Path, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

(orchestral strings

build to an evil chaos)

- Hey tough-guy,

what's the hold up?

Yeah,

what are you waiting for?

Come on. Paul?

Let's get back in

the car please.

- You guys wanna help me out?

Need like three hands for

this thing?

(laughter)

What an idiot.

More like three inches.

(more laughs)

What's the matter, Biff?

Witch giving you stage fright?

(laughs)

Is your turtle afraid

to come out of its shell?

(laughter)

She may not be pissed off.

She definitely got pissed on.

Wow. Clever. So surprising

you're not going to college.

Well, with looks like these.

I mean...

Oh my God.

- What the fu...

- Haha, very f...

Paul?

Paul?

- He, he's just messing with us.

You don't have to get out of the

...car.

- Come on Paul, stop

playing around.

[Larry] Let's go Paul. [Soko]

Yeah, come

on Paul. [Larry] This is not

funny.

Hey, jerk off. I don't

have time for this.

All right Paul, you got us.

Okay?

- Come on, Paul.

Yo, dickhead, we're

not impressed.

Hey, 2.0. Let's go.

I, I got a math test

in the morning.

Dude, I need to eat.

- I'm really starting to get

worried.

Alright, you scared us.

Are you happy now?

[Larry] Come on. We're trying

to get outta here, man.

Awwfff...

- Oh, oh my God.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

What is it?

- Rrrroahhhrr!

(girls scream)

- Assholes.

I can't believe you.

(guys laugh)

- I told you guys.

- Got it, man!

- That was too easy.

(laughing and moaning)

- Let's get out of here,

I'm hungry.

I can't believe you

fell for that.

Anybody else gotta take a leak?

Yeah. On your head.

No!

(indistinct chatter

and chuckling)

(foreboding music darkens)

(car doors slam)

- Ahhhh... Witch's house.

- Pfft.

(ignition starts)

(music jolts)

(music whines like

tortured souls)

- Look, if you're having

trouble with this thing --

(bell rings)

- - come and see me now.

Don't come crying to

me later when it's due.

(indistinct chatter of students)

- Okay.

Bye...

Uh, Caitlin.

- Hey.

Can I talk to you for a second?

Mhmm.

- Look, I haven't really

talked to you, since...

(Caitlin exhales)

Anyway.

You know, you've, you've

always been a great student.

You know, your sister

was one of my favorites,

but your latest test scores

and papers, it hasn't been

your best work.

- I know. I just,

- You don't even have to say it.

And I don't think your

GPA should have to suffer

because of your loss.

I just want you to know

I'm not gonna average them

into your grade for the term.

- Okay, thanks.

- I just need to know

that you have an overall handle

on everything we've covered so

far

and then we can sort of

start fresh in the new year.

- I appreciate it.

- Great.

- When you're ready,

let's spend an

afternoon or evening going

over the major points

of the syllabus together.

No pen, no paper. We

do it orally.

Just two mature people

having a discussion.

Couple hours at best.

And then when we're done,

I'll know, that you know

what you should know.

Good?

- I guess.

- Yeah?

Great. It's a date.

You let me know when

you're ready. It'll be fun.

Hey, I gotta get going.

- Yeah, of course.

See you Monday.

(threatening music swirls)

(crows caw from afar)

(a clock tics)

(puffing sound)

(puff)

(puff)

(puffs louder)

(iron puffs, again)

(single musical note

holds indefinitely)

(music darkens)

(someone sniffs)

(clock continues to tic)

(iron puffs)

(footsteps)

(mysterious music)

(heartfelt music)

(music darkens)

(dog barks in distance)

- This is really good. Yeah?

I'm getting better I guess.

Don't you cook for yourself

while you're at school?

Yeah, not really. More

like, order a pizza.

Boil water for ramen noodles

or microwave a burrito.

Love noodles.

- Who doesn't?

Mom would've k*lled you

if she knew you were

eating like that.

That's what going away

to school is all about.

Getting away with stuff

you couldn't do at home.

Well, I guess I don't

have to go away for that.

Don't be so sure of that.

You know how old

fashioned dad can be.

He's probably watching us

right now making sure we finish

everything on our plates.

Right.

(laughs)

May I be excused?

(Abby chuckles)

Yes?

(ominous music)

Wait.

- What?

(evil strings play)

Daddy? Is that you?

You're breaking up.

Hello?

Caitlin?

Ooop

(creepy giggling)

I'm excused.

(footsteps on wood)

(emotional music)

(Dog barks in the distance)

(Ominous music fades up)

(Heavy footsteps

crunching leaves)

(Twigs snapping)

(Ominous music fades down)

- I don't know what

you're complaining about.

Do you ever cook for her?

- I'm not supposed to cook.

Why do you think I got married?

(both laugh)

- I don't know why I bother.

- Easy Kat.

That constitutes

battery nowadays.

- Nowadays? Oh please.

Ed doesn't even know

which century it is.

So I think I'm good. You

running behind today Ryan?

I almost called the police.

- Ha ha. I actually had to

do some work this morning.

Anything newsworthy? No.

Just a bunch of teenagers

causing trouble last night.

There's this long standing

tradition in this area

where a bunch of kids

cram into a car, ride

around past all the creepy

places, you know, drinking,

telling scary ghost stories.

This guy Rod Stahley start

the whole thing, years ago.

Called it going on a ghost run.

I actually used to do it

when I was in high school.

- Holy sh*t. Well I'm

surprised the FBI

isn't swooping in the

take this one.

(Kat laughs)

- Yeah. I gotta give it

to these kids.

They do a lot better

job with it than I did.

I mean, some of this

stuff is pretty authentic.

- They place fake satanic

objects, dead animals,

anything they can find

to scare the hell out

of the people along

for the ride.

Oh, creepy (laughs).

- How do you know they're not?

- How do I know

they're not what?

- Um, authentic?

- What are you talking about?

- Well, this Rod guy who,

who started these ghost runs?

Where'd he get his stories

from?

I don't know. I'm thinking old

guys who like to start trouble?

(Kat laughs)

I don't know Ed.

I'm sure they were all

just made up.

- No, don't be so sure. I know

where these stories came from.

And remember not too long ago,

this area was not

quite so suburban.

sh*t does not go away, sheriff.

Just 'cause you landscape

it nicely. Have a good day.

- You too Ed?

- O...K... then.

(Kat giggles to herself)

(Creepy music begins to simmer)

(puffing can be heard

from an iron)

(an unsettling tone

hangs in the air)

(metal clinking sounds)

(unsettling score continues)

Otis?

(unsettling score continues)

(unsettling score

transitions to peaceful)

(thud)

Hey-hey!

- Hi.

- How's my favorite student?

- Uhhh-ah.

- OH, I hope you don't mind.

I just wanted to say hi.

It's so cold out there.

- Uh, no. It's fine

- What are you up to?

- Uh, I just had to run

into the pharmacy.

- Huh?

- So how are you Mr. Delaney?

- I'd be a whole lot better

if you called me Tim.

Abby -

You're an adult now. Last

time I checked, so was I.

I think we can address each

other by our first names

and not get in trouble.

How are you Abigail?

- I'm all right.

- Yeah.

- Yeah? I mean, as

much as I can be.

- I know there are things

we think will never change.

- Yeah, I just thought, I

guess I never thought. I just...

- I know. You're not supposed

to think about things

like that at your age.

That's what makes it so tough.

- Life is... It just got

so different so fast.

- Anyway, if you need

anything, let me know.

Promise?

- All right. (chuckles)

- Here.

(tense music rises)

Now you have my number.

(Tim's phone rings)

- And I have yours.

- Right.

(tense music continues)

(Tim exhales with satisfaction)

- I'm here if you and

Caitlin need anything, okay?

- Yeah. Okay. I have to go.

- Under Tim.

- Huh?

- In your contacts

- Under Tim.

(tense music carries

off in waves)

(clock chimes ring in

the distance)

(wicked music whirls)

(papers rustle)

(wind howls in the distance)

(door creaks, ever so slightly)

(another creak)

(high picthed musical

note carries)

(door slowly creaks more)

- Oh, hey! Otis, No!

- Bad boy

(wind wooshed in)

(door claps)

(door claps)

(door claps)

(door claps)

(door claps)

(door claps)

(eerie music plays)

(door clicks and latches)

(wind howls)

- What the hell are you doing?

(Abby yelps)

- Uh, What am I doing?

I am, ah, I am cleaning

up the mess Otis made

because you left his treats out.

(laughs)

Oops. Sorry.

Yeah, I couldn't sleep

so I was working

and then Otis scared the

hell out of me.

Then the door, you, ah,

- What's, what's all this?

Abbs?

- I'm thinking about selling.

Selling, selling what?

The house.

No. Why?

When were you gonna... when

were you gonna tell me this?

I was just weighing out

our options. Okay?

Wh-- Why would you do this?

All right, look, I'm not trying

to take you away from your

school or your friends,

but we live on a farm

and last I checked, neither

one of us are farmers.

How long did you think

this would last?

So what are you saying?

I'm saying, unless you wanna

become

old McDonald overnight

and start plowing fields

at 5:00 AM we need

to be realistic about this.

This place can make us

broke or it can make us rich.

- You know, you think you know

something about dealing with

loss,

but all you know is how

to not deal with it.

And instead of thinking about

how to get away from here,

why don't you spend five

minutes thinking about this home

that our family has had

for generations.

Our parents who, who

gave us everything

and all the great

people in this town

who you left in the dust

when you went away

to your f*cking school?

You do what you want,

I'm not going with you.

(sad music plays)

(footsteps stomp away)

(bedroom door slams)

(music transitions to

evil sounding)

(music builds threateningly)

- Oops. That doesn't count.

It's only considered the

blood of Christ

where it makes it

into your mouth.

Otherwise it's just cheap wine.

Okay?

(crowd laughs)

Thank you Father.

You sent

your son to die for our sins

so that we may enter

your kingdom.

Our father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy holy name;

Thy kingdom come; Thy

will be done

on earth as it is in

heaven (prayer fades)

[Priest] You're welcome, always

a pleasure. You know that.

[Girl 1] Thank you Father.

Awesome, awesome. You.

- Thank you.

You're so sweet.

[Priest] Hey-hey, Abigail...

[Abigail] Hi.

[Priest] I wanna talk to you for

a second.

Oh, okay.

Thank you Father.

Have a great day.

[Girl 2] Thank you.

[Priest] God bless you.

[Woman] Thank you Father.

[Priest] God bless you. Sweetie.

[Woman] Take care.

- That was a lovely mass Father.

- How are you dear?

- I'm good.

- You know, it's a sin

to lie, especially to me.

- No, really. I'm fine.

- And where's Caitlin this

morning?

- Well, we had a rough

night last night,

so I let her sleep in.

- You know I'm here for

the rough nights too.

If you need anything,

let me know.

- Okay? I will.

- Listen.

Here's my card. It has

the rectory number

and it has my mobile as well.

Yes?

- Yes. Father,

- Give us a hug.

(Abby laughs)

- Thank you. See you

- Next week.

Definitely.

(a crow caws)

(ominous music rises)

(flies buzz)

(buzzing increases)

(crow continues)

- What do you make of it?

- Somebody sure k*lled

something.

- Like what?

- I dunno, cat?

Something bigger, maybe?

- Gross man.

Stupid f*cking kids.

- Yeah. I'm just not a hundred

percent sure it was the kids.

- Of course it was the

kids. It's always the kids.

Hey Ry, the woman

who called in the complaint

said there were men

right behind her house.

- Yeah.

- But the edge

of her development's

way the heck that way.

And there are like

dozens of these

little trails back around here.

But you need to come

straight here.

How'd you stumble

onto this place?

- Actually, I was riding

my bike with my friends.

- You, you bike ride. Sorry.

Excuse me. You have friends?

- I did. I was in junior

high school when I

found this place.

(music shifts to mysterious)

(crow calls out)

(mysterious music continues)

(dog barks)

- So besides these four women,

can anyone tell me the only

other woman to be nominated

to the United States

Supreme Court?

Caitlin, are you still with us?

- Yes. Mrs. Reese.

- Elizabeth.

- Meyer?

- Anyone else? Agree, disagree?

- Hi. Where are you coming from?

(Abby sighs)

(mysterious music grows

darker and fades)

(dog barks in the distance)

(wind howls like a

tortured soul)

(silence in the house)

(evil music begins)

(the sound of wind rises)

What the hell?

(the wind is gone)

(strange metallic squeak)

(more metallic sounds)

(like a swingset)

(sounds continue)

(rusty creaking)

(ominous music rises)

(metal scrapes)

(more metal scrapes)

(metal sound)

(pitched music builds)

(door ratchets)

(Heavy breathing)

(slow creaking)

(Abby struggles for breath)

- What do you want?

(wicked musics crescendos)

(door slowly squawks)

Please...

(door emits painful creaking)

(frightened breaths)

Please leave us alone.

Please!

(breathy cries)

Caitlin!

(click)

(knocking)

Caitlin?

[Caitlin] What are you doing?

[Abigail] There's somebody

in that room. We have to go.

What?

[Abigail] We have to go.

- What? Are you insane?

- Caitlin, don't!

- Caitlin No!

(Abby breathes heavy)

- Abbs, there's nothing here.

(creepy music hovers)

(knob jiggles)

(Abby whispers)

He must be in Mom & Dad's room.

We need

to call the police.

[Caitlin] Abby...

I'm checking Mom and Dad's room.

[Abigail] Caitlin. Caitlin.

[Abigail] Cait! I'm not

imagining this.

There's someone in there.

Okay, don't move.

(evil music continues to whirl)

(to self) Oh my God...

(evil music turns darker)

[Abigail] Hi. It's Abigail

White.

There's someone in our house.

Yes, I saw him!

Please hurry.

Sheriff's gonna be here

in a few minutes.

Caitlin, did you see something?

We're gonna go down to the

porch,

okay?

And we're gonna wait

for the Sheriff.

Okay?

Okay...

(sinister music rings on)

[Abigail] Okay. Come'on,

come'on, come'on.

(twisted strings play out)

(heavy footsteps approach)

- So what do you think boss?

- Well, there's flooring up

here.

It does lead to some

of the access

panels in the other rooms.

- So, it's possible

someone could have

ran off while she was

freaking out?

- Possible. Yeah, but I

mean, a guy crawls up here

and goes down through one of the

other rooms and gets

passed all of us?

- Yeah. So you're

saying she's crazy?

The hot ones are always crazy.

(Ronny laughs)

- You're crazy, Ronny.

And, you're not that hot.

- We all know that's not true,

boss.

(slight laughter)

- You saw something?

No.

I know you saw something.

No, I, I just got scared.

Caitlin?

I'm fine.

It was nothing.

You just freaked me out.

That's all.

(eerie music rises)

- Well?

Nothing. So you

don't believe me?

- No, no. We definitely believe

something's going on here.

Your sister said you

saw something.

- No, I, I didn't.

- Well what about the dog?

Where does he stand in all this?

- Um, I don't know. I haven't

seen him.

Oh my God.

Otis. Otis.

- Otis. Otis. Otis.

Come here boy.

Otis. Otis. Otis.

(tense music)

- Otis?

Otis?

(clapping)

(more clapping)

(click)

- Hi buddy.

(Otis whimpers)

(whine)

(soft whine)

Hey, it's okay. You

can come on out.

(slight yelp)

It's alright buddy.

It's okay. Come on baby.

(footsteps moving off)

[Sheriff] Where was he?

[Caitlin] Where was he?

Uh, He...

- He was behind dad's chair

in the den. In the corner.

- Is that normal for him?

- It's not like

he's never been back there.

It's not like I'm about

to come when we call

either. Plus he seems scared.

(Ronny] He still seems scared.

What, I'm just saying.

Look girls.

I don't know what's

going on here.

It's possible there was a man

up there who slipped past us

but...

but we will figure it out.

So for tonight, Ronny

and I will camp out down

here and keep watch.

You're good with that, right

Ronny?

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

What else would I be

doing on a Saturday night?

(silly music)

(g*n drops)

Sorry.

(radio static)

- This is dispatch. Any mobile

units

in the vicinity of Hullmetta

Boulevard?

- This is unit one over.

- Oh hey Ryan. We have an auto

accident involving a single

vehicle off Hullmetta Boulevard.

Who do you want there?

- I'm practically there

right now. I'll take it.

- Copy

- Ambulance?

- There's one en route.

- Copy that, on my way.

- Thanks Ry.

- Alright kid.

Looks like it's all

yours. Hold down the fort.

- I'll keep it warm for you,

boss.

- Ry, uh, be careful out there.

Always.

Do the same here.

- Got it.

(dog barks in the distance)

(sinister music rises)

(more barking)

(Ronny moans)

(wind blows outside)

(evil violin bellows)

(musical dissonance builds)

Don't be scared.

- Huh?

Ow. f*ck!

(Caitlin laughs)

- Oh, hey.

- I said don't be scared.

Oh no, I, I wasn't scared.

[Caitlin] Are you okay?

[Ronny] Yeah. Yeah, it's

nothing. It's just a scratch.

Yeah.

Good.

(beeping from truck)

(diesel truck backing up)

- Hey, what's up Ryan?

- What's up Stan?

Thanks for coming out.

Saw the paramedics leave.

Anyone get hurt?

- Yeah.

- Ah, sh*t.

- Yeah, it's weird too

'cause there's no skid marks

anywhere in the road here.

It's just kind of like he just

drove himself into that tree.

- Well, he coulda' just fallen

asleep behind the wheel.

- Yeah, I guess so. Maybe.

- Anyways, I'm gonna back her

up and get her outta here.

Unless you got

something else to do?

- Uh, yeah, sorry. Go for it.

- All right, Ry.

See you later, man.

- Thanks bud.

(footsteps on broken glass)

(mysterious music plays)

- How do you feel

about double Ds?

- Excuse me?

(Caitlin chuckles)

- As a nickname?

Deputy Dylan.

(both chuckle)

- Oh (chuckling)

- Yeah, right.

Deputy Di.

That's double... DD. That's

really, you're super funny.

But um- you can just

call me Ron.

- I will.

- Cool.

- I just came in for a drink.

- Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Me too.

(witchy music swirls)

(Caitlin exhales, slowly)

(swallows)

(exhales with satisfaction)

(inhales deeply)

- Well...

Good night.

- Yeah.

- Bye.

(Caitlin giggles)

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Dominus Diabolis Sabbath.

- Dominus Diabolis Sabbath.

- Ave Satanas.

Ave Satanas.

Darkest father,

we offer you a thousand

thanks for your vigilance.

We are all your sl*ves.

(evil music smolders)

- Kneel, child.

- We give to you...

And in return, you see to it

that our cups runeth over.

(sinister music bellows)

(Girl's voice muffled)

- Wait...

- --I, I don't want to.

- Please?

- I changed my mind, stop.

(distant cries)

No...

No!

(faint moaning)

(sensual moaning]

(sensual moaning)

(sensual moaning continues)

(sensual moaning continues)

- Ronny!

(sensual moaning)

(sensual moaning continues)

(sensual moaning heightens)

Hey Dillon!

(Caitlin screams with ecstasy)

Deputy Dillon, come back.

(wicked strings carry on)

Ronnie, are you awake?

- Screw it.

Glad somebody's

getting some rest.

(moaning continues)

(Moaning builds to a pitch)

(evil music

scratches feverishly)

(heavy breaths)

(evil music devolves)

(mysterious,

threatening music rises)

(car engine revs away)

(chaotic, threatening

music plays)

(diner sounds. door chimes)

(big exhale)

- Don't usually see you

here on Sundays.

- Actually, I was waiting

to talk to you.

- About?

- What we were speaking about

last time.

The Satanic stuff. Tell me

a little more about that?

- Haven't you heard all

these stories?

- Yeah, I guess I just never

really strung them all together.

- Oh, okay. Well, back in

the fifties, well, maybe even

before these folks used

to come out from the city

to practice their devil worship.

- Yeah, I've heard that.

But, how do you know?

- My dad.

He would see them firsthand.

He'd, he'd walk the dogs in

the woods up by Port and

Hullmetta

and he'd see them back then.

Um,These folks, they'd pull

up in their limousines,

these really rich folks and,

and they'd come at all

hours of the day and night

and they'd trek up

into the woods

and they'd spend the weekend

here hidden from everybody.

- Okay. That doesn't make

them devil worshipers.

They would just be

enjoying a country getaway.

- Country getaway? There's no

streams, there's no meadows,

there's no rolling hills,

there's no views back there.

My goodness. You, you could

find beautiful land right

outside the city back then.

Why did those people come all

the way out here?

Those woods, they are

dark and they're dense.

This is the northern most

extension of the pine barrens.

- Alright, but I'm, I'm

still not hearing any facts.

Facts? The remains of

that village,

that secret village is

still up there.

Never on the county

records, yet there it is.

Concrete foundations and

all. Can you explain that?

That's a fact, Sheriff.

A hundred feet from the road

and yet no one could see it.

But my dad, he saw it.

He saw it really often.

He, he would hear them chanting

and then he would see them in

their gowns, in their costumes

as they marched

through the woods.

And he's not the only one.

I know many people,

many good people

who saw strange things up there.

Actually, I was one of them,

Sheriff.

I I, I saw it too when,

when I was a kid.

I, it was one of their

big celebrations.

And I, I, I snuck up

there to peak.

My dad was, he was always

saying to me, just leave him be.

But I was like, I said, I

was a kid and I was curious

and I, I snuck out there and,

and I peeked through the slats

on one of their structures.

(Eds breathing becomes labored)

They had a, they had a a,

a girl in there

and she was naked and bound

and they were gonna do

something to her.

I, I don't, I don't, I I,

I don't know what they

were gonna do.

And I got really scared

and I, I felt like I was

being watched.

I I had to get outta there.

I, I, I just, I, I just,

I I ran away that,

that's what I did.

I ran away.

(piercing music rings)

You do remember when

you were a kid

that they found a girl's

body out by the edge

of the road in a trash bag?

- Yeah. That, that

doesn't mean it's related.

- No, no. It definitely doesn't.

But it also doesn't mean

that it's not related.

There are a million really

strange things that have

happened

around here that aren't

necessarily related.

I...

Yeah, I, I, I guess if I think

about it, I can remember more

and more stories that it

just seems so unlikely,

so odd that anyone could

possibly believe

that in today's day and age.

- Son, it's a religion.

It's a religion as old

as time itself.

Who are you to question that?

Every day, millions of people

ask the

same question about the beliefs

of the person sitting

directly across from them.

Yet it still goes on. Right?

I mean, has Christianity gone

anywhere in the past 50 years?

(Ed laughs)

People still believe in God.

Right?

You can't have one without the

other, my friend.

(food bell chimes)

Thanks, Ed.

Sheriff, have you ever

heard the name Anton Lavey?

He's the founder of the

Church of Satan.

Do you know where the

official world headquarters

for the Church of Satan

was in the seventies?

Potterswood, New Jersey. Two

minutes away.

Google it.

- I will.

Google it?

You're funny Ed.

- Take care, Sheriff.

(metal door squeaks open)

- Good morning.

- Hey!

'morning.

Hey, listen-

- What the

hell's going on here?!

Whoah.

Take it easy, Tim. All right.

The girls had a scare

last night, all right?

(cell phone rings)

What's going on?

- That's what I wanna know.

Everybody just quiet. All right,

hang on.

(Cell phone rings)

Lemme take this.

Yeah. Ry?

Uh-huh?

Yeah, of course, I'll tell her.

All right. Yeah. Bye.

...Um.

Your realtor got into a

car accident last night on

Hullmetta Blvd.

He died. Sorry.

I'm late for church.

Were they close?

It's not that.

Then what?

Their parents died on

Hullmetta Boulevard.

There were no visible

signs of the crash.

(sinister music treads)

(church bells toll)

- If evil is to blame for

the cause of our actions,

can we not then say that our

actions are the cause of evil?

If you let evil into your

heart, you give it a place

to live, to grow,

to thrive, to destroy,

to fester,

to beat you down.

To break you.

- Abby.

- Oh! (nervous laugh)

Oh, Mr. MacLaughlin, I didn't

see you there. How are you?

- I'm just fine.

How are you?

- I'm okay.

- You sure you don't seem okay?

- Huh? Oh, uh, I just found out

my realtor passed away.

So just a little distracted,

I guess.

[Allistor] Oh wow.

That's sad.

Realtor?

Oh, that's right.

I did see you had the

place up for sale.

You know, I've been

meaning to stop in

and check on you girls...

The place.

I mean, you know, we're

practically family.

- Uhhh...

I guess... I, I never really

thought of it like that.

- Are you kidding? Your

family and my family.

They go way back.

Farming families like ours are a

rare

thing around here these days.

Sacred thing.

Plus, if you guys hadn't gone

off on your own and you

and Billy had gotten married,

then you'd be my daughter-in-law

right about now.

(Abby sighs)

Anyway, maybe you should

reconsider selling the place.

I think your dad would've

wanted you to keep it as is.

- I know, but we can't farm it.

And if we can't keep it farmed,

the taxes will bankrupt

us by the end of the year.

- Well, I could help

you with that.

You should have come to

me if you were having

trouble keeping the place up.

- I didn't wanna bother

anyone with our problems

- It's worth fighting for.

That is hallowed ground

as far as I'm concerned.

As far as a lot of us

are concerned.

Hey, don't you think it's

a sign your realtor dying,

that you're supposed to

keep the place?

- I don't really...

- Good!

It's settled, then.

Look, you guys keep the place.

We'll work out a business

arrangement where I farm it

for you.

- I, Uh, I don't know. It's

more complicated than that.

I have to talk it over

with my sister,

but I'll let you know.

It was great to see you, Mr.

MacLaughlin.

- Same here. Abby. You come

by anytime. We'll work it out.

The whole family would

love to see you.

(dark, sinister music moans)

(heavy footsteps walk off)

(music threatens)

(dark music holds)

(birds chirp)

(dark music melts away)

(a woodpecker hammers away)

(pretty tones takes over)

(birds sing with hope)

- I thought we promised no limo?

You said no limo. Okay.

I had my fingers crossed.

(Abigail laughs)

- You can't afford this.

- How often do I get to take

the best girl in the world

to her prom?

(she laughs)

Besides we have the

rest of our lives together

to worry about spending money.

- MmHmm.

- All right?

It's also only one way, 'cause,

uh,

I left my sh*t box parked

at the school.

(Abby laughs hard)

(Billy laughs with her)

(woodpecker hammers away

(music darkens)

(train howls in the distance)

(the wind whips, angrily)

(music hums, with bad intention)

(Grandfather clock rings out)

(thump)

(thump)

(loud thump)

(strange metal sounds)

(distant thump)

(distant thump)

(metal scrapes)

(thud)

(muffled thud)

(tense music rises)

(staircase creaks)

(musical pitch rises)

(door creaks)

(switch clicks)

(music twists darkly)

(man's voice)

- Hello?

(bulb shatters)

(Abby screams)

(door slams)

(thunderous tumbling, crashing)

(Abby gasps in pain)

(exaggerated breathing)

(trying to catch her breath)

(gasping)

- Oh my God...

- My phone.

(cries in pain)

(rapid tugging at light string)

- Ohhh!

- Uh-ah...

(matches rattling)

- Eeyuh...

(labored breaths)

- Who are you?

(cries out)

(matches rattle)

(match strike)

(rapid heavy breaths)

(Man's twisted voice)

- Hello.

- Who's there?

(demonic voice) - I...

What do you want from me?

(demonic voice) - I,

I want you...

- Tell me what you want?

...Dead.

(Abby screams)

(crying)

(crashing noises)

(things breaking)

(sinister music laughs away)

- Check this out.

Swipe right. Swipe left.

Hey, weren't the lights

on in the house a minute ago?

On the porch, yeah, for sure!

She's not gonna turn off

all the lights before

little sis' gets home.

No, she's not.

(Abby screams in the distance)

(screen door slams)

(Abby grunts & cries)

(footsteps running)

- Oh sh*t. Here we go.

(throbbing music pounds)

(footsteps pounding the gravel)

(Abby cries out)

- Ronny! The house. Go, go, go

- On it on it.

(gasping for breath)

- He, he's in there.

He's in there.

- You're alright -

you're alright!

Here. Put this on.

- He's in the basement.

He-- he--did-- he touched me.

He, he's real... I'm,

I'm not crazy.

(Abby gasps for breath)

- Ronny, anything?

You alright? You're okay...

What happened?

It's black in here,

but nothing yet.

- He knocked me down the stairs,

but...

I'm okay.

(coughs) I'm, I'm okay.

(car tires over gravel)

Here comes my sister.

- Ronny, What do you

see in there?

- Caitlin. The man in the

white mask. He's back.

He's in the basement.

He touched me.

(tense music playing)

- Caitlin, he's in the house.

- What's going on in

there? Talk to me, Ronny.

(walkie talkie sounds)

- Hey Ry, there's no one

here. He musta slipped away.

(walkie talkie sounds)

Looks like someone flipped

the main circuit breaker.

(sinister music)

(clank)

- Uh, so I was right here

and then I turned around

and he was right there.

Wait, that means someone else

had to be in the house, right?

I mean, if I was looking

right at him, there had

to be someone else

upstairs to flip the power.

- Doesn't explain these

lights being blown out.

(ominous footsteps stomp above)

- What's going on?

[Sheriff] You tell me Tim?

How is it you keep showing up

after something's happened here?

- Because I have a

police scanner.

- Of course you do.

- What is, is

that against the law

or something?

- Actually, I don't know.

Uh, Abby had another scare.

- Intruder!

[Tim] What happened?

It was the

same man with a white face.

He came up from behind

me.

Wait...

- What is it?

That wasn't there before?

(mysterious music swirls)

- The mannequin?

No, the dress.

That was my prom dress.

(mysterious music simmers)

(wind moans)

- When Tim and I were in high

school, the kids used to drive

around here in cars

scaring each other,

telling old stories

about the area.

- Ghost runs.

That's what we called it.

- So what? Kids do that

in every town.

- Yeah. But in most towns the

stories are bullshit. And here,

they're...

- Here, they're true.

Anyway, these ghost runs,

they were big.

They were organized. The kids

running them would go through

elaborate measures to make

sure the passengers encountered

some very scary things

along the way.

They took it pretty far.

- And?

(dark music plays)

- And, well,

I'm pretty sure the torch

has been passed

because they're active again.

- So you're saying some

high school pranksters

are the ones scaring me.

- It's a possibility.

The kids have been very active

with the ghost runs as of late.

And they are very into it.

- I'm not buying that,

Ryan. Ghost runs were meant

to scare the people

along for the ride.

Not some girl at home

minding her own business.

- And, why Abby?

- Uh, I don't know...

Maybe it's not Abby

they're trying to scare her.

Maybe it's

Caitlin. She's the one

in high school.

- Why would anyone

wanna terrorize Caitlin?

Especially after everything

we've been through.

- High school's a weird place.

Could be some jealous

girls, or a guy she snubbed?

- But you don't really

believe that, do you Ryan?

(Ryan takes a deep breath)

(he lets out a nervous chuckle)

- I shoulda had Ronny pick up

another bottle of a bourbon.

Where's he at, anyway?

(creepy music twists)

(moaning rises)

- Ohhhh!

- Huahhh!!

- Oh-AHhhhhh...

(heavy breathing)

(sinister strings spiral)

(match strikes)

(dog barks in the distance)

(pensive music)

(dog barking intently)

(more barking)

(barking)

(music stresses)

(footsteps on gravel)

(music chomps)

(footsteps)

(music threatens)

(music whines)

(door rickets)

(music shifts)

(heavy footsteps)

(chain clicks repeatedly)

(bulb jiggles)

(distant laughter of children)

(more children laughing)

(girl's voice, muffled)

- Billy...

What we're doing...

I don't know, I...

- I...

(music builds intensely)

- It just feels wrong.

(spooky music whines)

- You are just gonna have

to trust me.

She left me.

She left you. Your parents.

The only thing wrong

here is her.

She's always been wrong.

This house, it belongs to you.

It belongs to us.

(dark strings moan)

(footsteps crunching leaves)

[Tim] When I was about

25, I had a girlfriend

who was deathly

afraid of ghosts.

I used to make fun of her,

thought

she was a scaredy cat.

And then one day she tells me

a story that was so, so scary

and so compelling.

I knew--

It had to be true.

And I wanted to share it.

So I told my parents at dinner.

That's when my mom --

- - casually tells me,

"We had ghosts".

It's a long story,

but it only tormented my mom,

not my dad.

And apparently it messed

with me too, not my sister.

They said they walked

into my room

and they would find me screaming

and pointing at something

that they couldn't see.

I don't remember any of it,

but I do remember

being very scared

as a kid in that house.

(somber music plays)

(footsteps approach)

(loud unlatching)

Yes. Sheriff Smith?

- I, I

- I, uh.

(clears his throat)

- Is this appropriate

behavior for the sheriff?

I thought I heard something,

so I came to check on you.

- Oh, do you need to

come in and have a look?

- No, I've seen enough.

- You go to bed.

(witchy tones carry off)

- Why do you think it

chose your mom and you?

- I don't. I think some

people are just more

open to these things.

My mom's mom said she saw

things and between my sister

and I, I take after my mom.

It's like channels on a radio.

There are some people

that are just more in tune

to letting spirits in.

- What did they do,

your parents?

- They moved to a new house, but

after a while it happened again.

New house, new spirit.

After that I did more and

more research on the subject,

and I came to learn that

once the channel

or the path is open,

it tends to stay open.

Keeping you in touch with

the other side.

- So you think I'm in touch,

and Caitlin's not. Like

you and your sister.

- I do.

(dark music holds)

(footsteps beat the floor)

[Sheriff] Ronny come back

inside?

[Abigail] No, not that we've

seen

[Tim] What's up?

[Sheriff] Nothing. No,

I'll be right back.

(leaves crunching)

(voices chant in distance)

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Dominus

diabolis sabbath.

- Dominus diabolis sabbath.

- Ave satanas.

- Ave satanas.

- Ave satanas. Ave satanas.

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Sanctus satanas sanctus.

- Dominus diabolis sabbath.

- Dominus diabolis sabbath.

- Ave Satanas. Ave Satanas.

- Ave Satanas, Ave Satanas.

(leaves crunch)

(twig snaps)

(whack)

- Uuhh!

(ominous music flares)

(footsteps on gravel)

(dog barks)

(mysterious music hums)

(footsteps)

(wind howls)

(walkie talkie static)

- Hey Ronny, you there?

Ronny, it's Ryan. You there?

Deputy Dillon, come back.

[Tim] Anything?

Nothing.

You said you studied the

subject in depth.

- The paranormal.

Yes.

- Can they, you know the,

I mean--

- The ghosts? I

still call them that.

- Can ghosts k*ll people?

- I don't know. I mean,

would we ever know?

If an old person dies

in their sleep

or if someone falls off a roof,

would we know if there was a

ghost there to help them along?

(thunderous crashing)

(clock chimes echo out)

(sinister music unravels)

(footsteps crunching leaves)

(music darkens)

(digging noises)

- Hey.

Hey!

(sinister music

twists frantically)

Aah f*ck!

Ohhh, no...

- Call Ryan.

- My cell phone

broke in the basement.

His card is on my nightstand.

I can call from the house phone.

Jesus Christ!

- Caitlin!

No, I know, I know. I'll go!

Call 9 1 1.

Okay. Upstairs to the right...

Go!

...alright. Uh! Oh my God...

(frightened breathing)

Uuhhh...

(telephone rings)

(telephone rings)

(knocking)

Caitlin?

Caitlin?

(phone continues to ring

in the distance)

(light switch clicking)

(phone rings loudly)

(music pounds tensely)

Caitlin, come on honey!

(knob jiggles)

(slam)

(rings)

(demonic voice)

- Hel-lo...

(Abby crying)

What do you want?

(twisted, man's voice)

You know - what I want...

No, I don't.

You can save her--

I don't know what you're

talking about!

- You can --

can save--

- What? What, what'do

you-- wh,wh'do..

You can save her...

(dial tone)

Hello?

(dial tone)

(frantic clicking)

Hello?

(threatening music spirals)

(Tim screams)

(heavy crashing, thumping)

(Tim groans in pain)

(screams in agony)

- Oh my God! Oh my--

Where's Caitlin?

No! I don't know. She's

not up there. Aarrr...

(grunting in pain)

Abby?

I have to get her.

Abby?

(running footsteps)

Abby?

Nooo Abby!

Owwww!

(heavy breathing)

(diabolical music)

(running footsteps)

(labored breathing & crying)

- Okay...

(heavy breathing)

(sobbing)

(evil music swirls)

(Abby grunts & sobs)

- Where are you going?

(whimpering)

(crying)

- God...

- Where's my sister?

(evil music groans)

(footsteps approach)

- sh*t. Ronny?

Ronny!

- My head. What the hell?

You tell me. I just found

you here. You all right?

My head...

Looks like this branch

might have come

down and clocked you good?

- No, no. It was them boss.

They were worshiping the

devil over there.

- Yeah, I believe it. I just

saw two of them back there.

They k*lled the goat and

buried it. But I, I lost them.

- They k*lled a goat?

Assholes.

- Oh, hey, come on.

Let's get you up.

(Ronny grunts)

You good?

Yeah boss, I'll be all right.

All right...

We'll head for the road. It's

a lot closer than the house.

We're gonna get a car, to

come get you. Take a look

at your head.

... Yeah.

(leaves & twigs crunch)

(witchy strings play)

(heavy breaths)

(leaves rustle)

That'd be cool if we get

him right there. You know?

Mmhm. It'd be perfect timing.

(distant whispering)

[Sheriff] Now, now, now!

(music swirls with chaos)

[Sheriff] Hey!

[Sheriff] Sheriff's department!

[Ronny] Hands, Hands, hands!

[Sheriff] Don't move!

[Ronny] On your knees!

[Ronny] Hands in the air!

[Boy 1] Okay, okay, okay.

[Boy 2] Calm down, dude.

What the fu...

[Ronny] Don't tell me

to calm down!

[Sheriff] Let me see

those masks?

(tense music)

- We were just tryin'

to scare some friends.

That's

all we were trying to do.

- Yeah, that's not ill*gal.

(tense music rings)

Get up...

(hypnotic strings summon)

- What is this!

(Abby breathes heavy)

What do you want?

(to herself)

- - What do you want?

(heavy breaths)

(twigs snap)

(sounds of the road)

- Call the parents on the way

in, that way they can meet us.

At the very least we got 'em

from

open containers in the car.

- Yeah. And for animal cruelty

and criminal trespassing

and assaulting an officer.

- Hey, Ronny, calm down.

We don't even know it was them.

[Ronny] What do you mean

we don't know it was them?

Of course we know it was them.

It's the kids. It's

always the kids!

- Hey. Ronny... Calm.

Go get your head looked at,

all right?

(gravel footsteps)

(car door closes)

(sinister music rises)

(shivering breaths)

(whimpers)

(mutters indistinctly)

I'm here.

(door slams)

- You know I'm here.

What do you want?

(twisted voice)

- Come...

- Where's my sister?

What do you want?

(demonic voice)

- I told you what I want.

(Abby cries)

(stutters) What is this?

You die.

She lives.

(crying)

(music twists darkly)

(metal dragging noise)

Do it for Caitlin, Abby...

Do it for Caitlin

No.

(heavy breaths)

No!

No!

(demonic laughing)

- Why?

(chaotic evil music)

No!

Please?

(Abby cries)

Oh, Abigail

(heaving breaths)

I remember you...

(echoing) I remember you.

(evil music spirals)

Why are you doing this?

(mocking demonic voice)

"Why are you doing this?"

(twisted laughter)

Why are you doing this?

- You know why.

(Abby crying) No...

- You....

- You don't want her

to end up like your parents?

No!

If you love her...

(Abby cries)

Do it.

(sobbing)

(blasting) Do it!

(terrified scream)

(dark music pounds)

(Abby crying)

(Demonic) Do it for Caitlin,

Abby.

(more human) Do it for Caitlin,

Abby!

(intense breaths)

(music builds to insane chaos)

(Abby grunts)

(electric buzzing)

Abigail?

(chaotic music diffuses)

(sad music rises)

(sad music continues)

(heavy footsteps)

(door latch)

[Tim] Abby!

[Caitlin] What happened?

[Sheriff] She's all

right. She's just stunned.

I had a tase her.

You did what?

[Caitlin] Wh--Why?

What the hell happened?

- I found her in one of

the old horse barns trying

to stab herself.

I tased her right before

she could do it.

[Caitlin] Oh my God. Why?

- I don't know. She

was hysterical.

She was screaming. She

was talking to herself.

I got there without a

second to spare.

She was not talking to herself.

- Ryan, this is Father

Taylor. Abby's priest.

- What's going on?

- I called him while you were

out there.

We had an encounter. We are

not dealing with people.

We are dealing with a presence.

- What? You mean like a...

Possibly.

Look, Father, no disrespect,

but...

[Abigail] It wanted me

to k*ll myself.

He wanted you to... what?

It says it wants my life

for Caitlin's.

No, no, no, no, no.

no...

No!

- Caitlin, dear.

- Uhhh..

It was me!

There is no demon or

presence. We did this.

Caitlin, what are you

talking about?

I can't believe he would...

- Eh, I, this isn't how

it was supposed to be.

- Caitlin...

Who's we?

[Caitlin] Billy and me.

I'm sorry, Abby.

We were only supposed

to scare you.

Make you look crazy so

I could keep the farm.

Wait, I don't know...

When you say Billy...

Billy who?

Billy.

Billy McLaughlin.

I've been seeing him, Abby.

I'm sorry. I, I

didn't mean to...

- Cate...

- Shhh, sh,sh,sh...

Hey, listen to me.

You're just, you're just

not thinking straight, okay?

- Um, we'll, we'll keep the farm

and I'll, I'll go to

law school around here.

All right? But you and Billy

didn't do anything together.

You need to know that.

But we did.

I'm sorry.

I, he, he came and he...

[Abigail] No...

He didn't.

- But he did!

(eerie music hangs)

- Caitlin, Billy McLaughlin

died eight years ago.

(music rings)

- Honey, you remember,

right?

(club music thumps in distance)

- Hmm. Woo-oo!

- This is the best night ever.

Huh?

MmHmm...

(giggles)

- Billy, you've had too

much already.

- What you talking about?

All right.

This party's just

getting started.

(tense, mysterious music)

- Hey, come here.

Uh, uh.

- Baby?

(laughs)

Baby, this is the first

night of the rest

of our lives together.

I mean, think about it...

[Abigail] Stop saying that.

[Billy] What? Stop saying what?

- The forever talk. I

start school this fall.

- Yeah. So?

- This is it for us.

I don't mean to be cruel

and I'll, I'll always have

a place for you in my heart.

but, but we're not

going any further.

(mysterious music tenses)

(awkward laughter)

- I-uh, huh.

- I'm, I'm sorry.

Um-- I, uh...

I, I, I didn't know,

- You know, I, I, I didn't know

that this wasn't a future.

(laughs)

And, and, hey, if you say so.

Billy?

No, no, no. Hey. Hey.

It's all good. It's all good.

Uh, huh.

Hey. I still get the

consolation prize, right?

Always have a place in your

heart. That's great!

Billy, I'm sorry.

- It's great.

Billy?

- Billy... Billy?

(engine starts)

Billy, you can't drive.

Where are you gonna go? Billy?

Billy!

(engine revs)

(tires peel-out)

(screeching tires)

(more screeching)

(truck horn blares)

(tires skidding)

(thunderous metal crashing)

(glass shattering)

(metal crunching)

(distant sirens wale)

(fire truck engines roar)

(tense music rings)

(birds sing)

[Caitlin] Okay. It's

right through here.

[Priest] Thank you. [Caitlin]

And,

you are seated right over there.

[Priest] Thank you, Caitlin.

- You know Mr. Delaney?

- Tim?

[Priest] Of course. Hello

Timothy.

- Hey. Nice to see you.

[Priest] Good to see you as

well.

- Father, this is my

boyfriend Felix.

- It's a pleasure, Father.

- The pleasure's all mine.

[Priest] Hey Abigail!

[Abigail] Oh, father you made

it.

Thank you for coming.

- There was no way I

wasn't gonna be here.

Thank you so much for having me.

So, how's the arrangement

Mr. MacLaughlin working out?

- Oh, Um. It's good. He's

keeping

up his end of the deal.

The farm is up and running and

everything else is...

is fine.

- Okay. Okay. We'll talk

some more later.

Let's go eat. Please?

[Abigail] Okay.

[Priest] Alright.

(dinner conversation)

[Allistor] Your family and my

family, they go way back.

(evil music carries)

[Allistor] Farming families like

ours are a rare thing

around here these days.

(crow cries)

Sacred thing. Plus, if you guys

hadn't gone off on your own

and you

and Billy had gotten married...

Then, you'd be my

daughter-in-Law right about now.

- It's worth fightin' for.

Dear Dark Father,

we preserve this sacred

place for you.

We offer you flesh to

prove our worthiness

and in return you

provide for our families.

And for that, we are

forever,

your sl*ves.

That is hallowed ground

as far as I'm concerned.

As far as a lot of us

are concerned.

(sounds of car speeding)

(upbeat song plays)

(car noises)

(sinister growl emerges)

(lyrics) 'Looking back,

I always wonder --'

(demonic growling)

(chaotic noises)

(loud static)

[Ronny] You hear that? That's

my stomach. Sorry Ry...

It's angry with me. It's yellin'

"pizza".

- Okay. Ronny, I could

eat too. Let me guess,

Salvatore's?

[Ronny] Now we're talking. But,

we gotta

hurry, they close in 10.

- Copy that. I'll double

time it, bud.

See you there.

(engine driving)

(song lyrics) 'I don't

know what else to say..'

'just trying to read my mind'

'looking through the

rear view mirror'

(evil music flares)

(sheriff screams)

- EEYAAAAhhhhh!

(tires screech)

(metal crashing)

(glass & metal shatter)

(car horn blares)

(upbeat music returns)

(lyrics) 'Letting go

will make it clearer...'

(lyrics) 'I wish there was

some other way'

(car horn continues)

(evil dissonant strings

mimic the horn)

(music darkens)

(evil tones continue onward)