Hysteria! (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

1
- [BUZZER BLARES]
- [CELL DOOR CLANGS]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN, CLANGS]
[CHAIR SCRAPING]
- [DANDRIDGE] You, this corner
- [CHAIR SCRAPING]
You, this corner.
And both of you better
keep your hands to yourself.
- We're in handcuffs.
- Yeah.
Well, clearly, the two of you are
more creative than I thought,
so forgive my precautions.
- Chief, I know how this looks.
- Do you?
'Cause to me, it looked
like I was about to become
great-grandfather to Rosemary's baby.
[GIGGLES]
This is funny?
I've spent weeks trying
to convince people
that this cult stuff is a hoax,
and then my own flesh and blood
gets caught having
ritual sex in a pentagram!
Do you have a clue what
that looks like for me?
Like you encourage independence?
Like I'm covering for you.
And you.
I have repeatedly stuck my neck out
for you and your friends.
And I appreciate that. Really.
Then as a favor returned, I'm
gonna ask you one question,
and I need you to answer it honestly.
Are you a Satanic cult leader?
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYING]
- Uh
- I don't need an essay.
Yes or no.
[JUDITH] It's okay.
You can tell him the truth.
W-well
Yes. He is.
And I'm his number one follower.
What's the big deal?
Judith!
What?
It's true, isn't it?
W-well, you see, I'm not
really too big on labels
I sure hope you understand what
you just got yourself into, kid.
[JUDITH SIGHS]
This feels so
liberating.
It does?
Everyone will finally see us
for who we really are.
No more hiding. [LAUGHS]
[JUDITH INHALES, SIGHS]
We're out of the shadows now, babe.
[UNEASY MUSIC SWELLS]
[SCOFFS, CHUCKLES]
"Oh, I'm not big on labels."
Wiseass.
[BREATHING RAPIDLY]
Useless.
Completely goddamn
[GRUNTS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
What the hell ?
[PHONE RINGING]
- Hello?
- [FAITH] Chief Dandridge?
Who am I speaking with?
[FAITH] You said I
could remain anonymous.
I've been looking all over for you.
Did you send this drawing?
Is this who kidnapped Ryan?
You should know, I got Bob in custody,
but if you don't come down here
and make an official statement soon,
I have no choice but to
release him once bail is posted.
Are you still there?
[FAITH LAUGHS]
If this is all a prank,
you should know that
providing false tips
is a serious offense, young lady.
[FAITH IN DEMONIC VOICE]
I'm not a young lady.
Excuse me?
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
[DEMONIC VOICE] I said,
I'm not
a young
lady.
[SCREAMING IN DISTANCE]
[HARD ROCK THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[SOFT, GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
- [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
- [TRACY] Okay. Okay.
[EXHALING] Okay.
Okay.
[EXHALES]
Okay.
This this ought to do the trick.
[TRACY BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SNIFFLES] Faith
do you think that I am not also upset
about the dead body in my foyer?
We have to do this now
before his blood seeps into the rug.
What did you do?
[SIGHS] What a mess [CHUCKLES]
Mom.
- Tell me what you did.
- For heaven's sake, Faith!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Do you want to know what I did?
When I was your age,
I opened myself up to the Devil,
and he stepped right on in.
I'm not speaking in metaphors.
The Devil himself made me his plaything.
Until my parents
they gave me a gift.
[DARK, OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
They hired a man
to cast that evil out.
And he did.
He saved me.
And I wanted to save you too, dear.
I didn't need saving.
Oh, honey, no.
I know what you and Ryan were up to.
I know about the birth control.
I was exactly like you.
And I am living proof
that it is not too late
for you to find salvation.
[TRACY GIGGLES]
I am so glad we can
finally speak openly.
[TRACY SNIFFLES]
[MUSIC SOFTENS, FADES]
You're telling me that
all of this
was about sex?
Mom, I'm a virgin!
[DOOR OPENS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
It's okay.
He's here to help.
It's nice to finally meet you, Faith.
- [CRICKETS CHIRPING]
- [MUSIC FADES]
[SCREAMS]
[WOMAN] There was an incident
He said it was a ritual
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
In the middle of a pentagram.
[MAN] that Satanism has come
[TRACY] your son has
invited evil into our town!
[GENE, DISTORTED]
huge surprise to us.
Right?
[MUSIC ENDS ABRUPTLY]
Hm?
I just told the chief, this is
a huge surprise to us. Right?
Uh
Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
So, your son formed a Satanic
cult right under your noses,
and you haven't seen any warning signs?
I mean, I couldn't tell you
what the warning signs are.
So you're not aware that
he held an initiation ritual
in this home?
[GENE] No.
We were not aware of that.
[DANDRIDGE] Look, I think it's
important that you both understand
that I've been doing the best I can
to keep the crazy in this town at bay,
but after what I saw, I can't do that.
Dylan is officially a prime
suspect in Ryan's murder.
Murder?
[SCOFFS]
Oh, come on. All due respect,
you and I both know that is bullshit.
I mean, yeah, he's a weird kid,
but he's not capable of that.
Right, Linda?
You've seen him. Haven't you?
[DARK MUSIC PLAYING]
Excuse me?
Your hand.
That's the mark he leaves.
The mark who leaves?
Never mind.
Never mind.
Uh, Chief listen,
thank you for stopping by,
but, uh, it's been a really long night,
and, uh, we need to speak to Dylan.
Alone.
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
Are you out of your goddamn mind?!
You started a Satanic cult
to help your band catch on?
The Chief of Police thinks
you're a murder suspect!
[DYLAN] You are the one who told
me to get out of the basement
and make friends, so if you think
about it, this is your fault.
[GENE] Oh. You hear this? This is great!
The-the-the teenager's
defense, Your Honor.
Are you hearing this, Linda?
Where did you get the idea for this?
Was it books?
Movies? Music?
A little bit of everything, I guess.
But-but mostly music.
And what was the purpose of this, um
ritual, exactly?
Something about
manifestation, I think?
Manifestation.
Self-help.
Do you want to know what
happened to me tonight?
- Oh, Linda
- Tell me to calm down, Gene. I dare you.
While your father and
I were trying to enjoy
one night of normalcy,
while you were taking
part in a Satanic ritual,
I was attacked
by a demon.
[DARK, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
- What?
- That's what you think happened?
That is what happened, Gene.
It's been happening.
It happened the night you cut your hand,
and, according to the Chief of Police,
it happened again when
you hosted a ceremony.
In our home.
I have tried being rational.
I have tried giving you
the benefit of the doubt.
Not anymore.
There must be consequences
for your actions, Dylan.
I-I don't
I don't know what to say.
Well, you can start by
saying goodbye to this,
and any other book, record,
or-or tape that ever
told you this was okay.
Wait, wait, seriously? For how long?
As long as it takes to undo
whatever you've done to this family.
- But I didn't do anything!
- Like hell you didn't.
Messes seem to follow
you wherever you go,
don't they, Faith?
- I didn't do anything wrong.
- No?
Well, I suppose I'm here because an
innocent man caved his own head in?
Innocent?! That man killed Ryan!
Ryan's death was by
all accounts a tragedy,
but it was not a murder.
- Liar.
- He's telling the truth, dear.
There's no reason to lie anymore.
So what happened to him?
Well, you did.
He died from an asthma
attack brought on by panic.
If he was anywhere else,
that boy would be alive.
But he was tempted by the Devil in you.
[SOFT, SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
So, you made Ryan's accidental death
look like a Satanic murder
just so no one would look your way?
And you've been using your
church group to be his mouthpiece?
It's more nuanced than that.
Bunch of fucking hypocrites.
- Faith!
- It's okay.
That's not her speaking.
Ryan wasn't tempted by the Devil.
He's dead because of you two,
and you're hiding behind God?
Really?
I'm telling the police everything.
- No, you're not.
- Who's stopping me?
The man you just killed.
But I was protecting you.
And I appreciate it.
I really, really do.
But if you tell them everything,
there is no version
that ends well for you.
[REVEREND] Best case scenario,
you're tried for
involuntary manslaughter
but considering the number of
dents in poor Gilbert's head,
there's a good chance
those get upgraded.
And that's, oof,
ten, twenty-year sentence?
That's not fair.
He's all loaded up.
- We ready?
- Uh, thank you, Robert.
Just a moment.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
I can't just keep this to myself.
Do you know where I was tonight?
I was down at the station,
uncovering an
honest-to-goodness Satanic cult.
One led, in part, by your friend.
Jordy? That's not even real, it's
[REVEREND] They are the only way
to clean up this mess you've made.
As he did with Abraham,
God has given us a ram.
All we need to do is
bring it to the altar.
[TRACY] Do you remember when you told me
that you just wanted to
be a normal girl again?
We're so close to having that.
But if you go to the police
normal is never, ever coming back.
We need you to play your part.
[REVEREND] So, Faith?
Will it be them?
- Or you?
- [DRAMATIC MUSICAL SURGE]
What do you plan on doing about this?
They could be brainwashing
our kids right now!
They should be expelled immediately!
We completely understand your concerns,
and we're working to address the issue.
["BAD MEDICINE" BY BON JOVI PLAYING]
Your love is like bad medicine ♪
Bad medicine is what I need, whoa ♪
Shake it up just like bad medicine ♪
There ain't no doctor
that can cure my disease ♪
And remember,
all right, listen responsibly.
[GIGGLING]
We're almost sold out of these.
Why do I feel like everyone's
listening to our demo
for the wrong reasons?
- What you mean?
- Hey, can I get one of those too?
Why? Because you heard it at the dance?
Or because you heard about the
flesh sesh in the bomb shelter?
They played this at the dance?
Hmm.
Huh?
Well, that that don't feel great.
Um, hey, guys
I have a bit of a weird question.
Is it possible that
we summoned something?
Like, is there any chance
that some of the phrases
we're using were, like,
authentic Satanic verses?
We got them from the public library,
not a book bound in human flesh.
- Why would you even ask that?
- 'Cause my mom's gone psycho.
She took away all my stuff because
she thinks I'm doing witchcraft.
That's crazy, right?
"We are who we pretend to be,
so we must be careful
who we pretend to be."
Vonnegut and I agree on that.
- What's that supposed to mean?
- It means, you asked for this.
We told you to end the cult,
and now the cat's out of the bag
and the band is gonna be forever linked
to the decision-making of your penis.
What, the guilt trip at home wasn't
enough, I needed one from you too?
Dylan.
Step inside for a moment.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
You two, don't go far. You're next.
Dylan, I'm required to tell you
that you're not in police custody.
We just want to ask you a few questions
about what happened
here over the weekend.
And if at any point you
want to exit, you may.
- Okay. Thanks.
- You should also know that
failure to cooperate
may result in arrest.
- For what?
- Suspicion of murder.
Before we begin, you know, I
always heard that cult leaders
were supposed to be charismatic,
so I guess there's a side
of you I haven't seen yet.
I want to speak to
that Dylan today. Okay?
["POLICE TRUCK" BY
DEAD KENNEDYS PLAYING]
- Okay.
- Fine.
Yep. You got it.
[DANDRIDGE] Terrific.
All right. First question.
How'd you get involved in this cult?
I don't think I'm supposed to say.
It's okay. This stays between us.
- Dylan.
- Jordy.
- Spud.
- [SPUD] We did recruit a few people
- just to fill the room, but not everyone.
- Who recruited the rest?
Who do you think has that kind
of pull around here, Chief?
Are you saying that Judith was involved?
One hundred percent.
She made me go. I didn't even want to.
Once you got there, what kind of things
did this cult do?
You know.
We laugh. We have fun.
- Doesn't sound like a cult to me.
- Because it's not.
All of this was Dylan's
idea to get in Judith's
good graces.
[DANDRIDGE] Could you read that for me?
"Silentium es aurum, Satanas."
Initiates were required
to take that oath.
- Any idea what it means?
- Can't tell you that, Chief.
- Why not?
- 'Cause I'm a man of my word.
I'll translate for you.
"Silence is golden, Satan."
So that's what that means.
Why would you have to make
members take an oath of silence?
We didn't want everybody
freaking out over nothing.
Which this is.
Is that "nothing" to you?
I thought we was past this, Chief.
I thought so too. What does this mean?
I've literally never seen that.
What kind of Satanist
doesn't know the meaning
of their own symbols?
The kind that isn't a Satanist.
[DYLAN] Plenty of
guitarists can't read music.
Slash. Hendrix. Prince.
So, you say you're more about
practice than theory, then?
No. I'm saying, we didn't do that.
Oh, I guess another cult did.
What do you know about human sacrifice?
You mean, like Temple of Doom?
Ryan Hudson. Do you believe
anybody in this group
is capable of murder?
I don't know. Maybe.
Ryan was my teammate, man. You
think I'd hang around his killers?
- I don't think so.
- Definitely not.
We're not killers, okay?
We're just a band with
a dedicated following.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah, right.
I heard your tape.
Not exactly worship-worthy stuff.
I don't understand how a garage band
could con perfectly good
kids into joining a cult,
'cause it sure as
hell wasn't your music.
Bite me.
- I'm sorry. What was that?
- Look,
I'm sorry you saw me with Judith,
but that whole ritual thing,
that-that was her idea.
So if you're gonna
charge me with anything,
you're gonna have to charge her too.
[SONG ENDING]
I don't get it.
You're smart. Well-liked.
I know how badly you
want to get out of here
to go to college next year.
But don't you think this sort
of thing will stick with you?
I only wanted to leave because
I've never felt seen here.
Like, truly seen.
Every day, I come here,
and I feel hundreds of eyes on me.
And all of them stop at my looks.
Do you know how lonely that is?
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
Now, thanks to this
thanks to Dylan
maybe people will look a little deeper.
Uh, well, those are
all my questions. Um
Principal, the floor is yours.
For your involvement in
the events over the weekend,
the punishment is one month
of detention, starting today.
What?! I wasn't even there!
I'd prefer a suspension.
[SIGHS]
[SCOFFS] Wait. Really?
Detention? That's it?
That's it on our end.
Not on mine.
You can count on that.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
Be right with you.
- Linda?
- [CLATTERING]
Cassie. Hi.
What are you doing here?
We should talk.
I really I don't
want to do that here.
Oh, no, I'm I'm not here to fight.
I swear. [CHUCKLES]
Just here to talk and, well,
if I can get a haircut out
of it, then all the better.
Okay, um put your
stuff down, have a seat.
Okay.
I just want to apologize
for my behavior at the
bar the other night. I
I don't know what came over me.
Oh, it's fine. A broken mirror is hardly
the worst thing to
happen in that bathroom.
[LAUGHS]
So, how's Judith?
[SIGHS] If you notice any
patches of hair falling out,
- she's the reason.
- Mm.
I know she hasn't had it
easy since her dad left,
- and, well, I put a lot of
pressure on her. - Mm-hmm.
I just hate that mothers
are the first to blame for their kids.
- I mean, don't you?
- [SNAP ECHOING]
[TENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
[GASPING]
[CASSIE, MUFFLED] I mean,
you know how it is as mothers.
We're expected to have
all of the answers, and
- Oh!
- [CASSIE, MUFFLED] be perfect and it's a lot of pressure.
- No!
- [CASSIE, MUFFLED] I'm a working mom. You get it.
I really hope that I'm not
- [SNAP]
- [NORMAL] overstepping here.
[MUSIC ON RADIO CONTINUES]
- Um
- Hm?
I'm sorry, um, I missed that.
I just asked if I had overstepped.
No. No. Uh, not at all. I
I haven't been sleeping well lately.
[CASSIE] No need to apologize. I get it.
Look
it's clear that our
kids like each other.
- Mm-hmm.
- [CASSIE CHUCKLES]
[CASSIE] Um
But with recent developments,
I'm not sure it's a good idea we
let them keep seeing each other.
- [SNAP ECHOING]
- [RUMBLING]
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BREATHING SHAKILY] Hello? Hel
Hello? Where am I?
[EERIE MUSIC CONTINUES]
[CASSIE, DISTANT] In their
heart, I know they're great kids.
But together [SIGHS]
They just seem to be, you know,
feeding off some bad behaviors.
I think it's for the best
that Judith stay away from Dylan.
But what do you think?
I think that
your whore daughter should
stay away from my son.
[SCREAMS] Oh my God!
[CASSIE SCREAMS]
- [SNAP ECHOING]
- What have you done?!
- I'm so sorry.
- Oh my God.
I'm so sorry. I My hand slipped.
I It was an accident. I'm so sorry.
No, I don't care. You stay away
from me, okay? You stay away!
- [BELL JINGLING]
- My hand slipped.
I just
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[WATER RUNNING]
[TENSE MUSIC FADES]
[DOOR OPENS]
[JORDY SIGHS] There you
are. I need your help.
Uh, can you just tell Principal Cleary
that Spud and I were
with you at the dance?
I-I don't think that's a good idea.
Why?
Come on, it-it'll only take a second.
No, I mean, I don't
I don't think this
is a good idea.
Us.
Being friends.
[SOFT, SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Is this you talking, or your mom?
Please
I really just need one person in my
life who's not gonna screw me over.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]
I'm sorry, Jordy.
[SIGHS]
[CHATTER]
Hey.
Are you okay after all that?
- Never better.
- Good.
[CLIFF] Hey, man, we're
getting our stories straight.
We're good, it's just one thing.
Chief was so concerned about you two
that he never got the rest of our names.
So, how'd he know who to question?
Someone snitched.
Now I have to miss a
month of agriculture club.
- I'm gonna miss the fall play.
- State finals.
My dad's threatening military school.
All because somebody can't keep an oath.
And I think I know who.
- Who?
- Yo! Jordy, Spud! Get over here!
Uh, guys, I really don't
think they said anything.
They're cool. All right?
If they're so cool, then why
aren't they over here with us?
What?
Y'all got something
y'all wanna say to us?
You called us over here.
Cliff, it's cool, really.
Nah. You two sold us out, didn't you?
[SCOFFS] Really, dude?
Nobody sold anybody out. Okay?
You know we got detention too,
right? Why would we do that?
Because you're jealous.
Do you want to tell her, or should I?
Because I really want to.
- Uh
- Tell me what?
Nothing. She's just pissed
off because, um, some
This is all bullshit.
We're not Satanists.
There is no cult.
We're just a band with a cheap gimmick,
custom-made for Heavy Metal Barbie here.
[SOFT, SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
What is she talking about?
I have no idea. Right, guys?
[ALL] Right.
They in on it too!
[SPLUTTERS]
You really thought the A Capella club
was into Devil worship?
[LAUGHING] Come on, man.
[JORDY] Congratulations.
You all have been fooled
by red food coloring,
Karo syrup, and a poser with a hard-on.
Peace.
Is that all true, yo?
I'm sorry.
[SOFT, SOLEMN MUSIC CONTINUES]
Judith
Please, I-I can explain
- Chief.
- Anything on that mask?
I searched every department
store in town for a match.
Best I could find
was a Ben Cooper chicken costume.
- How'd it go at the school?
- Gotta hand it to 'em.
These kids are organized.
[OLSEN] What are all these?
Reports relevant to the case.
"On the night of October 1st,
10 p.m., reported a dark
winged creature in his home."
- What, like a bat?
- Keep reading.
"Said it was about six feet
in height, with curled horns"?
Okay. This is a joke.
We've gotten 15 of these reports,
just like that, in the last week alone.
Santa Claus gets 15 billion letters
a year, doesn't make him real.
Weren't you just telling me I
had to go after the Satanists?
Yes. Because they looked guilty,
and because Satanists are a real thing.
You know what's not a real thing? Satan.
You know, a week ago, I would've agreed.
But now we have a ritualistic murder,
confirmed Satanic cult,
reports of demonic activity
coming in left and right.
I can't keep ignoring
what's right in front of me.
[PHONE RINGING]
[ABIGAIL] Happy Hollow
Police Department.
All due respect, Chief
you're starting to
sound like the crazies.
Maybe they're not crazy after all.
You better take this, Chief.
It's Cassie.
She was in a confrontation.
Confrontation? With who?
[TENSE, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[CLATTERING]
[FIRE ROARING, CRACKLING]
[CAR APPROACHING]
Linda?
What the hell is goin' on?
Are you okay?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDING]
How could you guys do that to me?
How could we do that to you?
What about what you've done to us?
[DYLAN] What are you talking about?
Everything I've done has
been to help the band.
Bullshit.
I'm all for pissing
folks off for attention,
but I draw the line when the cops
are questioning me for murder.
But they didn't even
have anything on us!
This will all just be another
piece of our band's mythology.
Dylan, stop spinning things to be
about the band when they're not.
We sold out our tape in one day!
That would've been
impossible a month ago.
But now, thanks to you two,
we're gonna lose everything!
What's "everything" to you?
You want to know what
"everything" is to me?
This. Us.
And you destroyed that.
I don't care about the band, Dylan.
I care about you. I care about Spud.
But I am tired of caring about people
who don't care about me in return.
- Oh
- [DYLAN] You know what I'm tired of?
Everyone in this town
blaming me for their issues.
Nobody was forcing you to play along.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
You know what?
You're right.
I quit.
Jordy.
Jordy!
[DOOR OPENS, SLAMS SHUT]
You happy now?
You've found plenty of supporters,
but just days ago,
the majority of Happy
Hollow thought you were
Kooky?
Eccentric.
You've been banging the drum
on Satanism for some time,
but now, people are finally listening.
What's changed, Tracy?
Nothing's changed.
It's just being brought to light.
By you. You're a hero.
[CHUCKLING] Oh, heavens, no.
No, I'm no hero. [LAUGHS]
- I'm
- [DOOR OPENS]
just a mother doing her best.
Sweetheart, why don't
you come in and say hello?
Perdita, this is my daughter, Faith.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Actually, could I take a photo
of mother and daughter for the paper?
- No, thank you.
- Of course you can.
Oh, don't be silly, Faith.
Don't you want to show people what
a normal, wholesome family we are?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Great. How about we try one right here?
Okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
We need you to play your part.
[PERDITA] Beautiful.
One two three.
[CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES]
[SIGHS] Sorry it had
to end this way, Gil.
May the Lord have mercy on us both.
[TENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
Shit.
[EERIE, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[SOFT, SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[DOOR RATTLING]
- [DYLAN] That was my stuff!
- [BANGING ON DOOR]
What's wrong with you?
- [LINDA SIGHS]
- I didn't even do anything.
[BANGING RAPIDLY]
[MUSIC FADES]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[CLATTERS]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Cliff?
What are you doin' here?
Why'd you do it, man?
To get back at me or
some shit like that?
No. It wasn't like that.
- I'm sorry.
- Sorry don't mean shit, man.
We all bought into
you. I bought into you.
So I'm gonna ask you again.
Why'd you do it?
I just
I just wanted to be like you.
[SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES]
Like you
like Judith like Ryan.
- What do you mean? Like popular?
- No, not even that. Just
I-I-I just want to be seen.
And now, everyone's abandoned me.
What about Jordy and Spud?
They they left the band
which doesn't really matter anymore
since my mom burned my
guitar like a psycho.
And Judith probably never wants
to see my face again either.
Yeah, man, you hurt her.
In ways she's not used to being hurt.
I know. I'm sorry. I fucked up.
I would do anything
to make it up to her.
To-to all of you.
All right.
Prove it.
What do you mean?
Follow me.
[FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS]
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
Careful. They're still hot.
Who are you?
Every time I think about
the man that I killed,
I think about the family
that's worried about him.
And what the rest of
his life could have been.
And I fall apart.
And you
You've known about Ryan for weeks.
How can you just act
like everything's okay?
We're both terrible people, Mom.
No, Faith we're not.
We are both good people
who've made honest mistakes.
Murder is the worst sin there is.
Well, technically, it's
just manslaughter, dear.
And the Bible doesn't have
much to say about that, does it?
[EXHALES]
I'm sorry. I don't know how much
longer I can keep doing this, Mom.
Faith? Faith!
Honey, please. Wai
[FOOTSTEPS GOING UP STAIRS]
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello? Whitehead residence.
[REVEREND] We have
an emergency, Firefly.
- What is it?
- [REVEREND] Over the course
of Robert's trip to dispose of Gilbert,
somehow he lost track of the body.
Well, what does that mean?
If-if Is he still alive?
[REVEREND] I'm observing
the situation as it develops,
but time is no longer a luxury
that we can call our own.
No, no, no, no. No,
you don't understand.
Gilbert was going to go to the police.
And if he's still
alive somewhere, then
[REVEREND] We have to finish
this before he resurfaces.
Luckily, we have an ace in hand.
We need to play it.
Tonight.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[LOCK CLICKING]
[MUSIC FADES]
Linda?
I-I have a visitor.
I told you, Gene, I don't want vi
Father Mathis?
Hello, Linda.
Gene tells me that, uh,
you've been having trouble lately.
It-it's okay, honey.
He believes you.
Uh, may I?
- Yeah.
- Many have come forward recently
with experiences such as yours.
Hallucinations,
distortion of the flesh,
out-of-body experiences.
What's happening to me?
Well, that is what
I'm here to find out.
[CLICKS]
[INTENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
[SOFTER, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
- [CRICKETS CHIRPING]
- [OWL HOOTING]
[LEAVES RUSTLING]
Are we almost there?
Go on.
What's this?
[JUDITH] Absolution.
You're going to die tonight, Dylan.
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
[LAUGHING NERVOUSLY]
F-funny funny joke, guys. [CHUCKLES]
Wh-what, so, no-no robes, no candles?
This ain't make-believe.
Not this time.
Judith, I'm sorry about everything.
But can we just talk, please?
Just-just give me the
chance to apologize.
That's what I'm doing.
It's a ritual called the
Ceremony of Stifling Air.
The metaphorical killing
of who you once were,
and the celebration of being born again
as your true, authentic self.
Metaphorical killing?
Thank God.
So, what-what are the steps?
First, you're gonna get in this box.
Then, you're gonna
repeat a phrase for us.
[ALL] Vita ex mortis.
"Life through death."
Say that three times. Then, we'll knock.
That's us calling you
back from the dead.
When the knocking stops
scream, as hard as you can.
Purge the old Dylan to
make room for the new one.
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
So, I-I-I just get in that box,
do a chant,
and then you'll forgive me?
That's it.
You do all that,
things will go back
to the way they were.
You just gotta leave behind everything.
Your friends. Your family.
No more double lives.
No deceit.
If you still want us in your life
if you still want me in your life
this is the only way forward.
You made us feel so special, Dylan.
I just want to trust you again.
Uh
Okay. I'll
I'll do it.
Get in.
Mom, why are we at Jordy's house?
[TRACY] Well, dear, I've been
thinking about what you said
how you don't know if you can
live like this for much longer
and I realized that you're right.
What I asked of you has
been completely unfair.
So, I've decided that it's time we
put an end to all of this tonight.
[SOFT, OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Because, Faith
she's your best shot at freedom.
[MATHIS] Take as much time as you need.
[LINDA] Okay.
At-at first, it started small.
Just, um, a feeling that
that something wasn't quite right.
And then seeing things
out of the corner of my eyes,
and feeling that there
was a presence with me.
Oh, what kind of a, uh, a presence?
Malevolent.
Soon, it wasn't just a feeling.
It attacked me.
Could you describe it for me?
[SIGHS]
It was burnt.
It had horns and wings.
And I swear, the last time
I saw it, it felt like
like it got inside of me.
Like I was trapped
inside my body, but something
something else was pulling the strings.
Have you ever had
experiences like this before?
As a a child, maybe?
No. Never.
And have you ever done anything
that would make yourself
vulnerable to forces like the
ones that you're describing?
Well, you see, my-my son
Yes, I am aware of his reputation.
What I would like to know
is if you, Linda Campbell,
have ever opened a door to darkness.
Intentionally or not.
Of course not.
We aren't those kind of people, Father.
Linda hasn't, once in her life
Yes I did.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Mom, she's my friend.
She's our only way out of our mess.
I need you
to hide that somewhere in her bedroom.
I'll place an anonymous
call to the police,
and then, before you know it,
all of this will be over with.
[SIGHS]
This is evil.
That's up to the Lord to decide.
And you know I would
never ask you to do this
if there were any other options.
It's us or them.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Here.
What's this for?
So you can watch yourself die.
Any last words for the old Dylan?
I'm sorry.
Let's go.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[LID CLACKS CLOSED]
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
Honey, what are you
what are you talking about?
[LINDA] I'm sorry, Gene.
Twenty years ago,
when we were trying for Dylan,
- I saw a doctor.
- Yeah, I know that.
We must have seen a dozen of them.
Uh Not a single one could
figure out what was wrong.
Except the one that I saw on my own.
She found some
scar tissue
that would make getting
pregnant impossible.
Honey, I'm sorry. I
I wanted a family so badly,
and I know that you
wanted one too, so
I-I couldn't bring myself to tell you.
[GENE] Linda
So I prayed,
and I prayed
to anyone who would listen.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BREATH TREMBLING]
[JUDITH] We're ready when you are.
Vita ex mortis.
[LINDA] Forgive me, Father,
but when God wasn't there to
answer my prayers, I just
I opened myself up. I
I called out into the void,
to anything
that would answer me.
And suddenly, it happened.
[LINDA EXHALES]
We've always said that Dylan
was our miracle baby, but
what if he wasn't a miracle at all?
- Okay, this is enough.
- No, no, you let her finish.
This is important.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Vita ex mortis.
What are you doing here?
I love my son more than
anything in this world,
and I'm terrified that he is
the way he is because of me.
I don't want to feel like this.
I don't want to believe
[SIGHS]
that my son is evil.
I want him
to be a little boy again.
I want to hold him,
and protect him,
and tell him his mommy will
always be there for him.
Vita ex mortis!
[DRAMATIC BEAT]
[SOFT, GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
But I can't.
[MUSIC FADES]
[SNIFFLES]
Linda, baby
are you okay?
Who am I speaking with now?
It's me.
- That-that sounded
like her. - [EXHALES]
What's going on?
[TENSE MUSIC SLOWLY BUILDING]
[CLICKING]
[TAPE REWINDING]
[CLICKING]
- [ON RECORDING] Okay, this is enough.
- [ON RECORDING] No, no, you let her finish.
[ON RECORDING] This is important.
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
[LINDA SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
IN A DEMONIC VOICE ON RECORDING]
[ON RECORDING] No No.
[LINDA IN A DEMONIC VOICE
ON RECORDING CONTINUES]
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
- [CLICKS]
- [MUSIC FADES]
[LINDA SNIFFLES]
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry. You were right.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
I did it.
You did the right thing.
Hello?
Can you can you guys hear me?
- [HAMMERING]
- [INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Cliff?
Judith?!
Let me out!
Cliff! Judith!
Stop! Let me out!
Cliff!
- [COFFIN SLAMS ON GROUND]
- God! Ow! [SOBS]
[SHOVELS DIGGING]
Guys, please! I'm hurt!
I'm sorry!
[DIRT CLATTERING ON COFFIN]
Goddamn it, let me out!
Let me out!
Stop! Stop!
I'm sorry! Stop!
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
[MUSIC FADES]
[OLSEN] Chief, you copy?
Yeah, I copy, Olsen.
[OLSEN] We just got
a call at the station.
Said one of those cultists was
bragging about killing Ryan.
Please tell me it wasn't Judith.
[OLSEN] Jordan Stanwyck. The goth girl.
They said the suspect showed
off a token from the murder.
An inhaler.
Get Judge Felson to sign
off on a search warrant
as soon as you can, I
mean as soon as you can.
I don't care if you
have to go over there
and pull him out of Mrs. Felson.
Get over there. Copy?
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Happy Hollow Police.
You stay right where you are.
Not another step.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[TENSE, EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Please
Help.
[MUSIC INTENSIFYING]
[HARD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC ENDS]