FirstBorn Page #3

Do you need my help?

Yes.

Why?

Because I don't want mummy

and daddy to be scared anymore.

[Charlie] Go on, then. Go on.

You'll be fine.

And I'm gonna come pick you up

in no time, aren't I?

Because I promised, didn't I?

Yeah?

Then you're happy, you're fine?

Smile.

Thea. Go on. Go on, go on.

Your mother's very excited that

we're spending time together.

My mummy wasn't very nice to me.

Why not?

She was scared of me.

Come and sit down, Thea.

Come on.

Why are you helping me?

If I was sick,

would you look after me?

Yes.

[Elizabeth] Why?

It's nice to help people.

[Elizabeth chuckles]

[Elizabeth] Drink it.

It's not hot.

Finish it.

It's a very special tea.

I drink it to help me see...

the world for what it really is.

People like you and I...

[echoing]

we can see things

no one else can see.

Don't fight it!

Don't fight it!

[high-pitched ringing]

[Charlie] Thea?

Come along, Thea.

[ringing stops]

[soft skittering, snarling]

[squelching sounds]

This is a hazel tree.

Go and break me off a branch.

[whispered incantations echoing]

[incantations cease]

[Elizabeth] Nice and deep

into the mud...

draw a large circle round us.

[Thea] What is it?

Protection.

Don't ever leave the circle

until it's safe.

[Thea shrieks]

[skittering noises]

[rustling grows louder]

[fire crackling]

[Elizabeth] I know what

attacked you in your home.

Your daughter is being hunted

by a parasite.

It wants to feed off her.

I can protect her.

But I will need to see her

every day.

[door shuts]

[starts engine]

[radio dial spinning]

[tuning]

[static]

[static continues]

[Thea giggles]

What's so funny?

It's a secret, Mummy.

So many people can't accept

the vastness

of the world around them.

Desperate for

their own dull reality.

So they hide away from it,

usually having to take

their own lives.

Do you know what suicide is?

No.

Good.

It's not an option for us.

People usually just end up

somewhere far worse.

People like you and I, Thea,

must confront our realities.

Your parents will try to pretend

they understand,

but they never will.

The more you tell them

about what you see,

the more inclined they'll be

to... throw you away.

Took me a long time

to learn all this.

I had no one to teach me.

Can you see the door, Thea?

What's behind it?

It's dark.

The entity from the woods

yesterday.

Can you find it?

Can you feel it?

No.

[Elizabeth]

When you're given a toy,

it becomes your responsibility.

If the toy breaks,

it's your fault.

So, if you accidentally

let something through the door,

and mummy and daddy get hurt...

whose fault is it?

Mine.

[Elizabeth] Yes.

So, if something comes

through...

you have to deal with it.

Never call mummy and daddy

for help

or they may get hurt.

Understand?

[distant sirens wailing]

[R&B playing in background]

[Alistair] So,

where's the new site?

[James] The arse end

of South London,

but it's an... "up-and-coming"

area, apparently.

Which means all the smackheads

have been replaced

by artisan bakers.

[Alistair] Mm-hmm.

Can I have some?

Yes, in about 15 years.

- [Thea giggles]

- What's wrong with you?

[static on radio]

[static growing louder]

[skittering noises]

[Thea] Zaqueo before me...

[Alistair] Thea.

Move away from it.

[Thea whispering incantation,

skittering noises continue]

[Thea] Zaqueo before me,

Zaqueo behind me...

Zaqueo to my right.

[mute snarling]

[skittering noises continue]

[noises grow louder]

- [noises stop]

- [Thea] I am safe.

[children shouting]

Mummy, look what I did.

All right. Hang on.

Ohh!

What did you draw?

[Alistair] I saw it

right behind her.

What is it?

I don't know.

[Alistair] You don't know?

And you've got her trying

to fight it?

[Elizabeth] What would you

rather I did?

It's what her parents wanted.

Her to be in control.

She can't handle something

like that.

I couldn't even begin

to tell them what to do.

Which is why they came to me.

I'm no expert.

But I did what I had to do.

To protect my family.

I'm fixing your errors.

You told me that your son

was going to have a child

and that, like you,

it might be a beacon.

I went...

I saw...

and I told you I needed

to help those people

as soon as possible,

and what did you say?

That's not what I meant!

What did you say, Alistair?

You told me your son needed

to see it all for himself.

And in those six years,

when I might have helped,

she let through something

so demonic

that even I don't think

I can save her.

Make amends.

[telephone ringing]

Dad?

[Alistair] Every mark on my body

was done to save you.

I was protecting you.

I've always been trying

to protect you.

Are you drunk?

I just wanted to be part

of your life again.

Sacrifice, that's what being

a parent is all about.

It needs a host.

Maybe it will have me.

Listen, what's going on?

[click]

What happened?

Uh...

[dialing]

[line ringing]

[rattling, creaking]

[creaking noise]

[soft creaking, rattling]

[soft screeching]

[skittering noises]

[Thea, whispering]

I can make it go away.

I can make it go away.

I can make it go away...

I can make it go away.

I can make it go away.

I can make it go away.

It's my responsibility.

[door creaking]

[Thea shrieking]

[Charlie] Thea!

[creature snarling]

[muffled snarling]

- [Charlie] James! James!

- [Thea screams]

[Charlie] James!

Uggh! Aaaah!

[Charlie] James!

[creature snarling, roaring]

James!

[James groaning,

creature snarling]

[thud!]

[snarling stops]

Uh...

I can't do this anymore.

Thea.

Go upstairs and explore.

What's going on?

I want my life back!

Just take her away.

You have no idea

what her life is like.

No idea what she sees.

Well, then show me.

Show me what she sees.

Show me all

of the invisible sh*t

that has taken away

six years of my life!

[fire crackling]

What do I do?

[Elizabeth] You drink it.

Are you sure

you want to do this?

It wasn't created

for flavor, I'm afraid.

[clock ticking]

[Thea] Daddy?

[James, faintly] Thea.

[static]

[electricity sparking]

Now, this will be hard.

But no matter what you see,

don't show fear or anger.

[sparking, static]

[guttural snarling]

[muted squealing]

[skittering noises]

[muffled roaring]

[Elizabeth] No strong emotions.

Otherwise, the entities that you

want to remain hidden from

will see you, too.

[muffled screeching]

[James groaning,

creature roaring]

[roaring stops]

Granddad.

Banana!

Banana, Mummy.

Oh.

Toilet guide.

Someone's had an accident.

[Thea] Mummy!

[Charlie gasping]

Ugh!

She doesn't want to be

your mummy anymore, Thea.

She never cared about you.

Only herself.

In all these years...

has anything ever

actually harmed her?

No!

To be the mother

of such a beautiful child,

you have to accept her.

And the bruises

that come with her!

Come here, come on.

Come with me.

[scurrying noises]

[distant chittering]

Make the circle, Thea.

[Elizabeth whispering

incantation]

[distant snarling]

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