Darkness

This programme contains some strong language.

MAN: Now, I want you to try and tell us

everything that happened.

Anything you can remember.

BOY: I can't. I can't remember.

We need your help so we can find the other children.

DOGS BARKING

A house.

THUNDER CRASHES

What?

They took us to a house.

CHILDREN SCREAMING

Who?

I don't know. People.

Do you think the other children are still there?

Do you think they've been...hurt?

SCREAMING

BREATHING HEAVILY

Yes.

You're doing just fine.

We're going to find them.

BARKING

But we need you to tell us more.

You've got to try and remember.

I can't. I can't remember anything.

TV PLAYS

DOOR OPENS

Drink it.

But. No Compaints. Drink.

DOOR OPENS

Did you get 'em?

Get what?

The pencils!

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Has he had breakfast?

We're on it. How did it go?

I'm bushed.

I think it's gonna take me a while to get used to it.

And on top of that, night shifts.

Don't worry. You're just starting.

Anyhow, I'm going to talk to my father

about getting your shift changed.

Well, we'll see.

Do you know where the toaster is?

SHE LAUGHS I have no idea.

We still have tons of boxes left to open.

Now, unless you give me a hand, I give up.

YES!

Hey, big guy.

Hi.

Today's your first day, isn't it?

Yeah. You nervous?

A little.

You'll see that you'll like it. You'll make friends soon.

MARK: Come on, Paul.

You're gonna be late. Come on.

Bye.

DOOR CLOSES It's about time.

I was just about to get you up.

We got work to do.

It's too early.

I have swim practice.

SNIFFS: That's not for two hours.

And travel.

This is the sticks.

I have to take the bus everywhere.

I'm not waiting any longer

for this to start looking like a real house.

We've been here for almost three weeks.

And with the notable exception of myself,

no-one has unpacked one single box.

You promised you were gonna paint your room.

No, I didn't. I don't know if I'm staying.

I thought we discussed this?

You know how your father and I feel.

When do you ever listen to me?

I want to finish school in the States with my friends.

Is that so abnormal?

WHISTLE BLOWS

Hi. Hi.

LAUGHTER

What are you doing here? You're crazy!

I'm not doing anything wrong.

I'm just here to pick up...

But you got here too late cos I got to go.

Just tell me if you're going to stay.

Come on, you've got to go.

Why not?

Go, please.

SHE WHISPERS

We'll talk about it later. Promise?

I promise.

UP-TEMPO POP MUSIC PLAYS

I'm warning you - it's not gonna be easy

for your family to live in another country.

Especially for the kids.

I know. It's a big move.

Sure hoping they'll get used to it.

This is a great place.

You think so?

Needs work.

Hammer and nails and a bit of paint. You'll see.

Plus I got one month before semester so...

Good luck!

Did you meet?

No.

Hi. How you doing? Good.

I was saying it was like a dream come true.

He's lying.

LAUGHING Traitor.

You don't want to play anymore?

Oh. Oh, thank you.

Everybody seems to be having a good time, right?

Mm-hmm.

Paul, er, reminds me of Mark

when he was that age.

Mmm. Before he...he left.

Now you'll have your grandchildren all to yourself.

And you're gonna get sick of them.

THEY LAUGH Yes.

It must be strange for them.

Poor Paul.

He'll end up crazy about you.

You'll see.

I'm going to get jealous.

It's good to see you, Dad.

WIND BLOWS

THUNDER RUMBLES

THUNDER CRASHES

DOOR CLOSES

That's it.

It's over.

Finally. I thought it would never end.

CHILDREN LAUGHING

SIGHS: Not again.

HORN BLARES

SIRENS WAIL

HELICOPTER WHIRRING

MAN ON RADIO: Experts suggest to be cautious.

Never look directly at the sun nor through the optical device.

So take care, but make sure not to miss it.

Don't forget that it's a unique event,

a very special eclipse that takes place

only every 40 years,

and there are just five days to go.

In terms of... HE SWITCHES RADIO OFF

HE HONKS HORN

You lived here with grandpa?

Yeah. When I was your age.

That's when you left for the States? Mm-hmm.

Why did you have to?

Well, your grandparents decided to split up,

and...I didn't have a choice.

I had to go. With your mom?

That's right.

Are you and mum going to split up?

No!

Only families that don't get along split up.

We get along, don't we?

Mmm, yeah.

HORNS BLARE

HORN HONKS

It's the second day

and I bet I'm the only one late.

Don't worry. You'll make it.

We're like the lonely wildebeest...

HE HONKS HORN

Bleating his plaintive poetry to the infinite herd.

Oh, Dad, do you even know what a wildebeest is?

Uh, sure, it's, er...

Well, it's like a... a cow.

And what's your cow saying?

HE HONKS HORN IN TIME Get...your...ass...

out...of...my...face! LAUGHING

BOTH: Get...your...ass...

out...of...

my...face.

Get...your...ass... out...of...my...face.

Get...

Dad, look! It worked! Your...ass...

out...of...my... Dad?

Face.

GASPING

Dad?

CHILD SHOUTS

HORN HONKS

Dad? HORN HONKING

What are you doing? Move it!

Help me!

Help me!

Please!

COUGHS, SNIFFLES

When was his last attack?

More than ten years ago.

Huntington's is unpredictable.

But it doesn't have to be serious.

As quickly as it come, it can go.

I don't know.

I'm going to give him haloperidol.

But if he does have an attack,

you know about the risk of choking.

Just keep a close eye on him.

(SIGHS) This couldn't come at a worse time.

Don't worry. Everything will be fine.

Trust me.

VEHICLE APPROACHES

Dad!

I'm OK, sweetie. Nothing's happened.

Come on. Let's go inside.

Still got a lot of work ahead of us.

This is gonna be the best house in the whole world.

Mom...

what happened?

Your father had a small attack.

But it's nothing. Don't worry.

I've been talking to your grandfather.

He's got to go back on medication for a while, that's all.

Mom!

It's starting again.

Nothing's starting again.

This is an isolated incident.

Don't blow it out of proportion.

You remember what happened.

You know exactly what this is.

And just now.

Just now what?

We're completely isolated. What if something were to happen?

We're ten minutes away from downtown.

And I already told you nothing's going to happen.

Mom.

What?

If you don't like this house or your family, then get your things and go.

Isn't that what you wanted? To go?

Well, go on, then.

I think we'll survive.

WOMAN: 'Mythical. Magic. Scientific.

'Since the beginning of time,

'people considered this phenomenon in different ways.

'But how do eclipses exactly work?' Feeling better?

No.

Come on.

I fight with my mom all the time. It's normal.

No, it's not.

She's never been this cruel before.

I bet she didn't even notice.

Sometimes people say things that...

I don't care.

Not comfortable.

I don't feel happy in that house.

GASPS

Hey, there, tiger.

Hi. What are you doing?

Drawing.

Mm-hmm.

You don't play with this anymore.

You used to like it.

Are you gonna die?

SIGHS

No.

Listen, buddy,

what happened is that your dad...

I...got a little too tense this morning.

Forget about it.

You're not gonna let that worry you, are you?

Come on.

Time for bed.

Dad?

Don't.

Come on.

Lights out.

CLICKING

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

BREATHING HEAVILY

MUFFLED SOBBING

You OK?

Yeah.

TALKS INDISTINCTLY

OK.

What are you doing up?

(SIGHS) I couldn't sleep.

Dad said I couldn't leave the light on.

Since when are you afraid of the dark?

I'm not. So?

It's different here - the dark.

What do you mean?

It eats my pencils.

I'll tell you what. How about we make a deal?

I'll lie down with you until you fall asleep.

Promise?

Of course. Just give me a minute.

(SIGHS) OK.

DOG BARKING

I can't find anything wrong.

Look, there's definitely something wrong.

Maybe you should check again.

Look, I'll check the sockets.

Where's my drawing pad? I left it here last night.

These are kind of weird drawings. They're not weird.

They're just drawings.

Yeah, but you keep on doing the same thing.

They're not the same. They're different.

They look the same to me.

That's because they're all children.

They're different children.

Paul?

What's that? Did you hurt yourself? I don't know.

Has Mommy seen it?

Yeah. She says I probably did it in my sleep...

when it was dark. (SIGHS)

I'm going.

If you go outside, don't go near the road, OK?

OK.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

CHUCKLES

What are you doing here?

Well, I need to use up the last few frames on this roll,

and you will be my model.

I like you as a photographer,

but I like you better as a painter.

Come on. Huh?

Oh, Dad.

This is Carlos. He's gonna help me.

Hi. Hi. Nice to meet you.

Do you know anything about electricity?

No. (CHUCKLES)

Come on.

(CHUCKLES)

MID-TEMPO POP MUSIC PLAYS

Doesn't look like mould.

It's more like...rust.

I don't understand.

They painted the whole house before we moved in.

Trust me, baby.

This is gonna look great.

It better.

And I'm gonna go get some paint thinner, just -

just in case.

If you want, phone the electric company.

Oh, the hell with that.

There's something here that doesn't work.

We've been here for three weeks now,

and every day the lights go out.

They flicker.

Like the voltage drops - you understand?

Look, if I were you, I'd talk to the neighbours.

If it's a supply thing, they'll have noticed something, too.

What neighbours? We don't have any neighbours!

This is a fucking nightmare!

Calm down, OK? I've done all I can.

In other words, FUCK YOU, right?

In my own house and in my face, FUCK YOU!

Well, you're not getting a penny from me.

Not one goddam penny.

The insurance company will pay me either way.

Tell it to them.

Not now...

What's wrong?

I'm staying.

Hey...

I can't leave now.

I'm not going to ask you why.

That's probably a good idea.

What are you doing up?

It's late.

I was waiting for you.

SIGHS

GROANING: I'm...

bushed.

I hope you painted that room.

I need to talk to you.

SIGHS: Tomorrow. I'm wrecked.

Oh, you can't imagine how busy it's been today.

Why can't we just talk?

There's something I need to tell you.

You say not to worry, but...

dad's a bundle of nerves, and...

you should've seen the way he blew up

at the electrician this morning.

SCOFFS: He's just...

And that Paul's not well.

I mean... Oh, Paul's OK.

But look at the drawings. I mean...

does this look like the thing -

kind of thing that normal kids do? I mean...

he's a kid.

You should've seen the ones you used to make.

Come on.

BANGING

Don't touch it.

Sorry. GRUNTING

These old things can be pretty delicate.

What's that?

A room. It was hidden behind the wall.

How'd you know it was there?

Paul told me. Hey...

check it out.

CHUCKLES

What about hanging it here?

SLOW BIG-BAND MUSIC PLAYS

Wow. It works!

That's the beauty of old things.

No electricity required.

I'll stop it.

No.

# ..Could it be that all the birds are singing... #

And you, you little psychic.

How'd you know that room was there?

What are you talking about?

Dad said you told him it was there.

I didn't say anything. That's a lie.

MARIA: If you want to be a whiner, fine.

Keep this up, I don't know what we'll do.

What's going on?

Nothing.

Your brother's gone and bruised himself again,

that's all.

Clumsy.

Who did this to you?

Let it go, Reggie. Don't start.

Please don't get paranoid.

Don't get paranoid?

This has happened twice.

Are you trying to tell me there's nothing going on?

That's not what I'm saying.

All I'm saying is these things happen.

He's got to be more careful. That's all.

Mom, why do you refuse to see

what's staring you clearly in the face?

This is not normal.

We'll talk to your grandpa. Maybe he can talk to Paul.

I don't know. What more do you want me to do?

I need to get the rust off the horn.

Where the hell did you guys put the mat knife?

Uh, I was opening boxes yesterday.

It's got to be in there somewhere.

I don't understand you.

No, listen. I don't.

What's going on here?

Everything's fine!

Great! Couldn't be better! Right, mom? Fantastic!

What's up?

You said you weren't gonna ask me why.

What?

Why I'm staying.

And...?

I want you to ask me.

My dad's kind of sick.

He has this disease.

It's called Haughtington's syndrome.

Just before Paul was born, it got pretty bad.

He's having attacks.

And you can imagine... what it must be like

to be afraid of your own father.

But...

he's OK now?

The treatment took.

He's been fine for years until now.

Until now?

Not doing so good.

And there's definitely something wrong with Paul.

He's broken out in bruises twice now.

Paul...

You don't think?

I don't think anything. He's acting weird and he barely speaks.

Sometimes I think it's that house.

THUNDER CRASHES

You know, this thing is much more complicated than it looks.

Where's Paul?

Grandfather came to talk to him. They're upstairs.

-DOOR OPENS PAUL:

-Bye.

Ah, don't worry. Mothers worry.

Don't worry.

Regina, I was beginning to think I wouldn't get to see you.

Hey, Grandpa.

You are going to catch a cold.

Dry off, hon.

Try to get him to stay for dinner.

LAUGHS Thanks again.

How are you?

I'm good. And Paul?

He's fine.

I'm sure this is no big deal.

A change of houses. Habits. Environment.

But he's never been afraid of the dark before.

INHALES SHARPLY

I don't think that Paul's fear of darkness

is your biggest concern.

Why would he hurt himself?

He's just trying to call attention.

But Dad's been strange, too.

He's worse.

He's aggressive like he used to be.

That's nonsense, Regina.

I know what you all went through,

and I know it wasn't easy.

But your father is under control now.

You need to stop worrying.

Nothing is going to happen. All right, dear?

Thanks, Grandpa.

Now I'm off.

THUNDER RUMBLES

He said we shouldn't worry.

Kids do strange things sometimes.

We have to find a place to hang that picture.

I don't know.

Mark, please.

We're talking about our children.

They're going through a rough time.

Reggie...

she's at a difficult age.

Maybe we're not being understanding enough with her.

And what about me?

Who's being understanding with me?

What are you talking about?

Come on. Please.

You don't think I hear the little secret conversations

that go on behind my back?

You're losing it. Right. Exactly.

That's exactly the attitude I'm talking about.

Thank you. I know where they get it from now.

HAIR DRYER STOPS

HAIR DRYER STARTS

Mark, please. Calm down.

Did you take your medication?

HAIR DRYER STOPS

Mark!

Mark!

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

DISTANT SCREAMING: Regina!

Mom!

Reggie, come over here. I've done a whoopsy.

Sit down.

Press, OK. Hold it.

Mom!

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

PAUL GRUNTS

Oh, not now!

GASPS

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Where's the fuse box?

Laundry room.

Mom.

CLICK

PAUL SCREAMING IN DISTANCE

PAUL: Reggie!

Reggie! > Paul?

< I'm scared.

< No!

Paul? < Reggie!

Paul, what's the matter? Let me in.

Paul? Please! >

Paul! < They won't let me.

There's someone here. >

Paul, are you OK? Let me in. I can't. >

SCREAMING

Shut up! You're scaring him!

GROANS

Dad, stop it! Dad!

Open this door right now!

Mom!

Regina!

- Stop! - Shut up!

Mom! < What's going on?!

Stop.

DOOR OPENS

Paul.

Paul, honey, come here. Come here.

Come on. It's OK.

It's OK.

It's OK.

Honey.

I don't know.

< I got scared. We couldn't open the door.

Oh, Paul.

Baby, are you all right?

What's wrong with you?

I'm here now. It's OK.

It's all over.

It's not all over. They never go away.

They only hide.

Who? What are you talking about?

The kids.

What kids?

The ones in my room. They wouldn't let me out.

They hate me. They say I'm an imposter.

Paul...

there's no-one else here.

Just you and me and Mom and Dad.

Those kids don't exist. You're imagining them.

Yes, they do.

They come out when it's dark.

They live in the dark.

Didn't you hear them?

Didn't you?

THUNDER RUMBLES

TELEPHONE RINGING

'Hello?'

Carlos?

'Reggie. It's late.'

I know. I know. I'm sorry.

I need your help.

'What's wrong?'

It's this house.

Nobody has ever lived in your house before.

The guy who sold the house to your father doesn't even exist.

Neither does the real-estate agent or the lawyer.

And the phone number that's on the contract

has never been in service.

REGINA: 'So there's nothing we can check?'

Maybe. I found some information about the architect.

'Great.'

DRILL WHIRRS, SLOW BIG-BAND MUSIC PLAYS

Excellent.

Want to help me?

# Could it be that all...? #

Where's Regina?

She left at the crack of dawn. I don't know.

# ..Wonderful to know this feeling

# Wondering what it could be... #

BUZZING

SIGHS

There's no-one here.

DOOR OPENS

Hey.

I've seen that guy before.

Where?

He was standing outside my house...

the other night, when it was raining.

I'm sure it's him.

Come on.

You shouldn't have come.

You designed the house, right? I just draw the plans

according to the measurements they gave me.

"They."

"They" who?

I never saw anyone.

Everything was taken care of through an intermediary.

All I had to do was draw.

And keep quiet.

That was the one thing they insisted on.

But that wasn't the strange part.

We've got to talk.

Oh, yes. We got to talk.

About that thing you hung up there - it's hideous.

What are you talking about? You told me to hang it there.

What?

Last night. Right here.

Honey, that's not the problem.

Oh, no? Then what is the problem?

The larvae.

The what?

The larvae.

They're everywhere.

In the walls.

I hear them whisper.

They talk about us.

Shh.

We've got to do something.

It was the design.

The shape of the house.

In some parts of the world, a similar form is used

in the design and construction of temples

or other types of occult architecture.

Something about giving birth to spiritual energy or entities.

It's been so many years.

But I didn't like it.

Reggie, I think we'd better get going.

No, just wait.

And then...

the thing with the kids happened.

What are you planning to do?

BREATHING HEAVILY

Find them.

They must have their nest underneath this house somewhere.

I'm gonna find it.

THUDDING

DOGS BARKING

Seven children.

They never found them.

BARKING CONTINUES

PANTING

Except one.

When the police questioned him,

what he told them didn't make any sense.

It was some crazy story about the round house.

Just talk.

WHISPERING: Just talk.

I've spent years obsessed with this story.

Prowling around the house.

It's always been empty.

And then, suddenly, one day,

I find that a family is living there with a kid

for the first time in 40 years.

Why now?

So why haven't you called the police?

And tell them what?

You think they'd listen to the crazy ramblings

of some old fart with one foot in the grave?

You could've told somebody.

Oh, yes, I could have.

But I didn't.

You want to know why?

Because I was scared.

What are you talking about?

Please go.

That's all I know.

Thank you for sharing your theories, Mr Villalobos.

My phone number.

In case you remember something.

Get your brother out of the house.

Why?

Get him out.

Come on.

DOOR SLAMS

INDISTINCT VOICES ON RADIO

Mom!

It's OK.

Mom.

Mom.

It's OK. He h-had another fit.

But it's OK now.

Let's go. No, no, no, no no, no, no.

No, you're not driving like this. You're too upset.

Carlos, can you take them to the hospital, please?

What about you? No. I'm staying.

I-I-there's something I have to do here.

Reggie...

Carlos, please.

Just go.

SIREN CHIRPS

TELEPHONE RINGING

RINGING CONTINUES

Hello? MAN: Hola.

CHILDREN LAUGHING AND CHATTERING

GIRL: We're watching you, bitch.

DIAL TONE

TELEPHONE RINGS

What the fuck do you want?!

MARIA: 'Well, I just wanted to tell you

'that your father will be fine,

'if that's all right with you.'

Mom.

I'm sorry. I-I thought you were someone else.

'Well, I guess we've all been through a lot.

'Seems the problem was the tranquilliser I gave him

'yesterday after he cut himself.

'It reacted badly with the haloperidol.

'I'm a nurse. I should've known.'

I don't think that's the problem.

We need to talk.

'They're keeping him under observation

'for a couple of days just to be on the safe side.'

THUNDER RUMBLES Mom?

DIAL TONE Mom?

CREAKING

SHE GRUNTS

THUD

HORN BLARES

CARLOS: Reggie? THUNDER RUMBLES

CARLOS: "Ouroboros."

It's an old occult symbol.

It means darkness,

the return to the beginning, chaos...

What's going on in my house?

What the hell is this?

It's a ritual.

Look.

"Take the breath and love out of seven children.

"And close the circle with their blood

"when morning turns to night."

The old man was right.

DIAL TONE

THUNDER RUMBLES

"Seven children's throats...

"cut by someone who loves them."

"When morning turns to night."

The eclipse.

That's tomorrow.

That only happens every 40 years.

Shh.

Last time they tried it, something went wrong.

One of the kids escaped.

It needs to be seven. They only got six.

It's gonna happen again.

With Paul.

Reggie. Reggie.

No-one's gonna do anything to Paul.

My dad is sick.

And sometimes he doesn't even know what he's doing.

MARIA: Reggie, you should hear yourself.

Mom, please. It's the house!

You're not...

Dad would never hurt us.

What you're saying is terrible. It's obscene.

Bent on us not being happy.

Is it too hard for you to accept

that your father and I have a good...?

Mom, please! Dad is sick.

And the stuff that's been going on...

it all fits. The eclipse is tomorrow.

Just don't go back to that house. Please.

We'll do whatever your grandfather says...

since he's your father's doctor, not you.

WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON PA

TYRES SCREECH

INTERCOM BUZZES

'Hello?'

Grandpa! Grandpa, it's Regina.

'Regina. Come up.'

LOCK BUZZES

BEEPS, CLICKS

'It's Villalobos. Listen.

'I found one of the papers the guy sent me.

'You know. The intermediary.

'There was a letterhead, an address.

'I'm going over there. And you should, too.'

CHILDREN LAUGHING

SCREAMS

This will make you feel better.

You have to believe me.

I don't know what to do.

I believe you, Regina.

It's just that...

SIGHS: This is all too strange.

I don't know.

I don't understand a lot of what you've been telling me.

You have to help me.

You're a doctor. They'll listen to you.

OK.

I don't want you to worry.

I'm going to call the hospital.

Please...

..don't let them go back to the house.

They won't go back. Trust me.

MOBILE RINGS

SHE SNIFFLES

Y-yeah?

CARLOS: 'Reggie, listen.

'The old man, Villalobos,

'he found the address of the guy

'who was sending him instructions.

'He said he was going there. I'm on my way...' No.

Wait for me. I want to come with you.

'It's one of those buildings behind the park.

'Number 17.'

What?

'Reggie. Number 17.'

N-number 17?

'I'll wait for you out in front.'

But I'm...here.

'Reggie. Reggie, wait...' VOICE FADES

MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

SHE WHISPERS: Grandpa.

SHE WHISPERS: Grandpa.

SHE SNIFFLES

SHE SOBS

TYRES SCREECH

DISTANT MUSIC

GRAMOPHONE PLAYS

# Make no mistake My love is true... #

Regina.

You should not have been in your house...

with your family.

NEEDLE SCRATCHES GASPS

Where's Reggie?

I dunno.

But she hasn't called.

I expected her to call.

Let her be.

You know how she's been lately.

In the beginning, it was just science.

You begin studying minds of children.

How their fears work.

A fear shared by all children...

In all times, and all cultures.

The fear of the dark.

I have to take a nap.

I'm exhausted.

Sounds like a good idea.

And now, they are almost ready.

After so many years...

What are you talking about?

About darkness, my dear.

The true darkness.

A kind of evil in its greatest form.

Pure...

and alive.

And now...

the moment has arrived.

Finally.

It will be born.

Dirty, and perverted.

SOBBING: Stop!

Don't try so hard, Regina.

The game has already begun.

MAN: 'The countdown has already begun.

'We're getting closer to the moment

'when the sun and the moon align submergent

'for a few moments in darkness.'

Why?

Why?

Because it's a question of faith.

We are our origin.

And our origin is that - evil.

Disorder.

We discovered a spell to get it back.

The egg temple.

And seven children's throats cut by loving hands.

And the eclipse, of course.

It's just an experiment.

I'm a doctor.

Do you know what the ancients called it?

The great liar.

DOORBELL RINGS

SOBS

MARK SHOUTING

DOORBELL RINGS

Where's Regina?

She's here. Come in.

GASPS

Thank goodness you came.

I didn't know what to do.

Hey.

What's going on here?

You know what's going on here.

What's going on is that you... INDISTINCT

GRUNTS SOFTLY

Aah!

I don't know why everyone is trying to ruin

this moment for me.

Once begun, no-one can stop it.

There is no way back.

THUNDER CRASHES

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

DOOR OPENS

DOOR CLOSES

Everything was perfect.

We were seven.

We had built a temple...

and waited for the eclipse.

Each one with his child.

But at the last minute, it fell apart.

I'm the only one left.

The only one who has survived all these years.

Ironic, isn't it?

Because it was my fault.

I had to let my son escape.

I couldn't do it.

Mom?

Yes, Paul?

Can I have a glass of water?

GASPS

So fed up with shouting in this house.

BREATHING HEAVILY

Please just go away.

You loved him.

Let me go.

I can still stop it.

The rules of the game are very clear.

Seven children's throats...

cut by hands which love them.

Go away.

OK. Well, I'm gonna go away.

What the hell are you talking about?

This is my house!

Open the fucking door!

Now!

At the last minute, I realised it wouldn't work.

Because, honestly...

I didn't love him.

Mark?

Please just go away.

Paul doesn't have anything to do with this.

SIGHS

You haven't understood anything, have you?

It's not Paul, you idiot.

It's your father.

What?

It has to be the same child.

Mark, just leave us alone!

Open this fucking door!

You're not taking your medicine.

That's why you're sick!

MARK SCREAMS

Mom? It wasn't Dad.

He didn't hit me.

It's impossible.

It'll never happen.

Darkness is very wise.

Knows very well what the mother is capable of doing

to protect her young.

Mark, enough!

This is my toy.

A snake, and something about to be born.

It sounds familiar, doesn't it?

It'll never happen.

We saw it in the book.

The throat has to be cut.

And my mother wouldn't do that. It's impossible.

Have faith, Regina.

Darkness knows a great deal.

Oh.

OK.

Here's my medication.

Mark?

What are you doing?

Here are the goddam pills.

I love you.

I love you...

so much.

SNIFFLES

Run.

You don't have much time.

Run!

It's your turn.

Regina...

Answer me!

Pills. The fucking pills.

You want me to take pills?

What's going on?

Mark?

Mark!

TYRES SCREECH

Mark? GASPS

Paul, go get a pen.

Got to open him up or he's gonna die!

GRUNTS: Mark?

Paul, you should just go up to your room and don't look.

Just go, now!

Mom! No!

What are you doing? What are you doing?!

He needs air. We've got to cut his throat.

Get off of him! Don't you understand?! That's what it wants!

Your father is dying!

I'm going to open his throat, let him breathe.

MARK GAGGING

No. No. No.

I can't do it. I can't. My hands.

I can't do it.

Give it to me.

Let me do it. Just tell me what to do.

A clean cut just under the Adam's apple.

Quickly!

GASPS: N-now get the tube.

-Put it right in his throat.

-What tube? What tube?

It's-it's right here. Where is the tube, Mom? I can't find it!

It's right here!

Where?! Where?!

It's over.

The seventh child is dead.

Where's...Regina?

In her house.

In hell.

Mom, where's the flashlight?!

Where is it?!

Mom, we have to get out of here. Where is Paul? Where is he?!

Where is he?!

Upstairs.

PAUL SCREAMING

PAUL: Regina!

Paul?

I'm scared!

Paul, I'm coming!

Paul!

Paul?

Regina!

You - you - you got - you got to come with me.

It's tricking us.

It's trying to fool us. It's a liar.

We're gonna get out of here right now. Got to get out of here.

Mom?

Don't be afraid.

We can end this.

It's just a question of not being afraid.

He's dead.

REGINA: No, he's not.

I want Daddy back, Mommy.

We can save him.

You just have to turn off the burners.

It's the only way to fight the darkness.

We don't have much time left.

You have to trust me, Regina.

What are you saying?

For once in your life, you just have to trust me.

No.

Turn that off.

Turn them off.

We can save him.

Please, Mom. I don't understand.

You're a liar.

Turn it off.

You're not my mother.

SCREECHING

Turn them off.

Do it for Dad.

SCREAMS

Mom?

-Where's Mom?

-She's not here.

Don't look. Don't look. We got to get out of here.

Come on. We've got to get out of here.

We'll try the window.

Got to get out of here. We'll try the window.

Come on.

Stand back.

Come on. We have to get out right now.

Come on! Jump!

Come on! Come on. Come on.

Get in. Come on.

Get in the car. Right now, honey.

It's gonna be OK. It's gonna be OK.

Honey, come on.

Regina!

Are we going back to the States?

Yeah.

WOMAN: Come on up. I want you to see something.

You're gonna love it.

It's tricking us. It's a liar.

It's over, Paul.

No.

# How can I explain this feeling?

# Something's coming over me

# Could it be that all the birds

# Are singing to me?

# Wonderful to know this feeling... #