Birdshot

Take a deep breath.

Adjust with every breath.

Choose your target.

And stay on it.

Find an angle...

Slowly.

Steady yourself.

Breathe as it breathes.

Your last breath

as you pull the trigger will be its dying breath.

Now do it!

Maya! Do it now! Maya!

Maya, give me that!

Get up!

You're still tense.

It will take a while before you learn this.

Maya, do you know why...

I'm teaching this to you?

When I'm gone, who will take care of you?

Bala won't leave me. Right, Bala?

And... there's grandma.

That old woman? She probably won't even outlive Bala.

You need to learn how to take care of yourself.

But, unlike you, I don't plan on being a caretaker my whole life, father.

Did you ever hear the story of Ruel, a villager from town?

-The one who left his mute son alone? -Yes!

Ruel left his son because he had to pick up supplies from a nearby town,

and when he came back,

the boy was gone.

Vanished!

No one could find him, they searched and found nothing.

Father, you've told me that story so many times now.

Both you and grandmother. That's an old tale told by old people.

To this day no one knows what happened.

That's why you should never wander off.

Especially near the border.

It's dangerous.

Is it true that the boy was taken?

I mean, who knows? Maybe he just left on his own?

The point is, you need to learn to be by yourself.

To stand on your own and fend for yourself.

Hey, that looks good! You sure can make a meal out of leftovers.

I just finished what my father gave us. It's not like I could leave the house.

I can't leave the baby alone.

We are running a bit short. I might ask father for more.

Don’t ask from him. I'll handle it myself.

You want to come with me?

Come here.

I'm here now, it's okay...

What's keeping you awake?

I'm good.

You're looking proper.

Is that wrong? This is a police uniform.

-Aren't we heading to the station? -I just got a call earlier.

Finally, we may have information on the missing bus.

Good. Now we have something to go on.

Yes.

But for now, just let me do the talking Domi--

What's your name again? Domingo?

Yes, sir!

Just let me do the talking.

But stay alert.

I'll handle this.

Yes, sir!

Police! Run!

Hurry, run!

Move!

Hey! Not so fast! Where's Benny?

-Where's Benny? -Sir!

Sir, I didn't do anything wrong!

I said where's Benny?

I'm Benny.

It must be my lucky day.

-You know something about the missing bus? -Sir?

My boss already paid you guys for three months now.

We don't owe you anything, we've settled with you.

We gave it to your friend last week.

You'll always be in debt because your work here is illegal.

Sir, sir!

Benny...

Now listen.

There is a bus that left from San Jose on Monday at 10 p.m.

It was headed to Manila, which takes two hours at most.

So it had to be at the station by morning.

No bus came, no driver came,

not a single passenger arrived.

I heard the bus changed routes and passed your place of "business".

Now, you didn't happen to hear or see anything?

This isn't my business, I just work here...

That's not what I'm asking!

So, you don't know anything?

If I were to hide...

a bus...

Why the hell would I hide a bus?

Maybe it isn't registered, or perhaps a crime happened inside.

Or maybe some drunk asshole drove the bus straight off a cliff.

But for whatever reason, something doesn't seem right.

Surely someone has to answer for this.

Am I right? And if I wanted something hidden,

I'd ask help from someone who knows dirty work.

That is why I am asking you.

Do you know anyone who does this kind of work?

Maybe a friend, or your boss perhaps?

I don't know, I'm just a worker--

You already said that!

Come on, Benny...

We're going in circles. Do you think I'm a fool?

You really don't know anything?

No, sir...

-You don't know anyone? -No, sir. I swear.

Okay. Thanks.

Hold him down.

Wait, what?

Sir!

I beg you!

Please don't!

That's not what my friend said! Are you calling him a liar!?

-You're the liar! -No sir, please don't!

-Maybe he's telling the truth! -Do your job!

-Tell me... -Sir, I don't know anything!

-Are you a liar? -Sir...

-Benny! -No! Stop!

One. Two...

Where is the bus?

Shit...

Why was I partnered up with a lunatic captain?

Not just a high-ranking officer, but a lunatic?

What am I going to do? Can I even report him?

I can't go against a captain.

What will I do?

I'm a policeman.

I'm a policeman.

I can't hurt a fellow citizen.

I should uphold the law in my country. I'm a policeman!

That's right.

I have my principles, I should wear my uniform.

I do my duties responsibly.

Did we do our duty?

Did we get the information we need?

Do we have a problem with that? No? Then no.

Sir...

The engine was left running.

And it looks like they ran out of gas.

Someone might hear us.

Just stay here. I can handle myself.

Stay put.

I'll come back.

I saw this near the trees.

Is there a wallet or an ID in the pocket?

Nothing.

I haven't heard of any rebels...

or any terrorists in the area...

This town is too quiet.

There is no plate number, no ID,

no footprints, no witnesses.

Where do we start when all we have is nothing?

Everything starts from nothing.

Sir!

Bala!

Bala!

Where did you find this?

Just beyond the border...

Didn't I tell you not to go near that place?

I just happened to pass by...

-I heard something, and-- -Pass by?

How many times have I told you?

Never go beyond the border!

Never go inside!

You told me that I should learn to survive on my own.

Do you even realize what you've done? Do you!? Do you know

what situation you've put us in?

No! Because you know nothing!

Nothing!

How did you shoot the eagle? Did you remember what I taught you?

I breathed just as it breathed...

Steady until its last breath.

Breaking news:

The missing bus headed to Manila has finally been found.

Since its disappearance

no testimonies have been made regarding the bus's whereabouts...

Father, what does Manila look like?

Too crowded.

It's a filthy place. You wouldn't like it there.

Then why does everybody want to go there?

Family members of the unionists have lost hope for their return.

The police themselves have yet to act.

It's everyone's own investigation for the meantime...

Maya...

Don't say a word about what you did.

And the gun... Hide it.

I'll go and feed Bala.

Bury all the leftovers.

Sorry I left you earlier.

I know you're just looking after me, but I can handle myself.

You should've seen how I shot that eagle.

Grandmother?

I came to say goodbye.

I'll be leaving in the morning.

Now look at this...

Do you even comb your hair, Maya?