The Falling World (2022) Movie Script

1
[coins jingling]
[dial tone]
[coins rattling]
[phone beeping]
-[Lark's mom] Hello?
-Hey. Mom.
-[Lark's mom] How are you?
-I'm fine.
[Lark's mom]
How's that fancy school?
It's good, Uh, I like it.
It's been really, really busy.
[Lark's mom]
I keep telling your brother,
"Lark is going to be
a real lawyer."
How's he doing?
[Lark's mom] We've seen
better days, for sure.
You two should come
visit me sometime.
[Lark's mom sighing]
Hey, um, I actually...
met some people.
[Lark's mom]
Oh, yeah?
Yeah. They're third years.
I'm actually going on a trip
with them tomorrow.
[Lark's mom] That sounds nice.
What are their names?
Natalie. And Arthur.
-[Hadley] Stop it.
-[Arthur] Look...
I'm pulling the knob.
-[car engine revs]
-Arthur!
-What's going on? [laughing]
-[laughing] It's fine!
Oh!
...it's like,
a great school or something.
So, I had to fill out
this form.
It was, like, a three-page
form, in order to...
-Stop it. You're going to--
-Hey, relax.
What is going on?
-Take some breaths.
-Okay [indistinct].
...did anyone read it?
Like, where did it go?
Where--
where's Baxter, again?
He took he train.
He loves trains.
-Okay.
-Look at you.
You're only halfway through
your first term,
you're already hanging out
with the golden couple
of Quincy Law.
I didn't get invited up here
'til my second term...
[Hadley] Arthur?
-What are you doing?
-I'm--
[Hadley] Wait, wait, wait.
You don't wanna touch that.
You don't even know
how to start it.
-[Hadley] Yes, I do.
-Don't--
[Hadley]
I mean, I don't, but...
do not break my car.
No, seriously,
like, you're so lucky.
Where'd you go
to undergrad again?
Mm, [indistinct]. Why?
Isn't that all men?
It was until 1956.
Oh.
[Hadley] Okay.
I'm gonna just push that pedal,
I think it's--
[Arthur]
Don't you push that pedal.
[Maeve] I'm gonna take a nap.
I'm so exhausted.
-You don't mind, right?
-Yeah, go for it.
Just, like,
get some vitamin D.
Sure.
You should close your eyes.
We have
a long night ahead of us.
-[Arthur] Cross your fingers.
-Here we go.
[indistinct],
we're gonna blow up.
[radio] ...we're going to
discuss the possible outcome
of the Bush/Clinton
'92 election.
We will have our political
expert, Joseph Raynor, on hand
to discuss the Bush/Clinton
'92 election.
[entrancing music plays]

[man]
Deputy Sheriff's office.
Welcome to the compound.
[Hadley]
Maeve, it's a house.
It's definitely
not a house.
[Arthur]
It's like a chapel house.
Oh,
do you need help with that?
No, I got it, thanks.
Maeve packs like
she's going to fucking Europe
for two weeks
every time we come here.
-This place is insane.
-Yeah.
Anybody tell you the story
about it yet?
[Lark] No.
Uh, well,
Hadley's ancestors built it.
They were Puritans,
like, way back in the day.
And then, uh,
that burned down.
Um, some crazy story about,
like, there was a lady
who was a witch.
Whoa.
And then,
it was a church 'til the '40s.
[mockingly] And then
Hadley's parents got it back
because they couldn't bare
anyone tarnishing their legacy.
-Does it have heat?
-Oh, God, no.
Do you
wanna come inside?
Last one in
is the rotten egg.
[door slamming shut]
-Look at you.
-You need some more wine.
-[Margot laughs]
-Yes. Yes.
The madame says I need more,
then I must.
Let it never be said that
Margot does no--
-Margot?
-He is--
Hi. What are you doing here?
I thought
I blocked out this weekend.
Hey, yeah,
I just thought
I'd treat myself
to a writing weekend.
Right.
-I need a smoke.
-Oh, sorry. Hi, Baxter.
How was the train?
Perfect.
Is that your only bag?
Oh, no, please.
It's being carried in.
Hello.
Hi, Margot.
[music playing over radio]
-I'm gonna go claim a room.
-Mhm.
Good to see you.
Bye.
Oh, you can't smoke inside.
That's why Baxter
just went outside.
You... smoke outside.

I think this is yours.
Oh.
I don't know
this gorgeous woman.
This is Lark.
-Hi.
-Hi.
I'm Margot,
I'm Hadley's sister.
-I know, I--
-Do you want some wine?
-No, thank you.
-Had?
No, I'm okay.
Nice to see you've made
a clean living friend,
unlike Arthur.
When did he take up Frisbee?
[birds chirping]
Whoo!
Nice catch.
You reek of booze, dude.
Cinamon and clove,
to be exact.
The best
of the Russian River Valley.
Margot's here.
Yeah, I saw her.
Didn't think
she was gonna be here.
She's having
one of her writing retreats.
Oh, I love that wine.
Isn't it, like, 2:00 p.m.?
Well, you weren't here,
so it was up to me to entertain
your friend, Baxter.
I'll go find a room.
Let me know
if you need anything.
[sighing]

[train whistle blows
in the distance]
[Arthur]
How was the train?
A beautiful experience.
Caught up on some reading
for public law,
went to the lunch car,
met a nice man named Fred.
Works at the library
in New Haven.
Travelling to visit
his mother in Hudson.
He was quite sweet.
Nice hands.
Used to be a mechanic.
He's a mechanic
who turned into a librarian?
Yes, the world's
a dangerous place.
[train whistle blows
in the distance]
[birds chirping]
I'm-- I'm sorry.
I'll leave soon.
It's okay. I mean--
I just didn't realize
you'd be here.
Is it Jack?
Of course, it's Jack.
Does he know you're here?
Yeah, but he sure
doesn't like it.
Had, I miss you.
The kids miss you.
They miss their Aunt Had.
Well, I miss them.
I just needed
to get away to write.
You know, I thought it'd
be nice to finally see you.
Well, I'm happy
that you're writing again.
I-- Is it the same book
that you've been working on?
Yeah. Yeah.
The same novel
I have been trying to write
since Sophie was born.
Well, it looks like
you're making some progress.
Yeah. Yeah.
Look, I won't
ruin your weekend.
[Hadley] You're not gonna
ruin my weekend.
I wasn't expecting there to be
a whole party here this week.
It's, like, a little weird
that it's the same people
-in the same place--
-It's fall break.
[eerie music plays]
[entrancing music plays]
[Baxter] Didn't know
you two were so open
to having new people
up here.
So open?
Thought you were trying
to keep things contained.
I-- Had likes her.
Shouldn't that
be a reason to not?
Baxter. She's got to move on.
Ah. Those classic two words.
Move on.
Quite a hard thing to do,
don't you think?
Uh-uh.
See you at dinner.
[Arthur] Mhm.

[group chatting & laughing]
[Maeve] Don't tell her that.
I mean, she's freaking boring.
[Baxter]
Hadley, who has your vote?
[Hadley]
Baxter, stop.
[Baxter] It's a wonderful
dinner, Hadley,
but it's not gonna get you out
of answering the question.
[Baxter]
Hadley Warren, stop swerving.
Who are you voting for
and why?
-Okay, what?
-Who? Who is it gonna be?
I just don't think
that Bush ruined the economy--
I didn't say
that he ruined the economy...
No, no, enjoy.
It looks-- it looks great.
I'm an addict.
It's okay, you can tell me.
I am.
I'm addicted to so many things.
I'm addicted to shopping,
I'm addicted to boys--
Maeve, you can't smoke in here.
Oh, my God,
she's so boring.
-It's cool.
-You make your decision,
make your point,
stand behind it, defend it.
Year one,
Bennett's class.
[group chatting & laughing]
Can we not talk
about him?
[Baxter] Okay, you don't want
to talk about the election,
you don't want to talk
about Bennett.
Well, we're on fall break.
I just thought that--
let's have a break.
[woodwind music
plays on speakers]
I have a completely different
interpretation of those words.
I feel like the election
is a very relevant subject.
Mhm.
Bennett isn't.

What's up
with Professor Bennett?
Nothing.
I know
who he's gonna vote for.
Have you had him yet?
No, I haven't.
Had him.
-[whoops]
-[Margot] Get it?
You really can't help yourself,
can you?
[Maeve] No, I can't.
I can't help myself.
Would you like some
more chicken?
I'm fine, thank you.
I haven't had him,
but I know.
That's shocking.
-[Baxter] I think I did once.
-Did you have him?
One time, yeah.
[Maeve]
Did you know that?
[squeals playfully]
[Hadley] Is he trying
to make Maeve jealous?
[laughing]
[mysterious music plays]
Oh, you play naughty.
Oh, you play naughty.
[panting]
[Baxter laughing]
-Yeah.
-[Baxter laughing] Yeah!
-[Jack] Do you hear me?
-Mhm.
[Jack] I don't like it
when you're out there.
Right.
[Jack] And I don't like
Hadley's influence on you.
I feel like she always
wants to separate us.
And you left me here
with the kids again.
-I'll be back tomorrow.
-[Jack] Good.
-Lily!
-[Lily grunting]
-[Jack] Jesus, pick that up.
-[Lily] No.
-Okay, then.
-[Jack] Margot. Don't hang up.
[sighing]
-Oh.
-[Baxter and Maeve laugh]
[Maeve]
Gimme that.
Sorry. Sorry.
Oh, cute. You two match.
[phone ringing]
-Hello?
-[man] Hello. Hadley?
[eerie music plays]
[Maeve] What happens in
the woods, stays in the woods.
-Remember, Margot.
-[Lark] Hi.
God, you scared me.
[Lark] Oh, sorry.
I just couldn't sleep.
Oh, yeah,
welcome to my world.
-You want some cocoa?
-[Lark] Yeah, sure.
It's what I make for my kids
when they can't sleep.
Our mom made it for Hadley
and me when we couldn't.
[Margot] So, wine
and cocoa it is, every night.
Here you are.
Welcome to a warm
family tradition.
Which, the, uh, the wine
or the cocoa? [chuckling]
[chuckling] Both.
[Margot] So, how long have
you known Hadley?
Not long, actually.
I'm still in my first year
at Quincy.
Thought you looked young.
So, you're what, 26?
-Nice.
Yeah, I think that's exactly
how old I was when
I had Sophie.
-My oldest.
-Really?
How old is she?
11. Going to be 11 this year.
[Lark]
Wow, you don't look like
you would have
an 11-year-old.
Oh, God bless you.
I feel it.
[chuckling]
So, what are you working on?
What's your next book about?
Oh... um...
I-- I--
Oh, Hadley-- Sorry, Hadley
mentioned it to me.
-Uh-huh.
-Yeah.
I actually read
your first book.
-Really?
-Yeah.
-I loved it.
-Oh, thank you.
[Lark]
Yeah, the story of this woman,
she's put at fault
by the institution,
and she goes through
this cathartic transformation.
It's dark, but...
inspiring.
That's so nice to hear,
it feels like a lifetime ago.
Yeah, the idea of--
of a mother
abandoning her child to pursue
this questionable future.
It resonated with me.
Yeah?
Yeah, my mother abandoned me.
Oh, I'm-- I'm so sorry.
No, I'm...
She was just going through
something at the time,
and I couldn't see
her for years.
Yeah.
Yeah,
that's really intense.
I, um...
I don't know why these are such
recurring themes for me.
I would be really interested
in your...
perspective
on all of this.
It's just--
I mean,
even in this new book...
it's about this woman
who abandons her three kids...
and her husband,
and she goes
and lives with her eldest
daughter in another town,
and then when she gets there,
she's accused of being a witch.
Takes place in 1692,
right at the start
of the witch trials.
I guess when you spend
your formative years
in a place like this...
the Puritan thing kind of seeps
into your subconscious.
[Margot]
What about you?
You think
you'll ever want kids?
I don't know, I haven't really
thought about it.
Yeah, I guess I hadn't really
thought about it, either.
Well, it happened.
It was just
sort of the next step.
And I love my kids.
I really, really...
really love them.
But...
it is not the life
that I thought I had chosen.
You know, they make it seem
like you can have it all,
but I'm not entirely
sure that that's true.
My oldest, Sophie.
God, she's so smart.
But, it's like she knew
I was gonna be an unfit mother.
She refused to even
let me nurse her.
Like my milk
would poison her with sadness.
I don't know how I got
to talking about all this.
Jesus. [laughing]
This is your vacation,
and you are trying to sleep.
I'm so sorry.
[Lark] Yeah, I think I actually
am going to go to bed.
-Yeah.
-[Margot] The cocoa help?
-[laughing]
-Yes, thank you.
Are you gonna
head to sleep soon?
No. Oh, no.
This is my witching hour.
You know,
our mom used to say,
"The sun,
the glorious sun,
it rises with Hadley,
but it sets with Margot."
-[chuckling]
-[Margot] Of course.
[Lark]
Was your mom a poet?
God, no. I wish.
Good night.
Night, Lark.
[exhaling]
[entrancing music plays]



[birds chirping]
[eerie music plays]

[water rippling]
Can you please do this for me?
I have no idea.
I think confusion
is your natural state, babe.
-Here you go.
-Okay.
It's still not--
You know what,
as much as I love your music,
Arthur, I have to pee.
I will see you all
in a second.
[birds chirping]
[water rippling]
Ah, Arthur!
[Arthur] Sorry.
[Maeve]
You're wasting the bread.
Can I ask you something?
Just your name, Lark.
It's a bird, right?
Yeah, they're songbirds.
[chuckling]
That is beaut.
You get born singing?
Well, no. I was adopted
and that was what my birth mom
called me.
Oh.
Yeah,
we recently reconnected,
and that was actually
one of the first things
I asked her, too.
What'd she have to say
for herself?
Well, you know that phrase,
"I did it on a lark"?
Like, an accident or a whim?
Yeah, I know the phrase.
Yeah, well...
when my birth mom
was pregnant with me,
that's how
she referred to me.
And when I was adopted,
she told my parents
that that was my name.
I mean, it was on my birth
certificate and everything,
but they liked it,
so they didn't change it.
-And--
-It's a cool name.
[Hadley clearing her throat]
[Hadley]
Should we go?
Oh, aren't you the charmer.
[group chatting & laughing]
[overlapping conversations]
[Maeve]
...that is what he's here for.
Exactly.
What's taking so long?
Ugh, my knee socks
keep falling down.
[Arthur] Can I talk to you?
For a second.
Yeah, um...
okay.
So, yeah, we're gonna--
we're gonna
stay back for a second.
We'll be right back.
Ooh! Fornication in the forest!
Baxter, stop.
[Baxter]
You two have fun.
We'll make sure the lark
gets back safe.
Make sure she doesn't get
eaten by wolves.
[Hadley]
They're just having fun.
[Maeve]
Oh, my gosh.
[Hadley] Don't make me mad.
You're always so angry.
-[Maeve] Dun, dun...
-[Baxter] Spin.
Dun.
-Did you see my butt?
-[Baxter laughing]
Ooh, look who's making
her exit.
Ugh. Her head scarf
is so fly.
[Maeve] You were looking pretty
chummy with her last night.
I was almost jealous.
Hi, Margot.
Bye, Margot.
[Maeve]
Oh, hey, by the way.
That kimono you were wearing
last night,
that was fabulous.
Very Kenso 1990.
Yeah, okay.
[Maeve]
Just wanted to tell you.
I've been thinking about
that peach silk all night.
[laughing]
[Baxter & Maeve laughing]
-[Lark] Hey.
-Hey.
What was that about?
Couldn't tell you.
You know, we've known Maeve
and her family since...
God, since forever.
One summer we took her
with us to the cape,
and when I came back, all
of my swimsuits were missing.
I asked Had about it
and she had no idea.
And years later,
I was looking through
a scrapbook of hers,
there was Maeve,
wearing my very favorite
Norma Kamali polka-dotted suit.
And she just never
gave it back?
Nope. I suspect
more than a few things
will be missing
by the time I get back.
[chuckling]
That's kind of funny.
Yeah, or sad.
Most of Hadley's friends
are a little tragic.
[inhales audibly] Anyway,
tell Hadley goodbye for me.
I, um, waiting for my taxi.
But it was
really lovely to meet you.
Yeah. It was nice
to meet you, too.
Yeah, it's a shame
we didn't get
to spend more time together.
If you're ever in the city,
or the suburbs
outside the city...
give me a ring.
I'm in the phonebook
under "Jack Collins."
Yeah. I'd like that.
You know, Hadley used
to come all the time, but...
we don't see
much of her these days.
Well, have a--
have a safe trip.
[Margot]
Thank you.
[droning music starts]

-[Maeve] Hey.
-Oh.
-What are you doing?
-What? Noth--
Have you ever read
any Patricia Highsmith?
Strangers on a Train, once.
-Why?
-No Ripley?
-[Lark] No.
-Hm.
You seem
like a Ripley kind of girl.
Ripley?
Oh, well, in the novel,
The Talented Mr. Ripley,
there's this guy, Tom Ripley,
and he's travelling
throughout Italy
with this other guy
and his girlfriend, and--
Anyway, throughout the course
of the novel
it becomes clear
that he's, like, obsessed
with the other guy.
Like-- like, wants to be him,
like some sort of
sociopath, or...
maybe a psychopath.
Anyway, there's a scene
where he tries on all his
clothes and it just gets,
like, really, really dark.
What you were doing just now
just reminded me of that.
It's okay. I mean,
who doesn't wanna be Hadley?
She has fucking
fabulous things.
No, no, no, don't go.
I was just making
an observation.
I had a history teacher
in high school once
that I wanted to be.
She looked like Phoebe Cates,
but with bigger tits,
and she had the most
fabulous fucking brain.
I stole her pen once.
It smelled like tuna fish.
And then I realized,
it's because she ate
a tuna fish sandwich
every single day for lunch.
Tuna was never the same
for me after that.
I can't decide if it's,
like, a fetish of mine,
or if it's just--
just gross.
Hey, can I ask you something?
[Maeve]
Yeah, sure, whatever.
Margot said it was weird
that people were back up here
because something happened.
What exactly happened?
Oh, you mean about Jill?
Who's Jill?
Oh, I--
I thought Hadley told you.
Um, Jill. Yeah, so,
Jill was our friend.
Uh...
she's more
like Hadley's friend.
They were really close.
She's actually
Professor Bennett's sister,
so she came
to Quincy wanting to be
like her hotshot big brother.
I don't think he's hot.
[Maeve] Anyway, so, yeah,
during her first year
she developed
this eating disorder.
It was so crazy.
She said, like,
aliens were telling her
not to eat and stuff.
I don't think I've heard
of that happening to anyone.
The alien thing?
I know, right?
So fucked up.
But none of us could
really do anything.
So. [inhales audibly]
Yeah, she...
She disappeared.
Actually,
I think the last place
she was seen was...
here.
But I think
she's gone all, like,
Grey Gardens and shit.
She, like, got treatment
and was, like,
living with her rich old aunt
on Rhode Island
and a bunch of cats. [chuckles]
So, you don't actually
know what happened?
No, I don't.
But, that's my theory.
And it's valid.
Hey.
It's for you.
Hm.
-[birds chirping]
-[wind whooshing]
-Nice robe.
-It's a kimono.
Went on a scavenger hunt
in Hadley's room.
Ooh, anything good?
Hm...
a collection of crime novels,
some lingerie,
Helmut Lang dress.
A pair of sunglasses
that are very Princess Grace,
-but I've seen better.
-Yeah,
Grace Jones is way better.
-And Grace Kelly?
-[Baxter] Yeah.
I was talking
about the sunglasses.
[Baxter] Oh.
I also have
some interesting information
about the lark.
[Baxter] Oh?
She knows about Jill.
How?
Did Margot tell her?
Yeah.
I mean, she was going
to find out sooner or later.
What did you say?
The eating disorder thing?
Yeah, but I feel like
that doesn't really hold up.
Who came up
with the alien part?
Was it you or was it me?
Neither one of us should take
responsibility for that one.
That was a full collaboration.
You, me,
and our friend, "K."
[chuckling] Oh, my God.
-[Maeve] Hello, friend.
-Care to join us?
Into the realm
of the spectacular.
That's a no.
I feel high.
Yeah, you just smoked weed.
[Baxter & Maeve]
Spin the wheel!
-[laughter]
-I can't.
[indistinct chattering]
[Baxter]
Across the board.
[all] One, two,
three, four, five, six.
-I don't-- Why.
-[Hadley] Okay.
-[laughing] Pick one.
-[Maeve] Oh, my gosh.
-[Hadley] What is it?
-Ooh.
-[Hadley laughing loudly]
-What'd you get?
What'd you get?
Well, it's not,
like, a job.
[group laughing]
Yeah, I wanna know
what inspired everyone
-to become a lawyer.
-[Maeve] Um,
when I got into law school.
I actually applied
to medical, vet,
and law school,
but I only got into law school.
I didn't know
about the vet school.
[Maeve] I thought I told
you about my pet peacock.
-I had snakes.
-Of course you did.
-[Baxter] That's hot.
-No, it's not.
Do you know there are
3000 species of snakes?
-I did.
-[Maeve] No, you didn't.
-Yeah, I did.
-[Maeve] No, you didn't.
[Arthur] [indistinct]
vet school.
I didn't go to vet school.
[chuckling]
That's what I said.
[indistinct chatter]
I want-- I want Baxter
to answer the question.
[Maeve]
What question?
What inspired Baxter
to become a lawyer?
It was Jake.
Jake inspired me.
-Who's Jake?
-[Baxter] He was my partner.
He died five years ago.
-Oh, I--
-[Baxter] Who's next?
-[Maeve] I'm next.
-[Baxter] Mm-mm.
[Maeve] I am next.
I'm gonna go.
[board game wheel whirring]
[crickets chirping]
Hey, I'm so sorry--
Oh, please, honey.
How could you know?
It doesn't make me sad.
I love who I am.
I love what I do.
And Jake's a part of that.
I didn't always want
to be a lawyer, you know.
I wanted to be a painter.
Really?
[inhaling audibly]
Every weekend in undergrad,
I'd take the train
into the city.
This little Georgia peach
never felt more at home
'til he made his way
to The Big Apple.
That's where I met Jake.
He was a painter
in the downtown scene.
Did these incredible nudes.
Like nothing I'd ever seen.
Everything he did had this...
pulse, you know?
Now, for some reason...
he decided to mentor me.
And for the next ten years,
everything was...
everything.
But then some of my friends
started to get sick.
You never think
it's gonna happen
to someone you love until...
it does.
[crickets chirping]
-Do you still paint?
-No.
Lost the impulse.
What about you, songbird?
What brought you
into the lion's den?
I don't know.
I think that
there is a lot of things wrong
with the world, and...
if I can have any part
in making it right...
I think that would be nice.
I know I'm wild.
But I'm wild like a wildfire.
And some things gotta burn.
Now, let's get out
of this cold.
[chuckling]
Do you want some?
Oh. Oh, no,
I'm fine. [laughing]
Where did Margot put the...
Yeah, she seemed
pretty preoccupied
writing her new book.
You talked to Margot?
Oh, yeah, we just had
some cocoa the other night.
Did she say anything
about me?
[Lark]
Not really.
You're smoking.
Huh?
[Lark] You're not
supposed to smoke inside.
You told Margot.
[chuckling]
Well...
I guess we're more alike
than I thought.
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
[mysterious music starts]
-Hello?
-[man over phone exhaling]
-Hello?
-[man] Hello, Hadley?
Yes.
[man] I'm sorry
to call so late,
but I wanted to tell you
that I'm just visiting mother
in the city, and...
I'm gonna catch
a train down tomorrow.
Yeah.
I know
you're resistant to this,
but mother,
she's really been on me.
And she's kind of
been spiraling.
Uh, it was just
Jill's birthday and,
uh, I had this feeling.
I was just thinking
that I need to come.
Just for the day.
Hadley, is that okay?
Hello?
Okay.
-[phone clicking]
-[music stopping abruptly]
[crickets chirping]
[owl hooting]
-[Arthur cawing loudly]
-[Lark gasping]
Oh, my God.
You scared me.
Stadius T. Warren,
the third.
Hadley's childhood dog.
What are you doing out here?
I'm a burgeoning alcoholic.
We feel best in the woods.
The phone rang
and it woke me up.
-Who was it?
-It was wrong number.
Are there a lot of pets
buried around here?
[Arthur] Pets, and--
ah, I don't know.
Hadley and Margot summer here,
so, probably.
I had snakes.
It's more of a...
toilet burial situation.
[grunting]
Not great pets, though.
They're kind of
"escape or die."
Look out.
-Where are you going?
-The spot.
You can come if you want.
[crickets chirping]
[owl hooting]
[birds chirping]
[stream trickling]
[birds chirping]
Wow.
Yeah. I, uh...
it kinda calms me down
out here.
Hard to hear myself think
over the...
All that stuff
they were talking about,
like, just stresses me out.
Like, "Ooh, your career,
and life," and then...
Why?
I did work really hard
to get here, um...
my family isn't
like Hadley's, so, uh,
I'm basically just, like,
a poor little orphan boy.
[birds continue chirping]
[gulps] We're more alike
than you think, Lark.
[shouting]
You ever do that?
You try. It's freeing.
Feels good.
Try.
[laughing]
[yelling & laughing]
-[shouting]
-I won't look.
[chuckling]
[shouting]
[laughing]
-It felt good, right?
-[Lark laughing]
-Yeah.
-Pretty good.
Come on.
[Lark shouting]
[birds chirping]
[banging on door]
[door creaking open]
Hi. Happy fall break.
Oh, hi. Can I--
can I help you?
Uh, Johan Bennett.
Um, I think we met
at orientation.
Uh, what
was your name, again?
-Lark.
-Lark. Right.
Unique name.
Is Hadley here?
-What's going on?
-[Bennett] Hadley.
Johan. What are you
doing here?
Wha-- I called you yesterday.
I-- I said I was coming down.
You did?
Yeah, I-- I-- I talked to you.
I told you about how, uh,
I was coming down
to visit mother but, um...
[Hadley]
That was probably Maeve.
Well, I-- I--
I brought you an--
You brought wine. Wonderful.
-Let's take a walk.
-Okay.
-Hi, hi.
-[Lark] Hey.
Well, well, well,
what do we have here?
Ah.
Oh, yeah,
I keep forgetting you're new.
Pre-Arthur,
those two had a thing.
Got really intense.
They didn't
actually have a thing, Maeve.
But, he's definitely
in love with her.
[Maeve] Whatever.
[Lark] What happened
between her and Bennett?
At the end of first year,
we all came up here.
Bennett hosted
a little retreat
for some of his favorite
students from his seminar.
Basically us,
Hadley and her friends.
-[Maeve] And Jill.
-Right.
It's no wonder
he's not a teacher anymore.
He's basically, like,
an administrator now.
Wait, I thought
he still taught class.
Okay, like,
one class for second year.
Like, constitutional law
or some bullshit elective.
I really loved that class.
Anyway, the retreat weekend,
that was when Jill disappeared.
-[Baxter] Maeve!
-What?
I mean,
she already knows she exists.
Or, existed.
-She might still exist.
-[Maeve] That's true.
For the record, my memory
of that night is super blurry.
[Baxter]
Mine too.
We're going to a pub in town,
do you wanna come?
[Baxter] It had a really good,
contentious name.
"The Fall of the Maiden."
Why is that contentious?
[Maeve] Doesn't matter.
You wanna come?
You know, I think I'm good,
I'm just gonna--
I'm gonna stay in
and catch up on some reading.
[whispering]
Give her the thing.
[Baxter] Yeah,
but it's in your purse.
-[Maeve] I don't have it.
-[Baxter mumbling]
[Maeve]
Give her the thing,
give her the thing,
he's gonna give her the thing.
-[Lark] What is this?
-He's gonna give you the thing.
What's going on?
-[Maeve chuckling]
-[Maeve clears throat]
[Maeve & Baxter]
You're invited.
-You're invited.
-To this.
Starring us.
-Okay.
-You better be there.
Thank you,
I'll-- I'll try my best.
[door slams shut]

-Oh, sorry.
-No, it's okay.
Really, it's fine.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Johan showing up
just really threw me off.
Is he in love with you?
No, it's much more complicated
than that.
I-- At one point, I believe
he saw something in me.
His seminar was my first class
at Quincy.
Nothing really
happened between us,
but people like
to think that it did.
You know?
Except that one time
when he made out
with me at Friedman's.
You know that bar?
On Church Street.
He's a regular.
You go there any Thursday,
you'll see him in his booth.
Do you want some?
So, he's a burgeoning
alcoholic, too?
He's what?
Never mind.
Well, I wanna know
more about you, Kansas girl.
Iowa. I don't know,
it's-- The story
makes people feel weird,
-and...
-Oh, there you girls are.
...sad.
Was looking
for you everywhere.
[grunting]
Professor Bennett's here.
-I know.
-[Arthur] Oh, you do?
Amazing. Wish I did.
He just turned up.
Hm. Imagine my surprise
when I got back from my hike,
and there he was
with that beaming smile of his,
right in the middle
of my doorway.
My doorway.
You shouldn't drink, you know.
Faculty here and everything.
I shouldn't drink, huh?
Anyways, I've invited him
to dinner.
Oh, you did?
I mean, yeah.
This is what, his,
um, fifth visit here?
So, what are we
supposed to do?
[Arthur] That's great.
But, you know, get ready.
Dinner with Professor B.
I'm excited.
-Come on.
-Okay.
[Arthur]
Come on, guys.
[ominous music starts]
-[birds chirping]
-[water rippling]

[music fades]
[Bennett]
Beautiful, isn't it?
[Bennett] How's your first year
treating you?
It's only been a month.
It'll get worse.
So I hear.
Who do you have for civil law?
-Holland.
-Oh, tricky.
She'll fail you
if you cite a case wrong.
I know. It's hard.
It's why we like it
though, right?
You're probably wondering
what the fuck I'm doing here.
They told me a little.
I'm sorry about your sister.
That's why you're here, right?
Besides Hadley?
I don't have anything
with Hadley.
-I didn't mean to--
-No, I'm-- I'm sorry.
There's a lot you don't know.
[ominous music starts]
[buttons beeping]
[man]
Deputy Sheriff's office.
Yeah, hi.
Investigator Higgins, please.
[man]
Can I ask who's calling?
This is Johan Bennett.
I'm calling
about the Jill Bennett case.
[man]
[sighing] One moment.
[phone beeping]
[Higgins]
Hello, this is Higgins.
-Yeah, hi.
-[Higgins] Hi, Mr. Bennett.
Well, I'm at the property now,
and I'd really like
-for someone to come--
-[Higgins] I'm sorry?
Wa-- You said yesterday
that--
[Higgins] It's unclear why
you're calling again,
Mr. Bennett.
-Mr. Bennett.
-I-- I-- I-- I think, I--
[Higgins] This is an active
missing person's case.
Right.
But no one's been out here
for a while--
[Higgins] I told you
we'd need new evidence.
Do you have
anything to report?
-Uh, no, I-- I--
-[Higgins] You were there
when we dragged the lake,
Mr. Bennett.
[Higgins hanging up]
[phone beeping]
["After You've Gone"
by Ella Fitzgerald playing]
[Baxter & Maeve
mouthing lyrics]
After you've gone
And left me cryin'
After you've gone
There's no denyin'
You'll feel blue
And you'll gonna feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal
You've ever had
There'll come a time
Now don't forget it
There'll come a time
When you'll regret it
Some day
When you'll grow lonely
Your heart
Will break like mine
And you'll want me only
After you've gone
After you've gone away
After I'm gone
After we break up
After I'm gone
You're gonna wake up
-Come and dance with me.
-[Arthur] Stop.
Come and dance
with me [indistinct].
Stop.
Fucking stop.
-You're so boring.
-She'll dance with me.
[Arthur]
I said stop!
Just... fucking stop.



Hey!
I don't like the way
you talked to her in there.
-Stay out of it, dude.
-What?
W--
what are you doing here?
Are you fucking
looking for clues?
The investigation
is ongoing
because there's still
a lot of unanswered--
Fuck off!
You're not gonna find her.
Huh? It's game over.
I didn't realize
it was such a problem for you.
[Arthur]
Because you're a moron.
Since day one
you've been a pain in our ass.
You know she doesn't have
a single feeling for you.
I mean, she makes fun
of you behind your back--
-[Bennett] Arthur.
-What?
I could have you expelled.
[Arthur chuckling]
From my fuckin' house?
Let me
do you a favor.
Okay, hey, hey,
this is Professor Bennett,
and I'm at Hadley Warren--
Yeah, the Warrens,
like, responsible
for the entire endowment.
I'm trying to fuck her, and her
boyfriend's asking me to leave.
-[Bennett] Arthur.
-What?
-What?
-Stop!
-[Arthur] Or what?
-You know what I find funny?
Jill disappears
and you and Hadley
all of a sudden
end up together!
You start off as friends,
and then all of a--
[Arthur] Yeah,
that's actually how it starts.
You're not their teacher.
You start off--
That doesn't make any sense--
-It's never happened to you!
-Jesus Christ.
My sister
has disappeared,
and you and Hadley
were the last two people
to be seen
with her!
[crickets chirping]
Don't fucking cry.
Get in the fucking car.
No, I'm not getting
in the fucking car!
-[Arthur] Get in the car.
-No!
[Arthur] Get in the car.
Right now.
Or I will fucking end you.
[crickets chirping]
[car door slamming]
[engine rumbling]
[car door slamming]
[phone ringing]
[sighs]
I really
can't do this anymore.
I can't face him.
-Margot?
-[Margot] I'm here.
Margot,
please tell me what to do.
[Margot]
Oh, I really wish I could.
Will you come back up here?
[Margot] Had...
[Jack] Margot?
Please, Margot,
we have to help each other.
-Please tell me what to do.
-[Margot] I-- I-- I have to go.
Jack's down my throat.
I-- I want you back, Had.
I-- I-- I have missed
the old you for too long.
Yeah, call--
call me tomorrow.
We will talk more about--
Okay.
Love you.
[Margot]
I-- I gotta go.
[Margot hanging up]
[phone beeping]
[sighing]
[strange & calming music]


This is my favorite part
of the woods.
My ancestors
are buried over there.
And Margot and I had a little
wooden playhouse one year
when we were kids,
and all of a sudden,
she decided it was a good idea
to smoke cigarettes,
and there were boys,
and burnt the whole thing down.
[Lark chuckling]
There went
our childhood up in flames.
She was grounded
for months.
For losing her virginity?
-Or for burning the house down?
-[chuckling] For both.
[chuckling]
You know
what I think about sometimes?
Like...
what if
I didn't become a lawyer?
So, you don't wanna
become one?
I don't know, it's
just something I think about.
I think that's
a lot of time and money
if you don't know
if you wanna become one.
Yeah.
I guess
I can be selfish sometimes.
Why'd you become one?
Well, you know
I was adopted, and...
my adopted parents,
Rich and Kathy...
I mean, without them,
I wouldn't have gone
to law school,
undergrad, any of it.
But, I recently reconnected
with my birth mom...
and...
she's working
in a factory in Dubuque.
She had me when she was 15.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I have
a brother now.
I mean,
we have different dads,
and he's ten years younger
than me.
[sighing]
But she kept him,
and for a long time
that was
really confusing for me.
And...
he's handicapped.
And from what I understand,
she can't always afford
his medical expenses.
And he has
these birth defects
from her alcohol intake,
among...
other things.
And I just think
it would be really nice
if I could help them out
eventually
with my own practice.
That's really good of you.
[Baxter] I don't understand
why you have a Bellini
when you can
just have champagne.
-Because it's a delicacy.
-[Baxter] A delicacy?
Say goodbye.
Don't be rude.
[Baxter]
Every time we come up here,
somebody passes out
on these stairs.
[Maeve]
This is such a haunted hallway.
-[Maeve] Hello.
-Hi.
[Maeve]
Good morning, sunshine.
How'd you end up
in this little
bat cave here?
Uh, I must've
fallen asleep out here.
Oh, that's interesting.
What'd you dream about?
[sighing]
I'm not sure.
I had
the craziest dream last night.
I dreamt
I was a sex slave.
-You heard the call.
-[Maeve] I did.
So, Maeve and I are heading
back to campus today.
We booked a champagne brunch
along the way.
[Baxter]
Wanna join?
I'm okay,
I'm gonna head back tomorrow.
Oh.
Pour...
vous.
He doesn't draw
for anyone anymore.
That's a high compliment.
-Thank you.
-You inspired me.
You inspire me, too.
Come on, let's go.
We're gonna miss the train.
Bye-bye.
-Ugh.
-You have so many bags.
I have
so many bags.
-[Baxter] See you, Lark.
-Can you get them?
-I'm really tired.
-[Baxter] Mhm.
Did you have
a fun weekend?
Yes, Arthur,
I had a great weekend.
That's great.
Me too.
Love your friends.
I'm so glad they all came.
Did you have this many bags
when you came up here?
Yeah, I did.
One, two, three, four.
-Five.
-Were they all full?
You're so strong.
I'm impressed.
We're just gonna
ship the rest.
Love you.
You're used
to getting your way.
-Every little fucking thing--
-Arthur.
Arthur, I don't know
what to say anymore.
Everything, and your family
will protect you.
[Lark]
Is everything okay?
Why don't you
ask your girlfriend?
-Arthur.
-What?
-I'm gonna tell her.
-No, stop.
-Arthur, stop.
-What are you telling me?
-What--
-[Hadley] Please, stay.
Arthur, stop talking!
-What are you--
-I don't know what to say!
What are you telling people?
-Why the fuck is professor--
-I don't know!
-I didn't bring him here!
-[Arthur] Really? Really?
[Hadley]
No, I didn't, I didn't.
-[Arthur] You don't know?
-I told him to come.
Look, he called
the other night,
and I pretended
to be you,
and I invited him
to come.
What?
Look, it feels like
there's a game going on,
and everyone else knows
the rules, except me.
Yeah.
That's one way
to look at it.
I understand if you never wanna
see or speak to me again,
but I deserve to know
what happened to Jill.
[ominous music]
Hadley?
Arthur,
I thought you wanted to--
Oh, no, no, no.
Be my guest.
[sighs]

It was the end
of our first year.

[Hadley] And we were all
up here on that retreat.
One night,
we built this big fire.
Some of us
had too much to drink.
Like Jill.
But that is not
how it happened.
That's not how we met.
We met in the library.
We met
in the elevator,
excuse me,
at [indistinct].
[Jill]
That is what happened.
What are you two
talking about?
We're arguing about
how we met.
That's nice.
[mockingly]
Oh, that's nice.
What, does that turn you on,
professor Bennett?
No.
[Baxter]
Ooh, incest.
I love it.
[chuckling]
Arthur, can you stop
with the weird sex party jokes?
[Margot] Oh, my God,
was this going to be--
I thought this was supposed
to be an academic retreat.
If this is turning
into some sex cult,
I'm all in.
[moaning & laughing]
[laughing]
Professor Bennett!
[indistinct]
students you have.
Yeah.
[indistinct]
-[Maeve laughing]
-Professor Bennett.
You guys are all cool
with, "Whatever happens
this weekend stays here
this weekend," right?
-[Baxter] Yeah.
-Yeah.

[Hadley]
I invited Jill into the woods.
My favorite part
of the woods to be alone.
But I knew
something was up.
She didn't wanna go.
What are you nervous about?
No, I'm not nervous,
I'm just--
I'm cold and--
and I'm drunk.
I'm definitely drunk.
Come on.
Get up, let's go.
[Jill laughing nervously]
[Bennett] Jill.
Don't do anything stupid.
[Hadley] Bennett was always
so worried about Jill.
As if she was so frail.

This is
my favorite part of the woods.
It looks like
a bunch of trees to me.
Actually,
Jillian Margot Bennett,
these trees are thousands
upon thousands of years old.
[Jill chuckling]
Think of all
the history they've seen.
And now
they're watching us.
What will we do
to excite them?
I mean,
where did you get that?
From the kitchen.
Where knives live.
[Hadley] I thought
it would be so romantic
to carve our names
in that tree.
Carve our names?
Yeah, you know,
like they used to do
in the olden days.
[Jill]
Like, a heart?
-[Hadley] But Jill...
-[Jill] My initials?
[Hadley] The way
that she looked at that knife.
She wasn't herself.
I tried
to tell her that everything
was gonna be okay,
that we could be ourselves
in public.
Wait. What was that?
[Hadley]
But someone was watching us.
[Margot] And that's
your specialty, is you--
you teach the same...
[Bennett]
Yeah, I mean, try to.
I'll, uh,
I'll check out your book.
[Hadley] I'd been trying
to get rid of Bennett
for weeks.
Margot was so unhappy
in her marriage,
so I tried
to set them up.
I thought, "What's wrong
with a weekend tryst?"
Well, that was a mistake.
-Why?
-He has no interest in me.
If anything,
he's clearly into you.
Margot, no. He's not.
-You're overanalyzing it.
-We had no chemistry.
Come on.
[Hadley] But I was
so sick of her complaining.
Her anger.
And hearing
about the book
she's been writing
for ten years.
I thought we'd have
a free-for-all weekend.
I can't believe
I let you rope me into this.
I should be home,
I should be with my kid.
[Hadley]
Seriously, whatever.
Honestly,
I wish at some point
you would have
the courage to leave your--
your fucked up marriage.
Wow.
Well, I am trying.
I'm gonna go to bed.
Whatever...
is going on here...
I think
you should come in, too.
[Hadley]
Margot saw us.
But, I didn't care.

[Hadley] Jill just
started acting crazy.
What's up?
What's wrong? What's wrong?
Do you think
they saw us?
What are you talking about?
Jill, what's going on?
You're acting so fucking weird.
[Hadley]
And that was it.
She was acting
like a stranger.
I didn't know
what to do.
You don't get it.
-I don't get it?
-No, you don't.
[Hadley]
I was her only friend.
I did everything for her.
I was
a good person.
A person
who tried to help Margot,
and a person
who tried to help Jill.

I'm sorry, I just didn't think
you'd really care.
Didn't think
I'd care?
Hadley, you tried
to orchestrate an affair
between my brother
and your sister behind my back,
when this weekend
is supposed to be about us.
About this moment.
Oh, okay, Jill.
'Cause I'm a little bit
confused.
You don't wanna
come out with me tonight,
like we agreed
and planned on for weeks,
or you think
that I'm making things up.
Had, stop.
No, I mean, I'm sorry
I brought you out here
to discuss something
that's very important
in my life.
We just--
I wanted to be honest with you.
Honest with me?
[strange music]
You're not being honest
with yourself.

No, Hadley, wait.
I'm-- I'm sorry.
Now, you're gonna play
the victim?
Please, stop playing
this game with me.
I'm not playing
a game with you, Jill.
I wanna tell
the truth.

Just-- Please.
I just feel so...
I'm so, so sorry.
-I don't understand why you--
-I can't.
Jilly, it's gonna be okay.
Jilly. I promise.
[music intensifying]

[birds chirping]
[Hadley]
They never found her body.
There was
an investigation.
And can you confirm
your first and last name?
Johan Bennett.
[Higgins]
What is your relationship
to the missing person?
I'm her brother.
[Higgins] Did you notice
anything different
about your sister
the night of the bonfire?
[Bennett] She was acting
ridiculous again.
She causes a scene,
she doesn't have to,
she thinks it's fun.
And last night, she was
causing more of a scene.
When I saw her
and Hadley
walking off
into the woods together...
What is
your relationship to Hadley?
Classmates.
[Higgins] Where were you
when Jill disappeared?
[Arthur]
I was sitting at the bonfire.
One of us
should go look for them.
-[Higgins] Alone?
-[Arthur] No, with the other...
Yeah.
Your sister.
[Higgins] According
to other witness testimonies,
you were away
for quite a bit of time.
I'll go.
Later, brother.

[Higgins]
I have confirmation
that this is
your family's property?
Yes.
[Higgins] How often
do you guys come
to the property?
[Margot] Uh, about
a few times a year, at least.
[Higgins]
Who invited her here?
[Margot]
She's a classmate of Hadley's.
Um, I had been
at the bonfire, but--
-[Higgins] Had been?
-[Margot] No, I-- I left.
Um, I believe--
Went before she...
[Higgins] Do you recall
when exactly you left?
Um...
[Hadley]
They questioned everyone.
And when was
the last time
that you saw
Ms. Bennett alive?
[Margot]
I saw her in the forest.
[Hadley]
We were all suspect.
Then, my family
got involved.
They were able
to contain it.
It became
a missing persons case.
Most of us went back
to school, second year.
Tried to act
like nothing happened.
Johan wouldn't leave me alone
for months.
Even when they dragged
the lake,
he was still convinced,
because some people
reported sightings
of Jill.
But, I think that stopped.
And from that night on,
I was with Arthur.
-It was your idea!
-[Arthur] It wasn't my idea?
-Yes, it was!
-[Arthur] So, what?
You and Jill
went frolicking off
in the fuckin' woods!
How is that my idea
you crazy little bitch?
Do you know
how sick you are?
You don't know what the fuck
you're talking about.
Are you fucking nuts?
[Hadley]
It wasn't until I met you...
that I realized
what he was doing to me.
[strange & otherworldly music]


Hey, Mom.
[Lark's mom] Hi, Lark.
How are you doing?
Yeah, things are good.
I actually moved.
[Lark's mom]
Wait, you moved?
Yeah.
[Lark's mom] Oh, so you're
not in law school anymore.
-[Lark] No.
-[Lark's mom] Where are you?
[Lark] I'm somewhere new.
How's Sam doing?
[Lark's mom]
Your brother is better.
[Lark] But, yeah, I'd--
I'd love to come see you
and Sam for the holidays,
so I'm gonna try and make it.
[Lark's mom] Yeah?
We got that money from you.
Thank you.
Where did it come from?
[Lark] From a friend.
There's someone I would really
like for you to meet.
[Lark's mom] Oh.
-Talk soon.
-[Lark's mom] Lark?
Bye.
[Lark's mom]
Lark, I'm confused.
Hello--
Everything okay?
Yeah.


[sinister music]
[sobbing]
[Arthur]
Hey, Hadley. Hadley.
Hey, hey.
It's okay.
You're okay.
[sobbing]
[Arthur]
It's fine. Shh.
Please help me.
[Arthur]
Shh, shh, you're okay.
-Please help me.
-[Arthur] Look at me. Hey.
-Hadley?
-I don't know what happened.
I don't know
what happened.
[panting & sobbing]
Please help me.
Please help me.
[Arthur] Hey.
[strange & otherworldly music]
Hey.




["After You've Gone"
by Ella Fitzgerald playing]
After you've gone
And left me cryin'
After you've gone
There's no denyin'
You'll feel blue
You'll feel sad
You'll miss
The dearest pal
You've ever had
There'll come a time
Now don't forget it
There'll come a time
When you'll regret it
Someday
When you grow lonely
Your heart will break
Like mine
And you'll want me only
After you've gone
After you've gone away

After I'm gone
After we break up
After I'm gone
You're gonna wake up
You'll find
You were blind
To let somebody come
And change your mind
After the years
We've been together
Through joy and tears
All kinds of weather
Someday blue
And downhearted
You'll long to be with me
Right back
Where you started
After I'm gone
After I'm gone away