House of Ashes

- Tonight, local veterinarian found dead.

Was it suicide or murder?

- Mia Sheldon, veterinarian clinic co-owner

and recent widow of Adam Sheldon,

was detained by police today.

- Mia Sheldon is no longer a suspect

in the bizarre case.

- Adam Sheldon's death was ruled a suicide

by the Aikensville District Court.

Mia Sheldon, the first woman in Aikensville

arrested for miscarriage.

No!

No!

- You will wear this device, without fail,

for the period of one year, starting today.

If you need medical attention-

We've heard this before.

I am required to restate the terms,

once the device is secure.

If you need medical attention or to attend

further court appointments, that can be arranged.

If you receive an offer of employment that requires you

to exit the perimeter, we'll discuss it.

Sign this, stating that you have received the device

and are responsible for all costs.

If you should stray beyond the designated zone

or tamper with the device in any way,

you may face further charges and jail time.

You are to refrain from the use of substances.

As your probation officer,

I will be conducting tests without notice.

You will comply at all times.

I will also be calling randomly with check-ins.

If you do not get back to me in a timely manner,

I will visit and you do not want that.

Do you understand the terms?

I need a vocal affirmative.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Go no further than across the street.

The backyard is fine.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Careful.

Two people have died around her.

So far.

Until our first official visit, then,

don't fuck up.

It's okay, Mia.

The worst part is over.

I got you. I'm here now.

You're an angel.

You know that?

Can I help you with something?

Watch your back, man.

I think I'll be just fine.

Thanks, man.

Best of luck.

Oh.

Oh, I don't deserve these.

Or you.

- Nonsense. I'd burn down the world for you.

Oh...

Oh, grab me that vase over there.

Are you okay?

Sorry.

Uh, I'm sorry.

Um, that was a dumb question.

Well, I just had the pleasure of meeting the local asshole.

You'll get used to it.

- You couldn't hurt a fly, let alone an unborn...

That new law is nothing but a modern witch hunt.

Some people just can't mind their own business.

God, and it's only day one.

Sorry.

You have nothing to be sorry about.

I'm here to take care of you.

You...

You okay?

Shit. I gotta stop asking that.

No, it's okay.

I'm fine.

I mean, as, as good as I could be, I guess.

There's just...

There's just so much of him here.

So many memories.

Whenever I see anything that belongs to...

Belonged

to him,

or the baby...

The baby shower stuff, I...

I just wanna cry until I pass out.

- Would it help if I boxed up everything instead?

Maybe.

There's just some things that

I'm not ready to say goodbye to yet.

- Maybe you need something to look forward to,

after all this.

A vacation.

Where do you want to go, when this is all over?

- I don't even know what I want to do tomorrow.

- You don't have to decide anything right now.

Just be mine, forever.

This is all my fault.

Hey!

You're gonna be okay now.

The best thing for you to do right now is to get some rest.

Mia.

What?

I didn't say anything.

There's someone outside.

Really?

I don't see anybody, babe.

What?

No.

No. No, there was somebody there.

He, he was looking right at me.

No, no, no. There, there was somebody there.

We need to call the cops. - Okay, I believe you.

It was probably that bored jogger or some other neighbor.

But they're gone now.

And do you really want to call the police?

No, no, no. No, of course not.

We're fine.

I promise.

Let's try to get some sleep.

Okay.

You poor baby.

Let's get you fixed up.

I'm sorry, little bird.

But I promise you'll be better soon.

It may feel like a year from now, though.

Welcome to house arrest.

- And we are not likely to forget the case

of Mia and Adam Sheldon, the veterinary couple

who owned the now closed Happy Valley Pet Clinic.

Mrs. Sheldon was briefly a suspect in Mr. Sheldon's death.

The body was found with a syringe stuck in the neck,

containing lethal amounts of a drug

used for animal euthanasia.

Sheldon was arrested for having a miscarriage.

The first woman convicted in Aikensville

after the new state law went into effect, last year.

She closed the clinic, and now,

on the anniversary of Adam Sheldon's death,

it remains closed and for sale.

Yesterday, she began house arrest.

Fuck. Mia!

Are you okay? - I'm not fucking okay, Marc!

I'm sorry.

It just doesn't stop.

I must be cursed, or, or-

No.

No?

No.

I refuse to let you believe that anything you did

led Adam to kill himself, or to where you are now.

Say it with me.

"I'm not responsible."

Come on. You can do it.

I'm

not

responsible.

There.

That was easy.

Do you feel better?

My life was

almost perfect.

I don't know how I got here.

Can you just give me a minute?

Please?

Mom, it's been months.

Mom?

They've officially disowned me.

They disowned me.

Do you know what it's like to be

the only child of narcissists?

- I remember some of what you dealt with, way back.

- A constant, constant pressure to be perfect, you know?

And, and no matter how much I worked for their love,

it wasn't enough.

I'm sorry.

But if they're gonna be this terrible, they don't just des-

- They're moving thousands of miles away to escape my shame.

They were finally happy when I met Adam, because, you know,

husband automatically equals grandchildren,

and everything that they did had its conditions.

I'll take care of you now.

I had shit parents, too, before I was an orphan. Remember?

Yeah.

Love shouldn't come with conditions.

I've been on my own for a while now.

I'm doing just fine.

I've been underestimated my entire life,

starting with my own parents.

You know the story.

It was so long ago,

it feels like it happened to someone else.

We never had a chance to reconcile.

But I refuse to let the world hurt me anymore.