Dark Was the Night

-(machinery groans) -(chainsaw buzzes)

(heavy mechanical thumping and grinding)

Worker: Heads up. You the last ones out?

Driver: I think Jesse's crew is still out there.

Worker: All right, thanks.

- See you guys Monday. - Driver: Later.

- Jesse, come in, over. -(static)

What, are you guys going for a record, out there?

Come on, Jesse, it's starting to snow.

Worker: (radio) Look, don't think for a second

I won't hesitate to lock you guys in for the weekend.

Stop screwing around, Jesse,

you guys aren't getting overtime for this.

garbled static: Help, help, help.

Damn it.

Are you kidding?

Jesse!

Come on, you guys.

This isn't funny.

Guys?

- Jesse? -(static)

- Is that you? -(static)

God!

-(worker pants) -(heavy footsteps approach)

-(footsteps approach quickly) -(worker yells)

-(glass shatters) -(worker shouts)

-(creature snarls) -(blood splashes)

Sheriff: I don't know.

I'm not seeing any tire tracks, Ron.

A truck woulda left some.

I had 23 horses yesterday, I got 22 today.

I'm no sheriff, but best I figure

that means one's missing.

The gate's kinda low over here.

Could it've jumped over?

Ron: Been raising horses on this land for 35 years.

Never seen one jump loose

without taking a section of fence with 'em.

Just seems odd to me that someone would

go through all the trouble to steal one horse.

Take two men and a trailer.

Gates were closed?

And tied. I'm not an idiot.

So that's it?

I'm just out one expensive animal?

I wish I could do more for you, Ron, but...

I'm just not seeing anything, here.

I'm seeing one missing horse!

Number 88.

Last night all my horses wore numbered bridles,

like this one, and this morning I'm missing number 88.

Number 88.

I'll keep an eye out.

Ron: I lose another horse,

you and I are gonna have a real problem.

I wouldn't have it any other way, Ron.

He definitely left that gate open.

Yep.

Careful, now.

The old bastard shot at the last guy she dated.

-(car horn honks) - Dad's here!

Hey, Dad.

What's up, buddy? How are ya?

Adam!

Adam, wait.

- Paul. -(Paul sighs)

He forgot his homework.

Multiplication.

So New York's a big city, right?

Yeah, it's pretty big.

So Why'd you leave?

It was too big. Too noisy.

Your, urn, your mom's car's gone?

Yeah, she went to Florida

on one of those Senior bus trips.

She was excited.

Adam's teacher wants to have

a conference with us next week.

She said they're on break,

so they can plan around your schedule.

Sure.

Susan: Paul, I, uh...

I've been talking to someone.

It's really helped me.

If you ever wanted to go together--

I'm not the one that left, Susan.

-(car doors slam) -(engine starts)

-(silverware clanks) -(food sizzles)

Paul: Ah, all right.

Whoop.

That's too much.

There we go, I'm just gonna...

Rub that off like that.

There you are.

When can Mom come home?

That's a tough question, bud.

Your mom decided to go stay with Grandma on her own.

She can come home whenever she wants.

But she says you don't want her to.

Well, I think what she meant was, um...

That we both have things to figure out.

Is it because of Tim?

No, it's not because of that.

You understand?

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

Are you all right?

Someone's in the back yard.

Where?

In the trees.

- Adam, come on. - Adam: Really.

There's no one back here, Adam.

Adam: I swear!

You want me to go check?

Take your gun.

I don't need my gun.

Look, I'm gonna go back there

and I'm gonna prove to you

that there's nothing to be scared of, yeah?

You eat up and stay here.

-(branches rustle) -(eerie clicking)

Anyone out there?

This is Sheriff Shields.

Paul: You're not in any trouble.

Just show yourself.

-(branches rustle) -(eerie clicking)

-(knocking at door) - Donny: Hello? Can I come in?

Hey, boss.

Hey, boss, you okay?

The door was unlocked, so I just...

I'm just fixing breakfast, here.

Paul: Sorta.

Susan buy him that cereal?

It's got fruit in it.

I don't think it counts if it's made outta marshmallows.

Is Adam still asleep?

Yeah.

Have you been outside?

Come on.

What is this?

I don't know.

I woke up an hour ago and saw 'em.

They look like hoof prints from a horse.

It's hard to tell, but...

- Paul: Spacing's wrong. - Donny: Yeah.

One in front of the other.

Like it's on two legs?

How's that even possible?

They were looking in our windows.

A lot of houses near my apartment have the same thing.

They go all the way to your apartment?

They go all the way through town.

Come on.

Donny: Yeah, it turned off.

Going that way.

Probably just some punk kids playing a prank, huh?

Donny: Yeah, why would they come out this far?

Maybe it's an animal?

Could be injured.

Paul: I don't know.

Whatever it is,

it could still be out there, come on.

Turned this way.

Donny: Yeah.

Paul: It sped up, here.

Donny: Huh?

The tracks are getting further apart.

Hey boss.

Donny: Better take a look at this.

Donny: They're gone.

They stop here, and they just disappear.

Paul: It looked like hooves.

Some are bigger than a horse's, but, um...

on two legs like a person or a bear.

Okay, we're aware of it,

we're taking care of the situation, okay?

Thank you.

How can I help you?

Yeah,

it does sound like a prank, I...

I'm just trying to be thorough.

Listen, nothing else has been reported in the area.

Paul: Yeah.

I agree that it's nuts, yes.

Yes, but I...

I'd appreciate it if you kept an eye out, as well.

This thing's got people spooked, and...

A little bit of an explanation would go a long way.

Paul: Yeah.

I appreciate it. Thanks.

Well, Forest Department says that they've never heard

of an animal that could walk that far on its hind legs.

Guy laughed at me.

You know, the people are getting panicky.

I don't know how long we can keep spinning this.

Yeah, whoever did this has got a lot to answer for.

You still think it's a person?

I mean, those tracks, they disappeared into thin air.