Madhouse

Good morning.

Today is Thursday.

I want you to remember that November is the time for Thanksgiving.

- OK. What's the word? - Boy.

Good. Continue.

- OK, what's the word? - Boy.

Very good.

'These words are awake, awoke.'

- Say the word. - Awake. Awoke.

OK.

'Bend. Bent.'

Bend. Bent.

Well, I can see you're not counting calories.

Well, my boyfriend likes all of me he can get.

What have you got there?

Oh, a note from you-know-who.

- Another one? - Mmmmm.

"Dear Miss Sullivan, my brother, Bill, is 14.

"Sometimes we argue and our mom gets mad.

"Yesterday, some big boys took my Frisbee and played keep-a-way.

"I couldn't get it back until Bill made them give it to me.

"He helped me, so I know he loves me.

"I think I'm lucky to have a brother like that."

What a doll.

Have him give me a call in a couple of years.

Well, honey, what is it?

My uncle called and...

convinced me I should visit my sister in the hospital.

Why should that upset you?

I'm not sure.

There's always been a...

a strange kind of bond between us.

It's taken me nearly seven years of being totally cut off from her to get over it.

Now, just the thought of a visit...

- Uncle James. - Julia.

It's been such a long time.

It's a shame it takes something like this to bring us together again.

This is very difficult for me.

I know. I know.

You're not still afraid of her after all these years?

The stories you used to tell.

They were not stories.

Julia, I want to prepare you.

You might not recognise her.

Of course I'll recognise her. We're identical twins.

Not anymore.

What do you mean?

There's no scientific explanation,

but it seems a virus has been spreading on her for the last year.

The neurofibromatosis has deformed her features

and the sclerosis causes massive skin eruptions.

It could be fatal.

My God.

I tried to contact you to let you know,

but you didn't answer my calls until last week.

I'm sorry, Uncle James.

I just... I just couldn't.

You're sisters, Julia -

the miracle from your mother's body

and the seed of your father, whom you never knew, I realise.

But your mother, Martha, was a saint.

When she died, you chose to make a life of your own.

Now, Mary understood and accepted that,

but I know she has missed you.

- You really think so? - Of course.

When I told her you were coming, she seemed very excited.

Now, she's held up remarkably well,

but I know this has all been very hard on her emotionally,

so please, be patient.

She's tried to leave this place three times already.

Now then, I think you two should have this moment alone.

Thank you, Uncle James.

Kind of makes you sick, doesn't it?

Mary.

It doesn't feel so good either.

- I know. - "I know"?

How would you know?

You don't have it, not you.

- Not Little Miss Prim and Proper. - Mary, please.

Soon.

Soon it will be our birthday again.

Remember?

Remember how we used to celebrate, sister dear?

No.

Remember how you'd hide from me, but I'd find you anyway.

Remember?

Remember what I'd do, how it'd hurt?

Huh?

Well, I will make it hurt again.

I'll make you suffer like I've suffered you.

Run, but you'll never get away from me.

Run! Run!

Julia, what is it?

I told you I shouldn't have come. I told you.

- Now what is it? What's happened? - She tried to...

She tried to do what? What are you talking about?

Just like our birthdays... when we were kids.

What she did to me.

Now Julia, calm down. Nobody's going to hurt you.

You don't know what she did to me.

Nobody knows.

Nobody knows what she did to me.

Sorry.

I got held up by a last-minute schizoid in emergency.

How are you?

Don't take off your coat yet.

Your shift's not over.

Oh, really? You want to play doctor?

Sam, this is serious.

- I saw my sister Mary tonight. - Your sister?

My twin.

I never even knew you had a sister.

How come you've never mentioned her before?

Because she really frightens me.

When we were children,

we were identical in every way,

but she was the mistress and I was her slave.

Everything wrong in her life she took out on me.

She's in the hospital now.

She's...

She's very ill, she's...

horribly diseased.

And you are frightened. What of?

My birthday.

On our birthdays...

she had this special ceremony.

She had a dog,

a really vicious animal.

She could just lift her hand and he would obey.

I'd hear them come down the hall and into our room,

circling around my bed as I hid under the covers.

And she'd whisper,

"Why should I have to share my life with you?

"I'm going to punish you for ruining my birthday."

And I could feel the hot breath of the dog.

He'd bite me if I moved or made any sound.

And she'd strike wooden matches and blow them out

and jab me with the smoldering end,

or she'd stick me with a needle again and again until I'd bleed.

And you never mentioned this to anybody? You never resisted?

No.

I can't explain it.

I was...

completely under her power.

It's almost as if...

I were doing it to myself.

It'll never stop.

I know now that I can't get away.

Leroy?

Leroy? Come on, kitty.

Kitty?

There you are.

Oh...

How are you doing, hmm?

It hasn't been a very good day.

No.

Are you hungry? Yes?

Let's go get some dinner, huh?

OK.

You're such a good little kitty, aren't you?

Yes, you are. Yes, you are.

Come on, I'll get you some milk, OK?

How about that?

OK, come on.

There you go. There you go.

Hello?

Who's there?

Mr Kimura, what are you doing?

Oh... borrowed key to your apartment.

Miss Amantha say Kimura always to fix everything.

First fix your place real pretty, then across the hall.

Now, Miss Amantha say,

"Kimura make more apartments second floor and third floor."

Very busy. Too much work.

What are you doing with the lights?

Oh...

New fuse box.

Get parts real cheap from my son-in-law at the Sears.

Mr Kimura, please don't come into my apartment when I'm not home.

You can use the outside door to the basement. You understand?

So sorry, but this easiest way.

Outside door too stiff.

Make my back hurt to open door.

Then maybe you should fix that first and then worry about the other things.

OK. OK...

Miss Amantha make Kimura work too much.

I hate this goddamn house.

You afraid of ghosts, Miss Julia?

No, not really.

It's not the dead that scare me. It's the living.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

'Remember what I'd do, how it would hurt, huh?

'Well, I'll make it hurt again.

'I'll make you suffer like I've suffered you.

'Yes, run, but you'll never get away from me.'

Argh!

Argh!