A scene from Ghosted 2023
Henchman

Let me tell you how this will be. One for you, 19 for me. 'Cause I'm the taxman. Listen to me. I can't believe I'm quoting "The Taxman" to you. So lame. I really am turning into my dad. It's true what they say. When you meet a celebrity, your IQ drops 50 points.

Cole

Where am I?

Henchman

It's just... You're a living legend. Stopping our shipment in Turkey, the assassination in Berlin and now this thing with Elena and the passcode. The boss talks about you all the time. You've become an obsession for him. "The Taxman killed Elena. The Taxman has the passcode. Oh, how I want to find and murder the Taxman." And now here you are.

Cole

No, no, I'm... I'm not a taxman. I'm a farmer. I came to London to surprise a girl, and these guys, they jumped me.

Henchman

Textbook evasion. Frankly, a little disappointing, but the performance? Sublime. It's like you truly believe what you're saying.

Cole

Because I'm telling the truth. You have the wrong guy. My name is Cole Turner. My passport's right over there in the bag, in the front flap.

Henchman

Sublime. It truly is an honor to torture you today. Whoa. Okay, just... just wait. Wait. Normally, I begin with the punching. Wait a minute. [Groaning] You see, it causes me a little pain too. I'm all about sharing the experience. My therapist says that I'm an empath, which means that I'm deeply attuned to others' feelings. But alas, the boss is in a real tizzy about the passcode. Are you familiar with the Schmidt sting pain index?

Cole

Wait, the what? Wait a minute.

Henchman

It's a rating system for the pain caused by the bites and stings of insects. From the simple ouch of the western honeybee to the spray-and-pray of the Latin American bullet ant that you can see primed and ready in that box on the table. Spray-and-pray is short for "spray in your pants and pray for the merciful release of death."

Cole

Excuse me, sir, will you just grab that bag for me quickly? I promise, this is just a big misunderstanding...

Henchman

Normally, we like to start slow and build our way up. But you are special, so we begin with the m*rder hornet.

Cole

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

Cole

I don't know any passcode! I'm telling you, you have the wrong guy. My name is Cole Turner. Just look at the passport. It's right there in the bag.

Cole
[Pants]

Holy shit. Holy shit. Wait, wait... [blows] Oh, God. Oh, shit! Oh, shit! [Screams]

Sadie
[Sadie bursts in door and finishes off all henchman in room]

Can you walk?

Cole

What?

Sadie
[Sighs]

Can you walk, Cole?

Cole
[Breathes heavily]

Sadie. [Sadie slaps him]

Sadie
[Jabs index finger]

Head down, mouth closed. Follow me before anyone sounds the alarm. Know how to use a gun?

Cole

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. But...

Sadie

Shoot anyone who's not me. Stay on my six. Let's go.

Cole

Sadie. Geez. [Grunts] Sadie, what the hell is going on? Who are these people?

Sadie

Bad guys. They set a trap for one of our agents, and you fell into it. [Spots approaching guards on surveillance screen] Agents.

Cole

Art agents? [Sadie trips Cole and finishes off two guards] Not an art agent. Got it. [Grunts] Sorry, there's a lot going on. Plus those guys drugged me. Who are you?!

Sadie

CIA. At least, until they find out about this fiasco. Keep moving.

Cole

My God, you're a spy! Do you actually know where you're going?
...

Cole

No, it's... It's the most amazing thing I've e... [pants] I'm so confused. They kept asking me about the Taxman.

Sadie

They asked you about the Taxman?

Cole

No, they think I am a Taxman.

Sadie

They think you're the Taxman? That the Taxman would actually fall for that lazy trap? They caught the Taxman, and it's you?

Cole

You're the Taxman!

Sadie

Oh, my God. [Walks off]

Cole

Oh, my God!
...

Sadie
[When Cole fails to finish off guards]

You said you could shoot!

Cole

At tin cans, not people!
...

Cole

Art curator, my ass.

Sadie

I thought you were different too. Sweet, fun, low-maintenance. I can't believe I was gonna call you when I got back.
...

Cole

Were you really gonna call me when you got back?

Sadie

Yes, until you texted me 11 times in two days.

Cole

Seven. Emoji stuff doesn't count.

Sadie

Yes, it does. Emoji stuff counts. Move.
...

Sadie
[Cole and Sadie leave cave to reveal that is the Pakistani Khyber Pass] [Grabs Cole's jacket]

Come on!

Cole

Where the hell are we?!

Sadie
[Slides down cliff]

Jump! Cole, come on!

Cole

I swallowed a rock!

Sadie

Keep going!
...

Sadie
[Uses her person to stop a jingle bus]

Stop! Get off the bus.

Cole

You're never gonna make it through!

Sadie

We're not going that way!

Cole
[Sadie drives bus in reverse under gunfire]

Do you know what you're doing?! Have you done this before?!

Sadie

I'm gonna let you think yes!

Cole

I cannot believe you got me kidnapped and tortured all after one date!

Sadie

You're the one who flew to London!

Cole
[Sadie forces a tuk tuk onto a mountain side]

Holy shit!

Sadie

You are unbelievable!

Cole

What?!

Sadie

You stalkered your way across the ocean to find me! That is not cactus behavior!

Cole

Don't use stalker as a verb! And it was a romantic gesture!

Sadie

I checked your records! You've never even left the country!

Cole

You checked my records?! Who's stalkering now?!
...

Sadie
[Cole is choking a thug]

Choke him out!

Cole

They usually tap.

Sadie

He's not going to tap. Just choke him out.
...

Sadie
[Cole throws a thug out the door and falls onto Sadie's lap]

Cole! Are you comfortable?!

Cole

Sorry, sorry, sorry.
...

Sadie
[Cole is holding up cactus plant]

Is that what I think it is?

Cole

It was meant to be a joke. [Sighs] It was a lot funnier before I used it to kill a man.

Sadie

Hey. Time to walk.

In this scene

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