(thunder crashing)
¶ ¶
Please come in.
Miss Van Zandt will see you in a moment.
This is really stupid, Jess.
It's April 3, Vinnie.
Roger died a year ago today.
Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot.
Guess you two have a lot of catching up to do.
Cozy little place.
Looks like the set of our last video.
(gasping)
(knocking) MAN: Ilsa?
They're here.
I'll be right there, William.
Oh!
(moaning)
(thunder crashing)
(gentle rattling)
(thunder crashing)
We gather to call the spiritual dimension.
Channel their entities that we may know
life... everlasting.
Clear your minds.
Concentrate on the one that Jessica holds dear.
The name of the deceased?
Roger.
Roger Sebastien.
I call to the spirit of Roger Sebastien.
Return to us, Roger.
Cross over the dimensions of time and space,
and find the one who seeks you.
(wind whistling, chandelier clinking)
Return to the realm of the living,
and make your presence known.
I feel a spirit.
I feel his presence.
His energy filling the room.
(wind whistling)
(thunder crashing)
(static blipping)
Be at peace with the things you may see, Jessica.
Call to him.
Roger?
Hey, Jess.
You look great.
I said we'd be together for all eternity, didn't I?
I guess I let you down, huh?
Roger...
What?
Of course I still love you.
It wasn't your fault.
Yes, I know. I know.
I feel the same way, Roger.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Don't be upset, Jess.
It's great here.
Really, it's...
heaven, I guess.
I didn't mean for this to happen.
Don't be upset, baby.
Believe me. I forgive you.
Really, I do.
Wait!
No, Roger! Don't go, please!
He's moved on.
Look, I think we better cancel the next couple of shows.
You're too strung out. I'm fine!
You're fine? You just paid $2,000 for nothing, Jess.
Nothing happened in there. What do you mean? I saw him in there.
Well, nobody else did.
Look, Roger's dead, and nothing you do now
is going to make any difference. It was my fault.
Get over it!
You've got a band to run.
(earrings clatter)
Hey, Jess.
Roger? Roger!
Oh, thank God. I had so much more to say to you.
Yeah. I bet you did.
"I need a new song, Rog."
"Rewrite that solo, Rog."
"Be sure to be up for the show, Rog."
You killed me.
You bitch!
No! I never made you take those pills.
How else was I going to keep Jessica Francis on top?
I said I was sorry.
Roger, I loved you.
Please, forgive me.
I'll see you rot first.
(glass breaking, body thudding)
(static blipping)
(Jessica gasps)
(sobbing): Please, please...
(crying)
(screaming)
VAN ZANDT: I gave you her life,
now give me more time.
Do it.
Ten days.
I have another ten days.
(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
That's it!
Keep it there!
(static blipping)
You had it!
Move it back!
That's it!
ANCHORMAN: ...today mourned the tragic death
of rock diva Jessica Francis. Oh, no!
Miss Francis topped the charts
more than a dozen times.
She had been battling depression
since the death of guitarist Roger Sebastien.
Our reporter interviewed
band member Vinnie Rivera at the scene.
No, it wasn't a normal night.
Uh, we went to see this medium, Ilsa Van Zandt.
Jess really missed Roger, you know?
As least they can be together again.
Ilsa Van Zandt.
I remember that name.
She's a celebrity medium, Micki.
No, no-- uh, something about one of her other clients dying.
Why don't you guys check it out?
I'm gonna go and try and talk to Vinnie Rivera.
What's your hurry on this, Micki?
I always loved Jessica's music.
I just want to know what happened.
Well, you're looking much better.
(sighs)
I guess I was just really tired.
You work too hard, darling.
This has been happening every couple of weeks.
Really?
Don't you think you ought to see a doctor?
(chuckles)
I'm so flattered you notice.
I do notice.
Ilsa, I'm not just
some bimbo who mooches off you.
Believe me.
You've got to stop thinking that way.
I don't.
Maybe we started out that way.
But I care for you.
William, it's okay.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
There's nothing to worry about.
I'm just fine.
William, you're too good for me.
Your client list is a page out of the Who's Who.
Lance Croffert, Princess Marina,
fashion designer Genevieve...
Well, we all want to know what lies beyond.
Don't we?
I guess I've proven I can deliver
spirits people want to meet.
Jessica's band says that Roger died of a drug overdose,
and Jessica felt that she'd pushed him too hard.
Yeah, well, it's
usually guilt that drives people to mediums
in the first place, isn't it?
Did you find out how she died?
Yeah, her TV shorted out.
She was electrocuted.
Eddie Neon, the dead actor who was one of her clients--
he was electrocuted, too.
Maybe we should pay Miss Van Zandt a visit.
Yeah.
It may not be easy.
It's a pretty exclusive clientele.
Well, last year I bought
a couple of dresses from Genevieve.
I'll give her a call.
ILSA: We gather to call the spirit dimension.
Channel their entities that we may know
life... everlasting.
Clear your mind.
Concentrate on your teacher, Genevieve.
I call the spirit of Martina,
asking her to cross over
the dimensions of time and space,
and find the one who seeks her.
(wind whistling)
(rattling)
GENEVIEVE: She's coming.
I can feel her.
(static blipping)
GENEVIEVE: Martina!
Darling, how good to see you!
And you.
No, I haven't.
Of course you are.
I really miss not being able to do this every day.
We'll have all the time in the world one day.
In the meantime, you must go on as best you can.
The spring line was a sensation.
Everybody's talking about it.
I really hope I did you justice.
Of course you did.
How could my favorite student be anything but brilliant?
I-I just--
I don't have anybody to inspire me anymore.
I've run out of ideas.
What should I do for fall?
What would you have them wearing?
Look closely, darling.
My latest creations.
Wait!
Show me more!
Please!
Martina?!
She's closed the lines of communication.
I'm sorry.
(clock ticking)
What did Genevieve say she saw?
We didn't get a chance to ask her; she took off as soon as it was over.
Said she had to get back to her studio. Yeah. She's not faking it, Jack.
I mean, she really believes she saw something.
But you two saw and heard nothing?
Ilsa said that the connection
between Genevieve and her spirit was a private one.
That's just not true.
Everything that's ever been written about spiritualism
says very clearly that an apparition appears and speaks
to everyone present during a séance.
JOHNNY: Well, that's what I thought,
but it didn't happen this time.
And Ilsa wouldn't talk about,
uh, Jessica Francis or Eddie Neon.
She claimed she was too tired.
I wonder what she's up to.
I don't know. It could be a hoax.
But there was definitely an energy in that room.
Yeah, I felt it, too.
Maybe she's got the gift.
She's not listed in there.
Well, what do we do now? I guess
we talk to Genevieve; she's the only one who can tell us what she saw.
Her studio's on Riverside.
Let's go.
Be careful.
You shouldn't do this anymore.
You're getting tired again.
And how do I keep you
in the style you've grown accustomed to?
You've got plenty of money.
These séances--
they take too much out of you.
Ilsa, why don't you take some time off?
You should just stay up here with me.
All the time.
I wish I could.
Maybe we should go somewhere this weekend.
Someplace warm.
You could catch up on your rest.
We could, uh... both get a tan.
We never go anywhere.
We never do anything but--
well, you know.
Aren't you coming to bed?
Martina...
I think I have another hit on my hands.
ILSA: I call upon the spirit of Martina.
Get to her.
She's yours.
(sinister laughter)
(static blipping)
It's perfect.
How do you do it?
(distorted voices)
Why should I tell you?
So you can steal another idea?
I trusted you!
But I wasn't even cold
before you were selling my drawings as your own.
You're a thief!
I didn't think you'd mind.
You didn't think I'd know!
Your own work was garbage.
Martina! No!
All you wanted from me was another chance to steal!
No!
You'll burn in hell for this!
No!
(maniacal laughter)
(gasping)
(screaming)
(electrical crackling)
(static blipping)
(gasping)
No! No!
ILSA: Take her soul,
and give me what you promised.
Let me live on.
Please...
One day?
But you always give me more than one day.
No, what's that?
What's happened? What's changed?
Why are you betraying me?
(crying)
This is unfair.
This is not fair, no.
(sobbing)
I think Ilsa must have a cursed object.
She seems to be getting fame and fortune.
Well, something certainly seems to be driving her.
Maybe it's, uh, something sinister.
But how do we find out what it is?
The Amazing Jandini.
Who?
Robert Jandini, he and I used to have a magic act.
But lately, he's-he's he's made a vocation
out of debunking spiritualists.
I sure hope he can fly in.
If anybody can expose a phony, he certainly can.
Excuse me.
You've always given me ten days, always.
Before... without fail.
What's changed?
Am I in some new danger?
There must be something I can do.
(knocking)
There are two men here to see you.
They want a séance.
Make an appointment.
They say it has to be now.
Gentlemen.
Miss Van Zandt.
Richard Whittington, my associate Jack Marshak.
Pleasure to meet you.
I usually don't take clients on such short notice.
Mr. Marshak and I don't, uh, hold much
by, uh, what you do, Miss Van Zandt,
but we need to contact someone immediately.
We'll pay for the inconvenience.
And I will pay if I don't go to the trouble, is that it?
I wouldn't be much of a medium if I didn't know Robert Jandini.
Is Marshak your real name?
I'm not 100% perfect, you know.
My specialty is antiques.
JANDINI: Mr. Marshak is a student of the occult.
I have brought him along to assist me.
Ah, assist you in exposing me as a fraud?
If you refuse to hold a séance for us, Miss Van Zandt,
I could make it very public.
I'm afraid that might have quite an affect
on your, uh, income.
Actually, I was wondering what's kept you so long.
I've been a little hurt you hadn't come sooner.
I'm sure you'd like to inspect the room first.
Of course.
Be my guest.
(sotto voce): She's very cool.
Yeah, all the good ones are, at first.
Hmm.
You've been over the room twice, Mr. Jandini.
No trap doors, no mirrors,
no hidden projectors, correct?
No.
There aren't.
Then shall we begin?
JANDINI: He stays here.
You're staying here where we can see you.
I've never done this before.
There's a first time for everything.
Perhaps you'd like to sit there,
so you can keep an eye on me.
(light switch clicks)
We gather to call the spiritual dimension.
Channel their entities, that we may know life everlasting.
The name of the deceased?
Oh, let's just see who pops out of the woodwork.
I call on the dead known to Robert Jandini.
Come, spirits.
Cross over the dimensions of time and space
and find our gathering.
Find us, spirits.
(wind whistling)
Show the truth to this nonbeliever.
We seek someone dear to his heart.
(rattling)
Someone he seeks to counsel after death.
I feel...
a spiritual force approaching.
(static blipping)
It's been such a long time, son.
(gasps)
Oh, my God.
I've, I've missed you, too.
WOMAN: Are you coming to us soon?
Mama, he's still a young man.
It's just been such a long time
since we've seen you, Robert.
I'm sorry, I...
I know I should have been around more, but, but I...
It's been so lonely without you.
We have a lot to talk about when you do come.
You'll like it here.
Oh, God.
Oh, my God...
She's legitimate, Jack. No question.
Well, Robert, I didn't see or hear anything.
You didn't?
Then it had to be real.
A direct, spiritual connection
between me and the afterlife.
It really was your parents, hmm?
Exactly as I remember them.
I've never told anyone this...
I more or less abandoned them
when they needed me most.
I've always felt guilty about it.
(sighs)
I can't tell you how much weight she's lifted from me, Jack.
That séance let me know that I was... forgiven.
ILSA: "666 Druid Avenue."
How interesting.
Someone wants you back.
And if they get you,
I can't last more than a day, can I?
That's why you haven't given me the time I've earned.
And I can't have it until you're safe again.
Did you say something?
(gasps)
They've gone.
That was amazing.
He really believed his parents were here.
Well, maybe they were.
Ilsa, I've never asked before.
Can you teach me to do it? Oh...
Maybe I can help you.
You already do enough to help.
Still, I'd love to learn.
William, please.
What's beyond death is far less important than living.
But it's... Now, William, please.
What's here is important.
Life is far more precious
than anything to come, whatever it is.
And you remember that.
Death comes soon enough.
Most pe... people don't realize how soon.
Go to bed. I... I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'll be up shortly.
(door shuts)
I call upon the parents of Robert Jandini.
(static blipping)
It's time I think you tell him
what you really feel.
Jack, that's exactly what Johnny and I experienced.
JACK (on phone): Did you find anything?
Yeah, up until five years ago,
Ilsa was not only an unknown medium,
she was unknown, period.
Well, keep looking, Micki.
I better stay with Robert.
We'll be back at his hotel in about an hour.
Right.
What's that?
From Lewis's files.
Books on spiritualism.
Talking with the Dead by Elly Robinson.
Yeah, they're all written by her.
Lewis must have been an admirer, huh?
Anyway, the last one was published in 1984.
1984's our first records of Ilsa.
Could it be a connection?
I'm not sure about any of this.
Whether it's a cursed object,
how she does what she does...
Yeah. Well, we know that some of her clients are dying.
I got one of my cop buddies pulling Eddie Neon's file.
Maybe that can tell us something.
Yeah, good idea.
Where? Where is he?
(indistinct chatter)
(sportscast playing low)
The whole thing bothered me, Robert.
Look, I-I mean, a séance is supposed to start
with a prayer of protection.
Yeah, and Ilsa didn't use one.
It was as if she didn't care if an evil spirit came by.
The spirits I saw weren't evil.
You wouldn't believe what I saw.
Well, humor me, Robert.
There was, there was this light.
It seemed to come from the... (static blipping)
Is this how you've spent
the time you could have spent with us?
You are a greedy son.
Papa?
(sportscast continues)
MAMA: You abandoned us!
You left us to die, alone!
I, I, I didn't mean to.
Robert, there's nothing there.
You broke your mother's heart.
You destroyed our lives!
No, no, please.
I-I never knew...
until it was too late.
You killed us long before we died.
No. No, Mama.
What kind of son treats his parents like dirt?
We wasted away, and you didn't care.
No, you, you've got to believe me.
If I'd known you were sick,
I would have... Robert!
Mama?
Papa? Robert?
You turned your back on us when we needed you the most.
Come on. Get ahold of yourself! Papa, no.
I-I... Mama.
Papa! Come on, come on!
Here, here, get ahold of yourself.
Come on! Mama!
Let's pay for those drinks first, huh?
(groans): Oh, man!
Go on.
Go on, find him.
Find him.
Now... kill him.
Kill him.
PAPA: Coward.
You broke our hearts.
You deserve to suffer like we did.
PAPA: We loved you,
but all you ever gave us was pain.
I wish we'd never had you.
I loved you.
You don't know the meaning of the word.
No, please.
He only knows how to hurt people.
JANDINI: No, no, please.
Don't do this to me.
Kill him.
Now, kill him.
You can't hide anymore.
Don't do this to me.
You deserve to suffer like we did.
PAPA: He only knows how to hurt people.
I wish we'd never had you.
No! Robert!
For God's sake!
It's all right. It's all right.
Come on.
(gasping)
The forensics report says that Eddie Neon
was electrocuted when his TV fell into the pool.
Then all the deaths are connected with televisions.
Wait a second.
There's something in the middle here.
Got it. 1950s model black and white TV.
Who bought it? Elly Robinson?
No, it was donated
by Lewis to a convalescent home in Bainbridge.
Only the nursing staff will be on duty at this hour.
Well, we can call first thing in the morning.
Or we can drive out, be back by then.
Get the car.
I'll call Jack.
All right.
WILLIAM: Ilsa?
I have to go out for awhile.
Where? It's really nothing for you to be concerned about.
Ilsa, is something...? No, really. I'll be back as soon as I can.
Just stay here.
All right. Sure.
(phone line ringing)
(phone ringing)
There.
(ringing continues)
What's happening to me, Jack?
They're everywhere I turn.
Just calm yourself. You'll be okay.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go!
Hello? Hello? (dial tone)
They won't leave me alone.
They're going to haunt me for the rest of my life.
Get a hold of yourself, Robert.
Now, I want you to think back.
What did you see in that room?
I know what I saw.
(cries): They're never going to leave me alone!
Never!
(phone ringing)
Hello?
WOMAN: Jack Marshak, please.
Oh, yes, speaking.
This is the front desk.
There's an urgent letter from Curious Goods Antiques,
but you'll have to pick it up personally from the doorman.
Oh, yeah, thank you, I'll be right down.
(hangs up receiver, coin clinks)
I have to go downstairs Robert.
Micki may have found something.
No! Don't...
I'll be right back.
Just don't leave this room, huh?
(knocking at door)
(static blipping)
Miss Van Zandt.
I came to see how you were.
Thank God you're here.
Something's gone wrong.
My parents, they're trying to...
No, no, no. They're only trying to explain something to you.
You can't run from us anymore.
You ungrateful bastard.
We gave you everything.
You can't leave us to rot this time.
Make them go away.
Make them go away, please.
You'll burn in hell for what you did to us.
We'll see you get what you deserve.
Please. Please.
Leave me alone.
Look at what you did to us.
We'll never forgive you.
Never.
Never!
No!
Good. Go to them.
(screaming)
(woman screaming)
(woman sobbing)
(distant siren approaching)
Hurry. I'm running out of time.
I gave you the one who wanted you.
Now give me the time.
No.
WILLIAM: Ilsa, what's wrong?
Nothing, leave me alone.
Ilsa, please.
Please.
We're in this together.
No, we die alone, so alone.
Ilsa... (gasps)
I'm dying, William.
Let me get you to a doctor.
Doctors can't cure this.
They've tried. They've all tried.
Ilsa, I don't know what's going on,
but I followed you to the hotel.
I was there when Jandini died.
You don't know anything.
It's past midnight.
This is the day I die.
No.
Please, let me help you.
There must be something we can do.
I have to kill Jack Marshak.
Of course, I should have killed them both.
I can still live.
Jack, it's not your fault.
I'm entirely to blame. I got him involved in this.
JOHNNY: Wait.
Ilsa's real name is Elly Robinson.
She's a good medium, but not a great one.
MICKI: Lewis had the TV delivered to a convalescent home
where she was dying.
Dying?
Yeah. She had some degenerative disease.
Her body was literally falling to pieces.
Doctors gave her a week, ten days at the most to live.
Then she got her miracle cure.
So you see, Lewis knew what the set could possibly give her.
But we still don't know how she's using it.
She might have killed Jandini because he could expose her.
Which means she can come after you now.
I'll save her the trip. Damn it, Jack!
You're only thinking of yourself!
I'm doing this for Jandini!
No you're not.
You're doing this out of your own guilt.
Just like all the others she's killed.
Look, just stay here.
Micki and I'll get the TV.
We'll get her, Jack.
Let's do it the right way.
Come on.
It's gone.
If she knew we were on to her, she might have skipped town.
No. She didn't run when Jandini went after her.
Jack-- she's taken it to Jack.
You get the car. I'll try and warn him. Right.
(phone ringing)
Hello.
(click) Hello?
No.
Micki?
¶ ¶
ILSA: I thought it was time you had a talk...
(grunting)
...with an old friend.
We gather to call the spiritual dimension.
Channel their entities,
that we may know life everlasting.
He was my friend. He wouldn't betray me.
We'll see.
I call on the spirit of Robert Jandini.
No!
Jack, old friend.
Robert?
In the flesh, so to speak.
I suppose if you hadn't gotten me involved in this,
I'd be alive now, wouldn't I?
No!
You're a real pal, Jack.
ILSA: You've spent
all your life searching
for what's beyond death, Mr. Marshak.
Here it is.
No. It isn't real.
Open your eyes.
You want to see it.
You want to see what eternity holds.
Come on.
Come on, old pal.
The old act isn't the same without you.
Robert, please.
Oh, you can't come to me?
Okay, then I'll come to you.
(whooshing)
JACK: For God's sake.
Robert!
Come to me, Jack.
No!
Give him to it.
Hurry!
(strained grunting)
(yelling)
Jack!
(yells)
No!
Ilsa!
No!
Ilsa!
No!
William!
(yelling)
(screaming)
(whooshing stops)
(static blipping)
(gentle rattling)
Jack?
Are you going to be all right?
Oh, yeah. I'm fine.
Well, we can make you a pot of tea
and let you veg out in front of the TV.
Do you think that you saw Jandini's spirit?
Oh, I don't think so.
I'm sure that Ilsa used the TV to twist reality
and show people things she needed them to see.
And in return, it let her escape death.
That's a pretty tough offer to refuse.
Well, we all run away from death, but we can't escape.
You know, The Arabian Nights had a story
about a servant who saw Death across the marketplace
and he begged his master to be allowed
to hide across the desert, over in Baghdad.
The master agreed.
And then he sought out Death
to reprimand him for scaring his servant.
And Death apologized, and said, "But I was surprised to see him.
I thought we had an appointment tonight in Baghdad."