He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Well, that's enough stories for tonight, young man.

Your mother will give me a scolding if I keep

you up any longer.

Please, uncle Nick. I'll go to sleep right after.

Well, it'll just have to be another time,

Please.

I won't sleep anyhow. I get to see Santa tonight.

Is that so?

Well, you better hope you don't see him tonight,

But why?

Because Christmas Eve is a very dangerous night.

It's the one night of the year

that Santa can let himself into your house,

and sometimes he's not

very nice.

Sometimes he doesn't leave presents under the tree,

but he creeps up the stairs one step at a

time, brandishing his

trusty axe,

An axe?

He lets himself into your room, checking

to see if you're sound asleep.

You see Santa knows if you've been naughty.

If he visits Chester, I'd sleep

with one eye open

because he sees you when you're

sleeping and that's.

When he - Gets you!

Okay, champ. Time to get some sleep.

I hope Uncle Nick hasn't been getting you too excitable

with all his stories.

I'm afraid he might be just a little too excited

to sleep tonight.

Say goodnight to your uncle Nick Chester.

He has to go home now.

Chester, - Leave the boy alone. Nathan,

I'm sorry Nick.

I, I don't know what's gotten into him this evening.

Violent serial killer, Henry Bates has escaped from

Willow Bridge Sanitarium.

He is armed and dangerous.

He is six one and 45 years old

and believed to be wearing a Santa Claus costume.

And an unidentified man has already been found brutally

murdered in the Beggars Creek area.

Police have launched a manhunt

with help from state troopers Expected shortly.

- Oh my God. Nathan, - We suggest everyone...

Beggars Creek is less than a few

miles down the road.

- Please stay safe, folks. - Look,

The guy's long gone by now, but we'll make sure to lock up.

Come on. You okay? Sweet.

- You okay sweetie? - What happened? Chester.

Santa was here.

He was after me. He wanted to hurt me.

Must have heard the radio - Sweetie.

No, you just had a bad dream, that's all.

Let's get back into bed. There you go. Look,

I did see Santa Mommy. Really?

Oh, I'm sure you think you saw him. Sweetheart. Look.

No more stories from your uncle Nick before bed again.

- Okay. - Night champ.

- Okay. - Sleep tight.

And before you know it, it'll be Christmas morning.

Thank you very much.

How have you been Chester?

- My usual cheery self. - And how's the new medication?

Well, it kills my personality, but no negative effect yet.

Personality seems to be in good working order.

Are you still planning on your trip?

That's my next stop.

I have every confidence in you Chester.

Maybe that's what I need to hear to convince myself

that I'm doing the right thing.

It is the final step in your recovery,

facing your memories and your fears.

Head on.

- I know. - Then you know, there is nothing

to be afraid of anymore.

Henry Bates has been locked up for a very long time.

I think 17 years of hospitals medication

and shrinks having ingrained that in me.

Yes, there is no killer Santa Claus.

Just the unspeakable crimes of a very sick individual.

I just find this time of year very triggering.

Hey, how'd it go?

Nothing new. Just more pills.

Now I have enough to open my own drug store.

Ugh. I'm sorry. Maybe I should drive.

Sure.

You are not having second thoughts, are you?

Only every five minutes, but I made up my mind.

I don't think I can fully move on until I do this.

Until we do this.

Remember, I'm by your side every step

of the way. I'm proud of you.

Alright, enough. Let's go.

Chester Van Buren.

That wouldn't be a smile I see on that face. Would it? Okay.

Buckle up.

You okay?

I'm fine. You don't have to keep asking.

Sorry. Force of habit.

I'm actually enjoying the calm before the storm.

Before I'm stuck with Aunt Marion and my cousin

Burke for the next few days.

I'm sure that they can't be that bad,

And I'm sure you'll regret saying that.

Okay, if they're so bad, then why spend Christmas with them?

Loyalty to my mother, I guess.

Aunt Marion is her sister after all,

and it's not like I have any other family.

When I wasn't in the hospital, I would spend

Christmas in Connecticut with them.

But since my uncle Edgar died a few months ago,

aunt Marion couldn't possibly afford to stay,

so I let her move into the old homestead with Burke.

So you're their landlord.

My mother and Aunt Marion didn't end things on

speaking terms.

So I inherited the house

and the entire Van Buren estate when I turned 21,

which thanks to astronomical therapy bills,

is a lot smaller than it used to be.

I think Aunt Marion has always been resentful

she wasn't included in the will, and Burke.

Well, it's just a piece of work,

but I couldn't exactly see them homeless, so it made sense.

It's the first time I've been back in

17 years.

Well, I must say my curiosity is off the charts. You ready?

No.

Oh my God. Chester! I saw you come in from the window.

You come to see me all the way out here!? I guess you did.

Oh, and that sweet face. Oh, it's a sweet! Oh, sweet.

- Hi, Aunt Marion. - How was your drive up?

I hope it wasn't bad.

It was so pleasant. I've been looking forward to meeting you.

You must be Afton.

I have heard Chester talk about you so many times.

Burke, get over here.

Welcome home cousin.

Now. Now let's not start fussing.

Let's go inside and get a cocktail and tell some lies.

That sounds great. All right. Y'all come on in here.

Be careful. This step is all rotted out.

I remember.

Come on into our humble abode.

What a great house you have.

Oh, thank you. We love it. No, no, no, no.

Huck will do that.

Huck, come on over here and get these bags.

Take 'em upstairs.

It's okay. I, I got it.

Huck takes care of everything

in this house that needs

to be taken care of, that I can't take care of myself.

Well, it sounds like you've settled in pretty well.

Yes, I have. Thanks to you.

Huck does all the work I won't do around here.

And I'm sure that keeps him very busy Burke.

Hi, I'm Afton. Nice to meet you.

It sure is.

Hi, I'm Melody, Burke's girlfriend.

You have my condolences.

Your dry wit. It always gets me right here.

Well, it seems we have a pretty full house here.

And I have taken it upon myself

to have your mother's old bedroom prepared for you

and Afton to enjoy.

How thoughtful.

I thought you would think so.

Right this way.

You want me to see if Aunt Marion,

can give us another room?

No. No, this one's fine.

Okay. So Aunt Marion

she seems nice, eccentric, but sweet.

That's how she manipulates you.

She lulls you into a full sense of security.

At least with Burke. You know what you're getting.

A jackass.

I'm gonna go see if there's any coffee

around here.

You want some?

Sure. I'll be down in a minute.

Eden?

- Chester, is that you? - In the flesh!

My God, it's so good to see you.

- Oh my God. Oh, - I can't believe it's you.

It's been a long time.

How did you even recognize me?

How could I forget?

Plus, you recognized me, didn't you?

What's it been, like 15 years?

- 17. - Chester, what are you doing here?

My aunt and cousin have moved in,

so I'm begrudgingly spending Christmas with them. I.

See.