The Curse (2024) Movie Script
1
[]
[woman screaming in foreign
language] God damn you to Hell!
God damn you all to Hell!
Damn you! You should never
have done that!
Yara! Yara!
[speaking in foreign language]
You will regret this!
[lock clicking]
[door clicks shut]
I'm... I don't know if it
works.
Oh yeah, it's fine.
[clears throat]
Hi, my name is Yara.
I'm 25, 1.70 meters tall.
[laughs] Whatever.
It's the 4th of January.
I've just arrived in Paris.
The apartment is beautiful.
The only problem is the water
damage in the toilet at the
ceiling,
but it's common here.
[blowing]
I'll be starting at university
soon.
I miss everyone in the village,
but...
[]
[rooster crows]
[neck cracking]
But I'm looking forward to
starting, meeting people, and
living here.
[]
It's going to be great.
[laughs]
[woman] How are you doing
sweetheart?
Did you arrive safely?
-[Yara] Yeah, I'm fine!
-[pills rattling]
The apartment is spotless...
[woman] Did you eat what I
prepared for you this morning?
[Yara] Oh yeah, it was
delicious.
[woman] Good... And ... did you
take your medication?
Yep.
[woman] Please promise to take
them every day.
Yes, yes, I will, don't worry...
[pills rattling]
[woman] My girl, it's for your
own good you know I...
Yes, I know, I told you I'll
take them, don't worry.
[woman] I love you so much.
I don't want anything to happen
to you and since I'm not with
you I'm worried...
Me too. I love you
I'll take them, I promise.
[woman] Thank you my girl.
Take care of yourself, and call
me anytime, okay?
Yeah.
-[sighs]
-[faucet running]
[water draining]
[knobs squeaking]
[knocking]
Yes?
[man] Hello, Miss.
My name is... Mr. Chegrani.
I'm your next-door neighbor.
[chain sliding and rattling]
[door lock clicking]
[neck cracking]
[door creaking]
[Yara] Hi.
Hello there.
Can I help you?
[man] No, no, I...
I just wanted to check whether
you were settled in, and if you
needed anything.
No, I'm fine, thank you.
[chain rattling]
Oh, that's great.
Did you have a pleasant trip?
Yeah, it was a bit tricky at the
airport, but it went well.
Ah, that's because of the
virus...
But don't worry, the virus will
never reach France!
If you say so...
Well, then, did you get to
settle in?
No, but I haven't had time to
tidy up yet.
No worries! No worries!
In any case, if you need
anything at all, Miss, please
ask.
Thank you.
And welcome to the Goutte d'Or!
[chuckles]
[door clicks shut]
-[chain sliding]
-[locks clicking]
[cigarette burning]
[]
[woman] And did you take your
medication?
Promise me you'll take them
every day.
-[cigarette burning]
-[water sloshing]
[fluid pouring]
[]
-[knobs squeaking]
-[fluid running]
[fluid continues pouring]
[fluid stops]
[beeps]
[TV] That's all the turkey
you're gonna get!
How are we gonna
decide who gets this?
Water Balloon!
[laughs]
[newscaster] This is where it
all began.
The first victims were infected
in this market in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, on October 20, 2022.
A mysterious virus made its
appearance in the streets...
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
[man] Yara?
[]
Eight...
Nine...
Yara!
[rubbing]
[distant sirens]
-[curtains sliding]
-[sirens blaring]
So we haven't spoken for a long
time.
But, uh...
But right now,
it's a bit of a...
It's a bit of a...
[clicks tongue]
With the latest virus
announcement.
[static]
And, uh...
It's been... I've been confined
for 55 days.
I can't get a hold of my
medication.
[static]
I can't get a hold of my
medication.
I'm so scared to
run into people.
And well, I haven't taken any
in...
10 days.
but it's okay...
it's okay.
So far so good.
I'm fine...
Yeah, I'm good.
[video chimes off]
[]
[rustling]
[lamp clicks]
[birds chirping]
[]
[clicking and buzzing]
[flies buzzing]
[items clanking]
-[fluid pouring]
-[bowl clacking]
[fluid pouring]
[mans voice] "Hell is other
people."
This quote from Jean-Paul
Sartre's No Exit,
one of the
author's best known, lends
itself to misunderstanding.
It is often understood as a
simple modulation of Hobbes'
equally famous phrase,
"Man is a wolf to man."
[man sighs]
Yet, it is not a war of all
against all,
it is an internal
crisis of the conscience,
exposed to the gaze of others.
Hell is not only about physical
torture,
-[door bell buzzing]
-but about not being able
to escape the gaze of
others, their judgments...
Sir, can you leave it in
the hallway?
I noted it in the delivery
comments.
[male newscaster] In other news
in France, the latest
statistics
on new virus zero cases, still
of unknown origin, have just
been released.
Today, 7,300 people were
admitted to the ER and ICU.
[fluid pouring and stops]
Today, April 13, there has been
a sharp increase in cases,
a surge that reflects the
inefficiency of government
to deal with this new virus
terrifying the nation.
[medicine cabinet creaking]
This fear is being amplified by
numerous cases
of hallucinatory
phenomena caused by virus 0.
[distant sirens]
Cases of violence and horror
have literally exploded.
[clipping]
[grunts]
-[clipping]
-[grunts]
[filing]
[wincing]
[mechanical whirring]
[mechanical rumbling]
[knocking]
[man] Ladies and gentlemen, a
new death has occurred on the
3rd floor.
Mr. Bensad passed.
If you have had any contact or
interaction with him,
please do not go out and
strictly follow the latest
health protocol
before coming out!
[]
[screaming]
[labored breathing]
[Yara] I'm seeing him in my
nightmares again.
I'm not moving forward. I even
feel like I'm moving backwards.
I can even see his face now.
A PSYCHOANALYSIS SESSION IS ON
AVERAGE 60 EUROS.
I wouldn't start this stupid
diary again, if I didn't have a
good reason but now...
[items rustling]
[coins rustling]
I don't know what's happening
to me.
[static]
[coins clacking]
[paper rustling]
[coins sliding]
[keyboard clacking]
[]
[laptop slamming]
[static and buzzing]
It's going back to the way it
was before.
[water running]
[]
Fuck.
[grandmother] How are you?
Tell me, how are things these
days?
Uh, right now I'm doing really
great.
I'm about to start my exams so
I'm studying a lot.
[grandmother] That's wonderful.
God willing, inshallah,
everything will be fine.
[water splashing]
Did you go out?
No.
You're out of medication,
right?
Can you go and get them
or ask someone?
I'm worried, you know, I--
No, I'm fine, really, I'm fine.
[grandmother] Do you still see
him in your nightmares?
[]
Yara!
[grandmother] I beg you Yara,
come back home.
Come back to the village, we're
waiting for you.
I want to take care of you,
it's too dangerous, you can't
be alone in that big city!
Don't start Grandma... I already
told you; I'm not going back.
Anyway, the borders are closed,
and I don't want to take any
risks,
this virus can be dangerous for
you, I just want to protect you,
that's all.
[grandmother] But who is
protecting you?
[woman] I received an email
from the administration
explaining
that the essay must be handed
in tomorrow to validate the
tutorials.
-[lighter flicks]
-And the midterms start next
Monday, so we must get busy.
Did you get the lessons I sent
you?
Uh-hmm
[blowing]
[]
[sighs]
[]
[keyboard clicking]
PASSED
[squeals]
Yes.
[exhales]
[]
[]
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[laughs]
[coughs]
Yeah, yeah.
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[]
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[thudding]
[]
[screaming]
[rustling]
[sighs]
[bubbling sound]
-[rustling]
-[groaning]
[thudding]
[]
For fuck's sake.
[water trickling]
[lid clacking]
[]
[creaking]
[sighs]
[gurgling sound]
[sighs]
[slimy sound]
[]
-[slimy sound continues]
-[beeping]
[man on phone] How can I assist?
[running footsteps]
[man on phone] Hello?
[door clicking]
[grunts]
[man on phone] Hello?
Please come, please come to 20
Vannima Street, someone's been
murdered on the upper floor.
[]
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
[heavy breathing]
[whimpering]
[knocking]
[knocking intensifies]
-[knocking]
-[door creaking]
[pounding]
[]
[clanking]
[pounding continues]
[]
[man] Anyone home?
I'm from the SAMU.
You called about 15 minutes ago
saying there was an assault.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not here,
it's upstairs.You've got it
wrong.
[man] You mean the third floor?
Yeah!
-[man] I checked and...
-Yeah?
[man] The apartment is empty,
Ma'am.
[]
-What's wrong?
-[lock clicking]
[door creaking]
Morning, Miss.
What... what do you mean the
apartment is empty?
Yes, empty.
I went to see the janitor who
confirmed Mr. Shagrani passed
away a week ago.
But no...
No, no, that's not
possible, I saw him!
Sorry, but, are you sure you saw
something up there?
You know, one of the first
symptoms of Virus 0 is a high
fever that causes severe
hallucinations.
Since your building has been
severely infected, I suggest you
get tested.
-Fuck off.
-[door slams shut]
-[locks clicking]
-[man] Excuse me?
[]
[man] Another crazy girl.
They're all over the
neighborhood these days.
[pounding]
Asshole!
[]
[paper rustling]
[items rustling]
[cabinet slamming]
[keyboard clacking]
[cracking]
FATIGUE, HIGH FEVER, MIGRAINE
AND HALLUCINATIONS
[cracking]
[clicking]
Fuck!
[sighs]
[light clicking]
Ten.
[grunts]
[cereal sifting]
[clattering]
[]
[rubbing]
[toothbrush scratching]
-[gargling]
-[spits]
[slapping]
[]
[locks clicking]
[door slams shut]
[tearing]
[plastic rustling]
[man] Place five to six drops
of the reagent into the
extraction tube.
[tearing]
[man] Remove the swab and
insert it into one nostril.
A dozen turns in each nostril
is necessary for a suitable
sample.
[]
Place the swab in the reagent
tube.
Wait twenty minutes.
[]
[yawns]
[man] After twenty minutes,
take the strip...
and add 2 to 3
drops of the reagent.
[cracking]
One bar indicates the test is
negative and the patient is
fine.
If you see a second bar...
you can conclude that the test
is positive.
[]
[]
[pounding]
[pounding]
[pounding]
[knocking]
[knocking]
[clattering]
[pounding]
[]
[static]
[locks clicking]
[sighs]
[door clicks]
-[grunts]
-[thudding]
[screams]
[thudding]
[glass shattering]
[yells]
[choking]
-[screams]
-[stabbing]
[grunts]
[heavy breathing]
[crying]
[heavy breathing]
-[beeping]
-[thudding]
[crying]
[man] SAMU de Paris,
good evening, what is
the emergency situation?
[crying] Come,
come immediately, I have...
Someone broke into my house.
[man] Of course, Ma'am. Please
remain calm so I can take all
your info.
Give me your address so we can
send help to you.
[crying]
20 Panama Street...
Hello?
[man] Uhm... Mrs. Ouazzani?
Yes... Yes?
How do you know my name?
[man] My name is Mr. Lievin,
and we met a few days ago.
What?
No, no, no, you're wrong, I
never called you, I'm not from
here!
This is the first time I've
called, please come!
[Mr. Lievin] I assure you,
Ma'am.
I'm bleeding, I think my nose is
broken.
[Mr. Lievin] I came to you
three days ago
following an emergency call
from you for a similar reason.
What?
[Mr. Lievin] April 19
precisely.
Ma'am, this is the fourth time
you've called us this week.
No.
No, I swear you're wrong!
I never called, it wasn't me.
[Mr. Lievin] I assure you,
Ma'am.
Sometimes they are just ghost
calls
in which you whisper
things in a language we don't
understand.
Ma'am, this has been going on
for weeks.
We left you messages on your
answering machine,
but you never responded.
I'm sorry to ask you again...
But, are you sure, are you
really sure that someone
broke into your house?
Can you perhaps send us a... a
photo or video of the incident
to confirm it?
[crying]
[Mr. Lievin] Hello, Mrs.
Ouazzani?
Hello?
Mrs. Ouazzani? Are you still
there?
No...
[crying]
-No...
-[paper rustling]
[light clicking]
[]
[screaming]
[crying]
[sighs]
[heavy breathing]
[spraying]
[hand slamming]
[grunts]
[crying]
[plastic rustling]
[crunching sound]
[clattering]
[exhales]
[fluid dripping]
[]
Fuck!
[unzipping]
[rustling]
[pages flapping]
[clattering]
[locks clicking]
[]
[clattering]
[grunts]
-[heavy breathing]
-[button clacking]
[heavy breathing]
[]
[whimpering]
[gasps]
Fuck no!
[smacking]
[crying]
[phone buzzing]
Grandma?
[grandmother] I know it's late,
but I had a bad dream about
you,
and I needed to hear your
voice...
[crying]
[grandmother] Yara?
What's the matter, sweetheart?
[crying]
Grandma, Grandma,
I don't know,
things are happening here...
[sniffs]
Everyone thinks I'm crazy.
[indistinct] There's this
thing... It attacked me...
and it hurt me...
[indistinct]
It was him.
And then there was a woman,
she was devouring a man.
[grandmother] It can't be... It
can't be...
What is it?
What's wrong?
[grandmother] I... I need to
tell you something...
What?
[grandmother] You won't
understand right away
why I'm telling you this
story,
but lately my nightmares are
becoming like yours,
more and more violent...
It's an old story, we
were still young Aisha and I.
[birds squawking]
[indistinct chatter]
-[gravel crunching]
-[water sloshing]
[grandmother] The village was
much poorer than today,
but united and peaceful.
[men shouting]
[grandmother] Everything was
quiet and uninteresting.
[speaking foreign language]
[grandmother] Until the arrival
of... Djeinaba.
[shouting continues]
[grandmother] She arrived one
day for no reason,
no one knew her.
She said she came from the
mountains
and had come to settle near the
town to offer her services.
Djeinaba was...
She was a witch.
What do you mean, a witch? What
are you talking about?
[grandmother] I... but first,
Yara--
Hello Grandma? Hello?
[grandmother] What I'm about to
tell you now, these are hidden
and forbidden things.
It concerns Evil spirits.
If there's one thing I've
learned, it's that you should
never taunt the devil.
[insects chirping]
Witchcraft has
always existed in Morocco.
Anyone can go to a witch
to ask for favors, to heal
wounds, fulfill wishes.
But also for spells or curses.
[mixing]
Djeinaba was beautiful, rich
and adorned with the most
exquisite jewels which she
paraded around to everyone.
Men were crazy about her, and
offered her all kinds of things
to try to conquer her.
The women became jealous, they
called her Djeinaba Sahira.
The witch.
[]
[fire crackling]
And then one day, someone
disappeared.
[grandmother] Young Samirah was
nowhere to be found,
and we were all
convinced that...
that it was Djeinaba who had
kidnapped her.
-[torches crackling]
-[woman shouting]
[grandmother] We locked her up
in her house to force her to
confess.
-[chains rattling]
-[woman crying]
[screaming in foreign language]
May God curse you!
-[distant dogs barking]
-[screaming]
[grandmother] We
forbade her to eat,
to wash herself, we humiliated
her.
We pushed her to the limit...
until she committed suicide.
[screaming]
Before she died, she swore she
would take revenge
on all the villagers and haunt
their descendants.
How could you do such a thing?
How could you do that, Grandma?
[grandmother] Everyone agreed to
do it this way and I had no
choice.
It wasn't uncommon in those
days, in remote villages.
It was common practice.
It's horrible. [sniffs]
[grandmother] I've regretted it
ever since...
But I knew it would resurface
one day.
With your complicated birth
which took your mother from us,
I had doubts, I prayed.
[sniffs]
Now, I fear for you.
What should I do?
What should I do?
[grandmother] Pack your bags and
leave the apartment before
something bad happens.
She will play with you,
manipulate you... with your
fears and nightmares.
She will tell you things about
your family.
-Don't listen to her, she's
lying!
-[static]
Always be on your...
Hello?
Hello? Grandma?
-Hello!
-[busy signal]
Shit!
[heavy breathing]
[]
[bag rustling]
[fluid running]
[knob squeaking]
[dripping]
[fluid sloshing]
-[screams]
-crunching]
[light flickering]
[]
[plastic tearing]
[tapping]
[wincing]
[plastic tearing]
[grunts]
[dripping]
[]
[pen scratching]
NEGATIVE.
[keyboard clacking]
[Yara] It's still 3:18
and I just did some research on
Moroccan witches.
There were many And today
there are only a handful.
They were made to be...
arrested, locked up.
Humiliated... One after the
other.
[static buzzing]
And uh...
[sighs]
Their pain turned into rage.
[tearing and rustling]
[]
[groans]
[heavy breathing]
[jangling]
[sniffs]
She won't leave me alone.
[static]
But I will fight.
I won't let her win,
not with fear.
[burning]
[]
[clicking]
[bell chiming]
[bells ringing]
[door knob rattling]
-[glass shattering]
-[Yara screams]
[stabbing]
[grunts]
[scissors clattering]
[knocking]
[lights buzzing]
[knocking continues]
[pounding]
No!
Leave me the fuck alone!
[]
[lights buzzing]
[burning]
[matches rustling]
[match striking]
[fluid pouring and fizzing]
[video buzzing]
[tape peeling]
[]
[flashlight clicking]
[clothes rustling]
[]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[]
[counting in foreign language]
One.
Two.
-Three.
-[whimpers]
Four.
Five.
Six.
[Yara crying]
[screaming in foreign language]
Help me!
Help me!
Help me!
[heavy breathing]
[Yara crying]
-[crying] No, no, no...
-[smacking]
[exhales]
[eerie breathing]
[screaming]
[Yara] What are you doing here
alone?
Well I'm hiding here because
I...
I don't want Grandpa to find me.
This is the only place in the
village where I feel safe.
My mom did this to me,
and that's why I can talk to
her.
[]
[sniffs and exhales]
This is the only place where I
can talk to my mum
without anyone stopping me.
[Yara sighs]
You are the...
the bravest little girl in the
village.
[]
And one day you'll have to talk.
It will take time...
but then you'll be even stronger
than you already are.
[girl] And you'll get out of
here, and you'll never be afraid
again.
[blowing]
[water running]
[heavy breathing]
[rubbing]
[water spraying]
[water dripping]
[radio button clicking]
[lighter flicking]
-[cigarette burning]
-[blowing]
[]
[exhales]
[blowing]
[sniffs]
It's still 3:18 and I still
can't get out.
[static and buzzing]
I can't tell if what I see is
real or not anymore.
Maybe I'm just...
Maybe I'm just truly crazy.
[buzzing]
[video buzzing]
[Yara] Yes?
Hello Mrs. Ouazzani, I represent
and I work for the property
management company.
and I'm here following numerous
complaints from your neighbors
about noise, blows, screaming,
and repeated nuisances.
Following numerous calls from
complainants,
I came in person
to inspect your apartment to
see what's going on.
Uhm...
With the current situation, I
can't risk letting you in.
I'm sorry, thank you.
Allow me to insist, as the
latest test results from
the building are in, both
yours and mine are negative.
What tests?
The compulsory tests taken by
all the residents of the
building earlier this week.
Excuse me Mrs. Ouazzani, but are
you sure you're okay?
Can you please open the door?
[knocking]
Djeinaba?
Is that you?
Is your name Djeinaba?
[]
[buzzing]
Are you sure you know the reason
that I'm here?
[lights buzzing]
[]
[footsteps]
[flashlight clicking]
[door creaking]
[flies buzzing]
[flashlight clicking]
[candles burning]
[flies buzzing]
[gagging cough]
[exhales]
[]
[crumbling sound]
[]
[eerie breath]
[flashlight clicking]
[eerie voice] Come.
[eerie breath]
Closer.
Come.
Come closer.
Yara...
How do you know my name?
[eerier breathing]
They hurt me so much...
Destroyed...
[]
Najiyah...
She didn't tell you
everything about my story...
What are you talking about?
[indistinct chatter]
Hey.
Hey.
[]
[dog barking]
[men shouting]
[door clanking]
[baby cooing]
[sighs]
Thank you so much. I
owe you for helping me!
[footsteps]
[baby cooing]
[woman hushing]
Stop it!
You too have seen what she kept
in her house.
She's not a witch like we would
know it!
[indistinct]
We don't even know why she is
here.
This is a disaster...
A curse. A curse from the devil!
It doesn't even rain anymore!
You're right, it's a disaster...
Did you see her baby?
No father... No father, no
explanations.
It's the devil's child, for
sure!
[speaking in foreign language]
May God protect us!
But now... how do we get rid of
her?
[softly singing]
[door slamming open]
Go get her!
[footsteps]
Come over here, there's
something...
[]
[clattering]
-[man] [indistinct]
-No.
[man] Let go of the girl.
Don't take her from me!
[woman] Please give her to me,
please, I beg you, please!
[screaming] No!
[screaming in foreign language]
[men laughing]
[woman] Yara!
[screaming]
[screaming]
[speaking in foreign language]
May God curse you! Be cursed!
[crying]
[]
[distant dogs barking]
[baby cooing]
[]
[sighs]
[]
[woman] They said you were
crazy, that you were sick...
They drugged you, locked you up.
They manipulated you.
You are not sick, Yara...
You are not sick.
You are not like the others.
You are special, Yara... unique.
[whispers] Yara, don't be
afraid...
Don't be afraid...
Live your life.
[]
You and me...
we are one.
[]
[quivering breath]
Yara.
No, please, please wait, please
wait, don't, don't go!
[crying]
[]
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
-[man] Yara.
-Five...
Six...
-[man] Yara!
-Seven...
Eight...
Nine...
-[door creaking]
-[man] Yara!
[footsteps]
[lights flickering]
[]
You'll never catch me again.
[screams]
-[thudding]
-[heavy breathing]
[screams]
-[thudding]
-[grunts]
No!
-[grunts]
-[thudding]
[exhales]
[grandmother] Do you still see
him in your nightmares?
[woman] They've manipulated
you...
You are not sick, Yara...
You're special, Yara...
Unique...
Live your life.
[]
[gasps]
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
[coughing]
[paper rustling]
Nine...
[coughing]
[paper tearing]
Ten.
[furniture rustling]
[]
[beeps]
-[distant passing traffic]
-[birds chirping]
[Yara humming]
-[burning]
-[phone buzzing]
[humming]
[phone crashing]
[humming]
[keys jangling]
[chain sliding]
[door clicking]
[door creaking]
[deep breath and exhales]
[keys jangling]
[door clicks shut]
[distant child chattering]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[music ends]
[]
[woman screaming in foreign
language] God damn you to Hell!
God damn you all to Hell!
Damn you! You should never
have done that!
Yara! Yara!
[speaking in foreign language]
You will regret this!
[lock clicking]
[door clicks shut]
I'm... I don't know if it
works.
Oh yeah, it's fine.
[clears throat]
Hi, my name is Yara.
I'm 25, 1.70 meters tall.
[laughs] Whatever.
It's the 4th of January.
I've just arrived in Paris.
The apartment is beautiful.
The only problem is the water
damage in the toilet at the
ceiling,
but it's common here.
[blowing]
I'll be starting at university
soon.
I miss everyone in the village,
but...
[]
[rooster crows]
[neck cracking]
But I'm looking forward to
starting, meeting people, and
living here.
[]
It's going to be great.
[laughs]
[woman] How are you doing
sweetheart?
Did you arrive safely?
-[Yara] Yeah, I'm fine!
-[pills rattling]
The apartment is spotless...
[woman] Did you eat what I
prepared for you this morning?
[Yara] Oh yeah, it was
delicious.
[woman] Good... And ... did you
take your medication?
Yep.
[woman] Please promise to take
them every day.
Yes, yes, I will, don't worry...
[pills rattling]
[woman] My girl, it's for your
own good you know I...
Yes, I know, I told you I'll
take them, don't worry.
[woman] I love you so much.
I don't want anything to happen
to you and since I'm not with
you I'm worried...
Me too. I love you
I'll take them, I promise.
[woman] Thank you my girl.
Take care of yourself, and call
me anytime, okay?
Yeah.
-[sighs]
-[faucet running]
[water draining]
[knobs squeaking]
[knocking]
Yes?
[man] Hello, Miss.
My name is... Mr. Chegrani.
I'm your next-door neighbor.
[chain sliding and rattling]
[door lock clicking]
[neck cracking]
[door creaking]
[Yara] Hi.
Hello there.
Can I help you?
[man] No, no, I...
I just wanted to check whether
you were settled in, and if you
needed anything.
No, I'm fine, thank you.
[chain rattling]
Oh, that's great.
Did you have a pleasant trip?
Yeah, it was a bit tricky at the
airport, but it went well.
Ah, that's because of the
virus...
But don't worry, the virus will
never reach France!
If you say so...
Well, then, did you get to
settle in?
No, but I haven't had time to
tidy up yet.
No worries! No worries!
In any case, if you need
anything at all, Miss, please
ask.
Thank you.
And welcome to the Goutte d'Or!
[chuckles]
[door clicks shut]
-[chain sliding]
-[locks clicking]
[cigarette burning]
[]
[woman] And did you take your
medication?
Promise me you'll take them
every day.
-[cigarette burning]
-[water sloshing]
[fluid pouring]
[]
-[knobs squeaking]
-[fluid running]
[fluid continues pouring]
[fluid stops]
[beeps]
[TV] That's all the turkey
you're gonna get!
How are we gonna
decide who gets this?
Water Balloon!
[laughs]
[newscaster] This is where it
all began.
The first victims were infected
in this market in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, on October 20, 2022.
A mysterious virus made its
appearance in the streets...
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
[man] Yara?
[]
Eight...
Nine...
Yara!
[rubbing]
[distant sirens]
-[curtains sliding]
-[sirens blaring]
So we haven't spoken for a long
time.
But, uh...
But right now,
it's a bit of a...
It's a bit of a...
[clicks tongue]
With the latest virus
announcement.
[static]
And, uh...
It's been... I've been confined
for 55 days.
I can't get a hold of my
medication.
[static]
I can't get a hold of my
medication.
I'm so scared to
run into people.
And well, I haven't taken any
in...
10 days.
but it's okay...
it's okay.
So far so good.
I'm fine...
Yeah, I'm good.
[video chimes off]
[]
[rustling]
[lamp clicks]
[birds chirping]
[]
[clicking and buzzing]
[flies buzzing]
[items clanking]
-[fluid pouring]
-[bowl clacking]
[fluid pouring]
[mans voice] "Hell is other
people."
This quote from Jean-Paul
Sartre's No Exit,
one of the
author's best known, lends
itself to misunderstanding.
It is often understood as a
simple modulation of Hobbes'
equally famous phrase,
"Man is a wolf to man."
[man sighs]
Yet, it is not a war of all
against all,
it is an internal
crisis of the conscience,
exposed to the gaze of others.
Hell is not only about physical
torture,
-[door bell buzzing]
-but about not being able
to escape the gaze of
others, their judgments...
Sir, can you leave it in
the hallway?
I noted it in the delivery
comments.
[male newscaster] In other news
in France, the latest
statistics
on new virus zero cases, still
of unknown origin, have just
been released.
Today, 7,300 people were
admitted to the ER and ICU.
[fluid pouring and stops]
Today, April 13, there has been
a sharp increase in cases,
a surge that reflects the
inefficiency of government
to deal with this new virus
terrifying the nation.
[medicine cabinet creaking]
This fear is being amplified by
numerous cases
of hallucinatory
phenomena caused by virus 0.
[distant sirens]
Cases of violence and horror
have literally exploded.
[clipping]
[grunts]
-[clipping]
-[grunts]
[filing]
[wincing]
[mechanical whirring]
[mechanical rumbling]
[knocking]
[man] Ladies and gentlemen, a
new death has occurred on the
3rd floor.
Mr. Bensad passed.
If you have had any contact or
interaction with him,
please do not go out and
strictly follow the latest
health protocol
before coming out!
[]
[screaming]
[labored breathing]
[Yara] I'm seeing him in my
nightmares again.
I'm not moving forward. I even
feel like I'm moving backwards.
I can even see his face now.
A PSYCHOANALYSIS SESSION IS ON
AVERAGE 60 EUROS.
I wouldn't start this stupid
diary again, if I didn't have a
good reason but now...
[items rustling]
[coins rustling]
I don't know what's happening
to me.
[static]
[coins clacking]
[paper rustling]
[coins sliding]
[keyboard clacking]
[]
[laptop slamming]
[static and buzzing]
It's going back to the way it
was before.
[water running]
[]
Fuck.
[grandmother] How are you?
Tell me, how are things these
days?
Uh, right now I'm doing really
great.
I'm about to start my exams so
I'm studying a lot.
[grandmother] That's wonderful.
God willing, inshallah,
everything will be fine.
[water splashing]
Did you go out?
No.
You're out of medication,
right?
Can you go and get them
or ask someone?
I'm worried, you know, I--
No, I'm fine, really, I'm fine.
[grandmother] Do you still see
him in your nightmares?
[]
Yara!
[grandmother] I beg you Yara,
come back home.
Come back to the village, we're
waiting for you.
I want to take care of you,
it's too dangerous, you can't
be alone in that big city!
Don't start Grandma... I already
told you; I'm not going back.
Anyway, the borders are closed,
and I don't want to take any
risks,
this virus can be dangerous for
you, I just want to protect you,
that's all.
[grandmother] But who is
protecting you?
[woman] I received an email
from the administration
explaining
that the essay must be handed
in tomorrow to validate the
tutorials.
-[lighter flicks]
-And the midterms start next
Monday, so we must get busy.
Did you get the lessons I sent
you?
Uh-hmm
[blowing]
[]
[sighs]
[]
[keyboard clicking]
PASSED
[squeals]
Yes.
[exhales]
[]
[]
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[laughs]
[coughs]
Yeah, yeah.
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[]
-[lighter flicking]
-[bubbling sound]
[thudding]
[]
[screaming]
[rustling]
[sighs]
[bubbling sound]
-[rustling]
-[groaning]
[thudding]
[]
For fuck's sake.
[water trickling]
[lid clacking]
[]
[creaking]
[sighs]
[gurgling sound]
[sighs]
[slimy sound]
[]
-[slimy sound continues]
-[beeping]
[man on phone] How can I assist?
[running footsteps]
[man on phone] Hello?
[door clicking]
[grunts]
[man on phone] Hello?
Please come, please come to 20
Vannima Street, someone's been
murdered on the upper floor.
[]
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
[heavy breathing]
[whimpering]
[knocking]
[knocking intensifies]
-[knocking]
-[door creaking]
[pounding]
[]
[clanking]
[pounding continues]
[]
[man] Anyone home?
I'm from the SAMU.
You called about 15 minutes ago
saying there was an assault.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not here,
it's upstairs.You've got it
wrong.
[man] You mean the third floor?
Yeah!
-[man] I checked and...
-Yeah?
[man] The apartment is empty,
Ma'am.
[]
-What's wrong?
-[lock clicking]
[door creaking]
Morning, Miss.
What... what do you mean the
apartment is empty?
Yes, empty.
I went to see the janitor who
confirmed Mr. Shagrani passed
away a week ago.
But no...
No, no, that's not
possible, I saw him!
Sorry, but, are you sure you saw
something up there?
You know, one of the first
symptoms of Virus 0 is a high
fever that causes severe
hallucinations.
Since your building has been
severely infected, I suggest you
get tested.
-Fuck off.
-[door slams shut]
-[locks clicking]
-[man] Excuse me?
[]
[man] Another crazy girl.
They're all over the
neighborhood these days.
[pounding]
Asshole!
[]
[paper rustling]
[items rustling]
[cabinet slamming]
[keyboard clacking]
[cracking]
FATIGUE, HIGH FEVER, MIGRAINE
AND HALLUCINATIONS
[cracking]
[clicking]
Fuck!
[sighs]
[light clicking]
Ten.
[grunts]
[cereal sifting]
[clattering]
[]
[rubbing]
[toothbrush scratching]
-[gargling]
-[spits]
[slapping]
[]
[locks clicking]
[door slams shut]
[tearing]
[plastic rustling]
[man] Place five to six drops
of the reagent into the
extraction tube.
[tearing]
[man] Remove the swab and
insert it into one nostril.
A dozen turns in each nostril
is necessary for a suitable
sample.
[]
Place the swab in the reagent
tube.
Wait twenty minutes.
[]
[yawns]
[man] After twenty minutes,
take the strip...
and add 2 to 3
drops of the reagent.
[cracking]
One bar indicates the test is
negative and the patient is
fine.
If you see a second bar...
you can conclude that the test
is positive.
[]
[]
[pounding]
[pounding]
[pounding]
[knocking]
[knocking]
[clattering]
[pounding]
[]
[static]
[locks clicking]
[sighs]
[door clicks]
-[grunts]
-[thudding]
[screams]
[thudding]
[glass shattering]
[yells]
[choking]
-[screams]
-[stabbing]
[grunts]
[heavy breathing]
[crying]
[heavy breathing]
-[beeping]
-[thudding]
[crying]
[man] SAMU de Paris,
good evening, what is
the emergency situation?
[crying] Come,
come immediately, I have...
Someone broke into my house.
[man] Of course, Ma'am. Please
remain calm so I can take all
your info.
Give me your address so we can
send help to you.
[crying]
20 Panama Street...
Hello?
[man] Uhm... Mrs. Ouazzani?
Yes... Yes?
How do you know my name?
[man] My name is Mr. Lievin,
and we met a few days ago.
What?
No, no, no, you're wrong, I
never called you, I'm not from
here!
This is the first time I've
called, please come!
[Mr. Lievin] I assure you,
Ma'am.
I'm bleeding, I think my nose is
broken.
[Mr. Lievin] I came to you
three days ago
following an emergency call
from you for a similar reason.
What?
[Mr. Lievin] April 19
precisely.
Ma'am, this is the fourth time
you've called us this week.
No.
No, I swear you're wrong!
I never called, it wasn't me.
[Mr. Lievin] I assure you,
Ma'am.
Sometimes they are just ghost
calls
in which you whisper
things in a language we don't
understand.
Ma'am, this has been going on
for weeks.
We left you messages on your
answering machine,
but you never responded.
I'm sorry to ask you again...
But, are you sure, are you
really sure that someone
broke into your house?
Can you perhaps send us a... a
photo or video of the incident
to confirm it?
[crying]
[Mr. Lievin] Hello, Mrs.
Ouazzani?
Hello?
Mrs. Ouazzani? Are you still
there?
No...
[crying]
-No...
-[paper rustling]
[light clicking]
[]
[screaming]
[crying]
[sighs]
[heavy breathing]
[spraying]
[hand slamming]
[grunts]
[crying]
[plastic rustling]
[crunching sound]
[clattering]
[exhales]
[fluid dripping]
[]
Fuck!
[unzipping]
[rustling]
[pages flapping]
[clattering]
[locks clicking]
[]
[clattering]
[grunts]
-[heavy breathing]
-[button clacking]
[heavy breathing]
[]
[whimpering]
[gasps]
Fuck no!
[smacking]
[crying]
[phone buzzing]
Grandma?
[grandmother] I know it's late,
but I had a bad dream about
you,
and I needed to hear your
voice...
[crying]
[grandmother] Yara?
What's the matter, sweetheart?
[crying]
Grandma, Grandma,
I don't know,
things are happening here...
[sniffs]
Everyone thinks I'm crazy.
[indistinct] There's this
thing... It attacked me...
and it hurt me...
[indistinct]
It was him.
And then there was a woman,
she was devouring a man.
[grandmother] It can't be... It
can't be...
What is it?
What's wrong?
[grandmother] I... I need to
tell you something...
What?
[grandmother] You won't
understand right away
why I'm telling you this
story,
but lately my nightmares are
becoming like yours,
more and more violent...
It's an old story, we
were still young Aisha and I.
[birds squawking]
[indistinct chatter]
-[gravel crunching]
-[water sloshing]
[grandmother] The village was
much poorer than today,
but united and peaceful.
[men shouting]
[grandmother] Everything was
quiet and uninteresting.
[speaking foreign language]
[grandmother] Until the arrival
of... Djeinaba.
[shouting continues]
[grandmother] She arrived one
day for no reason,
no one knew her.
She said she came from the
mountains
and had come to settle near the
town to offer her services.
Djeinaba was...
She was a witch.
What do you mean, a witch? What
are you talking about?
[grandmother] I... but first,
Yara--
Hello Grandma? Hello?
[grandmother] What I'm about to
tell you now, these are hidden
and forbidden things.
It concerns Evil spirits.
If there's one thing I've
learned, it's that you should
never taunt the devil.
[insects chirping]
Witchcraft has
always existed in Morocco.
Anyone can go to a witch
to ask for favors, to heal
wounds, fulfill wishes.
But also for spells or curses.
[mixing]
Djeinaba was beautiful, rich
and adorned with the most
exquisite jewels which she
paraded around to everyone.
Men were crazy about her, and
offered her all kinds of things
to try to conquer her.
The women became jealous, they
called her Djeinaba Sahira.
The witch.
[]
[fire crackling]
And then one day, someone
disappeared.
[grandmother] Young Samirah was
nowhere to be found,
and we were all
convinced that...
that it was Djeinaba who had
kidnapped her.
-[torches crackling]
-[woman shouting]
[grandmother] We locked her up
in her house to force her to
confess.
-[chains rattling]
-[woman crying]
[screaming in foreign language]
May God curse you!
-[distant dogs barking]
-[screaming]
[grandmother] We
forbade her to eat,
to wash herself, we humiliated
her.
We pushed her to the limit...
until she committed suicide.
[screaming]
Before she died, she swore she
would take revenge
on all the villagers and haunt
their descendants.
How could you do such a thing?
How could you do that, Grandma?
[grandmother] Everyone agreed to
do it this way and I had no
choice.
It wasn't uncommon in those
days, in remote villages.
It was common practice.
It's horrible. [sniffs]
[grandmother] I've regretted it
ever since...
But I knew it would resurface
one day.
With your complicated birth
which took your mother from us,
I had doubts, I prayed.
[sniffs]
Now, I fear for you.
What should I do?
What should I do?
[grandmother] Pack your bags and
leave the apartment before
something bad happens.
She will play with you,
manipulate you... with your
fears and nightmares.
She will tell you things about
your family.
-Don't listen to her, she's
lying!
-[static]
Always be on your...
Hello?
Hello? Grandma?
-Hello!
-[busy signal]
Shit!
[heavy breathing]
[]
[bag rustling]
[fluid running]
[knob squeaking]
[dripping]
[fluid sloshing]
-[screams]
-crunching]
[light flickering]
[]
[plastic tearing]
[tapping]
[wincing]
[plastic tearing]
[grunts]
[dripping]
[]
[pen scratching]
NEGATIVE.
[keyboard clacking]
[Yara] It's still 3:18
and I just did some research on
Moroccan witches.
There were many And today
there are only a handful.
They were made to be...
arrested, locked up.
Humiliated... One after the
other.
[static buzzing]
And uh...
[sighs]
Their pain turned into rage.
[tearing and rustling]
[]
[groans]
[heavy breathing]
[jangling]
[sniffs]
She won't leave me alone.
[static]
But I will fight.
I won't let her win,
not with fear.
[burning]
[]
[clicking]
[bell chiming]
[bells ringing]
[door knob rattling]
-[glass shattering]
-[Yara screams]
[stabbing]
[grunts]
[scissors clattering]
[knocking]
[lights buzzing]
[knocking continues]
[pounding]
No!
Leave me the fuck alone!
[]
[lights buzzing]
[burning]
[matches rustling]
[match striking]
[fluid pouring and fizzing]
[video buzzing]
[tape peeling]
[]
[flashlight clicking]
[clothes rustling]
[]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[]
[counting in foreign language]
One.
Two.
-Three.
-[whimpers]
Four.
Five.
Six.
[Yara crying]
[screaming in foreign language]
Help me!
Help me!
Help me!
[heavy breathing]
[Yara crying]
-[crying] No, no, no...
-[smacking]
[exhales]
[eerie breathing]
[screaming]
[Yara] What are you doing here
alone?
Well I'm hiding here because
I...
I don't want Grandpa to find me.
This is the only place in the
village where I feel safe.
My mom did this to me,
and that's why I can talk to
her.
[]
[sniffs and exhales]
This is the only place where I
can talk to my mum
without anyone stopping me.
[Yara sighs]
You are the...
the bravest little girl in the
village.
[]
And one day you'll have to talk.
It will take time...
but then you'll be even stronger
than you already are.
[girl] And you'll get out of
here, and you'll never be afraid
again.
[blowing]
[water running]
[heavy breathing]
[rubbing]
[water spraying]
[water dripping]
[radio button clicking]
[lighter flicking]
-[cigarette burning]
-[blowing]
[]
[exhales]
[blowing]
[sniffs]
It's still 3:18 and I still
can't get out.
[static and buzzing]
I can't tell if what I see is
real or not anymore.
Maybe I'm just...
Maybe I'm just truly crazy.
[buzzing]
[video buzzing]
[Yara] Yes?
Hello Mrs. Ouazzani, I represent
and I work for the property
management company.
and I'm here following numerous
complaints from your neighbors
about noise, blows, screaming,
and repeated nuisances.
Following numerous calls from
complainants,
I came in person
to inspect your apartment to
see what's going on.
Uhm...
With the current situation, I
can't risk letting you in.
I'm sorry, thank you.
Allow me to insist, as the
latest test results from
the building are in, both
yours and mine are negative.
What tests?
The compulsory tests taken by
all the residents of the
building earlier this week.
Excuse me Mrs. Ouazzani, but are
you sure you're okay?
Can you please open the door?
[knocking]
Djeinaba?
Is that you?
Is your name Djeinaba?
[]
[buzzing]
Are you sure you know the reason
that I'm here?
[lights buzzing]
[]
[footsteps]
[flashlight clicking]
[door creaking]
[flies buzzing]
[flashlight clicking]
[candles burning]
[flies buzzing]
[gagging cough]
[exhales]
[]
[crumbling sound]
[]
[eerie breath]
[flashlight clicking]
[eerie voice] Come.
[eerie breath]
Closer.
Come.
Come closer.
Yara...
How do you know my name?
[eerier breathing]
They hurt me so much...
Destroyed...
[]
Najiyah...
She didn't tell you
everything about my story...
What are you talking about?
[indistinct chatter]
Hey.
Hey.
[]
[dog barking]
[men shouting]
[door clanking]
[baby cooing]
[sighs]
Thank you so much. I
owe you for helping me!
[footsteps]
[baby cooing]
[woman hushing]
Stop it!
You too have seen what she kept
in her house.
She's not a witch like we would
know it!
[indistinct]
We don't even know why she is
here.
This is a disaster...
A curse. A curse from the devil!
It doesn't even rain anymore!
You're right, it's a disaster...
Did you see her baby?
No father... No father, no
explanations.
It's the devil's child, for
sure!
[speaking in foreign language]
May God protect us!
But now... how do we get rid of
her?
[softly singing]
[door slamming open]
Go get her!
[footsteps]
Come over here, there's
something...
[]
[clattering]
-[man] [indistinct]
-No.
[man] Let go of the girl.
Don't take her from me!
[woman] Please give her to me,
please, I beg you, please!
[screaming] No!
[screaming in foreign language]
[men laughing]
[woman] Yara!
[screaming]
[screaming]
[speaking in foreign language]
May God curse you! Be cursed!
[crying]
[]
[distant dogs barking]
[baby cooing]
[]
[sighs]
[]
[woman] They said you were
crazy, that you were sick...
They drugged you, locked you up.
They manipulated you.
You are not sick, Yara...
You are not sick.
You are not like the others.
You are special, Yara... unique.
[whispers] Yara, don't be
afraid...
Don't be afraid...
Live your life.
[]
You and me...
we are one.
[]
[quivering breath]
Yara.
No, please, please wait, please
wait, don't, don't go!
[crying]
[]
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
-[man] Yara.
-Five...
Six...
-[man] Yara!
-Seven...
Eight...
Nine...
-[door creaking]
-[man] Yara!
[footsteps]
[lights flickering]
[]
You'll never catch me again.
[screams]
-[thudding]
-[heavy breathing]
[screams]
-[thudding]
-[grunts]
No!
-[grunts]
-[thudding]
[exhales]
[grandmother] Do you still see
him in your nightmares?
[woman] They've manipulated
you...
You are not sick, Yara...
You're special, Yara...
Unique...
Live your life.
[]
[gasps]
[Yara] One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
[coughing]
[paper rustling]
Nine...
[coughing]
[paper tearing]
Ten.
[furniture rustling]
[]
[beeps]
-[distant passing traffic]
-[birds chirping]
[Yara humming]
-[burning]
-[phone buzzing]
[humming]
[phone crashing]
[humming]
[keys jangling]
[chain sliding]
[door clicking]
[door creaking]
[deep breath and exhales]
[keys jangling]
[door clicks shut]
[distant child chattering]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[music ends]