Original subtitles

We are here with Verity Crawford

at her home in Vermont,

the place she shares with her husband and the twins.

I don't think there are enough superlatives

to describe this woman. Let's pick one.

Phenomenon, sensation, marvel.

Uh, some would say "badass." I'll go with that.

You are considered one of the bestselling authors

on the planet.

-Oh... -Let's take that in

for just a second.

-"On the planet." -Yes.

Have you had time to take it all in? What it...

What it is like to be able to provide

such a beautiful life for the people you love so much?

To me, it's all a miracle.

Yeah, but some could say...

it's a miracle built on villains.

"I don't know that anyone

"named Louie Longsutter

"could even be dangerous.

"But the way he stands there

"just a little too close to the edge of the porch,

"like he's been waiting for me

"longer than he should have

"makes me second-guess my assumptions.

"I try to imagine a serial killer named Louie Longsutter.

"I almost laugh at the absurdity of it,

"but being a woman

"about to embark on weeks of isolation,

"the thought that he could be a threat sticks in my mind.

"Unwanted and uncomfortable."

Sorry. Sorry.

Sorry.

Hi, hi. No, I'm in a bookstore.

Yeah, yeah, this is a good time.

-Hey. -Hey. How'd it go?

I don't want to talk about it.

Where were you? You said you were gonna be here.

You know I wouldn't miss it

if I didn't have a good reason.

Hachette Book Group called.

They wanna meet you.

For what? Who... Who... Who wants to meet me?

They wouldn't say.

It's all very top secret.

When?

3:00 p.m. sharp.

I'll meet you there, okay?

Oh, please, and dress nice.

All right?

Wait, Corey.

Wow.

People like me belong in overpopulated cities.

In the tiny town where I grew up,

everyone knew everything about everyone.

But here, I'm invisible.

I like it that way.

Yo, mister, watch out!

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

A man was riding his bike...

-He's not good. -Hey?

...and a car just came out of nowhere,

-and it hit him. -Oh, my God.

Oh, no.

There's been a terrible accident.

A bike messenger was hit by a car.

Are you hurt?

Are you hurt?

Is it on my face?

There should be a bathroom in this coffee shop

over here, okay?

Look what you did!

Oh...

Hey, what are you doin' in there? It's the men's room.

We'll be right out.

Here, um...

you can put this on.

Thank you.

Of course.

I can't tell if you're calm or...

if you're in shock.

I don't know what I am.

Are you okay?

Uh, yeah.

I've seen worse, unfortunately.

Are you a doctor?

I'm in real estate.

Or at least, I used to be.

What happened to you?

You really wanna know?

I pulled my 8-year-old daughter's body

out of a lake last spring.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

My mom died last week.

Oh...

What happened to her?

Uh, cancer.

I was taking care of her in my apartment.

She died in there.

In my apartment. She died. Sorry.

I have a meeting. I should...

Yeah, me, too.

Thank you for your help.

Of course.

I'm Jeremy, by the way.

Lowen.

God.

Congratulations on your bonus.

Thank you.

-Hi. -Hi. How can I help you?

I'm here to see Amanda Thomas.

-Okay. -Lowen.

Hi. I'm sorry I'm late.

You're not late. You're on time.

The actual meeting isn't until 3:30.

But I'd figured you'd be late, as usual, so I told you 3:00.

Sorry.

If you had told me that, I could have avoided...

What are you wearing?

Um...

It's like a fashion thing.

Corey. Lowen.

I'm Amanda's assistant, Olivia.

Thank you.

I'll show you to the conference room.

You comin'?

Oh, my God.

Sorry about your mom.

Don't be.

Can I help with the will?

I'm sure Edward can take a look.

Mm, I don't need a lawyer.

All she left me was debt.

Showtime.

Right this way.

Oh...

You must be Lowen Ashleigh.

I am Amanda Thomas,

Senior Editor here at Hachette.

-Lowen. -Nice to see you.

Corey.

This is Barron Stephens, our lawyer,

and Jeremy Crawford, our client.

Please, have a seat.

So I'll just cut to the chase.

One of our authors

is unable to fulfill a contract

due to extenuating circumstances.

We are in search of a writer

who has experience with the same genre.

She needs a little help.

Before we continue, I would ask

that you sign the non-disclosure agreement.

We would like to keep our author's current situation

out of the media.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Verity Crawford is her name.

I'm sure you're familiar with her work.

Verity has a wildly successful series,

The Noble Virtues,

which we would hate to see go unfinished.

So we need a writer who's able to step in

on an accelerated timeline.

So when will you need it by?

Your wife?

We're already behind, so we're looking to have

the next book in the series within six months,

and the final two in the next 24 months.

Three books.

$75,000 per book.

So how does this sound, Lowen?

Um...

I appreciate the offer.

I don't know that I can write for another author.

I'm...

Especially someone as popular as Verity Crawford...

Her fans know her voice.

They would know it's not her.

I'm sorry.

Let me talk to my client.

All right?

We'll step out.

We have two other writers in mind.

So if you could let us know something

by tomorrow afternoon?

We'll discuss. All right?

Thank you.

Could we possibly have a word in private?

What the fuck?

Fine.

Sure.

You got it.

Are you okay?

Twenty minutes ago, you watched someone die.

So did you.

Like I said...

I've seen worse.

You must have questions.

Sure do.

Shoot.

Okay, well, for starters,

did you go shopping

or do you carry around spare shirts in your pocket?

My hotel's just around the corner.

I went back and got changed.

Why can't your wife finish the series?

Verity had a car accident.

I'm sorry.

Open Ended.

It was one of Verity's favorite books last year.

She read one of my books?

Yeah.

She said that you are a brilliant,

undiscovered voice.

Well, I'm not undiscovered.

I am published.

Just not in a big way.

If anyone was to take over her series,

I wanted it to be someone whose work she respected.

You would have to spend some time at the house.

In her office.

She has years of notes and outlines,

stuff I wouldn't know how to make sense of.

Also, they're lowballing you.

You should ask your agent to ask for half a million.

We live in Vermont.

You can stay for as long as you need to.

I hope you change your mind.

Wait.

Did you know who I was earlier?

Not until you said your name.

There aren't that many Lowens running around.

If you do come, bring my shirt back.

Verity, welcome to Call Her Daddy.

Who doesn't love a dirty, twisted thriller?

Uh, maybe just my husband.

Oh! Is it hard for him to read your work

and then sleep next to you at night?

I mean, your characters are pretty evil.

Yeah, well, yeah, well, um...

um...

he was wondering if I was

like the sociopath that was doing it.

And I think he was maybe just checking.

-For sure. -Just, like...

-Who wouldn't? -Let's just...

You know.

Hope I'm not intruding.

I'm here to celebrate your new gig.

You're moving?

I can't live here anymore.

I'm also getting evicted, so...

-Uh... -It all works out.

Well, maybe with the money you'll get from this deal,

you'll finally get a cover for that futon.

Excuse me, that is not a futon.

It's a mattress.

Let's toast, yeah?

Can't believe...

you're staying at their house.

There's, like, years' worth of notes and outlines.

Somebody needs to sort through...

You don't even know them.

All I'm saying is that you have to be safe.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Have you even read one of her books?

I don't read books that you can buy in an airport.

I'm afraid I'll like it

and then I won't be able to resent her.

Don't be fooled by her success.

She's very, very dark.

Like you.

How's Becca?

Who's Becca?

There's pictures of you guys all over Instagram.

It's just a fling.

She looks sweet.

You should take that seriously.

Okay.

I'm happy for you, Lowen.

You deserve this.

"I reach the door..."

"push it open without knocking.

"I smell the blood before I see it.

"Lane is hunched over...

"the knife stuck under his chin.

"A steady flow of crimson seeps through his knuckles,

"pours down his arm.

"He reaches out to me,

"desperate for my help.

"I meet him halfway

"and use my palm to push the knife in deeper.

"I stare into his eyes,

"wanting him to know how much I enjoy this."

Hey, you made it.

Hi.

Uh, a little sooner than we expected.

Sorry.

No, no, no, no. No.

It's totally fine.

This is who I was talking about, buddy.

I'm Lowen. What's your name?

-I'm Crew. -Hi, Crew.

He's so cute.

He's a little shy.

That's okay.

I'm a little shy, too.

Come on in. Let me take your bag.

-Thank you. -Of course.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Is that a field?

It's a lake.

Do you want me to show your room?

Or, I mean, are you hungry? You must be.

I mean, it's such a long drive from the city.

Crew and I are having PBJs and sliced apples,

if you want some. I'm sure we can rustle up

something a little better, though.

I'm okay. Thank you.

Yeah?

Okay. Well, fridge is fully stocked.

If you want anything, just help yourself.

Can I go see Mommy?

Yeah, of course, buddy.

Just go talk to Anna first, all right?

You get the main bedroom.

I hope you don't mind.

Um, we all sleep upstairs now,

and so we just thought

that this room would be best

'cause it's closest to Verity's office,

which is just right down there.

Okay.

The bathroom is all yours.

Uh, there should be toiletries in there,

but if there isn't, just let me know

and we can get whatever you need.

Wow.

Thank you.

Yep.

So, do you want some time to just, like, get settled

or do you want me to show you the office?

-The office. -Okay.

She saved everything on her computer,

in boxes.

There's no order to it, though.

She wasn't the most organized person.

Most writers aren't.

-Wow. -Mm-hmm.

Which one is your favorite?

Honestly, I haven't read any of them since the first one.

I didn't like being in her head.

Hmm. Can I meet her?

Anna, this is Lowen Ashleigh,

the author I was telling you about.

Hi, Crew.

-Hi. -Lowen,

this is Anna, Verity's nurse.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

Hello, Lowen.

Nice to meet you, too.

I thought you'd be older.

Is now a good time?

We were just about to take a walk.

Verity, this is Lowen Ashleigh.

Hi, Verity. How are you?

How are you today, Verity?

We're good.

Took some meds and ready for the fresh air.

Okay. Should be an easy evening then.

Would you have come if you knew?

We need to keep things close...

because of the media.

And if Hachette found out, it would just be...

There's no way I can help her write.

I... I can't.

Verity was inspired by your writing.

You're the only writer who can do this.

I'm certain of it, Lowen.

Chapter after chapter of intrigue

and fucked-up characters.

Really fucked-up characters.

All her books are from the villain's point of view.

That's new to me.

"Author's note.

"The thing I abhor most about autobiographies

"are the counterfeit thoughts draped over every sentence.

"A writer should never have the audacity,

"to write about themselves

"unless they are willing to separate

"every layer of protection

"between their soul and the book.

"The words

"should come directly from the center of the gut,

"tearing through flesh and bone

"as they break free.

"Ugly

"and honest

"and bloody

"and a little bit terrifying,

"but completely exposed."

Ow.

"Autobiography encouraging the reader

"to like the author

"is not a true autobiography.

"No one is likable..."

"From the inside out.

"One should only walk away from an autobiography

"with, at best,

"an uncomfortable distaste

"for its author."

Yet...

even with my generous warning...

you're going to continue to ingest my words...

because...

here you are...

human...

curious.

Carry on.

"But know one thing,

"there is no light where we're going."

"Chapter one.

"I sometimes think back

"on the night I met Jeremy and wonder...

"'Was it my destiny to suffer from the beginning

"'or is my tragic end the result of poor choices?'"

"I wouldn't say I was lost before I met Jeremy,

"but I had certainly never been found."

"I had no interest in love.

"I was just looking for a well-funded fling.

"And, judging by the looks of Jeremy...

"I was gonna leave that party an overachiever."

Serve her only water for the rest of the evening.

I'm perfectly capable of knowing

when I've had enough to drink.

I'm sure you are.

I'd like another.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I've been asked to serve you water.

Is this some kind of prank?

I've been watching you since I walked in.

You've had three drinks in the last 45 minutes,

and if you keep going at that rate,

I'll feel uncomfortable

asking you to leave with me.

To make that choice, I would like you to be sober.

I'll have a water.

Make that two.

"We were both in trouble.

"But love is like that.

"Total blindside."

How long do we have?

Where's your driver?

I don't know.

This isn't my car.

Excuse me?

I drive a Honda Civic.

Hey!

The fuck you guys doin' in my limo?

Come on, we gotta go!

"Before we knew it, we were hooked.

"Junkies.

-"I was his drug..." - Thanks!

-Thank you so much! -"...and he was mine."

Oh, my God!

"Until he discovered the one thing

"that meant more to him than I did."

It's noisy. I know.

-Oh... God, you scared me. -I didn't mean to.

It's Verity's hospital bed. And it...

I can turn it off if you want me to.

No, it's fine.

It's on a timer.

It just takes the weight off

her pressure points.

It's really late.

Are you hungry?

Anna usually does meal prep,

but I am a genius when it comes to putting...

a slice of pizza in the microwave, so...

Wow.

-Thank you. -Enjoy.

How's the excavation goin'?

You were right. It is a lot.

Yeah.

She was constantly taking notes.

There was this one time that we were at the zoo...

and she didn't have anything to write on

so she took a Sharpie

and she wrote character names on Crew's diaper.

How did you and Verity meet?

We met at a party,

and she was wearing pretty much

the most amazing dress I'd ever seen.

So we left the party together,

and when we got outside,

there was a limo, and I opened the door to it

and she got in,

and then the driver came back

and I had to admit the limo wasn't mine.

"One night,

"he suggested I move in with him

"during sex.

"He does that sometimes.

"Makes huge decisions about our lives together

"while he's fucking me."

Move in with me.

Break your lease.

"And that was that.

"I was happier than I'd ever been."

"But when Jeremy was transferred

"to another city for work,

"I didn't think I could survive."

"And that is when I became a writer."

"My days were filled with thoughts of Jeremy,

"and if I didn't figure out how to fill them

"with thoughts of something else until he returned,

"I was afraid

"I wouldn't be able to hide

"how much his absence gutted me.

"I wrote an entire novel in the few months he was gone.

"I created a fictional Jeremy and called him 'Lane.'"

"Never in my wildest dreams

"could I have imagined where it would all lead."

"When Jeremy finally returned home,

"it was in the middle of the night."

-Verity... -"I was fast asleep."

-Hey, wake up... -Hi.

-...wake up, wake up. -What?

Hey.

I read your manuscript.

What?

No.

Jeremy, no.

I told you not... You said... You promised.

-I couldn't help myself. -How could you do that?

It's good.

What?

It's really good.

Say it again.

You're fucking brilliant.

"It was the first taste of what it felt like

"for a reader to enjoy what I had created for them.

"That one comment,

"that one sweet,

"simple comment

"meant so much to me."

You bit me.

You deserve it.

Marry me, Verity.

Why?

Because I'm your biggest fan.

Okay.

Thank you.

"And here was another, and a pair of shoes,

"and beside them a suitcase and an old rug.

"If Grace had allowed that man

"to put his things in her lobby,

"then Grace would go tonight. Crisis had come."

I'll be right back.

All right. Crew is downstairs. Homework is over.

Ready to go back? Okay.

She's catatonic.

She can't walk, she can't move.

And then,

this morning, I was watching her,

and then she just suddenly turned

and looked directly at me.

Didn't you just say she can't move or talk?

I know. I know.

She can't. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Lowen, you are going through a lot right now.

There's a lot you have to deal with.

You're grieving, you're stressed.

Mm-hmm.

Just keep your head down, okay?

You just need to do what you're there to do.

And then just get the fuck outta there, okay?

Yeah, okay.

-Again! -No, no, no!

Wham. Right here.

Right there? Not over here?

-Over here, right? -Okay...

-No? -...put 'em right here!

Right here! Oh, no, you didn't.

-No, no, no! -Yes, I did.

-Hey. -Hi.

You've been in there all day.

Are you making progress?

Yeah.

I'm starting to piece it all together.

Yeah.

What are you doing?

You, um, making a big pile of wood?

There's a rotted-out shed up there.

Crew is the foreman.

Cool.

But big pile of wood. Yeah.

Lowen?

Hi.

I'm heading out to the store.

Okay.

Verity is taking a nap.

Okay.

Yeah.

Hi, Crew.

Hi.

I was just taking a little break from working.

Can I come play with you?

Um...

I'm helping my dad.

Okay.

We can play another time.

Okay.

"It was around the third month,

"a few weeks after I found out I was pregnant,

"that I started to notice the difference.

"My hand was flat on my stomach,

"and I felt something foreign."

"It was disgusting."

Wow.

Look at you.

I still can't believe we're having twins.

Are you still attracted to me?

You're the most beautiful you've ever been.

I'm so attracted to you.

"It was a lie to make me feel better...

"but I was grateful.

"I squeezed his hands

"and he spun me around to face him.

"Then he kissed me

"and lifted me onto the bathroom counter

"and stood between my legs.

"I was completely naked.

"The only thing between us were his pants

"and the grotesque pooch

"I was still trying to suck in."

"By six months,

"I felt like I was about to pop."

Mm...

Someone's hungry.

Mm...

No, I'm not.

Not you, baby. Them.

Did you feel that one?

Yeah.

Jeremy?

Yeah?

Do you love them?

I love them more than anything.

More than me?

Different from you.

Different, yeah.

But that's how it should be, right?

Do you feel guilty because you love them

more than you love me?

Don't feel guilty.

You should love them more than you love me.

Our love for each other is conditional,

but our love for them isn't.

My love for you is unconditional.

Yeah, baby. My love for you is unconditional, too.

That's what I meant.

"I started wishing I'd never got pregnant.

"I fantasized that if we had no children,

"he would make me his priority again.

"But there was no turning back.

"Jeremy wanted them,

"and so that was that."

Are you ready to move on to the next wing?

Yes, I am. Thank you.

-To you. -To you.

Mm.

Did any part of your cozy Chelsea apartment,

where you wrote your first book,

serve as a reference?

You know, it's where our family started.

It's where my career as a writer started.

I love being able to tell my children stories,

and then I love to,

like I said, shut myself up in my lair

and, um, terrorize the rest of the world.

"I hate myself for thinking I could do this...

"...and everything would be all right."

"Everything was not all right."

"Crew was fairly quiet,

"but Harper cried

"constantly."

"It was like she was trying to punish me.

"Telling me I was a bad mother.

"I'm certain of it."

-Hey. I'll be right back. -"When Jeremy finally

"went back to work,

"I was terrified of being left alone with them."

-Bye. See ya. -Bye.

"We couldn't afford a nanny

"because the advance I had received

"for the sale of my first book was too small.

"However,

"him leaving turned out to be

"the best thing that ever happened to me."

"He would leave at 7:00 in the morning

"and I would wake up with him

"so he could see me caring for the twins.

"I would put them in their cribs,

"unplug their monitors..."

"...and go back to bed."

"I began getting more sleep

"than I think

"I'd ever gotten."

"Every night when he would

"walk in the door, the babies would be calm.

"The smell of dinner

"would be coming from the kitchen.

"And he'd be blown away

"by how well I was tackling everything."

"And the twins would sleep all night

"from the exhaustion from crying all day.

"It was probably good for them.

"The best part was,

"I was able to write most nights

"while everyone slept.

"The only place that was lacking

"was in the bedroom."

"It was like I was going through withdrawal."

"Jeremy no longer worshiped me, no longer loved me."

"When the twins were born,

"Jeremy talked a lot about SIDS

"and read a lot about it.

"Which meant I listened to a lot about it.

"What I found most fascinating was that

"it's hard to tell the difference between SIDS

"and suffocation."

Hey.

Hey.

How's she doing?

-She's fine. -Crew?

I'm gonna check on him next.

How did this get in here?

Did I leave that in there when I put them down?

It's okay.

It's okay.

"I have to accept this personal hell

"where I'll be forced to raise these children

"and act like I love them for the rest of their lives."

Ugh.

Can I help you find something?

Is there any alcohol in the house?

Yes.

Thank you.

Sure.

What's going on?

Your wife...

She has this...

Um...

Her books freak me out.

And yet you write...

in the same genre.

Yeah, well, sometimes my own writing...

freaks me out, too.

Maybe you should switch to romance.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, I probably will.

You missed dinner.

This is still warm if you want some.

Okay. I should eat.

Okay.

-Thank you. -'Course.

Mm.

Can I ask a question?

'Course.

Just tell me if I'm being too nosy.

But...

is it possible that

Verity could make a full recovery?

Um...

No.

The doctors don't think she'll ever walk or talk again.

So she's paralyzed?

There wasn't any damage to her spinal cord,

but her mind is...

She has basic reflexes.

She can eat...

and drink and blink...

and move a little.

But none of it's intentional.

We hope that, with continued therapy,

she'll be able to improve a little bit more.

But who knows?

Daddy?

Hey, buddy. What's up?

-Ready for bed. -Okay, yeah.

Did you brush your teeth?

-Yep. -Okay, good. Let me smell.

Ah! Let's go say good night to Mommy.

Good night, Lowen.

Good night.

That's Harper.

What was she like?

She was...

She was amazing.

Not sure Verity understood her the way I did.

She had trouble expressing her emotions,

but I felt like I could just read

what she needed, you know?

I knew what made her tick.

What made her happy, what made her sad...

even when she had a tough time

revealing all of that to the world.

But she was...

amazing.

Were they close, Harper and Crew?

Yeah.

They were.

He...

hasn't even asked about her.

Not once.

Hasn't even mentioned her name.

I took him to therapy for a couple of months, and, uh,

I was just afraid that maybe

it was a weekly reminder of everything.

So I pulled him out.

But I'll bring him back...

if he shows any signs of needing it

and make sure he's okay.

And you?

What about me?

How are you?

I'm fine.

Dad?

Yeah, buddy.

I can't sleep.

Okay, I'm coming.

Time for some applesauce.

Okay.

Hi, Lowen.

So, where are you in your process?

Our Marketing and PR team

are eager to get an announcement out...

That is all pending our approval, right?

-Yes, of course. -Okay.

But we do need some lead time. That's all.

Well, Lowen is a very fast writer.

Right, Low?

Yes. Yeah. You'll have what you need.

I've pretty much made it through all the notes,

so I'll probably start writing soon.

I think I'll leave in the next day or two.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Thank you for letting me stay.

Yeah, I wish it could have been a little longer.

I feel like I barely got to know you.

What do you wanna know?

What's your birthday?

God.

What? What's so funny?

My birthday was yesterday.

Shut up.

Seriously?

You're lying.

I'm not lying.

We have to celebrate, obviously.

-No. -Yeah.

There's one good restaurant in town.

It's the best Bavarian restaurant in rural Vermont.

Hands down.

It has amazing Wiener schnitzel.

Wow.

That sounds really irresistible.

I'm... I'm really not a celebration person.

Okay.

Could be fun.

We could get dressed up, order some good wine.

I didn't pack for a special occasion.

Verity has lots of fancy clothes

if you wanna borrow something from her closet.

Let's see...

-Look, there's a... -No, no, no. If I get...

-My stickies. -Don't fake cry.

Don't fake cry to me.

Ha-ha, you took the pieces.

No, that's not right.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hey, Low. Can I tell you a joke?

Yes, please.

What is E.T. short for?

Tell me.

Because he has little legs.

He has little legs.

That's a good one.

Um, knock, knock.

-Who's there? -Interrupting cow.

"Interrupting cow" who?

Moo.

That's a new one for the repertoire!

That's a new one for the repertoire!

Anna, we're leaving now.

-Coming. Okay. -I'll see you

-when we get back. -Okay.

But probably more in the morning, okay?

So you be good for Anna, all right?

Okay. I love you.

All right. I love you, too.

Okay. So, what's your process?

-My process? -Yeah.

All writers have processes, don't they? What's yours?

Oh, God. Um...

Um...

Uh...

Well, I...

start writing...

and then I hate everything I write,

but I keep writing,

and then I finish the book,

and I pretend I'm happy.

That sounds healthy.

-It's a really fun time. -Mm.

Okay, I have one more question.

Are you hating this?

Are you having any fun at all?

I'm having fun.

Does it not look like I'm having fun?

I can't tell from your...

That's just my face.

I have resting bored face.

I get that a lot.

But I am having a good time. I promise.

-Okay. -This is, by far, the best

Bavarian restaurant I've ever been to.

I told you. It's the best.

The lederhosen is a really nice touch.

Makes me feel overdressed.

No, no, it's like...

this is, like, German formal wear.

Can I ask you one more question?

Yeah.

Do you think that I should get Crew back into therapy?

Yes. Definitely.

Have you ever been in therapy?

Yeah.

It's the best thing that ever happened to me.

I was really troubled as a kid,

and this therapist helped me

understand that

there wasn't something wrong with me.

And... after, like, years of, you know,

being told that I started to believe it.

But it... helped.

Did your mom go with you? To therapy?

No.

No.

We were just very distant.

She actually reminds me a lot of...

Uh...

-Of who? -The, um...

The main character in Verity's books.

Oh.

And that's bad?

You really haven't read them?

Only the first.

Why?

Because I couldn't fathom

that that all came from her imagination.

She would always get so angry at me

for not reading her manuscripts.

She needed my validation, for some reason,

even though the whole world was validating her.

Anyway...

Where do you get your validation?

I don't.

My books aren't popular. I haven't...

I mean, maybe I got, like, a nice review

here or there.

But I've never had the experience

of somebody saying to my face,

"Your writing matters to me, Lowen."

I... I imagine that that would be nice.

I have to tell you something.

I lied to you.

What did you lie about?

Verity didn't read your book.

Then why would you say that?

I read your book.

And it was...

phenomenal.

And I'm sorry, but I...

I just knew that it wouldn't mean as much

coming from me as it would from Verity,

and for some reason, I really wanted it

to mean something to you.

'Cause the thing is,

your writing matters to me, Lowen.

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Lowen ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Thank you.

You're welcome.

What'd you wish for?

I can't tell you.

Hmm.

Do you know what the secret is to such a delicious cupcake?

Tell me.

It's vanilla pudding.

-Pudding? -Mm-hmm.

Mm.

-That's very good. Mm-hmm. -Yeah?

Told you.

You've got...

icing.

Where?

Just right here.

Fuck.

Verity?

Verity!

-Verity! Oh, God. -What?

She was just standing right...

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you. No, I...

God!

-Oh, God. -I'm sorry.

No, I just saw her.

She...

She can't walk, Lowen.

She was standing right there.

She was standing...

She was standing right there.

Your fucking wife was standing right there, Jeremy!

I know what I saw!

Hey.

So there's no one in the house.

Anna went home.

Crew's fast asleep.

And...

definitely wasn't Verity.

I checked.

Trust me.

This is my fault.

You've been working nonstop,

and you're exhausted.

And then I...

kissed... You know, we... And I just feel like...

Yeah, you're right. That's it.

It's probably paranoia and guilt.

This place is insane.

Jeremy, you are a prisoner in your own home.

Crew is a prisoner.

He needs to get away from here.

You need to go back to work.

Take moments, Jeremy.

You can take selfish moments.

You deserve to have a life...

where you have...

moments that have nothing to do with her

and everything to do

with just you and what you want.

-What I want? -Yes.

What do you want?

You.

I want you, Lowen.

Say it again.

I want you.

Those orange ones are so beautiful.

Mix red and blue and you get purple.

When will you be back from Boston?

Uh, shouldn't be too late.

Daddy, you were supposed to take us canoeing!

Sweetie.

Mommy can take you.

Yay!

You're okay with that, right?

You can take 'em out on the lake.

Yay!

I wanna go in the water.

Would that make you happy?

Yay!

Awesome!

I wanna hear all about it when I get back, okay?

I'll be back by... What's this?

It's for you.

Are you kidding?

Isn't it so pretty?

I love it.

It's a whale.

I love you so much, Harper!

I love you, Crew.

-You be good for Mommy, okay? -Okay.

Bye.

Bye.

See ya.

How come your stuff is so pretty?

It's blue, just like out on the lake.

I need it!

-No! -I need it!

"Jeremy went to Boston for work."

"I took the kids out in the canoe."

"Harper was sitting in the front of the boat.

"Crew was in the middle.

"None of us were wearing life vests.

"Then I shifted all my weight.

"And the boat tipped over."

Lowen.

I'm leaving now.

Verity's watching TV.

Okay.

Good night, Lowen.

Hi, Crew.

Hi.

What are you doing?

I'm just playing this game on my iPad.

Crew, can I ask you a question?

Yep.

Did you ever have a canoe?

Yes.

Do you remember being in the canoe

with your mommy and Harper?

Crew, how did the canoe tip over?

Mommy said I shouldn't talk to you

if you ask me questions about her.

Your mommy talks to you?

Crew?

Is your mommy pretending like she can't talk?

Oh! Oh!

Jeremy!

-What happened? -Um...

Yeah, he... Yeah, he bit the knife. I don't know...

Should I come with you?

Uh, no, urgent care could take a while.

I need somebody to stay here with Verity.

Especially this old fool, companion,

gigolo.

How many years she's kept him dangling on promises.

Well, sometimes it's convenient to have a man,

especially when he comes cheaper than servants.

I know what you did to Harper.

How could you do that?

How could you be so cruel?

Say something.

I know you're faking it.

I know you're faking it!

Say something.

Say something.

You have this life.

You have this...

perfect life and...

And you have everything that anyone...

could ever want...

that I want.

And you don't deserve it.

And I'm gonna take it from you.

All of it.

Your house.

Your career.

Your husband.

So keep pretending like you don't hear me

and you don't see me.

I dare you.

You deserve to rot in your sad little robot bed.

You selfish, Machiavellian cunt.

"The police took my report.

"Twice. It's their job."

Harper leaned over the edge of the canoe...

"Their questions were simple enough.

"Easy to answer."

It tipped over.

We all went under the water, but... But...

Harper never came up.

And I tried to find her, but I...

I was running out of air,

and I needed to get Crew to safety.

"I think my performance was so good,

"it made them uncomfortable to ask me more questions.

"Jeremy was shattered."

"But I figured it would pass, and...

"finally, he was going to be mine again.

"The irony was...

"I instantly started writing again.

"The words were flowing out of me. But...

"with Jeremy acting like such a sad sack,

"and no end in sight..."

"It feels as though there's nothing left to say.

"No future to write about."

I'm going out for a bit.

"No past to redeem."

"He's become such a drag now that Harper's dead,

"I almost wish I hadn't killed her.

"If that's the case,

"so be it.

"I'll just drive my car into a tree.

"The end."

Hey.

Hi.

How's Crew?

Uh...

Six stitches and a bunch of pain meds. But...

he'll be okay.

He's out cold for the rest of the night.

Poor guy.

The power goes in and out when it storms like this.

So I'm gonna take a shower while I still can. I am...

covered in dried blood.

It's kind of starting to be our thing,

being covered in blood.

Why do you have this?

Why is there a camera in Verity's room?

I can explain that. We... We... We...

We need to talk.

Your wife is not

who you think she is.

She's not.

She has been lying to you since the day you met her.

Lowen.

Crew told me that she talks to him.

She's helpless, Lowen!

I know you have a writer's imagination,

but are you listening to what you're saying?

Goddamn it, Jeremy! She killed Harper!

What?

She killed Harper!

I can prove it.

Here.

Read this.

Read it.

It's a confession.

It's Verity's confession. She wrote it.

I found it on a thumb drive.

It's... It's everything! You need to know the truth.

She killed Harper.

She's a liar.

See?

What are you doing?

Shit.

Verity.

When I walk out that door,

I'm taking your manuscript

straight to the police,

and you will be locked up

and you will never see Crew or I again...

unless you tell me what exactly

is happening in this house.

Please, please...

Please...

let me explain.

What the fuck, Verity?

Jeremy,

I had to.

This whole time, you've just been...

what?

Please don't hurt me. Please!

Don't hurt you?

You murdered our daughter!

Shit!

Jeremy!

Jeremy!

Jeremy!

Stop! Stop! God, Jeremy! Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Stop! You're crushing her windpipe!

Jeremy, stop!

She killed Harper!

Think about Crew!

He won't have a mother or a father if you do this!

They'll know you killed her!

You have to make it look like an accident.

No.

No!

No!

Cover her nose and mouth until she stops breathing.

No! No!

Don't leave any marks.

No! No!

Hey.

It's okay. It's okay.

You're okay.

We're gonna come up with a story.

You and me. We're gonna come up with a story,

and then the truth is just gonna stay with us...

just between us forever.

Okay.

We did the right thing.

We're good people.

It's okay.

It's okay.

It was done.

It could not be undone.

We were free from Verity.

Her cruel manipulations could no longer touch us...

or Crew.

Did you have any interaction

with Verity last night?

No, I was working in the office.

I was hired to help her write,

and then I went to bed really early...

maybe, I don't know, 10:00.

Did you hear anything?

Any idea when she might have left the house?

No, no, um...

I mean, she's been bedridden, you know, so...

-But she's in and out of... -If she got out of bed, I...

I can't even imagine what her mental state would be.

I'm just worried that she might have been confused

or distraught,

and, uh, gone looking for Harper...

or something, you know?

Is there anything else you remember

about last night? Anything that could help?

No.

I'm sorry. I wish I could be

more helpful.

Okay. Thank you.

There is one more thing I have to ask.

What?

Were you and Verity, by chance...

working on the new Noble Virtue book?

Perhaps.

Sorry.

I'm such a fan.

Been waiting so long for this one.

Don't worry.

It'll be the best one yet.

Sweet.

Hi, guys.

-Hello? -Hey, good morning, sunshine.

Happy moving day.

Thank you.

I just got here. Hi.

Jeremy and Crew are almost ready to go.

I came to pick them up.

Hachette approved the outline for the next book.

So you are good to start writing.

Oh, wonderful.

Um, but I'm actually gonna need you

to ask them for an extension.

I can ask.

Okay.

I'll talk to you soon.

Oh, my God, I missed you.

-Hi. -Hi.

-I have something. -What?

-I have a thing! -Okay.

-Close your eyes. -What is it?

-Close them. Close your eyes. -Close my eyes? Okay.

Hold out your hands. Put them here like this.

-Don't move. -Okay.

-Okay... -Should I keep waiting?

-Yeah. -Okay.

-It's amazing. -I know.

It's an advance copy.

You're the first to have it in your hands.

I can't wait to read it.

-That's me. -Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm so proud of you. You did it.

-We did it. -Hmm. Mm.

LowLow!

Hi!

Hey, hey, hey.

Be careful with your little sister.

-He's okay. -I know. I know.

Hi.

I'm so happy to see you. I missed you.

Are you excited for our next adventure?

It's a really long drive to Southport, North Carolina.

-Yay! -Yay!

Okay, let's go!

Do you wanna say goodbye to your room?

Oh, my pictures!

What pictures?

Crew!

-Boo! -God!

Don't scare me like that.

What are you doing?

I got my pictures. See?

Where did you get these?

From my secret hiding place.

Can't tell you where it is, though.

You better tell me where it is.

You better tell me where it is right now.

Why don't you, um, go wait outside

and I'll be there in a second. And then we'll go. Okay?

"Dear Jeremy,

"if you're reading this letter,

"it means that Crew and I are somewhere safe.

"As much as I try to forget

"where it all started to go wrong,

"I was cursed with this mind

"that never forgets a single thing.

"It was at dinner with Amanda.

"I was discussing my next novel.

"I don't know if you tuned

"this part of the conversation out,

"but I'm guessing you did

"because writer talk always bored you.

"That's when she told me

"to try an exercise she called

"'antagonistic journaling.'"

It's a writing exercise

I guarantee will help

get into the mind of an evil character.

So, you start by writing a journal of your life,

except you flip your inner dialogue

to the opposite of what you were thinking on the day,

the opposite of who you are.

Try it. Write a journal of your daily life

and layer in sinister inner dialogue.

To be the evil, twisted, self-serving me?

Sure.

Buckle up.

"It sounded simple, harmless.

"I got better and better

"at being inside the mind of a villain.

"It was exhilarating, and it helped.

"It helped immensely,

"which is why I was able to create such realistic,

"terrifying characters in my novels.

"It's why they sold,

"because I was good at it.

"After Harper's death,

"my mind was in such a dark space.

"I was trying anything I could to help me process

"every day,

"pushing to make my writing more jarring,

"more disturbing."

"And then the day came when...

"I left the file open on the computer.

"And you read it."

Oh, my God.

"But it was just an exercise.

"It wasn't real.

"You haven't read anything of mine in so long.

"After all those years of marriage, how could you,

"even for one second,

"believe any of that manuscript to be true?

"I mean, seriously, Jeremy,

"do you know me at all?

"Every memory we had ever had as a family was erased

"with every new word of the manuscript

"that you had read. Gone.

"There was nothing left inside you but hatred."

"I'll never forget the look on your face

"as you stood there and looked at me.

"It was complete and utter misery."

"At least, that's what I thought

"until the moment I felt dizzy.

"And everything became a blur.

"And I realized that you believed it.

"I looked out the windshield, all I saw were trees.

"And in that moment, I knew what you were doing.

"You were gonna kill me,

"and make my death look like an accident.

-"I had unknowingly..." -No.

"...written my own death

"into the last two sentences of my manuscript."

"Your plan didn't work out,

"did it, Jeremy?

"Inconveniently,

"I was still alive.

"So I made a plan.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me if I tried

"to deny that manuscript."

"And if you were aware that I had recovered,

"you would turn me in to the police

"or finish the job yourself.

"I needed to escape

"and take Crew with me.

"The thought of leaving you alone

"in the home where we shared so many memories together

"makes me ache for you.

"Everything I've done from the day I woke up

"has been for Crew."

Hey, Crew. Hey.

"He's the only one who knows I'm still in here..."

Come on, come on, come on.

"...that I still have thoughts and a voice."

You wanna play a game?

Okay, but...

it's a secret.

Lowen?

Oh, God.

-Where are you, baby? -Oh, God.

Oh, God.

I'm here.

Oh, God.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

-Are you all right? -Mm-hmm.

Are you sure?

It's just a...

weird, emotional day.

Okay.

Yeah.

Crew's in the car.

-Okay. Mm-hmm. -We should get goin'...

Okay.

...if we're gonna get to the city for dinner.

Yeah, I'll be there in a second.

I'm just gonna do one last sweep.

Love you.

This house...

Her manuscript,

her letter,

her husband.

I have no idea what to believe.

The only thing I know for certain

is that Verity was a master

at manipulating the truth.

The only question that remains is,

which truth was she manipulating?

So, each novel in your series

is based on nine moral and ethical guidelines.

Mm-hmm.

Which of those themes was the most fun to corrupt?

Truth.

And I wanted to see how far you could push it.

How certain I could make the audience

before showing them that maybe

certainty wasn't the wisest choice.