Heretic

Mr. Reed: I want to ask an awkward, uh, an icky question, an insensitive question that I think will add depth to our conversation very quickly before the sun goes down and we’re done for the evening. But only if you’re comfortable with that. Sister Barnes: Well, we won’t know if we’re comfortable until you ask, so… Mr. Reed: Fair point. Sister Barnes: Maybe you just ask? Mr. Reed: Okay. [clicks tongue] Sister Paxton: If you don’t ask, I’m gonna leave here wondering what we missed out on. Mr. Reed: Very well. My question is this. Um… [sighs] Now I feel it’s been built up to. Uh… Should I request a drum roll? I’m going to request a drum roll. A drum roll please, ladies! Mr. Reed: [laughs] Keep going! Keep going! Keep going! More! More! More! Now, I… I… I… my question is, how do you feel about polygamy? How do you… how do you feel about the concept of a man having multiple wives? Sister Paxton: I mean, it’s… it’s not for me, um… Sister Barnes: Are you asking from a biblical perspective? M

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sister Paxton: So… so we just, uh, need your help with the door. Um…It’s…it’s a little tricky. Mr. Reed: I’m sorry? Sister Paxton: I think your door is a bit stuck out there. Mr. Reed: The door won’t open. Sister Paxton: The front door. Mr. Reed: Yeah, the front door won’t open again. Sister Paxton: It opened when we came in. [chuckles nervously] Mr. Reed: Yeah. Sister Paxton: Maybe if you unlock it, it will open? Mr. Reed: No, no, I… I… I understand what you’re asking me, but, uh, the deadbolts are on a timer. I got carried away with our conversation, I didn’t realize the brace had been set. I should have pulled the pin when you came in, but I forgot. So if you are now regrettably ready to leave, you’ll have to exit through the back of my house. Sister Paxton: Uh, where? Mr. Reed: Just through here. Sister Barnes: Well, can you just unlock the front one, please? We would like to go that way. Just so we don’t get turned around and confused when we get outside. Mr. Reed: Yeah, it won’t

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Mr. Reed: I am self aware enough to know how this might look. Older man, two young women in his house, but I assure you, you are welcome to leave through…through the back. You saw my house from the outside, right? Sister Barnes: Mmhmm. Mr. Reed: Right! So, you know it’s a tiny footprint. The back of the house is just there. Yeah. Anyway, I will leave you space to make your decision freely. Yeah. To clarify, I am trying…have been trying very hard to make it a point not to pressure you, so you shouldn’t even feel the need to fabricate a story about someone from your ward calling you to leave. It’s… perfectly fine. Leave when you want. Sister Barnes: It wasn’t an excuse, they do need us back. Mr. Reed: No, I know, but you’re saying you took a call with someone from your ward. Sister Paxton: Yeah, a moment ago. But when you came inside, I asked if you were okay with the metal in the walls and ceilings. Sister Paxton: What do you mean? Mr. Reed: I mean that the metal obstructs cell phone si

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sister Barnes: Not to be completely weird, but can your wife please just step in the room, say hello and walk us to the back of the house? I’m not trying to be silly, I promise, I’m really not, but there are rules we follow, and we were upfront with them. Mr. Reed: I will ask. [turns back] Can I ask you a question first? Do you…still believe that my wife is in the next room? Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the scented candle, the absence of an oven with blueberry pie? Or have you been politely indulging a lie? If you still believe that she’s in there, I’ll go ask, but it’s something I want you to think about and maybe think about in the context of your beliefs. Do you believe in God because somebody told you at an impressionable age that God is real, despite having doubts as you got older, despite…seeing evidence to the contrary your whole lives? When your father lost control of his body, did you think it was God’s plan to ruin his life? Or did you go on believing something t

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sister Barnes: I think that you can tell that we’re regrettably uncomfortable with this situation here tonight. Mr. Reed: I’m sorry, but didn’t you just say a moment ago that you saw the outside of my house? So then you clearly saw…that the back of my house overhangs a hill, so you would know that you have to go down…in order to go out. Sister Barnes: I think it would be best for you and for all of us if you could help us go home because the Stake President, he knows where we are. And the Ward Missionaries know. And they’ll be expecting us. sister Paxton: And there were witnesses, weren’t there, Sister Barnes? On our way here, we passed a police officer? Mr. Reed: Whoa! The police? [chuckles] I promise you, you’re getting way, way, way, way too worked up. Sister Barnes: Right. But I think that we’re scared because you lied to us earlier.

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Mr. Reed: Do you want me to help? You asked me earlier if you should have a preference between the doors. I think you should. I think it’s something you should consider very carefully, and then make the right decision. Do you want me to help you? sister Barnes: Yes. Mr. Reed: Okay. Then, please… come and stand here. Both of you come. Just here. That’s it. It’s a simple choice. But it should not be made simply. I need you to reflect very, very deeply and then make a sincere decision.

Heretic (film), CC BY-SA 4.0