Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

(door thuds)

- The story you're about to see will be startling,

but it's based on a true experience,

something unexplainable from behind the Veil.

You know,

the world of a teenage girl can be full of wonder

and delight, but not always.

Sometimes it can become a place of confusion and terror.

And that's just what happened to Ruth Cooper.

- Looking up at the corner of the ceiling.

(tense music)

What about your arm?

Does it still hurt?

Nothing hit you there?

- No.

- You didn't bump your head?

- No, it just feels kind of full.

- Uh-huh.

Alright, you can get up now.

Go along with the nurse.

She'll take some pictures.

- Dr. Madison, what Is it?

- She appears perfectly normal.

- But why doesn't she know me, her own mother?

- There was nothing unusual about her before this morning?

- Nothing, she was perfectly alright

when we left Chicago yesterday.

- Nothing on the train or in the hotel last night?

- Not a thing.

- Well, maybe the x-rays will tell us something.

What about her father?

- He's been dead for eight years.

- Oh, I'm sorry, Ellie I didn't know.

- I've had to do everything I could for her

that's why this is so awful.

- I'm sure you have, she's a fine looking girl.

She reminds me of Ellie Hudson the last time I saw her.

(Ellie laughs)

- No, I was older when I left Greenville.

Ruthie's not even sixteen yet.

- ! know how hard this must be for you, Ellie.

- You'll do everything you can for her?

- Of course ! will.

Tell me about you, is this your first visit home?

- In twenty years, I told Ruth all about Greenville.

! wanted her to see the place where her mother was born.

(door clicks)

(door thuds)

- Why don't you wait in the outer office for a while.

I'll talk to Ruth some more.

Thank you.

Why don't you sit down here.

Now I'll have your photo in my album too,

! already have your mother's, yunno, when she was a girl.

- My mother's?

Oh, you mean Mrs. Cooper.

Doctor, who is that woman?

- ! knew her some time ago,

she used to live here in Greenville, too.

- Why am I staying with her?

- She's someone who likes you very much.

- Oh.

Can you tell me who I am?

- Are you able to remember anything?

- Well, (sighs)

Mrs. Cooper told me that I'd never been

to Greenville before, (soft music)

but on the way to your office,

well some how it seemed familiar.

- In what way?

- I felt like, like l was coming home.

- Do you have any idea where home is?

- Not really.

I just keep feeling that I've got to do something, but

(laughing)

I mean it's like, it's like when you're hungry,

but you don't know what you want to eat.

Doctor,

am I losing my mind?

- No, if you were you wouldn't be asking me that question.

Try not to worry.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?

- This morning when I woke up,

(chuckling)

1 know this is gonna sound funny but,

1 heard a voice,

a girl's voice calling me from

far away,

calling some name.

- What did the name sound like?

- ! don't know.

Well, 1 couldn't tell. ! mean it was so very far away.

(Madison laughs)

- Well, It was probably Mrs. Cooper

trying to wake you.

Sleep fools us all the time.

I'd like you to go back to the hotel now with Mrs. Cooper.

- Her, but why?

- Because she wants to help you too, alright?

You just rest, be quiet, we'll talk more later.

Will you do that for me?

- Sure, I will.

Thanks, Uncle Dar. (dramatic music)

(phone ringing) (receiver clatters)

- Hello?

Yes, Dr. Madison, this afternoon?

Yes, yes we can be ready.

(receiver clatters)

(engine rumbles)

(birds chirping)

(door thuds)

(door thuds) - All right, and here we are.

- That tree there.

And that fountain at the side of the house.

In the springtime there were always so many birds

that. - Please, Ruthie.

(footsteps tapping)

- Hello, Ira.

This is Mrs. Cooper and her,

well, the people I thought you and Martha would like to meet.

Mr. Perry - How do you do?

- [Ira] How do you do?

- [Ellie] Ruth.

(footsteps tapping)

- We will find Martha in the living room.

(footsteps tapping)

- Oh, your leg seems worse again.

- You're Mrs. Cooper?

- Yes.

- Oh, do come in, please.

- How's your golf, lra?

- My, after twenty years you must see a great change

in Greenville. You know we love

this little town, but ! wish I could see it

through fresh eyes again like yours.

- Well, I really haven't had a chance

to look around very much,

but I'm sure Ruth is gonna love it.

Ruth.

Dear.

l was just telling Mrs. Perry

that I'm sure you're gonna love Greenville.

- [Ruth] Oh, yes 1 love this town.

- Well, charming. Most girls your age

would prefer the excitement of a big city.

And Chicago is a fascinating place.

The last time I was in Chicago was five years ago.

- Maybe we better not leave Peggy's picture around?

- Well, 1 don't think Martha will let anybody change that.

- Frightened? (dog whimpering)

- [Ellie] No, but perhaps, 1 don't know exactly

what you mean.

(twinkling music) - Oh, no, no.

- Frightened is the wrong word.

Awed is a better word.

(dog yelps)

- [Ruth] Hello, Duffer, hello.

Oh, hello, hello. (sentimental music)

How've you been?

- Why Duffer acts as though he knew her.

- Of course, dogs often react that way

to people who like them.

l can't explain any of this, Ira.

- Did you tell her his name?

- No.

- Then how did she know it?

- l have no idea.

You remember the nickname

that your daughter used to call me?

- Yes.

- Four hours ago in my office this girl called me Uncle Dar.

Nobody ever called me that but Peggy.

- Could they possibly have met before, before Peggy died?

- No, she's never been here before.

1 don't know how. - My ballerina.

- No. (music box plays)

Well, I'm afraid dear it isn't yours,

it, it was given to my own little girl years ago.

- Well, look at her arm.

Oh, mother when was it broken?

(gentle music)

Come on, come on. (water splashing)

Right here.

- Has the girl any chance of recovery?

- Yes, she has a chance.

But I think a great deal may depend on you and Martha.

- On us?

- Ira, ! would like her to come and stay here

with you for a while.

- Live here?

- Yes, I think it's important.

I think it may help to reduce her anxiety and uncertainty.

- How?

Is it some sort of treatment?

- Well, it's, it's one approach.

You saw how she reacted to Martha and you.

The dog, the ballerina, she seems to be following

a definite pattern.

(birds chirping) (water splashing)

In some cases, it's the only thing that's helping.

- [Ruth] Come on sit up.

Come on, come on Duffer, come on boy.

- You're asking me to do a very difficult thing.

! should have to know some more about those other cases.

- Let's go inside.

- Now turn around.

Turn around.

Turn around.

Come on, turn around.

(laughing)

This dog always has had a mind of his own.

- We're used to that around here.

- You mean ‘cause I have a mind of my own, too?

- 1 wasn't thinking of you, dear.

- [Ruth] Come on, come on, oh you're so good.

You're so good.

- Did you have a garden in Chicago, Mrs. Cooper?

- Oh, no.

- Get the ball, go get it. (water trickling)

Come on, go get it.

Go on.

Come on.

You come back here this minute

or I'll put you in the closet, again.

(dramatic music)

- Would you excuse me, please.

(water splashing)

- Come on, Duffer, come on.

- 1 suppose you've considered every angle of this.

- How do you mean?

- Well, there's always the possibility

they've tried to put something over on us.

- When I first examined her,

she was actually suffering the same pains

that Peggy suffered the night she fell down those stairs

and died.

I don't think they're trying to put anything over on us.

- No, I guess you're right.

She's so like her.

- Of course I haven't told Mrs. Cooper yet

! want the girl to stay here.

- If she does stay here, would it be bad for Martha?

- No, it might even do her good.

Providing of course she doesn't get so emotionally involved

with the girl that she can't let her go.

She'd have to lose her eventually.

- [Ellie] Dr. Madison.

- I'l have a word with Martha,

if she says yes, I'll talk to you.

(Somber music)

- Dr. Madison, can anything be done for her? Anything?

- Perhaps, I certainly hope so.

But it may mean you'll have to make a great sacrifice.

- Oh, the money doesn't matter.

No matter what it costs, I'll get the money somehow.

- 1 don't mean money, Ellie.

- What do you mean?

- You will have to let Ruth come and live here

with the Perrys a while.

- You mean give her up?

- Just temporarily.

But I can't tell you yet for how long.

- Oh, but I can't do that, you can't ask me to do that.

Does that mean you know what's wrong with her?

- No, I don't, Ellie.

But I think this may give us a chance to find out.

I think it may help Ruth to get well.

- Can I live here with her?

- No, no that wouldn't work.

But you can visit her often.

(Somber music continues)

- Will the Perrys take her?

(bright music)

- Are you sure?

- Quite sure, dear.

(water trickling) (birds chirping)

- 1 think you should be the one to tell her.

- Mrs. Cooper, let me tell her.

Dear, will you come here?

Now, how would you like to stay with us for a while?

(bright music continues)

- I'll send her things.

(dramatic music)

- There you are, dear.

(sighing)

- Oh, mother, it's so good to be home.

- Yes, of course it is, dear.

- [Ruth] Dad.

- [Martha] Ira.

- Good night.

- [Ruth] Good night.

- Good night, dear.

- Good night, mother.

(footsteps tapping)

Mother.

- Oh, darling you frightened me

I didn't hear you coming. - I'm sorry.

Mother, who is she?

- Oh, she's the daughter of a Classmate of your father's.

- She seems so familiar.

- [Martha] You've got a new hairdo haven't you?

- Oh, yes, do you like it?

- [Martha] Yes, 1 do very much.

- Mother, could I have met her somewhere?

- No.

No, you couldn't possibly have met her.

Now what have you got there, dear?

What is this?

What is it? - Oh, my wait.

1 forgot Nancy.

There, what do you think?

- What is it?

- Well, it's for my birthday party next Wednesday.

Now, mother I only wanna invite my very best friends

you see like Mary and Alice.

Uh,

what about Betty Hill, do you think

! ought to invite her too?

- Well, dear I think you should give it more thought.

Now why don't you go upstairs

and as soon as I finish the roses,

I'll come up and help you plan.

- Ooh, of course I even forgot Joyce.

1 guess I better think about it for a while.

(dramatic music)

(rotary dial whirrs)

- Dr. Madison, please.

This is Martha Perry calling.

Will, something dreadful has happened.

- Oh, what is It, Martha?

- [Martha] The girl, she wants to have a birthday party.

- What?

- She believes that next Wednesday is her birthday.

Will, that's the exact date of Peggy's birthday

and she wants to invite all of Peggy's girlfriends.

(Madison grunts)

- That is something.

- All those girls are grown women now.

Alice Brown has two children and Kate Scott is divorced,

and Mary Brown is in Germany.

- Wait a minute Martha.

Peggy didn't have any friends in on her party

on her sixteenth birthday, Joyce Martin came down with diptheria.

Peggy was exposed.

- Oh, that's, that's right.

Why Peggy was in quarantine at home.

- She may be able to recall it.

We'll just have to take a chance.

Be very careful what you say to her.

Do you want me to handle it

when I stop by tomorrow morning?

- No, I'll take care of it, 1 promised to help her plan.

- All right, be extremely careful.

- Well I'm, I'm terribly worried.

That night ten years ago l... - ! know Martha, I know.

Good luck.

And don't hesitate to call me at once

if there is anything I can do.

- Thank you. (footsteps tapping)

(receiver clatters)

- Mother, look, you were right,

imagine my forgetting Virginia.

Is that right now?

- Well, dear it's a shame you can't invite Joyce.

- Why not, mom?

- Well, Dr. Madison just phoned and said

that Joyce came down with diptheria today.

- Oh, no. - Yes.

- Mother, I was with Joyce last week,

does that mean that I've been exposed?

- Oh, I don't know dear, but we'll ask Dr. Madison

when he comes by in the morning.

(huffs)

- Well, if this means I can't have

my birthday party. - Oh, now, now, now, dear.

Even if you can't have girls your own age,

well we can plan some sort of a party.

- With who, who'd come?

- Well, now let me see, Dr. Madison would come.

And then there's Mrs. Cooper.

- Mrs. Cooper?

- Yes, you like her, don't you?

- Well, yeah I like her, but

she's such a sad woman,

she's always so unhappy and confused.

- She's very fond of you.

- Mother, maybe asking her to my party would make her happy?

- Well, of course it would, darling.

- Well, let's invite her then.

- Oh, you're a dear. (kiss smacking)

(doorbell ringing)

- [Ruth] That silly dog, when I was getting ready.

- Hello, Ira.

I'm sorry I'm late I got held up in surgery.

(door thuds)

- You missed a very good dinner.

But you're just in time for the cake.

- How's everything going?

- Well, she's a remarkable child,

there's no question of that.

Martha's grown to love her and well, so have I.

- Good.

- Every time Martha sees those stairs,

she thinks of Peggy falling.

(indistinct chatter)

- You've done wonders with her, Ira.

Her happiness at this time is very important

to her treatment.

- Even if she goes home believing that she's Peggy?

- There's no easy answer to that,

it's a risk we have to take.

- It's not easy for us.

- Ira.

Ira.

We're ready for the birthday cake.

- Hello. - Oh, Will I'm so glad

you could get here.

Will, do you know I think Peggy came back

so that this time she could really have a happy birthday.

- [Ruth] Hi, Uncle Dar.

- Oh, hello my dear, happy birthday.

- Thank you. - And many more of them.

- Oh, thank you, I'm so glad you could come.

- My isn't this table beautiful?

- You like it?

- Ruthie. - What happened?

- J Happy birthday to you I

J Happy birthday to you I

- ! Happy birthday dear Ruthie L

- [All] ? Happy birthday to you 2

It's the happiest birthday I've ever had.

- Now blow out the candles.

- Oh, but make a wish first, dear.

- Sixteen!

(Ruth and Martha blowing)

- There you are, girl. - Can we eat it?

(Ruth and Martha laughing) - Now of course there's this.

- Oh! - Oh, no, Ira

wait for that, dear. - Oh, no mother

please let me open it now. - Oh, my darling open it.

(gasping) - Oh, it's beautiful.

- Do you like it?

- Oh, look. - Oh, darling.

- Oh, may I go right up and try it on?

- No, not upstairs, dear, no.

- Oh, why not?

It'll be all right, of course go on up and try it on.

- Oh, thank you. (sentimental music)

- Please forgive me, I must.

- I'll take her home, be right back.

(door thuds)

It's all right, Ellie, I'll take you home.

- Oh, Will.

I'm terribly worried about Martha.

-Soam l.

We've got a problem on our hands.

- [ don't know how much longer I can go on with this.

That girl is still convinced that she's Peggy

and poor Martha is beginning to believe

that it's really true.

- I've got to do something right away,

I'll be back as soon as I can.

- [Martha] No, no Peggy, no.

- Why mother, what's the matter?

] just want to show Uncle Dar my ballerina.

- No! No, Peggy, no.

Stay there, don't come down.

- I've got to come down.

(ominous music) - Stay up there!

- [Martha] Oh, no!

Peggy!

(tense music) (Peggy groaning)

Peggy!

Peggy.

- You scared me, ! almost fell.

- But you're all right you didn't hurt yourself,

now did you?

- But you yelled at me and mother screamed,

why did she scream?

- She was afraid you were going to fall.

- [Martha] Ira, get Dr. Madison.

- Martha. - Please, get Dr. Madison

quickly before she dies.

- I'm not going to die, I'm not, I'm not.

(glass shatters) (Peggy crying)

- Oh! The ballerina. She broke it.

Peggy loved it so.

(Peggy crying) (tense music)

- Who are you?

Where's my mother?

(gentle music)

- You've been visiting with us, friends of your mother.

Now let's go home and give her a surprise.

- How could Ruth assume the identical personality

of the Perry's daughter, whom she had never met?

And even know the name of her dog and of her friends.

Was it because the spirit of the dead girl

did take possession of Ruth during her fantastic experience?

(inhaling)

Well, these are questions for which

with all our knowledge, we have no sure answers.

What do you think?

(eerie music)

(dramatic music)