White Noise (2005) - full transcript
The car of successful author Anna Rivers is found disabled next to the river, the thought being that she accidentally fell into the river while trying to change a flat tire. Her dead body is found upstream several weeks later, consistent with the accidental death theory. Based on incidents around him, her grieving husband, architect Jonathan Rivers, decides several months later to visit with Raymond Price, who approached John prior to Anna's body being found with news that she was trying to contact him from beyond. At that time, John was skeptical of Raymond's claims of electronic voice phenomena (EVP): that he is contacted from the beyond through electronic means - radio, television - which he is able to record. Along with Sarah Tate, another of Raymond's "clients" whose fiancé passed away, John becomes obsessed with EVP as he gets more and more audio and video messages, however fuzzy, from Anna from beyond. That obsession takes a slight change in focus when John believes that Anna is trying to pass along information to help others. But the nature of those messages and their connection to Raymond in combination with John learning that not all good comes through EVP leads to the possible belief that he dabbling in EVP in and of itself may be dangerous and the cause of those potentially deadly issues in which he is supposed to assist in helping. John has to decide whether or not to continue with his work in EVP, not continuing which means that he may actually prevent bad things from happening, and continuing which means that he gets his much wanted connection with Anna.
'More rain tomorrow
with the chance of thunderstorms...'
Mikey, quit playing, get ready for school.
Come on, start eating. Your mom's
gonna pick you up in 10 minutes.
- Hey, were you messing with this?
- No.
No! Bet you were.
I bet you were fooling around.
- I'll get it.
- All right.
Hello.
Hi, Jane.
- Mikey, you want more juice?
- Sure.
- Here you go.
- Yeah, no problem.
OK. See ya.
- Jane can't make it.
- Why not?
- She didn't say.
- Didn't say what?
- Your mom can't pick you up.
- Does that mean I miss school?
No! It means I take you instead.
Nice try, tiger.
It was a nice try, though.
- Where you going, baby?
- My publishers.
They're gonna show me the cover.
Wow. You look great.
You look really great.
You look really, really great.
No, John, we're late already.
And you have toothpaste
on your mouth. Right there.
- You OK?
- Yeah.
- You sure?
- Well, I might be...
more than OK.
Oh, my God in heaven.
Yes! Yes, yes!
This could be wrong. I'll do another one.
- Let's tell Mike he's getting a brother.
- Wait.
I'll do another test and then see the doctor.
Congratulations, honey.
Lunch bag.
Suit bag.
Kiss.
All right. See you in a couple of days.
Say hi to your mom.
And you, take it easy.
I know.
Hey!
Bye. I love you.
See you later. Don't worry.
- Hi, Kelvin.
- How you doing?
- Mr. Rivers.
- Hey.
Frank asked if you'd call
as soon as you're in.
Oh. Sure.
Wow.
- Wow what?
- You. You're smiling.
Is that a big deal that I'm smiling?
- It is on a Monday morning, yeah.
- Really?
- Really.
- OK.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Karen,
order me a bouquet of flowers
for the end of the day, lilies.
And champa... No, not champagne,
get me chocolates.
Those Belgian kind.
You know? What are you looking at?
Something's up.
- Something's really up.
- Would you just...
- I'm going.
- Thank you.
- But I know something's up.
- Frank.
Hey, babe, are you home?
'You have one message.
'Message received Monday 16th, 6:07pm.'
'Hey, honey, it's me.
So Julie's having trouble with Ben, again.'
- What's new?
- 'So I said I'd have a drink with her.
'Don't worry, I'll stick to water,
and I'll call when I'm on my way home.
'Did you see the demo cover?
What do you think?
'I was kind of thinking...'
'No messages.'
'Hi, it's Anna. Leave a message
after the beep and I will call you back.'
Hi, it's me, it's a little before midnight.
I guess you're still with Julie.
Give me a call, let me know.
All right? Love you, bye.
'Hi, it's Julie. Leave a message.'
Julie, hi, it's John. Do me a favor.
When you get this message,
have Anna give me a call.
I guess you guys are having
a good time. Thank you.
'...victim of a tragic accident.
'Police have discovered
the heel of a woman's shoe
'close to her abandoned car on Argyle Avenue.
'She may have slipped into the river
while attending to a flat tire.
'Although divers
are still searching the area,
'reported sightings
of the best-selling author
'continue to reach police
from towns up to 20 miles away.
'Police are keeping an open mind
as to her whereabouts.
'Anna Rivers' latest novel The Eternal Wait
is scheduled for release this fall
'and her husband, architect Jonathan Rivers,
'is said to be taking time out to
accompany her on her promotional tour.'
- We're gonna get going.
- OK.
Come on, Michael.
- Mark'll be home in a minute, so...
- OK. OK.
- Come on, pal, say goodbye to your dad.
- Come here.
Be a good boy. Take care of your mom.
Go get your stuff.
Hey, there's a bed at our place
if you want it.
Oh, thanks. Jane,
you don't have to put yourself out for me.
I know I wasn't a very good...
OK.
'It's ten days now since international
author Anna Rivers' car was found...'
'Although police still suspect
she could have drowned,
'they are not ruling out
the possibility of abduction.
'Architect husband Jonathan Rivers
spoke of his anguish today...'
'Three weeks since the disappearance
of author Anna Rivers...'
'Police say they are constructing
a profile of a likely abductor.'
'Distraught husband, Jonathan Rivers...'
'...had this message for anyone
who may know of her whereabouts.'
'It's, er, difficult.
'But you never give up hope, ever.
'It's the only way to get by.'
I got 50 guys and thousands of dollars'
worth of equipment waiting,
so if you want to tell them
to wait a month, call me.
- My goodness.
- You were outside my house.
- I'm sorry.
- You were outside my house
and now you're outside my office.
Don't insult my intelligence
by telling me that's a coincidence.
No, it's no coincidence.
Do I know you?
My name is Raymond Price.
- Are you following me?
- It's about Anna, Mr. Rivers.
I've been receiving messages from her,
from the other side.
From what other side?
Jonathan...
your wife is dead.
I have proof, Mr. Rivers.
She's been trying to communicate
ever since the moment of her death.
Look, Mr. Rivers, my son died when he was 12.
- For years I've been suicidal.
- Look. Just stay away from me.
But then someone told me
what I have told you.
That my son, my dead son, had made contact.
And he had, Mr. Rivers, it was true.
From the other side.
And he was happy. Happy.
Please. Yes. And also at ease.
And it changed my life, Mr. Rivers,
because then, then I knew.
So please, please, Mr. Rivers,
put this in a drawer, hide it,
forget about it,
but please don't throw it away.
Because, one day...
you will want to know.
My thoughts are with you both.
'It's Anna Rivers.
'The fabulous Anna Rivers
carrying groceries.'
- 'Stop it.'
- 'How was shopping?'
- 'Turn it off.'
- 'OK. Just...
- 'There's one of her best features.'
- 'Shut up.'
'That's a beautiful thing,
ladies and gentlemen.'
'The body of internationally
renowned author Anna Rivers
'was discovered last night by a security
guard making a routine visit...'
'...to the disused pier 16,
three miles upriver
'from where her car was found abandoned
'five weeks ago on Argyle Avenue.
'The discovery brings to an end...'
'Before she drowned,
'your wife sustained injuries consistent
with a fall onto the rocks by the river.
'The damage to the head,
the break to the arm.
'When the tide came in, she would have been
unable to help herself.
'She would have been swept upstream
several miles.
'I'm so sorry for your loss.'
'Divers recovered her personal effects.
'Her cell phone was in her car,
and we're returning it to you.'
...giving her to us, her family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion
on our earthly pilgrimage.
Give us faith to see in death
the gate of eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence
we may continue our course on earth
until, by Your call, we are reunited
with those who have gone before.
- Amen.
- Amen.
- So, what do you think?
- I love it.
- Yeah?
- Yeah. It's nice here.
- All right.
- It's a fresh start.
I guess.
Could you...
Could you take Mikey for the weekend?
Yeah, of course.
Maybe... maybe a little longer.
As long as you want, John.
We're gonna go lay the floor now.
- When are you gonna bring them?
- They'd like to see you this week.
Sure. Fine, it shouldn't be any problem.
Whoops.
You brought me here
just to do that, didn't you?
No, I didn't. Let me see what I can do here.
This is where you tell me
you're running over budget, right?
Shit. Keep doing that!
I'm sorry, I didn't...
Ask them if they have a light.
- You guys OK?
- We are now.
Yeah.
I trust you'll fix this
before Mr. Cunningham arrives.
Anna?
'Jonathan.'
'You have one message.
'Message received Wednesday 23rd,
'2:30 am.'
'Jonathan.'
'End of message. You have no messages.'
'You have no messages.
'You have no messages.'
Oh! Please, come. How nice.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Look, er...
- I was just about to finish with someone.
- I can come back.
- No, it won't take long.
I'm really glad to see you.
I was hoping that you'd come.
- Thank you.
- This is Sarah Tate.
Let me introduce you to Mr. Rivers.
Sorry, I'm a little...
We've had a breakthrough today.
It's incredible.
It truly is.
- This is ridiculous.
- Stay awhile.
I should get these boxes back to the store.
Sarah, there's no need to hurry.
Make yourself a cup of tea.
I suppose. Thank you.
Would you like one?
Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. Rivers, please.
Oh, er... Excuse me. Please, sit here. Sit.
So, have you heard of E.V.P., Mr. Rivers?
No.
I'm not surprised.
Those that have call us cranks.
E.V.P. stands for
electronic voice phenomenon.
- I'm listening.
- Well.
I'm not a clairvoyant, I'm not a medium,
I don't contact the dead,
the dead contact me.
And, with E.V.P.,
I can hear them,
I can see them, and...
I can record them.
'...I understand...'
'...you shouldn't be...'
- And they are...
- That's right.
People that have passed over.
Is this your job, or a hobby, or what?
I think obsession would be
more appropriate, to be honest.
Now, I wonder where... Ah!
Here we are. They don't always
appear visually the first few times.
We tend only to pick up their voices
and people can find that frustrating.
But when it works,
and you see the faces of the people
that you're able to help, like Sarah,
nothing, believe me, nothing comes close.
Mr. Rivers, do you want to hear your wife?
Yes.
'Jonathan.
'Jonathan.
'Find him.
'Jonathan Rivers.
'Find him.
'Jonathan... Jonathan...
'Rivers...
'Find him, please.'
The frustrating thing about E.V.P.
is it's not live.
You need to make the recording
and you'll only know if you've got
results when you play it back.
Here. It has milk.
- Perfect. Thank you.
- Excuse me for a moment.
It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?
Er...
It's indescribable.
It took me a few visits to get
used to it but it's addictive.
I'm here all the time. He's really helped me.
I try to help him when I can,
so I keep some of this stuff at the store.
- What store?
- I have a bookstore.
Your wife was a wonderful writer, Mr. Rivers.
Yeah.
- So what made you come here?
- My fiancé.
He died eight months ago. We've had
trouble deciphering what he's been saying
but this afternoon we cracked it.
Only two words - "Sarah, yes."
Because, before he died, he promised me
that if it was like they say it is
that he would find a way of getting to me
and letting me know that he's happy.
So, "Sarah, yes."
Oh.
Raymond thinks we probably won't
see him again now but that's OK.
And I've heard what I wanted to hear.
Anna...
this is John.
If there's any way you can hear me...
will you please let me know?
Please.
Just any kind of... Just any kind of sign.
Please.
'Susie.'
'Susie.'
'Susie, I...'
I recorded this a few hours ago.
It's quite faint,
so I had to save it as a sound file
on the computer hard drive
to enhance the sound.
So, um...
- she knows that I visited?
- I believe so, yes.
- So will I get to see her this time?
- No. This will just be sound.
I'm sorry, John,
we have to be a little patient.
Trust me, John,
this is just the beginning. Sit, here.
Now...
If you want to hear it again,
just press that key.
I'll be back in a moment.
'Tell him... because I love him.'
'Tell him... because I love him.'
'Bastard. Bastard.'
'Bastard.'
What was that?
It's OK, it's OK.
We do have some very bad people out there.
You just have to press that...
and they're all gone.
We've had a step towards visual contact
with Anna. Let's celebrate that.
Here.
They can't all be nice,
they can't all be Anna.
'Susie Tomlinson... smile.'
'Susie Tomlinson... sm...'
Hello.
- 'It's Raymond. Something's happening.'
- Really?
- 'Get over here.'
- I'm on my way.
Hello?
Raymond?
So you'll tell me whatever you find out?
I can't tell you any more
than you'll read in the papers.
Yeah, thanks.
Thank you for coming to the service.
It would've meant a lot to him.
Oh. Thank you for doing this for me.
I'm not sure where to start.
He was working off a disk, so...
Maybe Anna's original tapes
might be in one of these boxes.
You all right?
I still can't believe he's gone.
Well...
- Maybe he'll be in touch.
- I don't know.
Said he'd made enough of a nuisance
of himself when he was alive.
Just doesn't make any sense.
He was helping people.
Wow.
- These go back years.
- 23, to be precise.
"Carol should know."
"Tell Thomas he should."
"Men in the room."
Oh, here's one - "500 dollars still there."
- That's the kind of message I like.
- Yeah.
There we go.
Why do we got so many?
So you can watch your favorite show
and I can watch my favorite show.
Yeah.
OK... Um...
They're showing me something.
It's...
It's, uh...
Willow Avenue.
They're showing me Willow Avenue. Yes?
No. No. No.
Oh. OK.
It's no problem. Sometimes it happens.
Your wife, she passed over recently.
Yeah.
Her passing was difficult.
Yeah.
She was, um...
She's a writer. She was a writer.
Yeah, her words are important.
Oh...
I'm sorry, the light is way too bright.
It's... it's like these tiny,
noisy, little pinpoints.
It's making it hard to see
anything at all. Can you...
- It's electronic voice...
- I know what this is.
- I've been making tapes...
- You shouldn't.
You shouldn't try this by yourself,
it's not safe.
It's like homemade Ouija boards
and teenage séances at Halloween.
E.V.P. is not good.
We spend years developing
our relationships with our guides
so that we can protect you.
- From what?
- From the ones who like damage.
Cos they are out there
and they will find you.
If you're gonna
keep insisting on meddling, then...
Anna, my wife, she sent me a sign.
No. No. Not Anna.
You are misreading everything.
Listen, it is one thing to contact
the dead, it is another to meddle,
and you are meddling.
- I just came cos I wanted some help.
- I know, I can help you.
It's just that they are urging me
to tell you to stop.
Right. Thank you.
Mr. Rivers...
Willow Avenue. Are you sure?
They keep showing me Willow Avenue.
No.
No Willow Avenue,
no Willow Street, no Willow Terrace.
Mr. Rivers. She was pregnant. Yes?
'We play every day.'
'He says you are happier now.'
'Did I die?'
'Susie.
'Susie Tomlinson...
'smile.
'Susie Tomlinson.
'Smile'
Excuse me. Are you Susie Tomlinson?
- Yeah.
- My name's Jonathan Rivers.
- Hi.
- May I speak to you?
My mother died giving birth to me.
And my grandmother, she tried
for years to make contact with her.
You know, with candles, darkness and smoke...
- Séances?
- Yeah.
All of that, she tried everything.
She used to tell me...
that when she died she'd let me know
if she found her, if she...
if she found my mother.
Whenever I was sad,
she nagged me to cheer up.
She would say, "Susie Tomlinson,
look on the brighter side."
"Susie Tomlinson, lighten up."
"Susie Tomlinson, smile."
They've found each other.
Haven't they?
That's what she wanted me to know.
It's like she didn't really die.
I get the call from my father and then,
what, like two days later you come by?
It's like she just carried straight on.
Susie, I don't understand.
I've been getting messages
from your grandmother for a week.
No, that can't be.
She just passed away two days ago.
'They are ruling nothing out in the case
of missing mother of two, Mary Freeman.
'It's been nine days since
she left her house...'
- Where are we gonna eat now?
- On our laps.
There you go. It works.
What's that, Dad?
That means it's time for us
to go pack up your gear. Come on.
One, two, three... Hoi!
That's it.
Next week, can I watch a video
and you watch a video like you said?
Yep, but only if you're good, and ready
for when your mom comes to pick you up.
OK.
- Daddy.
- Yeah.
Are you gonna be OK?
Yeah.
I promise.
'John.
'John.
'John, my love.
'John. John.'
Anna.
Anna, baby.
'John, my love.'
'Please, get my...
'Please...'
'John.
'John.
'Go.'
- 'Please!'
- 'I know.'
'John, my love.'
'Go.'
'John, my love.'
'Willow Avenue.'
'Go. Go.
'Go now.
- 'Please, John.'
- 'Willow Avenue.'
'Please, John.'
'Willow Avenue.'
Please! Please, get my baby!
Please.
Get my baby. Please.
Please.
- Hi.
- Oh. Hi.
- Thank you for coming.
- Yeah, sure.
How's he doing?
He's good. Gets a little better every day.
How are you?
I should...
- Sorry. Thanks again.
- Yeah. OK.
- Mr. Black.
- John...
Mr. Black.
Uh...
This is gonna sound strange but I need
to tell you. I went to Willow Avenue
because she reached out to me,
she asked for help.
That's the thing. She wanted help.
I am grateful for what you did, Mr. Rivers.
My son wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for you. So thank you.
- But now I'd like you to leave us alone.
- Mr. Black...
Carol may have believed
your bullshit but not me.
So you and your sick friends,
you stay the fuck away from me
and my family, you understand?
You stay away.
Number one, they're not dead.
When I see them, they're not dead.
She shows me things that haven't happened.
- Things that haven't happened?
- Right.
Number two, she's showing me things
that are here,
not somewhere else where I can't do anything.
She doesn't show me an earthquake
in India or some bomb in the Middle East,
they're here in this city
where I can maybe do something.
I've seen things that haven't happened yet.
You understand?
I can see how you're putting it together.
Putting it... Putting it together?
What do you mean?
She wants me to help.
I couldn't help Carol Black.
But I can help them.
- 'Jonathan Rivers' office.'
- Karen, cancel my appointments
- for the next few days.
- 'Are you all right?'
I need a few days.
- 'Take care of yourself.'
- Yeah, I will.
'It hurts.'
'Stop.
'She's ours.'
'She's ours.'
'John, my love.'
'Willow Avenue.'
'Stop, you pig. Willow Avenue.'
It's the same voice.
When I was at Raymond's,
he had been receiving messages,
angry, violent messages.
Now I'm getting the same thing, Sarah.
- But from whom?
- I don't know.
Sarah.
Edith Tomlinson, 207.
I was getting messages
from Susie Tomlinson's grandmother.
She was trying to reach her
dead daughter, Susie's mother.
"Edith Tomlinson. Daughter died
giving birth, tapes 200 to 208."
Susie's grandmother.
She was visiting Raymond.
Probably just a coincidence.
Look for Carol Black, the woman in the car.
Remember what her husband said?
"My wife might have been
into that shit but I wasn't."
"Carol Black.
"General interest, tape number 231."
Raymond had lists of clients.
You've seen only two.
I've seen hundreds of faces.
It could be the same with all of them.
I'm in there, you're in there,
Edith, Carol, they're just two people...
- There's too much else.
- It's a coincidence.
Mary Freeman. The missing woman.
She's on my tapes.
I've seen her.
She's on my tapes.
First they visit Raymond.
Then I see them.
Then they die.
- What are you doing?
- If she's alive, Anna will show her to me.
We don't know that everyone you see is alive.
Susie's grandmother, Carol Black.
- What about Anna?
- Anna's different.
She's helping me.
- We don't know what's happening here.
- I do.
If Mary Freeman's on these tapes, she might
be alive and we might be able to save her.
Sarah! Sarah, come here!
Look at this. Come here.
Come here. Look at this.
Hear that?
That's her.
Oh, my God.
She's alive.
'Go. Go now.'
- Go where, baby?
- John...
Anna, go where?
'Please, John. Go!'
Go... go where, baby?
- 'Go now!'
- Go where?
Go where?
Damn it! She's gonna die.
- You don't know that.
- She's on the tape.
She's on the tape. She's gonna die.
'John.
'John.
'It hurts.'
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
- What if I don't wake up?
- You will.
I promise you will.
You will stay with me?
Sure.
Sure.
- Promise?
- Promise.
Thank you.
Sarah?
God.
That's as much as we can say right now.
There's a 30, 40% chance
she might pull through.
Let's hope she's OK.
Thanks again for your help.
Mr. Rivers.
Neighbors say they saw you on the balcony
when Miss Tate fell. Is that true?
I was trying to stop her.
From falling?
Well, she was on the balcony.
Any idea why she was on the balcony?
I don't know. I don't know.
All right. I'll give you some time
but we'll need a full statement from you.
Are you heading home soon?
I'm not leaving town,
if that's what you mean.
OK. I may come by later then.
John.
Hey.
You're gonna be OK.
You're gonna be fine.
It hurts.
It hurts.
'John.
'Go.
'Go now, John.
'Go.
'Go now.
'Please, John.'
No.
Mr. Rivers?
- Hello.
- 'This is John Rivers.
- 'I think I've found Mary Freeman.'
- Hello.
I'm at pier 16. Can you hear me, Smits?
Damn it.
Oh, my God!
'John.
'John, my love.
'John.'
Anna.
Anna, you have to help me, please.
- 'Go.'
- Anna, you have to help me find Mary.
'Please, John.
'Please, John.
'Go now.
'Go now.
'Please, John.'
'Go now.
They talk to me, John.
This was their idea.
All their idea.
She was beautiful, John.
I brought her to them.
They were very pleased with me.
'...Argyle Avenue,
suggests she may have slipped...'
'Damage to the head, the break to the arm...'
Anna!
This was their idea.
You guys OK?
No!
She's ours!
Men in the room.
Sir?
O God of grace and glory,
we remember before You this day
our brother Jonathan.
Give us faith to see in death
the gate of eternal life
so that in quiet confidence...
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry, Mikey.'
Let's go.
We commit the body to the ground.
From earth to earth, ashes to ashes,
dust to dust.
with the chance of thunderstorms...'
Mikey, quit playing, get ready for school.
Come on, start eating. Your mom's
gonna pick you up in 10 minutes.
- Hey, were you messing with this?
- No.
No! Bet you were.
I bet you were fooling around.
- I'll get it.
- All right.
Hello.
Hi, Jane.
- Mikey, you want more juice?
- Sure.
- Here you go.
- Yeah, no problem.
OK. See ya.
- Jane can't make it.
- Why not?
- She didn't say.
- Didn't say what?
- Your mom can't pick you up.
- Does that mean I miss school?
No! It means I take you instead.
Nice try, tiger.
It was a nice try, though.
- Where you going, baby?
- My publishers.
They're gonna show me the cover.
Wow. You look great.
You look really great.
You look really, really great.
No, John, we're late already.
And you have toothpaste
on your mouth. Right there.
- You OK?
- Yeah.
- You sure?
- Well, I might be...
more than OK.
Oh, my God in heaven.
Yes! Yes, yes!
This could be wrong. I'll do another one.
- Let's tell Mike he's getting a brother.
- Wait.
I'll do another test and then see the doctor.
Congratulations, honey.
Lunch bag.
Suit bag.
Kiss.
All right. See you in a couple of days.
Say hi to your mom.
And you, take it easy.
I know.
Hey!
Bye. I love you.
See you later. Don't worry.
- Hi, Kelvin.
- How you doing?
- Mr. Rivers.
- Hey.
Frank asked if you'd call
as soon as you're in.
Oh. Sure.
Wow.
- Wow what?
- You. You're smiling.
Is that a big deal that I'm smiling?
- It is on a Monday morning, yeah.
- Really?
- Really.
- OK.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Karen,
order me a bouquet of flowers
for the end of the day, lilies.
And champa... No, not champagne,
get me chocolates.
Those Belgian kind.
You know? What are you looking at?
Something's up.
- Something's really up.
- Would you just...
- I'm going.
- Thank you.
- But I know something's up.
- Frank.
Hey, babe, are you home?
'You have one message.
'Message received Monday 16th, 6:07pm.'
'Hey, honey, it's me.
So Julie's having trouble with Ben, again.'
- What's new?
- 'So I said I'd have a drink with her.
'Don't worry, I'll stick to water,
and I'll call when I'm on my way home.
'Did you see the demo cover?
What do you think?
'I was kind of thinking...'
'No messages.'
'Hi, it's Anna. Leave a message
after the beep and I will call you back.'
Hi, it's me, it's a little before midnight.
I guess you're still with Julie.
Give me a call, let me know.
All right? Love you, bye.
'Hi, it's Julie. Leave a message.'
Julie, hi, it's John. Do me a favor.
When you get this message,
have Anna give me a call.
I guess you guys are having
a good time. Thank you.
'...victim of a tragic accident.
'Police have discovered
the heel of a woman's shoe
'close to her abandoned car on Argyle Avenue.
'She may have slipped into the river
while attending to a flat tire.
'Although divers
are still searching the area,
'reported sightings
of the best-selling author
'continue to reach police
from towns up to 20 miles away.
'Police are keeping an open mind
as to her whereabouts.
'Anna Rivers' latest novel The Eternal Wait
is scheduled for release this fall
'and her husband, architect Jonathan Rivers,
'is said to be taking time out to
accompany her on her promotional tour.'
- We're gonna get going.
- OK.
Come on, Michael.
- Mark'll be home in a minute, so...
- OK. OK.
- Come on, pal, say goodbye to your dad.
- Come here.
Be a good boy. Take care of your mom.
Go get your stuff.
Hey, there's a bed at our place
if you want it.
Oh, thanks. Jane,
you don't have to put yourself out for me.
I know I wasn't a very good...
OK.
'It's ten days now since international
author Anna Rivers' car was found...'
'Although police still suspect
she could have drowned,
'they are not ruling out
the possibility of abduction.
'Architect husband Jonathan Rivers
spoke of his anguish today...'
'Three weeks since the disappearance
of author Anna Rivers...'
'Police say they are constructing
a profile of a likely abductor.'
'Distraught husband, Jonathan Rivers...'
'...had this message for anyone
who may know of her whereabouts.'
'It's, er, difficult.
'But you never give up hope, ever.
'It's the only way to get by.'
I got 50 guys and thousands of dollars'
worth of equipment waiting,
so if you want to tell them
to wait a month, call me.
- My goodness.
- You were outside my house.
- I'm sorry.
- You were outside my house
and now you're outside my office.
Don't insult my intelligence
by telling me that's a coincidence.
No, it's no coincidence.
Do I know you?
My name is Raymond Price.
- Are you following me?
- It's about Anna, Mr. Rivers.
I've been receiving messages from her,
from the other side.
From what other side?
Jonathan...
your wife is dead.
I have proof, Mr. Rivers.
She's been trying to communicate
ever since the moment of her death.
Look, Mr. Rivers, my son died when he was 12.
- For years I've been suicidal.
- Look. Just stay away from me.
But then someone told me
what I have told you.
That my son, my dead son, had made contact.
And he had, Mr. Rivers, it was true.
From the other side.
And he was happy. Happy.
Please. Yes. And also at ease.
And it changed my life, Mr. Rivers,
because then, then I knew.
So please, please, Mr. Rivers,
put this in a drawer, hide it,
forget about it,
but please don't throw it away.
Because, one day...
you will want to know.
My thoughts are with you both.
'It's Anna Rivers.
'The fabulous Anna Rivers
carrying groceries.'
- 'Stop it.'
- 'How was shopping?'
- 'Turn it off.'
- 'OK. Just...
- 'There's one of her best features.'
- 'Shut up.'
'That's a beautiful thing,
ladies and gentlemen.'
'The body of internationally
renowned author Anna Rivers
'was discovered last night by a security
guard making a routine visit...'
'...to the disused pier 16,
three miles upriver
'from where her car was found abandoned
'five weeks ago on Argyle Avenue.
'The discovery brings to an end...'
'Before she drowned,
'your wife sustained injuries consistent
with a fall onto the rocks by the river.
'The damage to the head,
the break to the arm.
'When the tide came in, she would have been
unable to help herself.
'She would have been swept upstream
several miles.
'I'm so sorry for your loss.'
'Divers recovered her personal effects.
'Her cell phone was in her car,
and we're returning it to you.'
...giving her to us, her family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion
on our earthly pilgrimage.
Give us faith to see in death
the gate of eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence
we may continue our course on earth
until, by Your call, we are reunited
with those who have gone before.
- Amen.
- Amen.
- So, what do you think?
- I love it.
- Yeah?
- Yeah. It's nice here.
- All right.
- It's a fresh start.
I guess.
Could you...
Could you take Mikey for the weekend?
Yeah, of course.
Maybe... maybe a little longer.
As long as you want, John.
We're gonna go lay the floor now.
- When are you gonna bring them?
- They'd like to see you this week.
Sure. Fine, it shouldn't be any problem.
Whoops.
You brought me here
just to do that, didn't you?
No, I didn't. Let me see what I can do here.
This is where you tell me
you're running over budget, right?
Shit. Keep doing that!
I'm sorry, I didn't...
Ask them if they have a light.
- You guys OK?
- We are now.
Yeah.
I trust you'll fix this
before Mr. Cunningham arrives.
Anna?
'Jonathan.'
'You have one message.
'Message received Wednesday 23rd,
'2:30 am.'
'Jonathan.'
'End of message. You have no messages.'
'You have no messages.
'You have no messages.'
Oh! Please, come. How nice.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Look, er...
- I was just about to finish with someone.
- I can come back.
- No, it won't take long.
I'm really glad to see you.
I was hoping that you'd come.
- Thank you.
- This is Sarah Tate.
Let me introduce you to Mr. Rivers.
Sorry, I'm a little...
We've had a breakthrough today.
It's incredible.
It truly is.
- This is ridiculous.
- Stay awhile.
I should get these boxes back to the store.
Sarah, there's no need to hurry.
Make yourself a cup of tea.
I suppose. Thank you.
Would you like one?
Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. Rivers, please.
Oh, er... Excuse me. Please, sit here. Sit.
So, have you heard of E.V.P., Mr. Rivers?
No.
I'm not surprised.
Those that have call us cranks.
E.V.P. stands for
electronic voice phenomenon.
- I'm listening.
- Well.
I'm not a clairvoyant, I'm not a medium,
I don't contact the dead,
the dead contact me.
And, with E.V.P.,
I can hear them,
I can see them, and...
I can record them.
'...I understand...'
'...you shouldn't be...'
- And they are...
- That's right.
People that have passed over.
Is this your job, or a hobby, or what?
I think obsession would be
more appropriate, to be honest.
Now, I wonder where... Ah!
Here we are. They don't always
appear visually the first few times.
We tend only to pick up their voices
and people can find that frustrating.
But when it works,
and you see the faces of the people
that you're able to help, like Sarah,
nothing, believe me, nothing comes close.
Mr. Rivers, do you want to hear your wife?
Yes.
'Jonathan.
'Jonathan.
'Find him.
'Jonathan Rivers.
'Find him.
'Jonathan... Jonathan...
'Rivers...
'Find him, please.'
The frustrating thing about E.V.P.
is it's not live.
You need to make the recording
and you'll only know if you've got
results when you play it back.
Here. It has milk.
- Perfect. Thank you.
- Excuse me for a moment.
It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?
Er...
It's indescribable.
It took me a few visits to get
used to it but it's addictive.
I'm here all the time. He's really helped me.
I try to help him when I can,
so I keep some of this stuff at the store.
- What store?
- I have a bookstore.
Your wife was a wonderful writer, Mr. Rivers.
Yeah.
- So what made you come here?
- My fiancé.
He died eight months ago. We've had
trouble deciphering what he's been saying
but this afternoon we cracked it.
Only two words - "Sarah, yes."
Because, before he died, he promised me
that if it was like they say it is
that he would find a way of getting to me
and letting me know that he's happy.
So, "Sarah, yes."
Oh.
Raymond thinks we probably won't
see him again now but that's OK.
And I've heard what I wanted to hear.
Anna...
this is John.
If there's any way you can hear me...
will you please let me know?
Please.
Just any kind of... Just any kind of sign.
Please.
'Susie.'
'Susie.'
'Susie, I...'
I recorded this a few hours ago.
It's quite faint,
so I had to save it as a sound file
on the computer hard drive
to enhance the sound.
So, um...
- she knows that I visited?
- I believe so, yes.
- So will I get to see her this time?
- No. This will just be sound.
I'm sorry, John,
we have to be a little patient.
Trust me, John,
this is just the beginning. Sit, here.
Now...
If you want to hear it again,
just press that key.
I'll be back in a moment.
'Tell him... because I love him.'
'Tell him... because I love him.'
'Bastard. Bastard.'
'Bastard.'
What was that?
It's OK, it's OK.
We do have some very bad people out there.
You just have to press that...
and they're all gone.
We've had a step towards visual contact
with Anna. Let's celebrate that.
Here.
They can't all be nice,
they can't all be Anna.
'Susie Tomlinson... smile.'
'Susie Tomlinson... sm...'
Hello.
- 'It's Raymond. Something's happening.'
- Really?
- 'Get over here.'
- I'm on my way.
Hello?
Raymond?
So you'll tell me whatever you find out?
I can't tell you any more
than you'll read in the papers.
Yeah, thanks.
Thank you for coming to the service.
It would've meant a lot to him.
Oh. Thank you for doing this for me.
I'm not sure where to start.
He was working off a disk, so...
Maybe Anna's original tapes
might be in one of these boxes.
You all right?
I still can't believe he's gone.
Well...
- Maybe he'll be in touch.
- I don't know.
Said he'd made enough of a nuisance
of himself when he was alive.
Just doesn't make any sense.
He was helping people.
Wow.
- These go back years.
- 23, to be precise.
"Carol should know."
"Tell Thomas he should."
"Men in the room."
Oh, here's one - "500 dollars still there."
- That's the kind of message I like.
- Yeah.
There we go.
Why do we got so many?
So you can watch your favorite show
and I can watch my favorite show.
Yeah.
OK... Um...
They're showing me something.
It's...
It's, uh...
Willow Avenue.
They're showing me Willow Avenue. Yes?
No. No. No.
Oh. OK.
It's no problem. Sometimes it happens.
Your wife, she passed over recently.
Yeah.
Her passing was difficult.
Yeah.
She was, um...
She's a writer. She was a writer.
Yeah, her words are important.
Oh...
I'm sorry, the light is way too bright.
It's... it's like these tiny,
noisy, little pinpoints.
It's making it hard to see
anything at all. Can you...
- It's electronic voice...
- I know what this is.
- I've been making tapes...
- You shouldn't.
You shouldn't try this by yourself,
it's not safe.
It's like homemade Ouija boards
and teenage séances at Halloween.
E.V.P. is not good.
We spend years developing
our relationships with our guides
so that we can protect you.
- From what?
- From the ones who like damage.
Cos they are out there
and they will find you.
If you're gonna
keep insisting on meddling, then...
Anna, my wife, she sent me a sign.
No. No. Not Anna.
You are misreading everything.
Listen, it is one thing to contact
the dead, it is another to meddle,
and you are meddling.
- I just came cos I wanted some help.
- I know, I can help you.
It's just that they are urging me
to tell you to stop.
Right. Thank you.
Mr. Rivers...
Willow Avenue. Are you sure?
They keep showing me Willow Avenue.
No.
No Willow Avenue,
no Willow Street, no Willow Terrace.
Mr. Rivers. She was pregnant. Yes?
'We play every day.'
'He says you are happier now.'
'Did I die?'
'Susie.
'Susie Tomlinson...
'smile.
'Susie Tomlinson.
'Smile'
Excuse me. Are you Susie Tomlinson?
- Yeah.
- My name's Jonathan Rivers.
- Hi.
- May I speak to you?
My mother died giving birth to me.
And my grandmother, she tried
for years to make contact with her.
You know, with candles, darkness and smoke...
- Séances?
- Yeah.
All of that, she tried everything.
She used to tell me...
that when she died she'd let me know
if she found her, if she...
if she found my mother.
Whenever I was sad,
she nagged me to cheer up.
She would say, "Susie Tomlinson,
look on the brighter side."
"Susie Tomlinson, lighten up."
"Susie Tomlinson, smile."
They've found each other.
Haven't they?
That's what she wanted me to know.
It's like she didn't really die.
I get the call from my father and then,
what, like two days later you come by?
It's like she just carried straight on.
Susie, I don't understand.
I've been getting messages
from your grandmother for a week.
No, that can't be.
She just passed away two days ago.
'They are ruling nothing out in the case
of missing mother of two, Mary Freeman.
'It's been nine days since
she left her house...'
- Where are we gonna eat now?
- On our laps.
There you go. It works.
What's that, Dad?
That means it's time for us
to go pack up your gear. Come on.
One, two, three... Hoi!
That's it.
Next week, can I watch a video
and you watch a video like you said?
Yep, but only if you're good, and ready
for when your mom comes to pick you up.
OK.
- Daddy.
- Yeah.
Are you gonna be OK?
Yeah.
I promise.
'John.
'John.
'John, my love.
'John. John.'
Anna.
Anna, baby.
'John, my love.'
'Please, get my...
'Please...'
'John.
'John.
'Go.'
- 'Please!'
- 'I know.'
'John, my love.'
'Go.'
'John, my love.'
'Willow Avenue.'
'Go. Go.
'Go now.
- 'Please, John.'
- 'Willow Avenue.'
'Please, John.'
'Willow Avenue.'
Please! Please, get my baby!
Please.
Get my baby. Please.
Please.
- Hi.
- Oh. Hi.
- Thank you for coming.
- Yeah, sure.
How's he doing?
He's good. Gets a little better every day.
How are you?
I should...
- Sorry. Thanks again.
- Yeah. OK.
- Mr. Black.
- John...
Mr. Black.
Uh...
This is gonna sound strange but I need
to tell you. I went to Willow Avenue
because she reached out to me,
she asked for help.
That's the thing. She wanted help.
I am grateful for what you did, Mr. Rivers.
My son wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for you. So thank you.
- But now I'd like you to leave us alone.
- Mr. Black...
Carol may have believed
your bullshit but not me.
So you and your sick friends,
you stay the fuck away from me
and my family, you understand?
You stay away.
Number one, they're not dead.
When I see them, they're not dead.
She shows me things that haven't happened.
- Things that haven't happened?
- Right.
Number two, she's showing me things
that are here,
not somewhere else where I can't do anything.
She doesn't show me an earthquake
in India or some bomb in the Middle East,
they're here in this city
where I can maybe do something.
I've seen things that haven't happened yet.
You understand?
I can see how you're putting it together.
Putting it... Putting it together?
What do you mean?
She wants me to help.
I couldn't help Carol Black.
But I can help them.
- 'Jonathan Rivers' office.'
- Karen, cancel my appointments
- for the next few days.
- 'Are you all right?'
I need a few days.
- 'Take care of yourself.'
- Yeah, I will.
'It hurts.'
'Stop.
'She's ours.'
'She's ours.'
'John, my love.'
'Willow Avenue.'
'Stop, you pig. Willow Avenue.'
It's the same voice.
When I was at Raymond's,
he had been receiving messages,
angry, violent messages.
Now I'm getting the same thing, Sarah.
- But from whom?
- I don't know.
Sarah.
Edith Tomlinson, 207.
I was getting messages
from Susie Tomlinson's grandmother.
She was trying to reach her
dead daughter, Susie's mother.
"Edith Tomlinson. Daughter died
giving birth, tapes 200 to 208."
Susie's grandmother.
She was visiting Raymond.
Probably just a coincidence.
Look for Carol Black, the woman in the car.
Remember what her husband said?
"My wife might have been
into that shit but I wasn't."
"Carol Black.
"General interest, tape number 231."
Raymond had lists of clients.
You've seen only two.
I've seen hundreds of faces.
It could be the same with all of them.
I'm in there, you're in there,
Edith, Carol, they're just two people...
- There's too much else.
- It's a coincidence.
Mary Freeman. The missing woman.
She's on my tapes.
I've seen her.
She's on my tapes.
First they visit Raymond.
Then I see them.
Then they die.
- What are you doing?
- If she's alive, Anna will show her to me.
We don't know that everyone you see is alive.
Susie's grandmother, Carol Black.
- What about Anna?
- Anna's different.
She's helping me.
- We don't know what's happening here.
- I do.
If Mary Freeman's on these tapes, she might
be alive and we might be able to save her.
Sarah! Sarah, come here!
Look at this. Come here.
Come here. Look at this.
Hear that?
That's her.
Oh, my God.
She's alive.
'Go. Go now.'
- Go where, baby?
- John...
Anna, go where?
'Please, John. Go!'
Go... go where, baby?
- 'Go now!'
- Go where?
Go where?
Damn it! She's gonna die.
- You don't know that.
- She's on the tape.
She's on the tape. She's gonna die.
'John.
'John.
'It hurts.'
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
- What if I don't wake up?
- You will.
I promise you will.
You will stay with me?
Sure.
Sure.
- Promise?
- Promise.
Thank you.
Sarah?
God.
That's as much as we can say right now.
There's a 30, 40% chance
she might pull through.
Let's hope she's OK.
Thanks again for your help.
Mr. Rivers.
Neighbors say they saw you on the balcony
when Miss Tate fell. Is that true?
I was trying to stop her.
From falling?
Well, she was on the balcony.
Any idea why she was on the balcony?
I don't know. I don't know.
All right. I'll give you some time
but we'll need a full statement from you.
Are you heading home soon?
I'm not leaving town,
if that's what you mean.
OK. I may come by later then.
John.
Hey.
You're gonna be OK.
You're gonna be fine.
It hurts.
It hurts.
'John.
'Go.
'Go now, John.
'Go.
'Go now.
'Please, John.'
No.
Mr. Rivers?
- Hello.
- 'This is John Rivers.
- 'I think I've found Mary Freeman.'
- Hello.
I'm at pier 16. Can you hear me, Smits?
Damn it.
Oh, my God!
'John.
'John, my love.
'John.'
Anna.
Anna, you have to help me, please.
- 'Go.'
- Anna, you have to help me find Mary.
'Please, John.
'Please, John.
'Go now.
'Go now.
'Please, John.'
'Go now.
They talk to me, John.
This was their idea.
All their idea.
She was beautiful, John.
I brought her to them.
They were very pleased with me.
'...Argyle Avenue,
suggests she may have slipped...'
'Damage to the head, the break to the arm...'
Anna!
This was their idea.
You guys OK?
No!
She's ours!
Men in the room.
Sir?
O God of grace and glory,
we remember before You this day
our brother Jonathan.
Give us faith to see in death
the gate of eternal life
so that in quiet confidence...
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry.
'I'm sorry, Mikey.'
Let's go.
We commit the body to the ground.
From earth to earth, ashes to ashes,
dust to dust.