Veil, The (2023)

[bunniefuu]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[PANTING]

Tonight, at this crucial time,

I want to emphasize why it is so

important that we

have an energy plan

and what we will

risk as a nation

if we are timid or reluctant

to face this challenge.

It's crucial that you

understand how

serious [RADIO STATIC]

Energy problems

are getting worse.

[RADIO STATIC]summer

we used more oil

and gasoline than ever

before in our history.

More of our oil...

[RADIO STATIC]

Hey!

Listen.

You can't just

you OK?

Take me with you.

What?

Please.

Please!

He's coming.

Listen, miss, if

you need some help,

there's a clinic up the...

He's coming.

What is this?

What is this?

Please!

Let me go.

No, please.

No.

Let me go.

No, no, no.

Let me go.

Let me go!

No, wait.

Wait!

Please, wait!

No!

No!

[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

Yes, hello?

Hello, Father.

I'm a caretaker

for Mrs. Schuster.

The family asked

me to get in touch.

We think there isn't much time.

Can you come out?

Did you reach out

to Father Carver?

He serves the parish now.

He's really the one

you should be calling.

They insisted on you.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Should I tell them

you can't make it?

No, no.

I'm on my way.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Good morning, Lancaster.

We're back with your update on

the latest traffic and weather.

Skies are partly cloudy

heading into the afternoon,

with an expected high of

58 degrees around 2:00 PM.

Be on the lookout for

slippery road conditions

after this morning's

precipitation.

An accident on Route 30 is

snarling eastbound traffic

into downtown.

Commuters looking to avoid

delays on surface streets

will find some congestion

on Harrisburg Avenue.

A surge of layoffs

in the tech sector

is causing widespread

economic anxiety,

sparking pullbacks in

discretionary spending

and other measures.

In local news, the

Lancaster School Board

will discuss budgeting

for the next fiscal year.

[RADIO STATIC]

increased solar

activity in the form

of large flares

approaching their highest

levels of classification.

The agency director has

described their magnitude

as Carrington class.

[RADIO STATIC]... the most

disruptive solar storm

on record in 1859.

[SOBS]

I just wish there was more time.

Is that selfish of me, Father?

Love is stronger than

any earthly suffering.

I'm sure she would

have wanted that too.

How did she seem at the end?

Was she scared?

I'd be surprised if she wasn't.

It's perfectly natural

to fear the unknown.

What bigger unknown is there

than the life beyond this one?

What I do know is that

she knew she wasn't alone.

Your presence was a

great comfort to her

in the last moments.

So was yours.

[RADIO STATIC]

[TURNS RADIO OFF]

I don't suppose we could

convince you to stay

with the church, I mean.

There's still so

much work to do.

And not enough

time left to do it

not for me, anyway.

You haven't lost

your faith in God.

Have you, Father?

No.

Sometimes, I wonder if

He's lost faith in me.

[GRANDFATHER CLOCK CHIMES]

Oh.

k*lled by his own stampede.

Well, I guess that

settles his claim.

I'm happy you have your

land back again, Father.

No, my child.

[POWER SURGES]

Hmm.

Oh, what?

[BOXES TUMBLING]

[SPARKS ERUPTING]

[FLICKING LIGHT SWITCH]

[WOMAN CRYING]

Hello?

Hello!

[FOOTSTEPS OVERHEAD]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GRANDFATHER CLOCK CHIMES]

[WATER RUNNING]

[WOMAN CRYING]

[WOMAN CRYING]

He's coming.

He's coming!

Please!

Oh.

Ugh.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Can I help you?

I'm not where I thought I was.

Please excuse me.

Wait, wait, wait.

I heard crying in the woods.

Are you lost?

I...

[TWIG SNAPS]

Why don't you come

inside for a bit?

Warm yourself up.

Please.

OK.

Oh.

Are you OK?

Sorry, there's...

electricity went out.

Would you like to sit?

Or stand, whatever you like.

Can I get you some water?

Maybe?

I can't heat you up any soup,

but a sandwich, maybe?

All right.

Here you go.

Can we leave the light out?

Please?

Sure.

Yeah, I'll be right back.

What's your name, miss?

Sorry?

Your name?

If you don't mind, I'd rather...

Please.

Hannah.

I'm Douglas.

Here you go.

I'm sure the peanut

butter is not as good

as the way you folks make it.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[CLOCK TICKING]

Good?

Can I get you something else?

A fresh change of clothes?

Could I use the telephone?

I don't know.

Can you?

That's not supposed

to be a joke.

I just assumed...

What's that thing you all say?

You're "in the world,

not of the world"?

We use the telephone.

Well,

You're about six hours

too late, I'm afraid.

I don't understand.

Well,

Here, see for yourself.

No, this isn't a telephone.

Well, it's not now.

It must be bricked or something.

Bricked?

Yeah.

I can't get the darn

thing to turn on.

Guy on the radio said something

about a solar storm,

particles hitting

the atmosphere,

protons, ions.

I don't really know.

Science was never

really my strong suit.

All I do know is.

These lights showed up

as soon as the rest went out.

Have you ever seen

anything like it before?

Once, a long time ago.

Are you sure I can't

give you a ride home?

Somebody's probably

worried sick about you.

No.

No, thank you.

Oh,

I think you might be bleeding.

Oh.

Can I take a look?

[WINCES]

I think we need to

clean this right away.

Is that really necessary?

If you don't want it to

get infected, then yes.

I'll be right back.

[WATER RUNNING]

Are you looking for something?

I was looking for

a first aid bag.

I keep a kit in the kitchen.

This way.

I found this all sealed

up when I moved in.

[GRUNTS] It's a real shame.

Could use the extra heat

on cold nights like this.

But I've seen smoke.

The light.

Oh, I need to see

what I'm doing.

There's... there's

nobody around for acres.

Are you sure he won't see?

Who?

Your father?

My fi

my husband.

Oh, it's that new, huh?

Newer.

Weeks?

Hours.

Oh, I'm really

sorry to hear that.

OK.

Sit down.

Stocking too, please.

[WHIMPERS]

It's hot.

Is it too hot?

You OK?

OK.

[WINCES]

Are you sure you don't

have a telephone?

No.

[LAUGHS] I think I'd know.

Who is it you're

trying to reach anyway?

I think anybody you're trying to

call is probably already asleep.

You know,

you can talk to me, Hannah,

If you want to.

There's resources,

Women's shelters, counselors.

You don't have to

protect him, Hannah.

He already has more than enough.

What?

Protection.

Why don't I talk to him?

There's no talking to him.

There's only him talking at you.

Loudly.

Why don't you talk to me then?

Let me help.

You know, you can trust me.

I've kept a lot of other

people's secrets over the years.

I have nothing to hide.

Except yourself.

[GASPS]

There's a market

close to our farm.

A nice English family owns it.

The summer of my Rumspringa,

I found myself

befriending their son.

He's only a couple of

months older than me.

We spent a lot of time together,

just...

Talking,

Laughing, walking in the woods.

He was a good friend.

One kiss.

That's all, nothing more.

At the end of the summer, I

I decided to commit

myself to the Ordnung.

When I told him

I couldn't see him

anymore, he became upset.

He went around town

saying such awful,

wicked things about me,

Things I would never,

never do with my own husband,

let alone another man.

By the time I met

Abraham, I thought...

Your husband?

I thought it'd been forgotten.

You know how people move on

to the next exciting thing.

Mm-hmm.

But a man at the factory knew,

He knew my English friend,

and he remembered my name.

He told him the

the stories, the lies.

And he...

He never looked at me

the same way after that.

Hmm.

Did you ever try to

reach out to anyone?

A friend, a minister,

perhaps, maybe?

The minister's first

and only question

was what I had done

to make my husband

so angry with me.

Before I knew it,

Abraham was there

to take me home again.

I never even called for him.

Somehow, he always finds me.

Not here.

[DOOR OPENING]

Here we are.

I don't get too many guests,

so I mainly use it as a study.

Uh... oh, OK.

What else?

Oh, sheets.

There we go.

And... come on.

Come on in.

Do you need anything else?

A blanket, clothes?

No?

OK.

Oh, wait one second.

Don't want to forget this.

Here you go.

OK, so try to get some rest.

We'll wake up in

the morning, we'll

try to figure out

what to do next, OK?

You promise you won't

call for my husband?

I couldn't even if I wanted to.

OK.

Well, good night.

Hope I didn't wake the others.

The others?

Your family.

I live here alone.

I assumed you were

the grandfather.

The grandfather?

To who?

I've never had children.

Oh.

OK.

Well, I'll be downstairs

if you need me, so

just let me know.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SIGHS]

[HANNAH CRYING]

Hannah?

Is everything OK?

[MUSIC BOX PLAYS]

I'm coming in.

Hannah?

Hannah.

Hannah?

Hannah!

[ENGINE SPUTTERS]

[ENGINE SPUTTERS]

No!

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Oh, thank God.

I thought you'd gone.

I'm not where I thought I was.

Please excuse me.

Hannah?

Come back inside.

Before he sees you.

Please.

Oh!

Whoa.

You OK?

Go ahead and sit.

Or stand, whatever you like.

Let me take your coat.

Where did you go?

Hannah.

How'd you know my name?

It's me,

Douglas.

Could I use your telephone?

I don't... I don't have one.

You know that.

OK.

Could we leave the light out?

You were OK with it before.

I don't under...

Before?

Yeah.

I was cleaning up your...

What?

I... I really

I really must be going.

He'll see me.

He's coming!

It is you.

Do we know each other?

Abraham is not going

to find you here.

He can't hurt you anymore.

What?

The bruises.

On your wrist.

What bruises?

Wait a minute.

I saw them.

I want to show you something.

Do you recognize this person?

You don't remember me?

I've never seen you before.

You have.

When?

A long time ago,

When I was a young man,

Same age as I am right there.

I'm going to go.

Hannah.

I have the wrong house.

No.

Calm down, OK?

Just listen to me.

No, you really should...

Please let me go.

Give me the coat, OK?

Hold on.

OK, just listen to me.

You're hurting me!

OK.

Listen, please.

I just wanted to

use the telephone.

Hannah, you don't need one.

You're exactly where

you need to be.

I know how crazy this sounds.

But God works in

mysterious ways, right?

Hannah,

This is a miracle.

You are a miracle.

I am not going to

abandon you again.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hannah!

Hannah, just stop.

Listen!

Hello?

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Hello?

Where are they?

Where are they?

They're the ones that

live here, not you.

I don't know these people.

They let me use the

telephone sometimes

this one, the one

you lied about.

I didn't lie to you.

I'm not lying.

Hannah, please,

you have to believe me.

You are not where

you think you are.

What?

You're not when

you think you are.

What does that mean?

What does that mean?

No one has seen you for years,

Decades.

You're lying.

You just got to believe me.

Stay back.

Hannah?

Stop saying my name.

Hannah, just give me the phone.

Don't.

Give me the phone, Hannah.

Don't.

Hannah, just... just...

Stop!

Stay back.

Wait.

Stay away from me.

Hannah, you don't understand.

Please.

Just listen.

Please, leave me alone!

Wait.

Wait!

[TUMBLING]

[GASPING]

Oh, God.

Where is it?

Oh, oh.

[HANNAH CRYING]

It's going to be OK.

It's going to be OK.

It's going to be OK.

OK.

Stay calm.

Stay calm, OK?

Does that hurt?

I don't think it's broken.

Thank God.

What?

What?

What?

What?

Ice.

Ice?

Ice.

Ice.

Ice for the swelling, right.

[WATER RUNNING]

[GASPS]

What are you doing?

I wasn't lying to you before.

I've never seen that telephone.

I've never seen any of this.

What?

OK.

What are you doing?

Well, we don't have

everything we need

in my kit downstairs, so

we're going to

have to improvise.

There we go.

A little something

I learned on a

mission to South America.

OK.

Please, just let me go.

I won't say anything.

Where are you going to go?

Back to him?

Just let me help, please.

I know it hurts.

[HANNAH CRYING]

It's going to be OK.

One more moment.

40 years, not even a wrinkle.

You're going to have to tell me

your secret sometime.

He already knows I'm

here, doesn't he?

No.

You're keeping me

until he arrives.

I'm not going to let

that happen, Hannah.

I thought I couldn't

remember that face.

Please!

But I never forgot that look.

I've lived an entire lifetime

with the weight of that

decision that night.

It wasn't even

really a decision.

It's more like a

knee-jerk reaction,

which told every bone

in my body to just run.

No, please!

For years, I've just agonized

over what kind of horrible

fate I'd left you to.

I just hoped, in time,

maybe I could forget.

[TIRES SQUEALING]

[HANNAH SCREAMING]

I don't know why God has decided

to give me a second chance,

But now that I have one,

I have no intention

of squandering it.

I'm thirsty.

What?

Water.

Glasses are downstairs.

Please.

Sure.

[GRUNTS]

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

I'll just be a few minutes.

[WATER RUNNING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[SCREAMS]

[CRYING OUT]

Hannah!

Hannah!

Hannah!

[TWIG SNAPS]

Hannah, wait!

[CAR APPROACHING]

[BRAKES SCREECHING]

Hey, listen, you can't just

you OK?

Take me with you.

What?

Please.

Please.

He's coming.

Listen, miss, if

you need some help,

there's a clinic...

He's coming.

Who?

What is this?

What is this?

Please!

Douglas.

What did you say?

Take me with you.

You know my name?

Hurry.

Is he gone?

I think so.

I think there's a payphone

a couple miles down.

I'll take you there.

Call the police.

No.

Family, maybe?

No.

No, thank you.

OK, if that's what you want.

Where to?

What?

Where do you want to go?

Just take me to a doctor.

Yeah?

There's an after-hours

clinic in town.

I'll take you there.

Thank you.

What's your deal anyway?

What do you mean?

I mean, who are you?

That's a good question.

[MUSIC PLAYING]