Narrator: A RESTLESS SOUL WITH A PAINFUL SECRET...
IS ANYONE THERE?
...ATTEMPTS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE LIVING.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD THE PIANO PLAY BY ITSELF.
[ NOTES PLAY ]
Narrator: IS THIS SIMPLY A GHOST IN DISTRESS?
Carrie: THERE WAS A TEENAGER IN TOWN WHO FELL OFF OF A WATER TOWER.
THERE WAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT RUMORS ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
HE DIDN'T FALL. HE WAS PUSHED.
Narrator: OR AN EVIL ENTITY OUT FOR REVENGE?
Carrie: WE WERE MORTIFIED. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THERE WAS SOMETHING NOT HUMAN IN OUR HOUSE.
THERE WAS SOMEONE IN HERE, DAD!
I'M NOT CRAZY!
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLDS WE SEE...
SOMEONE IS IN MY ROOM.
...AND THE THINGS WE FEAR...
[ SCREAMS ]
...THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED...
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: ...NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OUTSIDE OF NEW HAVEN LIES
THE QUINTESSENTIAL ALL-AMERICAN TOWN.
Macy: CAMPBELL IS A NICE, LITTLE BEACH TOWN.
IT HAS A LOT OF TOURISTS IN THE SUMMER, SO IT GETS BUSY.
BUT DURING THE WINTER, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS
AND A VERY NICE, LITTLE COMMUNITY.
Narrator: AND MACY SHERMAN IS THE TYPICAL ALL-AMERICAN TEENAGER.
BUT IN 2014, THE YEAR OF HER 17th BIRTHDAY,
THAT ALL CHANGED.
MOM?
DAD?
KELSEY?
IS ANYONE THERE?
All: SURPRISE!
[ GASPS, LAUGHS ]
Mike: WHAT A FUN MORNING.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARLING. THANKS!
Narrator: MACY SITS DOWN TO A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
WITH HER PARENTS AND YOUNGER SISTER.
MY FAMILY AND I, WE'RE ALL VERY CLOSE.
AND I DO FEEL SUPER LUCKY TO BE SO CLOSE TO THEM.
Mike: I WOULD DESCRIBE MACY AS MY LITTLE WORKING GIRL.
SHE'S VERY AMBITIOUS.
I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.
AWWWW!
THIS IS SO CUTE!
-I HELPED MOM PICK IT OUT. -THANK YOU.
ME AND MACY ARE TYPICAL SISTERS.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE'RE BEST FRIENDS,
AND SOMETIMES WE'RE ENEMIES.
BUT SHE'S ALWAYS THERE FOR ME WHEN I NEED HER.
SHE'S A GOOD PERSON.
AND THIS ONE IS FROM ME.
MACY IS A WONDERFUL CHILD. SHE'S VERY SMART.
SHE'S OUTGOING, ADVENTUROUS, LOVES TO LAUGH.
[ MACY GASPS ]
MOM!
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.
Narrator: THE LOCKET HAS BEEN FITTED WITH PHOTOS OF MACY
AND HER MOTHER, CARRIE -- BOTH AT AGE 17.
SIDE-BY-SIDE, THE RESEMBLANCE IS ALMOST EERIE.
I LOVE IT. THANK YOU.
-LOOK. -WHO IS THAT?
THAT'S MOM, YOU DORK.
-THAT'S ME ON MY 17th BIRTHDAY. -WOW.
YOU GUYS COULD BE TWINS. -YEAH.
Carrie: MACY RESEMBLES ME WHEN I WAS HER AGE.
SHE HAS DARK HAIR, FRECKLES, HAZEL EYES -- SAME AS I DO.
I LOVE IT. I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY IT ON. NIGEL'S GONNA LOVE IT.
AW. HEY, HELP ME GET MY STUFF, OKAY?
Narrator: THAT NIGHT, MACY MEETS UP WITH FRIENDS.
WHAT'S GOING ON, GUYS?
HEY! IT'S THE BIRTHDAY GIRL.
WHOO!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
ALMOST LEGAL. LET'S DRINK TO THAT.
-ALL RIGHT! -I HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOU,
BUT I FORGOT IT. -THANKS.
Young woman: WHAT? HOW COULD YOU FORGET IT?
WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE IT OUT HERE.
UM, WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THIS?
-HEY, I DON'T KNOW. -YOU FORGOT HER PRESENT.
-MAYBE. -YOU TOTALLY WOULD.
GUYS, GUYS, THIS IS A REALLY COOL SPOT.
I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.
YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE WATER TOWER?
I THOUGHT EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE.
SO THEN YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD THE STORY
OF THE CAMPBELL WATER TOWER. THE REAL STORY.
WASN'T IT, SOME KID FELL OFF THE TOWER,
AND IT WAS ALL MYSTERIOUS?
LIKE, THE POLICE COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
Macy: I LEARNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WATER TOWER ONE NIGHT
AND HOW THERE WAS A BOY WHO TRAGICALLY DIED THERE.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THE TRAGEDY HAPPENED NEARLY 25 YEARS PRIOR,
WHEN MACY'S PARENTS WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WELL, THAT'S JUST IT. YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T FALL.
HE WAS PUSHED.
AND THEY SAY THAT HIS MURDERER
IS STILL RUNNING LOOSE AROUND CAMPBELL
TILL THIS DAY.
[ TWIG SNAPS ]
-I THINK I HEARD SOMETHING. -OH, PLEASE!
SHE'S -- YOU ARE SO LYING.
-WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME? -YOU'RE SO DRAMATIC.
CRAZY. CRAZY.
SHUT UP! YOU ARE A FOOL.
THAT'S WHY YOU FAIL ALL YOUR QUIZZES.
'CAUSE YOU'RE STUPID.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HEY, MOM.
YEAH.
I SAID I KNOW, OKAY? I --
SORRY.
OKAY, I'M COMING.
I KNOW! I KNOW.
OKAY, BYE.
-ARE YOU OKAY? -OLD-SCHOOL.
TOTALLY OLD-SCHOOL.
-HEY, WE NEED TO GO. -WHAT?
NO WAY. IT'S EARLY.
MY MOM WANTS ME HOME. WE HAVE TO GO.
GO? BUT WE JUST GOT HERE.
AND BESIDES...
...IN JUST A MINUTE, I'LL BE IN NO SHAPE FOR DRIVING.
[ LAUGHS ]
-WHATEVER. -HEY! MACY, DON'T BE LIKE THAT!
IT'S YOUR PARTY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
NIGEL?
I WALKED DOWN THE STREET AND I JUST HEARD FOOTSTEPS.
CHARLOTTE? IS THAT YOU?
I WAS KIND OF HOPING IT WAS ONE OF MY FRIENDS,
TRYING TO SKETCH ME OUT OR SOMETHING.
[ FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE ]
I JUST FELT THIS PRESENCE. I COULD JUST FEEL IT BEHIND ME.
AND, LIKE, THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK WAS STANDING UP.
[ CRUNCHING ]
Narrator: 17-YEAR-OLD MACY SHERMAN SENSES THAT SHE'S BEING FOLLOWED.
[ GASPING ]
Macy: I KNEW I FELT SOMETHING ELSE WITH ME.
-[ GASPS ] -WHOA!
-OH, MY GOD. -ARE YOU OKAY?
MOM, YOU SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME.
WHERE'S NIGEL? I THOUGHT HE WAS DROPPING YOU OFF.
NO. HE'S -- HE'S STILL AT THE PARTY.
PARTY?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO THE MOVIES.
WHERE WERE YOU? IT WAS AFTER THE SHOW.
WE WENT TO A PARTY IN THE WOODS, BY THE OLD WATER TOWER.
THE WATER TOWER? WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
MACY, I DON'T WANT YOU HANGING OUT ANYPLACE NEAR THERE.
WHY?
AROUND THE TIME THAT I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL,
THERE WAS A TEENAGER IN TOWN WHO FELL OFF OF A WATER TOWER.
THERE WAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT RUMORS GOING AROUND
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE WATER TOWER,
BUT NOBODY KNEW FOR SURE.
BECAUSE I SAID SO.
MY MOM DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, I THINK,
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SCARE ME.
Narrator: THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
MACY PREPARES FOR A TYPICAL BUSY DAY.
Macy: DURING HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS ON A LOT OF SPORTS TEAMS.
I HUNG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS A LOT.
I WASN'T SITTING AT HOME.
WE WERE ALWAYS OUT DOING SOMETHING,
WHETHER IT WAS HIKING OR GOING TO THE MOVIES.
WE WENT TO CONCERTS.
I WAS JUST BRUSHING MY HAIR.
THEN I SAW THE CLOSET LIGHT WAS ON.
IT WAS VERY WEIRD BECAUSE I NEVER TURN IT ON.
THE LIGHT FROM MY ROOM IS ON ENOUGH
WHERE I DON'T NEED TO USE THE CLOSET LIGHT.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
Narrator: MACY'S BOYFRIEND CALLS TO CHECK ON HER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
NO, YOU WERE BEING A JERK.
I HAD TO WALK HOME BY MYSELF -- ON MY BIRTHDAY.
I GOT TO GO, OKAY?
I'M LATE. BYE.
Macy: MY EYES WERE OFF THAT BRUSH FOR PROBABLY 20 SECONDS.
AND I CAME BACK, AND IT WAS GONE.
I KNEW I PUT IT ON MY DRESSER.
THEN I JUST -- I LOOKED FOR IT EVERYWHERE,
AND I COULDN'T FIND IT.
Carrie: MACY! LET'S GO! YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE!
-MACY! -I'M COMING!
THERE'S NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS, SO I WAS JUST LIKE, "WHATEVER."
Narrator: ONE NIGHT, CARRIE'S HUSBAND, MIKE, WORKS THE LATE SHIFT,
LEAVING HIS WIFE IN CHARGE.
WITH MIKE BEING GONE SO MUCH,
I WAS THE ONE WHO ALWAYS HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS,
TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
AND I STARTED HEARING SOMEBODY WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS.
[ FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE ]
HELLO?
IS SOMEBODY THERE?
I THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD COME IN THE DOOR,
SO I YELLED OUT TO SEE IF ANYBODY WAS THERE.
IS SOMEBODY THERE?
AND NOBODY RESPONDED BACK TO ME.
I LOOKED UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS,
LOOKED IN ALL THE ROOMS -- LOOKED EVERYWHERE --
AND THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE HOUSE.
I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS JUST HEARING SOMETHING.
[ CREAKING ]
[ CRASH ]
THERE WAS A LARGE MIRROR THAT SITS IN OUR FOYER
AND JUST WAS RESTING UP AGAINST THE WALL.
WHAT WAS WEIRD IS THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MIRROR CRASHED
AND SMASHED INTO A MILLION PIECES.
BUT IT DIDN'T.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
[ CREAKING ]
[ CRASH ]
Narrator: AFTER CARRIE SHERMAN FINDS A FALLEN MIRROR STILL INTACT,
STRANGE EVENTS BEGIN UNFOLDING IN HER ONCE-PEACEFUL HOUSEHOLD.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
Carrie: I STARTED TO NOTICE MORE AND MORE
OF HEARING FOOTSTEPS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS.
LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF BY THEMSELVES.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, PERPLEXED,
BECAUSE OF THE WEIRD THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON.
THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT IT WAS HAPPENING
WAS STARTING TO INCREASE.
Narrator: CARRIE IS NOT THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WHO FEELS UNEASY.
HER DAUGHTER MACY HAS BEEN SENSING A PRESENCE IN HER ROOM.
Macy: I WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL TO CHANGE FOR FIELD HOCKEY.
AND NO ONE WAS HOME. MY PARENTS WERE BOTH WORKING.
MY SISTER WAS STILL AT SCHOOL.
[ LAUGHTER IN DISTANCE ]
KELSEY?
WHEN I HEARD THE LAUGHTER,
I KIND OF DID, LIKE, A DOUBLE TAKE.
I WAS LIKE, "DID I JUST HEAR THAT?"
[ LAUGHTER ]
STOP SCREWING AROUND.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, MACY SPOTS HER MISSING HAIRBRUSH.
Macy: I WAS REALLY SHOCKED WHEN I SAW MY HAIRBRUSH IN THE CORNER.
IT WAS JUST REALLY STRANGE TO FIND IT THERE.
I REALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I TRIED TO IGNORE THE FEELING
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE HOUSE
THAT COULD'VE BEEN A GHOST.
AND I TRIED TO SAY, "OH, NO."
LIKE, "YOU'RE JUST BEING SCARED."
LIKE, "JUST STOP."
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, MACY IS ON EDGE.
Macy: IT WAS LATE ONE NIGHT, AND I WAS COMING HOME,
AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE GARAGE.
HEY, DAD?
MY DAD IS A MECHANIC,
BUT HE ALSO DOES A LOT OF THINGS ON THE SIDE,
SO IT'S COMPLETELY NORMAL FOR HIM TO BE OUT IN THE GARAGE.
HEY, DAD.
SORRY I'M LATE.
I WAS WITH CHARLOTTE. I...JUST DIDN'T CHECK THE TIME.
I WAS LIKE, "DAD?" LIKE, "HELLO."
LIKE, "HI. I'M HOME."
I'M GONNA GO TAKE A SHOWER AND GO TO BED. OKAY?
GOOD NIGHT.
I GOT NO ANSWER, AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, LIKE, WHATEVER."
HEY! JUST IN TIME TO HELP ME WITH THE DISHES.
I WAS VERY SHOCKED THAT I SAW HIM,
AND I STARTED FREAKING OUT.
ARE YOU MESSING WITH ME?
I -- I -- I SWEAR, I JUST SAW YOU IN THE GARAGE.
AND HE WAS LIKE, "NO, I'VE BEEN UP HERE."
I JUST FINISHED UP A CAR A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO,
AND THEN YOUR MOTHER PUT ME TO WORK HERE.
SHE GOES, "I SWEAR, YOU WERE OUT THERE.
YOU WERE WORKING IN THE GARAGE."
NO. I -- I WAS -- I WAS TALKING TO YOU.
YOU WERE THERE.
I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS MY DAD.
LIKE, I WAS VERY CONVINCED IT WAS MY DAD.
SHE WAS FREAKED OUT QUITE A BIT.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE, MACY.
TO ME, THAT WAS, LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS A LITTLE ODD."
SHE CAUGHT A SIGHTING.
THERE'S NOBODY IN THERE.
LOOK, I'M SURE YOU THOUGHT YOU SAW SOMETHING.
BUT WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WASN'T ME.
I SAW SOMETHING WITH MY OWN TWO EYES.
AND I KNEW WHAT I SAW.
I WAS TRYING TO RATIONALIZE IT, RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW,
THINKING IT WAS SOMETHING PARANORMAL.
I NEVER KIND OF REALLY BELIEVED IN THAT.
COME ON. BEDTIME.
DAD, THERE WAS SOMEONE IN HERE.
Macy: I WAS ALMOST IN TEARS BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED.
ONCE IT STARTED REGISTERING IN MY HEAD, IT GOT MORE CREEPY.
I REALLY STARTED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE,
MAYBE NOT HUMAN, IN OUR HOUSE.
[ Voice breaking ] I'M NOT CRAZY!
Narrator: FOR WEEKS, MACY SHERMAN HAS FELT AN UNSETTLING PRESENCE
WATCHING HER EVERY MOVE.
WHATEVER WAS IN THE HOUSE WAS TARGETING ME,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT.
Narrator: THAT WEEKEND, WITH HER FATHER OUT OF TOWN
AND HER MOTHER WORKING,
MACY MAKES PLANS TO STAY AT A FRIEND'S.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
YOU'RE LEAVING AGAIN?
MOM AND DAD ARE GONNA KILL YOU.
MOM AND DAD AREN'T HERE.
AND I'M NOT STAYING IN THIS HOUSE.
YOU'RE NEVER HERE ANYMORE. IT'S NOT FAIR.
Kelsey: I WAS SAD AND KIND OF ANGRY
BECAUSE SHE NEVER WANTED TO BE HOME.
PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME. NOT BY MYSELF.
LOOK.
SOMETHING'S GOING ON IN THIS HOUSE.
SOMETHING...NOT RIGHT.
JUST...PLEASE.
JUST DON'T TELL MOM.
I PROMISE I'LL TEXT YOU.
[ MID-TEMPO HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ RADIO TUNING ]
[ MID-TEMPO COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ]
I HAD THIS OLD RADIO,
AND THE RADIO STARTED SCROLLING THROUGH THE CHANNELS BY ITSELF.
[ MID-TEMPO HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ RADIO TUNING ]
[ MID-TEMPO POP MUSIC PLAYS ]
THE MUSIC WOULD JUST STOP,
AND THEN ANOTHER SONG WOULD COME ON, ON A DIFFERENT STATION.
AND THEN IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
[ MID-TEMPO HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ RADIO TUNING ]
[ SLOW INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ RADIO TUNING ]
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ MUSIC STOPS ]
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAK ]
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
MOM? IS THAT YOU?
IS ANYONE THERE?
[ UP-TEMPO PIANO MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD THE PIANO PLAY.
I WALKED INTO THE ROOM,
AND THE PIANO WAS PLAYING BY ITSELF.
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GASPS ]
NOBODY WAS IN THE ROOM WITH US. IT WAS JUST KELSEY AND I.
AND WE COULD SEE THE KEYS PLAYING.
MOM! [ Sobbing ] MOM!
STOP IT!
[ WHIMPERS ]
AND THAT WAS MY DEFINING MOMENT
WHERE I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON IN OUR HOUSE
AND THAT IT WAS MORE THAN ANY LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF,
ANY FOOTSTEPS IN OUR HOUSE.
THERE WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
Narrator: THE WOMEN OF THE HOUSE DECIDE TO CALL A MEETING,
WHERE MACY FINALLY SHARES HER SIDE OF THE STORY.
I NEVER USED A LIGHT IN THERE.
AND THEN, ONE DAY, I PUT MY HAIRBRUSH DOWN, AND...
WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO US
AND IT ALL KIND OF CAME TOGETHER.
I FOUND IT LATER IN THE BACK OF MY CLOSET.
'CAUSE AT FIRST, IT WAS JUST ME.
AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT, LIKE, "OKAY.
WELL, IT'S NOT AFFECTING THE REST OF MY FAMILY,
BUT NOW IT IS."
I THOUGHT IT WAS KELSEY, BUT THEN, WHEN I ACTUALLY
WENT INTO THE CLOSET, THERE WAS NO ONE THERE.
KELSEY, TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
I WAS IN MY ROOM, LISTENING TO MY RADIO.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT JUST CHANGED CHANNELS TO THIS WEIRD MUSIC.
AND THEN I WENT DOWNSTAIRS,
AND THE PIANO WAS PLAYING BY ITSELF.
I WALKED IN, AND I SAW IT, TOO.
Narrator: UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO OR WHO TO TURN TO,
CARRIE ATTEMPTS TO REMAIN CALM.
Carrie: I FELT SCARED THAT, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE WE SHOULD GO TO A HOTEL ROOM.
I WAS TRYING NOT TO TERRIFY MACY AND KELSEY
ANY MORE THAN WHAT THEY WERE STARTING TO FEEL TOO.
I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION.
WHAT WAS I TO DO? WHO AM I GONNA TALK TO?
WHERE SHOULD I GO? WHO'S GONNA BELIEVE ME?
I DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS OR KNOW WHAT TO DO
TO STOP THE SITUATION.
Narrator: THAT NIGHT, MIKE RETURNS FROM HIS TRIP.
HEY, YOU'RE HOME.
HI, BABE.
YEAH, WE WERE ABLE TO WRAP THINGS UP EARLY.
I'M GLAD I'M BACK.
Narrator: CARRIE DECIDES TO HOLD OFF ON TELLING HIM
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON UNTIL THE MORNING.
SHH. COME TO BED.
MIKE, YOU'RE FREEZING!
GET OVER HERE AND WARM UP.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Narrator: CARRIE SHERMAN BELIEVES HER HOUSE IS HAUNTED
BUT IS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT TIME
TO TELL HER HUSBAND.
Carrie: I WAS LAYING IN BED,
AND MIKE WALKED INTO THE BEDROOM.
I WAS REALLY NERVOUS TO TELL HIM
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN OUR HOUSE AT THAT TIME.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ GASPS ]
AND WHEN I ROLLED OVER, HE WAS NO LONGER THERE.
MIKE?
-Hi, babe. -MIKE?
CARRIE CALLED ME. SHE'S LIKE, "WHERE ARE YOU?"
I SAID, "WE'RE ALREADY DOWN IN NEW JERSEY."
-NEW JERSEY? -Are you okay?
-Carrie... -NO, YOU WERE JUST HERE.
YOU WERE IN THE ROOM.
Mike: SHE WAS FREAKING OUT.
SHE SAID, "I COULD SWEAR YOU WERE IN BED NEXT TO ME."
Carrie, maybe it's just a bad dream.
Carrie?
Carrie: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Hey, hello?
YOU THINK OF A GHOST, YOU THINK OF AN APPARITION.
YOU DON'T THINK OF SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT YOU CAN FEEL.
BUT I KNEW THAT I WAS NOT DREAMING.
THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN THE BED WITH ME.
I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW TERRIFIED I WAS.
Carrie, what's going on?!
Carrie?!
Narrator: AFTER MIKE COMES HOME,
CARRIE DESCRIBES HOW HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN LIVING IN FEAR
AND TRIES TO CONVINCE HER HUSBAND THEY NEED HELP.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
NO, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING. I'M TERRIFIED.
AND THE GIRLS ARE TERRIFIED.
WE NEED TO GET SOME HELP.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY, CARRIE?
THAT THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED?
THAT GHOSTS LIVE HERE? IS THAT IT?
COME ON. DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
Carrie: I FELT SOMEBODY SIT ON THE BED.
I FELT THE PRESENCE THERE.
THEY TALKED BACK TO ME.
IT WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING NIGHT OF MY LIFE.
I KNOW WHAT I SAW! AND I KNOW WHAT THE GIRLS SAW!
YOU CAN'T KEEP BLOWING THIS OFF, MIKE!
HE NEVER SAW ANYTHING, NEVER HEARD ANYTHING,
SO IN HIS EYES, WE WERE JUST MAKING IT UP.
THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOUR FAMILY,
BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER HOME.
[ SOBS ]
IT WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING
'CAUSE HE'S THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.
HE SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT'S TAKING CARE OF THE SITUATION.
OKAY.
I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
DON'T WORRY.
WE'LL FIX THIS.
AT THAT POINT, MIKE WAS ACCEPTING
TO HAVING SOMEBODY COME INTO OUR HOUSE
AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: AFTER ENDURING STRANGE OCCURRENCES FOR MONTHS,
THE SHERMANS REACH OUT TO PROFESSIONALS.
Kurt: THE NAME OF THE PARANORMAL GROUP
IS GHOSTS OF NEW ENGLAND RESEARCH SOCIETY --
"GONERS" FOR SHORT.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE
WHO ARE TROUBLED BY PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR LIVES.
I REMEMBER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND THINKING,
"WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GOING ON IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT WOULD FRIGHTEN ANYBODY?"
THE LAWN WAS PERFECTLY MANICURED,
THE HOUSE WAS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF,
BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED ON THE OUTSIDE.
AND THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU'D NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE BEFORE
OR WHAT INSTIGATED THE ACTIVITY.
COME ON.
WE'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH YOUR HOUSE ROOM BY ROOM
TO SEE IF WE CAN PICK UP
ANY SENSE OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
KURT?
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC MEDIUM'S SIXTH SENSE LEADS HER TO MACY'S ROOM.
Karen: I IMMEDIATELY FELT THAT PAIR OF EYES ON ME.
AND SO I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "OKAY.
NOW I'VE GOT TO FIND IT, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE
A GAME OF HIDE-AND-GO-SEEK ALL NIGHT LONG.
AND IT'S GOING TO EITHER SHOW ITSELF IMMEDIATELY
OR IT'S GOING TO HIDE."
Narrator: KAREN EMPLOYS A TECHNIQUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENEMY.
A LOT OF TIMES, WE WILL DO SOMETHING TO EVOKE A SPIRIT,
CALL OUR OR KNOCK, TO GET A RESPONSE.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR GHOST-HUNTING TEAMS
TO KNOCK ONCE AND SEE IF SOMEBODY KNOCKS BACK.
[ KNOCK ]
Narrator: KAREN SENSES THAT THE SPIRIT
HAS A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH MACY.
SINCE IT'S LATCHED ONTO MACY,
WHY DON'T WE HAVE HER TALK TO IT?
WHAT WOULD I EVEN SAY?
JUST ASK A QUESTION.
ARE YOU THE ONE
THAT KEEPS TURNING THE LIGHT ON IN MY CLOSET?
YES.
Karen: AND YOU COULD HEAR IT AS EASILY AS YOU AND I TALKING.
I WAS STUNNED BECAUSE USUALLY IN ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENON,
WE VERY RARELY HEAR IT IN REAL TIME.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHY ARE YOU IN MACY'S ROOM?
BECAUSE...
I LIKE HER.
Macy: IT SENT CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE.
I WAS NOT HAPPY. I WAS IN TEARS.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO IT EVER AGAIN.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, KAREN HAS A VISION.
THROUGH HER EYES, SHAWN RECOUNTS THE STORY
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM AND ANOTHER BOY
AT THE LOCAL WATER TOWER, NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO.
DUDE. COME ON. DON'T BE SUCH A LITTLE BABY.
I DON'T KNOW, MAN. I DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE.
LIVE A LITTLE.
[ COUGHS ]
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN CAMPBELL
TILL YOU'VE SEEN THE VIEW FROM UP HERE.
PRETTY GREAT, RIGHT?
DO YOU COME UP HERE A LOT?
I BRING A GIRL OR TWO.
WHEW. IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
[ SCREAMING ]
-DON'T LET ME GO! -I WON'T.
HOLD ON!
WHO ARE YOU?
Narrator: PSYCHIC MEDIUM KAREN HOLLIS HAS MADE CONTACT
WITH THE GHOST HAUNTING THE SHERMAN HOUSE.
THROUGH A VISION,
SHAWN DESCRIBES THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE
AT THE LOCAL WATER TOWER YEARS AGO.
WHEW. IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
[ SCREAMING ]
-DON'T LET ME GO! -I WON'T.
HOLD ON!
[ SCREAMS ]
[ THUD ]
[ BREATHING SHAKILY ]
KAREN, WHAT DID YOU SEE?
Karen: I SAW A BOY.
WHAT I SAW WAS A BODY FALLING OFF OF THE WATER TOWER.
I REMEMBER THAT.
WHEN WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S MORE TO SHAWN'S STORY.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO SHOW ME?
I THEN ASKED SHAWN IN MY MIND'S EYE,
"ALL RIGHT, SHAWN, SO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU."
Narrator: AFTER HIS FRIEND DIED, SHAWN WAS RACKED WITH GUILT
FOR CONVINCING HIM TO CLIMB THE WATER TOWER
IN THE FIRST PLACE
AND FELL INTO A DEPRESSION.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
[ ENGINE REVS ]
[ EXHALES HEAVILY ]
[ SIGHS ]
Karen: HE SHOWED ME A SCENE OF HIM SITTING IN THIS CAR,
THAT HE WAS JUST WEEPING, JUST TEARS OF DESPERATION.
[ GASPS ]
[ BREATHING SHAKILY ]
I'M SO SORRY.
THIS IS ALL MY FAULT.
I NEVER SHOULD'VE MADE YOU GO UP THERE.
I'M SORRY.
Narrator: IN THAT MOMENT, KAREN KNOWS THAT SHAWN HAS PASSED AWAY.
BUT IT ISN'T CLEAR
WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL.
KAREN GATHERS THE GROUP TO DISCUSS HER THEORIES.
AFTER SHAWN AND HIS FRIEND DIED,
SHAWN'S GUILT PREVENTED HIM FROM RESTING IN PEACE.
Karen: HE WAS BOUND HERE BY THE TRAGEDY THAT CAME ABOUT.
HE WAS JUST DEVASTATED
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE WATER TOWER.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE
THAT SHAWN MISTOOK MACY FOR HER MOTHER,
WHOM HE REMEMBERED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
MACY, WE BELIEVE THE NIGHT THAT YOU WENT TO THE WATER TOWER
IS THE NIGHT THAT SHAWN FOLLOWED YOU HOME.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS, LAUGHTER ]
Macy: IT ALL STARTED TO MAKE SENSE TO ME THEN.
AND I STARTED TO THINK,
"I LOOK A LOT LIKE MY MOM DID IN HIGH SCHOOL."
Narrator: BUT WHY DID SHAWN SOMETIMES APPEAR AS MIKE?
KAREN EXPLAINS THAT BECAUSE GHOSTS ARE PURE ENERGY,
THEY CAN SHAPESHIFT, TAKING ON DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, VOICES,
AND EVEN THE HUMAN FORM.
Karen: THEY WANT TO FEEL THAT HUMAN TOUCH AGAIN,
THE WAY THAT THEY USED TO WHEN THEY WERE ALIVE.
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHY IS HE STILL HERE?
SHAWN WANTS TO HOLD ON. HE WANTS TO STAY IN THIS WORLD.
BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO HURT YOU.
HE DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO SCARE YOU.
IT'S AS IF HE WANTS TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY.
Karen: I DO BELIEVE SHAWN MISSES HIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HE MEANT NO HARM, IN THE END.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.
BUT IN A CASE LIKE THIS,
I'D SAY JUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.
THE BEST RECOMMENDATION I MADE TO THE SHERMAN FAMILY
WAS TO COEXIST WITH IT.
Karen: WHEN I ASKED HIM, "DO YOU INTEND TO LEAVE?",
THE FEELING THAT I GOT FROM HIM WAS JUST, "I'M HERE FOR NOW."
YOU CAN'T MAKE A SPIRIT GO ANYWHERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN FORCE SOMETHING
IF IT HAS A PURPOSE HERE.
AND I THINK THAT ONCE SHAWN GETS HIS FILL
OF BEING PART OF THAT FAMILY,
HE'LL CROSS OVER, LIKE ANY OTHER SPIRIT WOULD.
Macy: LIVING MY EXPERIENCE,
IT WAS MORE INTENSE THAN THE REST OF MY FAMILY'S
BECAUSE HE CONNECTED TO ME MORE,
AND IT WAS A LOT ON ME AT THE BEGINNING
WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT WHEN KAREN CAME AND CLEARED THINGS UP,
AND WE HAD, LIKE, AN EXPLANATION FOR IT
AND I KNEW THAT HE WASN'T GONNA HURT US,
THEN I FELT A LOT BETTER.
Narrator: FOR INVESTIGATORS KURT KNAPP AND KAREN HOLLIS,
THE SHERMAN CASE OFFERS
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUPERNATURAL.
Kurt: THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIL IN THE PARANORMAL WORLD.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT GHOSTS ARE THE SPIRITS OF PEOPLE,
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY GOOD, RIGHT?
YOU GET SOME BAD PEOPLE,
AND IF THEY PASS AWAY,
THEY COULD BE VERY ANGRY, BAD GHOSTS.
AND OCCASIONALLY WE DO RUN INTO THAT.
BUT MOST HAUNTINGS ARE RELATIVELY BENIGN.
THEY'RE NOT DANGEROUS.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA HURT ANYBODY, CERTAINLY.
Karen: I BELIEVE THAT WE FEAR THAT WHICH WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
BEFORE WE DECIDE THAT IT'S SOMETHING EVIL
OR SOMETHING THAT'S BAD FOR US,
WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
PERHAPS WHY THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
Narrator: WHILE THINGS HAVE QUIETED DOWN AT THE SHERMAN HOUSE,
UNUSUAL EVENTS CONTINUE TO OCCUR.
BUT THE FAMILY HAS MADE PEACE WITH SHAWN.
Mike: WE HEAR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,
A LIGHT SWITCH GO ON, WE JUST ACCEPT IT.
AND IT'S JUST PART OF US.
WE LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY.
Kelsey: IT'S DIFFERENT THAN A NORMAL LIFESTYLE,
KNOWING THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GOOD THAT HE FINDS COMFORT IN OUR HOME.
Carrie: MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PARANORMAL
IS THAT THERE ARE GOOD SPIRITS
THAT JUST WANT THEIR STORIES TOLD.
THERE ARE BAD SPIRITS THAT JUST WANT THEIR STORIES TOLD.
BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE FAMILY
THAT HAD A GOOD SPIRIT.
Macy: I DO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN MY HOUSE.
I'VE MADE AMENDS WITH SHAWN.
HE HASN'T BOTHERED US AS MUCH NOW THAT I THINK WE KNOW.
AND I THINK, LIKE, THAT'S ALL HE WANTED.