[MUSIC PLAYING]
[YOUNG GIRL LAUGHING]
KAYLA: There once was a mouse, happy as can be...
...who lives in a field right under a tree.
Without a care in the world, he wasn't afraid.
He played every day and he slept in the shade.
Then one morning, the mouse heard a loud cry...
...and a crow black as night flew down from the sky.
The crow lowered his beak and tilted his head...
...then frightened the mouse with the next thing he said.
The Darkness hides in the light of the day.
Better run little mouse before it comes out to play.
Because the Darkness is evil when it plays Hide and Seek.
And it can go anywhere as it sneaks and it peeks.
The mouse took a few steps and looked all around.
He spun in a circle, and then looked up and down.
There's nothing dark here, you crazy, old bird.
The sun shines so brightly, that's completely absurd.
But the crow laughed out loud and said...
"...you silly, little rat...
"...don't let the Darkness hear you talking like that.
Now there's one thing to do, so listen to me.
You must see it first, if you wish to be free.
Baby Zombie! She's gonna eat you!
Maddie! What did you do? Look at your hands.
- Okay, no more markers for you. - But I'm bored.
Well, here, draw me a picture while I finish packing the car, okay?
Okay.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Last chance to say goodbye!
[CAR HORN HONKING]
Maddie, stay away from the street, please!
Okay, Mama.
I'm sorry, this is the one day this guy is in town, honey.
Put it this way. You're gonna have plenty of time to figure out...
...how to make it up to us on the long lonely drive by yourself.
Daddy...
- ...look, it's me and Kayla. - SHAWN: Wow.
All right, come on, up.
- MADDIE: I can do it. - Okay, put your seatbelt on.
Thanks, Daddy.
Don't be mad. I'm sorry.
Well, if you were really sorry, you would've stuck to the plan.
We'll still have a great time. I'll just be a little late.
And please call me when you get there so I know you got there okay.
Don't be so dramatic. When will you be leaving?
This afternoon, so I'll be there by midnight, at the latest.
Okay.
Maybe you could bring me a midnight snack.
SHAWN: Hmm.
- Say goodbye to Daddy. - GIRLS: Bye, Daddy!
- Love you. - Bye, I love you.
- LAURA: Girl's night out. - SHAWN: Have fun.
I love you.
- Bye, Daddy, I love you. - Bye.
[EERIE MUSIC OVERLAPS]
LAURA: Okay, we're here.
KAYLA: Finally.
Are we there yet?
Oh, come on.
[VEHICLE APPROACHING]
- Who are you? - I'm Owen.
Uh, hi.
Just gotta loosen up the tumblers on the inside.
Wow! Thank you.
No problem.
I'm what passes as local security around here...
...probably because me and my family are the only ones that live here year round.
- Well, wish we could do more of that. - What, living?
There used to be two families living out here.
Other family lived right here in your house, for years.
- 'Til their boy went missing. - Missing?
Was about my age... name was Johnny.
Was kinda slow-witted, if you get what I'm saying.
- They never found him? - No.
Family was really tore up.
Put the house on the market and never seen 'em again.
Uh, well, I'm Laura and this is Kayla and Maddie.
Girls, say "hi".
Nice to meet you, ladies.
Don't see much of anybody out here after season's over.
Gets pretty lonely out here.
Yeah, well, we thought we'd squeeze in at least one trip this year.
Don't blame you.
Well, I appreciate the help, Owen, thank you.
Just you girls and Mom this weekend, huh?
- And Daddy. - Yeah, he's... he's on his way.
He's right behind us, actually.
Oh, well, that's good to know.
Uh, well, tell Owen "thank you", girls.
BOTH: Thank you.
Any time.
[CAR ENGINE STARTING]
- Thanks. - Y'all take care now.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Tag, I'm it.
- Girls, stay away from the water. - GIRLS: Okay.
[PHONE RINGING]
You better be calling from the road.
Actually, I'm running a bit late.
- Oh, you gotta be... - I'm kidding.
- So you guys made it okay? - Yeah, we made it fine.
Hey, girls, it's your dad, he's on speaker.
- Hi, Daddy! - Hi, Daddy!
Hi, girls! Is the house still standing?
- BOTH: Yeah. - SHAWN: [OVER PHONE] Perfect.
Daddy, when are you gonna be here?
Soon.
[MUSIC BOX PLAYING]
- Bye, Daddy! Love you! - Bye, Daddy! We love you!
What's that noise?
Uh, it's nothing.
I actually just stopped off to get gas. I should be there by 11:00.
- Okay, I might wait up. - You better.
- We'll see. You could get lucky. - I'm planning on it.
Oh, hey... eggs. I forgot eggs.
Eggs.
Got it. I'll see you in a bit.
Drive safe, bye.
Hi, uh, I'd like these gift wrapped, please.
And two bottles of your best Merlot.
So what'd you do?
Nothing.
[GIRLS GIGGLING]
Girls, I'm putting books and toys in the playroom.
- No, the playroom is scary. - No, it's not. Don't be a baby.
- I'm not a baby. - Hey! I'm watching you.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
Maddie...
...ready?
You look funny, Kay-Kay.
[SIGHING]
What's that?
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
Where does it go?
Girls?
[LOUD THUDS]
I'm a grasshopper.
Oh, really? But you're not green.
- Do we have any green paint? - No, only blue.
LAURA: Hey, Maddie! Get your shoes off the bed, come on.
All right, I left your pajamas out, girls. Now why don't you get dressed...
...and get changed into them...
...and come on downstairs.
Kayla, what is that?
Nothing.
I just saw you put something in there. What is it?
- It's for Daddy. - Well, let me see.
- Is it alive? - No.
- It better not stink up the house. - It won't. It doesn't stink. It smells good.
Alright, well, get changed and come on down. I'm gonna make some pizza.
LAURA: The mouse took a few steps, and looked all around.
He spun in a circle, then looked up and down.
There is nothing dark here, you crazy, old bird.
The sun shines so brightly, that's completely absurd.
But the crow laughed out loud and said, you silly little rat...
...don't let the Darkness hear you talking like that.
Now there's one thing to do, so listen to me.
You must see it first, if you wish to be free.
- I know what it is. - You do?
I wanna go to bed, Mama.
You do? The story's not over.
You don't want to eat your pizza?
No? Okay. Go on up.
I'll give you a hint, it hides in plain sight.
It lives in the dark even when there is light.
It walks close behind you and watches you play.
Floating beside you, from your head to the hay.
- Maddie drew this, didn't she? - No, that was already there.
Oh, really?
LAURA: All right, night, Kay-Kay.
Maddie, are you hot?
Here.
Yeah, that's better.
Goodnight.
Maddie, are you okay?
What are you looking at?
[PHONE RINGS]
- Hey, hi. - Is everybody alright? I've been calling.
Shit, I left the phone in the car, I'm sorry.
It's okay. What y'all doing?
Nothing. Uh, the girls played while I unpacked, and...
...we had some pizza, now they're sleeping. What about you, where are you?
Uh, past halfway, so a few more hours, I guess.
Babe, you should see it, the lake is just perfect.
It's gorgeous out here.
Uh, that's cool.
So all you wanted was eggs, right?
- Shawn, you're ruining it. - I'm sorry, I thought you were done.
Please continue. It's, uh, really interesting.
[CHUCKLES] You're such an asshole.
- At least I remembered the eggs. - Dude, you are so not romantic.
- I'll see you in a couple hours. - Oh, hey, I left the gate open for you.
The pad lock's all jammed up. I think we might need a new one.
I'll take a look when I get there.
Okay. You hurry up, I love you.
- I love you t... - Shawn?
[TREE BRANCH SNAPS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
Mommy?
Something's wrong with Maddie.
What is it?
She's in the playroom, but she won't tell me.
Maddie?
Madison?
Maddie?
Sweetie.
Hey, why is the window open?
Oh, it's okay.
- Mommy? - It's okay, Kayla. She's just sick.
[MADDIE COUGHS]
Here.
There you go, sweetie.
- Maddie, are you okay? - Hmm?
Here, let me wipe that up.
- Mommy, is she okay? - Yeah, she's fine.
She's gonna be fine. She's just sick, honey.
[GAGGING]
Maddie? Maddie, hey, breathe, breathe, let me see, what's in there?
Get your hand out, come on, let me see, Maddie. Come on.
Maddie, let me see. Let me see.
Maddie? Okay, I got it. I got it. I got it. Okay, breathe, breathe.
Okay, all right, we got it, we got it out. Are you okay?
Take a deep breath.
Deep breath, deep breath, you okay?
Mommy...
...what's that?
What is this? Did you girls eat something?
I didn't.
You stay with your sister.
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
Maddie, look.
A Tea Party!
I saved mine for Daddy.
- Where'd you get this? - In the forest.
Maddie, look at me.
Did you eat one of these cupcakes?
No.
Yes, you did. She's lying.
Okay.
Maddie, honey... you're not in trouble, okay?
Mama just needs to know, did you eat one of these cupcakes? Tell Mama.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
It's okay, sweetie.
What's wrong?
- [RECORDED TONE PLAYING] - [LOUD BANG]
[OBJECT ROLLING]
Mommy, what is that?
I don't know.
[RUMBLING]
I'm scared.
Honey, hey, here, here, sit on the couch. It's okay.
There, right by your sister, right there. You okay, Maddie?
- Mama, my tummy hurts. - I know, honey.
Mamma? What's wrong with her?
- I don't know. - Mommy!
- I need my phone. - Don't leave.
- No, Mommy, please! - I'm right here. Stay on the couch, okay?
I'm gonna be right in the kitchen. Stay right there.
Shit.
- No, don't go! - No, turn that back on.
[SHUSHING] Quiet, quiet, quiet!
I'm just gonna go to the car.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
[TREE BRANCH SNAPS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
Let's go, let's go. Let's go. Get up, come on, stop.
- Kay-Kay, we gotta go, let's go right now. - I don't wanna go outside.
It's gonna be okay, but we have to go right now.
- Carry me. - I can't carry both of you.
- You're gonna have to run. - No, Mommy! Please!
Listen, honey... hey, listen to me...
...we have to get out of this house right now, okay? Do you understand?
I need you to come with me, okay? I can't carry both of you.
- You're gonna have to run right by me, okay? - Mommy, you're scaring me.
It's okay, I've got you, I've got you right now, here.
Okay.
Quiet.
[SHUSHING] Quiet.
[OWL HOOTING]
No, I'm scared! No, Mommy!
Come on, Kayla, come on, come on, let's go, let's go!
Come on, now get in the back, come on, come on, come on.
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
[LAURA SCREAMS]
Get in the car, go, go, go! Get in the front, quick!
Ready? Okay? Kayla?
Seatbelt on, quick, quick, quick.
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
[CAR ENGINE STARTING]
[SCREAMING]
[ALL YELLING INDISTINCTLY]
Mommy!
Mommy.
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
Mommy!
Kayla, close the curtains in there.
Come on, quickly, hurry up.
Sit down on the rug. Get down.
Oh, Maddie.
- Maddie, can you take a deep breath for me? - [BREATHING HEAVY]
Let me see that you can swallow? Just take a sip.
I need to go get Maddie some medicine, okay?
- No! - Will you be brave...
...while I go and get some in the bathroom?
Okay, good girl. I'm gonna be right back.
I don't feel good.
It's okay. Mommy's getting you some medicine.
Drink this, Maddie, it's gonna make you feel better.
All of it, Maddie. It's gonna open up your throat, it's gonna help you breathe.
Good girl.
Where's Daddy?
He's coming.
He's gonna be here real soon.
[LOUD BANG]
[BANGING CONTINUES]
- [FABRIC TEARING] - [METAL CLANKING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
Girls, go upstairs right now, go, go, go, go!
Kayla, hurry up, put your shoes on.
How did our picture get out there?
I don't know, baby.
Did you put it?
Why are our faces cut out?
- My tummy... - I know.
I know, it's okay, it's gonna be okay. Daddy's gonna get here soon...
...and when he gets here, he's gonna take us all to the doctor...
...and the doctor's gonna get all the bad stuff out of your...
Oh, shit.
- I'm sorry. - No, no, it's okay.
It's okay. It's not your fault.
Open up, all the way, come on. Open, open, open.
Maddie, take a deep breath.
- We need to go right now and get help. - No, I don't want to leave.
- Kayla, I need you to be brave, okay? - No!
Stop it, stop it, listen to me! Look at me, look at me. Maddie's very sick.
We can't stay here. But you know what, we're gonna go outside.
We're gonna wait out there so Daddy can see us when he gets here.
But he's already here.
Who, Maddie?
Dada.
Where is he?
Under the tree.
KAYLA: Is that Daddy?
No.
Who did you see?
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay.
[CALL RINGING]
[DISTANT CELL PHONE RINGING]
- Hello? Laura? - [HEAVY BREATHING OVER PHONE]
What are you doing?
Laura?
[TREE BRANCH SNAPS]
Hey, you locked the gate.
[DISTANT CELL PHONE RINGING]
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Goddammit.
Hey, guys...
...it's late. I've been driving all night.
Can we just, uh...
...prank me tomorrow?
Okay, you got me.
I'm totally scared right now.
- [PHONE VIBRATES] - Oh, shit.
Laura, come on, God!
[SHAWN BREATHING OVER PHONE, ECHOING]
[OVER PHONE, ECHOING] Laura, what the hell?
Come on.
What are you doing?
Laura?
Is that you?
Laura.
[LOUD FEEDBACK]
Shit.
- [LABORED BREATHING] - LAURA: Breathe.
It's okay. Breathe.
And we relax.
That's good, see?
Do you remember when Grandma got sick and we had to take her to the doctor?
- Yeah. - And remember how brave she was?
- Yeah, she didn't even cry. - No, she didn't cry.
She was so brave, and when we got there everything was fine.
Gave her medicine and she got better?
- Yeah. - When Daddy gets here...
...he'll take you to the doctor.
That's right, Kay-Kay. When Daddy gets here.
So until then, we all just need to be really, really brave.
- Like Grandma? - Yeah, just like her.
[LOUD THUDS]
What is that?
- Mommy. - [SHUSHING]
[STEPS WALKING]
[LOUD THUDS CONTINUE]
[LOUD BANG ON ROOF]
[RUMBLING]
- [BANG ON DOOR] - [GIRLS SCREAMING]
[SHUSHING]
[LOUD BANGING ON DOOR]
SHAWN: [OVER SPEAKER] Laura?
- It's Daddy. - Be quiet.
SHAWN: [OVER SPEAKER] Laura?
Hey, guys.
It's late, I've been driving all night.
Shawn?
SHAWN: Can you just... [INDISTINCT]
Stay back, it's all right.
SHAWN: Laura...
Shawn.
SHAWN: Laura, what the hell?
Come on.
It's me.
Laura?
Shawn, is that you?
SHAWN: Is that you?
Laura?
- Laura! - [OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
SHAWN: Laura?
Laura!
Is that you?
- Laura. - [SPEAKER FEEDBACK]
Please, no...
[SOBBING] No!
Girls, no!
- Daddy! - Daddy!
- He's outside! - No, it's not Daddy.
- Yes, it is! - No, it's not.
- Daddy! - No, it's not Daddy.
- Yes, it is. I heard him! - It's a trick. It's a bad man outside.
- Daddy! - It's not Daddy!
- Daddy! - No, Kayla, Kayla, stop it!
Stop it. He's gonna hear you. I need you to be very quiet.
- I need you to be very quiet, both of you. - I want Daddy!
Close your eyes. Close your eyes.
[SOFT BREATHING]
You are safe.
Okay? Nobody is going to hurt you.
I will not let them.
Do you believe me?
[SWITCH CLICKS]
Mama!
- Mama! - [SHUSHING]
Quiet. Come on, come on.
Stay right here, hold that.
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
- Maddie, can you run? - I don't wanna go outside.
Listen to me. Listen, do you remember what I said, nobody's going to hurt you, okay?
I won't let them, okay? Okay, come on, hold on to my jeans.
Just stay as quiet as you can. Walk this way.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Kayla, let's go.
[MADDIE SCREAMING]
[EGG SMASHING]
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
Maddie.
Oh, my God, come on, shit!
Come on, run fast, go, go, go!
Come on! Go, go, go!
[EGGS SMASHING]
Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Tell me!
- He's gonna get us! - Don't make us go outside.
No, we're not gonna go outside, okay? I promise. Let's stay inside.
Okay.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Mommy.
Mommy, he drew us.
Mommy!
Girls, go upstairs! Go, go, go, go!
[GIRLS YELLING]
Go upstairs, now!
No!
It's okay. It's okay, sweetie.
Mama?
[SHUSHING]
- Is he coming? - Quiet.
It's gonna be okay.
We just have to wait until morning...
...and everything's gonna be alright.
Mommy?
No, Kayla, stay there. Stay there.
Hi, Mommy.
Daddy will be here soon.
I wanna go home.
Me, too.
It's okay, it's okay, we're gonna go home soon.
We're going home soon.
What, Mommy?
The eggs.
The car.
- No! - No! No, Mama!
It's okay, get in, get in, get in.
- Just to go and get something. - Don't leave.
I'm not leaving. I'm just gonna go downstairs.
- No, Mama. - Come on, girls, it's okay, hey, hey.
- Kayla, let go, let go, stop, stop. - Please.
Stop. Kayla, you're such a big girl.
You're so brave, both of you. You're so, so brave.
I promise you, I will be right back, okay?
Here, this lights up.
Here, I want you to look at this.
You count along with the second hand, one...
...two, three...
...and I want you to count to 20, okay? And I will be back before you get to 20...
...and no matter what, do not come out of here until I get back, okay?
Start counting.
One...
...two...
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
...12...
...13...
...17...
...18...
...19...
...20.
[STEPS APPROACHING]
[DOOR OPENS]
- We're gonna go to Daddy's car. - He's here?
Yes. Hold my hand. Let's go. Hold my hand.
- [DOOR OPENS] - [GASPING]
[STEPS APPROACHING]
[DRAWER OPENS, CLOSES]
Get out of our house!
[CLATTER CONTINUES]
I have a gun!
[CLATTER CONTINUES]
Get the fuck out of here!
[CAR HORN HONKING]
Hey.
Up here!
Hey!
Hey! Help, we're up here. Up here, yeah.
- Yeah, up here. - Mom!
Hey. Help, up here!
Yes!
Help! Up here!
- Mama? - No, stay back, stay back!
Help!
MAN: What are you saying? I can't hear you.
Help...
Oh, God.
No! Behind you! Behind you!
- What? - No!
Behind you!
Come on down.
[SHUSHING]
- [POWER WHIRS UP] - [SCREAMING]
[DEVICE HUMMING, CLANKING]
[WHIRS DOWN]
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
What is it?
Kayla, Maddie, come on, we need to go. Let's go.
No! No!
No, Mommy, no!
No, Mommy, come back! Mommy!
Mommy!
- Mama! - [SHUSHING]
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't hear her.
She's not coming back.
- No, Kayla. - [SHUSHING]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Mommy?
- Mommy! - [SHUSHING]
- Maddie, be quiet. - No, I want Mama!
[SHUSHING] He's gonna hear you. We have to get Daddy, Maddie, come on.
- Maddie, come on. - No.
["THIS OLD MAN" PLAYING] # He played knick-knack on my thumb ##
[SOFT BREATHING]
It's Daddy. Come on.
- Are you sure? - Mommy said he's in the car.
I'm scared.
Here. You can hold it.
Do you want me to go first?
Okay.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
# This old man, he played one #
# He played knick-knack on my thumb #
# With a knick-knack paddy-whack give a dog a bone #
# This old man came rolling home #
Do you hear that?
# He played knick-knack on my shoe #
# With a knick-knack paddy-whack give a dog a bone #
# This old man came rolling home #
[SONG CONTINUES]
Daddy!
Daddy?
# This old man, he played one #
- [LOUD THUDS] - # He played knick-knack on my thumb #
# With a knick-knack paddy-whack give a dog a bone #
# This old man came rolling home #
# This old man, he played two #
# He played knick-knack... ##
BOTH: Mommy!
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
LAURA: Run! Run!
[SCREAMING]
- [CAR ENGINE STARTS] - [SCREAMING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[DEMONIC GIGGLING]
It's just a trick. It's not Daddy. It's not Daddy.
Maddie, run! Go, go, go!
Mommy!
- Go, go! - [DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[STEPS APPROACHING]
MAN: It's okay to be scared.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
My name is John.
I grew up in this house a long time ago.
Momma...
You come here every year.
I've been watching you for a long time.
Leave us alone!
I've always been here...
...waiting...
...but you couldn't see me.
That book...
...the one you read?
It was given to me when I was a boy.
I used to try and guess the answer...
...but I was wrong...
...just like you.
I left it here...
...so you could find it...
...so you could understand.
Now I have to make a new book.
There's a darkness all around you...
...but it's not a shadow...
...the darkness is me!
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
No!
Maddie! No! No! No!
Maddie! No! No! No...
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
[EERIE MUSIC CONTINUES]
Maddie?
Maddie, wake up.
Maddie?
[MUSIC FADES UP]
[MUSIC BOX PLAYING]
[MUSIC BOX CONTINUES PLAYING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[JOHN GROANS]
[MUSIC FADES UP]
No.
Maddie, Maddie.
Mommy!
God.
Mommy.
My poor...
Mommy.
Help me with her.
- Mommy. - Come on.
Mommy.
KAYLA: Time's up, little Mouse. The riddle is done.
Can you see where it is so you don't have to run?
Because the Darkness, it hides in the light of the day.
And if you're not careful, it will come out to play.
Now if you're reading this story, please don't be afraid.
The Mouse guessed right and the crow flew away.
[CAR ENGINE STARTING]
KAYLA: So come little children, let's play a little game.
Do you know where Darkness hides on a bright sunny day?
[ENGINE SPUTTERS]
[ENGINE TURNING OVER]
[ENGINE STARTING]
And just like the Mouse, if you guess right, too...
...you don't have to worry that it will come looking for you.
Mommy...
...where did he go?