Narrator: WHEN THREE TEENS MAKE CONTACT WITH THE OTHER SIDE,
IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES...
IF YOU ARE HERE, MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN.
SOMETHING ELSE WAS IN THE ROOM WITH US AT THAT MOMENT.
ARE YOU HERE? GIVE US A SIGN.
[ THUMPING ]
IT WAS THRILLING. WE'VE CONTACTED SOMEBODY!
Narrator: ...UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT.
AAH!
IT WAS BECOMING MORE INVASIVE. IT WAS HURTING PEOPLE.
IT WAS SOMETHING UNHOLY, SOMETHING DARK AND HATEFUL.
Narrator: CAN THEY CLOSE THE DOOR BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?
[ GROWLS ]
AAH!
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
[ THUNDER RUMBLING SOFTLY ]
[ FLOORBOARDS CREAKING, FOOTSTEPS ]
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
[ GASPS ]
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
KEITH, IS THAT YOU?
Narrator: CARL JOHNSON IS CONVINCED HIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
Carl: AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER,
THERE WAS STRANGE ACTIVITY IN THAT HOUSE.
WE WOULD HEAR FOOTSTEPS --
THE SOUND OF SOMEBODY WALKING AROUND, VERY DISTINCT.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
**
CARL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP?
I KEPT HEARING NOISES OUTSIDE MY ROOM,
LIKE SOMEONE WAS WALKING.
HONEY, YOU KNOW THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
IT'S HARMLESS. COME ON, LET'S GET BACK TO BED.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: IT'S 1971.
16-YEAR-OLD CARL LIVES IN THE HOUSE
WITH HIS TWIN BROTHER, KEITH,
HIS 14-YEAR-OLD SISTER, CYNTHIA,
AND THEIR PARENTS.
MY HOUSEHOLD IN 1971 WAS VERY INTERESTING.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL FAMILY.
COME ON. [ CAR DOOR OPENS ]
**
HEY, KIDDOS.
HEY, DAD.
Cynthia: MY MOM AND DAD --
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER,"
IF YOU WILL.
THEY WERE WONDERFUL PARENTS.
YOU'RE HOME EARLY.
YEAH, BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK IN ON SATURDAY.
MY DAD WAS VERY RELIGIOUS, IN THE CHOIR AT HIS CHURCH.
AND THEY WENT SQUARE DANCING.
AND IT WAS JUST THE TYPICAL MOM AND DAD OF THE DAY.
DOES THAT MEAN KEITH AND I CAN GO TO THE MOVIES, THEN?
YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR FATHER.
BUT YOU WERE LATE FOR THE BUS THIS MORNING.
LATE?
YEAH. I COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT.
I MISSED MY ALARM.
CARL HAD A VISIT FROM THE FAMILY GHOST LAST NIGHT.
HE WAS QUITE STARTLED.
NO, I WASN'T. I WAS JUST...
I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS JUST WEIRD.
OH, NONSENSE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HOUSE
EXCEPT FOR THREE ORNERY CHILDREN.
COME ON, KIDS. LET'S WASH UP FOR DINNER.
Carl: MY PARENTS -- THEY MADE THE BEST OF IT,
JOKING ABOUT THE GHOST.
"IT'S A FRIENDLY GHOST. IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT US."
**
Narrator: NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND, SITS WEST OF PROVIDENCE.
IT'S THE PERFECT SETTING FOR RAISING A GROWING FAMILY.
Cynthia: WELL, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I LIVED UP IN NORTH SCITUATE,
AND WE WERE A VERY CLOSE FAMILY.
WE HAD A BIG, RAMBLING HOUSE UP IN THE WOODS,
AND IT WAS A VERY ENJOYABLE UPBRINGING.
Carl: I LIKED BEING IN A COUNTRY SETTING.
I COULD GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE A WALK DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD
WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY TOO MUCH
ABOUT GETTING HIT BY TRAFFIC.
JUST A VERY NICE SETTING.
THE AIR SEEMED FRESHER.
IT WAS INVIGORATING.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
-[ CHUCKLES ] -DID YOU GET EVERYTHING?
-YEAH, GOT IT. -ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT. -DON'T WANT TO BE LATE.
OKAY, KIDS.
WE'RE HEADED OUT FOR OUR DANCE LESSON.
MM-HMM. WE'LL BE BACK BY 10:00,
AND I EXPECT YOU ALL IN BED WHEN I GET HOME.
NO HORSEPLAY.
HAVE FUN!
OKAY.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
Narrator: BUT CARL HAS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS IN MIND.
WHILE HIS PARENTS ARE GONE, HE IS DETERMINED
TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE HOUSE.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
THIS.
LET'S SET IT UP OVER HERE.
Carl: THE SPIRIT BOARD -- IT WAS KIND OF THE RAGE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A SPIRIT BOARD,
A TALKING BOARD IN THEIR HOUSE.
MY MOTHER HAD HAD ONE WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
THE WAY A SPIRIT BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO WORK,
THERE'S A PLANCHETTE, AND, OF COURSE,
ON THE BOARD IS THE ALPHABET AND A SERIES OF NUMBERS.
AND IN THE CORNERS, THERE ARE THE WORDS YES AND NO.
THE THEORY IS THAT A SPIRIT
WILL TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HANDS, YOUR FINGERS,
AS YOU LIGHTLY REST YOUR FINGERS ON THE PLANCHETTE,
ALSO KNOWN AS AN INDICATOR,
AND WILL SPELL OUT VARIOUS MESSAGES,
SOMETIMES YES OR NO,
SOMETIMES SPELLING OUT WORDS OR NAMES.
KEITH, CAN YOU GET SOME CANDLES?
Keith: IT BECAME A PROJECT OF INTEREST.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE SPIRITS WANT,
WHAT THEY ARE, WHO THEY ARE, WHY ARE THERE HERE.
**
WE ARE CALLING UPON THE SPIRITS OF THIS HOUSE.
IF YOU ARE HERE, MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN.
Cynthia: WE STARTED OUT THE USUAL KID-LIKE THINGS
LIKE, "WHEN AM I GOING TO DIE?
HOW LONG AM I GOING TO LIVE?
WILL I MARRY?
IS THERE A GHOST IN OUR HOUSE?"
YOU KNOW, JUST RANDOM THINGS.
IF YOU ARE HERE, MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN.
**
Cynthia: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT FEELS LIKE YOUR HANDS ARE BEING GUIDED,
AND NOT PUSHED AROUND SO MUCH, BUT JUST A VERY SUBTLE GUIDANCE.
CARL, STOP MOVING IT.
I SWEAR I DIDN'T DO IT.
Cynthia: IT WAS THRILLING.
THAT'S BASICALLY HOW IT ALL STARTED.
WE WEREN'T AFRAID OF IT. WE LIKED IT.
AND IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT PIQUED OUR INTEREST
AT AN EARLY AGE.
WHO ARE YOU?
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERING ]
"S"...
"Y"...
"L..."
Cynthia: IT SPELLED OUT THE NAME "SYLVIA."
SHE WAS LIKE A SPIRIT OF THE BOARD, IF YOU WILL.
SYLVIA?
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
WE ASKED, "HOW OLD ARE YOU?" SHE SAID 32.
HOW DID YOU DIE?
Keith: THE MORE IT COMMUNICATED,
THE MORE I BEGAN THINKING THIS IS A REAL PERSON,
A PERSONALITY THAT IS COMMUNICATING.
HEY, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
IT'S FINE. DON'T BE SUCH A SCAREDY-CAT.
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
**
WE WANT TO MEET YOU.
DO YOU LIVE HERE?
**
"C-E-L-L-A-R" --
THE PLANCHETTE SPELLED OUT "CELLAR."
WHAT DO YOU GUYS SAY? SHOULD WE DO IT?
WHAT? NO WAY!
IT'S IN THE CELLAR?
[ SIGHING ] YOU'RE SUCH A CHICKEN.
COME ON, CINDY.
WE WENT TO THE TOP OF THE BASEMENT STAIRS.
**
SYLVIA?
ARE YOU HERE?
IF YOU'RE HERE, GIVE US A SIGN.
[ THUMPING THREE TIMES ]
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HEARD THREE KNOCKS.
SHE'S REALLY HERE.
**
[ THUMPING THREE TIMES ]
COME ON, SHE'S HERE.
I KNOW IT.
Carl: NOW WE KNEW IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING IN OUR MINDS.
WE WEREN'T IMAGINING THIS.
SOMETHING WAS IN THE HOUSE THAT COULD COMMUNICATE WITH US,
THAT WAS WILLING TO BE KNOWN.
THIS WAS FASCINATING. IT WAS ADDICTIVE.
I HAD AN EERIE SENSATION I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
I FELT THAT STRONG SENSATION OF BEING WATCHED,
AS IF THERE WERE EYES ON ME.
**
[ GASPS ]
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: FOR AS LONG AS THE JOHNSON KIDS CAN REMEMBER,
THEIR RHODE ISLAND HOME HAS BEEN HAUNTED.
NOW THEY BELIEVE THEY'VE MADE CONTACT
WITH A SPIRIT FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
**
[ GASPS ]
Cynthia: WHAT IS IT?
DID YOU SEE HER?
NO.
BUT SHE'S IN HERE.
I CAN FEEL IT.
AT A CERTAIN POINT, THERE WAS NO DENYING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
AND THAT IT WAS MAKING ITS PRESENCE KNOWN.
THIS IS TOO WEIRD.
I'M GOING UPSTAIRS.
OKAY. I'LL... I'LL BE UP IN A MINUTE.
IT WAS AMAZING.
IT WAS SPOOKY, BUT IT'S KIND OF FUN TO BE A LITTLE SCARED.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
THE TEENS HOLD REGULAR SPIRIT BOARD SESSIONS
IN ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH SYLVIA.
WE DECIDED THAT, SINCE WE HAD HAD THIS BREAKTHROUGH,
THAT WE WERE GOING TO USE THE BOARD MORE FREQUENTLY.
I WANT HER TO SHOW US THAT SHE'S REAL.
TELL HER...
TELL HER TO GIVE US A SIGN.
LIKE WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
**
IF YOU'RE REAL...
MAKE THE PHONE RING.
I DECIDED TO TRY AN EXPERIMENT.
I ASKED THE SPIRIT OF THE BOARD, SYLVIA,
"COULD YOU MAKE THE PHONE RING?"
WELL, I REALLY DIDN'T THINK THAT ANYTHING WOULD HAPPEN.
THE PLANCHETTE WENT TO "S,"
BUT THEN, INSTEAD OF SPELLING OUT "SYLVIA,"
IT WENT TO "S-U-S."
**
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
HELLO?
SUSIE?
OH, MY GOSH, IT'S SUSIE!
S-U-S -- IT WAS MY GIRLFRIEND, SUSIE.
I FELT ASTONISHED JUST AS MUCH AS HE DID.
I REALLY FELT THAT
SOMETHING ELSE WAS IN THE ROOM WITH US AT THAT MOMENT.
HEY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL YOU RIGHT BACK, OKAY?
OKAY, BYE.
[ RECEIVER CLICKS ]
IT REALLY HAPPENED.
IT WAS HER. IT WAS SYLVIA!
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WE TALKED TO A GHOST!
NO, I'M NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE.
IT'S CREEPY, AND IT'S NOT SAFE.
AT 16 YEARS OLD, THAT WAS MAKING ME VERY, VERY NERVOUS.
Cynthia: I MUST SAY, I REALLY WASN'T FRIGHTENED.
IT WAS MORE OF A -- LIKE, "WOW, THIS IS GREAT!
WE'VE CONTACTED SOMEBODY."
COME ON.
Narrator: BUT COULD KEITH'S INSTINCTS BE RIGHT?
COULD THEY BE PLAYING WITH FIRE?
[ THUNDER CRASHING ]
**
[ THUNDER RUMBLING SOFTLY ]
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
THERE WAS WHAT SOUNDED TO BE A WOMAN'S VOICE
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW...
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
...LAUGHING, CACKLING.
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
IT CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER, RIGHT UP TO THE WINDOW.
IT CAME TO ONE WINDOW, BEGAN LAUGHING.
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
CAME TO THE OTHER WINDOW, STOPPING TO LAUGH AT EACH ONE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
**
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ MUSIC STOPS ]
**
[ GROWLS ]
AAH!
[ THUNDER CRASHING ]
Narrator: 16-YEAR-OLD KEITH JOHNSON
HAS JUST MADE AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HAUNTING PRESENCE.
[ GROWLS ]
AAH!
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
Keith: I REALLY FELT THAT WAS DIRECTED AT ME,
AND THAT IT WAS TRULY TRYING TO TERRORIZE ME.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ] [ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS ASLEEP.
I WAS WIDE AWAKE. MY HEART WAS POUNDING.
HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?
WHAT'S WRONG? WHY WERE YOU YELLING?
AND WHY IS YOUR RADIO ON?
I HEARD SOMEONE LAUGHING OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.
[ MUSIC STOPS ]
IT WAS ALL AROUND ME.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE WAS WATCHING ME.
WHAT'S WRONG? IS HE OKAY?
THEN MY RADIO JUST TURNS ON BY ITSELF!
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
SOMEONE WAS IN MY ROOM.
I WAS CONCERNED FOR KEITH, BECAUSE HE'S NOT A REACTIONARY.
SOMETHING WAS REALLY BOTHERING HIM.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SOMEONE WAS IN YOUR ROOM?
IT WAS, UH -- I DON'T KNOW -- A GHOST?
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS GHOST TALK.
THERE'S NOTHING IN YOUR ROOM,
AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HOUSE!
BUT WHAT IF HE'S RIGHT?
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ONE MORE WORD ABOUT THESE GHOSTS.
YOU'RE NOT BABIES ANYMORE.
LET'S GET BACK TO BED.
Keith: I FELT FRUSTRATED THAT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.
I WASN'T SLEEP WALKING. I WASN'T IMAGINING.
I WAS TRULY TERRIFIED
BECAUSE OF WHAT I'D EXPERIENCED WHILE I WAS WIDE AWAKE.
Narrator: NOW THOROUGHLY TERRIFIED,
THE TEENS TRY A NEW APPROACH.
Keith: MY BROTHER AND MY SISTER AND I --
WE TURNED TO PRAYER.
WE TURNED TO PRAYER AS A DEFENSE AGAINST WHATEVER WAS THERE.
Cynthia: I HAD A CROSS THAT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER'S,
AND I STARTED TO WEAR IT.
I DECIDED TO KEEP IT WITH ME, 'CAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL SAFE.
MAYBE WE SHOULD PRAY.
**
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN...
All: ...HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
THAT SEEMED TO LIGHTEN THE HOUSE.
EVEN THE LIGHTING IN THE ROOM SEEMED TO BE BRIGHTER
AFTER WE PRAYED.
IT MADE THINGS BETTER.
AMEN.
Narrator: BUT FOR HOW LONG?
**
SOON AFTER HIS 17th BIRTHDAY,
CARL DECIDES TO CREATE A SPACE OF HIS OWN IN THE CELLAR,
FAR FROM HIS PARENTS AND SIBLINGS.
**
Carl: IT LOOKED LIKE A VICTORIAN-STYLE LADY'S GLOVE.
**
HELLO?
SOMEONE THERE?
THIS HAD TO BE SYLVIA.
I WANTED TO FIND OUT -- WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR HOUSE?
WHAT IS IT SHE WANTS?
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: LATER, CARL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE CONTACT
WITH THE OWNER OF THE GLOVE.
I'M CALLING UPON THE SPIRIT OF THIS HOUSE, SYLVIA,
TO MAKE HER PRESENCE KNOWN.
THIS WAS ITS CHANCE.
IF IT WANTED TO GET A MESSAGE THROUGH, IT COULD DO IT THEN.
**
I'M CALLING UPON YOU TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE.
SHOW YOURSELF.
**
Narrator: CARL JOHNSON HAS JUST MADE CONTACT
WITH THE GHOST HAUNTING HIS HOUSE.
[ GASPING ]
Carl: I SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN,
HER HAIR WAS PULLED UP AND INTO A BUN ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD.
SHE WAS WALKING TOWARDS ME, SILENTLY.
MY BLOOD RAN COLD.
I WAS JUST TRANSFIXED THERE.
**
Narrator: SUDDENLY, CARL MAKES A REALIZATION.
Carl: THE PIECES FELL TOGETHER.
IT WAS A WOMAN.
I FOUND THAT GLOVE UPSTAIRS THAT DISAPPEARED MYSTERIOUSLY.
THE NAME "SYLVIA" HAD COME THROUGH THE SPIRIT BOARD.
THIS HAD TO BE THE SAME ENTITY, THE SAME SPIRIT.
Narrator: BUT WHAT DOES SYLVIA WANT?
SEEKING ANSWERS, CARL RETURNS TO THE SPIRIT BOARD.
HIS TWIN BROTHER, KEITH, REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE.
Keith: I WAS NOT GOING TO JOIN THEM.
MY BROTHER AND SISTER, HOWEVER, WERE DETERMINED
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RECEIVE A SIGN OF SYLVIA'S PRESENCE.
TO ME, THAT WAS GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR.
WE ARE CALLING UPON SYLVIA.
WHY DO YOU NEED OUR HELP?
SHE'S NOT ANSWERING.
LET'S JUST GO PLAY OUTSIDE.
**
"D"...
"E"...
"A"...
"T"...
"H."
"DEATH."
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
OH, MY GOD.
Cynthia: BY SPELLING OUT "DEATH,"
IT THINK IT WAS -- WAS TRYING TO FRIGHTEN US,
AND IT WORKED.
Carl: THE SPIRIT THAT WAS TALKING TO US WAS NOT SYLVIA.
IT WAS SOMETHING DARKER, SOMETHING MENACING,
SOMETHING WE WANTED NO PART OF.
Narrator: THE TEENS VOW TO NEVER USE THE SPIRIT BOARD AGAIN.
Carl: IT WAS JUST BECOMING HOSTILE AND THREATENING,
SO IT WAS TIME TO PUT IT AWAY, LEAVE IT ALONE.
Narrator: AND THEY CAN ONLY PRAY IT LEAVES THEM ALONE.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
**
[ SCRAPING ]
**
Carl: ONE NIGHT, I WAS AWOKEN
BY THE SOUND OF SOMETHING BEING DRAGGED ACROSS THE FLOOR.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
IT WAS DEFINITE ENOUGH TO DISTURB ME.
I KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP THERE,
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
**
SO, I WAS LAYING ON THE COUCH, TRYING TO GET BACK TO SLEEP.
[ THUMPS ]
AND THEN THE THUMPING STARTED.
[ THUMPING ]
BANGING ON THE ROOF.
IT BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER,
UNTIL IT WAS SHAKING THE WHOLE HOUSE.
[ RAPID THUMPING ]
MOM! DAD!
[ THUMPING CONTINUES ]
WHAT'S GOING ON? I-I DON'T KNOW.
I COULDN'T SLEEP DOWNSTAIRS. THEN I HEARD THE BANGING.
WE KEPT HEARING THESE LOUD BANGS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM.
[ THUMPING CONTINUES ]
Keith: THE FIRST THING WE LOGICALLY THOUGHT ABOUT
IS AN INTRUDER.
SOMEBODY'S ON OUR HOUSE FOR SOME REASON.
SOMEBODY'S POUNDING AND STOMPING ON THE ROOF OF OUR HOUSE
AT NIGHT.
[ THUMPING CONTINUES ] Shh!
SOMEONE'S TRYING TO BREAK IN. LET'S CHECK IT OUT!
[ THUMPING CONTINUES ]
MNH. WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
IT'S OKAY.
IT'LL BE OKAY.
Cynthia: IT WAS GETTING TO THE POINT
WHERE I WAS GETTING SCARED,
BECAUSE IF EVERYBODY ELSE HEARD IT,
THEN THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
[ THUMPING CONTINUES ]
[ THUMPING STOPS ]
[ GASPING ]
[ THUMPING RESUMES ]
[ THUMPING STOPS ]
IT'S OKAY.
IT STOPPED, WHATEVER IT WAS.
I'M GONNA GO GET THE BOYS.
WAIT RIGHT HERE, OKAY?
**
[ GASPS ] HELLO?
IS ANYONE THERE?
I HAD THAT EERIE FEELING -- THERE'S SOMEONE BEHIND ME.
**
Narrator: ONE BY ONE,
THE JOHNSON CHILDREN ARE BEING TARGETED BY A MYSTERIOUS ENTITY.
Cynthia: TWO HANDS WERE ON MY BACK.
AAH!
IN THAT VERY MOMENT WHEN I FELT IT,
I WAS TERRIFIED.
WE HEARD HER CRY OUT. WE CAME IN,
AND THERE SHE WAS, VERY UPSET, VERY FRIGHTENED ABOUT IT.
SWEETIE!
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
SOMETHING -- SOMETHING PUSHED ME.
TWO HANDS. I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW.
I REALIZED, AT THAT POINT,
THAT WHATEVER I CAME IN CONTACT WITH WAS EVIL.
Carl: NOW IT HAD HURT SOMEBODY.
IT HAD PUSHED MY SISTER DOWN.
WHAT WAS IT CAPABLE OF? WHAT DID IT WANT?
IT WAS BECOMING MORE INVASIVE.
IT WAS HURTING PEOPLE.
Narrator: FOR MONTHS,
THE KIDS HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONVINCE THEIR PARENTS
THAT THEIR HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
DO YOU BELIEVE US NOW?
EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS REAL!
**
YOU KIDS -- YOU JUST HAVE A WILD IMAGINATION.
BUT THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WE ALL JUST EXPERIENCED?
I MEAN, YOU HEARD IT, TOO.
OUR HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
AND IF YOU AREN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT...
THEN I WILL.
LET'S ALL JUST GO BACK TO BED.
ALL RIGHT? IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
Carl: MY BROTHER AND I REALIZED THAT,
IF ANYTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE
TO STOP THIS ACTIVITY WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN,
IT WAS UP TO US.
MY PARENTS DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT,
OR THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.
SO WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE HAD TO TAKE CONTROL OF THIS.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Carl: MY BROTHER AND I JOINED A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATING GROUP
BASED AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE.
WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: DURING ONE SEMINAR, THEY MEET A BUDDING INVESTIGATOR
WHO BELIEVES HE CAN HELP THE JOHNSON FAMILY.
HE HAS BLOOD TIES TO LORRAINE AND ED WARREN,
THE PARANORMAL COUPLE
WHO INSPIRED THE MOVIE "THE CONJURING."
John: MY NAME IS JOHN ZAFFIS,
AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE PARANORMAL FOR 43 YEARS.
BEING INVOLVED WITH THE PARANORMAL FIELD,
I WAS A VERY FORTUNATE YOUNG MAN.
ED AND LORRAINE WARREN ARE MY AUNT AND UNCLE,
AND I HAD WORKED WITH THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS,
AND THAT WAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
**
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
I HOPE WE CAN PUT THESE STORIES TO REST, ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Carl: I CAN'T SAY MY PARENTS WERE ALTOGETHER RECEPTIVE
ABOUT HIS VISITATION.
MY MOM ADVISED MY FATHER,
"WHY DON'T YOU LET THEM DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO?
MAYBE THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING. MAYBE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP.
IT COULDN'T HURT."
SO, I UNDERSTAND CARL, KEITH, AND CINDY
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE.
WHEN DID THE ACTIVITY INCREASE?
I GUESS WHEN WE STARTED TALKING TO SYLVIA.
SYLVIA?
YEAH, THROUGH THE SPIRIT BOARD.
CARL EVEN SAW HER.
A SPIRIT BOARD?
IT'S A GAME I GOT THEM FOR CHRISTMAS.
I EVEN HAD ONE AS A GIRL.
THE SPIRIT BOARD BECAME VERY POPULAR IN THE '70s.
EVERYONE WAS PURCHASING THEM.
YOU WOULD GET THEM AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS,
NOT REALIZING THAT
THEY WERE OPENING UP THE DOORS TO THE SPIRIT REALM.
I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT IT ISN'T JUST A GAME.
WHEN YOU USE A SPIRIT BOARD,
YOU CAN OPEN...A DOOR...
TO THE OTHER SIDE.
I NEED TO HAVE A LOOK AROUND. IS THAT OKAY?
SURE.
**
Narrator: ALTHOUGH JOHN IS NOT PSYCHIC,
HE ATTEMPTS TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A SPIRIT
BY FEELING FOR DRAFTS AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES.
**
THERE WAS DEFINITELY THIS HEAVY PRESENCE
IN ONE OF THE ROOMS.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, JOHN SENSES A FEMALE SPIRIT.
John: THAT WAS SYLVIA.
SHE HAD A LONG GRAY DRESS ON, AND SHE HAD A BUN.
Narrator: THE SPIRIT APPEARS TO BE IN DISTRESS,
AS IF SHE HAS SOMETHING URGENT TO COMMUNICATE.
John: SYLVIA WAS DEFINITELY TRYING TO WARN THE CHILDREN.
WHY? WHAT IS SHE TRYING TO WARN THEM OF?
**
Narrator: JOHN FINDS HIMSELF DRAWN TO THE CELLAR.
**
John: IT FELT VERY HEAVY.
I FELT A LOT OF DREAD.
I FELT LIKE SOMETHING
REALLY DID NOT WANT ME DOWN IN THAT BASEMENT.
**
[ GASPS ]
FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT...
Narrator: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR JOHN ZAFFIS
HAS JUST ENCOUNTERED TWO ENTITIES IN THE JOHNSON HOME,
AND ONE IS NOT FRIENDLY.
**
[ GASPS ]
THAT WASN'T SYLVIA THAT WAS CAUSING THE HAUNTING DOWN THERE.
I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT IT WAS SOMETHING DEMONIC.
**
CARL, YOU WERE RIGHT IN THINKING
THAT SYLVIA WAS TRYING TO CONTACT YOU.
I WAS?
**
SO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS "SYLVIA" IS REAL?
YES.
IT'S A REAL HUMAN SPIRIT.
BUT SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO WARN YOU ALL ABOUT A DEMON.
A DEMON?
Carl: WHEN HE SAID THE WORD "DEMON,"
IT WAS THEN SOMETHING FORMIDABLE.
IT WAS NO LONGER FUN AND GAMES.
IT WAS SOMETHING UNHOLY, SOMETHING DARK AND HATEFUL.
HEARING THIS FROM JOHN
MADE EVERYTHING REAL FOR MY PARENTS AT THAT POINT.
IT ALL CRYSTALLIZED FOR THEM.
HOW CAN THIS BE TRUE?
MR. AND MS. JOHNSON, IT IS TRUE.
THESE THINGS EXIST.
I BELIEVE, WHEN THE ACTIVITY BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE,
THAT WAS THE DEMON TRYING TO ATTACK YOUR FAMILY.
AAH!
BUT HOW DID IT GET HERE?
IT WAS JUST AS I FEARED.
BOTH ENTITIES CAME THROUGH THE SPIRIT BOARD.
John: BY CARL AND HIS SISTER
COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPIRIT BOARD,
THEY NOT ONLY ALLOWED SYLVIA TO COME THROUGH,
BUT THEY ALLOWED SOMETHING IN ON A DEMONIC LEVEL,
A VERY NEGATIVE LEVEL.
[ SCOFFS ]
I TOLD YOU BOTH IT WAS DANGEROUS.
I WAS RATHER UPSET THAT
MY BROTHER AND SISTER DIDN'T READILY TAKE MY ADVICE
ABOUT THE DANGERS
OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPIRIT BOARD.
Cynthia: WE WERE JUST KIDS, AND WE GOT THIS BOARD,
AND WE HAD NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
SO...WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?
YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE CLEANSED
BY A MEMBER OF THE CLERGY.
YOU MUST NEVER AGAIN COMMUNICATE THROUGH A SPIRIT BOARD.
John: ONCE THAT DOOR IS CLOSED, IF IT'S REOPENED,
ALL HELL COULD BREAK LOOSE.
Narrator: THE FAMILY WASTES NO TIME FINDING AN EXPERT.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
AND BY THE POWER OF HIS BLOOD...
Carl: WE CONTACTED A PRIEST FROM A LOCAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
HE WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO COME
AND PERFORM A BLESSING OF THE HOME.
HE OFFERED CHRISTIAN PRAYERS AND HOLY PETITIONS
THAT THE DEMON SHOULD LEAVE THAT HOUSE,
SHOULD BE EXPELLED AND NOT RETURN.
AND I PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON THIS HOUSE
AND UPON EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE.
**
IT'S OVER.
THEY'RE GONE.
THE SPIRIT OF SYLVIA AND THE DEMONIC ENTITY ARE GONE.
Keith: IN THAT MOMENT,
I FELT LIKE WE HAD OUR HOUSE BACK.
I FELT LIKE WHATEVER SPIRIT WAS DEMONIC THAT WAS THERE
NO LONGER HAD POWER OVER US TO ATTACK US EVER AGAIN.
Cynthia: IT WAS LIKE A DARK CLOUD HAD LIFTED.
I FELT AT PEACE.
I ALWAYS BELIEVE VERY FIRMLY
WHEN YOU BRING A SPIRITUAL PERSON IN THERE
AND THEY START RECITING PRAYERS
AND THEY START DOING THINGS IN THE NAME OF GOD,
TO BE ABLE TO COMMAND NEGATIVE ENERGY, DEMONS,
TO BE RELINQUISHED FROM THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY,
DOES THIS WORK?
ABSOLUTELY.
THE JOHNSON FAMILY REMAINED THERE SEVERAL YEARS AFTER.
Narrator: FROM THAT DAY FORWARD,
THE TEENS MAKE A PACT NEVER TO USE THE SPIRIT BOARD AGAIN.
**
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THE FAMILY IS ABLE TO RESUME LIFE AS USUAL
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES.
THE YEARS WENT ON. OF COURSE, WE GREW UP.
EVENTUALLY, WE MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE.
WE GOT MARRIED.
MY PARENTS CONTINUED LIVING OUT OF THE HOUSE
FOR MANY YEARS AFTERWARDS.
THEY HAD A PEACEFUL EXISTENCE LIVING IN THAT HOUSE
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TIME THERE.
Narrator: BUT THEIR BRUSH WITH THE PARANORMAL
HAS CHANGED THEM FOREVER.
Carl: MY BROTHER AND I WENT ON
TO BECOME PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS,
VERY ESTABLISHED.
WE ARE DEMONOLOGISTS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
Keith: WE WORK TOGETHER TO THIS DAY
TO TRY TO BRING AWARENESS THAT
THE DANGERS OF SPIRIT COMMUNICATION ARE A REALITY.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Cynthia: THIS EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME THAT
THERE IS MORE TO THIS WORLD THAN MEETS THE EYE,
THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS.
WHY AM I ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE?