Terror Firma (2023)

[bunniefuu]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[PHONE RINGING]

LOUIS (ON PHONE):

It's the one I miss.

My little sis.

You almost finished packing?

LOLA (VOICEOVER): Come on,

let's see some plays, dude.

It's Friday.

LOUIS (ON PHONE): Oh, sh*t.

Yeah, it is.

LOLA (VOICEOVER):

Have you talked

to your roommate about it?

LOUIS (ON PHONE): No, yeah.

Yeah, Cage is cool.

He's a little weird.

So no...

LOLA (VOICEOVER): No what?

LOUIS (ON PHONE): Nothing.

Oh no, it's cool.

Actually, just try

to get here soon.

The sooner the better.

LOLA (VOICEOVER):

Sooner the better?

LOUIS (ON PHONE): Let me

just read this to you.

"Beginning at 6:00 PM, statewide

lockdown goes into effect."

Under penalty of law, no person

should exit their premises

unless their securing

food, medicine,

"and medical assistance."

Be careful out there.

People might start

getting weird.

LOLA (VOICEOVER): I got mace.

But if you don't see me in

30, well, I guess, move on.

[CHUCKLES]

So, so sorry, guys.

Couldn't find the key.

You know, I just, uh, I don't,

uh, get out much these days.

Just get everything delivered.

You know.

Oh, got it.

Here, come in.

[SIGHS]

I really missed you.

Well, I'd say welcome home,

but you haven't been here.

I have.

For Halloween that one year.

Don't remember anything.

LOUIS: Really?

Yeah.

Oh, that's right.

You were here the night that

I spiked the mescaline inside

of the fudge.

The pumpkin punch, yeah, yeah.

That was one hell of a party.

Yeah.

Yeah, anyway,

here's the front lawn.

It's pretty glorious.

And oh, over there is

a special pile of dirt

that we have reserved

for gardening back when

gardening was hip and cool.

So feel free to have

at and do your thing.

If you'd like.

Maybe I will.

OK.

Hello?

Hello.

Hello, welcome stranger.

Uh, yeah.

This is Cage, my roommate.

He's renting a room upstairs.

This is Lola.

She's my sister.

She's going to be staying

with us for a bit.

My real name is Jesse,

but as your brother said,

it's quite all right.

Just call me Cage.

Un, nice to meet you Cage.

That's your last name?

Just a nickname that stuck.

You know, you two don't

look anything alike.

Nope.

One of you adopted?

Yep.

Hm.

My guess is Louis,

because clearly,

who could give up such

a lovely angel as you?

[CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

LOUIS: I'm sorry

about the boxes.

I tried to clean it up

as much as possible.

It's great.

Thanks again.

(WHISPERING)

We're both adopted.

f*cking as*h*le.

I apologize if I

offended you in any way.

It was not my intention.

I for one have

found in my studies

that orphans who were

successfully adopted

are 21.6 stronger

in mind and spirit.

Studies?

What studies?

People.

Sometimes the homeless.

Which I guess includes you now.

MUFFLED VOICE: Under government

law, remain inside your house.

This is for your own safety.

Do not leave your properties

under any circumstance.

LOUIS: Oh my god!

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

What's up?

You're never going

to believe this sh*t.

MUFFLED VOICE: This is the LAPD.

Under government law,

remain inside your home.

CAGE: "If you need any

type of medical assistance"

or prescription

medication, please

call this number and a

trained government official

"will assist you shortly."

LOUIS: That's all it says?

What's actually happening?

No one knows.

Some say it's a bad gas leak.

Some say it's radiation.

Ah.

This guy thinks

the aliens landed

and the government's

trying to hide it.

Just to stay at ease.

I mean, it's, saying

right here that they'll

be announcing a plan for our

country by 8:00 AM tomorrow.

[CHATTER OVER SPEAKER]

When did they drop this off?

I don't know, I was sleeping.

And you?

No, I was up at 4:30 AM for my

daily meditation contemplation.

LOUIS: Of course you were.

CAGE: Never intended to

watch the announcement.

All right, let's just

hurry up and get this inside.

I want to cook breakfast.

I've got a hangover that

could k*ll Bukowski.

Says here they're going

to deliver another one

same time one week from today.

Wait, look here.

Looks like it's

been tampered with.

Oh my god.

It says meat.

It says meat.

Let's get this inside quickly.

On the count of three, lift.

One, two, three.

[GRUNTS]

One week.

This is like two...

No, no, no, no.

This is like a

month's worth of food.

What, are they trying

to fatten us up here?

We're eating like

the kings that we are.

Flanked by our most beautiful

queen in all the West.

The hell are these?

Huh.

It's a seed bag.

LOUIS: What does the packet say?

Doesn't say anything.

Blank pages only appear

blank to a blank mind.

[MOCKING GIBBERISH]

I mean, Cage, come on.

At this point, you're, like,

verbally masturbating, man.

Oh my god.

I say we get these

on the grill now, OK?

Hey.

What?

Hey, I said you want the steak?

It's got the

perfect medium rare.

Just say, yes, chef.

No.

No, I don't want that.

You OK, Lola?

[DISTANT SIRENS]

Looks like an animal dug it up.

Maybe they ate it.

I only buried it an inch deep.

This looks way deeper than that.

Yeah, it looks deep.

Like a snake hole.

Smells like berries.

It's wet.

I thought you said

you didn't water it.

I didn't.

I didn't do anything.

What do you feel?

Liquid.

LOLA: Oh, gross.

Smells like fresh

baked blackberry pie.

No.

You're completely wrong.

Oh my god, that

smells like roast.

Like some... something

garlic or something.

It smells like Mom's lamb chops.

You remember those?

Yeah, I never liked them.

[DISTANT SIREN]

Don't.

[MOANS]

Son of a b*tch, that

is f*cking exquisite.

It is delicious.

Looks like we have Lo

to thank for a miracle.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm not afraid.

Disgusted.

Something truly mystical

might be happening here,

and we need to explore it.

We could be at the

forefront here, Lola.

Could be.

He's got a point.

Seriously?

So you're just going to

drink sludge from the ground?

I mean, half the things that

we eat do come from the ground.

And it's about as

organic as it gets.

(QUIETLY) God dammit.

It's true.

They're your seeds.

You planted them.

Reap what you sow.

Nah.

Maybe that's the deeper

issue holding you back.

Never trusting what you make.

Fine.

Mint chocolate chip?

[CLINKS]

[LAUGHS]

Shall we have another?

I haven't even gotten

ready for the day, so.

[LAUGHS]

[WHIMPERS]

Cage, what do you

got in the oven, bud?

Just a few biscuits.

What's... what's the

temperature setting?

To confess, I've never

actually used an oven before.

You just set it on high.

That's the broil setting,

you f*cking dimwit.

[YELPS]

f*ck!

f*ck!

f*ck!

[COUGHS]

[WAVES CRASHING]

[LOUD HUMMING]

[BEEPING]

f*ck.

[COUGHS]

f*ck.

Cage!

Cage!

Cage!

f*ck!

What, man?

Did you not... are you not

f*cking seeing what's going on?

[SQUELCHES]

Why'd you do that?

[GASPS]

Oh no.

Look what I've done.

My apologies.

Why'd you do that?

Do what?

Bury the hole.

I buried it because

it was dangerous.

What are you doing out here?

You're right outside my window.

You woke me up.

Oh.

Sorry, I guess.

I forgive you.

It's not dangerous, you know.

I think it's you who's

scared, and you create

the danger inside your head.

You felt that fear

inside your stomach

when I startled you, though

nothing was actually endangering

your physical being.

I think this fear

is embedded deep.

A form of scarring from

your initial abandoned...

Abandonment in early

life and subsequent...

Enough with this

cult leader sh*t, dude.

Jesus.

You know I could help you.

Sure.

Everyone always can.

[HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD]

What?

I just can't stay anymore.

OK, this is really

f*cking weirding me out.

What did he do?

All right.

So what's your plan?

I don't know.

Guess I'm just going

to buy some couches.

Probably got an ex

or two I can call.

Lola, in passover last night,

anybody caught in the streets

isn't just going to get a fine.

They take them and they

lock them away indefinitely.

No representation,

no habeas corpus.

I won't get caught.

I won't.

LOUIS: And what am

I going to do alone?

And I know it's

selfish, but I just

thought you and me, would run

through this sh*t together.

Well let's be real, dude.

We haven't seen each

other for over a year.

I've been a sh*t brother.

But the bonds of blood extend

past time and fate and space.

We're not actually blood, Lou.

Yeah.

You're right.

LOLA: So do you really trust him

after this whole juice thing?

LOUIS: I mean, I've seen

him do some weird things.

Lou?

Are these from the deli...

Yeah, I stole it

after I got fired.

What the f*ck, dude?

I use it to test my blood, just

to make sure there's

no effects that

happen at the end of each week.

Is this the juice?

[WATER FLOWING]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

LOUIS: Oh, dammit!

Guys?

Guys?

[BEEPS]

I was just going downstairs.

Lola, you in there?

I dropped my phone.

I'm going downstairs.

I suggest you let me pass.

What is this?

This perv was spying on you.

I was doing no such thing.

I live here, too.

I should be free

to walk the halls.

Cage?

(ANGRILY) Cage?

[MUFFLED ARGUING]

LOUIS: f*cking pervert.

Call me a f*cking pervert.

You wash it off!

You think I chose this?

sh*t, sh*t, sh*t.

Stop.

Hey, hey, hey!

You m*therf*cker!

You gonna stop, huh?

Read, that f*cking monkey.

[COUGHS]

(WEAKLY) Water.

[GAGS]

Water.

Water!

[COUGHS]

[FAUCET RUNNING]

MAN (ON SPEAKER):

Stay where you are.

Police are on their way.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

[KNOCKS]

CAGE: Hey, it's Cage.

Do you think we could

speak for a minute?

I just want to let you know no

hard feelings over spilled milk.

The whole business in the

hallway between Louis and I

is just a complete

misunderstanding.

Between you and me,

I think he made it

all up to take

away from the fact

that he wasted all

the juice, but...

Thanks, I guess.

I just need you to know

that, because I don't want you

to live with any undue fear.

Oh.

Act of creation is underway.

It's your superpower,

you know that, right?

How goes the progress?

Not great.

You know, considering

all the interruptions.

Life is a series of

interruptions, Lola.

Remember, I can

help you with that.

Oh.

I love these.

Especially this one here.

How do you find these

ideas inside yourself?

Like, how do you

plan the details?

The intricacies of

contrast seem studied.

Did you study somewhere?

[KNOCKS]

LOUIS: [MUFFLED SPEECH]

who lives in this house.

I do not want to talk to anybody

who lives in this f*cking house.

LOLA: Whoever lives in

this room is a dickbag,

and I'm here to tell that

dickbag that I'm leaving.

If you leave, they're

going to lock you up

in a government facility.

Yes.

I must concur.

It's an egregious plan at best.

It's not a plan.

I'm leaving this f*cking house.

You know, for once, I

actually agree with this perv.

Sorry.

[DOOR SLAMS]

MAN (ON SPEAKER): Stay

inside your homes.

This is for your own safety.

This is the LAPD.

Under government law,

remain inside your homes.

This is for your own safety.

This is not...

under any circumstance.

Do not leave the property

under any circumstance.

[GASPS]

[MOANING]

You have been the

cause of so much sh*t.

[MOANS]

[TAPS]

[MOANING]

[KNOCKS]

Hey.

Let me make you breakfast

or lunch or something.

You know, to say sorry for

the way I acted last night.

Lou?

[KNOCKS]

Lou?

You in there?

Lou?

Lou?

Where the hell are you?

Lou?

[CLINKS]

You in here?

Lou?

Louis?

DIAL TONE MESSAGE:

Thank you for calling.

Your call is important to us.

Please stay on the line

for further information.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Any luck?

What do you think?

I, uh...

looked online at the

government database,

and he's on the list.

DIAL TONE MESSAGE:

Thank you for calling.

Your call is important to us.

f*ck this.

I just want you

to know that you're

more than welcome

to keep staying here

until Louis gets home safely.

Same arrangement.

Nothing will change,

just you and me.

I'm going to go pack.

MUFFLED VOICE: Please.

Do you hear that?

I don't hear anything.

MUFFLED VOICE: Anybody?

Louis?

MUFFLED VOICE: Anybody?

Lola?

Hello?

Lou?

LOUIS: Anybody hear me?

Lou, where are you?

LOUIS: I don't know.

It's dark.

Well, how the hell

did you get there?

LOUIS: I can't move!

Lou.

[GRUNTS]

What's going on?

Here?

Did that grow out of the hole?

That is the most beautiful

thing I've ever seen.

I'm ripping it out.

No, no, no, stop.

LOUIS: f*ck off, Cage.

Louis?

Where are you?

LOUIS: I don't know.

You f*cking creep.

You make up that list?

I did no such thing.

The list is real.

How does a list not sound

more plausible than what's

happening right now?

LOUIS: Get me out of here!

I said don't do that.

Seriously, Cage, f*ck off.

It's my plant.

It's ours.

No...

[YELPS]

[SOIL CRUMBLING]

LOUIS: I see something.

Holy sh*t, Lou.

That might be us.

Quick, find something

I can throw down there.

Cage, help me find something.

LOUIS: Looks like

a... like a star.

Like a ray of light?

How about this?

Lou, I just threw a cork.

Did it reach you?

Lou?

I'm going to get closer, just

make sure I don't fall, OK?

I would never.

Lou?

Lou?

[HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD]

MYSTERIOUS VOICE: Lola.

[GASPS]

How long was I there for?

About six hours.

What?

Why didn't you pull me out?

I did.

Earlier.

You seem so relaxed.

Lou?

Lou?

Lou?

Haven't heard from him

this whole time, either.

(SCARED) Stay away from me.

I don't want to

talk to you anymore.

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE BUZZES]

Lola girl.

I thought I'd never

hear from you again.

Hey.

I need your help.

Yeah, what's up?

LOLA: My roommate's

an actual psycho,

and I think he finally snapped.

Your brother's roommate?

Cage?

LOLA: You know that guy?

Yeah.

Lou brought that crazy

m*therf*cker to the store

like two months ago.

Where is Lou?

Why can't he help you out?

g*dd*mn, Teddy.

Don't rush to my

aid or anything.

Girl, they out

here locking people

up and tracing cell phones.

Don't you even throw

that sh*t at me.

Yeah, well, I can't find Lou.

That's why I need your help.

Popo?

No, he's just...

He's...

stuck in the ether.

OK.

Other way, it sounds like

you could use some help.

So I'll be over

as soon as I can.

Thanks.

Might be a little while, though.

Someone in my building

went nuts and Uncle Sam

plopped right on

down on top of us.

Just as quick as you can.

You got it.

LOLA: Teddy?

Yes?

You've been getting

the food packages, right?

Yeah.

It's been awesome.

You need some?

No, I...

You didn't get any

seed packet, did you?

Seed packets.

Uh, I don't think so.

Why?

You need seeds?

Forget I asked.

Thanks again.

[CRUNCHES]

Lola?

Are you out here?

I'm sorry for my actions.

They were inexcusable.

Lola?

LOUIS: Hey, as*h*le.

What did you do to my sister?

Hello, my endearing roommate.

You're back.

LOUIS: If you hurt

her, I swear...

You swear what?

You're stuck between dimensions,

and no one's getting you out.

That's right.

I've been doing a little

research of my own.

LOUIS: I'm not stuck.

This is destiny, Lou.

Lola and I were

meant to be together,

and we were going to end

up together regardless

of you trying to stop us.

That's why the juice intervened.

They set the universe straight.

LOUIS: f*ck off, Cage.

TEDDY: Lola?

I know you.

TEDDY: Where's Lola?

CAGE: I was just

wondering the same thing.

That's bullshit, dude.

She calls me here to come

and get her away from you,

because you're a

little f*ck nut and...

Tell me where she is.

Let me know if you find her.

TEDDY: Lola?

LOUIS: What was that?

You were talking to someone.

Nothing to concern

yourself with.

LOUIS: Hello?

Hello?

[SIRENS]

OK, m*therf*cker, you got five

seconds to tell me where she is

or soon you're going to

end up in the f*cking ICU,

your jaw wired shut begging

the nurse for painkillers.

Oh.

Frightening thought, indeed.

Five.

[SIREN WAILING]

Four.

LOUIS: Teddy, is that you?

The f*ck?

LOUIS: Teddy, did you find Lola?

Did you find Lola?

Louis?

LOUIS: Teddy, stay

the f*ck away from...

[SIREN WAILING]

Teddy, god dammit.

[YELPS]

[DISTANT SIREN]

LOUIS: f*ck you.

f*ck you.

f*ck you, Cage.

[MUFFLED SPEECH]

You m*therf*cker!

Teddy?

Teddy?

Teddy's no longer with us.

Just you and me, roomie.

LOUIS: You m*therf*cker, Cage.

Just like before

these strange times.

LOUIS: m*therf*cker!

[RADIO CHATTER]

[POUNDS]

Lola!

You came back.

She was right.

Is that blood on your face?

Well, it just so happens

to be, but it's my blood.

Lola, wait.

I can explain.

I was just setting

the mood for us.

[YELPS]

Lola.

You're acting crazy.

We can't escape our fate.

You need to let me leave.

There's nowhere else to go

and you don't need to go.

I promise.

I don't want to have

to get my shovel.

So please, if you

would, open the door.

[POUNDS]

Let me in.

[POUNDING]

[HEAVY BREATHING]

[GRUNTS]

Lou?

Lou?

Lou?

Holy sh*t, Lou.

Lola, is that you?

You have to get me out of here.

How?

How?

No.

No.

(ECHOING) sh*t.

Here.

Don't let go, OK?

LOUIS: Almost there!

Come on, let's get out of here.

Teddy?

LOUIS: My god, is he OK?

Cage k*lled him.

Oh my god.

I'm so sorry.

How the f*ck did Teddy get here?

Cage threw him down the hole?

What f*cking hole?

I thought you buried

the m*therf*cking hole.

Not that hole.

Lou, get in.

What the f*ck?

No f*cking way, Lola.

Hey, Lo.

Sure about this?

I am sure.

You get to first.

Go!

f*ck.

Hey Lo, I don't think I see a

light at the end of this tunnel.

LOLA: That's life.

Keep going!

What's the plan here?

I don't know.

Well, I came in a completely

different way, OK?

I didn't use my time.

It was an experiment.

No clue how to get

back down eh, Einstein?

Thought it was an elixir.

I didn't know this

sh*t wouldn't end.

[MUFFLED SPEECH]

Up, up, down, down.

[MUFFLED SPEECH] I'm

going to make you pure.

Oh my god.

I think I see

something up ahead.

Looks solid.

LOLA: What is it?

It's wood.

Can you break it?

[POUNDS]

Ow, son of a b*tch!

This thing's solid.

Well try harder.

[POUNDS]

Lola.

You give my life meaning.

I promise to never stray.

Love you.

[THUDS]

Teddy?

Teddy.

Ah, f*ck.

Hey, this thing was giving away,

but now it's like solid again.

Start digging.

Dig what?

Around it.

You said it was giving way.

Oh.

MAN (ON SPEAKER): If you see

anyone outside of their homes,

contact the local authorities.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Scraping.

Lola, what's going

on back there?

[GRUNTS]

[GASPS]

Lou!

Come on, hurry up.

[MUFFLED YELLING]

Yes, the f*ck you can!

Get out here!

Get out here.

What kind of a genius...

Love you, baby sis.

Yeah.

Let's just get out of here.

[YELPS]

Don't worry.

I'll tell your children all

about great, great Uncle Lou.

No!

[GLASS SHATTERS]

It's me, my love!

My god, I knew you'd be back

cause of our shared past.

I've been waiting so

long to taste you.

And I lied before.

Juice doesn't taste

like blackberry pie.

It tastes like you.

[YELLS]

CAGE: No need to play, Lola.

One more step and

I'll stick this in you.

I want you to.

Be part of our ritualistic

bonding ceremony.

I'm f*cking serious!

So am I.

[GRUNTS]

[MUFFLED YELLS]

Relax.

You're safe now.

[WAVES FLOWING]

Space and time outside

and beyond the tortures

of the flesh.

Renewed in spirit

of the infinite.

Follow me to the end, for

it is near and it is dark

and it is hard to navigate.

But follow me to the end.

And you will be godlike.

And fill the meaning.

You returned to me, my love.

Stop calling me that.

You should be dead.

The juice has all sorts

of magical properties

if you treat her right.

See, I keep the juice alive,

and she keeps me alive.

Cage, let me go.

Why, certainly, Lo.

I mean, let's first

complete the ceremony.

Let's continue.

[WHIMPERS]

f*ck you!

See, I...

I resist the temptation, unlike

you and your adopted brother.

Who went straight

for the passage.

It's this low hanging fruit.

You said the passages.

Personal gateways.

You'll see your own.

Can you tell me more

about the ceremony?

Intrigued?

Some of the juice

slipped in, and I, uh...

I'm starting to feel

more relaxed, you know.

Can I have some more?

Yeah, yeah.

Of course, I'll join you.

The more you drink, the

more your gag reflex

will be suppressed.

Gag reflex for what?

Oh.

We must recreate how we,

you know, create the plant.

Cage, I'm going to

need some more than that.

I need... this is not

part of the ceremony.

Come on, guys.

Why am I missing

out on all the fun?

What do you mean?

Let me help you.

OK.

You're, uh...

You're a righty, right?

Oh yeah.

[YELPS]

[SCREAMS]

No!

I did it.

Louis.

I'm sorry I couldn't save you.

[GRUNTING]

[MUFFLED YELLING]

I've been a shitty brother.

But the bonds of blood extend

past time and fate and space.

She's not coming back.

I'm trusting in

myself this time!

Hey, baby.

I'm back!

Come on, come on, come on.

You're still with me.

You're still with me.

(TEARFULLY) Come on, come

on, come on, come on.

There you go.

There you go.

Come on, come on, come on.

[COUGHS]

Hey.

It's me.

LOUIS: God damn.

(WEAKLY) It feels like

I've been hit by a train.

Ouch.

That's not helping.

Don't move, don't

move, don't move.

I'm going to go get us some

help Do you understand?

We live together,

we die together.

[SOIL RUMBLING]

Finally.

Oh.

No sh*t.

Don't move, OK?

Hey Lou?

I'm really glad we're family.

[MUSIC PLAYING]