Original subtitles

[chanting]

[intriguing music]

[music intensifies]

BEN: So your daughter is shacked up

with a group called the Church of the Starry Wisdom.

It's a new cult. We don't know that much about it,

but it's growing rapidly.

They tend to prey on vulnerable college students,

disenfranchised seekers--

people like your daughter.

What do they believe in?

Overpromising and underdelivering.

[laughs]

[scoffs] You don't know?

BEN: Well, they believe in the usual stuff, you know--

peace, love, unity, new world order, I don't know,

all that crap.

Yeah, sounds like our Katie.

Look, I know I'm not your first choice.

I'm nobody's first choice.

But you're here now, and that means

this is your last port of call.

Have you tried any exit counseling or anything?

Yeah, I mean, we hired a therapist

to show up when she came to visit,

but I mean she went crazy.

I've never seen Katie like that before.

She was so angry.

Yeah, and Katie's not been back since,

and she's not even returned our calls.

That's not uncommon for someone

like your daughter to be so basically

brainwashed by this cult--

that any challenge to her belief is

seen as a threat, and not just a threat to her belief,

but a threat to her identity.

Mr. Green, what are you going to do to her?

[mysterious music]

I'm going to break that cult's hold over your daughter

in a process that I call deprogramming.

[takes a deep breath]

[eerie music]

BEN: I mean, she's going to try and do whatever it takes to get

back to that cult. [takes a deep breath]

So that's why we have applied this method where

we basically abduct her, keep her off-guard,

and bring it to this place.

She's never been here before, right?

KATIE'S FATHER (VOICEOVER): No.

This place belongs to a coworker's family.

It's been abandoned for years, but she'll

have no idea where she is.

BEN (VOICEOVER): That's good.

Well, I'll be here with her the whole time.

We'll have no phones, no internet.

Keep the doors locked.

No way in, no way out.

[tapping]

This is all so excessive.

BEN: I know it sounds excessive, but trust me,

you just have to isolate her.

It's the only way.

What kind of guarantees can you offer?

(LAUGHING) Guarantees?

Look, about 65%, 50-50.

But this isn't the hardest part.

It's getting her back home, rehabilitating into normal life.

Relapses occur.

Mental illness issues.

She's going to suffer depression,

anxiety, panic attacks.

And even the suicides have been known to occur.

[intriguing music]

KATIE'S FATHER: How long is this gonna take?

It takes as long as it takes.

It could be a few days, a few weeks.

KATIE'S FATHER: OK.

How can we help?

The best thing you can do is to stay away.

KATIE'S MOTHER: But the books all

said that personal connection can help with this kind of--

BEN: Yeah, I know what the books say.

So right now, we've just got to isolate her,

and you've got to let me do my job.

[chain rattling]

Trust me.

KATIE'S MOTHER: No, no.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I can't stay quiet any longer.

I'm very concerned about this so-called treatment, Mr. Green.

We have tried every single other method, honey.

No, you're explaining all of your methods,

and you're expecting us not to realize

these are the exact same things the cult did to brainwash

her in the first place.

But we can't judge what he's going to try to do.

No.

Isolating her-- not feeding her properly, not letting her

see her loved ones?

And don't think that we haven't heard

all about your personal track record.

We know about what happened with your former clients,

and we know about the criminal charges.

KATIE'S FATHER: Mr. Green.

Mr. Green.

Mr. Green.

[weeps]

We just want our daughter back.

Whatever you got to do, you just got to do it.

The last time we saw her, she was not the same person.

We just-- we just want our Katie back.

[sentimental music]

She's still your daughter.

People don't change.

Deep down inside, she's still Katie,

and I will do whatever it takes to find her.

[exhales] I promise you, I will bring her home.

[thoughtful music]

Just in case.

[music intensifies]

What the hell, Paige?

You thought you could just slip this in before I left?

PAIGE (ON PHONE): Don't act like you didn't

see the divorce coming, Ben.

And if I'm being honest, the reason

I didn't tell you in person is because I

was afraid of how you'd react.

Afraid?

I'm your husband.

You don't have to be afraid of me.

PAIGE (ON PHONE): Come on, Ben, we both

know you have anger issues.

[sighs]

I've been getting some help for that.

You know that.

I stopped drinking.

I'm seeing a therapist.

PAIGE (ON PHONE): You saw them once.

Look-- you don't know what it's like to do the job that I

do-- to sit there, counseling these people, and the shit

that I have to go through.

And then you expect me to sit-in a therapist's office?

I just can't do that.

PAIGE (ON PHONE): First off, you're not a therapist.

What you do with these people is illegal.

These people, they don't know their right from wrong.

Their whole mindset is completely screwed up.

PAIGE (ON PHONE): Regardless, these people

need a professional, someone with real training, not

some make-believe deprogrammer.

[intriguing music]

I wish this could be easier.

I wish there was a better way.

But you gotta understand, I need to do this.

You understand that, don't you, Paige?

You understand that I need to do this?

[exhales]

This place is rough as hell, Ben.

[scoffs] Yeah.

It'll do the job.

DARYL: Good news is, if she tries to escape,

there's no one nearby for her to run to.

Look at all this nothing.

Mm.

You sure you're up for this, man?

Yeah, of course.

I mean, it's OK if you need a break.

Look, yeah, I'm fine.

Well, when are you meeting that other guy?

Soon as I leave here, we'll be back within 90 minutes.

I've timed every drive.

OK.

As soon as you get her, take her up the stairs.

The room's all set up, ready to go

Yeah.

I know the drill.

BEN: You said you're going to do something about the power.

DARYL: I thought I took care of it.

Nothing's working in there. There's no lights.

Fridge doesn't work.

Oven doesn't work.

There's no water.

The toilets don't even flush.

I don't want to be here for weeks if I can't even run a fan.

Shit.

[sighs] - Right.

Well, I'll make the calls from the road.

Well, come on.

Time's wasting, man.

DARYL: I can tell you're distracted.

You can't bring your own shit into this.

You can't make this about redemption.

It's not about that. I'm fine.

I'm fine.

This is about Katie.

I'm just here--

I'm here for her.

I'm here to do my job.

All right?

DARYL: OK.

I better go make those calls.

It's not like you'll be able to, right?

No phones allowed?

BEN: Yeah, that's right.

[thoughtful music]

MAN (ON RADIO): It is hot, hot, hot in the North State

today with no signs of letting up.

Drink your water, folks, and stay in the AC

because there is no relief otherwise.

It'll be 110 degrees in Redding and throughout the north--

Hey, change the station.

The game is on.

MAN (ON RADIO): --this week.

111 in Anderson, 112 in Cottonwood.

[intriguing music]

[car starting]

[music becomes vibrant]

[music intensifies]

KATIE: No.

What the fuck?

[grunts] [screams] [grunts]

[screams] Help.

You sick freaks, get off of me.

[screams] [grunts]

That one's a firecracker.

Did you get anything done with the utilities?

County says they're rechecking everything on their end.

Should be back up by tomorrow morning.

You know, I could stick around if you need some help with her.

You know that's not how we do things here.

I know, but if she's too much for you to handle,

I was thinking maybe--

BEN: Here's the keys.

Consider yourself locked in.

Phone?

I gave it to you before.

You did?

Shit. I must have left it in my car.

I'll check it tomorrow.

And I'll come back by for the electric as well.

OK.

[footsteps receding]

[intriguing music]

Oh.

Easy.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I just want to take this off.

OK?

What the fuck is this?

Who are you?

What the hell is going on?

BEN: Calm down. My name is Ben.

I'm just here to help you, to talk to you, that's all.

I'm not going to hurt you.

To help me?

You fucking kidnapped me.

I know it looks like that, but I'm not going to hurt you, OK?

My family is gonna be looking for me.

Your family knows you're here.

They hired me to do this.

They hired me to talk to you.

They are not my family.

OK, then, if they're not your family--

- They're not my family. - All right, that's fine.

Who's your family The Church of the Starry Wisdom?

Is that your family?

You don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

BEN: Well, don't I? I mean--

You don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

BEN: They claim to be your family,

but they're not doing a very good of it.

[screams] Help me, please. BEN: All right.

All right.

KATIE: Stop.

No.

Help me.

[static sounds]

Please help me.

Please.

[crickets chirping]

[SOOTHING BACKGROUND MUSIC PLAYING]

[click]

[thoughtful music]

It's OK.

I'm just gonna take this off.

All right.

Where am I?

You're in a little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere

without a paved road in sight.

Why did you bring me here?

BEN: Brought you here so that we could

talk, so to get you away from all the distractions out there.

KATIE: OK.

When can I leave?

Well-- [sighs]

Well, you can leave when, um, we come to an understanding,

when you start to feel better.

I feel fine, Ben.

I feel fine.

That's good.

I wanted to talk to you about the Church of Starry Wisdom.

I don't want to talk about them.

Really?

You seem to want to talk to everybody about it-- people

on the streets, the gas station attendant, [laughs]

the supermarket.

So you've been spying on me.

BEN: No, no, I haven't been spying on you.

I've just been trying to understand--

understand you, I mean.

Don't you want to be understood?

[intriguing music]

Look.

This-- this only works, Katie, if we come to--

Don't call me that.

BEN: Call you what?

That name.

Don't use it.

It's not who I am.

BEN: OK, so what should I call you?

What does the church call you?

[sighs] We don't use names like that.

We have a connection that goes beyond all of that.

BEN: OK, so if you're out on the streets, and one of your friends

see you, what do they--

So now you're mocking me and my beliefs?

BEN: No, I'm not mocking you, but I

do want you to maybe question and admit the fact

that some of these beliefs that your church believes in

is kind of a bit weird, don't you think?

Why do you say that?

BEN: Because if it really was your family,

they wouldn't force you into doing

things you don't want to do.

They wouldn't make you say things you don't want to say.

That's not how family works.

A family gives you freedom to make choices in life.

Hmm.

[scoffs]

OK, um, let's talk about college.

[sighs]

I didn't like it, so I dropped out.

BEN: Was that something you wanted to do,

or did the church make you do that?

Can I have some tea?

BEN: Oh.

Tea?

Like--

Yeah, you know, to drink.

Well, the power is not working.

I can get you some water.

OK, fine.

The hell?

[eerie sounds]

[music intensifies]

[suspenseful music]

What the hell?

Shit.

[clattering]

Katie, what are you doing?

Just come on.

Fuck you.

Fuck you, you psycho.

[thud]

BEN: Fuck.

What are you doing?

[screams]

BEN: Just stop it.

[thud]

Ah. Ah.

Ah.

Fuck.

What the fuck?

Ow.

shit.

[thoughtful music]

[clattering]

Pull it together, man.

[mysterious music]

Ah.

Fuck.

[exhales]

[music intensifies]

All right.

[clears throat]

[intriguing music]

Who gave it to you?

Who gave you that lockpick?

Let me guess.

Was it church?

Church of Starry Wisdom?

Equip all their members with a little lockpick just in case

they get picked up to be deprogrammed?

[laughs]

They protect me.

BEN: Really?

They didn't do a very good job, did they?

You're still here.

All right, [takes a deep breath] so we

were talking about college.

No.

Yeah.

We were.

We're going to have a nice, civil conversation about college

without any blood being spilled.

I'm sorry about that.

You're sorry?

KATIE: I didn't know that it had a nail in it.

I wasn't trying to kill you or anything.

I just want to get away.

BEN: Yeah, because that's not who you are.

[thoughtful music]

You don't like to hurt people.

You like to help people.

I do.

That's why you were going to college, right?

So you could study something that you

could use to help people with?

I was studying to be a nurse, actually.

My grandmother was a nurse, and I remember growing up, listening

to all her war stories--

nursing.

And what changed?

Nothing.

I'm still helping people.

BEN: Through the church, right?

Yeah, "the" church.

But it's not really a church, is it?

I mean, a church has to meet certain requirements,

you know, IRS, taxes, all that kind of stuff.

Well, you're talking about paying taxes,

so you're just playing with semantics.

BEN: [sighs] I want to understand

what you see in this group.

Like, why would you give up all your dreams for--

KATIE: My dreams-- my dreams are binary.

They're simplistic, childish.

But the church, the church showed me a better way.

It remade me.

BEN: Why do you feel that way?

It's not about feelings.

It's about the truth.

BEN: The truth.

That's not really the truth, is it?

I mean, you're still Katie.

You still have parents that love you and care for you.

[intriguing music]

I'm not Katie.

Yeah, you are.

People don't change like you think they do, kiddo.

I can see why you'd say that, Benjamin Green.

You're that type of man, aren't you?

Full of answers?

So self-assured.

But the world would crumble beneath your feet

if you questioned it even for an instant.

How'd you know my name?

How did--

KATIE: If only you could see what I see--

the world behind this one--

the world that peeks through the cracks,

probes at the weak spots--

the things that sneak through.

You don't scare me.

There are two of them--

two ghosts or spirits that follow you around, two

dead people you can't escape.

[mysterious music]

They're young, vulnerable-- lost.

But you made them trust you.

They trusted you until they died.

BEN: Shut up.

I see one boy and one girl.

She's short for her age, though, more like 12 than the 22

she's supposed to be.

But her hair is gold.

His is dark.

Oh, and he says his name is Lewis.

His name is Lewis Richards.

And her name--

[music intensifies]

--is Grace.

Gracie.

Shut the fuck up.

Who told you my fucking name?

Who told you that?

[mysterious music]

I told you, Ben, the cracks in this reality

can lead us to so much more than you

are even open to knowing about.

You get comfortable, kiddo.

We'll pick this up in the morning.

[footsteps receding]

You're wrong, kid.

He never trusted me.

[soft, thoughtful music]

Name's Lewis Richards, Gracie Donahue.

Lewis Richards.

Gracie Donahue.

[sighs]

[birds chirping]

Let's get you some water.

[jangling]

All right.

Oh.

BEN: Whoa, whoa.

Not too much.

You'll get sick.

Mm.

No.

Again?

BEN: Yes, again.

Oh.

So you don't trust me.

[handcuff locking]

Isn't this all supposed to be about trust?

[takes a deep breath] Trust is earned, kiddo.

OK, how do I earn it?

Well, you start by not hitting me across the head

with a piece of lumber, OK?

I apologized for that.

Yeah, you did.

Don't act so surprised.

My church-- the church--

It's not so hung up on infallibility.

Mistakes happen.

What's important is that we apologize for what we do wron.

Don't you agree?

[sighs]

Oh, the air is so good out here.

It's already 80 degrees.

Yeah.

Any, uh-- any luck with the electricity situation?

[scoffs] I called the county.

They weren't very helpful.

They said the problem with the electric isn't on their end.

It might be the lines leading out here

or the wiring in the house.

This place is ancient.

Yep.

What about the water?

Anything?

For that one, the receptionist transferred me

to three different departments before somebody was

kind enough to just hang up.

So--

[laughter]

Oh, man.

Yeah, a job like that right now doesn't sound too bad.

[laughter]

I had a job like that once.

It is.

[laughs] Anyway, before all this gets sorted,

I brought some more supplies--

a couple gallons of water in the trunk and one of these bad boys.

BEN: Oh, wow, awesome.

[laughs]

DARYL: Yeah.

Never thought I'd be this excited to see a portable stove.

Yeah.

Four-star accommodations, huh?

I got some more food, too. BEN: Great.

Good.

We're going to need that.

DARYL: This gonna be a long one?

You think, is she gonna be a tough one to break?

BEN: Yeah.

It's, uh-- hard to explain.

She's, uh-- she's different.

DARYL: Mm.

But, um--

I'm not going to give up.

I'm going to keep working on it.

Get through to her.

[mysterious music]

These are their clothes your parents dropped off.

That's all you had left at your apartment

[scoffs] I left those behind for a reason.

Those belonged to me before I went through--

Transformed and you became a butterfly from a caterpillar,

like a snake shedding its skin.

[laughs] I've heard it all before, kid.

Look, trust me.

Get washed up, put some new clothes on.

You'll feel human again.

Maybe not washed up, because there's no water,

but you know what I mean, me. KATIE: Mm.

[rattling]

Windows don't open, do they?

[laughs]

KATIE: [sighs]

Can't you do anything about this heat?

Yeah, we're working on it, but at least right now we can cook.

What's on the menu?

Oatmeal.

I like to keep things simple.

Simple.

Yeah.

BEN: You're hungry, aren't you?

Starving.

Good.

[intriguing music]

Well, looks like we've come to a place of understanding.

Hm, yeah.

Can't escape.

Oh, I wouldn't look at it as escaping.

I would look at it as a process of finding your freedom

through understanding.

Why do you do this?

Does this pay well?

Well, no, I don't do it for the money.

Don't you have a family to support?

Aren't you married?

[laughs] I'm the one asking the questions here.

Now, who's not cooperating?

[laughs] OK, in the spirit of cooperation,

how about I give you an answer for every question,

and you give me an answer for every one

of the questions I give you?

OK, deal.

OK, so what is it that the Church of the Starry Wisdom give

you that your family doesn't?

Understanding.

My family never understood me, but I

don't think I really understood me

either-- not until I met them.

But now I'm honestly filled with a sense of oneness.

So you were lost--

My turn.

Are you married?

Yes.

KATIE: Happily?

Yes.

So how were you recruited?

I don't like that term-- recruited--

but I met some of the other church members on campus.

Were they students?

No, I don't think so.

Well, don't you think that's kind

of suspicious, that they were on the campus,

but they weren't students?

My turn.

Children?

No.

So what is it that the church believes?

KATIE: Unity-- with yourself and others.

OK.

Others meaning other cult members?

There it is.

[laughs]

For all this talk of understanding,

you don't give a shit who we are.

Look, I do.

I do care.

I do give a shit.

You're hiding behind all these buzzwords

and this new-age mumbo jumbo.

My turn.

Why do you do this, really?

Why do you do this?

Tell me the truth.

[sighs] All right.

You really want to know? KATIE: Yes.

All right.

Well, I'll give you an honest answer.

If you can give me one about why you believe what you believe.

KATIE: OK.

All right.

So I grew up in a cult called the Church of the Shining Dawn.

My parents were members, and I--

that was my life.

I believed everything they believed.

But my grandparents wanted to get me out,

so they basically got a deprogrammer to go and get me.

How old were you?

I was about 14 when they abducted

me, put me in a hotel room.

KATIE: Mm.

They, um-- they beat me around a bit, but, um, things were

done differently back then.

I'm sorry.

No, I mean, it worked.

Here I am today.

[sentimental music]

The cult eventually fell apart.

My parents were never the same.

But, um, I got through it.

And now I want to spend my life trying to help

others just like I was helped.

That's why I'm here.

I understand.

Well, help me to understand.

OK.

Well, I suppose concepts like oneness

seem kind of strange coming from the outside,

especially after so many scams like that Shining Dawn.

But the church does offer something real.

OK, well, what is it?

Connection.

Real connection to yourself and to others--

and to worlds beyond.

Like what, other dimensions?

In a manner of speaking, yeah.

Yeah.

Through this connection, we become the truest version

of ourselves.

You can attain your full potential, and--

and you become this vessel.

And-- you remake the world.

OK.

So that's what you wanted from the church

Yes.

And what is it that the church wanted from you?

KATIE: What do you mean?

Well, you gave up your life savings, your college fund.

You gave it all to the church, right?

Yes, but--

No just like other people before you have given up

life savings, their time, everything, all their time,

and given it to the cults.

No, you're misunderstanding.

Am I?

Yes.

It sounds a lot like a scam, Katie.

KATIE: It's not a scam.

No, no, a scam is a scam.

You were scammed into a cult--

Ben, no.

--just like my parents were.

Ben, no, you're not listening.

No, you have to admit--

KATIE: You're not listening, Ben.

--admit that you have had these doubts.

These doubts have been in your head.

KATIE: No, Ben. You're not-- you don't care.

Stop.

These doubts about this church, they're in there.

Fuck you.

[laughs] All right.

Fuck you.

I'll give you some time to think it over.

[thoughtful music]

Fuck.

[suspenseful tones]

What the fuck?

How'd that get there?

[clattering]

Fuck.

[clattering continues]

[suspenseful music]

[mysterious music]

[door opening]

What?

[intriguing tones]

What?

Something wrong?

Huh?

Um, yes?

I was just checking up on you, that's all.

KATIE: [laughs] OK.

Thanks, I guess.

Can-- can you open the blinds, this plastic stuff?

Plastic?

KATIE: Yeah, it's gonna be night soon,

and it'd be nice to see the stars.

BEN: The stars?

They're really important to us in the church.

They're just stars.

They don't mean anything to anyone.

They're just some dead planet millions of years old.

Stupid.

[music intensifies]

[suspenseful sounds]

[chanting]

[strange rustling]

Paige, what are you doing?

You got to get out of here.

You got to get out of here.

What's happening?

[suspenseful sounds]

Oh.

[suspenseful tones]

What's going on?

What the hell is happening?

[shouts]

[gasps] [pants]

KATIE: [HUMS "HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS"]

["HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS"

PLAYING IN EERIE MELODY]

[suspenseful music intensifying]

BEN: [sighs]

Oh.

Ug.

Ugh.

[knocking]

Help.

Help me.

I'm upstairs.

Please.

[knocking continues]

I'm upstairs, and he's kidnapped me.

Please help me.

Help me, please.

Somebody help me.

No. No, Ben.

No.

No, help me.

Please help me.

I'm up here.

Please.

He takes me.

[loud , vibrant music playing]

[screams]

KATIE'S FATHER: That was her, wasn't it?

That was her, wasn't it? Why was she screaming?

Katie.

BEN: What the hell are you doing here?

KATIE'S MOTHER: Why was she shouting?

How did you even get in here?

I kept a set of keys.

If I found this house, and she's my daughter,

surely I can keep a set of keys.

OK, why was she shouting like that?

Look, I'm just in a very sensitive stage of the process

right now. - I want to see her.

BEN: You just can't be here.

Look, I understand, but you just can't see her right now.

She's our daughter.

I want to see her.

And we are paying you.

I know you're paying me.

You're paying me to do a job.

So let us inside.

BEN: Trust me.

If we stop the process too soon, she's gonna be worse

off than when she started.

Our Katie, she wouldn't manipulate anyone.

BEN: I know.

She never has lied to us.

BEN: I know that.

[thoughtful music]

I want to find the real Katie for you,

and I want to remind her of who she really is.

I'll let her know that that's how you feel about her.

But trust me, you can't stop the process.

We're getting so close.

We just got to keep going.

Please, just trust me.

We're almost there.

[SOOTHING BACKGROUND MUSIC PLAYING]

[click]

That was my parents, wasn't it?

I thought you didn't have any parents.

It's not that simple.

Well, then help me to understand.

I really want to understand you, OK?

Look.

Does the church have a family or.

I mean, is their sons, daughters?

No, no, not really.

No.

[intriguing music]

OK, what about elders or deacons?

No, Ben, we don't have any elders.

We're all one.

BEN: OK, is there a teacher or someone who gives the orders?

[scoffs] So indicative of your way of thinking.

BEN: Well, I just--

Orders.

I just want to know who's in charge.

KATIE: Can I take a walk?

Look, I just want to know who's in charge of the Church

of the Starry Wisdom.

It doesn't work like that, Ben.

It doesn't work like that.

[music intensifies]

[sighs]

Can I take a walk?

So, were your, um, parents strict on you,

give you a lot of orders, you know?

[sighs] Yes, I guess they could be.

I mean, that must have been hard on you, you know,

growing up--

KATIE: This is not about teenage rebellion.

No.

No, it isn't.

Sure, it's about you wanting to find answers.

God, Ben, can I take a walk now, please?

My legs are cramping.

BEN: I'm just saying, because of all that--

I just need to take a walk.

My legs are cramping.

All right.

But you were looking for something, weren't you?

Because your parents weren't listening to you.

You're so annoying.

BEN: There they were, the Church of Starry Wisdom, looking down.

Give it a rest, Ben.

[mysterious music]

So, uh, tell me about your friends.

Do you have any friend?

Like friends at the church?

What about, um, nursing?

Is that something you still want to pursue-- go to college

and be a nurse?

Where are you going, Katie?

I mean, the future, it's all ahead of you.

You can make decisions.

Make choices.

You're young.

You can do anything you want to do.

Go to a new town or country.

Work at a hospital.

There's so many things you could do--

have a career, have a life.

Where are you going to be in five years, Katie?

You going to have a family, kids?

[eerie tones]

[crickets chirping]

Aren't you gonna lock me up again?

No, I-- I think we've made some good progress today.

How about we try trusting each other for a while?

[laughs]

Good plan.

[thoughtful music]

You did good today.

KATIE: Does this work--

like, what we're doing here--

deprogramming?

Yeah, I mean, it worked for me.

Yeah, but how common is that really?

[sighs] Yeah, it varies.

It's hard to say, but it all comes down to the aftercare,

you know-- how well they [exhales]

get on when they get back home, the support system back there.

Has it worked for your clients?

For the most part, yeah.

But, um, yeah, I've had some regrets.

[sentimental music]

But regrets are good, you know?

I learned a lot from them, and with that, I

can pass that knowledge on to people like you

and help prepare you for the real world.

Because it's horrible out there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

The world is really lonely.

It's a horrible place.

And the church doesn't prepare you for that.

It doesn't help you to relate to people,

and they won't understand what you've been through.

Yeah, I remember feeling that way all the time

before I met the church.

BEN: You can feel it deep down inside.

It's the real you, Katie.

I understand.

I've been there.

I know how you feel.

Don't let go of this feeling.

Dig deep and hold on to it with everything you've got.

Emotional neglect?

What the hell?

That's bullshit, Paige.

Damn.

Where's my phone?

Shit.

Where the hell is my phone?

Have you been in my room?

[laughs] No.

When would I have done that?

Well, something's missing.

I don't know what's--

KATIE: So you thought I stole it?

[laughs] Nice.

It was nothing.

It doesn't matter.

I just must have misremem--

remembered it.

It's fine.

So these are the clothes your parents left for you?

Yeah, I remember these.

Buying them all seemed so important to me at the time,

but [laughs] now it's so inconsequential.

[mysterious music]

It's so damn hot in here.

BEN: Yeah.

Sorry about that.

I'm working on getting the power put back on.

Are you sure you're just not trying

to sweat the demons out of me?

[laughter]

[clears throat] If you're not Katie, then who are you?

It's complicated.

We're individuals, but we're part of a whole,

like cells forming a body--

a body dedicated to planetary change.

BEN: Sounds like another form of loneliness.

[laughs]

[laughs]

Well, maybe I can help you understand,

just like you're helping me.

I'm sure that it must seem so strange to have it

all explained to you in words.

Well, how was it explained to you?

KATIE: Well, believe it or not, I actually dreamed of the church

before I ever met them.

In the dream, I was standing over my body, like

an out-of-body experience--

an astral projection.

But I wasn't alone.

The other members of the church were already with me,

and we were all in our ceremonial robes.

And there was this offering, and my spiritual guide

was there, the person that I met at the church a few days later.

And they were reaching out to give me the most beautiful gift.

And it was a secret--

Shut the fuck up.

What?

How the fuck do you know this?

KATIE: Know what?

What the fuck?

What?

[laughs]

[laughs]

[HUMS "HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS"]

[intriguing music]

[humming continues]

[exhales]

What the hell?

How did this get in here?

Damn, that looks good.

BEN: No, no, I didn't pack this.

I promised my wife I wouldn't.

You've been holding out on me.

I haven't had a good, stiff drink in ages.

The church was really strict about that.

But there's no church here, is there?

No wives either.

You get the glasses, I'll get the music.

[vibrant, sensual music]

[music becomes intriguing]

[music builds up]

[music intensifies]

[ominous tones]

[moist sounds]

[grunts]

[suspenseful tones]

Oh, fuck.

[grunts]

[mysterious music]

What the hell-- is going on?

[grunts]

[mysterious music]

What the hell?

Oh.

[suspenseful tones]

KATIE: It's so pretty out there.

BEN: [exhales] What the hell happened last night?

KATIE: Well, I told you about my dream, and you were pretty rude.

And then you went to bed like an old man

Oh, Ben, you look terrible.

BEN: Yeah, I'm fine.

Oh.

Seriously, though, you look like shit.

No, I'm fine I just can't sleep.

The heat, the stale air in there.

DARYL: That's more than that, man.

You look like--

I don't know-- spooked?

No.

I don't know.

Normally I know a lot more about a cult

before I get into this, but, I don't know,

this one, I just can't--

I can't figure it out.

It's-- it's-- it's different.

She hasn't told you much about them?

No, not really.

I mean, I'm starting to get somewhere.

I'm starting to wear her down.

[laughs] Looks more like she's wearing you down.

No, it's not that I'm fine.

It's just-- the stale air in there, man--

I can't sleep.

Yeah, I'm working on that.

Should we back up any hour now.

Did you, um-- did you find my phone?

DARYL: You know, it's the damnedest thing.

Maybe it slipped out of my pocket or out of the car door.

I don't know.

But I figured we could go look around on the grass just

to be safe. - No, it's fine.

I-- I know where I put it.

I must be misremembering it.

Like you left it at home or--

I don't know.

My head's all-- fuzzy.

Just keep after it.

I'm sure the deprogramming is almost done I'm you're

close to your breakthrough.

Yeah, any hour--

any hour now.

All right.

[takes a deep breath]

[mysterious music]

[suspenseful tones]

[vomits]

[vomits]

[suspenseful tones]

Hm.

What?

Oh, nothing.

KATIE: You're staring at the bowl.

Have you eaten?

Uh, no, it's just, uh, the oatmeal, I don't know.

KATIE: I kind of like it.

It reminds me of summer camp.

Can I see my parents today?

[laughs] Surprised.

I thought they weren't your real family.

They are, and they aren't.

Part of the church is outreach, and I

was thinking maybe they can join us

and be part of my real family.

Yeah, I don't think they'll go for that.

[laughs]

Well, maybe I can convince them.

I just need to show them what the church offers

and what they could gain.

[intriguing music]

You're not sleeping, are you?

BEN: No.

I mean, it's-- the heat.

I-- I don't know.

I can't s-- I don't know. Maybe--

Bad dreams?

[suspenseful tones]

Yeah.

Have you had them?

[exhales] I'm not feeling well.

You aren't, are you?

When's the last time that you did?

[music intensifies]

[mysterious music]

[thunder rumbling]

[train sounds]

[exhales]

Oh.

What the hell?

Wha-- what is this?

Like tai chi or something?

[laughs] No.

I'm just working out the kinks.

That bed is not exactly comfortable.

I don't know you can work out in this heat.

It must be a hundred degrees in here.

KATIE: Have you ever heard of hot yoga?

[laughs] No.

KATIE: [laughs]

Mmm.

Actually-- I'm feeling better than ever, Ben.

BEN: Oh?

That's great.

Yeah.

I mean, it must be because of you, right?

Well, I mean--

It must be because of this whole intervention of yours,

Oh, I--

I guess.

What do you say?

[mysterious music]

Are you my Knight in shining armor?

[laughs] Um, I should, uh, go do something.

You just keep working out.

[sighs] Knight in shining armor.

[laughs]

[music becomes intriguing]

[music slowly intensifies]

What the fuck is this?

Is this your Bible or something? - We don't use words like that?

BEN: And how the hell did it get in?

It wasn't even with the clothes that your parents dropped off.

KATIE: No, of course not. They've never seen that.

BEN: Is somebody dropping things and, like, smuggling things

in Here?

Because I mean, you got this, and then the lockpick.

How'd you get that?

I didn't pick the lock.

Who the fuck has been outside, scratching on the windows

and pulling the nails out of the doors?

I mean, what the hell's going on?

Ben?

What?

KATIE: Ben?

Yeah, I--

KATIE: I'm getting worried about you, Ben.

I think that the heat's getting to you.

BEN: What the fuck?

No, I'm fine. I'm fine.

KATIE: Have you been hallucinating or--

No, I'm fine.

--losing your sense of taste?

Fuck.

Shut up.

KATIE: Ben-- I'm really worried about you.

I'm gonna have to lock you up again.

OK?

OK, if you think that would be best.

Yeah, I do.

OK.

Just--

[mysterious music]

Oh.

Fuck.

I found that life is about balance, Mr. Green--

balance with our environment, harmony with ourselves.

But you've lost that balance, Mr. Green.

How are you supposed to get my mind cleared

when yours is so cluttered?

And this calling of yours--

it's just shifting the pain that you experienced as a chid

back onto the people that you're supposedly

saving, forcing others--

Shut the fuck up.

Oh my god, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to do that.

I'm sorry.

[suspenseful music]

You've hit women before, haven't you?

No, no, no.

I

KATIE: Children, then, because that's how you see me, isn't it?

Just another helpless child to save.

I don't hurt children.

KATIE: Yes, you do.

You hurt them.

And you blame yourself for what happened to Lewis and Gracie.

I don't have to explain myself to you.

We'll resume this tomorrow.

I'm going to break this--

this cult over you.

If you say so, Ben.

[sighs]

[thoughtful music]

[clattering]

[music intensifies]

Hey, what are you doing out there?

I can see you.

I know what you're doing.

You don't scare me.

I'm not gonna stop doing what I'm doing.

I'm gonna set her free.

I'm gonna set her free.

[music intensifies further]

Come back to me, Ben.

You're not done here.

You have so much left to learn.

[mysterious music]

You came back.

What happened?

KATIE: You tell me.

I found you passed out on the floor this morning.

I was starting to think you weren't gonna wake up.

They're gone.

KATIE: Who's gone?

Oh.

Was somebody out there?

BEN: No, it's nothing.

KATIE: Are you OK?

What happened to your Handcuffs?

What handcuffs?

I put you in handcuffs last night.

No, Ben, you took those off days ago.

BEN: Oh.

In the spirit of trust and cooperation, remember?

No I mean--

I don't know.

I'm trying to.

Man, my head is killing me.

This--

You must be so dehydrated.

This heat--

Come on, let's go--

let's go get you some water.

Let's-- come on.

[sighs]

[exhales]

Come on.

Careful.

Careful.

[coughs]

[intriguing music]

[vomits] [coughs]

Yeah.

It's OK.

Let it all out.

[vomits] [coughs]

[pants]

[music intensifies]

[vomits]

[suspenseful tones]

[groans]

[grunts] How did I get here?

Ben, you've been in bed for hours.

I don't remember.

Yeah, you've been in and out all day.

Even when you were awake, you--

you called me by a name.

Who's Paige?

That-- that's my wife.

I don't remember.

Don't you mean ex-wife?

Oh, yes.

I-- - Hey.

I don't want to talk about it.

[laughs] You say that now.

[laughs]

Hey, it's OK.

Why don't you just get some sleep?

Get some rest.

Yeah.

[suspenseful tones]

Shhh.

[mysterious music]

[indistinct whispering]

[suspenseful tones]

[INDISTINCT WHISPERING CONTINUES]

["HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS"

PLAYING IN EERIE MELODY]

Katie?

(WHISPERING) Katie?

[intriguing music]

Katie?

KATIE: He's still weak.

He might not survive this place.

Katie?

Who are you talking to?

KATIE: I'm not giving up on this one.

[eerie tones]

Katie?

[mysterious music]

[music intensifies]

Where's the book?

[exhales]

[intriguing music]

[exhales] What-- what-- what time is it?

KATIE: It's almost night.

We need to talk about you, Ben-- about your health.

You're not doing well, and I know that it's more than just

this heat and stale air.

You're sick, Ben, and it's a sickness

that comes from inside of you.

And you've been sick for a very long time.

Yeah, I know.

And you need to bleed that sickness out of you.

Bleed it?

KATIE: Yes.

Talk about it.

Be honest.

Tell the truth.

You need to free yourself.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[slow, intriguing music]

Lewis-- and Gracie.

KATIE: Yeah.

You got them out of their cults, but you couldn't save them.

I don't know--

I don't know if I was--

too hard on them or not hard enough?

Their families, they-- they really-- they dropped the bal.

No.

No, Ben.

It was your fault. Those children are dead,

and it is your fault.

Yeah.

You're right.

It's my fault. I--

I just wanted to help them, you know?

The same way I was helped.

Oh, sweetie, no, I don't buy it.

This was about you.

This was about your redemption.

You've killed, and you don't want to face the consequences.

Those were suicides.

KATIE: No.

They committed suicide, and then I got a police record.

And then my wife leaves me.

Haven't I been punished enough?

I'm just trying to do--

No, Ben.

--do good.

Is that all it is about for you-- your intentions?

Some hero you are.

Why don't I give you some time to think about it?

[music intensifies]

[thoughtful music]

[music becomes intriguing]

What's going on?

What the hell?

[suspenseful tones]

Argh.

Katie, what the fuck are you doing?

KATIE: [shouts]

[grunts] No.

No.

[screams] [snarls]

[suspenseful music]

[rattling]

BEN: Just open up.

KATIE: Ben?

Please, I'm worried.

Just put the knife down, OK?

BEN: Fucking open.

KATIE: Ben, can you hear me?

Please, I'm worried.

Please just put the knife down, OK?

It's just a hallucination.

This is a hallucination.

This is real.

It's not real.

KATIE: Ben, just put the knife down, OK?

[gasps]

Fuck.

Oh, shit.

Oh.

Oh.

KATIE: Ben?

Oh my god.

What did you do?

BEN: I think I need to go to the hospital.

Well, we're locked in here, so you're going to have to wat

till your friend comes back.

He-- should be here tomorrow

KATIE: I think you can wait that long.

You're strong.

Why did you have a knife

I've never had a violent client before.

I-- I just got it just in case, you know.

Ironic, isn't it?

Well, I took it away, so no more accidents.

[mysterious music]

Your eyes have some blue in them.

It's lovely.

Blue is a really important color to the Church of Starry Wisdom.

Do you know why that is?

No.

The sky is blue.

The ocean is blue.

Blue is the color of limitless vastness,

of undiscovered species, and untapped potential.

That's what I see in you, Benjamin green.

BEN: What?

Potential, silly.

[laughs] Your heart's in the right place.

I believe you really want to help people.

I can help you atone for your sins.

You said you trust me, right?

Yeah, I guess.

Good.

OK.

We need to keep your strength up.

Is something wrong?

It's-- it's fine.

[music intensifies]

KATIE: Humans-- the hubris of this whole planet.

[mysterious music]

Do you ever stop to think about that?

We assume we're the height of power and intelligence

because we haven't seen anything more powerful.

But we're not smart enough to assume something like that

must exist out there--

in the night sky.

That's what we learn in the Church of Starry Wisdom.

We learn humility.

We learn perspective.

We know there's more to life on this plane or any other,

and we accept this knowledge.

We welcome it.

And so we open ourselves to possibilities.

[mysterious music]

We embrace our potential, and we leave

the limitations of conventional humanity behind.

[birds chirping]

And that's what I want for you, Ben.

I want you to truly open yourself

up to embrace the infinite.

So why did you come here?

What did you want?

I wanted to help you, to save you.

KATIE: What else?

And-- I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it--

to redeem myself.

You have to understand, Ben, that the fulfillment

that you're looking for, it doesn't come from others.

It comes from within you.

It all starts with you.

It's all about you and what you can bring to others.

So let me help you.

Let me help you change, Ben-- really change.

It's true, change comes from within,

but it only happens after you make

the first few changes yourself.

And then you get ready for the very, very big transformation.

[laughs]

I want that.

KATIE: Yes.

And look at you, Ben.

You're not even asking questions about the big transformation.

I'm so proud of you.

I trust you,

Yeah.

I think you're almost ready.

But you're not quite strong enough yet.

[mysterious music]

So you get some rest.

Make your body the best possible vessel.

Mm.

I think this was a great session.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[birds chirping]

Katie?

[mysterious music]

[exhales]

[suspenseful tones]

KATIE: We're almost ready.

No, he's doing very well.

[suspenseful music]

No.

There's no time for that now.

The process has already begun.

Katie?

KATIE: Don't worry.

We're almost there.

Just wait.

You'll see.

Tell the others.

BEN: Who are you talking to?

Kate, what's going on?

[whoosh]

Katie.

I told you, that's not my name.

BEN: Oh.

No Oh.

What the fuck is going on?

[rattling]

We're moving on to the next phase of your treatment, Ben.

Who the fuck is this?

[intriguing tones]

Daryl?

The fuck are you doing?

KATIE: Your friend was scared too at first.

These feelings will pass.

You'll become something bigger than these emotions.

You'll be one with forces you can't even comprehend.

KATIE: Soon you'll be reborn as something truly great.

Reborn?

The seeds have already been planted.

Once your current weak self dies,

the new, stronger identity will come and take

possession of your vessel.

Then once you've made the changes that you seek,

Ben, you can make your impact on the world.

You're fucking insane.

Daryl, how long you been caught up with these fuckers?

Long enough.

KATIE: Don't let your last thoughts be of hatred

and fear, Benjamin Green.

You have so much to look forward to.

Fuck you.

[moist rumbling]

Ow.

[tearing]

Aargh.

No.

It's happening.

What the fuck is this?

We should leave the room.

After all, everybody dies alone.

KATIE: [whimpers]

There's something inside me.

There's something inside me.

[shouts] Fuck.

Benjamin green is taking too long.

They take as long as they take.

[intriguing music]

[rattling]

[thudding]

Argh.

We must be flexible.

DARYL: The brothers are growing concerned.

Argh.

Aargh.

Fuck.

[grunts] Fucking thing out of me.

Aargh.

[pants] Oh.

[music intensifies]

[moist sounds]

Our numbers must grow.

We must accept all suitable candidates as hosts.

If we rush things, we risk failure.

Failure is impossible.

This planet is full of men like Benjamin Green,

who will be easy to absorb, but only if we take our time

and apply the correct pressure.

[coughs] [groans]

Ah.

[spits]

[thudding]

[screams]

[thudding]

The human-- he killed our brother.

Take care of things.

DARYL: You can't escape this human.

We are inevitable.

Change is inevitable.

[grunts] These delays mean nothing.

[thud]

[groans] Argh.

BEN: [shouts]

[grunting]

[music intensifies]

[thud]

[thud]

Shit.

[music intensifies further]

[crack]

Shit.

[pants] Daryl, what the fuck did you get yourself into?

Oh, shit.

Oh.

[moist sounds]

What the fuck?

[mysterious music]

Oh, shit.

Fuck.

[squealing]

[crunching]

KATIE: Ben?

Ben?

Ben?

Mr. Green?

Please let me go.

Please.

[creaking footsteps]

Mr. Green?

Ben?

Katie?

Oh My god, Oh my god.

Please.

Please don't kill me.

Please.

This isn't real.

KATIE: Please don't kill me.

Please

BEN: This isn't real.

KATIE: I'll leave the church.

I'll go back to my family. Please.

No.

This isn't real.

KATIE: I won't tell anybody what you did, I promise, I

promise I won't say anything, I won't say anything,

I promise you.

You kept me here, locked up.

This isn't real.

This is just a hallucination.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

(CRYING) Please let me go.

Just wake up.

Wake up.

(CRYING) Please.

Please let me go.

Please.

You haven't stopped me, Ben.

You haven't delayed anything.

Oh, shit.

Men like you never can.

[rumbling]

[moist sounds]

[rumbling]

[thudding]

Oh.

Oh, shit.

All right.

Come on.

It's over, Ben.

It's too late.

Aargh.

[suspenseful tones]

[thudding]

Get this thing out of her.

COP: Police.

Come on.

[moist sounds]

COP: Mr Green.

It's the police.

[shouting]

Come on/ Come on.

Get out of her.

[rumbling]

Come on.

Holy shit.

[music intensifies]

[growling]

[grumbling]

COP: Mr. Green.

Mr. Green, let us in.

[distant shouting]

Mr. Green.

[thudding]

[moist sounds]

OK. OK.

Freeze.

Don't move.

I saved you.

I saved you.

I got the monster out of her.

KATIE'S FATHER: Katie? Katie?

Is she breathing?

Is she breathing?

I saved her.

I got the monster out of her.

I saved her.

[suspenseful music]

I saved her.

Katie, come on, baby.

I saved her.

[shrieks]

Call the paramedics.

[gasps] [pants]

Oh.

Oh.

KATIE: Where's Ben?

[intriguing music]

[eerie music]