The Strange Dark (2024) Movie Script
1
[mysterious sci-fi music]
Do you have to be so damn loud?
You're killing me, Frank.
That's better. You look good.
Professional.
Now, let's do this.
Remember, I'll do the talking.
[doorbell]
[doorbell]
Knock.
[knock knock knock]
Sorry. I just got home,
I was in the kitchen,
and my arms were
full of groceries,
I dropped the eggs, and
how can I help you?
Are you Susan?
Yes.
(Maria) I'm Maria.
This is Frank.
We work at Double Star
Accounting with your husband,
Ed.
Ex.
(Maria) Excuse me?
He's my ex-husband.
We're getting a divorce.
We're separated.
I didn't know.
It's all right.
It's for the best.
Well, we're here because Ed
is in a little bit of trouble.
Is he all right?
Maybe it would better
if we talked inside.
Of course.
It's a bit of a mess, but,
please, come on in.
Sorry, I'm grading essays
on Shakespeare.
I'm also directing
the school play.
It's always a bit of chaos
this time of year.
We're doing "The Scottish Play".
Never heard of it.
Oh, it's just a
silly superstition.
It's what you say instead
of saying "Macbeth."
It's supposed to be bad luck
if you say "Macbeth" out loud.
But you just said it out loud.
True. Uh
I never really believed the
myth, it's just sort of...
tradition.
Please, have a seat.
So, have you seen him recently?
Who?
Your husband, ex-husband, Ed?
No.
Do you know where he is?
At this moment... no.
When did you last see him?
(Susan) When?
Today?
- No, no, not today.
- Last... last week I think.
He was picking up Taylor.
(Maria) Taylor?
(Susan) Our daughter.
Is she here?
We'd love to meet her.
No, Taylor's got
mathletics tonight.
She's a mathlete.
It's a mathematics competition.
Math plus athlete
equals mathlete.
There are teams.
It's actually quite competitive.
Hmm. How fun.
Sorry about that.
So, you both work with
Edgar at Double Star?
Yes.
You work in accounting?
Well, not exactly.
Does he ever talk?
Not much.
He's shy.
You said Edgar's
in some trouble.
(Maria) Ugh, I'm afraid so.
It's probably just
a misunderstanding,
but there's a problem
with some of his numbers.
Some data has gone missing.
And, like I said, it's
probably just an accident and
I'm sure he could
explain it all,
but we have been
unable to reach him.
That doesn't sound like Edgar.
So do you know where
we might find him?
Not really.
Have you noticed any changes
in his behavior lately?
Changes?
I really couldn't say.
Because of the divorce?
Separation.
If you don't mind me asking,
what led to your separation?
That's... personal.
Of course, I understand.
I'm only asking because, well,
I don't know how
else to say it, but
you're in danger.
[tea kettle whistles]
The kettle.
(Susan) I forgot.
I put water on for tea
before you arrived.
Would either of
you like some tea?
I'm fine.
I'd like some.
Great. Great.
I'll just be a minute.
What?
You know what?
I'm thirsty.
This is not going to
be like Black Hill,
or fucking Aperture Labs.
That wasn't my fault.
It's never your fault, Frank.
Just watch the damn kitchen.
Okay.
It's always something
with you, huh?
"I'm thirsty." That's classic.
Wait until they hear that
back at the office.
Do you take sugar with your tea?
No.
Be right back then.
Careful, it's hot.
(Susan) It still needs
another minute to steep.
You were saying something
about danger?
At Double Star accounting,
we work with numbers.
Lots of numbers.
Small numbers. Big numbers.
Private numbers.
Secret numbers.
And we pride ourselves on
being able to keep those secret.
(Maria) It's who we
are. It's what we do.
Ed... works with those numbers.
He's a genius with numbers.
(Maria) In fact, no
one's better than Ed.
He's the best, am I right?
But lately, well,
something's wrong with Ed.
Human resources would say
"mental health issues"
and maybe that's just it.
Maybe he's just
feeling a little down.
After all, he's going
through a divorce.
That can't be easy.
But, I don't think
it's that simple.
I think something
snapped in here.
He's unstable, talking nonsense,
doing crazy things,
and, I worry, for you
and your daughter.
If we don't find him soon
and get him some help,
someone is going to get hurt.
[slurping]
Earl Grey
that's my favorite.
[ominous music]
[two dull thuds]
Taylor?
Is that you?
Taylor?
Are you home?
Taylor?
Oh... you scared me to death.
You dropped the eggs.
Did I?
Are they here?
Is who here?
The others.
- I don't understand.
- It's just you and me, Edgar,
and you shouldn't be here.
It's not your house anymore.
We talked about this, remember?
I remember.
Yeah.
What's going on?
I'm closing the curtains.
- I can see that. - Why are you
closing the curtains?
Oh, we don't have much time.
Are you getting those headaches
again? Cause the doctor said...
No, it's not a headache, okay?
Okay. Calm down.
I'm calm. Where's Taylor?
She's not home.
Are you sure? She
should be home.
Taylor?
See, I told you, she's not here.
What is it?
Something's...
something's different.
Different how?
Really?
It's not your house, Edgar.
You need to go.
(Edgar) Oh, strange.
Get away from the window.
You need to tell
me what's going on.
You're acting weirder than
normal, and you're starting to
freak me out.
We have to go.
It's not safe here.
What the hell are
you talking about?
You're in danger.
We have to go, now.
Hey, let go of me. Let go!
You're scaring me.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I'm just trying
to help you, okay
to save you.
To save me from what?
Double Star Accounting.
You're trying to save
me from your job?
Yeah.
Now, that's funny.
All these years, you have
been obsessed with work,
practically ignoring Taylor and
me, and I have begged you to
change.
And your work was
always more important.
That's not true.
Please leave.
I took something from them.
Well, give it back.
I can't. It's not like that.
What's it like, then?
Explain it to me.
You better sit down for this.
Well?
I lied to you.
(Edgar) I've been lying to you.
I'm not who you think I am.
I'm not an accountant.
I never was.
Double Star isn't
an accounting firm.
We do work with numbers,
just not those kind of numbers.
I'm a cryptologist.
I break codes.
Do you understand?
I did it. I broke
the code, and now,
now I know things,
things I shouldn't know.
What code? The Russians?
No. No.
The code is upstairs
in our bedroom?
No, no.
The stars!
The code's from space.
You know this is crazy. You do
realize how nuts you sound.
No.
Well, you do.
I can explain it.
I can explain it.
- Hey, don't take that.
- That's a student's essay.
I need to grade that.
This is more important.
Damn it.
(Edgar) The Sun,
Mercury,
Venus,
Earth.
That's us.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune.
What about Pluto?
Don't get me started.
Pluto.
This area is the heliosphere.
Voyager 2 is currently
drifting through it, and next,
the Oort Cloud,
just a vast open nothingness.
But, here, on the edge of it,
Alpha Centauri A and B,
a pair of binary stars.
The closest stars to Earth.
Ever since the invention
of the radio telescope,
we've been listening
to them for signs of life,
but all we've ever heard is
static, you know, random noise.
But what if it isn't random?
What if there's a pattern?
We just haven't seen it?
See, everybody is looking
at the numbers,
they're trying to decipher
a sequence in the
binary code, but
there isn't one to be found.
There's a third star
in that cluster.
A tiny, red dwarf,
Alpha Centauri C,
otherwise known as
Proxima Centauri,
hidden in the night sky by the
brightness of her twin sisters.
The code's not binary.
It's trinary.
Trinary?
Yes, see, our
numbers are base ten,
because as luck or
evolution would have it,
we have ten fingers.
But their numbers are base three
because of the three stars.
For example, in trinary,
101 equals 10.
Once you know that,
you have the key to the code.
You can unravel the message.
What's the message?
You know what, do
you want some tea?
Yeah, I'm gonna make tea.
Edgar.
So, I can't believe
I'm gonna say this again,
what's the big message
from the stars?
"The future is a mystery;
it is the strange dark."
That's the message.
No. Albert Einstein said that.
The message is the key
to unlock that mystery.
I can see the future.
What did you say?
I can see the future.
Don't be absurd.
I'm not.
Okay, fine, I'll play
your little game.
How? How do you see the future?
Okay.
You know how when you
close your eyes tight and
you press against them,
you see stars, patterns, right?
Yeah, well, those are
called "phosphenes" and,
well, they're not random.
It's like constellations
in the night sky,
and there are images hidden in
there, flashes of the future.
You just... you have
to know how to look.
And that is what the message
of the stars taught me.
You don't need tea.
You need help.
Professional help.
You don't believe me.
If I told you this whole story,
would you believe me?
Probably.
Okay, fine. Prove it to me.
How?
What am I thinking?
I don't know.
- What am I gonna say next?
- I don't know that either.
Well, what the hell do you know?
It doesn't work like that!
Tell me, how does it work?
It's like deja vu,
but backwards.
See, I close my eyes, and
patterns emerge,
phosphenes, pictures,
except instead of seeing things
that have already happened,
I get glimpses of the future.
A prophecy.
I call it... "phos-phecy".
Well, that's ridiculous.
Well, I'm still
working on the name.
Show me.
Predict something.
Okay.
Is this gonna take long?
(Edgar) Quiet. Quiet.
Okay, I see something.
[mystical music]
There's six of us
right here in the living room.
You, me, Taylor.
I don't recognize the others.
One of them's
lying on the floor.
I think...
Yeah, I think
I think you're blind.
Sort of dancing.
Slow dancing by yourself.
There's
there's blood.
A lot of blood.
Taylor's saying something.
"Fredo."
She's saying, "Fredo."
I'm just laughing.
You saw all that.
Yes.
From the stars?
No, it didn't come
from the stars.
The stars just taught me how to
interpret the images
and predict the future.
When is all this
going to happen?
(Edgar) I don't know.
I'm still learning
how to use it.
What does it all mean?
I don't know that either,
but when this happens,
and it will happen,
everything's gonna be all right.
I can feel it.
Eddie, I don't understand.
I like that.
You like what?
Eddie. When you call me Eddie.
Say it again.
Eddie.
I don't understand any of this.
We need to get you some help.
[car door slams]
Oh, they're here.
Who's here?
- I've run out of time. I didn't
stop it. - Maybe it can't be
stopped.
Who's out there?
Listen, listen, it's too late.
They've come for us,
and now we're all in trouble.
Look, even if all of this were
true, which I do not believe,
but if... why are
Taylor and I in danger?
Don't you understand anything?
You, Taylor, you're all
I love in the world.
If they get you, they get me.
[doorbell]
I don't know what to do.
Okay, I should go.
No.
If they find me, we
don't stand a chance.
This is insane.
[doorbell]
Listen, listen, listen.
You can't let them
know that I was here.
You have to lie.
- No, I can't lie. You know
this. - I'm a terrible liar.
Of course you can. You teach
acting. It's just acting.
[knock knock knock]
What are you doing?
What is this?
This doesn't make any sense.
It will.
(Susan) Sorry, I just got home.
I was in the kitchen,
my arms were full of groceries,
I dropped the eggs and
how can I help you?
(Frank) Earl Grey
that's my favorite.
I'm sorry, what did you say?
I said, Earl Grey
is my favorite.
Thanks, but I was talking to...
Maria. It's Maria.
And, I said, I don't
want anyone to get hurt.
I don't want that either.
Just to be clear, who is it
that's going to get hurt?
Let's not get
ahead of ourselves.
No one has to get
hurt, right, Frank?
[slurping]
As I said earlier, Ed took
something from Double Star.
He even went so far as to
wipe the data from the servers.
And that's not nice.
Have you contacted the police?
The police?
No.
There's no need to
involve the authorities.
They're not gonna help anybody.
We're family at Double Star,
and Ed is part of that family.
If it was a mistake,
and I'm sure it was,
it can be fixed.
It is all so simple, really.
We just need to
get the data back.
We need to find Ed.
You keep saying that.
(Maria) Saying what?
Ed.
You keep calling him Ed.
No one calls him that.
It's Edgar. He hates
when people call him Ed.
Sounds like you
still care about him.
He was my husband.
And we have a child together. Of
course I still care about him.
When Taylor was little,
she was afraid of the dark.
So, Edgar painted stars
on her bedroom ceiling
in glow-in-the-dark paint.
He got paint everywhere.
The stars were totally accurate.
He taught her the
constellations, told her the
stories behind them.
He made nighttime... fun.
How clever.
Well, that was nine years ago.
It's been a long
time since Edgar was
fun.
I think he forgot about us.
I doubt that.
Like I said, it's for the best.
What about Edgar?
Does he think it's for the best?
No.
I think he's... confused.
He needs help.
I agree.
Maybe we can help him together.
I don't know.
So, do you know where he is?
No.
Why don't I believe you?
(Maria) What is this?
- That's my student's essay.
- What are you doing with it?
Not the essay, but
here on the sides.
What are these sketches?
It's nothing.
Sometimes kids doodle.
What about Edgar?
Does he doodle?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
This is taking too long
and it's getting late.
What do you want to
do about the kid?
I've got this, Frank.
What kid?
(Frank) Hey, I'm just saying.
Taylor?
You need to calm down, Susan.
(Susan) Where is my daughter?
See what you did?
- I didn't do anything.
- What are you talking about?
(Maria) One thing.
Where's Taylor?
(Maria) I asked you to do
one goddamn thing.
Let me do the talking.
How hard is that?
You talk too much.
That's the problem.
Will someone tell me
where my fucking daughter is?
Look at that, mama
bear has claws.
I understand, I do, but
one question at a time
and I asked first.
Where's Ed?
Don't think too much and
don't tell me you don't know.
Let's end this, now.
It will be better for everyone.
He's hiding in the kitchen.
Don't hurt him.
Is that what you think of us?
Frank, don't hurt him,
just bring him here.
Is that better?
(Frank) He's not here.
Are you sure?
It's a kitchen, Maria.
There's not many places to hide.
What are you playing at?
No, he was there, I swear.
(Frank) The eggs are broken
all over the floor.
She was telling the
truth about that.
Where's Taylor?
Oh, no, no, no.
We still haven't
answered my question.
(Frank) He's not
in the dishwasher.
Oh, for fuck's sake. You want
to check the freezer, too?
How's he gonna fit in
the freezer, Maria?
You see what I'm working with?
Dumber than a wind-up monkey.
Still, he's my monkey.
That was sarcasm.
I was being sarcastic.
I don't like sarcasm.
How would you know?
You can't even spell sarcasm?
- You think you're funny.
- You're not that funny.
All right, Frank, don't get
your trousers in a twist.
You.
Come with us. Let's go see
about these broken eggs.
He was here.
Tell me, are there any
weapons in the house?
No.
Good.
Very good.
He must have left.
What do you think, Frank?
You want to know what I think?
That's why I asked.
Sarcasm.
S-A-R-C-A-S-M.
You're hysterical.
Well, I think he's
still here somewhere.
Something tells me he wouldn't
leave you alone with us.
[distant thump]
Did you hear that?
I'm on it.
While Frank searches the house,
you and I can go have a little
chat in the living room.
Let's go.
Please.
[Frank begins
searching upstairs]
You're a teacher.
I respect that.
I'm sort of a teacher, too.
I teach people what they
can and can't do.
Are you a good
teacher? I bet you are.
I try to be.
Me, too.
It's important, I think,
to take pride in your work.
And you... are you proud?
You think I'm a monster.
You might be right.
Are you worried about Frank?
He's really very sweet.
Big pit bull, lovable and loyal.
But, he does bite.
Where's Taylor?
You're worried
about your daughter.
Of course you are.
How silly of me.
People worry about
the ones they love.
I should have thought
about that before.
I bet Ed is worried about you.
Frank!
What?
Come here and have a seat.
We've been doing this all wrong.
Ed is going to come to us.
Why is he going to do that?
I'm going to call him.
Do you think Ed
heard me calling him?
No, call him again.
I heard you the first time.
- You are a sneaky one, Ed.
- Where have you been hiding?
Are you all right?
She's peachy. But how come
no one's asking about me?
I broke a nail.
Why don't you come
and join the party?
I'm here now.
I'm who you want.
Let her go.
So, you're a hero now.
I'm no hero.
(Maria) No, definitely not.
What you are, Ed, is a thief
and theft has consequences.
Isn't that right, Frank?
Let's start with
something simple.
Explain to me what
you wrote on this paper.
Where did it go?
Where is it?
Where's what?
It was just here.
Did you take it?
When could I take
it? I was with you.
Frank?
Why would I have it?
I don't know. I just
thought someone had to...
It was you.
You did this.
What did I do?
(Maria) They warned us
back at the office.
They said, "Be careful with Ed.
He's on to something."
What's the phrase they used?
"Expect the unexpected."
That's it. "Expect
the unexpected."
So, how did you do it?
I can't say.
Susan!
You can't say or you won't say.
What's the difference?
Semantics? Is this
all a game to you, Ed?
Are we playing now?
I don't know.
What are the rules?
There are no rules in this game.
We just make them
up as we go along.
That's what makes it fun.
I don't like this game.
How would you know?
We haven't played it yet.
Besides, it's Ed's turn now.
You're up next.
How do I play?
I ask a question, you answer it.
You tell me the truth, you win.
Lie to me and you lose.
Frank's the judge.
Let's play.
You took something from
Double Star Accounting.
Yes.
Data?
(Edgar) Yes.
And you erased all the
data on the servers?
Yes.
Three out of three.
You are good at this game.
But you must have made
a copy of the numbers.
Taken it with you.
Hidden it somewhere.
No.
Don't lie to me.
I work with numbers.
All day. Every day.
And, I like it.
Numbers don't lie.
I don't lie.
So you're telling me
that the data's gone?
No.
So where is our data?
It's all locked up,
in here.
That is good.
I brought a locksmith.
Frank!
Eddie!
Eddie? Eddie?
What did you do?
- Oh, he'll be all right.
- He just needs a minute.
Right, Frank?
I don't know.
Eddie, open your eyes.
Wake up.
Eddie?
Whatever he did, we can
fix it. Make it right.
He's sick. He's been
talking nonsense
strange stories.
He needs help.
See, he's fine.
Frank, help him up.
[grunting]
Are you okay?
I told the truth.
Well, the rules changed,
and I didn't like your answer.
Are you ready for
your next question?
Stop this!
Still not your turn, Susan.
I'm okay. I'm okay.
Shoot.
Why?
Why what?
Why did you do it?
Because, in the wrong
hands, it's dangerous.
And yours are the right hands?
I don't know.
Maybe.
Your wife says you've
been telling fairy tales.
Is that true?
Have you been making up stories?
No.
(Maria) Because I would surely
love to hear one of these tales.
Frank loves a good bedtime
story, don't you, Frank?
It's not enough blood.
What did you say?
Do you even know what it is
that you're trying to get back?
Tell me.
It's Pandora's box.
Pandora?
That's a Greek myth about
a jar created by the Gods,
filled with darkness and malice.
Pandora, she was
warned not to open it,
but her curiosity
got the best of her.
She opens it and unleashes
evil upon the world.
What? I read.
Well, that sounds scary.
You have no idea.
But, I am curious.
In this story, am I Pandora?
Enough.
Edgar, please stop with the
stories and just give them what
they want.
You know you should
really listen to your wife.
I can't do that.
Yes, you can. You have to.
They have Taylor.
[mystical music]
No. No, they don't.
(Susan) What are
you talking about?
(Edgar) I explained all of this.
It doesn't make sense!
None of this makes sense!
You're not well.
I wish I knew how to
help you, but I don't.
So, I am going to
help our daughter.
What are you going to do?
I can tell you
about the doodles.
Really?
No, don't!
(Maria) Frank!
You were saying?
I mean, I can tell
you what he told me.
It's ridiculous, but if I tell
you, will you let Taylor go?
It will be like we
never even had her.
Susan, you can't.
You have to trust me.
Don't let him
interrupt us again!
Don't!
Please continue.
He said... Edgar said
he could see the future.
Really?
That's crazy.
Tell me about the drawing.
He sketched the planets
and the solar system.
He said there was a signal
from the stars, from a star.
I think he said
something Centauri.
What about the
numbers on the page?
He said they were trying to
break a code, that it wasn't
binary.
No! Don't!
Quickly, the Proxima code
or Frank snaps it.
What did you say?
You heard me.
Say it again, please.
I said the Proxima code
or Frank snaps it.
This can't be happening.
What is it?
Who wrote this?
Did you write this?
I'm such a fool.
When did you write
this? Tell me!
It's my turn to play
and I'm changing the rules.
Let him go.
So, what's next?
I am asking the questions now.
Where's Taylor? Is she alright?
Honestly, I have no idea.
What do you mean?
I've never even
seen your daughter.
I tried to tell you. I tried.
Susan, we should go. Bring her.
Going somewhere?
(Susan) Who are you?
I've seen you... before.
Where?
In here.
Cool.
Did you
see this?
(Edgar) Get away
from the window.
So, this is the place.
What do you think?
About what?
About the house.
I dunno, it's a house.
Wow.
You have a real way
with words, Frank.
You're a goddamn poet.
Me, I could never live in a
house like this... in the
suburbs.
I mean, what the hell
do you do all day,
bake cookies and
go to PTA meetings?
I'd rather be dead.
Hmm.
(Maria) Do you
think he's in there?
Not if he's smart.
That's just it. Says here,
he's fucking brilliant.
A savant with numbers.
Do you know what a
savant is, Frank?
I dunno... everybody
bleeds the same.
True enough. But, let's not
start with that, okay?
Maybe this doesn't
have to get ugly.
Okay.
Can we do that, Frank?
Frank, are you listening?
Can you do that?
Yeah, I hear you.
Yeah, I can do that.
Good.
Now, let's do it.
(The Kid) Whoa
what about me?
What about you?
What am I supposed to do?
You stay out here and watch
in case someone tries
to leave the house.
Uh uh. I want to go inside, too.
Well, we need you out here.
This is bullshit.
Why did we have
to bring The Kid?
(The Kid) I have a name.
No one cares.
Fuck off, Frank.
Will the two of you shut up!
If I wanted kids, I
would have had them.
Look, I've trained. I'm ready.
Good Lord. The eager beaver
has brought a pop gun.
What the hell are
you doing with that?
It's the Helios.
I know what it is. It's fucking
dangerous and we don't need it.
I like it.
Give it to me.
(The Kid) No.
I don't want to see you or that
gun out of this fucking car.
You're not the boss of me.
(Frank) God.
The hell I'm not.
We work for your father.
Not for you. Do you understand?
Fine.
Look, it's your first OP.
Just... stay here and don't do
anything stupid.
Just don't do anything.
Daddy wouldn't want
you to get hurt.
(Maria) Do you have
to be so damn loud?
(The Kid) Did you... see this?
What the hell are
you doing here?
You guys left me in
the car. I got bored.
- Maria told you to stay in the
car. - I told you not to do
anything.
Quit your moaning, will you?
Looks like I was saving
your ass, anyway.
We had it under control.
Oh, is that what
control looks like?
I tried to tell Maria it was
a mistake to bring a kid.
Whatever, old man.
Look, it's a game of cat
and mouse, all right?
And sometimes you got to
pretend that you're the mouse
to get what you want.
Oh, so you were pretending?
Quit busting my chops.
Look, you know what?
I'm done jawing with you.
Help me pick up Maria
and put her on the couch.
I wouldn't want to be you
when Maria wakes up.
She's gonna be pissed.
- I thought you were done...
- "jawing" with me.
You and me, we're gonna
settle this later.
Why not now?
Because I'm a professional.
Which you wouldn't
know anything about.
I mean, look at you
wearing your sneakers
and playing with your toys.
When the work is
done, we'll dance.
- Awesome. I look forward to it.
- Just, let me know when.
Count on it.
So, what about these two?
Put them in the love seat.
Why do I have to
move both of them?
Because I'm supervising.
Lift with your legs.
God, he's heavier than he looks.
Whatever you say, kid.
Oh! You're all
right. You're okay.
You had a little shut-eye,
that's all. Just breathe.
Slow breaths.
The kid, he was at the door.
He shot us with
the goddamn Helios.
I know, I know.
He's right here if you want
to talk to him about it.
I wasn't aiming for you.
I don't give a flying fuck
who you were aiming at.
I told you to stay in the car.
I gave you an order.
Who the hell do you think
you are to disobey me?
We're not some goddamn amateurs.
We're professionals.
That's just what I said to him.
I don't care who your daddy is.
Out here in the field, there's
a chain of command,
and I'm at the tippy top of it.
You are at the bottom of that
chain, dragging on the ground.
Do you understand?
Yes, ma'am.
Good.
Now give it to me.
Come on.
My head is fucking killing me.
That's it?
What do you want me
to do, shoot him?
Get some water from the kitchen.
We have to wake these two up.
Okay, so what's the plan?
First, we wake them up,
then countdown.
Countdown?
Do you think it'll work?
When hasn't it?
So, what are you thinking,
like... two or three?
My money's on three.
You want the over or the under?
I'm not betting with you.
I know, but, you know,
if you were, I mean
the over or the under?
The over.
Oh.
He's tougher than you think.
That's great.
What the hell is that?
You asked for water.
Do you want to drown them
or maybe just give them a bath?
What should I do?
Bring me a cup.
Leave the bucket.
Don't.
Don't say it.
I'm not saying nothin'.
But, you're thinking it.
Okay, will this do?
Perfect.
Wakey, wakey.
What happened?
What was that... light?
Yeah.
Oh, my head.
Yeah, the headache
afterwards is the worst.
You have the Helios
to thank for that.
The Helios?
You're not that the only
one with a secret, Ed.
What do you think everybody
else is doing at Double Star?
Working with numbers?
There's lots of people that work
there with lots of secret
projects.
But right now, though,
I want to know your secret, Ed.
And, I bet your wife
I mean, ex-wife
wants to hear them, too.
[dreamlike music]
(Edgar) You dropped the eggs.
dropped the eggs.
I can see the future.
(Susan) You said Edgar's
in some trouble.
(Maria) Oh, I'm afraid so.
We have been unable
to reach him.
So, do you know where
we might find him?
What led to your separation?
I'm only asking because
you're in danger.
(Susan) The kettle.
I forgot.
I put water on for tea.
Before you arrived. Would
either of you like some tea?
(Maria) I'm fine.
(Frank) I'd like some.
(Susan) Great. Great.
I'll just be a minute.
It's just me.
Yeah, I know it's you.
Why the hell did you come back?
We have to fulfill
the phos-phecy .
Please stop saying that word.
I thought that I could take you
away before they got here,
and then I thought
that I could run away.
But then I realized
we can't avoid our fate.
Okay, let me get this straight.
You are saying that in
order to survive tonight,
someone needs to
lie on the floor,
there needs to be
a blood sacrifice,
Taylor, who isn't here,
needs to call out somebody's
name, who also isn't here,
Fredo.
And I need to be
blind and dancing.
Yeah.
Is that all?
I need to be laughing.
I don't even know
where to begin.
You should go check on them.
And say what?
Just do it, before
they get suspicious.
Just go.
(Susan) Do you take
sugar with your tea?
(Frank) No.
(Susan) Be right back, then.
This is madness.
What do you expect me to do?
Take this knife.
What? No.
Just take it.
No.
You have to.
It will all come down to this.
I love you.
I hate you.
(Susan) Careful, it's hot and
still needs another minute to
steep.
(Maria) Someone is
going to get hurt.
I bet your wife, I mean ex-wife,
wants to know, too.
Welcome back to the light.
What's going on?
Why is it so bright?
It's okay. It's okay.
I can't see anything.
I'm right here beside you.
(Susan) All I see is
light, where are we?
- We're on the couch.
- We're in our living room.
Is this normal?
This is totally normal.
A common side-effect of
the Helios, it will pass.
Nice job, jackwagon.
Now, everybody focus!
Let's get back to the
reason why we're all here.
We have a game to play and
we're about to start round two,
where the questions are harder
and the prizes are doubled.
Prizes?
It's an expression.
Now, you have
something that I want,
that sheet of paper with the
numbers that mysteriously
vanished.
I don't have it.
So you say and I apologize
if this hurts your feelings,
but I don't believe you.
Edgar is a lot of
things, he is not a liar.
Really?
What did you think he was doing
for a living for the last 12
years?
I'm sorry about that.
We're gonna play a game.
Countdown.
(Edgar) What are the rules?
I'll ask you where the paper is
and you have ten chances to tell
me.
Why ten?
Because that's how many
fingers you have.
Grab the knife.
[ominous music]
I'm ready.
What are they doing?
- It's nothing, it's nothing.
- It's just a game.
What the hell?
You do not have to do this.
I don't think we have a choice.
Let's begin.
First chance.
No, please, I am begging you.
It's okay, it's okay.
There needs to be more blood.
(Susan) Oh, my God.
Enough nonsense.
Where's my paper?
I don't know.
Are you still with us, Ed?
I'm not gonna lie... that hurt
a lot more than I expected.
I think that's enough blood.
Somebody stop this.
No, no, no, no stopping.
You still have nine more chances
to answer my question.
I see you're still wearing
your wedding ring.
We're still married.
For now.
Where's... my... paper?
[a muffled thump]
What the hell was that?
A mouse.
A mouse?
In the attic?
Big mouse.
[upbeat music]
Say that shit again.
I said the Violent Femmes
are my favorite girl band.
You're a fucking idiot.
Wait. Where's your mom?
Where she always
is, at rehearsal.
For Macbeth?
Don't say it out
loud. It's bad luck.
Did you hear that?
No, I don't hear anything.
Look, do you want
to do this or what?
I'm sorry.
Shut up.
What's wrong?
We should form a band.
With who?
Nobody. We don't
need anybody else.
We don't play any instruments.
So what?
You don't need to know how
to play any instruments
to be in a punk band.
It's about your attitude,
you have to be fucking angry.
I'm fucking angry.
Yeah, I'll sing and I'll play
guitar and you'll be on the
drums.
I could do that.
Cool.
Cool.
My boots. My boots.
(Susan) Taylor?
Is that you?
Taylor?
Is that your mother?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
You should say something.
I can't. She thinks I'm at
a fucking math competition.
She can't find you here.
She would kill me.
You quit that weeks ago.
I know. She doesn't.
(Susan) Taylor?
Don't fucking move.
What do we do?
I don't know.
I could go out the window.
You're not going out
the fucking window, okay?
I will think of something.
(Susan) You scared me to death.
(Edgar) You dropped the eggs.
(Susan) Did I?
What the fuck? That's my dad.
I thought he moved out.
He did.
Put your pants on and stay here.
Something strange is going on
and I'm gonna find out what.
Don't leave me.
- That was sarcasm.
- I was being sarcastic.
(Frank) I don't like sarcasm.
(Maria) How would you know,
you can't even spell sarcasm.
- You think you're funny.
- You're not that funny.
All right, Frank, don't get
your trousers in a twist.
You. Come with us.
Let's go and see about
these broken eggs.
[stealthy music]
He was here. Tell me, are there
any weapons in the house?
(Susan) No.
(Maria) Good. That's good.
(Susan) He must have left.
(Maria) What do
you think, Frank?
(Frank) You want to
know what I think?
(Maria) That's why I asked.
(Frank) Sarcasm.
S-A-R-C-A-S-M.
What the hell are you doing?
Oh, I was just getting
some fresh air.
Well, don't.
Who are all those
people downstairs?
I don't fucking know.
[footsteps]
Get under the bed.
[sounds of Frank searching
the other rooms]
What do we do?
Shut up.
He's gonna find us.
Shut up.
What's he looking for?
My dad,
and this.
I think it's important.
Maybe you should
give it to them.
Fuck them.
(Maria) Frank!
(Frank) What?
That was fucking intense.
I need to pee.
Hold it.
[unintelligible voices
from downstairs]
I really need to pee now.
Quiet.
Okay, there's five of them now,
but I can't tell what they're
saying.
They definitely
have my dad, though.
I'm worried about him.
I thought you hated your father.
I mean, yeah, he's strange
and he's never here and stuff,
but, he's still my fucking dad.
I guess.
He used to be cool. I mean
I used to think he was cool.
When I was little.
He used to tell me these stories
when he put me to bed at night.
(Cole) What kind of stories?
Crazy stories.
(Maria) What did you think he
was doing for a living for the
last 12 years?
We could go out the window.
(Maria) We're gonna play a game.
Or...
(Maria) Countdown.
You could come
with me this time.
We can spy together and
find out what's really going on.
Yeah, that sounds dangerous.
Don't be a big baby.
It's not that bad.
I'll protect you.
We can listen from
the top of the stairs.
What's the worst
that could happen?
(Susan) You do not
have to do this.
(Edgar) I don't think
we have a choice.
(Maria) Let's begin.
First chance.
(Susan) No, please,
I am begging you.
(Edgar) It's okay, it's okay.
There needs to be more blood.
(Susan) Oh, my God.
(Maria) Enough nonsense.
Where's my paper?
(Edgar) I don't know.
[Edgar screams]
[intense music]
Stop, stop, stop!
I need to go home.
Through the window?
- No, yes, I mean...
- is there another way?
This is fucking crazy, okay,
we just need to calm down.
We need a plan.
I think I'm having
a panic attack.
You're not having
a panic attack.
I can't breathe. I need air.
No, no, no. Don't leave me
alone, okay? I need your help.
Sorry, I can't be here.
That... that is a 12 foot drop.
I'll just climb down.
I don't want to be
in the band anymore.
Shit!
I don't want to be
in the band anymore.
(Taylor) Shit!
Big mouse.
That was unexpected.
You outside, you upstairs.
I'll watch these two.
This is getting interesting.
Just wait until
the dancing starts.
"Blood will have blood."
What was that?
A threat?
It's Shakespeare and you're
going to regret all of this.
Oh, am I now?
(Susan) Yes.
Big words for a
woman who can't see?
I can see everything.
(Taylor) Let go of me!
Taylor?
Get your fucking hands off me!
Look who I found
hiding upstairs.
I wasn't hiding, you asshole. I
was just hanging out in my room.
Taylor, honey, everything's
going to be okay.
Don't hurt her.
She's fine.
Fuck off.
Were you here this whole time?
It's my house. You're the
one who's been gone.
- No. No, I didn't go.
- Your mom and I, we're just...
It's complicated.
This family drama
is all so touching,
but I'm on the clock
and I have questions.
Who fell out of the window?
What window?
That attitude might impress
the little kids at school,
but we're not at school now.
I don't like spilling
blood, but he does.
So, I'm gonna ask one more time.
Who dropped out of your window?
I don't know what the fuck
you're talking about.
So be it.
What the hell happened to you?
Where's the other one?
He...
He, uh...
Uh...
He, uh...
He got away.
He... he got away?
(Frank) Yeah.
That kid was like
a goddamn gazelle.
I mean, at first, I thought he
must have knocked himself out.
He was just lying on a hedge
out front like a lump of meat.
But as soon as I got near him,
he leapt up and scared
the crap out of me.
The next thing you know, he took
off running, so I chased him,
you know, through some yards
and over a goddamn fence.
Tore my best pants,
and then some old broad started
yelling at me from her window.
The kid's long gone now.
He's probably still running.
He's a goddamn freak.
Whoo!
Oh, oh, so I came back here.
So you lost the target?
- I told you he was fast.
- I mean, that boy's long gone.
I bet you wish you had
some sneakers now.
What did you say?
You know, maybe the
problem wasn't him.
Maybe the problem is that
you are old and slow.
Come on, snake, let's rattle.
What the hell does that mean?
Or was that too slow?
Frank, what the hell
did you just do?
He called me old.
You are old.
Well, I'm not slow.
How am I going to explain this?
I dunno.
All right, we should take
everyone back to Double Star
now.
No, no, no! You can't take them.
And why is that?
This is my fault.
Not theirs.
I wasted so, so much time.
I was obsessed with my work.
I neglected you.
I neglected my family.
And for what
to solve some riddle.
I put you both in danger.
I'm truly, truly sorry.
(Maria) You can end this.
It's not too late.
Tell me what you know.
Tell me... everything.
You're right. You're right.
I'm going to end all this.
I'm going to end all this.
You're both safer without me.
Forgive me.
(Taylor) No!
I have the paper!
What?
I have his notes and I can
explain them to you, okay?
No one has to die.
No, no, Taylor.
Taylor, don't do this.
I don't believe you.
You told the big guy "not to
get his trousers in a twist"
and then you went
searching for my dad.
When you did, I slipped
downstairs and took it.
Well, aren't you the sly one?
Alright,
I'll bite.
Give me the paper.
Put the knife down first.
You're not the one
giving orders here.
You already carved up my
dad like Frodo, okay?
You want the paper,
drop the knife.
What did you just call me?
Frodo.
Nine fingers.
Frodo, of course. [Laughing]
That makes so much more sense.
You're a very strange family.
(Maria) Get me the paper.
Don't do it.
If I give you the paper, do you
promise no one will get hurt?
You have my word.
Taylor, you can't trust her.
Frank!
Either give me
the paper or else,
I'll shoot you all
and find it myself.
I'm not gonna ask again.
Don't you dare
threaten my daughter!
And what are you
gonna do about it?
I'm going to sheathe this knife
in your fucking belly.
That is a hell of an offer,
but you're blind,
and I'm over here.
You can put that knife down.
It's embarrassing.
It's happening.
(Taylor) Mom, Mom,
put the knife down.
You want me to take it from her?
No, it's amusing.
Pathetic, but amusing.
My vision, it's all coming true.
You predicted this.
All of it.
- Don't keep us in suspense.
- How does it end?
For you?
Badly.
I... doubt that.
Come and get me.
Mom, Mom, it's me. She's right
behind me. Be careful.
Have you had enough
of this game?
Oh, fuck.
[climactic music]
I'm not a great liar, but
I'm a damn good actress.
Maria!
Don't move.
You could see this whole time?
That was amazing.
I played that blind woman
in "Wait Until Dark".
Everybody always
underestimates the blind.
Pretty cool, Mom.
Thanks.
Pretty fucking clever.
Can I go to her?
Slowly.
I've seen worse.
Fuck you, Frank.
See you're fixing
for a fight already.
What do we do now?
It's not safe
here. We should go.
Go where?
It doesn't matter where
you run, we'll find you.
I have no doubt you'll try.
We're relentless.
I'm not afraid.
Why is that?
I'll see you coming.
We need to go, now.
This is so fucking punk.
Are you coming?
Are you kidding?
You two wouldn't last
a day without me.
[triumphant music]
So, who was that
hanging out your window?
Really, Mom?
What?
You really want to talk
about this right now?
You're right. You're right.
We'll talk about it later.
This is nice.
Being together like this
a family.
Can you teach me?
To drive?
No, to tell the
future, like you.
Maybe.
So what's gonna happen to us?
The future's not all dark.
It's going to be an adventure.
["The Future's So Bright, I
Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3
plays on the radio.]
[I study nuclear science
I love my classes]
[I got a crazy teacher
He wears dark glasses]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I got a job waitin'
For my graduation]
[Fifty thou a year
Will buy a lotta beer]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[Well I'm heavenly blessed
And worldly wise]
[I'm a peeping Tom techie
With x-ray eyes]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I study nuclear science
I love my classes]
[I got a crazy teacher
He wears dark glasses]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[mysterious sci-fi music]
Do you have to be so damn loud?
You're killing me, Frank.
That's better. You look good.
Professional.
Now, let's do this.
Remember, I'll do the talking.
[doorbell]
[doorbell]
Knock.
[knock knock knock]
Sorry. I just got home,
I was in the kitchen,
and my arms were
full of groceries,
I dropped the eggs, and
how can I help you?
Are you Susan?
Yes.
(Maria) I'm Maria.
This is Frank.
We work at Double Star
Accounting with your husband,
Ed.
Ex.
(Maria) Excuse me?
He's my ex-husband.
We're getting a divorce.
We're separated.
I didn't know.
It's all right.
It's for the best.
Well, we're here because Ed
is in a little bit of trouble.
Is he all right?
Maybe it would better
if we talked inside.
Of course.
It's a bit of a mess, but,
please, come on in.
Sorry, I'm grading essays
on Shakespeare.
I'm also directing
the school play.
It's always a bit of chaos
this time of year.
We're doing "The Scottish Play".
Never heard of it.
Oh, it's just a
silly superstition.
It's what you say instead
of saying "Macbeth."
It's supposed to be bad luck
if you say "Macbeth" out loud.
But you just said it out loud.
True. Uh
I never really believed the
myth, it's just sort of...
tradition.
Please, have a seat.
So, have you seen him recently?
Who?
Your husband, ex-husband, Ed?
No.
Do you know where he is?
At this moment... no.
When did you last see him?
(Susan) When?
Today?
- No, no, not today.
- Last... last week I think.
He was picking up Taylor.
(Maria) Taylor?
(Susan) Our daughter.
Is she here?
We'd love to meet her.
No, Taylor's got
mathletics tonight.
She's a mathlete.
It's a mathematics competition.
Math plus athlete
equals mathlete.
There are teams.
It's actually quite competitive.
Hmm. How fun.
Sorry about that.
So, you both work with
Edgar at Double Star?
Yes.
You work in accounting?
Well, not exactly.
Does he ever talk?
Not much.
He's shy.
You said Edgar's
in some trouble.
(Maria) Ugh, I'm afraid so.
It's probably just
a misunderstanding,
but there's a problem
with some of his numbers.
Some data has gone missing.
And, like I said, it's
probably just an accident and
I'm sure he could
explain it all,
but we have been
unable to reach him.
That doesn't sound like Edgar.
So do you know where
we might find him?
Not really.
Have you noticed any changes
in his behavior lately?
Changes?
I really couldn't say.
Because of the divorce?
Separation.
If you don't mind me asking,
what led to your separation?
That's... personal.
Of course, I understand.
I'm only asking because, well,
I don't know how
else to say it, but
you're in danger.
[tea kettle whistles]
The kettle.
(Susan) I forgot.
I put water on for tea
before you arrived.
Would either of
you like some tea?
I'm fine.
I'd like some.
Great. Great.
I'll just be a minute.
What?
You know what?
I'm thirsty.
This is not going to
be like Black Hill,
or fucking Aperture Labs.
That wasn't my fault.
It's never your fault, Frank.
Just watch the damn kitchen.
Okay.
It's always something
with you, huh?
"I'm thirsty." That's classic.
Wait until they hear that
back at the office.
Do you take sugar with your tea?
No.
Be right back then.
Careful, it's hot.
(Susan) It still needs
another minute to steep.
You were saying something
about danger?
At Double Star accounting,
we work with numbers.
Lots of numbers.
Small numbers. Big numbers.
Private numbers.
Secret numbers.
And we pride ourselves on
being able to keep those secret.
(Maria) It's who we
are. It's what we do.
Ed... works with those numbers.
He's a genius with numbers.
(Maria) In fact, no
one's better than Ed.
He's the best, am I right?
But lately, well,
something's wrong with Ed.
Human resources would say
"mental health issues"
and maybe that's just it.
Maybe he's just
feeling a little down.
After all, he's going
through a divorce.
That can't be easy.
But, I don't think
it's that simple.
I think something
snapped in here.
He's unstable, talking nonsense,
doing crazy things,
and, I worry, for you
and your daughter.
If we don't find him soon
and get him some help,
someone is going to get hurt.
[slurping]
Earl Grey
that's my favorite.
[ominous music]
[two dull thuds]
Taylor?
Is that you?
Taylor?
Are you home?
Taylor?
Oh... you scared me to death.
You dropped the eggs.
Did I?
Are they here?
Is who here?
The others.
- I don't understand.
- It's just you and me, Edgar,
and you shouldn't be here.
It's not your house anymore.
We talked about this, remember?
I remember.
Yeah.
What's going on?
I'm closing the curtains.
- I can see that. - Why are you
closing the curtains?
Oh, we don't have much time.
Are you getting those headaches
again? Cause the doctor said...
No, it's not a headache, okay?
Okay. Calm down.
I'm calm. Where's Taylor?
She's not home.
Are you sure? She
should be home.
Taylor?
See, I told you, she's not here.
What is it?
Something's...
something's different.
Different how?
Really?
It's not your house, Edgar.
You need to go.
(Edgar) Oh, strange.
Get away from the window.
You need to tell
me what's going on.
You're acting weirder than
normal, and you're starting to
freak me out.
We have to go.
It's not safe here.
What the hell are
you talking about?
You're in danger.
We have to go, now.
Hey, let go of me. Let go!
You're scaring me.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I'm just trying
to help you, okay
to save you.
To save me from what?
Double Star Accounting.
You're trying to save
me from your job?
Yeah.
Now, that's funny.
All these years, you have
been obsessed with work,
practically ignoring Taylor and
me, and I have begged you to
change.
And your work was
always more important.
That's not true.
Please leave.
I took something from them.
Well, give it back.
I can't. It's not like that.
What's it like, then?
Explain it to me.
You better sit down for this.
Well?
I lied to you.
(Edgar) I've been lying to you.
I'm not who you think I am.
I'm not an accountant.
I never was.
Double Star isn't
an accounting firm.
We do work with numbers,
just not those kind of numbers.
I'm a cryptologist.
I break codes.
Do you understand?
I did it. I broke
the code, and now,
now I know things,
things I shouldn't know.
What code? The Russians?
No. No.
The code is upstairs
in our bedroom?
No, no.
The stars!
The code's from space.
You know this is crazy. You do
realize how nuts you sound.
No.
Well, you do.
I can explain it.
I can explain it.
- Hey, don't take that.
- That's a student's essay.
I need to grade that.
This is more important.
Damn it.
(Edgar) The Sun,
Mercury,
Venus,
Earth.
That's us.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune.
What about Pluto?
Don't get me started.
Pluto.
This area is the heliosphere.
Voyager 2 is currently
drifting through it, and next,
the Oort Cloud,
just a vast open nothingness.
But, here, on the edge of it,
Alpha Centauri A and B,
a pair of binary stars.
The closest stars to Earth.
Ever since the invention
of the radio telescope,
we've been listening
to them for signs of life,
but all we've ever heard is
static, you know, random noise.
But what if it isn't random?
What if there's a pattern?
We just haven't seen it?
See, everybody is looking
at the numbers,
they're trying to decipher
a sequence in the
binary code, but
there isn't one to be found.
There's a third star
in that cluster.
A tiny, red dwarf,
Alpha Centauri C,
otherwise known as
Proxima Centauri,
hidden in the night sky by the
brightness of her twin sisters.
The code's not binary.
It's trinary.
Trinary?
Yes, see, our
numbers are base ten,
because as luck or
evolution would have it,
we have ten fingers.
But their numbers are base three
because of the three stars.
For example, in trinary,
101 equals 10.
Once you know that,
you have the key to the code.
You can unravel the message.
What's the message?
You know what, do
you want some tea?
Yeah, I'm gonna make tea.
Edgar.
So, I can't believe
I'm gonna say this again,
what's the big message
from the stars?
"The future is a mystery;
it is the strange dark."
That's the message.
No. Albert Einstein said that.
The message is the key
to unlock that mystery.
I can see the future.
What did you say?
I can see the future.
Don't be absurd.
I'm not.
Okay, fine, I'll play
your little game.
How? How do you see the future?
Okay.
You know how when you
close your eyes tight and
you press against them,
you see stars, patterns, right?
Yeah, well, those are
called "phosphenes" and,
well, they're not random.
It's like constellations
in the night sky,
and there are images hidden in
there, flashes of the future.
You just... you have
to know how to look.
And that is what the message
of the stars taught me.
You don't need tea.
You need help.
Professional help.
You don't believe me.
If I told you this whole story,
would you believe me?
Probably.
Okay, fine. Prove it to me.
How?
What am I thinking?
I don't know.
- What am I gonna say next?
- I don't know that either.
Well, what the hell do you know?
It doesn't work like that!
Tell me, how does it work?
It's like deja vu,
but backwards.
See, I close my eyes, and
patterns emerge,
phosphenes, pictures,
except instead of seeing things
that have already happened,
I get glimpses of the future.
A prophecy.
I call it... "phos-phecy".
Well, that's ridiculous.
Well, I'm still
working on the name.
Show me.
Predict something.
Okay.
Is this gonna take long?
(Edgar) Quiet. Quiet.
Okay, I see something.
[mystical music]
There's six of us
right here in the living room.
You, me, Taylor.
I don't recognize the others.
One of them's
lying on the floor.
I think...
Yeah, I think
I think you're blind.
Sort of dancing.
Slow dancing by yourself.
There's
there's blood.
A lot of blood.
Taylor's saying something.
"Fredo."
She's saying, "Fredo."
I'm just laughing.
You saw all that.
Yes.
From the stars?
No, it didn't come
from the stars.
The stars just taught me how to
interpret the images
and predict the future.
When is all this
going to happen?
(Edgar) I don't know.
I'm still learning
how to use it.
What does it all mean?
I don't know that either,
but when this happens,
and it will happen,
everything's gonna be all right.
I can feel it.
Eddie, I don't understand.
I like that.
You like what?
Eddie. When you call me Eddie.
Say it again.
Eddie.
I don't understand any of this.
We need to get you some help.
[car door slams]
Oh, they're here.
Who's here?
- I've run out of time. I didn't
stop it. - Maybe it can't be
stopped.
Who's out there?
Listen, listen, it's too late.
They've come for us,
and now we're all in trouble.
Look, even if all of this were
true, which I do not believe,
but if... why are
Taylor and I in danger?
Don't you understand anything?
You, Taylor, you're all
I love in the world.
If they get you, they get me.
[doorbell]
I don't know what to do.
Okay, I should go.
No.
If they find me, we
don't stand a chance.
This is insane.
[doorbell]
Listen, listen, listen.
You can't let them
know that I was here.
You have to lie.
- No, I can't lie. You know
this. - I'm a terrible liar.
Of course you can. You teach
acting. It's just acting.
[knock knock knock]
What are you doing?
What is this?
This doesn't make any sense.
It will.
(Susan) Sorry, I just got home.
I was in the kitchen,
my arms were full of groceries,
I dropped the eggs and
how can I help you?
(Frank) Earl Grey
that's my favorite.
I'm sorry, what did you say?
I said, Earl Grey
is my favorite.
Thanks, but I was talking to...
Maria. It's Maria.
And, I said, I don't
want anyone to get hurt.
I don't want that either.
Just to be clear, who is it
that's going to get hurt?
Let's not get
ahead of ourselves.
No one has to get
hurt, right, Frank?
[slurping]
As I said earlier, Ed took
something from Double Star.
He even went so far as to
wipe the data from the servers.
And that's not nice.
Have you contacted the police?
The police?
No.
There's no need to
involve the authorities.
They're not gonna help anybody.
We're family at Double Star,
and Ed is part of that family.
If it was a mistake,
and I'm sure it was,
it can be fixed.
It is all so simple, really.
We just need to
get the data back.
We need to find Ed.
You keep saying that.
(Maria) Saying what?
Ed.
You keep calling him Ed.
No one calls him that.
It's Edgar. He hates
when people call him Ed.
Sounds like you
still care about him.
He was my husband.
And we have a child together. Of
course I still care about him.
When Taylor was little,
she was afraid of the dark.
So, Edgar painted stars
on her bedroom ceiling
in glow-in-the-dark paint.
He got paint everywhere.
The stars were totally accurate.
He taught her the
constellations, told her the
stories behind them.
He made nighttime... fun.
How clever.
Well, that was nine years ago.
It's been a long
time since Edgar was
fun.
I think he forgot about us.
I doubt that.
Like I said, it's for the best.
What about Edgar?
Does he think it's for the best?
No.
I think he's... confused.
He needs help.
I agree.
Maybe we can help him together.
I don't know.
So, do you know where he is?
No.
Why don't I believe you?
(Maria) What is this?
- That's my student's essay.
- What are you doing with it?
Not the essay, but
here on the sides.
What are these sketches?
It's nothing.
Sometimes kids doodle.
What about Edgar?
Does he doodle?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
This is taking too long
and it's getting late.
What do you want to
do about the kid?
I've got this, Frank.
What kid?
(Frank) Hey, I'm just saying.
Taylor?
You need to calm down, Susan.
(Susan) Where is my daughter?
See what you did?
- I didn't do anything.
- What are you talking about?
(Maria) One thing.
Where's Taylor?
(Maria) I asked you to do
one goddamn thing.
Let me do the talking.
How hard is that?
You talk too much.
That's the problem.
Will someone tell me
where my fucking daughter is?
Look at that, mama
bear has claws.
I understand, I do, but
one question at a time
and I asked first.
Where's Ed?
Don't think too much and
don't tell me you don't know.
Let's end this, now.
It will be better for everyone.
He's hiding in the kitchen.
Don't hurt him.
Is that what you think of us?
Frank, don't hurt him,
just bring him here.
Is that better?
(Frank) He's not here.
Are you sure?
It's a kitchen, Maria.
There's not many places to hide.
What are you playing at?
No, he was there, I swear.
(Frank) The eggs are broken
all over the floor.
She was telling the
truth about that.
Where's Taylor?
Oh, no, no, no.
We still haven't
answered my question.
(Frank) He's not
in the dishwasher.
Oh, for fuck's sake. You want
to check the freezer, too?
How's he gonna fit in
the freezer, Maria?
You see what I'm working with?
Dumber than a wind-up monkey.
Still, he's my monkey.
That was sarcasm.
I was being sarcastic.
I don't like sarcasm.
How would you know?
You can't even spell sarcasm?
- You think you're funny.
- You're not that funny.
All right, Frank, don't get
your trousers in a twist.
You.
Come with us. Let's go see
about these broken eggs.
He was here.
Tell me, are there any
weapons in the house?
No.
Good.
Very good.
He must have left.
What do you think, Frank?
You want to know what I think?
That's why I asked.
Sarcasm.
S-A-R-C-A-S-M.
You're hysterical.
Well, I think he's
still here somewhere.
Something tells me he wouldn't
leave you alone with us.
[distant thump]
Did you hear that?
I'm on it.
While Frank searches the house,
you and I can go have a little
chat in the living room.
Let's go.
Please.
[Frank begins
searching upstairs]
You're a teacher.
I respect that.
I'm sort of a teacher, too.
I teach people what they
can and can't do.
Are you a good
teacher? I bet you are.
I try to be.
Me, too.
It's important, I think,
to take pride in your work.
And you... are you proud?
You think I'm a monster.
You might be right.
Are you worried about Frank?
He's really very sweet.
Big pit bull, lovable and loyal.
But, he does bite.
Where's Taylor?
You're worried
about your daughter.
Of course you are.
How silly of me.
People worry about
the ones they love.
I should have thought
about that before.
I bet Ed is worried about you.
Frank!
What?
Come here and have a seat.
We've been doing this all wrong.
Ed is going to come to us.
Why is he going to do that?
I'm going to call him.
Do you think Ed
heard me calling him?
No, call him again.
I heard you the first time.
- You are a sneaky one, Ed.
- Where have you been hiding?
Are you all right?
She's peachy. But how come
no one's asking about me?
I broke a nail.
Why don't you come
and join the party?
I'm here now.
I'm who you want.
Let her go.
So, you're a hero now.
I'm no hero.
(Maria) No, definitely not.
What you are, Ed, is a thief
and theft has consequences.
Isn't that right, Frank?
Let's start with
something simple.
Explain to me what
you wrote on this paper.
Where did it go?
Where is it?
Where's what?
It was just here.
Did you take it?
When could I take
it? I was with you.
Frank?
Why would I have it?
I don't know. I just
thought someone had to...
It was you.
You did this.
What did I do?
(Maria) They warned us
back at the office.
They said, "Be careful with Ed.
He's on to something."
What's the phrase they used?
"Expect the unexpected."
That's it. "Expect
the unexpected."
So, how did you do it?
I can't say.
Susan!
You can't say or you won't say.
What's the difference?
Semantics? Is this
all a game to you, Ed?
Are we playing now?
I don't know.
What are the rules?
There are no rules in this game.
We just make them
up as we go along.
That's what makes it fun.
I don't like this game.
How would you know?
We haven't played it yet.
Besides, it's Ed's turn now.
You're up next.
How do I play?
I ask a question, you answer it.
You tell me the truth, you win.
Lie to me and you lose.
Frank's the judge.
Let's play.
You took something from
Double Star Accounting.
Yes.
Data?
(Edgar) Yes.
And you erased all the
data on the servers?
Yes.
Three out of three.
You are good at this game.
But you must have made
a copy of the numbers.
Taken it with you.
Hidden it somewhere.
No.
Don't lie to me.
I work with numbers.
All day. Every day.
And, I like it.
Numbers don't lie.
I don't lie.
So you're telling me
that the data's gone?
No.
So where is our data?
It's all locked up,
in here.
That is good.
I brought a locksmith.
Frank!
Eddie!
Eddie? Eddie?
What did you do?
- Oh, he'll be all right.
- He just needs a minute.
Right, Frank?
I don't know.
Eddie, open your eyes.
Wake up.
Eddie?
Whatever he did, we can
fix it. Make it right.
He's sick. He's been
talking nonsense
strange stories.
He needs help.
See, he's fine.
Frank, help him up.
[grunting]
Are you okay?
I told the truth.
Well, the rules changed,
and I didn't like your answer.
Are you ready for
your next question?
Stop this!
Still not your turn, Susan.
I'm okay. I'm okay.
Shoot.
Why?
Why what?
Why did you do it?
Because, in the wrong
hands, it's dangerous.
And yours are the right hands?
I don't know.
Maybe.
Your wife says you've
been telling fairy tales.
Is that true?
Have you been making up stories?
No.
(Maria) Because I would surely
love to hear one of these tales.
Frank loves a good bedtime
story, don't you, Frank?
It's not enough blood.
What did you say?
Do you even know what it is
that you're trying to get back?
Tell me.
It's Pandora's box.
Pandora?
That's a Greek myth about
a jar created by the Gods,
filled with darkness and malice.
Pandora, she was
warned not to open it,
but her curiosity
got the best of her.
She opens it and unleashes
evil upon the world.
What? I read.
Well, that sounds scary.
You have no idea.
But, I am curious.
In this story, am I Pandora?
Enough.
Edgar, please stop with the
stories and just give them what
they want.
You know you should
really listen to your wife.
I can't do that.
Yes, you can. You have to.
They have Taylor.
[mystical music]
No. No, they don't.
(Susan) What are
you talking about?
(Edgar) I explained all of this.
It doesn't make sense!
None of this makes sense!
You're not well.
I wish I knew how to
help you, but I don't.
So, I am going to
help our daughter.
What are you going to do?
I can tell you
about the doodles.
Really?
No, don't!
(Maria) Frank!
You were saying?
I mean, I can tell
you what he told me.
It's ridiculous, but if I tell
you, will you let Taylor go?
It will be like we
never even had her.
Susan, you can't.
You have to trust me.
Don't let him
interrupt us again!
Don't!
Please continue.
He said... Edgar said
he could see the future.
Really?
That's crazy.
Tell me about the drawing.
He sketched the planets
and the solar system.
He said there was a signal
from the stars, from a star.
I think he said
something Centauri.
What about the
numbers on the page?
He said they were trying to
break a code, that it wasn't
binary.
No! Don't!
Quickly, the Proxima code
or Frank snaps it.
What did you say?
You heard me.
Say it again, please.
I said the Proxima code
or Frank snaps it.
This can't be happening.
What is it?
Who wrote this?
Did you write this?
I'm such a fool.
When did you write
this? Tell me!
It's my turn to play
and I'm changing the rules.
Let him go.
So, what's next?
I am asking the questions now.
Where's Taylor? Is she alright?
Honestly, I have no idea.
What do you mean?
I've never even
seen your daughter.
I tried to tell you. I tried.
Susan, we should go. Bring her.
Going somewhere?
(Susan) Who are you?
I've seen you... before.
Where?
In here.
Cool.
Did you
see this?
(Edgar) Get away
from the window.
So, this is the place.
What do you think?
About what?
About the house.
I dunno, it's a house.
Wow.
You have a real way
with words, Frank.
You're a goddamn poet.
Me, I could never live in a
house like this... in the
suburbs.
I mean, what the hell
do you do all day,
bake cookies and
go to PTA meetings?
I'd rather be dead.
Hmm.
(Maria) Do you
think he's in there?
Not if he's smart.
That's just it. Says here,
he's fucking brilliant.
A savant with numbers.
Do you know what a
savant is, Frank?
I dunno... everybody
bleeds the same.
True enough. But, let's not
start with that, okay?
Maybe this doesn't
have to get ugly.
Okay.
Can we do that, Frank?
Frank, are you listening?
Can you do that?
Yeah, I hear you.
Yeah, I can do that.
Good.
Now, let's do it.
(The Kid) Whoa
what about me?
What about you?
What am I supposed to do?
You stay out here and watch
in case someone tries
to leave the house.
Uh uh. I want to go inside, too.
Well, we need you out here.
This is bullshit.
Why did we have
to bring The Kid?
(The Kid) I have a name.
No one cares.
Fuck off, Frank.
Will the two of you shut up!
If I wanted kids, I
would have had them.
Look, I've trained. I'm ready.
Good Lord. The eager beaver
has brought a pop gun.
What the hell are
you doing with that?
It's the Helios.
I know what it is. It's fucking
dangerous and we don't need it.
I like it.
Give it to me.
(The Kid) No.
I don't want to see you or that
gun out of this fucking car.
You're not the boss of me.
(Frank) God.
The hell I'm not.
We work for your father.
Not for you. Do you understand?
Fine.
Look, it's your first OP.
Just... stay here and don't do
anything stupid.
Just don't do anything.
Daddy wouldn't want
you to get hurt.
(Maria) Do you have
to be so damn loud?
(The Kid) Did you... see this?
What the hell are
you doing here?
You guys left me in
the car. I got bored.
- Maria told you to stay in the
car. - I told you not to do
anything.
Quit your moaning, will you?
Looks like I was saving
your ass, anyway.
We had it under control.
Oh, is that what
control looks like?
I tried to tell Maria it was
a mistake to bring a kid.
Whatever, old man.
Look, it's a game of cat
and mouse, all right?
And sometimes you got to
pretend that you're the mouse
to get what you want.
Oh, so you were pretending?
Quit busting my chops.
Look, you know what?
I'm done jawing with you.
Help me pick up Maria
and put her on the couch.
I wouldn't want to be you
when Maria wakes up.
She's gonna be pissed.
- I thought you were done...
- "jawing" with me.
You and me, we're gonna
settle this later.
Why not now?
Because I'm a professional.
Which you wouldn't
know anything about.
I mean, look at you
wearing your sneakers
and playing with your toys.
When the work is
done, we'll dance.
- Awesome. I look forward to it.
- Just, let me know when.
Count on it.
So, what about these two?
Put them in the love seat.
Why do I have to
move both of them?
Because I'm supervising.
Lift with your legs.
God, he's heavier than he looks.
Whatever you say, kid.
Oh! You're all
right. You're okay.
You had a little shut-eye,
that's all. Just breathe.
Slow breaths.
The kid, he was at the door.
He shot us with
the goddamn Helios.
I know, I know.
He's right here if you want
to talk to him about it.
I wasn't aiming for you.
I don't give a flying fuck
who you were aiming at.
I told you to stay in the car.
I gave you an order.
Who the hell do you think
you are to disobey me?
We're not some goddamn amateurs.
We're professionals.
That's just what I said to him.
I don't care who your daddy is.
Out here in the field, there's
a chain of command,
and I'm at the tippy top of it.
You are at the bottom of that
chain, dragging on the ground.
Do you understand?
Yes, ma'am.
Good.
Now give it to me.
Come on.
My head is fucking killing me.
That's it?
What do you want me
to do, shoot him?
Get some water from the kitchen.
We have to wake these two up.
Okay, so what's the plan?
First, we wake them up,
then countdown.
Countdown?
Do you think it'll work?
When hasn't it?
So, what are you thinking,
like... two or three?
My money's on three.
You want the over or the under?
I'm not betting with you.
I know, but, you know,
if you were, I mean
the over or the under?
The over.
Oh.
He's tougher than you think.
That's great.
What the hell is that?
You asked for water.
Do you want to drown them
or maybe just give them a bath?
What should I do?
Bring me a cup.
Leave the bucket.
Don't.
Don't say it.
I'm not saying nothin'.
But, you're thinking it.
Okay, will this do?
Perfect.
Wakey, wakey.
What happened?
What was that... light?
Yeah.
Oh, my head.
Yeah, the headache
afterwards is the worst.
You have the Helios
to thank for that.
The Helios?
You're not that the only
one with a secret, Ed.
What do you think everybody
else is doing at Double Star?
Working with numbers?
There's lots of people that work
there with lots of secret
projects.
But right now, though,
I want to know your secret, Ed.
And, I bet your wife
I mean, ex-wife
wants to hear them, too.
[dreamlike music]
(Edgar) You dropped the eggs.
dropped the eggs.
I can see the future.
(Susan) You said Edgar's
in some trouble.
(Maria) Oh, I'm afraid so.
We have been unable
to reach him.
So, do you know where
we might find him?
What led to your separation?
I'm only asking because
you're in danger.
(Susan) The kettle.
I forgot.
I put water on for tea.
Before you arrived. Would
either of you like some tea?
(Maria) I'm fine.
(Frank) I'd like some.
(Susan) Great. Great.
I'll just be a minute.
It's just me.
Yeah, I know it's you.
Why the hell did you come back?
We have to fulfill
the phos-phecy .
Please stop saying that word.
I thought that I could take you
away before they got here,
and then I thought
that I could run away.
But then I realized
we can't avoid our fate.
Okay, let me get this straight.
You are saying that in
order to survive tonight,
someone needs to
lie on the floor,
there needs to be
a blood sacrifice,
Taylor, who isn't here,
needs to call out somebody's
name, who also isn't here,
Fredo.
And I need to be
blind and dancing.
Yeah.
Is that all?
I need to be laughing.
I don't even know
where to begin.
You should go check on them.
And say what?
Just do it, before
they get suspicious.
Just go.
(Susan) Do you take
sugar with your tea?
(Frank) No.
(Susan) Be right back, then.
This is madness.
What do you expect me to do?
Take this knife.
What? No.
Just take it.
No.
You have to.
It will all come down to this.
I love you.
I hate you.
(Susan) Careful, it's hot and
still needs another minute to
steep.
(Maria) Someone is
going to get hurt.
I bet your wife, I mean ex-wife,
wants to know, too.
Welcome back to the light.
What's going on?
Why is it so bright?
It's okay. It's okay.
I can't see anything.
I'm right here beside you.
(Susan) All I see is
light, where are we?
- We're on the couch.
- We're in our living room.
Is this normal?
This is totally normal.
A common side-effect of
the Helios, it will pass.
Nice job, jackwagon.
Now, everybody focus!
Let's get back to the
reason why we're all here.
We have a game to play and
we're about to start round two,
where the questions are harder
and the prizes are doubled.
Prizes?
It's an expression.
Now, you have
something that I want,
that sheet of paper with the
numbers that mysteriously
vanished.
I don't have it.
So you say and I apologize
if this hurts your feelings,
but I don't believe you.
Edgar is a lot of
things, he is not a liar.
Really?
What did you think he was doing
for a living for the last 12
years?
I'm sorry about that.
We're gonna play a game.
Countdown.
(Edgar) What are the rules?
I'll ask you where the paper is
and you have ten chances to tell
me.
Why ten?
Because that's how many
fingers you have.
Grab the knife.
[ominous music]
I'm ready.
What are they doing?
- It's nothing, it's nothing.
- It's just a game.
What the hell?
You do not have to do this.
I don't think we have a choice.
Let's begin.
First chance.
No, please, I am begging you.
It's okay, it's okay.
There needs to be more blood.
(Susan) Oh, my God.
Enough nonsense.
Where's my paper?
I don't know.
Are you still with us, Ed?
I'm not gonna lie... that hurt
a lot more than I expected.
I think that's enough blood.
Somebody stop this.
No, no, no, no stopping.
You still have nine more chances
to answer my question.
I see you're still wearing
your wedding ring.
We're still married.
For now.
Where's... my... paper?
[a muffled thump]
What the hell was that?
A mouse.
A mouse?
In the attic?
Big mouse.
[upbeat music]
Say that shit again.
I said the Violent Femmes
are my favorite girl band.
You're a fucking idiot.
Wait. Where's your mom?
Where she always
is, at rehearsal.
For Macbeth?
Don't say it out
loud. It's bad luck.
Did you hear that?
No, I don't hear anything.
Look, do you want
to do this or what?
I'm sorry.
Shut up.
What's wrong?
We should form a band.
With who?
Nobody. We don't
need anybody else.
We don't play any instruments.
So what?
You don't need to know how
to play any instruments
to be in a punk band.
It's about your attitude,
you have to be fucking angry.
I'm fucking angry.
Yeah, I'll sing and I'll play
guitar and you'll be on the
drums.
I could do that.
Cool.
Cool.
My boots. My boots.
(Susan) Taylor?
Is that you?
Taylor?
Is that your mother?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
You should say something.
I can't. She thinks I'm at
a fucking math competition.
She can't find you here.
She would kill me.
You quit that weeks ago.
I know. She doesn't.
(Susan) Taylor?
Don't fucking move.
What do we do?
I don't know.
I could go out the window.
You're not going out
the fucking window, okay?
I will think of something.
(Susan) You scared me to death.
(Edgar) You dropped the eggs.
(Susan) Did I?
What the fuck? That's my dad.
I thought he moved out.
He did.
Put your pants on and stay here.
Something strange is going on
and I'm gonna find out what.
Don't leave me.
- That was sarcasm.
- I was being sarcastic.
(Frank) I don't like sarcasm.
(Maria) How would you know,
you can't even spell sarcasm.
- You think you're funny.
- You're not that funny.
All right, Frank, don't get
your trousers in a twist.
You. Come with us.
Let's go and see about
these broken eggs.
[stealthy music]
He was here. Tell me, are there
any weapons in the house?
(Susan) No.
(Maria) Good. That's good.
(Susan) He must have left.
(Maria) What do
you think, Frank?
(Frank) You want to
know what I think?
(Maria) That's why I asked.
(Frank) Sarcasm.
S-A-R-C-A-S-M.
What the hell are you doing?
Oh, I was just getting
some fresh air.
Well, don't.
Who are all those
people downstairs?
I don't fucking know.
[footsteps]
Get under the bed.
[sounds of Frank searching
the other rooms]
What do we do?
Shut up.
He's gonna find us.
Shut up.
What's he looking for?
My dad,
and this.
I think it's important.
Maybe you should
give it to them.
Fuck them.
(Maria) Frank!
(Frank) What?
That was fucking intense.
I need to pee.
Hold it.
[unintelligible voices
from downstairs]
I really need to pee now.
Quiet.
Okay, there's five of them now,
but I can't tell what they're
saying.
They definitely
have my dad, though.
I'm worried about him.
I thought you hated your father.
I mean, yeah, he's strange
and he's never here and stuff,
but, he's still my fucking dad.
I guess.
He used to be cool. I mean
I used to think he was cool.
When I was little.
He used to tell me these stories
when he put me to bed at night.
(Cole) What kind of stories?
Crazy stories.
(Maria) What did you think he
was doing for a living for the
last 12 years?
We could go out the window.
(Maria) We're gonna play a game.
Or...
(Maria) Countdown.
You could come
with me this time.
We can spy together and
find out what's really going on.
Yeah, that sounds dangerous.
Don't be a big baby.
It's not that bad.
I'll protect you.
We can listen from
the top of the stairs.
What's the worst
that could happen?
(Susan) You do not
have to do this.
(Edgar) I don't think
we have a choice.
(Maria) Let's begin.
First chance.
(Susan) No, please,
I am begging you.
(Edgar) It's okay, it's okay.
There needs to be more blood.
(Susan) Oh, my God.
(Maria) Enough nonsense.
Where's my paper?
(Edgar) I don't know.
[Edgar screams]
[intense music]
Stop, stop, stop!
I need to go home.
Through the window?
- No, yes, I mean...
- is there another way?
This is fucking crazy, okay,
we just need to calm down.
We need a plan.
I think I'm having
a panic attack.
You're not having
a panic attack.
I can't breathe. I need air.
No, no, no. Don't leave me
alone, okay? I need your help.
Sorry, I can't be here.
That... that is a 12 foot drop.
I'll just climb down.
I don't want to be
in the band anymore.
Shit!
I don't want to be
in the band anymore.
(Taylor) Shit!
Big mouse.
That was unexpected.
You outside, you upstairs.
I'll watch these two.
This is getting interesting.
Just wait until
the dancing starts.
"Blood will have blood."
What was that?
A threat?
It's Shakespeare and you're
going to regret all of this.
Oh, am I now?
(Susan) Yes.
Big words for a
woman who can't see?
I can see everything.
(Taylor) Let go of me!
Taylor?
Get your fucking hands off me!
Look who I found
hiding upstairs.
I wasn't hiding, you asshole. I
was just hanging out in my room.
Taylor, honey, everything's
going to be okay.
Don't hurt her.
She's fine.
Fuck off.
Were you here this whole time?
It's my house. You're the
one who's been gone.
- No. No, I didn't go.
- Your mom and I, we're just...
It's complicated.
This family drama
is all so touching,
but I'm on the clock
and I have questions.
Who fell out of the window?
What window?
That attitude might impress
the little kids at school,
but we're not at school now.
I don't like spilling
blood, but he does.
So, I'm gonna ask one more time.
Who dropped out of your window?
I don't know what the fuck
you're talking about.
So be it.
What the hell happened to you?
Where's the other one?
He...
He, uh...
Uh...
He, uh...
He got away.
He... he got away?
(Frank) Yeah.
That kid was like
a goddamn gazelle.
I mean, at first, I thought he
must have knocked himself out.
He was just lying on a hedge
out front like a lump of meat.
But as soon as I got near him,
he leapt up and scared
the crap out of me.
The next thing you know, he took
off running, so I chased him,
you know, through some yards
and over a goddamn fence.
Tore my best pants,
and then some old broad started
yelling at me from her window.
The kid's long gone now.
He's probably still running.
He's a goddamn freak.
Whoo!
Oh, oh, so I came back here.
So you lost the target?
- I told you he was fast.
- I mean, that boy's long gone.
I bet you wish you had
some sneakers now.
What did you say?
You know, maybe the
problem wasn't him.
Maybe the problem is that
you are old and slow.
Come on, snake, let's rattle.
What the hell does that mean?
Or was that too slow?
Frank, what the hell
did you just do?
He called me old.
You are old.
Well, I'm not slow.
How am I going to explain this?
I dunno.
All right, we should take
everyone back to Double Star
now.
No, no, no! You can't take them.
And why is that?
This is my fault.
Not theirs.
I wasted so, so much time.
I was obsessed with my work.
I neglected you.
I neglected my family.
And for what
to solve some riddle.
I put you both in danger.
I'm truly, truly sorry.
(Maria) You can end this.
It's not too late.
Tell me what you know.
Tell me... everything.
You're right. You're right.
I'm going to end all this.
I'm going to end all this.
You're both safer without me.
Forgive me.
(Taylor) No!
I have the paper!
What?
I have his notes and I can
explain them to you, okay?
No one has to die.
No, no, Taylor.
Taylor, don't do this.
I don't believe you.
You told the big guy "not to
get his trousers in a twist"
and then you went
searching for my dad.
When you did, I slipped
downstairs and took it.
Well, aren't you the sly one?
Alright,
I'll bite.
Give me the paper.
Put the knife down first.
You're not the one
giving orders here.
You already carved up my
dad like Frodo, okay?
You want the paper,
drop the knife.
What did you just call me?
Frodo.
Nine fingers.
Frodo, of course. [Laughing]
That makes so much more sense.
You're a very strange family.
(Maria) Get me the paper.
Don't do it.
If I give you the paper, do you
promise no one will get hurt?
You have my word.
Taylor, you can't trust her.
Frank!
Either give me
the paper or else,
I'll shoot you all
and find it myself.
I'm not gonna ask again.
Don't you dare
threaten my daughter!
And what are you
gonna do about it?
I'm going to sheathe this knife
in your fucking belly.
That is a hell of an offer,
but you're blind,
and I'm over here.
You can put that knife down.
It's embarrassing.
It's happening.
(Taylor) Mom, Mom,
put the knife down.
You want me to take it from her?
No, it's amusing.
Pathetic, but amusing.
My vision, it's all coming true.
You predicted this.
All of it.
- Don't keep us in suspense.
- How does it end?
For you?
Badly.
I... doubt that.
Come and get me.
Mom, Mom, it's me. She's right
behind me. Be careful.
Have you had enough
of this game?
Oh, fuck.
[climactic music]
I'm not a great liar, but
I'm a damn good actress.
Maria!
Don't move.
You could see this whole time?
That was amazing.
I played that blind woman
in "Wait Until Dark".
Everybody always
underestimates the blind.
Pretty cool, Mom.
Thanks.
Pretty fucking clever.
Can I go to her?
Slowly.
I've seen worse.
Fuck you, Frank.
See you're fixing
for a fight already.
What do we do now?
It's not safe
here. We should go.
Go where?
It doesn't matter where
you run, we'll find you.
I have no doubt you'll try.
We're relentless.
I'm not afraid.
Why is that?
I'll see you coming.
We need to go, now.
This is so fucking punk.
Are you coming?
Are you kidding?
You two wouldn't last
a day without me.
[triumphant music]
So, who was that
hanging out your window?
Really, Mom?
What?
You really want to talk
about this right now?
You're right. You're right.
We'll talk about it later.
This is nice.
Being together like this
a family.
Can you teach me?
To drive?
No, to tell the
future, like you.
Maybe.
So what's gonna happen to us?
The future's not all dark.
It's going to be an adventure.
["The Future's So Bright, I
Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3
plays on the radio.]
[I study nuclear science
I love my classes]
[I got a crazy teacher
He wears dark glasses]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I got a job waitin'
For my graduation]
[Fifty thou a year
Will buy a lotta beer]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[Well I'm heavenly blessed
And worldly wise]
[I'm a peeping Tom techie
With x-ray eyes]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I study nuclear science
I love my classes]
[I got a crazy teacher
He wears dark glasses]
[Things are goin' great
And they're only gettin' better]
[I'm doin' all right
Gettin' good grades]
[The future's so bright
I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]
[I gotta wear shades]