The Children Under the House (2022) Movie Script
Last week, I purchased a repossessed storage locker.
Inside was an old desk, an outdated computer, and a filing cabinet
The letterhead of a few loose documents read The Office of Julia Luu. From what I could find,
she was a successful child therapist in Cates Crossing from the late 70s to early 90s.
Her obituary stated that she died on December 18, 2015.
At a glance, it seemed like a typical haul.
Typical if not for the collection of VHS tapes
hidden in the false bottom of the desk drawer.
Miss Julia: Hey, John.
Million dollar idea.
A way to share a video without waiting on the mail.
What do you think?
Anyway, as I said on the phone, I think this
maybe the easiest way to get you up to speed
on what Im dealing with here.
And before you ask, no, we dont
have release for the family.
They refused to have their lives involved in any way.
However, they did allow me to use up Jessicas drawings.
We will need to change their names
when we get to the writing stage.
Regardless, I think you will be able to see
why I think this will make one hell of a book.
The Questionnaire
Miss Julia: So, prior to our first session,
each member of the family was given the standard
questionnaire.
The results are as followed:
The patients name is Jessica Daniels.
Jessica or Jess as she prefers to be called
is 7 years old, normal birth, no complications,
no known medical issues.
She is intelligent, sweet, friendly, and highly empathetic.
The child was born in Houston, Texas where
she never had issues with school or socializing
with peers or adults.
The family bought the Clarks house, beautiful house.
I love how its build up on columns.
Im sure you remember the Clarks
from your time here, sweet old couple.
They owned that little diner you used to drive me to for lunch.
What was it?
Oh yeah, the burger shack.
But anyway, according to her mother, Carol,
Jess had a particularly tough time adjusting.
She didnt notice anything out of the
ordinary until the second week, Wednesday night to
be exact.
They think it was after midnight when
Jess ran into her mothers room screaming.
She claimed there were people living under the house.
Carol dismissed this as a nightmare,
but it started happening night after night until
Jess finally refused to sleep in her room.
She moved the childs bed to her room,
but Jess continued to wake up saying the same
thing.
She could hear people talk under the floor.
Carol made sure to note that Jess
never had problems sleeping in Houston.
Adam, the childs father, fed up with
having the child sleeping in the room, devised a
simple solution.
He brought her under the house, tried
to show her that there wasnt anything there.
And according to Adam, there wasnt.
But Jess was convinced she saw something.
The girl got into a ball and
screamed until her voice gave out.
She has been mute since that day.
After a series of tests and multiple
second opinions, no physician could find anything
wrong.
Theres nothing hindering the girl from
speaking.
Therefore, the conclusion is that
her condition is mental in nature.
The drawings you are seeing are
currently her only form of communication.
From observations and the questionnaire,
I have a few thoughts on the other family members.
Carol Daniels, she is the childrens primary caregiver.
From what I can observe, she is a caring mother,
however, she is deeply resentful of her husband,
Adam, for forcing them to move from
Houston to Cates Crossing.
Adam Daniels is an obvious workaholic.
He spends the majority of his time at work.
Dean, her brother, typical early teen.
He wasnt happy about the move
but seems to be adjusting adequately.
Give me a call after you digest this material.
Love to talk strategy.
End of Questionnaire
Good news. Mrs. Daniels will allow me to
tape record my voice during the sessions
I will splice in Jessicas pictures and give
general descriptions and notes when appropriate.
Session 1
Miss Julia: Hi, Jess.
My name is Miss Julia.
How are you today?
Jess: Im OK.
Miss Julia: Has your mom or
dad told you why youre here?
Jess: To talk.
Miss Julia: So how about we
get to know each other?
Would you like that?
Jess: OK
Miss Julia: Whats your favorite food?
Mine is spaghetti.
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Whats your favorite color?
Jess: Blue.
Miss Julia: I like that one too.
Tell me about your family.
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why are you frowning?
No reply
Miss Julia: OK.
So how about you tell me who that is?
No reply
Miss Julia: Did your mom or your dad get him for you?
Jess: NO
Jess: He belongs to my friend.
Miss Julia: Thats very sweet.
Tell me more about your friend.
I want to make a note here.
She stared in the corner of the room
as if she was waiting for permission.
She then shook her head in the negative.
Miss Julia: Is someone here, Jess?
Is that your friend in the corner?
Jess: [Illustration]
Another note: That clearly looks like a face.
It appears that she has an imaginary friend.
Miss Julia: Whats their name?
Maybe we could all play together?
Note: She would no longer participate
in my questions at this point.
Regardless, I thought this was
a decent first session.
Lets try to talk by the end of next week.
End of Session 1
Session 2
Miss Julia: So how are you doing today?
Jess: Fine
Miss Julia: And what did you do last night?
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Lets play a game.
If a genie came out of a bottle and granted
you 3 wishes, what would those be?
No reply.
Miss Julia: How about I go first then?
[Illustration]
Im hoping the last one can
be true.
Want to try?
Jess: OK
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Are these angels?
Is this who you think lives under your house?
Jess: Kinda
Miss Julia: So you wish theyd leave?
Jess: I wish they could.
Miss Julia: Lets talk about your friend,
OK?
OK, John.
Again, the girl stared into the corner of the
room almost like she was waiting for permission.
Miss Julia: Is that your friend?
Whats their name?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Would you tell me
their name if I give you a sucker?
How about two?
One for you and one for them?
Once again, the girl looked into the
corner of the room then shook her head yes.
[Illustration]
Note: I have to admit.
I found that image quite disturbing.
However, it isnt the creepiest imaginary
friend that Ive had drawn for me.
Miss Julia: Does your friend live under the house?
Jess: Yes.
Miss Julia: How many friends live under the house?
Jess: 10 maybe more.
Miss Julia: Why do you think they are there?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Are you still scared of them?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Would you like them to go away?
Note: A picture frame fell off the wall.
It was located in the corner of the
room she claimed her friend was standing.
Needless to say, it gave us both a good jump.
Ha. Ha.
So 10 imaginary friends.
That child has a lot to say but she is
having trouble finding someone to say it to.
Most likely, the father.
For homework, Im going to try
and have dad ask questions.
Mirror what we are doing at home.
All right, John.
I look forward to our chat on Sunday.
Bye.
End of Session 2
And sorry this tape is a little late but I
think I have rats.
Something has snuck into my office and eaten all the candy.
Hey, John.
Tomorrow is Jesss appointment, but I had
a few thoughts Id like to share so forgive
me if I start rambling.
You and I have seen quite a few disturbing childrens drawings.
But I must admit, after re-examining this
drawing, I feel there is something ugly true
about this image.
I feel like this drawing is rooted
in something the child has seen.
Perhaps, a movie or something on the news.
Maybe Dean tried to scare her or it
could be as simple as a scary story.
Ive even thought that maybe the imaginary
children might represent friends she left
behind in Houston.
Maybe Mia was her best friend.
Session 3.
Miss Julia: Hey, Jess.
Would you like to play another game?
Lets draw a picture of you as an adult.
Jess: OK
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why do you want to be a doctor?
Jess: To help people.
Miss Julia: And Im sure you will.
Thats a very good quality to have.
So what does Mia want to be when she grows up?
Note: As you might suspect John,
Jess once again became fixated with the same corner
of the room.
She shook her head in the negative over
and over and the motions became more and more
aggressive.
And as I was about to stop the young girl,
Jess picked up a crayon.
Jess: Mia doesnt get to grow up.
Miss Julia: Why is that Jess?
Note: Ill be honest, John.
I was scared to ask that question.
No reply.
Miss Julia: Everybody gets to grow up, Jess.
Jess: Not if they are dead
Miss Julia: You think Mia is dead?
Jess: Yeah
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why was she in the trunk?
Jess: She doesnt remember.
But she knows bad people put her there.
Now she lives under the house with her friends.
Miss Julia: What can you tell me
about her friends?
Jess: They are all very sad.
Only I can see them.
Miss Julia: So do you play
with the other friends?
Jess: Some of them.
Some of them scare me.
Miss Julia: And why is that?
Jess: Because they want to hurt me
and they force me to live under the house.
Miss Julia: Does Mia want to hurt you?
Jess: No. She protects me.
[Buzzing sound]
Time's up
Miss Julia: Before you go Jess.
Can you do me a favor?
For our next session, can you
tell me more about your friends?
Draw them?
Jess: Yes.
Jess: Yes. By the way, they are sorry
about eating the candy.
Note: And Im sure you will ask, I dont
know how she knew I was out of candy.
There was a moment she was alone when she first arrived.
Maybe she peeked in the desk.
Thats likely it, or the child is talking
to the dead
End of Session 3.
Miss Julia: Usually my conversations with Mrs.
Daniels dont expand too much beyond the session and pleasantries.
But this time, I can tell the woman was in distressed.
She asked quite a few questions about Mia.
I of course told her that most children
have imaginary friends and that I wouldnt worry.
She was also very curious about
the Clarks and if they had any children.
Of course, as far as I know the Clarks didnt.
When I questioned her curiosity, she mentioned
that they have found some old toys such as
Jesss bear, a toy truck, and a few other
things.
Mrs. Daniels also mentioned that Jess has
been taking things and hiding them in her room
as well as under the house.
I want to ask her about this in the next session.
Ill send Adams homework after Ive
had a chance to go through the material.
I dont expect to be too impressed.
Homework.
The following drawings and notes are
the result of the homework I gave Adam and Jess.
Night 1, Wednesday
Adam: How are you doing, sweetie?
Jess: Fine I guess.
Adam: How was the thing with Dr. Luu?
Jess: Good!!!!
We like her!
Adam: We?
Jess: Mia & me.
Adam: Right Mia.
I forgot
So, are you looking forward to school?
Jess: Not really.
Im scared kids are going to think Im
weird.
Adam: Honey, why would you think that?
Jess: Because I am.
I cant talk
and I see ghosts!!!
Adam: They're IMAGINARY not DEAD!
Im sure Dr. Luu is telling you the same thing.
Mia is not real.
Jess: Of course she is. I can see her behind you.
You hurt Mias feelings.
You made them mad.
Now I am mad.
Adam: Fine.
Fine. Get ready for dinner.
Night 2. Thursday
Adam: How was your day, baby?
Jess: Fun!
Mia read me a story.
Whats wrong, Dad?
You look scared.
Adam: Go watch TV.
I have more work to do.
Night 3
Friday
Adam: Well do the question thing later.
Night 4
Saturday. No Homework
Night 6. Monday.
Carol does the assignment for Adam
Carol: Dad had to work late,
so we are going to do the homework. OK?
Jess: OK.
Carol: You think Ill ever hear your voice
again?
Jess: I dont know.
Carol: Sometimes I think about
taking you and Dean back to Houston.
Jess: You cant do that.
They will never let me leave.
I dont think theyll let any of us leave.
Carol: Who?
Jess: I know youve seen them
out of the corner of your eyes.
Hear things.
Notice things arent where you left them.
They are always there.
Carol: Who baby?
Jess: The children under the house.
Were their family now
and you cant leave family
right?
Miss Julia: There is a lot to unpack here.
At times, I feel as if she was antagonizing
Adam with the drawings almost like she
was trying to push him away just to see if hed stay.
Unfortunately, Adam did just as she expected.
Jess probably wont speak until she could
finally let this world go and accept that
her parents problems arent her fault.
Speaking of which, I probably should recommend
a good marriage councilor for Adam and Carol.
All right John, Im looking forward
to your thoughts as usual.
Homework
Earlier today, Carol stopped by the office unannounced.
She handed me a folder of additional drawings by Jess.
I could tell that she had been drinking, but it wasnt
to the point where I felt it impaired her thinking.
The notes included on this tape are from memory.
Regardless, I think you will find them worrisome.
Conversation
Carol: Hello, Dr. Luu.
How are you?
Miss Julia: Fine, Carol.
What can I do for you?
Did we have an appointment?
Carol: No. Im here alone.
I feel so damn stupid.
I let myself believe it all could be true.
Miss Julia: Im not following, Carol.
Carol: Im sorry.
Im kinda all over the place.
A small part of me is relieved.
And the other part is just really worried
about my little girl.
Miss Julia: Maybe start at the beginning.
Carol: Have you looked at the homework?
Miss Julia: Of course.
Carol: I let myself believe it.
All of it.
Jess seems so convinced.
So sure.
I thought well, hell, maybe there are
dead people living under the house.
After all, my kid cant be crazy.
Miss Julia: Jess isnt crazy.
Shes just a kid dealing with a lot.
Carol: I started seeing them too, Dr. Luu.
Miss Julia: Who did you see?
Carol: Her friends.
I believe in an afterlife.
Its not that big of a stretch
right?
Miss Julia: There are lots of reasons that
could cause this stress. Exhaustion!
Carol: My son has seen things too.
Things he cant explain.
Hes heard Jess talking to another girl.
But always finds her alone.
You know that bear of hers?
Weve thrown it away a dozen times.
And it comes back every time.
Miss Julia: You know, I have a
colleague I think could help.
Maybe you and your husband could
benefit from a session.
Carol: No. I dont need that.
I know all of this is just in her head.
Miss Julia: What happened?
Carol: I had the whole yard dug up.
Every inch.
Every tree.
Outside the house.
And underneath.
Police even brought dogs.
You know what we found?
Nothing.
There are no kids under the house.
Just a box of toys and a few menus from
some old restaurant called the Burger Shack.
Thanks for listening.
Adam thinks weve all lost our minds.
Its just good to have someone to talk to.
I still need to call the Clarks.
See if they want their stuff.
We will see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Conversation
Miss Julia: I am very concerned for
Jess as well as her entire family.
Its fortunate that she was able to let
go of the delusion, but it is concerning how
quickly she chose to buy into it.
If things continue to deteriorate,
we may need child services to step in.
Lets speak after you get this.
Talk soon, John.
Hi John, its a few hours before Jesss session,
and I just received a phone call
that absolutely made my day.
Adam called and asked if I had a
reference for a marriage councilor.
This is an incredible step forward.
Id like to think that it was something
I did but the likelihood is Carols recent
actions have had an effect.
Or at least in his words, Its time
to focus on whats important.
This gives me a tremendous amount of hope.
Even if they cant save their marriage,
they may be able to learn how to cope and
keep their problems from spilling on to Jess.
Session 4
Note: Considering what I have reviewed in the
homework and the conversations with Mrs. Daniels
I was surprised to find Jess in such a chipper mood.
Miss Julia: Hello Jess, how are you today?
Jess: Great!
And Mia says hi too
Miss Julia: Oh, hello Mia.
So whats new with you?
Note: She opened a manila folder
and handed me a note from her dad.
Hey Sweetie, Im sorry about the last
few weeks. Im sorry about a lot of things.
I can do better, and I will do better for
you, your mom, and your brother.
I love all of you more than I love myself,
and Im going to start showing it.
Im ready to start believing you, baby.
Love, Dad.
Note: Clearly, Adam is turning a corner.
I believe this will be very important
in getting Jess to start speaking again.
Miss Julia: This is great, Jess.
So is this why you are in such a good mood?
Jess: Yeah
and...
dad wants to take us on vacation!
We might go to the beach
or the mountains.
He said Mia can come too!!!
Isnt that great?
Miss Julia: Of course it is.
Either place sounds like its going to be
a lot of fun.
(Ill keep my fingers crossed for the mountains.)
Did you have a chance to do the homework?
Jess: Yep!
Mia helped!
Note: John, I thought I was prepared
to see what she wanted to show me.
I was wrong.
Jess: The bad people gave Mia Mr. Bartleby.
Thats how they stole her.
Mia wishes she didnt leave her family.
Shelly was scared until they gave her some medicine.
But it was too much.
Then she woke up under the house.
Wendy remembers being dead before she died.
Being dead was supposed to be freedom.
But it was another trap, another prison.
Zak doesnt remember his family.
Every day was blurry until the last day.
Zak was stuffed in a fireplace after his neck broke.
Brad is the oldest. He was some place dark for a long time.
They forgot him and he died. He thinks
his body is still where they left it.
Mark remembers running. But he didnt get far.
The last thing he remembers is a loud bang.
Then he woke up under the house.
Kate is the scariest one under the house.
She has a hand for every hand that hurt her.
Note: These images are coming from somewhere.
I cant believe all of this is the product
of her imagination.
A young girl shouldnt be able to recall
some of these details.
Miss Julia: So who are these people?
Not everyone under the house wanted to talk
Most cant remember anything. But...
they are mad because they wanted to remember
Miss Julia: Well, thank you for doing this.
Will it be OK with you and Mia if I keep these?
Jess: Sure
Miss Julia: Thank you.
So Jess, why do you think you stopped speaking?
Jess: I traded my voice for eyes
They needed me see, so I needed to
give something to get something.
It was the only way to see my friends
Miss Julia: So you dont think youll
ever speak again?
Jess: Maybe. It depends.
Miss Julia: Depends on what?
Jess: If they ever get to leave.
Can I ask you a question?
Miss Julia: Absolutely. You can ask me anything.
Jess: Mia says you talk to
an imaginary friend too!
Its why she knew we could trust you!
Who is John?
John, Ive never mentioned your name
to Jess or her parents.
They know Im interested in writing
about Jess case
but they dont know that Im collaborating
with another therapist.
I need to think about this a little more.
Ill get back to you.
End of Session 4
John, I know you disagree, but Im leaving for the library.
I have to know if any of these is true.
I know you think theres a logical explanation
not rooted in the supernatural, but unfortunately,
I just dont see it.
I have never mentioned your name.
Your name isnt written anywhere in my office.
Its not even on the tapes.
And no, I dont edit these videos in the
same location I see patients.
Ive gone over every suggestion you gave me,
and none of them line up.
Not one.
Look at it this way, if I find nothing, this
will be your chance to rub it in.
Tell me you told me so.
God knows, it wouldnt be the first time.
But if I do find something, then Im not sure
if Im the right person to help this girl
Research
It took most of the day, but after going back
nearly ten years, I found what I was looking for.
Theyre all real, John.
They were someones children.
Someones babies.
But why are they under that house?
Why are they drawn to Jess?
Did the Clarks see them too?
I understand if you want out of this, John.
I know youre not that comfortable.
[Phone ringing] Hold on.
Hello?
Speaking.
What?
When?
I understand.
Thank you.
John, Adam was just murdered.
Research
Adams funeral went like you might imagine.
I didnt expect the big turnout though.
Apparently, Adam was more popular than I thought.
Even the Clarks came to pay their respects.
But I suppose Cates Crossing
has always been a friendly place.
Poor Adam probably wouldnt agree.
Police said it was a carjacking gone wrong.
A closed casket funeral I dont want to know
what they mean by gone wrong.
I really feel for Carol and the kids.
With everything theyve already been through,
I imagine the situation seems impossible.
I just want to help, but I really dont know how.
Carol told me in passing that they were moving back to Houston.
She said Jess wanted to do one more session before they left.
I should be hopeful, but I keep thinking
about what she wrote in the homework.
They will never let me leave.
Do I show Carol that articles and beg her to stay?
Or let them go and hope for the best?
And if they do go, how do I help those
poor children trapped under the house?
Its just too much, John. Too much.
I have a week before her session.
Im going to think it over.
Session 5
Note: Ive gone back and forth on this,
but after the session, Im going to share
the articles with Carol.
If it were me, Id want to know.
Miss Julia: Hi, Jess.
How are you today?
Jess: I'm sad
Miss Julia: I know.
But thats OK.
Its natural to be sad when
we lose someone we care about.
Jess: I didnt lose him. He was taken.
Miss Julia: Oh my God, Jess.
Im so sorry.
You shouldnt be seeing something like this.
Jess: Its OK. Im kinda used to it.
Miss Julia: Is that Shelly in the background?
Jess: Yes
She liked following dad.
She said the man in the mask seemed familiar.
Miss Julia: Does she know who that is?
Jess: No
But she heard his voice before.
Miss Julia: Really?
Where?
Jess: She doesnt remember.
Miss Julia: Can you ask her again?
Shelly disappeared a decade ago.
That cant be a coincidence.
Jess: Shes sorry
But she doesnt remember. Just pieces of things.
Miss Julia: Jess, I want you to tell
your friends that I want to help them
but I need any information they can give me.
Can Shelly or Mia ask the others?
Anything might help.
Note: She started acknowledging
people in every direction.
I got the uneasy feeling that this
room was filled with children.
Note: For once, the young girl looked in charge.
She placed her finger on her lips to
silence whoever was speaking.
Finally, she pointed across the room
then started writing.
Jess: Food. They remember hearing people talking
It was loud, but the medicine kept it quiet
It was dark. All of them remember the dark
Some remember more faces than others
Money. There was always money
The woman was nice.
She always brought food
Mark said maybe it was a man
He was nice too
He brought toys.
Miss Julia: Thank you, Jess.
Everybody.
Ill do my best to try and figure this out.
Jess: You never told me who John was
Miss Julia: John is a friend.
We went to school together.
We worked together for a few years.
He lives in Florida now with his wife and kid.
And what Mia has noticed is that
I send him tapes of our conversations.
I was hoping he could help me with your case,
and we were thinking about writing a book
about you and your friends.
Jess: So hes not a ghost?
Miss Julia: No.
Not yet anyway.
Does this bother you?
Or your friends?
Jess: Nope
Mia was hoping to meet a new ghost
Someone that could help them move on or something
You know this is goodbye, right?
Miss Julia: Yes, your mom told me that
you were going back to Houston.
Jess: Im not going back to Houston.
Miss Julia: Why not?
Jess: Because Im going to live under the house
The ones that dont remember will never let me leave.
Miss Julia: Im going to try and talk to your mom, OK?
Jess: Thanks, but she is not going to listen
Come visit me. If you can.
End of Session 5
Miss Julia: Like Before, the following
notes are from memory.
Carol: I want to thank you for
everything youve done for Jess.
Miss Julia: It was my pleasure.
Look, I want to talk to you about Jess
friends.
Carol: I was having a bad day hell, a bad month.
I let my imagination get away from me.
Miss Julia: Mrs. Daniels, theyre real.
And I have proof.
Carol: That cant be true. We dug up the entire yard.
We didnt find anything.
Miss Julia: Thats because
they werent looking in the right place.
Every name she gave me
I was able to find in the paper.
She even knew how Mia perished.
Carol: Then Jess isnt
Miss Julia: Jess problem is supernatural.
Carol: Then its a good thing were leaving.
Miss Julia: Thats what I wanted to talk about.
I was hoping youd consider staying
Carol: Why???
Miss Julia: Id like to try and help them.
And for that, I need Jess. Also...
She doesnt think theyre going to let her leave.
Carol: What does that mean?
It sounds like a threat.
Miss Julia: According to Jess, it is.
Carol: Then thats a good enough reason to leave,
isnt it?
Would you want to live with someone
threatening your little girl?
Miss Julia: I understand.
But this might cause more problems than solve.
And then theres the other children.
Carol: Look, Im sorry about those children.
I really am, but I have to worry about my kids first.
Thanks for everything.
Miss Julia: Jess last session was two weeks ago.
The next day, Carol left with Dean and Jess.
They didnt get more than two miles away
from the house when Jess had a violent seizure.
Jess hasnt been the same since.
She no longer communicates.
She sits in the corner blankly staring at the wall.
Talk later, John.
Review
Im afraid we are going to lose Jess.
Yesterday, she had her 4th seizure.
The poor child seems weaker by the day.
Every time the phone rings, Im afraid
its Carol calling me with the worst.
The good news is that Jess still communicates.
Each morning, Ill find several of he
drawings waiting for me in the office.
At least, I hope that its her leaving me
drawings.
Jess Illustration: Its scary where I am.
Its like another world here.
Its dark and cold.
Dad isnt here.
Shelly said he moved on.
Dad reached out, tried to take her along.
But something kept her here.
Something keeping us all here.
They are so confused.
They try to remember but cant.
They are stuck in a loop that makes no sense.
They only recognize pieces of things.
Is this going to happen to me???
Tell mom she can leave.
Ill be OK.
Tell mom and Dean I love them.
Miss Julia: Jess is not dead yet.
There has to be a way to save this girl
a way to get her soul back into her body.
But time is running out.
I called the Clarks in desperation.
I was surprised they moved back to Cates Crossing.
Apparently, RV life didnt suit them.
Mrs. Clark probably thought I was crazy.
I cant imagine too many people who expect to get a
call asking if theyve seen ghost children in their home.
I gave her Mias name, Brad,
Shelly, Wendy, Mark, all of them.
She was clueless.
She couldnt recall anything weird ever
happening in that house.
I must have sounded hopeless.
She asked me several times to come by their place.
Said we could talk over lemonade.
I, of course, declined.
I just dont have the time.
Jess doesnt have the time.
This is outside my realm of expertise.
I probably should call a priest, but Ive always been more
comfortable behind a stack of books than kneeling on a pew.
The following are the notes I accumulated
over three days of continuous research.
I never would have imagined that there were
so many books dedicated to spirits, ghosts,
demons, and the afterlife.
Notes.
What creates a ghost?
1. Murder especially those that remain unsolved
Sometimes the ghost will not move on
until the murder is solved.
Best hope of ending this
But who could have done this???
2. Lack of proper burial. Possible.
Most of the children have never been found.
3. Time Loops - Ghosts might be stuck
in their last moments.
Why dont they remember their last moments?
Older ghosts may remember less and less of their former lives.
But what if they already dont remember?
Whats left? Is anything left? Emotions??? Anger
Emotions??? Anger
Possession. Was Jess possessed?
- Dont demons possess people?
-Cant ghosts posses people?
- Is that the case here
NO NO NO
The children are victims too.
Miss Julia: What the hell am I missing?
Ive been racking my head for days.
What am I not seeing?
Too Many Questions?
Who couldve had done this?
What is their motive?
Connection between the kids?
How does Ralph Kemp & Jerrod James fit in?
- Were they the killers?
- Were there others? Heroin?
Why are the kids under the Clarks house?
Is this the location of Jess?
Why was Adam killed? What was the motive?
Maybe theres a piece of something
in the drawings that I missed.
Or maybe in one of the newspapers.
Drugs and Drug Use
Effects of Heroin
Can cause a dream-like state.
Is that why the children dont remember?
Their last moments were a drug-induced dream/haze.
They are reliving that confusion.
But why would you do this?
They werent murdered.
The children were being trafficked.
Its like Jess said, the ghosts only see
pieces.
They were at the Burger Shack, John.
They had to be.
Those poor kids.
And who do these drawings looks like?
Oh my God, it was the Clarks.
And Ive told them everything.
I need to go to the police.
But who is going to believe this?
The Clarks are one of the most prominent
families in Cates Crossing.
And I cant believe that a childs drawings
will hold up in a court of law.
I need to get Carol and those kids out of that house.
And I shuddered to think what would have happened
if I took Mrs. Clarks offer for lemonade.
Id probably be under that house too.
[Phone ringing] Hello?
Really?
Thats incredible news.
Yes, Ill be right over.
And Mrs. Daniels, I have a lot to tell you.
I dont think we can trust the Clarks.
But we will talk more when I get there.
John, Jess woke up, but Im sure youll
hear about this before you get the tape.
Im dropping this in the mail as
I leave for the Daniels.
If I or any of us disappear, it was the Clarks.
So many thoughts were racing through my mind
as I drove to the Daniels home.
The Clarks. Adam. The children. Jess.
Why was she able to wake up now?
What changed?
Did I do something?
Hell, maybe the ghosts let Jess go.
Maybe she escaped.
Why does this feel too easy?
And why is it when you have somewhere to be,
you hit every red light?
It was like something was telling me to stay away.
The moment I walked through the front door,
I found Mr. Clark pointing a gun in my face.
Jess wasnt awake.
I was lured here, and I didnt need to guess why.
I knew in my heart that this was my fault.
We were all going to die.
House Call
John, I know youve heard me tell the story
a dozen times now, but the following drawings
are Jess account of the event.
Although she was unconscious for the majority
of the experience, Jess was incredibly accurate.
The Clarks plan was simple. They were going to
shoot us then burn the place down.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] You were supposed to leave
after your husband died. Why didnt you just leave?
Carol: [Illustration] We tried, but Jess got sick.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration] We figured kill your
husband and we wouldnt have to kill the kids.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] Now our hands are tied.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Jess, I hope you can
hear me, because we need your help.
Carol: [Illustration] We cant leave!
Please dont hurt my babies!
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] It doesnt matter.
This is on you.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] What about the other children?
Were your hands tied when you kidnapped them? Hurt them?
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] We never hurt a single kid.
It was just a business!
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Tell that to the families you ruined. You might
not have pulled the trigger or taken a life, but you sent them on their way.
And that makes you worse.
You knew what of monsters you were feeding them to.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] As nasty as it is, the money saved us.
Im alive because of it, Im not apologizing for surviving.
Miss Julia: [Illustration]
Even the devil thinks hes justified.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] Thats cute.
But I think we have heard enough from you!
Shoot them and lets burn this place.
Jess: [Illustration] Mom, I dont want to
die.
Carol: [Illustration] Close your eyes baby.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Tell me.
Do you even remember their names?
John, I knew I only had one shot to survive this.
I needed the children to remember.
The children were in this house with the Clarks for years,
and they never made contact.
I needed the Clarks to confess.
Admit to the crime.
And if my time being a therapist has taught me anything,
people want to validate their actions.
You just need to know how to ask.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration]
I remember all of their names and faces.
You dont forget that!
Mia, Mark, Wendy, Shelly, Zak, Brad, Kate,
Sue, Wes, June, Linda, Christen, Gladys.
Those little faces behind the cages.
We arent monsters.
Nobody wants to see a kid cry.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Thats why you drugged them.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration] Enough!
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] But what I cant
figure is how do you know those names?
We had this place scrubbed. You shouldnt have
gotten that from a box of toys.
Toys I thought were destroyed.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Simple.
They told me.
Hey, Mia. They remember you.
Do you remember them?
Mia: [Illustration] Yes.
We remember you now.
We remember everything.
You took us.
Now, we take you!
No, we're sorry!
Miss Julia: The children ripped the Clarks apart
then dragged every piece back into the shadows.
They left nothing. Not even blood.
After that, Jess woke up.
The only thing left of the Clarks was
their gun and a news story.
No one will ever know what they did except us,
and they will probably always be remembered
as the kindly couple who owned the Burger Shack.
But according to Jess, they got what they deserved.
End of House Call
Final Session
Miss Julia: It has been two weeks since Jess woke up.
Carol said things felt different in the home.
Brighter.
She said it felt like a different house.
Carol told me they were finally moving back to Houston.
Jess had been in a great mood since,
but she still has not said a word.
Maybe the children took her voice with them.
So how are you today?
Jess: Great!
Are you looking forward to moving back to Houston?
Jess: Yes! I miss my friends.
I wish dad was coming, but I know hes
somewhere watching over us!
Im sure he is, Jess.
Your mom said you still arent speaking.
Have you given it a try?
Note: Jess just shrugged and smiled.
Miss Julia: Looks like I got my wish.
I got a happy Jess after all.
Have you seen Mia or the others?
Jess: I got my wish too.
[In Jesss own voice] They are free now.
Note: John, her little voice was the
sweetest sound Ive ever heard.
We spent the rest of the session playing old board games.
We had a good time, and then after we said goodbye.
Like I said John, this would make one hell of a book,
but I dont think its a book I can write.
At least not now.
Maybe one day Ill come back to this case.
Maybe.
Besides, no one will ever believe it.
I think it would be better
to just let these children rest.
Sorry to waste your time, John.
We could talk it over when I
come down for Thanksgiving.
Final Session
Julia: It has been ten years since Ive
looked at these tapes.
I thought about destroying them,
but that doesnt feel right.
I followed up on Carol, Dean, and Jess.
Carol has a job in some accounting firm.
She never remarried.
Dean went to college.
He is studying finance.
Jess seems to be happy.
She is about to graduate and
move to New York for college.
Carol said she doesnt remember
Mia or the ghost children.
Neither her or Dean ever bring it up.
And maybe neither should I.
The Children Under The House
Inside was an old desk, an outdated computer, and a filing cabinet
The letterhead of a few loose documents read The Office of Julia Luu. From what I could find,
she was a successful child therapist in Cates Crossing from the late 70s to early 90s.
Her obituary stated that she died on December 18, 2015.
At a glance, it seemed like a typical haul.
Typical if not for the collection of VHS tapes
hidden in the false bottom of the desk drawer.
Miss Julia: Hey, John.
Million dollar idea.
A way to share a video without waiting on the mail.
What do you think?
Anyway, as I said on the phone, I think this
maybe the easiest way to get you up to speed
on what Im dealing with here.
And before you ask, no, we dont
have release for the family.
They refused to have their lives involved in any way.
However, they did allow me to use up Jessicas drawings.
We will need to change their names
when we get to the writing stage.
Regardless, I think you will be able to see
why I think this will make one hell of a book.
The Questionnaire
Miss Julia: So, prior to our first session,
each member of the family was given the standard
questionnaire.
The results are as followed:
The patients name is Jessica Daniels.
Jessica or Jess as she prefers to be called
is 7 years old, normal birth, no complications,
no known medical issues.
She is intelligent, sweet, friendly, and highly empathetic.
The child was born in Houston, Texas where
she never had issues with school or socializing
with peers or adults.
The family bought the Clarks house, beautiful house.
I love how its build up on columns.
Im sure you remember the Clarks
from your time here, sweet old couple.
They owned that little diner you used to drive me to for lunch.
What was it?
Oh yeah, the burger shack.
But anyway, according to her mother, Carol,
Jess had a particularly tough time adjusting.
She didnt notice anything out of the
ordinary until the second week, Wednesday night to
be exact.
They think it was after midnight when
Jess ran into her mothers room screaming.
She claimed there were people living under the house.
Carol dismissed this as a nightmare,
but it started happening night after night until
Jess finally refused to sleep in her room.
She moved the childs bed to her room,
but Jess continued to wake up saying the same
thing.
She could hear people talk under the floor.
Carol made sure to note that Jess
never had problems sleeping in Houston.
Adam, the childs father, fed up with
having the child sleeping in the room, devised a
simple solution.
He brought her under the house, tried
to show her that there wasnt anything there.
And according to Adam, there wasnt.
But Jess was convinced she saw something.
The girl got into a ball and
screamed until her voice gave out.
She has been mute since that day.
After a series of tests and multiple
second opinions, no physician could find anything
wrong.
Theres nothing hindering the girl from
speaking.
Therefore, the conclusion is that
her condition is mental in nature.
The drawings you are seeing are
currently her only form of communication.
From observations and the questionnaire,
I have a few thoughts on the other family members.
Carol Daniels, she is the childrens primary caregiver.
From what I can observe, she is a caring mother,
however, she is deeply resentful of her husband,
Adam, for forcing them to move from
Houston to Cates Crossing.
Adam Daniels is an obvious workaholic.
He spends the majority of his time at work.
Dean, her brother, typical early teen.
He wasnt happy about the move
but seems to be adjusting adequately.
Give me a call after you digest this material.
Love to talk strategy.
End of Questionnaire
Good news. Mrs. Daniels will allow me to
tape record my voice during the sessions
I will splice in Jessicas pictures and give
general descriptions and notes when appropriate.
Session 1
Miss Julia: Hi, Jess.
My name is Miss Julia.
How are you today?
Jess: Im OK.
Miss Julia: Has your mom or
dad told you why youre here?
Jess: To talk.
Miss Julia: So how about we
get to know each other?
Would you like that?
Jess: OK
Miss Julia: Whats your favorite food?
Mine is spaghetti.
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Whats your favorite color?
Jess: Blue.
Miss Julia: I like that one too.
Tell me about your family.
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why are you frowning?
No reply
Miss Julia: OK.
So how about you tell me who that is?
No reply
Miss Julia: Did your mom or your dad get him for you?
Jess: NO
Jess: He belongs to my friend.
Miss Julia: Thats very sweet.
Tell me more about your friend.
I want to make a note here.
She stared in the corner of the room
as if she was waiting for permission.
She then shook her head in the negative.
Miss Julia: Is someone here, Jess?
Is that your friend in the corner?
Jess: [Illustration]
Another note: That clearly looks like a face.
It appears that she has an imaginary friend.
Miss Julia: Whats their name?
Maybe we could all play together?
Note: She would no longer participate
in my questions at this point.
Regardless, I thought this was
a decent first session.
Lets try to talk by the end of next week.
End of Session 1
Session 2
Miss Julia: So how are you doing today?
Jess: Fine
Miss Julia: And what did you do last night?
Jess: [Illustration]
Miss Julia: Lets play a game.
If a genie came out of a bottle and granted
you 3 wishes, what would those be?
No reply.
Miss Julia: How about I go first then?
[Illustration]
Im hoping the last one can
be true.
Want to try?
Jess: OK
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Are these angels?
Is this who you think lives under your house?
Jess: Kinda
Miss Julia: So you wish theyd leave?
Jess: I wish they could.
Miss Julia: Lets talk about your friend,
OK?
OK, John.
Again, the girl stared into the corner of the
room almost like she was waiting for permission.
Miss Julia: Is that your friend?
Whats their name?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Would you tell me
their name if I give you a sucker?
How about two?
One for you and one for them?
Once again, the girl looked into the
corner of the room then shook her head yes.
[Illustration]
Note: I have to admit.
I found that image quite disturbing.
However, it isnt the creepiest imaginary
friend that Ive had drawn for me.
Miss Julia: Does your friend live under the house?
Jess: Yes.
Miss Julia: How many friends live under the house?
Jess: 10 maybe more.
Miss Julia: Why do you think they are there?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Are you still scared of them?
No reply.
Miss Julia: Would you like them to go away?
Note: A picture frame fell off the wall.
It was located in the corner of the
room she claimed her friend was standing.
Needless to say, it gave us both a good jump.
Ha. Ha.
So 10 imaginary friends.
That child has a lot to say but she is
having trouble finding someone to say it to.
Most likely, the father.
For homework, Im going to try
and have dad ask questions.
Mirror what we are doing at home.
All right, John.
I look forward to our chat on Sunday.
Bye.
End of Session 2
And sorry this tape is a little late but I
think I have rats.
Something has snuck into my office and eaten all the candy.
Hey, John.
Tomorrow is Jesss appointment, but I had
a few thoughts Id like to share so forgive
me if I start rambling.
You and I have seen quite a few disturbing childrens drawings.
But I must admit, after re-examining this
drawing, I feel there is something ugly true
about this image.
I feel like this drawing is rooted
in something the child has seen.
Perhaps, a movie or something on the news.
Maybe Dean tried to scare her or it
could be as simple as a scary story.
Ive even thought that maybe the imaginary
children might represent friends she left
behind in Houston.
Maybe Mia was her best friend.
Session 3.
Miss Julia: Hey, Jess.
Would you like to play another game?
Lets draw a picture of you as an adult.
Jess: OK
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why do you want to be a doctor?
Jess: To help people.
Miss Julia: And Im sure you will.
Thats a very good quality to have.
So what does Mia want to be when she grows up?
Note: As you might suspect John,
Jess once again became fixated with the same corner
of the room.
She shook her head in the negative over
and over and the motions became more and more
aggressive.
And as I was about to stop the young girl,
Jess picked up a crayon.
Jess: Mia doesnt get to grow up.
Miss Julia: Why is that Jess?
Note: Ill be honest, John.
I was scared to ask that question.
No reply.
Miss Julia: Everybody gets to grow up, Jess.
Jess: Not if they are dead
Miss Julia: You think Mia is dead?
Jess: Yeah
[Illustration]
Miss Julia: Why was she in the trunk?
Jess: She doesnt remember.
But she knows bad people put her there.
Now she lives under the house with her friends.
Miss Julia: What can you tell me
about her friends?
Jess: They are all very sad.
Only I can see them.
Miss Julia: So do you play
with the other friends?
Jess: Some of them.
Some of them scare me.
Miss Julia: And why is that?
Jess: Because they want to hurt me
and they force me to live under the house.
Miss Julia: Does Mia want to hurt you?
Jess: No. She protects me.
[Buzzing sound]
Time's up
Miss Julia: Before you go Jess.
Can you do me a favor?
For our next session, can you
tell me more about your friends?
Draw them?
Jess: Yes.
Jess: Yes. By the way, they are sorry
about eating the candy.
Note: And Im sure you will ask, I dont
know how she knew I was out of candy.
There was a moment she was alone when she first arrived.
Maybe she peeked in the desk.
Thats likely it, or the child is talking
to the dead
End of Session 3.
Miss Julia: Usually my conversations with Mrs.
Daniels dont expand too much beyond the session and pleasantries.
But this time, I can tell the woman was in distressed.
She asked quite a few questions about Mia.
I of course told her that most children
have imaginary friends and that I wouldnt worry.
She was also very curious about
the Clarks and if they had any children.
Of course, as far as I know the Clarks didnt.
When I questioned her curiosity, she mentioned
that they have found some old toys such as
Jesss bear, a toy truck, and a few other
things.
Mrs. Daniels also mentioned that Jess has
been taking things and hiding them in her room
as well as under the house.
I want to ask her about this in the next session.
Ill send Adams homework after Ive
had a chance to go through the material.
I dont expect to be too impressed.
Homework.
The following drawings and notes are
the result of the homework I gave Adam and Jess.
Night 1, Wednesday
Adam: How are you doing, sweetie?
Jess: Fine I guess.
Adam: How was the thing with Dr. Luu?
Jess: Good!!!!
We like her!
Adam: We?
Jess: Mia & me.
Adam: Right Mia.
I forgot
So, are you looking forward to school?
Jess: Not really.
Im scared kids are going to think Im
weird.
Adam: Honey, why would you think that?
Jess: Because I am.
I cant talk
and I see ghosts!!!
Adam: They're IMAGINARY not DEAD!
Im sure Dr. Luu is telling you the same thing.
Mia is not real.
Jess: Of course she is. I can see her behind you.
You hurt Mias feelings.
You made them mad.
Now I am mad.
Adam: Fine.
Fine. Get ready for dinner.
Night 2. Thursday
Adam: How was your day, baby?
Jess: Fun!
Mia read me a story.
Whats wrong, Dad?
You look scared.
Adam: Go watch TV.
I have more work to do.
Night 3
Friday
Adam: Well do the question thing later.
Night 4
Saturday. No Homework
Night 6. Monday.
Carol does the assignment for Adam
Carol: Dad had to work late,
so we are going to do the homework. OK?
Jess: OK.
Carol: You think Ill ever hear your voice
again?
Jess: I dont know.
Carol: Sometimes I think about
taking you and Dean back to Houston.
Jess: You cant do that.
They will never let me leave.
I dont think theyll let any of us leave.
Carol: Who?
Jess: I know youve seen them
out of the corner of your eyes.
Hear things.
Notice things arent where you left them.
They are always there.
Carol: Who baby?
Jess: The children under the house.
Were their family now
and you cant leave family
right?
Miss Julia: There is a lot to unpack here.
At times, I feel as if she was antagonizing
Adam with the drawings almost like she
was trying to push him away just to see if hed stay.
Unfortunately, Adam did just as she expected.
Jess probably wont speak until she could
finally let this world go and accept that
her parents problems arent her fault.
Speaking of which, I probably should recommend
a good marriage councilor for Adam and Carol.
All right John, Im looking forward
to your thoughts as usual.
Homework
Earlier today, Carol stopped by the office unannounced.
She handed me a folder of additional drawings by Jess.
I could tell that she had been drinking, but it wasnt
to the point where I felt it impaired her thinking.
The notes included on this tape are from memory.
Regardless, I think you will find them worrisome.
Conversation
Carol: Hello, Dr. Luu.
How are you?
Miss Julia: Fine, Carol.
What can I do for you?
Did we have an appointment?
Carol: No. Im here alone.
I feel so damn stupid.
I let myself believe it all could be true.
Miss Julia: Im not following, Carol.
Carol: Im sorry.
Im kinda all over the place.
A small part of me is relieved.
And the other part is just really worried
about my little girl.
Miss Julia: Maybe start at the beginning.
Carol: Have you looked at the homework?
Miss Julia: Of course.
Carol: I let myself believe it.
All of it.
Jess seems so convinced.
So sure.
I thought well, hell, maybe there are
dead people living under the house.
After all, my kid cant be crazy.
Miss Julia: Jess isnt crazy.
Shes just a kid dealing with a lot.
Carol: I started seeing them too, Dr. Luu.
Miss Julia: Who did you see?
Carol: Her friends.
I believe in an afterlife.
Its not that big of a stretch
right?
Miss Julia: There are lots of reasons that
could cause this stress. Exhaustion!
Carol: My son has seen things too.
Things he cant explain.
Hes heard Jess talking to another girl.
But always finds her alone.
You know that bear of hers?
Weve thrown it away a dozen times.
And it comes back every time.
Miss Julia: You know, I have a
colleague I think could help.
Maybe you and your husband could
benefit from a session.
Carol: No. I dont need that.
I know all of this is just in her head.
Miss Julia: What happened?
Carol: I had the whole yard dug up.
Every inch.
Every tree.
Outside the house.
And underneath.
Police even brought dogs.
You know what we found?
Nothing.
There are no kids under the house.
Just a box of toys and a few menus from
some old restaurant called the Burger Shack.
Thanks for listening.
Adam thinks weve all lost our minds.
Its just good to have someone to talk to.
I still need to call the Clarks.
See if they want their stuff.
We will see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Conversation
Miss Julia: I am very concerned for
Jess as well as her entire family.
Its fortunate that she was able to let
go of the delusion, but it is concerning how
quickly she chose to buy into it.
If things continue to deteriorate,
we may need child services to step in.
Lets speak after you get this.
Talk soon, John.
Hi John, its a few hours before Jesss session,
and I just received a phone call
that absolutely made my day.
Adam called and asked if I had a
reference for a marriage councilor.
This is an incredible step forward.
Id like to think that it was something
I did but the likelihood is Carols recent
actions have had an effect.
Or at least in his words, Its time
to focus on whats important.
This gives me a tremendous amount of hope.
Even if they cant save their marriage,
they may be able to learn how to cope and
keep their problems from spilling on to Jess.
Session 4
Note: Considering what I have reviewed in the
homework and the conversations with Mrs. Daniels
I was surprised to find Jess in such a chipper mood.
Miss Julia: Hello Jess, how are you today?
Jess: Great!
And Mia says hi too
Miss Julia: Oh, hello Mia.
So whats new with you?
Note: She opened a manila folder
and handed me a note from her dad.
Hey Sweetie, Im sorry about the last
few weeks. Im sorry about a lot of things.
I can do better, and I will do better for
you, your mom, and your brother.
I love all of you more than I love myself,
and Im going to start showing it.
Im ready to start believing you, baby.
Love, Dad.
Note: Clearly, Adam is turning a corner.
I believe this will be very important
in getting Jess to start speaking again.
Miss Julia: This is great, Jess.
So is this why you are in such a good mood?
Jess: Yeah
and...
dad wants to take us on vacation!
We might go to the beach
or the mountains.
He said Mia can come too!!!
Isnt that great?
Miss Julia: Of course it is.
Either place sounds like its going to be
a lot of fun.
(Ill keep my fingers crossed for the mountains.)
Did you have a chance to do the homework?
Jess: Yep!
Mia helped!
Note: John, I thought I was prepared
to see what she wanted to show me.
I was wrong.
Jess: The bad people gave Mia Mr. Bartleby.
Thats how they stole her.
Mia wishes she didnt leave her family.
Shelly was scared until they gave her some medicine.
But it was too much.
Then she woke up under the house.
Wendy remembers being dead before she died.
Being dead was supposed to be freedom.
But it was another trap, another prison.
Zak doesnt remember his family.
Every day was blurry until the last day.
Zak was stuffed in a fireplace after his neck broke.
Brad is the oldest. He was some place dark for a long time.
They forgot him and he died. He thinks
his body is still where they left it.
Mark remembers running. But he didnt get far.
The last thing he remembers is a loud bang.
Then he woke up under the house.
Kate is the scariest one under the house.
She has a hand for every hand that hurt her.
Note: These images are coming from somewhere.
I cant believe all of this is the product
of her imagination.
A young girl shouldnt be able to recall
some of these details.
Miss Julia: So who are these people?
Not everyone under the house wanted to talk
Most cant remember anything. But...
they are mad because they wanted to remember
Miss Julia: Well, thank you for doing this.
Will it be OK with you and Mia if I keep these?
Jess: Sure
Miss Julia: Thank you.
So Jess, why do you think you stopped speaking?
Jess: I traded my voice for eyes
They needed me see, so I needed to
give something to get something.
It was the only way to see my friends
Miss Julia: So you dont think youll
ever speak again?
Jess: Maybe. It depends.
Miss Julia: Depends on what?
Jess: If they ever get to leave.
Can I ask you a question?
Miss Julia: Absolutely. You can ask me anything.
Jess: Mia says you talk to
an imaginary friend too!
Its why she knew we could trust you!
Who is John?
John, Ive never mentioned your name
to Jess or her parents.
They know Im interested in writing
about Jess case
but they dont know that Im collaborating
with another therapist.
I need to think about this a little more.
Ill get back to you.
End of Session 4
John, I know you disagree, but Im leaving for the library.
I have to know if any of these is true.
I know you think theres a logical explanation
not rooted in the supernatural, but unfortunately,
I just dont see it.
I have never mentioned your name.
Your name isnt written anywhere in my office.
Its not even on the tapes.
And no, I dont edit these videos in the
same location I see patients.
Ive gone over every suggestion you gave me,
and none of them line up.
Not one.
Look at it this way, if I find nothing, this
will be your chance to rub it in.
Tell me you told me so.
God knows, it wouldnt be the first time.
But if I do find something, then Im not sure
if Im the right person to help this girl
Research
It took most of the day, but after going back
nearly ten years, I found what I was looking for.
Theyre all real, John.
They were someones children.
Someones babies.
But why are they under that house?
Why are they drawn to Jess?
Did the Clarks see them too?
I understand if you want out of this, John.
I know youre not that comfortable.
[Phone ringing] Hold on.
Hello?
Speaking.
What?
When?
I understand.
Thank you.
John, Adam was just murdered.
Research
Adams funeral went like you might imagine.
I didnt expect the big turnout though.
Apparently, Adam was more popular than I thought.
Even the Clarks came to pay their respects.
But I suppose Cates Crossing
has always been a friendly place.
Poor Adam probably wouldnt agree.
Police said it was a carjacking gone wrong.
A closed casket funeral I dont want to know
what they mean by gone wrong.
I really feel for Carol and the kids.
With everything theyve already been through,
I imagine the situation seems impossible.
I just want to help, but I really dont know how.
Carol told me in passing that they were moving back to Houston.
She said Jess wanted to do one more session before they left.
I should be hopeful, but I keep thinking
about what she wrote in the homework.
They will never let me leave.
Do I show Carol that articles and beg her to stay?
Or let them go and hope for the best?
And if they do go, how do I help those
poor children trapped under the house?
Its just too much, John. Too much.
I have a week before her session.
Im going to think it over.
Session 5
Note: Ive gone back and forth on this,
but after the session, Im going to share
the articles with Carol.
If it were me, Id want to know.
Miss Julia: Hi, Jess.
How are you today?
Jess: I'm sad
Miss Julia: I know.
But thats OK.
Its natural to be sad when
we lose someone we care about.
Jess: I didnt lose him. He was taken.
Miss Julia: Oh my God, Jess.
Im so sorry.
You shouldnt be seeing something like this.
Jess: Its OK. Im kinda used to it.
Miss Julia: Is that Shelly in the background?
Jess: Yes
She liked following dad.
She said the man in the mask seemed familiar.
Miss Julia: Does she know who that is?
Jess: No
But she heard his voice before.
Miss Julia: Really?
Where?
Jess: She doesnt remember.
Miss Julia: Can you ask her again?
Shelly disappeared a decade ago.
That cant be a coincidence.
Jess: Shes sorry
But she doesnt remember. Just pieces of things.
Miss Julia: Jess, I want you to tell
your friends that I want to help them
but I need any information they can give me.
Can Shelly or Mia ask the others?
Anything might help.
Note: She started acknowledging
people in every direction.
I got the uneasy feeling that this
room was filled with children.
Note: For once, the young girl looked in charge.
She placed her finger on her lips to
silence whoever was speaking.
Finally, she pointed across the room
then started writing.
Jess: Food. They remember hearing people talking
It was loud, but the medicine kept it quiet
It was dark. All of them remember the dark
Some remember more faces than others
Money. There was always money
The woman was nice.
She always brought food
Mark said maybe it was a man
He was nice too
He brought toys.
Miss Julia: Thank you, Jess.
Everybody.
Ill do my best to try and figure this out.
Jess: You never told me who John was
Miss Julia: John is a friend.
We went to school together.
We worked together for a few years.
He lives in Florida now with his wife and kid.
And what Mia has noticed is that
I send him tapes of our conversations.
I was hoping he could help me with your case,
and we were thinking about writing a book
about you and your friends.
Jess: So hes not a ghost?
Miss Julia: No.
Not yet anyway.
Does this bother you?
Or your friends?
Jess: Nope
Mia was hoping to meet a new ghost
Someone that could help them move on or something
You know this is goodbye, right?
Miss Julia: Yes, your mom told me that
you were going back to Houston.
Jess: Im not going back to Houston.
Miss Julia: Why not?
Jess: Because Im going to live under the house
The ones that dont remember will never let me leave.
Miss Julia: Im going to try and talk to your mom, OK?
Jess: Thanks, but she is not going to listen
Come visit me. If you can.
End of Session 5
Miss Julia: Like Before, the following
notes are from memory.
Carol: I want to thank you for
everything youve done for Jess.
Miss Julia: It was my pleasure.
Look, I want to talk to you about Jess
friends.
Carol: I was having a bad day hell, a bad month.
I let my imagination get away from me.
Miss Julia: Mrs. Daniels, theyre real.
And I have proof.
Carol: That cant be true. We dug up the entire yard.
We didnt find anything.
Miss Julia: Thats because
they werent looking in the right place.
Every name she gave me
I was able to find in the paper.
She even knew how Mia perished.
Carol: Then Jess isnt
Miss Julia: Jess problem is supernatural.
Carol: Then its a good thing were leaving.
Miss Julia: Thats what I wanted to talk about.
I was hoping youd consider staying
Carol: Why???
Miss Julia: Id like to try and help them.
And for that, I need Jess. Also...
She doesnt think theyre going to let her leave.
Carol: What does that mean?
It sounds like a threat.
Miss Julia: According to Jess, it is.
Carol: Then thats a good enough reason to leave,
isnt it?
Would you want to live with someone
threatening your little girl?
Miss Julia: I understand.
But this might cause more problems than solve.
And then theres the other children.
Carol: Look, Im sorry about those children.
I really am, but I have to worry about my kids first.
Thanks for everything.
Miss Julia: Jess last session was two weeks ago.
The next day, Carol left with Dean and Jess.
They didnt get more than two miles away
from the house when Jess had a violent seizure.
Jess hasnt been the same since.
She no longer communicates.
She sits in the corner blankly staring at the wall.
Talk later, John.
Review
Im afraid we are going to lose Jess.
Yesterday, she had her 4th seizure.
The poor child seems weaker by the day.
Every time the phone rings, Im afraid
its Carol calling me with the worst.
The good news is that Jess still communicates.
Each morning, Ill find several of he
drawings waiting for me in the office.
At least, I hope that its her leaving me
drawings.
Jess Illustration: Its scary where I am.
Its like another world here.
Its dark and cold.
Dad isnt here.
Shelly said he moved on.
Dad reached out, tried to take her along.
But something kept her here.
Something keeping us all here.
They are so confused.
They try to remember but cant.
They are stuck in a loop that makes no sense.
They only recognize pieces of things.
Is this going to happen to me???
Tell mom she can leave.
Ill be OK.
Tell mom and Dean I love them.
Miss Julia: Jess is not dead yet.
There has to be a way to save this girl
a way to get her soul back into her body.
But time is running out.
I called the Clarks in desperation.
I was surprised they moved back to Cates Crossing.
Apparently, RV life didnt suit them.
Mrs. Clark probably thought I was crazy.
I cant imagine too many people who expect to get a
call asking if theyve seen ghost children in their home.
I gave her Mias name, Brad,
Shelly, Wendy, Mark, all of them.
She was clueless.
She couldnt recall anything weird ever
happening in that house.
I must have sounded hopeless.
She asked me several times to come by their place.
Said we could talk over lemonade.
I, of course, declined.
I just dont have the time.
Jess doesnt have the time.
This is outside my realm of expertise.
I probably should call a priest, but Ive always been more
comfortable behind a stack of books than kneeling on a pew.
The following are the notes I accumulated
over three days of continuous research.
I never would have imagined that there were
so many books dedicated to spirits, ghosts,
demons, and the afterlife.
Notes.
What creates a ghost?
1. Murder especially those that remain unsolved
Sometimes the ghost will not move on
until the murder is solved.
Best hope of ending this
But who could have done this???
2. Lack of proper burial. Possible.
Most of the children have never been found.
3. Time Loops - Ghosts might be stuck
in their last moments.
Why dont they remember their last moments?
Older ghosts may remember less and less of their former lives.
But what if they already dont remember?
Whats left? Is anything left? Emotions??? Anger
Emotions??? Anger
Possession. Was Jess possessed?
- Dont demons possess people?
-Cant ghosts posses people?
- Is that the case here
NO NO NO
The children are victims too.
Miss Julia: What the hell am I missing?
Ive been racking my head for days.
What am I not seeing?
Too Many Questions?
Who couldve had done this?
What is their motive?
Connection between the kids?
How does Ralph Kemp & Jerrod James fit in?
- Were they the killers?
- Were there others? Heroin?
Why are the kids under the Clarks house?
Is this the location of Jess?
Why was Adam killed? What was the motive?
Maybe theres a piece of something
in the drawings that I missed.
Or maybe in one of the newspapers.
Drugs and Drug Use
Effects of Heroin
Can cause a dream-like state.
Is that why the children dont remember?
Their last moments were a drug-induced dream/haze.
They are reliving that confusion.
But why would you do this?
They werent murdered.
The children were being trafficked.
Its like Jess said, the ghosts only see
pieces.
They were at the Burger Shack, John.
They had to be.
Those poor kids.
And who do these drawings looks like?
Oh my God, it was the Clarks.
And Ive told them everything.
I need to go to the police.
But who is going to believe this?
The Clarks are one of the most prominent
families in Cates Crossing.
And I cant believe that a childs drawings
will hold up in a court of law.
I need to get Carol and those kids out of that house.
And I shuddered to think what would have happened
if I took Mrs. Clarks offer for lemonade.
Id probably be under that house too.
[Phone ringing] Hello?
Really?
Thats incredible news.
Yes, Ill be right over.
And Mrs. Daniels, I have a lot to tell you.
I dont think we can trust the Clarks.
But we will talk more when I get there.
John, Jess woke up, but Im sure youll
hear about this before you get the tape.
Im dropping this in the mail as
I leave for the Daniels.
If I or any of us disappear, it was the Clarks.
So many thoughts were racing through my mind
as I drove to the Daniels home.
The Clarks. Adam. The children. Jess.
Why was she able to wake up now?
What changed?
Did I do something?
Hell, maybe the ghosts let Jess go.
Maybe she escaped.
Why does this feel too easy?
And why is it when you have somewhere to be,
you hit every red light?
It was like something was telling me to stay away.
The moment I walked through the front door,
I found Mr. Clark pointing a gun in my face.
Jess wasnt awake.
I was lured here, and I didnt need to guess why.
I knew in my heart that this was my fault.
We were all going to die.
House Call
John, I know youve heard me tell the story
a dozen times now, but the following drawings
are Jess account of the event.
Although she was unconscious for the majority
of the experience, Jess was incredibly accurate.
The Clarks plan was simple. They were going to
shoot us then burn the place down.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] You were supposed to leave
after your husband died. Why didnt you just leave?
Carol: [Illustration] We tried, but Jess got sick.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration] We figured kill your
husband and we wouldnt have to kill the kids.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] Now our hands are tied.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Jess, I hope you can
hear me, because we need your help.
Carol: [Illustration] We cant leave!
Please dont hurt my babies!
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] It doesnt matter.
This is on you.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] What about the other children?
Were your hands tied when you kidnapped them? Hurt them?
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] We never hurt a single kid.
It was just a business!
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Tell that to the families you ruined. You might
not have pulled the trigger or taken a life, but you sent them on their way.
And that makes you worse.
You knew what of monsters you were feeding them to.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] As nasty as it is, the money saved us.
Im alive because of it, Im not apologizing for surviving.
Miss Julia: [Illustration]
Even the devil thinks hes justified.
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] Thats cute.
But I think we have heard enough from you!
Shoot them and lets burn this place.
Jess: [Illustration] Mom, I dont want to
die.
Carol: [Illustration] Close your eyes baby.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Tell me.
Do you even remember their names?
John, I knew I only had one shot to survive this.
I needed the children to remember.
The children were in this house with the Clarks for years,
and they never made contact.
I needed the Clarks to confess.
Admit to the crime.
And if my time being a therapist has taught me anything,
people want to validate their actions.
You just need to know how to ask.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration]
I remember all of their names and faces.
You dont forget that!
Mia, Mark, Wendy, Shelly, Zak, Brad, Kate,
Sue, Wes, June, Linda, Christen, Gladys.
Those little faces behind the cages.
We arent monsters.
Nobody wants to see a kid cry.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Thats why you drugged them.
Mr. Clark: [Illustration] Enough!
Mrs. Clark: [Illustration] But what I cant
figure is how do you know those names?
We had this place scrubbed. You shouldnt have
gotten that from a box of toys.
Toys I thought were destroyed.
Miss Julia: [Illustration] Simple.
They told me.
Hey, Mia. They remember you.
Do you remember them?
Mia: [Illustration] Yes.
We remember you now.
We remember everything.
You took us.
Now, we take you!
No, we're sorry!
Miss Julia: The children ripped the Clarks apart
then dragged every piece back into the shadows.
They left nothing. Not even blood.
After that, Jess woke up.
The only thing left of the Clarks was
their gun and a news story.
No one will ever know what they did except us,
and they will probably always be remembered
as the kindly couple who owned the Burger Shack.
But according to Jess, they got what they deserved.
End of House Call
Final Session
Miss Julia: It has been two weeks since Jess woke up.
Carol said things felt different in the home.
Brighter.
She said it felt like a different house.
Carol told me they were finally moving back to Houston.
Jess had been in a great mood since,
but she still has not said a word.
Maybe the children took her voice with them.
So how are you today?
Jess: Great!
Are you looking forward to moving back to Houston?
Jess: Yes! I miss my friends.
I wish dad was coming, but I know hes
somewhere watching over us!
Im sure he is, Jess.
Your mom said you still arent speaking.
Have you given it a try?
Note: Jess just shrugged and smiled.
Miss Julia: Looks like I got my wish.
I got a happy Jess after all.
Have you seen Mia or the others?
Jess: I got my wish too.
[In Jesss own voice] They are free now.
Note: John, her little voice was the
sweetest sound Ive ever heard.
We spent the rest of the session playing old board games.
We had a good time, and then after we said goodbye.
Like I said John, this would make one hell of a book,
but I dont think its a book I can write.
At least not now.
Maybe one day Ill come back to this case.
Maybe.
Besides, no one will ever believe it.
I think it would be better
to just let these children rest.
Sorry to waste your time, John.
We could talk it over when I
come down for Thanksgiving.
Final Session
Julia: It has been ten years since Ive
looked at these tapes.
I thought about destroying them,
but that doesnt feel right.
I followed up on Carol, Dean, and Jess.
Carol has a job in some accounting firm.
She never remarried.
Dean went to college.
He is studying finance.
Jess seems to be happy.
She is about to graduate and
move to New York for college.
Carol said she doesnt remember
Mia or the ghost children.
Neither her or Dean ever bring it up.
And maybe neither should I.
The Children Under The House