- [buzzer blares] - [cell door clangs]
[door slides open, clangs]
[chair scraping]
- [Dandridge] You, this corner... - [chair scraping]
You, this corner.
And both of you better keep your hands to yourself.
- We're in handcuffs. - Yeah.
Well, clearly, the two of you are
more creative than I thought, so forgive my precautions.
- Chief, I know how this looks. - Do you?
'Cause to me, it looked like I was about to become
great-grandfather to Rosemary's baby.
[giggles]
This is funny?
I've spent weeks trying to convince people
that this cult stuff is a hoax,
and then my own flesh and blood
gets caught having ritual sex in a pentagram!
Do you have a clue what that looks like for me?
Like you encourage independence?
Like I'm covering for you.
And you.
I have repeatedly stuck my neck out
for you and your friends.
And I appreciate that. Really.
Then as a favor returned, I'm gonna ask you one question,
and I need you to answer it honestly.
Are you a Satanic cult leader?
[uneasy music playing]
- Uh-- - I don't need an essay.
Yes or no.
[Judith] It's okay.
You can tell him the truth.
W-well...
Yes. He is.
And I'm his number one follower.
What's the big deal?
Judith!
What?
It's true, isn't it?
W-well, you see, I'm not really too big on labels...
I sure hope you understand what you just got yourself into, kid.
[Judith sighs]
This feels so...
liberating.
It does?
Everyone will finally see us
for who we really are.
No more hiding. [laughs]
[Judith inhales, sighs]
We're out of the shadows now, babe.
[uneasy music swells]
[scoffs, chuckles]
"Oh, I'm not big on labels."
Wiseass.
[breathing rapidly]
Useless.
Completely goddamn--
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[eerie music playing]
What the hell...?
[phone ringing]
- Hello? - [Faith] Chief Dandridge?
Who am I speaking with?
[Faith] You said I could remain anonymous.
I've been looking all over for you.
Did you send this drawing?
Is this who kidnapped Ryan?
You should know, I got Bob in custody,
but if you don't come down here
and make an official statement soon,
I have no choice but to release him once bail is posted.
Are you still there?
[Faith laughs]
If this is all a prank,
you should know that providing false tips
is a serious offense, young lady.
[Faith in demonic voice] I'm not a young lady.
Excuse me?
[music intensifying]
[demonic voice] I said,
I'm not...
a young...
lady.
[screaming in distance]
[hard rock theme music playing]
[soft, grim music playing]
[breathing shakily]
- [footsteps approaching] - [Tracy] Okay. Okay.
[exhaling] Okay.
Okay.
[exhales]
Okay.
This... this ought to do the trick.
[Tracy breathing heavily]
[sniffles] Faith...
do you think that I am not also upset
about the dead body in my foyer?
We have to do this now
before his blood seeps into the rug.
What did you do?
[sighs] What a mess... [chuckles]
Mom.
- Tell me what you did. - For heaven's sake, Faith!
[breathing heavily]
Do you want to know what I did?
When I was your age,
I opened myself up to the Devil,
and he stepped right on in.
I'm not speaking in metaphors.
The Devil himself made me his plaything.
Until my parents...
they gave me a gift.
[dark, ominous music playing]
They hired a man
to cast that evil out.
And he did.
He saved me.
And I wanted to save you too, dear.
I didn't need saving.
Oh, honey, no.
I know what you and Ryan were up to.
I know about the birth control.
I was exactly like you.
And I am living proof
that it is not too late for you to find salvation.
[Tracy giggles]
I am so glad we can finally speak openly.
[Tracy sniffles]
[music softens, fades]
You're telling me that...
all of this...
was about sex?
Mom, I'm a virgin!
[door opens]
[breathing heavily]
[grim music playing]
It's okay.
He's here to help.
It's nice to finally meet you, Faith.
- [crickets chirping] - [music fades]
[screams]
[woman] There was an incident...
He said it was a ritual...
[intense music playing]
In the middle of a pentagram.
[man] ...that Satanism has come...
[Tracy] ...your son has invited evil into our town!
[Gene, distorted] ...huge surprise to us.
Right?
[music ends abruptly]
Hm?
I just told the chief, this is a huge surprise to us. Right?
Uh...
Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
So, your son formed a Satanic cult right under your noses,
and you haven't seen any warning signs?
I mean, I couldn't tell you what the warning signs are.
So you're not aware that he held an initiation ritual
in this home?
[Gene] No.
We were not aware of that.
[Dandridge] Look, I think it's important that you both understand
that I've been doing the best I can to keep the crazy in this town at bay,
but after what I saw, I can't do that.
Dylan is officially a prime suspect in Ryan's murder.
Murder?
[scoffs]
Oh, come on. All due respect,
you and I both know that is bullshit.
I mean, yeah, he's a weird kid, but he's not capable of that.
Right, Linda?
You've seen him. Haven't you?
[dark music playing]
Excuse me?
Your hand.
That's the mark he leaves.
The mark who leaves?
Never mind.
Uh, Chief... listen, thank you for stopping by,
but, uh, it's been a really long night,
and, uh, we need to speak to Dylan.
Alone.
[music intensifying]
Are you out of your goddamn mind?!
You started a Satanic cult to help your band catch on?
The Chief of Police thinks you're a murder suspect!
[Dylan] You are the one who told me to get out of the basement
and make friends, so if you think about it, this is your fault.
[Gene] Oh. You hear this? This is great!
The-the-the teenager's defense, Your Honor.
Are you hearing this, Linda?
Where did you get the idea for this?
Was it books?
Movies? Music?
A little bit of everything, I guess.
But-but mostly music.
And what was the purpose of this, um...
ritual, exactly?
Something about...
manifestation, I think?
Manifestation.
Self-help.
Do you want to know what happened to me tonight?
- Oh, Linda-- - Tell me to calm down, Gene. I dare you.
While your father and I were trying to enjoy
one night of normalcy,
while you were taking part in a Satanic ritual,
I was attacked
by a demon.
[dark, tense music playing]
- What? - That's what you think happened?
That is what happened, Gene.
It's been happening.
It happened the night you cut your hand,
and, according to the Chief of Police,
it happened again when you hosted a ceremony.
In our home.
I have tried being rational.
I have tried giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Not anymore.
There must be consequences for your actions, Dylan.
I-I don't...
I don't know what to say.
Well, you can start by saying goodbye to this,
and any other book, record,
or-or tape that ever told you this was okay.
Wait, wait, seriously? For how long?
As long as it takes to undo
whatever you've done to this family.
- But I didn't do anything! - Like hell you didn't.
Messes seem to follow you wherever you go,
don't they, Faith?
- I didn't do anything wrong. - No?
Well, I suppose I'm here because an innocent man caved his own head in?
Innocent?! That man killed Ryan!
Ryan's death was by all accounts a tragedy,
but it was not a murder.
- Liar. - He's telling the truth, dear.
There's no reason to lie anymore.
So what happened to him?
Well, you did.
He died from an asthma attack brought on by panic.
If he was anywhere else, that boy would be alive.
But he was tempted by the Devil in you.
[soft, somber music playing]
So, you made Ryan's accidental death
look like a Satanic murder
just so no one would look your way?
And you've been using your church group to be his mouthpiece?
It's more nuanced than that.
Bunch of fucking hypocrites.
- Faith! - It's okay.
That's not her speaking.
Ryan wasn't tempted by the Devil.
He's dead because of you two, and you're hiding behind God?
Really?
I'm telling the police everything.
- No, you're not. - Who's stopping me?
The man you just killed.
But... I was protecting you.
And I appreciate it.
I really, really do.
But if you tell them everything,
there is no version that ends well for you.
[Reverend] Best case scenario,
you're tried for involuntary manslaughter...
but considering the number of dents in poor Gilbert's head,
there's a good chance those get upgraded.
And that's, oof,
ten, twenty-year sentence?
That's not fair.
He's all loaded up.
- We ready? - Uh, thank you, Robert.
Just a moment.
[tense music playing]
I can't just keep this to myself.
Do you know where I was tonight?
I was down at the station,
uncovering an honest-to-goodness Satanic cult.
One led, in part, by your friend.
Jordy? That's not even real, it's--
[Reverend] They are the only way to clean up this mess you've made.
As he did with Abraham, God has given us a ram.
All we need to do is bring it to the altar.
[Tracy] Do you remember when you told me
that you just wanted to be a normal girl again?
We're so close to having that.
But if you go to the police...
normal is never, ever coming back.
We need you to play your part.
[Reverend] So, Faith?
Will it be them?
- Or you? - [dramatic musical surge]
What do you plan on doing about this?
They could be brainwashing our kids right now!
They should be expelled immediately!
We completely understand your concerns,
and we're working to address the issue.
["Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi playing]
♪ Your love is like bad medicine ♪
♪ Bad medicine is what I need, whoa ♪
♪ Shake it up just like bad medicine ♪
♪ There ain't no doctor that can cure my disease ♪
And remember,
all right, listen responsibly.
[giggling]
We're almost sold out of these.
Why do I feel like everyone's listening to our demo for the wrong reasons?
- What you mean? - Hey, can I get one of those too?
Why? Because you heard it at the dance?
Or because you heard about the flesh sesh in the bomb shelter?
They played this at the dance?
Hmm.
Huh?
Well, that... that don't feel great.
Um, hey, guys...
I have a bit of a weird question.
Is it possible that we... summoned something?
Like, is there any chance that some of the phrases we're using were, like,
authentic Satanic verses?
We got them from the public library,
not a book bound in human flesh.
- Why would you even ask that? - 'Cause my mom's gone psycho.
She took away all my stuff because she thinks I'm doing witchcraft.
That's crazy, right?
"We are who we pretend to be,
so we must be careful who we pretend to be."
Vonnegut and I agree on that.
- What's that supposed to mean? - It means, you asked for this.
We told you to end the cult, and now the cat's out of the bag
and the band is gonna be forever linked to the decision-making of your penis.
What, the guilt trip at home wasn't enough, I needed one from you too?
Dylan.
Step inside for a moment.
[ominous music playing]
You two, don't go far. You're next.
Dylan, I'm required to tell you that you're not in police custody.
We just want to ask you a few questions
about what happened here over the weekend.
And if at any point you want to exit, you may.
- Okay. Thanks. - You should also know that
failure to cooperate may result in arrest.
- For what? - Suspicion of murder.
Before we begin, you know, I always heard that cult leaders
were supposed to be charismatic,
so I guess there's a side of you I haven't seen yet.
I want to speak to that Dylan today. Okay?
["Police Truck" by Dead Kennedys playing]
- Okay. - Fine.
Yep. You got it.
[Dandridge] Terrific.
All right. First question.
How'd you get involved in this cult?
I don't think I'm supposed to say.
It's okay. This stays between us.
- Dylan. - Jordy.
Spud.
[Spud] We did recruit a few people
- just to fill the room, but not everyone. - Who recruited the rest?
Who do you think has that kind of pull around here, Chief?
Are you saying that Judith was involved?
One hundred percent.
She made me go. I didn't even want to.
Once you got there, what kind of things
did this cult do?
You know.
We laugh. We have fun.
- Doesn't sound like a cult to me. - Because it's not.
All of this was Dylan's idea to get in Judith's...
good graces.
[Dandridge] Could you read that for me?
"Silentium es aurum, Satanas."
Initiates were required to take that oath.
- Any idea what it means? - Can't tell you that, Chief.
- Why not? - 'Cause I'm a man of my word.
I'll translate for you. "Silence is golden, Satan."
So that's what that means.
Why would you have to make members take an oath of silence?
We didn't want everybody freaking out over nothing.
Which this is.
Is that "nothing" to you?
I thought we was past this, Chief.
I thought so too. What does this mean?
I've literally never seen that.
What kind of Satanist doesn't know the meaning
of their own symbols?
The kind that isn't a Satanist.
[Dylan] Plenty of guitarists can't read music.
Slash. Hendrix. Prince.
So, you say you're more about practice than theory, then?
No. I'm saying, we didn't do that.
Oh, I guess another cult did.
What do you know about human sacrifice?
You mean, like... Temple of Doom?
Ryan Hudson. Do you believe anybody in this group
is capable of murder?
I don't know. Maybe.
Ryan was my teammate, man. You think I'd hang around his killers?
- I don't think so. - Definitely not.
We're not killers, okay?
We're just a band with a dedicated following.
[chuckles] Yeah, right.
I heard your tape.
Not exactly worship-worthy stuff.
I don't understand how a garage band
could con perfectly good kids into joining a cult,
'cause it sure as hell wasn't your music.
Bite me.
- I'm sorry. What was that? - Look,
I'm sorry you saw me with Judith,
but that whole ritual thing, that-that was her idea.
So if you're gonna charge me with anything,
you're gonna have to charge her too.
[song ending]
I don't get it.
You're smart. Well-liked.
I know how badly you want to get out of here
to go to college next year.
But don't you think this sort of thing will stick with you?
I only wanted to leave because I've never felt seen here.
Like, truly seen.
Every day, I come here,
and I feel hundreds of eyes on me.
And all of them stop at my looks.
Do you know how lonely that is?
[soft music playing]
Now, thanks to this...
thanks to Dylan...
maybe people will look a little deeper.
Uh, well, those are all my questions. Um...
Principal, the floor is yours.
For your involvement in the events over the weekend,
the punishment is one month of detention, starting today.
What?! I wasn't even there!
I'd prefer a suspension.
[sighs]
[scoffs] Wait. Really?
Detention? That's it?
That's it on our end.
Not on mine.
You can count on that.
[tense music playing]
[door bell jingles]
Be right with you.
- Linda? - [clattering]
Cassie. Hi.
What are you doing here?
We should talk.
I really... I don't want to do that here.
Oh, no, I'm... I'm not here to fight.
I swear. [chuckles]
Just here to talk and, well,
if I can get a haircut out of it, then all the better.
Okay, um... put your stuff down, have a seat.
Okay.
I just want to apologize
for my behavior at the bar the other night. I...
I don't know what came over me.
Oh, it's fine. A broken mirror is hardly
the worst thing to happen in that bathroom.
[laughs]
So, how's Judith?
[sighs] If you notice any patches of hair falling out,
- she's the reason. - Mm.
I know she hasn't had it easy since her dad left,
- and, well, I put a lot of pressure on her. - Mm-hmm.
I just hate that mothers
are the first to blame for their kids.
- I mean, don't you? - [snap echoing]
[tense music building]
[gasping]
[Cassie, muffled] I mean, you know how it is as mothers.
We're expected to have all of the answers, and...
- Oh! - [Cassie, muffled] ...be perfect and it's a lot of pressure.
- No! - [Cassie, muffled] I'm a working mom. You get it.
I really hope that I'm not...
- [snap] - [normal] ...overstepping here.
[music on radio continues]
- Um... - Hm?
I'm sorry, um, I missed that.
I just asked if I had overstepped.
No. No. Uh, not at all. I...
I haven't been sleeping well lately.
[Cassie] No need to apologize. I get it.
Look...
it's clear that our kids like each other.
- Mm-hmm. - [Cassie chuckles]
[Cassie] Um...
But with recent developments,
I'm not sure it's a good idea we let them keep seeing each other.
- [snap echoing] - [rumbling]
[eerie music playing]
[breathing shakily] Hello? Hel--
Hello? Where am I?
[eerie music continues]
[Cassie, distant] In their heart, I know they're great kids.
But together... [sighs]
They just seem to be, you know, feeding off some bad behaviors.
I think it's for the best
that Judith stay away from Dylan.
But what do you think?
I think that...
your whore daughter should stay away from my son.
[screams] Oh my God!
[Cassie screams]
- [snap echoing] - What have you done?!
- I'm so sorry. - Oh my God.
I'm so sorry. I... My hand slipped.
I... It was an accident. I'm so sorry.
No, I don't care. You stay away from me, okay? You stay away!
- [bell jingling] - My hand slipped.
I just...
[tense music playing]
[sighs]
[water running]
[tense music fades]
[door opens]
[Jordy sighs] There you are. I need your help.
Uh, can you just tell Principal Cleary
that Spud and I were with you at the dance?
I-I don't think that's a good idea.
Why?
Come on, it-it'll only take a second.
No, I mean, I don't...
I don't think... this...
is a good idea.
Us.
Being friends.
[soft, somber music playing]
Is this you talking, or your mom?
Please...
I really just need one person in my life who's not gonna screw me over.
[school bell ringing]
I'm sorry, Jordy.
[sighs]
[chatter]
Hey.
Are you okay after all that?
- Never better. - Good.
[Cliff] Hey, man, we're getting our stories straight.
We're good, it's just one thing.
Chief was so concerned about you two
that he never got the rest of our names.
So, how'd he know who to question?
Someone snitched.
Now I have to miss a month of agriculture club.
- I'm gonna miss the fall play. - State finals.
My dad's threatening military school.
All because somebody can't keep an oath.
And I think I know who.
Who?
Yo! Jordy, Spud! Get over here!
Uh, guys, I really don't think they said anything. They're cool. All right?
If they're so cool, then why aren't they over here with us?
What?
Y'all got something y'all wanna say to us?
You called us over here.
Cliff, it's cool, really.
Nah. You two sold us out, didn't you?
[scoffs] Really, dude?
Nobody sold anybody out. Okay?
You know we got detention too, right? Why would we do that?
Because you're jealous.
Do you want to tell her, or should I?
Because I really want to.
- Uh... - Tell me what?
Nothing. She's just pissed off because, um, some--
This is all bullshit.
We're not Satanists.
There is no cult.
We're just a band with a cheap gimmick,
custom-made for Heavy Metal Barbie here.
[soft, solemn music playing]
What is she talking about?
I have no idea. Right, guys?
[all] Right.
They in on it too!
[splutters]
You really thought the A Capella club
was into Devil worship?
[laughing] Come on, man.
[Jordy] Congratulations.
You all have been fooled by red food coloring,
Karo syrup, and a poser with a hard-on.
Peace.
Is that all true, yo?
I'm sorry.
[soft, solemn music continues]
Judith...
Please, I-I can explain...
- Chief. - Anything on that mask?
I searched every department store in town for a match.
Best I could find
was a Ben Cooper chicken costume.
- How'd it go at the school? - Gotta hand it to 'em.
These kids are organized.
[Olsen] What are all these?
Reports relevant to the case.
"On the night of October 1st, 10 p.m., reported a dark...
winged creature in his home."
- What, like a bat? - Keep reading.
"Said it was about six feet in height, with curled horns"?
Okay. This is a joke.
We've gotten 15 of these reports,
just like that, in the last week alone.
Santa Claus gets 15 billion letters a year, doesn't make him real.
Weren't you just telling me I had to go after the Satanists?
Yes. Because they looked guilty,
and because Satanists are a real thing.
You know what's not a real thing? Satan.
You know, a week ago, I would've agreed.
But now we have a ritualistic murder,
confirmed Satanic cult,
reports of demonic activity coming in left and right.
I can't keep ignoring what's right in front of me.
[phone ringing]
[Abigail] Happy Hollow Police Department.
All due respect, Chief...
you're starting to sound like the crazies.
Maybe they're not crazy after all.
You better take this, Chief.
It's Cassie.
She was in a confrontation.
Confrontation? With who?
[tense, dramatic music playing]
[clattering]
[fire roaring, crackling]
[car approaching]
Linda?
What the hell is goin' on?
Are you okay?
[dramatic music building]
How could you guys do that to me?
How could we do that to you?
What about what you've done to us?
[Dylan] What are you talking about?
Everything I've done has been to help the band.
Bullshit.
I'm all for pissing folks off for attention,
but I draw the line when the cops are questioning me for murder.
But they didn't even have anything on us!
This will all just be another piece of our band's mythology.
Dylan, stop spinning things to be about the band when they're not.
We sold out our tape in one day!
That would've been impossible a month ago.
But now, thanks to you two, we're gonna lose everything!
What's "everything" to you?
You want to know what "everything" is to me?
This. Us.
And you destroyed that.
I don't care about the band, Dylan.
I care about you. I care about Spud.
But I am tired of caring about people
who don't care about me in return.
- Oh... - [Dylan] You know what I'm tired of?
Everyone in this town blaming me for their issues.
Nobody was forcing you to play along.
[solemn music playing]
You know what?
You're right.
I quit.
Jordy.
Jordy!
[door opens, slams shut]
You happy now?
You've found plenty of supporters,
but just days ago,
the majority of Happy Hollow thought you were...
Kooky?
Eccentric.
You've been banging the drum on Satanism for some time,
but now, people are finally listening.
What's changed, Tracy?
Nothing's changed.
It's just being brought to light.
By you. You're a hero.
[chuckling] Oh, heavens, no.
No, I'm no hero. [laughs]
- I'm... - [door opens]
...just a mother doing her best.
Sweetheart, why don't you come in and say hello?
Perdita, this is my daughter, Faith.
- Hello. - Hi.
Actually, could I take a photo
of mother and daughter for the paper?
- No, thank you. - Of course you can.
Oh, don't be silly, Faith.
Don't you want to show people what a normal, wholesome family we are?
[tense music playing]
Great. How about we try one right here?
Okay. [clears throat]
We need you to play your part.
[Perdita] Beautiful.
One... two... three.
[camera shutter snaps]
[birds chirping]
[tense music continues]
[sighs] Sorry it had to end this way, Gil.
May the Lord have mercy on us both.
[tense music building]
Shit.
[eerie, dramatic music playing]
[soft, solemn music playing]
[crickets chirping]
[door rattling]
- [Dylan] That was my stuff! - [banging on door]
What's wrong with you?
- [Linda sighs] - I didn't even do anything.
[banging rapidly]
[music fades]
[somber music playing]
[clatters]
[footsteps approaching]
Cliff?
What are you doin' here?
Why'd you do it, man?
To get back at me or some shit like that?
No. It wasn't like that.
- I'm sorry. - Sorry don't mean shit, man.
We all bought into you. I bought into you.
So I'm gonna ask you again.
Why'd you do it?
I just...
I just wanted to be like you.
[somber music continues]
Like you...
like Judith... like Ryan.
- What do you mean? Like popular? - No, not even that. Just...
I-I-I just want to be seen.
And now, everyone's abandoned me.
What about Jordy and Spud?
They... they left the band...
which doesn't really matter anymore
since my mom burned my guitar like a psycho.
And Judith probably never wants to see my face again either.
Yeah, man, you hurt her.
In ways she's not used to being hurt.
I know. I'm sorry. I fucked up.
I would do anything
to make it up to her.
To-to all of you.
All right.
Prove it.
What do you mean?
Follow me.
[footsteps on stairs]
[gentle music playing]
Careful. They're still hot.
Who are you?
Every time I think about the man that I killed,
I think about the family that's worried about him.
And what the rest of his life could have been.
And I fall apart.
And you...
You've known about Ryan for weeks.
How can you just act like everything's okay?
We're both terrible people, Mom.
No, Faith... we're not.
We are both good people who've made honest mistakes.
Murder is the worst sin there is.
Well, technically, it's just manslaughter, dear.
And the Bible doesn't have much to say about that, does it?
[exhales]
I'm sorry. I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this, Mom.
Faith? Faith!
Honey, please. Wai--
[footsteps going up stairs]
[phone ringing]
Hello? Whitehead residence.
[Reverend] We have an emergency, Firefly.
- What is it? - [Reverend] Over the course
of Robert's trip to dispose of Gilbert,
somehow... he lost track of the body.
Well, what does that mean?
If-if... Is he still alive?
[Reverend] I'm observing the situation as it develops,
but time is no longer a luxury that we can call our own.
No, no, no, no. No, you don't understand.
Gilbert was going to go to the police.
And if he's still alive somewhere, then--
[Reverend] We have to finish this before he resurfaces.
Luckily, we have an ace in hand.
We need to play it.
Tonight.
[tense music playing]
[lock clicking]
[music fades]
Linda?
I-I have a visitor.
I told you, Gene, I don't want vi--
Father Mathis?
Hello, Linda.
Gene tells me that, uh,
you've been having trouble lately.
It-it's okay, honey.
He believes you.
Uh, may I?
- Yeah. - Many have come forward recently
with... experiences such as yours.
Hallucinations,
distortion of the flesh,
out-of-body experiences.
What's happening to me?
Well, that... is what I'm here to find out.
[clicks]
[intense music building]
[softer, tense music playing]
- [crickets chirping] - [owl hooting]
[leaves rustling]
Are we almost there?
Go on.
What's this?
[Judith] Absolution.
You're going to die tonight, Dylan.
[music intensifying]
[laughing nervously]
F-funny... funny joke, guys. [chuckles]
Wh-what, so, no-no robes, no candles?
This ain't make-believe.
Not this time.
Judith, I'm sorry... about everything.
But can we just talk, please?
Just-just give me the chance to apologize.
That's what I'm doing.
It's a ritual called the Ceremony of Stifling Air.
The metaphorical killing of who you once were,
and the celebration of being born again
as your true, authentic self.
Metaphorical killing?
Thank God.
So, what-what are the steps?
First, you're gonna get in this box.
Then, you're gonna repeat a phrase for us.
[all] Vita ex mortis.
"Life through death."
Say that three times. Then, we'll knock.
That's us calling you back from the dead.
When the knocking stops...
scream, as hard as you can.
Purge the old Dylan to make room for the new one.
[eerie music playing]
So, I-I-I just get in that box,
do a chant,
and then you'll forgive me?
That's it.
You do all that,
things will go back to the way they were.
You just gotta leave behind everything.
Your friends. Your family.
No more double lives.
No deceit.
If you still want us in your life...
if you still want me in your life...
this is the only way forward.
You made us feel so special, Dylan.
I just want to trust you again.
Uh...
Okay. I'll...
I'll do it.
Get in.
Mom, why are we at Jordy's house?
[Tracy] Well, dear, I've been thinking about what you said...
how you don't know if you can live like this for much longer...
and I realized that you're right.
What I asked of you has been completely unfair.
So, I've decided that it's time we put an end to all of this tonight.
[soft, ominous music playing]
Because, Faith...
she's your best shot at freedom.
[Mathis] Take as much time as you need.
[Linda] Okay.
At-at first, it started small.
Just, um, a feeling that...
that something wasn't quite right.
And then... seeing things out of the corner of my eyes,
and feeling... that there was a... presence with me.
Oh, what kind of a, uh, a presence?
Malevolent.
Soon, it wasn't just a feeling.
It attacked me.
Could you describe it for me?
[sighs]
It was burnt.
It had horns and wings.
And I swear, the last time...
I saw it, it felt like...
like it got inside of me.
Like I was trapped
inside my body, but something...
something else was pulling the strings.
Have you ever had experiences like this before?
As a... a child, maybe?
No. Never.
And have you ever done anything
that would make yourself...
vulnerable to forces like the ones that you're describing?
Well, you see, my-my son--
Yes, I am aware of his reputation.
What I would like to know is if you, Linda Campbell,
have ever opened a door to darkness.
Intentionally or not.
Of course not.
We aren't those kind of people, Father.
Linda hasn't, once in her life--
Yes... I did.
[tense music playing]
Mom, she's my friend.
She's our only way out of our mess.
I need you
to hide that somewhere in her bedroom.
I'll place an anonymous call to the police,
and then, before you know it,
all of this will be over with.
[sighs]
This is evil.
That's up to the Lord to decide.
And you know I would never ask you to do this
if there were any other options.
It's us or them.
[tense music playing]
Here.
What's this for?
So you can watch yourself die.
Any last words for the old Dylan?
I'm sorry.
Let's go.
[tense music playing]
[lid clacks closed]
[eerie music playing]
Honey, what are you... what are you talking about?
[Linda] I'm sorry, Gene.
Twenty years ago,
when we were trying for Dylan,
- I saw a doctor. - Yeah, I know that.
We must have seen a dozen of them.
Uh... Not a single one could figure out what was wrong.
Except the one that I saw on my own.
She found some...
scar tissue
that would make getting pregnant impossible.
Honey, I'm sorry. I...
I wanted a family so badly,
and I know that you wanted one too, so...
I-I couldn't bring myself to tell you.
[Gene] Linda...
So I prayed,
and I prayed...
to anyone who would listen.
[tense music playing]
[breath trembling]
[Judith] We're ready when you are.
Vita ex mortis.
[Linda] Forgive me, Father,
but when God wasn't there to answer my prayers, I just...
I opened myself up. I...
I called out into the void,
to anything
that would answer me.
And suddenly, it happened.
[Linda exhales]
We've always said that Dylan was our miracle baby, but...
what if he wasn't a miracle at all?
- Okay, this is enough. - No, no, you let her finish.
This is important.
[doorbell rings]
Vita ex mortis.
What are you doing here?
I love my son more than anything in this world,
and I'm terrified that he is the way he is because of me.
I don't want to feel like this.
I don't want to believe...
[sighs]
...that my son is evil.
I want him
to be a little boy again.
I want to hold him,
and protect him,
and tell him his mommy will always be there for him.
Vita ex mortis!
[dramatic beat]
[soft, grim music playing]
But I can't.
[music fades]
[sniffles]
Linda, baby...
are you okay?
Who am I speaking with now?
It's me.
- That-that sounded like her. - [exhales]
What's going on?
[tense music slowly building]
[clicking]
[tape rewinding]
[clicking]
[on recording] - Okay, this is enough. - No, no, you let her finish.
This is important.
[music intensifying]
[Linda speaking indistinctly in a demonic voice on recording]
No... No.
[Linda in a demonic voice on recording continues]
[music intensifying]
- [clicks] - [music fades]
[Linda sniffles]
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry. You were right.
[melancholic music playing]
I did it.
You did the right thing.
Hello?
Can you... can you guys hear me?
- [hammering] - [intense music playing]
Cliff?
Judith?!
Let me out!
Cliff! Judith!
Stop! Let me out!
Cliff!
- [coffin slams on ground] - God! Ow! [sobs]
[shovels digging]
Guys, please! I'm hurt!
I'm sorry!
[dirt clattering on coffin]
Goddamn it, let me out!
Let me out!
Stop! Stop!
I'm sorry! Stop!
[music intensifying]
[music fades]
[Olsen] Chief, you copy?
Yeah, I copy, Olsen.
[Olsen] We just got a call at the station.
Said one of those cultists was bragging about killing Ryan.
Please tell me it wasn't Judith.
[Olsen] Jordan Stanwyck. The goth girl.
They said the suspect showed off a token from the murder.
An inhaler.
Get Judge Felson to sign off on a search warrant
as soon as you can, I mean as soon as you can.
I don't care if you have to go over there
and pull him out of Mrs. Felson.
Get over there. Copy?
[tires screeching]
[intense music playing]
Happy Hollow Police.
You stay right where you are.
Not another step.
[crickets chirping]
[tense, eerie music playing]
[breathing heavily]
Please...
Help.
[music intensifying]
[hard rock music playing]
[music ends]