Original subtitles

Beyond Fact or Fiction.

Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.

Tonight, your challenge is to separate what

is true from what is false.

Five stories, some real, some fakes.

Can you judge which are fact and which are fiction?

To find out, you must enter a world

of both truth and deception, a world that is beyond belief.

We've all heard the phrase, "two heads

are better than one."

But does one head ever take the place of two?

Take this picture.

The only head in sight belongs to former first lady,

Lady Bird Johnson.

But whose body does head belong to?

The lady on the left or the one on the right?

This is an object lesson for judging our story tonight.

Where the real truth lies may remain a mystery.

You'll find out which stories are true

and which are false at the end of the show.

As you may know, it's a difficult challenge,

but we thought you'd appreciate a heads up.

Do you have a favorite hiding place for money or valuables?

Some people use ordinary household items like these.

Some, more ingenious methods like this hollowed out book.

And some put their trust in more secure objects,

objects strong enough to withstand

flood, fire, even earthquakes.

Dirk Sidwell has recently married Cassie Youngstown.

He's heard that her late husband kept his fortune

hidden in a box like this.

Oh, don't get Dirk wrong, he's a completely devoted husband--

completely devoted to finding the cash.

Cassie Youngston's husband,

Milo, had died in a thrasher accident two years ago.

He left Cassie lonely, but very well off with a thriving dairy

farm and no financial worries.

Cassie was afraid she'd never meet

anyone who could replace Milo.

And then, Dirk Sidwell came into her life.

Cassie had met Dirk at the local church

only a few weeks earlier.

Dirk was just a two-bit hustler, but to a woman like Cassie,

he was Prince Charming in a pickup truck.

I love you, baby.

I love you more.

That's just not possible.

Jake Rudolph, the farm foreman,

didn't like Dirk.

He knew that Dirk had heard the rumor

about Cassie's first husband.

The story was that Milo didn't trust banks

and he kept close to a million dollars

in an iron strongbox hidden somewhere on the property.

You are one special woman, Cassie.

I want you to know, my late husband would

have blessed this marriage.

We never had any children and he was so

afraid of leaving me all alone.

You'll never alone again, baby cheeks.

You're so sweet and good, Dirk.

What's wrong?

I hate to bring this up now, Cass, in the middle

of our honeymoon and all.

But I'm a little low on cash and I was wondering if you

had any money around the house?

Well sure, honey.

You don't have to get up.

Just tell me where it is.

I don't mind.

Is uh, $20 enough?

Uh, sure.

That'll be fine.

I feel bad, having asked for this.

I want you to know, I'm going to earn my keep around here.

I already talked to my foreman Jake

about teaching you the dairy business.

You can start tomorrow.

Cassie, I am really looking forward to learning everything

there is to know about the farm, but can't it

wait a couple of weeks?

We are in the middle of our honeymoon, baby cheeks.

Leave it to me to marry a hopeless romantic.

Cassie really believed

that Dirk was in love with her.

But the only thing on his mind was

finding that hidden metal box and a million dollars inside.

Every time Cassie would go into town,

Dirk would take the opportunity to search for the strongbox.

Ah!

Ah, damn!

Ah.

JONATHAN FRAKES Dirk

had been looking for over a week and he was getting frustrated.

Jake.

How you doing?

What are you doing there?

I was checking for dry rot.

Everything's fine.

Dirk Dirk.

Dirk.

I'm here to help you.

Who are you?

What do you want?

I know what you're after, and I can take you to it.

Follow me if you want the money.

I'm over here, Dirk.

OK.

Where's the strongbox?

That's all you care about.

Who are you?

I'm Milo Youngston, and I want you to leave my Cassie alone.

Yeah right.

I don't know who you are, pal, who what you're up to,

but Milo Youngston's dead.

Now, if you know where the strongbox is,

you better tell me.

You'll never find it.

Then you're dead.

Where are you?

Where'd you go?

I'm over here baby cheeks.

Over here.

Dirk, I'm up here.

Ah!

Dirk!

Oh!

Don't cry, Cass.

Jake, how could this happen?

It's just an accident.

That's all.

JONATHAN FRAKES In time,

Cassie Youngston learned that all Dirk Sidwell

really wanted was her money.

But Dirk was chasing an empty dream.

Unlike her first husband Milo, Cassie did believe in banks.

And right after Milo died, she removed the million dollars

from the strongbox and put it directly

into her mutual fund account.

Who was it that led Dirk to his untimely demise?

Was it really the ghost of Cassie's late first husband?

If not, then who led Dirk into the barn that night?

Did the foreman Jake have something to do with all this?

But if the apparent ghost was real, why

was Dirk unable to shoot him?

And how do you explain the fact that the box

fell at just the right time?

Is this story of greed based on reality for all to see?

Or have we stashed the truth away in a locked box?

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

at the end of our show.

Next, three girls solve a frightening mystery on Beyond

Fact or Fiction.

Let me show you a picture.

Study it for a few moments.

Now how reliable an eyewitness would you make?

What color were the man's eyes?

What about his hair?

How long was his hair?

Did he have any identifying scars, mustache, beard,

glasses?

What kind of clothes was he wearing?

Police rely on descriptions to track down criminals,

but very often the eyewitness accounts are inaccurate.

In many cases there are no eyewitnesses at all.

Three high school students are about to find out

how crucial a witness can be, and their reliable source

is truly beyond belief.

This is supposed to be better than Spirits

Within or any of the sequels.

- Hey, guys. - Hey.

I got the pictures from the party.

Cool.

That's a good one of you.

Oh my god, I look so fat.

I should never stand next to Melissa.

She looks like a model.

Where is she anyways?

Ah, Melissa's always late.

Come on, let's go in.

She can find us by following your screams.

I can't believe you made me miss the last 20 minutes.

I told you, I don't like scary movies.

Something's going on.

Come on, let's go.

Hey, what happened?

There's been a shooting.

Was it a drive-by?

Sometimes we see gangs around here.

Did you girls see any tonight?

No.

We were in the movie.

I'm going to need to take your names anyway.

I might have some questions for you later.

Melissa.

It's been two weeks and the police

still don't know who did it.

This is awful.

I wish there was something we could do.

I miss Melissa so much.

I can't believe they haven't found

anybody who saw it happen.

Yeah.

Seems like the only witness was poor Melissa.

Maybe there is something we can do.

Let's all meet back here tonight after dark.

We wish to summon the spirit of our friend Melissa,

and ask the spirit world to allow a door

to open between our dimensions.

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

If you are there, Melissa, please rap once.

What just happened?

Turn on a light!

OK, that is so not funny.

What?

I am doing this to help Melissa

and you two are trying to scare me?

I didn't write that.

Me either, I swear.

Then, she's really here.

- We shouldn't have done this. - I've got to go.

No, wait!

If we summoned Melissa's spirit, we're

not going to abandon her now.

Melissa, if you're here and if there's any way, please--

please tell us who fired the shot that killed you.

You've reached the Butlers.

We're not home right now.

Please leave a message after the beep.

It's someone on a cell phone.

No, listen.

See all.

See all?

What's that supposed to mean?

Jessie Hall.

Jessie Hall.

It's Melissa.

You guys, it's Melissa.

She's telling us the name of her killer.

Jessie Hall.

Jessie Hall, that's the guy that got

kicked out of school for having a gun in his locker.

Yeah, I heard he joined a gang, even shaved his head.

We've got to call the police.

They're going to think we're nuts if we say,

Melissa's ghost called us.

I-- I just won't give them my name.

I'll say there was a witness, I just won't say it was Melissa.

Detective Patterson.

We spoke the night of the shooting.

Oh, yeah.

Hi.

I stopped by to let you know we found

your friend Melissa's killer.

An anonymous tip led to the arrest

of Jessie Hall, a gang member.

He confessed while in custody.

Ms. Butler, did you know when a call comes into 911,

the caller's address is displayed on a computer screen.

Oh, I guess I didn't.

But I'm not the witness.

I made a call for a friend.

Well then you did the right thing,

and your friend is very special.

Yeah, she was.

Could Melissa really have been the key witness

in her own murder?

Did the seance really work?

Or was one of the girls harboring a terrible secret?

One which she used the seance to reveal?

Or did the three girls imagine they

were hearing their dead girlfriend's message?

Does this story sound like a lie?

Or does it capture the spirit of truth?

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

at the end of our show.

Next, a good Samaritan and a strange reward on Beyond

Fact or Fiction.

There's a popular philosophy that says, if a good deed has

been done for you, the best way to express thanks is by doing

a good deed for someone else, which

brings us to the small town of Good Samaritan.

It's not that good deeds necessarily happen here,

it's the opportunity that keeps rising.

Cal Russert is about to enter the town of Good Samaritan,

and opportunity is about to knock.

I hope he's OK.

I'm sure he's fine.

He just ate something he shouldn't of ate.

Cal Russert and his wife

Rosie were visiting friends near the town of Good Samaritan

when they got a call from their babysitter.

Their only child, Cal Jr. had suddenly taken ill

with stomach problems.

It's the last time I leave him with that babysitter.

It ain't her fault. You know little Cal.

I know.

I'll just feel better when we get home.

We'll be home in no time.

JONATHAN FRAKES Cal's job

was driving 18-wheelers, and he knew the roads in the area

like the back of his hand.

What's that?

Oh, Cal, it looks bad.

Real bad.

You wait here.

Well be careful!

Cal had some basic training

in first aid and life-saving techniques,

but he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle this situation.

Hey!

Hey, can you hear me?

I got to get him out of there.

Cal!

Are you all right?

Stay in the truck, Rose!

How is he?

There's no heartbeat and he's not breathing.

Come on!

Come on, breathe!

Come on!

Oh, god, Cal, you did it!

You did it!

You did it.

Take it easy, buddy.

You're going to be all right.

We're going to get you to a hospital.

Thank you.

I'll pull the truck over.

All right.

Hang in there.

You're going to make it.

JONATHAN FRAKES Cal Russert

saved the life of Sam Singley that day,

on a lone stretch of road on the outskirts

of the town of Good Samaritan.

Five years later, the opportunity to pay

the good deed forward occurred.

- I hope he's all right. - Don't worry.

We'll be home soon.

JONATHAN FRAKES Sam Singley,

the man who was given the gift of life

through a stranger's good deed, was rushing home with his wife

to tend to their sick child.

Sam, what is that?

Be careful, Sam.

Hey!

Hey, you OK?

Are you OK?

Sam, are you all right?

Just stay in the truck.

There's diesel fuel leaking.

Be careful!

It can't be.

No heartbeat.

It's not working.

Come on, breathe.

Come on, breathe!

You're going to be all right.

You'll going to make it.

Is he all right?

Yeah, we got to get him to a hospital.

You save his life, Sam.

That's not the half of it.

This is Cal Russert, the same man that

saved my life five years ago.

Could this story be true?

Could a man whose life was saved by a good Samaritan end

up saving that same man's life years later?

Was this simply an amazing coincidence,

or did fate actually brings Sam to the right place

at exactly the right time?

In looking for reality, should we stop here for the truth,

or should we just keep on trucking?

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

at the end of our show.

Next, a woman is haunted by a terrifying dream on Beyond

Fact or Fiction.

Since the earliest days of civilization

there have been people who claim to interpret dreams.

Books such as this one offers some examples.

If you dream of flames, it can indicate passion.

Dream of money, you may be expressing personal power.

A dream about driving might be a statement of independence--

pleasant enough diversion.

But sometimes dreams go beyond mere symbols.

Sometimes they can take hold of your entire life.

Witness the strange case of Ivanna Turner.

BRIAN TURNER My wife

Ivanna had been having bad dreams

ever since she was a child.

I always thought the nightmares were a reaction

to her troubled childhood.

Ivanna was born in the Soviet Union,

but defected to this country with a grandmother

when she was only six, right after the death of her parents.

I thought you said you were going

to quit when you turned 30.

I still have one day left.

Hey, surprise, my birthday girl.

I made reservations at Giuseppe's.

No, I can't.

Oh, hey, look I know you think it's expensive

but you only turned 30 once.

Brian, it's very thoughtful of you,

but I just want to stay home.

Come on, you deserve a night of fun.

Julie and Doug said they'd join us.

I said no!

What's going on Ivanna?

It is the dreams that are bothering you

or is it something else?

I'm going to die on my birthday, Brian.

Is see it in my nightmares, over and over.

All these years, it's the same nightmare.

What?

Well what is it you see?

It's my 30th birthday, and I hear this loud noise,

like a popping sound.

There's a flame, and then I hear this horrible screeching.

And then I'm laying on the floor.

Brian, I see my own death.

While Ivanna played with her friend

Julie's son, I talked to Julie.

She's so good with children.

Ivanna was born to be a mother.

I'd like to start a family right now

but Ivanna's been reluctant.

It's because the nightmare isn't it?

Well, I'm glad she finally told you.

She doesn't want to get pregnant because she

thinks she's going to die.

Brian, Ivanna needs you to be understanding about this.

I'm trying to be but, I'm confused as to why a dream

would upset her so much.

But Ivanna doesn't believe that it's just a dream.

She thinks is a premonition, just like the one she

had about her parents death.

When Ivanna was a child, she had a recurring

nightmare that her parents were going to be killed.

It happened, Brian, just like she saw it in her dreams.

It was almost midnight,

and we'd stayed in all night waiting for the day to end.

Sorry I couldn't arrange better weather

for your birthday.

In the dream I never saw it as a stormy night.

Well that's a good thing, right?

I'm sorry I never told you sooner.

I thought you'd worry or think I was crazy.

Why are you so good to me?

Because I love you.

Honey, it's just a storm.

That noise, that popping sound,

I heard it in my nightmare.

A transformer blew, knocked out the lights.

It can't hurt you.

The flame-- the flame was in the nightmare too.

Ah!

Brian, it's happening!

The screeching sound was in the nightmare too.

Ivanna, listen to me. Listen to me.

It's just a car alarm.

The wind set it off.

OK, look, two minutes until midnight, and your birthday's

over.

What could happen in two minutes?

OK?

I'm sorry.

- It's all right. - I'll be OK.

OK.

Now, sit down.

Sit here.

OK.

I'm going to go shut the car alarm off.

I'll be right back.

OK.

Ivanna!

Ivanna.

Ivanna.

Ivanna.

Despite the bruise,

Ivanna survived her birthday, and her nightmare

never came again.

One year later, Ivanna celebrated her 31st birthday,

and by then, we had a lot more to celebrate.

Ivanna had finally become pregnant

and given birth to a beautiful baby girl.

Her uncle Demetri even traveled from Russia to pay us a visit.

Oh, she is so beautiful, just like her mother.

Start thinking of your wish, doll.

I already got my wish.

We should get some pictures with your uncle and the baby.

OK.

I'll get the camera from the bedroom.

Ivanna looks radiant.

Oh, I am so glad she has found such happiness.

She was such a sad little girl.

It was tragic losing her parents when she was only five.

Five?

Ivanna's grandmother said she was six.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

I remember it well.

It was a very frightening time when they

escaped from the Soviet Union.

Her grandmother you know was, um, confused.

Oh no, no, no.

Ivanna was five.

Then Ivanna's not turning 31 today.

She's only 30?

Lucky fellow.

You get a younger wife, and you get

to live a year over with her.

BRIAN TURNER Suddenly,

the details of Ivanna's dream came flooding back--

a popping sound, the flames.

I knew I had to get to her, but it was too late.

She was dead, just like in her dream.

Medical reports show that Ivanna Turner suffered

an aneurysm, resulting in her sudden death

on her 30th birthday.

Was there really a curse on her life

communicated through her dreams?

Or did she put herself into a fatal condition?

Remember, she was a smoker.

Is this story of a deadly dream adorned with fact after fact,

or is it as bare as a birthday suit?

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

at the end of our show.

Next, party tricks turn to fear on Beyond

Fact or Fiction.

We all know the life of the party, somebody who lights up

a room simply by walking in and putting

a lampshade on their head.

I know a few tricks myself.

Now, don't try this at home.

I've been practicing for years.

Claire Natvig is a true life of the party.

Her specialty lies in tricks of mental telepathy.

With the help of her husband, George,

she dazzles all their friends.

But soon, it'll be very clear that the party's over.

George and Claire

Natvig loved to entertain their friends

with telekinetic tricks.

Let's just cleanse the air a little bit.

And if you could take your hands.

Nobody's touching the table, please.

They went to great lengths

to convince people that Claire was born with a special gift.

OK, focus.

Focus, Claire.

That's it.

OK.

The only things moving here are the hands on my watch.

Shh!

Come on, Lou, you're going to break her concentration.

OK.

Yeah that's it.

Focus.

Ah, it's moving.

Claire, that's enough.

You still have your doubts, Lou?

No.

No doubts, George. Claire, you're amazing.

Did you see the look on Lou's face?

I know.

Oh.

You were so great tonight.

No, you.

Focus, Claire, focus.

You know, I thought that was a nice touch.

It amazing me that nobody ever thinks

about looking under the table.

I know, I know.

They really want to believe that you are telekinetic.

Oh, honey.

Without your magnets, I'm nothing.

Ah, we make a good team, don't we?

I thought we left the light on inside.

Bulb must of burned out.

Yeah.

That must be it.

Hey, what's going on here?

Shut up.

Look, uh, take anything you want.

Just-- just don't hurt us, OK?

I told you to shut your mouth.

Tape him up and gag him.

George.

Come here, honey.

For the past three months,

there had been a series of home invasion robberies

in the neighborhood.

The newspaper quoted some of the victims

as saying they were beaten badly by two men in ski masks.

OK, you go upstairs.

I'm going to get everything down here.

What about the two in the garage?

I'm thinking about it.

After reading about all

those robberies, George and Claire

had a special alarm system installed

in their home that went directly to the police station.

But it was disabled by the two thieves.

George, why aren't the police here yet?

They must of disconnected the alarm.

What are we going to do?

I don't know.

What But they could come back out here and kill us.

George, stop it!

Well they do that, you know?

Look, we're going to have to try to get out.

OK?

We'll do this together.

Put you knees in front of you.

OK?

On three.

One, two, three.

Oh!

OK.

We're going to have to try to stand, OK?

One, two, three.

Push.

Oh!

Push.

OK.

OK.

We have to get that alarm to go off.

How?

Use your telekinesis.

George, that's a trick we do at parties.

I don't have any powers.

No, no, no, you're wrong, Claire.

You do have the gift.

You do.

I just never told you before because I

didn't want to scare you.

What are you talking about?

I didn't use the magnets tonight.

What?

It was all you, Claire.

You move those things on your own.

George, are you serious?

Yeah, completely.

Listen to me, you can do this, Claire.

OK.

You can save our lives.

All right.

OK, move with me.

George, I can't do it.

Yes, you can.

You can do it.

You can make this happen.

Focus, Claire.

Focus.

George.

You're doing it, honey.

What's with all the alarms?

I don't know.

You don't look so good.

I don't feel very good.

Freeze!

Criminal Denny Ryan

was arrested for armed robbery.

His partner, Milt Stevens, was taken to a local hospital.

It was discovered that some unknown electromagnetic force

had short-circuited his pacemaker.

Claire and George became neighborhood heroes.

Did Claire really used telekinetic powers

to save herself and her husband, George that night?

Or was the timing coincidentally linked to a local power surge?

George said he didn't use the magnets for their trick

at the party.

Is he telling the truth?

or desperately grasping for straws?

The fact is, Claire was never able to summon up the powers

of telekinesis again.

Did this story really happen, or was it just another mind game?

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

and which are fiction when Beyond Belief returns.

Now let's look back at tonight's stories

and find out which ones are inspired by actual events

and which ones are totally false.

Let's review the story of the husband who married for money

but wound up with an early demise.

Who are you?

I'm Milo Youngston, and I want to leave my Cassie alone.

Yeah right.

I don't know who you are, pal, or what you're up to,

but Milo Youngston's dead.

Now, if you know where the strongbox is,

you better tell me.

You'll never find it.

Then you're dead.

Where are you?

Where'd you go?

Did you think this story really happened?

Not this time.

It's a lie.

How about the story of the three teenage girls who

solved a crime through a seance?

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

Our beloved Melissa, we ask that you commune with us

and move among us.

If you are there, Melissa, please rap once.

What just happened?

Was this story based on a real happening?

Yes.

Our research shows a similar incident happened

in Michigan in the 90s.

What was your opinion of the man who saved the life

of the man who saved his life?

It can't be.

This strange story has to be fake, right?

Wrong.

It's fact.

A similar story happened to two men in the state of Texas

about 70 years ago.

What about the woman whose terrible prophecy of death

was fulfilled on her 30th birthday?

Fact or fiction?

The flame-- the flame was in the nightmare too.

Brian, it's happening.

The screeching sound was in the nightmare too.

Ivanna, listen to me. Listen to me.

It's just a car alarm. The wind set it off.

OK.

Look, two minutes until midnight, and your birthday's

over.

What could happen in two minutes?

OK?

Did you think we made this up?

You're right.

It's a fake.

The woman who found out that she actually

had the gift of telekinesis at just the right time--

how do you judge that one?

You can do this, Claire.

OK.

You can save our lives.

All right. OK.

Move with me.

I can't do it.

Yes you can.

You can do it.

You can make this happen.

Focus, Claire.

Focus.

Did you think this was real?

If you did, you were right.

It was inspired by an event that happened to a Midwestern couple

in the late 80s.

So how was your judgment tonight?

Were the differences between truth and lies clear-cut

or did they blend together?

Can we ever say with confidence which stories are fact

and which are fiction, or are we wiser to say that certain tales

are just beyond belief? I'm Jonathan Frakes.

The witness and mental are true

based on firsthand research conducted

by author Robert Trailings.

For Beyond Belief, this is Campbell Lane.