Original subtitles

(eerie music)

- Good evening.

Tonight, I'm going to tell you another strange

and unusual story of the unexplainable,

which lies behind the Veil.

Our story concerns the Haney family.

For over 200 years, a Haney had worked this same land,

now it belonged to John and Emma Haney.

Everything considered it had been a good life,

uneventful, perhaps even dull, but it suited them.

For over forty years, they have lived in the same house,

and for those forty years,

the land had been good to them.

Its abundance had fed them and clothed them.

and helped to raise two sons, John Junior and James.

This was home, they couldn't be happy any place else.

Their only desire was to spend the rest of the time

remaining to them here,

here where they had come so many years ago

as man and wife. (fire crackling)

Simple, down to earth people,

the Haneys were not given to flights of fancy,

but who is not awed and troubled in the presence of death.

(moody music)

- [Pa] Emma.

- Yes, John.

John?

(knocking on door)

(water splashing)

(knocking on door)

- All right, all right, I'm coming.

Jamie.

- Well, you're gonna keep me out here all night?

- No.

Come in, Jamie.

- Hi Ma.

- Jamie.

Oh, Jamie.

- You've changed, Johnny.

Still not having any fun, are ya?

- [John] Running the farm by yourself,

doesn't leave much time for fun, Jamie.

- [Ma] John's been working awful hard, Jamie.

- He would.

Old, dependable Johnny.

- Let me fix you something to eat.

- No thanks, Ma, I ate in town.

- Well, some coffee then and a piece of pie?

- All right.

Just a small piece, Ma.

- ! knew you'd get here in time, Jamie.

Pa's been asking and asking for ya.

- He has, huh?

Probably wants to whale the tar outta me.

- Oh, Jamie.

- Alright Ma,

guess I might as well see him.

- Yeah, might as well, Jamie.

No use making the trip for nothing, is there?

(thudding upstairs)

(dramatic music)

- John! - Pa.

- John. - He's all right.

Take his feet, Jamie, we'll get him back to bed.

- Pa?

Pa, it's me, Jamie.

Pa?

(Pa murmuring)

What'd you say, Pa?

(Pa groaning)

- Did he make much sense?

- No, just mumbling.

- He's been like that for two days now.

- He knew you, Jamie, I know he did.

- Sure,

sure he did, Ma.

Let's go downstairs.

- Go on, Johnny, I'll be down in a minute.

(dramatic music)

(door thuds)

- How'd it happen?

- His horse stumbled and fell on him.

- Old as he is, you'd think he'd have more sense.

- Jamie, where have you been all this time?

- All over,

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,

kept moving.

- For ten years?

- Well, you know me, Johnny Boy.

- I'm a little surprised you came back.

- [Ma] Johnny. - Why shouldn't I?

Oh, ! get it, you're still sore because

1 took off and you had to stay here and do the work.

Well, you could have gotten out too.

- And who'd have run the farm,

or did you forget that Pa was too old even then?

- All right, all right, so hate me,

but don't forget I was only seventeen years old,

how much was 1 supposed to know?

- You knew enough to steal every cent Pa had in the house.

- Stop it!

Stop it right now.

- No, let him get it off his chest.

So that's it, eh?

So that's what's been griping you all these years.

Well, let me tell you something, ! didn't steal anything,

that money belonged to me.

- It did, huh?

Just how do you figure that, Jamie?

- You know how I figure it.

Ever since I was ten years old,

Pa had me doing a work of a hired hand,

only I never got the money a hand would get,

only my food and your hand-me-down clothes.

He owed me that money.

- And how about me, Jamie?

What was I doing all those years you were working

your poor little fingers to the bone?

l was having a picnic, huh?

- That's your problem, Johnny Boy.

If you had any gumption,

you'd have beat me to the cashbox.

- Enough! I won't have any more of this in my house!

You oughta be ashamed, both of you.

Your father's dying right over your heads,

and you stand there fighting like animals.

Jamie, I'm gonna fix up your old room.

When you're finished,

you march yourself upstairs and go to bed,

and you, Johnny, not another word.

Remember, you're brothers.

! just don't understand what gets into you.

- Here Ma, let me help you.

- Thank you.

- Tell me the truth, Jamie,

just for once.

Why did you come back?

- You never were very bright, were you, Johnny?

All right, I'll tell ya.

Your telegram got to me at the right time.

I'm broke, and I figured in ten years

the old man had enough time to build up another pile.

- You make me sick to my guts, Jamie!

- You should be standing here.

Take a look at yourself, Johnny.

You're only three years older than l am

and anybody would take you to be my father.

You should be sick.

- You outsmarted yourself this time, Jamie.

You made the trip for nothing.

If Pa dies, you don't get a dime.

(Somber music)

- I'll fix something to eat.

- Nothing for me, thanks Emma,

] just wanted to see if there's anything I could do.

May be some delay in settling the estate

on account of your father not leaving a will.

- He did leave a will, Mr. Atterbury.

- That's funny, ! was his lawyer, I didn't draw it.

He drew it himself.

May I see it?

- Yes sir.

(paper rustling)

- It leaves everything to you Johnny,

knowing that as head of the family,

you will take care of your mother and young brother.

- Johnny, I'm so glad.

- Wait a minute, let me see that.

- It seems legal, should save us quite a bit of time.

- Not legal enough.

I'm afraid I'll have a big surprise for you, Johnny Boy.

- What's this?

- Read it.

(paper rustling)

- "To my youngest son James,

! leave all my worldly possessions,

and trust that he will provide for his mother

as long as she lives.

And it is my hope that he will do what is fair

for my oldest son, his brother John Junior."

- And which is the legal one?

- Yours is dated August the eighth, 1892.

Jamie's dated July 14th,

98.

Jamie's the one that'll stand up in court.

Can't imagine what he was thinking about, two wills!

- John knew what he was doing.

- 1 Know what he was thinking,

you knew his temper, Mr. Atterbury.

Pa and me had a real knockdown and drag out

of my wanting to enlist for Cuba.

He said I'd be sorry if l went.

(hands pat) Well.

- Why all the sour faces?

Ma has nothing to worry about,

and you know I'll take care of you Johnny Boy.

- Mm-hm, I'm sure you will, Jamie.

- Mr. Atterbury, (pot clanks)

how long will it take for all the legal stuff to clear up?

- What's your hurry, Jamie?

- Well, 1 thought I'd put the farm on the market

as soon as I can.

- Jamie, you're not gonna to sell the farm,

it's our home.

- Oh, now, Ma,

you know, I'm not cut out to be a farmer.

Besides, we ought to get a good price

for it right about now.

- But Jamie--

- Where will Ma go, Jamie?

- Don't worry about that, I'll take care of her.

- Where Jamie?

- Well you always wanted to visit Aunt Martha in Kansas,

now's your chance.

- Oh, but Jamie, that was only for a visit.

I can't imagine living any place but here.

- When she gets back from a visit, what then, Jamie?

- Well Ma deserves a rest.

You know, at her age, she oughta take it easy.

! thought we'd get a room for her at Mrs. Chalmers’.

- That's nothing but a home for old folks.

- You'd like it, Ma.

You wouldn't have to work anymore,

and there'd be people your own age to talk to.

- Yunno what ] mean, Johnny.

- Sure, I know what you mean, Jamie.

To get her off your hands for the rest of your life,

you'd like her to sit on a porch and rot.

- That's what I get for being a nice fella.

Well, this is my farm,

Pa left it to me and I'll do what I like.

If Ma don't do what I want,

Okay, you can take care of her.

- Why you dirty little... - Johnny!

- [Mr. Atterbury] Stop it you two!

- You hit me, you won't get a cent!

- Johnny, stop!

Listen to me!

Jamie's right,

l have been working too hard.

I'm tired.

You know I wanna see Martha again

and when I come back, I'd like to live at Mrs. Chalmers.

I, it, 1 think it'd be very nice.

- Alright Ma.

I'll be good.

- Mr. Atterbury, how do we go about breaking that will?

- ! wouldn't try that, Johnny.

- Well, I don't know, Johnny.

Your father was of sound mind when he wrote it.

- Well how about the part about taking care of Ma?

You call throwing her into a home, taking care of her,

you know Pa didn't mean that.

- Well, there could be a chance of

stopping the sale of the farm

or preventing the dissipation of the assets

during your mother's lifetime.

- Don't you worry about Ma, I'll take care of her.

You just mind your own business.

Now I'll tell you something, get outta my house.

- Jamie, he's your brother.

- Then why don't he act it?

He's been beating on me ever since I got here.

You heard him.

Now this is my house and I want you outta here.

- Johnny, he's upset.

Maybe for a little while,

til he cools off.

- Will you take the case, Mr. Atterbury?

- Yes, Johnny,

I'll take it.

- Alright Jamie,

I'll get out of your house, for now.

Have your fun while you can.

(door slams) (intense music)

- In the matter of the estate of George Haney,

petition for order confirming sale

of real property of the estate.

- Ready for petitioner, Your Honor.

- Ready for the contestant, Your Honor.

- All right gentlemen, you may proceed.

- May it please the court,

all of the statutory facts necessary

for the court's approval of the sale

are alleged in the verified petition of Mr. James Haney,

the duly-appointed executor of the estate.

The estate consists entirely of the farm which is being sold

and the price offered exceeds the appraised value.

It is to the best interest of the estate

to convert the real property into cash

since the executor is without funds

with which to support his mother or himself,

or to meet the expenses of the administration

of this estate.

- Mr. Atterbury.

- Your Honor.

- Perhaps we can shorten the issues.

Do you propose to introduce evidence

that the sales price is too low?

- No, your Honor, it's our position it's not necessary

for the sale of this farm at all.

Haney family have worked this property for forty years

for profit.

It's Emma Haney's home,

the source of her care and comfort.

That's what John Haney meant to say in his will.

What is your own personal reason for trying

to void your father's will?

- [ have none.

- Oh, in other words then If,

if this court should declare the will invalid,

you'd make no attempt to share in your father's estate.

- No sir, I would not.

- Then why is this case been brought to trial

in the first place?

- [ just wanna make sure that my mother gets

what's rightfully hers.

- Well now, the wording of the will's quite plain,

your brother James is to take care of your mother.

Have you any doubts that he will?

- ! sure do.

- Would you tell the court what your doubts are?

- 'Cause I know Jamie, I know how he thinks.

He's a liar and a thief.

- Objection.

- Sustained.

Mr. Haney, I must warn you

that this court will not tolerate name calling.

Another outburst like that

and I will cite you for contempt.

- I'm sorry, Your Honor.

- No further questions.

- Mr. Blue?

- No questions.

- Now, it's, er,

now, nearly noon.

This court will adjourn until 2:30 o'clock.

- I gotta run Ma,

1 got a date witha customer for the farm.

- Jamie, do you have to sell?

- Yes, I have to, now don't you start on me, Ma.

1 had enough trouble with Johnny.

I'll pick you up in time for court.

(Ma sighing)

(door thuds)

(scraping plate)

(dishes clatter)

- Johnny, you shouldn't be here, if Jamie sees you--

- It's all right, Ma, I waited for him to leave.

! won't be long, I just wanna get some of my things.

- Please hurry, I don't want any more trouble!

(Suspenseful music)

- Pa!

- Johnny,

look in Genesis,

twenty-seven.

- What, what'd you say, Pa?

- Genesis,

twenty-seven.

- What about Genesis 27, Pa?

- [Ma] Johnny!

- Yeah, Ma, what is it?

- [Ma] Johnny, who you talkin' to?

(chair creaks)

- Nobody, Ma, nobody.

- [Ma] I thought I heard voices.

Are you all right, Johnny?

- Yeah, Ma, I'll be down in a minute, Ma.

(dramatic music)

Pa.

Pa?

(door thuds)

- Hey, you're ready, that's good, Ma.

- Yes, Jamie, ! don't wanna be late.

- You're not in that much of a hurry.

- Please Jamie, I wanna get there on time!

- Okay.

- Ma, Ma!

- Johnny just came to get his things.

- You got what you came for?

- [ got more than I came for.

l just talked to Pa.

- Johnny. - You what?

- You were right, Ma, you did hear voices.

- What's going on here?

- l talked to Pa and he said, look in Genesis 27.

- Genesis 27?

- That's the story of Jacob and Esau,

where Jacob stole his brother's birthright.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- That's what I'm gonna find out, where's the bible?

- Everything in this house is mine,

keep your hands out of there.

- Get away from me!

- Jamie!

Stop! - ! warned him, Ma!

(pages rustling)

What's the matter, Johnny?

(pages rustling)

Nothing in it? What'd you expect to find, a new will?

There is no other will,

and I'll tell you something else,

the next time I find you in here

even Ma ain't gonna stop me

from putting a load of buckshot in you.

Now get outta my house and stay out.

- Please go, Johnny.

- Johnny Boy?

Might as well take Genesis 27 with ya,

(bible thuds)

that's all you're gonna get.

(dramatic music) (door clicks)

- Mr. Haney, much has been made of the fact

that you wish to sell your farm and place your mother

in what has been called an old folks home.

Would you tell the court exactly what is you had in mind?

- Yes sir.

Your Honor,

my mother's worked hard all her life.

As long as I can remember she's been cooking, sewing,

washing, why she even helped in the fields

when we were shorthanded.

Up until now, we've never been able to do anything about it,

but now I can and !I want to.

- Ma, Is this the family bible?

- Of course it is.

- Didn't we used to have another one?

- Yes, your father's.

- Where is It, Ma?

- I don't know Johnny,

in the attic, ! expect.

- [Mr. Blue] Who loves his mother

and whose only wish is to see that the rest of her days

are happy ones.

- [Judge] Mr. Blue, are you making your summation

or do you intend to question your witness any further?

- [Mr. Blue] No further questions.

- Mr. Atterbury?

- 1 beg the court's indulgence.

A matter which has a bearing on this issue

requires investigation, might we recess until tomorrow?

- ! don't believe that will be necessary, Mr. Atterbury,

l have heard enough and am prepared to rule.

However, I will delay my ruling until noon tomorrow,

if within that time,

you have anything to bring to the court's attention,

1 will receive it, in Mr. Blue's presence, of course.

This court stands adjourned.

- Ready, Ma?

(paper rustling)

- If Jamie catches you in that house,

he may figure he has every right to shoot you.

- ! don't care.

Pa wasn't the kind to play practical jokes,

and I saw him as plain as I see you.

(dramatic music)

- Johnny!

What if Jamie should see you?

- I'm sorry, Ma.

- Jonas, you know he shouldn't be here.

- 1 know Emma, he's just as stubborn as his father.

- Where's Jamie?

- [ think he's in his room.

(items clattering)

(dramatic music)

1 don't want any more trouble!

- [ don't plan on causing any, Ma,

but I'm gonna have one more look around,

whether he likes it or not.

- What are you looking for?

- He's got some idea his father may have left another will.

- That bible passage, Ma, Genesis 27.

Isaac couldn't do anything about his sons,

but I think Pa did.

- No, Johnny, I'm not going to let you stay.

- You can't stop me, Ma, I'm gonna have one more look.

- Johnny, Johnny!

- Nevermind Emma, let him go, let him take his look.

Then maybe we can get him out of here before Jamie sees him.

(drawers rattle)

(Suspenseful music)

(items clattering)

- What are you doing here?

- So you figure the same way, huh Jamie?

What'd you find?

- Nothing, I told you to stay outta here.

- What are you scared of, Jamie?

What are you hiding?

- Stay away from me, I told you to stay outta here!

- I'm going to give hima couple of more minutes and then...

(dramatic music) (scuffling)

(chair clatters)

(body thuds)

(dramatic music)

- I'll kill him!

- It's murder Jamie.

They'll hang you!

- [Ma] Johnny!

(footsteps thump)

Johnny! Johnny.

- The bible, he's got it.

(Somber music)

(pages rustling)

- "l, John Haney, hereby bequeath,"

you were right Johnny, there was another will,

a later date, leaving everything to you.

This will stand up in court tomorrow.

- The reappearance of John Haney is not unique.

Over the years, many such instances

have been reported and documented.

In fact, the event on which tonight's story is based

was directly responsible for a ruling by a court of law,

the only one of its kind in our legal history.

Jonas Atterbury knew his law.

The newfound will was presented in court the next day

and accepted without delay as valid.

In leaving his estate to his eldest son,

John Haney had chosen wisely.

John Junior was not a vindictive man.

James was given an equitable share of the estate

and departed for parts unknown.

And Emma Haney was content in the knowledge

that the rest of her life would be spent in the home

that she loved. (fire crackling)

More than that, she knew that when she died,

she would rest beside her loved ones undisturbed.

For John Haney Junior, the land was a sacred trust,

not to be passed from hand-to-hand,

but held for his children and his children's children.

Science does not as yet know all that happens to us

after life leaves our bodies,

but we cannot say with certainty

that there is no explanation of what you have just seen.

We can only assume that there may well be one.

Please join me again for another journey into the world

of the unexplainable, that lies behind the Veil.

Good night.

(eerie music)

(dramatic music)