Original subtitles

Oh!

Okay.

Yes. Well, I'm glad you didn't have any

trouble arriving today.

I know. The train wasn't late.

Well, thank the Lord for that.

Oh I didn't get a chance. Sorry.

You should check it out. It's really good.

Yeah, I will.

I've been reading this one to be honest.

- Oh, what's it about? - A serial killer.

Oh, I love serial killer novels.

Yeah, it's a good one.

Can I borrow when you're finished?

Yeah, of course.

I got black.

You wont find them.

Sorry I'm late.

- Hello Abigail. - Yes.

Pleased you're here.

Well, what--

Now that it seems everyone has arrived, we can begin.

My name is Gabriel

and as many of you know, I have been with this church now

for over five years.

I found my way here

after decades of struggling with my own

inner demons.

And make no mistake, I would not be sitting here

before you today if it weren't for this church

and the power of our Lord.

What I'd like to do today is go around the circle

and have everyone share their stories with us.

You've all made a conscious effort to be here today.

And remember, whatever is shared

whatever you say, stays strictly between us.

We are here to listen and support.

Hello?

Hello!

Now with that being said, Andrew, I'd like you

to read the preamble.

We are a fellowship of men

and women who share their experience, strength,

and hope with each other that may solve their common problem

and help others to recover from alcoholism

or any other addiction they may have.

The only requirement for membership is a desire

to overcome their addiction and no dues

or fees for membership.

We're all self-supporting through our own contributions.

We-- We are not aligned to any sect, denomination, politics,

organization, or institution

does not engage in any controversy.

Neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

A-- Our primary purpose is to stay sober, help others

to achieve sobriety

and purity along with the help of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, let's open it up to the floor.

Who is going to be brave enough to start?

My name's Isabel and I'm an alcoholic.

My relationship with alcohol began

because I was in an abusive relationship

and was made to feel pretty worthless by my ex-partner.

Fortunately, I got myself out of that relationship,

but obviously my confidence took a massive hit

and I started to go out more and more

and I knew that alcohol was the only thing

that would give me that wonderful feeling. You know,

make me feel beautiful and sexy

and all those things I wanted to feel.

So I thought that was the relationship I had with alcohol,

you know, that it was fun.

Fast forward a year

and I was drinking half a gallon of vodka a day.

At the end of my drinking, I was drinking around the clock

and had to have a drink just to get through.

Physically, my hands would shake

and... had to have a drink every couple of hours.

I remember one day I was at work

and I had this moment of clarity

I looked at myself in the mirror

and I realized... alcohol was killing me

and I was powerless against alcohol

and I needed help.

That's why I came here.

The biggest gift the center has given me has been

codependency.

So when I first came here, I was exposed

to all the different programs,

but yeah,

on codependency, light bulbs went off

and I realized

I had taken care of everyone and everything,

but...

I didn't take care of myself.

Can you hear me?

Laura, what do you think about sharing your

story with the group today?

Hi everyone. So I'm Laura

and a few years ago I lost my 4-year-old daughter

Matilda in a traffic accident.

And that led me to making some bad decisions in my life.

I started smoking weed to numb the pain and

before I knew it, I was tricking the GP into giving me some

painkillers on prescription and getting addicted to codeine.

After a while, the codeine wasn't enough,

so a friend said he knew someone who could supply fentanyl.

So I started on that.

At worst, I was on 60 fentanyl lozenges a day.

I didn't know I was addicted.

It just took the pain away and took the edge off

life, really.

The last few years were destructive in many ways

and caused a lot of harm.

I still wasn't ready to accept that I had a problem

because I was so scared of it being taken away,

even though it was affecting me so badly.

I ended up overdosing and in hospital

and not knowing what happened.

I was so scared when I saw the fear in my parents' face

and I saw how much harm I was causing

to the people I cared about the most.

I knew I had a serious problem and I had to get help.

So once I'd admitted it

and I'd spoken to somebody

and shared what I've been going through,

what I've been dealing with.

That was the best feeling I'd had in a long time.

That feeling of being heard

and being seen for the first time,

that was the first true feeling I'd had in such a long time.

So that started my recovery

and learning about this addiction

'cause I knew it was causing problems in my life,

but I didn't know, I didn't see it as an addiction.

That may sound naive, but once I started learning about

addiction, that started my road to recovery.

Darren, how would you feel about sharing your story?

Uh, yeah, sure.

Uh, hi, I'm Darren.

I'm an addict and alcoholic.

Uh.

I haven't taken anything for three years,

but I'm, I'm struggling at the moment

and I came here today to spend some time with people who...

know what I'm going through and, um...

uh, to people out there who might be contemplating

getting help, just take it.

You will never regret it.

It's the reason I'm still alive today.

Uh. Just over three years ago,

I, uh, was in a really dark place taking copious amounts of

drugs and alcohol and one day I was found on my kitchen floor.

I was rushed to hospital

and my heart stopped for 35 seconds,

legally dead, they said.

Uh, but if it wasn't for... the doctors

and especially a nurse called Natalia,

uh, I wouldn't be here today.

I asked her for help and she pretty much saved my life.

We still talk, I uh, speak to her once or twice a month.

Uh, found out a couple weeks ago she uh, she bought a little

puppy and uh, she-- She called it Darren, which is uh, kind

of funny but heartwarming at the same time.

But um, speaking to her kind of reminds me that um, you know,

you're never on your own.

There are people out there if you want help, you know,

there are people that have been through what you're going

through and have... on the other side.

We never know when those dark days are gonna come.

You know, sadly, they will visit us again at some point,

but there's people out there to help you

and those dark days are the toughest. They're the hardest.

And uh, you know, we can struggle through it,

but not today. Ahh.

I'm glad I'm here and I'm happy to be alive. Thank you.

Emergency services, what service

-do you require? -Please.

Hello? What service do you require?

Please. Hello?

Where is the help required?

Yes, I need the police.

Is anybody there?

Yes! I need the police.

I can't hear anybody. Is anybody there?

- Yes, I need assistance. - Caller,

can you hear me?

Caller, can you state your location?

I don't know where I am.

Caller, if you don't respond,

I will need to clear the line.

Hello? Hello?

Hi, This is Chloe. I can't take you

call at the minute, leave a message.

If you're lucky, I might get back to you. Bye!

Chloe, it's me.

Listen, I-- I don't have much time, okay?

So I need you to call me back as soon as you get this.

I've been taken somewhere and I don't know where I am.

I've tried calling the police

and I can't get through to them,

so I need you to call them for me, okay,

and ask them to track my phone or something.

Okay?

Love you.

Bye.

Abigail?

- Mom, it's me. - Abigail, are you there?

Mom, look, something's wrong with my phone.

Abigail, can you hear me?

Mom, listen. I don't know what's happening with my phone,

but if you can hear me, I need you to call the police.

Abigail! Can you hear me?

I've been kidnapped

and I don't know where I am!

Listen, whoever this is,

I just want my daughter back!

Please!

Hello?

Hello. This is police control.

Yes? Yes, I need the police.

- Can you hear me? - Yes, I can hear you.

Hello, this is police control. Can you hear me?

Yes, I can hear you. Can you hear me?

Hello?

Hello, this is police control.

- Are you in trouble? - Yes!

Look, look, something's wrong with my phone.

- I don't know-- - We've received a

silent call from this number. Do you need assistance?

Hello?

Look, I've been kidnapped and I don't know where I am!

Sarah!

May I ask you to lead us in the serenity prayer?

- God, - grant up me in serenity

to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change

the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Thank you Sarah. That was lovely.

Well, we've all heard some...

pretty heavy stories here today.

Some dark times, some...

evil subject matter.

But, together we can get through this.

We have each other for support always.

And I know that very soon

you shall all lead lives of purity

and freedom in the name of our Lord.

I'd like to do something a little different this week.

I would like to say the Lord's prayer of sacrament

in remembrance of his flesh

and blood that he sacrificed for us.

John?

Oh God, the eternal Father.

We ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,

to bless and sanctify this bread...

It's okay. It's only bread and holy water.

It's not gonna hurt you.

To the souls of all those who partake of it,

Thank you.

...that they may eat

in remembrance of the body of thy son.

And thus witness, oh God, the eternal Father,

that they be willing to take upon them the name of thy son

and always remember him,

and keep his commandments, which he has given them,

that they may always have his spirit

to be with them.

Amen.

Welcome, Abigail.

You've done ever so well to make your way here.

-Where am I? -You are home.

This isn't my home.

What's going on?

I want to go back to my real home.

Ah, it would appear Abigail still has a lot to learn.

What do you mean?

Who are you people?

We are your liberation, Abigail.

Take me home.

This is your home.

What are you talking about?

We've cleansed you. We've rid you of all your demons.

-What do you mean? -Your demons are no more.

All your sins? Your pain? Gone.

You are free.

I don't understand.

You came to us seeking solace, wanting a new life

and that is what we have given you.

A new life, a new soul.

I have people who will be looking for me

and they will find me.

I don't want any part of this!

This is exactly what you wanted

and more importantly, it's exactly what you needed.

You're insane.

I have family.

I have friends!

Who do you think you are? Keeping me here, locked up.

We are your saviors, Abigail.

And you needed saving from yourself.

And we were the only ones who could save you

and now you can spend eternity free.

Look, I just wanna go home.

I--

Please, just let me go home.

It's okay dear. Everything's okay now.

Here.

Let me help you.

No. I don't know who you are,

but I don't want any part of it!

You don't understand, Abigail.

I want to go home!

I need to go home!

I don't wanna be part of whatever this twisted--

Whatever it is.

Very well, but I must warn you:

you will regret it.

You've sealed your own fate, Abigail.

Mom?