Original subtitles

(Logo whooshing)

(Eerie piano music)

(Angelica panting)

- [Angelica] I've gotta hide until Christmas morning.

Then he'll leave me.

He has to!

(Eerie piano music)

How did this happen?

How?

(Wind whistling) (Soft organ music)

(Grand orchestral Christmas music)

- Okay, you can shut it off now.

- Or you can just shut up.

- I've had all about the Christmas music

I can handle, really.

Or spitting fumes as I call them.

- Oh, ha, have you been saving that little diddy

this entire ride?

- No, it's true.

They keep playing them on the radio

and department stores to brainwash you into buying things.

- Ugh. Where's your Christmas spirit?

- Christmas is a holiday that has no modern meaning.

That's all I'm saying.

- Okay, well, I don't know if that's true back up in Quebec,

but it certainly isn't true here in the states.

- Tradition, the worst reason to do anything.

I'd rather move forward than backward.

- This is getting a little too philosophical

of a conversation to be having right now.

I mean, Christmas is a time for relaxing and having fun.

Got it?

- Who spends Christmas in the graveyard, hm?

- Oh, don't test me.

I will punch you in the shoulder

like I did when we were kids.

- Fine.

See you're actually treating me

like a real brother now.

(Angelica scoffs)

- You are my real brother.

I just never expected you to come back after you moved away.

- Sure was a long time ago.

With Max gone now, too,

I think I need to reestablish myself here.

- He would've liked that.

(Cars passing in the distance) (Wind whistling)

So in light of your feelings on Christmas, why the present?

- I didn't come to the funeral

so I wanted to, to do something.

(Wind whistling)

(Eerie piano music) (Wind whistling)

- So I don't know how these gravestones are ordered.

- For a town this small?

I wouldn't be surprised if they were just random.

Someone dies, they dig a hole in an empty patch.

- I don't see why you'd want to be buried here.

It would've been so much easier

if we could have just kept him where the service was at.

- The reason died with him.

We'll finish executing the will and move on.

- He had a lot of secrets.

- There it is.

(Wind whistling)

(Angelica sighs)

- Maxwell Zacherly.

- Mom called him a fuck up.

With a swank sounding name like that,

could have done great things.

- Except we're so not a rich family.

- Here you go, big brother.

Don't open until Christmas.

I don't agree with mom, you know.

- It's irrelevant.

We're all fuck ups.

Max just had a harder time hiding it.

Oh, look.

It's your favorite person from your favorite time of year.

- [James] Yeah, right.

- Look at how he's walking.

- Maybe it's the disabled Santa Claus.

- Or maybe he's Santa's bad brother.

- Now you're just being lame, sis.

- No, hear me out.

Santa Claus was one of two Christmas legends.

The other one was just whitewashed from history,

the one that would punish bad children

instead of giving them presents.

- Great. I'll look him up on Wikipedia later.

(Angelica chuckles)

- Oh, have you been bad, Jimmy?

- Hey, you know I hate name.

(Angelica laughs)

- Maybe we should ask if you're on his list.

- Funny. How about no?

(Angelica scoffs)

- Don't you wanna know if you're getting coal for Christmas

or maybe something worse, you dirty little disbeliever?

- Quiet. He'll hear you.

(Angelica laughs)

- [Angelica] You better watch out.

- I'm serious.

- [Angelica] Relax your cracks.

We could use some holiday cheer. Oh, Santa?

- [Santa] Friends!

- [Angelica] Sorry, Santa?

- Would you like to make a donation?

- Sorry, Santa, looks like you've had

one too many donation this year.

- Sorry, Santa. Jimmy here doesn't believe in you.

- Hey.

I'm just trying to put the city council back together.

This town has been a rat hole

for as long as I've been alive, you know.

- Um, good luck Santa. We gotta go.

- Merry Christmas!

(Wind whistling)

(Tense dramatic music)

(Tense dramatic music continues)

(Tense dramatic music continues)

(Soft eerie music)

- [Angelica] Where is everyone?

- [James] It's the town that time forgot.

- It's quaint.

- [James] If you want quaint, go find an antique shop.

I just want to find this place and crash. I'm beat.

- Okay well I think it's just right up here

on this next turn.

- There are worse places to spend Christmas Eve.

- [Angelica] Yeah.

(Eerie music) (Wind whistling)

(Eerie music continues)

(Eerie music continues) (Wind whistling)

(Knocking on door)

- Yes?

- [Angelica] Mrs. Brickmann?

- Oh, you must be Angelica and James.

Come in, come in. Welcome.

Call me Carol. - Thanks.

- Sure.

(Wind whistling)

- I can't stop tinkering with this thing.

I can never get it just right.

- I think it looks nice.

- Well, thank you, young lady.

- Humphrey, these are our guests,

Angelica and James Zacherly.

- Oh.

Hello.

It appears we have something special for you here.

- Thanks.

- Listen, why don't we all go in the living room

and sit down, how about that?

Come on in.

You must be exhausted from your trip.

- Do you have any idea why our brother asked for this

to be delivered here and not somewhere in the city?

- I can't imagine why.

I'm afraid we weren't too familiar with the poor fellow.

- A video tape?

- I don't understand what this means.

You have us down for staying the evening, right?

- Yes, of course.

- Do you happen to have a VHS player in the bedroom?

- Angelica, haven't you heard?

Digital kill the video star.

- Our rooms have no DVD, no cable, no television,

but that's just the way we like it,

to keep things simple for our guests, and peaceful.

- Yeah, but, I feel like we really need to see this

while we're in town.

It might tell us more about our brother.

- Hm.

You know, Humphrey, I think we do

have a machine downstairs, don't you remember?

- Yes, we just might.

Hope you two don't mind dust mites.

(Soft piano music)

Take your time.

My wife has your rooms ready.

- Thanks. - Thanks.

(Soft piano music)

- Ready?

- If you are.

(Lighter clicks)

(Soft piano music)

- So, did you have fun trying to figure out

how to play this thing?

I mean, it's me. (Chuckles)

Always had to be different.

It's either the easy way, or it's my way.

Guess that's why I'm so fucked up.

So you're probably asking yourself right about now...

(Max exhales)

Why did you summon me here?

Blah, blah, blah.

I don't have anything to offer.

No money.

No legacy.

I do have one thing, though.

Knowledge.

Our shared...

Mother. (Chuckles)

She's made sure to keep me locked up in this fuckin' place.

This rehab, and you know what? It's actually killing me.

It's killing me.

Turns out, she's the biggest liar of them all.

I thought, I thought once she died,

I could tell you all about it and now that I'm dead,

I still can't tell you about it.

That's pathetic.

It is pathetic.

But I figured something out.

I figured you need to learn on your own.

You need to find it all out on your own,

and this town, this town is full of clues.

Just follow the breadcrumbs.

Now when I'm, when I'm driving,

I can't stop thinking about swerving off the road.

A ditch feels like a fitting ending for someone like me.

And I'm sorry that you have to process it like this.

I'm sorry you have to watch it this way,

but just know that I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for everything.

I love you.

And I'm sorry.

- I don't know what the hell that just meant.

- Typical cryptic Max.

Ready to send us on a wild goose chase.

- I don't know. I mean, he seemed different.

Haunted by something.

- [Carol] Got it?

- Mm-hm. - There you go.

All right, and here you go.

And the bathroom is right down the hall.

- Thank you. - Sure.

- Oh, what time is dinner?

- Oh, dinner is served in the family dining room at five.

Okay?

We're really happy to have you here as guests

and I'm sorry for your loss.

- [Angelica] Oh, it's fine. It was a few months ago.

- This town lost people in the distant past.

The wounds never really healed over.

You carry the scars of death for life.

See you at dinner.

(Shower water pattering)

(Fist thuds)

(Wind whistling)

All right, now who would like

to say grace this fine evening?

- [Doris] Don't look at me. I wasn't baptized.

- [Humphrey] I will, Mrs B.

- [Carol] Thank you Mr. B.

- [Humphrey] Dear lord, thank you for the meal

we are about to eat on the Eve

of your fallen son's birthday.

We sure are mighty grateful.

Amen.

- [Carol] Amen.

- [Doris] Amen.

(Angelica clears throat)

- So this is a very lovely home you guys have here.

- We've had it for 40 years now.

In fact, pretty much everyone has lived

in the surrounding area for four decades.

- Where are all the people?

We hardly saw a soul on the way in here.

- They would've been at church,

which is where we all should be.

- Mm.

Unfortunately we have to hold down the fort here,

but our daughter, however, has no excuse.

- And where is your lovely little girl tonight?

- Who knows, Doris. Who knows.

(Wind whistling) (Snow crunching)

(Hip hop Christmas music)

- Merry sexmas, bitches.

- Holly!

- We should have named this one Jezebel.

- [Holly] Way harsh, dad.

- Don't mind her, guests.

She just likes showing off for new faces.

- So, what brings you two here?

- Uh, just some unfinished business.

- Oh, well I won't pry.

- Well how about you?

Are you just passing through?

- I've been passing through for a week.

Freshly divorced, ready to start my new life.

But when I stopped at east Willard,

I suddenly realized I couldn't see myself

spending Christmas alone.

- [Carol] Hm.

Well, for someone not religious,

you sure hold Christmas in a high regard, as we all should.

- Yes, we should.

My sister here mentioned the story

about an evil Santa or something?

Anyone know anything about that?

- Mm-hm, you're talking about black Peter.

- Who?

- Oh, here we go. (Chuckles)

- Black Peter is St. Nicholas's brother

and every Christmas Eve, he makes his way

all the way down through a tunnel

from the north pole to here.

Santa got the reindeer and the sled

and black Peter got legs and a hell of a grudge.

So we all write down our fears,

we leave him in the fireplace

in hopes that it encourages him not to bother any of us.

But if you piss him off and he comes for you,

you're gonna scream till dawn.

- Fun story.

- It varies country to country, region to region.

It's just a story.

- So Angelica, you're gonna help me clean the kitchen.

(Wind whistling)

It feels good to contribute, doesn't it?

- [Angelica] Yeah, I guess.

(Carol chuckles)

- Well, we run a very homey inn here,

and we like to treat each and every one of our guests

like they're one of our family.

(Angelica chuckles)

- Thank you, I think.

(Phone ringing)

Um, hello?

- Good evening. I have a call ready to send over.

- Oh, I'm just a guest here. Sorry.

I'll go get someone.

- I'm just a switchboard operator.

There's no time.

This man is quite insistent on talking to someone,

anyone, at brickmann bed and breakfast.

- Switchboard operators still exist?

- East Willard is quite old fashioned.

Have you tried picking up a signal on your cell phone yet?

- No, I guess not.

- Exactly.

Now, talk to this elderly gentleman. It sounds urgent.

- [Angelica] Okay, I guess, put him through.

- [Old man] Peter's out.

- Swoosh, okay, that just went way over my head.

- [Old man] It's Wilfred.

- Okay, Wilfred, who are you trying to call?

- [Wilfred] My son, Jeffrey.

- Is he a guest here?

- [Wilfred] No. He's been dead a long time.

- Oh, I'm, I'm sorry,

but I think there's some miscommunication.

Who are you phoning here for?

- [Wilfred] I'll settle for you, whoever you are.

- Like I told the switchboard operator,

I'm just a guest here.

- [Wilfred] You don't understand.

You're in grave danger.

Peter's out.

And before the sun rises on Christmas morning,

this town will be bathed in blood again.

- Okay, has anyone ever told you

you're a creepy old man?

- [Wilfred] You don't believe me?

- Okay, I'm finished with this conversation.

- [Wilfred] I'm trying to help you.

- Uh huh?

- [Wilfred] If I weren't retired,

I would come back and slay you myself, you cow.

- Up yours.

(Angelica scoffs)

- Merry Christmas, Kolya.

Now, what you like this year?

A mechanical toy or how about a big television set, hm?

- Did you just hear that phone call?

- No, ma'am.

I mind my own business.

- Well, some guy just called and verbally abused me.

- Really?

- Yeah. Does that happen often?

- I wouldn't say so.

Most people in this town are decent,

god fearing individuals.

- Well, if you don't believe me,

you can ask your switchboard operator

'cause she's the one that put him through.

- There's there need for that.

I believe you.

That you were bothered.

- He said his name was Wilfred?

- Doesn't ring a bell.

My apologies.

My wife or I should have been available to take the call.

- Okay. Well, I'm gonna go to bed.

♪ We wish you a merry drinkmas ♪

♪ we wish you a merry drinkmas ♪

♪ we wish you a merry drinkmas ♪

♪ and a happy new ♪

(Santa grunts)

(Santa groaning)

- [Santa] Goddamn town isn't even on the map.

(Eerie music)

We don't have to compete, sir.

For one, we are brothers

and for two, there is no one else to give.

(Dramatic music)

(Ax thudding)

(Santa whimpering)

Why'd you have to do that?

That ain't fair! That ain't fair at all!

(Santa gasps) (Ax thuds)

(Knocking on door)

- James?

(Upbeat music)

Come on, we're not kids anymore.

James?

- Ho ho ho, hello. (Chuckles)

Hi.

I know we really kind of don't know each other,

but is there any chance you could give a ride

to the next town over? (Chuckles)

It's party time.

You can come with if you want.

(Angelica chuckles)

- You're right.

I mean, we don't know each other

and I'm sorry, but I'm just really drained

so I'm just gonna go to bed.

(Holly sighs)

- Oh, well, it was worth a shot.

So, girl to girl,

any reason they gave your boyfriend a separate room?

Trouble in paradise?

- He's my brother.

- Oh. Whoops.

Is he in there? Does he drive?

- No, I think he's sleeping.

- Oh.

Well that is where people come here, to sleep and move on.

- Well, I'm gonna be moving on now too, to my room.

Good night.

(Upbeat Christmas music)

(Tense dramatic music)

(Soft melancholy piano music)

- [Narrator] Within this journal are the final statements

of Jeffrey Butler,

both son and grandson to Wilfred Butler.

Battling his own demons,

Wilfred sired me with his own daughter, Marianne.

He transformed his large estate into a mental institution,

a place to hide his secrets.

The doctors proved just as mentally bankrupt

as the patients. (Eerie music)

He saw the folly of his own actions

and attempted to redeem himself.

(Eerie music continues)

At Christmas, he freed the inmates,

setting them upon their captors.

(Eerie music continues)

(Man snoring)

(Eerie music continues)

(Inmate breathing shallowly)

(Tense dramatic music)

(Glass shatters)

(Man snoring) (Eerie music)

(Man yelling)

The situation grew out of control

and his daughter was killed.

He had no choice but to walk away from his home

with nothing left.

The inmates spread out among this deserted town

to become its new controllers.

Using the last vestiges of his sanity,

he performed the ultimate disappearing trick.

Upon his property,

he set alight a vagrant of no consequence.

(Vagrant yelling) (Flames crackling)

He knew they would readily accept the corpse as his own

because that is what they wanted to believe.

Relinquishing his name, identity and home,

he'd spend the next few decades roaming the prisons

and asylums of neighboring towns.

Upon learning of the town's plans to demolish Butler house,

Wilfred escaped his confines.

(Townspeople yelling)

(Dramatic music) (Tires skidding)

(Dog barking)

A pathetic animal was the only thing

standing between him and his destination.

(Dog barking)

(Dog whining)

(Tense dramatic music)

As he stalked the hallways,

he knew this is where he belonged.

He'd not allow it to be destroyed.

He'd not allow my mother's memory to be forgotten.

Today, Wilfred Butler came home

to rule his estate once more.

After all, who bears the cross shall wear the crown.

(Eerie music)

- [Angelica] Jimmy?

(Knocking on wall)

(Knocking on wall)

- What's happening? - Did I wake you?

- Yeah, but since when did that matter to you?

- Well, I'm sorry.

I didn't really think you'd be asleep this early.

- What's up?

- I think I found something.

This journal gives me the creeps,

especially after that phone call.

- To think of their talk about the legend of black Peter,

while the town's own history is far scarier.

Hmm.

If it's even real and that's some writer's

attempt at a novel.

If I stayed around here, I'd do anything to leave.

- The phone caller, he said his name was Wilfred.

In the diary, Jeffrey Butler's father is Wilfred Butler.

- I don't know.

I think we should just ask the owners about this?

- I already tried asking Mr. Brickmann

and he gave me a look like his dead grandmother

was just dug up and raped.

- What else?

- Nothing. He pleaded the fifth.

- That does sound a little fishy.

- Which is why we need to find some bait.

(James sighs)

- Why is this even our problem?

- Because Max made us come to this place,

because our mother lied to us.

He may have been a junkie,

but I believe there has to be some kind of truth

hidden in all of that.

Some connection.

And we're the only ones left to find it.

- I don't know.

- I don't just think this.

I feel it.

- It is a long shot.

- Santa Claus.

He said the town council doesn't exist anymore

but that could be a good beginning point.

- What do you wanna do, then?

- Get the phone book. We're taking a little side trip.

- Oh. - Oh, crap.

(Carol chuckles)

- Oh, I hope I didn't scare you.

- Just a little bit, but we'll be going on the way.

- Oh no, no you won't.

Have you two looked up?

You're standing under the mistletoe.

- I don't think we uh... oh, shh, listen.

You can't go against tradition.

Look, you're only here overnight, but I'll tell you this,

this town favors those who respect traditions.

- Those who don't?

- Well, they're on their own.

- That's better.

(James chuckles)

(Wind whistling)

- [James] You don't just expect open it to be open, do you?

(Eerie music)

Smart ass.

(Bell ringing)

- [Angelica] Stop that. Someone will hear you.

- [James] That's the idea.

I figured if someone left the door open,

they might give us some service, too.

- [Angelica] Looks like people left here in a hurry.

- [James] Will you shine the torch over there?

Bingo.

Give me a hand.

(Cabinet thuds)

I don't know what we're even looking for.

- [Angelica] I don't, either.

Something tells me we're not gonna like it.

(Eerie music) (Wind whistling)

It's like legal papers.

Real estate deals?

(Wind whistling)

Okay, so basically they bulldozed the Butler estate in 1975

and built cookie cutter suburban homes.

- The same suburban streets were we're staying in?

- Yes, but it's hard to know for sure

without some kind of landmark info.

- Maybe we can cross match details from the diary?

- That's a good idea.

- Do you have it on you?

- No, I left it in the car.

- I'll go get it.

Give me the keys.

- I left it unlocked.

- Ah, gotcha.

(Wind whistling)

(Soft Christmas piano music)

- Hey.

Hey.

Thanks a lot, prick-wheels!

(Holly scoffs)

(Soft Christmas music) (Wind whistling)

(Shovel thudding) (Holly gasps)

(Holly grunting)

(Holly panting)

(Wind whistling)

- James.

The east Willard council was murdered.

James?

(Tense music)

James?

James?

(Tense dramatic music)

- [Narrator] The following is the reformed

east Willard council findings

on the events of Christmas, 1974.

A lawyer, Mr. Carter arrived in town

with his assistant and mistress

representing one Jeffrey Butler.

Attending negotiations with the previous council,

he was adamant his client would only sell the land

for at an unreasonable price and time frame

as if it had another agenda at hand.

- My client understands that

and he fully sympathizes

and he's willing to sacrifice the house for $50,000.

- [Narrator] Carter was encouraged to sleep elsewhere

for the evening, lest he fall upon the dark truth

all the others knew, that Wilford Butler

had likely returned to the region.

- We could put you up at the motel as our guest.

- No, no. The house is fine.

- The paradise motel.

- That's very kind of you,

but I'm meeting Mr. Butler about some personal items.

- [Narrator] That night, he and his mistress

occupied the manner like man and wife.

(Eerie music)

(Eerie music continues)

After copulation, Butler's punishment was swift and brutal.

- [Carter] No! Stop that!

(Carter yelling) (Ingrid screaming)

(Dramatic music)

(Eerie music)

But he would not end there.

His insurrection had only just begun.

(Phone ringing)

- [Bill] Sheriff Mason.

- Bill, someone's calling from Butler house.

- [Bill] Okay, put him on.

- Go ahead now.

- Mr. Carter?

- [Killer] I'm not Carter.

- Who is this?

- [Killer] The owner.

- Butler?

- I'm worried, sheriff.

Carter's not here.

- Speak up. I can't hear you.

- [Killer] I can't.

I'm sick.

Can you come here?

- What is it? What's wrong?

- [Killer] His car is here, but he's gone.

Won't you come?

- Okay, okay.

Now you stay put in that house.

- [Killer] I'll wait for you. Please hurry.

I'm afraid.

- Now take it easy. I'm coming.

- [Narrator] He began to lure and murder the nobles

who he claimed had participated in his daughter's death.

(Car brakes squeal)

(Indistinct radio chatter) (Eerie music)

(Shovel thuds) (Sheriff yells)

(Sheriff grunts)

(Sheriff groaning)

(Shovel thuds) (Sheriff grunts)

He would show them no mercy.

(Tess screams)

(Tess sobbing)

- [Killer] Tess?

You can't see me, but I can see you.

Oh yes, I remember that face.

You're older now and fat,

but still Tess.

And you're frightened, aren't you?

Don't be afraid.

I want to help you.

Take my hand.

Take it, Tess.

(Tess sobbing)

(Ax thuds) (Tess screaming)

(Ax thuds) (Tess screaming)

- [Narrator] Mayor Adams, a man of great character,

was the only one left to make a stand.

(Gun cocks)

Sadly, he would perish along with Butler

and his offspring, Jeffrey.

The only survivor of that night was the mayor's daughter,

Diane Adams, who continued to live in the town for a time.

(Diane sobbing)

We, the friends and family of the deceased

have taken charge of our village's future.

Their wishes will be honored and their practices upheld.

The mansion will fall as planned

and upon it a new beginning will be built.

(Eerie music)

The sins of the past will no longer tower over us.

(Alarm system ringing)

- Carol?

- What? What?

- Can you get that?

(Carol sighs)

- Not again.

This thing is so sensitive.

- [Humphrey] Mm-hm.

- It's like me sometimes.

- [Humphrey] Uh-huh.

(Alarm system ringing)

- I don't think this is coming from your pipe.

- [Humphrey] Don't be silly.

- Yes, dear.

- [Lion] I wouldn't eat a little boy.

- [Santa] Good bye now.

(Eerie music)

(Dramatic music) (Carol gasps)

(Fire poker thuds)

(Carol sobbing)

(Eerie music)

- Max?

Last seen at brickmann bed and breakfast.

So the car wreck wasn't an accident.

(Eerie music)

- My own.

I just want to know where you got

your pretty Christmas tree.

- Oh, from my home in Russia.

(Phone ringing)

- Mrs. B?

(Phone ringing)

Carol?

(Phone ringing)

Hello, brickmann bed and breakfast.

- [Wilfred] There will be no breakfast

for Carol tomorrow.

- No, wait.

I kept up my end of the bargain.

- [Wilfred] It's too late.

Peter has claimed her.

- But, we were good.

- [Wilfred] One of your guests has been sticking her nose

in the filthy parts of our history.

- I did my best.

- [Wilfred] Which is why I'm making this courtesy call.

An old man like me has better things to do.

- But what do I do?

- [Wilfred] Get out of the house, now.

He's coming.

- No, this is my house.

- [Wilfred] We both know that's not true.

You're wasting time.

(Phone thuds)

(Tense dramatic music)

(Wind whistling)

(Stairs creaking)

(Knocking on door) - Jimmy?

(Eerie music)

(Angelica gasps) Black Peter?

(Eerie music) (Wind whistling)

James!

No.

Not you, too.

(Angelica sobbing)

No!

No!

(Tense dramatic music)

(Wind whistling) (Eerie music)

(Angelica sobbing)

(Wind whistling) (Eerie music)

♪ Dashing through the snow ♪

♪ in a one horse open sleigh ♪

♪ o'er the fields we go ♪

Run! ♪ Laughing all the way ♪

(Carolers yelling)

(Tense dramatic music) (Wind whistling)

Um, hello?

- I don't think the police care for your troubles, Angelica.

- [Angelica] What?

- Go away. Leave us alone, or he'll punish me, too.

- If you don't send some help,

you're gonna have to worry about me,

'cause I'm gonna fucking kick your ass.

- What's all the racket down here?

- We're in major trouble. - What are you talking about?

- There's someone outside. - Who?

Who's outside?

- Someone who wants inside. (Tapping on door)

- I think we better find the owners.

(Tense music) (Tapping on door)

- No, it can't be.

They're all gone. - Who's gone?

- My family.

- I think I'm gonna call emergency.

- No, don't bother. It's a dead end.

- What do you mean?

- Stop asking stupid questions and just get moving.

(Doris sighs)

(Doris choking)

- [Black Peter] And so she is cleansed.

(Holy water splashing)

(Angelica panting) (Eerie music)

- Please protect me.

(Eerie music)

(Kitchen tools clattering)

(Eerie music)

(Soft piano music)

- [Narrator] Over the years I had kept in touch with father.

Often a rambling, raving fool,

he would dangle pieces of my family history in front of me,

but never the full picture.

It was I who informed him the town

had planned to destroy his home, our home.

A wandering nomad, I returned that day Christmas week.

I had my own part to play,

distracting the daughter of one of his targets.

(Eerie music)

- Come in.

It's open.

(Door creaks open)

Okay, mister, that's far enough.

What do you want here?

- Mayor.

- Try again. My father's not home.

And don't move.

- You want me to put my hands up?

- No, just stay there.

What are you staring at?

- I seem to remember you from the road.

- That's why I'm holding a gun.

You scare me.

- Well that makes sense. - Thanks.

- [Jeffrey] Does everybody carry one here?

- You can ask the sheriff when he gets here. I'll call him.

- I'm sorry to disappoint you,

but the sheriff's office is empty.

- How do you know?

- I was just there.

- Who are you?

- Jeffrey Butler.

- Oh, you're the one who's selling the house?

- Yes.

- [Diane] Have you any ID?

- Come on. - Don't laugh at me.

I want your ID.

Some maniac escaped from Margaretville.

- Okay.

- Put it on the table.

Now go back.

California license.

Lucky you.

- Would you like to see my maniac card from the asylum?

They give you one when you escape.

There's a big Scarlet M on it so people won't get confused.

- Okay.

Look, I'm sorry about the gun.

My father's in Wilton getting your money.

- All I want to do is to get into my house.

- The sheriff's deputy might have a key.

He's about the only one I know of.

- Well where is he?

- You go down the road about a mile and a half

until you come to a white house with a white fence

and then you can't miss it.

- Thanks.

- That's okay.

- Merry Christmas.

- Same to you.

- [Narrator] Our chemistry was undeniable,

but I vanquished any thoughts of happiness.

She was gonna make a fine Christmas gift for my father.

- Hi. - Hi.

- [Diane] Did you find the deputy?

- No, he wasn't there.

- [Diane] Oh.

- I was thinking, isn't your lawyer supposed

to be at the house?

- The door was locked.

His car was there so I borrowed it.

- You mean you stole a car?

- Yeah.

Keeping it warm.

- What if he needs it?

- Let him find me.

Who's coming to dinner?

- Oh, daddy.

We always have dinner every Thursday.

Do you want something?

- No, I ate at the paradise motel.

- Yeah, I know. It's awful.

What about a drink?

- Yeah.

- It's cheap bourbon, but that's a big favorite around here.

Do you want ice?

- No, straight.

- You look tired.

- I am tired.

- Well, here's to a fast dollar.

- Cheers.

- [Narrator] I kept tabs on each of his steps.

(Eerie music)

(Indistinct police radio chatter)

- [Diane] There's a light.

Look at that tombstone.

Pretty cheerful.

- "Who bears the cross shall wear the crown.

Wilfred Butler."

My grandfather.

- Oh.

(Diana gasps)

- Someone left their sunglasses in the snow.

- They're the sheriff's.

- My lawyer's missing, so is the sheriff,

you got strange phone calls

and now someone's fascinated by my grandfather's grave.

- Let's get out of here.

- [Narrator] I helped him where I could.

(Knocking on door)

(Clock ticking)

- Mr. Towman, wait.

No, please, I have to talk to you.

I'm sorry, this is Jeffrey Butler.

He's the one who's selling the house.

He can't get inside the place

and my father's gone to Wilton, so we wondered-

(Mr. Towman grumbles)

(Eerie music)

- Anything wrong?

- He'll tell us.

Tess?

Has gone to his house?

- Why would she go there?

- I don't know.

Anyway, she won't get in.

You say it's locked.

He says she hates the place.

- Would you like to drive there?

(Eerie music)

- [Narrator] When we arrived at one of the ladies' houses,

I could barely contain my disgust.

She had caged numerous birds

as if reproducing the asylum that was previously her home.

(Birds chirping)

(Knocking on door)

(Birds chirping)

- Well, Tess isn't here.

Are you satisfied?

She must have gone to my place.

Well why wouldn't she go there?

She hates it.

Maybe she went to see the woman who's there.

Someone called the mayor's house before,

said she'd be waiting.

(Birds chirping)

Well what is it?

(Door slams)

(Car starts up)

(Eerie music) (Birds chirping)

- [Narrator] After delivering the old mute man to my father,

I returned to my role as decoy.

(Clock ticking)

(Diane gasps)

- You scared me.

What happened?

- What happened is Tess has 40 bird cages,

towman is hysterical, everybody's at my house but me,

it's cold outside and you forgot to lock the door.

- Jeff, how old are you?

- How old am I? You mean how many years have I lived?

- No, there's a lot in the paper about your family.

- I don't wanna talk about my family.

- Wait a minute, there's a woman calling

and she says her name is Marianne.

That was your mother's name, wasn't it?

- My mother died in childbirth.

That's when I started traveling.

- That's not what the papers say.

- What's your point?

- I just thought that you should read something

for your own good.

- Nothing you could tell me about my past

or future would be for my own good.

(Clock ticking)

Where is the paper?

- It's on the table.

(Dramatic music) (Flames crackling)

- It's so stupid to lie and miss the whole event.

- [Diane] Jeff, maybe your mother's still alive.

Maybe she's waiting for you at the house.

- I don't know.

Come on.

No more side trips.

Let's go out there.

(Soft tinkling music)

- [Narrator] As the night wore on,

it was becoming more difficult to disguise my part in it.

- [Diane] Jeff, look.

(Body thuds) (Tires squeal)

(Tense dramatic music)

Oh my god! - Stay back.

- [Diane] It's towman.

- [Jeffrey] Stay back!

- [Narrator] Evidently, father had silenced

but not finished him, so I did the deed myself.

- He's dead.

(Diane sobbing)

(Eerie music)

His hands.

Somebody cut off his hands.

- You killed him.

You killed towman.

- He was asking for help.

- You killed him.

- [Narrator] Afterwards, I returned home.

The end of my journey.

(Door creaks closed)

(Eerie music)

(Clock tolling)

Two things were waiting for me:

My father's diary...

And something else.

(Soft tinkling music)

I now had all the missing pieces of the puzzle

and my path was clear. (Soft tinkling music)

The town's folk had a pension for dress up.

They were all clothed as characters

wearing costumes and faces not their own.

And I realized in the end, I was no different.

- Jeff.

Jeff?

- Wilfred Butler is still alive.

This is still his house.

- Your grandfather died in 1950.

He was burned to death in this house.

- My grandfather poured gasoline

over a squatter he found here.

The town wanted to believe he was dead.

They still do.

This house was an asylum.

There was a massacre by the inmates.

Tess, towman, the sheriff.

Your father.

- No.

- [Jeffrey] All inmates. They killed my mother in this room.

- [Narrator] Wilfred watched from upstairs

as I embraced my birthright and completed his work.

(Eerie music)

- Butler.

- No!

(Gunshots firing) (Diane screams)

(Mayor Adams groans)

Oh, no.

No.

Oh my god, no.

(Diane sobbing)

Daddy?

Daddy.

- Diane?

(Diane gasps)

- Jeff?

Jeff.

No.

No.

Jeff, why?

Why?

- [Narrator] He then made his grand appearance

as I lay dying.

- [Wilfred] Marianne.

(Diane screams)

- Help!

No, let me out!

- [Wilfred] No, don't run away.

Don't, I'm your father.

Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you.

Please.

It's all right.

(Diane screaming)

I wouldn't hurt you.

I need you. (Diane screaming)

- Get away from me! - I've waited for you.

- [Narrator] He had become grip by illusion

which would be his downfall.

- [Wilfred] Please.

(Gunshot fires) (Wilfred grunts)

(Gunshot firing)

- [Narrator] But that was not my final chapter.

I revived and stumbled out into the dark night

of the full moon.

Their predecessors wiped out,

the town's new protectors would only take one year

to come to the same conclusion:

That the house would be demolished,

all sins wiped clean.

It served their legal purposes to consider me dead.

I lived in the woods, scavenging.

I had become a vagrant until your mother came upon me.

We traveled to California and started a new life.

Sadly, parenthood was not a role I could convincingly play.

I lost you when my latent obsession got the better of me.

I was exiled once more and eventually circled

back to east Willard.

Unlike my father, I had no name worth retrieving

and I became fascinated with the black Peter myth

and chose it as my new guise.

I followed the offspring of the inmates and their offspring.

The ones that did not comply, the ones that were naughty,

I punished them,

all the while wanting a reunion with my family.

In the end, I needn't look for you

because one by one, you all found me.

Welcome home.

(Soft tinkling music)

(Eerie music)

- [Angelica] Father?

- [Jeffrey] I spent so long looking for you.

I thought one of your brothers would have been the one,

but it was you.

- Who?

- [Jeffrey] The one who carries my legacy.

- No.

- [Jeffrey] I'm 80 years of age.

I won't live forever.

Wilfred surely did not.

- I won't be a part of this.

- [Jeffrey] This Christmas, dear daughter,

I give you the gift of madness.

- No.

- [Jeffrey] Who bears the cross shall wear the crown.

(Angelica grunts)

(Eerie music)

(Angelica whimpers)

- Are you loaded?

- [Jeffrey] No more costumes.

Let us see each other as we truly are.

(Gunshot fires)

- Right in the nose.

Red like Rudolph.

(Upbeat Christmas music)

(Knocking on door)

- Merry Christmas. - To you, too.

- How can I help you?

- My name is Regina Andrews.

I'm with Bilson land development up in Margaretville.

I was looking for the owners, Humphry and Carol brickmann?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

They just stepped out for a glass of egg nog,

but they'll be back any moment.

Why don't you come in?

- Sure.

- You know, there is nothing that I like better

on Christmas morning than a nice mug of hot chocolate.

So what brings you here?

- We see sizeable opportunity

for economic growth in this area.

- So you wanna turn this street into a shopping mall?

- Nothing like that.

Lawyers aren't as evil as you may have heard.

Wait, you are their daughter Holly, right?

(Angelica chuckles)

- Heavens no. Angelica Zacherly.

However, I'm exactly the person you wanna be speaking to.

- How so?

- Actually I'm the real owner here.

This land was claimed under false pretenses.

It was originally bestowed

upon Jeffrey Butler by his father.

Yummy. (Chuckles)

- That was a long time ago and Jeffrey died, anyway.

- Except he didn't. (Chuckles)

Not until last night, that is.

But not before letting me in on a little secret.

His bloodline didn't end with him.

- It didn't? (Clears through)

- Which means this little slice of land is all mine.

- I doubt it's as clear cut of (clears throat)

A case as that.

(Angelica chuckles) (Regina coughs)

- Details, details.

(Regina clears throat)

Let's look at the bigger picture here.

Why, if you were so concerned with details,

maybe you would've thought twice

before downing your festive beverage. (Chuckles)

(Regina coughing) (Angelica laughing)

(Dramatic music)

(Angelica laughing)

Oh.

Why did god create lawyers before snakes?

To practice. (Laughs)

(Eerie music)

(Soft tinkling music)

(Eerie lullaby music)

(Eerie music)