Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996) s01e05 Episode Script

[metal scraping rock]
[sand falling]
[breathing heavily]
[grunting]
My God.
I think this is it.
We don't know that yet.
We will.
We will, my friend.
-Hey, John, what are you doing?
-We can't do that here.
We gotta get it to the States,
under controlled conditions.
For all you know,
it could disintegrate
before we can even read it.
[man speaking ancient language]
[John] For God's sake,
-keep your lights on.
-[man] I'm trying, John,
it won't stay on.
Come on. We gotta get
this scroll back to Hitchcock.
He's the one
paying our way.
John, re-seal it.
We have to leave here.
Yes.
You're right.
-You and Jones start on down.
-No, we go to--
I'll follow you!
[man speaking ancient language]
[grunts]
[man speaking ancient language]
[men grunting]
[John humming]
[man yelling]
[man] No! No!
[man 2 screaming]
[humming]
[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.
And how long have these
disturbances been going on?
Since early fall.
But no one so far
has been harmed
by the apparition.
So. Alex?
Leave it to me.
Well, be careful.
It's supposed to snow, right?
Oh, yeah.
Before you all go charging off,
there's one other
piece of news.
A donation
from Randolph Hitchcock.
Isn't he that guy
who got in trouble
with the State Department
last spring
for buying up all those
oil wells in the Middle East?
-The same.
-[Rachel] Why would he
wanna donate
anything to
the Winston Rayne Collection?
Randolph knew my father
quite well,
and we traveled together.
And in fact,
more than 20 years ago,
he was a member
of this Legacy House.
So I invited him
to come here tonight
with some kind
of spectacular artifact
he's discovered.
And I'd like you all
to meet him.
That's the one thing
he requested.
Tonight?
Eight o'clock, in the study.
[Nick] Eight o'clock.
[driver] Here we are, sir.
Have a nice evening.
[car door closes]
Randolph.
Come in.
When I got your message,
I could hardly believe
it came from you.
[chuckles]
I don't know why.
It only took me 21 years
to send it.
[both chuckling]
[playing piano]
[Derek]
Ladies and gentlemen,
Randolph Hitchcock.
These are my colleagues.
Rachel Corrigan.
Pleasure.
My pleasure, I'm sure.
Nick Boyle.
Hello, Nick.
How are you?
Good, thanks.
Father Philip Callaghan.
Alexandra Moreau.
-Hello, nice to meet you.
-Enchanted.
Well, Derek,
it would seem that
you have raised
a fine family here.
It makes me all the sorrier
I never had one of my own.
I'm sure Derek
has told that you
that, uh, I was,
once upon a time,
a member of The Legacy myself.
But, due to
a tragic accident
and perhaps
an even more tragic
misunderstanding,
I was forced to leave.
I have always
regretted that.
-As have I.
-Well
I've wondered, all these years
how to make amends.
But it wasn't until
I came upon this
that I felt sure I'd found it.
I can't imagine
a better place
for the mysteries contained
herein to be unraveled
than the Winston Rayne
Hall of Antiquities.
I don't mind telling you,
it took me three expeditions
to find this scroll.
Expeditions where?
To Qumran,
where the Dead
Sea Scrolls were found.
What exactly is this?
That is what I'm hoping
The Legacy can tell me.
As I'm sure
you're aware,
the Dead Sea Scrolls
were found in cliffside caves.
Eleven caves in all.
Yes, exactly.
But less well-known is the fact
that the original scrolls
refer to other scrolls
and to a twelfth cave,
which has never
been discovered.
[Rachel]
And you found it?
I found
the twelfth cave.
And discovered this
inside it.
But what's it written in?
It looks almost like
Sumerian.
But it's not.
No, it isn't.
There are many unanswered
questions about this scroll.
What it says.
What this parchment
is made of.
And when, precisely,
it, uh, dates from.
That's why I was hoping
The Legacy would be able
to examine and preserve this.
I would love to take
a crack at deciphering it.
[chuckles]
Same.
Derek, your cohorts
are chomping
at the bit already.
[chuckles] Yeah,
look what you've done now.
Oh, Randolph.
Thank you again.
You know how sorry I am,
and always have been,
for what happened to Alicia.
I've never actually
forgiven myself.
Well then, it's time you did.
It's over, Derek.
It's taken me years
to realize that.
But now I have realized it.
Now, you
must do the same.
Thank you.
So you'd like to oversee
the work on the scroll?
Well, unless you wanna
fight me for it.
I'm glad to see
you and your old friend
reconciled
after all these years.
So am I.
So am I.
[Nick]
Burning the midnight oil?
Yeah, just making some notes.
So you and Hitchcock
used to raise some hell
together, huh?
Yeah.
Quite a long time ago.
Who's the babe?
Randolph's fiancee.
Her name was Alicia.
Yeah?
If you hadn't educated me,
I would have felt certain
that she was with you.
Hitchcock
is a better man
than I thought.
Back then, the three of us
were inseparable.
And whatever happened to her?
She died.
I'm sorry.
[beeping]
Have you come to wish me
a bon voyage?
Think you can handle this?
-What, The Pennywhistle Inn?
-Mmm-hmm.
Trust me.
You okay?
Of course. Why?
I don't know.
It looks like
you could use
a good night's rest.
Did you sleep at all
last night?
Not much, actually.
Bad dreams, I'm afraid.
Take care.
-Call me
if you need me, okay?
-Mmm.
[door closes]
[church bell tolls]
[innkeeper]
No. No, no, please.
Please, don't go.
The house isn't haunted.
It's just the plumbing.
It's just very loud.
[man]
You'll never get
our business again.
[innkeeper]
It's not ghosts, really.
-[man] Come on.
-Whoa.
Another satisfied
customer, I see.
[indignant chattering]
Please, it's not as bad
as it seemsreally.
Well, how would you like to
rent me a room
and tell me all about it?
-You're serious?
-Absolutely.
-Well, let me take your bags.
-Great.
Come on in.
Here we go.
Okay. Thank you.
[Alex] Wow.
Now, this is
an incredible room.
Are all the rooms
this nice?
I wish I could say
they were.
This is the best
of them all.
After my parents died
last year
and left this place to me,
I spent everything I had
renovating it.
Well, it's
It's great.
Everybody always
wants to stay
in a quaint
bed-and-breakfast, and
But nobody wants
to share a bath.
So
I had them put in this
customized bathroom.
Even one of these
shower massage heads.
Well, all right, then.
I'll take it.
You might want to
think twice about that.
This is the room where
Where three people
have seen the ghost.
Once, it was standing
by that window.
Once, he was standing
at the foot of the bed.
And once
Once what?
Once he even tried
to get into bed with a guest.
[laughs]
[playing somber piano piece]
Thank you, sir.
What was that tune
you were playing
just now, Derek?
Oh. Honestly, I
I don't know
where it came from.
-Must have heard it
someplace before.
-Hmm.
I hate to be the one
to interrupt such inspiration,
-barging in here like this.
-Oh, no, no, no, no.
Not at all.
I certainly understand
your eagerness
to decipher the scroll.
Well, it took me
such a hellishly long time
to find it.
I suppose I just can't wait
to discover what we have.
Do you know anything?
These things take time.
We're working on it.
Ah.
And, unless the protocols
have changed since my day,
the laboratory
would be off-limits
to anyone except
the members of The Legacy.
Is that right?
Well, that's still
the protocol, yes.
Oh.
But, uh, given
the circumstances,
I think an exception
can be made.
Please.
Wonderful.
[Randolph]
I'd like to be able to say
the place hasn't
changed a bit.
But it has.
And all to the good,
apparently.
Randolph was wondering
if we've made any progress
with the scroll yet.
[Nick]
We've run tests
on the parchment and ink,
but nothing yet.
[Randolph]
What about the age?
Have you been able to
determine that?
Carbon dating's done
just outside of Stanford
University's campus.
I'd give them a phone call
and ask if they'd
run the test again.
[Randolph] Oh?
Precisely what date
did they give you?
11,000 B.C.,
plus or minus 200 years.
Isn't that impossible?
From everything I understand,
and I would bow
to your expertise on this.
But, far as I know,
no written language
had even been invented
at such an early date.
True.
And we've never seen
writing like this before.
I seem to have bestowed
more questions than answers
on The Legacy, eh?
[Nick] Derek?
You all right?
Why wouldn't I be?
Randolph
I think we've done enough here.
It's better if you go now.
Oh.
Yes.
Of course.
Good luck.
Yeah.
[breathing heavily]
I never meant to do
any of it.
I never meant to
hurt anyone.
God is my witness.
I was as much
in the dark as anyone.
I knew no more
than Conway or Jones.
May God's word protect me.
They can't blame me.
Not for that.
I was doing what
I'd been paid to do.
Just as they were.
We all went into this
with our eyes open.
Wide open.
[ghostly voices whispering]
[grunts]
[yelling]
[Rachel]
Derek? I got your call. I--
Are you all right?
What?
Your face, I can
I can see it
in the window. It's
What the hell's going on?
Oh, just a momentary lapse.
Nothing really.
I don't believe you.
-I said it was nothing!
-Uh
Well, excuse me.
I just, uh
So, what are you
doing here?
You called me.
I was seeing a patient.
You asked me to come.
Don't you remember?
It was a mistake.
Maybe you're pushing yourself
too hard.
You know, "fools rush in--"
I'm not a fool!
[gasps]
Excuse me?
You heard me.
What are you doing?
You You're sweating.
I'm fine.
[shower running]
[shivers]
Come on, hot water.
[shivers]
[child crying]
[static and clattering
coming from radio]
[knocks]
Harper!
Open up!
[church bell tolls]
How can you stand this?
What did you do with
the money I paid you?
Blood money.
I gave it away.
To Jones'
and Conway's families.
Mmm, very noble of you.
Also rather
pitiful.
I won't be
staying.
What is it you want?
I want the scroll back.
You can't be serious.
Why?
Why?
You need to ask me that?
Two men have died already.
You know its power.
It has to be destroyed.
And you think
this collection of clutter
is going to keep you safe?
I'm alive, aren't I?
You're alive because of me!
And you'll stay that way
if you keep
your mouth shut.
Forget you ever
saw the scroll.
It's good advice.
Take it.
What advice did you
give Derek Rayne?
Derek Rayne.
So you do get out.
The scroll
belongs to him now.
It will do with him
as it sees fit.
[laughs]
You've got
to get the scroll back.
Conway and Jones
come for me
every night.
I've got to get it back.
I've got to burn it!
It's the only way
to make it stop.
It's the only way
to end this.
I'll see what I can do.
[loon calls]
[screaming]
[yawns]
[gasps softly]
[exhales]
Derek.
Uh
What the hell
are you doing here?
I'm sorry.
I had to see you.
So I broke in
through the side entrance.
-I couldn't
help myself.
-[sighs]
I keep seeing
this image.
Fire. Something burning.
And this sound
ofvoices.
Voices?
You're hearing voices?
I've heard them before.
Her name was Alicia.
Alicia Summers.
She and Randolph Hitchcock
were due to be married
a long time ago.
Who took this picture?
I did.
Just be--
Before, uh
It was supposed to be
a simple operation.
Get in, get data, get out.
We'd have been fine, except
Alicia wouldn't listen.
She was supposed to
meet us at the car,
but she came looking for me.
This thing we'd
been tracking
had grabbed her
and ripped her apart.
And when she died
it was as if
the world opened up and
you could hear this sound.
Cries of the damned.
Voices screaming.
It was horrible.
And Randolph loved her
so much.
And what about you?
Did you love her, too?
Yes.
I've never said it
to anyone before.
But, yes, I did.
The visions.
But everything
you've told me
There wasn't any fire.
No, nothing like that.
And yet,
it's the image of fire
I keep seeing.
Derek
you know that people who are
born with the ability to
see things that
no one else can see,
there
There is a certain
instability, it
There is a danger
of losing touch with reality.
That's why I came here
to see you.
Before something terribly wrong
happens again.
Who's this?
Oh,
the original owners
of the house,
the Cartwrights.
I thought of enlarging
that picture
-and hanging it up
in the front hall.
-Mmm.
I wonder
what happened to them.
I don't know.
They built the house,
and when their son
died of pneumonia,
they sold it.
Hmm.
You said these disturbances
began this fall.
Yes, that's right.
I remember
it was just after
the workmen finished
with their renovations.
For the longest time
I thought it was
just that they'd
done something wrong, like
maybe hanging the new doors
off-kilter,
something like that.
These renovations,
did they include
the room I'm in?
Oh, yes.
That was the biggest part
of the job.
Get away.
I've killed two men
already, Mr. Rayne.
What's one more?
What do you want?
To save your life.
That's all.
Have we heard
from Derek?
No. Rachel called.
Said she spoke to him
this morning.
Oh, yeah?
Did she say
what was wrong with him?
Not really.
How's it coming
with the translation?
That's a good question.
Got an answer?
No. No answers.
I can't make
head nor tail of it.
And neither can
the computer.
I've had this scroll
carbon-dated
a half a dozen times,
and the answer
keeps coming up the same.
-11,000 B.C.
-Yep.
And we both know
that can't be right.
The, uh, composition
analysis of the ink
and parchment showed up
this morning.
Great.
So, what's it made of?
Flax, rice paper, papyrus?
Skin.
Skin?
What kind of skin?
Sheep? Goat?
Human.
Human?
And the ink is blood.
Here, have a look.
[computer beeping]
See the movement?
Yeah.
Human blood?
Yes.
The ink, or blood,
is motile.
The scroll is alive.
[Derek] Hitchcock?
You know him as well?
Yes. Too well.
-He's my friend.
-Is he?
Well, what are you
talking about?
Nothing.
Or something
that came between you?
So terrible
he's never forgiven you.
Alicia?
A woman.
Now there's a reason.
-Oh, shut up!
-See?
Scars buried deep inside
your soul.
Scars he's never forgiven.
-He has. He told me.
-No.
Never!
Randolph Hitchcock
never forgives
anyone
for anything.
Nor does the scroll.
The scroll?
It will drive you mad.
You will hear things
that no one said.
And you will see things
that aren't there.
No one can help you,
Mr. Rayne.
The scroll
will take your sanity.
And then,
it will take your life.
Precautions, Mr. Rayne.
Take great precautions.
We're brothers now.
Like it or not.
[child crying]
[door creaks]
Oh, my.
[sighs]
[gasps]
That's it, isn't it?
This was your room.
The one they tore out.
Oh. [clicks tongue]
Poor baby.
[water splashing]
[John]
In the name of Adoshem,
eternal and everlasting one,
prince of princes,
lord of light,
angel of absolution.
Let no evil penetrate
this sacred circle.
Have mercy upon me.
And let thine angels come
and take up their abode
in this place.
Protect thy humble servant
from the powers of the night
and the demons of the pit.
Make of my spirit
a beacon of righteousness.
Make of me a pillar of light
and cleanse my soul
of all impurity.
[panting]
[screaming]
Oh, God!
[screaming]
Derek?
When did you get in?
Late.
After midnight.
We were worried about you.
The scroll.
It's not Sumerian.
It's Paleo-Hebrew.
The earliest form
I've ever seen.
And I suppose now
you can read this?
Yeah. I did.
Well, what does it say?
It's a confession.
To what?
Murder.
It's the first murder
confession ever made.
I don't follow you.
It's the confession of Cain
to the killing
of his brother, Abel.
And it's his curse
Exile,
madness and death
for whomever
possesses the scroll.
Oh, my
[wood clattering]
[firefighters radio chatter]
[Derek]
God. I should have known.
Fire.
[firefighter] Gary, can you,
uh, check the, uh, warehouse
to the right of us here.
When did this happen?
Last night.
The call came in
after midnight.
Was there anyone inside?
Who are you?
Derek Rayne.
I-I knew a man
who claimed he lived here.
Well, if he was in there
when this thing went up,
there won't be much left.
All we've found so far
are odds and ends
burnt beyond recognition.
-Any idea what started it?
-Hard to say.
Given the way it went up,
I'd say it was arson.
My God.
[John]
I'm here Rayne.
Drive.
Justdrive.
[starts car]
[Randolph] Derek.
I received your message.
It's been many years
since I received a summons
to this house.
Well, what have you
discovered?
I'd love to know
what it says.
Oh, I think you know,
Randolph.
I think you know.
You knew when you brought it
to The Legacy.
I gave that scroll to you.
Would you like it back?
You've never forgiven me
for what happened
to Alicia that night.
Have you?
[breathing heavily]
No.
You were in love with her.
Weren't you, Rayne?
Did you think
I was blind?
She loved you.
Yes!
She did!
She loved me, Derek!
Not you!
Is that why
you had her killed?
I would never
have done anything
to put Alicia in danger.
No?
Wasn't it you
who led us into that
bloody disaster?
If it hadn't been
for you
[tearfully]
hadn't been for you,
she'd still be alive.
She'd be my wife.
If it hadn't been for you.
You think you know now
what the scroll says?
Did you decipher
the lettering yourself?
Or have you been
talking to a raving lunatic
named John Harper?
John Harper is no lunatic.
So you did know the man.
Oh, I still know him,
Randolph.
He's alive.
There,
my friend,
you are wrong.
He's dead.
And now
[chuckles]
so are you.
You seemedsuicidal.
I didn't think
you'd actually try.
[John] No.
You tried.
But I can't go
without the scroll.
Are you mad?
The scroll doesn't
belong to you.
It belongs to him.
Curse and all.
I bequeathed it
to Derek Rayne.
Look. Look at
his forehead.
It even bears
the mark of Cain.
Harper, no!
-Don't!
-It's mine now.
I found it.
And I'll put an end to it.
No!
It has to be destroyed!
[screaming]
You fool!
[ghostly scream]
No!
No, you can't have me!
[spirit groans]
Harper.
Harper.
He can't hear you.
[door opens]
Hitchcock.
[Philip]
He's getting away.
Do you want him?
No. Not for now.
Derek.
It's gone.
I know who you are.
You're Benjamin,
aren't you?
Uh-huh.
And this is where you died.
Here in the nursery.
Cold. It's so cold.
Oh.
I know you are.
But if I warmed you up
and got them to redo
your room, would you
stop wandering through
the house at night?
Cold.
Well, come on then, little guy.
[Whispers] come on.
There you go.
Oh, you've been cold
way too long.
There.
Get some sleep now.
Mmm.
Sweet little boy.