The Haunting of Bly Manor

The housekeeper was no stranger to muddy footprints.

A few times a year, it seemed, she started her days with a mop.

Always the same path.

From the door to the forbidden wing, and back again.

The door got stuck.

It was stuck, and we couldn't get it open.

Honest.

And the mess in the hall?

It's just a bit of mud.

Hm.

Well, I forgive you.

But I'm afraid I…

I don't believe you.

That's the issue.

Miles!

Miles, I just mopped that bit!

Can I have that, please?

- What are you... - Not me.

You.

That was entirely unacceptable, and now you are going to finish mopping.

- But that's not fair! - Hey.

It's just a bit of mud.

Now, you'll finish mopping

while Flora and I go get her doll back.

A-Assuming…

…that's all right with you, Mrs. Grose?

Oh, n-no, it's... fine by me.

In fact, we've had this conversation before,

haven't we, Miles? Hm?

Every few weeks, it feels like these two are off on a midnight run,

and muggins here is left to mop up their mud.

Good morning.

Excuse us, Owen.

- Hi, Owen. - Flora.

Come on.

I don't like the cellar.

It's perfectly dreadful down there.

Can I stay and have a glass of orange juice with Owen, please?

- - I'm sorry, I'm not being cheeky.

It's just… I quite hate the cellar.

It's perfectly dreadful.

Is that all right?

I'll just be a sec.

Somebody's brother threw their doll down the laundry chute.

Oh… of course.

Thank you.

Hmm.

Brothers can be perfectly dreadful sometimes, can't they?

He isn't, though.

He really isn't.

You have a fine heart, miss.

Look who I found.

What's her name?

She can't remember.

Are you gonna hang it in your room?

For protection?

No, I took it down.

- Why? - Because it doesn't work.

Miles?

Miles?

You can go get dressed.

Miles?

Miles?

Miles, are you okay?

All right, boys.

Let's settle down.

Let's find our seats, shall we?

Hello.

Welcome.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Good morning, Father Stack.

I trust you all had a very festive Christmas.

- Yes. - Excellent.

I think we have a majority.

Well, then…

Spring term.

Congratulations. Seems like you've made it through the winter,

though not without a few casualties.

I'm afraid Brian Duncan won't be joining us for a bit.

- Yes? - Is he ill?

No, Mr. Hooper. Nothing quite so serious.

He took a bit of a tumble.

He is on the mend and will be back with us shortly.

So…

Shall we begin?

Bibles.

"Now, there on the hillside, a great herd of swine was feeding."

"And the unclean spirits begged him,

'Send us into the swine.'

'Let us enter them.'"

"So, he gave them permission."

"And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine."

"And the herd rushed down the deep slope

into the lake and were drowned there."

So…

…there we have it.

Three Gospels,

three slightly different accounts of the same event.

Three different places that it could have happened.

But the broad strokes remain the same.

Jesus cast the demons, known as "Legion" in Luke and Mark,

unnamed in Matthew,

out of a single man, according to Luke and Mark,

two men according to Matthew, into…

And on this they all agree,

- a herd of pigs. - That then go jump in the lake.

That then go jump in the lake, exactly.

Um, but why was Matthew being so contrarian?

- What's contrarian? - It means he was being a tit.

- - Hey, language, Obermann. Final warning.

Miller, excellent question.

Why do the Gospel accounts differ?

Well…

Because man is fallible.

Even the men who wrote these Gospels.

Even me, which I'll have to remind some of your parents, no doubt,

once they get wind of this conversation.

They needed permission?

The demons?

- Permission to… - To enter the pigs.

Ah! Yes, they did.

Did they need it for him, though?

Did they need it for the man?

Ah… Excellent question, Wingrave.

And that, actually, is the… the big takeaway here,

so thank you for asking that.

We are, all of us, free to make our own choices.

It's one of the most important gifts that God has given us.

A gift that not even the demons in this story could usurp.

See, evil exists,

and we are tempted.

But we are not compelled.

So, yes.

They did need his permission.

As they need ours!

All right, gentlemen.

Wingrave.

Uh, quick word.

The headmaster passed this onto me this morning.

It's not often that a... a student gets any post on the first day.

And judging by the writing on the envelope,

- I assume it's from... - My sister.

Very thoughtful of her to have it waiting for you.

Something to make you feel a bit more at home, no doubt.

You asked some excellent questions today, by the way.

Thank you, sir.

You are most welcome.

And, Wingrave…

I want you to know that this room is a... a safe place for questions.

Not just about your studies.

About anything you like.

I am here, as are the other members of the staff,

so if you feel the need to talk,

we'll listen.

You're in none of this alone, is what I'm driving at.

Thank you, sir.

Well, I won't keep you.

Oh…

John 16:22.

It's brief, I promise, but it's helped me on more than one occasion.

John 16:22.

Hm.

"So also you now indeed have sorrow,

but I will see you again,

and your heart shall rejoice,

and your joy, no man shall take from you."

- -

Wingrave!

Wingrave!

It's nearly time!

Shall we go down?

Wingrave!

Wingrave!

The trouble began as trouble often does.

With an accident.

Or so it would be called.

- -

Wingrave!

Miles!

Wingrave!

Wingrave!

You can have the bottom bunk.

Thanks.