[GASPS, PANTS]
Nellie's in the Red Room.
Shirl.
[KEVIN GRUNTS]
What did you say?
[SIGHS]
[MAX] Grandma's dead.
I know Grandma's dead.
But she still comes to my room at night and she still sits on my bed, even though Mommy and Daddy said she wouldn't.
And I told her not to, but she was there again last night.
And last night was bad.
She looked different.
Her fingers were purple, she didn't have teeth, and she did not have hair.
I don't want to see her again, especially like that.
So, I'm not going to look at her tomorrow, and I don't want to see her in the open castle.
The open casket.
I understand, Max.
I'm guessing your parents have talked to you about why you might be having these dreams.
- They're not dreams.
- And I'm guessing you're a smart boy.
You're so smart, you probably know that your grandmother wore a wig, is that right?
You probably saw her in the hospital a few times when she wasn't wearing it.
Yeah.
And you probably also know she had fake teeth.
Maybe she took them out once to show you, made you laugh.
The thing about an open casket, and I know it sounds scary, is that it's a great chance to take all of those pictures in your head of Grandma in the hospital, or Grandma without her hair or teeth, or anything else in your imagination... and... cover it all up with a better... picture.
- Better picture?
- That's right.
Before she's... ever even in the casket, I'm going to fix her.
That's what I do.
How?
First, we give her a bath...make sure she's clean and soft.Then we put special chemicals in so she stays fixed forever.
Then... we put her in her favorite clothes.
And finally, I take... extra special careto make sure she looks just like she's supposed to.
So, when I'm done... she will look just like she always did,just like you remember her.
Just like she is supposed to.
- Is that Hill House?
- No.
Come here, take a look.
This... is our forever house.
You made this?
I designed it, yeah.
- I design them and...
- Daddy builds them.
It... just looks like a lot of lines.
Hmm. That's true.
But when I look at it...
I see a family running to a dinner table... from all three directions.
This dining room is the heart of the house.
Everything flows in and out, see?
Every house needs a heart and this is ours, because that's where we spend the most time together.
You know, a house is like a person's body.
The walls are like bones... the pipes are veins, it needs to breathe, it needs light and flow, and it all works together to keep us safe and healthy inside.
I don't see any of that.
[CHUCKLES] It's okay.
When you're little, you learn how to see things that aren't there.
And when you grow up, you learn how to make them real.
Which is my room?
Mm. That's where you'll be.
But on the second floor, this is ground floor.
When we finish fixing up this house and...
Sell it for a lot of money.
You don't miss a thing. Yes.
Then we're going to build the forever house, and we won't have to move, ever again.
[NELLIE] Shirley. Shirley.
Where'd you go?
Nellie, I told you, I'm too old for tea parties.
Mommy, will you please have a tea party with me?
Everyone keeps saying no.
Sweetheart, I'd love to have a tea party with you, but I have to finish working, I'm afraid.
- How about we play outside instead?
- [NELLIE] I guess.
How about a tea party outside?
You can play outside until dinner, but when I flash the porch light twice...
Time to come home.
That's the rule. Nellie,
let me hear you say it.
Porch light means it's time to come home.
'Kay. Go have fun.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
Did you know that princesses and queens and kings had tea parties?
It sounds like a kid thing, but it isn't.
It's very grown-up and uh-fisticated.
"Sophisticated."
Ask Theo.
Maybe she'll have one with you.
Theo!
Will you have a tea party with me?
Please?
- No.
- Why?
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
- You good, Luke?
- Uh-huh.
Don't forget the rule. Lights flash...
Time to come home.
[GROWLS, MIMICS expl*si*n]
[HUGH] I appreciate your advice. I mean, I...
I know you've worked this house for so long.
[CHUCKLES]
- You stay close, now.
- [SHIRLEY] Okay.
Oh. Uh, another question.
That master key you had didn't work.
You have any other ideas about that red door upstairs?
Um... afraid not. Not, not for that one.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
[DISTINCT QUAVERING]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]
- [KITTENS QUAVERING]
- Oh.
Hi.
Where's your mommy?
Hey.
Hey, how'd you get in here, huh?
Where's your mommy cat?
She couldn't be far.
She needs to feed you.
But you're just the cutest little thing. [SHUTTER CLICKS]
[SHUTTER CLICKS, SCREAMS]
[EXHALES] Well, look at that.
You think it's empty?
We'd have seen some. Probably dead.
Come here, Shirley, you gotta see this.
It's okay.
It's a wasp nest.
- Probably an old one.
- Uh, very old.
You see, sometimes they build their nest around things.
I've seen a nest built around a wind chime.
It looked so cool.
[GRUNTS] Ah, there it is.
Haven't seen one like this, though.
I don't blame you for screaming.
There. Built it around this.
You know what that is?
- A mask?
- [MAN] Yup.
A Halloween mask.
- Old one.
- You see? Nothing scary at all.
You're lucky those wasps are long gone.
You might have something to really scream about.
[CHUCKLES]
These little kittens don't have a mommy.
You don't know that. She could be out there somewhere.
[MAN] Odd her leaving them alone.
Especially close to dark like this.
Well, we can't just leave them here.
The dogs.
- Dogs?
- I don't know, Shirl.
Please.
Mr. Dudley, have you ever seen those dogs?
Do you think they'd go after kittens?
- No dogs on the property.
- Well, sure there are.
The kids have been hearing them at night.
They've heard them every night since we got here.
I couldn't say.
The missus and I, we don't stay on the property after dark.
But...no.
I've never seen dogs.
[SHIRLEY] Please, Daddy?
Please?
Come on, Mom. I told you I wanted to be Daredevil.
That's why I got you that, so you can decorate it however you want.
I don't want to decorate. I just want to be Daredevil.
It's more fun when you get to be creative instead of just buying what other kids buys.
Mom, you're k*lling me.
k*lling me, Mom.
Can't you just decorate that to look like Devil Man?
- [WHISPERING] Devil Man.
- Or... whoever?
It means more when you make it yourself.
Hey, guys.
It's almost Halloween.
I need a costume I can wear to Austin's party, not some craft project.
Try it.
Austin said if our masks don't look good enough the ghosts will know it's us and they'll come after me.
- Jayden.
There's no such thing as ghosts and you know it.
Go upstairs. We're working in here.
- Watch out for the...
- [OBJECT FALLS]
Forever House.
So that went well.
Like a charm.
- How's Tyson?
- [KEVIN] He's worried.
We went over it all, and again...
- We're in the black, though?
- We are, but barely.
And Tyson's saying it again just like last quarter.
- We're in the black.
- We have to do better.
Which means you can't keep cutting prices when you feel like it.
- Kevin.
- I'm sorry, you handle the funerals, I handle the books. That was the deal.
We're doing more than well enough to give a little relief to families who need it the most.
It's not relief, Shirl, it's charity.
You're giving stuff away at cost, below cost.
- Only for special cases.
- More than half.
No way.
More than half of our intakes last quarter were special cases.
If it's more than half, it's not special, it's normal.
I have the whole thing in here. I'll show you.
- Bullshit, "more than half."
- Here, I will show you.
Hello.
Uh, right back here.
- Sorry, we didn't hear the door.
- It's okay.
I just wanted to drop these off, like we discussed.
There's some jewelry in here, some pictures of Mom, like you asked.
I couldn't decide so I just put a bunch in. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Thank you for dropping these by.
They'll be really helpful.
Is Max feeling better about tomorrow?
A little.
Your wife definitely helped, but he's still nervous.
[KEVIN] I can tell.
[SIGHS]
Did you ever connect with Nell?
No, but Steve checked in with Luke. He's fine in rehab.
Ugh.
- How many is this for him?
- I don't know. I lost track.
You want me to bring this downstairs?
Yes, please.
[EXHALES] I hate going downstairs.
- On the phone you said he had insurance.
- Right.
We thought so. He told us so.
- This morning we tried to get the info...
- It had lapsed a few months back.
- He didn't...
- He just didn't tell us.
It happens all the time, I'm afraid, especially with first-timers.
We can still do this. We're going to split the cost.
He needs to be here.
[WOMAN] It's fine.
Without an insurance policy, it's $ , a month, and we do recommend a four-to-six month commitment.
- I'm sorry, did you say $ , ?
- [WOMAN] A month.
That's right.
And obviously if he had insurance it would be in... the ballpark of what we discussed on the phone.
Yes... but if his policy is lapsed...
I know.
The first month for sure, and I can come back in two weeks... with some more, if I move some things around.
That's fine. We can see how the first month goes.
[SIGHS]
[STEVEN] I'm sorry, Shirl. I...
- It's fine.
- I can still do...
You can pay me back when you're a famous writer.
[CHUCKLES] You might not wanna hold your breath.
Apparently historical fiction is out of vogue.
- You're all set.
- Yeah.
- What do I, uh...
- We're all set.
I'm gonna need a UA.
What?
Urine Analysis.
First time, huh?
Did you know they have horseback riding? They have horseback riding.
A UA, right.
What if there's still...
It's okay if you're not clean.
We just need to know how dirty.
All right.
Aw, sh*t. Wish me luck.
We love you so much.
[SIGHS]
You can do this.
Thanks.
Anything you need.
You got this.
Yeah.
They have horses.
He can do it.
[SHIRLEY] He's gonna do it.
KEVIN HARRIS
I kind of like the Captain "Lame" mask.
It's all yours.
- Where'd you get those, Allie?
- At the mall.
[CLEARS THROAT] Practically begged me.
She has to be like her cool Aunt Theo.
I did not!
Nope, you're finishing the Brussels sprouts.
You're on fire today, Mom.
Watch it, Captain Lame.
Both of you. They're delicious.
They smell like cat piss.
- Jayden.
- [KEVIN] Watch your tone.
Unless you want to spend Halloween as Captain Grounded.
[WHISPERS] Great.
I don't know, it was weird.
Solo account, his name's on the checkbook.
- So?
- So we only have joint accounts.
I don't know that account.
It was just in his briefcase.
- You're going through his briefcase?
- Looking at quarterlies, not like...
[INHALES DEEPLY] It was just there.
It surprised me.
Ask him.
- I'm sure it's nothing.
- I don't want to seem like...
I don't know. It's probably nothing. It's just...
[STAMMERS] weird.
Well, be sure to let your imagination get the best of you.
That's the first step.
Imagine the worst thing possible, assume it's true, and go from there.
Can I have cookies and milk for dessert?
Did you eat all of your food?
Yes.
[KITTENS QUAVERING]
There's five of them like there's five of us.
That one's me.
Like this.
You get... just enough and you drop a little on their nose, because their eyes aren't open yet and they need to know it.
See?
And then when they open...
Wow.
Do you want to try it?
[DOGS BARKING]
[DOOR CREAKS] What?
- Huh?
- What do you want?
- I don't need...
- Why are you banging on the wall?
- [STAMMERING] I'm not.
- You are.
And calling my name.
What do you want?
[DISTINCT BARKING]
There they are again.
You're banging on the wall to tell me about stupid dogs?
[BANG]
What was that?
[BANGING CONTINUES]
[THEO] What is that?
Shirley...
What is it?
[BELL CHIMES]
[HEAVY OBJECT SLIDES]
- [LOUD BANGING CONTINUES]
- [BOTH SCREAMING]
[SCREAMING] Help!
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[BOTH BREATHING SHAKILY]
Hey. Hey, what's with the screaming?
- Did you hear that?
- What was that?
What was what?
There were these loud bangs all over the walls.
I didn't hear it. I don't...
It was so loud! How could you not hear it?
I believe you.
I believe you.
I know. I know.
[SIGHS DEEPLY] Listen, there's nothing to be...
Pipes.
The hot water pipes, they're old.
They can bang and jump in the walls.
I bet that's what it was.
Look.
It's over now, right?
It's o...
- [GASPS] Just the pipes.
- [CELL PHONE VIBRATES]
[WHISPERS] Jesus.
Steve.
It's...
It's Nell.
[SHIRLEY] It's the middle of the night.
She's dead.
Shut up.
She's dead, Shirl.
I'm not so...good.
What? What the f*ck do you mean?
She k*lled herself.
It's so weird. I came home tonight...and I was in my living room...and...and she was...
Well, you're wrong.
[CHUCKLING] Someone...
They got it wrong.
I mean, she was just... [SNIFFLES]
Um... who told you this?
- Dad called me.
- Well, he's wrong.
He was the last person she talked to before she did it.
He was the last person she called.
Bullshit.
What did he say?
That she k*lled herself.
And I didn't...
He didn't exactly tell me, I...
I couldn't really hear him, because I...
I saw...
No, he wouldn't know.
She wouldn't... She wouldn't call him.
[SNIFFLES] He can't...do that again.
He can't just not tell us what happened. He can't.
I'm sorry, Shirl.
But she has gone.
I told you.
I told you she was in trouble.
I told you to find her. I told you!
I gotta go.
What is it? What happened?
[DOORKNOB CLICKS]
[SNIFFLES, SOBS]
- Good morning.
- [KITTENS QUAVERING]
Wake up.
[GASPS]
Hey.
I found this upstairs.
Decorated it a little bit for her.
Why?
Well, because she was a very special cat, and she deserves a special place to rest.
Is she in there?
Yep.
Can I see her?
Do you want to say something about her?
- Should I?
- You could.
People usually do.
It's called a eulogy.
Well, what do I say?
It's up to you.
Some people say goodbye.
Or...
- you could tell a story.
- Mm-hm.
What kind of story?
Whatever you like.
You know how when you take one of your pictures, you capture something forever, just the way it is?
Stories do that, too.
So when things...
[CLICKS TONGUE]
When we die... we turn into stories.
And every time someone tells one of those stories, it's like we're still here...
for them.
We're all... stories in the end.
Now, try.
This kitten grew up in a tool shed and my room.
I'm not sure what her name was because her brothers and sisters all looked the same, but I... think she was the one I called Jasper.
Hmm.
She was a good kitten and... and... she never hurt a single thing in... her whole life and not many people can say that.
- That's perfect, sweetie.
- Mm-hm.
Goodbye, little kitty. I hope you have a safe trip to Heaven, and when you get there, there's some nice, yummy milk waiting, and...
She's alive.
What?
She...
She's alive!
Honey, look, I know this is...
No, she is. She is...
She really is. Look.
- Honey, I know...
- Her lips are moving.
Okay... Hey...
- Hey, it's okay.
- Wait, wait a second.
Wake up, little kitty.
It's okay, I'm right here.
Yeah...
[SCREAMS]
I'll need you to head up there, pick up the body, and bring her back here.
And pack her carefully.
It's a long drive.
Sure.
Listen, I'm very sorry.
- I don't know what to say in these...
- It...
It's fine, Andi.
Call me when you're on the road.
[KEVIN] I don't think it's a good idea.
It's the right thing.
Why not send her to Carlisle?
They'll do a great job there.
- I think it's a bad idea, too.
- Honey, let someone else do it.
- You need to focus on you...
- She's my sister.
I'm hosting her funeral. That's that.
Is it going to give everyone time?
What do you mean?
I mean Steven, Luke, Dad.
Dad's the reason Nell was so f*cked up to begin with and Luke's probably high as a kite.
I thought he was in rehab.
He was apparently, until this morning.
They said he flew the coop.
No idea where he is.
- Does he even know that she's dead?
- No idea.
If he doesn't, that's on him.
He deserves to be here. You're not giving him time to get here.
He missed her wedding, we're not gonna let him miss her funeral.
He has time, but I'm not leaving her in a freezer until Luke gets his sh*t together.
She'll be there forever.
I'm... I gotta get to work.
Shirl... Shirl.
[WHISPERING] Sweetie, we've talked about this.
[WHISPERING]Max, you can do it, I know you can.
You can.
Good morning.
It's the moment of truth, Max.
It's okay.
I don't want to.
If you don't, you'll be upset later.
I promise...this is a good thing...and you're a good boy.
And you can do this.
I'll go with you.
Shirley...
[HUSHED] It's gonna be okay, Shirley.
[CRIES] I don't want to see her.
- [SOBS]
- It's important.
Look, even Nellie's up there.
- No, I don't want to go.
- Shirley...
No. [SNIFFLES, SOBS]
Is everything okay?
She's just a little scared, I think.
Oh, that's okay.
Here, come with me.
[SHIRLEY] Absolutely not.
[KEVIN] Shirl, she's fantastic.
- [ANDI] You've nothing to worry about.
- You don't know her.
You don't have to know someone to do the cosmetics.
[SHIRLEY] And restoration.
The coroner ruled it a su1c1de, and there's restorative work I've got to do.
- Shirl...
- She was in that house for hours.
She's... The blood pooled, insects, her injuries... [INHALES]
She was only refrigerated for a couple of hours, and then in transport, the level of...
In time it will take me to explain to you what to do with her, I could just do it myself, so I'm doing her myself.
This... is insane.
Excuse us, please.
[SIGHS]
I owe her this.
This is too much for anyone.
The hours, the bugs...
I'm doing it, Kevin.
I'll fix her.
[AMBULANCE DOOR SHUTS]
[OBJECT SLIDES]
I gotta go.
I'm sorry, I... just can't, Shirl.
Let's take her down.
[UNZIPS]
- [YOUNG NELL] Can I feed the kittens?
- [YOUNG SHIRLEY] Sure thing.
Just, remember how I showed you.
Are they still sleeping?
No...
No, no, no, no.
- No.
- [KITTENS QUAVERING]
[SIGHS]
Shirley?
[QUAVERS]
[SCREAMS]
Well, that's what's happening, Steve.
I don't care how you get here,
- just get here.
- You're taking on too much.
- You've gotta just be able to grieve.
- Don't talk to me that way.
I don't even know where Luke is.
We've been looking.
- You and Dad?
- That's right.
We've been looking, but they don't know where he went.
Apparently he went out of a g*dd*mn window.
Steve, do you know what I'm doing right now?
I'm elbow deep in our sister's chest cavity pulling out a bag of her internal organs.
That's what happens when a body's autopsied and I have to take it out.
You have to get two grown men to a g*dd*mn airport.
Get it done.
[LINE DISCONNECTS]
She's doing it herself.
- [STEVEN EXHALES]
- She isn't.
She's doing it herself.
[OLIVIA] This kind of thing happens.
Kittens aren't supposed to be without their mommies.
And no matter how much you love them, you're not their mommy.
And they're...
They're better now.
They're where they're supposed to be.
What about the little one?
What about the eyes?
We found it a new home.
But why didn't you let me take care of it?
- Or at least say goodbye?
- Shirl...
we have no idea what was wrong with those kittens, they were very sick.
We couldn't let you try to take care of a pet who was so sick.
But... you gave it to someone else.
- We...
- I don't believe you.
Shirl...
- um...
- Just tell me.
Just... just... [STAMMERS]
[SHOUTING] Why would you give away the last one, the only one left?
- Just quiet...
- It's not fair!
- [SHOUTS] Just stop it! Stop it!
- It's not fair!
[YELPING, GASPS]
[GASPS]
Mm.
It's been a minute since you had one of your color storms.
That's the thing.
There was no color at all.
It was pitch black.
Like...
like...
fireworks, but...
black.
And it hit me like a...
It's never come that fast before.
First migraine in what, a year?
And it happens at the worst possible moment.
- And you're better?
- Mm.
Codeine's finally kicking in.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
I wish I had been part of that conversation.
Would you have said different?
Probably not.
I got it.
Would you have said you had to go to the woods and... put this sick little kitten out of its misery?
No, of course not, but it's a tough thing for a kid, and we should...
Look, she's going to have a pretty messed up view of death coming out of this no matter what, which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't have...
Go ahead.
No, it was unfair.
Go ahead anyway.
Why the hell did you let her keep those kittens?
Well, I didn't know that they were all gonna die.
You let her keep a box of diseased kittens in her bedroom.
[STAMMERS] And now she's traumatized.
Her first real brush with death and now she's... [BREATHES SHAKILY]
And then I have one chance to pull it back, and I lie to her face and lock up with a migraine.
This was not our finest hour, no doubt.
sh*t.
Sorry.
You're not allowed down here. You know that.
- I know, we were just...
- It's okay.
It's just, Auntie Nell.
I know.
I know you're curious.
And sad.
I'm sad, too.
So sad I can't even tell you.
What do you want to know?
I won't lie to you.
Any questions you have are completely normal, okay?
What are you doing to her?
I just finished embalming her, and it helps her look... how we remember.
Why did she die?
I don't know.
Just so sad that she did.
She loved you both so much.
- Where is she now?
- I don't know, Allie.
Nobody knows.
I can tell you what I think, maybe, sometime tomorrow.
But mostly I'm just sad.
I know you're curious about her, but this part isn't for people to see.
I can tell you everything I'm doing, but... some other time.
[SNIFFLES] Right now.
Why don't you two go pick your favorite picture of Auntie Nell from one of the albums...
and I can hang it at the funeral?
Okay?
Okay.
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[INHALES DEEPLY, EXHALES]
[NELL] I'm so excited.
You're gonna look amazing.
[EXHALES] You already look amazing.
You know what I mean. [CHUCKLES]
[GIGGLING] Gorgeous. Uh!
- Come on, we still got a ways to go.
- I know, but you do.
I'm so happy for you, Nellie.
- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
- Come in.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hey.
Hey.
[DOOR SHUTS]
Wow. You look amazing.
Thanks.
- How's Arthur?
- Oh, him?
He's great. I handcuffed him to a radiator downstairs.
- He's not going anywhere.
- Steve.
He's as happy as I've ever seen a guy.
- [GASPS]
- And he should be.
Well, anyway, I just wanted to say break a leg.
- And if you make a run for it...
- [NELL CHUCKLES]
- I'll keep the car running, okay?
- Okay.
- [DOOR SHUTS]
- [SHIRLEY SIGHS]
How lucky for us, a famous author at your wedding.
- You promised.
- [LAUGHS]
I know. Not another word, I promise.
What is it?
Nothing. I should be right back. We'll finish up.
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR SHUTS, OPENS]
Hey.
Hey, I didn't know if this was...
- The hell, Luke?
- What?
- Taxi, hold up!
- What? Hey, I'm fine.
I'm fine.
[STAMMERS] I just...
I just wanted to make sure I got to tell her that I was happy...
Look at me.
- [EXHALES] What?
- Look at me.
You're high.
No.
No, I'm not.
- So you got the day pass?
- Yeah.
- They're very supportive.
- Luke, I paid for rehab.
Guess who they called when you ran away last week?
Last week.
Shirl, she's expecting me to be here.
No, she's not.
Nobody is.
Today's about Nell.
- Yeah.
- Do you get that?
This is her day.
You're not smearing your sh*t all over her day, Luke.
- Shirl...
- You're not.
I'm level, I just... [GASPS]
I just really want to be here for her.
You should've thought that before you put the needle in your arm.
What's the cab? Twenty? Thirty?
Here's a hundred.
You can sh**t up the rest, I don't care.
This is the last I ever give you.
No more loans, no more treatment centers, nothing.
The store's closed. I'm done.
I...
um...
[SIGHS] Sorry. Bridesmaid stuff.
- Is everything okay?
- Everything's perfect.
You're gonna have the perfect wedding.
Almost perfect.
[CHUCKLES]
I'm sorry.
[WHIMPERS]
[SNIFFLES]
[SOBS]
[WHIMPERING]
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[SOBBING]
You... you fixed her.
Well, that's what I do.
You fixed her.
[YOUNG SHIRLEY] You fixed her.
[SWITCH CLICKS]
[EXHALES]
- [KITTEN YAWLS]
- [SWITCH CLICKS]
The Haunting of Hill House - 01x02 - Open Casket
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
Explores a group of siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country.
Explores a group of siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country.