(DOOR CREAKS)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
(FLOORBOARD CREAKING)
(BED SQUEAKS)
(YOUNG THEO INHALES SHARPLY)
Mmm, that you, Nellie?
You had another nightmare?
Okay.
You can sleep with me for tonight.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
You're really freaked out, huh?
Ease up a little.
(GROANS SOFTLY) Nellie?
You're squeezing too tight.
Nellie?
(GASPING)
Nellie?
Whose hand was I holding?
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
GIRL: It was a Monday, and I couldn't sleep.
I went downstairs to the kitchen to get a snack.
And that's the first night I saw him.
Mr. Smiley.
Coming out from where he lives.
THEO: And what did you do?
GIRL: I stayed as quiet as I could,
thinking maybe he'd just stay down there.
But then I heard a creak.
The stairs, the third step from the top, it makes a sound.
That's how I knew he was coming.
That's how I always know.
(IMITATES CREAKING)
Then my doorknob, then he's in my room.
What does Mr. Smiley look like?
Just a big smile.
Too big.
He's always smiling, but he isn't happy.
That's really scary.
You said something about where he lives?
Where does Mr. Smiley live, Kelsey?
Under the house.
In the basement?
You know...
You're a lot like me, Kelsey.
- Yeah? - Oh, yeah.
See, when I was little, I was afraid of a lot of things.
I didn't have to be, though.
They were all in my head. I just didn't know that yet.
But when I was scared,
I would imagine myself building
a big wall, all around me,
made of the strongest bricks in the whole world.
And when I got scared,
I would imagine myself putting another one on, one after the other
until that wall was so thick and so strong
I knew I'd be safe in there forever.
And that's what you do, too, right?
It's okay.
It's good.
'Cause kids like us have been through more than other kids.
We're tougher than other kids.
We're great builders.
We make ourselves really safe.
And no one ever gets in.
Mr. Smiley does.
Our other two foster kids are thriving. We just want the same for her.
She was telling me about Mr. Smiley.
Yeah. Yeah, we've heard about him, too.
We're more concerned about her behavioral problems at school.
You can see her grades started out fine.
At least, considering.
- THEO: Hmm. - But then...
Well, you'll see.
All our kids have always had to go through an adjustment,
- but this... - Could be normal.
The foster care system isn't the easiest place to grow up.
And the Mr. Smiley thing, did that start right away, or...
Uh, a few weeks after she moved in.
And her behavioral issues started around the same time.
- We'll get to the bottom of it. - (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Same time next week?
Yeah.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Thanks. - Mmm-hmm.
(PAGE FLIPS)
- (THUD) - YOUNG THEO: Trash.
Nellie crawls into our bed sometimes.
She says it wasn't her.
I guess it was just a weird dream.
Most of the stuff is gonna be junk, but anything fancy, we can sell it.
Trash.
Hang on.
This is...
Fancy.
Yeah?
(YOUNGER HUGH GRUNTS)
'49 Clos du Bois.
Damn.
This is quite...
- How did you know that? - Mmm-mmm. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
MOTHER: You... You really don't feel that?
MRS. DUDLEY: I'm sorry, I don't.
(SIGHS) We must look like we're crazy, huh?
Hi, Mrs. Dudley.
Theodora.
Well, you tell me if I am.
(EXHALES)
Do you feel cold right there?
- Yep. - I told you.
My apologies.
No, no, it's a very small spot, just... Just right here,
like you're standing in front of an open refrigerator.
But... But if you move...
See?
What about there?
Yep. Here, too.
You sure? I don't feel it here.
This whole house is cold.
MOTHER: That doesn't exactly clear things up, does it, Clara?
MRS. DUDLEY: No, ma'am. MOTHER: Come upstairs.
There's another spot in the second master.
You're out of mustard, and you're almost out of turkey.
You know there are people you can actually pay to make you lunch.
Some of them even deliver it right to your office.
It would save you driving over here every day.
I like the drive. It gives me time to think.
And the food's better at home.
If it's shopping you don't like,
you could always find someone to go with you.
Someone like that girl from last night.
And give up all this?
(THEO SIGHS)
How's work?
It was a tough one today.
This little girl.
I couldn't get anything from her.
You always figure out how to help.
You're so good with them.
Though this one, she's tough.
She's like a brick wall.
SHIRLEY: I know the type.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) - (SHIRLEY LAUGHS)
YOUNG LUKE: Do you see anything? YOUNG NELL: Nope. Just dark.
YOUNG LUKE: Maybe you send messages through it.
YOUNG THEO: What'd you find?
YOUNG LUKE: Don't know.
YOUNG THEO: Here. Let me see.
YOUNG THEO: Hmm. YOUNG LUKE: What?
It's like a telephone...
But for inside the house.
Here, Nellie, you stay there.
Come on.
YOUNG THEO: That's the other end.
Ugh, what is that smell?
What smell?
YOUNG LUKE: You can't smell that?
YOUNG THEO: It smells the same in here as the rest of the house.
This was a sickbed.
How do you know?
YOUNG NELL: Hello!
Hello, can you hear me? This is Eleanor Crain calling.
I can hear you, Nellie.
You guys have fun.
YOUNG NELL: You have to say your name so I know it's really you.
YOUNG LUKE: (GROANS) Luke Crain!
YOUNG NELL: If you're really Luke, what's your favorite kind of pudding?
YOUNG LUKE: Um, rice?
YOUNG NELL: No, it's chocolate, vanilla, chocolate.
YOUNG LUKE: No, it's rice now.
YOUNG NELL: You need to tell me things like this, Luke.
YOUNG LUKE: I am telling you. YOUNG NELL: Hello!
THEO: Hello.
I'm Theodora, but I like my friends to call me Theo.
Will you call me Theo?
Hi, Theo.
(DRAWER OPENS)
STEVE: It wasn't exactly easy to hear,
but Shirley hit on some things that have been nagging at me.
And, um, well, you were right.
I was trying to take ownership of something
that doesn't belong just to me.
So you're pulling the book?
I'm offering to share the book.
I'll give each of you 8% of any royalties.
And if it sells as well as my publisher thinks...
SHIRLEY: Jesus, Steve.
STEVE: I'm trying to do the right thing.
SHIRLEY: The right thing?
What, is the guilt getting in the way of your new lifestyle?
STEVE: What? SHIRLEY: You and Leigh feeling awkward
- while you pack up for California? - STEVE: Yeah, whatever.
This could be a significant amount...
"Whatever"?
It's all about the money for you, Steve. We're well aware.
Of course it's about the money.
- I mean, you guys have read it, right? - I haven't.
Why bother?
I've heard the various versions my whole life.
I've heard Dad's tabloid horror show,
I've heard Luke and Nellie's ghost stories. No offense, Nellie.
Okay.
I've heard you and Steven do your best James Randi impression
where you say how crazy everybody was.
Just, maybe it's a middle child thing,
but I just would rather focus on living my actual life...
Right now.
Maybe I'll just wait for the paperback.
We're not taking your money.
None of us.
It's blood money, Steve.
You're welcome to every red cent.
- Right? - Yup.
- Blood money. - Right.
(CLOCK TICKING)
(COLD HEARTED PLAYING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
Hello?
(THUD)
You're not funny, Luke.
(FUTURE SPEEDER PLAYING)
Hey, can I get a water? Close it out?
(SWITCH CLICKING)
What do you think you're doing?
I was just giving my truck a ride.
What's up?
Your little brother was getting into trouble.
Wanna let go of his arm?
He's playing, Mrs. Dudley. Why are you yelling at him?
Because the dumbwaiter is not a toy. It can be dangerous.
That's all you need to say, then.
Fair enough.
Come along. I need to clean the kitchen.
YOUNG LUKE: You don't have to be so mean about it.
YOUNG THEO: She's not mean.
She's scared.
What makes you say that?
(INSECTS CHIRPING)
(YOUNG THEO SIGHS)
(DUMBWAITER CLATTERS)
Luke?
I thought it might be her.
Mrs. Dudley?
She never stays after dark.
What are you doing?
Trying to take a ride in this elevator.
Dumbwaiter.
YOUNG LUKE: Come on, you stupid thing.
Bet the door has to be closed.
But then I can't reach the buttons.
You're a crazy kid, you know that?
Just one ride? I know it works.
Please, Theo?
- I'm gonna get in trouble. - I won't tell.
Please, come on.
It's a perfect kid-size elevator.
(SIGHS) Fine, but you hop straight out
and you don't tell anyone I did this for you, okay?
Okay.
- You ready? - Going up.
Hey! Up, up! Theo!
Luke! Shit.
- YOUNG LUKE: Theo! - Luke!
- Theo! Theo! - (THUD)
(RATTLING)
YOUNG THEO: Luke?
YOUNG LUKE: There's a room down here.
There's a ladder down here on the wall.
- (SQUEAKING) - YOUNG LUKE: You can come get me.
- Just hang on. - (SWITCH CLICKS)
(MOUSE SQUEAKING)
Bring me up, please.
(CRACKLING)
- There's something down here. - Just hang on. I'm trying.
Come on.
(YOUNG LUKE BREATHING SHAKILY)
Theo!
- (YOUNG LUKE SCREAMS) - YOUNG THEO: Luke!
(SCREAMS) Luke?
- Luke! - (YOUNG LUKE SHRIEKING)
YOUNGER HUGH: Luke?
- Help! - YOUNGER HUGH: Luke?
Is he in the... Jesus!
YOUNGER HUGH: Hang on.
- (STAMMERS) Get him up. - Uh, hang on.
MOTHER: Let's get him up!
- YOUNGER HUGH: Hang on. - (THEO CRIES)
MOTHER: It's okay, baby, we're right here. We're right here.
It's okay, baby. We're right here.
(YOUNG LUKE CONTINUES SCREAMING)
YOUNGER HUGH: Okay. It's okay. It's okay.
- Let's see, let's see. Here we go. - YOUNGER HUGH: It's okay.
(MOTHER SIGHS)
What... What happened?
YOUNGER HUGH: Did you rip your shirt? Must've got caught on the door.
Something grabbed me! Monster! It was a monster!
- What the hell were you thinking? - YOUNGER HUGH: It's okay.
(SOFTLY) Is he okay?
Go to your room.
MOTHER: (SIGHS) Come here. Come here.
Let me see, honey. Let's see what happened.
- Okay, there's no scrapes. - YOUNGER HUGH: Okay?
MOTHER: You're okay. Yeah, so scary, huh?
You all right?
(CRIES, SNIFFLES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(THEO GASPS)
(YELLS)
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
(CLEARS THROAT)
(INHALES DEEPLY) Jesus.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
You really got in my head, girl.
- (KNOCK ON DOOR) - (CLEARS THROAT)
I'm sorry.
It's...
Um...
Nell.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
STEVE: I'm just saying a modest dowry, nothing ostentatious.
LEIGH: Not enough I support you for, what, six years?
You also wish you got a cow?
STEVE: Or a llama. Something.
- Hey. - NELL: Oh. Hi.
Did you find them? The toasts are supposed...
NELL: I know. I'm still looking.
The toasts were supposed to be 10 minutes ago.
I know, I need Stacey.
I'll check the bar.
- Five minutes. - Okay. Thanks.
- Oh, hi. - Honey.
- Hi. - Hey. Did you find her?
No, she's not out front.
- I... I'm still missing two groomsmen. - Oh, my God.
- I'm gonna check the kitchen. - Okay.
- All right? - Okay.
Okay.
- We're good. - NELL: Okay.
- Really? - Mmm.
- (NELL SCOFFS) - I looked at the bar.
Yeah.
Great. It's toast time, and my maid of honor is MIA.
(SIGHS)
NELL: You don't have to help me. I'll find her.
STEVE: (SCOFFS) Beats the cold shoulder from Shirley.
- (CHUCKLES) - That table's getting tense.
Stacey? Stacey?
- (STEVEN SIGHS) - No.
(WOMAN MOANING)
WOMAN: Yeah.
(MOANING CONTINUES)
Stacey!
(OBJECTS CLATTER)
- STACEY: Yeah, just a sec. - (GIGGLES)
That's the thing about weddings.
Hey.
- Sorry. - (GIGGLES) It's okay.
Toasts were, uh, supposed to be 10 minutes ago.
- I'm sorry. I'm ready. - It's okay. Yeah, come on.
Might wanna check your makeup.
No, it's fine. You'll be fine. (GIGGLES)
You coming?
(WHISPERS) I want to see who's in there.
It's gotta be Henry.
Oh, my money's on Matt.
- He collects bridesmaids. - No.
You want to put some money on it?
(DOOR CLOSES)
Hey.
What?
- Nothing. - I mean...
I mean...
I mean, we didn't...
We didn't know you were into...
Bridesmaids?
(LAUGHS)
(SIGHS)
NELL: I love you.
- THEO: Can you get my dress? - Oh, yes. (LAUGHS)
THEO: I'm sorry to bring this up again, but...
Why the hell would she go to that house?
My kids are gonna ask me how she died.
And you'll tell them.
Tell them what?
She killed herself?
- Aunt Nellie killed herself? - Yes, that's better than lying.
Or saying nothing, like Dad did.
What do I say?
You answer the question that's asked.
(SIGHS) Don't elaborate,
don't offer information that's not requested.
Just tell them that...
That their feelings are correct, and they're safe.
And it's okay to be curious.
And sad.
(INHALES DEEPLY) Tell them you're sad, too.
And if they ask why?
Tell them you don't know.
No one knows.
That's okay.
Better they ask you than me.
Why?
Because I'm fucking angry.
Because I don't wanna have to tell them that I'm fucking pissed at Auntie Nell,
who should have known better, better than most
what this does to a family.
She fucking knew better.
And she did it anyway.
(CART CLATTERS)
I gotta go.
Sorry, I just... I can't, Shirl.
(CLATTERING CONTINUES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
Hey.
Can I come in?
I like your drawing.
Listen...
I'm sorry, okay?
It's okay.
Mom and Dad are still mad at me.
They don't believe me.
- About what? - Anything.
I'm sorry.
First, they said Abigail's not real.
(INHALES SHARPLY) Now they said the basement's not real.
It's not in the blueprints.
They said it's probably just a crawl space.
And whatever was down there, they definitely don't believe me.
Nobody ever believes me.
I believe you.
Maybe we can prove it to them.
You said something about a ladder when you were down there.
So pretend you're the dumbwaiter.
Where was it?
Okay, so...
Was it this far away?
A little more.
YOUNG THEO: Was it...
This far away?
Okay.
Now, um, one, two,
three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven.
(CLICKS)
You were so scared.
WOMAN: Oh. Hi.
I'm so sorry to just, um, drop in on you like this.
- If I'm interrupting, I can... - WOMAN: Oh, no, it's fine.
Please, come in.
I was just in the neighborhood, and I needed something to...
Is Kelsey here?
No, she's at school right now.
- All the kids are at school. - (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Of course.
I didn't realize you made house calls.
I don't, normally.
I was just out and about and thinking about your case.
This is going to sound really strange, but...
Would you mind if I took a quick look down in your basement?
(WOMAN SIGHS)
Uh, give us a shout if you need anything.
- I'm about to go back to work. - (SOFTLY) Okay.
Thank you.
(STAIRCASE CREAKS)
(SIGHS SOFTLY)
(GASPS)
(WHIMPERS) No.
Please! (MUFFLED) No. No.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(GASPS)
- You all done? - THEO: Yep.
I really appreciate you indulging me like this.
I was hoping I could get into Kelsey's headspace just a bit,
you know, try to understand her better. But, well...
It's just a normal basement.
That's what we keep telling her.
I'll dive back in with her this week.
Thank you.
Thanks.
What are you,
um, looking at?
Your smile.
THEO: That's right.
And Social Services, too.
You just have to trust me on this.
I haven't been wrong before, have I?
Yes, I'm sure.
I'm sure the guy will confess if you just...
(INHALES)
Just get them here.
No, I'm going to wait for the cops.
Okay.
Thanks, Gina. Bye.
MOTHER: You found this.
It was in this little room, off to the side.
There were a whole bunch of books like it.
It's a book of secrets that they were trying to hide.
How do you figure that?
I don't know.
I could tell when I picked it up.
Like you could tell there's a false floor in the pantry?
It's a ledger.
For a bootlegging operation.
You know what that is?
A long time ago, it was illegal to sell alcohol,
so they made it in secret and hid it.
You know, there's not a single record of this basement.
It's not on any of the blueprints.
They didn't want anyone to find it. But you did.
I really, really don't like that you went down there by yourself.
I just wanted to show you that Luke was right.
But I love that you're so brave.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- (SCREAMS) - Honey?
Honey, what's wrong?
(SHUDDERING)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
YOUNGER HUGH: Would you look at that.
MR. DUDLEY: Huh.
YOUNGER HUGH: They must've dug it right into the wall.
How the hell did she find this?
MR. DUDLEY: I have no idea.
(CHUCKLES) It's amazing.
YOUNGER HUGH: I can't expect it's up to code.
I'll call Peter to bring some guys tomorrow.
MR. DUDLEY: Uh-huh.
Come here, my love.
You know, your dad was telling me a story, about the wine
you found while you were cleaning up the cupboard.
How'd you know?
I just guessed.
Like you guessed about the ledger?
You know those headaches I get sometimes?
They started when I was a little girl.
And when I get them, uh,
I see all sorts of... (INHALES SHARPLY)
Well...
Your grandmother was like that, too.
She was...
Sensitive.
I've wondered if you and your sisters might be a little sensitive.
Shirley says some things sometimes when she's sleeping that are...
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Well, they're interesting.
And I asked Nellie what she thought about the house when we moved in.
She said it was loud.
Such an odd word she chose.
I noticed you always wear sweaters inside, even though it's summer.
Why is that?
'Cause it's always cold.
Grandma Mary was like that, too.
She hated the air on her skin. She was always bundled up.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Sensitive people... (INHALES)
They sometimes need...
(SIGHS)
Well...
These will help with the cold.
And the other thing.
Does Dad know?
That you're sensitive?
Kind of.
We'll talk a lot more about it as you get older.
(INHALES) But in the meantime...
If you're feeling overwhelmed and you think nobody will understand,
you can talk to me.
About anything.
Okay?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Thanks.
You're not scared Shirley's going to kill you for this?
I'm pretty good at secrets.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) I know.
You sure you don't wanna stay for dinner?
No, but thank you.
Have a good trip.
Hit the beach for me.
No hug?
You got a couple of things wrong in there, by the way.
So you finally read it.
You said it was Luke that found the old bootlegging basement.
That was me.
STEVE: Oh.
Sorry about that.
Anything else?
You know, I was pretty impressed by what you wrote about that night.
What night?
That night.
The last one.
Uh-huh?
- Some wild stuff in there. - (CHUCKLES)
That was really wild stuff, considering that you were asleep for, what, like...
99% percent of it?
So what are you gonna do with the money?
Car? Purses? Travel?
No.
I'm gonna get my fucking PhD.
(INSECTS CHIRPING)
(LIGHT BUZZING)
(SIGHS)
Jesus wept.
(SNIFFLES)
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFLES)
- (THUD) - (SOBS)
(SCREAMS)
(SCREAMING CONTINUES)
Hey.
(KEVIN SIGHS)
I thought I heard somebody down here.
Sorry to wake you.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
You sure? You look, uh...
Shirley found your checkbook.
- Hmm? - Individual account.
Oh.
You're not gonna tell her, are you?
I mean, it's just as bad for you as it is for me.
THEO: (SIGHS) Of course not.
You might wanna come up with an excuse, though.
Make up a mistress, something.
Secret family.
You know, something that's gonna piss her off
less than the truth.
(THEO SNIFFLES)
- TRISH: Whoa. Hang on. - (THEO BREATHING HEAVILY)
Are you okay?
Yeah, just... We barely said two words to each other.
- Can we take a second and talk? - (SIGHS DEEPLY)
- TRISH: Uh... - (SIGHS)
Hey, believe me, I'm... I'm thrilled you called me.
I just feel kind of weird about how I left the other night,
and then last night at the club, you completely ignored me.
Yeah.
Yeah. (SIGHS)
I'm sorry about that.
Is that what you want to talk about?
Well, not exclusively.
I mean, I don't know, what do people usually talk about?
How are you? How was your day? Stuff like that.
(INHALES)
Well, let's see, my day.
I found out that a nine-year-old that I was treating
was getting molested by her foster dad.
And she buried it so deep, she had to make up a monster
just to compartmentalize and cope.
And she did such a good job that she planted him right in my head.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
Guy folded like a cheap suit
the moment he was questioned by the cops, so...
Yay.
But that just means the girl goes back into the system,
so it's a gamble at best.
So, you know...
Good job, me.
And this kid...
She built up so many emotional walls.
I touched her hands, and I didn't even...
She just needed help, and no one was listening.
(INHALES)
And it's so much like Nellie.
So...
Should we talk about your day or would you rather come to bed?
(YOUNG NELL AND YOUNG LUKE WHIMPERING)
Theo!
I need you to get Luke and Nell to the car.
You get in, lock the doors,
don't unlock them until you see me come outside. Do you understand?
What's happening?
Get them to the car. I need to get Steve and Shirl.
- (BANG) - What's happening?
Go.
Come on. (PANTING)
Come on.
Daddy!
MOTHER: Stop!
(GROANS)
(SHOUTS) Let go!
Let go of me! Let go!
Don't touch me!
YOUNG THEO: Don't touch me!
Touch me.