1 MAN: You're gonna burn 'em. Gonna go shopping for three hours again today? Leave your cell phone off? You think I don't know what you're doing? You think I'm stupid? Huh?! (Laughs bitterly) And yet you can't make me a simple...damn...breakfast. ( SIZZLING ) (Screams) (Gasps) (Whimpers and screams) (Pants) (Woman cries out) ( DOOR SLAMS ) GIRL: Vanessa! Miyuki! Wait up! Sorry. I dropped my phone. God, Allison, you're such a klutz. I saw you in the cafeteria today. Do you always eat alone? Um, well, I had to... She's only been in Tokyo for, like, three weeks or something. No, actually, I've been at your school for, like, six months. Oh, you have? Huh. Well, no wonder you wear your uniform like that. Like what? Roll that up. It'll look cooler. (Laughs) Oh, no, no, no. Here. Higher. That's better. You should show off your legs more. They're not bad. Thanks. You know, you should eat with us sometime. Really? Oh, that'd be great. Let us check our calendar and get back to you. So where are we going, anyway? What is this place? Come on, Allison. VANESSA: This is it. Can you feel it? What do you mean? MIYUKI: They say this is one of the most haunted houses in all of Japan. Yeah, and that anyone who goes inside gets the curse. (Whispers) Come on. (Whispers) Come on. ( DOOR CREAKS ) VANESSA: This is where the girl from the International College killed her boyfriend two years ago. (Whispers) Really? Yeah. She was the one who started the fire that killed him. Maybe they came here to...you know. Well, maybe you should bring Michael down here since you two are so...adventurous. Come on, let's go upstairs. ( SPLASHING ) ( FLOORBOARDS CREAK ) ( DOOR SLAMS ) It's in there. The way up to the attic... ..where she lives. Who? What are you talking about? Kayako. The woman who was murdered here. What?! Yeah. He killed her. He snapped her neck... (Gasps) ..and drowned their son in the tub. He was so sick, he even killed the kid's cat before he hung himself. But before he offed himself... ..he wrapped up his wife's body in plastic... (Opens door) ..and stuffed her in the attic. No way! I'm not going up there. You don't have to go up. Just inside. If you close your eyes and count to 10, when you open them again, you'll see her. All the other girls have been too afraid to try. Only me and Miyuki have been able to do it so far. One, two, three... You have to go further in. You have to close your eyes before you start counting. (Sighs) One... ..two, three...four... No! Come on, you guys! Open the door! Sorry, Allison. Open the door, please! Wait. Come on, you guys! This isn't funny! I can't open it! OK, scaredy-cat. (Whimpers) Come on out. Please? Please? You guys! Please let me out! Please open the door! I can't open it. Hey, Allison! Very funny. We're not holding the door - you should be able to open it. (Woman screeches) (Allison gasps) ( FLOORBOARDS CREAK ) (Allison whimpers) ( LOUD CREAKING ) (All scream) (Screams) Please! Please! ( DOOR SLAMS ) * ( DOORBELL RINGS ) (Woman coughs) ( DOOR OPENS ) Hey, Mom. How are you feeling? What took you so long? What's going on? Your sister's in the hospital. (Coughs) There's been an accident. You mean in Tokyo? What do you... What kind of an accident? Is she...? Is she...? There was a fire. They think she started it. What? And Doug's...Doug's dead. (Sobs) Oh, no. I booked a flight. It leaves early tomorrow morning. No. No, Mom, you can't fly. You're too sick. I'm not going. You are. I...I can't. You see...you see, that's the difference between you and Karen. She knows how to face life. I don't care that you girls aren't speaking. She's your sister. Believe me, I wish there was someone else, but there isn't. Bring her back. Do you speak English? I'm looking for my sister - Karen Davis. (Speaks Japanese) (Speaks Japanese) Hai. (Translates) (Both speak Japanese) She's here. They'll take you to her. Thank you. (Nurse speaks Japanese) (Speaks Japanese) Karen? Karen? You're here! Yeah. You're really here. Yeah. Thank God you're here. What did you do? You need to help me. You need to get me out of here now! Hey, whoa, whoa. Slow down. Just stop for a second and tell me what happened. Did you start that fire? Aubrey, you have to get me out of here! Karen, OK, you're scaring me. Stop. Please listen to me. I'm the only person that can stop her. Who?! Stop who?! I have to go back there! Karen... I have to! Please, you're my only chance. Karen, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. (Speaks Japanese) Aubrey...don't go in that house. Is she OK? Not really. No. Look, I really need to talk to her. Are you a friend of hers or something? No. I don't know her. I'm a journalist. My name's Eason. I don't think she can talk to you right now. The doctors told me they're gonna sedate her. She can't have any visitors until tomorrow. (Gasps) (Gasps) No! (Whimpers) (Speaks Japanese) (Man yells) (Woman whispers) ( WIND BLOWS ) (Gasps) ( CREAKING ) (Gasps) Excuse me! I just want to talk to you about... Wait! I just want to talk to you about your sister and the house that... ( AIR RUSHES ) * Alright. I can carry something else. Yeah? One more? Yeah, sure. No problem. You sure? Alright. Can you carry this one? No! (Laughs) I could. I could. You could. I know you could. Thanks, sweetie. There you go. Alright. The kids are upstairs. I'm nervous. I know, honey. It's gonna be great. Yeah? It'll be great. ( DOORBELL RINGS ) Come on, Jake! (Laughs) Welcome to your new home! Hey! Thanks. OK, well, that's everything. Help me take this stuff to the bedroom, OK? OK, Sally's coming to help. I promised her pizza. Pizza! Pizza. Alright. Hey. (Clears throat) Jake! Come here, please. I want you to get some of this stuff out of the closet, alright? Put it under your bed. Make some room for Trish's coats, alright? There you go. There you go. Take this and this. How about this? There we go. Great. Go, go, go. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You OK? Yeah. Just not sure that he is. He's gonna be OK. Just give him time, alright? Trish, this is Sally. Sally, Trish. Hey! Hi. Thanks for helping. No sweat. I hope you're hungry. I'm gonna be ordering from Tofano's. Tell 'em to send Billy. He's totally hot. (Giggles) Nice meeting you. Yeah, nice meeting you. I'm really glad you're finally moving in. Thanks. It'll be easier for me to borrow your clothes. TRISH: Jake... Could you knock first? Oh, I'm sorry. Um, I'm sorry about the closet. I know this must be really hard for you, Jake. I mean, it's a really big change. And I just...I just want you to know that if you ever want to talk about anything, I would really like that. I'm not gonna call you 'Mom', OK? Good. 'Cause I don't really want you to. 'Trish' works just fine for me. Deal? OK. ( WATER RUNS ) ( DISTANT GROWLING AND SHRIEKING ) WOMAN: Almost there. (Sobs) MAN: I got you. Just hold on. I got you. Watch your step. Uh, hi, Mr Fleming. (Sobs) ( DOOR CLOSES ) You can see how the shape of these characters reflect their meanings. This is the character 'ki'. In English, it's 'tree'. If you add another tree to it, it becomes 'hayashi'. In English, it means 'woods'. If you add another 'ki' to it... ..it becomes 'forest'. (Gasps) Does anybody know how to read this kanji? (Gasps loudly) Sorry. (Class laughs) Now, what does this look like? OK, I'll give you a clue. Now, even with my awful writing - I'm not a drawer - but I think you can see that it's a gate. And it's structured by two doors, and the interesting thing... She's coming! Hey, Allison, are you feeling OK, sweetie? 'Cause, you know, I've been really worried about you. I heard you went to see the school shrink this morning. (All laugh) Poor thing. ( SINISTER MUSIC ) ( WIND RUSHES ) I'm sorry. You're late. I know. I had to close up. Hmm? Let's go. MICHAEL: Pick any one you like. Go with this one. (Woman speaks Japanese) I like it. Good. Get comfortable. I'll be back. ( WATER RUNS ) (Sighs) ( DOOR OPENS ) (Giggles) Stop, Michael! It tickles! (Whimpers) (Whimpers) MICHAEL: Miyuki! ( KEYS JINGLE ) ( KEY RATTLES IN LOCK ) ( PHONE RINGS ) MOTHER: Hello? Who is this? Karen? (Sobs) MAN: Let's begin with the first incident, three years ago. Your colleagues were the primary investigators on that case? That's correct. It's my understanding that these colleagues have since...disappeared. They have. A mother and a child were killed in that house. The husband murdered them. I have questions about... The incident happened as reported in the local papers. Understood. Recently, an American family died in that house, also under suspicious circumstances. I cannot get into those details. So two incidents...two families died in one house? So two incidents...two families died in one house? I cannot get into those details. So two incidents... ( CREAKING ) ..two families died in one house? ..i...i...i... ( STATIC ) ( CREAKING ) ( CREAKING ) * ( KNOCK AT DOOR ) ( LOUD KNOCKING ) ( KNOCKING ) Hello. Cops say you were the one that pulled my sister out of the fire. I'm sorry about your sister. I know why your sister did what she did. Here. Thanks. Karen found all this stuff online. (Sighs) Terrible things happen in that house. I've been covering this story since I moved to Tokyo three years ago. Karen would've never done something like this. It doesn't make any sense. (Sighs) Ever since your sister went inside that house, she felt like someone was there with her, something watching her, threatening her. How do you know that? Ever since I've been in that house, I've been experiencing the same things. Your sister burned down that house because...she thought it would stop. The fire changed something. I think it's getting worse. Where are you going? I was hoping you could tell me something I don't already know. But you can't. I'm not even sure what I'm looking for, anyways. I've got no choice but to go back to that house. I'll go with you. I don't want you to go. I'm going with you. I'm not leaving here until I find out why my sister is dead. ( THUMPING, GROANING ) (Distant) Help! Help me, please! ( DOOR CREAKS AND CLOSES ) (Gasps) (Moans and sighs) Oh, no! So what's it gonna be? P.B. and J. or chicken salad? Last night - did you hear it? OK, P.B. and J. it is. Lacey, didn't you hear it? Those sounds... ..from next door. What did you hear? I heard the Flemings coming home. They looked really...weird. Weird? How? Well, yesterday I... Sorry, you guys. Why didn't you get me up? Morning. SALLY: Did you make it? Tonight's the last cut, but I'm pretty sure I made it. Oh, you're TOTALLY gonna make it! Are you nervous? No, not really. (Laughs) You should've tried out. Oh, please. ( RUSTLING OVERHEAD ) LACEY: Jake! Jake! Come on - hurry up. ( PHONE RINGS ) Hello. Hey, Nate. Really? No, he never said that to me. I don't know - maybe he left a message on the cell. I'm not sure. (Laughs) See, you wouldn't say that to me. You would just say that to you. 'Cause he likes you, that's why. You don't have to be coy. I know it's important to be professional, but it's...you know, you have to have a life. Who you talking to? It's just Nate. Are you OK? (Exhales, clears throat) Forgot my keys. I'll go check the bedroom. * ( KNOCK AT DOOR ) Come in. Vanessa. Please - have a seat. Allison has just been telling me an interesting story that I'd like you to verify. A story about what? About a visit you made with her and Miyuki Nozawa to a certain house. I'm sorry, Miss Talbot. I don't know what she told you. Please, Vanessa. No-one is in trouble here. I just need to find out exactly what happened in that house. Miyuki is missing. We just got the call. Apparently she never came home last night. She said she was gonna be with her boyfriend, Michael. Yes, we've spoken with him. He said she'd disappeared. Now you can understand, Vanessa, how important it is that we hear the truth. Why did you do this to me? Why did you take me to that place? You WANTED to come. (Yells) What did I ever do to you? (Sobs) Allison, wait! Wait here. But... ( SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC ) (Gasps) ( RAPID FOOTSTEPS ) (Whimpers) ( PHONE RINGS ) (Screams) ( PHONE CONTINUES RINGING ) (Gasps, breathes heavily) Miyuki! ( GROWLING ON PHONE ) ( RINGING TONE ) Miyuki? Miyuki, is that you? ( GROANING ON PHONE ) (Screams) Wait here. No, I... Please - just stay here. ( DOOR OPENS ) ( CREAKING ) ( DOOR RATTLES FORCEFULLY ) ( CREAKING ) ( RUSTLING ) Eason. KAREN: Aubrey... ..please don't go in that house. EASON: Aubrey! What are you doing in here? Something pulled me in. I told you to stay outside. I didn't know. We need to go - now. ( DOOR SLAMS ) EASON: Kayako kept this journal her whole life. She was only eight when she wrote this part. Well, I don't understand it, but that looks creepy as hell. It's not creepy... ..it's sad. Apparently her mother was an itako. Itako? What's that? It's a kind of channeller. People believe they can talk with their deceased loved ones through them. But, I... ..I don't understand this part. I have a friend. He's really into folklore. I think he can help us. (Dials number) (Speaks Japanese) (Speaks Japanese) He says that what Kayako wrote was about the rituals her mother performed... ..and how they were somewhat abnormal. (Speaks Japanese) There's no real word to describe it in English, but... ..the closest thing would be 'exorcist'. (Man speaks Japanese) What is it? Eason? Eason! It sounds like her mother was able to cure people through extracting evil spirits... ..out of their bodies. And...feeding them to her daughter. What? First thing tomorrow morning we have to go see her. See who? Kayako's mother. I've tried everything. I even went back to the house - I... Look... ..if she can really take evil spirits out of people... ..maybe she can help us. I don't know what to believe any more. We don't have a choice. It's our only hope. OK. This is the research I was doing for the story. I've got her childhood address... ..right here. It's a small village. The train will only take us halfway. We'll have to switch to a bus. The last time I saw Karen, we got in this huge fight. It was really stupid. She, uh...she took me out to lunch and she dropped this college application on me, and I... ..I was just... I was so pissed. I thought she was trying to be just like my mother. I screamed at her and told her to stop trying to change my life - to leave me the hell alone. She did. We never spoke again until last night. I always, um... (Exhales sharply) ..I always blamed Karen for my mother's indifference towards me. But I know that wasn't true, and I really...I really regret... Well...you know, it's strange. Back in Hong Kong, my brother lived a few blocks away from me for four years. We never even tried to see each other. I'll make some tea. Yeah, thanks. ( KETTLE WHISTLES ) ( CREAKING ) ( CREAKING ) ( SPLASHING ) (Shrieks) Eason? Eason? Eason, are you in here? Eason? (Gasps) Eason? (Whispers) Eason. Eason. Eason! Eason. ( CREAKING ) ( DOORBELL RINGS ) Jeez, are you sick or something? So, what do you think? Sally, are you OK? ( PHONE RINGS ) Jake. No, it's OK. I'll be right there. I gotta go. (Sally vomits) ( KNOCK AT DOOR ) Jake? ( FLOORBOARDS CREAK ) Jake? God! Jake, what are you doing in here? I...I was scared. What were you scared of? Trish... ..and Dad. They were fighting, Lacey. Where are they? I...I don't know. I wish Mom was here. (Quietly) Jake. ( LIGHT THUMPING ) ( LOUD BANG) Mr Fleming? (Inhales deeply) ( LIGHT THUMPING ) (Groans) (Nervously) Hi. ( DOOR CLOSES ) ( FOOTSTEPS APPROACH ) What's wrong, Jake? I went next door... ..I saw.. Where? Next door. (Whispers) I saw something at the window. Eyes. It's OK, Jake. It's OK. Something's really wrong, Lacey. OK, tomorrow, I promise I'll go there with you, OK? Just try and get some sleep now. (Gasps) ( CAT SCREECHES ) Damn it! ( PAN SIZZLES ) You got home pretty late last night. Where were you? (ENGINE RUMBLES) PHONE: You know, it's just freedom. You know, you just can't beat the feeling of gettin' a few smooth corners together. You're the one in control of your machine. (ENGINE RUMBLES IN BURSTS) You've gotta really own that control. * ( KNOCK AT DOOR ) WOMAN: Come in. Allison! Allison, are you alright? Maybe we should go see the nurse. I want to go home. (Allison sobs) Take a breath. Tell me what's going on. You can talk to me. It was that house. There was something there when I was there. I... ..I just...I just wanna go home. Allison, listen. I've been to that house with the police. There's nothing there. It's just an abandoned house. You... ..you went there? Yes, I did. She's gonna come for you. She got Miyuki...and Vanessa. And now she's after me. Allison! I don't know what you're talking about. What? They're right here. ( GROANING ) (Man sings) Hello? (Aubrey gasps) God! I need to speak to you about your daughter, Kayako. I saw the journal. I know you can get rid of evil spirits. She is dead. You did this. You made her what she was. Now I need you to help me. Help me end this. And we... WOMAN: People came looking for me. Full of pain and suffering. I took the dark spirits from them. And so did my daughter. AUBREY: You poisoned her! Look what she's become. WOMAN: I did not create this evil. Kayako was killed by her husband because she was foolish. That is where the curse started. I did not make her what she is now. My sister tried to burn down the house where Kayako was killed. She thought if she burned down the house, that it would stop... This is not about a house. You are just making things worse. This is rage. She wants us to suffer the way she has suffered. No, we have to make it stop. No, it will not stop. It will grow and destroy everything it touches. It will spread beyond the house. There can be no end to what has started. ( LOW THUMPING ) (Whispers) You brought her here. (Whimpers) (Gasps) (Inhales deeply) Hey. You OK? (Whispers) Something bad. What? Something bad lives there. That's what's making everything else bad here. Come on, Jake. Let's go. Dad? Trish? JAKE: Dad? Just wait here. Dad? Trish? * (Dials number) ( RINGING TONE ) WOMAN ON PHONE: Hello? Hi, Mom. It's me. I...I've been waiting for you. Where have you been? How's Karen? (Whispers) Um... ..she's gone, Mom. I'm sorry. She's gone? I know how much you loved her. I...I know she was everything to you. (Sobs) Why have you done this? You were supposed to bring her back. You could never do anything on your own. I love you so much. But you can't talk to me like this anymore. This has to end. Aubrey... Aubrey! I love you, Mom. Goodbye. My sister is dead. You killed her. Just like you killed the others. You won't stop. Why? WHAT DO YOU WANT?! ( VOICE ECHOES ) KAREN: Doug! Karen? Karen? Karen, no. (Gasps) (Screams) Lacey! (Gasps) Lacey! Lacey! ( GIRL LAUGHS ) Lacey! Lacey! No! No, no. Lacey. No! WOMAN: Jake. WOMAN: Jake. It's time for your bath. ( SCREAMING ) (Sobs) Karen? (Shrieks) (Shrieks) ( BONES SNAP ) ( GROANING ) ( GROANING ) ( GROANING ) MIYUKI: They say this is one of the most haunted houses in all of Japan. VANESSA: Yeah, and that anyone who goes inside gets the curse. (Sobs) VANESSA: All the other girls have been too afraid to try. Only me and Miyuki have been able to do it so far. ( LAUGHTER ) ( SOBBING ) Help me! Please, you have to help me! (Both sob) He killed her. ( VOICE ECHOES ) He snapped her neck. ( VOICE ECHOES ) If you close your eyes and count to 10 when you open them again you'll see her. (Sobs) It's all your fault! What did you do?! What did you bring here? It followed me here. They followed me here. ( GROANING ) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020