The Lullaby (2018) Movie Script

(water flowing)
(glass clinks)
(ominous music)
(fire crackling)
(radio buzzing)
[Woman] While our men
were fighting in the hills,
the British placed us
in concentration camps.
Behind the wire, they
did what they wanted.
They raped the women.
But if one of us fell pregnant,
the priest and the
midwife would make certain
that the baby would
never see a sunrise.
(film reel clicking)
(ominous music)
(wind howling)
(eerie music)
(baby crying)
No.
(baby screaming)
You lay with the enemy!
(baby screaming)
Shame!
The devil is inside this child.
You've sinned
against your country,
against your people
and against God!
(ominous music)
The Devil is inside this child!
(screaming)
(baby crying)
(intense music)
(cracking)
(eerie music)
(fire crackling)
(screaming)
(crying)
Come on.
You need to push now.
One more time. One big one.
Come on, you can do it.
One big one.
Give me a push.
I can't!
You have to.
Mommy, please!
(crying)
- I'm sorry, Mommy.
- [Nurse] Last big one.
(screaming)
[Nurse] Give me a push.
[Young Woman] I can't.
[Nurse] You have to.
(groaning)
You are almost there,
Chloe, come on.
(screaming)
(ominous music)
Go! Push!
Use your strength, now push!
(screaming)
(intense music)
(dramatic music)
(baby crying)
(baby crying)
It's fine. Give him to me.
Come here, baby boy.
Come here.
It's your son, Chloe.
He has a nice face.
(ominous music)
(eerie music)
(birds chirping)
Siembamba
Mama se kindjie
Momma's little baby
Siembamba
Momma's little baby
Ring his neck and
throw him in a ditch
Step on his head
Make sure he is dead
Siembamba
Momma's little baby
Siembamba
(eerie music)
Ring his neck and
throw him in a ditch
Step on his head
Make sure he's dead
(birds chirping)
Only so much I
can do in two days.
Sorry Mom.
There's a chair and a cot.
Hello, Liam.
(baby crying)
So, Liam,
do you like your new home?
Only on the day
your water breaks.
I've never been so
embarrassed in my life.
If the police hadn't informed
me that your were fine,
I would've lost my mind.
Sorry, Mom.
Give him to me.
(ominous music)
He's my grandson.
Carefully.
There we go.
Oh.
It's nice here, isn't it?
I think so too.
If only your mommy wasn't
so bloody foolish, huh?
Who's the dad?
I see.
Mom, really it's
not like that.
And Adam?
What about him?
This is gonna break his heart.
I don't think so, Mom.
That boy has always
loved you, Chloe.
Come on.
He waited for you, you know?
To come back.
This is what happens when
you run away from home.
When you leave me.
Oh, you're such a
silly girl, Chloe.
(ominous music)
I'm sorry.
This is all my fault.
No, Mom.
You've done this to spite me.
Mommy?
Please don't blame yourself.
I did this.
You're right, I should
never have left.
But you did.
Chloe.
You ruined everything.
It doesn't matter now.
None of it matters.
You're back.
My dear, sweet Chloe.
Never leave me again.
(sobbing)
I've gotta go sell a house.
(chuckling)
(baby crying)
(ominous music)
(crickets chirping)
(rocker creaking)
(baby moaning)
(Chloe sighing)
Oh, Liam.
Come baby.
(shushing)
(baby crying)
Sleep tight, baby.
(shushing)
(humming tune)
(baby crying)
(eerie music)
It's okay.
(indistinct)
Gonna sleep in your cot, okay?
Like a big boy.
Yes.
Let's have a little sleepy.
There we go.
It's gonna be okay.
(baby crying)
Chloe.
Hmm?
I told you, Liam has
to sleep in his cot.
You can't sleep with the
baby in a chair like that.
You will drop him.
(moaning)
It's the only way I can
get him to stop crying.
We were up again
the whole night.
I heard.
It's been days since I've
had a good night's rest.
You're too quick
to pick him up.
You need to leave
him to cry it out.
You don't want to spoil him.
If he's crying,
then surly there must
be something wrong.
Chloe, babies
cry for attention.
He'll learn to self-sooth.
I'm showing the
O'Dan property today.
You're on your own.
Remember to feed him.
He doesn't want me.
Chloe, use the pump, okay?
No, it hurts.
Motherhood is hard, Chloe.
Sooner you realize
that, the better.
Stop moaning and look after him.
(pumping)
(groaning)
Stupid thing.
(eerie radio buzzing)
(radio voice groaning)
(television static fizzling)
(ominous music)
(crackling)
(whooshing)
(menacing music)
(water dripping)
(heavy breathing)
(unsettling music)
(creature breathing)
(growling)
(thudding)
[Man] Chloe?
Adam?
Yeah.
Look who's back.
Come.
(dramatic music)
(creaking)
I mean,
I thought I'd never
see you again.
You know?
Adam, I'm really sorry.
I mean, you just up and left.
Forget about it.
You don't look too well.
I'm fine.
And you?
How've you been?
I'm good.
I'm just glad that you're back.
I missed you.
It's been a while.
(baby crying)
(eerie music)
(baby crying)
(Chloe shushing)
This is Liam.
(baby crying)
(unsettling music)
(pumping)
(eerie music)
(thudding)
(squelching)
(door creaking)
(ominous music)
(creature breathing)
(hissing)
(screaming)
(haunting music)
(growling)
(screaming)
Liam!
(thudding)
What's going on?
Mommy, please help!
The lock, it's jammed!
Calm down!
(baby crying)
Liam.
(baby moaning)
(ominous music)
Chloe, what is this mess?
Chloe?
Chloe?
Just clean it up.
Mommy's so sorry,
sweet baby boy.
So, so sorry.
(ominous music)
(unsettling music)
(sloshing)
(ticking)
(pleasant chiming music)
(hissing)
(gasping)
(eerie chiming music)
Liam?
(echoing chiming music)
(menacing music)
No!
No!
What happened?
What's wrong with you?
(whimpering)
Come on.
He scratched his face.
Look.
(eerie music)
I told you to cut his nails.
(Chloe gasping)
Chloe?
Take him.
I can't.
(eerie music)
Oh, Chloe.
I can't.
It's okay.
(shushing)
Okay, baby.
(menacing music)
Come with me.
(dramatic music)
(humming tune)
(knocking)
Ruby.
How very nice to see you.
Come in.
Thank you.
Sorry to just barge
in unannounced.
Relax.
I know how strict
you are with your time.
There's no need
for you to apologize.
Friends are always welcome.
It's been awhile, Ruby,
since we've seen each other.
(somber music)
Chloe's back, Dr. Reed.
Good news, is it not?
She has a baby now.
Congratulations,
you're a grandmother.
(paper crunching)
I know I should probably
stop taking these.
Why?
They calm you down, don't they?
They could become a crutch.
We all have crutches.
It's how we deal with life.
There's no side effects.
Non-additive, you'll be fine.
How do you cope?
I have my butterflies.
You haven't lost interest yet.
Habits are very hard to break.
Especially when you
still enjoy them so much.
(somber music)
Tell me about Chloe.
(foreboding music)
Come Liam.
Mommy needs to cut your nails.
(baby moaning)
(ominous music)
Such tiny, little fingers.
(chuckling)
(squelching)
Hold still, baby.
Hold still.
(crunching)
(baby crying)
(growling)
(unsettling music)
(baby screaming)
(water sloshing)
(growling)
(electrical buzzing)
(baby crying)
Chloe?
Chloe?
There's something
in the bathroom.
(baby crying)
Chloe!
It's okay.
You never leave a baby
in the water like this!
What is wrong with you?
Liam could've drowned.
Don't you ever do that again!
[Reed] You recognize
yourself in Chloe,
as a new mother.
She's overwhelmed.
Paranoid.
Heretic.
She sees things
that aren't there.
She's adapting to motherhood.
And you of all people should
understand this apprehension
better than anyone else.
What are you not
telling me, Ruby?
(ominous music)
I've noticed bruises on Liam.
What sorts of bruises?
[Ruby] Strange marks.
She's handling him too hard.
You think Chloe
is abusing Liam?
No.
I'm certain she's not.
How does the father
fit into all of this?
I don't know.
She's come back with this baby.
She refuses to speak
about the father.
So you know nothing
about the father.
No.
She shut me out, doctor.
She's detached.
About this whole thing.
I knew this would happen.
She's probably done all
sorts of immoral things.
Just to get back at me.
Strange bruises on Liam.
Chloe seeing things.
And you have no idea
who the father is.
Maybe I should see Chloe.
(ominous music)
No.
It is vital that we find
out what happened to Chloe
and who the father is.
We need to help her,
for Liam's sake.
I don't mean to scare you, Ruby,
but the bruises,
they concern me.
Let me help Chloe.
(silverware clinking)
(baby cooing)
(eerie radio buzzing)
(glass shattering)
Chloe!
Mom, it wasn't me.
Why're you so clumsy?
Just sit down.
Okay?
Sit down and have
a meal with me.
(malevolent music)
What is wrong with
you these days?
I feel empty.
Empty?
Like there's
nothing inside me.
The big, black hole
where Liam used to live.
Nothing.
Until...
I won't feel anything.
Dr. Reed wants to see you.
Why?
To make sure you're
adjusting to motherhood.
Mom, what have you told him?
I agree with him.
I think it would be
good for Liam if you
spoke to a professional.
(ominous music)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain trickling)
I'm sorry about the other day.
I was horrible to you.
You just caught me off guard.
I wasn't expecting you to have...
A baby?
Yeah.
It's a little out of your
character, don't you think?
Character can change, Adam.
Come on, Chloe,
I'm trying not to be weird
about this entire thing,
but you've got to admit
it doesn't look good.
I mean, people are talking.
What do you care?
I care, Chloe.
I've always cared.
(waitress stammering)
(eerie music)
(screaming)
Chloe, calm down!
Chloe, it's only juice.
I can get you another one.
Just leave it.
(thundering)
(baby crying)
(ominous music)
[Reed] Thank you for
accepting my invitation, Chloe.
Adam persuaded me.
[Reed] Friend of yours?
He's always wanted to
be more than good friends.
But you don't?
You must still
value his opinion.
You're here.
It seems that
my mother and Adam
think I'm not coping with Liam.
What do you think?
I think that
things aren't normal.
Normal?
And whose version of normality
are we bringing into
question here?
Mine, I suppose.
I get these visions
where I hurt Liam.
(ominous music)
You fantasize
about killing Liam?
There not fantasies.
I hate them.
I should feel...
elated, blessed.
I don't feel any of that.
[Reed] And what do you feel?
Tired.
Worried.
Frustrated.
I have to use a
machine to pump...
These visions,
tell me more in detail.
(ominous music)
I only get them
when I'm with Liam.
I get this strange
urge to kill him.
And sometimes, in my visions,
I kill him.
(eerie music)
And it makes you feel good.
No, of course not.
What do you do with these?
I am a collector.
I collect.
What do you collect?
I used to collect
porcelain dolls.
(screaming)
(glass shattering)
(intense music)
My father...
You still believe these
came from your father!
(Chloe screaming)
Your father?
Tell me more about
your father, Chloe.
(menacing music)
Stupid girl.
(crying)
Your dad didn't send
you these dolls.
I did!
What do you mean?
Your father blew
his brains out, Chloe!
And I had to clean up his
blood off our kitchen floor!
I had to look at the
mess of what he's done!
(crying)
Why are you
telling me this now?
Because it's time you grew up.
Your father didn't know
the first thing about love
and neither do you!
(ominous music)
Oh, that's right!
I'm such a terrible mother.
I lived this lie for you!
And let you believe that
your daddy loved you.
I drove him away!
Don't you ever speak to me
about your father again!
Your father was a
worthless piece of shit!
You lied to me.
I did what I
thought was right.
Everything was for you.
I raised you!
I lived this lie for you!
I'm leaving you.
Over my dead body!
You get back here!
You can't leave.
I'm all you have.
No Mom. I'm old enough not to
be with you anymore.
Chloe, get out
of my house then!
Chloe, I'm warning you.
If you walk out that door,
you're never coming back.
(thudding)
I never want to see you again!
Chloe!
Chloe!
Chloe!
[Reed] Chloe?
Chloe?
You think I'm losing my mind.
I think that you're
hormones are fluctuating.
I think that your body is going
through some extreme changes.
It's very normal.
Normal?
To want to kill my baby?
You're only thinking
about killing your baby.
Most new moms do.
(dramatic music)
Look at you.
Okay?
(dramatic music)
[Adam] There's still
something bothering me.
[Chloe] What's that?
[Adam] Why in the
hell did you come back?
[Chloe] I had
nowhere to go, Adam.
I have a baby.
[Adam] Oh Chloe,
you could've seen the world.
[Chloe] You need
money for that.
[Adam] Doesn't take that
much to leave Eden Rock.
[Chloe] At least you
know what to expect.
Out there, Eden
Rock's not so bad.
[Adam] There's a reason
why they call it Eden Rock.
There are fucking
rocks everywhere,
rock after rock after rock.
Heck, even the people
start looking like stones.
Might as well live
in a graveyard.
I'll probably die here too.
Don't say that.
You can still leave.
Why would I want to leave?
You're here.
(fire crackling)
Thanks for the brie.
It was good.
(faint screaming)
What was that?
You know what they
say about these woods.
It's just ghost stories.
I'm not so sure.
At night,
when it gets real quiet,
I can still hear the babies cry.
Stop it.
It's true.
During the war, I mean.
Back then, rape was
worse than dying.
It's just stupid stories.
(bird chirping)
(fire crackling)
(ominous music)
(wind howling)
I love you, Liam.
Don't you ever
think that I don't.
I should never have
left Eden Rock.
(wind howling)
Mommy won't let anything
bad happen to you.
Never, ever.
(ominous music)
(tapping)
(muffled baby crying)
(muffled baby crying)
(eerie music)
(screaming)
(radio crackling)
(crickets chirping)
(creaking)
(Ruby humming tune)
Mom?
(shushing)
(menacing music)
(clock ticking)
Did she ever try to
communicate with you?
(shushing)
Is all she does.
My colleagues would
say that you're suffering
from the "baby blues."
My take is that you're reliving
the dark past of
this little town.
(ominous music)
I've heard the myths.
They're not myths, Chloe.
(eerie music)
In 1901,
the British soldiers
annexed this little town
and they took over the church.
Used it as a hospital
for their wounded troops.
They killed all the children
and raped all the women.
(eerie music)
Now for a Calvinistic,
conservative woman,
rape was worse than death.
These women would find
refuge in a priest
who would help them deliver
these bastard children
from their sins.
By murdering them?
It's not murder if you're
saving a soul from condemnation.
(eerie music)
This woman that you are seeing
is merely a figment
of your imagination.
Your mild depression
encourages the state of mind.
My current state of mind
is that I'm losing my mind.
The freezer, was that
the worst vision you had?
Tell me.
Please, tell me Chloe.
(menacing music)
I'm standing over Liam.
[Reed] Where is she?
(menacing music)
[Chloe] Behind me.
[Reed] What is she doing?
[Chloe] Breathing
down my neck.
Whispering.
(shushing)
What is she whispering?
(menacing music)
Tell me, Chloe, tell me.
Kill my baby.
"Kill my baby?"
Kill my baby. Kill my baby.
(unsettling music)
No.
(intense music)
(screaming)
I'm scared.
(clock ticking)
How are you sleeping at night?
Terrible.
I'm gonna prescribe
something for you.
I don't want drugs.
I'm breast feeding.
So he's latched?
He will.
Tell me about
the baby's father.
Haven't you heard
the rumors yet?
I'm not in the habit of
listen to small town people
who've got nothing better
to do with their lives.
Dr. Reed,
what're you doing in Eden Rock?
You're an acclaimed
psychiatrist.
You could live
anywhere you want.
I choose to live here.
What is here that
interests you so much?
My copper butterflies.
What do you see
when you look at them?
Something reproduced
from fragments that
was once a whole.
A whole that you destroyed.
Certain actions have
certain consequences.
Despite your consequences,
you continue to
pursue your position.
Tell me about Liam's father.
(somber music)
There's nothing to tell.
You won't find him interesting.
Oh, I find all human
beings interesting.
Chloe, I want you
to do me a favor.
I want you to start allowing
these visions to consume you.
Stop fighting them.
Do what they tell you to do.
Dr. Reed, that
sounds dangerous.
This is a method that
I've used on other patients
that have the same
kind of issue.
Allow me
to help you the way I help them.
(eerie music)
(pills rattling)
(slicing)
(cracking)
(screaming)
(somber music box chiming)
(chiming music)
(eerie music)
(thudding)
(baby crying)
(cranking)
(intense music)
(screaming)
Siembamba
Mama se kindjie
Siembamba
(booming)
(floor creaking)
(music box chiming tune)
(blood squelching)
(unsettling music)
(screaming)
(ominous music)
It was just a bad dream.
You look better.
I took the pills.
Good.
(baby cooing)
Liam.
Liam should drink.
(baby cooing)
Okay, baby.
Here we go.
You're okay.
(baby crying)
(shushing)
Come on, baby.
Are you hungry?
Latch for Mommy.
(baby crying)
You have to let Chloe
experience motherhood.
On her own terms.
Excuse me?
Let me take you to dinner.
Dr. Reed,
isn't that unethical?
I've never really
considered you a patient.
I guess we have come
a long way together,
you and I.
We have to get you out
of the house tonight,
away from Chloe and Liam.
Chloe needs to be with
her son tonight, alone.
What if she hurts him?
Everything is coming
together just as it should.
She's almost there.
Just a little bit
more encouragement.
Dr. Reed?
Yes.
Why? That's so strange.
Because he asked me out.
I deserve to go out too,
from time to time, you know.
You expect me to just sit
around the house all day?
Mom, please.
Go.
Enjoy.
(laughing)
Thanks.
You guys have a good night.
Bye.
[Ruby] Bye.
(ominous music)
(water sloshing)
(distant howling)
(screaming)
(growling)
(baby crying)
(ominous music)
(electrical buzzing)
(growling)
(screaming)
(eerie music)
(screaming)
Get away from my baby!
Get away from my baby!
No!
(screaming)
(intense music)
Help me! Somebody!
No!
(screaming)
(electrical buzzing)
Where's my baby?!
Where's my baby?!
(screaming)
No! Give me my baby!
Give him to me!
Give me my baby!
(dramatic music)
(screaming)
I will find you!
(yelling)
No!
(Chloe growling)
(glass shattering)
(electrical fizzling)
(Chloe whimpering)
(heavy breathing)
(dramatic music)
(crickets chirping)
Adam!
Adam!
Adam!
(crying)
It's okay.
(sobbing)
What's the matter?
Something terrible
has happened!
(crying)
(shushing)
(fire crackling)
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
You should've never left.
It was your biggest mistake.
I know.
It was going to be
us against the world.
Then you left.
I know.
(eerie music)
You're right.
I'm sorry.
I was selfish.
[Adam] I could've
come with you.
(eerie music)
[Man] Hey, wanna lift?
Come on.
It's okay, hop in.
(eerie music)
Where you heading?
[Chloe] Town.
(ominous music)
You never gave me a chance.
You let someone
else have you first.
Am I so terrible
that you can't be with me?
No.
(foreboding music)
I wouldn't touch him.
(screaming)
(man groaning)
(eerie music)
Chloe?
Your beauty's astounding.
Adam.
Adam, stop it.
Adam, stop it!
Adam, what're you doing?
Adam, stop it!
Adam!
Stop it, Adam!
Please, stop it, Adam!
What are you doing?!
(screaming)
Stop!
Don't move.
Just calm down!
I said stop!
Stop it!
Stop!
Stop it!
Don't!
(intense music)
(screaming)
(eerie music)
(intense music)
(demonic screaming)
(unsettling music)
(growling)
(ominous music)
(water sloshing)
(unsettling music)
(heavy breathing)
No idea, Dr. Reed.
No, she wasn't here
when I got home.
I told you she wasn't
in here right mind.
She just left the baby here.
He's fine.
Oh my god.
(eerie music)
Chloe?
(menacing music)
[Chloe] Who is on the phone?
It's nobody.
Ruby?
Tell me what's happening.
[Chloe] Dr. Reed?
Chloe?
Why didn't you
want to help me?
[Reed] Chloe, calm down.
I did something.
What have you done?
[Chloe] I did something.
Tell me, Chloe,
what have you done?
No.
(intense music)
What?
What?
Where have have you been?
What has happened to you?
No!
Get away from me!
Okay.
I came home and he
was all on his own.
Shut up!
You're lying!
You took Liam and locked
me out of the house!
I would never do that.
(foreboding music)
I saw the bruises on Liam!
You hurt him!
You hurt my baby!
Chloe.
You made those bruises.
No, I would never do that!
Never!
I saw you take Liam
and the woman!
What woman?
Duh! The woman!
The one I keep seeing!
The one with the bonnet on!
I told Dr. Reed, but he
wouldn't listen to me!
And you don't listen to me!
I saw you taking him!
I saw you taking him!
I'm listening.
This is all in your mind.
You cleaned the glass!
What glass?
(yelling)
Stop trying to
confuse me, Mom!
I submitted the portraits!
You did everything!
I saw it with my own eyes!
(unsettling music)
Chloe, please let me help you.
It's not...
Get away from me!
It's not your fault, okay?
You're sick, my darling.
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Shut up! Shut up!
Shut up, I said! Shut up!
You hurt my baby!
I rescued him!
You hurt my baby!
Please, Mom,
just tell me the truth!
I am.
Darling, I am, please.
It's not your fault, okay?
It's not your fault.
You're sick.
Let me just help you, please.
I'm not a bad mother?
No, you're not.
(crying)
Come here.
It's okay, my baby.
You're a good mother,
I love you.
I'm so sorry.
(shushing)
So sorry, Mom.
I'm so sorry.
I love you.
(shushing)
(eerie music)
(growling)
(screaming)
Chloe.
Mom, no.
No, Mom.
Mom.
No.
No, no, no.
(dramatic music)
(growling)
What do you want from me?!
What do you want from me?!
(crying)
I'm so sorry.
(dramatic music)
(crying)
(screaming)
(ominous music)
(rustling)
(moaning)
How are you feeling?
(moaning)
Tired.
So very, very tired.
Tell me what happened.
I saved Liam.
I saved my baby.
Give.
(baby crying)
No.
(baby crying)
(shushing)
He's mine.
He's my baby.
He's my baby.
(foreboding music)
He's my baby.
(dramatic music)
(lights clicking)
(ominous music)
(demonic whispering)
(unsettling music)
No!
(intense menacing music)
( "Siembamba" by Anton Goosen
playing)