The Atoning

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Okay, it's time to go to bed.

When is dad coming home?

I want to show him what I learned today.

No, I already let you stay up

too late, I lost track of time.

Plus, I don't know when

your dad's gonna be home.

So, come on, I want you

to be asleep by the time

uncle Danny gets here.

We've got a long drive ahead of us.

Danny?

How did you sleep?

Not great.

I hate this brand.

I'm sorry.

I'll learn to like it.

Sam, honey, it's time to wake up.

Did you sleep well?

What day is it?

Saturday.

Can I go swimming? / I don't know.

Let's wait and see

what the weather's gonna do,

why don't you come down in a bit?

I'll have breakfast ready soon.

Vera, I'll fix it.

Uh, maybe uncle Danny could fix it?

He is a plumber, isn't he?

Hey, dad, I think you need

to teach me how to shave.

You're not gonna have to worry

about that for a long time.

Oh, it fell.

You're gonna be all sticky.

There's still some in your nose.

Sam!

What are you doing?

Where did you get this?

I found it.

Where?

Hey, you can cut

yourself with this thing.

I'm sorry, Mom.

It's... it's OK, I just...

I don't want you getting hurt.

Give me this.

Where did this come from?

Sam was just playing with it.

He can get hurt.

Where did he get it?

You tell me.

Well, it isn't mine.

It's probably...

We can't have things

like this in the house,

it's not safe.

Let him be a kid.

Ray, don't.

Did uncle Danny come by today?

No, why?

I thought I saw him.

Didn't know if he came by

to fix the faucet.

Oh, no.

It was probably your imagination.

It was in full swing today.

Okay, sleep well.

If you need me,

I'll be in the other room.

I'm fine, Mom. / Mm-hmm.

I love you. / Love you, too.

Sam?

Sam?

Hey, Mom, I'm making breakfast.

Pancakes! / Oh.

Um, Sam...

You have lost your mind.

Can I help?

I think I got it. / Okay.

Well, we're gonna take this.

Just be careful.

It's great.

I'm trying, I really am.

There's nothing we can do.

I'm going to fix this.

How? / I don't know yet.

There's really nothing to fix

once he knows.

He doesn't need to know. /

He's smart. He already knows.

What are you guys talking about?

Nothing.

Now go play.

Well, is today Sunday?

Um, yes, honey.

Why aren't we going to church?

We... we'd be late.

We'll go next week.

Can I go to uncle Danny's and swim?

Not today. / Why not?

It's sunny.

Sam, listen to your mother.

Honey, the pool is too deep.

You... you haven't been

swimming that well.

That's not true, I've been fine before.

Go play, and I'll be

downstairs in a bit, okay?

Dad, do you wanna

build another spaceship?

Not right now, buddy,

I've got some work to do.

Mom? / Yes, honey?

Are you and dad getting a divorce?

Sam.

I don't want you to worry

about something like that.

Oh. Are you?

Things are just

a little tough right now.

But don't worry, please?

We're gonna be all right.

I'll make sure of it.

Trust me.

You do trust me, don't you?

Well, yeah, of course, mom.

You can go work on your puzzle.

I'm gonna finish the dishes.

Hey, mom? / Hmm?

Did you do that section?

I didn't.

Your dad must have done it.

This painting is ugly.

I can't stand looking at it.

Any progress?

Not really.

I don't know how much longer

I can keep lying to Sam.

I'm gonna try to take a nap.

Mom?

Sam!

Sam! Sam!

Mom! Mom! / What?

Look, the girl!

Honey, there's nothing.

It's okay. / She was there.

Shh. / Mom! Mom!

Who are you? / Mom!

Shh. No, it's okay.

The man! / No, it's okay.

It's okay.

He was just a dream.

You had some really bad

nightmares last night.

But... no.

Yeah, you had us up worried.

You have to give

your imagination a break

before you go to bed.

Do I have to go to school?

It's summer, remember?

Okay, yeah.

You come on down

whenever you're ready, okay?

Will you tell your dad

breakfast is getting cold?

Okay.

Dad? Da... are you okay?

Yes, Sam, I'm fine.

Uh, mom wanted me to make sure you knew

breakfast was getting cold.

All right, I'll head down.

Oh!

Oh, I'm tired of this house!

Just a minute.

I'm sorry I scared you earlier.

I didn't mean to.

It's okay.

It's just a glass.

I tried to fix the faucet.

I... I couldn't get

the dripping to stop.

It's just a sink.

Sam and I can't continue like this.

I can fix it.

It's not worth fixing.

Not tonight, John.

Get out.

Get out!

Mom! Dad! Help!

Sam! / Help!

Sam! / Mom!

Get out!

Get out!

What day is it?

Saturday.

Do I have band practice today?

Not till after the summer.

This is the longest summer ever.

I know.

He doesn't remember anything?

He thinks it's another nightmare.

I'm sorry.

For what?

Not knowing how to fix this.

Did you get tired of the puzzle?

No.

What's up, Sam?

Guess what? / What?

I found my trumpet.

That's great, Sam.

I forgot that I never got to show you

the song that I learned.

I've been forgetting

a lot of things lately.

I guess I'm getting old

like you and uncle Danny.

We're not that old.

Come on, you're only like 40.

Can I show you?

Not right now, son.

Hey, mom?

Do you know who Julie is?

Who? / Julie.

She... she's the girl from my dreams.

Oh, it's just a dream, honey.

Well, dad will know.

I'll just ask him.

Wait, wait, why would dad know?

Because he has a picture of her.

Where?

What are you doing?

Why do you have these?

I'm trying to figure this out.

What did I do?

Sam doesn't need to see these.

Sam.

Vera. Vera.

I think she's... she's here.

Good, the others will come.

These items have a strong

connection between worlds,

and allow us to shorten the gap.

Don't be afraid.

They're mostly gentle spirits.

They won't harm you.

Vera. Ray.

Sam.

We have come to help.

Why are they here?

Souls that are lost become stuck

between the living world

and the afterlife.

A purgatory.

Why?

Something is unresolved in life.

Souls can be forced

to resolve them in death.

So they're always here? /

Stop asking questions.

Can we just get this over with?

Their astral bodies are now

confined in a parallel reality,

that often connects

with the world of the living.

The connections between worlds

grows stronger,

unless we break that connection.

They're all here.

I'm here to help set

your lost souls free

from this house.

Will they be in pain?

Oh, they're dead they can not be hurt.

Really? / Shh.

Your time on earth has passed,

your physical body's returned to dust,

it's time your souls continued on.

Be cleansed.

In a moment,

your soul's atoning will begin.

You'll be set free.

And you'll no longer

be aware of their presence.

Where will they go?

Shh.

What are you saying?

Dad.

What are you saying?

May you find yourself

in the hands of eternity...

And be separated

from your personal hell.

Sam!

Honey!

Honey, everything's gonna be okay.

Those weren't ghosts. / Shh. It's okay.

Dad, mom said they were dreams.

I was just trying to protect you.

Dad, mom lied and said I was dreaming.

No, honey, you... you don't understand.

Dad.

Come on.

Don't get used to this.

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