I appreciate it.
I know that your relatives are scattered.
We'd be happy to come back.
Are you sure you'll be all right?
Yes. I'll be fine. Thank you.
I fly back to Detroit tonight. I'll get in late,
but call me if you need to. Anytime.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I'll be okay.
Okay. I know you will. Take care, sweetheart.
I will. Bye.
Yeah.
What we're looking at here are the eoct scores.
Now, I'm gonna pick on 10th grade just a little bit
because you'll see the biggest difference there.
The yellow line, the mustardy one, that's two years ago.
The blue is last year.
The pink is this year.
Beth is here.
Give her space.
The pink is this year. So, what happened?
Teacher-student ratio.
I know, but class sizes are what they are. It's statewide.
We can't play the blame game when we're pulling up the rear...
Sorry.
- Hey. - Hi.
I don't think you had to come. No one would blame you.
I still have grades to enter.
I'd have done that for you. All you had to do is ask.
It's all right.
It gives me something to do. For now, anyway.
We don't wanna be that school.
You holdin' up?
I don't want to be that...
Yeah, I'm fine.
Just didn't really sleep well last night.
Can't believe you slept at all. Especially there.
We got to show up for them.
Okay. I promised to give you all a 10-minute break,
so let's go ahead and take that.
Go potty, stretch your legs.
There are more doughnuts in the back, courtesy of mountville baptist church,
so get you some and be back by 8:40 though, on the dot-ish.
Mrs. parchin?
Hi.
- Sorry. I was just, uh... - Excuse me. I tried to knock...
We met before.
Um, I'm hunter's mom.
- Hunter... - McLaughlin.
He has you second period.
I'm Becky McLaughlin.
- It was a few months ago. - Right. Of course.
I, uh... I have so many hunters this year.
- Oh. How many? - Hmm?
Students named hunter do you have?
Mmm, three.
Please, have a seat.
I'm sure you know why I'm here.
I checked the website.
Hunter got a c in speech.
Oh, right. I... I think so.
Uh... let me check.
- But that's what it said. - Mm-hmm.
Let me see here.
Uh...
Right, yes.
It looks like he didn't do his last presentation.
He said that you told him he could make that up.
I did.
Yeah. He, uh... he didn't.
He said he came in last Thursday.
That was the last day of school.
He said that you weren't here.
Yes, I was out for a few days. It was a... a personal matter.
Well, he told me he was out the day you presented those projects.
We all have personal matters to deal with sometimes.
Okay. Uh...
You know what? Let's just excuse him from that assignment.
Uh...
There. B.
That's not what I wanted.
Then, uh, what did you want?
Excuse me?
When you came in here, what did you want?
I want to know why my son...
My husband shot himself in the head last Thursday.
I hadn't heard.
No, because it's a personal matter.
So, yeah.
Yeah. If you wanna know, he took the boat out on the lake.
He took a handgun that I didn't even know that we owned.
And pow! Right in the mouth.
So, which hunter got what grade
on what high school elective speech class assignment...
It really doesn't matter to me right now.
So, you want a b, you got a b.
I... I apologize.
Oh, you want an a?
All right. Ta-da!
A b is fine.
Bitis.
Anything else I can do for you?
No.
Thank you.
- Oh. Hey, Mel. - Hey.
The sky was looking a little mean. I went and covered the boat for you,
- just in case. - You didn't have to do that.
Ah, that's a goddamn lie if I've ever heard one.
Just paying it back, that's all.
You and Owen were a couple godsends when Shelly passed.
Thank you.
You want me to haul that thing away?
You just say the word.
It's okay. I think I'll leave it.
Sell it with the house.
You thinking about selling?
Maybe.
I mean, he built it, so I'd hate to leave it, but...
Yeah.
It's peaceful out here, but it is lonely.
Hey, Mel, were you, uh, shooting this morning around 7:30 or so?
Didn't hear anything? There was a gunshot.
I just figured with the weather getting warmer and snakes and all...
I see a copperhead near the house,
I'm sure gonna shoot it, but I didn't today.
Right.
You hear it again,
just give me a shout, okay?
- Okay, I will. - Okay.
- I'm gonna get back. - Mm-hmm.
So, this is going to be the office down here,
and, uh, over here will be the kitchen.
Or maybe it's here.
And then... And then over here we have, uh...
Biceps. Lots of biceps.
So, that is the husband.
Oh, hi, Owen! How are you doing?
Are you working?
You know that we're paying people fo do that, right?
- You don't have to do it all yourself. - Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm? - Mm-hmm.
Well, unless you want me fo.
- Let me check. - No. Stop.
Come here.
Who is this?
- Beth... - Owen? Is...
- I know that you... - I can't hear you. I can't...
Yes, you can.
Look out the window.
What am I looking at?
You tell me.
It's a picture of you.
- Is it? - Yeah.
I mean, nice blouse.
Look... look closer.
Is that me?
Yeah, I think so. I mean, who else would it be?
Well, it's either you
or a woman who looks, like, a lot like you.
Sweetie, I... I think that's you.
Nice blouse, right? I don't have one like that.
God, Beth.
Don't do this to yourself.
It's you, okay?
And if it's not you, then, believe me,
there are far worse things to find on your husband's phone
than fully clothed women who look exactly like you.
Mmm. Yeah, well, I guess I was his type.
Please. Owen loved you.
You. He worshipped you.
I... I mean, from everything you told me,
you didn't really give him any reason to roam.
I mean, how do you know he even took those pictures anyway?
He's not here to defend himself or explain.
A bunch of us are going out tonight drinking. The whole department.
Well, not Clark, obviously, but you should come.
Get your mind off things.
We'll see.
Why were you going through his phone anyway?
Shit.
Sorry.
That was... that was a really fucking stupid, insensitive thing to say.
I'm sorry.
I didn't think we had secrets.
Everybody has secrets. Don't let it weigh on you.
Just...
Just remember your Owen.
Who you fell in love with.
Because whatever else he was, he was that, too.
- What's her name? - Maggie Monroe.
Oh, she'd be my best customer.
She told me I don't have a knack for teaching anyway.
And she'd know 'cause she's an expert on many things.
Jesus Christ.
So, are we going to read the book she gave us?
Fuck, no.
I don't need 300 pages to tell me how to "engage and inspire" my students.
Yeah, just let them stand up on their desks or whatever.
Change their lives.
You okay, b?
Do you guys believe in ghosts?
Uh, ghosts, like, how?
I do. I believe.
- Really? - Well, I don't not believe.
I think there's something in my house.
Like a... a presence.
- No way. - I mean, I don't know.
I feel like there's something. It's like there's something watching me.
And all this weird stuff.
I'm... I'm having these dreams.
I mean, it feels like they're dreams.
They feel real though when they're happening.
Like... like sleep paralysis?
- No. - Do you know what sleep paralysis is?
Yes, Gary, I know what sleep paralysis is.
I don't.
It's when your mind's awake, but your body's not, right?
It's... Did you guys see that documentary...
I had this buddy in school who had it.
It's pretty common to feel like there's someone in the room
when you're having an episode. Like a hostile presence.
- What about the opposite? - Right.
Like a friendly presence?
No. When your body's awake, but your mind isn't.
But isn't that just sleepwalking?
Sure. Sleepwalking.
Could that be contagious?
No. Why?
I remember that.
A year or two after he built the house, it just started.
- Now you're doing it? - Yeah.
That's weird.
How long were you married?
Uh... oh.
Let me do the math.
Fourteen years.
This next one... This next one would have been 15.
Wow. You were married young.
Little bit. Little bit.
I mean, you spend so much time in the same space with someone,
it's gonna feel like they're there.
Even when they're not.
But who knows, right? I mean, who's to say what happens
once we "shuffle off this mortal coll, what dreams may come"?
No. No Shakespeare until next fall.
Are you really gonna cheer me up with the suicide soliloquy?
Fuck. Oh, my god.
Oh, my god, I didn't... I'm so sorry.
I'm joking. I'm joking.
- You shouldn't be joking about that. - Heather.
Oh...
Did you seriously not know that anything was wrong?
Gary! Jesus, you guys...
No, I don't mind.
No, I didn't know.
I'm the one who struggled with that stuff.
Depression. Dark thoughts.
He's the one that kept them at bay.
Maybe it got to him. I don't know.
Maybe I infected him with my bullshit.
- No, no. It... it doesn't work like that. - No?
Did he leave a note?
Okay.
- I'm sorry. - She wants to talk about it.
I think we're done with this conversation.
He did.
Beth...
He did.
God.
You keep it in your purse?
Okay.
"You were right.
There is nothing.
Nothing is after you.
You're safe now."
That's it.
That's it?
That's it.
No "xoxo, your loving husband." Nothing.
What does that mean?
Not a clue. Not a fucking clue.
Other than I was living with a crazy person and didn't know it.
Makes you wonder though, doesn't it? What else didn't I know?
I want to know.
Okay. I think that it's time we get you home.
Sure. I mean, I wouldn't wanna keep him waiting.
Okay. Let's go.
Okay, fine, let's go.
- Good night, guys. Thank you. - Okay.
Let's go. I got you.
Wow, you've really made some progress on the place.
Mm-hmm.
You want a Brandy?
No, Beth. I don't want a Brandy.
And I don't want you to have one either.
Okay.
I don't even like it that much. Haven't acquired the taste.
Come on, upstairs with you.
No. I'm sleeping here.
Okay. Do you want me to stay?
Mm-mm. You've got kids.
Mmm. It's fine. I could just...
I can call Bob. I told him I was gonna be out late. I could just call him and...
No. Mm-mmm.
Well, you should come over soon.
For dinner or something. I'll get Bob to cook for us.
I don't like you here all by yourself.
I lied.
About the letter.
You asshole! Oh, my god!
Oh, my god, you totally has us going. I thought that was real.
Did you see Gary's face?
It is real. I meant that I lied about having no idea what it meant.
You know, I...
I died back in Tennessee. Did I tell you that story?
Mm-mmm.
Seventeen, high school.
Friend was driving,
and we flipped over the side of a mountain.
Pancaked.
Lungs were crushed. They had to airlift me out.
Heart stopped. Whole deal. Four minutes.
Oh, my god.
Afterward, when everyone would ask me when they found out,
like, "what was it like? What did you see?"
And I didn't want to disappoint them, so I'd say...
"I don't know. I don't remember."
But I remember.
Owen was the only person I ever told.
There's nothing.
What do you mean, "nothing"?
I wish I could tell you something. A light at the end of the tunnel.
There's just tunnel.
If it's any consolation, Owen was never convinced.
Yeah, we agreed about most things, but not that.
Not what comes after. He wanted to believe in a better place.
And he almost made me believe it, too.
But you can't unknow what you know.
"You were right. There is nothing.
Nothing is after you.
You're safe now."
He told me I was right.
Now I'm not so sure.
He said you were safe.
Safe from what?
I guess we'll never know, will we, Claire?
Do you really believe in ghosts?
No. I was just being nice.
Mmm.
You are. You're very, very nice.
Sure you don't want me to stay?
Maybe just till I go to sleep.
Beth.
Beth. Wake up.
The door.
Beth, wake up.
Claire?
7he door.
You wanna say something? Talk to me!
Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
What?
Wait!
No! No!
7he boat.
What... what did you say?
7he boat.
Owen?
Are you really here?
If you're with me, show me.
Is that really you?
/f's a dream.
You're dreaming.
Beth?
Hey.
What are you doing out here? Taking a hike?
Uh, no. No, I'm just, uh, looking for something.
Can I help?
Uh-uh.
What you looking for?
Uh, a house.
- A house? - Mm-hmm.
No houses out here. It's all county forest land.
Can't build on it.
Right. I'm just being silly.
I thought I saw something last night, like a...
Looked like a light in a window, so...
A house?
Mm-hmm.
Anyway, it's doing me good to get some air.
So, if you don't mind...
As a matter of fact, I do.
Sorry, what?
You're not well, Beth. You've been through a lot.
More than you deserve. And for my own peace of mind, if nothing else,
I'd rather not have you tromping around out here in the woods on your own.
You should be with your friends and family.
Do you have anybody?
Hey. How about my place for lunch?
- I'll make sandwiches. - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that sounds nice.
Maybe in a little while though, okay?
Anyone here?
Mel?
Hold on!
Okay.
What the fuck is this? “What?
What the fuck is this?
- How should I know? - Bullshit.
You were trying to keep me out of the woods.
- Because I'm worried about you. - What was he building?
What?
There is a house. Our house. My house.
- Now, what the fuck was he building? - I don't know. I never saw a house.
I only saw him wandering around out there in the middle of the night
from time to time.
What? And you didn't tell me?
He asked me not to.
Mel.
Look, Beth.
I don't think you're equipped to handle this right now.
Oh.
Tell me everything that you know.
I caught him once.
Like I caught you this morning.
Taking that same route around the lake.
He had a woman with him.
I thought it was you, so I called out, and when she turned...
- It wasn't. - No.
He came by that night pounding at my door, late, in a real bad way.
Alcohol on his breath, mud on his hands and clothes like he'd fallen.
And I know how it sounds now, but I believed every word he said.
And? What did he say?
That he had urges.
Shameful urges...
That he was rightfully ashamed of, that he was trying to shake.
Said he'd found a way to keep them at bay.
What kind of urges?
You'll forgive me if I didn't feel the need to ask.
Look, I...
Don't think I haven't wrestled with this, okay?
But I swear on Shelly's grave
that I never saw anything like that again. Ever.
I wanted to tell you so many times...
But he just seemed good after that.
You both seemed so good.
Well, I guess you were wrong.
He left a hole in your life and you're desperate to fill it.
That's what this is.
Look, if... if...
All I can say is that, if... if I'm allowed to say anything...
Is that you don't need to fill it with something dark.
You're closer to death than you've ever been.
Well, that's not exactly true.
Okay.
Come back.
Just one sec.
I'm not actually buying these. I just have a quick question.
My husband bought these,
and I'm just wondering if you could tell me whether he bought anything else,
or whether he had something on hold? Something like that?
Um, we don't really keep records like that.
Okay. Could you tell me when?
When he bought these? Maybe you have an inventory?
- Not like that. - Right.
Could you tell me other books by this author?
Let's see...
It's Dyson.
Think you probably want sturgis, but okay...
Hi.
You work here?
I do. Can I help you with anything?
Mm-mmm.
I'm Beth.
Beth parchin.
Madelyne.
I think you knew my husband.
- No, I don't... - Owen. Owen parchin.
There are pictures of you on his phone.
Jonah?
It's all right. You don't have to call for help. I'm not gonna...
I mean...
The matter's been resolved, I guess.
Oh. Yeah.
He's dead.
What?
Suicide.
Oh, my god. I...
Just in case you had any dates planned, or...
Mm-mmm. It... it wasn't like that.
Oh. Well, then would you mind telling me what it was like?
S... sure. Um...
He came in a few times every year...
And he was always friendly.
We flirted some, and he started coming more after that.
We had a few drinks, and that was it.
Take your hair down.
- What? - Your hair. Ponytail.
Lose it. Take it down.
Why?
Well, because you slept with my husband, and I'm asking you nicely.
I didn't...
I didn't sleep with him.
Honestly, I barely knew him.
She said she barely fucking knew him.
- What did you say? - Same. I said, "same here, kid."
Do you believe her?
What? About them not fucking?
Yeah.
I do.
Well, that's something.
Nothing good.
I mean, fucking, I get. Fucking makes sense.
There were others. Our neighbor saw him with someone.
Really? Yes.
And I looked on his computer, and there are tons of pictures,
like half a dozen women.
They all look a little bit like me, but not quite.
So if he wasn't fucking them, what the hell was he doing?
I... I had this dream the other night.
It was our house, but not.
It was backwards. And I saw him with someone...
Stop. Stop it.
Stop going through his stuff.
Nothing you find is gonna help you right now.
Am I not being clear? He had a secret life.
Are you really gonna stand there and lecture me
about his posthumous right to privacy?
I understand you're experiencing these things,
but I'm worried about you.
Maybe take a step back.
I don't know.
I felt him.
I felt my husband.
"You were right. There's nothing."
Why would he say there's nothing? He didn't believe that.
Beliefs change.
Look at you.
You're the most skeptical person I know,
and here you are, telling me that your house is haunted.
Yeah, I mean, when you put it like that,
it does sound kinda silly.
Don't go home.
Get away from the lake for a while.
You can stay here, even.
You can stay as long as you want.
It's not finished.
Not everything gets finished.
You may never know what he was thinking.
He's gone. You're not.
You still have a life to live.
No, you're right.
I could use the distance.
I'll go pack a few more things. Get a bag.
Book into a room for a couple nights.
I can't tell if you're being serious.
I am.
And you've made some excellent points. Really.
I love you.
Just call me later, okay?
I will.
I'm leaving.
Tonight, I guess.
So if you've got something to say to me,
you better say it now.
You hear me?
Motherfucker.
Hey!
Sorry. I... I didn't think you were home.
I'm home.
I don't think I should be here.
How did you know where to go?
Well, I've been here before.
I probably should have told you earlier at the bookstore,
but, uh, honestly, you freaked me out a little.
Sorry about that.
No, I... I get it. Totally.
I probably would have done the same thing.
It's funny, really,
I laid down for a minute after work, and I had this dream.
I dreamed I was you.
Well, I was me, but I was you, too,
and something was chasing you, and it was all around you.
Well, us.
Well, did it get us?
I'm not sure. That's when I woke up.
Afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about you.
And I figured there's something you should know.
Stuff that happened.
I told you I didn't sleep with your husband.
Yeah, you can use his name. He wasn't "my husband" to you.
Right.
Well, I meant it.
I didn't sleep with him.
But I... I would have. I thought we would, but...
He came by one afternoon after I was getting off,
and he invited me here, like a... like a day trip.
And normally, I wouldn't have gone, but he was smart and... and sweet, and...
I don't know. I just kind of felt safe with him, you know?
- I do. - Right.
So, yeah, um, he took me here and, uh, we had a drink.
We walked to the lake, and he showed me the other house...
Wait. You've seen it?
Well, it's not much to see, but he was really proud of it, though.
I mean, giddy, almost.
Showing me around from room to room.
And then, he showed me this weird statue,
and he asked me to hold it.
And you did?
What exactly did he do to you?
Nothing.
He held me...
Sort of.
He put his chin on my shoulder and...
Look, I know it sounds weird saying it out loud,
but at the time, it... it felt really nice.
Having someone close to you.
- Feeling them there. - Mmm.
I... I felt him shake.
And he was crying a little, and I... I didn't know what to do.
What did he do to you?
I kissed him. He kissed me back and...
It was very sweet at first.
So, I-11...
Didn't stop him when he put his hands on my back.
And I didn't stop him when he put his hands on my neck.
Until he started squeezing.
Oh, my god.
I probably misread him, you know? I just...
Everybody has a different barometer for that kind of thing.
Did he hurt you?
God, no!
I asked him to stop, and he stopped.
But do you think he would have?
But he didn't. He drove me home.
He said it was his fault, not mine.
That he was tired and confused, and he didn't know what was him,
and it wasn't working anymore.
He was afraid he couldn't hold it back.
Hold what back?
I don't know exactly.
But in the end, he said he knew what he had to do.
He had to end it for good.
Look, I just wanted to tell you
he clearly felt guilty about cheating on you.
That's what he was talking about, right?
We need to talk.
I'm not leaving until we do.
You called. I came.
Don't you wanna talk to me?
You talked to her.
I'm here. I'm still here.
Wherever you are...
Come and get me.
Just come get me!
Okay.
Fucking...
Okay. Okay. Come on.
Claire...
Fuck!
Is not available. At the fone, please record your message.
I'm sorry. Hey, it's, uh... it's late.
And, uh...
I should have listened to you.
I did something that I shouldn't have.
I went across the lake, and I... and I saw something.
I saw something so...
I don't even know if it's real or not.
I know my husband.
I know who he is.
And I refuse to believe that he... he would have...
I don't know.
I wish that you were here.
I wish that it were morning.
No.
Stop it.
Owen?
Where are you?
I just...
I don't understand.
Please come back.
Oh, god.
I miss you so much.
Is this real?
Are you really here?
Hold me. Hold me.
You're really here?
Yes.
I'm here.
Owen?
No.
I'm not Owen.
Fuck. Fuck.
No, stop it.
Hide.
What?
Owen?
You left.
What?
The night we met.
You're not Owen.
I'm what you felt when your heart stopped.
No. I felt...
Nothing.
Do you remember?
You saw me. And I've been with you ever since.
What did you do to my husband?
I went fo aim.
I whispered in his ear
over and over.
To send you back.
But he wouldn't.
He sent me them instead.
He tricked you.
For a while.
Shit.
Siop.
Don't fight.
Beth.
Beth?
Hello?
Beth, are you here?
I'm coming up.
Beth?
Beth!
Where is he?
Gone.
But you already knew that.
What the fuck?
Oh, my god.
Beth!
He thought he could protect you.
He was wrong.
You were right.
Beth!
There is nothing.
Beth!
There is only me.
Come back to me.
Beth!
It doesn't matter.
Let go.
Come back to me.
Beth!
Oh, my god.
I'm right here.
Keep your head up. This way.
Is she okay?
I don't know.
- What happened? - I don't know.
I don't know.
Beth? Are you here? Are you here?
I'm here. I'm here.
I'm here.
I got you.
I'm here.
I got you. I got you.
I'm right here. I'm here.
Just breathe.
You're safe now.
You're okay. You're gonna be okay.
What is it?
There's nothing there.
I know.