The Calling Witch (2026) Movie Script
1
"The Calling Witch
by Meredith Laye.
Dedicated to Edward
and Virginia.
Stay out of the woods.
There once was a little boy
who lived with his mother
on the edge
of a very large forest.
'Aren't you afraid?'
Parents would ask the mother
at the village store.
'You know
that's where she lives,
don't you?'
Children would tell
the little boy at school.
And whenever they did this,
the boy would reply the way
his mother had told him to.
He'd straighten his spine,
stick out his chest,
and confidently say,
'I'm not afraid.
And if you had a mother
like mine,
you wouldn't be either.
My mother will protect me.'
But the boy couldn't help
being a little afraid.
He did know that
the very large forest
was the home
of the calling witch.
And when she called,
mostly on dark, windy nights,
children would wander out
of their homes and into it,
where they would become
her dinner.
The boy could tell his mother
was afraid, too,
though she'd never let on.
Some nights she'd grow so upset
that all she could do was sit
on the floor of their basement,
hugging her knees
and mumbling into the darkness.
On such nights,
the boy would have to make
his own dinner,
draw his own bath,
tuck himself in bed."
"Then he'd lie awake."
"Then he'd lie awake listening
for the witch's call.
When it came,
he'd clutch his blanket,
lock his legs,
and try his best to resist
the urge to wander outside.
But of course one night..."
"The urge was just too strong."
"And so, the boy wrapped
himself in his winter coat
and wandered out of his home
and into the very large forest
where,
to his great astonishment,
he found..."
"His very own mother."
"But of course,
the calling witch was
a good mother
and would never eat
her own child.
And so,
she went without her dinner
and took the little boy home,
safe and sound.
Now, mostly on dark,
windy nights,
the little boy makes
his own dinner,
draws his own bath,
puts himself to bed.
Then he lies awake,
listening for his mother's call.
When it comes,
he straightens his spine,
sticks out his chest,
and reminds himself
he's not afraid."
Mary Mary Elderberry?
Not tonight, Edward.
Next up is,
we've got an update now
on Allison Kemp,
the writer-singer woman
who disappeared from Balti...
Teddy won't stop meowing.
Someone's outside.
Is it Greg?
Listen up,
you inbred townie assholes.
Leave her goddamn house alone.
You've written
dozens of stories
with all manner
of horrifying creatures,
ghosts and goblins.
Why The Calling Witch,
why of all your stories,
do you think this is the one
that struck such a chord
with readers around the world?
Eventually,
with enough experience,
we begin to suspect
that mommy
and daddy are no angels.
Uh, they may be no angels,
but are they all
child-eating monsters?
They're all human.
Tonight on Open Air,
we replay our interview
with artist
and author, Meredith Laye,
on the one-month anniversary
of her tragic sui--
Just me.
Saw the typewriter out again.
Mm-hmm.
Got a new idea?
Maybe.
Not ready to talk about it,
though.
How'd the interview go?
The job's eleven weeks.
So, we'll have to get someone
for the last part of it?
I said end of summer, dad.
That's what you said, yes.
But...
Go ahead.
I thought given
what Edward just lost,
what we've all just lost,
you might be willing
to give him,
us, just a little more time.
After high school,
when Edward was still a baby
and mom was in a rough patch,
I gave you more time.
We've asked a lot of you.
And after college,
not a single class of which
I attended in person,
back when mom was still
promising to get help,
I gave you more time.
None of it's been fair.
And now there's a diploma
for a master's degree
hanging on my wall,
and the first summer
of my adult life,
like my real, actual
professional life,
it's over in eight weeks.
We need you.
I need you.
Just one more time
for three more weeks.
Someone was outside messing
with mom's studio tonight.
Broke the lock on the door.
Greg Dupray?
Who else?
When do you need a decision?
I can start Monday.
You know, if you keep leaving
Teddy outside,
he's gonna get eaten by a bear.
No, he's good at hiding.
Remember he meowed all night
when that homeless man
was living in our cave?
Not our cave, Edward.
I assume
you're reading mysteries,
because you're done
with your unit?
It's a reading homework,
so I'm reading.
It's not just about reading.
It's about finishing your unit,
so you can get done with school
and get out of here.
Maybe I don't want to get out
of here as bad as you do.
We live in a wooden house.
Sound carries.
I'm gonna go to town.
You wanna go?
Hey, is this a gemstone?
-Edward, you gotta keep up.
-Hey.
I'm not buying you candy
if you can't keep up.
I think it's a gemstone.
Hey, wait up.
Wait up!
Let me get on.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Sure.
-She knows, you know,
there was like,
some squeaking going on.
Mm-hmm.
Why are you guys messing
with our place?
What?
We heard you, Greg.
You broke the lock
on the studio door.
Doesn't matter.
Nothing in there means shit
to us.
Well, it doesn't mean shit
to us either.
Somebody was in your place
last night, it wasn't us.
Might want to report that
to the police.
We're going to the store.
Is your grandma working today?
How the hell should I know?
Do you know you're day-drinking
in public?
Even for your family,
doesn't look very good, right?
Stay away from our place.
How do we know
who's telling the truth?
Because we'd never voluntarily
contact you
unless we had a good reason
to do so.
Little thin.
Now you say that you think
that Greg and his friends
have been trespassing.
Have you any proof?
They've done it before.
Have you any proof of that?
And no proof that he took
your bike.
Well, who the hell else
would take it?
Virginia.
You have anything else
to add here, Warren?
If she says your kid
took her bike, he did.
Greg, one more time,
did you and your friends
take Virginia's bike?
No, sir.
Did you cause any damage to it?
No, sir.
Okay.
I want to press charges.
For?
Theft, destruction of property.
With no proof.
Ah, well, Judge Terrance will
end up sitting for this.
He's an old fishing buddy
of mine,
so I trust that he will view
this situation with nuance.
Greg, give uh, Virginia
our home phone number,
just in case she decides
to let bygones be bygones.
You're really
gonna press charges
all the way from New York?
It's Teddy.
They're back again.
This could take all night,
Edward.
Give me.
You know, if Teddy
doesn't wanna be found,
we're not gonna find him.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe we should press charges.
I'll head to town,
have a little talk with Dupray
after I clean this up.
- Is that?
- Paint.
Greg again?
Are they gonna come back?
No.
What's that?
Is there anything inside?
There's a statue missing.
It's on the lawn.
No, another one.
Did you kill my brother's cat?
You psycho.
Just me.
Where's Edward?
Asleep in his room.
How's he holding up?
He's Edward.
Are they sending someone?
Dupray said he would.
He won't.
Probably
didn't help you calling him
in the middle of our meeting
to accuse his son of murdering
our cat.
He did.
I'm not saying he didn't.
Gonna turn down the site.
No way I can leave Edward alone
with a stranger
with all this going on.
Well, your next
correspondence course
probably won't come in the mail
for the next day or so.
What do you wanna do?
It all started
when you were about.
Bloodied dresses, broomsticks,
cauldrons filled with dog crap.
One time they hung
a wrestling dummy
in a white dress and a wig
from your tree house.
It made dad real mad,
but mom seemed almost amused
by it.
So, we didn't do anything
to them?
Mom seemed to mostly ignore it
until they left a baby doll
on the front porch
covered in blood.
For some reason that just...
Did what?
She told me to keep an eye
on you.
Drove to town.
And uh,
back before Greg's mom died,
she worked at the store
with his grandma.
And mom walks right up
to her register
and smacks her across the face
with the glass doll's head.
Tells her to keep her son
away from her house.
Did Greg's mom get hurt?
Nine stitches.
And eventually, an addiction.
Painkillers.
Is that how she died?
Mom did a week in county and um,
and the lawyer helped her
plead out later.
Dad and the Sheriff have
hated each other ever since.
Wow.
Yeah.
What's county?
It's jail, Edward.
Oh.
What's plead out?
It's him.
What?
You haven't sung it
since mom died.
She used to sing it to me
when I was little.
It was her song.
Mom used to sing?
A long time ago.
Way back before you were born.
Might be the first thing
I remember.
Me too.
Only you were
the one singing it.
Virginia.
What's that?
Is that me or you?
Think it's too early
for it to be either of us.
It's four years
before I was born.
What about those?
Virginia, tell me.
Do you know
what a miscarriage is?
It's um,
it's when the baby
doesn't make it.
Mom miscarried a lot.
All right, that's the rule.
No telling dad you let me sleep
in his room.
And no more reading.
It's a mystery.
Like one of my books.
It's not a mystery, Edward.
Happens all the time.
People have a hard time
conceiving
until they run out of options
and stop trying.
Why'd they never tell us?
There's lots of stuff
that parents don't tell
their children.
They've lived whole lives
before we were even an idea
in their heads.
But somebody wanted us to know.
Right?
Get some sleep, Edward.
Virginia?
Yeah.
Is the calling witch real?
No, Edward.
No witches are real.
Why?
I, I think I saw her outside.
Where?
Edward, I don't think any--
Is it her?
No.
It's Greg Dupray
and his idiot friends.
Then why are you grabbing
the rifle?
Look,
if you're gonna come out,
I need you behind me
the whole time
with your hand on my back
so I know you're there.
-Got it?
-Why?
'Cause I want to know
I can shoot if I have to.
My dad's been taking us hunting
for as long as I can remember,
and my rifle's got 25 rounds.
If you don't come out
at the count of three,
I'll fire.
What if there's actually
someone in there?
Then they should come out.
One...
You could kill them.
They're on our property.
Two...
Maybe just fire into the air,
so--
Do you think there was
someone in there?
I think we would have
heard them.
Stay there.
Should we call dad?
Not yet.
I'll stay up and keep watch.
I can stay up with you.
Then who would take
morning watch?
Get some sleep.
Mary Mary Elderberry?
Twice in one day is a little
much for me right now, Edward.
The attack on the Soviet Union
was...
What is it?
-Virginia.
-Shh.
Don't come down till I say.
... the killing of at least
23 soldiers
in the northern part
of the country.
The attack,
which took place less than
48 hours after both sides
had verbally agreed
to a ceasefire agreement...
Stay up.
... has been called
a possible war crime
by US Secretary of State,
George Shultz.
And the celebrated
American playwright,
Arthur Brink,
has died from complications
of heart disease
at the age of 83,
his publicist confirmed
Monday afternoon.
The author of 13 plays,
including Sing Downward,
Fresh Pages,
and Under the Open Door,
had been retired for the better
part of a decade.
Former agent, Angela Higgins...
... remembers Brink as,
"A consummate professional,
who made creating brilliant
new material
an everyday part
of his exemplary life."
State officials have ordered
lockdowns
for residents of both Bolton
and Wagoner Counties,
after it was discovered
that Bolton regional escapee,
Alison Kent,
likely crossed county lines
in her escape,
evading both local
and state patrols.
The lockdown order is to be
held in place
until at least 11:59 p.m.,
and any residents
with information
regarding Kent's possible
whereabouts
are asked to contact
authorities immediately.
They add that she should be
considered armed dangerous.
And what would you do
if you found out that you owed
a hospital nearly $95,000?
What's it mean?
That's what happens--
Fuck this.
You set the F word.
Doesn't mean you get to, Edward.
No, could you please dispatch
Century Woods?
Because Aletteville won't come.
Yes, ma'am.
I know what 911 is for.
But we've just been trying
to get a hold of Aletteville
the last few days,
and they just won't take us
seriously, so I--
Because they hate our family.
No. No, thank you.
Hey dad, it's me.
Um, I know you're probably
asleep right now,
but if you could call me
when you get this.
I don't wanna worry you, but...
What?
Is it dead?
Edward, grab the rifle.
Holy, what the hell?
What do you want, Greg?
I just wanna talk.
Then talk.
Will you put
the goddamn gun down?
Jesus.
Why are you messing with us?
-We're not.
-Bullshit.
Look, your mom killed herself.
-Thanks, moron, we know.
-Look, holy shit.
Will you just,
will you just let me talk for
like, 10 seconds
without interrupting me?
Please?
Look, I know we've done
a lot of shit to you guys.
Okay?
But we're not gonna mess
with you
a month after your mom...
...dies. All right?
And we're not gonna murder
your cat.
We're not monsters.
So trashing my bike
is still cool, though?
You started that.
Okay?
You told my grandma
we were day drinking.
And when my dad finds out
about that,
he's not gonna be happy.
I didn't tell her anything.
Well,
maybe don't make threats
you don't intend to keep then.
You guys haven't been messing
with our place?
-No.
-The studio?
No, it's not us.
The files on the porch?
What?
We need a ride to town.
Wait here.
Edward, let's go!
We need to get to the station
in Century Woods.
Your dad's not gonna help.
Ah, dude, seriously, don't puke.
Greg?
Where is she?
Who?
Hey, hey.
You okay?
I hit her.
You did good.
Okay?
You're okay.
Is she dead?
Is she gonna die?
You saved me. Okay?
You saved my life.
Look at me.
You didn't want to,
but you had to.
Okay?
Okay.
-Good.
-Okay.
We find his keys,
we run straight to his car.
We don't, we come in.
Got it?
What if she runs out
of the woods?
I don't wanna shoot her yet.
You won't have to.
We'll just run right inside.
I don't wanna use any more ammo
than we have to.
You said we had 25 rounds.
10. We've already used five.
You ready?
It's either hold the rifle
or check his pockets.
Okay?
-Okay.
-Okay.
She took them.
Shit.
Need some light.
Can you turn on the light,
Edward?
What?
And do you have a towel
under there or something?
Okay, here.
Press down.
Ah! Ah!
I'm gonna press down.
-Please stop.
-I'm pressing.
Please stop.
Please.
Okay, we got one more to go.
1, 2, 3.
What'd she want?
She's looking for somebody.
A woman, I think.
Maybe mom.
Why?
I thought everybody that cared
already knew that mom was dead.
She's not
the real Calling Witch?
No.
Just a crazy...
Earlier tonight on the radio,
they were talking about
that woman.
Do you remember what they said?
No.
She escaped that hospital
in Bolton.
They've been talking about her
for the last couple of days.
They've put lockdowns in place
because--
What was her name?
What is it?
Anne, how did you find
Ms. Hall's testimony today?
Well, it was her first day
of testimony.
She's scheduled to testify
tomorrow as well.
And so it would be reasonable
to expect some nerves up there
on the stand.
But to me,
as well as the other--
We run through the woods,
go through the town.
There's gotta be people out
there looking for her.
That's 40 minutes on your bike.
Edward, we have the rifle.
She's not gonna follow us.
We have to wake Greg.
That also doesn't matter.
He's lost a lot of blood
already.
We wouldn't even know
if it's damaged inside.
If we don't know,
then what if we can save him?
I need to save you.
Why me and not him?
Because you deserve it.
I'm done risking our lives
for Greg.
We brought him in,
we bandaged him.
He's already gotten a lot more
than he deserves from us.
I'm not gonna sit here
and wait to die with Greg.
All together--
He wouldn't be here
if we didn't accuse him
of breaking--
He's done things exactly
like it in the past.
Maybe if he
hadn't wrecked my bike,
we would actually have a chance
at saving him.
From my vantage point,
never out of control.
Virginia?
She's at the breaker box.
She wants us to turn the lights
back on.
I want the lights back on.
We can't do that.
Not right now.
She's trying to get us
to go outside.
Why?
Because out there,
we're vulnerable.
Draw her out.
What?
One of y'all goes to flip
the breaker.
She comes after you.
The other one gets a shot
at her.
Virginia.
I'm not asking Edward
to go outside
and I'm not asking him
to kill someone.
Greg, you can't even stand.
I know.
You have those walkie-talkies
I got you?
Okay, I'm here.
Over.
Headed out.
Greg, ready?
Yeah.
Start to count now.
1, 2--
3, 4, 5, 6...
...7, 8, 9.
9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20.
21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29...
All right, Edward,
we're about to go in.
Do you see anything?
Not yet.
Okay.
28, 29, 30.
He's at the breaker box.
Anything?
Nothing.
Edward?
Still nothing.
What do we do?
She's coming.
Did you get her?
Stay there!
I need a light under the deck,
now!
I know I hit you.
I have 17 rounds left.
If you come out,
we'll get you some help.
You have 10 seconds.
Five.
No.
Greg.
Did we get her?
No, and I think Virginia's
in trouble.
Keep going, Greg.
Got it.
Don't make any noise, okay?
Will you tell my mom what I did,
that I tried to help you guys?
She's been really disappointed
in me.
Greg, your mom died.
Years ago, I think.
Oh,
okay.
I know it hurts.
Mine's dead, too.
We'll be back for you.
You're a liar.
Why didn't you kill me?
I need you.
I see you got a little boy
with you.
But if he won't tell me
where she is.
I don't know
who you're talking about.
Who you're looking for?
Meredith.
Meredith Laye?
Caroline.
Who's Caroline?
My baby.
You took her from me yesterday.
You think Meredith Laye
took your baby?
I know you did.
Dr. Pridy says I lost the days.
It's true.
It's right, I did.
But it won't matter soon.
Just tell me where she is.
Alison,
from Ryder City.
You-- you were in that hospital
in Bolton.
Yes.
They're looking for you.
They've been talking about you
on the news for days.
Turn on the radio,
you'll hear it.
I'm not my mom.
That boy that you saw
wasn't my son.
He's my-- he's my brother.
Whatever our mom did to you,
it has nothing to do with me
and my brother.
Please just...
I'll bring you
your little boy's warm heart,
set it down in your hands.
And I'll bet you'd tell.
...until 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday night.
While authorities tell us
Kent's intended destination
is anyone's guess,
attending psychiatrist,
Dr. William Pridy,
told the AP earlier
this afternoon
he believes he understands
her motives.
Ms. Kent's 3-year-old
daughter, Caroline,
was abducted from her Ryder
City home more than 20 years
ago,
and Kent's been stuck
in that trauma ever since.
For her,
each day is quite literally
that first morning
after her daughter's
disappearance.
So while I don't know
where she's going,
I do think I know
what she's doing.
She's looking for Caroline.
Anyone with information
regarding the whereabouts
of Alison Kent is asked to--
...contact the state police.
Virginia!
Help.
Edward, get me out of this.
Find a rock or--
Where did you get that?
She dropped it.
She wanted the pickax.
For Greg?
I hid in Greg in dad's closet.
She's gonna find him soon.
Edward, we got out.
Greg didn't.
And we need to get out of here.
No, Edward.
E-- Edward!
Edward, no!
Alison.
Let him go.
Tell me where my baby is.
He can't breathe.
I'll tell you.
She's not here.
She's somewhere only
my family knows about.
How do I know I can trust you?
Because I understand.
I don't know what it's like
to have a baby taken away
from me,
but I know what it's like
to take care of one.
I was there when
my parents brought him
home from the hospital.
I watched him
take his first steps,
taught him to read.
And I've watched him grow
into this person
that I'm,
I'm just so proud to know.
Alison, if anybody
ever took Edward from me,
I would do anything
to get him back.
Let's go get your daughter.
Let's go get Caroline.
Get inside.
The truck's in the driveway.
Go, lock the doors now.
No!
Alison Kent.
I heard on the radio.
Are you hurt?
No.
-Yeah.
-Where?
She killed Greg.
I think he's in the treehouse.
I don't understand.
What was he doing here?
He came to apologize.
What are you doing?
I don't-- I don't know.
He did it to protect us.
He needed to be sure that she
couldn't hurt us anymore.
She dropped the axe.
She already stopped trying
to hurt us.
He needed to be sure.
I have to help dad.
Call me if she tries
to untie herself.
Edward.
Sorry, for my dad and my sister.
They're not bad people.
They're just scared.
We were desperate.
I was desperate.
And your mother was devastated
that we couldn't have children,
hated herself for it,
hated her body,
started to drink,
and when the drinking
prevented us from adopting,
she just...
When you're on site, guys talk.
One of my foremen in Ryder
keeps telling us about
what a terrible person
his stepsister is.
Police record,
addicted to heroin,
and to make matters worse,
she has a 3-year-old daughter.
He's thinking about asking
the state
to grant him custody,
but he's not sure they will.
You're not gonna believe,
but when I found you,
you were sitting on the floor
in dirty diapers with her,
passed out
on a urine-stained mattress,
the needle sticking out
of her arm.
I picked you up
for the very first time,
and you...
You weren't afraid.
You just stared up at me
like you knew
I was gonna take care of you,
like you knew
I would give you a home.
And getting taken
out of that house
was the best thing that
ever happened to you, Virginia,
and taking you out of there
was the best thing
that ever happened to me.
The worst thing that ever
happened
to Alison Kent, though.
-This woman is--
-Is what?
A bad mom?
Nothing like ours, right?
Your mother did her best.
Yeah, and her best was shit.
It's the reason that I've been
stuck at home for seven years.
And it's also the reason
that my brother is more upset
about me leaving
to start my life
than he was when he found out
that our mom killed herself.
And what about me?
What about you?
What about my best?
You're a liar, a kidnapper.
I'm your dad.
What are you gonna do?
She needs help.
She's beyond help,
but I'm not,
and neither is Edward.
What do you think's gonna
happen to us
if Dupray finds out
about all this?
We didn't do anything.
It doesn't matter.
He'll take the opportunity
to get his judge friend
to crucify the both of us,
and then he'll send Edward
somewhere we will never find.
You know he will.
We need you.
Your brother needs you.
Dad and I are gonna have
to go outside for a while.
Why?
We have to hide Alison and Greg,
and we can't ever talk
about this again.
Are you really
Alison's daughter?
Yes.
Who am I?
You're my brother.
Don't come out till I say.
There once was a little boy
who lived with his mother
on the edge
of a very large forest.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Parents would ask the mother
at the village store.
"You know that's where
she lives, don't you?"
Children would tell the
little boy at school.
And whenever they did this,
the boy would reply
the way his mother
had told him to.
He'd straighten his spine,
stick out his chest,
and confidently say,
"I'm not afraid.
And if you had a mother
like mine,
you wouldn't be either.
My mother will protect me."
Dad, let me do it.
Alone.
Please.
It's okay.
We're gonna go see Caroline.
I promise.
But the boy couldn't help
being a little afraid.
He did know
that the very large forest
was the home
of the Calling Witch.
And when she called
mostly on dark windy nights,
children would wander out
of their homes and into it,
where they would become
her dinner.
And the boy could tell
his mother was afraid, too.
Though she'd never let on.
Some nights she'd grow so upset
that all she could do
was sit on the floor
of their basement,
hugging her knees
or mumbling into the darkness.
On such nights,
the boy would have
to make his own dinner,
draw his own bath,
tuck himself in bed.
Then he'd lie awake,
listening for the witch's call.
When it came,
he'd clutch his blanket,
lock his legs
and try his best to resist
the urge to wander outside.
But of course one night,
the urge was just too strong.
And so the boy wrapped himself
in his winter coat
and wandered out of his home,
and into the very large forest,
where to his great
astonishment,
he found his very own mother.
But of course,
the Calling Witch
was a good mother
and would never eat
her own child,
and so she went
without her dinner.
And took the little boy home
safe and sound.
Now, mostly on dark
windy nights,
the little boy
makes his own dinner,
draws his own bath,
puts himself to bed.
Then he lies awake, listening
for his mother's call.
When it comes,
he straightens his spine,
sticks out his chest,
and reminds himself
he's not afraid.
Dad?
Who are Edward's parents?
Are you gonna shoot me,
Virginia?
If you don't tell me.
Edward is mine.
Mine and your mother's
and nothing that happens now
will ever change that.
Just give me a name.
You know, prior to helping me
wrap up Greg and Alison,
and destroy evidence
back in the house,
you hadn't done
anything illegal.
But now you're at least
an accessory to murder.
And you probably
asphyxiated Alison
when you wrapped her up
in that tarp.
The name?
Run.
-Come on, come on.
-Where are we going?
You're gonna lock yourself
inside of Greg's car.
Do not come out
until I get you, understand?
Where are you going?
I'm gonna get Alison.
Alison?
Alison.
Alison. Alison.
Alison.
Where are Greg's keys?
What if dad comes after us?
He might not, Edward.
What if he does?
Then I'll tell him to go away.
What if he won't?
He will.
Are you sure?
No.
Damn it.
Edward, no!
What in the hell?
Just a little bit longer.
We're almost there.
Now listen.
Who was it?
One of the women from the list?
You weren't on the phone
very long.
She didn't move to Jason
till 1980.
We're gonna find her.
It could take us forever.
You should just let TPS take me.
CPS, Edward.
Why would I do that?
So you can go start your life
in New York.
You don't have to wait anymore.
You know,
we could keep the search up
from New York
just as well as from here.
We?
Yeah, we.
You didn't ask for that,
Virginia.
It's not fair.
It's only not fair
if I don't choose it, right?
Well, I do.
Move to New York with me.
Okay?
Okay.
"The Calling Witch
by Meredith Laye.
Dedicated to Edward
and Virginia.
Stay out of the woods.
There once was a little boy
who lived with his mother
on the edge
of a very large forest.
'Aren't you afraid?'
Parents would ask the mother
at the village store.
'You know
that's where she lives,
don't you?'
Children would tell
the little boy at school.
And whenever they did this,
the boy would reply the way
his mother had told him to.
He'd straighten his spine,
stick out his chest,
and confidently say,
'I'm not afraid.
And if you had a mother
like mine,
you wouldn't be either.
My mother will protect me.'
But the boy couldn't help
being a little afraid.
He did know that
the very large forest
was the home
of the calling witch.
And when she called,
mostly on dark, windy nights,
children would wander out
of their homes and into it,
where they would become
her dinner.
The boy could tell his mother
was afraid, too,
though she'd never let on.
Some nights she'd grow so upset
that all she could do was sit
on the floor of their basement,
hugging her knees
and mumbling into the darkness.
On such nights,
the boy would have to make
his own dinner,
draw his own bath,
tuck himself in bed."
"Then he'd lie awake."
"Then he'd lie awake listening
for the witch's call.
When it came,
he'd clutch his blanket,
lock his legs,
and try his best to resist
the urge to wander outside.
But of course one night..."
"The urge was just too strong."
"And so, the boy wrapped
himself in his winter coat
and wandered out of his home
and into the very large forest
where,
to his great astonishment,
he found..."
"His very own mother."
"But of course,
the calling witch was
a good mother
and would never eat
her own child.
And so,
she went without her dinner
and took the little boy home,
safe and sound.
Now, mostly on dark,
windy nights,
the little boy makes
his own dinner,
draws his own bath,
puts himself to bed.
Then he lies awake,
listening for his mother's call.
When it comes,
he straightens his spine,
sticks out his chest,
and reminds himself
he's not afraid."
Mary Mary Elderberry?
Not tonight, Edward.
Next up is,
we've got an update now
on Allison Kemp,
the writer-singer woman
who disappeared from Balti...
Teddy won't stop meowing.
Someone's outside.
Is it Greg?
Listen up,
you inbred townie assholes.
Leave her goddamn house alone.
You've written
dozens of stories
with all manner
of horrifying creatures,
ghosts and goblins.
Why The Calling Witch,
why of all your stories,
do you think this is the one
that struck such a chord
with readers around the world?
Eventually,
with enough experience,
we begin to suspect
that mommy
and daddy are no angels.
Uh, they may be no angels,
but are they all
child-eating monsters?
They're all human.
Tonight on Open Air,
we replay our interview
with artist
and author, Meredith Laye,
on the one-month anniversary
of her tragic sui--
Just me.
Saw the typewriter out again.
Mm-hmm.
Got a new idea?
Maybe.
Not ready to talk about it,
though.
How'd the interview go?
The job's eleven weeks.
So, we'll have to get someone
for the last part of it?
I said end of summer, dad.
That's what you said, yes.
But...
Go ahead.
I thought given
what Edward just lost,
what we've all just lost,
you might be willing
to give him,
us, just a little more time.
After high school,
when Edward was still a baby
and mom was in a rough patch,
I gave you more time.
We've asked a lot of you.
And after college,
not a single class of which
I attended in person,
back when mom was still
promising to get help,
I gave you more time.
None of it's been fair.
And now there's a diploma
for a master's degree
hanging on my wall,
and the first summer
of my adult life,
like my real, actual
professional life,
it's over in eight weeks.
We need you.
I need you.
Just one more time
for three more weeks.
Someone was outside messing
with mom's studio tonight.
Broke the lock on the door.
Greg Dupray?
Who else?
When do you need a decision?
I can start Monday.
You know, if you keep leaving
Teddy outside,
he's gonna get eaten by a bear.
No, he's good at hiding.
Remember he meowed all night
when that homeless man
was living in our cave?
Not our cave, Edward.
I assume
you're reading mysteries,
because you're done
with your unit?
It's a reading homework,
so I'm reading.
It's not just about reading.
It's about finishing your unit,
so you can get done with school
and get out of here.
Maybe I don't want to get out
of here as bad as you do.
We live in a wooden house.
Sound carries.
I'm gonna go to town.
You wanna go?
Hey, is this a gemstone?
-Edward, you gotta keep up.
-Hey.
I'm not buying you candy
if you can't keep up.
I think it's a gemstone.
Hey, wait up.
Wait up!
Let me get on.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Sure.
-She knows, you know,
there was like,
some squeaking going on.
Mm-hmm.
Why are you guys messing
with our place?
What?
We heard you, Greg.
You broke the lock
on the studio door.
Doesn't matter.
Nothing in there means shit
to us.
Well, it doesn't mean shit
to us either.
Somebody was in your place
last night, it wasn't us.
Might want to report that
to the police.
We're going to the store.
Is your grandma working today?
How the hell should I know?
Do you know you're day-drinking
in public?
Even for your family,
doesn't look very good, right?
Stay away from our place.
How do we know
who's telling the truth?
Because we'd never voluntarily
contact you
unless we had a good reason
to do so.
Little thin.
Now you say that you think
that Greg and his friends
have been trespassing.
Have you any proof?
They've done it before.
Have you any proof of that?
And no proof that he took
your bike.
Well, who the hell else
would take it?
Virginia.
You have anything else
to add here, Warren?
If she says your kid
took her bike, he did.
Greg, one more time,
did you and your friends
take Virginia's bike?
No, sir.
Did you cause any damage to it?
No, sir.
Okay.
I want to press charges.
For?
Theft, destruction of property.
With no proof.
Ah, well, Judge Terrance will
end up sitting for this.
He's an old fishing buddy
of mine,
so I trust that he will view
this situation with nuance.
Greg, give uh, Virginia
our home phone number,
just in case she decides
to let bygones be bygones.
You're really
gonna press charges
all the way from New York?
It's Teddy.
They're back again.
This could take all night,
Edward.
Give me.
You know, if Teddy
doesn't wanna be found,
we're not gonna find him.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe we should press charges.
I'll head to town,
have a little talk with Dupray
after I clean this up.
- Is that?
- Paint.
Greg again?
Are they gonna come back?
No.
What's that?
Is there anything inside?
There's a statue missing.
It's on the lawn.
No, another one.
Did you kill my brother's cat?
You psycho.
Just me.
Where's Edward?
Asleep in his room.
How's he holding up?
He's Edward.
Are they sending someone?
Dupray said he would.
He won't.
Probably
didn't help you calling him
in the middle of our meeting
to accuse his son of murdering
our cat.
He did.
I'm not saying he didn't.
Gonna turn down the site.
No way I can leave Edward alone
with a stranger
with all this going on.
Well, your next
correspondence course
probably won't come in the mail
for the next day or so.
What do you wanna do?
It all started
when you were about.
Bloodied dresses, broomsticks,
cauldrons filled with dog crap.
One time they hung
a wrestling dummy
in a white dress and a wig
from your tree house.
It made dad real mad,
but mom seemed almost amused
by it.
So, we didn't do anything
to them?
Mom seemed to mostly ignore it
until they left a baby doll
on the front porch
covered in blood.
For some reason that just...
Did what?
She told me to keep an eye
on you.
Drove to town.
And uh,
back before Greg's mom died,
she worked at the store
with his grandma.
And mom walks right up
to her register
and smacks her across the face
with the glass doll's head.
Tells her to keep her son
away from her house.
Did Greg's mom get hurt?
Nine stitches.
And eventually, an addiction.
Painkillers.
Is that how she died?
Mom did a week in county and um,
and the lawyer helped her
plead out later.
Dad and the Sheriff have
hated each other ever since.
Wow.
Yeah.
What's county?
It's jail, Edward.
Oh.
What's plead out?
It's him.
What?
You haven't sung it
since mom died.
She used to sing it to me
when I was little.
It was her song.
Mom used to sing?
A long time ago.
Way back before you were born.
Might be the first thing
I remember.
Me too.
Only you were
the one singing it.
Virginia.
What's that?
Is that me or you?
Think it's too early
for it to be either of us.
It's four years
before I was born.
What about those?
Virginia, tell me.
Do you know
what a miscarriage is?
It's um,
it's when the baby
doesn't make it.
Mom miscarried a lot.
All right, that's the rule.
No telling dad you let me sleep
in his room.
And no more reading.
It's a mystery.
Like one of my books.
It's not a mystery, Edward.
Happens all the time.
People have a hard time
conceiving
until they run out of options
and stop trying.
Why'd they never tell us?
There's lots of stuff
that parents don't tell
their children.
They've lived whole lives
before we were even an idea
in their heads.
But somebody wanted us to know.
Right?
Get some sleep, Edward.
Virginia?
Yeah.
Is the calling witch real?
No, Edward.
No witches are real.
Why?
I, I think I saw her outside.
Where?
Edward, I don't think any--
Is it her?
No.
It's Greg Dupray
and his idiot friends.
Then why are you grabbing
the rifle?
Look,
if you're gonna come out,
I need you behind me
the whole time
with your hand on my back
so I know you're there.
-Got it?
-Why?
'Cause I want to know
I can shoot if I have to.
My dad's been taking us hunting
for as long as I can remember,
and my rifle's got 25 rounds.
If you don't come out
at the count of three,
I'll fire.
What if there's actually
someone in there?
Then they should come out.
One...
You could kill them.
They're on our property.
Two...
Maybe just fire into the air,
so--
Do you think there was
someone in there?
I think we would have
heard them.
Stay there.
Should we call dad?
Not yet.
I'll stay up and keep watch.
I can stay up with you.
Then who would take
morning watch?
Get some sleep.
Mary Mary Elderberry?
Twice in one day is a little
much for me right now, Edward.
The attack on the Soviet Union
was...
What is it?
-Virginia.
-Shh.
Don't come down till I say.
... the killing of at least
23 soldiers
in the northern part
of the country.
The attack,
which took place less than
48 hours after both sides
had verbally agreed
to a ceasefire agreement...
Stay up.
... has been called
a possible war crime
by US Secretary of State,
George Shultz.
And the celebrated
American playwright,
Arthur Brink,
has died from complications
of heart disease
at the age of 83,
his publicist confirmed
Monday afternoon.
The author of 13 plays,
including Sing Downward,
Fresh Pages,
and Under the Open Door,
had been retired for the better
part of a decade.
Former agent, Angela Higgins...
... remembers Brink as,
"A consummate professional,
who made creating brilliant
new material
an everyday part
of his exemplary life."
State officials have ordered
lockdowns
for residents of both Bolton
and Wagoner Counties,
after it was discovered
that Bolton regional escapee,
Alison Kent,
likely crossed county lines
in her escape,
evading both local
and state patrols.
The lockdown order is to be
held in place
until at least 11:59 p.m.,
and any residents
with information
regarding Kent's possible
whereabouts
are asked to contact
authorities immediately.
They add that she should be
considered armed dangerous.
And what would you do
if you found out that you owed
a hospital nearly $95,000?
What's it mean?
That's what happens--
Fuck this.
You set the F word.
Doesn't mean you get to, Edward.
No, could you please dispatch
Century Woods?
Because Aletteville won't come.
Yes, ma'am.
I know what 911 is for.
But we've just been trying
to get a hold of Aletteville
the last few days,
and they just won't take us
seriously, so I--
Because they hate our family.
No. No, thank you.
Hey dad, it's me.
Um, I know you're probably
asleep right now,
but if you could call me
when you get this.
I don't wanna worry you, but...
What?
Is it dead?
Edward, grab the rifle.
Holy, what the hell?
What do you want, Greg?
I just wanna talk.
Then talk.
Will you put
the goddamn gun down?
Jesus.
Why are you messing with us?
-We're not.
-Bullshit.
Look, your mom killed herself.
-Thanks, moron, we know.
-Look, holy shit.
Will you just,
will you just let me talk for
like, 10 seconds
without interrupting me?
Please?
Look, I know we've done
a lot of shit to you guys.
Okay?
But we're not gonna mess
with you
a month after your mom...
...dies. All right?
And we're not gonna murder
your cat.
We're not monsters.
So trashing my bike
is still cool, though?
You started that.
Okay?
You told my grandma
we were day drinking.
And when my dad finds out
about that,
he's not gonna be happy.
I didn't tell her anything.
Well,
maybe don't make threats
you don't intend to keep then.
You guys haven't been messing
with our place?
-No.
-The studio?
No, it's not us.
The files on the porch?
What?
We need a ride to town.
Wait here.
Edward, let's go!
We need to get to the station
in Century Woods.
Your dad's not gonna help.
Ah, dude, seriously, don't puke.
Greg?
Where is she?
Who?
Hey, hey.
You okay?
I hit her.
You did good.
Okay?
You're okay.
Is she dead?
Is she gonna die?
You saved me. Okay?
You saved my life.
Look at me.
You didn't want to,
but you had to.
Okay?
Okay.
-Good.
-Okay.
We find his keys,
we run straight to his car.
We don't, we come in.
Got it?
What if she runs out
of the woods?
I don't wanna shoot her yet.
You won't have to.
We'll just run right inside.
I don't wanna use any more ammo
than we have to.
You said we had 25 rounds.
10. We've already used five.
You ready?
It's either hold the rifle
or check his pockets.
Okay?
-Okay.
-Okay.
She took them.
Shit.
Need some light.
Can you turn on the light,
Edward?
What?
And do you have a towel
under there or something?
Okay, here.
Press down.
Ah! Ah!
I'm gonna press down.
-Please stop.
-I'm pressing.
Please stop.
Please.
Okay, we got one more to go.
1, 2, 3.
What'd she want?
She's looking for somebody.
A woman, I think.
Maybe mom.
Why?
I thought everybody that cared
already knew that mom was dead.
She's not
the real Calling Witch?
No.
Just a crazy...
Earlier tonight on the radio,
they were talking about
that woman.
Do you remember what they said?
No.
She escaped that hospital
in Bolton.
They've been talking about her
for the last couple of days.
They've put lockdowns in place
because--
What was her name?
What is it?
Anne, how did you find
Ms. Hall's testimony today?
Well, it was her first day
of testimony.
She's scheduled to testify
tomorrow as well.
And so it would be reasonable
to expect some nerves up there
on the stand.
But to me,
as well as the other--
We run through the woods,
go through the town.
There's gotta be people out
there looking for her.
That's 40 minutes on your bike.
Edward, we have the rifle.
She's not gonna follow us.
We have to wake Greg.
That also doesn't matter.
He's lost a lot of blood
already.
We wouldn't even know
if it's damaged inside.
If we don't know,
then what if we can save him?
I need to save you.
Why me and not him?
Because you deserve it.
I'm done risking our lives
for Greg.
We brought him in,
we bandaged him.
He's already gotten a lot more
than he deserves from us.
I'm not gonna sit here
and wait to die with Greg.
All together--
He wouldn't be here
if we didn't accuse him
of breaking--
He's done things exactly
like it in the past.
Maybe if he
hadn't wrecked my bike,
we would actually have a chance
at saving him.
From my vantage point,
never out of control.
Virginia?
She's at the breaker box.
She wants us to turn the lights
back on.
I want the lights back on.
We can't do that.
Not right now.
She's trying to get us
to go outside.
Why?
Because out there,
we're vulnerable.
Draw her out.
What?
One of y'all goes to flip
the breaker.
She comes after you.
The other one gets a shot
at her.
Virginia.
I'm not asking Edward
to go outside
and I'm not asking him
to kill someone.
Greg, you can't even stand.
I know.
You have those walkie-talkies
I got you?
Okay, I'm here.
Over.
Headed out.
Greg, ready?
Yeah.
Start to count now.
1, 2--
3, 4, 5, 6...
...7, 8, 9.
9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20.
21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29...
All right, Edward,
we're about to go in.
Do you see anything?
Not yet.
Okay.
28, 29, 30.
He's at the breaker box.
Anything?
Nothing.
Edward?
Still nothing.
What do we do?
She's coming.
Did you get her?
Stay there!
I need a light under the deck,
now!
I know I hit you.
I have 17 rounds left.
If you come out,
we'll get you some help.
You have 10 seconds.
Five.
No.
Greg.
Did we get her?
No, and I think Virginia's
in trouble.
Keep going, Greg.
Got it.
Don't make any noise, okay?
Will you tell my mom what I did,
that I tried to help you guys?
She's been really disappointed
in me.
Greg, your mom died.
Years ago, I think.
Oh,
okay.
I know it hurts.
Mine's dead, too.
We'll be back for you.
You're a liar.
Why didn't you kill me?
I need you.
I see you got a little boy
with you.
But if he won't tell me
where she is.
I don't know
who you're talking about.
Who you're looking for?
Meredith.
Meredith Laye?
Caroline.
Who's Caroline?
My baby.
You took her from me yesterday.
You think Meredith Laye
took your baby?
I know you did.
Dr. Pridy says I lost the days.
It's true.
It's right, I did.
But it won't matter soon.
Just tell me where she is.
Alison,
from Ryder City.
You-- you were in that hospital
in Bolton.
Yes.
They're looking for you.
They've been talking about you
on the news for days.
Turn on the radio,
you'll hear it.
I'm not my mom.
That boy that you saw
wasn't my son.
He's my-- he's my brother.
Whatever our mom did to you,
it has nothing to do with me
and my brother.
Please just...
I'll bring you
your little boy's warm heart,
set it down in your hands.
And I'll bet you'd tell.
...until 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday night.
While authorities tell us
Kent's intended destination
is anyone's guess,
attending psychiatrist,
Dr. William Pridy,
told the AP earlier
this afternoon
he believes he understands
her motives.
Ms. Kent's 3-year-old
daughter, Caroline,
was abducted from her Ryder
City home more than 20 years
ago,
and Kent's been stuck
in that trauma ever since.
For her,
each day is quite literally
that first morning
after her daughter's
disappearance.
So while I don't know
where she's going,
I do think I know
what she's doing.
She's looking for Caroline.
Anyone with information
regarding the whereabouts
of Alison Kent is asked to--
...contact the state police.
Virginia!
Help.
Edward, get me out of this.
Find a rock or--
Where did you get that?
She dropped it.
She wanted the pickax.
For Greg?
I hid in Greg in dad's closet.
She's gonna find him soon.
Edward, we got out.
Greg didn't.
And we need to get out of here.
No, Edward.
E-- Edward!
Edward, no!
Alison.
Let him go.
Tell me where my baby is.
He can't breathe.
I'll tell you.
She's not here.
She's somewhere only
my family knows about.
How do I know I can trust you?
Because I understand.
I don't know what it's like
to have a baby taken away
from me,
but I know what it's like
to take care of one.
I was there when
my parents brought him
home from the hospital.
I watched him
take his first steps,
taught him to read.
And I've watched him grow
into this person
that I'm,
I'm just so proud to know.
Alison, if anybody
ever took Edward from me,
I would do anything
to get him back.
Let's go get your daughter.
Let's go get Caroline.
Get inside.
The truck's in the driveway.
Go, lock the doors now.
No!
Alison Kent.
I heard on the radio.
Are you hurt?
No.
-Yeah.
-Where?
She killed Greg.
I think he's in the treehouse.
I don't understand.
What was he doing here?
He came to apologize.
What are you doing?
I don't-- I don't know.
He did it to protect us.
He needed to be sure that she
couldn't hurt us anymore.
She dropped the axe.
She already stopped trying
to hurt us.
He needed to be sure.
I have to help dad.
Call me if she tries
to untie herself.
Edward.
Sorry, for my dad and my sister.
They're not bad people.
They're just scared.
We were desperate.
I was desperate.
And your mother was devastated
that we couldn't have children,
hated herself for it,
hated her body,
started to drink,
and when the drinking
prevented us from adopting,
she just...
When you're on site, guys talk.
One of my foremen in Ryder
keeps telling us about
what a terrible person
his stepsister is.
Police record,
addicted to heroin,
and to make matters worse,
she has a 3-year-old daughter.
He's thinking about asking
the state
to grant him custody,
but he's not sure they will.
You're not gonna believe,
but when I found you,
you were sitting on the floor
in dirty diapers with her,
passed out
on a urine-stained mattress,
the needle sticking out
of her arm.
I picked you up
for the very first time,
and you...
You weren't afraid.
You just stared up at me
like you knew
I was gonna take care of you,
like you knew
I would give you a home.
And getting taken
out of that house
was the best thing that
ever happened to you, Virginia,
and taking you out of there
was the best thing
that ever happened to me.
The worst thing that ever
happened
to Alison Kent, though.
-This woman is--
-Is what?
A bad mom?
Nothing like ours, right?
Your mother did her best.
Yeah, and her best was shit.
It's the reason that I've been
stuck at home for seven years.
And it's also the reason
that my brother is more upset
about me leaving
to start my life
than he was when he found out
that our mom killed herself.
And what about me?
What about you?
What about my best?
You're a liar, a kidnapper.
I'm your dad.
What are you gonna do?
She needs help.
She's beyond help,
but I'm not,
and neither is Edward.
What do you think's gonna
happen to us
if Dupray finds out
about all this?
We didn't do anything.
It doesn't matter.
He'll take the opportunity
to get his judge friend
to crucify the both of us,
and then he'll send Edward
somewhere we will never find.
You know he will.
We need you.
Your brother needs you.
Dad and I are gonna have
to go outside for a while.
Why?
We have to hide Alison and Greg,
and we can't ever talk
about this again.
Are you really
Alison's daughter?
Yes.
Who am I?
You're my brother.
Don't come out till I say.
There once was a little boy
who lived with his mother
on the edge
of a very large forest.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Parents would ask the mother
at the village store.
"You know that's where
she lives, don't you?"
Children would tell the
little boy at school.
And whenever they did this,
the boy would reply
the way his mother
had told him to.
He'd straighten his spine,
stick out his chest,
and confidently say,
"I'm not afraid.
And if you had a mother
like mine,
you wouldn't be either.
My mother will protect me."
Dad, let me do it.
Alone.
Please.
It's okay.
We're gonna go see Caroline.
I promise.
But the boy couldn't help
being a little afraid.
He did know
that the very large forest
was the home
of the Calling Witch.
And when she called
mostly on dark windy nights,
children would wander out
of their homes and into it,
where they would become
her dinner.
And the boy could tell
his mother was afraid, too.
Though she'd never let on.
Some nights she'd grow so upset
that all she could do
was sit on the floor
of their basement,
hugging her knees
or mumbling into the darkness.
On such nights,
the boy would have
to make his own dinner,
draw his own bath,
tuck himself in bed.
Then he'd lie awake,
listening for the witch's call.
When it came,
he'd clutch his blanket,
lock his legs
and try his best to resist
the urge to wander outside.
But of course one night,
the urge was just too strong.
And so the boy wrapped himself
in his winter coat
and wandered out of his home,
and into the very large forest,
where to his great
astonishment,
he found his very own mother.
But of course,
the Calling Witch
was a good mother
and would never eat
her own child,
and so she went
without her dinner.
And took the little boy home
safe and sound.
Now, mostly on dark
windy nights,
the little boy
makes his own dinner,
draws his own bath,
puts himself to bed.
Then he lies awake, listening
for his mother's call.
When it comes,
he straightens his spine,
sticks out his chest,
and reminds himself
he's not afraid.
Dad?
Who are Edward's parents?
Are you gonna shoot me,
Virginia?
If you don't tell me.
Edward is mine.
Mine and your mother's
and nothing that happens now
will ever change that.
Just give me a name.
You know, prior to helping me
wrap up Greg and Alison,
and destroy evidence
back in the house,
you hadn't done
anything illegal.
But now you're at least
an accessory to murder.
And you probably
asphyxiated Alison
when you wrapped her up
in that tarp.
The name?
Run.
-Come on, come on.
-Where are we going?
You're gonna lock yourself
inside of Greg's car.
Do not come out
until I get you, understand?
Where are you going?
I'm gonna get Alison.
Alison?
Alison.
Alison. Alison.
Alison.
Where are Greg's keys?
What if dad comes after us?
He might not, Edward.
What if he does?
Then I'll tell him to go away.
What if he won't?
He will.
Are you sure?
No.
Damn it.
Edward, no!
What in the hell?
Just a little bit longer.
We're almost there.
Now listen.
Who was it?
One of the women from the list?
You weren't on the phone
very long.
She didn't move to Jason
till 1980.
We're gonna find her.
It could take us forever.
You should just let TPS take me.
CPS, Edward.
Why would I do that?
So you can go start your life
in New York.
You don't have to wait anymore.
You know,
we could keep the search up
from New York
just as well as from here.
We?
Yeah, we.
You didn't ask for that,
Virginia.
It's not fair.
It's only not fair
if I don't choose it, right?
Well, I do.
Move to New York with me.
Okay?
Okay.