Stay (2025) Movie Script
(Milestone "Miles" Williams)
Kiara, you are my star.
(Dr. Kiara Guillory-Williams)
Milestone, you are my moon.
With this ring,
you join the chain of my ancestors
that goes back centuries.
(Seductive music playing)
Thank you for being mine.
Thank you for being you.
You fill me with love.
You fill me with light.
(Seductive music continues)
(record needle popping)
(Sultry jazz music playing)
(blows)
No, no, no, no. See, you play too much.
You already know I gotta wake up early.
I gotta open up the gym in the morning.
(Kiara breathes deeply)
(Kiara giggles)
Tell me why you love this song again.
'Cause the first time I heard it,
I was so struck by it,
I immediately had to figure out
who it was by,
so I could listen to it all the time.
Just like the first time I saw you.
I was so struck by you,
I had to find out who you were,
so I could find a way
to get next to you every single day.
(Kiara chuckles)
Kinda creepy.
(Miles laughs)
(laughing)
(kiss smacks)
I think you're gonna like
how this night ends.
(Music stops abruptly)
(paper rustling)
(cell phone chimes)
Ah!
(groans)
- (phone chiming)
- (grunts)
(Dramatic music playing)
(Kiara) When I studied in Benin,
I realized the Vodn teachings
my grandmother gave me
connect me to generations of strength,
beauty, love.
I want to help others
change their perspective on Vodn.
Well, then that's what you should write.
Oh, but changing my dissertation course
at this point,
that would set us back so much.
I should just finish it
and get a teaching job.
Nah, that's weak.
You gotta write what you love.
The gym is actually doing really good,
so we don't have to worry about it.
I got us right now.
Then when them bestseller checks
start rolling in...
(clicks tongue)
- I'll be your sugar mama?
- Mm-hmm.
(Kiara giggles)
(Miles) I'ma keep my fade tight
and my body right, and that's it.
(Kiara) That's all you need to do.
(both giggling)
I'll keep you around.
(Dramatic music playing)
(cell phone chimes)
(Dramatic music continues)
(cell phone chimes)
(Music intensifies)
- (door slams)
- (music stops)
(crickets chirping)
(Brooding music playing)
(Kiara) (voice echoing) The chain that
held me together is broken, Miles.
I am broken.
I can't be fixed.
The rituals about strength and protection
don't work.
I don't think I'd be able
to carry on without you.
(Miles) I'd better not mess this up,
or you're gonna put a root on me
and stick pins in my voodoo doll.
Keep joking and you might
invite the wrath.
(both laugh)
Is that what you did?
You put a root on me?
'Cause it does feel like
you got me under some kind of spell.
(Ominous music playing)
(breathing heavily)
(pen clatters)
(chair scrapes)
(water splashing)
(faucet squeaking)
(Kiara exhales)
(Gentle ethereal music playing)
(Eerie music playing)
(Dramatic music playing)
(screaming)
(Dramatic music continues)
(water gurgling)
(Discordant music playing)
(gasping)
Miles?
Miles?
(Shaky jazzy music playing)
(Kiara breathing heavily)
Hello?
(Jazzy music warbling)
(sighs)
(Warbling jazz music continues)
(Kiara gasps)
(Music stops)
(faint voices whispering indistinctly)
(Kiara breathing shakily)
(door creaking open)
(Kiara gasps)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(creaking door closes)
(Ominous music playing)
(indistinct voices continue)
(breathing heavily)
- (Music stops)
- (voices stop)
- (Kiara sighs)
- (crickets chirping)
(sighs)
(shaky breathing)
- (objects thud and clatter)
- (yelps and gasps)
(Kiara panting)
(sighs)
(Jazz music resumes playing
on record player)
- (knock on door)
- (gasps)
(Music stops abruptly)
(breathing heavily)
You're not getting my texts?
I...
There was a...
There was...
There was a buzzing sound...
I came out here
and the lights weren't working
and the door was open, and then...
And then it wasn't.
But the record player...
The record player was playing on its own.
And it wouldn't stop, and...
(Miles sighs)
I swear it was.
(sighs)
Look, you obviously
have had a lot to drink,
so you're probably just hearing things.
(gasps softly and sighs)
I know what I heard, Miles. It wasn't...
(sniffles)
Is this you?
You thought you'd play a little joke?
It's not funny.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I sent you at least five texts today,
telling you
- I was coming to get my things.
- (sighing) Oh.
We gotta be outta here so the realtor
could show the house over the weekend.
Where are the boxes
with the rest of my shit? Huh?
'Cause I'm not trying
to be stuck here forever.
No, you heard it.
You heard it.
- You heard it.
- Whoa, Ki, Ki.
(Kiara groans)
Ki, you good?
Relax, relax. It's fine.
Listen, okay? Just sit down.
- Sit down.
- (groans)
- Just sit down.
- (groaning)
(tender music playing)
(Kiara) You're still wearing it.
Yeah. Sometimes it's just easier.
I should probably
stick around for a little bit
and help you get this shit
packed and ready to go.
(Kiara) Just leave it.
I can do it myself.
(Miles) You are not gonna be able
to do this yourself.
(inhales sharply)
(sighs)
(Kiara) And you can get rid of that.
You know that record player
was my favorite birthday gift?
It's broken.
Just throw it away.
Nothing lasts forever.
Why don't you just get some sleep, Kiara?
I think that's a good idea.
I think you should just get some sleep.
(Kiara) I can't sleep.
You know that.
I never sleep.
(Tender music continues)
(Kiara sighs)
(Foreboding music playing)
(crowd cheering faintly)
(announcer) Oakland, California
gives us Miles Williams.
One of the best fighters
we've seen out of there in a long time.
(fists thudding)
This is a nightmare match up.
- (grunting)
- Oh, he's gotta tap. He's gotta tap.
- (bone cracking)
- (screams)
(panting)
I mean, you hate to see something happen
to that much promise.
(Dramatic music playing)
(entity buzzing)
(Mellow acoustic music playing)
(buzzing continues)
(Music intensifying)
(shrieks)
(alarm bleeping)
(gasps)
(gas hissing)
(Tense music playing)
(blowing)
(sizzling)
(yells)
- Sabrina?
- (garbled chatter)
(voice muffled) Sabrina?
I'm sorry, I can't understand.
Ah! Oh, God!
(garbled chatter from phone)
(lights clicking)
(gasps)
(Tense music playing)
(Tense music swells)
- (Music stops abruptly)
- (inhales sharply)
(steady breathing)
(sighs)
(moans softly)
(inhales sharply)
(groans)
Miles!
(Kiara) (on TV)
Milestone, you are my moon.
With this ring,
you join the chain of my ancestors
that goes back centuries.
You fill me with light.
What's going on here?
That's what I would like to know.
(Miles) (on TV)
what I could have possibly done
to make me deserve somebody...
The room didn't just unpack itself, Miles.
(Kiara sighs)
(scoffs) This is insane.
(Kiara) Well, the movers
are gonna be here in 30 minutes,
so just...
go ahead and go.
I can help. I used to live here, too.
A lot of help this is.
I don't know why you have an attitude.
I'm not the one who spent
the whole night reminiscing.
I've got an attitude
because this broken record player
must have sent you a message
from the ancestors
to come and do a bunch of dumb shit
and empty out all the boxes
that's supposed to be
on the moving truck in 30 minutes.
- Wow.
- Maybe it wasn't the broken record player.
Maybe it was the vodka
that made you do this dumb-ass shit.
Yeah.
That's what it was, Miles.
It was the vodka.
It was crazy, drunk Kiara,
and her masks and her books
and her spells.
Yeah, that's what it was.
Crazy, drunk Kiara.
Go on, let crazy Kiara...
take care of everything
in a drunken stupor.
Possessed!
And completely out of her mind.
You know what?
This is turning into something
it don't even need to be right now.
Ki...
obviously, you got something you need
to say to me, you want to tell me.
You're going about it the wrong way.
What's up?
No, why don't you use your words, Miles?
All I have done
is talk and talk and tell you,
and try to communicate with you,
but you don't listen.
You never fucking listen!
- You've never listened!
- All I do is listen!
We went to therapy for months,
and I sat there and I listened,
and I listened!
All therapy did was satisfy
your hero complex.
"Hero complex." "Narcissism."
All you did was use therapy to get a bunch
of new words to use against me.
You watched the words come
out of my mouth,
and you refused to hear me!
I tried to help us move forward.
What's so bad about that?
Sorry I couldn't move on.
(softly) I'm sorry you left.
(pats stomach)
(Miles) I can't believe
you even said that.
You have no idea how hard it was
for me to leave.
Oh, really?
But you still left, Miles.
And now you can pity me from afar
and say you didn't crumble.
You wear it like a fucking badge!
- I ain't even...
- What?
What?
Now you feel guilty?
(Kiara scoffs)
I was willing to forgive you,
but you let him come between us.
Fuck you!
(doorbell rings)
The movers are here.
- (sighs)
- (doorbell rings)
(breathing heavily)
(doorbell rings)
(rattles door handle)
(mover) Mrs. Williams?
(door handle rattles)
(exhales)
(door rattles)
(doorbell rings)
This don't make any sense.
(mover) Mrs. Williams?
(Miles) Yeah, sorry. Hold on, hold on!
Try the back door?
(Tense eerie music playing)
- (line ringing)
- (sighing) Okay.
(doorknob rattles)
- You gotta be kidding me.
- (doorbell ringing)
(tense eerie music continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- It's a nice neighborhood, though.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Really quiet.
(blinds scraping)
Hey!
(mover) I mean, who books movers
and doesn't show up? It's crazy, right?
(pounding on window)
Hey! You can't see me?!
- What's the rule? Fifteen minutes?
- Yeah.
I'm just gonna leave a note.
- (knocking on window)
- (Miles) Wait!
- Don't leave me in here!
- (Kiara) Wait!
(mover) I am sore.
(Miles) Move.
(grunts)
(pieces clatter)
(breathing heavily)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Miles) Open the door!
Open the door!
- (doorknob rattles)
- (warbling buzzing noise)
Open the door!
(Kiara) Do you hear that?
I don't hear shit.
(electricity crackling)
(window blinds thudding)
(warbling noise fades out)
(gasps and screams)
- Miles!
- (screaming)
(Miles panting)
(Kiara breathing heavily)
(echoing muffled chuckling)
(Gentle music playing)
I'm about to go change clothes.
(inhales sharply and sighs)
(faint warbling and buzzing)
(warbling and buzzing continues)
(faint whispering voices)
Hello?
(buzzing continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Ominous music swelling)
(Kiara breathes heavily)
(gasps)
(whimpering)
(laughing)
(shudders)
(Kiara groans)
- (Miles) Kiara.
- (gasps)
What are you doing?
(breathing shakily)
What are you doing? You okay?
Nothing.
Nothing.
It's nothing.
(sniffles)
(breathing heavily)
Are you okay?
(voices whispering)
(Miles) What?
I don't...
I...
Mm, it's nothing. I...
I can't...
(Miles) Well, just say it. What?
I think there's a Vodn spirit
in the house.
No, no, no, no.
Don't start with that.
(Kiara) What else could it be, Miles?
I remember a legend in Benin...
about a spirit...
that traps people in the house.
That's bullshit. Just stop.
I'm not crazy.
I'm not crazy, Miles.
You said so yourself.
You don't have faith in that anymore.
All the root work this, practitioner shit.
Your ancestors are connected to love.
Because if that was true, we wouldn't
even be in this situation at all.
So, do not say that to me.
(breathing heavily)
Think about it, Miles.
What dragged you across the room?
(Miles sighs)
(Kiara whimpers)
You don't have to believe it
for it to be true.
(Dramatic music playing)
(lighter scratches)
(sighs deeply)
(Percussive music playing)
(flame whooshes)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(ink scurrying)
(softly gasps)
(book pages flipping)
(softly) What?
(wind howling)
(gasping)
(indistinct whispering continues)
Miles?!
What you in here trying to do? A sance?
Look.
Look at what?
You don't see the symbol?
I see a blank page in a notebook
that's on top of a box.
You can't see it?
It's a blank page right there.
It's the Oya.
It represents the African goddess
of death and rebirth.
The spirit's trying
to communicate with us.
And what are you gonna say to it, Ki?
What are you gonna say to this spirit
that's trying to communicate?
(scoffs)
- (sighs)
- (power drill whirring)
(drill snaps)
(Dramatic music playing)
Miles.
Do not say anything to me
unless you have an actual plan
that's gonna get us outta here.
I already told you what's going on.
That's your problem.
You never want to deal with real life,
what's actually in front of you.
You're saying this is my fault?
If you would've taken accountability
for your actions,
we would've never ended up
in this situation at all.
You literally burnt down
every single thing that we built together.
Is that it?
Or is it the fact that every time
something gets too hard,
you give up?
Coward.
- I'm a fucking coward?
- Yeah.
Good luck dealing with all the shit
that's happening in this house
by yourself.
And when this whole thing is over,
we never have to see each other again.
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(warbling buzzing)
What?
What now? What?
- (high-pitched alarm bleeping)
- Goddamn!
(static crackles)
- (explosions booming)
- (Kiara yelps)
(Miles) Oh, shit.
(rattling)
(Kiara gasping)
(Kiara) Oh, shit.
(alarm beeping continues)
(voices whispering)
- (objects clattering)
- Get down!
(Kiara gasps)
(dishes shattering)
(Kiara panting)
(Smooth jazz music
playing on record player)
(Kiara) (whispering) Miles.
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Jazz music fading)
(Somber music playing)
(paper rustling)
(Miles) "Dear Ki",
"AKA, Ki Money.
I can't believe you done broke me down
to a guy who writes love letters."
(announcer) Williams has gotta
get his head off the line.
(both grunting)
(crowd cheering)
(spectator 1) Let's go, Mayhem!
- (fist thudding)
- (Miles groaning)
(both grunting)
(crowd shouting)
(Miles groaning)
(spectator 2) Get up, Williams!
(announcer) That's a gator walk
into a guillotine.
That is a recipe for nighty-nights.
(both grunting)
(cage rattling)
(high-pitched tone ringing)
- (spectator 3) Come on, Mayhem!
- (bell dings)
(referee) Time! Done.
(echoing) To your corners!
To your corners!
(Miles sighing)
(spectator 4) Get up, Williams! Let's go!
Come on, Mayhem!
(crowd shouting)
(voice muffled and echoing)
Get your head up and hit him.
You get him on the floor
and then throw some punches.
Use that to your advantage...
(Miles) "And you know I'm no James Baldwin
or Kiara Guillory"
"with the words, you feel me?
"But the first time I saw you,
I knew I didn't want to spend
another day without you in my life."
(coach) (echoing) Just give him a taste
of his own medicine.
Put him on his back.
Keep him on his feet. Push him off...
- (bell dings)
- You got this.
(grunts)
- (fists thudding)
- (fighters grunting)
(crowd shouting)
(fighters yell)
(announcer)
I don't know who this guy is.
His corner man's gotta be
really proud of him.
(punches thudding)
He's now got his head off the line.
He's bobbing and weaving.
(both grunting)
(fists and kicks thudding)
He's the guy we thought we were gonna see.
(kick thudding)
Yeah, well, he's setting him up
with a double leg.
- (body thuds)
- And he dunked him.
And now ground and pound.
That's the opposite guy
than we saw before.
Ground and pound again.
- (punches thudding)
- (crowd shouting)
(Miles groans)
(announcer)
Well, here comes a rear naked choke.
(crowd cheering and shouting)
(fighter wincing)
Way to go, Miles Williams.
- (bell dinging)
- That's a heck of a good fight.
(Miles sighs)
(Miles) "I was training today",
- "and I couldn't stop thinking about you."
- (both laughing)
"Like, why is this happening to me?
"It's crazy to be thinking about
one person this much.
"Is this normal?"
(Kiara giggling)
"You're a mysterious vibe
I just can't quite put my finger on."
"I feel like I'ma drown in your depth."
"I wish I understood it.
But maybe it's better I can't."
(Gentle music playing)
Slip. Slip.
Now remember, you gotta keep
your hands up. Come on. Uh!
"I admire your spirit, Ki."
- (Kiara grunting)
- Oh!
"It's so free."
(laughter)
"It's scary how much I'm wrapped into you."
"You know you got me."
(Kiara sighs)
(Miles) "I love you."
(Kiara sniffling)
(sighs)
(sniffles)
(Kiara) "My Milestone."
"I fancy myself a writer,
but when I try to find the words
"to express how you make me feel,
"words fail me.
"That's how you know it's true love."
"When I look into your eyes,
the world falls away.
"Time stops,
"and I find myself
gazing at my wildest dream.
"One I never want to wake up from.
"A dream I want to last forever."
"A dream where I can take flight
"and soar to the highest heights
in the safety of your arms,
"where nothing can hurt me."
(sniffles)
"And then you smile...
"and I fall in love all over again."
"No one has ever loved me the way you do."
"I love you.
You are my moon."
(low rumbling)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(floorboards creaking)
(Menacing music playing)
(Miles) Kiara.
(wood creaking)
(warbled buzzing intensifies)
(buzzing fades)
Kiara.
(Menacing music continues)
Kiara.
(child's laughter)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- (fists thudding)
- (chains rattling)
(fists thudding)
Hey.
(chains rattling)
(Dramatic music playing)
(Kiara gasps)
(faucet squeaking)
(gasping)
(fists thudding)
(Dramatic music intensifies)
(screaming)
(gasps)
(screaming)
(panting)
This can't be real.
(screaming)
- Ki!
- (yelling)
- (bone cracks)
- (gasps)
- (water splashes)
- (muffled screams)
(demonic chuckle)
(muffled screaming continues)
(both grunting)
(growling)
(Tense music playing)
(gasps)
(raspy sigh)
(water gurgling)
(Tense music continues)
(both grunting)
(Music stops)
(coughing)
(groans)
(breathing heavily)
(groans)
(screams)
(yelps)
(choked gasping)
(Tense music swelling)
(heartbeat thumping)
(Kiara gasps)
(heartbeat thumping louder)
(choking)
(spitting)
(gasps)
(coughing)
(Tense music continues)
(both grunting)
Ah!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
- (bones cracking)
- (screams)
(demonic cackle)
(screaming)
(Ominous music playing)
(whispering) Ki.
You gotta keep your hands up.
Miles.
(whispering) You're my North Star.
(Kiara sighs)
(gasps)
Miles.
(softly) Wait.
(gasps softly)
- (Music stops)
- (sighs)
(warbled buzzing)
(Ominous music playing)
(wet footsteps squelching)
(buzzing intensifies)
(wet footsteps)
(buzzing continues)
(Ominous music continues)
(buzzing fades)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- (Music stops abruptly)
- (gasps)
(heartbeat thumping)
Ki.
(door closes)
(footsteps)
(Miles sighs)
Kiara.
Wake up.
Hey. Wake up.
Ki.
- Kiara. Kiara, you okay?
- (Kiara groaning)
(Kiara groans)
Oh, goddamn.
(inhales sharply)
(sighs)
Oh, I have a headache.
Of course you do.
You were probably drinking all day.
People get headaches
when they just lay in the house
and fucking drink all day.
What's wrong now?
What do you think is wrong, Ki?
- (Kiara sighs)
- You laying there, stiff.
I can't even tell if you breathing or not.
I thought you...
You thought what?
(Kiara chuckles)
No. Sorry, baby.
- It's not your lucky day.
- Stop.
(Kiara) Stop what?
"Stop, stop. Stop breathing."
- (laughs)
- Ki.
- Please. Ki...
- Mm, that'd be a dream come true.
(laughs)
- Why are you doing this to yourself?
- Doing what?
Can't take a nap. Can't have a drink.
(liquid pouring)
Have a drink with me.
(bottle thuds)
I cannot keep living like this, Ki.
I'm telling you, I cannot keep doing this.
We gotta figure something out.
'Cause this?
It has to stop.
You can't?
Then don't.
(Gentle melancholy music playing)
(Kiara moans)
(clothing rustling)
(bag zippering)
Where are you going?
- (kiss smack)
- (Kiara moans)
Where are you going?
Miles?
Stop.
(tearfully) Miles.
Miles!
My Milestone.
(Gentle melancholy music
continues playing)
(Miles) Don't do that.
Don't do that to me.
(Kiara sighs)
If I stay, then what?
What will it be...
if I stay?
(Kiara scoffs)
Fine.
You wanna go?
Go.
(sniffles)
(crickets chirping)
(Kiara sobbing)
(exhales sharply)
(sniffles)
(breathing heavily)
(Dramatic music playing)
- I'm sorry.
- Miles.
Miles. Miles!
- (Music stops)
- (both gasp)
(both panting)
How did I get right here?
(sighs) I...
You're okay.
(Miles sighs)
I don't...
What are you doing?
What is that?
This is my grandmother's book of spells.
These are all unfinished.
Oh, Miles. I don't know.
(Kiara sighs)
There's my mom's handwriting.
Looks like she was trying
to translate some notes.
(sighs) She used to do these meditations.
- Like rituals?
- Yeah, like healing rituals.
But I was so young when she died, I...
never really held on to it.
(sighs)
(softly) She was a great teacher.
Yeah, I wish I could have met her.
She would've loved you.
I tried to conjure her spirit once,
when I was 16.
I wasn't powerful enough.
Did you ever try
to conjure another spirit?
No.
Hold on.
(Brooding music playing)
What?
(sighs) I can't believe
I was gonna give this away.
(sighs)
The notes say millet flour...
water...
and something personal,
like this amethyst necklace
my mom gave me...
(turns tap water on)
could help lead me to my ancestors.
(stove burner clicking, gas hisses)
I found our old love letters.
Oh, no. How corny were they?
(chuckles softly)
- They were really sweet.
- So, super corny?
(laughs)
They reminded me of how we used to be.
When did we stop
fighting for each other like that?
(kettle whistling)
(whistling peters out)
(Tender music playing)
(kettle clatters)
We should get started.
- Is this that sage shit?
- Yeah.
I know you don't like it,
but the notes say
we need to stay open and receive.
(breathing deeply)
We never know
what will be revealed in this realm.
(spoon clinking)
Are you sure you want to do this?
(sighs softly)
(Kiara slurps)
(Kiara) We give thanks to the ancestors
and the most high.
(sighs)
Focus on our connections to the moments.
The song.
The visions.
The chaos. All of it.
What do you need us to know?
What are you trying to tell us?
(wind rumbles faintly)
(air whooshes)
(chimes clacking)
(liquid splashes)
(Tense music playing)
(entity breathing deeply)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
Ki, what's wrong?
(groans softly)
(indistinct whispering continues)
(Kiara wheezes)
(warbled buzzing)
(chair scrapes)
(Tense music continues)
Ki, are you okay?
- (table scrapes)
- Oh, shit!
(Tense music swelling)
Kiara.
(Miles screams)
(grunts)
Ki!
Ki!
(Music intensifying)
(Music fades out)
(birds tweeting)
(Gentle music playing)
(Ethereal music playing)
(breathing shakily)
Am I dead?
(Entity) (voice echoing) No.
You're in our sacred place.
It's not your time to join us yet.
Who are you?
(Entity) (echoing) I'm a link in the chain
of the Guillory women
that live yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
(gasping)
I'm so lost.
(Entity) (echoing) You know you must
rejoin the chain.
But you can't do it alone.
The moon needs its star.
All that you need
is sitting beside you now.
All you have to do is listen.
(echoing) Listen...
(ethereal music continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
It's time for you to truly embrace us.
(Music stops)
(drawer rattling open)
(Kiara) "Dear Miles."
"I failed you.
"I failed us.
"The story wasn't supposed
to end this way,
"but the weight of it all is unbearable.
"I don't wanna be here anymore."
(inhales sharply)
"I have to end it all.
I'm so sorry."
I think I found a way for us
to get out of here, Miles.
You wanna kill yourself?
Where are you going?
I find your suicide note,
and you don't wanna talk about it?
Ki.
Ki?
So, what was all this for?
Was it just a show?
All the packing and the selling the house?
I took care of everything.
I did everything, so that you wouldn't
have to worry about anything.
You did not take care of everything.
You took care of everything except you.
I...
I couldn't...
(laughs shakily)
There was nothing left
to take care of, Miles.
(Kiara sniffling)
I was devastated every morning...
because I woke up from the night before.
Do you know what that's like?
I hate who I am.
(whispering)
I can't stand to look at myself.
(normal)
I am not the same person you married.
That's okay.
I'm not the same man that you married.
I just wanted you to come to me.
That's it.
(sniffles)
I gotta finish this.
(Gentle intriguing music playing)
I know you don't believe any of this.
Whatever's in this house
needs to know we honor it.
Bring the bottle tree so the evil spirits
know to stay away.
(bottles clinking softly)
(salt pouring)
The Nyame Dua will tell our ancestors
we need their protection.
Crystals will channel our connection.
The circle of my mother's salt.
Candles will light our way.
Join me in the circle.
(match scratches, sizzles)
I'll try and remember the dance
I saw in Benin
that helped the matriarchs
connect with their spirits.
(exhales slowly)
(Brooding music playing)
(inhales deeply)
(exhales)
(Suspenseful percussive music playing)
(Ethereal music playing)
(Mellow jazz music playing
on record player)
(Kiara) I think you're gonna like
how this night ends.
I have a surprise for you.
Suspense.
(both laughing)
Alright, what?
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you so much.
(inhales deeply and sighs)
(voice breaking)
You are my moon, Milestone.
And we are so blessed
to have this marriage and this love.
(Kiara chuckles)
I... I feel like the luckiest woman
in the world.
And now...
we get to grow our tribe.
(Kiara chuckles)
Are we pregnant?
- (gasps)
- (Kiara laughs)
Wait, let me see. Hold on!
You... You can't hear the heartbeat yet.
- (laughs)
- My child has a strong heartbeat.
I could probably hear it.
(water bubbling and rushing)
(waves crashing)
(voice muffled)
My God, I love you so much.
(Dramatic music playing)
(child laughing)
(heartbeat thumping)
(laughing)
(mimics an airplane)
Come in for a water landing.
Okay, Jeremiah!
It's party time. Let's get you dressed.
Aw, Mom, can I swim
for a little bit longer, please?
- Please?
- (Kiara laughs)
(Miles chuckles)
(Kiara) You wanna open up
one of your gifts early?
- (Kiara) Happy birthday!
- (Miles) Happy birthday!
It's a Bell P-39 Airacobra
remote-control plane!
(Kiara) Yes, it is!
(Jeremiah Williams) Now I can practice
all my flight maneuvers!
- (imitating air whooshing)
- (Kiara) Whoo!
(imitating airplane engine buzzing)
(camera shutters click)
(Gentle music playing)
(giggles)
It's just like the Tuskegee Airmen.
I've always wanted one!
Thank you. I love you so much.
- We love you, J.
- Aw.
(laughs) We love you, baby.
- Oh, are you so happy?
- (Jeremiah) Yeah, so super.
- (Miles) Aw.
- (Kiara) My little Tuskegee Airman!
Sit down. Let's take it for a test spin.
This is First Lieutenant
Jeremiah Williams.
(mimics radio crackling)
Williams mission...
(mimics radio crackling)
assignment, do you copy?
(mimics radio crackling) I copy.
This is air traffic control.
And I have your first mission ready,
First Lieutenant Jeremiah Williams.
Only if you choose to accept it.
Do you choose to accept your mission?
Please let me know with a strong "copy."
(mimics radio crackling)
May I... (mimics radio crackling)
hear the mission first?
Uh, yeah, yeah, your first mission
is to have an amazing birthday.
Can you handle that mission?
(mimics radio crackling)
Of course I can, air traffic control.
Mission gladly accepted.
- Roger that.
- (Kiara) But if you're gonna fly as fast
as a Bell P-39 Airacobra,
you might need this.
- Another one?!
- (Kiara laughs)
Oh, another one before it was time
to open up the gifts?
(Kiara) Come on.
Birthdays only come once a year.
(both laugh)
- (shutter clicks)
- (Jeremiah) Ooh, how does it look, Mama?
(Kiara) The most handsome
little pilot I ever saw.
- (Jeremiah giggles)
- (Kiara) Oh!
What time is it? I gotta...
- (mouthing) It's time to go.
- Oh, wait. Hold on.
(mimics radio crackling)
- This is air traffic control. Go for me.
- What's happening?
Oh, unfortunately,
I have to make another pit stop.
Gotta pick up a few things.
But fly safe in my absence, please.
Do you copy?
- (mimics radio crackling)
- Good gracious!
- (Miles chuckles)
- Thank you for enjoying our party anyway.
(Miles) Fly safe. I'll be right back.
Mwah.
Okay, bye.
Okay, Lieutenant,
we gotta get you dressed.
You gotta be fresh for your birthday!
(Jeremiah) Oops, forgot Fren.
(Gentle music playing)
- (toy plane whirring)
- (imitating airplane motor buzzing)
- (toy plane clatters)
- (giggling)
Excuse me, First Lieutenant.
No flying in the house.
- Aw, Mom, please?
- I'm serious, baby. Mwah.
Airmen only fly in the open sky.
(imitating airplane buzzing)
(phone vibrating)
- Hi, Sabrina.
- (Sabrina) (on phone) Hi, Kiara.
How's it going?
(Sabrina) Have you thought
about your next book?
Oh, my God, yes! I...
- (Sabrina) Really?
- Absolutely.
- (toy plane buzzing)
- I... I have so many ideas
about how to expand
the world and the characters.
(Sabrina) Great, because the publisher
wants to put you on a book tour.
Mommy, I almost did it!
Jeremiah, I'm on a call.
I said no flying in the house.
Go out front, and I'll watch you
from the window, okay?
Okay.
(Kiara) I love you.
Yeah, sorry. He's just...
He's really excited about his gift.
Ah, yes! Monday's great.
I would love that.
(toy motor buzzing)
(Tender music playing)
(Jeremiah) Flying over Benin.
(toy plane whirring)
Ah! Oh, my God, Sabrina!
- The New York Times?
- (Sabrina) Mm-hmm.
- They actually said that?
- (Sabrina) Verbatim.
- (toy plane buzzing)
- Oh, my God. (Chuckles)
Yes.
(Sabrina) Okay, so let's set up a call.
- (alarm bleeping)
- Yes. Absolutely.
Okay. When? Yeah.
This is First Lieutenant Jeremiah
and Second Lieutenant Fren
starting nosedive in T-minus three...
- (toy plane buzzing)
- two, one.
Oh, no.
- (Tender music fades out)
- (alarm bleeping)
(Sabrina) Kiara, The New York Times
is calling you "the voice of the future."
Thank you so much
for believing in me, Sabrina.
(water lapping)
Yeah, I'm gonna get back
to cooking for this little man's party.
(Sabrina) Of course.
Okay, talk soon.
(exhales)
(sighs)
(grunting)
(stool creaking)
(wood creaking)
Mission Control,
Daddy is back with the goods!
(door closes)
What's wrong?
Sabrina just called and...
said she just booked me a book tour!
- (laughing)
- That's amazing!
Well, let's get the party started, then.
- Yes.
- Where's J?
He's out front.
No, he's not.
- You didn't see him?
- No.
(Kiara) Jeremiah!
(Miles) Buddy!
(Kiara sighs)
(softly) God!
He's not out there.
(Kiara) Where is this boy?
Probably hiding again. Jeremiah!
Jeremiah, come on. It's party time!
Jeremiah?
(Miles) J!
If you want birthday cake,
you gotta come out!
(Kiara) J?
Okay, come out, baby.
You know I don't like it when you do this.
Jeremiah!
(Miles) J!
(distant rumbling)
(water lapping)
- J!
- (Kiara) No!
J!
(water splashing)
Oh! Oh! Oh, God! Come on, baby.
(Kiara sobbing)
- (Miles grunting)
- (Kiara gasping)
Come on.
(grunting)
Here, take him, take him.
(Kiara) Come on, baby. No! No.
Call 911!
Baby. Call 911!
- No! (Crying)
- Is he breathing?
Yeah, so we just pulled my son
out of the pool.
(sobbing and exhaling)
Ki, is he breathing yet? Keep pumping!
- Keep pumping his chest!
- Oh, God!
- (sobbing)
- I need you to get here right now, please!
J, can you hear me?
- Breathe, buddy. Breathe.
- Come on, baby!
(crying) It's not playtime anymore.
Let me try. Jeremiah.
It's okay. No, it's okay.
- Okay...
- (Miles grunting)
What do I do? What did I do?
Somebody help us!
(sobbing) Oh, no!
J! Breathe!
(Kiara wailing)
Come on, breathe, buddy. Breathe!
(panting) J!
(screaming) No! No!
No, no, no!
(sobbing) No!
(panting and grunting)
We can't wait. We can't wait.
Come on, we can't wait. Let's go!
Let's go. Let's go.
(Somber music playing)
(softly) It's all my fault.
(Miles) Don't say that.
I stopped watching him for 60 seconds...
and he was gone.
I'll never hear him say,
"I love you, Mommy."
I'll never kiss his forehead again.
(crying) I'll never kiss his cheek.
(Kiara sniffles)
I'm not a mother anymore. (Exhales)
You'll always be his mother.
Just like I'll always be his father,
no matter what.
(breathing shakily)
I couldn't bring myself
to say this to anybody...
but after the accident, I, um...
(clears throat)
I kept having this dream
about Jeremiah and, um...
In the dream, he was in the pool.
But he was, like... he was happy.
He was laughing, he was smiling.
He was all...
He was asking me
all kind of random questions,
insisting I call him First Lieutenant.
(softly) He's so beautiful in the dream.
He's perfect in the dream. Perfect.
(normal) And then I'd, um...
I wake up and I'm in cold sweats.
So, it just got to the point
where, like...
(exhales sharply)
I was scared to go to sleep
because...
I'd wake up and he'd still be...
So, it was almost worse,
like seeing him all the time,
and then waking up, and he's not...
He's not...
(inhales deeply)
(exhales) But then...
I was losing you at the same time.
So, when you called me a coward,
you were right.
Because...
I was scared that I was gonna break.
And just...
I didn't know how to handle it.
I didn't know what to do,
so I said I was moving forward.
But really, I was just scared.
(breathing shakily)
I didn't know you were hurting so much.
I was so wrapped up in my own pain.
(sighs)
(sighs) I'm so tired.
I'm so tired, Miles.
(sniffles)
(sighs) I know you are, too.
I'm exhausted, Ki.
(snorts)
Absolutely exhausted.
You're the smart one, but I know
we gotta find a way to get past this.
We gotta forgive ourselves for all of it.
(Entity buzzing)
(buzzing intensifies)
(Ethereal music playing)
(gasps)
Hi, Mommy.
(Kiara gasping)
Don't cry. Don't be sad.
(laughing) I'm not sad, baby.
I'm not sad. I'm so happy to see you.
Hi, Daddy.
I can't believe you're here.
(Kiara sighs)
(Jeremiah) I'm always here with you.
I wanted to help
you and Daddy stay together.
(laughs and sniffles)
It was you the whole time?
(Jeremiah)
I had to fix the chain that connects us.
I get to fly whenever I want now.
(sighs) I miss you so much.
(sniffles) I love you.
(Gentle dramatic music playing)
(Kiara's lips smack)
I'm so sorry.
It's okay. It's not your fault.
(Dramatic music intensifies)
(Kiara sighs)
(chuckles) Thank you.
Fly with the ancestors, baby.
First Lieutenant Jeremiah Williams.
You have done a phenomenal job
with your mission.
(sniffles)
You did it.
(voice breaking)
It was you.
(Melancholic music playing)
My moon.
My North Star.
(Kiara sighs)
(Music stops)
(birds chirping)
(record player clicking)
(vinyl popping)
(Smooth jazz music playing
on record player)
(sighs)
(sighs deeply)
(Smooth jazz music continues)
(Smooth jazz music continues)
(Music fades out)
Kiara, you are my star.
(Dr. Kiara Guillory-Williams)
Milestone, you are my moon.
With this ring,
you join the chain of my ancestors
that goes back centuries.
(Seductive music playing)
Thank you for being mine.
Thank you for being you.
You fill me with love.
You fill me with light.
(Seductive music continues)
(record needle popping)
(Sultry jazz music playing)
(blows)
No, no, no, no. See, you play too much.
You already know I gotta wake up early.
I gotta open up the gym in the morning.
(Kiara breathes deeply)
(Kiara giggles)
Tell me why you love this song again.
'Cause the first time I heard it,
I was so struck by it,
I immediately had to figure out
who it was by,
so I could listen to it all the time.
Just like the first time I saw you.
I was so struck by you,
I had to find out who you were,
so I could find a way
to get next to you every single day.
(Kiara chuckles)
Kinda creepy.
(Miles laughs)
(laughing)
(kiss smacks)
I think you're gonna like
how this night ends.
(Music stops abruptly)
(paper rustling)
(cell phone chimes)
Ah!
(groans)
- (phone chiming)
- (grunts)
(Dramatic music playing)
(Kiara) When I studied in Benin,
I realized the Vodn teachings
my grandmother gave me
connect me to generations of strength,
beauty, love.
I want to help others
change their perspective on Vodn.
Well, then that's what you should write.
Oh, but changing my dissertation course
at this point,
that would set us back so much.
I should just finish it
and get a teaching job.
Nah, that's weak.
You gotta write what you love.
The gym is actually doing really good,
so we don't have to worry about it.
I got us right now.
Then when them bestseller checks
start rolling in...
(clicks tongue)
- I'll be your sugar mama?
- Mm-hmm.
(Kiara giggles)
(Miles) I'ma keep my fade tight
and my body right, and that's it.
(Kiara) That's all you need to do.
(both giggling)
I'll keep you around.
(Dramatic music playing)
(cell phone chimes)
(Dramatic music continues)
(cell phone chimes)
(Music intensifies)
- (door slams)
- (music stops)
(crickets chirping)
(Brooding music playing)
(Kiara) (voice echoing) The chain that
held me together is broken, Miles.
I am broken.
I can't be fixed.
The rituals about strength and protection
don't work.
I don't think I'd be able
to carry on without you.
(Miles) I'd better not mess this up,
or you're gonna put a root on me
and stick pins in my voodoo doll.
Keep joking and you might
invite the wrath.
(both laugh)
Is that what you did?
You put a root on me?
'Cause it does feel like
you got me under some kind of spell.
(Ominous music playing)
(breathing heavily)
(pen clatters)
(chair scrapes)
(water splashing)
(faucet squeaking)
(Kiara exhales)
(Gentle ethereal music playing)
(Eerie music playing)
(Dramatic music playing)
(screaming)
(Dramatic music continues)
(water gurgling)
(Discordant music playing)
(gasping)
Miles?
Miles?
(Shaky jazzy music playing)
(Kiara breathing heavily)
Hello?
(Jazzy music warbling)
(sighs)
(Warbling jazz music continues)
(Kiara gasps)
(Music stops)
(faint voices whispering indistinctly)
(Kiara breathing shakily)
(door creaking open)
(Kiara gasps)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(creaking door closes)
(Ominous music playing)
(indistinct voices continue)
(breathing heavily)
- (Music stops)
- (voices stop)
- (Kiara sighs)
- (crickets chirping)
(sighs)
(shaky breathing)
- (objects thud and clatter)
- (yelps and gasps)
(Kiara panting)
(sighs)
(Jazz music resumes playing
on record player)
- (knock on door)
- (gasps)
(Music stops abruptly)
(breathing heavily)
You're not getting my texts?
I...
There was a...
There was...
There was a buzzing sound...
I came out here
and the lights weren't working
and the door was open, and then...
And then it wasn't.
But the record player...
The record player was playing on its own.
And it wouldn't stop, and...
(Miles sighs)
I swear it was.
(sighs)
Look, you obviously
have had a lot to drink,
so you're probably just hearing things.
(gasps softly and sighs)
I know what I heard, Miles. It wasn't...
(sniffles)
Is this you?
You thought you'd play a little joke?
It's not funny.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I sent you at least five texts today,
telling you
- I was coming to get my things.
- (sighing) Oh.
We gotta be outta here so the realtor
could show the house over the weekend.
Where are the boxes
with the rest of my shit? Huh?
'Cause I'm not trying
to be stuck here forever.
No, you heard it.
You heard it.
- You heard it.
- Whoa, Ki, Ki.
(Kiara groans)
Ki, you good?
Relax, relax. It's fine.
Listen, okay? Just sit down.
- Sit down.
- (groans)
- Just sit down.
- (groaning)
(tender music playing)
(Kiara) You're still wearing it.
Yeah. Sometimes it's just easier.
I should probably
stick around for a little bit
and help you get this shit
packed and ready to go.
(Kiara) Just leave it.
I can do it myself.
(Miles) You are not gonna be able
to do this yourself.
(inhales sharply)
(sighs)
(Kiara) And you can get rid of that.
You know that record player
was my favorite birthday gift?
It's broken.
Just throw it away.
Nothing lasts forever.
Why don't you just get some sleep, Kiara?
I think that's a good idea.
I think you should just get some sleep.
(Kiara) I can't sleep.
You know that.
I never sleep.
(Tender music continues)
(Kiara sighs)
(Foreboding music playing)
(crowd cheering faintly)
(announcer) Oakland, California
gives us Miles Williams.
One of the best fighters
we've seen out of there in a long time.
(fists thudding)
This is a nightmare match up.
- (grunting)
- Oh, he's gotta tap. He's gotta tap.
- (bone cracking)
- (screams)
(panting)
I mean, you hate to see something happen
to that much promise.
(Dramatic music playing)
(entity buzzing)
(Mellow acoustic music playing)
(buzzing continues)
(Music intensifying)
(shrieks)
(alarm bleeping)
(gasps)
(gas hissing)
(Tense music playing)
(blowing)
(sizzling)
(yells)
- Sabrina?
- (garbled chatter)
(voice muffled) Sabrina?
I'm sorry, I can't understand.
Ah! Oh, God!
(garbled chatter from phone)
(lights clicking)
(gasps)
(Tense music playing)
(Tense music swells)
- (Music stops abruptly)
- (inhales sharply)
(steady breathing)
(sighs)
(moans softly)
(inhales sharply)
(groans)
Miles!
(Kiara) (on TV)
Milestone, you are my moon.
With this ring,
you join the chain of my ancestors
that goes back centuries.
You fill me with light.
What's going on here?
That's what I would like to know.
(Miles) (on TV)
what I could have possibly done
to make me deserve somebody...
The room didn't just unpack itself, Miles.
(Kiara sighs)
(scoffs) This is insane.
(Kiara) Well, the movers
are gonna be here in 30 minutes,
so just...
go ahead and go.
I can help. I used to live here, too.
A lot of help this is.
I don't know why you have an attitude.
I'm not the one who spent
the whole night reminiscing.
I've got an attitude
because this broken record player
must have sent you a message
from the ancestors
to come and do a bunch of dumb shit
and empty out all the boxes
that's supposed to be
on the moving truck in 30 minutes.
- Wow.
- Maybe it wasn't the broken record player.
Maybe it was the vodka
that made you do this dumb-ass shit.
Yeah.
That's what it was, Miles.
It was the vodka.
It was crazy, drunk Kiara,
and her masks and her books
and her spells.
Yeah, that's what it was.
Crazy, drunk Kiara.
Go on, let crazy Kiara...
take care of everything
in a drunken stupor.
Possessed!
And completely out of her mind.
You know what?
This is turning into something
it don't even need to be right now.
Ki...
obviously, you got something you need
to say to me, you want to tell me.
You're going about it the wrong way.
What's up?
No, why don't you use your words, Miles?
All I have done
is talk and talk and tell you,
and try to communicate with you,
but you don't listen.
You never fucking listen!
- You've never listened!
- All I do is listen!
We went to therapy for months,
and I sat there and I listened,
and I listened!
All therapy did was satisfy
your hero complex.
"Hero complex." "Narcissism."
All you did was use therapy to get a bunch
of new words to use against me.
You watched the words come
out of my mouth,
and you refused to hear me!
I tried to help us move forward.
What's so bad about that?
Sorry I couldn't move on.
(softly) I'm sorry you left.
(pats stomach)
(Miles) I can't believe
you even said that.
You have no idea how hard it was
for me to leave.
Oh, really?
But you still left, Miles.
And now you can pity me from afar
and say you didn't crumble.
You wear it like a fucking badge!
- I ain't even...
- What?
What?
Now you feel guilty?
(Kiara scoffs)
I was willing to forgive you,
but you let him come between us.
Fuck you!
(doorbell rings)
The movers are here.
- (sighs)
- (doorbell rings)
(breathing heavily)
(doorbell rings)
(rattles door handle)
(mover) Mrs. Williams?
(door handle rattles)
(exhales)
(door rattles)
(doorbell rings)
This don't make any sense.
(mover) Mrs. Williams?
(Miles) Yeah, sorry. Hold on, hold on!
Try the back door?
(Tense eerie music playing)
- (line ringing)
- (sighing) Okay.
(doorknob rattles)
- You gotta be kidding me.
- (doorbell ringing)
(tense eerie music continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- It's a nice neighborhood, though.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Really quiet.
(blinds scraping)
Hey!
(mover) I mean, who books movers
and doesn't show up? It's crazy, right?
(pounding on window)
Hey! You can't see me?!
- What's the rule? Fifteen minutes?
- Yeah.
I'm just gonna leave a note.
- (knocking on window)
- (Miles) Wait!
- Don't leave me in here!
- (Kiara) Wait!
(mover) I am sore.
(Miles) Move.
(grunts)
(pieces clatter)
(breathing heavily)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Miles) Open the door!
Open the door!
- (doorknob rattles)
- (warbling buzzing noise)
Open the door!
(Kiara) Do you hear that?
I don't hear shit.
(electricity crackling)
(window blinds thudding)
(warbling noise fades out)
(gasps and screams)
- Miles!
- (screaming)
(Miles panting)
(Kiara breathing heavily)
(echoing muffled chuckling)
(Gentle music playing)
I'm about to go change clothes.
(inhales sharply and sighs)
(faint warbling and buzzing)
(warbling and buzzing continues)
(faint whispering voices)
Hello?
(buzzing continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Ominous music swelling)
(Kiara breathes heavily)
(gasps)
(whimpering)
(laughing)
(shudders)
(Kiara groans)
- (Miles) Kiara.
- (gasps)
What are you doing?
(breathing shakily)
What are you doing? You okay?
Nothing.
Nothing.
It's nothing.
(sniffles)
(breathing heavily)
Are you okay?
(voices whispering)
(Miles) What?
I don't...
I...
Mm, it's nothing. I...
I can't...
(Miles) Well, just say it. What?
I think there's a Vodn spirit
in the house.
No, no, no, no.
Don't start with that.
(Kiara) What else could it be, Miles?
I remember a legend in Benin...
about a spirit...
that traps people in the house.
That's bullshit. Just stop.
I'm not crazy.
I'm not crazy, Miles.
You said so yourself.
You don't have faith in that anymore.
All the root work this, practitioner shit.
Your ancestors are connected to love.
Because if that was true, we wouldn't
even be in this situation at all.
So, do not say that to me.
(breathing heavily)
Think about it, Miles.
What dragged you across the room?
(Miles sighs)
(Kiara whimpers)
You don't have to believe it
for it to be true.
(Dramatic music playing)
(lighter scratches)
(sighs deeply)
(Percussive music playing)
(flame whooshes)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(ink scurrying)
(softly gasps)
(book pages flipping)
(softly) What?
(wind howling)
(gasping)
(indistinct whispering continues)
Miles?!
What you in here trying to do? A sance?
Look.
Look at what?
You don't see the symbol?
I see a blank page in a notebook
that's on top of a box.
You can't see it?
It's a blank page right there.
It's the Oya.
It represents the African goddess
of death and rebirth.
The spirit's trying
to communicate with us.
And what are you gonna say to it, Ki?
What are you gonna say to this spirit
that's trying to communicate?
(scoffs)
- (sighs)
- (power drill whirring)
(drill snaps)
(Dramatic music playing)
Miles.
Do not say anything to me
unless you have an actual plan
that's gonna get us outta here.
I already told you what's going on.
That's your problem.
You never want to deal with real life,
what's actually in front of you.
You're saying this is my fault?
If you would've taken accountability
for your actions,
we would've never ended up
in this situation at all.
You literally burnt down
every single thing that we built together.
Is that it?
Or is it the fact that every time
something gets too hard,
you give up?
Coward.
- I'm a fucking coward?
- Yeah.
Good luck dealing with all the shit
that's happening in this house
by yourself.
And when this whole thing is over,
we never have to see each other again.
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(warbling buzzing)
What?
What now? What?
- (high-pitched alarm bleeping)
- Goddamn!
(static crackles)
- (explosions booming)
- (Kiara yelps)
(Miles) Oh, shit.
(rattling)
(Kiara gasping)
(Kiara) Oh, shit.
(alarm beeping continues)
(voices whispering)
- (objects clattering)
- Get down!
(Kiara gasps)
(dishes shattering)
(Kiara panting)
(Smooth jazz music
playing on record player)
(Kiara) (whispering) Miles.
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(Jazz music fading)
(Somber music playing)
(paper rustling)
(Miles) "Dear Ki",
"AKA, Ki Money.
I can't believe you done broke me down
to a guy who writes love letters."
(announcer) Williams has gotta
get his head off the line.
(both grunting)
(crowd cheering)
(spectator 1) Let's go, Mayhem!
- (fist thudding)
- (Miles groaning)
(both grunting)
(crowd shouting)
(Miles groaning)
(spectator 2) Get up, Williams!
(announcer) That's a gator walk
into a guillotine.
That is a recipe for nighty-nights.
(both grunting)
(cage rattling)
(high-pitched tone ringing)
- (spectator 3) Come on, Mayhem!
- (bell dings)
(referee) Time! Done.
(echoing) To your corners!
To your corners!
(Miles sighing)
(spectator 4) Get up, Williams! Let's go!
Come on, Mayhem!
(crowd shouting)
(voice muffled and echoing)
Get your head up and hit him.
You get him on the floor
and then throw some punches.
Use that to your advantage...
(Miles) "And you know I'm no James Baldwin
or Kiara Guillory"
"with the words, you feel me?
"But the first time I saw you,
I knew I didn't want to spend
another day without you in my life."
(coach) (echoing) Just give him a taste
of his own medicine.
Put him on his back.
Keep him on his feet. Push him off...
- (bell dings)
- You got this.
(grunts)
- (fists thudding)
- (fighters grunting)
(crowd shouting)
(fighters yell)
(announcer)
I don't know who this guy is.
His corner man's gotta be
really proud of him.
(punches thudding)
He's now got his head off the line.
He's bobbing and weaving.
(both grunting)
(fists and kicks thudding)
He's the guy we thought we were gonna see.
(kick thudding)
Yeah, well, he's setting him up
with a double leg.
- (body thuds)
- And he dunked him.
And now ground and pound.
That's the opposite guy
than we saw before.
Ground and pound again.
- (punches thudding)
- (crowd shouting)
(Miles groans)
(announcer)
Well, here comes a rear naked choke.
(crowd cheering and shouting)
(fighter wincing)
Way to go, Miles Williams.
- (bell dinging)
- That's a heck of a good fight.
(Miles sighs)
(Miles) "I was training today",
- "and I couldn't stop thinking about you."
- (both laughing)
"Like, why is this happening to me?
"It's crazy to be thinking about
one person this much.
"Is this normal?"
(Kiara giggling)
"You're a mysterious vibe
I just can't quite put my finger on."
"I feel like I'ma drown in your depth."
"I wish I understood it.
But maybe it's better I can't."
(Gentle music playing)
Slip. Slip.
Now remember, you gotta keep
your hands up. Come on. Uh!
"I admire your spirit, Ki."
- (Kiara grunting)
- Oh!
"It's so free."
(laughter)
"It's scary how much I'm wrapped into you."
"You know you got me."
(Kiara sighs)
(Miles) "I love you."
(Kiara sniffling)
(sighs)
(sniffles)
(Kiara) "My Milestone."
"I fancy myself a writer,
but when I try to find the words
"to express how you make me feel,
"words fail me.
"That's how you know it's true love."
"When I look into your eyes,
the world falls away.
"Time stops,
"and I find myself
gazing at my wildest dream.
"One I never want to wake up from.
"A dream I want to last forever."
"A dream where I can take flight
"and soar to the highest heights
in the safety of your arms,
"where nothing can hurt me."
(sniffles)
"And then you smile...
"and I fall in love all over again."
"No one has ever loved me the way you do."
"I love you.
You are my moon."
(low rumbling)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
(floorboards creaking)
(Menacing music playing)
(Miles) Kiara.
(wood creaking)
(warbled buzzing intensifies)
(buzzing fades)
Kiara.
(Menacing music continues)
Kiara.
(child's laughter)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- (fists thudding)
- (chains rattling)
(fists thudding)
Hey.
(chains rattling)
(Dramatic music playing)
(Kiara gasps)
(faucet squeaking)
(gasping)
(fists thudding)
(Dramatic music intensifies)
(screaming)
(gasps)
(screaming)
(panting)
This can't be real.
(screaming)
- Ki!
- (yelling)
- (bone cracks)
- (gasps)
- (water splashes)
- (muffled screams)
(demonic chuckle)
(muffled screaming continues)
(both grunting)
(growling)
(Tense music playing)
(gasps)
(raspy sigh)
(water gurgling)
(Tense music continues)
(both grunting)
(Music stops)
(coughing)
(groans)
(breathing heavily)
(groans)
(screams)
(yelps)
(choked gasping)
(Tense music swelling)
(heartbeat thumping)
(Kiara gasps)
(heartbeat thumping louder)
(choking)
(spitting)
(gasps)
(coughing)
(Tense music continues)
(both grunting)
Ah!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
- (bones cracking)
- (screams)
(demonic cackle)
(screaming)
(Ominous music playing)
(whispering) Ki.
You gotta keep your hands up.
Miles.
(whispering) You're my North Star.
(Kiara sighs)
(gasps)
Miles.
(softly) Wait.
(gasps softly)
- (Music stops)
- (sighs)
(warbled buzzing)
(Ominous music playing)
(wet footsteps squelching)
(buzzing intensifies)
(wet footsteps)
(buzzing continues)
(Ominous music continues)
(buzzing fades)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
- (Music stops abruptly)
- (gasps)
(heartbeat thumping)
Ki.
(door closes)
(footsteps)
(Miles sighs)
Kiara.
Wake up.
Hey. Wake up.
Ki.
- Kiara. Kiara, you okay?
- (Kiara groaning)
(Kiara groans)
Oh, goddamn.
(inhales sharply)
(sighs)
Oh, I have a headache.
Of course you do.
You were probably drinking all day.
People get headaches
when they just lay in the house
and fucking drink all day.
What's wrong now?
What do you think is wrong, Ki?
- (Kiara sighs)
- You laying there, stiff.
I can't even tell if you breathing or not.
I thought you...
You thought what?
(Kiara chuckles)
No. Sorry, baby.
- It's not your lucky day.
- Stop.
(Kiara) Stop what?
"Stop, stop. Stop breathing."
- (laughs)
- Ki.
- Please. Ki...
- Mm, that'd be a dream come true.
(laughs)
- Why are you doing this to yourself?
- Doing what?
Can't take a nap. Can't have a drink.
(liquid pouring)
Have a drink with me.
(bottle thuds)
I cannot keep living like this, Ki.
I'm telling you, I cannot keep doing this.
We gotta figure something out.
'Cause this?
It has to stop.
You can't?
Then don't.
(Gentle melancholy music playing)
(Kiara moans)
(clothing rustling)
(bag zippering)
Where are you going?
- (kiss smack)
- (Kiara moans)
Where are you going?
Miles?
Stop.
(tearfully) Miles.
Miles!
My Milestone.
(Gentle melancholy music
continues playing)
(Miles) Don't do that.
Don't do that to me.
(Kiara sighs)
If I stay, then what?
What will it be...
if I stay?
(Kiara scoffs)
Fine.
You wanna go?
Go.
(sniffles)
(crickets chirping)
(Kiara sobbing)
(exhales sharply)
(sniffles)
(breathing heavily)
(Dramatic music playing)
- I'm sorry.
- Miles.
Miles. Miles!
- (Music stops)
- (both gasp)
(both panting)
How did I get right here?
(sighs) I...
You're okay.
(Miles sighs)
I don't...
What are you doing?
What is that?
This is my grandmother's book of spells.
These are all unfinished.
Oh, Miles. I don't know.
(Kiara sighs)
There's my mom's handwriting.
Looks like she was trying
to translate some notes.
(sighs) She used to do these meditations.
- Like rituals?
- Yeah, like healing rituals.
But I was so young when she died, I...
never really held on to it.
(sighs)
(softly) She was a great teacher.
Yeah, I wish I could have met her.
She would've loved you.
I tried to conjure her spirit once,
when I was 16.
I wasn't powerful enough.
Did you ever try
to conjure another spirit?
No.
Hold on.
(Brooding music playing)
What?
(sighs) I can't believe
I was gonna give this away.
(sighs)
The notes say millet flour...
water...
and something personal,
like this amethyst necklace
my mom gave me...
(turns tap water on)
could help lead me to my ancestors.
(stove burner clicking, gas hisses)
I found our old love letters.
Oh, no. How corny were they?
(chuckles softly)
- They were really sweet.
- So, super corny?
(laughs)
They reminded me of how we used to be.
When did we stop
fighting for each other like that?
(kettle whistling)
(whistling peters out)
(Tender music playing)
(kettle clatters)
We should get started.
- Is this that sage shit?
- Yeah.
I know you don't like it,
but the notes say
we need to stay open and receive.
(breathing deeply)
We never know
what will be revealed in this realm.
(spoon clinking)
Are you sure you want to do this?
(sighs softly)
(Kiara slurps)
(Kiara) We give thanks to the ancestors
and the most high.
(sighs)
Focus on our connections to the moments.
The song.
The visions.
The chaos. All of it.
What do you need us to know?
What are you trying to tell us?
(wind rumbles faintly)
(air whooshes)
(chimes clacking)
(liquid splashes)
(Tense music playing)
(entity breathing deeply)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
Ki, what's wrong?
(groans softly)
(indistinct whispering continues)
(Kiara wheezes)
(warbled buzzing)
(chair scrapes)
(Tense music continues)
Ki, are you okay?
- (table scrapes)
- Oh, shit!
(Tense music swelling)
Kiara.
(Miles screams)
(grunts)
Ki!
Ki!
(Music intensifying)
(Music fades out)
(birds tweeting)
(Gentle music playing)
(Ethereal music playing)
(breathing shakily)
Am I dead?
(Entity) (voice echoing) No.
You're in our sacred place.
It's not your time to join us yet.
Who are you?
(Entity) (echoing) I'm a link in the chain
of the Guillory women
that live yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
(gasping)
I'm so lost.
(Entity) (echoing) You know you must
rejoin the chain.
But you can't do it alone.
The moon needs its star.
All that you need
is sitting beside you now.
All you have to do is listen.
(echoing) Listen...
(ethereal music continues)
(voices whispering indistinctly)
It's time for you to truly embrace us.
(Music stops)
(drawer rattling open)
(Kiara) "Dear Miles."
"I failed you.
"I failed us.
"The story wasn't supposed
to end this way,
"but the weight of it all is unbearable.
"I don't wanna be here anymore."
(inhales sharply)
"I have to end it all.
I'm so sorry."
I think I found a way for us
to get out of here, Miles.
You wanna kill yourself?
Where are you going?
I find your suicide note,
and you don't wanna talk about it?
Ki.
Ki?
So, what was all this for?
Was it just a show?
All the packing and the selling the house?
I took care of everything.
I did everything, so that you wouldn't
have to worry about anything.
You did not take care of everything.
You took care of everything except you.
I...
I couldn't...
(laughs shakily)
There was nothing left
to take care of, Miles.
(Kiara sniffling)
I was devastated every morning...
because I woke up from the night before.
Do you know what that's like?
I hate who I am.
(whispering)
I can't stand to look at myself.
(normal)
I am not the same person you married.
That's okay.
I'm not the same man that you married.
I just wanted you to come to me.
That's it.
(sniffles)
I gotta finish this.
(Gentle intriguing music playing)
I know you don't believe any of this.
Whatever's in this house
needs to know we honor it.
Bring the bottle tree so the evil spirits
know to stay away.
(bottles clinking softly)
(salt pouring)
The Nyame Dua will tell our ancestors
we need their protection.
Crystals will channel our connection.
The circle of my mother's salt.
Candles will light our way.
Join me in the circle.
(match scratches, sizzles)
I'll try and remember the dance
I saw in Benin
that helped the matriarchs
connect with their spirits.
(exhales slowly)
(Brooding music playing)
(inhales deeply)
(exhales)
(Suspenseful percussive music playing)
(Ethereal music playing)
(Mellow jazz music playing
on record player)
(Kiara) I think you're gonna like
how this night ends.
I have a surprise for you.
Suspense.
(both laughing)
Alright, what?
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you so much.
(inhales deeply and sighs)
(voice breaking)
You are my moon, Milestone.
And we are so blessed
to have this marriage and this love.
(Kiara chuckles)
I... I feel like the luckiest woman
in the world.
And now...
we get to grow our tribe.
(Kiara chuckles)
Are we pregnant?
- (gasps)
- (Kiara laughs)
Wait, let me see. Hold on!
You... You can't hear the heartbeat yet.
- (laughs)
- My child has a strong heartbeat.
I could probably hear it.
(water bubbling and rushing)
(waves crashing)
(voice muffled)
My God, I love you so much.
(Dramatic music playing)
(child laughing)
(heartbeat thumping)
(laughing)
(mimics an airplane)
Come in for a water landing.
Okay, Jeremiah!
It's party time. Let's get you dressed.
Aw, Mom, can I swim
for a little bit longer, please?
- Please?
- (Kiara laughs)
(Miles chuckles)
(Kiara) You wanna open up
one of your gifts early?
- (Kiara) Happy birthday!
- (Miles) Happy birthday!
It's a Bell P-39 Airacobra
remote-control plane!
(Kiara) Yes, it is!
(Jeremiah Williams) Now I can practice
all my flight maneuvers!
- (imitating air whooshing)
- (Kiara) Whoo!
(imitating airplane engine buzzing)
(camera shutters click)
(Gentle music playing)
(giggles)
It's just like the Tuskegee Airmen.
I've always wanted one!
Thank you. I love you so much.
- We love you, J.
- Aw.
(laughs) We love you, baby.
- Oh, are you so happy?
- (Jeremiah) Yeah, so super.
- (Miles) Aw.
- (Kiara) My little Tuskegee Airman!
Sit down. Let's take it for a test spin.
This is First Lieutenant
Jeremiah Williams.
(mimics radio crackling)
Williams mission...
(mimics radio crackling)
assignment, do you copy?
(mimics radio crackling) I copy.
This is air traffic control.
And I have your first mission ready,
First Lieutenant Jeremiah Williams.
Only if you choose to accept it.
Do you choose to accept your mission?
Please let me know with a strong "copy."
(mimics radio crackling)
May I... (mimics radio crackling)
hear the mission first?
Uh, yeah, yeah, your first mission
is to have an amazing birthday.
Can you handle that mission?
(mimics radio crackling)
Of course I can, air traffic control.
Mission gladly accepted.
- Roger that.
- (Kiara) But if you're gonna fly as fast
as a Bell P-39 Airacobra,
you might need this.
- Another one?!
- (Kiara laughs)
Oh, another one before it was time
to open up the gifts?
(Kiara) Come on.
Birthdays only come once a year.
(both laugh)
- (shutter clicks)
- (Jeremiah) Ooh, how does it look, Mama?
(Kiara) The most handsome
little pilot I ever saw.
- (Jeremiah giggles)
- (Kiara) Oh!
What time is it? I gotta...
- (mouthing) It's time to go.
- Oh, wait. Hold on.
(mimics radio crackling)
- This is air traffic control. Go for me.
- What's happening?
Oh, unfortunately,
I have to make another pit stop.
Gotta pick up a few things.
But fly safe in my absence, please.
Do you copy?
- (mimics radio crackling)
- Good gracious!
- (Miles chuckles)
- Thank you for enjoying our party anyway.
(Miles) Fly safe. I'll be right back.
Mwah.
Okay, bye.
Okay, Lieutenant,
we gotta get you dressed.
You gotta be fresh for your birthday!
(Jeremiah) Oops, forgot Fren.
(Gentle music playing)
- (toy plane whirring)
- (imitating airplane motor buzzing)
- (toy plane clatters)
- (giggling)
Excuse me, First Lieutenant.
No flying in the house.
- Aw, Mom, please?
- I'm serious, baby. Mwah.
Airmen only fly in the open sky.
(imitating airplane buzzing)
(phone vibrating)
- Hi, Sabrina.
- (Sabrina) (on phone) Hi, Kiara.
How's it going?
(Sabrina) Have you thought
about your next book?
Oh, my God, yes! I...
- (Sabrina) Really?
- Absolutely.
- (toy plane buzzing)
- I... I have so many ideas
about how to expand
the world and the characters.
(Sabrina) Great, because the publisher
wants to put you on a book tour.
Mommy, I almost did it!
Jeremiah, I'm on a call.
I said no flying in the house.
Go out front, and I'll watch you
from the window, okay?
Okay.
(Kiara) I love you.
Yeah, sorry. He's just...
He's really excited about his gift.
Ah, yes! Monday's great.
I would love that.
(toy motor buzzing)
(Tender music playing)
(Jeremiah) Flying over Benin.
(toy plane whirring)
Ah! Oh, my God, Sabrina!
- The New York Times?
- (Sabrina) Mm-hmm.
- They actually said that?
- (Sabrina) Verbatim.
- (toy plane buzzing)
- Oh, my God. (Chuckles)
Yes.
(Sabrina) Okay, so let's set up a call.
- (alarm bleeping)
- Yes. Absolutely.
Okay. When? Yeah.
This is First Lieutenant Jeremiah
and Second Lieutenant Fren
starting nosedive in T-minus three...
- (toy plane buzzing)
- two, one.
Oh, no.
- (Tender music fades out)
- (alarm bleeping)
(Sabrina) Kiara, The New York Times
is calling you "the voice of the future."
Thank you so much
for believing in me, Sabrina.
(water lapping)
Yeah, I'm gonna get back
to cooking for this little man's party.
(Sabrina) Of course.
Okay, talk soon.
(exhales)
(sighs)
(grunting)
(stool creaking)
(wood creaking)
Mission Control,
Daddy is back with the goods!
(door closes)
What's wrong?
Sabrina just called and...
said she just booked me a book tour!
- (laughing)
- That's amazing!
Well, let's get the party started, then.
- Yes.
- Where's J?
He's out front.
No, he's not.
- You didn't see him?
- No.
(Kiara) Jeremiah!
(Miles) Buddy!
(Kiara sighs)
(softly) God!
He's not out there.
(Kiara) Where is this boy?
Probably hiding again. Jeremiah!
Jeremiah, come on. It's party time!
Jeremiah?
(Miles) J!
If you want birthday cake,
you gotta come out!
(Kiara) J?
Okay, come out, baby.
You know I don't like it when you do this.
Jeremiah!
(Miles) J!
(distant rumbling)
(water lapping)
- J!
- (Kiara) No!
J!
(water splashing)
Oh! Oh! Oh, God! Come on, baby.
(Kiara sobbing)
- (Miles grunting)
- (Kiara gasping)
Come on.
(grunting)
Here, take him, take him.
(Kiara) Come on, baby. No! No.
Call 911!
Baby. Call 911!
- No! (Crying)
- Is he breathing?
Yeah, so we just pulled my son
out of the pool.
(sobbing and exhaling)
Ki, is he breathing yet? Keep pumping!
- Keep pumping his chest!
- Oh, God!
- (sobbing)
- I need you to get here right now, please!
J, can you hear me?
- Breathe, buddy. Breathe.
- Come on, baby!
(crying) It's not playtime anymore.
Let me try. Jeremiah.
It's okay. No, it's okay.
- Okay...
- (Miles grunting)
What do I do? What did I do?
Somebody help us!
(sobbing) Oh, no!
J! Breathe!
(Kiara wailing)
Come on, breathe, buddy. Breathe!
(panting) J!
(screaming) No! No!
No, no, no!
(sobbing) No!
(panting and grunting)
We can't wait. We can't wait.
Come on, we can't wait. Let's go!
Let's go. Let's go.
(Somber music playing)
(softly) It's all my fault.
(Miles) Don't say that.
I stopped watching him for 60 seconds...
and he was gone.
I'll never hear him say,
"I love you, Mommy."
I'll never kiss his forehead again.
(crying) I'll never kiss his cheek.
(Kiara sniffles)
I'm not a mother anymore. (Exhales)
You'll always be his mother.
Just like I'll always be his father,
no matter what.
(breathing shakily)
I couldn't bring myself
to say this to anybody...
but after the accident, I, um...
(clears throat)
I kept having this dream
about Jeremiah and, um...
In the dream, he was in the pool.
But he was, like... he was happy.
He was laughing, he was smiling.
He was all...
He was asking me
all kind of random questions,
insisting I call him First Lieutenant.
(softly) He's so beautiful in the dream.
He's perfect in the dream. Perfect.
(normal) And then I'd, um...
I wake up and I'm in cold sweats.
So, it just got to the point
where, like...
(exhales sharply)
I was scared to go to sleep
because...
I'd wake up and he'd still be...
So, it was almost worse,
like seeing him all the time,
and then waking up, and he's not...
He's not...
(inhales deeply)
(exhales) But then...
I was losing you at the same time.
So, when you called me a coward,
you were right.
Because...
I was scared that I was gonna break.
And just...
I didn't know how to handle it.
I didn't know what to do,
so I said I was moving forward.
But really, I was just scared.
(breathing shakily)
I didn't know you were hurting so much.
I was so wrapped up in my own pain.
(sighs)
(sighs) I'm so tired.
I'm so tired, Miles.
(sniffles)
(sighs) I know you are, too.
I'm exhausted, Ki.
(snorts)
Absolutely exhausted.
You're the smart one, but I know
we gotta find a way to get past this.
We gotta forgive ourselves for all of it.
(Entity buzzing)
(buzzing intensifies)
(Ethereal music playing)
(gasps)
Hi, Mommy.
(Kiara gasping)
Don't cry. Don't be sad.
(laughing) I'm not sad, baby.
I'm not sad. I'm so happy to see you.
Hi, Daddy.
I can't believe you're here.
(Kiara sighs)
(Jeremiah) I'm always here with you.
I wanted to help
you and Daddy stay together.
(laughs and sniffles)
It was you the whole time?
(Jeremiah)
I had to fix the chain that connects us.
I get to fly whenever I want now.
(sighs) I miss you so much.
(sniffles) I love you.
(Gentle dramatic music playing)
(Kiara's lips smack)
I'm so sorry.
It's okay. It's not your fault.
(Dramatic music intensifies)
(Kiara sighs)
(chuckles) Thank you.
Fly with the ancestors, baby.
First Lieutenant Jeremiah Williams.
You have done a phenomenal job
with your mission.
(sniffles)
You did it.
(voice breaking)
It was you.
(Melancholic music playing)
My moon.
My North Star.
(Kiara sighs)
(Music stops)
(birds chirping)
(record player clicking)
(vinyl popping)
(Smooth jazz music playing
on record player)
(sighs)
(sighs deeply)
(Smooth jazz music continues)
(Smooth jazz music continues)
(Music fades out)