[bell ringing] He claims to have lived with a vampire, and just closed his mouth.

All we know is his name, and he was perhaps all alone in the castle this whole time.

Sister, can you check on the child?

[footsteps] So Emile, how was it living with a vampire?

It's Charlie.

Hmm?

His name.

Carlos Asterios Armand Linus Oliver August Dawit Fitzroy.

Vampires add a name every hundred years.

Charlie has a long name because he is a 700-year-old vampire.

Sorry.

Charlie says it's not a good habit to talk too much, but for me, I just can't seem to resist speaking about things.

So how was it living with Charlie?

When would you see him?

Usually, in the evening, I would draw all the curtains.

Then I'd go to wake up Charlie.

You close the curtains in the evening?

Yes.

I mustn't let any sunlight in because Charlie is a vampire.

Oh.

After dinner, Charlie helps me with homework, and he tucks me in early because I need to sleep at night so I can grow taller.

Where do you sleep?

I slept in my own room.

Alone.

I see.

Where are you going?

Sometimes when I'm really scared, I go to Charlie's coffin.

Wait.

Coffin?

Yes.

I've been telling you.

Charlie is a vampire.

Good night, Charlie.

[chuckles] Sorry, sister.

One day, I asked Charlie what would happen if I farted inside the coffin, and you know what he did?

Ta-da.

You made it.

Oh, and one more for farting.

He asked me why I like farting so much, so I told him Mr. Freud said that if a child grows up without love, the child would fart all day.

Wow, Emile.

Have you read Freud?

Actually, no.

Mr. Freud's books are on the top shelf, so we couldn't take them.

Couldn't you ask the vampire?

But Charlie is smaller than me.

Oh.

So I had to eat a lot and go to bed early to grow tall.

Charlie told me he would make me a vampire when I got big enough to reach there.

Why?

Why did he abandon me?

Well, you see, Emile, I used to have a friend called Mrs. Buttons when I was around your age.

She was an angel.

Sister, I'm very touched that you're being so kind, but really, there's no need.

I know the vampire sounds silly, but Charlie is real.

Emile, don't forget to write to me.

St. Michael's Children's Home would be wonderful.

I'm sure there will be lots of friends your age.

Sister, if I write to Charlie, will you send it to him?

I must have done something wrong.

Maybe I should apologize.

[music] Hi, Emile.

Wow, you sure changed a lot.

Don't call me Emile.

That's a child's name.

Okay, Mr. Sinclair, how have you been?

I'm so glad you still write to me all these years.

Did you ever hear back from the vampire?

Well, Sister, I don't know.

Maybe there was no vampire.

It's okay.

You will be fine.

It's not fine.

I thought he would be with me forever.

Emile, I've met them, your new parents, and you know what?

You will go to the city.

If you study hard, they will send you to college.

You will be okay.

I know.

[music] Wow, psychology.

I thought you'd be a novelist.

Because I'm good at writing?

Because you're very imaginative.

Am I?

Oh, sister.

You can finally meet Charlie.

He's coming.

Emile, do you still think the vampire was real?

Yes, I do.

How are you sure?

I'm not sure.

[music] I tried to figure it out.

I thought and thought and thought, but I couldn't.

I decided to trust myself.

I believe he thinks about me a lot.

I believe he hopes that I'll have a better life.

Even though he doesn't know what that means.

As I always do for him.

[music]