The Darker the Lake (2022) Movie Script
[]
[somber music]
[woman] Hey, focus.
Look, you're gonna have to start telling
me the truth here from the beginning,
or you're gonna be in some big trouble.
Have you heard of the game, Detective?
I've heard of many games.
You're gonna have to be more specific.
You'd remember this one.
Painkiller.
All right, let's start from the beginning.
Please state your name
and age again for the record.
My name is Lea Fischer.
I'm 18 years old.
All my friends are dead now.
I'm not sure,
but I might've killed them.
I'm in.
In.
I'm in.
Okay, fine, I'm in as well.
Come on, Lea.
I want you to be the time keeper.
Um, why her?
Because I said so.
In.[Flames whoosh]
[]
[ducks quacking]
[water splashes]
-[birds chirping]
[]
[gunshot]
[tense music]
[ticking]
[sips]
[door hinges creak]
Tamara, is that you?
Are you back home?
[whooshes]
What did you do?
[man] Now many of you are wondering
what's been happening this past month.
There's been gossip about
the murders and suicides,
but I can assure you
that our finest detectives
will do their job to bring
these incidents to light.
[soft, indistinct chatter]
I'll be taking questions in a few minutes.
For now, please join me in
a moment of remembrance.
[birds chirping]
[distant bells ringing]
[distant indistinct chatter]
[exhales]
[sniffles]
Hm.
[Lea gasps] Mom.
[tense music]
Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Unwind.
[blows breath]
[]
[rumbling]
Come.
Are you here?
[]
Detective Fischer, this is your
new partner, Detective Klein.
He just moved to our beautiful
town, so let's make him feel welcome.
No, I play just fine all
by myself, thank you.
I'm sure you two will
learn to play nice together.
Ma'am...
-I think what you meant to say was, "Yes, Captain."
-Yes, Captain.
-Thank you.
[]
Oh,
and happy birthday.
[distant indistinct chatter]
Do you remember the legend of the students?
Yeah, sure. It's a silly urban legend.
What about it?
I've been working an underground case.
And I came across something on a
dark web auction as an item of interest.
It's a tape, old school
VHS, and it was shot here.
Is this some sick stuff
I'm not gonna wanna see?
No, but I think it has to do with
what's happening in the town.
You have this tape?
[Fischer speaks indistinctly]
[TV static buzzing]
Okay.
[Fischer clears throat]
[detective] You can leave
once you've answered all the questions.
I answered what you asked.
We were in the warehouse
when the lights went out,
then everything was on fire.
And how did you get out?
[young Lea] I don't remember.
I was there. We were.
[methodical ticking]
And there was this... this thing.
And this noise and...
What noise?
Like a fan. A humming.
Like when you put a seashell to your ear.
You're the only one who got out.
[eerie music]
I know.
[ominous whooshing]
Hey, focus.
Have you heard of the game, Detective?
I've heard of many games.
You'd remember this one.
Painkiller.
It's impossible to forget.
Gets in your head, in every which way.
[interviewer scoffs]
Let's start from the beginning.
Please state your name
and age for the record.
My name is Lea Fischer.
I'm 18 years old.
All my friends are dead now.
I'm not sure,
but I might have killed them.
Who else have you shown this to?
[Klein] No one.
That's why I brought it to you first.
Have you ever seen it before?
No, of course not.
All the evidence supposedly disappeared.
The fire was chemical, so there
were no recognizable bodies
at the scene and
whatever else they gathered
disappeared a few weeks later.
They had one eye witness,
and I don't know about you,
but I don't think she looks exactly stable.
Well, we have to talk to her.
[Fischer] No. She was 18 back then.
Her friends had just died in the accident.
She's obviously still in
shock, and they're clearly
leading her down some line of questioning.
[Klein] She was acquitted.
Yes, because my mom didn't do anything.
She spent eight months
in a mental institution.
She doesn't like to talk about it.
-But they might be connected.
-What's connected?
The new murders and this
urban legend, this game.
But that's all it is. It's a game.
It's a silly urban legend.
[Klein] Your mom seemed
pretty sure that it was real.
She even named it.
Yeah, "Painkiller", whatever they call it.
[ominous music]
[wind whooshes]
-[leaves crackle]
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct radio chatter]
This month is cursed.
Five murders, and they
closed the pizzeria in town.
A little respect for the dead.
Sorry, Detective.
It's just there's never been
anything like this before.
So what happened this time?
Shot to the back, straight on through.
Did they find the gun?[Siren wailing]
They're combing the perimeter.
[man] Detective, over here!
[tense music]
[indistinct chanting, knocking from inside]
Alpha, alpha...
[man chanting]
Adalbert, it's Detective Fischer.
I need you to stop that.
Otwin?
What about him?
He's hurt.
It hurts him...
I think, but I...
[ominous music]
I hurt him, I think.
[indistinct]
Let her go.
[]
Saw Lea,
tell her she's in danger.
Ah!
Hey!
We need you in the hut, now.
[Fischer] Otwin and
Adalbert have been neighbors
and best friends since I was little.
I mean, I just... I just find it
a very strange coincidence
that we watched the tape,
and then this Adalbert tells
you to tell your mom something.
Look, I know it's weird.
There hasn't been a murder in years
and then suddenly a bunch.
In these cases, the people,
they've all been confused
and disoriented in a somewhat similar way.
There must be an explanation.
We just... we just have to find it.
I... I don't want my mom dragged into this.
There it is. That's why
you can't be objective.
I can be objective. Okay?
I just don't have to write
it all out in exquisite detail.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom!
Tammy?
[Fischer] I'm here.
Oh, I... I must have fallen asleep.
[knocking on table]
I think I had tea.
Yeah, you're... you're in the kitchen.
[Lea] I know. I was just talking.
It was very vivid. I was...
Who else is here?
It's Lukas, ma'am. Tamara's new partner.
Just call me Lea.
Please sit down. You're making me nervous.
There's been another one. Adalbert wanted...
Adalbert is a kind man.
He had a message for you.
He said you are in danger.
Mom, do you know what he's talking about?
How would I know?
I wasn't that close with either of them.
Them who? I only said Adalbert.
There always has to be a them.
It's the way it's designed.
Wait, wait, "it"? The game?
Are you talking about the game?
I think I'd prefer to rest now.
We'd prefer to hear about the game.
Mom, mom.
We just need you to talk to us.
[ominous music]
[cup rattling]
[cup shatters]
[chairs creaking]
I'm going to go to bed now.
You have a new watch.
You got it for your birthday. How lovely.
Thanks, mom.
What the hell was that?
Look... I know there's
something she's not telling me.
Every time I ask her, it's the same.
"I'm tired."
"Let's make you tea."
"Let's not bring up the past."
And if I push, something happens.
Something like?
Dishes crack, something short-circuits,
a window broke once.
Another time, she had a seizure.
I stopped asking her.
Except for now it's important.
I know.
She's also my mom.
[voice] Lea...
It's time...
[]
[fan rattling]
[lid creaks]
[clock clicks, hoots]
[clock whirring, hoots]
[]
[dog barking]
[whoosh]
[barking continues]
[insects chirping]
[]
[water splashing]
[Fischer] It's Ming.
He and his wife moved here two years ago.
Nice guy when he's not been drinking.
We get called to his home for domestics.
You know the cycle.
Last year, his wife
Rebeka called in a panic
after a really bad fight.[Siren wailing]
But the next day, she
retracted her statement
and refused to press charges.
[Klein mumbles indistinctly]
Shit! He finally killed her.
[woman] He's saying he didn't do it.
Of course he is.
The first stage is always denial.
There's a witness.
A reliable witness?
Yeah. An out-of-town author who's staying
at the bed and breakfast across the lake.
He's never met Ming.
So what does the author say happened?
He confirms Ming's story.
[electronic beep]
[indistinct radio chatter]
Ming?
[Ming whimpering]
I'll get the author.
[Klein] Can you tell us what you saw?
[author] Sure.
I am staying in the lake house
for a month, writing a book.
Ming, did you kill your wife, Rebeka?
No. It wasn't like that.
[speaking Chinese]
I was walking when I heard them.
Exactly who did you hear?
The guy and the woman, they were fighting.
[indistinct arguing]
[woman yelping]
Then what happened?
I'm not proud of how I am, okay?
I know I lose it.
What happened after things got physical?
She just... pushes me.
[wind blowing]
[woman grunts]
[speaking Chinese]
[yelping]
[somber music]
[ominous music]
Alpha, alpha, alpha.
Rebeka.
[]
[water splashing]
Rebeka!
Rebeka. Rebeka.
[]
[speaking Chinese]
[bottle punctures]
[dramatic music]
[body squelches]
Why would she do that?
[sobbing]
[]
So what are we looking for?
Something I didn't
think about the first time,
but hold on, here it is.
I'm tired of answering questions.
Can I go now?
[detective] We only have a few more.
I was wondering were you...
[man] Detective, there's
a call for you on line three.
It's urgent!
I'll be right back.
[voice] Lea...
[whooshing]
Did you hear it?
No. What am I supposed to hear?
[tape scrubbing]
[whooshing]
Alpha.
We have to talk to your mom one more time.
I don't think this game is just a game.
Yeah. I think you're right.
Okay. I'll check up on Ming in the morning,
and then we can meet up at my place.
[eerie music]
[gulping]
[music intensifying]
[Ming exhales shakily]
[voice] Ming
is your turn.
[]
[sniffles]
[]
[knocks]
Ming?
It's Detective Fischer.
Is everything all right?
[Ming shouting in Chinese]
[footsteps clacking]
[]
Ming! Ming!
Ming, it's me.
It's Tamara.
[Ming] Rebeka.
I'm not going to hurt you.
Rebekah!
[bottle shatters]
Ming...
Drop it! Drop it.
[Fischer grunting]
[both yelp]
Ming!
[Ming grunts]
No![Body squelches]
[]
[Fischer gasps]
Oh, shit.
[]
[both speaking Chinese]
[music fades]
[door slams]
[engine turns over]
[ominous music]
[Fischer] Let's go see my mom.
Mom, I'm home.
You wait here. I'll just
see if she's upstairs.
[]
[knocking]
[whoosing]
[yelps]
Ow!
[voice] It's your turn...
[Fischer clears throat]
Are you okay?
Ms. Fischer.
[Lea] Would you two like some tea?
Oh.
You're here to chat. Let's get comfy.
Yeah, that... that would be lovely.
[chuckles]
Lovely.
[water running]
[Lea sighs]
[Fischer] Mm.
Tammy.
You don't want anything to eat?
I'm not hungry.
Ah.
Did you hurt yourself?
It's fine.
I just...
-Did something happen?
I just had a little accident.
[Lea] You never have little accidents.
Look, Ms. Fischer
she'll be okay, I promise.
But something isn't okay with these cases.
People disassociate, acting
crazy like this morning...
Lukas, that's enough.
Ms. Fischer, we believe that these cases
are related to the game you played.
And we need your help.
Does it change anything if
I tell you about that night?
Well we want to know about a lot of things.
But yes, we would love
to know about that night.
I don't like to talk about that night.
Lukas, right?
Now that was not very nice.
[Lea sighs]
Okay.
People didn't believe me,
so they locked me up in a mental hospital.
[screeching]
I had no choice.
[whimpering]
I was the good little girl
who hid the story deep down
and nodded whenever I was supposed to
and said all the right things,
so that my baby wouldn't
be born with all the crazies.
[sobbing]
I did what I needed to do.
[sighs]
But now it's back.
So you need to know a few things.
You may be open to hear.
[music intensifying]
Where should we begin?
I used to say it's a game of
forgetting, a game of revenge.
You came with your
pain, hoping to forget it,
hoping to be chosen.
[whooshing]
[shoes scraping]
[blows]
[birds, insects chirping]
[ominous music]
[door creaking]
This room is creepy.
Why is there a light on?
Someone was expecting us.
It's perfect.
It's really stuffy in here.
Probably hasn't been used in a while.
It's after hours.
Oh.
That's exactly what we need.
[coughing]
Max, I'm gonna suffocate.
What's this?
[clicks]
[fan creaking]
Oh, circulation.
You're not going to suffocate today.
This noise makes this place feel haunted.
It probably is haunted.
It's just the generator fans, guaranteed.
These old buildings
are like living fossils.
Okay, guys. This is the room.
This is going to be our game room.
So everyone take a candle.
Who made you king?
The game did when I found it.
No King, no game.
What are you doing? You can't touch that.
There's nothing on them but a white circle.
It looks like arts and crafts.
How are we supposed to play this game?
-There's gotta be a rule book.
-Does it matter?
Do you have anything
else better to do tonight?
You're funny.
Guys, come on.
Are we going to play this game?
Or are we banter all night?
It depends.
Do I get to banter with you?
Shut up.
[laughs]
Come on really? How does this work?
Because I have a vendetta
I'd really like to take off my plate.
You are so dramatic.
Maybe I change my vendetta to include you.
Whatever.
[ominous buzzing]
That's creepy.
Okay, guys.
Are you going to treat
this like a silly game,
you can leave now.
Good. Now everyone take a candle
and put it in front of you to the right.
There wasn't a rule book per se,
but there was something
at the bottom of the box.
Go ahead, read it.
[]
"Bring your pain, your rage, your sorrow."
It is welcome here.
One keeps my time.
Candles lit and all aligned.
Ask me silently your
questions and I provide.
When you see the symbol,
trace the air with your candle flame.
When doorways are opened,
the shadow of the air invite.
If your revenge is pure,
your candle extinguishes,
and you are the chosen one.
You will have your revenge,
and I will eat your pain,
"for I am the Painkiller."
I don't know if I want to play this game.
Maybe someone put it there,
to mess with you, with us.
It had a layer of dust and cobwebs.
No one's played this in quite some time.
I found this book upstairs and it says
that the circle means
"Sunyata" or "emptiness."
[dramatic music]
Since when is emptiness a good thing?
"2,500 years ago, the Buddha
was able to get to Sunyata,
emptiness, and in doing so,
liberated himself from suffering or... ".
Yeah to get to Sunyata. We get it.
Ladies, no one needs to read the book.
It's basically what the directions said.
Painkiller, you play to free yourself
from pain and suffering.
I like it.
I'm in.
In.
I'm in.
Okay fine. I'm in as well.
Come on, Lea.
I want you to be the timekeeper.
[watch ticking]
Um, why her?
Because I said so.
In.
[flames whoosh]
[ominous whispering]
[whooshing]
[Fischer] So you saw something.
Did anyone else see it?
No. It could have been
a change in the light.
After reading those creepy rules,
I guess I could have made it up.
But I kept seeing it.
Like how?
I'd feel it with me all the time
but it was stronger
whenever we played the game.
It was like... electricity.
There was a constant low hum,
like when you put a shell against your ear.
I heard it everywhere.
I didn't want to play.
But you kept playing.
Yes.
Why?
Because Tamara's dad was one of them.
What?
Because your dad was one of them.
How could you not tell me this?
I'm so sorry. I had to... to protect you.
It wasn't exactly planned,
but love never is, right?
Or rather they say, love is blind.
[]
[whoosh]
Alpha, wind.
[whooshing]
Which one of you has a crush on my Max?
There's no way that's a question.
Why? Is it you?
This doesn't make sense.
Yeah, it does.
You said I could read the question out loud
if I wanted to, right?
Wasn't that the rules, Max?
Yes, but it has to be a real question.
Just not one of your little fantasies.
Fine. I'm going again.
That's not fair.
I don't care, Hannah.
Are we still playing?
Give me one second, please.
[]
[rumbling]
[whooshing]
[all] Alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha.
Sarah thought that Hannah was with Max.
But it was you.
[Lea] It was me.
But her rage was pure. So she was chosen.
What does that mean?
It chooses you.
If you wanted to commit the act,
it takes over and forces you
to lose that pocket of time.
Like Adalbert.
Yeah. Maybe.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[paper crumpling]
The poor guy.
[snaps]
[Lea] The next week in school,
Hannah went to the bathroom...
[whooshing]
during English, and
then Sarah got weird,
like she wasn't quite there.
[]
Professor Ragnar.
[tense music]
[Lea] The teacher sent her to the nurse.
[door scrapes, thuds]
[Hannah gasps]
You scared the crap out of me.
Are you okay?
I knew it was you.
Me?
What?
[Hannah gasps]
[Hannah gasps, body squelches]
[knife clatters]
[Hannah gasping]
Help! Help!
[whimpers]
Oh, my God.
But she recovered, right?
She was in the hospital
for a few weeks, but yes.
The strange part is
that Sarah had no memory of it.
Like what do you mean?
A blank space.
The last thing she
remembered was sitting in class.
She heard a low pitched
noise and then blank.
Hannah! Hannah! I'm so sorry.
Hannah!
Hannah!
Um, losing time could be normal though,
if you're in a state of shock.
Well, whatever it was, it started happening
the more we played the game.
People we had bad
feelings towards got hurt.
[shoes stomping]
And then Sarah killed herself.
[body squelches]
[Sarah gasping]
Sure, we talked about stopping.
But we felt better when we played,
but then a few months into the
game, and everything fell apart.
[]
[Max] Come on.
Everyone's going to be here soon.
Why are you being weird?
What do you mean?
I don't know. Different.
I'm not.
Okay.
I just think maybe it's not
such a good idea anymore.
What's not?
You know. This.
[Max sighs]
Look, now is not really the
best time to talk about this
but we definitely should soon.
I'm going to go downstairs
and set up the game.
Come down whenever you want.
I found out I was
pregnant shortly after that.
[Fischer sighs]
Would anyone like more tea?
[Klein] Um, yeah, I'll...
I'll have some more.
And Max?
[dishes clanking]
He never knew.
He made his choice.
[cries]
Come on, Lea, we want to start.
Sorry. I lost track of time.
Are you okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Can I shuffle?
Yeah.
[whispers indistinctly]
[giggles]
Ready?
[taps game piece] Ready.
Ready.
[cards flipping]
Ready.
[candles tapping]
Up until that point, the game scared me.
But after, it became like oxygen.
A place to put all my
uncomfortable feelings.
And then...
He chose me.
He said that I was different from the rest
and that I could wipe the slate clean.
I remembered it all,
not like the other times.
He had chosen me,
and I was the purest of all.
Mom, did you have something
to do with the accident?
Hm.
I'm just tired. Will you two excuse me?
Mom, do you remember Rebeka?
She's the woman who stayed
in the guest house last year.
The night she and her
husband had that really bad fight.
Oh right, yes. I do remember her.
Sad woman.
Why did she come to mind?
She's dead.
We found her body by the lake.
Perhaps killing herself was a relief.
How do you know she...?
[whooshing]
I told them what they needed to know.
[voice] Not everything...
Rebeka...
[dramatic music]
Sunyata, you should rest now.
Come on in.
You can stay here for
the night. You'll be safe.
I'll show you the guest
room, get you some ice,
and then you can rest.
We can talk more in the morning, okay?
[Lea] You're home.
Oh!
Who's your friend?
Mom, this is Rebeka.
Tamara's helping me.
My husband sometimes...
Lovely to meet you, Rebeka.
More hot tea. You'll feel better.
Hm?
Oh, thank you.
Do you hate him?
I do.
[paper crumpling]
[clank]
[]
[cuts]
Is this...?
Shall we play?
[]
[match strikes]
[blows]
Alpha, alpha, alpha.
[whooshing]
[ominous music]
Don't worry. He's here to help you.
You'll be fine.
Okay.
[voice] Rebeka...
So, um, are you going to say something?
Well, um, I'm a detective and...
[laughs]
My mom pretty much just confessed
to killing all her friends.
So.
Well, there are a lot of
inconsistencies, I mean...
And yet she knew Rebeka killed herself.
How would she know that?
Lukas, I don't know.
You don't believe it?
We have to go.
Your lawyer is waiting
for us at the station.
We can go through the whole
report and any other details
he needs for the case against your husband.
Well...
I decided not to move
forward with this case.
I'm not going to press charges.
Rebeka, it's normal to
want to downplay abuse
after the fact.
I found my own way to solve this issue.
I want him to regret what he did to me
for the rest of his life.
Hey.[Sighs]
[sniffles] It's going to be okay.
I don't know how I know
it's going to be, okay,
but it will, okay?
[woman over radio] Um, detectives,
there's been another thing.
Copy that. Where are we heading?
Grosseck-Speiereck.
They shut down the lifts.
Copy.
[engine turns over]
[siren wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter]
-What happened?
-A death.
This couple from London,
they're on their honeymoon
and the husband Tobias,
he hung himself from the cable car.
Are we sure that it was on purpose?
I mean, we've been
seeing some strange things.
Yeah. The only way to
do it is from the inside,
and his wife didn't do anything.
What do you mean she didn't do anything?
She just sat there frozen.
She didn't scream or try to help him.
Where is she now?
[woman] In the ambulance over there.
[siren wailing]
When did you arrive?
About a half-hour ago.
Sophia, I'm Detective Fischer.
You can call me Tamara.
I'd like to ask you a few
questions about what happened.
Okay?
I know it can be hard to answer...
No, I don't know.
I mean, I can't remember what happened.
The last thing I remember
was us catching the cable car,
and we were sitting there laughing and
then nothing, like nothing, until I...
Until saw him.
And he was just... gone. [Sobs]
Hey, hey. It's going to be okay.
I just need you to confirm what happened.
Think hard, okay?
Do you remember anything
after you got into the cable car?
Just a low noise.
[]
[watch ticking]
What kind of noise?
In my head, like bees far away.
[Fischer] And then?
Then nothing.
Then just white, white,
white, white, alpha, white.
-Wait, what'd you say?
-White, white, white.
Everything's white.
-White and?
-White!
Excuse me.
We need some help over here.
[watch ticking]
[wife sobbing]
Can you take it off?
It was a wedding gift. I
don't want to look at it.
[approaching footsteps]
-[sirens wailing]
How long does it take for
someone to asphyxiate?
Well, even at the low
hanging angle in this case,
four to six minutes; That's
how long it takes to die
if you cut off the blood
supply to the brain.
So that means she rode most of the way up
with her husband suffocating
while she sat next to him.
Oh.
Sorry, I think I... I need to get some sleep.
That sounds like a good idea.
I'll get a ride with Stefanie,
and you call me in a few hours.
Okay. Sounds good.
[footsteps crunching]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[whistle]
[Klein] None of this makes sense.
[Fischer] Yeah well, that's 'cause
all the stuff we know sounds crazy.
[Klein] Sure, but there
must be an explanation.
There are no game pieces
that move on their own.
Candles that light themselves,
figures lurking in the shadows.
[exhales]
We have to talk to somebody,
maybe
maybe that author, the witness.
He was writing a book on this, right?
I keep thinking about my mom and her story.
What part? There was, like, a lot there.
Her pregnant, having this secret
that she kept from everyone
and watching Max and Hannah together.
The rage and betrayal she must've felt.
Your desire is pure.
What?
Isn't that what the card says
every time they have intense emotion.
[rumbling]
Do you hear that?
Hear what?
That.
[whooshing]
The noise?
What do you hear?
Lukas, come on.
Alpha. Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Okay, Lukas, stop it.
You are the one.
Lukas?
Oh! Aah!
[grunting]
[yelps]
[gasps, chokes]
[watch ticking]
[dramatic music]
[Fischer grunting]
[gasps]
[exhales]
The watch.
[watch ticking]
[]
Excuse me! Hi, Mr. Wang.
Oh, hi.
Detective Fischer, Tamara.
Yes, of course. I remember you.
[Fischer] Out for a walk?
Oh, yeah. It helps me think.
[Fischer] I get that.
Mr. Wang, I was curious about your book.
I hear you're writing
one on myth and belief.
Is that correct?
Yes, how people believe
stories, and they become real.
So you don't believe in the supernatural
or weird coincidence?
No, no. I believe people
believe what they see.
Mm, okay. Maybe...
Ah. [Sniffles]
Maybe this rock is
cursed, and then you take it.
Story goes, you get sick
until you return the stone.
[Fischer chuckles]
I sort of don't want to hold it now.
Exactly. Stories mess with you.
And if you can get an
entire town to believe,
it can be deadly.
[phone vibrating]
Oh, s... sorry.
[Fischer] Of course.
[vibrating continues]
[speaking indistinctly]
Maybe we can talk more later.
Hey, come in.
You can put your stuff
over here and have a seat.
I'm just going to drain the noodles.
Nice view.
[Klein] Yeah, right?
[dishes clank]
[Fischer] Thank you.
[Klein] No worries.
[clears throat]
[Fischer] Hmm.
Not bad.
Thanks.
Oh, by the way, I ran into Johnny Wang.
He's writing on how myth takes over culture
and how we believe things
if we hear them enough.
The game?
-[Fischer] Exactly.
Everything can be explained
if you just look deeper
at the roots of the myth.
What if this game could
have others do its bidding?
Like how do you mean?
Like someone wants Otwin and Rebeka dead.
So they conspire to make it happen
by using other people like pawns.
It's a game, right?
My mom never told us how the game ends.
Do you think it has an end?
Well, it's a game. It has to.
Yeah.
[birds chirping]
[ominous music]
So this Johnny Wang.
It appears he's written
a few books already.
And one called the "Frequency of Fear"
that I think you might find interesting.
Mm-hmm, why is that?
Well, it talks about some similar things
that happened to your mom.
You know, things
breaking, the low hum thing.
Hold on. I'll just... I'll just read it.
"The fear frequency between
18.9 Hertz and 19 Hertz
has been known to cause discomfort,
dizziness, blurred, vision,
hyperventilation, and fear."
Hmm. The frequency of fear.
That sounds made up.
Yeah, right?
But this Mr. Wang is into
dispelling strange phenomenon.
I mean, look what he has to say.
It matches some of the
behavior of our victims.
And the guy who first
discovered the fear frequency,
Vic Tandy, found that it
was made by a foil blade
clamped in a vice that
vibrated at a high speed.
So what? Do you think there's some device
that's causing people to
experience this fear frequency?
The question is what is the device?
[tapping pencil]
Mom?
Mom.
[door creaks]
Mom.
You here?
Oh, my God.
Mom! Mom! Wake up!
Wake up.
What are you doing?
Tamara.
Dear.
Where am I?
You're in the bathtub.
It's morning. It's good.
Oh, it's cold. How long
have you been in here?
[Fischer] Come on, get
up. This isn't good for you.
Oh, I... I'm going...
I'm going to put on my
robe and have some tea.
Would you like some, dear?
Okay sure, why not?
But then we're going to talk about what
you were doing last night.
[Lea] It was nothing.
I wanted a hot bath, and
then I must have nodded off.
We could also talk about
what you were doing last night.
Get dressed.
I'll make some tea.
[Lea] Some hot tea.
[ominous music building]
[]
[lid creaks]
[game board clacks]
[gasps]
[game clacks]
-[dishes clatter]
What is this?
That's the wrong question.
You know what it is, dear.
But why? Why do you have it?
Because it's mine.
When people play this game, they die.
How many people have you played it with?
How many are you responsible for...
We were kids then, but...
Bullshit! Mom!
You know how this game works
and still, you are inviting people to play.
Otwin, Ming, Rebeka.
And what about my partner,
did you invite him too?
No, I didn't. I didn't.
It can't be. I was just helping her.
Just like you were helping your friends
that night in the warehouse.
I don't... I don't believe you.
-Tammy.
-[Fischer] No.
-Please.
-[Fishcer] You know what?
Tammy?
-[Fischer] Here.
You can have your watch back.
[cries]
-[tense music]
I don't want anything from you.
My watch?
The watch you gave me.
I didn't give it to you.
What do you mean you didn't?
But you said...
You have a new watch.
You got it for your birthday. It's lovely.
But at the station...
Oh, God.
[Lea] Show it to me.
Where exactly did the watch come from?
[Fischer] It came in
the mail to the station.
There was no return address.
Just a... a typed note.
"Happy birthday to the
best detective. Cheers."
I just assumed it was from you.
Not from me.
Well, who then?
You are the detective.
[]
[breathes deeply]
[footsteps crunching]
[intense music]
[knocks]
[Klein] Mr. Wang, I have a
couple of questions to ask you.
May I come in?
Okay. Come in.
Thank you.
We found a few of your books online,
and I was mostly fascinated
with "The Fear Frequency."
Yes, I have been
studying it for a long time.
Now I'm wondering if
that's why you're here.
[Johnny] I came for doing
an interview for my next book.
I promised not to tell anyone
in exchange for a private interview.
A man named Otwin sent
me a card, a symbol, Sunyata.
Symbol for emptiness, right?
To be free from pain and suffering.
It seems like a good thing
until you lose time
and kill all your friends.
Hold on, but Sunyata is a positive state.
Why would he send you this?
[Johnny] I don't know.
We corresponded only briefly,
but he mentioned "Painkiller."
Otwin was playing the game?
You do realize that this information
is exactly the kind of information
you should have told the
detectives working on the case.
I was nervous.
[exhales]
Please stay in town.
[tense music]
[whooshing]
[supernatural breathing]
This has to end.
[voice] Lea...
Why was Ming involved?
He didn't play.
And Rebeka was chosen.
She wanted peace.
You still think that you have control.
I'm the timekeeper. I choose.
[young Lea] Once the game is open,
you can't control other
people's pure desires.
What may be pure for them may not be kind.
What do you mean?
Pure rage is still a pure desire.
So is heartbreak.
Emotions are the purest thing we have.
But it's about who's the strongest.
There will always be someone stronger.
This has to end.
It has to end.
"The frequency of fear
appears in various situations.
It can be generated by large phenomena
such as a storm or earthquake,
or from simple vibrational
devices like machinery or fans."
Like machinery or fans.
[cabinet door rattles]
[flipping through pages]
[plastic crinkles]
[distant indistinct chatter]
[young Lea, echoing] It was
like a... like a noise, like a fan,
a humming.
Like when you put a seashell to your ear.
Stefanie, I need you
to do something for me.
Can you come to my office?
Thanks.
[ominous music]
[lighter clatters]
[]
Before you ask, be sure you want to know.
How do we close the game?
[Max] May I?
Are you sure you want to ask this?
Tell her.
She should know.
[Max] You won't be protected anymore.
We could keep playing.
Tell me. I'm ready to hear.
You are the Omega.
[lock clicking]
[Max] It started with you,
and it must end with you.
You have been feeding it
because you think it keeps you safe.
It did. It chose me.
[lock clatters]
Please, Lea.
[all] Let us go.
[door creaks]
[ominous whooshing]
[Lea shivers]
[exhales]
[]
[game piece rattles]
[whoosh]
[tense music]
You look happy.
Did you ask it a good question?
I did.
[Lea exhales]
[whoosh]
[all, echoing] Alpha. Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Welcome.
What will you have me
do to wipe the slate clean?
[Johnny] Revenge is a powerful emotion
that can feel overwhelming.
The symbol of Sunyata, used in a certain
game is often prey to misinterpretation.
The gamers think that once they
get revenge, their pain is relieved.
In fact, whatever pain
people have already exists
within them and the only
place to relieve them is within.
[tape clicks]
I was there. We were.
[ominous, supernatural breathing]
Lukas, is that you?
[young Lea] I think
we got it right this time.
[lights buzzing]
[detective on tape] You
are the only one who got out.
Apparently, only you got it right.
[young Lea] I know.
[voice] Alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha
[whooshing] [Fischer screams]
[intense music]
[lights buzzing]
[clock ticking methodically]
[Klein exhales]
So I spoke to Johnny Wang.
He told me that Otwin was
playing the game before he died.
I found the game.
What? Where?
My mom has it.
I don't know. I think
she's been playing it.
Who with?
I'm not sure but...[scoffs]
I saw it.
Tamara. Saw what?
The shadow figure.
Look, I know... I know this sounds crazy,
but I need you to believe me.
I went back to the station
to re-watch the tape
and it was there; I saw it.
I need you to believe
me. Do you believe me?
Well, I...
Listen, I believe that
you believe you saw it,
but maybe there's another cause.
[Fischer scoffs, laughs]
Like what?
I mean, listen, the dark shadow,
the repetition of the word,
and all those things you've
heard from your mom.
I mean... I mean, what
if, and I'm just saying,
but... but what if it's... it's
just all in your head?
Fuck you!
I know what I saw.
The shadow was real. Okay?
And we both heard the word "Alpha."
Adalbert said it, Rebeka said it.
My mum said it on the video.
Even Ming, they all said it.
No. Not all of them.
Yes. All of them.
No, not Sophia and not
Ming. At least not to me.
Yes, he did.
He said it right after he
told us the whole story
before he broke down crying.
I stepped out of the room
at that point, remember?
What? No.
[Captain] Sorry, could I
have one of you for a second?
Ming, did Rebeka say anything before she...
Alpha.
What did...?
[whispers indistinctly]
[phone buzzing]
-Oh, shit.
-What?
Listen, I... I had Stefanie test the watches.
Why?
-All the watches from our victims look different, right?
-Yeah.
But they seem to have a common denominator;
The letters, A, O, and P are
hidden on the back of each one.
I don't know exactly what it means yet,
but those letters seem
to link all the cases.
[tense music]
-And guess what?
-Huh?
Each watch vibrates at 18.9 Hertz.
The fear frequency.
Exactly.
[Klein scoffs]
So... so whoever is making the watches
is probably responsible for all the deaths.
O
P
A
Give it to me.
You shouldn't wear this anymore.
Oh, no, my Mom...
-Hey.
-I told her. I...
Hey.
-Lukas, I think I should...
-Hey.
[Klein] Tamara.
You've told me what happened,
but I'm more interested
in how you feel about it.
All my friends died.
How am I supposed to feel?
Sad, perhaps.
Sorrow, mourning, heartbroken, listless.
Sure.
All those things are fine.
You can write them down.
The thing is...[ominous whooshing]
I get the feeling you
don't feel any of those.
I get the feeling that it's the opposite.
'Cause it chose me.
Who chose you?
[]
The Alpha and the Omega, the Painkiller.
[voice] Alpha...
[body squelches]
[Lea winces]
It ends now.
[ominous, supernatural breathing]
[knock on door]
I am the Omega.
I choose.
[blood dripping]
[]
[young Lea] I'm sorry.
Please forgive me.
[dramatic music]
[fire crackling]
And the fire turned it all to ash.
[fire roaring]
[blowing]
I said I release you.
[]
You aren't in control of that.
I'm the timekeeper. I make the rules.
You keep time, but I
can still access the circle.
Why?
You know why.
You don't really want to end this.
You never did.
You are not real.
Miss Fischer, this came for you.
[traffic passing]
We are both timekeepers now.
You cannot do that.
[Max scoffs]
But it's already done.
[]
[candle clacks]
[blows]
[candle clacks]
[]
[fan whirring softly]
Mom?
Ms. Fischer?
Can you stay here in case she comes back?
I'm gonna check the lake.
Why the lake?
[Fischer] I'm not the
only one who likes to walk.
[Klein exhales deeply]
[wind blowing]
[water splashes]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'll make it all disappear.
Everything will end.
Everything will be okay.
[]
[water splashing]
[bubbles]
[Fischer] Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
What are you doing?
Tammy?
Mom!
What are you doing?[Indistinct]
Here, come... come towards me.
My Tammy.
Tell me.
I'm sorry I had to.
I shouldn't have played the game again.
I'm sorry.
[music ends]
Oh, my God, your hand!
The game is at the bottom of the lake.
[Fischer] So it's o...
-Oh!
[winces] Mm.
So it's over?
In a way, yes.
How many more have you played it with?
What?
My partner, Ming, Rebeka,
the guy from the cable car.
[Lea] What guy?
Tobias.
The guy from London who was vacationing
with his wife, Sophia.
How did you even know them?
I didn't know them.
I only played with Rebeka.
But they arrived after Rebeka died.
If you didn't play with them, then who did?
[tense music]
You said London?
Yeah, why? Is... is that important?
-Tammy...
-[Fischer] Hm?
There are some things I'm not proud of.
And there's something that
that you should know.
[woman] Miss Fischer, this came for you.
[tense, pulsing music]
[door opens]
How is she?
She's okay. She's resting.
And where's the game now?
She threw it into the lake.
So it's over.
[Fischer] I don't know.
I think she's still hiding
something about the watch.
Do you think she knows who made it?
[Fischer] Possibly.
But whoever made it and sent it to me
wants me to play the game.
[]
You should tell her
about the fear frequency.
She should know.
No, she thinks she ended it.
It's better she believes that.
[keys clacking]
[blows]
[dramatic music]
"Dear Adalbert, I sincerely
hope these small gifts
can assist you with your current problems.
[box opening]
[paper rustling]
[]
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
[voicemail beeps]
[old Max] Hi, you've reached Max Summer.
Leave me a message. Cheers.
[Fischer] I'm Detective Fischer.
[]
[blows]
[man] You weren't
supposed to find that just yet.
Grandpa?
The game... is special.
One people crave.
Passed down through
hundreds of generations.
With it comes much responsibility.
In the wrong hands, it
unravels chaos and death.
It will be given to you in time.
I'm ready now.
Teach me how to be the keeper.
[grandfather chuckles]
Everyone thinks they are ready,
but one day, you will know
the real meaning of patience.
[watch ticking]
When you ask, I must oblige.
Answer with your choice:
Now or later.
Now.
And so we shall transfer the
ownership to the next keeper.
[watch ticking]
Let us call upon the Painkiller.
[ticking continues]
[]
[music ends]
[somber music]
[woman] Hey, focus.
Look, you're gonna have to start telling
me the truth here from the beginning,
or you're gonna be in some big trouble.
Have you heard of the game, Detective?
I've heard of many games.
You're gonna have to be more specific.
You'd remember this one.
Painkiller.
All right, let's start from the beginning.
Please state your name
and age again for the record.
My name is Lea Fischer.
I'm 18 years old.
All my friends are dead now.
I'm not sure,
but I might've killed them.
I'm in.
In.
I'm in.
Okay, fine, I'm in as well.
Come on, Lea.
I want you to be the time keeper.
Um, why her?
Because I said so.
In.[Flames whoosh]
[]
[ducks quacking]
[water splashes]
-[birds chirping]
[]
[gunshot]
[tense music]
[ticking]
[sips]
[door hinges creak]
Tamara, is that you?
Are you back home?
[whooshes]
What did you do?
[man] Now many of you are wondering
what's been happening this past month.
There's been gossip about
the murders and suicides,
but I can assure you
that our finest detectives
will do their job to bring
these incidents to light.
[soft, indistinct chatter]
I'll be taking questions in a few minutes.
For now, please join me in
a moment of remembrance.
[birds chirping]
[distant bells ringing]
[distant indistinct chatter]
[exhales]
[sniffles]
Hm.
[Lea gasps] Mom.
[tense music]
Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Unwind.
[blows breath]
[]
[rumbling]
Come.
Are you here?
[]
Detective Fischer, this is your
new partner, Detective Klein.
He just moved to our beautiful
town, so let's make him feel welcome.
No, I play just fine all
by myself, thank you.
I'm sure you two will
learn to play nice together.
Ma'am...
-I think what you meant to say was, "Yes, Captain."
-Yes, Captain.
-Thank you.
[]
Oh,
and happy birthday.
[distant indistinct chatter]
Do you remember the legend of the students?
Yeah, sure. It's a silly urban legend.
What about it?
I've been working an underground case.
And I came across something on a
dark web auction as an item of interest.
It's a tape, old school
VHS, and it was shot here.
Is this some sick stuff
I'm not gonna wanna see?
No, but I think it has to do with
what's happening in the town.
You have this tape?
[Fischer speaks indistinctly]
[TV static buzzing]
Okay.
[Fischer clears throat]
[detective] You can leave
once you've answered all the questions.
I answered what you asked.
We were in the warehouse
when the lights went out,
then everything was on fire.
And how did you get out?
[young Lea] I don't remember.
I was there. We were.
[methodical ticking]
And there was this... this thing.
And this noise and...
What noise?
Like a fan. A humming.
Like when you put a seashell to your ear.
You're the only one who got out.
[eerie music]
I know.
[ominous whooshing]
Hey, focus.
Have you heard of the game, Detective?
I've heard of many games.
You'd remember this one.
Painkiller.
It's impossible to forget.
Gets in your head, in every which way.
[interviewer scoffs]
Let's start from the beginning.
Please state your name
and age for the record.
My name is Lea Fischer.
I'm 18 years old.
All my friends are dead now.
I'm not sure,
but I might have killed them.
Who else have you shown this to?
[Klein] No one.
That's why I brought it to you first.
Have you ever seen it before?
No, of course not.
All the evidence supposedly disappeared.
The fire was chemical, so there
were no recognizable bodies
at the scene and
whatever else they gathered
disappeared a few weeks later.
They had one eye witness,
and I don't know about you,
but I don't think she looks exactly stable.
Well, we have to talk to her.
[Fischer] No. She was 18 back then.
Her friends had just died in the accident.
She's obviously still in
shock, and they're clearly
leading her down some line of questioning.
[Klein] She was acquitted.
Yes, because my mom didn't do anything.
She spent eight months
in a mental institution.
She doesn't like to talk about it.
-But they might be connected.
-What's connected?
The new murders and this
urban legend, this game.
But that's all it is. It's a game.
It's a silly urban legend.
[Klein] Your mom seemed
pretty sure that it was real.
She even named it.
Yeah, "Painkiller", whatever they call it.
[ominous music]
[wind whooshes]
-[leaves crackle]
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct radio chatter]
This month is cursed.
Five murders, and they
closed the pizzeria in town.
A little respect for the dead.
Sorry, Detective.
It's just there's never been
anything like this before.
So what happened this time?
Shot to the back, straight on through.
Did they find the gun?[Siren wailing]
They're combing the perimeter.
[man] Detective, over here!
[tense music]
[indistinct chanting, knocking from inside]
Alpha, alpha...
[man chanting]
Adalbert, it's Detective Fischer.
I need you to stop that.
Otwin?
What about him?
He's hurt.
It hurts him...
I think, but I...
[ominous music]
I hurt him, I think.
[indistinct]
Let her go.
[]
Saw Lea,
tell her she's in danger.
Ah!
Hey!
We need you in the hut, now.
[Fischer] Otwin and
Adalbert have been neighbors
and best friends since I was little.
I mean, I just... I just find it
a very strange coincidence
that we watched the tape,
and then this Adalbert tells
you to tell your mom something.
Look, I know it's weird.
There hasn't been a murder in years
and then suddenly a bunch.
In these cases, the people,
they've all been confused
and disoriented in a somewhat similar way.
There must be an explanation.
We just... we just have to find it.
I... I don't want my mom dragged into this.
There it is. That's why
you can't be objective.
I can be objective. Okay?
I just don't have to write
it all out in exquisite detail.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
Mom!
Tammy?
[Fischer] I'm here.
Oh, I... I must have fallen asleep.
[knocking on table]
I think I had tea.
Yeah, you're... you're in the kitchen.
[Lea] I know. I was just talking.
It was very vivid. I was...
Who else is here?
It's Lukas, ma'am. Tamara's new partner.
Just call me Lea.
Please sit down. You're making me nervous.
There's been another one. Adalbert wanted...
Adalbert is a kind man.
He had a message for you.
He said you are in danger.
Mom, do you know what he's talking about?
How would I know?
I wasn't that close with either of them.
Them who? I only said Adalbert.
There always has to be a them.
It's the way it's designed.
Wait, wait, "it"? The game?
Are you talking about the game?
I think I'd prefer to rest now.
We'd prefer to hear about the game.
Mom, mom.
We just need you to talk to us.
[ominous music]
[cup rattling]
[cup shatters]
[chairs creaking]
I'm going to go to bed now.
You have a new watch.
You got it for your birthday. How lovely.
Thanks, mom.
What the hell was that?
Look... I know there's
something she's not telling me.
Every time I ask her, it's the same.
"I'm tired."
"Let's make you tea."
"Let's not bring up the past."
And if I push, something happens.
Something like?
Dishes crack, something short-circuits,
a window broke once.
Another time, she had a seizure.
I stopped asking her.
Except for now it's important.
I know.
She's also my mom.
[voice] Lea...
It's time...
[]
[fan rattling]
[lid creaks]
[clock clicks, hoots]
[clock whirring, hoots]
[]
[dog barking]
[whoosh]
[barking continues]
[insects chirping]
[]
[water splashing]
[Fischer] It's Ming.
He and his wife moved here two years ago.
Nice guy when he's not been drinking.
We get called to his home for domestics.
You know the cycle.
Last year, his wife
Rebeka called in a panic
after a really bad fight.[Siren wailing]
But the next day, she
retracted her statement
and refused to press charges.
[Klein mumbles indistinctly]
Shit! He finally killed her.
[woman] He's saying he didn't do it.
Of course he is.
The first stage is always denial.
There's a witness.
A reliable witness?
Yeah. An out-of-town author who's staying
at the bed and breakfast across the lake.
He's never met Ming.
So what does the author say happened?
He confirms Ming's story.
[electronic beep]
[indistinct radio chatter]
Ming?
[Ming whimpering]
I'll get the author.
[Klein] Can you tell us what you saw?
[author] Sure.
I am staying in the lake house
for a month, writing a book.
Ming, did you kill your wife, Rebeka?
No. It wasn't like that.
[speaking Chinese]
I was walking when I heard them.
Exactly who did you hear?
The guy and the woman, they were fighting.
[indistinct arguing]
[woman yelping]
Then what happened?
I'm not proud of how I am, okay?
I know I lose it.
What happened after things got physical?
She just... pushes me.
[wind blowing]
[woman grunts]
[speaking Chinese]
[yelping]
[somber music]
[ominous music]
Alpha, alpha, alpha.
Rebeka.
[]
[water splashing]
Rebeka!
Rebeka. Rebeka.
[]
[speaking Chinese]
[bottle punctures]
[dramatic music]
[body squelches]
Why would she do that?
[sobbing]
[]
So what are we looking for?
Something I didn't
think about the first time,
but hold on, here it is.
I'm tired of answering questions.
Can I go now?
[detective] We only have a few more.
I was wondering were you...
[man] Detective, there's
a call for you on line three.
It's urgent!
I'll be right back.
[voice] Lea...
[whooshing]
Did you hear it?
No. What am I supposed to hear?
[tape scrubbing]
[whooshing]
Alpha.
We have to talk to your mom one more time.
I don't think this game is just a game.
Yeah. I think you're right.
Okay. I'll check up on Ming in the morning,
and then we can meet up at my place.
[eerie music]
[gulping]
[music intensifying]
[Ming exhales shakily]
[voice] Ming
is your turn.
[]
[sniffles]
[]
[knocks]
Ming?
It's Detective Fischer.
Is everything all right?
[Ming shouting in Chinese]
[footsteps clacking]
[]
Ming! Ming!
Ming, it's me.
It's Tamara.
[Ming] Rebeka.
I'm not going to hurt you.
Rebekah!
[bottle shatters]
Ming...
Drop it! Drop it.
[Fischer grunting]
[both yelp]
Ming!
[Ming grunts]
No![Body squelches]
[]
[Fischer gasps]
Oh, shit.
[]
[both speaking Chinese]
[music fades]
[door slams]
[engine turns over]
[ominous music]
[Fischer] Let's go see my mom.
Mom, I'm home.
You wait here. I'll just
see if she's upstairs.
[]
[knocking]
[whoosing]
[yelps]
Ow!
[voice] It's your turn...
[Fischer clears throat]
Are you okay?
Ms. Fischer.
[Lea] Would you two like some tea?
Oh.
You're here to chat. Let's get comfy.
Yeah, that... that would be lovely.
[chuckles]
Lovely.
[water running]
[Lea sighs]
[Fischer] Mm.
Tammy.
You don't want anything to eat?
I'm not hungry.
Ah.
Did you hurt yourself?
It's fine.
I just...
-Did something happen?
I just had a little accident.
[Lea] You never have little accidents.
Look, Ms. Fischer
she'll be okay, I promise.
But something isn't okay with these cases.
People disassociate, acting
crazy like this morning...
Lukas, that's enough.
Ms. Fischer, we believe that these cases
are related to the game you played.
And we need your help.
Does it change anything if
I tell you about that night?
Well we want to know about a lot of things.
But yes, we would love
to know about that night.
I don't like to talk about that night.
Lukas, right?
Now that was not very nice.
[Lea sighs]
Okay.
People didn't believe me,
so they locked me up in a mental hospital.
[screeching]
I had no choice.
[whimpering]
I was the good little girl
who hid the story deep down
and nodded whenever I was supposed to
and said all the right things,
so that my baby wouldn't
be born with all the crazies.
[sobbing]
I did what I needed to do.
[sighs]
But now it's back.
So you need to know a few things.
You may be open to hear.
[music intensifying]
Where should we begin?
I used to say it's a game of
forgetting, a game of revenge.
You came with your
pain, hoping to forget it,
hoping to be chosen.
[whooshing]
[shoes scraping]
[blows]
[birds, insects chirping]
[ominous music]
[door creaking]
This room is creepy.
Why is there a light on?
Someone was expecting us.
It's perfect.
It's really stuffy in here.
Probably hasn't been used in a while.
It's after hours.
Oh.
That's exactly what we need.
[coughing]
Max, I'm gonna suffocate.
What's this?
[clicks]
[fan creaking]
Oh, circulation.
You're not going to suffocate today.
This noise makes this place feel haunted.
It probably is haunted.
It's just the generator fans, guaranteed.
These old buildings
are like living fossils.
Okay, guys. This is the room.
This is going to be our game room.
So everyone take a candle.
Who made you king?
The game did when I found it.
No King, no game.
What are you doing? You can't touch that.
There's nothing on them but a white circle.
It looks like arts and crafts.
How are we supposed to play this game?
-There's gotta be a rule book.
-Does it matter?
Do you have anything
else better to do tonight?
You're funny.
Guys, come on.
Are we going to play this game?
Or are we banter all night?
It depends.
Do I get to banter with you?
Shut up.
[laughs]
Come on really? How does this work?
Because I have a vendetta
I'd really like to take off my plate.
You are so dramatic.
Maybe I change my vendetta to include you.
Whatever.
[ominous buzzing]
That's creepy.
Okay, guys.
Are you going to treat
this like a silly game,
you can leave now.
Good. Now everyone take a candle
and put it in front of you to the right.
There wasn't a rule book per se,
but there was something
at the bottom of the box.
Go ahead, read it.
[]
"Bring your pain, your rage, your sorrow."
It is welcome here.
One keeps my time.
Candles lit and all aligned.
Ask me silently your
questions and I provide.
When you see the symbol,
trace the air with your candle flame.
When doorways are opened,
the shadow of the air invite.
If your revenge is pure,
your candle extinguishes,
and you are the chosen one.
You will have your revenge,
and I will eat your pain,
"for I am the Painkiller."
I don't know if I want to play this game.
Maybe someone put it there,
to mess with you, with us.
It had a layer of dust and cobwebs.
No one's played this in quite some time.
I found this book upstairs and it says
that the circle means
"Sunyata" or "emptiness."
[dramatic music]
Since when is emptiness a good thing?
"2,500 years ago, the Buddha
was able to get to Sunyata,
emptiness, and in doing so,
liberated himself from suffering or... ".
Yeah to get to Sunyata. We get it.
Ladies, no one needs to read the book.
It's basically what the directions said.
Painkiller, you play to free yourself
from pain and suffering.
I like it.
I'm in.
In.
I'm in.
Okay fine. I'm in as well.
Come on, Lea.
I want you to be the timekeeper.
[watch ticking]
Um, why her?
Because I said so.
In.
[flames whoosh]
[ominous whispering]
[whooshing]
[Fischer] So you saw something.
Did anyone else see it?
No. It could have been
a change in the light.
After reading those creepy rules,
I guess I could have made it up.
But I kept seeing it.
Like how?
I'd feel it with me all the time
but it was stronger
whenever we played the game.
It was like... electricity.
There was a constant low hum,
like when you put a shell against your ear.
I heard it everywhere.
I didn't want to play.
But you kept playing.
Yes.
Why?
Because Tamara's dad was one of them.
What?
Because your dad was one of them.
How could you not tell me this?
I'm so sorry. I had to... to protect you.
It wasn't exactly planned,
but love never is, right?
Or rather they say, love is blind.
[]
[whoosh]
Alpha, wind.
[whooshing]
Which one of you has a crush on my Max?
There's no way that's a question.
Why? Is it you?
This doesn't make sense.
Yeah, it does.
You said I could read the question out loud
if I wanted to, right?
Wasn't that the rules, Max?
Yes, but it has to be a real question.
Just not one of your little fantasies.
Fine. I'm going again.
That's not fair.
I don't care, Hannah.
Are we still playing?
Give me one second, please.
[]
[rumbling]
[whooshing]
[all] Alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha.
Sarah thought that Hannah was with Max.
But it was you.
[Lea] It was me.
But her rage was pure. So she was chosen.
What does that mean?
It chooses you.
If you wanted to commit the act,
it takes over and forces you
to lose that pocket of time.
Like Adalbert.
Yeah. Maybe.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[paper crumpling]
The poor guy.
[snaps]
[Lea] The next week in school,
Hannah went to the bathroom...
[whooshing]
during English, and
then Sarah got weird,
like she wasn't quite there.
[]
Professor Ragnar.
[tense music]
[Lea] The teacher sent her to the nurse.
[door scrapes, thuds]
[Hannah gasps]
You scared the crap out of me.
Are you okay?
I knew it was you.
Me?
What?
[Hannah gasps]
[Hannah gasps, body squelches]
[knife clatters]
[Hannah gasping]
Help! Help!
[whimpers]
Oh, my God.
But she recovered, right?
She was in the hospital
for a few weeks, but yes.
The strange part is
that Sarah had no memory of it.
Like what do you mean?
A blank space.
The last thing she
remembered was sitting in class.
She heard a low pitched
noise and then blank.
Hannah! Hannah! I'm so sorry.
Hannah!
Hannah!
Um, losing time could be normal though,
if you're in a state of shock.
Well, whatever it was, it started happening
the more we played the game.
People we had bad
feelings towards got hurt.
[shoes stomping]
And then Sarah killed herself.
[body squelches]
[Sarah gasping]
Sure, we talked about stopping.
But we felt better when we played,
but then a few months into the
game, and everything fell apart.
[]
[Max] Come on.
Everyone's going to be here soon.
Why are you being weird?
What do you mean?
I don't know. Different.
I'm not.
Okay.
I just think maybe it's not
such a good idea anymore.
What's not?
You know. This.
[Max sighs]
Look, now is not really the
best time to talk about this
but we definitely should soon.
I'm going to go downstairs
and set up the game.
Come down whenever you want.
I found out I was
pregnant shortly after that.
[Fischer sighs]
Would anyone like more tea?
[Klein] Um, yeah, I'll...
I'll have some more.
And Max?
[dishes clanking]
He never knew.
He made his choice.
[cries]
Come on, Lea, we want to start.
Sorry. I lost track of time.
Are you okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Can I shuffle?
Yeah.
[whispers indistinctly]
[giggles]
Ready?
[taps game piece] Ready.
Ready.
[cards flipping]
Ready.
[candles tapping]
Up until that point, the game scared me.
But after, it became like oxygen.
A place to put all my
uncomfortable feelings.
And then...
He chose me.
He said that I was different from the rest
and that I could wipe the slate clean.
I remembered it all,
not like the other times.
He had chosen me,
and I was the purest of all.
Mom, did you have something
to do with the accident?
Hm.
I'm just tired. Will you two excuse me?
Mom, do you remember Rebeka?
She's the woman who stayed
in the guest house last year.
The night she and her
husband had that really bad fight.
Oh right, yes. I do remember her.
Sad woman.
Why did she come to mind?
She's dead.
We found her body by the lake.
Perhaps killing herself was a relief.
How do you know she...?
[whooshing]
I told them what they needed to know.
[voice] Not everything...
Rebeka...
[dramatic music]
Sunyata, you should rest now.
Come on in.
You can stay here for
the night. You'll be safe.
I'll show you the guest
room, get you some ice,
and then you can rest.
We can talk more in the morning, okay?
[Lea] You're home.
Oh!
Who's your friend?
Mom, this is Rebeka.
Tamara's helping me.
My husband sometimes...
Lovely to meet you, Rebeka.
More hot tea. You'll feel better.
Hm?
Oh, thank you.
Do you hate him?
I do.
[paper crumpling]
[clank]
[]
[cuts]
Is this...?
Shall we play?
[]
[match strikes]
[blows]
Alpha, alpha, alpha.
[whooshing]
[ominous music]
Don't worry. He's here to help you.
You'll be fine.
Okay.
[voice] Rebeka...
So, um, are you going to say something?
Well, um, I'm a detective and...
[laughs]
My mom pretty much just confessed
to killing all her friends.
So.
Well, there are a lot of
inconsistencies, I mean...
And yet she knew Rebeka killed herself.
How would she know that?
Lukas, I don't know.
You don't believe it?
We have to go.
Your lawyer is waiting
for us at the station.
We can go through the whole
report and any other details
he needs for the case against your husband.
Well...
I decided not to move
forward with this case.
I'm not going to press charges.
Rebeka, it's normal to
want to downplay abuse
after the fact.
I found my own way to solve this issue.
I want him to regret what he did to me
for the rest of his life.
Hey.[Sighs]
[sniffles] It's going to be okay.
I don't know how I know
it's going to be, okay,
but it will, okay?
[woman over radio] Um, detectives,
there's been another thing.
Copy that. Where are we heading?
Grosseck-Speiereck.
They shut down the lifts.
Copy.
[engine turns over]
[siren wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter]
-What happened?
-A death.
This couple from London,
they're on their honeymoon
and the husband Tobias,
he hung himself from the cable car.
Are we sure that it was on purpose?
I mean, we've been
seeing some strange things.
Yeah. The only way to
do it is from the inside,
and his wife didn't do anything.
What do you mean she didn't do anything?
She just sat there frozen.
She didn't scream or try to help him.
Where is she now?
[woman] In the ambulance over there.
[siren wailing]
When did you arrive?
About a half-hour ago.
Sophia, I'm Detective Fischer.
You can call me Tamara.
I'd like to ask you a few
questions about what happened.
Okay?
I know it can be hard to answer...
No, I don't know.
I mean, I can't remember what happened.
The last thing I remember
was us catching the cable car,
and we were sitting there laughing and
then nothing, like nothing, until I...
Until saw him.
And he was just... gone. [Sobs]
Hey, hey. It's going to be okay.
I just need you to confirm what happened.
Think hard, okay?
Do you remember anything
after you got into the cable car?
Just a low noise.
[]
[watch ticking]
What kind of noise?
In my head, like bees far away.
[Fischer] And then?
Then nothing.
Then just white, white,
white, white, alpha, white.
-Wait, what'd you say?
-White, white, white.
Everything's white.
-White and?
-White!
Excuse me.
We need some help over here.
[watch ticking]
[wife sobbing]
Can you take it off?
It was a wedding gift. I
don't want to look at it.
[approaching footsteps]
-[sirens wailing]
How long does it take for
someone to asphyxiate?
Well, even at the low
hanging angle in this case,
four to six minutes; That's
how long it takes to die
if you cut off the blood
supply to the brain.
So that means she rode most of the way up
with her husband suffocating
while she sat next to him.
Oh.
Sorry, I think I... I need to get some sleep.
That sounds like a good idea.
I'll get a ride with Stefanie,
and you call me in a few hours.
Okay. Sounds good.
[footsteps crunching]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[whistle]
[Klein] None of this makes sense.
[Fischer] Yeah well, that's 'cause
all the stuff we know sounds crazy.
[Klein] Sure, but there
must be an explanation.
There are no game pieces
that move on their own.
Candles that light themselves,
figures lurking in the shadows.
[exhales]
We have to talk to somebody,
maybe
maybe that author, the witness.
He was writing a book on this, right?
I keep thinking about my mom and her story.
What part? There was, like, a lot there.
Her pregnant, having this secret
that she kept from everyone
and watching Max and Hannah together.
The rage and betrayal she must've felt.
Your desire is pure.
What?
Isn't that what the card says
every time they have intense emotion.
[rumbling]
Do you hear that?
Hear what?
That.
[whooshing]
The noise?
What do you hear?
Lukas, come on.
Alpha. Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Okay, Lukas, stop it.
You are the one.
Lukas?
Oh! Aah!
[grunting]
[yelps]
[gasps, chokes]
[watch ticking]
[dramatic music]
[Fischer grunting]
[gasps]
[exhales]
The watch.
[watch ticking]
[]
Excuse me! Hi, Mr. Wang.
Oh, hi.
Detective Fischer, Tamara.
Yes, of course. I remember you.
[Fischer] Out for a walk?
Oh, yeah. It helps me think.
[Fischer] I get that.
Mr. Wang, I was curious about your book.
I hear you're writing
one on myth and belief.
Is that correct?
Yes, how people believe
stories, and they become real.
So you don't believe in the supernatural
or weird coincidence?
No, no. I believe people
believe what they see.
Mm, okay. Maybe...
Ah. [Sniffles]
Maybe this rock is
cursed, and then you take it.
Story goes, you get sick
until you return the stone.
[Fischer chuckles]
I sort of don't want to hold it now.
Exactly. Stories mess with you.
And if you can get an
entire town to believe,
it can be deadly.
[phone vibrating]
Oh, s... sorry.
[Fischer] Of course.
[vibrating continues]
[speaking indistinctly]
Maybe we can talk more later.
Hey, come in.
You can put your stuff
over here and have a seat.
I'm just going to drain the noodles.
Nice view.
[Klein] Yeah, right?
[dishes clank]
[Fischer] Thank you.
[Klein] No worries.
[clears throat]
[Fischer] Hmm.
Not bad.
Thanks.
Oh, by the way, I ran into Johnny Wang.
He's writing on how myth takes over culture
and how we believe things
if we hear them enough.
The game?
-[Fischer] Exactly.
Everything can be explained
if you just look deeper
at the roots of the myth.
What if this game could
have others do its bidding?
Like how do you mean?
Like someone wants Otwin and Rebeka dead.
So they conspire to make it happen
by using other people like pawns.
It's a game, right?
My mom never told us how the game ends.
Do you think it has an end?
Well, it's a game. It has to.
Yeah.
[birds chirping]
[ominous music]
So this Johnny Wang.
It appears he's written
a few books already.
And one called the "Frequency of Fear"
that I think you might find interesting.
Mm-hmm, why is that?
Well, it talks about some similar things
that happened to your mom.
You know, things
breaking, the low hum thing.
Hold on. I'll just... I'll just read it.
"The fear frequency between
18.9 Hertz and 19 Hertz
has been known to cause discomfort,
dizziness, blurred, vision,
hyperventilation, and fear."
Hmm. The frequency of fear.
That sounds made up.
Yeah, right?
But this Mr. Wang is into
dispelling strange phenomenon.
I mean, look what he has to say.
It matches some of the
behavior of our victims.
And the guy who first
discovered the fear frequency,
Vic Tandy, found that it
was made by a foil blade
clamped in a vice that
vibrated at a high speed.
So what? Do you think there's some device
that's causing people to
experience this fear frequency?
The question is what is the device?
[tapping pencil]
Mom?
Mom.
[door creaks]
Mom.
You here?
Oh, my God.
Mom! Mom! Wake up!
Wake up.
What are you doing?
Tamara.
Dear.
Where am I?
You're in the bathtub.
It's morning. It's good.
Oh, it's cold. How long
have you been in here?
[Fischer] Come on, get
up. This isn't good for you.
Oh, I... I'm going...
I'm going to put on my
robe and have some tea.
Would you like some, dear?
Okay sure, why not?
But then we're going to talk about what
you were doing last night.
[Lea] It was nothing.
I wanted a hot bath, and
then I must have nodded off.
We could also talk about
what you were doing last night.
Get dressed.
I'll make some tea.
[Lea] Some hot tea.
[ominous music building]
[]
[lid creaks]
[game board clacks]
[gasps]
[game clacks]
-[dishes clatter]
What is this?
That's the wrong question.
You know what it is, dear.
But why? Why do you have it?
Because it's mine.
When people play this game, they die.
How many people have you played it with?
How many are you responsible for...
We were kids then, but...
Bullshit! Mom!
You know how this game works
and still, you are inviting people to play.
Otwin, Ming, Rebeka.
And what about my partner,
did you invite him too?
No, I didn't. I didn't.
It can't be. I was just helping her.
Just like you were helping your friends
that night in the warehouse.
I don't... I don't believe you.
-Tammy.
-[Fischer] No.
-Please.
-[Fishcer] You know what?
Tammy?
-[Fischer] Here.
You can have your watch back.
[cries]
-[tense music]
I don't want anything from you.
My watch?
The watch you gave me.
I didn't give it to you.
What do you mean you didn't?
But you said...
You have a new watch.
You got it for your birthday. It's lovely.
But at the station...
Oh, God.
[Lea] Show it to me.
Where exactly did the watch come from?
[Fischer] It came in
the mail to the station.
There was no return address.
Just a... a typed note.
"Happy birthday to the
best detective. Cheers."
I just assumed it was from you.
Not from me.
Well, who then?
You are the detective.
[]
[breathes deeply]
[footsteps crunching]
[intense music]
[knocks]
[Klein] Mr. Wang, I have a
couple of questions to ask you.
May I come in?
Okay. Come in.
Thank you.
We found a few of your books online,
and I was mostly fascinated
with "The Fear Frequency."
Yes, I have been
studying it for a long time.
Now I'm wondering if
that's why you're here.
[Johnny] I came for doing
an interview for my next book.
I promised not to tell anyone
in exchange for a private interview.
A man named Otwin sent
me a card, a symbol, Sunyata.
Symbol for emptiness, right?
To be free from pain and suffering.
It seems like a good thing
until you lose time
and kill all your friends.
Hold on, but Sunyata is a positive state.
Why would he send you this?
[Johnny] I don't know.
We corresponded only briefly,
but he mentioned "Painkiller."
Otwin was playing the game?
You do realize that this information
is exactly the kind of information
you should have told the
detectives working on the case.
I was nervous.
[exhales]
Please stay in town.
[tense music]
[whooshing]
[supernatural breathing]
This has to end.
[voice] Lea...
Why was Ming involved?
He didn't play.
And Rebeka was chosen.
She wanted peace.
You still think that you have control.
I'm the timekeeper. I choose.
[young Lea] Once the game is open,
you can't control other
people's pure desires.
What may be pure for them may not be kind.
What do you mean?
Pure rage is still a pure desire.
So is heartbreak.
Emotions are the purest thing we have.
But it's about who's the strongest.
There will always be someone stronger.
This has to end.
It has to end.
"The frequency of fear
appears in various situations.
It can be generated by large phenomena
such as a storm or earthquake,
or from simple vibrational
devices like machinery or fans."
Like machinery or fans.
[cabinet door rattles]
[flipping through pages]
[plastic crinkles]
[distant indistinct chatter]
[young Lea, echoing] It was
like a... like a noise, like a fan,
a humming.
Like when you put a seashell to your ear.
Stefanie, I need you
to do something for me.
Can you come to my office?
Thanks.
[ominous music]
[lighter clatters]
[]
Before you ask, be sure you want to know.
How do we close the game?
[Max] May I?
Are you sure you want to ask this?
Tell her.
She should know.
[Max] You won't be protected anymore.
We could keep playing.
Tell me. I'm ready to hear.
You are the Omega.
[lock clicking]
[Max] It started with you,
and it must end with you.
You have been feeding it
because you think it keeps you safe.
It did. It chose me.
[lock clatters]
Please, Lea.
[all] Let us go.
[door creaks]
[ominous whooshing]
[Lea shivers]
[exhales]
[]
[game piece rattles]
[whoosh]
[tense music]
You look happy.
Did you ask it a good question?
I did.
[Lea exhales]
[whoosh]
[all, echoing] Alpha. Alpha.
Alpha. Alpha.
Welcome.
What will you have me
do to wipe the slate clean?
[Johnny] Revenge is a powerful emotion
that can feel overwhelming.
The symbol of Sunyata, used in a certain
game is often prey to misinterpretation.
The gamers think that once they
get revenge, their pain is relieved.
In fact, whatever pain
people have already exists
within them and the only
place to relieve them is within.
[tape clicks]
I was there. We were.
[ominous, supernatural breathing]
Lukas, is that you?
[young Lea] I think
we got it right this time.
[lights buzzing]
[detective on tape] You
are the only one who got out.
Apparently, only you got it right.
[young Lea] I know.
[voice] Alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha
[whooshing] [Fischer screams]
[intense music]
[lights buzzing]
[clock ticking methodically]
[Klein exhales]
So I spoke to Johnny Wang.
He told me that Otwin was
playing the game before he died.
I found the game.
What? Where?
My mom has it.
I don't know. I think
she's been playing it.
Who with?
I'm not sure but...[scoffs]
I saw it.
Tamara. Saw what?
The shadow figure.
Look, I know... I know this sounds crazy,
but I need you to believe me.
I went back to the station
to re-watch the tape
and it was there; I saw it.
I need you to believe
me. Do you believe me?
Well, I...
Listen, I believe that
you believe you saw it,
but maybe there's another cause.
[Fischer scoffs, laughs]
Like what?
I mean, listen, the dark shadow,
the repetition of the word,
and all those things you've
heard from your mom.
I mean... I mean, what
if, and I'm just saying,
but... but what if it's... it's
just all in your head?
Fuck you!
I know what I saw.
The shadow was real. Okay?
And we both heard the word "Alpha."
Adalbert said it, Rebeka said it.
My mum said it on the video.
Even Ming, they all said it.
No. Not all of them.
Yes. All of them.
No, not Sophia and not
Ming. At least not to me.
Yes, he did.
He said it right after he
told us the whole story
before he broke down crying.
I stepped out of the room
at that point, remember?
What? No.
[Captain] Sorry, could I
have one of you for a second?
Ming, did Rebeka say anything before she...
Alpha.
What did...?
[whispers indistinctly]
[phone buzzing]
-Oh, shit.
-What?
Listen, I... I had Stefanie test the watches.
Why?
-All the watches from our victims look different, right?
-Yeah.
But they seem to have a common denominator;
The letters, A, O, and P are
hidden on the back of each one.
I don't know exactly what it means yet,
but those letters seem
to link all the cases.
[tense music]
-And guess what?
-Huh?
Each watch vibrates at 18.9 Hertz.
The fear frequency.
Exactly.
[Klein scoffs]
So... so whoever is making the watches
is probably responsible for all the deaths.
O
P
A
Give it to me.
You shouldn't wear this anymore.
Oh, no, my Mom...
-Hey.
-I told her. I...
Hey.
-Lukas, I think I should...
-Hey.
[Klein] Tamara.
You've told me what happened,
but I'm more interested
in how you feel about it.
All my friends died.
How am I supposed to feel?
Sad, perhaps.
Sorrow, mourning, heartbroken, listless.
Sure.
All those things are fine.
You can write them down.
The thing is...[ominous whooshing]
I get the feeling you
don't feel any of those.
I get the feeling that it's the opposite.
'Cause it chose me.
Who chose you?
[]
The Alpha and the Omega, the Painkiller.
[voice] Alpha...
[body squelches]
[Lea winces]
It ends now.
[ominous, supernatural breathing]
[knock on door]
I am the Omega.
I choose.
[blood dripping]
[]
[young Lea] I'm sorry.
Please forgive me.
[dramatic music]
[fire crackling]
And the fire turned it all to ash.
[fire roaring]
[blowing]
I said I release you.
[]
You aren't in control of that.
I'm the timekeeper. I make the rules.
You keep time, but I
can still access the circle.
Why?
You know why.
You don't really want to end this.
You never did.
You are not real.
Miss Fischer, this came for you.
[traffic passing]
We are both timekeepers now.
You cannot do that.
[Max scoffs]
But it's already done.
[]
[candle clacks]
[blows]
[candle clacks]
[]
[fan whirring softly]
Mom?
Ms. Fischer?
Can you stay here in case she comes back?
I'm gonna check the lake.
Why the lake?
[Fischer] I'm not the
only one who likes to walk.
[Klein exhales deeply]
[wind blowing]
[water splashes]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'll make it all disappear.
Everything will end.
Everything will be okay.
[]
[water splashing]
[bubbles]
[Fischer] Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
What are you doing?
Tammy?
Mom!
What are you doing?[Indistinct]
Here, come... come towards me.
My Tammy.
Tell me.
I'm sorry I had to.
I shouldn't have played the game again.
I'm sorry.
[music ends]
Oh, my God, your hand!
The game is at the bottom of the lake.
[Fischer] So it's o...
-Oh!
[winces] Mm.
So it's over?
In a way, yes.
How many more have you played it with?
What?
My partner, Ming, Rebeka,
the guy from the cable car.
[Lea] What guy?
Tobias.
The guy from London who was vacationing
with his wife, Sophia.
How did you even know them?
I didn't know them.
I only played with Rebeka.
But they arrived after Rebeka died.
If you didn't play with them, then who did?
[tense music]
You said London?
Yeah, why? Is... is that important?
-Tammy...
-[Fischer] Hm?
There are some things I'm not proud of.
And there's something that
that you should know.
[woman] Miss Fischer, this came for you.
[tense, pulsing music]
[door opens]
How is she?
She's okay. She's resting.
And where's the game now?
She threw it into the lake.
So it's over.
[Fischer] I don't know.
I think she's still hiding
something about the watch.
Do you think she knows who made it?
[Fischer] Possibly.
But whoever made it and sent it to me
wants me to play the game.
[]
You should tell her
about the fear frequency.
She should know.
No, she thinks she ended it.
It's better she believes that.
[keys clacking]
[blows]
[dramatic music]
"Dear Adalbert, I sincerely
hope these small gifts
can assist you with your current problems.
[box opening]
[paper rustling]
[]
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
[voicemail beeps]
[old Max] Hi, you've reached Max Summer.
Leave me a message. Cheers.
[Fischer] I'm Detective Fischer.
[]
[blows]
[man] You weren't
supposed to find that just yet.
Grandpa?
The game... is special.
One people crave.
Passed down through
hundreds of generations.
With it comes much responsibility.
In the wrong hands, it
unravels chaos and death.
It will be given to you in time.
I'm ready now.
Teach me how to be the keeper.
[grandfather chuckles]
Everyone thinks they are ready,
but one day, you will know
the real meaning of patience.
[watch ticking]
When you ask, I must oblige.
Answer with your choice:
Now or later.
Now.
And so we shall transfer the
ownership to the next keeper.
[watch ticking]
Let us call upon the Painkiller.
[ticking continues]
[]
[music ends]