Believer (2024) Movie Script

1
BAILIFF: All rise.
The Honourable Judge
Robert Kellman presiding.
JUDGE: You may all be seated.
[sinister music]
JUDGE: Mr. Grayson,
you are before this court today
to be sentenced on
53 counts of murder.
Before I pass sentencing,
it is my obligation
to afford you the opportunity
to make a statement,
should you wish.
Do you care to make a statement
at this time, Mr. Grayson?
-[clears throat]
I would, Your Honour.
[handcuffs clink]
I have been presented here,
and in the media,
as a monster.
Indeed, my actions
have been monstrous.
They are all in the service...
of a greater good.
[people gasp and scream]
[birds chirping]
[dog barking in distance]
[dog barking in distance]
[cell phone ringing]
NICOLE: Hey, I must have
just missed you guys.
Yeah, the entire night shift
had to pull overtime.
There was a big accident
on the 95.
Okay. I love you guys, too.
[front door closes]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[loud thud]
[bowls clink]
[door opens]
Babe?
[door closes]
NICOLE: Alex?
Honey?
[shuffling footsteps]
[inhales shakily]
I...
I'm calling the police,
so whoever's in here,
you should just leave!
[breathing shakily]
[ominous music]

You... you've got
the wrong house...
I'm calling 911.
[breathing shakily]
[line ringing]
[ominous music]
OPERATOR: [phone]
What's your emergency?
-Hello?
Yes, yeah.
There's an intruder in my home.
It's 33 Eastmont Drive,
Westmore.
Yes. Nicole Williams.
Please, please hurry.
He's just--
he's just--
-[stabbing sound]
-[gasps]
[whimpering]
[phone falls to floor]
-Aah!
[body thuds to floor]
[ominous music]

-It's done.
[body thuds to floor]
OPERATOR: [phone] Police
are on their way, Ms. Williams .
Hello? Are you there?
[sirens approaching]
[sinister music]


-Get on your knees!
I said get on your knees now!


KATE: The sudden loss of
his sight at the age of 32
left Grayson consumed
with depression,
desperate to find some meaning
behind his
inexplicable affliction.
He would soon
find that meaning,
coming to believe that God
took his sight
but gave him vision.
A vision that would
enable him to stop...
prevent the end of the world...
approaching apocalypse.
[knock on door]
KATE: Hello?
[door unlatches]
KATE: Hello?
[passing siren outside]
[door creaks open]
[ominous music]




[ominous music continues]



GRAYSON: Today we're gonna be
discussing moral absolutes.
Is there a clear line
between right and wrong?
I'm sure you're all familiar
with the trolley problem.
A trolley is barrelling
out of control
down a path where five people
are tied haplessly to
the tracks, unable to move.
You have a choice.
You can change
the path of the trolley
to a track where
only one person is tied up,
or you can do nothing
and let fate run its course.
What do you do?
Do you sacrifice the one
for the many?
Or do you do nothing?
And is doing nothing
making a decision after all?
[bird calling]
[eerie music]
[crow cawing]
[knock at door]
ELLA: Hey, Mom,
where are your black flats?
MICHELLE: On the floor
in my closet.
ELLA: Are you almost ready?
-I'm gonna make something
to eat before we leave.
-Mom, we don't
have time for that.
We can get drive-thru
on the way.
Just get ready, please!

[crows cawing in distance]
[Michelle exhales shakily]

[sighs]

[wind blowing outside]
[truck rattling]
[honking]
[panicked breathing]
[honking]
[tires squeal]
[truck honks]
[tires squeal]
[gasps]
[screams]
[loud crash]
[wind whistling]
ELLA: [distant]
Mom...? Mom?
[knocks on door]
ELLA: Kate wants to be there
early to make sure we get in.
Mom, are you listening?
[door opens]
-Why doesn't Kate just drive
herself and we meet her there?
-Because her car's
in the shop, remember?
-Right.
David?
[dog barks]
MICHELLE: Hey, Buster,
did you have a good walk?
-Whose car's in the shop?
MICHELLE: Come on!
Come on, Buster. Good boy!
-Kate's.
-Why didn't she ask me
to take a look?
-You know Kate,
always trying to prove
she doesn't need anybody,
especially me.
-That's a little harsh.
-She's just trying
to be independent.
-So everyone's
standing up for Kate now?
-Yeah.
You know,
in case she hits it big,
gets famous with her book.
ELLA: Dad, can you
please tell Mom
if we want to get
to the courthouse by 7:30,
we need to leave,
like, right now.
-Are you sure
this is a good idea?
-Mom, please tell me
you're kidding.
You wouldn't let me go to
the trial because of school.
School's out now, and you
still don't want me to go.
-Do you really wanna
be in the same room
with someone like that?
-Today's sentencing day.
It's the last day.
Come on, nothing big
ever happens here.
-We kinda promised.


NEWS PRESENTER: [video]
Cult leader Marshall Grayson,
charged with
53 counts of murder,
will be sentenced this morning
after being found guilty
on all 53 counts.
The former psychology professor
is also facing
possible extradition
to England and Australia
to stand trial for murders
in both those countries.
-Is Kate almost finished?
-With her book?
I think she's just doing
a second pass now
while she waits
to finish the ending.
I've asked her to read it,
like, a million times, but...
so far it's a no-go.
-You guys have really
bonded over this, huh?
-Yeah, I guess.
-Is it...
is it weird having
your aunt in your life
all of the sudden?
-A little.
But it's good.
Kate's kind of like...
the big sister
I never had, you know?
[sombre music]

[sound of typing]


[sinister music]
ELLA: Hey, Kate.
You should come out to
the house this weekend.
You haven't been yet.
-If my car's ready,
maybe, yeah.
-You know, you--
you should have had David
take a look at your car.
I'm sure money must be tight.
-I don't want to impose.
Are you nervous?
-Yeah, a little.
Kind of...
more excited, though.
-Excited?
The guy's a mass murderer.
-I mean, I don't-- I--
-You don't have to explain.
I get it.
-And aren't you worried about
glorifying this guy
with your book?
-My book's not about him.
It's about the victims.
Besides, I'm hardly
the only one writing about it.
-Like, established writers?
-Yeah, established writers,
unlike myself.
But I think I'm onto something
that'll set my book apart.
[helicopter whirring]
[crowd yelling]
[sinister music]
[yelling continues]

[keys jingling]

[door unlocks]

[door opens,
sound of crowd yelling]
EDDY: That was cutting it close.
[door clanks shut]

EDDY: Don't worry,
these cells are all empty.
Grayson's our only guest today.
Who's your friend?
-Oh, this is Ella, my niece.
-You carrying any weapons, Ella?
Guns, knives, explosives?
-Uh, no, I would--
I wouldn't--
-Don't mind him.
-Niece, huh?
I didn't know you had
any family here.
I thought you were
from the West Coast.
Uh, Portland
or something, right?
-Yeah, it's a bit of a story.
ELLA: Do you always
come in this way?
KATE: No, Eddy's just
doing me a huge favour.
-Kate's been plying me
with coffee and donuts
the last month and a half.
Figured I owed her one.
Lights do that whenever
he's in the building.
ELLA: Who, Grayson?
KATE: More like the bulb
needs to be replaced.
EDDY: You believe what you want.
KATE: You're horrible, Eddy.
EDDY: If you watch long enough,
you'll see.
[lights buzzing]

[elevator dings]
[indistinct chatter
in background]
-Ms. Harris, Eddy.
-Detective.
-The verdict's in.
Would you be okay
to go on the record now?
-Still no comment, I'm afraid.
-[sighs]
If you change your mind...
-I'll be sure to let you know.
[indistinct chatter]
REPORTER: She's nobody.
EDDY: Come on, I'll take you
through the bailiff's entrance.
-Detective, any indication
yet as to why Grayson
allowed himself to be captured
in the first place?
-No comment.
-How did he convince all 53 of
his followers to commit murder,
then take their own lives?
JUDGE: You may all be seated.
Please bring in the offender.
[door buzzer]
[door buzzer]
[ominous music]
[door shuts]




-Mr. Grayson...
You are before this court today
to be sentenced on
53 counts of murder.
During the many days
of this trial,
you have listened
to the introduction of evidence,
most of which
was in your possession
at the time of your arrest.
You have heard
all the testimony,
witness accounts,
statements from
the victims' families.
Through it all,
you have remained silent,
which is your prerogative.
However,
before I pass sentencing,
it is my obligation
to afford you the opportunity
to make a statement,
should you wish.
Do you care to make a statement
at this time, Mr. Grayson?
[Grayson clears throat]
GRAYSON: I would, Your Honour.
[handcuffs clink]

GRAYSON: I have been
presented here,
and in the media,
as a monster.
Indeed, my actions
have been monstrous.
They are all in the service...
of a greater good.
[grunts]
[Kate screaming]
GRAYSON: Kate,
you need to hear me.
[Kate screaming]
-Get him off of her!
EDDY: Get him! Get him!
GRAYSON: So, what do you do?
Do you sacrifice the one
to save the many?
Or do you do nothing
and let fate run its course?
And is that in itself
making a decision?
STUDENT: The only moral choice
is do nothing.
-Okay.
STUDENT 2: No,
sacrifice the one.
-Alright.
What if that one is...
the President, or the Pope?
Or your mother?
Does that change the equation?
Or what if the one
is an innocent young woman,
her whole life ahead of her,
but the future mother
of Adolf Hitler?
STUDENT: Switch the track
to Hitler's mother.
-Okay.
So then you're saying that we do
have an ethical obligation
to take action,
to willingly participate
in an immoral act
for a greater moral good?
Kate, you need to listen to me.
-[inhales sharply]
[taking shallow breaths]
[monitor beeping]
[grunts]
[eerie sound]
[suspenseful music]
[panicked breathing]
[yells]
[suspenseful music]
[whimpering]
[door opens]
-You're awake.
That's good.
How are you feeling?
[door shuts]
NURSE: Is everything okay?
[monitor beeping]
-Why am I restrained?
-You were turning in your sleep.
Honey, your ribs are badly
bruised but luckily not broken.
You need to remain
as still as possible.
How's your neck feeling?
-Sore.
-Yeah.
-[gasps]
[yells]
[gasps]
[sputtering]
MICHELLE: They removed them.
The restraints.
You were having nightmares
and pulling at your IV.
They took the IV out,
they took off the restraints.
[sighs]
You must be hungry.
-What am I doing here?
-You don't remember?
-I...
I-- I was in the courtroom.
The judge was speaking.
Ella was right next to me.
Where's Ella?
-She's-- she's okay.
She's at home.
She's a little banged up,
but not nearly as bad as you.
[groans]
-So...
you don't remember
Grayson attacking you?
-Attacked me?
[door opens]
NURSE: You're awake.
That's good.
Is everything okay?
-Um, she's not remembering
anything about the attack.
-Oh, I wouldn't
worry about that right now.
The ability to repress
can be key in recovery.
[ominous music]
-But will I remember?
-Uh, it could all
come back to you tomorrow,
or you might never remember it.
But either way,
it's perfectly normal.
Well, everything
looks good here,
and your bruises
are healing up nicely.
I'll have to talk to the doctor,
but I don't see any reason
you can't go home tomorrow.
-So soon?
-Uh, tomorrow will be day three.
But if you wanna stay longer--
-No.
No, tomorrow's good.
-You should let her
get some rest.
-Okay.
-[quietly] Why is there
a cop outside my door?
-[quietly] Yeah, we can
talk about that tomorrow.
-Am I in danger?
Did Grayson escape or something?
-No.
You're not in danger.
Grayson is-- is dead.
He was shot by
Detective Brener.

-[exhales]
So why the cop?
-To keep the media out.
You're famous after all.
-[sighs]
For being a victim.
-[sighs]
-What?
-Um, let's just
talk about it tomorrow.
-What aren't you telling me?
-When Grayson attacked you...
it looked like he--
like he said something to you.
-So-- so they think--
-It-- it doesn't matter,
though, right?
It's all bullshit.
Look, I'll be back
tomorrow, okay?
Are you gonna be alright?
Okay.

-I'm sorry
I dragged Ella into this.
-It's not your fault, right?




[groans]
[winces]


[sinister music]



[sinister music continues]


[light buzzing]




[sniffles]

[sobs]
[crying]
[light buzzing]
[ominous music]
KATE: [screams]
No!


[urgent, indistinct voices]
MAN: Right now, right now,
this is it!
REPORTER: What did
Grayson say to her?
Was it a name?
Was it his next victim?
REPORTER 2: How has Kate
been acting since the attack?
REPORTER: Are you
concerned that Kate
was one of Grayson's followers?
REPORTER 2: If she is
a follower,
was Grayson angry at her
because of her book?
REPORTER: Are you in fear
of your own safety?
[indistinct clamour]
[knock on door]
[door opens]
MICHELLE: Kate, are you up?
[door shuts]
[Michelle's footsteps approach]
Kate?
[gasps]
-Hey.
-Hey.
What were you doing in the dark?
-Um, the light
burnt out last night.
Doctor said
I can go home today.
-That's great.
Ella thought you might
want a change of clothes.
-That was nice of her.
[winces in pain]
Do you know
what happened to my things?
-I have it all in the car,
except for your phone.
They haven't found that yet.
Are you remembering anything?
-No.
I try not to think about it,
to be honest.
-Maybe you should
come out to the house.
At least until
the media dies down.
Y'know, they won't
think to look for you there.
And what better place
to concentrate on your writing?
-I'm not so sure I'm gonna be up
for writing for a little while.
-I know Ella would
love having you.

REPORTER: Kate, tell us
what Grayson said to you.
Was it a name?
-Please, give her some space.
-Kate, are you
one of Grayson's followers?
-Just ignore them.
-If it wasn't a name,
what did Grayson say to you?
MICHELLE: Please, move.
Please.
-Why won't you tell us, Kate?
Why keep it a secret?
ELLA: Alright,
you gotta choose, okay?
Hey, which one?
Is it this one?
[gasps]
Good boy, Buster!
Look at you, you're too smart.
You're too smart.

They're here!
Come on, Buster.
Hey.
[Buster snarls]
ELLA: Buster!
Stop, Buster!
DAVID: Hey, hey!
Buster!
Hey!
-I'm so sorry.
He's never done this before.
DAVID: Hey, you...
ELLA: Buster, it's okay!
DAVID: Shh, shh, shh...
There you go.
We don't get a lot of
strangers around here.
Jesus, I didn't mean...
-It's okay, I get it.
Making friends wherever I go.
ELLA: He'll come around.
-Uh, I'll get your bags.
-You didn't stop
to get her things?
-She didn't want to.
-Well, that's
a little weird, no?
-Hope I'm not intruding.
DAVID: No.
Uh, what can we help you with?
-Well, I went to
the hospital this morning,
but you had already left.
I was hoping we could,
uh, go over a few things.
-No comment, I'm afraid.
-Fair enough.
MICHELLE: Maybe we should
talk about this inside.
-Of course. Come in.
-So you're saying that you don't
remember what Grayson said?
No name, no message, nothing?
-No, I said
I don't remember any of it.
I don't remember
the attack at all.
-Any reason that Grayson would
have attacked you specifically?
-He was blind.
It was random,
just stupid bad luck.
-Ella?
Do you remember if you and your
aunt were talking right before?
Any way he could have known
that she was behind him?
-We didn't say a word.
No one did.
I mean, other than
the judge and Grayson.
-Huh...
You ever talked to him before?
KATE: No.
I mean, I wrote him
a few times in prison, but...
he never responded.
Not until...
[papers shuffling]
This showed up
at my apartment
the morning of the sentencing.
-You gave him your address?
-No, of course not.
-I use a P.O. box.
BRENER: This is
all he sent you?
-Just the photo.
-So you never met him
before his arrest?
-What are you suggesting?
-I'm not suggesting anything.
Kate, these are questions that
I have to ask, you know that.
-No, I've neither met
nor spoken to Grayson
before or after his arrest.
-Which brings us back to...
why you?
-Maybe he didn't want me
writing about him?
-Then why send you the photo?
Maybe he wanted to make sure
that yours was the book
people read.
Perhaps because
he somehow thought
that you were, um...
-A believer?
-In your letters to him,
could you have inadvertently
led him to believe that you--
-I think we're done here.
-Kate, Kate...
I'm just trying to
make sense of this thing here.
For whatever reason,
this was not random.
Why do you think he even allowed
himself to be arrested
in the first place?
Nothing Grayson did
was without a purpose.
You know this.
-I think we need to
pick this up another time.
It's been a long couple of days.
-I'll walk you out, Detective.
-[sighs]
[front door opens]
[crows cawing in distance]

[ominous music]

[indistinct conversation]
[crows cawing]
[distant train horn]
[distant train horn]
[crow cawing]
ELLA: That detective's
a bit of an ass.
KATE: He's not so bad.
He's just doing his job.
-I guess.
KATE: Have you been
sleeping okay?
-My parents say too much.
They think I'm traumatized,
or depressed, or both.
-You need to let them
worry about you.
Not everybody has that.
[crows cawing in distance]
-Well, how about you?
-Truth?
[crows cawing]
I'm getting these...
-Kate, your nose is bleeding.
Oh my God, hold on.


[Buster growling]
[ominous music]
-Hey, Buster.
Hey, it's okay.
[Buster snarling and barking]
[Kate screams]
Ella!
[Buster barking viciously]
Ella!
[screams]
Ella!
[Buster barking]
Ella! [screaming]
[Buster barking]
-Buster, no!
[Buster barking]
Mom!
-Oh, Jesus.
[dramatic music]
MICHELLE: Oh my God!
Ella, call an ambulance!
-No. No, no, Ella, no, no,
he didn't bite me.
He didn't bite me.
-Buster!
Buster, hey, hey, hey.
Come here.
-It's just...
it's just a nosebleed.
It's just a nosebleed.
[Kate sobbing]
[unsettling music]
DAVID: Come on, come on.


DAVID: Hey,
what's gotten into you, huh?
Like it or not,
Kate is part of the family now,
so you better straighten up
or this'll become
a permanent situation out here.
[sighs]
Yeah...
I'm not sure how I
feel about it either.
[Buster panting]
-I think it stopped.
-Maybe it was the blood
that spooked him.
-Probably.
Scared the hell out of me,
that's for sure.
[door opens]
-Um, these should fit.
I put some other clothes
on the bed,
and I cleaned up in there.
KATE: Thanks.
-Let you finish
getting cleaned up.
Are you gonna be hungry?
We're gonna start dinner soon.
-Um, I think I'm just gonna
pack it in for the night
and try and get some sleep
if that's okay.
-Of course.
We'll see you in the morning.
[door shuts]
[eerie music]

[Buster whimpering]

[barking softly]
[whimpering]
[door rattling]
-Hey.
So, there's something
I wanna talk to you about.
-We should have
paid more attention
to who this Grayson guy was
before letting Ella
go with Kate.
-Uh, there's no way
we could have known
what was gonna happen.
Thank God they're both okay.
So...
-It says, "Grayson
believed he could predict
"he would take part in a chain
of events that would
"bring about
the end of the world.
"And by eliminating
those people,
"he would break that chain
"and prevent
the coming Armageddon."
-Yeah, he was nuts.
-It doesn't bother you
that he singled out Kate
and we don't know why?
-Would I like to know?
Sure.
But what--
what does it matter now?
He-- he was crazy
and now he's dead.
-[sighs]
What if he said
something to her?
Like his followers.
You know what they did.
-So, what, he--
he said something to Kate
and now she's under his control?
-No.
I don't know.
We hardly know her.
I mean, look at
what Buster did tonight.
That's not normal.
-She is the victim here, okay?
Her and our daughter,
both traumatized
by that asshole!
-I get it.
I'm just saying maybe...
Maybe this isn't
the right place for her.
Maybe she should be somewhere
she could get...
therapy or something.
-She needs to be
with her family.
And I'm not turning
my back on her.
Not again.
-The detective thinks she knows
more than she's saying.
That maybe she is just milking
the publicity for her book.
-She doesn't even know
if she wants to finish her book.
-What was it
you wanted to talk about?
-It can wait.








-[Grayson's voice
playing faintly on video]
GRAYSON: ...to willingly
participate
in an immoral act...
KATE: [in a whisper]
What else are you trying to...
But why me?
-[gasps]
[knocks on door]
Kate?
Are you awake?
KATE: Yeah, I'm up.

KATE: Hey.
Haven't been able to sleep.
-I, um...
I found this while
I was cleaning up before.
My mom never talks about it.
I-- I didn't know that you
and my mom were in the car.
-This is probably the best photo
I have of my parents.
I'm gonna try
and get some sleep.
-Oh, yeah.
Um, of course.
I'll... see you in the morning.
-Night.
[door shuts]
[Buster barking]
[barking and door rattling]
[ominous music]
[Buster barking outside]
-[sighs]
[barking continues]
-He's just pissed
we locked him out there.
He'll tire himself out.
[barking continues]

[Buster barking
and scratching door]
[door rattling]
[barking continues]
[light buzzing]
[eerie music]


[Buster barking outside]
[crickets chirping outside]
[Buster barking outside]
-[sighs]
[barking continues]
[shuffling sound]
[eerie trickling]
[deep exhalation]
[Kate screams]
[gasping in terror]
-[lamp clatters]
-Aah!
[breathing shakily]
[quiet, eerie music]

[ominous music]

[dramatic music]

-[glass cracks]
-[Kate gasps]
[items breaking]
KATE: [groans]
Michelle!
[Kate grunting and struggling]
[glass breaks]
[screams]
[window shatters]
[Kate screams]
-You need to listen to me.
-[people screaming]
-[light buzzing]
-I need you to kill.
GUARDS: Get off!
Get off!
-You need to kill.
[Kate screaming]
[gunshot]
[Kate gasps]
GRAYSON: [indistinct speech]
So really it's about moral
ambiguity versus conviction.
Decisions you make, day in,
day out that shape your life.
Which path do you take?
Think about that this weekend,
and I will see you all Monday.
[indistinct conversation]

[ominous music]


[ominous music continues]





[sinister music]

[birds chirping]
[birds calling]
-Buster?
Buster?
[crow cawing]
Buster?
[grunts]
Perfect.
[lock clanking]
[grunts]
[bag thuds down]
DAVID: Buster!

Buster!


DAVID: Buster!


DAVID: Buster!
[eerie music]
-[gasps]


DAVID: Buster!

[ominous music]




-Hey, you're up.
Did Buster keep you awake
with his barking last night?
-I didn't hear anything.
I guess I fell asleep
pretty hard.
Did he get out?
-Looks like it.
Don't worry.
I'm sure he'll be back soon.
Buster isn't one to miss a meal.
-Hey, has Kate come down yet?
I wanted to ask her something.
-Not yet.
I'm sure she's still sleeping.
-I don't think so.
I knocked twice;
she didn't answer.
-She's not in the bathroom?
Can you finish this?
-Sure.
-Thanks.
[crow cawing in distance]
[chopping with knife]
[knock on door]
MICHELLE: Kate,
are you in there?
[knocks]
I'm coming in, okay?
[door creaks]
[breathing nervously]
[birds chirping outside]
[sighs]
[eerie music]

[exhales]



[tools clinking]
[ominous music]
[insects buzzing
and birds chirping]
-[sighs]
[branch breaks]
[David sighs]
[branch breaks]
[ominous music]

[flies buzzing]

[branch breaks]
Buster, is that you?
[sighs]
Look, my patience
is wearin' thin here, buddy.
You make nice with Kate,
you can come back in the house.
[branch breaks]
[unsettling music]

DAVID: Buster!
[grass rustles]
[David groans]
-Dad, breakfast!
[flies buzzing]
[David groans]
ELLA: Dad!
DAVID: Yeah!
I'll be right in.
[flies buzzing
and crows cawing]
[suspenseful music]


[door shuts]
[grunts with effort]
[exhales]
[flies buzzing]
[David sighs]
[flies buzzing]
DAVID: Buster!
[buzzing of flies intensifies]
DAVID: Buster!


MICHELLE: Hey, what happened?
DAVID: Hmm?
-You're bleeding.
-Oh, I, uh, I tripped
looking for Buster.
-Oh, no, don't touch it.
Your hands are dirty.
ELLA: You didn't find him?
DAVID: No.
No, he's not far.
He'll come pokin'
his nose around
as soon as he gets hungry.
MICHELLE: You were gone
early this morning.
Didn't even have your coffee.
-Yeah, I just wanted
to check on him.
Where's Kate?
She not eating?
ELLA: Um...
MICHELLE: We're not sure
where she is.
DAVID: What do you mean?
How can you not know
where she is?
-Um, she's not in her room.
Not in the house.
-She probably
just went for a walk.
-Should we be concerned?
Should someone
go lookin' for her?
-Um, I think last night...
I don't know, when I
woke up this morning--
[door opens]
-Just in time for breakfast.
-Thanks, I'm starving.
-You had everyone wondering
where you'd gotten to.
-Oh, I just needed some air.
I didn't get much sleep
last night.
-Have you seen this?
A friend just sent that to me.
-Well, that's bullshit.
MICHELLE: I don't understand.
She died of a stroke.
She was 89 years old.
KATE: There's
no new sound bites,
so they're just making shit up.
-Can I see it?
KATE: It's not true.
-Some of them just say
whatever they want these days.
ELLA: An anonymous source says
an inquiry is likely
to be open within days.
-Anonymous.
MICHELLE: See?
It could be anyone.
DAVID: Or...
Or maybe Kate is
the anonymous source.
Maybe Kate wants to get
as much publicity for her book
as she can.
-David.
-No.
Let's be honest here.
We're all family.
MICHELLE: David, stop it.
DAVID: No, she needs
to hear this.
Kate...
Are you listening to me?
[both scream]
MICHELLE: No, stop!
Stop, get off!
-You need to listen to me, Kate.
MICHELLE: Stop! Stop, David!
ELLA: Dad!
MICHELLE: David, stop!
-Stop!
-David, please, get off!
David, get off, please!
-You need to kill.
-[stabbing sound]
-[David yells]
-[Michelle screams]
[David gasps]

[Kate breathing heavily]
-[sighs]
What the hell was that?
-She's traumatized, alright?
-Okay.
She needs professional help.
-I can't do this right now.
-She needs to be somewhere
where people can--
[Kate whimpering]
-Is it deep?
-I don't know.
It won't stop bleeding.
-Can I see?


-I'm kinda making
a habit of this, huh?
-It's just a bit of
a rough patch.
Here, have a seat.
I'll clean you up.




-You don't believe what
that article's saying, do you?
-No.
Of course not.
[Kate winces]
[ominous trickling sound]
[Kate grunts]
-I'm sorry, did I hurt you?
-No.
No, just a bit.
It's fine.
-Are you okay?
[knock on door]
DAVID: Hey, uh,
Ella's gonna give me a hand
with the shed door,
if you're lookin' for her.
-Alright.
Almost done.
Look, I know you've
always resented me
for not taking you
after Mom and Dad died.
-I don't resent you.
-I know things weren't great
with Aunt June.
-That's a bit of
an understatement.
-I was...
I was just dealing with
my own depression and--
and other things.
The last thing that you
needed was to be with me.
-You seem to be doing alright.
Ella turned out okay.
[phone ringing]
-David, Ella,
are you still here?
[phone ringing]
MICHELLE: Here.
I'll be right back.
[ominous music]

[indistinct police radios]
[line trilling]
MICHELLE: [phone]
Hello?
-Mrs. Moore,
it's Detective Brener.
-Good morning, Detective.
How can I help you?
-Well, I was hoping to
come to the house today
and finish my talk with Kate.
See if maybe
she remembers anything new.
-Not as far as I know.
She didn't sleep
much last night,
so I don't think
today is a good idea.
BRENER: Well, it's just
a few things to go over.
Won't take any time.
Mrs. Moore?
MICHELLE: Did you
see the article
that came out this morning?
An inquiry
into her aunt's death,
suggesting that Kate may have
had something to do with it.
-I saw it, yeah.
Uh, but it's not coming from us.
With all the media,
it could be a local authority
trying to get a bit of that
spotlight to shine on them.
-So there's nothing to it?
-It's something
I'm gonna follow up on.
-I see.
-Mrs. Moore...
It really is important
that I talk with Kate soon.
-Well, I have your card.
I'll call you in the morning and
let you know how she's doing.
Thank you.
[phone beeps off]
-That was fast.
You tell her?
-Never got the chance.
KATE: [in a whisper]
No, I don't want to.
Just leave me alone.
I understand,
but why does it need to be me?
I don't know if I can do that.
Just leave me alone
like you said.
Uh... uh...
I wasn't snooping.
I was just looking
for a bandage.
-David and Ella don't know yet,
so if you could just not...
-Of course.


[ominous music]

Are you happy about it?
The baby?
-I don't know
how I feel about it yet.
Here.

Did I just hear you
talking to someone?
-Who would I be talking to?
-Right.


MICHELLE: Look, maybe...
maybe it is a good idea
for you to see someone.
-A therapist?
-[dramatic music]
-[Kate gasps]
-Kate...?

KATE: I'm sorry.
Can we just...
not do this right now?
I really need some sleep.

[sinister music]

[eerie music]


-I brought you something
to help you sleep.
Still being light out.
-Thanks.

-You started working
on your book again.
So soon.
-Yeah.
Just doing a bit of research.



When Ella was
cleaning up before,
she found this.
[Michelle sighs]


-You didn't tell her
we were in the car.
[truck horn honking]
-I didn't think she needed
that image in her head.
[groans]
[panting]

I'll let you get some sleep.
-I lied to you before.
-About...?
-My car.
It's not in the shop.
I had to sell it for the money.
I was too embarrassed
to admit it before, but...
I'm broke.
So I don't really have a choice.
I have to finish the book.
-Well...
You'll have a hell of an ending.


[door creaks and shuts]









KATE: You did it on purpose.
[phone ringing in distance]
[phone ringing in distance]

[phone ringing]
-Hello?
BRENER: [phone] Mrs. Moore,
it's Detective Brener again.
-[sighs]
Detective, I thought
we were speaking tomorrow.
-Yes, but I... I have
some new information
I think you should be aware of.
-Alright...
BRENER: We're pretty sure
we know how Grayson found Kate.
-Okay...?
-Did Kate ever mention
who the former occupant
of her apartment was?
-No, but why would that matter?
-Well, I shouldn't
tell you this, but...
Amanda Jennings.
An early follower of Grayson's.
She shot and killed
an Ohio school teacher
five years ago
before killing herself.
-No, there--
You're-- you're not
suggesting that...
BRENER: Mrs. Moore, you know--
-No, there-- there's gotta be
an explanation here.
Research...
Do-- doing research.
Y'know, she couldn't have
been the-- the first writer
who wanted to get close
to her subjects.
-No.
No, I'm--
I'm sure she wouldn't.
I just wanted you to be aware.
-Well, I appreciate that,
Detective.
BRENER: How are things going
over there, Mrs. Moore?
-Everyone is still coming
to terms with what happened.
BRENER: Well,
I'd say that's expected.
Mrs. Moore,
it's really quite important
that I finish
my conversation with Kate.
Now more than ever,
given this new information.
-She's still sleeping.
She probably will be
for the better part of the day.
Thank you, Detective.
[phone beeps off]
[sighs]
[thud]
[dramatic music]
-[sighs]
[unsettling music]

DAVID: Hey, Ella?
Can you bring back some water
when you're done?
-Yeah, okay!
[rifling through fridge]
[ominous music]





[muffled thud]
[eerie music]
-Mom?
[ominous music]




[crow cawing]

[Ella screams in distance]
ELLA: Dad!
[dramatic music]

-Ella?!
[breathing heavily]

What have you done?
-I-I haven't-- I haven't
done anything!
I was just sleep--
-Ella!
Ella!
Michelle!
Michelle!
DAVID: Ella!
Michelle!
Ella!
[suspenseful music]
DAVID: Michelle!
Jesus.
Oh, Jesus.
Oh my God.
Hey...
Hey, hey.
Oh my God.
[ominous music]
I'm gonna call 911, okay?
Oh my God.
Where's Ella?
Where's Ella?
-I don't know.
I don't know, I don't know--
-Where is she?
[grunts with effort]
-[Kate crying]
-Where is she?
-[crying]
I don't know!
-Where is Ella?
-I don't know!
-[arm thudding]
-[knife hits floor]
[Kate crying]
-Where is she?
-I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
[David grunts]
-[Kate grunts]
-Ella!
KATE: Please,
I would never hurt them!
DAVID: Shut up.
Ella!
[ominous music]
DAVID: Ella!
KATE: Please...
Please!
Please, there's something
you don't understand!
-[thud]
-[David groans]
-[murmuring]

[door creaks opens]
No, please...
[dramatic music]
Please...
Please, no.
Please, leave us alone.
Please...
[crying]
Please, no!
No!
What do you want?
Please!
Where are the guns?

Please...
Please, no!
No, please!
[slow ticking sound]
[slow ticking continues]
[suspenseful music]

[handcuffs clink]
[breathing deeply]
[sinister music]
[metronome ticking]



[chain scratching post]
[chair creaking]
[Kate grunts with effort]
[panicked whimpering]
[gasps]


[sighs]
KATE: Eddy...
What... what did you give me?
-Don't worry.
Something to help you remember.
It's very important
that you remember.
We've been very patient.
Now it's time.

[metronome ticking]

-Where's Ella?
-She's safe,
but somewhere you're unlikely
to find without my help.
-[takes a deep breath]
-But let's hope
it doesn't come to that.
I need you to focus, Kate.
Everything Grayson has done
was leading him to you,
to give you a message, a name.
All of our fates depend
on you remembering it.
Do you understand that?
-You don't really believe.
-Oh, I do believe.
Spend as much time with Grayson
as I have
and you begin to see
something that is...
incredibly rare.
The truth.
[metronome ticking]
-Grayson wasn't the first.
They... they killed my parents.
-Yes.
Yes, Grayson's predecessor
thought it ended
with your mother.
His, um, his vision
wasn't as strong as Grayson's.
[Kate breathing slowly]
[eerie music]
-It's... it's all bullshit.

-Have you been
seeing things, Kate?
Visions that are so real.
You may be our future.
Now is the time for you
to finish what Grayson didn't.
[sinister music]

-It's-- it's me.
He told me to kill myself.
-Kate, you know
it doesn't work that way.
Killing ourselves is a choice.
We choose to do it
to prove our convictions.
-Okay.
Okay, the truth--
the truth is...
he told me to kill you.
[chair slides back loudly]

[handcuffs unlock]

-If he told you to kill me,
then kill me.
But be sure.
Because killing me
also kills Ella.
And you don't want us
both to die for nothing.
-[sobbing]



-I'll know when
you're telling the truth, Kate.
[metronome ticking]

-Eddy...
Fuck you.
-[loud slap]
-[Kate screams]
GRAYSON: You need
to listen to me.
-[screaming]


[echoing groans and screams]
-It's time.
-[screaming]
GRAYSON: You need to kill.
-[groans]
-He's here to help you.
So stop fucking around!
[Kate gasps]
KATE: Get him off!
EDDY: Get off!
-You need to kill Ella.
-[screams]
No!
[gunshot]
[Kate gasps]
BRENER: Drop it, Eddy!
[gunshot]
KATE: No!
-Kate, are you hurt?
-Eddy, Eddy, Eddy, Eddy...
I believe, I believe.
Eddy, I believe now.
-Kate, are you hurt?
-Hey.
-The name he gave me is Ella.
I need to know where Ella is.
I need to finish this.
-Behind... the house.
Walk.
BRENER: We're gonna
get you some help.
Kate, talk to me!
[suspenseful music]
EDDY: Train tracks...
...will be near.
EDDY: ...will guide you.
-Okay, everything's
gonna be alright.

Hey, Kate, Kate...
-[groans]
-Everything's
gonna be alright, okay?
It's over.
It's all over.
Let's get you out of here.
BRENER: It's okay.
I got you, I got you, I got you.
[ominous music]


[door unlatches]
[Michelle crying]
[indistinct
police radio chatter]
[sirens wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter
continues]
[sombre music]

[indistinct radio chatter
continues]
[siren whooping]


[electrical buzzing]

[buzzing continues]


[eerie music]

[mysterious music]

-Your sister and brother-in-law
are gonna be okay.
-You should know
Michelle's pregnant.
-The EMTs are aware.
Things are looking good there.
Did he say anything
that could help us find Ella?
-I tried to get him
to say it, but...
-Okay, well...
It'll be easier to search
once it gets bright.
We'll find her.
-How did you know
to come tonight?
-I didn't.
Your sister was keeping me from
speaking to you, so I thought,
hard to say no if
I'm standing on your doorstep.
[indistinct
police radio chatter]
-So, what happened
in the basement?
I heard you screaming, and...
I know Eddy
said something to you.
-I'm not sure what
you're talking about.
OFFICER: [radio]
Detective Brener?
We found something in the shed.
-Alright.
Be right there.
[ominous music]



[suspenseful music]

[door unlatches]




KATE: Ella!
Ella!







Ella!
[unsettling music]








KATE: Ella!
Ella!
[ominous music]

[Kate breathing deeply]
[train horn in distance]

[train horn in distance]
[flies buzzing]
[Ella whimpering]
[footsteps approaching]

[Ella moaning]

[Ella whimpering]
-Ella!
[Ella whimpering]
[suspenseful music]
[Ella whimpering
and flies buzzing]

[Ella whimpering
and flies buzzing]
[flies buzzing]
KATE: Don't worry.
It'll be over soon.
[Ella whimpering]
[suspenseful music]
[muffled, panicked sounds]

[silence]
[flies buzzing]
[train horn]
[breathing shakily]
[train horn]
-Kate!
Where are you going?
[ominous music]

Kate, why aren't
you answering me?
[train horn]
[train horn]
[train horn]
[groans in pain]
[train horn getting louder]
ELLA: What are you doing?
Get out of there!
[brakes screeching]
ELLA: Kate,
why are you doing this?
Get out of there!
Please, don't!
No!
[yells]
[train roaring past]
[phone ringing]
[indistinct
police radio chatter]
REYES: The phone they found
in Eddy Hall's car,
the techs finally unlocked it.
Looks like
it belonged to Kate Harris.
-Anyone go through it?
REYES: No, they're
leaving that for you.
They said the, uh,
the voice memo app
was the last thing opened.
Oh, and, uh,
her aunt's death...
Confirmed, natural causes.
[answering phone]
Reyes.
Yeah.
Great.
Give me one second.
Yeah.
I'll confirm that.
JUDGE: [recording]
Please bring in the offender.
[distorted speech]
JUDGE: You are before
this court today
to be sentenced
on 53 counts of murder.
GRAYSON: [distorted speech]
I have been presented here,
and in the media,
as a monster.
Indeed, my actions
have been monstrous.
They are all in the service...
of a greater good.
[commotion and Kate screaming]
GRAYSON: You need to hear me.
KATE: Get off!
ELLA: Get him off of her!
EDDY: Get off! Get off!
GRAYSON: You need to
listen to me.
[crowd yelling]
GRAYSON: You need to kill...
EDDY: Get off! Get off!
[Kate grunting]
-You need to kill Ella.
Michelle, David.
Kill them all.
Do you hear me, Detective?
[Kate screaming]
-[gunshot]
-[crowd screaming]
EDDY: Get off!
GRAYSON: You need to kill
Ella, Michelle, David.
Kill them all.
Do you hear me, Detective?
[Kate screaming]
-[gunshot]
-[crowd screaming]
[sinister music]

REYES: Everything alright?
BRENER: It will be.
[ominous music
and metronome ticking]


OFFICER: Thank you.



[sombre, foreboding music]




[sighs]
[safety on gun clicks]

[gunshot]
ELLA (VO): No one can say
why Detective Brener
did what he did.
Had years of digging
through the wreckage
left in Grayson's wake
proven too much?
Had Kate's death
pushed him over the edge?
We may never know,
but one thing is certain,
Brener's death marked
the end of a long trail
of senseless murders,
all in the name of
yet another false prophet.
TV INTERVIEWER:
And there you have it.
The nation's
number one bestseller
for three months now,
"Surviving Grayson,"
one family's harrowing escape
from the clutches
of America's deadliest cult.
I'd like to thank the author,
Ella Moore,
and her parents,
David and Michelle,
for allowing us
into their home today
for this in-depth conversation.
It's a tragic story
told with dignity and grace.
-Well, that's all Kate.
That's her writing.
I-- I just wanted
to see it finished for her
and for all the other victims.
-All of the proceeds
from the book
will be split between
the victims' families
and the Foundation
for Cult Deterrence.
INTERVIEWER: Ella,
will you be following
in Kate's footsteps,
pursuing a career in writing?
-Uh...
[chuckles]
We'll see
what the future brings.