Occurrence at Mills Creek (2020) - full transcript
Haunted by the death of her sister, a young woman's reality erodes as she is plagued by a darkness hidden in her family's past.
It was the night, that night
nothing would ever be the same.
- I'm proud of you, I love you.
I love you too.
- Honey.
- I'm right here, Mom.
- Mom.
Hey, Victor.
Mom passed away yesterday.
Just thought I'd let you know.
Victor, we had done fine without him.
But that's when there were three of us.
It was only Cassie and me now.
All that we had left was one another.
somebody, somebody, somebody
no, no, no, no, said
- I should have been there.
- It's a little late now, isn't it?
- Your mother didn't
always make things easy.
- It's not that this is her fault.
- I didn't say that.
- You didn't need to.
- You and your sister-
- Her name is Cassandra Miriam Coulter.
- You were never the problem.
- You didn't just leave
Mom when you left, Victor.
- Now, that's not fair.
- Life isn't fair, Dad.
It's not fair that Mom got sick.
It's not fair that the only family
I have left behind is getting lowered
into the ground tomorrow.
- Well, you've got me.
- Will you be there for that?
You missed her slipping under the water.
Will you be there when she's
lowered into the ground?
One, just one time,
I'd like you to be honest with me.
There's nothing
to say because there isn't.
I'm not stupid, Victor.
- You could have fooled me.
- You don't think that I
know what it is that you do.
You really don't think that
Cassie is yours, do you?
See, I can play too.
She didn't even
like teddy bears, Victor.
It's not, stop.
- Well.
Oh, man.
- Okay.
- We were buried therefore
with him by baptism into death,
in order that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life,
for if we have been united
with him in a death little his,
we shall certainly be united with him
in a resurrection like his.
For since we believe that Jesus has died
and rose again, even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him
those who have fallen asleep.
If the spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ Jesus
from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through
his spirit who dwells in you.
That I may know him and the
power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings,
becoming like you in death.
He will swallow up death in victory,
and the Lord God will wipe away tears
from off all the faces.
For as by a man came death,
by a man has come the
resurrection of the dead-
- Mom!
- You weren't ready, were you, child?
You will be.
You certainly will be, give it time.
You'll be like us.
- You let her go.
- Mom, I didn't-
- You let them take away her beauty.
You're the one.
You failed us, Clara.
I didn't.
- Be with us.
No.
- Cass!
Cass, no.
Clara!
- Hey, let's go take a picture.
- No.
Yeah, come on.
- Why?
- The lighting's nice.
- Not really.
Yeah, it is, come on.
- You don't even have the right angle.
- Well, which angle do
you want me to have it?
- Do you want me to take that for you?
How beautiful you are,
how beautiful you'll stay,
just like Mom.
Clara!
- Well, thanks.
- You're welcome.
Clara!
- Stop it.
- Clara, I'm sleepy.
I feel really sleepy.
- Oh, crap, I think my phone's in the car.
- What are you trying to call?
- I don't know, maybe I'll call you.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- So what are you two doing out here?
Just hanging out.
- Yeah?
No, what's a pretty girl like
you not having a boyfriend, huh?
- She's 15.
So?
- So this is wrong,
come on, Cass, let's go.
No.
- Yes.
No.
- Yeah, come on, we're leaving.
You're not my mom, Clara.
- I don't care, I'm
responsible for you, let's go.
- Hey, hey, I thought
we'd be cool with this,
but I'm out of here.
- Clara, he was into me,
he was clearly into me.
- There's a difference between being
into you and wanting to be in you.
I wasn't ready for it to just be me.
We were all that either
of us had, Cassie and me.
She needed me, but I couldn't, I didn't.
I let her go, I let her beauty slip away.
I'm the reason that my sister is dead.
Wake up, wake up.
It's still very
much in the present for you,
isn't it, Clara?
- We were fighting, but if we hadn't been-
- But you were.
You were fighting because
you were looking out for her.
Sisters do that.
- It doesn't change anything.
- It changes everything,
it was an accident.
- Maybe.
- And the cottage, Cassandra, being alive.
- None of it ever even happened.
- Our minds are amazing and
sometimes terrifying things.
- A safe place from a happier time,
constructed and spoiled
by self-induced guilt
from a traumatic event,
resulting in the fracturing
of a misplaced illusion of time.
- Impressive.
- Mind raving for the
ages is the clinical term,
you're welcome.
- Our exterior scars
reflect our internal moods.
The one on your wrist can be
a positive reminder to you.
How many people are hurting
and deny it?
Hide their pain from themselves,
create an all-too-real fantasy
to try to protect
themselves, like you did.
You know how dark of a place that is,
how hard it is to come back from.
Let your scar be your
touchstone to reality.
Remember the pain,
recognize that it was real,
look at how far you've come,
and remember how strong you really are.
- Boom.
- How's your father?
- That's a whole other hour
long session to discuss.
You're not done yet?
- You need to have more
respect for your father.
- I was talking to you.
- You may rest now, my love.
- You know, you're not
even his favorite bitch.
Dr. Vicki said it's good
for me to come in here
and talk to you, but now
you're too drugged up
to talk back.
It gives me a chance to
vent about my problems
in a safe place, I suppose.
At least it keeps me in the will.
Is it scary in there?
Is it dark?
Are you afraid?
I am.
Sometimes I have to tell
myself that I'm not,
but I'm terrified, actually.
Sometimes I need to tell
myself I deserve to be here.
Sometimes I even believe it.
Do you ever feel that way?
Hang in there, Victor,
it's cheaper than actual therapy anyway.
- Nice of you to show.
- Yeah, I do that
sometimes, what's the mood?
- The mood is good,
I think she's got a little
something going with John.
- Get it, Alex.
- Somebody needs to, enjoy the break.
- You too.
- So you can see this sort of train here,
it looks really good.
John.
- Miss Coulter.
- Miss Coulter, just
because I dated your father
briefly does not give
you the right to come
to my class whenever you want.
- Yeah, I was just visiting him, actually.
- I am sorry.
- Sorry I missed your lecture.
- It was hardly anything
you really needed.
But you did miss your
mid-break assignment.
- I figured that.
- Explore an aspect of
your life or yourself
through a photographic portfolio.
Create a narrative, tell me
a story that surprises me,
and maybe teaches you
something about yourself.
- The last bit might be
a little special for me.
- Maybe, you have two weeks,
Miss Coulter, don't disappoint.
Clara, is that you?
- No, it's a murderer or
a rapist, in that order.
- Well, it's a good thing
I'm dressed for the occasion.
Come and get me, crazy.
- Is that my toothbrush?
- Yes, you refused to buy me one.
Gross.
- Hey,
you love me.
- I need you, there's a difference.
- How's Victor?
- He's there.
He can barely breathe,
just kind of teetering away
between life and death.
- Ms. Caca made out with his
forehead before she left today.
- How is that even possible?
- It's not.
- Come here.
- Hello?
Hello, is this Clara Coulter?
- Yeah.
Hi, my name is John Sylvia
from Creek Side Hospice.
I'm sorry to inform you that
your father passed away.
- Was he in much pain?
He was comfortable,
but near the end,
he did start calling out for Emily.
- I see.
He's been taken
to the Family Funeral Parlor-
- Did he-
On the other side of town,
and you need to be there
at 9:00 am tomorrow.
I'm sorry for your loss, I am.
- Okay, I'll be there at nine.
Sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
Victor died last night.
They said he went peacefully,
but he was calling Mom's
name out at the end.
Anna?
Anna!
- I'm sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
I'm guessing you don't have any clientele
that can help with photos, huh?
- No, no, I don't.
Actually, I do this blog,
"Hearses and Heather."
Well, it's pretty new,
but you would be amazed
to know just how many
people want to know exactly
what goes on behind the
scenes in a place like this.
- My father?
- Right, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for your loss.
As I'm sure you're aware,
your father prearranged everything.
So all you need to do is sign a few forms
as surviving kin and executor to his will.
- Clara, I'm so sorry.
- You know, I think I'll be all right.
I cried last night,
but not so much for what I'd lost,
but for what I never really had.
- He was still your father.
- I know.
Should have seen the undertaker.
She had this blog or something.
- What?
- Yeah, she had a selfie
stick with her and everything.
She said it's called
"Hearses and Heather."
- Oh my God, I know that girl.
- Really?
- She's hot in a morbid
kind of way.
- Of course, leave it to Victor
to have it down to every
last detail.
- Last night was-
Last night was what, Mommy?
- Clara, good morning, sweet girl.
You're awake.
Last night was so long because I had
to wait until now to see you.
- You know what you
don't have to wait for?
What?
- This.
- Stop, Daddy.
I
don't ready know what to say.
- There's nothing to say.
- Sweetie, I'm so sorry.
Thanks.
- Your father and I
shared some late nights
at the law firm together.
He was a good man, always willing
to get into trouble for
doing the right thing.
- Thanks.
- What was that boy?
- Trouble.
- Clara, look.
- "Hearses and Heather,"
you'd better subscribe.
- I think I'm gonna go photo bomb,
or blogger bomb, whatever.
- Tara, thank you for coming.
Aunt Cecilia?
- Clara.
I haven't seen you since
you were a little thing,
running around, causing
all sorts of trouble.
How are you?
- I've grown.
- Yeah, I see, you certainly have grown.
- Sorry, sorry, what's
your name, I'm sorry.
- Clara, Clara.
- Oh, Clara, yes, sorry
about your Dad, Clara.
Thank you.
I'll go and find us some-
- Go find us seats, Albert.
- I thought Uncle Derrick was bald.
- He is, but we replaced him with Albert.
The Coulter name is still good,
Clara, but the money isn't.
You gotta do what you
gotta do soon enough.
- Anna, this is Aunt Cecilia.
- Oh, the aloof one.
I'm her best friend.
- Sure you are, excuse me.
- What is she doing here?
- She is Victor's sister.
- I needed to see it for myself,
to see that the bastard really is dead.
- Excuse me, miss, do
you know the deceased?
- Forgive me, I see our Cassandra in you.
He took her from us, we never knew.
Our Michael never knew his only-
- This is the man that
you're all here to honor?
A man that took a little
girl from her real father
and family, so that he could save face?
- I'm sure that we're all very
sorry for your circumstance.
This is neither the time nor the place.
She's all
that we could have had
from Michael, but he
kept her away from us.
- Come on, honey, there's
nothing more to be said here.
- Clara, family, and friends.
We are gathered here today to honor a man
who would need no
introduction were he still
with us today,
Victor Carl Coulter.
He was a pillar of the
community, and the end
of a long line that goes back right
to the very founding of this town,
survived by his adoring daughter, Clara,
and his loving sister, Cecilia.
Victor strove to make
the world a better place
for those of us who are
left behind in his absence.
- Victor definitely wrote that.
- Now, I'd like to invite any one of you
to come up and to say a
few words about the life
and a man that we are
here today to celebrate.
Anyone?
His adoring daughter, Clara.
- I'm not really prepared for this,
but I'm here to honor the
memory of Victor Carl Coulter.
But he was more than that to me,
he was my father, the only
father I'll ever have,
and now he's gone, along with everything
we could have been, father, daughter,
brother, it's all gone.
I don't know if I could ever
forgive you for that, Victor.
But I wish we had more time to try.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
that concludes the services
for Victor Carl Coulter,
on behalf of Clara
and the family, I want
to thank you for coming,
and we wish you safe travels.
- That was a hell of a speech.
- Thanks.
- I'm gonna get some air.
- Did you mean it?
- Yeah.
- You know, you're right, you know,
about being angry at wasted time.
- I just never really knew him, did you?
- No, I guess I didn't.
This place, this town, to be a Coulter,
the Coulters before it meant something,
whether I wanted it or not.
That was the difference
between your father and I,
Victor, he relished it, and
I loathed it, all of it,
all the expectation and rigid clothes
and minded life laid out for me.
- Did you run?
- I did.
Maybe too far.
- I wish I could run.
- There's no saying you still can't.
- This is for you.
- What do I do with it?
- Anything you want.
I really am sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
Hey.
- Hey, how's it going?
- All right.
- What are you girls up to tonight?
- Who knows?
- Well, maybe we stop wasting time.
- If you'd like to hang out sometime,
we could, I don't know.
- Three more snake bites.
- Aunt Cecilia, you don't play around.
- Doesn't anyone find it strange
that we're drinking with Victor's ashes?
- I do, it's strange.
- Shh.
- I'm just saying,
it's so weird.
- Shh.
- Ladies.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Drink up, venomous vixens.
- I'm gonna find a restroom.
- You can go.
- Thank God.
- Good night, fuddy duddy.
- Girls, don't let her get you
into too much trouble tonight, okay?
- Bye.
Aunt Cecilia, you've got
quite the piece there.
- Yeah, he serves his purpose.
- I think I have some
purposes that need servicing.
Get loud, that was
Ben Valasek and the Growlers.
Oh, man, what great music.
I'm Val Quarter, stick around.
Up next, we have the very
talented Mia Zanotti.
- I'm gonna go...
check her out.
- Then there was two.
- You know, I think this is the first time
that I've ever had a
drink with your father.
- Rough year?
Rough life.
Pills, a little bit
younger than you are now.
It almost worked, they said I flat lined.
- Jesus.
- I didn't need him.
- Two Makers for you.
- Thanks.
To Victor.
- To Victor.
Idiot,
Albert's lost, I'll be right back.
- Then there was one.
Clara.
- You know, you have to let
yourself feel this, Clara.
- Aunt Cecilia's pretty cool.
- You never mentioned her before.
- Yeah, she was never
really around much before.
She's Victor's half
sister, she was around more
when him and Mom were together.
- So you aren't alone.
- No, and I still have Anna.
But I haven't seen her
since the other night.
- The night of your father's service?
- Yeah.
- Clara?
Is there something more, Clara?
- I don't want, I don't want it.
- Clara, you're in a
safe place, here and now.
- I saw them.
Who did you see?
- Cassie and Mom.
Where did
you see them, Clara?
- At the bar with Cecilia.
- What are you afraid of, Clara?
- That I'm going crazy.
- Maybe you are.
Maybe you've been broken this entire time.
Maybe you're just bad.
Maybe you should just give up.
Maybe you should just give in.
Stop fighting.
It's so easy to just let go.
Stop!
- Clara, Mom's dead.
- Clara, what's wrong, are you okay?
Where are you going?
Clara, talk to me.
- Hey, are you all right?
- What is he doing here?
- Clara, this is Jason.
- I know who he is, what is he doing here?
- Well, we're kind of, you know.
Clara!
way out, oh, the way out
- Sorry about the towels, miss.
I don't know what happened.
You're that girl, that
girl that's sister drowned,
and I knew it was you, you're her.
- Is that so?
- Everybody's heard those stories, miss.
- What stories?
- Those stories are as old as this town.
Come on, everybody knows the
curse of the Mills family.
- I'm starting to think
that curse might be true.
Are you checking
in alone, Miss Coulter?
- Do you always bother
your guests like this?
- No.
You're a Sherwood, right?
- Calvin.
- The one who's brother-
- Listen.
That was a long time ago.
- We're lucky we're not
judged by our families,
isn't that right, Calvin?
- That's right, Miss Coulter.
If you need anything,
you just let me know.
- Hey, Mike, looking good
with the orange, buddy.
Hey, Estelle, you have a visitor.
This is Clara, your great niece,
and she's come a long
way to come and see you,
isn't that nice?
I've been here 10 years and
I haven't heard her speak,
not a single solitary word.
She has severe dementia, she sits,
she lays down, and she stares.
And for some reason, she's
holding onto something.
I'm gonna give you and Clara some time
so you can visit.
I'll be right outside, if
you need anything, just yell.
- Thanks.
Believe it or not, I
actually remember being
at your old house when
I was a little girl.
I was with my mom, Emily,
do you remember her?
I hope you don't mind
if I take your picture.
It's for a class project.
Okay.
I'm afraid I've heard the
stories about our family.
I've watched my mother fight her demons,
and I have my own now.
But maybe Mom and Cassie
were the lucky ones.
- You're not ready, child.
Not yet.
You're not.
Hi, this is Anna.
Sorry I can't come to the phone right now.
Please leave your name
and number after the tone.
- Hey, it's me, I'm back
home for a little while,
working on a portfolio for Alex's class.
I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
said it hurts, the pain
- Mom?
- This is the old house,
it's Aunt Estelle's now.
You're gonna love her.
- Hello?
- Clara, hi, it's your Aunt
Cecilia, honey, how are you?
- I don't know.
- Is everything okay?
- No.
- Clara.
Clara?
Jesus.
The private journal
of Leland Theodore Mills.
September 7th, 1924.
My dearest Beatrice, the infant
twins, Estelle and William,
where from they should spring
forth a fountain of love,
seemed to drain her of her very purpose
and desire for life.
What is this unnatural force
that hangs forth so heavily over?
September 13th, 1924.
I find myself more and more at comfort
with drink in hand, the
image of my Beatrice,
holding our lifeless and bloodied William,
my faith fails me.
This is a torment that I cannot bear.
Nobody can ever know this horrid truth,
as its revelation would ruin us all.
- Hello?
- Clara, hi, it's Barney
over at Harmony Rest.
Yeah, it's Estelle, no, she's fine,
but she keeps calling out your name
and rocking back and
forth over and over again.
It really is something, in all my years,
I've never seen anything like this.
I think you should come.
I'll be right there.
- Estelle, Estelle.
Estelle, look who came to see you.
She heard you were asking for-
- No.
Now, Estelle-
- Let me talk to my niece.
- Okay.
Okay.
I'll just let you two talk to each other.
- Do you know her?
- Oh, she wants you, child.
But she's here too.
The other one, always watching over you.
- Clara, don't be fooled by the deceiver.
It lies in both its words and appearances.
It found its way through Grandmother,
and now it wants you.
But you're strong in a
way that she never was.
Cassandra's death was
an accident, we know.
The other is distracting
your mind with vile ideas
and trying to use them against you.
But you are more powerful in a way
they can never be.
I'm proud of you, of your strength.
I love you.
- What did she say?
- She told me she loved me.
- Clara!
Clara, I saw Victor's car, and-
- She's gone, Aunt Estelle is gone.
Sweetie.
Thanks for the PJs.
- I'm the one who should be thanking you.
- We're a family, right?
- Yeah.
- Oh my God, is that Emily?
- No, it's my great grandmother, Beatrice.
- Wow.
The resemblance, it's-
- Scary.
- Very.
I found it at the old house.
- You know,
when I first moved to New York,
I didn't know anybody, I
didn't know anything, actually.
The place was just so big,
and there was so many people.
I didn't know one single thing or person.
- That must have been scary.
- Not really, it was perfect, actually.
My whole life, I was a
second hand Coulter sibling,
and then in the middle of everything,
I was an absolute nothing,
and that was the most free
time I've ever felt in my life.
- That sounds like something
Dr. Vicki would say.
- I think you should try it.
You should come to New York.
Stay with Albert and I,
stay as long as you like.
You're like us now.
- Clara!
- No!
- Mom.
Cassie?
I'm sorry.
It's just us.
They cannot help you.
They cannot.
You'd like to die.
You let her die.
Your mom,
you failed your mom-
- Cassandra.
You failed your mother.
You failed your mom.
- She saw you
for what you are.
Clara.
I wasn't ready, Cass.
But I am now.
- Clara?
I'm here, Clara.
Clara?
Clara, I'm here.
Clara, I'm not dead.
- You are now.
How beautiful you are,
how beautiful you'll stay.
- Hello, Clara, I hope
I'm not disturbing you.
I'm quite the mess right now.
- I understand, I see the media circus has
finally died down.
- Yeah, I guess they're
getting tired of my story.
- I'm afraid I doubt that.
- The innocent girl who
lost her whole family
and the homicidal aunt
who killed her best friend
and her lover just to get
back at her strange niece?
It's quite the fodder
for a compelling fiction.
It's just,
it's more than enough
to shake anyone with even
the most steadfast faith.
Perhaps.
You're
constantly in my prayers,
and I hope you know you're
always welcome at the church.
- Mom.
Cassie?
nothing would ever be the same.
- I'm proud of you, I love you.
I love you too.
- Honey.
- I'm right here, Mom.
- Mom.
Hey, Victor.
Mom passed away yesterday.
Just thought I'd let you know.
Victor, we had done fine without him.
But that's when there were three of us.
It was only Cassie and me now.
All that we had left was one another.
somebody, somebody, somebody
no, no, no, no, said
- I should have been there.
- It's a little late now, isn't it?
- Your mother didn't
always make things easy.
- It's not that this is her fault.
- I didn't say that.
- You didn't need to.
- You and your sister-
- Her name is Cassandra Miriam Coulter.
- You were never the problem.
- You didn't just leave
Mom when you left, Victor.
- Now, that's not fair.
- Life isn't fair, Dad.
It's not fair that Mom got sick.
It's not fair that the only family
I have left behind is getting lowered
into the ground tomorrow.
- Well, you've got me.
- Will you be there for that?
You missed her slipping under the water.
Will you be there when she's
lowered into the ground?
One, just one time,
I'd like you to be honest with me.
There's nothing
to say because there isn't.
I'm not stupid, Victor.
- You could have fooled me.
- You don't think that I
know what it is that you do.
You really don't think that
Cassie is yours, do you?
See, I can play too.
She didn't even
like teddy bears, Victor.
It's not, stop.
- Well.
Oh, man.
- Okay.
- We were buried therefore
with him by baptism into death,
in order that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life,
for if we have been united
with him in a death little his,
we shall certainly be united with him
in a resurrection like his.
For since we believe that Jesus has died
and rose again, even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him
those who have fallen asleep.
If the spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ Jesus
from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through
his spirit who dwells in you.
That I may know him and the
power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings,
becoming like you in death.
He will swallow up death in victory,
and the Lord God will wipe away tears
from off all the faces.
For as by a man came death,
by a man has come the
resurrection of the dead-
- Mom!
- You weren't ready, were you, child?
You will be.
You certainly will be, give it time.
You'll be like us.
- You let her go.
- Mom, I didn't-
- You let them take away her beauty.
You're the one.
You failed us, Clara.
I didn't.
- Be with us.
No.
- Cass!
Cass, no.
Clara!
- Hey, let's go take a picture.
- No.
Yeah, come on.
- Why?
- The lighting's nice.
- Not really.
Yeah, it is, come on.
- You don't even have the right angle.
- Well, which angle do
you want me to have it?
- Do you want me to take that for you?
How beautiful you are,
how beautiful you'll stay,
just like Mom.
Clara!
- Well, thanks.
- You're welcome.
Clara!
- Stop it.
- Clara, I'm sleepy.
I feel really sleepy.
- Oh, crap, I think my phone's in the car.
- What are you trying to call?
- I don't know, maybe I'll call you.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- So what are you two doing out here?
Just hanging out.
- Yeah?
No, what's a pretty girl like
you not having a boyfriend, huh?
- She's 15.
So?
- So this is wrong,
come on, Cass, let's go.
No.
- Yes.
No.
- Yeah, come on, we're leaving.
You're not my mom, Clara.
- I don't care, I'm
responsible for you, let's go.
- Hey, hey, I thought
we'd be cool with this,
but I'm out of here.
- Clara, he was into me,
he was clearly into me.
- There's a difference between being
into you and wanting to be in you.
I wasn't ready for it to just be me.
We were all that either
of us had, Cassie and me.
She needed me, but I couldn't, I didn't.
I let her go, I let her beauty slip away.
I'm the reason that my sister is dead.
Wake up, wake up.
It's still very
much in the present for you,
isn't it, Clara?
- We were fighting, but if we hadn't been-
- But you were.
You were fighting because
you were looking out for her.
Sisters do that.
- It doesn't change anything.
- It changes everything,
it was an accident.
- Maybe.
- And the cottage, Cassandra, being alive.
- None of it ever even happened.
- Our minds are amazing and
sometimes terrifying things.
- A safe place from a happier time,
constructed and spoiled
by self-induced guilt
from a traumatic event,
resulting in the fracturing
of a misplaced illusion of time.
- Impressive.
- Mind raving for the
ages is the clinical term,
you're welcome.
- Our exterior scars
reflect our internal moods.
The one on your wrist can be
a positive reminder to you.
How many people are hurting
and deny it?
Hide their pain from themselves,
create an all-too-real fantasy
to try to protect
themselves, like you did.
You know how dark of a place that is,
how hard it is to come back from.
Let your scar be your
touchstone to reality.
Remember the pain,
recognize that it was real,
look at how far you've come,
and remember how strong you really are.
- Boom.
- How's your father?
- That's a whole other hour
long session to discuss.
You're not done yet?
- You need to have more
respect for your father.
- I was talking to you.
- You may rest now, my love.
- You know, you're not
even his favorite bitch.
Dr. Vicki said it's good
for me to come in here
and talk to you, but now
you're too drugged up
to talk back.
It gives me a chance to
vent about my problems
in a safe place, I suppose.
At least it keeps me in the will.
Is it scary in there?
Is it dark?
Are you afraid?
I am.
Sometimes I have to tell
myself that I'm not,
but I'm terrified, actually.
Sometimes I need to tell
myself I deserve to be here.
Sometimes I even believe it.
Do you ever feel that way?
Hang in there, Victor,
it's cheaper than actual therapy anyway.
- Nice of you to show.
- Yeah, I do that
sometimes, what's the mood?
- The mood is good,
I think she's got a little
something going with John.
- Get it, Alex.
- Somebody needs to, enjoy the break.
- You too.
- So you can see this sort of train here,
it looks really good.
John.
- Miss Coulter.
- Miss Coulter, just
because I dated your father
briefly does not give
you the right to come
to my class whenever you want.
- Yeah, I was just visiting him, actually.
- I am sorry.
- Sorry I missed your lecture.
- It was hardly anything
you really needed.
But you did miss your
mid-break assignment.
- I figured that.
- Explore an aspect of
your life or yourself
through a photographic portfolio.
Create a narrative, tell me
a story that surprises me,
and maybe teaches you
something about yourself.
- The last bit might be
a little special for me.
- Maybe, you have two weeks,
Miss Coulter, don't disappoint.
Clara, is that you?
- No, it's a murderer or
a rapist, in that order.
- Well, it's a good thing
I'm dressed for the occasion.
Come and get me, crazy.
- Is that my toothbrush?
- Yes, you refused to buy me one.
Gross.
- Hey,
you love me.
- I need you, there's a difference.
- How's Victor?
- He's there.
He can barely breathe,
just kind of teetering away
between life and death.
- Ms. Caca made out with his
forehead before she left today.
- How is that even possible?
- It's not.
- Come here.
- Hello?
Hello, is this Clara Coulter?
- Yeah.
Hi, my name is John Sylvia
from Creek Side Hospice.
I'm sorry to inform you that
your father passed away.
- Was he in much pain?
He was comfortable,
but near the end,
he did start calling out for Emily.
- I see.
He's been taken
to the Family Funeral Parlor-
- Did he-
On the other side of town,
and you need to be there
at 9:00 am tomorrow.
I'm sorry for your loss, I am.
- Okay, I'll be there at nine.
Sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
Victor died last night.
They said he went peacefully,
but he was calling Mom's
name out at the end.
Anna?
Anna!
- I'm sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
I'm guessing you don't have any clientele
that can help with photos, huh?
- No, no, I don't.
Actually, I do this blog,
"Hearses and Heather."
Well, it's pretty new,
but you would be amazed
to know just how many
people want to know exactly
what goes on behind the
scenes in a place like this.
- My father?
- Right, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for your loss.
As I'm sure you're aware,
your father prearranged everything.
So all you need to do is sign a few forms
as surviving kin and executor to his will.
- Clara, I'm so sorry.
- You know, I think I'll be all right.
I cried last night,
but not so much for what I'd lost,
but for what I never really had.
- He was still your father.
- I know.
Should have seen the undertaker.
She had this blog or something.
- What?
- Yeah, she had a selfie
stick with her and everything.
She said it's called
"Hearses and Heather."
- Oh my God, I know that girl.
- Really?
- She's hot in a morbid
kind of way.
- Of course, leave it to Victor
to have it down to every
last detail.
- Last night was-
Last night was what, Mommy?
- Clara, good morning, sweet girl.
You're awake.
Last night was so long because I had
to wait until now to see you.
- You know what you
don't have to wait for?
What?
- This.
- Stop, Daddy.
I
don't ready know what to say.
- There's nothing to say.
- Sweetie, I'm so sorry.
Thanks.
- Your father and I
shared some late nights
at the law firm together.
He was a good man, always willing
to get into trouble for
doing the right thing.
- Thanks.
- What was that boy?
- Trouble.
- Clara, look.
- "Hearses and Heather,"
you'd better subscribe.
- I think I'm gonna go photo bomb,
or blogger bomb, whatever.
- Tara, thank you for coming.
Aunt Cecilia?
- Clara.
I haven't seen you since
you were a little thing,
running around, causing
all sorts of trouble.
How are you?
- I've grown.
- Yeah, I see, you certainly have grown.
- Sorry, sorry, what's
your name, I'm sorry.
- Clara, Clara.
- Oh, Clara, yes, sorry
about your Dad, Clara.
Thank you.
I'll go and find us some-
- Go find us seats, Albert.
- I thought Uncle Derrick was bald.
- He is, but we replaced him with Albert.
The Coulter name is still good,
Clara, but the money isn't.
You gotta do what you
gotta do soon enough.
- Anna, this is Aunt Cecilia.
- Oh, the aloof one.
I'm her best friend.
- Sure you are, excuse me.
- What is she doing here?
- She is Victor's sister.
- I needed to see it for myself,
to see that the bastard really is dead.
- Excuse me, miss, do
you know the deceased?
- Forgive me, I see our Cassandra in you.
He took her from us, we never knew.
Our Michael never knew his only-
- This is the man that
you're all here to honor?
A man that took a little
girl from her real father
and family, so that he could save face?
- I'm sure that we're all very
sorry for your circumstance.
This is neither the time nor the place.
She's all
that we could have had
from Michael, but he
kept her away from us.
- Come on, honey, there's
nothing more to be said here.
- Clara, family, and friends.
We are gathered here today to honor a man
who would need no
introduction were he still
with us today,
Victor Carl Coulter.
He was a pillar of the
community, and the end
of a long line that goes back right
to the very founding of this town,
survived by his adoring daughter, Clara,
and his loving sister, Cecilia.
Victor strove to make
the world a better place
for those of us who are
left behind in his absence.
- Victor definitely wrote that.
- Now, I'd like to invite any one of you
to come up and to say a
few words about the life
and a man that we are
here today to celebrate.
Anyone?
His adoring daughter, Clara.
- I'm not really prepared for this,
but I'm here to honor the
memory of Victor Carl Coulter.
But he was more than that to me,
he was my father, the only
father I'll ever have,
and now he's gone, along with everything
we could have been, father, daughter,
brother, it's all gone.
I don't know if I could ever
forgive you for that, Victor.
But I wish we had more time to try.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
that concludes the services
for Victor Carl Coulter,
on behalf of Clara
and the family, I want
to thank you for coming,
and we wish you safe travels.
- That was a hell of a speech.
- Thanks.
- I'm gonna get some air.
- Did you mean it?
- Yeah.
- You know, you're right, you know,
about being angry at wasted time.
- I just never really knew him, did you?
- No, I guess I didn't.
This place, this town, to be a Coulter,
the Coulters before it meant something,
whether I wanted it or not.
That was the difference
between your father and I,
Victor, he relished it, and
I loathed it, all of it,
all the expectation and rigid clothes
and minded life laid out for me.
- Did you run?
- I did.
Maybe too far.
- I wish I could run.
- There's no saying you still can't.
- This is for you.
- What do I do with it?
- Anything you want.
I really am sorry for your loss.
- Thanks.
Hey.
- Hey, how's it going?
- All right.
- What are you girls up to tonight?
- Who knows?
- Well, maybe we stop wasting time.
- If you'd like to hang out sometime,
we could, I don't know.
- Three more snake bites.
- Aunt Cecilia, you don't play around.
- Doesn't anyone find it strange
that we're drinking with Victor's ashes?
- I do, it's strange.
- Shh.
- I'm just saying,
it's so weird.
- Shh.
- Ladies.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Drink up, venomous vixens.
- I'm gonna find a restroom.
- You can go.
- Thank God.
- Good night, fuddy duddy.
- Girls, don't let her get you
into too much trouble tonight, okay?
- Bye.
Aunt Cecilia, you've got
quite the piece there.
- Yeah, he serves his purpose.
- I think I have some
purposes that need servicing.
Get loud, that was
Ben Valasek and the Growlers.
Oh, man, what great music.
I'm Val Quarter, stick around.
Up next, we have the very
talented Mia Zanotti.
- I'm gonna go...
check her out.
- Then there was two.
- You know, I think this is the first time
that I've ever had a
drink with your father.
- Rough year?
Rough life.
Pills, a little bit
younger than you are now.
It almost worked, they said I flat lined.
- Jesus.
- I didn't need him.
- Two Makers for you.
- Thanks.
To Victor.
- To Victor.
Idiot,
Albert's lost, I'll be right back.
- Then there was one.
Clara.
- You know, you have to let
yourself feel this, Clara.
- Aunt Cecilia's pretty cool.
- You never mentioned her before.
- Yeah, she was never
really around much before.
She's Victor's half
sister, she was around more
when him and Mom were together.
- So you aren't alone.
- No, and I still have Anna.
But I haven't seen her
since the other night.
- The night of your father's service?
- Yeah.
- Clara?
Is there something more, Clara?
- I don't want, I don't want it.
- Clara, you're in a
safe place, here and now.
- I saw them.
Who did you see?
- Cassie and Mom.
Where did
you see them, Clara?
- At the bar with Cecilia.
- What are you afraid of, Clara?
- That I'm going crazy.
- Maybe you are.
Maybe you've been broken this entire time.
Maybe you're just bad.
Maybe you should just give up.
Maybe you should just give in.
Stop fighting.
It's so easy to just let go.
Stop!
- Clara, Mom's dead.
- Clara, what's wrong, are you okay?
Where are you going?
Clara, talk to me.
- Hey, are you all right?
- What is he doing here?
- Clara, this is Jason.
- I know who he is, what is he doing here?
- Well, we're kind of, you know.
Clara!
way out, oh, the way out
- Sorry about the towels, miss.
I don't know what happened.
You're that girl, that
girl that's sister drowned,
and I knew it was you, you're her.
- Is that so?
- Everybody's heard those stories, miss.
- What stories?
- Those stories are as old as this town.
Come on, everybody knows the
curse of the Mills family.
- I'm starting to think
that curse might be true.
Are you checking
in alone, Miss Coulter?
- Do you always bother
your guests like this?
- No.
You're a Sherwood, right?
- Calvin.
- The one who's brother-
- Listen.
That was a long time ago.
- We're lucky we're not
judged by our families,
isn't that right, Calvin?
- That's right, Miss Coulter.
If you need anything,
you just let me know.
- Hey, Mike, looking good
with the orange, buddy.
Hey, Estelle, you have a visitor.
This is Clara, your great niece,
and she's come a long
way to come and see you,
isn't that nice?
I've been here 10 years and
I haven't heard her speak,
not a single solitary word.
She has severe dementia, she sits,
she lays down, and she stares.
And for some reason, she's
holding onto something.
I'm gonna give you and Clara some time
so you can visit.
I'll be right outside, if
you need anything, just yell.
- Thanks.
Believe it or not, I
actually remember being
at your old house when
I was a little girl.
I was with my mom, Emily,
do you remember her?
I hope you don't mind
if I take your picture.
It's for a class project.
Okay.
I'm afraid I've heard the
stories about our family.
I've watched my mother fight her demons,
and I have my own now.
But maybe Mom and Cassie
were the lucky ones.
- You're not ready, child.
Not yet.
You're not.
Hi, this is Anna.
Sorry I can't come to the phone right now.
Please leave your name
and number after the tone.
- Hey, it's me, I'm back
home for a little while,
working on a portfolio for Alex's class.
I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
said it hurts, the pain
- Mom?
- This is the old house,
it's Aunt Estelle's now.
You're gonna love her.
- Hello?
- Clara, hi, it's your Aunt
Cecilia, honey, how are you?
- I don't know.
- Is everything okay?
- No.
- Clara.
Clara?
Jesus.
The private journal
of Leland Theodore Mills.
September 7th, 1924.
My dearest Beatrice, the infant
twins, Estelle and William,
where from they should spring
forth a fountain of love,
seemed to drain her of her very purpose
and desire for life.
What is this unnatural force
that hangs forth so heavily over?
September 13th, 1924.
I find myself more and more at comfort
with drink in hand, the
image of my Beatrice,
holding our lifeless and bloodied William,
my faith fails me.
This is a torment that I cannot bear.
Nobody can ever know this horrid truth,
as its revelation would ruin us all.
- Hello?
- Clara, hi, it's Barney
over at Harmony Rest.
Yeah, it's Estelle, no, she's fine,
but she keeps calling out your name
and rocking back and
forth over and over again.
It really is something, in all my years,
I've never seen anything like this.
I think you should come.
I'll be right there.
- Estelle, Estelle.
Estelle, look who came to see you.
She heard you were asking for-
- No.
Now, Estelle-
- Let me talk to my niece.
- Okay.
Okay.
I'll just let you two talk to each other.
- Do you know her?
- Oh, she wants you, child.
But she's here too.
The other one, always watching over you.
- Clara, don't be fooled by the deceiver.
It lies in both its words and appearances.
It found its way through Grandmother,
and now it wants you.
But you're strong in a
way that she never was.
Cassandra's death was
an accident, we know.
The other is distracting
your mind with vile ideas
and trying to use them against you.
But you are more powerful in a way
they can never be.
I'm proud of you, of your strength.
I love you.
- What did she say?
- She told me she loved me.
- Clara!
Clara, I saw Victor's car, and-
- She's gone, Aunt Estelle is gone.
Sweetie.
Thanks for the PJs.
- I'm the one who should be thanking you.
- We're a family, right?
- Yeah.
- Oh my God, is that Emily?
- No, it's my great grandmother, Beatrice.
- Wow.
The resemblance, it's-
- Scary.
- Very.
I found it at the old house.
- You know,
when I first moved to New York,
I didn't know anybody, I
didn't know anything, actually.
The place was just so big,
and there was so many people.
I didn't know one single thing or person.
- That must have been scary.
- Not really, it was perfect, actually.
My whole life, I was a
second hand Coulter sibling,
and then in the middle of everything,
I was an absolute nothing,
and that was the most free
time I've ever felt in my life.
- That sounds like something
Dr. Vicki would say.
- I think you should try it.
You should come to New York.
Stay with Albert and I,
stay as long as you like.
You're like us now.
- Clara!
- No!
- Mom.
Cassie?
I'm sorry.
It's just us.
They cannot help you.
They cannot.
You'd like to die.
You let her die.
Your mom,
you failed your mom-
- Cassandra.
You failed your mother.
You failed your mom.
- She saw you
for what you are.
Clara.
I wasn't ready, Cass.
But I am now.
- Clara?
I'm here, Clara.
Clara?
Clara, I'm here.
Clara, I'm not dead.
- You are now.
How beautiful you are,
how beautiful you'll stay.
- Hello, Clara, I hope
I'm not disturbing you.
I'm quite the mess right now.
- I understand, I see the media circus has
finally died down.
- Yeah, I guess they're
getting tired of my story.
- I'm afraid I doubt that.
- The innocent girl who
lost her whole family
and the homicidal aunt
who killed her best friend
and her lover just to get
back at her strange niece?
It's quite the fodder
for a compelling fiction.
It's just,
it's more than enough
to shake anyone with even
the most steadfast faith.
Perhaps.
You're
constantly in my prayers,
and I hope you know you're
always welcome at the church.
- Mom.
Cassie?