Dead Awake

Surprise.

Happy birthday.

- Happy birthday. Come on. - Thanks.

Happy birthday, sis.

Hey.

Excuse me.

Well, no need to waste the champagne, right?

Cheers.

You okay?

I can't sleep.

I'm 28, and I just moved back into my childhood bedroom.

Mom and Dad are up my ass constantly, worried I'm gonna relapse.

So no.

- And you had to invite her? - I know, I know.

She is a pain, but, you know, it's her birthday too.

I didn't want her to be alone, and you guys used to be close.

And you know how important it is to let go of resentment.

Can't I just get a do-over and pretend this year never happened?

Yeah. Yeah, fine by me, but that'd be the easy way.

We both know you don't do the easy way.

But that is why I love you.

It's gonna be okay. Everything is gonna be okay.

Come on. Come on, let's go have fun.

All right.

Hey.

- You just gonna pout all night? - I'm not pouting.

Well, then, come on. Come dance with me.

Kate, stop. I'm not in the mood.

It's our birthday. Live a little.

I need my dance partner.

We're better together.

Okay, fine.

Oh, my God.

Guess who has been sleepwalking again.

Linda, I don't think anyone wants to hear about that.

Yeah, we want to hear it. Your sleepwalking stories are epic.

It was hilarious. He wanders out of the bedroom, so I go after him.

And there he is in the hallway, pissing in the closet.

And what about you?

She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming like a banshee.

What's making you scream at night?

Nothing.

Just a nightmare.

You know, the one where you're falling, and you're about to hit the ground, and...

You jerk awake, and your heart's racing a million miles a second.

Yeah. That one.

Something has to make me scream at night.

What? It's just a stupid dream.

We've all had it, right?

Or how about when you wake up, and you open your eyes, but you can't move.

And it feels like something's holding you down.

You hear weird noises, and...

...you know something's in the room with you.

Something evil.

Okay, you're cut off.

Nice one.

Hey. Hey, hey.

- What is going on? - I shouldn't have said anything.

- About what? - Nothing.

It's nothing, all right? I want to go home.

Okay. Let me get my keys.

I don't need a babysitter. I'll take a cab.

Hey, Dad.

What time is it?

It's late.

How was the party?

Fun.

And I'm home, safe, sound, and sober.

I wasn't waiting for you. I just was watching television.

Fell asleep.

Night, Dad.

Happy birthday.

Come here, Trix.

She called the police a half dozen times, filed a restraining order.

It's all documented.

Okay, I'll send the files.

- Hey. - Hey.

- Sorry to bother you. - You're not bothering me.

Last night was interesting.

I'm surprised Evan invited me.

Everything okay?

Come in.

So tell me, what's going on?

For about a month, at night, I wake up and I can't move.

Like what you described at the party.

First, I just thought it was stress, but it's getting worse.

It's going to sound strange, but...

...something's attacking me.

I wake up paralyzed, and...

...something's choking me.

Are you still going to your meetings?

Yes. Jesus.

You spend all your time helping complete strangers, but when it comes to family...

Can we not rehash, please?

Look, I want to help.

But what you're saying, it doesn't make sense.

Yeah. I know.

I've got an appointment to see a doctor this afternoon.

Good. I'll go with you.

What you are describing is sleep paralysis.

You see, when we sleep...

...the mind shuts down the body so we don't act out on our dreams.

And as we wake up, the mind, it flips a switch...

...and it brings the body out of its paralyzed state.

Sometimes when we wake up, that switch, it doesn't flip.

So the mind stays alert, but the body stays paralyzed.

Well, it's not just that.

I'm seeing something.

Something's strangling me.

Okay, well, in more severe episodes...

...the mind can go into a type of survival mode.

And you can panic, you can have a shortness of breath...

...you can hallucinate.

So how common is this?

It happens to most people at least once in their lifetime.

See? There's a rational explanation.

As frightening as it is, sleep paralysis... it's harmless.

What she said made sense.

It just feels so real.

They say dreams are the key to your subconscious, right?

Maybe this is your mind's way of telling you to stop fighting.

You've fought with everyone who's ever tried to help you, Beth.

And it hasn't worked.

If it happens again, don't fight it.

You need to let yourself experience your feelings.

Okay.

I'll try.

And thanks. I know we've had our rough times, but...

I love you.

I love you too.

- Hey, guys. - Hi, honey.

I've had a long day. I'm gonna hit the hay.

Okay, sweetie. I'm really glad you and Kate are getting along.

- Me too. - You only have...

One sister, I know, Mom.

- Night, guys. - Love you, sweetie.

Night, honey.

- Hello? - I need you to check on Beth.

- Kate? - Dad, do it now.

- Okay, okay. - What is it?

I don't know.

She's sleeping.

Beth?

Beth, honey?

Beth?

- Oh, my God, Beth, no! - What's happening?

- No! No! Please! Help! - What's happening?

Dad?

Kate. Kate!

No! No.

Trust in God, and let Him turn your fears into faith...

...your sorrows into joys...

...your doubts into certainties...

...and your loneliness into divine companionship.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

And may God be with the soul of this young woman from now until eternity.

God bless you and keep you.

May his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

May God lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Amen.

I'll see you back at the house.

My condolences.

- Thank you. - She was such a dear girl.

How did you know her?

I'm Dr. Hassan Davies. I specialize in sleep disorders.

I was helping Beth with her sleep problems.

Obviously, I failed.

There's nothing you could have done.

Doctor said it was an asthma attack.

That's odd, considering Beth didn't have asthma.

I believe I know what happened to your sister.

Kate.

My family's waiting.

- Hey, Dad. - Hey.

How are you holding up?

Okay. I'll... I'll get your stuff.

Hey, Mom.

Hey.

Hi.

So I put you back in your room.

Actually, I'm gonna stay in here.

You sure?

I want to be close to her.

Trix.

What's wrong, Trix?

Evan.

Trix.

You furry little son of a gun.

- Pretty little monster. - I know Beth would want you to have him.

Yeah, yeah.

She's beautiful?

I hope you are doing that around her.

No.

I... I stopped for her.

But now...

...why bother, right?

She came by my place the day she died, upset.

She said something attacked her.

Was everything all right between you two?

You're really something. Come in here, all holier than thou. You know, where...