All language subtitles for American.Horror.Stories.S02E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10

(lipstick closes)

(car door opens)

♪♪ ♪♪

(machines whirring, clattering)

VAN WIRT:
Dolls have been around
since the Egyptians.

They even found one
in King Tut's tomb.

He wouldn't part with it,
even in the afterlife.

But what is a doll, really?

Nothing more than mankind's
attempt to finish

what the Almighty began.

Forgive me if that's
a tad blasphemous.

What I'm trying to say is...

when the Lord formed dust
into man,

he was seeking perfection.

Isn't that so?

That is what I was told
in Sunday school.

Well, a doll does not sin.

It has no flesh to mortify.

No soul to lose.

It's God's ideal made manifest.

So, God would love us more
if we were made out of plastic?

Not that you don't have
a point, sir.

Don't do that.
Don't retreat from your point.

I like people
who think for themselves.

Well, that has never been
a problem of mine,

-to think for myself.
-Huh.

As your curriculum vitae
attests,

high school valedictorian,

president
of Natchez Debating Society.

Master of Arts from Ole Miss.
Ha.

The truth is,
I've never interviewed

a candidate more qualified.

Well, I just would like to add
that my academic achievements

are nothing
compared to my tenacity.

I know times are tough,

and I know you've no doubt
seen lots of applicants,

but if you see fit to hire me

as your secretary,

I will dedicate myself
to clerical excellence.

Well...

I'm afraid you're just not right
for the position.

-I'm not?
-I'm sorry,

Miss Dellum,
but thank you for your interest.

-My assistant will see you out.
-(muffled screaming)

(door creaks, closes)

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

(distorted clock tolling)

You feeling better?

The headache should only trouble
you for a couple of hours.

You're on my estate.

This is my private dollhouse.

Your dollhouse?

I designed it myself,

from the wallpaper
to the, the rose cornices.

It's a tad eclectic,
I grant you,

but I'm not disciplined enough

to confine myself to one era.

So, the base is

Victorian
spiced with old Americana

and Edwardian.

What? What-what is this?
Why am I here?

This is your home

for the next seven days,
give or take.

My home?

Miss Dellum,

I was honest

when I told you how impressed

I am with your background.

You're far too special to spend

your days
in front of a typewriter,

so I have entered you
into the pageant.

Did you say...

-...pageant?
-Please understand,

this is an extraordinary honor.

As of last week,
entrance was closed.

Well, I do appreciate the honor,

but I don't want to be a part
of your pageant.

(Van Wirt chuckling)

Your participation

isn't open to debate.

(Coby panting)

(creaks)

Get out of my way.

Do you hear me?

Oh, he can hear you.
He just can't respond.

He's missing most
of his, um, his tongue.

(pounds window)

There's only one way out
of here, young lady.

It's not through any windows
or doors.

(Coby panting)

(whispers):
What do you want from me?

Now,
you'll find out soon enough.

In the meantime,
I'll leave you to get settled.

-(door opens)
-Get settled?
I'm not getting settled.

I'm getting out of here.

You can't just
leave me here alone.

You're not alone.

Let me out!

Hey! Come back!

Let me out of here!

AURELIA:
Well, this is all

we fucking need.

Aurelia, can't you see
she's scared to death?

Can't you see
that I don't give a shit?

Little Miss started
in the middle of the contest.

She didn't have to do
the first three tests.

Who are you people?

Can someone please tell me
what's going on?

You've been kidnapped
by a crazy-rich toymaker

who's sick in the head
and obsessed with dolls,

so he made all of this.

He's looking
for the perfect doll, see,

a mother for his kid,
and he makes us do tasks

in his messed-up
beauty pageant and the ones

who don't measure up
get eliminated

in the worst way. You dig?

(thudding)

Someone please tell me
this is a joke.

Let's find you a bed
where you can lie down.

(clock ticking)

HARLENE:
This is our room.

I'm here, that's Bonnie's.

Well, I don't want to rest.
I want to get out of here.

Sweetie, I know
what you're going through.

I was the same way at first.
Came for an interview,

stopped to help someone
on the side of the road.

Well, if everyone
who interviewed disappeared,

then that means that the law...

-the law has to get suspicious.
-The others were different.

Aurelia was a dancer.

Faye taught kindergarten.

When psycho man spots someone he
thinks would make a good doll,

he makes a move and that's it.

I was taken
right out of my house.

To this day I have
no idea why I was picked.

HARLENE:
You have to listen to me.
There's no way out.

Believe me, we've been here
for weeks and we've tried.

This place is built like a safe.

Van Wirt told the truth.

There's only one way off,
and you don't want that.

(creaking)

(whooshing)

(clock ticking)

(birds cawing)

(clock ticking)

HARLENE:
You really should eat something
before it starts.

I'm not hungry.

They only stock the fridge
every couple of days.

I saw him yesterday.
The little boy.

Otis.
(laughs softly)

He was looking out his window.

Where is his mom?

She died two years ago.

The official story is, she took
her boat out into the swamp

to pick flowers, there was
an accident, and she fell in.

But that's not what happened?

Rumor is, Mr. Van Wirt
didn't exactly measure up.

(laughs)

So she got herself
a little stallion.

(panting)

HARLENE:
What he did to them is almost
too horrible for words.

(crying)

They got this old
stone wishing well.

Been dried up for years,
since the Civil War.

And the only wishing
anybody's doing there

is for heavenly deliverance.

(man gasps, screams)

(Ellen screams)

It's a long drop.

-(splash)
-(Ellen screams)

(pants)

(screams)

(electricity crackles)

(screaming)

(clanging)

Come on. They're coming.

Hurry.

You need to pick one
and find a spot, fast.

Don't move unless asked,
don't speak unless spoken to.

(lock clicks)

♪♪ ♪♪

Well?

I thought we weren't
getting any new ones.

I made an exception.
Go make friends.

(huffs)

-So, what's your name?
-COBY: Uh...

You have a name, don't you?

I can't just call you
"clown doll."

COBY:
My name is Coby.

Coby the Clown.

Otis, what do you say?

I think this is
the happiest day of my life.

You know I don't like
your sarcasm.

Delighted to meet you,
Coby the Clown.

I'm Otis Van Wirt.

VAN WIRT:
Very good.

Now, I'll be back after work.

Remember, treat your playthings
with respect.

I always do.

(door opens)

Why do grown-ups think
kids like clowns?

COBY:
Everyone likes clowns.

I think everyone says they do

'cause they think
they're supposed to,

but really no one does.

Think I'm gonna tell
Eustace to throw you away.

-Too bad for you.
-I can do a trick.

A magic trick.
Do you want to see a trick?

I think everyone hates magicians

almost as much
as they hate clowns.

(high-pitched ringing)

How'd you do that?

Do it again.

This is my dollhouse,
Coby the Clown.

My dad made it for me
'cause I'm his only son

and the heir to his fortune.

You want to see tomorrow,
you do what I say.

Now do it again.

(heart beating)

(metal squeaking)

(Coby humming)

AURELIA:
Coby?

(humming stops)

What was that voodoo shit
with the toy?

Oh, my uncle, he's into magic.

He showed me some tricks
when I was a kid.

Well, that's nice.

Don't butter my ass
and call me a biscuit.

I saw what happened.

That thing moved
by its own self.

HARLENE:
Honestly, Aurelia,
what even are you saying?

I'm saying that she's a liar.

And if you think this
is gonna put you in Fat City,

then you got
another thing coming,

'cause I got tricks
up my sleeve, too,

and I'm gonna win
that little brat over.

And what if you do win?

What happens then?

Being the kid's mom?
What does that mean?

Does anyone know
what that means?

Does being the kid's mom
mean being Van Wirt's wife?

Well, whatever it means,
when I win,

I got time to figure a way out.

You can't clean the muck bucket
if you're dead.

(bell clanging)

What's that?

At this hour,
it'll be one thing.

A test.

We don't just have to play
with the kid, now, dolly.

The shit that starts now

is the shit that really counts.

VAN WIRT:
This evening, we will focus

on the "déjeuner
a la fourchette,"

or "le lunch," as they call it
in the Quarter.

There is a formality
to be observed,

no less important
than in the evening repast.

Here are the building blocks

for our culinary ballet.

Salad fork, meat fork,
bouillon spoon,

water glass, Apollinaris,
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

The hypothetical menu
for our afternoon

is crawfish cardinal,

terrapin soup,

stuffed drum,

as well as assorted ices

and pies.

As always, you will be graded
according to precision.

Deviations will result
in one point awarded.

The one with the most points
at the end

will be discarded.

(clock tolls)

You have one minute

to set the table for lunch.

-(clock clicks)
-Begin.

(orchestral music playing)

30 seconds.

15 seconds.

Five seconds.

-Freeze.
-(alarm rings)

All right.

Let's see what we have.

Knife facing toward the plate.

Fruit spoon in the proper place.

Apollinaris glass correct.

Perfect score.

Tragic napkin fold.

Salad and meat fork
in the wrong place.

Two points.

Knife should be facing
toward the plate, not away.

Salted nut bowl
is in the wrong place.

You used a bouillon spoon
for terrapin soup

instead of the terrapin fork.

And that water glass calamity
warrants three points.

Total: four.

I'm surprised at you.

This isn't fit
for my worst coonhound.

Napkins,

hemstitched or scalloped,
folded in tri-shape,

long edge toward the fork,

water glass at the tip
of the knife,

Apollinaris glass
upon the same doily

to the right and just down
from the water glass.

Too many infractions to count!

Let's not prolong this.

No, please.

I wasn't taught any of this.

My parents worked in a cannery.
It's not fair.

Please, I don't want to die.

(screams)

(Faye grunting)

(lock clicking)

(door opens)

(Faye screaming)

(door closes)

BONNIE:
What the hell's a terrapin?

AURELIA:
It's a turtle, you idiot.

COBY:
I can't believe
this is happening.

-HARLENE: Poor Faye.
-AURELIA: Fuck her.

One more out of the way.

(screams)

-That kid ain't gonna save you.
-(water splashes)

Nothing is gonna save you.

(metal squeaking)

That wasn't really just
a magic trick you did, was it?

COBY:
Do you want to hear a secret?

It's a gift.

Something I was born with.

(high-pitched ringing)

Something I've been able
to do since, well,

since I stopped
being a little girl.

OTIS:
Well, what else can you do?

Well, I haven't tried
to find out.

I've been afraid of what
would happen if my family knew.

OTIS:
What would happen?

COBY:
They could decide I had
a demon or something,

have a preacher yell over me.

The place where I came from,
there were a lot of rules

about what was right
and what was wrong,

and how to live
and how not to live.

That's why I decided
to leave home.

I wanted to be free.

I guess we both know what
it feels like to be different.

I'm not different.

You don't go to school,

and you're a boy who likes
to play with dolls.

What do you have against dolls?

Nothing.

I'm just saying it's not
like other people,

and around here
that can be hard.

I used to go to school,
until kids beat me up.

The teachers said I was
odd and belligerent.

Now I don't go anymore.

Don't you miss them?
Your mom and dad?

COBY:
I miss when my mom
used to sing me to sleep.

You miss your mom, don't you?

Can I tell you a secret?

I hope you win
and get to be my mom.

COBY:
That'd be nice.

But I wouldn't be
a good mom if I was sad.

Why would you be sad?

COBY:
Because of all the dolls we'd
have to throw down the well.

I throw out old dolls
all the time.

COBY:
But they're not just dolls,
they're my friends.

If you tell your daddy to stop
this and let everyone go,

I promise you, I'll be the best
mommy you'll ever want.

I cross my heart
and hope to die.

-(clock tolls)
-VAN WIRT: No,
we just need more time.

The public will come around.

Our new line of dolls
is better than anything

that-that M-Mattel
or, uh, Hasbro ha...

So what if they have Barbie?!

We use old-world methods.

Our dolls are hand-sewn.

We just need more time
for people to find us.

And then the sales will pick up.

(grunts, shouts)

What are you doing out of bed?

Did I wake you?

Uh, I wanted
to ask you something.

Oh.

Come over here.

(grunts)

Are you in trouble, Dad?

Life... sometimes...

gives us challenges.

And our jobs as good Christians

is to meet those challenges
head-on.

When we lost
your blessed mother,

I decided that
the only possible replacement

would be someone perfect.

Daddy's gonna find you
the best mommy in the world.

The perfect mommy

who will always be
there for you.

And you trust me?

Right?

-Yes, Daddy.
-Good.

Now...

...what did you want to ask me?

Nothing.

(clock ticking)

(bell clanging)

(lock clicks)

(door creaking)

Today you're going to impress me

with what some of you might
consider a household chore.

But like many things in life,
if done properly,

even the most mundane task
can rise to the level of art.

The proper ironing
and folding of a shirt,

following the rules as set down
by Monsieur Seydoux

in his famous
Dauphine Street Laundry.

As we all know,
Seydoux placed great importance

on the ingredients
for his ironing spray.

And it was Seydoux

who used Courvoisier

instead of raw alcohol
in his sprays,

as well as assorted herbs...

...which gave his work
its distinctive aroma.

(sniffs)
Mmm.

You will have three minutes

to make your solutions,

and then to iron
and fold your shirts.

-(clock ticking)
-Ticktock.

The proper mixing
and application

of your solution
is all that stands

between triumph and disaster.

Remember, we are making folds...

...not creases.

Folds that are crisp
prevent wrinkles.

The fabric and the weave

dictate the proper technique.

(alarm rings)

(sniffs)
Hmm. Too much lavender.

(sniffs)
Not enough Courvoisier.

Three.

Mm. Too much starch.

This shirt could get up
and walk out on its own.

And, oh.
I can't believe my eyes.

That looks like scorching.

I expected more from you.

Put your left hand on
the board and do not move it.

(Coby grunting)

Remember the lesson.

(sniffs)

Hmm.

I said folds, not creases. Ugh.

Not enough starch.

(sniffs)
Oof.

Smells like a whorehouse.

-Four.
-BONNIE: No, no...

-(screaming)
-(stabbing)

(heart beating)

Tomorrow marks the end
of our journey together

and the final test.

Whoever excels will
be given a great honor,

and the others,

well...

Any one of you could win,

so I suggest you all get
a good night's sleep.

(lock clicks, door opens)

-(door closes)
-HARLENE: What are we gonna do?

I don't want to die.

AURELIA:
Looks like your little magic

and sweet talk didn't do shit.

HARLENE:
I say we jump them.

When they come in,
we make weapons and we hit them.

They can't shoot us all.

COBY:
Probably should have done
that when there were more of us.

It's better than just
lying down.

Like you said,
we got to do something.

I really thought
I'd gotten to him.

Little shit.

If I get picked as his mother,
first chance I get,

I'm gonna strangle him.

I feel sorry for him.

HARLENE:
I think Van Wirt likes you.

COBY:
He just ironed my hand.

You burned one of his shirts.

He could've put you in the well
just for that.

I think Van Wirt knows
his kid likes you.

By the way, how'd you make
that truck move?

What are you doing?

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

Aurelia?

-Are you crazy?
-I know that Van Wirt

wants this bitch to win,

and I am not gonna die tomorrow.

None of us have
to die tomorrow, Aurelia.

Mm-hmm? How's that?

Just gonna magic us out of here?

No, we're going to walk out
the front door.

This estate runs ten miles
in every direction.

We'd never get clear
before they hunt us down.

Well, they won't know.
At least not at first.

Enough to give us a head start.

What head start?

Well, he loves dolls,
so we're gonna give him dolls.

(bell clanging)

(clanging stops)

(door closes)

(lock clicks)

(fingers snap)

VAN WIRT:
This is the final test,
and the most important.

Today we find out
who you really are.

Knowing which fork to use

doesn't matter
if your soul is in jeopardy.

That is some voodoo shit.

(Harlene whimpering softly)

AURELIA:
I think there's
a road over there.

Past the swamp. Come on.

Wait. We-we can't go yet.

My son will only keep company
with the saved.

What the fuck is wrong
with you, Coby?

-Huh?
-We can't leave that little boy
here with that man.

We have to go get him and we
have to bring him with us.

"The carpenter
stretcheth out his rule,

he marketh it out with a line."

When we get clear, we can tell
the police everything.

-They'll take the kid
out of here.
-COBY: We don't know

what Van Wirt would do
when he finds out we're gone.

He could disappear
and he could take Otis.

I'm not leaving him here.

VAN WIRT:
"He fitteth it with planes

and he marketh it out
with the compass."

I hope you're ready
to be a mama.

I'm-I'm sorry, I'm too scared.

VAN WIRT:
"And he maketh it after
the figure of a man,

"according to the beauty
of a man,

so that it may remain
in the house."

Which of the Old Testament
prophets said that?

(creaking)

(clock tolls)

(whimpering)

Wait. Wait for me!

(whispers):
Otis.

-Otis.
-Who are you?

-I'm Coby.
-What are you doing here?

I'm running away
and I want you to leave with me.

-Run?
-Your daddy isn't well.

Otis, he's done some things
that are very wrong.

-Where are the other dolls?
-They ran away, too.

But I-I couldn't leave
without you.

Come with me.

I'm sorry.

HARLENE:
Wait for me!

(wheezing)

Aurelia.

Don't leave me.

Thank you.

Too slow and too fucking loud.

(gun cocks)

(gasps)

-(crying)
-(gunshot)

VAN WIRT:
Congratulations, Miss Dellum.

You're going to make
a wonderful mother for my son.

(panting):
No.

You know, not a lot happens
on my estate

that I don't know about.

The thing with these
vintage dolls

is that their porcelain heads
make wonderful sound conductors.

Now, I wasn't able
to hear everything

about your plans,
but I heard enough.

And so, I decided
that your escape attempt

would be the final test,

and only you passed.

Only you cared enough about
my son to come back for him,

at the risk of your own life.

I'm, I'm deeply moved,
Miss Dellum.

What are you going to do to me?

I'm gonna make you perfect.

Come, come.

It may be a tad unsettling,
but it should be painless.

I designed it that way,
just for you.

-(whirring)
-(shouts)

Please, please.

(gasping)

(screams)
Please!

Please! Please help!

Help!

(screaming)

-(metal thuds)
-(air hisses)

♪♪ Let it storm and rain ♪♪

♪♪ You're mine forever... ♪♪

Ah.

This is lovely, isn't it, Otis?

I wish she talked more.

Well, we need
to give her some time.

She's had quite
the stressful adjustment.

I know that it was a bit awkward
the first week,

but I can see that you're
getting the hang of it.

I'm very proud of you, Coby.

But we must look
for a better name.

Coby Rae doesn't
seem quite right

for such an elegant and refined
article like yourself.

I must give that some thought.

Nothing like afternoon tea
to still the soul.

WITCH:
Soul? You shouldn't use words

you don't understand, Van Wirt.

Who are you?
How did you get into my house?

Eustace.

Eustace. Eustace!

He can't move.

And neither can you.

You don't need
to be afraid of us.

(panting)

Oh, my God.

-Oh, my God.
-WITCH 2: We should have
been here sooner,

but your spells were very weak.

We could barely detect them.

Did you say "spells"?

You're one of us.

OTIS:
Don't leave me.

I still promise
I'll be your mommy,

but you can never
come back here.

(Van Wirt whimpers)

You know, it's probably safer

if you don't use
your first name here.

Do you have a middle name?

Spalding.

Spalding it is.

And if anyone asks, you've
been here your entire life,

just like your father
before you

-and his father before...
-Him.

(chuckles)

(footsteps approaching)

I'm Myrtle.

I'm Spalding.

It's nice to have someone here
my own age.

I plan to run this place
someday.

♪♪ ♪♪

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH