Latest / Home for the Holidays / Clearing The Heir: The Haunting of Hale House

Transcript

Clearing The Heir: The Haunting of Hale House · Home for the Holidays

0:08
Young Brandi: Let me out! Let me out! Help! There's something down here!
0:12
Greatmomma: Myth Lab Entertainment presents...
0:14
Greatmomma: Home for the Holidays.
0:15
Greatmomma: Clearing the Heir.
0:21
Grandma Ida Hale: Brandi! Brandi, calm down.
0:23
Grandma Ida Hale: What are you doing in the basement?
0:26
Young Brandi: Ugh.
0:26
Young Brandi: Crystal and Craig locked me in here to feed me to that monster.
0:30
Grandma Ida Hale: I'm getting sick of this.
0:32
Grandma Ida Hale: The only monsters in this house are your bad behinds.
0:36
Grandma Ida Hale: Where are your cousins hiding?
0:38
Young Brandi: I don't know and I really don't care.
0:41
Young Brandi: Grandma Ida, can you please call my mom?
0:44
Young Brandi: I wanna go home.
0:46
Grandma Ida Hale: You're going to leave me just because you got into one silly fight with your cousins?
0:51
Young Brandi: One fight?
0:52
Young Brandi: They're always ganging up on me.
0:53
Young Brandi: I hate them.
0:55
Grandma Ida Hale: You know that word is not welcome in this house.
0:58
Grandma Ida Hale: Don't ever let me hear you say that again.
1:01
Young Brandi: Fine, I'll whisper it.
1:03
Grandma Ida Hale: Little girl, don't get smart with me.
1:06
Grandma Ida Hale: We're family.
1:08
Grandma Ida Hale: And even though we get on each other's nerves sometimes, that doesn't mean we don't love each other.
1:15
Young Brandi: Nana, they don't like me.
1:17
Young Brandi: I don't like them.
1:18
Young Brandi: I think it's time you let this one go.
1:20
Grandma Ida Hale: I won't let it go.
1:22
Grandma Ida Hale: Not until I see my grandbabies getting along.
1:27
Greatmomma: Poor Grandma Ida Hale.
1:29
Greatmomma: Little did she know that no matter what she did, the rift between her grandchildren would grow.
1:35
Greatmomma: Named after Ida B.
1:37
Greatmomma: Wells, she lived for Black unity.
1:40
Greatmomma: She and her late husband James were pillars of the community.
1:44
Greatmomma: But somewhere along the way, among her daughters and sons, there came a type of dislike that is rarely undone.
1:52
Greatmomma: Grandkids compared over grades, athleticism, and looks.
1:57
Greatmomma: Brandi came to resent relatives that mocked her for being all about books.
2:02
Greatmomma: An introvert at heart and an only child at that, she thought Crystal and Craig were some bullying brats.
2:09
Greatmomma: Meanwhile, the brother and sister duo found her dull and quiet.
2:15
Greatmomma: When they all gathered at grandma's, it would trigger a riot.
2:18
Greatmomma: Things started off petty with name-calling and such.
2:22
Greatmomma: But when they locked her in the basement, it became too much.
2:27
Greatmomma: And no matter how Grandma Ida begged, or Brandi's mother would yell,
2:31
Young Brandi: I'm not going over there. No way! Are they going to be there?
2:32
Greatmomma: She wouldn't spend the night there unless she was by her self.
2:36
Young Brandi: I'll pass.
2:37
Greatmomma: This continued, and the rift worsened as the cousins got grown.
2:42
Greatmomma: Even when Ida's health faltered, the seeds had been sown.
2:48
Therapist: Brandi, I want you to stay with that memory of your cousins for just a moment longer.
2:54
Therapist: What is something your younger self desperately needed to hear back then?
3:00
Brandi: Hmmm… Momma Said Knock You Out… Knuck if You Buck…I Bet You Won’t Hit A Mutha–
3:06
Therapist: Brandi, protecting your peace doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations.
3:09
Therapist: Okay.
3:11
Therapist: That's our session for today.
3:14
Greatmomma: Ida tried to find a way to restore the long-lost tether.
3:18
Greatmomma: All she wanted was to see them all happy together.
3:21
Greatmomma: She toyed with the idea of leaving them all her Bronzeville estate.
3:25
Greatmomma: But her attorney warned her that might deepen their hate.
3:30
Attorney: Ida, I say this is your longtime attorney and friend.
3:34
Attorney: Are you of sound mind?
3:36
Greatmomma: So Ida left it to the one grandchild who was quiet but calm, organized, disciplined, praying her other grandchildren's charm would bring them together.
3:46
Greatmomma: Maybe even to share the mansion.
3:48
Greatmomma: Luckily, she didn't live to see that her plan had no traction.
3:52
Greatmomma: In fact, the first thing Brandi did was collect back all the keys that had been distributed to close members of the family who enjoyed gathering for the holidays around Ida's big table.
4:06
Greatmomma: She moved in, making changes.
4:08
Greatmomma: The others called her unstable.
4:11
Greatmomma: New paint, hardwood floors, and the biggest shock is when she laid the posts for a fence and changed every lock.
4:21
Contractor: Brandi, if we take the fence up any higher, it'll be against code.
4:25
Brandi: Well, could you put water around it?
4:28
Contractor: You want a moat?
4:30
Contractor: Oh, you're serious.
4:33
Greatmomma: The cousins were incensed.
4:35
Greatmomma: They couldn't understand her anger.
4:37
Greatmomma: But to Brandi, her family was no better than strangers.
4:44
Brandi: Uh, you can just put those hats in the box marked donations.
4:48
Brandi: Thanks for helping me with this, Tia.
4:51
Tia: Of course.
4:52
Tia: You shouldn't have to clean out your grandmother's house by yourself.
4:55
Tia: I know going through all these memories must be hard.
4:58
Brandi: Girl, I can't wait to get rid of this shit.
5:01
Tia: Well, damn, Brandi.
5:02
Tia: What stage of grief are you in?
5:04
Brandi: Do you not see this mess?
5:06
Brandi: My grandmother wore a Chanel.
5:08
Brandi: Not Shein.
5:10
Brandi: This is all Crystal and Craig's junk.
5:13
Brandi: My cousins were so convinced that they were inheriting this house that they started moving their freeloading behinds in here before she even passed.
5:22
Brandi: Now they've got this place looking like a public storage unit.
5:25
Brandi: Wait until you see the basement.
5:33
Tia: What in the world?
5:35
Tia: You've got a whole Amazon warehouse down here.
5:41
Brandi: I know.
5:41
Brandi: The contractors said they can't even start on the basement remodel until my cousins clear this out.
5:46
Brandi: So I gave Sanford and Son until the end of the week to pick up their stuff or it's going to Goodwill.
5:52
Tia: Things are still that bad between y'all?
5:55
Tia: I always thought death brought families closer together.
5:59
Brandi: Too close.
6:00
Brandi: I haven't had one moment of peace since I moved in here.
6:03
Brandi: Nana gave damn near everybody in our family a spare key when she got sick.
6:08
Brandi: Every day someone was showing up unannounced and uninvited.
6:12
Brandi: They had me feeling like I was the guest.
6:15
Brandi: So I changed the locks, but they're still doing drop -bys.
6:19
Tia: Ugghhh, I hate that for you.
6:21
Tia: Isn't that like kryptonite for introverts?
6:25
Brandi: They are draining me.
6:27
Brandi: My entire nervous system is overstimulated and look what it's doing to my edges.
6:32
Tia: Brandi, you better set some boundaries before you go bald.
6:36
Tia: Have you tried talking to them?
6:38
Brandi: Yeah, it's pointless.
6:40
Brandi: Whenever I try to extend a little grace, my family makes me immediately regret it.
6:45
Brandi: Moving back here was stressful enough.
6:48
Brandi: I just can't have that type of negativity around me right now.
6:52
Tia: What the hell was that?
6:59
Brandi: Please don't be mice.
7:00
Brandi: I can't handle one more thing going wrong in this house.
7:04
Tia: Hey girl, when was the last time you had this place cleaned?
7:09
Brandi: Excuse me.
7:10
Brandi: I know it's junky, but I do not keep a dirty house.
7:13
Tia: No, I'm talking about a healing home cleansing.
7:17
Tia: Remember when that crazy man was staying in my house and refused to leave?
7:22
Brandi: Uh your ex-husband?
7:25
Tia: Yeah, him.
7:26
Tia: During the separation, we foolishly tried sharing the house.
7:30
Tia: We taped off rooms, made Calendly schedules for the kitchen and bathroom.
7:35
Tia: It got so tense in there that I hired a professional energy cleanser to remove all the hostility building up between us.
7:42
Brandi: But you still got divorced.
7:45
Tia: Exactly.
7:45
Tia: She got that bad energy off my couch and into his own one-bedroom apartment across town.
7:52
Tia: Look up Pauletta's Clearing the Air House Cleaning on TikTok.
8:02
Pauletta: Feeling drained.
8:03
Pauletta: Losing sleep.
8:05
Pauletta: Are your energy bills high as hell?
8:09
Brandi: Tia, what is this?
8:10
Brandi: Are these people Cleaning or cosplaying as The Craft?
8:13
Pauletta: I don't mean to scare you, but you might have bad energy squatting inside your home.
8:18
Pauletta: Think of me as your spiritual sheriff.
8:22
Pauletta: You're just one deep clean away from evicting all that negativity from your space.
8:28
Pauletta: Contact Pauletta's Clearing the Air Home Cleaning to schedule a consultation.
8:36
Brandi: Thanks a lot, Tia.
8:37
Brandi: Now I need to deep clean my algorithm.
8:40
Tia: Don't joke.
8:41
Tia: She has all five-star Yelp reviews and an A plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.
8:47
Tia: You deserve to be happy and comfortable in your new home.
8:51
Tia: That's what your grandmother would have wanted, right?
8:54
Tia: I say, if those olive branches to your family keep breaking, you might want to give Miss Pauletta a shout.
9:03
Greatmomma: Now, Brandi was convinced she was in the right, After all, it wasn’t her who started this fight, Craig and Crystal mocked her glasses, her walk, her smile . Even as adults, they snickered at her car and her style.
9:17
Greatmomma: Rather than understanding how their bullying felt, Crystal and Craig felt they got the short stick themselves.
9:24
Greatmomma: They resented her because the grown folks kept singing her praises, Their own grandmother bragged on her promotions and raises, It was just like when they were kids and she made all A’s and one B, Crystal and Craig had never made the honor roll with ease.
9:41
Greatmomma: Their dad, James Junior, was a charmer who valued finesse, He was more focused on school popularity and how his kids dressed.
9:49
Greatmomma: They grew up thinking their humor and wit, Would keep them Grandma’s favorites, but that changed when she got sick.
9:57
Greatmomma: When she fell ill with heart problems, though they all pitched in, It was Brandi’s financial knowledge and doctor research that really kicked in.
10:07
Greatmomma: She made sure her Grandma was at each appointment and the prescriptions were followed, All groceries were delivered and each statin was swallowed.
10:17
Greatmomma: Brandi’s relentless work extended Ida’s life, And she wanted to reward her granddaughter; it was only right.
10:24
Greatmomma: When the will was read, and Ida left her the house, Crystal and Craig realized they’d finally been moved on out.
10:31
Crystal: Wait a damn minute.
10:32
Crystal: Did you say Brandi?
10:34
Craig: I know you lying.
10:35
Attorney: Don't get mad at me.
10:36
Attorney: I'm just the executor.
10:38
Attorney: These are your grandmother's wishes.
10:40
Greatmomma: They weren’t the only ones feeling displaced, And because of Brandi’s fast move-in, it felt like a race.
10:48
Greatmomma: So to stop her in her tracks before any more trouble, They summoned some others for a family huddle.
10:58
Crystal: Thank you all for attending this emergency family meeting.
11:02
Crystal: This is my free Zoom account, so I'll keep it brief.
11:06
Crystal: Look, we've all had our concerns about Brandi, and I think we better act now before it's too late.
11:12
Crystal: Hold on a second.
11:13
Crystal: I'm going to share my screen.
11:15
Crystal: Can everyone see that?
11:18
Crystal: I took that picture yesterday.
11:21
Craig: Yeah.
11:21
Craig: Looks like she's building some sort of fence with an automatic gate.
11:26
Crystal: You're exactly right, Craig.
11:27
Crystal: That's what I thought she was doing before I reported it to the city.
11:30
Crystal: Now, I've been racking my brain trying to understand why Brandi is out there making all these renovations like she's one of the Property Brothers, and it finally dawned on me.
11:40
Crystal: She's fixing up Nana's house to sell it.
11:43
Crystal: The home our grandparents wanted to pass down for generations.
11:47
Cousin Lynette: That doesn't make any sense, Crystal.
11:49
Cousin Lynette: Why would Brandi go through the trouble of moving all her stuff back here if she was going to sell it? Didn’t you show us a bunch of pictures of her moving trucks during the last meeting?
11:59
Crystal: I don't know, Lynette, but I do know her reappearance doesn't have anything to do with reuniting this family.
12:04
Crystal: How many times has she invited you over?
12:06
Crystal: None! Brandi's always been weird and standoffish, but she's acting stranger than usual since she moved into Nana's house.
12:13
Crystal: Aunt Joyce, we can’t hear you.
12:18
Crystal: You’re on mute.
12:19
Crystal: Take yourself off mute.
12:21
Aunt Joyce: I was saying...
12:21
Aunt Joyce: Crystal’s right.
12:21
Aunt Joyce: The ladies from the church ministry were kind enough to start a meal train for us.
12:21
Aunt Joyce: Sister Jenkins told me that when she showed up to the house, Brandi wouldn’t even let her get one foot in the door.
12:21
Aunt Joyce: Brandi told her...
12:40
Brandi: Thank you so much for the food.
12:46
Brandi: Sister Jenkins, is it?
12:51
Brandi: I can’t come to a door right now, but you can just leave it on the mat.
13:04
Aunt Joyce: Uncouth little heifer. You’re talking to a deaconess, not DoorDash.
13:04
Craig: Brandi was really funny with me too the last time I stopped by.
13:04
Craig: She said...
13:04
Brandi: Hey Craig. I really wish you would have called first. I’d invite you in, but I’m headed out for a meeting.
13:04
Craig: Can’t invite me in?
13:04
Craig: Man, that’s how you treat vampires on the set of “Sinners,” not your own flesh and blood.
13:14
Cousin Lynette: I don't know, y'all.
13:15
Cousin Lynette: This sounds more like Sadittyville than Amityville to me.
13:19
Brandi: And mind you, Brandi was late for the funeral, fell asleep during the balloon release, but somehow managed to show up early, wide awake for the reading of the will.
13:29
Cousin Lynette: Crystal, you know her flight was delayed.
13:31
Cousin Lynette: Girl, stop it.
13:32
Crystal: Lynette, put yourself on mute, please.
13:35
Crystal: Now, are we really supposed to believe that Nana gave her family home to the one person who can't stand being around family?
13:43
Crystal: Make it make sense.
13:44
Crystal: Because to me, it's giving manipulation and I'm not standing for it.
13:49
Aunt Joyce: Is Brandi even going to host us for Thanksgiving dinner this year?
13:53
Aunt Joyce: Ida always made the house look so beautiful for the holidays.
13:58
Craig: If it's up to Brandi's anti-social ass, we'll all be squeezing into a booth at Golden Corral this year.
14:04
Crystal: That's the thing, it isn't up to her.
14:06
Crystal: I made a promise to Nana before she died that I would honor her traditions and protect this family's legacy.
14:12
Crystal: If Brandi can't get with the program, hmm, she can beat it.
14:16
Craig: But we already reviewed this with the lawyers, Crystal.
14:19
Craig: We can't just make Brandi leave.
14:21
Crystal: No, but we can make it so that she wants to.
14:24
Crystal: I volunteer as tribute to confront Cousin Saditty.
14:50
Brandi: Craig, is that you again?
14:52
Brandi: It's late and I'm trying to sleep.
14:54
Brandi: How did you even get in here?
14:57
Brandi: Cousin, we talked about this.
15:03
Brandi: You need to call first.
15:04
Brandi: I live here now, and you can't just show up at all hours of a night trying to front for random women.
15:12
Brandi: Go home.
15:14
Brandi: Ugghhh, you find this amusing, ma’am?
15:18
Brandi: Wait till you find out this isn’t his house and that’s not even his real hairline.
15:25
Brandi: Baby girl, that’s Bigen.
15:26
Brandi: Stay out of my fridge.
15:31
Brandi: I know you've been stealing my leftovers.
15:33
Brandi: Craig, either you get the hell out of here right now, or I'm going to show your little friend some family photos of you before the veneers.
15:42
Brandi: Uh-Uh.
15:47
Brandi: That gas lighting doesn't work on me.
15:49
Brandi: Nana may have put up with this family's toxic behavior, but I don't have any problems kicking your overstepping asses to a curb.
15:57
Brandi: Whether you like it or not, this is my house now.
16:01
Demon: No, Brandi.
16:02
Demon: The house is mine.
16:18
Brandi: Thanks for squeezing me in today, Pauletta.
16:21
Brandi: And sorry about leaving all those insane messages.
16:24
Brandi: It's just that I've been having some terrible nightmares.
16:29
Brandi: And the vibes in this house are so off.
16:31
Brandi: I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like I'm being watched.
16:36
Pauletta: No apologies needed, my dear.
16:38
Pauletta: I'm just pleased to be of service.
16:41
Pauletta: Older mansions are actually my favorite houses to clean.
16:45
Pauletta: They have the best stories to tell.
16:49
Brandi: Well, what I heard sounds like a plot of The Conjuring.
16:53
Pauletta: Rest assured, your home is in good hands.
16:56
Pauletta: Now, let's get you some peace.
17:01
Brandi: What is that?
17:02
Brandi: A Roomba?
17:03
Pauletta: No, but similar principle.
17:06
Pauletta: This little gadget is my patent pending energy evaluator.
17:10
Pauletta: These sensors help me pinpoint exactly where negativity is accumulating in a house so we can clear it out.
17:20
Pauletta: Hear that clicking?
17:21
Pauletta: It's already picking up on some dark energy and possibly black mold.
17:28
Brandi: I hate homeownership.
17:30
Pauletta: I like to call this part of a process reading a room.
17:34
Pauletta: Houses are a lot like sponges.
17:37
Pauletta: They soak up all a memories, good and bad.
17:41
Pauletta: And every person that enters this home leaves a lingering energy imprint.
17:48
Pauletta: You can't Febreze that away.
18:06
Brandi: Well, can that thing detect bougie bullshit?
18:09
Brandi: My cousin Crystal hosted her Ladies Who Lead in Life cohort here last week.
18:14
Brandi: A bunch of half-drunk, stuck up women who get together to solve the world's problems and gossip about each other.
18:20
Crystal: Raven's right.
18:21
Crystal: We need a more sustainable economic framework.
18:24
Crystal: And apparently sturdier wig glue.
18:28
Pauletta: Is that a recording studio?
18:30
Pauletta: Damn.
18:31
Pauletta: Y'all got it like that?
18:33
Pauletta: Oh, I'm getting a strong reading in here.
18:38
Brandi: I bet.
18:38
Brandi: My grandmother let my other cousin Craig convert her old office into a content creator studio.
18:44
Brandi: When his trust fund trap music didn't take off, he pivoted to hosting a relationship podcast.
18:50
Craig: On today's show, we're talking about women and their eyebrows.
18:54
Craig: Y'all out here looking like some confused commas and wondering why you're still single.
19:01
Pauletta: Sometimes when there's been a death or a prolonged illness in a home, it can make the space feel dark and heavy.
19:10
Brandi: Wow, I didn't know that.
19:12
Pauletta: Deep-seated anger, grudges, and resentment can shift a energy in a house too.
19:18
Brandi: Nope, none of that here.
19:20
Pauletta: Good.
19:21
Pauletta: Because grudge energy is a different type of energy.
19:24
Pauletta: It's got that dog in him.
19:27
Pauletta: That type of negativity needs to be handled very delicately.
19:31
Pauletta: Or we could end up making things worse.
19:34
Pauletta: Why don't you take me to the area where you've been hearing the voices?
19:40
Brandi: Mostly around here.
19:41
Brandi: This door leads down to a basement.
19:46
Pauletta: I'll take a quick peek.
19:48
Pauletta: Yeah, this basement has a strong toxic aura.
19:53
Pauletta: I see you're a bit of a pack rat.
19:56
Pauletta: You know, clutter traps in negative energy too.
20:00
Brandi: Yeah, I've been doing my best to clean that out.
20:03
Brandi: But to be fair, most of that stuff belongs to my cousins.
20:07
Pauletta: Oh boy, I'm picking up on some really nasty vibes down here.
20:13
Pauletta: Whoa! I've never seen it reach this level before.
20:29
Brandi: What happened?
20:31
Pauletta: I don't think your cousins are the only unwanted guests.
20:34
Brandi: Oh god.
20:35
Brandi: Did you see mice?
20:36
Pauletta: Miss Brandi, we're not just dealing with negative energy.
20:40
Pauletta: You have a negative entity squatting in your home.
20:44
Brandi: Uh, say what now?
20:45
Brandi: How is that even possible?
20:47
Pauletta: I don't know how it got there, but I can certainly see why it extended its stay.
20:53
Pauletta: Once a negative entity invades a space, it needs a steady supply of anger to keep existing.
21:01
Pauletta: Sounds like that thing has been feeding off the arguments between you and your family.
21:07
Brandi: I don't follow.
21:08
Pauletta: In layman's terms, to a demon, you moving in this house was like announcing Endless Shrimp is back at Red Lobster.
21:17
Brandi: A demon?
21:18
Brandi: I used to hear strange things when I was a kid, but my grandmother told me it was a the damn dryer.
21:23
Pauletta: If it's any comfort, I think we're dealing with a lesser demon.
21:27
Pauletta: More of a gossip and a shit stirrer than anything.
21:32
Brandi: So are we talking Andy Cohen at Real Housewives Reunion?
21:36
Brandi: Or worse?
21:38
Pauletta: Worse, but manageable.
21:40
Pauletta: If you can stop supplying it with fights.
21:43
Pauletta: My team and I are fully equipped to handle demon removal, but that's an additional charge.
21:50
Brandi: How much additional?
21:52
Pauletta: You can't really put a price on peace, but demon removal starts at $5000.00.
21:58
Brandi: That’s ridiculous! Don’t let this house fool you, I’m not rich.
22:02
Brandi: Is there maybe a more cost-effective solution?
22:06
Pauletta: Sure.
22:06
Pauletta: You could make peace with your family and starve it out.
22:10
Brandi: I see.
22:13
Pauletta: The receipt will be emailed to you.
22:15
Pauletta: I just need you to sign this waiver, acknowledging that you understand that conditions may temporarily worsen as the house purges.
22:24
Pauletta: Okay, team.
22:28
Pauletta: We're doing the deluxe demon removal package.
22:32
Brandi: Does this service come with some sort of warranty or refund policy?
22:36
Pauletta: All sales are final, but I will personally ensure that you are 100% satisfied.
22:43
Pauletta: If you have any issues, just contact me directly.
22:47
Pauletta: Demons hate loud noises.
22:52
Brandi: As do I.
23:03
Pauletta: This is my special all-purpose cleaner.
23:05
Pauletta: A blend of sage, camphor, pine, vinegar, protective salt, and essential oils.
23:13
Pauletta: We use this to refresh and reset the energy in your home.
23:18
Brandi: Uh, okay, that just seems like a lot of water to me.
23:22
Brandi: You did say you're bonded and insured, right?
23:25
Brandi: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
23:28
Brandi: What a hell is happening?
23:29
Brandi: Please tell me that didn't scratch the floor.
23:32
Pauletta: Hit dogs will holler.
23:34
Pauletta: If any demon is residing inside this home, you need to make yourself known right now.
23:41
Brandi: No, no, no, no, no, you don't.
23:44
Brandi: No, you don't.
23:46
Pauletta: Can you explain why you're in this house?
23:49
Pauletta: This lady is trying to live in peace, and you're beomg very disrespectful.
23:55
Brandi: Oh god, not Nana's China collection!
23:58
Pauletta: Demon, you need to vacate this property immediately! You're not welcome here.
24:05
Pauletta: Consider this your eviction notice.
24:08
Brandi: What the hell is happening?
24:11
Pauletta: Squatter rights my ass! Are you going to leave this property peacefully?
24:17
Pauletta: Or do I need to get my sage?
24:21
Brandi: That worked?
24:22
Brandi: Is that demon thing gone?
24:25
Pauletta: For now, we're going to seal this space with protective salt.
24:30
Pauletta: Over the next 24 hours, I want you to focus on filling this house with lots of love, peace, and positivity.
24:39
Pauletta: It's very important that you block out any bad vibes until the house finishes purging.
24:49
Brandi: This is a lot to process.
24:52
Pauletta: The demon is going to try like hell to find a way back into this house.
24:56
Pauletta: Just keep the negative energy out, and you'll be fine.
25:01
Pauletta: Last thing, it's very important.
25:04
Pauletta: I run a small business, and every positive review helps.
25:09
Pauletta: Please rate me five stars and make sure to follow me on social.
25:13
Pauletta: And if you refer a friend, you'll get 15% off your next Cleaning.
25:21
Greatmomma: As I mentioned, Brandi was logical so she was already leery . That a cleansing could save her from all that was eerie.
25:29
Greatmomma: For one day, she thought Pauletta had brought her some quiet and peace, But then the furnace blew out; the house started to freeze.
25:39
Greatmomma: Shivering and shaken, she went down to the basement, Though she had been warned it was the site of containment.
25:47
Greatmomma: The demon wasn’t there, but Brandi started to bristle, It seemed she’d been visited by Craig and Crystal . Boxes she’d packed were open and cluttered, The window she’d closed tightly was no longer shuttered, And adding to her suspicion and reminding her of the past, she found a single, oversized butterfly lash . Knowing that her cousins had come into her space, stirred up anger no cleanse could erase, As she stormed around looking for additional clues, she was muttering curses and blowing her fuse, All the while the demon, who had been losing the fuel to his fire, was starting to rouse, sensing a buffet of ire.
26:31
Greatmomma: He began rattling doorframes and breaking dishes, Brandi’s resentment was the answer to all his dark wishes.
26:47
Brandi: Hi, I'm calling to report fraud on my credit card.
26:50
Brandi: There's a $5,000 charge for a a spiritual cleansing from Pauletta's Clearing the Air House Cleaning.
27:00
Customer Service Rep: Yes, I see that charge. Can you share the details of the fraudulent activity so I can file the dispute?
27:01
Brandi: For starters, she did not actually clear the air. In fact, she caused over $20,000 in damages to my home. That woman is a scam artist and put me through hell…literally. Her “solutions” did not last a business day. I have pictures if you need them.
27:24
Customer Service Rep: I understand how frustrating this must be.
27:26
Customer Service Rep: I'm going to open a dispute for a transaction now.
27:28
Customer Service Rep: And while we investigate, I'll apply a temporary credit to your account.
27:32
Customer Service Rep: How does that sound?
27:35
Greatmomma: With the credit pending on her statement and customer service on her side, Brandi felt the tension in her chest loosen and subside.
27:44
Greatmomma: Now she wasn’t sure that her cousins weren’t the ones to blame . For all that creaking, shaking and voices calling her name.
27:53
Greatmomma: If there had been a demon or ghost haunting these halls, She was sure that spreading salt and spiritual Pinesol wouldn’t work at all.
28:02
Greatmomma: By the time evening fell, she was feeling relaxed, The locks were changed, alarm code updated…she was alone at last.
28:10
Greatmomma: But what she didn’t realize is that once that charge was reversed, Pauletta had sped across town to put back the curse.
28:19
Greatmomma: She snuck past where the fence was feeding off built and tiptoed to the back, leaned down to the basement window and jimmied it open a crack.
28:28
Greatmomma: With a small velvet bag full of what looked like dust, she said an incantation exactly at dusk.
28:35
Greatmomma: By the time she crept to Brandi’s Ring cam to have her say, The demon was back, stronger, and ready to play.
28:44
Pauletta: Miss Brandi, I read people like I read rooms.
28:48
Pauletta: I knew your spoiled ass was trouble the moment I stepped inside your junky ass house.
28:55
Pauletta: I should have never taken you on as a client with all those family issues.
29:00
Pauletta: You've got a nasty attitude and a nasty fridge.
29:04
Pauletta: Well, I match energy, so get ready.
29:09
Pauletta: You better take down that bad Yelp review and return my funds, or evil will be coming for you.
29:17
Pauletta: Shamma lamma ding dong, pumps in a bump and bad mamma jamma!
29:22
Brandi: Get off my property or I'm calling a cops.
29:26
Brandi: Pauletta, that better not be you.
29:30
Brandi: Don't play on my door.
29:32
Brandi: Don't play on my phone either.
29:39
Brandi: You can't hide behind that Google voice number.
29:42
Brandi: I already contacted my lawyers.
29:44
Brandi: Now cease and desist.
29:48
Demon: You said to call before coming over.
29:51
Demon: From the sounds of it.
29:54
Demon: I'll be there soon.
29:59
Brandi: I claim no negativity from this house.
30:02
Brandi: I claim no negativity from this house.
30:05
Crystal: Craig, are you ready? When we get inside, it can’t just be me confronting Brandi. I’m tired of always feeding off the bad guy.
30:22
Craig: Oh, I'm ready.
30:24
Craig: You think we should have called first?
30:26
Crystal: Boy, you are not ready, and don't put on those stupid shoe covers either.
30:30
Crystal: Oh wait, the door is open.
30:38
Craig: Where's Brandi?
30:39
Crystal: What the hell happened in here?
30:41
Crystal: Did somebody break in?
30:43
Brandi: Is that you, demon?
30:44
Brandi: I compel you to leave my home.
30:47
Brandi: I have a candle and I will sage the shit out of you.
30:52
Crystal: Who are you calling a demon?
30:54
Craig: Because you're the one that compelled us here to clear out the basement, remember?
30:59
Brandi: Look, you two can't be here.
31:02
Brandi: You need to leave now.
31:04
Brandi: It isn't safe.
31:05
Crystal: Ew.
31:06
Crystal: Why does it smell so earthy in here?
31:09
Crystal: If that's your new natural deodorant, you need to switch back quickly.
31:13
Brandi: I had the place cleansed and…
31:15
Craig: Who the hell did you hire ?
31:16
Craig: Because dayum! The floors are all scratched up and warped.
31:21
Craig: You can’t put that much water on hardwood.
31:24
Craig: Even I know that.
31:25
Crystal: And why are there cowbells everywhere and bowls of salt on the floor?
31:29
Crystal: Craig, I guess we don't have to worry about Brandi selling grandma's house because this is the ugliest home staging I've ever seen.
31:37
Brandi: What?
31:37
Brandi: I’m not selling the house and forget about the basement.
31:40
Brandi: Now’s not a good time.
31:42
Crystal: No! I have a U-Haul outside, so let's get this over with.
31:49
Brandi: You should be able to very quickly get your stuff and go.
31:52
Crystal: Don't rush us.
31:57
Brandi: Shhh! Shhh! We can’t raise our voices.
31:59
Brandi: That thing will hear us and come back.
32:01
Craig: Brandi, what are you talking about?
32:05
Crystal: I know you didn't allow some strangers to throw my vintage curly Kimberly dolls in a box like a damn Happy Meal toy.
32:11
Crystal: These are collector's items worth thousands of dollars, Brandi.
32:15
Brandi: Not when you singe the hell out of said curls.
32:18
Brandi: I'd like to see you get three dollars for Silk Press the Shocker over there.
32:22
Brandi: And to set the record straight, that wasn't your Curly Kimberly doll.
32:27
Brandi: Nana made me give you my doll to stop you from whining.
32:32
Demon: Ahhh. Vintage resentment. Aged to perfection.
32:36
Crystal: Well, I see you got your lick back.
32:39
Brandi: Are you talking about this house again?
32:41
Brandi: Nana left you practically everything, and all you can focus on is what you didn't get.
32:46
Brandi: Or is it just because she gave it to me?
32:49
Brandi: If you want this house so badly, take it.
32:52
Brandi: And the demon that came with it.
32:55
Craig: Are you okay, cuz?
32:56
Craig: Do you hear yourself right now?
32:58
Craig: This is why the whole family is talking.
33:01
Craig: I mean, concerned about you.
33:04
Brandi: Listen to me carefully.
33:06
Brandi: There is something evil living rent-free in this house.
33:10
Crystal: We're aware, but you still have to pay the property tax. Bloop!
33:14
Craig: Good one, sis.
33:15
Brandi: This isn't a game.
33:16
Brandi: The more we argue and insult each other, the stronger it gets.
33:21
Brandi: You know what?
33:22
Brandi: Just leave and don't come back.
33:25
Brandi: It's for your own safety.
33:27
Craig: So you're kicking us out?
33:29
Craig: That's cold, cuz.
33:30
Crystal: You can't kick me out.
33:32
Crystal: Nana never treated us like strangers in her home.
33:34
Crystal: She made sure everybody felt welcome.
33:36
Crystal: Why did you have to move in here and ruin everything?
33:39
Brandi: Go home, Roger!
33:41
Demon: (laughs maniacally)
33:42
Crystal: It's corny to laugh at your own jokes.
33:44
Crystal: You really thought you ate with that one, huh?
33:47
Demon: I know I did.
33:48
Crystal: What the hell was that?
33:50
Brandi: The demon I paid $5,000 to have removed.
33:53
Brandi: I had a misunderstanding with the cleanser, and now it's back.
33:56
Brandi: Don't make it worse.
33:58
Crystal: You really unleashed a demon in Nana's home, but you have a problem with me and Craig keeping on our shoes.
34:02
Crystal: Make it make sense.
34:04
Brandi: I'm not responsible for this.
34:06
Brandi: It's been here since we were kids.
34:08
Brandi: Remember, you locked me down here with it.
34:10
Crystal: Not that story again, girl.
34:12
Crystal: It's been 20 years.
34:13
Crystal: Pick a new struggle.
34:14
Demon: (laughs hysterically)
34:21
Brandi: I think one picked us.
34:23
Craig: Hey, bruh, what you want from us?
34:25
Craig: We've got money.
34:27
Demon: Your anger.
34:28
Demon: Your fear.
34:29
Demon: Your resentment.
34:31
Demon: Was that not clear?
34:33
Brandi: Don't react.
34:34
Brandi: We can starve it out by getting along.
34:37
Demon: Brandi.
34:38
Demon: Did you know that Craig has been stealing food from your freezer?
34:42
Demon: And that Crystal was the one who told the city you didn't have a permit to build a gate.
34:49
Brandi: I did know that and I don't care.
34:53
Demon: Crystal, were you aware Brandi broke the china that your grandmother left you?
34:58
Brandi: Lying mf, you did that!
35:01
Crystal: It's all good.
35:05
Demon: Craig, did you know that your own sister, Crystal, had been reporting your social media posts as spam?
35:11
Craig: Aw, for real?
35:14
Craig: That's why I'm in Facebook jail?
35:16
Craig: That's cool.
35:20
Crystal: Wait, how's it feeding off that?
35:21
Crystal: We're getting along.
35:23
Brandi: It knows we're faking it.
35:24
Brandi: Toxic positivity is still toxic.
35:26
Brandi: Our relationship didn't get this way in a day.
35:29
Brandi: It was crazy of me to think I could fix it in one.
35:32
Crystal: Let's just give it the house and get out of here.
35:34
Crystal: This isn't worth dying over.
35:35
Craig: Agreed! We're cooked!
35:37
Brandi: No! I know how much this house meant to Nana and how much it means to the family.
35:42
Brandi: I'm willing to fight for it if you are.
35:45
Crystal: I didn't even think you cared.
35:46
Crystal: Maybe Nana wasn't completely out of her mind when she made that will.
35:50
Brandi: Thanks, Crystal.
35:51
Demon: Enough, two mouths running! This isn’t August Wilson dinner theater.
35:57
Demon: Feed me anger right now or all of you will die!
36:01
Evil Ghosts: Brandi, Brandi, we'll kill you
36:11
Evil Curly Kimberly Doll: (giggles) I want to do your hair.
36:14
Craig: I'm sorry for locking you in the basement, Brandi.
36:16
Craig: I can now see how that was traumatizing.
36:22
Greatmomma: If it was one thing that Crystal and Craig both had, it was the power of negotiation and the gift of gab, While Brandi wracked her brain for a logical solution, They tried to cross up the demon in a world of confusion.
36:36
Crystal: If you want strife, we can give you strife, just not ours.
36:40
Crystal: You're not feeding off us anymore.
36:42
Demon: Say what now?
36:44
Craig: My sister is right, bruh.
36:46
Craig: I can offer you a spot on my relationship podcast.
36:49
Craig: That's a whole buffet of bitterness.
36:51
Crystal: And I can probably sneak you into our next Ladies Who Lead in Life conference.
36:55
Crystal: All you can eat jealousy with a side of sadness.
36:59
Brandi: Yes, yes.
37:00
Brandi: If you agree to let me and my cousins live, I think we can work out a timeshare situation with the house.
37:12
Annoyed Haunted House Guest #1: Wait, were they here before us?
37:13
Annoyed Haunted House Guest #2: Is the line moving?
37:14
Annoyed Haunted House Guest #1: They cut the line.
37:16
Brandi: Good evening.
37:17
Brandi: And happy Halloween.
37:19
Brandi: Next group, step forward, please.
37:22
Brandi: Make sure your shoe covers are on and your waivers are signed before you enter the haunted house.
37:28
Annoyed Haunted House Guest #2: Waivers for what?
37:29
Brave Haunted House Guest: Nah, man, don't push me.
37:31
Brave Haunted House Guest: I'll walk and myself.
37:32
Scared Haunted House Guest: Shoe covers.
37:33
Scared Haunted House Guest: Waivers?
37:34
Scared Haunted House Guest: Uh-Uh.
37:35
Scared Haunted House Guest: They're about to act a fool up in here.
37:37
Scared Haunted House Guest: Baby, I think we should leave.
37:39
Brave Haunted House Guest: We’ve been in Airbnbs that looked scarier than this.
37:42
Brave Haunted House Guest: It’s all good.
37:43
Crystal: If at any point you begin to experience hallucinations, sudden dizziness, trouble breathing, just ring your bell and a staff member will escort you out.
37:53
Scared Haunted House Guest: Ohhhh hell no.
37:56
Craig: Now who's ready for the greatest Halloween experience of their lives?
38:00
Demon: Welcome to Hale!!!!
38:09
Brave Haunted House Guest: Get out of my head. You're lying.
38:10
Brave Haunted House Guest: My girl wouldn't do me like that.
38:12
Brave Haunted House Guest: She's never been to an Usher concert.
38:17
Demon: For real?
38:18
Demon: Then who is this feeding her a chocolate strawberry with his hands behind his back.
38:23
Demon: Take a look see.
38:25
Brave Haunted House Guest: No! Make it stop! I bought her that dress too!
38:35
Demon: My, that’s delicious!
38:48
Greatmomma: I’ve looked all over this astral plane, And sadly haven’t seen Grandma Ida or James Senior again, If I saw them I’d tell them things worked out as planned, And that their grandchildren now form a tight knit clan.
39:02
Greatmomma: Crystal lives alone, but on holiday nights, She makes sure all the Hales get a hearty invite.
39:09
Greatmomma: Aunt Joyce brings the prime rib; Lynette, honey baked ham, Craig serves as the deejay, Crystal decorates with glam, All the other cousins either help with the food, Or tell jokes and play cards to lift everyone’s mood, They hold Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Juneteenth, Birthdays, baptisms, repasts, but NOT Halloween.
39:32
Greatmomma: No, they leave that day to the basement dweller.
39:36
Greatmomma: In fact, all the Hales leave the house together.
39:39
Greatmomma: They don’t want to tempt him with their bickering and mess, Because how long he’ll abide is anyone’s guess.
39:47
Greatmomma: Instead, Craig’s scheme was to sell tickets and let strangers bring him their pain, then it’s another full year before he rouses again.
39:56
Greatmomma: Brandi decided the price point and runs the books, Crystal markets the mansion and every guest leaves there shook.
40:05
Greatmomma: Any and all profits they divide by three, Strange, but it’s exactly the way Grandma Ida would want it to be.
40:12
Greatmomma: Yes, I know, this is a hard tale for you to believe, So I challenge you then on the next Hallow’s Eve, Take your most argumentative uncle, your messiest aunt . Your bad ass nephews, and visit this haunt.
40:26
Greatmomma: Bring the cousins who fist fight over their games.
40:30
Greatmomma: Bring that Big Momma who never accepts any blame.
40:34
Greatmomma: Just don’t linger too long or you’ll leave in a hearse, This demon feeds on folks who don’t put their loved ones first.
40:42
Greatmomma: Family drama is inevitable, but don’t you ever forget… Generational trauma attracts “out of town” guests.
40:49
Demon: [Demon 's evil laughter]
41:18
Greatmomma: Thank you for listening to Season 2 of the NYC Podcast and American Writing award-winning “Home for the Holidays” audio series.
41:25
Greatmomma: This horror-meets-humor anthology is brought to you by Myth Lab Entertainment.
41:29
Greatmomma: Get an early start on the winter holidays now by listening to Season 1, featuring an evil entree in “The Dressing,” an out-of-this-world Christmas in “All of the Lights,” and one hell of a New Year’s Eve ritual in “The Burning Bowl.” Please like, follow and leave us a review.
41:43
Greatmomma: Happy holidays!