Tabitha Matthews

**Tabitha Matthews** is the wife of Jim and mother to Julie and Ethan. Along with the rest of her family, she becomes trapped in the mysterious Town. She is determined to keep her family safe, and to figure out a way to escape.

## Biography

### Background

Tabitha and Jim had been married for many years and had three children, Julie, Ethan, and Thomas. However, Thomas died while he was still an infant, putting enormous strain on Tabitha and Jim's marriage. Eventually, they decided to get a divorce, but before they told their children they decided to do a family roadtrip to Yellowstone National Park as one last hurrah.

### Season One

As the Matthews family embarks on their roadtrip in the RV, , the elder daughter, Julie, plays with her younger brother, Ethan’s, toys, enacting a scene for him where one of them, Norman, succumbs to his wounds from a monster. Norman’s death agitates Ethan, who asks him to be brought back to life, but Julie refuses, prompting Ethan to complain to their mother. Tabitha chides her daughter and asks what happened. Ethan says that the monsters killed him, and Tabitha tells him that monsters aren’t real, which means that Norman is still alive, cheering her son.

As they continue driving, Jim fondly recalls the first time he and Tabitha drove up to meet her parents. The two reminisce about the car he had back then, and how her parents did not end up hating him. Jim says it reminds him that things weren’t always the way they are, and Tabitha tells him not to try and do that. They then come across a lone Broken Tree blocking the road. They inspect the tree, finding it odd that there is only one fallen tree. Soon, the family is frightened by the appearance of a flock of crows, who loudly squawk overhead. With no way of moving or getting around it, they get back in the RV and try to circle around.

However, as they continue driving, the Matthews struggle to find the highway, and have no cell reception. Eventually, they make it into Town. As the funeral for the Pratts is concluding, the townspeople notice the RV arriving and Boyd and Kenny go to talk to Jim, who asks for help getting back to the highway. Boyd tells him to follow the road up the hill and he’ll see it. As they drive, Julie tries to scare her brother by telling him that groups of crows are called murders, and that they’re going to peck at him in his sleep. Jim angrily tells her to stop, while Tabitha says that she thinks the birds were ravens, groups of which are called “an unkindness,” and pointedly looks at her daughter. However, the road leads them back into the center of town, freaking them out. Sara finds her brother Nathan as he heads to the Barn to feed the livestock, and mournfully remarks how the worst part is when they still expect to find the road that leads to home. The Matthews try to rationalize what’s happening to them, but return to the center of Town.

Jim then makes a U-turn and heads in the opposite direction. However, on the way back the Matthews encounter a speeding car heading their way and swerve to avoid it, going down a hill and the RV turns over on its side, while the other car crashes into a tree. The driver of the car finds Boyd and Kenny on the road and informs them of the accident. While Kenny goes to secure further help, Boyd rushes to help the Matthews. In the overturned RV, Jim and Julie are fine, but Tabitha has been knocked unconscious and Ethan's leg impaled by a metal table leg.

Tabitha is successfully retrieved from the RV, but Kristi says that it will take at least an hour to safely remove the table leg from Ethan’s leg, while Kenny informs them that they have 40 minutes until dark. Boyd and Kristi decide to stay in the RV overnight with a talisman. Jim, Tabitha and Julie try to stay, but Boyd tells them that the woods are not safe after dark and pleads with them to head to town, but permits Jim to stay. Tabitha tells Jim she can’t leave, saying her baby is inside the RV and they’ll just get Thomas out and leave. Jim reminds her that it’s Ethan that’s stuck and Tabitha breaks down in tears, explaining that her head just hurts. A crying and frightened Tabitha tells Jim that she doesn’t trust the people from Town but Kenny arrives and says the need to leave.

Kenny drives Tabitha, Julie and the rest of them back to Town while Jim, Kristi and Boyd stay with Ethan in the RV. However, the tires of their truck are popped by the spike strip Kenny had laid down earlier. With no other options, Ellis and Kenny decide to lead them on foot to Colony House, the closest shelter.

Kenny leads his group to Colony House, and they struggle to make it through the rain. Father Khatri, who is carrying an unconscious Jade, falls, and Kenny helps him up. However, the people inside sound the alarm. Fatima tries to let them inside, but the guard doesn’t believe that it’s really them. As the Creatures approach, Donna arrives and grants them entry. However, she orders that Tabitha and Julie be tied up, as per protocol, much to their distress.

Donna approaches Tabitha in the room she is being kept in and apologizes for their treatment of her, cutting her ropes loose. Tabitha immediately makes a run for it, but is stopped by an armed guard. Donna sits down with her, and explains that though none of it makes sense to Tabitha, these are precautions they must take, and promises that no one wants to hurt her or her daughter, and they have all been in her shoes before. Donna then begins to explain the situation of the Town.

After Donna concludes her speech, Tabitha calls Donna crazy. Donna laughs before questioning Tabitha on the number of times she drove along the loop and notes that she saw the Creatures. Tabitha replies that she doesn’t know what she saw, and Donna laughs and says her sister said the same thing. As she pours them drinks, Donna explains that she and her sister were on a hunting trip when they saw the tree and the crows just a bit before sunset. Instead of doubling back, they pressed on and arrived in Town after dark. The first time they drove through, they saw some people on the road. The second time, a smiling Creature stood in front of the car. Donna’s sister exited the car with a  shotgun and threatened the Creature, who proceeded to rip her sister’s face off. Donna recalls running until she found a hiding place in the forest, and listened to the screams of her sister as the Creatures tortured her. Donna tells Tabitha that she was lucky the sun was still out when she arrived. Donna finishes by saying that she has been trapped in Town for 3 years, 6 months and 17 days, and she can still hear her sister screaming.

The next morning, Tabitha and Julie are reunited with Jim and Ethan, and are given temporary lodging in Colony House.

At night, Tabitha has a nightmare about the Creatures, but wakes up to see that everyone is fine. After Ethan wakes up, Tabitha and Julie arrive with the news that Jim went to the RV to fetch their belongings. Ethan asks how long they will be there, and Tabitha replies that they are figuring it out. When Jim returns with their belongings, Tabitha and Jim imitate creatures from the Cromenockle, one of the Ethan’s books, when Julie walks in. However, Donna cuts their reverie short to inform that Father Khatri has arrived to explain the Choosing Ceremony. Khatri explains that all newcomers have to decide whether they want to live up in Colony House or down in the town, and offers to give them a tour of both, including the house that they would stay in in Town. Julie wants to go with her parents, but they order her to remain in the House to look after Ethan, annoying her.

On the tour, Kahtri explains the how the talismans protect them, but with kids in the house it is a requirement to nail the windows shut. Tabitha is shocked that people can walk around like this is normal, and Khatri explains that the ones who live are the ones who adapt. Khatri promises that if they follow his instructions, all will be well. Tabitha then asks what the box-like structure near the Sheriff’s Office is, and Khatri explains that those who break the rules are sentenced to a night in the box, and that night would be the first time they’re using it.  The tour continues in the house that belonged to the Pratt’s, and Khatri explains that a family lived their previously, but the night before they arrived, Lauren and Meagan were killed while their father was passed out drunk on the other side of town, showing them the bloody room. This freaks Tabitha out and she asks Jim why he is taking any of this at face value. Jim grabs her and says he can still hear them whispering outside the RV and tapping on the glass. He tells her that their situation is very real and they are stuck, so they need to make the best of it, lest they end up like the Pratts.

Khatri then holds the Choosing Ceremony, and explains that if the Matthews want to live in Town by their rules, working for the communal good until they can return home, they will choose a rock. If they prefer Colony House, where they will live for the present because the future is not guaranteed, they will choose the flower. Boyd then interrupts and begins to say that while he has them all gathered, he thought he would address the issue of Frank and the Box. As Boyd begins his speech, Frank asks to speak, and is given the floor. He explains to the group that he has been thinking about his last normal Christmas with his family, recalling that he used to be a good father. HEe confesses that he let the Town and the Creatures in the forest get to his head, and he forgot what really mattered, lamenting that had he been a little stronger, he could have had another Christmas with them all at their home. Frank instructs his fellow townspeople not to let that be taken away from them, and to take care of each other. He then turns to Boyd, and expresses gratitude for his attempted intervention, but points out that the only two things that he loved in the world are gone, and he just wants to see them again.

Jade, still believing that this is a performance, begins clapping and laughing. Boyd then restrains Jade and orders him to choose one and he picks a rock. As he begins threatening retribution at Boyd and the rest of them, Kenny offers to show him something and takes him away. Boyd then hastily concludes the ceremony, asking each member of the Matthews family what they’re picking. All pick Town except Julie, prompting an argument. However, according to the rules, the choice is final. Boyd assuages the Matthews parents, pointing out that his son will be up there and that she will be looked after. Khatri then reminds everyone that sundown is approaching, and tells them to get home. Before nightfall, Tabitha, and her family move into their new home, and she and Jim read to Ethan as they put him to bed.

The next morning, Jim finds in Tabitha in the kitchen. Tabitha sadly recalls how “he” used to love this time of morning, and he’d stop crying as the son came up. As she starts crying, Tabitha asks her husband if they are being punished. Jim asks why she would say that, and Tabitha points out that she is drinking tea from a dead woman’s mug in a place that can’t exist, in a house where a child died while their daughter is doing God knows what. Ethan then comes downstairs and asks if his mother is crying, but she answers that she just has a headache. Ethan says that he misses Julie, but Jim says they should go to the Diner for the big community breakfast. Tabitha says they should go without her while she unpacks and reorganizes their things.

While her husband and son are gone, Tabitha regains her composure and tries to unpack, but makes little progress. Tabitha decides to visit Colony House, and arrives with a sweater of Julie’s. Tabitha says that they miss her, and Julie admits she misses them. Tabitha entreats her daughter to return with her , pointing out that she can leave whenever she wants. She says they can tell Donna she made a mistake, and Julie grows angry and says she feels like they always treat her as if she’s making mistakes and has to admit she was wrong. As she begins to walk away, Tabitha stops her and says that they need to stick together in this place. Julie scoffs, and admits that she knew her parents were planning on getting a divorce and the roadtrip was a final hurrah before they broke the news, and tells her mother to stop treating her like a child. Tabitha admits her daughter is right, and explains that she and Jim love Julie and Ethan very much before Julie stops her and says that Thomas is dead, but they have two other kids and asks why they aren’t enough for her. Tabitha says it is not that simple but Julie walks away. As she wipes away her tears, Fatima promises to give the sweater to Julie.

Tabitha returns to her house and finds Jim sitting on the porch looking glum. She quips that he looks how she feels. Jim asks her about unpacking, and Tabitha explains she went to see Julie, which went as well as he’d expect. She adds that Julie knows about the divorce. Jim insists that everything will be ok and Tabitha tells him to stop saying that and admit that he has no idea what to do because he’s insistence that things will be ok makes the rest of them feel as if they’re doing something wrong. Jim retorts that that isn’t fair, and Tabitha counters by asking what part of the last 14 months have been fair.

Tabitha returns to her house with Jim on her heels asking to try and figure this out. Tabitha says she can’t do this and says she’s going to visit Julie with Ethan. However, she can’t find him, and Jim finds his crutch in the backyard. The two then frantically begin searching for him. As Jim and Tabitha search through the forest for Ethan, they come across a dog that looks exactly like the one in Victor’s memories. The two are then surrounded by barking dogs until Victor scares them away with a shot from the revolver he keeps in his lunchbox. Ethan is happy to see his parents, who are frightened by Victor. Jim angrily steps towards Victor, reminding him that he warned him about going near Ethan. Victor points the gun at Jim and promises that he is not a bad person and would never hurt Ethan.

After Boyd invites them to dinner, they join him for the meal at the Diner. Tabitha thanks him for what he did, and Boyd says that they take care of each other in Town, and compliments them on how they’re coping. Sara brings over another plate of food and asks Ethan if he wants to help her. The tabletop jukebox then turns on, confusing the Matthews parents, and Boyd explains that they do that sometimes. Boyd then excuses himself to go talk with Kenny for a moment. Jim apologizes to Tabitha, and admits that he doesn’t know what he is doing, and never meant to make her feel bad, explaining that he feels broken. Tabitha holds his hand and promises that they will figure it out together. Ethan then comes over with a plate of sweet potatoes. However, Sara then has a seizure, collapsing and shocking everyone.

Afterwards, Ethan asks his parents if Sara will be alright, and Jim and Tabitha assure him that she’s being taken care of by Kristi. In the meantime, Jim proposes that they try and figure out the mysteries of the Town by writing all the questions they have on the wall, beginning with “where are we.”

The next morning, Jim continues looking at the wall with all the questions on it. Tabitha asks him if he’s figured it out, and Jim jokingly answers “12.” Jim repeats that everyone arrives from different parts of the country, sees the same fallen tree, but Tabitha interrupts says everyone else has asked the same questions over and over again, and asks what difference writing on the wall will make? Jim explains that there is something they aren’t seeing yet, a question they haven’t yet asked. Jim hands Tabitha the marker, but she is reluctant to voice the question because she is not sure she wants to know the answer.

Later, Tabitha redresses Ethan’s wound, and points out that it’s healing very quickly. Ethan wonders if this place also helps people, and says maybe they should ask that question. Downstairs, Sara asks for Ethan. After assuring his parents that she is okay, she takes Ethan up on his offer to see the playground outside his house with him, and joins him on the merry go round. Tabitha observes Ethan and Sara from her window, and remarks to Jim that it’s the most like himself he’s seemed since they arrived. Tabitha goes outside and tells Ethan not to make Tabitha sit on the dirty merry go round. Sara offers to show Ethan the goats and chickens at the Barn, explaining her brother cares for the livestock. Tabitha joins them, while Jim remains to ponder the questions on the wall.

At the Barn, Sara introduces Tabitha and Ethan to Alma the goat. Sara tells Tabitha that she has a very nice family, and that it’s ok to be sad and scared due to their circumstances. However, she adds that Tabitha will be surprised by how quickly it becomes normal. Tabitha replies that she doesn’t want this to become normal, but to go home. Sara agrees, but is thankful for the Talismans, mentioning that Father Khatri always mentions how much worse things were before they found them. Prior to the Talismans, the people used hiding places. Sara adds that it’s useful to know about them if she ever gets stuck outside after dark, and offers to show Tabitha one in the Barn. Sara then leads Tabitha into the Barn, and opens a door. As Tabitha walks towards it, Sara pushes her in and locks the door, apologizing as Tabitha pounds on the door and demands to be let out. Sara proceeds to try and kill Ethan, believing that it will allow them all to go home. However, she is stopped by her brother, Nathan, and during the struggle Sara accidentally slashes his throat, killing him and devastating her.

A crowd gathers and Jim gets Tabitha out of the Barn. They panic, trying to find Ethan, who is brought by Julie, who explains that she found him on the road to Colony House. After they return to their house, Jim and Tabitha compliment Julie on her handling of the situation. Tabitha has Julie take Ethan upstairs, with Julie promising they can read the “Cromwhatsit.” Once they’re gone, Tabitha writes “did we survive the crash?”

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Rock and a Farway
2. ↑ Long Day's Journey Into Night
3. ↑ The Way Things Are Now
4. ↑ Choosing Day
5. ↑ Silhouettes