Nightmare at the End of the Hall (2008) - full transcript

Come on, hurry up.

Morning students,

very impressive.

We all salute the senior class.

You got two minutes, let's go.
Come on.

Don't want me calling
the headmaster.

Two, three, four,
five, six, seven.

Now who's missing?
Jane Halloran,

has anybody seen her?

Come on guys, let's go.

Courtney, have you seen Jane?



She must
have been up early.

I went by her room this
morning and she wasn't there.

She skipped the breakfast
review session for the APR exam.

Maybe she
couldn't find a seat.

Very funny.
So no one has seen Jane.

Courtney, could you
come here please?

Everyone snuck out
for the prank, including Jane.

Your son's her boyfriend, why
don't you ask him where she is?

My son is in my office.
He'll be answering

these same questions
soon enough.

Last night, um,

was she drinking?

Were you?

Come on Court,
she's your best friend.



Where would she go?
You've got to tell us.

Okay.

What would I find if
I went over to Mac right now

and searched your room?
Hmm?

We're days from graduating,

you have to promise me nobody's
getting in trouble for this.

It's fine, it's fine.

You have my word.
Let's just go and find her.

We've looked in the lower
levels, basement, in the attic.

We've checked every single
room in the entire building.

Nobody has access here.
That's locked storage.

Brett copied your master key
and gave it to Jane,

we used the room
sometimes to hang out.

You asked where
she could be, so...

- Hey!
- It's all right.

Jane are you in there?

Can you hear me?

Open it.

Jane!

She didn't leave a note?

No.
Was she depressed?

No.

Her journal, she has a journal.

We didn't find anything.
She may have destroyed it

knowing what
she was going to do.

But she was happy.

Sometimes when people make
a decision to end their lives,

it may seem that way.

You're wrong!
Let me see her.

Let me see her!

Brett, Brett no, son.
No.

Come away, come away, come on.

Come on. Son.

Douglas Academy

Alumni silent auction
will conclude in five minutes.

Doesn't anybody read anymore?

Oh, thank you.

Look at you.

You got hot.

Please, tell me that
we made out at least once.

Hm, let me think.

Oh, oh, no.

I told you.

Ladies and gentleman,
please welcome

the headmaster of Douglas
Academy, Ian Ramses.

Can I have
a Manhattan, please.

- You got it.
- Thank you.

Welcome Douglas Academy alumni,

former students.

I'm sorry, it was declined.

The beer, wine and
champagne is on the house.

If you're Courtney
Snow I'm buying you a drink.

The lady'll have a Manhattan?

Yes she will, thank you.
And you are?

Robin Miller head of
the English department.

Honoured that you are here.

No, I tell everybody
that My Dead Friend

is the real reason why I chose
to come and teach at Douglas.

I'm a huge admirer of your work.

Really?
I take it you're

still working on
that second novel.

Working on several of them,

the trick is actually
finishing one.

Wow, I thought most of the staff
was kind of pissed off

about how they were portrayed.

Well, maybe when
the book first came out

but it has been a while.

It has, well, Douglas must
be very lucky to have someone

with such good taste
hanging around.

Have you ever
considered teaching?

No.

Oh, you're practically
a rock star to my students.

They love that fact
that you wrote

a scandalous novel
about Douglas.

In case you're curious,
this is the salary.

Plus the artist grant.

Let me know by Monday?

Uh, huh.

Excuse me,
would you sign this please?

Mr. Ramses, you won my book.

First edition classic
by a former student of mine.

I fought tooth
and nail for this.

Would you personalize it?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

- Thanks.
- I see you've met

- our Ms. Miller.
- Well actually,

I just asked Miss Snow
if she'd be interested

in being our next
artist-in-residence.

What a wonderful idea.

Mind if I take credit for it.

Well, I'll let
you two get caught up.

Sorry about that, she's
just a little over zealous.

Oh really, no need to apologize.

Now I know how difficult
it would be for you

to come back to Douglas.

It's the same for Brett.

Yeah, you know I was
kind of hoping he'd be here.

He's um, well um,

it was very hard for him, after.

I'm sure you know he never
even made it to Yale.

All that work,
he just had to let it go.

I'm afraid we haven't
spoken in some time.

Yes, well um, thank you
for this, it's lovely.

It's a bit of an exaggeration,
but very sweet, thank you.

I mean
every word Mr. Ramses.

It's Ian.
Ian, okay.

Huh, so, artist in residence.

Do you think I'd make
a good teacher?

I think you'd make
a hell of a good teacher.

Douglas,
Douglas hey, hey, hey,

take it all a way, way, way.

Take it all a way, way, way.

D-O-U-G-L-A-S

Oh, no. Ah.

You must be Courtney.

Hi, Gina Clicna,
my husband Larry and I

are your downstairs neighbours.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry.

First day jitters.
Hi.

No problem.
Are you finding everything okay?

Yeah, for the most part,
I left some boxes in my room.

I teach Western Civ.
And Larry teaches drawing.

Larry's working on
a graphic novel.

He'd love to get some
advice from a real writer.

It's about the Salem witch
hunts and other spooky stuff.

- Larry, tell her.
- She doesn't want

- to hear about that.
- Of course, she does.

Will you excuse me for a second?

Ian, McEvoy?
This is my fault.

No, I should have mentioned
that Courtney wouldn't want

to stay at Mac.
The thing is teachers wait

years to get a certain
housing assignment.

I could move somebody
if I begged.

Courtney I'm so sorry.

Sort of the last
place I wanted to be.

It'll be better
when the girls get here.

Yeah.

It's not real unless
I write it down first.

Just tell me already.

I am officially in love
with Brett Ramses.

And he's officially
in love with me.

I thought Brett Ramses'
only true love was in Red Sox.

Ha, ha.
He's not like that.

He's smart and interesting.

And he actually said it first.

So I said it back.

And then I kissed him
and it felt like

the most natural thing
in the world.

And I know you think
I'm a cheeseball.

But it'll happen to you too.

And when it does, you'll realize
I'm not so crazy after all.

Okay, if I fall in love,
it is not going to be here.

See that's the
difference between you and me,

I think I'd like
to stay here forever.

Brett?

Hey, what are you doing here?

Um, I'm teaching actually,

at Douglas.

Really. Wow.

- Wow.
- Wow.

Um, hey, so I heard that you're
the big deal writer now, huh?

Yes, I'm a big deal.

No actually, I kind of used up
the ten years I had to write

a second novel
so now I'm a teacher

who buys construction paper
and cookies.

The woman downstairs said that
if I didn't have name tags

for the girl's doors and
cookies on the first night

I'd bring forth the apocalypse.

Anyway, I kind of
got to get back.

Okay, yeah, uh,
I'll get the door for yeah.

Thanks. You know,
success is over-rated so.

I am the only Douglas grad
who committed the ultimate sin.

I actually became a townie.
Is that so?

Yep, got my own
truck and everything.

Ain't she a beaut.
Oh.

So, when you're not
bow hunting or...

I uh, I have this
restoration carpentry business.

Basically I fix old homes
for rich New Englanders.

Hmm.

Married? Kids?
Significant other?

Uh, got a Labrador.
You?

I got a therapist.

But I had to break it off,
long distance relationship

and all that.
It's very complicated.

I understand, yes.

So your Dad's kind of amazing
at this whole headmaster thing.

You should come down,
check him out in action.

Yeah, well becoming
headmaster was always

a big deal to him.

Staying out of sight seems
like the least I can do.

But you grew up there.

Yeah, I know.
A lot of ghosts.

I didn't realize
there was more than one.

Wow, you must have sold
a lot of copies of that book.

You didn't
happen to...

Read it, no.

That's okay right?
Yeah, sure.

You probably wouldn't be
speaking to me if you had.

People seem to have a problem
separating fact from fiction.

Well then I'll read it.
It's not required.

What else am I going
to call you around, right?

See that would be me
asking if it would be okay

to get your number.

I don't think
that's such a good idea.

It's just to catch up.
Chat.

We were friends once, right?

Were we?
Oooh.

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, scratch that.

It totally didn't come
out the way I meant it.

Look, ah, here's me.

Give me a call if you want.

Um, but I'll understand
if you don't.

Well it was really
good seeing you again,

I'm glad you're doing so well.
Yeah.

It was good to see you too.

Take care.
Yep.

You ah, you always
read the newspaper?

You always this
interested in talking to me?

What?

You're Jane's best friend,
I'm trying to be nice.

Never were before.

That's because
I didn't know you.

After all, Jane thinks you're
about the coolest person

at Douglas so...
She did not say that.

She did.

Is Jane making you do this,
trying to get us to be friends?

No.

Yes, okay.

- Don't tell her I told you.
- I won't.

One other thing,
Jane's in love with you.

So don't hurt her, okay?

Hurt her?
I fricking worship her.

Good.

My two favourite people
in the whole wide world.

Hey.

Hey yo.

Save my crossword?

Thanks.

What do you mean
you have an extra girl?

Well, I've got 13 girls
and there's only 12 rooms.

No, no there are 13 rooms.

No there's 12 rooms.

I lived on this floor
myself for two years.

Oh, but not since
the renovation this summer.

The renovation?

They converted a room
at the end, used to be storage,

it's a room now.

Oh.

Okay, thanks.

I'm Laurel.

You must be...

I'm Courtney, I'm Miss Snow.

It's nice to...
This is ah, for you.

Thanks.

I didn't mean to scare you.

My parents are having
breakfast at Mr. Ramses

so I thought I'd get
an early start moving in.

Are you okay?

Yeah, it's just you
look a lot like somebody

I used to know.

Oh yeah, who was she?

She's my best friend.

I'm sorry, do want to come in?

No, no, that's okay.
I've got a lot to do.

It's very nice to meet you.
Nice meeting you!

Hi, I'm Courtney Snow.

Hi, I'm Jim McEvoy,
this is my wife Beth.

We're Laurel McEvoy's parents.

- Nice to meet you.
- Good to meet you.

McEvoy, really?

Yes, the dorms are named
after my grandfather,

we've been a Douglas family
for quite some time.

Anything I can help you with?

We just wanted to make sure
that you knew about Laurel.

What about her?

Laurel's always
had problems

adjusting here at Douglas.

She tends to withdraw.

This year could be
a fresh start for her.

You'll see to that won't you?

- I'll do my very best.
- Thank you so much.

You're very welcome.

Thank you Courtney.
See you again.

Nice to meet
you both.
Take care.
Bye.

Okay. So, I guess all of you
know that the Wi-Fi

shuts down at 11 and the
headmaster reminds everybody

to leave their cell phones in
their rooms during school hours.

Okay, look,
I'm just going to say this,

I was one of you once.
I lived in this hall

for two years so I kind of know
where you're going to hide

all your contraband and I know
everything that you're thinking

of doing before you do it
'cause I've done it already.

So, just think about that
before you try anything shifty.

'Kay?
Any questions?

Uhm,
I have a question.

- Okay.
- How much money

does your family have to donate
to get the big room?

Okay, that's enough.
Ann Marie, thank you.

It's a fair question.
No, it's not.

And you know it.
See you guys tomorrow.

Okay, get some rest.

Oh, take a cookie.

It's hard enough being
a McEvoy, living at McEvoy.

I don't need you defending me
just because my parents

told you to.
'Kay, fair enough.

Keep a secret?

Ann Marie's right.

I asked my parents if they
could get me the big room.

I walked through the building
during the renovation

this summer.

When I saw the room I,

I knew I needed to live there.

I just like the room.

Since this is an advanced
course I'm assuming

you all already know
the basics of writing.

What I want you to do in here
is to develop your own

personal style, your voice.

And that starts from
writing freely...

You wrote My Dead Friend.
Yeah, Sam, I did.

Anybody read it?

It's all
about Douglas right?

Um, yeah, it's loosely based
on my days here at Douglas

and no, I didn't mean
to trash the place.

Some girl really killed
herself here, didn't she?

Yeah.
A girl I knew.

Was she really behind some
suicidal messed up journal?

No, that was made up
for the book.

Look, basically My Dead Friend
is about the things

we leave behind after we die.

You mean like ghosts.

Idiot.

Not literally ghosts
but, yeah, in a way.

I mean ghosts don't have to be
one particular thing, right?

It can be a bad dream
that you can't shake

or a memory that you just
can't seem to let go of.

Why didn't you call it a memoir?

Mmm, because my life
just wasn't that interesting.

So basically I made up a
fictionalized tale of events

where questions were answered,
guilt was absolved

and suicides were forgiven.
Turns out,

shock, it was what
people wanted to read.

Okay, so enough about me,
let's talk about you.

Today I want you guys
to write speeches.

Speeches as if you're
trying to incite a riot.

Don't worry it's not going
to affect your grade.

I just want to know you
as people, as writers.

So please, write from the heart.

Make me want to riot, make me
want to scream in the streets.

Now, begin.

I'll be reading
them after class.

I'm sitting here beside myself.

I'm staring at the novels
on my shelf.

A million words in front of me

But I can't find the one word
that I need.

If I could be an open book

I wouldn't be misunderstood.

Every word I've left unspoken

Is like another promise broken.

I got to put it back together

and say the words
so hearts have spoken for.

The radio can read my mind

It's playing what
I'm thinking every time...

Ian, I kind
of wanted to talk to you

about Laurel McEvoy
Is there a problem?

I'm a godfather of sorts.

Oh, no, no, no.
No problem really,

it's just that, she reminds me

an awful lot of Jane Halloran.

You think.
Yeah,

she looks just like her.

Well I think it's only
natural that one of these kids

would remind you of Jane.

Especially a girl who has
suffered from depression.

Jane was never depressed.

Oh, I just think
we never saw the signs.

If you're concerned that Laurel
may be headed down the same path

then I think we need to get
her some professional help.

Also her parents have
strong ties to Douglas,

they may need to be brought in.

No, I really don't think
it's at that point yet.

You say she reminds you of Jane.

Don't ignore your instincts.

You're close to Laurel
so watch her.

If anyone can prevent
another tragedy, it's you.

Okay so next
semester let's sign up

- to live in Mac again.
- Totally,

except I also applied
for the Cambridge semester.

Like Harvard Cambridge.

Like England, that Cambridge.

They hold one spot for a
Douglas student every year

and it's a huge honour
if you get picked.

And I'd only be gone for
the second half of senior year.

I'll be back before graduation.
Cor, I know you hate it here.

And England would be
great but, senior year?

It'll be different.

Different is a
whole semester about writing

in a different country
with new people.

It's not like
I'm abandoning you.

You have Brett.

Laurel?

Hey, has anyone seen Laurel?

Anybody checked
Sam Skify's room?

What?
They're friends

with benefits.
Minus the friends part.

Or the benefit.

- The boys have their needs.
- It's not

a fire alarm so go back
to your rooms girls.

Gina, Gina!

Gina, one of my girls is gone,
Laurel McEvoy is gone.

You're her advisor,
now are you going to be okay?

Yes. Yes, sorry.

I find I get panic
attacks in passing.

You find her
you call us on this.

Security's going to take the
lower field and ride into town.

Best thing to do right now
is get out there and find her.

Okay.

Laurel?

Laurel!

I've got her,
she's in the far quad.

- I've got her.
- We're on our way.

Laurel? Laurel!

Laurel.

I think
I'd like to stick around.

Oh my god. Jane?

What's going on?

Jane? Jane!

It's okay, it's okay.
Miss, Miss, Miss S?

It's okay.
What happened?

Come in.

- Checking in Miss S.
- Ah, Laurel?

Got a minute?

About the other night, I used
to sleep walk when I was a kid.

I haven't done it in years.

The doctors at the health
centre told me it's stress.

Stress.

About you and Sam?

Is he your boyfriend?

He's not.
Definitely not.

You know Laurel,
you can talk to me.

Sweetie, it's never a good
idea to be with somebody

if it has to be a secret.

Trust me.

Are we done?

Lucy loose!

You said you never came
back to see the old school.

Yeah, I don't,
I came to see you.

Wanna break some rules?

Yeah.
Come on, let's go.

Burn
baby burn, woooo.

Man,
I don't even remember

- any of those old cheers.
- It's because you

were way to busy
being cheered at.

Yeah, whatever.
Seriously,

how many varsity teams
were you on, anyway?

All of them.

I only signed up
for what my dad told me to.

It was pathetic really.
And you,

don't act like you weren't
involved in a bunch of stuff.

Oh yeah, the lit mag
and the radio show.

Ah, the radio show.

- I sucked at both of them.
- No.

Jane was the only person
that ever subscribed

to that stupid magazine.

And the kids used to
call me up and yell at me

while I was on the air
because I wasn't playing enough

- Grateful Dead, remember?
- Yes, I remember that.

This is
the Douglas I remember.

You know, sitting in the dark,
doing something

I'm not supposed to be doing.

I can't stop thinking about you.

Stop. Stop.

I'm sorry it's late.
I got to go.

Wait!
Ah, look, I'm sorry, just...

Emery, have you seen Laurel?

No, she's back
at the dorm with Sam.

Hello?

Courtney.

Is she okay?

Courtney,
can you hear me?

What happened?

Jane was here.

I'm looking for Courtney Snow.

You can
wait over there, sir.

Dr. Benson, radiology,
Dr. Benson to radiology.

- Hey Dad.
- Hi.

So Courtney's fine,
she's just had a concussion

is all she got.

Thank goodness for that.

We ran into each other
a few weeks ago in town

so, that's what happened.

Dr. McClain
to the ER, stat.

Dr. McClain
to the ER, stat.

Coffee?
Ah, no thanks, I'm good.

When did
you stop taking

your anti-anxiety medication?
Mmm.

I don't know.

I just sort of ran out
and thought, what the hell,

try living outside
the fog for a while.

You had a panic attack

and you're in withdrawal
from your meds.

You can't just quit cold turkey
like that without consequences.

That, the heat of the
bonfire and you said

you consumed alcohol.

I had 'a' beer.

Now you've
got 'a' concussion.

Any feelings of paranoia,
anxiety, seeing,

hearing things
you can't explain?

I'll put you back on your
medication, fog or no fog.

Thanks.

- Hey.
- Hi.

I'm fine Ian, thanks for coming.

I slipped and hit my head
and don't worry.

Will you see she gets home?

Yeah, yes sir.
Of course, you will.

Glad you're all right.
Thanks. Yeah.

I don't mean to pry
but someone in there

said that you might
be in withdrawal.

Okay, well since my medical
history is on parade,

yeah, I was on some anti-anxiety
medication and I stopped.

The reason I ask is because
you told me that you saw Jane.

Did I?

Oh, my therapist would have
had a field day with that one.

So, did you, see Jane?

Of course not, Jane's dead.

It's okay.

I ah...

I see her, too.

You know, whenever I close
my eyes or hear certain songs

it's like she's just
around the corner.

Anyway I guess
that's how I cope.

I had my first real panic
attack after we found Jane

and I guess how I've coped
my whole adult life

is to be on some sort
of chemical substance

prescribed or not prescribed.

I thought maybe if
I came back here,

I'd get some answers, you know.

Some closure, maybe move on
but then they put me in Mac.

You're living in Mac.
Uh ha.

Oh boy.
I know, it's like some sort

of sick joke.
And there's this girl,

swear to God she looks
just like Jane.

And I kind of started thinking,
well maybe she is Jane.

I know, it's crazy.
I even looked up her birthday

to make sure she wasn't
Jane reincarnated.

Totally nuts, I got it,
totally nuts.

So, here I am
completely losing it

and I don't know, you're here

and I just feel really confused.

Hey, Laurel,
you have fun at the rally?

You're kidding me, right?

I saw you there.

I've been
here all night.

You don't believe
me ask Mr. Mathers.

Tried to get me to play cards
with him like three times.

So you research
all this stuff, huh?

My time at Douglas
gave me some ideas.

Do you know that it's considered
a paranormal hot spot?

That doesn't surprise me.

Um, you know about
the Douglas massacre?

Yeah, yeah, it was
like late 1700s, right?

Sorry, during the
French-Indian wars.

Yeah, 63 men, women and
children were slaughtered

at dawn, town burned
to the ground.

After an event like that
you know, ghost stories

have sprung up and around
Douglas ever since.

Larry, you ever
see anything here

that you just couldn't explain?

No, um, you knew Carl
Dickens, he used to work here.

Yeah, yeah, he just retired.

Back in the 80s, one day
in the summer, he and his wife

were here clearing out
his faculty apartment.

Down the hall they see
this kid with a buzz-cut

not so different
than a kid here, right?

The kid goes down the hall
and in to one of the rooms.

Dickens is pissed
because none of the students

are supposed to be there
during the summer at that time.

So he goes down the hall into
the room to confront the kid.

And poof!

The kid just disappears.

Gone, but...

But you think he saw a ghost.

He believes he did.

Although, he admits
he was pretty experimental

in his Harvard days.

But he thinks that all the
chemicals affected his brain

and they um, lifted the veil
so that he could see things

that other people couldn't,
you know, like...

Like ghosts.

Hmm.

Larry, how many mind altering
substances do you think

somebody would have to ingest
before they saw the dead?

I think you see
what you want to see.

Yeah.

We tried
to get her to stop.

She's down to crazy town.
Okay, thanks Emery.

Thanks guys, okay,
I'll take it from here.

Come on, talk to me.

Talk to you?
You think I'm a freak.

I catch the way you stare
at me taking mental notes.

Is this about Sam?

I knew he was using me.

But I didn't care, cause
I thought it would change.

Instead they're all
laughing at me!

Hey hey hey.
Come on.

Get out!
Come on, come on.

So I did this.

Sam loves blonds.

Shoot.
It was stupid.

It's okay.
There's always one guy

that makes us do really
stupid things.

I'll help you fix it back.

He means so much to me.

I don't know what
to do without him.

Ah, I think he's cheating on me.

You know he would never do that.

Would you talk to him for me?

You guys are friends.

He would be honest
with you, I know it.

Please, please.

Do it, just please
do this for me.

Please do this,

because he means so much to me.

I don't know what
I'd do without him.

You're going to be okay,
it's all going to be okay.

What's wrong?
It's not you.

It's not you.

Brett I need to talk to you.

I don't understand why you're
treating her like this.

You know why.
No I don't,

I wish you'd tell me.

I'm in love
with somebody else.

No, we can't.

Well, Jane's back.

Courtney, there is no
such thing as possession

or ghosts or anything
like that, okay?

I know it was her.

She's trying to
tell us something.

I know it, I know it like
I know I'm sitting here

talking to you right now.

So what is she trying
to tell us exactly?

I don't know.

Maybe why she did it,
why she didn't leave a note.

Maybe she knew about us.

Brett, I think she was
trying to punish us.

Hey, hey, hey.

It's okay.
It's okay, I miss her, too.

This is not going
to happen again.

But I'm not in love with her.

Yes you are.

She's the smart one,
she's the pretty one.

She could have any guy
she wants and she chose you.

She could have any friend
she wants and she chose me.

No.

We're going to act
like this never happened.

If you care about me
at all, promise me.

I promise but I don't...
Courtney, I don't love her.

Hey.
Hey, I'm sorry to wake you.

What's going on?

I had to take a sleeping pill.

Oh, yeah?

Well, when's it kicking in?

Why?

Come on back to bed
and I'll show ya.

Come on.

I know he cheated on me,
I know it.

The saddest part is,

I still want to be with him.

So this summer
I have a second chance.

I'm going to do whatever it
takes to keep him in my life.

You sure that's what you want?

It's what I've always wanted.

Him.

Whatever it takes
to keep him in my life.

It's not real unless
I write it down first.

It's not real
unless I write it down first.

It's not real unless
I write it down first.

It's not real
unless I write it down first.

I'm going to do whatever it
takes to keep him in my life.

It's not real unless
I write it down first.

- Laurel, Laurel.
- I know he cheated,

I know it.

There's
something he's keeping.

- What is he keeping?
- Hey, hey, hey, hey.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's okay, Laurel,

you were sleep walking again.
Hold on, wait, wait, wait.

She looks just like Jane.
I know.

Oh, by the way,
I get it now.

That is why you feel
like Jane is around,

Laurel's the one
that you saw at the rally.

And you say she's got like
a sleep disorder or something?

Yeah, but it's
more than just that.

Look, she knows things
she shouldn't know.

You remember when Jane used
to talk about her journal

and she'd say, "It's not real
unless I write it down first."

Thanks.
Well, Laurel said that to me

the other day but it wasn't
like it was her talking.

It was Jane talking.

No, that
was you talking.

I think that was
a line from your book.

Which I read by the way.

You're so not listening
to me, did you like it?

Ha, yes, I loved it.

And I am listening.
You took a sleeping pill, okay.

Those things give
you crazy dreams.

Now you're going to be fine.
You just need to go back

on your meds, make sure she
stays in her room at night

and you're going to feel
better in no time, okay.

I promise.
Okay.

Okay.

Oh my god,
you got to go, I'm sorry.

I got to get dressed
the girls are going to be up

in like a second.
Right, got to go.

You know how this place
is with all the gossip

and everything and I don't
need to be the centre

- of any more talk.
- One more thing.

Way to go Miss S.

Miss Ssss,
I sense a renewed spirit.

Who's the lucky man?

Some hot townie.
Oh, you love it,

like you don't gossip about us.

I didn't tell them,
if that's what you're thinking.

Oh no, no, this was all me.
Really bad exit strategy.

I just want to let you know
that this morning I signed up

for a session with
the school shrink.

Good I'm really glad
to hear that, Laurel.

Yeah, whatever is making
me do this I want it to stop.

I should be
concentrating on school,

filling out college
applications.

Not obsessing on
Sam or my parents.

Or stressing out so much
I end up sleep walking

into your apartment.

Yeah, but I kind of
freaked out on you Laurel.

Look, between you and me,

I get really bad panic attacks

and lately they've
been getting worse.

And that's what happened
the other night.

But regardless, I'm really sorry
cause you shouldn't have

- had to see that.
- Still, me walking in

on you, your boyfriend
must think I'm a freak.

No, I explained
everything to him.

Besides he's not my boyfriend.
Definitely not.

Miss S who's Jane?

Both times when I woke up
I had this memory

that you called me Jane.

She was my best friend
when I was in school here.

Do you still talk to her?
Not anymore.

The Cambridge
thing's due in a few weeks,

I need to get my
writing sample done.

I thought you said you'd help
me with my story this weekend.

I did I just got...
Baked in the woods

with your new friends.

Give it to me, I'll read it.

Jane.

The Door In The Dark,
how very 'Stephen King'.

Really it's the first line of
a short story that hooks you in.

So today I'd like
to go around the room

and have everybody read aloud
just their first lines.

Ahh, Sam,
why don't you go ahead?

Okay, um, mine's
called Sugar Shack.

March in the Vermont's
sugar woods meant

nights were as freezing
as the days were warm.

And while the sap was running
they could be together.

It sounds
really good Sam.

I'm excited to read the rest.
Emery why don't you go?

Okay, mine's called Frienemies.

It all started when Sicily
St. James got her

new Hermes clutch purse.

Excellent, excellent.
Laurel?

It's called,
The Door In The Dark.

Mother always told her never
to open the door in the dark.

Keep going.
But you said

only the first line.
Keep going.

Um, she said you'd never know
what was on the other side

until it...
Took you by the throat.

Class is dismissed.

Everybody can go,
not you Laurel, you stay.

Come and
congratulate Jane.

Congratulate, for what?

She's going to Cambridge.
She won the Douglas spot.

Talk to you later.

You should
have told me.

You should have...
How could you do this to me?

I was going
to tell you I applied.

I didn't think I'd get in.

And now that I am, my parents
really want me to do it.

It's a huge deal,
you even said so yourself.

And now I want to go.

I'll be back in May
for finals and graduation.

Mr. Ramses said it was the
story, The Door In The Dark,

the one you helped me with.

That's why I won,
because of you.

What the
hell you trying to pull?

Pull what?

Jane Halloran wrote
The Door In The Dark,

when we were at school here.

It won her the Cambridge
fellowship and you're trying

to pass it off as your own.
For what?

Why? To screw with me,
mess with the teacher,

see how much you can take over.
It's my story.

It's plagiarism Laurel,
which is oddly a relief

because I thought there
was actually something

strange going on with you.
But now I know,

it's just you.

Look, some of the
phrasing is different

but it's the same story.

Have you been able to
locate a copy of the original?

The library keeps all
the award winning papers.

I checked,
they don't have it.

But Ian, you've read it.

I can't say it stayed
with me over the years.

I checked my files
I couldn't find anything.

The only thing she's
taken for sure is the title.

If I recall it's from a rather
unremarkable Robert Frost poem.

Laurel McEvoy's
future is at stake here

This is about
her family, isn't it?

I mean, I know that the McEvoys
were your biggest supporters

when you put your bid
in for headmaster.

That's true.
McEvoys have been friends

of mine for... since
before Laurel was born.

But you know, if you feel
like you need to pay them back

or if you owe them something
because they supported you.

It doesn't matter
what family she comes from,

I still wouldn't expel
a child from Douglas

without proof that they've
done anything wrong.

Laurel McEvoy is
doing this on purpose.

She's playing games.
She trying to...

All I'm saying is I don't
think any of us realize

what this girl is capable of.

I, for one, would like
to hear her side of the story.

That's a good idea,
ask her to come in please.

Laurel,
would you come in please.

Laurel why don't you tell us
how you got your idea

for the story.
From a nightmare.

I woke up and I started writing.

I knew exactly what came next,
how to say it.

It just flowed.

I can't explain it
any better than that.

Course she can't.

You're a writer.

Where do you get the
ideas for your stories?

Well they...

they just come to me.

It seems that
creative inspiration

is one of life's
great mysteries.

Not one that we're
likely to solve tonight.

Come on, Ian.

All she'd have to do is
Google me, read my book.

It's pretty obvious who
My Dead Friend was about.

So she found
something of Jane's,

I just can't figure out
why she'd doing this.

Maybe, maybe she
isn't doing anything.

How's your new medication.

That's really none
of your business.

You accusing my students
of imaginary crimes,

raving about a dead girl,
is my business.

What is it?

You're skating on very thin ice.

She wasn't just a dead girl.

Ian, you were
her favorite teacher,

you were her advisor
for four years.

She dated your son,
she was my best friend.

Courtney, you've
got to let this go.

I'm trying to.
But Laurel won't let me

and I don't know why.

I'm going back in there
to tell Laurel that

unless there's further proof,

she's off the hook.

And until this
matter is settled,

I'll take care
of Laurel's affairs.

Yes, yes,
I'm calling all the way

- from the States.
- That is

a distance.
Look, those records are from

so long ago it would take
a while to bring them down,

I'd have to look...
Ma'am, I know that it was

a long, long time ago but
that's sort of why files exist

you know, so that when people
like me call, people like you

can go and pull them
out of somewhere.

Courtney Snow,
are you the Courtney Snow

who wrote My Dead Friend?
Yes, I am that Courtney Snow.

When are you
coming out with a sequel?

Yeah, I am still working
on that second novel.

Listen, if you wouldn't mind,
you know taking another look

I'd really appreciate it.
You have all my numbers.

Look I'll do my best.
Thank you, bye.

Hello.

Hello, is this
the Halloran residence.

Yes, this is
Kay Halloran speaking.

Hi, this is
Courtney Snow calling.

You have a lot of nerve.

I really need to ask
you something about Jane.

Well, I was under the
impression that you knew

everything there was
to know about Jane.

You wrote your little book
and you made a fortune off

our family's tragedy.

She was our little girl.

So please, do not
contact us again.

Thank you.

Thank you,

thanks.

Remember they're just first
drafts, don't stress out.

Laurel you know that Mr. Ramses
is going to be grading yours.

I, I read your book.

I also looked at
your old yearbook.

You're right, I look
just like your friend.

But no matter what, I'm not her.

No sweetie,
I don't think you are her.

I think you want to be her.

But Miss S, what if
it's like you said,

what if there's something
strange going on with me?

I meant to tell you
I spoke with Jim McEvoy.

They're stuck in
Corsica on business.

They've asked me to take Laurel
for the holiday which means,

you won't have any
students to look after

so you can head back
to the city if you like.

Oh, thanks, I think I'll stay
here, get some writing done.

Ahh.

I see my son has
come bearing gifts.

Hey Dad.
We'll have to tell him

how much we frown upon
that sort of thing.

You are preaching to the...
Sorry.

What?

What did I tell
you about the gossip?

Thank you.
You're welcome.

It's the only way
I can get your attention.

You have an aversion
to actual conversation.

- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do.

You leave me voice mails when
you think I'm going to be gone.

I, I,
It's because I'm busy.

It's finals week.
Yes, it is.

Which means that tomorrow
is Thanksgiving break

and I was thinking that
maybe we could go away.

I'm doing renos
on this inn nearby

and thinking, no, don't say no.

They've given me
a few free nights.

And it would make
a perfect getaway?

- I don't know, it's not...
- Come on.

I have work and I'm waiting.
Come on, come on.

Wouldn't you like to get
out of this place for a while?

Act like grown ups.

Eat food that isn't
served on a plastic tray.

That sounds tempting.

Give us a shot, hu?

- Okay.
- Okay?

- Yeah.
- Yeah? Okay great.

However of course,
I have certain conditions.

Oh, now we're
making demands, are we?

No just one,
you got to promise me though,

no talk about Jane.

- Done.
- Done.

- Yeah.
- Good.

- Okay, goodbye.
- I'm going.

Good bye.
By the way,

What?
You look really good.

Well, well well.
Look who's here.

Hey.

- Wow, you look great.
- Oh, thanks.

No, you look,
you look hot.

I really
needed this, thank you.

You're very welcome.
I think you needed it too.

Anyway, what do you
want to do tomorrow?

We could ah, let's see
we could go hiking.

No on the hiking, I didn't
want to go hiking either.

Um, let's see, okay
down the highway

they've got this like
apple picking thing.

But I'm pretty sure it requires
to wear matching sweaters.

Hmm, kinky.

Hmm, kinky.
Hm? Kinky good, kinky bad?

Kinky's always good.
Kinky is always good.

Okay, okay, no for real,
what could we do?

We could if you would
be so inclined, stay in.

We could
definitely stay in.

Okay,
then we'll stay in.

Deal.

Oh.

Ringing.

Sorry, one second, hello?

Hello,
you were looking for records

on a Jane Halloran.

Jane Halloran, yeah.
Did you find anything?

That's just it, we
found the fellowship records,

but nobody by that name
who's ever applied

or attended the program here.

What? Are you sure?

Positive.
We even came across your

application but there's a note
here that it was withdrawn.

I know that's not the answer
you wanted to hear but...

No, no that's okay, thank you.

You've been really helpful.
Bye.

Hey, you okay?

I've been waiting
downstairs for you.

Jane never went to Cambridge.

Oh, come on Courtney,
you promised.

If she wasn't there,
then where was she?

There's this whole
piece of her life

that we didn't
even know existed.

Maybe this has something to do
with why she killed herself.

She was at Cambridge.

I wrote her there, I called her.

Did you call her
or maybe she called you?

I don't remember.
I don't know.

It's, she probably
called me, it was expensive.

Look can we please
just go back downstairs,

finish our wine and try
and have a nice night, okay?

Wow, you really just
don't get this, do you?

You know what, I do get it.
I get it.

You're trying to avoid us,
avoid me.

And you know what I think,
I think you're still

that same teenage girl,
running away every time

somebody starts
caring about you.

I wasn't running away from
you then, I was just trying

to do the right thing.
Just like I'm trying to do now

and you still won't let me.

What about the
right thing for us?

I...

Mrs. Halloran?

It's Courtney Snow.

I'm sorry it's so late.

It's Thanksgiving.

If you don't leave
I'm going to call the police.

I know that Jane
didn't go to Cambridge.

Please I need to know
if that had anything to do

with why she did it.

I really feel
like I need to know

or I'll never
be able to move on.

When somebody you love
takes their own life,

you never move on.

You knew her for a couple
years at your little school.

Jane was our baby.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry about tonight,
I'm sorry about the book.

I'm sorry about everything.
Sorry.

Never open a door in the dark.

No, no, help!

- Hey, Laurel!
- She's choking.

What the hell
are you doing, get off of her!

We were just asleep.

Oh my god,
go call 911, get help.

Laurel, Laurel, Laurel.

Oh my god, please breathe.

Jane, stop it!

Stop it.

Okay, okay, okay,
Laurel, okay, okay.

Come here, I gotcha, I gotcha.

You're okay.
In and out.

Doesn't matter, right?

You going to kick me out
of school for smoking?

Sam, you have to tell
them what happened.

I love her, you know.

I didn't think I would.

Started 'cause I knew she
liked me, I knew it'd be easy.

Then I realized
how alike we were.

You and Laurel?

Both our parents have
ridiculously high expectations.

It's like we have to constantly
prove that we're worthy

of being adopted by them.

You think, "Hey,
I won the lottery,

ended up with this
wealthy family."

But you're not blood.

You screw up, even a little,

they look at you in this way

like, "At least,
you didn't come from me."

Laurel got that about me.

She understood.

So don't ask me to go
in there and say something

that makes me sound crazy.

Dr. McCloud,
nurses station four.

Dr. McCloud to
nurses station four.

It was Jane,
wasn't it?

Three days before we were
supposed to graduated

from Douglas, Jane Halloran
killed herself.

I know.

It was in your room, Laurel.

How?

She hung herself.

You need to tell me.

I need you to tell me
what happened in that room.

What's been happening to you
or I can't help.

I feel this presence sometimes.

I know she's there in that room.

When she's in that place
she's re-living her death.

Stuck in like this endless loop.

Sometimes it's scary.

Sometimes it's just so powerful.

And I know I have
to be there for her.

She makes me leave sometimes.

Just to escape.

Sometimes she's strong
enough to go on her own

but she's always pulled back.

That's why she's angry.

Trying to reach out for
something to hold on to.

She's not angry at you.

It's me.

No, you were her friend.

Not a very good one.

And I think she knew it, too.

I think that may be
why she killed herself.

She didn't leave
a note like in your book?

No.

No note, which is weird because
Jane was a really good writer.

She kept a journal every day.

Even when nothing interesting
happened she'd write down

what she had for lunch.

They never found it.

But at the end of
My Dead Friend,

they find the journal.

And real life I make a
killing off my friend's suicide.

So if Jane is mad, it's
because she knows what I did.

She knows that I built
my life on her death.

You're wrong.

It's not you.

Maybe she regrets her decision.

It's not regret.

When I feel what she felt,

it's like being ripped out of
this world against her will.

If she wanted to die
she wouldn't still be here.

I don't know.
I do.

I can feel her.

That's how I know Jane
misses you and loves you

and wants you to be happy.

Thank you.
Yeah.

Excuse me, um, we've
left word for your parents.

It's best you stay
in my care tonight.

Ohh!

Holy crap, I missed you.

Let's go catch up.

You're sure you don't
want to go find Brett.

Naw, the boy can wait.

Cambridge was all right.

But it should have been you.

That's all I thought about.

Jane, you
don't have to say that.

Just let me say this, okay.

The way I acted before
I left was totally unfair

to you and to Brett.

Being away put a lot
of things in perspective.

And I want you to know
how sorry I am.

You have nothing
to apologize for.

I wasn't the greatest
friend to you.

There were things
that happened...

Forgotten.

It's forgotten.

And I want to leave Douglas
knowing that we're okay.

I'm sorry.

In future if you have
a problem come to me

not Miss Snow.
She's not equipped

to help you at the moment, okay?

Yes, Mr. Ramses.

All right,
try to get some sleep.

Hello, this is Courtney.

Hello?

It's George Halloran, ah,

I had to wait for
Kay to fall asleep.

You have a right to know
why Jane didn't go to England,

why she never told you.

It may help you to come
to peace with her suicide.

Thank you for calling me,
I'm listening.

Jane, help me to understand.

- I need to talk to you.
- About what?

Jane told me
to sneak in the back

and meet her
in the storage room.

She's been real strange.

Seriously, she left me like five
notes and a message at my house.

She said tonight
she had something really

important to tell me.
She knows.

No she doesn't I would know.
Thing is, I don't care.

I want to spend my last days
here with somebody

I'm in love with.
You can't.

If I care about Jane
I have to be honest with her.

Even if you don't feel the same.

I've lived every
moment of my life

according to my dad's
master plan.

To him that's all that matters.

His road map to the success
for the Ramses men.

I totally bought into it.

I forgot what it's like
to want something for myself.

What I want is you and me.

I want us to be together.

She'd never forgive us.

I can't think
about that right now.

I just don't want to lose you.

Jane, Jane.

The Door In The Dark
by Jane Halloran.

Now if you're
trying to apologize,

this is a hell
of a way to do it.

What happened
the night Jane died?

You know what happened.

You didn't go
try to find her?

No, we fell
asleep remember?

You never
went and met her?

- You didn't tell her about us?
- No.

I should have, yes.
I wanted to

but I just never got the chance.

So you and Jane didn't
have one of your huge fights?

Look, maybe this time
it got a little physical,

maybe there was an accident.

Whoa, whoa, wait
a sec, what are you saying?

I don't want to believe
this Brett, but it's

the only explanation.
Maybe you felt trapped.

Why would I feel trapped?
Because of the baby.

What baby, what the hell
are you talking about?

Your baby, Brett.
The one Jane had

instead of going to England.
Your daughter.

Mr. Ramses says if
I tell Brett, we'll all

have to be in trouble.
That the adoptive parents

will sue us for fraud but
I have to do the right thing.

Brett needs to know he has
a daughter named Laurel.

And he could be
part of her life.

No one ever told me,
my father never told me.

God, I can't believe
she went through that alone.

I would have stayed with her,
I would have helped her

and I never, I never
would have hurt her.

I should have gotten
rid of that a long time ago.

It's all she left behind.

Well, that's not exactly true.

Look, Jane's parents
think that it was post-partum

depression but I don't
think she killed herself.

Oh why?
Because Jane told you.

I don't know.

I don't know anything anymore.

You don't know me either.

You're my grandfather.

Jane came to me for help.

Not my son. Me.

I fixed everything.

Brett would never know

so she could still be with him.

And he would never resent her.

Her parents got what they wanted
a nice, neat private adoption.

A child of good breeding.

And I knew that one day
you would be here

with me at Douglas.

What was I worth to you?

What did my parents do?

I did this for my son.

Your dad set the
whole thing up Brett,

they thought you consented.

I never consented to anything.

It's amazing the things
a father will do for a son.

Which he'll never appreciate.

You did this for yourself.

For your career.

That's why Jane
showed this to me.

You were there that night.

You took Jane's journal
so no one would know.

Do you have any idea what
your parents would have done

if they had had
to give you back?

If they were dragged
through the courts.

I know what they're like.

I have an idea.

You can understand why
you have to give that back.

I know it was Courtney Snow
who put you up to this.

It was Jane.

Jane.

I was so fond of her.

She was going to scream.

I had to keep her quiet.

Jane.

Listen to me.
When I saw Jane at that rally

I think she was trying
to show me how she died.

And it was violent.
Suicide is violent.

No listen, all of this
is happening for a reason.

I think it's happening so we
can try to fix our mistakes.

But we can't
change what happened,

what we've done.

Being with you again
was not a mistake to me.

He's trying to break in,
please help me.

He's breaking, oh, oh, help me!
Help me! Oh no, no, no.

Be quiet Jane.
Don't tell Brett.

Please don't tell anyone.
I'm not Jane.

Oh my god.

Brett needs to know he has
a daughter named Laurel.

Miss S it's me,
please pick up.

Jane didn't kill herself
it was Mr. Ramses.

He's gone crazy, help me,
he's trying to kill me.

Oh my god.

Shh.

You have to be honest.

She was my mother.

She was Miss S's best friend.
We can help you.

No you can't.
But I can help you.

You have to go away, Jane.

I'm going to help you do it.

Nooo! Nooo!

Nooo!

I'm so sorry, Jane.
This is the only way.

I'm not going to let you
do this again!

Laurel! Oh god.

Oh god, Laurel.

Please breathe.

Why don't you just
let her stay dead?

All you need to do is be quiet

and you and Jane
can be together.

Sssh.

Quiet now.

Jane.

I'm so sorry.

You know what?

I think I'd like
to stay here forever.

But we each have some place
else we need to be.

Don't we?

Courtney, come on.

It's okay, she's coming to.
We got her.

Hey, you okay?
Where's Laurel?

She's right here, it's okay.
It's okay.

Everything is going to be okay.
I got you.

It's okay.

I know.

I can't begin to explain
what happened in there.

I have no idea what
was real and what wasn't.

It happened.

Jane happened.

How you do you feel?

Okay.

Yeah.

He's a good guy, you know.

Think he just might be
the love of my life.

I'd like to meet him.

Officially, I mean.

Okay.

Want to meet her?

Yeah.

Brett
this is Laurel.

Laurel this is Brett.

You look so much
like your mother.

Dad.