Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Ozarks - full transcript

THE MONSTER'S CHEST
WAS VERY, VERY WIDE.

I THINK ALL THE TIME

WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED
IF I'D ACTUALLY HIT IT.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]

Holmes: I HAD THE GUN READY

TO DEFEND MYSELF AND MY SON
AGAINST THE MONSTER.

Hill:
IT WAS HALF MAN, HALF GOAT.

IT LIVED OUT THERE
ON THE POPE LICK.

HE'D LURED KIDS
UP ON TOP OF THE TRACK

AND THEN TRY AND KILL THEM.

[ ANIMALS HOWLING ]



Miller: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE FOREST

JUST STARTED GETTING
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOUD.

LOOKING AT EACH OTHER LIKE,
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

[ SCREAMS ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: THE OZARKS --

THEY ROSE
FROM THE PRIMORDIAL OCEANS

NEARLY 300 MILLION YEARS AGO.

TODAY,
IT'S A REGION SO DENSE AND DANK,

IT CAN SHIELD A PEOPLE WHO OFTEN
CHOOSE TO BE LEFT ALONE.

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

IN THE HARDSCRABBLE LIFE
OF OZARKERS,

THE OLD STORIES ARE HELD CLOSE.

FAITH IN THE MYSTERIOUS AND
THE UNEXPLAINABLE STANDS FAST.



Blackburn: ARKANSAS AS A WHOLE,
INCLUDING THE OZARKS,

HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SIGHTINGS
OF MYSTERIOUS CREATURES.

THIS WOULD ALL BE A PLACE WHERE
AN UNKNOWN ANIMAL COULD HIDE.

THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY HAVE SEEN
THE MONSTER TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

I KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE
WHO WERE SKEPTICAL BEFORE.

THEY'RE NO LONGER SKEPTICAL.

Blackburn: THERE IS
A LOT OF OPEN SPACE HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DENSE COUNTRY
THAT IS NOT EXPLORED.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT
AT THE OUTER EDGES OF SOCIETY.

SO YOU GET
A CHANCE TO SEE THINGS

THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE DON'T SEE.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator:
IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND,

THERE IS BUT ONE
MOUNTAINOUS REGION, THE OZARKS.

ON ITS SOUTHERN EDGE
LIES FOUKE, ARKANSAS --

A TINY TOWN OF LESS THAN 1,000

IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER
OF THE STATE.

SINCE 1908,
THERE HAVE BEEN 70 SIGHTINGS

OF SOMETHING MONSTROUS
CREEPING IN THE WOODS.

ONE OF THE LATEST CASES
IS THAT OF HEATHER OWEN.

Heather: GROWING UP
OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY

IN A RURAL SETTING WAS GREAT.

I LOVED IT.

IT'S JUST PEACEFUL, QUIET.

EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY,

AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

Jane:
SHE WAS A VERY ACTIVE KID.

SHE WANTED TO BE
INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING,

AND SHE PRETTY MUCH WAS.

Narrator: HEATHER OWEN GREW UP
A TYPICAL OZARK COUNTRY KID.

LEARNING TO HUNT AND FISH

FOLLOWED SOON AFTER
LEARNING TO WALK.

AND ALONG THE WAY,

SHE HEARD THE LEGENDS OF THE
BEAST THAT HIDES IN BOGGY CREEK.

Heather:
I WAS ALWAYS A SKEPTIC.

I REALLY DIDN'T
PAY MUCH ATTENTION

TO THE STORIES
ABOUT THE FOUKE MONSTER.

BUT I NEVER THOUGHT
THAT I WOULD SEE ONE.

Narrator: ONE FALL NIGHT,
THAT WOULD CHANGE.

RUMORS WOULD TURN INTO REALITY.

Heather: SEPTEMBER OF 2011,
PROBABLY AROUND 6:00,

GOT MY BOOKS, MY LAPTOP,
AND MY PENCILS AND PAPER.

AND I WENT OVER TO MY FRIEND'S
HOUSE TO STUDY WITH HER

'CAUSE SHE HAD AN ENGLISH PAPER
DUE AT THE SAME TIME.

DID YOU GO TO THE REVIEW SESSION
LAST THURSDAY?

I DID NOT.

WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN THAT SESSION?

IT WAS TERRIBLE.
YOU DIDN'T MISS MUCH.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HELP ME
AT ALL ON THIS TEST EITHER.

[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]

I KEPT HEARING A DOG BARKING.

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

AND SO, PROBABLY AFTER
20 MINUTES OF THIS DOG BARKING,

I ASKED, "WHY IS IT BARKING?"

AND SHE SAID,
"OH, SHE JUST WANTS IN.

SHE SEES THE LIGHT'S ON."

[ DOG WHIMPERING ]

IT'S SO ANNOYING.

AROUND MIDNIGHT, I GATHERED UP
MY LAPTOP, MY BOOKS,

AND PUT THEM IN MY CAR.

OUTSIDE,
I NOTICED THAT IT WAS...

VERY STRANGELY QUIET.

I DIDN'T HEAR NO CRICKETS,
NO COWS, NOTHING.

I MEAN, NO NOISE.

KIND OF LIKE A REAL QUIET,
ALMOST KIND OF EERIE NIGHT.

I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY,
AND I HAD MY RADIO GOING

'CAUSE I USUALLY PUT MY RADIO
AS LOUD AS I CAN.

AND I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN
THE ROAD LIKE I NORMALLY WOULD.

[ COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING ]

Narrator: WHAT WAS NORMAL WAS
ABOUT TO TAKE A RADICAL TURN.

WHAT CATCHES MY EYE IS THAT

I SEE THIS THING SLOUCHED OVER
OR SQUATTING OR SOMETHING.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, STANDS UP.

AND THE ROLL OF HAY
GOES ABOUT MID-CHEST TO IT.

THE MONSTER'S CHEST WAS VERY,
VERY WIDE, ABOUT THREE FEET.

I'M 5', SO I'D SEE
HE'D BE ABOUT EIGHT FEET TALL.

IT KIND OF LOOKS AT MY CAR,

GOES ABOUT LIKE THAT,
LOOKS AT IT AGAIN.

OH, MY GOD.
AND THEN DARTS OFF.

AFTER I GOT THE GOOD GLIMPSE,

HE RAN INTO A THICKET ACROSS
THE ROAD, AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM.

HE WAS GONE.

I WAS SITTING THERE,
THINKING TO MYSELF,

"WHAT DID I JUST SEE?

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"

Narrator:
AND IT MIGHT NOT BE OVER.

SHE WAS THERE ALONE,
AND ALL HER WINDOWS WERE DOWN.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]
[ SCREAMING ]

HEATHER WAS NO LONGER SURE
WHAT WAS THERE OR NOT.

BUT SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO LEAVE

AND MAKE IT TO THE ONE PERSON
WHO WOULD UNDERSTAND.

I SAW IT. THERE WAS
THIS THING IN THE ROAD.

Jane: SHE WAS JUST PRACTICALLY
SCREAMING OUT AT ME.

IT RAN OUT.

VERY HIGH-PITCHED VOICE,

AND HER WORDS
WERE RUNNING TOGETHER.

...IN FRONT OF MY CAR.

I TOLD HER,
"JUST SLOW DOWN AND JUST WAIT.

SLOW DOWN."

AND WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS
ABOUT TWO MORE TIMES

UNTIL I HEARD HER COME OUT PLAIN

AND SAID THAT SHE HAD JUST SEEN
THE FOUKE MONSTER.

WELL, I WAS SCARED.

I WAS FRIGHTENED THAT SOMETHING
BAD COULD'VE HAPPENED TO HER.

TWO DAYS LATER,
AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED,

WE WENT DOWN THERE
DURING THE DAYTIME.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

MY MOM WANTED TO SEE
WHERE I HAD HAD THE SIGHTING.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS.

I KNEW WHAT I SEEN.

I THINK ALL THE TIME

OF WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED
IF I'D ACTUALLY HIT IT.

[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
[ THUD ]

AND I'M JUST SEEING
HANDS COMING UP AT ME

AND JUST THINKING
THE MOST HORRIFYING THING

JUST SCARED
THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF ME.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE WOULD'VE DONE.

Narrator:
HEATHER OWEN HAS JOINED

THE GROWING LEGION OF BELIEVERS

IN THE EXISTENCE
OF THE FOUKE MONSTER.

THE SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN
CLUSTERED IN SOUTHERN ARKANSAS,

AND THEY DESCRIBE THE CREATURE
AS TALL AND APELIKE.

Wayman: THEY LOOK RATHER LARGE,
YOU KNOW?

AND THEIR ARMS WAS SWINGING.

YOU KNOW, THEIR ARMS WAS LONGER
THAN PAST THEIR KNEES,

AND IT WAS LOOKING BACK
OVER ITS RIGHT SHOULDER AT ME.

Narrator:
SOME WITH CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

HAVE REPORTED A HIDEOUS STENCH.

Marva: IT SMELLED LIKE
OLD, WET DOG HAIR,

MAYBE SOMETHING SORT OF DEAD.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST --
IT WAS AWFUL.

I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY GROTESQUE.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: OTHERS
HAVE RECOUNTED A SCREAM...

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]
...LIKE A PANTHER IN HEAT.

A FEW HAVE EVEN SEEN

GLOWING, RED EYES
THE SIZE OF SILVER DOLLARS.

SOMETIMES SEEING THE MONSTER
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME

IS A VERY FRIGHTENING
EXPERIENCE.

THE VERY FIRST THING
THEY ALWAYS SAY IS,

"DON'T TELL ANYBODY"
OR "DON'T MENTION MY NAME."

Narrator: FOR THE BELIEVERS,
THERE'S A SAFE HAVEN IN FOUKE --

A DINER THAT DISHES OUT GENEROUS
HELPINGS OF MONSTER LORE.

McFerrin: WHEN A PERSON TELLS ME
THEY'VE SPOTTED SOMETHING

THAT'S SO ABOVE THE ORDINARY...

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
I'M IN A POSITION TO SAY,

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE LYING.

YOU CAN'T -- YOU DIDN'T SEE
ANYTHING LIKE THAT."

IT'S EASY FOR ME TO DO THAT,

BUT I'M NOT
ONE OF THOSE KIND OF PERSONS

WHO JUST DISMISSES
WHAT A PERSON SAYS.

Blackburn:
SKEPTICS, YOU KNOW, SAY,

"AW, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS,
DO YOU?"

WELL, AS SOMEONE WHO'S
INTERVIEWED COUNTLESS PEOPLE,

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEY SAW
SOMETHING UNEXPLAINABLE,

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW,
I COME AWAY WITH THE BELIEF

THAT THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY
SAW SOMETHING --

SOMETHING THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN,

SOMETHING THAT FRIGHTENED THEM.

Narrator:
NOW, ONE LOCAL OZARK HUNTER

SAYS HIS BELIEF
HAS TURNED INTO PROOF.

Holmes: WHEN YOU SEE IT
FOR THE FIRST TIME...

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]

...IT CHANGES YOUR OUTLOOK
ON WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW

AND EVERYTHING THAT
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD IN YOUR LIFE.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]
[ BRANCHES CRACKING ]

[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]

Narrator: IN THE OZARKS,
RESIDENTS OF FOUKE, ARKANSAS,

HAVE LONG CLAIMED
THAT A MANLIKE BEAST

HIDES IN THE AREA'S
SWAMPY FORESTS.

ONE OF THE LATEST
IS COLLEGE STUDENT HEATHER OWEN.

A SHORT TRIP HOME FROM STUDYING

TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST
TERRIFYING NIGHTS OF HER LIFE.

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]
[ SCREAMS ]

AFTER THAT, THERE WAS
NO UNCERTAINTY FOR HEATHER.

THE FOUKE MONSTER IS REAL.

Blackburn:
RIGHT HERE IS BOGGY CREEK --

GROUND ZERO
FOR THE FOUKE MONSTER.

THIS IS
A VERY SIGNIFICANT AREA BECAUSE

WHERE WE STAND WOULD BE
AN AREA WHERE --

A CREATURE,
IF IT WAS TO COME OUT

OF THAT MORE REMOTE, RUGGED AREA
AND APPROACH CIVILIZATION,

THIS WOULD KIND OF BE WHERE IT
WOULD COME TO THE LIMITS

AND POSSIBLY BE SEEN
BY SOME OF THE PEOPLE

THAT LIVE
OUT ON THESE COUNTY ROADS.

IN FACT, A LOT OF THE SIGHTINGS
TOOK PLACE ALONG BOGGY CREEK.

Holmes: MY FAMILY GOES BACK

PROBABLY WITHIN
A 200-MILE RADIUS OF THIS AREA,

PROBABLY 100 YEARS AGO.

MY DAD STARTED ME FISHING,
I GUESS, BEFORE I COULD WALK.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE CHILD, HE
WOULD TAKE ME OFF IN THE WOODS

AND TEACH ME HOW TO TRACK DEER
AND HUNT SQUIRRELS.

AND WE FILLED THE FREEZERS UP
WITH SQUIRRELS,

AND MY MOM WOULD COOK THEM UP
AND PUT MEAT ON THE TABLE.

Narrator:
DOYLE HOLMES THOUGHT HE KNEW

EVERY CREATURE
IN THE OZARK FOREST...

EXCEPT THE ONE HE CAME ACROSS
ONE FOGGY MORNING IN 2004.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

IT WAS, I WOULD SAY,
6:00 IN THE MORNING.

THE SUN
WAS JUST STARTING TO COME UP,

AND I GOT ON THE LAKE EARLY
THAT DAY.

IT WAS VERY FOGGY.

AND I HEARD
SOME SPLASHES IN THE WATER.

[ SPLASHING ]

AND THEN AS THE LIGHT STARTED
TO SHINE THROUGH THE FOG...

[ WATER SPLASHING ]
[ CREATURE GROWLING ]

...I COULD SEE SILHOUETTE
OF A BIPEDAL ANIMAL

STANDING UP IN THE WATER.

WHEN YOU FIRST SEE IT,

IT JUST RUNS THROUGH YOUR MIND

THAT YOU CAN'T BE
POSSIBLY SEEING

WHAT YOUR EYES ARE TELLING YOU
YOU'RE SEEING.

[ CHIRPING, GROWLING CONTINUES ]

IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS HUNTING
FOR SOMETHING IN THE WATER.

HE WAS KICKING DEBRIS
UP OUT OF THE WATER.

IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS FISHING.

[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]

Narrator:
AS AMAZING AS THE SIGHT WAS

FOR DOYLE HOLMES THAT MORNING,

HE COULDN'T BE SURE
WHAT HE'D SEEN.

THAT WOULD CHANGE.

IT WAS JUST AFTER THANKSGIVING.

WE WERE ALL FULL OF TURKEY,
AND IT WAS STARTING TO GET DARK,

AND WE THOUGHT, "WELL,
LET'S GO OUT IN THE WOODS

"SINCE WE GOT SOME TIME
WITH THE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL.

AND LET'S SEE
IF WE CAN GET A HOG."

Narrator: WITH AN ABUNDANCE
OF HABITAT, FOOD, AND WATER,

THE OZARK WOODS ARE ALIVE

WITH A NASTY ASSORTMENT
OF FERAL PIGS.

WILD HOGS ARE DANGEROUS.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO
KIND OF WATCH YOUR STEP

WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING WILD HOGS.

Narrator: NEAR THE SAME LAKE

WHERE HE'D SEEN THE HAIRY BIPED
SPLASHING ALONG THE BANK...

CHECK IT OUT.

...DOYLE AND HIS SON
WERE SETTING OUT TO TRACK HOGS.

DAD?

WHAT'S UP?
LOOK.

MY SON COME ACROSS A FOOTPRINT
THAT HE COULDN'T IDENTIFY,

SO HE CALLED ME OVER.

AT THAT TIME,

I WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING
THAT I COULDN'T IDENTIFY.

I WAS STUNNED AT WHAT I SAW.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IS,
IS THIS THE FOUKE MONSTER?

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]

[ BRANCHES CRACKING ]

Narrator:
ONE EVENING IN THE OZARKS,

DOYLE HOLMES AND HIS YOUNG SON
WERE OUT HOG HUNTING.

DAD?

WHAT'S UP?
LOOK.

WHEN THEY CAME ACROSS
HUGE TRACKS,

THEY REALIZED THEY HAD
STEPPED INTO MONSTER COUNTRY.

Holmes: I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

IS THIS A HUMAN PRINT,
AN ANIMAL?

WHAT WOULD DO THIS?

IF IT WAS A HUMAN,
HE WOULD BE HUGE.

THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IS,
IS THIS THE FOUKE MONSTER?

Narrator: IF IT WAS, DOYLE
AND HIS SON MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE.

THEY WERE ON FOOT AND TRAPPED
AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE LAKE.

Holmes: YOU COULD TELL
THAT WHAT MADE THE PRINT

HAD JUST WALKED THROUGH.

IT HAD COME UP OUT OF THE LAKE,

AND YOU COULD TELL THE
FOOTPRINTS WERE REALLY FRESH.

WITH IT GETTING DARK,
WE DECIDED TO GET OUT OF THERE.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

Narrator:
THEN OUT OF THE BLUE...

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]
WHOA!

...A HORRIFIC SCREAM

UNLIKE ANYTHING HOG OR HUMAN
THEY'D HEARD BEFORE.

[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]

WHAT WAS THAT?!
WHAT WAS THAT?!

THERE IT IS.

[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]

SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLY LARGE
WAS THRASHING IN THE BUSH.

Holmes: I HAD THE GUN READY
TO DEFEND MYSELF AND MY SON

AGAINST THE FOUKE MONSTER

IN CASE HE WAS TO BURST
OUT OF THE WOODS ON US.

[ LEAVES RUSTLING ]

YOU HAVE TO BE READY
FOR ANYTHING AT THAT POINT,

AND SEEING THOSE TRACKS GO
RIGHT THERE, I HAD TO BE READY.

Narrator: JUST AS SUDDENLY,
THE MONSTER DISAPPEARED,

ALLOWING DOYLE AND HIS SON
TO ESCAPE UNHARMED...

BUT LEAVING
A TRAIL OF QUESTIONS.

Blackburn:
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLY

SOME TYPE
OF UNDISCOVERED PRIMATE

WHO'S MANAGED TO REMAIN ELUSIVE
ALL THIS TIME.

I KNOW IT'S HIGHLY IMPROBABLE,
BUT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, AN AREA LIKE ARKANSAS
FROM THE OZARKS

TO THE SOUTHWEST TIP
TO ALL SIDES,

IT IS THE KIND OF PLACE
THAT COULD HIDE

SOME TYPE OF CREATURE THAT IS
AN EXPERT IN REMAINING ELUSIVE.

McFerrin:
HE'S VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

THERE HAVE BEEN REWARDS
PUT OUT FOR HIS CAPTURE.

HE'S EXTREMELY AGILE, QUICK,
FAST FOR HIS SIZE.

TAKING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE STEP

THE DISTANCE THAT A HUMAN WOULD
TAKE IN A COUPLE OR THREE.

Purvis:
TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE,

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD DISPEL
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

WHEN THEY HAVE CREDIBLE EVIDENCE
AND SIGHTINGS.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]

THEY'VE SEEN SOMETHING
OUT THERE,

SO I BELIEVE
THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE.

I REALLY DO.

Narrator: NO ONE NEEDED
TO CONVINCE DOYLE HOLMES

THE MONSTER IS REAL.

SUBSTANTIATING THAT BELIEF
WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

Holmes:
WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT,

I ACTUALLY PONDERED
WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED,

WHAT WE HAD JUST FOUND.

AND YOU START TO THINK, "OKAY,
HOW ARE WE GONNA PROVE THIS?"

YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN,

AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY
GONNA BELIEVE IT

UNLESS YOU HAVE PROOF.

Narrator: THE PROOF WAS
THE MUDDY FOOTPRINTS

ON THE BANKS OF THE LAKE.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED BAD
TWO NIGHTS LATER,

DOYLE HAD TO MOVE FAST.

ARMED WITH A BAG OF PLASTER
AND A REVOLVER ON HIS HIP,

HE WENT BACK INTO THE WOODS,
THIS TIME ALONE.

Holmes:
IT WAS STARTING TO GET DARK.

IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN.

AND IT WAS COLD.

I WAS KIND OF NERVOUS
GOING BACK WHEN I DID,

BUT I HAD TO GET THE TRACK.

I NEEDED TO GET THE TRACK
AND PRESERVE IT.

WHEN I GOT DOWN THERE,

I FOUND THAT THE HOGS HAD BEEN
BACK THROUGH THERE,

AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO FIND

ONE GOOD TRACK LEFT
THAT I COULD PRESERVE.

I BROUGHT IT HOME
AND LET IT DRY,

AND A FEW HOURS LATER,
I TOOK THE CAST OUT.

AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I HAD.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HAD
TURNED OUT AS GOOD AS IT DID.

IT'S PROOF THAT IS
MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN AWAY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
TANGIBLE, THAT YOU CAN TOUCH.

THIS IS WHAT'S DOWN THERE.

SOMETHING IS MAKING
THESE TRACKS.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: AND THIS TRACK MAKER
MIGHT NOT BE ALONE.

SINCE WE FOUND THAT ONE TRACK,
I'VE NOTICED OTHER TRACKS.

I BELIEVE
THERE ARE FAMILY GROUPS

DOWN THERE IN THE WOODS.

Narrator: DOYLE HOLMES MANAGED
TO FIND A KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

YET FOR THOSE ON THE HUNT,

IT ONLY WETS THE APPETITE

ON THE WAY TO PROVING
THE FOUKE MONSTER LIVES.

I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO
HAVE A SIGHTING MYSELF,

TO FIND THE FOUKE MONSTER.

THAT WOULD BE SORT OF
THE HOLY GRAIL OF ALL THIS

IF YOU COULD SOMEHOW
PROVE TO THE WORLD

THAT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING
YOUR TIME DOING --

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING

THAT WOULD BE
JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

Narrator: THE FOUKE MONSTER
REMAINS ELUSIVE,

BUT AT LEAST IT DOESN'T APPEAR
TO HAVE HOMICIDAL TENDENCIES.

QUITE A DIFFERENT STORY
IS THE CASE

OF A FRIGHTENING
GOATMAN MONSTER...

...ONE THAT'S PLAGUED
PARTS OF KENTUCKY

SOME 300 MILES TO THE EAST.

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

Narrator: LONG AGO,

THE RAILROADS
CUT THROUGH FORESTS

AND BRIDGED ACROSS VALLEYS

TO REACH COAL COUNTRY
IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

IN JEFFERSON COUNTY,

WHERE THE POPE LICK CREEK
RUNS THROUGH A NARROW GORGE,

THE RAILROADS BUILT
A MASSIVE SPAN.

[ TRAIL HORN BLOWING ]

TRAINS STILL CROSS THE TRESTLE,

AND OVER THE YEARS,

DARK RUMORS
HAVE GATHERED HERE --

RUMORS OF SOMETHING
EVIL AND BLOODTHIRSTY.

THE LEGENDS GO BACK
TO THE 1940s, THE 1950s,

SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF IT.

Trimble:
WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT,

IT WAS, LIKE,
A CREATURE CALLED THE GOATMAN.

HE KILLS PEOPLE,
DRAGS THEM BACK INTO THE WOODS,

AND PEOPLE ARE
NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.

Fox: I CAN REMEMBER
GOING TO SLUMBER PARTIES

WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER

AND TALKING ABOUT THE STORY OF
THE POPE LICK MONSTER.

AND IT WAS TERRIFYING.

[ TRAIN BELL RINGING ]

Bahm Rice: THE STORY
LURED MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE,

AND THE MORE TEENAGERS AND
YOUNG ADULTS THAT VENTURED OUT,

THE LONGER THE STORY GOT.

Hill:
THIS RUMOR JUST PERSISTED,

AND KIDS HAD TO GO OUT
AND SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

Fox:
AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD,

THERE'S THIS SORT OF
ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE.

YOU HAVE TREES
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE CLOSER YOU GET,
THE MORE SCARED YOU ARE,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

IT'S THERE IN FRONT OF YOU,

THIS TOWERING AND TERRIFYING
TRESTLE ABOVE YOU.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE

WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
GONNA CLIMB IT AND BE BRAVE.

Narrator:
THE POPE LICK TRESTLE IS SCARY,

BUT FOR GENERATIONS,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

HAVE CLAIMED TO SEE
SOMETHING EVEN SCARIER.

THIS HALF MAN, HALF GOAT THAT
LIVED OUT THERE ON THE POPE LICK

HAD A RUSTY AX WITH HIM
ALL THE TIME.

HE HAD HYPNOTIC EYES.

HE'D LURE KIDS
UP ON TOP OF THE TRACK

AND THEN TRY AND KILL THEM.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Larue:
WHEN IT COMES TO THE IDEA

OF THESE LEGENDS OR MONSTERS
IN THE WOODS,

IT JUST WASN'T REAL ENOUGH TO ME

TO BE ABLE TO PASS
THOSE KINDS OF LEGENDS ON

TO MY CHILDREN AS REALITIES.

Narrator:
MONSTERS THAT CREEP IN THE NIGHT

WERE THE LAST THINGS
ON THE MIND OF SUE LARUE.

SHE HAD FOUR CHILDREN TO RAISE.

BY 1988, 17-YEAR-OLD J.C. AND
HIS 15-YEAR-OLD SISTER, LEIGH,

WERE STILL AT HOME.

Bahm Rice:
J.C. WAS A GREAT BIG BROTHER.

HE DEFENDED ME.

J.C.: HEY, LEIGH.
WE PLAYED TOGETHER.

I WAS TWO YEARS YOUNGER
THAN HE WAS,

SO, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

HE SMELLED, HE WAS A BOY,
AND, YOU KNOW,

HE DIDN'T LIKE TO WEAR DRESSES
OR PLAY WITH DOLLS.

SO, I LEARNED
HOW TO PLAY A LOT IN THE YARD.

NOT BAD FOR A GIRL.

J.C. AND I HAD
QUITE A LOT OF FUN.

Keisker: J.C. WAS A GREAT GUY.

HE WOULD DO ANYTHING
FOR ANYBODY.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER,

ESPECIALLY THE FIRST COUPLE
OF YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL.

Narrator: ON A CHILLY EVENING
IN FEBRUARY 1988,

J.C. AND CHRIS WERE HEADING OUT
FOR A NIGHT WITH FRIENDS.

COME ON, GUYS.

Bahm Rice:
THE LAST THING I REMEMBER,

J.C. AND CHRIS
WERE HEADED OUT THE DOOR,

AND I ASKED J.C.

FOR THE $20 I HAD LOANED HIM
A COUPLE OF WEEKS EARLIER.

AND HE KIND OF SHRUGGED ME OFF

AND SAID, "I'LL SEND IT TO YOU
WHEN I GET TO PENSACOLA."

SO I, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF GROWLED AT HIM

AS THEY WENT OUT THE DOOR.

THE LAST THING I REMEMBER SAYING
TO J.C. WAS, "BYE, HONEY."

YOU KIDS HAVE A GOOD TIME.

"BUT BE CAREFUL."

[ OWL HOOTS ]

Narrator: IN RECENT WEEKS,

SUE HAD GROWN WORRIED
FOR HER SON.

Larue:
I DID HAVE A PREMONITION.

I HAVEN'T SHARED IT
WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I THINK
'CAUSE IT SEEMED SO EERIE.

WHERE I WORK, THERE WAS
A CHAPEL ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

AND I GOT ON MY KNEES,
AND I PRAYED,

"GOD, PLEASE KEEP J.C. SAFE."

[ BELL TOLLS ]

Narrator: FOR J.C.,
HIS PROSPECTS LOOK BRIGHT.

HE HAD NO IDEA
THE FUTURE WOULD INCLUDE

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A MONSTER.

I THINK WE WERE
JUST DRIVING AROUND TOWN,

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.

AND THEY WERE GOING OUT
TO POPE LICK PARK.

I'VE LEARNED THAT THAT'S KIND OF
A PARTY PLACE FOR TEENAGERS.

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE ROAD

WAS POPE LICK
WHERE THE TRESTLE WAS.

THE POPE LICK TRESTLE
WAS BUILT IN THE 1880s.

IT'S 90 FEET TALL,
772 FEET LONG.

IT'S JUST TRACK AND TRESTLE,
AND THAT'S IT.

THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.

Narrator: THE PERFECT TRAP
TO TERRORIZE THOSE

WITH THE MISFORTUNE OF ENTERING
THE DOMAIN OF THE GOATMAN.

Hill: AS THE KIDS GO OUT THERE,
MAYBE THEY DID SEE SOMETHING.

WHAT WOULD GET THEM UP THERE?
WHAT WAS THE REASON?

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

Narrator:
IN WESTERN KENTUCKY,

THERE'S AN OLD TRAIN TRESTLE
OVER THE POPE LICK CREEK

THAT MANY BELIEVE
IS GUARDED BY A MONSTER --

A GOATMAN THAT LURES TEENAGERS
TO TRY CROSSING THE SPAN.

THE GIANT, HORNED GOAT --
HALF MAN, HALF BEAST --

IS AN ANCIENT IMAGE
OF THE DEVIL ITSELF.

THE ORIGINS
OF THE POPE LICK MONSTER

ARE MORE MURKY.

Hill:
ONE STORY IS THAT THERE WAS

A CIRCUS TRAIN GOING THROUGH,
AND LIGHTNING HIT IT.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

AND THE GOATMAN EMERGED
OUT OF THAT.

ANOTHER WAS THAT THERE WAS

A FARMER WAY TOO FAMILIAR
WITH HIS GOATS,

AND THEY BRED [CHUCKLES]
THEY BRED A GOAT TOGETHER.

ANOTHER ONE MORE INTERESTING,
ACTUALLY, IS,

A FARMER WAS MISTREATING
HIS GOATS,

AND THEY CAME BACK AS A MAN

FOR REVENGE ON THE PEOPLE
THAT CAME OUT THERE.

Narrator:
THERE'S LITTLE DOUBT, HOWEVER,

ABOUT THE LEGEND'S
HOLD ON TEENAGERS.

ON A FEBRUARY NIGHT IN 1988,

17-YEAR-OLD J.C. BAHM
AND TWO FRIENDS

WERE ON THE POPE LICK ROAD...

NEAR THE RAILROAD TRESTLE.

J.C., KNOWING MORE
ABOUT THE GOATMAN

THAN CHRIS AND THEIR FRIEND,

REALLY WANTED TO COME OUT HERE
AND INVESTIGATE.

Keisker:
AS WE WERE SITTING IN THE CAR,

YOU COULD SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD
THESE -- THESE TRESTLES.

Narrator: THEY WERE NOW IN
EARSHOT OF THE MONSTER'S CALL.

A CREATURE
RUMORED TO IMITATE VOICES,

HYPNOTIZE THE UNSUSPECTING,

AND ENTICE THEM
TO CLIMB THE TRACKS.

HEY, THERE ARE THE TRAIN TRACKS.

WANT TO GO?
COME ON, LET'S GO.

Keisker:
AND HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR,

AND HE STARTED SAYING,
"LET'S GO," AND...

LET'S GO.

Bahm Rice: THEY WERE
DRAWN OUT HERE TO FIND IT

AND TO KNOW THE GOATMAN,

TO BE THE FIRST ONE IN TOWN
TO HAVE SEEN THE GOATMAN.

Narrator: BY RISKING
A CLIMB TO THE TRESTLE,

MANY BELIEVE
THEY MUST'VE BEEN POSSESSED

IN A TRANCE BY THE MONSTER,

UNABLE TO NOTICE THE ONCOMING
TRAIN CHARGING THEIR WAY.

[ WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY ]

J.C. WANTED TO WALK ACROSS THEM,

CLIMB UP ON ONE SIDE
AND WALK TO THE OTHER SIDE.

AS WE WALKED OUT,

THE TIES GOT FURTHER AND FURTHER
APART THE FURTHER OUT YOU GOT.

AS WE GOT FURTHER, THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE TIES, YOU KNOW,

WAS INSTEAD OF 6 INCHES, IT WAS
A FOOT, THEN IT WAS 2 FOOT,

AND YOU HAD TO STEP PRETTY FAR.

Hill:
IT'S TERRIFYING TO GO UP THERE.

YOU'RE, LIKE,
HALFWAY INTO THE CLOUDS.

JUST AHEAD OF YOU IS THIS NARROW
TRACK AND NOTHING ELSE.

THERE'S A LARGE BEND THAT COMES
AROUND THE CORNER UP THERE.

YOU COULD ALL OF A SUDDEN SEE
THE TREES LIGHT UP...

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

...AS THE HEADLIGHT OF THE TRAIN
STARTED TO COME,

AND YOU COULD SEE THE LIGHT.

AND AT THAT POINT, IT'S PROBABLY
3/4 OF A MILE AWAY.

YOU GUYS HEAR SOMETHING?

AND SOMEBODY SAID,
"OH [BLEEP] THERE'S A TRAIN."

TRAIN!

ONCE WE SAW THE TRAIN,
IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

IT WAS THERE SO FAST.

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWS ]

YOU DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TIME
TO THINK ABOUT

ANYTHING OTHER THAN
GETTING OUT OF THE WAY.

YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT VERY FAR

BEFORE YOU DECIDED
TO GO OVER THE EDGE.

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,

CHRIS AND THE OTHER TEENAGER
SURVIVED.

AS FOR J.C., HE LOST OUT
TO THE MONSTER AND THE TRAIN.

HIS BROKEN BODY WAS FOUND
FURTHER UP THE TRACKS.

Bahm Rice: J.C. WALKED OUT
LOOKING FOR THE GOATMAN HIMSELF,

AND THE TRAIN
CAME AROUND THE CORNER.

IT WAS A FARCE.
IT WAS A TRICK.

AND THE SPIRIT OF THE GOATMAN
GOT HIM.

[ CICADAS CHIRPING ]

THE DOORBELL RANG,
AND I JUMPED UP OUT OF BED,

AND THE FIRST THING
THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND WAS,

"DARN IT,
J.C.'s FORGOTTEN HIS KEY AGAIN."

I GOT UP AND WENT OUT
TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM.

THE POLICE CHAPLAIN
WAS STANDING THERE.

HE SAID, "I'M SORRY."

[ CRYING ]

YOU CAN'T...

YOU ONLY IMAGINE THAT MOMENT.

THERE'S JUST NOTHING WORSE.

THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST THREE
DEATHS ON THE POPE LICK TRESTLE,

TWO OF THEM IN THE 1980s,

ANOTHER ONE
IN MORE MODERN TIMES IN 2000.

Narrator: FOR GENERATIONS,

THE MONSTER'S LEGEND
HAS WORKED LIKE BAIT.

AND TRAGICALLY,
YOUNG PEOPLE RESPOND.

I MADE IT MY CALLING TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE GOATMAN WAS

AND WHERE HE WAS AND
WHAT IT WAS THAT J.C. HAD SAW.

I WANTED TO PUT
THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER.

Narrator:
WITHOUT TELLING HER MOM,

LEIGH CLIMBED
THE HILL AT POPE LICK,

GAMBLING THAT SHE COULD TAKE ON

THE MONSTER
THAT KILLED HER BROTHER.

Bahm Rice: AS I WALKED OUT
ON THE TRESTLE, I FELT FEAR,

YET MY CURIOSITY
CONTINUED TO PUSH ME.

I WANTED TO SEE WHAT J.C. SAW.

I WANTED TO FIND THE GOATMAN
FOR HIM.

Narrator:
IN WESTERN KENTUCKY,

THE TRAIN TRESTLE
OVER POPE LICK CREEK

IS SAID TO BE THE LAIR
OF A GOATMAN MONSTER.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN'T EXPLAIN

WHY 17-YEAR-OLD J.C. BAHM WAS
SO DETERMINED TO CROSS THE SPAN.

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

IN THE WAKE OF HIS DEATH,

HIS SISTER LEIGH DECIDED TO SEE
IF SHE COULD FIND THE MONSTER.

Bahm Rice: I WANTED
TO UNDERSTAND THE GOATMAN,

AND I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT J.C. WAS LOOKING FOR.

I DID CLIMB THE HILL.

I CLIMBED ABOUT
1/4 WAY OUT ON THE TRACKS.

I WAS FROZEN.

I FELT FEAR, BUT MY CURIOSITY
CONTINUED TO LEAD ME OUT.

Narrator:
LEIGH SURVIVED THE ORDEAL,

AND IT BROUGHT HER CLOSER
TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MONSTER.

YET EVEN TODAY, SHE RELIVES
THE FEAR ANYTIME SHE'S CLOSE.

OH, WOW.
EXCUSE ME A MINUTE. I...

OH, GOD, THAT'S IT,
THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S A TRAIN.

YOU FEEL IT.

I'VE BEEN OUT HERE
NUMEROUS TIMES.

I'VE YET TO SEE THE GOATMAN,
BUT I DON'T GIVE UP HOPE

THAT MAYBE SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW

HE LIVES UNDER THE BRIDGE
OUT HERE.

Larue: I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY
A POSSIBILITY THAT

SOMETHING LIVES UP THERE

THAT LURES THE TEENAGERS,
THAT ENCOURAGES THEM.

IS IT A GOATMAN?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT SOMETHING ATTRACTS
THE TEENAGERS,

AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT BACK THEN.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: THE FORESTS
OF THE OZARKS HOLD MANY SECRETS.

BUT NOT ALL OF THEM
ARE LURKING IN DARKNESS.

IN ONE PLACE,

THE DARKNESS IS OVERCOME
BY AN UNEXPLAINABLE LIGHT,

AN INCANDESCENCE
THAT SEEMS BORN OF MAGIC.

NEAR MISSOURI'S
BORDER WITH OKLAHOMA,

THERE'S A LONELY COUNTRY ROAD
THAT'S BEEN THE SCENE

OF AN OZARK MYSTERY
GOING BACK TO THE 1860s.

A PLACE WHERE A GLOWING ORB
CALLED THE SPOOKLIGHT

SUDDENLY APPEARS FROM NOWHERE.

Bates: PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT
IN HOT SUMMER NIGHTS.

PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT IN,
YOU KNOW,

IN THE MIDDLE OF A,
YOU KNOW, TORNADO.

BUT ON A GOOD NIGHT,

YOU MAY SEE IT
TWO OR THREE TIMES

IN A FOUR- OR FIVE-HOUR PERIOD.

Woman: WAS OVER -- YEAH.

IT HAS A TENDENCY TO DISAPPEAR.

ONE MINUTE,
YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,

AND IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, AND
YOU PEAK THIS ONE SMALL HILL,

AND YOU TURN AROUND,
AND IT'S BEHIND YOU NOW.

WE WERE ACTUALLY
LOOKING TOWARDS THE WEST,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,

SOMEBODY SAYS,
"HEY, IT'S RIGHT BEHIND US."

SO, IT KIND OF SNUCK AROUND

AND CAME UP BEHIND US,
HENCE THE SPOOKLIGHT.

Miller: HOW CAN A BALL OF LIGHT
BE AT ONE PLACE

AND THEN WITHIN A FRACTION
OF TWO SECONDS BE BEHIND YOU?

BAM.

Carver: AND WE WATCHED IT
TURN COLORS AND MOVE.

AND THE WHOLE TIME,
YOU'RE THINKING,

"HOW DOES --
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?"

Narrator: THERE'S NO DOUBT
WITNESSES ARE SEEING SOMETHING.

EXPLAINING IT IS HARDER.

THROUGH THE YEARS,

THEORIES ABOUT THE SPOOKLIGHT
HAVE COME AND GONE.

Bates: IN THE '60s, POPULAR
MECHANICS DID AN INVESTIGATION

AROUND THE LIGHTS FROM ROUTE 66

BOUNCING OFF THE CLOUDS,
BASICALLY, AND BACK DOWN

ONTO THIS ROAD THAT
KIND OF SITS PARALLEL WITH IT.

Narrator:
RESEARCHERS HAVE TRIED

TRACKING CAR HEADLIGHTS
FROM VARIOUS ROADWAYS

WITHOUT MUCH LUCK.

AND AS RESIDENTS POINT OUT,

THE SPOOKLIGHT WAS SEEN
HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO

BEFORE THERE WERE CARS.

SPECULATION HAS RUN THE GAMUT
FROM THE DEVIL TO UFOs.

Miller: ONE OF THE LEGENDS
WAS THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH

TWO NATIVE AMERICANS THAT
WERE FROM DIFFERENT TRIBES

THAT WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO GET MARRIED.

Bates: AND THE CHIEF
KILLS THE OTHER ONE,

AND THE LIGHT IS
BASICALLY HIS SOUL

THAT'S GOING AROUND, LOOKING
FOR, YOU KNOW, HIS FAMILY.

Carver:
THE LEGENDS GET PASSED ON.

IT'S JUST --
IT'S JUST WHAT FAMILIES DO.

YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN, AND YOUR
CHILDREN TELL THEIR CHILDREN,

AND IT JUST KEEPS IT ALIVE.

THE OZARKS ARE
RICH WITH THIS HISTORY

BECAUSE THE FAMILIES
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

Narrator: JULIE CROCKETT CARVER
KNOWS MORE THAN A FEW THINGS

ABOUT LEGEND AND LORE.

I AM A DESCENDENT
OF DAVY CROCKETT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE DAVY CROCKETT
STRENGTH AND SPIRIT

IS VERY STRONG IN OUR FAMILY.

Narrator:
JULIE FOUND AN UNUSUAL WAY

TO TAP INTO THAT STRENGTH
AND SPIRIT.

TEAMING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND

UNEXPECTEDLY PUT THEM BOTH
ON A PATH

TO ENCOUNTERING
THE MAGIC OF THE SPOOKLIGHT.

BUT THAT ONE ON THE EDGE
RIGHT HERE...

Miller:
I REALLY WANTED TO SEE IT

BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S TALKING
ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON,

THIS LIGHT, BALL OF LIGHT
THAT DANCES ACROSS,

AND I REALLY WANTED TO SEE THAT
SO BAD.

Narrator: FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS
IN THE OZARKS...

PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED

A MYSTERIOUS BUT UNEXPLAINABLE
BALL OF LIGHT IN THE SKY.

IN MAY OF 2009,

DEBBIE MILLER PERSUADED
HER FRIEND JULIE CARVER

TO SEARCH FOR THE SPOOKLIGHT.

THE ADVENTURE
WAS JUST WHAT JULIE NEEDED.

I WAS BEDRIDDEN FOR A LONG TIME
AND DIDN'T GET OUT.

DEBBIE WAS ALWAYS CALLING,

AND SHE WAS A BIG PART OF,
"LET'S GO DO THIS."

Miller: HI.

"YOU'VE GOT TO
MAKE UP SOME TIME HERE."

Narrator:
ON A WARM SPRING DAY,

DEBBIE, JULIE,
AND JULIE'S DAUGHTER

SET OUT
INTO THE OZARK COUNTRYSIDE.

IT WAS KIND OF CONFUSING
HOW TO GET THERE

'CAUSE IT'S A LOT OF BACK ROADS
AND WINDING ROADS,

AND WE HAD GOTTEN LOST.

AND WE WERE ON
ONE OF THE BACK ROADS.

[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]

Carver: AND AS IT GOT DARKER,

THE WOODS KIND OF TOOK ON
A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.

[ DOG BARKING ]

Miller:
AND THERE WAS A PACK OF DOGS.

THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN AT LEAST
SIX, SEVEN, MAYBE MORE DOGS,

AND WE THOUGHT
THAT WAS REALLY WEIRD.

[ DOGS BARKING ]

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

[ DOG WHIMPERS ]

GOSH!
Carver: THEY'RE ALL OVER!

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

WELL,
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONE.

I AM NOT GOING OUT THERE.

Carver: WE WERE SITTING
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,

AND WE WERE GETTING HOT.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE
LEERY OF ROLLING MY WINDOW DOWN

JUST BECAUSE I HAD THIS FEELING

SOMETHING WOULD CREEP UP
AND GET ME.

I AM NOT GETTING OUT.

AT FIRST,
WE WERE KIND OF APPREHENSIVE.

COME ON.
I DON'T WANT TO GO.

YOU KNOW, THREE WOMEN ALONE
ON A DESERTED ROAD.

IT'S DARK.

THERE'S NO STREETLIGHTS.

AND IT'S JUST --

IT SENDS THE HAIRS ON THE BACK
OF YOUR NECK STANDING UP.

[ ANIMAL HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE FOREST

JUST STARTED GETTING
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOUD --

I MEAN, SUPER LOUD.

OH, MY GOD.

AND IT JUST KEPT GETTING
LOUDER AND LOUDER,

AND WE WERE LOOKING
AT EACH OTHER LIKE,

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

Narrator: JUST WHEN THE SOUNDS
THAT NIGHT WERE GETTING STRANGE,

WHAT APPEARED BEFORE THEIR EYES
WAS EVEN STRANGER.

THERE WERE THOUSANDS
OF FIREFLIES FLYING ALL AROUND.

[ CICADAS CHIRPING ]

Carver:
IT WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL THING.

IT LOOKED LIKE
A CURTAIN OF LIGHTNING BUGS.

I SAID,
"LOOK AT ALL THESE FIREFLIES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY."

THEY WERE LINED DOWN THE ROAD.

Narrator:
THEY'D COME ALL THIS WAY,

BUT WOULD THE SPOOKLIGHT
MAKE AN APPEARANCE?

Miller:
WELL, WE WAITED FOR HOURS

AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS.

AND THEN
AS WE LOOKED DOWN THE ROAD,

THAT WAS WHEN THE SPOOKLIGHT
APPEARED TO US IN A BALL.

OH, MY GOSH,
THERE'S THE SPOOKLIGHT!

DEBBIE'S LIKE, "THAT'S IT!"

Miller: OH, MY GOSH!

OH!

TO SEE THIS BALL OF LIGHT...

AND WATCH IT DANCE,
IT'S EXCITING.

IT'S EXHILARATING.

YOUR HEART IS PUMPING
REALLY FAST.

AND YOU NEVER CAN GET
CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SPOOKLIGHT

TO REALLY SEE WHAT IT REALLY IS.

Narrator: RECENTLY,
JULIE AND DEBBIE CAME OUT AGAIN

TO TRY TO GET CLOSE
TO THE SPOOKLIGHT.

LOOKS LIKE
IT'S PULSATING OUT.

TILL YOU ARE STANDING THERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ROAD

AND IT GETS DARK...

...AND YOU'RE FEELING
VULNERABLE,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

YOU SEE THIS LIGHT
THAT YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN,

IT MAKES YOU FEEL SO SMALL
IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS.

IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING.

I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW

THAT THE SPOOKLIGHT
IS NOT A SPOOF.

IT'S REAL.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE IT
TO BELIEVE IT.

THE ENTIRE CULTURE IN THE OZARKS
IS ALL ABOUT STORIES.

[ CREATURE GROWLING ]
SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

SOMETHING'S UNEXPLAINED --

SOME TYPE OF PARANORMAL
GHOST MONSTER,

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

Holmes: THERE ARE THINGS
OUT THERE THAT EXIST

THAT WE HAVEN'T
THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE.

EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN ENCOUNTER

WITH SOMETHING
THAT YOU DID NOT THINK WAS REAL

REALLY MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD

ABOUT THE REALITY OF LIVING HERE
ON THIS WORLD.