PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996–2000): Season 1, Episode 12 - Anasazi Cave/Devil's Triangle - full transcript

These stories are inspired
by the actual case files of

the Office of Scientific
Investigation and Research.

Why would there be one hut held by itself
over a mile from the rest of the village?

It's just another one of the
many Chaco Canyon mysteries.

Look, we've just made
the biggest new discovery

since they discovered the
main village 20 years ago.

Enjoy it, Simon.

Hey, guys.

Come and check this out.

What is it?

Darren, this is a man-made wall.



This camouflage quite well.

Looks like a substantial space.

Let's see what they were trying to hide.

Sunny, come.

He's never done this before.

Yeah, well, he shouldn't
be coming in here anyway.

Stay.

***

Look at that.

The triangular body figures.

Here's the ones with the crescent-shaped
halos floating about their heads.

A mistake of the Anasazi.

We're gonna get Actenia for sure now.

There must be another opening.



No.

Looks like we broke a vacuum seal
while we penetrated the other wall.

Simon, the wind's got to
be coming from somewhere.

Terrence, What's wrong ?

Stay back !

In our planet's history, some civilizations
have disappeared mysteriously.

The lost tribes of Israel
and the Essenes, for example.

North America has had its lost peoples too.

Sir Walter Alley's Virginia colony and
some 300 years earlier the Anasazi,

a culturally advanced Indian
people of the American Southwest,

suddenly abandoned their
ancestral homeland.

In the course of investigating violent
deaths in a cavern somewhere in New Mexico,

did the OSIR uncover a clue regarding
the fate of the Anasazi tribe?

File number 288128, case manager
Connor Doyle, initial case log.

Commence briefing of the a team

regarding an apparently fatal phenomenon
in a cave in northern New Mexico.

Two archaeologists died in the cave.

Witness Simon Benito
believes the inner chamber

is directly responsible for the deaths.

He managed to remove the bodies of his
friends without setting foot inside.

I guess that's when
the DCC was called in?

And despite Benito's warnings, two
DCC agents entered the inner chamber.

They were pronounced dead on the scene.

There's no biological or chemical agent currently
known to man that could penetrate that suit.

The Anasazi are the ancestors
of the modern day Pueblo people.

About a mile south of here there's the
ruins of an ancient Anasazi village

and there's lots of unanswered
questions about the site.

For one, why did they build a village
so far from a source of water?

Arthur Quigley, DCC.

Professor Doyle, this is Simon Benito,
the anthropologist mentioned in my report.

Professor Doyle?

Mr. George Featherstone,
of the Native American Tribal Council.

We're turning the investigation
over to you at this point.

There might have been a ritual
pilgrimage to the village,

like it was the capital city.

Tell me about the cave.

We were excited when we
discovered the lone hut.

It was a major find.

Then when we uncovered the
cave opening inside, well,

it was awesome.

I can't get the image of them
writhing in agony out of my mind.

I've never felt so helpless.

There has been much harm done by false
speculation from the academic community.

Some have suggested the
Anasazi practice cannibalism.

Even the name Anasazi came
from another native tribe.

It can be translated as ancient enemies.

We prefer ancient ones.

Okay, visual's up.

Sensors online.

Probe moving at one foot per second.

Any traces?

No hazardous materials, toxic traces,
or abnormal energy fields.

Everything's well within normal range.

All right.

We're nearing the mouth of the chamber.

Unusual atmospheric readings.

I'm getting increasing air pressure coming
from deep within the cave.

It must be the air current
the witnesses described.

Seems like it.

Let's get a sample.

Wait a minute.

Something's disrupting the signal.

We're losing telemetry.

Bring it back.

- I can't.
- Increase signal transmission power.

Increasing to maximum power.

Okay, okay, I have regained control.

- Should it proceed?
- No, pull it out. Let's examine it.

You got it.

The probe's internal
function was undamaged,

but I don't know what
caused interference.

What did the ground
penetrating radar tell us?

We couldn't get a clear
analysis of the cave.

Why not ?

Something disrupted the equipment.

It's possibly the same phenomena that
caused the probe to malfunction.

Run a full diagnostic analysis of the equipment
before we rule out mechanical failure.

Natasha, what have you found out ?

I spoke to a number of Pueblo people.

They're usually quite
receptive to outsiders.

However my experience was is
somewhat less than warm and friendly.

Mr. Featherstone is quite concerned

that these unfortunate events
will put another negative spin

on the Anasazi image.

The Pueblo believe that ancient
spirits may guard the remains

of the Anasazi dwellings.

What's it guarding?

Case file update...

The entrance and outer room of the
cave have proven non-hazardous,

but for safety reasons, we've sealed the
inner chamber and the corridor beyond.

Your last name, Benito.

Isn't that the Pueblo name of the ancient village
that occupied the canyon not too far from here?

There are hundreds of us
in the Taos phone book.

Then you're a Pueblo.

My family are Pueblo descent,

but I don't exactly consider myself a member
of the community, if that's what you mean.

Nor does the community
recognize me for that matter.

It's just a name.

There were two young kids.

They looked at me as he laid there.

What could I do?

It's like there's this line
right across the threshold.

You cross it,

and you die.

Simon?

What is it?

Nothing.

Over here.

Natasha, this wall appears to be
constructed of primitive mortar.

For an ancient culture, this type of
building block's extremely advanced.

I defer to your expertise.

My point, however, is how the dirt is packed
between the cracks in the bricks.

These look like finger indentations.

That is unusual.

See, Connor ?
They're on the inside of the wall.

This wall may have been completely sealed off
by someone who remained inside the cave.

Simon ?!

Simon !

No !

Investigator Stevens was a good man.

You can tell his family that he died
trying to save another man's life.

Okay.

What about this Simon Bonito?

He claims to have blacked out and can't
remember how he got into the chamber.

He's wracked with guilt
over the death of Stevens.

As well, in retrospect,
he thinks he could have saved his friends.

Awful situation.

However, maybe his apparent immunity can
give some insights into the phenomena.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any
explanation as to why Simon remained unaffected.

Increase the security outside the cave.

Now, obviously, I shall want you
to proceed with a strong awareness

of the gravity of the circumstance.

The additional shielding of the
probe's communication systems

enabled us to send the probe
back into the chamber.

We had it introduce samples of human blood
and tissue into the chamber environment.

Nothing occurred and there was no unusual
residue when the samples were extracted.

Mr. Featherstone contacted me yesterday.

On behalf of the entire native council,

he's strongly recommending that we close
down the investigation and seal up the cave.

He has repeatedly pointed out

there's nothing to be gained except
disrespect for the Pueblo people.

Public safety is our primary concern.

We can't be sure the phenomenon will remain
contained even if we do seal up the cave.

I see no other way of
gathering new information

without actually sending
someone into the chamber.

Are you volunteering?

Well, if that's what Connor wants.

We haven't tried sending the probe past
the chamber into the inner corridor.

After that, we can discuss other options.

Nothing so far.

What's down there?

There's no definition on the scans.

Activate other scan modes.

Nothing's registering.

Hold on.

No, this can't be.

The probe's registering
infinite space in front of it.

That makes no sense.

Are we getting more interference?

That's the readings I'm getting.
No measurable definition.

Now what?

Send it in.

Okay.

Code Alert!

We crashed! All signals are down!
Telemetry down!

Bring it back!

I can't believe we lost another probe.

Maybe it fell into a deep cavern.

How do you explain the loss of telemetry?

It probably ties in with whatever was
interfering with the ground-penetrating radar

and the probe's communication systems.

But you said the probe's systems
were working fine this time.

Well, yes, but I mean, that would mean that
the corridor actually led to infinite space.

Here's a different possible theory.

There are many theories as to why so many
Anasazi abandoned their cultural homeland.

One of them is that a powerful new religion
took shape east of here and drew them away.

Long ago, when the ancient
ones became divided,

those that remained in the homeland

could no longer defend
themselves against their enemies.

That was when the god of the
mountain offered them a choice.

If they would follow,
he would lead them back to a time

when they could live in peace and harmony.

And to prevent all the
evildoers from following,

he left a guardian at the doorway,

a guardian who would
beckon all the good people

who had been led astray and destroy those that
would threaten the peaceful Anasazi way of life.

Are you suggesting that in the
depths of the cave somewhere,

there's a dimensional portal
capable of transporting

a human being from one
time or place to another?

I'm suggesting that the
phenomena we're dealing with

may be the spirit that guards the portal.

This site is off-limits, sir.

I have to get into the cave.

I'm sorry, we have orders.
No one is permitted inside.

No!

Let go of me!

You don't understand!

I had to get under the cave!

I don't know what came over me.

I just couldn't resist the urge.

Do you still feel this compulsion?

I don't know why,
but I feel that the answer's in that chamber.

The answer to what?

I don't know.

This is more ridiculous than I thought.

I mean, why would a spirit beckon me?

I've never believed in that type of thing.

If you ask George Featherstone, he'll
probably tell you that I'm not even a Pueblo.

Connor, can I have a word with you, please?

Any idea?

Let me guess, Peter, you want to rig
up Simon and send him into the chamber?

Look, he's already proven that
he's unaffected by the phenomenon.

On one occasion,
and we can't find a reason why.

Look, we're at the end of our rope.

We've tried fluxing the environment a dozen
different ways, we keep coming up empty.

I'll bring it up with headquarters,
but ultimately it's up to Simon.

All right.

Why were you drawn to the cave?

I don't know.

Maybe it's because I never really
felt like I belonged anywhere.

Is that why you abandoned your family?

I never abandoned my family.

I just chose to live in the present day,
in the real world.

Then why do you spend all your
time searching in the past?

I piece together the past

so that I could better
understand the present.

The answers you seek are not
with our ancestors, the Anasazi.

They're right here, right now.

What do you know?

I know who you are, Simon Benito.

It's a shame you don't.

Case log update.

OSIR headquarters agreed that despite the
highly unusual nature of the experiment,

we should proceed.

We're rigging Simon Benito
with full biofeedback equipment

and a portable video camera.

OK, you're all set.

These visuals will be
transmitted back to the lab.

I'm ready.

Good luck, Simon.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Nothing different.

Biofeedback readings all normal.

I'm going to have a look down the corridor.

Look only, Simon.

Don't set one foot
out of the chamber.

What do you see?

It's a haze.

It has a strange quality.

We're not reading any
light waves on the monitor.

Can you describe it?

Brain wave patterns are slowing.

There's a light.

It's getting very bright.

It's her.

The girl from my dreams.

She wants me to come with her.

No, Simon.

Connor, his brainwave patterns indicate
he's entering a dreamlike state.

Simon, can you still hear me?

Yes.

Can you speak to her?

I don't have to.

No.

Simon!

Simon, no!

Biostats are falling.

We lost him, Connor.

You'll make sure it's sealed up tight?

Don't worry.

Sonny, come on boy!

Case log supplement.

Mr. Featherstone uncovered
a portion of the lost probe

that may have been pushed to
the surface by our explosion.

However, carbon dating
indicates that this piece

is at least 200 years old.

Analysis ongoing.

Doyle out.

There are many OSIR case files relating
to mysterious and dangerous occurrences

associated with sacred tribal grounds.

In most of these cases, as in this one,

the determinations were uniform.

There are some places
that are best left alone.

I'm Dan Aykroyd for Psi Factor.

What do they do in?

Any time now.

Who'd Joey take out
on a cruise this time?

Sonny Brasco.

The Sonny Brasco?

He's a new client of my husband's.

Bailey, every time you go on a holiday,

he takes some criminal out in the boat,

and you take a plane.
That hardly seems fair.

Come on, Wilton.

Joey's only trying to build up a practice,

and his clients love cruising the islands.

Well, for what it's worth.

After years of watching you wait
for your husband's boat to arrive,

I'd like to see you on it.
Maybe just once.

That's sweet. Thanks.
But don't hold your breath.

There they are.
Like I said, always on time.

There's no one on deck, though.

They're probably below
putting their things together.

Hold on. That's a distress flag.

Where is he ?
I don't see him.

Joey ?
Joey !

Oh my God !
Oh my God !

He's dehydrated.
He needs a doctor.

Joey, what happened to you?

I...

didn't mean to look for us.

Look for you?
What are you talking about?

We've been lost.

We've been out there for so long.

Joey, you left Miami five days ago.

No one else on board.

Where's Sonny?

He's gone. Abandoned ship.

He what?

We've been out there...

... for five weeks.

The Bermuda Triangle has long been
associated with lost crews and vessels.

Since Columbus first traveled this route,

hundreds of ships and planes have also
reported encounters with unexplained phenomena,

and dozens of craft have vanished

in these waters off the coasts of Florida,
Bermuda, and Puerto Rico.

What is the true nature of
this strange triangular zone?

In the following case, the OSIR was engaged
to confront an unusual series of events

in this famous and
mysterious area of the world.

Dr. Copeland engaging. Dr. Copeland.
There you go.

Joey?

Joey, it's Bailey.

Can you hear me, honey?

- Hi, babe.
- Hi.

- It's good to see you.
- It's good to see you.

Sonny, did you find him?

Coast Guard's been combing
the area for nearly 12 hours.

Nothing yet.

Joey, you said you were lost.

Why didn't you radio for help?

All our instruments were dead.

We were adrift.

Did you make your time getting here?

We were out there for at least five hours.

Honey, I was there when you guys left.

Five days ago.

No, that's impossible.

We ran out of food on day... day seven.

After day 11, there was no water.

And then...

Mr. Delos, please, please, try to relax.

You must have veered off course,
lost some supplies.

We saw things out there,
things I can't describe.

Sonny panicked before I could stop him.

He took off in a life raft.

Please, you have to believe me.

Please.

Initial case log entry,
case manager Connor Doyle.

We've arrived in Bermuda to investigate

claims of unusual marine
phenomena in the area.

As a matter of historical record,

this is not the first time
the OSIR has investigated

anomalous activity in this region.

Set up the mobile lab,
establish a satellite link with headquarters.

So you're glad to be back, Connor?

You know, Doyle was our resident expert

on Bermuda Triangle claims ?

Six times I've led teams out there,

six times we came back with nothing.

We don't expect this time
to get any different.

Lindsay, get over to the hospital and liaise
with Dr. Whitney to get preliminary interviews.

I'll get started on the witnesses here.

Weather offices here and in
Miami reported clear skies

and calm winds all along
the route they were sailing.

According to the report of origin,

they last checked in by radio with Miami

four days after they set sail.

They reported calm seas,
and that everything was fine.

Next day, we found them drifting off shore.

They looked like they'd been through hell.

We had clear sailing all
the way past the Bahamas.

Four days out of the Caicos Passage,

we hit some kind of zone, some kind of place

where time and weather and the laws
of nature, they just didn't apply.

Before I knew it, Sonny was gone.

According to the Bermuda police,
nothing's been touched.

Everything's intact since
the day she arrived.

She's not listing any.

Doesn't appear to be taking on water.

Is there any damage visible
below the water line?

Nothing from initial inspection.

Jones, the guy who runs the marina,

he said the only thing he
found was dead instrumentation.

What does he mean by dead?

Every piece of communication and
tracking equipment is inoperable.

No sign of any damage.

Just stopped working.

Let's have all this equipment
removed from the vessel

and sent to the lab for analysis.

Whatever it was they encountered out there,

it turned their compass, radio,
and radar into paperweights.

This part of the ocean is
a breeding ground for shams

about the Bermuda Triangle.

Yeah.

Tell a tale, get your face on the
tabloid, and collect your money.

According to Joey's story,
their watches stopped on day four

when they encountered
some dense weather system,

which apparently knocked
out their instrumentation.

If they'd lost instrumentation,
how could they possibly know

how much time it'll last?

There's no sun, no moon, no stars.

In Joey's interview, he mentioned
an old clock here in the main cabin.

For some reason, it kept working.

No electronic parts.

Get this back to the lab.

Joey, can you hear me?

Mm-hmm.

Where are you now?

I'm on the sunspray with Sonny.

He left for Miami,
going to meet Bailey in Bermuda.

We're having a great time.

Sonny had never been
on the sea before.

What happened exactly?

I thought it was a storm.

But it wasn't any kind
of storm I'd ever seen.

It was so bright,
but there wasn't any sun.

Then what?

Then we were dead in the water.

No power, no instrumentation.

Everything, all the equipment, dead.

We were out there, all alone.

No sense of day or night.

We drifted for days and days, and then

Sonny couldn't stand the waiting anymore.

Sonny!

Sonny!

Sonny, come back here!

Sonny!

Sonny!

I never saw him again.

Are we able to pinpoint the exact
time the sun spray left port in Miami?

Confirmed by the Coast Guard, date and time.

We also confirmed the presence
of the other man on board.

This is the videotape Bailey Veloz
made the day they left Southport.

They look healthy enough.

Check out the date.

August 6, 1996?

It's been authenticated.

That was five days before
they arrived in Bermuda.

Our physicians confirmed that Joey Valoza

was exposed to the elements
for nearly five weeks.

Here's where it gets even more interesting.

This is Sonny Brasco, the lost man.

Client of Joey's law firm.

It gets better.

According to the Dade County DA's office,

Sonny's also a mid-level supplier
to a major Colombian drug cartel.

He was in the process of
turning state's evidence

when he disappeared from Joey's boat.

You think someone in that cartel
would like to see Sonny Brasco dead?

Maybe Joey got the job.

He is connected to some very
high-level criminal elements.

So it concocts a Bermuda Triangle story.

To cover up a murder.

Case log update.

After completing our initial assessment,

we have reason to believe
that the sun's break

could have encountered some
type of paranormal event.

And yet there remains a strong possibility

of this being a hoax perpetrated
to cover up a murder.

These aerial survey maps
were taken yesterday

100 miles off the Bermudian coast.

Looks like a tropical depression.

According to the weather offices
here and in Miami, it isn't.

They report clear skies all along the
entire Puerto Rican trench, and here's why.

These photographs were
taken three hours later.

Same location.

Gone, just like that?

Is there any pattern to it?

None that we can detect.

They've only showed up
once on our aerial surveys.

We've picked up no other
irregular readings.

Well, it's sketchy,
but the evidence is mounting.

His DEP tests support his
belief that he did encounter

some kind of phenomenon.

And the inoperable equipment
aboard the boat backs him up too.

Why was the one clock we found aboard
the sea spray still functioning?

The main difference
between it and the rest

of the equipment on board
is the fact that it was made

entirely of brass components.

My guess is it was some
electromagnetic interference

that hit the rest of the instruments.

And the clock still functioned
because brass isn't magnetic?

Exactly, it's paramagnetic,

made from copper and zinc components,

low magnetic field elements.

The rest of the equipment
on board was ferromagnetic,

that is, made from iron-based components.

Making them vulnerable to a magnetic charge.

Could Joey have created a charge big enough

to knock out all their equipment?

Not without a huge electro-charged
magnet on board, no.

Which means we can
conclude that he definitely

encountered something out there.

Well, the question is,
is it worth having a look?

If Joey's story is true, the lost man could
still be alive out there somewhere.

I don't think we have a choice.

It's ready.

Okay.

I'll get the rest.

Continue the scans on the port side.
Who's got the ionoscope?

Connor.

Joey wants to see you.

You wanted to talk to me, Mr. Villoz?

You think I killed Sonny Brasco, don't you?

You think I'd let you take my boat out
to prove I fed him to the sharks?

Joey, they didn't accuse you of anything.

He bailed.

He abandoned me.

He deserves whatever happened to him.

Maybe he's still out there.

Yeah, maybe.

If your friend is alive, we'll find him.

He was a client.

He was not my friend.

Just bring my boat back in one piece, OK?

If you try a cup of Peter's coffee, you'll
never have to prove your courage again.

Thanks, Lindsay.

Radio the lab.
Confirm our coordinates.

You know, I have to ask you.

What made you lead six
investigations out here?

Just lucky, I guess.

Scientists have been coming out here for more
than 60 years looking for any kind of evidence.

But you've come out here
more times than anyone else.

When I was in the Navy, I commanded a
minesweeper stationed out of Guantanamo Bay.

I was out here on operations

when we encountered an area of the sea
where the laws of physics just didn't apply.

We lost navigational control
and we hit something.

Until this day I don't know what it was.

The ship began taking on water,
going down.

We sounded general quarters,
began evacuation.

Most of the men got off the ship,

but by the time air-sea rescue found us,

my first mate and I were still alive.

What happened to your men?

Gone, disappeared, drowned, sharks maybe.

They never found their bodies or the ship.

I filed a report with the
Navy that they suppressed.

So you want to know what's out here?

I just want the truth.

We're nearing the outer limit of the zone.

We'll be ready.

We've encased all of the backup systems

in copper-based shielding
from a navi computer

to chronographs and scanning devices.

It should keep it safe from any outside
electrical and magnetic charges.

Are the engine shielded as well?

Yeah, tight as a drum.

Don't worry.

We'll be able to navigate
no matter what hits us.

Have primary scanning, sonar, radar,

and visual equipment online and running.

Let's see how the phenomenon affects them.

No deviations, nothing abnormal.

If there is a phenomenon...

There, ****

Two days of nothing.

Why do I feel like I've done this before?

Because you have?

You think I'd learn.

Any change in reading?

No.

You've seen this phenomenon before,
haven't you?

That was a long time ago.
I didn't see all that much.

What do you make of it?

You lost your crew?

Better tell Doyle.

I don't know anymore about what could
happen out here than the rest of us.

We've got something.

The compass started acting strange
as soon as it appeared on radar.

How far off is it?

Half a click. Closing fast.

Keep tracking it.
Let's get topside, try to get visuals.

There! Off the board bow!

Radar's picking up something really big.
It's nearly on top of us.

It's definitely not a weather front.

The radar's beginning to fade
from some kind of interference.

We are now operating under code red status.

Man your stations and stay sharp.

Connor, what is it?

Seems the atmosphere is very
localized and intensely focused.

We're being bombarded by
electromagnetic fields.

Instrumentation...
instrumentation is... it's gone dead.

We're switching to shielded instruments.

Backup systems operational.

Data recording is being maintained.
It's not getting through the shielding.

I got something,
half a click to the starboard bow.

Doyle, you...

Damn !

Conner, we got something on the radar.

Can you identify it?

Small craft, very small, actually.

Dead center of the phenomenon.

Could it be a life raft?

Could be.

I'm gonna plot a course,
direct to intercept.

There, 300 meters off starboard.

I got him.

Get down there and get
the exact coordinates.

Right.

Can you get a fix on him?

I had another problem.

He's disappearing.

Oh, God !

Help!

Help !

Come on, more speed, let's go!

Full ahead!

Faster!

Come on, more speed, more speed!
Let's go!

Come on!

Here!

Move!

No!

Oh, no!

How long?

Inside the phenomenon,
58 minutes, 36 seconds.

Real time?

Mainland Bravo Team clocks
us inside the phenomenon

at 5 minutes, 38 seconds.

Brasco?

He's gone,

without a trace.

Final case log entry.

After successfully recording a full range of data
from our investigation of the Bermuda Triangle,

we are still only just
beginning to understand

what the phenomenon could be
or where it might come from.

Whatever its origin, this phenomenon
remains an ongoing mystery

and a random threat to any
new journey across the path.

Connor Doyle, out.

After their return to shore,

the OSIR discussed many theories in
attempting to explain what they'd witnessed.

Perhaps they encountered geophysical
anomalies or some unknown technology.

If anything, their experience demonstrates
that much more research must be undertaken.

For now, the Bermuda Triangle's secrets remain
locked within its mysterious waters and skies.

I'm Dan Aykroyd for Psi Factor.

Subtitle made by Adr1an