The Haunting of Hill House - 01x04 - The Twin Thing

[bunniefuu]

[YOUNG LUKE] He was in the basement.

He even ripped my shirt,

and they still didn't believe me.

They never believe me.

They don't even believe me about you.

You believe me, don't you, Abigail?


[GORDON] When I was a
kid, my brother taught me

how to spot faces in clouds.

I could pull a face out of
a lot of things. Water...

mud, leaves...

wallpaper.

You know, I get a little
older, I start messing around

with liquor and dr*gs and...

I was going down all the
wrong routes, you know?

So, uh... [INHALES DEEPLY]

I joined the service,

you know, thinking it
would straight me out.

And it did.

Two thousand and four,
my second tour in Iraq,

my company secured the ruins of a
bombed-out hospital in Baghdad,

and...

We came across this little Iraqi girl.

I mean, she was burnt
up, dead. You know.

See, the thing is, most folks
don't know what happen to...

Most folks don't know what
happens to eyeballs in a fire.

In the right kind of fire, they...

they can melt.

Like runny eggs on black skin.

You know?

And...

I mean, that f*cked me up pretty bad.

[SIGHS] Um...

anyway, six months later
I'm back in the States,

and pretty soon I start seeing that

little dead girl's face everywhere.

It's in the clouds, it's
in the dark, on fabric.

It's f*cking everywhere.

You know?

That little girl's charred body and...

melted eyes...

running down her cheeks.

And pretty soon, before I
know it, I'm using again.

[EXHALES]

So one night, I drop a little
acid and there she is.

I mean, it's growing out of the
g*dd*mn wallpaper, you know?

I mean, and she's staring at me.

Eyeless even, I can tell.

So I grab this knitting needle...

you know, and...

all I can think about was how to...

how to make it stop.

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

[SIGHS]

So, then I'm blind.

But I mean, like,
I-can't-see-anything blind, right?

Thing is, is I still see her.

I can't see anything else.

I see her.

Crispy kid with the runny-egg eyes.

Twenty-four/seven, I see her face.

sh*t, I see it now.

You know?

But...

I'm here.

Two months I've been clean.

It's a little too late.

I leaned on my habit to
get rid of that face

and my habit made sure
that I never would.

That's why I'm here.

Two months.

Well, thanks, Gordon.

We're glad you're here.

Any of our newbies want to share?

Luke, how about you?

And follow that? You kidding me?

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

[WOMAN] Would anyone like
to take a newcomer chip?

How about days clean?

Sixty?

Ninety?

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

[CLEARS THROAT]

- Thank you.
- You are welcome.

Um...

Luke, um, addict.

- Hi, Luke.
- Hi.

I actually don't know what I want
to say here. [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

You know, I've never had
this much time before.

You know, days.

[EXHALES, CHUCKLES]

Um...

So, here goes.

[YOUNG LUKE] One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

That's him, the man I
saw in the basement.

Well, your mother and I searched
the entire basement, pal,

and there's nothing down there.

It's normal for kids to have
imaginary friends and nightmares.

But...

Go ahead, I'm listening.

This house is bad, Dad. It's bad.

Boy oh boy, we could have a
heck of a yard sale, guys.

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE] Yeah.

[GIGGLE]

Has anyone seen Nellie?

That's weird.

- You know, she was just here.
- Oh.

It's okay, I just thought you
might like these cool old buttons

- I found upstairs.
- Buttons?

You got me.

My little Houdini. [SMACKS KISS] Look.

Whoa.

Can I have the hat?

Um...

I think it's too big for you, honey.

I don't know. He'll grow into it.

That is a big boy hat, all right.

You want this?

Well, you are a big boy now.

But you know, big boys,

they know the difference between
what's real and what's imaginary.

So what do you say, champ?

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

[OLIVIA AND YOUNG HUGH LAUGHING]

You like it?

He loves it.

Well, how do you know that?

It's a twin thing.

You two go and play.

[SIGHS]

So much up there.

Nice.

I'm having a total déjà vu right now.

What do you see?

Two tables... advancing colors.

Four reading areas.

Casegoods and leather.

A mom and dad sitting in reading
chairs that face each other.

Smaller ones for two...

no, three kids...

who share an open center for play.

Kids' books are on the lower shelf

so even the little boy with the
wheelchair can reach his favorites.

- [SIGHS]
- Wow.

That got really specific.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Well...

Casegoods and leather, though, for sure.

And I see an accident waiting to happen

if you don't pull those down.

Bodies swinging back
and forth right there.

Yeah.

I'll get to it.

[SMACKS KISS]

[LUKE] I must be allergic
to the fourth step.

[EXHALES] Every time I do one,
I break out in track marks.

Good. If you liked it
you'd be doing it wrong.

"A fearless moral inventory."

We're only as sick as our secrets.

Okay, well...

Let's see.

I've b*rned Shirley for
thousands of dollars.

Lied to Theo like it was my job.

Stolen from Steve on
countless occasions.

I broke Nellie's heart.

Missed her wedding.

I've even robbed my assh*le of a father.

Though that one doesn't
exactly keep me up at night.

Try stealing morphine from
your mother on her deathbed.

Probably would've but she
didn't really give me a chance.

At least you have other
family, you know?

- Someone you can make amends to.
- Yeah.

But I've done some shitty things, Joey.

Who hasn't?

I've been on the streets since I was .

There aren't enough pages in
that notebook for all my sh*t.

I never know how far back to go.
Like, do I cover high school?

[INHALES] Like stealing cash out
of my aunt's wallet for beer,

or do I just start with "I briefly
lived in a haunted house".

Hey.

You okay?

Yeah.

Something's bothering you tonight.

What could possibly be bothering
me in a place like this?

You're nine months clean, Joey.

Nine months.

Your sobriety, it's full term.

It's a fully-formed
little baby anywhere.

Nine months clean is a palace. [BUZZER]

- Ten o'clock. Lights out.
- [EXHALES]

Seriously, what's wrong?

How's the step?

You know. [CLEARS THROAT]

- Kicking my ass.
- [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

Fourth one always does.

I meant to tell you, your
brother called earlier.

Steve called?

- Yeah, wanted to know if you were here.
- That's typical.

You should call him back tomorrow.
Tell him about your chip.

Yeah, I don't know.

He won't believe it. [EXHALES]

They never do.

- It's kind of their thing.
- I don't know.

That sister of yours, the
one that dropped you off,

she seemed to believe
in you. Tons, actually.

Yeah, well...

It's a twin thing.

Ten o'clock, Joey.

Yeah, yeah. Back to the
ladies' cell block.

- Later.
- Goodnight.

[SHIVERS, GASPS, PANTS]

Go.

[SMALL GRUNT]

[YOUNG NELL] Luke. You ready?

Ready.

I'm sending down three
buttons. You ready?

I said I'm ready.

Did you get 'em?

I got two.

I sent three.

Well, I only got two.

[YOUNG NELL] It must be stuck.

Maybe we can drop some other
stuff to shake it loose.

Like what?

There were some rocks in
the garden, pretty ones.

Abigail showed me one in...

[BUTTON CLATTERING]

[OLD WOMAN] Clara.

[OLD WOMAN] Clara.

Was somebody else up there?

Like who?

Mrs. Dudley or Theo?

You're scared.

No, I'm not.

- I can tell.
- How?

Because I'm scared.

Nellie, still down there?

[YOUNG NELL] I'm here.

I was right.

There's nothing.

It was probably just Theo...

messing around.

[GROWL]

[GASPS]

Nellie!

[EFFORT GRUNT]

Jesus.

[FEMALE PA ANNOUNCER] Seven a.m.
Breakfast in ten minutes.

[WOMAN] As you've all heard by now...

Joey chose to leave treatment
in the middle of the night.

This is what happens when
we forget why we're here.

I know we're all going to have
a lot of feelings about that.

Some more than others.

This is a moment we should
all pay attention to,

especially you newbies here.

There's a reason why the
program encourages us

to stay out of personal
relationships the first year.

We're not in a relationship.

Any kind of relationship.

We can get real close
to people in recovery.

We're friends.

How the f*ck do you expect people

to get through this without friends?

We don't. One of the biggest issues

that can sometimes happen and just...

sometimes...

and I'm not saying this
about you, Luke, is we can

start to hang our recovery on someone
else instead of on ourselves.

And you lean too hard on
another addict? sh*t.

We didn't all end up in here
'cause we're so reliable.

- Luke.
- I'm fine.

Luke.

I'm just getting some air.
[CLEARS THROAT]

f*ck.

[SIGHS]

[EXHALES]

Luke.

Luke, you okay in there?

Hi, this is Nell. Please leave
a message after the beep.

[LUKE] Hey, hey, it's,
uh, it's me. Uh...

I... I had a moment. Um...

Last night, one of those.

You know what I'm talking about.

I just wanted to make
sure that you were okay.

I, uh, I don't have a phone... and
you won't reach me at the center.

But, you can call there and
leave me a message there.

I should be back by tonight.

I just have to find a friend.

And don't... don't worry. I'm fine.

I just...

I just wanted to be sure you're okay.

You know.

Yeah, okay.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[DOG BARKING]

[BARKING CONTINUES]

[DOG WHIMPERS]

[GRUNTS]

[DOOR CREAKS]

[DOOR CREAKS]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

[SMALL PANTS, GASPS]

[THUD]

[GAPS]

[GULPS]

[GASPS]

[PANTING]

[GRUNTS]

[SCREAMS]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

- [CAR HONKING]
- f*ck you.

[PANTS]

[MAN] Learn how to drive.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hey.

Hey.

How'd you know where to find me?

I know your spots.

Hey, hey, it's okay.

Come on, it's okay.

I found her. We're coming back.
We can be there in minutes.

This isn't a hotel, Luke. You
know that... we're full up

and we need these beds for people
who actually want to get well.

You run, you give up your
spot. That's the way it is.

Please, Paige. Please.

Your best bet is gonna be a shelter.

That's the last place she should be.
She'll cop, she's already...

[EXHALES]

Look, I need a place where
she can come down safe.

Ah, f*ck, Luke. I...

I'm sorry.

[PAIGE] But you did it to yourselves.

f*ck.

She's right. I knew the
rules when I left.

You okay?

Yeah.

Just, I slept on it funny last night.

I told you not to follow me.
Why did you?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I'm sorry.

[SNIFFLES]

It's just, you gotta go back.

Just 'cause I messed up,
doesn't mean you have to.

I got an idea.

- If I can get you a motel, then...
- Do you have money?

- No.
- Can you get money?

- What about your sisters or your brother?
- No.

Do you think you can call them?

I'll get some. Okay?

And I'm gonna fix this. I'm gonna
get us a place to stay tonight.

Tomorrow, too.

And I'm gonna get you clean again.

And I'm gonna be right here,
right there with you.

All the way, just like
you were for me, okay?

And we're gonna find a new place.

I promise.

You got anything left?

Yeah.

That should get us most of the way.

Come on.

You got some balls, man.

How long do you wait this morning?

Before hopping the wall?

Oh, not long.

I still can't believe you came after me.

Well, my sister kind of told me to.

No, not really. She...

We're kind of in each other's heads.

It's been like that since we were kids.

It's a twin thing. [EXHALES]

You know, once I...

Once I broke my foot...

and...

and Nell called me a few minutes
later, and she was just...

she was just watching TV and her
ankle just went nuts. [CHUCKLES]

- It hurt like hell.
- [CHUCKLES]

She had no idea why. She
iced it for an hour.

- Bullshit.
- No, it's a true story.

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

You know, there are... [CLEARS THROAT]

There are moments you
kind of remind me of her.

And she...

You know, she's always believed in me.

Not...

The rest of the family,
not so much, but...

the only other person that
believed in me like that was you.

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

So yeah, of course I came.

It's what she would've done for me.

f*ck. [SIGHS]

You okay?

Yeah, I'm...

I don't know, I'm cold.

Listen, when we get
there, just hang back.

I don't want her to see your eyes.

- She'll know, okay?
- Yeah.

[SIGHS] She always f*cking knows.

[DOGS BARKING AT A DISTANCE]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

- Luke.
- Hey, Leigh.

How you doing?

This is a... surprise. [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

Ah, what are you...

- How are you?
- I'm good.

Ah, I'm really, really good.
Ninety days good, in fact.

That's really great.

I can tell, you look different.

Thank you.

So good, I got a day
pass. Is Steve here?

No, he isn't.

Is he... Well, is he coming back soon?

I just kinda need to talk
to him about something.

He didn't tell you.

Tell me what?

No, Steve is not coming
back soon. Maybe ever.

He doesn't live here anymore.

Wait, what?

We separated a month ago.

Why?

I would really rather not get into that.

Okay.

Listen, I'm... I'm clean.

- Ninety days, like I said.
- And I said that's great.

- Leigh, I need to borrow some money.
- Jesus, Luke.

No, it's not like that. I just...

We have been through this over and over.

It's for a hotel. Or if you
could just let us stay here...

You know you can't do that.
You know that.

Okay.

Okay, can you...

Can you just give me Steve's
address then, please?

I think he's out of town.

I mean, even if he wasn't.

I am proud of you, I am.

But you have to talk to Steven.

You know what he's going to say.

[INHALES] I really can't
deal with this right now.

- [LAUGHING]
- Things are bad enough.

- You're not serious.
- I am.

They'll hang a toy
phone around your neck

and you have to wear it
all day, maybe longer.

Like a child's toy phone?

Yes, it's like The Scarlet Letter
for violating the phone rule.

Improper use of a phone. They catch
you, you wear the phone, like

"Let this be a chilling
example to the others."

[ALL LAUGHING]

You...

You can't make calls
in the first days

unless a caseworker signs off, so...

Well, that's a little harsh, isn't it?

It's not as harsh as an overdose.

I mean, addicts, we're...

we're pretty slippery in early recovery.

That's why they confiscate
our cell phones, you know,

in case someone was
to call a connection.

Yeah.

What if you want to call your mom?

For some folks in there, their
connection is their mom.

- Truly.
- It's true.

[ALL CHUCKLING]

So...

Luke tells me you're a writer.

He did? I'm surprised he mentioned it.

Where do you get your ideas from?

I write about haunted houses, mostly.

And haunted people. I'm afraid
there's no shortage of them.

Must run in the family.

I mean, Luke's a great writer, too.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

No, I'm not.

[LAUGHS] Stop selling yourself
short. He's really talented.

You should show them the one about...

the short story with the imaginary
little friend in the garden.

- The one... Do you know that one?
- Yeah.

- Abigail.
- Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

I put her in one of my books, too.

Something tells me Luke won't
get as much blow back for his.

It's just an essay.

It's not anything, you know.

I keep telling him he should publish it.

Off his name alone.

Maybe get a sweet place
like this for himself.

I mean, you guys... This is so awesome.

You guys got it all, man. [CHUCKLES]

Where do you go from here?

Nothing left to do except...
[INHALES DEEPLY]

maybe fill this place up
with some kids, I guess.

[SIGHS]

So is this your first rehab, Joey?

Ah, it's far from it.

But some of us are addicted
to treatment centers, huh?

Not Luke's first rodeo either.

So what's different this time?
Something must be.

I mean, you know the
definition of insanity.

Steve.

"Doing the same thing over and over... "

"... and expecting different
results." Sure, man.

They're all different, though.
Every day is different.

Every craving is different.
Every meeting is different.

Right. I'm not trying to suggest
you're not taking this seriously.

Oh...

And I'm just...

This time around...

I'm just speaking for myself, like...

Like, I got more support.

And I'm giving more support.

So...

in a sense, I guess you could say...

it looks like the same
thing over and over again,

but that's not insanity.

Out there on the streets,
that's insanity.

Of course.

So that's what recovery is, you know?

It's the same thing over and over again,

in spite of the result, or...

in spite of

a backslide or in spite of a
full-fledged f*cking relapse.

Doesn't mean you stop just 'cause
it gets a little repetitive.

One day at a time.

When we decide to get clean,

it's not because we expect it to
be f*cking exciting, you know?

Is it normal to bring a
friend home on a day pass?

Yeah.

It happens.

I just never really felt like it before.

You must like her.

I admire her.

Don't you?

I feel like she's got her sh*t together.

I'd think you'd want me to take
a page out of a book like that.

Look, I get it. She's charming.

She's articulate, she's funny.

- Yeah.
- Disarming, you might say.

You might even say "slick."

Slick?

Just saying.

You know she stayed up with me.

That first week when I was coming down.

You ever seen someone
in withdrawal, Steve?

Nope.

Well, it's hell.

It's...

You're freezing all the time.

LA in July, no air
conditioning, freezing.

Muscle aches, stiff as
boards, nausea, shakes.

- I wouldn't know.
- Well, she does.

Because she was there.

And she talked me through it,
she rode it out with me.

Wow. Awesome.

f*ck. Steve.

I'm not... I'm not asking
for her hand in marriage.

I just wanted to bring
a friend to dinner

and you're not giving her a chance.

No, I guess I'm not.

- Why not?
- I'm fresh out of those.

I gave 'em all to you.

Wow.

- I just want you to be careful, is all.
- I'm doing good, Steve.

Anyway, she's a good person,
she's a good influence.

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

Just because someone's a good person,

just because you care about them...

doesn't mean they won't burn you.

You're a good person, Luke.

And I love you.

And...

you know.

Thanks, Steve.

You know, I'm so glad we got
to share this milestone.

That's all I wanted. Thirty days clean

so you can make me feel like sh*t again.

- Luke.
- f*ck you.

[SHIVERS]

Jesus, Steve. It's f*cking
freezing in here.

[SIRENS WAILING]

Fother mucker.

[SIGHS]

Hey, Luke.

Hey... Hey, Steve.

This isn't what it looks like.

Are you cold?

Yeah.

How'd you know where to find me?

Tell you what, I've got bucks here.

You hand me that iPad,

you can keep the cash and
sell that old camera.

But, I need the iPad.

It stays here.

Hey.

Hey.

Oh my God, I saw him walking in.
I thought you were f*cked.

It's all good.

Should be enough for a night, maybe two.

And some food. Oh, here.

Amazing, Luke.

[STAMMERING] Amazing.

Goddammit, it's cold tonight.
Are you cold?

Where are we? Seventh?

Yeah, almost.

It's a few more blocks.

I want a clean hotel, no
junkies on the sidewalk.

Man, I don't know if I'm gonna make it

a couple blocks without a piss.

I'll just...

pop into the little junkies'
room and be back in a minute.

Baby.

You got a fever?

Yeah, maybe.

It's my arms and legs, you know?
Muscle aches.

No, I'm fine.

Hey, I...

Thank you.

For coming after me.

Oh.

It means a lot.

You're welcome.

[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

It's all right.

[SMACKS KISS]

What are you doing?

Be back in a flash.

Okay.

Come on, let's... let's keep going.

Joey.

Joey.

f*ck.

Joey!

Joey!

[EXHALES]

Joey!

Luke, addict.

- [CROWD] Hi, Luke.
- Hi.

I actually don't know
what I want to say here.

You know, I've...

I've never had this much time before.

You know, days.

[SIGHS, SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

Um...

So here goes.

It's taken me ten years
to get days clean.

And I'm starting step four, which
is always the one that does me in.

"A fearless moral inventory."

Now, I've been called a
lot of things in my life,

but "fearless" is not one of them.

[LUKE] You know, I was
always a scared little kid,

and I thought...

I thought I'd get braver
as I got older, but...

um, I didn't.

I, um...

I just got scared of anything.

My mom committed su1c1de
when I was six years old.

And my siblings and I were
sent to live with our aunt,

and, I mean, I was just a
kid, you know. I didn't...

I didn't really understand death yet.

So, I guess I just expected her to...

to come back.

And every night, I'd...

I'd stare out my window as the
cars came around the corner,

just hoping that one would stop
and my mom would step out,

you know, to come take me home.

Every time I saw those headlights
come round the corner,

I'd sit up in bed...

and I'm staring out of my
window, just full of hope.

One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven. [EXHALES]

But they'd just keep driving.

[CHUCKLES]

Those tail lights, they were the worst.

Red eyes in the dark, just
taking hope with them.

I mean, Mom...

she never came back, of course,

but other things from when I was a kid,

they came back.

And I guess that's...

I guess that's why I started using
in the first place, you know?

To keep those things away.

And I'd get clean...

you know, a week, a month.

But I'd always feel 'em, you know,
just sneaking back up on me.

- So I'd use.
- He's not real.

You know, my family, they're
not gonna believe this.

They never really believe me.

And I don't blame them.

You know, I f*cked them over
so many times. Lied, stole.

Come on, you all know what
I mean. [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

And I guess...

I guess I'll...

I'll never know how it felt for
them to be done like that.

I hope I never know.

[SIGHS] Ah, sorry.

I want to thank my caseworker, Paige.

And every one at our recovery house.

And someone... [SNIFFS]

Someone special, who's
always had my back.

Thank you.

Any addict alone...

... is in bad company.

That's right. [CHUCKLES]

Thank you.

I couldn't help her.

[PAIGE] We've been
waiting for you to call.

There's something I need to tell you.

Listen, I know I f*cked up. Okay?

But I... I didn't use, I didn't.

[STUTTERS] And I'm so f*cking cold,

and my... [SHIVERS] and my
arms and legs are so stiff.

I just, I...

I... I need a bed. Like, a couch.

I'll sleep on the g*dd*mn floor.
Just... [SHIVERS] please.

[LUKE] Please, please let
me come back. Please.

Where are you? We'll come get you.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven.

One, two, three, four, five, six,

seven.

[YOUNG NELL WHIMPERING]

Hey.

You're awake.

Well, yeah, 'cause...

you're awake.

I saw her again.

The Bent-Neck Lady?

Mommy and Daddy don't believe me.

Ever.

They say she's a
nightmare, but she's real.

I know she is.

I got an idea.

You need seven, and you
set them up like this.

Why seven?

Mom, Dad...

Steven, Shirl, Theo,

you, me.

It has to be seven.

It helps if you touch each
one and count out loud.

One, two,

three, four,

five, six, seven.

That keeps you safe.

Sometimes you got to do it a lot.

Like, a lot a lot.

Don't forget to count.

One...

two...

three...

Four, five, six, seven.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven.

One, two, three, four, five, six...

seven.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

One, two, three...

[PANTS]

Come home, my love.

Steve.

I'm so sorry, I didn't...

I couldn't... I couldn't help her.

[SOBBING]

[MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY]

And I'm so... I'm so cold. I didn't...

[STUTTERING] My arms and
legs are... are stiff.

And I...

I...

[STAMMERING] It's...

It's like... It's like
withdrawal, but...

but I didn't use.

I wasn't using, but...

But I...

But I feel it anyway.

You... You believe me, right?

You gotta come with me.

You gotta come with me, Luke.

What? Why?

It's Nell.

Nell's dead.

How?

It was... It was su1c1de.

[PANTS]

No.

Stevie...

it wasn't.