The Strangers: Chapter 3

(SOUNDS OF SILENCE BY SHELBY CARTER PLAYING)

* Hello, darkness, my old friend *

* I've come to talk with you again *

* Because a vision softly creeping *

* Left its seeds while I was sleeping *

* And the vision *

* That was planted in my brain *

* Still remains *

* Within the sound of silence *

* In restless dreams, I walked alone *

* Narrow streets of cobblestone *

* 'Neath the halo of a street lamp *

* I turned my collar to the cold and damp *

* When my eyes were stabbed *

* By the flash *

* Of a neon light *

* That split the night *

Hello?

* Of silence *

* And in the naked light I saw *

* Ten thousand people, maybe more *

* People talking without speaking *

* People hearing without... *

Can I help you?

Hey, uh, I'd like a room for the night, please.

Sure.

That'll be $119 per night, plus a $75 deposit.

Uh, do you know the best way

to get to downtown Venus from here?

Sure do.

- Born and raised there. - (CHUCKLES)

It's not really a downtown.

We only have, like,

486 people, so it's like a street.

Uh, take a right

and then a left and you'll run right into it.

It's like seven miles down the road.

Thanks.

Sign.

- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.

You're number 24.

And thanks for your help.

- (DOOR OPENS) - See you soon.

(GAME SHOW HOST SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON TV)

Uh, I already got the robe. Thank you.

Is Tamara here?

No, you have the wrong room.

(HOST CONTINUES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON TV)

Is Tamara here?

Please.

Don't hurt me.

What did I do?

Why did you take me?

Because you're here.

What? What? (CRYING)

- (SQUELCHING) - (SCREAMS)

You're still alive, huh?

This is the only way out.

A bullet.

Relax.

Nobody has a mask here.

To the dead.

Sit down.

It's for him.

His name was Ryan.

They killed your friends?

Yeah.

But I'll make new ones.

How long were you together?

Since the beginning.

Since we were kids.

Did you come here to pray for her?

Do you really think He'd listen to me?

Did you pray...

for Ryan?

You killed her.

I didn't mean to.

Yeah, you did.

I guess we're even.

What now?

Get the hell out of here.

Why do you think God let Cain kill Abel?

I don't know.

Yeah, I don't know either.

Maybe He just wanted to watch.

(OVER RADIO) Sheriff, come in.

Go ahead, Tommy.

Uh, Maya's sister Debbie called.

She sent an ambulance to the lake house for Maya.

And it's disappeared.

Disappeared?

Ambulance company has lost contact.

Driver ain't responding.

Sister's on her way from Portland.

She's gonna be in Venus by morning.

Go to the lake house. See if the EMT is there.

Copy that.

Out.

Maya.

We've been looking all over for you.

You look like you've been through hell.

I know where they are.

Where are they?

Get me out of here and I'll tell you.

Where do you want to go?

Wherever my sister is.

Your sister's on her way here from Portland.

Okay.

Take me to her,

um...

and let me use your phone.

I never get any service out here.

Okay.

God, sorry. Um...

Do you have a first aid kit?

My hand really hurts.

Yeah. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Yeah, I got one in the back.

(OVER RADIO) Uh, Sheriff,

I'm en route to the lake house,

and it looks like we have a 1249, multiple homicides.

Still no sign of the girl.

How would you like us to proceed?

- Over. - (RADIO CHIRPS)

- (HORN BLARING) - (GASPS)

- (SEATBELT LATCH CLICKS) - (GRUNTS)

No, no, no!

No, no, no! No.

No, no, no, no!

Typically...

due to your son's young age,

the state would prefer to attempt rehabilitation

through the parents,

along with regular counseling

and measured progress updates.

However,

due to the heinous

and cruelly brutal nature of these acts,

he should be incarcerated.

Sheriff Rotter, please rise.

I have given this great consideration,

but due, in no small part,

to your impeccable record in law enforcement,

this court

has decided to allow you to retain custody of your son.

What?

But one infraction

and I will order incarceration

until at least 18 years of age.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I mean it, young man.