Demon Behind the Glass (2023) Movie Script
1
(low ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(blood splatters)
(insect skittering)
(ominous music continues)
(insects skittering)
(blood splatters)
(tense music)
(Rogers grunts)
- Damn house.
Hey, Isaac, you still in there?
Sure are taking your sweet time.
Damn house!
Some demon trap you turned out to be.
I guess neither side want ya. (groans)
Hey, we're gonna have a guest later.
A house guest.
Behave yourself. Play nice.
He's paying your rent.
Someone has to.
(sink pipes groan)
(eerie music)
(wind whistling)
(floorboards creaking)
(tense music)
(bag unzipping)
(paper shuffling)
(tense music)
(Rogers screaming)
(blood splatters)
(intense music)
(cell phone buzzing)
- I'm telling you, I wouldn't
be here unless I was...
I'm telling you, I wouldn't be here
unless I was convinced that...
I'm telling you I wouldn't be here
unless I was fully convinced.
Fully convinced after hearing your story.
(flask rattling)
I'm telling you I wouldn't
be here unless I was...
(pills rattling)
fully convinced...
fully...
(medicine crunching)
convinced.
Fully convinced. Fully convinced.
(movement inside wall)
(light bulb buzzing)
(bangs on wall)
That's exactly what I'm here for,
to give this story the
attention it deserves.
Ew. Gross.
(insect skittering)
(flask slams)
(movement inside wall)
(floorboards creaking)
(animal warbling)
How am I supposed to see
any work done around here?
(uneasy music)
Where's my phone?
(light bulb buzzing)
Now where's my phone?
(stranger wheezing)
Jeez!
(Jonathan sighs)
You scared me, man.
- Rogers, right?
I've been trying to get ahold of you.
I'm Jonathan Birdsall. I'm the new tenant.
I'm the reporter.
(unsettling music)
We spoke on the phone.
- Rogers has been a hard
one to nail down, boss.
I think you dropped your phone.
I'm the exterminator.
- For the...
- The coon in the wall.
Yeah, I'm taking care of it. (chuckles)
- Is that blood?
- No.
It's sap.
The trees get like that sometimes
when the soil gets outta whack.
I'll set a trap.
So if you see dangling strips of bacon,
don't touch. (chuckles)
(both chuckling)
- Bacon. Huh.
I have an interview in the morning.
It's kind of important.
I'd prefer if the little demon
stayed outta sight until she left.
- What's your story?
- Me?
- You said you're a
reporter. What's your story?
- Fracking. It's update
on upstate fracking.
I think.
- You think?
- You know, I have a sense
about these things, my stories.
They don't always come to me at once.
It's kind of like following
a whisper in the dark.
- Well, I hope you find
whatever it is you're hunting.
I always do.
- The upstairs bathroom.
There's a hollow space behind the mirror.
It might be where the
little bastard's hiding.
- Rogers wouldn't want
us poking behind walls.
But I guess what Rogers don't
know won't kill him. (laughs)
You see that closet?
That one there.
Well, behind that wall
you'll find some tools.
Careful though.
Never know what you're gonna
find in these old houses.
(door closes)
(journal thuds)
(intense percussion music)
(unsettling music)
(unsettling music continues)
(drill whirring)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan sniffs)
Oh, man.
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
(intense music)
- Isaac Bellator.
- You know him?
- I'd recognize that poncho anywhere.
He's a local peeping Tom.
Went missing about a year ago.
Picked him up a couple times
looking at girls ta-tas.
Pervy, but harmless.
- Why the raincoat
- Kid was touched in the head.
- Mentally challenged?
- Call it what you want.
Looks like he found a way
to get a close enough seat
for shower play, and he got himself stuck.
- Like that?
Could he even see back there?
- Kid liked boobs.
Clint, did you see an inhaler in there?
- I don't see one
- Kid had the worst asthma.
Maybe got excited and forgot to breathe.
- Right, so your peeping Tom just died
hyperventilating to shower porn?
- Look, be nice. It's a small community.
Everybody here is family.
How's it look there, Clint?
- If he's coming out,
this wall isn't staying.
- Great.
Well, and I can't get
in touch with Rogers.
Looks like I'm gonna need you to sign off
on some of this financial responsibility,
at least until your landlord gets back.
- What financial responsibility?
- It's how we do things
here. It's just a formality.
Just covers the crew, well,
Clint, in case of damages.
- Just a formality.
- How much damages?
- [Clint] $5,000.
(Jonathan scoffs)
- Just sign here and initial there.
- Rogers is the owner.
He needs to sign that.
- And when he gets back
into town, he will.
And I can't get in touch with him,
and there is a dead body in the wall.
So sign here, initial there,
and we can get this over with.
- Clint, put the mirror back up.
I won't even know he's there.
- Oh yes, you will.
- Be my drinking buddy then.
- You gonna be able to sleep
with a dead body in the wall?
Always somebody trying to
make easy decisions difficult.
Fine.
You've got one night
with your drinking buddy.
(cellphone buzzing)
(cellphone thuds)
I'll be back tomorrow, with a crew.
One way or another,
that body's coming out.
- I don't care what you do.
I just don't want any part of it.
- See ya tomorrow.
(cellphone buzzing)
- [Clint] Your phone's ringing.
(insects chirring)
(cellphone buzzing)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(cellphone beeps)
- [Mike] This is Mike from the Tribune,
and you know why I'm calling, and calling.
Imagine my shock when accounting tells me
you are still submitting expense
reports after what you did.
Expenses are what employees have.
Since you are no longer an employee,
well, this is the last time
we're having this conversation.
John, what are you doing anyway?
Writing a comeback story
on fracking? Really?
What are you going to do with that?
This story has been beaten to dea-
(cellphone beeps)
(troubled music)
(Jonathan winces)
- Good job cleaning up
after yourself, Clint.
(water running)
(Jonathan groans)
Oh, god.
(Jonathan groans)
(water gurgles)
(pipes groan)
(insect skittering)
(skittering continues)
(water running)
(turns off faucet)
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
"When a demon leaves a man,
it goes to the dry places, seeking rest.
Finding none, it says, 'I
will return to my house
from which I came,'
and when he returns, he finds
it swept clean, put in order,
and it goes and it takes
with him seven other demons
more wicked than himself,
and they dwell there.
The last state of that man
is worse than the first."
Luke 11:26.
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
"The last state of that man
is worse than the first."
All right.
(water running)
(Jonathan groans)
So you got stuck and
couldn't breathe, huh?
Since when do accidents
leave instructions?
(mysterious music)
Sounds like you've got a story to tell.
(flask rattling)
What do you say, little buddy?
Imagine the story we could tell together.
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(floorboards creaking)
(ominous music continues)
(floorboards creaking)
(bones creaking)
(ominous music continues)
(bones creaking)
(Jonathan gasps)
(Jonathan groans)
(bird cawing)
(Jonathan groans)
(cellphone buzzing)
(Jonathan grumbles)
(insects chirring)
(atmospheric music)
(atmospheric music continues)
(atmospheric music continues)
(ominous music)
(metallic click)
Oh, god.
Oh, god, I don't have time for this.
(leaves rustling)
Please don't blow up.
Please don't blow up
Please don't blow up.
Please don't blow up.
(vehicle approaching)
God, I don't have time for this.
(car door opens)
- Hi
Debra Banks with DEC.
You must be Mr. Birdsall.
What do you got going on over there?
- Uh, that's nothing really.
- Really?
- Yeah, a a local exterminator
set a trap for something.
- Is that bacon?
- Yeah, you know what,
guy came over last night with an ax
and told me not to touch
the dangling bacon,
so I'm gonna leave that right there.
The service is pretty spotty out here.
Starting to sound like a
horror movie, right? (chuckles)
Do you wanna come inside?
Or no?
- Are you really into this fracking story?
- Yeah.
I really...
I'm really convinced that this
story is just that important.
The people, the nation.
- And what are you gonna find here
that everybody else missed?
- There's more.
I think there's more here locally,
and that's what I'm here
for, to give the story
the attention it deser-
- And, truthfully, what
would that story be?
- Are you Googling me?
- Is there something to
Google, Jonathan Birdsall?
(tense music)
- You know what?
Forget the interview. It's fine.
There's another story
developing here anyway.
- Just like that.
- You know what? Yeah.
(trap booms)
(raccoon screeching)
(blood splatters)
(Debra screams)
(water running)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- Come on, Rogers, pick up.
Pick up, Rogers. Come on.
(cellphone buzzing)
(water running)
(faucet gurgles)
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
Please tell me there's
another number in here.
What?
(water running)
(intense music)
(music stops)
(unsettling music)
(corpse wheezing)
(bones creaking)
(bones creaking)
(shower turns off)
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra screams)
(intense music)
(corpse wheezing)
(bones creaking)
(intense music)
(Jonathan gasps)
Oh, God, no.
Oh!
(Jonathan shouting)
(intense music)
Oh, God, no!
Oh my God!
(Jonathan screaming)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouting)
(Jonathan gasping)
Debra.
(tense music)
Deb?
Debra.
Are you okay?
Deb?
(floorboards creaking)
- [Debra] Get out!
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
- [Debra] Get out! Get out!
(birds chirping)
- That's a live trap.
Y'all must have missed that concept.
(birds chirping)
You mess with that trap?
- No.
I mean, I checked it out.
- Did you tamper, disable,
destroy or touch that trap?
- I touched it, just to investigate.
- I see.
- And you, ma'am?
Wanna gimme the description of
that assailant one more time?
- I told you, I don't know!
It all happened so fast!
- So what you're telling me is
this is the only witness
to said assailant?
Was he sober?
Last time I saw him, he
was drunk and belligerent.
- You saw Isaac's body.
- You refused examination.
I don't know if that was Isaac's body.
- I refused police extortion!
- Hm.
I think you came here to sell a story.
- What are you getting at, Sheriff?
- Do you know how much force it takes
to turn that raccoon into spaghetti?
What's a body doing
curdling behind a wall?
What's a reporter doing
digging behind the wall?
I don't have enough information
to write this thing down in a report.
Now, you got 24 hours to
either return that body
or whatever model you made,
or I'm coming back here to arrest you.
- For what?
- For theft of human remains.
For possible animal cruelty.
For pissing me off!
Oh, I can get real creative,
so don't test me on this!
24 hours.
(tense music)
(door closes)
- [Interviewer] One minute, Mr. Birdsall.
We're gonna adjust these lights,
and we'll be ready for your interview.
(Jonathan chuckles)
- Why are you here?
- I wanna show our support.
Such a brave thing you're doing here.
- Right.
- Well, I heard your paper
agreed to review your article's sources.
You know. Make sure that the
people said what you said.
- I know what review means.
- [Lawyer] Good.
You have 24 hours to review.
Just think of that during your interview.
24 hours.
(brooding music)
(brooding music continues)
(brooding music continues)
(dramatic music)
- Would it really have been that difficult
to not offer a shower to a pregnant lady
across from a dead guy?
- How was I supposed to know a
spirit boner would bring him back?
- That's your reasoning?
- Look, you're not one to talk
about communication skills, okay?
I mean, really, would it have killed you
to tell the police what happened?
I mean, now no one's gonna believe me.
- [Debra] I don't know what happened!
- You have eyes, you have ears,
and a bite you didn't show up with!
- You have this story all
worked out in your head.
You see cults, you hear demons.
All I have is a new scar and
shame I don't understand!
- Look, I need you to help
me walk through my story.
- An hour ago, your
story was about fracking.
Now it's about a resurrected
peeping Tom that bites!
- I can't explain it.
Look, I just...
I have a sense when it comes to stories.
It's like a smell that I can follow.
Here.
I found this behind the bathroom mirror.
What does it look like to you?
- Is that blood?
- That's mine.
Look, that's not important.
Just read the passage.
It turns out it's from the Bible. Luke 11.
I know, it's...
Just read it.
- "When a demon leaves a man,
it goes to the dry
places, looking for rest.
(bones creaking)
Finding none, it returns,
finding it's home.
And the end state of that
man is worse than the first."
- Smells like a story to me.
Flip it.
(Debra sighs)
Flip it over.
See the star?
Seven points.
You see, I think this
depicts the seven demons
that traveled back with
the original demon.
- Is this drawn in blood?
- It might be. It's not mine.
- Oh!
- Hey!
(Jonathan blowing)
- And this excites you?
If true, what did you unleash?
- First, if the peeping Tom
had a perverted spirit in him,
it's your bloody shower that woke him up,
so let's watch where we cast blame.
Secondly, the story is good.
- Did you read how that story ends?
Seven worse spirits move in,
and that man is worse
off than when he started.
In the story, who do
you think that man is?
- Look, I'm a grown man.
I like sugar in my coffee,
and I don't like scary movies,
but this, this story is going somewhere.
- Who stops the bus?
I stop the bus.
This is where I get off.
- [Jonathan] What?
(Debra sighs)
- For years, I have been
questioning my own sanity.
This morning, I woke up
feeling pretty confident.
Went to work.
Started feeling like a human being.
Right now I'm 25-75 in favor of crazy.
I'm going to be a mom.
Wherever you and this story are headed,
I don't want any part of it!
- [Jonathan] Debra, wait!
- Don't call me again!
(dramatic music)
(car beeping)
(Debra banging on steering wheel)
(Debra screams)
(Debra breathing heavily)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
What am I doing?
Why am I here?
(unsettling music)
- [Rogers] You know them as demons.
They are the disembodied
spirits of ancient gods
and the giants of old.
They crave to live in flesh again,
to feel what the flesh feels,
and that is our bargaining chip,
our bargaining chip to greatness.
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra gasps)
- It's just to keep the bugs away.
Do you want me to get you decaf instead?
- I'm sorry.
I...
Today has been interesting.
- What happened to your neck?
- I got bit.
- Oh my god.
- It's fine.
It's interesting working for the DEC.
- I'm going to pretend
like that's not disturbing,
and it makes sense that the DEC
is questioning me about my ex.
(Debra spits)
- Your ex?
Your ex is Isaac?
- Wow. Somebody's a little judgy.
- I'm sorry. I didn't
realize your boyfriend was...
- A wheezing creeper.
- Not the words I was gonna use.
- Accurate
- Ballpark.
- Now, he was different back then.
Back in the day, he
actually had it going on.
- What happened?
- He had dreams and ambitions that...
(high-pitched ringing)
never came to light.
The drugs didn't help.
He did have an Uncle
Rogers that did try to help
- Uncle Rogers?
(dramatic music)
- Yeah, we're restless.
What are we even doing here?
- What, the coven?
We just made a sacrifice last week.
- We need to see
something. Something more.
- Did you ever see a demon summoning?
- Can I document?
(Rogers screaming)
(ax chops)
(blood splatters)
(corpse wheezing)
- Yeah, Rogers started a guy group,
- I'm sorry.
The Rogers that owns the rental
property on Deer Kill Road?
- You're connecting
dots. What's the picture?
- I think I...
I need to know more about Isaac.
- You see, that's the thing.
Once there were changes,
we went our separate ways.
I packed so many boxes.
This doesn't look like much.
That's just because you
can't see the emotional ones.
(Debra gasps)
Calm down. It's just the cat.
He bumps into things.
Eyeless, stop hiding!
- Your cat doesn't have eyes?
- Sure he does it. They're just cosmetic.
Glass, I think.
What is your problem?
There's something
seriously wrong with you.
You're insane.
You're not behaving like a normal person.
Hey, why are you here?
The truth this time.
- I don't know.
I'm trying to figure that out.
- Well, you have a strange
way of lying your way to it.
The truth, or leave now.
(corpse wheezing)
(mysterious music)
Eyeless?
(mysterious music continues)
(horn honking)
(Debra sighs)
(anxious music)
- Hey, Debra.
- I didn't...
I don't trust you.
But right now, I don't
trust myself either.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
I recently lost somebody.
Someone really important.
It set me back a few ways.
And it might have changed
the way I see things.
- I'm sorry to hear that.
- No.
No, that's not what
I'm getting at. It's...
I need another set of
eyes and ears on this.
That's where you come in.
- Are you sure you want to know
what these ears and eyes have found?
You gotta check this out.
- [Rogers] Demons equal power.
More demons equals more power.
They're junkies for the
passion of the living.
Hunger, lust, rage.
Basically, the contents of your soul
felt through your living flesh.
So we deal.
Grant them your will and your emotions,
and they share their
power and perspective.
Combined, know what you couldn't.
Do what you couldn't. Be who you couldn't.
(ominous music)
- That's ridiculous.
You're saying Isaac was
willingly possessed by the demon?
- I was thinking about that too.
At its core, this is a
very weird comeback story.
It's like demons are the patron
saints of second chances.
- That's your take?
- Isn't that the story?
(Debra scoffs)
- Yeah, I'm worried about you.
I'm worried that you're too eager,
eager for anything that's change.
- Change is good.
(Debra scoffs)
- You're...
You're like a dirty sponge.
- A dirty sponge?
- Yeah, A dirty sponge. A dry sponge.
If this is what you're willing...
This is what you're soaking up,
I don't wanna be anywhere near
you when you get squeezed.
(ominous music)
- Eyeless?
Eyeless, are you in here?
Eyeless?
Eyeless?
Eyeless, are you out here?
Eyeless?
(distant thud)
(marble rattling)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(disturbing music)
(bones creaking)
(Lynette shouts)
(Lynette choking)
(Lynette choking)
(blood spurts)
(door creaks)
- Lynette?
Lynette?
- Are you sure this is the way to do this,
just go walk in?
(Debra sighs)
- Lynette, where are you?
I'm sorry I left.
I'm ready to tell the truth.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(unsettling music)
(Debra screams)
(dramatic music)
- Is that Lynette?
- She was alive when I left her.
Isaac does more than bite.
(Jonathan sighs)
- Sheriff's gonna love this.
(tarp rustling)
(corpse wheezing)
(dramatic music)
(door slams)
- [Debra] What are you doing?
- Gonna get my story.
- He's running away! Let him!
- I can't.
All right, John.
You've interviewed mobsters and killers.
Yeah, you got this.
- Fine!
I'll call the police.
(ominous music)
(phone ringing)
- [Dispatcher] 911. What's your emergency?
(Jonathan coughing)
- Hey, buddy.
Still here?
(Jonathan coughing)
You know, you remind me of someone.
Her name was Gina.
Freshman year college
girlfriend. (coughing)
Super hot, super crazy.
You know the type. (coughing)
Lots of red flags.
Everybody saw 'em. (chuckles)
(Jonathan coughing)
(water pouring)
I just couldn't stay away.
(suspenseful music)
(Jonathan gasps)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouts)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan wheezing)
(ominous music)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan shouts)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan grunting)
(corpse snarls)
(Jonathan grunts)
(corpse thuds)
(Jonathan grunting)
(crowbar whacking)
(high-pitched ringing)
(mysterious music)
(dramatic music)
(chatter on police radio)
- [Dispatcher] 12-77.
Female body reported.
18 Igor Street. Proceed with caution.
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(garage door rumbling)
(garage door rumbling)
(ominous music)
(music stops)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(flame ignites)
(dramatic music continues)
(bones creaking)
(corpse wheezes)
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
- So.
We got no body.
No perpetrator.
Just the two of you that
broke into this house.
- They're obviously
cleaning up the evidence.
- They?
- The cult.
- The cult.
Did he tell you about that cult?
- You saw the deck, right?
Explain that!
- Did you see that on that porch,
or was that something he told you about?
(Debra sighs)
Mrs. Banks... (sighs)
I don't know how to say this delicately,
but
ever since, you know, you lost Bill...
I've been very proud
of the way that you've
gotten back on the
saddle and gotten to work
with what you got there, but
you gotta understand how this looks.
You're not the most credible witness.
You understand?
- Hey.
What's going on?
- I need you to stay right there.
You've done enough damage already.
Come on, boy. Stand up.
- Oh, god.
You've gotta be kidding me.
Jonathan Birdsall, I am arresting you...
- Come on.
- For disturbing the peace,
inciting the general public,
fraud, and being a general pain my.
(Jonathan sighs)
Now, shall I tell her, or will you?
- Seriously?
- Seriously. You wanna talk seriously?
Okay.
I called the Tribune.
This boy got let go for, what was it?
Lack of candor in your reporting?
Know what lack of candor means, ma'am?
Means he makes crap up.
Now, is there anything
else you'd like to add?
Come on.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
Now, I looked into your past.
I'm sure he did too.
Your mental fragilities
made you an easy target.
For now, I'm just gonna believe
that you got caught up in his mess.
Less, of course, you wanna go to jail
for breaking and entering.
- What about the body?
- Well, if the body does turn up,
I got my prime suspect right there.
(dramatic music)
(insects chirring)
(no audio)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(insects chirring)
(insects chirring)
(corpse wheezing)
(insects chirring)
(bones creaking)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarls)
(gun fires)
(Clint screaming)
(dramatic music)
(music fades)
- The story was good.
- You pulled it outta your butt.
- Had a few holes. (chuckles)
- Where did you find that
precious hole filling?
How many corners did you have to round
before the truth became unrecognizable?
(handcuffs rattling)
(pensive music)
(pensive music continues)
(pensive music continues)
- You know, it's not what you think.
I didn't just make up some story.
I was taking down a monster.
Come on. You can relate.
What would you do to take
down your biggest bad guy?
(bones creaking)
(Jonathan screams)
(Jonathan gasps)
- What's wrong with you?
- I don't know. I...
- I thought I saw something.
- I don't have time for
your crazy daydreams.
- Where am I?
Deputy Tom's house. He's
been uncustomarily absent.
Just stay put.
And try not to touch anything.
(no audio)
(mysterious music)
(insect skittering)
- Uh, Sheriff?
There's a bug in here.
(Sheriff sighs)
- We ain't here for house
cleaning or critiquing.
- Every time I see one of those things,
something bad happens.
It was right there.
- Sure it was.
Now sit there, shut up,
and we'll be leaving in a little while.
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
(mysterious music continues)
(suspenseful music)
- You trying to tell me something?
(suspenseful music)
(mysterious music)
(computer keys tapping)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- Come on.
What's going on?
Hey, take it easy!
- Do you have to film everything?
Shut that thing off!
- Take it easy, man.
- They called the cops!
He was creeping again!
- To them he's just a peeping Tom.
Come on, calm down!
- What if somebody digs deeper? Then what?
- We're the law, man.
We're the law around here.
Who cares what they think?
Who cares if they dig?
Isn't that right, Deputy Tom?
(ominous music)
- Can I document?
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
- Some upgrade this turned out to be.
What am I supposed to do with him now?
He's broken.
- I didn't intend for him
to get a perverted spirit.
- [Lynette] Well, I'm done.
I can't live like this.
With that.
- Now the spirit's
playing off of his lust.
Give me something else to work with.
- [Clint] You gonna just dance around it?
Isaac doesn't have any more to give.
- [Rogers] Come on, Clint.
- He had this Barbie House rockstar dream.
I mean, what else is there?
- Fine. Whatever.
I don't care whose fault it is.
I just wanna get rid of it.
- [Clint] I'm not killing
it. That thing creeps me out.
- There might be another possibility,
but it's cruel and messy.
You guys okay with that?
- [Lynette] I can't live like this.
- All right.
So we use Isaac.
We use him as bait in a demon trap.
The perverted spirit acts
as kind of like a door stop
to keep the door open.
So something, something far more...
I don't, potent, can come.
Deputy, why don't we
just stop filming this?
(high-pitched ringing)
- What?
- I thought I told you to keep quiet.
- His...
His computer, the videos!
He's part of it!
Isaac was the exterminator!
- His computer?
I thought I told you
not to touch anything!
It's off!
The computer's completely dead!
- How well do you know Rogers?
- Oh, hell, everybody
knows Rogers around here.
(ominous music)
- Did you check for your deputy outside?
- We looked everywhere.
There's no sign of him.
I think it's time you and I left.
You keep your mouth shut.
You've caused enough
trouble around here already.
(ominous music)
(vehicle approaching)
- What are we doing?
- I recognize that truck.
Now listen.
I'm gonna go see what
the hell's up with Clint.
Try really hard not to do anything stupid.
You just stay put.
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(tarp rustling)
- I don't like the way this is going.
Time to go.
(door handle rattling)
(Jonathan grunting)
(Jonathan gasps)
(tarp rustling)
(bones creaking)
- I thought I told you to stay in the-
(Sheriff shouts)
(dramatic music)
(Jonathan grunting)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarling)
(suspenseful music)
(suspenseful music continues)
(corpse wheezing)
(corpse wheezing)
(suspenseful music)
(demon roars)
(anxious music)
- [Debra's Dad] Deb, I'm
worried about you kiddo.
- Dad, I'm fine.
I just got a lot going on right now.
- [Debra's Dad] This job this soon?
Maybe it's just not the time yet.
- You're afraid I'm gonna
go back to that place.
- [Debra's Dad] No, no.
I'm not saying that.
You've been doing so well lately.
Maybe you're just push yourself too hard.
Maybe too soon.
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra gasping)
- Dad, I'm fine.
- [Debra's Dad] Deb, are
you seeing things again?
(corpse wheezing)
It's okay, kiddo.
You're not six, and
you're not Wonder Woman.
Us mere mortals need to
know when enough is enough.
- I said I'm fine!
- [Debra's Dad] You haven't
been fine since Bill died.
If we're honest, you were
really struggling before that.
Now you're pregnant.
I just don't see how you can keep this up.
- I'll call you back. I just...
I have so much to do.
- [Debra's Dad] Talk to me, kiddo.
(phone beeps)
(high-pitched ringing)
(bones creaking)
(corpse snarling)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan groaning)
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouts)
- Is this how it's going to be?
You move in, torment me
while my life rots again?
Follow me back to the loony bin?
(insect skittering)
Who stops the bus?
I stop!
(Debra chuckles softly)
You want crazy?
(corpse wheezing)
This place is occupied.
There's no more room
for your kind of crazy.
(soft music)
Still not gonna drink that.
He's just gonna keep coming back.
If I stay, he's gonna keep coming back.
(insects chirring)
He's gonna keep coming back.
(slurping)
He's gonna keep coming back.
He's gonna keep coming back.
(dramatic music)
(Rogers grunts)
- Hey, Isaac, you still in there?
You sure are taking your sweet time.
Some demon trap you turned out to be.
I guess neither side wants ya. (groans)
(dramatic music)
- [Lynette] What am I
supposed to do with him now?
He's broken.
- [Clint] He was creeping again!
- [Rogers] To them he's
just a peeping Tom!
- [Lynette] I just want get rid of it.
- [Clint] Isaac doesn't
have any more to give.
(dramatic music)
(Rogers screaming)
(blood splatters)
(Rogers screaming)
(dramatic music)
- No!
(Rogers screams)
(ax chops)
- Rogers has been a hard
one to nail down, boss.
And I hope you find whatever
it is you're hunting.
(corpse wheezing)
I always do.
(Jonathan gasps)
(Jonathan coughing)
(Jonathan coughing and groaning)
(Isaac wheezing)
(insects chirring)
(Jonathan coughing)
- Been a while since I seen that face.
(dramatic music)
Well, it's gonna do a
little bit more to you
when you look like that.
(tense music)
(demon whispering)
We gotta get.
we gotta go!
Come on!
Gotta move.
(tense music)
Hell.
(gun fires)
(Isaac chuckles)
(suspenseful music)
(gun firing)
- Stay back!
(gun fires)
(gun firing)
(Isaac choking)
Don't touch that smoke.
- Come on. We got go.
- Burn it!
- What?
- Trust me. The smoke.
You can end this now. Burn it.
(lighter clicking)
(eerie music)
(ax chops)
(Sheriff gasps)
(demons wheezing)
(Jonathan choking)
(eerie music)
(music fades)
- When a demon leaves a mans body,
he goes to the dry
places, looking for rest.
Finding none, he returns
and finds the house swept clean,
empty, and in order.
This is how I woke up.
In darkness.
Rejected.
Alone, but not really.
- The demon.
(drill whirring)
- That tickle inside my brain.
The voice. (wheezes)
That voice was different this time.
This time I understood it!
That tickle had been around
for a really long time.
And after so many days stuck in the wall,
he had some really good ideas.
He showed me how things could be.
He showed me what we could be.
Jonathan Birdsall, the journalist.
Are you swept clean, empty, and in order?
(Jonathan gasps)
(no audio)
(Jonathan exhales)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(drill bit clicking)
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Clint choking)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(Clint coughing)
(tense music continues)
(bug crunches)
(tense music)
(Clint snarling)
- You've got a God inside you.
Try acting like it.
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Clint snarls)
He can't hear the voice.
You can't control control him.
You better play better.
(Clint snarling)
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Isaac breathing heavily)
(eerie music)
(eerie music)
(Isaac gasping)
He wasn't compatible.
They need living flesh and blood.
Rogers was more prototypical.
(Rogers snarling)
(eerie music)
(crickets chirping)
(Rogers wheezing)
I wouldn't do that. You
know how that story ends.
Look at you.
Out of all the coven
and all their big ideas,
only you and Rogers were compatible.
These vessels are a little
scratch and dent. (chuckles)
Maybe I was a little too
handsy with them. (chuckles)
Then again, you had this coming.
You won't be able to run away from this.
The only way out is to deal, Johnny.
- What kind of deal?
- What do you think, buddy?
Wanna write a story together?
I wanna write a story together.
You ever get tired of writing
everyone else's story?
Their truth?
I wanna write about your story.
Your truth.
(eerie music)
(crickets chirping)
(dramatic music)
- What are you offering?
- Change
And so much more.
- What do you want from me?
(Lynette snarls)
(body thuds)
(tense music)
(crickets chirping)
(tense music)
- Seven spirits.
Seven spirits more
powerful than the first.
That's what this is about, right?
More spirits, more power.
Then, I want 'em all.
(Rogers snarling)
(suspenseful music)
(Rogers choking)
(corpse wheezing)
- Well, the gang's all here.
We should talk about that story.
- We?
You still don't understand
what I'm saying.
I'm not interested in you.
You're not the one really in charge.
(tense music)
- Remember when we met?
We were there to kill you.
I stopped them.
I'm the one who saw potential in you.
- I have life blood.
(Isaac growls)
(Jonathan choking)
You want an empty house?
That's what you things like,
an empty space to fill.
Well I'm as empty as they come.
(body thuds)
You see an empty space.
I see ambition.
You haven't seen ambition
until you've seen hopelessness.
I've given up on redemption,
but not the life I deserve.
I want it all.
The lifestyle and everything
that comes with it.
If that I gotta take all
you creeps (indistinct),
then so be it.
As long as I end up back on top.
(tense music)
(demon growling)
(demon wheezing)
(no audio)
(bones creaking)
(flask clicking)
- You're going to want to chaser.
But first,
it's the door stop that
lets all the others in.
Demons are the patron
saints of second chances.
- [Mike] John, what are you doing anyway?
- Imagine the story we
could tell together.
- Writing a comeback
story on fracking? Really?
- [Sheriff] Makes crap up.
- [Debra] Is there something to Google?
- [Mike] After what you did?
- [Sheriff] Was he sober?
- Wherever you and this story are headed,
I don't want any part of it.
- [Jonathan] Change is good.
Change is good.
(dramatic music)
(demon snarling)
(ax chops)
(intense music)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(Debra gasps)
Isaac.
(gun fires)
(intense music)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
(soft music)
(soft music continues)
- Do you wanna explain
any of this to anybody?
How do you see that
working in your big story?
- Yeah, my big story.
Pretty sure that deadline came and went.
- What does this mean for your career?
- How much do you think
demon wrangling pays?
(both chuckle)
- Probably not worth it.
I'm sure the benefits suck.
Well, demon wrangler,
we got messes and a roadside massacre
that's not doing any of us favors.
I'll clean up the deck
if you wanna take care
of this cremated mess.
That's where I draw the line.
(no audio)
Were they really demons?
So you just tricked the tricksters?
- Guess I'm just good at selling a story.
- You told the demon you were empty.
- Just selling a story.
- Yeah, I know.
Just maybe don't stay that way.
(no audio)
- Yeah, right.
Oh, and hide all these dead bodies,
and don't forget to lie to everyone
about what really happened.
(poker scraping)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(dramatic music)
The house was empty, so I moved in.
My career? Swept clean.
Just one thing left to do.
(dramatic music)
(lighter clicking)
(dramatic music)
(lighter clicks)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(siren wailing)
(low ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(blood splatters)
(insect skittering)
(ominous music continues)
(insects skittering)
(blood splatters)
(tense music)
(Rogers grunts)
- Damn house.
Hey, Isaac, you still in there?
Sure are taking your sweet time.
Damn house!
Some demon trap you turned out to be.
I guess neither side want ya. (groans)
Hey, we're gonna have a guest later.
A house guest.
Behave yourself. Play nice.
He's paying your rent.
Someone has to.
(sink pipes groan)
(eerie music)
(wind whistling)
(floorboards creaking)
(tense music)
(bag unzipping)
(paper shuffling)
(tense music)
(Rogers screaming)
(blood splatters)
(intense music)
(cell phone buzzing)
- I'm telling you, I wouldn't
be here unless I was...
I'm telling you, I wouldn't be here
unless I was convinced that...
I'm telling you I wouldn't be here
unless I was fully convinced.
Fully convinced after hearing your story.
(flask rattling)
I'm telling you I wouldn't
be here unless I was...
(pills rattling)
fully convinced...
fully...
(medicine crunching)
convinced.
Fully convinced. Fully convinced.
(movement inside wall)
(light bulb buzzing)
(bangs on wall)
That's exactly what I'm here for,
to give this story the
attention it deserves.
Ew. Gross.
(insect skittering)
(flask slams)
(movement inside wall)
(floorboards creaking)
(animal warbling)
How am I supposed to see
any work done around here?
(uneasy music)
Where's my phone?
(light bulb buzzing)
Now where's my phone?
(stranger wheezing)
Jeez!
(Jonathan sighs)
You scared me, man.
- Rogers, right?
I've been trying to get ahold of you.
I'm Jonathan Birdsall. I'm the new tenant.
I'm the reporter.
(unsettling music)
We spoke on the phone.
- Rogers has been a hard
one to nail down, boss.
I think you dropped your phone.
I'm the exterminator.
- For the...
- The coon in the wall.
Yeah, I'm taking care of it. (chuckles)
- Is that blood?
- No.
It's sap.
The trees get like that sometimes
when the soil gets outta whack.
I'll set a trap.
So if you see dangling strips of bacon,
don't touch. (chuckles)
(both chuckling)
- Bacon. Huh.
I have an interview in the morning.
It's kind of important.
I'd prefer if the little demon
stayed outta sight until she left.
- What's your story?
- Me?
- You said you're a
reporter. What's your story?
- Fracking. It's update
on upstate fracking.
I think.
- You think?
- You know, I have a sense
about these things, my stories.
They don't always come to me at once.
It's kind of like following
a whisper in the dark.
- Well, I hope you find
whatever it is you're hunting.
I always do.
- The upstairs bathroom.
There's a hollow space behind the mirror.
It might be where the
little bastard's hiding.
- Rogers wouldn't want
us poking behind walls.
But I guess what Rogers don't
know won't kill him. (laughs)
You see that closet?
That one there.
Well, behind that wall
you'll find some tools.
Careful though.
Never know what you're gonna
find in these old houses.
(door closes)
(journal thuds)
(intense percussion music)
(unsettling music)
(unsettling music continues)
(drill whirring)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan sniffs)
Oh, man.
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
(intense music)
- Isaac Bellator.
- You know him?
- I'd recognize that poncho anywhere.
He's a local peeping Tom.
Went missing about a year ago.
Picked him up a couple times
looking at girls ta-tas.
Pervy, but harmless.
- Why the raincoat
- Kid was touched in the head.
- Mentally challenged?
- Call it what you want.
Looks like he found a way
to get a close enough seat
for shower play, and he got himself stuck.
- Like that?
Could he even see back there?
- Kid liked boobs.
Clint, did you see an inhaler in there?
- I don't see one
- Kid had the worst asthma.
Maybe got excited and forgot to breathe.
- Right, so your peeping Tom just died
hyperventilating to shower porn?
- Look, be nice. It's a small community.
Everybody here is family.
How's it look there, Clint?
- If he's coming out,
this wall isn't staying.
- Great.
Well, and I can't get
in touch with Rogers.
Looks like I'm gonna need you to sign off
on some of this financial responsibility,
at least until your landlord gets back.
- What financial responsibility?
- It's how we do things
here. It's just a formality.
Just covers the crew, well,
Clint, in case of damages.
- Just a formality.
- How much damages?
- [Clint] $5,000.
(Jonathan scoffs)
- Just sign here and initial there.
- Rogers is the owner.
He needs to sign that.
- And when he gets back
into town, he will.
And I can't get in touch with him,
and there is a dead body in the wall.
So sign here, initial there,
and we can get this over with.
- Clint, put the mirror back up.
I won't even know he's there.
- Oh yes, you will.
- Be my drinking buddy then.
- You gonna be able to sleep
with a dead body in the wall?
Always somebody trying to
make easy decisions difficult.
Fine.
You've got one night
with your drinking buddy.
(cellphone buzzing)
(cellphone thuds)
I'll be back tomorrow, with a crew.
One way or another,
that body's coming out.
- I don't care what you do.
I just don't want any part of it.
- See ya tomorrow.
(cellphone buzzing)
- [Clint] Your phone's ringing.
(insects chirring)
(cellphone buzzing)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(cellphone beeps)
- [Mike] This is Mike from the Tribune,
and you know why I'm calling, and calling.
Imagine my shock when accounting tells me
you are still submitting expense
reports after what you did.
Expenses are what employees have.
Since you are no longer an employee,
well, this is the last time
we're having this conversation.
John, what are you doing anyway?
Writing a comeback story
on fracking? Really?
What are you going to do with that?
This story has been beaten to dea-
(cellphone beeps)
(troubled music)
(Jonathan winces)
- Good job cleaning up
after yourself, Clint.
(water running)
(Jonathan groans)
Oh, god.
(Jonathan groans)
(water gurgles)
(pipes groan)
(insect skittering)
(skittering continues)
(water running)
(turns off faucet)
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
"When a demon leaves a man,
it goes to the dry places, seeking rest.
Finding none, it says, 'I
will return to my house
from which I came,'
and when he returns, he finds
it swept clean, put in order,
and it goes and it takes
with him seven other demons
more wicked than himself,
and they dwell there.
The last state of that man
is worse than the first."
Luke 11:26.
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
"The last state of that man
is worse than the first."
All right.
(water running)
(Jonathan groans)
So you got stuck and
couldn't breathe, huh?
Since when do accidents
leave instructions?
(mysterious music)
Sounds like you've got a story to tell.
(flask rattling)
What do you say, little buddy?
Imagine the story we could tell together.
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(floorboards creaking)
(ominous music continues)
(floorboards creaking)
(bones creaking)
(ominous music continues)
(bones creaking)
(Jonathan gasps)
(Jonathan groans)
(bird cawing)
(Jonathan groans)
(cellphone buzzing)
(Jonathan grumbles)
(insects chirring)
(atmospheric music)
(atmospheric music continues)
(atmospheric music continues)
(ominous music)
(metallic click)
Oh, god.
Oh, god, I don't have time for this.
(leaves rustling)
Please don't blow up.
Please don't blow up
Please don't blow up.
Please don't blow up.
(vehicle approaching)
God, I don't have time for this.
(car door opens)
- Hi
Debra Banks with DEC.
You must be Mr. Birdsall.
What do you got going on over there?
- Uh, that's nothing really.
- Really?
- Yeah, a a local exterminator
set a trap for something.
- Is that bacon?
- Yeah, you know what,
guy came over last night with an ax
and told me not to touch
the dangling bacon,
so I'm gonna leave that right there.
The service is pretty spotty out here.
Starting to sound like a
horror movie, right? (chuckles)
Do you wanna come inside?
Or no?
- Are you really into this fracking story?
- Yeah.
I really...
I'm really convinced that this
story is just that important.
The people, the nation.
- And what are you gonna find here
that everybody else missed?
- There's more.
I think there's more here locally,
and that's what I'm here
for, to give the story
the attention it deser-
- And, truthfully, what
would that story be?
- Are you Googling me?
- Is there something to
Google, Jonathan Birdsall?
(tense music)
- You know what?
Forget the interview. It's fine.
There's another story
developing here anyway.
- Just like that.
- You know what? Yeah.
(trap booms)
(raccoon screeching)
(blood splatters)
(Debra screams)
(water running)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- Come on, Rogers, pick up.
Pick up, Rogers. Come on.
(cellphone buzzing)
(water running)
(faucet gurgles)
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
Please tell me there's
another number in here.
What?
(water running)
(intense music)
(music stops)
(unsettling music)
(corpse wheezing)
(bones creaking)
(bones creaking)
(shower turns off)
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra screams)
(intense music)
(corpse wheezing)
(bones creaking)
(intense music)
(Jonathan gasps)
Oh, God, no.
Oh!
(Jonathan shouting)
(intense music)
Oh, God, no!
Oh my God!
(Jonathan screaming)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouting)
(Jonathan gasping)
Debra.
(tense music)
Deb?
Debra.
Are you okay?
Deb?
(floorboards creaking)
- [Debra] Get out!
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
- [Debra] Get out! Get out!
(birds chirping)
- That's a live trap.
Y'all must have missed that concept.
(birds chirping)
You mess with that trap?
- No.
I mean, I checked it out.
- Did you tamper, disable,
destroy or touch that trap?
- I touched it, just to investigate.
- I see.
- And you, ma'am?
Wanna gimme the description of
that assailant one more time?
- I told you, I don't know!
It all happened so fast!
- So what you're telling me is
this is the only witness
to said assailant?
Was he sober?
Last time I saw him, he
was drunk and belligerent.
- You saw Isaac's body.
- You refused examination.
I don't know if that was Isaac's body.
- I refused police extortion!
- Hm.
I think you came here to sell a story.
- What are you getting at, Sheriff?
- Do you know how much force it takes
to turn that raccoon into spaghetti?
What's a body doing
curdling behind a wall?
What's a reporter doing
digging behind the wall?
I don't have enough information
to write this thing down in a report.
Now, you got 24 hours to
either return that body
or whatever model you made,
or I'm coming back here to arrest you.
- For what?
- For theft of human remains.
For possible animal cruelty.
For pissing me off!
Oh, I can get real creative,
so don't test me on this!
24 hours.
(tense music)
(door closes)
- [Interviewer] One minute, Mr. Birdsall.
We're gonna adjust these lights,
and we'll be ready for your interview.
(Jonathan chuckles)
- Why are you here?
- I wanna show our support.
Such a brave thing you're doing here.
- Right.
- Well, I heard your paper
agreed to review your article's sources.
You know. Make sure that the
people said what you said.
- I know what review means.
- [Lawyer] Good.
You have 24 hours to review.
Just think of that during your interview.
24 hours.
(brooding music)
(brooding music continues)
(brooding music continues)
(dramatic music)
- Would it really have been that difficult
to not offer a shower to a pregnant lady
across from a dead guy?
- How was I supposed to know a
spirit boner would bring him back?
- That's your reasoning?
- Look, you're not one to talk
about communication skills, okay?
I mean, really, would it have killed you
to tell the police what happened?
I mean, now no one's gonna believe me.
- [Debra] I don't know what happened!
- You have eyes, you have ears,
and a bite you didn't show up with!
- You have this story all
worked out in your head.
You see cults, you hear demons.
All I have is a new scar and
shame I don't understand!
- Look, I need you to help
me walk through my story.
- An hour ago, your
story was about fracking.
Now it's about a resurrected
peeping Tom that bites!
- I can't explain it.
Look, I just...
I have a sense when it comes to stories.
It's like a smell that I can follow.
Here.
I found this behind the bathroom mirror.
What does it look like to you?
- Is that blood?
- That's mine.
Look, that's not important.
Just read the passage.
It turns out it's from the Bible. Luke 11.
I know, it's...
Just read it.
- "When a demon leaves a man,
it goes to the dry
places, looking for rest.
(bones creaking)
Finding none, it returns,
finding it's home.
And the end state of that
man is worse than the first."
- Smells like a story to me.
Flip it.
(Debra sighs)
Flip it over.
See the star?
Seven points.
You see, I think this
depicts the seven demons
that traveled back with
the original demon.
- Is this drawn in blood?
- It might be. It's not mine.
- Oh!
- Hey!
(Jonathan blowing)
- And this excites you?
If true, what did you unleash?
- First, if the peeping Tom
had a perverted spirit in him,
it's your bloody shower that woke him up,
so let's watch where we cast blame.
Secondly, the story is good.
- Did you read how that story ends?
Seven worse spirits move in,
and that man is worse
off than when he started.
In the story, who do
you think that man is?
- Look, I'm a grown man.
I like sugar in my coffee,
and I don't like scary movies,
but this, this story is going somewhere.
- Who stops the bus?
I stop the bus.
This is where I get off.
- [Jonathan] What?
(Debra sighs)
- For years, I have been
questioning my own sanity.
This morning, I woke up
feeling pretty confident.
Went to work.
Started feeling like a human being.
Right now I'm 25-75 in favor of crazy.
I'm going to be a mom.
Wherever you and this story are headed,
I don't want any part of it!
- [Jonathan] Debra, wait!
- Don't call me again!
(dramatic music)
(car beeping)
(Debra banging on steering wheel)
(Debra screams)
(Debra breathing heavily)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
What am I doing?
Why am I here?
(unsettling music)
- [Rogers] You know them as demons.
They are the disembodied
spirits of ancient gods
and the giants of old.
They crave to live in flesh again,
to feel what the flesh feels,
and that is our bargaining chip,
our bargaining chip to greatness.
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra gasps)
- It's just to keep the bugs away.
Do you want me to get you decaf instead?
- I'm sorry.
I...
Today has been interesting.
- What happened to your neck?
- I got bit.
- Oh my god.
- It's fine.
It's interesting working for the DEC.
- I'm going to pretend
like that's not disturbing,
and it makes sense that the DEC
is questioning me about my ex.
(Debra spits)
- Your ex?
Your ex is Isaac?
- Wow. Somebody's a little judgy.
- I'm sorry. I didn't
realize your boyfriend was...
- A wheezing creeper.
- Not the words I was gonna use.
- Accurate
- Ballpark.
- Now, he was different back then.
Back in the day, he
actually had it going on.
- What happened?
- He had dreams and ambitions that...
(high-pitched ringing)
never came to light.
The drugs didn't help.
He did have an Uncle
Rogers that did try to help
- Uncle Rogers?
(dramatic music)
- Yeah, we're restless.
What are we even doing here?
- What, the coven?
We just made a sacrifice last week.
- We need to see
something. Something more.
- Did you ever see a demon summoning?
- Can I document?
(Rogers screaming)
(ax chops)
(blood splatters)
(corpse wheezing)
- Yeah, Rogers started a guy group,
- I'm sorry.
The Rogers that owns the rental
property on Deer Kill Road?
- You're connecting
dots. What's the picture?
- I think I...
I need to know more about Isaac.
- You see, that's the thing.
Once there were changes,
we went our separate ways.
I packed so many boxes.
This doesn't look like much.
That's just because you
can't see the emotional ones.
(Debra gasps)
Calm down. It's just the cat.
He bumps into things.
Eyeless, stop hiding!
- Your cat doesn't have eyes?
- Sure he does it. They're just cosmetic.
Glass, I think.
What is your problem?
There's something
seriously wrong with you.
You're insane.
You're not behaving like a normal person.
Hey, why are you here?
The truth this time.
- I don't know.
I'm trying to figure that out.
- Well, you have a strange
way of lying your way to it.
The truth, or leave now.
(corpse wheezing)
(mysterious music)
Eyeless?
(mysterious music continues)
(horn honking)
(Debra sighs)
(anxious music)
- Hey, Debra.
- I didn't...
I don't trust you.
But right now, I don't
trust myself either.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
I recently lost somebody.
Someone really important.
It set me back a few ways.
And it might have changed
the way I see things.
- I'm sorry to hear that.
- No.
No, that's not what
I'm getting at. It's...
I need another set of
eyes and ears on this.
That's where you come in.
- Are you sure you want to know
what these ears and eyes have found?
You gotta check this out.
- [Rogers] Demons equal power.
More demons equals more power.
They're junkies for the
passion of the living.
Hunger, lust, rage.
Basically, the contents of your soul
felt through your living flesh.
So we deal.
Grant them your will and your emotions,
and they share their
power and perspective.
Combined, know what you couldn't.
Do what you couldn't. Be who you couldn't.
(ominous music)
- That's ridiculous.
You're saying Isaac was
willingly possessed by the demon?
- I was thinking about that too.
At its core, this is a
very weird comeback story.
It's like demons are the patron
saints of second chances.
- That's your take?
- Isn't that the story?
(Debra scoffs)
- Yeah, I'm worried about you.
I'm worried that you're too eager,
eager for anything that's change.
- Change is good.
(Debra scoffs)
- You're...
You're like a dirty sponge.
- A dirty sponge?
- Yeah, A dirty sponge. A dry sponge.
If this is what you're willing...
This is what you're soaking up,
I don't wanna be anywhere near
you when you get squeezed.
(ominous music)
- Eyeless?
Eyeless, are you in here?
Eyeless?
Eyeless?
Eyeless, are you out here?
Eyeless?
(distant thud)
(marble rattling)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(disturbing music)
(bones creaking)
(Lynette shouts)
(Lynette choking)
(Lynette choking)
(blood spurts)
(door creaks)
- Lynette?
Lynette?
- Are you sure this is the way to do this,
just go walk in?
(Debra sighs)
- Lynette, where are you?
I'm sorry I left.
I'm ready to tell the truth.
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(unsettling music)
(Debra screams)
(dramatic music)
- Is that Lynette?
- She was alive when I left her.
Isaac does more than bite.
(Jonathan sighs)
- Sheriff's gonna love this.
(tarp rustling)
(corpse wheezing)
(dramatic music)
(door slams)
- [Debra] What are you doing?
- Gonna get my story.
- He's running away! Let him!
- I can't.
All right, John.
You've interviewed mobsters and killers.
Yeah, you got this.
- Fine!
I'll call the police.
(ominous music)
(phone ringing)
- [Dispatcher] 911. What's your emergency?
(Jonathan coughing)
- Hey, buddy.
Still here?
(Jonathan coughing)
You know, you remind me of someone.
Her name was Gina.
Freshman year college
girlfriend. (coughing)
Super hot, super crazy.
You know the type. (coughing)
Lots of red flags.
Everybody saw 'em. (chuckles)
(Jonathan coughing)
(water pouring)
I just couldn't stay away.
(suspenseful music)
(Jonathan gasps)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouts)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan wheezing)
(ominous music)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan shouts)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan grunting)
(corpse snarls)
(Jonathan grunts)
(corpse thuds)
(Jonathan grunting)
(crowbar whacking)
(high-pitched ringing)
(mysterious music)
(dramatic music)
(chatter on police radio)
- [Dispatcher] 12-77.
Female body reported.
18 Igor Street. Proceed with caution.
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(garage door rumbling)
(garage door rumbling)
(ominous music)
(music stops)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(flame ignites)
(dramatic music continues)
(bones creaking)
(corpse wheezes)
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
- So.
We got no body.
No perpetrator.
Just the two of you that
broke into this house.
- They're obviously
cleaning up the evidence.
- They?
- The cult.
- The cult.
Did he tell you about that cult?
- You saw the deck, right?
Explain that!
- Did you see that on that porch,
or was that something he told you about?
(Debra sighs)
Mrs. Banks... (sighs)
I don't know how to say this delicately,
but
ever since, you know, you lost Bill...
I've been very proud
of the way that you've
gotten back on the
saddle and gotten to work
with what you got there, but
you gotta understand how this looks.
You're not the most credible witness.
You understand?
- Hey.
What's going on?
- I need you to stay right there.
You've done enough damage already.
Come on, boy. Stand up.
- Oh, god.
You've gotta be kidding me.
Jonathan Birdsall, I am arresting you...
- Come on.
- For disturbing the peace,
inciting the general public,
fraud, and being a general pain my.
(Jonathan sighs)
Now, shall I tell her, or will you?
- Seriously?
- Seriously. You wanna talk seriously?
Okay.
I called the Tribune.
This boy got let go for, what was it?
Lack of candor in your reporting?
Know what lack of candor means, ma'am?
Means he makes crap up.
Now, is there anything
else you'd like to add?
Come on.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
Now, I looked into your past.
I'm sure he did too.
Your mental fragilities
made you an easy target.
For now, I'm just gonna believe
that you got caught up in his mess.
Less, of course, you wanna go to jail
for breaking and entering.
- What about the body?
- Well, if the body does turn up,
I got my prime suspect right there.
(dramatic music)
(insects chirring)
(no audio)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(insects chirring)
(insects chirring)
(corpse wheezing)
(insects chirring)
(bones creaking)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarls)
(gun fires)
(Clint screaming)
(dramatic music)
(music fades)
- The story was good.
- You pulled it outta your butt.
- Had a few holes. (chuckles)
- Where did you find that
precious hole filling?
How many corners did you have to round
before the truth became unrecognizable?
(handcuffs rattling)
(pensive music)
(pensive music continues)
(pensive music continues)
- You know, it's not what you think.
I didn't just make up some story.
I was taking down a monster.
Come on. You can relate.
What would you do to take
down your biggest bad guy?
(bones creaking)
(Jonathan screams)
(Jonathan gasps)
- What's wrong with you?
- I don't know. I...
- I thought I saw something.
- I don't have time for
your crazy daydreams.
- Where am I?
Deputy Tom's house. He's
been uncustomarily absent.
Just stay put.
And try not to touch anything.
(no audio)
(mysterious music)
(insect skittering)
- Uh, Sheriff?
There's a bug in here.
(Sheriff sighs)
- We ain't here for house
cleaning or critiquing.
- Every time I see one of those things,
something bad happens.
It was right there.
- Sure it was.
Now sit there, shut up,
and we'll be leaving in a little while.
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
(mysterious music continues)
(suspenseful music)
- You trying to tell me something?
(suspenseful music)
(mysterious music)
(computer keys tapping)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- Come on.
What's going on?
Hey, take it easy!
- Do you have to film everything?
Shut that thing off!
- Take it easy, man.
- They called the cops!
He was creeping again!
- To them he's just a peeping Tom.
Come on, calm down!
- What if somebody digs deeper? Then what?
- We're the law, man.
We're the law around here.
Who cares what they think?
Who cares if they dig?
Isn't that right, Deputy Tom?
(ominous music)
- Can I document?
(mysterious music)
(mysterious music continues)
- Some upgrade this turned out to be.
What am I supposed to do with him now?
He's broken.
- I didn't intend for him
to get a perverted spirit.
- [Lynette] Well, I'm done.
I can't live like this.
With that.
- Now the spirit's
playing off of his lust.
Give me something else to work with.
- [Clint] You gonna just dance around it?
Isaac doesn't have any more to give.
- [Rogers] Come on, Clint.
- He had this Barbie House rockstar dream.
I mean, what else is there?
- Fine. Whatever.
I don't care whose fault it is.
I just wanna get rid of it.
- [Clint] I'm not killing
it. That thing creeps me out.
- There might be another possibility,
but it's cruel and messy.
You guys okay with that?
- [Lynette] I can't live like this.
- All right.
So we use Isaac.
We use him as bait in a demon trap.
The perverted spirit acts
as kind of like a door stop
to keep the door open.
So something, something far more...
I don't, potent, can come.
Deputy, why don't we
just stop filming this?
(high-pitched ringing)
- What?
- I thought I told you to keep quiet.
- His...
His computer, the videos!
He's part of it!
Isaac was the exterminator!
- His computer?
I thought I told you
not to touch anything!
It's off!
The computer's completely dead!
- How well do you know Rogers?
- Oh, hell, everybody
knows Rogers around here.
(ominous music)
- Did you check for your deputy outside?
- We looked everywhere.
There's no sign of him.
I think it's time you and I left.
You keep your mouth shut.
You've caused enough
trouble around here already.
(ominous music)
(vehicle approaching)
- What are we doing?
- I recognize that truck.
Now listen.
I'm gonna go see what
the hell's up with Clint.
Try really hard not to do anything stupid.
You just stay put.
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(insects chirring)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
(tarp rustling)
- I don't like the way this is going.
Time to go.
(door handle rattling)
(Jonathan grunting)
(Jonathan gasps)
(tarp rustling)
(bones creaking)
- I thought I told you to stay in the-
(Sheriff shouts)
(dramatic music)
(Jonathan grunting)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarling)
(suspenseful music)
(suspenseful music continues)
(corpse wheezing)
(corpse wheezing)
(suspenseful music)
(demon roars)
(anxious music)
- [Debra's Dad] Deb, I'm
worried about you kiddo.
- Dad, I'm fine.
I just got a lot going on right now.
- [Debra's Dad] This job this soon?
Maybe it's just not the time yet.
- You're afraid I'm gonna
go back to that place.
- [Debra's Dad] No, no.
I'm not saying that.
You've been doing so well lately.
Maybe you're just push yourself too hard.
Maybe too soon.
(corpse wheezing)
(Debra gasping)
- Dad, I'm fine.
- [Debra's Dad] Deb, are
you seeing things again?
(corpse wheezing)
It's okay, kiddo.
You're not six, and
you're not Wonder Woman.
Us mere mortals need to
know when enough is enough.
- I said I'm fine!
- [Debra's Dad] You haven't
been fine since Bill died.
If we're honest, you were
really struggling before that.
Now you're pregnant.
I just don't see how you can keep this up.
- I'll call you back. I just...
I have so much to do.
- [Debra's Dad] Talk to me, kiddo.
(phone beeps)
(high-pitched ringing)
(bones creaking)
(corpse snarling)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(Jonathan grunts)
(Jonathan groaning)
(Jonathan breathing heavily)
(suspenseful music)
(corpse snarling)
(Jonathan shouts)
- Is this how it's going to be?
You move in, torment me
while my life rots again?
Follow me back to the loony bin?
(insect skittering)
Who stops the bus?
I stop!
(Debra chuckles softly)
You want crazy?
(corpse wheezing)
This place is occupied.
There's no more room
for your kind of crazy.
(soft music)
Still not gonna drink that.
He's just gonna keep coming back.
If I stay, he's gonna keep coming back.
(insects chirring)
He's gonna keep coming back.
(slurping)
He's gonna keep coming back.
He's gonna keep coming back.
(dramatic music)
(Rogers grunts)
- Hey, Isaac, you still in there?
You sure are taking your sweet time.
Some demon trap you turned out to be.
I guess neither side wants ya. (groans)
(dramatic music)
- [Lynette] What am I
supposed to do with him now?
He's broken.
- [Clint] He was creeping again!
- [Rogers] To them he's
just a peeping Tom!
- [Lynette] I just want get rid of it.
- [Clint] Isaac doesn't
have any more to give.
(dramatic music)
(Rogers screaming)
(blood splatters)
(Rogers screaming)
(dramatic music)
- No!
(Rogers screams)
(ax chops)
- Rogers has been a hard
one to nail down, boss.
And I hope you find whatever
it is you're hunting.
(corpse wheezing)
I always do.
(Jonathan gasps)
(Jonathan coughing)
(Jonathan coughing and groaning)
(Isaac wheezing)
(insects chirring)
(Jonathan coughing)
- Been a while since I seen that face.
(dramatic music)
Well, it's gonna do a
little bit more to you
when you look like that.
(tense music)
(demon whispering)
We gotta get.
we gotta go!
Come on!
Gotta move.
(tense music)
Hell.
(gun fires)
(Isaac chuckles)
(suspenseful music)
(gun firing)
- Stay back!
(gun fires)
(gun firing)
(Isaac choking)
Don't touch that smoke.
- Come on. We got go.
- Burn it!
- What?
- Trust me. The smoke.
You can end this now. Burn it.
(lighter clicking)
(eerie music)
(ax chops)
(Sheriff gasps)
(demons wheezing)
(Jonathan choking)
(eerie music)
(music fades)
- When a demon leaves a mans body,
he goes to the dry
places, looking for rest.
Finding none, he returns
and finds the house swept clean,
empty, and in order.
This is how I woke up.
In darkness.
Rejected.
Alone, but not really.
- The demon.
(drill whirring)
- That tickle inside my brain.
The voice. (wheezes)
That voice was different this time.
This time I understood it!
That tickle had been around
for a really long time.
And after so many days stuck in the wall,
he had some really good ideas.
He showed me how things could be.
He showed me what we could be.
Jonathan Birdsall, the journalist.
Are you swept clean, empty, and in order?
(Jonathan gasps)
(no audio)
(Jonathan exhales)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(drill bit clicking)
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Clint choking)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(Clint coughing)
(tense music continues)
(bug crunches)
(tense music)
(Clint snarling)
- You've got a God inside you.
Try acting like it.
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Clint snarls)
He can't hear the voice.
You can't control control him.
You better play better.
(Clint snarling)
(drill whirring)
(dramatic music)
(Isaac breathing heavily)
(eerie music)
(eerie music)
(Isaac gasping)
He wasn't compatible.
They need living flesh and blood.
Rogers was more prototypical.
(Rogers snarling)
(eerie music)
(crickets chirping)
(Rogers wheezing)
I wouldn't do that. You
know how that story ends.
Look at you.
Out of all the coven
and all their big ideas,
only you and Rogers were compatible.
These vessels are a little
scratch and dent. (chuckles)
Maybe I was a little too
handsy with them. (chuckles)
Then again, you had this coming.
You won't be able to run away from this.
The only way out is to deal, Johnny.
- What kind of deal?
- What do you think, buddy?
Wanna write a story together?
I wanna write a story together.
You ever get tired of writing
everyone else's story?
Their truth?
I wanna write about your story.
Your truth.
(eerie music)
(crickets chirping)
(dramatic music)
- What are you offering?
- Change
And so much more.
- What do you want from me?
(Lynette snarls)
(body thuds)
(tense music)
(crickets chirping)
(tense music)
- Seven spirits.
Seven spirits more
powerful than the first.
That's what this is about, right?
More spirits, more power.
Then, I want 'em all.
(Rogers snarling)
(suspenseful music)
(Rogers choking)
(corpse wheezing)
- Well, the gang's all here.
We should talk about that story.
- We?
You still don't understand
what I'm saying.
I'm not interested in you.
You're not the one really in charge.
(tense music)
- Remember when we met?
We were there to kill you.
I stopped them.
I'm the one who saw potential in you.
- I have life blood.
(Isaac growls)
(Jonathan choking)
You want an empty house?
That's what you things like,
an empty space to fill.
Well I'm as empty as they come.
(body thuds)
You see an empty space.
I see ambition.
You haven't seen ambition
until you've seen hopelessness.
I've given up on redemption,
but not the life I deserve.
I want it all.
The lifestyle and everything
that comes with it.
If that I gotta take all
you creeps (indistinct),
then so be it.
As long as I end up back on top.
(tense music)
(demon growling)
(demon wheezing)
(no audio)
(bones creaking)
(flask clicking)
- You're going to want to chaser.
But first,
it's the door stop that
lets all the others in.
Demons are the patron
saints of second chances.
- [Mike] John, what are you doing anyway?
- Imagine the story we
could tell together.
- Writing a comeback
story on fracking? Really?
- [Sheriff] Makes crap up.
- [Debra] Is there something to Google?
- [Mike] After what you did?
- [Sheriff] Was he sober?
- Wherever you and this story are headed,
I don't want any part of it.
- [Jonathan] Change is good.
Change is good.
(dramatic music)
(demon snarling)
(ax chops)
(intense music)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(Debra gasps)
Isaac.
(gun fires)
(intense music)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(intense music continues)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
(soft music)
(soft music continues)
- Do you wanna explain
any of this to anybody?
How do you see that
working in your big story?
- Yeah, my big story.
Pretty sure that deadline came and went.
- What does this mean for your career?
- How much do you think
demon wrangling pays?
(both chuckle)
- Probably not worth it.
I'm sure the benefits suck.
Well, demon wrangler,
we got messes and a roadside massacre
that's not doing any of us favors.
I'll clean up the deck
if you wanna take care
of this cremated mess.
That's where I draw the line.
(no audio)
Were they really demons?
So you just tricked the tricksters?
- Guess I'm just good at selling a story.
- You told the demon you were empty.
- Just selling a story.
- Yeah, I know.
Just maybe don't stay that way.
(no audio)
- Yeah, right.
Oh, and hide all these dead bodies,
and don't forget to lie to everyone
about what really happened.
(poker scraping)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(dramatic music)
The house was empty, so I moved in.
My career? Swept clean.
Just one thing left to do.
(dramatic music)
(lighter clicking)
(dramatic music)
(lighter clicks)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(uneasy music)
(uneasy music continues)
(siren wailing)