Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep it together – but then nightmares come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house calling to her, beckoning her with a ghostly allure. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into her husband’s belongings, yearning for answers. What she finds are secrets both strange and disturbing – a mystery she’s determined to unravel.
* * *
(WATER LAPPING SOFTLY)
(BOAT KNOCKING SOFTLY AGAINST DOCK)
(WIND CHIME TINKLING)
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
(VEHICLE DOORS OPENS, CLOSES)
WOMAN 1: I appreciate it.
WOMAN 2: I know that your relatives are scattered.
We’d be happy to come back.
Are you sure you’ll be all right?
WOMAN 1: Yes. I’ll be fine. Thank you.
WOMAN 2: I fly back to Detroit tonight. I’ll get in late, but call me if you need to. Anytime.
WOMAN 1: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I’ll be okay.
WOMAN 2: Okay. I know you will. Take care, sweetheart.
WOMAN 1: I will. Bye.
(SIGHS)
(CLOCK TICKING SOFTLY)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
(FOLK ROCK SONG PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
(SNIFFLES)
(FOLK ROCK SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
(SIGHS)
DJ: (ON VIDEO) So, raise your hand if you have better taste in music than the groom.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON VIDEO)
Do I see any hands?
All right, yeah, I see a few.
(FOLK ROCK SONG CONTINUES THROUGH VIDEO)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ON VIDEO)
(LAUGHTER)
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
(CHIMING SOFTLY)
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(GASPS)
(POUNDING ON DOOR)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(INHALES DEEPLY)
(ALARM RINGING)
(GASPS)
(ALARM CONTINUES RINGING)
(CAR LOCK BEEPING)
(SOFT SQUEAKING)
(GATE SQUEAKING)
(GATE STOPS SQUEAKING)
(BOAT KNOCKING SOFTLY AGAINST DOCK)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(GUNSHOT)
(GASPS)
(GASPING)
(SIGHS)
WOMAN 1: What we’re looking at here are the EOCT scores.
Now, I’m gonna pick on 10th grade just a little bit because you’ll see the biggest difference there.
The yellow line, the mustardy one, that’s two years ago.
The blue is last year.
The pink is this year.
(DOOR SLAMS)
WOMAN 2: (WHISPERS) Beth is here.
Give her space.
WOMAN 1: The pink is this year. So, what happened?
WOMAN 3: Teacher-student ratio.
WOMAN 1: I know, but class sizes are what they are. It’s statewide.
We can’t play the blame game when we’re pulling up the rear…
BETH: Sorry.
(WOMAN 1 CONTINUES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Hey.
Hi.
I don’t think you had to come. No one would blame you.
I still have grades to enter.
I’d have done that for you. All you had to do is ask.
It’s all right.
It gives me something to do. For now, anyway.
WOMAN 1: We don’t wanna be that school.
CLAIRE: You holdin’ up?
WOMAN 1: I don’t want to be that principal.
Yeah, I’m fine.
Just didn’t really sleep well last night.
Can’t believe you slept at all. Especially there.
MAN: We got to show up for them.
PRINCIPAL: Okay. I promised to give you all a 10-minute break, so let’s go ahead and take that.
Go potty, stretch your legs. There are more donuts in the back, courtesy of Mountville Baptist Church, so get you some, and be back by 8:40 though, on the dot-ish.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
WOMAN: Mrs. Parchin?
Hi.
(SHUTS LAPTOP)
Sorry. I was just…
WOMAN: Excuse me. I tried to knock, but…
We met before.
Um, I’m Hunter’s mom.
Hunter…
McLaughlin.
He has you second period.
I’m Becky McLaughlin. It was a few months ago.
BETH: Right. Of course.
I… I have so many Hunters this year.
Oh. How many?
Hmm?
Students named Hunter do you have?
Mm… Three.
(SMACKS LIPS) Please, have a seat.
(SIGHS SOFTLY)
I’m sure you know why I’m here.
I checked the website.
Hunter got a C in speech.
Oh, right. I think so.
Uh… Let me check.
But that’s what it said.
Mm-hmm.
Let me see here.
Uh… Right, yes.
It looks like he didn’t do his last presentation.
He said that you told him he could make that up.
I did.
Yeah. He, uh… He didn’t. (CHUCKLES)
He said he came in last Thursday.
That was the last day of school.
He said that you weren’t here.
Yes, I was out for a few days. It was a personal matter.
Well, he told me he was out the day you presented those projects.
We all have personal matters to deal with sometimes.
(SMACKS LIPS) Okay. Uh…
You know what? Let’s just excuse him
from that assignment. (CHUCKLES)
Uh…
(HITS KEY) There. B.
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) That’s not what I wanted.
Then, uh, what did you want?
Excuse me?
When you came in here, what did you want?
I want to know why my son…
My husband shot himself in the head last Thursday.
I hadn’t heard.
No, because it’s a personal matter.
So, yeah.
Yeah. If you wanna know,
he took the boat out on the lake.
He took a handgun that I didn’t even know that we owned.
And pow! Right in the mouth.
So, which Hunter got what grade
on what high school elective speech class assignment,
it really doesn’t matter to me right now.
So, you want a B, you got a B.
I… I apologize.
Oh, you want an A?
All right. Ta-da! (HITS KEY)
A B is fine.
B it is. (CLICKS)
Anything else I can do for you?
No.
Thank you.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Oh. Hey, Mel.
Hey.
The sky was looking a little mean.
I went ahead and covered the boat for you, just in case.
You didn’t have to do that.
Ah, that’s a goddamn lie if I’ve ever heard one.
Just paying it back, that’s all. (LATCHES GATE)
You and Owen were a couple godsends when Shelly passed.
BETH: Thank you.
(CHUCKLES)
You want me to haul that thing away?
You just say the word.
It’s okay. I think I’ll leave it.
Sell it with the house.
You thinking about selling?
Maybe.
I mean, he built it, so I’d hate to leave it, but…
MEL: Yeah.
It’s peaceful out here, but it is lonely.
Hey, Mel, were you, uh, shooting this morning
around 7:30 or so?
Didn’t hear anything? There was a gunshot.
I just figured with the weather getting warmer
and snakes and all…
(CHUCKLES)
I see a copperhead near the house,
I’m sure gonna shoot it, but I didn’t today.
Right.
You hear it again, just give me a shout, okay?
Okay, I will.
Okay.
I’m gonna get back.
Mm-hmm.
BETH: So, this is going to be the office down here,
and over here will be the kitchen.
Or maybe it’s here.
(ELECTRONIC SAW WHIRRING)
(CHUCKLES) And then… And then over here we have,
uh… (IMITATES FANFARE)
…biceps. Lots of biceps. (LAUGHS)
So, that is the husband.
Oh, hey, Owen! How are you doing?
Are you working? (CHUCKLES)
(WHIRRING STOPS)
You know that we’re paying people to do that, right?
You don’t have to do it all yourself.
OWEN: Mm-hmm.
BETH: No, no, don’t worry, I’m not actually filming.
Mm-hmm? (CHUCKLES)
OWEN: Mm-hmm.
BETH: Well, unless you want me to.
(BOTH LAUGHING ON VIDEO)
OWEN: Let me check.
BETH: No. Stop.
OWEN: Come here.
(BOTH CONTINUE LAUGHING)
(REMOTE CONTROL CLICKS)
(VIDEO STOPS)
(SIGHS)
(FOLK ROCK SONG BLARING ON SPEAKERS)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(FOLK ROCK SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(GASPS)
(MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY)
(GASPING SOFTLY)
(LINE RINGING)
(LINE CONNECTS)
(BETH GASPING)
(BREATH SHUDDERS)
Who is this?
(STATIC CRACKLING)
(DISTORTED MALE VOICE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
MALE VOICE: (DISTORTED) Beth…
(VOICE BREAKING) Owen? Is…
I know that you can…
(CRYING) I can’t hear you. I can’t…
Yes, you can.
Look out the window.
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(BREATH SHUDDERING)
(GASPS)
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFS)
(DOOR RATTLES)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(CAR LOCK BEEPS)
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFS)
(CHUCKLES QUIETLY)
CLAIRE: What am I looking at?
BETH: You tell me.
CLAIRE: It’s a picture of you.
BETH: Is it?
CLAIRE: Yeah.
I mean, nice blouse.
Look… Look closer.
Is that me?
Yeah, I think so. I mean, who else would it be?
That’s what I want to know.
Well, it’s either you or a woman who looks,
like, a lot like you.
Sweetie, I think that’s you.
Nice blouse, right? I don’t have one like that.
God, Beth.
Don’t do this to yourself.
It’s you, okay?
And if it’s not you, then, believe me,
there are far worse things to find on your husband’s phone
than fully clothed women who look exactly like you.
Mm. Yeah, well, I guess I was his type.
Please. Owen loved you.
You. He worshipped you.
I…
I mean, from everything you told me,
you didn’t really give him any reason to roam.
I mean, how do you know he even took those pictures anyway?
He’s not here to defend himself or explain.
Look, a bunch of us are going out tonight drinking.
The whole department. Well, not Clark, obviously,
but you should come. Get your mind off things.
We’ll see.
Why were you going through his phone anyway?
Shit.
Sorry.
That was… That was a really fucking stupid,
insensitive thing to say.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t think we had secrets.
Everybody has secrets.
Don’t let it weigh on you.
Just…
Just remember your Owen.
Who you fell in love with.
Because whatever else he was, he was that, too.
WOMAN: What’s her name?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Maggie Monroe.
Oh, she’d be my best customer.
She told me I don’t have a knack for teaching anyway.
And she’d know
’cause she’s an expert on many things.
Jesus Christ.
WOMAN: So, are we going to read the book she gave us?
Fuck, no. I don’t need 300 pages to tell me
how to “engage and inspire” my students.
Yeah, just let them stand up on their desks or whatever.
Change their lives.
(CHUCKLES)
You okay, B?
Do you guys believe in ghosts?
Uh… Ghosts, like, how?
I do. I believe.
WOMAN: Really?
Well, I mean, I don’t not believe.
I think there’s something in my house.
(SNIFFS) Like a… a presence.
No way.
I mean, I don’t know.
I feel like there’s something.
Like there’s something watching me. (CHUCKLES)
And all this weird stuff.
I’m having these dreams.
I mean, it feels like they’re dreams.
They feel real though when they’re happening.
Like sleep paralysis?
No.
MAN: Do you know what sleep paralysis is?
Yes, Gary, I know what sleep paralysis is.
WOMAN: I don’t.
CLAIRE: It’s when your mind’s awake, but your body’s not, right?
Did you guys see that documentary on…
GARY: I had this buddy in school who had it.
It’s pretty common to feel like there’s someone else in the room with you
when you’re having an episode.
Like a hostile presence.
What about the opposite?
GARY: Like a friendly presence?
No. When your body’s awake, but your mind isn’t.
But isn’t that just sleepwalking?
BETH: Sure. Sleepwalking.
Could that be contagious?
GARY: No. Why?
Owen used to sleepwalk.
I remember that.
A year or two after he built the house, it just started.
Now you’re doing it?
BETH: Yeah.
That’s weird.
(CHUCKLES)
How long were you married?
Uh… Oh.
(SMACKS LIPS)
Let me do the math.
(CHUCKLES)
BETH: Fourteen years.
This next one, this next one would have been 15.
WOMAN: Wow.
You were married young.
Little bit. Little bit.
I mean, you spend so much time
in the same space with someone,
it’s gonna feel like they’re there.
Even when they’re not.
CLAIRE: But who knows, right? I mean, who’s to say
what happens once we
“shuffle off this mortal coil, what dreams may come”?
GARY: No. No Shakespeare until next fall.
Are you really gonna cheer me up with the suicide soliloquy?
Fuck. Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, I didn’t… I’m so sorry.
(LAUGHING)
I’m joking.
(GARY CHUCKLES)
I’m joking.
You shouldn’t be joking about that.
Heather…
Oh…
Did you seriously not know that anything was wrong?
Gary! Jesus, you guys…
No, I don’t mind.
No, I didn’t know.
I’m the one who struggled with that stuff. Depression.
Dark thoughts.
He’s the one that kept them at bay.
Maybe it got to him.
I don’t know. Maybe I infected him with my bullshit.
No, no. It…
It doesn’t work like that.
BETH: No?
(GARY SIGHS)
Did he leave a note?
CLAIRE: Okay.
I’m sorry.
GARY: She wants to talk about it.
CLAIRE: I think we’re done with this conversation.
He did.
CLAIRE: Beth…
(CHUCKLES)
He did.
HEATHER: God.
You keep it in your purse?
Okay. (CHUCKLES)
(HEATHER CLEARS THROAT)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(CLICKS TONGUE)
“You were right.
“There is nothing.
“Nothing is after you.
“You’re safe now.”
That’s it.
That’s it?
That’s it.
No “XOXO, your loving husband.”
Nothing.
What does that mean?
Not a clue. Not a fucking clue.
Other than I was living with a crazy person
and didn’t know it.
Makes you wonder though, doesn’t it?
What else didn’t I know? (CHUCKLES)
I want to know.
Okay. I think that it’s time we get you home.
Sure. I mean, I wouldn’t wanna keep him waiting.
CLAIRE: Okay.
Let’s go.
BETH: Okay, fine, let’s go.
CLAIRE: Good night, guys. Thank you.
Okay.
Let’s go. I got you.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
(DOOR SLAMS)
CLAIRE: Wow, you’ve really made some progress on the place.
BETH: Mm-hmm.
You want a brandy?
CLAIRE: No, Beth. I don’t want a brandy.
And I don’t want you to have one either.
BETH: Okay.
I don’t even like it that much.
Haven’t acquired the taste.
Come on, upstairs with you.
No. I’m sleeping here.
Okay. Do you want me to stay?
Mm-mm. You’ve got kids.
It’s fine. I could just…
I can call Bob. I told him I was gonna be out late.
I could just call him and…
No. Mm-mm.
Well, you should come over soon.
For dinner or something. I’ll get Bob to cook for us.
I don’t like you here all by yourself.
(BETH CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I lied.
About the letter.
(LAUGHING) You asshole! Oh, my God!
Oh, my God, you totally has us going. I thought that was real.
Did you see Gary’s face?
It is real.
I meant that I lied about having no idea what it meant.
You know, I…
I died back in Tennessee. Did I tell you that story?
Mm-mm.
Seventeen, high school.
Friend was driving,
and we flipped over the side of a mountain.
Pancaked. (SLAPS HAND)
(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY)
Lungs were crushed. They had to airlift me out.
Heart stopped. Whole deal. Four minutes.
Oh, my God.
Afterward, when everyone would ask me when they found out,
like, “What was it like? What did you see?”
And I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I’d say…
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
But I remember.
Owen was the only person I ever told.
There’s nothing.
What do you mean, “Nothing”?
(CHUCKLES DRYLY)
I wish I could tell you something.
A light at the end of the tunnel.
There’s just tunnel.
(CHUCKLES)
If it’s any consolation, Owen was never convinced.
Yeah, we agreed about most things, but not that.
Not what comes after. He wanted to believe in a better place.
And he almost made me believe it, too.
But you can’t unknow what you know.
“You were right. There is nothing.
“Nothing is after you.
“You’re safe now.”
He told me I was right.
Now I’m not so sure.
He said you were safe. Safe from what?
I guess we’ll never know, will we, Claire?
Do you really believe in ghosts?
CLAIRE: No. I was just being nice.
BETH: Mm.
You are. You’re very, very nice.
(SOFTLY) Sure you don’t want me to stay?
(SLEEPILY) Maybe just till I go to sleep.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(GASPS)
MALE VOICE: Beth.
(GASPING)
Beth. Wake up.
The door.
Beth, wake up.
(GASPING)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(WIND CHIME TINKLING)
BETH: Claire?
MALE VOICE: The door.
You wanna say something? Talk to me!
(PANTING)
(SNIFFS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(WOMAN GASPS)
Hey!
(GASPING)
(WOMAN 2 YELPING)
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
(WOMEN WHIMPERING)
(GASPING RAPIDLY)
What? (WHIMPERING)
(GASPING)
Wait! No! No!
(WOMAN 3 CRIES OUT)
(GASPS)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(GASPING)
MALE VOICE: (WHISPERS) The boat.
BETH: (WHIMPERS) What did you say?
MALE VOICE: The boat.
(WHIMPERS)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(BETH GASPS)
(BREATHING NERVOUSLY)
(WATER BUBBLING SOFTLY)
(WHISPERS) Owen?
Are you really here?
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
If you’re with me, show me.
(FOOTSTEPS THUDDING)
(DOCK CREAKING)
(BREATH SHUDDERING)
(WIND GUSTS)
(GASPING)
Is that really you?
(THUD)
(GASPS)
(WATER SLOSHING)
MALE VOICE: It’s a dream.
You’re dreaming.
(GASPS)
(PANTING)
(GASPS)
(BREATH SHUDDERS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
(GASPING SOFTLY)
(PUTS CELL PHONE DOWN)
(GASPS)
(SNIFFS)
(FLIES BUZZING)
(DOG PANTING)
Beth?
Hey.
What are you doing out here? Taking a hike?
Uh, no. No, I’m just looking for something.
Can I help?
Uh-uh.
What you looking for?
Uh… A house.
A house?
Mm-hmm.
No houses out here. It’s all county forest land.
Can’t build on it.
Right. I’m just being silly.
I thought I saw something last night, like a…
Looked like a light in a window, so…
A house?
Mm-hmm.
Anyway, it’s doing me good to get some air.
So, if you don’t mind…
As a matter of fact, I do.
Sorry, what?
You’re not well, Beth.
You’ve been through a lot lately. More than you deserve.
And for my own peace of mind, if nothing else,
I’d rather not have you tromping around out here in the woods on your own.
You should be with your friends and family.
Do you have anybody?
Hey. How about my place for lunch?
I’ll make sandwiches.
(INHALES SHARPLY) Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that sounds nice.
Maybe in a little while though, okay?
(FLIES BUZZING)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
Anyone here?
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(FLOORBOARD CREAKS)
(QUIET FOOTSTEPS)
(FLOORBOARD CREAKING)
(CREAKING STOPS)
(PANTING)
Mel?
Mel?
MEL: Hold on!
(CONTINUES KNOCKING)
Okay.
What the fuck is this?
What?
What the fuck is this?
How should I know?
Bullshit. You were trying to keep me out of the woods.
Because I’m worried about you.
What was he building?
What?
There is a house. Our house. My house.
Now, what the fuck was he building?
I don’t know. I never saw a house.
I only saw him wandering around out there
in the middle of the night from time to time.
What? And you didn’t tell me?
He asked me not to.
(SCOFFS)
(SLAMS DOLL ON TABLE) Mel.
Look, Beth…
(SIGHS)
I don’t think you’re equipped to handle this right now.
(LAUGHS SARCASTICALLY)
Oh. (SCOFFS)
Tell me everything that you know.
I caught him once.
Like I caught you this morning.
Taking that same route around the lake.
(MEL SIGHS)
He had a woman with him.
I thought it was you, so I called out, and when she turned…
It wasn’t.
(SIGHS) No.
He came by that night.
Pounding at my door. Late.
In a real bad way.
Alcohol on his breath. Mud on his hands and clothes, like he’d fallen.
And I know how it sounds now,
but I believed every word he said.
And? What did he say?
That he had urges.
Shameful urges…
that he was rightfully ashamed of, that he was trying to shake.
Said he’d found a way to keep them at bay.
What kind of urges?
You’ll forgive me if I didn’t feel the need to ask.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
Look. Don’t think I haven’t wrestled with this, okay?
But I swear on Shelly’s grave
that I never saw anything like that again. Ever.
I wanted to tell you so many times…
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
but he just seemed good after that.
You both seemed so good.
(SCOFFS)
Well, I guess you were wrong.
He left a hole in your life
and you’re desperate to fill it. That’s what this is.
Look, if…
All I can say is that, if I’m allowed to say anything,
is that you don’t need to fill it with something dark.
You’re closer to death than you’ve ever been.
Well, that’s not exactly true.
(PANTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(WHIMPERS)
(BREATH SHUDDERS)
(KICKS BOX AWAY)
(TYPING)
(BETH BREATHING HEAVILY)
(GRUNTS)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(CREAKING CONTINUES)
(LIGHT, MUFFLED FOOTSTEPS)
(SOFT THUD)
(CREAKING STOPS)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
BETH: Okay.
(SWITCH CLICKS)
(SIGHING)
(SNIFFS)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(SOFT CREAK)
(HEAVY CREAK)
(GASPS)
Come back.
(PANTS) Come back…
(CAR LOCK BEEPS)
(SHOPKEEPER’S BELL TINKLES)
Just one sec.
I’m not actually buying these. I just have a quick question.
Uh, my husband bought these from you,
and I’m just wondering if you could tell me
whether he bought anything else,
or whether he had something on hold? Something like that?
Um, we don’t really keep records like that.
Okay. Could you tell me when?
When he bought these?
Maybe you have an inventory?
Not like that.
Right.
Could you tell me other books by this author?
Tsk.
Let’s see…
(BETH CLEARS THROAT)
It’s Dyson.
Think you probably want Sturgis, but okay…
(SOFT THUD)
BETH: Hi.
Hi.
You work here?
I do. Can I help you with anything?
Mm-mm.
I’m Beth.
Beth Parchin.
Madelyne.
I think you knew my husband.
No, I don’t…
Owen. Owen Parchin.
(MADELYNE CLEARS THROAT)
There are pictures of you on his phone.
Jonah?
It’s all right. You don’t have to call for help.
I’m not gonna… (CHUCKLES)
I mean…
the matter’s been resolved…
I guess.
Oh.
Yeah.
He’s dead.
What?
Suicide. (IMITATES GUNSHOT)
Oh, my God.
Just in case you had any dates planned, or…
Mm-mm.
It wasn’t like that.
Oh.
Well, then would you mind telling me what it was like?
(HESITATINGLY) Sure. Um…
He came in a few times every year,
and he was always friendly.
We flirted some, and he started coming more after that.
We had a few drinks, and that was it.
Take your hair down.
What?
Your hair. Ponytail.
Lose it. Take it down.
Why?
Well, because you slept with my husband, and I’m asking you nicely.
I didn’t…
(SCOFFS)
(INHALES DEEPLY)
I didn’t sleep with him.
Honestly, I barely knew him.
MAN: (ON TV) For centuries, stories of the…
She said she barely fucking knew him.
CLAIRE: What did you say?
Same. I said, “Same here, kid.”
(LAUGHS)
Do you believe her?
What? About them not fucking?
Yeah.
I do.
Well, that’s something.
Nothing good.
I mean, fucking, I get. Fucking makes sense.
There were others. Our neighbor saw him with someone.
Really?
Yes. And I looked on his computer,
and there are tons of pictures,
like half a dozen women.
They all look a little bit like me, but not quite.
So if he wasn’t fucking them,
what the hell was he doing?
(KNOB CLICKING)
I had this dream the other night.
It was our house, but not.
It was backwards,
and I saw him with someone…
Stop. Stop it.
Stop going through his stuff.
Nothing you find is gonna help you right now.
Am I not being clear? He had a secret life.
Are you really gonna stand there and lecture me
about his posthumous right to privacy?
CLAIRE: I understand you’re experiencing these things,
but I’m worried about you.
Maybe take a step back.
(SIGHS) I don’t know.
(BETH BREATHES DEEPLY)
I felt him.
I felt my husband.
“You were right. There’s nothing.”
Why would he say there’s nothing? He didn’t believe that.
CLAIRE: Beliefs change.
Look at you. (CHUCKLES)
You’re the most skeptical person I know,
and here you are, telling me that your house is haunted.
Yeah, I mean, (CLEARS THROAT) when you put it like that,
it does sound kinda silly.
Don’t go home.
Get away from the lake for a while.
You can stay here, even.
You can stay as long as you want.
It’s not finished.
(CLAIRE SIGHS)
Not everything gets finished.
You may never know what he was thinking.
He’s gone. You’re not.
You still have a life to live.
(CHUCKLES)
No, you’re right.
I could use the distance.
I’ll go pack a few more things. Get a bag.
Book into a room for a couple nights.
I can’t tell if you’re being serious.
BETH: I am.
And you’ve made some excellent points. Really.
I love you.
Just call me later, okay?
I will.
(CAR LOCK BEEPING)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(SWITCHES CLICK)
I’m leaving.
Tonight, I guess.
So, if you’ve got something to say to me, you better say it now.
You hear me?
(SETS GLASS DOWN)
Motherfucker. (SCOFFS)
(LAUGHS)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
Hey!
(NERVOUSLY) Sorry. I didn’t think you were home.
I’m home.
I don’t think I should be here.
How did you know where to go?
Well, I’ve been here before.
(SCOFFS)
I probably should have told you earlier at the bookstore,
but, uh, honestly, you freaked me out a little.
BETH: Sorry about that.
No, I get it. Totally.
I probably would have done the same thing.
It’s funny, really,
I laid down for a minute after work,
and I had this dream.
I dreamed I was you.
Well, I was me, but I was you, too,
and something was chasing you, and it was all around you.
Well, us.
But did it get us? (CHUCKLES QUIETLY)
I’m not sure. That’s when I woke up.
Afterwards, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
I figured there’s something you should know.
Stuff that happened.
Phew.
I told you I didn’t sleep with your husband.
Yeah, you can use his name. He wasn’t “my husband” to you.
Right.
Well, I meant it.
I didn’t sleep with him.
But I would have. I thought we would, but…
He came by one afternoon
after I was getting off,
and he invited me here, like a… like a day trip.
And normally, I wouldn’t have gone,
but he was smart, and sweet, and…
I don’t know. I just kind of felt safe with him, you know?
I do.
Right.
So, yeah, um, he took me here
and, uh, we had a drink.
We walked to the lake, and he showed me the other house…
Wait. You’ve seen it?
Well, it’s not much to see, but he was really proud of it, though.
I mean, giddy, almost.
Showing me around from room to room.
And then, he showed me this weird statue, and he asked me to hold it.
And you did?
What exactly did he do to you?
MADELYNE: Nothing.
He held me…
sort of.
He put his chin on my shoulder and…
Look, I know it sounds weird saying it out loud,
but at the time,
it felt really nice.
Having someone close to you.
Feeling them there.
I…
I felt him shake.
And he was crying a little, and I didn’t know what to do.
What did he do to you?
I kissed him. He kissed me back and…
It was very sweet at first.
So, I… I…
didn’t stop him when he put his hands on my back.
And I didn’t stop him when he put his hands on my neck.
Until he started squeezing.
Oh, my God.
I probably misread him, you know? I just…
Everybody has a different barometer for that kind of thing.
Did he hurt you?
God, no!
I asked him to stop, and he stopped.
But do you think he would have?
But he didn’t.
He drove me home.
He said it was his fault, not mine.
That he was tired and confused,
and he didn’t know what was him,
and it wasn’t working anymore.
He was afraid he couldn’t hold it back.
Hold what back?
I don’t know exactly.
But in the end,
he said he knew what he had to do.
He had to end it for good.
Look…
I just wanted to tell you.
He clearly felt guilty about cheating on you.
(SCOFFS)
That’s what he was talking about, right?
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(BOTTLE CLINKS)
(POURS DRINK)
(PANTING)
(CONTINUES PANTING)
We need to talk.
I’m not leaving until we do.
You called, I came.
Don’t you wanna talk to me? (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
You talked to her.
(SING-SONGY) I’m here. I’m still here.
Wherever you are…
come and get me.
(LOUDLY) Just come get me!
(LAUGHING)
(PANTING)
Okay. (CHUCKLES)
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(GASPS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(GASPING)
Fucking… (PANTING)
(GRUNTS)
(CRYING)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
(SNIFFLES)
Okay. Okay. Come on, pick up the phone.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Claire Woodward…
Fuck!
…is not available. At the tone,
please record your message. (BEEPS)
I’m sorry. Hey, it’s, uh… it’s late.
And, uh…
I should have listened to you.
I did something that I shouldn’t have.
I went across the lake, and I saw something.
(VOICE BREAKING) I saw something so…
I don’t even know if it’s real or not.
(CHUCKLES DRYLY)
I know my husband.
I know who he is,
and I refuse to believe that he would have…
(INHALES SHARPLY) I don’t know.
(SIGHING HEAVILY)
I wish that you were here.
I wish that it were morning.
(PANTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(FOLK ROCK SONG BLARING ON SPEAKERS)
(MUFFLED FOLK ROCK SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(GASPING SOFTLY)
(MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY)
(WHIMPERS) No.
Stop it.
Owen?
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
(CRYING) Where are you?
I just…
I don’t understand.
Please come back.
(SOBBING HEAVILY)
Oh, God.
I miss you so much.
(SIGHS)
(GASPS)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(GLASS SQUEAKING)
(SIGHS)
(WATER DRIPPING)
(GASPING SOFTLY)
(GASPING SOFTLY)
Is this real?
Are you really here?
(GASPING HEAVILY)
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
Hold me. Hold me.
(GASPS SHARPLY)
(GASPS)
(PANTING)
You’re really here?
MALE VOICE: Yes.
(GASPS)
(PANTING)
I’m here.
(GASPING SOFTLY)
Owen?
No.
I’m not Owen.
(WHIMPERS)
(GASPING)
Fuck. Fuck.
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(GASPING RAPIDLY)
(RATTLING)
(DOOR THUDS)
(WHIMPERS SOFTLY)
(GASPING)
(BOTH GASP)
(WOMAN CRIES OUT)
(GASPING)
(OWEN GRUNTING)
(WOMAN YELPING)
(WHISPERS) No, stop it.
(WOMAN GASPING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(WOMAN YELPS)
(GASPS)
(WOMAN WHIMPERING)
(WOMAN CRIES)
(OWEN GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
(CHOKING)
(BREATHING WEAKLY)
(GLASS CRACKS)
(GROANS SOFTLY)
(WHISPERS) Hide.
BETH: What?
(WOMAN WHIMPERS)
(GASPS)
(OWEN GRUNTING)
(OWEN BREATHING HEAVILY)
(HEAVY CREAK)
(GASPS)
(HEAVY CREAKING)
(GASPING)
(GASPS)
(HEAVY CREAKING)
(DOOR CREAKS SOFTLY)
(HEAVY CREAKING CONTINUES)
(GASPING HEAVILY)
(DOOR CREAKS)
(YELPING)
(GRUNTING)
(WOMAN SCREAMING)
(OWEN GRUNTING)
(YELPING)
(MUFFLED WOMAN SCREAMING)
(OWEN SOBBING)
BETH: Owen?
(GASPS)
(GROANING)
(GASPING)
(O HOLY NIGHT PLAYING FAINTLY ON SPEAKERS)
(BETH BREATHING HEAVILY)
(WHISPERING) You left.
What?
The night we met.
You’re not Owen.
I’m what you felt when your heart stopped.
No. I felt…
MALE VOICE: Nothing.
Do you remember?
You saw me.
And I’ve been with you ever since.
What did you do to my husband?
MALE VOICE: I went to him.
I whispered in his ear
over and over.
To send you back.
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
But he wouldn’t.
He sent me them instead.
He tricked you.
For a while.
(GASPS)
(GRUNTS)
Shit.
MALE VOICE: Stop.
(GASPS)
(WHIMPERS)
(GRUNTS)
Don’t fight.
No!
(BETH GRUNTING)
Beth.
(GROANING)
(STRAINED GRUNTING)
(YELLING)
(CHOKING)
(CONTINUES CHOKING)
(CONTINUES CHOKING)
(GRUNTS, GASPS)
(STOPS CHOKING)
(EXHALING DEEPLY)
(WIND CHIME TINKLING)
Beth?
Hello?
Beth, are you here?
I’m coming up.
Beth?
(SHOUTING) Beth!
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Where is he?
(BETH BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
Gone.
But you already knew that.
(PANTING)
What the fuck?
Oh, my God.
Beth! (ECHOING)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
MALE VOICE: He thought he could protect you.
He was wrong.
You were right.
(SHOUTS) Beth!
Beth!
MALE VOICE: There is nothing.
Beth!
There is only me.
Come back to me.
(BETH BREATHES SHAKILY)
CLAIRE: Beth!
It doesn’t matter.
Let go.
Come back to me.
CLAIRE: Beth!
Beth!
Oh, my God.
(CLAIRE GRUNTING)
CLAIRE: I’m right here.
Keep your head up. This way.
(CLAIRE AND BETH GRUNTING)
(BETH GASPING)
Is she okay?
CLAIRE: I don’t know.
What happened?
I don’t know. I don’t know. (SOBS)
Beth? Are you here? Are you here?
(GRUNTS) I’m here, I’m here.
I’m here.
CLAIRE: I got you.
I’m here.
(SOBS)
CLAIRE: I got you, I got you.
I’m right here. I’m here.
(BOTH PANTING TIREDLY)
Just breathe.
You’re safe now.
You’re okay, you’re gonna be okay.
MEL: What is it?
There’s nothing there.
(BETH BREATHING SHAKILY)
BETH: I know.
