The Boogeyman

Annie.

Daddy?

- Dad... - Go back to sleep.

Let me hold you.

It's okay.

It's just me.

It's your daddy.

It's me!

I...

might've lost my cool a little.

Then I made an ultimatum.

Okay.

I'm just scared that she's stringing me along.

What are you scared of?

That she doesn't love me.

What are you really scared of?

- Being alone. - Yeah.

I get it. It can be scary to be alone.

"Where there is fear..."

"There is your task."

"There is your task."

Carl Jung had it figured out.

That's a good place to end for today.

I gotta get my kids to school.

It's been a month.

It's their first day back. They're a little anxious.

Not that they should be standing right outside the door.

I feel like such a jerk.

None of my shit compares to what you're dealing with.

Well, we're not here to talk about me.

After you.

- You got your pencils? - Yes.

Okay. What about your math book?

Yes.

Wait a minute. Did you brush your teeth?

- Yes. Yes. - You did?

- Do you wanna use the bathroom, or no? - No.

Sadie, come on! We're gonna be late!

Sadie...

What?

Nothing.

Looks nice on you.

Just put on a jacket 'cause we're gonna...

It's cold out there.

What if I accidentally swallow it?

Then it'll come out in your shit.

- It's not gonna come out in your shit. - Back.

- Sadie. - Forward.

I don't think you should keep pulling it.

- Pull it out. - No, don't give her that advice.

- What? Yes. - Don't give her that...

Don't listen to... No, no, no. Don't...

Should I go soft or hard?

- No, no, no, don't listen... - Hard.

- Put on your seat belt, please. - Okay, jeez.

Mom would know what to do.

I could pull it out myself.

- How would you like that? - What?

- Let me pull it out. - What?

I'll pull it out right now. I'm gonna pull it out.

- You okay? - I'm fine.

Have a great day.

Hey. Hey, Sadie.

I'm sorry about your mom.

Sorry about your mom.

Sorry, Sadie.

You're back.

Sorry, Sadie.

Hey, Sadie. Sorry about your mom.

Hey.

Hey.

What's up?

I still can't believe it, you know?

I know.

But, welcome back.

Oh, my God.

That's really stupid to say.

Thanks for, like, actually talking to me.

Everyone else is staring at me like I have some kind of disease.

You're sick?

That's so shitty.

No, I...

Just forget it.

You know, I like your dress.

I'd wear it if I could pull it off.

It's like a, it's like a statement.

- Yeah, it's cute. - Thanks.

- Yeah. - I mean, it was my mom's.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

Why am I sure what's a good idea?

I just... Wearing her clothes...

it seems like it might make it harder to move on, or whatever.

I don't wanna "move on."

Okay. Maybe you don't want to...

- creep people out either. - Nat, come on.

- What? I'm just... - Let's not...

I'm just trying to help.

No, you're being a bitch.

Wait, hold on.

- I'm sorry. What did you say? - Nat. Nat...

- No, what did you say? - I said you're being a bitch.

No, no, no, Natalie! Let's not...

- Oh, my God. - Natalie, what did you do?

No, stop.

- Do you need something to change into? - Just leave me alone.

- Oh, my God. - You can't laugh at that.

- Nat, what the hell? - What?

That's okay. You're gonna get there.

- Just be patient. - Okay.

Well, you've been doing the same thing for 30 years...

we've been working together for what? Two?

Okay. Okay.

Thanks.

You got this.

I'll see you next week.

Dr. Harper?

Can I help you?

I need to talk to you.

I'm sorry, I don't see anyone without an initial phone consultation.

- So, you'll have to make an appointment. - Please.

If I don't tell somebody, I don't know what I'm gonna do.

What's your name?

Lester.

Lester Billings.

Good to meet you, Lester.

Come in. I got a...

I got a free hour.

- Thank you. - Please.

You wanna hang up your jacket?

Might make you more comfortable.

Can you shut it?

Excuse me?

The door.

Sure.

I have a few forms I need you to fill out.

I use this with all my new clients.

This is for record-keeping purposes only.

So anything you say in here...

is strictly confidential.

Is that okay?

Is this your first time seeing a therapist?

Well, why don't we start with why you decided to see one now?

I didn't know where else to go, you know, I...

I can't go to a priest 'cause I'm not Catholic.

I can't go to a lawyer 'cause I didn't commit a crime.

Even if everybody thinks I have.

Even if they all think I did it.

Did what, exactly?

Killed my kids.

One at a time.

Killed them all.

I came to you 'cause I thought that you might understand.

I saw the story about your wife in the paper.

The car accident.

And I know that you know what it's like...

to lose someone that you love just like that.

What were you saying about your children?

What happened to your children?

Well, the first one...

our baby girl, she...

she died from SIDS.

I'm so sorry.

I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been.

You have kids.

So, you can imagine.

My next two kids died within a year of the first...

one right after the other.

From natural causes too?

Nothing natural about it.

Sucked the life right out of them.

Even if the first one was an accident...

it still made us susceptible.

Susceptible?

To what?

I don't know exactly.

I only glimpsed it once.

Before my Annie's neck broke.

Before they died, my kids...

I thought it was just their imaginations getting the better of 'em.

And my oldest did try drawing it for me.

What is this supposed to be?

It's the thing that comes for your kids when you're not paying attention.

I'm sorry.

Do you mind if I step out?

I just need to use the restroom.

You believe me, don't you?

Of course I do.

I'll be right back.

Excuse me.

Yes, this is Dr. William Harper.

I have a man in my office right now who is not well.

I think he might be dangerous.

Okay, do you want us to send a car out?

You there?

Sir, you still with me?

Yes.

Can you please confirm your name?

William Harper, yeah.

He came in right off the street.

- You ever see him before? - No.