American Horror Story: Delicate – Rockabye

CCTV footage reveals no one but Dex (Matt Czuchry) exited and entered the building during the time that Anna (Emma Roberts) had encountered the intruder. The police initially question if there is someone who could have played a prank on her due to the fact that their dog didn’t bark, but they both immediately say no. Adding another confusing element for the police is the lipstick all over Anna’s hands, which she doesn’t seem to remember exactly how it got there. Although the police are patient, they suggest that perhaps she was having a prenatal medication related episode. When Dex stands up for her telling the police that she wasn’t making it up, the police eventually clear out.

Outside the building as Anna walks to a meeting she looks to her right and sees the girl with the glasses (Cara Delevingne) standing and watching her again. She turns away to think and consider what action to take, but when she turns back the woman is gone. Standing in place of the mystery woman is a man holding his young daughter with a pair of glasses not too dissimilar from the ones her would-be stalker wears. Rattled and picking at a spot on her chin, she makes it to the building where Siobhan (Kim Kardashian) works. With a glance up at the security camera, she enters the office for a meeting but is surprised when met by the whole team who are there to celebrate her nomination for a Gotham Award. After taking a selfie, Anna briefly mentions that she has a stalker but is told by one of the team that it means she is hot right now. Siobhan takes her aside to privately tell Anna that she needs to get her life together. The company has worked extremely hard to get her to where she is and it’s time that she gets in the game. Anna tries to apologise but Siobhan continues by rhetorically asking if Anna thinks Jamie Lee Curtis enjoyed walking the red carpets and answering inane questions. She tells Anna she didn’t, that no one does, but she needed to if she wanted to win her Oscar. Anna is quiet, understanding the gravity of her friend’s words and agrees to do whatever Siobhan thinks she needs to. Siobhan tells her that for the next six months she is no longer an actress, she is an athlete who’s sport is gaining awards, leading to an Oscar as her main goal. Even as her publicist; however, Siobhan recommends Anna take a short break before commencing her strict regiment of campaigning. Anna agrees to her instructions and when it’s handed to her, drinks an ominous glass vial that she is told is B12. Siobhan then passes a box containing more and with a patient but irritated tone, states that she would never do anything to hurt Anna.

Still in Siobhan’s building, Anna throws up the contents of the vial (which looks shockingly like blood) into the bathroom. As she looks in the mirror she holds her stomach and smiles, hoping that this is a sign of morning sickness.

She goes to an empty room and calls the fertility clinic where a receptionist answers who is seemingly familiar with Anna’s voice. Anna has no memory of who the person is and is startled that the receptionist knows about the intruder, claiming to have received a call from Anna the day before regarding a pregnancy test. Uncomfortable but accepting this, Anna asks about the woman she bumped into at the clinic, Ms. Preecher. The receptionist tells her not to worry about her as she thinks IVF is murder and drops off pamphlets each week but Anna has a feeling that Ms. Preecher has been following her. The receptionist replies by telling her that she doubts Ms. Preecher even has the mental capacity, though pauses to ask if Anna thinks that she is the one who broke into the apartment, but quickly feeling silly, Anna brushes it off saying it’s probably nothing. With a concerned tone, the receptionist asks if Anna is ok, but all she wants to do is speak to Dr Hill. A muffled sound comes through the phone that could either be the receptionist sniggering or breathing, but in Anna’s current mental state everything feels negative. Dr Hill (Denis O’Hare) almost immediately greets her, which seems strange that he would be so closely at hand and asks how she is doing. She is excited to tell him that she has vomited and he understands that she is wondering if that means she is pregnant. He tells it could be, but tells her to hold off on a test until it has been fourteen days and in a kind tone reminds her she has eleven to go.

Back in her apartment the calendar is marked with three X’s, showing how many days left until it reaches fourteen days. As Anna cooks dinner she scrolls through the comments written under the group photo Siobhan added to Instagram regarding the Gotham Awards nomination. Though mostly positive, once again she notices the “Annihilate Anna” account spewing hatred about her. The account hopes she doesn’t win the award and threatens to kill her if she does. The further she scrolls down she notices a comment from “Preecher Speaks” warning her to “watch out Anna.” Clicking on the account, it shows only one image… the picture Mrs Preecher took at the fertility clinic. Typing the name into Google and searching for any results, she sees the only result as “Unravelling the terrifying legend of Queen Mary I’s Reign.” Anna clicks on it and notices that it mentions Queen Mary I had made a deal with the devil to gain a place on the throne, apparently including a sacrifice. Scrolling on there is another thread regarding Celtic rituals used by powerful people to manipulate events and control the world. Another talks about super humans that have been made in secret, creating them with special abilities that surpass normal people. Moving along further she reads another post claiming that Hollywood has been infiltrated by a covert organisation of satanic witches and finally finds herself once more on the photo that Mrs Preecher took of her. She doesn’t have chance to read what’s underneath as she is startled by her husband’s hand moving around her waist. Frightened, she reacts by reaching for a knife and stabbing it into his face. Luckily it leaves only the tiniest of cuts, but horrified by her actions she throws down the knife and holds her hands over her mouth, apologiing. Her husband jokes about slicing his face being her love language, forgiving her he holds up a pregnancy test for them to do. She relaxes a little and reminds him that it hasn’t been two weeks yet, but he responds patiently by pointing to the calendar, revealing that it is now the fourteenth day. Confused, she once again instantly accepts the seeming loss of time, smiles and takes the pregnancy test in hand.

Inside the bathroom Dex and Anna await the result of the pregnancy test. He tells her no matter what, he is in this with her and loves her. She is thankful for the comfort and as she lifts the test up, a green plus sign flashes, notifying them that she is finally pregnant. They both hold each other, ecstatic and relieved by the result. As Anna cries with relief Dex’s phone begins to ring, showing the name Sonya on the screen .Anna asks why she is calling him. He seems annoyed by the interruption and tells her they are planning a show together and after asking if it’s ok he leaves the room to answer the call.

In the doctor’s office the married couple finally get to see their baby on a screen with its tiny heartbeat showing on the pea sized foetus. Dr Hill talks excitedly about it but tells them that there is no secret recipe to success. He advises her to stay the standard doctors list, stay fit, eat healthy and exercise moderately. Following this. He says though he is aware Anna’s career is important to her, he then leans in with an almost sinnister demeanour and tells her to please avoid any kind of stress – then leaning back to a normal distance, breaks the tension with a laugh.

Siobhan is excited by the news of Anna’s pregnancy, but even more so for what it will do for her career and image. However, she has exciting news for Anna of her own when she reveals a dress that had been previously worn years before by Madonna. Anna lets out a squeal barely now able to contain her excitement and finishes the look off with a pair of matching white heels. Siobhan asks if they can please go into the bedroom for Anna to see the outfit, but pauses to check if it’s ok – not knowing the mirror still holds the ominous warning written in lipstick. She agrees and excited to see the dress, they head to the bedroom.

The mirror indeed still has the words “Don’t do it Anna,” which seem to be permanently stained into the glass. The two of them however choose to focus on Anna’s outfit and begin to sing Madonna’s “Sooner or Later.” She had performed the song during the 1991 Oscars ceremony while wearing the very same dress. When they get to lyrics “sooner or later I always get my man” and both look at the mirror at the same time, the glass suddenly breaks in the center making them both jump back in disbelief.

The night of the Gotham Awards has finally come and Anna, sporting the Madonna dress, walks the red carpet. Photographers and journalists take pictures and call her name, but she hears a surge of screams when a younger actress takes to the carpet behind her. The younger actress chases behind her, calling her name and telling Anna that she was an influence for her when she was growing up. Anna congratulates her on her nomination and she tells Anna that she can’t believe she’s even been nominated for the same award as her. When a cameraman asks for a photo of them both, remarking about their two separate generations they put their arms around each other and allow the flickering bulbs of cameras to flash all around them. The feeling of being too old or a thing of the past heavily weighs on Anna and shows on her face and she looks at the younger actress.

Inside the ceremony and sitting at their table the director (Dominic Burgess) of Anna’s new movie asks Dex how his wife keeps getting more attractive. Siobhan doesn’t like the question at all and asks why he is trivialising the work she does by focusing on her looks – especially as she saved his film by starring in it. The director tries to turn it into a joke, laughing as he points out that all of Hollywood is terrified of Siobhan. Siobhan is less amused though and keeps a steady glare in his direction as he continues his accidentally insulting narrative, bringing up Anna’s stalker. Anna shuts him down, surprised he even knew about it, but when he gesture in Siobhan’s direction – as though she had told him – Dex asked if did. Siobhan, keeping a straight face, says she barely knows him. He repeatedly apologises, but continues to make things more awkward when he mentions the interview with Andy Cohen, eventually having to be shut down by Anna. It begins to look as though he was intentionally attempting to create an awkward situation and when Anna tells him she is fine, he gives her a patronising “of course, totally.” Anna, finally becoming angry, leans forward and tells him “don’t f***ing placate me.” Feeling aware of herself, she looks to her husband, Dex and gives a smile before excusing herself. Inside the bathroom, she takes a long breath, trying to calm herself, then heads out to use the mirror. Without her noticing, the room appears to empty, leaving her picking at the spot that has been on her chin for weeks. Suddenly appearing behind her a loud and talkative woman makes Anna jump as she excitedly greets her. She shakes Anna’s hand and talks about how her hands are always sweaty rubbing the sweat all over her dress and almost grunting with excitement. Anna goes back to looking in the mirror and seeing what looks like dry skin, she peels a large chunk of it from her face as the creepy fan stares on, wearing a smirk and a knowing look. As Anna stands, the stranger asks if Anna is nervous, tells her she doesn’t look ok, then explains that she always says the wrong thing. She speaks so loud and rapidly, eventually asking if she can have a photo with Anna – taking being “too much” to a whole new level. Anna begins to feel sick and runs to the toilet to vomit, but the strange woman doesn’t let up and follows her inside, holding her hair and weirdly placing a hand on her belly. Anna screams at her to get away from her baby and pushes the girl backwards causing her to hit her head off the sinks and fall back, eyes open, dead on the ground. Shocked and scared Anna walks around the body on the floor not knowing what to do. A splutter of air comes from her mouth as blood pours out the back of her head but someone begins to knock on the door calling for Anna to come out of the bathroom as it’s her category. Anna shouts for them not to come in, apologises to the woman laying dead on the floor and makes her way back to her table. She makes it back just in time for her category to be called out by the presenter (Zachary Quinto) and Siobhan asks her if she is ok, telling her that she has “got this.”

Moments later Anna’s name is called, announcing her as the winner for Outstanding Lead in a Motion Picture. Everyone at her table immediately stands and begin to applaud as she walks towards the stage. She looks out across the room and starts trying to give a speech but hesitates when she hears clapping from the audience. Her eyes find the source of the slow clap, recognizing the creepy girl from the bathroom and Mrs Preecher say opposite from her, turning to face Anna with congealed dark blood oozing from her mouth. Anna tries to ignore what she’s seeing, but her eyes then fall upon her husband who begins kissing other women at the table, including his ex wife (Annabelle Dexter-Jones). Disorientated and hallucinating, Anna begins to cough, bringing up a black substance, similar to what she has seen falling out of Ms. Preecher’s (Julie White) mouth. It falls all down her, staining the dress as Anna screams across the room for a woman to not go into the bathroom. Siobhan and Dex squirm in their seats unsure what to do before Anna finally collapses onto the ground.

Anna wakes up in a stretcher that has been moved into the women’s bathroom, the sound of a paramedic checking her vitals echoing through the room and bringing her back around. Still confused and dizzy, Anna asks about the woman who had been left laying on the ground. However, neither Dex nor the paramedic had seen the strange woman. Anna is extremely reluctant but the paramedic injects her and she begins to relax and fall into a deep sleep.

When she wakes again she is back at home and Siobhan is laying next to her in bed singing “Rockabye Baby.” Anna asks Siobhan what happened, to which she explains that Anna had an episode caused by dehydration and exhaustion. Anna’s first thought is fear for her baby, though Siobhan reassures her that the baby is fine. Anna asks if the found anything in the bathroom, but Siobhan replies that the paramedics think Anna was hallucinating from all the stress she has been under. When her phone buzzes, Siobhan instantly tells her not to look but it’s too late, Anna can see hundreds of messages and news alerts regarding her episode at the awards ceremony. As her publicist she has made a plan to completely ignore and brush off the incident, including lo-key public gas lighting to anyone who brings it up and to wait until it becomes yesterday’s news. She ends the conversation by telling Anna that she needs to relax for now.

Leaving their building, Anna and Dex move through a sea of reporters, desperate to catch a photo or a statement from Anna. As they pass through the countryside away from New York, Dex points out the area that his mother lives. Anna worries that she will bother but Dex reassures her that she won’t, leading Anna to make a passive dig, “have you met your mother?” Dex turns away, saying to her that his mother loves her. Feeling instantly guilty she apologises to him.

The car pulls in through gates, leading to a beautiful house. Inside their friend Talia (Julia Canfield) greets them both and saying that she is glad the house is being used. She prattles on narcissistically about her partner, who she calls a trophy spouse as they walk through the house behind her. She introduces the couple to a security guard that will be on the premises throughout their stay, if for nothing other than Anna’s peace of mind. The fact he has a gun can only help.

Later that evening the two of them eat dinner together, surrounding candle light sets a peaceful and romantic mood. They make jokes about the security guard letting them hold his gun and whether he is listening in as they eat. The conversation turns to Anna feeling exposed in the house that is largely made up of glass walls, leading to Dex making a “people that live in glass houses…” joke. She then asks why Talia is doing all this for them and Dex says that she loves them and wants to be able to help them, he rhetorically asks, wouldn’t she want to do the same thing for her friends? A moment of awkwardness is broken when Anna goes to the kitchen to get a sharper knife for the steak they’re eating. After walking to the kitchen and pulling out the cutlery draw, she sees a photo tucked under the tray. Pulling it out she is saddened to find it’s a photo of Dex with his former wife, Talia, and her partner. When Dex calls out to her she puts the picture down, grabs a knife and pretends to be fine as she walks back into the room.

Later that night as Dex sleeps, Anna is unable to sleep. Her eyes are already wide open, staring at the ceiling when she hears a thud somewhere in the distance. As she makes her way down the stairs, an echoing chanting sound can be heard somewhere off in the distance. She grows closer to the basement, the sound continuing on, until she flings the door open, revealing nothing but pitch black and the silence from within. Upon closing the door she jumps back, having come face to face with the guard. He had come down to check on her when seeing her move through the house, especially as there are no cameras in the basement. He offers to look for her, opens the door and picks up a flashlight from the top of the stairs. Moving down the wooden staircase with him, the flashlight reveals nothing more than what she had already seen… the pitch black room filled with nothing but silence. The guard’s look seems to reassure her, though it doesn’t explain the weird noises she heard.

The next day Anna does Yoga with an instructor, which while it does seem to be helping with her mental inner peace, her body seems to have second thoughts. She begins to feel pain in her back and is encouraged to try using a pillow as she attempts the manoeuvres. The instructor tells her that if anything is wrong, her body will tell her.

Later, it does just that for in her car she begins to feel extreme discomfort, causing her to double over in pain. The security guard who is driving the car for her, asks if she is ok, but when she looks down, she sees blood coming from between her legs, indicating that the baby is in trouble. He tells her he is taking her to the hospital.

Inside the hospital Anna sits in a gown waiting for a doctor. She repeatedly calls Dex but his phone is switched off. She hears a knock at the door and a female nurse enters, who looks familiar to Anna though the nurse, quite coldly tells her she doesn’t know her. She looks at Anna’s chart and weirdly checks the back of her throat. When she introduces herself as Ivy, Anna repeats that she recognises her, though Ivy claims to have transferred from Toronto. She asks Anna about her pregnancy, how many weeks along she is and congratulates her. Asking for permission to perform an ultrasound, Anna grants it and she begins to get the equipment ready; however, she pulls the screen away from Anna’s view. At several points a slight hint of a smirk dances across her face, but instantly disappears leaving Anna unsure as to whether it was really there at all. Ivy picks up an ultrasound transducer, covers it in jelly and asks Anna to put her feet in the stirrups. Slightly reluctantly she does, but as the probe goes inside her, it almost immediately becomes a strange and traumatising experience. The probe is moved around vigorously and painfully and although Anna asks to see the screen, Ivy tells her to be quiet as she needs to concentrate. Between the grimaces on Anna’s face and the serious expression on Ivy’s, the nurse seems to have a red patch or spot on the same side of her face as Anna, though not entirely in the same position. When she pulls the probe back and places it standing up, it is covered in blood, but Ivy casually turns to Anna and tells her that she is going to find a doctor and before almost abruptly leaving.

On her own and dripping blood all over the bathroom floor, Anna hurries to the toilet. Visibly shaken, she cries from the pain and after standing up, looks back at the blood and slides to the floor. She imagines holding up her baby, both dressed in white twirling around in the sunshine, trees and flowers all around them both. Far off in the distance Siobhan sings “Rockabye Baby” as Anna brings the child close to her for a hug.

The image was apparently merely a dream that she wake’s from to the sound of a doctor’s voice. The first words she speaks are to say that she lost the baby and the sympathetic doctor tells her he is very sorry. She turns to her husband who stumbles over his words as he apologises, telling her his phone was off as he was taking a nap. She asks the doctor why this would have happened, which he doesn’t know, but tells her it wasn’t her fault, as most of the time it’s caused by an undetected abnormality. She asks to know the sex and is told that her blood tests indicated a Y chromosome, meaning the child was male. The doctor approaches the subject cautiously knowing it will be difficult for her, but he needs to do an ultrasound. Anna, becoming frustrated, tells him she already had one, but he responds that Dr Hill sent her notes which say she hadn’t had one in three weeks. She repeats that she had one there earlier and remembers that her name was Ivy. The doctor and nurse, confused, look to each other before asking what she looked like. Anna describes her as in her 30’s with brown hair, but the doctor informs her that the hospital is a small community hospital and that they have no nurses named Ivy. Anna’s heart rate begins to pick up and as panic sets in, she raises up her hand to pick at the patch of skin on her chin.