UPSTATE NEWYORK NOVEMBER27
- We should have taken the Honda. - Where would we have put the luggage?
You're very strong.
This is the last holiday I’m ever going on with you.
Where did you get all those muscles? More! Don't quit now.
- How much further? - A couple of million miles.
- What? - A couple of million miles.
No, up here we'll stop.
- Mexico, next time. - Hawaii is better.
Hold it. That's good.
- Now what? - I'll try to get us some help.
Come on, let's have a snowball fight.
No!
Help me, Daddy.
Do you have the number for emergency road service?
THE CHANGELING
lf you want a hand with anything, just give me a shout, Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell?
Daddy.
Catch.
Mr. Russell ...
You know that this piece is going to Seattle, too.
- Yes, sir. - Good.
SEATTLE - MARCH 4TH
At first, I was in shock.
I just functioned automatically. l didn't feel anything.
Then one day it hit me: Joanna and Kathy are gone.
l kept walking around the apartment. l guess I was half crazy.
That was four months ago. I've got to start making demands on myself.
Your first class is next Monday. I’ve set up a faculty meeting.
- Is eleven okay for you? - Fine, thanks for everything.
We're all excited about you being here.
A well-known alumnus and distinguished composer.
We're glad you came.
Okay, kids, keep it down. Go and get yourselves some cookies.
You don't need to stay in that hotel. There's plenty of room for you here.
I’m going to find a house to rent. I’ve got some things coming out.
l need a place I can pound away at the piano. A place I can work.
My friend works for the Historical Preservation Society.
They have old houses for rent. We'll see what she can come up with.
- Mr. Russell? - Yes.
I’m Claire Norman. Hop in and we'll drive up.
- When was the house last occupied? - About 12 years ago.
It's been with the Historical Society for the past 12 years.
There we go.
There were plans to turn it into a museum.
But I guess the house was meant to be lived in.
- Why hasn't it been lived in? - I joined the society last year.
I don't think they've tried very hard with this place.
Of course it does need a lot of work.
There are some pieces here that are just stored.
You'd have your pick of them. Whatever you like.
What does it take to maintain a house of this size?
We have a maintenance man. Mr. Tuttle.
And ...this is the music room.
This is really why l thought of you and this house.
The piano was left here when the society took over.
It must be in very bad shape.
What are the terms?
- Sorry to disturb your composing. - This has already been composed.
There's a man at the front with a water-storage tank.
- Manage to do any writing? - I’m still on the second movement.
The lectures may give you some ideas.
It’s my understanding -
- that there are 23 students registered -
- for this series of lectures on advanced musical form.
It’s not raining outside ...
And unless there's afire in some other part of the building, -
- there are an awful lot of people here with nothing better to do.
However, we'll know more after the second lecture.
I’m sure there are many of you who may recognize this.
- It sounds better with an orchestra. - You made it sound fine in class.
John's secret is that he's a natural ham.
- lf you can't find your way back ... - I'll send out a search party.
- Hi, I'd like you to meet my mother. - How do you do, Mrs. Norman?
This is John Russell. The Chessman House.
I’m very pleased to meet you. How are you liking the place?
- Fine. - It’s so large.
May I have your attention please?
I’d like to introduce Senator Carmichael.
He's going to make another speech.
A lifelong Republican commenting on a Democrat.
You know how I hate making speeches. But on special occasions ...
... like raising money for our Symphony Orchestra ...
Weren't they fantastic tonight?
- I’m going to get a drink. - I think I'll join you.
I'll be right back.
Thank you.
He's on our Board of Directors at the Historical Preservation Society.
He's our number one philanthropist.
- You're getting settled in then? - Yes.
Some pieces are still at the society. I'll see if I can dig them up for you.
I’m glad you took the house.
Mr. Tuttle?
- Yes, Mr. Russell. - You frightened me.
- Is anyone else here? - No, sir. Just me.
That's lovely, the music.
- It has the quality of a lullaby. - It is.
Here we are, as promised.
These are some assorted prints that used to hang in the house.
This is an old, restored photograph taken from the back of the house.
l tried to call, but information isn't giving your number out.
That's a beautiful piece. Did you refinish it?
l didn't, no.
That was Kathy's, my daughter's.
I’d better be off. l hope you like the prints.
- Are you going riding? - Yes. Do you ride?
John, what's the matter?
l was thinking about my daughter Kathy.
How much she loved horses.
- An airlock, somewhere. - It was too loud, too rhythmic.
Well, it's starting at least.
It’s happened two mornings in a row, precisely at 6 o'clock.
It goes on for about half a minute and then stops dead.
A furnace is like anything else. It’s got habits.
It’s an old house. It makes noises.
Very good.
We're not together on the off-beats.
Don, you're retarding too much, otherwise it was splendid.
Good night.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Has anything like this happened before? If so, what was done about it?
Since I’ve been with the society, the house has been empty.
You're working very hard. You've been through emotional strain.
I’m hallucinating. Is that what you're going to say?
There's a call for you. Your mother. Should I tell her you're busy?
Excuse me, John.
There's some question about your lease, Mr. Russell.
That house shouldn't have been rented. Miss Norman rushed the papers through.
- She did not use proper channels. - Why should anyone object?
That house is not fit to live in.
No one has been able to live in it.
- It doesn't want people. - Then there has been trouble before.
C.S.B.JANUARY 1909
Claire, listen. It’s note for note. Same tempo and even the same key.
- What do you think? - I don't know.
It’s a startling coincidence.
But that must be a popular melody, or it wouldn't be on the music box.
l agree, but I never heard it before l played it that day you came over.
No, there's something!
It’s happened before here. I’m not the first.
l went over the files very carefully, all the way back to 1920.
- Nothing out of the ordinary. - Miss Huxley ...
Minnie's a highly eccentric old woman, but she'd never ...
She said the house didn't want people. She's mistaken.
Whatever it is is trying desperately to communicate.
The banging, the water taps, the broken window panes.
Everything that's happened was designed to get me into the attic.
l want to see it.
Look at that book on the desk.
C.S.B. January 4th, 1909.
It’s a little child's writing.
1909.Who could have lived here then?
l found the music box on the mantel.
Look at this wheelchair.
My God! It’s so small.
What was this room?
Former residents, William Saracino and family, -
- bought the place in 1965, sold it in 1967.
Purchased for the society in 1967, by the Carmichael Foundation.
- That's the senator? - Yes.
- Where is the file? - No previous occupants listed.
There's nothing here before 1920.
Minnie, we're looking for the Chessman House file pre-1920.
- What do you want to know? - Who lived there in 1909?
- A Dr. Barnard. - Did he have any children?
A son and a daughter.
There was some kind of family tragedy. He sold the house in 1909.
1909. I'll set it up for you.
It’s all ready to go. The scanner is on the right.
Let's have a look here.
February 9th. These are want ads. Financial page.
Real estate. More want ads.
Wait.
"Cora Barnard, seven-year-old daughter of Dr. Walter Barnard, -
- was seriously injured when she ran in front of a passing coal cart."
"She was taken to hospital where her condition remains grave."
So forth and so on ...
Cora Bernard ... C.S.B.
There.
"Cora Steward Barnard ...
... succumbed to injuries sustained in a February 15th accident."
"She is mourned by her parents and will be interred in a family plot."
There's the doctor and his wife.
There's the brother, Lloyd.
This little girl, Cora, was killed in the street.
It was an accident, almost the same as Kathy.
What is in that house?
What is it doing? Why is it trying to reach me?
Is it because of my daughter? l can't go through all this again.
John, you must get out of that house.
l believe everything you're saying.
The noises, the lights, the teleportation of objects.
- It’s all fascinating stuff. - But what do I do now?
I'll tell you, off the record ...
We have many mediums and spiritualists coming here and we test them.
99 percent are utter frauds.
But the one percent ... astonishing.
A medium.
Mr. Russell, how do you do? My wife, Leah.
Go right in, please.
Could we have the lights off, please?
- May I record what happens? - Yes, of course.
Mr. Russell, would you sit there? And I'll sit here. Thank you.
You've suffered, John Russell. You've lost a wife and child.
The presence in this house is reaching out to you through that loss.
The presence is very strong here.
It is a child's presence. A child who is not at peace ...
...who cannot rest.
The presence is with us.
We sense that you are with us.
Will you talk with us?
Will you communicate with us?
Will you come through to us?
Will you speak to us?
We are here to help you.
What is your name?
Will you speak to us?
Yes.
What is your name? Are you the child, Cora?
Are you the child killed by the coal cart?
No.
What is your name?
Joseph.
Did you die in this house, Joseph?
How did you die?
Is there someone here you wish to communicate with?
John.
Help.
Help, John.
Help.
Mr. Russell, will you sit over here?
Will you speak to John?
Will you tell us why you are not at rest?
Speak to John.
John is with us.
What do you want of John?
Why do you feel no peace?
Why do you remain in this house?
What is in this house?
Speak to John.
John is with us.
How did you die?
Did you die in this house?
Why do you remain in this house, Joseph?
Joseph, did you die in this house?
We are here to help you.
What is your name?
... killed by the coal cart?
-No. -No.
Are you the child killed by the coal cart?
-No. -No.
Are you the child killed by the coal cart?
-No. -No.
We are here to help you. What is your name?
Joseph.
- What is your name? -Joseph.
-Joseph.
-Did you die in this house? -House.
My room.
Can't walk.
- Tell us why you are not at rest. - My father.
-Did you die in this house? -My room.
How did you die?
Father.
Farewell.
Sacred Heart.
My medal.
Father, don't.
My body... ranch... the well.
My name... Joseph Carmichael.