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This Tempting Madness (2025)

Pop Goes the Weasel?! Thriller & Mystery Movie Collection.
(Psychological/Film Noir/Mystery/etc.)

Moderators: Maskath3, sidolanters, GabrielAlejo2341

This Tempting Madness (2025)

Post by bunniefuu »

[ominous music playing]



[indistinct voices whispering]

[Mia] Our minds are so fragile.

We think, because we can see

and touch the world around us,

that we're in control.

But that control is

so easily taken away.

No!

[screaming]

[soft breathing]

[heart monitor beeping steadily]

-[muffled, urgent chatter]

-[Mia groans]

[echoing] Mia?

Mia, can you hear me?

-Okay.

-[TV reporter] ...as it is still

under investigation...

[Raj] Don't let her hear.

Shut that off.

Mia, you've suffered

a serious brain injury.

Your family's here.

Do you remember them?

[Mia whimpering]

Oh, see, that's her.

She's in there.

Ajay, come talk to your sister.

[chuckles] Always got to be

the center of attention, huh?

You look like sh*t.

[Mia straining weakly]

I know. I'm sorry.

[somber music playing]

[medical alarm beeping]

[doctor] We need to get her

back into surgery.

-[muffled, urgent chatter]

-[clattering]

[Mia straining weakly]

-[whooshing]

-[chatter stops]

[birds chirping]

[gentle music playing]

[faintly] "When he tried to fly,

the little bird

realized his wings..."



[chuckles]

[laughs]

I think...

"So he decided..."

"And he flew away."



[laughing]

You my little bird?

[laughing]



[door slides open]

[Ajay] Hey.

-You woke up.

-[straining weakly]

How you feeling?

[strained mumbling]

Here.

Just-- just write it down, okay?

[straining weakly]

You, uh... you fell.

And they've got you on

a whole lot of meds,

which I'm kind of

jealous of, but...

She's fine.

She's fine. She's with Mom.

[pained grunt]

[sentimental music playing]

-[Mia laughs]

-We're gonna make it.

We're gonna make it.

Mia. Come on.

Ow. [chuckles]

-Whoa.

-Ow.

-Are you all right?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

No, I'm...

-Oh, these heels.

-Yeah.

-I was telling you about these.

-[laughing]

Uh, I don't know.

-Are you gonna be all right?

-Yeah.

-Gonna make it? Yeah? Come on.

-Yeah. [laughs]

How about I give you a lift?

You're beautiful

just the way you are.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Seriously?

-Oh, definitely.

-[laughing]

-[train rumbling]

Well, now is your chance

to get rid of me.

-[horn honks]

-[gasps]

[horn blaring]

[laughing]

-Your face.

-[laughing]

-[grunts]

-[metal wire snaps]

-[gasps]

-[tool clinks]

[exhales slowly]

[groans]

-[Dr. Cunningham] All right.

-[wire snaps]

-[pained moaning]

-You'll need root canals

-on at least nine teeth.

-[sobbing]

But we won't be able

to do the procedure

until you can open your mouth

wide enough

for us to get in there.

I need you to stretch it daily.

But remember,

you got a lot of screws

holding your jaw together,

so be careful

how much you push it.

[breathes deeply]

[ominous music playing]

[metal wires grinding]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[metal wire snaps]



[grunting softly]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[Ajay muffled] Mia?

[Colton muffled] Hey.

Mia?

Hey, come back to us.

[P.A. beeps]

-Is she okay?

-[gasps]

[clearly] Whoa. Hey.

-Just breathe. Okay.

-Who are you?

Just br--

This is Detective Colton.

Remember?

He just wants to talk a little

bit about what happened.

Sorry, she's having trouble

with her short-term memory.

[Colton] What are you drawing?

This is a lot to process

for her right now.

I'll come back

when she's rested.

[hospital phone ringing outside]

[Ajay] I'll be right back, okay?

Doctors are telling me

this can happen after trauma.

How much you tell her?

[Ajay] Not much. You saw her.

[Colton] So, what happened

in there?

[Ajay] I don't know.

It's like

she's a different person.

[hushed, indistinct chatter]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[Jake] Twinkle, twinkle,

little star

how I wonder what you are

Come on. Let's find Mom.

-Hey.

-Mia?

Jake.

-Jake, I'm here.

-[lights thumping]

Oh, wait.

-Jake, wait! Jake, I'm here!

-[Aurora crying]

Jake! Jake!

[Aurora continues crying]

[softly] I'm here.

[Raj] Hey. Hey.

It's okay. Hey.

You give Mama a big huggy?

Yeah?

And... oh, did you see...

did you... did...

-Give Mama a hug?

-Come on.

Yeah?

Hey.

-Hey.

-Ma-ma.

Hey.

Aw.

Look at you.

Ma.

-Owie.

-Yeah, it hurts.

-Ma.

-I'm okay.

I missed you.

[Aurora] Ma.

Where's your dada?

You need to get some rest.

-I mean, you're both so tired.

-Okay.

-Come here.

-Yeah?

-I will take her.

-Huh? We go?

All right.

[Lakshmi] Say bye.

-Say bye-bye.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye.

[Lakshmi] Thank you all

for coming.

Yes. Thank you.

-You feel okay?

-Yes.

[Ajay] Bye, Mom.

Bye.

[pensive music playing]

Well, you're stuck with me now.

[groans] Oh.

[Mia gasps]

[cell phone rings]

-[phone beeps]

-Hey.

I was just thinking about you.

-[nurse] She's coming out.

-[doctor] It's too soon.

Put her back under.

[Ajay] Hey, guys.

-See you soon, okay?

-[boy over phone] Bye, Daddy.

All right, go to sleep.

Good night.

-I love you, buddy.

-Okay.

[Gemma over phone] Okay.

Let's go.

Hold on, G. Uh, just...

Just say hi to Mia.

Hey, Mia.

How are you doing?

I'm fine.

Must have been good

to see Aurora today, huh?

What do you mean?

Ajay said she was gonna

come in today.

Where's Aurora?

W-- With Mom and Dad.

-They--

-Why are you hiding her from me?

Where's Aurora?

I need to see my baby.

Mia, she was just here.

No, no, she wasn't.

-I-- I promise she just left.

-No. Why--

-L-- Let me call you back, okay?

-[phone beeps]

Stop lying to me.

-Why is everyone lying to me?

-Hey, hey, listen to me.

No. Where's Jake? Where's Jake?

That does not matter

right now, okay?

-He needs me.

-Okay.

I'm gonna call the nurse

and get you

some more pain meds, okay?

[dramatic music playing]

[Jake] Mia,

they're lying to you!

-No!

-[medical alarm beeping]

-[objects crashing]

-Don't let them destroy us!

[doctor] Put her back under.

[Jake] No! No, no! Mia!

No! Mia!



[indistinct voices whispering]

-[Mia] No.

-[whispering stops abruptly]

[Ajay] Mia, it's okay.

Mia, it's okay.

It's okay.

Where were you just now?

Where's Jake?

They took him, the police.

-The police, they took him.

-Mia.

Just relax, okay?

No, no. You stay back.

-No. No, stay back.

-Just-- Mia?

-You stay back.

-Why do you think they took him?

Why would the police take him?

Huh?

You remember the airport?

You remember the safety net

you landed in?

How do you think you got there?

[grunts softly]

Jake.

[somber music playing]

[grunts softly]

It was Jake.

-[groaning]

-[softly] It's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's fine.

You're fine.



None of it makes sense.

I was safe with him.

[sniffles, pants]

Our minds are fragile.

They get sick

just like our bodies.

You said yourself that he had

become incredibly anxious.

And if it goes unchecked,

it has a profound impact

on the body

and especially on the mind.

[softly] No.

That can't be Jake.

He's not like that.

Oh, no, no, no, beta,

let me tell you.

It is impossible

to know the mind

of someone who does not

know it well himself.

I want to talk to him.

[sighs]

I've kept these from you.

I'm sorry.

Be careful.

[pensive music playing]

[Jake] Mia,

it's been eight days now.

They won't even tell me

if you're okay,

but I know how strong you are.

It's been over two weeks.

I just want to hear your voice.

Ever since they took me away,

they've been feeding me lies,

telling me things I didn't do.

Nothing makes sense.

All I remember is

waking up in that net,

and there you were,

a broken bird.

Even if I never hold your hand

again or rock Aurora to sleep,

somehow I know

you haven't given up on me.

You're my light.

Without you,

everything is empty and dark.

[Mia sobbing]



[Lakshmi] Go to sleep now, beta.

Hmm? Enough.

It wasn't him.

They need to know.

Has he been violent or a*usive

with you before this?

No, absolutely not.

Nothing like that.

-Nothing.

-What about verbally?

He have a temper?

I mean, we fought, but...

nothing out of the ordinary.

Uh, he was usually very calm.

Calm?

Calm would imply that he had

some sort of personality

to begin with.

-Ajay.

-This guy was more of a chair.

Functional but inert.

Ajay, stop.

[Mia] Okay, is it possible that

you might have the wrong person?

Or maybe it was an accident,

'cause Jake, he is not--

Any new changes, stresses?

[sighs]

[Mia] He was between jobs.

We just moved from New York.

He was an actuary.

-[Colton] An actuary?

-[Mia] Mm-hmm.

Insurance.

He calculated the value

of human life.

[Mia] Yeah,

it's a really tough job.

You have to be super smart,

but his heart wasn't in it,

so we decided to move to L.A.

to explore new opportunities.

And we have a house here

that we barely use,

-so it made sense.

-Yeah. Yeah.

-So he quit?

-Mm-hmm.

-It-- it wasn't the right fit.

-[Lakshmi] Mm-hmm.

How so?

There was a lot of stress.

[Mia] Yeah.

He was very stressed.

He was very stressed, and, um...

[mysterious music playing]

He was anxious.

[sighs]

Did you tell them

what happened with my job?

He was having issues

with coworkers.

What kind of issues?

Promise you won't tell Ajay

about any of it.

[sighs]

I'm sorry.

What about that night?

What were you doing?

The wedding.

[laughter, chatter]

Yeah.

Yeah. It was

my cousin Cami's wedding.

We were-- we were going

to my cousin Cami's wedding.

How'd you end up at the airport?

I don't know.

[Colton] Were you having issues?

Ajay, tell him.

Tell him.

Tell him Jake couldn't do

something like this.

You were the only two people

on that balcony.

[suspenseful music playing]

How do you know that?

You haven't shown her?

f*ck.

You have footage?

-Show me.

-No, Mia. You don't want--

-Show me. Show me.

-Mia.

[typing]

[no audio]

[indistinct voices whispering]

-[Raj] Enough.

-No. No, no, no.

It's clear enough what happened.

I want to see the rest of it.

The other camera was blocked.

That's why your testimony

will be so important for us.

This is an accident.

This has to be an accident.

There's only two ways

that you went over that rail.

Hey, she is fine.

[Lakshmi] Yes, she is fine.

[Raj] Have your doctors

evaluated him?

Because his mind

must be diseased.

[Jake] I don't know

any of these people.

It's fine.

It's just an introduction.

[laughs]

Bullshit.

Not with your family.

This is why we came here.

This is what we wanted.

Did you tell them

what happened with my job?

Of course not.

Promise you won't tell Ajay

about any of it.

Hey. Promise.

Fine.

-[object clatters outside]

-[distant chatter]

Um, there are people

right outside.

[laughs] I know.

[sighs]

[pensive music playing]

[vibrator buzzing]

[helicopter whirring]

[Lakshmi] Beta, why don't you

stay with Ajay instead?

He has plenty of room.

Don't you, Ajay?

[Mia] I just need some space

to myself, Mom.

[Lakshmi] Hold on, Ajay.

Please get her crutches.

She's strong.

Let her walk a little.

I'll keep an eye on her.

[Lakshmi] There, beta.

Thanks, Dad.

[Raj] I'm sorry I have to

take off again so soon.

[Mia] Yeah. I know.

[keypad beeping]

-[security system chimes]

-[door opens]

[door closes]

[somber music playing]

Mia.

It's time to move on, beti.

He doesn't deserve

any more from you.

How do you know that?

[sighs]

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-I'll be right back.

-Okay.

[sighs]



[lively chatter]

[Mia] I had the strangest dream

last night.

[Ajay] Oh, God.

-Please tell me I was not in it.

-No.

-No, no, no. Don't worry.

-Seriously, guys,

you do not want to ever be

in her dreams.

The kind of demented sh*t

she imagines, it's--

We're talking about this dream

that I had last night.

It was funny.

Okay, maybe it was

slightly demented.

[laughter]

I was at this lavish feast.

It was, like, properly medieval.

And these waiters

come in carrying

this massive

gold serving platter.

And they place it

in front of me,

and when they open the lid,

guess what's inside.

-Mm-mm. Nope. Too scared. No.

-[Gemma] What?

It was

my wonderful husband Jake.

-[man] No.

-Oh, yeah.

[laughter]

Marinated in the most fragrant

herbs and spices,

roasted slowly to perfection.

You sure it was a dream?

Must have gone to bed hungry.

[Raj laughs] Hey.

-The boss needs you.

-Oh. Oh.

[laughing]

-Take that. Thank you.

-Of course.

She shouldn't be having

so much sugar.

It's a party.

Hey, man, bummer things didn't

work out in New York,

but now that you're moving on,

I should get you plugged in.

Mia said you had some ideas

for some automation products.

-You got anything to help--

-[softly] Ajay.

Stop.

[Ajay] I'm gonna get

another beer.

Uh, you guys want one?

-[Jake] No, thank you.

-Okay.

-[Mia] Dad?

-[Raj] Hmm?

I think this one needs

to get washed up.

-[Raj chuckles] Of course.

-[Mia] Thank you.

-Come here.

-There you go. Good job.

[Raj chuckles playfully]

What did you tell him?

Nothing.

He's just trying to help.

[overlapping chatter

and laughter]

[chatter stops abruptly]

I need you to listen.

Please.

-[water dripping]

-[gasps softly]

[water dripping]

[haunting music playing]

[Lakshmi] Mia.

What is it, beti?

Hmm?

[whirring loudly]

[whirring continues]

[mysterious music playing]

[blender whirring]

[helicopter whirring]

-Hey.

-[lively chatter in distance]

[softly] Hey. Hey.

What's wrong?

That helicopter's been

circling for hours.

I'm sorry about Ajay.

I told him

you weren't interested.

He was just trying to help.

Where's your phone?

Is it off?

I don't know.

Uh, it's in the bedroom.

Well, can we go make sure?

I think they may be using it

to listen in.

-No, no one is listening.

-But you don't know that.

If you didn't tell Ajay

about my ideas,

then he must have heard it

from someone else.

What else did you tell him?

Did you tell him about New York?

They could still be tracking us.

Hey.

We moved across country

to get away from whatever

may be happening at your office.

I think maybe what happened

is for the best.

You can finally move on.

Live the life you always wanted.

Move on.

We can live the life

we always dreamed about.

Yeah. I know.

Maybe I need to talk to someone.

[helicopter whirring]

Talk to me.

[whirring fades]

[somber music playing]

-How's the knee?

-Held together by barbed wire,

but I can walk on it, so...

It's not always easy

talking about this stuff

in front of family.

Oh, we're pretty open

with each other.

Even about Jake?

Yeah, mostly.

Well, that's interesting.

So they know he was fired

from his job in New York?

No, not really. I...

guess I wasn't as open

about that stuff, for his sake.

Okay, so you're open

with your family,

just not about the things

that might make Jake look bad.

I was just trying

to protect him.

Did you try to get him

to talk with someone?

You said that he was, uh,

stressed, acting a little off?

I thought I could handle it.

Oh, so it wasn't that bad.

Wait. He's sick.

Isn't that obvious?

Why are you so convinced?

I'm sorry. I have to go.

Listen, Mia.

What? What do you want?

I know you remember

more than you're letting on.

If you testify, Jake faces

a steep mandatory minimum.

But if he can prove that

he was temporarily insane,

didn't know the consequences

of his actions,

he gets out with

a couple therapy sessions,

a handful of happy pills

and is given another chance

to finish what he started.

It is not like that.

You're the only person who can

stop him from doing this again.

To you...

or maybe even someone else.

[mysterious music playing]

[Dr. Cunningham] Okay, just open

wide enough to get this in.

-[Mia inhales deeply]

-Mm-hmm. Great.

Just try to breathe.

Take deep breaths.

[pained groaning]

Okay, now hold on.

[pained groaning]

[yelling]

[muffled shout]

[discordant music playing]

[birds chirping]

[Mia] They told me

not to write back, but I had to.

Since the coma, I get less than

three hours of sleep

every night,

I have three nails in my knee,

37 screws

holding my jaw together,

and half the time,

my mind is in a blank.

Everyone has told me

what happened, except for you.

[pensive music playing]

I just want to know what's real.

I saw your messages from before.

I'm sorry

I didn't listen to you then,

but I promise I'm listening now.

I keep thinking about us,

our little family.

Please keep writing.

I love you.

[indistinct voices whispering]

[ominous music playing]

[Mia] What's wrong?

[Jake] That helicopter's been

circling for hours.

They may be using it

to listen in.

[Mia] No, no,

no one is listening.

Yeah. I know.

Maybe I should talk to somebody.

Talk to me.

[helicopter whirring]

[distorted horn blaring]

[Jake] There's something wrong.

We shouldn't be here.

-[engine revving]

-[horn blaring]

[Ajay] Mia!

-Watch out!

-[tires squealing]

What the f*ck are you doing?

[horn blares]

How'd you get down here?

[panting]

I don't know.

I don't know.

[whimpering]

[Ajay whispering] I don't care

what she thinks.

She needs to go to therapy.

I can't recognize her

half the time.

You've seen it.

Dr. Fleisher thinks it's

some sort of coping mechanism.

[Lakshmi] Let me talk to her.

[Mia whispering] I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I would never do that to Aurora.

Never.

We know.

I don't remember.

It felt blank.

Like an empty space.

You're not yourself

right now, hmm?

Maybe someone else needs

to take care of Aurora for now.

Ajay offered.

Just until you feel better.

Hi, baby.

Come, come, come, come, come.

Come here.

-Baby, come.

-Mommy.

Have patience.

Let yourself heal.

Come.

[somber music playing]

[panting softly]

[family attorney] This ensures

full custody.

And no visitation

without your permission.

I would also encourage

filing a petition

to change the child's surname.

[sighs softly]

[Ajay] Mia?

You should have told me

we were coming here.

Can you give us

a couple of minutes, please?

Look, Mia.

This is to protect you

and, more importantly, Aurora.

But he's going to get better.

Does that really matter?

How do you know

he's not just gonna--

He's sick.

And he didn't get

the help he needed.

And when are you gonna get

the help you need?

I'm not the one who's sick.

What do you call the suicide

run in the street last night?

Ajay.

That's different.

I just need time to heal.

[Ajay] Take your time.

This lets you set the terms

for the future.

[pensive music playing]

-[crickets chirping]

-[dog barking in distance]

[breathes deeply]

[distorted grunt]

[distorted grunting]

-[joint cracks]

-[groans]

[distorted grunting]

[gasps]

[grunts]

[muffled grunting]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[dramatic music playing]

-[gasping]

-[whispering stops abruptly]

[Lakshmi] I know

that the doctor said

that swimming is good

for your rehab,

but you need to be careful

about your scar,

or it will keep opening up.

There was something in there.

Beta?

You're pushing yourself

too hard.

I should've talked to him first.

"In sickness and in health."

You heard it. Everyone did.

You know,

I spoke to Maa Usha today.

She knew everything.

Before I said anything.

Yeah, she has the Internet

like everyone else.

No, no, it wasn't like that.

She saw a storm,

a tornado with wind and rain

swirling around and around.

And she saw you both--

you and Jake--

hundreds of you, old and young,

k*lling each other

again and again and again.

The cycle has to come to an end.

[somber music playing]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[Mia grunting]

-[Ajay] Mia!

-[knocking on door]

[knocking continues]

[inhales sharply]

-[sighs]

-[knocking continues]

Mia. Mia.

[knocking continues]

Mia. Come on, it's noon.

Mia?

[drawer closes]

[grunts softly]

[door closes]

Mia?

[door opens]

Mia?

Hey.

Can't a girl pee

without company?

[sighs] Jake refused

to sign the divorce.

I tried everything.

You're gonna have to

write him a letter

or convince him somehow,

'cause otherwise,

the custody is just gonna be

messy with Aurora.

It's for the best, Mia.

For whom?

For everyone.

What are the visitation hours?

What?

No.

Well, you convince him, then.

[pensive music playing]

[traffic passing]

[door alarm beeps]

[door alarm buzzes]

Mia, let me just come with you.

-[door closes]

-[quiet chatter]

[door alarm beeping]

[door alarm buzzes]

[door opens]

[door closes]

[guard] Hands where

I can see them.

I like your glasses.

I kind of like them better

than your contacts.

Thanks.

How are you?

I'm good.

The doctor says

I'm healing well.

That's good.

You look like

you're mostly better.

Well, I can't open my jaw

all the way.

But the therapist says

eventually I would.

How's Aurora?

She's good.

-Do you have any pictures?

-Yeah.

[softly] Yeah.

How are you doing?

Fine.

Gets really hot in here.

Makes it hard to sleep.

I see the psychiatrist

every week.

They have me

on some medication, and...

feeling better.

Not as, uh...

Not as paranoid.

Ajay wants me

to see someone, too.

Yeah?

Yeah, I guess I'm different now.

[somber music playing]

Can you tell me what happened?

I don't know.

It's hard to explain.

Please try.

This is bullshit.

-What?

-It's just like before.

You write these letters saying

-that you still love me...

-[Mia whispers] No.

...and then I get all these

documents about a divorce?

Is that why you're here?

Is this what you wanted

all along?

None of this is what I wanted.

[indistinct voices whispering]

[haunting music playing]

I just really wanted us

to be a family again.

Then why are you doing this?

It's your family, isn't it?

You tell me

this isn't Ajay's doing,

and I won't say another word.

-[Mia] No!

-[whispering stops abruptly]

There's so much

I can't remember.

I just want you to get better.

That's what we need right now.

But do we have to decide

so soon?

I won't survive in here

without you.

I won't be able to get better.

I want to be there

for you and Aurora.

We can be better together.

I want to be there for you, too.

I have a hearing coming up.

My lawyer says that

it'll help for the judge

to hear about my paranoia from

someone who saw it up close,

that if it goes well,

I'll be released on bail

to get treatment.

That's great.

I want you to get

the treatment you need.

And then, eventually,

we can all be together again.

[pensive music playing]

Don't you think it's strange

that neither of us

can remember what happened?

Why is your brother so set

on pulling us apart?

What is he hiding from you?

What if there's more going on?

I get it, I'm not what

your family wanted for you,

but this is all too much.

We need to figure out

what is going on together.

[door alarm beeping]

[door alarm buzzes]

I'll sign the papers

if that's what you want.

I love you.

[door opens]

[sighs softly]

[ominous music playing]

Well?

He looked so lost.

What'd he say?

They put him on medication,

but I don't think

the doctors are doing enough.

He has a mental evaluation

hearing next week.

He wants me to testify.

Wait. What?

He's not always been like this.

Mia, he's always been pliable.

That's obviously

why you liked him.

You make it sound so awful.

Well, he was into it,

so that's on him.

Maybe I did do this.

Maybe I pushed him into it.

-Mia, listen to me. Mia. Mia.

-I pushed him into it.

I knew he was paranoid,

and I didn't get him

-the help that he needed.

-Listen to me. Listen to me.

-This is not your fault.

-You don't understand.

Two days before the airport,

he texted me, saying,

"I think I'm losing my grip."

And guess how I responded.

I didn't.

Mia, everybody thinks

they're going crazy at times.

There's no way

you could've known.

But this wasn't the first time

he asked me for help.

Look, I know you feel guilty,

but this is not gonna

change the past.

Crazy or not, that guy deserves

to be held accountable.

Did he at least sign?

Why are you so anxious

for this divorce?

What the f*ck is he saying

to you in there?

What no one else

is willing to say.

Can you not see that he's just

using you to get what he wants?

And you're not?

The guy is a pathetic coward,

and he's turned you into this

sad, desperate type of woman

who's making excuses for why

she deserves to be m*rder*d.

You make it sound like

I don't know what happened.

-Do you know what happened?

-Yes, every time I take a step,

every time I open my mouth,

every time I look

at my own daughter,

every time I wake up

in the morning alone.

I'm going to testify

at his hearing.

Do what you like.

You always have.

[mysterious music playing]

[siren wailing in distance]

[Counselor Evans] And did you

observe an increase in this type

of paranoid behavior before

you decided to move out here?

Yes.

Uh, he was worried about Aurora.

Your daughter?

Yes.

[Counselor Evans] What was

he worried about?

[Mia] Whenever she cried,

he would get really anxious

that something was wrong.

He thought she was only safe

if he was holding her.

Did you see paranoia manifest

in ways unrelated

to your daughter?

He thought his coworkers...

[sighs]

were spying on him.

[Counselor Evans] Spying

on him how?

He was convinced that certain

keywords in office emails

were coded derogatory references

about him.

They had a way of using coughs

to send messages to each other

behind his back,

to make fun of him,

to undermine him.

What other ways did he feel

like he was being monitored?

He kept talking about

how someone was

monitoring our calls.

We went to Boston one weekend,

and he didn't want me

to use my phone.

So, if I wanted to make a call,

I would have to hide

in the bathroom from him

because he was so convinced

that his colleagues

were listening

and were gonna use what I said

against him.

[somber music playing]

Although I have

my personal reservations,

I feel compelled

by the preliminary diagnosis

of paranoid schizophrenia by

the state's psychological team

and the testimony

presented here today.

I will grant the defense's

motion to release the defendant

on supervised bail

to receive treatment

-while awaiting trial.

-[gavel bangs]

[voice fading] Turning now

to scheduling matters.

I want all motions to dismiss

filed by next Friday.

Any response will be due

five days after they are served.

[voice fades]

[mysterious music playing]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[sharp, rhythmic clicking]

[soft rustling]

[sharp, rhythmic clicking]

[kids chattering playfully]

[Gemma] How are you holding up?

[Mia] I'm okay,

but I can't get over

how quiet the house is

without her.

Enjoy it.

Our house, it's like the volume

is always at ten.

I-- I really hope

she's not making it worse.

-Really.

-She is great.

Yeah.

Thank you.

[sighs]

Before all of this, did you...

did you like him?

Did you like us together?

You don't have to be nice.

I just need to know.

There's the Ajay and me

that you see,

the one that our kids see,

that your parents see,

and that we see.

Which one is the most real?

[bars clinking]

Boys.

You know the rules about sticks.

Nope, nope, nope.

We're not playing

-with these right now.

-[phone vibrates]

Remember what happened

last time?

[indistinct chatter]

[suspenseful music playing]

...so badly.

I don't want that

to happen, okay?

[indistinct chatter]



[kids screaming playfully,

laughing]

[playful scream]

[playful scream, laughter]

[playful chatter]

[playful screaming]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[whispering stops abruptly]

[panting]

[Mia] Okay,

it's time for us to go.

[Gemma] Is everything okay?

Uh, I realized I forgot

a-- a dentist appointment.

-Okay. Good girl.

-Let's go.

Come on, guys. We got to go.



[elevator bell dings]

-[office phone ringing]

-[quiet chatter]

Mia.

Hi. I'm-- I'm sorry.

There wa-- there was no one

at the front.

-What are you doing here?

-I'm just wondering, is Jake

fully aware of the terms

of his release?

He's wearing a bracelet.

It's a pretty good reminder.

But is he doing okay?

Is he going to therapy?

He's been meeting with

a state psychiatrist weekly.

But from my experience,

that's more of a formality.

Did something happen?

No, I-- I was just wondering...

Well, I don't want him

to get in any more trouble.

We haven't been notified

of any issues.

Maybe I could help.

I-- I could pay for him

to have extra time

with the doctor.

I don't think

it's a matter of resources.

But he's not getting

the help he needs.

Did you talk to him?

Have you seen him

since his release?

No, I haven't. I'm s--

I am so sorry. I-- I real--

I shouldn't have come here.

[mysterious music playing]

[Samantha] Mia.

My boss thought it'd be good

if your husband

kept a journal

while he was in prison

to show his troubled mental

state, but when we got it back

and saw what was

in the journal, he buried it.

Why are you doing this?

You deserve to know.

Please don't tell anyone

where you got it.

[pensive music playing]

[Jake] I'm still in danger.

Not sure if Mia was

planning all this.

I'm probably gonna be here

until the trial begins.

[guard] Twenty-seven B!

[Jake] It's possible

Mia can drop the charges.

I've held out hope for this,

but every day,

it seems less likely.

I'm sure she's behind

most of the sh*t from last year,

telling me all that stuff

at work was just in my head.

I'm still sorting out

what happened at the airport,

my arrest, the last week or two

at the prison infirmary.

The drugs.

The drugs. The drugs.

There were those f*cking coughs.

[man coughing]

-At work, the airport and here.

-[man coughing]

What the f*ck?

I need her forgiveness

to get out of here,

but seriously,

f*ck that manipulative b*tch.

Oh, I wish she had died

in that f*cking net!



[no audio]

[sobs]

f*ck her and Ajay and all their

f*cking pretentious friends.

Coming to L.A. was

one big clusterfuck.

She arranged humiliation

after humiliation.

She never cared about

my ambitions.

She just wanted to tease

and f*cking laugh at me.

She says she loves me and wants

our little family back,

but it's all bullshit.

The only thing she has

ever wanted was to own me.

[metal wires grinding]

[breathes deeply]

[metal wires grinding]

-[engine starts]

-[Raj] Let's go. Let's go.

-See you there, Gemma.

-[vehicle doors closing]

Hey, come on, folks. Here we go.

The party's

just getting started.

[indistinct chatter]

[vehicles departing]

Where's Jake?

Hey. Have you seen Jake?

No, I haven't.

[sighs] Okay, uh,

Aurora's in the car.

-I-- I'll see you there.

-Okay, I'll go.

[glass shatters in distance]

[clattering]

[mysterious music playing]

Jake?

Jake?

-[glass shatters]

-[Jake chuckling]

[sighs]

You know, I don't understand

why you pay so much

for this sh*t.

-All tastes the same to me.

-[bottle shatters]

What the f*ck are you doing?

It's time to go.

[wry chuckle]

Look.

They're eating each other.

Just like us.

Jake!

What are you...

I know life is

stressful right now,

but you have to

hold it together.

It is time for us to go,

so let's just go and have

some fun, like we used to.

[scoffs]

Yeah. Fun.

[Raj] Mia, are you down there?

Everyone is waiting.

Yeah, Dad. Uh...

Jake is... he's feeling

a little sick to his stomach,

and, um, he just needs, uh...

he needs a few minutes

to clear out his system.

Uh-huh.

-Everything okay?

-Yeah, yeah,

we'll meet you down there.

Just g-- go ahead without us.

We're fine, Dad.

[footsteps departing]

[pensive music playing]

Do you have any idea

how embarrassing it is

to have to keep

making excuses for you?

To keep propping you up

so you get another chance,

and then to watch

while somehow you even manage

to f*ck that up?

You're pathetic.

You really think

this is so easy?

I don't care.

We are leaving in five minutes.

-f*cking get your sh*t together.

-No.

We're not going anywhere.

-[indistinct voices whispering]

-[hissing]

[panting]

[whispering and hissing

continue]

-[distorted screaming]

-[choking]

Jake!

Mia. Stop. Mia.

-Get off me!

-[gasps]

[whispering and hissing stop]

Mia.

Mom.

This house has so many ghosts.

Was I too hard on him?

You have never had any problem

speaking your mind.

But what's wrong with that?

Is it possible that he needed

a softer hand?

Encouragement instead of rebuke?

Why should I have to

become that for him?

'Cause that is

the nature of marriage.

No.

Why should I have to always

forgive his failings?

It's weak.

Forgiveness is not weak.

The only thing forgiveness

has brought me is suffering.

Not all suffering is bad.

Stop, stop, stop making excuses.

That is all you have ever done.

Look at me.

I'm broken here.

Because of you.

I was with him because I felt

like I had no other choice,

like I had some role to play.

-Mia.

-And I stayed with him

because you made me soft.

But I am not you.

[ominous music playing]

Okay.

[Mia whispers] No.

[indistinct voices murmuring]

Okay.

[Mia whispers] Don't.

Just wanted to tease and...

-[gasps]

-[indistinct voices murmuring]

[shouting]

[panting]

No.

[indistinct voices murmuring]

No!

[murmuring fades]

[Jake] I am leaving.

I want a divorce.

What are you talking about?

Where are you hiding my wallet?

It's on the dresser,

where it always is.

I'm going back to New York.

[wry chuckle]

[phone vibrates]



[screams]

[panting]

[security system chimes]

[thump in distance]

[pensive music playing]

[soft thump in distance]

Mom?

[vehicle approaching]



[panting softly]



[security system chimes]

[lock clicks]

[dog barking in distance]

[object creaks, clatters]



-[knife clattering]

-[gasps]

[panting softly]

[door slides open]

[door slides closed]

[grunts softly]

[panting]

[gasps]

[keypad beeping]

[security system chimes]

[thump in distance]

[thump in distance]

[panting]

-[footsteps in distance]

-[gasps]

[exhales sharply]

[panting]

[suspenseful music playing]

[light switch clicks]

[footsteps approaching]

[Jake] Mia.

Are you okay?

Mia?

[Ajay] Mia?

[sighs]

[sobbing]

-Oh, my God. What did you do?

-[sighs]

I'm okay. It's just my finger.

My finger,

I-- I sliced it on my phone.

-I broke it. It's okay.

-Oh, you scared me.

Put this on.

Mom had me rush over here.

You really scared her.

What happened to your phone?

Jake started texting me.

Please tell me

you haven't seen him again.

I should've listened to you.

[panting]

[indistinct voices whispering]

Piece of sh*t.

We got to go to the police.

[indistinct voices whispering]

[whispering stops abruptly]

-[siren wailing]

-[horns honking]

For your sake, I never saw this.

In the eyes of the court,

if the evidential tree

is tainted,

so is the evidence.

Poisoned tree, poisoned fruit.

Yeah, but now that

you know it exists,

isn't there some other way

to get at it?

Depends on how clever

his lawyer is,

but he's probably already

destroyed the original.

Look, he's been coming around.

Got to be something

you can do, right?

Has he physically

intimidated you?

[Mia] No.

Unless he violates

the terms of his bail,

-there's not much I can do.

-So he has to try

and k*ll her again

before you'll do anything?

I'll send a uniform

to spook him a little.

This is bullshit.

Come on, Mia.

[mysterious music playing]

[sighs heavily]

It is not safe for you

to be in that house.

[engine starts]

[tires squealing]

[dramatic music playing]

I'm not gonna wait for him

to try again.

Ajay, listen to me.

I don't want you to do anything

that's gonna make this worse.

You gonna help me?

He wanted a divorce.

He told me that night.

I know.

You called before the airport.

Why didn't you tell me?

'Cause...

Mia, I don't want

my version of him

or of your life

to become your memories.

There's a lot

I want to tell you.

Wait. Did I say anything else?

You told me

you were going after him,

and I just let you go.

Like you could've stopped me.

[somber music playing]

Mia...

I'm not trying

to tell you how to feel,

but you can't keep

torturing yourself over him.



[objects clinking on floor]

[mysterious music playing]

[sharp, rhythmic clicking]

Come on, Mia.

[indistinct voices whispering]

[metal wires grinding]

[panting slowly]

[indistinct voices

growing louder]

[metal wires grinding]



-[Mia echoing] No!

-[whispering stops abruptly]

[crying]

[gasps softly]

-[tool clinks]

-[Dr. Cunningham] Open.

[Mia exhales slowly]

Yeah.

One of the screws has punctured

through your gums.

Oh.

We have two options.

Can leave the exposed screw

until your jaw is able

to open up enough for surgery,

or we break your jaw again

and reset the screws.

I'll prescribe

some pain medication for now.

Take a little time to decide.

There's no right choice.

[mysterious music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

Beti.

Uh, I know

the prospect of starting

the healing over again

is difficult,

but we cannot leave

those screws exposed.

No, no more surgeries.

This is not the time

to be stubborn.

Oh, really?

Mia, come on.

I have to be okay with getting

my f*cking jaw broken again?

[laughter nearby]

[Jake laughing]

[Jake] Your face.

[indistinct voices whispering]

-[Mia] No.

-[Jake] I just want

to hear your voice.

Even if I never

hold your hand...

[indistinct voices whispering]

Hey!

[indistinct, distorted shouting]

You okay? Are you okay?

Oh, I'm perfect.

Mia...

we have given you

the space to heal,

we all suffered with you,

but this...

this is childish, and more

importantly, it is selfish.

[panting sharply]

[lights thumping]

[sharp, rhythmic clicking]

[mysterious music playing]

[soft rustling]

[Jake pleading] Mia.

Please.

[screaming]

[gasping]

[gasps]

[sighs]

[groans softly]

[mysterious music playing]

[panting]

[knocking on door]

No.

[knocking continues]

Yeah?

Detective Colton is here.

Okay.

[door closes]

[indistinct, hushed chatter]

[whispers] You understand that?

[indistinct, hushed chatter

continues]

[Mia] Hey.

What's going on?

Your ex went off the grid

last night.

The bracelet went offline.

-Have you seen him?

-No.

GPS had him near your place

before he went AWOL.

You know this is on you, right?

You saw the f*cking diary.

What else did you think

was gonna happen?

Matter of fact, you know what?

We're f*cking done with you.

Get the f*ck out.

-Get the f*ck out.

-[Mia] I-- I...

I'm so sorry.

-I'm sorry. I'm--

-No.

He was here all last night?

Yeah, as far as I know.

Don't let him make things worse.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Look, I know you're trying

to help, but this is too far.

What are you talking about?

What did you mean when you said

you weren't gonna wait

for Jake to try again?

I hired a private investigator

to keep an eye on him.

Just to watch him?

Yeah.

Come here.

[mysterious music playing]

Is this Jake's bracelet?

You didn't put this here?

-Mia, why would I do that?

-I don't know.

I thought

you left it here for me.

Okay. Uh...

All I know is

my guy lost him last night,

he saw him get into

some car on Sunset

and drive into the Hills.

[indistinct voices whispering]

[dramatic music playing]

[object clinking]

[ragged panting, grunting]

[indistinct voices whispering]

-[Mia] He came to me.

-[hissing]

He attacked me.

[hissing]

[echoing] He attacked you.

[Jake] Please.

[Jake panting]

Mia. Mia.

Please.

Please. Come on.

No. No.

-Oh, relax.

-[nail g*n clicks]

I only have three nails

in my knee.

[grunting]

Let me out of here!

Oh, you b*tch!

-I'll f*cking--

-[Mia] No!

[indistinct voices whispering]

[muffled] Mia, Mia!

Mia, look at me!

What the f*ck happened to Jake?!

-[clearly] Get the f*ck off me!

-Yeah, there you are!

There you are!

What the f*ck is this?!

Huh? Answer me!

No, no, no. Mia, Mia, Mia,

I need to talk to her, okay?

I need to talk to her, please.

Who? Who do you need to talk to?

[Ajay softly] f*ck.

Ajay?

Ever since the coma,

there have been

other versions of you, Mia.

The doctors told me

this was your way

of dealing with the trauma,

that it was just a coping

mechanism, but this is--

How many?

There's... this version,

and then there's...

...someone much darker.

All rage.

She's the one

that remembers everything.

That it broke her.

[whimpers]

[sniffling]

[somber music playing]

Why didn't you

say anything before?

I did.

But whoever I said it to...

doesn't want you to know.

Where is he, Mia?

Where did she take you?

[breathes deeply]

[suspenseful music playing]



-[Ajay] Did you leave it open?

-[Mia] I don't know.

[door creaking]

[soft rustling]

[footsteps crunching glass]

[sighs]

[mysterious music playing]

Mia, what the f*ck

did you do to him?

[muffled sob]

Oh, my God.

No.

Ajay, I can't.

I need to get out of here.

-Ajay.

-[doorbell rings]

[crashing in distance]

[panting]

[doorbell rings]

I need you to get rid

of whoever that is.

You got this.

[doorbell rings]

[panting]



[panting]

[doorbell rings]

sh*t.

[doorbell rings]

-Detective?

-Can I come in?

Uh, we-- we were just

getting ready to leave.

I can come back

with the marshals if you want.

[security system chimes]

[sighs]

Where's your brother?

-He's just--

-[distant clattering]

[distant grunt]

-[distant crash]

-[distant shout]

No, no, no.

Stay here.

You don't have to do this.

[distant clattering]

[suspenseful music playing]

[Colton] Stop! Police!

[distant clattering]

-[two g*nshots]

-[gasping]

[distant clattering]

[footsteps approaching]

[gurgling]

Oh, my God.

[exhales, grunts]

[panting]

[dramatic music playing]

[gasps]

[grunts]

[jet engine roaring]

[woman over P.A.]

...transportation options,

please proceed to...

[announcement continues

indistinctly]

[indistinct chatter]

[mysterious music playing]

[grunting, panting]

[suspenseful music playing]

[breath trembling]

-[door thumping]

-[grunting softly]

[Jake] This place did always

feel like a prison.



I read your diary.

That's what opened your eyes.

Denial is a beautiful drug,

isn't it?

Don't you feel any shame?

It's been drilled away.

Where are you going?

I'm ready to make up.

-You are really sick.

-Sick?

You made me this way.

You still deserve to pay

for what you did to me.

What I did to you?

You are so full of sh*t.

You were the one who threatened

to take everything from me!

[Mia] I came here to give you

one last chance.

Come back with me

to the wedding.

If you don't, you'll be lucky

to ever see Aurora again.

'Cause I have plenty

to convince a judge

that you are not sound enough

to be a responsible guardian.

All this time,

the voices, the spying...

It was you.

I only ever wanted

the best for you.

[sighs]

[grunts]

[inhales deeply]

I'm done playing your games.

You don't own me.

[grunts]

Don't worry.

I won't let our daughter

turn out like you.

[screaming]

-[grunts]

-[screams]

[Mia] No!

There's the Mia

I saw last night.

I was getting worried

she wasn't gonna show up.

f*ck you! I'll f*cking do it!

This is what you want.

This is what

you've always wanted!

[indistinct voices whispering]

[dramatic music playing]

[hissing]

[Mia echoing] You lied to me.

You don't care.

[grunts weakly]

[screaming]

He came at me.

[Jake] Come on!

[Mia echoing] He attacked me.

Come on!

[Mia] No.

Even if I never

hold your hand...

No. No!

[indistinct voices whispering]

He attacked me.

-[echoing] No!

-[whispering stops abruptly]

[panting]

The cycle needs to end.

No.

I'm not ready.

[dramatic music playing]

Don't.

No! Oh, my God!

No!

What are you doing?!

Jake!

Don't! No, no!

-No!

-[Ajay] Put her down!

[grunting]

[Ajay] I said put her down!

-[Mia] Help me!

-[g*nsh*t]

Put me down! No!

No, let go! Let go of me!

[grunting]

Oh, my God, what are you doing?!

-Jake, no!

-[g*nsh*t]

[screams]

No!

-[g*nsh*t]

-[grunts]



No!

[screaming]

[muffled grunting]



No!

[muffled grunting]

[groans]

[somber music playing]



[no audio]

[gasps]

[pensive music playing]



[Mia] Our minds are so fragile.

After the fall, she carried

the memory I couldn't face.

She screamed for me to listen.

[engine revving]

But now that I know,

that memory is mine.

[Raj] Mia! Are you coming?

[group cheering and clapping]

-Happy birthday!

-Happy birthday!

So strong. Happy birthday, beti.

[woman] Beautiful.

[indistinct chatter]

[Mia] Aurora has started

asking about him.

In those moments,

the delusion is alluring.

But I choose reality.

Even if it doesn't always

feel like it.

[dramatic music playing]

[whispered vocalizations]

[indistinct voices whispering]

[music ends]