Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) s04e01 Episode Script
The Devil's Autograph/Mail Order Degree/The Newsstand/Murder of Roy Hennessey/Mysterious Strangers
NARRATOR: 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 enter a world
of both truth and deception.
A world that is beyond belief.
[theme music]
We've all seen paintings
that seem to follow
us as we move around the room.
But what do you make
of a painting that
changes as we move around it.
This is a picture
of a cityscape.
Look at it straight on and you
see the fronts of the building.
But move around it, and
the sides of the building
come into view.
How is this possible?
The ingenious artist painted
this picture on a canvas
with ridges, so as you
move, your perspective
constantly changes.
So be aware that while you
may view our stories tonight
in one way, much
like this picture,
your perspective
may suddenly change.
Sound confusing?
Don't worry, you'll
get the picture.
The accessories of a courtroom--
sometimes cameras are allowed
in to record the proceedings.
And when cameras
are not permitted,
a courtroom artist
sketches the participants.
But can any artist
or camera capture
absolute truth in the court.
For even under oath, only
witnesses know the truth
of their own testimony.
Matt Richmond is a lawyer
who cares about the truth.
He'll fight for any
client-- rich or poor--
as long as he is convinced
of their innocence.
And concerning his latest
case, in a few moments,
he's about to get
the true picture.
[courtroom chatter]
MATT RICHMOND:
Three months ago I
was hired by Lloyd Corbel
as his defense attorney
in a capital murder case.
Corbel was accused of brutally
stabbing his young wife
Corinne to death.
[suspenseful music playing]
What do you think?
I don't know.
I couldn't read him.
Have faith.
MATT RICHMOND: I liked Corbel
from the first day I met him.
He had an easy charm
that was hard to resist.
Prosecution presented
a strong case
of a jealous
husband who murdered
his wife in a fit of rage.
Corbel swore he was asleep
in the bedroom when his wife
Corinne was surprised
by an intruder who
viciously stabbed her to death.
Corinne's parents--
Doug and Beverly Weeks--
came to the trial every day.
They were certain
Corbel was guilty.
I was certain he was innocent.
Madam Forewoman, has the
jury reached a verdict?
Yes, we have your honor.
Will the defendant
please rise.
MATT RICHMOND: The jury had
only been out for two days.
I was worried.
How do you find the
defendant on the single count
of murder in the first degree?
We the jury, find
the defendant, Lloyd
Russell Corbel, not guilty.
On
Oh, my God.
We did it.
We did it.
Corbel, you are free to go.
I want to thank the
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury for all their hard
work on a very difficult case.
This court is dismissed.
You're a genius counselor.
No, you saved yourself, Lloyd.
It was that story you
told them on the stand.
That's what turned them.
The pin star?
Yeah.
About how this was the
last gift my dear Corinne
had given me, and
how I would cherish
it for the rest of my life.
I saw the jury's face
as you moved them all.
It was obvious that you
loved her very much.
Did I really come across?
As I didn't love that slut.
Not one bit.
What did you say?
Corinne was sleeping
with everybody in town.
I know she was.
I could feel it.
I could see it on her face.
I could-could smell
it on her clothes.
I got a confession
to make, counselor.
There was no intruder.
I killed Corinne.
It will be our little secret.
Oh, in case you're
thinking about talking,
just remember, double jeopardy.
I can't be tried again.
I don't believe this.
Well, believe it.
Hey, I want you to have
this, to remember me by.
Along with that fat check
you're going to get.
You're a genius.
MATT RICHMOND: I
couldn't think straight.
What had I done?
NEWS REPORTER: Here he comes.
Corbel.
Please.
NEWS REPORTER: Mr. Corbel,
what-- what are your plans now?
Well, this has been
a very trying ordeal,
for me, and for
Corinne's parents.
I want you all to
think about this.
The real killer is still
out there somewhere,
and I'll be offering a
reward for his capture.
But for now I would
truly appreciate it
if you all would just
give me a bit of time
to try and get my
life back together.
And to do some
grieving in private.
Thank you.
NEWS REPORTER: Mr. Corbel,
just one more question--
MATT RICHMOND: It
made me sick inside
to know that Corinne's
parents were in so much pain
and Corbel was walking
away a free man.
And then, for some reason I
suddenly remembered the pen.
It disgusted me to touch it.
I didn't want it
anywhere near me.
All I could think about
was getting it back to him.
Corbel.
Yeah.
I don't want your pen.
I don't want anything of yours.
Well suit
yourself, counsellor.
You just passed up a $1,500 pen.
Yeah, well you keep it.
You're going to need it to
get the devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
That's-- that's funny.
MATT RICHMOND: It was the
strangest thing I'd ever seen.
Somehow, in the fall, the
pen had penetrated his chest
and pierced his heart.
Lloyd Corbel was dead.
What caused the
elevator to malfunction
at that particular time?
It had never done
that before or after.
And how do you explain the
pen being the instrument
of Lloyd Corbel's death?
Were the fates at play here,
or was it mere happenstance?
Should our writers be praised
for transcribing the truth?
Or are they guilty
of artistic perjury?
NARRATOR: We'll find out that
if this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, see what kind of
curse can make your hair
and teeth fall out on Beyond
belief, fact or fiction.
Have you checked the
back sections of newspapers
and magazines lately?
You'll find you
can become anything
from a dental
assistant to a minister
by simply purchasing a
degree through the mail.
Like all such offers, some are
more legitimate than others.
Charlie Lunt has been
making a good living
from offering illegitimate
degrees through the mail.
But his dirty little
scheme is about to unravel.
And he'll soon discover that
these worthless certificates
may include something
Charlie never bargained for.
A curse.
Hello, I'm Charles Lunt,
president and founder of NTTA,
the national technical
training camp.
In just three
short weeks, you'll
become a highly paid and sought
after computer technician.
The costs for the entire
course, only $999.95.
You have my
guarantee that NTTA
diploma will get
you a high paying
job in computer electronics--
CHARLES LUNT: --in
computer electronics,
or I'll personally
refund your money.
I love you, Charlie.
JONATHAN FRAKES: Con artist
Charlie Lunt has put together
a lot of scams in his day.
But this current one is
his most successful yet.
$10,000.
Victory is sweet.
Mmm.
Good week, huh, Mr. Lunt.
Not bad but we
can still do better.
Send out that new
batch of diplomas?
They went out this morning.
Mmm, good girl.
Oh, you got some more letters.
They're all from people
demanding their money back.
They said they
couldn't find any work.
Gee, really, that's too bad.
But you can't always
bet a thousand, Jamie.
Just leave them here,
I'll take care of them.
Yes, sir.
[music playing]
Don't hold your breath's.
Oh, I'm going to
rock your world.
Ah!
I've been waiting
for you Mr. Lunt.
- Who are you?
- I am one of your students.
How'd you find me?
I mean, uh, what's the problem?
Didn't you get your diploma?
I received my
diploma, but I never
found a job like you promised.
I looked for six months,
but no one would hire me.
I wrote you for a refund,
but you never answered.
I have a family and
I have no money.
I want my refund, Mr. Lunt.
Look, I never
promised how long
would it take to get a job.
So technically, I
don't owe you anything.
And it will hold up in court.
You are a fake, a fraud,
and I want my money.
Get your hands off me.
Hey, security.
I want my refund.
- I don't owe you anything.
- I want my refund.
Get you hands off me.
I want my refund.
I want him arrested for
trespassing and assault.
You will be sorry!
[inaudible] will hunt you.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, thanks for the buck, creep.
Ah!
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Over the next month,
Charlie's mail
order scam boomed.
His only problem was where
to hide all the cash.
He didn't want to use a bank,
because he wasn't planning
on reporting any of the money.
Charlie solved this
problem by having
the wall behind the steel
bookcase hollowed out.
Charlie loved having his
money right behind him,
so he could count it
whenever he wanted to.
But then something
strange began to happen.
Well, you've got 10
more checks and 15 more
letters asking for refunds.
My god, Mr. Lunt, what's wrong?
You don't look so good.
I'm feeling awful lately.
Can't keep anything down,
nauseous all the time,
could barely get out
of bed this morning.
Well, maybe you
should see a doctor.
I've already been
to a doctor, said he
couldn't find anything wrong.
It's probably just the flu.
Yeah, that's right,
it's just the flu.
JONATHAN FRAKES: It was
frightening to hear the doctors
had no answers, especially
for a man who was
so vain about his appearance.
[eerie music playing]
Oh, god.
It's happening.
[coughing]
Good morning, Mr. Lunt.
Did you have a good weekend?
Got the morning mail.
There's a bunch of checks
that could cheer you up.
Are you feeling better?
Wow, that's a lot of money.
Mr. Lunt?
Mr. Lunt?
Mr. Lunt, are you all right?
[crying]
JONATHAN FRAKES: When
Charlie Lunt hollowed out
the wall behind him, he didn't
know that he was removing
the lead shield that
protected his office
from the radiology x-ray
lab located next door.
The green glow of his
money was enhanced
by repeated doses of radiation.
Was Charlie's demise really
the fulfillment of a curse,
or was it only the result
of the radiation coming
through the wall next door?
And what made him choose to hide
his money in the hollow wall?
He had been in that
office for years,
yet never chose to do that
until after the curse.
Is this story of the man who
peddled phony diplomas a lie?
Or does it contain
a degree of truth?
NARRATOR: We'll find out
the story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a mysterious
publication changes
the life of a teenage boy, on
Beyond belief, fact or fiction.
The corner news stand--
even with all the
information that's
available on the internet,
TV, and radio these days--
is still a special place with
it's color, sounds of the city,
and other things to
excite your senses.
I read this one
for the articles.
The fact is, you can
find a variety of things
in a stand like this,
but young Vinnie Rose
is about to find something
he needs more than anything
in the world.
A mentor.
[music playing]
VINNIE ROSE: My mom
died when I was 11.
I've been scavenging out
in the street ever since.
It was hard when I had
no place else to go.
The streets are a tough place
to live when you're only 15.
I was born into a rough life.
My dad was a bad drunk.
I don't remember much
about him, but he
beat me with his belt. Ran on
me my mom when I was only three.
All he left behind was a
lot of bills and a belt
buckle with his initials on it.
DR for Don Rose.
I wear the belt buckle to
remind me never to trust nobody.
I didn't have any
friends or any future.
I didn't really care.
I just wanted to get my
cans and get out of there
before those guys came back.
That's when I found it.
[sirens]
The old magazine was
in perfect condition.
I figured it must have
been worth something.
Thank you, sir.
Hey, mister.
Hey, mister.
What do you want?
How much you give me for this?
Pretty good
condition, you steal it.
No.
I found under a
dumpster, I swear.
I'll give you $10.
$20, and that hoagie sandwich
you got sitting over there.
You got a deal.
Never seen you around here
before, uh, where do you live?
All over.
How'd you end up homeless.
Listen, can I
just have my money.
Sure.
What your name?
Vinnie.
You got parents?
Just my mom but she's dead.
VINNIE ROSE: I was through
wasting my time with this guy.
There was something
about him I kind of like.
Hey-- hey kid.
I could use some
help around here.
So?
So I'm offering you a job.
Well, what's the catch?
Catch?
You got to work.
VINNIE ROSE: Doc
gave me some money.
Told me to get some new
clothes and clean myself up.
Then he taught me all about
running a new's stand.
How to make change,
how to order stuff,
and how some things have a
value you can't put a price on.
A buck.
That's not for sale.
VINNIE ROSE: He was better to
me than anyone I'd ever known.
After a while, I got so
good at what I was doing,
Doc actually left me in charge.
He'd take off for a couple
hours every few days.
He said he had some
business he had his care of.
He never told me what it was.
Hey, put them back.
Put what back.
You were stealing cigarettes.
Hear that?
He's calling me a thief.
You believe that?
Look, just put
cigarettes back,
and I won't call the cops.
You know what would
look cool on you?
Let him go.
Let him go!
What are you going
to do about it old--
Let him go!
Dude's crazy.
Let's get out of here.
I'm sorry, Doc.
I'm-- I'm sorry I let you down.
Don't worry, you--
you did fine.
You OK?
I'll-- I'll go clean that up.
The next day, Doc left again.
I was glad he still
trusted me to run things.
This time a week went by and
I still hadn't heard from him.
I was worried, but I didn't know
who to call or how to find him.
Are you Vincent Rose.
Yeah, why?
I'm Doc's attorney,
Addison Montgomery.
I'm afraid I have
bad news for you.
What?
Where's Doc.
Doc was diagnosed with a
brain tumor six months ago.
He died yesterday
during surgery.
He, uh, he asked me
to give you this,
in case he didn't make it.
He was a good man.
[car horn]
DOC: Dear Vinnie,
when I first saw you,
I knew who you were right away.
You were wearing my belt
buckle, and I'm ashamed to say,
it's the same one I used to
hit you with when I got drunk.
I'm your father.
What I did a long time
ago was very wrong.
Now, I want to do what's right.
The key in this envelope
is to a safety deposit
box at First Monument Bank.
Inside is the deed to the
newsstand and $50,000.
Everything I had in
this world is now yours.
I love you son and I'm sorry
I had to leave you again.
Don Doc Rose, Your dad.
[music playing]
Remember this magazine?
It's the one that brought
Doc and Vinnie together.
Where did it come from?
And how could a magazine from
1939-- found in an ally--
still be in such
pristine condition?
Did Doc know that
Vinnie was in the area
and plant the magazine
for him to find?
If so, how could he
be sure Vinnie would
bring the magazine back him?
Is this touching
tale of a father, son
reunited based on truth, or is
it as false as the headlines
of a phony tabloid.
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a killer is on the loose
in a graveyard, on Beyond
belief, fact or fiction.
Have you ever walk
through a graveyard?
Could be a strange and
foreboding place, especially
when the sky is
overcast and the wind
swirls around the grave sites.
Michelle Lambert
and Stacey Gilmore
are at the cemetery this day
to work on a school project,
and the chill in the air
they're about to feel
is due to more than the
sudden change in the weather.
[music playing]
MICHELLE LAMBERT: It was
the time of year when
the weather gets unpredictable.
But my girlfriend
Stacy and I were
given a predictable
assignment for history class.
We had to trace
the family trees of
our prominent local citizens.
This meant long, cold days
spent at the local cemetery.
I'm ready for a break.
Do you mind?
I told you to
eat more at lunch.
Well, I wasn't expecting
to be here all day.
Is there such a thing
as cemetery-itis?
Amazing, isn't it?
That no matter who these
people were in their lives--
no matter how important--
they all ended up
in the same place.
After all the time we spent
researching this stupid report,
I feel like we've ended up here.
[gun shot]
My god, what was that?
I don't know.
A car backfire?
I don't think there's a road
on that side of the cemetery.
Well, what else could it be?
That's weird.
What?
That guy.
I suppose he works here.
It's nobody I've seen before.
Well, forget about him.
He's not even your type.
Meaning what?
[gun shot]
OK, that was a gun shot.
- He's got a gun.
- You're kidding right?
No, I'm not, and
he's heading this way.
Quick, over here.
[suspenseful music playing]
There!
Where are you going?
To see what he was shooting
at behind those trees.
[gasp]
Did you hear something?
No, come on, now.
Oh, let them
know, Roy Hennessey
was killed by Jerry Fletcher.
Tell them that.
We got to get to the car.
I left my cell phone there.
Come on, we've got
to call the police.
He staggered toward us.
He was holding his stomach and
there was blood on his shirt.
He fell down on his
knees and-- and then he
said, let them
know Roy Hennessey
was killed by Gerry Fletcher.
Tell them that, tell them.
Those were the man's exact
words and the exact names
he told him, you're sure?
Yes, positive.
Believe me, there's
not one detail of this
I'll ever be able to forget.
God knows I'm going to try.
Detective Tanner.
Is that is?
Yeah the knapsack and
things like they said.
But there's no sign
of a body, anywhere.
That doesn't make any sense.
Maybe we were wrong.
Maybe he wasn't dead.
He could have crawled away.
Look, you'll have to
check the whole cemetery.
It-- it isn't exactly
that I don't believe you.
What about the man with
the gun, with the long hair?
He ran right past us,
we didn't make this up.
Why isn't somebody
out there looking
for this Gerry Fletcher guy?
Are we done hear, sir?
Radio Sergeant Morgan.
He's making a transfer from
downtown to the county lockup,
I want him to swing by here.
Yes, sir.
This way, please.
[gasp]
Yes, that's the man we saw.
That's the one.
Absolutely, no question.
That is amazing.
You've already got
him in custody.
You guys are so fast.
It's Fletcher right?
What is it?
I'm afraid there's a couple
of problems with your story.
It's not a story,
it's what happened.
First, the man you said
who died, Roy Hennessey,
was shot and killed
in this cemetery.
So what's the problem?
It was two years ago.
Well then Fletcher shot
somebody here two hours ago.
That is Fletcher right?
The man in the patrol car
is in fact Gerry Fletcher.
He was picked up after he
botched an armed robbery.
But you couldn't
have seen him here,
he's been held in police
custody for 72 hours.
So, I don't know what
to tell you ladies.
Well then, who
shot Roy Hennessey?
Case has never been solved.
You did it.
We know you did it.
Tell them!
Tell them!
Michelle.
Michelle, come on, we
did what we could do.
Let's just forget about it.
Let's go by forensics.
Just for the hell of it, I want
to run a test on Fletcher's gun
from the robbery.
Your, uh, your
thinking there's
a match with that old
murder based on this?
I know, I know.
[music playing]
MICHELLE LAMBERT: The results
of the test on Gerry Fletcher's
hand gun showed it
was the same weapon
that had been used in the
shooting of Roy Hennessy.
When he was told
about the evidence,
Gerry Fletcher
confessed to the murder
that he had committed
two years before.
What did Michelle
and Stacy really see?
Did they witnessed
the original murder
in some unexplainable time warp?
Or perhaps some locals who
knew the story were playing
a prank on the two girls.
But then how do you
explain the identity
of the man in the police car?
It's just bizarre story of
the cemetery based on fact,
or have our writers toiled too
long on the graveyard shift?
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a helpless
old woman encounters
two strange drifters, on
Beyond belief, fact or fiction.
The romance of the trail.
The notion of the grizzled
cowboys riding into the sunset.
It's always meant heroic
freedom to most Americans,
but not everyone in the old
west lived an adventurous life.
A good many of them like Zerelda
Hart struggled to get by.
Barely making ends meet, she
lives alone in her tiny cabin,
sometimes not seeing another
soul for weeks at a time,
until one fateful night.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
The year was 1870
and Zerelda Hart had been living
alone ever since the passing
of her husband Cleveland.
Zerelda's cabin was
located in the remote hills
of northern Missouri.
It had been a hard and
lonely life for Zerelda,
but she remained a
charitable and decent person.
[knocking]
Zerelda's nearest neighbors
were over 40 miles away.
She seldom had visitors,
especially on a cold,
rainy night.
My lord, you boys
are soaked to the bone.
Yes we are, ma'am.
We've been riding
for a long time.
We'd truly appreciate it
if might come in and sit
for a spell by your fire.
Oh, please do.
Come right on in.
Get yourselves out of the cold.
You all alone here ma'am?
Yes I am.
My husband Cleveland took
sick and died two years ago.
Don't you have no
kids to help you out.
No, we never had children.
It was just
Cleveland and myself.
Oh, that's too bad.
It's tough being a woman all
alone, especially way out
here in the middle of nowhere.
My name's Zerelda,
Zerelda Hart.
It's a pleasure to make
your acquaintance, ma'am.
Let's see, now.
What are you
doing there, ma'am?
These we're Cleveland's.
Get yourselves out
of those wet clothes
before you catch
your death of cold.
It might not fit you very
well but at least they're dry.
Thank you, kindly.
You can keep them.
I have no use for them anymore.
I bet you're hungry.
You've been kind enough
ma'am, we don't want you
to any anymore trouble, ma'am.
I sure can stand to
eat something though.
I got some soup on the stove.
You sure are nice.
She kind of reminds
me of m-- ma.
Your brothers?
No, ma'am.
He means his mom.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Zerelda couldn't quite
figure out the two strangers.
She wondered who they were and
why they seemed so secretive.
And where you boys headed?
Home.
You been away for a spell?
A spell.
How about you?
How long you lived
in this place?
20 years.
Ever since Cleveland built it.
Had a lot of happy days here.
My memories are all good.
What's wrong?
We never had much money.
But after Cleveland passed,
things got really bad,
and I had to borrow $900
from the Davies Savings
Bank in Galilee just to get by.
I put up the house and
land as collateral.
Now, that note has come due.
Tomorrow, someone has come
in from the bank to collect.
I have no way to pay it.
I'm going to lose my home.
Where will you go?
I don't know.
I didn't mean to
burden you with this.
There's nothing
that anybody can do.
Why don't you get some sleep
and I'll get up and fix
you breakfast in the morning.
JONATHAN FRAKES: When Zerelda
got up the next morning,
the only thing on her mind was
the foreclosure of her home.
She was sorry to see that
the two strangers were gone.
She had never even found out who
they were, and then she saw it.
Left on her table were nine
$100 bills along with a note.
STRANGER: Dear Mrs.
Zerelda, we thank
you for your kindness to us.
We thought you could use this.
Make sure you ask the
banker for a receipt.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Several hours later,
the man from the bank arrived
with foreclosure papers
ready to be signed.
Mrs. Zerelda Hart?
JT Burnham from the
Davies Savings Bank.
I've been expecting you.
JONATHAN FRAKES: J
Burnham was a man who
was trained in counting money.
There was no doubt that he
was holding $900 in his hand.
Burnham couldn't
understand how Zerelda
Hart could pay the entire
amount that she owed the bank.
He found it equally odd that
it was all in $100 bills.
But the thing that
really surprised him
was when she insisted
on a receipt.
He reluctantly gave her one,
but was puzzled as to why
she made such a point of it.
Hand over your
money stack, now.
I have no money.
All right.
All right, don't shoot.
You boys are going to get into
a lot of trouble for doing this.
They're going to put
a price of your heads.
We already got a
price on our heads.
Tell your friends,
you were just robbed
by Frank and Jesse James.
[music playing]
[gun shots]
Did Jesse and Frank
James really play the part
of Robin Hood for Zerelda Hart?
It's hard to imagine that the
plight of the helpless old lady
might have actually touched
the cold, stone hearts
of the West's most
notorious outlaws.
In presenting this
piece of cowboy lore,
have we given you a
tale based on the fact,
or did the truth
just go that a way.
NARRATOR: Next, you'll find out
which of our stories are facts,
and which are fiction,
when Beyond belief returns.
Now, let's look back
at tonight's stories
and find out which ones are
inspired by actual events,
and which ones
are totally false.
What about the
criminal who used a pen
to write a death sentence.
Corbel.
Yeah.
I don't want your pen.
I don't want anything of yours.
Well, suit yourself, counsellor.
You just passed up a $1,500 pen.
Yeah, well you keep it.
You're going to need it to
get the devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
The law books are
filled with bizarre tales
of people who met with strange
ends after their trial.
Was this one?
Yes.
An event like this
happened to a lawyer
from upstate New
York in the '70s.
Let's review the story of
the mail order swindler
who cheated
everything but death.
I want him arrested for
trespassing and assault.
You will be sorry.
[inaudible] will hunt you.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, thanks With buck, creep.
Ah!
Is it possible
this story is true?
Yes it is.
A similar story occurred outside
New York City in the late '80s.
How about the story of
a father and son who
were reunited at the
corner newsstand?
Hey, mister.
What do you want?
How much you give me for this?
Pretty good
condition, you steal it?
No.
I found it under a
dumpster, I swear.
- I'll give you $10.
- $20.
Was this story based
on a real happening?
Not this time.
Our writer's made it up.
And what was your opinion of
the two girls who just witnessed
a murder in the cemetery?
A murder that took
place two years before.
OK, that was a gun shot.
Where's that guy?
He's got a gun and
he's headed this way.
Quick, over here.
Was a story inspired
by a actual event?
Yes.
Our research found a published
report of a similar story.
Let's review the story of
the good deed performed
by Frank and Jesse James.
[gun shots]
Hand over your
money sack, now.
I have no money.
[gun shot]
All right.
All right, don't shoot.
You boys are going to
get into a lot of trouble
for doing this.
They're going to put
a price on your head.
We already got a
price on our heads.
Tell your friends,
you were just robbed
by Frank and Jesse James.
Can it be this story is fact?
Yes it is.
The event was reported
as having taken place
in the Ozark foothills in 1870.
So do you still think
that fact and fiction
are polar opposites?
Or do they occupy
the exact same space?
And trying to find one
without encountering the other
is a challenge that is
truly beyond belief.
I'm Jonathan Frakes.
NARRATOR: The stories entitled
"Devil's Autograph" and "Mail
Order Degree" are true,
based upon firsthand research
conducted by author
Robert Tralins.
This is Campbell Lane.
[theme music]
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 enter a world
of both truth and deception.
A world that is beyond belief.
[theme music]
We've all seen paintings
that seem to follow
us as we move around the room.
But what do you make
of a painting that
changes as we move around it.
This is a picture
of a cityscape.
Look at it straight on and you
see the fronts of the building.
But move around it, and
the sides of the building
come into view.
How is this possible?
The ingenious artist painted
this picture on a canvas
with ridges, so as you
move, your perspective
constantly changes.
So be aware that while you
may view our stories tonight
in one way, much
like this picture,
your perspective
may suddenly change.
Sound confusing?
Don't worry, you'll
get the picture.
The accessories of a courtroom--
sometimes cameras are allowed
in to record the proceedings.
And when cameras
are not permitted,
a courtroom artist
sketches the participants.
But can any artist
or camera capture
absolute truth in the court.
For even under oath, only
witnesses know the truth
of their own testimony.
Matt Richmond is a lawyer
who cares about the truth.
He'll fight for any
client-- rich or poor--
as long as he is convinced
of their innocence.
And concerning his latest
case, in a few moments,
he's about to get
the true picture.
[courtroom chatter]
MATT RICHMOND:
Three months ago I
was hired by Lloyd Corbel
as his defense attorney
in a capital murder case.
Corbel was accused of brutally
stabbing his young wife
Corinne to death.
[suspenseful music playing]
What do you think?
I don't know.
I couldn't read him.
Have faith.
MATT RICHMOND: I liked Corbel
from the first day I met him.
He had an easy charm
that was hard to resist.
Prosecution presented
a strong case
of a jealous
husband who murdered
his wife in a fit of rage.
Corbel swore he was asleep
in the bedroom when his wife
Corinne was surprised
by an intruder who
viciously stabbed her to death.
Corinne's parents--
Doug and Beverly Weeks--
came to the trial every day.
They were certain
Corbel was guilty.
I was certain he was innocent.
Madam Forewoman, has the
jury reached a verdict?
Yes, we have your honor.
Will the defendant
please rise.
MATT RICHMOND: The jury had
only been out for two days.
I was worried.
How do you find the
defendant on the single count
of murder in the first degree?
We the jury, find
the defendant, Lloyd
Russell Corbel, not guilty.
On
Oh, my God.
We did it.
We did it.
Corbel, you are free to go.
I want to thank the
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury for all their hard
work on a very difficult case.
This court is dismissed.
You're a genius counselor.
No, you saved yourself, Lloyd.
It was that story you
told them on the stand.
That's what turned them.
The pin star?
Yeah.
About how this was the
last gift my dear Corinne
had given me, and
how I would cherish
it for the rest of my life.
I saw the jury's face
as you moved them all.
It was obvious that you
loved her very much.
Did I really come across?
As I didn't love that slut.
Not one bit.
What did you say?
Corinne was sleeping
with everybody in town.
I know she was.
I could feel it.
I could see it on her face.
I could-could smell
it on her clothes.
I got a confession
to make, counselor.
There was no intruder.
I killed Corinne.
It will be our little secret.
Oh, in case you're
thinking about talking,
just remember, double jeopardy.
I can't be tried again.
I don't believe this.
Well, believe it.
Hey, I want you to have
this, to remember me by.
Along with that fat check
you're going to get.
You're a genius.
MATT RICHMOND: I
couldn't think straight.
What had I done?
NEWS REPORTER: Here he comes.
Corbel.
Please.
NEWS REPORTER: Mr. Corbel,
what-- what are your plans now?
Well, this has been
a very trying ordeal,
for me, and for
Corinne's parents.
I want you all to
think about this.
The real killer is still
out there somewhere,
and I'll be offering a
reward for his capture.
But for now I would
truly appreciate it
if you all would just
give me a bit of time
to try and get my
life back together.
And to do some
grieving in private.
Thank you.
NEWS REPORTER: Mr. Corbel,
just one more question--
MATT RICHMOND: It
made me sick inside
to know that Corinne's
parents were in so much pain
and Corbel was walking
away a free man.
And then, for some reason I
suddenly remembered the pen.
It disgusted me to touch it.
I didn't want it
anywhere near me.
All I could think about
was getting it back to him.
Corbel.
Yeah.
I don't want your pen.
I don't want anything of yours.
Well suit
yourself, counsellor.
You just passed up a $1,500 pen.
Yeah, well you keep it.
You're going to need it to
get the devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
That's-- that's funny.
MATT RICHMOND: It was the
strangest thing I'd ever seen.
Somehow, in the fall, the
pen had penetrated his chest
and pierced his heart.
Lloyd Corbel was dead.
What caused the
elevator to malfunction
at that particular time?
It had never done
that before or after.
And how do you explain the
pen being the instrument
of Lloyd Corbel's death?
Were the fates at play here,
or was it mere happenstance?
Should our writers be praised
for transcribing the truth?
Or are they guilty
of artistic perjury?
NARRATOR: We'll find out that
if this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, see what kind of
curse can make your hair
and teeth fall out on Beyond
belief, fact or fiction.
Have you checked the
back sections of newspapers
and magazines lately?
You'll find you
can become anything
from a dental
assistant to a minister
by simply purchasing a
degree through the mail.
Like all such offers, some are
more legitimate than others.
Charlie Lunt has been
making a good living
from offering illegitimate
degrees through the mail.
But his dirty little
scheme is about to unravel.
And he'll soon discover that
these worthless certificates
may include something
Charlie never bargained for.
A curse.
Hello, I'm Charles Lunt,
president and founder of NTTA,
the national technical
training camp.
In just three
short weeks, you'll
become a highly paid and sought
after computer technician.
The costs for the entire
course, only $999.95.
You have my
guarantee that NTTA
diploma will get
you a high paying
job in computer electronics--
CHARLES LUNT: --in
computer electronics,
or I'll personally
refund your money.
I love you, Charlie.
JONATHAN FRAKES: Con artist
Charlie Lunt has put together
a lot of scams in his day.
But this current one is
his most successful yet.
$10,000.
Victory is sweet.
Mmm.
Good week, huh, Mr. Lunt.
Not bad but we
can still do better.
Send out that new
batch of diplomas?
They went out this morning.
Mmm, good girl.
Oh, you got some more letters.
They're all from people
demanding their money back.
They said they
couldn't find any work.
Gee, really, that's too bad.
But you can't always
bet a thousand, Jamie.
Just leave them here,
I'll take care of them.
Yes, sir.
[music playing]
Don't hold your breath's.
Oh, I'm going to
rock your world.
Ah!
I've been waiting
for you Mr. Lunt.
- Who are you?
- I am one of your students.
How'd you find me?
I mean, uh, what's the problem?
Didn't you get your diploma?
I received my
diploma, but I never
found a job like you promised.
I looked for six months,
but no one would hire me.
I wrote you for a refund,
but you never answered.
I have a family and
I have no money.
I want my refund, Mr. Lunt.
Look, I never
promised how long
would it take to get a job.
So technically, I
don't owe you anything.
And it will hold up in court.
You are a fake, a fraud,
and I want my money.
Get your hands off me.
Hey, security.
I want my refund.
- I don't owe you anything.
- I want my refund.
Get you hands off me.
I want my refund.
I want him arrested for
trespassing and assault.
You will be sorry!
[inaudible] will hunt you.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, thanks for the buck, creep.
Ah!
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Over the next month,
Charlie's mail
order scam boomed.
His only problem was where
to hide all the cash.
He didn't want to use a bank,
because he wasn't planning
on reporting any of the money.
Charlie solved this
problem by having
the wall behind the steel
bookcase hollowed out.
Charlie loved having his
money right behind him,
so he could count it
whenever he wanted to.
But then something
strange began to happen.
Well, you've got 10
more checks and 15 more
letters asking for refunds.
My god, Mr. Lunt, what's wrong?
You don't look so good.
I'm feeling awful lately.
Can't keep anything down,
nauseous all the time,
could barely get out
of bed this morning.
Well, maybe you
should see a doctor.
I've already been
to a doctor, said he
couldn't find anything wrong.
It's probably just the flu.
Yeah, that's right,
it's just the flu.
JONATHAN FRAKES: It was
frightening to hear the doctors
had no answers, especially
for a man who was
so vain about his appearance.
[eerie music playing]
Oh, god.
It's happening.
[coughing]
Good morning, Mr. Lunt.
Did you have a good weekend?
Got the morning mail.
There's a bunch of checks
that could cheer you up.
Are you feeling better?
Wow, that's a lot of money.
Mr. Lunt?
Mr. Lunt?
Mr. Lunt, are you all right?
[crying]
JONATHAN FRAKES: When
Charlie Lunt hollowed out
the wall behind him, he didn't
know that he was removing
the lead shield that
protected his office
from the radiology x-ray
lab located next door.
The green glow of his
money was enhanced
by repeated doses of radiation.
Was Charlie's demise really
the fulfillment of a curse,
or was it only the result
of the radiation coming
through the wall next door?
And what made him choose to hide
his money in the hollow wall?
He had been in that
office for years,
yet never chose to do that
until after the curse.
Is this story of the man who
peddled phony diplomas a lie?
Or does it contain
a degree of truth?
NARRATOR: We'll find out
the story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a mysterious
publication changes
the life of a teenage boy, on
Beyond belief, fact or fiction.
The corner news stand--
even with all the
information that's
available on the internet,
TV, and radio these days--
is still a special place with
it's color, sounds of the city,
and other things to
excite your senses.
I read this one
for the articles.
The fact is, you can
find a variety of things
in a stand like this,
but young Vinnie Rose
is about to find something
he needs more than anything
in the world.
A mentor.
[music playing]
VINNIE ROSE: My mom
died when I was 11.
I've been scavenging out
in the street ever since.
It was hard when I had
no place else to go.
The streets are a tough place
to live when you're only 15.
I was born into a rough life.
My dad was a bad drunk.
I don't remember much
about him, but he
beat me with his belt. Ran on
me my mom when I was only three.
All he left behind was a
lot of bills and a belt
buckle with his initials on it.
DR for Don Rose.
I wear the belt buckle to
remind me never to trust nobody.
I didn't have any
friends or any future.
I didn't really care.
I just wanted to get my
cans and get out of there
before those guys came back.
That's when I found it.
[sirens]
The old magazine was
in perfect condition.
I figured it must have
been worth something.
Thank you, sir.
Hey, mister.
Hey, mister.
What do you want?
How much you give me for this?
Pretty good
condition, you steal it.
No.
I found under a
dumpster, I swear.
I'll give you $10.
$20, and that hoagie sandwich
you got sitting over there.
You got a deal.
Never seen you around here
before, uh, where do you live?
All over.
How'd you end up homeless.
Listen, can I
just have my money.
Sure.
What your name?
Vinnie.
You got parents?
Just my mom but she's dead.
VINNIE ROSE: I was through
wasting my time with this guy.
There was something
about him I kind of like.
Hey-- hey kid.
I could use some
help around here.
So?
So I'm offering you a job.
Well, what's the catch?
Catch?
You got to work.
VINNIE ROSE: Doc
gave me some money.
Told me to get some new
clothes and clean myself up.
Then he taught me all about
running a new's stand.
How to make change,
how to order stuff,
and how some things have a
value you can't put a price on.
A buck.
That's not for sale.
VINNIE ROSE: He was better to
me than anyone I'd ever known.
After a while, I got so
good at what I was doing,
Doc actually left me in charge.
He'd take off for a couple
hours every few days.
He said he had some
business he had his care of.
He never told me what it was.
Hey, put them back.
Put what back.
You were stealing cigarettes.
Hear that?
He's calling me a thief.
You believe that?
Look, just put
cigarettes back,
and I won't call the cops.
You know what would
look cool on you?
Let him go.
Let him go!
What are you going
to do about it old--
Let him go!
Dude's crazy.
Let's get out of here.
I'm sorry, Doc.
I'm-- I'm sorry I let you down.
Don't worry, you--
you did fine.
You OK?
I'll-- I'll go clean that up.
The next day, Doc left again.
I was glad he still
trusted me to run things.
This time a week went by and
I still hadn't heard from him.
I was worried, but I didn't know
who to call or how to find him.
Are you Vincent Rose.
Yeah, why?
I'm Doc's attorney,
Addison Montgomery.
I'm afraid I have
bad news for you.
What?
Where's Doc.
Doc was diagnosed with a
brain tumor six months ago.
He died yesterday
during surgery.
He, uh, he asked me
to give you this,
in case he didn't make it.
He was a good man.
[car horn]
DOC: Dear Vinnie,
when I first saw you,
I knew who you were right away.
You were wearing my belt
buckle, and I'm ashamed to say,
it's the same one I used to
hit you with when I got drunk.
I'm your father.
What I did a long time
ago was very wrong.
Now, I want to do what's right.
The key in this envelope
is to a safety deposit
box at First Monument Bank.
Inside is the deed to the
newsstand and $50,000.
Everything I had in
this world is now yours.
I love you son and I'm sorry
I had to leave you again.
Don Doc Rose, Your dad.
[music playing]
Remember this magazine?
It's the one that brought
Doc and Vinnie together.
Where did it come from?
And how could a magazine from
1939-- found in an ally--
still be in such
pristine condition?
Did Doc know that
Vinnie was in the area
and plant the magazine
for him to find?
If so, how could he
be sure Vinnie would
bring the magazine back him?
Is this touching
tale of a father, son
reunited based on truth, or is
it as false as the headlines
of a phony tabloid.
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a killer is on the loose
in a graveyard, on Beyond
belief, fact or fiction.
Have you ever walk
through a graveyard?
Could be a strange and
foreboding place, especially
when the sky is
overcast and the wind
swirls around the grave sites.
Michelle Lambert
and Stacey Gilmore
are at the cemetery this day
to work on a school project,
and the chill in the air
they're about to feel
is due to more than the
sudden change in the weather.
[music playing]
MICHELLE LAMBERT: It was
the time of year when
the weather gets unpredictable.
But my girlfriend
Stacy and I were
given a predictable
assignment for history class.
We had to trace
the family trees of
our prominent local citizens.
This meant long, cold days
spent at the local cemetery.
I'm ready for a break.
Do you mind?
I told you to
eat more at lunch.
Well, I wasn't expecting
to be here all day.
Is there such a thing
as cemetery-itis?
Amazing, isn't it?
That no matter who these
people were in their lives--
no matter how important--
they all ended up
in the same place.
After all the time we spent
researching this stupid report,
I feel like we've ended up here.
[gun shot]
My god, what was that?
I don't know.
A car backfire?
I don't think there's a road
on that side of the cemetery.
Well, what else could it be?
That's weird.
What?
That guy.
I suppose he works here.
It's nobody I've seen before.
Well, forget about him.
He's not even your type.
Meaning what?
[gun shot]
OK, that was a gun shot.
- He's got a gun.
- You're kidding right?
No, I'm not, and
he's heading this way.
Quick, over here.
[suspenseful music playing]
There!
Where are you going?
To see what he was shooting
at behind those trees.
[gasp]
Did you hear something?
No, come on, now.
Oh, let them
know, Roy Hennessey
was killed by Jerry Fletcher.
Tell them that.
We got to get to the car.
I left my cell phone there.
Come on, we've got
to call the police.
He staggered toward us.
He was holding his stomach and
there was blood on his shirt.
He fell down on his
knees and-- and then he
said, let them
know Roy Hennessey
was killed by Gerry Fletcher.
Tell them that, tell them.
Those were the man's exact
words and the exact names
he told him, you're sure?
Yes, positive.
Believe me, there's
not one detail of this
I'll ever be able to forget.
God knows I'm going to try.
Detective Tanner.
Is that is?
Yeah the knapsack and
things like they said.
But there's no sign
of a body, anywhere.
That doesn't make any sense.
Maybe we were wrong.
Maybe he wasn't dead.
He could have crawled away.
Look, you'll have to
check the whole cemetery.
It-- it isn't exactly
that I don't believe you.
What about the man with
the gun, with the long hair?
He ran right past us,
we didn't make this up.
Why isn't somebody
out there looking
for this Gerry Fletcher guy?
Are we done hear, sir?
Radio Sergeant Morgan.
He's making a transfer from
downtown to the county lockup,
I want him to swing by here.
Yes, sir.
This way, please.
[gasp]
Yes, that's the man we saw.
That's the one.
Absolutely, no question.
That is amazing.
You've already got
him in custody.
You guys are so fast.
It's Fletcher right?
What is it?
I'm afraid there's a couple
of problems with your story.
It's not a story,
it's what happened.
First, the man you said
who died, Roy Hennessey,
was shot and killed
in this cemetery.
So what's the problem?
It was two years ago.
Well then Fletcher shot
somebody here two hours ago.
That is Fletcher right?
The man in the patrol car
is in fact Gerry Fletcher.
He was picked up after he
botched an armed robbery.
But you couldn't
have seen him here,
he's been held in police
custody for 72 hours.
So, I don't know what
to tell you ladies.
Well then, who
shot Roy Hennessey?
Case has never been solved.
You did it.
We know you did it.
Tell them!
Tell them!
Michelle.
Michelle, come on, we
did what we could do.
Let's just forget about it.
Let's go by forensics.
Just for the hell of it, I want
to run a test on Fletcher's gun
from the robbery.
Your, uh, your
thinking there's
a match with that old
murder based on this?
I know, I know.
[music playing]
MICHELLE LAMBERT: The results
of the test on Gerry Fletcher's
hand gun showed it
was the same weapon
that had been used in the
shooting of Roy Hennessy.
When he was told
about the evidence,
Gerry Fletcher
confessed to the murder
that he had committed
two years before.
What did Michelle
and Stacy really see?
Did they witnessed
the original murder
in some unexplainable time warp?
Or perhaps some locals who
knew the story were playing
a prank on the two girls.
But then how do you
explain the identity
of the man in the police car?
It's just bizarre story of
the cemetery based on fact,
or have our writers toiled too
long on the graveyard shift?
NARRATOR: We'll find out if
this story is true or false
at the end of our show.
Next, a helpless
old woman encounters
two strange drifters, on
Beyond belief, fact or fiction.
The romance of the trail.
The notion of the grizzled
cowboys riding into the sunset.
It's always meant heroic
freedom to most Americans,
but not everyone in the old
west lived an adventurous life.
A good many of them like Zerelda
Hart struggled to get by.
Barely making ends meet, she
lives alone in her tiny cabin,
sometimes not seeing another
soul for weeks at a time,
until one fateful night.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
The year was 1870
and Zerelda Hart had been living
alone ever since the passing
of her husband Cleveland.
Zerelda's cabin was
located in the remote hills
of northern Missouri.
It had been a hard and
lonely life for Zerelda,
but she remained a
charitable and decent person.
[knocking]
Zerelda's nearest neighbors
were over 40 miles away.
She seldom had visitors,
especially on a cold,
rainy night.
My lord, you boys
are soaked to the bone.
Yes we are, ma'am.
We've been riding
for a long time.
We'd truly appreciate it
if might come in and sit
for a spell by your fire.
Oh, please do.
Come right on in.
Get yourselves out of the cold.
You all alone here ma'am?
Yes I am.
My husband Cleveland took
sick and died two years ago.
Don't you have no
kids to help you out.
No, we never had children.
It was just
Cleveland and myself.
Oh, that's too bad.
It's tough being a woman all
alone, especially way out
here in the middle of nowhere.
My name's Zerelda,
Zerelda Hart.
It's a pleasure to make
your acquaintance, ma'am.
Let's see, now.
What are you
doing there, ma'am?
These we're Cleveland's.
Get yourselves out
of those wet clothes
before you catch
your death of cold.
It might not fit you very
well but at least they're dry.
Thank you, kindly.
You can keep them.
I have no use for them anymore.
I bet you're hungry.
You've been kind enough
ma'am, we don't want you
to any anymore trouble, ma'am.
I sure can stand to
eat something though.
I got some soup on the stove.
You sure are nice.
She kind of reminds
me of m-- ma.
Your brothers?
No, ma'am.
He means his mom.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Zerelda couldn't quite
figure out the two strangers.
She wondered who they were and
why they seemed so secretive.
And where you boys headed?
Home.
You been away for a spell?
A spell.
How about you?
How long you lived
in this place?
20 years.
Ever since Cleveland built it.
Had a lot of happy days here.
My memories are all good.
What's wrong?
We never had much money.
But after Cleveland passed,
things got really bad,
and I had to borrow $900
from the Davies Savings
Bank in Galilee just to get by.
I put up the house and
land as collateral.
Now, that note has come due.
Tomorrow, someone has come
in from the bank to collect.
I have no way to pay it.
I'm going to lose my home.
Where will you go?
I don't know.
I didn't mean to
burden you with this.
There's nothing
that anybody can do.
Why don't you get some sleep
and I'll get up and fix
you breakfast in the morning.
JONATHAN FRAKES: When Zerelda
got up the next morning,
the only thing on her mind was
the foreclosure of her home.
She was sorry to see that
the two strangers were gone.
She had never even found out who
they were, and then she saw it.
Left on her table were nine
$100 bills along with a note.
STRANGER: Dear Mrs.
Zerelda, we thank
you for your kindness to us.
We thought you could use this.
Make sure you ask the
banker for a receipt.
JONATHAN FRAKES:
Several hours later,
the man from the bank arrived
with foreclosure papers
ready to be signed.
Mrs. Zerelda Hart?
JT Burnham from the
Davies Savings Bank.
I've been expecting you.
JONATHAN FRAKES: J
Burnham was a man who
was trained in counting money.
There was no doubt that he
was holding $900 in his hand.
Burnham couldn't
understand how Zerelda
Hart could pay the entire
amount that she owed the bank.
He found it equally odd that
it was all in $100 bills.
But the thing that
really surprised him
was when she insisted
on a receipt.
He reluctantly gave her one,
but was puzzled as to why
she made such a point of it.
Hand over your
money stack, now.
I have no money.
All right.
All right, don't shoot.
You boys are going to get into
a lot of trouble for doing this.
They're going to put
a price of your heads.
We already got a
price on our heads.
Tell your friends,
you were just robbed
by Frank and Jesse James.
[music playing]
[gun shots]
Did Jesse and Frank
James really play the part
of Robin Hood for Zerelda Hart?
It's hard to imagine that the
plight of the helpless old lady
might have actually touched
the cold, stone hearts
of the West's most
notorious outlaws.
In presenting this
piece of cowboy lore,
have we given you a
tale based on the fact,
or did the truth
just go that a way.
NARRATOR: Next, you'll find out
which of our stories are facts,
and which are fiction,
when Beyond belief returns.
Now, let's look back
at tonight's stories
and find out which ones are
inspired by actual events,
and which ones
are totally false.
What about the
criminal who used a pen
to write a death sentence.
Corbel.
Yeah.
I don't want your pen.
I don't want anything of yours.
Well, suit yourself, counsellor.
You just passed up a $1,500 pen.
Yeah, well you keep it.
You're going to need it to
get the devil's autograph.
The devil's autograph.
The law books are
filled with bizarre tales
of people who met with strange
ends after their trial.
Was this one?
Yes.
An event like this
happened to a lawyer
from upstate New
York in the '70s.
Let's review the story of
the mail order swindler
who cheated
everything but death.
I want him arrested for
trespassing and assault.
You will be sorry.
[inaudible] will hunt you.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, thanks With buck, creep.
Ah!
Is it possible
this story is true?
Yes it is.
A similar story occurred outside
New York City in the late '80s.
How about the story of
a father and son who
were reunited at the
corner newsstand?
Hey, mister.
What do you want?
How much you give me for this?
Pretty good
condition, you steal it?
No.
I found it under a
dumpster, I swear.
- I'll give you $10.
- $20.
Was this story based
on a real happening?
Not this time.
Our writer's made it up.
And what was your opinion of
the two girls who just witnessed
a murder in the cemetery?
A murder that took
place two years before.
OK, that was a gun shot.
Where's that guy?
He's got a gun and
he's headed this way.
Quick, over here.
Was a story inspired
by a actual event?
Yes.
Our research found a published
report of a similar story.
Let's review the story of
the good deed performed
by Frank and Jesse James.
[gun shots]
Hand over your
money sack, now.
I have no money.
[gun shot]
All right.
All right, don't shoot.
You boys are going to
get into a lot of trouble
for doing this.
They're going to put
a price on your head.
We already got a
price on our heads.
Tell your friends,
you were just robbed
by Frank and Jesse James.
Can it be this story is fact?
Yes it is.
The event was reported
as having taken place
in the Ozark foothills in 1870.
So do you still think
that fact and fiction
are polar opposites?
Or do they occupy
the exact same space?
And trying to find one
without encountering the other
is a challenge that is
truly beyond belief.
I'm Jonathan Frakes.
NARRATOR: The stories entitled
"Devil's Autograph" and "Mail
Order Degree" are true,
based upon firsthand research
conducted by author
Robert Tralins.
This is Campbell Lane.
[theme music]