Fear Anonymous (2026) Movie Script
1
(haunting music)
[Victoria] The way
she hid under the table.
Oh my God, I'm like
right there behind you.
Run.
I was like, "Girl, be silent, be still."
You know, but this is
such a cool screening.
I just, I love horror films.
Oh, hell yeah.
I think I actually jumped
a few times on that one.
Oh, you sure did.
(both laughing)
Oh, and thanks for helping me clean up.
Oh, of course.
Oh, and thank you so much
for introducing me to the director.
Like that, super dope.
Of course.
Yeah.
-I mean, he's pretty cool.
-Yeah.
A bit strange actually,
but you know, harmless.
Yeah.
Okay, really.
(uneasy music)
What are you looking for?
(uneasy music continues)
Shit.
I think I left my keys inside.
Oh, I can go back with you.
Oh no, it's okay.
It's so freezing out here,
and the wind is literally-
Girl, hey, there is safety
numbers and we are in the LVC.
I know, but I'll be fine.
-You sure?
-Mm-hmm.
Okay, so I'll see you on
Sunday at the Super Bowl party?
Yeah, I wouldn't miss it.
Yeah, unless I get kidnapped
and raped and chopped up tonight.
That's not funny.
Okay, sorry, it's a bad joke.
But I'll see you at the party.
(uneasy music continues)
[Friend] All right. And don't be late.
Okay, yeah. Make it to your car.
[Friend] Bye.
(uneasy music continues)
(door squeaks)
(keys jingle)
(uneasy music continues)
Oh, gross.
(uneasy music continues)
Hello?
Is somebody there?
(uneasy music continues)
Hello?
(uneasy music continues)
(Victoria screams)
Okay, kids. It's late.
Time for bed
and, oh, we got more
boxes to unpack tomorrow.
It's only 10:00 PM.
You know, back home, we
stayed up till like 10:30
if it's not a school night.
Well, this is your home now
and we still have lots to unpack.
You don't want to worry
about unpacking on Monday.
It's your first day at the new school.
[Laela] I think I'm going
to go get ready for bed.
Okay, sweetie.
(uneasy music)
(water bubbling)
(water flowing)
(uneasy music)
This doesn't feel like our home, okay?
It's got a weird energy to it.
It might take a little time to adjust.
Mom, do you know where my toothbrush is?
I'll be right there, sweetheart.
Listen, I just need you
to make this work, okay?
We just got to try.
And I didn't tell Laela
how we got the house,
so don't say anything.
I don't want to give her nightmares.
I won't say anything.
Thank you.
All right, I'm coming.
(uneasy music)
Where did we put that? Let me think.
(uneasy music continues)
(thudding)
(uneasy music)
(switch clicks)
(uneasy music continues)
(switch clicks)
(TV static crackles)
(uneasy music continues)
(Mary Anne screams)
(rock music)
(rock music continues)
(rock music continues)
Well, Mary Anne, did you
find out what the noise was
or was this a dream?
Remember, you're in a safe space.
No one will judge you here.
It's okay. Just take your time.
Well, here's the embarrassing part.
After this experience,
I was convinced the house was haunted,
so I hired an investigator,
I think they're called
a medium or something,
to come in and talk to
the spirits in the house.
Con man, you mean?
Lance.
That's what he is, Jack.
Don't tell me you believe in ghosts.
Lance, this is a room
that doesn't judge.
Remember your noodle incident?
It's not the same.
Hmm.
Keep going, Mary Anne.
It's okay.
I'm actually not sure if
he was a con man or not.
That's actually why I'm here.
What Mr. Nash put in my
head about the house,
I mean, he figured out what I saw.
And honestly, I had
been drinking a little.
I've been so stressed about the move
and the divorce isn't
going smoothly either.
(uneasy music)
(Mary Anne scream)
So the kids were playing a joke on you.
I'll whoop the shit out of my kids
if they be doing that bullshit.
Wait, if it was your
kids, why are you even here?
It was just a prank.
It wasn't a prank,
and that's not why I'm here.
I'm here because of the house.
The medium?
Yeah, he figured out it was the kids,
but he said the house had spirits in it.
And yeah, my kids, they did what they did
because they didn't want to move,
and they figured if they scared me,
I'd move back east with their father,
which isn't going to happen.
And I don't leave my kids alone.
They're grounded.
They're in the car as we speak.
[Influencer] Hi, my beauties.
I just, I don't feel safe there.
Why don't you just move then?
Uh huh.
It's not a bad idea.
I don't believe in ghosts,
but I do believe in the human mind.
If it's making you uncomfortable,
you need to find a way
to relieve the stress
and abolish this fear.
Stress is the real killer.
Oh, hello?
Are you looking for Fear Anonymous?
I was, I was just going.
There's no need to
be hesitant, my friend.
You are in the right place.
I am?
Of course you are.
Welcome.
Welcome to Fear Anonymous.
My name is Jack, Jack Miller.
I'm the moderator and
co-creator of Fear Anonymous.
Consider this a safe place,
a place for anyone who
is plagued with a fear
or stress that cannot be explained
or rationalized by
normal scientific means.
Come, have a seat.
Now you missed the orientation, but
that's fine.
We will try to get you
up to speed, mister?
What was your name?
My, my name is Rick.
I'm not really sure I should be here.
I'm not
big of a talker.
Hey, let's play an introduction game.
We'd normally do this at
the start of every workshop
when there's new people.
I forgot today.
It's simple.
You just say your name
and your favorite color,
and then we go around the room
and at the end of the meeting,
we have each person try and recall
everyone's name and color.
Since we know your name,
Rick, you can start.
What's your favorite color?
Black.
Hi, I'm Simone and I love purple.
Hi, my name is Mary Anne and
my favorite color is green.
Lance McLean, and I like gray.
I'm Cheri and I love red.
Arman, and I like blue and green.
Adam, I like green too.
And my name is Jack
and I like mint chip.
Just kidding.
Oh, I forgot.
Rick, we put our phones in this basket
so that nobody has any distractions.
Oh.
-I don't have one.
-What?
I don't have a cell phone.
-Bullshit.
-I don't.
I assure you,
the phone will be safe in the basket.
I really don't have one.
How do people reach you?
They don't.
How do you check your
Facebook and Instagram?
TikTok?
I don't.
I heard these cell
phones cause ball cancer.
Well, it's okay if you don't have one,
but remember, if you did,
it would be safe in this basket.
So we just heard from Mary Anne,
and I think Lance was
about to talk a little bit
about some issues he's having.
Well, actually, we're still
talking about Mary Anne.
We're trying to figure out if that
medium she hired was a con man or not.
Yes, yes, of course.
Again, it's not fair for us
to cast judgment on Mary Anne
for how she handles her fears.
We're here to listen,
possibly access strategies
to cure those fears.
Remember, when you judge
or condescend someone,
you sound like an asshole.
Exactly.
Mary Anne, did you come up
with a strategy for this fear?
I think you guys are right.
I mean, if I don't feel comfortable,
I should just move.
Who needs this anxiety and stress?
How long do you think we'll be here?
I don't know.
You think we'll stay in that house?
Not sure.
[Laela] You think it's haunted?
It feels like this.
I don't really like it.
If you don't like it,
then I don't like it.
You think we'll see dad again?
I don't know, but I want to.
Yes.
Great.
Simple solutions to simple problems.
I'm so proud of you.
That's what this group is all about.
Okay, Lance, tell us the issue.
Maybe we can help.
Well, it's the same thing as
every time I tell this story,
except this week it's cranked up a notch.
I keep getting these unexplained
wounds all over my body.
I'm cursed.
This curse is eventually going to kill me.
I just don't know when,
and I don't know how.
(heavy metal music)
(suspenseful music)
(heavy metal music)
Dark it reign
I rise and push against the chains
(artist singing indistinctly)
(suspenseful music)
Ah, shit.
(suspenseful music continues)
Hey, hey, wake up.
Wake up, kid.
Son of a bitch.
(suspenseful music continues)
(heavy metal music)
[Operator] 9-1-1. Please hold.
Hello?
(heavy metal music continues)
(artist singing indistinctly)
(suspenseful music)
(suspenseful music continues)
Hello? Hey.
Hey. I need some help.
I got an emergency.
I don't think he's breathing.
Look, look.
(suspenseful music)
Who the fuck are you?
(witch chanting)
What are you doing?
Who the fuck are you?
What the fuck are you doing?
(witch growling)
(witch chanting)
What the fuck are you?
What the fuck.
(suspenseful music)
(witch chanting)
(tense music)
(suspenseful music)
So the boy's alive?
Yeah, the boy lived.
I don't know what that witch did,
but he was breathing when I left.
So what did you do?
What do you think I did?
I kicked that bitch in
the cunt and I drove off.
It wasn't going to end up
like those corpses around the fire.
I got away.
(witch speaks ominous langage)
(witch screams)
(tense music)
Only problem is,
whatever that bitch did,
keep getting worse week after week.
I could feel this presence
trying to get to me.
I have these wounds
and they won't heal.
I lost 20 pounds,
stopped the gym,
quit my job.
(uneasy music)
I truly believe I'm
going to die from this.
You know what, Jack?
There ain't no simple
solution to this shit.
Well, Lance, I understand
it can be hard to admit
that you have a fear.
That ain't the hard part.
It's not fear.
It's fact.
I'm going to die.
We're all going to die.
(tense music)
Sorry.
I think what he means is that
we're all here temporarily and,
and the best thing we can
do is try to be happy.
Life is unbearably short,
and the older you get, the faster it goes.
We need to focus on the here and now
and appreciate it for what it is.
Now, Lance,
before this accident,
were you going through any other problems?
I did just go through a divorce.
Now that's trauma.
Uh huh.
Well, what happened
there, if I might ask?
I don't know.
I guess she fell out of love with me.
Came home one day and she was gone.
Do you have kids?
No.
We got dogs,
two of them,
Rachel and Sammy.
They were like our kids.
I can't believe she left them too.
No note,
no nothing, just gone.
Sorry to hear that.
No one deserves to be
abandoned without explanation.
Yes, that is a rough one, Lance.
I didn't know.
I didn't come here for marriage advice.
You don't even need to know
how much of bitch a my ex was.
I know it's a touchy subject,
but maybe this situation
has something to do
with the car accident event.
It might be building in your head.
Oh, yeah?
What's building in my head?
Guilt?
Guilt?
-Guilt for what?
-Okay.
I'm not guilty.
-It was a fucking accident!
-I know.
The boy lived.
Don't you understand?
I'm going to fucking die.
Look, I woke up with this.
I'm fucking cursed.
Calm down.
Hey, let's just take a deep breath.
Don't fucking psycho evaluate me.
-You know my story.
-I do.
We've heard this story, but we did,
we didn't know about your wife.
We didn't know about the dogs.
What, what were their names?
Sammy and?
Sammy and Rachel.
Great. I love dogs.
What kind were they?
Pit bulls,
Stratford picks.
Cute, do you have pictures?
(light music)
[Lance] Of course I do.
I love dogs.
I got two Frenchies.
They're loud and they sort
like pigs, but adorable.
(light music continues)
Oh, so sweet.
Yeah.
I can't imagine any
mother leaving these two.
[Laela] Why do people get divorced?
Mean mom and dad?
[Influencer] I'm ready.
I don't know.
I guess people can just get
tired of each other, you know?
I guess you can fall out of love.
I mean, you can fall in
love, you can fall out.
I wouldn't.
-You wouldn't?
-Nope.
You're too young to know that.
Well, age is just a number.
I think that if people can fall in love
and then out of love, then
it probably wasn't love.
Traumatic events such as
the ones we're hearing about today
can affect your mental health.
If untreated, it can build
a psychological trauma
that can stay with you for life.
I know this is just a help group,
but I encourage everyone
to seek a doctor for your situation.
In fact, I have some
business cards on the table
that might help.
I do believe the more you
discuss the issues, events,
or how you feel, the greater
assistance it can be to you.
I know that since coming
here, it's helped me.
I'm not only the moderator,
but I'm also a client.
Just kidding.
But seriously, please feel free to share.
It all stays right here in this room.
Well, unless it's about abuse,
we have no tolerance for abusive behavior.
Cheri is proof of that.
Yes.
Thank you, Jack.
Of course.
Well, how do we know if we
have psychological trauma?
Well, there are some
symptoms that stay with you.
If you feel shame, anxiety,
emotional numbing,
insomnia, loss of memory, nightmares,
confusion,
mood swings,
if you, if you're easily startled,
easily irritated.
It can even be physical pain.
I feel like I have all of those.
Oh, no.
That's just being a mother.
Hey, Jack,
how does somebody try and get sleep again
if they have insomnia?
Well, there are a few tricks that I do.
How many hours do you get at night?
Five if I'm lucky.
I get four.
That's enough.
Not for me.
Well, everyone has their own path.
I like melatonin.
I like sounds of the ocean.
White noise.
YouTube has it all, and exercise helps.
Have you always had this problem, Arman?
No.
It started after the gym night.
Sometimes I get five
hours, sometimes three.
I keep getting these bad
dreams that keep me awake.
So you're afraid of the gym?
That makes sense.
Well, I try to stay healthy,
and despite what you say,
I work out quite regularly,
or at least I did.
It was a regular Tuesday
night, kickboxing class.
(rock music)
(artist singing indistinctly)
(bags thudding)
All right, time, time.
We're going to go ahead
and add kicks, guys.
Okay?
In real life situations, kicks work.
So the well-placed kick, game over.
You want to start off?
Jab, jab,
low kick, right?
Jab, jab, low kick.
We start off high, and then we go low.
Boom. All right?
What if the guy you're fighting
kicks you in the nuts first?
Well, Arman, you always
got to protect those nuts,
all right?
(class laughs)
All right.
Remember, guys, keep your hands up,
protect yourself, protect
yourself, and then fire that kick.
Boom.
Right?
Yo, yo, Caesar, come check this out.
What?
[Classmate] Come look at it right now.
-What?
-Come look at this.
(uneasy music)
Mitzi?
Oh my God, that's my dog.
-Mitzi.
-Hold on a sec.
Let me, let me see what's up.
Hold, back up. Back up a sec, Arman.
Back up a sec.
[Arman] Maybe you shouldn't touch him.
Little late for that.
(homeless man growling)
Lenny, call the cops.
Oh, man, you got to do something.
(tense music)
Get the fuck off of her, you asshole.
(tense music)
(Cesar screaming)
(people screaming)
[Lance] Well, what happened?
What?
You mean what happened to the instructor?
What happened to the dog?
The dog died.
Ah, that's fucked up.
People deserve to be murdered, but dogs,
dogs don't deserve to be murdered.
Did anyone else get hurt?
Well, the police came quickly
and got the homeless guy off
of Caesar, the instructor.
I guess they were already looking for him
in the neighborhood and heard the screams.
It was wild to see up close.
Those are the images
that are in my nightmares,
so sleeping has been tough lately.
You know, ever since the pandemic,
the homeless population
has gone up 50% in my area.
Me too.
There's tents down my block
and human feces by the garbage cans.
It's gross.
You can thank Governor Newsom for that.
Why do you say that?
Because that shady left fuck,
he saved $20 billion to combat
homelessness, allegedly.
$20 billion, and it
hasn't gotten any better.
That's billion with a B,
and the problem got worse.
Somebody lined their pockets
with taxpaying dollars.
If anything, it's the
Republican billionaires
who pay no taxes.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, boys.
Let's remember the rules.
No politics.
All right.
I won't talk any more politics.
Those Democrats, they're a
bunch of thieving pussies.
And I'm not going to
talk about politics either,
but all Republicans are evil people.
Okay, okay, okay.
Guys, we get it.
But seriously, let's
stop and take a breath.
Did you ever think that
the problem might not be
the political parties,
but the fact that you have to choose one
to participate in democracy?
Now let's put down the verbal swords
and remember why we're in this room,
to help each other.
And with that said, let's take a break.
Oh, good. I have to pee super bad.
Me too.
Well, you can pee anytime.
I mean, you'll like use the facilities
anytime during our meeting.
[Cheri] I just didn't want to be rude.
(light rock music)
So
How you liking it so far, Rick?
It's not bad.
No I wasn't lying about my own trauma.
I share every session,
and believe you me, it helps.
What do you do for a living, if I may ask?
I'm in insurance claims, so it's,
it's not that exciting, really.
I see.
I bet you see a good lot
of trauma there, huh?
(light music)
Sorry about your divorce.
(toilet flushing)
What do you think about the new guy?
I don't know, but he's
kind of cute, quiet.
I mean, everyone's
quiet their first day.
What do you think he's afraid of?
I don't know.
But if he really doesn't have a phone,
maybe he owes people money.
Honey, that's what a caller ID is for.
And I know you've seen the way Arman
has been looking at you.
You think this is the day he gets the
courage to ask you out?
Ugh, Arman is sweet.
You know, he almost did last week,
but then Lance came up,
all upset like normal,
right in between us to grab a muffin.
Kind of ruined the mood.
Yeah, that boy is a dick.
I don't know.
I like Arman, but I'm
just not sure I'm ready.
Uh huh.
So is today the day?
I think so.
I mean, YOLO, right?
What are you guys talking about?
Oh, this boy has the hots for Cheri.
We just waiting on the
invitation part, that's all.
Yeah, I saw you looking at her.
She seems sweet.
She is.
And she's a Capricorn.
Oh, do you get along
well with Capricorn?
Yeah, they're the best for me.
Capricorns are cool.
Pisces, Scorpios,
just stay away from them
at Aries and Geminis.
Do you believe in all
that Astrosign stuff too?
I don't know if I believe in it,
but Geminis,
they're bipolar.
I believe that.
(light music)
You know, it really is all
you believe to be true is true.
People don't understand how perception
is so important to your life.
I've had a lot of crappy jobs,
pouring concrete,
cleaning freeways,
parking enforcement, babysitting,
even trash pickup.
You know which one was my favorite?
Picking up trash.
Yep.
And it wasn't the job, it
was the people I was with
when I was doing it.
I had a cool crew.
We played softball, hung out after work,
and my perception of
the job was open-minded.
I was making money, helping people,
and doing it with my buddies.
I guess my point is,
it shouldn't be the job
itself that gets you down.
It's all in how you look at it.
Perception creates your attitude.
You can't have a bad day at work
if your attitude is positive.
Well, actually, you can if
you do parking enforcement.
Everybody hates those guys.
(dark music)
And you know what?
What?
You never know what you're
going to find in the garbage.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
That's why there was so much excitement.
I'm bored.
Hasn't even been an hour yet.
[Laela] Feels like it has.
Well, you got a computer in your hand.
Why don't you learn Chinese or something.
What for?
[Kelvin] Maybe you'll
go to China one day.
No, I won't.
How do you know that?
It's not on my list.
You have a list of places
you want to go in your life?
[Laela] Yeah.
Well, did you think
you moved to California?
I guess not.
All I'm saying is you
shouldn't be so bored so easily.
You know, you got something in your hands
that can educate you and
entertain you if you want.
I'm going to text mom again.
I already did.
(phone vibrating)
(light music)
Hey, so you think you're
going to talk today?
I don't know.
Sometimes I just feel
kind of like not talking,
You know?
Yeah, I get that.
Last week I felt kind of
bad when you started crying.
I know.
So embarrassing.
No, no, that's, that's not what I meant.
It's just, I didn't
want to see you in pain.
That's all.
I see you, Adam.
I don't care.
Hey.
(gentle music)
I just wanted to say, I am so
sorry you went through that.
I mean, seeing a dog like that
has got to be the most disturbing
thing I've ever heard of.
It's disgusting.
I am so sorry.
How are you getting to sleep?
Yeah.
Thank you for that.
Yeah, it's getting better.
For a while I was taking sleeping pills
and trying to distract myself
with whatever I can, you know?
I love dogs and all animals.
In fact, I'm a vegetarian, so.
Oh my God, I am too.
Well, pescatarian, I guess.
Oh, me too actually.
I know a spot by the
wharf called Fish Fiesta.
I got to take you sometime.
I don't know how anyone
can eat meat really.
Because it tastes good.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(lights flickering)
(water flowing)
(uneasy music continues)
Honey, you have had the frown face
ever since you put that
phone in your hands.
What's going on?
Just text arguing with Sam.
Supposed to do a dinner
tonight at a client's
and we just can't seem
to agree on any detail.
See, I think that should
be a call conversation
and not a text.
People don't get the right
intentions from text.
A dinner event is nothing
to be upset about, okay?
I hate texting.
You're right.
I should probably call.
You should.
And we encourage everyone
to talk the first time,
but there's no pressure.
Sometimes it helps just to listen.
You seem good at that.
Thanks.
You talking today?
I don't know.
Sometimes, sometimes I think my fear
is not as big as others, you know?
I mean, like, who cares, right?
Nonsense.
I'm sure everyone has had someone
to cheat on them in the past.
I know I have,
shit, a few times, really.
Yes, but I don't think people
think about it every day like I do.
That day
was awful.
But you know what's worse?
I don't think I can handle a divorce.
(uneasy music)
Oh my gosh.
This artificial intelligence bullshit
is getting way out of hand.
They just made a movie
that was two hours long.
100% AI.
Boo.
The script,
the cast,
the sets, the sounds,
the fucking music, everything.
(seat belt unclicks)
(door opening)
(car dinging)
(door closing)
I mean, social media is crazy.
I'm looking up all this AI bullshit
and all these sex robots
pop up all over my feed.
I though all the movies,
they going to get rid of
the sex worker institute.
But you know what though?
Ain't no robot can move
like me in the bedroom.
Okay, slut.
Hey, hey, I ain't no slut.
Adam and I have an understanding.
Well, that's good.
I think I heard a car in the driveway.
(suspenseful music)
Well, men are dogs.
You think you can trust him now?
I mean, you must to stay with him.
Well,
I love him.
Yeah, well, sometimes trust
is more important than love.
I guess I just have to
work on my communication.
Communication is key.
Any healthy relationship
starts with communication.
She hasn't texted back.
Did you get a text?
No.
You think she's okay?
Yeah, of course.
I don't know, probably just
taking a break or something.
I saw some people walking around.
I feel like they already talked a lot.
Maybe they're done.
Well, when mom read the online flyer,
she said it could take like two hours.
Two hours?
It's like forever.
Yep.
Adults like to talk.
In fact, it's their favorite thing to do.
(upbeat music)
You know, I think people like to talk
so they can feel comfortable
and so people can like them.
Well, Webers doesn't
talk at all and I like her.
Webers is a turtle.
Okay, if she did talk,
you probably wouldn't like her anyways.
If she did, she'd be like,
"I'm hungry. Feed me giant human."
And Webers eats her own doo-doo.
Ew.
Okay. And we are back.
Special thanks to Simone
for the extra treats.
Let's get back into it.
Adam,
you couldn't resist, could you?
Yeah, sorry, Jack, but I got to go.
Sorry to drink all your coffee and go,
but something came up.
Of course. No pressure.
Hope to see you next week.
Oh yeah, probably.
Nice meeting everyone.
Stay safe out there.
Oh wait.
We were just about to play
your favorite warmup game,
pet peeves of the week.
Simple game.
We just spit out anything
that is annoying us this week.
It helps to vent, you know?
You're right, Jack.
The only thing that's pissing
me off right now is texting.
Ciao babes.
(uneasy music)
Sometimes listening to
others discussing their fears
or venting can help us with our own.
Rick, Mary Anne,
how's the group session
going so far with you?
Well, it's been nice to
get some outside perspective.
Yes, of course.
And Rick, how are you feeling?
Okay, I guess.
Good.
If you want to share, please feel free.
We are all ears.
And if you have a phone,
it will still be safe in the basket.
(phone vibrating)
So since Adam started us off,
then let's continue with the game.
I mean, I hate texting.
It's so annoying to me.
I mean, I'd rather just get a call.
Vince, what about you?
You got anything annoying
that you want to vent about?
Aside from the fact of dying,
people that don't pick up their dog shit
when they walk 'em.
You know, I think if you
are going to have a dog,
you better pick up the dog shit.
Valid.
Cheri?
People that don't do what
they say they're going to do.
Yep. That one is major.
And most of the problems humans have
are based on that issue alone.
Cheaters.
Full grown men that can't keep
their dick in their pants.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And that, that can go both ways.
-Ex-husbands.
-Sure.
Anxiety.
Well, I think a lot of
people can relate to that.
Rick, you got anything?
People.
(uneasy music)
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Simple.
Understandable.
Thanks, Rick.
Now, we want to be as helpful as possible
when listening to these
individual stories.
Now today, my pet peeve is time.
There's never enough time.
I truly believe that there are solutions
to conquer these fears,
and most of the time
that solution is simple.
Well, Jack, I don't think my
fear is as simple as others.
I do understand that
your event is a rare one.
I couldn't blame you if you
couldn't eat out ever again.
I can't eat out
after watching one of those
kitchen nightmare shows.
That is not the same and you know it.
I understand.
I'm just saying that if,
if I can see an animal
like a, like a mouse
or a rat in a kitchen,
it just makes me want to vomit.
I'm just, I just have
a weak stomach is all.
Simone was one of the survivors
of the infamous Judy Cafe shootings.
Oh my.
I heard of that.
That made national news.
Yes, it did.
And they didn't even
print out the worst part.
I just can't imagine-
Can I use the bathroom?
(uneasy music)
[Jack] Oh sorry. The bathrooms
are for participants only.
I'll be quick.
(dark music)
Public bathrooms is around the corner.
(dark music continues)
I am so, so sorry, Simone.
I'm going to lock these doors
so that doesn't happen again.
You know how this area gets?
Please continue, Simone.
Well, like Jack mentioned,
I was a part of a big massacre shooting.
I saw people die right
in front of my face,
but that wasn't the worst part.
(uneasy music)
I was there with my best friend, Candace,
and I was spilling the tea on
my trifling ass ex-boyfriend.
We broke up.
What? With Gerald?
Yep.
Wedding's off.
When did this happen?
Last Thursday.
Bitch.
And you just telling me about it today?
This ain't something you talk about
over the phone or text.
This is in person type of shit.
Okay, ladies, what'll it be?
I'll do the soup and salad
lunch special and a Diet Coke.
Just coffee, thanks.
Are you sure the specials
are extra special today?
No, I'm good.
Okey-dokey.
(light music)
I hate pouring coffee.
(dark music)
[Candace] Weird?
I guess she don't like tips either.
-Right. So anyway.
-Anyways.
I caught that motherfucker.
No!?
Yep.
But see, I knew something was going on
when I checked his phone
last Valentine's Day
and saw all those text
messages pop up on his phone
from his baby mama, Asha.
That slut..
Yes.
It's like you had your chance.
Why are you feeling some kind
of way during the holiday?
So what you're telling me
is he was still seeing her?
No.
-Well, don't know. Maybe.
-Mm.
But that ain't who I
caught that fucker with.
Oh, girl, then who?
A young ass intern named Stacy,
small waist, big tits,
barely out of college.
Excuse me, sir.
This ain't your conversation.
Oh, sorry.
I mean, you're kind of loud.
It's hard not to listen.
Well, try those headphones on
the table you got there, maybe.
Okay.
So anyways, how'd you find out?
-I followed him.
-No.
-You damn right I did.
-Mm.
This guy says
he needs to buy his daughter
a Christmas present.
And I knew he bought one two weeks ago
because I seen it
wrapped up in the closet.
And after those texts I seen,
I smelled something.
So I followed him like I was on a case.
[Eddie] I can find
another one of you tomorrow.
-Anyways.
-Uh-huh.
I followed him to a
spot back by the beach.
You know the same hotel we went
to back in July for the 4th?
Yeah.
And I caught him in room 203.
I knocked on the door
like I was the police.
-Serious?
-I'm telling you.
[Chef] Where are they?
Bring them down. Right now.
Thank you.
I mean, is everything okay back there?
Chef's a little upset
with the way things are
managed, but he'll be fine.
Whatever.
Mm.
Mm.
Well, this soup is cold. Oh.
Girl, what kind of soup is that?
It looks kind of reddish.
Excuse me.
Miss, this soup is cold.
-Oh?
-Yeah, I just took a sip
and it's not that hot at all.
Oh, look, I can heat it up,
but if the chef comes over here,
just act like everything's okay.
He's a little sensitive.
Well, just saying soup
is supposed to be hot
when it comes out.
And also this salad has
very few ingredients.
Like it's just lettuce really.
Lady, I'm going to level with you here.
We're not exactly the
friendly staff of Judy's.
It's a strange situation my
husband Eddie got us into.
The chef is your husband.
He's much more than that.
I'm not exactly a waitress
and he isn't exactly the chef,
although he does want
you to enjoy his cooking.
It's his lifelong dream.
So take that Karen look off
your face and start eating.
I'm not eating this.
No.
No, I'm not eating this at all.
(dark music)
That had a perfect sear.
Now, let's try it again!
Oh, hell no.
You know what I'm talking about?
Now be a good girl at eat your soup.
Say ah.
Eat it.
-Eat it now.
-Do it.
Eat it. Taste it.
It's delicious.
(taser cracks)
(women scream)
[Waitress] Let's go.
(dark music)
Man, what's wrong? What's
wrong with this soup?
Nothing baby, she's going
to eat it, right bitch?
Well?
-Go ahead.
-Go on.
Eat it.
-[Eddie] There you go.
-Now don't be scared.
(dark music)
Ah.
Hey, put the knife down.
(dark music continues)
Put it down.
You.
Put it down, kid.
I hate pigs.
I hate everything about you.
I hate the way you smell,
the way you look, the way you think.
I'm going to be in your dreams
and slice your head off.
Put it down, man.
[Eddie] I ain't dropping down anything.
I will shoot you.
Put it down now.
Pull it.
You want to pull the gun?
Pull it. I dare you.
I double dog dare you.
I will shoot you.
I will shoot you.
[Eddie] Man, that's just words.
Just shoot it anyway.
You scared.
You scared.
(gun shots firing)
Needless to say, I
don't eat out anymore.
Actually,
I don't go out much in general,
and I know it's a one in a million chance
for something like that
to happen, but I just
can't bring myself to go out much.
Completely understandable.
Do you have a therapist
you've seen for this yet?
I really can't afford one.
That's why I come here.
In fact, this is the first
time I've told the whole story.
Last week,
I couldn't finish.
And the worst part is
Candace hasn't talked
to me in weeks, so I,
I just can't imagine
what she went through.
Sounds like there's a bunch
of sick fucks out there.
Yes.
So these
people were
cannibals of some type?
That's what the paper said.
I don't know.
I mean, he's just really nuts
or just messing with people.
I did read that.
It sounded like a movie.
Yeah.
I read a studio already bought
the rice to make it a movie.
Damn, Hollywood can't come
up with anything, can they?
Well, let's get back on track here.
Simone has obviously been
through an experience
that is very traumatic.
Is there a simple solution?
Does, does anyone have a,
an experience like this?
(dark music)
Well, as some of you know,
I am getting my master's in psychology
and working my way towards
becoming a professional therapist.
And in doing so, it forces me to focus
on foundational psychology.
(man yelling)
[Angry Man] Marry a whore.
Sounds like a bunch of
mumbo jumbo to make money.
That's not what I'm saying, Lance.
I'm saying that this
particular case with Simone
might be a social psychological issue.
The problem might be the
idea of people in general.
[Lance] Are people always a problem?
Well, can be, but that's
not always the case.
For Simone, the traumatic experience
happened on a social outing.
For you, it wasn't exactly
a social event or a place.
Hey, man,
I'm fucking dying.
Yeah, well, we all are.
But you have to ask the question.
It's not about whether
you're dying or not,
but how will you spend your time living,
and will you fill your
life with this type of fear
and paranoia and
emotions that overpower your day?
Well, that's easy for you to say.
You don't have nightmares.
Who says I don't have nightmares?
I have nightmares.
In fact, for the first
week after it happened,
I, I couldn't sleep.
What did you do?
I did breathing exercises.
Really? What kind?
Diaphragmatic breathing.
Dia what?
It's a very well known
technique that relaxes you,
gets oxygen to your blood,
reduces blood pressure,
reduces heart rate.
It's also known as belly
breathing or abdominal breathing.
Deep breaths from your abdominal
for five to 10 minutes every day.
And this cured the nightmares?
It helped me sleep better,
but I wouldn't exactly
say cure, but close.
You know, think of breathing as the,
the battery to your body.
The deeper you breathe,
the more battery you have.
Now, if you were to not have oxygen,
you'd suffocate and
your battery would die.
My battery's dead.
-Did you bring a charger?
-No.
Guess it's nap time.
No, I'm going to get mom.
She said we couldn't leave the car.
[Laela] Yeah, well,
it's not against the law.
What do you know about the law?
I watch "Law and Order".
Ewe, why?
[Laela] I don't know.
Wait, okay, they're almost done.
Well, almost done.
Anyone else want to share?
Cheri?
Sometimes it's better to just listen.
Okay.
Well, maybe that's my cue.
Again, no one is under
any obligation to talk.
Sometimes the help you need
comes from just listening.
It's definitely helped me today.
I want to thank you and,
and everyone for listening
and being so kind.
Sometimes kids can be a handful.
That's why I don't have any.
We are happy to help.
Like I said, I'm one of you
and I've been getting
better since my incident,
but I am not ready to
join the dating world.
(upbeat thumping music)
(people chattering)
The moment I walked in,
I started to get nervous.
Sure, I talked with this
woman for two months online,
but never seen her in person.
As soon as I got to the bar, it hit me.
How you doing?
Good.
Did you want to get something to drink?
Oh, yeah. Sorry.
I can come back.
No, no, no, no.
I was just thinking I might wait.
I'm meeting somebody.
Maybe I should get something to loosen up.
Maybe a whiskey.
You got a blind date?
Well, yeah, kind of.
I mean, not...
I've never seen it before.
Yeah, that's blind.
What kind of whiskey you like?
[Jake] Just houses fine.
Bumble?
What's that?
Did you meet your date on Bumble?
Oh, no.
Tinder? Hinge?
Oh, no.
It was called OkCupids.
Yeah.
-You got that?
-Yeah.
I was going to say,
freaks are on Bumble.
Oh yeah?
Oh yeah.
Just got to make sure they're
not going to phish you.
You know, like show up
with 50 pounds or more,
looking completely different from filters
or just having a dick.
Well, she sent me a
couple different pictures,
so hope that's not the case.
That'll be 18.
Oh, right.
$18.
Thanks.
And make sure you get
your drinks from me.
A lot of people around here
have been getting roofied lately,
not just the ladies, if
you know what I mean.
Oh thanks.
Anytime.
(upbeat thumping music continues)
Good luck, playboy.
-Oh, yeah.
-Another draft?
[Jack] As I watched people in the bar,
my anxiety was kicking in.
The bartender brought up some good points
that I didn't even think about.
What if I am getting catfished?
What if this person shows up
and is not who they say they are online?
I sip my drink and study the
people in the room and realize
I haven't been on a date for years.
And that's when she walked in.
Vanessa.
Pleased to meet you.
Jack.
You look great.
Thank you.
I am just so relieved
you're not a catfish.
Oh my God, I feel the same.
The bartender had me scared for a minute.
Elliot?
Oh, he's harmless.
He's sober three years.
He used to be a total
rager, but he's chill now.
So you come here often then?
Yeah.
Yeah, I live nearby
and they have good music
shows, no cover usually, so...
Huh.
Cool. Well, I'm happy
you could make it out.
So how was work?
You know what?
I don't think a guy's ever
even asked me that question.
It was okay today.
Honestly, I was mostly
just excited about tonight
and nervous, so.
You were nervous?
What do you got to be nervous about?
You're gorgeous.
You know, I was so nervous
that I was thinking about leaving.
Oh, better not.
That'd be a low blow.
Of course I wouldn't.
I was nervous to meet you too,
and you know, I haven't
had a date in years
and the divorce was only final last month.
And well, yeah, you know
all this, I'm rambling.
And I am just so
grateful for your honesty.
Seriously, it is so hard to
find honest people these days.
That was something that
really attracted me to you.
I could just tell you're honest.
Thanks, hun.
[Jack] Whiskey?
[Vanessa] Yep.
Woman after my own heart.
(glasses clink)
So do you think the bartender
put something funny in her drink?
No. It was nothing like that.
I did get the feeling that
maybe they knew each other
better than she let on.
You think they dated?
Possibly.
But it, I was just glad it was the person
that I was talking to.
I understand that.
-I've been catfished before.
-Me too.
Some people are just sick fucks..
I think you all know that.
Yes.
(rock music)
Tick tock
Tick tock
I'm falling hard
Knocking style
No
Show off
Show out
Hard pressed to impress
With no doubt
Looking for more than just a score
Looking to get my sign
say all in your door
Don't say that you want it
If lovin' on me is something
you can't pronounce
Don't act like you own it
If you keep on stepping out of bounds
(both chattering)
Little red nose
Your grandma's house
-Come on.
-Let's go.
Woops.
Door swings open
(Vanessa giggles)
Oh wow.
-Come on in.
-I like this.
This is yours?
Did you just live here by yourself?
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
Are you sure you're up for this?
Yeah, well, I did drink a little bit.
Wait, wait, you're not drunk, are you?
No.
No, I, no, I can handle my liquor.
It's just,
I kind of like some kinky stuff.
I don't want to scare you, but
you've never been tied up before.
I have to say it's quite the experience.
Oh, well, I,
I have not been tied up.
Really?
Have you ever been blindfolded?
I have not.
Wow.
Have you ever used any toys?
Well, yeah, sure. A little bit.
There's just something
about seeing a man
totally helpless that really turns me on.
Sure.
You got somebody in there?
-Maybe.
-Oh yeah?
Is this?
This isn't like a sex dungeon, is it?
[Vanessa] Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
[Jack] Let's hope so.
(uneasy music)
Oh, yes ma'am.
Let's try something.
So you just had this on you, huh?
[Vanessa] Uh-huh.
Okay.
Ooh, it's soft.
[Vanessa] It's lace.
Can you see anything?
Nope.
-I am, I am blind as a bat.
-Good.
You see, once you take
away one of your senses,
all the other ones are heightened.
Now it's all about what you feel
and what you hear.
(Vanessa laughs)
Do you feel out of control?
[Jack] I mean, a little.
[Vanessa] Oops.
That's a very sexy word to hear.
"Oops".
Must have been that last drink.
Yeah.
-Tipsy myself.
-Yeah.
[Jack] Oh, what's that?
[Vanessa] That is so I can keep you
right where I want you.
That's where I want to be.
Whoa, whoa.
I, I though you said tied up.
[Vanessa] Oh, but this
is just so much safer.
For who?
(tense music)
[Vanessa] Me, you, for this room.
Safe.
Now do you feel out of control?
I mean a little more, yeah.
Now.
So you, you just,
you have all this stuff
hanging around your place?
Hang on a sec, honey.
Oh wait, don't tell me.
This is where you do the old cliche about
let me step into something
more comfortable.
That's exactly what I'm about to do.
All right.
(tense music)
Oh, this is for real, huh?
Okay. Okay.
It's okay. It's just a new thing.
New thing, not boring.
That's, that's for sure.
(tense music continues)
Well, not boring. It's not boring.
Okay.
(tense music continues)
[Vanessa] Jack?
[Jack] Yes.
[Vanessa] I think
it's time for the truth.
The truth, what are you,
what are you talking about?
[Vanessa] I think before we do this,
we need to share our
truths with each other.
(suspenseful music)
Yeah, like what?
[Vanessa] Well, one
thing that's true, Jack,
is that you are still married, aren't you?
What?
Married.
You're a married man,
but that's okay.
I have some truth to share with you too.
(suspenseful music continues)
I'm not attracted to you
at all.
Another thing about me, Jack, is
I don't like being fucked, Jack.
In fact, I'm normally the
one doing the fucking.
(Jack shouts)
(suspenseful music)
Your wife sends her regards.
(Jack screams)
It was the most
excruciating pain I'd ever felt.
So how did she know you were married
or if you were married?
Wait, were you married?
I was.
After the incident,
my wife disappeared
and I got divorce papers shortly after.
Well, sure, I didn't do the right thing,
but I've been married for so many years.
But I'm not saying it was right.
But the relationship was
getting stale and I'm...
But it doesn't matter.
It doesn't condone sexual assault.
I'm so sorry that happened to you.
It's fine.
I survived and I must move on.
I don't feel comfortable
dating just yet,
but I will.
I thank you for listening to me.
I truly feel better
after I've told my story.
And I know that there are
others like me out there that
fear talking about their traumatic event.
It truly feels good to share.
So, Rick, I know you're not
obligated to share today,
but you can if you'd like to.
It's normal for
first timers to be more observant,
first couple of sessions.
Look, I just want you to feel comfortable,
and whenever you're ready,
by all means,
we're here for you.
Okay, I guess that-
I don't think it's right.
-What was that?
-I don't think it's right.
I don't think I should be
judge and jury for another man.
Well, what exactly
is on your mind, Rick?
You know how they say that every,
every man is created equal?
Every human is supposed to have rights.
Some people are just,
I don't know.
Tell us what you're thinking, Rick.
We are all here for you.
Well, I sort of,
I sort of have this roommate.
(tense music)
There he is again.
This cat's about to kill another bird.
He's so calculated.
He hides right behind that
pot till the perfect moment.
Poor bird doesn't even know it hit him.
I have an idea.
I haven't fished in a while, but
I think I can catch something today.
(tense music)
(suspenseful music)
(cat squalling)
What the fuck?
Wait, are you serious?
This guy killed a cat?
Well, he needs to be in prison.
Maybe I should pay him a visit.
Rick, why do you think he did that?
The cat was going to kill the bird.
But animals do that.
I mean, it's not pretty,
but it's a part of life.
Yeah, it's part of the food chain.
It's natural.
This situation does bleed
over into the crime abuse rule.
Did, did you report this?
Did the cat have a collar?
I mean, whose cat was it?
So did you report him?
No.
(tense music)
Oh, good.
About time you work out.
Yeah, nothing to get you out of a funk
like some good old fashioned gains.
Hey, you're not still mad
about that cat thing, are you?
I mean, I didn't want to do it either,
but believe me, man, no
one's going to miss that cat.
Even a bit extreme.
But you hate cats
and you love birds.
Was it so wrong?
Okay.
I can see that you're still mad.
I tell you what.
Hit me in the face.
What?
Hit me.
Come on, it'll make you feel good.
Even though I'm not the built in here,
it'll make you feel good.
Won't make me feel good.
Just drop it.
I know it makes you feel good
and knocking me out will do it.
-Come on.
-No.
Hit me.
Come on, fist up, right to the chin.
Put your weight behind it and let it fly.
No.
You ever been knocked out before?
No.
Me either.
Kinda want to know how
it feels, don't you?
No.
Sleeper hold.
All right?
You put me in a sleeper hold,
and if I pass out, then slap me.
I'll wake up. They do it all the time.
Come on, come on.
Wouldn't that, wouldn't...
Wouldn't that kill you though?
Isn't that what you want to do?
I'm just messing with you.
Come on, it won't kill me.
It just takes away the
oxygen for a minute.
That's what they call death.
When I go limp, let go, okay?
Then I'll naturally
breathe again, all right?
-Come on.
-Stop.
Do it pussy.
Come on.
-Do it.
-No.
Like this.
Come on.
Like this.
(tense music)
It's not working.
Come on.
(tense music continues)
Do it!
(both yelling)
(dramatic music)
I hope you killed him.
Obviously you didn't kill
him or we wouldn't be here.
Wait, did you kill him?
No.
Hm. Well, I wouldn't be mad if you had.
Seems like this roommate
may have suicidal tendencies.
Is this a common thing?
Does he search for pain?
Does he ask for your participation?
Yes.
Yes, he self-harms
or yes, you have something to do with it?
Yes, he is drawn to pain.
He always wants me to do something,
but I couldn't choke him out.
Well, regardless of that, this,
this sounds like a situation
where the authorities should be notified.
Or you could take it upon
yourself and do the right thing.
No, Lance, we don't encourage that.
This guy sounds real wild.
Maybe your solution is
the same as my solution.
Move.
I agree. Get out of there.
Well, it's not a bad idea,
but seriously, this sounds
like a mental health issue.
It's not the self-inflicting
pain that's the issue here.
(tense music)
(uneasy music)
(dramatic music)
What the fuck are you doing?
Trying not to wake you.
Too fucking late.
What's on your face?
Blood.
Yours, what happened?
World War III, that's what happened.
What?
War.
There was a silent war going
on that no one talks about.
I had a plan.
My plan was to make him reconsider
some of those claims he denied.
He has the power.
He's the fucking CEO.
I was going to tie him up.
Maybe show him some videos
of those poor bastards
that have been paying into
our company for years.
Appeal to his good side.
Are you talking about
my boss, Mr. Fletcher?
Then he struck me and blood
just started gushing and had,
I think I just started seeing red.
Where is he?
I didn't mean to do it.
-I though I was the good guy.
-Where the fuck is he?
(tense music)
You fucking brought him here?
You fucking brought him here?
I need your help burying the body.
Whoa, that fucker killed someone?
Why didn't you just start with that?
[Mary Anne] This is way bigger-
(interposing voices speaking)
(tense music)
(interposing voices speaking)
Everyone, please.
Bring it down.
(dramatic music)
-This is insane.
-(dramatic music continues)
Now,
clearly, we have a situation
that needs to be reported
to the authorities.
Rick, you must call the police.
(suspenseful music)
I can't do that.
Well, why on earth not?
I don't have a phone.
Well, clearly I can find a phone for you
in this situation.
-Thank you.
-Of course.
I know I can speak for everyone here
and that we have your back on this.
I appreciate it,
and I thank you.
I think I no longer have my fear anymore.
Amazing.
Based on your story, I,
it would be completely
understandable if you feared this...
What was his name?
The, the roommate?
No.
No.
That's not what I'm afraid of.
I actually don't have a roommate.
(tense music)
Come on.
Do it.
(tense music continues)
War.
(dramatic music)
(uneasy music)
What the fuck are you doing?
War. War.
It's a silent war that nobody talks about.
I had a plan.
My plan was just to scare him,
maybe make him reconsider some
of the claims that he denied.
He could do that.
He's, he has the power.
He's the fucking CEO.
I was just going to tie him up,
make him watch some videos
of these poor bastards
who have been paying money
into our company for years.
Appeals his good side.
I need your help.
Get rid of the body.
You see, I was always so caught
up in being the good guy.
I never wanted to be judge,
jury, and executioner,
but if not me, then who?
If not now,
when?
What I was afraid of
is if I could do it again.
And I realized something,
listening to this group here,
I'm not the good guy.
And fear?
(uneasy music)
Fear is a waste of time.
Oh, and Lance,
you are right.
You are going to die.
(dramatic music)
(Lance screams)
(women screaming)
[Arman] No, leave her alone.
[Jack] We're calling the police.
Wait, wait, wait. Fuck.
Let's talk about this.
(Jack screams)
In the shadows they bring
Those haunting my screen
No escape from this fear
Darkness whispers it's near
Feel the terror in your heart
Can't you see we're worlds apart
Welcome to fear anonymous
Welcome to fear anonymous
(upbeat rock music)
(upbeat rock music continues)
(upbeat rock music continues)
[Rick] Cheri, red.
Arman, green.
Mary Anne, green.
Simone, purple.
Jack,
mint chip.
(uneasy music)
(kids knocking)
(dramatic music)
(haunting music)
[Victoria] The way
she hid under the table.
Oh my God, I'm like
right there behind you.
Run.
I was like, "Girl, be silent, be still."
You know, but this is
such a cool screening.
I just, I love horror films.
Oh, hell yeah.
I think I actually jumped
a few times on that one.
Oh, you sure did.
(both laughing)
Oh, and thanks for helping me clean up.
Oh, of course.
Oh, and thank you so much
for introducing me to the director.
Like that, super dope.
Of course.
Yeah.
-I mean, he's pretty cool.
-Yeah.
A bit strange actually,
but you know, harmless.
Yeah.
Okay, really.
(uneasy music)
What are you looking for?
(uneasy music continues)
Shit.
I think I left my keys inside.
Oh, I can go back with you.
Oh no, it's okay.
It's so freezing out here,
and the wind is literally-
Girl, hey, there is safety
numbers and we are in the LVC.
I know, but I'll be fine.
-You sure?
-Mm-hmm.
Okay, so I'll see you on
Sunday at the Super Bowl party?
Yeah, I wouldn't miss it.
Yeah, unless I get kidnapped
and raped and chopped up tonight.
That's not funny.
Okay, sorry, it's a bad joke.
But I'll see you at the party.
(uneasy music continues)
[Friend] All right. And don't be late.
Okay, yeah. Make it to your car.
[Friend] Bye.
(uneasy music continues)
(door squeaks)
(keys jingle)
(uneasy music continues)
Oh, gross.
(uneasy music continues)
Hello?
Is somebody there?
(uneasy music continues)
Hello?
(uneasy music continues)
(Victoria screams)
Okay, kids. It's late.
Time for bed
and, oh, we got more
boxes to unpack tomorrow.
It's only 10:00 PM.
You know, back home, we
stayed up till like 10:30
if it's not a school night.
Well, this is your home now
and we still have lots to unpack.
You don't want to worry
about unpacking on Monday.
It's your first day at the new school.
[Laela] I think I'm going
to go get ready for bed.
Okay, sweetie.
(uneasy music)
(water bubbling)
(water flowing)
(uneasy music)
This doesn't feel like our home, okay?
It's got a weird energy to it.
It might take a little time to adjust.
Mom, do you know where my toothbrush is?
I'll be right there, sweetheart.
Listen, I just need you
to make this work, okay?
We just got to try.
And I didn't tell Laela
how we got the house,
so don't say anything.
I don't want to give her nightmares.
I won't say anything.
Thank you.
All right, I'm coming.
(uneasy music)
Where did we put that? Let me think.
(uneasy music continues)
(thudding)
(uneasy music)
(switch clicks)
(uneasy music continues)
(switch clicks)
(TV static crackles)
(uneasy music continues)
(Mary Anne screams)
(rock music)
(rock music continues)
(rock music continues)
Well, Mary Anne, did you
find out what the noise was
or was this a dream?
Remember, you're in a safe space.
No one will judge you here.
It's okay. Just take your time.
Well, here's the embarrassing part.
After this experience,
I was convinced the house was haunted,
so I hired an investigator,
I think they're called
a medium or something,
to come in and talk to
the spirits in the house.
Con man, you mean?
Lance.
That's what he is, Jack.
Don't tell me you believe in ghosts.
Lance, this is a room
that doesn't judge.
Remember your noodle incident?
It's not the same.
Hmm.
Keep going, Mary Anne.
It's okay.
I'm actually not sure if
he was a con man or not.
That's actually why I'm here.
What Mr. Nash put in my
head about the house,
I mean, he figured out what I saw.
And honestly, I had
been drinking a little.
I've been so stressed about the move
and the divorce isn't
going smoothly either.
(uneasy music)
(Mary Anne scream)
So the kids were playing a joke on you.
I'll whoop the shit out of my kids
if they be doing that bullshit.
Wait, if it was your
kids, why are you even here?
It was just a prank.
It wasn't a prank,
and that's not why I'm here.
I'm here because of the house.
The medium?
Yeah, he figured out it was the kids,
but he said the house had spirits in it.
And yeah, my kids, they did what they did
because they didn't want to move,
and they figured if they scared me,
I'd move back east with their father,
which isn't going to happen.
And I don't leave my kids alone.
They're grounded.
They're in the car as we speak.
[Influencer] Hi, my beauties.
I just, I don't feel safe there.
Why don't you just move then?
Uh huh.
It's not a bad idea.
I don't believe in ghosts,
but I do believe in the human mind.
If it's making you uncomfortable,
you need to find a way
to relieve the stress
and abolish this fear.
Stress is the real killer.
Oh, hello?
Are you looking for Fear Anonymous?
I was, I was just going.
There's no need to
be hesitant, my friend.
You are in the right place.
I am?
Of course you are.
Welcome.
Welcome to Fear Anonymous.
My name is Jack, Jack Miller.
I'm the moderator and
co-creator of Fear Anonymous.
Consider this a safe place,
a place for anyone who
is plagued with a fear
or stress that cannot be explained
or rationalized by
normal scientific means.
Come, have a seat.
Now you missed the orientation, but
that's fine.
We will try to get you
up to speed, mister?
What was your name?
My, my name is Rick.
I'm not really sure I should be here.
I'm not
big of a talker.
Hey, let's play an introduction game.
We'd normally do this at
the start of every workshop
when there's new people.
I forgot today.
It's simple.
You just say your name
and your favorite color,
and then we go around the room
and at the end of the meeting,
we have each person try and recall
everyone's name and color.
Since we know your name,
Rick, you can start.
What's your favorite color?
Black.
Hi, I'm Simone and I love purple.
Hi, my name is Mary Anne and
my favorite color is green.
Lance McLean, and I like gray.
I'm Cheri and I love red.
Arman, and I like blue and green.
Adam, I like green too.
And my name is Jack
and I like mint chip.
Just kidding.
Oh, I forgot.
Rick, we put our phones in this basket
so that nobody has any distractions.
Oh.
-I don't have one.
-What?
I don't have a cell phone.
-Bullshit.
-I don't.
I assure you,
the phone will be safe in the basket.
I really don't have one.
How do people reach you?
They don't.
How do you check your
Facebook and Instagram?
TikTok?
I don't.
I heard these cell
phones cause ball cancer.
Well, it's okay if you don't have one,
but remember, if you did,
it would be safe in this basket.
So we just heard from Mary Anne,
and I think Lance was
about to talk a little bit
about some issues he's having.
Well, actually, we're still
talking about Mary Anne.
We're trying to figure out if that
medium she hired was a con man or not.
Yes, yes, of course.
Again, it's not fair for us
to cast judgment on Mary Anne
for how she handles her fears.
We're here to listen,
possibly access strategies
to cure those fears.
Remember, when you judge
or condescend someone,
you sound like an asshole.
Exactly.
Mary Anne, did you come up
with a strategy for this fear?
I think you guys are right.
I mean, if I don't feel comfortable,
I should just move.
Who needs this anxiety and stress?
How long do you think we'll be here?
I don't know.
You think we'll stay in that house?
Not sure.
[Laela] You think it's haunted?
It feels like this.
I don't really like it.
If you don't like it,
then I don't like it.
You think we'll see dad again?
I don't know, but I want to.
Yes.
Great.
Simple solutions to simple problems.
I'm so proud of you.
That's what this group is all about.
Okay, Lance, tell us the issue.
Maybe we can help.
Well, it's the same thing as
every time I tell this story,
except this week it's cranked up a notch.
I keep getting these unexplained
wounds all over my body.
I'm cursed.
This curse is eventually going to kill me.
I just don't know when,
and I don't know how.
(heavy metal music)
(suspenseful music)
(heavy metal music)
Dark it reign
I rise and push against the chains
(artist singing indistinctly)
(suspenseful music)
Ah, shit.
(suspenseful music continues)
Hey, hey, wake up.
Wake up, kid.
Son of a bitch.
(suspenseful music continues)
(heavy metal music)
[Operator] 9-1-1. Please hold.
Hello?
(heavy metal music continues)
(artist singing indistinctly)
(suspenseful music)
(suspenseful music continues)
Hello? Hey.
Hey. I need some help.
I got an emergency.
I don't think he's breathing.
Look, look.
(suspenseful music)
Who the fuck are you?
(witch chanting)
What are you doing?
Who the fuck are you?
What the fuck are you doing?
(witch growling)
(witch chanting)
What the fuck are you?
What the fuck.
(suspenseful music)
(witch chanting)
(tense music)
(suspenseful music)
So the boy's alive?
Yeah, the boy lived.
I don't know what that witch did,
but he was breathing when I left.
So what did you do?
What do you think I did?
I kicked that bitch in
the cunt and I drove off.
It wasn't going to end up
like those corpses around the fire.
I got away.
(witch speaks ominous langage)
(witch screams)
(tense music)
Only problem is,
whatever that bitch did,
keep getting worse week after week.
I could feel this presence
trying to get to me.
I have these wounds
and they won't heal.
I lost 20 pounds,
stopped the gym,
quit my job.
(uneasy music)
I truly believe I'm
going to die from this.
You know what, Jack?
There ain't no simple
solution to this shit.
Well, Lance, I understand
it can be hard to admit
that you have a fear.
That ain't the hard part.
It's not fear.
It's fact.
I'm going to die.
We're all going to die.
(tense music)
Sorry.
I think what he means is that
we're all here temporarily and,
and the best thing we can
do is try to be happy.
Life is unbearably short,
and the older you get, the faster it goes.
We need to focus on the here and now
and appreciate it for what it is.
Now, Lance,
before this accident,
were you going through any other problems?
I did just go through a divorce.
Now that's trauma.
Uh huh.
Well, what happened
there, if I might ask?
I don't know.
I guess she fell out of love with me.
Came home one day and she was gone.
Do you have kids?
No.
We got dogs,
two of them,
Rachel and Sammy.
They were like our kids.
I can't believe she left them too.
No note,
no nothing, just gone.
Sorry to hear that.
No one deserves to be
abandoned without explanation.
Yes, that is a rough one, Lance.
I didn't know.
I didn't come here for marriage advice.
You don't even need to know
how much of bitch a my ex was.
I know it's a touchy subject,
but maybe this situation
has something to do
with the car accident event.
It might be building in your head.
Oh, yeah?
What's building in my head?
Guilt?
Guilt?
-Guilt for what?
-Okay.
I'm not guilty.
-It was a fucking accident!
-I know.
The boy lived.
Don't you understand?
I'm going to fucking die.
Look, I woke up with this.
I'm fucking cursed.
Calm down.
Hey, let's just take a deep breath.
Don't fucking psycho evaluate me.
-You know my story.
-I do.
We've heard this story, but we did,
we didn't know about your wife.
We didn't know about the dogs.
What, what were their names?
Sammy and?
Sammy and Rachel.
Great. I love dogs.
What kind were they?
Pit bulls,
Stratford picks.
Cute, do you have pictures?
(light music)
[Lance] Of course I do.
I love dogs.
I got two Frenchies.
They're loud and they sort
like pigs, but adorable.
(light music continues)
Oh, so sweet.
Yeah.
I can't imagine any
mother leaving these two.
[Laela] Why do people get divorced?
Mean mom and dad?
[Influencer] I'm ready.
I don't know.
I guess people can just get
tired of each other, you know?
I guess you can fall out of love.
I mean, you can fall in
love, you can fall out.
I wouldn't.
-You wouldn't?
-Nope.
You're too young to know that.
Well, age is just a number.
I think that if people can fall in love
and then out of love, then
it probably wasn't love.
Traumatic events such as
the ones we're hearing about today
can affect your mental health.
If untreated, it can build
a psychological trauma
that can stay with you for life.
I know this is just a help group,
but I encourage everyone
to seek a doctor for your situation.
In fact, I have some
business cards on the table
that might help.
I do believe the more you
discuss the issues, events,
or how you feel, the greater
assistance it can be to you.
I know that since coming
here, it's helped me.
I'm not only the moderator,
but I'm also a client.
Just kidding.
But seriously, please feel free to share.
It all stays right here in this room.
Well, unless it's about abuse,
we have no tolerance for abusive behavior.
Cheri is proof of that.
Yes.
Thank you, Jack.
Of course.
Well, how do we know if we
have psychological trauma?
Well, there are some
symptoms that stay with you.
If you feel shame, anxiety,
emotional numbing,
insomnia, loss of memory, nightmares,
confusion,
mood swings,
if you, if you're easily startled,
easily irritated.
It can even be physical pain.
I feel like I have all of those.
Oh, no.
That's just being a mother.
Hey, Jack,
how does somebody try and get sleep again
if they have insomnia?
Well, there are a few tricks that I do.
How many hours do you get at night?
Five if I'm lucky.
I get four.
That's enough.
Not for me.
Well, everyone has their own path.
I like melatonin.
I like sounds of the ocean.
White noise.
YouTube has it all, and exercise helps.
Have you always had this problem, Arman?
No.
It started after the gym night.
Sometimes I get five
hours, sometimes three.
I keep getting these bad
dreams that keep me awake.
So you're afraid of the gym?
That makes sense.
Well, I try to stay healthy,
and despite what you say,
I work out quite regularly,
or at least I did.
It was a regular Tuesday
night, kickboxing class.
(rock music)
(artist singing indistinctly)
(bags thudding)
All right, time, time.
We're going to go ahead
and add kicks, guys.
Okay?
In real life situations, kicks work.
So the well-placed kick, game over.
You want to start off?
Jab, jab,
low kick, right?
Jab, jab, low kick.
We start off high, and then we go low.
Boom. All right?
What if the guy you're fighting
kicks you in the nuts first?
Well, Arman, you always
got to protect those nuts,
all right?
(class laughs)
All right.
Remember, guys, keep your hands up,
protect yourself, protect
yourself, and then fire that kick.
Boom.
Right?
Yo, yo, Caesar, come check this out.
What?
[Classmate] Come look at it right now.
-What?
-Come look at this.
(uneasy music)
Mitzi?
Oh my God, that's my dog.
-Mitzi.
-Hold on a sec.
Let me, let me see what's up.
Hold, back up. Back up a sec, Arman.
Back up a sec.
[Arman] Maybe you shouldn't touch him.
Little late for that.
(homeless man growling)
Lenny, call the cops.
Oh, man, you got to do something.
(tense music)
Get the fuck off of her, you asshole.
(tense music)
(Cesar screaming)
(people screaming)
[Lance] Well, what happened?
What?
You mean what happened to the instructor?
What happened to the dog?
The dog died.
Ah, that's fucked up.
People deserve to be murdered, but dogs,
dogs don't deserve to be murdered.
Did anyone else get hurt?
Well, the police came quickly
and got the homeless guy off
of Caesar, the instructor.
I guess they were already looking for him
in the neighborhood and heard the screams.
It was wild to see up close.
Those are the images
that are in my nightmares,
so sleeping has been tough lately.
You know, ever since the pandemic,
the homeless population
has gone up 50% in my area.
Me too.
There's tents down my block
and human feces by the garbage cans.
It's gross.
You can thank Governor Newsom for that.
Why do you say that?
Because that shady left fuck,
he saved $20 billion to combat
homelessness, allegedly.
$20 billion, and it
hasn't gotten any better.
That's billion with a B,
and the problem got worse.
Somebody lined their pockets
with taxpaying dollars.
If anything, it's the
Republican billionaires
who pay no taxes.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, boys.
Let's remember the rules.
No politics.
All right.
I won't talk any more politics.
Those Democrats, they're a
bunch of thieving pussies.
And I'm not going to
talk about politics either,
but all Republicans are evil people.
Okay, okay, okay.
Guys, we get it.
But seriously, let's
stop and take a breath.
Did you ever think that
the problem might not be
the political parties,
but the fact that you have to choose one
to participate in democracy?
Now let's put down the verbal swords
and remember why we're in this room,
to help each other.
And with that said, let's take a break.
Oh, good. I have to pee super bad.
Me too.
Well, you can pee anytime.
I mean, you'll like use the facilities
anytime during our meeting.
[Cheri] I just didn't want to be rude.
(light rock music)
So
How you liking it so far, Rick?
It's not bad.
No I wasn't lying about my own trauma.
I share every session,
and believe you me, it helps.
What do you do for a living, if I may ask?
I'm in insurance claims, so it's,
it's not that exciting, really.
I see.
I bet you see a good lot
of trauma there, huh?
(light music)
Sorry about your divorce.
(toilet flushing)
What do you think about the new guy?
I don't know, but he's
kind of cute, quiet.
I mean, everyone's
quiet their first day.
What do you think he's afraid of?
I don't know.
But if he really doesn't have a phone,
maybe he owes people money.
Honey, that's what a caller ID is for.
And I know you've seen the way Arman
has been looking at you.
You think this is the day he gets the
courage to ask you out?
Ugh, Arman is sweet.
You know, he almost did last week,
but then Lance came up,
all upset like normal,
right in between us to grab a muffin.
Kind of ruined the mood.
Yeah, that boy is a dick.
I don't know.
I like Arman, but I'm
just not sure I'm ready.
Uh huh.
So is today the day?
I think so.
I mean, YOLO, right?
What are you guys talking about?
Oh, this boy has the hots for Cheri.
We just waiting on the
invitation part, that's all.
Yeah, I saw you looking at her.
She seems sweet.
She is.
And she's a Capricorn.
Oh, do you get along
well with Capricorn?
Yeah, they're the best for me.
Capricorns are cool.
Pisces, Scorpios,
just stay away from them
at Aries and Geminis.
Do you believe in all
that Astrosign stuff too?
I don't know if I believe in it,
but Geminis,
they're bipolar.
I believe that.
(light music)
You know, it really is all
you believe to be true is true.
People don't understand how perception
is so important to your life.
I've had a lot of crappy jobs,
pouring concrete,
cleaning freeways,
parking enforcement, babysitting,
even trash pickup.
You know which one was my favorite?
Picking up trash.
Yep.
And it wasn't the job, it
was the people I was with
when I was doing it.
I had a cool crew.
We played softball, hung out after work,
and my perception of
the job was open-minded.
I was making money, helping people,
and doing it with my buddies.
I guess my point is,
it shouldn't be the job
itself that gets you down.
It's all in how you look at it.
Perception creates your attitude.
You can't have a bad day at work
if your attitude is positive.
Well, actually, you can if
you do parking enforcement.
Everybody hates those guys.
(dark music)
And you know what?
What?
You never know what you're
going to find in the garbage.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
That's why there was so much excitement.
I'm bored.
Hasn't even been an hour yet.
[Laela] Feels like it has.
Well, you got a computer in your hand.
Why don't you learn Chinese or something.
What for?
[Kelvin] Maybe you'll
go to China one day.
No, I won't.
How do you know that?
It's not on my list.
You have a list of places
you want to go in your life?
[Laela] Yeah.
Well, did you think
you moved to California?
I guess not.
All I'm saying is you
shouldn't be so bored so easily.
You know, you got something in your hands
that can educate you and
entertain you if you want.
I'm going to text mom again.
I already did.
(phone vibrating)
(light music)
Hey, so you think you're
going to talk today?
I don't know.
Sometimes I just feel
kind of like not talking,
You know?
Yeah, I get that.
Last week I felt kind of
bad when you started crying.
I know.
So embarrassing.
No, no, that's, that's not what I meant.
It's just, I didn't
want to see you in pain.
That's all.
I see you, Adam.
I don't care.
Hey.
(gentle music)
I just wanted to say, I am so
sorry you went through that.
I mean, seeing a dog like that
has got to be the most disturbing
thing I've ever heard of.
It's disgusting.
I am so sorry.
How are you getting to sleep?
Yeah.
Thank you for that.
Yeah, it's getting better.
For a while I was taking sleeping pills
and trying to distract myself
with whatever I can, you know?
I love dogs and all animals.
In fact, I'm a vegetarian, so.
Oh my God, I am too.
Well, pescatarian, I guess.
Oh, me too actually.
I know a spot by the
wharf called Fish Fiesta.
I got to take you sometime.
I don't know how anyone
can eat meat really.
Because it tastes good.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(lights flickering)
(water flowing)
(uneasy music continues)
Honey, you have had the frown face
ever since you put that
phone in your hands.
What's going on?
Just text arguing with Sam.
Supposed to do a dinner
tonight at a client's
and we just can't seem
to agree on any detail.
See, I think that should
be a call conversation
and not a text.
People don't get the right
intentions from text.
A dinner event is nothing
to be upset about, okay?
I hate texting.
You're right.
I should probably call.
You should.
And we encourage everyone
to talk the first time,
but there's no pressure.
Sometimes it helps just to listen.
You seem good at that.
Thanks.
You talking today?
I don't know.
Sometimes, sometimes I think my fear
is not as big as others, you know?
I mean, like, who cares, right?
Nonsense.
I'm sure everyone has had someone
to cheat on them in the past.
I know I have,
shit, a few times, really.
Yes, but I don't think people
think about it every day like I do.
That day
was awful.
But you know what's worse?
I don't think I can handle a divorce.
(uneasy music)
Oh my gosh.
This artificial intelligence bullshit
is getting way out of hand.
They just made a movie
that was two hours long.
100% AI.
Boo.
The script,
the cast,
the sets, the sounds,
the fucking music, everything.
(seat belt unclicks)
(door opening)
(car dinging)
(door closing)
I mean, social media is crazy.
I'm looking up all this AI bullshit
and all these sex robots
pop up all over my feed.
I though all the movies,
they going to get rid of
the sex worker institute.
But you know what though?
Ain't no robot can move
like me in the bedroom.
Okay, slut.
Hey, hey, I ain't no slut.
Adam and I have an understanding.
Well, that's good.
I think I heard a car in the driveway.
(suspenseful music)
Well, men are dogs.
You think you can trust him now?
I mean, you must to stay with him.
Well,
I love him.
Yeah, well, sometimes trust
is more important than love.
I guess I just have to
work on my communication.
Communication is key.
Any healthy relationship
starts with communication.
She hasn't texted back.
Did you get a text?
No.
You think she's okay?
Yeah, of course.
I don't know, probably just
taking a break or something.
I saw some people walking around.
I feel like they already talked a lot.
Maybe they're done.
Well, when mom read the online flyer,
she said it could take like two hours.
Two hours?
It's like forever.
Yep.
Adults like to talk.
In fact, it's their favorite thing to do.
(upbeat music)
You know, I think people like to talk
so they can feel comfortable
and so people can like them.
Well, Webers doesn't
talk at all and I like her.
Webers is a turtle.
Okay, if she did talk,
you probably wouldn't like her anyways.
If she did, she'd be like,
"I'm hungry. Feed me giant human."
And Webers eats her own doo-doo.
Ew.
Okay. And we are back.
Special thanks to Simone
for the extra treats.
Let's get back into it.
Adam,
you couldn't resist, could you?
Yeah, sorry, Jack, but I got to go.
Sorry to drink all your coffee and go,
but something came up.
Of course. No pressure.
Hope to see you next week.
Oh yeah, probably.
Nice meeting everyone.
Stay safe out there.
Oh wait.
We were just about to play
your favorite warmup game,
pet peeves of the week.
Simple game.
We just spit out anything
that is annoying us this week.
It helps to vent, you know?
You're right, Jack.
The only thing that's pissing
me off right now is texting.
Ciao babes.
(uneasy music)
Sometimes listening to
others discussing their fears
or venting can help us with our own.
Rick, Mary Anne,
how's the group session
going so far with you?
Well, it's been nice to
get some outside perspective.
Yes, of course.
And Rick, how are you feeling?
Okay, I guess.
Good.
If you want to share, please feel free.
We are all ears.
And if you have a phone,
it will still be safe in the basket.
(phone vibrating)
So since Adam started us off,
then let's continue with the game.
I mean, I hate texting.
It's so annoying to me.
I mean, I'd rather just get a call.
Vince, what about you?
You got anything annoying
that you want to vent about?
Aside from the fact of dying,
people that don't pick up their dog shit
when they walk 'em.
You know, I think if you
are going to have a dog,
you better pick up the dog shit.
Valid.
Cheri?
People that don't do what
they say they're going to do.
Yep. That one is major.
And most of the problems humans have
are based on that issue alone.
Cheaters.
Full grown men that can't keep
their dick in their pants.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And that, that can go both ways.
-Ex-husbands.
-Sure.
Anxiety.
Well, I think a lot of
people can relate to that.
Rick, you got anything?
People.
(uneasy music)
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Simple.
Understandable.
Thanks, Rick.
Now, we want to be as helpful as possible
when listening to these
individual stories.
Now today, my pet peeve is time.
There's never enough time.
I truly believe that there are solutions
to conquer these fears,
and most of the time
that solution is simple.
Well, Jack, I don't think my
fear is as simple as others.
I do understand that
your event is a rare one.
I couldn't blame you if you
couldn't eat out ever again.
I can't eat out
after watching one of those
kitchen nightmare shows.
That is not the same and you know it.
I understand.
I'm just saying that if,
if I can see an animal
like a, like a mouse
or a rat in a kitchen,
it just makes me want to vomit.
I'm just, I just have
a weak stomach is all.
Simone was one of the survivors
of the infamous Judy Cafe shootings.
Oh my.
I heard of that.
That made national news.
Yes, it did.
And they didn't even
print out the worst part.
I just can't imagine-
Can I use the bathroom?
(uneasy music)
[Jack] Oh sorry. The bathrooms
are for participants only.
I'll be quick.
(dark music)
Public bathrooms is around the corner.
(dark music continues)
I am so, so sorry, Simone.
I'm going to lock these doors
so that doesn't happen again.
You know how this area gets?
Please continue, Simone.
Well, like Jack mentioned,
I was a part of a big massacre shooting.
I saw people die right
in front of my face,
but that wasn't the worst part.
(uneasy music)
I was there with my best friend, Candace,
and I was spilling the tea on
my trifling ass ex-boyfriend.
We broke up.
What? With Gerald?
Yep.
Wedding's off.
When did this happen?
Last Thursday.
Bitch.
And you just telling me about it today?
This ain't something you talk about
over the phone or text.
This is in person type of shit.
Okay, ladies, what'll it be?
I'll do the soup and salad
lunch special and a Diet Coke.
Just coffee, thanks.
Are you sure the specials
are extra special today?
No, I'm good.
Okey-dokey.
(light music)
I hate pouring coffee.
(dark music)
[Candace] Weird?
I guess she don't like tips either.
-Right. So anyway.
-Anyways.
I caught that motherfucker.
No!?
Yep.
But see, I knew something was going on
when I checked his phone
last Valentine's Day
and saw all those text
messages pop up on his phone
from his baby mama, Asha.
That slut..
Yes.
It's like you had your chance.
Why are you feeling some kind
of way during the holiday?
So what you're telling me
is he was still seeing her?
No.
-Well, don't know. Maybe.
-Mm.
But that ain't who I
caught that fucker with.
Oh, girl, then who?
A young ass intern named Stacy,
small waist, big tits,
barely out of college.
Excuse me, sir.
This ain't your conversation.
Oh, sorry.
I mean, you're kind of loud.
It's hard not to listen.
Well, try those headphones on
the table you got there, maybe.
Okay.
So anyways, how'd you find out?
-I followed him.
-No.
-You damn right I did.
-Mm.
This guy says
he needs to buy his daughter
a Christmas present.
And I knew he bought one two weeks ago
because I seen it
wrapped up in the closet.
And after those texts I seen,
I smelled something.
So I followed him like I was on a case.
[Eddie] I can find
another one of you tomorrow.
-Anyways.
-Uh-huh.
I followed him to a
spot back by the beach.
You know the same hotel we went
to back in July for the 4th?
Yeah.
And I caught him in room 203.
I knocked on the door
like I was the police.
-Serious?
-I'm telling you.
[Chef] Where are they?
Bring them down. Right now.
Thank you.
I mean, is everything okay back there?
Chef's a little upset
with the way things are
managed, but he'll be fine.
Whatever.
Mm.
Mm.
Well, this soup is cold. Oh.
Girl, what kind of soup is that?
It looks kind of reddish.
Excuse me.
Miss, this soup is cold.
-Oh?
-Yeah, I just took a sip
and it's not that hot at all.
Oh, look, I can heat it up,
but if the chef comes over here,
just act like everything's okay.
He's a little sensitive.
Well, just saying soup
is supposed to be hot
when it comes out.
And also this salad has
very few ingredients.
Like it's just lettuce really.
Lady, I'm going to level with you here.
We're not exactly the
friendly staff of Judy's.
It's a strange situation my
husband Eddie got us into.
The chef is your husband.
He's much more than that.
I'm not exactly a waitress
and he isn't exactly the chef,
although he does want
you to enjoy his cooking.
It's his lifelong dream.
So take that Karen look off
your face and start eating.
I'm not eating this.
No.
No, I'm not eating this at all.
(dark music)
That had a perfect sear.
Now, let's try it again!
Oh, hell no.
You know what I'm talking about?
Now be a good girl at eat your soup.
Say ah.
Eat it.
-Eat it now.
-Do it.
Eat it. Taste it.
It's delicious.
(taser cracks)
(women scream)
[Waitress] Let's go.
(dark music)
Man, what's wrong? What's
wrong with this soup?
Nothing baby, she's going
to eat it, right bitch?
Well?
-Go ahead.
-Go on.
Eat it.
-[Eddie] There you go.
-Now don't be scared.
(dark music)
Ah.
Hey, put the knife down.
(dark music continues)
Put it down.
You.
Put it down, kid.
I hate pigs.
I hate everything about you.
I hate the way you smell,
the way you look, the way you think.
I'm going to be in your dreams
and slice your head off.
Put it down, man.
[Eddie] I ain't dropping down anything.
I will shoot you.
Put it down now.
Pull it.
You want to pull the gun?
Pull it. I dare you.
I double dog dare you.
I will shoot you.
I will shoot you.
[Eddie] Man, that's just words.
Just shoot it anyway.
You scared.
You scared.
(gun shots firing)
Needless to say, I
don't eat out anymore.
Actually,
I don't go out much in general,
and I know it's a one in a million chance
for something like that
to happen, but I just
can't bring myself to go out much.
Completely understandable.
Do you have a therapist
you've seen for this yet?
I really can't afford one.
That's why I come here.
In fact, this is the first
time I've told the whole story.
Last week,
I couldn't finish.
And the worst part is
Candace hasn't talked
to me in weeks, so I,
I just can't imagine
what she went through.
Sounds like there's a bunch
of sick fucks out there.
Yes.
So these
people were
cannibals of some type?
That's what the paper said.
I don't know.
I mean, he's just really nuts
or just messing with people.
I did read that.
It sounded like a movie.
Yeah.
I read a studio already bought
the rice to make it a movie.
Damn, Hollywood can't come
up with anything, can they?
Well, let's get back on track here.
Simone has obviously been
through an experience
that is very traumatic.
Is there a simple solution?
Does, does anyone have a,
an experience like this?
(dark music)
Well, as some of you know,
I am getting my master's in psychology
and working my way towards
becoming a professional therapist.
And in doing so, it forces me to focus
on foundational psychology.
(man yelling)
[Angry Man] Marry a whore.
Sounds like a bunch of
mumbo jumbo to make money.
That's not what I'm saying, Lance.
I'm saying that this
particular case with Simone
might be a social psychological issue.
The problem might be the
idea of people in general.
[Lance] Are people always a problem?
Well, can be, but that's
not always the case.
For Simone, the traumatic experience
happened on a social outing.
For you, it wasn't exactly
a social event or a place.
Hey, man,
I'm fucking dying.
Yeah, well, we all are.
But you have to ask the question.
It's not about whether
you're dying or not,
but how will you spend your time living,
and will you fill your
life with this type of fear
and paranoia and
emotions that overpower your day?
Well, that's easy for you to say.
You don't have nightmares.
Who says I don't have nightmares?
I have nightmares.
In fact, for the first
week after it happened,
I, I couldn't sleep.
What did you do?
I did breathing exercises.
Really? What kind?
Diaphragmatic breathing.
Dia what?
It's a very well known
technique that relaxes you,
gets oxygen to your blood,
reduces blood pressure,
reduces heart rate.
It's also known as belly
breathing or abdominal breathing.
Deep breaths from your abdominal
for five to 10 minutes every day.
And this cured the nightmares?
It helped me sleep better,
but I wouldn't exactly
say cure, but close.
You know, think of breathing as the,
the battery to your body.
The deeper you breathe,
the more battery you have.
Now, if you were to not have oxygen,
you'd suffocate and
your battery would die.
My battery's dead.
-Did you bring a charger?
-No.
Guess it's nap time.
No, I'm going to get mom.
She said we couldn't leave the car.
[Laela] Yeah, well,
it's not against the law.
What do you know about the law?
I watch "Law and Order".
Ewe, why?
[Laela] I don't know.
Wait, okay, they're almost done.
Well, almost done.
Anyone else want to share?
Cheri?
Sometimes it's better to just listen.
Okay.
Well, maybe that's my cue.
Again, no one is under
any obligation to talk.
Sometimes the help you need
comes from just listening.
It's definitely helped me today.
I want to thank you and,
and everyone for listening
and being so kind.
Sometimes kids can be a handful.
That's why I don't have any.
We are happy to help.
Like I said, I'm one of you
and I've been getting
better since my incident,
but I am not ready to
join the dating world.
(upbeat thumping music)
(people chattering)
The moment I walked in,
I started to get nervous.
Sure, I talked with this
woman for two months online,
but never seen her in person.
As soon as I got to the bar, it hit me.
How you doing?
Good.
Did you want to get something to drink?
Oh, yeah. Sorry.
I can come back.
No, no, no, no.
I was just thinking I might wait.
I'm meeting somebody.
Maybe I should get something to loosen up.
Maybe a whiskey.
You got a blind date?
Well, yeah, kind of.
I mean, not...
I've never seen it before.
Yeah, that's blind.
What kind of whiskey you like?
[Jake] Just houses fine.
Bumble?
What's that?
Did you meet your date on Bumble?
Oh, no.
Tinder? Hinge?
Oh, no.
It was called OkCupids.
Yeah.
-You got that?
-Yeah.
I was going to say,
freaks are on Bumble.
Oh yeah?
Oh yeah.
Just got to make sure they're
not going to phish you.
You know, like show up
with 50 pounds or more,
looking completely different from filters
or just having a dick.
Well, she sent me a
couple different pictures,
so hope that's not the case.
That'll be 18.
Oh, right.
$18.
Thanks.
And make sure you get
your drinks from me.
A lot of people around here
have been getting roofied lately,
not just the ladies, if
you know what I mean.
Oh thanks.
Anytime.
(upbeat thumping music continues)
Good luck, playboy.
-Oh, yeah.
-Another draft?
[Jack] As I watched people in the bar,
my anxiety was kicking in.
The bartender brought up some good points
that I didn't even think about.
What if I am getting catfished?
What if this person shows up
and is not who they say they are online?
I sip my drink and study the
people in the room and realize
I haven't been on a date for years.
And that's when she walked in.
Vanessa.
Pleased to meet you.
Jack.
You look great.
Thank you.
I am just so relieved
you're not a catfish.
Oh my God, I feel the same.
The bartender had me scared for a minute.
Elliot?
Oh, he's harmless.
He's sober three years.
He used to be a total
rager, but he's chill now.
So you come here often then?
Yeah.
Yeah, I live nearby
and they have good music
shows, no cover usually, so...
Huh.
Cool. Well, I'm happy
you could make it out.
So how was work?
You know what?
I don't think a guy's ever
even asked me that question.
It was okay today.
Honestly, I was mostly
just excited about tonight
and nervous, so.
You were nervous?
What do you got to be nervous about?
You're gorgeous.
You know, I was so nervous
that I was thinking about leaving.
Oh, better not.
That'd be a low blow.
Of course I wouldn't.
I was nervous to meet you too,
and you know, I haven't
had a date in years
and the divorce was only final last month.
And well, yeah, you know
all this, I'm rambling.
And I am just so
grateful for your honesty.
Seriously, it is so hard to
find honest people these days.
That was something that
really attracted me to you.
I could just tell you're honest.
Thanks, hun.
[Jack] Whiskey?
[Vanessa] Yep.
Woman after my own heart.
(glasses clink)
So do you think the bartender
put something funny in her drink?
No. It was nothing like that.
I did get the feeling that
maybe they knew each other
better than she let on.
You think they dated?
Possibly.
But it, I was just glad it was the person
that I was talking to.
I understand that.
-I've been catfished before.
-Me too.
Some people are just sick fucks..
I think you all know that.
Yes.
(rock music)
Tick tock
Tick tock
I'm falling hard
Knocking style
No
Show off
Show out
Hard pressed to impress
With no doubt
Looking for more than just a score
Looking to get my sign
say all in your door
Don't say that you want it
If lovin' on me is something
you can't pronounce
Don't act like you own it
If you keep on stepping out of bounds
(both chattering)
Little red nose
Your grandma's house
-Come on.
-Let's go.
Woops.
Door swings open
(Vanessa giggles)
Oh wow.
-Come on in.
-I like this.
This is yours?
Did you just live here by yourself?
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
Are you sure you're up for this?
Yeah, well, I did drink a little bit.
Wait, wait, you're not drunk, are you?
No.
No, I, no, I can handle my liquor.
It's just,
I kind of like some kinky stuff.
I don't want to scare you, but
you've never been tied up before.
I have to say it's quite the experience.
Oh, well, I,
I have not been tied up.
Really?
Have you ever been blindfolded?
I have not.
Wow.
Have you ever used any toys?
Well, yeah, sure. A little bit.
There's just something
about seeing a man
totally helpless that really turns me on.
Sure.
You got somebody in there?
-Maybe.
-Oh yeah?
Is this?
This isn't like a sex dungeon, is it?
[Vanessa] Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
[Jack] Let's hope so.
(uneasy music)
Oh, yes ma'am.
Let's try something.
So you just had this on you, huh?
[Vanessa] Uh-huh.
Okay.
Ooh, it's soft.
[Vanessa] It's lace.
Can you see anything?
Nope.
-I am, I am blind as a bat.
-Good.
You see, once you take
away one of your senses,
all the other ones are heightened.
Now it's all about what you feel
and what you hear.
(Vanessa laughs)
Do you feel out of control?
[Jack] I mean, a little.
[Vanessa] Oops.
That's a very sexy word to hear.
"Oops".
Must have been that last drink.
Yeah.
-Tipsy myself.
-Yeah.
[Jack] Oh, what's that?
[Vanessa] That is so I can keep you
right where I want you.
That's where I want to be.
Whoa, whoa.
I, I though you said tied up.
[Vanessa] Oh, but this
is just so much safer.
For who?
(tense music)
[Vanessa] Me, you, for this room.
Safe.
Now do you feel out of control?
I mean a little more, yeah.
Now.
So you, you just,
you have all this stuff
hanging around your place?
Hang on a sec, honey.
Oh wait, don't tell me.
This is where you do the old cliche about
let me step into something
more comfortable.
That's exactly what I'm about to do.
All right.
(tense music)
Oh, this is for real, huh?
Okay. Okay.
It's okay. It's just a new thing.
New thing, not boring.
That's, that's for sure.
(tense music continues)
Well, not boring. It's not boring.
Okay.
(tense music continues)
[Vanessa] Jack?
[Jack] Yes.
[Vanessa] I think
it's time for the truth.
The truth, what are you,
what are you talking about?
[Vanessa] I think before we do this,
we need to share our
truths with each other.
(suspenseful music)
Yeah, like what?
[Vanessa] Well, one
thing that's true, Jack,
is that you are still married, aren't you?
What?
Married.
You're a married man,
but that's okay.
I have some truth to share with you too.
(suspenseful music continues)
I'm not attracted to you
at all.
Another thing about me, Jack, is
I don't like being fucked, Jack.
In fact, I'm normally the
one doing the fucking.
(Jack shouts)
(suspenseful music)
Your wife sends her regards.
(Jack screams)
It was the most
excruciating pain I'd ever felt.
So how did she know you were married
or if you were married?
Wait, were you married?
I was.
After the incident,
my wife disappeared
and I got divorce papers shortly after.
Well, sure, I didn't do the right thing,
but I've been married for so many years.
But I'm not saying it was right.
But the relationship was
getting stale and I'm...
But it doesn't matter.
It doesn't condone sexual assault.
I'm so sorry that happened to you.
It's fine.
I survived and I must move on.
I don't feel comfortable
dating just yet,
but I will.
I thank you for listening to me.
I truly feel better
after I've told my story.
And I know that there are
others like me out there that
fear talking about their traumatic event.
It truly feels good to share.
So, Rick, I know you're not
obligated to share today,
but you can if you'd like to.
It's normal for
first timers to be more observant,
first couple of sessions.
Look, I just want you to feel comfortable,
and whenever you're ready,
by all means,
we're here for you.
Okay, I guess that-
I don't think it's right.
-What was that?
-I don't think it's right.
I don't think I should be
judge and jury for another man.
Well, what exactly
is on your mind, Rick?
You know how they say that every,
every man is created equal?
Every human is supposed to have rights.
Some people are just,
I don't know.
Tell us what you're thinking, Rick.
We are all here for you.
Well, I sort of,
I sort of have this roommate.
(tense music)
There he is again.
This cat's about to kill another bird.
He's so calculated.
He hides right behind that
pot till the perfect moment.
Poor bird doesn't even know it hit him.
I have an idea.
I haven't fished in a while, but
I think I can catch something today.
(tense music)
(suspenseful music)
(cat squalling)
What the fuck?
Wait, are you serious?
This guy killed a cat?
Well, he needs to be in prison.
Maybe I should pay him a visit.
Rick, why do you think he did that?
The cat was going to kill the bird.
But animals do that.
I mean, it's not pretty,
but it's a part of life.
Yeah, it's part of the food chain.
It's natural.
This situation does bleed
over into the crime abuse rule.
Did, did you report this?
Did the cat have a collar?
I mean, whose cat was it?
So did you report him?
No.
(tense music)
Oh, good.
About time you work out.
Yeah, nothing to get you out of a funk
like some good old fashioned gains.
Hey, you're not still mad
about that cat thing, are you?
I mean, I didn't want to do it either,
but believe me, man, no
one's going to miss that cat.
Even a bit extreme.
But you hate cats
and you love birds.
Was it so wrong?
Okay.
I can see that you're still mad.
I tell you what.
Hit me in the face.
What?
Hit me.
Come on, it'll make you feel good.
Even though I'm not the built in here,
it'll make you feel good.
Won't make me feel good.
Just drop it.
I know it makes you feel good
and knocking me out will do it.
-Come on.
-No.
Hit me.
Come on, fist up, right to the chin.
Put your weight behind it and let it fly.
No.
You ever been knocked out before?
No.
Me either.
Kinda want to know how
it feels, don't you?
No.
Sleeper hold.
All right?
You put me in a sleeper hold,
and if I pass out, then slap me.
I'll wake up. They do it all the time.
Come on, come on.
Wouldn't that, wouldn't...
Wouldn't that kill you though?
Isn't that what you want to do?
I'm just messing with you.
Come on, it won't kill me.
It just takes away the
oxygen for a minute.
That's what they call death.
When I go limp, let go, okay?
Then I'll naturally
breathe again, all right?
-Come on.
-Stop.
Do it pussy.
Come on.
-Do it.
-No.
Like this.
Come on.
Like this.
(tense music)
It's not working.
Come on.
(tense music continues)
Do it!
(both yelling)
(dramatic music)
I hope you killed him.
Obviously you didn't kill
him or we wouldn't be here.
Wait, did you kill him?
No.
Hm. Well, I wouldn't be mad if you had.
Seems like this roommate
may have suicidal tendencies.
Is this a common thing?
Does he search for pain?
Does he ask for your participation?
Yes.
Yes, he self-harms
or yes, you have something to do with it?
Yes, he is drawn to pain.
He always wants me to do something,
but I couldn't choke him out.
Well, regardless of that, this,
this sounds like a situation
where the authorities should be notified.
Or you could take it upon
yourself and do the right thing.
No, Lance, we don't encourage that.
This guy sounds real wild.
Maybe your solution is
the same as my solution.
Move.
I agree. Get out of there.
Well, it's not a bad idea,
but seriously, this sounds
like a mental health issue.
It's not the self-inflicting
pain that's the issue here.
(tense music)
(uneasy music)
(dramatic music)
What the fuck are you doing?
Trying not to wake you.
Too fucking late.
What's on your face?
Blood.
Yours, what happened?
World War III, that's what happened.
What?
War.
There was a silent war going
on that no one talks about.
I had a plan.
My plan was to make him reconsider
some of those claims he denied.
He has the power.
He's the fucking CEO.
I was going to tie him up.
Maybe show him some videos
of those poor bastards
that have been paying into
our company for years.
Appeal to his good side.
Are you talking about
my boss, Mr. Fletcher?
Then he struck me and blood
just started gushing and had,
I think I just started seeing red.
Where is he?
I didn't mean to do it.
-I though I was the good guy.
-Where the fuck is he?
(tense music)
You fucking brought him here?
You fucking brought him here?
I need your help burying the body.
Whoa, that fucker killed someone?
Why didn't you just start with that?
[Mary Anne] This is way bigger-
(interposing voices speaking)
(tense music)
(interposing voices speaking)
Everyone, please.
Bring it down.
(dramatic music)
-This is insane.
-(dramatic music continues)
Now,
clearly, we have a situation
that needs to be reported
to the authorities.
Rick, you must call the police.
(suspenseful music)
I can't do that.
Well, why on earth not?
I don't have a phone.
Well, clearly I can find a phone for you
in this situation.
-Thank you.
-Of course.
I know I can speak for everyone here
and that we have your back on this.
I appreciate it,
and I thank you.
I think I no longer have my fear anymore.
Amazing.
Based on your story, I,
it would be completely
understandable if you feared this...
What was his name?
The, the roommate?
No.
No.
That's not what I'm afraid of.
I actually don't have a roommate.
(tense music)
Come on.
Do it.
(tense music continues)
War.
(dramatic music)
(uneasy music)
What the fuck are you doing?
War. War.
It's a silent war that nobody talks about.
I had a plan.
My plan was just to scare him,
maybe make him reconsider some
of the claims that he denied.
He could do that.
He's, he has the power.
He's the fucking CEO.
I was just going to tie him up,
make him watch some videos
of these poor bastards
who have been paying money
into our company for years.
Appeals his good side.
I need your help.
Get rid of the body.
You see, I was always so caught
up in being the good guy.
I never wanted to be judge,
jury, and executioner,
but if not me, then who?
If not now,
when?
What I was afraid of
is if I could do it again.
And I realized something,
listening to this group here,
I'm not the good guy.
And fear?
(uneasy music)
Fear is a waste of time.
Oh, and Lance,
you are right.
You are going to die.
(dramatic music)
(Lance screams)
(women screaming)
[Arman] No, leave her alone.
[Jack] We're calling the police.
Wait, wait, wait. Fuck.
Let's talk about this.
(Jack screams)
In the shadows they bring
Those haunting my screen
No escape from this fear
Darkness whispers it's near
Feel the terror in your heart
Can't you see we're worlds apart
Welcome to fear anonymous
Welcome to fear anonymous
(upbeat rock music)
(upbeat rock music continues)
(upbeat rock music continues)
[Rick] Cheri, red.
Arman, green.
Mary Anne, green.
Simone, purple.
Jack,
mint chip.
(uneasy music)
(kids knocking)
(dramatic music)