She Watches Blindly (2023) Movie Script
1
(no audio)
(wind howling)
(door creaks)
(baby crying)
- [Anna] What do you see over there?
- [James] He likes the room.
(baby babbles)
(footsteps thumping)
(Beth shakily gasping)
(Anna indistinctly murmurs)
(ominous music)
- [Voice] Remember.
Remember.
Remember the number.
(Beth gasps)
- What are you doing?
Beth!
I'm trying to help you.
Let me help you.
- [Beth] You're not helping!
- Shh. Shh.
(baby babbles)
(Beth screams)
Let me help you help you.
Stop it!
Open your hand. I'm trying to help you.
(baby cries)
Help! I need help!
- Shh.
- It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Shh.
(Beth whimpers)
- [Voice] Remember.
Remember.
Seven.
Three.
Three.
Six.
Six.
Five.
Four.
One.
One.
Four.
(Beth gasps)
(ambiance drones)
(phone buzzing)
(Abbot groans)
- [Abbott] Hello?
(caller indistinctly speaking)
Beth Abrams? I don't know that name.
No.
Perhaps you have the wrong number?
- [Caller] This must sound crazy.
- Oh, no, no, it's not crazy.
This is my private phone.
How did you get this number?
You said your name was Earl?
What's your address?
(solemn music)
- [Radio Announcer] WTXR.
A beautiful brisk morning in Atlanta.
39 degrees with sustained gusts.
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
WTXR eye witness news time.
Greenwich man charged in the
murder of his brother-in-law.
Local SPLOST urban
clean-up initiative rally
Over 1500 volunteers to pitch in
on the clean-up of Ellenwood city.
And, lastly, details are still emerging
about an unidentified single
mother arrested last night
after her neighbors reported hearing
prolonged screams from an upstairs unit
at their Centerville apartment complex.
Police have cordoned off the area
and have refused to offer further comment.
More on this breaking at 11,
and now for a traffic report
from own Doug Davison.
WTXR.
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(wind howling)
(wind continues howling)
(Abbott sighs)
(door clanks)
- [Earl] Dr. Abbott?
- Yes. Are you Earl Abrams?
- Yeah.
Please, come in.
Thank you so much for coming.
I know this must be unusual for you.
(door clanks)
- [Abbott] Is she awake now?
- Awake, but resting. Finally.
- I get it, but I don't
wanna overstay our welcome
- [Anna] They still need us.
- Oh, these are our friends,
James and Anna Wyburne.
- Are you Dr. Abbott?
- [Abbott] I am.
- She had a terrible night last night.
- [Abbott] I heard about that.
- I hope you can help.
Oh, can I get you some coffee or tea?
- [Abbott] Oh, water
will be fine, thank you.
What was your name again?
- Oh, I'm Anna. This is my husband.
- James.
Where can we find more
information on your practice?
Couldn't find anything on you online.
- [Abbott] I mostly go through referrals.
- Okay. Gotcha.
- [Abbott] How are you connected
with the Abrams family?
- Earl and I go way back,
middle school, high school,
so just family friends, I guess.
- [Anna] James, would you
give this to Dr. Abbott?
- [James] Mhm.
- [Abbot] Thanks.
- Yeah. No problem.
- Excuse me.
- Mhm.
- I've been reading through the DSM,
trying to figure out what she's got.
- [Abbott] Has she seen a psychiatrist?
- I think she might have...
No, that's not it. It
was a schizoid delusion.
Where was that?
- No medication of any kind?
- [Earl] No.
- [Abbott] Well, as soon
as I can talk to her,
maybe we can start ruling some things out.
- Oh, here.
"Delusions that express a loss
of control over mind or body.
Those included in Schneider's
list of first-ranked symptoms
are generally considered to be bizarre.
These include a person's
belief that his or her thoughts
have been taken away
by some outside force,
thought withdrawal, that alien thoughts
have been put into his or her mind."
Thought insertion.
That's Beth.
Every day.
The only difference is
that they come true.
- [Abbott] What does?
- Her visions.
The voices she hears are right.
- Earl, can you take me to see her now?
(eerie music)
- Yeah.
Sorry about the mess.
We're supposed to be
on vacation right now.
Last night, we had to turn back.
- And that's when she
tried to hurt herself?
- Yeah. Last night after we got home.
- Okay.
What about the number?
How did she get that?
- Sometimes, she just knows things.
- No door?
- Safer this way.
(baby crying)
(baby continues crying)
She scratched your number
into the nightstand
with her fingernails.
- Your baby is crying.
(baby continues crying)
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Just wait here, okay?
(Earl sighs)
(baby continues crying)
(baby continues crying)
(eerie music)
(wind howling)
(floorboards creaking)
(wind continues howling)
- [Beth] Who are you?
- I am the man from the number.
My name is Dr. Abbott.
Think of me as a psychologist.
(wind continues howling)
(floorboards creaking)
(Abbott sighs)
How are your fingers?
- Earl bandaged them for me.
- They still hurt?
- Everyone in this house hates me.
- I don't think you are
hated. Perhaps misunderstood.
- What would you know?
- Only what you show me.
Your husband said sometimes
you just know things.
(cloth rustles)
- I have an awareness of people.
I feel what they feel.
I know what they intend to do.
I don't have to be looking at them.
They can be in the next room even.
Somehow, I just know.
- [Abbott] Do you hear their thoughts?
- Sometimes.
I know what people want.
I know when they feel
uncomfortable or angry or afraid.
I know it like I know myself.
- How frequent are these experiences?
- [Beth] Constant.
- How old were you when this started?
- There's no real beginning to it.
Only, now, it's worse.
- [Abbot] When did it get worse?
- About five months ago.
- [Abbot] Anything particular
happen around that time?
- That was when they
cut my baby out of me.
- You had a C-section?
Must have been difficult.
I am sorry.
(floorboards creaks)
So, you hear people's thoughts.
You've had this your
whole life to some degree,
but when your son was born, it got worse.
Is that fair to say?
- [Beth] Yes.
- How do you know your
thoughts are correct?
- Not mine. Theirs.
They just come to me.
- Do you know what I'm feeling right now?
(eerie music)
- [Beth] You're listening to me,
completely and entirely,
with all of your attention.
- What about your husband?
- He's behind the door.
(floorboards creaking)
Embarrassed.
- And what about your friends,
the Wyburnes, downstairs?
- [Anna] She doesn't deserve
this. She doesn't deserve this.
- [Beth] They're not my friends.
- [Anna] She doesn't deserve
this. She doesn't deserve this.
She doesn't deserve this.
She doesn't deserve this.
- [Abbot] Beth, what about your son?
(baby crying)
(Earl grunts)
Beth.
(footsteps thumping)
(baby continues thumping)
- [Anna] Earl, do you need some help?
(Earl indistinctly murmurs)
(baby crying)
(Beth softly sobs)
(footsteps thumping)
- [Anna] Hi.
Hello.
There you are.
I've got you. It's okay.
Yes.
There, there.
- Beth, leave those things aside for now.
Just listen to my voice.
- [Anna] Go to sleep.
- Stay right here in this room.
- Don't take this from me.
- [Anna] Shh, shh, shh, it's okay. Shh.
- Let me have this.
- Would you like me to bring him to you?
- No!
Please, no.
- You don't want to see your son?
- I can't!
Not now, especially not now.
- Now?
- He's afraid.
- What is he afraid of, Beth?
What does he fear?
- Me.
- Do you know why?
Do you know why, Beth?
- Yes.
(wind faintly howling)
- That's enough for now.
I'll come back in a little while.
Maybe you can have something to eat?
- I'm not hungry.
- Doctor?
Have you seen this before?
- Yes.
I have.
- [Anna] James, could you
hold him for a second?
Oh, there we go.
- Hey, buddy.
- There we go.
- There you go.
Come here.
Hey, big guy.
Hey.
Yeah, good to see you too.
- [Earl] How is she?
- Let's go for a walk, Earl.
- Is she okay?
- Let's just go for a walk.
- [Anna] It's okay, Earl. We'll watch him.
- Let me tell Beth we'll
be gone for a few minutes.
- Of course.
(baby babbling)
(liquid burbles)
It's very kind of you both to be here.
- It takes a village, as they say.
- Do you have kids of your own?
- No. Not yet, at least.
- Well, it's good practice then, huh?
- Yeah, if you wanna practice
staying up all night, huh?
- Well, they tend to do that, don't they?
What's his name?
- Matthew.
They call him Matty.
- [James] Did Earl tell you
what happened last night?
- [Anna] James.
- What, Anna? Isn't that why he's here?
He told me that you were
all going on a trip,
but you had to turn back.
- Yeah. That's not false.
- I'm sure they'll tell
him when they're ready.
- [James] Yeah. I am sure that they will.
- Why won't you just go
to a normal therapist?
You won't even talk to me.
- [Beth] Get them out of here.
- Anna and James?
(Earl sighs)
You want me to do this on my own?
You can't even hold our son.
- [Beth] Please leave.
- Yeah. I'm going.
(solemn music)
(Earl sighs)
I'll talk to him, okay?
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- Thank you.
(solemn music continues)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew babbles)
- Come here, darling.
Oh my goodness.
(footsteps thumping)
- [Earl] You ready?
- [Abbot] Yes.
- Sit down.
(Anna indistinctly murmurs)
It's okay. It's okay.
I know.
(solemn music continues)
(birds chirping)
(leaves rustling)
(Beth softly gasps)
- [Earl] Are you gonna tell me
what's going on with her or what?
- [Abbot] Let's keep
going a little further.
- [Anna] I brought you some tea.
- Just put it over there.
- I'm surprised you didn't hear me.
- I was thinking.
(Anna clears throat)
- How are you doing?
Is everything okay?
- I'm feeling much better. Thank you.
- Beth, you know you
can be honest with me.
I don't know what you're going through,
but I know it must be very difficult.
- Yes. It would be difficult
for you to understand.
- Earl must be so proud
of you for being so brave.
- Yes. He's very committed.
I can't thank you enough for helping us.
- We enjoy it.
Matty's like, well, family to us.
- You'll have your own some day, I'm sure.
Just have to keep trying.
(solemn music)
(Earl sighs)
- What do you do, Earl?
- [Earl] Mechanic. I have a shop.
- [Abbot] You own it?
- I manage it.
- It must be hard work.
- Uh-huh. Yeah.
I work every day, five days
a week, eight to seven.
I pick up my kid from
daycare when I can afford it.
Sometimes I have to bring
him to work with me.
Then I come home and I cook.
- What do you do in the evenings?
- Nothing. I don't even know.
- [Abbot] How is your time with Beth?
- It's like she's a fucking mirror.
- A mirror?
- Yeah, it's not like she copies me.
Just any shitty mood I'm in,
then she has the same fucking thing.
- What if you're happy?
- What do you mean happy?
- Calm, content, peaceful.
- No, no, that doesn't happen around here.
- [Abbot] No?
- You saw it already.
She knows what you're thinking.
She knew I was standing outside the door.
- It's too early to make any
conclusions about that yet.
- But it does look like it?
- That is what it looks like.
- Shit!
Shit!
- Earl, I know this is hard,
but you have to remain calm.
- You know this is hard?
What the hell do you know?
It's like I'm going insane.
- Do you love her?
- [Earl] Yes, God!
- Are you sure?
- What the hell does
it have to do with me?
We're supposed to be talking about her.
- Earl,
whatever comes out of this,
it is gonna take time.
You need to understand
that what you do matters.
This idea about her mirroring you,
I think you're absolutely
right about that.
She is very sensitive to you.
One gesture, one sarcastic
remark, one angry look,
and she could go into a spiral
and she may never recover.
Listen, you have to be. I know it's hard.
- I can't fucking do this anymore.
- Listen to me. Listen to me.
- I can't fucking do this anymore!
- I understand, but listen to me.
You have to be extremely cautious
in what you think and do.
- I can't do this anymore.
- Then why are you still here?
(Earl sighs)
I...
I put my chips in a long time ago.
(solemn music continues)
I don't even know if I can pay for you,
whatever your fucking rate is.
- It's still not clear that I can help her
or that she even wants my help.
You can just think of
today as a free evaluation.
- So you're telling me
there's no saving her.
- I'm not saying that.
You need to understand
that, in many cases,
one illness begets another.
In practice, someone can have
symptoms of half a dozen disorders,
but it's not as simple as
making a list of symptoms
and treating them in order.
You gotta get to the bottom of it.
I am trying to find out where that is.
- Yeah, you cut it off
from the root. Right.
- What happened yesterday on the road?
- You're gonna have to ask her that.
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
Beth.
(car roars)
(knife clacks)
(Matthew babbles)
- Hi, babe.
- It's nice to see you up.
What is all this?
- Cooking.
And he needs a bath.
- We saw Anna and James leaving.
- What? Oh, yeah.
They had to leave.
- [Earl] The sink is filthy.
- So help me clean it.
(eerie music)
(Matthew cries)
(Matthew babbles)
- Who are you cooking for?
- Us.
Silly.
- I haven't seen you cook in a long time.
- Is that bad?
You're not cleaning.
- Yeah.
- Is everything all right, dear?
- [Earl] Yeah.
- [Beth] What do you think?
Is everything all right?
- Maybe, Beth, we oughta bring
Matthew back to his crib?
- Why? Everything is all right.
Stop looking at me like that!
- Okay.
(Matthew cries)
(timer beeps)
- It's ready.
- Beth, maybe just slow down for a sec.
(glass clatters)
- You ruined it.
- No, no, stop. You're
gonna hurt yourself.
- Leave me alone!
- [Earl] Beth.
- [Beth] Stay away from me!
- [Earl] Honey, I can help.
- Don't touch me!
(Earl and Beth grunt)
(eerie music)
(Beth panting)
- Beth.
Hey.
Hey, it's not your fault.
It's not your fault, okay?
Hey. It's all right.
- What are we gonna eat?
- I'll order something in. it's fine.
I'll clean. I'll take care of it.
It's okay.
- [Beth] You're not mad at me?
- No, Beth. I'm not mad at you.
(Matthew coos)
- [Abbott] It's okay. It's okay.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Good boy.
- [Earl] It's okay.
(solemn music)
- [Beth] There's glass.
- It's okay.
Come here. Come here.
It's okay. Shh.
Thank you for trying.
(Beth sniffles)
It's okay.
- Sorry.
- Wanna have some rest?
Oh, baby.
Here. I'll carry you upstairs, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
(solemn music continues)
(water burbles)
(Matthew coos)
- [Abbot] It's all right. It's all right.
It's okay.
You're gonna go sleep.
You're gonna go sleepy-sleep.
(Abbott indistinctly murmurs)
Ready? Whoa.
Whoa.
Oh, your hat came off.
Yeah.
You okay? Huh?
Yeah.
(Abbott hums)
(Abbott chuckles)
(Abbott indistinctly murmurs)
Okay? Okay?
Okay. Be careful, okay?
Good boy.
Good boy.
Good boy.
(water continues burbling)
(Earl pants)
- [Earl] Hey, baby.
(ice rattles)
(Beth gasps)
Is it helping?
- If you know what I was truly like,
you'd hate me.
- [Earl] That's not true.
Beth.
Beth, you can tell me anything.
- No. I can't.
(Beth gasps)
(floorboards creak)
(Earl sighs)
- She wants to talk to you.
- Glad to hear that.
(Earl sighs)
(ambiance humming)
- What are you thinking?
- [Abbot] Don't you know?
- I do, but it doesn't make any sense.
It's just a bunch of
random thoughts, like-
- Free associations?
- Yes.
(gentle music)
Trees.
Leaves.
Wind.
Fruit.
Hands?
- How interesting.
- That is what you're thinking?
- [Abbot] Did you doubt yourself just now?
- I don't understand you.
- In what way?
- When I hear people, I learn about them,
but with you, your thoughts
don't reveal anything to me.
- [Abbot] A psychologist likes to say
as little about himself as possible.
- So why did you come back?
To gawk at me?
Do you want to study me for
some paper you're writing?
Is that it?
- Is that really how you see me,
that you thought I would just leave?
- I don't know.
- [Abbot] You feel vulnerable,
like you've lost control.
- Are you real?
- [Abbot] Flesh and blood. Skin and bones.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
- So what do you think, doc? Am I crazy?
- You need to answer
more questions for me.
I can't just say what I
think about you, Beth.
Not until I know more about you.
- I know what you want to ask.
- And you won't tell me if I do?
- I can't.
- Do you wanna know what I think?
You have strength, more than you think.
Why put so much stock
into first impressions?
- Because they're right.
You get this picture into someone,
the truth beneath it all, and it's ugly,
and they cover it up.
They cover themselves with their own lies.
Then the mask goes on.
"Oh, Beth," they say.
"You'll make it through this.
Hang in there. We're all rooting for you."
But what they're thinking,
"When's that bipolar bitch
gonna kick the bucket?"
- [Abbot] Is that how you see me?
- You're different.
You're sad.
- So much pain.
- No. You can't ask me that.
- Beth, I haven't asked you anything yet.
- [Beth] But you're thinking about it.
- Would you let me say it?
Why don't you let me say
it and then you decide?
What happened to the Wyburnes?
Why did they leave so abruptly?
- They asked if they
could go and I said yes.
- [Abbot] Don't you know better than
to give me a cheap lie like that?
- Ask me anything else, anything.
Just not that, please.
- Where was your trip
headed? Where were you going?
- We rented a cabin in the mountains.
- [Abbot] What time did you leave?
- It was late.
After five.
- How was the weather?
- [Beth] Cold.
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
The sky was dark.
I was in the front seat.
Matty was in the car seat in the back.
- So my dad would always take
us on road trips at night,
and he loved it when we would
pull into our cabin after dark
and you get in
and you don't know what
anything looks like, right?
You're so exhausted from traveling all day
that you fall asleep pretty quickly,
but when you wake up in the morning,
it's like you've woken up in paradise.
- We weren't far out of town
when we drove by this rundown apartment,
and as I was looking at it,
I knew what was behind those windows.
(mother sobs)
(baby cries)
This mother and her infant baby.
The baby
was crying
so loud,
and the mother was so alone,
so poor, so frightened,
and I felt it.
I felt everything.
The mother's love,
and her pain,
and fear,
and loneliness,
and sorrow,
and shame.
All of this suffering
centered on this little baby,
and this rage overcame her,
this surge of anger.
Earl told me what
happened later that night.
He heard it on the news.
The mother bashed her baby's
head into the counter top,
and I wanted to hate her,
but the worst part is I
understood how she felt.
Now I can't look at my baby boy
without seeing that mother and her child.
- Did you try to end your life yesterday?
- Yes.
- How do you feel about that now?
- It's not that I don't want to go on.
I can't.
- But surely you can.
Maybe you just don't know how.
I wish there was something I could say.
Maybe just start with the small things.
Don't try to juggle too much, you know?
If you've got to clean a whole kitchen,
it can be overwhelming, but
just start with one thing.
Just clean one counter top,
or for something bigger,
like being a good mother,
how do you do that?
- I don't know.
- Maybe for you,
just start by standing in his room
and watch him sleep.
(floorboards creak)
(floorboards continue creaking)
(traffic distantly rumbles)
(birds chirp)
(Abbott sighs)
(footsteps thump)
- Thank you.
- How far away do the Wyburnes live?
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- [James] We have to go back for what?
Did you forget something over there?
- [Anna] Are you kidding me?
Are you just gonna abandon them there?
(Anna and James indistinctly arguing)
(doorbell rings)
- Hey, not a good time.
(car rumbling)
- Doctor!
I have to apologize for that just now.
What did you come out here for?
- Forgive me for saying so, but I thought
the circumstances around
your departure were strange.
It would help in my
understanding Beth's condition
if I know what happened.
(Anna sighs)
- Let me talk to him.
Just give me your number
and I'll call you.
- Thank you.
(door clicks)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(water burbling)
(dishes clattering)
- I'll wash that by hand. Thank you.
- Is he asleep?
- Yeah.
(Matthew coos)
(ominous music continues)
(Matthew cooing)
(Beth panting)
(phone buzzing)
(Abbott sighs)
- Hello?
(Abbott sniffles)
I'm happy to hear that.
(Abbott sighs)
- [Anna] We actually have
some questions of our own, about us.
- That's fine.
- Right.
So James and I will sit here, and-
- Actually, I would prefer
to speak separately.
- Oh, of course.
- Who will go first?
- I will.
- [Abbot] You and Anna
were fighting yesterday.
- You don't say.
Look, man, I don't know
you. You don't know me.
So anything that you want to
ask about the Abrams family,
that's totally fine, but when
it comes to me and my wife,
it's none of your business, all right?
- [Abbot] Anna said you
had questions of your own.
- No, I don't. That's
her thing, all right?
I'm not a client of yours.
You're not here to fix me.
I'm a witness.
- [Abbot] What are you a witness to?
(James scoffs)
- What kind of psychiatrist
are you anyway?
- I'm not a psychiatrist.
A psychiatrist prescribes medication.
I don't. I talk to people.
I can recommend psychiatrists
when medication is necessary.
- People ever lie?
You know, get that
recommendation, get those meds.
- If you lie, I would know.
- Okay, detective.
Whatever you say.
- It's nothing complicated.
You already know what I wanna ask, right?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Okay, so you and Earl went on a walk.
Anna and I are downstairs.
Everything was fine, and then
she comes down and, like,
immediately we knew something was off,
and she's just, like, in a manic state.
- [Abbot] A manic state?
- Yes, she's just, like, on, you know?
Like not a depressed person
or whatever the hell she is at all.
- What did she say exactly?
- She started getting
really flirty with me,
like physically even.
It didn't make any sense.
It was like some of show or an act.
- And Anna was right there.
- Yes, she was. It was fucked up.
So we didn't have any choice
but to get out of there.
We just left the kid with her, I mean.
- Has Beth ever solicited you before?
- No. No.
This was completely out of the blue.
- James, remember what I
said. If you lie, I will know.
(traffic distantly rumbles)
(footsteps thump)
(eerie music)
Has Beth ever solicited you before?
(solemn music)
- Yeah.
About a year ago.
- [Abbot] What did you do?
- The wrong thing.
Fucking bitch.
- Only the one time?
- No, several times.
- [Abbot] But she only
came to you once, you said.
- I went back.
- [Abbot] But you stopped.
You called it off?
- Yes. Yeah, thank God.
- James, why do you and
Anna keep going back there?
Why do you have anything to do with them?
- We don't have anything to do with them.
It doesn't make sense. It's
like a pity project for Anna.
- Anna doesn't know?
- No, no. God, no.
She does not know and she will not know.
It would destroy her.
- How do you know you
wouldn't do it again?
- I just couldn't, okay?
- You never thought this would happen.
You never wanted it to.
How can you trust that? How do you know?
- I guess that I don't then.
- Maybe Beth did you a favor today.
Now you have a good
reason never to go back.
- Yeah. I wish it were that simple.
Anna and I have wanted
to have our own kid.
Wanted one for a long time.
(door clicks)
(footsteps thumping)
(door clicks)
- Oh my goodness. You're shivering.
Can I get you a blanket? Maybe some tea?
- I'm okay.
Just water, please.
- And a blanket. Can't stop me.
(Anna sighs)
I've never done this before.
- You mean talk to a therapist?
- Yeah.
- It isn't a test.
- Okay. Okay.
- [Abbot] Anna?
- I did something wrong,
and I don't know what.
I read that if there's
a problem in a marriage,
it's because one spouse isn't receiving
what they need from the other.
There's a problem within,
something that makes a
person look somewhere else
because they didn't get what
they need from their spouse.
(Anna sobs)
What did I do?
I don't know what I did.
(Anna sobbing)
(wind howling)
(birds chirping)
These are the bitter melons.
They're all dry now, of course,
but they'll grow back on their own,
and here are the red peppers,
but we have to take those
out and start from seed.
- I can't imagine how
much this has hurt you
to keep this inside.
Why do you still visit them?
- I don't know.
I guess I was trying to understand.
Maybe see what it was about her.
- [Abbot] What did you see?
- Nothing.
He hates her.
- [Abbot] But it didn't do
you a bit of good, did it?
You continue.
You continue to insist that you
both go and visit them. Why?
- He had to see what he did, didn't he?
- Anna.
- I know, I know. I know.
- [Abbot] How did Beth respond to this?
- She's so unstable. She
can't call herself a mother.
- [Abbot] You think you would do better?
- Better? She doesn't care
about him or want him.
- [Abbot] You do?
- I can't sleep at night
when I think about him crying
and no one there to comfort him.
The monster.
- I think she loves her
son in spite of everything.
- Stop defending her. She's a monster.
- She hurt you.
- They both did.
- Your garden is beautiful.
- Really?
But it's winter.
(Abbott scoffs)
- I know, but I can imagine.
(eerie music)
(Beth gasping)
(heartbeat thumping)
(blanket rustles)
(eerie music continues)
(junk clatters)
(eerie music continues)
(Beth gasping)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(knife clatters)
(Beth gasps)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew crying)
- Earl?
(heartbeat thumping)
(Matthew crying)
(eerie music)
(Matthew continues crying)
(eerie music continues)
(floorboards creak)
(eerie music continues)
(Beth panting)
(eerie music continues)
(Matthew continues crying)
(eerie music continues)
(object rustling)
(heart squelching)
(lock clicks)
Earl!
(Beth gasps)
- Beth?
What?
What?
- Don't go in there.
No.
(Matthew coos)
- He's fine.
(Beth gasping)
He's fine.
Baby, come here. It's okay.
(solemn music)
(object creaks)
(solemn music continues)
(Beth softly gasps)
(solemn music continues)
(clothes rustle)
(Beth sighs)
- Every day is so long.
- Not long enough, if you ask me.
How are you feeling? Any better?
- I don't know. I guess so.
- Hm. Wanna help me fold some laundry?
- Okay.
(solemn music continues)
(heartbeat thumping)
(blood squelches)
(Beth softly gasps)
- Hey.
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Beth.
Beth, let me help you.
It's okay.
Okay, sweetheart?
Let me help you.
Beth, what's wrong, baby?
(Earl sighs)
(Beth softly pants)
Come on.
- You're angry with me.
- No, Beth, I'm not angry
with you. I'm concerned.
- Now you're lying.
- I'm not lying, Beth.
(Beth sighs)
- Yes, you are.
- What do you want from me, Beth?
- I know when you're lying.
- I always know. Everyone's always lying.
Not me!
- Honey, you're confused.
- I see people. The faces they put on.
You can't trick me!
- Beth, look, nobody's
trying to trick you.
People don't just always
say what they're thinking.
- So you were thinking it.
- You don't just say everything you think.
It's a matter of respect.
It's basic manners.
- So respect is lying to
someone about how you feel?
- You're getting it twisted in your head.
All I'm saying is that you don't say
everything that comes to mind right away.
That's all.
- Some day, Earl, you'll
finally figure it out.
There's nothing you can think
that I won't already know about!
- Stop it, Beth!
Do you wanna know what I
really think of you? Huh?
- I already do.
- Okay.
You ungrateful bitch!
You're a fucking leech, Beth!
I do everything around
this damn house, and you,
you can't put a dish in the sink.
- There it is.
- Do you know how impossible it is
to do even the most menial
task with you around?
We couldn't even go on vacation.
- You forgot about narcissistic.
- Honestly, there is no
word to describe you.
They could write a whole book
about how fucked up you are.
You think you're the
queen of the damn world.
You don't even care about our son.
You'd be relieved if he up and died
so you wouldn't have to
deal with him anymore.
- I am a monster.
- I don't even know why
you wanted to have a kid.
It feels like you just
wanted another victim
to suck the light out of.
- I am a monster.
- Yes, you're a monster, Beth.
- I am a monster.
- You're a monster. Yes,
you're a monster, Beth.
- I'm a monster.
- You're a fucking monster!
- You're gonna kill the monster!
(somber music)
- You're insane.
If it wasn't for Matty,
I don't know what I'd do.
- You don't have to worry
about that. He's not yours.
- What?
- Come on, Earl.
You know.
- Yes. That's the one.
- You're lying.
- No.
It was easy.
Remember?
April?
You were gone for a week.
- I don't believe you.
- Yes, you do.
- Matty?
You're the worst decision of my life.
(gate clacks)
(Earl grunts)
(bin rattling)
(Earl screams)
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- [Abbot] Earl, don't
drink any more of that.
- It's you.
- I got your call. What happened?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- [Earl] I'm gonna get a motel.
- Is Beth all right?
- It's over.
- Is Beth all right? And what about Matty?
- They're at the house,
just the two of them.
- Okay.
I'm gonna go see them.
- Where are my keys?
- Give me that, please.
Please.
Thank you.
What motel are you gonna go to?
- I don't know.
- Okay, okay, okay.
That one. Look.
You see the green sign?
- Yeah. Yeah, I'll go to that one.
- Okay.
I'm gonna come back and
check on you. all right?
After I'm done with Beth.
- Okay.
- Send me your room number.
- Yeah.
- Will you do that?
- Yeah.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
- [Abbot] It's gonna be all right.
(traffic distantly roaring)
(eerie music)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(ominous music)
- You deserve this.
- I deserve this.
- Isn't this what you wanted?
(Beth gasping)
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
(Beth softly gasping)
(ominous music continues)
(James screams)
(Matthew crying)
- Oh, please stop crying!
Shut up!
(Beth screams)
(Beth wails)
(Matthew continues crying)
Be quiet!
Please stop crying. Please stop crying.
Please.
(Beth gasping)
(ominous music)
Earl.
Oh.
I don't wanna be like this.
I can change.
Hey, I can change.
Something happened.
You know what it was?
It was that child.
He's not even yours.
He's nobody's.
We can start over, you and me.
We can have a new child, honey.
Our child.
That will help things.
(ominous music continues)
(egg sizzles)
- I said I want you to
start with the small things.
Why can't you do that?
You can't even do that?
It's easy.
You must speak the truth and never lie.
How hard is that?
Never lie to yourself.
- Yes.
You're right.
- [Anna] How could you
think that I wouldn't know?
- [James] I didn't
wanna make things worse.
- You think I can't see your face? Really?
I live with you. I see
you every single day.
I could smell her on you.
- I didn't wanna hurt you, okay?
I didn't want-
- But you did.
You did,
and you know what?
- I know.
- It was worse than what you did with her.
It was worth watching
you try and pretend like
everything was okay!
- Okay, okay, okay, okay!
I'm an idiot. It was wrong.
Okay? I get it. But you
need to understand, Anna.
You have got to get it
that everything that I did after the fact
was to try to make things better.
- How could I ever trust you
again even if I wanted to?
- Do you want to?
I'm sorry,
and I am ashamed and I am mad at myself,
and it's true and you
know that it is true,
but at what point do we draw the line?
At what point do we move on?
And I mean, yeah, maybe that
is some point in the future.
I understand that, but, like,
what good is it going to do
to continue going in circles like this?
Seriously?
Like, what good is it
going to do to you or me
to go over every little thing?
- [Anna] I don't want to know everything!
- Then stop asking!
Then stop going in circles with me on it!
- Why did you leave me?
What did I do?
- [James] No, no, no, no, no.
- No.
(car rumbling)
- [James] I will fix this.
If you want me, I'm gonna try.
- [Anna] You know what I'm worried about?
I'm really worried about your little boy.
(knocking on door)
(Matthew cooing)
(door creaks)
(floorboard creaks)
(footsteps thumping)
(ominous music)
(Matthew cooing)
(Matthew continues cooing)
(Matthew continues cooing)
(Beth humming)
- [Beth] Don't worry,
Matty. It'll be over soon.
- Beth!
Beth!
Beth!
(Abbott grunting)
(foreboding music)
(Beth shakily pants)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew cooing)
Oh, Beth!
Beth, listen to me.
Listen to me.
You're gonna keep pressure
on this, all right?
Keep pressure it, okay?
Keep pressure on it, okay?
I'll be right back. I promise.
Tourniquet. Tourniquet.
(Abbott grunting)
(Matthew crying)
(Abbott groans)
(Matthew crying)
Hold this over the wound.
Hold this over the wound.
Okay, hold this over the wound.
Okay?
Hold it tight, okay?
- [Beth] I don't want this.
- I know, I know, I know, but I do.
Now, lift your arm up a little bit, okay?
(Beth groans)
Okay, okay.
Get up here a little bit.
Okay, okay. Hold it, hold
it, hold it, hold it.
That's good. That's good.
That's good.
Okay, now I'm gonna,
get your hand out of
the way if you can, hun.
Okay, good, good. Thank you.
Okay, here we go. Here we go.
It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
(Abbott grunts)
(Beth groans)
It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.
Just keep it over the wound, okay?
Did you hear me? What did
I just tell you to do?
What did I just tell you to do?
- [Beth] Keep.
- Good. Over the wound.
All right, all right.
(Beth groans)
Okay. Okay, hold still.
That's it. You're doing great.
(Abbott grunts)
Okay.
Now, this is gonna hurt, okay?
- [Beth] No, no, no.
- Yes.
(Beth groans)
Oh, God.
- No.
(Abbott grunting)
(Beth wails)
- Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Almost done. Almost done.
Almost done.
Okay. Okay.
You're doing great. You're doing great.
You're doing great.
(Beth groaning)
(Abbott grunts)
Beth! Beth!
Beth, don't go to sleep.
Don't go to sleep, okay?
I've gotta make a call.
I'll be right here.
I'll be right here.
(tender music)
Yes.
Yes, this is 4028 Brookridge Drive.
I need an ambulance.
I've got a woman here who's cut her wrist.
(tender music continues)
(Beth softly wheezes)
Save your strength, Beth.
You're gonna survive.
- I don't deserve to go on.
- [Abbot] No, Beth.
I'm proud of you.
- You can't say that.
- [Abbot] Look at me.
Tell me what I'm thinking.
(tender music continues)
- You can't think that.
I am a monster.
- Your son is alive.
You did that.
Did you know you were that strong?
- I don't feel strong, doc.
- And yet you did it.
That is what strength is.
Be strong again.
Just hold on a little longer.
(Matthew cooing)
(Beth sighs)
- Matty.
(Matthew crying)
(Matthew continues crying)
- [Paramedic 1] Talk to me. Look at me.
You okay? You have any other cuts?
- [Paramedic 2] One cut. One cut.
- [Paramedic 2] Just one?
(equipment rustling)
- Did you say something just now?
- Rest now. We'll talk about it later.
(tender music continues)
(monitor beeping)
(tender music continues)
- [Beth] And to think
I found you in a dream.
- [Abbot] You didn't find me. I found you.
(tender music continues)
- [Beth] You're like me.
- [Abbot] You are not your thoughts.
You are the thing that has thoughts.
- Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
(solemn music)
(car rumbles)
- Hey!
Hey! Hey, what happened?
What happened?
Doctor!
- Matty.
- He's not hurt. Not a scratch.
Just a little frightened.
- Doctor.
- [Abbot] What brought you here?
- What happened?
- She cut her wrist. I
got here just in time.
- Where's Earl?
- Earl, he was supposed to message me.
- We knew something was up. He
didn't respond to us either.
- He left. I've gotta
follow her to the hospital.
(water burbles)
- Doctor, you've done
enough. I'll go with Beth.
Here. Take him.
- Whoa, what?
- [Anna] Take him.
- Hold on. Hold on.
Are you sure you wanna do that?
- There's nothing to hide.
I'll call you.
- Okay.
(car rumbles)
- He's alone now.
- Nah.
No, he won't be.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're leaving?
- I gotta find Earl. He needs help.
- You gonna be able to find him?
- Yes.
I'll find him.
(traffic distantly rumbling)
(Abbot sobbing)
(Abbot continues sobbing)
(Abbot sighing)
(Abbot continues sighing)
(Abbot clears throat)
(traffic distantly roars)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(no audio)
(no audio)
(wind howling)
(door creaks)
(baby crying)
- [Anna] What do you see over there?
- [James] He likes the room.
(baby babbles)
(footsteps thumping)
(Beth shakily gasping)
(Anna indistinctly murmurs)
(ominous music)
- [Voice] Remember.
Remember.
Remember the number.
(Beth gasps)
- What are you doing?
Beth!
I'm trying to help you.
Let me help you.
- [Beth] You're not helping!
- Shh. Shh.
(baby babbles)
(Beth screams)
Let me help you help you.
Stop it!
Open your hand. I'm trying to help you.
(baby cries)
Help! I need help!
- Shh.
- It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Shh.
(Beth whimpers)
- [Voice] Remember.
Remember.
Seven.
Three.
Three.
Six.
Six.
Five.
Four.
One.
One.
Four.
(Beth gasps)
(ambiance drones)
(phone buzzing)
(Abbot groans)
- [Abbott] Hello?
(caller indistinctly speaking)
Beth Abrams? I don't know that name.
No.
Perhaps you have the wrong number?
- [Caller] This must sound crazy.
- Oh, no, no, it's not crazy.
This is my private phone.
How did you get this number?
You said your name was Earl?
What's your address?
(solemn music)
- [Radio Announcer] WTXR.
A beautiful brisk morning in Atlanta.
39 degrees with sustained gusts.
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
WTXR eye witness news time.
Greenwich man charged in the
murder of his brother-in-law.
Local SPLOST urban
clean-up initiative rally
Over 1500 volunteers to pitch in
on the clean-up of Ellenwood city.
And, lastly, details are still emerging
about an unidentified single
mother arrested last night
after her neighbors reported hearing
prolonged screams from an upstairs unit
at their Centerville apartment complex.
Police have cordoned off the area
and have refused to offer further comment.
More on this breaking at 11,
and now for a traffic report
from own Doug Davison.
WTXR.
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(wind howling)
(wind continues howling)
(Abbott sighs)
(door clanks)
- [Earl] Dr. Abbott?
- Yes. Are you Earl Abrams?
- Yeah.
Please, come in.
Thank you so much for coming.
I know this must be unusual for you.
(door clanks)
- [Abbott] Is she awake now?
- Awake, but resting. Finally.
- I get it, but I don't
wanna overstay our welcome
- [Anna] They still need us.
- Oh, these are our friends,
James and Anna Wyburne.
- Are you Dr. Abbott?
- [Abbott] I am.
- She had a terrible night last night.
- [Abbott] I heard about that.
- I hope you can help.
Oh, can I get you some coffee or tea?
- [Abbott] Oh, water
will be fine, thank you.
What was your name again?
- Oh, I'm Anna. This is my husband.
- James.
Where can we find more
information on your practice?
Couldn't find anything on you online.
- [Abbott] I mostly go through referrals.
- Okay. Gotcha.
- [Abbott] How are you connected
with the Abrams family?
- Earl and I go way back,
middle school, high school,
so just family friends, I guess.
- [Anna] James, would you
give this to Dr. Abbott?
- [James] Mhm.
- [Abbot] Thanks.
- Yeah. No problem.
- Excuse me.
- Mhm.
- I've been reading through the DSM,
trying to figure out what she's got.
- [Abbott] Has she seen a psychiatrist?
- I think she might have...
No, that's not it. It
was a schizoid delusion.
Where was that?
- No medication of any kind?
- [Earl] No.
- [Abbott] Well, as soon
as I can talk to her,
maybe we can start ruling some things out.
- Oh, here.
"Delusions that express a loss
of control over mind or body.
Those included in Schneider's
list of first-ranked symptoms
are generally considered to be bizarre.
These include a person's
belief that his or her thoughts
have been taken away
by some outside force,
thought withdrawal, that alien thoughts
have been put into his or her mind."
Thought insertion.
That's Beth.
Every day.
The only difference is
that they come true.
- [Abbott] What does?
- Her visions.
The voices she hears are right.
- Earl, can you take me to see her now?
(eerie music)
- Yeah.
Sorry about the mess.
We're supposed to be
on vacation right now.
Last night, we had to turn back.
- And that's when she
tried to hurt herself?
- Yeah. Last night after we got home.
- Okay.
What about the number?
How did she get that?
- Sometimes, she just knows things.
- No door?
- Safer this way.
(baby crying)
(baby continues crying)
She scratched your number
into the nightstand
with her fingernails.
- Your baby is crying.
(baby continues crying)
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Just wait here, okay?
(Earl sighs)
(baby continues crying)
(baby continues crying)
(eerie music)
(wind howling)
(floorboards creaking)
(wind continues howling)
- [Beth] Who are you?
- I am the man from the number.
My name is Dr. Abbott.
Think of me as a psychologist.
(wind continues howling)
(floorboards creaking)
(Abbott sighs)
How are your fingers?
- Earl bandaged them for me.
- They still hurt?
- Everyone in this house hates me.
- I don't think you are
hated. Perhaps misunderstood.
- What would you know?
- Only what you show me.
Your husband said sometimes
you just know things.
(cloth rustles)
- I have an awareness of people.
I feel what they feel.
I know what they intend to do.
I don't have to be looking at them.
They can be in the next room even.
Somehow, I just know.
- [Abbott] Do you hear their thoughts?
- Sometimes.
I know what people want.
I know when they feel
uncomfortable or angry or afraid.
I know it like I know myself.
- How frequent are these experiences?
- [Beth] Constant.
- How old were you when this started?
- There's no real beginning to it.
Only, now, it's worse.
- [Abbot] When did it get worse?
- About five months ago.
- [Abbot] Anything particular
happen around that time?
- That was when they
cut my baby out of me.
- You had a C-section?
Must have been difficult.
I am sorry.
(floorboards creaks)
So, you hear people's thoughts.
You've had this your
whole life to some degree,
but when your son was born, it got worse.
Is that fair to say?
- [Beth] Yes.
- How do you know your
thoughts are correct?
- Not mine. Theirs.
They just come to me.
- Do you know what I'm feeling right now?
(eerie music)
- [Beth] You're listening to me,
completely and entirely,
with all of your attention.
- What about your husband?
- He's behind the door.
(floorboards creaking)
Embarrassed.
- And what about your friends,
the Wyburnes, downstairs?
- [Anna] She doesn't deserve
this. She doesn't deserve this.
- [Beth] They're not my friends.
- [Anna] She doesn't deserve
this. She doesn't deserve this.
She doesn't deserve this.
She doesn't deserve this.
- [Abbot] Beth, what about your son?
(baby crying)
(Earl grunts)
Beth.
(footsteps thumping)
(baby continues thumping)
- [Anna] Earl, do you need some help?
(Earl indistinctly murmurs)
(baby crying)
(Beth softly sobs)
(footsteps thumping)
- [Anna] Hi.
Hello.
There you are.
I've got you. It's okay.
Yes.
There, there.
- Beth, leave those things aside for now.
Just listen to my voice.
- [Anna] Go to sleep.
- Stay right here in this room.
- Don't take this from me.
- [Anna] Shh, shh, shh, it's okay. Shh.
- Let me have this.
- Would you like me to bring him to you?
- No!
Please, no.
- You don't want to see your son?
- I can't!
Not now, especially not now.
- Now?
- He's afraid.
- What is he afraid of, Beth?
What does he fear?
- Me.
- Do you know why?
Do you know why, Beth?
- Yes.
(wind faintly howling)
- That's enough for now.
I'll come back in a little while.
Maybe you can have something to eat?
- I'm not hungry.
- Doctor?
Have you seen this before?
- Yes.
I have.
- [Anna] James, could you
hold him for a second?
Oh, there we go.
- Hey, buddy.
- There we go.
- There you go.
Come here.
Hey, big guy.
Hey.
Yeah, good to see you too.
- [Earl] How is she?
- Let's go for a walk, Earl.
- Is she okay?
- Let's just go for a walk.
- [Anna] It's okay, Earl. We'll watch him.
- Let me tell Beth we'll
be gone for a few minutes.
- Of course.
(baby babbling)
(liquid burbles)
It's very kind of you both to be here.
- It takes a village, as they say.
- Do you have kids of your own?
- No. Not yet, at least.
- Well, it's good practice then, huh?
- Yeah, if you wanna practice
staying up all night, huh?
- Well, they tend to do that, don't they?
What's his name?
- Matthew.
They call him Matty.
- [James] Did Earl tell you
what happened last night?
- [Anna] James.
- What, Anna? Isn't that why he's here?
He told me that you were
all going on a trip,
but you had to turn back.
- Yeah. That's not false.
- I'm sure they'll tell
him when they're ready.
- [James] Yeah. I am sure that they will.
- Why won't you just go
to a normal therapist?
You won't even talk to me.
- [Beth] Get them out of here.
- Anna and James?
(Earl sighs)
You want me to do this on my own?
You can't even hold our son.
- [Beth] Please leave.
- Yeah. I'm going.
(solemn music)
(Earl sighs)
I'll talk to him, okay?
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- Thank you.
(solemn music continues)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew babbles)
- Come here, darling.
Oh my goodness.
(footsteps thumping)
- [Earl] You ready?
- [Abbot] Yes.
- Sit down.
(Anna indistinctly murmurs)
It's okay. It's okay.
I know.
(solemn music continues)
(birds chirping)
(leaves rustling)
(Beth softly gasps)
- [Earl] Are you gonna tell me
what's going on with her or what?
- [Abbot] Let's keep
going a little further.
- [Anna] I brought you some tea.
- Just put it over there.
- I'm surprised you didn't hear me.
- I was thinking.
(Anna clears throat)
- How are you doing?
Is everything okay?
- I'm feeling much better. Thank you.
- Beth, you know you
can be honest with me.
I don't know what you're going through,
but I know it must be very difficult.
- Yes. It would be difficult
for you to understand.
- Earl must be so proud
of you for being so brave.
- Yes. He's very committed.
I can't thank you enough for helping us.
- We enjoy it.
Matty's like, well, family to us.
- You'll have your own some day, I'm sure.
Just have to keep trying.
(solemn music)
(Earl sighs)
- What do you do, Earl?
- [Earl] Mechanic. I have a shop.
- [Abbot] You own it?
- I manage it.
- It must be hard work.
- Uh-huh. Yeah.
I work every day, five days
a week, eight to seven.
I pick up my kid from
daycare when I can afford it.
Sometimes I have to bring
him to work with me.
Then I come home and I cook.
- What do you do in the evenings?
- Nothing. I don't even know.
- [Abbot] How is your time with Beth?
- It's like she's a fucking mirror.
- A mirror?
- Yeah, it's not like she copies me.
Just any shitty mood I'm in,
then she has the same fucking thing.
- What if you're happy?
- What do you mean happy?
- Calm, content, peaceful.
- No, no, that doesn't happen around here.
- [Abbot] No?
- You saw it already.
She knows what you're thinking.
She knew I was standing outside the door.
- It's too early to make any
conclusions about that yet.
- But it does look like it?
- That is what it looks like.
- Shit!
Shit!
- Earl, I know this is hard,
but you have to remain calm.
- You know this is hard?
What the hell do you know?
It's like I'm going insane.
- Do you love her?
- [Earl] Yes, God!
- Are you sure?
- What the hell does
it have to do with me?
We're supposed to be talking about her.
- Earl,
whatever comes out of this,
it is gonna take time.
You need to understand
that what you do matters.
This idea about her mirroring you,
I think you're absolutely
right about that.
She is very sensitive to you.
One gesture, one sarcastic
remark, one angry look,
and she could go into a spiral
and she may never recover.
Listen, you have to be. I know it's hard.
- I can't fucking do this anymore.
- Listen to me. Listen to me.
- I can't fucking do this anymore!
- I understand, but listen to me.
You have to be extremely cautious
in what you think and do.
- I can't do this anymore.
- Then why are you still here?
(Earl sighs)
I...
I put my chips in a long time ago.
(solemn music continues)
I don't even know if I can pay for you,
whatever your fucking rate is.
- It's still not clear that I can help her
or that she even wants my help.
You can just think of
today as a free evaluation.
- So you're telling me
there's no saving her.
- I'm not saying that.
You need to understand
that, in many cases,
one illness begets another.
In practice, someone can have
symptoms of half a dozen disorders,
but it's not as simple as
making a list of symptoms
and treating them in order.
You gotta get to the bottom of it.
I am trying to find out where that is.
- Yeah, you cut it off
from the root. Right.
- What happened yesterday on the road?
- You're gonna have to ask her that.
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
Beth.
(car roars)
(knife clacks)
(Matthew babbles)
- Hi, babe.
- It's nice to see you up.
What is all this?
- Cooking.
And he needs a bath.
- We saw Anna and James leaving.
- What? Oh, yeah.
They had to leave.
- [Earl] The sink is filthy.
- So help me clean it.
(eerie music)
(Matthew cries)
(Matthew babbles)
- Who are you cooking for?
- Us.
Silly.
- I haven't seen you cook in a long time.
- Is that bad?
You're not cleaning.
- Yeah.
- Is everything all right, dear?
- [Earl] Yeah.
- [Beth] What do you think?
Is everything all right?
- Maybe, Beth, we oughta bring
Matthew back to his crib?
- Why? Everything is all right.
Stop looking at me like that!
- Okay.
(Matthew cries)
(timer beeps)
- It's ready.
- Beth, maybe just slow down for a sec.
(glass clatters)
- You ruined it.
- No, no, stop. You're
gonna hurt yourself.
- Leave me alone!
- [Earl] Beth.
- [Beth] Stay away from me!
- [Earl] Honey, I can help.
- Don't touch me!
(Earl and Beth grunt)
(eerie music)
(Beth panting)
- Beth.
Hey.
Hey, it's not your fault.
It's not your fault, okay?
Hey. It's all right.
- What are we gonna eat?
- I'll order something in. it's fine.
I'll clean. I'll take care of it.
It's okay.
- [Beth] You're not mad at me?
- No, Beth. I'm not mad at you.
(Matthew coos)
- [Abbott] It's okay. It's okay.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Good boy.
- [Earl] It's okay.
(solemn music)
- [Beth] There's glass.
- It's okay.
Come here. Come here.
It's okay. Shh.
Thank you for trying.
(Beth sniffles)
It's okay.
- Sorry.
- Wanna have some rest?
Oh, baby.
Here. I'll carry you upstairs, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
(solemn music continues)
(water burbles)
(Matthew coos)
- [Abbot] It's all right. It's all right.
It's okay.
You're gonna go sleep.
You're gonna go sleepy-sleep.
(Abbott indistinctly murmurs)
Ready? Whoa.
Whoa.
Oh, your hat came off.
Yeah.
You okay? Huh?
Yeah.
(Abbott hums)
(Abbott chuckles)
(Abbott indistinctly murmurs)
Okay? Okay?
Okay. Be careful, okay?
Good boy.
Good boy.
Good boy.
(water continues burbling)
(Earl pants)
- [Earl] Hey, baby.
(ice rattles)
(Beth gasps)
Is it helping?
- If you know what I was truly like,
you'd hate me.
- [Earl] That's not true.
Beth.
Beth, you can tell me anything.
- No. I can't.
(Beth gasps)
(floorboards creak)
(Earl sighs)
- She wants to talk to you.
- Glad to hear that.
(Earl sighs)
(ambiance humming)
- What are you thinking?
- [Abbot] Don't you know?
- I do, but it doesn't make any sense.
It's just a bunch of
random thoughts, like-
- Free associations?
- Yes.
(gentle music)
Trees.
Leaves.
Wind.
Fruit.
Hands?
- How interesting.
- That is what you're thinking?
- [Abbot] Did you doubt yourself just now?
- I don't understand you.
- In what way?
- When I hear people, I learn about them,
but with you, your thoughts
don't reveal anything to me.
- [Abbot] A psychologist likes to say
as little about himself as possible.
- So why did you come back?
To gawk at me?
Do you want to study me for
some paper you're writing?
Is that it?
- Is that really how you see me,
that you thought I would just leave?
- I don't know.
- [Abbot] You feel vulnerable,
like you've lost control.
- Are you real?
- [Abbot] Flesh and blood. Skin and bones.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
- So what do you think, doc? Am I crazy?
- You need to answer
more questions for me.
I can't just say what I
think about you, Beth.
Not until I know more about you.
- I know what you want to ask.
- And you won't tell me if I do?
- I can't.
- Do you wanna know what I think?
You have strength, more than you think.
Why put so much stock
into first impressions?
- Because they're right.
You get this picture into someone,
the truth beneath it all, and it's ugly,
and they cover it up.
They cover themselves with their own lies.
Then the mask goes on.
"Oh, Beth," they say.
"You'll make it through this.
Hang in there. We're all rooting for you."
But what they're thinking,
"When's that bipolar bitch
gonna kick the bucket?"
- [Abbot] Is that how you see me?
- You're different.
You're sad.
- So much pain.
- No. You can't ask me that.
- Beth, I haven't asked you anything yet.
- [Beth] But you're thinking about it.
- Would you let me say it?
Why don't you let me say
it and then you decide?
What happened to the Wyburnes?
Why did they leave so abruptly?
- They asked if they
could go and I said yes.
- [Abbot] Don't you know better than
to give me a cheap lie like that?
- Ask me anything else, anything.
Just not that, please.
- Where was your trip
headed? Where were you going?
- We rented a cabin in the mountains.
- [Abbot] What time did you leave?
- It was late.
After five.
- How was the weather?
- [Beth] Cold.
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
The sky was dark.
I was in the front seat.
Matty was in the car seat in the back.
- So my dad would always take
us on road trips at night,
and he loved it when we would
pull into our cabin after dark
and you get in
and you don't know what
anything looks like, right?
You're so exhausted from traveling all day
that you fall asleep pretty quickly,
but when you wake up in the morning,
it's like you've woken up in paradise.
- We weren't far out of town
when we drove by this rundown apartment,
and as I was looking at it,
I knew what was behind those windows.
(mother sobs)
(baby cries)
This mother and her infant baby.
The baby
was crying
so loud,
and the mother was so alone,
so poor, so frightened,
and I felt it.
I felt everything.
The mother's love,
and her pain,
and fear,
and loneliness,
and sorrow,
and shame.
All of this suffering
centered on this little baby,
and this rage overcame her,
this surge of anger.
Earl told me what
happened later that night.
He heard it on the news.
The mother bashed her baby's
head into the counter top,
and I wanted to hate her,
but the worst part is I
understood how she felt.
Now I can't look at my baby boy
without seeing that mother and her child.
- Did you try to end your life yesterday?
- Yes.
- How do you feel about that now?
- It's not that I don't want to go on.
I can't.
- But surely you can.
Maybe you just don't know how.
I wish there was something I could say.
Maybe just start with the small things.
Don't try to juggle too much, you know?
If you've got to clean a whole kitchen,
it can be overwhelming, but
just start with one thing.
Just clean one counter top,
or for something bigger,
like being a good mother,
how do you do that?
- I don't know.
- Maybe for you,
just start by standing in his room
and watch him sleep.
(floorboards creak)
(floorboards continue creaking)
(traffic distantly rumbles)
(birds chirp)
(Abbott sighs)
(footsteps thump)
- Thank you.
- How far away do the Wyburnes live?
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- [James] We have to go back for what?
Did you forget something over there?
- [Anna] Are you kidding me?
Are you just gonna abandon them there?
(Anna and James indistinctly arguing)
(doorbell rings)
- Hey, not a good time.
(car rumbling)
- Doctor!
I have to apologize for that just now.
What did you come out here for?
- Forgive me for saying so, but I thought
the circumstances around
your departure were strange.
It would help in my
understanding Beth's condition
if I know what happened.
(Anna sighs)
- Let me talk to him.
Just give me your number
and I'll call you.
- Thank you.
(door clicks)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(water burbling)
(dishes clattering)
- I'll wash that by hand. Thank you.
- Is he asleep?
- Yeah.
(Matthew coos)
(ominous music continues)
(Matthew cooing)
(Beth panting)
(phone buzzing)
(Abbott sighs)
- Hello?
(Abbott sniffles)
I'm happy to hear that.
(Abbott sighs)
- [Anna] We actually have
some questions of our own, about us.
- That's fine.
- Right.
So James and I will sit here, and-
- Actually, I would prefer
to speak separately.
- Oh, of course.
- Who will go first?
- I will.
- [Abbot] You and Anna
were fighting yesterday.
- You don't say.
Look, man, I don't know
you. You don't know me.
So anything that you want to
ask about the Abrams family,
that's totally fine, but when
it comes to me and my wife,
it's none of your business, all right?
- [Abbot] Anna said you
had questions of your own.
- No, I don't. That's
her thing, all right?
I'm not a client of yours.
You're not here to fix me.
I'm a witness.
- [Abbot] What are you a witness to?
(James scoffs)
- What kind of psychiatrist
are you anyway?
- I'm not a psychiatrist.
A psychiatrist prescribes medication.
I don't. I talk to people.
I can recommend psychiatrists
when medication is necessary.
- People ever lie?
You know, get that
recommendation, get those meds.
- If you lie, I would know.
- Okay, detective.
Whatever you say.
- It's nothing complicated.
You already know what I wanna ask, right?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Okay, so you and Earl went on a walk.
Anna and I are downstairs.
Everything was fine, and then
she comes down and, like,
immediately we knew something was off,
and she's just, like, in a manic state.
- [Abbot] A manic state?
- Yes, she's just, like, on, you know?
Like not a depressed person
or whatever the hell she is at all.
- What did she say exactly?
- She started getting
really flirty with me,
like physically even.
It didn't make any sense.
It was like some of show or an act.
- And Anna was right there.
- Yes, she was. It was fucked up.
So we didn't have any choice
but to get out of there.
We just left the kid with her, I mean.
- Has Beth ever solicited you before?
- No. No.
This was completely out of the blue.
- James, remember what I
said. If you lie, I will know.
(traffic distantly rumbles)
(footsteps thump)
(eerie music)
Has Beth ever solicited you before?
(solemn music)
- Yeah.
About a year ago.
- [Abbot] What did you do?
- The wrong thing.
Fucking bitch.
- Only the one time?
- No, several times.
- [Abbot] But she only
came to you once, you said.
- I went back.
- [Abbot] But you stopped.
You called it off?
- Yes. Yeah, thank God.
- James, why do you and
Anna keep going back there?
Why do you have anything to do with them?
- We don't have anything to do with them.
It doesn't make sense. It's
like a pity project for Anna.
- Anna doesn't know?
- No, no. God, no.
She does not know and she will not know.
It would destroy her.
- How do you know you
wouldn't do it again?
- I just couldn't, okay?
- You never thought this would happen.
You never wanted it to.
How can you trust that? How do you know?
- I guess that I don't then.
- Maybe Beth did you a favor today.
Now you have a good
reason never to go back.
- Yeah. I wish it were that simple.
Anna and I have wanted
to have our own kid.
Wanted one for a long time.
(door clicks)
(footsteps thumping)
(door clicks)
- Oh my goodness. You're shivering.
Can I get you a blanket? Maybe some tea?
- I'm okay.
Just water, please.
- And a blanket. Can't stop me.
(Anna sighs)
I've never done this before.
- You mean talk to a therapist?
- Yeah.
- It isn't a test.
- Okay. Okay.
- [Abbot] Anna?
- I did something wrong,
and I don't know what.
I read that if there's
a problem in a marriage,
it's because one spouse isn't receiving
what they need from the other.
There's a problem within,
something that makes a
person look somewhere else
because they didn't get what
they need from their spouse.
(Anna sobs)
What did I do?
I don't know what I did.
(Anna sobbing)
(wind howling)
(birds chirping)
These are the bitter melons.
They're all dry now, of course,
but they'll grow back on their own,
and here are the red peppers,
but we have to take those
out and start from seed.
- I can't imagine how
much this has hurt you
to keep this inside.
Why do you still visit them?
- I don't know.
I guess I was trying to understand.
Maybe see what it was about her.
- [Abbot] What did you see?
- Nothing.
He hates her.
- [Abbot] But it didn't do
you a bit of good, did it?
You continue.
You continue to insist that you
both go and visit them. Why?
- He had to see what he did, didn't he?
- Anna.
- I know, I know. I know.
- [Abbot] How did Beth respond to this?
- She's so unstable. She
can't call herself a mother.
- [Abbot] You think you would do better?
- Better? She doesn't care
about him or want him.
- [Abbot] You do?
- I can't sleep at night
when I think about him crying
and no one there to comfort him.
The monster.
- I think she loves her
son in spite of everything.
- Stop defending her. She's a monster.
- She hurt you.
- They both did.
- Your garden is beautiful.
- Really?
But it's winter.
(Abbott scoffs)
- I know, but I can imagine.
(eerie music)
(Beth gasping)
(heartbeat thumping)
(blanket rustles)
(eerie music continues)
(junk clatters)
(eerie music continues)
(Beth gasping)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(knife clatters)
(Beth gasps)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew crying)
- Earl?
(heartbeat thumping)
(Matthew crying)
(eerie music)
(Matthew continues crying)
(eerie music continues)
(floorboards creak)
(eerie music continues)
(Beth panting)
(eerie music continues)
(Matthew continues crying)
(eerie music continues)
(object rustling)
(heart squelching)
(lock clicks)
Earl!
(Beth gasps)
- Beth?
What?
What?
- Don't go in there.
No.
(Matthew coos)
- He's fine.
(Beth gasping)
He's fine.
Baby, come here. It's okay.
(solemn music)
(object creaks)
(solemn music continues)
(Beth softly gasps)
(solemn music continues)
(clothes rustle)
(Beth sighs)
- Every day is so long.
- Not long enough, if you ask me.
How are you feeling? Any better?
- I don't know. I guess so.
- Hm. Wanna help me fold some laundry?
- Okay.
(solemn music continues)
(heartbeat thumping)
(blood squelches)
(Beth softly gasps)
- Hey.
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Beth.
Beth, let me help you.
It's okay.
Okay, sweetheart?
Let me help you.
Beth, what's wrong, baby?
(Earl sighs)
(Beth softly pants)
Come on.
- You're angry with me.
- No, Beth, I'm not angry
with you. I'm concerned.
- Now you're lying.
- I'm not lying, Beth.
(Beth sighs)
- Yes, you are.
- What do you want from me, Beth?
- I know when you're lying.
- I always know. Everyone's always lying.
Not me!
- Honey, you're confused.
- I see people. The faces they put on.
You can't trick me!
- Beth, look, nobody's
trying to trick you.
People don't just always
say what they're thinking.
- So you were thinking it.
- You don't just say everything you think.
It's a matter of respect.
It's basic manners.
- So respect is lying to
someone about how you feel?
- You're getting it twisted in your head.
All I'm saying is that you don't say
everything that comes to mind right away.
That's all.
- Some day, Earl, you'll
finally figure it out.
There's nothing you can think
that I won't already know about!
- Stop it, Beth!
Do you wanna know what I
really think of you? Huh?
- I already do.
- Okay.
You ungrateful bitch!
You're a fucking leech, Beth!
I do everything around
this damn house, and you,
you can't put a dish in the sink.
- There it is.
- Do you know how impossible it is
to do even the most menial
task with you around?
We couldn't even go on vacation.
- You forgot about narcissistic.
- Honestly, there is no
word to describe you.
They could write a whole book
about how fucked up you are.
You think you're the
queen of the damn world.
You don't even care about our son.
You'd be relieved if he up and died
so you wouldn't have to
deal with him anymore.
- I am a monster.
- I don't even know why
you wanted to have a kid.
It feels like you just
wanted another victim
to suck the light out of.
- I am a monster.
- Yes, you're a monster, Beth.
- I am a monster.
- You're a monster. Yes,
you're a monster, Beth.
- I'm a monster.
- You're a fucking monster!
- You're gonna kill the monster!
(somber music)
- You're insane.
If it wasn't for Matty,
I don't know what I'd do.
- You don't have to worry
about that. He's not yours.
- What?
- Come on, Earl.
You know.
- Yes. That's the one.
- You're lying.
- No.
It was easy.
Remember?
April?
You were gone for a week.
- I don't believe you.
- Yes, you do.
- Matty?
You're the worst decision of my life.
(gate clacks)
(Earl grunts)
(bin rattling)
(Earl screams)
(car rumbling)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
- [Abbot] Earl, don't
drink any more of that.
- It's you.
- I got your call. What happened?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- [Earl] I'm gonna get a motel.
- Is Beth all right?
- It's over.
- Is Beth all right? And what about Matty?
- They're at the house,
just the two of them.
- Okay.
I'm gonna go see them.
- Where are my keys?
- Give me that, please.
Please.
Thank you.
What motel are you gonna go to?
- I don't know.
- Okay, okay, okay.
That one. Look.
You see the green sign?
- Yeah. Yeah, I'll go to that one.
- Okay.
I'm gonna come back and
check on you. all right?
After I'm done with Beth.
- Okay.
- Send me your room number.
- Yeah.
- Will you do that?
- Yeah.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
- [Abbot] It's gonna be all right.
(traffic distantly roaring)
(eerie music)
(solemn music)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(solemn music continues)
(ominous music)
- You deserve this.
- I deserve this.
- Isn't this what you wanted?
(Beth gasping)
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
(Beth softly gasping)
(ominous music continues)
(James screams)
(Matthew crying)
- Oh, please stop crying!
Shut up!
(Beth screams)
(Beth wails)
(Matthew continues crying)
Be quiet!
Please stop crying. Please stop crying.
Please.
(Beth gasping)
(ominous music)
Earl.
Oh.
I don't wanna be like this.
I can change.
Hey, I can change.
Something happened.
You know what it was?
It was that child.
He's not even yours.
He's nobody's.
We can start over, you and me.
We can have a new child, honey.
Our child.
That will help things.
(ominous music continues)
(egg sizzles)
- I said I want you to
start with the small things.
Why can't you do that?
You can't even do that?
It's easy.
You must speak the truth and never lie.
How hard is that?
Never lie to yourself.
- Yes.
You're right.
- [Anna] How could you
think that I wouldn't know?
- [James] I didn't
wanna make things worse.
- You think I can't see your face? Really?
I live with you. I see
you every single day.
I could smell her on you.
- I didn't wanna hurt you, okay?
I didn't want-
- But you did.
You did,
and you know what?
- I know.
- It was worse than what you did with her.
It was worth watching
you try and pretend like
everything was okay!
- Okay, okay, okay, okay!
I'm an idiot. It was wrong.
Okay? I get it. But you
need to understand, Anna.
You have got to get it
that everything that I did after the fact
was to try to make things better.
- How could I ever trust you
again even if I wanted to?
- Do you want to?
I'm sorry,
and I am ashamed and I am mad at myself,
and it's true and you
know that it is true,
but at what point do we draw the line?
At what point do we move on?
And I mean, yeah, maybe that
is some point in the future.
I understand that, but, like,
what good is it going to do
to continue going in circles like this?
Seriously?
Like, what good is it
going to do to you or me
to go over every little thing?
- [Anna] I don't want to know everything!
- Then stop asking!
Then stop going in circles with me on it!
- Why did you leave me?
What did I do?
- [James] No, no, no, no, no.
- No.
(car rumbling)
- [James] I will fix this.
If you want me, I'm gonna try.
- [Anna] You know what I'm worried about?
I'm really worried about your little boy.
(knocking on door)
(Matthew cooing)
(door creaks)
(floorboard creaks)
(footsteps thumping)
(ominous music)
(Matthew cooing)
(Matthew continues cooing)
(Matthew continues cooing)
(Beth humming)
- [Beth] Don't worry,
Matty. It'll be over soon.
- Beth!
Beth!
Beth!
(Abbott grunting)
(foreboding music)
(Beth shakily pants)
(Beth sighs)
(Matthew cooing)
Oh, Beth!
Beth, listen to me.
Listen to me.
You're gonna keep pressure
on this, all right?
Keep pressure it, okay?
Keep pressure on it, okay?
I'll be right back. I promise.
Tourniquet. Tourniquet.
(Abbott grunting)
(Matthew crying)
(Abbott groans)
(Matthew crying)
Hold this over the wound.
Hold this over the wound.
Okay, hold this over the wound.
Okay?
Hold it tight, okay?
- [Beth] I don't want this.
- I know, I know, I know, but I do.
Now, lift your arm up a little bit, okay?
(Beth groans)
Okay, okay.
Get up here a little bit.
Okay, okay. Hold it, hold
it, hold it, hold it.
That's good. That's good.
That's good.
Okay, now I'm gonna,
get your hand out of
the way if you can, hun.
Okay, good, good. Thank you.
Okay, here we go. Here we go.
It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
(Abbott grunts)
(Beth groans)
It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.
Just keep it over the wound, okay?
Did you hear me? What did
I just tell you to do?
What did I just tell you to do?
- [Beth] Keep.
- Good. Over the wound.
All right, all right.
(Beth groans)
Okay. Okay, hold still.
That's it. You're doing great.
(Abbott grunts)
Okay.
Now, this is gonna hurt, okay?
- [Beth] No, no, no.
- Yes.
(Beth groans)
Oh, God.
- No.
(Abbott grunting)
(Beth wails)
- Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Almost done. Almost done.
Almost done.
Okay. Okay.
You're doing great. You're doing great.
You're doing great.
(Beth groaning)
(Abbott grunts)
Beth! Beth!
Beth, don't go to sleep.
Don't go to sleep, okay?
I've gotta make a call.
I'll be right here.
I'll be right here.
(tender music)
Yes.
Yes, this is 4028 Brookridge Drive.
I need an ambulance.
I've got a woman here who's cut her wrist.
(tender music continues)
(Beth softly wheezes)
Save your strength, Beth.
You're gonna survive.
- I don't deserve to go on.
- [Abbot] No, Beth.
I'm proud of you.
- You can't say that.
- [Abbot] Look at me.
Tell me what I'm thinking.
(tender music continues)
- You can't think that.
I am a monster.
- Your son is alive.
You did that.
Did you know you were that strong?
- I don't feel strong, doc.
- And yet you did it.
That is what strength is.
Be strong again.
Just hold on a little longer.
(Matthew cooing)
(Beth sighs)
- Matty.
(Matthew crying)
(Matthew continues crying)
- [Paramedic 1] Talk to me. Look at me.
You okay? You have any other cuts?
- [Paramedic 2] One cut. One cut.
- [Paramedic 2] Just one?
(equipment rustling)
- Did you say something just now?
- Rest now. We'll talk about it later.
(tender music continues)
(monitor beeping)
(tender music continues)
- [Beth] And to think
I found you in a dream.
- [Abbot] You didn't find me. I found you.
(tender music continues)
- [Beth] You're like me.
- [Abbot] You are not your thoughts.
You are the thing that has thoughts.
- Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
(solemn music)
(car rumbles)
- Hey!
Hey! Hey, what happened?
What happened?
Doctor!
- Matty.
- He's not hurt. Not a scratch.
Just a little frightened.
- Doctor.
- [Abbot] What brought you here?
- What happened?
- She cut her wrist. I
got here just in time.
- Where's Earl?
- Earl, he was supposed to message me.
- We knew something was up. He
didn't respond to us either.
- He left. I've gotta
follow her to the hospital.
(water burbles)
- Doctor, you've done
enough. I'll go with Beth.
Here. Take him.
- Whoa, what?
- [Anna] Take him.
- Hold on. Hold on.
Are you sure you wanna do that?
- There's nothing to hide.
I'll call you.
- Okay.
(car rumbles)
- He's alone now.
- Nah.
No, he won't be.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're leaving?
- I gotta find Earl. He needs help.
- You gonna be able to find him?
- Yes.
I'll find him.
(traffic distantly rumbling)
(Abbot sobbing)
(Abbot continues sobbing)
(Abbot sighing)
(Abbot continues sighing)
(Abbot clears throat)
(traffic distantly roars)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music continues)
(no audio)