(portafilter clinks)
(espresso pouring out)
The sender has not left any hints to identify him.
Also, it's difficult to recognise a 12-year-old handwriting.
Yet, Merlin believes it's Bibin who's been sending these letters.
How?
Sir...
(intriguing sting)
(papers rustling)
Sir, in 2014, I received the first letter via courier.
It was sent to the lab we had worked together at.
What you see here in black ink are Bibin's details,
which I am already aware of.
I received the second letter in 2017.
Like the other letters, this also had names and details of some people.
Apart from these letters, I have no news about Bibin for the last 10-12 years.
I have no idea why he is sending me these.
I would like to know. That's why I came to you.
Do you know anyone mentioned in these letters?
No, sir.
(sighs)
You are certainly being followed by the one who is sending you these
to ensure that the letters have reached you.
- Right? - Yes, sir.
Even so, there is a possibility that it might not be Bibin.
It can even be a common friend of yours.
Sir, Bibin didn't have any friends,
and we don't have any common friends either.
Why?
(chuckles softly)
I joined that lab two years after my wedding.
And your husband?
Sir, we're divorced. Been six years now.
Oh...
(sighs sharply)
Was Bibin already working there when you joined the lab?
Yes, sir...
He was the most skilled technician in our lab.
But he didn't socialise with anyone and only bothered about work. An introvert.
I also had reservations to open up to people.
My husband, Benson...
He used to be manipulative and imposed many restrictions on my work life.
Bibin's situation was also no different.
He also had someone who controlled him. His mother, Sarah Mama.
(indistinct conversations)
(gentle music)
(man) I knew she'd do this.
Now we have to bear the brunt!
There. The priest has arrived. You come with me.
(priest) Oh.
- Praise be to Jesus Christ, Father. - Now and forever.
Am I late, Jacob?
Doesn't matter even if you are. The event crashed.
Why? What happened, Jacob?
When the boy topped his class, we'd been to his house.
But his mother refused to hold the felicitation programme.
Then PTA's Sherin and I had to put our foot down to convince her,
but they were no-shows!
What a sheer waste of effort!
(crows cawing)
(soft instrumental music)
(Sarah chuckles)
Bibin...
You are smart and brainy.
That's why you ranked on top.
But, for that, no one else has to get you onto a podium
and celebrate your win as their own.
I don't think that's necessary.
- What do you think? - (Bibin tsks)
(calm gentle music continues)
Bibin, all our celebrations and joys should be privately relished.
(dart swooshes)
Since his high school, I had been insisting
to send him to a good English-medium school.
He is very clever. He topped the 10th grade,
and now he's secured the top rank in the 12th grade also.
Had he attempted the entrance exams, he'd have topped that too.
He'd reach great heights with his kind of genius.
But we need to pave the way for it.
Sarah, in our opinion,
let Bibin start preparing for the entrance exams this year.
He may choose then what to pursue, Medicine or Engineering.
We shall support him fully as per his interests.
Bibin is a genius and a God-fearing child.
That's why I tagged along when Jacob called.
Now it is your call, Sarah.
(dart clanks)
(Sarah sighs deeply)
Mr. Jacob, did I send him to school because you came here and asked me to?
No, right?
I sent him to school because I know what's good for him.
Isn't that right?
(dart arrow clanks)
We regularly attend the Sunday mass at church.
It's also not as per your specific advice, Father.
Am I right, Father?
(priest mumbles)
Sarah, what we are trying to suggest is--
I'll repeat if you didn't understand.
Bibin's likes and interests are not decided
by the church committee or the PTA,
but me! And I have already decided for him.
(footsteps departing)
(Merlin) Bibin always concurred with what Sarah Mama chose for him.
He let her decide on every single matter.
And that's why, even though he scored well and was a genius,
he still opted for a lab technician course and worked in a tiny lab.
(sighs)
Bibin is an introvert who spoke to very few people,
but you seem to know all of his stories,
and Bibin chose to send these letters to you only.
- (delightful music) - (cow mooing)
- (chickens clucking) - (cock crowing)
(soft delightful music continues)
- (motorbike approaching) - (horn honks)
All gaudy and decked up, eh? You look like a slut now!
What?
To stir up bloody shit lures... Why the fuck you need a bindi?
Take that off your forehead, damn it!
(Benson grunts)
Benson, son, long time no see! Were you away?
- I'm very much around. - How are you?
- Yes, going on. - (bike engine revs)
(smiles)
You haven't worn a bindi today?
You look more beautiful without one.
(both chuckle)
I mean you look beautiful wearing it.
You look lovely without it as well. (chuckles)
Sarah Mama never wears a bindi.
- You look just like her now. - Hmm?
You're beautiful!
(festive celebratory music)
(music continues)
(music softens, fades away)
- Is that your new phone? - Yes.
- It's got a good camera, right? - Yup, it's super.
- Jokuttan mentioned it. - Ah, okay.
- Shall we take a photo together? - Hmm.
(gentle music fades in)
(camera clicks)
(both breathing heavily)
(music intensifies)
It's difficult to describe our relationship to you.
But these letters... They have a hidden message.
He is trying to convey something.
We need to decipher that in order to reach him.
After Ancy's murder,
it suddenly crossed my mind to come and meet you.
- I've saved my number on your phone. - Okay, sir.
Send me these photos, Bibin's address and other details you have.
Okay.
Inform me if there is any further contact from Bibin.
Yes, sir.
If Bibin has anything to tell us, we shall keep an open mind about it.
- You take care. - Sir.
(indistinct conversation)
(dark music)
Sanjeev, take a seat.
I need information from you about someone.
About Bibin.
Your storyteller.
Sir, he narrated a story to me.
I killed Ancy, inspired by those ideas.
I have already admitted this crime to you.
Apart from meeting him at the bar,
have you seen Bibin anywhere else before?
(grunts) No.
Will you be able to identify Bibin if you see him again?
Of course, undoubtedly.
Is this Bibin?
No, he doesn't look like this. This is someone else.
(unsettling music swells)
(casual chitchat)
I just got a kilo of meat. It's just the two of us at home...
- Are you from the police? - I guess so.
Oops, sir, there is a shoot happening here.
I was just reconfirming. What's the matter, sir?
Do you know this address?
Yes, this is Bibin's. Sarah Mama's son.
It's right next door to me.
But no one stays there now.
- How do I get there? - It's right ahead, this way.
(door opens)
- (door closes) - I'm also going that way.
(loudly) Tell Thoma I'm on my way there with some beef.
- Fine, fine. I'll let him know. - Let's go.
(Joshy) Come with me, sir.
(owl hooting)
(jeep door shuts)
(insects chirping)
(Joshy aloud) Jacob! How's work progressing?
Please speed it up!
(eerie, intriguing music)
(Joshy) Scrub it up well.
Listen, sir...
Bibin called me three years after Sarah Mama died.
He wanted to sell this property.
He asked me to let him know if there is a good buyer.
He didn't have an asking price.
He agreed to an amount I threw in.
(door lock opens)
Now this property belongs to my wife, Jolly.
There were tenants till last week.
(foreboding music)
(whimpering shakily)
(cackles, hysteric screams echo)
(sinister voices continue)
(tools clatter)
Gosh, couldn't they clean up this mess?
Sir, I found Sarah Mama here, on this floor.
Soaked in blood, unconscious.
But she was breathing. I took her to the hospital.
- Which hospital was it? - Amala Matha.
(music swells and stops)
It was a strange request. I may have said the same thing even then.
Two sealed letters: one for the police, another for the judiciary.
That's the reason I still remember her.
Do you remember who the inspector was back then?
If I remember correctly... No, I'm sure. It was CI Nawas Hussain.
He's from Kottayam.
Advocate Rajan Varkey was our legal advisor back then.
(sighs softly)
- Thank you. - Welcome, sir.
(door squeaks open and shuts)
Eh?
- Aji sir! - Oh.
- Sir... - Anzari, why are you here?
I'm at the AR camp here.
Came to drop off a file.
I spotted you when I was about to leave.
I saw your photos on newspapers and TV.
The Ancy case. Congrats, sir.
Thanks.
What brings you here?
I need to collect some information from DYSP Nawas sir.
About a case he handled a while ago.
- Ah, he's inside. - All right, sir. See you.
- Okay, laters. - Bye then.
Hey, call me sometime. We should catch up.
- Sure. I'll ring you up. - Okay.
(motorbike rumbling)
ANCY SANJEEV CASE;
INVESTIGATIVE BRILLIANCE OF THE KERALA POLICE
Sir.
Aji Kurian? Please come.
Please have a seat.
I was going through the news of your investigation of the Ancy case.
There is a smart snap of yours too.
That's how I recognised you now.
Anyway, you did a great job.
Even though you had a lot of deviating leads,
you got hold of the right track that took you straight to the killer.
And you took him in without any gimmicks. Good job!
Thank you, sir.
So, what brings you here now?
What's the matter?
Sir.
Someone called Bibin
sent these three letters to a friend of his
over a span of a few years.
Okay.
The letter numbered "3" mentions Ancy and Sanjeev.
Their names and other details of the murdered actor and her husband.
Along with it are the details of two unidentified individuals.
Bibin sent this to a friend of his a week before the incident.
Ironically, Sanjeev's confession also had someone named Bibin.
A mysterious character.
But Sanjeev testified that the one who sent these letters
and his storyteller Bibin are not the same.
So, I was confused.
To clear the air, I set out to investigate Bibin who sent the letters.
That inquiry led me to another letter.
When you were posted at Mundakayam,
while on her deathbed at Amala Matha hospital,
Sarah Ouseph, a retired nurse,
had turned in a sealed letter to you.
The letter-writer Bibin happens to be her son.
Bibin Ouseph.
(suspenseful music)
Do you smoke?
(lighter clicks)
Sir, my search for Bibin came to a halt at Sarah's letter.
He was nowhere to be found after her death.
And later, there were the letters received by Merlin.
But there is a long gap between these two.
I might be able to bridge the gap if I know the content of Sarah's letter.
I understand your concern.
But I alone won't be able to help you with this.
And this is not an apt place to discuss or disclose such a matter.
Give me your number.
I'll ring you back in two days.
We shall fix a time and a place to discuss this.
- Is that okay? - Sir.
703-404-911.
(motorboat rumbling)
(gulps)
(glass thuds)
What do you think he is up to?
No idea.
Sir, Aji's inquiry has led him to Sarah's letter.
Aji knows nothing more of this game other than Bibin being Sarah's son.
Hmm.
We have two options now.
Either we block Aji's further investigations,
which Anil sir can easily do,
or we reveal the truth to Aji
and find Bibin through Aji.
Blocking Aji is a possibility,
but Bibin is still out there on the loose
with the secrets he harbours.
(groans low)
Oh, that's risky, Anil.
This problem is beyond us.
We need to find him at any cost.
Have you ever thought about the consequences
if Sarah's confessions become public?
So, we better use this officer to sort this out.
(sighs)
(phone ringing)
- It's Aji on the line. - Hmm.
- Hello, sir... - Hello. Are you here?
- Yes, sir. - Ah.
Over here.
Ah.
Anil sir.
Aji, this is Samuel sir, Additional Sessions Judge.
(taps heels) Sir.
(clears throat)
I was the then Kottayam SP when Sarah gave Nawas the letter.
I was also pulled into this through him.
There was a second letter.
Same as the first one.
That was for the Magistrate.
I know, sir.
The one that was sent via the legal advisor of the hospital.
Sounds like you've dug deep into this.
(chuckles) No, sir.
My sole interest and focus until now is to figure out the connection
between Bibin, his letters and the Ancy murder case.
That probe led me to Sarah's letters.
That's all, sir.
(scoffs)
Sarah's letter. Hmm!
For the past 12 years,
we kept this secret from the world.
The three of us took that decision unanimously.
You'll get what I'm coming at when you know about the content of the letter.
Sarah's letter was a confession.
A confession?
Yes, without any remorse.
A confession without an ounce of guilt.
What did she confess?
There is a seaside hospital in Alappuzha.
Beach Hospital for Women and Children.
Sarah worked as the head nurse there.
During her tenure there, spanning six years, from 1980 to 1985,
Sarah assisted in 1000-plus deliveries at random times
and 1000-plus babies were born.
Sarah interchanged those babies.
(newborns crying)
(ominous sting music)
(babies crying)
(Nawas) She swapped baby girls with boys
and interchanged babies of different religions.
Sister, clean the baby up.
And inform Sathi's family. I've taken Sumalatha's baby.
Or else, they'll barge in here.
Okay.
(nurse playfully cooing)
Shall we see your mother? Don't you wanna see, my angel?
Look who's here! Who has come to meet mommy?
Look, look... Your precious sunshine is here. See!
Who's with Sumalatha?
Look, dear, have a look at our baby.
No, no. You may have a glance now. We shall hand over the baby later.
See, the baby looks exactly like you.
The eyes and nose are the spitting image of yours.
(sinister music)
(calling out loud) Who's with Sathi?
(Nawas) A kind of callous swapping.
When those parents adored and cherished
another's baby, believing as their own,
Sarah was diabolically enjoying it.
What the fuck!
Yes!
Who'll be able to bear this awful truth?
Even if it is a judge or a policeman!
Is it something a human would do?
The only thing we can do is to keep it under wraps.
Sarah bore the responsibility of her family and siblings from an early age.
And she had a late marriage.
Her husband abandoned her when he knew that she was infertile.
Her life became utterly meaningless.
To watch people who enjoyed the completeness and joy she lacked
made her frustrated with life.
It triggered her to do this heinous act of interchanging babies.
She was so crooked and cunning.
Every detail of the children she swapped,
Sarah had documented meticulously, like birth certificates.
In the twilight of her life, to ensure the evidence is not lost,
she recorded it all down on the walls of her room permanently.
What about Bibin?
(thunder and rain)
(morose music)
- (rain pouring heavily) - (gloomy dark music continues)
- (woman) Sister! - You? Why are you still here?
Labour pain has started for your girl. Come over quickly.
- Sister... - (irritated) What is it?
Are you sweating blood?
Haven't you birthed a baby? You should know it's no biggie.
Then what now?
- It's not that. - What?
Dr. Geetha?
Won't she deliver without Dr. Geetha?
I'm the doctor here for now. Understand?
About my girl...
I will attend to her!
This is not my first birth. I've handled loads.
You better come inside!
- Sister! - Hey, what's bloody wrong with you?
There's another one screaming her lungs out.
I have to handle both.
(sobbing) It's not that, sister. We don't want this baby.
I just want my daughter back.
She made a mistake.
We cannot go home with the baby.
It'll ruin her life.
Please save us. Save us.
(crying out) Sister, sister!
(woman continues weeping)
(baby crying)
(moaning in labour pain)
(crying in pain) Sister!
(crying shakily)
(screams) Sister, it's hurting!
- (screaming) Mother! - (newborn crying)
Open your eyes, teacher. Teacher!
It's a baby girl.
No, no. Crying and kissing can wait.
Let me have her father see the baby first.
(woman sobbing)
(sinister sting music)
(baby crying)
It's only when I met you we got to know that Bibin also knows the truth.
The letters are in the same format as Sarah had detailed on her wall.
Except for the absence of addresses.
The truth about Bibin's birth was quite crucial in Sarah's confession.
That's the reason why we shadowed Bibin for a year after her death.
But he was someone who's already an introvert
who retrieved more into his shell after his mother's demise.
Beyond that, we failed to find any more leads back then.
Sir, now what?
With those letters, we can now be sure that
what Sarah did and all its related details are known to Bibin.
But to know whether he is scheming anything vile
by exploiting those details, we'll have to investigate further.
Because if this truth is out...
it not only affects the interchanged 1000 people,
but their family, children, relatives, friends.
Everything will be questioned.
It'll be a chaos.
It should not happen, Aji.
Sir.
Now that you also know this truth, I suggest
we set up a secret investigation led by you
to dig up Bibin's involvement in Ancy's murder,
the letters he sent before,
the details, the people involved.
Don't you feel this guy is up for something bad?
If you agree with us, we'll arrange a special deputation for you from ANI.
That would be the cover for this investigation that I'll take care of.
We can set up an office for you at the Commissioner's Office.
Aji...
Using the secret he knows, he has already started playing his game.
But at any cost, we need to win this game.
Absolutely, sir.
It's the need of the hour, Aji.
But bear in mind, when you set up the investigation team,
keep it small. One or two officers would be enough.
We have to protect our secrecy.
Since you've agreed to this, we shall arrange the rest in two days.
But I emphasise again to you...
It is important that not another soul knows Sarah's secret.
Aji, you should ensure that.
Sir.
Our only way to guarantee that is to find Bibin quickly.
The only way to put two and two together, I reckon
are the leads he hurled at us: those letters.
The only way to him is to explore the details in them.
(sighs) It's fine, sir.
I can crack this.
But...
I have a question.
If I find Bibin somehow and take him in...
what's next?