[Voices whispering]
[Siren wailing]
[Flies buzzing]
MAN ON RADIO:
Good morning, London.
It's another brilliant
overcast day today.
[Engine turns over,
alarm beeping in distance]
[Whimpering]
[Indistinct whispering]
[Fly buzzing]
MAN:
You want any of this?
No, thanks.
[Tape rewinds, clicks]
I got what I need.
Thanks for making me
look good, guys.
Again.
Shit.
Amy Klein, nice of you
to join the meeting.
So, what about the story, then?
WOMAN: I couldn't get
a verification on it.
Oh. You're kidding?
We'll send someone up.
Thanks again for your
contribution, Klein.
WOMAN:
Great job, Amy.
Thanks.
Hey, Klein.
Nice reporting.
How about you
show me what you learned?
You want me to show you
what I learned?
Right here?
Right now?
Maybe later.
Maybe not.
Hey, Amy.
Good morning.
It's half past four.
Charles, Amy's here.
Bye.
I detect that unique
and ubiquitous combination
of nicotine and patchouli oil
that can only signal the arrival
of the delightful and
world-famous Amy Klein.
Eat me, Charles.
You know, it's exactly that
lack of respect for authority
that got you fired
from the "New York Post."
I wasrt fired.
I was reassigned.
Of course.
Lucky for you,
I opened my doors when I heard
that you'd become available.
And, by the way, I don't recall
ever being thanked properly
for this reassignment.
I seem to remember a similar
reassignment for you, Charles.
Well, look on the bright side.
We're back in the trenches
together, just like old times.
Don't get sentimental on me.
If this is about me being late
with my follow-up story,
I've got it all right here.
I was just about to...
It's not about your story.
Though I'm sure you're working
your usual insightful magic
on what will prove to be
yet another eye-opening expos.
I expect nothing
but brilliance in 5,000 words.
Or less.
But this, my dear...
is better.
What, then?
We're being sued again?
Somebody mailed us this thing
about two weeks ago.
What is it?
Porn or something?
Something.
Amy, with your encyclopedic
knowledge of skankology,
have you ever heard of Deaders?
Yeah, me.
I owe two months' salary
on my credit cards.
No, not "debtors."
Deaders.
D-e-a-d-e-r-s.
No, Charles, I've
never heard of Deaders.
Watch the tape.
MARLA: This is something
you must see for yourself.
Don't be frightened.
Fear is where you go to learn.
That's Anna.
She isn't ready yet.
I don't think she's
learned the truth yet from him.
Winter.
This is where Katia will commit
herself for you to see.
It won't be pretty.
I'm Marla.
Official dead activist.
Hi, me.
MAN:
There she is.
MARLA:
And I have to show you this.
Don't be frightened.
MAN:
She's here.
MARLA:
I don't like this part.
Shh.
Do you become one of us
of your own free will?
Yes.
Good.
Are you afraid?
Yes.
Good.
Fear is the place
we go to learn.
[Voices murmuring]
Say it for me.
My skin isn't real.
My eyes aren't real.
My bones, my heart,
my veins, and nerves,
and flesh, and meat aren't real.
[Crying]
Go on.
[Voices murmuring]
I'm not...
real.
I'm not real.
I'm not...
[Sobs]
Holy shit, Charles.
Just keep watching.
I am not real.
I'm not real.
I'm not real.
I'm not real.
I'm not real.
I am not real.
[Sobbing]
I'm not real.
[Gasps]
Oh, my God.
Did you call the police on this?
Just watch.
[Inaling]
[Gasping]
[Breathing heavily]
This is sick.
[Breathing heavily]
[Breathing slows]
[Gasps, coughs]
Tell me this is some kind
of special effect.
[Indistinct whispering]
I'm alive.
I'm okay.
I'm okay.
What the fuck?
Exactly what I said.
Maybe miracles don't just
happen at Lourdes.
Who says they happen there?
Might you, by some chance,
be interested in pursuing this?
You have anything
besides the tape?
Just a return address
on the envelope.
In Bucharest.
Romania?
Very good.
It's where the Eurotrash kids
looking for a good time
are heading these days.
Amsterdam is so '90s.
I still have my finger
on the pulse,
even though I know
you think I don't have one.
Ticket, hotel, per diem.
You know me too well.
It's what keeps me up at night.
Now's the part where I'm
supposed to say, "Be careful."
Amy.
Call me when you get settled.
Go away.
Go on.
Get out of here.
[Sniffs]
[Groans]
[Flies buzzing]
Have you lost something?
Yeah. I...
I'm looking
for my sister, Marla.
You don't know
your sister's last name?
Of course I do.
Look, Marla's a friend of mine,
and she's missing.
I just need
five minutes in there,
and then I'll know
all I need to know.
Hmm?
[Gasps]
Ohh.
Does it always smell
like that in there?
Like what?
Right.
[Groans]
Hey.
Five minutes.
[Flies buzzing]
Ugh.
Hello?
[Flies buzzing]
[Gasps]
God.
[Panting]
Aah!
[Gags]
[Gags]
Oh, no.
[Voices murmuring]
Aah!
[Shrieking]
Oh, fuck!
Shit.
[Panting]
Shit.
Shit.
Aah!
What are you doing in here?
Aah!
Aah! Aah!
[Man shouting]
[Sirens wailing]
Aah.
Whoever you are.
You were meant to find me today.
We all have the same story.
It's what brought us here.
You wouldn't be here
if you didn't belong here, too.
I thought if you saw it
and started believing it,
it might help.
Help all of us.
I'm starting to feel pain.
My eyes hurt.
The light really, really hurts.
And I don't know
how to get back.
I just don't want to be
here anymore.
I want to end it.
But I can't.
He'll expose
your own demons to you,
and he'll ask you to join him.
But don't, because there
is no turning back.
And above all,
don't open the box.
He needs for you to open
the box, but don't.
It's now up to you to stop this.
Please.
Go to the central
subway station.
At the south end,
wait for the last car.
Tell Joey I sent you.
He'll show you to them.
Please.
Please do it for us.
Open it?
Open what?
[Music-box song plays]
[Rumbling]
Aah!
Aah! Aah!
Don't think for a moment
you are not in danger.
Aah!
Aah!
[Telephone rings]
Hello.
[Heavy breathing]
MARLA:
Help us, Amy.
What?
I'm looking for Joey.
He's in the back.
MAN:
Yeah!
Ah.
Now here comes a daring soul.
A person committed
to a just cause.
Another seeker of the truth,
no doubt.
Are you Joey?
I've been called worse.
I have the pleasure
of meeting...
Amy Klein.
Amy Klein.
Somebody named Marla
sent me here to talk to you.
Mm?
I'm looking for a girl
named Katia.
And a man.
A man named Winter.
The plot thickens.
Don't tell me you're mixed up
with those motherfuckers.
Oh, jeez.
Moral-quandary time.
What should he do?
What should he do?
Why don't you just tell me
what you know about the Deaders?
You first.
What do you think they do?
I think they bring
the dead back to life.
Who are they, Joey?
Some say he's like
this fucked-up guru.
Some think he's not human,
or they think he's not real.
But they all live together
in this house.
Those who believe, I mean.
Where is it?
If you don't tell me,
someone here will.
You know, that's the problem.
You've got this fucked-up,
self-destructive thing going on.
And that is making me
very unappy.
Panduri and Kovacs.
Okay? The northeast corner.
Two doors down.
There are some stairs
that go all the way down.
But once you get mixed up
with them,
chances are you never get loose.
Amy Klein!
Don't do it.
Don't go there.
Change your name, go somewhere
else, become something else.
Can't do that.
I got that fucked-up,
self-destructive thing going on.
Yes, you do.
Only he can bring you back.
[Shrieks]
Aah!
No!
Where?
Where is he?
Where'd he fall?
Well, the men have looked.
And he wasrt there.
You don't seem
terribly surprised.
What do you want me to tell you?
I saw him.
Yeah.
So you've said.
Can you tell me again just
what it is that you saw?
I'm standing on the platform,
and I see this...
He had his back to the train.
That's him.
That's the guy.
- It's him.
- Hey.
- Hey, it's him.
- Hey!
Hey!
I saw what you did to Marla.
Stop! Get the fuck off me!
Get off me!
I know who you are!
That's the guy.
Get the fuck off me!
Stop him!
What the fuck are you doing?
Let go of me!
You won't get away with this!
Hey!
[Whistles]
You are lucky to have
a boss like me.
Once again, I have saved
your small but relatively
shapely behind.
At least you got to travel.
What were they gonna charge
me with, anyway?
Charge you?
They were thinking
of shipping you
to the asylum for observation.
Believe me, you go in there,
you don't come out.
Got your stuff?
Why did you give me
this story, Charles?
Who else would have taken it?
They're gonna think
it's bullshit,
or they're gonna be too afraid.
But Amy Klein.
Tell me it's real, Amy.
It's real.
Or I'm crazy.
Either way, it's a good story.
You see, Amy,
for the average person,
the hunger for knowledge
is like the hunger for food.
We want to know just enough to
take the edge off our appetite.
Then we're satisfied,
and we stop.
But you are a glutton.
You can't help overeating.
- I don't hear you complaining.
- No, that's the point.
That's why I still need you.
'Cause all that stuff
I don't eat, I still want.
So I send you in to do
the eating for me
so I get to experience it
without actually suffering
any mental indigestion.
Thanks a lot.
So, I do all the suffering.
Nobody's forcing anything
down your throat, correct?
No.
I'm not here to save people,
and I'm not here to judge them.
I take them as they come
and use them as they pass by.
You know, there's something
vaguely demonic about you.
Did you know the word "demon"
comes from the Greek word
for "knowledge"?
No, I didn't.
American education.
Hop in.
I'll give you a lift.
No, thanks.
I need the fresh air.
Then walk back to your room,
lie in your coffin until
the daylight hours have passed,
as is your habit,
then go get me my story.
Panduri and Kovacs.
[Bird shrieks, Amy gasps]
Damn it.
[Water dripping]
[Splash]
Aw, shit.
[Voices murmuring]
Hello?
[Flies buzzing]
Is anybody there?
Hello?
Is somebody there?
What the hell?
Whoa! Aah! Aah!
Oh, God!
[Grunting]
No! No!
No!
No, no!
Aah!
Aah!
[Breathing heavily]
Shh.
Follow me.
[Flies buzzing]
[Voices murmuring]
[Inaling]
[Gasping]
[Breathing heavily]
[Gasps]
[Gasps]
One of us.
[Indistinct whispering]
Amy Klein.
You know me.
I chose you.
You didn't choose me.
I came here to help Marla
and the others.
And what makes you think
they need help?
Tell me, Amy Klein, were you
afraid when you saw Marla?
Of what you found?
Yes.
What is it?
You might say
it's a family heirloom
passed down
through many generations.
Left here as a gift.
The way to cheat death.
An entrance to a world
of everlasting pleasure.
It rightfully belongs to me.
Though there are others
who might disagree.
Should I be honored or afraid
that you are here with me,
Amy Klein?
You tell me.
Don't dance with me.
Don't think for one second
that you're not in danger.
You are in more danger
than you ever imagined possible.
Who are you?
I am here to reclaim
what is mine.
And you are here to help me.
It is your destiny to be here.
I can give life back to those
who choose the dark over light
and will do so much more.
But first, I need your help.
What happened to Marla?
What did you do to her?
Marla?
Why, I accepted her, that's all.
That's all I've ever done
for anybody who's come to me.
She didn't want to become
one of you.
Whatever the hell you are.
That's why she killed herself.
Or did she?
Marla will never really die
because she's not really alive.
The more she doubts...
the deader she becomes.
I know what I saw
in that room was real.
It was real, like this flesh.
Do you think this is real?
This flesh?
This blood?
No.
[Child cries]
Do you think this thing
is a presence?
In all essential qualities,
it is less than nothing.
In all essential qualities,
we are less than nothing.
Not solid.
[Screams]
Not here.
And not real.
[Screaming]
What did you see?
What are you afraid of, Amy?
I'm not afraid of you.
Oh, yes, you are.
[Sobs]
You opened the box.
Now I need you
to take the next step.
The box and all its powers
belong to me.
Get off of me!
[Murmuring]
Let me go!
You're all crazy!
Let go of me.
Accept my gift.
No!
No!
Keep still, Amy.
Now give back to me
what is rightfully mine.
Get away from me!
No!
No more pain.
No!
Only pleasure!
- Yes!
- [Screaming]
[Gasping]
Get it together.
No. No.
[Screaming]
Aah!
[Thud]
[Gasping]
What the hell?
Shit!
What the fuck is going on?
No!
Holy shit!
No!
What the fuck is going on?
This is a dream.
This is a fucking dream.
This is a fucking dream!
No!
God, help me!
What have you done to me?
[Sobbing]
Help!
Aah!
No!
No!
No!
Oh, it's not real.
This is not real.
[Groans]
Aah!
Aah!
[Screams]
[Gasping]
[Voices whispering]
Aah!
[Telephone ringing]
MARLA:
Only he can bring you back, Amy.
What the fuck
have you done to me?
Not done.
Nor will I.
Who are you?
Why did you do this to me?
Who I am is no concern of yours.
And you may be assured
that this is not my handiwork.
Ask yourself this.
When you stand there,
your flesh exposed,
paddling in a pool
of your own blood,
why is it that you feel no pain?
Because I'm dreaming.
Because this is a fucking dream.
No!
Not a dream.
You have been recruited as
a soldier in another mars war.
A war that he can never win.
You opened the box,
and your soul belongs to me.
As does his.
The Deaders have discovered
an entry into my world.
My domain.
But they can only complete their
journey through you, Amy Klein.
And your only way back
is through me now.
I am your redeemer.
I am the way.
No!
[Speaking Romanian]
[Splash]
[Voices murmuring]
[Horn honks, tires screech]
[Man shouting in Romanian]
[Speaking Romanian]
Don't even start.
Joey.
Please, I need you to help me.
Help you with what?
Wow.
Are those real?
Joey, please!
I need you to fucking help me!
You gotta give in, Amy.
You're trying too hard.
Forget about the facts.
Forget about reality.
Just sit back.
Enjoy the ride.
There's nothing
you can do about it anyway.
We're all just pieces
in Winter's puzzle.
The box.
You're a person who's willing to
do anything to find the truth.
That's what I find attractive
about you.
That and the fact
you got a great ass.
But me and you ain't
all that different, really.
We'll do anything to go
to the edge, to the extreme.
You know what
our biggest problem is?
Neither of us know when
to get off the fucking train.
[Train rattles]
[Gasps]
Joey.
Joey.
Oh!
Oh, God!
Oh, God!
No!
Aah!
Aah!
No!
Aah!
No!
Aah!
Aah!
Aah!
Aah!
Marla?
What is happening to me?
You're dying.
Like me.
Come on, let's go.
Where?
That's for you to decide.
Marla, look at me.
I just want to go home.
Amy.
You are home.
Marla, wait.
Where are we going?
Home.
You said you wanted to go home.
Marla.
What happened to you?
Just think of it this way.
An hour ago, I stabbed you
in the heart,
yet you're still walking around.
Isn't that a bit unusual?
Yes.
Why aren't you dead, Amy?
No!
Why aren't I?
I don't know.
Because when it's dark enough,
there's no such thing.
There's no difference
between being dead and alive.
And now I'm here to help you
face your past, Amy.
Your demons.
I didn't choose you
to stab me in the back.
Aah!
Yes, you did.
But it was
only a rehearsal, Amy,
to get you used to this feeling.
You need to decide
what to do next.
Winter wants you
because you opened the box.
He needs you because of this.
But you'll help him only if you
become a Deader willingly.
And you can't have any doubts.
Guess I screwed up on that part.
Fear.
[Screams]
Fear is where you go to learn.
And sometimes where you stay.
[Gasps]
GIRL: No!
I'm sorry, Amy. I told you
there's no turning back.
[Door opens]
No!
Aah!
CHARLES:
Good morning.
[Gasps]
Amy, calm down.
Calm down.
We're gonna get you out of here.
What?
Look, I'm trying to get you
out of here, back to London.
But with that mess you made
in your hotel room,
they're not gonna
let you go so quickly.
Charles.
That's the best fucking news
I've heard in a long time.
Well, there you go.
There's a whole new definition
of optimism.
What about Marla and the story?
Forget about the story.
What's important is
you're back here, okay?
But, hey, you know, this is
a great story, too, you know?
You could call it
"My Psychotic Episode."
Or "Psychotic.
Episode One."
[Door opens]
Well, you look a lot better.
Maybe they'll let you use
some felt-tip pens
to take some notes.
How are we feeling?
Trapped.
What say we lose the charm
bracelets for now?
Unless, of course, you find
all this somehow stimulating.
Don't drag me into
your little fantasies, Charles.
Please.
I'm drawing pictures.
They're very lovely.
Mind if I join you?
Okay.
Want me to draw your picture?
I would like that very much.
[Giggles]
No peeking.
What do you think?
[Gasps]
[Whimsical music plays
on television]
Marla?
Marla, you're alive.
You say that
like it's a good thing.
Marla, what's happening to me?
Why am I here?
Ultimate pleasure.
More than anyone,
even those who have solved
the puzzle box before us
could have imagined.
Conditions of the nerve endings,
the likes of which
your imagination
could not hope to evoke.
At least that's what they say.
Trouble is, Winter
can't solve the puzzle.
Only a few chosen ones.
Just the right amount
of depravity and loneliness
in their souls can.
So he's been on this quest
for years.
Searching
for that one mythical person.
The one person
willing to both join us
and who can solve the puzzle.
It wasrt me.
Maybe it's Amy Klein.
Why me?
Why any of us, Amy?
We all have a dark past that we
keep hidden, even to ourselves.
He uses that against us.
But you're the chosen one, Amy.
You opened the box,
and only you can stop him now.
Remember that.
[Sniffles]
Looks like
you're running out of time.
[Sobbing]
No.
No.
No!
Leave me alone!
Ugh!
[Voices murmuring]
WINTER:
Finish it, Amy.
[Murmuring]
No.
Let all the pain go.
It is time for you
to finish your journey.
Aah!
[Murmuring]
Yes.
[Sobbing]
No!
JOE Y:
Come on, Amy.
You got that fucked-up,
destructive thing going on.
I don't belong here.
I'm sorry.
You see, you're one of us now.
All you have to do
is take the final step.
Yes.
That's it.
I don't think so.
Go to hell.
No!
It seems that evil
does run in the family.
Your lineage
is that of a craftsman.
A maker of toys.
You should have stayed
in the family business.
I sacrificed my mortal self
to that box.
It's mine now.
It belongs to me.
Well, that's where you're wrong.
Painfully wrong.
We belong to it.
You can't hurt me.
You're not the first
to say that.
[Rumbling, rattling]
And you won't be the last.
[Screaming]
Help!
Help me!
[Screaming]
No more!
[Screaming]
When you were tempted
to live beyond death,
you entered into my domain.
Oh, God!
You should be very careful
what you wish for.
Aah!
Stop!
Aah!
It just might come true!
Aah!
This world.
It obviously
disappoints you all.
That is why you chose to begin
this journey.
And since you gave yourselves
so willingly,
allow me to finish
what he started.
[Gasping]
[Groaning]
Oh, for fuck's sake.
So, Amy Klein.
You opened the box.
You brought us all together.
And now you must pay the price.
[Laughs]
It won't be so easy this time.
Yes, your father is with me.
And he is waiting for you.
MARLA:
You're here to stop this, Amy.
Don't let him take you.
Your soul is mine
and mine alone.
Only he can bring you back.
There is no way back
but through me!
I didn't give my soul to him.
I'm not gonna give it to you.
Aah!
[Music-box song plays]
[Rumbling]
No!
Witnesses say the building
at the corner
of Panduri and Kovacs
simply imploded sometime
in the early morning hours.
It is unknown at this time
if there were people
inside the building
or if there was anyone hurt
during the collapse
of the structure.
There are reports that victims
could be heard screaming.
Just talked to the police.
Still nothing.
She's just gone.
Left her hotel.
Left her clothes.
Left her money.
No sign of her anywhere.
See no Amy, hear no Amy.
Do you think something
has happened?
I don't know.
I just don't know.
The firefighters have been on
the scene throughout the night.
Too bad.
We may have a story.
The worst of the fires
seem to be put out.
I mean, until all this happened.
Other sources say
that it is highly unlikely
that anyone or anything
withstood the impact
from the destruction
of the building behind me.
This keeps getting
better and better.
Your 3:00 is here.
Hmm?
Miss...
- Turner.
- Turner.
Miss Turner.
Yes, pleasure to meet you.
Welcome to the team.
Now, look, I want to show you
a tape that I just received.
Now, it's a story you might be
able to wrap your head around.
That's, of course,
if you're willing.
A small relic found incredibly
and mysteriously undamaged.
We'll stay here
for the remainder of the day.