"THE YEAR 1786 DURING REIGN OF KING RAMA 1." "THE DECIMATED" "ARMIES OF MIENWUN AND MIENMEWUN ARE CROSSING THE KING RIVER NEAR" "THE THREE PAGODAS PASS." "Hurry up, you Yodia slave." "Get me across the river, quickly." "Maye." "Quickly now." "YODIA SLAVES VILLAGE IN BURMA." "A FEW MONTHS EARLIER." "Now here this, all captives of Yodia." "King Padung is planning an attack on Bangkok." "All able-bodied men are to go to the front line." "Useless old men can stay." "Anyone who disobeys this Royal Command will be killed along with his family." "All elephants, horses, oxen, buffaloes, and carts are hereby commandeered as well." "This strand of silver beads was from a monk in Yodia." "My father was given it during the reign of King Boromakod." "Keep it to protect yourself." "Where's Klom?" "He was shot and fell into the river." "His elephant ran into the jungle." "Klom!" "Klom!" "Klom!" "Klom!" "Klom!" "Klom!" "Maye." "Maye." "Where's Klom, Maye?" "Where is he?" "Let's go." "We must find Klom." "A woman." "Wood nymph." "No woman would dare walk along King River." "You fool." "You can't see a wood nymph in daytime." "It's a woman." "Hey, what's up?" "A woman, coming with an elephant." "It's mine." "It's a war elephant." "It's mine." "So the woman is ours." "She's mine too." "You catch the elephant." "I'll get the woman." "Maye!" "Help!" "No!" "Let go of me!" "Mine!" "You stabbed me!" "BANGKOK 100 YEARS LATER." "Get out of my way." "Where have you been?" "Be careful." "I spent hours on those." "Here, keep this." "For the food and liquor I had." "Fucking white!" "Split up and search for him you idiots." "You ain't gonna find him behind me!" "Hey!" "There he is." "Quick!" "Get him!" "Look, Chink's got the white!" "Mind your own business." "Step back!" "Drag him away!" "Get a move on!" "Quick." "Get him up here!" "Only a few left sir." "Watch him!" "Make sure he doesn't get away." "Hey!" "Let's go." "The life of a monk is hard." "But if you can't be devoted, then take the dharma and all you have learned," "And let them guide you forever." "It must be my fate, my karma." "I took so many lives before." "Sin, fate." "Always keep a strong mind." "Focus your mind." "I'll pray for a long life for you." "Where did you get those prayer beads, young man?" "They look very old, Silver?" "Silver sir." "It was left with this elephant hook." "In King River, since who knows when." "There are sacred words inscribed on every bead." "I found it whilst meditating on the banks." "So, you were a monk." "Meditation and all, that's serious stuff." "Why did you leave the robe then?" "For a woman?" "You want to sell it?" "What, sir?" "The beads." "I don't care for the hook, just the beads." "Who's Yong sending to pick us up?" "Will he come himself?" "What about that Westerner?" "Leave him in the cart." "We're already here." "He can't go nowhere." "I'm leaving." "Good luck." "Good luck sir." "Quick!" "Catch him." "That white sod is stealing the rice wine." "Hey, that liquor is for sale." "Give it back to me." "Shit!" "Go!" "That's enough." "Stop!" "Hia Yong." "They're my men." "Chao Sua sent them here." "What is Paad?" "What's he done that you want to kill him?" "He stole our rice wine just like that." "Then he assaulted us." "Look at him." "Here." "For the wine." "Take it." "Where did he come from?" "They say he was in the British Army in Mandalay." "That bastard sold broken rifles to Chao Sua." "Now he must hunt a tiger with those rifles to repay his debt." "Where's that woman come from?" "Her name is Julia, Doctor John's daughter." "The missionary who died at Klang Dong Village." "She was coming to pick up supplies so we came together." "She's half Karenni." "So this Dr. John slept with hilltribe, did he?" "Yeah, his wife died." "So he got a Karenni..." "Finally, they both died of malaria." "Now the missionary is run by a tribesman named Jonae." "They reckon he's being Julia." "But I don't believe it." "OK, let's get going!" "Time to go now, Captain." "And don't forget your rifles." "If you want to go home soon, Captain," "When we find a big tiger," "We'll give it to you to kill." "But if you can't get rid of it with your rifles," "Just rap its head with your knuckles several times." "It will eventually die." "Such big white knuckles should frighten it to death." "Gliding downstream by raft on the way here was easier." "Hey!" "A dear!" "I'll get it." "Let me." "Forget it." "We can't carry anymore." "There're lots more in here." "Hey!" "Tiger!" "What now!" "Quick, catch it." "Go!" "Here." "This was my shot." "It was mine." "It's mine." "There's yours, in that tree." "It's mine." "I saw it." "This is good for a photo." "It's our first tiger in this jungle." "There'll be plenty more!" "Cut the big talk!" "Skin it quickly." "The ticks were eating it alive." "We'll camp here tonight." "If we start early tomorrow," "We'll get to the village by noon." "Why didn't we go now?" "It'll take only half a night." "Hey!" "This jungle's different from others." "Avoid it at night if we can." "Drink, white man?" "He's got no chance!" "The jungle will eat him up." "What's with that woman?" "Is she more Westerner or hilltribe?" "Forger it Erb." "She's trouble." "Damn, look at those tusks!" "Hey, it comes from Julia." "Mee, watch the stuff!" "It was from over there." "There were shots and a tiger roar." "It could be someone from our village." "Go!" "There!" "Who are you?" "Where do you come from?" "Just passing by." "Heard the elephant, the tiger and gunshots," "So I came to find out." "Where's the tiger?" "It's gone." "This guy is dead." "Others are wounded and ran away." "Wait!" "I don't trust him." "Haven't you heard about the demon tiger?" "What?" "There's a demon tiger around here?" "I don't know." "But I heard a tiger." "Now I only see him." "I don't like it." "Light a match for me." "Tumeng." "It's Tumeng, the village elder's son." "From the tooth marks, it's a very big tiger, Mam." "We must take him back to the village with us." "This corps?" "Are you sure, Mam?" "This is Tumeng, the only son of Ongseng." "If we leave him, the tiger will finish him by nightfall." "What if the tiger follows his scant and gets us too?" "You weren't scared when you shot one today." "Make a stretcher, quick." "We're taking Tumeng with us." "Wan, did you see the elephant?" "I did." "Do you know where it comes from?" "It shouldn't really exist." "What tiger and elephant can live so long?" "Tell me the story." "Demon tiger." "Whatever it is." "I see it, I'll shoot it." "Demon tiger for sure!" "Where's my son?" "Over there." "Tumeng!" "Why so young!" "Ongseng." "A strange elephant dressed for war." "It ran through this place." "When we backtracked to where it was, we found Tumeng." "Do you know where it came from?" "Legend has it that a war elephant." "And a demon tiger roam the jungle along King River." "To us, it sounds like a fable." "No one's ever seen them." "No one really believes they exist." "But why have they left King River and come here?" "The tracks are still fresh where Tumeng was killed." "Want to follow them, Ongseng?" "If it is this tiger," "I won't." "Then I'll do it." "We'll set out early tomorrow morning." "Whoever's afraid, go back to the village." "Are you coming with us?" "Come on, you Captain." "Time to shoot a tiger." "It went this way, Mam." "Lead the way, Wan." "Its tracks join the elephant's." "They walk together." "They're leading us to King River." "Doesn't look like a fable to me now." "King River is haunted." "They're luring us there." "Don't go, Mam." "King River is evil." "We'll never come back." "Nonsense!" "Lead the way, Wan." "We should find them before dark." "King River's not far." "It will take our lives, Mam." "Hey!" "Don't go!" "Come back!" "Damn!" "So you're a strong man, Captain." "Who said he's a drunkard?" "What was it, Wan?" "The jungle of King River was an ancient war route." "They fought for hundreds of years here." "Thousands died." "Some say they still roam." "Some say they possess animals." "From time to time, they march to fight again." "Hey, what the hell are you saying?" "It's what they say." "If you believe only what is true, there's nothing to be afraid of." "What you see and hear, may not actually be real." "Damn!" "What bullshit is he talking?" "Go!" "Damn!" "What now, Mam?" "Leave them here for now." "We'll pick them up on the way back." "Go, Wan." "This is King River." "It runs from Naresuan Savanna through the three Pagodas Pass into Burma." "What's that sound?" "A kind of fish." "They live only in King River." "They cry like babies." "Some say they're dead, warriors reborn." "Look, it's over there." "The real jungle of King River is on the other side." "What the hell?" "And this isn't real?" "Hey!" "Elephant!" "Elephant!" "Quick!" "Go!" "Follow it!" "Don't shoot!" "Don't shoot!" "It won't stop if we don't shoot." "We must wound it." "Don't shoot." "Oh, Mam!" "Don't!" "Hey Kird!" "Help!" "Careful of Kird!" "Shoot it!" "You white, Dick head!" "Don't shoot the elephant." "Don't!" "Damn!" "Didn't you hear?" "Mam doesn't want to shoot it." "Where the hell have you been?" "I went after the tiger." "Where?" "The tiger was here!" "Put that away." "I said no shooting." "Why didn't you follow?" "If we didn't, how will we catch it?" "Catch an elephant with a rope?" "You're dreaming." "I don't care what you say." "But if we're to go on after elephant, everyone must do what I say." "Kird!" "Come quick." "How is he?" "Serious, Mam." "Look at his wounds." "He won't make it here." "What now?" "That tiger's tracks are huge." "It won't be hard to follow." "It might hurt." "Be careful." "When you reach the village," "Go find Jonae to take care of him." "We stay here tonight." "We'll follow them again tomorrow." "If we can't find them, we'll head back." "Thom, let's go to find some firewood." "Why did give up hunting to become a monk?" "I killed a lot, sinned a lot." "All hunters have killed and sinned." "But no one has ever shot tigers like the one I have." "How?" "I don't know if the gunpowder was too old or what." "A huge bullet couldn't stop it." "I followed the wounded tiger for weeks." "Finally I found it dead in a cave, with three cubs, starved to death." "So, that's why you quit hunting." "I vowed not to kill tigers again." "Then why did you leave the monkhood?" "It was probably that tiger." "It kept bothering me." "It wouldn't let go." "So I left the monkhood to repay my debt." "We must all pay for our sins." "In this world or next world." "You really believe that?" "And how long will you go on paying for sins?" "Pay your debts in every reincarnation?" "Think about it." "At first, he was with the dead tribesman." "Then when the tiger got Kird, he disappeared." "And when the tiger disappeared, he turned up." "But he lit the match." "Who's ever said a demon tiger can't light a match?" "This isn't good, Wan." "Why is it dark so quick?" "Stay calm, Mam." "What we see may not be real." "See what?" "Hey, what's this?" "Is it human or ghost?" "Damn Gods!" "Damn Gods!" "Let's go!" "Go, Wan!" "Damned God!" "Why do they keep following?" "Why are there so many of them?" "You've had it!" "Don't shoot!" "Hurry up." "Wait!" "Mam, this way." "Hurry up, Thom." "Where's Wan?" "Don't know." "I didn't see him." "The hunting party is back." "They're back!" "Your men were killed in the jungle." "I'll show you the way to their bodies." "What about the demon tiger?" "I shot right through its shoulder but couldn't stop it." "Your bullets can't do anything to it." "Even if you kill it," "The spirit will possess another tiger." "And come back to kill." "More than it killed before." "Only dead Jopu's magic bullets can stop it." "Those bullets will send it to rebirth." "How's Kird, Jonae?" "Still alive but I'm not sure he'll survive." "The wounds are too deep." "Even if he survives, it will be a long time before he's strong enough to hunt again." "Kird!" "Kird!" "I'll leave him to you." "When he's strong enough, we'll send him back to Bangkok." "Let's go, Captain." "I've prepared a place for you to sleep." "Here's where you're going to stay, Captain." "The jungle has its life." "We can hunt in it, but it can hunt us too." "This is the house of God." "I don't belong to God." "I'm Karenni." "And my father built this house, not God." "You sure she's a half Karenni?" "Julia?" "Sure." "The Doc fucked a Karen girl after his wife death." "And she had Julia." "You fancy her?" "No!" "Are you sure you're not mistaken?" "No way." "I swear on my own life." "I can still see it now." "Lots of big tusks." "Bull and dear horns." "Also heaps of ancient weapons." "Some trunks were as old and yellowish as if they were fired." "If you don't believe, ask the white man and Mam." "What for?" "Don't ever let them know we're going after it." "I can take you tomorrow." "Thought I can't remember the way exactly." "I'm sure I can find it." "Have you told Erb yet?" "I told yo first." "Hey, Erb." "We're going to be rich." "We won't have to cow tow to Chao Sua anymore." "Maye." "Maye." "So those blood stains are yours." "Where did you come from, sweet face?" "How did you get the wound?" "Let me look at it." "Don't be afraid, I won't do anything to you." "Oh, you're got high fever." "Let me look." "How come there's only blood but no wound, or is it inside?" "Hey, this is a bullet wound." "Who shot you, sweet face?" "Why are your eyes so ferocious?" "Well, I'll take the bullet out." "There're lots of medicinal herbs around here." "This wound is not serious, you'll live." "Now stop that look, will you?" "Go home!" "Go home!" "I'm not a horse." "Get off." "It'll hurt a bit." "You really need to see a doctor." "I'll take you to the missionary doctor." "No!" "All right." "Don't get so uptight." "If you just get rid of this ferocious look." "I reckon there's no one around here parts as beautiful as you." "It's a shame you roam the jungle alone." "Hungry?" "I'll find something for you to eat." "Damn, she could have told me she was leaving." "Maye." "Holy mother!" "Here you are." "I thought the tiger got you!" "Seemed like it was following you." "Careful, I can sense its presence." "High fever, right?" "You should rest." "Why roam the jungle like an animal?" "Tell me truly." "Those tusks and horns, are they yours?" "Hey, don't come any closer!" "Stay back!" "Klom." "Damn!" "I thought the fever was gone." "How come she passed out?" "Some modern remedy is what you need now." "Hey, I don't know who you belong to, but big guy, I need your help right now." "Hey, why you so damn heavy for such a tiny thing?" "Can you remember where it is?" "Don't make me waste my time." "We'll find out after we've crossed the River." "Hey, he's riding that war elephant!" "Where's Mam and the Captain?" "This woman needs treatment." "What is he, a human or a demon?" "Hey, stop that crap." "May be he's the tiger?" "He's running!" "I knew it!" "He's with the demon spirit for sure." "What now?" "Shoot the bastard!" "He's the demon tiger for sure." "Hurry up, oldie!" "Shoot him!" "Fire!" "Come on!" "Help me!" "Help me!" "Hey quick!" "It's taking Thom into the woods." "Go after it, quickly." "Come on, hurry up!" "You bastard!" "This way!" "Hey, this way." "Damn!" "Where the fuck was it really going?" "Here's a demon tiger for you to look at!" "And then we'll kill it." "He was riding that war elephant, then suddenly the demon tiger jumped from its back to attack us." "It took Thom." "He's probably a corps by now." "Tiger shit more likely." "Is this true, hunter?" "I don't know." "I can't explain either." "But I'm not one of them." "He's one of them alright." "When the tiger goes, he appears." "When the tiger appears, he's gone." "And this time he was on that elephant with the demon tiger." "If he's not the demon, he must be one of them." "Kill him, or more will die." "No, you can't kill him, not so long as he's clearly human." "I'll report anyone who harms him." "He'll transform into a tiger and kill again." "Or he'll get his mates to kill us." "If you don't believe, try killing it." "His corps will be a tiger's for sure." "Try it." "Don't you dare!" "Mam!" "Lock him up." "Lock him up for now." "If he's the demon tiger or of its kind." "We'll soon know." "That's fine." "Lock him up if you want." "But he's to be locked up in the missionary." "I don't see any tigers around here yet." "Anyone who wants trouble can face me first." "Here." "That's enough." "Here are the magic bullets." "It belonged to the late Jopu." "Where are you from?" "Where did you get those tusks and horns?" "They're mine." "I want to trade them for rice and salt." "We don't have much rice and salt." "You'd better trade them elsewhere." "May I stay the night?" "Over there." "That house next to the bridge." "The owner died." "No one lives there." "A woman's here to trade old tusks and horns for food." "Don't know if they're from the same pile." "Where is she?" "There, Ongseng let her stay the night." "Do you want that stuff?" "I'll go talk to her for you." "Hey, don't!" "If they're from the same pile, she could be one of them like Wan." "Or she's the tiger herself!" "Good." "She's the tiger, all the better." "Tonight, we'll take care of her." "I've still got plenty of bullets." "But now, there's one thing I gotta do first." "Get up you bum!" "Get up!" "You've got to stay here for a few days." "The villagers are still scared." "Drink it!" "So you can remember where the ivory is." "Take us there, and you'll get a cut!" "Remember yet?" "Demon tiger!" "The demon!" "Kird, Hey!" "Missionary, missionary!" "Out of my way!" "The demon tiger!" "Quick, let's get after it." "Go!" "Wait!" "Old Jopu's magic bullets." "Let's go!" "Wan..." "Wan..." "Wan." "Look after him too." "He's under the demon tiger's spell." "It's taken him for a partner." "It can't be, Ongseng." "There's no demon tiger." "We found that hunter's body at the old plantation." "Believe it now?" "Wan is one of them." "It doesn't eat the bodies." "It just kills!" "It wants to kill!" "It has to eat sooner or later." "No tiger can live without eating." "How's Wan?" "He won't recover easily." "If legend is to be believe, the demon tiger was searching for its lover, and revenge." "Wan could have been its partner in a past life." "Reincarnation is nonsense." "If never happens." "Let's cut some bamboo." "We'll carry Kird back to the village." "Wait." "What now, Mam?" "That tree is good enough for a shooting stand." "A shooting stand for what?" "Do you think the tiger will come back for Kird here?" "It won't work." "Forget it." "It won't come this close for you to shoot it." "It's not like tigers you've shot before." "All tigers are the same." "I'll stay here alone if I have to." "Your choice!" "They're right!" "It won't be lured so easily." "Just leave some men to help me build the stand." "Where's Mam?" "She's on that tree." "You did me last life." "We must stay here until it's safe." "We may have to stay here the whole night." "Hey!" "Elephant attacking!" "Go!" "It's gonna to wreck Ongseng's house." "What's up, Ongseng?" "Hey!" "There it is!" "Follow it!" "Don't shoot it!" "Wan's rifle." "Powder and shot in here." "Take this with you." "Just this once." "I've searched for you for 100 years." "I've dreamed of the silver beads you went to war with." "I brought Maye to look for you." "I won't let you go again." "No more war to fight from now on." "Let me avenge the ones who harmed me." "We won't ever part again." "Sleep peacefully, my love." "Damn!" "Not even a trial." "Where did it go?" "It'll lead us around all night, the bastard!" "We'd better head back." "Force Mam to bring us there." "Then waste here when we're done." "Hey!" "There!" "It's our lucky day." "Let's go." "What's the hurry?" "You've gone far enough, don't you think?" "Hurry." "Catch that bitch." "She's mine!" "Where you gonna go, Mam?" "So this is where you are, Wan." "Get lost." "She's mine." "Fuck her then kill her." "Don't let her go and blab to the world." "Hey, this prick's just about dead." "What do we do with him?" "Leave him here." "He's harmless now!" "Get off me!" "Get off me!" "I've wanted to fuck you for a long time, you hilltribe whore." "It's like Thom said." "How the hell do we haul all this way?" "We're rich!" "Let Erb fix Mam first." "Then we'll figure a way to cart it all." "What if the demon tiger comes?" "If she comes." "Let me handle it." "Here." "The magic bullets." "In the rifle as well." "Get off me... get off me!" "Hey!" "You want some help?" "Me too!" "Me too!" "Get out!" "Get away!" "This bitch is mine!" "Get off me!" "Hey!" "Don't fight it, and you won't get hurt." "Hurry up!" "We've got lots to carry." "Get off me!" "Stay still bitch, stay still." "Hey, that's enough." "She's unconscious already." "Hey." "Leave me some of that, Erb!" "Want some after Erb is done, Yong?" "We'll let you go first." "Nah, I don't like slops!" "Hey, Erb!" "Slut whore!" "Where you going?" "Feisty bitch isn't she!" "Let go, let go!" "You bitch!" "Die, you slut!" "Erb!" "Wake up, Wan!" "Wake up!" "Wake up, Wan." "Fuck you!" "Wan!" "Don't do it!" "Don't sin again!" "I've suffered torment for 100 years because of him!" "Revenge won't bring you peace." "Keeping vengeance in your heart will only bring you eternal torment." "Believe me." "Forgive." "How many lifetimes will the killing go on?" "I'll make merit for you." "So we'll be together in the next life." "No more suffering for our sins." "Let it end for good now." "Believe me, please."