Family (2024)

[bunniefuu]

(insects chirping)

(distant screaming)

JOHANNA:

Please! Please help me!

Daddy! Help me!

Dad, please. Dad!

Please! Dad, where are you?

Please help me!

(whimpering)

Dad, help me!

Daddy, please help me.

Please, please help me.

Please, please help me!

Dad, help me, please!

(weakly):

Please. Please. Please.



(whimpering softly)

(screams) No!

Mommy, no!

Mommy, no!

No, no, Mommy. Please!

Please! Please, Mommy, no!

No. No, no, no! No, no, no--

("Plaisir d'amour"

by The Seekers playing)

The joy

Of love

Is but a moment long

The pain of love

Endures a whole life long

Your eyes kissed mine

I saw the love in them shine

You brought me heaven

(song skipping):

Right then...

-JOHANNA: Okay. Action.

-(song stops)

(water rushing)

(dog barking)

-Toto, look at me.

-(sniffing)

Don't eat grass, Toto.

(laughing):

Stop eating grass.

This is where we live now.

It's ugly.

(laughing)

(humming a tune)

NAOMI:

What are you filming, Johanna?

JOHANNA:

Just the light. It's pretty.

Come on, Toto, let's run.

-Let's run. Run, Toto!

-(barking)

(laughing):

Run.

(breathing heavily)

(panting)



(birds chirping)

(door opens)

NAOMI: Scheinert wants us

to schedule another appointment

-with the radiologist.

-HARRY: Fantastic.

I've been meaning to spend

more time with that guy.

NAOMI:

Uh-huh.

He says you're

supposed to be resting.

I am resting.

NAOMI (whispering):

Take it seriously.

(imitates g*nsh*t)

NAOMI:

You okay?

When's the rest of our stuff

getting here?

NAOMI: I don't know.

The movers will be here soon.

Let's read while we wait.

(sighing)

(piano plays Chopin's "Nocturne

in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1")

JOHANNA:

"And the house shook so hard

"that she lost her footing

"and sat down suddenly

upon the floor.

"Then a strange thing happened.

The house wh-whirled."

It whirled. You got it.

"...whirled around

two or three times

"and rose slowly

through the air.

"Dorothy felt as if she

were going up in a balloon.

"But the great pressure

of the wind

"on every side of the house

raised it up

"higher and higher,

until it was at

"the very top of the cyclone;

"and there it remained and was

carried miles and miles away

as easily as you could

carry a feather."

(piano continues playing

in other room)



Mom?

(floorboards creaking)

-Mom?

-(gasps)

I-I'm sorry.

What do you need?

I-I can't find the birdhouse.

Well, your grandfather

is coming over later.

Maybe he can help you look.

He's gonna want a tour anyway.

-Why?

-'Cause that's your grandfather.

I guarantee you

he's gonna want a tour.

SAMUEL:

Hello?

Dad?

What are you doing here?

I was just driving by,

and I thought

-I'd check on the movers.

-You're so early.

Yeah, well, I just wanted to

see how you were settling in.

And I heard Chopin.

Well, it's-- you know,

it's good to see you.

-(chuckles)

-Well, yeah.

Yeah.

NAOMI:

Hey.

Come say hello.

Don't be shy.

SAMUEL: You probably

don't remember me, Johanna,

but I remember you.

I'm your pop-pop.

You know, I've never had

a real tour of this place.

Do you think

you could show me around?

(whispers):

Where is it? Where is it?

SAMUEL:

What are you looking for?

The birdhouse. It's like this,

and blue with stars.

Who's the bird?

There isn't one.

But if you hang it up

and make the right call,

you can catch a spirit.

And it's good luck.

Oh, I see.

(Samuel sets object down)

Why haven't I met you before?

You have.

You were just very small.

Why not since then?

Your mother and I had

a disagreement a long time ago.

When she stopped performing,

I wasn't as supportive

as I should have been.

You know, I was there

the day you were born.

You were so red.

You looked like a lobster

with hair.

(laughs) Like a lobster?

Big, red claws.

Come on.

I want to show you something.

Look out here.

You should just be able to...

Yeah. You see

beyond those trees?

That's where I work.

-Do you know what a rabbi is?

-Mm-hmm.

Well, that's what I am.

You should come

visit me sometime.

Has it been hard moving?

-No.

-No?

My mom says there are

better doctors here, so...

But what do you feel about it?

Well...

I just,

I need to find the birdhouse.

It's not your fault

that your father's sick.

I-I know. Why-- I was just...

I know, I know

things haven't been easy.

But I want you to know,

no matter what happens

with your father,

I will always be here for you.

HARRY:

You know, Terry called earlier.

He said Leon Silver is retiring.

NAOMI:

The Tennessee Williams guy?

HARRY:

Yeah.

NAOMI:

Don't scratch the table.

-I wasn't.

-HARRY: So his seminar will be

up for grabs pretty soon.

I could be, I could be

the Tennessee Williams guy.

Who's Tennessee Williams?

He's a famous comedian

who wrote some of the funniest

things you'll ever hear.

They actually

named a state after him.

That's not true.

HARRY:

Anyway, so,

yeah, I could, I could be

up for his chair next semester.

I said don't scratch the table.

JOHANNA:

I'm not.

NAOMI:

Oh, we need a lawn guy.

-That lawn's a mess.

-Well, there's a mower.

-I'm doing the lawn.

-No, you're not doing the lawn.

Yeah, there's a mower

in the garage,

and it's just sitting there,

and I'm doing

absolutely nothing.

-You're not doing the lawn.

-No, no, I'm doing noth--

I...

(choking)

(coughs)

Could the birdhouse

not have gotten packed?

-(coughing continues)

-Mom?

Hey, hey, listen.

When you're outside with Toto,

make sure

he has a leash on, okay?

I don't want him running

on the street. All right?

"I took the blows to my body,

my arms, my legs.

"All those deaths.

And where were you?

You were up there

with your Polish b*stard."

(Harry clearing throat)

What were we talking about?

The birdhouse.

(smacks lips)

You know, I-I think

I saw it in the breezeway.

She would have forgotten

about it.

Oh, come on.

She thinks it helps

keep me safe.

I didn't want to get

into this stuff again.

JOHANNA:

Found it!

Can we keep it outside

for tonight?

Yeah.

That's fine. Yeah.

(Harry sniffs)

(insects chirping and buzzing)



There we go.

Spirits have their house back.

There's nothing here yet.

You have to make a call.

And they'll hear that?

Well, go on.



(whistling)

NAOMI (quietly):

Hope things will be better.

And things will be better here.

I promise, okay?

We're fine. Everything's fine.

They have better doctors here.

That's why we came.

What is it?

On the plane here,

I had a dream.

I was looking for Daddy,

but I couldn't find him.

And then I saw you.

And you had a hammer.

And you attacked me.

Well, that's the last time

we fly United.

(chuckles)

(laughs)

Hey.

Listen, we're fine.

Everything's fine, okay?

I know it's hard moving,

but we're together,

and that's all that matters.

Okay. Um, now,

what are we reading?

Goodnight Moon.

(smacks lips)

Uh... (sighs)

That again?

Just for tonight.

(sighs)

Okay.

(book opens)



"In the great green room,

there was a telephone

and a red balloon."

NAOMI:

What do we say?

JOHANNA:

"Good night, moon."

NAOMI:

"Good night, moon.

"Good night,

cow jumping over the moon.

"Good night, light

and the red balloon.

"Good night, bears.

Good night, chairs.

"Good night, clocks.

And good night, socks.

"Good night, mittens.

-"Good night, little house.

-(creaking)

"And good night, mouse.

"Good night, stars.

"And good night, air.

Good night,

noises everywhere."



(birds chirping)

(wheezing nearby)

(creaking)

(yells)

(screams)



(yelps playfully)

(Johanna screams, laughs)

See you Thursday, okay?

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

-Please, guys, be careful!

-(Harry growling playfully)

(Johanna screams, laughs)

(Harry coughing)

-(Johanna laughing, panting)

-(coughing)

(violent coughing continues)

(groaning)

(retches)

(Harry coughing)

(retching continues)

(distant chatter)

NAOMI (crying):

It's just too much.

I can't deal with this.

(conversation continues

indistinctly)

HARRY:

Come on. Please. Please.

(Naomi continues crying)

(birds chirping)

(yells fiercely)

(breathing heavily)

(whispering voice)

(someone humming a tune nearby)

(humming stops)

Who are you?

Did you hear something?

Wh-What?

Wait. I know you.

You're the people who moved

into the big house.

Why are you here?

We had to come for my dad.

What school are you going to?

Homeschooled. Yeah.

My cousin's homeschooled.

He's got something wrong

with his brain.

He can't do normal stuff.

Sorry.

It's cool.

He-he gets to be home all day

and play StarCraft.

Do you play StarCraft?

You like trampolines?

(springs creaking)

Yeah, my dad's actually a chef.

It's pretty cool.

You know, he-he works in,

like, a fancy hotel,

so he gets to meet

a lot of cool people.

One time, he told me he met,

uh, William Shatner.

-William Shatner?

-Who's that?

You don't know

who William Shatner is?

He's, like,

this really cool actor.

He's one of my favorites.

-Hmm.

-But anyway, yeah,

apparently, William Shatner

was actually kind of weird.

That's what my dad said.

And all he wanted was eggs,

so my dad gave him that.



It was really cool, though.

He's got a picture with him

and everything.

(birds chirping)



(footsteps approaching)

(footfalls on stairs)

(Toto whining)

(gasps)

NAOMI: Why can't you

leave that thing alone?

The-the stars were-were flaking.

And...

What are you talking about?

Looks totally fine.

(Naomi sighs)

There.

Hey, I have to run

by the pharmacy

and pick up your dad's new meds.

You should get outside

while it's still sunny.

It's beautiful out.



Dad.

(Harry panting)

(wheezing)

Dad?

Want to go outside?

Sorry, not a... not a good time.

Go. Please go.

Close the door. Close the door.

You shouldn't be here.

(swallows, grunts)

Close... close the door.

Close the door.



(panting)

You're so good.

Yeah.

Yes.

-(distorted fluttering)

-(gasps)

-(barking)

-(gasps)

Toto!

Toto?

(creaking)

Toto?



NAOMI: It'll be easier if you

tell me the truth, Johanna.

I am. He was right here.

He went behind this tree.

Oh, come on.

You didn't see which way he ran?

He didn't run away.

He disappeared.

Okay, we'll call animal control.

It's too late

to do anything else.

(grunts) Toto!

NAOMI:

Okay.

Come on. It's all right.

Come on.

That's it.

It's okay.



(clock ticking)

(floorboards creaking)

-HARRY: Johanna.

-(gasps)

Daddy?

Wh-Where are you?

HARRY:

I'm in the birdhouse.

What?

HARRY:

I'm dead.



It got me.

(creaking, rattling)

Toto's in here, too.

Can you hear him?

(Toto barking)

It's going to get you, too,

Johanna.

It's saving space for you.

(rattling)

Right by my side.

-(rattling stops)

-(trembling breaths)

(muted scream)

(panting)

(birds singing)



(footsteps approaching)

NAOMI: Hey, come on.

Let's keep reading.

Come on.

I want to look

for Toto right now.

We did that already.

No, I want to look more.

The shelter said the best thing

to do at this point

is to wait for someone to call.

What if he's hurt?

What if something really bad

is happening

and we have to stop him

from getting hurt?

The best thing to do

at this point is to wait...

I don't want to wait.

You're not listening to me.

I have a bad feeling.

I have a really bad feeling.

Well, maybe you should

have thought of that

and kept him on a leash

like I told you to.

I shouldn't have said that.

I'm sorry.

Look, I, um...

I-I want to look more, too,

but this

isn't the only thing

going on right now, all right?

Your dad's waiting

for me at the hospital,

and I have to pick him up

and bring him back, okay?

I don't want him back.

You don't mean that.

-I do.

-You don't.

I do.

All you ever do is

take care of him.

That's all you ever do.

We had to leave our home

-and come here because of him.

-It's okay. It's okay.

And now Toto's gone,

and we can't do anything

-because of him!

-Sit down. Sit down.

-I don't want him back.

-Please sit down! Sit down.

-Let me go! Let me go!

-Just sit down! Sit down!

I don't want him back!

I want it to be over!

I just want it to be over!

-(door slams)

-STANLEY: Toto!

JOHANNA:

Toto!



(whistles)

(whispering voice)



(door opens)

(breathing heavily)

Hello?

Mom?

(low growling)

(gasps)

-(whining)

-(fluttering clicks)

(distorted moaning)

(bones cracking)

It's not real, it's not real,

it's not real, it's not real,

it's not real,

it's not real, it's not real,

-it's not real, it's not real.

-(moaning and cracking stop)

(shuddering)

(gasps softly)

(footsteps nearby)

(door closes)

HARRY (wheezing):

Johanna.

(wheezing)

(wheezing):

Hi, Johanna.

Dad?

(raspy breathing)

(sighs)

(mumbles):

She went somewhere. She...

What?

I'm making dinner.

Gonna make some dinner.

Something to eat. (gulps)

(grunting softly)

(gagging)

(retching, coughing)

-Mom!

-NAOMI: Johanna?

(Johanna gasping)

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I didn't mean it.

I don't want him to go away.

Okay. It's okay.

No, no.

Hey.

(Harry wheezing)

-(Harry gagging)

-Honey, stay here.

-I have to get...

-Where are you going?

Mommy, come back!



(gasping)

(Harry wheezing)

(deep, wheezing breath)

Mom! Mommy!

Come back!

(gasps)

She's gonna k*ll you.

Huh?

Your mother's gonna k*ll you,

and I'm gonna watch.

(choking)



NAOMI:

Get off of him!

(Naomi breathing heavily)

(Johanna panting)

NAOMI:

Shh. It's okay. Shh.

(breathing heavily, shuddering)

(whispering voice)

(whispering voice)

(footsteps approaching)

(door bangs)

Your dad's in bed now.

What is it?

I-I think...

I think there's

something inside.

(Johanna shuddering)

What did you say to him?

Wh-What?

When I came back downstairs,

you were leaning over him,

and you were whispering.

-No.

-Yes, you were.

-No.

-Oh, you were.

He grabbed me.

Grabbed me.

-No, he didn't.

-He...

No.

-He grabbed me.

-No, he did not.

Yes, he did.

You... you left.

You would have no way

of knowing what happened.

Your dad had a seizure tonight.

That's what happened.

No. He said you were

going to hurt me.

What did you say?

He said you were gonna hurt me.

Okay.

Okay, okay, okay.

-Right.

-Uh, what are you doing?

You're too old for this.

Go to sleep.

(door creaks, slams shut)



(muffled, indistinct chatter)



-NAOMI: Five minutes, okay?

-Yeah.

Hey.

(imitates g*nsh*t)

Oh, sit down.

Where are you going?

I won a prize.

All-inclusive trip

to the hospital.

I'm a... I'm a winner.

Are you gonna be all right?

What do you think?

I think you're gonna be okay.

NAOMI:

We have to go.

(Harry sniffs)

-(car engine starts)

-(door closes)



(slow, heavy breathing)



(thumping)

VOICE:

Johanna.

(fluttering clicks)

VOICE:

Johanna.

Johanna.

(creaking)

(fluttering clicks)

(creaking)



-(rattling)

-(gasps softly)

-VOICE: I'm here.

-(clunks)



(creaking)

VOICE:

Do you want to know a secret?

The sicker he gets...

...the more they'll hurt you.

Until...

you take my hand.



(breathing heavily)



(screaming)

(doorbell ringing)

Whoa. Hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey.

-Hey, hey. It's all right.

-(whimpering)

Whoa. (shushing)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Shh.

There was something...

...in there.

Our first night here,

I made a call

for a good spirit, but...

...something else came.

It's doing something

to my mom and dad.

It's turning them against me.

You know about Jacob?

The story of Jacob?

Jacob was a man a long,

long time ago.

And he was in a desert

trying to find his way home.

And one night in the dark,

he met a stranger.

Somehow they started fighting.

Now, this stranger

was horribly strong.

And Jacob, he was terrified,

but he kept on struggling.

And just as the sun came up,

he pinned the stranger

to the ground.

And he looked down to see

it wasn't a stranger at all.

It-it was this massive hit.

Mm, gl-global. (stammers)

-Really?

-Yeah.

HARRY:

It-it started like, uh, um,

uh, like "Dominique," I think.

Dom-Dominique...

(hums melody)

(continues humming)

Uh, to the something

I don't know

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu

Il ne parle

que du Bon Dieu.

-Yeah. (mumbles)

-(fork rattling)

NAOMI: I can't believe

you remember that.

HARRY:

Yeah, well, you got to...

you've got to always keep room

for the important things.



NAOMI:

Really?

-(Harry mumbling)

-NAOMI: Right.

HARRY:

Never actually got a-a penny.

(panting)

-(Naomi chuckles softly)

-Thank you.

Oh, you know, um,

Roman sent me a note today.

-NAOMI: Really?

-HARRY: Yeah.

NAOMI:

And?

HARRY:

It's, uh...

It a-appeared

to be nice, almost.

(conversation continues

indistinctly)





(laughter)





(birds chirping)

(rattling)

Johanna.

Come downstairs.

I'm making lunch.

NAOMI:

So...

you want to tell me

what you were doing

up there with a rock?

My dad said you were up there

and you freaked yourself out.

Do you remember

when your daddy first got sick

and you were afraid

all the time?

When you're upset, you feel

like you're being attacked,

but that's not what's happening.

-I...

-What is it?

I don't want

the birdhouse anymore.

I want to get rid of it.

Really?

(laughs) Uh, yes, yes.

Yes. Great.

(chuckles) Um...

Yeah, no, we can, we can, uh,

we can box it up tomorrow

and we can take it to Goodwill.

You know, we have to go anyway.

There is just so much crap

to give away. (sighs)

-Really?

-Yes. Yes, really.

Hey, look at me. Look at me.

Hey. Look, I know...

I know how hard this has been

for you, okay?

I know, with your dad.

And it's not fair.

And I'm sorry.

I love you.

I love you.

(laughs softly)

You're a good girl.

You are.

Now, eat up.

(crunching)

(grunts)

NAOMI:

Sandwich okay?

(glass clinking)



(door opens)

Johanna?

(panting)



Do it again from,

"What then is the good of you

going to Egypt

to drink the waters?"

(doors rattling)

(pounding rapidly)

(panicked, gasping breaths)

Can I help you?

Hey!



(muffled chatter)



Tell me what happened.

Johanna.

Your parents...

They want to hurt me.

What?

They want to hurt me.

(scoffs)

That can't be true.

Your parents care

about you more than anything.

No, they don't! No, they don't!

Wh-Whoa.

Daddy said she was

gonna k*ll me.

That's what he said.

She put glass in the sandwich.

And I ate it. I ate it.

(sniffles)

Why don't we just

get your parents-- hmm?--

and we'll sit down and...

No.

-Johanna...

-Please.

Your mother

would never hurt you.

She gave up everything for you

because she loves you.

That's who your mother is.

You'll see that

when she gets here.

I had to call them to let them

know that you're here

-and that you're safe.

-NAOMI (distant): Where is she?

-Johanna?

-(gasps)

Johanna? Are you here?

-Where is she?

-SAMUEL: Johanna!

-Oh, thank God.

-JOHANNA: No!

-(screams) No! No!

-Don't you ever do that to us.

You can't run off.

You cannot run off, okay?

I want to get her home.

Dad, we'll talk to you later.

SAMUEL:

No, no, no, no, let's just...

I want to get her home!

Just hold on!

What is happening here?

When did you find out?

Yesterday.

When the...

when the scan...

scans came back and, um...

Well, if it's not

responding to treatment,

what's the next step?

More i-invasive stuff.

It's bad news, Dad.

It's bad news.

We, uh, we told Johanna,

and she didn't take it well.

She started biting her mouth,

and she ran out.

That's-that's not true.

It's-it's not...

-SAMUEL: Johanna.

-It's not true.

It's not what happened.

-It's not what happened.

-Hey, hey, come on.

-They're gonna k*ll me!

-Hey, come on.

They're gonna k*ll me!

They're gonna k*ll me!

-(Naomi shushing)

-(screaming): No!







(seat belt clicks)

(door opens, closes)

NAOMI: I can't do this

with you anymore.

I'm bringing your dad in

for surgery tomorrow,

and I need you

to be good for me.

I don't believe you.

I don't believe

anything you say.

You know,

if they can't cut it out,

they'll put him on hospice.

That's what's next.

It's not true.

There's something in the

birdhouse that's k*lling him,

and you're just

letting it happen.

(laughs softly)

I can't play these games

with you anymore.

(door closes)

JOHANNA:

You're doing this!

You're letting it happen!

You just...

You're just letting it happen!

Hello?

Hello?

Hello! Hello!

Hello!

Don't ignore me!

Don't ignore me!

(panting)

(door closes)

(sobbing)

(creaking)



(creaking)



JOHANNA (distant):

Help me! Dad!

Please! Please!

Dad, help me!

Please!

Please help me! Daddy!

(screaming)

No! No, no! Mommy, please!

Please! No! No!

(crying):

Not again, Mommy.

-No!

-(grunting)

No. No!

(gasping)

You... you had a nightmare.

Y-You were making sounds.

It's okay.

You're okay.

Please don't hurt me.

Hurt you?

You know,

the day you were born...

I-I was away. I was...

I was...

(wind whistling)

I...

I don't think

I've told you enough...

...how much I love you.

(bird cawing in distance)

Go back to sleep.

(footsteps departing)

(panting)

(hushed):

Dad.

(door closes)

Dad?

(fluttering clicks)

VOICE:

He's in here with me.

(shuddering)

It won't be much longer now.

He's almost gone.

Go away.

Go away. Leave us alone.

VOICE:

You are alone.

When he's dead,

she's going to rip you open.

Why are you doing this?

What do you want?

VOICE:

I want what you want, Johanna.

I want this all to end.

(Johanna shuddering)

(whistling)



(bird cawing in distance)

-(thunder rumbling softly)

-(rain falling)

(thunder crashes)



(thunder rumbling)

(sighs)

NAOMI (whispering):

Hey. Harry.

-Hmm?

-Harry?

Yeah.





(medical monitors beeping)

(indistinct announcement

over speakers)

DOCTOR (whispers):

Do you know where the wife is?

(distorted, muffled chatter)

(voice muted)



(wind howling)

(trembling breaths)

Hey.

What's the matter?

I don't know.

-(Johanna sniffles)

-What's going on?

(sniffles)

Did you ever find your dog?

I-I'm not gonna be

around much anymore.

My mom got a new job,

and so we're...

we're moving away.

But she says

I can't go with her.

I have to stay with my...

my dad for a little while.

I'm sorry.

You don't have to be sorry.

He's my dad. He's...

He's my dad.

I got to go.

(sniffles)

What are you gonna do now?



(whispering voice)

I'm gonna go home.

Gonna go home.



(thunder rumbling)

(door creaking)

NAOMI:

Johanna?

(button clicks)

-(fluttering clicks)

-(gasps)

(floorboards creaking)

(door creaking)

(trembling breaths)

(fluttering clicks)

(gasps)

(Johanna gasps)

(fluttering clicks)

(Johanna whimpers)

(ragged breathing)

-No. (screams)

-(shrieking)

-(panting)

-(fluttering clicks)

It's not real, it's not real,

it's not real, it's not real,

it's not real.

(panting)



-(grunts)

-(door bangs against wall)

(panting)

-Johanna.

-(screams)

(shuddering)

JOHANNA:

Dad?

NAOMI (distant):

Johanna?

She's calling you.

(Johanna shuddering)

Take my hand.

(floorboards creaking)



NAOMI:

Come here.

Okay?

Okay. (shuddering)

(voice shaking):

I-I don't know...

(whimpering)

I've tried...

I have tried

so many times

to keep this day from coming.

I don't know what I can do.

I-I don't know what I can do.

I-I don't know

what I can do anymore.

(crying): I don't know what

I can do with you anymore.

(sobbing)

There was a complication.

What?

He's dead.

(crying):

He's dead.

JOHANNA:

That's not true.

That's-that's not

what's happening.

I-I...

I just saw him. He was upstairs.

(panting)

There's something evil

in the birdhouse.

-That-that's what's making...

-Stop lying!

Stop lying, please.

S-Stop lying.

Mommy, I'm not lying.

Please, please, please.

Mommy, please, it's not--

It's in here.

It k*lled Toto.

It's gonna take Daddy,

but we can still save him.

We just have

to break the birdhouse.

We-we need to save him,

we can still save him

and everything will be okay,

Mommy, okay?

(laughs) Do you see this?

I bought this for you

at a Home Depot.

What?

There were six more like it

on the shelf.

You think... you think

breaking this will fix things?

There's nothing in here

that you didn't put inside.

There is nothing in here

that you didn't put inside.



(yelling)

(Johanna gasping)

-(fluttering clicks)

-(gasping)

(high-pitched,

distorted laughing)

NAOMI:

You're laughing.

(distorted laughing continues)

You think this is funny?

(muffled laugh)

You like this, don't you?

-You like this.

-No. No.

You like it. Yes, you like it.

No! No!

(distorted):

You like it!

All of it!

All of it just a joke to you.

-No. Please.

-It's all a game!

It's how you wanted it,

-how you want it.

-No.

You want to play games?

-Come on!

-No.

-You got your wish.

-Please, stop.

He's never coming back!

-Mommy, no! No!

-It's what you wanted!

It's what you wanted.

It's how you want it!

-Mommy, please!

-It's what you want.

It's how you want it!

-(Johanna screaming)

-It's what you want!

-(lights clicking)

-(insects trilling)

(car alarm blaring in distance)

-(Naomi grunting)

-(Johanna screams)

No! No!

(whimpering)

(Naomi grunting, panting)

(panting)

-(door rattling)

-Mommy, let me out!

-No!

-(pounding on door)

Don't do this!

Please don't do this.

He's not dead! He's not dead!

He's not... he's not...

He's... he's...

(Johanna panting)

(birds chirping)

(classical piano music playing

over speakers in distance)

-(footsteps)

-(floorboards creaking)

It's time for dinner.

(piano music continues

over speakers)



Come sit down.

(utensils scraping dish)

(Naomi muttering softly)

Do you know why I gave up

being a pianist?

I was worried you thought

it was because of you.

But it wasn't.

(shuddering exhale)

You know, I gave it up

because I just

wasn't good enough.

I could never give

all of myself to it.

I know what we have to do now.

There's still time.

I've thrown everything

in the basement.

-The birdhouse.

-I...

We can leave it all behind.

I-I don't know

what you're saying.

You do.

-No, I don't.

-You do.

You do.

You know you frighten me,

don't you?

That some part of you

has always frightened me.

I think, because of that,

I haven't always taken care

of you the way I should've.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that he's gone.

You know, he didn't have

anything left.

But I do.

I do.

I can give all of myself to you.

(Johanna breathing shakily)

I know you feel

like you're being attacked,

but that's not what's happening.

I'm your mother, and I love you.

Just...

tell me you understand.

Just tell me.

Just tell me you understand.

Just speak to me. Just...

tell me.

Speak to me.

(yelps)

Speak to me.

-(shuddering)

-Come on.

Come on!

Speak to me!

-Speak to me!

-(Johanna whimpers)

I don't know--

I don't know how. I...

(breathing shakily)

(gasping)

(fluttering clicks)

(distorted):

Do you even feel it?



(screaming)

Johanna, come back!

Johanna!

(lock clicks)

(Johanna panting)







(whimpering)

(whimpering)





It's not real, it's not real,

it's not real, it's not real,

it's not real, it's not real,

it's not real, it's not...

(screams)

(Johanna gasping)

(fluttering clicks)

(hissing, chittering)

VOICE:

You poor thing.

No mother. No father.

You're all alone.

You did this.

You made him go away.

You made him!

VOICE (mocking):

You-you... you made him.

You made him!

I am but a moth to a flame.



It's all over now.

(sobbing):

I want him back.

Give him back. Give him back.

Please, please,

give him back. Please.

(sobs, sniffles)

Please. Give him back.

(Johanna whimpering)

Please.

You know he's never coming back.

No.

-He was always going to die.

-No. No.

Shh.

(crying):

It's not true. No.

Please. Please.

VOICE:

I can't bring him back.

(sniffles)

(fluttering clicks)

But I can take you to him.

(gasps)

(Johanna gasps, sniffles)

There's nothing left

for you here.

(audio muted)

(voices muted)



(fluttering clicks)

-VOICE: It's time.

-(Johanna sobs)

Take my hand.

(crying)



(screams)

(creature gagging)

(screaming)

(screams)

(wind howling)

(screaming)

(whistling)

(birds singing)

(wind blowing through leaves)

(quiet breathing)

(whispering voice)

HARRY (quietly):

Please.

(stammering quietly)

Johanna.

(gasps)



(sighs)



(breathing heavily)

(insects trilling)

(birds singing)

(piano playing Martini's

"Plaisir d'amour")







("Plaisir d'amour" ends)











(music fades)