Something of a Monster (2025)

[bunniefuu]

- There she is.

- About time.

If we miss this one, the next

train's not for two hours.

Mom.

Uh

Sorry, um, sorry, let me...

- So, um

- Yeah.

- You have everything you need?

- I don't know. I think so?

It gets pretty quiet up there.

I don't remember what the

television situation is.

Last time I was up there, there

wasn't any, but that was, you

know...

- Josh, it's fine.

- Okay.

I brought music. Some magazines.

Um

Plus, I guess, distracting

myself isn't the point.

Right.

You know, this is ridiculous,

I should be going with you.

Joshua,

that's out of the question.

- I just meant to the train

station. - Trust me.

It's better this way.

Better for who?

Better for everyone.

Hello?

Hello?

- Amelia?

- Oh!

- Wendy, right?

- Mm-hm.

Robin's upstairs.

You might not remember us.

We were at your wedding. I

didn't get a chance to say

hello.

Of course. I remember.

Not usually a wedding person

but it seemed like a nice one.

Flowers and whatnot.

- Can I take your things?

- Oh, I'm fine.

- Am I the only guest?

- First one of the season.

We're open April

to October so we're

- just getting things set up

right now. -

- Hey! Robin. Good to see you

again. - Oh.

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

That's what families do.

Aunt Ruby said you'll be staying

right up until we open.

So you have a while before

there's anyone to bug you.

Uh, no, I think,

um, it won't be

Uh, I was thinking, like, a week

at most, but I can help, too,

to get the hotel ready.

Um

Great!

Hey, we can have a

campfire after lunch.

It's cold, but it'll be

good for the fresh air.

In the meantime, you know,

take a look around upstairs.

Pick whatever room looks best.

It's nothing fancy or anything,

but it's all you.

And Amelia?

You really can stay

as long as you'd like.

Thank you.

I just can't believe

how pregnant she looks.

I didn't want to believe Aunt

Ruby, because it's Aunt Ruby,

but

I mean, wow.

Could you

keep your voice down?

I talked to her at the

wedding, and she seemed regular.

And how could Josh

marry a crazy lady?

Josh is so not crazy,

it's almost boring.

Trust me, that whole

side of the family is crazy in

their own way.

Dad didn't want anything

to do with half of them.

Well, were Bobby and his wife

the only ones to come to Dad's

funeral?

I don't know what

that girl's deal is,

but the best thing we can do is

keep her far away from the lot

of them.

Josh too, if I understand

Aunt Ruby correctly.

So don't be weird to her

and make things worse.

I wasn't.

So the boys were, like,

14 and 12 at the time,

which means I think

they're the coolest.

And Wendy's already in college

by then. So it's just the three

of us.

And Josh dares me to drop a

brick to the bottom of the pool,

jump in and hold

onto it for a minute.

So I'm down there,

clutching onto this brick.

And time goes by

and time goes by,

and I'm not seeing Josh

anywhere, and right as I'm about

to pass out,

Bobby jumps into the pool

and pulls me back up.

What happened to Josh?

He got, I swear to God,

distracted by a bumblebee.

- Oh, my God, that's

perfect. - Right?

Our dad almost lost his mind

when he found out.

I'm pretty sure that's the

last summer they came out here.

Where's the pool?

- Sorry?

- The pool from the story?

You're

actually sitting on it.

Dad emptied it out and filled

it in about nine years back.

That's too

bad. Why fill it up?

There was an accident.

Oh, we're sorry to

hear about your mom.

Oh, yeah. Thank you.

- Can I get you anything other

than water? - No, no. I'm okay.

There's a lot of

great hiking trails back here.

Should check it out tomorrow.

I don't know how familiar you

are with navigating trails in

the winter.

You don't get much winter

at Nags Head, right?

A little, some.

But not like this.

I grew up in Alaska, though.

So I did a ton of hiking out in

those parks when I was little.

- Not much since.

- It's nice down there.

Robin was born after we moved up

here, but I still remember it.

- Why'd you all leave?

- Mom hated it.

We came up here,

took over this place.

Hotel used to

really be something.

It sort of fell apart after Dad

died. We're trying to get it

going again.

It's slow going.

I think it's great.

It's a nice change of

pace from Nags Head.

It's different.

You get a lot of the same

rhythms with the tourists.

In the offseason, there's a lot

of the same moments of quiet.

Wendy loves quiet,

thinks it's a selling point.

I say don't believe the hype.

Yeah, trees, mountains, sure.

But there's also only, like,

seven guys out here, and I've

divorced half of them.

All losers.

Duly noted.

Are any of those

gentlemen doctors?

I was going to say it's not

an emergency. But it is.

Or at least it's

really important.

It's okay, little thing.

Hopefully, this will all be

cleared up tomorrow,

and we'll be back on the train

going home to Dad by nightfall.

If everything goes right.

- Hi.

- Hey, how are the boys?

Oh, the boys are both at that

busted old grill. Josh is trying

to get it lit,

and Bobby is telling him

how he's doing it wrong.

All right, two of them

are working on it together.

- So I guess we're gonna order

pizza. -

Yeah.

Thank you, by the way,

for setting all this up for us.

Oh, my God, of course.

No, it was my pleasure.

I mean, Josh has told us a

little bit about how long you've

been trying

and how hard it's been.

And now that you've finally got

your miracle,

feels like the least I could do.

You've done a lot, honestly.

You, Bobby, Ruby, your whole

family has really helped me out

this year.

- You're including Ruby? - I

believe I'm contractually

obligated.

Hey, look,

I know you'd probably rather

your mom be the one doing all

this stuff with you,

but you're one of us, okay?

We got you covered.

And your mom was very crafty,

and she would have made a much

better centerpiece than what I

made.

Oh! It's cute.

- Is that a Nags Head thing...?

- Okay, it's supposed to be you.

I made them out of pregnancy

test sticks I found at the

pharmacy.

I thought it'd be cute,

and less, you know, Wicker Man.

No. It's great. It

looks just like me.

I've never actually seen

these things before.

Really? Not even at

a doctor's office?

No, by the time I went to the

doctor, we already knew I was

pregnant,

so they didn't even

do a real test or anything.

Oh, wow. I... I

didn't know that.

So how did you find out?

I mean, you know,

started to be obvious.

No, period, and look at me.

But you didn't go to

a doctor. You didn't take a

pregnancy test.

No. I went, they looked at me.

It was clear I was pregnant. I

don't really remember any tests.

- Have you been back? - This is

starting to feel a little weird.

Hey, ladies, I regret to

report that Josh has deemed the

matches

at his disposal inadequate.

- He's hoping somebody has a

lighter. - Nobody has a lighter,

Bobby.

Amelia was just telling me

how she hasn't been to a doctor.

That's not what I said.

You haven't been to a doctor

for your pregnancy?

I did go to the doctor at the

beginning. They said everything

was normal.

Did they do an ultrasound?

- What?

- Oh, my God.

Why doesn't she know

what an ultrasound is?

Bobby, I am learning

things as you are.

This is what I was

talking about. Josh!

Living out here in

the middle of nowhere.

In Raleigh, they test

these things all the time.

How many ultrasounds did we take

with Quentin? A million. Josh!

Get in here.

Can we all calm down?

It's not a big deal.

I can go back to the doctor.

There's been no pain or issue.

- Somebody screaming my name in

here? - Your wife hasn't been to

the doctor?

- That's not what I said.

- She's gone to the doctor.

She says she's been once

and hasn't been back.

- You're not going to the

doctor? - I'm sorry. Josh, is

that a question?

- You haven't gone with her? -

No, I mean, I'm working all the

time.

Jesus Christ, Josh,

how g*dd*mn stupid are you?

Hey, we can't all have

your fancy lawyer job, Bobby.

I pilot a fishing boat 60 hours

a week. I haven't been around

for the checkups.

What checkups? The fake

checkups she's not going to?

- Would you calm down? -

You have to go to the doctor

Dr. Egan?

So, tell me what

brings you in today.

Uh, well, I know it

sounds ridiculous,

but I need a doctor

to confirm I'm pregnant.

Have it be documented somewhere.

Um, I should be almost

seven months along.

Should be.

Do you need this documentation

for anything specific?

Uh, just for me, honestly.

Just to know, without a shadow

of a doubt, and be able to prove

that.

And what makes you believe

you might not be pregnant?

I don't, um I just

want you to confirm it.

Um, there was a doctor back from

where I'm from, North Carolina,

who determined that I wasn't.

I see.

And was there a doctor

who determined that you were?

I mean, the evidence

is right here.

I, uh.

I have all the symptoms.

I'd feel it kicking

me most every night.

Little kicks that when I lay my

hand on my belly, I'd feel pop

out at me.

So I think it's

logical to assume that

maybe the test was compromised

somehow, or the nurse wasn't

trained properly.

Um, that's possible, right?

So I think the ultrasound

must have been wrong,

or the nurse wasn't experienced.

So I need a real professional

like you to make the

determination.

Well, let's put this

to bed, shall we?

Are you willing to

provide a urine sample?

This is a color stick.

Ninety-nine percent accuracy.

If it turns blue, you're

absolutely correct.

You are pregnant.

I'm happy to attest to that,

and any documentation you need.

But if it stays white, then

Well, let's just

take the test, yes?

You said it was 99

percent accurate?

- That's correct.

- But doctor, look at me.

Is there a different

kind of test?

Like, maybe my body just isn't

producing the right hormone, or

whatever,

that the test is looking for?

Something else

could explain this.

I've felt kicks before.

I'm happy to do another test,

but as it appears, it is

extremely likely you are not

currently pregnant.

But how ca... How can you sa...?

How is that even...?

How is that possible?

There is a condition I know

little about. Pseudocyesis.

Have you experienced extreme

emotional pain or loss in the

past year?

No.

Please.

Take this with you.

What you need now,

in my opinion, is solitude.

Time for reflection.

This is the only time I'd

recommend this as a medical

professional,

but miss, have a stiff drink.

No, no, I need a

I need a board-certified

specialist to get to the bottom

of this.

Like, something must be wrong.

Like, why not even try to

explore other options that could

explain this?

Yes. Something is very wrong.

Your body created

something of a monster.

Tricked you into thinking

you're something you were not.

It's fantasy.

Explain the kicks.

Explain those.

If you feel something when you

put your hand on your belly,

- I'd get checked for a tumor.

- Okay.

Just... Did someone talk to you?

I'm not sure what you mean, but

if no one has said this to you

yet,

let me be the first

to say I'm sorry.

I am.

My mother in law called you.

There's nothing we can do.

I'm sorry.

You told me

you were going to the doctor.

- No, I didn't.

- Of course you did. You...

After you missed your second

period, you went to the doctor.

You... You came home.

You said he confirmed it.

Again, I did go to a doctor, but

they wanted to do this invasive

exam,

and I just... With my mom,

I was uncomfortable.

And it's not like they

pressed the subject.

So they just determined how many

weeks along I must have been

from my last missed period.

I was just telling Susan that

technically, I never took a

test.

What does it matter?

Something could be wrong

and we wouldn't know.

Well, this is the first that

you're expressing any concern.

I will schedule

another appointment.

Whatever.

Right now, though,

I mean, everything's going well.

I don't need a doctor.

Like mother, like daughter.

What are you doing?

Why are you trying to start

something, bringing my mom into

this?

I'm sorry, but how am I not

supposed to see that parallel?

You're

Your mom gets cancer, she

doesn't go to the doctor, and

she dies.

And your response is to not

go to the g*dd*mn doctor?

You didn't seem to think it was

strange until your brother told

you otherwise.

Now that he has, don't you think

there's something we should do

about that?

Sure.

Fine.

- I want you to see the doctor.

- I already said that I would.

Today.

Now.

Pfft!

I think she's crying.

Leave her alone right now, okay?

I think we'd only make it worse.

So you're

saying there's no baby?

There's never been a

baby the whole time?

Oh, my God I... I'm so sorry.

You have nothing

to apologize for, Susan.

It's all unbelievable.

Amelia made the whole thing up.

She didn't make it up, Mom. She

thought she was pregnant, too.

It's called pseudo

It's like, oh, my God, I wrote

it down. It's called

pseudocyesis.

- The doctor said it's like a condition.

- - Like a hysterical pregnancy?

No, I've heard of that. I

think they did a 20/20 on that.

She missed her periods,

and look at her.

I mean, what was she

supposed to think? Right?

Would you say something?

I've gained weight

before, too, Joshua,

and I didn't just

assume I was pregnant.

- What is the matter with you? -

Mom, I think we just got a

diagnosis.

I'm getting a drink.

Anybody want a drink? Uh, Josh?

Amelia, you could probably

use one right now.

Bobby, she can't have a drink.

Babe, I think we

literally just heard she can.

Do they all really

have to be here for this?

Uh, no, we absolutely

do not. Susie, get your coat.

Susan, sit down.

- Of course we have to be here

for this. -

We're family.

We stick together, and we

need to figure out what to do.

Well, she'll need to talk

to a therapist, obviously,

but the doctor says that

this, like, works itself out,

um, once the woman accepts

that there is no baby, so

And have you accepted this?

I don't know.

Right now, I am more concerned

with what our plan is regarding

everyone in town.

They all know us. They know

Amelia. They know she's

expecting a baby.

- We have to tell them

something. -

And I assume the truth

isn't on the table?

Robert, drink your drink.

I think the solution is simple.

Amelia leaves town for however

long it takes to correct

herself.

We tell everyone

she lost the baby.

People understand that.

They know what that is.

- Where should we go? - Well,

you're not going anywhere.

We have the business.

Bluefin don't catch themselves.

Besides, I'm sure

Amelia needs space.

- Mom.

- Don't you, Amelia?

Mom, that's nuts. We can't

leave her alone right now.

She won't be alone. I'll call

your cousins in the morning.

Wendy and Robin? Why are

you roping them into this?

- You don't like them either.

- That's not true.

It's never been a problem for me

that their mother was Black.

- Je... Jesus Christ.

- What's so funny?

No.

It's just you should probably wait until someone suggests that.

The point is, they're family.

Yes, they're strange,

but my brother was strange as he

delighted in showing us over and

over.

The hotel is remote and out of

season, so no one will bother

her.

It's perfect.

There, that's decided.

I don't know, Mom.

Uncle Chuck's hotel

is in upstate New York.

That's hundreds of miles away.

Yes, Joshua.

That's the whole point.

Amelia!

Amelia!

Did I ever tell

you much about your grandma?

Not your dad's mom, mine.

She was so courageous.

I got lost wandering outside

a cabin we stayed at once.

It was so dark

I couldn't find my way back.

And cold.

I'll take you there

when you're older.

It's a gorgeous,

heartless, frozen tundra.

But your grandma found me.

A twenty-man search party

couldn't, but she did.

She would have loved you.

You would have loved her.

I can't lose you both, okay?

Hello.

Hello?

Do you need something?

Are you okay?

Are you lost?

You can come inside, you know.

Ma'am, do you need me

to call someone for you?

- Hey! Hey!

- What are you doing?

There was someone there.

- There was a lady. I think

she's lost. - No. It's a

black...

It's a black bear that's been

trying to break into our ice

box.

It wasn't a bear.

It was a woman,

fully clothed and everything.

- Trust me, it was a bear.

- It wasn't a bear.

It's done this, like, four times

since coming out of hibernation.

I'm sorry, I'm not

trying to start anything,

but it... It was a woman.

- I think we need to call

someone. - Okay, look.

I don't need to be the one to

tell you how darkness can play

tricks on you,

especially in the

middle of the woods.

I saw it myself from the window.

It was a black bear up on its

hind legs by the tree right

there.

It was a bear, okay?

No, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no!

Great.

I think I have to stop talking

to you for a little bit, okay?

I want you to hear

your mama's voice, but

Mama might be losing

her grasp a little bit.

And I do want to be

a good mom someday.

God, I'd do anything.

I swear I would do anything.

So I have to be good.

Morning.

- Coffee?

- I'm good, thanks.

So I learned the hard way that

you guys have a bear problem.

Bear problem? What

are you talking about?

I was outside last night, and I

guess it got really close to me.

I couldn't really

see it, though.

That doesn't make any sense.

And it's March. There

are no bears out.

Wendy said it was the same one

that's been breaking into your

food supply.

Oh

Oh, yeah, that one.

You said you saw it?

I didn't. No, not really.

I thought it was

something else at first,

but then your sister swooped in

and scared it off.

Oh, gotcha.

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure you

have bigger ones up in Alaska.

You know, those black bears

can be real nasty.

Yeah, I'd, um

stay away.

Does that

mean...? Are you sure?

That it's been two months?

Yeah, I should have gotten it

around the 15th of last month,

and then again around the 15th

of this month.

And we're well past that. When I

didn't get it last month, I

thought,

like, it's unusual, but not like

a medical emergency or anything.

- But two missed, that... That

means... - I don't want to jinx

it.

I think I might be pregnant.

It's okay.

I think you dropped

this last night.

I'm not going to hurt you.

I'm sorry that woman scared you.

She thought you were a bear.

I'd really like to help you.

If you'd let me.

We've got food inside.

Blankets.

You don't have to stay. You

can take what you need and go.

If you could just

tell me your name,

I think I could help you

to find your family.

So I know this sounds insane

and you already think I am,

but there was something outside

and it tried to... Tried to

attack me.

- Outside. Just now.

- What was it?

The thing that Wendy said

was a bear is not a bear.

It is a person. It is a woman.

I don't know. I just...

Just, just come look.

Uh, okay.

It's gone.

Are there any other entrances?

Do you lock the doors at night?

Really?

Sorry, I just woke up.

What was it? It attacked you?

Yeah, I mean, it tried to.

It swung at me with something

sharp at my stomach.

And it wasn't a bear.

I mean, I couldn't... I wasn't

sure, but it was a woman.

Well, my sister does have the

occasional gentlewoman caller.

They're usually not stabby.

I know what you think you know

about me, what I'm sure Ruby has

told you.

But I would really appreciate

just being believed right here.

- No, no, no, I do.

- Everyone good?

Amelia says a woman outside just

now tried to attack her with a

knife or something?

- Something. I'm not sure.

- I see.

It wasn't a bear,

Wendy, if that's what you're

thinking.

It was a woman and she was

homeless. But I don't know where

she was from.

So first thing in the morning, I

need a lift to the closest

sheriff's station

so we can report this.

Okay.

Thank you.

We'll come up with

a game plan in the morning.

For the moment, try

not to go outside.

If you need anything,

just give a shout.

The place is locked up and

critter-proof. You're safe in

here.

Good night.

What are we going to...?

- Are you really gonna

drive her? - I don't know.

If you don't, I think

she's only gonna get more

- I understand. I understand.

- paranoid.

And what's the worst that can

happen? Maybe it's a good thing

she's reporting

- that there's a lady out in the

woods. - She didn't come here to

be called crazy.

And you don't want the whole

community in an uproar.

Yeah, whatever. We've

been through this.

But maybe if an outsider reports

that there's a lady in the woods

to the sheriff's department,

they'll take it more seriously.

I doubt it. And I don't know how

all this could be helping her

get over the phantom

pregnancy thing.

Have you spent

more than five minutes with her?

I don't think she's any closer

to accepting that.

Hey, what's going on?

- Amelia. Hi. These are

officers... - Ma'am.

- Are you Amelia Sedge?

- I just said her name.

- We want to know what happened

last night. - Oh good. Of

course.

Can I get anyone coffee?

Actually, uh, maybe just give

the three of us a moment.

It's fine, I already told Wendy

all about everything.

Is that a confession?

- Confession of what?

- I'm sorry.

Is Amelia in some

sort of trouble?

Everyone, let's take

the temperature down a bit.

No one's in trouble right now.

We just want to talk to Mrs.

Sedge privately.

- I'll be watching you at the

window. - Your window, ma'am.

Let's start over. I'm Officer

Branch. This is Officer De Luca.

- We want to talk to you about

last night. - Great.

Uh, I don't know

what you already know, but...

- We know everything, so cut the

sh*t. - De Luca.

The other day you went

to see Dr. Egan in town?

Uh, yeah, but I don't know

what that has to do...

- Where were you yesterday

night? - Here.

Why are you asking

about the doctor?

Last night, Dr. Egan's

office was broken into.

Medical instruments were stolen.

Forceps. A speculum.

Amniotic hook.

Listen, there was a

woman here last night.

She looked like a hermit, but

she tried to attack me with

knives.

They could have been medical

instruments. I don't know.

I think we should get a search

party out in these woods to look

for her, you know.

- See if she's been living out

there. - Um sure.

We'll get someone on that.

But in the meantime,

Dr. Egan is deeply concerned.

Well, he probably should be.

She's very disturbed.

- She needs help.

- Yeah, we think so, too.

We understand you recently received upsetting news from Dr.

Egan.

What?

Mrs. Sedge, you're

not actually pregnant, are you?

Look, here's

the bottom line.

Dr. Egan very kindly

does not want to press charges.

We have no proof of anything.

We're not looking to investigate

going forward, as long as

there's no further incident.

Whatever you came here to do,

just do it peacefully.

And don't be trying to go back

to Dr. Egan's office again.

Not even for a flu shot. Or we

will find a charge to press.

You better come inside.

I didn't want to say anything

while they were here.

But I found these on the porch

this morning?

That was what the woman

attacked me with last night.

And these particular items,

do you think she was ?

- Don't make me say it.

- After my baby?

Or what, she thinks...?

- I gotta get out of here.

- Agreed.

I need to make a call.

Hello?

Ruby. Is Josh there?

Amelia, why are

you calling here?

It's my house. I need

to speak to Josh.

That's not a good idea, Amelia.

Is he there? Why are you

picking up the phone?

Of course I rushed right over

when Bill Egan called me this

morning.

Dr. Egan called you

this morning, too?

Busy morning for Dr. Egan.

Bill was good friends

with my brother.

I've known him 20 years.

I know everyone up there.

He was very concerned

when you went to see him,

still trying to prove

you're pregnant.

And then you break

into his office?

- Unbelievable.

- I didn't do that.

I did not break into

the man's office.

But I do know who did, and I'm

in some real serious danger.

There is a woman who lives near

the Sherwoods who's targeting

me.

She tried to use those tools

on me last night.

Ruby, I think she wanted

to take out the baby.

I need Josh to know that I'm

coming home on the train,

tonight.

You're doing no such thing.

Especially not if you're causing

mayhem up there, still imagining

things.

I'm not imagining anything.

Put Josh on the phone.

You don't even sound

like our Amelia anymore.

I don't know if

you're lying or crazy,

but you're playing an ugly game

with my firstborn,

teasing him with a

child, and now this.

We're the only family you've got

now, and we've only ever treated

you right.

If you want to be welcomed

back home, all is forgiven,

then you need to put in the

work. Admit to yourself there is

no baby.

Until then, no one's

coming after you.

Get your mind right, get that

ridiculous pregnancy bump back

to normal.

All of us, yourself

included, deserve that.

Am I understood?

Tell Josh I called.

He already knows.

Hm.

I'll wire my nieces some train

money once I've gotten a good

report.

You did not have to

talk to her like that.

I'm sorry, Joshua,

but what am I supposed to do?

Now she's breaking into a

doctor's office? She's getting

worse, not better.

Hard to believe that stranding

a crazy woman in the woods

- didn't magically cure her.

- - Robert, you're not being helpful.

You don't actually know

that she broke in anywhere.

I mean, what would she

even be trying to do?

None of this sounds like her.

Well, neither did faking

a pregnancy, but here we are.

It's time to admit maybe we

didn't know Amelia as well as we

thought.

Okay, Mom, you've made your point.

This has all been a lot for him.

Why don't you go home

and give him some time?

- My son needs me here.

- No, he doesn't.

Fine.

I'll go.

But if you ask me, everyone

in this family is insane

except for me.

You ready to pack up

and head out soon?

I'm not leaving, apparently.

Are you sure?

Because we believe you. We don't

think it's safe for you to stay.

I don't want anything to do

with that thing in the woods.

I don't wanna cause

anyone any grief.

I just want to get over this

and I want to go home.

You wanna go for a

walk or something?

- Or you just want to be left

alone? - I Sorry.

I know all this has been really

hard. You're catching me at a

really weird time.

We don't mind. We just

wanna make sure you're okay.

I'm going out. If Josh

calls, I'll be back tonight.

Okay, she's gone.

- Do you want another beer?

- Sure.

It's 11 a.m. Let's get smashed.

How are you, uh, doing?

I don't know.

I really don't, you know. This

whole thing has gotten so out of

control.

I don't know what

to do about it.

And just to be clear, you do

know you don't have to do what

Mom says, right?

A-ha. Sure.

Right.

Uh Wasn't a joke.

You really don't have to.

Well, Bobby, that's

easy for you to say.

You've got the perfect son.

You've got the perfect job.

Perfect wife, perfect little

grandson. There's nothing for

her to complain about.

Come on. I get it from her, too.

You know, she hates that Susan

and I are out in Raleigh.

She hates I don't help

with the business.

I turned down UNC

because I got into Cornell.

She called me a traitor.

She thought I went to law school

to become general counsel

for the family fishing boat.

It's Mom. She's gonna find

something to complain about.

But the day you realize you

don't have to do what she says,

trust me, it's a good day.

You said that you think

Amelia's crazy, too.

You all did. I was the only one

arguing for her to stay.

I think it doesn't matter

what I think or what Mom thinks.

What do you think?

I mean, this is your

life. Your wife.

What do you want to do?

Congratulations.

Shame about Reagan.

Starting to get

signs of Alzheimer's.

In the morning, he goes to the

bathroom and washes himself.

- Mm. - And this is before he

gets out of bed.

Can I, uh,

get you started with anything?

If I ordered a beer,

would you serve one to me?

I'd be a pretty

bad bartender if I wouldn't.

What about something harder?

Three whiskey shots lined up

right here.

You'd do that?

Sure. Is, um,

house whiskey fine?

- Totally fine.

- Okay.

That's just fine.

All right.

Is there anything else

that I can get for you?

Do you know?

What, you...? What else

you want? No, I don't know.

Well, I obviously

look pregnant, right?

You can see that.

Uh, that's not really any of

my business.

It's just a yes or no.

I'm sorry, um, I don't know

what you want me to say.

How y'all doing?

You ever seen a pregnant lady

take three shots in a row

before?

Nobody over here is bothering

you, miss. Please don't bother

us.

Wait, you're that

pregnant chick?

That's that pregnant chick.

The one that's not pregnant.

- A pregnant chick who's not

pregnant? - She's like fake

pregnant.

She tried to k*ll Doc

Egan or something.

You know about that too?

Seems like everybody

in this town knows everything.

Except why there's

a homeless lady

living in the woods

in the middle of winter,

right under your nose.

Nobody knows

anything about that.

I guess I hit a sore spot.

Amelia!

Amelia!

Amelia!

sh*t.

We're a little unsure

about the arrangement here.

- She's under your care?

- I wouldn't say our care.

She's our cousin's

wife. She's visiting.

Well, she's probably

best off doing her visiting

here.

- She's worn out her welcome in

Woodgrove. - You're outlawing

her from town?

- What is she, Billy the Kid?

- - Please work with us on this.

This is our second

call about her today.

We're trying to be sympathetic,

but if there's another incident,

- our hands are kind of tied. -

We've got her. I

promise.

Oh, little thing. I'm so sorry.

I don't know what I'm.

I don't know why I did that.

Did I hurt you in there?

Are you in there?

Can you hear me?

I'm gonna come find you, okay?

'Cause that's what

a good mom does.

Just wish you had a flashlight

you could shine out my belly.

Make it easier to find you.

I'll find you anyway.

I'm going to take a

lap around the house.

Make sure she hasn't returned.

Be careful. We have some sh*t we

have to figure out in the

morning.

Come back, come back, come

back, Matty! Matty, come back!

Please, Matty. Please,

please, come back!

You're barking up

the wrong tree, Genevieve.

Telling you that right now.

Jeez

Oh, we just wanted to make sure

you were okay.

Uh, thanks. Again,

I'm really sorry.

I know I must be a nightmare

for you staying here.

We've had worse guests.

Good, you're up.

Come. I need to

talk to you both.

I get it if you guys want me

out, but I don't really know

where to go.

I can't go back to

Nags Head yet and

You're welcome here

as long as you want.

Truly.

It's possible you're

not gonna wanna stay.

There's some things I need

to tell you about this place.

Not just this hotel.

This town, Woodgrove.

Okay?

I told you there

was an accident in the pool?

- A little boy drowned.

- Matthew.

I was asleep when it happened.

I wake up to Dad,

shaking me awake, sobbing.

Still wake up to that.

Dad blamed himself.

Matthew's dad sure did too.

But I mean, f*ck him,

right? Where was he?

Not her.

Genevieve, she was kind to Dad,

even right after.

So she and the husband made

their arrangements and left.

And then three months later,

Genevieve comes back. Just her.

She wanted to stay here a while.

Even though Matthew's body

was buried back home,

she felt like his soul

had stayed here or something.

So of course we let her stay.

For free, too. What else could

we do?

People of Woodgrove weren't the

kindest to her, called her

batty.

We didn't know what to do with a

woman grieving that hard, that

long.

She tried to show up to

some fire department pancake

luncheon

or some community bingo night,

but no one really welcomed her

in.

She made them uncomfortable

and they treated her strange.

- Kept her at a distance.

- We made her worse.

Nasty.

We didn't help her. None of

us did. We didn't know how.

He wouldn't ask her to leave,

but Dad couldn't take the guilt.

I mean, she'd stare at the pool,

night and day.

We'd watch her from the window,

afraid she'd jump in.

So your dad filled in the pool?

I think that broke her somehow.

Like we disturbed

Matthew's grave.

Soon after that,

Genevieve disappeared.

Time passed.

Dad passed.

Reports of break-ins started

popping up. Just small things

stolen.

She was still here,

just living out in the woods.

And the people of Woodgrove did

not know what to do with that

either.

So we just didn't

talk about it.

Woodgrove survives on tourism,

on being idyllic and charming.

We didn't know where she was, if

she was, and so we just didn't

talk about it.

And soon no one did

ever.

That's how these

things happen maybe.

There's no collective,

organized shunning.

No one got together and decided.

But it was enough.

You banged pots and

pans at her like an animal.

I did.

I was afraid she would do

something to you, to us.

You insisted she was a bear.

I'm sorry. It just felt easier.

- Easier? For who?

- Please don't blame Wendy.

We didn't want you to freak out.

And you were already going

through a lot.

We couldn't have

predicted all of this.

There is a grieving mother

living in the woods right now.

And nobody wants to go and,

like, get her? Bring her

somewhere safe?

- What's wrong with all of you?

- We've tried, Amelia.

Not hard enough.

Meanwhile, the whole town's

acting like I'm the crazy one.

And you're not. That's why

I'm telling you this now.

It's important that you know.

Especially given that you're

going through all this.

As for Genevieve,

I don't know if she's dangerous,

but I do know her

to be unpredictable.

And she is still

very much around, watching.

She could be watching

us right now.

Let's all get out of

town for a few days.

Drive up to Albany or somewhere.

Make her think that

you've left for good.

Then we can think about

trying to get her some help.

If we leave now,

we can be in Albany by 7:00.

I'm just saying it'll

only be one extra hour to our

trip

if we go to New

York City instead.

This isn't a vacation, Robin.

Amelia could be in danger.

Being in a city

surrounded by people and

concrete and pizza

won't be the worst

thing right now.

Plus, we get to see Cats.

Josh?

- Is it okay if I come in?

- Close the door behind you.

Um, actually, you guys, I'd love

to speak to Amelia for a couple

of minutes,

if that's okay? And then maybe

we can all catch up later.

Yeah. Yeah. Of course.

We'll be right here.

Amelia.

- Josh, why are...? You're here.

- I'm here.

How are you?

You know, not too good.

This whole sending you away

thing was such a stupid idea.

My mom is.

I'm so sorry.

- I missed you.

- I missed you, too.

I want you to come home, and it

doesn't even have to be home.

I just... I want you with me.

I'd like that very much.

And okay, I hope this comes out

the right way,

but I wanted to

say I am so sorry.

And also that I completely

forgive you for all of this.

I don't want you to feel guilty

or ashamed about it.

And I hate that we

made you feel that way.

It was such a weird

time for us all,

with your mom passing and me

being upset about us not

conceiving, but whatever.

It doesn't matter. This is just

something that happened to us.

And now we can move on

and we can rebuild the trust.

And I'm going to be better.

I'm going to be more attentive

and whatever else you need.

This whole week has been

like a Twilight Zone episode.

There is a woman who lives

outside in the woods who is

watching me.

Josh, I tried to tell your mom,

but she came at me one night

with this scalpel thing that she

stole from the doctor in town,

who your mom is

apparently close with.

So now I'm essentially banned

from going back into town,

and no one will believe me.

- What?

- I'm not kidding.

You can ask Wendy or Robin.

She's trying to take my baby

out.

- Like, cut... Like cut it out.

- What woman? What are you

talking about?

- Amelia, you... You don't have

a baby. - Josh.

That's the whole...

- That's what we're doing.

- Josh, I need you to focus.

The woman thinks I'm pregnant.

That's what matters here.

I gotta tell you,

coming on the plane here,

there were a million ways

I thought that this could go.

- And this was not on the list.

- I know I sound crazy.

I am so tired of sounding crazy.

- Can we please go home?

- Go home?

Amelia, I'm worried I need to

take you to, like, a hospital.

You're telling me there's

a crazy woman in the woods,

and she wants to take the baby

that you don't have?

Josh, I'm telling you,

this is... This is real.

Yeah, well, I've

heard that before.

You think I'm crazy? Fine.

Are your cousins crazy, too?

This is actually happening.

- Then what are you doing? Call

the police. - We talked to the

police.

They didn't believe me

or they didn't care.

Okay, sweetie, maybe then

there's nothing to care about.

Maybe this is all in your head.

Just like

sh*t.

I thought me coming here

would go differently.

No sh*t, moron. Me too!

Yeah. This was...

This was too soon. Um

I can't believe it.

I was wrong, and my

mother was right.

You do need more time. And not

here, obviously. So somewhere.

- I'm gonna get the car.

- Josh.

- We are going to the emergency

room. - Please.

- Right now.

- Wendy! Robin!

Josh, you have to

listen to me. Josh!

The door.

What?

- Did we leave the door open?

- - No, I told Josh to close it.

I did. Why are we being weird

about the door?

Everybody upstairs. Now!

Get in the room. Go! Shut the

door! Lock the door. Keep them

safe.

Genevieve.

Genevieve.

I'm so sorry.

I know you're still hurting

really bad, but this isn't

right.

And you know that, okay?

This might not mean anything,

but your kid

It destroyed my dad.

It destroyed me forever.

I'm sorry.

Was that Wendy?

Are they fighting?

I don't even know what...

Are you saying there's an actual

crazy woman out there?

- What sort of...

- Yes.

- Should we go out? - No,

wait... Wait for Wendy to come

back.

Guys.

Okay. How old is this woman?

Like if I bum rush her

while you two make a run for it?

- No! No!

- Bum rush?

- Josh, stop.

- Please don't do that.

It's weird that Wendy's

not saying anything, though,

right?

Screw it.

Don't

Wendy.

Oh, my God.

Wendy's down.

- We gotta get out of here. Come

on. - No. We need to get to

Wendy now.

- We can go out the window.

- So this is gonna sound crazy.

It is crazy. But all of

this is clearly crazier.

So just go with

me on this, okay?

She wants my baby, right?

She wants a baby.

So what if we make her think

that we have one, and then...

Then we can lure her

away from the house.

One of us is the decoy,

the other two help Wendy.

We can throw something

out the balcony

- so she thinks that we escaped

that way. - Genevieve is weird,

but she's not stupid.

If she thinks the thing

that she wants is inside you,

she's not gonna come running

after a pile of laundry.

- You have to go into labor.

- What?

- Pretend, so that she hears it.

- Josh, no.

- I mean, is that crazy?

- No.

Quick. Make some sounds,

like some birthing sounds.

- No, I don't want to.

- I can help.

- Come on. Come on.

- Okay, okay.

Just everyone look away.

Just everyone... Just look away.

Keep going.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's... That's working.

Okay, okay.

I think we're good.

Okay.

One

Okay.

She's gone. She's gone.

Let's move! Robin.

Please. No. Just wait

one second so I can say goodbye.

- Amelia, for the love of God!

- Fifteen seconds. I'm serious.

- The phone in the kitchen. Call

for help. - Yeah, okay.

Amelia. No, wait!

Josh!

Amelia, stop!

There is no baby.

There is no baby.

There is no baby!

There is no baby!

There is no baby!

There is no baby!

Do you not get that?

Is that all you wanted?

Well, it's gone.

I'm sorry about Matthew.

I'm sorry to use his name.

I cannot imagine.

It's not the same,

but I didn't even know mine.

There never was mine.

There never was my baby.

No baby?

No.

How?

They call it a

phantom pregnancy.

I thought it was

real, but I was wrong.

This is empty inside.

Like a grave with no body.

Cut me open, you'd see.

Nobody came

looking for you, did they?

Out in these woods?

What was he like?

Beautiful.

Silly. Wild.

Loved to swim.

What are you doing

out here by yourself?

Don't you want to go back

to Providence where he's buried?

No goodbye.

There is no goodbye.

Wendy.

I'm sorry.

Amelia!

Amelia!

Amelia!

Amelia! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

Oh, my God! Are you okay?

Come here. It's okay. It's okay.

You're safe. You're okay.

Oh, my God.

It's gonna be okay now.

Amelia!

- Is Wendy okay?

- I think so.

She's in the car with Robin.

Where...? Where's the lady?

Hey. Hey, are you all right?

- I'm fine.

- Come on.

Okay.

Dr. Egan says you can wait

outside, but you can't come in.

Well, he can call the

cops again. How is she?

Getting patched up now.

The bleeding stopped.

Wendy's tough.

So, what happened out there?

Did you see that woman?

- Yeah.

- Really? And?

And I talked to her, and I

told her there was no baby.

And she left me alone.

I don't really want to get

into it, but I understand.

I thought I was pregnant,

but I was wrong.

It makes me so happy to hear.

You know, I was talking

with Bobby, and, um.

I think we need some time away

from my mother.

Away from Nags Head,

from all of it.

Fresh start. Someplace where

we can try again, you know?

Maybe not for a baby,

but try for each other.

Isn't that what you want?

Josh

You don't want to

come back at all.

I'm sorry.

I hope you do leave Nags Head.

I'm glad to hear that

you want to go but.

I don't want to hurt you.

It's meant so much to me that

you came up here to help me.

But you also let me come up here

and I let me come up here.

And I don't like that

for either of us.

I just think I have a lot

to figure out about myself.

Could be we both do.

I'll call you, uh,

when I know where I'm headed.

I'll make sure I'm the one

who picks up the phone.

Hey, uh, Amelia.

For what it's worth,

I think you'd be a great mother.

Well, that's me.

I'll miss you too, Robin.

Thank you both for everything.

That's what families do.

- If we still qualify.

- Of course.

How long's the train ride?

Gotta be, like, 12 hours.

Uh, actually,

I switched my ticket.

I'm heading north. Thought I'd

check out Maine, see Acadia.

I think I like the cold.

I forgot I like the cold.

Good luck.

- Call us when you get in.

- I will.

- You guys mind doing me one

last favor? - If it doesn't get

me stabbed again.

Of course.

I know, you might want to go out

and m*rder Genevieve

for what she did, but.

I don't know.

Take it easy on her.

I think she might be ready

to rejoin the world one day.

Maybe so. A lot of

that going around.