Narrator: IN THIS WORLD, THERE IS REAL EVIL,
IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN THE MOST ORDINARY PLACES.
THESE ARE THE TRUE STORIES
OF THE INNOCENT AND THE UNIMAGINABLE.
WHEN THE PICKMAN FAMILY MOVES INTO THEIR DREAM HOUSE,
THEIR FUTURE SEEMS BRIGHT,
UNTIL THE GHOST OF A TROUBLED CHILD INTRUDES.
UNEARTHLY VISIONS AND VIOLENT ATTACKS
EXPOSE AN EVIL FORCE AND FURY BREWING FOR CENTURIES.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED, NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
ATCHISON, KANSAS --
HOME TO THE FAMED ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE RAILROAD.
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY,
IT IS A PLACE THAT TRAVELERS PASS THROUGH.
BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO NEVER LEAVE --
RESTLESS SOULS WHOSE LIVES WERE TRAGICALLY CUT SHORT,
NOW DESPERATE FOR A TICKET OUT
OF WHAT SOME CALL THE MOST HAUNTED CITY IN KANSAS.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
IN MARCH 1993, NEWLYWEDS TONY AND DEB PICKMAN
RENT A HOUSE IN ATCHISON.
AFTER WEEKS OF UNPACKING,
THE HOUSE IS FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A HOME.
I'M GETTING TIRED.
ME, TOO.
I'M GONNA GO TO BED, I THINK.
YEAH, I'M COMING WITH.
Tony: WELL, WE MOVED IN.
THINGS SEEMED TO BE LOOKING UP FOR US.
MY WIFE WAS EXPECTING,
AND WE WERE JUST WANTING TO START A FAMILY.
IT WAS GOOD TIME FOR US.
HONEY, COULD YOU GRAB MY MAGAZINE, TOO?
Deb: WHEN WE FOUND THIS HOUSE, IT SEEMED PERFECT FOR US.
IT WAS SPACIOUS, HAD SEVERAL BEDROOMS,
AND WE JUST KNEW THAT IT WAS THE PERFECT HOUSE.
Man: ...MISSED WORK WITHOUT CHECKING IN.
I THOUGHT YOU TURNED THE TV OFF.
Tony: FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THINGS SEEMED PRETTY NORMAL.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE NOTICED THE TELEVISION TURNING ON AND OFF.
SHE WAS WORRIED BECAUSE HE --
WE'D SHUT IT OFF, AND IT'D COME RIGHT BACK ON.
HEY. PROBABLY JUST FAULTY WIRING.
IT'S AN OLD HOUSE.
I'LL CALL THE LANDLORD ABOUT IT TOMORROW, OKAY?
OKAY.
Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1993,
DEB GIVES BIRTH TO A SON THEY NAME TAYLOR.
IT'S OKAY. COFFEE?
THANK YOU.
ARE YOU GETTING ANY SLEEP?
DEB'S SISTER, KAREN LODER, FLIES IN FROM BUFFALO.
Loder: I FIGURED I'D COME IN FOR A WEEK AND JUST HELP
SO THAT SHE CAN GET SOME WELL-NEEDED REST.
Narrator: THE WEEK PASSES QUICKLY FOR THE FAMILY.
[ CHILD GIGGLES ]
DEBBIE, KAREN, COME UP HERE.
COME ON.
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK.
WHAT?
I DIDN'T DO THIS.
I CAME IN HERE, AND THEY WERE LIKE THAT.
KAREN, DID YOU DO THIS?
NO, I WAS WITH YOU ALL DAY.
Tony: THERE WERE SEVERAL TOYS ON THE FLOOR,
ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE.
Deb: WE KIND OF PLAYED IT OFF AS IF
SOMEBODY HAD GOTTEN INTO THE HOUSE AND PLAYED A LITTLE PRANK.
YOU KNOW WHO DID THIS? ALAN.
IT PROBABLY WAS ALAN.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
ALAN IS TONY'S BROTHER.
HE PLAYS JOKES ON US ALL THE TIME.
THE GUY'S A MORON.
Deb: AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE FIGURED IT WAS.
Narrator: A FEW MINUTES LATER...
[ CHILD GIGGLES ]
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
TONY?
LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, THAT'S VERY FUNNY.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO DO THAT?
Loder: SAME THING. SAME POSITIONS. FACING OUTWARDS.
HOW DID THEY GET THERE?
WE WERE SHOCKED.
WE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE SEEING.
Deb: ARE THEY MAGNETS OR...?
THE WINDOW IS LOCKED.
IF THIS IS ALAN,
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GETTING IN AND OUT OF HERE.
THAT NIGHT REALLY PUT A CHILL DOWN OUR SPINES.
TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING PHYSICAL MOVED
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES -- IT SCARED US.
Narrator: THEY ALL SLEEP IN THE SAME ROOM THAT NIGHT,
UNSURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THE STRANGE EVENT.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Deb: MY SISTER LEFT,
AND TONY'S BROTHER, WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR, CAME OVER.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DID YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE
WITHOUT US SEEING YOU AT ALL?
Tony: WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PRANKSTERS WITH EACH OTHER.
"MAYBE HE'S PLAYING A TRICK ON ME."
TONY, I WASN'T EVEN HOME LAST NIGHT.
YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AT ALL?
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT,
AND I COULD JUST TELL THAT HE WASN'T LYING.
COME ON, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU GOT --
A GHOST OR SOMETHING?
Narrator: TONY'S BROTHER FINDS IT HARD TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
I'LL STAY AND WATCH.
HE JOKES, DARING THE TOYS TO FALL INTO FORMATION.
NO MOVEMENT.
NOTHING WEIRD.
YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
DON'T WASTE ALL MY FILM.
YOU'RE GONNA BUY ME SOME MORE IF YOU USE IT ALL UP.
COME ON, WHOEVER YOU ARE.
LET'S JUST GET A PICTURE.
OH, JEEZ!
Tony: THAT WAS MORE OR LESS, FOR ME,
A WARNING THAT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
[ TAYLOR CRYING ]
ALL I COULD THINK IT COULD BE WAS A SPIRIT OR A GHOST.
Deb: TONY'S GOT THE BABY IN THE CAR SEAT,
AND HE'S CRYING AND FUSSING,
AND IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE FRANTIC MOMENT.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
I DON'T KNOW. SOMETHING STUNG ME OR SOMETHING.
Tony: IT FELT LIKE A BEE STING OR A SPIDER BITE ON MY BACK.
A REAL SHARP PINCH.
I KIND OF BLEW IT OFF
'CAUSE WE WERE JUST IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THERE.
Narrator: THE PICKMANS DRIVE ACROSS TOWN
TO THE HOME OF TONY'S PARENTS.
[ CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
DEBRA, LET ME SEE MY LITTLE GRANDBABY.
THE HOUSE IS COMING ALONG WELL, ACTUALLY.
I KNOW YOU GUYS DID A NICE JOB.
OHH, CAREFUL. THAT'S WHERE I GOT BIT.
THAT'S WHERE I GOT THAT BUGBITE OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S BEEN HURTING ME.
OH, MY GOD!
HONEY, YOU HAVE THREE BIG SCRATCHES ON YOUR BACK.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Deb: I SIMPLY JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHOA!
THIS IS BAD.
WHAT CAUSED THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HAD THREE WHAT LOOKED LIKE FINGERNAIL SCRATCHES
DOWN THE CENTER OF MY BACK, AND THAT JUST FLOORED ME.
ALL I COULD THINK WAS SOMETHING EVIL IS CAUSING THIS.
OH, JEEZ!
I DIDN'T DO THAT.
OW!
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MY GOD!
WHAT CAUSED THAT?
Deb: SO MANY THINGS WERE GOING THROUGH MY MIND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S FROM.
BABY, THERE'S SOMETHING IN OUR HOUSE.
IS THIS A MEAN SPIRIT THAT WE'VE GOT IN OUR HOUSE?
DO WE GO BACK TO THE HOUSE? DO WE MOVE OUT?
DO WE JUST NEVER GO BACK AGAIN?
YOU'RE JUST TOTALLY CLUELESS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.
HEY, MA.
Narrator: TONY TRIES TO CALM DOWN
AND FACE THE SOBERING FACTS.
AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS NEW MOMMY IS.
I'M DOING GOOD.
Tony: WE WERE JUST STARTING A FAMILY
AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO MOVE.
OUR RESOURCES WERE ALL BLED OUT.
WE HAD A BABY, AND WE NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY.
SO WE DECIDED TO GO BACK HOME THAT NIGHT.
YEAH, THERE'S GOT TO BE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR IT.
Narrator: TONY'S BROTHER HAS AN IDEA THAT HE THINKS MAY HELP.
UH, LOOK...I KNOW THIS IS GONNA SOUND CRAZY,
BUT...MY BOSS HAS GOT A SISTER
WHO'S, LIKE, A MEDIUM OR SOMETHING.
YOU MEAN LIKE A PSYCHIC?
YEAH.
Narrator: HE SUGGESTS THEY INVITE HER TO VISIT.
WHAT COULD IT HURT?
THE PSYCHIC ARRIVES THREE DAYS LATER.
THANK YOU.
BASED IN CALIFORNIA,
BARBARA LECTURES ON PARAPSYCHOLOGY
AND COMMUNICATES WITH SPIRITS.
CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?
NO, THANK YOU. LET'S JUST GET RIGHT TO IT.
FIRST, I'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT IT IS THAT I DO.
I'M A MEDIUM, AND I COMMUNICATE WITH SPIRITS,
OR ENTITIES, ON THE OTHER SIDE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRANSITIONED OVER,
AND WE NO LONGER SEE THEM.
Deb: WE KIND OF CHATTED A LITTLE BIT, GOT TO KNOW HER.
WE TOLD HER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON.
THAT KEPT HAPPENING.
IT STARTED UP IN THE NURSERY.
MY BROTHER WAS TAKING PICTURES OF IT.
CIRCLE OF TEDDY BEARS.
THE THING FLIES ACROSS THE ROOM.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
HE SWEARS UP AND DOWN THAT HE DIDN'T.
THE BEST THING IS IF YOU COULD JUST SHOW ME THE NURSERY.
WE COULD START IN THERE.
Tony: I WASN'T A BIG BELIEVER IN PSYCHICS.
THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY IN THIS HOUSE.
SO I KIND OF BLEW HER OFF A LITTLE BIT.
SHOULD I SNAP A COUPLE PICTURES?
YES, THAT WOULD BE FINE. GO AHEAD.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
[ COUGHING ]
Tony: ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE STARTED TO LOSE HER BREATH.
DO YOU WANT SOME WATER?
WE HAVE TO LEAVE. WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS ROOM.
SHE SAID, "WHAT'S HERE DOESN'T WANT US HERE."
IT'S ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING DOWNSTAIRS NOW.
"IT DOESN'T LIKE THIS MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM."
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ COUGHING CONTINUES ]
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
YES, I'LL BE FINE. THANK YOU.
[ CHILD GIGGLES ]
TONY, TAKE A PICTURE AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.
OKAY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ CHILD GIGGLES ]
A VERY YOUNG SPIRIT.
Tony: BEING MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A PSYCHIC,
I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT TO THINK.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
SHE HAPPENED TO COME UP WITH THE NAME OF SALLIE.
SHE SAID SALLIE WAS A LITTLE GIRL ABOUT 7 YEARS OF AGE
AND HAD DIED IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC ASKS THE GIRL
WHAT SHE'S DOING IN THE HOUSE.
Deb: SALLIE FELT SHE WAS THE BABY'S PROTECTOR
AND THAT HE WAS HERS TO PROTECT.
THE SCRATCH THAT TONY HAD GOTTEN
WAS SALLIE'S WAY OF PROTECTING THE BABY FROM HARM.
SHE'S 7 YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS GONNA DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT TAYLOR,
EVEN FROM HIS OWN PARENTS.
Narrator: TO DEB, THE GHOST SEEMS
LIKE A SWEET GUARDIAN ANGEL THAT HAS LOST HER WAY.
WELL, IF WE SET ASIDE SOME TOYS FOR HER, RIGHT,
THEN YOU WOULDN'T HURT BABY JORDAN, WOULD YOU?
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE HER FEEL WELCOME AND LOVED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA,
ENCOURAGING WHATEVER IT IS.
MY HUSBAND WASN'T REALLY SURE THAT THIS WAS
A LITTLE SPIRIT THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE.
HE WAS STILL THINKING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING EVIL ABOUT IT
OR WRONG ABOUT IT.
HE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER NOT TO INTERACT AT ALL WITH IT,
NOT TO EGG IT ON.
Narrator: A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THEIR MEETING WITH THE PSYCHIC,
DEB GOES SHOPPING FOR A FEW SPECIAL GIFTS FOR SALLIE.
SHE ALSO PICKS UP THEIR DEVELOPED PICTURES,
EAGER TO SEE IF LITTLE SALLIE HAS BEEN CAPTURED ON FILM.
Deb: THE FIRST PHOTO THAT I SAW --
IT TOOK ALL THE ENERGY OUT OF ME.
I FELT MY KNEES BUCKLE. I ALMOST DROPPED TO MY KNEES.
MA'AM?
TO ME, IT JUST LOOKED HORRID, AND I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD."
AND THE NEXT PICTURE HAD THE SAME SORT OF IMAGE IN THERE.
JUST THE FEELING THAT YOU GOT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT
WAS JUST HORROR.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
SWEETHEART?
TONY, YOU ARE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.
LOOK AT THESE.
WHAT IS THAT?
SOMEBODY MUST HAVE SPILLED SOMETHING ON THESE.
Deb: THAT'S IN THE PRINT.
Narrator: TONY PICKMAN IS NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE
OF THE STRANGE PHOTOS HE TOOK INSIDE HIS HOME.
Tony: THE PICTURE THAT REALLY GOT ME WAS
AS WE WERE COMING BACK DOWN THE STAIRS,
I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK A PICTURE.
AND RIGHT IN THAT SPOT,
JUST FLOATING IN MIDAIR, IS THIS THING.
I COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. IT MADE ME SCARED.
JUST SEE WHAT SHE SAYS.
I'M SURE IT'LL BE FINE.
BARBARA SAID SALLIE IS PROTECTING THE BABY.
OKAY.
Narrator: DEB CONTINUES TO BELIEVE
THAT SALLIE IS A HARMLESS GHOST.
BARBARA SAID WE SHOULD MAKE HER FEEL COMFORTABLE HERE.
YEAH, WELL, I'M NOT SO SURE
ABOUT THIS WHOLE BARBARA SITUATION.
BESIDES, HE'S TOO YOUNG TO BE STAYING
IN THE NURSERY BY HIMSELF.
HE CAN JUST STAY IN HERE WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
YOU CAN WATCH OVER OUR BABY RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
TONY'S CONCERNED THAT HIS WIFE
ISN'T TAKING THE INTRUSION SERIOUSLY.
HE SENSES THAT THERE'S SOMETHING MORE SINISTER
HAUNTING HIS HOUSE.
EACH MORNING, TONY RETURNS HOME
AFTER WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT AT A GRAIN ELEVATOR.
[ SIGHS ]
DEB! DEB!
DEB, DEB, I JUST SAW HER. I JUST SAW HER.
Deb: HE CAME BURSTING IN THE BEDROOM,
AND HE WAS HUFFING, AND HE'S PUFFING.
Tony: I WAS SO PANICKY. I COULDN'T GET WORDS OUT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED.
Deb: AND I'M THINKING, "WHO DID YOU SEE?"
AND HE SAID, "SALLIE." AND I SAID, "YOU DID?
WHAT DID SHE LOOK LIKE?"
AND I BOMBARDED HIM WITH, LIKE, 50 QUESTIONS.
TRY TO HURT YOU, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.
Narrator: DEB, HOWEVER, IS ANYTHING BUT SCARED.
SHE IS MORE CURIOUS ABOUT THE GHOST THAN EVER BEFORE.
WHERE DID YOU SEE HER?
IT WAS IN THE KITCHEN.
Deb: I WAS TERRIBLY JEALOUS
THAT TONY GOT TO SEE THIS LITTLE APPARITION, THIS LITTLE SPIRIT.
IT WAS A GHOST, RIGHT?
SHE WAS DRESSED UP IN THIS LITTLE WHITE SKIRT.
SHE HAD A LITTLE BOW IN HER HAIR.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.
WHY DID SHE SHOW HERSELF TO YOU?
Narrator: THE HOUSE REMAINS QUIET FOR MONTHS
AS DEB WAITS ANXIOUSLY FOR SALLIE TO APPEAR TO HER,
BUT SHE NEVER DOES.
HMM.
SALLIE, THESE TOYS ARE JUST FOR YOU.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT, I'LL GET IT FOR YOU.
WE WANT YOU TO FEEL COMFORTABLE HERE.
Tony: A STUBBORNNESS KICKS IN.
I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I COULD LET IT GET THE BEST OF ME.
Narrator: TONY FEELS THE BABY IS SAFE IN THE HOUSE,
BUT A RIFT GROWS BETWEEN HIM AND HIS WIFE.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
[ SIGHS ]
[ VOICES WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY ]
Tony: I WOULD CONSTANTLY HEAR A WHISPERING.
TO ME, IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.
IT SOUNDED LIKE ALMOST THREE GROWN-UP PEOPLE TALKING AT ONCE.
LIKE THEY WERE RIGHT IN YOUR EAR, TALKING TO YOU.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
ARE YOU OKAY? I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU.
I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU CALLING ME.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
I WAS TRYING TO SLEEP. THE VOICES STARTED GOING AGAIN.
I WAS TRYING TO IGNORE THEM.
Deb: I'M, AGAIN, THINKING HE'S LACKING SLEEP.
HE'S CATCHING THINGS OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE.
HIS MIND IS MAKING THINGS UP.
Narrator: TONY FEARS THE PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE
IS MANIPULATING HIS FEELINGS.
HE'S HAVING TROUBLE
KEEPING HIS GROWING RESENTMENT TOWARD DEB TO HIMSELF.
Tony: I WOULD GET A REAL STRONG SENSE OF HATE,
LIKE I WANTED TO SOMETIMES REACH OUT AND JUST HURT HER.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
AND THAT'S NOT LIKE ME. I LOVE HER SO MUCH.
I'D NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER.
BUT THE LONGER WE WERE THERE,
THE STRONGER THAT FEELING WAS GETTING.
Narrator: THE PICKMANS CALL IN THE PSYCHIC
FOR A SECOND CONSULTATION.
AND I GOT YANKED UP BY SOMETHING.
IT WAS SO BAD, I HAD BLISTERS AND MARKS ON MY WRISTS.
WELL, I'LL TRY AND CONTACT SALLIE
AND SEE IF SHE CAN GIVE US SOME ANSWERS TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
[ BREATHES DEEPLY, EXHALES ]
[ CHILD GIGGLING ]
IT'S HER.
[ CHILD GIGGLING ]
DON'T GO DOWN THERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER ENTITY IN THIS ROOM.
SALLIE?
SALLIE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "IT'S HER"?
[ GASPS ]
THERE'S ANOTHER ENTITY IN THIS ROOM.
MUCH OLDER AND MUCH STRONGER
THAN OUR LITTLE SALLIE IS, OKAY?
[ SIGHS ]
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS OTHER, OLDER ENTITY
IS THE ONE THAT IS DOING THESE THINGS,
AND SALLIE'S THE ONE TAKING THE BLAME.
Deb: SHE'S COMMUNICATING WITH SALLIE BECAUSE THIS OTHER FEMALE
WOULD NOT INTERACT WITH HER AT ALL.
THIS IS REALLY BEYOND MY EXPERTISE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CONTACT
A VERY QUALIFIED PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIVE TEAM
WHO HAS EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE WITH THINGS LIKE THIS.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
YOU REALLY WANT A WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE IN HERE?
MY FIRST REACTION WAS, "NO WAY. WE LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN.
WE'D BE THE LAUGHINGSTOCK."
WHAT OTHER OPTION DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW?
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET RID OF IT
UNLESS WE HAVE A TEAM COME IN
AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
IN MY MIND, IF IT WASN'T A SPIRIT IN THE HOUSE,
IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN ONE THING, AND THAT WAS THE DEVIL.
AND IT JUST SCARED ME TO DEATH.
MAYBE SOMEONE COMING IN TO INTERVENE
COULD HELP EXPLAIN WHAT WAS THERE.
EITHER HELP EXPLAIN IT OR HELP GET RID OF IT.
Narrator: WITHIN DAYS,
A TEAM OF PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS ARRIVES,
LED BY WORLD-RENOWNED MEDIUM AND RESEARCHER PETER JAMES.
A GHOST IS THE ETHEREAL DOUBLE OF ITS PHYSICAL COUNTERPART.
WE BECOME A GHOST
DEPENDING UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO HOW WE DIE.
IF WE DIE UNTIMELY, TRAGICALLY, OR VIOLENTLY,
THEN WE'RE RENDERED A GHOST.
I PREFER NOT KNOWING ANY DETAILS OF ANY SPECIFIC HAUNTING.
IT WAS MY JOB TO IDENTIFY THE ANOMALOUS ACTIVITY.
I NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
Tony: HE ASKED IF WE HAD A LITTLE DAUGHTER
ABOUT THE AGE OF 7.
BECAUSE AS THEY PULLED UP,
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL STARING OUT THE UPSTAIRS WINDOW.
James: SHE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.
SHE WAS JUST LOOKING AT ME WITH A LOT OF CURIOSITY,
AS ANY OTHER NORMAL-LOOKING CHILD WOULD DO.
...WHILE I GET A FEEL FOR IT.
Narrator: AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FREQUENCY MONITOR, OR EMF,
INDICATES A CHANGE
IN THE ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY IN THE ROOM.
[ BEEPING ]
PETER SENSES THE PRESENCE OF TWO SPIRITS...
...A CHILD AND AN ADULT FEMALE WHO IS VERY POWERFUL.
HELLO, THERE.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
SALLIE?
Deb: I JUST HAD THIS BIG, BROAD SMILE ON MY FACE
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SECOND PERSON
WHO HAD BASICALLY BACKED UP THE FACT
THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED SALLIE IN OUR HOUSE.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
Narrator: PETER PROCEEDS CAUTIOUSLY.
HE KNOWS THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN
OR BRUTAL DEATHS CAN BE THRUST INTO THE SPIRIT WORLD
CONFUSED, FEARFUL, AND EVEN ANGRY.
THIS IS THEIR SPACE, AND I'M INVADING THEIR SPACE.
AND IF THEY DISLIKE IT, THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW.
I DEFINITELY FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE FEMALE SPIRIT HERE.
Deb: THE WHOLE FOCUS HAD BEEN ON THE FACT
THAT WE HAD THIS LITTLE GIRL SPIRIT,
AND NOW WE'RE HAVING AN ENTITY THAT IS MORE RESEMBLING
AN ADULT FEMALE, AND WE WERE WONDERING WHY.
WHY DO WE HAVE AN ADULT FEMALE IN THE HOUSE?
I FEEL THAT FEMALE SPIRIT HERE, DEFINITELY.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
DEFINITELY.
BUT SHE'S...
BUT SHE'S TRYING TO REPEL ME.
TRYING TO REPEL.
SHE'S TRYING -- WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF YOU!
[ GRUNTS ] SOMETHING'S HAPPENING TO ME?
I DON'T KNOW. OH, IT'S MY BACK.
OH, MY GOD, TONY,
YOU HAVE HUGE SCRATCHES ON YOUR BACK.
COME LOOK AT THIS?
OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MY GOD.
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW. SOMETHING'S GOING ON.
[ BEEPING ]
ALL RIGHT, LOOK. LOOK, I KNOW YOU'RE NERVOUS.
Tony: I WAS SO SCARED THE WHOLE TIME.
HE WAS TELLING ME, "DON'T BE AFRAID.
WE CAN'T LET IT KNOW THAT WE'RE AFRAID OF IT."
WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN TO THE BABY'S ROOM, OKAY?
OKAY.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
Narrator: THE NURSERY IS A HOTBED
OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY.
NOW, I SEE THERE ARE TWO CRIBS HERE.
I THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME YOU ONLY HAD ONE CHILD.
Deb: WE DO. WE GOT THIS CRIB AND THESE TOYS FOR SALLIE.
WE THOUGHT SHE'D WANT HER OWN SPACE --
MAKE HER FEEL COMFORTABLE.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
I'M GETTING SOMETHING.
SALLIE?
SALLIE, IF THAT'S YOU, YOU BE NICE.
Narrator: PETER TRIES HIS BEST TO KEEP TONY CALM.
James: HE WAS REALLY PETRIFIED.
HE JUST COULDN'T MOVE.
AND, OF COURSE, I TRIED TO PUT HIM AT EASE,
SAYING NOT TO BE NERVOUS,
BUT HE WAS VERY, VERY SHAKEN BY ALL THIS.
Narrator: PETER JAMES AND HIS TEAM
CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE ENTIRE HOUSE, INSIDE AND OUT.
[ VOICES WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY ]
PETER TRIES ONE LAST TIME
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE POWERFUL SPIRIT IN THE HOUSE.
[ WHISPERING CONTINUES ]
GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM. DON'T GO DOWN THERE.
GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM.
FINALLY, THE GHOST REVEALS HERSELF.
AND A TROUBLED PAST LIFE COMES SHARPLY INTO VIEW.
PETER SEES IMAGES FROM A PREVIOUS CENTURY.
THE WOMAN WAS A SERVANT TO A PHYSICIAN WHO OWNED THE HOUSE.
SHE WAS ALSO HIS MISTRESS.
I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN THINK TO.
THEY KEPT THEIR AFFAIR HIDDEN,
FEARING A SCANDAL IN SUCH RACIALLY DIVIDED TIMES.
SO, THAT'S MUCH BETTER.
DON'T GO DOWN THERE.
SALLIE WAS THEIR 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
THAT IS HIS DAUGHTER.
IT'S A TRAGIC PORTRAIT OF A SECRET FAMILY.
James: I BECAME EMPATHIC,
AND I WAS ABLE TO SENSE HOW SHE DIED.
Narrator: YOUNG SALLIE CONTRACTED PNEUMONIA.
James: A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,
YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE KIND OF TECHNOLOGY NOR THE MEDICATION
THAT COULD SAVE A CHILD DYING FROM PNEUMONIA.
THIS IS HOW SHE DIED.
Narrator: THE FORCES WITHIN THE HOUSE ARE STRONG,
BUT PETER BELIEVES THE PICKMANS
DON'T HAVE TO BE VICTIMS IN THEIR OWN HOME.
Tony: WELL, WHAT DO WE DO, THEN?
I MEAN, DO WE GET AN EXORCISM?
NOT EXORCISM.
CLEANSING, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF DATA GATHERING,
IT TAKES A LOT OF PREPARATION. THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU NEED.
YOU PEOPLE ARE IN CONTROL.
YOU, THIS IS -- THIS IS YOUR HOUSE,
AND YOU SET THE RULES.
NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO LET THESE SPIRITS KNOW
THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLY WITH THOSE RULES
OR THEY CAN'T STAY HERE.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?
YEAH, I MEAN, I HAVE TO BE, RIGHT?
YES, YOU DO. YOU HAVE TO.
[ CHILD GIGGLING ]
[ BEEPING ]
Narrator: IT'S BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS
SINCE PETER JAMES AND HIS TEAM VISITED THE HOUSE.
HEY. HOW WAS WORK?
GREAT.
DO YOU WANT -- YOU WANT SOME TEA?
SURE.
THE PICKMANS HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY,
BUT DEB IS STILL RELUCTANT TO LEAVE.
[ SIGHS ] PETER JAMES CALLED TODAY.
HE WANTS TO DO ANOTHER INVESTIGATION ON OUR HOUSE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, TONY.
HE HASN'T DONE MUCH GOOD SO FAR, HAS HE?
YOU KNOW...
Tony: EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE -- THE LONGER WE STAYED THERE,
IT JUST SEEMED EVERYTHING GOT HEAVIER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS I CAN TAKE.
EVERY TIME THEY COME,
WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT SALLIE.
WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS GOING ON ABOUT SALLIE FOR?!
I'M SICK OF WORRYING ABOUT SALLIE!
YOU ACT LIKE IT'S A SWEET, LITTLE GHOST!
IT'S LIKE A DEMON OR SOMETHING!
LOOK WHAT IT'S DOING TO ME! LOOK AT MY ARMS!
IT'S TRYING TO KILL ME! YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!
SWEET, LITTLE GIRL, HUH?!
[ WHISTLING ]
Narrator: TONY REALIZES THE FIGHT
WITH HIS WIFE WAS ALL IN HIS HEAD.
Tony: BEING HER HUSBAND AND THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,
I WASN'T ALL THE TIME ADMITTING HOW SCARED I WAS.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SCARE HER TOO MUCH,
SO I KEPT A LOT TO MYSELF.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
"WE HAVE TO GET OUT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET OUT,
SOMEONE IS GONNA GET HURT,
AND I'M SCARED TO DEATH IT COULD BE YOU."
WHY -- WHY WOULD I GET HURT?
I KEEP HAVING THESE WEIRD DAYDREAMS OR SOMETHING.
Narrator: TONY DESCRIBES THE DARK,
BROODING THOUGHTS THAT HAVE SLOWLY CONSUMED HIM.
I KEEP ZONING OUT.
THE INEXPLICABLE DESIRE TO ASSERT HIS POWER
AND TO HURT HER.
HE CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY, BUT THE FEELING IS THERE.
I'M ABOUT TO STRANGLE YOU.
HE CANNOT LET THE ENTITIES CONTROL HIM ANY LONGER.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. I'LL START LOOKING AT ADS TOMORROW.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
[ SIGHS ]
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS EVIL THOUGHTS.
THIS ISN'T ME. WHY AM I THINKING THIS WAY?
[ GROANING ]
ALL I COULD THINK WAS, "OH, I JUST WANT TO HURT HER."
WHAT JUST HAPPENED? ARE YOU OKAY?
WHAT HAPPENED? ARE YOU OKAY?
GET THE BABY. WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE.
I'M ALL RIGHT. JUST GO GET THE BABY.
LET'S GO.
Tony: THAT WAS IT FOR ME. I SAID, "WE'RE MOVING.
"WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
"SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT IF WE DON'T,
AND I'M SCARED IT'S GONNA BE YOU."
THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW.
Narrator: PETER JAMES THEORIZES THAT SALLIE'S MOTHER
CAUSED THE SCRATCHES AND WELTS ON TONY'S BODY
AND NOT YOUNG SALLIE, AS BARBARA ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
James: THE ACTIVITY ESCALATED BECAUSE
TONY WANTED LESS AND LESS TO DO WITH THE GHOST,
AND THIS IS WHY SHE SORT OF POUNCED ON HIM
LITERALLY, VIOLENTLY.
Tony: ONCE WE MOVED, THE HEAVINESS, THE BAD THOUGHTS,
EVERYTHING -- IT WAS JUST INSTANTLY GONE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER FELT THAT WAY SINCE.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT WANTED ME TO HURT MY WIFE,
I WASN'T GONNA LET IT.
ARE YOU OKAY?
YEAH, I'M FINE.
I MEAN, HOW COULD -- HOW COULD A GUY NOT BE
PROTECTIVE OF HIS FAMILY IN THAT SITUATION?
Deb: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 10 YEARS
SINCE WE'VE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE,
AND PEOPLE COME UP TO US AND ASK,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS GOING ON THERE?
WHY DO YOU THINK THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO YOU?"
AND IT'S SUCH A VERY OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
BECAUSE WE REALLY -- WE DON'T KNOW.
IT JUST KIND OF LEAVES A HOLE IN THAT PART OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU EXPERIENCED IT, BUT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY.
YOU HAVE NO REASON. YOU HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION.
AND IT'S...
THAT'S KIND OF A HARD THING TO DEAL WITH.
IT'S AFFECTED ME.
I HAVE, PERSONALLY, I THINK, BECOME A LITTLE MORE SPIRITUAL.
JUST I'M NOT A DOUBTER ANYMORE.
THERE'S NO WAY I COULD BE, NOT AFTER WHAT I WENT THROUGH.
I WON'T DOUBT ANYBODY.
I'VE GOT TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT.
Narrator: AN INVESTIGATION OF CEMETERY RECORDS
FROM THE LATE 19th CENTURY
REVEALS THAT A YOUNG GIRL NAMED SALLIE DID,
INDEED, LIVE IN THE PICKMANS' HOUSE.
SHE DIED AT THE AGE OF 7.
HER GRAVESTONE STILL STANDS,
BUT ANY WRITING HAS LONG BEEN WASHED AWAY
BY WIND AND TIME.