1
[wind whistling]
[solemn music]
[engine rumbles]
Hey.
Hi.
Are you John?
Yeah.
Hi.
Annie?
Yeah, that's me.
You can just park
right over there.
Yup, right there.
OK.
I'll see you inside.
JOHN: Yeah, I'll see you inside.
[gloomy music]
[clock ticking]
[door creaks]
[gentle music]
[water splashing]
ANNIE: John!
You can just get settled in.
I'll be there in a sec.
OK.
I'm in the living room.
ANNIE: Sorry?
In the living room!
[door opens and shuts]
I see you're,
uh, already getting
acquainted with the place.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's, uh...
Bleak, unsettling,
lacking personality?
It's familiar.
Vacation home, right?
It's nice... the
water and the woods.
It's peaceful.
Reminds me of a house I
used to visit as a kid.
Annie?
Annie?
Hey.
Everything all right?
Everything's fine.
Why don't you call me Anne.
Anne.
Sounds good.
Great.
By the way, I
wanted to thank you.
Gary said you had to
pull a lot of strings
with your girlfriend
to get the time off.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, absolutely.
It's no problem, really.
Could use the hours.
Oh.
Uh, let me just
get this to the car
and I'll show you around
if there's time, OK?
JOHN: All right.
Let me help.
No, no, no, no.
It's fine.
It's not heavy.
JOHN: All right.
[gloomy music]
[gentle music]
[beeping]
[gloomy music]
[gentle music]
What's up?
Pipes might be
getting a little rusty.
Oh.
This whole place is
falling apart at the core.
It's been around a
really long time.
Never got to renovate.
We had such grand
plans for this place.
Didn't we, Agnes?
I'm John, the intern
nurse from Homefront.
Um, I'll be assisting you for a
short while while Anne is away.
She's a little worn
down from the road.
I don't think she can hear you.
I can hear him just fine.
I distinctly remember
asking Homefront
for an able-bodied man, not
a green, sickly looking kid.
[coughs]
That's a long line of these...
these faggot...
OK.
Let's get you to bed.
AGNES: The last thing
I need to hear [coughs]
before I drop dread is whining.
ANNIE: Whining?
Yes.
Look at him.
He looks weak.
Annie, Annie, Annie.
He's weak.
He's weak.
You stay here!
You stay with me!
I said you stay.
No.
I said you stay.
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
[door slams]
ANNIE: You can't do
this to me anymore.
No, no, no, I don't
want to hear it.
I don't want to hear it.
No, no.
[agnes wheezes]
[solemn music]
You're gonna do great.
[breathes laboriously]
[eerie music]
[agnes breathing laboriously]
[gasps]
Just... look, I can help you.
[groans]
Stop.
[solemn music]
Stop!
I said stop, you
goddamn imbecile.
[yelps]
You can't stand.
JOHN: What?
Stand.
Or are you as weak as useless?
Can't lift 100-pound lady.
Look, I'm just trying to help.
OK?
You do more harm, boy.
Just go right there.
OK.
I'm here.
Thanks for the
help, you faggot.
Go wash your hands.
You're still fucking weak.
[suspenseful music]
[water rushing]
[solemn music]
[sighs]
You hear?
I heard.
[eerie music]
The strange
noises in the house?
He's here in the autumn.
The noises?
The frost.
I'll take that walk now.
Yeah.
Yeah.
[gentle music]
[breathes laboriously]
I never noticed how the
cold air tickles your lungs.
[sighs]
So good.
[laughs]
- Feel good, isn't it?
- Mm.
It does.
[agnes wheezing]
[beeping]
[agnes sighs]
[solemn music]
[agnes breathes laboriously]
[sighs]
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Hey.
Hope you're doing all
right with your patient,
not having too hard a time.
Oh, ran into Mike, and he
told me he has that thing
you asked him to get.
He said you'd understand.
Are you up to no good?
I know you are.
Anyways, I miss you.
Come home soon.
And give me a call
back or whatever.
Let's see.
Oh.
And I love you.
Bye.
[eerie tone]
[suspenseful music]
[metal clangs]
You gotta be
fucking kidding me.
Where are we, Afghanistan?
[groans]
[wind whistling]
[solemn music]
[sighs]
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Hey.
Hey, hon.
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Hey!
Hey!
Yes.
GIRLFRIEND (ON
PHONE): [inaudible]
I... I've been trying to get
a signal for the last hour.
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Oh.
[inaudible]
Ah.
GIRLFRIEND (ON
PHONE): [inaudible]
Oh.
I didn't mean that.
Of course I miss you.
I'm just exhausted is all.
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Yeah?
Yeah.
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Patient?
Yee-Agnes.
GIRLFRIEND (ON
PHONE): [inaudible]
Oh, I don't know.
She's, uh... she's
perky most of the time.
Dementia is definitely
creeping in.
She mumbles incoherent
things, constant fits of SOB,
and her hands and feet
are freezing all the time.
So...
GIRLFRIEND (ON
PHONE): [inaudible]
[chuckles]
No.
I... I don't know.
Like I said, a couple days.
Uh, whatever, though.
You know, we'll see.
Just get this
done, get my bonus.
It was worth it, right?
GIRLFRIEND (ON PHONE): Yeah.
Yeah.
Read me something.
GIRLFRIEND (ON
PHONE): [inaudible]
Shh.
[agnes moaning]
Yeah.
Shit.
I think I hear her.
I got to go, hon.
Uh, I love you.
All right.
I'll... I'll call you
as soon as I can.
Bye.
[water splashing]
[agnes gasping]
[beeping]
[coughs]
[groans]
[solemn music]
[gulps]
More?
More?
[sighs]
Um, I feel nothing.
This... this is all
so goddamn useless.
[coughs]
[inaudible]
What?
I must have spent
hours yesterday
screaming, yelling for help.
[breathing laboriously]
I'm sorry.
Agnes, I'm sorry.
Moments left.
I can feel the darkness
creeping, tingling in me,
smell it, cast off, empty, o...
ostracized...
[laughs]
...in the company of an
incompetent, [inaudible]
faggot of a moron
here to assist me.
Kill me.
Just shoot me.
[gasps]
Mother's milk hasn't dried
from around nose, lips...
still suckling.
[smacks lips]
[coughs]
[inaudible]
How silly.
Floating away with
the winter's songbird
into the southern summers.
It's... it's freezing.
So bad... terrible
memories in this house.
They will never leave.
[breathes heavily]
[suspenseful music]
Hey.
Well, this isn't weird at all.
[gentle music]
I'm going to die now.
Swear it.
Swear it is.
You take it for granted.
[coughs]
Oh, sorry.
I must have dozed off.
You get down here...
you get up yourself?
Of course you got up yourself.
How you feeling?
Agnes, you're bleeding.
[groans]
What's going on here?
You're hurt?
You're bleeding.
It's OK.
Hold on.
Don't get all sensitive on me.
A little blood to
your whole pack.
JOHN: All right.
What are the results?
Does it hurt anywhere?
[groans]
Agnes, does it hurt anywhere?
Everywhere.
Oh, Jesus, Agnes.
Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit.
You stupid.
No!
[gasps]
Whoa.
Your frantic
religious propaganda.
Your holy bible.
You're a pussy!
What... what's the matter?
I always wanted kids, you know?
It's true I had their
names planned out.
I was going to make my daughter
Penelope and my son John.
Yeah.
So much time withered away.
I envy your youth.
Don't waste it.
I don't intend to.
6:00 AM every morning
I used to force myself...
wake up, run, and racing.
Against what?
Time, perhaps?
Life?
Always chasing our
time, trying to keep up.
And then I saw her.
It finds us all.
[gloomy music]
[gentle music]
This house, it's
been so good to me.
JOHN: I got you.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
[tapping]
You know Morse.
Three short taps is an
S. Two would be an I.
I was an Eagle Scout at the...
I'm a radio merit badge.
Do they give out
hunting badges there too?
JOHN: No.
Well, good.
[inaudible]
JOHN: Here.
[solemn music]
[grunts]
[coughs]
I got you.
I got you.
You're OK.
OK.
Could you please come back?
Sit.
I don't like you very much.
I don't pretend.
I don't hide my...
my feelings for you.
But I'm not always myself.
I know I just try my
hardest to be your friend.
It's just a job for you.
Everyone has one.
Well, see, I personally see
it as more than just a job.
It's more of...
Just listen.
Listen to me.
Our feelings aside, we're
stuck together, you and I,
at least until Annie
decides to stop punishing
or whatever she's
trying to achieve.
Until then, it's
you walking paradox.
[coughs]
If this little predicament
of the situation
is still the same
when I am ready...
you're a good boy, aren't you?
Please, do me a favor.
Of course, Agnes.
It's what I'm here for.
[gloomy music]
Bury me.
Just... just listen to me.
It's a very simple process.
It requires just some
physical strength,
maybe, maybe just common sense.
That's all.
Agnes, um, I'm a nurse,
not a... not a grave digger,
not an undertaker.
I'm a nurse, OK?
I'm sorry.
Shovel the back of the house.
It's very...
I won't.
...very...
I refuse...
Use shovel...
...to bury you, Agnes.
...just... just three
paces from the big tree,
any direction but
east, at least four...
four feet beneath ground level.
You show your crucifix.
You're superstitious...
your whole book.
I have my own beliefs,
my own rituals.
Don't I deserve my faith John?
Don't I this...
You do, OK.
You do.
Everybody deserves faith.
But there are ways, ways that
this can be done properly.
OK.
There are people
that you can contact,
people that we can contact.
If you haven't already, we can.
They will defile it.
My soul, my body, it
has meaning, importance.
Agnes, I just don't care.
I don't have choice but you.
[groans]
John.
John.
John.
[agnes yells]
[upbeat music]
John.
John.
(SINGING) I can't sleep,
tearin' at the walled up one.
I can't breathe, tearin'
at the walled up one.
How many times you
tell me that I can...
[sighs]
Why?
[sobs]
Why did you leave me all alone?
I'm... I'm sorry, so sorry.
I am.
Please.
Please come back.
[solemn music]
Please.
Please.
What have I done to deserve?
Please.
Please.
[gloomy music]
God damn.
Come on.
Fuck.
Piece of shit.
Fuck.
Bastard.
[sighs]
I've sinned.
Oh God, I've sinned.
I have sinned.
I've sinned to have judged in
others, their stubbornness,
pride, anger, and difference.
All these sins I
repent, beg forgiveness.
[moans]
Annie.
Hi.
Uh, John here.
I've been trying to reach
you for a few days now.
I really didn't want to do
this over voicemail, but, um...
uh, Agnes's time is running
out, and I'm doing all
I can to keep her comfortable.
I think she's holding
on to see you.
Calls out your name a lot.
[gasping]
[solemn music]
If you want to see her, the
time is pretty much now.
Uh, also I have a question
about funeral arrangements.
Again, I'm very sorry
to have to leave
this message on your phone.
Um, I'd much rather
do it in person.
All right.
Well, call me when
you get a chance.
[beeping]
[breathing heavily]
Thank you for...
[moaning]
[breathing laboriously]
[beeping]
[solemn music]
[engine rumbles]
[yells]
[gloomy music]
Fuck!
Damn it.
Fuck!
[wind whistles]
[suspenseful music]
[sobs]
Anne.
Is she peaceful?
It was peaceful, right?
Yeah.
It was peaceful.
I'm sorry.
Please accept my
condolences for your loss.
I hate to have to
ask you this now,
uh, but my car won't start.
So I was hoping I could ask
you for a ride into town,
or if you have jumper
cables, I could try those.
OK.
Great.
I just need to, um...
I need to find something.
I'll be quick.
I promise.
Uh, and you did make
funeral arrangements?
OK.
Good.
That's good.
Four feet under, three
paces from the big tree,
any direction but east.
I have to start digging
before the ground freezes.
What?
The frost is here.
The earth will get stiff.
I'm not sure I follow you.
[chuckles]
She drove me crazy
picking out shovels.
Here, normal people are buying
Christmas trees and ornaments,
colorful, decorative lights.
I'm looking for the
best shovel they got.
[gloomy music]
My mom died when I
was a little girl.
I was two, I think.
I don't remember her or
feeling much of anything.
Agnes, though, I remember her.
She was always around.
When someone talks about
mothers, it's her face I see,
always watchful and loving.
She's made me into the
proper young lady I am.
[sobs]
Watch your posture!
[eerie music]
No hands on the
dining room table!
We don't slurp our tea.
No talking at dinner!
Do you have any idea how
somber dinner was at our house?
Treasure your youth,
she used to tell me,
it's the only thing
you've got that matters.
She used to say
I'd give anything
to see through your eyes
or hear through your ears.
Life is a gift and we
never throw gifts away.
Anne, I'm sorry,
for everything.
No one lives forever.
Death finds us all.
I'd like to get my car
started as soon as I can.
- She's evil.
- What?
She's evil, John.
She's committed
unspeakable acts.
Anne, I understand
that you're very...
No, heinous crimes,
committed for the sake
of meaningless shit.
I understand
that you're upset.
Would you kill someone to buy
yourself a little more time?
- I get it.
- Would you?
But we need to go.
I wanted to have her arrested.
I did, I swear I wanted to.
I dialed the nine, but my
hand would start to shake.
I got passed the nine once.
And she was already dying,
and she's all I know.
We find ways to justify
the worst in the people
that we love, and we
sacrifice our life for them.
She was evil, John.
That's enough.
Sacrificial rituals.
That's enough!
Thank you.
Thank you, John.
For what?
For being so good.
- I couldn't.
- OK.
You're welcome, Anne.
You know, once I knew, once
I knew for sure what she did...
OK.
She is gone.
Everything is behind you.
It's all over.
OK?
It's OK.
[gentle music]
Anne.
I left a small ring box in
her room on the windowsill.
I'll be right back.
Don't go anywhere.
[engine rumbles]
[dramatic music]
Hey!
Stop!
You're crazy.
You're all goddamn crazy.
[eerie music]
[engine rumbles]
Fuck.
[suspenseful music]
[playful music]
AGNES (ON TAPE): Good Fantastic.
You are so good, boys.
Naturally talented, aren't we?
We have some tools.
Now, I want you to
place it right here.
Do not move.
Thomas, now, we touch it.
[agnes breathes heavily]
[eerie music]
We're going to play a game.
OK?
[whooshing]
[terrifying music]
[yelling]
[screaming]
[chattering on tape]
[screaming on tape]
[electricity buzzes]
[terrifying music]
[eerie music]
[chattering]
Hey.
Hey, I heard you.
Who's up there?
[agnes chuckles]
Hey.
[footsteps tapping]
Stop.
Stop.
[whispers prayers]
[breathes heavily]
Strike you.
Protect.
[board creaking]
[tapping]
[dramatic tone]
[panting]
[terrifying music]
[groaning]
[chuckles sadistically]
[crashes]
[groans]
Fuck.
[suspenseful tone]
Hey!
[birds squawk]
[gloomy music]
Somebody!
Help!
[suspenseful music]
[tape buzzing]
AGNES (ON TAPE):
Are you listening?
She will come, John.
[dramatic music]
[gentle music]
[eerie music]
[knocking]
[terrifying music]
[breathing heavily]
AGNES: John.
May Lord be with you, Satan.
[inaudible]
Satan.
Lord will be with you.
[eerie music]
I can smell your thoughts.
Is it true?
You're thinking I am hell.
Don't I deserve my
own faith, John?
Don't I deserve my own faith?
Don't I deserve my
own faith, John?
[breathes heavily]
[thudding]
[gentle music]
Fuck.
[rock music on headphones]
[gentle music]
ANNIE: Help!
[moaning]
[eerie music]
JOHN: Annie.
How long have you been here?
[moans]
I thought you left.
Oh, hurry.
And what the fuck
is going on here?
Fuck.
We have to go.
We have to go.
Annie, what is going on?
We have to go.
JOHN: Annie!
What the fuck is
going on, Annie?
Tell me!
We have to bury the body now.
Agnes isn't dead.
Do you hear me?
- She is alive.
- Oh no.
Oh no.
You poor thing.
You must have changed
names, addresses,
your whole lifestyle.
[inaudible] You were just a kid.
[scraping]
[door slams]
[annie sobs]
[gentle music]
She killed him.
It was her.
She got into him.
She killed him.
[dramatic music]
[suspenseful music]
[door slams]
[agnes groans]
[agnes chants]
I swear to you...
[agnes groans]
I swear to you, Lucifer.
[inaudible]
Hide the darkness over your face
on account of your arrogance.
[agnes chuckles]
I expel you in all
of the fallen hearse,
which follow in your will.
I expel you, the
spirit of uncleanliness
revolted against the omnipotent
God and the army of his angels.
[agnes yells]
[breathing heavily]
[terrifying music]
Live forever.
In the name of the
father, the son...
You are...
...and the Holy Spirit.
...Duram
Oh God.
[dramatic music]
[birds chirping]
[sighs]
[music - "don't open your eyes"]
(SINGING) It is raining outside.
And the sun is long gone.
I sense that you
can read my mind.
But all my thoughts are forgone.
A pretty rose on
my chest you placed
with such care and grace.
The things around me come past
and you pour more gasoline
on me, like I'm possessed.
I really hope this is a dream,
imagination of the mind.
My soul, it can't be sacrificed.
It's nothing special.
It is blind.
But here I am, my
hands are numb.
And I hear the sound
of distant cries.
I can't resist and I succumb.
Then, someone whispers in my
ear, "Don't open your eyes."