Nothing But the Blood (2020) - full transcript

"While he was still speaking,
Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived.

With him was a large crowd
with swords

and clubs from the chief priests
and the elders of the people.

Now the betrayer
had given them a sign saying,

'The one I kiss is the man,
arrest him.'

At once he came up to Jesus
and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi,

and kissed him.'

Jesus said to him, 'Friend,
do what you are here to do.'

Then they came and laid hands
on Jesus and arrested him.

Suddenly, one of those with
Jesus put his hands on his sword,

drew it and struck the slave of the
high priest cutting off his ear.



Then Jesus said to him,
'Put your sword back into its place,

for all who live by the sword
shall die by the sword.

Do you think that
I cannot call on my Father,

and he will at once send me more
than twelve legions of angels?

But how then would
the Scriptures be fulfilled

which say it must happen
in this way?'"

Throughout your life, people
will come to persecute you.

They will tell you
that you're doing evil,

that your actions
are causing harm

and that everything
you believe is falsehood.

All this happened to Jesus.

And when they came to persecute Jesus,
he knew it was his Father's will.

He knew that it was going
to be okay in the end,

and that this trial
was temporary.



And he knew that to fight
against his attackers

would be to go against
God's plan.

If you fight hate with hate,

who really wins in the end?

If you don't love your enemies,

can you really call yourself
a Christian?

If you don't put away your sword

when they come to crucify you,

how can you still stand
among the angels?

Hmm.

Think you can add to it?

It's already 600 words
on a high school baseball team.

The boy hit a grand slam.

And they still lost.
Besides, he gives shit quotes.

Yeah, he's not
particularly loquacious.

You really want me to add to it?

- Na, I'll make it work.
- It already works.

- Hey, Dani.
- Yeah.

That story about the
new home church, can I have it?

I was gonna give that to Collin.

Why the fuck would you give it to Collin?
He can't write for shit.

Well, I thought it
would be a good learning tool.

Baseball is a good
learning tool.

Why, you don't want to write
about baseball anymore?

I want an actual story,

and this feels like the first one
this town has had in a long time.

All right,
if you feel that strongly...

- Perfect, thank you.
- Okay. See ya.

- Aren't you coming in?
- Probably shouldn't.

- Sorry.
- I get it. You're a gentleman.

Hmm.

- Good night, Jessica.
- Good night, Thomas.

Emeth. It's Greek for truth.

- Michael Hallback?
- I am.

And you must be Jessica Cutler.

Please, come in.

Ah, there's the little bugger.

I'm so sorry, uh, new house, can't seem to
find anything, we're not done unpacking yet.

I've seen all this. Riveting.

Whenever you are ready.

I'm ready.

So,

10 to 12 million people regularly
attend home churches in America.

What do you think accounts
for that?

Well, I think that there's a lot
of people that attend church

because they can remain unnoticed,
they blend in with the big crowds.

But that's not how God intends
His relationship with us to be.

You see, going to church
is a very social activity

and your bond with your fellow
believers is incredibly important.

And here at Emeth,
it's our goal to foster

that relationship between
God and His followers,

and to help them grow
in their walk with Christ.

You see there's strength
in numbers.

Speaking of numbers, this very small
town already has a Catholic church,

a Methodist church,
a Baptist church

and even a non-denominational church
that meets at the Petersons house

and gets out just in time for everyone
to make it to the farmers' market.

Everyone here is pretty set in their ways and
anything new doesn't tend to last very long.

What makes Emeth so special?

Father used to tell us a story
about an old western town.

It's hot there,
it's hotter even than here,

and everybody was always looking for
different ways to quench their thirst.

They tried tonics and powders
and what have you not,

but nothing ever left them
completely satisfied.

And then one day
a man came along

and he built them a well.
Water, real thing.

See, Miss Cutler, when... when when you give
people what they've always been wanting,

they'll never need
anything else.

So you've come to our little
western town to bring us Emeth?

- Heh. I mean, if you want to put it that way.
- I don't.

- So your religious organization...
- It's a church.

It's been in the news many times for
its controversial views and practices.

Should we go over
a few of those...

Look, I know
where you're going with that

and those are very extreme cases and
Emeth has dealt with them accordingly.

- Heh. But you haven't...
- Next question.

How does it feel having a woman
asking questions in your church?

Excuse me?

Well, because I know women are supposed
to remain silent during services,

that's in the Bible, right?

Yes, those are God's words.

"God's words."

Is that how you justify the stoning of a
divorced woman in one of your Ohio outlets?

I don't have to justify
anything to you.

Let's see...

Oh, let's not forget Emeth's
notorious reputation

for mercilessly harassing
gay people.

What passage did you pull from exactly when
you decided to burn that gay couple's house?

Those sinners
got what they deserved.

Adulterers and sodomites
have no place in God's house.

God hates
all forms of wickedness,

especially those who think
they're above His chosen leaders.

Okay.

Fine, leave. You'll be back.
You always come back.

Did you only bring one of these?

- What more do you want from me, heh?
- Fuck.

I'm gonna need like four more
if I'm gonna get through this.

Okay, well, you asked for it.

Well,
I didn't think she'd make me go back.

You really thought Dani was just
gonna let you write an article

shitting all over
the new church?

You wanna come with me?

No, I have to go to work and
besides, it won't be that bad.

I mean,
how bad could it be?

And, hey,
maybe Thomas will be there.

- Uh, yeah, I highly doubt that.
- Oh, why not?

Have you not talked to him?

Well, no,
we didn't exchange numbers.

Besides,
he's probably long gone.

Well, whatever.

I can hook you up with one of Sunset
Acres' most eligible bachelors.

I can think of at least two
who've only groped me like once.

Okay, I get it.
My job's not that bad.

Yeah, heh. Well, if you change your mind, you
can always come work for me as a nurse's aide.

- Yeah, I don't think so.
- Oh, come on.

Changing bedpans
and opening Jell-Os all day

doesn't sound like
fulfilling career alternative.

- You need more of this.
- Yes, give it to me.

Oh, it's all I wanted.

Would you like some water?

What,
is the Kool-Aid not ready yet?

Yeah, sorry. Thank you.

Uh, do you have a bathroom?

Hey.

Thomas.

Sorry, you walked in on that.

So what's up?

So is this why you couldn't
come in the other night?

No, no,
Georgine is not a thing.

No, no, I mean this.

When was I
supposed to bring that up,

before or after you shat
on religion?

Okay, well, you also said you
weren't gonna be in town long.

Yeah, that part's true.

I'm moving to the next town as soon
as we're established here, all right.

My brother's gonna
take over the church here.

I'm just here to help get
the ball rolling.

Right. Okay.

You're not gonna tell anyone,
right?

No, I'm not gonna tell on you.

From what I could see,
it was all consensual,

which is kind of a rarity
for you guys, so...

Yeah, and it's been at the center
of some pretty fucked up shit.

Okay.
So, why are you a part of it?

Pays really well.

Come on,
I know you're not that shallow.

It's the only thing I've...
I've known, all right,

plus it gives me a platform
that I wouldn't have otherwise.

So I try to use that platform to do
as much good in the world as I can.

From everything I know about Emeth,
I don't see how that's possible.

You have to keep an open mind.

You know,
some people fuck in beds.

You know I'd heard that.

Problem is the bathroom is the only room in
the house that doesn't have a camera in it.

- What?
- Yeah.

Father put cameras in all
the rooms except the bathrooms.

He says it's to keep an eye
on his congregation,

but really I think it's just
to keep the leadership in line

from all those non-consensual
acts you mentioned,

which is sad really, you know.

People do whatever
they want when God's watching,

but as soon as they figure out
others are watching,

they change their behavior
entirely.

This is all off the record,
by the way.

Hmm. Shame. Would have made
a fascinating angle.

Welcome.
Welcome to all of you.

I would now like to introduce our
founder and our shepherd of Emeth.

And he can't be here for long

because he has many other places to go
to help spread the ministry of Emeth.

But we have him here today,
which is the greatest blessing of all.

Father...

Welcome.

Welcome all of you.

God has brought
all of you here...

and God wants
all of you to be here.

And I can't wait to see
what he has in store for you,

here at Emeth.

It won't be easy.

God never promised
that life would be easy,

but it is ultimately

the only way to happiness,

to gaining His favor

and eternal life with Him.

None of you
deserve to be here

for you...

We, are all sinners.

But there is hope,

hope eternal

for even the wickedest
of sinners.

Together through fellowship

and accountability,

we can ensure

that we reach paradise together

and inspire others to join us.

Hmm.

We're lucky.

We have a book
that tells us exactly

what we need to do
in order to please Him.

Simple rules,

but rules that the world calls

ludicrous fairytales.

Politically incorrect,

outdated.

I assure you,

there is nothing
outdated about God.

He is alive and well.

And He is in this place.

He is in this town.

Like any father,
He demands obedience.

He demands that marriage
be kept sacred,

that we put nothing else
before Him,

that our bodies
be kept His temple.

Now in this town,

there is divorce,

there are people
who don't put God first.

There is extramarital sex,

homosexuality,

and children born
out of wedlock.

All of these things
are an abomination to God

and those that do these things,
He abhors them

and He has stricken their name
from the book of life.

But...

there is a way
to get our name

back in that book.

And that is what
we're here to do.

♪ Rejoice the lord is king ♪

Fuck you.

You talked about doing good
with that.

What good could possibly
come from that?

- It's disgusting.
- I know.

I know. All right.
But that's not me.

Bullshit.

You're part of it, you're part of the
whole fucking thing, guilty by association.

Look you...

You learn to justify stupid opinions like
that or at least you learn to ignore them.

It's hard to leave something
I've known my entire life.

I don't blame you for hating
the things Father said in there.

Can I see you again?

How about now?

So you're afraid to go back
and face the wrath of Father?

No. Just enjoying being here
with you.

The strange thing is though I'll still
apologize profusely when I get back.

Do you really feel like
you're doing something wrong?

Logically no.

But like guilt just comes
with the territory.

Every little thing I do, it's
this feeling that I can't shake,

which sucks
'cause sex is awesome.

Yeah, how do you reconcile that?

I can't.

But if there is a God,

He's a lot more loving and
open-minded than Emeth preaches.

I mean, there's got to be more than
one way to live your life, right?

I mean,
why should someone perish

just because they lived a life
different from everyone else.

I wish I could be more like you.
More definitive.

That I could just write it all
off without a second thought.

You know, I used to buy into the
whole thing too when I was young.

But when I was in third grade,
this boy in my church,

he was just a few years older
than me,

said that the priest
had touched him, yeah.

And then a bunch of other kids,
boys and girls,

came out and said that he had
done the same thing to them.

You know what the church did?

They moved him to another
church, heh, like an hour away.

One of the boys killed himself
a few years later

and still nothing happened
to that priest.

And this isn't
a unique situation.

That wasn't one bad guy
doing a bad thing.

And the church was complicit.

And so, as part of the church,
I was complicit.

When I told my parents that,
they kicked me out.

I've been making my own way
ever since.

That's why I like
coming out here.

Why is that?

'Cause life is chaos,

but you can choose to
just walk out into that water,

close your eyes
and see what happens.

There's something freeing
about giving it into the chaos

and coming out on top...

if you're lucky.

And if you're not?

Then you're not.

-Yeah.

- It made so much sense though.
- Oh, yeah?

- Yeah.
- Maybe to you.

- I didn't mean it like that, heh.
- Oh, okay.

Okay, maybe a little.

Are you sure
I can't give you a ride home?

No, I'm fine.
I prefer walking.

Gives me time to clear my head
and practice my apology.

- Are you gonna go home?
- I have to, eventually.

Hmm, tsk.

Well, do you want to come
in this time?

No cameras in here.

Can I maybe get
you a drink or something?

- Hey.
- Hey.

- You want some breakfast?
- Sure.

So I'm gonna warn you,

there might not be anything
edible in my fridge, like at all.

- Nothing...
- Morning.

Don't you two make
a nice couple? Mighty nice.

What the fuck
are you doing here?

Get out.

Excuse me.
You never changed your locks.

You never even asked
for my keys,

so you must have wanted me to
come back through those doors.

Get the fuck out!

Shh.

Aren't you gonna introduce me
to your new friend?

I knew you'd move on

but I had hoped you would be with
someone who wasn't so beautiful.

It's time for you to go.

That's funny

'cause, uh, I was thinking
the same thing about you.

Boys.

Seth, do not do this please,
I beg you.

- Hey, hey.
- What the... Hey! Hey!

- Thomas! Thomas!
- You son of a bitch!

Fuck you! Fuck you!

Stop it.

You know,
I never could figure out

what I had to do to make you see
that we were perfect for each other.

Why can't you just see that?

Hey, boss,
what do you want us to do with him?

Take him back where he belongs.

Jessica.

Jessica.

So,
you want to tell us where you've been?

Look, we already know.
Just own up to it.

Hold your tongue.

You spent the night
with another.

You're weak in the eyes of God

and you have soiled your
relationship with your betrothed.

She's not my betrothed.

Never agreed to that.

It's about time somebody around here
started thinking for themselves.

Sit down.

You think you can break God's
rules and just get away with it?

Haven't I taught you
better than that by now?

Yeah, sure.

All right.
Let's talk about God's rules.

That book says we can't
have bacon or shrimp.

You can't trim your beard.
No mixing meat or dairy.

So I guess we're all going to hell for
eating fucking cheeseburgers, right?

No sex.

But you turn a blind eye if it's
the woman you want me to marry.

How exactly do you choose which
of God's rules we follow, Father?

- If only your mother were...
- No.

No, you don't get to do that.

My mother?
I never knew my mother.

You've never had a wife.

Are the three of us
even related?

Oh, right, I forgot, we're not
allowed to ask about that.

We're not allowed to ask any fucking
questions about anything at all.

So, no, you don't get
to guilt-trip me for shit.

You don't have to stand there like I'm a
sinner when you're nothing but a hypocrite.

Repent.

Or what?

That's what I thought.

I'll show myself out.

Here's your water.

I have to go to work but
mom's here if you need anything.

Oh, and your phone was ringing,
I think you missed a call.

Are you okay?

Exactly where I wanna be.

I love you.

And I love you.

Mama!

You awake?

Mama!

It's okay.

- She's gone.
- I know. I know.

Okay.

- She's gone.
- I know.

This isn't the same room
anymore.

I've known this room
my entire life.

I've slept in here,
played games in here.

I even brought some boys in here

because the bed
was so much nicer than mine.

Now everything is gone.

It's just empty.

Whom I gonna take care of now?

Who's gonna take care of me?
I'm not like you.

I'm not self-motivated.
I'm not good at being alone.

You're stronger than you think.

What am I supposed to do now,
just throw myself into my work?

Where's my bright outlook
in that?

You'll figure it out.

I wish you could just tell me
what to do.

The girl with all the answers.

I know.
I wish I could too.

I'm happy it was peaceful.

I'm happy she was asleep
when it happened.

I know it's not gonna
go back to being the same,

but is it ever gonna be
anything?

You'll figure it out.

One day you'll wake up
and it won't hurt as bad,

and it won't be so lonely.

You'll go in that new direction.

Tell me the plan again.

We'll have a little baby girl

and she will be the most beautiful
thing that you or I have ever seen.

I'll go back as assistant editor
of the paper.

You can stay home with our daughter
while writing your stories.

By the time
our little girl turns six,

we will be in a city too big for
small-minded people to hurt us.

She'll grow up
and be who she wants to be,

believe what she wants
to believe,

and love who she wants to love.

No one will ever tell her that she
is less than or not good enough.

She'll have a life far better
than you or I could ever imagine.

And then you and I will grow old
and wrinkly together,

bound together by a closeness
that no poet could put into words

and no scientist
could ever explain.

- I love you.
- I love you.

♪ Away in a manger ♪

♪ No crib for a bed ♪

♪ The little Lord Jesus
Lay down ♪

♪ His sweet head ♪

♪ The stars in the sky ♪

♪ Look down where he lay ♪

Hi, Thomas.
Hi, Jessica.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Jessica, you look incredible.

I've never seen a more beautiful
pregnant person before.

Thank you.

I know it's early but,

ah,
we got you a Christmas present.

It's baby blankets.

Uh, Michael actually picked them out.
I just wrapped them.

Thank You, Georgine,
that's very kind of you.

Ah. I hope the child
enjoys them.

And I wanted to let you both know that
Michael and I will be getting married

the weekend
after Christmas.

Anyway, I would love
if you both could make it out.

It will be at Emeth
starting at 4:30.

And I know Michael would be
really happy to see you there too.

Yeah, we'll...
we'll check our calendar.

Great.
Well, happy holidays, heh!

- Merry Christmas.
- Bye.

- At some point I'm probably gonna have to pee.
- Mm-hm.

Do you think it's safe to go
in there at this time?

Why, did you want the Emeth VIP
bathroom experience?

Yes. Yes, I do.

We'll find a way to make
that happen.

Is that a promise? Good.

- Hold me to it.
- I will.

- Okay.
- Heh.

Hi there.

- Hi there.
- She's really pregnant.

- Yes, she is.
- I am.

- When's she due?
- Next month.

You're not wearing
a wedding ring.

That's because
we're not married.

Oh, poor child.

Enjoy the wedding.

I love you, Michael, and
I know that you love me too.

Because of this,
I desire to be your wife, heh.

For 20 years I have prayed that
God would lead me to His choice

and I am confident His will
is being fulfilled tonight.

Through the pressures of the present
and the uncertainties of the future,

I promise to be faithful to you.

I will love, serve, and obey you
as long as we both are alive.

Christ told us, "The wife should
submit herself to her own husband

as to the Lord for as Christ
is head of the church,

so is the husband
head of his wife."

Michael,
I submit myself to you.

Georgine, I love you,
and I know that God has ordained our love.

Because of that,
I desire to be your husband.

Together we will be vessels
for His service

in accordance with His plan

so that in all areas of our life,
Christ will have preeminence.

Through the pressures
of the present

and the uncertainty of the future,
I promise to be faithful to you.

I promise to love you,
to guide you

and to protect you as Christ did for
His church as long as we're both alive.

According to Ephesians 5 and
the power enabled through him,

I promise to love you as Christ loved
the church so much that He died for her.

And I will treat you as part of me
because in His sight we will be one.

I now pronounce you
man and wife.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. and Mrs. Hallback.

Hello, ladies.

Wow, look at you.

Isn't this just beautiful?

A divine miracle.

Oh, isn't this just beautiful?

That's enough.
Jess, you all right?

- Yeah, I'm... I'm... I'm fine.
- Try not to make a scene now, boy.

Not on such
a beautiful occasion.

- You okay?
- I'm fine.

He's a very dedicated
and passionate follower.

Emeth is lucky to have him.

He's an abusive creep.

- He who repents...
- Yeah, save it.

Jess, why don't we go back
to the reception?

Oh, the reception
is for members only,

not for the unwholesome,
not for sinners

who shamelessly lure their
adultery in front of others.

You've made your choice.
There's no reason to come back.

I never wanted a wedding.

When I was growing up, all the girls
would talk about their special day

and I just couldn't picture it
for myself.

I dreaded it.

I had nightmares about standing next
to someone I had no connection with.

- And now?
- Now I'm in love.

I don't need rings
or sexist vows.

I'm here.
I'm never going anywhere.

- I love you.
- I love you too.

- Let's get the hell out of here, heh.
- Yes, ma'am.

All right, Jessica,
get your ass out of here.

You said you were leaving
at 3:00 today, it's 3:30.

Shit, okay.

Um, I'm almost done marking Lisa's
story and then I am out of here.

Good.

Dani, oh, my God,
what happened?

Oh, this? What, you don't like
my new beauty marks?

Dani, what happened?

A few of your church friends
paid me a visit last night.

They threw rocks and bricks
through my window.

Oh. God, why?

Do you remember that story that Collin
wrote highlighting the women's clinic

and the services they provide?

Mm-hm.

I added a little bit in there about how
Emeth is protesting them as baby killers,

which is interesting because abortion
isn't even a service they provide.

They didn't like that.

You should report it
to the police.

I did.

They couldn't prove who it was
but it's pretty obvious to me.

They put signs in our yard
the other day.

Apparently, the snide remarks and looks at
the grocery store aren't enough anymore.

And now they are dragging
Arcadia into it.

Oh.

What am I supposed to do,
just ignore it?

How do you fight back
against something like that?

You'll be okay.
You're almost away from them for good.

But you're not.

Yeah, I'd like to really
see them try and fuck with me.

So you got a good
evening planned?

Yeah, Katie's coming over.

I haven't seen her in forever and we're gonna
start planning Arcadia's birthday party.

Oh, sounds fun.

You and Collin
are gonna be there, right?

Wouldn't miss it.
He might, though.

I just... I never know
what's going on with that boy.

- I'll give this to Lisa.
- Thank you.

You're welcome.

How am I gonna run this place
without you?

Hey,
you're gonna kick ass as usual.

- Yeah.
- I'll see you tomorrow.

Hey, it's time for bed, pumpkin.

Can you tell Aunt Katie
good night?

- Good night, Aunt Katie.
- Good night, sweetheart.

Wrap those arms.
Okay, got it.

Okay, let's go.

Oh, no. Uh, what time is it?

Um, I'm so sorry I have to go.

- Uh...
- Okay, bye.

Katie.

Katie. Hey, Katie.

It's his last jab.
Don't get angry. That's what he wants.

They all want you to be upset.

And why shouldn't I be?
It's my fault.

I knew something was off
with Katie.

Ever since her mom died, she's been
drifting further and further away

and I was too busy with you
and Arcadia to be a good friend.

- Fuck.
- It's not your fault.

Her choices aren't your problem.
She's a grown woman.

What matters is that her stupid
decisions don't come back and hurt us.

Yeah, okay.

Mommy?

- You want to take care of that?
- She's calling you, man.

I'll take the next one,
I promise.

Okay.

What is it, baby?

- Do you have a mommy and daddy?
- Yes, but they live far away.

Does daddy have a mommy
and daddy?

- He has a daddy.
- Where is he?

No, absolutely fucking not.

- Just think about it, okay?
- No.

We can't project our issues with your family
on to her, she doesn't know any better.

I mean, we knew this would happen
at some point, we talked about it.

She can meet your family here and then
my family at some point down the road.

Okay, and what if she comes back
and she wants to do Jesus shit?

Then we let her do Jesus shit.
We talked about that too.

Of course, this would happen
as soon as we're about to leave.

Maybe it's for the best.

I can watch her
while we wrap her presents.

When we finish setting up for the party,
they meet her now and then we're gone.

- We're gonna be back, you go to bed, okay?
- Okay.

- We'll be back.
- Well, look who it is.

No, not them. This is a major
breach of our trust, Michael...

We are leaving, Thomas.
We're leaving.

It's a beautiful little girl
you got there.

We show up 30 minutes late
so you wouldn't pull this shit.

We're sorry. We are very,
very sorry and we are leaving.

Uh-huh,
it doesn't fucking look like it.

Watch your mouth, boy.

- What the hell? I thought we had an agreement.
- Look, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

We just lost track of time.

Is that Arcadia? Oh, hello there.
I'm your Aunty Georgine.

Hello.

And look, this is your uncle Michael.
Let's wave at him. Hi.

So do you like teddy bears?
What about puzzles?

Great. Well, we're gonna go right
inside, your grandfather's in there.

He's so excited to meet you.

We'll be back by nine.
She usually passes out around eight.

Okay.
I'll let Georgine know.

- She's quite good with children.
- Yes, she is.

She'll make a good mother.

I do wish
they'd hurry up and conceive.

I'm afraid they're not trying
as often as they should.

All right,
who's ready for dinner?

Guess what we're having for
dessert, Arcadia? Birthday cake.

- Ah! Oh, yeah!
- Yay, heh!

Yes. It's chocolate..

I'll slip out while she's distracted.
We'll be back at nine.

Uh, thank you again.

You know, you'll never learn
unless you practice.

You gotta let me master cutting the
paper before I can move on to wrapping.

Cut some paper then.

I think, it went pretty well
given how it all started.

Yeah, me too.

I think,
Father watches them fuck.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

- Has he always done that?
- I try not to think about it.

- It's fucking gross.
- Yeah.

Did you see the bruises
on Katie's neck?

No, I didn't notice.

He's just as much
a piece of shit as always.

She knew that. I just...
I don't understand.

Jess, there's nothing
you can do for her right now.

You know better than anyone else that
she has to figure things out for herself

and make her own decisions.

All done.

- And you didn't even need me.
- Heh, that's true.

Okay, just, uh, promise me
that we're gonna hire a babysitter soon.

- That is a promise.
- And actually have a date night 'cause...

Amen to that.

- What the hell?
- What's going on?

- I have no idea.
- Oh, my God.

Something is wrong.

Arcadia!

Oh, Thomas. Jessica.

- Georgine, what's going on?
- We can't find her. We can't find her.

- What?
- I'm so sorry.

- We can't find Arcadia.
- Let me find.

- You can't.
- Let me find.

- It's forbidden.
- Watch me.

- Arcadia.
- Arcadia.

No! No!

She's asleep.

- Is she...
- She's great, Katie.

Don't talk to me like that.

- I'm only trying to be...
- What, a friend?

Is that what you think you are?

- Well...
- Don't pretend like you're not here on their orders,

just to see if we've figured out
what really happened.

- Thomas, it was an accident.
- You weren't there.

- You just believe in what they told you.
- You used to believe them too.

You used to believe everything.
Then you left.

Are you really surprised
by what's happened to you?

The prodigal son
has wandered off the path.

Looks like that hurts.

Good to know Seth is doing well though..

Her name was Arcadia.

Katie,
do you know that name means?

Unspoiled paradise.
And she was.

She really, really was.

And now she's gone.

Why is that?

Why?

Tell me, Katie?

She was all we lived for.

Now she's gone.

She's fucking gone.

And the only thing keeping me
from just fucking ending it...

is that I need to know
what happened.

I need to know why my baby girl
was taken from me.

Why you people killed my girl?

Katie, if you're in there,
if Jess' best friend is still in there...

you owe us answers.

I know you've had
a hard time lately.

And you need to find a way
to survive in this town,

a way to feel loved
and to be a part of something,

and I'm glad you found it,
I really am.

But our little girl's dead.
She's not coming back.

You get to keep living your
life, that's what we're gonna do.

But it's gonna be really hard if we
don't know how or why it happened.

Katie, please.

"Do not withhold punishment
from a child.

If you strike him with a rod,
he will not die.

If you strike him with a rod,
you will save his soul."

Did you want to come?

What is that you want, Jessica?
Is it... is it answers?

I...

Oh, there, there.
That's what we're here for.

We give people what they need even
when they don't know they need it.

Emeth has been so good to me.

Emeth has given me comfort
and purpose, meaning

and it will continue to do that
as long as it still stands

long after you and I
have left this mortal world.

I swore an oath
to my husband,

an oath that binds me to stand
behind him no matter what,

even when that means
standing behind his lies.

Such as when he goes to bed
with another man all the while

preaching against
the sins of homosexuality.

Seth goaded my husband,
his lover,

into hitting Arcadia
as punishment,

something that had
never happened to her before.

She ran terrified from the house
and Seth...

What happened was horrible.

I can't even begin to imagine
the kind of pain that you're in.

But again, he's my husband

and I must submit to the life that
he and God have chosen for us.

But although
I stand by his side,

I must understand if God
or one of His servants on Earth

chooses to punish my husband
for his wickedness.

I've left a spare key
in the flowerpot.

I'll be gone this weekend
visiting one of our new outlets.

May God bless you
and be with you.

Jess.

Jess, listen to me, okay?

I don't want to lose you.

But if you want to go,

I'll help you go.

Just tell me...

Just tell me how to help.

- I want...
- Yeah.

I want you to help me
make it right.

Jess,
it won't bring our girl back.

I know that, Thomas. I do.

But I can't sit back and
watch them ruin any more lives.

They come here,
they brainwash people,

they hurt people.

They're hypocrites
and murderers.

Yeah.

We are better than that.

Are we? Are we?

You were raised to believe that
there is some higher power

that punishes people
who do evil.

But where is this justice now?

They need to be
held accountable.

Remember what we always said,

we'd be in this together
forever, no matter what.

As long as we had happiness
together, we were good.

And they took that away from us,

time and time again.

Please,
I can't do this without you.

Up, now.

Now!

Say hi to Father, everyone.

Daryll, what are you doing here,
man?

It's nothing personal boss,
she just pays better.

Boy, you ever held a gun before?

There's no fucking way
he's held a gun before...

Seth, please,
this is the Lord's house.

Oh, is that your main concern
right now, my language?

All right, I'll try.

Well, don't you two make
a cute couple.

Don't give me that look,
we know all about you two.

What can I say, Jess,
I'm a good fuck.

What about him?
Is he a good fuck?

Doesn't look like it.
Guy seems like a limp dick pussy.

No wonder your hands are shaking
on that fucking gun.

You never had to do anything really your
entire fucking life. Oh, what are you gonna...

Right, right.

So

I know you're a stickler
for the rules.

Lot of verses in this book.

Lot of verses
about homosexuality.

It's a punishable sin, isn't it?

Personally,
I think that's pretty extreme.

It's so homophobic and hateful.

There are so many worse things than
loving people, don't you think?

Seth, nothing? Hmm.

But they aren't my rules.

They're yours.

And I know how important it is
to Emeth

that you be punished
when you break...

What was it, Michael,
God's rules?

Here's what's gonna happen.
I'm gonna untie you.

Then you're gonna take these and you're
gonna stone this sodomite to death.

God be praised.

If you do this...

hey, I promise,
I won't kill you.

But if you refuse...

Get the picture?

You're gonna have
to do better than that.

Again.

Don't be afraid to get in there
and bash his fucking brains in.

Shit.

That's very good.
Very good.

So Matthew 5:29.

Do you know it?
Tell me.

If your...

If your right eye causes you to
sin, cut it out and throw it away.

Very good.
You know what to do.

No. No!

"Touch not my anointed

and do my prophets no harm."

The psalms, really?

Now I...

I fully support
what you did to those boys.

It was wonderfully rooted
in scripture.

And if you...

if you need any help
moving on from what happened,

you have the full support
of Emeth behind you.

Remember what
you used to say, Father,

about how the boss is responsible
for the actions of his employees

and must be held accountable?

That's you, Father.

Guilty by association.

"If anyone should cause

of these little ones harm...

it would be better
that he have a millstone

hung around his neck

and that he be drowned
in the middle of the sea."

Matthew 18:6.

This won't destroy Emeth.

There are thousands,
millions of us.

We have no issue with them.

We are concerned with those

who've done harm to us

and those that we love,

the hypocrites who preach hate
and intolerance,

mass as a path to fulfillment.

You will never poison
another mind

or life.

♪ It is well ♪

♪ With my soul ♪

♪ It is well ♪

♪ It is well ♪

♪ It is well ♪

♪ With my soul ♪

Do you feel any different?

♪ What can wash away my sin ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ But the blood of Jesus ♪

♪ What can make me whole again ♪

♪ Nothing
But the blood of Jesus ♪

♪ Oh! Precious is the flow ♪

♪ That makes me ♪

♪ White as snow ♪

♪ No other fount I know ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ But the blood of Jesus ♪