At the Place of Ghosts (2025)

[bunniefuu]

[suspenseful tone]

[whooshing]

[birdsong]

[suspenseful tone continues]

[bird calls]

[suspenseful tone continues]

[tone builds]

[jarring high-pitched tone]

[tone fades]

[wind howling]

[low suspenseful tone]

[bell rings]

[background chatter]

[meat sizzling]

[rock music playing]

[rock music continues]

[music becomes distorted]

[Porter Wagoner: "Green, Green Grass of Home" ]

As I step down from the train

And there to meet me is

my mama and papa

And down the road I

look and there runs...

We're closed.

Hair of gold and lips like cherries...

Sir...

You OK?

[raspy voice] Useless!

[whooshing]

[panicked breathing]

[dissonant high-pitched strings]

[siren blaring]

[running water]

[quiet sobbing]

[man] Hey, babe?

- Is something wrong?

- No.

Is everything OK?

No, it's fine. Um...

It's just been a while

since I've been back home.

OK.

Yeah, I mean, I can...

I can take time off and...

maybe finally meet your family.

No, it's... it's all right.

There's just some stuff

I gotta deal with.

On my own.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

I promise.

OK.

I still wanna

meet your brother.

I'd like that too.

[young girl] Hold still.

How do I look?

Pretty.

Where did you put your glasses?

Are you sleeping

with them on again?

You know...

you need these to see...

my beautiful face.

You wanna go wash up?

- OK.

- And get ready?

[receding footsteps]

[low suspenseful tone]

[birdsong outside]

[suspenseful tone builds]

[in Mi'kmaw]

Morning, Auntie.

[in English]

Mind making Gracie's lunch?

Mm.

I'm late.

Can you make sure...

I'll make sure

she gets to school. Clean.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Thank you.

[in English]

Wanna grab a coffee?

[low suspenseful tone]

[indicator clicking]

[slow drumbeat]

[reversing beep of vehicle]

[machinery whirring]

[slow drumbeat continues]

[drumbeat picks up pace]

[loud whirring]

[tone fades]

[takes deep breath]

[TV in background]

[in Mi'kmaw]

Big brother.

Come in.

[in English]

Keep watching that screen and

your eyeballs will fall out.

Who are you?

[in Mi'kmaw]

I'm your relative. Mise'l.

He's your uncle.

[in English] Uncle.

Come say hi.

Hi. I got this for you.

What do you say?

- [in Mi'kmaw] Thank you.

- [in English] Hey.

- Wanna pick out a bedtime story?

- OK.

Remember to brush your teeth,

OK?

[receding footsteps]

[door closes]

- [in Mi'kmaw] Sit.

- [in English] Thank you.

She's huge.

Yeah. Yeah, she is.

Where's Nsukwis Malia'n?

Oh, it's bingo night.

Is, um... Bobby with you?

Barry.

No, it's just me.

So, what brought you

all the way out here?

You OK?

[suspenseful string instrumental]

I saw him.

I stopped by the old house

on the way over.

Whole area is clear-cut.

They're gutting the forest.

If they make it to the cave...

We both swore we'd never...

talk about this.

If he can get to me in the city,

he's already at your backdoor.

We go in there...

we take care of him,

and we can both get back

to our own lives.

No.

No.

It's done.

He's... gone.

We both just...

need to let this go.

[string instrumental builds]

He's not letting

either of us go.

I can't carry it alone.

[instrumental ends]

[in Mi'kmaw]

Holy Mary.

- I must be seeing things.

- Hello, Auntie.

[in English]

Not been home in 20 years.

It hasn't been that long.

Missed five funerals, barely

call or send a text message...

[in Mi'kmaw]

And now you appear just like that.

I'm sorry.

[in English]

Nothing to be afraid of.

We're family.

It's good to see you, kwis.

Even if you are

an ungrateful brat.

[in Mi'kmaw]

If you'd called ahead,

[in English]

I could've cleaned out

the spare room for you.

[in Mi'kmaw]

I'm not staying long.

Dad, can I go and play outside?

You can, but stay

out of the dirt.

[in English] Don't expect me

to go out of my way

to entertain you

while you're here.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Actually, I'm going camping

in the Old Forest.

[phone rings]

[in English] Hello?

No, I told you.

Don't listen to her...

What are you doing?

You know you can't

go in there alone.

Someone has to.

[dog barking in distance]

[Auntie Malia'n] What? No...

[Mise'l] Antle?

[barking continues]

What's she doing?

[barking continues]

[echoed barking]

[dissonant string instrumental]

Grace!

[loud whoosh]

You all right?

You have to aim.

What?

He said you have to aim.

- Go back inside.

- But I want to play out here.

See if you can find that song

on YouTube for me.

[low rattling]

[low suspenseful instrumental]

[Mise'l] You never went back to

the woods after all these years?

[Antle] Did you?

[bird cawing]

[atmospheric instrumental]

[dramatic whoosh]

[birdsong]

[instrumental fades]

[man grunts]

- George?

- Yeah?

You noticed anything different

here lately?

[in Mi'kmaw]

Chief and Counsel were

asking me the same thing.

Have you seen anything?

[Mise'l in English]

We're looking for a cave

deep in the old forest

with petroglyphs

carved into the entrance.

Hm.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Wait here.

Oh, Natalie printed

those off for me.

That's your

great-great-grandfather.

Old Holy Joe,

they called him...

because he wore

a big, hand-carved cross.

The way up here is blocked.

A windstorm knocked down

some trees.

Best to follow the river.

Oof.

I've kept this for you.

A medicine bundle,

for your journey.

Thanks.

[George] The forest

will reveal the rest.

Hm.

Thanks, guys.

[in English] We should go.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Thank you, Elder.

[birdsong]

[in Mi'kmaw]

So, you're a healer now?

[snickers]

- [English] Mess off!

- [chuckles]

Fine. Keep all that sh*t

to yourself, then.

[loud whoosh]

sh*t!

You all right?

Let's get this sh*t over with.

[birdsong]

[cawing in distance]

[slow intriguing instrumental]

[distant animal calls]

[George in Mi'kmaw]

Long ago, before disruption,

the forest was

our first teacher.

It gave us everything

we needed.

The people and the land are

forever related.

When the land is in pain,

so are we.

In difficult times, we return

to the heart of the forest.

We return to learn,

and to be given

what is needed to heal.

[quiet suspenseful instrumental]

[single drum beat]

[intermittent bird calls]

[single drum beat]

[single drum beat]

- [drumbeat stops]

- [distant animal calls]

You got it going.

[suspenseful instrumental]

[instrumental continues]

[rustling]

[instrumental continues]

[birdsong]

[bird hooting]

[low rumbling]

We should stop here.

The faster we get there,

the faster we get back.

[thunder]

- Keep paddling.

- We're stopping!

- Help me find a place to land.

- [sinister music]

Let's find a spot over there.

[Mise'l indistinct]

[muffled] Antle!

[high-pitched discordant strings]

[Antle cries out]

Antle?

[louder] Antle?

[pulsating instrumental]

[breathy] I got you.

[gasping for air]

[low rumbling]

[echoing tone]

- [whooshing]

- [sharp intake of breath]

[man] We're safe.

It won't come now.

He was chasing us again.

He wanted me to hold down Andy

while he used the belt on him.

I remember.

[sinister bird call]

What happens?

After this?

We survive.

[birdsong]

[woodpecker drumming]

[Antle exhales deeply]

[Antle] So...

the canoe's gone.

What's your big plan now?

We're gonna walk the rest.

- [Antle] We're lost.

- We'll follow the river.

[scoffs] 'Follow the river.'

Assuming ghouls don't travel

on land too, of course.

Grace will be fine.

How do you know that?

Nsukwis has got her.

Don't act like you suddenly

give a sh*t about my life.

All right?

[crickets chirping]

[low growl]

What the f*ck?

[low suspenseful tone]

[low tone continues]

[slow drumbeat]

[whispering] Antle!

[quiet growl]

Back away into the water...

- [louder growl]

- ...slowly.

[growling continues]

Keep going, don't stop!

[growling continues]

[growling stops]

[animals chittering]

[Mise'l]

You manage to salvage anything?

Nope.

Now everything's soaked again.

Leech.

[birdsong and insects chirping]

Remember when you fell

in a nest of leeches?

What?

The leech thing.

They were everywhere.

It was like a wiggling...

Mise'l!

I'm just saying,

maybe this is then.

[boy] It's just a worm.

Pull back like this...

then let go.

If I catch a fish,

- can you clean it?

- Nope.

That's your job.

- But I'll help you.

- OK.

I saw you and Trevor

behind the house yesterday.

- What?

- You kissed him.

- You're hurting me!

- Tell no one.

- Let go!

- I'm serious.

Swear to me you won't tell him.

Antle!

Will you help me gut my fish?

You gotta catch one first,

dummy.

Why were you kissing Trevor?

His sister likes you.

And I like Trevor.

[horn honking]

Come on.

Hurry up or he'll be pissed!

[car engine starts]

[Porter Wagoner: "Green, Green Grass of Home" ]

Down the road I look

and there runs Mary

Hair of gold And lips like cherries

It's good to touch the

green, green grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to meet me

Arms reaching, smiling sweetly

It's so good to touch...

[in Mi'kmaw] No, Mise'l!

- [whooshing]

- [song muffled]

[whooshing drowns out song]

- [musical sting]

- [groaning]

[eerie exhale]

[strained groaning]

[cries out]

[dissonant string instrumental]

[instrumental fades]

[Antle in English]

You know, I remember that day.

Always jealous of your bike.

[soft chuckle]

The pink monster I inherited

from Cousin Dawn?

It had brakes

on the handle bars.

Yeah.

I got the sh*t kicked out of me

at least three times.

It had a bell too.

[Mise'l chuckles]

I don't know why I

can't be like that...

that kid anymore.

You know?

Yeah.

I know.

[bird squawking]

- [man in Mi'kmaw] Push!

- [horse whinnies]

Push!

Do you speak our language?

We speak it.

I'm Mise'l.

This is my brother.

- His name is Antle.

- Mm.

I'm Holy Joe.

[in English]

I was praying for help.

Looks like the Lord sent you.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Can you lend a hand?

We'll rest after, have a meal.

You're both welcome to join.

Thank you.

[soft instrumental with drumbeat]

[Holy Joe in Mi'kmaw]

Push!

Push, push!

Push, push!

[in English] Hey!

[chuckles]

Good job, kwis.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Bless us, O Lord,

and the gifts we are about

to receive from Thy bounty,

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[in English] Can't say

I've seen this cave of yours.

This place is tricky.

Been using these roads

for the past 20 years now.

Seen all sorts of things.

I don't know how to find it,

but I know someone

who can guide you.

Head west.

[in Mi'kmaw]

A healer lives there.

[in English]

Deep up in them hills.

You go past the river,

about a day or two.

Look for the doorway.

Sometimes it takes one spirit

to fight another.

Lord protect you.

[in Mi'kmaw] We're heading out

first thing in the morning.

Eat. Rest.

[in English]

Pray.

[low suspenseful tone]

[faint singing in Mi'kmaw]

[singing gets louder]

[rustling]

[faint singing continues]

[quiet suspenseful instrumental]

[faint whooshing]

[whooshing gets louder]

[in Mi'kmaw] Begone, spirit!

[whooshing fades]

[elder Malia'n, VO]

Ju'kwa'tik nuluksk.

[in English]

Come, my nephews.

Ke wi'je'wi.

[in English]

Walk with me.

[gentle Indigenous song]

[elder Malia'n, VO]

Wel-jesi-oq te't.

[in English]

You're safe here.

[song continues]

[elder Malia'n, VO]

Te't na naka'si'te'sk

t'et klapis...

[in English]

This is where my path one day ends.

Kilo nasik si'eow wa'sioq...

[in English]

But your path continues.

[song continues]

[rustling]

[song continues]

[elder Malia'n, VO]

Amu'jpa ma'ja'sioq

aqq kesalulo'q

[in English]

It's time for you to go.

[song continues]

- [song ends]

- [birdsong]

[buzzing insect]

[urinating]

[bird calls]

[zipper closing]

[coughs]

[intriguing tone]

[buzzing insect]

[gentle instrumental]

[quiet eerie tone]

[panting]

[in English]

Antle!

Let's rest a minute.

[distant animal calls]

I remember when I was the one

who used to help you up.

Job keeps you in shape.

Never know when you need

to carry a 200-pound guy.

I am not a guy.

Or 200 pounds.

201. Sorry.

Grace seems pretty happy.

Probably not easy

raising a kid alone.

Nsukwis helps.

Still, it's hard.

Explains why you never got out.

What the hell is that

supposed to mean?

Do you really wanna stay here?

You've got your life

in the city.

I've got mine here.

What about Grace?

What kind of life

will she have?

I got my sh*t together,

all right.

I'm not some weak little f...

[slow drumbeat starts up]

[gentle string melody joins in]

[dissonant strings]

[in Mi'kmaw] Wait.

Mise'l?

[boy in Mi'kmaw]

Calm down.

[in English] Listen to me.

It'll be fine, don't cry.

It's OK. You're OK.

We won't tell anyone,

I promise.

You didn't do anything wrong.

[birdsong]

[in Mi'kmaw] I'm sorry.

About earlier.

I don't think that about you.

[loud bang in distance]

- [in English] Come on. This way.

- [distant g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[bird squawking]

[men shouting]

[man, English accent]

No respect for property.

[man, indistinct]

[man, English accent]

Help! Fire, fire!

[g*nshots continue]

[g*nsh*t]

[panicked breath]

[distant indistinct chatter]

[groans, in English] f*ck!

Antle!

[low suspenseful tone]

[tone gets louder]

[chuckling]

[English accent]

I knew I heard something.

[chuckles]

[Antle grunting]

- Indian?

- [man] Half-breed maybe?

All these savages

dress strange.

- Ha! Let's bring him in.

- [Antle groans]

Better to scalp him.

Ten whole Guineas.

[chuckles]

[groans]

[strained groans]

[woman in Mi'kmaw]

Come, help me!

- You're Mi'kmaw?

- Yes.

Are you spirits?

[woman in old French]

We're safe here for now.

They couldn't find their nose

in front of their face.

[Antle in Mi'kmaw]

My brother is sick.

Whatever made you sick

is eating you from the inside.

You too.

We're looking for a healer.

[Antle coughs]

[in old French]

It's too risky.

[in accented old French]

They look strange,

but they are like us.

We can't abandon them.

[in Mi'kmaw]

Just tell us where to go.

I'll take you.

Hey.

[in Mi'kmaw]

No, I can't lose you.

- [loud bang]

- [in Mi'kmaw] I'll be quick.

I can't take you all the way,

just past the b*ttlefield.

[soft intriguing instrumental]

Thank you.

[loud bang]

[g*nshots]

[man, English accent]

Come on!

[English accent]

Let's go.

[loud chatter in distance]

[loud bangs continue]

[in Mi'kmaw]

Keep heading west.

Follow the river.

She'll find you.

We'll meet again.

[sharp exhale]

[faint drumbeat]

[drumbeat gets louder]

[man, English accent]

Probably not even out there.

[man 2, English accent]

Hear that? Come back this way.

Antle!

- [gasps]

- [sinister tone]

[in English] Maybe something...

Maybe something in here

will help.

You promised

everything would be OK.

[sinister dissonant instrumental]

[faint laboured breaths]

- [instrumental fades]

- [birdsong]

[loud whoosh]

[stops abruptly]

[bird squawking]

[dissonant noises and echoing tone]

[jumble of noises builds]

[tree falling]

[high-pitched bird calls]

[incessant drumbeat]

[in Mi'kmaw, echoing]

Long have I waited.

[long chime]

[chime fades]

[suspenseful tone]

[groaning]

[loud jarring tone]

[in Mi'kmaw, echoing]

It's been so long

since I've seen you both.

[gentle whoosh]

[echoing]

Welcome, Father.

Gracie?

[Grace in Mi'kmaw, echoing]

Don't mind them.

[echoing]

We're safe here.

[Antle]

How long have you been here?

[Grace]

This is the place of spirits.

Time is unfixed.

[Grace]

You'll need this for what's to come.

[Mise'l]

We won't come back, will we?

[Grace] In my season of time,

you never return.

[high-pitched tone]

[tone builds]

[Grace in Mi'kmaw]

They're coming.

[young Mise'l in English]

Don't look back, don't stop.

Don't look back.

I know what you intend to do.

But this...

you can't stop it.

Wkamlamun.

It's the heart.

The place where you're going,

there's a large lake nearby.

Carved by glaciers,

thousands of times.

Return him to the land there.

I've prepared the way.

Come with us.

When it's all over,

we can go home.

- All together.

- [Grace] Mm.

All of us.

[Grace sighs]

You have to go now,

or you'll miss it.

[gentle instrumental]

You're so beautiful.

Come home this time.

[Antle sniffles]

[sniffles]

[long exhale]

[birdsong]

Mise'l.

[in Mi'kmaw] I can't.

[in English] I can't.

[low solemn instrumental]

[solemn instrumental fades]

[engine starts]

[Porter Wagoner: "Green, Green Grass of Home" ]

As I step down from the train

And there to meet me is

my mama and papa

Down the road I look

and there runs Mary

Hair of gold and lips like cherries

It's good to touch The

green, green grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to meet me

Arms reaching, smiling sweetly

It's so good to touch the

green, green grass of home

The old house is still standing

Though the paint... [song gets fainter]

...The green, green grass

[spits]

[in English] Get out.

Get my g*n.

Not you.

My son.

Come here.

Don't drop it, you little sh*t.

Barrel.

Butt.

Trigger.

You aim this

at what needs sh**ting,

breathe out...

and squeeze gently.

[whispering] You understand?

Aim at the bottle.

Breathe out.

And squeeze.

[groans]

Walk.

Walk, boy.

And don't look back.

We're gonna play a little game.

sh**t the fruit.

Remember.

Aim...

breathe out and squeeze.

- But...

- Do it!

Do. It.

Do it.

- [shouting] Do it!

- No!

[father groaning]

Oh, sh*t!

You shot him!

[faint gasps]

[Mise'l in Mi'kmaw]

Come with me.

[laboured breathing]

[in Mi'kmaw] Little bro.

[in English]

You ready for what's next?

[slow tense instrumental]

[instrumental continues]

[slow drumbeat]

[drumbeat continues]

[effort grunts]

[panting]

[effort grunts]

[hits the ground]

[drumbeat fades]

[birdsong]

[sobbing]

Take him to the river.

[echoing tone]

[high-pitched tone]

[tone fades]

[high-pitched tone builds again]

[panting]

[grunts]

[sinister tone]

[heavy breathing]

[coughing]

[strained]

Where's... the skull?

[dissonant strings and soft drumbeat]

[soft rumbling]

I'll go.

[panicked breathing continues]

[dissonant instrumental builds]

[rumbling]

[panicked breathing]

[faint drumbeat resumes]

[Antle groans]

[rumbling builds]

[high-pitched ringing]

[ringing ends]

[mysterious music]

[heavy breathing]

[Father] Aim.

Breathe...

out.

Do it.

Squeeze.

Please.

[whimpering and heavy breathing]

[Father shouting] Do it!

[words echoing in forest]

[bird cawing]

[effort grunt]

[effort grunts]

[effort grunts]

[soft high-pitched instrumental]

[Antle in Mi'kmaw]

I know...

it's hard for you...

to be around me.

It's true.

[in English] I knew it

the day you left me behind

for the big city.

[in Mi'kmaw] No, brother.

[in English] I left because...

I left because...

every time you looked at me...

all I saw was pain...

and guilt.

I didn't want that

to be your life.

Leaving... didn't change that.

I wish we both

could be different,

everything could be different.

- [heavy breathing]

- [Antle cries out]

[grunt]

[instrumental fades]

[strained grunt]

[birdsong]

[distant bird calls]

[calming instrumental]

[ducks quacking]

[instrumental becomes uplifting]

[soft grunting]

[muffled chatter]

[muffled chatter continues]

- [effort grunt]

- [muffled chatter stops]

[piano intro]

[sobbing]

[slow Indigenous song]

[song builds]

[song continues]

[song plays louder]

[tempo slows down]

[only drumbeat and vocals]

[song ends]

[car door opens]

[Gracie, whispering in Mi'kmaw]

I knew you'd come home.

[Jeremy Dutcher: "Take My Hand" ]

Take my hand

Walk with me

Together you and I

Always remember

Sweetheart

I will always be there for you

Weya heya, heya heyo

I would walk through the night

Across the land to sea

And see you standing there

In new light

Take my hand

Walk with me

Into new love

New love

Where we've been waiting

Working towards our new love

New love

Oh will you wait

Or walk with me?

Take my hand

And try to see

Cross rivers that you've feared

Stories you're afraid to hear

Can't keep our love away

I will always be there for you

When you feel all this grief

When your tears find you again

When your heart asks who's there

Dreams still whispering

Until we start to sing again

Weya heya, heya heyo

Take my hand

But not my light

The words that we find are new

And all of the ghosts

That we sing back to

Teach us our way of listening

Give yourself to dancing days

Sorrow and grief create a place

For new love to enter

If you listen for its name

I will always be there for you

In new love

New love

Where we've been waiting

Walking towards

New love

New love

Oh, will you wait

Or walk with me?

Take my hand

Walk with me

Together you and I

Always remember

Sweetheart

I will always be there for you

Weya heya, heya heyo