The Clearing (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

Suffer the Little Children

1
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(MAX COOS)
(MAX WAILING)
(SHUSHES)
Dad will be back soon.
(SHUSHES CONTINUES)
(CRYING)
(HUMMING)
(CRYING CONTINUES)
Please, Maxy.
Maxy, for Mommy, please?
Please, Max.
(SCREAMS)
(MAXY WAILING)
(MUFFLED CRY)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
(GASPS)
WOMAN: Watch where you're going!
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(PANTING)
MAN: What's he doing?
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
- (DRILL WHIRRING)
- (SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE)
WAYNE: Maxine?
Maxine!
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(TOOL CLANKS)
Maxine, here we go.
Stay.
- (TIRES SCREECH)
- (SIREN BLARING)
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
WAYNE: She's not moving.
I'll follow you.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
(KNIFE CLANKS)
Billy, are you dressed yet?
BILLY: Mom, there's a man outside.
Stay away from the windows.
What are you doing on my property?
Hi, I'm Devon.
We tried going through the
agent, but they never called back.
We're just wondering, could
we measure the second bedroom?
I'm sorry, who, who are you?
Devon.
- Oh, sorry, we're the new owners.
- Hi, I'm Lou.
Yeah, we know settlement
is not for another 90 days.
LOU: We have to buy
furniture for the nursery.
Yeah, the agent forgot to put
the dimensions on the floorplan.
We'll be really, really quick.
Leave now, or I'm calling the cops.
(DOOR SLAMS)
BILLY: Mom, who are those people?
Um, they just had the
wrong house, sweetheart.
Grab your bag, Billy.
Why are we here so early?
Sylvie!
- Hi.
- Hi, Freya.
- Hi, Billy.
- Hi.
Hey, can Billy wait with you in
the classroom until the bell goes?
I have an urgent appointment,
and I really don't want him
in the playground on his own.
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay, great.
Um, also, I'm the only one
authorized to pick him up, right?
Yes. It's all on file in
your Parental Authority form.
- Okay, great.
- Yeah.
(SMOOCHES) Have a great day.
Okay, thanks.
Right, come on Billy.
HENRIK (ON PHONE): Why did you call me?
ADRIENNE: I always look after my own.
The light shines brightest on those
who walk through darkness, Henrik.
I have to go.
The nurse is here.
- Stay strong.
- Maitreya
- Did you sell my house?
- Oh, it's only you.
- Did you sell it?
- I think you mean my house.
Why was there a man in my
front yard with a tape measure
wanting to turn Billy's
room into a nursery?
I have no idea what
you're talking about.
(KNOCKING)
MO: Knock-knock! Mrs. Beaufort!
I believe that's my cue.
HANNAH: And
one, two, three, four, five, six
(RETCHING)
HANNAH: The rest of you keep going.
Seven, eight, nine, ten.
Change.
Amy, how'd it go?
- Your clearing?
- HANNAH (SHOUTS): Anton!
(CAR APPROACHING)
I can't remember any of it.
But you did go through, right?
I think so.
You'd know if you did.
Anton, what happens if it didn't work?
Then you have to keep doing
it over again until it does.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
It took me three goes but it
was worth it to change my life.
How?
(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)
ADAM: Where's Asha?
Asha was never one of us.
(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
FREYA: Hello?
Dr. Latham?
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Hello?
Bryce?
Anyone here?
KIDS (SINGING):
Close the door, light the light ♪
We're staying home tonight ♪
ADRIENNE: These children
are our Kindred, all of us.
KIDS: Mother, your love binds
us together as one family.
(FOREBODING MUSIC)
"Suffer the little
children to come unto me.
History beckons and must be
rewritten over and over again."
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(FREYA GASPS)
Well, this is a surprise.
Twenty thousand students
passed before me, Amy.
It's astounding, isn't it?
All those impressionable young minds.
My name is not Amy anymore.
We can't change who we are.
Why did you sell my house?
Your house?
You have power of attorney for Adrienne.
You sold the house
where I live with my son.
You mustn't allow possessions
to possess you, my dear.
The material world is illusory.
We know this.
The nature of existence is spiritual.
The change that is called death
is coming to us all.
But only some of us will survive it.
She gave me that house.
It's Billy's home.
It's all he knows.
- Where are we supposed to go?
- You think money grows on trees?
We have expenses.
Maitreya must be kept in the
manner to which she is accustomed.
Why didn't anyone tell me?
You must have known
this day was coming, Amy.
You can't suck on Mommy's teat forever.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BELL CLINGING)
I MISS ASHA. LAST NIGH
- (DOOR OPENS)
- (KEY CLANKING)
Didn't you hear the bell?
Sorry, Aunty.
(PLATES CLANKING)
Do you know what Asha's
doing at home right now?
Going to the fridge whenever she likes.
When she feels hungry,
she just makes a sandwich.
- Can she have biscuits?
- Or fruit.
Whatever she likes.
Get out.
Get out!
Get out!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(AMY GRUNTS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
I know the truth about Asha.
Do you now?
I know that you took her home.
To a better place than this.
I would be careful if I was you.
You know, saying such things as this.
Hmm.
Henrik, when you took her back,
was the house really nice like she said?
It was dark.
We left her asleep on the doorstep.
Do you think she's happy now?
Asha made the wrong choice.
LEILA: Mom, he keeps
kicking me under the table!
DINA: That's enough, you two!
- Yusuf!
- LEILA: Dude, don't!
DINA: Dinner's on the table.
PAUL: No, you always do this.
You always blame me for it.
DINA: Yusuf!
PAUL: She's pushing me around!
- (IN ARABIC) Yusuf? We're waiting.
- Start without me.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
One, two, three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven.
- (BELL DINGS)
- (HORN HONKS)
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Inspector!
The Kindred have got the Woodfield girl.
We need to go in now.
WILKES: You know, you're
starting to piss me off, Saad
JOE: Look.
One new kid. Right age.
It has to be her.
We need that warrant.
Pretty fucking blurry.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
(SIGHS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
(CAR APPROACHING)
ADRIENNE: Hello, Colin.
Maitreya.
What are you doing here?
I thought you should know.
They think we've got
the McFetridge girl.
But we don't, right?
Detective Saad has
an unhealthy fixation.
You've done the right thing, Colin.
Window.
(GATE CREAKS)
(CHAIN RATTLES)
ADRIENNE: You've read this?
It's very detailed.
- If it were to get out, it would
- Yes.
Why was Colin Garrison here?
Are they coming?
The Blue Devils?
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
Do you remember your
first clearing, Tamsin?
You were a mousy housewife
with a very odd doll collection,
living in your brilliant
husband's shadow.
Who taught you to fend for yourself?
To study nursing? Get a job?
Pay for the roof over your own head?
Why do you think I brought you here?
To grow.
To learn how to give more and want less.
To surround you with the
children you couldn't have.
(SOBS)
And look how you've repaid me.
(SIGHS)
Perhaps I should turn
you over to the Devils.
(GASPS)
Tell them you abducted Asha.
That you were the midwife
who stole those newborns.
That it's your signature
on the adoption papers.
(SHAKY BREATHING)
Now, now, now, now.
- (TAMSIN SOBBING)
- (SHUSHES)
There will be a reckoning, Tamsin.
One day I will come for you,
and I will call in all the
favors I have bestowed upon you.
Now send Amy in.
Yes, Maitreya.
(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)
(KIDS LAUGH IN DISTANCE)
(HANDBRAKE RATTLES)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Hey!
What are you doing?
(PANTING)
No!
(CAR ENGINE REVS)
- Why do I have to go early?
- Because I said so.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
Why are we stopping?
Wait here.
- Listen
- No, you listen to me.
Do you want me to call the cops?
- Amy, I just want to talk
- I'm not Amy.
Sorry.
- Freya.
- How did you find me?
- Christine said she saw you
- Oh! Fucking Christine!
Don't blame her.
I checked her car GPS
and I found the school.
Did you break into her car?
No, I'm staying with her.
You're staying with Christine?
She offered.
I could have you charged for stalking.
You blocked my phone.
What choice did I have?
- Leave me alone.
- I can't.
It's Max.
We had a fight.
She's taken off from school and
run off with her cousin's van.
I thought maybe she's crossed the
border, gone looking for her mom.
Has she been in contact?
You'd tell me if she had?
What was the fight about?
What'd you do to her?
You're enjoying this, aren't you?
- After what you did?
- After what I
You're the one who left
her in the fucking car.
And you still haven't
learnt your lesson.
You got a kid now?
I won't let you ruin
things for me, Wayne.
I have moved on with my life.
Is he mine?
Think you're the only
man I've been with?
How old is he?
You're not gonna get him.
(EXHALES DEEPLY, SNIFFLES)
Who was that?
Billy, your friend at the school
fence, did she tell you her name?
(SIGHS)
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CHAIR SCREECHES)
What did Mommy want?
I knew you hadn't gone through.
She'll make you do it again for sure.
Up, please.
Hello, children.
CHILDREN: Hello, Mommy.
Today, because the sun is shining,
the birds are singing
and Mommy loves you,
we are all going on an excursion.
A picnic by the lake!
Won't that be fun?
(BIRDS WHISTLING)
ANGELA: What's a picnic?
You sit on a blanket
outside and eat food.
- With Mommy?
- (SHUSHES)
Do you want her to change her mind?
Why a picnic all of a sudden?
Is she going away again?
(ADRIENNE SINGING)
Look over here.
(SINGING CONTINUES)
GIRL: Come over here.
(HUMMING)
Isn't this divine?
- BOY 1: That was good. That was good.
- BOY 2: Good.
HENDRIK: Here. There you go.
- ANABELLE: Ow.
- Yeah, that's it.
Annabelle, are you all right?
TAMSIN: Are you all
right, Annabelle? Get up!
ADRIENNE: She's all right.
- GIRL 2: Are you all right?
- ANNABELLE: Don't
- GIRL 3: Show me where it hurt.
- HANNAH: Dust her off.
- BOY 1: Come on, get up.
- BOY 2: You slipped?
(VOCALIZING)
- GILR 4: Are you all right? Are you?
- TAMSIN: She's fine.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CLACKING AND WHIRRING)
(PANTS)
Three, four, five,
- six, seven, eight, nine.
- What are you doing?
There's one missing.
- What do you mean?
- There should be 10.
Tamsin.
There's one missing.
Children, come here!
(BELL RINGING)
HENRIK: Up, up. Let's go.
What's going on?
TAMSIN: There's one missing.
HANNAH: It's probably nothing, Maitreya.
Two lines in front of me, now.
- It's Amy.
- She's in so much trouble.
Hannah, did she go back to the house?
I didn't see her.
You were supposed to be watching her.
- I was. I didn't
- ADRIENNE: Find her.
Tamsin, take the others
back to the house at once.
Come with me.
HENRIK: Amy!
HANNAH: Amy!
Amy!
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
HENRICK: Amy!
HANNAH: Amy!
(CAR ENGINE REVS)
- Amy!
- Amy!
What if she fell in the
water? She can't swim.
Amy!
Amy, you can come out now!
You're not gonna get in trouble!
HENRIK: Amy!
Amy!
(CRICKETS CREAKING)
(HUMMING)
(HUMMING STOPS)
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
(CLANKS)
(WHIRRING)
AMY: I am the chosen one.
The light shines on me.
I am the chosen one.
The light shines on me.
I am the chosen one.
The light shines on me.
I am the chosen one.
The light shines on me.
I am the chosen
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(AMY PANTING)
(RUSTLING)
- DEREK: Oi, get away from the bins!
- (GASPS)
You're one of those kids
from down round the lake.
Come on.
I got food.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR CREAKS CLOSE)
(LINE RINGING)
- Hello?
- FREYA: Hey. Sorry, I know it's late.
Everything okay?
I know who's driving the white van.
Freya, not this again.
It's Max.
Your Max?
Yeah.
You've spoken to her?
How can I?
After what I did, what would I say?
She's come looking for you.
Means she's ready.
Joe, if Henrik wanted
to collect on his debt,
you reckon they'd sell one of
their properties to pay him out?
Freya, you mustn't worry about Henrik.
It's because of me he was put away.
He's an old man now.
It was a long time ago.
All right, night, Joe.
Night.
(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING)
How old are you, love?
You're lucky to find me.
There's no one else
around here for miles.
(KNOCKING)
Just sit tight, love.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
DEREK: Yeah, gidday, I found this kid.
Yeah, I think down by the lake.
- POLICE: Can we come in? Yeah? Okay.
- DEREK: Yeah, come in.
Blue Devils.
POLICE: Easy now, okay?
No one wants to hurt you, okay?
(AMY PANTS)
POLICE: Come back here!
We want to help you!
(PANTING CONTINUES)
(GRUNTS)
(KEY CLANKING)
(VIDEO TAPE WHIRS)
(SOFT GRUNT)
ADRIENNE: You are my
Kindred, the chosen ones,
sent forth on a path to perfection.
Take my hands.
What time is it?
Um It's well after 9:00.
Mo should be here.
Oh, no, he said he'd be a little late.
He's buying me another jigsaw puzzle.
Three thousand pieces.
Kill me now.
Why were you watching this?
Oh, just a little trip down memory lane.
Go on, help your mother up.
Ooh.
I saw Wayne.
He says that Max has
been looking for me.
Oh, mothers and daughters.
Nothing can come between them.
Don't you worry about the house.
We'll find something just
right for you and Billy.
(DOOR CREAKS)
JOE: Amy.
Amy.
There she is.
Welcome back.
My name is Joe.
How's the head, Amy?
That was quite a bump.
How do you know my name?
I took a chance.
Is this your diary?
Are you a Blue Devil?
Well, I tend to wear grey.
It's like my personality, my wife says.
"Henrik took the van to
collect our new sister
and bring her home to us today."
Did you write that, Amy?
And your new sister is Asha.
Is that right?
Did Asha ever mention
having any other name?
(KNOCKING)
You ready?
This is my colleague, Colin.
Get some sleep.
JOE: I'll be back.
(MACHINE BEEPING)
Mom!
BILLY: What are you doing here?
MAX: Hey, Billy.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Hey.
(SIGHS)
(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING)
When was the last time you ate?
It's good to see you.
I'll get you another one.
- BILLY: Can I show you my pictures?
- Yeah.
This is Octopus Man, and
he only has seven arms.
What happened to his other one?
- It fell off in a fight.
- (SLURPS)
Cool.
MAX: What about him? What does he do?
BILLY: This is Tricerasnake.
- MAX: Hm.
- BILLY: He does this.
And this.
MAX: Can I touch him?
BILLY: Mm-mm.
MAX: Where'd you get him?
BILLY: At a store.
MAX: Nice dinosaurs, hey.
What does he do?
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC)
MAX: You never put the
return address on any of them.
So how did you find me?
You know, Dad told me that you left me
because you didn't know how to be a mom.
I've been watching you. You
You know how to be a mom.
So why did you leave me?
I just wanted you to be safe.
From you?
(BRAKES CREAKS)
Max? Bub, come here.
I've been going out of my mind.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
Is that her dad?
Billy, I told you to wait inside.
You wanna introduce us?
No. Not now.
Freya, he needs to
know who his father is.
FREYA: I'm not ready.
You kept him from me.
Whether you're ready
or not is irrelevant.
You don't get to come to my
house and threaten me, Wayne.
I missed eight years.
I missed more than that.
WAYNE: Come on, let's go.
- Where's the van?
- MAX: Cops took it.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(KIDS INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(KIDS CLAMOURING)
- No! No!
- Let him go!
GIRL: Mommy, where are you?
- GIRL: Mommy!
- POLICE 1: Come on, let's go.
POLICE 2: It's okay.
You're gonna be all right.
- BOY 1: Get off me!
- BOY 2: No!
(KIDS SHOUTING)
(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
How many you got?
Nine.
Yeah.
One short.
I'll check the shed.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(CREAKS)
Sara!
Sara!
- (CRICKETS CREAKING)
- (SIGHS DEEPLY)
Adrienne must have her.
Where is she?
Where's Adrienne?
Where is she?
(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(PA SYSTEM CHIMES)
(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)
AUTOMATED VOICE: Please
proceed to Gate 14 immediately.
(GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
(PANTING)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
(KEYS JINGLE)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)
(FOREBODING MUSIC)
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Anton.
Hello, Mommy.
(CLOSING THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
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