The Offerings

---

1

[cell phone ringing]

Jacob.

[ring]

[ring]

[phone ringing]

[ring]

Bye.

Hello.

Miss Wu?

I'm Alyssa Barnes.

Um, the Arkham Agency

sent me.

I'm your new housekeeper.

Um, sorry I'm so early.

It's such...

It was such a long trip,

I wanted to make sure

I got here on time.

I hope that's okay.

[speaking Chinese]

Hi, Alyssa.

I'm Miss Wu.

[laughs]

Oh! Hello.

My aunt doesn't speak

much English.

Oh, that's okay.

Am I too early?

No, not at all.

Please come in.

Welcome.

Wow. You have

a gorgeous home.

This is incredible.

Thank you.

I'm so glad that you

could take this job

on such short notice.

This big house needs

all the help it can get.

I didn't think I was

going to get anyone

since we're so far out.

It's perfect timing for me.

I need the work.

Please follow me.

Most people like to be

closer to a city

and their families.

I have no one.

Not anymore, anyway.

I'm sorry.

Oh, no, it's okay.

Well, you come

highly recommended.

Please take a seat.

Would you like

some tea?

Oh, no, thank you.

It's just my aunt and I

in this big house.

Sometimes I think I should

just move into a smaller one.

[chuckle]

But then,

I enjoy it here.

And then, the more space,

the more to clean, right?

Yeah.

But I think

I can handle it.

Help yourself to anything

in the kitchen.

We're usually

early risers,

but you can work

at your own pace

as long as things

get done.

I do ask for a few things

if you live here.

Please respect this place.

It was built on luck

and good fortune

I've been blessed with.

So I ask you, please,

no boyfriends, no guests,

no loud music,

drugs, or smoking.

If you need to make a call,

please ask first.

And here,

the list of duties.

Everything I expect

to be done is on there.

Come. Let me

show you around.

Over this way.

How old is this house?

Not very old.

My father was

a well-respected architect

in China for many years.

He bought this land

and built this place

shortly before he died.

Down this way.

[Miss Wu]

There are only a few

other houses around here.

Most are summer homes

and empty.

It's an hour drive

to the nearest town,

so we go for supplies

when we can.

This is where I keep

all the cleaning supplies

and tools.

And that's

the laundry area.

Plenty of towels and rags.

If you can't find something,

it's probably down here.

Okay.

I'm adding

a storage room here.

It's unfinished,

so don't worry about it.

All this brick

reminds me

of my father.

He was a mason.

I used to help him

build things

when I was little.

Wow, you're multi-talented.

Maybe I should have you

finish the job for me.

Yeah, maybe.

Let's go.

This is your room.

This is the warmest room

in the house.

Gets plenty of sunlight

during the day.

This'll be just fine.

Thanks.

This is one of the most

peaceful places

I've ever been.

I'm used to more

city noises...

car alarms in the night,

dogs barking, motorcycles.

It will be

a nice change.

I'm a bit of

a bookworm anyhow.

Oh, there are trails all over

if you want to take a walk

or just find

a place to read.

Thanks.

I'll have to do that.

Why don't you get settled?

Dinner's served

just after dark.

Okay. Great.

I'll see you then.

Thanks.

[door closes]

[flatware clinking]

[Miss Wu speaking Chinese]

Aunt Chen

is a great cook.

I hope you like it.

Smells great.

Go ahead. Here.

Yep.

Do you need a fork?

I think I got it.

Oh.

[laughs]

Here. Let me show you.

First,

grip it like this.

And the other one

like this.

Okay.

Just pinch.

Like that?

Mm-hmm.

You got it.

You're a fast learner.

I like that.

It's really nice.

Are you a Catholic?

Yeah. All the way

through school.

My family was very strict.

And you're not?

Mm, well, I'm not

fanatical or anything,

but I still go

to church when I can.

When you can?

What, you don't

want to go?

Well...

[clears throat]

Why are you still wearing it

when you don't believe in it?

I don't know.

Guilt if I don't,

I guess.

I see.

Enough talking.

Please, go ahead, eat.

Here. More.

[chuckles]

[Miss Wu speaking

indistinctly]

[fire crackling]

[speaking Chinese]

[door opens]

Oh, good,

you found it.

I thought you might

need something

to keep the dirt off.

Yeah. Thank you.

Do you know feng shui?

Um... no, I don't.

It's the Chinese art

of placement.

We place things in a certain

relationship to nature

so we can get success

and good fortune.

What's this?

That's a bagua mirror.

That's for protection.

Against what?

Bad energies or spirits.

The mirror deflects

the influence of

negative energy

and protects

the occupants

of the home.

So you keep

the bad energy out

and the good energy in?

Something like that.

Come.

Let's have some tea.

Okay.

All this must seem

strange to you,

but these beliefs have been

in my family for generations.

If you follow the rules,

nature will bless you.

Do you have any

other family here?

No, it's just my aunt.

I still have some

relatives in China.

I had a little brother once,

but we sent him away.

To school?

No. He was sick.

So we sent him

to all the good doctors,

but no one could help him.

So eventually, he died.

Oh. I'm sorry.

It's okay.

[rustling]

[glass breaking]

[dialing]

Hey. This is Alyssa's cell.

Leave a message, please.

[beep]

Hey, it's me.

Just wanted to see

if you might pick up

this time.

I really need

to talk to you.

I've been so depressed.

All I can think about

is you.

I know you haven't

been yourself lately,

but I'm still here for you.

We can work this out.

Please, just, when you

get this, call me.

I need to hear your voice

so I know you're okay.

I love you, Alyssa.

[fire crackling]

[speaking Chinese]

[murmuring]

[door opens]

Alyssa, come.

Come.

Go ahead,

throw some in.

It's just Joss paper.

What are you doing?

What is all this?

Tonight is the second night

of the Chinese Ghost Month.

We must make offerings

to the spirits

to appease them

each night.

Are you trying to scare me?

Oh, no. No.

Chinese people believe

a lot of things.

Every year

in the Chinese calendar,

the seventh month is known

as the Chinese Ghost Month.

It's believed that

during these 30 days,

the gates of hell

are opened

and the souls of the dead

are allowed

to roam the earth.

Most spirits are content

with just visiting

their relatives,

but some... those who didn't

receive a proper burial,

or suicides, seek someone

to take their place in hell.

Lost souls, you mean?

Why burn money

and incense?

The sweet smell helps

the spirit to find food.

The more you burn,

the more prosperous.

And these are hell notes.

We offer this

to our dead ancestors

to make sure that they have

good things in the afterlife.

I didn't realize that

Chinese had such beliefs.

Not all Chinese do.

But there are still

people

who believe

in the ancient way.

In China, it's taken

very seriously.

Important business meetings

are rescheduled,

weddings postponed,

no one swims,

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