"[?" "]" "I was named after my dead sister, Audrina." "every sunday of my childhood, we had to visit her grave." "my father and mother only hoped that I might one day be as lovely and special as she had been." "my aunt Ellsbeth, my mother's older sister, always came with us to the cemetery." "she and my cousin Vera had lived in the house for as long as I could remember." "the first Audrina will always be the best Audrina." "my cousin Vera didn't have a father, so she was always trying to steal mine." "she knew he loved the first Audrina more than anyone else in his life." "I'll try harder to be more like her, Papa." "Thank you, my darling." "the first Audrina died just before I was born." "she was nine years old." "no one would tell me exactly what had happened to her, but because of her," "I was never allowed to enter the woods, or even go to school." "and I certainly was not allowed to talk to boys even though, on the rare occasions that I saw our caretaker's son, Arden, he always had a smile." "Audrina, look straight ahead." "so I spent my days a virtual prisoner in the house where I grew up... whitefern." "there was something strange about the house." "there were no calendars." "newspapers never came on the day they were due." "time seemed irrelevant." "?" "Step on white?" "?" "Beware of the night?" "?" "Step on blue?" "?" "You'll be through?" "?" "Step on red?" "?" "You're dead..?" "?" "Dead..?" "?" "Dead?" "[Clock chimes]" "[ticking clocks echo] [clocks chiming]" "Audrina!" "[Clock chimes] [gasps] [breathing heavily]" "I made this baby for you." "Someone new is coming to take away your loneliness." "Maybe, once the new baby is here, you'll let me out of the house, and I could go to school?" "It's not safe there." "But-- [playing piano] ?" "Rock of ages?" "?" "Cleft for me?" "?" "Let me hide myself in thee?" "Thank you." "Mm." "You're wonderful, mother." "I'd like to know how to play." "Could you teach me?" "Sit." "You're a natural, my darling." "Did the first Audrina know how to play?" "That is not polite conversation." "Sorry, mama." "I don't feel well." "[Mama]:" "I need to lie down." "[Gasping breaths] [footsteps recede]" "[?" "]" "Audrina?" "Are you thinking about me, Audrina?" "Are you listening to me, Audrina?" "How can you just sit there and not respond?" "Have you lost your vocal cords as well as your memory?" "You can't remember anything from the past, can you?" "Not even from a week ago or a day before?" "Leave me alone." "When the new baby comes," "Papa will give up on you." "Don't call him Papa." "He's not your Papa." "What do you know?" "Do you even know what day of the week it is?" "[Chuckles] my, you really are stupid." "Holes in the belfry with bats flying 'round, that's Papa's sweet Audrina." "Vera, please..." "Don't be mean to me." "You're the only friend I have." "All right, I'll tell you, then." "Today is valentine's day." "[Giggles] whoa." "Mm." "From the boy at school who loves me the most." "Can I have one?" "No!" "He gave them to me." "[Giggling] he loves me." "I know he loves me." "I can see it in his eyes." "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest Audrina of all?" ""You are, Vera, you are."" "You're crazy." "You're the one that's crazy." "All the people in the village know it." "You'll never have a boyfriend, or even a friend." "The villagers never even met me." "Oh, I tell them all about you, the home-schooled freak who cries at night, and wets her bed, and" "I don't!" "And who's so special that no one, absolutely no one..." "Would want to be around you." "Papa?" "Mm-hmm?" "Why can't I remember exactly what I did last year and the year before?" "Well, you're a very special girl, with some extraordinary talents, that you don't realize the passing of time." "You walk alone in your own space." "I don't like my own space, Papa." "It's lonely where I walk." "I want to have friends." "I can't even remember ever having a birthday party." "Will you do the back of my neck for me?" "Don't you think I could..." "Go to the village sometime?" "Vera gets to go out and meet kids her own age." "Maybe I could." "Audrina, please understand that I lost a daughter once already because I didn't keep a close enough eye on her." "I won't let that happen again." "I shouldn't be punished for whatever it was that happened to her." "Stop it." "I am your father." "It's my responsibility is to keep you safe." "And I only do that because you are so important to me." "You know that, right?" "Attagirl." "You know what might help us right now?" "[?" "]" "[Softly] come here." "Come on." "Let her come back to me through you." "Just rock... [?" "]" "Connect with the essence of the first Audrina." "You're going to be sweet, just like your sister once was." "Okay?" "But I only see awful things happening to her, Papa." "That's because..." "That is because you must connect with her before the day she died." "Okay?" "Empty yourself." "Let the sweetness of your namesake fill you." "Can you do that for me?" "Thank you, darling." "I miss her so much." "Hear the floorboards creak..." "[Man's laughter echoes] [man's voice laughing wickedly] [sobbing] [man's voice]:" "Audrina!" "[screams] [screaming] no!" "No!" "No!" "[Sobbing] no!" "No!" "[?" "]" "I need you to see much further back, before that terrible day, to a time when she was a lovely, happy girl." "[Pours water] [grunts]" "hmm?" "That's all daddy wants." "[Mama]: have a good day." "See you later." "Bye." "Audrina, it's time to eat." "I'm bored, mama." "Can we play piano?" "[Sighs] not right now, honey." "Maybe later, hmm?" "Eat." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Are you there?" "[Audrina yelps] hey!" "I'm Arden lowe." "I'm not supposed to talk to boys." "I'm in Vera's class." "I asked her why you didn't go to school, and she told me you were crazy, but I don't believe that." "That's why I went and bought the prettiest red satin heart candy box I could find, and asked her to give it to you." "The box of candy?" "But Vera said you gave it to her." "I was wondering why you didn't write me a thank you note." "Mystery solved." "I hope she at least gave you one piece since it was all yours." "Why did you give them to me?" "I guess sometimes, Audrina, you can look at a girl and tell right away that you like her a lot." "And then you've got to do something drastic to get her attention." "Don't come any closer." "If you do, I'll run." "Audrina" "Audrina!" "No!" "Audrina!" "[Distant screaming]" "Audrina!" "Audrina, where are you?" "[Mother gasping in pain] the baby's coming too soon." "Where have you been?" "I saw you." "I saw you go into the woods." "Why did you do that, Audrina?" "I'm sorry, mama, I'm sorry." "[Sobbing]" "the baby?" "No." "Mama?" "No!" "You're all that I have left now, Audrina." "[Piano playing]" "you look so much like her." "Oh, hello, Papa." "You look so much like your mother..." "Playing the piano there." "I used to love sitting here with her." "She played so beautifully." "I heard-- what?" "I heard there's a new piano teacher in town." "No." "I'd like to learn to play properly" "I want you to concentrate on being more like the first Audrina." "That's all I'm asking of you." "I understand, Papa." "I do, but..." "I want to be loved for who I am, as well..." "My own merits." "I've made a lot of mistakes in raising my own daughter." "[Scoffs] there's no question there." "Audrina is a kind girl." "At heart, I believe you want her to be happy." "Of course I do." "She's the most important thing in the world to me." "Being cooped up in this mausoleum isn't good for her." "I'm afraid if you don't relax your grip, you'll lose her." "Audrina!" "Be sure to stay on the road." "And, um..." "You'll come straight home after the lesson, do you hear?" "Yes, Papa." "I promise." "[Knocks]" "Mr. Rensdale?" "I'm Audrina." "Please, call me lamar." "Come in, come in." "That's it." "That's all I know." "My mother taught me a long time ago." "Your mother is a pianist?" "She was." "But she passed on." "I'm so sorry to hear that." "She was an amazing pianist." "In fact, she was accepted at juilliard." "Ah." "I went to juilliard." "You did?" "Mm." "In new york?" "I'll get back there one day, but for now," "I prefer the country life." "I would love to go to new york." "Luckily, the city has come to you." "[Audrina]: is someone there?" "[Gasps]" "Arden." "You-- you scared me." "Hello, Audrina." "Look at you with a bike." "Moving up." "I'm taking piano lessons in town now." "That's great." "Yeah, once a week." "Wow, I'd love to hear you play sometime." "Oh, I'm not nearly good enough." "I bet you are." "I was wondering..." "Would you like to have a picnic with me sometime down by the river?" "We could go swimming." "I could teach you how to fish." "Yeah, I'd like that." "I'm not sure I can get away, though." "How about this saturday?" "Yeah, I'll try." "I'd better get back." "Papa's waiting for me." "I'll see you on saturday, then." "See you saturday." "[Playing piano]" "who said you could ride my bicycle?" "Um..." "Papa did." "I had to go into town." "Oh, right." "I heard about your new lessons." "You sure are wrapped up in music all of a sudden." "What's he like, your Mr. Rensdale?" "He's nice." "That's not what I meant, stupid." "The girls in town say he is sexy and handsome, and a bachelor." "You know, I think" "I might like to take some piano lessons, too." "[Giggles] [playing piano, off-key]" "[giggles]" "[?" "]" "[Hits a wrong note] whoops." "Hey, maybe you could guide my fingers?" "You know, put your hands over mine, and guide them." "Like we're dancing." "I'm not sure how that would work." "Um..." "We could just try it." "Okay." "[Clears throat] here." "Try it like this." "Audrina, you really must try this technique." "It is wonderful." "[Giggling]" "hmm." "Ready to catch lunch?" "I thought we had a picnic." "My mom made sandwiches in case we don't catch the big one." "You look nice." "Thanks." "So do you." "It's so beautiful here." "So peaceful." "I knew you'd like it." "I come here whenever I have to clear my head." "It's a wonderful day." "We should do it every saturday." "That'd be nice." "You're my first friend, Arden." "I'm grateful to you for that." "Audrina..." "I have to tell you something about me one day, and you're not going to like me after I do." "Then don't tell me, then." "I don't want to stop liking you, Arden." "[Vera sighs with satisfaction] what a beautiful day!" "What are you doing here?" "Well, you don't own the lake." "Oh, it is a hot one." "Arden, would you mind helping me smooth on some of my sunscreen?" "With my light-sensitive skin," "I get a terrible burn if I'm not careful." "Go ahead." "I'll pack up." "Vera..." "What?" "I don't want pale strap marks, and besides, it's not like Arden hasn't seen bare boobs before, right?" "Vera, did you take my clothes?" "Where is my daughter?" "She was here a moment ago-- if that were true, I'd have seen her on the way in." "Where's my daughter!" "Where is she?" "What have you done to her?" "Where is my daughter?" "I'm right here!" "He hasn't done anything!" "What?" "What..." "Where are your clothes?" "Vera hid them." "As if I'm going to believe that?" "It's true." "Stay away from her!" "But Vera's the one who hid my clothes!" "Not going to believe that!" "Papa, stop!" "[Sobbing] Papa, please stop." "I'm sorry!" "Papa, please, no!" "[Crying] look." "Look..." "This is where..." "This is where we found sweet Audrina." "Her dead body was sprawled out there." "First we thought that she'd been struck by lightning." "But then..." "There was evidence that it was not the work of god." "I'm sorry." "Do you understand?" "Yes." "Yes, I'm sorry." "She was only nine years old." "[Sobbing] I know, I'm sorry!" "Why can't you be sweet and pure..." "Obedient, like the first Audrina?" "I'm trying!" "I'm sorry!" "[Sobbing]" "I'm so sorry..." "Okay." "Okay." "This is your fault, Vera." "You led Papa to us." "You hid my clothes." "You're just jealous." "Just leave me and Arden alone." "Oh, please, I want a man, not a boy." "Quiet, girls." "You've already upset Papa enough." "[Doorbell rings]" "sir, I wanted to apologize for not coming to ask permission before taking your daughter on a date." "I was wrong." "Listen." "I thought I made myself clear when I said don't come here." "No, no, no, are you crazy?" "You will just make it worse." "But he came here for me." "I mean you no disrespect" "[Arden]:" "I'm sorry, Audrina!" "I'm sorry." "You may not believe another word I say, but you believe this-- you are not running away with that boy." "I'll follow you to the end of the earth to bring you back here where you belong." "There's one place you can't follow me." "What does that mean?" "I'm not afraid of dying!" "No." "Audrina..." "Audrina, please." "It's like I'm already dead!" "This house is my coffin!" "[Sobbing] when you and lucietta first told me what you planned to do about Audrina-- [whispering] would you keep your voice down?" "Well, I thought the two of you were mad." "But I sat back, and I said nothing, hoping it would work." "I did what I could to protect Audrina." "You heard what she said about dying." "Mm." "Forbidden love is irresistible." "It can be all-consuming, no different than madness." "You'll only make him all the more irresistible if you deny her access." "I'm afraid you'll lose her altogether if you're not careful." "You're so beautiful, it makes my heart hurt." "That's such a nice thing to say." "What are you thinking?" "I really like you, Audrina." "I'm sorry." "No, I'm..." "I'm sorry, Arden." "Don't you want to kiss me?" "I do." "I just..." "You should date normal girls." "I'm..." "Not normal." "I love that you're different." "Pure and sweet and kind in a way that's very rare." "Very precious." "Do you honestly believe that?" "Do you know what you're saying?" "I know you, and I know what I'm saying, yes." "I promise, Arden..." "When I'm ready, it will be you." "Can you wait?" "For you, I can wait a long time." "Hey, maybe we could go for another drive tomorrow." "I could take you into town for your piano lesson?" "I'd like that." "I'll wait for you." "Arden, you don't have to." "I've got plenty of reading to do." "I've got a paper to write for my architectural design class." "Go, you'll be late." "I've got so much work to get through." "Thanks." "[Piano playing]" "[piano playing continues]" "mm... [Vera giggles]" "what's the matter?" "What happened?" "Arden, can you take me home, please?" "What about your piano lesson?" "Can you take me home now!" "Okay." "Okay." "Stop the car." "Stop the car." "Audrina?" "Audrina!" "Audrina, what are you doing?" "I don't know." "I don't know anything, I don't know..." "Calm down." "Calm, down, it's okay, it's okay." "It's all right, I'm here." "I want you to kiss me, Arden." "I don't know if that's a good idea," "Audrina-- no, I wanted you to yesterday, but I was afraid." "[scream] [scream echoes]" "are you all right?" "I'm sorry." "Sorry, I'm just..." "You're trembling, Audrina." "I'm a freak!" "Don't say that." "I am." "I am." "I'm not normal." "I'm not normal." "[Mumbling] I'm not normal." "I'm not normal!" "Okay, then." "You need to forget about me, Arden." "No." "Forget about me." "[Door creaks, closes]" "did you get a good look today?" "Did you enjoy spying on me and lamar?" "Just stop it, Vera." "Leave me alone." "You know, it's wonderful having all those nine inches stabbing into me." "Stop, I don't want to hear it." "Oh, no, no, no, I want you to hear more." "I want you to know what you're missing." "What with your mother dead, someone has to educate you." "Vera, if you care for me at all, then you'll leave my room right now." "Here." "Learn something." "You'd better study up if you want to please your lover boy." "Stop it, Vera-- don't you want Arden to like you?" "These are the things that you have to do with boys." "Honestly, Audrina," "I am trying to help you understand the world." "Audrina?" "Audrina?" "Audrina..." "What?" "What is this filth?" "[Faint thump]" "Vera." "No!" "No, it was her!" "It was her!" "Your sweet Audrina is a real perv, Papa!" "You are doing this!" "No!" "This is your doing." "Eat it." "What?" "Eat them!" "No!" "Papa, don't do that to her!" "Eat it!" "Papa, don't!" "Stop it, please!" "Eat it!" "Please stop!" "Vera?" "Mom..." "What did you do?" "Your daughter is not welcome in my house so long as she is abusing mine!" "Sorry." "I'm sorry." "I don't know why she would do such a thing." "How could you, Vera?" "Knowing everything you know, how could you do this to poor Audrina?" "Answer her!" "Apologize!" "What about poor me?" "I should've never let you raise her in my house!" "Dammit!" "Damian..." "Damian!" "Are you okay?" "You've no idea what goes on in here, little sister." "The things he is capable of doing." "He is a liar through and through, but one day..." "One day, all of the secrets of this house will be revealed, and everybody who made me cry is going to cry 10 times more than I ever did." "I'm so sorry, aunt Ellsbeth." "[Footsteps approach]" "I feel like some waffles this morning." "Could you make some for me, please, Ellsbeth?" "Vera's gone." "My daughter is gone." "She went to new york city with that piano teacher." "That explains why the money is missing from my wallet." "Would some kindness and a little love have been too much to give her?" "[Scoffs]" "I did more than right by that girl." "I paid for her education, she never went hungry, and I put a roof over her head for 21 years." "All of those bad things she did to get your attention." "She thought you were her father." "She was yours, damian." "That's enough!" "You don't know that." "Audrina, could you excuse us for a moment?" "Could you go to your bedroom?" "[Footsteps recede] as I recall, you had multiple suitors back then." "And wasn't that exactly at the time that I was engaged to your sister?" "I'm worried about Vera." "Well, don't be." "Girls like that, they always find a way to get through it." "I want to believe you." "But believing you has always been my weakness." "[Sobs]" "mama, when I die, will I just go in there with the other Audrina?" "I don't even have my own life, why should I have my own grave?" "Audrina..." "I saw you pass on the road." "I wanted to talk to my mother." "Vera ran away." "What happened?" "My father, he, um..." "He gets very angry sometimes." "That's just 'cause he's had a hard life." "Everything he does is out of pain." "First my sister died, and then my mother..." "Audrina..." "You've had it hard, too." "But someday," "I hope to be able to make the rest of your life happy." "I have to pinch myself that you'd like me enough to say such things." "It's more than like." "[Damian speaking, muffled]" "[Ellsbeth]:" "I refuse to talk about this any longer." "[Damian]: but just be quiet about it." "But it's true." "You know it's true!" "[Damian]: you need to support yourself." "You need to understand-- this is where I am, this is where I'll always be." "To hell with you." "I'm sick of being your housekeeper." "I'm sick of being your cook, your cleaner, and most of all," "I'm sick of being your now-and-then bed partner." "No, I've had enough!" "No, damian!" "No, stop, don't hit her!" "[Gasping]" "Audrina..." "No, it's private." "Get out!" "Get out!" "[Vera's voice, mocking]:" "Audrina..." "Audrina..." "Audrina... [voice hissing] Audrina... [gasps]" "oh..." "Oh..." "Papa?" "[Stammering] oh!" "Someone please help!" "Please!" "Please, someone help!" "Please!" "Oh..." "[Damian]:" "I never hurt your aunt physically..." "Yet I am to blame for her death." "The coroner ruled it an accident, not a suicide." "All the women in my life leave me." "Please..." "Please don't leave me." "Sweet Audrina." "Please." "[Damian]:" "Audrina?" "Audrina!" "Where are you?" "Audrina..." "Where are you?" "Audrina?" "What's wrong, Papa?" "Where were you?" "I was calling you and calling you." "I was just doing some grocery shopping in town." "You weren't in town." "You went to see Arden." "I saw him, too, yes." "We were down by the river." "Well, I needed you here." "You didn't ask me." "I'm going marry Arden one day, Papa-- you may not." "You don't have my permission." "And he doesn't have my permission." "Dinner's at 7:00." "So you may not marry him!" "No, Papa!" "No!" "No!" "[Screaming] no!" "No, you can't do this." "Yes." "No." "No." "Stop!" "No..." "No, Papa, please stop." "No!" "Papa, please!" "Not this time!" "No!" "No!" "[Thumping, crashing] what are you doing?" "How dare you." "Audrina!" "You have no right to do that!" "Open the door!" "Open this door!" "Audrina!" "[Vehicle approaching]" "I want to be with you, Arden, and make a life with you." "[Chuckles in delight]" "I..." "I may not be able to give you all the splendor you've grown up with..." "But all my life will be devoted to making you happy." "Let's not wait." "Let's not wait another day." "[?" "]" "It would have been my joy and my pleasure to walk you down the aisle." "I've only come to pick up some things." "Congratulations." "You..." "You married my daughter today." "[Chuckles ruefully] you're so beautiful." "Let's all, uh.." "Go inside, shall we, and be civilized?" "I have an appointment shortly in the city but, um..." "There's something that's important that I want to talk to you about, both of you." "He's got no power over you anymore." "We're only going to be here for a couple of minutes, okay?" "You're planning on being an architect?" "Yes." "Damn hard business to break into." "I've made some applications." "I'm waiting to hear." "Yeah." "A third-rate job at a second-rate firm." "Why not accept the commission to redesign whitefern?" "Excuse me?" "Yeah." "It would be a great start for an up-and-coming young architect." "To update this..." "Grand old dame." "She's got great bones." "Any firm would kill for this commission." "Let Arden walk in the door with that." "I mean..." "That is kind." "And, um..." "You know, while the work was being done, it would be nice if you lived here." "I hate being alone." "Papa-- you deserve happiness, Audrina." "That's all I've ever wanted." "What better way than to give your new husband the best possible start he could have as a budding young architect." "Wouldn't you agree, Arden?" "Yup." "She'll inherit whitefern one day, start your family here." "I want a..." "A chance to make up for my, uh..." "Past mistakes." "Here we are." "One, two..." "[Groans] three." "[Giggling]" "um..." "That's okay, it's okay." "[Chuckles nervously] um..." "I'm glad I kept up with the dusting." "It's a lot nicer than the crummy motel" "I had planned for our wedding night." "Please be happy, Audrina." "You..." "You know that I'm..." "Of course." "You think I don't have wedding night jitters?" "I love you, Audrina." "We'll take it easy, go slow." "You'll be surprised at how naturally things come about." "Okay." "I've never seen you look so beautiful." "Uh..." "Hey, uh, enough of that mushy stuff." "Let's have some champagne." "Sure, um..." "Okay, just, uh, let me freshen up a bit, and I'll be out in a few minutes." "Whatever you want, my love." "Okay." "Everything okay, Audrina?" "[Voice trembling] yup, I'm fine." "Just, um, give me five more minutes, okay?" "[Gently] of course, honey." "Take as long as you like." "[Nervously] okay." "Thanks." "I'll be right there." "[Voices echoing in memory, taunting and cackling]" "[gasps and screams] [crying]" "Audrina?" "Audrina!" "[Vera's voice taunts] Audrina..." "Audrina!" "Audrina!" "[Banging]" "Audrina!" "Audrina?" "Audrina!" "Are you okay, my love?" "Yes, I'm..." "I'm fine." "I'm here with you." "I know why it's so hard for you to be intimate." "I get visions of what happened to my sister." "I'd never hurt you, Audrina." "No." "I know that." "I've loved you since..." "Since before I knew you." "What do you mean?" "You know, um..." "They say true lovers never meet for the first time..." "They've known each other in their hearts all along." "That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard." "And, um," "I do know exactly what you mean." "Because I feel the same way about you." "What?" "Nothing." "This is okay?" "Yes." "It's fine." "It's fine." "[men laughing echoing in memory] [men cackling and taunting] no, stop, stop." "It's okay, Audrina." "It's okay." "I would never make you do anything you don't want to do." "I'm so sorry, Arden." "[Door opens, closes] [crying]" "[doorbell rings]" "happy thanksgiving." "Aren't you gonna invite me in, sis?" "I should have come back for my mother's funeral," "I know that." "But I was still too angry." "I heard about what happened." "[Chuckles ruefully] yeah." "Well, turns out lamar rensdale was a coward when the chips were down." "I'm sorry." "It took a lot of guts for me to turn up here." "I wasn't sure I'd be welcome back." "Well, Papa's not as angry as he used to be." "I wasn't talking about damian." "I was talking about you." "You know, despite all that we went through growing up in this madhouse, you hated me." "When all I ever wanted was to be your friend." "But that's all I ever wanted." "It was you who hated me." "Is that how you remember it?" "Look, who really knows if we are sisters or cousins, but let's at least be friends?" "Start afresh?" "Please, get out of my house." "You're not welcome here." "Papa, you said you wanted a chance to make up for your past mistakes." "Now, you should agree that Vera should have one, too." "She's had a really tough time since she left whitefern." "Every bad break she's brought upon herself." "Nonetheless, she's family, cousin or sister, daughter or niece..." "Now, she'll be staying with us for a few days so she can visit her mother's grave, and go through some of Ellsbeth's things." "I've made up my mind." "I appreciate you letting me stay for thanksgiving." "Ah, mm..." "We all deserve second chances." "[Chuckles] wow, Audrina, this is amazing." "Did you do this all yourself?" "Audrina's really turned into a wonderful cook." "She takes care of us beautifully every day." "It's really delicious, my love." "You outdid yourself." "It must be so hard, taking care of these two." "I like cooking." "And all the housework?" "I mean, this place is massive." "But hey, if I stick around, I could pitch in." "Lord knows my mother taught me a thing or two about housework." "Poor woman." "I'd like to raise a toast." "To Audrina and Arden, the happy couple." "Thank you." "To you." "Thank you." "Now, when are you two going to start making babies to fill this place with laughter, huh?" "[Chuckles] well, all in good time." "You know, I think there's something deeply erotic about babies." "[Giggles] that's a peculiar thing to say, Vera." "Perhaps you shouldn't say any more." "They suck on your boobs all day long." "If that's not erotic, I don't know what is." "That's enough." "So, look at you, taking on whitefern." "Such a big job." "Damian has given you a gargantuan task." "It has been a challenging assignment." "I can't imagine how much pressure you must be under." "Is it awfully hard?" "It's a lot, sometimes too much." "Feels like every renovation plan I come up with reveals another design flaw that I've got to figure out a way to fix." "Sounds like you're not just talking about whitefern, but maybe someone living in it?" "It can't be easy being married to someone so..." "Audrina is wonderful, and so, so beautiful, but don't tell me she isn't flawed." "Deeply, deeply scarred by what happened to the first Audrina." "I think you're a hero for taking it all on." "I'm not a hero." "I'm the opposite of a hero." "What does that mean?" "I don't want to discuss it." "Okay." "Have it your way." "But in my eyes, you're a hero, and a very handsome one." "I've got to call the contractor." "It's just like old times." "What?" "[Giggles] well, that's the best darned pickle I ever tasted." "[Laughs]" "I guess you haven't grown up very much." "Sorry, miss mature married lady." "So, go on, tell me, what's Arden like in bed?" "Is he a total hot rod?" "Vera..." "Oh, no, you have a limp noodle, don't you?" "Poor you." "It's nothing like that." "Well, what's his problem?" "I bet I can help you fix it." "Whoa." "The problem isn't his." "It's mine." "You want some tips?" "Look, Audrina, sex is wonderful." "It's so fun, so freeing, and the physical pleasure, it..." "Okay..." "So when's the last time you two did it?" "None of your damned business." "[Tap runs, stops]" "you look tired." "That's because you're such a restless sleeper." "I can't catch a wink." "Well, yes." "And you snore." "I do not." "Yeah, you do." "I do not." "You do." "I do not." "Yeah, you do." "I do not." "[Heavy crash] [screams of pain]" "[Vera shrieking in pain] it's okay." "[Sobbing] it hurts, it hurts." "[Screams] stop!" "Stop..." "It's all right, it's okay." "It's all right." "All right, come along slowly." "There you go." "[Arden]:" "easy, take it easy." "[Vera]: it hurts." "Okay..." "Here you go." "Thank you." "Um, I'm supposed to keep my leg elevated." "Do you think you could put a pillow under it?" "Yeah, sure." "Thank you." "Can I get you anything else?" "Could you maybe get me a cup of herbal tea?" "Of course." "Thank you." "Audrina, could you run to town and get my pain prescription filled?" "I'm just in so, so much pain." "You know, someone really should have thrown away that decrepit old stool, don't you think?" "I think she might have done it on purpose." "Broke her leg?" "[Scoffs] come on, Audrina, that's so ungenerous of you." "No one's that sick." "Pour me one of those, will ya?" "I thought you and Audrina had gone up for the night." "You're so tense." "It must be very, very frustrating not to be able to sleep with your own wife." "Isn't it?" "[Voice trembling] my love..." "[Chuckling] would you like a glass of wine, Audrina?" "[Footsteps recede quickly]" "hey..." "Hey..." "Listen, that was..." "That was nothing, okay?" "Listen to me." "I'm releasing you, Arden." "I'm letting you go." "Excuse me?" "You should be with someone who can share themselves in every way a husband and wife should experience love." "You deserve to be happy." "I can't give you what you want, Arden, so why shouldn't you get it from someone who's offering it up?" "Are you serious right now?" "Yes, I am." "Don't you love me anymore?" "Stop being so nice to me!" "Stop being so patient!" "Any ordinary man would have forced things by now, or left me, and what about you?" "I'm a frigid freak!" "Don't say that." "Just-- why do you stay with me, then?" "Why did you marry me in the first place?" "Some weird shut-away girl you hardly even knew." "What on earth did you see in me?" "I felt a bond." "I feel bound to you." "Why?" "What bond?" "If I tell you, you wouldn't love me anymore." "You wouldn't even like me." "Is this to do with the first Audrina?" "Is it to do with what happened to her?" "Yes." "Oh, god." "Were you one of those boys?" "No, I wasn't!" "Audrina, no." "I wasn't." "Oh, my god!" "Audrina, stop." "Look, I knew her." "I knew the first Audrina." "I was in the woods on that day." "I saw them chasing her." "I tried to stop it, but they were older than me, much bigger, and there were three of them." "I tried to help her, but I wasn't strong enough." "I..." "I'm sorry." "So, what, are you..." "Are you attracted to me out of some twisted sense of guilt?" "Some sick tie to the first Audrina?" "There is so much more to this than I can or have a right to tell." "How could you keep this from me?" "I'm sorry." "What?" "What is it you're trying to tell me?" "Please, I can't take it anymore." "Please..." "[Urgent knock] damian..." "You've got to tell her the truth right now." "What-- -it's gone on too long." "If you don't tell her, I will." "Now, damian." "Damian, now!" "Audrina!" "Audrina!" "Come away from the edge." "Stop!" "Tell me the truth about the first Audrina." "Tell me." "[Damian]: they could have gone to the police, but lucietta didn't want her daughter humiliated." "it was degradation that your mother was trying to remove." "[screaming] she..." "She wanted to die, and she tried... she tried." "I couldn't let her die." "so..." "I saved her." "I saved her the only way I knew how." "What did you do, Papa?" "the psychiatrist said shock therapy was the only thing that would work." "I would have done anything to remove that day in the woods from my little girl's memory." "day after day, over and over, I told her, it wasn't her, that it was her older sister, that they'd killed the first Audrina, and left her in the woods." "but the first Audrina is dead." "No, she's not." "Because you're alive." "She's buried in the family cemetery." "We went there every sunday-- there is no first Audrina, you are my one and only Audrina." "What?" "Let go of me." "[Shouting in protest]" "Audrina, stop!" "[Grunting in fury]" "no, stop." "Get away from me." "I beg you, stop." "Don't touch me!" "Stop, I beg you." "I'm sorry!" "I'm sorry!" "No!" "Don't touch me!" "Stop." "I've always loved you, since we were kids." "You were ripped away from me." "Everybody had to keep up the charade to protect you." "I vowed never to leave you alone again, never to let you suffer!" "I told my mother to move us to the cottage so I could be close to you." "I love you," "I have always, always loved you, sweet Audrina." "[Thunder rumbles]" "[?" "]" "[Gasping]" "[truck engine revving]" "[Vera's voice echoing] Audrina..." "Audrina..." "Arden, did you hear that?" "[Mumbles sleepily]" "is my head ever going to be normal?" "[Faint thumping] okay, I've had enough of this." "[Floorboards creaking]" "[ventilator hissing rhythmically]" "please wake up and come back to me." "Start over." "I'm so sorry." "Thank you." "Thank you for letting me stay and help." "Damian..." "You did everything you ever could for Audrina, except for one thing..." "You never let her go." "You need to get some rest." "Stop." "You haven't rested in days." "Tea?" "I know you like it sweet." "You need to stay hydrated." "Sleep well, handsome." "[Ventilator hissing rhythmically] you should have seen the look in your eyes right before you hit the floor." "It was the exact same look that my mother had." "Didn't I swear revenge on all those who made me cry, Audrina?" "You know, I pray that you can hear me right now, and that you can remember the very special birthday present that I gave to you." "sweet Audrina... ouch!" "Stop that." "And stop saying my name like that." "You know I don't like it." "I'm sorry." "[Taunting] aud-ree-na." "[Giggles] here's your lovely birthday dress." "Let me help." "Oh." "Don't you look a picture." "Well, you're going to get a big, big surprise on your way home from school today." "But don't you worry," "I've got it all perfectly planned." "You'll love it." "[Taunting] aud-ree-na..." "Goodbye, sweet Audrina." "Sweet dreams." "[Oxygen hisses steadily] [alert beeping]" "Audrina..." "[Wheezing] [alert beeping]" "[boys laughing]" "[Audrina grunting] [male voice, mocking]:" "Audrina!" "[wheezing and choking]" "Arden!" "get off of her!" "Audrina!" "[Audrina cries out] [man grunts] [panting and gasping for air]" "Arden!" "Audrina!" "[man laughs] [wheezing and choking]" "[boys laughing]" "[Audrina shrieks] [gasping and wheezing] [smashes, clattering]" "[choking and gagging]" "Audrina..." "Audrina." "Audrina!" "Audrina..." "Arden." "Arden!" "Arden, come quickly!" "What are you doing?" "Audrina..." "[Choking and gasping]" "Arden!" "Audrina!" "What?" "No!" "You pushed me." "No, I didn't." "Yes, you did." "No, I didn't." "You planned the whole thing." "You were in the woods." "No..." "It was you." "It wasn't my fault." "It's not my fault, okay?" "All I ever wanted was for you to love me, but you never gave me a chance!" "You never gave me a hug, you never gave me a smile, you never gave me anything!" "Nothing!" "You planned it?" "I thought maybe if Audrina wasn't perfect-- you brought those boys to the woods to try to destroy her?" "...Notice me, that you might want me too-- shut up!" "May your soul rot in everlasting hell." "You!" "No!" "No, no!" "No, no, no, it wasn't me!" "Oh, my god..." "No!" "It was her." "[Screaming] no." "No!" "No-- [shrieking in pain] [splintering]" "[?" "]" "[Softly] rest well, unhappy soul." "[Audrina]: and so I vowed to bury my grief, leaving it to rot, to begin anew at whitefern." "no more secrets." "no more lies." "choosing hope, choosing love." "a chance for a new life." "and together, we walk towards it."