Inthralled (2025) Movie Script
1
Doctor.
I still don't understand how.
So suddenly.
He was fine.
I'm sorry mom.
I just can't believe he's gone.
How long will it
take us to get there?
It's a good day's drive
from Atlanta to Clear Creek.
The moving truck will
meet us there on Saturday.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Why didn't he want to go?
What?
Dad, you wanted to move back to
grandma's, but he
didn't want to.
Why?
No he didn't.
Well, you know, he had his job
as a prosecutor,
and we have our.
Well, we had our lives here.
Although, for me, it really
wasn't much of a life.
He worked all the time, and
my job was so stressful.
I needed a break.
Right? I mean, even
the doctor said so.
So I thought if we moved to
grandma's, I mean, I could, I
could quit working.
The house is just sitting there.
It's all paid for,
and it's so quiet.
Oh, there's so much quiet there,
but,
he didn't want to.
Well, looks like you're
getting what you wanted.
I remember this place vaguely.
I know we didn't come here that
much when you were a child.
Oh, but it's charming,
isn't it?
Oh, and it's all mine.
Oh, with your dad's insurance,
I can support myself for the
rest of my life.
I don't believe it.
Oh, yes. You and the baby, too.
Of course, of course.
I mean, once you
get on your feet.
I'm starving.
Oh, I remember that look.
Very memorable.
You know, we could go into
town, get you something for the
morning sickness.
There's no morning
to this sickness.
It's 24/7.
I'm gonna unpack some more.
Can't wait to get
all settled in.
Why don't you just go
back to bed, honey?
You just go lie down some more.
No, I'm actually going to
get dressed and walk to town.
Well,
that's two miles.
I mean, can you do that?
I used to run three
miles every morning, mom.
Exercise and fresh air are the
only things that actually seem
to help.
Do you miss your
old life with Drew?
I don't want to talk
bout Drew.
You never want to
talk about Drew.
I'm just going to drive you the
first time until
you know the way.
And then you can hike back and
forth till your heart's content.
Okay.
You can head back if you want.
I'd like to look around a bit.
Oh, sure.
I'll walk home.
Sorry.
Hey. Good morning.
Oh, hi.
Can I help you find something?
Not really. I'm
just wandering.
Good place for wanders.
Make yourself at home.
The aisles are labeled.
Thanks.
Anything catch your eye?
Uh. Not really.
Not really sure what
I'm looking for.
Sorry it's so cramped in here.
Small spaces, small town.
- I'm actually a city guy, so.
- Are you?
Yeah. Moved here a couple of
years back from Dallas
Metro, actually.
Seems like a big
change for a city guy.
Family matters.
And likewise?
It shows.
Maybe we can share city
stories over coffee.
Uh, sorry I,
have to get back.
Lisa, are you home?
Mom. What is it?
Your dad's shirt.
It's in there.
Are you sure?
I gave all his clothes away
before we left Atlanta.
Maybe it got mixed in
with some of yours.
I wasn't even doing laundry.
Were you?
No, I just got home.
Those are his.
Um. Okay.
I don't know what to say.
Maybe you missed a box.
I gave them all away.
Okay, mom, just come
out and lie down.
Figure it out.
Are you sure you didn't start
the washer before
you left for town?
Mom, come on.
Look, I checked the boxes last
night and I didn't see any with
dad's clothes.
So I'm crazy.
No, I'm not saying you're crazy.
How did they get in there?
Mom, you've been under
a tremendous strain.
Oh, you don't think I know that?
I don't know if you realize it,
but you've been in a daze since
all of this.
What do you call it?
Disassociation.
Dissociation. I'm the therapist
here, and I think I would know.
With the stress and the grief.
Maybe you're having memory loss
or something from depression.
But I'm not depressed.
I mean, I've never felt better.
Well, I mean, of course
I'm grieving, but I'm not.
Why don't you see someone, even
a therapist can
need a therapist.
On one on condition you learn
how to make me a
decent cup of coffee.
My way.
Breaking news.
A deadly and fiery.
It's hard to make out the face
behind the wheel of a car.
It ends up causing.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Annalisa! Annalisa!
Annalisa! Annalisa!
Annalisa! Annalisa!
What? What's wrong?
Did you hear that?
No. What?
I heard him calling me.
Who?
Your father.
I heard him.
He was calling me.
Listen, listen.
Mom. You were dreaming.
There's nothing.
It was Robert.
I heard him.
I dream about him too.
Sometimes it feels so real.
It does?
It gets easier.
So they say.
I'm sorry I woke you up.
I swear I heard him.
Your mind.
It can play tricks on you.
Meds could help with that.
I don't want to
take any more pills.
You want me to sleep up here?
Would you?
Sure. Just let me get my phone.
Thank you, sweetheart.
Night.
Good night, Mom.
How you feeling?
Well, some night, huh?
That was something.
I don't know what that was.
Nice start to your
peaceful life.
Well, that's not fair.
Why? That's why we
came out here, right?
For peace.
We came out here for us.
For you.
To help you get over
what happened with Drew.
Until you got back on your
feet, you won't
even talk about it.
I mean, the relapse,
the overdose, the crash.
Oh, honey, I know this
is very painful for you.
Mom, I told you, I don't
want to talk about Drew.
Focus on you.
Let me figure out me.
Sweetheart.
I know we all deal with pain in
our own way, but I just don't
necessarily think
this is the right way.
Oh, and this is you coming back
here to recapture old times
while washing clothes
and hearing voices.
I am not doing this.
Are you even aware
of what you're doing?
I think
that something entirely
different is happening here.
Like what?
I think,
your father is trying to
reach out to me somehow.
You think that dad, who we
buried in the ground a month
ago, is reaching out to you?
I think he's trying to
communicate with me.
Well, it's not to
say I love you.
No.
Then what?
I don't know.
I'm sorry.
Did you go out the
front door this morning?
No.
What about last night?
No. Why?
There's mud all over the floor.
I didn't do that.
Those are dad's.
Get rid of them,
please.
Are you going to dry those?
Oh, no.
Such a lovely day.
I thought I'd let
the sun do it.
Okay, I'm gonna run
into town for an errand.
Okay.
Hey.
Hey.
Um, look, about the other day.
I just. I don't.
It's okay.
We all have our somethings.
So is that what
you came in for or.
Yes.
I mean, no.
Wait. Yes.
Uh, but maybe I am looking
for something in particular.
Like on, um, hauntings
or the supernatural?
Um, paranormal section
toward the back.
Thanks.
Astrology.
Ooh.
Witchcraft.
I'm. I'm sorry.
I just noticed that you were
browsing in the realm
of the supernatural.
I was, uh, curious.
Uh, curiosity.
You know, they say that the
source of the paranormal is
from one's own inner
nature and curiosity.
Isn't that pretty much true
of any organized religion?
I mean.
Okay.
Ah, well.
50,000 pieces of silver.
And that makes ten, Reverend.
Have a good one.
You too, Dylan.
And God bless.
Reverend? Yep.
From the church down
the road. Why?
We had an interesting exchange
in the paranormal section.
I didn't know he was a reverend.
Um, listen.
You mentioned coffee or
something the other day.
I did. Um. Hold on.
Kat, I'm gonna take lunch.
Not bad.
Yeah, they do all right here.
So, uh, what was the deal
with you and the Reverend.
Oh, it was nothing.
We, um, startled each other.
In the paranormal section.
Yep.
Okay.
So, uh, did you find what
you were looking for?
Uh.
Freshly made.
I think that's mine.
Enjoy.
Again.
Sorry.
Are you okay?
Actually. I'm pregnant.
Oh.
I,
thought it was something
I said.
Uh, so are you, uh.
No. No. Not married.
Uh, my fianc,
didn't work out.
To answer your other question.
I didn't find what
I was looking for.
It's kind of tricky.
My father died recently,
very unexpectedly.
My mom thinks she's
being haunted.
I mean, well,
yeah.
I like ghosts or demons or?
A ghost actually.
You think she's imagining it?
Maybe.
That's why I was looking for a
book to maybe shed some light
on this crazy deal.
Sorry about your dad.
Your mom, she uh,
she must be hurting.
Yeah.
You know,
I may have a book for you.
I brought it over the
other day in a stack.
People donate all the time.
We get books from everywhere.
Sorry about the mess.
All these need to be cataloged.
Honestly, most of these will
never, ever get cataloged.
Here it is.
All things paranormal.
What is it?
It's like a compendium of
witchcraft, spirits, spells,
hauntings, lore.
You name it.
Think it could help?
I don't really know
what could help.
And I don't know which is
worse, that my mom's imagining
all of this,
or that she's not.
Well, feel free to
take it on the house.
Thank you.
What?
What is it?
This is the one.
You need a ride.
It's getting dark.
No, I'm fine, thank you.
It can be dangerous
walking at dusk.
I'm fine.
It's no problem.
I'm walking on highway 23
outside of Clear Creek.
And I need an officer now.
He hath crushed me.
He hath made me an empty vessel.
He has swallowed me
up like a dragon.
He hath filled his
belly with my delicates.
He hath cast me out.
Mom.
Need some help?
Bet that takes you back, huh?
Well, it does.
Thought I'd live here
my whole life.
But your father couldn't.
I mean, I understood he,
he couldn't practice his area
of law in a small
town like this.
I heard you two arguing over it.
He said he'd never
come back here.
Said no every time I asked him.
I thought time.
Or maybe he would at least be
okay with me coming back to see
my mom.
I never want to once.
Started to resent him,
but he didn't say that.
Why?
Well, I loved your father.
I didn't want to resent him.
No. Why wouldn't
he come back here?
What is it about this place?
Oh,
I miss my appointment.
What? Am I going to be late?
What appointment?
Oh, I finally took your advice.
I'll drive you.
Hey, mom, do you mind
if I go look around?
Oh, no. Sure.
Will you be okay?
Yeah. I'm fine, I'm fine.
- Be back shortly.
- Okay.
Emily. Hi.
Come on in.
Aren't you, um,
a little out of place here?
Am I?
This is the religious
section, after all.
But that's okay.
The church welcomes
all newcomers.
Others. I'm Jean Martin.
Aren't you a little
out of place here?
Am I?
I mean, in this town.
I'm gonna put these up.
This church needed
a little color.
I'm from Haiti.
La petite one.
Miami. Born and raised.
But I was called here.
And I do like a challenge.
You've picked an
interesting one.
Please.
So, what brings you
here, miss, uh?
Annalisa Arnold.
A curiosity brings me.
In the bookstore.
You said 50,000
pieces of silver.
What did you mean?
You were looking at the books.
The paranormal ones.
Ahh from the book of acts.
Those who gave up their books
of magic, and they counted the
price of them.
And they were worth
50,000 pieces of silver.
All given up for the Lord.
I mean, they were
valuable, yet.
Dangerous.
They weren't valuable enough
compared to being filled with
the Holy Spirit.
Look, a book in itself
isn't necessarily dangerous.
It's when it's in the
hands of a lost soul.
Well.
My father died unexpectedly.
Oh. My condolences.
My mother thinks he's reaching
out to her in disturbing ways.
I think something happened.
His soul may not be at rest.
I see the book references
something about when a soul is
an empty vessel.
It invites a spirit in.
- And I was wondering if
- The book.
Looks like these
shouldn't be trifled with.
They can lead one
down a dark path.
Believe me,
prayer is what's needed for
what you're going through.
That's a little
clich, isn't it?
Even clichs are
rooted in truth.
You have to make the choice,
I guess Saint Paul was on
to something when he
encouraged those to make
a more illuminated choice.
Illuminated?
By fire?
Thank you, Reverend.
Any time.
Oh. Hey, are you, uh,
are you expecting?
Yes, a girl.
Oh. Well, I'll keep you in
my prayers, both of you.
And they brought their books of
sorcery and burned them in the
sight of all.
Illuminated by fire.
Emily, is that you?
It is you. Oh my gosh.
It's Cathy. Cathy Hawthorne.
Well, Miller now.
I was a year behind you.
Oh, yes.
Cathy. Oh, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
Still here?
This is Caleb, my youngest.
God's surprise gift.
Hello, Caleb.
I have three others.
All grown, all boys.
Wow. I never expected to see
you back here again
after what happened.
How are you?
Oh, I'm fine.
Uh, my mother passed away Way
last year, and my daughter and
I are finally back to take
care of all her things.
That's right.
I was so sorry to hear that
your mother was the sweetest.
Well. Thank you.
Is Robert here with you?
How's he?
Uh, Robert, uh, we lost
Robert a couple of months ago.
Was unexpected.
Oh, my goodness.
I am so sorry.
Mom, I want to go
ride with my friends.
Mom.
Have you been waiting long?
Long enough.
Oh, Kathy, I'd like you to
meet my daughter, Annalisa.
Hi. Your mom and I went to high
school together way back when.
Nice to meet you.
- Well, we should be going.
- Finally.
We should too.
Right, mom?
You got the keys.
Emily. So good to
see you again.
You too, Kathy.
Nice to meet you.
Hope to see you around.
Who was that?
She married the Arnold boy.
Of the old Arnold house?
They all got killed.
Lis you've got the keys.
So.
An acquaintance from
a different time.
I got that.
I meant the appointment.
How did it go?
She was green.
Very.
Here we go.
Not everyone has as much
experience as you, mom.
I told her I couldn't sleep.
Withholding as usual.
And at least she got the nurse
practitioner to
write me a script.
But other than that, I mean,
it was just a waste of time.
Anybody can recite from a book.
Verbatim.
Can they?
I have to go back.
I forgot my bag.
Did you take one?
It's to help you
sleep, remember?
I forgot to take
my blood pressure.
Hopefully I get a job.
What do you want?
Why are you following me?
Is it true?
Is what true?
What's your name again?
Caleb.
Oh, yeah.
Is what true?
About the murders?
Murders? What are
you talking about?
Years ago.
I don't know what you mean.
At the old Arnold house.
The old Arnold house?
As in Robert Arnold?
Yeah. That's your dad, right?
What about it?
It happened at the
house up the road.
Show me.
It's supposed to be haunted.
Haunted?
Yeah. They'd have campfires,
tell ghost stories, practically
burn the place down.
The test is to see who
can stay all night.
Have you?
Has anyone?
Some brag they have, but
I don't believe them.
Why is that?
There is something not
right about this place.
So what happened here?
Some girl, a relative I think
killed them.
Well, not all.
Not your mom and dad, of course.
There was blood everywhere so
bad that the cop who showed up
eventually lost it.
Lost it?
Went crazy or something.
He still lives outside
of town like a hermit.
Rojas was his name.
Whatever he saw that day
really messed him up.
You really don't know about it?
All I know is I
wouldn't want to be
here at night.
Well, that's the thing they say
at night when the moon is full.
The bloody chair she was
sitting on appears with
bloodstains on it.
What happened?
You passed out.
How did I get here?
Dylan drove you home.
You wouldn't let me take
you to the hospital.
You just kept saying no,
take me home.
How are you feeling?
Lisa, are you alright?
I must be dehydrated.
All right.
How did you find me, anyway?
I called your phone.
Remember? You texted to meet up
for coffee and you didn't show?
I,
called and,
that kid answered
and led me to you.
What kid?
Caleb.
I'm sorry.
What were you doing at
that old house anyways?
Look, I got to get
back to the shop.
I'll talk to you later.
Thank you.
Thank you for bringing
her home.
Sure.
She is,
something.
Something.
It's nice to meet you.
Well, he seems nice.
So what house?
This one.
I had no hand in what
happened that day.
It was so long ago, Lis.
Mom, murders?
That was me.
That was your dad.
Dashing as usual.
And I was his sister.
Your Aunt Jenny.
She was my best friend.
We were supposed to
graduate the next week.
Jenny and me.
Your father had graduated
the year before.
Who's that?
That was a cousin of theirs
that stayed with
them that spring.
She was 17.
The day of our graduation.
Jenny never showed up.
I mean,
nobody in the family did.
So.
I ran to their house.
Go on.
Jenny?
Jenny?
Robert?
Jenny.
Jenny?
Jenny?
No no no no no.
No. Jenny. No.
Then what happened?
Robert.
Oh my God, Robert!
What happened?
What? What?
Run.
Hi can you help me please? I
don't know what happened.
Everybody's been stabbed!
Please! Oh my God!
It felt like an eternity, but,
the police arrived.
Detective Rojas.
He saved us.
Robert and me.
How could you keep something
like this from me
all these years?
How could dad?
Your father didn't
want you to know.
I'm sorry, honey.
He made me keep it a secret.
It's no wonder dad would
never come back here.
Why would you?
I guess I just.
My whole life was
ripped from us.
As I was trying to
reclaim it somehow.
What's left to
reclaim after that?
What was her name?
The girl?
Marsha Cotton.
She was institutionalized.
She died there.
Marsha Cotton.
I had no hand in what
happened that day.
Run!
Robert!
Are you remembering?
He was mine.
Who's that?
Marsha Cotton.
Oh my God.
Are you hurt?
I tripped,
I tripped.
This is not.
This is not my blood.
- Blood?
- This blood.
It's. This is not mine.
This.
This is not my.
Are you sure you're not hurt?
What were you doing down here?
I heard it again.
I heard the voice.
Dad's.
Everything's locked.
This is insane.
Whose voice did you hear?
Not dad's?
Mom.
Whose?
Sounds like Marsha Cotton.
She was seeing handprints
all over the walls.
Bloody ones.
She freaked me out.
You gotta be kidding me.
Hallucinations.
I don't know.
Strange things have been
happening since we moved here.
Like. Like something's trying
to get through from
the other side.
She just kept washing her hands.
The other side?
You really think so?
I don't know.
My parents kept this
from me all this time.
And then my mother tries to
explain it away as some crazy
girl who went on
a stabbing spree.
Why?
Maybe that detective
has an answer.
There's more to this than
my mother's letting on.
Typical.
Yeah.
Are you okay?
This has got to be a
real head trip for you.
I need to know what he knows.
What?
Um. Hello, sir.
Uh, Detective Rojas?
Uh, um, my name is Dylan.
From the bookstore.
Yeah. Uh, we're here
because of an event
that happened a long time ago.
We have some questions.
Would you be willing
to talk to us,
about it?
No.
Walk on the correct
side of the road.
What was that about?
Oh, my God, that was the creepy
guy who tried to pick me up the
other night on the road.
Wait, what?
And that was Rojas.
Yes.
Mad at the world.
Yeah, but.
Serial killer.
Okay. Um,
I gotta get back
to the bookstore.
Need me to take you somewhere?
Mm.
The bar is fine.
I need a drink.
The bar?
It's noon.
The bar?
I'm pregnant.
I'm kidding.
Thanks, Dylan.
I really appreciate that.
Hey for you, anything.
I keep pulling you away
from the store here.
Do you think maybe I could
just borrow your car sometime?
I want to try Rojas again.
Really?
Yeah.
- By yourself?
- Yeah.
Even with the whole
serial killer conspiracy
theorist vibe.
Yes. I can take care
of myself, you know?
Yeah, I'm getting that.
He knows Dylan and
I need to find out.
Well, right now I have to take
some books by the daycare.
We do this book exchange.
I don't mean now.
Some other time is fine.
Thanks. I'll text you.
All right.
Bye bye.
Bye bye.
She will be mine.
The baby.
She is mine.
For you.
It's hers.
Mogador of the Marsh.
She gave it to me.
Like Mariah and so many
others in the past.
Were empty inside.
And now I give it to you.
She lives on in us
through the book.
And we live on
through her.
Take it.
Make the choice.
You will call her.
Call her Maggie.
Can I help you?
Um, there's some coffee
in there somewhere.
Oh, thank you.
Um, gives a whole new
meaning to half and half.
So, Miss Arnold.
Oh, Emily, please.
Emily, how may I help?
The other day, did my
daughter come in here?
Annalisa.
Annalisa is your daughter.
Mm.
She did.
Why?
Look.
I'm sorry I.
Strange things are
happening to me.
I lost my husband
and
I'm hearing voices.
And then there's
blood on the walls.
And now.
I see her face.
Whose face?
Good God, I should have never
come back to Clear Creek.
It's okay calm down.
Just, just breathe.
Breathe.
There you go.
Um.
Your daughter and I, we
bumped into each other at the
bookstore, and then she came
by here later to discuss books.
Books.
Uh, a particular book.
One she had in her possession.
Dangerous book.
56. Requesting
backup at central.
43rd code 236.
Item two 219.
So,
why,
I don't talk about it
to anyone.
Strange things have been
happening ever since I got this,
I think.
Where did you get that?
Oh. The bookstore.
The bookstore in Clear Creek?
Yeah, actually, it was
buried in the back.
I think it's somehow
connected to those murders.
You're damn right it is.
That there, I believe, was
very much a part of it.
Should be burned.
Why? What happened?
Please.
It's my fault.
My husband and I, we.
We kept it from
her to protect her.
I kept it from her.
And I made my husband
keep it from her, too.
Kept what? May I ask?
The truth.
It happened at,
Jenny and Robert's house.
The old Arnold
house, they call it.
It was
graduation day.
Oh, we were so young.
Those two.
It was a love triangle, really.
The boy
call him boy, but
he was a year removed
from high school.
And the girl
a senior.
And.
Marsha.
Marsha Cotton.
I could never forget that face.
Like looking into
the face of pure,
evil.
She was staying with
the family.
She was family.
Distant.
Had,
an unhealthy
obsession with a boy.
Seduced him even.
Seduced him?
But
he ultimately rejected her.
And that family had
no idea what she'd do.
No idea.
No, no, no, no,
no, Jenny, no.
What happened?
Oh my God.
I was the closest to respond.
The boy's sister was dead,
lying in the back doorway.
She had tried to run.
I entered that house.
The boy was nearby, bleeding
heavily, but
somehow still alive.
I couldn't help.
I had to clear the rooms.
The girl.
The one who called the police.
She was on the floor,
bleeding but alive.
The mother was right
there in the recliner.
Deceased.
Then I came face to
face with Marsha Cotton.
The bloody knife
resting in her lap.
She had joined those
horrible things she did.
Pure evil inhabited that girl.
Haunts me to this day.
That book
that was on the
table next to her.
You said the girl was bleeding.
The one who phoned?
Yes.
From the abdomen.
Stabbed.
I called the police.
I don't know what happened.
He was mine.
The doctor later confirmed that
poor girl would never be able
to get pregnant.
I could not bear children
after she stabbed me.
She did that for me.
I'm so very sorry.
But Marsha cotton
and cruel irony.
Was pregnant from that
tryst with the Arnold boy.
Are you saying, Emily,
my mother could
never have children.
Your mother?
That monster died
during childbirth.
And I got to raise the
child of her and my husband.
Annalisa was Marsha
Cotton's baby.
How dare they?
You're,
Robert Arnold's kid?
Robert Arnold was my father.
He's dead now, too.
I'm sorry that's all
I can tell you.
You should go.
Thank you for your time.
An empty vessel filled
with spirits.
Your daughter, I'm
afraid, is a lost soul.
Without truth, there
is no guidance.
Annalisa, even without knowing
it, has never had that truth,
that foundational truth.
The body is an empty vessel.
Its purpose is to be filled.
That's my fault.
Selfishly, it's all my fault.
As parents,
we.
We do what we think is
right for our children.
And we
make mistakes.
But our responsibility as
parents is to correct those
mistakes, not continue them.
Oh.
The spirit is on her, Emily.
Guiding her, directing her.
And I think it's from that book.
You must tell her the truth.
Lis, is that you?
Honey?
Lis.
I know.
What?
How could you?
How could you,
supposedly my mother,
keep that from me?
How could my father?
We were just trying
to protect you.
I, we.
I wanted to tell you
every minute of the day.
But you didn't.
You lied to me my whole life.
And because of you, I don't
know one simple but very
important detail.
Who am I?
I am so sorry,
but please, can we not
do this over the phone?
Lis.
Lord,
instruct Annalisa
in the way of light
and lead her along
a straight path.
Lis.
And protect Emily from the evil.
Honey where are you?
You know where.
This I pray?
No where?
Where it all started.
It happened at the
old Arnold house.
Let her name the baby.
Aurielle.
Dominus.
Illuminatio.
Mia.
Hello, Emily.
Or should I say mother?
But that's not quite
right now, is it?
Because you are not my mother.
Lis, I am your mother.
You're not.
I am, honey.
Your,
your first steps,
your first crush,
your first heartbreak.
The first time you went away
to college, that was me, Lisa.
I was there for all of it.
Marsha Cotton is my mother.
I took you in, I raised you.
You resented me.
No.
No? I felt it.
Something in the way
you always looked at me.
Oh, no, honey.
Now I know why.
I'm sorry I ruined your
idyllic childhood fairy tale.
It had nothing to do with you.
No? You resented my
father for what he did.
No.
You resented him
for having her child.
No.
For raising her child.
You resented me.
It's true.
I resented you.
All of it.
So,
unfair to you.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I tried to be a,
good mother to you.
An angel dreams to
morning sings
It's music in your head
Lullaby.
Strangely familiar.
But,
you never sang that to me.
My mother sang that to me.
My heart's desire my all
Doctor.
A realization like that kind of
takes the air out of you.
Hard to breathe?
Too much blood pressure
medicine will do that.
Too much of anything, really.
Like too much meth in the
liquor bottle for
that cheating bastard.
You know.
True.
Like too much verapamil.
Very toxic.
Certainly was for Robert.
Took him
just like that.
That's your father.
My poor Robert.
My Robert.
He wanted me.
Then you took him and
he never came back.
That wasn't because of me.
It was. You came
between us and our baby
Annalisa.
So we took him from you.
We?
Me and my daughter.
Annalisa, Annalisa.
I wasn't sure I could do it.
Slowly drive you mad until you.
Emily.
Overdosed.
Overdose?
Overdosed. Just like dad.
Looks like heart failure.
Unless someone mentions you
were trying to kill yourself.
And with the insurance, I can
afford to take care of myself
for the rest of my life.
And hers, of course.
It was a choice at
first with Drew.
with dad, I felt
compelled to do it.
Like something innate within
me that has been awakened.
I didn't understand it until
someone brought that
book in me together.
And then it all
became so clear to me.
You're just like her.
Yes. I am my mother's daughter.
And my mother.
Is Marsha Cotton.
Hello. Oh, God.
You have to hurry.
It's my mother.
I think she took something.
Annalisa Arnold.
I. I don't know.
I'm.
Reverend. What are
you doing here?
What happened?
What happened here?
I found her here.
Something was wrong.
I could tell on the phone.
Why would she come here?
Are you okay?
Mom.
I see her.
She's in you.
Lord.
Let this child.
Be born in the light.
For the light and of the
light, rejecting all evil.
So help me God.
All units six, five,
seven Valley Road.
Victim found unconscious and
transported to Cedar
Creek Hospital.
I mean, we've done everything
we can to counteract this,
didn't wait.
Visiting hours are over.
I know.
- The baby.
- Give her my name.
Need any help?
No. I'm good.
Who could that be?
Probably a neighbor.
It's okay. I got it.
You sure?
Go back to your book.
Who was it?
No one.
But I think I got
my first baby gift.
I'm gonna open it.
Yeah.
Is that real gold?
I don't know.
Who's Oriel?
I don't know.
It's pretty.
You got this. Come on, Annalisa.
Come on.
Annalisa, give me
one more big push.
Come on.
Come on.
You got this.
Come on in, Annalisa.
Come on.
You got this. Come on.
Annalisa, give me
one more big push.
Come on one more.
Push, push, push!
Come on one more big push.
Come on girl.
Push, push, push, push, push.
Push, push.
There we go.
- Give her my name.
Do you have a name
picked out for her?
- You will call her Maggie?
Yes.
Oriel.
What? What?
No Annalisa.
Doctor.
I still don't understand how.
So suddenly.
He was fine.
I'm sorry mom.
I just can't believe he's gone.
How long will it
take us to get there?
It's a good day's drive
from Atlanta to Clear Creek.
The moving truck will
meet us there on Saturday.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Why didn't he want to go?
What?
Dad, you wanted to move back to
grandma's, but he
didn't want to.
Why?
No he didn't.
Well, you know, he had his job
as a prosecutor,
and we have our.
Well, we had our lives here.
Although, for me, it really
wasn't much of a life.
He worked all the time, and
my job was so stressful.
I needed a break.
Right? I mean, even
the doctor said so.
So I thought if we moved to
grandma's, I mean, I could, I
could quit working.
The house is just sitting there.
It's all paid for,
and it's so quiet.
Oh, there's so much quiet there,
but,
he didn't want to.
Well, looks like you're
getting what you wanted.
I remember this place vaguely.
I know we didn't come here that
much when you were a child.
Oh, but it's charming,
isn't it?
Oh, and it's all mine.
Oh, with your dad's insurance,
I can support myself for the
rest of my life.
I don't believe it.
Oh, yes. You and the baby, too.
Of course, of course.
I mean, once you
get on your feet.
I'm starving.
Oh, I remember that look.
Very memorable.
You know, we could go into
town, get you something for the
morning sickness.
There's no morning
to this sickness.
It's 24/7.
I'm gonna unpack some more.
Can't wait to get
all settled in.
Why don't you just go
back to bed, honey?
You just go lie down some more.
No, I'm actually going to
get dressed and walk to town.
Well,
that's two miles.
I mean, can you do that?
I used to run three
miles every morning, mom.
Exercise and fresh air are the
only things that actually seem
to help.
Do you miss your
old life with Drew?
I don't want to talk
bout Drew.
You never want to
talk about Drew.
I'm just going to drive you the
first time until
you know the way.
And then you can hike back and
forth till your heart's content.
Okay.
You can head back if you want.
I'd like to look around a bit.
Oh, sure.
I'll walk home.
Sorry.
Hey. Good morning.
Oh, hi.
Can I help you find something?
Not really. I'm
just wandering.
Good place for wanders.
Make yourself at home.
The aisles are labeled.
Thanks.
Anything catch your eye?
Uh. Not really.
Not really sure what
I'm looking for.
Sorry it's so cramped in here.
Small spaces, small town.
- I'm actually a city guy, so.
- Are you?
Yeah. Moved here a couple of
years back from Dallas
Metro, actually.
Seems like a big
change for a city guy.
Family matters.
And likewise?
It shows.
Maybe we can share city
stories over coffee.
Uh, sorry I,
have to get back.
Lisa, are you home?
Mom. What is it?
Your dad's shirt.
It's in there.
Are you sure?
I gave all his clothes away
before we left Atlanta.
Maybe it got mixed in
with some of yours.
I wasn't even doing laundry.
Were you?
No, I just got home.
Those are his.
Um. Okay.
I don't know what to say.
Maybe you missed a box.
I gave them all away.
Okay, mom, just come
out and lie down.
Figure it out.
Are you sure you didn't start
the washer before
you left for town?
Mom, come on.
Look, I checked the boxes last
night and I didn't see any with
dad's clothes.
So I'm crazy.
No, I'm not saying you're crazy.
How did they get in there?
Mom, you've been under
a tremendous strain.
Oh, you don't think I know that?
I don't know if you realize it,
but you've been in a daze since
all of this.
What do you call it?
Disassociation.
Dissociation. I'm the therapist
here, and I think I would know.
With the stress and the grief.
Maybe you're having memory loss
or something from depression.
But I'm not depressed.
I mean, I've never felt better.
Well, I mean, of course
I'm grieving, but I'm not.
Why don't you see someone, even
a therapist can
need a therapist.
On one on condition you learn
how to make me a
decent cup of coffee.
My way.
Breaking news.
A deadly and fiery.
It's hard to make out the face
behind the wheel of a car.
It ends up causing.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Emily.
Annalisa! Annalisa!
Annalisa! Annalisa!
Annalisa! Annalisa!
What? What's wrong?
Did you hear that?
No. What?
I heard him calling me.
Who?
Your father.
I heard him.
He was calling me.
Listen, listen.
Mom. You were dreaming.
There's nothing.
It was Robert.
I heard him.
I dream about him too.
Sometimes it feels so real.
It does?
It gets easier.
So they say.
I'm sorry I woke you up.
I swear I heard him.
Your mind.
It can play tricks on you.
Meds could help with that.
I don't want to
take any more pills.
You want me to sleep up here?
Would you?
Sure. Just let me get my phone.
Thank you, sweetheart.
Night.
Good night, Mom.
How you feeling?
Well, some night, huh?
That was something.
I don't know what that was.
Nice start to your
peaceful life.
Well, that's not fair.
Why? That's why we
came out here, right?
For peace.
We came out here for us.
For you.
To help you get over
what happened with Drew.
Until you got back on your
feet, you won't
even talk about it.
I mean, the relapse,
the overdose, the crash.
Oh, honey, I know this
is very painful for you.
Mom, I told you, I don't
want to talk about Drew.
Focus on you.
Let me figure out me.
Sweetheart.
I know we all deal with pain in
our own way, but I just don't
necessarily think
this is the right way.
Oh, and this is you coming back
here to recapture old times
while washing clothes
and hearing voices.
I am not doing this.
Are you even aware
of what you're doing?
I think
that something entirely
different is happening here.
Like what?
I think,
your father is trying to
reach out to me somehow.
You think that dad, who we
buried in the ground a month
ago, is reaching out to you?
I think he's trying to
communicate with me.
Well, it's not to
say I love you.
No.
Then what?
I don't know.
I'm sorry.
Did you go out the
front door this morning?
No.
What about last night?
No. Why?
There's mud all over the floor.
I didn't do that.
Those are dad's.
Get rid of them,
please.
Are you going to dry those?
Oh, no.
Such a lovely day.
I thought I'd let
the sun do it.
Okay, I'm gonna run
into town for an errand.
Okay.
Hey.
Hey.
Um, look, about the other day.
I just. I don't.
It's okay.
We all have our somethings.
So is that what
you came in for or.
Yes.
I mean, no.
Wait. Yes.
Uh, but maybe I am looking
for something in particular.
Like on, um, hauntings
or the supernatural?
Um, paranormal section
toward the back.
Thanks.
Astrology.
Ooh.
Witchcraft.
I'm. I'm sorry.
I just noticed that you were
browsing in the realm
of the supernatural.
I was, uh, curious.
Uh, curiosity.
You know, they say that the
source of the paranormal is
from one's own inner
nature and curiosity.
Isn't that pretty much true
of any organized religion?
I mean.
Okay.
Ah, well.
50,000 pieces of silver.
And that makes ten, Reverend.
Have a good one.
You too, Dylan.
And God bless.
Reverend? Yep.
From the church down
the road. Why?
We had an interesting exchange
in the paranormal section.
I didn't know he was a reverend.
Um, listen.
You mentioned coffee or
something the other day.
I did. Um. Hold on.
Kat, I'm gonna take lunch.
Not bad.
Yeah, they do all right here.
So, uh, what was the deal
with you and the Reverend.
Oh, it was nothing.
We, um, startled each other.
In the paranormal section.
Yep.
Okay.
So, uh, did you find what
you were looking for?
Uh.
Freshly made.
I think that's mine.
Enjoy.
Again.
Sorry.
Are you okay?
Actually. I'm pregnant.
Oh.
I,
thought it was something
I said.
Uh, so are you, uh.
No. No. Not married.
Uh, my fianc,
didn't work out.
To answer your other question.
I didn't find what
I was looking for.
It's kind of tricky.
My father died recently,
very unexpectedly.
My mom thinks she's
being haunted.
I mean, well,
yeah.
I like ghosts or demons or?
A ghost actually.
You think she's imagining it?
Maybe.
That's why I was looking for a
book to maybe shed some light
on this crazy deal.
Sorry about your dad.
Your mom, she uh,
she must be hurting.
Yeah.
You know,
I may have a book for you.
I brought it over the
other day in a stack.
People donate all the time.
We get books from everywhere.
Sorry about the mess.
All these need to be cataloged.
Honestly, most of these will
never, ever get cataloged.
Here it is.
All things paranormal.
What is it?
It's like a compendium of
witchcraft, spirits, spells,
hauntings, lore.
You name it.
Think it could help?
I don't really know
what could help.
And I don't know which is
worse, that my mom's imagining
all of this,
or that she's not.
Well, feel free to
take it on the house.
Thank you.
What?
What is it?
This is the one.
You need a ride.
It's getting dark.
No, I'm fine, thank you.
It can be dangerous
walking at dusk.
I'm fine.
It's no problem.
I'm walking on highway 23
outside of Clear Creek.
And I need an officer now.
He hath crushed me.
He hath made me an empty vessel.
He has swallowed me
up like a dragon.
He hath filled his
belly with my delicates.
He hath cast me out.
Mom.
Need some help?
Bet that takes you back, huh?
Well, it does.
Thought I'd live here
my whole life.
But your father couldn't.
I mean, I understood he,
he couldn't practice his area
of law in a small
town like this.
I heard you two arguing over it.
He said he'd never
come back here.
Said no every time I asked him.
I thought time.
Or maybe he would at least be
okay with me coming back to see
my mom.
I never want to once.
Started to resent him,
but he didn't say that.
Why?
Well, I loved your father.
I didn't want to resent him.
No. Why wouldn't
he come back here?
What is it about this place?
Oh,
I miss my appointment.
What? Am I going to be late?
What appointment?
Oh, I finally took your advice.
I'll drive you.
Hey, mom, do you mind
if I go look around?
Oh, no. Sure.
Will you be okay?
Yeah. I'm fine, I'm fine.
- Be back shortly.
- Okay.
Emily. Hi.
Come on in.
Aren't you, um,
a little out of place here?
Am I?
This is the religious
section, after all.
But that's okay.
The church welcomes
all newcomers.
Others. I'm Jean Martin.
Aren't you a little
out of place here?
Am I?
I mean, in this town.
I'm gonna put these up.
This church needed
a little color.
I'm from Haiti.
La petite one.
Miami. Born and raised.
But I was called here.
And I do like a challenge.
You've picked an
interesting one.
Please.
So, what brings you
here, miss, uh?
Annalisa Arnold.
A curiosity brings me.
In the bookstore.
You said 50,000
pieces of silver.
What did you mean?
You were looking at the books.
The paranormal ones.
Ahh from the book of acts.
Those who gave up their books
of magic, and they counted the
price of them.
And they were worth
50,000 pieces of silver.
All given up for the Lord.
I mean, they were
valuable, yet.
Dangerous.
They weren't valuable enough
compared to being filled with
the Holy Spirit.
Look, a book in itself
isn't necessarily dangerous.
It's when it's in the
hands of a lost soul.
Well.
My father died unexpectedly.
Oh. My condolences.
My mother thinks he's reaching
out to her in disturbing ways.
I think something happened.
His soul may not be at rest.
I see the book references
something about when a soul is
an empty vessel.
It invites a spirit in.
- And I was wondering if
- The book.
Looks like these
shouldn't be trifled with.
They can lead one
down a dark path.
Believe me,
prayer is what's needed for
what you're going through.
That's a little
clich, isn't it?
Even clichs are
rooted in truth.
You have to make the choice,
I guess Saint Paul was on
to something when he
encouraged those to make
a more illuminated choice.
Illuminated?
By fire?
Thank you, Reverend.
Any time.
Oh. Hey, are you, uh,
are you expecting?
Yes, a girl.
Oh. Well, I'll keep you in
my prayers, both of you.
And they brought their books of
sorcery and burned them in the
sight of all.
Illuminated by fire.
Emily, is that you?
It is you. Oh my gosh.
It's Cathy. Cathy Hawthorne.
Well, Miller now.
I was a year behind you.
Oh, yes.
Cathy. Oh, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
Still here?
This is Caleb, my youngest.
God's surprise gift.
Hello, Caleb.
I have three others.
All grown, all boys.
Wow. I never expected to see
you back here again
after what happened.
How are you?
Oh, I'm fine.
Uh, my mother passed away Way
last year, and my daughter and
I are finally back to take
care of all her things.
That's right.
I was so sorry to hear that
your mother was the sweetest.
Well. Thank you.
Is Robert here with you?
How's he?
Uh, Robert, uh, we lost
Robert a couple of months ago.
Was unexpected.
Oh, my goodness.
I am so sorry.
Mom, I want to go
ride with my friends.
Mom.
Have you been waiting long?
Long enough.
Oh, Kathy, I'd like you to
meet my daughter, Annalisa.
Hi. Your mom and I went to high
school together way back when.
Nice to meet you.
- Well, we should be going.
- Finally.
We should too.
Right, mom?
You got the keys.
Emily. So good to
see you again.
You too, Kathy.
Nice to meet you.
Hope to see you around.
Who was that?
She married the Arnold boy.
Of the old Arnold house?
They all got killed.
Lis you've got the keys.
So.
An acquaintance from
a different time.
I got that.
I meant the appointment.
How did it go?
She was green.
Very.
Here we go.
Not everyone has as much
experience as you, mom.
I told her I couldn't sleep.
Withholding as usual.
And at least she got the nurse
practitioner to
write me a script.
But other than that, I mean,
it was just a waste of time.
Anybody can recite from a book.
Verbatim.
Can they?
I have to go back.
I forgot my bag.
Did you take one?
It's to help you
sleep, remember?
I forgot to take
my blood pressure.
Hopefully I get a job.
What do you want?
Why are you following me?
Is it true?
Is what true?
What's your name again?
Caleb.
Oh, yeah.
Is what true?
About the murders?
Murders? What are
you talking about?
Years ago.
I don't know what you mean.
At the old Arnold house.
The old Arnold house?
As in Robert Arnold?
Yeah. That's your dad, right?
What about it?
It happened at the
house up the road.
Show me.
It's supposed to be haunted.
Haunted?
Yeah. They'd have campfires,
tell ghost stories, practically
burn the place down.
The test is to see who
can stay all night.
Have you?
Has anyone?
Some brag they have, but
I don't believe them.
Why is that?
There is something not
right about this place.
So what happened here?
Some girl, a relative I think
killed them.
Well, not all.
Not your mom and dad, of course.
There was blood everywhere so
bad that the cop who showed up
eventually lost it.
Lost it?
Went crazy or something.
He still lives outside
of town like a hermit.
Rojas was his name.
Whatever he saw that day
really messed him up.
You really don't know about it?
All I know is I
wouldn't want to be
here at night.
Well, that's the thing they say
at night when the moon is full.
The bloody chair she was
sitting on appears with
bloodstains on it.
What happened?
You passed out.
How did I get here?
Dylan drove you home.
You wouldn't let me take
you to the hospital.
You just kept saying no,
take me home.
How are you feeling?
Lisa, are you alright?
I must be dehydrated.
All right.
How did you find me, anyway?
I called your phone.
Remember? You texted to meet up
for coffee and you didn't show?
I,
called and,
that kid answered
and led me to you.
What kid?
Caleb.
I'm sorry.
What were you doing at
that old house anyways?
Look, I got to get
back to the shop.
I'll talk to you later.
Thank you.
Thank you for bringing
her home.
Sure.
She is,
something.
Something.
It's nice to meet you.
Well, he seems nice.
So what house?
This one.
I had no hand in what
happened that day.
It was so long ago, Lis.
Mom, murders?
That was me.
That was your dad.
Dashing as usual.
And I was his sister.
Your Aunt Jenny.
She was my best friend.
We were supposed to
graduate the next week.
Jenny and me.
Your father had graduated
the year before.
Who's that?
That was a cousin of theirs
that stayed with
them that spring.
She was 17.
The day of our graduation.
Jenny never showed up.
I mean,
nobody in the family did.
So.
I ran to their house.
Go on.
Jenny?
Jenny?
Robert?
Jenny.
Jenny?
Jenny?
No no no no no.
No. Jenny. No.
Then what happened?
Robert.
Oh my God, Robert!
What happened?
What? What?
Run.
Hi can you help me please? I
don't know what happened.
Everybody's been stabbed!
Please! Oh my God!
It felt like an eternity, but,
the police arrived.
Detective Rojas.
He saved us.
Robert and me.
How could you keep something
like this from me
all these years?
How could dad?
Your father didn't
want you to know.
I'm sorry, honey.
He made me keep it a secret.
It's no wonder dad would
never come back here.
Why would you?
I guess I just.
My whole life was
ripped from us.
As I was trying to
reclaim it somehow.
What's left to
reclaim after that?
What was her name?
The girl?
Marsha Cotton.
She was institutionalized.
She died there.
Marsha Cotton.
I had no hand in what
happened that day.
Run!
Robert!
Are you remembering?
He was mine.
Who's that?
Marsha Cotton.
Oh my God.
Are you hurt?
I tripped,
I tripped.
This is not.
This is not my blood.
- Blood?
- This blood.
It's. This is not mine.
This.
This is not my.
Are you sure you're not hurt?
What were you doing down here?
I heard it again.
I heard the voice.
Dad's.
Everything's locked.
This is insane.
Whose voice did you hear?
Not dad's?
Mom.
Whose?
Sounds like Marsha Cotton.
She was seeing handprints
all over the walls.
Bloody ones.
She freaked me out.
You gotta be kidding me.
Hallucinations.
I don't know.
Strange things have been
happening since we moved here.
Like. Like something's trying
to get through from
the other side.
She just kept washing her hands.
The other side?
You really think so?
I don't know.
My parents kept this
from me all this time.
And then my mother tries to
explain it away as some crazy
girl who went on
a stabbing spree.
Why?
Maybe that detective
has an answer.
There's more to this than
my mother's letting on.
Typical.
Yeah.
Are you okay?
This has got to be a
real head trip for you.
I need to know what he knows.
What?
Um. Hello, sir.
Uh, Detective Rojas?
Uh, um, my name is Dylan.
From the bookstore.
Yeah. Uh, we're here
because of an event
that happened a long time ago.
We have some questions.
Would you be willing
to talk to us,
about it?
No.
Walk on the correct
side of the road.
What was that about?
Oh, my God, that was the creepy
guy who tried to pick me up the
other night on the road.
Wait, what?
And that was Rojas.
Yes.
Mad at the world.
Yeah, but.
Serial killer.
Okay. Um,
I gotta get back
to the bookstore.
Need me to take you somewhere?
Mm.
The bar is fine.
I need a drink.
The bar?
It's noon.
The bar?
I'm pregnant.
I'm kidding.
Thanks, Dylan.
I really appreciate that.
Hey for you, anything.
I keep pulling you away
from the store here.
Do you think maybe I could
just borrow your car sometime?
I want to try Rojas again.
Really?
Yeah.
- By yourself?
- Yeah.
Even with the whole
serial killer conspiracy
theorist vibe.
Yes. I can take care
of myself, you know?
Yeah, I'm getting that.
He knows Dylan and
I need to find out.
Well, right now I have to take
some books by the daycare.
We do this book exchange.
I don't mean now.
Some other time is fine.
Thanks. I'll text you.
All right.
Bye bye.
Bye bye.
She will be mine.
The baby.
She is mine.
For you.
It's hers.
Mogador of the Marsh.
She gave it to me.
Like Mariah and so many
others in the past.
Were empty inside.
And now I give it to you.
She lives on in us
through the book.
And we live on
through her.
Take it.
Make the choice.
You will call her.
Call her Maggie.
Can I help you?
Um, there's some coffee
in there somewhere.
Oh, thank you.
Um, gives a whole new
meaning to half and half.
So, Miss Arnold.
Oh, Emily, please.
Emily, how may I help?
The other day, did my
daughter come in here?
Annalisa.
Annalisa is your daughter.
Mm.
She did.
Why?
Look.
I'm sorry I.
Strange things are
happening to me.
I lost my husband
and
I'm hearing voices.
And then there's
blood on the walls.
And now.
I see her face.
Whose face?
Good God, I should have never
come back to Clear Creek.
It's okay calm down.
Just, just breathe.
Breathe.
There you go.
Um.
Your daughter and I, we
bumped into each other at the
bookstore, and then she came
by here later to discuss books.
Books.
Uh, a particular book.
One she had in her possession.
Dangerous book.
56. Requesting
backup at central.
43rd code 236.
Item two 219.
So,
why,
I don't talk about it
to anyone.
Strange things have been
happening ever since I got this,
I think.
Where did you get that?
Oh. The bookstore.
The bookstore in Clear Creek?
Yeah, actually, it was
buried in the back.
I think it's somehow
connected to those murders.
You're damn right it is.
That there, I believe, was
very much a part of it.
Should be burned.
Why? What happened?
Please.
It's my fault.
My husband and I, we.
We kept it from
her to protect her.
I kept it from her.
And I made my husband
keep it from her, too.
Kept what? May I ask?
The truth.
It happened at,
Jenny and Robert's house.
The old Arnold
house, they call it.
It was
graduation day.
Oh, we were so young.
Those two.
It was a love triangle, really.
The boy
call him boy, but
he was a year removed
from high school.
And the girl
a senior.
And.
Marsha.
Marsha Cotton.
I could never forget that face.
Like looking into
the face of pure,
evil.
She was staying with
the family.
She was family.
Distant.
Had,
an unhealthy
obsession with a boy.
Seduced him even.
Seduced him?
But
he ultimately rejected her.
And that family had
no idea what she'd do.
No idea.
No, no, no, no,
no, Jenny, no.
What happened?
Oh my God.
I was the closest to respond.
The boy's sister was dead,
lying in the back doorway.
She had tried to run.
I entered that house.
The boy was nearby, bleeding
heavily, but
somehow still alive.
I couldn't help.
I had to clear the rooms.
The girl.
The one who called the police.
She was on the floor,
bleeding but alive.
The mother was right
there in the recliner.
Deceased.
Then I came face to
face with Marsha Cotton.
The bloody knife
resting in her lap.
She had joined those
horrible things she did.
Pure evil inhabited that girl.
Haunts me to this day.
That book
that was on the
table next to her.
You said the girl was bleeding.
The one who phoned?
Yes.
From the abdomen.
Stabbed.
I called the police.
I don't know what happened.
He was mine.
The doctor later confirmed that
poor girl would never be able
to get pregnant.
I could not bear children
after she stabbed me.
She did that for me.
I'm so very sorry.
But Marsha cotton
and cruel irony.
Was pregnant from that
tryst with the Arnold boy.
Are you saying, Emily,
my mother could
never have children.
Your mother?
That monster died
during childbirth.
And I got to raise the
child of her and my husband.
Annalisa was Marsha
Cotton's baby.
How dare they?
You're,
Robert Arnold's kid?
Robert Arnold was my father.
He's dead now, too.
I'm sorry that's all
I can tell you.
You should go.
Thank you for your time.
An empty vessel filled
with spirits.
Your daughter, I'm
afraid, is a lost soul.
Without truth, there
is no guidance.
Annalisa, even without knowing
it, has never had that truth,
that foundational truth.
The body is an empty vessel.
Its purpose is to be filled.
That's my fault.
Selfishly, it's all my fault.
As parents,
we.
We do what we think is
right for our children.
And we
make mistakes.
But our responsibility as
parents is to correct those
mistakes, not continue them.
Oh.
The spirit is on her, Emily.
Guiding her, directing her.
And I think it's from that book.
You must tell her the truth.
Lis, is that you?
Honey?
Lis.
I know.
What?
How could you?
How could you,
supposedly my mother,
keep that from me?
How could my father?
We were just trying
to protect you.
I, we.
I wanted to tell you
every minute of the day.
But you didn't.
You lied to me my whole life.
And because of you, I don't
know one simple but very
important detail.
Who am I?
I am so sorry,
but please, can we not
do this over the phone?
Lis.
Lord,
instruct Annalisa
in the way of light
and lead her along
a straight path.
Lis.
And protect Emily from the evil.
Honey where are you?
You know where.
This I pray?
No where?
Where it all started.
It happened at the
old Arnold house.
Let her name the baby.
Aurielle.
Dominus.
Illuminatio.
Mia.
Hello, Emily.
Or should I say mother?
But that's not quite
right now, is it?
Because you are not my mother.
Lis, I am your mother.
You're not.
I am, honey.
Your,
your first steps,
your first crush,
your first heartbreak.
The first time you went away
to college, that was me, Lisa.
I was there for all of it.
Marsha Cotton is my mother.
I took you in, I raised you.
You resented me.
No.
No? I felt it.
Something in the way
you always looked at me.
Oh, no, honey.
Now I know why.
I'm sorry I ruined your
idyllic childhood fairy tale.
It had nothing to do with you.
No? You resented my
father for what he did.
No.
You resented him
for having her child.
No.
For raising her child.
You resented me.
It's true.
I resented you.
All of it.
So,
unfair to you.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I tried to be a,
good mother to you.
An angel dreams to
morning sings
It's music in your head
Lullaby.
Strangely familiar.
But,
you never sang that to me.
My mother sang that to me.
My heart's desire my all
Doctor.
A realization like that kind of
takes the air out of you.
Hard to breathe?
Too much blood pressure
medicine will do that.
Too much of anything, really.
Like too much meth in the
liquor bottle for
that cheating bastard.
You know.
True.
Like too much verapamil.
Very toxic.
Certainly was for Robert.
Took him
just like that.
That's your father.
My poor Robert.
My Robert.
He wanted me.
Then you took him and
he never came back.
That wasn't because of me.
It was. You came
between us and our baby
Annalisa.
So we took him from you.
We?
Me and my daughter.
Annalisa, Annalisa.
I wasn't sure I could do it.
Slowly drive you mad until you.
Emily.
Overdosed.
Overdose?
Overdosed. Just like dad.
Looks like heart failure.
Unless someone mentions you
were trying to kill yourself.
And with the insurance, I can
afford to take care of myself
for the rest of my life.
And hers, of course.
It was a choice at
first with Drew.
with dad, I felt
compelled to do it.
Like something innate within
me that has been awakened.
I didn't understand it until
someone brought that
book in me together.
And then it all
became so clear to me.
You're just like her.
Yes. I am my mother's daughter.
And my mother.
Is Marsha Cotton.
Hello. Oh, God.
You have to hurry.
It's my mother.
I think she took something.
Annalisa Arnold.
I. I don't know.
I'm.
Reverend. What are
you doing here?
What happened?
What happened here?
I found her here.
Something was wrong.
I could tell on the phone.
Why would she come here?
Are you okay?
Mom.
I see her.
She's in you.
Lord.
Let this child.
Be born in the light.
For the light and of the
light, rejecting all evil.
So help me God.
All units six, five,
seven Valley Road.
Victim found unconscious and
transported to Cedar
Creek Hospital.
I mean, we've done everything
we can to counteract this,
didn't wait.
Visiting hours are over.
I know.
- The baby.
- Give her my name.
Need any help?
No. I'm good.
Who could that be?
Probably a neighbor.
It's okay. I got it.
You sure?
Go back to your book.
Who was it?
No one.
But I think I got
my first baby gift.
I'm gonna open it.
Yeah.
Is that real gold?
I don't know.
Who's Oriel?
I don't know.
It's pretty.
You got this. Come on, Annalisa.
Come on.
Annalisa, give me
one more big push.
Come on.
Come on.
You got this.
Come on in, Annalisa.
Come on.
You got this. Come on.
Annalisa, give me
one more big push.
Come on one more.
Push, push, push!
Come on one more big push.
Come on girl.
Push, push, push, push, push.
Push, push.
There we go.
- Give her my name.
Do you have a name
picked out for her?
- You will call her Maggie?
Yes.
Oriel.
What? What?
No Annalisa.