PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996–2000): Season 1, Episode 21 - Death at Sunset/Collision - full transcript

These stories are inspired
by the actual case files

of the Office of Scientific
Investigation and Research.

Why didn't you call me sooner?

I just couldn't believe it.

I mean, she just can't.

That's all right, Jean.

Now you put on some tea,
and I'll be down after I've seen to Melanie.

Doc...

There, Melanie.

I understand you're not feeling the best.

It's got me, doesn't it?



The sickness.

Now don't you even say that...

Come on, Paul.

Look at me, same as the others,
slowly dying all day.

Now...

It's almost sunset.

Just try to relax, Melanie.

So far all I can find is a slight fever.

That's how it starts, isn't it?

I feel as though...

Oh, Lord.

Dr. Axum, please, can't you do something?

You fight, Melanie.

You've got to fight this.



Please.

It's so beautiful.

Just breathe deeply, Melanie.

Melanie?

No.

Sweet Lord, no.

No!

No!

I'll call Father Sinclair.

No.

It is a curse!

We need help now, dammit!

Before more of us die.

Oh, God.

Melanie!

Remote islands all across the North Atlantic coast
bear tantalizing reminders of prehistoric explorers.

Great stone and earthworks were left behind
by Norsemen to symbolize their achievements.

Now some of these great works of primitive
art also seem to carry deadly warnings.

Warnings that should have been heeded
by the community of Bell Island.

Hello, Peter. You're looking well.

Thanks, Dad, you too.

It's been a long time.

Eight years, maybe.

Longer ?

This must be pretty big if you
couldn't handle it yourself.

Hope you'll find what you're looking for.

Good luck !

Oh boy.

Initial case log entry,
case manager Connor Doyle

We're investigating eight unexplained deaths in
a span of eight days on a remote Atlantic Island.

Our contact is a member of
our own team Peter Axon.

People here have trusted me for 50 years.

Now they're dying and I can't
do a damn thing to stop it.

The first three cases I thought were
just a virulent flu strain like, in 62.

Well, the symptoms
don't match for influenza.

All the victims they started
feeling it in the morning ?

Right. Followed by a 10-hour
period of disintegrating energy.

And then at sunset...

... they're gone.

Nothing in the blood, nothing in the brain.

Just death, plain and simple.

So they were through with living.

This government health inspection
report is pretty thin.

Damn bureaucrats find nothing.

They can't make a decision on what to do.

What are your local authorities doing?

Why you ask him?

Hello, Peter.

Annie !

It's good to see you again.

Annie's become rave at the island
since Frank Whittaker at past on.

People are on the verge of panic.

Convinced it's a curse of some kind.

Something to do with the Ericsson stones.

That's pure bull the dash !

Well, it could be something in Burmill.
We should have a look around.

There isn't time.

We just got word.
There's another victim.

So beautiful...

... the light !

I used to coach Jeff and Haki.

Now do you see what we're up against?

It sounds like some kind of epidemic.

We should re-examine any and all of the
blood samples taken from the victims.

And the autopsy should be reviewed just
to be sure nothing's been overlooked.

Are you suggesting our forensic
methods are unreliable, young lady?

We may be a small community out here,
but we don't live in the Stone Age.

We appreciate you letting us
set up in your home, Dr. Axon.

What's your plan of attack?

We want to cross-reference the victims' medical
histories with other cases of unexplained deaths.

Your files would provide
invaluable information to us.

That's through here.

And don't muck on my boat.

He's actually mellowed over the years.

Peter, given your personal history, do you
feel comfortable working with the locals?

Yeah, I think so.

Good.

Connor, are you convinced another
person is going to die tonight?

I don't like the pattern.
Nine deaths in nine nights.

So somewhere out there is the next victim.

We have roughly eight or
nine hours of daylight left.

What did Annie mean about the Ericson stones?
Is this some local superstition?

No, it's our own personal Stonehenge,
something the Norse explorers left behind.

The curse was dreamed up
as a tourist attraction.

Could they somehow be a factor?

No, they're just rocks.

Well, check them out anyway.
We can't afford to overlook anything.

Lindsay, you and Peter work together.

I want you to do a wide spectrum scan of the
area around where the last few victims died.

We're looking for toxins, traces of infectious
diseases, or anything that might indicate foul play.

Right. We're on it.

We'll take Annie along as our guide.

Okay.

Let's start putting together some theories.
You and I will work with Dr. Axon.

Okay.

So far all scans are negative.

Yeah, nothing but land
and dropping temperatures.

I'm not surprised.
Nothing changes here.

I like this place.
It has a good feel to it.

Spoken like a true city girl.

You're fooled by the romance of the sea.
There's no jobs, no futures.

It's just rocks.

Let's split up.

Why don't you go up to the lighthouse
and we'll check out the stones.

Sure.
And keep warm.

Thanks.

Remember how we used to
play here after school?

That seems like a hundred years ago,
doesn't it?

We married each other here.

Jeff Renney pretended
he was Father Sinclair.

And he married us.

Right here on this very rock.

Melanie Banyan was my bridesmaid.

I remember.

You kissed me for the first time, Peter.

Right over there.

And you told me I was
your true love forever.

And that one day we'd
be married for real.

You gave me this.

This silly stone.

You said this was our sacred ground.

And the stones would
always protect us.

Oh, Annie.

And then you were gone.

And now so is Jeff.

And Melanie.

And the others...

I just...

I figured you'd forgotten
about me and moved on.

I had.

But...

I always hoped that
somehow you'd come back.

You sound like my dad.

I thought about you, Annie.

But you didn't write.

You should have come
back at a better time.

I know.

You better get back to work.

Yeah, right.

Well, there's nothing unusual
on any of the blood samples.

We're just covering the same old ground.

Dr. Axon, the only way we can help people

is to find a diagnosis
that fits the illness.

Anything?

Is a waste of time.

We should be out there knocking on doors.

We have people doing just that,
Dr. Axon.

Connor !

I've been going through Raymond's library.

He has quite an extensive
historical collection.

Anything on the arts in stones?

Quite interesting folklore.

These stones were
apparently carefully placed

to form an astronomical calendar.

They specifically indicate a future
alignment of planetary orbits.

How specific?

Well, if we are to believe
the legend is true,

they forecast it 800
years into their future.

Right?

Now, if the site is that old...

That means our present.

Dad! It's Annie!

What happened?

She just collapsed.

Peter? Peter?

She's burning up.

Just like the others.

We were out examining the
stones and she just collapsed.

Did your sweeps pick up anything
that could explain this?

Nothing.
No traces of anything out of the ordinary.

Peter...

I'm here, Annie.

I knew it would come for me soon.

It's just a matter of time.

Oh !

Annie, I'm not gonna let you die.

So like you, Peter Axon.
You're always making promises you can't keep.

When does the sun set?

5:41.

We need to draw some correlations
between the deaths and their locations.

Dr. Axon,
do you have any maps of the island?

Sure, I have them all.

Charts, survey maps.

Good.

I want you and Dr. Davison to keep
digging for a medical solution.

Keep me posted on her condition.

Peter?

We need you.

I'll be back.

We can narrow the deaths to
within a 10 kilometer radius

around the Ericsson stones.

There are nine stones in all,
and there have been nine deaths.

The first five occurred here,
and the next four died here.

What about Annie?

I don't know.

We were both standing right inside the
circle of stones when she collapsed.

I don't know where that leaves us.

It's a small island, and everyone at some
time or another has visited the stones.

And everyone lives near the stones,
for centuries.

It was no ill effects.

Near the stones...

That's it.

Don't you see?

All the deaths lie in a meridian leading

from a particular stone,
direct intersecting courses.

Except for Annie.

She's the 10th victim.

But there are only nine stones.

Why would they affect her?

Peter, what are you looking for?

Possible explanation.

Here !

See, when we were young, the old folks

used to tell us,
beware the prophecy of the stones,

of the death it would bring to the island.

Of course, we ignored them.

But this is what it foretold.

There shall come a time of convergence,

a time of alignment in the night sky.

All 10 stones of Erickson must
lie in their rightful place,

or death shall take
the young one by one,

with the setting of the sun.

It says 10 stones.

Where is the missing one?

I think I know.

It has the same age and mineral content

as the Erickson stones.

So the town must have moved it here
from the site over 250 years ago.

Forgetting it was originally
part of the Erickson stones.

Peter?

According to legend, all 10 stones

have to be in place by tonight,
or more people are going to die.

Maybe there's something about
these stones we can't register.

Radiation emissions on a
wavelength we can pick up,

or if there was toxic waste beneath them.

Or the legend is true.

See, we've done environmental
all around the stones,

and we've come up empty.

I say we move it.

OK, guys, let's go.

We're running out of time.

Let's move it.

I'm running out of time, aren't I?

He's on a fool's errand, your son.

He says it's your only hope.

He calls himself a scientist.

You should hear what I call him.

But I believe in him.

Well, so do I.

We've managed to isolate some antibodies
lying dormant in all the victims.

It looks like they died from
a form of mutating virus.

Virus? What virus?

We don't know.

It looks like Powassan virus, but it's
unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Encephalitis ?

We'd have to see it under an
electron microscope to be sure.

Let's do that.

Dr. Axon, there are only two labs in North
America capable of isolating a possible cure.

It could take weeks or months for
them to identify and analyze this virus.

Then we have to find another way.

Okay, right here, mov it over here!

Right here!

The vital signs are dropping.

Annie, can you hear me?

Why isn't he here?

I can't last much longer.

You must hang on, Annie.
You must believe you'll live.

That's it.

Lindsay, how is she?

There's no change, Peter.

What are you giving her?

0.5 cc's, norepinephrine.

But we still don't know exactly
what we're dealing with here.

I won't lose her like I lost the others.

You give this injection to that woman,

and it could kill her.

And if I don't, she's dead already.

We did everything it said.

We fulfilled the prophecy!

Peter...

No.

We believed.

I'm sorry.

It's so beautiful.

Annie, no !

Peter...

No !

There's something else.

Peter...

No !

No, I'm forgetting something.

Wait, wait.

This is it.

Yes !

Well i'll be damned !

I told you it was beautiful.

Peter !

She's alive.

I know.

How could they have known about this...
so long ago?

They navigated from the stars.

Final case log.

After determining that an unknown virus

was likely responsible for the
recent fatalities on Bell Island,

no further deaths have occurred.

Isn't Peter coming with us?

I gave him some time off.

I think it was some form
of the aurora borealis.

Ionization of atoms in the upper atmosphere.

You could stay.

Yeah, figure it out.

Well, actually, I've thought about it.

I have.

And I would.

Come on !

You'll be stir crazy
within two weeks.

I think you're right.

Oh, but I love this place.

I really do.

Myths, legends, ancient stories,

are they simply fictional tales passed down
by different cultures through the ages?

Or do some of these legends
actually possess elements of truth?

In the preceding case,
the OSIR determined that the Norse settlers,

who originally founded Bell
Island over 800 years ago,

may have left a stern
warning of events to come.

Come one, mom,
we're gonna be late !

Don't worry, we'll get there.

Andy, can you say that again ?
My signal's breaking up.

I'm still too far of the city.

I'm picking up your cleanings so that
you'll be set for tonight screening.

Still can't get Howard to confirm.

Oh, damn it !

Look, make it happen.

Call him back and say
"please" if you have to.

Oh, hold on.

Bkythe here.

Blythe, it's Sam.

Sam, hon, look I can't talk right now.

Have you seen it ?

Yes, love the cut.

Oh, it's working much better,
stop worrying.

Relax, you're back in the big time, babe.
I'll call you, okay?

Love you.

Yeah, me too. Bye-bye.

Andy, I'm locking Sam out.
If he calls, I'm not in. Ever, okay?

You're not serious.

Yes, I'm serious. I don't care what he says.
He doesn't have final cut.

You look so beautiful.

Don't make me puke, Mom.
Just keep the pedal to the metal.

I wish your dad could have been here tonight.
He would have been very proud.

I'm in the chorus, Mom.

I'll be lucky if I don't
fall flat on my face.

If I get there in time.

What's all this hurry?

Watch the road, Mom!

Are you all right?

Oh, shoot !

Hello ?

Damn!

Mom?

I won't leave you.

Mom!

Mom ?
Mom !

Mom !

Mom...

Mom !

Mom !

No !

The will to live is the
strongest of all human instincts.

If someone has not given up,
then within the person's spirit

flickers the desire to physically endure.

But what happens to our
life force after we pass on?

Does it die with us,
or as is believed in Eastern religions,

does it continue into another incarnation,

or even transfer from
one person to another?

In case number 793144, the OSIR was called
in to address a question of this nature.

Where's my mother?

Shhh. You need to get some rest, honey.

I want to see my mother.

Holly...

I have some bad news.

Yes, after some rest,
Blythe should be fine.

There may be some disorientation
from the concussion.

Blythe, how you feeling?

I brought some pajamas and a
bathroom kit from your house.

Is there anything else I can get you?

Who are you?

It's me, Andy. Andy Ackerman.

Your assistant.

I don't have an assistant.

Blythe, please don't fire me.

I'm sorry I didn't get the cleaning.
The guy closed...

I don't know what you're talking about.

What day is today?

Tuesday.

And what's your name?

Karen Gustavson.

Where's my daughter?

Case Manager Connor Doyle,
initial case log entry.

We're investigating a possible
transfer of consciousness

between two women following
a fatal traffic accident.

Hi. Looking for Dr. Harper?

Is it possible that in the
aftermath of the accident,

the paramedics confused their identities?

Ah, I know Blythe Hall.

She donated some props to
our fundraising auction.

She asked me for weeks for the tax receipts.

Now the details she knows
about Karen's life and death

it's as if she's become Karen Gustavson.

This is not simply some mental break.

Do they know each other?

I don't think so.

The little girl, Holly,

uh, is she aware that Miss Hall
is claiming to be her mother?

No.

Although Miss Hall is
insisting on seeing Holly,

we've prevented it for now.

That's good.

Well, the Halls will have
temporary custody of Holly

while social services
try to locate her family.

But as far as we know, Holly's all alone.

We can't afford to have Blythe possessed.

We've got a film trapped in post
that's due at Con in two weeks.

We've got four projects in development with
major directors and stars attached to them.

Now if they find out that Blithe is...

I can't run this company.

I'm not Blythe.

So in the latest conversations
you've had with her,

you'd say her personality
has completely changed.

Yeah.

But for the better.

I don't know.

People say she's, well,

a ball buster, but my God,

you got to be tough to get where she is.

I guess Miss Hall's had to do some
pretty ruthless things over the years.

Every five minutes.

Has she ever expressed any guilt
about the things she's done?

Any remorse?

Not since I've known her.

I can't explain it.

I know that's what
I used to look like.

I look different now.

I still feel like the same person.

Well, to me, you look like Blythe Hall.

Whoever that is, I'm not her.

I'm Karen Gustavson.

Why won't they let me see Holly?

Has she been hurt?

No, she's fine.

She must be so scared.

Look, Karen, you have to understand,

we're very concerned about how it's going
to affect Holly seeing you like this.

Because she needs me.

Without me, she's all alone.

I can prove I am who I say I am.

Ask her.
Ask her about the time she ran away

and her father and I found her
on the road with no jacket.

Okay, I'll talk to her.

I was six, I think.

Dad said I could have
frozen like a popsicle.

Holly, can we talk about the accident?

Sure.

What happened?

I kept telling her to go faster.

It wasn't your fault, Holly.

It wasn't your mom's fault either.

Did the police arrest the
person driving in the other car?

No, it was an accident.

Do you remember much about
what happened that night?

When the other car hit your car,
what happened?

The lightning was everywhere.

My side hurts, so did my head.

Everything was spinning.

What did you see?

My mom.

She's hurt.

Go on, Holly.

A light is coming out of her.

What kind of light?

Bright light, like a fairy in the movies.

What's it doing?

Dancing.

Then what happened?

It's going away.

It's gone.

All the light is gone.

When is my mom coming back?

She's in denial.

She refuses to acknowledge
her mother's death

and the trauma, the pain of her
loss at Holly's stage in life.

I'm going to try to counsel her.

I just hope she has a lot
of natural resilience.

What about the light she described?

It could be anything.

Wishful thinking,
the concussion she suffered.

Our background checks confirm
that prior to the accident,

Blythe Hall did not know
Karen Gustavson or her family.

There's things about Karen that
Blythe could not possibly know.

Somehow, after the impact
of that car accident,

Karen's dying spirit transferred to Blythe.

How is that possible?

Just flying while here,
but it's possible that the fluke

charged the atmosphere,
which acted as a medium

for the neurons which contained
Karen Gustavson's memory.

I would like Holly to see Blythe.

I don't think that would
be wise at this point.

I know what you're saying, Lindsay,

but we can't keep them
apart forever, not legally.

Sooner or later,
Blythe is going to approach Holly.

I would rather be
done in a secure environment.

Now, if you were Holly,
wouldn't you want to know?

No, I don't think so.

Even if we go with the assumption
that it is Karen's spirit in Blythe,

we have no idea how long
this situation will last.

Losing your mother once is bad enough.

Twice, maybe more than anyone can handle.

What about Blythe's spirit,
her soul, her consciousness?

Surely we have a responsibility
to bring her back.

We brought someone to see you.

Holly!

Holly...

I know this must seem
very weird to you.

And I don't understand it either,
but it's happened.

I am your mother, Holly.

It's really me.

Remember when you broke your dad's
baseball trophy and ran away?

This is a trick.

No. No, it's not.

Remember you told me you had
a crush on Bobby Lippman,

and you said you never
told anyone else that ?

No, you're not my mother.

My mother's dead and you killed her.

Mom !

Yes, it's me.

I said I would never
leave you alone.

But...

Do you remember?

When your father died, I promised you that
I would never leave you, no matter what.

Do you remember?

Can I see her?

Go on. I'm sure she won't mind.

I'm sorry, Mom.
I think it's really you now.

What? Who are you?

Karen ?

Oh, God Almighty,
what happened to me?

Where am I?

What's your name?

Blythe Hall.
Who the hell are you?

Case log update.

Blythe Hall now has no recollection of
being Karen Gustavson for the last two days

and is insisting on leaving
the hospital to return to work.

Holly has been devastated by the experience.
We will continue to observe both.

I think it's really you now.

What? Who are you?

Karen ?

Oh, God Almighty,
what happened to me?

Are you all right?

I should have never brought
Holly and Blythe together.

It was a terrible mistake.

Anton, at the time I thought it
was the right thing to do too.

You know better than any of us that
what we do isn't an exact science.

You know, sometimes I think
that you have it the hardest.

How so?

Well, trying to hold people together

after they've faced the inconceivable,
witnessed horrible things.

You know, you can't always predict
how they're going to react.

Thanks, Connor.

It's just that I don't like making
the wrong choices for my clients.

Does a choice always have
to be either right or wrong?

It feels weird to be back here.

I know, honey.

No one I know will
ever be here again.

All our stuff will be gone.

It'll just be... empty.

You got everything you need?

One night only.

Are you ready, Holly?

Yeah, I'll be right there.

I'll tell him I'm very sorry.

Look, we have a delivery
date and I'm sticking to it.

Tell him I'll...

Mom! Mom!

Uh, no, sorry, I, um...

I'm fine. Just a little...

Mom! Mom!

Blythe, Sam's on line one and...

Blythe?

Oh, just a headache.

I'll get you an aspirin.

Four. What do you want?

The insurance adjuster's back.
He wants to talk to you about the accident.

Oh, okay. Show him in.

What can I do for you?

I won't take up much of your time.

I just need to clear up some details.

Mom !

Miss Hall ?

Miss Hall ?

Are you okay?

What were you saying?

Uh, following up on the accident report.

Why are you here ?

Well, I'm trying to understand
whose fault the accident was.

Blythe ? Blythe ?

Biythe, you've been having visions ?

I can't stop them.

And they're more like memories.

But they're not mine.

I know this sounds crazy,

but it's like there's
someone else in my head.

Karen Gustavson.

The woman in the crash?

But how?

We don't know yet.

Go ahead.

I thought that maybe she would
come back home, but she's not here.

We checked it from top to bottom.

It's already dark and it's
cold and it's getting colder.

She can't be far.

I'll notify the authorities.
Make a complete sweep of the area.

What's going on?

We just got word from Dr. Harper.

Holly's missing.

We'll find her, Anton.

Keep talking to Miss Hall.

Lindsay.

Blythe, tell me more about this vision
where you're standing in the road.

I'm in my car and everything's happening
exactly the way it did before the accident.

Except it's all happening
in this empty place.

And there are stars all around.

And I see myself in the road.

I'm not moving, I'm just standing there
in the middle of this empty place.

And my car is headed toward me.

I'm just waiting to be hit.

She's my daughter, she needs me.

Karen?

I've got to stop her.

You know where Holly is ?

She wants to be with me.

It's Anton.

He says Karen's personality
has re-emerged in Blythe.

Where's Holly?

Does she have any idea
where Holly might be?

The crossroads where the accident happened,
I just saw myself killing Holly.

We better hurry.

Connor, Holly's in danger.

She's at the crossroads
where the accident happened

at 9th and Boston, road blocks away.

She'll be just up ahead.

Connor !

Holly !

Holly !

Mom !

It's me, honey.

it's mommy.

Don't you ever do
anything like this again !

I wanted to be with you.

Oh, you will, sweetheart.

You will.

Well, you got a life to live first.

Can't you stay?

You have to let her go.

I'll watch over her for you.

I promise.

No, I can't.

It's not right.

Don't go, Mom.

Just remember,
a part of me will always be with you.

I love you.

I love you, too.

What's happening?

Blythe ?

Everything's gonna be okay.

Miss Hall?

I forgive you.

Thank you.

Hello?

Hi. Sam.

Oh, Sam, it's you.

Haven't been heared from
you a while.

I'm gonna call Andy
and he'll set it up.

You better go now.

Look, I'll call you later today.

Promise ?

That's a promise.

Holly?

Have you ever heard of the actor,
Sam Drake?

The actor?
You know him?

Sure do.

I'm gonna meet him tomorrow for lunch.

Do you wanna come?

You're serious?

Very serious.

Hey, do up your coat.

Karen Gustavson's spirit
lingered here on this life plane

to ensure the well-being
of her daughter.

Karen's soul then could move
on into the next world,

a world which certainly and eventually
all of us will come to know.

This is Dan Aykroyd for Psi Factor.

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