Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997–2024): Season 0, Episode 0 - Above the Clouds - full transcript
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Man: TONIGHT, YOUR CHALLENGE
IS TO SEPARATE WHAT IS TRUE
FROM WHAT IS FALSE.
FIVE STORIES --
SOME REAL, SOME FAKE.
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.
TO THOSE OF US
WITH A SENSE OF ORGANIZATION,
IT'S A SATISFYING FEELING
TO SEE A WELL-DRAWN DESIGN.
NOW, LOOK AT THIS CHECKERBOARD.
THE SQUIGGLY LINES SEEM TO GO
AGAINST EVERYTHING WE EXPECT.
IT ALMOST LOOKS
AS THOUGH THE LINES
HAVE BEEN DRAWN FREEHAND,
BUT HERE'S THE TRUTH --
THE LINES THAT APPEAR
TO BE UNEVEN
ARE ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT.
THE ILLUSION IS CREATED
BY THE PLACEMENT
OF THE SMALL DESIGNS
WITHIN THE CHECKERBOARD.
FROM A DISTANCE,
OUR EYES STILL LIE TO US,
EVEN THOUGH
WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
OUR STORIES TONIGHT
PRESENT A SIMILAR CHALLENGE.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHICH ARE FACT
AND WHICH ARE FICTION
AT THE END OF THE SHOW.
BEFORE YOU MAKE
YOUR DETERMINATION,
REMEMBER THIS CHECKERBOARD.
ALTHOUGH WE MAY SEEM
TO BE TELLING YOU THE TRUTH,
WE DON'T ALWAYS
WALK A STRAIGHT LINE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN GAMES LIKE THESE
IN VARIOUS BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
[ BELLS DINGING ]
SOMETIMES THESE ACTIVITIES
ARE MORE THAN MERE DIVERSIONS.
THEY CAN BECOME AN ATTRACTION
THAT ACTUALLY DRAWS PEOPLE
TO AN ESTABLISHMENT
JUST TO PLAY THEM.
VINCE McCORMICK
HAS HIS OWN GIMMICK
FOR DRAWING PEOPLE
TO HIS BAR
THAT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL
SO FAR,
AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE,
IT'S CERTAINLY NO GAME.
[ BILLIARD BALLS CLACKING ]
Vince: I HAD OWNED
THE BLOODY HAND BAR
IN THE GASTOWN DISTRICT
OF VANCOUVER
FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.
THERE WERE THE REGULARS,
AND ALWAYS A FEW TOURISTS
THAT CAME IN,
CURIOUS ABOUT THE NAME.
WELCOME
TO THE BLOODY HAND.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
I'LL HAVE A BEER.
YOU GOT IT.
WHENEVER A NEW CUSTOMER CAME IN,
I'D SIGNAL TO BILLY.
HE KNEW WHAT TO DO NEXT.
HEY, BILLY, WE NEED
A NEW KEG IN HERE.
RIGHT, VINCE.
THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
SO WHAT'S THE DEAL
WITH THE HAND?
OH, YOU'VE NEVER HEARD
THE STORY, HUH?
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO,
A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL
WAS MURDERED
IN THE ALLEY
JUST BEHIND THE BAR.
ALL THEY FOUND
WAS HER BLOODY HAND.
REALLY?
PEOPLE KEPT COMING IN,
ASKING ABOUT THE MURDER
AND THE HAND,
SO I FINALLY CHANGED
THE NAME OF THE BAR.
WE EVEN HAVE A DRINK
CALLED THE BLOODY HAND.
YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
I'LL JUST STICK WITH BEER.
SURE. FINE. WHATEVER.
I COULD SEE
OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE
BILLY WAS IN THE BACK
DOING HIS THING.
IT'S MOVING.
WHY IS THAT THING
POINTING AT ME?
WHAT?
IT'S POINTING AT YOU?
YEAH, LOOK AT IT.
I COULD TELL THIS GUY
WAS IN NO MOOD FOR JOKES.
THAT'S JUST BILLY.
HE WORKS THE HAND
WITH A JOYSTICK
IN THE BACK ROOM.
CUSTOMERS LOVE IT.
GET A REAL KICK OUT OF IT
WHEN IT POINTS AT THEM.
WELL, I DON'T LIKE IT.
TELL HIM TO POINT IT
AT SOMEBODY ELSE.
SURE. NO PROBLEM.
WHATEVER WAS BOTHERING THIS GUY,
I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH IT.
HEY, BILLY,
STOP POINTING THAT HAND
AT THE GUY IN THE BLUE PEACOAT.
He can't take the joke.
I'D SEEN LOTS OF GUYS LIKE HIM
IN MY DAY,
GOING THROUGH SOMETHING
THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT.
IT'S BEST TO LET THEM BE.
I THOUGHT THE GUY WOULD HAVE
A FEW AND LEAVE,
BUT HE HUNG OUT,
EVEN SIGNED UP FOR POOL.
OF COURSE, THE GUYS GOT WIND
OF HOW WEIRD HE WAS,
AND THEY LET HIM KNOW IT.
HEY, BUDDY.
YOU'RE NEXT.
Man: YOUR SHOT.
ALL RIGHT, UH,
STRAIGHT IN THE CORNER.
STRAIGHT IN THERE.
HE WAS A GOOD KID
A LONG TIME AGO.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
WHAT'S SO FUNNY?
YOU'RE BEING FOLLOWED.
HEY, BARTENDER.
BARTENDER!
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU
I DIDN'T WANT THAT THING
POINTING AT ME.
JEEZ, PAL, I-I'M SORRY.
HEY, BILLY,
QUIT GOOFING AROUND.
STOP POINTING THE FINGER
AT THE GUY
IN THE BLUE PEACOAT.
LOOK, DON'T WORRY.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
STOP LAUGHING.
IT AIN'T FUNNY!
[ LAUGHING ]
I'M WARNING YOU.
YOU BETTER
MAKE THAT THING STOP.
CALM DOWN. YOU'RE GETTING
ALL WORKED UP OVER NOTHING.
IT'S NOT NOTHING.
I TOLD YOU, I DON'T LIKE IT!
AND THAT CLOWN IN THE BACK
IS GOING TO BE REAL SORRY
IF HE DON'T CUT IT OUT
RIGHT NOW!
CALM DOWN.
I'LL GO AND TALK TO HIM.
OKAY, VINCE.
KEG'S TAPPED.
BILLY, YOU GOT TO STOP
MESSING WITH THE HAND.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AFTER YOU TOLD ME TO STOP,
I STOPPED.
WHO'S BEEN WORKING IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN DOWN IN THE CELLAR
CHANGING THE KEG.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING
TO PULL?
NOTHING. IT NEVER
DID THIS BEFORE.
[ FINGERNAIL SCRATCHING ]
TURN IT OFF.
TURN IT OFF.
WHOA.
I SAID TURN IT OFF!
NO. NO.
YOU SET ME UP.
YOU SET ME UP!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNEW IT WAS ME
AS SOON AS I WALKED IN!
HEY, WHOA, WHOA.
TAKE IT EASY.
TAKE IT EASY.
SHE WAS A TRAMP.
SHE DESERVED TO DIE.
THEY ALL DESERVE TO DIE!
WHOA, WHOA,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME.
OKAY.
SO HELP ME,
I'LL KILL YOU ALL!
AAH!
Man: GRAB HIS KNIFE!
[ SCREAMING ]
I CALLED THE POLICE,
AND THEY ARRESTED THE DRIFTER.
HIS NAME WAS NORRIS GLOVER.
LATER THAT NIGHT,
CONFESSED THAT HE WAS THE ONE
WHO MURDERED THAT YOUNG WOMAN
20 YEARS AGO.
HE TOLD THEM
THAT HE DISMEMBERED THE BODY.
ALL HE LEFT BEHIND
WAS HER BLOODY HAND.
WAS THE MURDERER
ACTUALLY SET UP
BY VINCE McCORMICK
AND THE ROBOTIC HAND?
SEEMS UNLIKELY.
BUT THEN, WHAT CAUSED THE HAND
TO KEEP TORMENTING THE MURDERER?
IF BILLY WASN'T WORKING IT,
WHO WAS?
WAS IT JUST MALFUNCTIONING,
OR DID THE SPIRIT
OF THE MURDER VICTIM
USE IT TO GET REVENGE
ON THE MAN WHO KILLED HER?
IN TRYING TO JUDGE THIS STORY,
ARE YOU LEFT
WITH EMPTY-HANDED LIES,
OR ARE YOU ABLE TO PUT
YOUR FINGER ON THE TRUTH?
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A COUPLE FALLS PREY
TO A PSYCHOPATHIC HOUSEKEEPER
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
THIS DOLL IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO OUR NEXT STORY.
IT'S A SIMPLE DOLL.
IF YOU PULL THE STRING
IN THE BACK, IT TALKS TO YOU.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
HEIDI'S A GOOD GIRL.
THIS PARTICULAR DOLL
ISN'T OWNED BY A LITTLE GIRL.
IT BELONGS TO A WOMAN
WHO HAS APPROACHED
SENIOR CITIZEN STATUS.
IN FACT, SHE HAS
A SPECIAL DOLL COLLECTION
WHICH IS CURRENTLY CARED FOR
BY HER RECENTLY HIRED
HOUSEKEEPER --
A HOUSEKEEPER WHO,
WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT,
IS NO LIVING DOLL.
OH, BE CAREFUL, FAITH.
LILY'S LEANING.
I'M ALWAYS CAREFUL,
MRS. McKINNEY.
OH, I KNOW YOU ARE, DEAR.
I JUST WORRY
ABOUT MY LITTLE GIRLS.
YOUR LITTLE GIRLS?
OF COURSE.
FAITH, YOU KNOW
MRS. McKINNEY'S DOLLS
ARE LIKE HER CHILDREN,
AND MOTHERS DO TEND
TO BE OVERPROTECTIVE.
YES, SIR.
MY MOTHER WAS QUITE
PROTECTIVE OF ME.
OH! HEIDI!
OH, I-I'M SO VERY SORRY,
MA'AM.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,
WASN'T IT, HEIDI?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT, LYDIA?
I THINK SO.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
HEIDI'S A GOOD GIRL.
SHE'S FINE,
THANK GOODNESS.
THAT WAS SO CLUMSY OF ME.
I KNOW HOW MUCH
HEIDI MEANS TO YOU.
I PROMISE I'LL BE
EVEN MORE CAREFUL.
WELL, THANK YOU,
FAITH.
Doll: HEIDI LOVES HER MOMMY.
AND MOMMY LOVES HEIDI.
THERE.
Jonathan: MR. AND MRS. McKINNEY
HIRED FAITH ROBINSON
SIX MONTHS EARLIER
WHEN SHE ANSWERED AN AD.
AT THE TIME,
IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
MOMMY LOVES HEIDI.
[ SPITS ]
MR. McKINNEY!
FAITH,
JUST LEAVE THEM BE.
NO, I-I WAS JUST REARRANGING
THESE FOR THE MISSUS.
SOME OF THEM FELL,
AND I WAS JUST GOING
TO BE PUTTING THEM
BACK UP ON THE SHELF.
STOP IT.
I WAS JUST GOING
TO BE REARRANGING THEM.
STOP IT.
YOU NO LONGER WORK HERE.
I'LL WRITE YOU
A SEVERANCE CHECK.
IF I WERE YOU,
I'D USE IT TO GET
SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THE McKINNEYS WERE RELIEVED
TO HAVE DISCHARGED
FAITH ROBINSON THAT DAY.
MR. McKINNEY WAS SURE
THAT SHE WAS QUITE
EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED.
MRS. McKINNEY WAS JUST GLAD
SHE WAS GONE.
FAITH HAD BEGUN TO FRIGHTEN HER
LATELY.
WHAT NEITHER OF THE McKINNEYS
KNEW, OF COURSE,
WAS THAT FAITH
HAD NEVER LEFT THE PROPERTY.
HOUSEKEEPER FAITH ROBINSON
WOULD CALL 911
AND TELL THEM
THAT SHE FOUND HER EMPLOYERS
DEAD INSIDE THEIR CAR.
THE NEXT MORNING,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVE SAL SAMORA
WOULD BE CALLED IN
TO INVESTIGATE
AN APPARENT SUICIDE PACT
BY THE ELDERLY COUPLE.
HEY, REG.
WHAT DO WE GOT, MAN?
SAL, MAID FOUND THEM
AROUND 7:00 A.M.
WAS THERE A NOTE?
YEAH,
THEY BOTH SIGNED IT.
APPARENTLY THEY WERE
PRETTY MISERABLE.
HEALTH WAS FAILING,
DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE --
YOU KNOW,
THE USUAL STUFF.
YEAH, SO THEY JUST TOOK
THEMSELVES OUT, HUH?
YEAH, LOOKS THAT WAY
TO ME, SAL.
IT'S TOO BAD.
LOOKS LIKE THEY HAD
A PRETTY GOOD LIFE.
HEY, WHO FOUND THEM
AGAIN?
THE MAID.
HOW DO YOU DO?
I'M LIEUTENANT SAMORA.
HI.
YOU MIND
IF I TAKE A SEAT?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU FOUND THE BODIES.
IS THAT RIGHT, MA'AM?
YES, I DID.
WHEN I WOKE UP
THIS MORNING,
I-I HEARD THE SOUND
OF THE CAR RUNNING
IN THE GARAGE.
IT WAS VERY EARLY,
SO I THOUGHT
I'D TAKE A LOOK,
AND THAT'S
WHEN I FOUND THEM.
I TURNED THE CAR OFF
AND CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY.
NOW, THE CORONER HAS PLACED
THE TIME OF DEATH
AT AROUND 2:00 A.M.,
AND YOU FOUND THEM
AT WHAT TIME?
UM...
IT MUST HAVE BEEN
AROUND 7:00.
[ SIGHS ]
IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK
TO FIND THEM THAT WAY.
THEY WERE VERY DEAR TO ME,
ESPECIALLY MRS. McKINNEY.
SHE WAS
LIKE A SECOND MOM.
I'M VERY SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS, MA'AM.
OH, THEY WERE
SO UNHAPPY --
DEEPLY DEPRESSED.
I TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP,
BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN.
MRS. McKINNEY HAD QUITE
A COLLECTION OF DOLLS, HUH?
YES, SHE DID.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
I'M A GOOD GIRL.
CUTE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT ONE'S NAME'S HEIDI.
IT WAS MRS. McKINNEY'S
FAVORITE.
Doll: NO, NO, DON'T KILL
MOMMY AND DADDY, MISS ROBINSON.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY DID SHE SAY THAT?
Doll: WHY DID YOU KILL THEM,
MISS ROBINSON?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
SHE'S LYING!
HEIDI'S LYING!
SHE HATES ME.
SHE'S ALWAYS HATED ME.
WHY DID YOU KILL
MY MOMMY AND DADDY?
HE FIRED ME.
WHAT ELSE COULD I DO?
IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
A LAWYER, MISS ROBINSON.
FAITH ROBINSON CONFESSED
TO THE DOUBLE MURDER
OF MARSHALL
AND LYDIA McKINNEY.
SHE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY
BY REASON OF INSANITY
AND IS NOW CONFINED
TO A STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
HOW COULD THIS
HAVE HAPPENED?
IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT MRS. McKINNEY
COULD HAVE RECORDED
THAT MESSAGE
BECAUSE OF HER FEAR
OF FAITH ROBINSON,
OR WAS IT SOME PRACTICAL JOKER
AT THE FACTORY
WHO SENT THE DOLL OUT
WITH THE STRANGE MESSAGE?
IF SO, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THE DOLL USING THE NAME
"MISS ROBINSON"?
OR DID THE LITTLE DOLL
TRULY POSSESS
THE HUMANLIKE SPIRIT
THAT MRS. McKINNEY IMAGINED?
IS THIS STORY OF THE DOLL
WHO TRAPPED A KILLER
INSPIRED BY A REAL EVENT,
OR ARE WE JUST
PULLING YOUR STRING?
YOU'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A FRIENDLY GAME
OF CARDS LEADS TO MURDER
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
ALL RIGHT, GENTS,
JACKS ARE BETTER TO OPEN.
MONEY TALKS. NOBODY WALKS.
HERE WE GO.
READ 'EM AND WEEP.
BEHIND ALL THE BLUFF
AND BRAVADO OF POKER,
THE GAME FOLLOWS
A SERIOUS SET OF RULES.
SOME ARE BASED ON FAIR PLAY.
SOME ARE BASED ON SUPERSTITION.
CARD PLAYERS HAVE A CODE,
AND IT CAN'T BE VIOLATED.
IT'S TRUE TODAY,
AND IT WAS DEFINITELY TRUE
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN
OUR NEXT STORY TOOK PLACE --
THE DAYS WHEN A LOSER HAD TO PAY
WITH MORE THAN HIS MONEY.
SOMETIMES
HE HAD TO PAY WITH HIS LIFE.
Jonathan:
IN THE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE TOWN
OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND,
DOCK WORKERS NED WILSON,
BILL HUTCHINSON, AND IAN CLAYTON
WOULD MEET ALMOST EVERY DAY
AT MOLLY'S TAVERN
FOR A LIVELY GAME
OF DRAW POKER.
HEY.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
LATER ON, MOLLY?
NOTHING WITH THE LIKES
OF YOU, IAN CLAYTON.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO, IAN?
YOU GOING TO FOLD,
OR YOU GOING TO BET?
UH...
I'M OUT.
I'LL CALL YOU, NED.
READ 'EM AND WEEP, LADS.
WELL...
WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
HAVE YOU GOT ROOM
FOR ONE MORE?
DO YOU KNOW THE GAME
OF DRAW POKER?
I DO.
HAVE A SEAT.
MOLLY, ANOTHER PINT.
HAVE YOU GOT A NAME?
IT'S ROBERT --
ROBERT EDWARDS.
THE FOUR MEN
PLAYED ALL AFTERNOON
AND LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
ROBERT EDWARDS CONTINUED
TO WIN HAND AFTER HAND.
IT SEEMED LIKE
HE COULDN'T LOSE.
IT'LL COST YOU EACH
5 MORE SHILLINGS.
[ DROPS COINS ONTO TABLE ]
WE'RE ALL IN.
WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING?
YOU WIN AGAIN.
YOU'RE A VERY GOOD
POKER PLAYER, ROBERT EDWARDS.
ISN'T HE, LADS?
YEAH. HE'S QUITE GOOD.
MAYBE A LITTLE TOO GOOD.
LET GO OF ME ARM.
WHOA!
THIS MAN ROBERT EDWARDS
WAS A CHEATER.
HE GOT WHAT WAS DUE HIM.
COME ON.
LET'S SPLIT UP
THE MONEY NOW.
WE CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU CAN'T SPLIT
A CHEATER'S WINNINGS.
IT'S BAD LUCK.
HE'S RIGHT.
THE MONEY HAS TO BE WON BACK
FAIR AND SQUARE
FROM AN HONEST MAN.
WHERE ARE WE GOING
TO FIND AN HONEST MAN?
Jonathan: NED, IAN, AND BILL
DIDN'T KNOW MANY HONEST MEN.
IN FACT, THEY COULD ONLY THINK
OF ONE PLACE
WHERE THERE MIGHT BE ONE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?
ARTHUR, SIR.
LOOKS LIKE AN HONEST SORT,
DOESN'T HE, LADS?
Ian and Bill: AYE.
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO PLAY POKER, ARTHUR?
A-A LITTLE, BUT I HAVE
NO MONEY TO PLAY.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, LAD.
ME AND ME MATES --
WE GOT A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
Jonathan: THEY GAVE
THE YOUNG MAN
ROBERT EDWARDS' WINNINGS
WITH THE PLAN OF TAKING IT ALL
BACK FROM HIM.
IT SEEMED FOOLPROOF,
SINCE THE BOY KNEW VERY LITTLE
ABOUT THE GAME OF POKER.
IT'S YOUR BET, ARTHUR.
I'M JUST NOT SURE
WHAT TO DO, SIR.
WELL, DO SOMETHING.
WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.
ALL RIGHT, THEN.
I'LL BET...
2 SHILLINGS.
2 SHILLINGS.
RIGHT.
HOW MANY CARDS YOU WANT?
HOW MANY CAN I TAKE?
AS MANY AS YOU LIKE.
CAN I TAKE FIVE?
YEAH. FIVE'S GOOD.
I'LL STAND.
ME TOO.
I'LL TAKE ONE.
ALL RIGHT, ARTHUR,
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED
A ROYAL FLUSH.
INSTEAD OF LOSING,
YOUNG ARTHUR KEPT ADDING
TO THE WINNINGS
OF ROBERT EDWARDS.
I'LL CALL.
ANOTHER FULL HOUSE.
I KNOW.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO LUCKY
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M THROUGH.
ME TOO.
YOU CLEANED ME OUT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
HE NEVER PLAYS POKER,
AND HE BEATS US LIKE HE DID.
HOW'D YOU DO IT, HUH?
YOU WERE CHEATING,
WEREN'T YOU?
NO, I SWEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.
NED, TAKE IT EASY.
THE LAD DIDN'T CHEAT.
WE LOST.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID
YOU DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO PLAY POKER
THAT WELL.
I DON'T.
I USED TO WATCH
ME FATHER PLAY,
BEFORE HE LEFT ME
AND ME MUM.
YOU LEARNED
FROM YOUR DAD?
YES, SIR. MUM SAID
HE WAS A CHEATER.
IN FACT,
HE LOST HIS LEFT EYE
FOR CHEATING IN A GAME.
THAT'S WHY
I'D NEVER CHEAT.
HIS LEFT EYE?
WHAT WAS HIS NAME?
HIS NAME?
WELL, THAT WOULD BE
ROBERT EDWARDS.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
WAS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE
THAT YOUNG ARTHUR GOT LUCKY
AT A GAME
HE RARELY PLAYED,
OR WAS HE HUSTLING
HIS FELLOW PLAYERS?
THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THE SPIRIT
OF HIS DEAD FATHER
WANTED TO PERFORM
AT LEAST ONE GOOD DEED
FOR A SON HE HAD ABANDONED,
EVEN IF HE HAD TO PERFORM IT
FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
IF YOU'RE SEEKING CLUES
ABOUT WHETHER
THIS BIZARRE CARD GAME
IS TRUE OR FALSE,
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
I'VE BEEN TRAINED
TO KEEP A POKER FACE.
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A TERRIFYING DREAM
SEEMS TO COME TRUE
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
HAVE YOU NOTICED
HOW MANY SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTS
ARE THEME-BASED THESE DAYS?
THESE NEW EATING ESTABLISHMENTS
CREATE ENTIRE WORLDS
AROUND THEIR FOOD.
IT CAN OFTEN MAKE
FOR A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE,
HEAVY ON THE FUN.
THERE'S A NEW THEME RESTAURANT
IN MELANIE GRAYSON'S TOWN,
BUT FUN ISN'T
WHAT MELANIE ASSOCIATES WITH IT.
ITS THEME IS --
WELL, IN MELANIE'S VIEW,
ITS THEME IS TERROR.
Melanie: THIS IS HOW
MY NIGHTMARE STARTED
EVERY NIGHT.
I'M INSIDE A GLASS ELEVATOR
IN THE HIGHEST BUILDING
IN TOWN.
THE ELEVATOR GETS STUCK,
AND THEN...
AAH!
AAH!
SOMEBODY HELP ME!
NO!
AAH!
AAH!
MEL, MEL, HONEY,
IT'S DAD.
SWEETIE, WAKE UP. MEL.
YOU OKAY?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS, DAD.
IT'S THAT ELEVATOR DREAM
AGAIN.
HONEY, HAVEN'T
I ALWAYS TOLD YOU,
JUST TAKE A BAD DREAM
AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW?
NOT THIS ONE.
IT'S TERRIFYING.
I'M TRAPPED IN AN ELEVATOR,
AND THERE'S THIS MAN,
AND HE'S REACHING FOR ME,
AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS
A WAY OUT,
EVEN IN AN ELEVATOR.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN THEY BUILT THE THING,
THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
HAD TO MOVE UP AND DOWN,
AND THERE'S ALWAYS
A TELEPHONE AND SAFETY CABLES.
SO YOU'RE SAYING
THERE IS NO TRAP?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT,
AND IF YOU KEEP YOUR COOL,
YOU'LL FIND IT.
Woman: AAH!
AAH!
I LOVE THAT PART.
YOU LOVE ANYTHING
THAT SCARES THE CRAP
OUT OF YOU.
WHICH REMINDS ME --
I KNOW WHAT I WANT
TO DO FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
OOH, WHAT?
I MADE RESERVATIONS FOR US
AT ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
Melanie: THAT RESTAURANT WAS
ON THE HIGHEST FLOOR
OF A SKYSCRAPER,
AND IT HAD GLASS ELEVATORS
JUST LIKE IN MY DREAM.
AAH!
AAH!
THAT'S A REALLY
TRENDY RESTAURANT.
CAN I WEAR
THIS LITTLE --
IT'S AT THE TOP
OF THE HARBOR TOWER, ISN'T IT?
YEAH.
IT'S ONLY THE TALLEST BUILDING
IN THE ENTIRE TOWN.
PERFECT.
MELANIE?
EARTH TO MELANIE.
OH, SORRY.
I WAS JUST --
I WAS THINKING,
WHY DON'T WE TAKE YOU
TO THAT PLACE AT THE BEACH?
OH, LIKE MY 16th BIRTHDAY
AT THAT STUPID
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT?
THAT WAS SO BORING,
I ALMOST FELL ASLEEP
IN THE CHOWDER.
TRUST ME, NOBODY FALLS ASLEEP
AT ABOVE THE CLOUDS,
UNLESS THEY'RE ALREADY DEAD.
Melanie: THOSE WEREN'T THE WORDS
I NEEDED TO HEAR.
THAT NIGHT I HAD THE DREAM
AGAIN.
AAH!
AAH!
SOMEHOW, WITH DAD'S HELP,
I MADE IT TO THE PARTY.
I EVEN RODE UP IN THE ELEVAT
WITH NO PROBLEM.
I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING FUN.
SO, WHO'S
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL?
ME.
OH, WELL, THEN YOU GET
A FREE DESSERT.
WELL, IN THAT CASE,
IT'S ALL OF OUR BIRTHDAYS.
OH, WHAT A COINCIDENCE.
WELL, THEN FREE DESSERTS
FOR ALL OF YOU.
[ GIGGLING ]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
THE RESTAURANT WAS SO COOL.
I HADN'T EVEN BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THE FACT THAT
I HAD TO ACTUALLY RIDE
THAT ELEVATOR DOWN, TOO.
I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT IT
L I ACTUALLY
GOT INSIDE THE DOOR.
THEN THE OLD FEAR
STARTED TO COME BACK.
[ GIRLS LAUGH ]
PRESS THE BUTTON, MELANIE.
WE DON'T WANT
TO BE HERE ALL DAY.
OH, SORRY.
[ ELEVATOR LURCHES ]
OH, MAN.
I WAS DEFINITELY TENSE,
BUT SO FAR, MY NIGHTMARE
WASN'T COMING TRUE.
BUT THEN, THE ELEVATOR --
IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN,
AND I RELIVED THE DREAM
IN MY MIND AGAIN.
AAH!
THEN IT STOPPED
JUST LIKE IN MY NIGHTMARE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
AAH!
OH, MY GOD, GUYS,
WE'RE STUCK.
WE'RE STUCK.
WE'RE STUCK?
THE IMAGES OF THE DREAM
KEPT FLOODING MY BRAIN,
BUT I FOUGHT THEM OFF WITH
THE SOUND OF MY FATHER'S VOICE.
Dad's voice:
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
I WAS SUDDENLY THE LEADER.
KEEP YOUR COOL.
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING.
OH, MY GOD.
THERE'S GOT TO BE
A WAY OUT OF HERE, OKAY?
UM, HOW DO WE GET OUT?
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
THIS IS OUR WAY OUT.
THERE'S A PHONE.
THERE'S A PHONE.
DAMN. IT'S DEAD.
IT'S DEAD?
WE'RE STUCK UP HERE!
OH, MY GOD!
SOMEBODY HELP US!
JUST BREATHE, ANNIE.
BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE.
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
HELLO?
WE'RE MOVING.
WE'RE MOVING AGAIN.
SE WE'RE MOVING.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
THE POWER JUST WENT OUT.
AAH!
Dad's voice:
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
THE POWER JUST WENT OUT!
THE DOORS
AREN'T GOING TO OPEN!
JUST BREATHE. IT'S GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT.
I PROMISE YOU. I PROMISE.
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
IS IT OPENING?
OH, MY GOD!
HELP US!
SOMEBODY HELP!
HELP! PLEASE!
WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET OUT!
THEN, SAME AS IN MY DREAM,
I SAW THE DOOR OPEN
AND THE HAND REACH IN,
AND THEN I KNEW
WHAT IT ALL REALLY MEANT.
HELLO, LADIES. IF YOU GRAB
MY HAND ONE BY ONE,
I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL?
SHE'S GOT A THING
FOR FIREMEN.
LIKE YOU DON'T.
WELL, NOT TILL TODAY.
MY FATHER WAS RIGHT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION HERE?
WAS THIS REALLY A PREMONITION
THAT CAME TRUE,
OR DID THE ELEVATOR
SIMPLY MALFUNCTION?
BUT THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THE EXACT PARALLELS
TO MELANIE'S DREAM?
IS THIS A STORY
WHOSE ROOTS ARE PLANTED
FIRMLY ON THE GROUND FLOOR
OF REALITY,
OR ARE THE WRITERS FLOATING
FABLES ABOVE THE CLOUDS?
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
AND A MYSTERIOUS COINCIDENCE
DO YOU USE A SCREEN SAVER
FOR YOUR COMPUTER?
MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND THAT
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER ON
FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME,
A SCREEN SAVER IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND THERE ARE LOTS
OF SCREEN SAVERS
AVAILABLE TODAY,
AS MANY AS THERE ARE
VARIETIES OF CALENDARS.
IN FACT, YOU CAN MAKE
YOUR OWN PERSONAL SCREEN SAVER
WITH PHOTOS
OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
AND FAMILY.
MAGGIE GORDON AND RICKY HART
ARE BOTH COMPUTER USERS,
BUT THEY DON'T NEED
A SAVER FOR THEIR SCREEN.
THEY NEED ONE
FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
Maggie: RICKY AND I HAD BEEN
LIVING TOGETHER IN DETROIT
FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
LIKE ANY COUPLE,
BUT LATELY I HAD REACHED
MY BREAKING POINT.
WHAT?
NOTHING.
I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T
COUNT ON RICKY FOR ANYTHING.
HE JUST REFUSED TO GROW UP.
THE NIGHT BEFORE,
I HAD MADE A SPECIAL DINNER
TO CELEBRATE
OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT
AND WENT PARTYING
WITH HIS FRIENDS AGAIN.
HE HAD HURT ME
ONE TIME TOO MANY.
YOU SURE
YOU WANT ME TO GO?
I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS
ANYMORE, RICKY.
I'M TIRED OF WAITING UP
AND WONDERING WHERE YOU ARE,
IF YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
I'M TIRED OF EXCUSES.
IT'S JUST NO GOOD
ANYMORE.
I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, MAGGIE.
I'M SORRY, RICKY.
I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU
ANYMORE.
OKAY.
I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW
AND GET
THE REST OF MY STUFF.
WHAT I HAD ONCE WANTED
WAS TO MARRY RICKY
AND START A FAMILY,
BUT HE COULDN'T COMMIT.
AFTER ALL THE PAIN,
I HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT IT WAS BETTER FOR BOTH
OF US JUST TO END IT.
RICKY CAME BACK THE NEXT NIGHT
TO GET THE REST OF HIS THINGS,
BUT I WAS GONE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE
WHEN HE SHOWED UP.
I COULDN'T FACE HIM AGAIN.
I HAD LEFT HIM A NOTE
AND AN OLD PICTURE OF US
ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.
"TO REMIND YOU
OF HAPPIER TIMES.
GOODBYE."
BYE, MAGGIE.
I LEFT DETROIT SHORTLY
AFTER MY BREAKUP WITH RICKY.
THERE WERE JUST
TOO MANY MEMORIES.
I WANTED TO START OVER
AS FAR AWAY AS I COULD,
SO I MOVED
TO WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
I GOT A GOOD JOB
AS A PARALEGAL
AND I MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS,
BUT THE DISTANCE COULDN'T ERASE
THE FEELINGS I STILL HAD
FOR RICKY.
COME ON, GIRL.
LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT
AND PARTY A LITTLE.
I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE
GOING OUT TONIGHT, TASHA.
YOU NEVER FEEL
LIKE GOING OUT.
ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS SIT AROUND YOUR APARTMENT
AND MOPE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
IN MOURNING OR SOMETHING.
FORGET ABOUT THAT GUY
IN DETROIT. HE'S OVER.
I CAN'T.
GIRL,
IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS.
THAT'S A LONG TIME.
YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
WHAT IF RICKY WAS
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
AND I JUST LET HIM GO?
COME OUT WITH ME TONIGHT
AND YOU'LL MEET THE NEXT
GREAT LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.
I MET TWO GREAT LOVES
OF MY LIFE JUST LAST WEEK.
I'M NOT YOU, TASHA.
LOOK,
I KNOW YOU'RE HURTING,
AND I'M SORRY.
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO
BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD,
LET ME KNOW.
I TRIED TO MOVE ON,
BUT I COULDN'T GET RICKY
OUT OF MY HEAD.
I EVEN WENT OUT CLUBBING
TH TASHA ONE NIGHT.
ALL I DID WAS WATCH HER DANCE
AND THINK ABOUT RICKY'S FACE.
HE LOOKED SO SAD
THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM.
CHLOE.
HI, IT'S MAGGIE.
YEAH, I'M FINE.
NO, I'M STILL
IN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S FABULOUS.
EVERYTHING'S GREAT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
IT'S BEEN A WHOLE YEAR.
I WAS JUST WONDERING...
DO YOU EVER
BUMP INTO RICKY?
NO, I'M OVER HIM.
I'M JUST --
I WAS JUST WONDERING
HOW HE WAS DOING.
I CALLED A COUPLE MORE
OLD FRIENDS IN DETROIT
TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM
KNEW ABOUT RICKY,
BUT NO ONE HAD EVEN SEEN HIM.
HE'D JUST SEEMED
TO DROP OUT OF SIGHT.
I DECIDED
TO TAKE SOME NIGHT CLASSES
AND GET BACK ON TRACK
TOWARD MY LAW DEGREE.
BETWEEN MY CLASSES
AND MY PARALEGAL JOB,
I DEPENDED ON MY LAPTOP COMPUTER
FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING,
SO WHEN IT CRASHED, I NEEDED
TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY.
IT ONLY TOOK THE REPAIR SHOP
A COUPLE OF DAYS,
BUT I WAS ALREADY WAY BEHIND
IN MY WORK.
I DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT IN A FEW SECONDS,
I WAS GOING TO GET
THE SURPRISE OF MY LIFE.
WHAT I SAW
WHEN THE COMPUTER BOOTED UP
STILL GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS
TODAY.
IT CAN'T BE.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
IT WAS THE SAME PICTURE
I LEFT BEHIND FOR RICKY,
BUT WHAT WAS IT DOING
ON MY LAPTOP?
I BROUGHT MY COMPUTER BACK
TO THE REPAIR SHOP.
I HAD TO FIND OUT
HOW THIS HAPPENED.
YOU WANT TO CHECK
OVER THERE,
COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVE
SOME REAL QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
THERE. THERE IT IS.
OKAY.
SO...
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
I WANT TO KNOW WHY
THAT PICTURE IS ON MY LAPTOP.
WAIT A MINUTE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
MAGGIE GORDON.
OH.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
THERE WAS A SCREW-UP.
SOME OTHER DUDE
GOT YOUR LAPTOP,
AND YOU GOT HIS.
WHO-- WHOSE DID I GET?
SOME DUDE.
HE WAS IN L.A.
ON BUSINESS.
I THINK HE LIVES
IN VENTURA COUNTY.
ARE YOU KIDDING?
VENTURA COUNTY?
LISTEN, I THINK
I KNOW THIS GUY.
CAN YOU GIVE ME
HIS ADDRESS?
NO, I CAN'T.
IT'S AGAINST STORE POLICY.
LOOK,
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I USED TO LIVE
WITH THIS GUY.
I'M SORRY.
I COULD LOSE MY JOB.
I FELT DESPERATE,
SO I OPENED UP TO HIM.
PLEASE?
LOOK, I USED TO BE
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY.
I THINK I STILL AM.
Ricky: I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, TOO, MAGGIE.
RICKY.
I MISSED YOU SO MUCH.
ME TOO.
SO I GUESS THIS MEANS
YOU DON'T NEED HIS ADDRESS.
WAS THIS JUST A CHANCE MEETING
OF TWO FORMER LOVERS,
OR WAS THERE A HIGHER POWER
AT WORK HERE?
HOW ELSE DO YOU EXPLAIN
BOTH PEOPLE USING
THE SAME COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP
OR THE SWITCHING
OF THE COMPUTERS
OR THE OLD PHOTO?
IS THIS STORY OF THE COMPUTER
THAT REUNITED A COUPLE
AN OPEN DISPLAY OF HONESTY,
OR ARE WE HIDING
BEHIND A SCREEN OF DECEPTION?
NEXT, YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHICH OF OUR STORIES ARE FACT
AND WHICH ARE FICTION
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 BLOODY HAND
THAT POINTED TO A KILLER.
TURN IT OFF.
TURN IT OFF.
WHOA.
I SAID TURN IT OFF!
NO. NO.
YOU SET ME UP.
YOU SET ME UP!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNEW IT WAS ME
AS SOON AS I WALKED IN!
DO YOU THINK THIS STORY
REALLY HAPPENED?
NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
IT'S A LIE.
WHAT WAS YOUR OPINION
OF THE DOLL
WHO WITNESSED THE HOUSEKEEPER'S
DEADLY CRIME?
Doll: NO, NO, DON'T KILL MOMMY
AND DADDY, MISS ROBINSON.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY DID SHE SAY THAT?
WHY DID YOU KILL THEM,
MISS ROBINSON?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
SHE'S LYING!
HEIDI'S LYING!
THIS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY FAKE,
RIGHT?
WRONG. IT HAPPENED.
A SIMILAR STORY OCCURRED
IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
HOW ABOUT THE STORY
OF THE BIZARRE POKER GAME
WHERE A SON RECLAIMED
HIS MURDERED FATHER'S WINNINGS?
ANOTHER FULL HOUSE.
I KNOW.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO LUCKY
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M THROUGH.
ME TOO.
YOU CLEANED ME OUT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
HE NEVER PLAYS POKER,
AND HE BEATS US LIKE HE DID.
HOW'D YOU DO IT, HUH?
YOU WERE CHEATING,
WEREN'T YOU?
NO, I SWEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.
WAS THIS STORY
BASED ON A REAL HAPPENING?
YES. OUR RESEARCH SHOWS
A SIMILAR INCIDENT
TOOK PLACE IN SAN FRANCISCO
IN THE 1850s.
THE TEENAGER WHOSE STRANGE DREAM
TURNED OUT TO BE PROPHETIC --
HOW DID YOU JUDGE THAT ONE?
WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET OUT!
AAH!
HELLO, LADIES. IF YOU GRAB
MY HAND ONE BY ONE,
I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE.
DID YOU THINK THIS WAS REAL?
IF YOU DID, WE GOT YOU.
IT'S FALSE.
HOW ABOUT THE COUPLE
AND THE SCREEN SAVER
THAT PLAYED CUPID?
LOOK,
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I USED TO LIVE
WITH THIS GUY.
I'M SORRY.
I COULD LOSE MY JOB.
PLEASE?
LOOK, I USED TO BE
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY.
I THINK STILL AM.
Ricky: I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, TOO, MAGGIE.
RICKY.
WAS THIS INSPIRED
BY AN ACTUAL EVENT?
NO WAY.
IT'S A WORK OF FICTION.
FACT AND FICTION --
SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER
IN THE DICTIONARY,
BUT SO FAR APART IN REALITY.
DOES ONE EVER EXIST
WITHOUT THE OTHER,
OR MUST THEY ALWAYS
BE FOUND SIDE BY SIDE?
AND ONCE YOU ENCOUNTER
BOTH TOGETHER,
YOU OFTEN FIND THAT THE SPACE
BETWEEN THEM IS SO SMALL
THAT IT'S TRULY
BEYOND BELIEF.
I'M JONATHAN FRAKES.
Man: THE STORY "BATTERED DOLL"
IS TRUE,
BASED ON FIRSTHAND RESEARCH
CONDUCTED BY AUTHOR
ROBERT TRALINS.
FOR "BEYOND BELIEF,"
THIS IS CAMPBELL LANE.
---
Man: TONIGHT, YOUR CHALLENGE
IS TO SEPARATE WHAT IS TRUE
FROM WHAT IS FALSE.
FIVE STORIES --
SOME REAL, SOME FAKE.
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.
TO THOSE OF US
WITH A SENSE OF ORGANIZATION,
IT'S A SATISFYING FEELING
TO SEE A WELL-DRAWN DESIGN.
NOW, LOOK AT THIS CHECKERBOARD.
THE SQUIGGLY LINES SEEM TO GO
AGAINST EVERYTHING WE EXPECT.
IT ALMOST LOOKS
AS THOUGH THE LINES
HAVE BEEN DRAWN FREEHAND,
BUT HERE'S THE TRUTH --
THE LINES THAT APPEAR
TO BE UNEVEN
ARE ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT.
THE ILLUSION IS CREATED
BY THE PLACEMENT
OF THE SMALL DESIGNS
WITHIN THE CHECKERBOARD.
FROM A DISTANCE,
OUR EYES STILL LIE TO US,
EVEN THOUGH
WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
OUR STORIES TONIGHT
PRESENT A SIMILAR CHALLENGE.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHICH ARE FACT
AND WHICH ARE FICTION
AT THE END OF THE SHOW.
BEFORE YOU MAKE
YOUR DETERMINATION,
REMEMBER THIS CHECKERBOARD.
ALTHOUGH WE MAY SEEM
TO BE TELLING YOU THE TRUTH,
WE DON'T ALWAYS
WALK A STRAIGHT LINE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN GAMES LIKE THESE
IN VARIOUS BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
[ BELLS DINGING ]
SOMETIMES THESE ACTIVITIES
ARE MORE THAN MERE DIVERSIONS.
THEY CAN BECOME AN ATTRACTION
THAT ACTUALLY DRAWS PEOPLE
TO AN ESTABLISHMENT
JUST TO PLAY THEM.
VINCE McCORMICK
HAS HIS OWN GIMMICK
FOR DRAWING PEOPLE
TO HIS BAR
THAT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL
SO FAR,
AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE,
IT'S CERTAINLY NO GAME.
[ BILLIARD BALLS CLACKING ]
Vince: I HAD OWNED
THE BLOODY HAND BAR
IN THE GASTOWN DISTRICT
OF VANCOUVER
FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.
THERE WERE THE REGULARS,
AND ALWAYS A FEW TOURISTS
THAT CAME IN,
CURIOUS ABOUT THE NAME.
WELCOME
TO THE BLOODY HAND.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
I'LL HAVE A BEER.
YOU GOT IT.
WHENEVER A NEW CUSTOMER CAME IN,
I'D SIGNAL TO BILLY.
HE KNEW WHAT TO DO NEXT.
HEY, BILLY, WE NEED
A NEW KEG IN HERE.
RIGHT, VINCE.
THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
SO WHAT'S THE DEAL
WITH THE HAND?
OH, YOU'VE NEVER HEARD
THE STORY, HUH?
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO,
A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL
WAS MURDERED
IN THE ALLEY
JUST BEHIND THE BAR.
ALL THEY FOUND
WAS HER BLOODY HAND.
REALLY?
PEOPLE KEPT COMING IN,
ASKING ABOUT THE MURDER
AND THE HAND,
SO I FINALLY CHANGED
THE NAME OF THE BAR.
WE EVEN HAVE A DRINK
CALLED THE BLOODY HAND.
YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
I'LL JUST STICK WITH BEER.
SURE. FINE. WHATEVER.
I COULD SEE
OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE
BILLY WAS IN THE BACK
DOING HIS THING.
IT'S MOVING.
WHY IS THAT THING
POINTING AT ME?
WHAT?
IT'S POINTING AT YOU?
YEAH, LOOK AT IT.
I COULD TELL THIS GUY
WAS IN NO MOOD FOR JOKES.
THAT'S JUST BILLY.
HE WORKS THE HAND
WITH A JOYSTICK
IN THE BACK ROOM.
CUSTOMERS LOVE IT.
GET A REAL KICK OUT OF IT
WHEN IT POINTS AT THEM.
WELL, I DON'T LIKE IT.
TELL HIM TO POINT IT
AT SOMEBODY ELSE.
SURE. NO PROBLEM.
WHATEVER WAS BOTHERING THIS GUY,
I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH IT.
HEY, BILLY,
STOP POINTING THAT HAND
AT THE GUY IN THE BLUE PEACOAT.
He can't take the joke.
I'D SEEN LOTS OF GUYS LIKE HIM
IN MY DAY,
GOING THROUGH SOMETHING
THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT.
IT'S BEST TO LET THEM BE.
I THOUGHT THE GUY WOULD HAVE
A FEW AND LEAVE,
BUT HE HUNG OUT,
EVEN SIGNED UP FOR POOL.
OF COURSE, THE GUYS GOT WIND
OF HOW WEIRD HE WAS,
AND THEY LET HIM KNOW IT.
HEY, BUDDY.
YOU'RE NEXT.
Man: YOUR SHOT.
ALL RIGHT, UH,
STRAIGHT IN THE CORNER.
STRAIGHT IN THERE.
HE WAS A GOOD KID
A LONG TIME AGO.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
WHAT'S SO FUNNY?
YOU'RE BEING FOLLOWED.
HEY, BARTENDER.
BARTENDER!
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU
I DIDN'T WANT THAT THING
POINTING AT ME.
JEEZ, PAL, I-I'M SORRY.
HEY, BILLY,
QUIT GOOFING AROUND.
STOP POINTING THE FINGER
AT THE GUY
IN THE BLUE PEACOAT.
LOOK, DON'T WORRY.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
STOP LAUGHING.
IT AIN'T FUNNY!
[ LAUGHING ]
I'M WARNING YOU.
YOU BETTER
MAKE THAT THING STOP.
CALM DOWN. YOU'RE GETTING
ALL WORKED UP OVER NOTHING.
IT'S NOT NOTHING.
I TOLD YOU, I DON'T LIKE IT!
AND THAT CLOWN IN THE BACK
IS GOING TO BE REAL SORRY
IF HE DON'T CUT IT OUT
RIGHT NOW!
CALM DOWN.
I'LL GO AND TALK TO HIM.
OKAY, VINCE.
KEG'S TAPPED.
BILLY, YOU GOT TO STOP
MESSING WITH THE HAND.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AFTER YOU TOLD ME TO STOP,
I STOPPED.
WHO'S BEEN WORKING IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN DOWN IN THE CELLAR
CHANGING THE KEG.
[ MEN LAUGHING ]
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING
TO PULL?
NOTHING. IT NEVER
DID THIS BEFORE.
[ FINGERNAIL SCRATCHING ]
TURN IT OFF.
TURN IT OFF.
WHOA.
I SAID TURN IT OFF!
NO. NO.
YOU SET ME UP.
YOU SET ME UP!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNEW IT WAS ME
AS SOON AS I WALKED IN!
HEY, WHOA, WHOA.
TAKE IT EASY.
TAKE IT EASY.
SHE WAS A TRAMP.
SHE DESERVED TO DIE.
THEY ALL DESERVE TO DIE!
WHOA, WHOA,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME.
OKAY.
SO HELP ME,
I'LL KILL YOU ALL!
AAH!
Man: GRAB HIS KNIFE!
[ SCREAMING ]
I CALLED THE POLICE,
AND THEY ARRESTED THE DRIFTER.
HIS NAME WAS NORRIS GLOVER.
LATER THAT NIGHT,
CONFESSED THAT HE WAS THE ONE
WHO MURDERED THAT YOUNG WOMAN
20 YEARS AGO.
HE TOLD THEM
THAT HE DISMEMBERED THE BODY.
ALL HE LEFT BEHIND
WAS HER BLOODY HAND.
WAS THE MURDERER
ACTUALLY SET UP
BY VINCE McCORMICK
AND THE ROBOTIC HAND?
SEEMS UNLIKELY.
BUT THEN, WHAT CAUSED THE HAND
TO KEEP TORMENTING THE MURDERER?
IF BILLY WASN'T WORKING IT,
WHO WAS?
WAS IT JUST MALFUNCTIONING,
OR DID THE SPIRIT
OF THE MURDER VICTIM
USE IT TO GET REVENGE
ON THE MAN WHO KILLED HER?
IN TRYING TO JUDGE THIS STORY,
ARE YOU LEFT
WITH EMPTY-HANDED LIES,
OR ARE YOU ABLE TO PUT
YOUR FINGER ON THE TRUTH?
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A COUPLE FALLS PREY
TO A PSYCHOPATHIC HOUSEKEEPER
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
THIS DOLL IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO OUR NEXT STORY.
IT'S A SIMPLE DOLL.
IF YOU PULL THE STRING
IN THE BACK, IT TALKS TO YOU.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
HEIDI'S A GOOD GIRL.
THIS PARTICULAR DOLL
ISN'T OWNED BY A LITTLE GIRL.
IT BELONGS TO A WOMAN
WHO HAS APPROACHED
SENIOR CITIZEN STATUS.
IN FACT, SHE HAS
A SPECIAL DOLL COLLECTION
WHICH IS CURRENTLY CARED FOR
BY HER RECENTLY HIRED
HOUSEKEEPER --
A HOUSEKEEPER WHO,
WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT,
IS NO LIVING DOLL.
OH, BE CAREFUL, FAITH.
LILY'S LEANING.
I'M ALWAYS CAREFUL,
MRS. McKINNEY.
OH, I KNOW YOU ARE, DEAR.
I JUST WORRY
ABOUT MY LITTLE GIRLS.
YOUR LITTLE GIRLS?
OF COURSE.
FAITH, YOU KNOW
MRS. McKINNEY'S DOLLS
ARE LIKE HER CHILDREN,
AND MOTHERS DO TEND
TO BE OVERPROTECTIVE.
YES, SIR.
MY MOTHER WAS QUITE
PROTECTIVE OF ME.
OH! HEIDI!
OH, I-I'M SO VERY SORRY,
MA'AM.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,
WASN'T IT, HEIDI?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT, LYDIA?
I THINK SO.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
HEIDI'S A GOOD GIRL.
SHE'S FINE,
THANK GOODNESS.
THAT WAS SO CLUMSY OF ME.
I KNOW HOW MUCH
HEIDI MEANS TO YOU.
I PROMISE I'LL BE
EVEN MORE CAREFUL.
WELL, THANK YOU,
FAITH.
Doll: HEIDI LOVES HER MOMMY.
AND MOMMY LOVES HEIDI.
THERE.
Jonathan: MR. AND MRS. McKINNEY
HIRED FAITH ROBINSON
SIX MONTHS EARLIER
WHEN SHE ANSWERED AN AD.
AT THE TIME,
IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
MOMMY LOVES HEIDI.
[ SPITS ]
MR. McKINNEY!
FAITH,
JUST LEAVE THEM BE.
NO, I-I WAS JUST REARRANGING
THESE FOR THE MISSUS.
SOME OF THEM FELL,
AND I WAS JUST GOING
TO BE PUTTING THEM
BACK UP ON THE SHELF.
STOP IT.
I WAS JUST GOING
TO BE REARRANGING THEM.
STOP IT.
YOU NO LONGER WORK HERE.
I'LL WRITE YOU
A SEVERANCE CHECK.
IF I WERE YOU,
I'D USE IT TO GET
SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THE McKINNEYS WERE RELIEVED
TO HAVE DISCHARGED
FAITH ROBINSON THAT DAY.
MR. McKINNEY WAS SURE
THAT SHE WAS QUITE
EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED.
MRS. McKINNEY WAS JUST GLAD
SHE WAS GONE.
FAITH HAD BEGUN TO FRIGHTEN HER
LATELY.
WHAT NEITHER OF THE McKINNEYS
KNEW, OF COURSE,
WAS THAT FAITH
HAD NEVER LEFT THE PROPERTY.
HOUSEKEEPER FAITH ROBINSON
WOULD CALL 911
AND TELL THEM
THAT SHE FOUND HER EMPLOYERS
DEAD INSIDE THEIR CAR.
THE NEXT MORNING,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVE SAL SAMORA
WOULD BE CALLED IN
TO INVESTIGATE
AN APPARENT SUICIDE PACT
BY THE ELDERLY COUPLE.
HEY, REG.
WHAT DO WE GOT, MAN?
SAL, MAID FOUND THEM
AROUND 7:00 A.M.
WAS THERE A NOTE?
YEAH,
THEY BOTH SIGNED IT.
APPARENTLY THEY WERE
PRETTY MISERABLE.
HEALTH WAS FAILING,
DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE --
YOU KNOW,
THE USUAL STUFF.
YEAH, SO THEY JUST TOOK
THEMSELVES OUT, HUH?
YEAH, LOOKS THAT WAY
TO ME, SAL.
IT'S TOO BAD.
LOOKS LIKE THEY HAD
A PRETTY GOOD LIFE.
HEY, WHO FOUND THEM
AGAIN?
THE MAID.
HOW DO YOU DO?
I'M LIEUTENANT SAMORA.
HI.
YOU MIND
IF I TAKE A SEAT?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU FOUND THE BODIES.
IS THAT RIGHT, MA'AM?
YES, I DID.
WHEN I WOKE UP
THIS MORNING,
I-I HEARD THE SOUND
OF THE CAR RUNNING
IN THE GARAGE.
IT WAS VERY EARLY,
SO I THOUGHT
I'D TAKE A LOOK,
AND THAT'S
WHEN I FOUND THEM.
I TURNED THE CAR OFF
AND CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY.
NOW, THE CORONER HAS PLACED
THE TIME OF DEATH
AT AROUND 2:00 A.M.,
AND YOU FOUND THEM
AT WHAT TIME?
UM...
IT MUST HAVE BEEN
AROUND 7:00.
[ SIGHS ]
IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK
TO FIND THEM THAT WAY.
THEY WERE VERY DEAR TO ME,
ESPECIALLY MRS. McKINNEY.
SHE WAS
LIKE A SECOND MOM.
I'M VERY SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS, MA'AM.
OH, THEY WERE
SO UNHAPPY --
DEEPLY DEPRESSED.
I TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP,
BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN.
MRS. McKINNEY HAD QUITE
A COLLECTION OF DOLLS, HUH?
YES, SHE DID.
Doll: HELLO, MOMMY.
I'M A GOOD GIRL.
CUTE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT ONE'S NAME'S HEIDI.
IT WAS MRS. McKINNEY'S
FAVORITE.
Doll: NO, NO, DON'T KILL
MOMMY AND DADDY, MISS ROBINSON.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY DID SHE SAY THAT?
Doll: WHY DID YOU KILL THEM,
MISS ROBINSON?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
SHE'S LYING!
HEIDI'S LYING!
SHE HATES ME.
SHE'S ALWAYS HATED ME.
WHY DID YOU KILL
MY MOMMY AND DADDY?
HE FIRED ME.
WHAT ELSE COULD I DO?
IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
A LAWYER, MISS ROBINSON.
FAITH ROBINSON CONFESSED
TO THE DOUBLE MURDER
OF MARSHALL
AND LYDIA McKINNEY.
SHE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY
BY REASON OF INSANITY
AND IS NOW CONFINED
TO A STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
HOW COULD THIS
HAVE HAPPENED?
IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT MRS. McKINNEY
COULD HAVE RECORDED
THAT MESSAGE
BECAUSE OF HER FEAR
OF FAITH ROBINSON,
OR WAS IT SOME PRACTICAL JOKER
AT THE FACTORY
WHO SENT THE DOLL OUT
WITH THE STRANGE MESSAGE?
IF SO, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THE DOLL USING THE NAME
"MISS ROBINSON"?
OR DID THE LITTLE DOLL
TRULY POSSESS
THE HUMANLIKE SPIRIT
THAT MRS. McKINNEY IMAGINED?
IS THIS STORY OF THE DOLL
WHO TRAPPED A KILLER
INSPIRED BY A REAL EVENT,
OR ARE WE JUST
PULLING YOUR STRING?
YOU'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A FRIENDLY GAME
OF CARDS LEADS TO MURDER
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
ALL RIGHT, GENTS,
JACKS ARE BETTER TO OPEN.
MONEY TALKS. NOBODY WALKS.
HERE WE GO.
READ 'EM AND WEEP.
BEHIND ALL THE BLUFF
AND BRAVADO OF POKER,
THE GAME FOLLOWS
A SERIOUS SET OF RULES.
SOME ARE BASED ON FAIR PLAY.
SOME ARE BASED ON SUPERSTITION.
CARD PLAYERS HAVE A CODE,
AND IT CAN'T BE VIOLATED.
IT'S TRUE TODAY,
AND IT WAS DEFINITELY TRUE
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN
OUR NEXT STORY TOOK PLACE --
THE DAYS WHEN A LOSER HAD TO PAY
WITH MORE THAN HIS MONEY.
SOMETIMES
HE HAD TO PAY WITH HIS LIFE.
Jonathan:
IN THE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE TOWN
OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND,
DOCK WORKERS NED WILSON,
BILL HUTCHINSON, AND IAN CLAYTON
WOULD MEET ALMOST EVERY DAY
AT MOLLY'S TAVERN
FOR A LIVELY GAME
OF DRAW POKER.
HEY.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
LATER ON, MOLLY?
NOTHING WITH THE LIKES
OF YOU, IAN CLAYTON.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO, IAN?
YOU GOING TO FOLD,
OR YOU GOING TO BET?
UH...
I'M OUT.
I'LL CALL YOU, NED.
READ 'EM AND WEEP, LADS.
WELL...
WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
HAVE YOU GOT ROOM
FOR ONE MORE?
DO YOU KNOW THE GAME
OF DRAW POKER?
I DO.
HAVE A SEAT.
MOLLY, ANOTHER PINT.
HAVE YOU GOT A NAME?
IT'S ROBERT --
ROBERT EDWARDS.
THE FOUR MEN
PLAYED ALL AFTERNOON
AND LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
ROBERT EDWARDS CONTINUED
TO WIN HAND AFTER HAND.
IT SEEMED LIKE
HE COULDN'T LOSE.
IT'LL COST YOU EACH
5 MORE SHILLINGS.
[ DROPS COINS ONTO TABLE ]
WE'RE ALL IN.
WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING?
YOU WIN AGAIN.
YOU'RE A VERY GOOD
POKER PLAYER, ROBERT EDWARDS.
ISN'T HE, LADS?
YEAH. HE'S QUITE GOOD.
MAYBE A LITTLE TOO GOOD.
LET GO OF ME ARM.
WHOA!
THIS MAN ROBERT EDWARDS
WAS A CHEATER.
HE GOT WHAT WAS DUE HIM.
COME ON.
LET'S SPLIT UP
THE MONEY NOW.
WE CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU CAN'T SPLIT
A CHEATER'S WINNINGS.
IT'S BAD LUCK.
HE'S RIGHT.
THE MONEY HAS TO BE WON BACK
FAIR AND SQUARE
FROM AN HONEST MAN.
WHERE ARE WE GOING
TO FIND AN HONEST MAN?
Jonathan: NED, IAN, AND BILL
DIDN'T KNOW MANY HONEST MEN.
IN FACT, THEY COULD ONLY THINK
OF ONE PLACE
WHERE THERE MIGHT BE ONE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?
ARTHUR, SIR.
LOOKS LIKE AN HONEST SORT,
DOESN'T HE, LADS?
Ian and Bill: AYE.
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO PLAY POKER, ARTHUR?
A-A LITTLE, BUT I HAVE
NO MONEY TO PLAY.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, LAD.
ME AND ME MATES --
WE GOT A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
Jonathan: THEY GAVE
THE YOUNG MAN
ROBERT EDWARDS' WINNINGS
WITH THE PLAN OF TAKING IT ALL
BACK FROM HIM.
IT SEEMED FOOLPROOF,
SINCE THE BOY KNEW VERY LITTLE
ABOUT THE GAME OF POKER.
IT'S YOUR BET, ARTHUR.
I'M JUST NOT SURE
WHAT TO DO, SIR.
WELL, DO SOMETHING.
WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.
ALL RIGHT, THEN.
I'LL BET...
2 SHILLINGS.
2 SHILLINGS.
RIGHT.
HOW MANY CARDS YOU WANT?
HOW MANY CAN I TAKE?
AS MANY AS YOU LIKE.
CAN I TAKE FIVE?
YEAH. FIVE'S GOOD.
I'LL STAND.
ME TOO.
I'LL TAKE ONE.
ALL RIGHT, ARTHUR,
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED
A ROYAL FLUSH.
INSTEAD OF LOSING,
YOUNG ARTHUR KEPT ADDING
TO THE WINNINGS
OF ROBERT EDWARDS.
I'LL CALL.
ANOTHER FULL HOUSE.
I KNOW.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO LUCKY
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M THROUGH.
ME TOO.
YOU CLEANED ME OUT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
HE NEVER PLAYS POKER,
AND HE BEATS US LIKE HE DID.
HOW'D YOU DO IT, HUH?
YOU WERE CHEATING,
WEREN'T YOU?
NO, I SWEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.
NED, TAKE IT EASY.
THE LAD DIDN'T CHEAT.
WE LOST.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID
YOU DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO PLAY POKER
THAT WELL.
I DON'T.
I USED TO WATCH
ME FATHER PLAY,
BEFORE HE LEFT ME
AND ME MUM.
YOU LEARNED
FROM YOUR DAD?
YES, SIR. MUM SAID
HE WAS A CHEATER.
IN FACT,
HE LOST HIS LEFT EYE
FOR CHEATING IN A GAME.
THAT'S WHY
I'D NEVER CHEAT.
HIS LEFT EYE?
WHAT WAS HIS NAME?
HIS NAME?
WELL, THAT WOULD BE
ROBERT EDWARDS.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
WAS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE
THAT YOUNG ARTHUR GOT LUCKY
AT A GAME
HE RARELY PLAYED,
OR WAS HE HUSTLING
HIS FELLOW PLAYERS?
THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THE SPIRIT
OF HIS DEAD FATHER
WANTED TO PERFORM
AT LEAST ONE GOOD DEED
FOR A SON HE HAD ABANDONED,
EVEN IF HE HAD TO PERFORM IT
FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
IF YOU'RE SEEKING CLUES
ABOUT WHETHER
THIS BIZARRE CARD GAME
IS TRUE OR FALSE,
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
I'VE BEEN TRAINED
TO KEEP A POKER FACE.
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A TERRIFYING DREAM
SEEMS TO COME TRUE
ON "BEYOND BELIEF:
FACT OR FICTION?"
HAVE YOU NOTICED
HOW MANY SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTS
ARE THEME-BASED THESE DAYS?
THESE NEW EATING ESTABLISHMENTS
CREATE ENTIRE WORLDS
AROUND THEIR FOOD.
IT CAN OFTEN MAKE
FOR A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE,
HEAVY ON THE FUN.
THERE'S A NEW THEME RESTAURANT
IN MELANIE GRAYSON'S TOWN,
BUT FUN ISN'T
WHAT MELANIE ASSOCIATES WITH IT.
ITS THEME IS --
WELL, IN MELANIE'S VIEW,
ITS THEME IS TERROR.
Melanie: THIS IS HOW
MY NIGHTMARE STARTED
EVERY NIGHT.
I'M INSIDE A GLASS ELEVATOR
IN THE HIGHEST BUILDING
IN TOWN.
THE ELEVATOR GETS STUCK,
AND THEN...
AAH!
AAH!
SOMEBODY HELP ME!
NO!
AAH!
AAH!
MEL, MEL, HONEY,
IT'S DAD.
SWEETIE, WAKE UP. MEL.
YOU OKAY?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS, DAD.
IT'S THAT ELEVATOR DREAM
AGAIN.
HONEY, HAVEN'T
I ALWAYS TOLD YOU,
JUST TAKE A BAD DREAM
AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW?
NOT THIS ONE.
IT'S TERRIFYING.
I'M TRAPPED IN AN ELEVATOR,
AND THERE'S THIS MAN,
AND HE'S REACHING FOR ME,
AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS
A WAY OUT,
EVEN IN AN ELEVATOR.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN THEY BUILT THE THING,
THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
HAD TO MOVE UP AND DOWN,
AND THERE'S ALWAYS
A TELEPHONE AND SAFETY CABLES.
SO YOU'RE SAYING
THERE IS NO TRAP?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT,
AND IF YOU KEEP YOUR COOL,
YOU'LL FIND IT.
Woman: AAH!
AAH!
I LOVE THAT PART.
YOU LOVE ANYTHING
THAT SCARES THE CRAP
OUT OF YOU.
WHICH REMINDS ME --
I KNOW WHAT I WANT
TO DO FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
OOH, WHAT?
I MADE RESERVATIONS FOR US
AT ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
Melanie: THAT RESTAURANT WAS
ON THE HIGHEST FLOOR
OF A SKYSCRAPER,
AND IT HAD GLASS ELEVATORS
JUST LIKE IN MY DREAM.
AAH!
AAH!
THAT'S A REALLY
TRENDY RESTAURANT.
CAN I WEAR
THIS LITTLE --
IT'S AT THE TOP
OF THE HARBOR TOWER, ISN'T IT?
YEAH.
IT'S ONLY THE TALLEST BUILDING
IN THE ENTIRE TOWN.
PERFECT.
MELANIE?
EARTH TO MELANIE.
OH, SORRY.
I WAS JUST --
I WAS THINKING,
WHY DON'T WE TAKE YOU
TO THAT PLACE AT THE BEACH?
OH, LIKE MY 16th BIRTHDAY
AT THAT STUPID
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT?
THAT WAS SO BORING,
I ALMOST FELL ASLEEP
IN THE CHOWDER.
TRUST ME, NOBODY FALLS ASLEEP
AT ABOVE THE CLOUDS,
UNLESS THEY'RE ALREADY DEAD.
Melanie: THOSE WEREN'T THE WORDS
I NEEDED TO HEAR.
THAT NIGHT I HAD THE DREAM
AGAIN.
AAH!
AAH!
SOMEHOW, WITH DAD'S HELP,
I MADE IT TO THE PARTY.
I EVEN RODE UP IN THE ELEVAT
WITH NO PROBLEM.
I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING FUN.
SO, WHO'S
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL?
ME.
OH, WELL, THEN YOU GET
A FREE DESSERT.
WELL, IN THAT CASE,
IT'S ALL OF OUR BIRTHDAYS.
OH, WHAT A COINCIDENCE.
WELL, THEN FREE DESSERTS
FOR ALL OF YOU.
[ GIGGLING ]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
THE RESTAURANT WAS SO COOL.
I HADN'T EVEN BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THE FACT THAT
I HAD TO ACTUALLY RIDE
THAT ELEVATOR DOWN, TOO.
I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT IT
L I ACTUALLY
GOT INSIDE THE DOOR.
THEN THE OLD FEAR
STARTED TO COME BACK.
[ GIRLS LAUGH ]
PRESS THE BUTTON, MELANIE.
WE DON'T WANT
TO BE HERE ALL DAY.
OH, SORRY.
[ ELEVATOR LURCHES ]
OH, MAN.
I WAS DEFINITELY TENSE,
BUT SO FAR, MY NIGHTMARE
WASN'T COMING TRUE.
BUT THEN, THE ELEVATOR --
IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN,
AND I RELIVED THE DREAM
IN MY MIND AGAIN.
AAH!
THEN IT STOPPED
JUST LIKE IN MY NIGHTMARE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
AAH!
OH, MY GOD, GUYS,
WE'RE STUCK.
WE'RE STUCK.
WE'RE STUCK?
THE IMAGES OF THE DREAM
KEPT FLOODING MY BRAIN,
BUT I FOUGHT THEM OFF WITH
THE SOUND OF MY FATHER'S VOICE.
Dad's voice:
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
I WAS SUDDENLY THE LEADER.
KEEP YOUR COOL.
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING.
OH, MY GOD.
THERE'S GOT TO BE
A WAY OUT OF HERE, OKAY?
UM, HOW DO WE GET OUT?
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
THIS IS OUR WAY OUT.
THERE'S A PHONE.
THERE'S A PHONE.
DAMN. IT'S DEAD.
IT'S DEAD?
WE'RE STUCK UP HERE!
OH, MY GOD!
SOMEBODY HELP US!
JUST BREATHE, ANNIE.
BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE.
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
HELLO?
WE'RE MOVING.
WE'RE MOVING AGAIN.
SE WE'RE MOVING.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
THE POWER JUST WENT OUT.
AAH!
Dad's voice:
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
THE POWER JUST WENT OUT!
THE DOORS
AREN'T GOING TO OPEN!
JUST BREATHE. IT'S GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT.
I PROMISE YOU. I PROMISE.
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
IS IT OPENING?
OH, MY GOD!
HELP US!
SOMEBODY HELP!
HELP! PLEASE!
WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET OUT!
THEN, SAME AS IN MY DREAM,
I SAW THE DOOR OPEN
AND THE HAND REACH IN,
AND THEN I KNEW
WHAT IT ALL REALLY MEANT.
HELLO, LADIES. IF YOU GRAB
MY HAND ONE BY ONE,
I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL?
SHE'S GOT A THING
FOR FIREMEN.
LIKE YOU DON'T.
WELL, NOT TILL TODAY.
MY FATHER WAS RIGHT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION HERE?
WAS THIS REALLY A PREMONITION
THAT CAME TRUE,
OR DID THE ELEVATOR
SIMPLY MALFUNCTION?
BUT THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THE EXACT PARALLELS
TO MELANIE'S DREAM?
IS THIS A STORY
WHOSE ROOTS ARE PLANTED
FIRMLY ON THE GROUND FLOOR
OF REALITY,
OR ARE THE WRITERS FLOATING
FABLES ABOVE THE CLOUDS?
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS STORY
IS TRUE OR FALSE
AT THE END OF OUR SHOW.
NEXT, A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
AND A MYSTERIOUS COINCIDENCE
DO YOU USE A SCREEN SAVER
FOR YOUR COMPUTER?
MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND THAT
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER ON
FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME,
A SCREEN SAVER IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND THERE ARE LOTS
OF SCREEN SAVERS
AVAILABLE TODAY,
AS MANY AS THERE ARE
VARIETIES OF CALENDARS.
IN FACT, YOU CAN MAKE
YOUR OWN PERSONAL SCREEN SAVER
WITH PHOTOS
OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
AND FAMILY.
MAGGIE GORDON AND RICKY HART
ARE BOTH COMPUTER USERS,
BUT THEY DON'T NEED
A SAVER FOR THEIR SCREEN.
THEY NEED ONE
FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
Maggie: RICKY AND I HAD BEEN
LIVING TOGETHER IN DETROIT
FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
LIKE ANY COUPLE,
BUT LATELY I HAD REACHED
MY BREAKING POINT.
WHAT?
NOTHING.
I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T
COUNT ON RICKY FOR ANYTHING.
HE JUST REFUSED TO GROW UP.
THE NIGHT BEFORE,
I HAD MADE A SPECIAL DINNER
TO CELEBRATE
OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT
AND WENT PARTYING
WITH HIS FRIENDS AGAIN.
HE HAD HURT ME
ONE TIME TOO MANY.
YOU SURE
YOU WANT ME TO GO?
I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS
ANYMORE, RICKY.
I'M TIRED OF WAITING UP
AND WONDERING WHERE YOU ARE,
IF YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
I'M TIRED OF EXCUSES.
IT'S JUST NO GOOD
ANYMORE.
I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, MAGGIE.
I'M SORRY, RICKY.
I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU
ANYMORE.
OKAY.
I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW
AND GET
THE REST OF MY STUFF.
WHAT I HAD ONCE WANTED
WAS TO MARRY RICKY
AND START A FAMILY,
BUT HE COULDN'T COMMIT.
AFTER ALL THE PAIN,
I HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT IT WAS BETTER FOR BOTH
OF US JUST TO END IT.
RICKY CAME BACK THE NEXT NIGHT
TO GET THE REST OF HIS THINGS,
BUT I WAS GONE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE
WHEN HE SHOWED UP.
I COULDN'T FACE HIM AGAIN.
I HAD LEFT HIM A NOTE
AND AN OLD PICTURE OF US
ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.
"TO REMIND YOU
OF HAPPIER TIMES.
GOODBYE."
BYE, MAGGIE.
I LEFT DETROIT SHORTLY
AFTER MY BREAKUP WITH RICKY.
THERE WERE JUST
TOO MANY MEMORIES.
I WANTED TO START OVER
AS FAR AWAY AS I COULD,
SO I MOVED
TO WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
I GOT A GOOD JOB
AS A PARALEGAL
AND I MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS,
BUT THE DISTANCE COULDN'T ERASE
THE FEELINGS I STILL HAD
FOR RICKY.
COME ON, GIRL.
LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT
AND PARTY A LITTLE.
I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE
GOING OUT TONIGHT, TASHA.
YOU NEVER FEEL
LIKE GOING OUT.
ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS SIT AROUND YOUR APARTMENT
AND MOPE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
IN MOURNING OR SOMETHING.
FORGET ABOUT THAT GUY
IN DETROIT. HE'S OVER.
I CAN'T.
GIRL,
IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS.
THAT'S A LONG TIME.
YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
WHAT IF RICKY WAS
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
AND I JUST LET HIM GO?
COME OUT WITH ME TONIGHT
AND YOU'LL MEET THE NEXT
GREAT LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.
I MET TWO GREAT LOVES
OF MY LIFE JUST LAST WEEK.
I'M NOT YOU, TASHA.
LOOK,
I KNOW YOU'RE HURTING,
AND I'M SORRY.
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO
BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD,
LET ME KNOW.
I TRIED TO MOVE ON,
BUT I COULDN'T GET RICKY
OUT OF MY HEAD.
I EVEN WENT OUT CLUBBING
TH TASHA ONE NIGHT.
ALL I DID WAS WATCH HER DANCE
AND THINK ABOUT RICKY'S FACE.
HE LOOKED SO SAD
THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM.
CHLOE.
HI, IT'S MAGGIE.
YEAH, I'M FINE.
NO, I'M STILL
IN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S FABULOUS.
EVERYTHING'S GREAT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
IT'S BEEN A WHOLE YEAR.
I WAS JUST WONDERING...
DO YOU EVER
BUMP INTO RICKY?
NO, I'M OVER HIM.
I'M JUST --
I WAS JUST WONDERING
HOW HE WAS DOING.
I CALLED A COUPLE MORE
OLD FRIENDS IN DETROIT
TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM
KNEW ABOUT RICKY,
BUT NO ONE HAD EVEN SEEN HIM.
HE'D JUST SEEMED
TO DROP OUT OF SIGHT.
I DECIDED
TO TAKE SOME NIGHT CLASSES
AND GET BACK ON TRACK
TOWARD MY LAW DEGREE.
BETWEEN MY CLASSES
AND MY PARALEGAL JOB,
I DEPENDED ON MY LAPTOP COMPUTER
FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING,
SO WHEN IT CRASHED, I NEEDED
TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY.
IT ONLY TOOK THE REPAIR SHOP
A COUPLE OF DAYS,
BUT I WAS ALREADY WAY BEHIND
IN MY WORK.
I DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT IN A FEW SECONDS,
I WAS GOING TO GET
THE SURPRISE OF MY LIFE.
WHAT I SAW
WHEN THE COMPUTER BOOTED UP
STILL GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS
TODAY.
IT CAN'T BE.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
IT WAS THE SAME PICTURE
I LEFT BEHIND FOR RICKY,
BUT WHAT WAS IT DOING
ON MY LAPTOP?
I BROUGHT MY COMPUTER BACK
TO THE REPAIR SHOP.
I HAD TO FIND OUT
HOW THIS HAPPENED.
YOU WANT TO CHECK
OVER THERE,
COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVE
SOME REAL QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
THERE. THERE IT IS.
OKAY.
SO...
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
I WANT TO KNOW WHY
THAT PICTURE IS ON MY LAPTOP.
WAIT A MINUTE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
MAGGIE GORDON.
OH.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
THERE WAS A SCREW-UP.
SOME OTHER DUDE
GOT YOUR LAPTOP,
AND YOU GOT HIS.
WHO-- WHOSE DID I GET?
SOME DUDE.
HE WAS IN L.A.
ON BUSINESS.
I THINK HE LIVES
IN VENTURA COUNTY.
ARE YOU KIDDING?
VENTURA COUNTY?
LISTEN, I THINK
I KNOW THIS GUY.
CAN YOU GIVE ME
HIS ADDRESS?
NO, I CAN'T.
IT'S AGAINST STORE POLICY.
LOOK,
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I USED TO LIVE
WITH THIS GUY.
I'M SORRY.
I COULD LOSE MY JOB.
I FELT DESPERATE,
SO I OPENED UP TO HIM.
PLEASE?
LOOK, I USED TO BE
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY.
I THINK I STILL AM.
Ricky: I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, TOO, MAGGIE.
RICKY.
I MISSED YOU SO MUCH.
ME TOO.
SO I GUESS THIS MEANS
YOU DON'T NEED HIS ADDRESS.
WAS THIS JUST A CHANCE MEETING
OF TWO FORMER LOVERS,
OR WAS THERE A HIGHER POWER
AT WORK HERE?
HOW ELSE DO YOU EXPLAIN
BOTH PEOPLE USING
THE SAME COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP
OR THE SWITCHING
OF THE COMPUTERS
OR THE OLD PHOTO?
IS THIS STORY OF THE COMPUTER
THAT REUNITED A COUPLE
AN OPEN DISPLAY OF HONESTY,
OR ARE WE HIDING
BEHIND A SCREEN OF DECEPTION?
NEXT, YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHICH OF OUR STORIES ARE FACT
AND WHICH ARE FICTION
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 BLOODY HAND
THAT POINTED TO A KILLER.
TURN IT OFF.
TURN IT OFF.
WHOA.
I SAID TURN IT OFF!
NO. NO.
YOU SET ME UP.
YOU SET ME UP!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNEW IT WAS ME
AS SOON AS I WALKED IN!
DO YOU THINK THIS STORY
REALLY HAPPENED?
NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
IT'S A LIE.
WHAT WAS YOUR OPINION
OF THE DOLL
WHO WITNESSED THE HOUSEKEEPER'S
DEADLY CRIME?
Doll: NO, NO, DON'T KILL MOMMY
AND DADDY, MISS ROBINSON.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY DID SHE SAY THAT?
WHY DID YOU KILL THEM,
MISS ROBINSON?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
SHE'S LYING!
HEIDI'S LYING!
THIS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY FAKE,
RIGHT?
WRONG. IT HAPPENED.
A SIMILAR STORY OCCURRED
IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
HOW ABOUT THE STORY
OF THE BIZARRE POKER GAME
WHERE A SON RECLAIMED
HIS MURDERED FATHER'S WINNINGS?
ANOTHER FULL HOUSE.
I KNOW.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO LUCKY
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M THROUGH.
ME TOO.
YOU CLEANED ME OUT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
HE NEVER PLAYS POKER,
AND HE BEATS US LIKE HE DID.
HOW'D YOU DO IT, HUH?
YOU WERE CHEATING,
WEREN'T YOU?
NO, I SWEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.
WAS THIS STORY
BASED ON A REAL HAPPENING?
YES. OUR RESEARCH SHOWS
A SIMILAR INCIDENT
TOOK PLACE IN SAN FRANCISCO
IN THE 1850s.
THE TEENAGER WHOSE STRANGE DREAM
TURNED OUT TO BE PROPHETIC --
HOW DID YOU JUDGE THAT ONE?
WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET OUT!
AAH!
HELLO, LADIES. IF YOU GRAB
MY HAND ONE BY ONE,
I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE.
DID YOU THINK THIS WAS REAL?
IF YOU DID, WE GOT YOU.
IT'S FALSE.
HOW ABOUT THE COUPLE
AND THE SCREEN SAVER
THAT PLAYED CUPID?
LOOK,
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I USED TO LIVE
WITH THIS GUY.
I'M SORRY.
I COULD LOSE MY JOB.
PLEASE?
LOOK, I USED TO BE
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY.
I THINK STILL AM.
Ricky: I'M STILL IN LOVE
WITH YOU, TOO, MAGGIE.
RICKY.
WAS THIS INSPIRED
BY AN ACTUAL EVENT?
NO WAY.
IT'S A WORK OF FICTION.
FACT AND FICTION --
SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER
IN THE DICTIONARY,
BUT SO FAR APART IN REALITY.
DOES ONE EVER EXIST
WITHOUT THE OTHER,
OR MUST THEY ALWAYS
BE FOUND SIDE BY SIDE?
AND ONCE YOU ENCOUNTER
BOTH TOGETHER,
YOU OFTEN FIND THAT THE SPACE
BETWEEN THEM IS SO SMALL
THAT IT'S TRULY
BEYOND BELIEF.
I'M JONATHAN FRAKES.
Man: THE STORY "BATTERED DOLL"
IS TRUE,
BASED ON FIRSTHAND RESEARCH
CONDUCTED BY AUTHOR
ROBERT TRALINS.
FOR "BEYOND BELIEF,"
THIS IS CAMPBELL LANE.