Unknown
Mr Kobalsky, I know you don’t know me but you have to help me
Sean
who the hell is this?
Unknown
my name is Nazarene. I’m 15.
Unknown
My father wants to marry me off to my 50 year old uncle.
Sean
whoa hold on a second!
Nazarene
it’s a little town in the Wind River Range.
Nazarene
There’s just a few hundreds of us. We have our own religion.
Sean
where did you get my number from?
Nazarene
I found the newspaper you write for in father’s office.
Nazarene
You wrote a piece about a pedophile priest in your town
Nazarene
plus father always says that journalists are the enemies of our religion.
Nazarene
I thought you’d be willing to help me escape
Sean
why didn’t you call the police?
Nazarene
I don’t want to get my mother and siblings into trouble. I just want out
Sean
how do I know this isn’t a very inappropriate prank?
Nazarene
I’m hiding in the bathroom. If someone finds me texting they’ll kill me
Nazarene
please, I have no car, no friends, nowhere to go.
Sean
why would a father want his teenage daughter to marry her uncle?
Nazarene
it’s our religion.
Nazarene
People here believe that women are good only for making babies
Nazarene
and that men should marry many wives and reproduce as much as possible.
Nazarene
my uncle is our leader. He already has nineteen wives
Nazarene
I bled last month, so they think I’m ready for marriage
Sean
why don’t you tell your dad you don’t want this?
Nazarene
you don’t understand. Girls are like slaves here.
Nazarene
if I say no they will beat me until I do it
Nazarene
hold on, I think I’m alone in the house.
Nazarene
I’ll sneak out of the bathroom and show you something
Nazarene
this is my wedding dress. I’m getting married in two weeks.
Nazarene
You’ve got to help me.
Nazarene
Mr. Kobalsky are you still there?
Sean
you can call me Sean.
Sean
I will drive up to Weeping Rock and take you away
Nazarene
thank you a thousand times
Sean
but on one condition
Sean
you said your wedding is in two weeks?
Sean
between now and then I want to live in Weeping Rock. I want to infiltrate your cult.
Sean
And you’re going to help me.
Sean
because I’m a journalist and that’s what I do. I investigate things
Sean
I will leave tomorrow
Nazarene
can you send me a picture of you so I can recognise you?
Nazarene
this is not a place anyone would want to live in
Sean
that’s why I want to see it
Nazarene
are you sure? Things happen here that might… scare you
Nazarene
you will have to be very strong
Sean
Just stopped to take a pee in the woods. The trip is taking forever.
Sean
this town is in the middle of fucking nowhere
Cal
I don’t think you should be doing this
Sean
what’s the matter now?
Cal
I don’t like the idea of you staying with those people.
Sean
I’m a journalist, okay? And I want to make it big. This could be a MAJOR story
Sean
a secret cult, underage marriage, domestic abuse -
Sean
it could make international headlines
Cal
can’t you just interview the girl?
Sean
I want to see it for myself and collect evidence
Cal
what makes you think you’ll get away with it?
Sean
Nazarene will give me tips on what to tell them
Cal
I wish you came home. Mom isn’t ok at the moment
Sean
did you tell her where I was going???
Cal
of course not! She’s got enough on her plate already.
Cal
but in case her health deteriorates I’d like you to be here.
Sean
I’ll be back before you know it.
Sean
man this town is so creepy
Sean
there are a few people on the street
Sean
they’ve all stopped to stare at me as if I was an alien
Sean
shit I just heard screams!
Cal
what kind of screams?
Sean
from a house. The curtains are closed. It’s a girl screaming.
Sean
I’m acting like I didn’t hear
Sean
I just got into town. I’ve heard screams
Nazarene
that happens often
Sean
People are looking at me weird.
Nazarene
ignore them. They’re not used to outsiders.
Nazarene
do you see an orange tower with a green roof?
Nazarene
that’s where my uncle lives.
Nazarene
go there and say: ‘I wish to lay myself down at the Lord’s feet’
Nazarene
remember what I told you about women?
Nazarene
if they ask you questions, that’s what they want to hear
Nazarene
also, once you’re in there don’t look at anybody in the eyes. Don’t argue.
Nazarene
Let them do what they want
Sean
what are they going to do??
Nazarene
they might want to test you. Just let them
Sean
I can’t believe what just happened!
Sean
I went to the leader’s place. His butler opened the door.
Sean
I said a sort of password, and he said ‘I’ll take you to Lord Isaiah’s office’
Sean
ok now the ‘office’ is at the top of the tower. I climb a spiral staircase…
Sean
and the butler is behind me, WHIPPING ME!!
Sean
with a bundle of fucking olive branches. And shouting: ‘Be submissive to the Lord!’
Cal
Sean these people are bad
Sean
he left me at the top floor. There’s a door in front of me.
Sean
I don’t know what to do
Sean
a man called me from behind the door!!
Sean
I told nobody my name!!
