new issue.
- Hmm.

What now?

Surely William
would have figured out

there's a problem
with Sterling's letter

long before he suddenly
shows up again.

You know, there's blood
on it one minute,

and there's not blood
on it the next minute.

You're right, you're right.
I'll fix this.

And also, why would...

why would Sterling show up
at the inspector's request

when aren't they trying
to make William believe

that he may
have murdered him?

Fine. Yeah.
I'll fix that too.

Yes.

Bloody hell!

Out of interest, Will,
how long do I have to lay

on the floor here
while you and War

keep you rewriting
this thing to death?

Oh, and Gabrielle,
how does she know

there's only one bullet
in the inspector's revolver?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'll fix that too.

But, Will, look,
the problem is,

if, uh, if the true Gabrielle
isn't revealed

at the beginning,
how do we keep the suspense

of not knowing
what she's really up to?

Tell me something
I don't know.

Oh, hey. If you two
are gonna take a rewrite break,

can I at least get out
of this bloody costume?

Yeah, yeah.

I--I can change that bit.

And then the reveal
comes later.

But then it means
no rooftop scene.

Mate, I'll be honest
with you,

I never really liked it
in the first place

for that final scene.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Great.

Then why did I spend
two days writing it?

Hey.
Text me the new sides.

Coffee? Coffee?

- No.
- No.

Gabby?

Ugh, guys? When was anyone
going to tell me

- we were on break?
- We're on a break.

Thanks.

Just-- just keep at it,
all right?

This will throw a wrench
into Gabrielle's overall plan.

Well, I'm not really sure
Gabby's character

would jump so easily

from one man to another,
to be honest.

No, that's exactly
what she would do.

Come on, let's see what's in
that twisted mind of yours.

Okay.

It's gonna be really harsh,
a cold, cold ending.

Love always turns cold.

Uh, if he's getting changed
and comfortable, so am I.

Oh, and with the knife.

If you introduce that
into the first scene--

Yeah, it has
to come back later.

I know.
Thank you very much.

That's pretty basic stuff.

My God.
Are you pissed off

about something, mate?

Will...

I thought we finished
this play a month ago.

And I agree your idea
to rehearse it here

in this bizarre place
is-- -is working,

it's making it better
and more real.

But every time we make
these kind of changes,

it has a ripple effect
on the entire storyline.

Bloody ripple effect.
It's all I keep hearing.

If I had a pound
of every time you said that,

I'd be able to finance
this show three times over.

Well, at some point
we have to stick

with what's on the page.

Who says?
Who says we have to?

Look, we've been talking
about collaborating

on this for years now.

And finally, after a 100
crappy acting jobs,

I can afford
to pay for this

amazing West End production.

Yeah. And inheriting
250 grand from your aunt.

You can't blame me
for wanting this to be perfect.

Perfect is the enemy
of good, mate.

So you remember
my Voltaire?

Now, that was a role
I absolutely loved.

Well, it only ran for,
like, what, 10 days?

So? Doesn't mean
it wasn't perfect.

Look, just keep
at it more, okay?

This is just a big break
for you

as it is for me.
And I know that dialogue

is in that incredible brain
of yours.

It just-- just needs
to be set free.

Yeah, by driving me
over the edge.

Hey, join the club.
But it's that pressure

that just brings out
the best of both of us.

I'll be upstairs.

Preview's in
less than two weeks.

Yeah, you don't have
to tell me.

Oh, and, Will,
can I drop the accent?

I'm really rubbish at it.

Sure, sure.
Yeah, you'll be fine.

What am I doing?

I'm just going down
a rabbit's hole.

Have I created
just too many twists?

Creates great dialogue,
sure, but...

just means more lines,
more damn issues.

There are too many flashbacks
to the past of...

Am I just creating intrigue
or confusion?

Why am I even doing this?

This is--
this is meant to be fun.

Just want to feel
the energy again,

get my creative control back.

Full of excitement,
and spontaneity.

And what have
I got to show for it?

I'm leaking money left,
right and center,

all because
of these bloody bills.

What am I going to do
about Gabby and Sterling?

How did I not think
that it would drive me
absolutely crazy?

All of us together again.

How can I make this tension
work to my advantage?

They must believe
that I might kill them all.

You have to push it so far...

they don't know
what you'll do next.

Well, I am knackered

and we're barely through
the first act.

I think it's going
pretty well so far.

Your smokey
Earl Grey, princess.

Who are you texting?

- Jealous?
- Should I be?

Does my mother count?

- Be careful.
- Come on.

Will has been down there
for an hour, reworking,

rewriting every single line.

We just need to get
through these rehearsals.

I understand.

But I am kind of tired
of sneaking around.

Yes. Said everybody

who's ever been
in this situation.

I think
it's just harder on us

because we've known
each other so long.

Now is the winter
of our discontent

Made glorious summer
by this sun of York.

And all our clouds
that loured upon our house

In the deep bosom
of the ocean buried.

All our brows bound
with victorious wreaths;

Our bruised arms
hung up for monuments.

A Stern alarums changed
to merry meetings.

Worship will get you nowhere.
He's not a god,

no matter how much
he thinks he is.

Dreadful marches
to delightful measures.

Icarus was still beautiful
to watch take flight.

Grim-visaged war

hath smoothed
his wrinkled front.

And now, instead
of mounting barbed steeds

To fright the souls
of fearful adversaries,

He capers nimbly
in a lady's chamber

To the lascivious pleasings
of a lute.

Will's always been
the one destined for stardom.

Yeah, and you have always
sold yourself short.

No, it's not that.
It's just he's more obsessed
to succeed.

And now, he's about to get
everything he ever wanted.

And it's exactly the time
that we could rip
his life apart.

Are you kidding?

Look, if he finds out
about us before we open,

he will cut us instantly.

Trust me, you...

you have no idea
how vindictive Will can be.

We're going
to be history to him anyway.

Look, what I keep wondering
is if Will

has Warrick writing
this play just to torture us.

Do you know what, though,
it doesn't matter

how much pain
we go through now.

This show's going
to be a hit. I can feel it.

And then I will get to
wherever I need to be.

And where is that?

Yes, Gabby.
Where is that?

Oh, jeez, Will.

This place
is creepy enough

without you sneaking up on us,
my heart just stopped.

Well, at least
I didn't break it, right?

Well, you have to admit,

this place gives off
some seriously haunted vibes.

I know, right?
That's why I chose it.

I want...
I want that edginess

to come through so the audience
experiences it as well.

And it's actually
exactly how I designed

the sets for the play.

It should be ready
in a few weeks now.

I'll tell you what,
I can't wait.

Has to be costing you
a fortune.

All for us, darling,

so we can finally star
on the West End together.

And hopefully,
I won't have to do any more

of those bloody TV ads.

Oh, but Will,

you were fantastic
in those pot noodle commercials.

You'll be missed.

Oh, well, maybe you should
just have to take my place.

You're good at that.

You know what,
we were just talking

about how far
we've all come

since our drama
school days.

Oh, you'll always
be my Desdemona

that I lost
my heart to every night

and wanted to strangle.

I was awful
in that production.

What are you talking about?
You were terrific.

You actually
made it so easy for me

to actually want
to throttle you.

You know, you are becoming
as strange as this place.

You know what,
she always thought

you should have
played Iago in that one.

I was Shylock
that season, remember?

Ah, yes, yes, searching
for your pound of flesh.

You know,
it is remarkable to me

that we're in
this production together

after all we've been through.

Don't you mean
still going through?

Well, I am worried about War.
He looks exhausted.

Don't worry about War.

He's tougher
than you think.

Plus, suffering has
always made the best writers.

When they get
to that darkness,

it brings out
their inner demons.

Yeah, but I mean,
he's revising it so fast,

it feels like he's just...
writing about us.

What an interesting thought.

Yeah, you...
you know what I mean.

No.
Actually, I don't.

But as long as you two
aren't planning on killing me,

then you shouldn't
have to worry

about what Warrick does.

I'm sure
it'll turn out brilliantly.

Oh, speak of the devil.

I told you
he wouldn't let us down.

He's got
the sides ready now.

Uh, hey, hey, hey.

When are we supposed
to learn all these new lines?

When you're putting
on your turn

of the century knickers, darling.

Well, these new twists,
they read great, mate.

Hmm.

It's just the staging
I'm well worried about.

Always a casualty when we keep
altering plot lines.

Well, we just need
to figure out

how we're going
to get Sir William

from the main hall
into the side room.

Yeah, which is why
I moved the action sequence

to the end
of the second act.

Yeah, that's just still
too convenient.

Will, you can't
have it both ways.

Look, if you need
your character

to move from this spot,
and at the same time

clear the entire stage
for the next act,

it has to happen
the way I've written it.

Hey!

You really think
my character should act

this simple-minded?

- Yes.
- And why on earth, would I?

Well, first and foremost,
as Noel Coward once said,

- for the paycheck.
- Ha-ha, yeah.

You know exactly
what I'm getting at.

My character
is smarter than this.

Or he certainly
was in the first draft

you guys came up with.
He was a lot more edgy

than what you're
turning him into now.

Hmm. Not really.

Don't be dogmatic.
Where's the tension now, huh?

Where's the rivalry
between our characters

that we were building?

He's bloody cheating
with your scheming wife.

- That I do know.
- Oh come on, War.

Why is my character now
the one suddenly

with a conscience, huh?

He's a handsome rogue
in the first act

and a clueless idiot
in the second.

Because, Sterling,
deep down, that's who he is.

Are you sure about that?

Sterling...

you are no method actor.
Okay? You are who you are,

and it makes you genuine
and likeable on the stage.

Which, in turn,
helps us evolve your character

into being
who he really is

and helps the audience
believe in you.

Take Gabby, for example.

For some reason,
she has to morph

into every damn character
she's ever played.

Let that
be a warning to you.

Hmm.
So, she won't be embodying

her last character
of Joan of Arc, huh?

No, not at all.

She has no self-sacrifice
in her soul.

She's more Lady Macbeth.

Which I'll remind you,
she's just come off

playing her in the short one
in Canterbury.

Oh, well...

Why are you having
a go at Gabby?

She's nailed
every single line

we've written for her.
You know, she's managed to cope

with all the changes
and twists we've come up with.

She's never
complained once.

So you now believe

you're defending
the innocent, do you?

None of us
are innocent, Will.

Oh, come on.
Look, the two of you have been

butting heads
ever since I've known you.

Now, I have no idea
how she's put up

with it for all these years.

Oh, and anyway
she's not the one

complaining about the changes
in her character, is she?

All Sterling is doing
is simply asking questions,

which he always has done.
And he's just inquiring

about the play
and his character.

And in an all fairness,
we keep making changes on.

But I'm more interested--

amused
would be a better word--

by your knight in shining armor
defense on Gabby.

Care to enlighten us?

I will not
take your bait.

We all know that you...

you thrive
on creating tensions.

Gives you some
kind of weird energy.

And I'm not in the mood.

- Well, that was interesting.
- I don't care.

Look, it's not just
the changes to the character

I'm worried about, okay?

What about
this action sequence, huh?

How on earth am I going to run
all these places

on a simple stage?

Sterling, don't worry.

Will,
and somehow, my character

is still supposed
to be menacing.

Yes, you'll still
be threatening.

You're so athletic
and imposing,

the audience
is going to think

you're dangerous
no matter what.

Maybe. But all I do know
is my character

could be so much more.

Every actor thinks that.

If you cut
Mercutio's lines here,

we lose the essence
of what he represents.

You're kidding me, right?

He practically
steals this play

long before those lines.

You're just worried
I'm gonna take away

from your Romeo.

Sterling, that's why Mercutio
is so mercurial, get it?

I mean, there's always
the dominating presence.

You've never thought
anybody else's ideas

were good apart
from your own.

I'm not sure why you're
deciding to reevaluate

what ideas are good
and not of mine, but, go on.

It's your production.
It's brought it out in me.

What is it you want
to get off your chest, Sterling?

It's a violent play
you're directing.

Full of malice,
brutality, murder.

Oh. Is it?

But you have no idea
what true violence is.

I know your story.

You've had it cozy
your entire life.

You've never had
to live hand to mouth.

You've had everything.

I can picture you. Alone,
sitting on your designer sofa

in front
of your vast bookcases,

thumbing
a leather-bound book on war.

Knights, battles.

But you see,
you don't know real violence.

You don't know
what it's like to be beaten

every single night
by a drunken father.

Hiding,
hoping, praying

that tonight's the night
he doesn't come in your room

when you hear him
stumble up the stairs.

You think you know
about brute force

and how people
react to it.

I am telling you,
you have no idea.

Brutality
is not clever, Will.

It's ugly.

Emotions spiral out
of control into rage

and you end up doing things
you wouldn't normally do.

Can you do me a favor?

I would like you to close
your eyes for me.

Close your eyes,
Sterling.

Now, take yourself back

to that intensity and pain
that you just revealed to me.

I want you to feel...

that hurt
and vulnerability

that you felt as a child.

Feel it boiling
inside of your gut.

Okay.
Now, bring it back.

Bring it back up
for me, Sterling.

You see, I don't need
to experience real pain.

I don't even need
to have lived through

any sort of violence.

You see, all I need
is just to pull it from you.

Okay, everyone.
Back to work.

Sir William.
Sir William?

You all right, sir?

- Is he dead?
- Quite so.

And it appears
the killer used my revolver,

which you were holding.

No need for hysterics,
Lady Douglas.

Please join us
down here.

Is Sterling dead?

Inspector, listen to me.
After she knocked you out,

she's the one who shot Sterling
with your revolver.

The last thing I remember
is that she fainted over there.

Yes. And who do you think
hit you from behind?

William, why are you
saying such things?

When I woke up,
you and the inspector

were knocked down.
Sterling was gone.

I ran to find help

and that's when I heard
the gunshot.

You should be an actress,

you're such
a good liar, Gabrielle.

Inspector, I'm telling you,
she's the one

that shot Sterling.

And you are not
in your right mind.

Well, you did just suffer
a blow to your head, sir.

Yes.
And both came from her.

It's you
who hated Sterling.

It's you
who sent him a letter

to meet you here
this evening

so that you could kill him.

I did not kill him!
She did!

Not another step, sir!

- That gun is empty.
- I doubt it.

I loaded it myself
this morning.

You may have. But she's the one
that's emptied it.

Trust me, I know.

Because I tried
to shoot her with it.

You did what?

It was
when you were unconscious.

Look, it doesn't matter.

Look at her,
she's a little mocking devil.

Not another step, sir.

You're not gonna shoot me.

- I wouldn't bet on it.
- Go ahead.

Like I said,
it's empty.

I'll never be safe
from you.

You're alive.

You all right?

- You bloody fool.
- Well, I wasn't expecting him

to take off running.

- Get after him.
- All right.

I had to grab him
I know wasn't part of your plan.

I hire
an alcoholic inspector,

and that's what I get.

He still has the power
to arrest William for murder.

But William knows
you're still alive.

Aye. But we still have
the dead body.

Right. Right.

We'll put him
in your clothes.

Put bullets
through his face,

make him unrecognizable.

And then we'll have
the inspector testify at trial

of William confessing
to believing he murdered you.

- And I stay hidden until--
- Get after him. He can't escape.

Oh God.

Sir William!

This building
is sealed tight.

Hey.
Head to the front door

and make sure he doesn't try
to escape, all right?

William!

William, you know
I'll find you!

William?

Come out, come out,
wherever you are.

What have you done?

What were you thinking, Will?
It's just a rehearsal.

It was supposed to end
with him catching you, remember?

Have you completely
lost your mind?

What the hell happened?

- Are you okay?
- My head hurts.

S-- sorry about that. I...

I just got a bit carried away.
That's all.

Carried away?
You could have killed me.

I--I was just trying
to imagine

how the character feel.
You know, like,

he's been chased,
cornered, cheated on.

And well, I just saw
the flagpole and
I thought I'd improvise.

Yeah, art imitating life,
life imitating art.

To be honest, I thought
you'd see the pole

- and leap over it.
- Come on.

You meant to do this.

No, I didn't.
Honestly, I just...

I've been thinking
that I need to enter the act,

and there needs
to be more substance.

I need to have it out
with Sterling

before he captures me.

Will, it was supposed
to be you getting knocked out.

And you didn't think
about maybe telling someone
you were gonna do this?

Well, I might have told Warrick
that I was going to
improvise tonight.

It's my bloody ankle.

I think it's twisted.
It could be broken.

I'll, uh...
I'll go and get some ice.

And a compensation
claim form.

What is wrong with him?

Hmm.
The dark sides of Will

are coming out.
He's driving me nuts.

He keeps changing the lines,
cutting whole scenes,

putting them back again.

And now,
this last minute improv

put Sterling in danger.

Honestly, I've about had it
with him and this whole play.

Well, you can't bail
on us now.

You know
what's really wrong?

It's like the two
of you are killing him.

Yeah.
It's been boiling up

inside him for weeks,
maybe longer.

And he's turning this...
this dumb play

into a micro version

of your weird triangle
of betrayal.

Believe me,
this is definitely not

the play we started writing.

Look, I've been
writing for 10 years.

And all I get
is rejection after rejection

and the financing
always seems to fall through.

But now, now I get...

I get a chance to finally pen
a play that's set to--

to open on the West End
with the two of you,

the best
I've ever worked with.

And for all his faults,
Will is a great actor,

but he's messing up
with the plot.

We've refined over and over,
and he's destroying everything.

His one big chance,
ourbig chance, and why?

Because he can't stand
the fact that the two of you

have fallen for each other,
making him a cuckold.

I'm telling you,
be careful.

War, War, take a seat.

Look, we've got to
talk about this.

We've got to figure out
what we're all going to do.

You're kidding, right?

There is no nice way
you can fix this.

It's Will.
He's got your ice.

It's in the locker room.

But you've got to
go up there to get it.

What did you mean,
"be careful"?

We have to quit
this play.

What are you talking about?

He's going to make our lives
a living hell.

He already is.

Exactly. It's only going to
get worse.

It's not fair on him
and it's not fair on me.

And it all revolves
around you.

Don't you start playing
Mr. Sensitive now.

You want me
to come clean with him

about us
from the beginning.

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why I'm
sticking around ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why you always
bring me down ♪

♪ Who knows
I don't ♪

♪ Your eyes,
they haunt me ♪

♪ Mirrors to your soul ♪

♪ Your lips
entice me ♪

♪ I'm losing
all control ♪

♪ I can't escape you ♪

♪ You're no good
I know ♪

♪ Why you say
the things you say ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ That you'll
never go away ♪

♪ I know, I know ♪

♪ I know ♪

There's absolutely no way
War's gonna buy this.

I know how much you love
to feed off each other.

But War has to buy
into your vision.

It's your damn play.

Maybe I shouldn't have even
cast him in the first place.

Hiring schoolmates, lovers,

it's just bringing back
years of jealousies and trysts.

Oh, what a tangled web
we weave.

I've risked
everything here.

My reputation,
my inheritance.

Your reputation?
What a joke.

All in that conceited
swollen head of yours.

Face it.

You haven't ever pulled off
a winner, have you?

Not in the big leagues,
at least.

And that's where you want
to end up, is it not?

So what if
you give it a go?

What's the worst
that could happen?

It fails, you fall flat
on your face. So what?

Gave it your best.

Of course,
there's always another way.

You just have to go
with your first gut instinct.

They all must die.

- The Hamlet ending.
- Exactly.

And don't tell me
you haven't thought

about it 1,000 times.

Yes.
But only William Fortinbras's

left to tell
the tale of woe.

Now, go and tell
each one of them

the lie that you want
them to believe.

Stop. Stop.

I guess
I was stupid enough

to believe
that this secret life

between the three of us
would work out somehow, but...

Let's just get you
to the lounge. Okay?

I will get
the ice from Will.

Yeah. I'll--
I'll talk to him, too.

Don't forget
to take a weapon.

Where's Sterling?

Mate, you totally
screwed up his ankle.

It's gonna take him ages
to get ready for the next act

and you want him
to come up here for that ice.

This has got
to stop, mate.

- What has to?
- You know exactly

what I'm talking about.

You deliberately tried
to hurt him.

Mate, I told you.

I just got carried away
improvising

Bullshit.

You knew exactly
what you were doing.

Everything was set up.

The stair sequence
for the chase,

you getting caught right
before the next act.

You absolutely
stink of scotch.

Mate, I've told you,
you can't keep drinking

like this all day.

It's starting to show
in your writing, all right?

We've spoken about this.

Oh, bloody incredible.

You know how much
of a pain in the butt

you are to work with?

It's so hard
to be your friend.

Look, every single one of us
has been there for you

when you were down.

When plays closed,
when reviews stank,

when you didn't get
the big role

you were meant to play.

And for the last few months,
we've been working really hard

every step of the way
to make this play happen.

And now you're
bloody determined to--

to turn this into some kind of
torture chamber

for Sterling and Gabby,
and now me.

Lay off the booze, yeah?

Changes for the new act.

This doesn't
even make sense.

Oh, you'll come along.

Just read them
through thoroughly, yeah?

I'm sure you can rework
with what we've got.

Remember my motto:
"Always the unexpected."

This is not
just your bloody play.

I won't let you ruin it.

Oh, it's not getting
any better.

It will. Things will.

Everyone but Sterling.

Well, obviously,
we need to talk.

It's not going to be one
of those discussions, is it?

Versus?

Well, it just seems so,
so vapid, so generic.

How you and Sterling
couldn't help it,

but just had
to follow our hearts.

It's been done
a thousand times before.

Again, versus what?

Well, by being
more creative.

Doing what
you really want to do.

And which is?

By taking that knife out
you're hiding

from behind your back
and stab me with it.

Well, you are the director.

Come in.

You are a very clever
naughty boy.

And Sterling?

Uh, well,
he can barely walk.

And yes,
I came to get this.

You know, you probably

shouldn't have
tripped him like that.

I know, but...
Sir William, he, uh...

he can't be cornered
like that again.

I needed
to introduce some real

intense danger
into that scene.

Well, you achieved that.

Sterling and War
are wound up so tight,

they've no idea
what's gonna happen next.

Isn't that
what you wanted?

You know, I have to admit,

I wasn't sure about this plan
of yours at first.

But you get it, right?

It brings out-- just brings out
something deeper out of them.

Hmm.

What about Sterling?
Does he know

we broke up months ago?

No, he has no idea.

And now, War's told him
you know about us.

He's absolutely torn apart.

In fact,
he's absolutely terrified

about what you're gonna do.

Oh, that's great.
That's great.

He's gonna put on the best
performance he's ever given.

He doesn't
know it yet, actually,

but he's gonna kill it
in my next new third act.

More changes?

You know better
than anyone

this is a watch-and-see play.

You know, I do
miss this about you.

Your unpredictable,
challenging, creative side.

You know, I mean at certain
times I get a glimpse
of the real you.

Oh, that's the problem,
isn't it?

We're all liars

continually
portraying different roles.

I mean, I could say
the same about you.

One day,
you're fair Rosalind,

and the next you're Medea
scaring the absolute
shit out of me.

Once a woman is wronged
in the matter of love,

no other soul can hold
so many thoughts of blood.

See, that's what
makes it so amazing.

- And dangerous.
- Yeah.

We did have a good run,
didn't we?

But I guess
all's well that ends well,

as another Will concluded.

And you know,
I've been thinking, um,

you and Sterling,

you're probably
right for each other.

Yeah.

And whilst
I'm in this confessing booth

and only for this
one time only,

I'm well aware
that my mood swings

are far too much
for only one person to handle.

Oh, wow.
Proud of you owning that.

Give that to Sterling
and make sure

he gets to the Egyptian room
on time, will you?

Yes, Henry Higgins.

Remember,
everyone must feel real pain

and real fear
in these next scenes.

Of course,
we'll just have to get

an entirely new cast
after the multiple tragedies.

But it's such
a huge gamble.

Of course it is.

To win, you've got
to roll the dice,

take a bite of the apple.

It's only then
you discover the real truth.

But to not tell anyone
what I'm going to do.

How on earth do you think
you're going

to catch anyone off guard?

Have a truly
original final act.

You've got to mix it up.

Pieces have got
to fly everywhere.

You have to give in
to the chaos.

Feed into the paranoia.

Explore your hallucinations,
articulate the insanity.

Rip off those masks

and expose
the many ugly facades.

No one can be rescued.
No one can escape

the nightmares
of their own making.

All this confusion
that I'm gonna cause is...

All life is confusing,
pulsating with turmoil.

Just keep writing
what I'm saying.

But what you're thinking

composes in your snobbish
Shakespeare drenched prose.

It all ends up arriving
at the same twisted,

predestined, bitter end.

- You're not real.
- I never told you I was.

But every writer
imagines it so.

Men's minds are wild.

Cut off even
in the blossoms of my sin.

With all
the imperfections on my head.

Holy shit, Will.
You aretrying to kill me.

Looks like you can move
that ankle after all.

Yeah.

Coming face-to-face
with the Illuminati.

Maybe I should sell my soul.

- All my dark deeds.
- I thought you had.

Don't we all, Sterling?
Some way or another?

That's your costume
for the next act.

You just need to sit
in the judgment seat.

You actually hardly need
to move for the entire act.

Just fall down, which you've
shown you can already do.

About earlier on, I, um...

you know, when you fell
on the stairs, I...

must admit, I never
properly apologized to you.

So, I'm sorry.
I, uh...

Sometimes I forget that

you and I, we've known
each other for so long that...

my communication
isn't at its best at times.

And I push myself
just as hard

as I push everyone else.

But what I did
was inexcusable.

You know, you could
have been hurt.

You were hurt, um,
but I just hope

you forgive
my lapse in judgment.

Lapse in judgement?
Will, that was an attack.

Oh, don't be
so dramatic, Sterling.

So you're saying it's nothing
to do with Gabby and me?

Oh, let's just say--

No, there is no "let's"
in this conversation.

No, there is.
There's three of us,

which makes it plural.

And we're both
hiding a secret.

Not so secret anymore,
is it?

Look, just tell me
what you're going to do

about us being
in this play, huh?

You at least
tell me the truth.

I could say the same
for you, couldn't I?

I thought Gabby was going
to talk to you about us.

- She did.
- And?

And what?

Oh, you want me
to apologize like you have?

I don't know.
Did mine help?

Fair point.

The truth is,
I know I shouldn't have pursued
her behind your back.

We've been mates
for far too long.

And believe me,
it's eating me up inside.

But it's always been you
and Gabby from the start.

Always an item,
always together.

And me?
Always the wingman.

Stand to the side, watching.

Just watching.

And then it happened.

I mean, you know
better than anybody

how she can get
inside your head.

Yes, I do.
Intoxicating.

So what
are you gonna do, hmm?

Gabby's convinced
that you're gonna kick us
out of this play.

Let's, um...
Well, let's reserve

that judgment till we rehearse
the next scene, shall we?

I don't know how we can work
together after--

Sterling,
Sterling, Sterling.

Friendship is stronger
than any romance, okay?

I've apologized,
and you've come clean.

So, as every director says,
"The show must go on."

Will?

Yes?

You're taking this far better
than I thought you would.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Maybe it's because I know
what's going to happen next.

See you
at the altar of judgment.

Remove your mask,
so that your eyes may be open.

Sir William,
in this temple of Osiris,

you have been weighed in
the balance and found guilty.

With your own confession,
which I duly recorded,

you recounted
bearing a knife

that has been identified
as the weapon

in this heinous crime.

A body has been discovered
with knife wounds identical

to what you described

and mutilated
by numerous gunshots.

The diceased
is currently being identified

from his clothes

and the personal artifacts
found upon him,

including a letter...

written, as you have admitted,
by your own hand.

Sir William, you will be
tried for this murder.

Your gallows
will be built high.

And you will swing
until dead.

Three corrupt judges
is all I see.

Guilty of sins far worse
than whatever judgment

you pretend
to pronounce on me.

It matters
not the age we live in.

Betrayal is betrayal.

No matter the costumes
or the clothes

we find ourselves adorned in,

falseness still exudes,
and we stink of duplicity.

Will, what part of the play
are you working from?

This is new.

This play was to be
about the twists and turns

of us living together
in the shadows.

Set in the past
but a mirror to the present.

A murder mystery
magnified by secretive walls

of these ancient buildings

where oaths
were made and broken

with adulterous interludes.

And our sins compounded
over and over with filthy lies.

We've lived out scenes
from our own lives

and rehearsed them
as if they are fresh

and new in our play.

All the while,
our deceptive scribe

has attempted
to keep up in chronicle

our wicked deeds.

Okay, seriously, Will?
You aren't making any sense.

Not even close, Will.

This is just
a complete waste of time.

- Is it?
- Yes.

Because I thought you want
to create a moving puzzle.

Where the audience
and the actors are kept on edge,

not knowing
what's going to happen next.

Well, you've achieved that.

But that was only part
of what we set out

to write together,

in an Agatha Christie
type mystery.

A film noir
set in a different time period.

And what makes you think
that this play is not that?

Because you're off again

on some kind of
weird tangent. And I'm tired.

I'm... I'm so,
so tired of rewriting

this rubbish that I...

I'm so tired that I went
ahead and wrote a new script.

My script.
As crazy as it seems.

I like my version
far better than anything

we've come up with.

So go ahead, go ahead
and keep writing

your sad little
revenge drama.

I have no idea
where you're heading with this,

but... I've had enough.

Sit down,
you lowlife Grub Street hack.

I'm the one who gave you
this opportunity of a lifetime.

The only reason
you're here is because of me.

And all you've done
is proven yourself

as inconstant as the wind.

Will, can you not just work
with what Warrick's written?

Can't you tell, Gabby?
He's back to improv.

Okay.
I'll play along.

Me thinks, sir,
you've lost your damn mind.

So says the low-brow
Scottish thief.

Beware, my lord,
of jealousy.

Oh, false face must hide

what the false heart doth know.

Still playing
the innocent flower, my dear?

Please be
the serpent under it.

Come out, devil,
reveal thyself.

You gone mad?

Double, double,
toil and trouble.

- Yeah, he's gone mad.
- Game's over, Will.

How clever
are you feeling now?

I know thee now.

- I am not what I am.
- This version I like.

Blood.
We'll have blood.

What's done
cannot be undone.

Our play's finished!
It's my version that will open.

Et tu, Brute?

Oh, yes. Hmm.
Yes, the show willgo on.

Even without the great
and mighty Will.

Oh, but thank you.
Thank you.

You were so kind to pay
in advance for the theatre,

the costumes, the sets.

- Your version?
- Yes, it was always

going to be my version.

We need to take a break.
I mean it, War.

Well, now that you're emerging
from my shadow,

why didn't you let Gabby in
on your plans?

Oh.
Oh, but she knows them.

Yes, you see, it's um...

it's just a variation
on your motto.

"Expect the unexpected."

I didn't see that coming.

Night, night, sweet prince.

What the hell
have you done?

Something I've been meaning
to do for a long time!

Now, our brows bound
with victorious wreaths,

our bruised arms
hung for monuments.

Stern alarums
changed to merry meetings.

Dreadful marches
to delightful measures.

Warrick,
this has gone far enough.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
How do you know this isn't

a new part of the play
Will and I wrote?

Come on.

You secretly wanted him
out of the way, didn't you?

No, I never wanted this.

You should be
thanking me.

Not what you expected, Gabby?
Hm?

This diamond
has real bullets,

and I'll use it,
even on you, my darling.

Really, War?
On me?

What does he mean,
not what you expected?

Damn you all.

Oh. Oh, no, but...
I will. Will...

something...
something went terribly wrong.

An accident in rehearsal.

But I promise you,
on opening night,

we'll have a moving moment
in memory of you.

This is not
what I planned.

You planned this, Gabby?

You're pure poison.

I'm sorry, War!

Ooh.
No fake blood this time.

You're a right evil bastard.
- Oh, I love the accent.

Oh, my God,
you're such a professional.

And you always
sucked at them.

You did all this just to have
the play to yourself.

Yes, yes. But only
with my name on it.

Oh, and don't forget Gabby.
She's with me, Sterling.

Me.

See? It's always
the tortured writers

you need to worry
about the most.

- Listen, listen.
- Sorry?

Any last words, Sterling?

Beware the quiet ones.

Not what I planned,
but might work out better.

Well, if the three of you
are going to kill each other

over little old me,

it'll make a sensational
backstory for my new play.

Fate always
catches up, Gabby.

Yeah.
Fate is what you make of it.

What are you doing?

Well, someone
has to explain Warick's death--

He's still breathing.
He's not dead.

He will be soon enough.

Here's the thing.
I'm not going to kill him.

You are.

Be sure to tell the police
you confess to that.

- Forgive me.
- I already have.

Not so sure about Warwick.

All the world is a stage, darling.

And we all have our exits.

Will?

Will, get back here!

Will!

Will, get back here!

You can't escape, Will.

You can't escape me, lover.

How the mighty
have fallen.

No matter
the age we live in,

betrayal is betrayal.

Men's minds are wild.

Fate always catches up.

Sounds like
it's going to be a hit!

I don't know.

I'm still not sure
about that ending.

- Ugh.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think
it needs another rewrite,

just to make it darker!

Darker than this?
My character is already

the ultimate
conniving psychopath,

- thanks to you.
- Oh, yeah, yeah.

And you.

Which, as we know, no other
woman could be like that.

Plus, I don't think
I can handle any more

of your realistic rehearsals.

One of us, if not all of us,
could get killed.

- Drink? Drink?
- All right, come on. Let's go.

Yes.

- Go, go, go.
- Good job.

Thank you.

See you at the Cheshire cheese?

Wait for me!
Once more into the breach!

Art.

Mirrors to our petty lives.

Broken, shattered,
mended stories

made up of concocted
and rehearsed lies

written by errant knaves
to make sense of the absurd.

All sound and fury,

never knowing
what is real.

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why
I'm sticking around ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why you
always bring me down ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why you look
at me that way ♪

♪ Who knows I don't ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ Why you wastin'
all my time ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ If you're ever really mine ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ When will I
ever get away ♪

♪ Who knows ♪

♪ I don't ♪

♪ Your eyes
they haunt me ♪

♪ Mirrors to your soul ♪

♪ Your lips entice me ♪

♪ I'm losing
all control ♪

♪ I can't escape you ♪

♪ You're no good ♪

♪ I know
why you say ♪

♪ The things you say ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ I know ♪