You sure about this?
Yeah.
All right.
What is this place.
I don't know, but
this is the spot.
This is perfect.
Come on.
What?
Nothing.
This just feels wrong, it's all.
Remember, we're doing
this because we have to.
Right.
It's fire season, and during
fire season, we fight fires,
or there's no work.
No.
Going back to the car.
I'm out.
We need this.
It's just acres.
We need this.
OK, fine.
Let's just do it.
I love you.
I love you too.
Go on.
Do it.
I'm so sorry.
No.
We didn't do anything.
Hit her.
Hit her.
Hit her.
That girl so long ago.
How does the old
song go I don't know.
This girl she is a woman.
Hey.
Where is that music coming from?
What was that?
I don't know.
We need to get out of here.
Yeah.
You're a novelist?
Yes.
Yes.
I used to teach history, and
now I write historical fiction.
I'm working on my
second book now.
How about you, Carla?
Oh, I was in academia
as well until recently.
I have been working on
my private practice.
I'm an LPC, a therapist.
You're both kind of
getting a new start, yes?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm getting pretty
serious about my writing.
And I'm intrigued
by this new project.
So that's why we're here.
So for the writer and the
therapist, and the family,
I cannot imagine a better view.
It's been on the market
for what, two years?
How could anyone
resist this place?
Maybe it's too rural.
I take it that's not a
problem for the two of you.
Oh no.
We're looking forward
to some peace and quiet.
We're looking to
set down some roots.
Well, with over five acres of
land, you have plenty of room
to set down roots right here.
This land is special.
It feels special.
It's said to be the home of
the Squaniti or stick native.
It's considered to be a giant.
A giant.
Yes.
Among the Wenatchi
tribe, they're
called night people
or forest people.
Some people just
call it the spirit.
Mhm.
Interesting.
They're just stories mainly
meant to keep children
from wandering into the forest.
Would you give us a minute?
Sure.
I'll be over there.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I want this, but we're
stretching our budget right.
I have faith in us.
So do I.
Hey there.
Hi.
Hi neighbor.
So you finally moved in.
My family and I live in the
barn house down the road.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm Dean.
Carla is inside.
I'm Arlo, by the way.
I love you, Dean.
I'm sorry.
I like to lead with love.
Well.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
I wasn't expecting
you to be there.
Otherwise, I wouldn't
have done all this.
No need... no need
to apologize, Dean.
I think everyone
should be like this.
No hiding, no secrets,
just all out in the open.
Free.
Yeah.
That's right.
So what do you do, Dean?
I'm a writer.
Really?
Me to.
The forest will do
so good for you.
That was the idea.
I think that's a beautiful idea.
Thanks.
Listen, I got to get back there.
Young Elijah, his summer fields
parents, d*ed of dysentery.
Leaving he and his
little baby sister
to finish their journey
along the Oregon Trail.
You know, I don't think
they use tape recorders
on the Oregon Trail.
Or give me this one
modern convenience.
Hey, can we get out of
the house today, please?
It's really nice outside.
Yeah, but deadlines
are deadlines, mommy.
Well, you can ask for more time.
You have leverage.
No.
No.
Not with the sales
of the last book.
Now I'm stuck writing about
the Oregon Trail because
of some video game for kids.
I'm Colombian.
What the hell do I know
about the Oregon Trail.
Man.
Well, if you feel like
you're treading water,
maybe you can find some
inspiration out there.
It just never flows out of me.
You know what I mean, mommy.
I'm not the only one.
When all of the greatest
writers they hated writing.
Gabriel
Garca Mrquez Erneto
Hemingway.
Dean, this isn't easy.
Let me finish this.
It's meant to be,
so it'll be right.
Right.
Now let me feel.
Now let me feel.
Now let me feel.
Now let me feel.
Always feel right.
I feel right.
All the time.
All the time.
All the time.
Why.
Elijah held himself up like
grasping the sides of the wagon
as he bumped along the
ragged, dirty trail.
As he gazed out into
the vast plains,
he knew that this would be the
last time that he would ever
see his home.
Laura...
Did you write
me a shitty reference?
What?
After everything we've
been through that,
you couldn't do this
one last thing for me.
Look, hey, I'm trying
to move on, OK.
You can move on with your life
Dean without sabotaging mine.
Look, you don't even know
what I'm dealing with here.
Things aren't peaches
and cream for me, either.
I can make this so
much worse for you.
Laura.
Laur...
I feel right.
All the time.
All the time.
All the ti...
Baby, why
am I acting weak?
I know she's k*lling me was my
bravery Lord just set me free.
you
singing it different
you
won't
I'm not the person
that won't be the last,
but you heard what I said.
Yeah, but you heard what I said.
I got the weight
on my shoulders.
You got anything...
Has anyone ever told you
hitchhiking isn't safe anymore?
I think around
here, it still is.
I'm Celeste.
I'm Carla.
Hi.
Hey.
Where are you heading?
To my friend's place.
She's down the road.
Can I have a ride?
Oh, sorry, sure.
Just hop on in.
So you live around here?
Yeah, I just moved
here with my husband.
So you were called here
too, you and your husband?
I don't know whether
we're called here.
But there are no
accidents, Carla.
The universe is a
single organism,
and we're just flowing
through its veins.
I'm not very spiritual.
You spend enough time in
mother nature, you will be.
Any time you feel lost, you just
lay your head back in the grass
and let the spirit guide
you back on your path.
Oh, just pull up right here.
Here?
Yeah.
Look at that.
We're neighbors.
Wonderful.
So what brought you here?
I just wanted to get
away from the city.
That answer feels superficial.
What's beyond that?
Honestly, we just planned
on starting a family.
This place that
I'm going, they're
going to be the most beautiful
non-judgmental group of people
that you have ever, ever met.
We're going to listen and learn
and connect with the spirit.
Well, thank you for the ride.
You know, maybe you
can come by sometime
and meet the mountain people.
Oh well, we'll see.
Yeah.
Well, it was
wonderful to meet you.
I hope I see you again.
And your partner too.
What was his name?
Dean.
Carla and Dean
living their dream.
Well, see ya.
No, it can't be.
It's me.
Are you ready?
Welcome home, Celeste.
Hi, I'm Celeste.
Dean.
Hey.
Hey.
I just wanted to join you.
I didn't want to wake you.
So that guy Arlo, the
one who lives down
the road with all his friends.
How could I forget?
Well, there's more of them.
I saw some of them
hopping a fence.
I dropped one of
them off of my home.
Like a hitchhiker?
Yeah.
Her name was Celeste.
Since when do you
pick up hitchhikers?
It was either me or a m*rder*r.
She kept going on
and on about nature.
And Giants that
live in the forest.
That's good.
You're making new friends.
She is just different.
What's that?
Found it in the woods.
How?
Probably a coyote
got into the trash.
I don't know.
I think about her.
Me too.
We're here.
And we all know how
special it is to be here.
We've been entrusted with
keeping the spirit alive,
but it's dying, dear ones.
It's dying because people have
forgotten that everything that
surrounds us is us.
We need to come into
oneness with the mother.
New blood, you've all been
vetted very carefully,
and we know each and
every one of you.
You all came here for
a reason because you
felt something was missing.
Maybe you had a loving
family, but they just
didn't understand you.
Or maybe you were an
orphan just like me.
With Ryanas teaching
we're now a family.
The spirit is coming
home in the blue moon.
Which means that
soon one of you will
be without pain or worries.
I'm not fit to be
with the spirit, no.
I've been tasked to
watch over this place
and help guide you all.
We love your mother.
We love your mother.
We love your spirit.
We love you spirit.
Dean.
Hi.
Hi, Celeste.
Sorry for stopping
by unannounced.
I'm not interrupting
anything, am I?
No, no.
Not at all.
How are you?
I'm good.
I'm a little tired.
I had a big day.
Well, I was going
to go for a swim.
I was wondering if
you wanted to come.
Come on.
Play a little hookey with me.
There's a path straight from
your backyard to the farm,
but you know that.
Yes.
You have to be careful
in the forest alone.
It's so close.
I left home when I was 16,
and I've been on the road
ever since.
What's that like?
Freedom.
Your turn.
What?
It's your turn.
Fine.
How did that feel?
I get this feeling from you,
like you feel really trapped.
I was pregnant, we
moved here, and then
I lost the baby and the
ability to have children so.
She was real.
To me, she was very real.
She is real.
Thank you feel like
letting me share that.
It's a sign.
What?
Tree rod?
Oh, she sees you.
We welcome you.
She must have
wanted to say hello.
You really believe there's
something out there, uh.
No, I know there is.
Sometimes they're in the trees.
She must really like you.
How could she not.
Celeste, when we
were swimming, she
mentioned that the
mountain people...
The mountain people.
OK.
All of Arlo's people,
the mountain people they,
invited us over.
No, no, no.
I've already met him.
Can we plea...
No.
Let's, please go.
Mmhm, not good.
OK, if you don't go, I'm going
to end up in some weird hippie
drug orgy thing.
And you're going
to be all jealous,
and it's going to be horrible.
Did you say orgy?
I don't know what
they do over there.
I'm good, mami.
I'm good.
Oh, come on, it'll be fun.
Please.
OK.
Fine.
OK.
I was told to just
hop over the fence.
No way.
No.
Here give me your hand.
Oh, man.
OK.
Oh great.
The amygdala is what we use
to process fear, anxiety...
...aggression anger, but it
doesn't understand words
because we're primal beings.
Words won't heal us because,
at our basest level,
the human soul doesn't
understand them.
This is why sometimes we
need to behave like animals.
Join us.
We'll wait here until
you're done with this.
Just go with it.
You came.
And you brought Dean.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh.
Oh.
Hi guys.
Everyone, this is
Carla and Dean.
And these these are some of
my soul sisters and brothers.
This is River.
I love you, Dean.
I love you, Carla.
And you know Jerri.
I love you, Dean.
I love you, Carla.
Hi.
I love you, Dean.
I love you, Carla.
I love you, Carla.
I love you, Dean.
Actually, we were hoping
you would come around
so you can learn more
about what we do here.
It's important that
you get to know us,
and we get to know you.
Yeah, we are neighbors,
after all, right.
Exactly.
Well, we're thrilled
to be your neighbors.
Oh, we brought you
guys some cookies.
They're pot cookies.
What the f*ck?
You don't partake,
it fogs the senses.
Oh, I'm sorry I...
We really didn't know.
I'm so sorry.
No.
It's OK.
How could you?
Clear.
It's good to see
you again, Dean.
I love you.
Carla...
The spirit has recognized you.
You've been seen.
Have you had a chance to
meet the new blood yet?
I'm sorry.
The new members of our family.
Oh, ha, oh ha.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
They're terrific.
Just don't give
them pot cookies.
We try to keep a
straight head here.
So the original inhabitants
of this beautiful land
were the natives, the
protectors of the spirit.
But with the research I've
done, we know so much more now.
When my beautiful teacher
Ayanna started this farm,
we were only a handful.
But we've grown so
much more in numbers.
Being way out here
in the forest,
I needed an outlet to
reach like-minded people
to protect the spirit.
I wanted my own little family,
so I started the mountain
people podcast.
Well, we'll check it out.
Yeah.
Mhm.
Supper.
I hope you're hungry.
We practice mindful eating here.
Come.
OK
We brewed this ourselves.
So much for wanting
to keep a clear head.
Drink up, everyone.
It's OK.
Who's that?
That's William.
He's already taken the trip.
Hey
You go.
Arlo made it.
We don't normally partake, but
if it's OK with Jerri and Arlo,
it's all right.
Iona didn't like to
cloud the senses.
River, I didn't
know you knew Iona.
I know her in spirit.
Little homemade hooch
is OK now and then.
Where is she now?
She's here.
She's all around us.
You should come tomorrow,
and we can show you more.
I am going to be
with the spirit soon.
Arlo told me.
You're too young to, dear one.
You'll have your time, though.
Yeah.
Don't worry.
It'll happen for you.
In Ocala, I had a stillborn.
Pardon.
I said that I, too,
had a stillborn.
There were tears shed that
no one seemed to understand,
but I do.
Everyone here is
suffering from something.
For instance, Celeste
has Crohn's disease.
Clear is bipolar.
River has alopecia.
And me, there's a
piece of my heart
I haven't been able to mend.
Not yet.
Suffering doesn't always
show on the outside,
but you already know that.
I'm going to...
I'm going to get
some more moonshine.
Anybody want more?
You're in a crossroad, huh.
What?
I see you, Dean.
I've seen you from the start.
You're getting older.
You feel like your
time is passing.
Like you, views of the world no
longer matter or are obsolete.
I get it.
I've been there.
You've been there?
That's right.
It's my turn.
I see you too.
You are a confused Latino with
a Messiah complex trying to fit
in with all these gringos.
You couldn't get
respect out there,
so you're trying to get it here.
Or can you?
I get plenty of respecting.
I'm special.
You just don't know yet.
I don't see anything
special about you.
If you need to purge, you know.
When will you let those fingers
fly and do some writing?
Theme the forest.
Hey, look at me.
She'll keep you busy.
I felt something.
I think that the spirit was
trying to tell me something.
Why did you interrupt us?
I'm seeing the neighbor
girl Carla in my dreams.
Everything will be
the way it should be.
I've been hurt y'all.
Someone here has
broken my heart,
but I want them to know
that I forgive them
and everything in nature
will be the way it should be.
Gil.
Gil, can you hear me?
Gil.
River.
Gil.
River.
You have to get me
out of here, please.
Gil.
River.
Gil.
You're breaking up.
Gil.
Uh, fu... Come on.
Come, come, come.
Oh sh*t.
Relax, brave one.
We trusted you.
You had a responsibility.
Can I have my phone?
River.
Clear no.
You can't stop nature River.
Clear.
No.
Jerri.
Avery look at me.
Avery, I'm not going.
Jerri.
The other way.
Jerri.
Go.
Avery.
Go.
I just want to go home.
I won't say anything.
Look at me.
Arlo.
Arlo.
River.
I didn't do anything.
Hate River.
Just know that this
perimeter is only
trying to protect the forest.
Go.
No Clear, please.
Very clear I haven't
done anything.
Clear stop.
Clear.
Go.
Go.
So long ago
Gil.
Gil.
River, where are you?
Gil.
River this way.
Over here.
Gil.
Gil, where are you?
River.
Gil.
Gil Gil.
River.
Gill.
River.
River.
Thank you.
Yes.
Of course, man.
Woo.
I mean...
Dean.
Good deal.
Hello.
Carla.
Oh, Jesus.
I'm sorry, mommy.
I'm sorry.
OK.
You don't sneak up on
people in the woods.
What is happening?
I've been writing
the whole night.
Under a little tree. I have a
little setup, Mami.
Is that where you've been?
That's kind of weird.
Something happened today.
I found direction.
I know what to write about now.
It's happening.
It's just pouring
right out of me.
Yeah.
That's great, Dean.
I'm sorry, baby.
I'm sorry.
I got to get back to this
because I'm almost done.
Can you believe that?
That's incredible.
Great.
Yeah.
OK mommy.
I got to get back to it.
Woow.
Yeah, of course, because
from here, you realize.
Hi.
River is no longer a part
of the mountain people.
Mother holds her secrets close.
So close they never
leave this forest.
River can understand that.
But please find it in your
hearts to forgive her.
The spirit is the
purest form of human.
It's more human than human.
She has been living this
way since the beginning.
We honor River and
the cycle of life.
Something old and something
new, it's just her way.
What do you see?
Everything.
The spirit is speaking to me.
It has chose the vessel.
I am honored to say I have
been chosen brave ones.
This feeling.
Oh.
Ha.
Carlita.
Carla wake up.
Carla.
Dean.
Hey.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
Hey Dean.
Hi.
What are you on?
What did you give her?
Brother Dean, what a surprise.
Did you drug my wife?
Oh.
You hit me.
Stop.
Stop.
Stop.
Hey.
Let's play.
Don't be afraid.
Embrace this.
Embrace your fear.
Let go of your fear.
Feel it.
Let go.
Don't be afraid.
Relax, brother Dean.
Relax.
Relax.
Everyone, I think Carla
and Dean should leave now.
You're all way more
f*cked up than I thought.
My beautiful people,
my beautiful family.
I don't understand.
Arlo has been chosen.
He's changed our
native teaching.
He hinders our senses.
He sends our own to
you in the forest.
This is not who I
thought we were.
Have we been misguided?
Are we in danger?
I told you to never
interrupt me again.
Need to talk to you.
I know you said
not to disturb you.
I'm sorry.
All is fine brave one.
What if the Spirit's
upset with us?
No.
What if we're in danger?
Spirit loves you.
Well, you said that I was next.
And you said that
you were a leader not
fit to be with the spirit,
and yet you've been chosen.
In three years, all your
pain will disappear,
and thousands of acres of
forest will be yours forever.
She gives us so much,
but sometimes she
asks for something in return.
I need trusted brothers and
sisters to look over the farm
while I'm away.
I'm going to the store.
Hey.
Was that payback?
I f*cked a student and
destroyed our careers,
so you went to have an orgy.
I deserved it.
It's a little more
complicated than that, but OK.
Was it fun?
Did you do stuff?
Like sexy stuff
that you remember.
Great.
I finished the book.
Tried to send it
to Seth while you
were in the orgy
with the hitchhiker.
I can stop writing.
There's something
about this place.
Seth never even got to read it.
Long story.
I'm trying to send
him all a hard copy.
I changed the story
around a little.
Actually, a lot.
It's about the
Giants in the forest.
Hey, you know what I've
been thinking about it,
and I think we should
just move back home.
We don't even know
if we're safe here.
We don't know what these
people are capable of.
Well, I'm not ready to leave.
Do you feel as alone as I do?
Yes.
But I also feel like
I'm called to be here.
Maybe I should go.
If anything, this
place has brought me
nothing but heartache.
I'm no artist.
I'm hardly a teacher.
We don't have Marella tampoco.
I'm just a man with
no f*cking legacy.
Aiyana.
She showed me that in every
blue moon, there's a shift.
It represents the passage
of knowledge and wisdom.
It's a time of heightened
communication with the divine
in the spirit world.
Teacher William
roamed the forest,
and so Aiyana took his
place in the last blue moon.
She roams free unaware
of who she once was,
but when we need
her, we summon her.
Soon another will
need to pass through
to keep the spirit alive.
This is RL Gentry and this
will be my last podcast.
See you on the other side.
f*cking woods.
Carla.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to scare you.
I just came to apologize
about what happened.
No, you really don't
want to talk right now.
Fine.
But tell me, do you
finally understand
what we're doing out here?
Uh, yes.
All of you are waiting for
your turn to be Sasquatch.
Leave me alone.
Please.
You've been chosen, you know.
Join us.
What?
Do you even understand
what this means?
No, I don't understand
anything that's
been happening to me, OK.
I'm pretty positive I don't
want to be a hairy giant.
So...
You don't.
No.
You'd be like new.
Please just leave.
Carla, you're so beautiful.
That's why this is a part of
my job that I hate the most.
Celeste.
Celeste, please.
Please help.
I know this is hard,
but it is an honor
to die with or by the
hands of the spirit.
We love you, Carla.
Thank you.
Carla.
Carla.
I need to talk to you.
I never had a family until
I met all of you all.
But I want you to know that
just like William came back,
I shall also return.
Spirit, we welcome you,
and I offer myself to you.
Now bow your heads,
and please don't stare.
We don't want to make
the spirit angry.
I am ready.
Hey.
Where's Carla?
She's gone.
Is that my computer?
Your manuscript.
Look.
Look.
It's gibberish.
Don't you see.
This truth it can't
leave this forest.
f*ck it.
I'm getting my wife.
Get out of my way Avery.
But I didn't want this work.
Just let it happen.
You and Carla are making
the ultimate sacrifice.
C-C-Celeste?
Celeste.
Ah.
Ah!
Ah!
No.
No!
Chose me.
Celeste.
Celeste, we can't help her.
We're going to die, Dean.
You're not going to die.
Can you forgive me?
This is all my fault. We were
running from my mistakes.
If we live through this
sh*t, all is forgiven.
We're going back to Miami.
You can't leave.
No one can know about us.
Sometimes you're the flower,
sometimes you're the vine.
We don't get to
choose, but there's
a beauty in being the vine.
To serve for a bigger
purpose than yourself.
Look at you two.
People, when you know
that death is near,
the gripes they disappear.
Nature is change,
change is nature,
but there's an order
that we cannot disrupt.
Carla.
You're holding on to your...
It's time.
It's time to give
yourself to the spirit
so she can cross over.
No.
She's coming.
She's coming.
Lift your hands up.
Connect your thumbs and
your pointer and your middle.
Place it over where
your womb would be.
Oh.
Oh.
Ha.
Oh.
Ha.
Oh.
Ha.
Oh.
Ha.
Oh.
Ha.
That girl so long ago.
How does the old
song go I don't know.
This girl she is a woman, she
is a mother, a friend, a lover
until the end.
What a difference 10 years makes
degrees and heartbreak sequels
and remake.
Would she recognize me
shallow behind these eyes
older my heart.
That girl so young and stupid.
She doesn't see me someday
she'll see she is wrong.
This girl she is a woman.
Summoning the Spirit (2023)
Moderator: Maskath3