"Dad?" "I'm on my way." "I'm on 25th and Tower, Pop." "James, it's not your dad." "It's Frank." "I'm sorry to call so late, but I was just going over the books and this really couldn't wait." "Frank, I can't talk right now." "The inventory's way too big..." "I can't talk now!" "I'm sorry, I'm..." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "Ready?" "Alright, honey." "It's alright." "You're going to be alright." "Dad?" "What happened?" "I don't know." "I got home from work... found her on the floor." "I'm sorry, you'll have to wait out here." "You want to sit down, dad?" "She was fine this morning... planned on making... a big dinner for you this weekend." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "Please, God." "Make her better." "And God bless dad and President Kennedy... and the Pope, and Connie, and Frank, and..." "No!" "Please, don't let this happen!" "Dad!" "You okay?" "Not again." "It's nothing." "Just the wind." "Dad?" "Did you ever see things?" "When you were little?" "Of course not." "Now go to sleep." "Dad?" "They said we can go see her now." "Dad." "This way." "Of course." "You listen to the nuns, okay?" "They're good women." "And your dad made a big sacrifice for you to come here." "I'll see you after school, okay?" "I'll miss you." "It'll be fine." "You'll be fine." "Just remember, I'm always with you, honey." "Hurry up, young man." "What were you looking at?" "Nothing." "Liar." "You were looking at me." "I was looking at the girl." "What girl?" "The one beside you." "She says she's your sister." "What?" "Take it back!" "Take it back!" "Take it back!" "Stop that!" "Billy, what were you thinking?" "What's going on with you?" "He was making fun of Billy's sister, who died in an accident last winter." "Billy saw it happen and he's very sensitive about it." "I wasn't making fun of her, Sister." "She wanted me to tell Billy..." "She what?" "He blames himself." "For the accident, because..." "That's enough, sweetie." "No, let him finish." "She wants to forgive him." "Forgiveness..." "Do you know what happens to Jesus when little boys lie?" "His wounds begin to open, and he suffers greatly." "Isn't that right, Mrs. Van Praagh?" "Yes, sister." "Sometimes, people don't understand when you say that you see things." "Because they don't see it, they think you're making it up too." "They want to send you to doctors." "And I don't want to see that happen." "I want a happy boy." "I want you to be happy." "Promise me that you won't tell people what you see." "And that you'll pray to Jesus to take it away." "I promise." "A lie is a terrible thing... and you must tell it in confession if you want to be forgiven." "Why?" "Because that's what God wants." "Why it has to be in confession?" "Because that's where God forgives people." "What's your name?" "James." "Why can't he forgive people in other places?" "Because confession happens in church, and that's where God lives." "Listen, James..." "I thought God lived everywhere." "God doesn't like boys who ask too many questions." "She's suffered a very serious stroke." "It'll be at least 24 hours before we can determine the damage." "She'll be okay." "We've got her stabilized." "I'll look at the MRI in the morning, and that'd give us a better idea." "Hi, Mom." "We're here." "You're going to be just fine, don't worry." "Eddie." "No, Mom." "It's me and Dad." "Eddie." "Who's Eddie?" "Now there's no fish here because there's not enough water." "Hurry up Stay in line." "But if you look closely, you'll see lots of other things... like snakes and toads and bugs... and beautiful flowers too." "Sometimes you can find beautiful things in God's darkest places." "Just as you can find the Devil's things in God's best and brightest." "Now see if you can find me something beautiful." "Go on!" "Not so far!" "Stay close!" "How are you doing?" "Want to see something neat?" "It's a turtle." "Where's you find him?" "On top of this log." "You think he has brothers and sisters?" "I want one for my teacher." "Sure." "What's your name?" "James." "I'm Eddie." "Why aren't you in school?" "I skipped." "Really?" "Mom gets mad sometimes I just gotta." "Why?" "Mom worries that I don't have any friends." "But I'd rather be alone than have kids who make fun of me." "They make fun of me too." "How come?" "Sometimes I see things." "Like what?" "My dad says I shouldn't talk about it, but..." "I don't know why they come to see me." "I pray every day that..." "James?" "Come over here!" "Gotta go." "You can meet me again sometime, if you want." "Sure." "Where?" "Here." "After school some time." "What were you doing over there?" "I told you not to go far." "I was talking to the kid over there." "What kid?" "Eddie." "Who's Eddie?" "I don't know, Dad." "Mom?" "Please God, I want to be good." "I want to stop seeing things." "Please make them go away." "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Leave me alone!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Get away from me!" "Get away!" "Eddie never came back?" "After that night, no." "Why do you think you're remembering all this now?" "I don't know." "How's she doing?" "Mom?" "Okay." "Not great, but okay." "Did she ever see things?" "Not that she spoke of." "And how are you feeling?" "Tired." "But essentially fine." "My ex-wife called yesterday, asking about Mom." "And how did that make you feel?" "Oh, fabulous." "She just had another baby." "You still miss her?" "I'm happy she's happy." "Now, how's our little dating project coming along?" "I haven't had time." "I've just been busy at work." "We're having some problems." "What kind of problems?" "You've never mentioned problems at work before." "We just have to downsize a little, that's all." "It's nothing serious." "You do that, it's the death dance before shutting the door." "A website's gonna make a difference?" "It's a marketing tool, James." "You need every trick you have." "Your competitors are multinationals." "They'll be always undercutting you." "The web's a mess now, isn't it?" "Not as bad as the economy." "Look, construction's down... and so is your profit margin." "You've got to stop thinking Mom and Pop." "Just talk to her, that's all." "She's the best around." "She works for three months, sets up the site, then moves on." "You hired me to get you out of this mess, didn't you?" "Then listen to me." "Hi, I'm James." "Midge Harmon." "Nice to meet you." "Me too." "We can go into my office." "Right in here." "Can I get you some coffee?" "No, I'm fine, thanks." "Frank said you're more than fine, and I'm lucky you're available." "You are." "How much do you know about the Internet?" "Not very much." "I'm kind of a semi-Luddite." "Okay." "Well, here's a list of my sites." "You might want to check them out." "I think I can manage that." "Is your mother not well?" "What?" "I'm sorry." "The older I get the more I tend to just blurt things out." "My... oh, boy." "My psychic told me... that I would meet a guy named James whose mother was sick." "And so I was just kind of checking it out." "Actually, my mother's fine." "Good." "I'm glad to hear that." "So, I guess I should check out these sites." "And I can do that tonight, and then I'll get back to you tomorrow." "Terrific." "Excuse me?" "Is this 133O Willowbrook?" "Yes, yes it is." "I'm looking for my granddaughter." "Well, you got the right address, but I'm not your granddaughter." "So I see." "Maybe it's one of the other homes, maybe one of the digits is off." "I was supposed to give her this footstool cover." "Brought it all the way from Idaho." "Well, I'm sorry." "I could make a phone call for you." "Idaho's a long way away." "Oh, I'm not from Idaho now." "Hey, listen... if you see her, you tell her Grandma Helen's keeping an eye out for her." "James." "Good to see you again." "Congratulations." "You're hired." "Oh, great." "That's great!" "Thank you." "Yes." "Your work was very impressive." "Thanks." "Thanks a lot." "Actually I have some stuff to show you." "I was working late last night." "Oh, this?" "You were working on this?" "You were that confident you were gonna be hired?" "Well, he told me I would." "Who?" "My psychic." "I'm just kidding." "But have you ever been to one?" "No." "You should go with me sometime." "This guy's really amazing." "Actually I've had my fill of the supernatural, thanks." "How you two doing?" "Great." "This is a very nice place you have." "Thanks." "Any dessert?" "Hot fudge sundae, specialty of the house." "No, I'll just stick with the coffee." "I'll have a hot fudge sundae." "I've a reason to celebrate!" "Hot fudge for breakfast?" "Hey, why not?" "So what do you mean you've had your fill of the supernatural?" "Oh, I'd just rather live in the real world, that's all." "You have stuff you want to show me?" "Sure." "Now this would be your home page." "I hope it fits." "This is for me?" "You give one of these to all your new bosses?" "Only the skeptics." "You want to do this right now?" "Yeah, why not?" "Don't worry, it won't bite." "What am I supposed to ask it?" "First thing that comes to you." "Who's the President of the USA?" "It's not a quiz." "Alright." "What am I gonna be when I grow up?" "I don't think it likes your attitude." "Just start simple." "Simple." "Simple, alright." "You know something?" "I don't know what to ask it." "I don't think it likes me." "I think it thinks I'm boring." "You are not." "Okay, put your hands on there right now." "Do you have anything to say to Mr. Van Praagh or what?" "I told you." "Thank you, that was a very sweet gift." "Alright, back to work again." "James." "How you doing?" "James." "I'm here, Mom." "So afraid." "Mom, you don't have to be afraid." "You'll be just fine." "No." "Mom!" "So wrong." "What?" "What's wrong?" "Me." "That's not true." "Lying." "Too much." "What do you mean?" "All of it." "Grandma?" "Don't be afraid." "Get your mother." "But..." "I know, I'm dead." "Now hurry up." "What..." "You..." "How can you...?" "But Grandma, I..." "Go back and get your mother." "I don't have all night." "You haven't changed a bit, have you?" "You're so damn slow." "I bet I could still beat you at Double Solitaire... with both hands tied behind my back." "Mother?" "Go back to bed, Mom!" "Regina, come on now." "I have this... fabulous strawberry strudel." "Your favorite." "There's nothing to be afraid of." "I've used fresh berries... brown sugar." "Go away!" "Regina!" "Mom?" "Mom, no!" "Mom!" "I dreamt that she died and I woke up crying." "I used to have that dream... when I was six or seven." "Grandmother would come to take her away... and I'd wake up." "And Mom would hear me sobbing... she'd come into the room, and I'd tell her I didn't want to lose her." "I won't ever leave you, Jamie." "Never." "But now that time's come." "I thought I was prepared." "I guess we all do, really." "But when you think about how you're never going to see... you're never going to see her anymore." "And that dream you were so afraid of when you were a kid is finally true." "I only wish that I had..." "What?" "What is it?" "Nothing." "I have to go." "Oh, no." "I have some preliminaries on the site I'd like you to take a look at." "Good, I'll do that at lunch." "How are you doing?" "You know how it is." "By the way." "I was wondering, are you busy Saturday?" "I feel like an idiot." "So did I the first time." "The spirits are very present tonight." "The room is... filled with them." "Sir..." "There are people all around you." "This is my friend, James." "Oh." "Thanks, Midge." "James, they're very happy to see you here." "They used to talk to you a lot, didn't they?" "And they want to do it again." "I have enough trouble talking to the living." "I don't know why I would want to talk to the dead." "That's alright, Midge." "Even the dead have a sense of humor." "You dreamt about your grandmother... a few weeks ago." "Strawberries. brown sugar." "She says... that she wanted her daughter, your mother, to follow her." "But you thought she was talking to you." "She's telling you this now?" "She's standing right behind you." "What's her maiden name?" "Ask her that." "She wants to help your mother very much, because your mother... is very afraid, very confused." "Does this make any sense to you?" "No, not at all." "Could you move on to somebody else, please?" "She wants you to know that your mother misses you very much." "I don't mean to be impolite, but I'm going through a really hard time." "I'm only telling you what..." "What my friend told you to tell me." "I know you both mean well, I really do." "But I'm just not the right..." "That's alright." "Listen... ..Il'm sorry." "It's okay." "I'd like to apologize." "Saturday I was overly emotional." "It's okay." "I've been emotional about a lot of things lately." "It's completely understandable." "But that doesn't give me the right to be unpleasant." "You do needlepoint, huh?" "My secret vice." "My grandmother taught me." "Your grandmother?" "She wouldn't be from Idaho?" "How did you know that?" "Is her name Helen?" "She's dead, isn't she?" "Help who?" "What boy?" "What are you doing here?" "Look, I was told you need help." "How can I help you?" "Alright, fine." "Suit yourself." "Who are you?" "What do you want from me?" "Look..." "I don't know who sent you... or where you came from, but could you just please go away?" "Talk to me." "Say something." "What's your name?" "What's that?" "What happening there?" "Alright everybody, go on home." "I'll call you as soon as I figure this out." "Don't worry." "You'll be back to work in the morning." "I promise." "I'm sorry, James." "I tried to warn you." "I tried to do everything I could." "I know that." "You'll get paid, I promise you." "You'll all get paid!" "I'm not worried about that." "I'm worried about you." "I mean, first this thing with your mother, and now this?" "I appreciate your concern, I really do." "I just need to..." "Stop!" "What?" "You've got to stop smoking." "Oh yeah, I know, I've tried..." "No." "Listen to me!" "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I'll take these boxes over to St. Jude's." "I think she'd appreciate that." "But if there's anything here you want to keep..." "She must have had two." "What?" "I thought we buried her with this." "Dad?" "Did Mom ever see anything?" "Or have any experiences that weren't exactly real?" "What do you mean?" "It's just when I was growing up... she was on medications." "I never knew why." "She was nervous sometimes." "It helped her sleep." "Did she have hallucinations?" "Look, she had a hard life." "She fought her demons as best she could and... now she's at peace." "Jamie." "What is it?" "Some kid's breaking into my car." "Oh, for..." "Dammit!" "Excuse me." "Can I help you?" "I'd like to report a theft." "Fill out a form." "That's good." "Ma'am, did you drop this?" "Oh my God!" "That's Eli's!" "What?" "It's your father's." "Where did you find this?" "Right there." "What did I tell you?" "These police, they drop things!" "They don't care." "Calm down, Mom." "We come to pick up the valuables and they're lying on the floor." "My husband died 2 days ago..." "Please, Mom." "Oh, God!" "I'm sorry, I get carried away." "Excuse me, sorry, but can I ask you something?" "Does your husband have a green raincoat and... a brown herringbone hat?" "Yes, he did." "Did you know him?" "I don't know how to say this without sounding crazy." "I think your husband wants to talk to you." "Look..." "I seem to have this weird ability to see things and hear things." "That's enough." "Don't go further." "What did he say?" "No, maybe your son's right." "No." "Tell me what he said." "Mom!" "He said that when you were dusting this morning and the wedding picture fell..." "That's enough!" "David!" "Officer?" "David, it's alright." "What's the problem?" "This man is harassing us." "That's not true." "I was just..." "Come with me." "I wasn't doing anything." "Did you hear me?" "I'm just trying to fill out a form." "Get out of here!" "You're harassing a little old lady." "How about you fill out the form for me then, you jackass." "I'm sorry to bother you." "I'm..." "Yes, of course." "Please." "Thank you." "Why don't you come in?" "Thank you." "You're moving?" "Yes, I've had a bit of bad luck." "I'm sorry." "What you said today... how did you know?" "I don't know." "I heard him." "Sort of." "That photo fell off the dresser when I was dusting." "I was nowhere near it." "Yes, he pushed that off." "Why?" "To say hello." "He told you that?" "Spirits can do that?" "I guess so." "What else did he say?" "He said that he was sorry that he didn't come back with your medicine." "He loves you very much." "But why couldn't he have stayed?" "Why did he have to go now?" "It wasn't his choice." "What do you mean?" "Somebody killed him." "Did he go to the drug store?" "Yes." "To get some medicine." "Heart medicine." "Little pills." "And mine too." "And on the way home he took a shortcut... down aside street." "He was always in such a hurry." "And someone stopped him." "Somebody, a man, came up to him and wanted... he wanted the time." "Hey buddy, you got the time?" "The police know this man, he's an informer for them." "Ronnie." "His name is Ronnie." "Is this the man that killed him?" "He owes a lot of money and..." "Did Eli have a watch?" "Yes, yes." "The children gave it to him." "It wasn't among the valuables returned." "He loved that watch." "And it made him angry, and scared." "My heart!" "Help me!" "The pills!" "My pills!" "God!" "Mister?" "Are you alright?" "Yes." "It's your anniversary Tuesday, is that right?" "Yes." "Yes, it is." "A rock?" "A small rock?" "A bus depot?" "Little Rock." "We were married in City Hall and the judge was late." "So we missed our bus to our honeymoon." "The number 223..." "223?" "223." "Oh, my gosh!" "Eli, you're not telling him about that hotel room, are you?" "And peaches." "I'm smelling peaches." "Peach preserve?" "Eli..." "That's enough!" "You stop that right now!" "Mr. Van Praagh?" "This is Detective Condrin." "I want you to tell her what you told me." "Well, this is a first." "I've never met a psychic before." "Well, you still haven't." "Do you mind?" "This is kind of heavy." "I knew some cops in Portland who've worked with some of them." "They were a pretty weird bunch." "The cops or the psychics?" "Both." "Would you excuse us for a moment, ma'am?" "Sure." "You don't believe this stuff, do you?" "No." "Good." "Hey, Ronnie." "This is my new partner, Detective Campbell." "How you doing?" "What do you want?" "I want to ask you a few questions." "Can we come in?" "What about?" "About a Mister Ziff who died last week off Chestnut Street." "Yeah, I don't know anything about that." "It is a nice car you've got there." "What year is that?" "A '73?" "'74, actually." "Yeah, my dad had a... '67 MGB, It ran like a dream." "Until he totalled it." "That's too bad." "Yeah, really." "See that fender?" "It looks original, don't it?" "What if I told you I made that myself?" "No way." "Yes." "Come in, check it out." "Nice, huh?" "My old man's got a machine shop across town... he lets me use some of the blow torches once in awhile at night." "Does the transmission give you any trouble?" "It gave my dad hell." "No, no." "I mean, I check it out every six months or so." "What are you doing over there?" "Just walking." "Why don't you just walk outside?" "Fine." "You two." "I got nothing to say to you." "A yellow faced watch in a cigar box." "Is this yours?" "Hey Allan." "See this?" "What?" "Isn't that about your boy?" "I changed my mind." "That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." "Dad, will you just listen to me for a second?" "Are you still seeing that shrink?" "No." "Not at the moment." "Why not?" "Well, can we talk about this later?" "As a matter of fact, hold on a second, please." "Oh, hi." "Come on in." "Thank you." "Sorry to interrupt." "Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow night?" "At least tell me what possessed..." "Tomorrow, Pop." "Can I get you something?" "Soda or beer?" "Beer sounds good." "Great." "I was just on my way home from work and I wanted to stop in... and say thank you for the tip." "Tell my father that, he's completely freaking out." "I shouldn't blame him." "I'm freaking out too." "Why are you still fighting this?" "Wouldn't you?" "Are you kidding?" "I'd go on Oprah..." "I would try to solve the world's greatest mysteries." "I'd at least try to find out where my first boyfriend was... so I could hunt him down and shoot him." "Aren't you curious about things?" "who Jack the Ripper was... or who killed JFK?" "I don't think it works that way." "Too bad." "Listen, I need to warn you." "You may be called in to testify... at the pre-trial hearing." "Ronnie's giving us a hard time." "We don't usually like to use sources like yourself..." "Do you know someone named Amy?" "My sister." "She says that... you shouldn't blame yourself for not being in the car." "I'm sorry, but she's very insistent that I tell you this." "And your father is here." "He says... he wants you to forgive him." "I don't really want to hear this." "I don't mean to hurt you." "I'm..." "Tell him something for me, okay?" "Tell him there are some things that can never be forgiven." "Thanks for the beer." "Ma'am?" "I can't help you with that." "I just need to..." "I just need to figure out..." "Damn!" "I'm sorry." "Can you hold one second, please?" "Yes, Booktown." "Actually I don't know." "If you could just give me a second..." "I'll find that out." "I'm having trouble..." "Sir..." "What do you want from me?" "I'm sorry." "Please forgive me." "I want to apologize for the other night." "Seriously." "I shouldn't..." "Don't worry about it." "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." "It's fine." "I also want to ask you a favor." "I'd like some information on somebody." "A boy... about 14 years old." "He may well be dead, but... but I thought maybe I could describe him to a sketch artist, maybe..." "A sketch won't do any good." "Not unless the kid's local." "Where'd he die?" "I don't know." "Do you know when?" "No." "Alright, you want to help me?" "Tell me his name." "Dennis Branston." "I'd have..." "Sorry." "I'm new at this." "Used to work in sales." "I'm sorry." "Any luck?" "You tell me." "It's him." "Are you Walter Branston?" "Yeah." "Dennis' grandfather?" "You seen him?" "Yes, I think I have." "Where?" "May I come in?" "Thank you." "I have a friend at the police department." "Occasionally I go through their missing person cases." "And Dennis looked familiar." "How'd you recognize him?" "It's been seven years." "He's a grown man by now." "He still looks pretty much the same." "I hope he lost his orneriness." "I told him once... he should be more grateful to an old man who didn't... want to take him in in the first place." "The next day..." "he'd gone." "Me and my big mouth." "I'd really like to see him again." "If he'd be willing." "I gave away most of his stuff." "Even if he did come back he would have outgrown it by now." "But there's a few things that are still his if he wants them." "Is he in jail?" "No." "That's good." "I knew he'd be okay." "Report card." "Not much to brag about... but he always did work hard." "He used to have a picture of his mother. he took it with him." "She died a year before he left." "Anyway, excuse me." "I can't stay in here long." "You take your time." "My God!" "Something wrong?" "No, no." "God!" "Please!" "What?" "What do you want me to do?" "Turn?" "You want me to turn down there?" "Turtleback Preserve." "You got a weird way of talking, Dennis." "Stay in line!" "But if you look closely, you'll see lots of other things..." "Six at least." "I think." "Boys, I think." "It's pretty isolated." "Nobody ever goes out there." "How'd you find it?" "Dennis led me." "Maybe I'm wrong." "I hope I'm wrong." "I think I'm wrong." "Maybe you could go out there with me." "And do what?" "We could dig." "We can't dig." "We need a permit." "How do we get a permit?" "We get evidence." "How do we get evidence?" "It's over here I think." "Okay, so..." "What's wrong?" "I think I'm gonna be sick." "Dig here." "That's it, you know." "Enough." "This is a waste of time." "How crazy is this?" "This is pretty crazy." "Actually, it's a relief, you know." "I'm glad I didn't find anything." "I wasn't looking forward to..." "Wait a minute." "What?" "The forensic team she sent for found bones beneath the shirt." "They're getting a court order to dig up the whole area." "That's horrible." "It's worse than that." "I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you, it's just I don't have... anyone else to talk to. and sometimes it's hard to keep this... stuff inside." "What is it like?" "What's what like?" "Being dead." "What do they feel?" "I don't know." "What do you feel, when you see them?" "Each one feels different." "The boys, they felt... frightened and cold." "That bad, huh?" "No, no." "Eli, that I helped, he was warm and happy." "What about dying?" "Do they talk about that?" "They don't actually talk." "But I suppose it's a lot like being born." "You know, you fight like hell to be in one place... and you're being pulled into... someplace else." "I wonder if there's someone to help, on the other end." "I don't know." "Maybe." "I never asked." "What's going on?" "What?" "You were right." "We've found three bodies so far." "Maybe a fourth." "The boy you were looking for, Dennis Branston... was the first one buried, about seven years ago." "Forensics is having a hard time trying to identify the others." "They do know a few things, mostly from the one we found... which is the most recent." "One:" "Their hands were bound with ordinary rope." "Two:" "There's no evidence of wounds, blows... bleeding, gunshot wounds, sexual assault, anything like that." "And... three:" "They were all twisted in very odd positions when they were buried." "Oh, my God." "Whoever did this knocked them out, tied them up... and buried them alive." "What?" "I don't understand." "I did what you asked me, I called the police." "I don't know what to do." "What do you want?" "I can't..." "I can't find..." "Hey, what the hell, buddy?" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." "Hey." "Hi." "Thanks." "I sure appreciate it." "James, what are you doing?" "They're circle." "They were buried in a circle." "We know that." "What's wrong with you?" "Dig here." "We already have." "Dig deeper." "No!" "Oh, no!" "What's wrong?" "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." "Just give me a minute." "Katz." "Eddie Katz." "Thank you, Eddie." "He was shot in May of '63." "The killer, I guess, felt guilty... so he brought offerings." "For 3O years he brought flowers." "Seven years ago something happened." "Instead of flowers, he brought boys." "Oh, my God." "I'm sorry." "It's the last thing I should be talking about here." "Oh, no." "It's fine." "I like when you tell me stuff." "It helps me keep... my mind off my own little adventure." "Here she comes." "I have to go." "I keep telling her I want stuff to make my hair grow back... but she says I've got to go someplace else for that." "Eddie Katz was her only son." "She was fifteen when she got pregnant, but she didn't give up." "Her husband left her." "After Eddie disappeared she had a breakdown... was hospitalized, then got her self together... and even started her own business." "You may have heard of it." "I got home that day and Eddie wasn't home from school." "I didn't think much of it." "Some days he wouldn't go to school at all." "The kids... made fun of him." "When he wasn't home by seven, I started getting worried." "Where'd he go when he skipped?" "Off by himself." "He was a loner." "I called the police, and they couldn't do anything for 48 hours." "And of course, by then..." "It was my fault." "I should have... have been tougher." "I was always taught to respect them." "I'm sure it was too late, Molly." "Even before you've made your first call." "I wanted to show you something." "Whoever did these killings knew where Eddie was buried." "He covered the grave with crockery and surrounded it with six victims." "If we find who killed Eddie, we find who killed the others." "There's some thing that bothers me." "Eddie is right here in the middle, right?" "It's not a perfect circle." "Number Six is buried a little farther back." "He's starting a second circle." "I think we've got something here." "Molly, if there's anything we can do... just let us know, okay?" "Thanks." "For so long I thought he'd show up at the house... the bell would ring, I'd open the door... and there'd be Eddie." "Older, sure but..." "Looking just fine." "I knew he was alive." "I even had proof." "Proof?" "I reported it to the police, so I figured you knew." "Reported what?" "Two years after it happened, he started sending me flowers." "On Christmas, and Mother's Day." "Every year, for over thirty years." "Who did?" "Eddie." "I was still in and out of the hospital when I got the first bunch." "I had some problems, you know." "May I?" "The detective said he'd check it out and get back to me but he never did." "I figured he thought if Eddie was sending me flowers then he was no longer missing." "But it wasn't Eddie." "I could hope, couldn't I?" "It was his killer who sent them, wasn't it?" "Yes." "Later, Dash." "Hello." "May I help you?" "Yes, I'm Detective Karen Condrin." "How are you doing?" "I'm fine." "We're trying to trace the source of some flower deliveries... this store made over a period of 3O years to... a Mrs. Molly Katz at 222O Vanguard Avenue." "Let me check my file." "Oh, here it is." "I remember this." "He always phoned the order in." "Twice a year, on Christmas and Mother's Day." "And then would send cash in the mail." "What did he sound like?" "I don't know." "Male, middle-aged..." "Oh, wait a minute." "There was something." "Nope." "Sorry." "I've lost it." "Old timer's disease." "Hey, Linda." "Hi, did you forget something?" "No, but you did." "You forgot to put a stamp on this." "Oh, for heaven's sake." "I'm just falling to pieces." "Excuse me, Detective." "You know, the letter that I was trying to send was to the IRS." "It's like talking to a wall, they just don't want to listen." "I'm not following you." "It reminded me, that's all." "Of what?" "Of the man who sent the flowers." "I remember who he was." "You said you had never seen him." "Now the last time I did." "He came in person, just like it didn't matter anymore." "After all those years of trying to stay anonymous." "But I recognized him from the billboards." "What billboards?" "It was all over town." "Oh, he was the Tax Man, you know." "He did people's taxes." "I'm so glad I caught you." "Good luck." "Yeah, sure, I remember him." "From when I was a kid." "He played Santa every year." "He gave money to my Boy Scout troop." "Had us over every year for a barbecue." "He was a great guy." "He still here?" "Yeah, I'd say so." "Impressive place up on Chestnut Hill." "Big monument in the cemetery." "He's been dead for like 8 or 9 years." "After school he went to the Y. He loved to swim." "He always caught the bus, but the driver said he didn't see him." "I don't mean to alarm you, Sandy, but other boys have disappeared... and we need to know if Andy has anything in common with them." "Eddie Katz..." "Dennis Branston, Michael O'Donnell..." "There are others." "They aren't any of Andy's friends?" "No, they wouldn't be." "But if I give you these reports, could you go through them... and see if these boys share any characteristics with your brother?" "Whatever you want." "I'm... getting a communication from a woman whose son is here." "Rachel." "Anyone know a Rachel?" "A mother whose name is Rachel?" "She says her son's name is Ben." "Is there a Ben here?" "Are you Ben?" "Yes, but my mother's name is Ava." "And she's alive." "Rachel's saying, she's telling me that she died in childbirth." "Does that make any sense to you, Ben?" "My mother had a sister named Rachel... but she died of appendicitis." "I guess I made a mistake." "That happens." "I'm new to this." "That's quite all right." "Sir, welcome." "Glad you could come." "I don't want to talk about me right now." "What's happening with you?" "I made a fool of myself in front of my father." "I spend half my life praying for this ability to go away... and it finally does just when I don't want it to." "It's going away?" "I don't know." "Maybe." "Why?" "Does that bother you?" "Nothing bothers me anymore." "Except when popcorn gets stuck in my teeth and I can't get it out." "I hate that." "And the pain." "That bothers me some." "And losing my looks and my hope and..." "Which is why I'm giving up chemo." "What?" "I'm dying, James." "There's no going around it." "I want to go out with grace... and hair." "There's a girl, isn't there?" "A little girl?" "Not a little girl?" "A baby." "She died at birth." "About five years ago?" "She'd be five now, yeah." "She is five, Midge." "Is she the reason why you want to die?" "But she'd be five and happy whether you die or not." "It's too late, James." "No." "You can fight this." "You can beat this disease." "James, it's way too late." "No, it isn't." "It isn't!" "You can't just quit." "You've got to fight this." "Please." "I don't want to die!" "I just want to go home to my sister." "I should change the name Petrocelli and sons." "I'm the only one left." "My brother Lester had pancreatic cancer." "It was a shock to the whole family." "And our dad's been dead even longer." "You were hunters?" "Les was, not me." "Although he gave it up a good while back." "Why?" "Got tired of the killing, I guess." "He never really talked about it." "Did your brother ever mention a boy named Eddie Katz?" "I don't think so." "Who is he?" "A child who was killed in the Turtleback Preserve... about thirty eight years ago." "Your brother ever hunt there?" "Nope." "Never once." "These are beautiful." "They'll probably outlive me." "Oh, don't do that." "How are you doing?" "No pain." "That's something, isn't it?" "I dreamt about her last night." "About who?" "Kalisha." "My little girl." "She said she can't wait." "For what?" "For me." "Is it hard to die?" "I don't know." "Do me a favor?" "Ask?" "Is it hard to die?" "What's hardest is trying to hold on." "Believe me, I know." "I was so afraid of so many things." "Afraid of facing some kind of punishment... for some rule I didn't even know I broke." "Most of all I was afraid that everything... that I had believed in as a child... all my voices that I heard, all the visions that I had seen..." "I was afraid they were true." "And that the spirits that I had betrayed would hate me for that." "But they didn't." "They welcomed me back." "You go tell your friend... that there will be plenty of people to help her through." "She has nothing to worry about." "Is it this way for everyone?" "Not everyone." "Do you see him?" "Yes." "He comes here every Friday." "In 15 minutes he'll be called to the phone." "We follow him... get him alone, and then you do your stuff." "You okay with that?" "I'm going to the john." "Order me a Virgin Mary." "Excuse me." "Yes?" "Can I help you?" "Yes." "Your brother wants me to talk to you." "Who are you?" "He says that he's sorry that he caused you so much trouble." "Look, I don't want to talk to you." "Do you hear me?" "I don't want to!" "And that he always has felt responsible because he... was the more experienced hunter." "Call the manager!" "I want this man thrown out." "You should not blame yourself, even though... you pulled the trigger." "Why?" "Why are you doing this?" "Please, don't do this!" "Leave me alone!" "Please don't!" "I'm sorry." "I..." "Are you alright?" "Are you alright?" "Oh, my God!" "Sorry!" "Somebody help!" "Please!" "Please call an ambulance!" "Please, somebody help us!" "Is he alright?" "Leave me alone." "Help us, please!" "Go away!" "I'm so sorry!" "I'm so sorry." "Go away." "Leave me alone!" "I'm through with you, don't you understand?" "Would you go away?" "Just leave me alone!" "I found the man who killed you." "He's had a heart attack." "You'll have him soon enough." "Just go away!" "Leave me alone!" "Go away!" "I can't live like this." "I mean, look at my life." "Dead people... dying people." "People who want me to contact the spirit world." "They're just as crazy as me." "Look at me, I'm talking to my dead mother." "I'm this far from a straitjacket, Mom." "I'm sorry, but I want you to go." "I never thought I'd say that..." "Detective Condrin?" "I'm Arnie Adamson, Mr. Petrocelli's lawyer." "Please come in." "Thank you." "We won't take up too much of your time." "Hello, Mr. Petrocelli." "Detective." "This is my partner, Det." "Campbell." "We appreciate you doing this." "Okay." "We're on." "I would like to state for the record... that my client's cooperation is strictly voluntary." "He's under no obligation to speak to the police or answer any questions." "It's okay, Arnie." "I want to get this off my chest." "That's fine, Richard." "I'll read the statement." "Arnie Adamson, representing Richard Petrocelli." ""In May of 1963, my brother Lester and I were hunting... in an area known as Turtleback Preserve."" "Wait, wait!" ""Lester, hearing what he thought was a deer... took aim and fired his gun..."" ""...inadvertently killing a white male, approximate age 14... subsequently identified as Edward Katz."" "Rickie, look what you did!" "I told you to wait!" ""At my brother's insistence, I helped Lester dig a grave... six to eight feet deep... and deposited into that grave... the body of Edward Katz." "I also promised my brother to tell no one of this incident."" "Did you tell your wife, Mr. Petrocelli?" "Your children or any of your friends?" "This is the first time I've talked about it with anyone other than Les." "You spoke of it with your brother?" "Only at the end." "And he did all the talking, I just listened." "What did he say?" "That he was sorry, and wished he could change things." "Lie." "You tell them I did it." "You've suffered enough." "It's too late, anyway." "It wouldn't have helped anybody." "Tell them I did it." "I'll miss you." "And he told me about the flowers that he... brought to the graveside every year." "And the ones he sent to the mother." "Your brother spoke of this to anyone else before his death?" "No." "He swore to me he never told a soul." "He didn't even confess till the end." "Confess?" "To a priest." "He had confession the week before he died." "So this priest would know where you buried Eddie?" "I suppose so... but he can't tell anyone." "The sacredness of the confessional." "What's the priest's name?" "It wouldn't do you any good..." "I said what's his name." "Hey Dad." "I thought you'd like to know I'm out of the ghost business." "The case I was working on seems to be solved." "I just thought you'd be pleased to know that." "Why don't you give me a call." "I'm off the case." "I know, I got your message." "I'm not interested, Karen." "You might be interested in this." "You're Catholic, right?" "I was." "But what has that have to do with this?" "I need a Catholic, past or present, to help me conduct an interview." "Someone who's familiar with the case and..." "I need to take a break." "I'm sorry, really." "You don't have to do any psychic stuff, just come along for the ride." "I'm ridden out, really." "Look... no more dead people, all you've got to do is help me phrase the right question." "I'm sorry." "I found my father's pipe in my purse the other night... and as far as I know it was in my desk drawer." "I don't think I put it in my bag." "I don't remember putting it in my bag." "I don't understand it and I don't like it but... that's what happened." "I believe in you, James." "You've shown me things..." "I never would have thought possible." "Don't quit on me now." "My life is such a mess when I do this." "This is the most conservative parish in town." "If they had their way... they'd still have the Inquisition." "...and so it has been for hundreds of years... in cathedrals just like this one... all around the world." "But the responsibility of an altar boy... is one of sacred trust." "Like the disciples were to Christ... so the altar boys are to the priest." "That is why, in our parish... we do not allow girls to fill this position." "My God." "What?" "Any questions?" "I know him." "How can I be of service, Officer Condrin?" "Detective." "Detective." "I just have a few questions, Father." "Monsignor." "Monsignor." "This is James van Praagh." "I've heard of you." "You taught me when I was a child, actually." "I guess my teachings didn't stick." "You're no longer a Catholic." "Monsignor, may I present you with a hypothetical case?" "If a person came to you to confess... an unsolved crime." "A murder, say, or an accidental death." "What would you tell him to do?" "Well, naturally, I would recommend he go to the authorities." "but the least I'd have him do is find away to atone." "How?" "That depends on the particulars of the crime, doesn't it?" "If a boy was shot and buried in the woods... without anyone's knowledge and the man responsible... for his death came to you." "We are no longer talking about a hypothetical situation, are we?" "Look, I... respect the seriousness of your vow." "But if the person has since died, then couldn't you speak to me?" "The confessional vow is sacred." "It has never been broken in the history of the Church." "Never?" "No." "Six boys have died, Monsignor, stuck in the ground... with a kid named Eddie Katz." "Eddie was shot in a hunting accident... by either Lester or Richard Petrocelli." "And whoever killed the other six knew where he was buried." "What kid?" "Lester died 7 years ago... so he's out of the picture." "Richard's still in the running... as is anyone else who knew where Eddie was buried." "So far, that just leaves you." "In the last 7 years, did you tell anyone... what Lester told you?" "How many times do I have to spell it out for you, Detective?" "I cannot and would not talk about this... not to you, not to anyone." "Excuse me." "What is that sound?" "We have rats in the basement." "They've taken up residence with the communion wafers." "Some day I hope to be rid of them..." "But in the meantime, I have to sit and listen patiently... to their heretical nonsense." "I saw an old teacher of mine today." "Father Bender." "Excuse me, Monsignor now." "He taught me religion back in grade school." "I never understood your mother's fascination with them." "I'm sure a lot of them are wonderful men." "This one's complicated." "They're all complicated, you ask me." "Their heads are in the clouds." "I'm a meat-and-potatoes man." "Anything not of this earth..." "I don't care to bite into." "Are you okay?" "Yeah." "I'm just..." "So, how did you and mom resolve this issue?" "Well, we didn't talk about it, mostly." "Were married in church, of course." "She insisted on that." "The old priest said he'd be happy to advise on any aspects of the union." "So I asked his views on the missionary position." "He turned beet red." "Your mother was furious." "Finally... he handed me a handbook on the spirituality of intercourse... which mostly talked about flowers." "Yeah, I think Mom gave me that book when I was thirteen." ""Pistils and stamens."" "Yeah, that's it." "Are you sure you're okay?" "Excuse me a second." "Hi." "This is James van Praagh." "I'm calling to find out how Midge Harmon, in 1O7, is doing?" "No, I'll be right there." "Dad?" "A friend of mine needs help." "Is everything alright?" "No." "Have some of stew." "It'd be a shame to go to waste." "What?" "Let them through." "It's just beginning, James." "Please, don't hurt me." "Don't!" "Don't hurt me!" "That's nice." "Hello, James." "Adrian." "It's been a long time." "Midge tells me that you were with her at the end." "She's very grateful for that." "So was I." "And she says that it's exactly as you described it, only better." "She has only one regret, that she can't speak to you herself." "Well, I made my decision, and my life is a lot calmer now." "I understand." "Well, I'll see you around." "Will you say hello to her for me." "She hears you, James." "You don't need me for that." "Is anybody there?" "Hold on, alright, hold on." "We'll get you out of there." "Hold on." "It's like we're burying those boys all over again." "How so?" "The case isn't closed but it might as well be." "It's out of the papers." "The department's got plenty of other things to worry about." "I don't know if we're ever going to find this guy." "You said it was someone who knew where Eddie was buried." "Right." "That leaves us two choices, Petrocelli and the priest." "There is another choice." "I'm surprised you haven't thought of it." "Who's that?" "Who bought you out here to begin with?" "He claims that he saw Eddie when he was a boy." "Maybe what he really saw was two men burying Eddie." "He wouldn't play me like that." "He believes what he sees." "I believe him too." "I know you do." "But what if there's another side to James?" "A side that even he isn't fully aware of." "Just a thought, that's all." "Dad, are you alright?" "Is everything okay?" "Yeah, fine." "Everything's fine." "I'm sorry about your friend." "Thank you." "You want to come in?" "No, I don't want to bother you." "I just want to tell you that..." "I'll do it." "Do what?" "One of your things... where I talk to your mother." "I'll give it a try" "I'm sure it's what your mother would want." "Just like you." "Two peas in a pod." "Dad..." "Don't worry." "I won't make any smart remarks." "It's just that I've stopped." "Remember, I told you that." "Yeah, okay." "Fine." "I just wanted you to know that I'm really..." "Thank you." "Do you want some stew or something?" "Come on in." "Nah, that's okay." "I gotta get home." "I'll see you." "Hi, James." "She's over there." "Thanks." "What's up?" "I just needed to go over some things with you, if you have a moment." "Sure." "I smelled something that reminded me of my Dad the other day." "Whiskey and tobacco." "It brought back a lot of memories." "Sweet ones mixed in with the not so good." "It helps to stand back and look at someone again you've only... looked at through a certain pair of glasses." "Don't you think?" "On the house." "Thanks, Molly." "How's things, Detective?" "They've been better." "We covered up the Preserve." "We found your boy's killer, at least." "Those hunters didn't kill him." "What killed him was his loneliness." "Thank you for trying." "Thank you both." "What bothers me, James, is just as we were getting close... to solving this thing you pulled away." "I almost killed a man." "Who did something terrible and then covered it up." "Yes, that's true." "But that doesn't mean he killed the other boys." "What if it's some other guy?" "Like who?" "I need you... to talk to those boys again." "One last time." "See if they can give us some kind of clue." "And I'd like to be there when you do it." "You don't give up, do you?" "No." "It's dark." "Tight." "What...?" "Dennis, please tell me who is doing this to you?" "Please." "Please tell me who's doing this to your friends?" "Please tell me." "Please talk to me!" "Your mother?" "That doesn't make any sense, your mother is dead." "What's going on?" "Please talk to me, Dennis." "What...?" "Shovels?" "What...?" "Mom?" "What...?" "What's happening?" "What's going on?" "What are you doing here?" "I don't understand." "Why...?" "I don't..." "This is crazy." "This doesn't make any sense." "What do mothers have to do with this?" "Mothers?" "They all lost one." "Who did?" "Every one of those boys lost their mother." "Just like you did, James." "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God!" "We have to go to the Preserve." "Why is that, James?" "The excavation's stopped." "This is the chance that he has to bury him." "It's happening." "It's happening now!" "He's burying him right now." "One Alpha Five One, I need backup." "I need cars as soon as possible to the Turtleback Preserve." "Ten Four." "Did you see his face?" "Whose?" "The killer's." "No." "But it's gotta be Petrocelli." "Or the priest." "They're the only two who knew where Eddie was buried." "We're missing something." "Petrocelli's lying." "He shot Eddie, not his brother." "This doesn't explain why he killed the other boys." "Maybe the Monsignor did it." "He took me to Turtleback when I was a kid." "Turn the light off." "Leave me alone!" "Turn on the light!" "Please." "No!" "Nobody's here." "This hasn't been touched." "Well, maybe..." "Whoa!" "It's me." "He's not here." "Who?" "False alarm." "No!" "I tell you about it tomorrow." "Sorry guys." "Maybe..." "They must've been having a sêance." "I'm sorry." "I was so sure I was right." "Stop!" "Why are you doing this?" "I am right." "That kid is dying... and I don't know what to do." "Wait a minute." "Whoever's doing this is bringing the boys to Eddie, right?" "Oh, my God!" "Of course he didn't take him to the preserve." "He's bringing them to Eddie." "Eddie's not there." "He's at the cemetery." "What are you doing?" "Let's go, we have to turn around!" "What's up, Karen?" "What's the matter with you?" "Turn around!" "Who is that?" "Is that him?" "We have to get to the grave." "Maybe the kid's with him." "No." "He's in the ground." "Okay, get out." "I'll follow him." "Go, go!" "What are you doing, Karen?" "This is One Alpha Five One." "I need a car as soon as possible to Chestnut Hill Cemetery." "Another corpse on the loose,Karen?" "I need a second car." "I'm in pursuit of a '94 black Grand Prix." "I don't think he's made me yet." "I thought the dead drove compacts." "This is for real you stupid son-of-a-bitch!" "Oh God." "Wait!" "They leave such a mess, these boys." "They come to play with Eddie and they never clean up." "Look at this." "Molly, how did you know where Eddie was buried?" "The man who buried him told me." "His name was Lester, and he was dying." "A priest told him he had to make amends." "He came to apologize." "Every Mother's Day, getting those flowers..." "I thought Eddie was alive." "And then in one minute, that man told me my son had been... lying in a grave for over thirty years." "I didn't know what to do." "I couldn't scream loud enough." "I couldn't... crawl into the ground beside him." "And it was my fault he died." "Mom worries that I don't have any friends." "Those boys, their mothers were dead, I read it in the papers." "I wanted to give them back to their mothers." "This used to have a picture of his mother." "He took it when he left." "I wanted to give Eddie someone to play with." "I wanted to surround him with friends." "It was all for him, you know." "He was so lonely." "Okay, Molly." "Matt?" "Alright." "Okay, this is what happens now..." "Well, that's over." "Thank God." "Do you think that I could talk to her for just a minute?" "I'll ask her lawyer." "Hello Molly." "He's here, you know?" "Eddie." "So are the others." "They've come to free him... which is why they wanted my help." "He's trapped, Molly." "You need to let him go." "It's what you said, isn't it?" "You didn't want him to be alone?" "Well, he's lonelier now than ever." "He has to move on, with his friends." "He's asking me to ask you." "Please..." "Let him go." "What happened in there?" "The boys." "What?" "I think that..." "I think they came back to free her... not just Eddie." "But to forgive her." "Amazing."