Original subtitles

We have a challenge for you.

Can you separate fact from fiction?

Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction.

Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.

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.

Can you separate truth from fantasy?

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

and open your mind to things beyond belief.

Perception is our most unreliable sense, because it

can be changed so instantly.

Take these letters.

When read straight across, they're the first three

of the alphabet.

But now watch what happens to the B when we add two numbers

and ask you to read straight down.

We've now changed the symbol from a B

to the number 13, an appropriate allusion for this episode

of our show because each story that we will see

will have a Friday the 13th theme.

Each tail deals with the superstitious,

fateful, and mysterious quality of a day

that many people dread.

Will it be difficult to discern reality from fiction

on our salute to the number 13?

Or will you find it as easy as ABC?

This story involves a wrestler who has one wish.

He wants to go out a winner.

But then again, what else would a loser wish for?

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's main event,

fact versus fiction.

Have you ever suspended your disbelief

and lost yourself in the world of professional wrestling?

It's an easy place to get lost, a world of strong men,

good against evil, and larger than life drama.

I'd been with Dirk for 20 years.

Tonight he was retiring.

How do you feel, champ?

You ready for that last big hurrah?

You know, Tony, I didn't get that far in this business.

But at least I'm going out a winner.

Thanks for doing that much for me.

Ha.

Hey, it's the least I can do.

Listen, how you doing, you know, financially?

My brothers got word into his boss at the engine plant.

They're looking for part-timers.

Evening, gents.

What's this?

I just want to let you know about a little change

in tonight's script.

Moammar will be the winner, not Dirk.

Like hell he will.

Hey, wait a minute, fellas.

This was set in stone.

Dirk wins tonight.

It's the last bout of his life, for God's sake.

You came in a loser, you're going a loser.

What's the big deal.

Now listen, Grant, this was a done deal.

I undid it.

My guy had a grudge against Moammar.

He had face hims many times before.

And my guy lost every bout.

Look I'm sorry, champ.

I don't want you to get hurt.

So for tonight, I think we'll just stick to the script.

No.

Nothing changes my mind tonight, Tony.

Nothing.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main event of the evening.

And it promises to be a thrilling match.

Straight from the ancient lands of the pyramids,

weighing 250 pounds, the assassin of Aswan,

the cut throat of Cairo, Moammar, the barrel of steel.

And his worthy opponent, making his final world

wrestling appearance, weighing 248 pounds,

from the Motor City, the demolition expert,

who takes his opponents apart brick by brick, let's hear it

for Dazzling Demolition Dirk.

For God's sake, Dirk, it's not worth it.

If you're not behind me on this, Tony, then leave.

I'll do it myself.

Everyone knew that Moammar was younger,

stronger, and meaner than Dirk.

They were both showmen who liked to excite the crowd.

In the first exchange, Dirk surprised me.

He was going to put on a show tonight.

Did you see that?

Are you blind?

Look at that.

Dirk was trying to turn back the clock.

But Moammar brought him back to reality and fast.

Dirk was acting the part of the loser right now.

This was the part he played the best.

He didn't belong in the same ring with Moammar

and Moammar wanted to prove the point.

My guy was using all of his acting techniques

to make Moammar's attack look worse than it was.

And he was fooling the crowd, me,

and Moammar at the same time.

Moammar give him the airplane spin.

But Dirk know how to fall to absorb the punishment.

Usually, blows like that are choreographed.

But this night, Moammar didn't look like he wanted to dance.

When I first met Dirk, he seemed to have

eyes in the back of his head.

That's my boy.

These two guys were great performers,

who knew how to give the crowd what they wanted.

I try to keep telling myself, there's

no business like show business.

Moammar was sending a message.

I'm just getting started.

Loud and clear.

You came in a loser.

You're going out a loser.

Don't you listen to him, Dirk.

You're a winner. Go out a winner.

You can beat this guy.

You can do it.

Go out a winner.

Suddenly all the years of sweaty locker

rooms and cheap hotels and broken marriages

were showing on Dirk's face.

Moammar seemed to be standing for every failure

in Dirk's life.

And he was not going to get even.

I'm just getting started too.

I'm just getting started.

Dirk, Dirk.

The crowd was with him.

And he suddenly seen 20 years younger.

I don't know how long the bout really lasted,

but for me it was a lifetime.

But at least my guy was going out like a champ.

Moammar's corner always thought he

could come back against Dirk.

But now they were starting to believe their man could lose.

You give up?

Moammar's shoulders were on the mat,

ready to be counted out.

Winner, winner.

I couldn't believe it.

Against all odds, against a superior opponent,

Dirk had finally beaten the man he could never beat.

What a way to go out.

And then I saw the doctor went over to examine Moammar.

This man is dead.

He's ice cold.

Been dead for at least 20 minutes.

You've been wrestling a dead man.

I'll never forget the look on Dirk's face.

Even in victory, he was a loser.

Now he couldn't take away with him the satisfaction

of beating his arch rival.

Of course, Dirk's real rival was never

Moammar in the first place.

In the end, his real opponent turned out to be lady luck.

So what really happened in the ring?

Was Dirk Simmons really wrestling a dead man?

Could his own adrenalin had been pumping so hard that he

didn't realize that he was getting no resistance

from his opponent?

It certainly didn't look that way to the crowd.

Perhaps the doctor was mistaken about the time of death.

Maybe Moammar really did die only moments

before the doctor examined him?

Then again, maybe Moammar was so determined

to win that his inner spirit kept fighting after his heart

stopped beating.

Was this story fact or fiction?

That's a problem we leave you to wrestle with.

We'll find out whether this story

is true or false at the end of our show.

Next, a daring prison break on Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction.

When poet Richard Loveless wrote, "Stone walls do

not a prison make nor iron bars a cage,"

he seemed to capture the spirit of the man in our next story.

You see, Gus McGrath is a spirit that can't be locked up.

But he has a behavior pattern that

has left society no choice but to put his body behind bars.

But as McGrath spends his time in jail,

something is stirring inside him.

His spirit is telling him that it's time to move on.

The trick will be getting his body to follow.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): No one

had ever escaped from Wainwright State Penitentiary.

The warden ran it like a factory and used men for cheap labor.

It was a metal shop that made license plates and a laundry

service to other institutions.

Gus McGrath was a gambler and a con man.

He knew how to play all the game.

A smooth talking swindler, he had thrived on outwitting

a slower thinking public.

McGrath used to wear $1,000 suits.

Now he was working for $0.10 an hour.

He had served only one year of a five year sentence,

but it already felt like 20.

Every minute was pure agony.

That's it.

Let's go.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): But this day, Gus McGrath was

determined to change his luck.

Jim, I'm going Looney Tunes.

There's got to be way to bust out of here.

Fat chance.

You know, if they don't get you with the head counts,

they'll get you when they check the hampers.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know it.

All right, let's go.

Line it up.

Let's go.

Higgins.

Miller.

McGrath.

Dunn.

Ramirez.

Where the hell's Ramirez?

They sent him to metal shop this week.

You got Mosely instead.

Hey, they printed the wrong name on the list.

Mosely.

Let's go.

Move it out.

Let's go. Come on.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): Another routine shift

at the prison laundry had come to an end.

It was time for the inspection of the hampers.

OK, boss, there you go.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): And although nothing remarkable was

taking place at the moment, the seeds of an escape

had already been firmly planted.

McGrath had become consumed.

Escaping was the only thing he could think about

and it permeated his everything thought.

Check out that laundry driver.

He's married to that paper.

He wouldn't notice a naked lady is she

cha-cha'd right past him.

So what are you getting at?

Busting out.

Yeah?

After this room clears, that chimp,

like stealing candy from a baby.

Oh, yeah?

You help me out?

Sure.

How?

Where they got you working next week?

Laundry.

Metal shop.

So.

This is what I'm thinking--

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McGrath had to wait

until the timing was right.

But the day finally came, the day

he was assigned to the metal shop

and Dunn was scheduled to work in the laundry.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): The first part of his planned work.

Now he'd call on his skills as a con man.

It was brazen.

But like all good scams, McGrath believed it could work.

Let's go. Line it up.

Let's go.

Higgins.

Miller.

Dunn.

Hey, where's Dunn?

He's supposed to be here.

Sound the alarm.

All right, Listen up.

This is a lockdown.

I don't want no trouble.

Understood?

All right, let's go.

Move out.

Come on.

Move.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): There was still

a hamper check to be done.

You're not going anywhere.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McGrath's heart

was pounding so hard, he was afraid someone might hear it.

This was the kind of rush he lived for.

It was time to make his move.

Hey, boss.

Hey, lockdown's been lifted.

The guy was in the metal shop the whole time.

Clear the load.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McGrath

could feel the incline of the ramp

as he was about to be loaded onto the truck.

He suddenly wondered if the driver

would notice the extra weight.

But he didn't.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): He could feel

the ground moving beneath him.

He could hear the hum of the truck's engine.

It was the sound of freedom.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): He realized he had pulled it off.

Lady luck had finally returned.

He would wait until the footsteps disappeared.

Then he'd make a run for it.

That was the plan, until he saw where he was.

Oh, no.

Oh, no, no.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McGrath had successfully

escaped all right, straight into the belly of another prison.

For all his streets, there was something he didn't know,

something that's easy to lose track of in prison.

He didn't know what day it was.

Could this story have really happened?

Can a man really be that unlucky?

Or were the fates protecting society against a man that

would have undoubtedly committed new crimes

against it in the future?

Was this story of simultaneous success and failure

inspired by a real event?

Or is this just escapist entertain?

We'll find out whether this story

is true or false at the end of our show.

Next, a video reveals a frightening message on Beyond

Belief, Fact or Fiction.

The video business has become big business.

Where once we saw our favorite movie two or three times,

it's not unusual for today's video generation

to watch their favorite films 20, 30, even hundreds of times.

And the watching of a video has become more than just

a personal experience.

For many, it's a social occasion,

a chance for group excitement, laughter, even horror.

Jodie Griffith has rented some videos for a big date.

It's Friday the 13th.

So she's made sure that the videos are scary.

But what these videos are about the show

will scare her beyond her wildest nightmares.

No matter what I tell you,

no matter what you think, I'm not psychic.

Nothing like this has ever happened before

or has ever happened since.

Here, try wearing this.

There, that looks better.

You sure I look all right?

Miranda, you look very nice.

Now try to relax.

It's only a blind date. - Yeah.

With a guy who's supposed to be gorgeous.

You really think that we should go out in this kind of weather?

Marcus went to a lot of trouble fixing you guys up.

So don't even think about flaking out.

You know, today is Friday the 13th.

I know.

That's why I rented the movie "Dead Friday."

So when we get back from the club, we can watch a movie

and pretend to be really scared.

There.

That's it.

All we have to do is snuggle up with the guys and hit play.

That must be them.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I had watched "Dead Friday" many times before.

And this was not the movie on the screen.

Hi. - HI.

Come on in.

Miranda's waiting.

I'll introduce you.

Miranda.

Miranda, you remember Marcus.

And this is Keith Porter.

Instead, I seeing images of the four of us

in some kind of a terrible situation.

I thought it was losing my mind.

And to make matters worse, nobody else

could see it but me.

What are you watching?

I'm not sure.

I can't quite make out the images.

Very funny, Miranda.

Well, uh-- Your roommate's got a warped sense of humor.

Miranda.

Oh, my god.

Everyone that I was crazy.

But the images just kept getting more

intense and more frightening.

Don't be ridiculous.

Uh-- look, Madame Q's is one of the hottest

nightclubs in town.

If we don't leave now, we're not going to get it.

You're freaking us out, Miranda.

There's nothing on the TV.

Yes, there is.

Something terrible.

Something horrible.

OK.

She's tripping.

We're going to go to Madame Q's without you.

No, you can't go.

What are you talking about?

You can't go.

None of us can go.

OK.

She's completely whacko.

All right, I'm out of here. - No.

You can't go.

Don't you understand?

There's something wrong.

See for yourself.

Miranda, there's nothing there.

I beg you.

Please, don't go.

This is really weird, OK?

It's really bizarre.

You coming Marcus?

Come on, Jodie.

Let's go.

Marcus, wait.

Jodie.

Marcus, wait.

Look, all right, if she didn't want to go out with Keith,

she could have said something earlier.

I knew she was going to flake.

Are you coming or not?

I don't know.

Marcus, she's my roommate and my friend.

I can't just leave her here like this.

She's having a breakdown or something.

OK, fine, I'll see you later.

I'll always be grateful that Jodi made

the decision to stay with me.

And so will she.

You can knock off the stupid joke now.

They're gone.

It's not a joke.

I was hoping Marcus would become a steady thing,

but now I guess he'll never see me again.

It's all your fault.

I'm sorry, Jodie.

Someday you'll thank me.

Yeah.

For ruining my life.

Later that night,

everything had calmed down.

Jodie was watching the news.

A car was broadsided by a speeding train

just minutes ago.

The occupants, Marcus Watkins and Keith Porter,

were killed instantly.

Oh, my god.

Witnesses say the car was stalled

out on the railroad tracks.

Miranda, you got to see this. Come quick.

The two young men reportedly spent

the evening dancing at the popular club, Madam

Q's, before heading for home.

Repeating once again, two young men

are dead in a car collision with a train.

This is Patricia McDonnell reporting live.

Marcus and Keith.

Miranda, you saved my life.

Jodie and I sat there in stunned silence.

The enormity of the tragedy hadn't sunk in yet.

I'll never know what really happened that night.

We were just thankful to be alive.

Later, we were startled to learn there

was no tape in the cassette.

What was Miranda experiencing that night?

Was she really seeing images on that tape?

Did somebody place those images there

by taping over the rental copy?

Yet the tape cassette was empty?

Was Miranda projecting her own clairvoyant

thoughts on the screen?

And why was it only she could see the images?

If she was only imagining them, then how could

her imaginings have come true?

Should we place this disturbing tale of the video of doom

in the reality department?

Or does it belong in the section marked fantasy?

We'll find out whether this story

is true or false at the end of the show.

Next, terror grips an office after hours on the Beyond

Belief, Fact or Fiction.

Not all stories of the supernatural

take place in haunted houses.

Some happen in more mundane surroundings, a train,

a park, an office building.

In fact, if you've ever stayed late in an empty office,

you know the eerie feeling of a strange silence that descends

when everyone has gone home.

It's the time of night when your imagination

can play tricks on you.

Donald T Blanchard is about to experience feelings of terror

in his office.

But is it really only his imagination?

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): Donald T

Blanchard was president of Superior Mutual Life Insurance.

He built a one man operation into a large corporation

and prided himself on his achievement.

He attributed his success to diligence,

thrift, hard work, and courage.

He could handle anything and expected others to do the same.

Put those files in the briefcase

along with the Taggerene.

You'll take the other files and these to McDonald.

McDaniel, sir.

Whatever.

I have to leave.

And tell Mc-- uh-- - McDaniel.

McDaniel I want those cases processed by morning.

By morning, yes, sir.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): Jim McDaniel was not cut out

of the same mold as his boss.

McDaniel was honest, sensitive, and insecure.

Perfect prey for a shark like Donald T Blanchard.

Oh, let me guess.

Boss wants these by morning.

Yep.

It's a good thing I work

for a life insurance company.

At least if they work me to death, I'll be covered.

You know Mr. Blanchard.

If you don't come in on Saturday,

don't bother coming in on Sunday.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): As McDaniel looked over

the work Blanchard had assigned to him, one fact became clear.

By the look of things, this was going to be a late night,

a very late night.

This was the first time McDaniel had stayed at his desk so long.

And he was surprised to find out how creepy the office seemed.

Hello?

Anybody out there?

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): He followed

the sounds to the outer office.

It seemed to him he was not alone.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Anybody here?

Anybody?

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): When he returned to his office,

he found a file on the floor.

How did it get there?

Was there some prowler going from office to office?

The file was one that the boss wanted to disposed of quickly.

It was the paperwork surrounding the death of Douglas Taggerene.

Taggerene was a successful businessman who died

under mysterious circumstances.

His family contended it was a fishing accident.

And Superior Mutual was liable for $2 million.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): Of course,

if Taggerene committed suicide, then the company

was off the hook.

Coffee, coffee, I want some coffee.

I want some coffee.

Coffee, coffee, just need seem coffee.

Ah, ah.

Mr. Blanchard, you scared me.

McDonald.

McDaniel.

I'll just be getting a few things and I'll be on my way.

Uh--

No.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McDaniel wanted

to tell Blanchard about all the strange occurrences

taking place in the office, but Blanchard

seemed to be preoccupied.

He was looking for something and obviously

something very important.

McDonald.

McDaniel.

Right.

You OK?

Uh-- I don't know.

I mean, your face looks like you

just saw a ghost or something.

Well, to tell you the truth, the strangest thing

started happening.

I-- I was seeing things.

This is your first job in the life insurance game, right?

Yeah.

Look, new people will sometimes get spooked

working in the business of--

well, let's face it-- death.

It can affect the subconscious.

Your mind can play tricks.

They're not real.

You've got to confront these things.

Meet them head on.

Know what I mean?

Of course.

I see you have the Taggerene folder.

I've been looking for this.

Uh-- If you ask me, sir.

Taggerene didn't commit suicide.

Death was clearly accidental.

I'll finish this.

You needn't concern yourself with it anymore.

But, sir--

I insist.

Go home.

Get some rest.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): McDaniel

couldn't go home to sleep.

He stopped off in a coffee shop first.

He knew that Blanchard despised him as a weakling.

He also knew that first impressions were lasting.

How could he ever win Blanchard's respect

by going home?

Blanchard knew Taggerene's death was no suicide.

But $2 million was a lot of money.

And he wasn't going to pay it, not one nickel.

JONATHAN FRAKE VOICEOVER): Blanchard had

courage to get something else.

Who's out there?

Oh, Mr. Blanchard.

Oh, jeez.

I got you.

Mr. Blanchard.

Help me!

Help!

Come on.

Somebody help me.

An ironic twist has occurred here.

The boss who was unafraid of ghosts

is done in by his own fear.

And yet the instrument of that fear

is a flesh and blood human being.

Or was this office truly being haunted by the spirit

of the dead man seeking truth.

How do you explain the unusual activity

taking place there all night?

Could all those activities have been caused by drafts

and mechanical malfunctions?

Is this spooky tale of an office at night based on fact?

Or is it just the result of a writer's

imagination working overtime?

We'll find out whether this story

is true or false at the end of our show.

Next, an apparition goes shopping on Beyond

Belief, Fact or Fiction.

The conscience is a mettlesome companion.

It tries to tell us how to behave.

And when we don't listen, it haunts us with guilt.

For many the weight of a guilty conscience

is a burden that can never be put down.

Such is the case with Ann Ross.

When her favorite aunt passed away,

she couldn't get there in time.

It's something Ann can't forget.

And something her conscience won't forget.

Well, you may not be best friends like you

were in junior high, but you did grow

up next door to each other.

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.

I got an invitation.

I could live without going to her wedding though.

You two used to be inseparable.

That should count for something.

Guess so.

That's pretty.

So whatever happened between you two?

Drifted apart.

In high school, she found her friends and I found mine.

Well, still, you should be happy for her.

She's found somebody.

At least she's not going to grow old alone.

What about this?

No, you can see right through that.

So?

Julie, look.

Look.

What?

She's gone.

There was an old lady who looked exactly like your Aunt Lillian

from behind.

Oh, beaded purses.

Poor Aunt Lillian, she was so lonely at the end.

Oh, I know.

Poor thing, cooped up in that little tiny nursing home

all alone.

Wasn't there a time that she wanted to come

live with us or something.

Yeah, but you and Chris were still living at home.

And it was all your dad and I could do to pay the bills.

I mean, maybe I should have tried harder to make

some room for her, but I--

Come on, mom.

It's not an invitation to beat yourself up.

I shouldn't have said anything.

The last time we saw her, she took me aside

and she told me that the most important thing

in the world to her was that someone she loved

be with her when she died.

Why are people so morbid?

Oh, no, Lillian was very straightforward.

I remember she said to me, Annie,

it's very important that the last face

you see be the face of love.

Remember that Annie.

I'll never forgive myself for not being there

when that call came.

Mom, that was five years ago.

You've got to let it go.

I still feel bad about it.

Of course, you do.

It's your hobby.

Guilt is your hobby.

Oh, I'm sorry, honey.

Oh.

Did you find something?

What do you think?

Oh, that's nice.

Oh, it's a little long now.

Oh, no, you could have it taken up.

Go try it on.

OK.

Do you smell that?

What?

The flowers?

No, no.

It's Aunt Lillian's perfume that she used to wear.

It's stronger over here.

Mom, I don't smell anything.

Oh, it's-- it's uncanny.

Lillian?

Excuse me, the elderly lady that was just here,

did you see where she went?

I'm sorry.

I didn't see anyone.

Really, the-- that perfume, it's so strong right here.

I-- uh--

Mom.

What do you think.

I think it's very red.

You want to go check out the store down the street.

I think we better.

You go get changed.

I'm going to get the car, all right?

I'll meet you up front.

Oh, my god.

Someone call an ambulance.

Someone get her daughter.

She's in the changing room.

Hurry.

Lillian.

It is you.

How can it be you?

I do not let you die alone.

Is very important.

The last thing you see is the face of love.

Mom?

No.

Did Ann really see her late Aunt Lillian in the dress shop?

Or was it an elusive woman who resembled her?

Was her conscience freed at the end because of death itself?

Or was she actually being comforted

by her aunt coming back to visit her at a time of need?

And why did Ann Ross see her aunt

before the accident occurred?

Did Aunt Lilian's spirit somehow know

what the fates had in store?

Do you think this tale of the woman in the black gown

is real?

Or have we just taken a lie and dressed it up as truth?

Next, you'll find out which of our stories are fact

and which are fiction when Beyond Belief returns.

So let's see how lucky you were on this show

dedicated to Friday the 13th.

Were you able to tell fact from fiction?

Our story of the wrestler who seemed to be fighting

a dead opponent, true or false?

How do you feel champ?

I'm just getting started too?

I'm just getting started.

This tale of a career on the ropes

climaxed by a ghostly twist is totally made up.

Let's examine the story about the escaped convict who escaped

right into another prison.

True or false?

Oh, no.

This tale of the pathetic prisoner

is based on an actual event.

It happened.

And how about the young woman who

was able to see the foreshadowing of doom

on her VCR?

Let's take another look.

Was THIS story of a fateful Friday the 13th

based on a real incident?

Yes, it was.

What about the story of the late night office that seemed

to be haunted, fact or fiction?

Mr. Blanchard?

If you guessed this tale was made up, you're right.

It's fiction.

Now let's take another look at the story

of the spirit who seemed to appear in the dress shop.

Real or unreal?

Lillian?

Excuse me, the elderly lady that was just here,

did you see where she went?

I'm sorry.

I didn't see anyone.

Really?

The-- that perfume is so strong right here.

If you thought a similar story to this one actually happened,

you're right.

It's fact, according to firsthand interviews conducted

by author Robert Tralins.

How was your perception tonight?

Could you identify truth from falsehood?

Perhaps some things are so unusual that the words

true and false seem inadequate, much better

to use the words beyond belief.

I'm Jonathan Frakes.

Join us for more stories, next time on Beyond

Belief, Fact or Fiction.