Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997–2024): Season 1, Episode 5 - Grave Sitting - full transcript
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[theme music]
Fact or fiction?
Where do you draw the
line between them?
NARRATOR: "Beyond
Belief Fact or Fiction."
Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.
We live in a world where
the real and the unreal
live side by side,
where substance
is disguised as illusion,
and the only explanations
are unexplainable.
Can you separate
truth from fantasy?
To do so, you must break through
the web of your experience
and open your mind to
things beyond belief.
JONATHAN FRAKES: What
makes something true,
and what makes it false?
It's often difficult to tell.
Each week, we explore
the ambiguity of truth.
The dictionary defines
ambiguity as open
to multiple interpretation.
And even when you factor in all
of those various possibilities
and look at it from all
angles, it's still the same.
Tonight, you will see
stories that walk the border
between fact and fiction.
At one point, they may seem true
to you, and the next moment,
false.
We'll tell you which is
which at the end of our show.
Of course, there is one thing
they will all have in common--
ambiguity.
To a museum, a true
archaeological find
is like winning the lottery.
It boosts your ranking to the
top of the world's collections
and attracts visitors
to your facility
from all over the world.
That's why every
great discovery must
be painstakingly authenticated.
And when an exhibit like this
passes the strongest tests
of experts, it's both an
historical and financially
rewarding experience.
It can also be frightening one,
as we are about to find out.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): As the
head curator for the museum,
I was asked to accompany our
director to the private studio
of Marseilles Duqua.
Duqua had an esteemed
reputation as a collector
of rare and valuable
discoveries,
but if his claim was
correct this time,
we would be looking at his
greatest discovery of all.
This, of course, did not
stop Emile, our director,
from being his
brusque, rude self.
The appointment was for
3 o'clock, Monsieur Duqua.
I am sorry to have kept
you waiting, gentlemen.
I was asleep, but I haven't
been feeling well lately.
But there she is, the
Princess Ferrantiti,
untouched since she was wrapped
300 years before Christ.
[background conversation]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): When you
have been doing this work
for as long as I have,
you learn to contain
your emotions when confronted
by something momentous.
Yet my heart was racing
with anticipation.
This was the prize that
had eluded discovery
for over two centuries.
I spent the next several
hours checking and rechecking
the elaborate mummy case, the
wrappings, and the paperwork.
[crows cawing]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER):
And finally, I
knew Emile would ask me the
most important question of all,
and I would have to commit.
Well, Daniel,
what do you think?
It's authentic.
MARSEILLES DUQUA: Of
course it's authentic.
If I may ask, how did
this priceless relic
come into your possession?
I am unable to divulge that.
You must trust that it
is mine to do as I wish.
You can see that the
paperwork is in order.
It would be a great addition
to the museum's collection
of Egyptian artifacts.
Well, Monsieur Duqua,
it would appear you are
going to be a very wealthy man.
How can one put a price on
the head Princess Ferrantiti?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): There was
still final checks to be done,
and we had to wait
for the availability
of embalming experts.
In the meantime, the museum
took possession of the princess,
and then one evening, according
to the cleaning lady who
was working her nightly
shift, something very strange
occurred.
[wind whistling]
Excuse me, m--
Oh, my God.
MANDY: Sir, I swear I'm
telling you the truth.
I don't imagine things.
I saw this woman,
this beautiful woman,
and she was floating
off the floor.
Sir, It was the strangest
thing I ever saw.
Mandy, I appreciate your
sincerity and concern.
But this story is
completely ridiculous.
Sir, I swear on my
children, I saw that woman.
Calm down.
Sometimes the dim
lighting in the museum--
No, no, sir.
I saw what I saw,
and I know I saw her.
And if you don't believe
me, then I'm not working
here anymore, you understand?
I quit.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I was
sure Mandy would return.
I could only guess she
had been working too hard.
Yet I decided to keep a
special eye on our new exhibit.
A week went by with
no incident, and then,
late one night, a security
guard witnessed the same vision
of the floating woman.
I'm just saying
it's very coincidental
that Mandy and the security
guard both had the same vision.
Believe, Daniel, it's nothing.
Most likely the
power of suggestion.
Mandy probably planted
it in that guard's head.
She talked about what she
saw, and now he saw it.
That's how these
rumors get started.
Yes, Mandy, I
could understand.
But the security guard, he
has been with the museum
for 15 years.
He is very reliable.
So, you're saying you believe
in this talk of a ghost?
I'm not saying
that at all, Emile.
I'm just saying--
it's a little--
odd, that's all.
Yes, it's odd.
They're probably watching
too much television
and reading too many tabloids.
If you'll excuse me Daniel,
I have a dinner engagement.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): So typical .
The director goes at
dinner while the curator
is left behind to work
late into the night.
[door closing]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I sat
there, poring over my notes.
Suddenly, I felt a cold
chill go through me.
I was relieved to see it was
nothing but the fire going out.
But then-- I couldn't
believe my eyes.
Who are you?
[wind whistling]
What do you want of me?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): There was
a deep gash on her forehead.
What happened to you?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER):
She seemed to be
beckoning me to follow her.
I approached the coffin
of the princess carefully,
but I could not be prepared
for what I was about to see.
There, in the coffin,
was the woman whose
ghost was haunting the museum.
It cannot be.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I contacted
the police that same evening.
Within a week, they
arrested Marseilles Duqua
for the murder of a
beautiful young woman
he had met in a local cafe.
He had hit her over the
head with a blunt object,
causing a gash on her forehead.
He then wrapped her body and
placed his in the coffin.
Under interrogation,
Duqua answered
every question except one.
Where was the real body
of Princess Ferrantiti?
That still remains a mystery.
Was it really the spirit
of the murdered woman who
was haunting the
museum at night,
simply the imaginations
of an overstressed staff?
The exhibit turned out to be
an elaborate hoax designed
to hide a horrible crime.
And didn't the physical
description of the ghost
match the woman in the coffin?
Did this story of the mummy
really happen, or are we
keeping the truth under wraps?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a security guard is forced
to look terror in the face
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
It takes a lot to get into
an office building these days.
ID cards, security passes,
code boxes, special keys.
But the most reliable
security device of all
is a dedicated human being,
someone like Vick Pernelle.
He had a perfect record
at Dexter Industries.
No incident had ever
occurred on his watch.
And when Vick wasn't actually
involved in a security check,
he was reading about things
that would make him a more
effective person and employee.
Yes, Vick Pernelle
takes pride in his work.
But what is that old saying?
Oh, yes.
Pride goeth before a fall.
It's late Tuesday afternoon,
and Vick Pernelle is
training a new security guard.
VICK PERNELLE: Sometimes
it's not enough just
to check the doorknob.
You've got to throw your
whole weight against the door,
make sure it's
secure, like this.
Know what I'm saying?
And there's no shortcuts in
the security business, Wes.
There's so much I
can learn from a man
like you, Mr. Pernelle.
I like your attitude, Wes.
You're going to do
real well around here.
New company, health
care benefits,
lots of room for advancement.
Even though we're still
under construction,
that vault there is
fully operational.
It contains computer secrets
that are worth a lot of money
on the open market.
Looks real secure to me.
Yeah, well, we've got three
cameras, state-of-the-art
laser alarm system.
Here's the control box.
This key disarms the alarm
if the system should misfire,
not that that is
ever going to happen.
I designed the system myself.
Really?
You must be some kind of genius.
No, it's not that.
I just know a few things.
It's amazing what you
can find in books.
I I don't believe it.
You've really got
a perfect record?
15 years in the business.
Not a single break-in
or act of vandalism.
Wow, that's
something to shoot for.
You can do it, kid.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
Later that night, Vick Pernelle
ran his last monitor check
and was ready for a cup
of coffee and his latest book.
That kid's a little
green but I don't know,
I think he'll work out OK.
Southwest quadrant
doors are secure, sir.
Good job.
Did you use your shoulders?
[laughing]
INTRUDER: Don't move or
I'll blow your brains out.
I guess I didn't
use my shoulder, Vick.
[laughing] Perfect record?
Oh, bye-bye.
Thanks for the keys, Vick.
Very helpful in
disabling the alarm.
All set.
[grunting] Hey,
Vick.
What's behind door number one?
[grunting]
Oh, what a score.
Oh, yeah.
This stuff's going to
bring us a ton of cash.
In a few days, we'll be sitting
on a beach in the Bahamas.
Mucho babes, man.
Mucho babes.
[grunting]
Hey Vick, just
look at it this way.
Records are made to be broken.
I just broke yours.
A good security guard
never would have hired me.
Maybe you're just
getting old, lazy, fat.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
Vick Pernelle, the security
guard whose hobby was
reading, was watching
his final chapter play out.
Bound and gagged, he couldn't
move out of his chair
to protect his watch.
But then--
[grunting]
What happened?
What happened?
Just a bulb blew, man.
It's no big deal.
Come one.
[grunting]
Geeze.
I don't like this.
Let's get out of here.
Come on, this way.
[grunting]
[yelling]
[yelling] What is it?
I don't know.
[yelling]
Come on, you crooks.
Hey, I got cut, man.
You know, if it
weren't for the lights
in the building
going on and off,
we would have just
passed right by.
It must have been a
power surge, or maybe
they just short
circuited something
when they disabled the alarm.
Yeah, maybe it was something.
Whatever it was, my
record is still perfect.
What really happened?
Was there some
sort of electrical
short behind those
exploding lights?
Perhaps the crooks caused
the short when they tampered
with the security system.
Then the building had
never experienced any sort
of wiring problems in the past.
Is it logical to assume
such a coincidence could
happen at the exact
same time Vick was
experimenting with telekinesis?
Do you believe the
story of top security,
or are we trying to
sneak one past you?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a student spends a
night of horror in a cemetery
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
How much money would
it take to make you
spend a night in a cemetery?
$50?
$100?
It's a lot of money
to some people,
for example, a struggling
high school student.
But what is it about a
graveyard that makes most of us
hesitate at the offer?
Do we actually believe that
there are spirits and ghosts
that haunt a burial ground?
Melissa doesn't believe
in ghosts or spirits.
She believes in picking
up some easy money.
And she is about to
earn every penny.
[bell tolling]
[loud rock music playing]
MELISSA: Dustin, would
you turn it down?
I told you I hate this song.
What'd you do that for?
It's a stupid song.
You're just pissed because
Glen stood you up again.
He didn't stand me up.
He's got the flu.
I just wish he'd quit getting
sick on Friday nights.
Whatever.
I hate this town.
It's so boring.
There's never anything to do.
Cemetery.
I can't believe you guys.
You're so superstitious.
You gotta know who's buried
in that cemetery, don't you?
Yeah.
Dead people.
Lots of them.
Well, one of those
dead people just
happens to be Wilbur Lister.
Who's he?
He was a serial killer.
Murdered 22 teenage girls and
buried them under his house.
And he was caught, executed,
and buried in that cemetery
right there.
(CREEPY VOICE) Row
eight, grave number 14.
So the story goes, but it--
I know, I know the story.
Oh, what, and you
don't believe it?
No, I don't believe it.
It's just some
stupid, scary story
made up by a stupid,
scary-looking person like you.
OK.
I'll give you $100 if you
go sit out there on Lister's
grave for two hours.
Huh?
How about it, Melissa?
You Got the guts,
or are you chicken?
[making chicken sounds]
I wouldn't do
it for a thousand.
You're on.
But you'd better have $100.
All right.
We shall see.
OK.
Here's what you got to do.
After the two hours are
up, you take the knife
and you stab it
into Lister's grave.
That's how we'll
know you were there.
And take your phone
and keep in touch, OK?
Stop worrying, Crystal.
There's nothing in
there but bones.
(SPOOKY VOICE) Ooo.
I'm Wilbur Lister, and
I'm hungry for blood.
CRYSTAL: Shut up, Dustin.
DUSTIN: Bye.
OK, Wilbur.
They say your grave is
towards the big oak tree.
It should be easy to find
since those kids carved
that skull on your headstone.
I'm not afraid of
your curse, Wilbur.
I'm going to leave here
tonight $100 richer.
Tell Dustin that I'm still
alive, and they're still dead.
I'm Lister.
And I want you.
So lame.
She hung up.
You made her hang up.
I hate you.
Come here, come
here, come here.
Oh, that's cute.
Serial killer they put to
death on Valentine's day.
Are you in there, Wilbur?
Because I'm going to be spending
a couple of hours here with you
whether you like it or not.
Well, Wilbur.
Looks like our
date's almost over.
Another 15 minutes and
I'll be $100 richer.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: You're
never going to leave here.
Real cute, Dustin.
All right, where are you?
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: Nobody
leaves here unless I let them.
It's not going to work.
You're not going to scare
me out of that $100,
so you may as well come out now.
[gasp]
[radio music playing]
[phone ringing]
Where's Dustin?
He's right here next to me.
I swear.
Ow, ow, ow.
Would you stop?
See, I told you he was here.
Tell him I'm leaving
because my two hours are up.
She's leaving.
Hey, tell her not to forget
to stab the knife in the grave
so we know you were there.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER:
You're not going anywhere.
I told you--
I wouldn't let you leave.
[crying]
[loud music playing]
[phone ringing]
Did you hear the phone ring?
No.
No.
Must have been the radio.
Now, come here.
Why won't they answer?
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: No
more calls, Melissa.
No, please.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER:
No more anything.
[screams]
COP 1: No marks on her.
Looks like she died of fright.
Why didn't she run away?
COP 2: She couldn't.
That knife is stuck
right through her coat.
She pinned herself to the grave.
Poor Melissa.
Was it the ghosts of the
graveyard that did her in?
Or did she scare
herself to death
by unknowingly plunging the
knife into the hem of her coat,
trapping her in place and
causing her imagination
to take over in the dark?
Do you think this story of
terror in the cemetery is real,
or do you have grave doubts?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, eyewitnesses
claim to see a giant
commit murder on "Beyond
Belief Fact or Fiction."
Can you remember the
tallest man you've ever seen?
I stand six foot four.
This life-size cutout of Harlem
Globetrotter Pascal Frenchy
Fleury is 7 foot, 3 inches.
The "Guinness Book
of World Records"
lists Robert Pershing Wadlow
as the world's tallest man
at 8 foot, 11 and 1/10 inch.
Yet when you read the
writings of history,
you can't help wonder if
some men were even taller.
How tall was Goliath?
Paul Bunyan?
And how about all
those giants that
populate ancient fairy tales?
In this story,
there may be a man
that doubles the
size of the tallest
man in the world--
that is, if you
can believe the eyewitnesses.
COP (VOICEOVER):
When you're a cop,
you have to investigate
everyone's murder--
even if the murder victim is a
man you may personally despise.
The morning I was called to
this particular crime scene,
I didn't know who
the dead man was yet.
I was just given an address.
But I was about to be reminded
that the victim was a creep,
a liar, and a wife beater.
And in my opinion, he also
murdered his wife Maria
a couple of years ago.
He got off due to an expensive
legal team, a weak judge,
and an incompetent prosecutor.
He liked to brag about how
he was found not guilty.
But 8 o'clock this
morning, he was found dead.
What do we got?
Victim is a white
male about 35 years old.
No sign of forced
entry or robbery.
The weird thing is
though, the apartment
was deadbolted from the inside.
Maybe the victim deadbolted
it after the killer
left just to be safe.
Sir?
It was a bad joke, Marcus.
Where did he die?
Balcony, sir.
All right, Mac, let
me handle it, all right?
You got a cause of death, Felix?
Yeah.
Somebody broke his neck.
I'd say the time of
death was around 6 a.m.
Whoever did it had to
be a very powerful man.
Yeah.
Got an ID on the deceased?
George Delarus.
He owned a couple of
restaurants out in the valley.
George Delarus.
That's the guy who was
tried for murdering
his wife about a year ago.
I remember.
He beat that.
Yeah, best defense
money can buy.
[inaudible] spousal
abuse and his wife
turns up brutally murdered.
And the husband just happens
to have a perfect alibi.
When have we
heard that before?
So he's sitting here
enjoying his morning
coffee and his newspaper.
Somebody grabs him from behind.
No forced entry.
So that means somebody
climbed two stories,
broke this guy's neck, and
then climbed back down again.
You got any witnesses?
Three of them.
And you wouldn't believe
with they have to say.
I was getting ready
for work this morning--
it was about 6:00 a.m.-- when
I heard this terrible noise.
It sounded like a man screaming.
And I looked out
my window, and--
I'll never forget what I saw.
It was a giant man, as
tall as the balcony.
And he had on a
dark overcoat and
this long, flowing black hair.
And he was shaking something
on the balcony like a rag doll.
And then I realized what it was.
It was a man.
So terrible.
I've never seen anyone
murdered before.
Mrs. Denby, the
murderer you saw,
if he was as tall
as the balcony,
do you realize he'd
be 18 feet tall?
I know It sounds crazy,
but that's what I saw.
All right, look.
Detective Marquez will take you
down and get you a cup of tea.
OK.
I'll talk to you in a
little bit, all right?
COP (VOICEOVER): I interrogated
two other eyewitnesses.
All three accounts
were identical--
a giant man about 18 feet
tall dressed in dark clothing
with long, unruly
hair was seen standing
in front of a balcony just
before sunup, about 6:00 a.m.
All right, I'll
tell you what, why
don't you guys go
over there and talk
to Detective Donnie over there.
His name's Don Gonzalez.
It's OK.
An 18-foot killer on the loose?
Pretty weird, huh, Felix?
Want to hear
something weirder?
Whoever made this print
weighed at least 500 pounds.
Pretty big guy.
COP (VOICEOVER): I struggled
with the case for several days.
The witnesses all checked out.
But a giant 18-foot murderer?
How can that be possible?
And where did he go?
18-foot men don't just
disappear into thin air.
I decided to check out George
Delarus's apartment again.
I took my time, and
I tried to imagine
what happened that morning.
[screaming]
COP (VOICEOVER): This was the
strangest case I ever had.
The death of George Delarus
didn't bother me that much.
As far as I was
concerned, Delarus got
away with murdering his wife.
My job was to see nobody
got away with murdering him.
There were a lot of people
who hated George, especially
after he got off at the trial.
I remembered that Marie
actually lived in this apartment
with him for a brief time.
I recalled from the
newspaper articles
that she had a colorful history.
In fact, she and George
first met when she
was a performer in Las Vegas.
Obviously, a memoir Maria
Marie had left behind.
I didn't know what
I was looking for,
but I began to flip
through the album.
It was filled with old
newspaper clippings and photos.
One of the photos was of Marie
Garibaldi and her brothers,
the flying Garibaldis,
a well-known circus
act from Milan, Italy.
With each flip of the page
I learned more about Marie
and her three brothers.
They were a family of
acrobats who traveled
extensively throughout Europe.
Marie Garibaldi left the
act because she fell in love
and married George Delarus.
Reports of the abuse she
suffered at his hands
filtered back to her brothers.
through letters she wrote.
She continued to write
to them up until the time
of her tragic murder.
The blank pages that
followed were her obituary.
I felt sorry for this woman,
trapped away from her homeland
in an abusive marriage.
But what did it all have
to do with the murder
of George Delarus?
And how did it add up
to an 18-foot giant
at George's balcony?
Obviously she knew lots
of circus performers.
Did one of them kill George?
The answer was in the
poster on the wall.
Marie's three
brothers balanced one
on top of the other and
measured close to 18 feet.
The brother at the top was
certainly strong enough
to strangle a man while
standing on the shoulders
of his brothers.
I could have filed extradition
papers to call the Garibaldi
brothers back from Milan.
But like I said, I didn't
care much for George Delarus,
and Italy is out
of my jurisdiction.
Is this story possible?
Did three acrobats
really choose to avenge
their sister's death
using the skills they
had perfected over the years?
If that explanation
seems far fetched to you,
then how do you
explain the witnesses
who claimed to see a giant?
Were they experiencing
mass hallucination?
Is this story of familial
revenge a true one?
Or is it just another
one of our tall tales?
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a river holds the secret
of a mysterious stranger
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
Have you ever walked out of
a mall into a huge parking area
and realized you'd forgotten
where you parked your car?
You could literally wander
for hours trying to find it,
or you could wait till dark
when your car will probably be
the only one left in the lot.
Now, here's a modern solution.
By pushing the button
on this remote key,
you can send a
signal to your car.
But what happens when your
car is nowhere to be found,
when it's been towed away?
Then what do you do?
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): The story
of the man in the designer suit
is a famous one in Beauville
county, and it all
started in the waters
of the Beauville River.
MAN IN DESIGNER SUIT:
They towed my car.
They-- they towed--
they towed my car.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
His ripped clothing
caked with Spanish moss
and bayou mud, this man--
[horn beeping]
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
--Edward Decateur,
was a kind of sight
never seen before
by the citizens of Beauville.
Dang fool.
My car.
My car.
They-- towed my car.
[horn beeping]
Hey, check this boy out.
Beauville county.
Population 304-- plus one.
They towed my car.
He looks to be having
himself a real bad day.
He's from the city,
I can tell you that.
Now, how can you tell?
What makes you
such an authority?
Well, see his suit.
May look tore up, but
it don't come cheap.
Uh-oh.
He's coming our way.
They towed my car.
You don't need us.
We're retired.
They towed my car.
Well, that's a doggone shame,
son, but we can't help you.
And like my friend
says, we're retired.
Now, go on, just move on along.
We don't want no trouble.
Do we, Daryl?
Huh?
No, no, we don't.
I have to find my car.
Boy looks like he'd been
attacked by a pack of dogs.
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): They still
talk about the man in the fancy
suit who wandered through town
looking for his car,
talking to himself,
and looking like he had just
seen something terrible.
And when they tell
the story, they always
point out that
nobody in Beauville
took the time to show
him any kindness.
Nobody except little Reese.
Hey, mister.
Are you crying?
They towed my car.
Well, you ain't
got to cry about it.
I'll help you find it.
Towed my car.
I heard you.
What happened to you?
Why are you so
dirty and beat up?
I've got to get
something out of the trunk.
You sure are strange.
Come on.
I'll take you to Wally.
He does all the
towing around here.
I'll take you there.
Come on.
Ma says I'm real nosy.
What's your name?
My name's Reese, and I'm 11.
I'm Edward--
[inaudible]
--and they towed my car.
That must be some kind of car.
NARRATOR: People
say that Reese was
taking a dangerous
chance that day
in befriending the stranger.
But Reese wasn't afraid, and the
stranger was gentle with him.
Reese knew that if anybody
had towed the man's car,
Wally would be the
one who would know.
REESE: Hey, Wally,
my friend needs
to talk to you about his car.
Man, what the hell
happened to you, mister?
Somebody towed my car.
Come over here
for a minute, son.
Son, I want to talk
to you for a minute.
Son, what are you doing
with that awful looking man?
That's my friend.
And I wanted to help
him find his car.
Did you tow it?
Well, I pulled a car out
of the river earlier today.
A lot of water damage.
Water damage?
Hey, where'd my friend go?
Hey, Edward, is that your car?
It was towed.
I found it.
Well, you know,
there's towing charges.
I had to pull it
out of the river.
Broke two chains doing it.
I have to get something
out of the trunk.
Well, you got a key?
I have to get something
out of the trunk.
Well, that means I'm going to
have to put the crowbar to it.
I may bust in the lock.
Is that all right with you?
- I have to get something--
- I know you've got--
--out of the trunk.
--to get something
out of the trunk.
Yeah.
Step back.
It's going to get a
little wet around here.
Wow.
It's like a dam burst.
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): It was
what Wally saw next that
has made this story live
forever in Beauville.
Stay back, son.
Stay back.
What's wrong, Wally?
Where's my friend?
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): Wally thought
about just walking Reese away.
But he had to have
another witness.
Thus ends the saga of
the wandering spirit
in the designer suit.
Is there a logical
explanation for this story?
Was it somebody
else in the trunk?
Someone who looked like Edward?
An identical twin, perhaps?
But then where did
Edward disappear to?
Did the young boy
imagine the whole thing?
And how did Edward end up in
the trunk of his car anyway?
Maybe the answer lies
in the gambling debts
he had built up with
organized crime.
Whatever the explanation,
is this story of a stranger
in a car pulled out of the water
inspired by an actual incident,
or are we pulling your chain?
NARRATOR: Coming up, we'll
find out which of our stories
tonight were fact--
and which were fiction went
"Beyond Belief" returns.
Now, let's take a look
at tonight's stories
and see which ones were
inspired by actual events
and which were total
works of fiction.
The story at the
money that turned out
to be a coverup for a murder.
Did you think that
was true or false?
It cannot be.
If you guessed this story
had the ring of truth,
you're right.
A story similar to this
one did take place.
Let's review the story
of the security guard
who used his mind to
protect his building.
Truth or falsehood?
VICK: Even though we're
still under construction,
that vault there is
fully operational.
It contains computer secrets
that are worth a lot of money
on the open market.
I like this [inaudible].
Come on.
This way.
[grunting]
[yelling]
[grunting]
[yelling]
Do you think this
story was a figment
of a writer's imagination?
Not this time.
It happened-- according to
firsthand interviews conducted
by author Robert Tralins.
Our story of the girl who had
the courage to spend the night
on the killer's grave--
is this one true?
It's not going to work.
You're not going to scare
me out of that $100,
so you may as well come out now.
[loud music playing]
[phone ringing]
Where's Dustin?
He's right here next to me.
I swear.
Ow, ow, ow.
Would you stop?
See, I told you he was here.
Tell him I'm leaving
because my two hours are up.
She's leaving.
Hey, tell her not to forget
the stab the knife in the grave
so we know you were there.
Did you guess that a
girl did die this way?
If you did, you're wrong.
This one's an urban legend.
It's fiction.
And how about the
story of the giant
that turned out to be a human
tower formed by three acrobats?
Real or unreal?
An 18-foot killer
on the loose?
Pretty weird, huh, Felix?
Want to hear
something weirder?
Whoever made this print
weighed at least 500 pounds.
So he's sitting here
enjoying his morning
coffee and his newspaper.
Somebody grabs him from behind.
No forced entry.
So that means somebody
climbed two stories,
broke this guy's neck, and
then climbed back down again.
Was this story of a revenge
taken by three brothers
inspired by an actual event?
Yes.
Let's take another
look at the tale
of the man whose car
was towed, only to be
recovered with him inside.
Step back.
It's going to get a
little wet around here.
Wow.
It's like a dam burst.
Stay back, son.
Stay back.
What's wrong, Wally?
Where's my friend?
Did you think this one
was a work of fiction?
You're right again.
We made up this one.
Once again, we've challenged you
to separate fact from fantasy.
Were you successful tonight, or
did you find our explanations
to be ultimately beyond belief?
I'm Jonathan Frakes.
NARRATOR: Join us for more
stories on "Beyond Belief Fact
or Fiction."
[theme music]
---
[theme music]
Fact or fiction?
Where do you draw the
line between them?
NARRATOR: "Beyond
Belief Fact or Fiction."
Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.
We live in a world where
the real and the unreal
live side by side,
where substance
is disguised as illusion,
and the only explanations
are unexplainable.
Can you separate
truth from fantasy?
To do so, you must break through
the web of your experience
and open your mind to
things beyond belief.
JONATHAN FRAKES: What
makes something true,
and what makes it false?
It's often difficult to tell.
Each week, we explore
the ambiguity of truth.
The dictionary defines
ambiguity as open
to multiple interpretation.
And even when you factor in all
of those various possibilities
and look at it from all
angles, it's still the same.
Tonight, you will see
stories that walk the border
between fact and fiction.
At one point, they may seem true
to you, and the next moment,
false.
We'll tell you which is
which at the end of our show.
Of course, there is one thing
they will all have in common--
ambiguity.
To a museum, a true
archaeological find
is like winning the lottery.
It boosts your ranking to the
top of the world's collections
and attracts visitors
to your facility
from all over the world.
That's why every
great discovery must
be painstakingly authenticated.
And when an exhibit like this
passes the strongest tests
of experts, it's both an
historical and financially
rewarding experience.
It can also be frightening one,
as we are about to find out.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): As the
head curator for the museum,
I was asked to accompany our
director to the private studio
of Marseilles Duqua.
Duqua had an esteemed
reputation as a collector
of rare and valuable
discoveries,
but if his claim was
correct this time,
we would be looking at his
greatest discovery of all.
This, of course, did not
stop Emile, our director,
from being his
brusque, rude self.
The appointment was for
3 o'clock, Monsieur Duqua.
I am sorry to have kept
you waiting, gentlemen.
I was asleep, but I haven't
been feeling well lately.
But there she is, the
Princess Ferrantiti,
untouched since she was wrapped
300 years before Christ.
[background conversation]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): When you
have been doing this work
for as long as I have,
you learn to contain
your emotions when confronted
by something momentous.
Yet my heart was racing
with anticipation.
This was the prize that
had eluded discovery
for over two centuries.
I spent the next several
hours checking and rechecking
the elaborate mummy case, the
wrappings, and the paperwork.
[crows cawing]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER):
And finally, I
knew Emile would ask me the
most important question of all,
and I would have to commit.
Well, Daniel,
what do you think?
It's authentic.
MARSEILLES DUQUA: Of
course it's authentic.
If I may ask, how did
this priceless relic
come into your possession?
I am unable to divulge that.
You must trust that it
is mine to do as I wish.
You can see that the
paperwork is in order.
It would be a great addition
to the museum's collection
of Egyptian artifacts.
Well, Monsieur Duqua,
it would appear you are
going to be a very wealthy man.
How can one put a price on
the head Princess Ferrantiti?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): There was
still final checks to be done,
and we had to wait
for the availability
of embalming experts.
In the meantime, the museum
took possession of the princess,
and then one evening, according
to the cleaning lady who
was working her nightly
shift, something very strange
occurred.
[wind whistling]
Excuse me, m--
Oh, my God.
MANDY: Sir, I swear I'm
telling you the truth.
I don't imagine things.
I saw this woman,
this beautiful woman,
and she was floating
off the floor.
Sir, It was the strangest
thing I ever saw.
Mandy, I appreciate your
sincerity and concern.
But this story is
completely ridiculous.
Sir, I swear on my
children, I saw that woman.
Calm down.
Sometimes the dim
lighting in the museum--
No, no, sir.
I saw what I saw,
and I know I saw her.
And if you don't believe
me, then I'm not working
here anymore, you understand?
I quit.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I was
sure Mandy would return.
I could only guess she
had been working too hard.
Yet I decided to keep a
special eye on our new exhibit.
A week went by with
no incident, and then,
late one night, a security
guard witnessed the same vision
of the floating woman.
I'm just saying
it's very coincidental
that Mandy and the security
guard both had the same vision.
Believe, Daniel, it's nothing.
Most likely the
power of suggestion.
Mandy probably planted
it in that guard's head.
She talked about what she
saw, and now he saw it.
That's how these
rumors get started.
Yes, Mandy, I
could understand.
But the security guard, he
has been with the museum
for 15 years.
He is very reliable.
So, you're saying you believe
in this talk of a ghost?
I'm not saying
that at all, Emile.
I'm just saying--
it's a little--
odd, that's all.
Yes, it's odd.
They're probably watching
too much television
and reading too many tabloids.
If you'll excuse me Daniel,
I have a dinner engagement.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): So typical .
The director goes at
dinner while the curator
is left behind to work
late into the night.
[door closing]
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I sat
there, poring over my notes.
Suddenly, I felt a cold
chill go through me.
I was relieved to see it was
nothing but the fire going out.
But then-- I couldn't
believe my eyes.
Who are you?
[wind whistling]
What do you want of me?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): There was
a deep gash on her forehead.
What happened to you?
DANIEL (VOICEOVER):
She seemed to be
beckoning me to follow her.
I approached the coffin
of the princess carefully,
but I could not be prepared
for what I was about to see.
There, in the coffin,
was the woman whose
ghost was haunting the museum.
It cannot be.
DANIEL (VOICEOVER): I contacted
the police that same evening.
Within a week, they
arrested Marseilles Duqua
for the murder of a
beautiful young woman
he had met in a local cafe.
He had hit her over the
head with a blunt object,
causing a gash on her forehead.
He then wrapped her body and
placed his in the coffin.
Under interrogation,
Duqua answered
every question except one.
Where was the real body
of Princess Ferrantiti?
That still remains a mystery.
Was it really the spirit
of the murdered woman who
was haunting the
museum at night,
simply the imaginations
of an overstressed staff?
The exhibit turned out to be
an elaborate hoax designed
to hide a horrible crime.
And didn't the physical
description of the ghost
match the woman in the coffin?
Did this story of the mummy
really happen, or are we
keeping the truth under wraps?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a security guard is forced
to look terror in the face
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
It takes a lot to get into
an office building these days.
ID cards, security passes,
code boxes, special keys.
But the most reliable
security device of all
is a dedicated human being,
someone like Vick Pernelle.
He had a perfect record
at Dexter Industries.
No incident had ever
occurred on his watch.
And when Vick wasn't actually
involved in a security check,
he was reading about things
that would make him a more
effective person and employee.
Yes, Vick Pernelle
takes pride in his work.
But what is that old saying?
Oh, yes.
Pride goeth before a fall.
It's late Tuesday afternoon,
and Vick Pernelle is
training a new security guard.
VICK PERNELLE: Sometimes
it's not enough just
to check the doorknob.
You've got to throw your
whole weight against the door,
make sure it's
secure, like this.
Know what I'm saying?
And there's no shortcuts in
the security business, Wes.
There's so much I
can learn from a man
like you, Mr. Pernelle.
I like your attitude, Wes.
You're going to do
real well around here.
New company, health
care benefits,
lots of room for advancement.
Even though we're still
under construction,
that vault there is
fully operational.
It contains computer secrets
that are worth a lot of money
on the open market.
Looks real secure to me.
Yeah, well, we've got three
cameras, state-of-the-art
laser alarm system.
Here's the control box.
This key disarms the alarm
if the system should misfire,
not that that is
ever going to happen.
I designed the system myself.
Really?
You must be some kind of genius.
No, it's not that.
I just know a few things.
It's amazing what you
can find in books.
I I don't believe it.
You've really got
a perfect record?
15 years in the business.
Not a single break-in
or act of vandalism.
Wow, that's
something to shoot for.
You can do it, kid.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
Later that night, Vick Pernelle
ran his last monitor check
and was ready for a cup
of coffee and his latest book.
That kid's a little
green but I don't know,
I think he'll work out OK.
Southwest quadrant
doors are secure, sir.
Good job.
Did you use your shoulders?
[laughing]
INTRUDER: Don't move or
I'll blow your brains out.
I guess I didn't
use my shoulder, Vick.
[laughing] Perfect record?
Oh, bye-bye.
Thanks for the keys, Vick.
Very helpful in
disabling the alarm.
All set.
[grunting] Hey,
Vick.
What's behind door number one?
[grunting]
Oh, what a score.
Oh, yeah.
This stuff's going to
bring us a ton of cash.
In a few days, we'll be sitting
on a beach in the Bahamas.
Mucho babes, man.
Mucho babes.
[grunting]
Hey Vick, just
look at it this way.
Records are made to be broken.
I just broke yours.
A good security guard
never would have hired me.
Maybe you're just
getting old, lazy, fat.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
Vick Pernelle, the security
guard whose hobby was
reading, was watching
his final chapter play out.
Bound and gagged, he couldn't
move out of his chair
to protect his watch.
But then--
[grunting]
What happened?
What happened?
Just a bulb blew, man.
It's no big deal.
Come one.
[grunting]
Geeze.
I don't like this.
Let's get out of here.
Come on, this way.
[grunting]
[yelling]
[yelling] What is it?
I don't know.
[yelling]
Come on, you crooks.
Hey, I got cut, man.
You know, if it
weren't for the lights
in the building
going on and off,
we would have just
passed right by.
It must have been a
power surge, or maybe
they just short
circuited something
when they disabled the alarm.
Yeah, maybe it was something.
Whatever it was, my
record is still perfect.
What really happened?
Was there some
sort of electrical
short behind those
exploding lights?
Perhaps the crooks caused
the short when they tampered
with the security system.
Then the building had
never experienced any sort
of wiring problems in the past.
Is it logical to assume
such a coincidence could
happen at the exact
same time Vick was
experimenting with telekinesis?
Do you believe the
story of top security,
or are we trying to
sneak one past you?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a student spends a
night of horror in a cemetery
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
How much money would
it take to make you
spend a night in a cemetery?
$50?
$100?
It's a lot of money
to some people,
for example, a struggling
high school student.
But what is it about a
graveyard that makes most of us
hesitate at the offer?
Do we actually believe that
there are spirits and ghosts
that haunt a burial ground?
Melissa doesn't believe
in ghosts or spirits.
She believes in picking
up some easy money.
And she is about to
earn every penny.
[bell tolling]
[loud rock music playing]
MELISSA: Dustin, would
you turn it down?
I told you I hate this song.
What'd you do that for?
It's a stupid song.
You're just pissed because
Glen stood you up again.
He didn't stand me up.
He's got the flu.
I just wish he'd quit getting
sick on Friday nights.
Whatever.
I hate this town.
It's so boring.
There's never anything to do.
Cemetery.
I can't believe you guys.
You're so superstitious.
You gotta know who's buried
in that cemetery, don't you?
Yeah.
Dead people.
Lots of them.
Well, one of those
dead people just
happens to be Wilbur Lister.
Who's he?
He was a serial killer.
Murdered 22 teenage girls and
buried them under his house.
And he was caught, executed,
and buried in that cemetery
right there.
(CREEPY VOICE) Row
eight, grave number 14.
So the story goes, but it--
I know, I know the story.
Oh, what, and you
don't believe it?
No, I don't believe it.
It's just some
stupid, scary story
made up by a stupid,
scary-looking person like you.
OK.
I'll give you $100 if you
go sit out there on Lister's
grave for two hours.
Huh?
How about it, Melissa?
You Got the guts,
or are you chicken?
[making chicken sounds]
I wouldn't do
it for a thousand.
You're on.
But you'd better have $100.
All right.
We shall see.
OK.
Here's what you got to do.
After the two hours are
up, you take the knife
and you stab it
into Lister's grave.
That's how we'll
know you were there.
And take your phone
and keep in touch, OK?
Stop worrying, Crystal.
There's nothing in
there but bones.
(SPOOKY VOICE) Ooo.
I'm Wilbur Lister, and
I'm hungry for blood.
CRYSTAL: Shut up, Dustin.
DUSTIN: Bye.
OK, Wilbur.
They say your grave is
towards the big oak tree.
It should be easy to find
since those kids carved
that skull on your headstone.
I'm not afraid of
your curse, Wilbur.
I'm going to leave here
tonight $100 richer.
Tell Dustin that I'm still
alive, and they're still dead.
I'm Lister.
And I want you.
So lame.
She hung up.
You made her hang up.
I hate you.
Come here, come
here, come here.
Oh, that's cute.
Serial killer they put to
death on Valentine's day.
Are you in there, Wilbur?
Because I'm going to be spending
a couple of hours here with you
whether you like it or not.
Well, Wilbur.
Looks like our
date's almost over.
Another 15 minutes and
I'll be $100 richer.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: You're
never going to leave here.
Real cute, Dustin.
All right, where are you?
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: Nobody
leaves here unless I let them.
It's not going to work.
You're not going to scare
me out of that $100,
so you may as well come out now.
[gasp]
[radio music playing]
[phone ringing]
Where's Dustin?
He's right here next to me.
I swear.
Ow, ow, ow.
Would you stop?
See, I told you he was here.
Tell him I'm leaving
because my two hours are up.
She's leaving.
Hey, tell her not to forget
to stab the knife in the grave
so we know you were there.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER:
You're not going anywhere.
I told you--
I wouldn't let you leave.
[crying]
[loud music playing]
[phone ringing]
Did you hear the phone ring?
No.
No.
Must have been the radio.
Now, come here.
Why won't they answer?
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER: No
more calls, Melissa.
No, please.
MYSTERIOUS WHISPER:
No more anything.
[screams]
COP 1: No marks on her.
Looks like she died of fright.
Why didn't she run away?
COP 2: She couldn't.
That knife is stuck
right through her coat.
She pinned herself to the grave.
Poor Melissa.
Was it the ghosts of the
graveyard that did her in?
Or did she scare
herself to death
by unknowingly plunging the
knife into the hem of her coat,
trapping her in place and
causing her imagination
to take over in the dark?
Do you think this story of
terror in the cemetery is real,
or do you have grave doubts?
NARRATOR: We'll find out whether
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, eyewitnesses
claim to see a giant
commit murder on "Beyond
Belief Fact or Fiction."
Can you remember the
tallest man you've ever seen?
I stand six foot four.
This life-size cutout of Harlem
Globetrotter Pascal Frenchy
Fleury is 7 foot, 3 inches.
The "Guinness Book
of World Records"
lists Robert Pershing Wadlow
as the world's tallest man
at 8 foot, 11 and 1/10 inch.
Yet when you read the
writings of history,
you can't help wonder if
some men were even taller.
How tall was Goliath?
Paul Bunyan?
And how about all
those giants that
populate ancient fairy tales?
In this story,
there may be a man
that doubles the
size of the tallest
man in the world--
that is, if you
can believe the eyewitnesses.
COP (VOICEOVER):
When you're a cop,
you have to investigate
everyone's murder--
even if the murder victim is a
man you may personally despise.
The morning I was called to
this particular crime scene,
I didn't know who
the dead man was yet.
I was just given an address.
But I was about to be reminded
that the victim was a creep,
a liar, and a wife beater.
And in my opinion, he also
murdered his wife Maria
a couple of years ago.
He got off due to an expensive
legal team, a weak judge,
and an incompetent prosecutor.
He liked to brag about how
he was found not guilty.
But 8 o'clock this
morning, he was found dead.
What do we got?
Victim is a white
male about 35 years old.
No sign of forced
entry or robbery.
The weird thing is
though, the apartment
was deadbolted from the inside.
Maybe the victim deadbolted
it after the killer
left just to be safe.
Sir?
It was a bad joke, Marcus.
Where did he die?
Balcony, sir.
All right, Mac, let
me handle it, all right?
You got a cause of death, Felix?
Yeah.
Somebody broke his neck.
I'd say the time of
death was around 6 a.m.
Whoever did it had to
be a very powerful man.
Yeah.
Got an ID on the deceased?
George Delarus.
He owned a couple of
restaurants out in the valley.
George Delarus.
That's the guy who was
tried for murdering
his wife about a year ago.
I remember.
He beat that.
Yeah, best defense
money can buy.
[inaudible] spousal
abuse and his wife
turns up brutally murdered.
And the husband just happens
to have a perfect alibi.
When have we
heard that before?
So he's sitting here
enjoying his morning
coffee and his newspaper.
Somebody grabs him from behind.
No forced entry.
So that means somebody
climbed two stories,
broke this guy's neck, and
then climbed back down again.
You got any witnesses?
Three of them.
And you wouldn't believe
with they have to say.
I was getting ready
for work this morning--
it was about 6:00 a.m.-- when
I heard this terrible noise.
It sounded like a man screaming.
And I looked out
my window, and--
I'll never forget what I saw.
It was a giant man, as
tall as the balcony.
And he had on a
dark overcoat and
this long, flowing black hair.
And he was shaking something
on the balcony like a rag doll.
And then I realized what it was.
It was a man.
So terrible.
I've never seen anyone
murdered before.
Mrs. Denby, the
murderer you saw,
if he was as tall
as the balcony,
do you realize he'd
be 18 feet tall?
I know It sounds crazy,
but that's what I saw.
All right, look.
Detective Marquez will take you
down and get you a cup of tea.
OK.
I'll talk to you in a
little bit, all right?
COP (VOICEOVER): I interrogated
two other eyewitnesses.
All three accounts
were identical--
a giant man about 18 feet
tall dressed in dark clothing
with long, unruly
hair was seen standing
in front of a balcony just
before sunup, about 6:00 a.m.
All right, I'll
tell you what, why
don't you guys go
over there and talk
to Detective Donnie over there.
His name's Don Gonzalez.
It's OK.
An 18-foot killer on the loose?
Pretty weird, huh, Felix?
Want to hear
something weirder?
Whoever made this print
weighed at least 500 pounds.
Pretty big guy.
COP (VOICEOVER): I struggled
with the case for several days.
The witnesses all checked out.
But a giant 18-foot murderer?
How can that be possible?
And where did he go?
18-foot men don't just
disappear into thin air.
I decided to check out George
Delarus's apartment again.
I took my time, and
I tried to imagine
what happened that morning.
[screaming]
COP (VOICEOVER): This was the
strangest case I ever had.
The death of George Delarus
didn't bother me that much.
As far as I was
concerned, Delarus got
away with murdering his wife.
My job was to see nobody
got away with murdering him.
There were a lot of people
who hated George, especially
after he got off at the trial.
I remembered that Marie
actually lived in this apartment
with him for a brief time.
I recalled from the
newspaper articles
that she had a colorful history.
In fact, she and George
first met when she
was a performer in Las Vegas.
Obviously, a memoir Maria
Marie had left behind.
I didn't know what
I was looking for,
but I began to flip
through the album.
It was filled with old
newspaper clippings and photos.
One of the photos was of Marie
Garibaldi and her brothers,
the flying Garibaldis,
a well-known circus
act from Milan, Italy.
With each flip of the page
I learned more about Marie
and her three brothers.
They were a family of
acrobats who traveled
extensively throughout Europe.
Marie Garibaldi left the
act because she fell in love
and married George Delarus.
Reports of the abuse she
suffered at his hands
filtered back to her brothers.
through letters she wrote.
She continued to write
to them up until the time
of her tragic murder.
The blank pages that
followed were her obituary.
I felt sorry for this woman,
trapped away from her homeland
in an abusive marriage.
But what did it all have
to do with the murder
of George Delarus?
And how did it add up
to an 18-foot giant
at George's balcony?
Obviously she knew lots
of circus performers.
Did one of them kill George?
The answer was in the
poster on the wall.
Marie's three
brothers balanced one
on top of the other and
measured close to 18 feet.
The brother at the top was
certainly strong enough
to strangle a man while
standing on the shoulders
of his brothers.
I could have filed extradition
papers to call the Garibaldi
brothers back from Milan.
But like I said, I didn't
care much for George Delarus,
and Italy is out
of my jurisdiction.
Is this story possible?
Did three acrobats
really choose to avenge
their sister's death
using the skills they
had perfected over the years?
If that explanation
seems far fetched to you,
then how do you
explain the witnesses
who claimed to see a giant?
Were they experiencing
mass hallucination?
Is this story of familial
revenge a true one?
Or is it just another
one of our tall tales?
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a river holds the secret
of a mysterious stranger
on "Beyond Belief
Fact or Fiction."
Have you ever walked out of
a mall into a huge parking area
and realized you'd forgotten
where you parked your car?
You could literally wander
for hours trying to find it,
or you could wait till dark
when your car will probably be
the only one left in the lot.
Now, here's a modern solution.
By pushing the button
on this remote key,
you can send a
signal to your car.
But what happens when your
car is nowhere to be found,
when it's been towed away?
Then what do you do?
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): The story
of the man in the designer suit
is a famous one in Beauville
county, and it all
started in the waters
of the Beauville River.
MAN IN DESIGNER SUIT:
They towed my car.
They-- they towed--
they towed my car.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
His ripped clothing
caked with Spanish moss
and bayou mud, this man--
[horn beeping]
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
--Edward Decateur,
was a kind of sight
never seen before
by the citizens of Beauville.
Dang fool.
My car.
My car.
They-- towed my car.
[horn beeping]
Hey, check this boy out.
Beauville county.
Population 304-- plus one.
They towed my car.
He looks to be having
himself a real bad day.
He's from the city,
I can tell you that.
Now, how can you tell?
What makes you
such an authority?
Well, see his suit.
May look tore up, but
it don't come cheap.
Uh-oh.
He's coming our way.
They towed my car.
You don't need us.
We're retired.
They towed my car.
Well, that's a doggone shame,
son, but we can't help you.
And like my friend
says, we're retired.
Now, go on, just move on along.
We don't want no trouble.
Do we, Daryl?
Huh?
No, no, we don't.
I have to find my car.
Boy looks like he'd been
attacked by a pack of dogs.
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): They still
talk about the man in the fancy
suit who wandered through town
looking for his car,
talking to himself,
and looking like he had just
seen something terrible.
And when they tell
the story, they always
point out that
nobody in Beauville
took the time to show
him any kindness.
Nobody except little Reese.
Hey, mister.
Are you crying?
They towed my car.
Well, you ain't
got to cry about it.
I'll help you find it.
Towed my car.
I heard you.
What happened to you?
Why are you so
dirty and beat up?
I've got to get
something out of the trunk.
You sure are strange.
Come on.
I'll take you to Wally.
He does all the
towing around here.
I'll take you there.
Come on.
Ma says I'm real nosy.
What's your name?
My name's Reese, and I'm 11.
I'm Edward--
[inaudible]
--and they towed my car.
That must be some kind of car.
NARRATOR: People
say that Reese was
taking a dangerous
chance that day
in befriending the stranger.
But Reese wasn't afraid, and the
stranger was gentle with him.
Reese knew that if anybody
had towed the man's car,
Wally would be the
one who would know.
REESE: Hey, Wally,
my friend needs
to talk to you about his car.
Man, what the hell
happened to you, mister?
Somebody towed my car.
Come over here
for a minute, son.
Son, I want to talk
to you for a minute.
Son, what are you doing
with that awful looking man?
That's my friend.
And I wanted to help
him find his car.
Did you tow it?
Well, I pulled a car out
of the river earlier today.
A lot of water damage.
Water damage?
Hey, where'd my friend go?
Hey, Edward, is that your car?
It was towed.
I found it.
Well, you know,
there's towing charges.
I had to pull it
out of the river.
Broke two chains doing it.
I have to get something
out of the trunk.
Well, you got a key?
I have to get something
out of the trunk.
Well, that means I'm going to
have to put the crowbar to it.
I may bust in the lock.
Is that all right with you?
- I have to get something--
- I know you've got--
--out of the trunk.
--to get something
out of the trunk.
Yeah.
Step back.
It's going to get a
little wet around here.
Wow.
It's like a dam burst.
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): It was
what Wally saw next that
has made this story live
forever in Beauville.
Stay back, son.
Stay back.
What's wrong, Wally?
Where's my friend?
JONATHAN FRAKES
(VOICEOVER): Wally thought
about just walking Reese away.
But he had to have
another witness.
Thus ends the saga of
the wandering spirit
in the designer suit.
Is there a logical
explanation for this story?
Was it somebody
else in the trunk?
Someone who looked like Edward?
An identical twin, perhaps?
But then where did
Edward disappear to?
Did the young boy
imagine the whole thing?
And how did Edward end up in
the trunk of his car anyway?
Maybe the answer lies
in the gambling debts
he had built up with
organized crime.
Whatever the explanation,
is this story of a stranger
in a car pulled out of the water
inspired by an actual incident,
or are we pulling your chain?
NARRATOR: Coming up, we'll
find out which of our stories
tonight were fact--
and which were fiction went
"Beyond Belief" returns.
Now, let's take a look
at tonight's stories
and see which ones were
inspired by actual events
and which were total
works of fiction.
The story at the
money that turned out
to be a coverup for a murder.
Did you think that
was true or false?
It cannot be.
If you guessed this story
had the ring of truth,
you're right.
A story similar to this
one did take place.
Let's review the story
of the security guard
who used his mind to
protect his building.
Truth or falsehood?
VICK: Even though we're
still under construction,
that vault there is
fully operational.
It contains computer secrets
that are worth a lot of money
on the open market.
I like this [inaudible].
Come on.
This way.
[grunting]
[yelling]
[grunting]
[yelling]
Do you think this
story was a figment
of a writer's imagination?
Not this time.
It happened-- according to
firsthand interviews conducted
by author Robert Tralins.
Our story of the girl who had
the courage to spend the night
on the killer's grave--
is this one true?
It's not going to work.
You're not going to scare
me out of that $100,
so you may as well come out now.
[loud music playing]
[phone ringing]
Where's Dustin?
He's right here next to me.
I swear.
Ow, ow, ow.
Would you stop?
See, I told you he was here.
Tell him I'm leaving
because my two hours are up.
She's leaving.
Hey, tell her not to forget
the stab the knife in the grave
so we know you were there.
Did you guess that a
girl did die this way?
If you did, you're wrong.
This one's an urban legend.
It's fiction.
And how about the
story of the giant
that turned out to be a human
tower formed by three acrobats?
Real or unreal?
An 18-foot killer
on the loose?
Pretty weird, huh, Felix?
Want to hear
something weirder?
Whoever made this print
weighed at least 500 pounds.
So he's sitting here
enjoying his morning
coffee and his newspaper.
Somebody grabs him from behind.
No forced entry.
So that means somebody
climbed two stories,
broke this guy's neck, and
then climbed back down again.
Was this story of a revenge
taken by three brothers
inspired by an actual event?
Yes.
Let's take another
look at the tale
of the man whose car
was towed, only to be
recovered with him inside.
Step back.
It's going to get a
little wet around here.
Wow.
It's like a dam burst.
Stay back, son.
Stay back.
What's wrong, Wally?
Where's my friend?
Did you think this one
was a work of fiction?
You're right again.
We made up this one.
Once again, we've challenged you
to separate fact from fantasy.
Were you successful tonight, or
did you find our explanations
to be ultimately beyond belief?
I'm Jonathan Frakes.
NARRATOR: Join us for more
stories on "Beyond Belief Fact
or Fiction."
[theme music]