Original subtitles

What do you want?

So, how long do we have?

Two more weeks.

And these are all the assessments left?

Yup.

So, how should we do this? Just randomly reach in

- and pick a few? - Yeah.

- Or we each pick one? - Or start with the most urgent.

This one.

Excuse me, Sister?

This is your next assessment. Let's go.

Great.

Right back in Catholic school.

Doing as I'm told.

Paul, these are the assessors.

This is David, Kristen and Ben.

Hello. Sorry to drag you into this.

Were you one of Sister Andrea's students?

No. She didn't tell you?

She's not particularly chatty.

She was the love of my dad's life.

- The nun who got away. - Really?

- No, I don't think we need to go into this. - Actually,

- I think we need to go into this. - He never got over her.

He had her photo in his wallet...

This isn't important.

Why don't you tell us what the issue is, Paul?

Uh, well, I'm-I'm not sure where to start.

Paul needs an exorcism.

I guess I do.

Up to a month ago, I was just a happy dad,

good job, real estate, married to my high school sweetheart.

I'm... I'm one of those irritating people in surveys

who say how happy they are.

And what happened a month ago?

Uh...

So, I decided

to try a different coffee

every morning.

First one up.

Galaão.

That's espresso with foamed milk.

Not bad.

A bit bland.

Tomorrow, affogato.

I don't understand.

This is why you need an exorcism?

Are you afraid that you're vlogging too much?

No. That's not me.

What do you mean?

That's not me.

That's someone who looks like me.

I'm feeling a little tired this morning.

I didn't get much sleep.

I feel like something's following me.

Do you ever get that feeling?

Like you're being...

haunted?

I might call in sick.

His name's Gregory.

He works as a data entry engineer

in Studio City, California.

- How'd you meet? - I didn't.

I-I just saw him online.

I was scrolling, and there he was.

Something's wrong.

I can't get out of bed.

My muscles hurt.

My mom thinks it's black mold, so,

I moved to a motel, but...

I'm still...

You're worried he's possessing you?

Yes.

Paul, there is something called

a "Doppelgaänger phenomenon."

It's the uncanny feeling you get

when you see someone who looks like you,

and it makes you question your own life.

Show them.

Oh, my God.

He committed suicide.

Now he's inside me.

Well, I-I guess I should

- sit down and talk to him. - My mother always said

that if you ran into your doppelgaänger,

it was a sign you were gonna die.

Was that Paul Jr.,

the son of the man that you told me about?

Yes.

Tell them.

It matters.

What matters?

Paul Stolee was a childhood friend.

He killed himself.

All right, so,

this is generational trauma.

His father committed suicide,

and he's having suicidal ideation.

No, every night at 2:00 a.m.,

this person, this double, possesses him.

That's what he says?

He called me two weeks ago.

He said he was afraid

that he was going to hurt his wife and his children,

so he moved out, he moved into a hotel.

I was there last night watching over him,

and there was something.

- I don't know what it was. - Demonic?

Possibly.

It was 2:00 a.m., and I was interrupted

by Paul's sleepwalking.

He needs an exorcism.

Look, Sister Andrea, I do agree

that sometimes the placebo effect

of an exorcism can work, but...

suicidal ideation is nothing to be trifled with.

An exorcism is not a trifle, Dr. Bouchard.

I just worry that it would be a mistake

to delay treatment.

I'm sorry.

I have to get to court.

I think you two should see tonight for yourselves.

- 2:00 a.m. - Sure.

Haunted house hours. Why not?

Let's go out with a bang.

Calling the case of The State of New York vs. Leland Townsend.

The defendant is present in court today

with his appointed counsel.

Appearing for the state is the prosecuting attorney.

The court will appoint

a psychiatrist to evaluate the defendant.

Your Honor, uh, the defense requests

Section 5-2-4 be honored

and you hear testimony of the defense's psychiatrist.

- And who is this psychiatrist? - Dr. Kurt Boggs.

You've evaluated the defendant, sir?

Doctor. I-I did.

Are you fucking kidding me?

It's my job, Kristen.

Getting Leland off is not your job.

If a licensed mental health professional

such-such as our esteemed...

I am a twice-board-certified psychiatrist and author

with my own practice

who has been retained in a range of criminal cases

to ascertain competency.

Thank you, Doctor. And do you have

a professional opinion of the defendant?

Dr. Boggs,

do I need to repeat the question?

No.

Here.

Let me adjust the microphone for you,

Doctor.

How's that?

In... in my professional opinion,

uh, Dr. Townsend suffers from schizophrenia

and dissociative identity disorder,

two very serious mental conditions

which have... rendered him so ill...

that he can't realize the criminality of his actions.

Thank you, Doctor. You may step down.

Uh, how-however...

- Thank you, Doctor. - Wait.

May we hear the end of his testimony?

That is the rest of his testimony.

No, let him continue. Go ahead, Doctor.

Because of the severity

of Dr. Townsend's mental disorders,

I have determined

that he poses a considerable threat to public safety,

and should be locked away

in a maximum security mental psychiatric facility for life.

Well, he's dead.

First things first.

We need to put you on the stand.

I mean, could he have found

a creepier place for a haunting?

Do you think we're gonna miss this?

- These ghost stakeouts? - No.

I'm sick of this Scooby-Doo shit.

I need lab hours.

That's what you're going back to?

I don't know. I-I haven't thought about it.

How can you be so nonchalant?

Jobs end.

You know how many times I've changed careers?

- You got zero feelings about it? - I only have two feelings.

Disdain and hunger.

What about you?

What are you gonna do? Adopt more kids?

I don't know yet, but I got a little bit of time.

You know that billionaire climber, Tragoren?

Mm-hmm.

He's agreed to pay us the money.

- Really? - Mm-hmm. - How much?

$800,000.

- You're kidding. - What?!

Yeah.

I mean, it only cost me my marriage

and my husband's sanity, but...

it'll give us a fresh start.

What?

What's wrong?

Ugh.

It's probably some drunken businessman.

Sister, what are you doing?

- Are you okay? - Oh, the bag broke.

- Oh. - A little late-night snack, Sister?

No. Bait.

We didn't realize you were joining us, Sister.

Well, I am.

Um...

Sister?

I-I'm not sure the hotel is gonna be thrilled about that.

Well, demons have a sweet tooth.

How's Paul?

Uh, he was still sleeping last time we looked.

Paul?

Can you talk to him while he's sleepwalking?

Paul, can you hear me?

Can I ask you a few questions, Paul?

I'm not Paul.

Gregory?

Are you the Gregory who killed himself?

How do you explain that?

If Gregory's dead...

how can you be Gregory?

I live in Paul's body.

You're inhabiting it?

Those are your words.

Why did you commit suicide?

He wanted me to.

Who wanted you to?

Gregory?

Paul?

Paul?

Do you want to go back to bed?

Paul, are you all right?

Where am I?

Who are you?

Hello?

Hey, can I start buying oat lattes yet?

Um, sorry

to call so early, but you said anytime.

How are you doing?

Well, I think

you're about to tell me how I'm doing.

I paid a visit to Edward Tragoren's office, and...

it's not looking good.

He's broke?

No. Tragoren already settled.

He paid Andy ten cents on the dollar.

$80,000

instead of $800,000.

Tragoren paid Andy?!

Yes, and he has the wire transfer to prove it.

Oh, my God!

But, Kristen, I want to talk to you about a suit

- we can bring... - Yasmine?

I have to go.

Kristen, this isn't over.

Yes, it is.

Fuck.

I could always sell my shoes.

Becca at school said she wanted them,

and her parents are loaded.

You're not selling your shoes, okay?

And especially not to Becca.

We could get Timothy to be a baby-food model.

Girls, we're fine, seriously.

- All I said... - You said we were broke.

No, I said we're financially a little bit tight.

That means we're destitute, like Oliver Twist.

Girls, we're gonna be fine.

But there's just gonna be a transition period

in which we'll have to pinch our pennies a little bit.

- That's all. - You could always do an OnlyFans.

No, like, you could just show your feet.

I read online that a girl did it...

- Okay, you have some nice feet. - I don't know where you...

Like, I-I would pay for your feet.

Where did you learn what that is?

- Trillion billion dollars. - Oh, my God!

What kind of a monster raised you?

Put on your shoes.

Get to the bus. It'll be here in five minutes.

This is just like last year

when Julia's parents got divorced.

They had to live out of their car.

We're not gonna live out of our car.

- We should do, like, a GoFundMe. - Yeah!

Enilia Acrondosky's cousin made, like, $2,000

when her puppy got sick.

We can make, like, double that if I'm dying.

- You're not dying. - My heart... it almost stopped.

- But it didn't. - But it could've.

- Come on, Lex. - Coming!

We could lie about, like, Grandma dying.

- Oh, Grandma didn't die. - That is terrible.

Oh, my God, she's dead! That's a good idea.

- Why are you happy about that? - And Dad running off,

- like, with another woman. - You're so weird.

- That is so unfeeling of you to say. - I lie all the time!

You're really rude.

Dr. Townsend, can you explain

why two men were hooked up to IVs in your home?

I can.

I'm a doctor, licensed

to practice medicine in New York state.

One of the services I offer my patients

is IV therapy

to remedy dehydration or

vitamin deficiencies by delivering

nutrients intravenously.

But, Doctor, the two men found in your home later died.

The loss has been insufferable.

Can you explain to the court who Sheryl Luria was?

My ex-fiancée.

And did she work on the patients in your home?

Yes.

Unbeknownst to me.

How could you not know, Doctor?

Sheryl was obsessed with her appearance.

So obsessed that she came to believe

that she could stay young by injecting other people's blood.

Without my knowledge,

she sneaked into the procedure room,

and diverted all the IVs there

to her own purposes.

She...

Hello.

I see you.

Sister?

May we help you?

You just lost the element of surprise, demon.

Sister, this is a pretrial hearing.

We're gonna have to ask you to sit down. Officer?

Sister Andrea?

He's the evil coming to New York.

- Anything else? - Thank you, Doctor.

You may step down.

- Hey. - Hey.

Someone else is joining you in the monied class.

Really? Who?

Ben's sister got him a job.

Okay, I got myself a job.

- Doing what? - Using AI

and quantum computing

to reproduce neurogenesis in the human brain.

You asked.

They offered him $650,000 a year.

You're kidding.

It's not official yet.

Wow. I...

Congratulations.

Everything still okay with you and your billionaire climber?

Actually, a little bit of a hiccup.

What?

Oh, nothing. They just...

They paid Andy already, ten cents on the dollar.

- Are you kidding? - But I'm-I'm fine.

Let's just get to work.

Um...

What'd you find here, Ben?

Guys, I'm fine.

Look, it's actually better

because I don't want to fight with Andy over money.

And this way, it's just done.

It's-it's cleaner this way.

Hey.

Oh.

Really, I'm fine.

So what's the idea here?

Uh...

Ben found another doppelgaänger.

- Mm-hmm. Yup. - Really?

- For? - Paul.

I thought that if he realized

that there was more than one double in the world,

and that other double was happy with his life...

Then he couldn't use Gregory as a conduit for his depression.

How did you find another doppelgaänger?

There's a website.

- Okay, it takes your picture. - Uh-huh.

And then it hunts the web for look-alikes.

Really?

Yeah. Want to take your picture?

Oh, no. Um, I don't think

I'm ready to see my doppelgaänger.

Oh. David?

Your mother said you meet your double,

and you'll die.

Yeah, but she also said

if you swallow bubblegum, ghosts will haunt you.

All right, all right, let's see this other Paul.

Okay.

Oh, this is my favorite run.

A 5.2.

Who's this?

His name is Jess.

He's a ski instructor from Colorado.

Your age.

How'd you find him?

Find My Doppel.

It's a website.

Paul,

it's not unusual for people to look alike in this world.

It's not magic, it's not supernatural.

Before social media, you'd just rarely find your doppel.

But, now, you can just find them.

And there's not just one.

Gregory is not your only pathway.

Okay? This is Jess.

He studied to be a programmer.

During the pandemic,

he decided he was missing his wife and children,

so he downsized,

and now he's working only half the year

as a ski instructor.

Whoa!

And you got to get right back up.

Ow, let's go. Aah...

We're not only possessed by one person, Paul.

We get to choose who we want to be.

I want to call Viv and the kids.

I think that's

a very good idea.

Well, you know, I already have an offer

from AWP Industries.

Yes, and we'd like to have a chance to beat it.

Can I... can I call you back?

Um... I have another call.

Please do.

We're prepared to offer you $950,000,

plus perks and benefits, so...

Why are you so afraid

to succeed?

What are your thoughts on that, Mr. Jinn?

All right, Mother.

If I join you in heaven,

don't say I told you so.

He doesn't look like me.

Oh, no! The dinosaur's jumping on top of you.

I'm eating the train. I'm...

No, dinosaur, don't eat Ashad's train.

I'm eating the t... Can I eat Ashad?

No, you can't!

- Can I eat Ashad? - Let me see it.

- Can I eat your nose? - No. Look.

Oh, what is that? Oh, no!

That's great. Mmm. Yum, yum, yum, yum.

All right. Ah...

I need to put this pipe cleaner

through the machine.

Oh, through the machine?

Hmm.

You prepare for a fight

the same way you do for training.

6:00 a.m., run.

8:00 a.m., breakfast.

9:00 a.m., spar.

♪ Rock your body, I'm fearless... ♪

Yes, it's intense.

But like anything you do in life...

running, partying,

fucking...

you do it to your fullest.

God gave you this body. You use it.

You sure you don't want us to go into...

No, no.

- Paul? - Viv.

Hi.

It's so good to see your face.

Why are you calling me?

I wanted to tell you

that I've been doing a lot of self-reflection,

seeking help, like you always said.

But, mainly,

I just wanted to say I...

I'm so sorry

I've put you through so much stress and strain.

I love you.

What about last night?

What do you mean?

You told me to strangle our kids

and lay their bodies out in the driveway.

Then drive over them again

until their organs were smeared into the pavement.

When did I say that?

Luckily, I have a recording.

I submitted it with the restraining order today,

so leave me alone.

It was Gregory. It's-it's not me.

Just leave us alone, whoever you are today!

No, Viv, please don't...

He's sleeping.

Sister, you need to go home and get some rest.

You're no use to anyone if you're exhausted.

I'll stay.

Sister?

Talk to the archdiocese about an exorcism.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Paul?

Are you awake?

Paul?

Are you sleepwalking again?

Let me take you back to your room.

Andrea.

Oh, I've missed you.

Go back to hell, demon.

It's me. Paul.

- Remember? - Stay back!

Let me show you something.

Why are you trying to kill your son?

Die,

you most unholy demon.

Mmm.

Mmm.

You're burning up.

Kiss me.

My kids are in the other room.

Too bad.

How do you know Mr. Townsend, Doctor?

I was a psychologist hired by the D.A.'s office

to determine the credibility of an insanity defense.

And was Mr. Townsend involved in that case?

Yes. He advised the defendant to plead not guilty

by reason of insanity, and to fake demonic possession

in order to convince the judge...

Objection! Your Honor, hearsay.

What's this?

Emails between Dr. Townsend and the defendant

detailing how to fake demonic possession.

- I'll allow. - And did you

encounter Mr. Townsend after the trial?

I did.

When he began targeting my family.

Objection. Not in evidence.

This is a court-approved

restraining order preventing Leland

from harassing my daughter Lexis at her school.

Oh, this is all just a lie, Your Honor.

And this is a photo

of Leland harassing my daughter Lexis at her school.

And this is Mr. Townsend's termination letter

from the Catholic Church, after multiple children

playing the online game Bumblebee Valley

came forward, accusing him of being a pedophile.

I'd like a ruling, Your Honor.

I have objections outstanding.

I really don't think you do want a ruling, Mr. Stick.

Anything else?

This is a second restraining order

after my mother died

falling from a 14th-floor window,

and Mr. Townsend moved in next door to me.

Your Honor, this is madness!

This woman is obviously unhinged and hysterical!

She doesn't seem like the unhinged one to me, Mr. Stick.

Anything more?

If I have been unduly emotional,

it is only because of the torment

I've endured hearing my mother's legacy torn

to shreds this week.

My mother Sheryl...

I'm sorry.

She was a kind, loving,

giving mother and grandmother.

Everything she did was for the well-being of myself

and my four daughters.

Anything else?

I do have one more witness

who's being transported from county lockup

and will be ready to testify tomorrow, Your Honor.

Oh, no.

- Hmm? - They got Leslie to flip.

Oh, Lewis, you didn't have to.

Laura!

Oh, no, no, no, no. This is not okay.

Mom, we're just trying to help.

Lynn, you're supposed to be the smart one.

I thought I was supposed to be the smart one.

Lex, not a good time to be funny right now.

Mom, you always said we could lie

- if we were desperate. - What?!

No. When did I say that?

No, she said we could always lie to corporations.

Excuse me.

- Who is "she"? - Sorry.

Mom always said we could lie to corporations.

No, I did not say that.

Mom, we're trying to help make money for the family.

All right, here is something I did say

and will continue to say.

We don't ask for charity. We rely on ourselves.

We make money through our talents,

through what we can...

What?

You're still gonna sell your feet, right? On OnlyFans?

Shh!

Are we still in trouble?

I wanted to thank you for standing up to Leland.

I know that wasn't easy.

- Just told the truth. - Well,

telling the truth is harder than anything these days.

I need to ask you a favor.

Okay.

I've been working on this assessment

that made me realize

how much I miss having my own practice.

And I want to start one right here

in my garage.

Ah.

Yeah. I mean, I'm-I'm gonna,

you know, fix this all up.

But what I need from you are referrals.

I thought you were working with the Church.

Yeah, I was, until they laid me off.

Oh, my God, I'm sorry.

I-I think you really liked that job.

Kurt.

I want referrals.

Okay, um, they're sending me on a promotional tour

for my book, hitting all the comic cons.

So I'm... I am closing

- my practice. - Well, that's great.

So then you can send your patients to me.

- Okay. - Okay.

Hey, after this tour, who knows?

Maybe I'll be calling you for an appointment.

David. How'd it go last night

with Paul and his wife?

Not well.

Paul's in a coma.

He swallowed 20 sleeping pills.

Oh, my God.

Yeah, they're pumping his stomach now.

I'm gonna recommend an exorcism.

I'll call you back.

Um, it would be helpful if you and Ben

were there for the exorcism.

Yeah, sure. Whatever you need.

Thank you, Your Excellency and Archdiocesan Fathers,

for hearing my appeal on behalf

of our very successful assessor program.

As you can see from our proposal,

uh, air rights in our neighborhood are estimated

at about $210 per square foot.

CongoRun, a delivery conglomerate,

has expressed interest in purchasing these air rights

to build a 20-floor addition to their headquarters. If you...

Yes, we read your proposal with much interest, Father.

And we're impressed.

We're so impressed, we contacted CongoRun,

and we're enthused to hear that not only are they interested

in buying the air rights

but the church itself for $45 million.

Uh, y-yes, but, uh, we're not interested

in an outright sale.

We are. The archdiocese is.

There are certain financial pressures

on the 296 parishes.

We have to deconsecrate five churches

to make ends meet.

Your parish has been chosen.

Father, we were promised a certain amount of time

to right these financial difficulties.

Yes, but the archdiocese would like

to expedite the deconsecration process.

Please inform the other priests and the nun residents,

they'll be receiving their reassignments in two weeks

and they will be asked to move out.

- Thank you, Father. - Your Excellency,

this is not fair.

I'm sorry you think so.

Thank you for coming in, Father.

In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

It has been five days since my last confession.

May God, who has enlightened every heart,

help you to know your sins and trust in His mercy.

These are my sins, Father.

I have been...

I have been self-righteous.

I tried to stay strong and unchanged.

But I fear that my piety may have turned someone

I cared for long ago away from God.

And the absence of God's presence in this man's life...

led him to take his own.

I am the reason he is in hell.

Scripture teaches us

to humble ourselves before the Lord.

You're not in control of what happens to this man.

Only God decides who's deserving of mercy.

Do you believe that?

Yes.

But I have doubts.

And He forgives those doubts.

And He can forgive someone who takes their life.

For penance, say 12 Hail Marys.

And now the Act of Contrition.

Oh, my God.

I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.

And I detest my sins because of Thy punishment.

But most of all...

because they offend Thee.

I, an unworthy priest,

by His power given me,

forgive and absolve you of all your sins,

in the name of the Father,

the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Oh, thank God.

I knew she'd show up.

This is the one you're telling me about?

Uh, yes, this is the one.

Thanks for your patience, Your Honor.

Ah, just in the nick of time.

Count your blessings, Cormier.

- Every day. - Kristen...

We seem to have one more witness?

Yes, Your Honor.

The prosecution calls Leslie Ackhurst.

Ms. Ackhurst, before we proceed,

I'd love to have a little chat with you in my chambers.

Is that okay?

I'm sorry, Ms. Ackhurst.

My chamber is being renovated.

Previous judge was a Civil War buff.

It's not really my thing. Please sit, sit.

Listen, I just want to gauge whether or not

you're being intimidated in court.

No.

I've just never testified before, that's all.

You know, it's a funny thing.

I can't change the oil in my car,

I speak no other languages,

I am a total wallflower at parties.

But...

22 years on the bench,

and I am an absolute grand master

at knowing if someone is lying.

Now, is Leland Townsend attempting

to intimidate you in any way?

Not directly.

But I know what he's capable of.

This is the hardest part of my job,

but I have to ask you.

Are you still willing to testify?

I am.

Good.

I take it, Mr. Cormier, that your witness is a no-show.

Your Honor, if you'll just give me time

to find Ms. Ackhurst...

I will, and when you find her,

we will reopen these proceedings,

but until that time I am dismissing this case.

Your Honor, Ms. Bouchard has a standing restraining order

against Mr. Townsend.

Oh, I know.

And I will admonish Mr. Townsend

to strictly abide by the conditions of that order.

Yes, Your Honor.

I promise you, Kristen.

You and your family will never see me.

We are adjourned.

How'd you do it?

Everyone has a price on their soul.

It's all coming apart, isn't it?

So, where are they sending you?

I don't know.

What about Sister Andrea?

I don't know that either.

And you don't have a choice?

I'm gonna miss this place.

And Leland's exonerated?

Yeah. Not enough evidence to hold him.

So it all comes crumbling down.

And yet you seem fine.

Yeah.

Just when you have no options, it helps to make big decisions.

I'm gonna start my own practice.

Dr. Boggs is referring some of his clients to me.

Congratulations.

Dr. Bouchard in the house.

I'm gonna send my fucked-up science friends to you.

Ready.

- Oh, God. - Thank you, David.

We've got this.

I command you,

unclean spirit, along with all your minions

now attacking this servant of God.

- Resurrection... - God, hear my prayer. Harken to the words of my mouth.

And ascension of God.

Andrea.

After all these years,

I found you.

Kiss me the way you used to.

You are not Paul.

You are a demon.

You need to leave his son now.

Andrea, my precious girl.

I loved you more than anyone in my life.

And that is the way that I love God.

I killed myself for you.

No.

You are the evil that killed him,

and you will not have his boy.

We could have had a beautiful life together.

But you left me. You betrayed me.

I needed you, and you abandoned me!

Why did you do that?!

Leave this boy!

Leave him now!

Father.

You are the liar.

I command you, unclean spirit,

whoever you are...

Further on!

Uh, uh, God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving.

Why did he leave me?

I was just a kid.

I needed my dad.

Why wasn't I good enough for him to stay?

Sister, keep back.

Why'd he do it?

I don't know.

I wish I did, Paul.

But what I do know is,

no one wants us to follow them into death.

And everyone...

at that instant of extinction...

knows they made a mistake.

Sorry.

Hi, David.

Are you ready to tell me what's going on?

- With what? - The Church.

The heaviness you're carrying...

it has its own gravitational pull.

We're bankrupt.

The building's being deconsecrated and sold.

I tried to save it.

You never stood a chance.

I thought if I followed the path of righteousness,

my life would fall into place, but...

it hasn't.

I've never been more lost.

Come here.

Give me your hand.

You see?

He's here.

In this very room.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org