Original subtitles

The real and the unreal often live side by side.

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 an 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.

In this drawing, is it the profile

of a couple about to kiss?

Take another look.

It's a candle lighting the darkness.

Tonight we will shed some light on stories

that straddle the line between real and unreal.

We'll tell you which are which at the end of our show.

And keep in mind as our show unfolds,

the profile of falsehood can often

obscure the glow of truth.

When you're behind the wheel at night,

is there anything more disturbing than someone

behind you who's driving with bright lights?

Sometimes drivers do it let you know they want to pass.

Sometimes they're unaware their brights are on.

And sometimes, as in our next story,

the reason is much more ominous.

How did I wind up here.

All I wanted to do was rent a car and visit my grandmother.

Now, I was totally lost.

And something's telling me I better

figure out this map by myself.

I've learned you don't show weakness

in a situation like this.

Care for a little more?

No thanks.

I guess I've had enough. - Oh.

Take care then.

Oh, no.

I hear them at the pool table.

I can do it.

You don't me.

Watch and learn old man.

Uh-- hi, my name is Gunner.

How you doing?

Actually, I'm a little tired.

Well, do you mind if I sit down?

I'd like to buy you a cup of coffee.

Well, thank you.

But, well, I've already had three cups.

And I got to get back on the road.

I'll get this for you.

That's very sweet.

You're welcome.

I want to run out of here.

But I'm going to walk out calmly.

I can hear their ugly comments, and I

can feel their eyes on me.

No trophy tonight, gunner.

I don't hear any footsteps behind me.

That's good.

I wish it were a bigger parking lot so I could

disappear between the cars.

But I'm in plain view right now.

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I feel like I'm being followed.

The quicker I get out of here, the better I'll feel.

Now my big challenge is to stay awake.

That coffee didn't do much good.

Besides I didn't even get to finish it.

The radio, that should keep my mind alert for a while.

The next place I stop is going to be

a lot safer than that bar.

Oh, no, what's this?

I'll bet it's that creep from the bar.

Why does he have his high beams on?

They're blinding.

Well, I'm not going to stop.

What are you doing?

Just pass me already.

Oh, come on.

You crazy?

Oh, my god.

Hello.

Damn.

Hello?

Can you hear me?

Yeah, I need some help.

I'm being followed by somebody in a pickup truck.

I'm going south down Old River Road.

I just passed Miller's Junction.

Can you hear me?

Hello?

Oh, no.

Where's that damn phone?

Come on.

Oh, no, it is him.

Get out of the car, lady.

Get out of the car, lady, now.

Move.

I have to stay calm.

Hurry.

You, in the back seat, put your hands up.

Get your hands up.

Come out nice and slow.

Nice and slow.

Drop the knife.

Don't move.

I'm really sorry that I scared you,

but I saw the creep in the back seat.

That's why I was flashing my brights,

to keep him from attacking you.

Thank you.

Well, maybe now we can have that cup of coffee.

What are you looking at?

Turn around.

An intriguing story to say the least.

The man we perceived to be a villain turns out a hero.

The bright lights that seemed so threatening

were really beacons of protection.

Does this story of terror on the highway seemed false to you?

Or is your judgment being blinded by the truth?

Find out if this story

is true or false at the end of our show, but next--

Help.

Come on, come on, guys.

Take the jacket.

Here, take the watch.

You can have that too.

And the pants.

Help. Help.

I'm being-- I'm being pantsed.

Help.

A man attacked in a park

discovers a magical ability to fight back, coming up on Beyond

Belief, Fact or Fiction.

Some call them bag ladies.

To others, they are vagrants.

And some consider them angels of the streets.

Are these street people merely collecting cast-off rubbish?

Or are there treasures to be discovered

in their receptacles?

Gloria was more than a bag lady.

She was a treasure hunter.

And within her treasure chest is an item with a power so great,

it could do battle with fate itself.

Lenny Fields was

an out of shape comedy writer.

He made his living writing clever lines

for television shows, stand up comedians,

and magazine articles.

And although he had an icy wit, he had a warm heart.

In fact, on his morning jogs, he always

stopped to exchange a quip or two with Gloria,

the park's resident bag lady.

Easy, Sunny Boy.

You're moving too fast.

You shouldn't be rushing life.

You're right.

Thanks to jogging, more people are

collapsing in perfect health than ever before.

Ha.

The only thing that I try to exercise is kindness.

Why don't you let me give you a couple of bucks

so you can get a good hot meal.

Just watch the cholesterol.

You know I don't like taking money from you.

So where are you living these days?

The old zoo.

Well, listen, just be careful.

Watch yourself, will you?

I got to run.

That was

Lenny, always more concerned about another's safety

than his own.

But today he should have worried for himself.

Look at this guy.

I think he needs O too.

You think he's going to make it?

No. - Nah.

That's a nice jogging suit he's got there.

I think it would look better on me.

What do you think?

Hey, there.

Hold up there.

How you doing? - Fine.

Like your suit.

Oh, thanks.

Great jacket.

I got it on sale at the sporting goods store

just before you get to the park, around the corner there.

That big one there. Yeah.

They're having a big sale.

You can get a good deal.

And I got a great deal on this.

And I like this jacket.

No, this is mine.

We like this one.

No, you know what, guys?

Guys, guys, look, I know, I know you just want some money.

Here, I got-- I've got--

I've got-- I've got some money here.

I think I got a few bucks.

I get some some money here.

Look, here.

You know, I think I like that too.

You know what? We want all your money.

Fine, right take the money. Take the money.

And the jacket.

No, it's my jacket.

All right.

Come on.

Oh, nice watch.

Help.

Come on.

Come on, guys.

Fine, take the jacket.

Here, take the watch.

You can have that too.

And the pants.

Not my pants.

You can't take my pants. For god's sake.

Help.

Help. Help.

I'm being-- I'm being pantsed.

Help.

No, no, guys, guys, please, guys, guys, guys,

please don't do this to me.

Wait.

Hey, hey, Gloria.

Gloria, it's me.

Over here.

The cage, over here.

My god, what happened to you?

Oh, two guys stopped me and I got mugged.

Can you see if you can get this door open.

I'm freezing. - Yeah.

Hold on.

I'm starting to feel like Charlton Heston

in "Planet of the Apes."

Don't worry.

I've got all kinds of things in here.

Hey, what are you standing there for?

Come on down and step into my fitting room.

You've really got something for me in there?

Oh, here, put this on.

I can't put this on.

I'll look silly.

It's not really my color.

Really?

You wouldn't believe it, but some people

think I look kind of silly.

You know, it's not what other people

think of you that matters.

It's what you think of yourself.

Well--

And so it

was that a discarded Halloween costume from Gloria's cart

changed his persona from Lenny Fields

to that of the legendary Mighty Man.

Whoa.

What have you got there? - It's a bird.

It's a plane. It's super jerk.

Nice cape.

Hey, super jerk.

Where do I get one of these?

Easy.

We missed you too.

What is that?

Mighty Man.

Mighty Man.

Nice cape though.

You know, I'm telling you, that is great.

This time, we're taking your underwear.

Sir?

Hm?

Here's your watch.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Hey, Gloria, you were right.

This outfit is my color.

See, what did I tell you?

Hey, can I keep this a little longer?

Sure.

I've got a class reunion coming up.

And there's a couple of neighborhood bullies

that'll be there.

Hey, how about we go get a bite to eat?

Fine.

As long as its a big juicy chili cheeseburger.

I think I'll stick to the salad.

So, was it the costume that gave

him his new found strength?

Or did Lenny have the inner courage all the time?

History is filled with stories of magic clothing--

Joseph's coat of many colors, Jason and the Golden Fleece,

and the millions of soldiers who have suddenly

found untapped courage by wearing

the uniform of their country.

Is our tale based upon reality?

Or is this story stitched together by a thread of lies?

We'll find out if this story is true or false

at the end of our show.

But next--

I was wondering why some of you

didn't answer the essay question.

You know, what I want to do with my life?

Hm?

You know, any answer at all, even a sentence would

have been worth 10 points.

You know why I didn't answer it?

Because I ain't sure I'm going to even live to see 18.

A teacher encounters a strange student

and tail in the classroom on Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction.

Is there a more important job than that of a teacher?

To influence, inspire, and educate young minds

is the noblest of occupations.

Vanessa Robinson is a born teacher.

But lately, she has become disillusioned.

The paperwork on her desk seems like a mountain.

The minds of her students seem closed.

But she is about to meet a student

that will change all that, a student in a class by himself.

I had just been

put in charge of this class, but I was

already getting to know them.

I was very good at matching names with faces.

And I had memorized the entire class roster.

I was a natural.

I guess that's why when I was young

I always knew what I wanted to be.

I didn't want to be a nurse or even a lawyer.

I wanted to be a teacher I wanted to educate young minds

and inspire them to greatness.

But now, I've become a babysitter

rather than a teacher.

Keith, lose the ball, please.

Thank you.

Lately, I find myself

thinking more and more that maybe I made

the wrong choice for my life.

I'm wondering what it would be like to sell real estate

or to be a travel agent and visit all those exotic places.

Deirdre, can we lose the mirror?

All right, time's up.

Pens down.

I was wondering why some of you

didn't answer the essay question.

You know, what I want to do with my life.

You know, any answer at all, even a sentence would

have been worth 10 points.

You know why I didn't answer it?

Hm?

Because I ain't sure I'm going to even live to see 18.

How many of the rest of you feel the same way?

Well-- [BELL RINGS] we'll talk about this-- please,

put your tests on my desk, right side up.

Thank you.

I wondered if somehow I

had failed these students.

Was I partly responsible for their attitude?

I was suddenly aware of one student

who was still at his desk.

Uh-- class is over.

I mean-- do you need something?

He was a student,

I didn't seem to recognize.

I didn't know his face.

And I didn't know his name either.

Wait a second.

Hold on.

I couldn't understand it.

He was nowhere in sight.

Something made me close the door behind me.

And then I started to read the paper.

His name was Rudy Hernandez.

I was sure there was no Rudy in my class and certainly not

one that could write like this.

What do you want to do with your life by Rudy Hernandez.

I want to be a teacher.

Helping others is the most important thing

anyone can do with their life.

The police may help fight crime, but

teachers help fight ignorance.

And ignorance breeds hate and poverty.

Of course, being a teacher isn't easy.

A good teacher explains.

A superior teacher demonstrates.

But a truly great teacher inspires.

When a great teacher helps save one student,

she helps save the whole world.

I think you are that kind of teacher.

You are the kind of teacher that I would want to be.

How did you get in here?

I didn't hear you.

Did you write this essay?

Are you Rudy Hernandez?

Just answer me.

Are you Rudy Hernandez?

Look, I'll call someone.

No, don't take another step.

It was an accident of fate.

If he hadn't made me leave my seat, I would have been shot.

But his face seemed to show it was not an accident.

When I turned away, he was gone.

God, are you all right?

Should I call an ambulance?

I'm OK.

The police are on the way.

That's the second drive by this year.

You're lucky you weren't killed.

Yeah.

Thanks to that student.

What student?

Rudy Hernandez.

Oh.

That's impossible.

Why?

Rudy Hernandez is dead.

No.

No, he was here.

I can prove it.

I have an essay that he wrote.

The essay was gone too.

I knew Rudy.

He was a brilliant student who always

had time to teach others.

He had a full scholarship waiting for him at Princeton.

My god, what happened?

Before he could graduate, he was killed in a drive

by shooting.

Somehow a student

who had died years ago had saved my life in more ways than one.

Was Vanessa actually visited by the ghost of Rudy Hernandez?

If not, who was that student whose paper she read?

Someone caused Vanessa to suddenly move away

from the window out of harm's way.

Was it another student using Rudy's name?

If so, where did he go?

And what happened to the papery he handed in?

Is this classroom story based on fact?

Or are we simply telling tales out of school?

We'll find out if this story

is true or false at the end of our show, but next--

Now look at this one, Mom.

Oh, that's great.

Sweetie, why don't you show that to your Aunt Bonnie, huh?

Look.

Hey.

Hey, there's something really familiar about this scribbles.

An innocent child's drawings

reveal a hidden mystery, on Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction.

The imagination of a child, what really goes

on in a mind still unspoiled by most of the conventions

and inhibitions of society?

Should drawings like these be simply thought

of as the expressions of innocent minds?

Four-year-old Billy Potter is drawing lots of pictures

lately.

Pay close attention to them.

Analyze them.

Appreciate them.

But whatever you do, don't dismiss

them as childish scrawls.

Sign on the dotted line there.

I suppose the one thing certain about life

is that we eventually leave it.

Let's hope no time soon.

Here you go.

OK, that's your copy.

Earl Potter,

with his wife in her last months of pregnancy, takes out

a life insurance policy, hoping not to need

it for a long long time.

So the policy is bought and paid for.

If anything should happen to me, you and the baby

will be taking care. - Stop it.

Don't talk like that.

You know it scares me.

Think of it as a promise I'm making.

I love you.

Deal.

Hey, slow down.

Lately all you do is rush, rush, rush.

You know that?

How else am I going to get that new account?

Which would mean a promotion for us.

All I need is you and Billy, honey.

I don't need a new promotion.

And money.

Don't ever forget money.

All right, I have to go.

I'll talk to you later.

Bye.

Bye, Dad.

Earl?

Earl.

Earl?

Earl!

Are you OK?

Somebody help me.

Earl.

Oh, no.

Billy, go back in the house.

Go back in the house.

Billy, Billy, go back in the house.

One week after Earl's death,

Marlene and her sister Bonnie are packing up for a move

to Bonnie's house, while Billy keeps his mind

occupied by drawing pictures.

Look, Mom.

Thanks, honey.

You sure there's going to be enough room for me

and Billy at your house.

Marlene, we've already discussed this.

You and Billy will sleep in Sarah's room.

She really doesn't mind. - Hey, come on.

It's going to be OK.

It'll be fun sleeping under the same roof again.

Thank you.

Look.

Oh, that is great.

Why don't you go make me some more.

OK.

God, if I could just find that insurance policy.

I never wanted to talk about this stuff with Earl.

And now I'm broke. And it's my own fault.

Don't blame yourself. You looked everywhere.

There's nothing else you could do.

Now look at this one, Mom.

Oh, that's great.

Sweetie, why don't you show that to your Aunt Bonnie, huh?

Look.

Hey.

Hey, there's something really familiar about these scribbles.

Marlene, it's shorthand.

What?

These scribbles are shorthand.

You see these lines right here?

Billy spelled the word Daddy.

Billy, what are you drawing over there?

I don't how.

Just pictures.

Hey, wait a second, this is really weird.

I mean look at these.

These are words.

First village Trust.

First Village Trust, that's a bank.

Uh, huh. There's one in town.

And these, these are numbers.

1-1-0-4.

Maybe a bank account number.

I don't know what's going on.

But you have to go find out.

You said Peters?

Potter.

Earl Potter.

P-O-T-T-E-R. Potter.

Yes.

It seems to your late husband kept a safe deposit box here.

Was it box number 1104.

That's right.

Do you have a key?

No.

Can we open it any way?

It might be empty.

You see, my son--

We have to drill the lock.

There's a $200 fee.

Can I pay you after we open the box?

Please.

One hour

later, a locksmith shows up to open the safety deposit box.

Marlene Potter, a woman down on her luck,

clings to one last fragile hope, a hope

that somehow the symbols that are showing up in Billy's

drawings have a special meaning to their lives,

perhaps they're communications from her late husband Earl,

the man who was keeping something in lock box 1104.

It's lighter than I thought.

Oh, Earl.

Oh, thank you.

What's the answer here?

Did Aunt Bonnie know the truth all along

and chose to secretly add the symbols to Billy's drawings?

Or was a father's spirit really guiding the hands of the child?

Could a child far too young to even comprehend

the symbols for shorthand communicate

those symbols so perfectly?

Aren't there child prodigies who can play

the piano before they can talk?

Is this story of automatic writing an honest one?

Or does your instinct tell you to simply write it off?

We'll find out if this story

is true or false at the end of our show, but next--

I keep thinking what if something like this

happened to him.

Wish there was something else we could do.

Remember that horse story we covered a few years ago?

You know that old gelding that toured with the circus?

Count Mystery, yeah, owner claimed

he was psychic or something.

A missing child and an animal

with unexplainable powers on Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction.

Horses have long been thought of as magical creatures,

from Pegasus, the winged stallion,

to the diving horse of Atlantic City.

They've been applauded, gambled on, even worse.

The horse you are about to meet never ran a race

or carried a soldier into battle.

Yet he is the stuff that legends are written about.

The horse is named Count Mystery.

And the mystery is how does he do what he does?

For years, Count Mystery has been doing his act at rodeos,

county fairs, and the like.

Ask Count Mystery a question and he

will spell out the answer by turning over

a series of special letters.

And as if this weren't fantastic enough,

Count Mystery seems to also possess psychic powers.

He has been responsible for the solving of eight major crimes

in the last 20 years.

And then a few days, Count Mystery's colorful legend

will become linked to the fate of young Tanner Jansen.

Tanner is a boy like so many his age.

He gets bored.

He daydreams.

And he loses track of time and even location.

Today, Tanner is exploring.

And to really explore, you have to go places

that you've never been before.

Tanner spends lots of days like this.

Ever since his father divorced

his mother last year, Tanner goes for long

walks looking for things.

Obviously, Tanner's father was an important part of his life.

But there is another man who is about to become

very important to Tanner.

In fact, Tanner's seen him many times

before on the 6 o'clock news.

Over 24 hours has passed since little Tanner

Jansen disappeared.

The four-year-old was last seen playing in front of his house

wearing a red sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Neighborhood search parties have been put together.

And the Ludlow police have asked everyone

to keep their eyes open.

We'll have more as this story unfolds.

This is Gerald McBride, WRX News reporting.

You know, these missing kids just break my heart.

I mean, they rarely find them alive.

Yeah, I feel sorry for the mother.

Louis, did you get those bloodhounds from Ackonsville?

Yeah.

Still no sign of the boy.

Did your station get any leads on this?

No.

This is Emma Jansen.

Oh, Ms. Jansen, I want you to know our station

is going to keep covering this story until we find your son.

I just know that Tanner is out there somewhere.

I just know it.

I don't know who'd take him.

You know, my sister's got a kid her kid's age.

I keep thinking what if something like this

happened to him.

I wish there was something else we could do.

You remember that horse story we covered a few years ago?

You know, that old gelding that toured with the circus.

Count Mystery.

Yeah.

Owner claimed he was psychic or something.

Still catching flack for covering that.

There was some evidence that that was true.

Even if he was, that horse was 100 years old then.

Well, let's just call somebody and get him on it.

I mean, it can't hurt.

Fine, call.

It's now 48 hours since the Jansen boy's disappearance.

Volunteers from Ludlow continue to search the area.

If you'd like to volunteer, please call the station.

Gerald McBride, WRX reporting.

I mean, something's bound to turn up soon.

I mean, he couldn't have wandered that far.

What are you kidding?

If someone snatched this kid, the possibilities are endless.

Yeah?

The horse is still alive.

You want to go see him, we've arranged it.

Yes.

What?

Finally, some good news.

The horse's owner called the station.

He's still alive.

Should have seen this when we were traveling

together with the circus.

He was something.

You know, people traveled from miles around, asking questions

about crops, even about love.

One time, he found a wife that went missing.

Missing wife?

You see, in those days, when a wife went missing, we looked.

What did you do, tell them I was coming?

You know why I'm here?

Good.

Wow.

Here, we'll take him out to the board

and see what he has to say.

So what should I do?

Ask your question.

You said you knew why I was here.

Tan-- Tanner.

Do you know where the boy is?

Alive.

You're saying the boy's alive.

But where?

Well.

What?

The boy's alive in a well.

But where?

N. Yeah. - NW.

NW.

NW-- Northwest. Northwest.

He's in a well in the northwest.

Where?

O-L-D - Old, old, old.

Old Camp.

The boy's alive in the well up in the old camp.

I got no signal for my cellular. I got to use your phone.

Where is it? - Inside.

Inside.

Good boy.

Tanner?

Tanner?

I can't believe you dragged me out here.

This better be good.

Tanner.

Over there.

Mommy, help.

Help!

Go get the rig.

We found him.

Get his mother.

He's alive.

It's OK, son.

Take it easy. Relax.

We're going to get you out.

Your mother's coming.

Tanner.

Mommy.

It's OK, sweetheart.

It's OK.

You're OK, Tanner.

You're OK, yeah?

It's OK now.

It's OK.

You're a big boy.

Tanner Jansen has been rescued and appears

to be in good condition.

Ms. Jansen, would you care to say a few words?

Yes.

I'd like to thank all the good people out

there for volunteering and helping me

through this terrible crisis.

God bless you.

And I'd like to give a special thanks to you, Mr. McBride,

for helping me find my son.

Thank you.

I'm just glad the boy is OK.

Well, this was a story that certainly

ended on a happy note.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow when I

reveal how I was led to Tanner.

Until then, Gerald McBride, WRX News.

OK, so who supplied the lead.

Let's just say I got it straight

from the horse's mouth.

Could this story possibly be true?

Can an animal possess psychic powers?

Doesn't the Farmer's Almanac base mysteriously accurate

predictions on animal behavior?

And haven't dogs and cats been known to predict earthquakes?

But this story o an equine psychic,

is it an honest retelling of an actual event?

Or is it a horse of a different color?

Coming up, we'll find out which of our stories

tonight were fact and which were fiction

when Beyond Belief returns.

Now it's time to see which of our stories

are based on actual events and which

are total works of fiction.

The tale of the woman who was saved by the high beams

of a truck, true or false?

Oh, no.

Where's the damn phone?

Was this story based on an actual event?

No way. It's a made up tale.

Let's look at the story of the bag lady

with the magic costume.

Whoa.

Hang on there.

It's a bird.

It's a plane.

It's super jerk.

Nice cape.

Hey, super jerk, where do I get one of these?

Easy.

We missed you too.

What is that?

Mighty Man.

Mighty Man. Nice cape, though.

You know, I'm telling you, that is great.

This time, we're taking your underwear.

Did you think this story of sudden strength and courage

was real?

You're right.

It happened, according to firsthand interviews conducted

by author Robert Tralins.

Now what about the tale of the teacher

whose life was saved by the ghost of a dead student?

Did you write this essay?

Are you Rudy Hernandez?

Just answer me. Are you Rudy Hernandez?

Look, I'll call someone.

No, don't take another step.

Did you guess the story of the students spirit was fictional?

You're right.

It never happened.

Let's take another look at the child

whose scribblings turned out to be a message in shorthand.

This is really weird.

I mean, look at these.

These are words.

First village trust.

First Village Trust, that's a bank.

Uh, huh, there's one in town.

And these, these are numbers, 1104.

Maybe a bank account number?

I don't know what's going on.

But you have to go find out.

You said Peters?

Potter.

Earl Potter, P-O-T-T-E-R, Potter.

Yes, it seems to your late husband

kept a safe deposit box here.

Did you think this was inspired by an actual event?

Yes, it was.

The horse with psychic powers, what

was your opinion of this story?

NW, NW, Northwest, Northwest.

He's in a well in the Northwest.

Where?

O-L-D.

The Old, old, old.

Old camp.

Did a horse like this one really exists.

Yes.

This story happened.

So how accurate did your perception turn out to be?

Were you able to identify fact from fiction?

Or have we once again demonstrated

that certain things in life can never be explained?

They are the events that we must classify as beyond belief.

I'm Jonathan Frakes.

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Belief, Fact or Fiction.