Archive 81 (2022) s01e02 Episode Script
Wellspring
1
[static crackling.]
[sine tone playing.]
[silence.]
[woman.]
We're all searching for something.
Adventure.
["What a Wonderful World" playing.]
[woman.]
Community.
[happy chattering.]
[woman.]
Connection.
Find your history, find yourself.
Order your personal DNA kit today and receive 50 percent off your first report.
Give yourself the gift of knowing who you really are.
Wellspring.
Your story starts here.
[static crackling.]
[ominous theme music playing.]
[birds chirping.]
[panting.]
[line ringing.]
[Mark on phone.]
Fuck.
I left you six messages last night.
[sighs.]
I'm sorry, I had a work thing.
Didn't I try you back? Pretty sure I tried you back.
I saw my dad.
In the footage.
What do you mean you saw your dad? I He was there, at the Visser, 1994.
Doing what? I don't know.
I It was some kind of ambush.
Uh These men from Rockland showed up and they dragged Melody out of this building, and he was there with them.
I thought your dad was a professor.
Oh, yeah, he was.
He was.
Psychology, NYU.
What was he doing with bouncers from a nuthouse? He work there too? I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't think so.
All right.
Okay.
Um What else did you see? He's a liar, you know.
- Who? - Davenport.
He said he didn't know what was on those tapes, but he had to know, right? How else would he know about my father's involvement, or whatever the fuck this is? I mean, this wasn't a chance meeting.
[exhales.]
This was a setup from the start.
All right.
Well, let's say that's true.
It is true.
All right, well, you have two options.
Okay? You can either bite the hand that's feeding you or keep your cool.
Because if you lose your shit at Davenport, he's gonna fire your ass, he's gonna keep his money and tapes, and you're never gonna know what the fuck your dad was doing.
You still there? Remember my aunt's place in Park Slope? - Yeah, where we did Christmas.
- Yeah.
Um, she's in Europe.
So, the key is in the Tarkovsky mug.
She has all of my dad's old files there.
Maybe you can find something out about Rockland there? Okay, I'm on it.
Uh Did she know him? What? Melody.
Um, did she know your dad? I don't know.
Promise me you're gonna get some sleep.
Yeah.
[tense music playing.]
[machine whirring.]
[on tape.]
I'm Melody Pendras.
It's 7:24 a.
m.
, and I'm here with Jessica Lewis, ninth grader and unofficial Girl Friday to anyone who's anyone at the Visser Apartments.
It's Jess.
Everyone calls me Jess, not Jessica.
Oh, and this is my good side.
- Can you say what you're doing? - Client services run.
[Melody.]
So, what were you gonna tell me the other day? On camera.
You said, "Can I tell you" and then you just cut yourself off.
Remember? No.
[man.]
Jess? Hello.
Hey, Father Russo.
This is my friend Melody.
She just moved into the building.
Nice to meet you.
We'd love to see you on Sunday.
Everyone's welcome.
Maybe.
That the priest you were telling me about? The one your mom sent you to talk to? Yeah.
Here.
Smell.
[sniffs.]
Oh, God.
Oh! Look.
[chuckles.]
This was my favorite book when I was a kid.
Mrs.
Frisby and the Rats of NIMH? [laughs.]
[Jess.]
I make movies too.
What kind of movies? I don't know.
Like, poems, I guess? [Jess.]
My mom doesn't know about my camera, okay? Hey, did you ask your mom about giving me an interview? Maybe this week? [Jess.]
Here you go, Miss Wall.
Darling girl.
Such a treasure.
Come up for tea this afternoon.
This is Melody.
She's doing a history project about our building.
Maybe she could interview you? [ominous music playing.]
[elevator dings.]
[music stops.]
I'll talk to her.
[knocking on door.]
[door opens.]
Ah.
Thank you.
Beatriz, this is Melody.
She's making Making a film about the residents of this building.
Come in.
Let's do a reading.
[door closes.]
Beatriz Reyes.
I was born in San Juan, but I moved to Los Angeles when I was 16.
[water bubbling.]
How did you end up at the Visser? I came to stay with my cousin Alicia.
And she ran off with some pothead plumber from Boston, so I inherited the lease.
And the fish.
You should know, the residents here are very strange.
Strange how? There's a sex club.
They meet in the community room in the middle of the night, but they're not fooling anyone.
I can hear them all the way up here.
Moaning.
Cut, please.
Past, present, future.
Grief.
Pain.
You've suffered as a child.
There's something hidden.
Something that has guide you to this place.
Not the light.
Someone.
That's why you're here.
There's a historian I'm trying to track down.
Julia Bennett.
She did a lot of amazing work in the '70s and then just dropped off the face of the Earth.
This building is her last address, um, so I'm hoping someone here might remember her.
There is a woman who keeps an apartment on the fourth floor.
4G.
No one's seen her in years, but her mailbox is often bursting at the seams.
Shall we take a look at your future? [ominous music playing.]
Don't take it literally.
Death has many meanings.
[man 2.]
That's a $2,000 fine.
[chuckles.]
I mean, I was just I'm just joking.
I'm not the mail police.
Scout's honor.
Samuel.
Melody.
Anything in particular you're trying to steal? Oh, no, I was just Because my nephew gave me one of those, uh, skeleton keys from the spy museum last Christmas, just you know, if you get desperate.
[laughs.]
No, I'm just gonna walk away now.
It was nice to meet you.
Sorry.
Wait, you like music, right? I've just seen you around the building and you're just always wearing headphones.
Yeah, I like music.
Uh, is there any chance that you are always listening to opera? Liz Phair, Beastie Boys.
No Puccini.
Okay, but could you be enticed to come to a show tonight? My friend Tamara, she is putting on act one of her opera, and, uh well, it is not very good, and I'm just trying to rally an audience.
Yeah, sure.
I could do that.
9:00 p.
m.
at the Sanctuary.
It's that place on 8th that used to be a church.
Uh, you are a lifesaver, and drinks are on me.
Okay.
What about this? [telephone ringing.]
Ugh.
That's trying too hard.
[on answering machine.]
 Hi, you've reached Melody.
Leave me a message.
[answering machine beeps.]
[Steven.]
Melody, this is Dr.
Turner.
I don't know if you've been getting my messages or not, but Anyway, I talked to your roommate and she said I could reach you at this number.
[Melody.]
Oh, fucking hell, Anabelle.
[Steven.]
Look, I know we didn't end on a [static crackles.]
But I do think we made a lot of great progress together, and I'd like to know how you're doing.
All right? Call me.
Office hours are the same.
[answering machine beeps.]
[beeps.]
[automated voice.]
Message deleted.
[static crackles.]
[crows cawing.]
[door knob rattles.]
Yes.
Okay.
[dialing.]
[line ringing.]
This is Mark Higgins with Mystery Signals.
Please leave a detailed message and I'll return your call as soon as possible.
Yeah, okay, it's me.
Um She did know him.
Uh, Melody.
She was my dad's patient at NYU.
So, when you go to my aunt's house, could you check for, uh, patient files? Um, see if you can find hers? And these are confidential files, not raw material for your podcast.
Hey! Hey! [suspenseful music playing.]
[telephone line ringing.]
[woman.]
Mr.
Davenport's office.
Hi, is he there? I need to speak with him.
Who's calling, please? Dan.
Turner.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Davenport's in the field.
May I leave a message? In the field? In the field? What does that mean? May I leave a message? No, it's important.
Is that the message? No, it Okay, I need to know if there's someone here besides me in the compound.
Are you in mental distress? If you're currently in mental distress, we can send over a professional.
I am not in mental distress.
I'm asking you a question.
Okay.
Have him call me back.
[phone slams.]
[squeaking.]
Good.
What if LMG is some some massive board game conglomerate? Maybe we're part of some fucked-up board game beta test? You know? The Visser? Restore a tape, move six spaces.
Spot a potential serial killer in a red jacket go straight to jail, do not collect $100,000.
Holy shit.
I think I found something you might like, Ratty.
That doesn't explain what you're doing here.
That big rat chased me away, but I must see Nicodemus.
The owl told me to see Nicodemus.
[Mr.
Ages.]
 Well, yes, perhaps you should "The owl said"? Here now, what owl? What are you talking about? [Mrs.
Brisby.]
 I went to see the Great Owl.
[Mr.
Ages.]
 Owl? You say you saw [movie continues indistinctly.]
Dad? [mouthing inaudibly.]
[rhythmic whooshing.]
[whooshing stops.]
[footsteps echoing.]
[keys jingling.]
[indistinct melodic chanting.]
[rhythmic whooshing.]
[woman.]
Who's there? [gasps.]
Purgatory and carnage.
Quite the combination.
I guess I'm gonna go in there and try and survive.
Cool.
Okay.
- [rock music playing.]
- [indistinct chatter.]
Hi.
Tamara.
Hey.
How's it going? Samuel invited me.
[laughs.]
Hey, um, can I have a beer? Budweiser? [Samuel.]
You brought your camera.
[electronic music playing.]
[sighs.]
[music intensifies.]
[music muffles.]
[heartbeat pounding.]
[muffled.]
You okay? Yeah, it just [normal.]
Come on, let's go somewhere quieter.
[woman vocalizing.]
[rock music playing on speakers.]
Are you sure you don't wanna go back and watch the end? No, I think that we have done our part, and I do not think that that music agrees with you.
You've got two more guesses.
Okay.
How about early Scandinavian nautical archaeology? [laughs.]
Is that a real thing? - Yeah, it's, like, Vikings and stuff.
- Hmm.
So, it's close, actually.
Renaissance and Medieval Studies.
Mm.
And you teach at Columbia.
Yeah, but I'm not tenured yet, so I do some translating on the side.
Poetry, mostly.
It's Italian and German and Oh, and that's how you can afford the penthouse, translating poetry.
It's the top floor.
Let's please not call it a penthouse.
So, tell me about this camera.
This is Constance.
She's a Sony.
- Okay.
- She was a graduation present from my mom.
- [laughs.]
- Is that Am I not doing it right? I think she was hoping I'd, you know, follow in her footsteps.
She's a filmmaker? Documentaries, mostly.
She did a, you know, couple of American Express spots, um, to pay for my undergrad.
She died two years ago.
I am so sorry.
I interviewed a tenant today, and she told me that there was a secret sex club that holds meetings in the community room.
Oh, really? Let me guess, Beatriz? - I was kind of hoping it was true.
- Aw.
She's probably talking about the Visser Historical Society.
There's a Visser Historical Society? Oh, yeah.
Five years strong.
And are you a member? Well, not "officially," but I have been known to, uh to give a talk for some you know, some stale cookies and some box wine.
The last one was about Dutch witchcraft that persisted all the way into the 20th century down in Lower Manhattan.
Is that true? Anyway, I am sure that they would be just over the moon to talk your ear off about it, about the building or anything, for your project.
And maybe someone knows something about that historian.
Uh, Julia Bennett? Is that her name? I'd be happy to to introduce you.
Oh, I almost forgot.
The spy key.
Red or white? For our nightcap.
I'll run down the street.
Um I can't promise any kind of outstanding vintage Whiskey.
I'll see what I can do.
[chuckles.]
[Jess.]
No one lives in that apartment.
Not since I've been alive, anyway.
What happened to the mail that was in here this morning? Mr.
Smith probably threw it away.
He doesn't like a mess.
There was someone looking for you, buzzing every apartment, making all kinds of noise.
Mr.
Smith said he was gonna call the cops, so I let her in.
["Where I'm From" by Digable Planets playing.]
Boogie jive and rap Is life where I'm from Where I'm from, Ahmed play with Izzy where I'm from [gasps.]
[yells.]
Fat beats by the pack Where I'm from What are you doing here? I missed you.
I'm all alone.
I can't bear another moment alone.
[laughs.]
Mmm.
So? - Who is he? - What? - Hot Guy.
- [camera whirring.]
Hmm.
It's 2:03 a.
m.
and Melody Pendras was standing right outside that window letting some hot guy run his tongue all over her soft palate.
[clicks stereo off.]
- Give it back.
- Come on, vixen, tell the truth.
This place a love nest? Were you afraid to tell me you shacked up with a handsome prince? You don't desire me anymore? I'll make some tea.
[Anabelle.]
Oh, I'm joking.
It's a joke.
Don't be mad.
I brought you a care package.
Pictures, snacks, and your ugly fridge magnets.
Why'd you give Dr.
Turner my number? [Anabelle.]
Because he asked for it.
Because he's your therapist.
Holy shit.
[gasps.]
Did you fuck him? Are you having his baby? Is this your confinement? [gasps.]
Are you trying to seduce Hot Guy and trick him into raising the professor's baby? Fuck off.
- Anabelle, why do you always have to - [knocking.]
I'm Anabelle.
Hi.
It's nice to meet you.
I'm so sorry.
 She just barged in.
Oh, the more the merrier, right? Can I get in on that? Mel doesn't have any booze.
You know what? Why don't we just, uh Why don't we just do this another night? Wait, I can No, no.
Have a great night.
Cheers.
[Anabelle.]
Secrets, secrets, secrets.
You're so full of secrets.
I'm gonna knock your wall down and let them all spill out.
[static crackling.]
[machine whirring.]
[clicks.]
[Anabelle.]
I'm gonna knock your wall down and let them all spill out.
[squeaking.]
Are you kidding me, Ratty? You could nest the fucking Fortress of Solitude with this shit.
[tense music playing.]
[knocks.]
[creaks.]
[knocking.]
[knocking.]
[wall creaking.]
[creaking.]
[tense music playing.]
[clatters.]
[flashlight clicks.]
What the fuck is this? [clicks.]
[buttons click.]
[lock buzzes.]
[door knob rattles.]
[door creaks.]
[indistinct melodic chanting.]
[man.]
I didn't know you were religious, Dan.
What is this place? My family's relationship to Christianity was nominal, if we're being generous.
Easter services, the occasional Christmas Eve.
I've always been a half step away from being a dyed-in-the-wool high holy skeptic.
You ever do debate club, Dan? Debate club? No.
For, uh, my last tournament, I chose Jesus as my topic.
[clicks tongue.]
Uh I asked the audience to suppose that his death was a blessing.
Not because the Son of God was selflessly taking on the sins of man, but because his light was a dangerous one.
And by extinguishing it, the world was saved from an unspeakable evil.
So you're saying That Jesus was a demon who almost brought about the end of humankind? [laughs.]
They say to win, you gotta get under your audience's skin.
Did you? Win? No.
Get myself expelled? Yes.
Didn't seem to hold you back, though.
Tell me right now why I shouldn't fire you for entering into areas that are clearly off-limits.
You're not gonna fire me.
You brought me here because my father is in those tapes.
Come on down, Dan.
This time, you're invited.
I insist.
Come on.
You ever use one of those consumer genetic testing services? I started Wellspring back in 2006.
Built it up into a nice little business before the competition sprung up.
[buttons clicking.]
I thought, "What a gift, giving people the opportunity to know who they really are.
" Then all those law enforcement agencies wanted to get their mitts on the information.
What right did they have to turn it all rotten? So I closed up shop.
I take privacy very seriously.
I didn't know your father was involved with this, not for sure.
But, uh, I did think there might be a connection.
Of course, by now you know that Melody Pendras was a patient of your father's at NYU.
And you didn't think this was worth mentioning before you offered me the job? I didn't wanna make you a promise I couldn't deliver on.
I didn't think it was right to get your hopes up.
I don't know what's on those tapes, Dan.
That's that's the honest truth.
Of course, I understand if this is all too much for you, if you're afraid of what you might find Afraid of what I might find? I've read the reports, Dan.
I I know the authorities believed your father had some kind of a breakdown, that he might have started the fire himself.
No.
My father never The fire was an accident.
"Cause undetermined.
" That was official.
Yeah.
Right.
Of course.
I'm sorry.
It's just that maybe you don't know that NYU opened an investigation into your father shortly before the incident.
I found this notice of temporary leave.
The details are sealed, I'm afraid.
University withdrew the complaint after the incident.
If the truth is too painful for you, if you'd rather return to the city No.
I need this work done quickly, Dan.
Of course, there'll be a bonus for an accelerated timeline if you decide to stay.
Is there anything else? No.
Just so we're clear, this area will be off-limits going forward.
Yeah.
Yeah, I got it.
Good.
[Virgil.]
You know, you're not locked away here.
I know you don't have a car, but there's a bicycle or two lurking around.
Nearest town is 14 miles south.
Terrific coffee, if you're so inclined.
You know how to ride? I know how to ride.
[chuckles.]
You and I are alike, aren't we? We both love putting puzzles together, solving mysteries.
Heck, we both would've been good at inventing board games.
Maybe in another life.
[tense music playing.]
[tape winding.]
[static crackles.]
[breathing shakily.]
Do you hear that? [faint chanting.]
[melodic chanting.]
[Melody.]
Anabelle, wake up.
Can you hear that? [distant siren wailing.]
[melodic chanting.]
[woman speaking indistinct ancient language on speaker.]
[speaking stops.]
[chanting resumes.]
[people chanting tune.]
[gasps.]
[gasps.]
[gasps.]
[all humming tune.]
[humming chant continues.]
[breathing heavily.]
[huffing rhythmically.]
[all huffing rhythmically.]
[huffing intensifies.]
[all stop.]
[shudders.]
[indistinct chatter.]
[door creaks.]
- [door shuts.]
- [man.]
It's going exactly as I want it to.
[woman.]
I'm a professional.
I'm not some small-town girl.
[man.]
Trust me.
Okay? You worry too much.
[indistinct conversation.]
[Tamara moans.]
[suspenseful music playing.]
[both moaning.]
[Tamara gasps.]
[Tamara growls.]
[Samuel grunts.]
[Tamara grunts.]
[both panting.]
[growling.]
[loud buzzing.]
[rapid clicking.]
[buzzing fades.]
[heavy breathing on tape.]
[zipper zips.]
[door opens, shuts.]
[groans.]
[door shuts.]
Out prowling, huh? You and Hot Guy got your nightcap after all? [yawns.]
What's wrong? What happened? Something is going on in this building, something something fucked up.
People were They were singing this horrible song and there was this thing, this statue Okay, let's just get the fuck out.
Okay? We can leave right now.
I can't.
Mel.
You don't wanna be a filmmaker.
Just find some other bullshit project for your PhD.
That's not why I'm here.
Okay, so, why are you here? My mother.
Well, Lila would have wanted you to be happy.
She would've wanted you to do your own thing and It's not Lila.
It's my birth mother.
What? But I thought you didn't have any idea who she was or I got this forwarded from St.
Joseph's.
A woman was asking about me.
Her name was Julia Bennett.
The return address is from this building.
Mel, it says she doesn't wanna have anything I know.
Okay, so what are you doing? If she says she doesn't wanna see you or She just left me there.
Without a name, without a family, without a birthday.
My whole life is a fucking fiction.
It's a lie.
This is a really big can of worms.
I know.
But it's been eating me alive my whole life.
I just If there's any chance that she's here, I need to find her.
I don't care if she doesn't wanna see me.
I need to know who I am.
[sobs.]
Okay.
Fuck it.
We'll stay.
We'll find her.
Okay? I fucking love worms.
[sobs.]
[knocking on door.]
Don't answer.
Who's there? [rhythmic whooshing.]
[whooshing fades.]
[door closes.]
[lock clicks.]
[Melody.]
There's no one there.
Hey.
Um [static crackles.]
[humming melody.]
[metronome clicking.]
[playing melody.]
[piano continues playing melody.]
[Mark.]
So this is a song your sister played.
[Dan.]
I mean, I always thought she made it up, but Now you're saying it's the Visser Historical Society's sex cult theme song.
I'm saying it's the same tune, the same notes.
Maybe it's one of those old folk songs, Balkan or Romanian or something? "Ka-lay-go.
" I'm not sure if that's how you spell it, but that's the only word I could make out.
That's creepy shit, man.
I'll see what I can find.
Maybe you should take another look in the self-storage catacombs, see what else Davenport's got.
No, Davenport's got the whole compound under surveillance.
I open up those walls, hundred bucks says there's a camera in every room.
- Are you fucking serious? - Yeah.
Did you bring the other stuff I asked for? Thank you.
Um What else did you find on LMG? So [clears throat.]
basically, Legacy Management Global is an iceberg, or a fucking Russian nesting doll, pick your metaphor.
My dad's got a subscription to every corporate research database, and I'm sure I didn't find half the shit they're tied up with.
Real estate? Real estate, defense, media, biotech.
I mean, fucking synthetic gemstone manufacturing.
Wellspring never even showed up.
It's probably an offshoot of an offshoot.
Okay.
Um Did you find any files at my aunt's house? Anything at all? No patient records for Melody Pendras, but did you know that your dad recorded his patient sessions? I pulled all the ones marked "M.
Pendras.
" Did you listen to them? You said they were confidential.
Do you think Melody could've filed the complaint against your dad? - Maybe something went on between them? - No.
Maybe.
I don't know.
Well, there was something going on between them.
She was angry at him.
I don't know why.
- Maybe something in these sessions - Or maybe you can ask her yourself.
What? Turns out Melody Pendras didn't die in that fire.
Apparently she's alive and well, living in Pittsburgh, so maybe she knows exactly what happened with your dad.
Maybe you can ask her yourself.
[ominous music playing.]
[sine tone playing.]
[silence.]
[woman.]
We're all searching for something.
Adventure.
["What a Wonderful World" playing.]
[woman.]
Community.
[happy chattering.]
[woman.]
Connection.
Find your history, find yourself.
Order your personal DNA kit today and receive 50 percent off your first report.
Give yourself the gift of knowing who you really are.
Wellspring.
Your story starts here.
[static crackling.]
[ominous theme music playing.]
[birds chirping.]
[panting.]
[line ringing.]
[Mark on phone.]
Fuck.
I left you six messages last night.
[sighs.]
I'm sorry, I had a work thing.
Didn't I try you back? Pretty sure I tried you back.
I saw my dad.
In the footage.
What do you mean you saw your dad? I He was there, at the Visser, 1994.
Doing what? I don't know.
I It was some kind of ambush.
Uh These men from Rockland showed up and they dragged Melody out of this building, and he was there with them.
I thought your dad was a professor.
Oh, yeah, he was.
He was.
Psychology, NYU.
What was he doing with bouncers from a nuthouse? He work there too? I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't think so.
All right.
Okay.
Um What else did you see? He's a liar, you know.
- Who? - Davenport.
He said he didn't know what was on those tapes, but he had to know, right? How else would he know about my father's involvement, or whatever the fuck this is? I mean, this wasn't a chance meeting.
[exhales.]
This was a setup from the start.
All right.
Well, let's say that's true.
It is true.
All right, well, you have two options.
Okay? You can either bite the hand that's feeding you or keep your cool.
Because if you lose your shit at Davenport, he's gonna fire your ass, he's gonna keep his money and tapes, and you're never gonna know what the fuck your dad was doing.
You still there? Remember my aunt's place in Park Slope? - Yeah, where we did Christmas.
- Yeah.
Um, she's in Europe.
So, the key is in the Tarkovsky mug.
She has all of my dad's old files there.
Maybe you can find something out about Rockland there? Okay, I'm on it.
Uh Did she know him? What? Melody.
Um, did she know your dad? I don't know.
Promise me you're gonna get some sleep.
Yeah.
[tense music playing.]
[machine whirring.]
[on tape.]
I'm Melody Pendras.
It's 7:24 a.
m.
, and I'm here with Jessica Lewis, ninth grader and unofficial Girl Friday to anyone who's anyone at the Visser Apartments.
It's Jess.
Everyone calls me Jess, not Jessica.
Oh, and this is my good side.
- Can you say what you're doing? - Client services run.
[Melody.]
So, what were you gonna tell me the other day? On camera.
You said, "Can I tell you" and then you just cut yourself off.
Remember? No.
[man.]
Jess? Hello.
Hey, Father Russo.
This is my friend Melody.
She just moved into the building.
Nice to meet you.
We'd love to see you on Sunday.
Everyone's welcome.
Maybe.
That the priest you were telling me about? The one your mom sent you to talk to? Yeah.
Here.
Smell.
[sniffs.]
Oh, God.
Oh! Look.
[chuckles.]
This was my favorite book when I was a kid.
Mrs.
Frisby and the Rats of NIMH? [laughs.]
[Jess.]
I make movies too.
What kind of movies? I don't know.
Like, poems, I guess? [Jess.]
My mom doesn't know about my camera, okay? Hey, did you ask your mom about giving me an interview? Maybe this week? [Jess.]
Here you go, Miss Wall.
Darling girl.
Such a treasure.
Come up for tea this afternoon.
This is Melody.
She's doing a history project about our building.
Maybe she could interview you? [ominous music playing.]
[elevator dings.]
[music stops.]
I'll talk to her.
[knocking on door.]
[door opens.]
Ah.
Thank you.
Beatriz, this is Melody.
She's making Making a film about the residents of this building.
Come in.
Let's do a reading.
[door closes.]
Beatriz Reyes.
I was born in San Juan, but I moved to Los Angeles when I was 16.
[water bubbling.]
How did you end up at the Visser? I came to stay with my cousin Alicia.
And she ran off with some pothead plumber from Boston, so I inherited the lease.
And the fish.
You should know, the residents here are very strange.
Strange how? There's a sex club.
They meet in the community room in the middle of the night, but they're not fooling anyone.
I can hear them all the way up here.
Moaning.
Cut, please.
Past, present, future.
Grief.
Pain.
You've suffered as a child.
There's something hidden.
Something that has guide you to this place.
Not the light.
Someone.
That's why you're here.
There's a historian I'm trying to track down.
Julia Bennett.
She did a lot of amazing work in the '70s and then just dropped off the face of the Earth.
This building is her last address, um, so I'm hoping someone here might remember her.
There is a woman who keeps an apartment on the fourth floor.
4G.
No one's seen her in years, but her mailbox is often bursting at the seams.
Shall we take a look at your future? [ominous music playing.]
Don't take it literally.
Death has many meanings.
[man 2.]
That's a $2,000 fine.
[chuckles.]
I mean, I was just I'm just joking.
I'm not the mail police.
Scout's honor.
Samuel.
Melody.
Anything in particular you're trying to steal? Oh, no, I was just Because my nephew gave me one of those, uh, skeleton keys from the spy museum last Christmas, just you know, if you get desperate.
[laughs.]
No, I'm just gonna walk away now.
It was nice to meet you.
Sorry.
Wait, you like music, right? I've just seen you around the building and you're just always wearing headphones.
Yeah, I like music.
Uh, is there any chance that you are always listening to opera? Liz Phair, Beastie Boys.
No Puccini.
Okay, but could you be enticed to come to a show tonight? My friend Tamara, she is putting on act one of her opera, and, uh well, it is not very good, and I'm just trying to rally an audience.
Yeah, sure.
I could do that.
9:00 p.
m.
at the Sanctuary.
It's that place on 8th that used to be a church.
Uh, you are a lifesaver, and drinks are on me.
Okay.
What about this? [telephone ringing.]
Ugh.
That's trying too hard.
[on answering machine.]
 Hi, you've reached Melody.
Leave me a message.
[answering machine beeps.]
[Steven.]
Melody, this is Dr.
Turner.
I don't know if you've been getting my messages or not, but Anyway, I talked to your roommate and she said I could reach you at this number.
[Melody.]
Oh, fucking hell, Anabelle.
[Steven.]
Look, I know we didn't end on a [static crackles.]
But I do think we made a lot of great progress together, and I'd like to know how you're doing.
All right? Call me.
Office hours are the same.
[answering machine beeps.]
[beeps.]
[automated voice.]
Message deleted.
[static crackles.]
[crows cawing.]
[door knob rattles.]
Yes.
Okay.
[dialing.]
[line ringing.]
This is Mark Higgins with Mystery Signals.
Please leave a detailed message and I'll return your call as soon as possible.
Yeah, okay, it's me.
Um She did know him.
Uh, Melody.
She was my dad's patient at NYU.
So, when you go to my aunt's house, could you check for, uh, patient files? Um, see if you can find hers? And these are confidential files, not raw material for your podcast.
Hey! Hey! [suspenseful music playing.]
[telephone line ringing.]
[woman.]
Mr.
Davenport's office.
Hi, is he there? I need to speak with him.
Who's calling, please? Dan.
Turner.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Davenport's in the field.
May I leave a message? In the field? In the field? What does that mean? May I leave a message? No, it's important.
Is that the message? No, it Okay, I need to know if there's someone here besides me in the compound.
Are you in mental distress? If you're currently in mental distress, we can send over a professional.
I am not in mental distress.
I'm asking you a question.
Okay.
Have him call me back.
[phone slams.]
[squeaking.]
Good.
What if LMG is some some massive board game conglomerate? Maybe we're part of some fucked-up board game beta test? You know? The Visser? Restore a tape, move six spaces.
Spot a potential serial killer in a red jacket go straight to jail, do not collect $100,000.
Holy shit.
I think I found something you might like, Ratty.
That doesn't explain what you're doing here.
That big rat chased me away, but I must see Nicodemus.
The owl told me to see Nicodemus.
[Mr.
Ages.]
 Well, yes, perhaps you should "The owl said"? Here now, what owl? What are you talking about? [Mrs.
Brisby.]
 I went to see the Great Owl.
[Mr.
Ages.]
 Owl? You say you saw [movie continues indistinctly.]
Dad? [mouthing inaudibly.]
[rhythmic whooshing.]
[whooshing stops.]
[footsteps echoing.]
[keys jingling.]
[indistinct melodic chanting.]
[rhythmic whooshing.]
[woman.]
Who's there? [gasps.]
Purgatory and carnage.
Quite the combination.
I guess I'm gonna go in there and try and survive.
Cool.
Okay.
- [rock music playing.]
- [indistinct chatter.]
Hi.
Tamara.
Hey.
How's it going? Samuel invited me.
[laughs.]
Hey, um, can I have a beer? Budweiser? [Samuel.]
You brought your camera.
[electronic music playing.]
[sighs.]
[music intensifies.]
[music muffles.]
[heartbeat pounding.]
[muffled.]
You okay? Yeah, it just [normal.]
Come on, let's go somewhere quieter.
[woman vocalizing.]
[rock music playing on speakers.]
Are you sure you don't wanna go back and watch the end? No, I think that we have done our part, and I do not think that that music agrees with you.
You've got two more guesses.
Okay.
How about early Scandinavian nautical archaeology? [laughs.]
Is that a real thing? - Yeah, it's, like, Vikings and stuff.
- Hmm.
So, it's close, actually.
Renaissance and Medieval Studies.
Mm.
And you teach at Columbia.
Yeah, but I'm not tenured yet, so I do some translating on the side.
Poetry, mostly.
It's Italian and German and Oh, and that's how you can afford the penthouse, translating poetry.
It's the top floor.
Let's please not call it a penthouse.
So, tell me about this camera.
This is Constance.
She's a Sony.
- Okay.
- She was a graduation present from my mom.
- [laughs.]
- Is that Am I not doing it right? I think she was hoping I'd, you know, follow in her footsteps.
She's a filmmaker? Documentaries, mostly.
She did a, you know, couple of American Express spots, um, to pay for my undergrad.
She died two years ago.
I am so sorry.
I interviewed a tenant today, and she told me that there was a secret sex club that holds meetings in the community room.
Oh, really? Let me guess, Beatriz? - I was kind of hoping it was true.
- Aw.
She's probably talking about the Visser Historical Society.
There's a Visser Historical Society? Oh, yeah.
Five years strong.
And are you a member? Well, not "officially," but I have been known to, uh to give a talk for some you know, some stale cookies and some box wine.
The last one was about Dutch witchcraft that persisted all the way into the 20th century down in Lower Manhattan.
Is that true? Anyway, I am sure that they would be just over the moon to talk your ear off about it, about the building or anything, for your project.
And maybe someone knows something about that historian.
Uh, Julia Bennett? Is that her name? I'd be happy to to introduce you.
Oh, I almost forgot.
The spy key.
Red or white? For our nightcap.
I'll run down the street.
Um I can't promise any kind of outstanding vintage Whiskey.
I'll see what I can do.
[chuckles.]
[Jess.]
No one lives in that apartment.
Not since I've been alive, anyway.
What happened to the mail that was in here this morning? Mr.
Smith probably threw it away.
He doesn't like a mess.
There was someone looking for you, buzzing every apartment, making all kinds of noise.
Mr.
Smith said he was gonna call the cops, so I let her in.
["Where I'm From" by Digable Planets playing.]
Boogie jive and rap Is life where I'm from Where I'm from, Ahmed play with Izzy where I'm from [gasps.]
[yells.]
Fat beats by the pack Where I'm from What are you doing here? I missed you.
I'm all alone.
I can't bear another moment alone.
[laughs.]
Mmm.
So? - Who is he? - What? - Hot Guy.
- [camera whirring.]
Hmm.
It's 2:03 a.
m.
and Melody Pendras was standing right outside that window letting some hot guy run his tongue all over her soft palate.
[clicks stereo off.]
- Give it back.
- Come on, vixen, tell the truth.
This place a love nest? Were you afraid to tell me you shacked up with a handsome prince? You don't desire me anymore? I'll make some tea.
[Anabelle.]
Oh, I'm joking.
It's a joke.
Don't be mad.
I brought you a care package.
Pictures, snacks, and your ugly fridge magnets.
Why'd you give Dr.
Turner my number? [Anabelle.]
Because he asked for it.
Because he's your therapist.
Holy shit.
[gasps.]
Did you fuck him? Are you having his baby? Is this your confinement? [gasps.]
Are you trying to seduce Hot Guy and trick him into raising the professor's baby? Fuck off.
- Anabelle, why do you always have to - [knocking.]
I'm Anabelle.
Hi.
It's nice to meet you.
I'm so sorry.
 She just barged in.
Oh, the more the merrier, right? Can I get in on that? Mel doesn't have any booze.
You know what? Why don't we just, uh Why don't we just do this another night? Wait, I can No, no.
Have a great night.
Cheers.
[Anabelle.]
Secrets, secrets, secrets.
You're so full of secrets.
I'm gonna knock your wall down and let them all spill out.
[static crackling.]
[machine whirring.]
[clicks.]
[Anabelle.]
I'm gonna knock your wall down and let them all spill out.
[squeaking.]
Are you kidding me, Ratty? You could nest the fucking Fortress of Solitude with this shit.
[tense music playing.]
[knocks.]
[creaks.]
[knocking.]
[knocking.]
[wall creaking.]
[creaking.]
[tense music playing.]
[clatters.]
[flashlight clicks.]
What the fuck is this? [clicks.]
[buttons click.]
[lock buzzes.]
[door knob rattles.]
[door creaks.]
[indistinct melodic chanting.]
[man.]
I didn't know you were religious, Dan.
What is this place? My family's relationship to Christianity was nominal, if we're being generous.
Easter services, the occasional Christmas Eve.
I've always been a half step away from being a dyed-in-the-wool high holy skeptic.
You ever do debate club, Dan? Debate club? No.
For, uh, my last tournament, I chose Jesus as my topic.
[clicks tongue.]
Uh I asked the audience to suppose that his death was a blessing.
Not because the Son of God was selflessly taking on the sins of man, but because his light was a dangerous one.
And by extinguishing it, the world was saved from an unspeakable evil.
So you're saying That Jesus was a demon who almost brought about the end of humankind? [laughs.]
They say to win, you gotta get under your audience's skin.
Did you? Win? No.
Get myself expelled? Yes.
Didn't seem to hold you back, though.
Tell me right now why I shouldn't fire you for entering into areas that are clearly off-limits.
You're not gonna fire me.
You brought me here because my father is in those tapes.
Come on down, Dan.
This time, you're invited.
I insist.
Come on.
You ever use one of those consumer genetic testing services? I started Wellspring back in 2006.
Built it up into a nice little business before the competition sprung up.
[buttons clicking.]
I thought, "What a gift, giving people the opportunity to know who they really are.
" Then all those law enforcement agencies wanted to get their mitts on the information.
What right did they have to turn it all rotten? So I closed up shop.
I take privacy very seriously.
I didn't know your father was involved with this, not for sure.
But, uh, I did think there might be a connection.
Of course, by now you know that Melody Pendras was a patient of your father's at NYU.
And you didn't think this was worth mentioning before you offered me the job? I didn't wanna make you a promise I couldn't deliver on.
I didn't think it was right to get your hopes up.
I don't know what's on those tapes, Dan.
That's that's the honest truth.
Of course, I understand if this is all too much for you, if you're afraid of what you might find Afraid of what I might find? I've read the reports, Dan.
I I know the authorities believed your father had some kind of a breakdown, that he might have started the fire himself.
No.
My father never The fire was an accident.
"Cause undetermined.
" That was official.
Yeah.
Right.
Of course.
I'm sorry.
It's just that maybe you don't know that NYU opened an investigation into your father shortly before the incident.
I found this notice of temporary leave.
The details are sealed, I'm afraid.
University withdrew the complaint after the incident.
If the truth is too painful for you, if you'd rather return to the city No.
I need this work done quickly, Dan.
Of course, there'll be a bonus for an accelerated timeline if you decide to stay.
Is there anything else? No.
Just so we're clear, this area will be off-limits going forward.
Yeah.
Yeah, I got it.
Good.
[Virgil.]
You know, you're not locked away here.
I know you don't have a car, but there's a bicycle or two lurking around.
Nearest town is 14 miles south.
Terrific coffee, if you're so inclined.
You know how to ride? I know how to ride.
[chuckles.]
You and I are alike, aren't we? We both love putting puzzles together, solving mysteries.
Heck, we both would've been good at inventing board games.
Maybe in another life.
[tense music playing.]
[tape winding.]
[static crackles.]
[breathing shakily.]
Do you hear that? [faint chanting.]
[melodic chanting.]
[Melody.]
Anabelle, wake up.
Can you hear that? [distant siren wailing.]
[melodic chanting.]
[woman speaking indistinct ancient language on speaker.]
[speaking stops.]
[chanting resumes.]
[people chanting tune.]
[gasps.]
[gasps.]
[gasps.]
[all humming tune.]
[humming chant continues.]
[breathing heavily.]
[huffing rhythmically.]
[all huffing rhythmically.]
[huffing intensifies.]
[all stop.]
[shudders.]
[indistinct chatter.]
[door creaks.]
- [door shuts.]
- [man.]
It's going exactly as I want it to.
[woman.]
I'm a professional.
I'm not some small-town girl.
[man.]
Trust me.
Okay? You worry too much.
[indistinct conversation.]
[Tamara moans.]
[suspenseful music playing.]
[both moaning.]
[Tamara gasps.]
[Tamara growls.]
[Samuel grunts.]
[Tamara grunts.]
[both panting.]
[growling.]
[loud buzzing.]
[rapid clicking.]
[buzzing fades.]
[heavy breathing on tape.]
[zipper zips.]
[door opens, shuts.]
[groans.]
[door shuts.]
Out prowling, huh? You and Hot Guy got your nightcap after all? [yawns.]
What's wrong? What happened? Something is going on in this building, something something fucked up.
People were They were singing this horrible song and there was this thing, this statue Okay, let's just get the fuck out.
Okay? We can leave right now.
I can't.
Mel.
You don't wanna be a filmmaker.
Just find some other bullshit project for your PhD.
That's not why I'm here.
Okay, so, why are you here? My mother.
Well, Lila would have wanted you to be happy.
She would've wanted you to do your own thing and It's not Lila.
It's my birth mother.
What? But I thought you didn't have any idea who she was or I got this forwarded from St.
Joseph's.
A woman was asking about me.
Her name was Julia Bennett.
The return address is from this building.
Mel, it says she doesn't wanna have anything I know.
Okay, so what are you doing? If she says she doesn't wanna see you or She just left me there.
Without a name, without a family, without a birthday.
My whole life is a fucking fiction.
It's a lie.
This is a really big can of worms.
I know.
But it's been eating me alive my whole life.
I just If there's any chance that she's here, I need to find her.
I don't care if she doesn't wanna see me.
I need to know who I am.
[sobs.]
Okay.
Fuck it.
We'll stay.
We'll find her.
Okay? I fucking love worms.
[sobs.]
[knocking on door.]
Don't answer.
Who's there? [rhythmic whooshing.]
[whooshing fades.]
[door closes.]
[lock clicks.]
[Melody.]
There's no one there.
Hey.
Um [static crackles.]
[humming melody.]
[metronome clicking.]
[playing melody.]
[piano continues playing melody.]
[Mark.]
So this is a song your sister played.
[Dan.]
I mean, I always thought she made it up, but Now you're saying it's the Visser Historical Society's sex cult theme song.
I'm saying it's the same tune, the same notes.
Maybe it's one of those old folk songs, Balkan or Romanian or something? "Ka-lay-go.
" I'm not sure if that's how you spell it, but that's the only word I could make out.
That's creepy shit, man.
I'll see what I can find.
Maybe you should take another look in the self-storage catacombs, see what else Davenport's got.
No, Davenport's got the whole compound under surveillance.
I open up those walls, hundred bucks says there's a camera in every room.
- Are you fucking serious? - Yeah.
Did you bring the other stuff I asked for? Thank you.
Um What else did you find on LMG? So [clears throat.]
basically, Legacy Management Global is an iceberg, or a fucking Russian nesting doll, pick your metaphor.
My dad's got a subscription to every corporate research database, and I'm sure I didn't find half the shit they're tied up with.
Real estate? Real estate, defense, media, biotech.
I mean, fucking synthetic gemstone manufacturing.
Wellspring never even showed up.
It's probably an offshoot of an offshoot.
Okay.
Um Did you find any files at my aunt's house? Anything at all? No patient records for Melody Pendras, but did you know that your dad recorded his patient sessions? I pulled all the ones marked "M.
Pendras.
" Did you listen to them? You said they were confidential.
Do you think Melody could've filed the complaint against your dad? - Maybe something went on between them? - No.
Maybe.
I don't know.
Well, there was something going on between them.
She was angry at him.
I don't know why.
- Maybe something in these sessions - Or maybe you can ask her yourself.
What? Turns out Melody Pendras didn't die in that fire.
Apparently she's alive and well, living in Pittsburgh, so maybe she knows exactly what happened with your dad.
Maybe you can ask her yourself.
[ominous music playing.]