def get_connection(self, internal=False):
        """Get a live connection to this instance.

        :param bool internal: Whether or not to use a DC internal network connection.

        :rtype: :py:class:`redis.client.StrictRedis`
        """
        # Determine the connection string to use.
        connect_string = self.connect_string
        if internal:
            connect_string = self.internal_connect_string

        # Stripe Redis protocol prefix coming from the API.
        connect_string = connect_string.strip('redis://')
        host, port = connect_string.split(':')

        # Build and return the redis client.
        return redis.StrictRedis(host=host, port=port, password=self._password)