(suspenseful music) (man sighs)
(buzzer sounding)
(metal door opening)
- Mr. Wheeler, your attorney's here.
Come on. Let's go.
- Don't touch me!
(keys jingling loudly)
(buzzer, door opening)
Double word.
(chuckles) 45 points.
- No. That is not a word.
That is a proper noun.
- Kleenex. It's a word.
It's a brand.
- It can be both.
- You are so full of it.
- Yeah, well, I am not givin' up my points.
- Hm... Let's just see. Gimme that board.
- Here you go. - Gimme.
- You're almost done.
- Yeah, almost.
I was thinking maybe it's the four of us.
You see that's Dad, and me,
and you, and Matthew.
- He's the little branch. - Hmm...
I really wanted to finish it this morning, but...
- It's great, Mom.
You'll get it done.
- Hmm... (knocking on door)
Intruder alert. (dog yelping)
- Shh. - Oh, hey, little guy.
(barking) Well, don't mind me.
Danny, I thought maybe you could use a snack too.
I made cookies, chocolate chip walnut.
- Chester, shh.
- Oh, you know what?
I am fostering a rescue this month.
He must smell her on me.
- I'm so sorry.
- Hey, you're still playing?
Uh, your brother's downstairs. He said you were taking him bowling?
- Oh. I ...
that wasn't like a real plan. I can... I can stay.
- No, no, no. You should go.
The truth is, I kinda need to rest my eyes.
- Okay.
- I love you. - I love you.
- Is it too bright in here? - Oh, you know what? Let me close those.
- Oh no, actually just leave it, please.
I really love that view.
- Sure. Of course.
Whatever you want.
- I mean, you can hate her all you want, but these cookies are legit.
- I'm telling you, it's fake.
- What is?
- Her whole thing.
I mean she's always finding ways to remind us what a saint she is.
Now she's rescuing animals?
- Maybe she's just... a good person?
Let's go, man.
(exhales frustratingly) (indistinct chatter)
- Hey ...
Danny.
- Hey, Brittany.
- How are you doing?
I heard about your mom.
Is she... still in the hospital?
- They just brought her home.
- Oh that's great.
So was it Stage 4?
Like when she was diagnosed?
You must be so devastated.
I can't imagine.
If you ever wanna talk or anything...
- She's not dead.
- Oh. - And you and I,
are not friends, okay?
- I was just trying to be nice.
- Were you?
- Hey, uh, can we get some food maybe?
(chatting indistinctly)
Forget it, man? Just let it go, alright?
- You guys know what you want? - I gotta pee.
A cheeseburger no onions. - Okay. Yep.
Cheeseburger no onions. And for you?
- Sorry. Um...
Yeah, I... whatever, I'll get the same thing
with uh everything on it.
- You'd think cool girls would have cooler places to be.
- Trust me, they're not.
You just transferred to Spalding, yeah?
- Last month.
What was she bothering you about?
Sorry, you don't have to answer that.
- No, it's okay.
My mom's sick.
Really sick.
And Brittany was asking me all these questions.
And I swear she hasn't spoken to me since the seventh grade.
- Death tourist. - Death tourist?
- Yeah, someone whose life is so easy that they like glom onto other peoples' tragedies
for a hit of actual emotion.
It happened to me a lot um...
when my parents died before I moved here to live with my aunt.
It was a drunk driver. Jumped a highway divide.
- That's...
that's messed up.
- Yeah.
- I'm Danny by the way.
- I'm Leanna.
Do you want fries with that?
Because they don't actually come with.
(chuckles) - Yeah.
Fries would be great. - Okay.
(insects chirring)
(soft music)
(door creaking) (mother moaning)
- Isabel, can you hear me?
Isabel, can you hear me?
This is what we talked about? (Isabel groaning)
- Shh... (Danny): What's going on?
- Danny, wait outside please. - What are you doing?
- I'm adjusting her morphine.
- Well, clearly, it's not working! You need to give her more!
- Danny. Please. Wait outside.
(Isabel moaning) Shh. Shh.
It's okay. It's okay...
Shh, shh, shh.
Shh, shh...
It's okay. It's okay.
- Your father wants you to come in.
- Is it happening now?
Is she dying?
- Whatever you'd like to say to her, I think now is the time.
- Okay.
(father): It's okay, sweetheart.
It's alright.
- You get off on it, don't you?
Going from house to house.
Watching people die.
You're like some sorta... death tourist.
(crying)
(gasps)
(sobbing)
God...
please...
I finished it, see?
I looked up online how to do it.
- May the Lord Bless thee and keep thee.
May the angels lead you to your savior.
You are a sign of his presence to us.
We are here today to seek
and to receive comfort.
We come together as our hearts ache for the loss of his daughter.
May she rest in peace.
May the Lord show his face...
(chilling music)
(in dream): You get off on it, don't you?
You're like some sort of... death tourist.
(Isabel, in dream): That's Dad, and me,
and you, and Matthew.
I love you. (gasping)
(grunts)
(suspenseful music)
(dog barking)
(swelling, dramatic music)
(buzzer)
- Hey, Danny,
nice to see you. Here, take a seat.
- Who is he?
- This is Dr. Gary Weiss. He's a forensic psychiatrist.
-I already told you, I'm not doing this.
- It's just a conversation.
He'll ask you some questions...
- He'll use those answers against me.
So you can put me in a... in a mental hospital. I'm not crazy.
How many times do I have to have this conversation? I'm not...
- Listen to me. As your attorney, I strongly recommend...
- No. I'm done. C'mon!
Hey, c'mon. Open the door.
- Danny, I promise you I have no agenda.
-I'm done. - Let's just talk.
- Don't touch me.
Stop! - Mike, a little help here.
(theme music)
- At the moment, he's looking at three failing grades,
which would be enough to hold him back.
- Well, he has missed a month of school.
What if he takes incompletes and finishes his assignments over the summer?
I mean there's gotta be some kinda leeway given what he's been through.
- Well, of course, but it's not just his academics.
There may be underlying issues here,
issues that predate his mother's illness.
- What do you mean?
- Ah, Danny, come sit.
- Sorry, Mr. Bryer kept me after class.
- I was just explaining to your dad ...
- What issues?
- Over the past year, several of his teachers
have noted persistent trouble concentrating,
frequent irritability, and occasional outbursts.
- And this is the first I'm hearing of it?
- I spoke with your wife several times.
I explained to her our recommendation
that Danny be assessed by a mental health professional.
Someone with uh, expertise.
She insisted there was no need.
Oh I'm sorry, I assumed the two of you...
- No, no, of course. Um...
Look uh, the truth is um,
his mom was a little over-protective when it... went it came to Danny.
She wasn't always forthcoming.
- Yes, I understand.
Unfortunately, a traumatic loss like this
can sometimes lead
(voice echoes): ...to an acceleration of psychological symptoms.
If there is an underlying condition,
whether that's disordered thinking or excess anxiety...
(loud hum)
- Danny.
Excuse me for a second.
Danny!
(panting)
(indistinct muffled voices)
- Hey!
You okay?
- Yeah. I'm fine.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I uh, sometimes I just get these...
I dunno, like, it's hard to explain.
- I'm sorry about your mom.
I sent you a text. - Yeah. I, I got it. It was really nice.
I, I, I, I meant to... to... to... write you back,
I just, you know, we had family in town and...
(school bell ringing)
I'm failing everything.
- Yeah. Believe me. I get it.
Well, I'm... I'm gonna be late for Trig.
But don't be a stranger, yeah?
Okay, let's go.
(dog barking in the distance)
- Hey, Danny. Uh...
You uh, come sit, please.
Okay, uh...
alright so I just got off the phone with Mrs. Epps, um,
we want you to have a chance to reset.
So she's suggesting you take a leave this semester.
- And do what?
- Well, um...
I'd like you to start seeing a psychiatrist.
- Somebody that you like.
- I don't... I don't need that.
- Look, I know I haven't always been the most attentive,
but... but we've gotta be honest with each other.
Look, whatever you're struggling with,
Mom was not helping you by keeping it--
- Okay, you don't get to criticize Mom right now. - I'm not criticizing...
- Not when you're banging her nurse.
- What? - Mom just died.
And you think, you think... I'm the one that's messed up?
- Alright, alright, that is not a... - So what?
Explain it to me then.
We're being honest right now with each other, right?
What's going on?
(Danny scoffs)
You wanna tell him or should I?
- Tell me what?
- Okay.
Uh, Matthew, um, both of you sit... sit down, please.
Please.
Okay, uh...
alright, look, uh... this has been an enormously challenging time.
For all of us.
And the last thing I want is to make things any harder on you boys.
Alison and I are involved.
- "Involved?"
Look, you know how much I loved your mother.
And how much I will always love her.
But honestly,
things had been difficult long before she got sick.
We were talking about a trial separation.
- Why are you telling us this?
- Because I want you to understand, Danny.
Okay? I didn't plan this.
It... it just... it happened.
Okay?
I don't know what else to say.
- Is it serious?
(dog barking)
- What do we even know about her?
Honestly.
- We know she rides horses. - What?
- Yeah. Or she used to when she was a kid.
- She tell you that?
- I mean, at some point.
- The shrimp's better than last time, don't you think?
(Matthew): Yeah. Yeah, it's good.
- Look...
I know this is weird.
I mean, I do.
But for what it's worth, I'm keeping my apartment for now.
In case it doesn't work out.
I'm hoping that it does.
Also, I've been talking to your dad, um...
about maybe helping out with dinners, if that's okay.
I know this sounds corny but...
in my line of work, I spend a lot of time with families.
But I've never really been a part of one.
So it just...
it means a lot sitting here with you guys.
So if you have any favorite dishes
or anything that you hate.
- Doesn't she work nights?
- Actually, I've asked Alison to take a break for now.
- Hmm.
- She can always go back.
(chilling music)
- Wait, she's living with you guys? - Yep.
- And somehow I'm the one seeing a shrink twice a week. - Jeez.
- And my brother says I'm being a dick 'cause I won't bend over backwards
to be nice to her. But like what am I supposed to say?
It's sick. - Yeah.
- And I know she's not like forcing him.
Like, I get it, she's hot, whatever, but it's like...
her job is to help people die.
And now she's boning the grieving husband? It just doesn't ...
Sorry.
Sorry, we can...
we can talk about something else.
- Hey, do you think we can climb this tree?
Like, maybe if you helped me up?
What?
- There's no way it didn't start before my mom died.
I was there. I saw it right in front of me.
I saw what she was doing.
And I'm supposed to just, what?
Like forget it happened?
Pretend we're the freaking Brady Bunch or something?
- This may not help but...
...grief messes with people.
Maybe your dad is struggling more than you realize?
And you trying to punish this woman is... is gonna make you crazy.
I dunno, cut her some slack?
For your own sake?
- Did you dad say how long he was going to be on his call?
- No. He said just to start without him.
- This is, um,
it's good.
- I'm glad.
- Do you still ride horses?
Matthew told me that you used to.
- My dad was a rancher.
We had an old farm in Otter Creek, Nebraska.
Until I was eight.
- Then what?
- And then he had an accident.
Um, which meant he couldn't work.
- What happened?
- A tractor overturned.
He got pinned underneath and...
long story short, he started drinking, and the farm got repossessed.
- And what about your mom?
- She wasn't in the picture.
What doesn't kill ya, right?
(dog barking)
Is he okay?
- Yeah. He wants to go on his walk.
I'll do it.
- Actually, no. No, you sit.
I can take him out.
If your... if your Dad comes down, tell him he might wanna heat up his food, okay?
- No, it's done. We're closing at 3:50.
I'll call you first thing. Okay, bye.
- Guys, I am so sorry. Uh, really.
- It's okay. - It's alright. - Where's Alison?
- She's walking Chester.
- How was uh... dinner? - It's great.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, it was good. Should heat yours up.
- Great.
Oh! Oomph...
- What's wrong?
- Ah!
- I just had like a stomach cramp or something.
- Guys?! I need help!
Oh! (father): Oh, my God.
Matthew, stay there.
Stay there. - Oh, my God!
- We were crossing the street.
Then this car swung around and it ran the stop sign.
He came out of nowhere.
And I swear he was on his leash. He was... - Shh. It's okay.
- We were halfway down the block. And the guy had to be going 60.
- It's okay. - Can you check his pulse or do something?
- I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry... - You're lying.
You hated Chester.
-Danny.
You did this.
You killed him.
- Alright, that's enough. - Like you killed my mom.
- Danny, no. - Shut up!
- Danny. - Shut up!
- Danny, Danny. (grunts painfully)
Ahhhh!
Aargh!
(sirens wailing)
(indistinct PA announcement)
Dr. Roberts, please come to oncology.
Okay. Uh...
all your bloodwork came back normal.
- Okay, then... what's wrong with me?
- They're not exactly sure. Uh, maybe uh... some kind of bug.
We can go home, Danny.
You're okay.
Physically there... there is nothing wrong.
- Do you think I made it this up?
- Uh, no. That's not what I'm saying.
- 'Cause this was like a knife in my insides.
It was real.
- Okay, look, I know it... I know it felt real.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? It felt real?
- Danny! - It was real.
Danny...
Look, what you said about Alison.
I mean, accusing her of hurting Chester and Mom?
I mean, do you actually believe that?
- Are you worried about Alison?
- No, I'm worried about you.
You... you went somewhere. I saw it.
- Well yeah, I was upset, okay? - I'm not asking you to apologize.
I am asking you to let me in.
Alright, look, your teachers are concerned,
you... you... you got symptoms the doctors don't understand.
And... and now this wild allegation.
I can't help wondering if it's all related.
- Related how?
What? - Okay, alright, just...
- What are you not saying? Just say it. - Alright. Alright, Danny.
Do you remember Mom's brother, Julian.
- The one who drowned?
- Well, he didn't just drown. He...
it wasn't exactly an accident. Um...
He believed that there were uh... spirits trapped inside his body
and that he could exorcise them with some kind of...
...self-baptism. I don't know.
He was schizophrenic, Danny.
I mean, have you ever heard voices?
Okay, look, look, look, look.
We will figure this out, okay?
We'll talk to Dr. Shapiro.
We'll get you the help you need. I promise.
It's gonna be okay.
(muffled conversation)
(Alison): Listen, there's a lot we don't know.
Don't pathologize him. He has a really good heart.
Think about what he's been through.
- You don't understand. I know my son. This isn't Danny.
- Okay, listen to me. Even if you're right, there are plenty of treatments and medications.
- To manage it, but there's no cure.
I can't just watch him slip away. I can't.
What if it gets worse?
What if this is the rest of his life?
(somber music)
(knocking on door)
(Alison): Hey. Can I come in?
- Uh...
Yeah. Okay.
Did you get some sleep?
I made you some oatmeal.
Um... it's got ginger, nutmeg.
A little turmeric powder which is really good for digestion
and flushing things out.
- Thanks. - Yeah.
Here.
- I, um...
I'm sorry...
about last night. - Yeah.
Um...
I'm sorry too.
I know that you're dealing with so much right now.
And I also know
that I'm probably the last person you wanna talk to,
but I'm here.
I mean, if you could use
someone other than your dad to talk things through?
(exhales)
I hope you like it.
- Hey, Leanna?
It was great. Thanks.
- Yeah? Where you going?
- Uh, I'm just meeting a friend.
- Oh. Who? Leanna?
Matthew said something about a girlfriend.
- It's probably not like that. We're just hangin' out.
- That's cool.
- Okay. Well, I should really...
- Well, hey. Your bag.
It's leaking.
- Oh. It's just my water bottle. It's really nothing.
- Well, it's dripping on the floor. Let me get a towel.
- No, it's okay. Seriously, it's fine. - Let me dry it for you.
- It's fine. Stop.
I gotta go or I'm gonna be late.
I'll see you later, okay?
(Leanna): You think she's drugging you?
I thought the doctors didn't find anything.
- It was routine blood work.
She'd know what they would screen for and what they wouldn't.
There was a woman in Texas who killed her husband using antifreeze.
She used the smallest dosage so that it couldn't be detected.
- Okay, but-- - Think about it.
No one thought my mom was gonna deteriorate that quickly.
Alison was in charge of her meds.
I dunno, maybe she got impatient waiting for her to die
and now she knows I'm onto her and now she's coming after me.
- I don't know. - Listen. Listen to me.
I found a lab in Westbury, okay?
They can do a full analysis for $300
but I need you to put it on your card.
I can give you the money. - I don't... I don't have a card.
- That's okay I can give you the cash,
but it has to be under your name
so that it doesn't get traced back...
- Danny, have you brought this up with your therapist?
- I know...
this sounds crazy,
but that's why I need proof.
I'll pay you back and get you the money.
- It's not that. - What, what is it?
- You don't believe me? - I don't know.
It... it doesn't really make sense.
Why would this woman want to hurt you?
- Because she's crazy!
She's messed up! She's evil! That's why.
- Danny. - I... Look, the proof is right here.
I need you to take it.
Take it! - No, I'm not, I'm not. Stop!
(clattering)
- What is the matter with you?
What are you doing? I can't risk contamination.
I have to get as much as possible.
Because if there's not enough saturation
and I don't have enough oatmeal, they won't have enough to detect anything.
- Um, you're starting to scare me and I think you need help.
- I'm asking for help!
That's what I'm asking for!
Are you gonna help me?
- Danny, I'm-- - What!
- Sorry, I, I can't.
- Oh my God.
Alison, this is fantastic.
Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
- Hey, you're not hungry?
Oh, come on. You gotta eat.
- Can we switch?
There's uh... too much fat on the end.
You know I don't like fat.
- Okay, yeah. Yeah, I don't mind.
- But I made yours medium well.
Just how you like it. - I like it both ways.
- Well, he likes his rare.
- He just said it doesn't matter.
Forget it. It... it's fine.
- No. It's not fine. - What's the big deal?
- I'm sorry, okay, but I am really trying.
But honestly I can't keep doing this. I can't.
- Can keep doing what? - Guys, I don't want an argument.
- Fine. I will just go eat in my room.
- No, you'll eat here. You're a member of this family.
Hey, what are you doing? Danny.
What are you doing? - Collecting evidence.
- Of what? - Of whatever she's using to poison me!
- She's not! I promise.
Danny. Danny.
Stop. Look at me! Stop! - Let me go!
(clattering)
- Look, I am trying to help you.
Alright. - Stay back!
- Danny, put the knife down. Look at me.
- 9-1-1? (Alison): Hi, uh?
A young man. My boyfriend's son. - No one is trying to hurt you.
He's having some kind of episode. - Danny, put the knife down.
- Please, he has a knife. - Come with me, tonight.
- Danny, she's not trying to poison you.
- Yes, she is. How do you not see it?
She's a killer.
First Mom, then Chester,
then me, then you, then you.
And I'm gonna prove it. - Danny!
Wait here.
Danny! Open the door.
Danny, please. Danny, what are you doing?
Open the door, you hear me?
- The police are on their way. He could hurt himself.
- Did you tell them he's a kid?
- Yeah. - Danny!
Answer me!
Please. Open the door.
- Just wait for them to get here. What are you doing?
(grunts forcefully)
- Stay back. It's here. I know it is.
- It's okay, Danny.
- No, it's not! Stop saying that.
- Okay, look. The police are coming, alright?
We'll let them investigate, huh?
Look, if there's poison, they will find it.
Okay? Please, you gotta put the knife down.
Just look at me, Danny.
(Danny sobbing) You have to put the knife down.
Please Danny, look at me.
I can feel Mom here. Can't you?
- No! - She doesn't want this for you, Danny.
She wants you happy.
(sobbing)
Put it down.
(Danny shouting, Alison screaming in fear)
- Alison!
No, no, no, no.
- Drop the knife! Drop it. Drop it now!
275, arrived, dispatch code...
Advise stabbing victim.
- Alison... stay with me, huh?
Alison...
No, no, no, no.
- Danny, listen to me.
I'm on your side here.
But there is no way I'm going to let you stand in front of a jury
and try to claim that this woman was trying to poison you.
No one is going to believe that. You will lose.
You will go to prison. For a long time.
The only way I can keep that from happening
is to convince the judge you're unfit to stand trial.
So either you submit to a psych evaluation, voluntarily,
or there will be a competency hearing.
And I will be forced to call every possible witness
who can describe just how sick you are.
Your father.
Your teachers. Your friends.
It will be ugly.
It will be invasive for your whole family.
And you don't just have to take my word for it. (buzzer sound)
(door opening)
- Hey.
- Danny...
No one wants to see you get hurt.
They don't.
But if you don't change your mind,
I have to go up there and I have to tell everyone that you're crazy.
I don't wanna do that to you.
I don't.
I can't.
- I understand the defendant has agreed to submit
to a voluntary psychiatric evaluation.
- Yes, Your Honor.
- In that case, we'll delay trial proceedings pending those results.
Any objection from the State?
- No, Your Honor.
- Good. We're adjourned.
- Hey, kid.
You've got a visitor.
- Hi, Danny.
Long time.
You look good.
Healthy.
I hope you know I'm not angry.
I know that it wasn't you.
It was your illness.
And I've made a full recovery.
(She sighs)
Danny, I'm so sorry to be the one to share this with you.
Your father, he passed away.
Right after our honeymoon.
A heart attack, most likely.
It was sudden but peaceful.
In his sleep.
Oh, Danny.
We're gonna get through this.
Hmm?
You and me.
It'll bring us closer.
Promise.
- Where's...
Matthew?
I... I need to see him.
- I'm afraid that's not possible.
He hasn't been feeling well.
Stomach pains.
- Bring me my brother, you bitch.
Hey! Stop!
- Aargh! I need to talk to my brother. - Calm down.
- I, I, I don't know what happened. He just went off for no reason.
- Stop! Don't listen to her.
She's lying. I need to see my brother. I need to.
- Please, whatever help he needs, make sure he gets it.
- Please don't listen to her. (groaning)
- Don't worry, Danny.
You're safe here.
I'm not giving up.
I'll never give up. (Danny moaning)
No matter how long it takes.
(chilling music)