(FOREBODING MUSIC)
(CLEARS THROAT)
"Do you ever have emotions that you can't explain?
"Have you ever lost control of these emotions?
"Do these emotions have a name?"
These were the first three questions
that Dr Malicent asked of Joseph Kinkirk
just six hours after his arrest,
to which Kinkirk answered,
"Yes, yes, and Henry."
This course of exchange
laid the foundation for a defence that failed
not only because of the meticulously collected physical evidence, um,
but also because of the currently accepted opinion
in modern psychology -
multiple personality syndrome does not exist.
lt was a psychological fad,
a therapist-induced disorder
perpetuated by an unending barrage of TV talk shows and novels
and ill-conceived Hollywood movies.
Joseph Kinkirk has been under observation
at various psychiatric institutions for most of his adult life
and yet there has not been one documented reference to Henry
until after his arrest.
Henry did not abduct Sarah McKenzie.
He didn't strip her naked or tie her to a bed in the cellar.
He didn't rape her 1 2-year-old body
or attempt to remove her ovaries with a box cutter.
And he didn't videotape
the two hours it took Sarah to bleed to death
when that operation failed.
Henry did not commit these atrocities because...
..Henry does not exist.
Joseph Kinkirk is fully aware of his actions...
..just as he was when he committed them.
(THUNDER CRASHES)
It's after midnight, I'm afraid. l know.
l need two shots of tequila, a waterback and some volume on the TV.
Please.
Certainly.
At one minute past midnight,
the State of Missouri began the execution
of Joseph Kinkirk by lethal injection.
With no reprieve coming from the Governor's office...
(CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
Oh, God.
Can l have two... two more shots, please?
Would you like me to change the channel?
No, that's fine.
..and Mr Kinkirk was pronounced dead
at 1 8 minutes past the hour.
NEWSREADER: As you've just heard,
Joseph Kinkirk has been put to death in a Missouri state prison.
We will have further reaction to this execution...
(CONTlNUES lNDlSTlNCTLY)
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
WOMAN: Hello. GIRL ON PHONE: Hi, Mommy!
Hi, sweetie. I miss you.
l miss you too.
(FlRE ALARM BEEPS OVER PHONE) What's that noise?
Uncle Stephen's making breakfast.
OK, now can we go to Starbucks?
How was last night?
We watched 'Night of the Living Dead'.
Oh, no - secrets! Shh. Put your uncle on the phone.
(SIGHS)
Mommy wants to talk to you.
So did you see them fry the bad guy last night?
lt was lethal injection. And no.
You get shit-faced as usual?
Watch your language in front of Sammy.
Sorry. Did you, as usual, get shit-faced?
l'm running late. l'll see you this afternoon, OK?
Hello?
Hey. Hey! That's rude. Your mother hung up on me.
(MOBlLE PHONE RlNGS)
Dad, can l call you back?
l'm just at the airport... I need your opinion on a patient!
You're shouting again. Am I?
Sorry!
Look, I think you'll find this one to be very interesting.
Just send me the file and l'll look it over.
No, no, you have to meet him.
I'll pick you up at the airport. Just give him one hour.
You can't expect me to rearrange my life
every time you dig up some medical oddity.
Did you hang up?
Dad?
Hi.
So where'd you find this David Bernburg?
He was referred to me by Dr Foster.
Charlie? Mm-hm.
Well, that figures.
David was picked up for vagrancy
and then released into Charlie's care the next day.
Well, how long has he been a patient here?
Couple of days. Since the weekend.
That's all? Mm-hm.
You usually like to treat them for a month
before you let me pick them apart.
Ah, but this one has a whole new kind of act.
Oh, yeah?
Enjoy.
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
Can we get a little heat going in here?
OVER INTERCOM: Sure.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
Hi.
Thank you. Sure.
l'm Dr Cara Jessup. And you must be David.
David Bernburg. ls that right?
(SOUTHERN ACCENT) Yes.
'Bernburg' - is that German?
I don't know.
Do you know why we're here?
You want to ask me some questions.
ls that alright with you?
Yes.
OK. Have you been in a wheelchair your entire life?
No.
I had an accident a few years back.
OK.
Are you left- or right-handed?
Right.
And, um, in your childhood home, how many windows are there?
1 0.
1 1 if you count the star window in the door.
But it didn't open.
OK, so when you're counting these windows,
are you inside or outside the house?
Inside. It's warmer.
Mm-hm.
Were you raised in any religion?
Ma'am, I was raised in the mountains.
God held our hand and the devil waited for us to fall.
l'd like to show you a series of abstract images
and l'd like you to just describe any thought that comes to mind, OK?
Two small children. Mm-hm.
And they're playing that game, um...
(SINGSONG) Patty cake, patty cake... OK, OK. Good.
And this one?
It looks like an elephant in the circus.
ls it a big elephant?
No, a baby elephant.
Do you see any numbers in the circle?
1 6. OK.
How about this one?
73. Sure.
Do you ever have any emotions you can't explain?
No.
Do you ever feel angry or violent or depressed for no apparent reason?
No.
OK. Thank you very much.
Alright, Dad, l'm waiting.
For what?
Well, you didn't bring me here to meet David, did you?
Mind if I make a call?
No, l got nothing but time. Go right ahead.
(PHONE RlNGS)
(PHONE CONTlNUES RlNGlNG)
Hello.
This is Dr Harding. Is Adam there?
I'm sorry, Dr Harding. I'm the only one here.
I'd like you to look for him.
(GRUNTS AND GROANS)
What was that?
This is Adam.
Adam, it's Dr Harding.
I wonder if you would have a moment to speak with a colleague of mine?
Sure.
You didn't need to do that.
Do what?
Show off. lt makes you look like a charlatan.
Hello.
l'm Dr Jessup.
Jessup? You're Dr Harding's daughter?
Yes, l am. And you're Adam.
Your husband was murdered, right?
Ooh.
Yes. How?
His throat was slit by a mugger.
When? Three years ago.
Where?
When we were walking home from church on Christmas Eve.
You think that was rude of me? Not at all.
l'm used to it.
Aggressive role manipulation is a common avoidance technique
used by borderline personalities during therapy.
But you knew that, didn't you?
Attagirl.
l have to watch out for your exploitative pathological tendencies.
Ready to answer some questions?
Shoot.
ln your childhood home, how many windows are there?
One.
One? Mm-hm.
Actually, two if you count the windshield.
l see.
Were you raised in any religion?
Catholic. Mm-hm.
OK, Adam, l have a series of abstract images here.
l'd like you to take a look at them...
Dancers, moth, elephants, the Devil.
I've seen all this stuff before, Doctor.
Yes, you have. Clearly.
OK, Adam.
Do you see any numbers in the circles?
Nope.
And this one?
No.
Great. Great.
What about this one?
The number seven.
OK.
OK, Adam, um... may l look at your eyes?
Are you wearing contact lenses?
No. This is their natural colour.
Are you colourblind?
Red deficient, since birth.
OK, Adam, l think we're done here.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Can I go now?
CARA: You set me up.
No, no. I offered you a chance to reconsider some of your assumptions.
Adam is the host. David is the alter.
Why didn't you let me interview Adam first?
Where's the fun in that?
(EERIE MUSIC, VOICES WHISPER)
(BOTH PLAY ROCK MUSlC)
Hello! Mommy!
Hello! Hello!
(LAUGHS) l missed you so much!
Yay! Hey, Pop.
Hey, Stevo. This is quite a rig. Mm-hm.
Hah. Hey, Grandpa.
There's my angel. How you doing?
Go get your stuff, OK? OK.
l'll help you. She have fun?
Uh, she was pretty cranky till that second beer set in.
You staying for dinner? No.
Sammy's got school in the morning. Mm-hm.
You OK? I mean, really OK?
Yeah, l'll be OK.
(STRUMS ABSENT-MINDEDLY)
What are you working on?
Oh, I'm just offlining an industrial.
Oh, great. (SCOFFS)
You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
No. No.
DR HARDlNG: OK, here we are.
Did you say thank you to Uncle Stephen, honey?
Thank you, Uncle Stephen.
Sammy, next time you bring the beers, OK?
OK.
l gotta tell you, l'm loving these underage drinking jokes.
Thank you. Just loving them.
Thank you very much. Mm-hm. 'Bye!
Goodbye. Get off my property. SAMMY: 'Bye.
(CARA LAUGHS)
Don't pull all the way up into the driveway.
DR HARDING: Why?
lt'll be too tight for me to get out.
You'll be able to get out. No, it's... (SlGHS)
Yep. (GRUNTS) Thanks, Pop. This is perfect.
Hey, honey, get in the bathtub, OK? And then we'll have dinner.
OK, Mom!
What's that?
Adam's file. Take a look.
l'll think about it.
(VOICES WHISPER)
(BONES CRUNCH)
ADAM: I don't seem to have much time for God nowadays, Doctor.
It seems to work both ways.
Howsabout you? Got your faith?
DR HARDING: My daughter lost her husband not too long ago.
He was a good, good man
and he was murdered for no reason at all.
Murdered? Mm-hm.
So I find it kind of hard to believe
in a God that could hurt my daughter...
..is Adam there?
(SOUTHERN ACCENT) I'm sorry, Dr Harding. I'm the only one here.
(GRUNTS AND GROANS)
(SQUELCHING AND CRUNCHING)
MAN: Little CC.
Hey, Charlie. You look terrible.
Well, thank you.
A course of antibiotics, I'll be fine.
Alright. To what do I owe the pleasure?
Um, Adam Saber.
l want to know how he came to you and why you dumped him on my father.
The police found him laying in the street.
He didn't appear intoxicated. Claimed he wasn't able to walk.
Gave his name as David Bernburg.
By the time I examined him,
he was up on his feet, calling himself Adam Saber,
said he had no idea how he got to the hospital.
Well, I thought of your father immediately.
Well, yeah, sure.
Um, have you ever had a patient who was colourblind in just one eye?
No. Why?
l was just thinking it might explain...
Never mind.
How's Sammy? She's great.
Soccer-crazy.
There are tryouts at the school this Friday. You should come.
I'd like that. Good.
Um, can l get a copy of his hospital file?
I'll fax it this afternoon. Thank you.
Take care of yourself, alright? Yeah.
I will. You take care of that kid.
Yeah. Always.
Um, does Ellie still work in radiology?
Yeah, but she's up on the third floor now.
Alright. Thanks again.
'Bye.
(COUGHS)
ls it possible that when he wrenches his neck,
he's compressing, decompressing a nerve
and causing some kind of temporary paralysis?
Look.
This X-ray - the third, the fourth, the fifth vertebrae...
Fused. Mmm.
So we're looking at X-rays here of two different people.
Two different people.
It's a hoax - a guy, the doctor.
The doctor? Sure.
How well do you know him? Well, some days, not at all.
Gets under your skin, doesn't he?
These aren't his films. They can't be.
Isn't it possible that what you're looking at
is actually what you're seeing?
No, because this is not possible.
Adam is the real deal. No.
He is a desperately ill young man,
but he's fully aware of David and all of David's actions.
David is pure invention and l'll prove it to you.
You know what? We haven't had dinner together in over a month.
Well, you're coming to Easter, aren't you?
Uh-huh.
Do you want me to bring anything?
Just your delightful self.
That's my girl. Yeah.
Thanks. Thank you. (CHUCKLES)
(MUTTERS) OK, what name?
So, David Bernburg, Shadywood High School, Shadywood.
Shadywood.
(GASPS)
Sorry, Doctor. Scared you a little right there, huh?
Yeah, a little bit. Yeah.
Listen, uh, I didn't want you to leave
without having a chance to say thank you.
For what?
For trying to help.
Thanks. You're welcome.
(STARTS CAR)
Excuse me. l'm looking for yearbooks.
Second aisle down to the back.
But you best be quick. I'm locking up in 1 0 minutes.
No, l'll be quick. l promise.
OK.
WOMAN: Are you almost done?
Um, l'll be done in a minute.
(GASPS)
CARA: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Bless the bed that l lay on
Bless me as they lay me down to sleep l give myself to God to keep
Five little angels round my bed One to the foot and one to the head
One to sing and one to pray And one to take my sins away.
Amen.
She doesn't mean it.
Right?
(RlNGlNG TONE ON PHONE)
(MAN COUGHS) Hello. Charlie?
(CONTINUES COUGHING) Oh, little CC.
You sound terrible.
Listen, listen. Can l bring you anything?
Uh, no. I've got soup.
And, um, that antibiotic's about to kick in.
l hate to ask, but you never faxed me Adam Saber's file.
Oh, I'm sorry. Is first thing alright?
Yeah, yeah, of course. Just get some rest, OK?
I will.
(COUGHS) See you soon.
OK. Feel better.
(COUGHS AND HACKS)
(GAGS AND RETCHES)
(GENTLE EERIE MUSIC)
(RATTLlNG)
Excuse me.
Do you know the way to the Quarry House?
(CLICKS TONGUE)
I don't know how I got to the hospital.
I have no idea how I got to bed last night.
You know, I just wake up in my room and I don't remember nothing.
(CLICKS)
DR HARDING: The nurses helped you into your bed.
Was I awake?
In a matter of speaking.
(KNOCKS)
Hello?
(WOMAN HUMS SONG SOFTLY)
They're ruined, aren't they?
l...l'm sorry. l knocked at the front door.
l was... I found them this morning.
They must have been in water for weeks.
All that music, all that life, all gone.
l think...l think some of it can be saved, actually.
Well, there's always hope.
Now, who are you?
l'm looking for David Bernburg.
David? Yeah.
You're standing on him, aren't you?
Well, it happens around this time of year -
some local reporter
inevitably stumbles onto a story in the archives
and tries to resurrect it as a cautionary tale.
Are you talking about David's accident?
No, my dear.
His murder.
How did his accident happen?
He fell.
Wet leaves on stone steps.
And just like that his life had to begin again.
But he accepted his fate with such nobility.
For three years,
David showed the world how brightly the Holy Spirit shone within him.
But then...David lost his way.
He found a doctor in the city
who was experimenting with spinal replacement or some such nonsense.
David came to believe that this practitioner
would one day give him back his legs.
It seemed as if every month,
he'd ride into the city on the bus with hope in his eyes...
..only to be injected and sliced open
and return broken-hearted.
And then one month he left home
and never returned.
It was one week later when they found his remains.
He'd...been taken into the woods and abused.
Tortured.
Can you imagine?
David sitting there, watching,
unable to fight back,
watching as they did those unspeakable things to him?
l...l cannot. l...
And I pray you never will.
David turned his back on God
and looked to science for his answers.
The Lord told us quite plainly.
"Wane not, thy faith in me."
(PEOPLE CHATTER QUlETLY)
Hey, Art. I'll have a cup of coffee and some of that apple pie, huh?
Hi, honey bun. Did you have a good time, hmm?
No. We had a bird funeral.
Great. Great. Mmm, yeah.
Well, do you want to pick out a treat while l talk to Grandpa?
OK, go ahead.
What's the fundamental difference
between a disassociated personality and a delusional one?
No hello?
'Cause l have something. Yeah?
OK, so the real David Bernburg was born on February 5, 1 963.
He slipped and broke his back in November of 1 979.
ln April of 1 982, he was murdered.
Now, while every local TV station and newspaper
was recounting the details of his horrific death,
your Adam Saber was six years old, his mother had just died
and he'd been placed in the first of several foster homes.
His escape was this... this macabre murder.
Now, everything that Adam knew of David
he would have gleaned from the media, right?
OK, well, say that I agree with these...
..somewhat shaky assumptions.
Why would Adam create a delusion?
Give me your wallet.
Any wallet will do? Mm-hm.
(CHUCKLES) Alright.
So why do you carry this picture of Mom?
To remind me of her.
Mm-hm, and experience the positive effects that these memories evoke.
Yeah. Yes.
Now, if this picture existed but you had no awareness of it,
would you still be able to benefit from its existence?
I suppose not, no.
Oh, OK.
So l believe, as a child,
Adam Saber began carrying around a mental picture of David
so that no matter where he went, no matter how horrific things became,
there was always someone who had it worse -
David Bernburg who was tortured to death
by Satan-worshipping mountain witches.
But to benefit from this mental image,
he must be fully aware of it
and therefore cannot be disassociated.
That is a very compelling diagnosis. Thank you very much.
How are you gonna prove it?
Oh, oh, Dad, l'm not gonna prove it.
l'm gonna cure it.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
Hello, Mrs Bernburg.
Thank you again for agreeing to help me with this.
l wanted to tell you that, um, Adam has created an impersonation of your son.
l, um...l don't want you to be alarmed.
I've raised three boys and said prayers upon their graves.
Not much alarms me.
Thank you. l do appreciate it.
Here's...this is Adam now.
Hello, Adam. Hey.
This is Dita Bernburg.
ls the name familiar to you at all? Nope.
(SlGHS) Er, her son David was murdered 25 years ago.
Shit.
I'm sorry.
You may have heard of it.
lt was in the papers.
25 years ago? I was, like, 6 years old.
I didn't read the papers much. Mm-hm.
(PHONE RlNGS)
You gonna get that?
No-one knows l'm here. lt's probably for you.
Yo, this is Adam.
l'd like to speak with David, please.
There's no David here.
(THUD! ) (GASPS)
(GROANS)
(CRACKlNG AND SQUELCHlNG) (GROANS AND WHEEZES)
Momma?
You found me, Momma.
My son is dead. (EXHALES)
No, Momma. I'm not dead.
You are not my son. (SNIFFS)
Yes, I am.
We live at the Quarry House on Tull Road.
(MURMURS) l was able to find your address in the phone book.
My bedroom used to be a library.
You used to fold the clothes on the shelves like books.
Stop it. Yeah.
You used to say, "What clothes shall we read today, David?"
No.
My bed.
My bed was made from harvest wood
to keep me safe from the spirits.
My son died 25 years ago.
You have a nail in your pocket.
How could you know that?
No-one knows that, only...
We found it in in Askern Mine.
You always carry it, Momma.
(SNIFFS)
(SOBS)
David. Momma.
(SOBS)
Iron from the earth...
..to ward off evil.
To ward off evil.
(SNIFFS) Yes.
Then it's not working.
(GASPS)
CARA: l know there's a rational explanation for this. Just wait for me.
Momma! (DOOR CLOSES)
Yeah, this is it. You can get him out of the van.
You want me to come with you? No, we'll be fine.
Are you sure? Yeah.
Alright.
l'll be fine.
Alright, David, do you know where you are?
No, ma'am.
Well, there's no reason that you should recognise this place.
What is it?
What's the matter.
I was here at night. What?
That's why I didn't recognise this place.
Things are different.
It was snowing.
Right there, there was a shed.
(GASPS) David?
He's coming. Who's coming?
Shhh. Just tell me.
lt's alright. lt's alright.
Tell me. Tell me, who is it? Who is it? Who's coming?
The Devil.
(EERlE, CRASHlNG CHORDS)
l'm sorry. Alright, l'm sorry. Please don't leave me.
l'm gonna take you back to the van.
OK? l'm taking you... Alright. Here we go, OK.
(SOBS) (GRUNTS) lt's alright.
Please, please, please get me out of here.
Listen, the chair is stuck.
l have to go back... No! No, please.
Please don't leave me. Alright, OK. Alright. OK.
Just... l need to get a signal.
l'm just gonna walk away and get a signal, OK?
You're alright. You're alright.
(GROANS) (CRACKING)
(DlALS PHONE)
(DlALLED PHONE RlNGS)
Hey, Cara. Hi, Virgil.
Something wrong? No, no, l'm alright.
The chair is stuck and l need you to push it out.
Alright. Let me find something. I'll be right there.
Thanks. OK. 'Bye.
Let's see what we've got.
Stuck, huh?
Hi, Adam.
Who's Adam?
Here we go.
My name is Dr Caroline Jessup. Yeah, we'll get to you later.
Adam... I asked who Adam was.
Adam is a patient of mine.
Are you alright?
You feel confused? Confused?
You don't tell me when to be confused, lady.
You're not the one who keeps waking up in strange goddamn places
with no idea how you got there.
So I asked you a question.
Where am I? And why would you think I was Adam?
You're at Walker's Mill. And you look like Adam.
Hey!
Caroline, are you alright? Yeah. We're fine.
l was, um... l'm just... l'm talking to, er...
Wes. Wes.
Morning, Virgil. Hey, Wesley.
Right. There we go. Beautiful. MAN: Catch. Catch it.
Nice, alright. Take a shot. Dad!
Dad. Yeah.
l need to talk to you. OK. I'll be right back.
Why are you... l just met Wes!
Wh...
Why, Dad? Why? Why do you do this to me?
Because you've stopped asking questions.
That's all l do. That's all l do all day long.
That's all l do, Dad. No, no!
You've stopped asking questions of yourself, Caroline!
You've developed this fixed system of beliefs
which you refuse to submit to any kind of introspection.
So what that means is that you will never have
a new thought in your professional life.
You have got to learn to take those ideas, set them to one side
and try to move ahead with one big question, which is, "Why?"!
And simply ask, "What?" To just say, "I don't know."
Just because you're older, it doesn't mean you're right.
lt might mean that you've been wrong for longer.
What has been your motivation here?
Has it been to help Adam to discover whatever...
..crisis it is that caused him to fracture his psyche?
Or has it been to simply flat out prove me wrong?
Hmm?
Oh, hon. Come on, don't!
Alright, everybody go take a shower now.
Honey!
OK, so, Wesley Crite was a frontman for an underground rock band.
He died November 1 994.
lt was a possible suicide.
At this exact point, Adam Saber is in prison.
He's just been placed in solitary confinement.
So at this low, low moment in his life,
he assumes yet another person who has a story worse than his own.
OK.
Good.
Hello, Wesley.
l'm sorry to keep you waiting.
(HOARSELY) I have all the time in the world, Dr Jessup.
l'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's alright with you.
I would first like to ask you a question.
Yes?
Do you hold that doctorate in the name of science or God?
Why do you ask?
That thing around your neck.
Mmm.
l'd-l'd like to consider myself a doctor of science...
..but a woman of God.
There's something l'd like to show you.
November 1 8, 1 994.
Does that mean anything to you?
(WHEEZES)
(COUGHS AND GRUNTS)
(WHISPERS) Get away from me.
Do you know what happened that day?
Get away.
What happened that day?
What do you know about that day?
Get away from me. Wes.
(GASPS) GET AWAY FROM ME!
(GRUNTS AND WHEEZES) (CRACKING)
(WHEEZES)
David?
(EXHALES)
Are you alright?
(WHISPERS) He was here.
(BREATHES SHAKILY) Who? Who was here?
(HUMS TUNE)
Where did you hear that?
(WHISPERS) I didn't hear it.
I've wrote it.
(HUMS TUNE)
(PLAYS DAVlD'S TUNE)
That's David's song.
Was it ever published? No.
David made it up in the hospital after his accident,
and he'd sing it to himself whenever he became sad or scared.
When he was scared?
It seemed to be a sanctuary for him, a shelter in the storm.
ls it possible that, um...
..the night he was murdered, when he was in the woods,
is it possible that he sang this lullaby?
I pray he did.
HARDING ON PHONE: Hello? Hey, Dad.
l think that when Adam Saber was a little boy,
he may have witnessed David Bernburg's murder.
And David is an escape from that memory. Maybe Wes is too.
Do you have a home address for Adam? Why?
Because l wanna know what kind of life Adam is trying to escape from.
(DOG WHlNES) Hey.
Hey there, buddy.
(BARKS)
Good boy. Good boy.
(WHlNES)
Hello!
Hello?
Hey, buddy. Are you all alone? (WHlMPERS)
lt's alright. lt's alright. l'm gonna come in.
l'm coming in. l'm not gonna hurt you.
Hello?
(WlND BLOWS)
(BARKS LOUDLY) (GASPS)
Oh, shit.
OK. OK, OK.
OK, buddy. Alright.
See if l can find anything. (MUTTERS)
Here you go. Here you go.
There. Poor thing.
Ugh.
Hello?
ls anybody here?
Hello?
Oh, God. Oh, gosh.
Mmm... Ohh...
Ohh.
(TV BUZZES)
(MOANS)
(FOREBODlNG MUSlC)
Ohh.
OK.
(RETCHES)
Oh, God.
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
(MYSTERlOUS WHlSPERlNG) (FLlES BUZZ)
(GASPS AND GROANS)
(CAMERA CLlCKS)
(SIREN WAILS DISTANTLY)
First dead body?
No.
We sent someone to pick up this Adam Saber for questioning.
(lNDlSTlNCT RADlO COMMUNlCATlON)
Shit! Shit.
Um, l-l...l forgot to pick up my daughter. l can't stay.
You don't have to be here. Thanks.
I got it. Thank you.
GIRL: Did you see me? MAN: You did a great job, honey.
Really, Dad?
MAN: Kenna, come on, we're leaving.
l'll be there in one second.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
DANTON: Hello? Detective Danton?
lt's Caroline Jessup. Hello.
Adam Saber is at my daughter's elementary school.
You're sure it's him? Yeah.
Yeah, it's Brockhurst Elementary. Alright.
At the soccer fields. Alright, I'll...
Hi. ..send the car and I'll be there.
As soon as you can. Thanks.
Sammy!
You see? Samantha!
I told you she'd be here.
No need to worry. Samantha!
Sammy.
Samantha. Samantha.
(PANTS)
l'm sorry l'm late. l need you to come over here right now.
But, Mom... Right now! Get over here!
Come on. Come on.
l want you to go and wait with Brody's mom, OK?
Is everything alright? How did you get here?
I'm not entirely sure.
Sammy was wonderful! I think she's gonna make...
l want you to stay away from my family!
But you invited me.
l did no such thing. At the hospital.
What hospital?
When you came to see me.
CC, are you alright?
What did you call me?
Little CC.
Who are you? Oh, for heaven's sake.
Caroline, it's me.
Charles.
(SlREN WAlL)
l thought we had a rule about not talking to strangers.
But he knew my name.
And he just wanted to talk to me until you got there.
What did he want to talk about?
First he wanted to know family stuff.
Yeah?
Like what we did this summer.
And my birthday.
What about your birthday?
If I liked the books he sent me.
What else?
Then he wanted to know about God and stuff.
What did you tell him?
That I didn't believe.
Why would you say that, honey?
Because if God was real he wouldn't have let Daddy die.
You know, l think...
..l think that God knew how wonderful Daddy was.
And he wanted him in heaven to make it a better place.
It's alright that I don't believe, Mommy.
Why?
Grandpa doesn't believe anymore.
So whatever happens, I'll be with him.
Here.
God loves you.
And he always will, OK?
OK.
What did you do to your back?
Don't know.
It kind of itches. Oh.
l'll put something on it, OK?
He, Dad, it's me.
Look, l think there's a connection between Adam and his alters.
They all seem to want to know if you have faith.
Adam asked you, Wes asked me, Charles asked Sammy.
Charles? Well...
Adam came to Sammy's school pretending to be Charles.
Caroline, Charles is dead.
What? l... Dad, l just talked to him.
He was sick, but he didn't... l mean...
Dad, l'm so sorry.
Me too.
He always had to do everything first.
(CRIES AND COUGHS)
Are you alright? Yeah.
It's just a tickle.
I love you, sweetheart.
l love you too, Daddy.
Bye-bye.
(MOANS)
I noticed a sketchbook in your room.
You like to draw, huh?
Idle hands.
Moses drowning in an unparted sea.
Mm-hm.
(lNDlSTlNCT MUFFLED NOlSE)
(MYSTERlOUS GROWL)
So, l'm seeing this, right?
The shadow's moving. lt looks like there's somebody else there, right?
Yeah, but... But...
..you know. But... But what?
Cara, this is... Come on, this is Dad.
He's doing what he always does. He's messing with you.
Can you just find out what it is?
Yeah, sure.
So, uh...
What's the deal?
The deal, Mr Saber, is a body found at your house.
Excuse me?
Male. Approximately 30-50 years of age.
You know him?
OK.
Are you a religious man, Mr Saber?
I only ask as this cross was etched into the victim's back.
(SNIFFS)
Do you recognise this?
Maybe it was burnt or carved in, we're not sure yet.
(MYSTERlOUS BREATHlNG)
Does this mean anything to you?
No.
Adam, do you recognise any of these?
Do you recognise them?
Does this cross mean anything to you?
(RETCHES) Do you recognise any of these?
(SCREAMS)
I said, "I don't recognise them!" Are you deaf?!
OK. Excuse me. Excuse me, Detective.
Can l speak to you for a second?
Don't push him on this right now. You're not gonna get anywhere.
And l...l think l can help you with that cross.
l've seen it somewhere before.
Yeah.
CARA: I saw markings like this in town.
I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to ask.
Dr Jessup, why are you here?
Your textbooks have failed you, isn't that right?
Yes.
So listen.
That's why God gave us two ears but one mouth.
There's the Devil's magic in these hills,
that some may try to tend an ailing child
or take revenge for a terrible wrongdoing.
Remember this.
Your books may have failed you, but your God has not.
Follow on where the road ends to the very top of the valley.
You'll see a Holler there. Ask for the Granny.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Excuse me?
l...l'm looking for the Granny.
lt's important that l find her.
l need... l need to... l need to find out what this is.
l-l think it's some kind of a cross.
Do you know what it is?
Do you... Do you know?
OLD WOMAN: Let me see.
It's no cross.
How are you doing that?
With better eyes than yours.
Can you tell me what it means?
You won't believe. Child!
(ENGlNE REVS) (MAN SCREAMS)
What the hell is that?
(DRUMMING)
Want a soda? Mm-mm.
You sure? Mm-hm.
(TENSE MUSIC)
No way. No freaking way.
Ow! What are you doing?
Sorry, pal.
l need to try something.
Uncle Stephen.
What are you doing? l gotta check something.
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
(MAN SCREAMS)
Arggh!
(CHANTS FAINTLY)
(MAN MOANS)
Hold him down. Hold him down!
Keep still!
(GASPS)
(SUCKS AIR)
(BLOWS AIR)
(SUCKS AIR)
(BLOWS AIR)
(GASPS)
He'll be fine.
(MAN MOANS)
Now will you believe?
It's the writing of the mountains.
This...is shelter.
(SlGHS)
(MOBlLE PHONE BEEPS)
WOMAN ON VOlCEMAlL: You have two new messages.
DETECTIVE DANTON: Dr Jessup, this is Detective Danton.
Just wanted to let you know there wasn't enough to hold Adam Saber
but we released him into your father's care.
Any luck with that cross? Call me.
WOMAN: Next message.
STEPHEN: Jesus, Carrie, where the hell are you?
OK, the darkness on the video, the thing that moves...
..it's a sound wave.
It's a voice.
Carrie, it's a fricking voice. Listen.
(DEEP VOlCE WHlSPERS) Reverend Christian Moore...
..shelter now the faithless!
Hear that?
(DlAL TONE BEEPS)
(PHONE BEEPS AND RlNGS)
STEPHEN: Cara. What was that?
Uh, I have no idea. But I do know who Christian Moore is. Or was.
He was born in Burlington, Alabama, in 1 889.
He's one of those good ol' boys,
southern faith healers.
He died in...1 91 8. That's all the info I got.
However, listen to this. OK.
There's some sort of historical society in Milling Junction.
Now, there's a guy there by the name of Monty.
He has all this information on him.
OK, l'm-l'm...l'm about 50 miles from Milling Junction now.
You can be there in an hour. Go.
(TENSE MUSIC)
(COUGHS)
You alright? My throat scratches.
Let me see what l got. No cough medicines.
Mom says it's not good for you.
Seriously? Honey works though.
Yeah? OK.
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
Uncle Stephen. Yeah?
I think there's something on my back.
MAN: Well, my late father made these films
right after the Great War.
(CHUCKLES)
1 91 8.
That's when it came.
The influenza epidemic.
And that's when we met him.
The Reverend Christian Moore.
He was a self-proclaimed faith healer
and he told the Holler folks that
they didn't need their voodoo medicine.
Just faith in the Lord.
And he had a good number of Holler folk
turn their backs on the Granny.
You see, he used, as an example, his own two children.
They were full of health and apparently immune
to the ravages of the disease.
And they were strange children, as l remember. Quiet.
Turns out that their silence was for a good reason.
The Reverend had lost his faith
and he had had his own kin inoculated against the disease,
leaving the others to die.
CARA: That's awful.
And that's why the Holler folk did what they did.
What was that?
My father was filming as usual and l accompanied him.
(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
And that's when l found them - the Reverend's children.
(TENSE MUSIC)
They dragged the Reverend to the Granny.
And she handed down her own form of mountain justice
for his faithless ways.
(MAN YELLS)
And l can't really tell you what happened...
(SUCKS AIR)
..but to a child of eight...
..it sure as hell looked like that old hag
had sucked out Christian Moore's soul...
(BLOWS AIR)
..and stuffed his gullet with dirt so that it couldn't get back in.
And then she said something that l...l'll never forget.
Reverend Christian Moore,
shelter now the faithless.
(MOBlLE PHONE RlNGS)
Excuse me.
Hello.
Doctor Jessup, it's Detective Danton. Can you hear me?
Yeah. What... Wh-what's the matter?
l just wanna let you know
we've dispatched a squad car to your father's location.
They'll be there in a few minutes. l'm on my way now.
Why?! Why? What's happened?!
There's been a mistake.
(TELEPHONE RINGS) (COUGHS)
Hello?
CARA: Dad? Oh, hey, sweetie.
Dad, is Adam with you now?
Yes. The police dropped him off a while ago.
Can he hear what l'm saying?
I shouldn't think so. He's in his room.
OK, um, Dad, l need you to leave. Why? What's going on?
You're in danger. What are you talking about?
Dad, Adam Saber is dead. (COUGHS)
Can you hear me?
Yes, but you're not making any sense.
The body that l found - that was Adam.
Whoever's with you now is not Adam Saber.
Well, then, who is he?
l don't know who he...
Oh, my God.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Dad...
(COUGHS)
Dad... Dad!
(COUGHS AND WHEEZES)
Dad, can you hear me?
(COUGHS)
Can you hear me?
Dad? (DR HARDING COUGHS)
(PHONE HANGS UP) Dad, w...
Da... (PHONE DIALS)
(TELEPHONE RINGS) Dad...
No...
(COUGHS AND WHEEZES)
(PHONE DIALS) Just pick up, please.
(TELEPHONE RINGS)
Latham Institute.
Virgil, l need you to run upstairs and check on my dad, OK?
OK. I'll check on him. I'll put you on hold.
(SHUDDERS AND GROANS)
(SUCKS AlR)
(SHRlEKS AND YELLS)
Dr Harding? Shit. Shit.
No! Jesus Christ! (DlAL TONE BEEPS)
Dr... Dr Harding...
Cara... Cara... Cara, you...
Virgil, where...where's my dad?
Something terrible's happened, Cara. I...
(SOBS) He's gone.
He's dead. What?
I couldn't... There was nothing I could do.
He's gone.
Wh... Wha...
Wh... What?
I'm so sorry, Cara. So sorry...
(SOBS)
(PHONE DlALS)
(PHONE RlNGS)
SAMMY: Hello? Hi, sweetie. lt's Mommy.
Can you... Can you... Can you put your uncle on?
Mom wants to talk to you.
He's getting his car keys. Wh-why? Where are you going?
(COUGHS) Come on. Come on.
Sammy, are you alright?
Hey. Sammy's coughing up a storm. She's got some rash on her back.
Her paediatrician's closed.
They said I should start heading to General.
(GASPS SOFTLY) (SAMMY COUGHS)
STEPHEN: Cara?
(SAMMY COUGHS) Cara?
Are you there?
(SAMMY COUGHS)
A doctor can't help her.
(TENSE MUSlC)
Are you out of your mind, Cara? She needs to see a doctor.
CARA: Think about what you heard on that video.
This man is so dangerous. Please, you have to bring her up here.
No, you have to listen to yourself.
I'm not taking my niece to a goddamn witchdoctor.
I'm taking her to a hospital.
Please listen to me and bring her here.
No! Where are we going?
To the hospital. You're gonna be fine.
(TYRES SQUEAL)
Stevo! Wait.
Stay the hell away from us.
Stevo! You have no idea what's going on here, Stevie.
Samantha Jane! Come with me! Samantha Jane!
Go, go, go, go! Up the stairs.
Come on. In the bathroom. In the bathroom. Go, go, go.
You're in great danger, buckaroo.
Hey. Your freak show just showed up in Dad's car.
CARA: Keep him away from her, OK?
Stephen, for once in your life, will you listen to your father?!
Here. Hi, Mommy.
Hey, baby. Hey, do whatever your Uncle Stephen says, OK?
OK.
Now, everything's gonna be OK
and l'm gonna stay on the phone with you the whole time, alright?
I'm scared, Mommy. l know. l know.
The man from the soccer field - he's here.
l know, honey. l know. l know.
Stevo!
He's coming up the stairs.
He's in the house.
Stephen?
Samantha Jane!
Stephen, this is your father.
This is no time to be playing games, Stephen.
(COUGHS) Shh...
Sammy?
Samantha Jane, honey.
You gotta come with your grandpa, Samantha Jane.
Shh. Honey?
Please! Damn it, Stevie, open the door!
We don't have much time!
There's a very bad man coming, Stevie!
Open the door!
l can't help you if you don't open the door to your father!
I don't care, man! Get out of this house now!
Stevie! Stevie!
Stevie! Ugh!
Sammy!
Arrgh!
(SCREAMS)
(MOANS SOFTLY)
(GLASS TlNKLES)
(SAMMY GASPS) Samantha Jane...
CARA: Sammy! Sammy! Stephen?
That was an accident, honey.
Listen to me.
You gotta come with me, Samantha Jane.
Sammy, tell him to put David on the phone.
She wants to speak to David.
David? David's not here, sweetie.
Sammy, put me... Put me on speaker phone.
Caroline?
Put David on the fucking phone now!
Sammy? Sam... Stephen? Stephen?
Mommy...
..he fell.
CARA: Sammy? Can you come here and get me?
Before he wakes up. Uncle Stephen?
Are you OK?
Tell me where this witchdoctor is.
Come on. You're fine. I'm scared!
Don't be scared.
Buckle up.
(STARTER MOTOR LABOURS)
Come on! (ENGlNE REVS)
(EERlE VOlCES WHlSPER lNDlSTlNCTLY)
(GASPS)
(COUGHS)
When l cough, it feels like l wanna throw up, Uncle Stephen.
(COUGHS)
We're gonna see your mom real soon, OK?
(COUGHS) I promise.
(TENSE MUSlC)
Hey! Hey!
Mommy! l'll carry you, baby.
Give me your hands. lt's OK. (MOANS)
Oh, my God. Come on.
Ow! Ow, Mommy! (SCREAMS)
Let me see. (COUGHS)
(WHIMPERS)
OK. Drive, Stephen. Drive straight ahead.
How much further? lt's just a couple more miles.
We're in the middle of nowhere. l know. l know.
Just go straight. We'll be there soon.
Jesus, I hope you know what you're doing.
Just keep going straight!
Watch out! Shit!
Oh, God! Oh, good. What the hell is that?
lt's alright. lt's alright.
We're here. lt's alright.
You stay here. Stay right here, Stephen.
Come on, honey. Come on. (SCREAMS IN PAIN)
Oh, it's OK. You're alright. l know, l know. lt's OK.
(GASPS)
Oh, f... Fu...
(GASPS) Shit.
Ah, come on.
Arrgh! Arrgh! (GASPS)
(SAMMY COUGHS)
Mom, I don't want to... No. lt's alright. lt's OK.
Just show her your back.
She looks scary. Show her your back.
She's gonna help you. lt's OK. l'm gonna be right here.
Do I have to? l'm gonna be right here, OK?
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(GRUNTS)
(YELLS AND WHIMPERS)
Lost your way, did you, child?
From God?
My daddy died.
Terrible thing, to lose a loved one.
Worse thing to lose your faith.
I'm sorry, child.
Why?
Once the sheltering has begun, he will find you.
No. No.
No, no, you have to do something.
She's made her choice.
She didn't make a choice. She didn't make a choice. She's a child.
We are all God's children. (COUGHS)
Please help us. Help... Help her.
She will not be alone.
She will rest with the sheltered ones.
No. No!
(SCREAMS PlERClNGLY)
(MOUTHS)
SAMMY: Mommy!
(COUGHS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
(COUGHS)
(TENSE MUSlC)
Stephen! Stephen!
Cover your eyes, OK?
Don't look. Don't look. Don't. OK.
Stephen... Stephen? (COUGHS)
Stephen...
(WEEPS AND GASPS)
Don't... Keys... Keys...
(COUGHS)
Sammy!
Mom! Come on.
(PANTS) (COUGHS)
Arggh! Mommy!
Sammy...
(COUGHS)
(GASPS)
(BOTH SHRlEK)
OK. OK. Are you OK? (SOBS)
Alright, baby. OK. Come on.
(WAILS) Come on. Come on.
OK, l'm sorry. OK, sorry.
lt's OK. You're OK. lt's OK. (CRIES)
(WEEPS) Shh.
(BOTH BREATHE SHAKILY)
(EERlE, GENTLE MUSlC)
(COUGHS)
(RETCHES) Sammy? Sammy, what is it?
Oh, my God. lt's OK, baby. Get it out. Get it out.
Oh, my God. OK.
Mommy, I can't feel my fingers. OK, baby. lt's OK. You're alright.
(WHIMPERS)
lt's gonna be alright. You're gonna be al... (SCREAMS)
(WHlMPERS) Ugh!
(COUGHS)
(MUSlC lNTENSlFlES)
(SUCKS AIR)
(GASPS AND RETCHES)
Sammy!
(SlLENCE)
(BREATHES UNSTEADILY) Mommy?
You're bleeding, Mommy.
l hit my head.
(SOBS)
lt's OK. lt's OK. I'm really scared, Mommy.
lt's OK. lt's OK. Shh... Shh...
Shh. Come on. Come here. Come here.
Come here. lt's OK. lt's OK.
lt's OK. lt's alright. lt's alright. lt's OK.
Shh... (SOBS)
OK, OK, OK, OK, OK. (WEEPS)
Shh... OK, OK. OK. OK.
(SOBS) Alright. Alright. lt's alright.
(SIGHS)
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Bless the bed that l lay on
Bless me as l lay me down to sleep
l give myself to God to keep
Five little angels round my bed
One to the foot and one to the head
One to sing and one to pray...
(SNORTS)
..and one to take my sins away.
Amen.
(GASPS)
Mommy...
Mommy... (GASPS)
lt's OK.
(GASPS AND CHOKES)
Mommy!
(BOTH GRUNT)
Arggh!
(SPLUTTERS AND COUGHS)
(EERlE MUSlC)
(EXHALES, WIND BLOWS)
(INDISTINCT, GHOSTLY WHISPERS)
(WEEPS)
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
Sammy.
Sammy?
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Breathe, Sammy.
(SOBS)
Oh, God. (GASPS)
(SAMMY HUMS DAVID'S TUNE)
Sammy?
(EERlE VOCAL WHOOSH)