Traumatika (2024) Movie Script
1
911,
what's your emergency?
My mommy.
She scares me at night.
- Okay. What's your name,
sweetie?
- Mikey.
- Where are you, Mikey?
- I'm under the table.
- Did Mommy hurt you?
Is she in the house with you?
Are you hiding?
Are you alone?
Where is your mommy, Mikey?
I don't know.
Mommy is a monster.
- I want you to stay hidden,
okay?
Can you do that for me?
We got people on the way,
sweetie, okay?
Don't worry. We're gonna get
to you, just stay hidden, okay?
Mikey, I need you
to say something.
- It was just a little
jokey joke.
It was just
a joke.
I'm sorry
I'm so sorry.
Please don't be mad at Mommy.
Aren't you happy?
I know what's wrong with you.
You're lonesome.
I'll get you a little playmate.
- The child is believed to have
been abducted from his home
over nine months ago.
This is the fourth child
abduction in the past
12 months in the Los Angeles
County area.
The mother asks that if anyone
has any information at all,
to please come forward
and report it
to the proper authorities.
- If anyone out there
is watching this.
Please bring my baby back.
Mikey,
Mommy loves you so much.
I love you so much.
- Hello? Sheriff's--
Shh!
Now you're gonna go and hide
really well.
And you're not gonna
make a sound.
And if I hear anything
or see anything,
the monster will come
and get you.
Now run!
Hello?
Sheriff's department.
Open up!
- Yes?
- Hello, ma'am.
How are you doing?
We got a 911 call earlier.
It seemed like it was coming
from your house.
I just wanted to check on you,
that everything's okay.
- Well, everything's fine,
officer.
Well, the lights and the banging
kind of scared me.
- Are you alone in the house?
Is there anybody else
here with you?
- I'm alone.
- You mind if I come inside
to take a look?
- Actually, I do mind.
I was in the middle of something
and then I'm gonna
go to bed, so....
- It's only going
to take a minute.
I just want to make sure
everything's fine
and I'll be on my way.
- Don't you need a warrant
for that?
- Actually, I don't.
Please step away
from the door, ma'am.
- Fine.
- You said you live alone,
right?
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you have any children
in the house?
Ma'am.
Oh, fuck.
Ma'am.
Hello?
Come here,
little boy!
Come here!
- Dispatch, I need
another deputy.
I need backup.
Alright, 10-4.
Hello?
Anybody out here?
Show yourself.
Sheriff's department.
Sheriff's department.
- Possible child abuse.
- Hurry up.
Something's wrong here.
I have found a tub
full of blood.
We're gonna play
hide and seek.
Ready or not, here I come!
- Ma'am.
I will shoot you.
Ma'am?
Are you trying to scare me?
I swear to God.
Don't jump at me
or pull any shit like that.
I will fucking smoke you!
I'm going to come down
to the basement.
If you're in there,
you lay flat on the ground.
Put your hands
where I can see them.
Jesus Christ.
I think I found
potential victims here.
I see three small bodies.
They look like children, man.
Where's the fucking backup?
Oh my God.
Ahh!
Mommy?
- The child is in the house.
The child--
- Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic voice
message system.
At the tone,
please record your message.
- Charlotte,
just pick up the phone, okay?
We can work this out.
I just want to talk.
That's all I want to do,
is just talk to you.
Please, pick up the phone.
Charlotte, I know you're there.
Pick up the phone, will you?
Just pick it up!
Okay. You know what? Forget it.
Just fuck you, fucking bitch!
Fuck you.
John, do you have it?
- Yeah, I have it.
- Don't mess with it.
I got a bad feeling about it.
It just feels weird.
There's people saying
stuff online.
It's creepy.
They say that there's, um...
a portal for some demon
to come out if you
take off its head.
- I'm a God-fearing man,
but I don't believe in this
pagan bullshit.
- Okay, okay, great.
But don't mess with it anyway,
right?
They need it intact.
They don't want it
to be touched.
It's 50K. I need the money.
- Are you fucking kidding me?
You don't think I need
the money, too?
This divorce is costing me
a fucking fortune.
My ex-wife is trying
to steal my girls away from me.
That is not gonna happen.
- Are your girls with you?
- How is that any
of your fucking business?
- Because they said
specifically,
keep it away from children.
Listen.
They're saying there's a demon,
a dark entity called Volpaazu
that possesses people.
Volpaazu preys on children.
Your girls...
to abuse them,
to sacrifice them
or turn them into demons.
And then they say it spreads.
Spreads like a disease.
What kind of people
want this type of artifact?
I don't get it.
- Come on, you really believe
in this bullshit?
It's just a stupid artifact
from Africa or something.
- Okay, John, but you're not
going to open it, right?
Right, John?
You're not gonna open it, John,
though, right?
Hello?
Hello?
John?
John, please!
- I'll call you back.
- John. You're not going
to open it, right?
Please, Jo--
- Ah...
Hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Ho de ho de ho
She messed around with
a bloke named Smokey
She loved him
Minnie the Moocher
She was a red hot
hoochie-coocher
- Alice, time to go to bed.
It's past your bedtime, okay?
- Can I stay five more minutes?
- Nope. Nope.
- Okay, Dad.
- Alright. Good night.
Ho de ho de ho
Hi de hi de hi de
Hi de hi de hi de
Hee de hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Hi de hi de
Hi de hi de hi de
Hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Ho de ho de ho
She messed around with
a bloke named Smokey
She loved him
though he was...
You shouldn't hide
that face of yours.
He took her down...
It's beautiful.
Stop.
Shh...
Don't want to wake your sister.
You're gonna be a good girl.
- Yes. Yes.
- Yes, who?
- Yes, Daddy.
- That's right.
Don't tell your mother
about this.
Your sister either.
They wouldn't understand.
It's just our little secret.
You have to promise me.
You won't tell anybody.
Might make the monster come out.
Hey, what's up?
- Is Abigail with you?
- No, why?
- I, uh, she-she left the house,
and I don't know why.
- What do you mean
she left the house?
- I don't remember anything
about last night.
I-I had a few drinks.
- Ugh, of course,
you had a few--
- I got up this morning,
and she was gone.
- Oh, what the fuck?
You fucking drunk!
What do you mean, she's gone?
What about Alice?
How's Alice ? Is she okay?
- Yeah, yeah. She's fine.
She doesn't know
where Abigail is either.
- Okay. All right,
all right, okay.
Do you think she could've
gone to your parents' house?
- What, are you kidding?
- Why not?
- My parents' house?
That house that burned down,
like, 20 years ago?
No, it's all the way
across town.
Look... It's nothing.
- What do you mean,
it's nothing?
I... Maybe I said something
to upset her.
- Oh, God.
- Something like that,
I don't know.
She'll turn up. She's fine.
Trust me. She'll turn up.
- Listen, John,
I'm coming over right now.
- Yeah, okay.
Fuck.
Abigail, where the fuck are you?
Abi,
is that you?
Are you okay?
Where are you?
- Something happened.
I can't come home.
- You can tell me.
- You wouldn't believe me.
No one will believe me.
I'm so sorry.
- Please come back home.
- I can't.
I need to see somebody
at church.
- I miss you.
- Don't come look for me, okay?
I love you.
- Good morning!
Good morning!
Good morning!
- What have you done?!
He chose you, Abigail.
You betrayed him.
- No.
- Oh, yes.
You killed his child.
You ruined yourself.
Now...
You're going to have to pay.
Sit down!
He chose you to be his handmaid.
But you fucked up.
Now you're useless to him.
- Fuck you.
- Oh.
So sweet.
I think we're past that.
Yeah. Relax. Okay.
Just relax.
How does that feel?
He'll just take Alice
instead of you.
It's just a matter of time
before he develops
a secret love for her too.
He'll pay her a little
late-night visit,
just like he did with you.
Please, no.
Please leave Alice alone.
I'll do anything
you want me to do.
I'm begging you.
- A boy.
He wants a little boy, Abigail.
You killed his child.
So you're just gonna have
to find another one.
- Honey, honey.
Come drink some water. Okay?
I want to see you drink. Okay.
Okay. Okay, go have fun. Okay?
See, I love him so much.
He's so easy, the best baby.
Yeah, I know.
I know, I was telling you,
I need to study,
I need silence, but, like...
No. Thankfully,
this kid is amazing.
The other two,
the little rascals,
they're demons, they always
tell their mom like...
Yeah, I still have, like,
three more hours here
or something.
It's so chill.
- Hello?
Hello?
- Bobby?
- He wasn't the one.
- What have I done?
- What a disappointment.
He wasn't different.
He wasn't special.
- How do you know?
- He wasn't drawn
to the darkness.
You're going to have
to keep looking.
- I can't keep doing this.
- There's a boy
on Craner Street.
He likes to play
outside of his house
late in the afternoons.
He'll be the one.
- I can't.
- Oh... yes, you can.
Yes, you can, Abigail.
Then he'd
better be the one.
- The child is in the house.
The child is--
Are you okay?
I'm sorry, mister.
- I did this for you!
Look at what
you're making me do!
I just wanted to protect you.
Wanted to protect you from all
the awful things that I know
he wants to do to you.
The things he did to the others.
But I can't keep up
with his appetite.
I can't do it anymore.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Shh, shh, shh!
He's here.
I'm in hell forever.
- You're going to make
it home, Mikey, okay?
You'll make it home.
I'm going to find you.
We're going to find you.
In a shocking
turn of events,
police have made
a grim discovery
at a residence on Maple Street.
Earlier today,
authorities responded
to a distress call
at a Pasadena home.
Inside the residence,
they discovered
the lifeless body
of Abigail Reed,
who appeared to have died
from self-inflicted
gunshot wound.
The tragic incident has left
the community in shock.
Sheriff Miller,
the first to be
dispatched to the scene
after the 911 call,
was found dead at the scene
as well.
The story takes
an even darker turn.
Abigail Reed is also now
the prime suspect
in the recent and horrifying
kidnapping and killing
of three children.
The victims, who had been
missing for several months
were found dead in the basement
of the residence.
Their disappearance
has sent the community--
...found alive at the scene.
His identity remains
unknown for the moment,
but authorities believe
it could be Mikey,
one of the missing boys
who had been gone for 18 months.
The motive behind
the kidnappings,
the suicide of Abigail Reed,
and the circumstances--
- You look nervous.
Don't worry, you'll be okay.
Okay. That's good.
- We're rolling.
Three, two, one, action.
- She grew up
with absolute evil.
Shared bunk beds
with the most infamous
child abductor
our nation has ever seen.
And she witnessed her sister
become the center
of one of the most
disturbing cases in America.
20 years later, she decided
to share her story with us
in one of the most
compelling books
we've ever featured
on this show.
From family trauma
to New York Times bestseller,
she's here to promote
her new book,
Mommy Monster.
I'm Jennifer Novak,
and this is a conversation
with Alice Reed.
Alice, welcome to our show.
Thank you for being
with us tonight.
- Thank you for having me,
Jennifer. It's a pleasure.
- Let's talk about your book.
Maybe you can start by giving
a little bit of context
to our audience members
that are not familiar
with the Pasadena murders.
- Of course. In 2003,
my older sister Abigail
committed suicide.
We didn't know at the time,
but her death was linked
to a very public investigation,
so it was all over
the news for months.
It changed our family forever,
and it was the most traumatic
experience of my life.
So she was
your sister.
Were you close?
We were pretty close,
growing up.
She was born with a cleft lip...
Allegedly, my sister
kidnapped four young boys.
They said she killed them.
As you know, only one survived.
I believe the note
is referring to him.
- Mikey.
- That is correct.
- So if he's watching
this interview,
what would you like
to say to him?
- I guess I would want him
to know that...
I am very sorry
for what he went through.
And I think of him often.
I, I hope that he can get better
and find happiness.
I-I truly wish him all the best.
At the end
of the book,
you share some
interesting statistics
about childhood trauma.
- Yes.
They said she
was probably the one
who spoke in that voice.
She kept calling
from time to time.
One night, she told me that
she heard voices in her head.
Hey, are you watching?
Voices who told her--
I can't believe this.
I never should have
gone on the show.
Urban Legends Online
says she was possessed--
- Because she's using my sister
for her Halloween special
Like she was
Freddy fucking Krueger!
The Pasadena
Murders. Evil Unveiled.
I'm just worried, I guess.
I mean, I'm already
getting death threats
from people because
of writing this book,
and now this interview
is making me look like I'm...
...the Pasadena
Murders. Evil Unveiled.
- They're missing the point.
No. It's okay.
Alex, I said it's okay.
Seriously, I don't want you
to come all the way over here.
Besides, I'm not in the mood.
Somebody is at the door.
Okay, I'll call you back.
Trick or treat!
- Hey, you guys look great!
Happy Halloween.
- I failed Mikey as a mother.
It's all my fault.
I just wish I could make it
all go away.
Erase those horrific images
from his mind.
From his dreams.
All those memories.
I wish I could bring
my Mikey back.
- My name is Doctor
Elliot Morrison.
I'm Mikey's psychiatrist.
We know very little about what
Mikey endured in that house,
but one thing is for sure,
he suffers from severe PTSD.
The worst I've ever seen,
especially in someone his age.
- He would just stand or sit
and not say anything.
I tried many times to go to him,
try to make him talk.
Talk to me.
He didn't want
to share anything.
Tried to show him I was,
I was here for him.
But he would just be...
He would just be numb.
Numb, like I'm a stranger.
Like I was...
not his mother.
- Naomi Surprise
his real mother.
Mikey considers
Abigail Reed to be his moth,
despite her death.
This is a perfect example
of what is known
as the Stockholm Syndrome,
where the victim empathizes
with his abuser.
- These are the things
he would draw.
He would just draw.
Draw monsters.
This is supposed to be me.
What is all this?
- What's particularly
compelling about this
is Mikey's obsession
with the three
children's bodies,
which were found
in the basement.
Did he have previous
interactions with any of them,
or did he just know them
as dead children?
We don't really know.
In any case,
these drawings indicate
that Mikey developed a morbid
bond with these children.
You can see in this drawing...
he considers himself
one of them.
- He became the darkest,
darkest soul.
Why did she hurt him?
Why my boy?
- Abigail Reed
was possessed by a demon.
I know it,
because it's her father's fault.
John Reed.
He had an artifact
that had a demon
living inside it.
I told him not to open it,
and he did.
And now it's out.
It's out there.
It's out there.
- Hi. You okay?
Did your friends
take your candy?
I got you.
Stay safe out there.
- At the end of the book,
you share some
interesting statistics
about childhood trauma.
- Yes. Research shows
that around 60%
of the general population
has had at least one
adverse childhood experience.
That is a traumatic event
that happens to a person
before they are 17 years of age.
However, that number
goes up to 97%
among the criminal population.
Therefore, I believe
that children who were
traumatized in youth
deserve extra care and support
when they become adults.
- So do you believe
Mikey could be dangerous.
- Hello?
If this is a prank, fuck off.
Abigail?
He's going
to hear me!
Dad raped me.
He put a monster
inside of me, Alice!
- There's a monster-like
figure in the basement
with the three corpses.
We consider this monster
to be a figment
of Mikey's imagination.
Hey.
Hey, what's wrong?
Where are your parents?
Talk to me.
Mikey?
Why are you here, Mikey?
You can't just come
to my house like this.
You understand?
Look, I'm going to call someone
to take you home, okay?
- You're not safe anymore.
- What do you mean?
- It's out there again.
And my mommy,
she can't protect you.
- You mean Abigail?
She can't
protect you.
- Protect me from what?
- I have these thoughts.
Dark thoughts.
And they want me
to do terrible things.
Because it says I'm the one.
- Who says you're the one?
- But I don't want to.
I don't want to be the one.
I don't want to be
the chosen one.
- Chosen for what?
- The darkness.
- It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
- You're not safe anymore.
My mommy...
She was innocent.
It wasn't her fault.
- I know, Mikey.
I know.
- Can you be my mommy?
- I'm sorry, I, I can't,
but we're going to get you
some help, okay?
We're going to take care of you.
- Please.
- I want you to just go home.
Okay?
- Please. Please.
- Mikey.
Mikey, please let me go.
Mikey, let me go.
I'm gonna need you
to let me go, let me go!
You need to leave
or I'm calling the police.
I'm sorry for what happened
to you, but you need to get out.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry I brought it here.
- Brought... Brought what?
- Thank you for joining us
for our explosive
Halloween episode.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Now, remember, tonight,
lock all your doors,
'cause all sorts of evil
lurks in the darkness.
Happy Hallow--
Okay.
Alice, look,
I know you didn't
want to see me tonight,
but I just want
to check on you, okay?
It's... It's a tough night
for you,
and I just want to let
you know that I'm here.
Um... You know, I'm...
I'm not going to stay too long,
and, uh,
I just want to check on you,
and then whenever you want me
to go, I'll just go home
and, uh...
The fuck is that?
Hello?
Yo. Who's there?
Alice?
Uh, I saw you.
You seem a little old
to be trick-or-treating,
dude.
- Hey, Jen.
Oh, my God,
I'm so sorry about Alice.
- I know, can you believe it?
I mean, she's on the show,
and then the boyfriend's dead.
Stabbed to death?
I mean, come on!
Poor thing.
Cha-ching for us!
This is a fucking
ratings bonanza.
I mean, it had
to be Mikey, right?
Who else could it be?
And guess what?
You know, when I was talking
to Jim and he said
he has footage
bringing that guy out,
and it was pretty gory.
So I want you
to get on the phone,
I want you to get Alice
in there immediately.
Do whatever you need to do.
Wine her, dine her, woo her.
Hell, we will pay her double.
I want her ass
in the studio right away.
I want her to go
and get the full account
of what happened.
She was there, right?
Wasn't she there
when they carried him out?
I mean, we are on
a ratings bonanza,
and I want to ride this wave.
So, listen, you get on
the horn right now,
and you get Alice in the studio.
I want her there immediately.
I'm not having anybody
scoop me on this.
So remember, remember,
your future on this show
depends on your getting her ass
into the studio right now.
You got it?
- Of course.
- I want information
by the time I get in there.
And I'll be there soon. Out.
- Yeah. Okay. Get on it.
Thanks.
Hello?
Guys, what's going on?
Diana?
- Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic
voice message system.
Jennifer!
It's him.
He killed everybody.
- What? What's going on?
- He killed everyone.
- Who?
- He's still here.
You have to hide.
- What the fuck?
- No, no, no!
- Please, please, please.
Please, please, please.
Please.
Ahh!
Please don't do this.
Fuck you!
911,
what's your emergency?
- This is Jennifer Novak.
I'm at the studio.
He's killed everyone.
I got, I think I got him.
I think I--
And he killed every--
- Mikey, stop!
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to be the one.
I'll be your mommy.
I'll be your mommy.
I'll take care of you.
You don't have to be
alone anymore.
Okay?
Now, put the knife down.
It's okay.
It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna be okay.
- You're available
for an interview tomorrow?
911,
what's your emergency?
My mommy.
She scares me at night.
- Okay. What's your name,
sweetie?
- Mikey.
- Where are you, Mikey?
- I'm under the table.
- Did Mommy hurt you?
Is she in the house with you?
Are you hiding?
Are you alone?
Where is your mommy, Mikey?
I don't know.
Mommy is a monster.
- I want you to stay hidden,
okay?
Can you do that for me?
We got people on the way,
sweetie, okay?
Don't worry. We're gonna get
to you, just stay hidden, okay?
Mikey, I need you
to say something.
- It was just a little
jokey joke.
It was just
a joke.
I'm sorry
I'm so sorry.
Please don't be mad at Mommy.
Aren't you happy?
I know what's wrong with you.
You're lonesome.
I'll get you a little playmate.
- The child is believed to have
been abducted from his home
over nine months ago.
This is the fourth child
abduction in the past
12 months in the Los Angeles
County area.
The mother asks that if anyone
has any information at all,
to please come forward
and report it
to the proper authorities.
- If anyone out there
is watching this.
Please bring my baby back.
Mikey,
Mommy loves you so much.
I love you so much.
- Hello? Sheriff's--
Shh!
Now you're gonna go and hide
really well.
And you're not gonna
make a sound.
And if I hear anything
or see anything,
the monster will come
and get you.
Now run!
Hello?
Sheriff's department.
Open up!
- Yes?
- Hello, ma'am.
How are you doing?
We got a 911 call earlier.
It seemed like it was coming
from your house.
I just wanted to check on you,
that everything's okay.
- Well, everything's fine,
officer.
Well, the lights and the banging
kind of scared me.
- Are you alone in the house?
Is there anybody else
here with you?
- I'm alone.
- You mind if I come inside
to take a look?
- Actually, I do mind.
I was in the middle of something
and then I'm gonna
go to bed, so....
- It's only going
to take a minute.
I just want to make sure
everything's fine
and I'll be on my way.
- Don't you need a warrant
for that?
- Actually, I don't.
Please step away
from the door, ma'am.
- Fine.
- You said you live alone,
right?
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you have any children
in the house?
Ma'am.
Oh, fuck.
Ma'am.
Hello?
Come here,
little boy!
Come here!
- Dispatch, I need
another deputy.
I need backup.
Alright, 10-4.
Hello?
Anybody out here?
Show yourself.
Sheriff's department.
Sheriff's department.
- Possible child abuse.
- Hurry up.
Something's wrong here.
I have found a tub
full of blood.
We're gonna play
hide and seek.
Ready or not, here I come!
- Ma'am.
I will shoot you.
Ma'am?
Are you trying to scare me?
I swear to God.
Don't jump at me
or pull any shit like that.
I will fucking smoke you!
I'm going to come down
to the basement.
If you're in there,
you lay flat on the ground.
Put your hands
where I can see them.
Jesus Christ.
I think I found
potential victims here.
I see three small bodies.
They look like children, man.
Where's the fucking backup?
Oh my God.
Ahh!
Mommy?
- The child is in the house.
The child--
- Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic voice
message system.
At the tone,
please record your message.
- Charlotte,
just pick up the phone, okay?
We can work this out.
I just want to talk.
That's all I want to do,
is just talk to you.
Please, pick up the phone.
Charlotte, I know you're there.
Pick up the phone, will you?
Just pick it up!
Okay. You know what? Forget it.
Just fuck you, fucking bitch!
Fuck you.
John, do you have it?
- Yeah, I have it.
- Don't mess with it.
I got a bad feeling about it.
It just feels weird.
There's people saying
stuff online.
It's creepy.
They say that there's, um...
a portal for some demon
to come out if you
take off its head.
- I'm a God-fearing man,
but I don't believe in this
pagan bullshit.
- Okay, okay, great.
But don't mess with it anyway,
right?
They need it intact.
They don't want it
to be touched.
It's 50K. I need the money.
- Are you fucking kidding me?
You don't think I need
the money, too?
This divorce is costing me
a fucking fortune.
My ex-wife is trying
to steal my girls away from me.
That is not gonna happen.
- Are your girls with you?
- How is that any
of your fucking business?
- Because they said
specifically,
keep it away from children.
Listen.
They're saying there's a demon,
a dark entity called Volpaazu
that possesses people.
Volpaazu preys on children.
Your girls...
to abuse them,
to sacrifice them
or turn them into demons.
And then they say it spreads.
Spreads like a disease.
What kind of people
want this type of artifact?
I don't get it.
- Come on, you really believe
in this bullshit?
It's just a stupid artifact
from Africa or something.
- Okay, John, but you're not
going to open it, right?
Right, John?
You're not gonna open it, John,
though, right?
Hello?
Hello?
John?
John, please!
- I'll call you back.
- John. You're not going
to open it, right?
Please, Jo--
- Ah...
Hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Ho de ho de ho
She messed around with
a bloke named Smokey
She loved him
Minnie the Moocher
She was a red hot
hoochie-coocher
- Alice, time to go to bed.
It's past your bedtime, okay?
- Can I stay five more minutes?
- Nope. Nope.
- Okay, Dad.
- Alright. Good night.
Ho de ho de ho
Hi de hi de hi de
Hi de hi de hi de
Hee de hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Hi de hi de
Hi de hi de hi de
Hee de hee de hee
Hee de hee de hee
Ho de ho de ho
Ho de ho de ho
She messed around with
a bloke named Smokey
She loved him
though he was...
You shouldn't hide
that face of yours.
He took her down...
It's beautiful.
Stop.
Shh...
Don't want to wake your sister.
You're gonna be a good girl.
- Yes. Yes.
- Yes, who?
- Yes, Daddy.
- That's right.
Don't tell your mother
about this.
Your sister either.
They wouldn't understand.
It's just our little secret.
You have to promise me.
You won't tell anybody.
Might make the monster come out.
Hey, what's up?
- Is Abigail with you?
- No, why?
- I, uh, she-she left the house,
and I don't know why.
- What do you mean
she left the house?
- I don't remember anything
about last night.
I-I had a few drinks.
- Ugh, of course,
you had a few--
- I got up this morning,
and she was gone.
- Oh, what the fuck?
You fucking drunk!
What do you mean, she's gone?
What about Alice?
How's Alice ? Is she okay?
- Yeah, yeah. She's fine.
She doesn't know
where Abigail is either.
- Okay. All right,
all right, okay.
Do you think she could've
gone to your parents' house?
- What, are you kidding?
- Why not?
- My parents' house?
That house that burned down,
like, 20 years ago?
No, it's all the way
across town.
Look... It's nothing.
- What do you mean,
it's nothing?
I... Maybe I said something
to upset her.
- Oh, God.
- Something like that,
I don't know.
She'll turn up. She's fine.
Trust me. She'll turn up.
- Listen, John,
I'm coming over right now.
- Yeah, okay.
Fuck.
Abigail, where the fuck are you?
Abi,
is that you?
Are you okay?
Where are you?
- Something happened.
I can't come home.
- You can tell me.
- You wouldn't believe me.
No one will believe me.
I'm so sorry.
- Please come back home.
- I can't.
I need to see somebody
at church.
- I miss you.
- Don't come look for me, okay?
I love you.
- Good morning!
Good morning!
Good morning!
- What have you done?!
He chose you, Abigail.
You betrayed him.
- No.
- Oh, yes.
You killed his child.
You ruined yourself.
Now...
You're going to have to pay.
Sit down!
He chose you to be his handmaid.
But you fucked up.
Now you're useless to him.
- Fuck you.
- Oh.
So sweet.
I think we're past that.
Yeah. Relax. Okay.
Just relax.
How does that feel?
He'll just take Alice
instead of you.
It's just a matter of time
before he develops
a secret love for her too.
He'll pay her a little
late-night visit,
just like he did with you.
Please, no.
Please leave Alice alone.
I'll do anything
you want me to do.
I'm begging you.
- A boy.
He wants a little boy, Abigail.
You killed his child.
So you're just gonna have
to find another one.
- Honey, honey.
Come drink some water. Okay?
I want to see you drink. Okay.
Okay. Okay, go have fun. Okay?
See, I love him so much.
He's so easy, the best baby.
Yeah, I know.
I know, I was telling you,
I need to study,
I need silence, but, like...
No. Thankfully,
this kid is amazing.
The other two,
the little rascals,
they're demons, they always
tell their mom like...
Yeah, I still have, like,
three more hours here
or something.
It's so chill.
- Hello?
Hello?
- Bobby?
- He wasn't the one.
- What have I done?
- What a disappointment.
He wasn't different.
He wasn't special.
- How do you know?
- He wasn't drawn
to the darkness.
You're going to have
to keep looking.
- I can't keep doing this.
- There's a boy
on Craner Street.
He likes to play
outside of his house
late in the afternoons.
He'll be the one.
- I can't.
- Oh... yes, you can.
Yes, you can, Abigail.
Then he'd
better be the one.
- The child is in the house.
The child is--
Are you okay?
I'm sorry, mister.
- I did this for you!
Look at what
you're making me do!
I just wanted to protect you.
Wanted to protect you from all
the awful things that I know
he wants to do to you.
The things he did to the others.
But I can't keep up
with his appetite.
I can't do it anymore.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Shh, shh, shh!
He's here.
I'm in hell forever.
- You're going to make
it home, Mikey, okay?
You'll make it home.
I'm going to find you.
We're going to find you.
In a shocking
turn of events,
police have made
a grim discovery
at a residence on Maple Street.
Earlier today,
authorities responded
to a distress call
at a Pasadena home.
Inside the residence,
they discovered
the lifeless body
of Abigail Reed,
who appeared to have died
from self-inflicted
gunshot wound.
The tragic incident has left
the community in shock.
Sheriff Miller,
the first to be
dispatched to the scene
after the 911 call,
was found dead at the scene
as well.
The story takes
an even darker turn.
Abigail Reed is also now
the prime suspect
in the recent and horrifying
kidnapping and killing
of three children.
The victims, who had been
missing for several months
were found dead in the basement
of the residence.
Their disappearance
has sent the community--
...found alive at the scene.
His identity remains
unknown for the moment,
but authorities believe
it could be Mikey,
one of the missing boys
who had been gone for 18 months.
The motive behind
the kidnappings,
the suicide of Abigail Reed,
and the circumstances--
- You look nervous.
Don't worry, you'll be okay.
Okay. That's good.
- We're rolling.
Three, two, one, action.
- She grew up
with absolute evil.
Shared bunk beds
with the most infamous
child abductor
our nation has ever seen.
And she witnessed her sister
become the center
of one of the most
disturbing cases in America.
20 years later, she decided
to share her story with us
in one of the most
compelling books
we've ever featured
on this show.
From family trauma
to New York Times bestseller,
she's here to promote
her new book,
Mommy Monster.
I'm Jennifer Novak,
and this is a conversation
with Alice Reed.
Alice, welcome to our show.
Thank you for being
with us tonight.
- Thank you for having me,
Jennifer. It's a pleasure.
- Let's talk about your book.
Maybe you can start by giving
a little bit of context
to our audience members
that are not familiar
with the Pasadena murders.
- Of course. In 2003,
my older sister Abigail
committed suicide.
We didn't know at the time,
but her death was linked
to a very public investigation,
so it was all over
the news for months.
It changed our family forever,
and it was the most traumatic
experience of my life.
So she was
your sister.
Were you close?
We were pretty close,
growing up.
She was born with a cleft lip...
Allegedly, my sister
kidnapped four young boys.
They said she killed them.
As you know, only one survived.
I believe the note
is referring to him.
- Mikey.
- That is correct.
- So if he's watching
this interview,
what would you like
to say to him?
- I guess I would want him
to know that...
I am very sorry
for what he went through.
And I think of him often.
I, I hope that he can get better
and find happiness.
I-I truly wish him all the best.
At the end
of the book,
you share some
interesting statistics
about childhood trauma.
- Yes.
They said she
was probably the one
who spoke in that voice.
She kept calling
from time to time.
One night, she told me that
she heard voices in her head.
Hey, are you watching?
Voices who told her--
I can't believe this.
I never should have
gone on the show.
Urban Legends Online
says she was possessed--
- Because she's using my sister
for her Halloween special
Like she was
Freddy fucking Krueger!
The Pasadena
Murders. Evil Unveiled.
I'm just worried, I guess.
I mean, I'm already
getting death threats
from people because
of writing this book,
and now this interview
is making me look like I'm...
...the Pasadena
Murders. Evil Unveiled.
- They're missing the point.
No. It's okay.
Alex, I said it's okay.
Seriously, I don't want you
to come all the way over here.
Besides, I'm not in the mood.
Somebody is at the door.
Okay, I'll call you back.
Trick or treat!
- Hey, you guys look great!
Happy Halloween.
- I failed Mikey as a mother.
It's all my fault.
I just wish I could make it
all go away.
Erase those horrific images
from his mind.
From his dreams.
All those memories.
I wish I could bring
my Mikey back.
- My name is Doctor
Elliot Morrison.
I'm Mikey's psychiatrist.
We know very little about what
Mikey endured in that house,
but one thing is for sure,
he suffers from severe PTSD.
The worst I've ever seen,
especially in someone his age.
- He would just stand or sit
and not say anything.
I tried many times to go to him,
try to make him talk.
Talk to me.
He didn't want
to share anything.
Tried to show him I was,
I was here for him.
But he would just be...
He would just be numb.
Numb, like I'm a stranger.
Like I was...
not his mother.
- Naomi Surprise
his real mother.
Mikey considers
Abigail Reed to be his moth,
despite her death.
This is a perfect example
of what is known
as the Stockholm Syndrome,
where the victim empathizes
with his abuser.
- These are the things
he would draw.
He would just draw.
Draw monsters.
This is supposed to be me.
What is all this?
- What's particularly
compelling about this
is Mikey's obsession
with the three
children's bodies,
which were found
in the basement.
Did he have previous
interactions with any of them,
or did he just know them
as dead children?
We don't really know.
In any case,
these drawings indicate
that Mikey developed a morbid
bond with these children.
You can see in this drawing...
he considers himself
one of them.
- He became the darkest,
darkest soul.
Why did she hurt him?
Why my boy?
- Abigail Reed
was possessed by a demon.
I know it,
because it's her father's fault.
John Reed.
He had an artifact
that had a demon
living inside it.
I told him not to open it,
and he did.
And now it's out.
It's out there.
It's out there.
- Hi. You okay?
Did your friends
take your candy?
I got you.
Stay safe out there.
- At the end of the book,
you share some
interesting statistics
about childhood trauma.
- Yes. Research shows
that around 60%
of the general population
has had at least one
adverse childhood experience.
That is a traumatic event
that happens to a person
before they are 17 years of age.
However, that number
goes up to 97%
among the criminal population.
Therefore, I believe
that children who were
traumatized in youth
deserve extra care and support
when they become adults.
- So do you believe
Mikey could be dangerous.
- Hello?
If this is a prank, fuck off.
Abigail?
He's going
to hear me!
Dad raped me.
He put a monster
inside of me, Alice!
- There's a monster-like
figure in the basement
with the three corpses.
We consider this monster
to be a figment
of Mikey's imagination.
Hey.
Hey, what's wrong?
Where are your parents?
Talk to me.
Mikey?
Why are you here, Mikey?
You can't just come
to my house like this.
You understand?
Look, I'm going to call someone
to take you home, okay?
- You're not safe anymore.
- What do you mean?
- It's out there again.
And my mommy,
she can't protect you.
- You mean Abigail?
She can't
protect you.
- Protect me from what?
- I have these thoughts.
Dark thoughts.
And they want me
to do terrible things.
Because it says I'm the one.
- Who says you're the one?
- But I don't want to.
I don't want to be the one.
I don't want to be
the chosen one.
- Chosen for what?
- The darkness.
- It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
- You're not safe anymore.
My mommy...
She was innocent.
It wasn't her fault.
- I know, Mikey.
I know.
- Can you be my mommy?
- I'm sorry, I, I can't,
but we're going to get you
some help, okay?
We're going to take care of you.
- Please.
- I want you to just go home.
Okay?
- Please. Please.
- Mikey.
Mikey, please let me go.
Mikey, let me go.
I'm gonna need you
to let me go, let me go!
You need to leave
or I'm calling the police.
I'm sorry for what happened
to you, but you need to get out.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry I brought it here.
- Brought... Brought what?
- Thank you for joining us
for our explosive
Halloween episode.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Now, remember, tonight,
lock all your doors,
'cause all sorts of evil
lurks in the darkness.
Happy Hallow--
Okay.
Alice, look,
I know you didn't
want to see me tonight,
but I just want
to check on you, okay?
It's... It's a tough night
for you,
and I just want to let
you know that I'm here.
Um... You know, I'm...
I'm not going to stay too long,
and, uh,
I just want to check on you,
and then whenever you want me
to go, I'll just go home
and, uh...
The fuck is that?
Hello?
Yo. Who's there?
Alice?
Uh, I saw you.
You seem a little old
to be trick-or-treating,
dude.
- Hey, Jen.
Oh, my God,
I'm so sorry about Alice.
- I know, can you believe it?
I mean, she's on the show,
and then the boyfriend's dead.
Stabbed to death?
I mean, come on!
Poor thing.
Cha-ching for us!
This is a fucking
ratings bonanza.
I mean, it had
to be Mikey, right?
Who else could it be?
And guess what?
You know, when I was talking
to Jim and he said
he has footage
bringing that guy out,
and it was pretty gory.
So I want you
to get on the phone,
I want you to get Alice
in there immediately.
Do whatever you need to do.
Wine her, dine her, woo her.
Hell, we will pay her double.
I want her ass
in the studio right away.
I want her to go
and get the full account
of what happened.
She was there, right?
Wasn't she there
when they carried him out?
I mean, we are on
a ratings bonanza,
and I want to ride this wave.
So, listen, you get on
the horn right now,
and you get Alice in the studio.
I want her there immediately.
I'm not having anybody
scoop me on this.
So remember, remember,
your future on this show
depends on your getting her ass
into the studio right now.
You got it?
- Of course.
- I want information
by the time I get in there.
And I'll be there soon. Out.
- Yeah. Okay. Get on it.
Thanks.
Hello?
Guys, what's going on?
Diana?
- Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic
voice message system.
Jennifer!
It's him.
He killed everybody.
- What? What's going on?
- He killed everyone.
- Who?
- He's still here.
You have to hide.
- What the fuck?
- No, no, no!
- Please, please, please.
Please, please, please.
Please.
Ahh!
Please don't do this.
Fuck you!
911,
what's your emergency?
- This is Jennifer Novak.
I'm at the studio.
He's killed everyone.
I got, I think I got him.
I think I--
And he killed every--
- Mikey, stop!
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to be the one.
I'll be your mommy.
I'll be your mommy.
I'll take care of you.
You don't have to be
alone anymore.
Okay?
Now, put the knife down.
It's okay.
It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna be okay.
- You're available
for an interview tomorrow?