Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996) s01e02 Episode Script

[boy screaming]
Damon, you open this door
right now!
-[Damon] Mom!
-Damon!
I called the police,
Damon, they're--
[man grunting]
[screams]
Damon!
Damon, I'm warning you!
[grunting]
Open the damn door, Damon!
[grunting]
Mrs. Ballard?
So glad you're here.
It's my husband.
He's beating my son.
You gotta stop him.
Michael!
Oh, my God.
Code three, 150 Seaward Lane.
Request paramedic.
Child in distress.
Michael, come here.
Come here, baby.
Oh, my God.
Damon, what have you
done to him?
Lisa, listen.
[Lisa] How could you?
I I didn't.
You bastard.
You will never touch him again!
-It wasn't me.
-It wasn't you?
Who else was in the room
with you?
Something, someone.
I don't know.
You son of a bitch!
Lisa, listen to me.
He's still in danger.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Lisa, please, don't do this.
Lisa, no!
[sobbing]
[narrator]
Since the beginning of time,
mankind has existed between
the world of light and
the world of darkness.
Our secret society
has been here forever,
protecting others
from the creatures
who inhabit the shadows
and the night,
known only to the initiated
by our true name,
The Legacy.
Hi, how are you?
Damon, I know what she said.
It's just not right.
Derek, hi.
Uh, you remember
my father.
Yeah. Mr. Ballard,
how are you?
Yeah. I'll speak
to the attorneys
this afternoon.
It's all right, really,
I can handle--
Your wife's indiscretion
Forgive me, but this
is a family matter,
not for strangers.
Times change.
Not so much that a wife
should betray her husband.
[Damon] Dad, please.
[Mr. Ballard]
Ah, that's your trouble.
You've always been too weak
for your own good.
If it'd been your mother,
she never would have considered
going to the police,
I'd have seen to that.
Right. Okay, Dad.
I'll, um
I'll call you tomorrow.
Nice seeing you again.
I'm sorry about that.
You know my father.
[Derek] I'd forgotten
what the man was like.
I read about the arrest.
I didn't do
What they said I did.
You want to tell me about it?
Um, why don't we step inside?
The servants were out,
Lisa was in town,
I was upstairs, when suddenly
I could hear Michael screaming.
I found him there,
his hands covering his ears,
just shrieking.
Are you certain there wasn't
someone else in the room?
No, positive.
Look on his face,
he was terrified.
And then,
before I could reach him
[laughs nervously]
You're gonna think I'm nuts.
What do you mean?
Some
Force, I don't know what,
slammed the door
behind me and did this.
Can you describe this force?
Something
Someone striking me.
Only there was nothing there.
Has anything like this
ever happened before?
No.
Ever since he turned ten
last spring,
Michael's had problems.
Talking back to teachers,
getting into fights at school,
but this
Did you strike him?
I was drinking, uh
Lisa and I have been having
a rough time lately,
you know how these things go.
We're in the process
of separating.
She was late.
She'd found a house to lease,
just temporarily until
we worked things out.
Were you drunk?
I didn't think so.
I remember standing
in the study,
Michael on the floor,
Lisa voice shouting
through the door
But I have no idea
how I got there.
There wasn't anyone else
in the house at the time?
No.
No, the doors were locked.
There's a security system.
Could the boy have inflicted
the bruises himself?
No.
No, whatever attacked me,
attacked him.
I just don't know what it was.
With your permission,
I'd like to have
one of my associates
take a look at the boy.
Her name is Dr. Corrigan.
And she's a board-certified
psychiatrist.
There's gotta be
an explanation for this,
because if there isn't
I think I'm losing my mind.
[Nick] Poltergeist?
Like hell.
Sounds like child abuse to me.
[Derek] Possibly.
But I've known Damon Ballard
since boarding school,
and he's someone
I trust with my own life.
[Nick] It's not
your life we're talking
about here, Derek,
it's a child's.
I know he's your friend
but don't let him fool you.
[Rachel] Okay.
What are the facts?
Well, according to Damon,
his, uh, son was attacked
by some unseen force.
And when he tried
to help his son,
he claims
he was attacked himself.
Unfortunately, neither his wife
nor the police believe him.
-And why should they?
-[Philip] Hey.
What if he's telling
the truth?
I say it's premature
to rule out the possibility
of some sort of poltergeist
or spirit.
[Rachel] Personally, I think
if we're going to err,
we do it on the side
of the child.
You've no idea
how many child abusers
will claim that
some outside force, ghosts,
demons, whatever,
made them do it,
in the hopes
of evading prosecution.
[Philip] I agree.
But if we fail
to look into this,
we may be turning our backs
on a child that may
truly need our help.
[Rachel]
What does the child say?
He hasn't spoken
since the night it happened.
Hmm.
The boy's at Mercy Hospital.
You think you can
look in on him?
Certainly.
[Derek] Good.
Did you get the photographs?
Uh, yeah.
It's hard to believe
that Damon Ballard
did this to his own son.
[Alex]
Well, isn't that the problem?
I mean, no one is willing
to believe a father
would do this
to his own son?
These were taken
when the boy was admitted.
According
to the medical reports,
over 40 percent of his body
is covered in contusions.
He said it was possibly
made by something blunt,
a stick, possibly a cane.
Son of a bitch.
Look at this.
The mark of the lamb.
[Rachel] Excuse me?
The mark of the who?
The lamb.
An innocent lamb,
hung for slaughter.
Certain ancient manuscripts
make references
to such stigmata.
Any child that carried it
was thought to be pursued
by demons.
This text belonged
to Savonarola.
The martyr?
He led the Legacy house
in Florence
in the 15th century.
The marks are the same.
[Nick scoffs] Come on.
Don't let coincidence
pass for fact.
We really have no choice.
We will pursue
the investigation.
However, given
the very real concerns
expressed by Nick and Alex,
we should be prepared
to withdraw our support
should it be clear that the boy
has, in fact, been abused.
I agree.
Philip, I need
your assistance.
Absolutely.
To maintain an objective
point of view,
we're going to need
a full history
of Damon Ballard
and his family.
Every little detail
should be screened.
Leave it to me.
Just one more point.
I know there's a school tie
involved here,
and loyalty is something
I understand,
but I'll be damned
if I'll let you or anyone else
in this room
put friendship before facts.
Point taken, my friend.
[sirens wailing]
[Rachel] Michael?
Hi.
I'm Dr. Corrigan.
I spoke to Dr. Ross,
and he said it was all right
if we stopped by to see
how you're coming along.
This is Philip.
He's a colleague of mine.
[Philip]
How you doing there, Michael?
So, what do they
call you, then? Mike?
Mick? Mickey?
Michael, then.
Good.
[Rachel] Okay, Michael,
I don't want you
to be afraid,
but I'm just gonna move this
down a little bit
so we can have a little peek.
Open your pajama top
here and
Let's see how
you're getting along.
Okay, so, what we need
to do here is find out
how much it hurts.
You hold onto my hand
like this.
I'm just gonna touch the places
where you've been struck.
And if it hurts,
you squeeze my hand, okay?
Here we go.
-How's that?
-[winces]
[gasps] Okay.
There, there. You see?
It's all right.
You're okay.
There you go.
And what about this one?
How's that?
[gasps]
[boy whispering] Michael.
There you go, Michael.
That's okay.
There you are.
There's a good boy.
Let's try one more, okay?
You tell me how this feels.
[screams]
[Philip] It's okay.
It's okay.
[Michael screaming]
[Philip]
It's okay, Michael.
This is room 703.
We need help in here, stat.
[chanting in Latin]
[boy, wheezing]
I can't breathe.
Michael?
Do you have anything
on Ballard?
The family goes back
to one of San Francisco's
original robber barons.
Apparently, Ballard's
great-grandfather was importing
Chinese laborers
to work on a railroad.
And he swindled
his partners in some kind
of dirty land deal.
The family made their money
the old-fashioned way.
They stole it.
[Alex] You know that case
I've been working on?
I've figured it out.
Figured what out?
The Virgin of Verhagen.
It's a hoax.
You're kidding. How?
Building records.
Come here. Look.
[Alex] The local police
have gotten dozens
of calls about this.
Okay, now,
this is the steeple
from the Church
of the Blessed Virgin.
It sits on a hill
overlooking Verhagen, here.
The wall where
they've been seeing
the sign of the Virgin,
though, is over here.
Any reflection
off the steeple
would be blocked
by the old town hall.
Exactly, that's where
the city records come in.
So when did
the first sighting occur?
Sometime before Christmas,
didn't it?
Well, December 13th,
to be exact.
So I went through
the town building records,
and I found
there's a new bank
being constructed
right here.
Now, taking into account
the angle of the sun
as well as the angles
and the thickness
of the glass,
the light reflecting off
the copper roof
of the church steeple
hits the south-east
corner office
on the fourth floor
of the bank
and is refracted
through four panes of glass
before hitting the wall here.
[Nick] Impressive.
You have any idea how many
little old ladies in Verhagen
-you've just disappointed?
-[chuckles]
Of course.
None.
Little old ladies
aren't going to believe
any explanation
they can't wrap
their hearts around.
But at least
we know the truth.
-Nice work, Alex.
-Thanks.
So I spoke to Damon Ballard
this morning.
His pre-trial hearing is today.
According to the database,
Ballard's father's been
grooming him
to take over
the family business.
Well, knowing Damon's father
for more than 30 years,
I'm not sure "groomed"
is the right word.
My guess is,
he wouldn't do anything
against his father's wishes.
So, what else did you find out?
Well, apparently,
his wife called
the cops three times
in the last six months.
Each time he was cited
for drunk and disorderly,
but never formally charged.
Mmm.
He mentioned
they were having trouble.
Trouble?
Derek, this whole poltergeist
thing is a dodge.
We shouldn't be
helping this guy,
we should be hunting him.
When I'm convinced
of his guilt, we will.
Until then, keep digging.
[Rachel] That's right.
The boy is stabilized.
Uh-huh.
I gotta go, Alex.
I'll call you as soon
as we have anything.
There you are.
Yes. Oh!
Emily said we had to come here
straight from school.
Well, Emily was quite right.
I can take it
from here, thanks.
We stopped for a snack
on the way.
And make sure she shows you
her art project.
It's very impressive.
-Mmm?
-Oh, it's not finished yet.
Well, this is the perfect place
to finish it, isn't it?
Bye, Katherine.
I'll see you at home.
-Goodbye.
-Later.
Okay.
[bailiff] All rise.
The superior court
of the state of California
is now in session,
the honorable Amanda Kern
presiding.
-[bangs gavel]
-All right.
Let me just remind both parties
that this is a
preliminary hearing,
held to determine
if cause exists
to bind the defendant,
in valid, over for trial.
We're not looking here
to establish guilt
or innocence,
merely whether or not
the evidence justifies a trial.
Mr. Roper,
I take it you're here on behalf
of the district attorney.
-Will you please proceed?
-Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, in the 11 years
that you've been married,
has your husband ever struck
or abused you in any way?
The truth is my husband
can be a wonderful person.
But he has a problem.
He drinks.
Sometimes so much
that he loses control.
And when he loses control,
what happens?
He becomes abusive.
Verbally or physically?
Both.
Usually, it begins with
an argument over nothing
or something
that his father said.
Damon is a very
Conscientious son.
If his father objects
to the color of my dress,
or the time
[voice breaks]
It took me to get ready,
he would say nothing
until we got home.
And then what would he do?
He would begin to drink.
And the more he drank,
the more violent
he would become.
[Roper] Did he ever
hit you or your son?
No, not until this last time.
That's not true.
I would never do
anything to hurt him.
-[bangs gavel]
-Mr. Ballard,
one more outburst like that,
and I'll have to have you
removed from the courtroom.
Do I make myself clear?
Yes, Your Honor.
[Roper] Can you describe
for the court
exactly what you saw
when you opened the door?
[Lisa] Yes, the room
was torn apart as if
they'd been fighting.
[Derek] Really?
[Lisa] Michael, my son,
was lying on the floor
across the room.
[Roper]
What about your husband?
[Lisa] He was standing.
He looked angry, upset,
the way he looked at me
when we fought.
[Rachel] A purple cow.
Hmm.
What made you decide
to make her purple?
Because the moon's
going to be yellow.
Right.
[woman over P.A.]
Paging Dr. Corrigan.
Dr. Corrigan.
[sighs] Katherine,
I've gotta go see a patient
for a few minutes.
I won't be long.
But you can stay here
and finish your artwork, okay?
-Okay, one right here.
-Okay.
-I'll be right back.
-Okay.
-Bye.
-Bye-bye, honey.
[Alex] Nick?
Yeah?
You've been at it for hours.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
This is like fantasy time.
What's with this Ballard?
It seems like everyone
was afraid to dust him up.
Dust him up?
Make him look bad.
I'm surprised the police
even answered the 911 call.
I know this guy's guilty.
I just have to find
a way to prove it.
Hey, why don't you
take a break?
I will, when I've found
what I'm looking for.
Rachel, we got here
as quick as we could.
Is the boy still sleeping?
He was the last time
I looked in on him.
-That's his workup?
-Yeah.
Everything's come back
negative.
We've even had specialists
examine his vocal cords.
There's no physical
manifestation
to explain his lack of speech.
It's completely psychosomatic,
totally post-traumatic. I
But what is really troubling
Is that these bruises
continue to appear.
His condition
is getting worse?
Well
I've identified a half a dozen
new marks since Philip left.
Can you show us?
Oh, sure.
It's just downstairs.
I've posted the photos
in the lab.
[gasps]
[boy whispering]
Michael. Michael.
Are you all right?
His room's just down here
to the right,
but just give me a minute.
I want to tell Katherine
where I'm going.
Katherine, I
Katherine?
[rumbling]
-[glass shatters]
-Katherine?
[screaming]
Stop it!
-[Katherine] Stop it!
-Katherine!
-[screaming]
-Katherine.
[sighs] Why didn't you stay
where I left you?
There was another boy.
I followed him.
What other boy?
Did you speak to him?
No. He's very angry.
What is it?
There's water on the floor.
A trail.
It looks like footprints.
Excuse me,
why has my son been
What are you doing here?
If Damon sent you,
I would like you to leave.
-[Rachel] Mrs. Ballard?
-Excuse me.
Mrs. Ballard, I'm Dr. Corrigan.
-There are some things
going on--
-Lisa.
Lisa, there is reason
to believe your son
may be in real danger.
There is nothing wrong
with my son
that getting him away
from my husband won't fix.
Now, get out!
All of you.
Mommy's here, Michael.
Sweetie?
He's here.
[Katherine] Mommy!
-[gasps]
-[Derek] Stay down.
[screams]
[Katherine] No!
[screaming]
-Mommy!
-Look at Mommy, honey.
Look!
[Derek] Yeah, "David."
What does it mean?
I don't know.
[sighs] Are you all right?
-Uh-huh.
-Okay, baby.
Michael, answer me.
You stay here.
[sobbing]
Baby, answer me, please.
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa.
-What's wrong?
-What do you think?
[Rachel]
His pupils are dilated.
Pulse weak.
The bruising
much more pronounced.
What's wrong with him?
What's happening to him?
Mrs. Ballard, I wish
I had an easy answer for you,
but whatever this is,
this hospital is not equipped
to handle it. Look.
We've got to move your son
into a more isolated
environment now.
[Derek] Now, I realize
we're asking you
to accept a lot on faith,
but unless you allow us
to act immediately,
we may be too late.
Okay. Just please
take care of him.
I'll organize the helicopter.
-[Rachel] On three.
-[both] One, two, three.
[Damon] Thanks for everything,
I really appreciate it.
Finally.
What kept you?
I had to post a bond.
We need to talk.
Why, what's this?
The papers
I told you about.
It's for our own protection.
Our protection.
Tell me
you're not this naive.
You're about to go
through a divorce.
You need to protect yourself
while you still can.
Can we please talk about this
some other time?
No, damn it!
You have
to close your accounts,
cancel your credit cards.
Look, I've seen to everything,
just do as I say.
Sign the papers
and leave the rest to me.
Do as you say?
What about me?
All I ever did
was to please you.
The way I treated Lisa, God,
no wonder she wanted a divorce.
Hmm.
You're pathetic.
Like father, like son.
Come back here.
What do you think
you're gonna do?
You don't wanna know.
I'm going to see my son.
[Lisa]
He just looks so helpless.
Well, we have amazing
recuperative powers,
especially when we're young.
Sometimes it just takes time.
What's the kid doing here?
We needed to isolate him
before the next visitation.
Visitation from who,
his father?
Listen, Nick.
I know how strongly
you feel about this,
but whatever it is
that's attacking him
has nothing to do
with child abuse.
Hey, what's going on here?
This isn't you.
You think
you know this guy?
I bet you think
you knew my father too.
But you didn't know him
when he was drunk.
When he'd fly into a rage,
beat my mother up.
And when I would try
to stop him,
he'd beat me too.
Your father?
I had no idea--
Nobody ever does, Derek.
He was a great guy,
wasn't he?
A great provider.
Never slept around.
But nobody had to live
with him but us.
I'm sorry.
I can see now how hard
this must be for you.
But it doesn't change
the facts here.
Whatever it is
we're dealing with
literally broke into
Michael's hospital room
through the window
seven floors above the street
and trashed it.
And then, followed us
when we attempted to move him.
We couldn't stay there.
We needed a place
we could control.
So, if you really want
to help this boy,
you've gotta get past
your own pain.
What do you want me to do?
We've put him in the library,
so as soon as we're set,
lock the doors
and get ready for
Anything.
Deal.
Emily,
thanks for coming so late.
Oh, it's not a problem.
But I don't wanna go home.
I know you don't
want to go home.
You heard the noises.
I want to know what happened.
Nothing happened.
Mom!
Well, even if something did,
I want you home in bed
now, okay?
She's had her dinner,
needs to brush her teeth.
I'll be home as soon as I can.
Okay, don't worry
about a thing.
You listen to everything
Emily says.
Straight to bed.
What about you?
I'll be okay. Kiss.
Okay, you guys.
Now, drive carefully,
seat belts on,
and sweet dreams.
-Bye.
-Bye.
[Derek]
Maybe you should go with her.
Maybe I should.
But I can't.
Any other recommendations?
Well, actually,
I've been thinking.
For your daughter's sake,
maybe you need
to seriously reconsider
the level
of your involvement here.
For her sake.
Clearly,
she has the sight.
The question is, is she going
to grow up too fast.
I'm not sure, I
I can't tell her
it doesn't exist.
So she sees it as normal.
The last thing on Earth
I want is for my daughter
to feel like she's
some sort of a freak.
Yeah, fair enough.
I guess we just take it
moment to moment, right?
I guess.
Anyway,
what's going on up there?
Oh, whatever it is
that's been attacking
the boy, it's, uh
Much stronger than we thought.
Please, I need to know
what's going on.
[Derek] If you're ready,
we'd like to start.
What are you going to do?
Well, the first step
is to get whatever it is
to manifest itself.
Once we know exactly
what we're up against,
we know what to do.
[electronic buzzing
and beeping]
[chanting in Latin]
[beeps]
[gasps]
Our Father who art in heaven,
-hallowed be Thy name.
-[screaming]
-Michael!
-Thy kingdom come.
Give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from all evil.
Amen!
[shouts]
[continues screaming]
[groaning]
What are you doing here?
Get out!
Damon?
No!
[wheezing]
I can't breathe!
Oh, my God, no!
[water splashing]
[gasps]
[wheezing]
I can't breathe.
David?
[Rachel] When dealing with
these kinds of phenomena,
it's critical to identify
patterns as they emerge.
Clearly the spirit has
followed him,
just as we hoped.
Hoped? You mean, you knew
this would happen?
Look, your son was
attacked at your home,
twice in the hospital.
It's not so surprising
that it would have
followed him here as well.
At least now we know
what we're confronted by.
Which is what?
Your son is being attacked
by a ghost.
The ghost of a child.
[Derek]
Please don't take offense,
though our questions
must be answered.
Did you have
a stillborn child?
No, never.
And Michael isn't a twin?
What are you talking about?
Of course not.
You had no right
to come here.
Lisa, please, just listen.
No, you listen to me.
This whole thing started
because of you.
I don't want you
anywhere near Michael,
do you understand me?
I want you as far away from him
as you can possibly be.
Fine. Be angry with me.
Do anything you want,
but take Michael
and get out of here
before this ghost comes back.
Weren't you listening?
We can't outrun this.
She's right.
No, take Michael and go. Now.
Guess again.
Get out of my way.
That's not gonna happen.
Sorry, he asked for it.
Yeah, you didn't?
Whatever it is
that's happening,
it's a response to something.
-And I need to know what.
-There's nothing to say.
Well, I think there is.
When you arrived,
and the spirit was raging,
I was afraid we wouldn't
be able to contain it.
Yet the moment it saw you,
everything ceased.
It was as if the entire ordeal
was created to bring you here.
Why?
You've got to let me help you
before it's too late.
-Go to hell!
-Why?
Is that where I'll find
the answer?
Damn it, we're friends.
For Michael's sake,
you've got to tell me what
this is all about
before this ghost comes back.
If the ghost child
isn't here for Michael,
then he's using Michael
to get to you.
If it can recognize you,
then you must know
what it is we're dealing with.
You've got to tell me.
Oh, Jesus.
Why won't it die?
[Derek] Perhaps because
it needs something
only you can give.
What am I gonna do?
You start by telling me
the truth.
We were so young.
Her name was Laura.
I met her
when I was in college.
She worked in the bookstore.
She was so beautiful.
So bright.
[sighs]
Her family didn't have
any money.
No position, no power,
but she was everything
I wanted.
Everything my father hated.
I got her pregnant.
[exhales heavily]
My father went crazy.
He insisted
she have it aborted.
She refused.
She had the child
out of wedlock,
a boy.
Named David.
My father demanded
that I disown them,
but she tried to bring
a paternity suit.
Called the judge,
pulled a few strings.
I just stood by.
What happened to them?
Ten years later,
I received this.
Don't ask me
why I kept it.
[Damon] Call it guilt.
Two days after she
mailed it to me,
she committed suicide.
They found the boy
Lying face down in the tub.
Drowned.
Wet footprints.
Same age as Michael.
I'd say he's attempting
to do to Michael
what was done to him,
and there's only one way
to stop him.
You've got to atone
for what you did.
[Rachel] Derek!
It's starting.
What the hell does it want?
If we knew that,
we might be able to stop it.
All the warmth's
gone out of his body.
We're losing him.
You've got to talk to him, now.
But he can't hear me.
Wrong, he can't respond,
but he knows your voice.
Speak from your heart.
It's not his body
that's in danger.
It's his soul!
Michael?
Michael, I love you so much,
Michael.
I couldn't live without you.
Please don't leave me.
Listen to me, David.
Stop before it's too late.
Show yourself!
[yells]
David.
[wheezing] I can't breathe.
No!
-No, no!
-No, no!
[Lisa sobbing] Oh, my God, no.
-No.
-Why doesn't it tell us
what it wants?
It is.
The sins of the father.
Damon, time of atonement.
David
[shrieks]
I can't.
You must.
David, my son.
[wheezing] I can't breathe.
Forgive me.
I was wrong.
But taking an innocent life
won't make it right.
I killed you,
caused your death
and your mother's.
It was me.
[Lisa whimpers]
I'm the one
who deserves to pay,
not your brother.
Take me.
Spare him.
[David, wheezing]
Come with me, Father.
Lisa, I
[David] Take my hand.
Damon, no. Not you too!
[screams]
[crackling]
[gasps]
Michael!
Oh!
[Lisa] Oh, baby,
I was so worried.
I'm so glad you're safe.
It's over.
It's over,
the curse is lifted.
If you're busy,
I can come back.
Not at all.
Come in, sit down.
About what happened.
Yeah?
My old man?
Thanks.
For what?
Understanding.
Your father hurt you.
He did things even
I didn't know about.
Some wounds never heal.
But nobody can change the past.
You can make your own peace
and move on.