In Dangerous Company (1988) - full transcript
A beautiful woman seduces and tricks a hitman in order to save her own skin.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
[RINGING]
HELLO?
[DISTORTED CRACKLING]
IS ANYONE THERE?
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING
CONTINUES]
[ROARS]: LEAVE ME ALONE!
[♪♪♪]
[♪♪♪]
[THUDDING]
[♪♪♪]
ABSOLUTELY!
THE SQUAB IS
ONE OF MY SIGNATURE DISHES.
YES, I CAN DO
THE GREEN TEA SOUFFLE, AS WELL.
PERFECT.
I'LL TAKE CARE
OF EVERYTHING, MRS. NYBERG,
AND THANK YOU
FOR THINKING OF ME.
♪ I LOVE IT!
THAT'S THREE DINNER PARTIES
THIS MONTH.
NO, I LOVE IT.
LET ME KNOW WHEN
I CAN QUIT MY JOB.
I'VE ALREADY GOT
OUR FLORIDA RETIREMENT VILLA
PICKED OUT.
CLOTHING OPTIONAL.
UGH. LET ME KNOW
WHEN I CAN THROW UP.
EW! ME TOO.
MORNIN', DYLAN.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY,
DYLAN?
I'M DOING FINE.
THANKS, DAD. HOW YOU DOIN'?
HEY, AREN'T YOU LATE
FOR CLASS, PAL?
I'LL GET THERE.
TODAY'S THE BIG DAY, RIGHT?
[INHALES SHARPLY]:
WE THINK SO.
APPOINTMENT'S AT 10.
MY LAUNDRY DONE?
ON THE STEP.
COOL.
WELL, I HOPE YOU TWO FIND
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE
TO GET A DOG.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY]
SO... THAT WENT WELL.
I'LL TALK TO HIM.
FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
OH, I KNOW
WHAT IT IS.
IT'S ME,
EVIL STEPMOTHER.
WELL, NO ONE SAID
THIS WAS GONNA BE EASY,
EVEN WITH DYLAN
LIVING AWAY AT COLLEGE.
BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'VE TOLD HIM MANY TIMES,
EITHER HE LOVES YOU
AS MUCH AS I DO,
OR, THAT'S IT,
HE'S OUT OF THE WILL.
THAT'S WHY
I MARRIED YOU.
EXCELLENT
PARENTING SKILLS.
GOOD. WELL,
I'M GLAD IT WAS--
I KNEW THERE WAS
A REASON I GOT SO LUCKY.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
WOW, I DIDN'T THINK
I'D BE SO NERVOUS.
YOU'RE GONNA
BE FINE.
THIS IS GOOD, RIGHT?
THIS MEETING THEY ASKED FOR.
I THINK IT'S BETTER
THAN GOOD. YOU DON'T?
NO, NO, I DO.
IT'S JUST
ALL THE FORUMS SAY
IT CAN TAKE UP
TO 18 MONTHS
TO GET YOUR REFERRAL
THROUGH, SO...
MAYBE THEY LIKED US.
BUMPED US UP THE LIST.
I KNOW THEY LIKED ME.
WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
WELL... YOU KNOW
HOW YOU ARE,
AND THEY DID SAY
PERSONALITY--
-OH, PERSONALITY?
-...WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
OH! YOU THINK I HAVE
A HORRIBLE PERSONALITY?
NO, NO. I'M SAYING
YOU DON'T HAVE ONE!
HEY, HEY. COOL IT.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING.
I DON'T CARE. LET THEM.
YOU GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT MOM.
[PHONE RINGING]
HELLO. THIS IS LYDIA.
[WOMAN HISSES]:
SHE'S MINE. MINE!
MINE.
[LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE BUZZES]
[PHONE RINGS]
[GASPING]
I'M SORRY, KIM.
I-I DIDN'T
SEE YOU THERE.
NO WORRIES.
LOVE YOUR NECKLACE.
THANK YOU.
MORNING.
[♪♪♪]
SO... BOY OR GIRL?
WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
MRS. MAXWELL,
ON YOUR ADOPTION APPLICATION,
YOU NOTED THAT YOU TAKE
CITALOPRAM FOR DEPRESSION.
IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED IT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN TAKING IT
FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW?
[JOANNA]: YES.
-REGULARLY?
-REGULARLY, YES.
[BEN]: KIM, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION
WE WERE JUST GONNA COME HERE
AND YOU WERE GOING TO SHOW US
A PICTURE OF OUR NEW BABY.
WELL, TO BE PERFECTLY, UH...
BLUNT...
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS
IS FROWNED UPON
BY MANY OF THE COUNTRIES
WITH WHOM
WE HAVE ADOPTION AGREEMENTS.
THAT SEEMS
RATHER NARROW-MINDED.
YEAH, I WOULD THINK ANYTHING
THAT WOULD HELP
A PROSPECTIVE PARENT COPE
WOULD BE SEEN
AS A GOOD THING.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY DON'T VIEW IT THIS WAY.
THE MEDICATION GAVE HER
HER LIFE BACK.
I HAVE A CHEMICAL
DEFICIENCY, THAT'S ALL.
YOU KNOW, IF I HAD
A BROKEN ARM
AND DIDN'T TREAT IT,
YOU WOULD THINK
I WAS RIDICULOUS.
HOW IS THIS
ANY DIFFERENT?
IT'S NOT WRONG TO ASK FOR HELP.
LOOK, I REALIZE
THAT THEIR THINKING IS FLAWED,
BUT, BECAUSE YOU DISCLOSED IT
IN YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY,
THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
ARE YOU SAYING
OUR APPLICATION
HAS BEEN
FLAT-OUT REJECTED?
I'M AFRAID SO.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET
THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE,
UM, SUCH AS DOMESTIC ADOPTION.
[JOANNA]: THAT'S NOT FOR US.
WE HAVE FRIENDS
WHO'VE BEEN
ON THE WAITING LIST
FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS,
WE COULD EASILY BE ON
FOR TWICE THAT LONG.
WHAT IF WE WERE TO REFILE
WITHOUT MENTIONING
THE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS?
AT THIS POINT,
YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT,
OR IT'S FRAUD.
WHAT ABOUT SURROGACY?
WE'VE TRIED.
WOULD YOU BE OPEN
TO ADOPTING A TEEN?
OUR FOSTER SYSTEM,
IT JUST HAS SO MANY
INCREDIBLE YOUNG LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN AVAILABLE
FOR PERMANENT
ADOPTION.
BEN, I WANT TO GO HOME.
[BEN, QUIETLY]: YEAH.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
YOU SHOULD WARN PEOPLE.
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
I'M REALLY SORRY.
SO ARE WE.
[SIGHS WEARILY]
WELL, THAT SUCKED.
THEY SEEM LIKE
SUCH GOOD PEOPLE, TOO.
IT'S...
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
IT NEVER IS.
[♪♪♪]
[SNIFFLING]
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
I'M SORRY.
IS SOMEONE IN THERE?
BE RIGHT OUT.
HEY, GRETCHEN.
HOW'S MY MOM DOING?
OH, IT'S BEEN
ONE OF THOSE DAYS,
BUT SHE'LL BE GLAD
TO SEE YOU.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE
A BAD COSMIC JOKE.
THE PARENT WHO CARED ABOUT ME
IS GONE,
AND THE ONE WHO'S LEFT BEHIND
NEEDS CONSTANT CARE.
I KNOW YOU LOVED
YOUR FATHER VERY MUCH,
AND WE MISS
SEEING HIM AROUND HERE, TOO.
JUST DO YOUR BEST.
LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
HI, MOM.
WHY HAS MICHAEL
STOPPED VISITING ME?
HAS HE FOUND
SOMEONE ELSE?
NO. MOM...
DAD PASSED AWAY
LAST WINTER. REMEMBER?
IT WAS SNOWING AT THE FUNERAL.
THE WIND WAS BLOWING?
THE WIND?
OHH...
IT
WAS
COLD.
BLUSTERY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOT A GOOD DAY
FOR A FUNERAL.
NO.
BUT I LIKED
THAT POTATO SALAD.
AND THE HAM.
HAVE YOUR COUSIN, ANNETTE,
BRING ME SOME MORE.
YOU KNOW...
I COULD COOK FOR YOU.
MY CATERING COMPANY
HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF.
ANNETTE'S POTATO SALAD
IS THE BEST.
TELL HER
TO MAKE A LOT OF IT.
OKAY. I'LL DO THAT.
[UNCERTAIN]:
MICHAEL'S GONE?
HE IS, MOM...
DAD'S DEAD AND GONE.
MY HUSBAND
IS DEAD, TOO.
OH, DOLORES.
I KNOW.
I'M SORRY.
DON'T BE.
HE COMES TO VISIT ME
EVERY NIGHT,
JUST LIKE
HE SAID HE WOULD.
LARRY IS A GOOD MAN.
[SCOFFS WITH DISGUST]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A GOOD MAN.
THEY'RE ALL BOOZERS
AND SKIRT-CHASERS,
AND MY HUSBAND WAS
THE WORST OF THEM ALL!
MOM, DON'T SAY THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
DAD LOVED YOU.
LARRY AND I
PLAY BINGO TOGETHER.
HE LETS ME WIN.
[GIGGLES]
[♪♪♪]
HER ALZHEIMER'S
IS GETTING WORSE.
WELL, THAT'S
NOT UNUSUAL.
OFTEN, THE DEATH
OF A SPOUSE CAN
ACCELERATE DEMENTIA.
IT HAPPENED
TO MY MOTHER.
WELL, I'M NOT SURE DOLORES
IS DOING MUCH BETTER.
SHE SAYS HER DEAD HUSBAND
COMES TO VISIT HER.
THEY PLAY BINGO.
WELL, OF COURSE,
HE DOES.
IT WOULDN'T BE
THE FIRST TIME
A SPIRIT'S STOPPED BY
TO DEAL WITH
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACE.
[LAUGHS]: NICE ONE.
YOU HAD ME GOIN'.
I COULD TELL.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU WORK
HEREONG ENOUGH,
YOU SEE JUST HOW STRONG
THE EARTHLY BONDS ARE
BETWEEN PEOPLE.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES,
FATHERS AND SONS,
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS...
MAYBE THESE BONDS ARE
HARDER TO BREAK THAN WE THINK.
NAH. I THINK IT'S JUST
WISHFUL THINKING.
[CHUCKLING]: BYE.
[♪♪♪]
I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY FAULT.
MAYBE I SHOULD'VE
DONE SOME RESEARCH.
DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP, HONEY.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.
YEAH, BUT IF I J--
"BUT" NOTHING.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM
MAKE ME FEEL BAD
ABOUT DOING WHAT
WAS RIGHT FOR ME AT THE TIME.
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
MR. MAXWELL?
HI. MY NAME IS LYDIA NEWMAN.
I'M FROM THE ST. BARLOW
ADOPTION AGENCY,
AND I THINK
I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
THIS WILL STRIKE YOU
AS UNORTHODOX,
BUT I OVERHEARD
YOUR CONVERSATION WITH KIM
AT THE AGENCY
AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW
THAT I UNDERSTAND
YOUR FRUSTRATION.
THANK YOU, MS. NEWMAN.
MY OWN MOTHER WAS ON
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
FOR YEARS.
BACK THEN,
IT WASN'T SOMETHING
THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
I CAN'T BEGIN
TO IMAGINE
THE NUMBER OF GREAT
MOMS AND DADS
WHO'VE BEEN TURNED AWAY
BY THIS RIDICULOUS NOTION
THAT THEY'RE TOO DAMAGED
TO LOVE A CHILD.
VERY TRUE.
WHICH BRINGS ME
TO WHY I'M HERE.
I'VE COME ACROSS
A UNIQUE SITUATION.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO PLACE
A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
HER MOTHER IS IN PRISON
ON A THREE-STRIKE
FELONY CONVICTION--
AND SHE'S AGREED
TO TURN THE CHILD
OVER TO THE STATE
FOR PERMANENT ADOPTION.
OHH...
THERE MUST BE
A WAITING LIST?
NOT IF YOU CAN CIRCUMVENT IT.
WHICH IS WHY...
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO YOUR NEW DAUGHTER.
WHOA. HOLD ON. UH...
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU THINKING ABOUT US FIRST,
BUT I GOT TO ASK YOU...
AND I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THIS
THE WRONG WAY...
ISN'T THIS ILLEGAL?
WELL, I SUPPOSE SOMEBODY
COULD MAKE THAT ARGUMENT,
BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU,
IN ALL MY YEARS
AS A SOCIAL WORKER,
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY
CHALLENGE A PLACEMENT REQUEST.
NO, RIGHT. HOWEVER, IF WE DID
DECIDE TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD,
THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY
THAT, AT SOME POINT
IN THE FUTURE,
WE COULD END UP
IN A LEGAL BATTLE.
I THOUGHT
YOU WANTED TO BE PARENTS.
WE DO!
BUT I THINK MY HUSBAND'S
QUESTIONS ARE GOOD ONES.
I MEAN, THE LAST THING
WE'D WANT TO HAPPEN IS TO BRING
THIS LITTLE GIRL INTO OUR HOME,
ONLY TO LOSE HER.
MAYBE I WAS WRONG
ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU.
MOST COUPLES WOULD LEAP AT
A DOMESTIC ADOPTION OPPORTUNITY
WITH NO BIRTH MOTHER
IN THE WAY.
MS. NEWMAN, WAIT.
NO, I...
I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS
A LONG TIME,
AND ALTHOUGH
MOST OF YOU WON'T ADMIT IT,
NONE OF YOU WANT TO SHARE
YOUR CHILD'S LOVE WITH ANYONE.
WHAT I'M OFFERING YOU
IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OCCURRENCE.
[BEN]:
WE DON'T DISAGREE.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT
TO SET OURSELVES UP
FOR DISASTER.
ISN'T THERE SOME WAY
WE CAN DO THIS BY THE BOOK?
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE
TO DEBATE THE LEGAL PARAMETERS
OF "BY THE BOOK," MR. MAXWELL,
EXCEPT TO SAY
THAT ALL THE PROPER PAPERWORK
WOULD BE IN PLACE.
YOU KNOW...
BEING A PARENT,
IT REQUIRES PERSONAL SACRIFICE,
AND, IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT
YOU WERE WRONGED BY THE SYSTEM,
I'M SURE I CAN FIND
SOMEBODY WHO WAS.
NO, WAIT.
MAYBE WE'RE BEING
TOO CAUTIOUS.
IF YOU COULD JUST
GIVE USE A FEW MINUTES
TO DISCUSS THIS...
IN PRIVATE.
WHY?
HIS MIND'S ALREADY MADE UP.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
PLEASE. JUST A MINUTE.
FINE.
"WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES,
ANOTHER ONE OPENS."
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU ALWAYS SAY?
YEAH, BUT THIS IS VERY DICEY.
I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN
COMPREHEND
ALL THE WAYS
THIS COULD TURN OUT BADLY.
I KNOW, BUT I WANT
TO MOVE FORWARD ANYWAY.
WHY?
I MEAN, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ONE
TO THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND
BEFORE.
LOOK AT THIS LITTLE GIRL, BEN.
SHE NEEDS US!
JOANNA, THAT'S NOT FAIR.
I KNOW IT'S NOT,
BUT IT'S THE WAY I FEEL,
AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU
A BETTER,
MORE CONCRETE ANSWER,
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE
A LEAP OF FAITH WITH ME.
WE NEED TO GET THIS LITTLE GIRL
INTO A LOVING HOME,
EVEN IF IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
WE'D LOVE
TO ADOPT PIPER.
[LYDIA, LAUGHING]: OH!
OH...
THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.
I'LL BE IN TOUCH SOON
TO FINALIZE EVERYTHING.
I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.
I ALWAYS SAY, "EVERY WOMAN
DESERVES TO BE A MOM."
[♪♪♪]
WHAT TIME IS IT?
FIVE MINUTES LATER
THAN THE LAST TIME
YOU ASKED ME.
WHAT IF LYDIA DOESN'T SHOW UP?
UH, THEN WE STEER CLEAR
OF GOING TO JAIL.
TAKE THAT BACK.
WHAT'S HAPPENED
IS A BLESSING.
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
WE'RE HERE!
[CHUCKLES]:
COME ON. IT'S OKAY.
COME ON.
HI.
HONEY, WE'RE SO GLAD
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.
[BEN]: HEY, PIPER.
THIS IS FOR YOU.
HERE YOU GO, PIPER.
I MADE THIS FOR YOU.
YOU MADE THIS!
[GASPS]: OH, MY GOODNESS.
OHH!
IT'S BEAUTIFUL,
AND I LOVE IT.
YOU'RE A GREAT ARTIST.
THANK YOU.
CAN I SEE IT?
OHH.
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLES]: OH!
TAKE GOOD CARE
OF HER, OKAY?
[♪♪♪]
[♪♪♪]
NOTHING COULD
FEEL MORE RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO GO
BACK INSIDE?
HOW COME, SWEETIE?
WELL, WHAT IF IT'S NOT REAL?
IT'S REAL, SWEETHEART.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR ROOM?
IS IT MY "FOREVER" ROOM?
IT CERTAINLY IS.
WE'RE FAMILY NOW...
AND WE'LL NEVER
LEAVE YOU.
EVER.
EVEN WHEN MY MOMMY COMES?
WELL... YOU'RE
A VERY LUCKY LITTLE GIRL,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE
TWO MOMMIES NOW.
AND, UM...
MAYBE WE COULD ALL
LIVE HERE TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE THAT!
OKAY. WELL,
THEN LET'S GO!
I'LL RACE YOU.
-OKAY.
-OKAY!
HEY, AND WHAT ABOUT
THE, UH...?
I'M SENSING A TREND HERE.
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
HONEY, SHUT OFF THE WATERWORKS.
NO TEARS.
I CAN'T HELP IT.
SHE'S JUST TOO PRECIOUS.
YOU'RE GOING TO
FREAK HER OUT.
[LAUGHS]
HEY, PIPER?
LOOK AT THIS.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL
DRAWING RIGHT HERE...
...WHERE WE CAN ALL LOOK AT IT
EVERY DAY.
DO YOU LIKE THAT?
YEAH.
[GIGGLING]
OH!
PIPER, WE'RE SO GLAD
YOU'RE FINALLY HERE.
I THINK SHE LIKES US.
[LAUGHING]
[SCRATCHING]
[BELL DINGS]
[JOANNA SIGHS]
WHERE'S MINE?
[PLAYFULLY THUMPS COUNTER]
WHERE IS MY COOKIE?
I... WANT... MY... COOKIE!
WHERE... IS IT?
IS IT...
HERE?
WHERE... IS IT?
OH!
I KNOW WHERE MY COOKIE IS!
IT'S RIGHT...
HERE!
[SQUEALS]
THERE'S MY COOKIE!
THERE'S MY COOKIE!
ARE YOU MY COOKIE?
ARE YOU MY DELICIOUS
LITTLE COOKIE OF A GIRL?
ANSWER ME. YOU BETTER ANSWER ME,
OR I'M GOING TO EAT YOU ALL UP.
ARE YOU MY SCRUMPTIOUS
LITTLE DAUGHTER?
YES!
AND AM I THE BEST
COOKIE-LOVER YOU KNOW?
YES!
AND AM I YOUR FAVORITE MOMMY
OF ALL TIME?
PIPER, THAT-- I DIDN'T--
I DIDN'T MEAN THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
PIPER!
[PIPER RACES AWAY]
WOW...
DAD WAS RIGHT.
YOU DO HAVE A WAY
WITH KIDS.
[♪♪♪]
[PEOPLE CHATTING, KIDS PLAYING]
[WENDY]: SO, HOW'S
SHE TRANSITIONING?
PRETTY GOOD, I GUESS.
WE'VE HAD
OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
BUT, OTHERWISE, PIPER'S
COMING ALONG JUST FINE.
SHE HASN'T CALLED ME "MOMMY"
JUST YET...
BELIEVE ME,
THERE'LL BE DAYS YOU WISH
SHE NEVER KNEW THE WORD.
NOT ME.
AH, THE GLOWING OPTIMISM
OF A NEW MOTHER.
YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT.
[CHUCKLES]
SWINGS!
[PIPER, SOFTLY]:
♪ GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER
♪ WHITHER SHALL I WANDER
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ AND HE WOULD NOT
SAY HIS PRAYERS ♪
♪ I TOOK HIM
BY THE LEFT LEG ♪
♪ AND THREW HIM DOWN
THE STAIRS ♪♪
WOW. [UNEASY CHUCKLE]
THAT'S AN OLDIE, BUT A GOODIE.
WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT ONE?
IN MY HEAD.
CAN I HAVE A SNACK NOW?
YES. I'VE GOT YOUR SNACK
RIGHT HERE.
AND A HUG!
OH, PEANUT. YOU CAN HAVE
ALL THE HUGS YOU WANT!
MM!
MOMMY...
MOMMY?
[♪♪♪]
WAIT HERE A SECOND,
SWEETHEART.
[♪♪♪]
EXCUSE ME?
[CAR HORN BLARING]
[TIRES SQUEALING]
[SCREAMS]: PIPER!
COME HERE!
HONEY, ARE YOU OKAY?
SHE JUST DARTED OUT
IN FRONT OF THE CAR.
I COULD'VE KILLED HER.
I ONLY TURNED AWAY
FOR ONE SECOND.
WELL, THAT'S ALL IT TAKES
WITH KIDS.
EVEN I KNOW THAT.
I'VE GOT HER NOW. THANK YOU.
HONEY, ARE YOU OKAY?
WHY WOULD YOU JUST DART
IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC LIKE THAT?
BUT MOMMY TOLD ME TO.
MOMMY WOULD NEVER
DO SUCH A THING.
COME ON.
[SUV ENGINE STARTS]
[♪♪♪]
JUST GLAD
EVERYONE'S ALL RIGHT.
I WISH I'D BEEN THERE.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
YOU THINK PIPER'S OKAY?
SHE'S FINE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS,
SHE WASN'T HIT.
NO, NO, I MEAN OKAY
WITH THE TRANSITION
TO HER NEW FAMILY
AND ALL.
WHAT'RE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
WELL, WHY WOULD
SHE CALL
THIS WOMAN IN THE PARK
HER "MOM"?
THINK WE SHOULD
HAVE HER EVALUATED?
WHAT?
I'M JUST SAYING.
THAT YOU THINK
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
WITH OUR DAUGHTER?
THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
WELL, THEN TELL ME.
WHAT DID YOU MEAN?
HONEY, CALM DOWN.
ALL I'M SAYING IS,
I HOPE THAT...
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE SHOULD.
YOU KNOW, PIPER'S LIFE HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT ENOUGH ALREADY.
WE'RE DOING FINE.
ALL THE BOOKS SAY
THE SAME THING--
ADOPTED CHILDREN
HAVE BONDING ISSUES.
A CLASSIC
EXAMPLE OF THAT
IS THEY'LL OFTEN
TURN TO ANY ADULT
AS THEIR PARENT.
THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
REALLY?
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
POOR LITTLE SQUIRT.
WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?
[ROARS]
I'M GOING TO GET YOU!
[SQUEALING AND LAUGHING]
KEEP IT DOWN, DYLAN!
WHAT? SHE LIKES IT.
WELL, I DON'T.
YOU KNOW IT'S NOT SAFE TO ACT
ALL CRAZY AROUND THE POOL.
WHAT IF SHE FELL IN?
SHE CAN'T SWIM.
SHE'S NOT GONNA FALL IN.
DON'T ARGUE WITH ME!
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
YOU'RE PLAYING. PLEASE STOP.
IT'S OKAY. I LIKE IT.
IT'S REALLY FUN.
HONEY,
HE COULD HURT YOU.
YOU SEEM TO FORGET
SHE'S ONLY SIX YEARS OLD.
I SEE. ANYTHING ELSE?
[WATER DRIPPING]
NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT,
I DON'T LIKE YOUR USE OF
BAD LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF HER,
EITHER,
OR THE FACT
THAT YOU NEVER SEEM TO CARE
WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING
INAPPROPRIATE TELEVISION.
I MEAN, YOU DO KNOW BETTER,
AM I RIGHT?
MAYBE I SHOULD'VE
STAYED IN MY DORM AND LEFT YOU
AT PEACE WITH YOUR "NEW" FAMILY.
WOULD THAT
MAKE YOU HAPPY?
[SIGHS]: DYLAN, LOOK--
YOU'RE SUCH A BITCH.
I HEARD THAT.
HEY! WOULD YOU
TALK TO HER?
SHE SEEMS TO THINK THAT
EVERYTHING I DO
IS BAD FOR PIPER.
I'M NOT A CHILD.
THEN STOP ACTING LIKE ONE.
-THERE WE GO!
-HEY. CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
ME? WHAT ABOUT HER?
OR DOES THIS NEW FAMILY
SUPERCEDE YOUR OTHER?
YOU'RE WAY OUT OF LINE, DYLAN.
NO, I'M NOT!
SHE FINALLY GOT A KID OUTTA YOU,
NOW IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
THE REST OF US CAN GO TO HELL.
APOLOGIZE TO JOANNA!
RIGHT NOW!
I'M SORRY
YOU'RE A BITCH.
AND I'M SORRY
YOU'RE TOO BLINDED BY HER
TO SEE HOW YOU'VE CHANGED.
DYLAN! GET BACK HERE!
[♪♪♪]
DYLAN. DYLAN, STOP.
WHY?
I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE? I'M GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL, WHERE I BELONG.
STOP BEING RIDICULOUS.
OH, IS THAT WHAT I AM NOW?
I THOUGHT
I WAS JUST A BAD INFLUENCE.
CAN WE ALL JUST COOL DOWN HERE
FOR A MINUTE?
THERE'S NO REASON
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.
NO, THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.
OUR FAMILY CRASHED AND BURNED
A LONG TIME AGO.
[♪♪♪]
HEY.
YOU OKAY?
NO.
MY STEPSON CALLED ME
A "BITCH,"
AND SUGGESTED
THAT I COERCED YOU
INTO GIVING ME A CHILD.
YEP.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM
THIS UPSET BEFORE.
YEAH.
HE PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL.
CLEARLY, HE RESENTS PIPER.
REALLY?
I DON'T KNOW. HE'S 19.
YEAH, I'M NOT SURE
IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO
WITH AGE, YOU KNOW.
IF HE'S GOT SOME ISSUE
WITH YOU OR ME,
I MEAN, IT STILL
WOULD HURT.
LOOK AT ME AND MY MOM.
WE'VE NEVER WORKED ANYTHING OUT.
YEAH, I GUESS WE SHOULD
CUT HIM A BREAK THIS TIME.
SO, WHEN DYLAN'S UPSET,
WE ALL NEED TO CHANGE,
BUT PIPER IS A CHILD
WHO NEEDS EVALUATION?
HONEY, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
TO BE HONEST,
I HEARD A BIT OF WHAT
SET DYLAN OFF,
AND I'M NOT SURE
HE'S ENTIRELY WRONG.
I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED,
BUT LIKE WE JUST SAID,
DYLAN'S A TEENAGER.
HE'S GONNA TREAT HER
DIFFERENTLY. NOT LIKE...
LIKE WHAT?
[EXHALING]
LIKE NEW CHINA.
YOU CAN'T TAKE
YOUR FRUSTRATIONS
FROM YOUR DAY AT THE PARK
OUT ON DYLAN.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
OKAY.
OKAY...
EVIL STEPMOTHER IN CHECK.
SWEETIE, ARE YOU OKAY?
PIPER?
[BEN]:
I THINK SHE'S SLEEPWALKING.
[WHISPERS]: OH...
SHE PEED HER PANTS.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
HERE, I'LL TAKE HER.
COME HERE, HONEY.
I GOT YOU, BIG GIRL.
OH, WE'RE GONNA CLEAN YOU UP.
LET'S GO. OH...
[RINGING]
HELLO?
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING]
[BEEPS PHONE OFF]
[PHONE RINGS AGAIN]
[CURTLY]: WHO IS THIS?
JOANNA,
IT'S GRETCHEN.
HI, GRETCHEN.
I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW,
YOUR MOTHER, SHE'S TAKEN
A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO SEDATE HER.
[GROANING AND FUMING]
[ROARS]:
I WANT MY DAUGHTER!
WE CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
SHE'S JUST BECOME
SO MUCH MORE DISORIENTED.
HER COGNITIVE ABILITY
HAS REALLY DETERIORATED.
IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO?
NOT REALLY.
THOUGH, SOMETIMES,
SEEING FAMILIAR FACES
CAN TRIGGER THE MEMORY,
KIND OF GET HER
BACK ON TRACK.
HEY... HI.
I HEAR
YOU WERE ASKING FOR ME.
MOM?
MOM, IT'S ME. JOANNA.
[DARKLY]:
JOANNA, YOU'RE LATE.
I TOLD YOU
TO BE HOME BY 5:00.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME.
YOU'RE NEVER HOME ON TIME,
YOU NEVER CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM.
MOM, STOP.
I'M YOUR DAUGHTER,
THIS IS YOUR GRAND-DAUGHTER.
I'M YOUR DAUGHTER.
THIS IS YOUR
FATHER'S FAULT.
HIS GENES.
HIS IRRESPONSIBILITY.
I NEVER WANTED THIS.
I NEVER WANTED A BABY
IN THE FIRST PLACE!
MOM!
OKAY, HONEY, LET'S GO
FIND SOME TOYS, OKAY?
[WITH DARK DISGUST]:
A MOTHER...
A HOUSEWIFE?
[BRACES SNAP TAUT]
TIED DOWN
LIKE A PIG TO SLAUGHTER.
THIS IS YOUR
FAULT, JOANNA.
YOUR... FAULT.
I HAD A LIFE!
I NEVER WANTED YOU.
MOM, STOP IT!
STOP!
[WHOOSHING]
[DISORIENTED GRUNT]
[PLEASANTLY SURPRISED]:
HELLO, JOANNA.
[SIGHS SHAKILY]
WHERE'S PIPER?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
BRINGING HER BY.
GRETCHEN SAID SHE'D TAKE
A PICTURE OF US TOGETHER.
[GRETCHEN]:
OH, DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART.
I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING,
AND, FOR GOD'S SAKE,
THEY DON'T MEAN IT.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
DO YOU?
ACTUALLY, I THINK
SHE WAS BEING HONEST
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
[CONCERNED]: JOANNA.
IT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW,
MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS
VERY DISTANT, GROWING UP.
IN FACT, I USED TO SAY,
IT SEEMED SHE WAS IN
A CONSTANT STATE
OF WISHING
SHE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MAYBE I WASN'T WRONG.
DON'T BE
TOO HARD ON HER.
I WISH MY DAD WAS HERE.
HE'D KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WELL, MAYBE HE'S...
ON HIS WAY,
AND YOU JUST DON'T
KNOW IT.
SOMETIMES, THE ONLY PEACE
MY PATIENTS FIND
COMES AFTER A VISIT...
FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
HERE, LET ME
SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
[♪♪♪]
NO ONE SAW THE GLOWING LIGHTS
WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTO.
AND?
WELL, A SKEPTIC
MIGHT SAY THAT
IT'S JUST THE LIGHT
REFRACTING IN THE LENS.
BUT YOU THINK
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE?
WELL, I DON'T MEAN
TO SOUND NUTTY,
BUT WHEN YOU'VE WORKED HERE
FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE...
YOU BECOME WITNESS TO THINGS
YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN.
I BELIEVE THAT,
WHEN A PATIENT LOSES
THEIR GRIP ON THIS WORLD,
THEY GAIN ACCESS TO...
ANOTHER PLACE...
A SPIRITUAL PLANE.
A PLACE...
THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE OF.
I GUESS I'M JUST NOT
MUCH OF A BELIEVER
IN THAT KIND OF STUFF.
I JUST DON'T BUY IT.
I GUESS I THINK
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE,
AND, WHEN IT ENDS,
MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST.
OKAY. TO EACH HIS OWN.
[CHUCKLES]
UM, WELL, I'LL MAKE SURE
YOUR MOM GETS A COPY
OF THIS PHOTO.
YOU TOO, IF YOU WANT ONE.
OH, THAT'S OKAY.
I DON'T WANT ONE,
BUT... BUT THANK YOU.
[EXHALES WEARILY]
GOODBYE, MOM.
[QUIETLY STARTS SINGING]:
♪ GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER
♪ WHITHER SHALL I WANDER
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ WHO WOULD NOT SAY
HIS PRAYERS ♪
♪ SO I TOOK HIM
BY HIS LEFT LEG ♪
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS ♪♪
[♪♪♪]
[GIGGLING AND LAUGHING]
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLING]
MUST'VE HURT
TO HEAR HER SAY THAT.
IT FELT LIKE
A KNIFE IN MY STOMACH.
WELL, THE TRUTH CAN HURT.
ALTHOUGH, LATER ON,
IT FELT DIFFERENT,
AS IF HEARING THE TRUTH
GAVE ME A WINDOW INTO HER SOUL,
IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
WELL, YOU JUST ADMITTED
THAT SHE HAS A SOUL.
THE TRIPPY THING IS,
ALL THAT RESENTMENT THAT'S
BEEN BUILDING UP OVER THE YEARS,
SOME OF IT KIND OF WENT AWAY.
THAT'S BECAUSE
MAYBE YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HER.
BETTER THAN I EVER DID BEFORE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? LET IT GO.
JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE YOUR PARENTS
DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T
WITHOUT THEIR OWN FLAWS.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
[BEEPS PHONE ON]
HELLO?
IS MY DAD THERE?
HI, DYLAN.
UH, NO, HE'S NOT.
TELL HIM TO CALL ME.
OKAY. HEY, HOW'S EVERYTHING
GOING AT SCH--?
[CLICK,
DIAL TONE BUZZES]
[BEEP]
OH! HE'S STILL NOT
TALKING TO YOU, HUH?
AFRAID NOT.
[GASPS]
[SHATTERING]
[♪♪♪]
WHAT? WHAT, WHAT IS IT?
[EXHALES]
[CROW CAWING]
UM... REMEMBER THAT WOMAN
I TOLD YOU ABOUT?
THE ONE FROM THE PARK?
YEAH?
I THINK
I JUST SAW HER OUTSIDE.
WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
DO YOU THINK MAYBE
SHE FOLLOWED YOU HOME
FROM THE PARK?
I DON'T KNOW.
[♪♪♪]
[PIPER]: MOMMY?
[♪♪♪]
PIPER!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
MOMMY WAS HERE.
SHE'S COMING
TO TAKE ME HOME.
[♪♪♪]
THE HOMELESS WOMAN.
BEN, I SAW HER AGAIN.
RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE.
CALL THE POLICE.
I'M COMING HOME.
I HAVE, I HAVE.
THEY SAID THEY'D PATROL
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T
EXPLAIN PIPER'S BEHAVIOR.
I'M TELLING YOU,
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
HONEY, LISTEN TO ME.
MAYBE THIS IS BETTER HANDLED
BY A PROFESSIONAL.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE,
LET ME MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
FOR PIPER
WITH A CHILD THERAPIST WHO
SPECIALIZES IN ADOPTION CASES.
NO, NO. I NEED MORE
THAN SOME SHRINK'S THEORIES.
PIPER DESERVES THE TRUTH,
AND SO DO WE.
OKAY. WHERE
ARE YOU GOING?
TO THE SOURCE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
HOLD ON, JOANNA.
JUST HOLD ON A SECOND.
THINK ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
OH, I HAVE.
NOBODY AT THE AGENCY KNOWS ABOUT
THIS ADOPTION
BUT LYDIA.
YOU'RE OPENING UP
A WHOLE OTHER CAN OF WORMS HERE.
I DON'T CARE.
I JUST WANT
TO HELP MY LITTLE GIRL.
[♪♪♪]
MAY I HELP YOU?
UH, I WAS LOOKING
FOR LYDIA NEWMAN.
MRS. MAXWELL?
WHERE'S LYDIA?
SHE QUIT.
WHY?
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T KNOW.
SHE JUST STOPPED
COMING IN FOR WORK ONE DAY.
[EXHALES]
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO. I, UH...
JUST WANTED TO THANK HER.
OH. I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT YOU KNEW LYDIA.
UH, WELL, SHE HEARD
THAT OUR ADOPTION PLANS
FELL THROUGH, AND, UH,
SENT US
A LOVELY GIFT BASKET,
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D
WRITE HER A THANK-YOU NOTE
AND YOU COULD
FORWARD IT TO HER.
OF COURSE.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
EXCUSE ME.
YES, WE WILL NEED ABOUT
TWO HOURS.
[♪♪♪]
YES.
[♪♪♪]
THANKS SO MUCH.
MY PLEASURE.
[♪♪♪]
I'VE BEEN WILLING TO DO WHATEVER
IT IS YOU NEED,
EXCEPT THIS.
OH, COME ON, YOU'RE MY GUY.
I NEED YOU
TO TRUST ME ON THIS.
LOOK, OUR DAUGHTER
IS A BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT,
CARING LITTLE GIRL.
SHE'S NOT DAMAGED.
SHE DOESN'T THINK
EVERY ADULT SHE SEES
IS HER MOTHER.
SHE THINKS
ONE PARTICULAR WOMAN
WHO IS STALKING US
IS HER MOM,
AND I NEED KNOW WHY.
THEN YOU THINK
SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH
ABOUT THIS WOMAN YOU'VE SEEN?
OUR DAUGHTER
IS NOT A LIAR.
NO. BUT...
HER MOTHER'S IN PRISON.
WHAT IF SHE'S NOT?
WHAT IF SHE WAS NEVER IN PRISON?
WHAT IF LYDIA IS LYING?
THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
ARE YOU WITH ME?
CHECK THIS OUT.
[BEN]: SOMETHING TELLS ME
THIS ISN'T GOING TO END WELL.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
[♪♪♪]
[CHIMES TINKLING]
[BEN GASPING]
OH, GOD.
[BEN]: HELLO?
HELLO?
[♪♪♪]
WHOA.
WHY DO THIS?
SHE'S TOTALLY NUTS.
[♪♪♪]
WHATEVER HER STATE OF MIND,
SHE'S CERTAINLY
AFRAID OF SOMETHING.
[♪♪♪]
UH, JOANNA...
WHY WOULD SHE BURN
PIPER'S FILE?
I DON'TW,
BUT WHO'S THIS?
YOU EVER HEARD OF THEM?
NO. LYDIA HASN'T EVER
MENTIONED EITHER OF THEM.
[♪♪♪]
[BEN]: WELL, LYDIA WAS HONEST
ABOUT ONE THING, ANYWAY.
SHE REALLY WAS IN PRISON.
[GASPS AND SNATCHES FILE PHOTO]
THAT'S HER!
WHO?
THAT'S THE WOMAN FROM THE PARK
AND FROM OUR HOUSE!
THAT'S PIPER'S MOTHER.
NO. THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING.
WHERE THE HELL IS LYDIA NEWMAN?
I WON'T LET THEM
TAKE PIPER AWAY.
I WON'T.
COME HERE.
[PHONE STARTS RINGING
AND JOANNA GASPS]
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
[MACHINE BEEPS]
[ELECTRONIC VOICE]:
YOU HAVE 114 MESSAGES.
HOW MANY?
[BEEP]
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING
PLAYS IN MESSAGE]
[BEEP]
MAKE IT STOP.
IT'S FREAKING ME OUT.
[BEEP,
DISTORTED CRACKLING PLAYS]
WHAT'VE WE GOT
OURSELVES INTO?
[DISTORTED MESSAGES PLAYING]
[♪♪♪]
YEAH, YOU GOT IT BACK.
THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
NICE.
[JOANNA]: WELL, IT'S VERY
KIND OF YOU TO COME OVER.
[BETH]: OH, NOT AT ALL.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
IT WAS GREAT
TO SEE PIPER.
YEAH. HOW'S SHE BEEN
ADJUSTING, BY THE WAY?
GREAT. JUST GREAT.
BRIGHT LITTLE GIRL.
VERY LOVING.
SO, UH... NO EPISODES?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, WE LOVED
THAT LITTLE SWEETHEART
RIGHT FROM THE START.
YEAH, AND SHE APPEARED
TO LOVE LIVING WITH US.
WE BONDED
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING
SOMETHING HAPPENED?
[♪♪♪]
SHE STUCK A KNIFE
IN A LIGHT SOCKET ONE AFTERNOON.
YEAH. SHE GAVE HERSELF
QUITE A SHOCK, TOO.
[BETH]: AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.
[JOHN]: YEAH,
BUT THEN SHE TRIED
TO ELECTROCUTE
HERSELF AGAIN.
THIS TIME,
WHILE IN THE TUB
WITH ONE
OF THE OTHER KIDS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT MOST OF THESE CHILDREN
ARE VERY TROUBLED
WHEN THEY COME
TO LIVE WITH US,
AND WE'RE USED TO IT,
BUT THIS
WAS DIFFERENT.
YEAH.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU.
WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH,
AND WE TOLD LYDIA THAT.
WHAT'D SHE TELL YOU TO DO?
SHE DIDN'T.
NO, SHE JUST CAME
AND TOOK HER AWAY.
DURING THESE EPISODES,
DID PIPER EVER MENTION
HER BIRTH MOTHER
COMING BACK TO GET HER?
WELL, ALL
THE CHILDREN DO THAT
IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY.
"WHERE DID MOMMY GO?"
"WHY DID DADDY LEAVE?"
BUT PIPER?
OH, POOR THING.
SHE WAS 100% CONVINCED
THAT HER MOMMY
WAS COMING BACK FOR HER.
EVEN CLAIMED
TO SEE HER,
WHEN WE WERE SHOPPING.
[EXHALES SHAKILY]
BUT...
I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THEY ALL DO THAT SORT OF
THING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
SHE HAD NO IDEA
THAT HER MOTHER WAS IN PRISON?
NO, SHE DIDN'T.
MR. AND MRS. HARLAND,
HAS PIPER'S BIRTH MOTHER TRIED
TO CONTACT YOU RECENTLY?
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
WAIT, UH...
YOU DON'T KNOW, DO YOU?
KNOW WHAT?
PIPER'S MOTHER... IS DEAD.
SHE HANGED HERSELF
IN HER PRISON CELL
NOT LONG AFTER
SHE SIGNED HER RIGHTS AWAY.
[♪♪♪]
RUTH!
[SCREAMING]
I WANT MY DAUGHTER!
HELP!
ANYBODY!
I NEED SOME HELP!
GET HER...
[SCREAMING WITH EFFORT]
[ROARING IN RAGE]
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL.
OBVIOUSLY, I'VE SEEN THEM
GET VIOLENT BEFORE,
BUT IT'S NEVER DIRECTED
AT THEMSELVES.
IT'S LUCKY
I GOT HERE WHEN I DID.
THANK YOU, GRETCHEN.
WE BOTH REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
DID SHE SAY ANYTHING?
SHE SAID, "I WANT MY DAUGHTER."
IT SCARED THE HELL
OUT OF ME, TOO.
LIKE SHE WAS POSSESSED.
I KNOW THIS IS ALL STRANGE
FOR YOU.
YOU CALL ME
IF YOU NEED ANY MORE HELP.
OKAY?
YOU'VE REACHED THE OFFICE
OF MARGOT LACE,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE,
AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU
AS SOON AS I CAN.
[BEEP]
MISS LACE,
MY NAME IS JOANNA MAXWELL.
I GOT YOUR NUMBER
FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
OFFICE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT YOU WERE WORKING
ON AN APPEAL
FOR A CLIENT OF YOURS,
NAMED ASHLEY HENDERSON,
WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE
IN PRISON.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HER DEATH,
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AGAIN, MY NAME
IS JOANNA MAXWELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IT'S WORTH A TRY.
IF THERE'S MORE TO THIS,
SHE'LL KNOW.
YOU GOING TO TELL ME?
TELL YOU WHAT?
WHATEVER IT IS
YOU'RE STEWING ON
IN YOUR HEAD.
I KNOW HOW YOU WORK,
SWEETHEART.
YOU CHEW ON SOMETHING,
AND THEN YOU WAIT
UNTIL AFTER I CLOSE MY EYES
BEFORE YOU LAUNCH INTO
A DETAILED DIATRIBE
THAT'LL GO ON FOR HOURS.
OR NOT.
[SIGHS]
I'M THINKING
WE SHOULD CALL THE POLICE.
THE POLICE?
I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.
WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO TELL THEM?
THAT A GHOST IS ATTEMPTING
TO KIDNAP OUR CHILD?
NO. MAYBE WE CAN
TELL THEM ABOUT LYDIA,
COME CLEAN
ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DONE.
MAYBE THEY'LL KNOW
HOW TO FIND HER.
OH, SURE, AFTER THEY TAKE
PIPER AWAY FROM US.
NO WAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO
INVOLVE THE POLICE.
IT'S TOO RISKY.
THEN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING.
AT LEAST I'M
TRYING
TO PROTECT OUR DAUGHTER.
OH, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT?
I'M NOT DOING ENOUGH?
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT.
ACTUALLY, I THINK YOU DID,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT,
IT'S NOT FAIR.
GOOD NIGHT.
BEN, PLEASE--
I CAN'T BELIEVE
I LET YOU TALK ME INTO THIS.
THIS WHOLE THING
IS YOUR FAULT.
BEN, DON'T DO THIS.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
BEN?
[SCREAMS]
I WANT MY DAUGHTER.
[GASPING IN TERROR]
[RECORDING CRACKLES]
[CRACKLY VOICE SINGING]
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
♪ UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ WHO WOULDN'T STAY IN BED
♪ I TOOK HIM BY THE LEFT LEG
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS ♪
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
♪ UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS...
[LAUGHS WICKEDLY]
[DIAL SPINNING]
"M" IS FOR "MONKEY."
"I" IS FOR "IGLOO."
"N" IS FOR "NAIL."
"E" IS FOR "ELK"...
[GASPS IN FEAR]
MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE!
[GHOSTLY VOICE REPEATING]
[CYMBALS CLANGING]
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
I WANT MY DAUGHTER.
YOU CAN'T HAVE HER,
SHE'S OURS NOW!
GO BACK TO THE LIGHT,
OR WHATEVER YOU DO!
YOU'RE DEAD!
♪ ...GRABBED HIM BY THE LEG
AND THREW HIM DOWN THE STAIRS ♪
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER--
[ROARS ANGRILY]
[SCREAMS]
WHERE'S PIPER? SHE'S GONE.
WHAT?
PIPER!
[SPLUTTERING AND CRYING]
[COUGHING]
BEN...
GO INSIDE.
GO INSIDE NOW.
WHAT DO WE DO?
I DON'T KNOW.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
[RINGING]
[CLICKS TO ANSWER]
HELLO.
JOANNA,
IT'S GRETCHEN.
IT'S GRETCHEN.
HI, GRETCHEN.
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
ARE IN TERRIBLE DANGER,
BUT I THINK I KNOW
SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP.
UPON DEATH,
A SPIRIT IS ESSENTIALLY
NOTHING MORE THAN RAW EMOTION.
THINGS LIKE LOGIC,
REASON, AND EMPATHY
HAVE ALL
GONE OUT THE WINDOW.
ONLY THE STRONGEST EMOTIONS
REMAIN.
SO SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY HER DAUGHTER
ISN'T WITH HER--
SHE JUST KNOWS
IT'S OUR FAULT?
HOW MUCH OF HER MEMORY
IS INTERTWINED
WITH HER BASIC
FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT INSTINCTS
IS MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.
IN YOUR SITUATION,
SHE CLEARLY KNOWS
SHE HAS A DAUGHTER
AND THE NEED TO GET HER BACK
IS OVERRIDING
EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT WHY CAN'T SHE
JUST TAKE PIPER?
[PROFESSOR]:
IN LAYMAN'S TERMS?
SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.
HER BASIC ABILITY
TO MANIPULATE HER SURROUNDINGS
IS ALL NEW TO HER.
BUT SHE'LL LEARN?
IN SOME WAYS,
HER LEARNING CURVE
HAS ALREADY BEGUN.
SHE FOUND YOU,
AND NOW YOUR MOTHER.
GRETCHEN'S RIGHT.
IN HER CURRENT STATE,
SHE EQUATES HURTING YOU
WITH GETTING HER DAUGHTER BACK.
IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE,
ISN'T IT?
MOST LIKELY, YES.
SOMETIMES, WHEN A PERSON DIES
IN A STATE OF EXTREME EMOTION,
THEIR SPIRIT
WON'T PASS OVER
UNTIL THEY HAVE
JUSTICE.
UNLESS WE INTERCEDE,
I DOUBT SHE'LL GIVE UP
UNTIL SHE'S BROUGHT PIPER
OVER TO HER SIDE.
SHE WANTS TO KILL
HER OWN DAUGHTER?
I'M AFRAID SO.
BECAUSE TO HER,
YOU SEE,
THIS IS NOT
SUCH A BAD THING.
IT'S A WAY
TO REUNITE THEM...
FOREVER.
I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WE CAN
DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
GRETCHEN, ARE YOU UP TO IT?
MAYBE LYDIA'S APARTMENT
DOESN'T SEEM THAT INSANE.
YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA?
I KNOW. IT FEELS
OVER THE TOP,
BUT IT WORKS.
NATIVE AMERICANS
HAVE BEEN USING WHITE SAGE
TO CHASE AWAY NEGATIVE ENERGY
FOR CENTURIES.
OKAY, JUST...
A LITTLE OUT OF
MY COMFORT ZONE.
DON'T WORRY.
THE CLEANSES WE'VE DONE
HAVE ALL BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
AND IF THIS ONE ISN'T?
A MORE POWERFUL EXORCISM
MAY BE NECESSARY
IN ORDER TO CONVINCE PIPER'S MOM
TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SIDE.
ARE WE READY?
THEN LET'S BEGIN.
REMEMBER, BE FORCEFUL,
BUT NOT BELLIGERENT.
ANTAGONIZING A SPIRIT
COULD BRING ABOUT
A VIOLENT REACTION.
OKAY, WAIT A SECOND.
ARE WE SURE THAT, UH,
WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS?
BEN,
LET'S TRY AND STAY POSITIVE
ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE TRYING
TO HELP US.
[PROFESSOR]:
JOANNA'S RIGHT.
I'M NOT TRYING
TO FRIGHTEN YOU,
BUT WE DO NEED TO BE
UNITED IN OUR PURPOSE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT
PICKING A FIGHT.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING
THE SPIRIT SEE
THAT ITS PRESENCE
WON'T BE TOLERATED.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
YOU ARE DEAD,
SO WE WISH YOU WELL
TO SEEK THE LIGHT.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU
NO HARM.
LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SO, WE WISH YOU WELL
TO SEEK THE LIGHT.
SPIRIT,
WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
[MECHANICAL LAUGHTER]
[MEWLING]
[MECHANICAL LAUGHTER ECHOING]
[RATTLING]
[YELPS IN SHOCK]
[GASPS]
YOU HAVE NO POWER
OVER THE MEMBERS OF THIS HOME
ANY LONGER!
[SHATTERING]
[WIND GUSTING]
THIS HOUSE IS FOR THE LIVING
NOT THE DEAD!
SEEK THE LIGHT!
LEAVE THIS PLACE,
IN PEACE!
[SHATTERING]
SEEK THE LIGHT!
LEAVE US!
[UNEARTHLY SCREAMING]
[MIRROR SHATTERING]
IS THAT IT?
YEAH.
YEAH, I THINK
THAT'S IT.
WE CAN'T FORCE THE SPIRIT
TO CROSS OVER,
BUT WE CAN...
KEEP IT OUT OF YOUR HOME.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND
THAT YOUR HOUSE IS SAFE NOW.
GRETCHEN, PROFESSOR SORENSON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
OH, YOU'RE
MOST WELCOME.
I'M JUST SORRY
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET
UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES.
GOOD NIGHT.
'NIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
WE SHOULD KNOW?
WELL, JUST RESPECT
WHAT'S BEEN DONE,
AND DON'T DO ANYTHING
TO INVITE THE SPIRIT
BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE.
LIKE WHAT?
ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS FOR
A SPIRIT TO INVADE A HOME
IS THROUGH
SEEMINGLY INNOCENT GAMES.
DESPITE WHAT YOU THINK,
THEY DO HAVE POWER.
WHAT KIND OF GAMES?
PALM READINGS,
AUTOMATIC WRITINGS,
TAROT CARDS,
SPIRIT IN THE GLASS,
ANY KIND OF INCANTATION--
OUIJA BOARD?
YOU DO NOT WANT A OUIJA BOARD
ANYWHERE NEAR THIS HOUSE.
THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF THING
WE DO AROUND HERE
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THEN YOU'LL BE FINE.
WELL, THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
"AND LARRY THE LOON
AND MILDRED THE MALLARD
"LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
THE END."
DADDY,
DO I STILL HAVE TWO MOMMIES?
YES, YOU ALWAYS WILL.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU'RE
A VERY LUCKY LITTLE GIRL.
FIRST OF ALL,
YOU HAD A BIRTH MOTHER,
AND SHE CARRIED YOU
IN HER TUMMY, YOU KNOW,
AND THEN, WHEN SHE GOT SICK
AND SHE WENT TO HEAVEN,
SHE LOVED YOU SO MUCH,
THAT SHE MADE PLANS
FOR YOU
TO LIVE WITH
A NEW MOMMY AND DADDY
SO THAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS
BE TAKEN CARE OF.
PIPER,
WILL YOU TELL ME
IF YOU EVER SEE
YOUR MOMMY AGAIN?
THERE SHE IS.
[LAUGHS]
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN STANDING THERE?
LONG ENOUGH.
PIPER, IT'S BEDTIME.
COME ON.
HOP IN THERE.
I LOVE YOU.
'NIGHT, SWEETHEART.
- HELLO!
- HI!
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO, YOU THINK I COULD
GET ONE OF THESE?
ABSOLUTELY.
[CHUCKLES FONDLY]
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT AT HOME?
PIPER'S GOOD?
SHE'S GREAT.
ACTUALLY, EVERYTHING'S...
PERFECT.
BE HONEST. NO PROBLEMS?
NONE.
WHAT YOU DID FOR US,
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
I'LL HAVE THIS FOR YOU
NEXT TIME I SEE YOU.
GREAT, THANKS.
DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?
IT'S A FAMILY NEWSLETTER
DAD USED TO MAIL OUT
EVERY YEAR
WHEN I WAS A KID.
HE LOVED BRAGGING TO
HIS FRIENDS ABOUT HIS FAMILY.
I THREW ALL THOSE AWAY.
I REMEMBER THAT, TOO.
YOUR FATHER SAID
I SHOULD DO IT.
NO, HE DIDN'T, MOM.
HE SAID YOU SHOULD PUT THEM AWAY
FOR THE GRANDKIDS,
BUT YOU SAID
YOU NEEDED THE STORAGE.
YOUR FATHER SAID--
I'M NOT LYING, MOM.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION
MANY TIMES.
[SIGHS]
MOM...
I-I'D LIKE TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT DAD.
I'D LIKE TO TRY
AND UNDERSTAND--
YOUR FATHER'S DEAD.
I KNOW HE IS, BUT I'M NOT.
IT'S JUST YOU AND ME NOW, MOM,
AND I'D LIKE TO
GET TO KNOW YOU...
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
[SIGHS]
JOANNA...
I'D LIKE THAT, TOO.
SERIOUSLY?
YOU TOLD GRETCHEN
EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT?
IT IS.
REALLY?
NOTHING'S MISSING.
WE'RE JUST ONE BIG
HAPPY FAMILY?
CALL DYLAN.
NO, I'VE HAD ENOUGH
DRAMA FOR ONE DAY.
HE WON'T WANT TO
TALK TO ME ANYWAY.
COME ON, WHEN DO YOU
EVER CALL HIM?
NEVER.
SO IT MIGHT
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I GUESS.
NO, LET ME
REPHRASE THAT.
IT WOULD MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
WHILE YOU'RE
REACHING OUT TO FAMILY?
GIVE IT A TRY.
[SIGHING NERVOUSLY]
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
DYLAN! HEY, IT'S JOANNA.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY. I GOTTA GO.
I'M IN A BIT OF A HURRY.
I CAN'T REALLY TALK
ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.
WAIT.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
YOU KNOW, UM,
I THOUGHT, WITH
THE LONG WEEKEND COMING,
YOU MIGHT WANT TO...
COME HOME,
SPEND SOME TIME AT THE HOUSE.
YOU WANT ME TO COME HOME?
LOOK, I KNOW THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN
GREAT BETWEEN US LATELY,
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN
TOUGH ON YOU,
HAVING PIPER JOIN OUR FAMILY,
BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE
FOR HOW I'VE TREATED YOU.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE
YELLED AT YOU, EITHER.
YOU KNOW, A LOT'S BEEN GOING ON
AROUND HERE LATELY, AND...
I MISS YOU, DYLAN.
I MISS YOUR PRESENCE
IN THIS FAMILY.
SO, COME HOME, OKAY?
PIPER NEEDS HER BIG BROTHER.
MY DAD REALLY
DOESN'T DESERVE YOU.
YOU READ MY MIND.
[CHUCKLES]
LOOK...
TELL DAD
TO PICK ME UP TONIGHT.
REALLY?
YEAH,
LONG WEEKENDS SUCK
AROUND HERE.
THERE'S NOBODY'S AROUND.
THAT'S GREAT.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
I LOVE YOU, DYLAN.
YEAH, I KNOW.
[STATIC WHINES AND CRACKLES]
[FEEDBACK WHINING]
DYLAN?
WHAT WAS THAT?
HEY, MUST BE MY BATTERY.
UM, I'LL SEE YOU SOON. BYE.
THAT WAS AMAZING.
I REALLY DON'T DESERVE YOU.
WELL, AT LEAST
WE ALL AGREE ON SOMETHING.
GO GET HIM.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR AGREEING
TO SEE ME, MISS LACE.
IT'S MY PLEASURE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY,
I WAS SURPRISED
TO GET YOUR CALL
REGARDING
ASHLEY HENDERSON.
SHE WASN'T A BAD PERSON.
SHE JUST GOT CAUGHT UP
WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
A BREAKING AND ENTERING
CONVICTION
PUT HER BEHIND BARS
FOR 26 MONTHS.
IT WAS HARD ON HER,
BUT SHE KNEW SHE'D BE
REUNITED WITH HER DAUGHTER
WHEN IT WAS OVER,
SO SHE STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE,
HOPING FOR AN EARLY RELEASE.
THEN LYDIA TRICKED HER
INTO PERMANENTLY SIGNING AWAY
HER PARENTAL RIGHTS,
AND ASHLEY'S WORLD
CAME CRASHING DOWN AROUND HER.
[ASHLEY]: WHAT DO YOU MEAN
I CAN'T REAPPLY FOR CUSTODY
WHEN I GET OUT?
[CRYING]:
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS TOLD.
WHEN I-WHEN I SIGNED
THE PAPERS,
THE LADY SAID
IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY--
IT'S NOT FINAL!
YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!
THAT'S MY BABY.
SHE'S MINE! YOU CAN'T--
HELLO?
HELLO...
[SOBBING]
WHY WON'T ANYBODY HELP ME?
THEY STOLE MY LITTLE GIRL...
[♪♪♪]
[JOANNA]:
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU'RE SAYING LYDIA
SOLD PIPER?
OR TRIED TO, ANYWAY.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND LYDIA.
SHE NEEDS TO BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE--
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S
NO WAY TO PROVE ANY OF IT.
NOT WITHOUT THE TESTIMONY
OF THE ATTORNEY
OR THE COUPLE WHO PAID LYDIA,
AND THEY'VE ALL
VANISHED.
I HOPE THEY GOT
WHAT'S COMING TO THEM.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS]
[STATIC CRACKLES ON STEREO]
I REALLY APPRECIATED
JOANNA'S CALL.
YOU SHOULD
TELL HER THAT.
I WILL.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I WAS MORE MAD AT YOU
THAN I WAS AT JOANNA.
ME?
YEAH, DAD. YOU.
WHY?
BECAUSE...
SOMETIMES, I NEED YOU TO BE
AS INTERESTED IN MY LIFE
AS YOU ARE IN YOUR NEW ONE--
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
DOES IT MATTER?
DYLAN, LOOK, I...
[SIGHS]
I'M SORRY.
NO MORE EXCUSES.
WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?
I ALREADY HAVE.
YOU'RE MY RIDE HOME.
IT'S PRETTY QUIET TONIGHT.
MRS. BURTON'S FOOT
IS SWELLING AGAIN,
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THANKS, GRETCH.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
I WILL,
JUST AS SOON AS I GET
ALL THESE FILES DONE.
EVERYONE BAILED
ALREADY, HUH?
YEAH, NOBODY
WASTES ANY TIME.
YOU FEEL THAT?
[TOY SQUAWKS]:
"M" IS FOR MONKEY.
"A" IS FOR APPLE.
"X" IS FOR--
NO GIRLFRIEND,
SERIOUSLY?
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING.
ONE LESS REASON
TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE BLESSED.
WHAT?
LONG STORY.
OH, NO.
NO, I'M NOT KIDDING.
YOU'RE SERIOUS?
YOU LET JOANNA
TALK YOU INTO IT?
YEAH, IT'S CALLED
COMPROMISE.
IT MAKES
A MARRIAGE GO ROUND.
I DON'T CARE.
THERE'S NO WAY
I'D EVER LET ANYONE
TALK ME INTO
EATING GREEN TEA SOUFFLE.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.
[LAUGHS]
OKAY, FINE, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT TASTES LIKE FEET.
I KNEW IT!
[LAUGHING]
[FEEDBACK WHINES]
[DISTORTED VOICE
CRACKLES AND DRONES]
WHAT--
OPEN.
- OPEN--
- DAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OPEN, COME ON.
COME ON...
DAD?
DYLAN'S COMING
TO SEE YOU.
NO, HE'S NOT.
OF COURSE HE IS.
WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?
[WHISPERING]
MOMMY TOLD ME.
WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?
PIPER, LOOK AT ME
AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SAID.
[WHISPERING]
I CAN'T. IT'S A SECRET.
[DIALING CELL PHONE]
[RINGING]
HI, IT'S BEN.
LEAVE A MESSAGE.
HEY, BEN, IT'S ME,
JUST CHECKING IN.
CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. WHAT'S GOING ON?
DON'T WORRY, SOMEONE
WILL BE HERE SOON.
[SHATTERS]
DAMN IT...
YOU SAID A BAD WORD!
AND I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST WORRIED.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
[FEEDBACK WHINES,
JOANNA WINCES]
BEN?
JOANNA, I'M AT THE SCHOOL.
WE NEED HELP.
WE NEED HELP, JOANNA.
SEND HELP.
BEN, WHAT'S GOING ON?
BEN!
PIPER, WE GOTTA GO.
[GASPS IN HORROR]
LYDIA.
[DISTORTED VOICE
WARBLES WITH STATIC]
WHAT WAS THAT?
[DIALING CELL PHONE]
PICK UP THE PHONE, JOANNA.
PICK UP THE PHONE...
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
LYDIA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
HELLO, HAPPY FAMILY.
[GASPS]
GERTIE!
PIPER, NO!
MOMMY GAVE GERTIE TO ME
WHEN SHE WENT AWAY--
MY FIRST MOMMY.
PLEASE...
PLEASE GIVE HER BACK TO ME.
IT'S TIME TO GO, SWEETHEART.
YOUR MOMMY WANTS YOU BACK.
HER MOTHER IS DEAD, LYDIA.
DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?
HER SPIRIT WON'T STOP
TORTURING ME.
BUT I'M GOING TO
MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.
PIPER NEEDS TO JOIN HER MOMMY
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
NO.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY.
I HAD A WEALTHY CLIENT
WHO WAS WILLING TO PAY
FOR A CHILD,
SO I TRICKED PIPER'S MOTHER
INTO GIVING HER UP,
AND NOW SHE WON'T STOP
UNTIL SHE GETS HER BACK.
NOT EVEN GIVING HER TO YOU
COULD CHANGE THAT.
I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS, LYDIA.
YOU IDIOT, DON'T YOU GET IT?
IF I DON'T DO THIS,
SHE'S GOING TO KILL YOU,
JUST LIKE SHE KILLED
MY OTHER CLIENTS!
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
OH GOD, LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING]
GOD, LEAVE ME ALONE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING]
LEAVE ME ALONE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
[SMASH]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
COME ON, PICK UP, PICK UP.
[DISTORTED VOICE
SCREECHING AND FEEDING BACK]
[BEEPS PHONE OFF]
I CALLED THE DIOCESE
AS SOON AS I GOT YOUR MESSAGE.
GOOD.
LET'S GO.
WE'VE GOT TO HURRY.
[SLIDING HEAVY DRESSER]
[BANGING ON DOOR]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[BANGING VIOLENTLY]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN TERROR]
[SHATTERING]
DAD, WHAT'S GOING ON?
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
[STATIC CRACKLING]
WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!
HURTING US
WON'T MAKE
THINGS EVEN!
[WHISPERING]
I THINK SHE'S GONE.
"SHE"?
[BLOWS POUNDING,
METAL WRENCHING]
WE'RE TRAPPED IN HERE!
STAY BACK!
GET DOWN, DYLAN, GET DOWN!
[EERIE SHRIEKING]
I'M SORRY, DYLAN!
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!
[BLOWS POUNDING]
[SCRAPING AND RENDING]
[ABRUPT SILENCE]
[PIPER'S VOICE ECHOES]:
MOMMY, HELP ME!
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[POUNDING AND BANGING
FROM INSIDE]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
NO, I-I CAN'T
GO UP THERE.
I'LL GET HELP--
OH, GOD...
[VIOLENT BANGING
CONTINUES UPSTAIRS]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[WIND GUSTING]
[SMASH]
[BANGING VIOLENTLY]
I'M SCARED.
BABY, I'VE GOT YOU.
[BANGING]
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
OPEN THIS DOOR!
[SCREAMING]
I WANT MY MOMMY!
SO DO I.
YOU NEED TO INVITE YOUR MOMMY
INTO OUR HOUSE.
I'M GONNA
BREAK THIS DOOR!
[SCREAMING AND BANGING]
GIVE ME PIPER!
LET ME IN!
GIVE ME PIPER!
LET ME IN!
[BANGING DESPERATELY]
GIVE ME PIPER!
[BLOW THUDS HEAVILY]
[SCREAMING IN TERROR]
[PIPER SCREAMS]
I NEED YOU TO FOCUS,
BABY GIRL, OKAY?
WE NEED YOUR MOMMY.
YOUR OTHER MOMMY, OKAY?
BRING HER TO US.
[BLOWS SPLINTERING]
"H", "E,"
"L", "P"...
HELP ME.
FOCUS, BABY.
WE NEED YOUR MOMMY.
[BANGING AND CHOPPING]
ASK HER IN.
DO IT NOW.
HELP ME, MOMMY, HELP ME!
[HAMMERING ON DOOR]
YOUR DAUGHTER NEEDS YOU!
DON'T LET THIS WOMAN HURT HER!
"H", "E", "L", "P."
"HELP ME. HELP ME."
ARE YOU AFRAID?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
TAKE PIPER AWAY!
HELP ME...
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST.
YOU READ MY MIND.
I'LL HAUNT YOU TO YOUR GRAVE,
THAT'S A PROMISE.
[GHOSTLY VOICE]:
MINE...
[GASPING]
OH, GOD...
MOMMY?
[SCREAMS] NO!
GET BACK!
GO AWAY!
I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU!
NO.
SHE'S TRYING TO HURT PIPER!
NO...
I'M SORRY I TRICKED YOU, OKAY?
I'M TRYING TO REUNITE YOU!
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT YOU--
GET BACK...
I CAN STILL FIX IT.
YOU'LL BOTH BE DEAD.
YOU'LL BE TOGETHER
FOREVER.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS LET ME KILL YOUR DAUGHTER!
[SCREAMING]
[BODY THUDS HEAVILY]
[GASPING IN HORROR]
[GROANING WEAKLY]
[KNIFE SQUELCHES]
[GASPS IN SHOCK]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[GHOSTLY VOICE]:
MINE!
MINE...
JOANNA!
IT'S OKAY, BABY.
IT'S OKAY.
[WIND GUSTING]
JOANNA!
OH, MY GOD....
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLES]
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
WHAT KIND OF A MOTHER ARE YOU?
TRY AND REMEMBER.
YOU LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER.
YOU WOULDN'T HURT HER.
YOU LOVE HER,
AND PIPER LOVES YOU.
MOMMY!
MAKE HER GO AWAY!
MAKE IT STOP!
SHE CAN'T GO WITH YOU.
SHE'S BETTER OFF HERE WITH ME.
I'LL TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE
OF HER, I PROMISE.
I LOVE HER.
I LOVE PIPER.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER AWAY.
[SOBBING] PLEASE.
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
PIPER, YOUR MOMMY LOVES YOU
VERY MUCH,
AND ALWAYS WILL.
BOTH YOUR MOMMYS.
YOU OKAY?
OH...
[ALL CHEERING]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
YAY!
WHO WANTS A PIECE?
I DO, I DO, I DO!
[LAUGHTER]
OKAY, COMING
RIGHT UP.
CAN YOU SHARE IT?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
BEAT ME TO IT.
GO DEEP.
YOU GOT THIS?
OH, NICE TRY.
WHAT KIND OF THROW WAS THAT?
YOU GOTTA JUMP.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
AN ATHLETE.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
JUST A BRIGHT FUTURE
FOR OUR FAMILY.
I THINK YOUR MOM'S
HAVING A GOOD TIME.
YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I WAS THINKING
WE COULD CONSIDER
MOVING HER INTO THE HOUSE.
A LOT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH SAYS
ALLOWING ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS
TO LIVE IN THE PAST
IS THE BEST WAY
TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
YEAH, JUST I'D HATE TO SEE YOU
REVISIT THAT HURT.
WELL, I'M MORE INCLINED
TO THINK OF IT AS A DO-OVER.
MAYBE WE COULD EVEN
FIND THAT BOND
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT.
YOU'RE A GOOD DAUGHTER,
JOANNA MAXWELL,
AND A GREAT MOTHER.
OH, COME ON, GIVE ME A BREAK.
OH, YOU DON'T AGREE?
WELL, LET'S
GET REAL, PEOPLE.
I STILL DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED,
BUT, ALL THE SAME,
WHAT SHE DID TO SAVE PIPER
WAS... UNBELIEVABLE.
DON'T SELL
YOURSELF SHORT.
YOU'RE A FANTASTIC MOTHER,
AND ANYBODY
WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY
IS CRAZY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
I'D DO THE SAME FOR YOU,
REAL MOM OR NOT.
I LOVE YOU, DYLAN.
I KNOW YOU DO,
AND THAT'S COOL.
MAYBE SOMEDAY,
YOU AND MY MOM
CAN BE FRIENDS.
I'D LIKE THAT.
SOMETHING TELLS ME
IF IT INVOLVES ANOTHER MOTHER,
YOU CAN WORK IT OUT.
[PIPER SINGING]
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
[SINGING TOGETHER]:
♪ I TOOK HIM BY THE LEFT LEG
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS... ♪
[CHUCKLING]
[♪♪♪]
[GHOSTLY VOICE WHISPERS]
MINE...
HELLO, HAPPY FAMILY.
[SHATTERING]
[RINGING]
HELLO?
[DISTORTED CRACKLING]
IS ANYONE THERE?
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING
CONTINUES]
[ROARS]: LEAVE ME ALONE!
[♪♪♪]
[♪♪♪]
[THUDDING]
[♪♪♪]
ABSOLUTELY!
THE SQUAB IS
ONE OF MY SIGNATURE DISHES.
YES, I CAN DO
THE GREEN TEA SOUFFLE, AS WELL.
PERFECT.
I'LL TAKE CARE
OF EVERYTHING, MRS. NYBERG,
AND THANK YOU
FOR THINKING OF ME.
♪ I LOVE IT!
THAT'S THREE DINNER PARTIES
THIS MONTH.
NO, I LOVE IT.
LET ME KNOW WHEN
I CAN QUIT MY JOB.
I'VE ALREADY GOT
OUR FLORIDA RETIREMENT VILLA
PICKED OUT.
CLOTHING OPTIONAL.
UGH. LET ME KNOW
WHEN I CAN THROW UP.
EW! ME TOO.
MORNIN', DYLAN.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY,
DYLAN?
I'M DOING FINE.
THANKS, DAD. HOW YOU DOIN'?
HEY, AREN'T YOU LATE
FOR CLASS, PAL?
I'LL GET THERE.
TODAY'S THE BIG DAY, RIGHT?
[INHALES SHARPLY]:
WE THINK SO.
APPOINTMENT'S AT 10.
MY LAUNDRY DONE?
ON THE STEP.
COOL.
WELL, I HOPE YOU TWO FIND
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE
TO GET A DOG.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY]
SO... THAT WENT WELL.
I'LL TALK TO HIM.
FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
OH, I KNOW
WHAT IT IS.
IT'S ME,
EVIL STEPMOTHER.
WELL, NO ONE SAID
THIS WAS GONNA BE EASY,
EVEN WITH DYLAN
LIVING AWAY AT COLLEGE.
BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'VE TOLD HIM MANY TIMES,
EITHER HE LOVES YOU
AS MUCH AS I DO,
OR, THAT'S IT,
HE'S OUT OF THE WILL.
THAT'S WHY
I MARRIED YOU.
EXCELLENT
PARENTING SKILLS.
GOOD. WELL,
I'M GLAD IT WAS--
I KNEW THERE WAS
A REASON I GOT SO LUCKY.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
WOW, I DIDN'T THINK
I'D BE SO NERVOUS.
YOU'RE GONNA
BE FINE.
THIS IS GOOD, RIGHT?
THIS MEETING THEY ASKED FOR.
I THINK IT'S BETTER
THAN GOOD. YOU DON'T?
NO, NO, I DO.
IT'S JUST
ALL THE FORUMS SAY
IT CAN TAKE UP
TO 18 MONTHS
TO GET YOUR REFERRAL
THROUGH, SO...
MAYBE THEY LIKED US.
BUMPED US UP THE LIST.
I KNOW THEY LIKED ME.
WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
WELL... YOU KNOW
HOW YOU ARE,
AND THEY DID SAY
PERSONALITY--
-OH, PERSONALITY?
-...WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
OH! YOU THINK I HAVE
A HORRIBLE PERSONALITY?
NO, NO. I'M SAYING
YOU DON'T HAVE ONE!
HEY, HEY. COOL IT.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING.
I DON'T CARE. LET THEM.
YOU GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT MOM.
[PHONE RINGING]
HELLO. THIS IS LYDIA.
[WOMAN HISSES]:
SHE'S MINE. MINE!
MINE.
[LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE BUZZES]
[PHONE RINGS]
[GASPING]
I'M SORRY, KIM.
I-I DIDN'T
SEE YOU THERE.
NO WORRIES.
LOVE YOUR NECKLACE.
THANK YOU.
MORNING.
[♪♪♪]
SO... BOY OR GIRL?
WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
MRS. MAXWELL,
ON YOUR ADOPTION APPLICATION,
YOU NOTED THAT YOU TAKE
CITALOPRAM FOR DEPRESSION.
IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED IT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN TAKING IT
FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW?
[JOANNA]: YES.
-REGULARLY?
-REGULARLY, YES.
[BEN]: KIM, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION
WE WERE JUST GONNA COME HERE
AND YOU WERE GOING TO SHOW US
A PICTURE OF OUR NEW BABY.
WELL, TO BE PERFECTLY, UH...
BLUNT...
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS
IS FROWNED UPON
BY MANY OF THE COUNTRIES
WITH WHOM
WE HAVE ADOPTION AGREEMENTS.
THAT SEEMS
RATHER NARROW-MINDED.
YEAH, I WOULD THINK ANYTHING
THAT WOULD HELP
A PROSPECTIVE PARENT COPE
WOULD BE SEEN
AS A GOOD THING.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY DON'T VIEW IT THIS WAY.
THE MEDICATION GAVE HER
HER LIFE BACK.
I HAVE A CHEMICAL
DEFICIENCY, THAT'S ALL.
YOU KNOW, IF I HAD
A BROKEN ARM
AND DIDN'T TREAT IT,
YOU WOULD THINK
I WAS RIDICULOUS.
HOW IS THIS
ANY DIFFERENT?
IT'S NOT WRONG TO ASK FOR HELP.
LOOK, I REALIZE
THAT THEIR THINKING IS FLAWED,
BUT, BECAUSE YOU DISCLOSED IT
IN YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY,
THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
ARE YOU SAYING
OUR APPLICATION
HAS BEEN
FLAT-OUT REJECTED?
I'M AFRAID SO.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET
THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE,
UM, SUCH AS DOMESTIC ADOPTION.
[JOANNA]: THAT'S NOT FOR US.
WE HAVE FRIENDS
WHO'VE BEEN
ON THE WAITING LIST
FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS,
WE COULD EASILY BE ON
FOR TWICE THAT LONG.
WHAT IF WE WERE TO REFILE
WITHOUT MENTIONING
THE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS?
AT THIS POINT,
YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT,
OR IT'S FRAUD.
WHAT ABOUT SURROGACY?
WE'VE TRIED.
WOULD YOU BE OPEN
TO ADOPTING A TEEN?
OUR FOSTER SYSTEM,
IT JUST HAS SO MANY
INCREDIBLE YOUNG LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN AVAILABLE
FOR PERMANENT
ADOPTION.
BEN, I WANT TO GO HOME.
[BEN, QUIETLY]: YEAH.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
YOU SHOULD WARN PEOPLE.
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
I'M REALLY SORRY.
SO ARE WE.
[SIGHS WEARILY]
WELL, THAT SUCKED.
THEY SEEM LIKE
SUCH GOOD PEOPLE, TOO.
IT'S...
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
IT NEVER IS.
[♪♪♪]
[SNIFFLING]
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
I'M SORRY.
IS SOMEONE IN THERE?
BE RIGHT OUT.
HEY, GRETCHEN.
HOW'S MY MOM DOING?
OH, IT'S BEEN
ONE OF THOSE DAYS,
BUT SHE'LL BE GLAD
TO SEE YOU.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE
A BAD COSMIC JOKE.
THE PARENT WHO CARED ABOUT ME
IS GONE,
AND THE ONE WHO'S LEFT BEHIND
NEEDS CONSTANT CARE.
I KNOW YOU LOVED
YOUR FATHER VERY MUCH,
AND WE MISS
SEEING HIM AROUND HERE, TOO.
JUST DO YOUR BEST.
LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
HI, MOM.
WHY HAS MICHAEL
STOPPED VISITING ME?
HAS HE FOUND
SOMEONE ELSE?
NO. MOM...
DAD PASSED AWAY
LAST WINTER. REMEMBER?
IT WAS SNOWING AT THE FUNERAL.
THE WIND WAS BLOWING?
THE WIND?
OHH...
IT
WAS
COLD.
BLUSTERY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOT A GOOD DAY
FOR A FUNERAL.
NO.
BUT I LIKED
THAT POTATO SALAD.
AND THE HAM.
HAVE YOUR COUSIN, ANNETTE,
BRING ME SOME MORE.
YOU KNOW...
I COULD COOK FOR YOU.
MY CATERING COMPANY
HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF.
ANNETTE'S POTATO SALAD
IS THE BEST.
TELL HER
TO MAKE A LOT OF IT.
OKAY. I'LL DO THAT.
[UNCERTAIN]:
MICHAEL'S GONE?
HE IS, MOM...
DAD'S DEAD AND GONE.
MY HUSBAND
IS DEAD, TOO.
OH, DOLORES.
I KNOW.
I'M SORRY.
DON'T BE.
HE COMES TO VISIT ME
EVERY NIGHT,
JUST LIKE
HE SAID HE WOULD.
LARRY IS A GOOD MAN.
[SCOFFS WITH DISGUST]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A GOOD MAN.
THEY'RE ALL BOOZERS
AND SKIRT-CHASERS,
AND MY HUSBAND WAS
THE WORST OF THEM ALL!
MOM, DON'T SAY THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
DAD LOVED YOU.
LARRY AND I
PLAY BINGO TOGETHER.
HE LETS ME WIN.
[GIGGLES]
[♪♪♪]
HER ALZHEIMER'S
IS GETTING WORSE.
WELL, THAT'S
NOT UNUSUAL.
OFTEN, THE DEATH
OF A SPOUSE CAN
ACCELERATE DEMENTIA.
IT HAPPENED
TO MY MOTHER.
WELL, I'M NOT SURE DOLORES
IS DOING MUCH BETTER.
SHE SAYS HER DEAD HUSBAND
COMES TO VISIT HER.
THEY PLAY BINGO.
WELL, OF COURSE,
HE DOES.
IT WOULDN'T BE
THE FIRST TIME
A SPIRIT'S STOPPED BY
TO DEAL WITH
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACE.
[LAUGHS]: NICE ONE.
YOU HAD ME GOIN'.
I COULD TELL.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU WORK
HEREONG ENOUGH,
YOU SEE JUST HOW STRONG
THE EARTHLY BONDS ARE
BETWEEN PEOPLE.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES,
FATHERS AND SONS,
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS...
MAYBE THESE BONDS ARE
HARDER TO BREAK THAN WE THINK.
NAH. I THINK IT'S JUST
WISHFUL THINKING.
[CHUCKLING]: BYE.
[♪♪♪]
I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY FAULT.
MAYBE I SHOULD'VE
DONE SOME RESEARCH.
DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP, HONEY.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.
YEAH, BUT IF I J--
"BUT" NOTHING.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM
MAKE ME FEEL BAD
ABOUT DOING WHAT
WAS RIGHT FOR ME AT THE TIME.
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
MR. MAXWELL?
HI. MY NAME IS LYDIA NEWMAN.
I'M FROM THE ST. BARLOW
ADOPTION AGENCY,
AND I THINK
I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
THIS WILL STRIKE YOU
AS UNORTHODOX,
BUT I OVERHEARD
YOUR CONVERSATION WITH KIM
AT THE AGENCY
AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW
THAT I UNDERSTAND
YOUR FRUSTRATION.
THANK YOU, MS. NEWMAN.
MY OWN MOTHER WAS ON
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
FOR YEARS.
BACK THEN,
IT WASN'T SOMETHING
THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
I CAN'T BEGIN
TO IMAGINE
THE NUMBER OF GREAT
MOMS AND DADS
WHO'VE BEEN TURNED AWAY
BY THIS RIDICULOUS NOTION
THAT THEY'RE TOO DAMAGED
TO LOVE A CHILD.
VERY TRUE.
WHICH BRINGS ME
TO WHY I'M HERE.
I'VE COME ACROSS
A UNIQUE SITUATION.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO PLACE
A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
HER MOTHER IS IN PRISON
ON A THREE-STRIKE
FELONY CONVICTION--
AND SHE'S AGREED
TO TURN THE CHILD
OVER TO THE STATE
FOR PERMANENT ADOPTION.
OHH...
THERE MUST BE
A WAITING LIST?
NOT IF YOU CAN CIRCUMVENT IT.
WHICH IS WHY...
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO YOUR NEW DAUGHTER.
WHOA. HOLD ON. UH...
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU THINKING ABOUT US FIRST,
BUT I GOT TO ASK YOU...
AND I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THIS
THE WRONG WAY...
ISN'T THIS ILLEGAL?
WELL, I SUPPOSE SOMEBODY
COULD MAKE THAT ARGUMENT,
BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU,
IN ALL MY YEARS
AS A SOCIAL WORKER,
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY
CHALLENGE A PLACEMENT REQUEST.
NO, RIGHT. HOWEVER, IF WE DID
DECIDE TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD,
THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY
THAT, AT SOME POINT
IN THE FUTURE,
WE COULD END UP
IN A LEGAL BATTLE.
I THOUGHT
YOU WANTED TO BE PARENTS.
WE DO!
BUT I THINK MY HUSBAND'S
QUESTIONS ARE GOOD ONES.
I MEAN, THE LAST THING
WE'D WANT TO HAPPEN IS TO BRING
THIS LITTLE GIRL INTO OUR HOME,
ONLY TO LOSE HER.
MAYBE I WAS WRONG
ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU.
MOST COUPLES WOULD LEAP AT
A DOMESTIC ADOPTION OPPORTUNITY
WITH NO BIRTH MOTHER
IN THE WAY.
MS. NEWMAN, WAIT.
NO, I...
I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS
A LONG TIME,
AND ALTHOUGH
MOST OF YOU WON'T ADMIT IT,
NONE OF YOU WANT TO SHARE
YOUR CHILD'S LOVE WITH ANYONE.
WHAT I'M OFFERING YOU
IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OCCURRENCE.
[BEN]:
WE DON'T DISAGREE.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT
TO SET OURSELVES UP
FOR DISASTER.
ISN'T THERE SOME WAY
WE CAN DO THIS BY THE BOOK?
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE
TO DEBATE THE LEGAL PARAMETERS
OF "BY THE BOOK," MR. MAXWELL,
EXCEPT TO SAY
THAT ALL THE PROPER PAPERWORK
WOULD BE IN PLACE.
YOU KNOW...
BEING A PARENT,
IT REQUIRES PERSONAL SACRIFICE,
AND, IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT
YOU WERE WRONGED BY THE SYSTEM,
I'M SURE I CAN FIND
SOMEBODY WHO WAS.
NO, WAIT.
MAYBE WE'RE BEING
TOO CAUTIOUS.
IF YOU COULD JUST
GIVE USE A FEW MINUTES
TO DISCUSS THIS...
IN PRIVATE.
WHY?
HIS MIND'S ALREADY MADE UP.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
PLEASE. JUST A MINUTE.
FINE.
"WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES,
ANOTHER ONE OPENS."
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU ALWAYS SAY?
YEAH, BUT THIS IS VERY DICEY.
I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN
COMPREHEND
ALL THE WAYS
THIS COULD TURN OUT BADLY.
I KNOW, BUT I WANT
TO MOVE FORWARD ANYWAY.
WHY?
I MEAN, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ONE
TO THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND
BEFORE.
LOOK AT THIS LITTLE GIRL, BEN.
SHE NEEDS US!
JOANNA, THAT'S NOT FAIR.
I KNOW IT'S NOT,
BUT IT'S THE WAY I FEEL,
AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU
A BETTER,
MORE CONCRETE ANSWER,
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE
A LEAP OF FAITH WITH ME.
WE NEED TO GET THIS LITTLE GIRL
INTO A LOVING HOME,
EVEN IF IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
WE'D LOVE
TO ADOPT PIPER.
[LYDIA, LAUGHING]: OH!
OH...
THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.
I'LL BE IN TOUCH SOON
TO FINALIZE EVERYTHING.
I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.
I ALWAYS SAY, "EVERY WOMAN
DESERVES TO BE A MOM."
[♪♪♪]
WHAT TIME IS IT?
FIVE MINUTES LATER
THAN THE LAST TIME
YOU ASKED ME.
WHAT IF LYDIA DOESN'T SHOW UP?
UH, THEN WE STEER CLEAR
OF GOING TO JAIL.
TAKE THAT BACK.
WHAT'S HAPPENED
IS A BLESSING.
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
WE'RE HERE!
[CHUCKLES]:
COME ON. IT'S OKAY.
COME ON.
HI.
HONEY, WE'RE SO GLAD
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.
[BEN]: HEY, PIPER.
THIS IS FOR YOU.
HERE YOU GO, PIPER.
I MADE THIS FOR YOU.
YOU MADE THIS!
[GASPS]: OH, MY GOODNESS.
OHH!
IT'S BEAUTIFUL,
AND I LOVE IT.
YOU'RE A GREAT ARTIST.
THANK YOU.
CAN I SEE IT?
OHH.
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLES]: OH!
TAKE GOOD CARE
OF HER, OKAY?
[♪♪♪]
[♪♪♪]
NOTHING COULD
FEEL MORE RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO GO
BACK INSIDE?
HOW COME, SWEETIE?
WELL, WHAT IF IT'S NOT REAL?
IT'S REAL, SWEETHEART.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR ROOM?
IS IT MY "FOREVER" ROOM?
IT CERTAINLY IS.
WE'RE FAMILY NOW...
AND WE'LL NEVER
LEAVE YOU.
EVER.
EVEN WHEN MY MOMMY COMES?
WELL... YOU'RE
A VERY LUCKY LITTLE GIRL,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE
TWO MOMMIES NOW.
AND, UM...
MAYBE WE COULD ALL
LIVE HERE TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE THAT!
OKAY. WELL,
THEN LET'S GO!
I'LL RACE YOU.
-OKAY.
-OKAY!
HEY, AND WHAT ABOUT
THE, UH...?
I'M SENSING A TREND HERE.
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
HONEY, SHUT OFF THE WATERWORKS.
NO TEARS.
I CAN'T HELP IT.
SHE'S JUST TOO PRECIOUS.
YOU'RE GOING TO
FREAK HER OUT.
[LAUGHS]
HEY, PIPER?
LOOK AT THIS.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL
DRAWING RIGHT HERE...
...WHERE WE CAN ALL LOOK AT IT
EVERY DAY.
DO YOU LIKE THAT?
YEAH.
[GIGGLING]
OH!
PIPER, WE'RE SO GLAD
YOU'RE FINALLY HERE.
I THINK SHE LIKES US.
[LAUGHING]
[SCRATCHING]
[BELL DINGS]
[JOANNA SIGHS]
WHERE'S MINE?
[PLAYFULLY THUMPS COUNTER]
WHERE IS MY COOKIE?
I... WANT... MY... COOKIE!
WHERE... IS IT?
IS IT...
HERE?
WHERE... IS IT?
OH!
I KNOW WHERE MY COOKIE IS!
IT'S RIGHT...
HERE!
[SQUEALS]
THERE'S MY COOKIE!
THERE'S MY COOKIE!
ARE YOU MY COOKIE?
ARE YOU MY DELICIOUS
LITTLE COOKIE OF A GIRL?
ANSWER ME. YOU BETTER ANSWER ME,
OR I'M GOING TO EAT YOU ALL UP.
ARE YOU MY SCRUMPTIOUS
LITTLE DAUGHTER?
YES!
AND AM I THE BEST
COOKIE-LOVER YOU KNOW?
YES!
AND AM I YOUR FAVORITE MOMMY
OF ALL TIME?
PIPER, THAT-- I DIDN'T--
I DIDN'T MEAN THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
PIPER!
[PIPER RACES AWAY]
WOW...
DAD WAS RIGHT.
YOU DO HAVE A WAY
WITH KIDS.
[♪♪♪]
[PEOPLE CHATTING, KIDS PLAYING]
[WENDY]: SO, HOW'S
SHE TRANSITIONING?
PRETTY GOOD, I GUESS.
WE'VE HAD
OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
BUT, OTHERWISE, PIPER'S
COMING ALONG JUST FINE.
SHE HASN'T CALLED ME "MOMMY"
JUST YET...
BELIEVE ME,
THERE'LL BE DAYS YOU WISH
SHE NEVER KNEW THE WORD.
NOT ME.
AH, THE GLOWING OPTIMISM
OF A NEW MOTHER.
YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT.
[CHUCKLES]
SWINGS!
[PIPER, SOFTLY]:
♪ GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER
♪ WHITHER SHALL I WANDER
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ AND HE WOULD NOT
SAY HIS PRAYERS ♪
♪ I TOOK HIM
BY THE LEFT LEG ♪
♪ AND THREW HIM DOWN
THE STAIRS ♪♪
WOW. [UNEASY CHUCKLE]
THAT'S AN OLDIE, BUT A GOODIE.
WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT ONE?
IN MY HEAD.
CAN I HAVE A SNACK NOW?
YES. I'VE GOT YOUR SNACK
RIGHT HERE.
AND A HUG!
OH, PEANUT. YOU CAN HAVE
ALL THE HUGS YOU WANT!
MM!
MOMMY...
MOMMY?
[♪♪♪]
WAIT HERE A SECOND,
SWEETHEART.
[♪♪♪]
EXCUSE ME?
[CAR HORN BLARING]
[TIRES SQUEALING]
[SCREAMS]: PIPER!
COME HERE!
HONEY, ARE YOU OKAY?
SHE JUST DARTED OUT
IN FRONT OF THE CAR.
I COULD'VE KILLED HER.
I ONLY TURNED AWAY
FOR ONE SECOND.
WELL, THAT'S ALL IT TAKES
WITH KIDS.
EVEN I KNOW THAT.
I'VE GOT HER NOW. THANK YOU.
HONEY, ARE YOU OKAY?
WHY WOULD YOU JUST DART
IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC LIKE THAT?
BUT MOMMY TOLD ME TO.
MOMMY WOULD NEVER
DO SUCH A THING.
COME ON.
[SUV ENGINE STARTS]
[♪♪♪]
JUST GLAD
EVERYONE'S ALL RIGHT.
I WISH I'D BEEN THERE.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
YOU THINK PIPER'S OKAY?
SHE'S FINE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS,
SHE WASN'T HIT.
NO, NO, I MEAN OKAY
WITH THE TRANSITION
TO HER NEW FAMILY
AND ALL.
WHAT'RE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
WELL, WHY WOULD
SHE CALL
THIS WOMAN IN THE PARK
HER "MOM"?
THINK WE SHOULD
HAVE HER EVALUATED?
WHAT?
I'M JUST SAYING.
THAT YOU THINK
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
WITH OUR DAUGHTER?
THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
WELL, THEN TELL ME.
WHAT DID YOU MEAN?
HONEY, CALM DOWN.
ALL I'M SAYING IS,
I HOPE THAT...
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE SHOULD.
YOU KNOW, PIPER'S LIFE HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT ENOUGH ALREADY.
WE'RE DOING FINE.
ALL THE BOOKS SAY
THE SAME THING--
ADOPTED CHILDREN
HAVE BONDING ISSUES.
A CLASSIC
EXAMPLE OF THAT
IS THEY'LL OFTEN
TURN TO ANY ADULT
AS THEIR PARENT.
THAT'S ALL THIS IS.
REALLY?
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
POOR LITTLE SQUIRT.
WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?
[ROARS]
I'M GOING TO GET YOU!
[SQUEALING AND LAUGHING]
KEEP IT DOWN, DYLAN!
WHAT? SHE LIKES IT.
WELL, I DON'T.
YOU KNOW IT'S NOT SAFE TO ACT
ALL CRAZY AROUND THE POOL.
WHAT IF SHE FELL IN?
SHE CAN'T SWIM.
SHE'S NOT GONNA FALL IN.
DON'T ARGUE WITH ME!
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
YOU'RE PLAYING. PLEASE STOP.
IT'S OKAY. I LIKE IT.
IT'S REALLY FUN.
HONEY,
HE COULD HURT YOU.
YOU SEEM TO FORGET
SHE'S ONLY SIX YEARS OLD.
I SEE. ANYTHING ELSE?
[WATER DRIPPING]
NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT,
I DON'T LIKE YOUR USE OF
BAD LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF HER,
EITHER,
OR THE FACT
THAT YOU NEVER SEEM TO CARE
WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING
INAPPROPRIATE TELEVISION.
I MEAN, YOU DO KNOW BETTER,
AM I RIGHT?
MAYBE I SHOULD'VE
STAYED IN MY DORM AND LEFT YOU
AT PEACE WITH YOUR "NEW" FAMILY.
WOULD THAT
MAKE YOU HAPPY?
[SIGHS]: DYLAN, LOOK--
YOU'RE SUCH A BITCH.
I HEARD THAT.
HEY! WOULD YOU
TALK TO HER?
SHE SEEMS TO THINK THAT
EVERYTHING I DO
IS BAD FOR PIPER.
I'M NOT A CHILD.
THEN STOP ACTING LIKE ONE.
-THERE WE GO!
-HEY. CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
ME? WHAT ABOUT HER?
OR DOES THIS NEW FAMILY
SUPERCEDE YOUR OTHER?
YOU'RE WAY OUT OF LINE, DYLAN.
NO, I'M NOT!
SHE FINALLY GOT A KID OUTTA YOU,
NOW IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
THE REST OF US CAN GO TO HELL.
APOLOGIZE TO JOANNA!
RIGHT NOW!
I'M SORRY
YOU'RE A BITCH.
AND I'M SORRY
YOU'RE TOO BLINDED BY HER
TO SEE HOW YOU'VE CHANGED.
DYLAN! GET BACK HERE!
[♪♪♪]
DYLAN. DYLAN, STOP.
WHY?
I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE? I'M GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL, WHERE I BELONG.
STOP BEING RIDICULOUS.
OH, IS THAT WHAT I AM NOW?
I THOUGHT
I WAS JUST A BAD INFLUENCE.
CAN WE ALL JUST COOL DOWN HERE
FOR A MINUTE?
THERE'S NO REASON
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.
NO, THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.
OUR FAMILY CRASHED AND BURNED
A LONG TIME AGO.
[♪♪♪]
HEY.
YOU OKAY?
NO.
MY STEPSON CALLED ME
A "BITCH,"
AND SUGGESTED
THAT I COERCED YOU
INTO GIVING ME A CHILD.
YEP.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM
THIS UPSET BEFORE.
YEAH.
HE PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL.
CLEARLY, HE RESENTS PIPER.
REALLY?
I DON'T KNOW. HE'S 19.
YEAH, I'M NOT SURE
IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO
WITH AGE, YOU KNOW.
IF HE'S GOT SOME ISSUE
WITH YOU OR ME,
I MEAN, IT STILL
WOULD HURT.
LOOK AT ME AND MY MOM.
WE'VE NEVER WORKED ANYTHING OUT.
YEAH, I GUESS WE SHOULD
CUT HIM A BREAK THIS TIME.
SO, WHEN DYLAN'S UPSET,
WE ALL NEED TO CHANGE,
BUT PIPER IS A CHILD
WHO NEEDS EVALUATION?
HONEY, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
TO BE HONEST,
I HEARD A BIT OF WHAT
SET DYLAN OFF,
AND I'M NOT SURE
HE'S ENTIRELY WRONG.
I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED,
BUT LIKE WE JUST SAID,
DYLAN'S A TEENAGER.
HE'S GONNA TREAT HER
DIFFERENTLY. NOT LIKE...
LIKE WHAT?
[EXHALING]
LIKE NEW CHINA.
YOU CAN'T TAKE
YOUR FRUSTRATIONS
FROM YOUR DAY AT THE PARK
OUT ON DYLAN.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
OKAY.
OKAY...
EVIL STEPMOTHER IN CHECK.
SWEETIE, ARE YOU OKAY?
PIPER?
[BEN]:
I THINK SHE'S SLEEPWALKING.
[WHISPERS]: OH...
SHE PEED HER PANTS.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
HERE, I'LL TAKE HER.
COME HERE, HONEY.
I GOT YOU, BIG GIRL.
OH, WE'RE GONNA CLEAN YOU UP.
LET'S GO. OH...
[RINGING]
HELLO?
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING]
[BEEPS PHONE OFF]
[PHONE RINGS AGAIN]
[CURTLY]: WHO IS THIS?
JOANNA,
IT'S GRETCHEN.
HI, GRETCHEN.
I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW,
YOUR MOTHER, SHE'S TAKEN
A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO SEDATE HER.
[GROANING AND FUMING]
[ROARS]:
I WANT MY DAUGHTER!
WE CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
SHE'S JUST BECOME
SO MUCH MORE DISORIENTED.
HER COGNITIVE ABILITY
HAS REALLY DETERIORATED.
IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO?
NOT REALLY.
THOUGH, SOMETIMES,
SEEING FAMILIAR FACES
CAN TRIGGER THE MEMORY,
KIND OF GET HER
BACK ON TRACK.
HEY... HI.
I HEAR
YOU WERE ASKING FOR ME.
MOM?
MOM, IT'S ME. JOANNA.
[DARKLY]:
JOANNA, YOU'RE LATE.
I TOLD YOU
TO BE HOME BY 5:00.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME.
YOU'RE NEVER HOME ON TIME,
YOU NEVER CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM.
MOM, STOP.
I'M YOUR DAUGHTER,
THIS IS YOUR GRAND-DAUGHTER.
I'M YOUR DAUGHTER.
THIS IS YOUR
FATHER'S FAULT.
HIS GENES.
HIS IRRESPONSIBILITY.
I NEVER WANTED THIS.
I NEVER WANTED A BABY
IN THE FIRST PLACE!
MOM!
OKAY, HONEY, LET'S GO
FIND SOME TOYS, OKAY?
[WITH DARK DISGUST]:
A MOTHER...
A HOUSEWIFE?
[BRACES SNAP TAUT]
TIED DOWN
LIKE A PIG TO SLAUGHTER.
THIS IS YOUR
FAULT, JOANNA.
YOUR... FAULT.
I HAD A LIFE!
I NEVER WANTED YOU.
MOM, STOP IT!
STOP!
[WHOOSHING]
[DISORIENTED GRUNT]
[PLEASANTLY SURPRISED]:
HELLO, JOANNA.
[SIGHS SHAKILY]
WHERE'S PIPER?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
BRINGING HER BY.
GRETCHEN SAID SHE'D TAKE
A PICTURE OF US TOGETHER.
[GRETCHEN]:
OH, DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART.
I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING,
AND, FOR GOD'S SAKE,
THEY DON'T MEAN IT.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
DO YOU?
ACTUALLY, I THINK
SHE WAS BEING HONEST
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
[CONCERNED]: JOANNA.
IT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW,
MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS
VERY DISTANT, GROWING UP.
IN FACT, I USED TO SAY,
IT SEEMED SHE WAS IN
A CONSTANT STATE
OF WISHING
SHE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MAYBE I WASN'T WRONG.
DON'T BE
TOO HARD ON HER.
I WISH MY DAD WAS HERE.
HE'D KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WELL, MAYBE HE'S...
ON HIS WAY,
AND YOU JUST DON'T
KNOW IT.
SOMETIMES, THE ONLY PEACE
MY PATIENTS FIND
COMES AFTER A VISIT...
FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
HERE, LET ME
SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
[♪♪♪]
NO ONE SAW THE GLOWING LIGHTS
WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTO.
AND?
WELL, A SKEPTIC
MIGHT SAY THAT
IT'S JUST THE LIGHT
REFRACTING IN THE LENS.
BUT YOU THINK
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE?
WELL, I DON'T MEAN
TO SOUND NUTTY,
BUT WHEN YOU'VE WORKED HERE
FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE...
YOU BECOME WITNESS TO THINGS
YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN.
I BELIEVE THAT,
WHEN A PATIENT LOSES
THEIR GRIP ON THIS WORLD,
THEY GAIN ACCESS TO...
ANOTHER PLACE...
A SPIRITUAL PLANE.
A PLACE...
THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE OF.
I GUESS I'M JUST NOT
MUCH OF A BELIEVER
IN THAT KIND OF STUFF.
I JUST DON'T BUY IT.
I GUESS I THINK
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE,
AND, WHEN IT ENDS,
MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST.
OKAY. TO EACH HIS OWN.
[CHUCKLES]
UM, WELL, I'LL MAKE SURE
YOUR MOM GETS A COPY
OF THIS PHOTO.
YOU TOO, IF YOU WANT ONE.
OH, THAT'S OKAY.
I DON'T WANT ONE,
BUT... BUT THANK YOU.
[EXHALES WEARILY]
GOODBYE, MOM.
[QUIETLY STARTS SINGING]:
♪ GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER
♪ WHITHER SHALL I WANDER
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ WHO WOULD NOT SAY
HIS PRAYERS ♪
♪ SO I TOOK HIM
BY HIS LEFT LEG ♪
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS ♪♪
[♪♪♪]
[GIGGLING AND LAUGHING]
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLING]
MUST'VE HURT
TO HEAR HER SAY THAT.
IT FELT LIKE
A KNIFE IN MY STOMACH.
WELL, THE TRUTH CAN HURT.
ALTHOUGH, LATER ON,
IT FELT DIFFERENT,
AS IF HEARING THE TRUTH
GAVE ME A WINDOW INTO HER SOUL,
IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
WELL, YOU JUST ADMITTED
THAT SHE HAS A SOUL.
THE TRIPPY THING IS,
ALL THAT RESENTMENT THAT'S
BEEN BUILDING UP OVER THE YEARS,
SOME OF IT KIND OF WENT AWAY.
THAT'S BECAUSE
MAYBE YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HER.
BETTER THAN I EVER DID BEFORE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? LET IT GO.
JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE YOUR PARENTS
DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T
WITHOUT THEIR OWN FLAWS.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
[BEEPS PHONE ON]
HELLO?
IS MY DAD THERE?
HI, DYLAN.
UH, NO, HE'S NOT.
TELL HIM TO CALL ME.
OKAY. HEY, HOW'S EVERYTHING
GOING AT SCH--?
[CLICK,
DIAL TONE BUZZES]
[BEEP]
OH! HE'S STILL NOT
TALKING TO YOU, HUH?
AFRAID NOT.
[GASPS]
[SHATTERING]
[♪♪♪]
WHAT? WHAT, WHAT IS IT?
[EXHALES]
[CROW CAWING]
UM... REMEMBER THAT WOMAN
I TOLD YOU ABOUT?
THE ONE FROM THE PARK?
YEAH?
I THINK
I JUST SAW HER OUTSIDE.
WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
DO YOU THINK MAYBE
SHE FOLLOWED YOU HOME
FROM THE PARK?
I DON'T KNOW.
[♪♪♪]
[PIPER]: MOMMY?
[♪♪♪]
PIPER!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
MOMMY WAS HERE.
SHE'S COMING
TO TAKE ME HOME.
[♪♪♪]
THE HOMELESS WOMAN.
BEN, I SAW HER AGAIN.
RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE.
CALL THE POLICE.
I'M COMING HOME.
I HAVE, I HAVE.
THEY SAID THEY'D PATROL
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T
EXPLAIN PIPER'S BEHAVIOR.
I'M TELLING YOU,
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
HONEY, LISTEN TO ME.
MAYBE THIS IS BETTER HANDLED
BY A PROFESSIONAL.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE,
LET ME MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
FOR PIPER
WITH A CHILD THERAPIST WHO
SPECIALIZES IN ADOPTION CASES.
NO, NO. I NEED MORE
THAN SOME SHRINK'S THEORIES.
PIPER DESERVES THE TRUTH,
AND SO DO WE.
OKAY. WHERE
ARE YOU GOING?
TO THE SOURCE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
HOLD ON, JOANNA.
JUST HOLD ON A SECOND.
THINK ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
OH, I HAVE.
NOBODY AT THE AGENCY KNOWS ABOUT
THIS ADOPTION
BUT LYDIA.
YOU'RE OPENING UP
A WHOLE OTHER CAN OF WORMS HERE.
I DON'T CARE.
I JUST WANT
TO HELP MY LITTLE GIRL.
[♪♪♪]
MAY I HELP YOU?
UH, I WAS LOOKING
FOR LYDIA NEWMAN.
MRS. MAXWELL?
WHERE'S LYDIA?
SHE QUIT.
WHY?
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T KNOW.
SHE JUST STOPPED
COMING IN FOR WORK ONE DAY.
[EXHALES]
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO. I, UH...
JUST WANTED TO THANK HER.
OH. I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT YOU KNEW LYDIA.
UH, WELL, SHE HEARD
THAT OUR ADOPTION PLANS
FELL THROUGH, AND, UH,
SENT US
A LOVELY GIFT BASKET,
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D
WRITE HER A THANK-YOU NOTE
AND YOU COULD
FORWARD IT TO HER.
OF COURSE.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
EXCUSE ME.
YES, WE WILL NEED ABOUT
TWO HOURS.
[♪♪♪]
YES.
[♪♪♪]
THANKS SO MUCH.
MY PLEASURE.
[♪♪♪]
I'VE BEEN WILLING TO DO WHATEVER
IT IS YOU NEED,
EXCEPT THIS.
OH, COME ON, YOU'RE MY GUY.
I NEED YOU
TO TRUST ME ON THIS.
LOOK, OUR DAUGHTER
IS A BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT,
CARING LITTLE GIRL.
SHE'S NOT DAMAGED.
SHE DOESN'T THINK
EVERY ADULT SHE SEES
IS HER MOTHER.
SHE THINKS
ONE PARTICULAR WOMAN
WHO IS STALKING US
IS HER MOM,
AND I NEED KNOW WHY.
THEN YOU THINK
SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH
ABOUT THIS WOMAN YOU'VE SEEN?
OUR DAUGHTER
IS NOT A LIAR.
NO. BUT...
HER MOTHER'S IN PRISON.
WHAT IF SHE'S NOT?
WHAT IF SHE WAS NEVER IN PRISON?
WHAT IF LYDIA IS LYING?
THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
ARE YOU WITH ME?
CHECK THIS OUT.
[BEN]: SOMETHING TELLS ME
THIS ISN'T GOING TO END WELL.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
[♪♪♪]
[CHIMES TINKLING]
[BEN GASPING]
OH, GOD.
[BEN]: HELLO?
HELLO?
[♪♪♪]
WHOA.
WHY DO THIS?
SHE'S TOTALLY NUTS.
[♪♪♪]
WHATEVER HER STATE OF MIND,
SHE'S CERTAINLY
AFRAID OF SOMETHING.
[♪♪♪]
UH, JOANNA...
WHY WOULD SHE BURN
PIPER'S FILE?
I DON'TW,
BUT WHO'S THIS?
YOU EVER HEARD OF THEM?
NO. LYDIA HASN'T EVER
MENTIONED EITHER OF THEM.
[♪♪♪]
[BEN]: WELL, LYDIA WAS HONEST
ABOUT ONE THING, ANYWAY.
SHE REALLY WAS IN PRISON.
[GASPS AND SNATCHES FILE PHOTO]
THAT'S HER!
WHO?
THAT'S THE WOMAN FROM THE PARK
AND FROM OUR HOUSE!
THAT'S PIPER'S MOTHER.
NO. THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING.
WHERE THE HELL IS LYDIA NEWMAN?
I WON'T LET THEM
TAKE PIPER AWAY.
I WON'T.
COME HERE.
[PHONE STARTS RINGING
AND JOANNA GASPS]
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
[MACHINE BEEPS]
[ELECTRONIC VOICE]:
YOU HAVE 114 MESSAGES.
HOW MANY?
[BEEP]
[EERIE DISTORTED CRACKLING
PLAYS IN MESSAGE]
[BEEP]
MAKE IT STOP.
IT'S FREAKING ME OUT.
[BEEP,
DISTORTED CRACKLING PLAYS]
WHAT'VE WE GOT
OURSELVES INTO?
[DISTORTED MESSAGES PLAYING]
[♪♪♪]
YEAH, YOU GOT IT BACK.
THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
NICE.
[JOANNA]: WELL, IT'S VERY
KIND OF YOU TO COME OVER.
[BETH]: OH, NOT AT ALL.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
IT WAS GREAT
TO SEE PIPER.
YEAH. HOW'S SHE BEEN
ADJUSTING, BY THE WAY?
GREAT. JUST GREAT.
BRIGHT LITTLE GIRL.
VERY LOVING.
SO, UH... NO EPISODES?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, WE LOVED
THAT LITTLE SWEETHEART
RIGHT FROM THE START.
YEAH, AND SHE APPEARED
TO LOVE LIVING WITH US.
WE BONDED
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING
SOMETHING HAPPENED?
[♪♪♪]
SHE STUCK A KNIFE
IN A LIGHT SOCKET ONE AFTERNOON.
YEAH. SHE GAVE HERSELF
QUITE A SHOCK, TOO.
[BETH]: AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.
[JOHN]: YEAH,
BUT THEN SHE TRIED
TO ELECTROCUTE
HERSELF AGAIN.
THIS TIME,
WHILE IN THE TUB
WITH ONE
OF THE OTHER KIDS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT MOST OF THESE CHILDREN
ARE VERY TROUBLED
WHEN THEY COME
TO LIVE WITH US,
AND WE'RE USED TO IT,
BUT THIS
WAS DIFFERENT.
YEAH.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU.
WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH,
AND WE TOLD LYDIA THAT.
WHAT'D SHE TELL YOU TO DO?
SHE DIDN'T.
NO, SHE JUST CAME
AND TOOK HER AWAY.
DURING THESE EPISODES,
DID PIPER EVER MENTION
HER BIRTH MOTHER
COMING BACK TO GET HER?
WELL, ALL
THE CHILDREN DO THAT
IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY.
"WHERE DID MOMMY GO?"
"WHY DID DADDY LEAVE?"
BUT PIPER?
OH, POOR THING.
SHE WAS 100% CONVINCED
THAT HER MOMMY
WAS COMING BACK FOR HER.
EVEN CLAIMED
TO SEE HER,
WHEN WE WERE SHOPPING.
[EXHALES SHAKILY]
BUT...
I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THEY ALL DO THAT SORT OF
THING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
SHE HAD NO IDEA
THAT HER MOTHER WAS IN PRISON?
NO, SHE DIDN'T.
MR. AND MRS. HARLAND,
HAS PIPER'S BIRTH MOTHER TRIED
TO CONTACT YOU RECENTLY?
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
WAIT, UH...
YOU DON'T KNOW, DO YOU?
KNOW WHAT?
PIPER'S MOTHER... IS DEAD.
SHE HANGED HERSELF
IN HER PRISON CELL
NOT LONG AFTER
SHE SIGNED HER RIGHTS AWAY.
[♪♪♪]
RUTH!
[SCREAMING]
I WANT MY DAUGHTER!
HELP!
ANYBODY!
I NEED SOME HELP!
GET HER...
[SCREAMING WITH EFFORT]
[ROARING IN RAGE]
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL.
OBVIOUSLY, I'VE SEEN THEM
GET VIOLENT BEFORE,
BUT IT'S NEVER DIRECTED
AT THEMSELVES.
IT'S LUCKY
I GOT HERE WHEN I DID.
THANK YOU, GRETCHEN.
WE BOTH REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
DID SHE SAY ANYTHING?
SHE SAID, "I WANT MY DAUGHTER."
IT SCARED THE HELL
OUT OF ME, TOO.
LIKE SHE WAS POSSESSED.
I KNOW THIS IS ALL STRANGE
FOR YOU.
YOU CALL ME
IF YOU NEED ANY MORE HELP.
OKAY?
YOU'VE REACHED THE OFFICE
OF MARGOT LACE,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE,
AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU
AS SOON AS I CAN.
[BEEP]
MISS LACE,
MY NAME IS JOANNA MAXWELL.
I GOT YOUR NUMBER
FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
OFFICE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT YOU WERE WORKING
ON AN APPEAL
FOR A CLIENT OF YOURS,
NAMED ASHLEY HENDERSON,
WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE
IN PRISON.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HER DEATH,
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AGAIN, MY NAME
IS JOANNA MAXWELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IT'S WORTH A TRY.
IF THERE'S MORE TO THIS,
SHE'LL KNOW.
YOU GOING TO TELL ME?
TELL YOU WHAT?
WHATEVER IT IS
YOU'RE STEWING ON
IN YOUR HEAD.
I KNOW HOW YOU WORK,
SWEETHEART.
YOU CHEW ON SOMETHING,
AND THEN YOU WAIT
UNTIL AFTER I CLOSE MY EYES
BEFORE YOU LAUNCH INTO
A DETAILED DIATRIBE
THAT'LL GO ON FOR HOURS.
OR NOT.
[SIGHS]
I'M THINKING
WE SHOULD CALL THE POLICE.
THE POLICE?
I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.
WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO TELL THEM?
THAT A GHOST IS ATTEMPTING
TO KIDNAP OUR CHILD?
NO. MAYBE WE CAN
TELL THEM ABOUT LYDIA,
COME CLEAN
ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DONE.
MAYBE THEY'LL KNOW
HOW TO FIND HER.
OH, SURE, AFTER THEY TAKE
PIPER AWAY FROM US.
NO WAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO
INVOLVE THE POLICE.
IT'S TOO RISKY.
THEN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING.
AT LEAST I'M
TRYING
TO PROTECT OUR DAUGHTER.
OH, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT?
I'M NOT DOING ENOUGH?
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT.
ACTUALLY, I THINK YOU DID,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT,
IT'S NOT FAIR.
GOOD NIGHT.
BEN, PLEASE--
I CAN'T BELIEVE
I LET YOU TALK ME INTO THIS.
THIS WHOLE THING
IS YOUR FAULT.
BEN, DON'T DO THIS.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
BEN?
[SCREAMS]
I WANT MY DAUGHTER.
[GASPING IN TERROR]
[RECORDING CRACKLES]
[CRACKLY VOICE SINGING]
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
♪ UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
♪ THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
♪ WHO WOULDN'T STAY IN BED
♪ I TOOK HIM BY THE LEFT LEG
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS ♪
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
♪ UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS...
[LAUGHS WICKEDLY]
[DIAL SPINNING]
"M" IS FOR "MONKEY."
"I" IS FOR "IGLOO."
"N" IS FOR "NAIL."
"E" IS FOR "ELK"...
[GASPS IN FEAR]
MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE!
[GHOSTLY VOICE REPEATING]
[CYMBALS CLANGING]
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER
WHERE SHALL I WANDER... ♪
I WANT MY DAUGHTER.
YOU CAN'T HAVE HER,
SHE'S OURS NOW!
GO BACK TO THE LIGHT,
OR WHATEVER YOU DO!
YOU'RE DEAD!
♪ ...GRABBED HIM BY THE LEG
AND THREW HIM DOWN THE STAIRS ♪
♪ GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER--
[ROARS ANGRILY]
[SCREAMS]
WHERE'S PIPER? SHE'S GONE.
WHAT?
PIPER!
[SPLUTTERING AND CRYING]
[COUGHING]
BEN...
GO INSIDE.
GO INSIDE NOW.
WHAT DO WE DO?
I DON'T KNOW.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
[RINGING]
[CLICKS TO ANSWER]
HELLO.
JOANNA,
IT'S GRETCHEN.
IT'S GRETCHEN.
HI, GRETCHEN.
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
ARE IN TERRIBLE DANGER,
BUT I THINK I KNOW
SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP.
UPON DEATH,
A SPIRIT IS ESSENTIALLY
NOTHING MORE THAN RAW EMOTION.
THINGS LIKE LOGIC,
REASON, AND EMPATHY
HAVE ALL
GONE OUT THE WINDOW.
ONLY THE STRONGEST EMOTIONS
REMAIN.
SO SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY HER DAUGHTER
ISN'T WITH HER--
SHE JUST KNOWS
IT'S OUR FAULT?
HOW MUCH OF HER MEMORY
IS INTERTWINED
WITH HER BASIC
FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT INSTINCTS
IS MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.
IN YOUR SITUATION,
SHE CLEARLY KNOWS
SHE HAS A DAUGHTER
AND THE NEED TO GET HER BACK
IS OVERRIDING
EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT WHY CAN'T SHE
JUST TAKE PIPER?
[PROFESSOR]:
IN LAYMAN'S TERMS?
SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.
HER BASIC ABILITY
TO MANIPULATE HER SURROUNDINGS
IS ALL NEW TO HER.
BUT SHE'LL LEARN?
IN SOME WAYS,
HER LEARNING CURVE
HAS ALREADY BEGUN.
SHE FOUND YOU,
AND NOW YOUR MOTHER.
GRETCHEN'S RIGHT.
IN HER CURRENT STATE,
SHE EQUATES HURTING YOU
WITH GETTING HER DAUGHTER BACK.
IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE,
ISN'T IT?
MOST LIKELY, YES.
SOMETIMES, WHEN A PERSON DIES
IN A STATE OF EXTREME EMOTION,
THEIR SPIRIT
WON'T PASS OVER
UNTIL THEY HAVE
JUSTICE.
UNLESS WE INTERCEDE,
I DOUBT SHE'LL GIVE UP
UNTIL SHE'S BROUGHT PIPER
OVER TO HER SIDE.
SHE WANTS TO KILL
HER OWN DAUGHTER?
I'M AFRAID SO.
BECAUSE TO HER,
YOU SEE,
THIS IS NOT
SUCH A BAD THING.
IT'S A WAY
TO REUNITE THEM...
FOREVER.
I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WE CAN
DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
GRETCHEN, ARE YOU UP TO IT?
MAYBE LYDIA'S APARTMENT
DOESN'T SEEM THAT INSANE.
YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA?
I KNOW. IT FEELS
OVER THE TOP,
BUT IT WORKS.
NATIVE AMERICANS
HAVE BEEN USING WHITE SAGE
TO CHASE AWAY NEGATIVE ENERGY
FOR CENTURIES.
OKAY, JUST...
A LITTLE OUT OF
MY COMFORT ZONE.
DON'T WORRY.
THE CLEANSES WE'VE DONE
HAVE ALL BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
AND IF THIS ONE ISN'T?
A MORE POWERFUL EXORCISM
MAY BE NECESSARY
IN ORDER TO CONVINCE PIPER'S MOM
TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SIDE.
ARE WE READY?
THEN LET'S BEGIN.
REMEMBER, BE FORCEFUL,
BUT NOT BELLIGERENT.
ANTAGONIZING A SPIRIT
COULD BRING ABOUT
A VIOLENT REACTION.
OKAY, WAIT A SECOND.
ARE WE SURE THAT, UH,
WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS?
BEN,
LET'S TRY AND STAY POSITIVE
ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE TRYING
TO HELP US.
[PROFESSOR]:
JOANNA'S RIGHT.
I'M NOT TRYING
TO FRIGHTEN YOU,
BUT WE DO NEED TO BE
UNITED IN OUR PURPOSE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT
PICKING A FIGHT.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING
THE SPIRIT SEE
THAT ITS PRESENCE
WON'T BE TOLERATED.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
YOU ARE DEAD,
SO WE WISH YOU WELL
TO SEEK THE LIGHT.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SPIRIT, WE MEAN YOU
NO HARM.
LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
SO, WE WISH YOU WELL
TO SEEK THE LIGHT.
SPIRIT,
WE MEAN YOU NO HARM.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE
IN PEACE.
[MECHANICAL LAUGHTER]
[MEWLING]
[MECHANICAL LAUGHTER ECHOING]
[RATTLING]
[YELPS IN SHOCK]
[GASPS]
YOU HAVE NO POWER
OVER THE MEMBERS OF THIS HOME
ANY LONGER!
[SHATTERING]
[WIND GUSTING]
THIS HOUSE IS FOR THE LIVING
NOT THE DEAD!
SEEK THE LIGHT!
LEAVE THIS PLACE,
IN PEACE!
[SHATTERING]
SEEK THE LIGHT!
LEAVE US!
[UNEARTHLY SCREAMING]
[MIRROR SHATTERING]
IS THAT IT?
YEAH.
YEAH, I THINK
THAT'S IT.
WE CAN'T FORCE THE SPIRIT
TO CROSS OVER,
BUT WE CAN...
KEEP IT OUT OF YOUR HOME.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND
THAT YOUR HOUSE IS SAFE NOW.
GRETCHEN, PROFESSOR SORENSON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
OH, YOU'RE
MOST WELCOME.
I'M JUST SORRY
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET
UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES.
GOOD NIGHT.
'NIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
WE SHOULD KNOW?
WELL, JUST RESPECT
WHAT'S BEEN DONE,
AND DON'T DO ANYTHING
TO INVITE THE SPIRIT
BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE.
LIKE WHAT?
ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS FOR
A SPIRIT TO INVADE A HOME
IS THROUGH
SEEMINGLY INNOCENT GAMES.
DESPITE WHAT YOU THINK,
THEY DO HAVE POWER.
WHAT KIND OF GAMES?
PALM READINGS,
AUTOMATIC WRITINGS,
TAROT CARDS,
SPIRIT IN THE GLASS,
ANY KIND OF INCANTATION--
OUIJA BOARD?
YOU DO NOT WANT A OUIJA BOARD
ANYWHERE NEAR THIS HOUSE.
THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF THING
WE DO AROUND HERE
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THEN YOU'LL BE FINE.
WELL, THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
"AND LARRY THE LOON
AND MILDRED THE MALLARD
"LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
THE END."
DADDY,
DO I STILL HAVE TWO MOMMIES?
YES, YOU ALWAYS WILL.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU'RE
A VERY LUCKY LITTLE GIRL.
FIRST OF ALL,
YOU HAD A BIRTH MOTHER,
AND SHE CARRIED YOU
IN HER TUMMY, YOU KNOW,
AND THEN, WHEN SHE GOT SICK
AND SHE WENT TO HEAVEN,
SHE LOVED YOU SO MUCH,
THAT SHE MADE PLANS
FOR YOU
TO LIVE WITH
A NEW MOMMY AND DADDY
SO THAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS
BE TAKEN CARE OF.
PIPER,
WILL YOU TELL ME
IF YOU EVER SEE
YOUR MOMMY AGAIN?
THERE SHE IS.
[LAUGHS]
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN STANDING THERE?
LONG ENOUGH.
PIPER, IT'S BEDTIME.
COME ON.
HOP IN THERE.
I LOVE YOU.
'NIGHT, SWEETHEART.
- HELLO!
- HI!
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO, YOU THINK I COULD
GET ONE OF THESE?
ABSOLUTELY.
[CHUCKLES FONDLY]
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT AT HOME?
PIPER'S GOOD?
SHE'S GREAT.
ACTUALLY, EVERYTHING'S...
PERFECT.
BE HONEST. NO PROBLEMS?
NONE.
WHAT YOU DID FOR US,
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
I'LL HAVE THIS FOR YOU
NEXT TIME I SEE YOU.
GREAT, THANKS.
DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?
IT'S A FAMILY NEWSLETTER
DAD USED TO MAIL OUT
EVERY YEAR
WHEN I WAS A KID.
HE LOVED BRAGGING TO
HIS FRIENDS ABOUT HIS FAMILY.
I THREW ALL THOSE AWAY.
I REMEMBER THAT, TOO.
YOUR FATHER SAID
I SHOULD DO IT.
NO, HE DIDN'T, MOM.
HE SAID YOU SHOULD PUT THEM AWAY
FOR THE GRANDKIDS,
BUT YOU SAID
YOU NEEDED THE STORAGE.
YOUR FATHER SAID--
I'M NOT LYING, MOM.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION
MANY TIMES.
[SIGHS]
MOM...
I-I'D LIKE TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT DAD.
I'D LIKE TO TRY
AND UNDERSTAND--
YOUR FATHER'S DEAD.
I KNOW HE IS, BUT I'M NOT.
IT'S JUST YOU AND ME NOW, MOM,
AND I'D LIKE TO
GET TO KNOW YOU...
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
[SIGHS]
JOANNA...
I'D LIKE THAT, TOO.
SERIOUSLY?
YOU TOLD GRETCHEN
EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT?
IT IS.
REALLY?
NOTHING'S MISSING.
WE'RE JUST ONE BIG
HAPPY FAMILY?
CALL DYLAN.
NO, I'VE HAD ENOUGH
DRAMA FOR ONE DAY.
HE WON'T WANT TO
TALK TO ME ANYWAY.
COME ON, WHEN DO YOU
EVER CALL HIM?
NEVER.
SO IT MIGHT
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I GUESS.
NO, LET ME
REPHRASE THAT.
IT WOULD MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
WHILE YOU'RE
REACHING OUT TO FAMILY?
GIVE IT A TRY.
[SIGHING NERVOUSLY]
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
DYLAN! HEY, IT'S JOANNA.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY. I GOTTA GO.
I'M IN A BIT OF A HURRY.
I CAN'T REALLY TALK
ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.
WAIT.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
YOU KNOW, UM,
I THOUGHT, WITH
THE LONG WEEKEND COMING,
YOU MIGHT WANT TO...
COME HOME,
SPEND SOME TIME AT THE HOUSE.
YOU WANT ME TO COME HOME?
LOOK, I KNOW THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN
GREAT BETWEEN US LATELY,
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN
TOUGH ON YOU,
HAVING PIPER JOIN OUR FAMILY,
BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE
FOR HOW I'VE TREATED YOU.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE
YELLED AT YOU, EITHER.
YOU KNOW, A LOT'S BEEN GOING ON
AROUND HERE LATELY, AND...
I MISS YOU, DYLAN.
I MISS YOUR PRESENCE
IN THIS FAMILY.
SO, COME HOME, OKAY?
PIPER NEEDS HER BIG BROTHER.
MY DAD REALLY
DOESN'T DESERVE YOU.
YOU READ MY MIND.
[CHUCKLES]
LOOK...
TELL DAD
TO PICK ME UP TONIGHT.
REALLY?
YEAH,
LONG WEEKENDS SUCK
AROUND HERE.
THERE'S NOBODY'S AROUND.
THAT'S GREAT.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
I LOVE YOU, DYLAN.
YEAH, I KNOW.
[STATIC WHINES AND CRACKLES]
[FEEDBACK WHINING]
DYLAN?
WHAT WAS THAT?
HEY, MUST BE MY BATTERY.
UM, I'LL SEE YOU SOON. BYE.
THAT WAS AMAZING.
I REALLY DON'T DESERVE YOU.
WELL, AT LEAST
WE ALL AGREE ON SOMETHING.
GO GET HIM.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR AGREEING
TO SEE ME, MISS LACE.
IT'S MY PLEASURE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY,
I WAS SURPRISED
TO GET YOUR CALL
REGARDING
ASHLEY HENDERSON.
SHE WASN'T A BAD PERSON.
SHE JUST GOT CAUGHT UP
WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
A BREAKING AND ENTERING
CONVICTION
PUT HER BEHIND BARS
FOR 26 MONTHS.
IT WAS HARD ON HER,
BUT SHE KNEW SHE'D BE
REUNITED WITH HER DAUGHTER
WHEN IT WAS OVER,
SO SHE STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE,
HOPING FOR AN EARLY RELEASE.
THEN LYDIA TRICKED HER
INTO PERMANENTLY SIGNING AWAY
HER PARENTAL RIGHTS,
AND ASHLEY'S WORLD
CAME CRASHING DOWN AROUND HER.
[ASHLEY]: WHAT DO YOU MEAN
I CAN'T REAPPLY FOR CUSTODY
WHEN I GET OUT?
[CRYING]:
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS TOLD.
WHEN I-WHEN I SIGNED
THE PAPERS,
THE LADY SAID
IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY--
IT'S NOT FINAL!
YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!
THAT'S MY BABY.
SHE'S MINE! YOU CAN'T--
HELLO?
HELLO...
[SOBBING]
WHY WON'T ANYBODY HELP ME?
THEY STOLE MY LITTLE GIRL...
[♪♪♪]
[JOANNA]:
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU'RE SAYING LYDIA
SOLD PIPER?
OR TRIED TO, ANYWAY.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND LYDIA.
SHE NEEDS TO BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE--
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S
NO WAY TO PROVE ANY OF IT.
NOT WITHOUT THE TESTIMONY
OF THE ATTORNEY
OR THE COUPLE WHO PAID LYDIA,
AND THEY'VE ALL
VANISHED.
I HOPE THEY GOT
WHAT'S COMING TO THEM.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS]
[STATIC CRACKLES ON STEREO]
I REALLY APPRECIATED
JOANNA'S CALL.
YOU SHOULD
TELL HER THAT.
I WILL.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I WAS MORE MAD AT YOU
THAN I WAS AT JOANNA.
ME?
YEAH, DAD. YOU.
WHY?
BECAUSE...
SOMETIMES, I NEED YOU TO BE
AS INTERESTED IN MY LIFE
AS YOU ARE IN YOUR NEW ONE--
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
DOES IT MATTER?
DYLAN, LOOK, I...
[SIGHS]
I'M SORRY.
NO MORE EXCUSES.
WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?
I ALREADY HAVE.
YOU'RE MY RIDE HOME.
IT'S PRETTY QUIET TONIGHT.
MRS. BURTON'S FOOT
IS SWELLING AGAIN,
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THANKS, GRETCH.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
I WILL,
JUST AS SOON AS I GET
ALL THESE FILES DONE.
EVERYONE BAILED
ALREADY, HUH?
YEAH, NOBODY
WASTES ANY TIME.
YOU FEEL THAT?
[TOY SQUAWKS]:
"M" IS FOR MONKEY.
"A" IS FOR APPLE.
"X" IS FOR--
NO GIRLFRIEND,
SERIOUSLY?
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING.
ONE LESS REASON
TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE BLESSED.
WHAT?
LONG STORY.
OH, NO.
NO, I'M NOT KIDDING.
YOU'RE SERIOUS?
YOU LET JOANNA
TALK YOU INTO IT?
YEAH, IT'S CALLED
COMPROMISE.
IT MAKES
A MARRIAGE GO ROUND.
I DON'T CARE.
THERE'S NO WAY
I'D EVER LET ANYONE
TALK ME INTO
EATING GREEN TEA SOUFFLE.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.
[LAUGHS]
OKAY, FINE, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT TASTES LIKE FEET.
I KNEW IT!
[LAUGHING]
[FEEDBACK WHINES]
[DISTORTED VOICE
CRACKLES AND DRONES]
WHAT--
OPEN.
- OPEN--
- DAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OPEN, COME ON.
COME ON...
DAD?
DYLAN'S COMING
TO SEE YOU.
NO, HE'S NOT.
OF COURSE HE IS.
WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?
[WHISPERING]
MOMMY TOLD ME.
WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?
PIPER, LOOK AT ME
AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SAID.
[WHISPERING]
I CAN'T. IT'S A SECRET.
[DIALING CELL PHONE]
[RINGING]
HI, IT'S BEN.
LEAVE A MESSAGE.
HEY, BEN, IT'S ME,
JUST CHECKING IN.
CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. WHAT'S GOING ON?
DON'T WORRY, SOMEONE
WILL BE HERE SOON.
[SHATTERS]
DAMN IT...
YOU SAID A BAD WORD!
AND I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST WORRIED.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
[FEEDBACK WHINES,
JOANNA WINCES]
BEN?
JOANNA, I'M AT THE SCHOOL.
WE NEED HELP.
WE NEED HELP, JOANNA.
SEND HELP.
BEN, WHAT'S GOING ON?
BEN!
PIPER, WE GOTTA GO.
[GASPS IN HORROR]
LYDIA.
[DISTORTED VOICE
WARBLES WITH STATIC]
WHAT WAS THAT?
[DIALING CELL PHONE]
PICK UP THE PHONE, JOANNA.
PICK UP THE PHONE...
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
LYDIA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
HELLO, HAPPY FAMILY.
[GASPS]
GERTIE!
PIPER, NO!
MOMMY GAVE GERTIE TO ME
WHEN SHE WENT AWAY--
MY FIRST MOMMY.
PLEASE...
PLEASE GIVE HER BACK TO ME.
IT'S TIME TO GO, SWEETHEART.
YOUR MOMMY WANTS YOU BACK.
HER MOTHER IS DEAD, LYDIA.
DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?
HER SPIRIT WON'T STOP
TORTURING ME.
BUT I'M GOING TO
MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.
PIPER NEEDS TO JOIN HER MOMMY
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
NO.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY.
I HAD A WEALTHY CLIENT
WHO WAS WILLING TO PAY
FOR A CHILD,
SO I TRICKED PIPER'S MOTHER
INTO GIVING HER UP,
AND NOW SHE WON'T STOP
UNTIL SHE GETS HER BACK.
NOT EVEN GIVING HER TO YOU
COULD CHANGE THAT.
I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS, LYDIA.
YOU IDIOT, DON'T YOU GET IT?
IF I DON'T DO THIS,
SHE'S GOING TO KILL YOU,
JUST LIKE SHE KILLED
MY OTHER CLIENTS!
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
OH GOD, LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING]
GOD, LEAVE ME ALONE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING]
LEAVE ME ALONE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
[SMASH]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
COME ON, PICK UP, PICK UP.
[DISTORTED VOICE
SCREECHING AND FEEDING BACK]
[BEEPS PHONE OFF]
I CALLED THE DIOCESE
AS SOON AS I GOT YOUR MESSAGE.
GOOD.
LET'S GO.
WE'VE GOT TO HURRY.
[SLIDING HEAVY DRESSER]
[BANGING ON DOOR]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[BANGING VIOLENTLY]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN TERROR]
[SHATTERING]
DAD, WHAT'S GOING ON?
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
[STATIC CRACKLING]
WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!
HURTING US
WON'T MAKE
THINGS EVEN!
[WHISPERING]
I THINK SHE'S GONE.
"SHE"?
[BLOWS POUNDING,
METAL WRENCHING]
WE'RE TRAPPED IN HERE!
STAY BACK!
GET DOWN, DYLAN, GET DOWN!
[EERIE SHRIEKING]
I'M SORRY, DYLAN!
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!
[BLOWS POUNDING]
[SCRAPING AND RENDING]
[ABRUPT SILENCE]
[PIPER'S VOICE ECHOES]:
MOMMY, HELP ME!
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[POUNDING AND BANGING
FROM INSIDE]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
NO, I-I CAN'T
GO UP THERE.
I'LL GET HELP--
OH, GOD...
[VIOLENT BANGING
CONTINUES UPSTAIRS]
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
LEAVE ME ALONE!
[WIND GUSTING]
[SMASH]
[BANGING VIOLENTLY]
I'M SCARED.
BABY, I'VE GOT YOU.
[BANGING]
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
[SCREAMING IN RAGE]
OPEN THIS DOOR!
[SCREAMING]
I WANT MY MOMMY!
SO DO I.
YOU NEED TO INVITE YOUR MOMMY
INTO OUR HOUSE.
I'M GONNA
BREAK THIS DOOR!
[SCREAMING AND BANGING]
GIVE ME PIPER!
LET ME IN!
GIVE ME PIPER!
LET ME IN!
[BANGING DESPERATELY]
GIVE ME PIPER!
[BLOW THUDS HEAVILY]
[SCREAMING IN TERROR]
[PIPER SCREAMS]
I NEED YOU TO FOCUS,
BABY GIRL, OKAY?
WE NEED YOUR MOMMY.
YOUR OTHER MOMMY, OKAY?
BRING HER TO US.
[BLOWS SPLINTERING]
"H", "E,"
"L", "P"...
HELP ME.
FOCUS, BABY.
WE NEED YOUR MOMMY.
[BANGING AND CHOPPING]
ASK HER IN.
DO IT NOW.
HELP ME, MOMMY, HELP ME!
[HAMMERING ON DOOR]
YOUR DAUGHTER NEEDS YOU!
DON'T LET THIS WOMAN HURT HER!
"H", "E", "L", "P."
"HELP ME. HELP ME."
ARE YOU AFRAID?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
TAKE PIPER AWAY!
HELP ME...
GIVE ME THE GIRL!
YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST.
YOU READ MY MIND.
I'LL HAUNT YOU TO YOUR GRAVE,
THAT'S A PROMISE.
[GHOSTLY VOICE]:
MINE...
[GASPING]
OH, GOD...
MOMMY?
[SCREAMS] NO!
GET BACK!
GO AWAY!
I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU!
NO.
SHE'S TRYING TO HURT PIPER!
NO...
I'M SORRY I TRICKED YOU, OKAY?
I'M TRYING TO REUNITE YOU!
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT YOU--
GET BACK...
I CAN STILL FIX IT.
YOU'LL BOTH BE DEAD.
YOU'LL BE TOGETHER
FOREVER.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS LET ME KILL YOUR DAUGHTER!
[SCREAMING]
[BODY THUDS HEAVILY]
[GASPING IN HORROR]
[GROANING WEAKLY]
[KNIFE SQUELCHES]
[GASPS IN SHOCK]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[GHOSTLY VOICE]:
MINE!
MINE...
JOANNA!
IT'S OKAY, BABY.
IT'S OKAY.
[WIND GUSTING]
JOANNA!
OH, MY GOD....
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLES]
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
WHAT KIND OF A MOTHER ARE YOU?
TRY AND REMEMBER.
YOU LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER.
YOU WOULDN'T HURT HER.
YOU LOVE HER,
AND PIPER LOVES YOU.
MOMMY!
MAKE HER GO AWAY!
MAKE IT STOP!
SHE CAN'T GO WITH YOU.
SHE'S BETTER OFF HERE WITH ME.
I'LL TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE
OF HER, I PROMISE.
I LOVE HER.
I LOVE PIPER.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER AWAY.
[SOBBING] PLEASE.
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
PIPER, YOUR MOMMY LOVES YOU
VERY MUCH,
AND ALWAYS WILL.
BOTH YOUR MOMMYS.
YOU OKAY?
OH...
[ALL CHEERING]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
YAY!
WHO WANTS A PIECE?
I DO, I DO, I DO!
[LAUGHTER]
OKAY, COMING
RIGHT UP.
CAN YOU SHARE IT?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
BEAT ME TO IT.
GO DEEP.
YOU GOT THIS?
OH, NICE TRY.
WHAT KIND OF THROW WAS THAT?
YOU GOTTA JUMP.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
AN ATHLETE.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
JUST A BRIGHT FUTURE
FOR OUR FAMILY.
I THINK YOUR MOM'S
HAVING A GOOD TIME.
YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I WAS THINKING
WE COULD CONSIDER
MOVING HER INTO THE HOUSE.
A LOT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH SAYS
ALLOWING ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS
TO LIVE IN THE PAST
IS THE BEST WAY
TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
YEAH, JUST I'D HATE TO SEE YOU
REVISIT THAT HURT.
WELL, I'M MORE INCLINED
TO THINK OF IT AS A DO-OVER.
MAYBE WE COULD EVEN
FIND THAT BOND
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT.
YOU'RE A GOOD DAUGHTER,
JOANNA MAXWELL,
AND A GREAT MOTHER.
OH, COME ON, GIVE ME A BREAK.
OH, YOU DON'T AGREE?
WELL, LET'S
GET REAL, PEOPLE.
I STILL DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED,
BUT, ALL THE SAME,
WHAT SHE DID TO SAVE PIPER
WAS... UNBELIEVABLE.
DON'T SELL
YOURSELF SHORT.
YOU'RE A FANTASTIC MOTHER,
AND ANYBODY
WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY
IS CRAZY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
I'D DO THE SAME FOR YOU,
REAL MOM OR NOT.
I LOVE YOU, DYLAN.
I KNOW YOU DO,
AND THAT'S COOL.
MAYBE SOMEDAY,
YOU AND MY MOM
CAN BE FRIENDS.
I'D LIKE THAT.
SOMETHING TELLS ME
IF IT INVOLVES ANOTHER MOTHER,
YOU CAN WORK IT OUT.
[PIPER SINGING]
♪ UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS
♪ AND IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
[SINGING TOGETHER]:
♪ I TOOK HIM BY THE LEFT LEG
♪ AND THREW HIM
DOWN THE STAIRS... ♪
[CHUCKLING]
[♪♪♪]
[GHOSTLY VOICE WHISPERS]
MINE...
HELLO, HAPPY FAMILY.
[SHATTERING]