Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) s03e11 Episode Script

[music playing]
JON LAFONTAINE (VOICEOVER):
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction.
Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.
Tonight, your challenge
is to separate what
is true from what is false.
Five stories, some
real some fake.
Can you judge which are
fact and which are fiction?
To find out, you
must into a world
of both truth and deception,
a world that is beyond belief.
[music playing]
[footsteps]
Perception is something
that can often change
right before our very eyes.
Here's an example.
A contoured sheet with
obvious valleys and peaks.
But when we take
another look, we
see that it's perfectly flat.
So what's the reality?
It all depends on
our perception.
Tonight, you'll
be asked to judge
five stories on whether
they're fact or fiction.
What will your
perception tell you?
Some of them are inspired
by actual events,
while others are total lies.
And remember, what you may
perceive as plateaus of truth
may actually mountains
of deception.
[footsteps]
Blood is not only
thicker than water,
it's also more informative.
Through the analysis of
blood types, chemical makeup,
and DNA, We can learn much
about a person's family ties,
even after that person's
been dead for centuries.
Samples of Thomas Jefferson's
DNA prove this point.
Of course, most of us don't need
to submit to extensive testing
to confirm our
family relationships.
We have only to
look in the mirror
to get the genetic links to
our parents and our siblings.
Loreen has never felt that way.
She's never looked like
or acted like her parents.
And all her questions are about
to be put under a microscope.
LOREEN: I was about to marry
my childhood sweetheart.
We were perfect for each other.
We had absolutely
everything in common.
Of course, to get
our marriage license,
the state required a blood test.
That's when an old fear
of mine was confirmed,
and I had to confront
it with my mother.
Sweetheart, you don't
believe you were adopted?
I'm sorry, mother but I do.
You and dad are
both blood type A.
It wouldn't be possible for
me to be blood type B. I
always suspected I was adopted.
Now I have proof.
I brought these.
You've seen them before.
They were all taken me when
you were a little girl.
Do you remember me telling you
about the night you were born?
The blizzard?
Your arrival wasn't
exactly convenient.
But it was a blessing.
I never said I
didn't feel loved.
But I was always different:
my interests, my talents,
the only blonde in a family
of brunettes, and taller!
And you grew so fast.
But look how beautiful
you turned out.
But mom, the blood test--
was wrong.
The lab made a mistake.
Huh.
You're still not convinced.
I could have been
adopted as a newborn.
But why would they lie?
Is there some awful
family secret?
Honey.
You have terrific parents.
And someday, when
we have children,
they'll be terrific
grandparents.
So even if you really
were adopted, so what?
So what?
That's in the past, honey!
And right now, we have a
wedding to plan and a future
to consider.
I can't possibly
think about the future
until I know my history.
Don, I'm sorry.
But I can't marry you
until I know the truth.
Honey.
We're soulmates, remember?
We're born to be married.
It's our destiny.
Best friends born on the
same day, New Year's babies.
If I was adopted,
maybe my birthday
really isn't January 1st.
Maybe that's a lie, too.
I've always loved we
had the same birthday.
It was something extra
special that we shared.
Well, I'll still
love you either way.
But if it's important
to you, we'll
find out the truth together.
LOUDSPEAKER: Doctor Ponzi.
Well, these are the old
files from before everything
was done on computers.
The medical records
you're asking about it
are here somewhere.
You know, I could get
somebody to do this for you.
Maybe take a few days.
I really need to
find the record today.
Thanks.
OK.
If you need anything
else, come get me.
This is it.
Here's a copy of your
birth certificate.
January 1st.
Length.
Weight.
Parents: Russell
and Edna Atkins.
So I'm legit.
And here's the
emergency room admitting
form, time of arrival,
patient already in labor.
It's all by the book, honey.
I wasn't adopted after all.
Relieved?
That's odd.
Someone wrote boy, then
crossed it out and wrote girl.
Well, you're definitely a girl.
I can vouch for that.
Maybe we're not done.
[phone rings]
It's odd.
We don't usually deliver
babies in the emergency room.
There's a maternity
ward for that.
Well, it was January 1st.
There was a blizzard.
With the bad roads, my parents
barely got to the hospital
in time.
'73.
You know, I remember that night.
I was an attendant nurse.
New Year's Eve.
Power lines were down.
The hospital was working
on backup generators.
Ice on the highway caused
some awful accidents.
We were doing double shifts
to care for the injured.
And two women in labor
came in that night.
And look.
On my mother's admitting
form, "baby boy" is
written, and then marked out.
Well, it was so hectic.
I suppose the nurse
wrote it down wrong
and then the doctor
corrected it.
I was born the same night in
the middle of the same chaos.
From my mother's records
said "baby girl."
But it's crossed out
and changed to "boy."
One boy baby
and one girl baby.
Hm.
The paperwork must
have been mixed up.
Is it possible that the
paperwork wasn't mixed
up, but that the babies were.
[dramatic music]
An impossible story.
Or is it?
Is it too much to believe
that two people raised
by different families
could fall deeply in love
and turn out to have
been switched at birth?
Certainly switched
at birth stories
have become more
common over the years.
But one combined with a love
story strains credibility.
But it's now up to you
to decide the truth
or falsehood of our story.
Have we presented
you with the facts?
Or have we pulled a
last minute switch?
JON LAFONTAINE
(VOICEOVER): We'll
tell you whether this
story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, the spirits of
Halloween are out for revenge
on Beyond Belief:
Fact or Fiction.
Next to Christmas, the most
publicized and merchandised
holiday is Halloween.
Pumpkin patches are as numerous
as Christmas tree lots.
Every year, millions
are spent on costumes,
decorations, and, of course,
trick or treat candy.
But like Christmas, Halloween
has its scrooges, too.
Take Harold Ratcher.
Harold not only hates the
holiday, he's a troublemaker.
And the trouble he makes is for
anyone foolish enough to ring
his bell on Halloween night.
And so we come to another
year and another Halloween.
But beware, because
on this Halloween,
nobody can predict
what we'll find.
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
Every community has
a home like the Ratcher house.
It's the one owned by
the meanest man in town.
Luckily, the
townspeople didn't have
to interact with Harold much.
He lived on the other
side of the bridge.
[chicken squawking]
JONATHAN FRAKES (VOICEOVER):
The only time anyone
bothered to cross
the creek to see
him at all was on Halloween.
Storm's blowing in.
Hm.
Hope it waits awhile so the
children won't be disappointed.
You know it's Halloween tonight.
I thought I'd put
some candy in a bowl.
There'll be no kids
coming by here tonight,
not after the lesson I
taught them last year.
I wouldn't be so proud
of that, Harold Ratcher.
You scared those
children so badly
one had to go to the hospital.
Well, they were
trespassing on my property.
Time was, hours were too
spread out around here for kids
to come begging for treats.
Besides, I won
that case in court.
The town's grown up.
The suburbs are just to the
other side of the bridge now.
Have to expect some
children coming over.
Yeah, with their
greedy hands out
playing tricks on
anybody who doesn't
give into their extortion.
They're just harmless
little children.
Yeah.
Well, what about the year
they covered the tree
in toilet paper?
Smashed raw eggs in the mailbox.
Well?
Mind you.
Any little hoodlums come
across that bridge tonight,
they all wish they hadn't.
[dramatic noise]
(GASPS) Oh.
Frightening costumes.
(SCREAMS)
You know how I
feel about that!
I'm playing by the rules.
Halloween's a two-way street.
They wear scary costumes.
So can I.
[dramatic music]
[knocks on door]
[dramatic music]
Harold, don't!
(SCREAMS) (SCREAMS)
Oh!
Here you are.
There.
They don't all fall
for your nonsense.
You're a little big for
a trick-or-treater, huh?
So are you.
[thunder]
Well, we won't get any more
trick-or-treaters tonight.
Probably best that way.
[thunder]
[thunder]
[knocks on door]
In this weather?
[thunder]
[dramatic music]
(SCREAMS)
[thunder]
I see you out there.
(GROWLING)
Get out of here,
you rotten kid!
Harold, who are
you hollering at?
Some kid!
He has a dummy
dressed just like me.
It's like I told you.
Up to no good!
He's probably trying to
get even after last year.
I don't see anybody out there.
You're making more out
of this than need be.
[noise at window]
(GASPS)
[noise at window]
You think so, huh?
[dramatic music]
[window creaking]
It's just the tree.
Of
Course.
What else would it be?
I don't know what you're getting
yourself all worked up about,
but I'm going to bed before
you do the same to me.
I should've cut
those branches.
They're going to be
scraping all night.
Whoa!
Whoa!
That lousy kid!
[dramatic music]
For the love of Pete!
[knocks on door]
[dramatic music]
[knocks on door]
[dramatic music]
[dramatic music]
Oh!
Oh!
(GASPS) (GASPS)
[dramatic music]
I think my husband's
having a heart attack!
No, he doesn't have a history.
He said some boy
was terrorizing him.
He's shaking.
He can hardly breathe.
Please hurry!
It'll take a while
for the ambulance.
The storm flooded the creek.
The bridge between us and
town washed away hours ago.
That's impossible.
If the bridge washed away, then
how did a kid in a monster suit
get over to our house?
(GASPS)
[dramatic music]
Was Harold Ratcher victimized
by his own cruel imagination?
Or did someone sneak
across the bridge
before the rain
washed it out, someone
who was perhaps out for
revenge against Harold Ratcher?
Or was the culprit, as some
think, Harold's wife Mary?
But then how do you
explain the Grim Reaper?
It couldn't possibly
have been her, could it?
In this tale of
trick-or-treat, have we
opened the door of truth, or are
we leaving you holding the bag?
JON LAFONTAINE
(VOICEOVER): We'll
tell you whether this
story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a young woman lives with
a ghost of her favorite cat
on Beyond Belief:
Fact or Fiction.
Do you have a pet?
Chances are it's a dog or a cat.
And while dogs retain the
title of man's best friend,
cat owners number over 27
million in the United States
alone.
These are a few of the products
aimed at feline fanciers.
Wendy Baker is a
proud cat lover.
In fact, you might say that the
attention she pays to her cat,
named Precious, is obsessive.
It's enough attention to fill
a lifetime, or for that matter,
9 life times.
As a child psychologist, I had
worked with hundreds of cases,
but never before had I handled
a situation not knowing
the nature of the problem.
The parents urged me
to meet their daughter
with them in their own home.
I guess they felt if I didn't
see it with my own eyes,
I'd never believe it.
Oh, she actually takes
better care of the cat
than she does herself.
You know, we moved
about six months ago.
Wendy was upset about leaving
her old school and her friends.
So we thought we'd
get her Precious.
I tried to explain to
her we had to relocate
for this job I was taking.
But, well, you know kids.
Ah, and Wendy
really loved that cat.
I mean, Precious
slept on her bed
every night on a
special pillow, followed
Wendy around like a shadow.
It was really sweet.
Where's the cat?
Oh, well, about
two months ago,
it ran out into the street.
And Wendy hasn't
gotten over the loss?
No.
We figured give
her a little time.
Yeah.
But it's been two months.
It's a little bizarre.
Maybe I should have agreed
to seek out help sooner good.
But kids, teenagers they're
supposed to act eccentric.
You know, at
first we thought it
was some sort of hallucination.
And then we thought she was
doing it on purpose just
to make us angry.
And now, we don't
know what to think,
except that she is
taking this way too far.
And we really need some help.
What do you mean by eccentric?
Oh, hi.
Hey, pumpkin.
Hey.
Wendy, this is the, uh,
the doctor we talked about.
Hi, Wendy.
I'm Dana, Dana White.
Hello.
We asked Dr. White
to, um, talk to you.
Oh.
About Precious?
Mhm.
Good, baby!
You're hungry today, huh?
Did you miss me?
I missed you, too!
Um, you know, I've got
that algebra test tomorrow.
I'm going to study.
[footsteps]
[door shuts]
(SIGHS) She pretends
Precious is still alive.
The food actually disappears.
[dramatic music]
In the morning,
it's half eaten.
Um, my husband
thinks that maybe
Wendy is actually eating it.
Have you tried
to make her stop?
Well, for a while, we
went along with the charade.
We thought maybe it
would be better for her.
But then last week, we
finally confronted her.
We told her how we felt
and begged her to stop.
And the next
morning, we found this.
She told us
Precious was upset.
I have an idea.
I'd like to tell Wendy that I
want to photograph Precious.
Maybe she'll warm up to
me more quickly that way.
Would you mind if
I used your camera?
Oh, what?
And play right into her fantasy?
This is a strange
case, Mr. Baker.
I'm willing to do anything
that might help Wendy.
I can't say I have a lot
of experience in situations
like this, but
something in my gut
just tells me that
this is the right move.
Is there film in that camera?
Well, it looks like it's
loaded, only 11 shots used.
And we haven't
used it in a while.
OK.
Let's give it a try.
Right.
[knocking on door]
Come in.
Hey, Wendy.
I know you want to
study, but I was hoping
we could talk for
a few minutes, just
to get to know one another.
They just don't get it.
I don't need a shrink.
They need glasses.
Ha.
It's a nice room.
Yeah, it's all right.
The old house was nicer.
And your parents you
spend a lot of time in here.
Yeah, well, they won't
leave me alone out there.
They're always mad.
About Precious?
Hey, how would you feel if I
took some pictures of Precious?
Are you trying to
make me like you?
A little.
Sure.
Go ahead.
Take her picture.
She always loves taking her
afternoon naps on this pillow.
Oh.
OK.
[camera snaps]
Oh, ha.
You scaredy cat.
Did that sound frighten you?
It's OK, Precious.
It's just a camera.
[camera snaps]
Hey, how about
if I take a picture
of you holding Precious?
Sure.
OK.
Great!
[camera snaps]
That's beautiful.
I think it is
the right decision.
Hi.
If you would develop this roll
of film as soon as possible,
I think that when she
sees there is no cat,
she'll be able to accept it.
Let's try this first before
we proceed with the therapy.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much for
coming to our home.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Oh, it's my pleasure.
I just hope it does the trick.
You know what they
say about pictures,
sometimes seeing is believing.
Yeah.
Well, I walk you out.
[chatter]
DR. WHITE (VOICEOVER): I
was surprised to receive
a call the next day.
Mrs. Baker asked if I could
come right over, so I did.
Oh, hi.
Um, I called my husband,
but he's not here yet.
Please come in.
I just got back
from the photo lab.
DR. WHITE (VOICEOVER):
Now I knew
why Mrs. Baker was so upset.
What's the explanation?
How could an image of Precious
show up on the photograph?
Remember, the roll of film
was already in the camera.
Was it an old photographic
image leftover from when
Precious was still alive?
Perhaps, a double exposure.
If so, why were
there no other images
of Precious on that same roll?
Or is it possible that
Precious still existed
on some spiritual level?
A soul that could be seen
and felt by the person who
loved him most: Wendy Baker.
Does this story of
the invisible cat
deserved to be deposited
in the bank of truth,
or have we tossed another
lie into the kitty?
JON LAFONTAINE
(VOICEOVER): We'll
tell you whether this
story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a showdown with death
at a roadside motel on Beyond
Belief: Fact or Fiction.
Observe.
Keys that unlock doors
to hotel and motel rooms,
something most of
us take for granted.
But think about the mysteries
that exist in the simple act
of opening the motel door.
Who has stayed here before?
What activities took place here?
Has anything been left behind?
And what will await
you during your stay?
In most cases, those
questions are unimportant,
but for Joe Bender
and his wife Angie,
this key is more than a
device to open their door.
It's a passport to
the unexplained.
ANGIE BENDER (VOICEOVER): My
husband was once a good cop,
but the years on the
force had made him
cold and hard about criminals.
And lately, he was
burned out and getting
himself into big trouble.
His suspension gave
us a chance to take
a few days for ourselves,
something we really needed.
I wanted to believe in
Joe, but I knew the police
force had changed him.
He wasn't the same
man I married.
We got a quiet room.
They're all quiet around here.
California license.
You and the misses on vacation?
Just getting away for a while.
Around back.
[dramatic sound]
This trip will be
good for both of us.
I don't care if I
ever see L.A. again.
ANGIE BENDER
(VOICEOVER): I had seen
the old woman's
reaction to the paper
through the office window.
She knew who Joe was, all right.
I just wish I did.
And then something
totally strange happened.
- Hey!
- Joe!
What are you doing?
I thought I saw--
Oh, my God!
Did you hurt yourself?
[dramatic sound]
That's blood.
ANGIE BENDER
(VOICEOVER): I couldn't
get Joe to change rooms.
He just wanted this
one cleaned up.
I was feeling very
uncomfortable.
Well.
It's gone now.
Strange place.
Unbelievable.
Are you OK?
Sure.
I'm not gonna let them beat me.
Oh, honey.
It's just-- it's all the
stress you've been under.
The way these Internal
Affairs people and the press
have hounded you.
Those bastards!
After everything I've given.
And the courts, well,
you know the courts
they protect the guilty.
And don't think that I don't
know which ones are guilty.
That guy!
They're crucifying me over.
Punk!
He deserved everything
that he got!
Just-- just try
and get some rest.
Ah!
Who are you?
What the hell do you want?
What's the matter, Joe?
Huh.
He wanted me to go for my gun.
Who?
What are you talking about?
We're alone, Joe.
- No.
No.
[lamp switch]
There's no one here.
You're-- you're dreaming.
Joe.
He was here.
He was right here.
- We gotta get outta here.
- Joe.
I--
Come on.
Come on.
[knocks on door]
Wake up!
Hey!
[knocks on door]
Lady, right now you're gonna
tell me what's in our room.
What is it?
I don't know what
you're talking--
- Don't lie to me!
- Joe!
I only know what other
people have told me.
What?
A long time ago, a man
named William Bonny was
killed in an unfair gunfight.
And some people believe that
his spirit remained here.
Are you telling me that
this hotel is haunted?
William Bonny
died on this ground.
I've never seen him,
but I'll tell you this:
tonight isn't the first night
that I've had to mop up blood.
I'm gonna go get our stuff.
You stay here.
We're checking out.
[door slams]
Do you really believe
all this about a ghost?
A lot of people believe it.
Some think he's waiting
on a chance for revenge.
You see, in that
gunfight, William Bonny
was shot dead by a law man.
[dramatic sound]
Ah!
[door opens]
Joe!
Joe!
Joe!
Joe!
Did Joe Bender
fall prey to a ghost?
Or was he the victim of
his own guilty conscience?
Did his stressful situation
lend to his own suicide?
Or was his demise caused
by the spirit of Billy
the Kid, a man who was
unfairly shot to death
years ago by another law man.
In judging the
merits of this story,
you must decide the
winner of the showdown
that takes place every day:
truth versus falsehood.
JON LAFONTAINE
(VOICEOVER): We'll
tell you whether this
story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a married couple encounter
a strange drifter on Beyond
Belief: Fact or Fiction.
These are all things
that come in handy
when your car gets a flat tire.
Of course, many people choose
to just stay in their car
and call the Auto Club.
But sometimes, phones
aren't available.
The husband in our next
story isn't very handy.
But like most men, he
takes a certain pride
in his ability to
read his manual
and change a tire
in any situation.
But the strange situation he and
his wife are about to encounter
isn't covered in any manual.
WIFE (VOICEOVER):
When we started
to David's mother's
house that morning,
we were already arguing.
I was completely on edge,
because I loved David.
But I knew our marriage
was slipping away.
I'd feel better if you
put on your seat belt.
Would you stop worrying?
You look fine.
Your dress is fine.
You're not listening to me!
Besides which, I'm
wearing slacks.
Whatever.
You look all right.
Whenever we visit
your mother, I feel
like I'm being scrutinized.
You're imagining things.
My mother is not that critical.
Really?
Then why do you always feel
like you have to please her?
You know, you're not in
competition with Rebecca.
I make plenty of time for you.
- Oh.
Just like to make time for your
boss, your friends, your golf
buddies.
You always make me feel
like I'm last in line.
You know, when I'm
working late, it's for us.
When I'm golfing with
a client, it's for us.
I understand how you feel, but--
You don't notice what I'm
wearing when I'm sitting
eight inches away from you!
You expect me to believe
you understand how I feel?
[thump and tires screeching]
Great.
I think we have a flat.
I Can't get any
service out here.
(SIGHS) Are you sure
you're doing that right?
You know these tires are new.
There is no reason
for this to be flat.
[wind]
Ah!
David!
Looks like you need help.
I, uh--
You know, the guys
at the tire store,
they uh, use a power drill.
Let me try.
Knock yourself out.
Where'd he come from?
I don't know.
Is this a good idea?
We'll get them
a couple of bucks.
Sometimes the direction we
choose is not the right one.
You, uh, you were turning
the wrench the wrong way.
It's not a wrench.
It's a tire iron.
My mom is not gonna be happy.
Sometimes we try to
please so many others,
we lose sight of those
we're most important,
the ones we truly love.
It's easy to take
them for granted.
They're always there for us.
Yeah, well uh, you know,
we really appreciate this.
Uh, can I give you
a lift somewhere?
WIFE (VOICEOVER): At first,
I was concerned David invited
the strange man into our car.
I'd feel better if you
put on your seat belt.
So, how far you going?
I'll know when the
time comes to leave you.
So you just travel
from place to place?
Your family must miss you.
You know, I envy you.
Doing whatever you want.
Not having anyone answer to.
Complete freedom.
Life's just one
big adventure, huh?
That it is.
But when you see how much can
be gained when two join together
as one, to have
someone who knows
your private, most personal
pain and can replace joy,
that is an adventure.
Yeah, well,
everything takes work.
Life is work.
Any heavy load can
be made lighter
when two work together,
as opposed to pulling
in opposite directions.
When love is held
in an open hand,
it can flourish instead
of being crushed.
It's like you know us.
David!
Oh, my God!
He's gone!
What?
Hold on.
He's gone!
What the hell's--
He must've fallen out!
While he was
wearing a seat belt?
WIFE (VOICEOVER): After
searching the area
and not finding
him, we felt like we
needed to report what happened.
So when David spotted a police
officer, we pulled over.
He just was there and--
Gone.
I've been up and down
the stretch of highway
so many times, I know every
crack in the pavement.
I could look for that
drifter, but I won't find him.
You're the fourth couple
that's told me this story.
And that's just this week.
Come on, Honey.
We gotta go.
WIFE (VOICEOVER):
When we finally
arrived at David's mother's
house, things were different.
She sensed something had
happened, something that
brought us closer together.
It was if our wedding
vows had been respoken.
And we owed it all
to that drifter,
whoever or whatever he was.
So is the strange
hitchhiker that disappeared
from the car a ghost?
If he was real, how did he
disappear from the backseat?
Some who don't
believe in spirits
have suggested that
perhaps the hitchhiker was
a professional escape artist.
If so, what could
have led him to spend
his life lending
spiritual enlightenment
to drivers along the highway?
Drifter, angel, or ghost?
Is this story of a stranger
who hopped a ride true?
Or is there a hitch to it?
JON LAFONTAINE
(VOICEOVER): Next, you'll
find out which of
our stories are fact
and which are fiction,
when Beyond Belief: Fact
or Fiction returns.
Now it's time to find
out which of our stories
was inspired by an
actual event and which
ones are total fiction.
What was your
opinion of the story
of the couple in
love, who turned
out to be switched at birth?
Well, it was so hectic.
I suppose the nurse
wrote it down wrong
and then the doctor
corrected it.
I was born the same night in
the middle of the same chaos.
Now my mother's record
said "baby girl,"
but it's crossed out
and changed to "boy."
Well, one boy baby
and one girl baby.
Hm.
The paperwork must've
been mixed up.
Is this one too
fantastic to be true?
Not really.
Our research shows
that a similar story
took place involving a
couple in the Northeast
around the late '70s.
Now let's take a look at
the evil Halloween Scrooge
who was paid back
for his treachery
by an unexplainable force.
Trick or treat?
Ah!
I see you out there!
[growling]
Did you think our
research staff found a story
inspired by an actual event?
Not this time.
It's the creation of a writer.
How did you judge
the story of the girl
with the imaginary cat
that turned out to be
more than just imagination?
Hey, how would you feel if I
took some pictures of Precious?
Are you trying to
make me like you?
A little.
Sure.
Go ahead.
Take her picture.
She always loves taking her
afternoon naps on this pillow.
Oh, OK.
Did we make up this
story of the young woman
obsessed by a cat that
nobody but her could see?
No.
This story is inspired by an
actual event that took place
near Paris in the mid-'50s.
What did you make of the tale
of the crooked policeman who
apparently received his
revenge from the ghost of Billy
the Kid?
Was this one true?
Now you're gonna tell
me what's in our room!
What is it?
- I don't what you're talking--
- Don't lie to me!
Joe!
I only know what other
people have told me.
What?
A long time ago, a man
named William Bonny was killed
in an unfair gunfight,
and some people believe
that his spirit remained here.
Are you telling me that
this hotel is haunted?
According to our research,
a similar event to this one
did occur in a period
between the World Wars
in the American Southwest.
It's fact.
Now let's review the story of
the mysterious hitchhiker who
changed the lives
of a married couple.
True or false?
There is no reason
for this to be flat.
Ah!
David!
Looks like you need help.
If you thought this one
was based on an actual event,
you're right.
It's a story that
has been reported
by travelers along a
highway in New York state.
It's fact.
How was your
perception tonight?
Did it stay constant?
Or did it change
before your eyes?
The perception of
truth must include
the awareness of falsehood.
But where does one begin
and the other let off?
That's the challenge of
discerning fact from fiction.
And that's why we're
often left with a choice
that's beyond belief.
I'm Jonathan Frakes.
JON LAFONTAINE (VOICEOVER):
The story entitled,
"For the Record," is true
based upon firsthand research
conducted by author Robert
Tralins for Beyond Belief:
Fact or Fiction.
This is Don LaFontaine.