Original subtitles

This is a true story. It happened right here in my town two years ago.

A lot of people die in a lot of really weird ways in this story.

But you're not gonna find it in the news or anywhere like that.

Because the police and the top people in this town were like so embarrassed

that they weren't able to solve it that they covered everything all up.

But if you come here and ask anyone, they'll all

tell you the same thing that I'm gonna tell you now.

This story starts in my school.

Maybrook Elementary is kindergarten through fifth grade.

So this one Wednesday is like a normal day for the whole school.

And they had this teacher who was new.

Her name was Justine Gandy.

And on this day, she was going to her classroom just like every morning.

But today was different.

Today, none of her kids were there.

Every other class at that school had all their kids.

Even the other third grade Mrs. Belt taught was full.

But Mrs. Gandy's room was totally empty.

Well, not totally.

There was one boy there and his name was Alex Lilly.

And he was the only kid in the class of 18 that came to school that day.

And do you know why?

He was the only one there.

Because the night before, at 2.17 in the morning,

every other kid woke up, got out of bed,

walked downstairs, opened the front door,

walked across the front yard and into the dark.

And they never came back.

And they never came back.

And they never came back.

All the parents and people at the school were really sad and upset.

The police could tell that the kids left at 2.17

because like half the houses had alarms that got tripped when they walked outside.

Some of the kids even got videoed by the houses that had cameras.

But the cameras only showed the kids walking out into the darkness.

They didn't show where they went after that.

The police talked to Alex a lot.

They asked him why his classmates did what they did,

but he told them he didn't know.

They asked him if there was a plan,

but he said if there was, he never heard it.

They asked him if there was a TV show where someone ran away like that.

But he said if there was, he never saw it.

They also talked to Miss Gandy a whole bunch,

but she also didn't know anything and couldn't help them.

For almost a whole month, they kept the school closed for their big investigation.

But after a while, they had to open everything back up,

so that the kids that didn't disappear could learn again.

One night before they did, they had a big meeting at the school.

There was a bunch of counselors and people like that

to help everybody figure out how to feel and be sad together, I guess.

This is where the story really starts.

What's important is that we don't judge our grief.

We might experience emotions we don't like.

Emotions besides sadness.

We need to make sure that we allow ourselves to feel emotions like anger.

Anger is a very healthy part of the grief cycle.

It can be especially powerful in instances of abandonment.

Now, there are often times that we have... What does that mean?

Especially powerful in instances of abandonment?

Are you saying that we should be upset with Matthew for what happened to him?

I'm saying it would be abnormal.

Because I'll tell you right now that you may call what

happened abandonment, but I don't. I don't see it like that.

I see something that doesn't make any sense at all.

I'm talking about 17 kids in one classroom.

What happened in that classroom?

Why just her classroom? Why only hers?

Look, I'm picking up a lot of emotion and that's fine.

So you forgive me if I'm not particularly interested in hearing any more out of you.

I want to hear from Justine Candy.

She's here. I want to know exactly what she was doing in there.

You know exactly what she was doing in a classroom.

You take the same time.

Um.

I... First...

I just want to say how very sorry I am for all of what's happened.

And I know there's nothing I can say to make this better.

The truth is, is that I want an answer just as bad as all of you.

I love those kids. And...

I... I know... I know, I know, it's, it's...

You shouldn't be locked up until she tells us what happened!

Okay, now that kind of thing is really not called for. I'm serious.

Mrs. Gandy is here as an affected member of this community, and she is hurting...

You're either negligent or complicit.

Where are our children?

That's enough. Everybody needs to give us some space.

Please, please, please.

It's been a long, long night. We need to get some sleep.

Wake up tomorrow with clearer heads.

Do you have anyone you can stay with tonight?

Okay.

Then I recommend you going straight home and laying low.

This feels like we can turn it off.

TG, ma'am, I'm saving up a bus ticket to see my brother.

Do you need change on your little... No, I'm sorry. Sorry.

Hello?

Hello?

Who is this?

You better watch your back, because tonight's the night and...

Excuse me, miss. I'm saving up for a bus ticket to see my brother.

Do you have any change on you at all?

I'm sorry.

Okay, thank you.

Anything the user does, the stream flies.

The stream flies around 35 miles.

You can get it saved to the touch.

Guys, watch the stream, it's called the Swirl.

The stream flies...

Hello? Hello? Yes? Jesus! Fucking what? Who's there? Hello?

You're gonna keep your health insurance? And if you don't mind me saying...

There's a lot of mental health specialists on the plan. Some of them are...

I, uh, I just need to work. You know? I just need to fill my days with, uh...

Yeah, I-I need to work. So...

Justine, the scene last night was just proof

that we have a lot of emotional parents here.

For now, I think it's best if you keep some distance from this place.

Until folks find time to sort themselves out.

How's Alex? Is he...? Alex is doing well.

He's in Mrs. Bill's class, and we've been advised that the

best thing that we can do for him is keep him on a routine.

Keep his life as normal as possible. I would like to speak with him.

We've had this conversation before that's out of the question.

Well, I would-I would feel so much better if I could just speak with him.

Right there. What?

That's the problem. You'd feel so much better. He's been scrutinized by the press. He's had

investigators ransack his house. He's been traumatized. Let's try and put Alex first. Yes?

If you're implying that I don't care about Alex or the students or-

The issue isn't you caring or not caring. The issue here is you have

a pattern in which you overstep professional lives with the students.

Oh my God, here we go. You know, I do not overstep.

You know it's not appropriate to hug students.

Oh, I hugged a crying little boy. Lock me up.

You know, driving students home is not professional.

She missed the bus. She lived close to me.

What- It's not appropriate.

I know all of this comes from the fact that you care.

I know that you aren't a threat to these kids, but you

have to realize you aren't a parent. You're a teacher.

There's a difference. And for that reason, no, you cannot talk to Alex Lilly.

It's just... we're the only ones loved.

Look, look, look, look, look.

Yes, really on there, huh?

Yeah, I've been receiving phone calls as well. Threatening ones.

Yeah? Think the caller might be responsible for this?

I don't know. Maybe, maybe not.

Yeah, well, whoever it was, the best we can do is file a report.

Probably kids did this if you ask me.

I mean, hell, I used to do stuff like this when I was in school.

You know, teepee houses, ding-dong ditch.

I never run a witch on a car before, but a buddy of mine smeared some of his own.

There!

There!

There!

I have to say she's alive.

There!

She's alive.

Wait, do you drink? Sure. Tony? Tony? Yeah, he'll be here in a sec. That's fine. I'm not in a rush. Wow, so I didn't expect you to come? I'm glad you

texted. You know, I've been thinking about you a lot, and I wanted a call, but I didn't know if that would make things worse, or I don't know what.

Yeah, well, I'm not some little delicate flower that would wilt if I

saw your name pop up on my phone. I know that, but I'm not saying...

Tony, my friend wants a drink. Hi. Hi. Yeah, go ahead. How we doing? Hi.

I'll get a Coke. A Coke? Yep. Okay, fine. Whatever. So what's going on? How are you?

Oh, everybody thinks I'm a witch. I don't think that's true.

Go look at my car. I hope you didn't drive here. Why do you hope that I didn't...

I hope you didn't drive here, because... Wait. Don't be an asshole, Paul. Come

on. I'm not being an asshole. I'm not being an asshole. I'm concerned about you.

No, I don't... You know what? I don't need...

I don't need your fucking concern. Okay? I'm not drunk.

Okay. Got it. I'm sorry.

So what? Somebody vandalized your car?

They wrote witch across it. So yes. For your information,

everybody thinks you're... I'm a witch. So yes.

One Coke. Thank you.

Can I give you a little, uh... Tough love?

No. Just some thoughts from somebody who knows you very well.

Is that okay?

Yep.

Try to get out of your own head.

People are not all thinking about you right now. Okay?

The whole town isn't aimed at you.

Hmm. I think you might actually be wrong about that.

You have a tendency to get a little, woe is me... Wow.

And a little paranoid.

And one thing I know has never helped is this.

What is this? What?

A lonely drinking pity party.

I'm not lonely.

You're here.

You know what I mean, okay?

And I can't stay.

Does Donna know you're here?

No.

Really?

Really.

We're not, you know, we're not happening right now.

Wow.

It's not a big deal.

Mm-hmm.

You're ridiculous.

Look at you.

You're beaming.

Come on.

Have one real drink.

Justine, no.

Come on.

Justine.

Please.

No.

Stop, please.

You haven't changed a bit.

What do you got going on today?

Work.

Working.

All day.

Till late.

Okay.

I believe you.

Jesus.

What?

Don't, don't worry.

I'm not going to be like spam texting you all day and night.

I heard my lesson.

Justine, I'm just saying I'm working.

That's it.

How's work?

It's fine.

It's whatever.

Wow.

I hope that's not the general vibe over there.

What does that mean?

Well, there's 17 missing children out there.

And I like to think the people in charge of finding

them aren't like, oh, whatever about their jobs.

First of all, I'm not a detective.

I don't know if you know that.

Second of all, I'm hungover as shit.

I didn't realize I was getting grilled on the investigation.

No, no, no.

I'm not, I'm not trying to grill.

I'm just wondering if I need to solve this thing myself.

We're on it.

You're on it.

Yep.

Okay.

Well, what a load off.

You're on it.

Right now, you really need to take it easy.

No one's slacking.

Don't let yourself get all... Get all Justine about it.

Just leave the investigating to the investigators.

It was great to see you.

You too.

Suck my dick.

Hello?

I explicitly told you not to interact with Alex.

Well, technically I didn't interact with him, so... You followed him home.

You rang his doorbell repeatedly.

That spied through a window.

Well, can we just focus on the fact that that house is bizarre?

Justine, if I wasn't clear with you before, let me do so now.

I want you to leave him alone.

Okay, why were his windows taped up?

Doesn't that seem strange to you?

Probably because nosy people take it upon

themselves to walk up and peek through them.

Wait, Marcus.

Are you kidding?

I'm gonna do you the courtesy for getting this phone call ever took place.

What the fuck?

You fucked him?

Donna?

You fucked him?

No, no, no.

I didn't fuck him.

I didn't fuck him.

I know you didn't.

No, he said you weren't together.

Liar!

No, no, no.

You got him dropped!

I was trying to be nice to you, and you got him dropped!

Hey, hey, stop!

Stop!

Look at what you did!

Look at what you did!

Luciano, I know we got off to a rocky start

with everything that happened in the jacuzzi,

but still, you have made me...

Alex, hi.

Hey, how are you?

I just wanted to say hi, because I've been

thinking about you a lot, and I wanted to make sure you're okay.

I'm okay.

Yeah, because I know it's been a really hard

time for me, and I can't even imagine how it's been.

I have to go.

..

Hey, hang on, please.

I just... I just want to make sure that everything's all right.

Don't follow me!

Hello?

It's Miss Gandy.

I'd like to talk to you.

Hello?

I'm going to work.

They call you all morning, boss.

Yeah, I had a snag on the way over.

How are things looking?

A little bit chaotic morning.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Mark went to go pick up the sodding, but didn't

have it in, because the order never got placed.

Shit.

God damn it.

All right, I'm sorry about that.

Yeah, we got the owner coming Friday for a walkthrough,

and we're still going to have to open framing.

It's on me.

It's my bad.

And then I showed up, and I see that Alvin painted

the door with the paint that you ordered, and...

Yeah?

The one for is green, that's red.

What?

God damn it.

Wait a minute.

Did they send the wrong... We checked the order.

We ordered it.

They sent what we asked for, but what we asked for was the wrong...

All right, I fucked up.

I'll take it back.

Get the right one.

Mr. Graff.

Yeah.

We follow up on every one of these calls, so I can assure you that as we speak, we

have officers aggressively pursuing every lead that comes through this station.

So what about the feds?

They got nothing new?

There continues to be a very healthy information

exchange, so I can tell you with full confidence

that they are also pursuing every lead aggressively.

What's happening with the K-9 units?

I haven't heard about any K-9 reports in a long time.

That's because they don't report to you.

Mr. Graff, I can understand your passion, and

I don't mind having these conversations with

you because, God forbid, if it was my child,

I'd be demanding answers too, but I need you to trust that what we're doing here...

She's still not talking, huh?

She knows.

I disagree with that.

You're aggressively following up on every lead,

and yet she's just out there walking around free as a bird.

Have you done any looking into her whatsoever?

Extensively.

Yes, we have.

So you know about her past, huh?

Because I've done some digging, and I've found out a lot.

She had a DUI two years ago, did you not see that?

She was let go from her last school that she

taught at for inappropriate behavior, did you not see that one either?

With a member of the faculty.

She's a troubled person, is she not?

What is it you think that she knows?

What do you think it is that she's not telling

us because those kids walked out of those homes,

no one pulled them out, no one forced them, I don't

see anything whatsoever that points to that woman.

What do you see that I don't?

I see something that I don't understand at all.

Yes.

We're talking about 17 kids in one classroom, and none of them talked about it?

Yes, sir.

We got how many parents in here, and none of us saw it coming?

Yes, sir.

I want to know what happened in that classroom.

You.

Why just her classroom?

Why only her?

Why only her?

Why only her classroom?

Are our children just gonna leave?

That's enough.

Everybody needs to give us some space.

Please, please.

Let's all get a good night's sleep.

Wake up with clearer heads.

Please.

Matthew?

Matthew.

Wait.

Matthew?

Matthew?

Matthew, where are you?

Where did you go?

Talk to me.

Talk to me!

Oh...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to say...

That I wasn't able...

I wanted to say it so many times.

I really do want to say it all the time because I feel it all the time.

I love you so much.

What the fuck?!

Where's our house?

There.

Hi.

Hello.

How are you?

I'm Archer Graff, I'm Matthews.

Yeah, I know who you are.

Oh, good. I know we haven't spoken before directly.

We've seen each other at a lot of the same... How are you, Archer?

I'm good. I'm real good.

I'm, you know, all things considered, just soldiering on.

We have to, don't we?

We do.

Listen, I'm sorry to surprise you at home like this

in the middle of the day, but I don't know if you know,

but we got some footage of Matthew leaving the house on our ring cam thing here.

And I think you folks had the same...

same situation with Bailey?

Yeah, that's right.

All right.

Well, I'm sure you showed yours to the police just like I did.

I-I...

I wondered if you would mind letting me take a look at it.

I don't need a copy or anything.

I'm not comfortable with that.

Okay. I understand.

Gary!

Archer Graff, how you doing?

Fine.

Matthew's dad.

Yeah.

Of course.

How's it going?

Um, I have a strange question I need to ask you.

It's kind of hard to watch this.

Okay, wait.

Go back to where she steps on the sidewalk.

Okay.

Uh...

You're right there.

What do you see?

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

It's all right.

Come on.

What am I looking at?

Hey.

I want to talk to you.

I don't think we have anything to say to each other.

Yeah, I think you have a lot to say.

You and every other person in this city.

Believe me.

The message is loud and clear.

I'm the problem.

Got it.

You know what?

I think that's the first honest thing I've heard you say.

You are the problem.

What?

You want to get in my face?

You want to threaten me?

I'm not... Nobody's threatening you right now.

You're going to be with the wrong tree.

Okay?

This whole victim persona that you're taking on,

it might have depleted me.

Stop thinking of yourself!

Marcus?

You and I are going to have a conversation, right?

No!

No!

No!

Stand down!

Stay down!

The hotel's good, though? It's fine. Yeah. Not the Ritz, but I'm not...

I'm not expecting them to go nuts. Yeah. Well, it's only for six nights, right? Three, actually. Apparently, I don't have to be here for the big wrap-up shindig, so I get to leave on Thursday. Isn't that great? Yeah, that's good. Because I'm

supposed to ovulate Friday, so we can hit the target this month. Nice. Okay. Yeah. Good. I thought you'd like that. Oh! Will you tell my dad when you see him today that since I'll be back for the weekend, we can make their anniversary lunch?

Yeah. I'll let him know. He'll be happy. Are you about to start your shift? Yep.

Are you going to hit a meeting afterward? Um, I wasn't planning on it.

Don't you think you should?

Uh, if I have time, I'll hit one. Paul, especially when you're going to be

spending stretches alone, I think it's important that you go to regular meetings.

I'm not going to drink, Donna. I feel fine.

If I don't feel fine, then I'll hit a meeting. Okay?

Okay, sweetie.

Okay. I gotta get going now.

Okay. Don't forget to tell my dad about this weekend.

Yeah.

Love you.

Love you.

Jesus Christ.

Hey, Ed.

Hey, buddy.

Uh, Donna's back Friday, so we're good to have lunch with you guys on Sunday.

Why is she coming back early?

I guess, uh, they're cutting her loose, so...

She wanted me to let you know that we're in.

Okay, sounds good.

Anniversary, uh, lunch?

Yep.

It was nice. Well, congratulations and... No, thanks.

A lot of years.

You calling me old?

No. No, sir. No, no, no.

Why would you call me old?

No, sir. I wasn't saying that.

I'm giving you shit.

Well, I'm just starting my shift here.

Roger that.

Next Monday will mark 30 days since 17 grade school

children have disappeared from McCarran County.

Community members have issued a $50,000 reward

for any information leading to their recovery.

Any suspicious individual activity should be reported to your...

Stop right there, police.

Stop, or you're gonna get the taser!

Dude, please stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

Shut up.

Oh, please. I worked there, man. I just lost my keys.

Please.

I lost my keys, please.

You okay?

Yes, officer, I'm okay.

All right, we went down pretty hard there. You good?

Officer, I'm okay. Just please call my warehouse.

You can look the number up online. My phone isn't working right now.

Cuffs, too tight, hands okay?

Yes, they're okay, officer.

Let's walk back to the car.

No, no, no, no.

Come on.

One, two, three.

Hey, what's your name, sir?

James.

James. Okay, stand right here for me, James.

You got any weapons on you?

No.

No?

How about drugs? You holding?

No, sir.

Anything in your pocket's gonna stick me when I put my hands in there, James?

No, sir, I do not.

You sure? I don't want to get poked by anything.

I have nothing, sir.

Okay, James. Hold still for me there?

Shouldn't run from the police, sir.

Please. Please be okay.

Okay.

Up.

Up.

Get up.

Hey.

Can you hear me?

James, you with me?

What the fuck?

You're gonna hit me, bro.

Okay, here's what's gonna happen now.

I'm gonna take these cuffs off you, okay?

I'm gonna get in my car in a second.

I'm gonna drive away.

But are you listening to me?

I don't want to see you here again, okay?

The way I see it, I did you wrong.

You did me wrong.

Let's just call it a day.

But if I see you out here again, it's gonna be a different story.

Yes?

Yes?

I mean it.

Okay, consider yourself warned.

Now, let's get up.

I'm gonna take these cuffs off you.

One, two...

Somebody needs to just tell this guy, his kid is not the only kid missing.

There's 17 kids.

All of the...

Okay, listen.

As long as this isn't reported, that footage is gonna sit on a

drive somewhere and it's gonna get recorded over in about a month.

And if that fucking citizen doesn't come back here in

a month and file a complaint, this could all go away.

But if they do, Paul, you're gonna be in some serious hot water.

Did you get that hand checked out?

Fuck!

Hey.

Can we hug?

Yeah, of course we can hug.

Jesus.

Hello?

Paul?

Hey.

Where have you been?

You're home.

I am.

Someone got sick and they sent everyone on my team, on Morris.

Where have you been?

I was, uh, I was out.

Where?

Paul.

You piece of shit.

Hey, you wanna switch up lunch today or someplace?

Yeah.

What, pizza?

Yeah.

Lunch on you today?

You already know you.

Son of a bitch.

Hey!

What did I tell you?

Huh?

What did I tell you?

Where did I fuck go?

You fucker.

You fucker!

This is fucking bullshit, this shit.

Please, please, please, please.

Right here, right here, right here.

God damn it.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

Ah, yes.

God damn it.

Please, please, please, go.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Come on, god damn it, fucking go!

Yes.

God damn it!

Ah, fucking shit!

Fuck!

Yo, new phone.

It's me, dude.

Um, dude, I got a job yesterday.

Yeah, thank you, man, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Yeah, um, so I just, like, a little teeny

tiny problem because I just, uh, I can't start

until I have, like, new shoes and, uh, you

know, a whole outfit because, you know, like

I said, it's fancy and, um, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, no, no, wait, wait,

it's a good thing.

I got, I got a job and I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm

freaking, I'm doing the thing so, you know, we can start chilling again.

Of course I'm going to pay mom back, but I

can't do that until I get the, you know, money

to get the clothes so that I can do the job so

that I can pay mom back. Hello? Oh, you fucking bitch.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Hey man, I feel like

I wasn't communicating very well how important

it is that I get just like a little bit of money

so that I can get the clothes for the job so that I can get the job, obviously.

So please call me back so I can communicate that better.

Thanks, buddy. Love you. Hell yeah. No. No?

I don't want. I mean, why you don't want?

This is good. These are good. These are good.

Look, this is worth like 50 bucks. No. 20.10.5.

Please, dude, please. Fuck. The way I see it, I did me wrong.

You did me wrong. We're going to call it a day.

But if I see you out here again, it's going to be a different story. Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Consider yourself warned. Get the fuck off.

Fuck off me, man. Oh, shit. What are you doing?

Oh, fuck Willow. Jesus fuck! I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Uh, alright. Hello?

You good?

Sorry! Fuck! Sorry!

Die! What the fuck?! What the fuck?! What the fuck?! What the fucking fuck?!

Fuck! Matthew! Come on! Fuck! Please! Please! Fuck! 20, 40, 60, 80, 100. Hey!

I'm calling about the $50,000 reward for information

about the missing kids because I know where they are.

I mean, I'm pretty sure all of them, I don't know, look like a bunch of them.

They're all standing in the basement of this house just like standing there.

And yeah, I don't know, they're just like in the basement standing all still and

shit. And there's like fucking two wackos over there. And it's just like fucked up.

But so how's this going to work though? How do I get the money?

No, I'm not. I'm completely serious. I mean, I can show you. Like, I'll show you.

But I just, I really don't want to come in. So, cause like

someone, cause someone can meet me somewhere with the cash.

Cause like, I just, I really don't like police stations.

You know, I just kind of freak me out. I'm, uh, I'm phobic.

What did I tell you? What did I? What did I tell you, huh?

What'd I tell you? What'd I tell you? I'm a big cop and I'm...

Are you okay? You're okay? You're okay?

That was real, that wasn't real, that wasn't real.

Fuck! You STABBED ME!!

Sorry posit!! I'm sorry!!!!

Wait waitwait I know who those kids are!

That fucking wild is coming to the stage. You're a fucking liar. No, no, no. I promise. I promise. I know where they are. I promise. Where? At a house. Not far in the

basement. What the fuck are you... What house? I can show you, man. It's really, really, really close. Oh, fuck me. Do you have AIDS? Huh? AIDS, asshole. Do you have AIDS?

Uh... Uh, I don't think so. Hepatitis?

Shit like that? I mean, shit, not that I know of.

That one, the dark one, right there at the end of the block.

Um, excuse me, sir. Um, I don't want to be rude, but, like, how do I

know you aren't gonna try and, like, take that reward for yourself?

Sir?

Sir?

Officer!

Officer!

Oh, man.

What the fuck?

What the fuck?

What the fuck?

Let me the fuck out of here! God damn it!

Oh.

Thank you.

What the fuck?

Jesus Christ!

Fuck!

Hey, yo, you done?

Jesus Christ, bro!

Hey!

Help me, bro!

Get the fuck off me!

Get the fuck off me!

Hey!

Fuck!

Help me!

Help me!

I'm telling you, Marcus.

I've seen it myself.

There's something very, very wrong going on inside of that house.

If you don't believe me, just go there yourself.

Here's the bottom line.

Alex has been traumatized enough by the events

of the last two months, as I'm sure you have.

Marcus.

Which is why I'm gonna do you the courtesy of

forgetting that this phone call ever took place.

If a child's welfare is questioned by law, you have to refer it to CPS by law.

Are you really gonna take it there?

Is this the corner you're gonna put me in?

No, just go make the house call, Marcus. Just do that.

I'm not authorized to just make house calls.

But you're a mandatory reporter. You have to.

Okay, here's what I'll do. I'll invite his parents, come in, have a talk with me.

We'll have a face-to-face at the school. Is that acceptable to you?

Yes, thank you. I would really appreciate that.

Okay, then. You're welcome. Goodbye.

Yeah?

Your two o'clock is here.

That's fine.

Well, send them in, please, Marge.

This way, ma'am.

Principal Miller and Gladys.

Yes. Hi. Hi. Come on in.

Have a seat, please.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Marge.

Thank you for coming in. I... I know you guys have had a lot

of attention lately. Not all of it could possibly be wanted.

I'm happy to come by. It's fine.

Okay, forgive me. We have not met. Is that right?

No, I don't think so.

Okay.

Phew.

Because... I was relatively certain I'd remember.

I know I've met Alex's father before.

I'm Alex's aunt.

And his mom is my baby sister.

Okay.

So you're not his legal guardian?

Well, no.

That would be his parents, of course.

Okay.

Well, forgive me, Gladys, but unfortunately, I need to speak with his parents.

Oh.

Well, I hate to say it, but his parents have been feeling unwell as of late.

And I'm staying with them to help take care of Alex.

Oh.

It's not serious.

Oh, no, no.

It's not serious.

Nothing terminal.

It's just a touch of consumption.

A touch of consumption?

Yeah.

You know what?

I'm embarrassed to say.

I guess I don't really know what that means.

I thought it was something settlers got on the Oregon Trail.

What is it?

Tuberculosis?

You know what?

They are doing just fine, but they need to stay home.

I had hoped to speak to them in person because

this is awkward, but a concerned individual

has lodged a welfare complaint, and unfortunately,

I need to make contact with the child's legal guardian.

It's something that's not really negotiable.

I need to speak with the parents in person.

Oh, dear.

I could come over to the house if that would make it easier.

I'm just trying to avoid involving CPS, but

frankly, I'm not convinced that anything is wrong.

Who made the complaint?

I'm not at liberty to say.

Well, this is very upsetting.

It is now that all free will has been lost.

The ant moves under the direction of a mind separate from its own.

Here, the ant initiates its death grip.

There we go.

As the parasitic cordyceps continue to feed off its body... That's disgusting.

Fungal fruiting occurs next.

Large blooms that serve to spread more spores...

Or that will find more ants.

Ew.

Thank God you're home.

Who is it?

I'm so sorry to disturb you on a Saturday.

Oh, will you please, please forgive me?

We're just sitting down.

The bus didn't pick me up where it was scheduled to.

And I had realized far too late...

That I was standing on the wrong corner.

And by the time I put that together, oh, I'd missed it entirely.

So I had to walk all the way across town to get here.

Well, I'm so sorry to hear that.

I am sorry to tell you this, sweetie, but I am on the verge of collapse.

Oh.

Could I please have some water?

I'm afraid that's right.

Of course you can have some water.

Oh, thank you so much.

I'm afraid it's really not.

My name is Gladys. It's so nice to meet you.

Oh!

I absolutely love this house.

Look, a giraffe and a green Chinese... That's original in there. I bet it is.

Oh, I just love this kitchen.

Clean, white cabinets.

How I'm envious of that.

Now, listen.

I know that it's inconvenient, but I really needed

to speak to you about our conversation yesterday.

Oh!

Oh!

Marcus, get her a glass.

A bowl, please.

A bowl?

Yes, a bowl. It's a peculiarity of mine. I don't even try to rationalize it anymore.

Oh, a bowl of water. Okay.

Thank you.

I wanted you to know that I talked to Alex's father, who's very ill, as I said.

But the good news is, he's more than happy to come

in Monday, sit down with you and clear everything up.

Now, I appreciate that, but it really isn't necessary.

So, there's no need to contact the authorities, right?

That's, uh... Sure, I guess not.

I mean, you haven't contacted them yet, right?

Gladys, I'm really gonna have to insist that you are...

Is... is that my ribbon?

You haven't contacted them, right?

No, I haven't. What is this?

Oh, my God!

Whoops! Look what I did. Oh, my goodness.

Why did you do that?

Well, it was an accident, of course.

Wow, that's really bleeding.

Terry, go get the alcohol in the first day of care.

Oh, no, no, no. That's nonsense.

Could you get me a rag, sweetie?

I think she cut my hair!

I'm calling 911.

Marcus, I think she cut my hair!

Marcus, what did she do?

Marcus?

Marcus?

No!

No, no, no, no!

No!

No, no...

No!

No!

No!

No, what the fuck, man?

Whoa!

Oh, my God.

You and I are gonna have a...

Stay down!

Hey, stop! No!

Help me! Please! Please!

No!

Oh!

Hey!

Get out of my store! Fucking help me!

What the fuck?

Fuck!

Come on, you piece of shit!

Are you okay?

Yeah, I think so.

I'm just, uh... scraped up.

You?

The same.

I want to thank you.

No, I do, so thank you.

Sure.

I mean, what else could I do?

I was out of control.

The last time I talked to him, he was fine.

I mean, he really was.

I've never seen anything like that in my life.

I have.

What are you talking about?

The way he was running.

I've seen that before.

Can I show you something?

Their little girl ran the same way Matthew did.

Same posture, same exact way.

Just like Marcus ran after you today.

He was weaponized.

Like a heat-seeking missile just locked onto you.

So here, look at this.

This is my house.

This is Bailey Kramer's house.

Now, if you assume they were heading in a

straight line at just some target of theirs,

and you assume they both had the same target,

those lines intersect somewhere around here.

Oh my God.

So there must be something about this area.

Alex.

What?

Alex Lilly lives in this house.

Who else can think of an example of a parasite?

Alright.

Anyone?

Lisa?

A tapeworm.

A tapeworm.

Very good.

That's a rose one, right?

It lives in your intestines and it eats your food.

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop it.

What's up, Ax-Man?

Talk to me, Ax-Man. How was school today?

Good.

Good?

Kiss any supermodels?

No.

No?

Alright.

Well, tonight's the night, pal.

Your mom's Aunt Gladys is coming, remember?

Why do we have to have her live at our house?

Cuz it's like we talked about.

She's sick and she doesn't have anywhere else to go.

But I don't even know her, though.

I hear you, bud. I don't know her either.

To be honest, I'm not sure your mom knows her that well, but...

She's family.

Family's important.

We gotta help each other.

Hey, I found a kid!

Hey.

My men have returned.

Hi.

Whoa, hey!

Good day at school?

Yeah.

Okay, good.

I would really like to get this house cleaned up before your Aunt Gladys gets here.

So do me a favor, get your room cleaned up before you start your homework.

She's not coming to my room, is she?

I'd really like a clean house, that includes your room, so... Let's go.

I know, it's horrible cleaning up after yourself.

I'm just saying, she looked really bad.

I don't know if that's the place for...

Yeah, well, it's either here or out on the street, Steven.

Well, you know, this ain't a hospice place.

I know that.

We're not equipped for this kind of thing, right?

We hadn't seen this woman in 15 years.

She didn't show up to our wedding and all of a sudden...

Look, my mom would do this for her, so I'm gonna do this for her, okay?

I could really use your support if at any point you feel like...

Alex, honey, what are you doing?

I'm hungry.

Oh, you're hungry.

Okay, all right.

We'll go downstairs, eat up, and then go brush your teeth, okay?

It's almost 7.30.

And be quiet back there.

Your Aunt Gladys is sleeping.

How long is she gonna stay with us?

Hard to say, pal.

Doesn't look like she's getting much better.

So she's gonna stay with us forever?

No.

I... I don't think she'll be here longer than a month.

I was talking, but I wasn't. My entire table was... Alrighty, man.

Alrighty.

I'll pick you up at 2, okay?

See ya.

See ya.

Love you.

Love ya.

It's time. Pencils down.

Matthew!

What? You said pencils down?

Matthew, outside now.

Alex, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Matthew, let's go. Get your bag.

It was a joke. Oh my God.

You missed a ride, son?

I'm okay.

Sure?

Mom?

Dad?

Where were you?

Hey, X-Man.

How was school?

What's wrong?

Alex?

Oh, welcome home.

How are you, sweetie?

Well, let me take a look at you.

Oh, you know, I haven't seen you since you were a little teeny baby.

What's wrong with my parents?

Oh, nothing, sweetheart.

They're just fine.

Mom.

Hey.

How was school?

You see, I told you, she's just fine.

Don't worry.

Alex.

Now, don't be rude.

Why don't you sit down at the table, because I'm making dinner.

I should've asked you, but you weren't here,

so I thought mac and cheese would... Dad!

Alex.

That's it.

I want you to go upstairs, wash your face, brush your teeth, and then it's bedtime.

No dinner for you.

I'm not kidding, young man.

Go.

Come.

Sit.

Alex.

Sit.

Don't worry about your parents.

They're just resting.

Now, before you go to school today, I want you to promise that you will not tell

a living soul that I am here, or that your parents are resting like they are.

Do you hear me, Alex?

Watch.

Ooh.

Are you watching?

Are you watching?

Stop, Dad!

Alex!

Sit down.

Now, when I tell you that you are not to speak about me or your parents to anyone...

You understand what can happen if you break your promise.

I can make your parents hurt themselves. I can make them hurt each other.

I can make them eat each other if I want to.

Do I want to, Alex?

Do you believe me?

Promise you will not talk about me to another human being. Say it.

I promise.

Cause I'll know, Alex.

Go to school. Take the bus.

No talking today.

Good boy.

You'll need to feed your parents. There's soup in the cabinet.

Tomorrow you'll get some more.

Come here, sweetie.

Oh.

I'm very sick, Alex.

Would you like some water?

Well, water won't help me.

I'm too sick for water.

I have been for a very long time.

What will make you better?

Well, I was hoping your mom and dad would make me feel better,

but it doesn't seem to be turning out so good.

Would you like to go to a hospital?

Hospital won't fix me.

But maybe you could, though. You could help.

How?

Well, at school, bring an object from each of your classmates home to me.

That might work.

How will that make you better?

It might be just what I need.

And if you got better, you'd go back home?

If I got better...

I'd go back home.

Alex!

What are you doing in here?

Um... I didn't feel like playing.

And I forgot something.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hey, hey, hey.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Yeah?

You've been awful quiet lately.

Quieter than usual.

How you doing?

I'm okay.

I just forgot something.

It's okay.

Alex, you know, if you ever want to talk to someone, you can always talk to me.

Do you know that?

Yeah.

You can talk to me about anything you want.

I want to go back now.

Okay.

Go play.

What are you doing?

Yourд!

Hey, we've got more speech that has really been

Polsce and this one to go back into the wheel.

Huh?

You won't go back now.

Wait if not...

Steven here suffered a stroke a little while back, so he's unable to speak.

And I'm taking care of the family for the time being.

I'm glad you both are here. Alex, how are you doing, pal? I'm okay.

We're gonna ask you some questions about what happened at school, okay?

Tomorrow people will come here. And they will search this house.

And we have to be ready.

Detective, come in!

How are you today?

Fine.

Good to see you again.

Nice to see you, too.

Remember Detective Colbert?

Oh, yes.

We just wanted to come by the house for a few minutes today and

look around, see the environment that Alex has been living in.

And just get an idea of what the family environment is like.

Okay.

Oh, thank you. And oh, hey Alex, how are you doing today?

He's a little quiet today, right?

Yeah, I see you.

Hello?

Back your things, Alex. We're leaving tomorrow.

Don't step over the salt.

The cops are here. What do you think that means?

I don't know.

Do we knock? Do we come back?

Maybe we knock.

And say what?

What are we gonna explain?

Yeah, I don't know.

Let's just... Here we go.

Hey, what is this?

Is that the cop?

That's Paul.

You know him?

Yeah.

Hello?

Paul?

Paul?

Paul?

What are you doing back there?

Wait.

Here we go.ifter.

Oh!

Stay fucking back!

Paul! Paul, stop!

A little pause...

A little pause...

This is the second sentence!

Matthew! Matthew! No! Matthew! No. Matthew! No.

Matthew! Come on! Matthew!

Who?

No!

That's good, just like that.

That's the day.

Oh no!

Matthew!

Oh, honey! Look outside! Look what they did to the yard!

Jeremy, there's glass everywhere! Find her shoe! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Matthew, there's a man in the kitchen!

Alex?

Matthew...

I found you.

Alex's parents are still being fed soup somewhere, but not by him. He moved to

another town and lives with a different aunt. I heard that one is a nice lady.

All of the kids from his class got reunited with their parents.

Some of them even started talking again this year. No Bullshit (UKB)