Original subtitles

What is real?

And what is illusion?

Many times it depends on your point of view.

Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction, hosted by James Brolin.

We live in a world where the real and the unreal

live side by side, where substance

is disguised as illusion and the only explanations

are unexplainable.

Will you be able to separate stories of truth

from fantasy tonight?

To do so, you must break through the web of your experience

and open your mind to things beyond belief.

We've all heard the riddle of the half-filled glass.

Is the glass that holds this drink half full,

or is it half empty?

Or maybe it really isn't a drink at all.

Be on your guard tonight.

We're about to show you stories that

will challenge your concepts of fact and fiction.

We've changed names and dates.

But the events that inspired our stories remain.

Can you tell which are authentic and which are just

pieces of a fictional puzzle?

Here's to the challenge.

Do you believe in crystal balls, cards that tell your fortune?

Do you read your horoscope every day?

Well, millions do, because there's

always been a human need to want to know the future.

Of course, we don't have to take it too seriously.

We might just dabble in the mystical,

like the three girls in our next story.

They were just trying to have a little scary

fun while they were home alone.

At least they thought they were home alone.

Summer?

OK.

Hey, they're out of here.

We've got the place to ourselves this weekend.

I know.

Well, pick Brooke up and come on over.

How long will it take you?

OK, cool.

Bye.

I'll never forget

that weekend as long as I live.

Looking back, I wish we'd never played that night.

Hey.

Hi.

Did you bring it?

Of course.

Have I ever forgotten?

Are we ready?

Yup.

Let's do it.

OK-- we are the pure vessels in search of greater knowledge.

We do not fear you, for you are the truth.

And in the truth there is no danger, only wisdom.

Should I date Justin?

What do you mean, should you?

He's just the hottest guy in school.

Shh, I want the answer.

Now came the spooky part.

The game piece seemed to move by itself to spell the answer.

No?

Brooke, you were moving it.

Uh-uh, I did not.

OK, come on, you guys.

We have to be serious for this to work.

Even Brooke was getting into it now.

Stop moving it.

I'm not moving It, I swear!

Suddenly, the game

piece started to spell a name-- - V--

Almost by itself.

K--

T, R.

Victor?

Who's Victor?

We probably should

have been more frightened.

Who are you?

S, O, S.

Help?

But who are you?

Free me.

How?

Pages are turning.

But how?

Maybe it's Victor.

Oh, come on, you guys.

I'm sure it's just a draft.

Do not turn to spirits or ghosts.

Do not seek them out.

It's a warning.

It's got to be a coincidence.

Only one way to find out.

Come on, Brooke.

Don't be such a wuss.

What do you want?

You.

What the hell was that?

That's it.

I'm freaking out.

It's-- it's nothing, you guys.

It's just the wind.

Let's go. Hands on.

Die?

Who, us?

Oh, this is too weird.

Maybe we should just stop.

No.

Just a couple more questions.

Let's find out where Victor is.

Where are you, Victor?

A, T, T, I, C.

Uh-uh.

No, no. That's it.

I'm done. I'm out of here.

Don't worry, Brooke.

The only thing that could possibly be up in the attic

are a couple of rats.

And my dad put traps out last weekend to catch them.

Jill--

That ain't no rat.

It's Victor.

Don't be silly.

No, you guys, what if we somehow released him?

Just stay calm.

We said the meditation before we started.

That protects us.

Why?

We made it up.

What are we going to do? - I don't know.

But do something.

He's gone.

Oh, thank God.

It's over.

Let's make a vow right now, that we're never going to mess

around with that stuff again.

Definitely.

Come on, you guys.

Let's go watch a movie.

Oh, my God.

It's Victor!

Got you!

Oh, very funny, Jill.

Now for sure, we're watching a comedy.

Come on, you guys.

We gotta go.

The next morning, we

were going out for breakfast.

Where's Brooke?

I don't know.

I thought she was with you.

No, she's not with me.

Well, I was just in her room, and she wasn't there.

Her bed was made.

It looked like she didn't even sleep there last night.

The board!

What's going on here?

Brooke must have pulled it out of the fire last night.

Maybe she's playing some sort of joke.

Well, I don't think it's very funny.

Where is she?

Let's ask the board.

Where is Brooke?

W, I, T, H--

with.

M-- with me!

Was one of the girls secretly maneuvering the piece

to spell out the answers?

If so, where was Brooke?

She was never seen again after that night.

Did she use this bizarre opportunity

to disappear and start a new life somewhere else?

Or did the girls cross over a line beyond the world of games,

and stumble into a terrifying strange truth?

Was this story real?

We'll find out at the end of our show.

Next, the strange story of a man and his television

that's truly beyond belief.

The next story is kind of a change of pace.

It's a bit larger than life.

But then, so is our main character.

There's some laughs to be found here, along with some chills.

As you watch this rather bizarre tale, keep in mind

that at its core, it's really a love story--

the story of a 450-pound man hopelessly in love

with a 26-inch television.

Watch.

What a nice, nice day to go fishing.

They've entered a world--

Gee, look at that thing.

Does not exist.

A world of gliding movements and strange colors, of serenity.

This is a very special sandwich, Brad.

Do you know why?

Because it's the last sandwich I'm ever going to serve you!

Now, come on, Shelly.

I can't see this.

Brad, turn off the TV.

Let's go for a walk or something.

Take a walk?

Now, why should I go outside when I can sit

home and watch nature on TV?

Wow, look at that.

Now-- now, Shelly.

Come on, I told you before.

I work hard all week.

And when I'm not working, I like to sit home

and enjoy my favorite hobby.

And TV is my hobby!

Wow, look at that group.

Brad Lewis wasn't the type of man

who cared about the quality of life,

just the quality of his picture.

What's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

Just some bad reception.

Oh, good.

You had me scared for a sec.

I thought it was an emergency, you getting

out of your chair and all.

Come on, Cupcake. Come on.

Why don't you just kick it?

Kick it?

This is my baby.

There.

Oh, I love you.

OK, I'm ready.

Ready for what?

We're going out to dinner, remember?

I can't.

Look what's on tonight.

That's it.

Brad, I'm leaving you.

I am sick and tired of being in a menage a trois

with a television!

Do you hear me?

Brad!

Do you hear me?

Brad!

Goodbye, Brad.

I'm going to stay with my mom.

So you and your TV can be alone.

Did you hear me?

I can't live with you anymore.

Oh, Brad.

You really don't want me to go.

Shh.

Please, Shelly.

This is the part where they shoot the dog.

Ah--

Brad!

We're losing him.

Oh, my God.

Do something, please!

Let's shock him.

Oh!

Clear-- again.

Clear.

That's it.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

There's nothing more we can do for him.

Let's transport him.

All right, lift him on 3--

1, 2, 3.

Wait, set him down.

Set him down.

Oh, my God, what happened?

Holy Toledo. - What is it?

What is it?

His heart's beating again.

I'll be damned.

Brad Lewis, recently divorced

and now unemployed, believes the television

was responsible for saving his life.

Now, Brad tells us he has all the time in the world

to devote to his hobby, best friend,

and the love of his life.

I never really paid much attention

to this label back here.

You know, the one that says "Warning--

Electrocution Hazard"?

But now that I've seen the last story,

I'm definitely taking this into the shop.

Is the voltage running through a TV set strong enough to revive

a heart that stopped beating?

And did this story really happen?

Well, if there is a real Brad Lewis out there,

he's probably watching this show right now.

And we can only hope for one thing--

that he's a Nielsen household.

Bon appetit, Brad.

The truth about this story

will be revealed in our final act.

Next, can a widow communicate with her dead husband?

You decide, on Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction.

We've all seen couples who can communicate without words.

They use gestures and body language, or a special look.

There are even couples who seem to communicate by sending

thoughts to each other.

The marriage of Patricia and John Kelly

was built upon communication.

People said they had a constant open phone line to each other.

But what happens when one side of that line goes dead?

I'll never forget that morning when Chris

came by to pick up the things.

Thanks so much for taking this stuff in.

It was hard enough just packing it up.

Sure.

It's no problem.

So, are you going to be OK?

Yeah.

It's going to take a while.

I really miss him.

He was my best friend, you know.

I miss him, too.

Oh, God, I don't know how to tell you this,

especially at a time like this.

What?

Chris, tell me.

I had a look at his stock market accounts,

like you asked me.

He was doing really well there for a while.

And then-- I don't know, he made a couple bad trades, I guess.

Wha-- what?

The account's empty.

Empty?

Yeah.

You mean there is no money?

Oh, my God.

No, no, no, no, no.

I'm-- I'm real sorry, Patricia, OK?

Listen, let me-- let me help you out until you get back--

I-- I can't. - Yes.

Yes. Now, it's $1,000.

I know it's not going to go far.

But it's a start.

Oh--

Take the money, Patty.

You know Jonathan would want you to.

Please?

Look, things are going to turn around real soon.

And until they do, I'm here if you need anything.

Anything, I mean.

I spent the next morning in a panic,

trying to find a job.

Experience?

No-- no, not exactly.

But I'm sure that I could be very easily trained.

Oh, my God.

I thought the coffee

spill was another sign that things were

going all wrong in my life.

But then a feeling started to overtake me.

As I looked down at the paper, I could

sense Jonathan's presence.

It was almost as if Jonathan was sending me a message.

I looked at the stock again.

Something or someone was definitely telling me to take

$1,000 and buy 500 shares.

And I couldn't help but think that someone was Jonathan.

Hi, Chris, it's me.

Um, listen.

I need you to do me a favor.

800, 900, 1,000.

Bet you didn't think I was going to pay you back so fast.

No, no. I did not.

Oh, and I paid my rent three months in advance.

That was quite a hunch you had.

Uh-huh.

And you tried to talk me out of it.

The question is, what do I buy next?

Oh, you're kidding, right?

Uh-uh. - Come on, Patty.

You had a little luck.

I really don't think you should push it.

It was happening again.

I could feel Jonathan sending me another hunch to play.

To our success.

To Unifend.

Um-- um-hmm.

Um-- let's dance.

What?

Listen, I don't know how you knew.

But I'm real glad I bought some too.

Hey, you know what?

If this keeps up, soon you're going

to be able to buy that big house Jonathan

was always promising you, hmm?

Wouldn't that be wild?

Oh, hang on.

Excuse me.

Mmm, will you come on back?

We're right in the middle of a celebration.

That's funny.

I only get the morning paper.

I looked down at the stocks,

waiting for the one that would be my pick.

And there it was.

Do you see what I see?

Well, it depends on where you're looking, I suppose.

I was looking at the stock page.

I think I have my next hunch--

Avco Mining.

I know better than to trying to talk you out of it.

Buy me as much as I can afford,

first thing in the morning.

Whatever you say.

Thanks.

Look, Chris, it's getting late, and I'm--

Oh, say no more.

Uh, do you mind if I make a phone call?

No, not at all.

I'm just going to go in the kitchen

and clean up a little bit.

Uh-uh-- thanks.

Sure.

I could tell that Chris couldn't

wait to jump on my hunch.

Well, here's to us.

It's been a long wait.

But you're worth it.

Mmm.

Yeah, hi, Malcolm it's me.

Glad I caught you.

Listen, I want you to take all of my accounts, everything--

checking, savings, all of it.

Transfer it to Avco Mining.

Jonathan?

It took me a moment

to realize that our wedding picture had fallen over.

Oh, the picture.

When I reached down

to pick up the photo, I also found something else

that I had never seen before.

It was a financial report on Jonathan's investments.

I knew it was Jonathan again.

In fact, I remembered how he loved to light candles

late at night.

And something compelled me to do the same.

Those candles made me feel closer to Jonathan.

But I knew I had a lot of reading ahead of me that night.

And candlelight just wasn't going to be enough.

I was one of those wives who never asked questions

about our investments.

Jonathan seemed to enjoy it so much.

I just let it be a part of his world.

I wasn't even sure I'd be able to read one of those reports.

But to my surprise, it was pretty easy to follow.

The first sheet showed a balance of $16,300.

But Chris had said Jonathan's investments had failed.

I caught on to the system pretty quickly.

It was just like that cliche you hear all the time--

get to the bottom line.

And that bottom line was looking better all the time.

$46,300.

What was going on here?

Then I saw the reason Jonathan's account was empty.

Sell, sell, sell.

But why?

All his investments were showing a profit.

Account closed, all funds withdrawn.

From nearly $95,000 to nothing.

I wasn't sure of the answer.

I still needed help.

Jonathan, what are you trying to tell me?

Steel-- steal?

Chris?

Chris took the money.

Hi, this is Patricia.

I'm not in.

Leave a message.

Hey, you.

What's up?

This is the fifth message I've left in four days.

What, did you go out of town or something?

Listen, if you did, you better come back soon.

Our stock's gone up like a bullet.

Good news, huh?

Well, call me when you think we should sell, OK?

Nice try, Chris.

But I was waiting for my next sign from Jonathan.

And I didn't have to wait long.

This had to be Jonathan again, telling me to sell now.

OK, Jonathan.

I guess it's time to sell.

This time I was sure exactly what I was supposed to do.

Hi.

Yeah, I have an account at Merritt Dickerson

that I would like transferred to your brokerage house

as soon as possible.

Yes.

Yeah.

And-- and I have a lot of shares with Avco Mining

that I would like to sell immediately.

How soon do you think you can--

uh-huh.

OK, great.

Thank you.

I'll be right down, yeah.

It was Jonathan's last message to me

through the paper--

except, of course, for the one I discovered later that day.

Poor Chris.

I had a hunch that would happen.

Patricia Kelly had never played the stock market

before her husband's death.

She may have actually had a talent for it all along.

But lacking confidence, she may have psychologically

transferred her own decisions to the spirit of her late husband.

That's what a therapist might tell us.

But maybe the real explanation lies

in a communication of souls so strong it can never be broken.

Or-- maybe it's all a hoax.

True or false?

We'll find out at the conclusion of our show.

Next, a sweet little girl with a terrifying imagination

on Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction.

As we grow into adulthood, our bodies become stronger.

And our knowledge increases.

And the only thing that seems to diminish is our imagination.

To a child, the separation between reality

and make-believe can be a very thin line,

some might say an imaginary line.

Take little Alice.

Her vivid imagination often made the make-believe seem real--

frighteningly real.

Yes, thank you.

Would you like some more tea?

You're my best friend, too.

What's that?

Oh, dear.

That's terrible.

My daughter, Alice,

always seemed to be lost in a world of her own--

an innocent, childlike world, or so I thought.

It started like another typical day.

Alice was playing make-believe.

And I was entertaining our neighbor, Liz Kimball.

Who's Alice talking to?

Oh, Sidney.

It's an imaginary friend.

Ah.

Well, she seems to be taking it very seriously.

Aren't you concerned about that, Maggie?

Well, sometimes.

But I had an imaginary friend when I was little.

Doesn't Sally?

Well, yes, she had one.

But she gave that up years ago.

Really?

Well, Alice has always had an active imagination.

It's Nothing we're worried about.

Alice, honey, time to get ready for ballet class.

OK, Mom.

Now, Sidney, I've got to go to dance class.

You be good. I'll be back soon.

Look, Maggie, if you get concerned,

I know a really good therapist.

Oh-- well, thanks, Liz.

I think it's just a phase Alice will grow out of.

Oh, you're probably right.

I'm probably reading much more into this than there is.

I thought Liz was overreacting.

But then Alice said something I'll never forget.

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Kimball.

About what, Alice?

About your divorce.

Alice!

What have I told you about making up stories?

I'm not making it up.

Sidney told me.

I'm-- I'm so sorry, Liz.

Maggie-- Maggie, it's true.

I'd known Liz for five years.

We'd shared everything.

How could Alice have known, when I didn't?

I don't know, Diane.

The slogan's just not working for me.

I think we need to punch up the copy.

Um, could you hold on a second, Diane?

Sure.

What is it, honey?

Mommy's working.

Mommy, Ms. Emory should check on Rebecca.

She's really sick.

She could die!

Alice, how many times do I have to tell you?

Mommy, Ms. Emory has to check on Rebecca.

It's really important.

Sidney told me.

Um, I need a minute with Alice.

Well, what did she say?

Oh, no.

Rebecca's fine.

She's playing in her room.

Oh, listen, don't worry about it.

Just call me when you're finished.

Great.

Diane couldn't

help but check on Rebecca.

And thank goodness she did.

Rebecca-- Rebecca?

Rebecca, sweetheart!

Oh, my gosh.

You're burning up!

Diane got her to the hospital

just in time.

This whole Sidney thing was making me very uncomfortable.

So I decided to talk to Alice about it.

Oh, honey, you are doing such a nice job.

How come these don't have any icing on them?

Because Sidney doesn't like icing on his cookies.

Oh.

Alice, I think we need to have a little talk about Sidney.

Why, Mommy?

Honey, because you're scaring people with your stories.

But Mommy, they're all true.

Sidney doesn't lie.

Alice, I don't want you to talk to Sidney anymore.

Why, you're getting to be such a big girl.

Don't you think it's time that you stopped

pretending Sidney was real?

But Mommy, he is real.

Aren't you, Sidney?

No, honey.

He's not real.

No one else can see him.

He doesn't want anybody else to see him,

because he's my best friend.

I thought that Rebecca was your best friend.

Aunt Doris is dead.

Alice.

Hello?

Yes.

Oh my God.

Sidney told me.

No.

Here you go, Sidney.

I made this one especially for you.

There's no icing.

I forbid Alice

to ever play with Sidney again.

Mmm aren't these good?

But every night, I heard

sounds coming from her room.

My mom said she doesn't want me playing with you anymore.

I don't think it's fair either.

No, she's not mean, Sidney.

She's pretty nice.

Of course I can keep a secret.

Oh, Sidney, that's a great idea!

You can stay in here.

It'll be our secret.

Of course.

I'll never leave you.

I love you, Sidney.

Was Alice really getting psychic messages

from an imaginary friend?

Or maybe she was a clairvoyant who

was too young to understand her own powers,

so she invented a friend to cope with it all.

There must be some explanation for her ability

to predict so many events.

Or is our story of the imaginary friend completely imaginary?

Mmm-- the cookies are real.

Was this story truth or falsehood?

We'll tell you in the final moments of tonight's show.

Next, a dream marriage turns into a nightmare

on Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction.

The diamond

Ring for many, the symbol of a loving relationship.

But in the search for that perfect relationship,

what are the odds that we will ever find that one soul mate

who will make us happy forever?

Yet sometimes we see a couple that makes us believe

those odds can be overcome.

Well, Steven and Brenda were like that-- young, attractive,

hopelessly in love.

When they got married, it truly seemed

to be a match made in heaven.

What, are you crazy?

You could have killed me.

Next time, don't duck.

And I will!

Oh, that's it!

I cannot wait to get out of this house and away from you.

Not - than me.

Marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life!

You want to talk about big mistakes?

We're a big mistake!

Ah, if I ever see you again, it'll be too soon.

Well, I've got news for you.

I never want to see you again, even if you

were the last man on earth!

Steven and Brenda

went their separate ways, and stopped all contact.

They didn't care about anything except being

away from each other.

Ironically, they picked the same place to move to--

Los Angeles, the City of Angels.

But neither of them knew the other one lived there, too.

Each had

to endure the challenge of every couple that breaks up--

learning how to date all over again.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Wow, this looks fantastic.

Oh-- - It really does.

You've done a wonderful job, Barbara.

Brenda

The best meal I have ever eaten.

I can't believe I finally met a man

who knows how to cook a steak.

Ah, well, thank you.

And the vegetables--

Uh-huh.

I mean, it was like you just picked them from the garden.

They were cooked perfectly.

And the wine--

what is that?

It's a-- a pinot ni-war.

There

Are you-- are you--

Oh, are you all right?

This is pi--

pinot noir.

Yeah.

Sometimes your song plays

at just the wrong time.

I think that we should uh--

call-- call it a night.

It's getting late.

And I've got to get up early in the morning.

Um, well.

I-- I'd love to do it again sometime.

Call me.

Good night.

You're

listening to Ricky Strong.

Our next dedication is for two lovebirds,

Brenda and Steven, who didn't give their love a chance.

So Brenda and Steven, if you're out there listening,

this is for you, because the two of you

were meant for each other.

Steven and Brenda, it's time to make up.

I want you to drop whatever you're doing

and meet at the Santa Monica Pier in one hour.

I must be nuts.

She doesn't even live here.

Brenda!

Steven!

Brenda, I am so sorry.

I should have never--

No, no.

It was-- it was all my fault. I have such a temper and I--

we should have tried harder.

We both should have.

Looks like we have a second chance.

We don't have to mess it up this time.

That was really sweet, what you told

the DJ to say on the radio.

DJ, what are you--

I thought you made the dedication?

No.

I-- I didn't even know you were living in LA.

Steven!

Brenda!

Ah!

So in the end, boy gets girl.

But is it the right boy and the right girl?

And just how many Stevens and Brendas

were reunited that night?

What really happened here?

It wasn't simply that they heard a message meant

for another Steven and Brenda, because when they checked out

every radio station in Los Angeles the next morning,

no one reported broadcasting any such message.

But radio waves have strange properties.

They can become crossed in the atmosphere--

even be received in people's dental work.

Maybe this was a broadcast from another city, another country.

Or was it a communication from some other world altogether?

After all, it supposedly took place in the City of Angels.

Next, we'll find out which stories are inspired

by actually events and which are fabrications on Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction.

And now, the portion of our show that

separates the real from the unreal.

Several of the stories we've seen tonight

were inspired by actual events, while others have been invented

for your entertainment.

Let's revisit them one by one, and learn the true answers.

Our first plot was about the three girls and

their frightening board game.

Oh my God!

It's Victor!

Got you!

So did you guess this story was a complete fraud?

You guessed absolutely right.

We made it up.

And then there

was the couch potato whose life was somehow

saved by his beloved TV.

Holy Toledo!

What is it?

His heart's beating again.

Could this story have really happened?

Well, anything is possible.

But not in this case--

it's completely false.

And what's

your opinion of the story about the widow

who seemed to receive stock tips from her late husband?

Jonathan, What are you trying to tell me?

Steel?

Do you think that you've got this one figured out?

Did the events take place?

Yes, they did.

And how

about that story of the little girl and

her special imaginary friend?

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Kimball.

About what, Alice?

About your divorce.

Alice!

What have I told you about making up stories?

I'm not making it up!

Sidney told me.

Did you think this story was a stretch of the imagination?

Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

But the events in this story did happen.

And our last story

was about the divorced couple who were reunited

by a strange radio announcement that some

say was never broadcast.

You are listening to Ricky Strong.

Our next dedication is for two lovebirds,

Brenda and Steven, who didn't give their love a chance.

So Brenda, and Steven, if you're out there listening,

this is for you.

What's your judgment this time?

Do you think a story like this could have happened?

Well, it did.

So, how was your judgment tonight?

Three of our plots were inspired by actual events.

But the other two were totally false.

Perhaps we've changed your perception of what is real

and what is unreal tonight.

Sometimes they're almost impossible to tell apart.

And that's a strange truth.

Good night.

Join us next time on Beyond Belief--

Fact or Fiction.

This is Don LaFontaine.