They Whisper (2024)

[bunniefuu]

(bright music)

(graphic crackling)

(chimes twinkling)

(crickets croaking)

(crickets croaking)

(light buzzing)

(light clicks)

(crickets croaking)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(Willis panting)

(rope rattling)

Silas, Silas!

[Silas] I'm Good. I'm good.

Just got caught on...

Silas?

(Willis panting)

(ground crunching)

(grunts) Come on. Come on.

I got you.

Come on (grunts). Come on, come on.

Good. Okay, hey.

Hey, look at me. Look at me.

Silas. Silas, look at me.

Hey, come on, man, you need

to snap out, man. It's Willis.

Come on, man. I need you to snap out it.

What's your name? Can

you tell me your name?

What's your name, Silas?

(flesh crunching)

(terrifying music)

(eerie music)

Silas, Silas.

Silas?

(terrifying music)

(crickets croaking)

(ground crunching)

(Whisperer whispers)

(Marco gasping)

(ground crunching)

(eerie music)

(keyboard typing)

(chain rattling)

(dog barks)

(paws pattering)

(door clicks)

[Alex] Where you think you're going?

Marco found buried

treasure in the woods.

And if you don't tell,

I'll give you some, deal?

And I won't tell mom that

you know her phone password.

(dog barking)

Whatever.

(door clicks)

[Bethany] Hey Alex, what's going on?

Oh, nothin'.

(crickets croaking)

(ominous music)

Bet it goes all the way to China.

Like that movie with The Rock

If it was anywhere close to that deep,

there'd be lava everywhere,

and we'd be dead.

Well, duh.

So who goes first?

Goes where? Down there?

Yeah. We gotta check it out.

Not afraid, are you?

(eerie music)

(crickets croaking)

(ground crunching)

(rope creaking)

(Kaine panting)

(rope creaking)

(ground crunching)

(crickets croaking)

(ground crunching)

[Kaine] I'm at the bottom.

Throw me the flashlight.

(flash light thuds)

(ground crunching)

(Kaine sighs)

(Kaine panting)

Come on, guys. Hurry up.

Well, maybe if you just climb the rope.

(ground crunching)

(rope creaking)

(Marco panting)

(crickets croaking)

[Marco] Kaine, is that you?

Ellie, do you hear that?

Hear what?

(Whisperer chattering)

[Kaine] Pull me up. Pull me up!

(grunts) Pull me up!

(tense music)

(music drowns Kaine)

[Ellie] Kaine.

[Kaine] Pull me up! Pull me up!

Pull harder, Liam.

[Kaine] Help, help. Pull me up, ah!

(tense music)

It's stuck or something. (Grunts)

(tense music)

(eerie music)

(crickets croaking)

I just gotta be one of the guys.

I just gotta play it

cool. Can't be distant.

It's the only thing that's gonna

stop me from making partner

for those b*stards.

Yeah. Looked rough.

Hey, it's not that simple.

You know what they'll say?

They'll say that I flirt.

They'll be like, "Look at that body."

Mm-hmm, they'll think that

I slept with Abramson.

(Joseph scoffs)

Me.

(Caroline chuckling)

Well, sweetheart, maybe

you have to pick your poison.

You know, behave in a way

that get you what you want.

- I'm sleeping with Abramson.

I know that, Caroline. I know.

Ain't leaving, you have to make a choice.

You don't know.

You don't know because... (chuckles)

- I'm a man.

- Because you're a writer.

(Caroline chuckling)

You know, you don't know business stuff,

'cause you write, and that's okay.

(Joseph sighs)

I mean, Hemingway wouldn't

know business stuff.

And Hemingway wouldn't

be a designated driver.

Well, you're no Hemingway. (Chuckles)

And that's a good thing.

(tires rumbling)

(door rattling)

Hey.

What?

Hey.

Yeah. What?

How fast do you think

we can get rid of Bethany?

Oh, oh.

(clears throat) Um, pretty fast.

Good.

Joseph?

(seat belt rattling)

(alarm chiming)

What in...

What's goin' on?

It's Kaine. They say he fell.

What?

In the wood...

(eerie music drowns speaker)

(crickets croaking)

How did he fall into the hole?

He didn't fall. He's just stuck.

(eerie music)

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Kaine, Kaine?

Hi, my name's Bethany.

Are you okay? Does anything hurt?

Can you tell us what happened?

Can you talk?

(Joseph panting)

(rope creaking)

Oh, Jesus.

(Joseph grunts)

Kaine, Kaine?

I got him. Get the rope, help me up!

(tense music)

(Ellie grunts)

(Bethany grunting)

(rope creaking)

(Bethany grunting)

(Joseph grunts)

(optimistic music)

(Joseph grunts)

Hang in there, buddy.

(optimistic music)

I got you, buddy.

(tense music)

Hang in there, buddy.

(tense music)

(Joseph panting)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

I gave him a muscle relaxer

to ensure that he doesn't pull anything

But he is in a coma?

[Jekisha] Yes, Ms. Allen-Stern.

But the CAT scans show that

his brain is functioning,

which is good, but it's erratic,

and doesn't correlate to any

typical cerebral activity.

Dreams?

[Jekisha] Unlikely,

his cardiac arrhythmia

and slowed breathing aren't

particularly uncommon.

But that steady double beat

you saw on the monitor,

that is atypical.

What are the odds

that he's gonna wake up?

[Jekisha] It's hard to say.

Hopefully he will.

Though when, we can't know.

And there is a possibility

that if he does regain consciousness,

he may not be the Kaine you remember.

(tense music)

So what do we do?

Well, we keep him on life

support, the IV, the catheter,

and we wait, and see what happens.

Any information regarding

what triggered this would be helpful.

Of course.

(monitor beeping)

(somber music)

(doors thudding)

(ground crunching)

Thanks.

I'm so sorry.

I don't know how he,

I guess when I went to the bathroom

- Stop.

- He must've.

Okay? It's not your fault.

These things happen.

I can stay if you need help.

No, go ahead and go

home and get some rest.

Bye, Bethany.

(birds chirping)

(Bethany sighs)

So when can I see Kaine?

(sighs) I'm sure that your dad will

be able to...

(tires rumbling)

Come on.

(door thuds)

(ground crunching)

You can go ahead

[Quincy] Help you?

I just need to speak with Marco.

Oh, I said can I help you?

I'm Caroline Allen-Stern.

I'm Kaine's mother. You

must be Mr. Bricker?

What's up?

I just wanted to ask

Marco some questions.

He's not talking.

Okay, if I could just

give you my card then,

and you'll give me a call

when he's able to talk then?

I just need some more information.

- Lawyer?

- Don't try to put

this on Marco.

He'd never done this by himself.

Yeah. You can't blame Marco.

Derringer girl said your

boy went down first.

Look, I just wanna know

how your son found the shaft.

Okay, there might be some liability

that we need to look into.

Are you threatening us?

No, I meant liability

for the property owner.

Maybe there's trespassing

Look, I'll tell you right

now, I don't see myself letting

some lawyer lady drag me to court.

Now if you don't mind, we've

had kind of a long night.

- I-

- I said if you don't mind,

we've had kind of a long night.

I do hope Marco feels better.

Yours too.

(ground crunching)

(door rattling)

(door thuds)

(keys rattling)

(engine whines)

(feet tapping)

(clock ticking)

(Joseph sighs)

(clock ticking)

(tense music)

Okay. (Paper crackling)

(tense music)

(clock ticking)

(music drowning speakers)

(tense music)

Look, it's fine. Nobody comes around.

And what's your name?

(tense music)

(Joseph speaking faintly)

(monitor beeping)

(Joseph speaking faintly)

(monitor beeping)

(Joseph sighs)

(monitor beeping)

(hair scratching)

(Joseph grunting)

(flesh slaps)

(Joseph sighs)

(blinds rattling)

(blinds rattling)

(Joseph sighs)

(Joseph sighs)

(toaster thuds)

(metal rattling)

(glass clangs)

(blender whining)

Oh, dad's home.

What'd you say?

Dad's finally home.

Hey, Alex.

Hey.

- Hey, sweetie.

- Hey.

- Hey, we need to talk.

- Hey.

- Yeah. I got your text-

- Now!

Can you, or Beth...

Hey, sweet.

- Hey.

(sighs) Okay.

Look, I'm glad that you're praying.

What you should be doing is spending time

with your daughter who's

been at home alone.

So when, if Kaine opens his eyes,

I don't want an empty room to

be the first thing he sees.

And it's not like you

- I?

- Are make...

I have been working.

That's what I've been doing.

Well, I don't have to be home to work.

Oh, well, that's great,

because when you insisted

on that add-on, which was

not cheap, by the way,

you needed a productive workspace,

somewhere where you could be creative.

How much writing have you

got done at the hospital?

Look, I know this is hard to talk about,

but the more that we drag this out,

the more it's going to cost us.

I don't care about the costs.

It's not even about the money, Joseph.

I will not give up my son

I'm not asking you to give up our son.

I want you to focus on something

that we can actually do something about.

What, like suing the property owners?

Like being supportive of

the family you have left.

(door thuds)

(items rattling)

(door thuds)

(tense music)

(grunts) Buckle up.

Duh.

(monitor beeping)

(engine whining)

Been nothing after three months.

That's correct.

If we decided

to discontinue life support.

That would be within your right.

Kaine?

And at this time, not

medically inadvisable.

(Joseph sighs)

(clock ticking)

What would you do?

I can't make this decision for you.

I should mention,

you asked before about continuing

care for Kaine at home.

If that's something you

and your wife decide to do,

you need to be aware,

you can't turn off any life

support without supervision.

(tense music)

Dad, he...

Kaine.

(gasps) Is he responsive?

He's responsive.

(Joseph chuckles)

(Alex chuckles)

Until he can express discomfort,

he'll have to be closely monitored.

And any interaction between the two

will need to be supervised.

- Of course.

- Yeah.

And there's the issue of light.

Light?

[Jekisha] He has trouble

adjusting to bright light.

Sunlight, for example,

could do permanent damage to his retinas.

Any room in your house

without windows, perhaps?

Well, there's...

(table rattling)

(table scratching)

(items rattling)

(pillow slapping)

Yeah, yeah, my study should work.

[Jekisha] Great.

(optimistic music)

There you go, buddy.

(blankets rustling)

Okay.

(Joseph sighs)

This is good.

This is good.

(Joseph scoffs)

(tense music)

(ominous music)

(keyboard typing)

(keyboard typing)

Bijou, knock it off.

(clicking tongue) Bijou.

Alex, did you let Bijou out?

(floor scratching)

(dog barking)

Alex?

Okay, girl. Come on.

Alex, do you hear me calling?

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

Okay, follow with your head like this.

(eerie music)

Hey. Oh my gosh, you moved.

Alex?

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(light clicks)

(eerie music)

(light clicks)

(Whisperer chattering)

(light clicking)

(Whisperer chattering)

Hmm.

(eerie music)

(light clicks)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

(feet tapping)

He moved. He moved!

Dad, look, he moved.

(Whisperer chattering)

(light clicks)

(chuckles) That's great, honey.

Yeah.

That's great.

Show me. When did he move? (Indistinct)

Yeah, okay, so he can't talk,

but he'll follow whatever you do.

- Really?

- Yeah.

(Alex chuckles)

[Joseph] Wow. That is awesome, buddy.

[Alex] Yeah. (Chuckles)

(Whisperer growls)

(eerie music)

Buddy?

(eerie music)

(dog barking)

(Joseph squeals)

(Alex chuckles)

Can you let Bijou...

Actually, I'll do it.

(feet tapping)

(door clicks)

(crickets croaking)

Bijou, come on, girl.

(Bijou panting)

Good girl.

(Whisperer swooshes)

(door clicks)

All right.

(feet tapping)

(ominous music)

(water burbling)

(water pattering)

(tense music)

Hey, take a look at it, it's...

Hey, buddy.

(sighs) Lemme bring you up.

Hey buddy. Hold still.

There you go.

See, he doesn't respond to touch.

Of course he doesn't

respond. He can't respond.

I called Dr. Ulmer's office

and they said it was fine.

Fine? Have they seen it?

Well, the hospital

Let's take him in.

The hospital took note of it,

but they thought it was a birthmark.

It's not a birthmark.

I know, but they said skin abnormalities

can develop over time, so...

Well, whatever it is,

maybe this is what caused his condition

Or vice versa.

I just wish we knew what happened to him.

(phone beeps)

(camera shutters)

(eerie music)

If whatever happened was

my son's fault, I'm sorry.

Kaine has a mark on his back.

[Tanya] Don't you dare

say Marco had anything

to do with that-

Try to keep it down!

[Tanya] Marco would never.

[Joseph] I believe you. I know that.

I just wanted to see

if Marco had the same.

I mean, maybe it's...

[Tanya] What are you doing?

[Joseph] I just need to just

[Tanya] Don't you get

anywhere near my boy

[Joseph] Or maybe you can just maybe

[Tanya] Don't make me call my husband.

[Joseph] Don't me call my wife.

[Tanya] Quincy?

[Quincy] Can you guys keep it down?

I'm trying to study for a test.

[Joseph] Look, sir, I was wonder

[Tanya] He wants to touch our boy.

- I do not.

- You the one been

snooping around here lately?

[Joseph] What?

[Quincy] You let your

wife just send you around,

do her dirty work?

[Joseph] She just called you in here.

(water spraying)

(water burbling)

[Caroline] I told you,

they're unreasonable.

How many times have you gone over there?

[Caroline] Well...

Caroline.

(crickets croaking)

(birds squawking)

(lighter clicking)

(crickets croaking)

(birds squawking)

(Whisperer swooshes)

Son of a b*tch, I told you.

(torch clicks)

(crickets croaking)

(ground crunching)

(Whisperer growls)

I told you, stay the hell

away from me and my boy.

I ain't kiddin'!

(eerie music)

(metal clangs)

(feet tapping)

(door thuds)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(light buzzes)

(crickets croaking)

(door clicks)

Good morning, buddy.

(mellow music)

Okay, I'm gonna get you

some Pop-Tarts, okay?

(items rattling)

(mellow music)

(feet tapping)

[Caroline] Wow, this is nice.

[Joseph] Yeah.

(glass clanging)

(Caroline chuckles)

[Caroline] Let's see, it's

good to finally get outta

that room, right?

[TV Character] Because she

promised she would never leave.

[TV Character] Well, forgive me.

[Caroline] Joseph, don't

forget to take your car

into the shop, please.

- Are you Whispering.

[TV Character] Not scared, whatever

- Or trade it.

- I just don't anyone.

Is it so screwed up that I care

about other people's feelings?

(feet tapping)

(birds chirping)

(keyboard typing)

(Kaine grunting)

Bijou?

Alex?

(Kaine grunting)

Jesus Christ, buddy.

Hey, relax. It's just your muscles.

Come on. Relax.

Relax. There you go.

There you go.

(indistinct)

(indistinct)

Are you speaking?

It's okay. It's okay, don't rush.

Stu-dy.

(Joseph chuckling)

Study.

(chuckles) That's a good

first word back, buddy.

Your mom will like that.

[Kaine] Study.

Study.

Oh, you wanna go back to the study?

Study.

You really don't wanna

be in here, do you?

(ominous music)

(bird whistles)

Buddy, I'll be right back.

(ominous music)

(feet tapping)

(ground crunching)

Hey, hey, Marco.

Hey, Marco. Where you going?

Hey, oh, it's all right.

You can talk to me.

Away. (Sniffles)

Away from, from where, home?

(sniffles) From them.

Did something happen at home?

(sniffles) They.

Okay. Well, what did they do?

They, (sobbing) they whisper.

Your parents, who whispers?

In the ground.

All right.

(Marco sniffles)

Hey. All right.

Let's get you home. Okay?

Now you want me to walk

with you? Is that okay?

You know you can always talk to us, okay?

Marco, I wanna see something real quick.

Don't worry. I won't hurt you.

(engine backfires)

(tires screeching)

Okay, the hell you doing to my boy?

Yeah, he was on the

road, so I came out here.

Don't give you a right to grab him.

I outta call the

police. Goddam kidnapping.

- He was-

- Marco.

He was, he was talking?

Yeah. Did he say anything sensible?

They whisper. They

whisper in the ground.

Boy's crying.

Yeah, he was upset when I found him.

I don't wanna see you around him again

or my place, you hear?

(ominous music)

(ground crunching)

(Marco sniffles)

(door clicks)

(ominous music)

Last warning.

(door creaks)

(door thuds)

(Joseph sighs)

(tense music)

(door thuds)

(engine whines)

(engine roaring)

(tires screeching)

(door clicks)

- Hey, sweety.

- Hey.

Look, that's great he was mumbling,

but did he actually say

what happened to him in the woods?

- No.

- He said that they

will reconsider the rules.

[Caroline] And you didn't

try to get any information?

[Joseph] It was a weird situation.

He was crying. Here you go.

It was just weird.

(glass clangs)

[Caroline] I cannot get

some calls complaining

about you harassing some child.

Oh my God. I did not harass.

I didn't do anything.

I just, it was in broad daylight

[Caroline] I'm not saying

that you did anything.

But you're a man, in case you forgot,

'cause the court sure won't.

And a father.

That must count for something.

A ruling, which is now being compared,

is expected to land in

Supreme Court next fall.

Civil Rights Activist Carl

Shield described the case as

[Joseph] Hey, good job, buddy.

[Reporter] On the heads of the under

Watch out, sweetie.

It looks like we've got

another lawyer in the family.

(water spraying)

(water burbling)

Lexi?

(Alex grunts)

(glass clanging)

Thank you.

Alex, can you take the dog out?

It's okay. I'll do it.

I'm going out anyway.

Going out? It's raining.

Yeah, I just wanted

to check something out.

I'll be back.

Bijou? (Clicking tongue)

(TV clicks)

(thunder rumbling)

(energetic music)

(TV clicks)

(people chattering)

(Whisperer swooshes)

(Whisperer growls)

[Tanya] (laughing) Stop it.

(Whisperer swooshes)

(feet tapping)

(door squeaks)

(door thuds)

(Marco panting)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(thunder rumbling)

(rain pattering)

The hell you doing on my land?

Willis?

You with the government?

No, no, no, no, no, no. It's me.

It's me?

Well, what's me doing

the hell on my land?

Yeah, I just wanted to

check the old mine shaft.

See, that mine shaft's

what's called a liability.

It's what them boys from

the government told me

the other day.

Yeah, that's my wife.

She's, well, do you know of

any kids playing in that hole?

You talking about

them kids with the rope?

I hear they had a close

call. They got lucky.

They got away.

You know what, I don't wanna see them

around my place anymore,

and I do not want to see you

around my place right now,

so I think it's best you just left.

Okay.

Am I in your way?

I can get around.

(tense music)

(rain pattering)

Be a good idea if

you kept that light on.

(tense music)

(birds chirping)

(door knocking)

(door knocking)

(door knocking)

Did you hear that?

[Quincy] Open up!

(door rattling)

(door knocking)

I told you to stay away

from my boy, didn't I?

(door knocking)

Open up, open up.

(glass shattering)

Open up!

(door knocking)

- Jesus.

- Open up or I swear to God

I'll break this door down.

We've called the police. Stay back.

Screw this. I'll come

through the damn window.

Hey, hey, I'll sh**t.

With what?

It's Quincy Bricker.

Yes.

- I told you to stay away

from my boy, didn't I?

- Yeah, I-

- So who took him out

of his bedroom last night?

- What?

- No, he's outside.

I woke up up this morning

and Marco wasn't in his bed.

I don't know what, what

You better open this door.

Prove to me right now.

Show me my boy's not in here.

Look, Quincy, you've gotta calm down.

Look, all we wanna is help, okay?

If I open up this door, are you gonna

I won't do sh*t, okay?

Okay.

I won't do sh*t.

I just wanna talk.

- It's okay.

I just wanna talk.

Where's my boy!

(floor rumbling)

(items rattling)

Now he's inside the house.

(door squeaks)

(door rattles)

You folks wanna press charges?

Well, is he pressing charges against us?

Is there something that he should

be pressing against you for?

- Well, kidnapping, he says.

- That's not the same.

Actually, Sheriff, we're gonna

go ahead and have a lawyer.

Oh, well, sweetie, you're a

Ah.

We're just talkin'

And you're willing to leave

everything off the record?

We're friends here. Okay?

But I do need to know,

do you wanna press charges

against Mr. Bricker?

There's no need.

Very Christian of you.

Now, Joseph, I do have to

ask you 'cause I gotta know,

did you go anywhere last night?

No, I was at home with my family.

So you didn't go anywhere?

You didn't go to the

grocery store, office?

Well, no, I don't have an office.

I mean, I do at home sort of.

Okay, so about this incident

that happened yesterday,

tell me exactly what happened.

Well, the kid was just

wandering the street.

[Sheriff] He ran away?

Well...

Sure.

Yeah, I guess. Yeah.

Okay, so why not someone else at Abramson?

Because the firm does not wanna

be caught up in controversy

if you look guilty.

But I didn't...

Sweety, I-

But if you looked guilty,

then the firm's reputation

would be besmirched.

Oh, you mean your

reputation within the firm

could be besmirched?

Why did you lie about

going out last night?

I didn't.

You didn't?

I mean, I didn't go for a

ride or anything like he asked.

I just wanted to check something out.

What?

(ominous music)

Well?

(ominous music)

(ground crunching)

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

(dog barking)

(leaves crunching)

(tense music)

(stones crunching)

(stones tapping)

(feet thuds)

(officer grunts)

Hey, you see anything?

(torch clicks)

Nothin' down here.

Ooh, hey.

What do you got?

(flashlight rattles)

A little flashlight.

(dog whining)

You got something up there?

Yeah, Harris got another scent.

You want Stevens to follow?

Yeah. Crack it.

(ominous music)

(flashlight rattles)

(eerie music)

(birds chirping)

(wind swooshing)

(dog panting)

(dog whining)

(eerie music)

[Alex] Were you walking?

Can you walk?

Walk? I can walk.

[Alex] Okay. Show me.

Show me.

Okay, like this.

(mellow music)

(material rustling)

(Alex chuckles)

You get it?

I get it.

Okay, oh, here, lemme help you.

Okay, ready?

(dog barks)

(paws pattering)

Oh, that's just Bijou.

[Kaine] Just Bijou.

(dog barking)

Bijou, (chuckles) who

you barkin' at, huh?

(dog whining)

Huh.

(dog barks)

(door knocking)

(dog barking)

It's okay.

(feet tapping)

(Joseph clears throat)

(dog barks)

(dog growls)

Sir?

I'm gonna need you to come with me.

I don't understand. Why?

We'll talk about it on the way. Come on.

What's going on here?

Well, Ms. Stern,

your husband lied to

the sheriff and to me.

Allen-Stern, and we were

talking off the record.

Joseph, I'll make some

calls, get you a lawyer.

Let's go.

Do you need me to come with you?

No, no, no. I mean, find

a lawyer just in case.

But-

Come on.

(dog growling)

Joseph?

[Joseph] Yeah?

Don't say anything.

I won't. I know.

(door thuds)

He can talk.

Marco can talk.

When I saw him in the

street, he was talking.

What'd he say?

They whisper in the ground.

[Sheriff] Mean somethin'?

Well, I've heard a whisper in the woods.

Thought maybe it was some teens

and maybe they hang out

in that hole that...

Yeah, maybe they did something to my son.

[Sheriff] So you decided to go out there

and confront 'em yourself and found?

Willis, didn't think

he'd report me though.

Well, you're not here on trespassing.

Dogs found Marco's sent at the hole.

Found your scent at the hole as well.

You say from last night.

Now we know you didn't snatch

that boy from his room,

but are you sure that you were

alone out there last night

Yes. Yes, except Willis. He'll tell you.

Damnest thing. We can't

find the old man anywhere.

[Officer] Maybe he's out

in the woods whispering to himself.

Yeah.

Are we done?

[Sheriff] For now, but

we won't keep you here.

I don't want Quincy to

have to track you down

with all them shenanigans and such.

Is it too late to press charges?

[Sheriff] You really wanna do that?

(door squeaks)

(door rattling)

(keys rattling)

[Officer] Sweet dreams.

(Joseph exhaling)

(dog panting)

(crickets croaking)

Bijou!

(ground crunching)

(Whisperer chattering)

(crickets croaking)

(feet tapping)

I can walk.

I can see that.

Well, you ready to go

back to your room then?

But you love your room.

The light.

Okay, well, it's time for bed.

There you go.

Here we go. Lemme get your feet.

(material rustling)

There we go. Good?

Okay.

(door clicks)

(material rustling)

(door clicks)

(ominous music)

(Caroline sighs)

(door clicks)

(ominous music)

(dog whining)

(Whisperer chattering)

(ominous music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(wind swooshing)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

(telephone ringing)

Hey.

- This is Sheriff Dupont.

Hey, Bud.

(bench creaking)

(bench rattling)

Hey, remember me?

Oh, lemme call you back.

Hey, don't talk to him.

- Sheriff, he can talk.

- Mr. Stern.

I'm telling you, he can talk.

The quick brown fox jumps

over the lazy dog, Kaine?

(book thuds)

I thought you wanted my help.

Hey, no fighting.

I don't wanna be here.

Well, hopefully you'll be

going to school in two weeks.

I don't wanna be here.

We know, okay?

We can have fun today.

I can teach you more reading.

Is Bethy coming?

Yeah. She should be here in...

(mellow music)

Hey, yeah, I can be there in 10 minutes.

Mommy has to go get Daddy.

- Okay.

- I don't wanna be here!

(ominous music)

[Sheriff] Don't talk to him.

But he can talk.

I'm telling you, Sheriff, he can talk

Okay. That's it.

Marco. Do you remember talking to me

- Come on, Son.

- Remember seeing me

in the road?

- Come on, we gonna...

Hey, what'd I tell you?

Well, come sit in Deputy Yancy's seat,

which is a lot more comfortable anyway.

You want some water or anything?

Back if I want. Don't touch me.

I'm not touching you.

Oh, did he have him?

Huh.

I mean, is that where

you take these boys?

Well, hold on. Hold your horses.

Mr. McCarrick, could you have a seat?

You cool your britches, Joe?

Well, I wasn't planning on standing

around the room all day.

Okay, so how'd that

boy get up at your house?

He says that the boy came

out of the old mining hole.

But like I said, we

searched the hole yesterday,

nothing there, so what's that tell ya?

[Willis] Well, that

tells me one of two things.

Either that hole is smarter than your boys

or you boys ain't too good at lookin'.

[Officer] Hold up a second.

He's at the hole the

night he goes missing.

Two mornings later, he's

with you. I call bullshit.

Well, well, wait, wait

a minute. Wait a minute.

Willis, what can you

tell us about that hole?

- What?

- What can you tell us

about that hole?

- What? (Chuckles)

- What do you know

about that hole worth?

- Murph, can you

let Mr. Stern out?

- Yeah.

- Joe, I'm sorry

about the confusion.

- But Sheriff

You can stay in or you

can go out that door.

(door rattling)

(door squeaks)

Continue, Willis.

[Willis] I get up in the

morning and I find this young boy

coming up out to Hope.

And I did not see him go in

there. Now that is on you.

That's on you.

Now I'd have took him

home if he'd have told me

where the hell he lived, but he didn't.

And I already told that to

Freddy Mercury over here,

but he wouldn't listen.

And I'll tell you one other damn thing,

if that boy would open his

mouth and actually speak,

I bet you he'd tell you

the same damn thing.

How he spent his day in the hole.

(eerie music)

He can talk, Sheriff.

- Joe.

- Marco can talk.

I'm not gonna ask you

again, sir. You can go.

(door rattling) Sheriff.

(tense music)

Jesus Christ, Marco. Are you okay?

Caroline, hey, buddy. You're walking.

It's him.

It's him, it's him.

It's him. Take him!

- Mr. Stern.

Take him. It's him, take him!

Whoa, whoa, Marco,

Marco, that's your friend.

He didn't do anything.

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(crickets croaking)

If we can't leave, I

have to be in this room.

I'm sorry buddy. Daddy

needs his office back, okay?

- Ugh.

- I got some writing to do.

And plus you have your own room.

- Dad?

- I don't want my

Bijou's gone.

What a minute, Bijou's gone?

- What?

- She's gone.

Whoa, whoa. Are you sure?

Yes. I couldn't find her anywhere.

You couldn't find her anywhere?

Have you seen her?

No.

It's okay, Lexi. We'll find her.

Oh, Jesus. We can't tell the kids.

Marco maybe?

- Hmm-mm, it can't.

- Or Willis?

It was them.

Oh, buddy, don't look at that.

Who, who did this?

Kaine, who did this to

her? Who k*lled her?

The bad ones.

(tense music)

They, they whisper.

They whispered they want me back.

That's what Marco said.

Oh, that's it. Mm-mm.

What you doing? Wait.

Come on.

(tense music)

(flies buzzing)

Caroline, Caroline, who are you calling?

- What happened to Bijou?

- Bethany.

- What?

- Why?

Bethy, does she have Bijou?

- I went there and I-

- What happened to Bijou?

Willis didn't tell you anything, right?

- Dad, what happened to Bijou?

- Sweetheart, um.

- Where's Bijou?

- Hey, Beth.

Yes, Mrs. Allen-Stern. Great.

I was wondering if you could

come over as quick as possible.

Yeah. We have a situation going

on and we need to step out.

(crickets croaking)

(ground crunching)

Sorry.

(ground crunching)

(feet tapping)

(scissor snips)

(feet tapping)

(light clicks)

(feet tapping)

(light clicks)

Kaine?

(feet tapping)

What are you doing?

(eerie music)

(feet tapping)

All right, cut it out. Come on, come on.

(feet tapping)

I said stop.

(door thuds)

(door clicks)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(tires rumbling)

(tense music)

(engine roaring)

(tense music)

(ground crunching)

(door rattling)

(door thuds)

This is not a good idea.

So you know he has a g*n.

- Look, I just need to know.

- Hey!

Easy.

I can sh**t you

right here and now.

You wanna know why?

Because you are standing on my porch

and my porch is on my property

and you're standing on my property,

so why don't you just

get the hell on off it?

We need to know about

the hole and then we'll go.

Am I not being clear? One.

What about the...

[Willis] Two.

They whisper.

(tense music)

What the hell did you just say?

They whisper.

(crickets croaking)

(ominous music)

Come on in.

(ominous music)

(feet tapping)

(floor creaking)

(keyboard typing)

(Whisperer growls)

(feet tapping)

(paper crackling)

(Whisperer chattering)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer swooshes)

(eerie music)

(crickets croaking)

(liquor burbling)

(bottle taps)

There you go.

- Oh. No.

- Ah. I will.

(Willis chuckles)

So who are they?

They are demons.

(Caroline chuckles)

I'm sorry. Demons?

(liquor burbling)

(bottle taps)

I don't know if they

settled in the shaft

or if we broke into their domain,

but, young lady, they are there.

And they come and they go

and they do their evil deeds.

Howling demons of the night.

Except they don't howl. No, that's right.

They don't.

(ominous music)

I worked in the mine 30

years ago, give or take.

And one night,

I stayed too late.

(Willis chuckles)

And things changed.

My brother and I, we ran out.

We got out okay but

they wanted him back so they took him.

I'm sorry.

(ominous music)

(crickets croaking)

Why'd they leave you?

They did not take me

because I am not worthy.

Marco.

But it don't matter.

If they want somebody,

they're just going take 'em.

They just snatch you right up.

Now they don't care

too much for the light,

but they damn sure own the darkness.

(ominous music)

(keyboard typing)

(Whisperer chattering)

(Whisperer growls)

(Whisperer growling)

(Whisperer chattering)

Alex, Kaine?

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(Bethany screams)

(terrifying music)

(door rattling)

Kaine, open the door.

(door knocking) Kaine, open the door

- Bethy what's going on?

- Come, come.

- Okay.

- Open the door.

Kaine, we have to go..

Please open the door.

What's going on?

(Whisperer chattering)

(ominous music)

Okay, Kaine, we're coming back for you.

We have to get outta here.

(Whisperer chattering)

(ominous music)

(Whisperer swooshing)

(eerie music)

(door thuds)

(Whisperer swooshes)

(tires rumbling)

(ground crunching)

(door rattling)

(feet tapping)

(Caroline sighs)

(Joseph panting)

Stay back!

- Ah! Bethany, it's okay.

It's okay. It's me.

Alex, okay, where's Kaine?

(door rattling)

(ominous music)

Oh, come here, buddy. It's okay.

(mellow music)

(Joseph sighs)

I don't wanna be here.

I know, I know.

(money rustles)

(money crackling)

Are you sure you okay?

Think so.

Uh, what are you looking for?

- Where's the mag light?

- It's right here.

Oh.

(light clicks)

Wait, are you seriously

thinking about going out there?

They don't like light.

Caroline, we can't, Caroline! sh*t.

I can stay with them if you need me to.

Are you sure?

Thank you, Caroline, Caroline!

(ominous music)

(crickets croaking)

(tense music)

(ground crunching)

(Caroline panting)

(Joseph panting)

(ground crunching)

(tense music)

(branches cracking)

(crickets croaking)

(tense music)

What now?

(light thuds)

(crickets croaking)

Tie fit the bottom. Just be ready if...

Just be ready. (Panting)

Okay.

(Caroline panting)

(crickets croaking)

(Caroline grunts)

I'm at the bottom!

Okay.

(Caroline panting)

(ominous music)

(crickets croaking)

(Caroline panting)

(eerie music)

Oh, god.

(eerie music)

(eerie music)

(Whisperer chattering)

(crickets croaking)

Caroline?

(eerie music)

Yeah.

(Whisperer swooshes)

(terrifying music)

(Whisperer chattering)

Joseph!

- Okay.

I'ma pull you up. That's it.

[Whisperer] No, Stay, we will

Joseph, stop.

[Whisperer] You have..

[Caroline] Joseph.

(camera shuttering)

(Whisperer swooshes)

[Whisperer] No.

(camera shuttering)

[Whisperer] No light.

(camera shuttering)

Do not do that again.

Joseph, Stop!

Oh, okay.

Put me down.

(Whisperer growls)

[Whisperer] Speak to us.

(Whisperer chattering)

You must bring him back.

You mean my child?

[Whisperer] You have a

child and you have our ward.

Keep the child, bring the ward.

I will not give my son to you demons.

(Whisperer growls)

(tense music)

[Whisperer] No, we are not demon.

We are the protectors.

Now you will protect him from us.

Kaluku must be returned.

If you fear a demon,

you must give him back.

You mean my child's, right, Kaine?

- No.

- Boy who came down here?

[Whisperer] He is no longer your son.

Kaluku deceived us.

He made to enter the boy on the rope,

and they pulled him forth.

Kaluku is in the other boy, your son.

We did not know, for that boy was dead.

He is not dead.

[Whisperer] He is dead.

He is puppet without master.

- That's not true.

- He is demon.

He's not what you say he is.

[Whisperer] Kaluku is in him.

Kaluku is ours.

Just leave us alone.

[Whisperer] We do,

you are not our concern.

You k*lled our dog.

[Whisperer] We did not.

You did.

[Whisperer] We have

no interest in beasts.

Today.

[Whisperer] We do nothing by day.

Only by night.

[Whisperer] Kaluku

lives by day or night.

The night is ours.

We will have our ward.

(Whisperer chattering)

(Caroline panting)

Kaluku is ours.

(terrifying music)

(Whisperer swooshing)

Oh! (Grunting)

Caroline, Caroline?

Leave me, they're going to get Kaine!

(tense music)

(terrifying music)

(ground crunching)

(feet tapping)

(ground crunching)

(Caroline grunting)

(Caroline panting)

(terrifying music)

(ground crunching)

Oh, no, oh, no.

Kaine?

(door thuds)

(tense music)

Alex, Alex?

(door knocking)

Beth?

(door knocking)

Kaine?

(door knocking)

Alex!

(door knocking)

Oh, god.

Oh, Jesus.

(tape cracking)

(tense music)

I got you. (Grunts)

Who did this?

(feet tapping)

(Alex panting)

Okay, I got you. I'm here.

Where's your brother?

(terrifying music)

Joseph!

Joseph, Joseph wait!

(tense music)

(Caroline panting)

Oh, sh*t.

Maybe Bethany was trying to

protect her from the demons.

Did it look like protective tape wrapped

around your daughter?

No, but, yes.

We'd like to report a

- Stolen vehicle.

- Stolen vehicle.

Our babysitter, Beth, she...

(indistinct)

What?

[Dispatch] Is your missing

vehicle (indistinct)?

Yes, yes, that's it.

Oh, Jesus, Caroline, turn around.

Turn around. They're back there.

We're on our way. We're on our way.

(dispatch chattering)

(ground crunching)

Oh my God. Where's my son?

[Sheriff] Oh, here comes trouble.

- Where's my son?

- Stern. Mr. Stern

- Hey, Joe.

- Where's my son

Your boy is all right. He's over here.

[Joseph] Open the door.

Open the goddam door.

[Sheriff] Joe, calm down, I'm...

The boy is good.

- Thank God.

Thank God. You okay, you okay?

What about Beth, is she okay?

Sheriff, did you hear

what this idiot said,

you guys let the girl go?

I don't seem to know

what y'all talkin' about.

I can tell.

Bethany Fairchild, our babysitter,

took our car and just ran off-

When we pulled up,

your son appeared to be the driver.

Thank God the parking brake was on

or this had been a whole nother story.

Gotta be careful with kids and keys.

Okay, so where's Beth, where did

You know what? We should go.

Okay, and we'll send a tow

truck for the car, okay?

Let's go. Come on.

- No.

- Let's go.

- No, no, no.

- Now.

- Come on.

- Come on, come on, it's okay.

- No, no, no.

Wait. Hold on.

About this babysitter.

- It was our mistake.

- I don't wanna be here.

The babysitter fell asleep

and my husband must have

left the key somewhere,

so unless you plan on

charging our 9-year-old,

we're gonna go ahead and go home.

- Yeah.

- Okay.

(Kaine grunting)

Thank you, Sheriff. Get in the car.

- Let's go. Here we go.

- Put me down.

In the back.

I'm scared. I didn't want

them to take me back, I'm sorry.

It's okay, buddy. It's okay.

You said you'd take me

away from them. They're bad.

Yeah, and what happened

to the dog? Did you do that?

The dog?

Bijou.

No, they did that. We need to go.

They tied him up to that tree?

[Kaine] Yes.

And your sister, the light was supposed

to protect her, did they

[Kaine] It was to protect her.

You taped her up to

protect her from the demons?

Yes, the demons.

They're demons. They're demons.

And you're not a demon, are you?

No.

Who are you?

I'm your son?

Not what, who?

(eerie music)

I'm buddy.

(eerie music)

(door rattling)

(door thudding)

Joseph, come here.

Dad, what's going on?

Stay here a sec, buddy, okay?

(door thuds)

(ground crunching)

(Joseph sighs)

I think we should do it.

Do what?

Take him away from here

until we have it all figured out.

(Joseph grunting)

And we have to stop feeding him words.

If we (indistinct),

what about Alex?

Where is (indistinct).

But if he is what they say,

then we're doing everything he wants.

I mean, he should be happy.

Caroline.

What?

The door's open.

(feet tapping)

(ground crunching)

Again?

Alex, Alex?

Alex?

(door rattling)

Alex?

(door thuds)

Alex?

(tense music)

Come on. Get in here.

Joseph, sit down over there

in this chair. Oh, god.

(items rattling)

(ground crunching)

(crickets croaking)

(Whisperer chattering)

(birds quacking)

(crickets croaking)

(chair rattles)

(feet tapping)

(keys rattling)

Get out of my, come here.

Stop. Stop it.

Get back here. (Grunts)

(key slices) Ah!

Joseph, stop, stop it.

(eerie music)

Stop.

(toy honking)

(material rustling)

Joseph!

(crickets croaking)

(toy honking)

Just stop it.

Joseph, over there.

Oh, buddy, easy.

(terrifying music)

It's gonna be okay. Easy.

Just relax, okay?

- Easy, buddy.

It's fine. Okay.

(terrifying music)

(keys rattling)

Easy.

(Caroline grunts)

(flesh pounds)

f*ck.

This feels like child abuse.

This is abuse. It's abuse, it's abuse!

Okay.

Bethany's still not responding.

They have Alex.

They take us, abuse us.

I don't wanna be here.

They k*lled Bijou.

They have Alex and they want me.

(ominous music)

I'm gonna go get Alex.

Are you gonna be okay.

Yeah.

(feet tapping)

I don't wanna be here.

I know, I know.

It's for your own good.

- Come on. Come on.

- I don't wanna be here.

(telephone ringing)

(eerie music)

(tense music)

(crickets croaking)

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna here.

I don't wanna wanna be here.

They hurt Bethany. They

hurt Bethany. (Panting)

- Oh God. Okay.

- I don't wanna be here.

I don't wanna be here.

(ominous music)

(Kaine panting)

(branches cracking)

(Joseph panting)

(feet tapping)

(crickets croaking)

Where's my daughter?

You have my daughter.

[Whisperer] Our ward.

No, Kaine is mine. No.

[Whisperer] Give him to us.

Give her back, goddammit. Give her back!

- No.

- Alex?

(Whisperer chattering)

Alex!

[Alex] Daddy?

Alex?

[Alex] Daddy?

(Whisperer chattering)

(tense music)

(Joseph grunting)

(rope creaking)

Alex! (Grunts)

Alex!

(Whisperer swooshes)

[Whisperer] Trade.

Him for her.

Trade?

[Whisperer] We will trade.

(Whisperer swooshes)

Ha!

(Whisperer chattering)

Trade.

[Kaine] They hurt Bethany.

They hurt Bethany.

They hurt Bethany!

- Okay, lemme get

you some water, okay, just...

[Kaine] It's abuse. It's abuse!

(door thuds)

(Caroline panting)

(items rattling)

(flesh mushing)

(Caroline groans)

(tense music)

(flesh mushing)

(Caroline groans)

(terrifying music)

(Caroline groans)

(eerie music)

(Joseph panting)

(tense music)

(items rattling)

(tense music)

(Caroline panting)

Where are they?

Where are the keys?

Don't.

(table slaps)

Stop, no, just put it down.

Kaine, stop. (Panting)

Kaine.

(eerie music)

(Caroline panting)

(eerie music)

(Caroline screaming)

(Joseph panting)

(tense music)

(door thuds)

Oh, God, oh,

sweetie, what happened?

Kaine, he stabbed me in the leg.

I cut off all the lights,

and they came, I'm sorry.

I said I'm sorry.

- That's okay.

- He's hiding.

Okay.

- He's-

- Okay.

Kaine? It's gonna be okay.

I'm sorry.

It's gonna be okay, Kaine.

Um, buddy.

(Whisperer chattering)

Kaine, it's gonna

be okay, buddy.

(door rattling)

(Whisperer chattering)

Kaine, let me in.

[Kaine] I'm scared.

I didn't want them to take me.

- It's gonna be okay.

- I don't want them

to take me.

Your mom, she

[Kaine] Don't hurt me.

I'm scared, it was abuse, like they did.

No.

- Kaine.

- I promise.

Take me away, Joseph.

Will you take me away?

I'm your son now.

Your only son now.

(ominous music)

(Caroline sobbing)

(pen clicking)

Okay, Kaine, (door rattling)

Comin' in, all right?

(eerie music)

(terrifying music)

(flesh crunches)

Ah, ah!

(Joseph grunts)

(Caroline sobbing)

(flesh mushing)

(terrifying music)

(Joseph grunting)

[Kaine] Kaine You promised.

You promised, Joseph.

(terrifying music)

(Joseph sighs)

(ominous music)

(eerie music)

(Kaine grunts)

(flesh crunching)

Ah!

(glass clanging)

(items rattling)

Buddy.

(Bethany groans)

(eerie music)

Kaine, Kaine.

(eerie music)

(flesh pounds)

Ah!

(eerie music)

(Bethany groans)

(Kaine grunting)

(Joseph grunting)

(trophy rattling)

Help me, Joseph.

Help me Joseph.

Help me, Joseph. I'm all screwed up.

I'm sorry, Kaine.

I'm not gonna forgive

you. How about that?

(Kaine laughing)

Help me, Joseph. (Laughing)

(eerie music)

Help me, Joseph.

Help me, Joseph.

Help me, Joseph.

I'm all screwed up.

(rain pattering)

(tense music)

(Joseph pants)

(Whisperer chattering)

What kind of father?

What kind of man?

- I'm sorry, Kaine.

Help me, Joseph.

What kind of man?

Help me, Joseph.

I can't go back. I can't!

All right, stay back.

Thank you.

(Caroline panting)

(Joseph panting)

Joseph, Joseph.

Ooh.

It's getting light out.

What if, what if we're wrong?

We can't be.

I just thought the cross would

You can do this.

You can do this, go, go.

(Joseph grunting)

No, no, no.

Let me go.

(tense music)

(ground crunching)

I don't wanna be here.

I'm lost forever.

What kind of father?

What kind of man?

I can't go back, Joseph.

They won't give her back.

Joseph, Father, I'm Buddy.

I'm Buddy, I can't go back.

Let go of me.

I want my child!

I am your child. I'm your child.

You let go of Marco,

so release, Alex, please.

[Whisperer] Our ward.

I'm your child.

I'm your child.

- Give him to us.

- I'm your son.

I'm Kaine, I am Kaine.

Kaine, what's your last name, son?

Stern.

(Joseph sighs)

(tense music)

(Joseph grunts)

They'll never bring her back.

Huh?

That's not what they do.

They'll give you a shell.

I can be more of a son than

what they'll ever give you.

[Whisperer] Your child.

[Alex] Daddy, Daddy?

Alex?

[Whisperer] Here is your child.

- Daddy?

- Alex!

- Trade.

- She's not.

[Whisperer] Your child.

Alex, what's your last name?

- Daddy?

- Take your child.

- Daddy?

- Alex. What's your name?

Alexandra Allen-Stern.

Daddy?

Sorry, Kaine, I'm sorry.

- Now.

- Bring me Marco.

Lemme go into.

- He borrows your time.

- I'll leave your son.

I'll leave you your son.

[Whisperer] Impossible.

You can do that?

Yes.

How?

I put my head to his, and

I pass from this to him,

and you have your son back.

[Whisperer] He is dead.

And Kaine goes free?

[Whisperer] Kaluku

lies, Kaluku deceives.

(Whisperer chattering)

Do it.

What?

Do it to me.

[Whisperer] Your child is coming.

Okay.

(tense music)

[Whisperer] Kaluku lies.

(tense music)

(Joseph panting)

Trade.

(tense music)

Your child.

Daddy, Daddy?

(ground crunching)

(tense music)

[Whisperer] She is yours.

Is Kaine gone?

Kaine's gone.

(somber music)

Dad. Dad, we have to go.

We have to go.

We have to go.

(ground crunching)

(somber music)

Mom!

(ground crunching)

(somber music)

Alex?

(somber music)

(crickets croaking)

(birds chirping)

(somber music)

(eerie music)

(eerie music)

(terrifying music)

(terrifying music)

(eerie music)

(somber music)

(somber music)

(bright music)

(graphic crackling)

(chimes twinkling)