The Marsh King’s Daughter is a psychological thriller film released in 2023. The film is directed by Neil Burger and written by Elle Smith and Mark L. Smith. It is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Karen Dionne.
Helena (Daisy Ridley) is a young mother who leads a seemingly ordinary life, but she harbors a dark secret: her estranged father is the infamous Marsh King (Ben Mendelsohn), a man who kidnapped Helena’s mother and held them captive in the wilderness for years. When the Marsh King escapes from prison, Helena knows that he will stop at nothing to find her and her family. Determined to protect her daughters, Helena must confront her past and the man who taught her everything she knows about survival.
* * *
[person] And the mother cried, “Is this myself I see, reflected in your eyes?”
And the daughter said, [daughter] “Is it me I see, mirrored in yours?”
[insects buzzing]
[birds chirping]
[person] Helena.
Come back.
She’s going to make you do twice as many chores when you get back.
I don’t mind the trade.
Maybe if we’re gone long enough, she’ll forget she’s mad.
Okay.
We’ll walk slow, Little Shadow.
[birds chirping]
It was here.
Running or walking?
[Helena] The strides are wider than before.
And deeper on the outsides.
It was running.
Why?
Because it was scared of something.
Scared of what?
Us.
If you were afraid, running for your life, where would you go?
[Helena] Where no one could see me.
[whispering] It’s time you finished the hunt.
[whispering] What if I miss?
Then we go hungry tonight.
[gunshot]
[birds shrieking]
[sighs]
I didn’t make a sound.
So, what do you think happened?
It smelled me.
You won’t need the fire.
Helena, come get what you earned today.
[Helena] She’s always mad at me.
[parent] Oh, your mother can’t see happiness like we do.
[insects buzzing]
[birds chirping]
[mother screams]
[water splashes]
[mother panting]
[parent] Okay.
[mother] I’m fine.
It’s getting late.
[bird whistle tootling]
Helena, no more.
Where’s the rest of it?
It’s free now.
[flies buzzing]
It chewed its own leg off?
Sacrificed what it had to, to survive.
[echoed gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[fire crackling]
[wood creaking]
[metal rattling]
When can I keep mine in the house like you do?
When you’re as good a hunter as I am.
Which will be never.
[parent growling]
[Helena yelps]
[Helena grunts]
What do the marks say?
They say,
“When you’re running from an angry moose,
beware of low branches.”
[parent growls]
[Helena shrieking]
[wolf howling]
[yelping]
[growling]
I heard it crying.
[parent] She’s starving.
Well, we have some scraps inside. We could maybe
What happens when those are gone?
There’s nothing more pure than the instinct to survive.
The wolf holds no pity.
Just the desire to live another day.
What would you do to the wolf, if you were starving?
You’re its prey.
We all are.
[pup whines]
But what about the baby?
Will suffer and die alone.
Now, do what I say, Helena.
But if
Helena, move.
[wolf yelps]
You must always protect your family.
[indistinct arguing in distance]
Nah. This is one of my alone trips.
But I can help.
No, come on. You know the rules.
I’ll bring you back a surprise. What kind of surprise?
Kind of surprise you’re gonna have to wait to find out what it is.
Now, get on back there.
I’ll be home soon.
[mother humming melody]
[humming continues]
[birds screaming]
[motor whirring]
Sorry to come ridin’ in on you.
Is your mom or dad around?
Hey.
Hope I’m not trespassing or anything.
Didn’t know anybody lived way out here.
Been out for hours, and I got all spun around. I
I can’t find my way back to the trail.
[breathing shakily]
No signal out here anywhere.
Look, if you could just point me toward
Help!
Please. Before he gets back.
What?
What are we doing?
What are What are you doing?
[mother] Get on, Helena. [motorist] Whoa. Hang on.
He’ll be back soon.
Who?
Please, we have to go. Now!
I
I don’t wanna go!
I can’t just take you.
I’m not even sure where we are. That’s why I’m
[gunshot]
[choking]
No!
[engine revs]
Mother! Mother, stop!
Mother! Mother, stop! Stop!
[parent] Helena! No!
Father!
Father!
[mother] Helena?
[Helena] Father!
[mother] Helena?
[Helena shouting] No!
Stop! Stop!
Somebody!
Somebody!
[electricity crackling]
[door opens]
Look who’s awake.
It’s okay, Helena.
Your mother’s just in the next room.
Where’s my father?
He’s not here. You’re safe now.
There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Don’t worry about that.
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[people murmuring]
[mother] Helena.
We shouldn’t be here. I want to go home.
That wasn’t our home.
What did you do?
What did you do?
I want Father.
[whispering] He can’t be near us.
Ever again.
He took me, Helena.
Jacob…
kidnapped me and took me to the woods.
You’re lying.
You’re a liar. You have always been a liar.
Father told me.
Stop crying!
You’re not allowed to do that.
[police officer] We need to let your mother rest.
Just for a few minutes.
We’ll be okay. Helena?
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[dogs barking in distance]
Father?
[vehicle honking in distance]
[glass shatters]
[people laughing, chattering]
[pub goer 1] Who’s out?
[pub goer 2] Yeah.
[people laughing, chattering]
[horn honks]
[brakes squeal]
[birdcall whistling]
[birdcall whistle continues]
[Helena whimpering]
Okay, we have to go. Come on.
You did good. Come on.
Okay, let’s go this way.
[officer 1] There he is!
[officer 2] Police! Don’t move!
[crying] Are we gonna go home?
One day we will.
[officer 3] Hey! Don’t move!
Back away from the girl.
No! [police officer] On your stomach!
Now!
He didn’t do anything wrong.
[police officer] Let me see your hands.
I’ll come find you, Little Shadow.
[officer] He’s running! I got him! [Jacob grunts]
[officer] Hands behind your back!
Daddy!
[vehicles honking in distance]
[office employees chattering]
[typing]
[exhales deeply]
[sighs]
[whispering] Shoot.
[birds chirping]
No running, Marigold.
Hi, sweetie.
Mrs. Haver said she has a life of her own, and if you’re gonna be late,
she’s gonna start charging you rent for me.
She did, huh? [Marigold] What does that mean?
It means you are so valuable, she thinks I should pay for you.
Whatcha got here?
My science project. It’s a habitat. [Helena] Uhhuh.
Habitat? Who’s the habitat for?
A baby deer.
It sleeps over here, beside the rocks, to keep it safe from hunters.
Smart deer.
[children laughing, chattering]
[Marigold] Mommy!
What kind of leaf is this?
A walnut.
From which tree? You tell me.
There.
Mmhmm.
[Marigold] And what’s that tree?
A red oak.
It doesn’t look red to me.
It will be in the fall.
Do you see the bird?
[bird singing]
A wood thrush.
How do you know all the names?
I can teach you if you want.
[Marigold] I can see a bunny rabbit.
[Helena] Where?
You have to kind of tilt your head. See the ears?
Oh, yeah. I see it. With the tail down this way?
Yeah.
[Jacob] It means that we’re one.
Family.
[Marigold] Mom?
When can I have one of these?
[Helena] Not until you’re 82 years old.
That’s the rule, remember?
That’s not fair.
You got them when you were young.
I was much older than you, and I wish I hadn’t.
I like them.
I like you.
[both giggling]
[“Everything Is Possible Now” playing on radio]
[Marigold] Daddy’s home!
Put your stuff inside, sweetie.
We’re going to the campus for Daddy’s work picnic.
[Marigold] Picnic? Sorry we’re late.
I forgot about your thing tonight.
That’s all right. Let’s just go.
I have to change. Why don’t you go on over with her, and I’ll come later.
Well, we’ve tried that. You never show.
I’m just not good at those things. Neither am I.
Which is why you’re coming with.
Plus, you’re my beautiful wife, and I want to show you off.
[children laughing, screaming]
[partygoer] You know, it’s funny.
[Helena] Thank you. [partygoer 2 laughs]
Hey, you good? Yeah.
Is Marigold having fun?
[partygoer 3] I don’t know. The crazy thing is,
my students don’t even try to hide it anymore.
Phones are going off my entire lecture.
Well, in their defense, I have heard some of your lectures.
[all laugh]
I love that. It’s unusual.
Oh, thanks.
[professor] Did you get it around here?
Uh, in San Francisco, when I was a teenager.
You have a bunch of them.
Too many. [chuckles]
I didn’t know you’re from San Francisco.
Other places too. We moved around a lot. What’d your parents do?
My father worked in insurance, my mom sometimes did telemarketing.
Doesn’t get much more boring than that.
[crickets chirping]
[Helena] “Then she took 20 mattresses and laid them on the pea.
On this, the princess had to lie all night.
In the morning she was asked how she had slept.
And the princess said…
[whispered] ‘Oh, very badly.'”
[sighs]
[door closes]
[crickets chirping]
[coughing]
[coughing, choking]
[metal rattling]
[guard grunts]
[grunts]
[gunshots]
[breathing heavily]
[police radio chatter]
What’s going on? Where’s my daughter?
[person] Helena Erikkson?
Where’s Marigold?
[person] She’s not here. This isn’t about her.
I’m Special Agent Illing.
What are you doing in my house?
Ms. Erikkson. My name is Pelletier.
Before that, it was Jones, correct?
Then Mitchell, after you changed it from Bekkum.
But you were born to Jacob Holbrook and Beth Erikkson.
What do you want?
Your father, Jacob Holbrook.
He and another prisoner escaped last night
while being transported across the state line to Alger Penitentiary.
When’s the last time you spoke to him?
When I was ten years old.
Has he tried to contact you recently?
No.
Are you sure? Not even once?
You could’ve called me. You didn’t need to come here.
What’s going on?
You okay?
Do you know where your father might be going?
YYour father?
You can’t just come into my house.
[Illing] Our warrant allows us to check for any possible communication
to or from your father.
Why do you keep saying that? Helena’s father
He doesn’t know where I live, doesn’t know my last name,
doesn’t know anything about me.
[Illing] And that’s same for your family and friends? Have any of your
I’ve never told anyone Jacob Holbrook is my father.
[Illing] So, 20 years.
No letter, birthday card, anything?
No.
I’m confused.
I thought your parents died in a car accident.
[whispering] That’s what I told you.
And Holbrook, that’s the Marsh King guy. The one that just escaped.
I heard it on the radio.
[Illing] That’s right.
Is there any risk of him coming here?
That’s what we’re trying to find out.
He doesn’t know where I live.
Oh, you can’t be too sure of that.
Christ, Helena. How could you not have told me?
I told you to stay in the car, sweetie.
Who are these people?
Police. They’re just
I’m gonna take her. I’ll call you later.
[Illing] We’re gonna need to see your phone and any computers you use.
With any luck, your father will be found soon.
You don’t know my father.
If he makes it to the wild, you’ll never see him again.
[anchor] In a case that received nationwide notoriety,
Jacob Holbrook, the socalled “Marsh King,” abducted Beth Erikkson
and held her for 12 years
in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,
until she eventually escaped
with the daughter she gave birth to while in captivity.
After the trial, Erikkson had difficulty adapting to normal life
and was rarely seen in public.
Tragically, she died four years ago in an apparent suicide.
[line ringing]
[spouse] Yeah?
You guys coming home?
[spouse] I grabbed a hotel room for the night. Mari’s in the pool.
[Helena] I could bring her over some school clothes, if you want.
[spouse] I’m keeping her out tomorrow, just in case.
I didn’t think this would happen.
That I’d find out?
No. I mean, I wish I
Mari’s yelling for me. I gotta go.
[line clicks]
[Jacob] Little Shadow.
Time to check our snares.
And a real hunter…
needs a real knife.
This is yours now.
Let’s see how you do with it.
[insects chirping, buzzing]
Hi.
I called earlier, but you didn’t answer.
I’m not great with phones.
That’s an understatement.
I saw the news.
Thought I’d shoot down and say hello.
Hello, Clark.
Maybe grab a glass of water before I head back.
[sighs]
I know you don’t want me dropping in,
but I figured everything’s changed a bit now.
Cat’s outta the bag.
How’s your husband taking it?
Not well.
He’ll come around. Just a matter of time.
The little one’s not so little anymore.
Your mother would’ve loved to have met her.
I thought you might bring Marigold up home a while back,
at least for the funeral.
She wouldn’t have met her then either.
That’s true enough.
Then, I guess I meant I wish you woulda come sooner.
She would’ve liked that.
He still has that job at the college?
You still doing Nothing’s changed.
Okay. [sighs]
This is not how I saw this playing out.
[sighs] I’m sorry, I just can’t do this right now.
Well, at least it’s not in the press.
No one’s putting you with him.
Just wanted to make sure you weren’t worried about things.
I’m not.
You know, there was a space when you were about 13 or so.
I thought we had a shot at bein’ a nice little family, the three of us.
It was never the three of us, Clark.
She didn’t want me around.
When she looked at me, she saw my father.
So did you.
No.
You’re forgetting some good days.
She loved you.
I still love you.
I miss you.
But sure, maybe sometimes we saw a little Jacob in you.
[vehicle approaching]
Or maybe you never saw enough of him in me.
[police radio chatter]
[Clark] You here to relieve this fella? [officer] No, I’m supposed to
Mrs. Pelletier, the FBI would like you to come down to the office.
Did something come up?
Way above my pay grade.
You want me to come with you?
We found your father’s body.
Just inside the state line.
We assume they were heading for a crossing to Canada.
Guard rail, 60 feet up on the embankment was splintered.
Driver either lost control or fell asleep.
The car hit a tree and caught fire.
Both men were burned beyond recognition.
We think they had an accomplice. We’re looking for him now.
How can you be sure it’s Holbrook?
He has three gold teeth with carvings matching your father.
[inhales deeply]
You all right?
My father died 20 years ago.
[car approaching]
[Helena] Mmm.
I’m sorry about your daddy.
We saw it on TV.
Thank you, sweetie, but he wasn’t my daddy for a long time.
We brought you some food in case you didn’t wanna cook.
Let me guess, extra pepperoni?
I’m definitely in the mood for pizza.
Yes!
How you doing?
I’m fine.
I wish you would’ve told me the truth. [sighs]
What’s the worst that could’ve happened?
We wouldn’t have Mari.
You don’t know that.
Yes, I do.
Who in their right mind would get involved with the daughter…
If you knew my name was Holbrook, you’d never have gone on a date with me.
You would’ve run the other way.
You will now.
Hold on.
Let’s pretend that I’m a better person than you think I am, all right?
What’s the best thing that could’ve happened?
You might’ve found somebody to trust.
Someone to help you through all the shitty days.
Somebody to explain all your weird tattoos to.
The best never happens, Stephen.
No matter how badly we want it.
Marigold okay? Yeah.
She’s asleep.
Do you really believe that?
What you said before about…
the best never happening.
[inhales sharply] Because if you do, what’s that mean for us?
Look I I don’t wanna make this any worse for you.
But you gotta let me in, Helena.
Okay, look. I’m gonna go do some work at the office.
Probably sleep over there.
[footsteps departing] [door closes]
[sighs]
[tires screeching]
[exhales sharply]
My name is Helena Holbrook.
Remember the guy who kidnapped that woman?
The one everybody called The Marsh King?
I’m his daughter.
Sometimes I sneak off alone at night because I feel trapped.
Like I can’t figure out which world I really belong in.
I have trouble trusting people because…
everyone tells me the person I believed in the most
was really a monster.
He gave me this after my first kill.
And this one when I missed.
This is the place he taught me to swim.
[sniffles]
The name he gave me.
This to remind me never to wait to do my chores.
These were the only tears my father ever wanted to see.
Would you like to go out on a date with me?
[Stephen] Come on. I know. [Marigold] I can do it.
I have been looking forward to this day.
Thought it was time to introduce you to a couple people.
[Marigold] Look, Daddy, they have horses.
This is Clark. He’s gonna try his best to get you to call him Grandpa.
Make him earn it.
That doesn’t scare me a bit.
I’ve got no one else to spend it on.
It is very nice to meet you, Marigold.
You too, Clark.
[Clark chuckles]
I’m gonna like this one.
Would you like to see the horses?
[humming in distance]
[humming continues]
[humming stops]
[Clark] Who’s getting hungry?
[Clark chuckles]
Two hours after I took that,
I started getting calls that some hoodlum
was setting off fireworks in people’s yards.
She tore that dress to shreds, running from one of my deputies.
You can stop now.
Oh, hell, we haven’t even got to your difficult stage yet.
Who’s that?
[Clark] That’s your grandmother.
You definitely take after her.
I don’t remember that picture.
[Marigold] It looks like us.
You know, I wouldn’t complain if this became a habit.
Thank you, Clark.
Anytime.
Hey.
You know, Jacob took a lot of my people’s beliefs,
twisted ’em to fit what suited him.
Means “owned” in Ojibwa. Not “family.”
Don’t confuse the two.
[Stephen gasps]
[tires screeching]
Sh [breathes heavily]
[Jacob] Little Shadow.
[gasps]
[Stephen] What’s wrong?
[sighs]
I’m just getting some water.
[door opens]
[breathes heavily]
[sighs] Hey, make sure you wipe your feet when you come in the house.
I did.
I’ll drop her on the way.
See you after.
We’ll go swimming or something. Don’t forget my goggles.
I got that conference in Detroit this afternoon.
Might be home late.
You gonna be okay? Mmm.
[chattering]
Thank you.
Helena?
How you doing?
Good. Fine.
Are you guys around this weekend?
I was thinking Jess and Marigold could have a playdate.
Oh, yeah. I think we’re free, just… [birdcall whistling]
Sorry. Yeah, she’d love that.
How’s Saturday? Would she like to come over to our place?
Of course. She has swim until 10:00 but after that…
[birdcall whistling continues]
Can you hold on a second? Sorry.
[grunts]
You’re not helping.
I’m not supposed to help. This is your homework, not mine.
But you always help.
Well, you can figure this out.
Why are you in a bad mood again?
I’m not.
I don’t mean to be.
Let’s go read. We’ll get Daddy to help us finish in the morning.
Okay? Okay.
[Helena] “Water lilies spread over the surface of the pool
like a carpet patterned with flowers.
And on this carpet, lay a young and beautiful woman.
The mother cried, ‘Is this myself I see, reflected in your eyes?’
And the daughter said…”
Hey, daughter? You missed your entrance.
[Beth] Helena.
[young Helena] What is it? It’s a doll.
You You play with it.
Like a friend.
She has hair like me.
A tiny Helena.
[bell tinkles]
[breathes heavily]
[bell tinkles]
[rustles]
[door slams]
Oh, God.
Marigold!
[grunts]
[gasps, grunts]
Helena!
Hey, it’s me.
It’s me.
[panting]
Jesus. What are you…
Uh… I Whose blood is that?
No one’s. A rabbit. I heard somebody outside.
Maybe try calling the police
instead of running around in the dark with a knife.
[panting] I have to check on Marigold.
Marigold’s fine. She’s asleep.
I just left her room.
Did you see anyone out there?
[panting continues]
Hey.
We’re gonna keep the doors locked, all right?
Get a few cop cars on patrol.
It’s gonna be okay.
[Helena] It was bleeding from the head.
Like someone killed it first, then put it in the snare.
Or maybe it got injured some other way.
What’s got you spooked? Why do you think there’s something more?
I feel like he’s here.
[inhales deeply] The night you found us,
when we came out of the woods,
I was so afraid because he wasn’t there with me.
But then he came.
Don’t get lost in this, Helena.
Now he’s come back again.
I have to tell him to leave us alone.
You have got to try to get him out of your head.
For good.
[sighs] I’m not sure I can do that.
How could he be alive?
I don’t know.
[Jacob] There’s nothing purer than the instinct to survive.
[wolf whines]
[growling]
[Marigold] Mommy!
[Helena panting]
Marigold?
I couldn’t find my backpack.
[sighs]
Oh, no, no, no. That stays here.
I wanna show people.
Let’s wait a while on that, okay?
Okay.
Where did you get those?
I thought you made them. I like them.
Looks like you and me.
[birds chirping]
[wings flapping]
Has the habitat been in your room the whole time?
Mmhmm.
[breathes heavily]
What are you doing?
[keys jingling]
Come on.
[Helena] Stay inside after school unless Daddy
or I are here, okay? Don’t go with anyone else, no matter what they say.
What’s this about?
Just felt like it.
Can you pick Marigold up after school?
[Stephen] Of course.
Why?
[Helena] I have to do something. I can’t tell you what it is.
[Stephen] What’s going on, Helena?
[Helena] I know I haven’t given you any reason to…
please trust me.
I’ll call you when I get back.
[Stephen] Back from where?
[Helena] Last secret, Stephen.
Promise.
You and Mari rescued me.
[young Helena] I can call it anything I want?
[Jacob] It’s yours. I gave it to you.
I name it
Helena Falls.
[footsteps approaching]
[Jacob] Hello, Little Shadow.
[chuckles]
[inhales sharply]
Let’s go for a walk.
How did you find me?
I never lost you, Little Shadow.
[sighs]
I miss that smell.
And the taste.
Gimme that.
My favorite knife.
[scoffs]
We used to come camping up here, you remember?
We’d lay out here all summer long.
Look up at the sky,
see who could count the most shooting stars.
I used to cheat and count airplanes.
[chuckles]
You knew I was alive the whole time, didn’t you?
I didn’t know how it was possible.
Not until I saw a threelegged coyote.
Sacrificed its own leg for freedom.
Like you sacrificed your teeth.
Ah.
Probably won’t pass a medical exam,
but it bought you the time you needed.
You did some digging.
Well done.
You didn’t tell anyone else your theory?
Did you?
Wish you’d brought Marigold.
Tell me about my granddaughter.
I don’t think so. You know enough about her already.
Well, I had to take a peek.
You never brought her to visit me.
You didn’t visit me at all.
Come on, Little Shadow.
I want to show you something.
You know, Marigold looks like her.
Your mother.
I bet she loves the water as much as we do.
That’s to take us across the border.
The three of us.
To Canada, we can be a family again.
I have a family.
You have a daughter.
And a husband.
We’ve built a life together.
Are you happy with that life?
Not always.
Do you ever think back to what it was like
when we lived here?
I do.
We can have it all again.
I remember when you were four years old,
you could shut your eyes
and you knew where you were from the sound of the water,
from the smell of the trees,
and the feel of the ground beneath your feet.
It was like magic.
This is where we belong.
It’s our home.
Our life here
was perfect.
[birds squawking]
[water splashing]
[Beth] No!
[water splashing] [Beth struggling]
[Jacob grunts] [Beth] No!
[Jacob] Don’t you ever run away from me again!
Okay? You hear me?
[Beth gasping]
I wasn’t
[gasping, crying]
Perfect?
Not for my mother.
Well, it could’ve been.
How?
You kidnapped her.
No. We ran away together.
That’s just something she said when she decided to leave.
You shot that man.
I was trying to hit the engine.
You never would have missed.
I missed.
[scoffs] You’ve been told a bunch of stories about me.
They’re not true. I never was the Marsh King, until they said I was.
I know this, we were happy.
You were happy.
All I’m saying, bring Marigold, let her see for herself.
I can’t do that.
I won’t.
I’m sorry. This is where it ends.
I shouldn’t have come here.
I’m glad I did.
Now I have to go home to my family.
Please don’t come near them again.
It doesn’t need to be like this.
It does.
Okay.
Okay.
I understand.
You’ll always be my Little Shadow.
I have to go.
Clark?
What are you doing here?
Could ask you the same thing.
Stephen called me. He was worried.
And I just had a hunch after what you said.
Is he here?
Let’s go back. I’ll tell you on the way.
Helena, was he here?
But he’s gone.
[hammer cocks]
[shouts]
[grunts]
Clark. Clark.
[Clark wheezes] Clark. Oh, God. Oh, God.
Clark, look at me, okay?
Clark. Clark, stay with me.
You told him you were coming here? No, I didn’t say anything.
Please, look at me.
Clark, I’m right here.
Clark, hold on. Please, Clark, hold on.
You must’ve said something.
Make your stepfather curious.
Enough to wander out here all this way by himself.
Just get away from us. What have you done?
Please, Clark. Please. Come on.
Come on. Please.
Well, there’s nothing you can do to help him now.
[Helena screams, cries]
[Jacob grunts]
No!
You’d rather the wolf lived than us?
You want it to feed you to its pup?
Now I have to get Marigold on my own.
No! Don’t you touch her!
[struggling]
[screams, grunts]
[panting]
We can still all be a family.
It’s all I want.
I’ll be back with Marigold soon.
No! No, no.
No!
No!
[whimpering]
[thudding] [whimpering continues]
[wolf howls]
[footsteps approaching]
[Beth] Helena.
Wrap the rope around you.
Did he say I could come up?
I don’t care, I’m getting you out of there.
[both grunting]
I’ve got you, my Helena.
You’re gonna be fine.
Because you’re stronger than me.
Braver than me.
[exhales sharply, grunts]
[grunting]
[grunting continues]
[groans]
[panting]
[wood creaking]
[panting]
[grunting]
[wood creaking]
[grunting]
[screams]
[coughs]
[grunting]
Please.
Clark.
[sobbing]
I’m so sorry.
I’ll come back for you.
[grunting]
[breathes heavily]
[grunting]
[panting]
[Jacob] All rivers bend, Helena.
[panting]
[Jacob grunts]
[Jacob] Is the blood warm or cold?
Cold. [young Helena] Cold.
[Jacob] Then you must move faster.
Running or walking?
[young Helena] Running.
[Jacob] And if you were afraid,
running for your life,
where would you run?
[young Helena] To where no one could see me.
You know what you taught me.
[rustling]
[birds chirping] [wings flapping]
[rustling continues]
[gasps, grunts]
[Jacob] You’re fine, it’s just a flesh wound.
Now…
what good will it do Marigold
if her mother is lying rotting in the bottom of the marsh?
She needs you.
Just think about what’s best for your daughter.
Okay?
[Helena] No!
[grunts] No!
[panting] The boat you came in. Show me.
Go on.
I waited my whole life to see you again.
I wasn’t sure what I would feel when I did.
What do you feel, Little Shadow?
Don’t call me that.
Not anymore.
I used to think you said it because I was always beside you.
Now I realize you just meant,
like any shadow, I wouldn’t exist if you weren’t standing there.
Your mother did a job on you after I was gone.
No, she didn’t.
I barely spoke to her my whole life.
I blamed her for everything too. I never believed her.
You really think she cared about you the way I care about you?
She wouldn’t have a gun on me.
She could have run.
Gotten away.
She stayed to protect me.
Now I know, she was the strong one.
She was weak.
No.
A man who drags a woman into the wilderness is weak.
Careful, Little Shadow.
You forget all the things that I did for you.
The years I spent in a cage
’cause I came back for you.
What would you do for Marigold?
I’d die for her.
[screams]
Daddy!
[gasping]
Come on. Come on.
[Helena grunts, shouts]
[Jacob shouts]
[both shouting, grunting]
[Helena] “Water lilies spread over the surface of the pool like a carpet patterned with flowers.
And on this carpet lay a strong and beautiful woman.
The mother cried, ‘Is this myself I see, reflected in your eyes?’
And the daughter said…” “Is it me I see, mirrored in yours?”
“Then the child rose in the shape of a mighty swan and spread her powerful wings.”
[gasps]
[grunting, panting]
[groans]
[grunting]
[shouts]
[shouts]
[grunts]
I don’t hate you.
I don’t pity you.
I just remember your lesson.
Always protect my family.
[Jacob shouts]
[whimpering]
[crying]
[grunting]
[grunting continues]
