[dog barking]
- Dispatch 29. We're at the front door.
- Roger. The neighbor said
there are two occupants. Both female.
One of them disabled.
- Door's unlocked.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[tense, eerie music]
- Dispatch, we've located the wheelchair.
There's evidence of a struggle.
[indistinct radio chatter]
Mitch, over here!
♪ ♪
We have a body.
♪ ♪
[melancholy piano music]
♪ ♪
♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
all: ♪ ...to you
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday dear Esme ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
- [gasps] Oh, wow. - Cake!
- Esme, smile, girl. One more.
- Big smile. - Big smile.
- Yeah. - Looking pretty.
- Of course she's looking pretty.
She's a princess.
Go ahead.
My princess. [chuckles]
Okay, blow 'em out, honey.
16.
[light applause, laughter]
- Mama got you a computer.
And what else did you get?
- Barbie princess.
- Oh. I used to love Barbie.
- [chuckles] - Does she have a boyfriend?
No Ken? - No Ken.
[laughs]
- Not yet.
[laughs]
- [clears throat]
Okay, it's shot time.
All right.
- [winces]
- Okay, a little pinch.
Little pinch.
- [whinges]
- Almost over, Esme. - [whimpering]
- Almost over.
- Baby, shh, shh, shh, shh.
- There you go.
Can't seem to determine any progress in bone maturation.
Does she still have the pains? - Yes.
[sighs] Three, four nights a week.
Is there--
I mean, is there some new medication that could help her?
- We can put her on a more aggressive treatment.
It's called Sulazine.
It's normally used for marrow patients.
Kind of fools the white cells into growing the body.
- I didn't know medications could fool the body.
- You'd be surprised.
I am seeing some improvements in her mental faculties.
The more you keep her focused on the little things,
the better it'll be.
- [sniffles]
- She's doing okay, Camile.
This new medication will help, I promise.
- I don't know how God...
can let a child go through something like that.
Dr. Holly, I honestly don't.
- Look, if you need any help with those new forms,
I want you to let us know, okay?
- Okay.
- Anna is being treated with a new chemotherapy drug,
Doxylamine, by Tick Pharmaceuticals.
Tick has been instrumental in widening the research
and development of targeted cancer therapies.
And Doxylamine has shown promising results
in combating children's leukemia.
This new targeted approach
can be administered orally or intravenously.
[melancholic music]
♪ ♪
Yep. Yep.
That's the new one. Yep, okay.
Thanks.
Hey, I got a little surprise for you.
Go down that aisle over there.
There.
This one has sparklies,
It looks pretty.
Ooh, this has got a big flower.
Okay, here you go.
Ooh, that's beautiful.
Even yours fans can't help but stare.
It's okay. Here.
Hey, honey.
We got a debate brewing here.
Which hat wins out? The dark one or the light one?
- That's my fave.
- I like the dark one too. It's very cool.
- Winner!
- See, daughter always knows best, right?
- Always.
- Honey, see, you got the same taste as them.
They got the same taste as you.
- Hey, Cam.
Been a few months.
- Travis, what the hell you doing here?
- Shopping. Getting some stuff.
How's my little girl? - Hi, Daddy.
- Hey, you can't just show up here like that out of the blue.
You gotta give us some warning.
- I been leaving messages. We gotta talk.
- No, like hell we do. You abandon her--
Hey! You get off me! Don't you touch me.
Come on. Let's go.
You stop following me around, too, Travis.
I'm warning you. - You're warning me?
- Yeah, I am.
- We need to talk, Camile.
Camile! Camile!
- You know what? I try to tell her.
He's not a good man.
She don't quite understand.
She's curious.
I mean, he lives in the next county over.
- Maybe you should have him over one day.
- [scoffs]
The man who called his own daughter retarded?
Nearly set fire to our home.
The man who once tried to take her away
just to avoid child support?
Mm-hmm. [chuckles]
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
- The truth is, he's a horrible man.
He don't really know Esme at all, you know?
She ain't retarded,
and she ain't a cripple.
She's just got a debilitating disease
that started from leukemia when she was four years old.
And the road just got long from there.
I know I might seem overprotective, but...
She's all I got.
We're all we got.
There you go.
Too cold?
- No.
- I like your sweater, honey.
- Thank you very much.
- Got it for her birthday. - Ah.
How old?
- 16.
- I saw her on TV.
- He says he saw your girl on TV.
- You got a trip to Disneyland.
- Yes.
Esme has been on the news. [chuckles]
- Esme, we're ready to see you now.
- Okay, here we go.
Back it up, honey.
That's right.
- Ms. Stoller, how are we?
- Fine, thank you.
I'm sorry, where's--where's Dr. Holly?
- She means Dr. Yarrow.
- Oh, yes, she transferred to the clinic up in Ford.
- Yeah. - Yeah, yeah.
We have to rotate. Please.
But I did take a look at the new test she gave Esme.
I see that she's responding a little to the hydrocortisone.
Any night sweats?
- Yes, some, mm-hmm.
- Is she menstruating?
- Uh...
She-- yes, a little bit.
- What's a little? Is there a flow
or a trickle?
- Yes, there's a little flow.
- Okay, well, let's take a look at you.
- Here you go.
- Here we go.
Good.
All right, take a listen here.
Okay, deep breath, Esme.
- In and out. In and out.
Okay.
- Good, good. Let's get her prepped
for the minor CT, updated urinalysis.
There were some numbers I took a look at
on the dosage Dr. Yarrow was prescribing.
I'd like to get some new X-rays just to confirm that, okay?
Let's get you up on the table.
You want to take off her shirt, please?
[engine revving, tires squealing]
- Look, Mama, it's Daddy.
- Don't look.
- Hey.
Camile.
Camile, hey.
You called the cops on me!
Hey, why did you call the cops?
Huh?
Camile!
- Esme, don't look.
- This is the last time you run away from me.
You think this is the end?
I have a right to see my daughter!
[tense music]
- That woman.
- Need some help, Cam?
- No, thanks, Alan, I already got it.
- Hey, looking pretty, girl.
You want a cold one, Cam?
- No, thank you.
I got get her on into the bath.
Come on, girl. - You okay?
- Yeah, I just--
I had another run-in with you-know-who.
- Travis? - Anything we can do, Cam?
- No, thank you. We're all right.
Thanks, y'all. Come on.
- Oh, wait. We got something for Esme.
- My wig. - Yeah.
I love that blue. It's like cotton candy.
She's gonna look so good in her costume, Cam.
- Her what?
- The gaming convention next Saturday.
Esme's been talking all month about it.
Esme, you didn't tell your mom?
- No, she did not.
- She loves this stuff, Cam.
- I know she does. [chuckles]
I see her playing the video games on the computer.
I just didn't know about this.
- I was gonna offer to help make her costume,
you know, if that's okay.
- That's... sweet, but,
you know, I got to think about it.
Let's go.
- Cam, you know, I'm sorry.
- It's fine.
Thanks for the wig.
Come on, Esme.
- Hey.
- Good morning, Denise.
I didn't want to just leave this lying on your porch.
Thank you for thinking of her that way,
but she can't accept that.
- Camile, are you sure? I--
- Yes, she's too young for that kind of thing.
- I think it's all fairly innocent.
- Oh, it is, until it ain't.
- Camile, it's important to her.
I'm sorry if she didn't tell you more,
but she really wants to go to that convention.
- Okay, first of all, it's not a convention.
It's a freak show
full of weirdoes running around in costumes
pretending to be something they're not.
I mean, God knows they're doing what with their lives.
She doesn't need all that.
- Camile, she's almost 17. She's not a baby girl anymore.
- She will always be my baby girl.
- I'm just trying to help.
- Everyone is trying to help, and you know what?
I'm grateful.
Do you think I like living off the government dole?
Think I like filling out paperwork every week
just to be denied?
That beautiful house over there?
That's not my home.
It's just a charity gift till they decide we're not fit.
Every year Esme gets older, it gets harder.
It's impossible.
- I know it does.
That's why we're here to help.
Camile.
She is getting older, okay?
And this show is so important to her.
Alan and I will be there to help you.
You gotta let her spread her wings a little.
[melancholic music]
♪ ♪
- I'm sorry, Mama.
I was scared. - You don't have to be scared.
Denise is your friend. I'm your mother.
Whenever you need anything or want anything,
don't be afraid to come to me and ask me.
We've gotta be honest with each other all the time.
Now,
I'm gonna take you to this convention.
But you gotta be good.
You gotta let me take care of us.
♪ ♪
Take your pick, honey.
[nostalgic music]
♪ ♪
That's pretty, honey. - Yeah.
- Here.
- That's very shiny.
- [laughs] Too much sparkles.
- No, more sparkle. Please.
More. More. More. More.
- More sparkly, yes.
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
- Alan, and open up the back, honey.
- Well done, Camile.
I still can't believe you got these free VIP tickets, girl!
- Thanks, Mama.
- Yeah, baby.
This... People here are...
Playboy bunny over there.
- Cool Wymella!
- Wymella's mama.
- [laughs]
- I have got some foot longs ready for consumption.
- Ooh, thanks, hon.
- Esme, you like kraut on your dog?
- No, she can't eat that. Thanks, Alan.
It doesn't sit right with her stomach.
- Gotta go to the bathroom, Mama.
- You just went a little while ago.
- Gotta go.
- Okay, baby.
- I can go myself. - No--uh...
Wait, wait, are you sure you don't want help?
- I wanna go myself, Mama.
- Okay, well, holler if you need some help, okay?
And Esme, Esme, don't forget to bolt the door.
- I know.
[fantasy music playing]
♪ ♪
- That one looks like a girl with all that hair.
- Hey! - I'm not butting. [laughs]
Esme!
Y'all up and done in there?
[tense music]
Esme?
Excuse me, ladies, has anyone seen a girl in a wheelchair?
- No.
- Is that an exit down there?
Is that an exit down there?
Oh, my God.
Sorry. Esme!
Excuse me.
Did you see a girl in a wheelchair? No?
Esme!
♪ ♪
Esme?
Did you seen a girl with a wheelchair?
Excuse me. Excuse me, sorry.
Anyone seen a girl in a wheelchair?
Denise?
Denise, have you seen Esme?
- No. I haven't. - No?
She's missing. Esme?
Come on.
Anyone seen a girl in a wheelchair?
Has anyone seen a girl in a wheelchair?
Esme?
Excuse me. Excuse me.
My daughter is missing. Okay, she's in a wheel--
♪ ♪
- Camile!
Over here! I found her.
Hey! Stop!
- Esme.
What happened?
Oh, my God.
Oh, Esme. Esme.
What happened? - Mama.
- Esme, baby.
- Mama. Mama.
- Oh, shh.
- [crying]
- Esme, tell me what happened.
- She don't even know what happened to her.
- Camile, I'm sorry. - I know you are, Denise.
You said so. You're sorry.
Let me ask you, does she still seem so young to you?
All prettied up and mature. Did you see her in that chair?
- Camile--
- Goddamn gaming festival.
I don't even know why I let her go.
- Camile, Camile, they're gonna get the guy who did this.
- Oh, bullshit, Alan.
You couldn't even chase him down.
Just--will you just respect my wishes
and stay away for a bit?
- Camile, please call me if you need anything.
- You are special.
[indistinct chatter]
[tense, furtive music]
♪ ♪
♪
- Give you 85. - No, it's worth at least 3.
- Probably. 85's my offer.
- I am late to pick up my daughter.
We're going round and round in circles here.
- You came to me, ma'am.
100, final.
- I'll take that gun.
♪ ♪
I got a license.
- Bet you do.
♪
- Ah, Ms. Stoller, I was seeing another patient
and I thought I'd see Esma.
- "Es-May." Are we done here, Yvonne?
- Yes, but-- - 'Scuse me.
- Ms. Stoller, can I-- - Get off!
I don't want you ever calling her again.
I don't want you ever touching her again.
Do you hear me? Come on, sweetheart.
- Are you insinuating--
- I want you to back the hell off!
Do you hear me? You understand me?
We're getting ourselves another doctor.
Go on. You don't call her again.
You don't touch her again!
Do you hear me?
I don't want you touching her ever again!
No, ma'am, that is not correct.
Yeah, I should have received a voucher for that medication
over a week ag
Yes, I did fill out the correct form.
I've got the copy of it right here in my hand.
You want the number again?
[scraping]
I need to call you back. Hold on.
Esme?
Honey? [glass shatters]
[tense, dramatic music]
Es--
♪ ♪
[rustling] Hey!
Hey! Hey. Stay away from my daughter!
You hear?
[gunshots]
[dogs barking]
- Ma'am, tell me about the car.
- I told you I don't know,
and why the hell aren't you questioning her father?
I told you he was dangerous.
So what are you gonna do to start protecting my Esme?
I like jump rope.
These girls better be careful.
Hey, girls. - Hi, Ms. Stoller.
- Hi, Esme.
[cell phone rings]
Hello?
- Ms. Stoller, this is Detective Annie Keller.
This a good time?
- Uh, yeah, I'm just at the grocery store.
- That blood on your window has been identified as male.
We're still going through footage
from the convention center,
but we have nothing on the cameras.
Do you have anything new on your end?
- Nope.
- Okay, we're trying to reach your ex-husband.
We'll let you know if hear anything.
- Thanks.
[somber music]
♪ ♪
- Hey.
You.
The police are watching over us.
It's gonna be okay.
[chuckles]
♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little star ♪
♪ How I wonder ♪
♪ What you are ♪
Mmm.
♪ Like a diamond ♪
[humming]
[eerie, tense music]
♪ ♪
Safety.
[train horn blares]
[grunting]
- Mama.
- Esme?
[eerie, tense music]
Esme?
Esme!
Wait, Esme!
Esme! Wait!
Wait! Esme, wait!
Wait!
Esme.
Esme!
♪ ♪
Esme?
♪ ♪
[clattering]
[groans]
Esme?
Honey?
♪ ♪
[clattering]
- Mama.
- [screams]
- There's two sides to every story,
and this is mine.
Mama once said I was a sick angel
who fell from heaven and couldn't fly.
She was told by God to always protect me.
[nostalgic music]
- Hey, Karoline. You get some good sleep?
- Esme. - That's her nickname.
Esmeralda from "The Hunchback."
She loves that movie.
- Esme Stoller?
You're up next for your MRI.
[machine buzzing]
- I want to recommend
a temporary stop on all new treatments.
- But she has been on chemo for the last two years.
- That's what I'm trying to explain.
We have lowered the dosage and there's been no change.
That's something we see as a good sign.
- But she can barely walk.
- That's most likely the chemo.
If you look here,
some signs point to an early Septicemia
when Esme was very young.
It's essentially a bacterial infection in the blood stream
that can sometimes mirror the early properties of leukemia.
I have a very strong feeling
Esme may have been misdiagnosed.
- Mama!
I can walk a bit.
- Esme!
- Mrs. Stoller--
- Where the hell were you people?
- It's okay. She's okay.
- I know it's okay.
I'm the one holding her.
Baby, let's get these little legs under there.
What are you doing?
- Mama,
why did we leave?
- 'Cause we can't get in our house no more,
and the hospitals are all filled up,
and I can't get you the medications you need.
But don't worry.
You are gonna like Joplin.
Lots of pretty parks.
It's also where I grew up.
- Mama?
Will we see Daddy when we're there?
[light nostalgic music]
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
- Mama, why are you sad?
- I'm sad because
I don't have one of them bracelets.
- You can have it.
♪ ♪
- Oh, angel.
- It's ours.
- Yes, Esme, whatever happens,
I'm gonna always watch over you.
Always.
- And I watch over you.
- Hey,
I spy...
with my little eye...
something beautiful.
- [laughs]
- What do I need there?
Okay, there it is.
Esme, you stay in that chair!
- I want the Ana Bananas.
- Just wait. Stay there.
I gotta get coffee first.
Esme!
I said stay in that chair!
[tense music]
Great, now look what you did.
♪ ♪
Sit down!
- But I'm all right. - You're not all right.
You're sick!
Look what you did.
Creating a scene.
Hard as I work--
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- Mama-- - Shh.
It's okay. I got you.
Okay, Mama's here.
♪ ♪
I'll get your Ana Bananas, okay?
Here.
Stay there next time when I say to.
- Is everything okay?
- Oh.
Yes, of course it is.
My little girl has a seizure sometimes,
but she's okay now.
- Ma'am, we can call for help.
- No, no, everything's all right.
- Do you need help to your car?
Is there anything we can do?
- You know, I could-- [crying]
use some help with my food stamps.
- It's okay, ma'am, don't worry about that,
when you finished your shopping,
just come to the front of check-out one.
We'll make sure you don't have to wait.
I might also have some extra stuff for y'all in the back,
free of charge.
- Oh, thank you.
Isn't that sweet, Esme?
Smile at the sweet man.
Smile at him.
There you go.
Thank you.
God bless you.
All righty.
Now hold still, honey.
[nostalgic music]
♪ ♪
Hold still, baby.
You thinking about what you might want for your birthday?
- Computer.
- I don't think we can afford no computer.
- We can both use it.
- Arms up high.
All right. Okay.
Okay.
Okeydoke.
Anything hurt?
- Tummy.
- From the feeding tube?
- I don't need it anymore.
I eat good enough.
- You'll wear it till Dr. Holly says
you don't need it no more.
It makes giving you the drugs a little easier.
Plus it's better than injections.
- No, I don't want them today.
- Esme. - I can't see with them.
- You can't see without them, all right?
Okay?
There.
If you want to be honored at the children's charity benefit,
you'll wear 'em.
Okay.
[grunts] There we go.
Happy birthday, almost birthday girl.
[chuckles]
Okay, let's get ready to go.
- 20, 40, 60, 80, and 5.
- Thank you, wouldn't mind another zero
on the end of that government check.
- Oh, she's got the pink cap on today.
Looks pretty.
- Esme, what do you say?
- Thank you very much.
- You're welcome. - Mm-hmm, thank you.
- You're welcome, have a good day.
- All right, Gina, I'll see you back here next week, right.
- She can take her shirt off.
- I didn't realize you were running an exam today.
- I just want to check something.
Two minutes, Ms. Stoller.
- Okay, Esme, raise your arms up high for Dr. Holly.
- Okay.
Deep breath in, Esme.
In and out.
Good.
I wanted to see if Esme was responding
to the rhythmic breathing exercises.
- Yes, ma'am,
we do them every morning, noon, and night.
- Just morning's fine.
I noticed some skin reddening around her torso.
- Yes, I was gonna ask you about that.
I'm really worried.
Do you think it's a response to the new meds?
- No, I think it's just some minor rash.
Have you been fitting her with any training bras
or any support?
- No, I mean, she's not really developing, right?
- I'm seeing some transformation.
- Does that mean she's getting better?
- Well, let's see how
she responds to this new medication.
- Okay.
She still has pain, you know.
In her--in her stomach...
from whole foods.
Still keeping her on the feeding tube.
- Esme, are you more comfortable with the tube?
- Esme,
pain in your tummy, right?
From eating.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Yeah.
- There. [chuckling]
- Wow. - All right.
- Happy birthday, Esme! - Happy birthday!
- Sweet 16.
- Good girl.
Okay, now...
Ah. Ah-ah-ah.
- Open it. Open it.
[gasps] Wow! Nice!
Look at that! - Mm-hmm.
- Oh, wow, Mom did good.
- With a little community support.
I guess it was about time.
I don't know how I'm gonna be able to afford the Wi-Fi.
- You can piggyback off ours, Cam.
- Thank you, Denise.
- We can set up a Facebook page for you too.
That way everyone can know what's going on with Esme.
- Hey.
- Welcome to the Internet, Esme.
- Take a picture for the newspaper.
Facebook. - It's a good one.
[door creaks]
- You should be using your chair.
- No one's here.
- Esme, it's not the point, honey,
you should be using the chair.
I want that feeding tube in
when we take pictures for the Facebook.
- It's not The Facebook, it's just Facebook.
- You keep being a little smarty,
and I just might cancel that charity trip
to the Magic Castle.
- Mama. - Hmm?
- I want to talk to Daddy.
- [laughs]
Well, he don't want to talk to you.
Doesn't want to talk to me either.
- Well, he has email. We can try--
- Esme.
He's a rotten man.
Don't need that in our lives.
- I don't think he's rotten--
- Let me tell you something right now.
You shed one tear for that man,
and you'll never see this thing again.
I'm will slam it right to the ground.
'Cause you know what? I don't give a shit.
Now, all we have
is each other.
You understand me? You follow me?
Yeah?
Okay.
All we got is each other.
You...
You turn your back
for one second
and the world is just gonna
rush right in
and get you.
Okay?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[light, hopeful music]
♪ ♪
- [coughs]
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- I wanna see Daddy.
- We've been through all this, Esme.
- He's been calling you.
I wanna see him.
- Ain't gonna happen.
- I wanna see him.
- Discount on yours, Esme.
Gonna get a discount.
You still want that snow cone, right?
- Mama, Daddy has a Harley.
- Used Harley. Very used.
We'll take it out. We'll race.
- Yeah? - What do you say?
- I can go fast.
- Esme, do you want that snow cone?
- Yeah! [laughs]
- Esme, how are you liking that school?
There's, what, eight other kids, right?
- She ain't going to school no more.
It saves money.
- How long you been schooling her?
- Oh, few years now.
- Well, what happened to the money
that we been sending for that school?
- Hey, Travis, don't even talk to me about sending money.
You're still behind two alimony payments.
Hey, you know what?
Maybe you could discuss that with him
next time he tries to detail his new truck.
- You know that's not true.
- He has been making the payments.
- Joanna, you're not even part of this conversation.
- Whou're telling lies about my husband, Camile, I am.
- Oh, yeah, you tell me one lie
I just said about my ex. Go on.
No, please. I mean it. Go on.
- Some of the payments-- - Mama.
I want to play that game. - Go ahead.
- Kay, yeah, yeah, sometimes, you know,
my payments have not been on the dot,
but every month you get a check.
[dramatic, enchanting music]
♪ ♪
- Ooh, you got 'em!
- Esme!
Let's go.
Esme, come on. Let's go.
♪ ♪
Esme.
What was that boy's name?
- I don't know.
- That boy gave you all his tickets for a Rapunzel doll
and you don't know his name?
[innocent music]
♪ ♪
- Scott.
♪ ♪
- Esme, I have
some very good news for you and your mother.
We found no bad cells.
That means you're gonna be okay.
Does that make you happy?
- Yes.
- Ms. Stoller?
- Yes, that's wonderful. - [laughs]
Now I want you to come back a couple more times,
but after that, things will be better
for you and for your mother.
Now, Esme, I need to ask you
where was the last place you felt any pain?
Can you tell me?
- Yeah, my tummy.
- She has pains in her stomach.
- Hmm.
CT scans.
- She gets pains in the stomach.
- I-I understand.
I just don't see any indication of nerve pressure in the scans.
- God didn't put my daughter on this earth
to lie, Dr. Price. [chuckles]
- Ms. Stoller, may I speak to Esme alone?
April will be right here with us.
- Well, she doesn't talk real good when...
[mouthing words]
- Well, if that's the case,
then I'll call you right back in.
- What are you gonna ask her?
Why don't you just talk to our old doctor, Dr. Holly.
- Dr. Holly Yarrow was released from this clinic
for overprescribing medications, Ms. Stoller.
I just need to ask her about the pain.
Won't be but a minute.
- I'll be right outside.
- It's gonna be okay, honey.
- Esme.
Esme.
I'm your doctor.
Now, I'm here to help you
with anything that might be troubling you.
Now is there anything you want to tell me?
Anything you need to tell me about you
or about your mother?
[sighs]
Esme,
there's an illness that some people have
where they believe that they're sick,
when they're really not.
Usually they're made to believe this
because someone they love, like their mother,
or father, may be forcing them to play the part.
They do this because they want attention.
They want support.
And it turns out
that they're the ones who really have the sickness.
Do you understand what I'm telling you?
Esme.
- [crying] - Doctor.
- Esme, it's okay. It's okay.
- Get away from her! - It's okay, Ms. Stoller--
- You get away from my baby girl!
[melancholic, nostalgic music]
♪ ♪
- There's nothing wrong with me.
I could have told them right there.
- You need some rest, Esme.
We both do.
- Daddy's not a bad man at all.
He knows something's wrong too, that's why you keep him away.
He's got two girls.
They're my sisters and I've never even met 'em.
Daddy's not like you say he is.
- Esme-- - Nothing is like you say!
You're using me to make the world love you!
- Sit back down.
- It don't love you.
I don't love you! - I said sit down, girl!
- No! I can walk!
- You are a sick girl.
- You're the one who's sick!
[slap resounds]
I hate you!
I hate you--
- Shut up.
- [muffled screaming]
- Shut up! Shut up!
Shut up! Shut up!
Thank you, Lord, for giving me
the strength to protect my baby girl
and for showing me how to be a better mother.
I was born for this position, Lord,
and I'm gonna make you happy.
In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
We gotta be there for each other, Esme.
We got God,
we got each other,
and that's it.
[eerie, tense music]
I couldn't survive without you.
I just... couldn't.
You're this part of me...
this part of me I just can't let go.
[whispering] And it hurts me to hurt you.
♪ ♪
Nighty night.
I love you.
Remember that.
♪ ♪
[melancholic, tense music]
♪ ♪
- I'm gonna take you to that convention, Esme.
But you gotta promise to be good.
You gotta let me take care of us.
You gotta let me do the talking
and don't you ever
talk to me like that again.
Those words hurt me more than anything ever could.
You gotta promise me that, Esme.
You gonna promise me?
- Yes, Mama.
I'm sorry.
- No, baby, I'm sorry.
♪
Hey, remember to bolt the door. - I will.
[furtive music]
♪ ♪
[knocking at door]
♪
- Missed you.
- I missed you.
Been thinking about you a lot.
- What have you been thinking about?
- [laughs]
Nice things.
Naughty things.
[both laugh]
- Me too.
You said you were gonna shave.
- Yeah, but I want you to help me.
Remember?
- [chuckles]
- Can I touch you?
- Yeah.
- Where do you want me to?
- Here.
- I like your blouse, Wymella. [laughs]
- I'm not Wymella.
I'm Blue Esme now.
- [laughs]
[soft, nostalgic music]
♪ ♪
Is my hand cold?
- Yeah, it's good though.
Scott.
You're my prince.
- Yes.
- You gonna rescue me?
- Yes.
- I want you to promise you're gonna rescue me.
- I want you to see something.
You see this?
This means fire and ice forever.
It's Viking. Do you know of Vikings?
They took over a quarter of the world.
And it means together
and never apart.
It's a promise. It's a promise of life.
Forever.
I'm gonna have you forever.
I'm gonna get you away with me.
- Kiss-- kiss me.
♪ ♪
[door slams]
- All right, everyone... - I gotta go.
- Please sign in before taking your seats.
- Wait, take my blue. Told me you'd take my blue.
- Thank you. This way, everyone.
- More.
More! More.
- I gotta go. I gotta go!
I'll see you-- I'll see you--
I'll see you soon.
I promise you.
- Camile! Camile, I found her!
- Come back. - Hey, stop!
♪
- We had a pact,
and you broke it.
You meet him on this thing? - No.
- You're lying.
- Mama.
Mama-- [blow thuds]
- No more video games. [blows thudding]
No more Facebook.
And no more computer.
[eerie, tense music]
[clattering]
♪ ♪
- Voila.
- Scott.
- I got prepaid on it,
and we can text on it too.
I use it when I take car trips.
- You take car trips? - Oh, yeah.
Yeah, I drive all over the place.
See all these new things.
- Wish I could see those new things.
- Well, I'll trade my car in for a van,
and then we can go on trips all the time.
And then I'll take care of you.
- Scott.
I'm normal.
I know it. I don't need the chair.
I don't need anything.
- I can't believe it.
- We can take-- take trips together.
- You can walk.
- [angry chattering]
- Make sure to promise me you're gonna rescue me.
You promised me. Promise me.
- I promise you. I promise--
I'm gonna take care of you no matter what, okay?
I promise you. I promise.
- Go. Go. Go.
[glass shatters] - Ow--
- Esme!
[indistinct chatter]
[cell phone ringing]
- Can I get Sean to Customer Service desk, please?
Sean to Customer Service.
[gentle, furtive music]
♪ ♪
[electronic beeps]
- It's okay, baby.
You okay?
The police are gonna watch over us now.
Everything's gonna be all right.
- Yeah, Mama.
[gentle, hopeful music]
♪ ♪
[hopeful, furtive music]
♪ ♪
♪
[clattering]
- Esme?
[clatters]
[tense music]
- Look at me, Mama.
- [screams]
Help me, Esme!
♪ ♪
- Esme!
No!
Esme!
Don't hurt my baby!
- Esme, you gotta help me!
- Esme!
[Camile screaming]
[groaning]
[knocking at door]
[tense, somber music]
♪ ♪
♪
[tranquil music]
♪ ♪
- I've never been in the front seat before.
I spy
with my little eye something...
Beautiful.
♪
[no audible dialogue]
♪ ♪
[tranquil, gentle music]
♪ ♪
- [vomits]
- Are you all right?
- [stammering quietly]
I want my--
- Esme?
Esme?
Hey, she's okay.
- She don't look okay.
- Well, I got her now, so she's okay.
- Honey?
- I'm all right. I'm all right.
- She's all right now. Thank you so much.
We appreciate it.
Bye now.
Esme?
- I miss Mama.
I miss her, Scott.
I miss Mama.
[gentle, hopeful music]
♪ ♪
♪
I... can't swim.
- It's okay. I've got you. Come on. Take my hand.
♪ ♪
You ready? - Yeah.
- One, two... Hold your breath.
Three.
♪ ♪
Esme! - Scott! Scott!
- Esme! - Scott!
Scott! Scott! - No. Esme!
Sco-- Scott!
Ma--mama!
- Esme! - No, no! Mama!
[crying]
Mama! - Esme!
- I'd never been held before by anyone but Mama.
I'd never been loved by anyone else.
I thought of his face,
the way he touched my body and lips.
He never kept me.
He just... held me.
He was gone now.
They were both gone now.
- Now, there's an offer from the prosecution,
and they're willing to make a deal for a reduced sentence,
but you would have to plead guilty.
- What about Scott?
- Scott isn't a part of this,
and you won't be able to see or talk to him again, okay?
- I'm going to take you through the terms,
and we can talk about if we want to take this deal.
Otherwise the state will try you as an adult.
- Wait, I'm not--
but I'm not an adult. I'm 17.
- Esme, we have a copy of your birth certificate.
You're 21.
- No--no...
But I'm 17. Mama said I'm 17.
- You're mother wasn't telling you the truth.
I'm sorry.
Esme, you're an adult.
[melancholic music]
♪ ♪
♪
- Okay, yeah, great.
I got most of your stuff out of storage.
But...
I--well, we weren't sure about the,
about the...
wigs and, you know, like, the dolls, and--
- I-I don't need those anymore.
You can give 'em away if you want.
- Esme, just a--
just a few years down the line, okay?
- It's okay. It's not that bad.
They let me grow my hair long here.
[laughs]
- Esme, you know your mama was the one that was sick,
not you.
Not you.
- I--I know, Daddy.
- You got a whole life ahead,
and Joanna and I are gonna be there.
I'm--I'm sorry.
I should have been there for you
to help, but I...
I didn't know.
[sighs]
But I'm here now,
and we're gonna make up for lost time.
Somebody has a birthday coming up.
[both laugh]
You know what you want?
- Maybe some good sneakers.
I've been running in the courtyard.
- Really?
- Yeah, I wasn't too good at first,
but, well, some of the guards helped me out and,
well, I'm pretty fast now.
So fast sometimes I feel like
I could just jump up and fly away.
♪ ♪
- Esme, you will fly.
♪ ♪