FirstBorn (2016) Movie Script
[distant siren]
[train wheels clacking,
siren wailing]
[muffled dance music plays]
Shit.
[light buzzing]
[knock on door]
[man] Charlie, come on,
let's go.
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
Hey! Hey-hey-hey!
[laughing]
Are you trying it on with me?
- Me?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Are you?
- Always.
- Good.
[giggles]
[vomits]
[man chuckles]
Fancy a kebab?
[woman coughing]
Maybe you should pace yourself
next time.
Oh, shut up.
Oh...
[softly] I'm pregnant.
What?
I'm pregnant.
[man laughing hysterically]
You serious?
[laughing]
That's...
That is...
brilliant.
I mean... we're gonna...
We're gonna keep it, right?
Is it... is it us?
Charlie, it's a little us.
All right?
A little us.
[Charlie shrieking, giggling]
- [Charlie] Wait, wait.
- Hm-mm.
Baby...
Who the fuck cares?
[man chuckles]
[giggling, laughter]
Come get me!
You gonna be sick again?
One sec.
Ohhh!
[chuckles] Fuck!
J-James!
[James] Not again!
[chuckles]
- [scratching sound]
- [Charlie] Ohhh...
[door creaks, slams]
[babies crying in distance]
[baby fussing]
All right, listen...
Nirvana.
It means idyllic state.
Uh-uh. Try again.
Uh...
Poppy!
Determined for her to be
a smack addict, James?
[Charlie] Thea?
It means goddess.
We can't actually just call her
Goddess, can we?
That would make her arrogant.
Thea.
I actually quite like that.
Can I have a go?
I called your dad.
- When?
- A few days ago.
- Why?
- I don't know.
I thought it might be good
for him to meet Thea.
He's not coming
anywhere near her, Charlie.
- James!
- Charlie.
He'll try and use her
in a ritual or something.
[baby crying]
Proud father?
Yeah.
Just starting to sink in.
Her name?
Thea?
[woman] Lovely.
A whole lifetime ahead of her.
And a whole afterlife
after that.
Good luck.
[baby crying]
[crying continues]
[kettle boiling]
[train wheels clacking]
Back in a few hours, promise.
Gonna be all right?
Yeah. I may want to hang out
without you, anyway.
[James] Hmm.
Maybe you two should go
for a walk, eh?
You haven't left the house
in days.
See ya.
[door opens, closes]
[swings creaking]
[train wheels clacking]
Hi, yeah, um...
I thought you said a few hours.
Can, uh...
Can you just call me
when you get this, yeah?
[baby crying]
It's OK, Thea. I'm sorry.
[Thea fussing]
- I'm sorry.
- [crying stops]
[children shouting]
[sighs]
[door opens, closes]
[James] All right?
Yeah, it's just...
[bowl shatters, water spills]
For fuck's sake!
Sorry, must have
not put it down.
[baby shrieking]
[baby wailing]
[telephone ringing]
[woman] How was she during
her immunization?
Important to protect her against
all nasty bugs out there.
Barely made a sound.
[woman] You getting enough time
to eat properly?
Enough sleep?
How are you getting on
with feeding?
Fine, yeah, she's been great.
Yeah, and you are breast
or bottle feeding?
Uh, bottle.
[woman typing]
Honestly, it doesn't matter
what method you choose,
as long as you're happy
with the decision.
Bonding well with baby?
Spending time together?
Yeah, loads.
Are you getting
much support at home?
Your partner, parents?
Oh, I don't know our parents.
But I can manage.
- You're allowed to ask for help.
- Oh, yeah, I know, I know.
But I like it, being a mum.
My boyfriend's a big kid,
so it's just like having
another one, isn't it?
[woman typing]
Are you OK?
Oh, yeah, yeah, I just got
these bruises on my back.
- May I see?
- Uh, yeah.
[Charlie] They started
after she was born.
Seem to get a new one every day.
Do you have animals at home?
[Charlie] No.
[woman] Do you feel dizzy,
faint?
Uh, no, it's just, I...
like I'm losing my brain a bit.
Put her down and...
OK.
Keep an eye on things
and let me know if it continues.
If you don't mind, I'd like you
to have a few blood tests.
Yeah, sure.
[R&B on headset]
[baby crying]
[crying continues]
For fuck's sake,
would you shut the fuck up?!
[crying stops]
[door bangs]
Ohh!
[creature snarling]
[skittering noises,
Charlie gasping]
[skittering]
[door creaking]
[click]
- [key turning in lock]
- [James] Home.
Maybe they can do something.
I don't want to talk
to the fucking police, James.
Baby, there was something
in the flat, OK?
And...
it hated me.
All right, what sort of thing?
I don't know!
You...
Could it be...
postnatal depression?
Oh, yeah, OK, I strangled myself
as a cry for help, OK, yeah.
Nice.
We'll start looking
for somewhere else to live, OK?
How long will that take?
Don't know.
Call your dad.
He's full of shit. Charlie...
Please.
Please, just ask him.
I don't know what to do.
Please, fucking ask him.
I don't know what to do.
OK.
[man] It's nice to see you.
Looking good.
He's taking good care of you?
Get to the point,
please, Charlie.
Something attacked me
in our house.
- Sorry to hear that.
- [James] Are you?
You live for this stuff.
Like all that shit you used to
bang on about when I was a kid,
drawing weird stuff
on the walls...
I'm an occultist, James,
I'm not a crazy man.
Anything else?
Well, I've got these bruises
all over my back, as well.
We, as a family, have dealt with
situations like this before.
"We" haven't, 'cause I've never
seen anything, have I?
Because I protected you.
The house will need
depopulating.
Depopulating?
I'll need to clean whatever
it is that attacked you.
And then...
create a barrier
to stop it happening again.
Noisy lot, are you?
I need a bag or a box.
I miss her.
Your wife?
Hmm.
I saw her, you know.
After she passed.
- What happened?
- Don't.
Charlie, seriously.
[clattering]
What the fuck are you doing?
Vessels.
Anything with features.
Eyes, teeth, a face.
They're a window
into our world...
and incredibly dangerous
around children like Thea.
Like Thea?
Yes.
This is because of her.
Her light shines
beyond our world into the...
- Will you stop talking bollocks?
- James!
Can you just shut up
for a second, please!
Put simply...
Thea is a magnet
for the supernatural.
As the house is your main place
of habitation,
it will have to be closed off.
You need to start
listening to me
if you want to stop this
happening again.
[unintelligible whispering]
Redo this every week.
Fresh salt every day.
Form a barrier.
Same with the windows.
There's one more thing
we need to do.
From about a foot above her,
drip the candle wax
in four points around her body.
As close as you can to her.
The closer the droplets...
the stronger the bond.
You want us to drip boiling hot
wax next to our baby?
Yes.
- No.
- [Alistair] You have to.
You need to protect her.
And yourselves.
This is the only thing
that will work.
Well, how do you know that?
Because I had to do it myself.
Her...
ability...
it's hereditary.
Trust me.
[cooing]
[Alistair] You need
to close your eyes.
You need to close your eyes.
You need to visualize
the barrier.
[baby crying]
[Alistair whispering
indistinctly, baby crying]
[Alistair] ...Father above me...
I am safe.
Selah.
[crying]
[crying stops]
How often do we have to do this?
Every day.
You have to do this to her
every day.
[snarling noises, baby crying]
Hands!
[water running]
[man] "Which of the five sets
of parents
would you like to choose?
'Um, when you say choose...'"
Thea.
"'...you mean go and live
with forever?' said Larry.
'Yes!' said the head."
[whispering] Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left,
The father above me,
the mother below me.
Within me I am safe,
amen, amen, Selah.
"The man begged for mercy.
He told the witch,
'My wife saw your rampion
from our window
and such was our hunger
that she would have died
without some to eat.'"
What's rampion?
Uh, a good question.
- It's... spinach, I think.
- Ecch!
Eccch!
"And the witch thought
for a moment and told him,
'You may take as much rampion
away with you as you like.'"
She didn't like it either.
"'On one condition...
you must promise to me
your unborn daughter.'"
Shall we get to bed?
Gonna have bad dreams tonight.
If you do, you can come
and sleep with me and mummy.
OK?
Bedtime.
I'm not sleepy.
Ah, funny how you're never
sleepy until the morning.
Isn't it?
I'll tell you what.
If you promise to fall asleep
as quickly as you can,
then we can have
a pizza night tomorrow.
Deal?
Deal, goodnight, bedtime.
[soft snarling noises]
[Thea whimpering]
[R&B playing]
What about Crawley?
Rent's not too bad.
James.
I need your help with this.
What do you think?
It's double in size.
Hmm... there's no indoor pool.
No sex dungeon.
No outdoor pool.
No outdoor sex gazebo.
We can't live like that,
we're not animals.
Can you get some time off work?
Get a baby-sitter.
[sighs]
Yeah, but...
I have to spend all day worrying
about her when she's at school.
You want to let
another stranger near her?
How would you explain a chair
flying at a baby-sitter?
She'll be fine.
Charlie, you've gotta stop
mollycoddling her.
[Thea crying]
I'm not having a go...
Charlie.
Yeah, I'm just gonna
go mollycoddle our child.
[Thea whimpering]
[soft squelching noises,
Thea whimpering]
Shh, shh, shh!
Right, so what do we do if
somebody tries to talk to you?
Ignore it.
Right.
And what if somebody tries
to push you?
Pretend it didn't happen,
keep smiling.
What if somebody tries
to hurt somebody else?
I ask them as quietly as I can
to go away.
Yeah. And?
If something really bad happens,
I use the phone
and say the code word.
- [Charlie] Which is?
- Banana.
You've done your rituals?
Good girl.
OK.
We have...
books...
- What is this?
- It's just a toy, Mummy?
No, it's not just a toy.
It has a face, doesn't it, Thea?
Look at me.
Where did you get this?
The school. Everyone has them.
I want it.
I know you want it, my love,
but you can't have it, can you?
No.
Come here.
You know this, don't you?
Nothing with faces.
Yes? You've got to listen to me.
Do you promise?
- Mummy needs you to.
- OK.
OK?
[children shouting]
Have a good day.
[Thea, whispering]
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right...
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me.
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left...
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right...
[overlapping incantations]
[Thea] ...the father above me,
the mother below me.
Within me I am safe.
Amen, amen, Selah.
[Thea wincing]
[James] Thea?
You've got a visitor.
[James, in falsetto]
Pfft! Hello!
I'm your new friend.
Would you like to play?
[James blows raspberry]
Come on then, she's for you.
Mummy got it for you.
What do you say?
Thank you, Mummy.
[dishware clattering]
[James] So...
I had a word
with the boss today.
I did a bit of flirting.
Some kissing.
And...
after mounting him for
the requisite amount of time...
he agreed to give me
a few days off.
He said he might give me a week
if I slip him a digit next time.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[Thea cries]
[James groans]
I'll go.
No, it's another nightmare.
Aaaah!
[soft squelching noise]
[skittering noises]
[clatter]
What is it?
It's about to touch you.
[skittering noise
growing louder]
Aaaah!
Aaaah!
[high-pitched whirring]
[James groaning]
Come out now!
[James shrieking,
glass shattering]
- [Charlie] James!
- [James] Charlie!
[Charlie] James! Open the door!
[James shrieking]
[Thea shouting, loud clattering]
Let him go! Let my daddy go!
[clattering stops,
James gasping]
[James] Dad, it's me, uh...
Can you come over, please?
No, we're fine.
It's just, um...
Just come over, will ya?
[footsteps approaching
on stairs]
It's because of me
they break things.
I gave her a face.
We can't control her.
What if we get her medication
like...
a sedative or...
You want to drug our child?
She is acting up.
She is not listening to us.
She's six years old.
Yeah, well, it's getting worse.
I... I just want her
to be normal.
[Alistair] She'll never be
normal.
She'll always be different.
Elizabeth. I need to send her
to Elizabeth.
She'll know what to do.
She always knows.
Sit.
This is Thea...
Shh!
Drink.
Now that the formalities
are out of the way...
would you like to go
and play outside?
Little girls shouldn't be
stuck indoors.
No, um... I'd rather
she stayed with us.
Nonsense, it's perfectly
safe here.
Go!
Thea! Thea. Stay where we
can see you, please?
Now...
where were we?
I don't know what my dad's
told you
about us and Thea.
[Elizabeth] He told me
very little.
He's still somewhat shy
when he speaks to me.
I thought you were friends,
though.
He was a student of mine.
- Right, OK, look, listen...
- Um...
Can we start at the beginning?
My dear girl, I was there
at the beginning.
That's where Thea and I
first met.
Isn't that right?
[muted gurgling]
[baby crying]
[Charlie] How do we stop it?
Stop it?
It... is her.
So you're saying that we have
to live with this.
[Elizabeth] Yes.
She is your daughter.
She'll get hurt!
That's the price that is paid
for her gift.
[James] Gift?
[Elizabeth] You can't stop it.
But you can help her to manage.
Like I've had to.
I've spent almost all my life
learning how to protect myself.
And how did you do it?
Like so many...
I had to turn to the occult.
I can give you books,
reading material
in terms of visualization.
Can you teach her?
- It's not a good idea.
- [James] What?
Why is it not a good idea? Why?
Please...
I don't know what else to do.
If I do, I can't have
my methods questioned.
She OK?
Tired.
Tell me about it.
I've been thinking...
maybe we should invite my dad
over for dinner.
I thought I'd make
a bit more of an effort.
Sure.
Maybe he could baby-sit,
give us a night off.
Booze, bars, girls.
[Charlie] Ready?
All right, come on.
Don't you look lovely?
[chuckles] School uniform.
She normally likes
to be covered in mud.
Go on, come on.
You know she's gonna help you.
Do you need my help?
Yes.
Why?
Because I don't want mummy
and daddy to be scared anymore.
[Charlie] Go on, then. Go on.
You'll be fine.
And I'm gonna come pick you up
in no time, aren't I?
Because I promised, didn't I?
Yeah?
Then you're happy, you're fine?
Smile.
Thea. Go on. Go on, go on.
Your mother's very excited that
we're spending time together.
My mummy wasn't very nice to me.
Why not?
She was scared of me.
Come and sit down, Thea.
Come on.
Why are you helping me?
If I was sick,
would you look after me?
Yes.
[Elizabeth] Why?
It's nice to help people.
[Elizabeth chuckles]
[Elizabeth] Drink it.
It's not hot.
Finish it.
It's a very special tea.
I drink it to help me see...
the world for what it really is.
People like you and I...
[echoing]
we can see things
no one else can see.
Don't fight it!
Don't fight it!
[high-pitched ringing]
[Charlie] Thea?
Come along, Thea.
[ringing stops]
[soft skittering, snarling]
[squelching sounds]
This is a hazel tree.
Go and break me off a branch.
[whispered incantations echoing]
[incantations cease]
[Elizabeth] Nice and deep
into the mud...
draw a large circle round us.
[Thea] What is it?
Protection.
Don't ever leave the circle
until it's safe.
[Thea shrieks]
[skittering noises]
[rustling grows louder]
[fire crackling]
[Elizabeth] I know what
attacked you in your home.
Your daughter is being hunted
by a parasite.
It wants to feed off her.
I can protect her.
But I will need to see her
every day.
[door shuts]
[starts engine]
[radio dial spinning]
[tuning]
[static]
[static continues]
[Thea giggles]
What's so funny?
It's a secret, Mummy.
So many people can't accept
the vastness
of the world around them.
Desperate for
their own dull reality.
So they hide away from it,
usually having to take
their own lives.
Do you know what suicide is?
No.
Good.
It's not an option for us.
People usually just end up
somewhere far worse.
People like you and I, Thea,
must confront our realities.
Your parents will try to pretend
they understand,
but they never will.
The more you tell them
about what you see,
the more inclined they'll be
to... throw you away.
Took me a long time
to learn all this.
I had no one to teach me.
Can you see the door, Thea?
What's behind it?
It's dark.
The entity from the woods
yesterday.
Can you find it?
Can you feel it?
No.
[Elizabeth]
When you're given a toy,
it becomes your responsibility.
If the toy breaks,
it's your fault.
So, if you accidentally
let something through the door,
and mummy and daddy get hurt...
whose fault is it?
Mine.
[Elizabeth] Yes.
So, if something comes
through...
you have to deal with it.
Never call mummy and daddy
for help
or they may get hurt.
Understand?
[distant sirens wailing]
[R&B playing in background]
[Alistair] So,
where's the new site?
[James] The arse end
of South London,
but it's an... "up-and-coming"
area, apparently.
Which means all the smackheads
have been replaced
by artisan bakers.
[Alistair] Mm-hmm.
Can I have some?
Yes, in about 15 years.
- [Thea giggles]
- What's wrong with you?
[static on radio]
[static growing louder]
[skittering noises]
[Thea] Zaqueo before me...
[Alistair] Thea.
Move away from it.
[Thea whispering incantation,
skittering noises continue]
[Thea] Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me...
Zaqueo to my right.
[mute snarling]
[skittering noises continue]
[noises grow louder]
- [noises stop]
- [Thea] I am safe.
[children shouting]
Mummy, look what I did.
All right. Hang on.
Ohh!
What did you draw?
[Alistair] I saw it
right behind her.
What is it?
I don't know.
[Alistair] You don't know?
And you've got her trying
to fight it?
[Elizabeth] What would you
rather I did?
It's what her parents wanted.
Her to be in control.
She can't handle something
like that.
I couldn't even begin
to tell them what to do.
Which is why they came to me.
I'm no expert.
But I did what I had to do.
To protect my family.
I'm fixing your errors.
You told me that your son
was going to have a child
and that, like you,
it might be a beacon.
I went...
I saw...
and I told you I needed
to help those people
as soon as possible,
and what did you say?
That's not what I meant!
What did you say, Alistair?
You told me your son needed
to see it all for himself.
And in those six years,
when I might have helped,
she let through something
so demonic
that even I don't think
I can save her.
Make amends.
[telephone ringing]
Dad?
[Alistair] Every mark on my body
was done to save you.
I was protecting you.
I've always been trying
to protect you.
Are you drunk?
I just wanted to be part
of your life again.
Sacrifice, that's what being
a parent is all about.
It needs a host.
Maybe it will have me.
Listen, what's going on?
[click]
What happened?
Uh...
[dialing]
[line ringing]
[rattling, creaking]
[creaking noise]
[soft creaking, rattling]
[soft screeching]
[skittering noises]
[Thea, whispering]
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away...
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
It's my responsibility.
[door creaking]
[Thea shrieking]
[Charlie] Thea!
[creature snarling]
[muffled snarling]
- [Charlie] James! James!
- [Thea screams]
[Charlie] James!
Uggh! Aaaah!
[Charlie] James!
[creature snarling, roaring]
James!
[James groaning,
creature snarling]
[thud!]
[snarling stops]
Uh...
I can't do this anymore.
Thea.
Go upstairs and explore.
What's going on?
I want my life back!
Just take her away.
You have no idea
what her life is like.
No idea what she sees.
Well, then show me.
Show me what she sees.
Show me all
of the invisible shit
that has taken away
six years of my life!
[fire crackling]
What do I do?
[Elizabeth] You drink it.
Are you sure
you want to do this?
It wasn't created
for flavor, I'm afraid.
[clock ticking]
[Thea] Daddy?
[James, faintly] Thea.
[static]
[electricity sparking]
Now, this will be hard.
But no matter what you see,
don't show fear or anger.
[sparking, static]
[guttural snarling]
[muted squealing]
[skittering noises]
[muffled roaring]
[Elizabeth] No strong emotions.
Otherwise, the entities that you
want to remain hidden from
will see you, too.
[muffled screeching]
[James groaning,
creature roaring]
[roaring stops]
Granddad.
Banana!
Banana, Mummy.
Oh.
Toilet guide.
Someone's had an accident.
[Thea] Mummy!
[Charlie gasping]
Ugh!
She doesn't want to be
your mummy anymore, Thea.
She never cared about you.
Only herself.
In all these years...
has anything ever
actually harmed her?
No!
To be the mother
of such a beautiful child,
you have to accept her.
And the bruises
that come with her!
Come here, come on.
Come with me.
[scurrying noises]
[distant chittering]
Make the circle, Thea.
[Elizabeth whispering
incantation]
[distant snarling]
It's been feeding off me
for so long...
just want to be free from it.
I need you to take it from me.
You told me, if I was sick
you'd help me.
I'm sick now, Thea.
It's your responsibility now.
I promised you to it.
[mute screeching]
Step out of the circle.
- No!
- [Elizabeth] It won't hurt you.
It's like your mummy,
it can look after you.
- No!
- Step out of the circle!
- It will hurt me.
- Thea, you have to trust me!
[Thea] No, you're a liar!
[creature roaring]
[groaning]
Thea!
[rustling noises]
Help me, Thea.
[growling, snarling]
[Elizabeth shrieks]
[creature roaring]
[Elizabeth shrieking]
[creature snorting, chomping]
[roars]
[creature squealing]
[Thea shrieks]
[snarling]
[creature snarling]
[Thea] Run, Mummy!
Into the circle, run!
[creature squealing]
Are you OK? Are you OK?
[Thea] I didn't mean to.
It was an accident.
[Thea sobbing]
[whispering]
Mummy, it's still out there.
OK, OK.
- [creature snarling]
- Can you get rid of it?
I need to push it back
but I'm not good at that.
Yes, you are, you are.
I know you are.
- What do you have to do?
- I have to imagine it.
OK, describe it to me.
[snarling]
- Cold...
- Is it wet or dry?
It's wet, like granddad's blood.
OK.
Hey, you need to push it away.
I want you to push it away
so it can't hurt you.
Yeah?
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left...
[snarling]
[overlapping incantations]
[creature roaring]
[whispered incantations
continue]
[creature roaring,
Thea whispering]
within me, I am safe,
within me I am safe,
within me I am safe...
[swing set creaking]
[Thea] It's OK, Mummy.
It doesn't hurt.
Dreams of liberty
Hey
While walking in the rain
Why don't we stand
In the name of love...
[train wheels clacking,
siren wailing]
[muffled dance music plays]
Shit.
[light buzzing]
[knock on door]
[man] Charlie, come on,
let's go.
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
Hey! Hey-hey-hey!
[laughing]
Are you trying it on with me?
- Me?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Are you?
- Always.
- Good.
[giggles]
[vomits]
[man chuckles]
Fancy a kebab?
[woman coughing]
Maybe you should pace yourself
next time.
Oh, shut up.
Oh...
[softly] I'm pregnant.
What?
I'm pregnant.
[man laughing hysterically]
You serious?
[laughing]
That's...
That is...
brilliant.
I mean... we're gonna...
We're gonna keep it, right?
Is it... is it us?
Charlie, it's a little us.
All right?
A little us.
[Charlie shrieking, giggling]
- [Charlie] Wait, wait.
- Hm-mm.
Baby...
Who the fuck cares?
[man chuckles]
[giggling, laughter]
Come get me!
You gonna be sick again?
One sec.
Ohhh!
[chuckles] Fuck!
J-James!
[James] Not again!
[chuckles]
- [scratching sound]
- [Charlie] Ohhh...
[door creaks, slams]
[babies crying in distance]
[baby fussing]
All right, listen...
Nirvana.
It means idyllic state.
Uh-uh. Try again.
Uh...
Poppy!
Determined for her to be
a smack addict, James?
[Charlie] Thea?
It means goddess.
We can't actually just call her
Goddess, can we?
That would make her arrogant.
Thea.
I actually quite like that.
Can I have a go?
I called your dad.
- When?
- A few days ago.
- Why?
- I don't know.
I thought it might be good
for him to meet Thea.
He's not coming
anywhere near her, Charlie.
- James!
- Charlie.
He'll try and use her
in a ritual or something.
[baby crying]
Proud father?
Yeah.
Just starting to sink in.
Her name?
Thea?
[woman] Lovely.
A whole lifetime ahead of her.
And a whole afterlife
after that.
Good luck.
[baby crying]
[crying continues]
[kettle boiling]
[train wheels clacking]
Back in a few hours, promise.
Gonna be all right?
Yeah. I may want to hang out
without you, anyway.
[James] Hmm.
Maybe you two should go
for a walk, eh?
You haven't left the house
in days.
See ya.
[door opens, closes]
[swings creaking]
[train wheels clacking]
Hi, yeah, um...
I thought you said a few hours.
Can, uh...
Can you just call me
when you get this, yeah?
[baby crying]
It's OK, Thea. I'm sorry.
[Thea fussing]
- I'm sorry.
- [crying stops]
[children shouting]
[sighs]
[door opens, closes]
[James] All right?
Yeah, it's just...
[bowl shatters, water spills]
For fuck's sake!
Sorry, must have
not put it down.
[baby shrieking]
[baby wailing]
[telephone ringing]
[woman] How was she during
her immunization?
Important to protect her against
all nasty bugs out there.
Barely made a sound.
[woman] You getting enough time
to eat properly?
Enough sleep?
How are you getting on
with feeding?
Fine, yeah, she's been great.
Yeah, and you are breast
or bottle feeding?
Uh, bottle.
[woman typing]
Honestly, it doesn't matter
what method you choose,
as long as you're happy
with the decision.
Bonding well with baby?
Spending time together?
Yeah, loads.
Are you getting
much support at home?
Your partner, parents?
Oh, I don't know our parents.
But I can manage.
- You're allowed to ask for help.
- Oh, yeah, I know, I know.
But I like it, being a mum.
My boyfriend's a big kid,
so it's just like having
another one, isn't it?
[woman typing]
Are you OK?
Oh, yeah, yeah, I just got
these bruises on my back.
- May I see?
- Uh, yeah.
[Charlie] They started
after she was born.
Seem to get a new one every day.
Do you have animals at home?
[Charlie] No.
[woman] Do you feel dizzy,
faint?
Uh, no, it's just, I...
like I'm losing my brain a bit.
Put her down and...
OK.
Keep an eye on things
and let me know if it continues.
If you don't mind, I'd like you
to have a few blood tests.
Yeah, sure.
[R&B on headset]
[baby crying]
[crying continues]
For fuck's sake,
would you shut the fuck up?!
[crying stops]
[door bangs]
Ohh!
[creature snarling]
[skittering noises,
Charlie gasping]
[skittering]
[door creaking]
[click]
- [key turning in lock]
- [James] Home.
Maybe they can do something.
I don't want to talk
to the fucking police, James.
Baby, there was something
in the flat, OK?
And...
it hated me.
All right, what sort of thing?
I don't know!
You...
Could it be...
postnatal depression?
Oh, yeah, OK, I strangled myself
as a cry for help, OK, yeah.
Nice.
We'll start looking
for somewhere else to live, OK?
How long will that take?
Don't know.
Call your dad.
He's full of shit. Charlie...
Please.
Please, just ask him.
I don't know what to do.
Please, fucking ask him.
I don't know what to do.
OK.
[man] It's nice to see you.
Looking good.
He's taking good care of you?
Get to the point,
please, Charlie.
Something attacked me
in our house.
- Sorry to hear that.
- [James] Are you?
You live for this stuff.
Like all that shit you used to
bang on about when I was a kid,
drawing weird stuff
on the walls...
I'm an occultist, James,
I'm not a crazy man.
Anything else?
Well, I've got these bruises
all over my back, as well.
We, as a family, have dealt with
situations like this before.
"We" haven't, 'cause I've never
seen anything, have I?
Because I protected you.
The house will need
depopulating.
Depopulating?
I'll need to clean whatever
it is that attacked you.
And then...
create a barrier
to stop it happening again.
Noisy lot, are you?
I need a bag or a box.
I miss her.
Your wife?
Hmm.
I saw her, you know.
After she passed.
- What happened?
- Don't.
Charlie, seriously.
[clattering]
What the fuck are you doing?
Vessels.
Anything with features.
Eyes, teeth, a face.
They're a window
into our world...
and incredibly dangerous
around children like Thea.
Like Thea?
Yes.
This is because of her.
Her light shines
beyond our world into the...
- Will you stop talking bollocks?
- James!
Can you just shut up
for a second, please!
Put simply...
Thea is a magnet
for the supernatural.
As the house is your main place
of habitation,
it will have to be closed off.
You need to start
listening to me
if you want to stop this
happening again.
[unintelligible whispering]
Redo this every week.
Fresh salt every day.
Form a barrier.
Same with the windows.
There's one more thing
we need to do.
From about a foot above her,
drip the candle wax
in four points around her body.
As close as you can to her.
The closer the droplets...
the stronger the bond.
You want us to drip boiling hot
wax next to our baby?
Yes.
- No.
- [Alistair] You have to.
You need to protect her.
And yourselves.
This is the only thing
that will work.
Well, how do you know that?
Because I had to do it myself.
Her...
ability...
it's hereditary.
Trust me.
[cooing]
[Alistair] You need
to close your eyes.
You need to close your eyes.
You need to visualize
the barrier.
[baby crying]
[Alistair whispering
indistinctly, baby crying]
[Alistair] ...Father above me...
I am safe.
Selah.
[crying]
[crying stops]
How often do we have to do this?
Every day.
You have to do this to her
every day.
[snarling noises, baby crying]
Hands!
[water running]
[man] "Which of the five sets
of parents
would you like to choose?
'Um, when you say choose...'"
Thea.
"'...you mean go and live
with forever?' said Larry.
'Yes!' said the head."
[whispering] Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left,
The father above me,
the mother below me.
Within me I am safe,
amen, amen, Selah.
"The man begged for mercy.
He told the witch,
'My wife saw your rampion
from our window
and such was our hunger
that she would have died
without some to eat.'"
What's rampion?
Uh, a good question.
- It's... spinach, I think.
- Ecch!
Eccch!
"And the witch thought
for a moment and told him,
'You may take as much rampion
away with you as you like.'"
She didn't like it either.
"'On one condition...
you must promise to me
your unborn daughter.'"
Shall we get to bed?
Gonna have bad dreams tonight.
If you do, you can come
and sleep with me and mummy.
OK?
Bedtime.
I'm not sleepy.
Ah, funny how you're never
sleepy until the morning.
Isn't it?
I'll tell you what.
If you promise to fall asleep
as quickly as you can,
then we can have
a pizza night tomorrow.
Deal?
Deal, goodnight, bedtime.
[soft snarling noises]
[Thea whimpering]
[R&B playing]
What about Crawley?
Rent's not too bad.
James.
I need your help with this.
What do you think?
It's double in size.
Hmm... there's no indoor pool.
No sex dungeon.
No outdoor pool.
No outdoor sex gazebo.
We can't live like that,
we're not animals.
Can you get some time off work?
Get a baby-sitter.
[sighs]
Yeah, but...
I have to spend all day worrying
about her when she's at school.
You want to let
another stranger near her?
How would you explain a chair
flying at a baby-sitter?
She'll be fine.
Charlie, you've gotta stop
mollycoddling her.
[Thea crying]
I'm not having a go...
Charlie.
Yeah, I'm just gonna
go mollycoddle our child.
[Thea whimpering]
[soft squelching noises,
Thea whimpering]
Shh, shh, shh!
Right, so what do we do if
somebody tries to talk to you?
Ignore it.
Right.
And what if somebody tries
to push you?
Pretend it didn't happen,
keep smiling.
What if somebody tries
to hurt somebody else?
I ask them as quietly as I can
to go away.
Yeah. And?
If something really bad happens,
I use the phone
and say the code word.
- [Charlie] Which is?
- Banana.
You've done your rituals?
Good girl.
OK.
We have...
books...
- What is this?
- It's just a toy, Mummy?
No, it's not just a toy.
It has a face, doesn't it, Thea?
Look at me.
Where did you get this?
The school. Everyone has them.
I want it.
I know you want it, my love,
but you can't have it, can you?
No.
Come here.
You know this, don't you?
Nothing with faces.
Yes? You've got to listen to me.
Do you promise?
- Mummy needs you to.
- OK.
OK?
[children shouting]
Have a good day.
[Thea, whispering]
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right...
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me.
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left...
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right...
[overlapping incantations]
[Thea] ...the father above me,
the mother below me.
Within me I am safe.
Amen, amen, Selah.
[Thea wincing]
[James] Thea?
You've got a visitor.
[James, in falsetto]
Pfft! Hello!
I'm your new friend.
Would you like to play?
[James blows raspberry]
Come on then, she's for you.
Mummy got it for you.
What do you say?
Thank you, Mummy.
[dishware clattering]
[James] So...
I had a word
with the boss today.
I did a bit of flirting.
Some kissing.
And...
after mounting him for
the requisite amount of time...
he agreed to give me
a few days off.
He said he might give me a week
if I slip him a digit next time.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[Thea cries]
[James groans]
I'll go.
No, it's another nightmare.
Aaaah!
[soft squelching noise]
[skittering noises]
[clatter]
What is it?
It's about to touch you.
[skittering noise
growing louder]
Aaaah!
Aaaah!
[high-pitched whirring]
[James groaning]
Come out now!
[James shrieking,
glass shattering]
- [Charlie] James!
- [James] Charlie!
[Charlie] James! Open the door!
[James shrieking]
[Thea shouting, loud clattering]
Let him go! Let my daddy go!
[clattering stops,
James gasping]
[James] Dad, it's me, uh...
Can you come over, please?
No, we're fine.
It's just, um...
Just come over, will ya?
[footsteps approaching
on stairs]
It's because of me
they break things.
I gave her a face.
We can't control her.
What if we get her medication
like...
a sedative or...
You want to drug our child?
She is acting up.
She is not listening to us.
She's six years old.
Yeah, well, it's getting worse.
I... I just want her
to be normal.
[Alistair] She'll never be
normal.
She'll always be different.
Elizabeth. I need to send her
to Elizabeth.
She'll know what to do.
She always knows.
Sit.
This is Thea...
Shh!
Drink.
Now that the formalities
are out of the way...
would you like to go
and play outside?
Little girls shouldn't be
stuck indoors.
No, um... I'd rather
she stayed with us.
Nonsense, it's perfectly
safe here.
Go!
Thea! Thea. Stay where we
can see you, please?
Now...
where were we?
I don't know what my dad's
told you
about us and Thea.
[Elizabeth] He told me
very little.
He's still somewhat shy
when he speaks to me.
I thought you were friends,
though.
He was a student of mine.
- Right, OK, look, listen...
- Um...
Can we start at the beginning?
My dear girl, I was there
at the beginning.
That's where Thea and I
first met.
Isn't that right?
[muted gurgling]
[baby crying]
[Charlie] How do we stop it?
Stop it?
It... is her.
So you're saying that we have
to live with this.
[Elizabeth] Yes.
She is your daughter.
She'll get hurt!
That's the price that is paid
for her gift.
[James] Gift?
[Elizabeth] You can't stop it.
But you can help her to manage.
Like I've had to.
I've spent almost all my life
learning how to protect myself.
And how did you do it?
Like so many...
I had to turn to the occult.
I can give you books,
reading material
in terms of visualization.
Can you teach her?
- It's not a good idea.
- [James] What?
Why is it not a good idea? Why?
Please...
I don't know what else to do.
If I do, I can't have
my methods questioned.
She OK?
Tired.
Tell me about it.
I've been thinking...
maybe we should invite my dad
over for dinner.
I thought I'd make
a bit more of an effort.
Sure.
Maybe he could baby-sit,
give us a night off.
Booze, bars, girls.
[Charlie] Ready?
All right, come on.
Don't you look lovely?
[chuckles] School uniform.
She normally likes
to be covered in mud.
Go on, come on.
You know she's gonna help you.
Do you need my help?
Yes.
Why?
Because I don't want mummy
and daddy to be scared anymore.
[Charlie] Go on, then. Go on.
You'll be fine.
And I'm gonna come pick you up
in no time, aren't I?
Because I promised, didn't I?
Yeah?
Then you're happy, you're fine?
Smile.
Thea. Go on. Go on, go on.
Your mother's very excited that
we're spending time together.
My mummy wasn't very nice to me.
Why not?
She was scared of me.
Come and sit down, Thea.
Come on.
Why are you helping me?
If I was sick,
would you look after me?
Yes.
[Elizabeth] Why?
It's nice to help people.
[Elizabeth chuckles]
[Elizabeth] Drink it.
It's not hot.
Finish it.
It's a very special tea.
I drink it to help me see...
the world for what it really is.
People like you and I...
[echoing]
we can see things
no one else can see.
Don't fight it!
Don't fight it!
[high-pitched ringing]
[Charlie] Thea?
Come along, Thea.
[ringing stops]
[soft skittering, snarling]
[squelching sounds]
This is a hazel tree.
Go and break me off a branch.
[whispered incantations echoing]
[incantations cease]
[Elizabeth] Nice and deep
into the mud...
draw a large circle round us.
[Thea] What is it?
Protection.
Don't ever leave the circle
until it's safe.
[Thea shrieks]
[skittering noises]
[rustling grows louder]
[fire crackling]
[Elizabeth] I know what
attacked you in your home.
Your daughter is being hunted
by a parasite.
It wants to feed off her.
I can protect her.
But I will need to see her
every day.
[door shuts]
[starts engine]
[radio dial spinning]
[tuning]
[static]
[static continues]
[Thea giggles]
What's so funny?
It's a secret, Mummy.
So many people can't accept
the vastness
of the world around them.
Desperate for
their own dull reality.
So they hide away from it,
usually having to take
their own lives.
Do you know what suicide is?
No.
Good.
It's not an option for us.
People usually just end up
somewhere far worse.
People like you and I, Thea,
must confront our realities.
Your parents will try to pretend
they understand,
but they never will.
The more you tell them
about what you see,
the more inclined they'll be
to... throw you away.
Took me a long time
to learn all this.
I had no one to teach me.
Can you see the door, Thea?
What's behind it?
It's dark.
The entity from the woods
yesterday.
Can you find it?
Can you feel it?
No.
[Elizabeth]
When you're given a toy,
it becomes your responsibility.
If the toy breaks,
it's your fault.
So, if you accidentally
let something through the door,
and mummy and daddy get hurt...
whose fault is it?
Mine.
[Elizabeth] Yes.
So, if something comes
through...
you have to deal with it.
Never call mummy and daddy
for help
or they may get hurt.
Understand?
[distant sirens wailing]
[R&B playing in background]
[Alistair] So,
where's the new site?
[James] The arse end
of South London,
but it's an... "up-and-coming"
area, apparently.
Which means all the smackheads
have been replaced
by artisan bakers.
[Alistair] Mm-hmm.
Can I have some?
Yes, in about 15 years.
- [Thea giggles]
- What's wrong with you?
[static on radio]
[static growing louder]
[skittering noises]
[Thea] Zaqueo before me...
[Alistair] Thea.
Move away from it.
[Thea whispering incantation,
skittering noises continue]
[Thea] Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me...
Zaqueo to my right.
[mute snarling]
[skittering noises continue]
[noises grow louder]
- [noises stop]
- [Thea] I am safe.
[children shouting]
Mummy, look what I did.
All right. Hang on.
Ohh!
What did you draw?
[Alistair] I saw it
right behind her.
What is it?
I don't know.
[Alistair] You don't know?
And you've got her trying
to fight it?
[Elizabeth] What would you
rather I did?
It's what her parents wanted.
Her to be in control.
She can't handle something
like that.
I couldn't even begin
to tell them what to do.
Which is why they came to me.
I'm no expert.
But I did what I had to do.
To protect my family.
I'm fixing your errors.
You told me that your son
was going to have a child
and that, like you,
it might be a beacon.
I went...
I saw...
and I told you I needed
to help those people
as soon as possible,
and what did you say?
That's not what I meant!
What did you say, Alistair?
You told me your son needed
to see it all for himself.
And in those six years,
when I might have helped,
she let through something
so demonic
that even I don't think
I can save her.
Make amends.
[telephone ringing]
Dad?
[Alistair] Every mark on my body
was done to save you.
I was protecting you.
I've always been trying
to protect you.
Are you drunk?
I just wanted to be part
of your life again.
Sacrifice, that's what being
a parent is all about.
It needs a host.
Maybe it will have me.
Listen, what's going on?
[click]
What happened?
Uh...
[dialing]
[line ringing]
[rattling, creaking]
[creaking noise]
[soft creaking, rattling]
[soft screeching]
[skittering noises]
[Thea, whispering]
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away...
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
I can make it go away.
It's my responsibility.
[door creaking]
[Thea shrieking]
[Charlie] Thea!
[creature snarling]
[muffled snarling]
- [Charlie] James! James!
- [Thea screams]
[Charlie] James!
Uggh! Aaaah!
[Charlie] James!
[creature snarling, roaring]
James!
[James groaning,
creature snarling]
[thud!]
[snarling stops]
Uh...
I can't do this anymore.
Thea.
Go upstairs and explore.
What's going on?
I want my life back!
Just take her away.
You have no idea
what her life is like.
No idea what she sees.
Well, then show me.
Show me what she sees.
Show me all
of the invisible shit
that has taken away
six years of my life!
[fire crackling]
What do I do?
[Elizabeth] You drink it.
Are you sure
you want to do this?
It wasn't created
for flavor, I'm afraid.
[clock ticking]
[Thea] Daddy?
[James, faintly] Thea.
[static]
[electricity sparking]
Now, this will be hard.
But no matter what you see,
don't show fear or anger.
[sparking, static]
[guttural snarling]
[muted squealing]
[skittering noises]
[muffled roaring]
[Elizabeth] No strong emotions.
Otherwise, the entities that you
want to remain hidden from
will see you, too.
[muffled screeching]
[James groaning,
creature roaring]
[roaring stops]
Granddad.
Banana!
Banana, Mummy.
Oh.
Toilet guide.
Someone's had an accident.
[Thea] Mummy!
[Charlie gasping]
Ugh!
She doesn't want to be
your mummy anymore, Thea.
She never cared about you.
Only herself.
In all these years...
has anything ever
actually harmed her?
No!
To be the mother
of such a beautiful child,
you have to accept her.
And the bruises
that come with her!
Come here, come on.
Come with me.
[scurrying noises]
[distant chittering]
Make the circle, Thea.
[Elizabeth whispering
incantation]
[distant snarling]
It's been feeding off me
for so long...
just want to be free from it.
I need you to take it from me.
You told me, if I was sick
you'd help me.
I'm sick now, Thea.
It's your responsibility now.
I promised you to it.
[mute screeching]
Step out of the circle.
- No!
- [Elizabeth] It won't hurt you.
It's like your mummy,
it can look after you.
- No!
- Step out of the circle!
- It will hurt me.
- Thea, you have to trust me!
[Thea] No, you're a liar!
[creature roaring]
[groaning]
Thea!
[rustling noises]
Help me, Thea.
[growling, snarling]
[Elizabeth shrieks]
[creature roaring]
[Elizabeth shrieking]
[creature snorting, chomping]
[roars]
[creature squealing]
[Thea shrieks]
[snarling]
[creature snarling]
[Thea] Run, Mummy!
Into the circle, run!
[creature squealing]
Are you OK? Are you OK?
[Thea] I didn't mean to.
It was an accident.
[Thea sobbing]
[whispering]
Mummy, it's still out there.
OK, OK.
- [creature snarling]
- Can you get rid of it?
I need to push it back
but I'm not good at that.
Yes, you are, you are.
I know you are.
- What do you have to do?
- I have to imagine it.
OK, describe it to me.
[snarling]
- Cold...
- Is it wet or dry?
It's wet, like granddad's blood.
OK.
Hey, you need to push it away.
I want you to push it away
so it can't hurt you.
Yeah?
Zaqueo before me,
Zaqueo behind me,
Zaqueo to my right,
Zaqueo to my left...
[snarling]
[overlapping incantations]
[creature roaring]
[whispered incantations
continue]
[creature roaring,
Thea whispering]
within me, I am safe,
within me I am safe,
within me I am safe...
[swing set creaking]
[Thea] It's OK, Mummy.
It doesn't hurt.
Dreams of liberty
Hey
While walking in the rain
Why don't we stand
In the name of love...