Original subtitles

(relaxed violin music)

(ominous tones)

(wind rustling)

(creature snarls) (glass shatters)

- I was angry with my friend.

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe.

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I'd watered it in fears,

night and morning with my tears.

And I sunned it with smiles and with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night 'til it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine and he knew that it was mine.

And in till my garden stole

when the night had veiled the pole,

in the morning glad I see,

my foe outstretched beneath the tree.

(Nichole scoffs)

- Something wrong?

- Yeah, that house back there, the first one on the right,

their landscaping's off-centered and a red door?

I mean, there's dirt where the grass

isn't even growing and kids' toys scattered everywhere.

- Okay?

- What?

It's a bad first impression of the neighborhood.

- Nothing, I'm just thinking that's a lot of energy

to put into something you don't have to worry about.

- I'll see it every day when I drive by.

- It's not like it's yours.

It doesn't belong to you, why do you care?

- All that literature you read isn't yours.

You don't have to read it, so why let the author

who leaves out the Oxford comma bother you

or that blue whatever it is, blues poetry?

- It's called purple prose and it's irritating.

Why meander through the abstract?

Why not just say what you're gonna say?

- Well it's not your books, you didn't write them.

- So? - See my point?

- No.

Not really.

(Nichole scoffs)

- [DJ] And you are listening to WBURG 88.7 BURG Beat Radio.

It's the top of the 10 o'clock hour and our hourly

weather report is brought to you Katora Coffee

located on downtown Caroline Street.

Today we're looking at sunny skies,

a high of about 88 degrees and a low of 80.

So it's not gonna get too cool.

A chance of scattered showers overnight.

Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the low 70s

and for tomorrow, we're looking at a mix

of sun and clouds and highs in the 80s

and your weekend forecast, no rain in sight.

Yep, sunny skies with highs in the low 90s

and lows in the low 80s.

Stay tuned, we're bringing you in

with some of the summer's hottest hits.

We've got a new one coming at you in this hour

and then we got brand new music coming to you

in the 11 o'clock hour, so don't go anywhere.

Stay tuned on WBURG, that's BURG Beat Radio.

♪ In this war of love ♪

♪ You're caught up in the fight ♪

♪ You are divided in darkness and in light ♪

♪ Words like weapons pointing at each other ♪

- Russ Thompson. - Nichole.

- It's such a pleasure to be able

to have this opportunity to meet.

- [Nichole] This is my husband, Adam.

- Dr. Adam Benson.

- Well, I'm just sorry

that we're having to meet under such rigid terms.

- I'm sorry?

- Yep.

The legal limit in the neighborhood is 25,

25 miles per hour.

Now I give everyone at least one warning.

I usually contact the county.

They don't do nothing, mind you

but I think it's good just to let them be aware.

You're all settled in?

I was going to volunteer to come over

and help move boxes but my back.

I apologize but

anyway, enough about me.

Where y'all from?

- [Adam] Tennessee.

- And all the way up here, huh?

That's quite a hike.

I'm sure y'all have family around here.

- No.

- You're a doctor?

Who is your practice with?

- Oh, I'm not a medical doctor, I'm English Lit.

- Good. - Yeah.

Yeah, I've been actually applying

to a couple universities in the area hoping

to get on with one but I've been writing in the meantime.

- Okay, English, eh? - Yeah.

- Write anything I might've looked at?

- No, he hasn't written anything.

- Okay.

- Hi, honey. - Sweetie.

- Hi, love, muah. - Good to see you, baby.

- It's so nice to be home, hello.

- Excuse me. - Hi.

- Nichole, Dr. Benson, this is my girlfriend Alaina.

- Hi. - Very nice to meet you.

- Sweetheart, Dr. Benson is an English professor.

- Oh.

- Well actually I don't have any offers

just yet but Adam is fine.

- Oh. (chuckles)

Oh, my parents were professor doctors and well,

unfortunately I didn't follow in their footsteps

but I did quite well for myself.

- Like I said, I don't actually have any offers lined up.

- Listen, we're barbecuing tomorrow night

and we'd like to invite both of you over.

- Oh, please come.

- Okay.

- Wonderful. - Thanks for the invite.

- Fantastic and Dr. B, oh, sorry, Adam,

we'll have a lot to talk about.

- Well, it was nice meeting both of you.

Adam, lots of things to do.

- Yeah, lots of unpacking to do

and writing to do, of course. (chuckle)

Thank you guys for coming over.

Take care. - Take care.

Slow down.

- Bye.

(birds chirping)

(relaxed tempo guitar music)

(relaxed tempo guitar music continues)

- Yeah, I'm taking your car.

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping continues)

Thank you. - Yeah, no problem.

Corey Davis, nice meeting you.

Russ sends me over here to clean up for the barbecue.

- Nichole.

- Russ told me you guys moved in a week or two ago, right?

Your husband's a professor, right?

That's cool.

- Well, not exactly.

- Well, I wish I went to college.

We do all the handiwork along this route.

- Well, thanks, it looks good.

- I gotta run but here, if you ever need anything done

like paint, plumbing work or just general maintenance,

you know where to find me.

- I'm sorry, of course.

Thank you.

- Yeah.

Nice meeting you. - Nice to meet you, Corey.

- Yeah.

(birds chirping)

(soft guitar music)

(soft piano music)

(soft piano music continues)

(soft piano music continues)

- I can't sleep.

- Worried about the interview?

I'm sure you killed it.

Probably be hearing back tomorrow.

- I guess so.

I think it went all right.

- Yeah.

No, I'm awake.

(soft piano music)

- I know.

You know, we

Things were good when we got back together, right?

- Yeah, yeah, things are good.

- Are they just good, or?

- Yeah, they're good.

- Good isn't good, Adam.

(anxious warbling tones)

I need butterflies.

- Butterflies, check.

- No, really.

You know what I mean.

The fresh air that lifts through their wings,

the spark of their colors.

I want that swirling in my stomach.

(soft piano music)

That time on the beach,

our third date,

you grabbed me, whirled me around and lifted me up.

Kissed me all the way back to the hotel room.

- Yeah.

(soft piano music)

(soft piano music continues)

- Tell me something.

Tell me.

- Yeah, what, what do you wanna hear?

- [Nichole] You.

From you.

- That feeling you got at the beach?

The butterfly thing?

- It's just phenylethylamine

which the brain eventually exchanges for Vasopressin.

In other words, it's nothing.

We're good.

- Why would you say that?

- I don't know.

- Where are you going?

- [Adam] I need water, you need anything?

(anxious warbling music)

(anxious warbling music continues)

(anxious warbling music continues)

(birds chirping) (sprinkler hisses)

(birds chirping)

- [Corey] About time.

- [Russ] I can't believe it.

Every time when you come by here, I see you speeding.

- [Neighbor] The speedometer says 25, I'm only going 25.

- [Russ] Right, well I think there might

be something wrong with your speedometer

and I think maybe you need to lay off the throttle.

- [Corey] Spotted sandpiper.

- Well, thanks for showing me.

I definitely never thought

I'd see something like this up close.

- Yeah.

You know in some cultures,

they say when you come across atypical animals,

they say it's a spirit message.

If you believe that type of stuff.

- Oh, and if I did believe,

what would a sandpiper have to tell me?

- Stay grounded.

Focus on existing in the moment.

Not dwelling on the past or future.

- Hmm.

You must be all about that stuff.

I'm shocked you know all of that.

- Yeah, I'm sort of a Urban Dictionary of spirit animals.

I'm joking.

I Googled the type of nest

or an animal that made that nest and read it in an article.

All right, well I gotta let Russ

know about this and head off to my next job.

- Of course, yeah.

- Good seeing you. - Yeah, you too.

- Hey, Russ. - Yeah?

(wind chimes jingling)

(wind chimes jingling continues)

(soft electronic music)

(children laughing)

(children chattering)

- Anyways, I got a friend who's a writer.

Yeah, he's just a mystery author.

I ain't into mystery but it turns out a lot of people are.

- Everyone has a favorite genre I guess.

- Yes, absolutely.

He publishes his works on that eBooks thing.

I can send you his email address if you like.

- Yeah.

- But yeah, he's all over the internet.

He's on that,

what's that called?

The website with all the books.

Jason, Corey, I'd like for you to meet Adam,

my new neighbor. - Hey, Adam.

- How's a going? - Corey.

- Nice to see you. - Nice to meet you.

- So glad y'all could come

and that you're making yourselves at home.

Speaking of home,

Adam, you didn't leave Nichole at home now, did you?

- No, I think she's in the restroom or something.

- Would you like a drink?

- Sure, yeah, thank you.

- Hey babe, looks like we could use some more ice.

- Oh, I think you're right, honey.

There's some in my trunk. - Okay, thanks.

- Oh, sure. - Adam.

I don't suppose you could go with her

and help bring it back, could you?

- It's fine, yeah, sure. - Thank you.

(children laughing)

- Hey.

- Hey.

- Corey, Russ.

- Hey, the name's Jason.

I live a couple blocks down the road.

- Nice meeting you. - Good to meet you.

- We got the sandpipers moved.

They're back down the river safe and sound.

Didn't take 'em long at all

and move the nest, eggs and all that.

I suppose that's one of the advancements, you know?

- Sandpipers are what?

- Sandpipers, it's a type of bird.

- Oh right, I love birds.

- You like birds? - Yeah, yeah, no, I do.

So where are you at, that you right there?

- Oh, I live a couple blocks down.

Okay.

But yeah, I come around here all the time.

- Yeah, yeah, fair.

What you do? - Lawn maintenance.

- Lawn care? - Yeah.

All the lawns here.

- Oh, this is you? - Yeah, all me.

- Okay, right on.

- I gave your Nichole, I gave her a card earlier.

- Oh, did you? - Yeah.

- All right. - If you ever wanna call me.

- Actually I take care of all of it.

- Kept your beer safe for you.

- Thank you.

- It's a bit of a hobby but I'm actually a doctor.

I'm a professor. - A professor, that's cool.

What, you teach, or?

Is that what you mean? - Yeah, I do it all.

- Oh, that's good. (children chattering)

Nichole, so nice to see you.

I'm so glad y'all could make it.

- Yeah, great to be here. - Hey,

Corey found a sandpiper nest

in my garden box earlier today.

Had Conservation come out and take 'em to the Rabahadock.

Well, we'd seen more and more

and the developers come in.

We, well, we were an older development

and

with some of the newer developments that are going up,

you see deer and everything running around.

(children laughing)

- [Alaina] Well, it's likely

they just don't know where to go.

- Hey, tomorrow I'm gonna check that crawlspace.

Try to find that leak.

(wind chimes jingling)

- So,

you think it's a fetish, a kink?

- The cookout was fun, they're nice people.

- That's what I mean.

- What?

- Nice neighbors.

Don't you think they're into kinky stuff?

- Then I'd say that's one of our business.

To each their own.

- Okay.

But what's her deal?

- Who?

- Come on, hon.

You talked to her all night.

What's her game?

- Game?

- Yeah, exactly.

- Care to clarify?

- Alaina.

She can't possibly be in love with Russ.

I mean, she's up to something.

Something...

- What?

- Money?

Sex?

(Nichole laughs)

Smart girl.

I know what it is.

- All right, drop it, Nichole.

Whatever it is you're thinking, just let it go.

- She's slowly poisoning him.

You know, I've heard about this stuff.

What's her name?

Mary Elizabeth Wilson.

She killed four, four of her husbands with insecticide.

You know, maybe that's it, maybe she's-

- Sorry, enough, okay?

She's not using it for anything.

Nobody's poisoning anybody.

- How would you know?

- Okay, because Alaina owns

the entire franchise of physical therapy centers.

Russ injured his back years ago

and she was working at the one where he ended up, all right?

And whatever they do behind closed doors,

whatever that is, that's none of our business.

Russ is a great guy and they're happy

and they're lucky to have one another.

Now let it go.

- And you would know all about it.

- I said let it go.

- I can't.

How, how can I?

- How can you what?

- What am I supposed to think?

- I don't know, I'm not gonna tell you what to think.

That was five years ago in Tennessee

and we're all the way out here in Virginia to move past it.

- It?

- What?

- It?

Why don't you just say what "it" is?

- Because I'm not gonna bring up something

that we handled a long time ago.

- You cheated, Adam. - It wasn't cheating.

I didn't cheat. - Say the words.

- It wasn't cheating.

(Nichole scoffs)

- Okay, her name was

Melanie.

Brunette, right?

- I gave you the space you requested and Nichole,

six months passed, then seven, eight.

- Regardless Adam, it's cheating.

- Nine months, nine months passed

and I didn't hear from you and you know what?

Yeah, I met somebody and she was nice

and we went on a few dates, it wasn't cheating.

- It was cheating.

Needing space and breaking up are vastly different things.

- Yeah, well I didn't hear from you for nine months.

What, did you travel to Mars?

- Original.

- Look, couldn't you have picked up a phone?

Had a little call and maybe apologized?

I said I was sorry, I took accountability.

You said you'd forgiven it.

For Christ's sake, you married me, Nikki.

- How could I?

How could I, Adam?

It destroyed me, you cheating.

- It wasn't cheating.

- It was cheating, Adam and tonight with Alaina.

- What did I do tonight?

I had conversations with everybody.

- It brought it all back, Adam.

- I got her a bag of ice.

- You were quite cozy with Alaina,

you two walking, laughing.

- It's not like you would've done that with me.

- You know what, Adam?

It is not my job to make you love me.

It is not my job to tell you what I need.

You're supposed to know, Adam.

- It's not your job to do anything, is it?

- Fuck you. - You don't do anything.

All you do is rely on me.

You're so fucking pitiful all the time.

- You know what, Adam?

You're such a fucking boy.

Why don't you grow up?

Get out of that fucking- - Why don't I grow up?

- And actually do something? - You're the one

who married me, you married me and you know what?

You've conjured up this idea that I cheated on you

and you bring it up every single time

even though you say every single time

that you've forgiven it.

Every single time you wanna make a point,

you tell me that I was the one that cheated.

- Is that a philosophy?

Are you throwing philosophy at me now, Adam?

- Yeah, whatever. - Get all your good

words from a book. - Yes, yeah.

- How about you be fucking original?

- Yeah, brilliant zinger there.

- Everything's about winning

in this situation and it's not fucking about winning.

It's about you hearing me, Adam.

- I'm not trying to win. - It's about you listening.

You're not listening. - I am listening.

All I do is give my points

and tell you what my side of the argument is

and you just think, you don't comprehend.

You don't compute. - I'm trying to tell you

that I'm hurt, you hurt me tonight.

- Yeah, well why can't I tell you when I'm hurt?

I hurt too, okay?

It's not just all about you.

- You know what?

This is what you do, this.

- This is what, what are you talking about?

- I set boundaries. - Fuck your boundaries.

- And you disrespect them. - Yeah.

Do you ever disrespect me?

Does that ever happen?

How come it's always me on you?

- Fucking grow up, Adam.

Grow the fuck up. - If you're not happy with me,

then you can leave.

(boxes rustling)

(crickets chirping)

(crickets chirping continues)

(Adam scoffs)

(crickets chirping)

(Adam yelps)

(crickets chirping)

(soft anxious violin music)

(box scrapes)

(box rattles)

(soft anxious violin music)

(low, anxious drumbeat)

(soft anxious violin music)

(wood creaks)

(wood creaks)

(wood creaks)

Nikki.

Nikki!

- [Nichole] What, Adam?

- Call them.

Call them. - Call who?

- Call the police.

Call 911.

Call the police, whoever.

- Holy shit.

(sirens blaring)

(doors clacking)

(crime scene tape rustling)

- [Adam] I wonder if I can talk to him.

Hey sir, hi, I'm Adam Benson.

- Whatever, keep walking. - Sir, that's my house.

They haven't told us anything.

- [Officer] If you don't shut up, you'll end up in the back of my car.

- [Adam] Are you serious right now?

(no audio)

- [Officer] I'm getting backlash from the homeowner.

- Honey, they just won't tell us.

- I know, Adam, but you told me to call 911, so I did.

- [Adam] OK.

- Ma'am, hi. - No, let me talk.

I need to shut this house down,

clear this scene and investigate.

It should only take one or two days.

- Two days? - One or days.

Do you have somewhere you can stay tonight?

- Well, of course they do. - No.

- Okay, there you go. - They can stay with us.

- We couldn't impose. - It's a wonderful idea.

We've got plenty of room, my dear.

- There's a hotel right down the road, we'll be fine.

- Ma'am, listen, you really need to know what's going on.

- I understand, I understand.

But I can't answer any questions tonight.

- You're gonna have to answer.

- I cannot answer any of your questions tonight.

You've gotta let me do my job first.

- Is there a report I can file?

Is there somebody I can call?

Like I touched whatever it was that was in there, okay?

I don't know- - Stop, look.

This is Detective Ralph Victor.

He's gonna be assisting me with this investigation.

I know it's late but we really need

to make some space for some units coming in

and we need to clear this immediate area.

- We just want answers. - Yeah.

We have things in that household we need.

- I understand.

I can have an officer escort you inside

to pack an overnight bag if necessary.

- Right, but you- - But I need to do it now.

Time is important, you understand?

- Yes, I understand but look, you have to tell me

what we're dealing with at least, okay?

I don't know what I found

and I don't know if there's gonna be

some kind of situation where I'm gonna have to like

get an attorney or what. - Adam.

- I don't know what the hell that was.

(no audio)

(keyboard clicking)

(candies rattling)

(keyboard clicking)

(keyboard clicking)

(no audio)

- We'll spare you the intricate details

but the preliminary lab reports

do confirm that the victim is 10-year-old Charlie O'Connor.

- [Ralph] He went camping with his parents

at Williamson Park.

- [Alex] Mrs. O'Connor was concerned that he had

wandered off, fell off a cliff or worse, attacked.

She mentioned a history of sleepwalking,

which was later corroborated by the boy's pediatrician.

Search parties scoured the area for weeks, nothing.

Charlie's parents never gave up on finding him,

although they didn't last long after themselves.

- Okay.

The station just called, they got a lead on that 10-34.

- They were missing also?

- No, they drove off a cliff.

- The initial report called it an accident.

It was later closed out as a murder-suicide.

The speculation was that the grieving parents

could not handle the loss of their child

and so it led us to this.

However, after the lab was able

to rule out your prints and DNA, Dr. Benson,

we did match it with the parents.

Their DNA and your DNA were the only found there.

- And whatever the case, they decided to transfer

the remains back to the original home, the family home.

The original file offers no complaints about odor.

- [Nichole] The house being?

- Here, this was the O'Connor family home.

- They were the original owners I believe.

The neighborhood was built in '76.

- [Ralph] We need to get on that lead.

- I'm gonna leave the files and my card here.

Call me if you have any questions.

- [Adam] Thank you, we appreciate you coming in.

- I mean, situations like this are never easy for anybody.

If you find that you have

a head full of questions, just call me.

At least now, Charlie can be laid to rest

and people can have a clearer idea of what happened.

- Thank you once again. - No problem.

(no audio)

(no audio)

- They dumped the body in the woods and then

came back for days,

weeks later?

They came back? (scoffs)

I'm gonna go to the store, restock the fridge.

You want anything?

- We can't stay here.

- I agree, we should go somewhere for a few nights.

- No.

- No?

You just said that we can't stay.

- I said live, we can't live in this house.

- You said stay. - I said live.

- Okay.

You're talking about moving.

We literally just bought the place

and it was a miracle at that.

We are up to our heads

in student loans and car payments, all right?

We're living off of our savings at this point.

The only reason we have this is 'cause of the short sale.

We have zero equity.

- We cannot live in a house where a kid was murdered.

- He wasn't murdered in this house.

- You found his bones though.

You found his bones in a box.

(Nichole scoffs)

This is just like that Gacy.

- Who?

- You know, John Gacy, the Clown Killer.

He dug holes in his crawlspace

and buried his victims beneath it.

(no audio)

How many?

- How many?

- How many do you think

are buried beneath our house?

- No, no, they investigated everything.

They cleared it.

They brought in the search dogs and everything.

(Nichole scoffs)

- It's too much.

- Look, I agree.

It's creepy as fuck, it's sick as fuck.

The best thing we can do

is just get back to our daily routine, all right?

Get it out of our minds.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

We just go day by day and get back to it.

- Pretend like it never happened?

- I didn't say that, I didn't claim it never happened.

But it's in the past, they solved the case.

We just go back to our daily routine and we move on.

- Adam, I have read about this.

I've read about heinous acts that have happened in homes.

I've watched it on TV.

I mean, the Whaley House in San Diego.

The Winchester House in San Jose.

- [Adam] Yeah, well then it's a good thing

we don't live in California.

What do you want from the store?

- We can't live in this house.

- [Adam] What do you think is gonna happen?

Who's gonna buy it after all this?

- We're moving.

End of story.

(door clacks)

(relaxed electronic music)

(steady tempo drumbeat)

♪ Saw you thinking like you lost your mind ♪

♪ Never thought it would be ending like this ♪

♪ Never thought I would be dreaming about your smile ♪

♪ Feeling how the chills are rushing up my spine ♪

♪ When I saw you dancing into the fire ♪

♪ Never thought I'd see you losing your mind ♪

(relaxed electronic music)

(relaxed electronic music continues)

♪ I saw you thinking like you lost your mind ♪

♪ Never thought it would be ending like this ♪

♪ Never thought I would be dancing in the fire ♪

♪ They call us crazy, say we lost our minds ♪

(ominous warbling music)

(Thud)

(ominous warbling music)

(door creaks)

(no audio)

(footsteps pattering)

(children wailing)

- Adam, we're moving.

We cannot stay in this house.

We're leaving, pack everything up tonight.

- Why would we move?

- First, first, first,

it was the little noises all through the night

and I can hear them and then my snack,

my snack went missing just like that

and in Charlie's photo, I mean his eyes,

the way that they stare at me and, excuse me?

Can you put that fucking thing down and listen to me?

There is a demon in this house.

A phantom, a ghost, I don't know.

Can you put it down and listen to me, Adam?

Fuck!

(Adam scoffs)

- Okay.

The floor is yours.

- What is that supposed to mean?

- What? I said I'd listen.

- You could be a little more, oh, I don't know,

empathetic 'cause obviously I'm scared right now.

- If you're looking for my thoughts,

you're doing this to yourself.

I mean, as far as the lack of sleep goes,

have you tried the new pills Dr. Balor sent over?

Look, you stay up until when

reading over those files over and over again?

The lack of sleep and obsession

is starting to mess with you.

Try the pills.

Nothing gets a person's mind off track

like lack of sleep, you know?

- I am not taking those pills.

I'm not obsessed, Adam.

There are noises in this house and that picture, (laughs)

that picture fell just like that

and my snack, my snack went missing just like that.

All because you found those bones and started all of this.

We're moving.

- Hold on. - End of story.

- Hold on, I started all of this?

I accidentally found a kid's bones

in a box in a crawl space, I started all this, me?

- I didn't say that. - You did.

And we're not moving.

We literally just bought this house.

We don't have equity in it.

We would never recoup what we put into it,

not with the market the way it is, not happening.

- Well,

if we don't move- - No, if we don't move, what?

Go on, say it.

If we don't move, what?

You'll do what, you'll leave?

'Cause something tells me right about now, I could make do.

- Oh, you already do. - Stop, not tonight.

We're not going down that road.

Not this argument, save it for the next.

(Nichole scoffs)

- I didn't say I was leaving.

I just...

I don't know, Adam.

I don't know.

If you had done more, if you had been more.

- What was I supposed to do?

Suggestions?

I found the bones of a human being

but what would you have had me done?

Because all I've been doing is trying.

All I've done is try this and that and nothing works.

I would move a mountain for you,

for you, Nikki, but it'd be the wrong one.

- Stop your no nonsense bitching with words.

I'm not a fucking character in your book.

- Words, right, stop with words.

Like I told you before, you win.

- Adam, it is not about winning.

Winning is irrelevant here.

We are not safe.

Why, why would you wanna continue to put us in danger?

- Right, putting our personal safety in jeopardy.

'Cause I'm the bad guy, you're right.

- I didn't say- - I'm saying it.

I'm saying it.

You're right, we'll move.

We'll move out of the house that you picked out.

The house that you spent weeks talking me into buying.

The house that was so far out of our price range,

a trained sniper couldn't hit it,

not on the perfect day, perfect angle, perfect trajectory

but I drained my life savings to buy.

Regardless, we'll move out of it.

- You know what?

I'm setting boundaries, emotional ones

because you are being toxic right now

and I don't need that energy.

When you're ready to talk to me about this and cool down,

you know where to find me.

(no audio)

Russ. - Sorry about that.

Happens all time.

- Thanks.

- How you sleeping?

- Oh, I'm not.

- Sorry.

- I wanted to ask you a few questions about the O'Connor's.

The house.

- What kind of questions?

- Anything, something.

- Well, there's not much I know.

I recall that they moved in the same time I did

and everybody did, well, most of us at the time

the subdivision had just been built.

So little Charlie was the only tragedy

we've ever had around here.

Haven't seen anything like it since.

- Charlie would've been about

10 in '81?

- Sounds about right.

- And the O'Connors passed in '81?

- True.

- Did the house sit long?

- Well, if you're asking if it had

a hard time selling, then yeah.

The whole town, all the surrounding areas,

they all heard the story.

Not to mention the disclosure bit.

I think it was in '85,

yeah, it was '85 or '86, a young couple moved in.

A set of twins, two girls.

They were here before you guys.

- Oh, why'd they sell, you know?

- What do you mean?

- Did they give a reason?

- Well, not really.

Not that I remember but they kinda kept to themselves.

But I did hear that she had gotten

a higher-paying job or something like that.

- You said that they weren't social.

Did you get a chance to talk to them?

- We were neighbors, so.

- What about Charlie, what was he like?

- Well, Charlie was here before you guys.

- I know.

Sorry. - Take a sec.

- Did Charlie like yogurt? - Yogurt?

- Was he mischievous? - He was a boy.

- Was there any indication

that his parents would've killed him?

- You know what?

Ethel right across the road, she was his 4th grade teacher.

If anyone would know anything, she would.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

(birds chirping)

- Okay.

I'll ask her.

- Well, you might wanna hold off.

She could still be sensitive about it right now.

So if you can, just hold off with her, okay?

- Okay.

Yeah.

Okay, thanks.

(relaxed tempo guitar music)

(Alaina sighs)

(doorbell rings)

- Hey. - Oh, hi.

- Hey, how are you?

- Good, thank you.

I just baked a couple batches of cookies

and Russ thought I should bring some over for y'all.

- Oh, no, thank you.

- My pleasure. - Do you wanna come in?

- Is Nichole around?

- Yeah, I think she's upstairs

sleeping or reading or something.

- Oh.

Right, well best not to disturb her.

You know, we've been awfully worried about the two of you.

- Thank you, appreciate it.

One day after the next, you know?

- Yeah.

Well, just know that Russ and I are right nextdoor

if y'all need anything, anything at all.

- Thank you.

- Well?

- Now?

- Try one, yeah. - Okay.

I don't see why not.

(relaxed tempo music)

(Alaina giggles)

- I'm not one to brag much but word on the street

is that my cookies are some of the best in town.

- I can see why.

I mean, your cookies are, wow.

- Oh, thank you.

Well, business is calling, I'd best be going.

- Okay, well thanks again for these.

- My pleasure and save some for Nichole.

- Okay.

I'll try, thank you. - Bye-bye.

(anxious warbling music)

(anxious warbling music continues)

(anxious warbling music continues)

(distorted voices chattering)

(no audio)

(no audio)

- [Distorted Voice] Nichole.

(phone buzzes)

- Hello?

Yeah, this is she.

Yes, yes.

I called yesterday and I left a message.

(Nichole sighs)

I don't know, it's the whole house.

There's a demon or a poltergeist.

I don't know, you're the expert.

Tomorrow?

Yeah.

That works.

Afternoon?

1:00?

Yeah, yeah.

Sounds good.

(bubble wrap pops)

(birds chirping)

(distorted voices chattering)

(Ethel gasps)

I'm sorry.

Here, let me get that.

- I'd best get inside then.

- Nichole Benson. - Oh.

- Hi, I have a question.

Adam and I moved in. - Yeah.

Russ mentioned that you did.

(distorted voices chattering)

- I wanted to ask you a question, hope you don't mind.

- Well, I really need to get these things.

- I'll be brief. - It's been a long day.

- I promise, just, you know, it's about Charlie.

You had him in your class? - I did.

- Connor, what was he like?

- Well, he was a sweet kid.

Sweet kid.

Yeah, it was hard, very hard.

In my entire career teaching, I never lost a kid before.

So it was hard on the students,

it was hard on me, it's tragic.

- Yeah, yeah, no, I understand that.

I'm a teacher too.

- I'm so sorry that you found what you found.

I really am, I can't imagine.

- Did Charlie like yogurt?

- I don't know a kid who doesn't like yogurt.

- Well- - It was just tragic.

It's tragic what happened.

I need to get these things in and I-

- Wait, wait, wait, please, please, I just...

Please, I'm seeing things in the house.

- What things?

- First, it was the visions

and then I can't sleep and then his photo,

his photo fell on the floor and- - Okay.

- Who just goes around murdering children?

There has to be something.

Look, there has to be something, something more.

- Are you safe? - No.

No, I'm not.

I'm not safe, that's what I'm saying.

All of these bizarre things keep happening and-

- Is it your husband, is it your husband?

- What?

No, no, no, no, nothing like that.

(distorted voices chattering)

Why do I hear children?

There must be something, there must be something you know.

- Hey, sometimes we just have to find peace over truth

and sometimes there are just shitty people.

- But I'm saying.

(birds chirping) (Nichole weeps)

(birds chirping)

(phone buzzes)

- Hey brother, what's going on?

Yeah, I miss you guys too.

All the Sundays at the pool hall and all that, right?

Yeah.

Things are all right.

One day after the next, you know?

Because it's easier to stay.

Yeah, you know me too well.

(anxious piano music) Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

Well,

I don't know if I really want to.

I just,

I don't know, I don't know what I'm doing out here.

All the way out here.

I don't even know anybody and now this.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, the dean called me back.

Yeah, it's community college but it's full-time.

Yeah, I'll be okay.

Feels?

What's an all-encompassing feeling for this?

I'm sorry, man.

No, I'm just exhausted.

Days turn to hours and it all feels identical.

It's just

every day I wake up and it's like I'm standing behind glass.

I look out and I watch everything that's going on.

Bills piling up.

Student loans, car payments.

Cursor blinking on an empty doc file.

Nichole needing to play detective,

thinking that we're living in the House of Seven Gables.

I open my mouth to say something,

just one right thing and stupid shit comes out.

So all I can do is just stand there behind glass and

someday, something's gotta give.

That shit's gonna shatter I think.

(low, ominous tones)

Yeah.

Man, I'm working on one right now.

It's no bother.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, right.

Yeah, I'll be sure to call soon.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right, later man.

(low, ominous music)

(Corey grunts)

- Thought you'd be thirsty. - Nice.

- I've been thinking about you.

No one's listened to me in a long time.

But you do

and I appreciate that.

I appreciate you.

- What are you doing?

- Wait. - I've got a wife.

Wait, no, no, no, no, no.

- Wait. - You're married.

- Wait, wait. - All right?

- It's not what- - No, no, no.

You have Adam. - Corey.

- No, no, no.

I'm going, okay?

- Corey, I'm still- - Really?

I expected more from you.

(no audio)

- [Nichole] Going for a run.

- Okay.

I'm gonna order delivery, do you want anything?

- [Nichole] Doesn't matter, anything.

- Okay.

Guess I'll just guess then.

(tense violin music)

(tense violin music continues)

(birds chirping)

(swing creaks)

(Nichole gasps)

- Oh no.

(ominous metallic tones)

(apple crunches) (children shouting)

(swing creaks)

(Nichole gasps)

(children shouting)

A psychic.

- [Adam] Nikki.

- [Nichole] A shaman or somebody that can hear them,

Faye Jackson.

Adam, she's coming.

- She's not. - Tomorrow.

She's gonna set right whatever supernatural

toxic energy is in this house.

- [Adam] There's no energy, toxic or otherwise.

There's no demons, there's no ghosts,

there's no Bigfoot, no Sasquatch.

What there is is a load of stress.

- [Nichole] I'm tired.

- [Adam] Haven't you been taking the sleeping medication?

- [Nichole] I don't need them.

- You look exhausted. - Gee, thanks.

- [Adam] No, not like that.

Look, try the medication first.

See if it doesn't straighten out your mind before

we go get Miss Cleo over here with her voodoo bullshit.

- [Nichole] I'm not taking the medication.

- [Adam] Nikki, what do you need?

- [Nichole] You, Adam.

You.

- [Adam] But I'm here, I don't know how

I could be any more here than I already am.

- [Nichole] I see you in this house in your office

working on your ships and I look into your eyes.

No, Adam.

I'm searching

and there's something lost, Adam.

But losing it won't end me and I still, I still try.

If we moved- - That's what this is about.

This whole conversation,

just so you can convince me to move.

- [Nichole] No, no, it's not about moving.

Before the bones, before everything,

it's the reason for all of this negative energy.

It's the reason for all of our problems, for everything.

If we move- - And what then?

What then?

We run and then we just keep running?

- No, I didn't (tense music)

say that. - You're a runner.

That's what you do.

- [Nichole] Oh yeah?

You mean when you run your arm

on a piece of paper and put in your pocket

and stick it in a bottle to fool with.

- [Adam] I have not and I do not do that, I have never.

- [Nichole] And look at your shelf.

I can hardly believe it.

- [Adam] Goddammit, Nichole, it's a hobby, all of it is.

- [Nichole] Yeah. well what about the puzzles, Adam?

The mock trains? (laughs)

That's you.

God.

You use anything to distract you

from the reality of what's actually going on.

(tense music)

God.

Just hear me, Adam, let me show you.

- [Adam] Show me, show me then.

It's like I said the other night.

You're right, you win.

- It's not about winning. - Yes it is with you.

That's what it's with you, you always wanna be right.

It's a contest, you wanna win.

- I don't want to win. - Yes, you do win, okay?

You win.

(ominous light piano music)

(tool rattling)

(tool rattling ends)

(glass clinks) (glass warbles)

(Nichole sighs)

(glass clinks) (glass warbles)

(glass clinks) (glass warbles)

- Is this room not accessible?

- [Nichole] It is.

Go ahead.

(door creaks)

(glass warbles)

(glass clinks) (glass warbles)

(chair creaks)

So you picked up on something?

It's a spirit?

Charlie, right?

(Faye sighs)

- There's no presence in this house.

- Excuse me?

No presence?

There's gotta be a demon, a poltergeist?

- No Charlie, no ghosts, no demons.

Not even a Sasquatch.

- But wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

That can't be right.

What about the yogurt, the playground?

The way that his photo fell on the floor?

It landed face-up.

The way that his eyes stare at me from the photo.

I mean, Adam, what are the chances that he hit his head?

The crates falling?

(Nichole pants)

- My guess is good as anybody else's.

Sometimes we are too quick

to place our energy onto a spiritual presence.

We learn to pull and hold on without releasing

and sometimes we learn to push away and avoid.

Think of the waves rolling into the sand,

pulling as each grain of sand fights to hold on.

Both the waves and the sand must release eventually.

- Grains of sand?

That is not what I paid you for.

- You paid her to tell the truth.

- You're not a part of this.

- I've got cards, I can pull some if you'd like for-

- I don't need guidance, I need answers.

I need to know why this little boy is haunting me.

He's dead.

Dead, you're dead, Charlie!

- Nichole.

- Little Charlie is at peace.

It's your turn to release and reclaim your peace.

- Peace?

Before all of this, the haunting, the bones,

I had peace, we had peace.

- Did you?

(Nichole scoffs)

(Nichole pants)

(birds chirping)

- Good day, neighbor.

So soon?

- Yeah.

- I do understand.

No realtor?

- Realtor or not, this place won't sell.

Not after everything that happened.

- This what you want?

- Nichole. - Huh?

- I don't know, she just gets these ideas in her head and...

- Well,

I was gonna say something

but I didn't wanna sound nosy or prying

but she came out the other day and talking to me,

asking all kinds of questions.

Went across the street and scared Ethel half to death

and it's all over the O'Connor boy.

- [Adam] Did she?

- Yeah.

It's really none of my business but

I just think you should know.

- No, thank you.

I don't know, she gets her head wrapped around these ideas

and it's her and her ideas and I get to deal with it.

But another day, thanks a lot.

- Her ideas.

Listen,

when you're done here,

me and the guys are out over there having a beer.

Why don't you come on over and join us?

- Yeah, sure, I'll be right over.

Thank you.

(birds chirping)

- Listen, just hear me out on this, okay?

It's my professional opinion

that this siding, top of the line.

- Mm hmm. - Thanks, man.

- You're gonna tell me

that this neighborhood can't benefit from that?

All-purpose, all-weather, it's insulated.

Oh my god, don't roll your eyes at me like that.

- It doesn't offer anything different

than what I already have on my house.

- Yeah, well if the Pope could put it

on the White House, he probably would.

But hey, look, I gotta take this call.

- Hey, you let me know about that siding.

I'm trying to build equity. - Yeah.

- I'll take a look at it.

- I'll definitely get y'all a quote, thanks for the beer.

- See you later, Jason. - Take it easy.

- Thank you.

- There ain't nothing special about that siding.

- He can't tell that.

(birds chirping)

- I gotta get going soon myself.

Long days are killing me, you know?

- I know about that.

- Hey, do you think you got any time

to do some work on our yard?

It's looking pretty, pretty bad over there

and I'm trying to get this place sold.

- Yeah, yeah, I got some weekdays still open.

- Okay, it's gonna be a tough sell, thanks.

- Yeah, sure.

Thanks, let me know. - Okay.

- What?

Oh. (laughs)

Be right back, nature calls.

- I see you put up the for sale sign out there.

- Yeah.

- Any plans on where you're going?

- No.

Not really.

- Hey,

listen.

I've been thinking about whether to say something but

it's kinda like having bad breath though.

If it were me, I'd want to know.

I was over here working at Russ' the other day.

- Okay.

- Nichole came over.

She

came over with a bottle of water.

She

brought the bottle of water to here at Russ' and

she,

she came onto me.

I left, I don't play like that but,

I just left.

(birds chirping)

- You follow basketball?

I got hooked on the NCAA last year.

It's kind of a side hobby I guess.

We've been betting on whose team

is getting into the tournament.

(birds chirping)

- So, what y'all talking about?

- March Madness.

- Well, not to change the subject

or anything like that but I've been thinking.

Adam, you're a writer.

Well,

I

Got

some stories that I've written down

and I put 'em together and it's from my days in the Marines.

I'd like for you to have 'em. - Wow.

- Ain't no money counts, I want you to have 'em

and I'd just like to see 'em in a book somewhere

and you can have all the credit.

- No, I'm flattered but I- - No, no.

Come by tomorrow, I'll have 'em ready for you.

- That's okay, I just don't think

I'd be able to do 'em justice, you know?

- I won't take no for an answer.

- Okay, well yeah, no,

I'll be by tomorrow to pick 'em up.

- Great.

- Well guys, I hate to cut out here so early but

Nichole's got an interview and it's my night to make dinner.

- Ah, well make it a good one.

- All right. - You both deserve it.

- Thank you.

- This is nice.

What'd you do?

- What did I do? - What?

- I did this for you,

to celebrate

your interview.

- That's nice, thank you.

- So how you think it went this time?

- I don't know, it's always hard to tell, you know?

- Right.

- So, I didn't see you in your office this morning.

How's your book?

- It's coming along.

- Funny, you haven't told me anything.

Character, genre and what's that thing?

Beginning, middle and end?

- Plot.

- Yeah, plot.

- You haven't asked.

- I've been busy, Adam.

I've been busy.

- So I've heard.

I talked to Russ this morning.

He said you'd been asking a lot of questions.

- Yeah, well I figured they closed the case too early.

- Nikki. - What?

I mean, the O'Connors, they sound like,

I don't know, normal, average parents.

I mean, what normal parents

murder their child, Adam. - We won't know.

We won't know, they're dead now, all of them.

(low, anxious music)

- I have my theories.

Just hear me out, okay?

Let's say that Charlie vanished, okay?

And let's say that his parents

thought that they were gonna get charged.

They were scared.

I mean, I just feel like if there was something,

if there was anything, something else

that could be responsible for his death.

I mean, Adam, okay, so

maybe they panicked and they put his body in a box.

Maybe putting his body in a box

was their way of burying him, they were scared.

- I'm not saying it's impossible but it's-

- Okay. - No, no, no.

I'm not doing this. - Look.

They panicked, Adam, who wouldn't?

They panicked and maybe finding his bones in a box-

- Nichole, we're having a nice dinner.

Can you just not? - We found his bones

in a box. - Nichole.

- [Nichole] Maybe putting them in a box and burying them,

that was their way of, I don't know, Adam.

- Nichole, I swear to God.

- It was already too late, okay?

And he was already dead.

They couldn't take it back but knew they'd be charged.

But the guilt, Adam. - Nikki.

- The grief. - Nikki, I swear to God.

(Nichole sighs)

- Adam,

that's why he's back.

That is why Charlie's ghost is back.

- Faye.

Faye Jackson, remember?

There's no ghosts, nothing.

- The truth, Adam.

I want the truth. - Nichole, stop.

Just fucking stop!

- That is why we have to reopen this case.

- Nichole, I swear to God, just stop, just fucking stop.

- Okay, I'll stop.

Maybe I'll write my own book with my own plot.

(soft lullaby music)

(ominous violin music)

(ominous violin music continues)

(soft lullaby music)

(tense chittering music)

(tense chittering music continues)

Charlie?

(children shouting)

(Nichole screams)

(children screaming)

Adam!

Adam!

Adam!

(children screaming)

- Nichole? - Adam!

- Nichole! - Adam!

- What's wrong, what's wrong?

- He was here.

- Who was here?

- It was Charlie.

Adam, he was here. - No, no, I'm not doing this.

- It was Charlie. (weeps) - Okay.

I'll make some tea, okay?

(Nichole pants) I'll be back.

(ominous violin music)

(ominous violin music continues)

(ominous violin music continues)

(ominous violin music continues)

(ominous violin music ends)

(anxious violin tones)

(no audio)

(no audio)

(no audio)

(no audio)

- Feeling better?

(Nichole moans softly)

You sleep?

I told you the pills would work.

- Yeah.

Yes.

But I don't wanna take them again.

(no audio)

(door creaks)

- Sleep well?

- You tell me.

You're the one who drugged me.

- I didn't drug you.

- Oh.

Right, right.

My mistake, you merely slipped prescription-strength

medication in my tea without my knowledge or consent, Adam.

- You were freaking out, you needed something.

- You couldn't have been bothered to,

I don't know, ask me to take them?

- How many times have I asked you?

- Not this time.

You've done a lot of writing today.

Well, a lot of writing in general.

Your word count has hit, oh,

I don't know,

exactly zero.

Why do you think that is, Adam, hmm?

Maybe you've

pushed it all away.

Maybe,

maybe you

bottled it all up.

Bottled

it all up.

(bottle shatters)

(chair creaks)

(no audio)

- He told me.

Corey.

He said you came onto him one afternoon.

But you know what?

I thought I should be enraged

or jealous or sad.

But we sat there, him and I 'Cause I felt nothing.

(Nichole scoffs)

- What?

What?

You said you didn't feel anything?

- Yeah, that's what I said, nothing.

- Nothing?

Do you feel that, or that, or that?

(door creaks)

(glass rustles)

(Adam grunts)

I made some tea for ya.

You should try some.

- What? - Come on, try some.

- [Adam] No.

- I made it just for you. - Ow!

- What the fuck did you do that for?

- Oh god, oh my god.

- You felt that, did you?

You actually felt something for once?

Try it, see how I felt.

(Adam groans)

(Nichole pants)

This, this is what you do.

This is what you fucking do, Adam.

I was onto something.

I was onto something, Adam. - Stop.

(Nichole grunts)

(Adam grunts)

(Nichole pants)

No, it's not how it looks.

- Well, I'm supposed to fucking believe you now?

- Oh, for fuck's sake.

You wanna move, fucking move.

You wanna stay here and be a fucking ghost hunter,

you can do that too.

I'm fucking done with you.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.

You're not leaving me.

You're not fucking leaving me.

You're not like everyone else.

I'm not someone that you can fucking control.

I'm not one of your ships

or your puzzle or your fucking wall!

I'm not a lifeless piece of paper!

No, no, no, Adam, you're not leaving! (echoes)

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping continues)

(Adam grunts)

You're not leaving, Adam.

Adam.

(jazzy trumpet music)

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ I wandered around ♪

♪ And finally found ♪

♪ That somebody who ♪

♪ Could make me be true ♪

- You put everything in glass bottles and bottles.

(Nichole gasps)

(jazzy ensemble music)

♪ Might never be mean ♪

♪ Might never be cross ♪

♪ Or try to be boss ♪

♪ But they'll never do ♪

♪ For nobody else ♪

♪ You gave me a thrill ♪

♪ With all your faults, I love you still ♪

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ Wonderful you ♪

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ It had to be you ♪

♪ I wandered around ♪

♪ And finally found ♪

♪ That somebody who ♪

♪ Could make me be true ♪

♪ Could make me feel blue ♪

♪ And even be glad ♪

♪ Just to be sad ♪

♪ Thinking of you ♪

(relaxed jazzy piano music)

(relaxed jazzy piano music continues)

(mid tempo drumbeat)

(relaxed jazzy piano music)

(relaxed jazzy piano music continues)

(relaxed jazzy piano music continues)

(dramatic violin music)