Wilting Rose (2025)

[bunniefuu]

(wind whistling) (rain pattering)

(thunder rumbling)

(wolf howling)

(thunder rumbling)

(birds chirping) (soft dramatic music)

(rain pattering)

(tape player clicking)

I remember our lives

used to be so simple,

living out here in our own

little neck of the woods.

There's an old wives' tale about a deer

who rules the woods here.

Anyone who would enter the

woods would be greeted by him.

And while they were

here, he'd watch over them

and keep them safe.

I think that's why I always

found this place so peaceful.

I can feel his presence.

I hope I remember

that story for a long time.

(traffic whirring)

So many of these memories

have already left me,

and I am not sure how

much longer I'll hang on

to any of the important ones.

Long after I'm gone, will

you even remember me?

(soft dramatic music)

(engine humming)

(traffic whirring)

(shift clacking)

(car door clicking)

(birds chirping)

(car door banging)

(door clattering)

(traffic whirring)

Hi. What can I do for you?

Hi. Um, I'm having a

problem with my roof.

- What's going on with it?

- Um, it leaks.

Let me get Randy. He

will tell you what we can do.

(footsteps thudding)

(traffic whirring)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

Hey, there. (Rose sniffing)

(clears throat) Rose.

So I hear you got a

little bit of a roof leak.

Yeah, I do.

Okay.

Is the water dripping down

through the ceiling right now?

Are you catching it with something?

Um, buckets.

Do you live around here, Rose?

A Little outside of

town on Hidden Forest.

Okay, yeah, there, there's only

a couple houses back there, right?

Yeah, mine's the one with the red brick.

Oh, okay.

You know, I used to know

somebody used to live back there,

but, ah, can't remember his name,

so I guess that's not important.

Um, so you know, buckets are a good thing,

catching the water, but to

be honest with you, Rose,

um, we are so busy with all this rain.

My guys are on jobs, they'll

be on jobs all night long.

Do you think those buckets

will hold up until the morning?

Okay, good.

Um, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll send

one of my best guys there

first thing in the morning.

- How's that sound?

- Yeah, good.

Thanks.

(footsteps tapping)

(door clicking)

[Receptionist] She is

a little bit of a weird one,

isn't she?

Well, a little bit strange,

but, ah, you know,

what we'll do is we'll

send Johnny out there

first thing in the morning.

- Oh, don't send Johnny

to that nice girl's house.

We got nobody else.

This weather's k*lling me.

(car door thudding) (rain pattering)

(soft dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

(hand whooshing) (birds chirping)

(somber orchestral music)

(Rose sniffing) (wipers scraping)

(Rose crying)

(visor tapping)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(rain pattering)

(thunder rumbling)

(rain pouring) (wind howling)

(trees rustling)

(thunder rumbling)

(car door clicks and bangs)

(thunder rumbling)

(door creaks and thuds) (water dripping)

(rain pattering)

(Rose exhaling)

(box rustling)

(tense orchestral music)

(thunder rumbling)

(footsteps thudding)

(rain pattering)

(tense orchestral music continues)

(Randy exhaling) (keys jangling)

(cup tapping)

Uh, man.

(Randy exhaling)

(Randy slurping) (traffic whirring)

(cup tapping)

(keypad beeping)

- (yawns) Hey, Randy,

it's Marty. (Sniffs)

Before I get yelled at, it's 7:56,

and I made it before the

cutoff. (Sniffs and clears throat)

Anyway, I'm a little under the weather,

if you can't tell by my voice.

I'm gonna get some rest

today, and I'll be in tomorrow.

I already told Johnny that

he'll be on his own today.

All right, talk to you later.

That's kind of what I wanted

to talk to you about, Randy.

So, look, I don't think

I can handle a big job

by myself today, so maybe I

can sweep around the office

or wash your truck or something?

Ah, no, I got, I got

people for that. Listen.

Yeah, the schedule was for

you to be on a big job today,

but, um, being that you're

by yourself, I, I've got a,

I've got a customer that

I promised we'd be there

this morning, and it's a

small repair, small leak,

but I need you to go

by yourself, step it up.

That's what we're gonna

do. (Johnny scoffing)

(tense electronic music)

(stream flowing)

(footsteps pattering)

(stream flowing)

(water splashing)

(footsteps pattering)

Almost there.

(stream flowing)

(birds chirping)

(tense electronic music continues)

(wings flapping)

(chickens clucking)

(door clicking)

(keys jangling)

(door thudding)

(birds chirping)

(ATV creaking)

(key scraping)

(engine sputtering) (hand tapping)

(engine buzzing)

(tense electronic music)

(ATV buzzing)

(ignition clicking)

(soft dramatic music)

(insects chittering)

(flowers rustling)

(stones pattering)

(hands rubbing)

It's been a while, stranger.

(exhales) I miss you so much.

(hands rubbing)

(bushes rustling)

(bushes rustling)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(creature shrieking)

(engine humming)

(creature shrieking) (truck door clicking)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(tense orchestral music)

(Rose sighing)

(traffic whirring)

(truck door thudding)

(ropes rustling)

(ladder clattering)

(ATV buzzing)

(ladder clattering) (Johnny exhaling)

- Hey.

- Hey, there.

Uh, sorry. Johnny.

It's okay. Mine are dirty too.

- Rose.

- Heard you got some leaks?

Yeah. (Johnny exhaling)

Been doing some field work out here.

U, I mean, I was but I just finished.

Do you want me to show

you where the leaks are?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, let's take a look.

[Rose] Okay.

(water dripping)

Is it just this one spot?

I think so.

All right. Let me go take a look.

It might not be that bad.

(Rose inhales and exhales)

(water dripping)

(tapes clacking)

(tapes clattering)

(tape player clicking)

(tape clacking)

(button clicking) (tape hissing)

You still wanna do that, right?

(stream flowing) (husband chuckling)

I remember when you told me

you'd never seen the ocean before.

Everyone has to see that at least once.

Hmm, even with everything happening to me,

I'll never forget the first time

I looked out across the endless water.

That's a special memory.

(tape hissing)

(Michael exhaling) (insect buzzing)

But even special memories fade, I suppose.

(stream flowing)

Coming out here, recording my memories,

I thought would be good for me,

good for my mental state.

But I think it's starting

to have a negative effect.

(exhales) I remember the

leaves changing in the fall.

(tape hissing)

(inhales and exhales) One day,

when we eventually leave this place,

I think I'll miss that the most of all.

The ocean is nice,

but there's something very

special about these woods.

(button clicking)

(tape clacking)

(tapes clattering)

(cover clicking)

(tape clacking)

(button clicking) (tape hissing)

I saw something that reminded me of you.

(bed creaking)

(birds chirping)

That sound, it's...

(creature shrieking)

It's near.

(creature shrieking continues)

(tape hissing)

Maybe it's you trying to reach me.

(Johnny knocking)

(button clicking)

- Hey.

- Hey.

I'm, uh, almost done up there.

Oh, great.

Yeah, it was just a little

patchwork. Nothing too bad.

Good.

Yeah, so, uh, once I

clean up my equipment,

I gotta head over to the next job.

You take care of all of this by yourself?

It's quite a bit of land.

Yeah, I do.

Right. Ah, well then I'll see you later.

(tense electronic

music) (footsteps tapping)

(stream flowing)

(footsteps pattering)

(bushes rustling)

It's this way. Come on.

How'd you catch it?

- Get ready to open it.

- What?

- Are you crazy?

- Just open the crate.

I'm sorry. I just thought

you were cool with knives.

I like knives, I just don't like blood.

- You're squeamish?

- What's that?

It's something that

happens when you see blood.

The blood in your body wants to get out

and be with the other blood,

so it twists up all your bones.

(cage clattering)

(rabbit pattering)

(rabbit squeaking and choking)

(tense electronic music continues)

(rabbit gasping)

(ropes rustling)

(traffic whirring)

(truck door clicks and bangs)

(phone ringing)

(line clicking)

- Hey.

Real pretty.

She's far back, outside the city.

(truck door clicking) Yeah.

(truck door banging) (truck clicking)

All right. Same deal as before.

No, no, no. Just put it in the account.

Okay.

(eerie electronic music)

(phone clicking)

(soft dramatic music)

I've had this recurring dream lately

that I am climbing a mountain.

I keep climbing and I don't know exactly

where it is that I'm going.

I keep thinking that I'm

trying to reach the summit

because what other reason would there be

for climbing the

mountain in the first place?

(coat rustling)

(Michael sighing)

This world in my dreams

is so different from ours.

The mountains rise up into the clouds,

much further into the sky.

They don't have peaks.

At least, I don't think they do.

(soft dramatic music continues)

(birds chirping) (gentle music)

I don't wanna be alone anymore.

I don't remember what happened between us,

but I remember at one point,

everything was perfect,

everything was right.

You and I here together.

Then all of a sudden, it wasn't.

I don't know how long it's been.

Days, weeks, months, maybe years.

Then one day, I was alone.

I don't wanna be alone anymore.

I don't wanna be alone anymore.

(soft dramatic music continues)

(insects chittering)

(eerie electronic music)

(door clicking)

(blankets rustling)

(robe rustling)

(footsteps tapping)

(door clicking)

(intense rock music)

- Uh!

- Ow, oh, God!

(Rose gasping) (Masked Man grunting)

(both grunting)

(door clicking)

(shells clattering)

(shell clicking)

(pump clacking) (Rose whimpering)

(Rose breathing heavily)

(crickets chirping)

(Rose whimpering)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(door clicks and creaks)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(door creaks and thuds)

(footsteps pattering) Uh, no!

(both grunting) (shotgun whacking)

[Masked Man] Ooh!

Uh! (Gasps) (shotgun blasting)

(Masked Man groaning) (body thudding)

(creature shrieking)

(crickets chirping)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(Rose whimpering)

(plastic crinkling)

(Rose grunting)

(sheet tearing)

(Rose exhaling) (plastic crinkling)

(Rose grunting)

(Rose grunting)

(door clicking) (keys jangling)

(ATV buzzing) (body scraping)

(crickets chirping)

(chain jangling)

(tense electronic music)

(plastic crinkling)

(body scraping) (Rose grunting)

sh*t. Dammit.

(body scraping)

Uh. (Plastic crinkling)

(body scraping)

(Rose grunting)

(Rose breathing heavily)

(body scraping)

(Rose grunting)

(chain jangling)

(body scraping)

(Rose panting)

(body scraping) (Rose grunting)

Oh! Uh!

(tense electronic music continues)

(body scraping) Okay.

(Rose grunting)

(shovel clattering)

(shovel scraping) (dirt pattering)

(Rose grunting)

(shovel scraping) (Rose breathing heavily)

(tense electronic music continues)

(door clicking)

(birds chirping)

(door creaking)

(switch clicking)

(stairs creaking)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(switch clicking)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(Rose breathing heavily)

(faucet running) (water splashing)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(Rose breathing uneasily)

(shower spraying)

(clothes rustling)

(tense electronic music)

(machinery clattering)

(machinery clattering)

(machinery clattering)

(door clicks and thuds)

(tape player creaking)

(Rose exhaling)

(button clicking) (tape hissing)

Michael,

if it's you,

what do you want from me?

(button clicking)

(Rose exhaling)

(eerie electronic

music) (crickets chirping)

(blankets rustling)

(eerie vocalizing)

(dirt pattering)

(plastic crinkling)

(eerie electronic music continues)

(Rose breathing heavily) (knife stabbing)

(tense electronic music)

(blood spurting)

(flesh squelching)

(knife thudding)

(Rose slurping and chewing)

(Rose chewing)

(tense electronic music continues)

(intense electronic music)

(eerie electronic music)

(blankets rustling)

(door clicking)

(birds chirping)

(footsteps shuffling)

(switch clicking)

(intense electronic music)

(shower spraying)

(eerie electronic music)

[Marty] What you think about a desk job?

I don't know.

I mean, we use energy all

day outside carrying shingles

and sh*t up and down ladders.

You don't never get jealous of the people

who work at a desk?

Yo. Listening?

Yeah, yeah. Just give me a sec.

Look, I'm just saying, would

you rather do physical work

like we do all day or sit your a*s

in the AC and do a desk job?

Uh, I don't know.

People that sit at a desk all

day use a lot of mind energy.

"Mind energy?"

- Yeah.

You know, they think a lot

more than us or something.

Yeah, I bet they go home to their wife

and just have a swollen head,

and say, "Oh honey, give me

some ice for my big a*s head."

You need to use some mind energy.

(case clattering)

What time do you think

we're gonna finish the sign

up on that 10 o'clock job?

(supplies scraping) (phone tapping)

Dammit.

- Johnny.

- Oh, it's nothing.

- Didn't sound like nothing.

- Oh, I, I did a favor

for this guy and he owes me money,

and now he's not getting back to me.

Ah.

Need my help, don't you?

Want me to rough him up a bit?

No, no.

Nothing, nothing like that.

All right. Just say the word, I got you.

(tailgate banging) (hand tapping)

I can handle it myself. (Marty chuckling)

(truck doors click and bang)

(button clicking)

- Nothing good happens

out here anymore. (Button clicking)

(crow cawing) (tape whirring)

(button clicking) I feel like I'm being

watched all the time.

Little eyes looking at me,

hiding behind the bushes.

(button clicking) (tape whirring)

(creature shrieking)

(button clicking) (tape whirring)

(tape hissing)

(birds chirping)

(engine rumbling)

(shift clattering) (ignition clicking)

(seat belt clacking) -

Just give me a minute.

I gotta check up on something.

Okay, I'll be right here.

(truck door banging)

- I'll be right back.

(birds chirping)

[Michael] There's something very special

about these woods.

(button clicking)

(chimes jingling) (button clicking)

(tape hissing)

- Hey, Rose.

[Michael] There's

something evil in these woods.

(button clicking)

Ah, hope there aren't any more leaks.

(tape whirring)

- Is everything all right?

- Shh, shh!

Hey man, I got tired of

waiting. I had to stretch my legs.

Well, if you need any help

in the future, maybe I can

Will you be quiet?

Oh, sh*t.

(button clicking) (tape hissing)

Yeah, let's get out of

here. (Creature shrieking)

(button clicking) (Rose exhaling)

Hey, do you hear that sound?

(birds chirping)

(traffic whirring)

What sound?

(button clicking) (tape whirring)

(soft dramatic music)

Hey man, what the

hell's wrong with that lady?

I'm here now physically,

but I've been going somewhere else.

Some kind of different realm.

At first I thought I was dreaming,

but when I go to this

place, it feels so real.

While I'm there, I feel a

strange disconnection.

Something else is in control of my body,

(door scraping)

My mind.

I'm just this empty vessel.

Whatever it is that comes over me,

makes me do horrible,

unspeakable things in this place.

I just assumed that I was dreaming.

I didn't even recognize you this morning.

I woke up and looked

you directly in the eyes,

and I couldn't for the life of

me figure out who you were.

I wasn't stuck on your

name or anything like that.

I truly had no memory of you.

You could tell. (Tape hissing)

I don't think you knew

how much it affected me,

but you knew something was up.

(footsteps thudding)

I couldn't hide the look on my face.

I just stared at you.

(door clicking)

That dark, sinking feeling.

I became lost looking around

my head for something to say,

but nothing came out.

(soft dramatic music continues)

There's a boy that lives here in our woods.

I'm not even sure if he's real or not.

Everything's so messed up in my head.

He only really shows up

when I'm thinking of you.

Sometimes, I like to imagine

that he's the son we never had.

(static buzzing)

(button clicking)

I know that upset you.

I wish I was better.

I feel so bad.

This place is changing.

It used to be so peaceful,

now, it's much different.

(eerie electronic music)

There's a presence here.

(high-pitched humming)

The sound, the sound of pure evil.

I hope that's not real.

(intense electronic music)

(distorted screaming)

(heart thumping)

(intense music continues)

(distorted screaming continues)

(crickets chirping)

(traffic whirring)

(engine humming)

(mellow rock music)

(customers chattering)

(truck door clicks and bangs)

(customers chattering)

The reason I said

that I want to, I want to

(mugs tapping)

- Thanks, Mike.

You guys hungry tonight?

Oh, we hungry tonight.

- No, thanks.

- I am.

Have the buffalo chicken

salad I had last night.

Buffalo salad. Nice.

I'll get that right out.

Hey, no tomatoes.

- You got it.

- Thank you.

All I need is you

So what's going on?

Nothing.

Nothing, huh?

All right, you'll talk when you want to.

I don't give a sh*t.

Don't need a reason why

Except that I want to, I want to

I think I did something bad.

I kind of told someone about that girl.

Told him what about her?

Hellfire is burning

I just gotta figure this out.

Wanna say

(bright rock music)

(tense electronic music)

(engine humming)

(turn signal clicking)

(traffic whirring)

[Michael] There's something very special,

something very special

about these woods. (Echoes)

Do you hear that sound? Do

you hear that sound? (Echoes)

[Michael] There's something

evil, there's something evil

- in these woods.

- Do you hear that sound?

Do you hear that sound?

Do you hear that sound?

[Michael] There's something very special

about these woods. (Echoes)

Do you hear that sound?

Do you hear that sound?

Do you hear that sound?

- There's something evil

in these woods. (Echoes)

- Do you hear that sound?

(tense electronic music continues)

(engine humming)

(truck door clicks and bangs)

(insects chittering)

(truck door clicking)

(g*n clattering)

(truck door banging)

(footsteps pattering)

(eerie electronic music)

(crickets chirping)

(suspenseful electronic music)

(Johnny breathing uneasily)

(Johnny retching)

[Johnny] Jesus.

(Rose shrieking)

(intense electronic music)

(Rose growling) (Johnny groaning)

(Johnny screaming) (Rose snarling)

(flesh tearing) (blood spurting)

(birds chirping)

(wind whistling)

(tense electronic music)

(saw scraping)

Nick, hey, Nick. Wait up?

Hey, why are you ignoring me?

- What do you want?

- I thought we could

maybe hang out today.

There's this cool spot near the creek.

No, I have homework to do, don't you?

Okay, well maybe tomorrow we can

Can't you just leave me

alone or walk another way home?

Where'd you even come from, anyway?

Hey, come on. Is this

about the other day?

Okay, whatever. I'm sorry.

Is that what you want?

I'm sorry you saw that.

I just thought you were cool

and that you'd understand.

Even though you didn't do anything to help,

I still think you're pretty cool.

- We're buddies, right?

- Yeah.

So then come on. I have

to show you something.

No, I told you, I can't.

(soft dramatic music)

(footsteps pattering)

(footsteps pattering)

(birds chirping)

[Max] It's not like the other time, Nick.

I saw a ghost last night.

- Yeah, I'm sure you did.

So I was sleeping,

and then all of a sudden,

my head is on fire.

There was this loud noise or

something that woke me up,

so I went to check it out

and there was this ghost lady,

all crazy and covered in blood,

and she was standing right in front of me.

She was only there for a couple of seconds,

and then she disappeared.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Nick, I mean it. I'm afraid to go home.

(creature shrieking)

- Max?

Shh. Can't you hear it?

It's the noise from last night.

Max, be careful. Ah, man.

(birds chirping) (soft dramatic music)

(chair creaking)

(insects chittering)

(mug tapping)

Max. Max.

This isn't funny. I'm

gonna leave you out here.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(footsteps pattering)

(birds chirping)

(chickens clucking)

(wings flapping)

(plate tapping) (utensils clinking)

(mug tapping)

(chair creaking)

(crows cawing)

How are you, Rose?

I'm okay.

(crows cawing)

Hmm. Are you gonna ask me how I am?

How are you, Michael?

I've been better. (Plate scraping)

I feel bad about the lost

time we've had, Rose.

We didn't even really get much of a chance

for us to be great together.

It's okay. I forgive you.

Do you think you could ever forgive me?

(crows cawing)

- Hmm.

You sound so clear. Are you feeling better?

I feel a lot better, like a new man.

I bet it was really difficult taking care

of this place without me.

(crows cawing)

Hmm, I was able to manage.

Did you think of me

often while I was gone?

- More than you know.

- Oh, yeah

For a while I didn't, I

couldn't, but then (exhales)

The feelings just started rushing back.

(crows cawing)

I could hear you calling me.

I didn't know it was you at first,

but something inside me told me,

it just had to be.

(creature shrieking)

(Rose gasping)

(creature growling)

(creature growling)

(Rose panting)

(suspenseful electronic

music) (Max huffing)

(Max growling)

(footsteps pattering)

(door clicks and creaks) (Rose whimpering)

(suspenseful electronic music continues)

(object clattering)

(door creaks and slams)

(shotgun clacking) You're not him!

(gasps) You're not him!

Were you gonna try to

k*ll me with my own g*n?

(sobbing) You're not him!

You're not, you're not him.

(Rachel whimpering)

I'm sorry. (Michael growling)

I'm sorry.

(Rachel gasping)

(Michael blowing) (breath whooshing)

(Rachel whimpering)

You can't be saved. It's my fault.

(Michael growling) (Rose gasping)

(intense electronic music)

(shotgun whacking)

(eerie electronic music)

(insects chittering)

(water dripping)

(soft dramatic music)

(insects chittering)

(eerie electronic music)

(match striking)

(fire crackling)

(tense electronic music)

(fire roaring)

(intense electronic music)

(Randy sighing)

(keypad beeping)

[Rachel] Hey, Randy, it's Rachel.

Johnny's wife.

(inhales) Johnny didn't

come home last night,

and I was just hoping that maybe

he comes into work this morning.

(inhales) Please call me back.

(traffic whirring)

(door clicks and creaks)

Hey, heads up. Listen,

has anybody seen Johnny?

His wife called, she's worried about him,

wondering where he's at.

Nobody's seen Johnny?

Marty, what's up? Where's Johnny at?

- Probably just running late.

- Come on, man.

You gotta tell me, uh,

you guys get in trouble?

You go somewhere last night? You're sure?

Yeah.

I mean, I told you what I know.

We got a drink. I left, he left.

That's it.

He didn't run into anybody or...?

I don't know, ah, mm,

he was caught up with

that girl at the leak job.

- What girl?

- Ah, the leak job, ah.

Oh, yeah. The job I sent him to?

- Yep, that job.

- Ah, um, Rose.

- Yeah.

- Okay, I'll tell you what.

Put that down. Hop in the truck.

We're going out there right now.

What the f*ck?

- sh*t.

- Come on, let's go.

(birds chirping) (engine humming)

(truck doors click and thud)

Hey, wait, look, Randy.

This lady's weird.

I'm not really sure I

can go in there with you.

Come on.

(chimes jingling)

(Randy knocking)

(door creaking)

(Randy knocking) (door creaking)

Hello? Ma'am?

Ma'am? Rose?

(plant rustling and roaring)

(plant growling)

(soft dramatic music)

(soft dramatic music continues)