01x07 - Inside the Closet

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR:
Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

[Mozart violin piece playing]

[loud knocking on door]

[loud knocking continues]

[music continues playing]

[music stops]

[dog barking in distance]

I called.

Dr. Fenner?

Miss Aynsley.

Gail.

I'm told I have the last
available space in town.

[clock chiming]

Oh, I should've
started looking

for a place earlier.

The term begins next week.

I'm a graduate student
in fine arts.

I'm Dean of the
Veterinary School.

There's a reason the room
hasn't been rented yet.

I'm a strict landlord.

I do most of my work
at home here.

I write, I teach, I administrate
and I have to have quiet.

So, there's no television,
no stereo,

and no boyfriends
trooping through

at all hours of the night.

All I've got is
my slide projector.

And I promise
not to run it late.

No boyfriends?

Me and my books.

Bookcases I have.

Third floor.

All to yourself.

FENNER:
Bath and kitchenette,
but basically ill*gal.

You said ill*gal?

I'm not zoned for tenants.

No exterior staircase,
no fire place.

Oh, I don't smoke, either.

$35 off the rent.

It was my daughter's room.

It's wonderful.

Is that the closet?

It was, but it's
locked now.

I've lost the key.

That's why the
wardrobe is there.

If you don't have enough room
for your things,

you can put them in one
of the closets downstairs.

Why is the door so small?

[rattling]

♪ ♪

[bedsprings squeaking]

[rattling]

Dr. Fenner.

Yes, what is it?

You forgot
to give me keys.

They're labeled.

I have to get
to the office.
Dr. Fenner.

Yes?

There was a rat
in my room last night.

Rats?

[chuckles]

The only rats at this house are
the ones I keep in formaldehyde.

Um, this one was alive.

I heard it scrabbling
around in that closet.

It woke me twice.

There are no rats in this house.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[door creaking]

[slide projector clicking]

[loud snap]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[rattling]

[door creaking]

[rapid footfalls]

♪ ♪

[creaking]

♪ ♪

[creaking]

♪ ♪

[birds chirping]

[knocking on door]

If you still want a
ride to the campus,

I'm leaving in
two minutes.

There's a rat
in that closet.

I managed
to get it open.

How?

The key to the door
also fits the closet.

I'll show you.

My daughter

lost the key a long time ago.

That door hasn't been opened
in years.

I got it open last night,
and I put a rat trap inside.

What did you catch?

Nothing.

The trap disappeared.

Do you think the rat
appropriated it

to his own uses?

It must have moved the
trap somewhere else.

Maybe your rat
was raised on rutabagas.

Rutabagas?

Rutabagas are brain food.

Rats may be smart enough
to avoid a trap,

but not smart enough
to rearrange the furniture.

What's on the other
side of that closet?

Attic space.

But it's closed off.

There's no way
of getting to it.

Could be fumigated.

I'm going to be late.

Ready?

[sighs]

No, I would not care
to invest in...

[door opening]

[creaking]

♪ ♪

[loud snap]

[cries out]

[ringing]

[phone continues ringing]

[sighs]

[door closing]

It's about time he got back.

It was Margaret's room.

Where is she now?

Montpelier,
Vermont.

She has a boyfriend.

I paid for four years of
college, two graduate schools,

and now, of course, she's
painting houses for a living.

What about your wife?

A lump.

A lump?

Mm, in her breast.

Mastectomy.

Another lump.

A second mastectomy.

I-I...

Chemotherapy.

Spleen, liver, death...

and inheritance taxes.

I can't get
that closet door open.

Well, of course not.

I told you that
when you moved in.

No, it was open this afternoon
when I came home from school.

Then it shut by itself,
and I can't open it again.

I tried a screwdriver.

That's why I put
the standing wardrobe in there,

so you wouldn't have
to bother with that closet.

There's something living
in that closet, Dr. Fenner.

[clicking]

[creaking]

♪ ♪

[screaming]

[screaming]

[growling]

[screaming]
[growling]

[screaming continues]

[growling]

[cracking]

[croaking]

[nails clicking on floor]

[croaking]

[bird cooing]

I spoke to her briefly
last night, yes.

No, I didn't see her
this morning, Mrs. Aynsley.

I rented your daughter
a room in my house.

I didn't become
her legal guardian.

[bird cooing]

Probably wasn't even awake
when I left this morning.

I have 8:00 office hours
on Thursday.

No, I will not see
if she has an appointment book.

I teach veterinary science,

not espionage.

I... I'm sure
that she will call you

once she gets settled in.

Now, you, um,
really must forgive me.

I'm having root canal work done
in half an hour.

Yeah, thank you.

Good-bye, Mrs. Aynsley.

Yes.

[sighs, screams]

[gasping]

[sighs]

[croaking]

Yes.

She's such a pretty little girl.

[smacking lips]

Yes, you're so beautiful.

Do you know it?
[croaking]

What?

I don't know...

What am I going
to do with you?

I'm gonna tell you a nice story.

We're just gonna go upstairs,

and we're gonna tuck you
into bed.

And then,
I'm gonna tell you a...

yes, a nice little story.

Would you like that?

Hmm, you want
to go upstairs?

Oh, come on now...
yes, give me a hug.

Yes, yes.

There we go.

We'll go upstairs now.

[purring]

Let's go upstairs.

Take you to bed now.

We'll go upstairs,

and I'll tell you
a nice story.

How would that be?

Would you like
a nice story, hmm?

Would you like a nice story?

Yes, yes.

NARRATOR:
The dark side is always there.

Waiting for us to enter.

Waiting to enter us.

Until next time,
try to enjoy the daylight.