[rain pattering]
[fingers drumming]
[rhythmic scraping]
[thunder rumbling]
[scraping continuing]
[clock ticking]
[man clears throat]
[pen clicking]
[papers rustling]
[clears throat]
[sniffs]
"Do you ever have emotions that you can't explain?
Have you ever lost control of these emotions?
Do these emotions have a name?"
These were the first three questions
that Dr. Malison asked of Joseph Kinkirk
just six hours after his arrest.
To which Kinkirk answered,
"Yes. Yes." And "Henry."
This course of exchange laid the foundation
for a defense that failed,
not only because of the meticulously collected physical evidence,
but also because of the currently accepted opinion in modern psychology:
multiple personality syndrome does not exist.
It was a psychological fad, a therapist-induced disorder,
perpetuated by an unending barrage of TV talk shows and novels,
and ill-conceived Hollywood movies.
Joseph Kinkirk has been under observation
at various psychiatric institutions for most of his adult life,
and yet there has not been one documented reference
to Henry until after his arrest.
Henry did not abduct Sarah McKenzie.
He didn't strip her naked or tie her to a bed in his cellar.
He didn't rape her twelve-year-old body,
or attempt to remove her ovaries with a box cutter.
And he didn't videotape the two hours
it took Sarah to bleed to death when that operation failed.
Henry did not commit these atrocities because...
...Henry does not exist.
Joseph Kinkirk is fully aware of his actions.
[thunder rumbling]
Just as he was when he committed them.
[sniffling]
[thunder cracks]
It's after midnight, I'm afraid...
I know, I need two shots of tequila a water back and some volume on the TV.
- Please. - Certainly.
At one minute past midnight,
the state of Missouri began the execution
of Joseph Kinkirk by lethal injection.
With no reprieve coming from the governor's office,
sodium thiopental was first administered as an anesthetic.
[sniffling]
Can I have two... two more shots, please?
Would you like me to change the channel?
No, that's...
...and Mr. Kinkirk was pronounced dead
at 18 minutes past the hour.
[male reporter] As you've just heard, Joseph Kinkirk has been put to death
in a Missouri state prison...
[TV continues indistinctly]
[phone ringing]
[|oman] Hello?
[girl] Hi, Mommy.
- [man] Oh, no, no, no. - [woman] Hi, sweetie.
- [girl] I miss you. - [woman] I miss you, too.
- [fire alarm beeping] - What's that noise?
- [beeping continuing] - Uncle Stephen's making breakfast.
OK, now can we go to Starbuck's?
- [woman] How was last night? - We watched Night of the Living Dead.
- Oh, no, secret. Shh! - Put your uncle on the phone.
Mommy wants to talk to you.
So did you see them fry the bad guy last night?
It was lethal injection. And no.
You get shitfaced as usual?
Watch your language in front of Sammy.
Sorry. Did you... as usual, get shitfaced?
I'm running late. I'll see you this afternoon, OK?
[line clicks off]
Hello.
- [giggles] - Hey. Hey!
That's rude. Your mother hung up on me.
[phone ringing]
Dad, can I call you back? I'm just at the airport.
[man shouting over phone] I need your opinion on a patient.
- You're shouting again. - Am l?
Sorry.
Look, I think you'll find this one to be very interesting.
Just send me the file and I'll look it over.
No, no, you have to meet him.
I'll pick you up at the airport. Just give him one hour.
You can't... expect me to rearrange my life
every time you dig up some medical oddity.
Did you hang up?
Dad?
Hi.
[jet engine rumbling]
[woman] So where'd you find this David Bernburg?
[man] He was referred to me by Dr. Foster.
- [woman] Charlie? - [man] Mm-hmm.
[woman] Well, that figures.
[man] David was picked up for vagrancy
and then released into Charlie's care the next day.
Well, how long has he been a patient here?
Couple of days, since the weekend.
- That's all? - Mm-hmm.
You usually you like to train 'em for a month
before you let me pick 'em apart.
Ah, but this one has a whole new kind of act.
Oh, yeah?
Enjoy.
Can we get a little heat going in here?
[man over intercom] Sure.
[door opens]
- Hi. - Hi.
- Thank you. - Sure.
[door opens and closes]
I'm Dr. Cara Jessup, and you must be David.
- David Bernburg, is that right? - [Southern accent] Yes.
Bernburg. Is that German?
I don't know.
Do you know why we're here?
You want to ask me some questions?
Is that all right with you?
Yes.
OK. Have you been in a wheelchair your entire life?
No.
I had an accident a few years back.
OK.
Are you left or right-handed?
Right.
And, um... In your childhood home, how many windows are there?
Ten.
Eleven if you count the star window in the door.
But it didn't open.
OK.
So when you're counting these windows,
are you inside or outside the house?
Inside.
- It's warmer. - Mm-hmm.
Were you raised in any religion?
Ma'am, I was raised in the mountains.
God held our hand and the Devil waited for us to follow.
I'd like to show you a series of abstract images,
then I'd like you to just describe any thought that comes to mind, OK?
- Two small children. - Mm-hmm.
And... they're playing that game...
Patty-cake, patty-cake...
OK. OK. Good. And this one?
It looks like an elephant in the circus.
Is it a big elephant?
No. A baby elephant.
Do you see any numbers in this circle?
- Sixteen. - OK.
How about this one?
Seventy-three.
Sure.
Do you ever have any emotions you can't explain?
No.
Do you ever feel angry or violent or depressed
for no apparent reason?
No.
OK. Thank you very much.
[door opens]
All right, Dad. I'm waiting.
For what?
Well, you didn't bring me here to meet David, did you?
Mind if I make a call?
No, I got nothing but time. Go right ahead.
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
[softly] Hello?
This is Dr. Harding. Is Adam there?
I'm sorry, Dr. Harding.
I'm the only one here.
I'd like you to look for him.
- [David grunting] - [bones cracking]
What was that?
[David breathing heavily]
This is Adam.
Adam, it's Dr. Harding.
I wonder if you would have a moment to speak with a colleague of mine?
Sure.
You didn't need to do that.
Do what?
Show off.
It makes you look like a charlatan.
[door opens]
[sighing]
Hello.
I'm Dr. Jessup.
[East Coast accent] Jessup? You're Dr. Harding's daughter?
Yes, I am. And you're Adam.
Your husband was murdered, right?
Ooh...
- Yes. - How?
His throat was slit by a mugger.
When?
- Three years ago. - Where?
When we were walking home from church on Christmas Eve.
[sucks teeth]
- You think that was rude of me? - Not at all. I'm used to it.
Aggressive role manipulation is a common avoidance technique
used by borderline personalities during therapy.
But you knew that, didn't you?
That a girl.
I have to watch out for your exploitive pathological tendencies.
You ready to answer some questions?
Shoot.
In your childhood home, how many windows are there?
One.
- One? - Mm-hmm.
Actually, two if you count the windshield.
I see.
Were you raised in any religion?
- Catholic. - Mm-hmm.
OK, Adam, I have a series of abstract images here.
I'd like you to take a look at them...
Dances, moth, elephants, the Devil.
I've seen all this stuff before, Doctor.
[Cara over intercom] Yes, you have, clearly.
OK, Adam.
Do you see any numbers in the circles?
Nope.
And this one?
No.
Great. Great.
What about this one?
The number seven.
OK.
OK, Adam...
May I look at your eyes?
Are you wearing contact lenses?
No. This is their natural color.
Are you color-blind?
Red deficient. Since birth.
OK, Adam, I think we're done here.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Can I go now?
[Cara] You set me up.
No, no. I offered you a chance to reconsider some of your assumptions.
Adam is the host, David is the alter.
Why didn't you let me interview Adam first?
Well, where's the fun in that?
[playing loudly]
- [Cara] Hello! - Mommy!
- Ho! - [Cara] Hello!
- Mommy! - Hey.
- I missed you so much. - [Sammy] Yay!
- [Stephen] Hey, Pop. - Hey, Steve-O.
- Oh, this is quite a rig. - [Stephen] Mm-hmm.
- [Sammy] Hey, Grandpa. - There's my angel. How you doing?
- Go get your stuff, OK? - OK.
- [Harding] I'll help you. - She have fun?
She was pretty cranky till that second beer set in.
You staying for dinner?
No. Sammy's got school in the morning.
Mm-hmm. You OK?
I mean, really OK?
Yeah, I'll be OK.
[Sammy and Harding conversing indistinctly]
What are you working on?
I'm just off-lining an industrial.
- Oh, great. - [chuckles]
You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
- No. - No.
[Harding] OK. Here we are.
Did you say thank you to Uncle Stephen, honey?
Thank you, Uncle Stephen.
Sammy, next time you bring the beers, OK?
- All right? - OK.
I gotta tell you, I'm loving these underage drinking jokes.
- Thank you. - I'm loving them.
- Thank you very much. - Bye.
- Good-bye. - [Sammy] Bye.
- Get off my property. - [Cara laughing]
[Cara] Don't pull all the way up into the driveway, OK?
[Harding] Why?
'Cause it'll be too tight for me to get out.
- You'll be able to get out. - No, it's...
[Cara grunts] Thanks, Pop.
This is perfect.
Hey, honey? Get into the bathtub, OK?
And then we'll have dinner.
OK, Mom.
What's that?
Adam's file. Take a look.
I'll think about it.
[voices whispering]
- [bones crack] - [gasps]
[Adam on video] I don't seem to have much time for God nowadays, Doc.
It seems to work both ways.
How's about you? You got your faith?
[Harding] My daughter lost her husband not too long ago.
He was a good, good man.
And he was murdered for no reason at all.
- [Adam] Murdered? - Mm-hmm.
I find it kind of hard to believe in a God that would hurt my daughter.
...Dr. Harding. Is Adam there?
[David] I'm sorry, Dr. Harding. I'm the only one here.
- [David grunting] - [bones cracking]
- [man] Little CC. - [Cara] Hey, Charlie.
- You look terrible. - Well, thank you.
Course of antibiotics, I'll be fine.
- All right. - To what do I owe the pleasure?
Adam Saber.
I want to know how he came to you, and why you dumped him on my father.
Police found him laying in the street.
He didn't appear intoxicated.
Claims he wasn't able to walk.
Gave his name as David Bernburg.
By the time I examined him,
he was up on his feet calling himself Adam Saber.
Said he had no idea how he got to the hospital.
Well, I thought of your father immediately.
Well, yeah, sure.
Um... Have you ever had a patient who was color-blind in just one eye?
No, why?
I was just thinking it might explain...
- Never mind. [chuckles] - How's Sammy?
She's great. Soccer crazy.
There are try-outs at the school this Friday. You should come.
- I'd like that. - Good.
Um... Can I get a copy of his hospital file?
- I'll fax it this afternoon. - Thank you.
Take care of yourself, all right?
Yeah. I will. You take care of that kid.
Yeah. Always.
Um... Does Ellie still work in Radiology?
Yeah, but she's up on the third floor now.
All right. Thanks again.
[Charlie] Bye.
[indistinct announcement over PA]
[coughing]
Is it possible that when he wrenches his neck,
he's compressing and decompressing a nerve
and causing some kind of temporary paralysis?
Look.
This X-ray.
The third, the fourth, the fifth vertebrae...
- Fused. - Mmm.
So we're looking at X-rays here of two different people.
Two different people.
It's a hoax.
The guy, the doctor.
- The doctor? - Sure.
How well do you know him?
Well, some days... not at all.
Gets under your skin, doesn't he?
These aren't his films. They can't be.
Isn't it possible that... that what you're looking at
is actually what you're seeing?
No, because this is not possible.
- Adam is the real deal. - No, he is a desperately ill young man,
but he's fully aware of David and all of David's actions.
David is pure invention, and I'll prove it to you.
You know what? We haven't had dinner together in over a month.
Well, you're coming to Easter, aren't you?
Uh-huh.
You want me to bring anything?
Just your delightful self.
[laughing]
That's my girl.
- Yeah, thanks. - I'll see you.
[muttering] OK, let me...
So, David Bernburg, Shadywood High School, Shadywood.
Shadywood.
[gasps]
Sorry, Doctor. Scared you a little right there, huh?
Yeah, a little bit, yeah.
Listen, uh... I didn't want you to leave
without having a chance to say thank you.
For what?
For trying to help.
- Thanks. - You're welcome.
[engine starts]
Excuse me. I'm looking for yearbooks.
Second aisle down to the back.
But you best be quick, I'm locking up in ten minutes.
I'll be quick, promise.
OK.
[|oman] You almost done?
I'll be done in a minute.
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[gasps]
[voices whispering]
[Cara speaking softly] Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Bless the bed that I lay on,
Bless me as I lay me down to sleep,
I give myself to God to keep,
Five little angels around my bed,
One at the foot, one at the head,
One to sing and one to pray,
And one to take my sins away.
[sighs]
Amen.
She doesn't mean it.
Right?
[line ringing]
[Charlie coughing] Hello?
[Cara] Charlie?
Oh, Little CC.
You sound terrible.
[coughing continues]
Listen, listen. Can I bring you anything?
No, I've got soup.
And... And the antibiotic is about to kick in.
I hate to ask, but...
You never faxed me Adam Saber's file.
Oh, I'm sorry. Is first thing all right?
Yeah, yeah, of course. Just get some rest, OK?
I will.
- [gasping] See you soon. - OK, feel better.
[coughing loudly]
[retching]
[dog barking in distance]
[clattering softly]
[rattling]
[rattling continues]
[Cara] Excuse me.
Do you know the way to the Quarry House?
[clicking tongue]
[exhales]
I don't know how I got to the hospital.
I have no idea how I got to bed last night.
You know, I just wake up in my room,
and I don't remember nothing.
[snaps fingers]
[Harding] The nurses helped you into your bed.
Was I awake?
[Harding] In a manner of speaking.
[knocking on door]
[|ind whistling]
Hello?
[papers rustling]
[|oman humming gentle melody]
[humming continues]
[|oman] They're ruined, aren't they?
I'm sorry, I knocked at the front door.
- l, I was... - I found them this morning.
They must have been in water for weeks.
All that music, all that life, all gone.
No. I think... I think some of it can be saved, actually.
Well, there's always hope.
Now, who are you?
I'm looking for David Bernburg?
- David? - Yeah.
You're standing on him, my dear.
[|oman] Well, it happened around this time of year.
Some local reporter inevitably stumbles onto a story in the archives
and tries to resurrect it as a cautionary tale.
Are you talking about David's accident?
No, my dear.
His murder.
How did his accident happen?
He fell.
Wet leaves on stone steps.
And just like that, his life had to begin again.
But he accepted his fate with such nobility.
For three years, David showed the world
how brightly the Holy Spirit shone within him.
But then...
...David lost his way.
He found a doctor in the city
who was experimenting with spinal replacement, or some such nonsense.
David came to believe
that this practitioner would one day give him back his legs.
It seemed as if every month he'd ride into the city on the bus
with hope in his eyes.
Only to be injected and sliced open,
and return broken-hearted.
And then one month he left home...
He never returned.
It was one week later when they found his remains.
He had been taken into the woods and abused.
Tortured.
[crying] Can you imagine?
David sitting there, watching,
unable to fight back.
Watching as they did those unspeakable things to him.
I... I cannot. I...
And I pray you never will.
[sighs]
David turned his back on God
and looked to science for his answers.
The Lord told us quite plainly...
..."Wane not thy faith in me."
Hey, Art, I'll have a cup of coffee and some of that apple pie, huh?
Hi, honey bunch.
Did you have a good time?
No, we had a bird funeral.
- Great. Great. - Yeah.
Um... Do you want to pick out a treat while I talk to Grandpa?
OK, go ahead. Get what you want.
What's the fundamental difference between a disassociated personality
and a delusional one?
- No hello? - 'Cause I have something.
- Yeah? - OK.
So, the real David Bernburg
was born on February 5th, 1 963.
He slipped and broke his back in November of 1 979.
In April of 1 982, he was murdered.
Now, while every local TV station and newspaper
was recounting the details of his horrific death,
your Adam Saber was six years old.
His mother had just died,
and he'd been placed in the first of several foster homes.
His escape was this... this macabre murder.
Now, evertyhing that Adam knew of David,
he would have gleaned from the media, right?
OK, well, say that I agree with these...
...somewhat shaky assumptions.
Why would Adam create a delusion?
Give me your wallet.
- Any wallet will do? - Mm-hmm.
[chuckling]
All right.
So why do you carry this picture of Mom?
To remind me of her.
Mm-hmm. And experience the positive affects that these memories evoke.
- Yeah. - Yes. Now, if this picture existed
but you had no awareness of it,
would you still be able to benefit from its existence?
I suppose not, no.
Oh, OK.
So I believe, as a child, Adam Saber
began carrying around a mental picture of David
so that no matter where he went, no matter how horrific things became,
there was always someone who had it worse.
David Bernburg, who was tortured to death
by Satan worshipping mountain witches.
But to benefit from this mental image, he must be fully aware of it,
and therefore, cannot be disassociated.
That is a very compelling diagnosis.
Thank you very much.
- How are you gonna prove it? - Oh. Oh, Dad.
I'm not going to prove it.
I'm gonna cure it.
[door opens and closes]
[Cara] Hello, Mrs. Bernburg.
Thank you again for agreeing to help me with this.
I wanted to tell you
that Adam has created an impersonation of your son.
I... I don't want you to be alarmed.
I've raised three boys, and said prayers upon their graves.
Not much alarms me.
Thank you, I do appreciate it.
Here's... This is Adam now.
- [Adam] Thanks. - Hello, Adam.
Hey.
This is Ditta Bernburg.
Is the name familiar to you at all?
Nope.
[Adam sighs]
Uh... Her son David was murdered 25 years ago.
Shit.
I'm sorry.
You may have heard of it.
It was in the papers.
[Adam] Twenty-five years ago?
I was like six years old.
- I didn't read the papers much. - Mm-hmm.
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
You gonna get that?
No one knows I'm here. It's probably for you.
[ringing continues]
Yo, this is Adam.
I'd like to speak with David, please.
There's no David here.
- [gasps] - [bones cracking]
[Adam grunting]
Mama?
You found me, Mama.
My son is dead.
No, Mama.
I'm not dead.
You are not my son.
[cries]
Yes, I am.
We live at the Quarry House on Tall Road.
I was able to find your address in the phone book.
My bedroom used to be a library.
You used to fold the clothes on the shelves like books.
- Stop it. - Yeah. You used to say...
"What clothes should we read today, David?"
No.
My bed...
My bed was made from harvest wood... to keep me safe from the spirits.
My son died 25 years ago.
You have a nail in your pocket.
How could you know that?
No one knows that, only...
We found it in Askirn Mine.
[Adam cries]
You always carry it, Mama.
- David. - Mama.
Iron from the earth.
To ward off evil.
[sniffing] Yes.
Then it's not working.
[Cara] I know there's a rational explanation...
- [door opens] - Mama?
[door closes]
Yeah, this is it. You can get him out of the van.
Do you want me to come with you?
No, we'll be fine.
- You sure? - Yeah.
All right.
I'll be fine.
[bird cawing]
All right, David.
Do you know where you are?
No, ma'am.
Well, there's no reason
that you should recognize this place.
What is it?
- What's the matter? - I was here at night.
What?
That's why I didn't recognize this place.
[David] Things are different.
It was snowing.
Right there, there was a shack.
[grunts]
- David. - He's coming.
Who's coming?
Who's coming? Just tell me.
Shh! [|himpers]
It's all right. It's all right.
Tell me, tell me who is it? Who is it? Who's coming?
The Devil.
[muttering, whimpering]
I'm sorry. All right, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- [|himpering] - I'm gonna... all right.
I'm gonna take you back to the van, OK?
I'm gonna take you back.
[grunting] It's all right.
Please, please, please, get me out of here.
Your chair's stuck, I have to go...
No, no, please. Please don't leave me.
- All right, OK. - [breathing heavily]
I just... I have to get a signal.
I'm just gonna walk away and get a signal, OK?
You're all right. You're all right.
[grunting]
[bones crack]
[keypad beeping]
[line ringing]
- [man] Hey, Cara. - Hi, Virgil.
- Is something wrong? - No, no, I'm all right.
The chair is stuck and I need you to push it out.
All right, let me find something, I'll be right there.
Thanks. OK, bye.
[gasps]
Oh, let's see what we got.
Stuck, huh?
Hi, Adam.
Who's Adam?
Here we go.
My name is Dr. Caroline Jessup.
Yeah, we'll get to you later.
- Adam... - I asked who Adam was.
Adam is a patient of mine.
Are you all right?
You feel confused?
Confused?
You don't tell me when to be confused, lady.
You're not the one who keeps waking up in strange God damned places
with no idea how you got there.
So I asked you a question.
Where am l?
And why would you think I was Adam?
You're at Walker's Mill.
And you look like Adam.
- Hey! - Caroline. Are you all right?
Yeah, we're fine. I was... I'm just...
I'm talking to...
Wes.
- [Wes] Morning, Virgil. - Hey, Wesley.
[men chattering]
- [Harding] Nice, all right. - Dad! Dad.
- Yeah? - I need to talk to you.
OK, I'll be right... I'll be right back.
- Why are you...? - I just met Wes!
What... Why, Dad, why? Why do you do this to me?
Because you've stopped asking questions.
That's all I do. That's all I do all day long.
- That's all I do, Dad. - No, no.
You've stopped asking questions of yourself, Caroline.
You've developed this fixed system of beliefs
which you refuse to submit to any kind of introspection.
So what that means is that you will never have a new thought
in your professional life.
You have got to learn to take those ideas,
set them to one side, and try to move ahead
with one big question, which is, "Why?"
And simply ask "What?"
To just say "l don't know."
Just because you're older doesn't mean you're right.
It might mean that you've been wrong for longer.
What has been your motivation here?
Has it been to help Adam to discover
whatever crisis it is that caused him to fracture his psyche,
or has it been to simply flat out prove me wrong?
Hmm?
- Oh, hon. - Come on, don't.
All right, everybody, go take a shower now. Honey?
[camera shutter clicking]
[Cara] OK, so Wesley Crite was a front man for an underground rock band.
He died November 1 994. It was a possible suicide.
At this exact point, Adam Saber is in prison.
He's just been placed in solitary confinement,
so at this low, low moment in his life,
he assumes yet another person who has a story worse than his own.
OK.
Good.
[door opens and closes]
Hello, Wesley. Sorry to keep you waiting.
[Wesley] I have all the time in the world, Dr. Jessup.
I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's all right with you.
[Wesley] I would first like to ask you a question.
[Cara] Yes?
Do you hold that doctorate in the name of science or God?
[Cara] Why do you ask?
That thing around your neck.
I'd like to consider myself a doctor of science...
...but a woman of God.
There's something I'd like to show you.
November 1 8th, 1 994.
Does that mean anything to you?
[coughing]
[grunts] Get away from me.
Do you know what happened that day?
[Cara] What happened that day?
- What do you know about that day? - [|hispering] Get away from me.
- What? - [screaming] Get away from me!
[grunting]
[bones cracking]
[screams]
David?
[panting]
Are you all right?
He was here.
Who? Who was here?
[David humming gentle melody]
[continues humming]
Where'd you hear that?
[|hispering] I didn't hear it.
I wrote it.
[David continues humming]
[playing gentle melody on piano]
It's David's song.
Was it ever published?
No. David made it up in the hospital,
after his accident.
He'd sing it to himself... whenever he became sad or scared.
When he was scared?
It seemed to be a sanctuary for him.
A shelter in the storm.
Is it possible that...
...the night he was murdered, when he was in the woods,
is it possible that he sang this lullaby?
I pray he did.
- [Harding] Hello? - [Cara] Hey, Dad.
I think that when Adam Saber was a little boy,
he may have witnessed David Bernburg's murder,
and David is an escape from that memory. Maybe Wes is, too.
Do you have a home address for Adam?
- [Harding] Why? - Because I want to know
what kind of life Adam is trying to escape from.
- [dog whining] - Hey. Hey, there, buddy.
[dog barking]
[Cara] Good boy, good boy.
[|hining]
[Cara] Hello. Hello?
Hey, buddy. You all alone?
It's all right. I'm gonna come in.
I'm coming in. I'm not gonna hurt you.
[dog whines]
Hello.
[grunts softly]
- [barking] - [gasps]
Shh! OK.
OK, OK.
OK, buddy. All right.
See if I can find anything.
Where's your bag?
Here you go. There you go.
There. Poor thing.
[grunts]
Hello? Is anybody here?
[stairs creaking]
[static crackling]
Hello?
Oh, God. Oh, gosh.
[groans]
[muffled] OK.
Oh, God.
[|himpering] Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
[flies buzzing]
[muffled shrieking]
[camera shutter clicking]
[indistinct chattering]
First dead body?
No.
We sent someone to pick up this Adam Saber for questioning.
Shit, shit. Um, l... I...
I forgot to pick up my daughter. I can't stay.
- You don't have to be here. - Thanks.
- I got it. - Thank you.
- [man] You did such a great job. - [girl] Really, Dad?
[man 2] Jenna, come on, we're leaving!
[indistinct chattering]
- [man over phone] Hello? - Detective Danton?
- Yes. Hello. - It's Caroline Jessup.
Adam Saber is at my daughter's elementary school.
- [Danton] You're sure it's him? - Yeah.
Yeah, it's Brockhurst Elementary.
At the soccer fields. Hi.
- I'll be there... - As soon as you can. Thanks.
[Cara] Sammy!
Sammy!
You see? I told you she'd be here.
- No need to worry. - Samantha!
Sammy!
Samantha. Samantha.
[panting] I'm sorry I'm late, but I need you to come over here right now.
- But, Mom... - Right now!
Get over here! Come on.
Come on. I want you to go over there with Ridley's mom.
- [Adam] Is evertyhing all right? - How'd you get here?
I'm not entirely sure.
Sammy was wonderful. I think she's gonna make...
I want you to stay away from my family!
- But you invited me. - I did no such thing.
- At the hospital. - What hospital?
Where you came to see me. CC, are you all right?
What did you call me?
Little CC.
[distant siren wailing]
Who are you?
Oh, for heaven's sake!
Caroline, it's me. Charles.
[siren approaching]
I thought we had a rule about not talking to strangers.
But he knew my name.
And he just wanted to talk to me till you got there.
What did he want to talk about?
First, he wanted to know family stuff.
Yeah?
Like what we did this summer.
And my birthday.
What about your birthday?
If I liked the books he sent me.
What else?
Then he wanted to know about God and stuff.
What did you tell him?
That I didn't believe.
Why would you say that, honey?
'Cause if God was real,
he wouldn't have let Daddy die.
And I think...
I think that God knew how wonderful Daddy was,
and he wanted him in heaven to make it a better place.
It's all right that I don't believe, Mommy.
Why?
Grandpa doesn't believe anymore,
so whatever happens, I'll be with him.
Hey. God loves you.
And he always will, OK?
OK.
What'd you do to your back?
Don't know. It kind of itches.
Mm. I'll put something on it, OK?
Hey, Dad, it's me.
Look, I think there's a connection between Adam and his alters.
They all seem to want to know if you have faith.
Adam asked you. Wes asked me. Charles asked Sammy.
Charles?
Well, Adam came to Sammy's school pretending to be Charles.
Caroline, Charles is dead.
What? I...
Dad, I just talked to him. He was sick, but he didn't...
Dad, I'm so sorry.
Me too.
He always had to do evertyhing first.
[coughing]
- Are you all right? - Yeah.
It's just a tickle.
I love you, sweetheart.
I love you too, Daddy.
Bye-bye.
[|himpering]
[Harding] I noticed a sketchbook in your room.
- You like to draw. - Idle hands.
[Harding] Moses drowning in an unparted sea.
[Adam] Mm-hmm.
So, I'm seeing this, right? The shadow's moving.
It looks like there's somebody else there, right?
- Yeah, but... - But, but, but what?
Cara, this is... Come on, this is Dad.
He's doing what he always does, he's messing with you.
Can you just find out what it is?
Yeah, sure.
So... What's the deal?
The deal, Mr. Saber, is a body found at your house.
Excuse me?
[Danton] Male, approximately 30-50 years of age.
You know him?
OK.
Are you a religious man, Mr. Saber?
I only ask as this cross was etched into the victim's back.
Do you recognize this?
Maybe it was burnt or carved in, we're not sure yet.
Does this mean anything to you?
[Adam] No.
Adam. Do you recognize any of these?
Do you recognize?
Does this cross mean anything to you?
- [retching] - Do you recognize any of these?
- [screaming] - I said I don't recognize them!
- Are you deaf?! - OK, excuse me, excuse me.
Detective, can I speak to you for a second?
Don't push him on this right now, you're not gonna get anywhere.
And l... I think I can help you with that cross,
I've seen it somewhere before.
Yeah.
[Cara] I saw markings like this in town.
I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to ask.
Dr. Jessup, why are you here?
Your textbooks have failed you, isn't that right?
Yes.
So listen.
That's why God gave us two ears but one mouth.
There's the Devil's magic in these hills.
That some may try to tend an ailing child.
Or take revenge for a terrible wrongdoing.
Remember this.
Your books may have failed you,
but your God has not.
Follow on where the road ends,
to the very top of the valley.
You'll see a holler there.
Ask for the granny.
Excuse me.
I'm looking for the granny.
It's important that I find her.
I need... I need to...
I need to find out what this is.
I think it's some kind of a cross.
Do you know what it is?
Do you... do you know?
[Granny] Let me see.
[Granny] It's no cross.
How are you doing that?
With better eyes than yours.
Can you tell me what it means?
You won't believe.
Child.
[engine starts]
[man screams]
[engine shuts off]
[Stephen] What the hell is that?
[rhythmic percussion playing quietly]
- Want a soda? - Mm-mm.
- You sure? - Mm-hmm.
No way.
No freakin' way.
Ow! What are you doing?
Sorry, pal.
I need to try something.
Uncle Stephen.
- What are you doing? - I gotta check something.
[computer chiming]
[man screaming]
[screaming]
[speaking indistinctly]
[man groaning]
[Granny] Hold him down. Hold him down!
Hold still.
[man gasps]
[Granny inhaling]
[exhaling]
[inhales]
[exhaling]
[man groans softly]
[Granny] He'll be fine.
Now will you believe?
It's the writing of the mountains.
This...
...is shelter.
[groans]
[phone beeping]
[voice mail] You have two new messages.
[beeps] Dr. Jessup, this is Detective Danton.
Just wanted to let you know there wasn't enough to hold Adam Saber,
but we released him into your father's care.
Any luck with that cross? Call me.
[voice mail] Next message.
[Stephen] Jesus, Carrie, where the hell are you?
OK, the darkness on the video,
the thing that moves, it's a sound wave.
It's a voice.
Carrie, it's a frickin ' voice, listen.
[voices whispering]
[distorted female voice] Reverend Christian Moore,
shelter now the faithless.
[Stephen] You hear that?
[phone beeps]
[keypad beeping]
- [line ringing] - [Stephen] Cara.
- What was that? - I have no idea.
But I do know who Christian Moore is, or was.
He was born in Burlington, Alabama, in 1 889.
He was one of those good old boy Southern faith healers.
He died in 1 91 8. That's all the info I got.
However, listen to this, OK.
There's some sort of historical society in Milling Junction.
Now, there's a guy there by the name of Monty.
He has all this information on him.
OK, I'm about 50 miles from Milling Junction now.
You can be there in an hour, go.
[TV plays indistinctly]
[coughing]
You all right?
My throat scratches.
Let me see what I got.
No cough medicines.
Mom says it's not good for you.
Seriously?
Honey works though.
Yeah? OK.
Uncle Stephen?
Yeah?
I think there's something on my back.
[man] Well, my late father made these films,
right after the Great War.
[chuckles]
Nineteen hundred and eighteen.
That's when it came.
The influenza epidemic.
And that's when we met him.
The Reverend Christian Moore.
He was a self-proclaimed faith healer.
And he told the holler folks that they didn't need their voodoo medicine.
Just faith in the Lord.
And he had a good number of holler folk turn their backs on the granny.
You see, he used as an example, his own two children.
Well, they were full of health,
and apparently immune to the ravages of the disease.
And they were strange children, as I remember.
Quiet.
Turns out that their silence was for a good reason.
The reverend had lost his faith,
and he had had his own kin inoculated
against the disease, leaving the others to die.
[Cara] That's awful.
And that's why the holler folk did what they did.
[Cara] What was that?
[Monty] Well, my father was filming, as usual,
and I accompanied him.
And that's when I found them, the reverend's children.
They dragged the reverend to the granny.
[no audible dialogue]
And she handed down her own form
of mountain justice for his faithless ways.
[no audible dialogue]
And I can't really tell you what happened.
[inhaling]
But to a child of eight...
...it sure as hell looked like that old hag
had sucked out Christian Moore's soul...
[exhaling]
...and stuffed his gullet with dirt,
so that it couldn't get back in.
And then she said something that I'll never forget.
Reverend Christian Moore,
shelter now the faithless.
[phone ringing]
Excuse me.
Hello.
Dr. Jessup? It's Detective Danton. Can you hear me?
- Yeah, what's the matter? - All right, I just want to let you know
we've dispensed a squad car to your father's location.
They're gonna be there in a few minutes. I'm on my way right now.
Why, why? What's happened?
There's been a mistake.
- [phone ringing] - [coughing]
[gasps] Hello.
- [Cara] Dad? - Oh, hey, sweetie.
Dad, is Adam with you now?
Yes, the police dropped him off a little while ago.
Can he hear what I'm saying?
I shouldn't think so, he's in his room.
OK, Dad, I need you to leave.
- Why, what's going on? - You're in danger.
What are you talking about?
Dad, Adam Saber is dead.
[coughing]
Can you hear me?
Yes, but you're not making any sense.
The body that I found... that was Adam.
Whoever's with you now is not Adam Saber.
Well, then, who is he?
I don't know who he...
Oh, my God.
[no audible dialogue]
Dad...
[coughs]
Da-Dad...
[|heezing, coughing]
Dad, can you hear me?
[choking]
- Can you hear me? - [gasping]
Dad?
- [Harding grunts, line clicks off] - Dad...
[keypad beeping]
- [busy tone drones] - Dad...
[grunting]
No!
[coughing, wheezing]
- [muttering] - [keypad beeping]
Please pick up, please.
OK.
[phone ringing]
Latham lnstitute.
Virgil, I need you to run upstairs and check on my dad. OK?
OK, I'll check on him. Put you on hold.
- [inhaling] - [Harding grunting]
[shouts]
[shouting]
[panting]
Mr. Harding? Shit, shit.
- [phone beeping] - No!
Jesus Christ.
[crying] Doctor... Dr. Harding.
[phone continues beeping]
[phone stops beeping]
Cara, Cara.
- Cara, you... - Virgil, where's my dad?
Something terrible's happened, Cara.
He's gone.
He's dead.
- What? - I'm so sorry, I couldn't...
There was nothing I could do.
[sobbing] He's gone.
[stammering]
What?
I'm so sorry, Cara. I'm so sorry...
[sniffling]
[keypad beeping]
[line ringing]
- [Sammy] Hello? - Hi. Hi, sweetie.
It's Mommy.
[stammers] Can you put your uncle on?
Mom wants to talk to you.
He's getting his car keys.
Why, were are you going?
- [coughing] - Come on.
- Sammy, are you all right? - Hey.
Sammy's coughing up a storm, she has some rash on her back.
Her pediatrician's closed. They said I should start heading to General.
Cara?
[Sammy coughing]
Cara?
You there?
A doctor can't help her.
[door opens]
[Stephen] Are you out of your mind, Carrie, she needs to see a doctor.
[Cara over phone] Think about what you heard on that video.
This man was so dangerous. Please, you have to bring her up here.
No. You have to listen to yourself.
I'm not taking my niece to a God damned witch doctor.
- I'm taking her to a hospital. - Please listen to me, bring her here.
No.
- Where are we going? - To the hospital...
[tires screech]
- Steve-O. Wait. - Stay the hell away from us.
Steve-O, you have no idea what's going on here, Stevie.
[Adam] Samantha Jane, come with me!
- Samantha Jane! - Go, go, go! Up the stairs.
Come on, in the bathroom, in the bathroom.
In the bathroom, go, go, go.
You're in great danger, buckaroo.
Hey, your freak show just showed up in Dad's car.
[Cara] Keep him away from her, OK?
Stephen, for once in your life, will you listen to your father?
- Here. - Hi, Mommy.
Hey, baby.
Hey, do whatever your Uncle Stephen says, OK?
- OK. - Evertyhing's gonna be OK,
and I'm gonna stay on the phone with you the whole time.
- I'm scared, Mommy. - I know, I know.
The man from the soccer field... he's here.
I know, honey. I know.
[sniffling]
- Steve-O? - He's coming up the stairs.
He's in the house.
Stephen?
Samantha Jane?
Stephen, this is your father.
This is no time to be playing games, Stephen.
- [coughing] - Shh.
Sammy?
Samantha Jane, honey.
You gotta come with your grandpa, Samantha Jane.
Honey?
Please! Damn it, Stevie, open the door!
We don't have much time!
There's a very bad man coming, Stevie!
Open the door! I can't help you
if you don't open the door to your father!
I don't care, man! Get out of this house, now!
Stevie!
Stevie! Stevie!
- [Stephen grunting] - Sammy?
[shouting]
[screaming]
[groans]
[Sammy cries]
Samantha Jane.
Sammy. Sammy, Stephen?
That was an accident, honey.
Listen to me. You gotta come with me, Samantha Jane.
Sammy, tell him to put David on the phone.
She wants to speak to David.
David?
David's not here, sweetie.
Sammy, put me... put me on speakerphone.
- [phone beeps] - Caroline?
[shouting] Put David on the fucking phone! Now!
Sammy? Sam... Stephen? Stephen!
Mommy?
- He fell. - Sammy?
Can you come here and get me?
Before he wakes up.
Uncle Stephen?
- Are you OK? - [groans]
Tell me where this witch doctor is.
We'll be fine.
- I'm scared. - Come on. Don't be scared.
- Buckle up. - [engine stutters]
Come on!
[engine starts]
[tires screeching]
[voices whispering]
- [grunts] - [coughing]
I hate coughing. It feels like I want to throw up, Uncle Stephen.
We're gonna see your mom real soon, OK? I promise.
Hey, hey!
- Mommy. - Here I am, baby.
Here I am, it's OK.
Stephen. Oh, my God. OK, come on.
Ow! Ow, Mommy!
[screaming]
- Let me see. - [Sammy coughing]
[Sammy whimpers]
OK. Drive, Stephen. Drive straight ahead.
- How much further? - It's just a couple more miles.
We're in the middle of nowhere.
I know. Just go straight. We'll be there soon.
Jesus, I hope you know what you're doing.
Just keep going straight!
- Watch out! - Shit!
[Cara] Oh, God. Oh, God.
- Who in the hell is that? - It's all right, it's all right.
We're here, it's all right.
Just stay here. Stay right here, Stephen.
Come on, honey. Come on.
- [screaming] Ow! - It's OK, you're all right.
- Mommy! - I know, I know. It's OK.
[breathing heavily]
Ah, fu...
Fu...
Oh, God.
Fuck. Shit.
Oh, come on.
Oh... Ah!
[Sammy coughing]
[vehicle approaches]
[grunts]
- Mom, I don't want... - No, it's all right, baby.
It's OK. Just show her your back.
- She's scary. - No, no, show her your back.
- She's gonna help you. - Mom...
I'm gonna be right here. I'm gonna be right here, OK?
[groans]
[Sammy yells, whimpers]
Lost your way, did you, child?
From God.
My daddy died.
[Granny] Terrible thing to lose a loved one.
Worse thing to lose your faith.
I'm sorry, child.
Why?
Once the sheltering has begun, he will find you.
No, no. No, you have to do something.
She's made her choice.
She didn't make a choice. She didn't make a choice.
- She's a child. - We're all God's children.
Please, please, please, help us.
- Help her. Help, help... - She will not be alone.
- She will rest with the sheltered ones. - No, no...
[screaming]
[no audible dialogue]
[Sammy] Mommy!
[Sammy coughing]
[door creaks open]
[Sammy coughing]
Stephen! Stephen!
Get in the car. It's OK. Don't look. Don't look.
OK.
Stephen? Stephen?
[coughs]
Stephen.
[|himpering] Oh, Stephen. Oh, God. Oh, my God.
- [Sammy coughing] - [mutters]
Keys, keys...
[coughing]
- Sammy. - Mom!
Come on.
- [panting] - [coughing]
[cries out]
- Mommy! - Sweetie...
[Cara grunting]
[both shrieking]
OK. You OK? You OK?
- [crying] - All right, baby.
OK, come on. Come on.
- [crying softly] - [Cara whispering]
It's OK, baby. You're OK.
- [|himpers] - Shh...
[panting quietly]
[coughing]
What is it? Sammy. Sammy, what is it?
Oh, my God.
It's OK, baby. Get it out. Get it out.
Oh, my God. OK.
Mommy, I can't feel my fingers.
OK, baby, it's OK. You're all right.
[|himpering]
It's gonna be all right... [Cara screaming]
[Sammy coughing]
[inhaling]
[grunting]
[bones cracking]
[grunting]
Sammy!
Mommy?
You're bleeding, Mommy.
I hit my head.
It's OK... It's OK.
[|himpering] I'm really scared, Mommy.
It's OK. It's OK. Shh...
Shh. Come on, come here. Come here. Come here. It's OK. It's OK.
[sniffling]
It's OK. Shh. It's all right.
It's all right. It's OK.
- [shushing] - [crying]
OK, OK, OK. OK, OK.
- [sobbing] - [shushing]
OK, OK...
OK. OK.
All right, all right. It's all right.
[softly] Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Bless the bed that I lay on,
Bless me as I lay me down to sleep,
I give myself to God to keep...
Five little angels round my bed,
One to the foot and one to the head...
[Cara sniffles]
One to sing and one to pray...
[snorts softly]
And one to take my sins away.
Amen.
[choking]
[choking] Mommy...
Mommy...
[gasping]
It's OK.
[choking]
Mommy!
[Cara grunts with effort]
[Adam grunts with effort]
- [Cara shouts] - [grunts]
[coughing]
[exhaling]
[|ind whistling]
[voices whispering]
[|ind whistling]
[crying softly]
[|ind whistling]
[voices whispering]
[softly] Sammy?
Sammy? Breathe, baby. Breathe.
Breathe. Breathe.
[cries]
[laughing]
Oh, God.
[Sammy humming David's gentle melody]
[humming continuing]
[humming stops]
[voices whispering]
Sammy?