Ghost Whisperer s05e22 Episode Script
The Children's Parade
Previously on "Ghost Whisperer" No! Wake up, mommy, wake up! Melinda! Oh, my God.
It was a vision, you're OK! It felt so real.
Honey, they're just getting worse and worse.
Melinda said Carl was afraid the shadows were getting in his head.
You think the shadows are messing with Melinda's head? We protect each other.
Whenever the cold things come.
The shadows.
Your son is in danger.
So what you're saying is that I can fix this If I make Aiden not see ghosts.
Or shadows.
Don't you think we owe it to Aiden to try? By changing him? If it would keep my son safe and alive, I don't care.
Watch out! I'm coming through! Look what I have! Jim, wake up.
No.
Get out of my way! It's Aiden.
He's talking to someone.
Watch out! A bomb! Come here! Watch out! What are you doing? Who are you talking to? I was doing the voices.
Oh.
Good.
We thought you were talking to somebody else.
Like who? Um, nobody.
Nobody.
Let's go to bed.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, do what your mom says, come on.
Come on, buddy, let's get up.
I feel better.
What do you mean? That there's no such thing as ghosts.
I feel better.
Well, we feel better that you feel better.
Yeah.
I hope we're doing the right thing.
We are.
It's good that Aiden was so easy to convince, And I think he's happy That he doesn't see ghosts anymore.
Still, something just doesn't feel right.
I feel like something's missing.
It's probably just less stress in the house.
Maybe more.
But I have to find it, mom! We'll look for it later.
But he was the general! He was the main soldier.
If you had put your toys away like you' supposed to, You'd be able to find them.
But the other soldiers won't know what to do without him.
Aiden, I don't want to hear anymore about it, OK? It's just a toy soldier.
But it's not! Shh.
Eh.
Don't worry, I'll take him to the bus stop.
Go ahead.
Thanks.
Oh, the drain.
In the tub.
It's clogged, sorry.
And you're telling me, why? Well, when you came back, I didn't want you 'cause it's my job to call the plumber? No, I just every time Something is broken in this house, You just throw it at me like it's my job to get it fixed.
Not really.
But I'll call the plumber.
No, forget it! I'll call.
Mom's in a bad mood.
You noticed that, too, did you? Come on.
I am so glad things are picking up.
We haven't seen that in months.
And I had to make the tremendous sacrifice Of taking a whole day off from school to help.
Oh, yeah, you're a real giver.
How's everything at the store? I don't know.
You don't know? Closed up early today.
How come? I hate that place.
What? I hate it.
It's always so hot in there.
I hate everything in it.
I'd be happy if I never had to step foot in that place again.
Mel, is everything OK? Yeah! Yeah, I'm gonna go see Jim.
Hey, good luck on the open houses.
Bye.
It's all right, everybody has their days.
No, I just feel bad.
I shouldn't have snapped at you like that.
No, I'm amazed you're as even-tempered as you are, All the stress you're usually under.
How about I take you to lunch to make up for it? Yes, that's a good idea.
Yeah, I want to talk to you about all the weird stuff That happened last night.
Hospital's becoming ghost central again.
Look, I'll file these, I'll be right back.
Ok.
Where did he go? It's not nice to hide from your nurse.
Maybe not.
But it's fun.
What's your name? Pete.
Pistol Pete, everybody calls me.
I wonder why they call you that.
Isn't the pediatric ward upstairs? I just wanted to get something to drink.
My doctor said it was OK, But I forgot to take money.
All right.
I'll make you a deal.
I will get you something to drink If you go back to room, Ok? Deal.
Oh, I can't believe you fell for it! You're a ghost.
No.
Maybe you are.
Come on, Juanita.
I was looking all over for you.
Honey, I hate to say it, but You look like you've just seen a ghost.
I did.
But I didn't know it.
I've always been able to tell the difference Between the living and the dead.
Their energy, the way that they look.
I feel it.
I always know it.
I just don't understand why this is happening.
And it's not just that.
I justI don't feel right lately.
I just don't know what to do.
Eli? Are you there? Root canal.
Did you just suggest that I get a root canal? No.
Eli, are you alright? "have to have root canal.
Have a toothache, might be fatal.
" You know, toothaches are generally not fatal.
Mm-hmm.
All right, Eli.
Go to the dentist.
I have to pick up Aiden at the bus stop anyway.
"I'll be more helpful when I'm not in excruciating pain, Or when I'm dead from the toothache.
" Well, I won't know the difference, so, bye.
This the house with the naughty drain? Oh! Uh, did my husband call you? Yep.
Upstairs bathroom tub, right? Right.
George the plumber.
Oh.
Oh, you probably don't want to shake hands After the job I just came from.
Uh-huh.
So what are we looking at? It's the bathtub drain.
Ah, I love a good clog.
It's my specialty.
It's kind of like a mystery that you have to unravel.
Tell the truth, I'm always a little disappointed If it's just a garden-variety hairball.
Where's the challenge in that? Um, OK, let's get started, 'cause then I have to pick my son up, Down at the corner.
My work is guaranteed.
If I don't fix it, you don't pay.
That way, your money doesn't go down the drain.
A little plumber humor.
You hear that? Ah, I'm so glad.
Man, I've been hearing that every night.
I thought I was going nuts.
Ah.
Where are we going, doc? Whoa! Uh, nowhere.
Um, nowhere.
I was just Repositioning you a little bit.
Oh.
We're all good.
Did you find my soldier, mom? Hmm? No, I'm sorry.
I gotta find him! We will.
I know what's it's like to have lost something.
We need to talk.
Come on, Aiden.
Melinda, I've been hearing things Melinda! You need to know what Melinda! I don't get it.
They can do heart surgery with laser beams, But to cure a toothache, You still have to sit in a torture chair And let someone actually drill Into your tooth.
Barbaric.
Yeah, I can see, this is not a good time.
I just have one question.
Why is Melinda ignoring me? Uh Talking? Me talking? I said something.
To you? No.
Ok, who? Long hair, cute, um, Pretty.
I said something to Melinda? Ouch! I hate that part.
What did I say? Um, eyes.
Circle, symbol for no.
No eyes.
Nono looking.
Nono seeing.
Nono seeing ghosts.
I told Melinda not to see ghosts.
Butsmall.
Smallsmall person.
Aiden shouldn't see ghosts? I told Melinda that? But I have no recollection of saying that! Anything like that.
There's no way The shadows.
I told Melinda they've been in and out of my head lately.
What if they made me say that? What if Eli, I don't know what's going on here, But I do know this Ok, just relax.
Convincing Aiden he can't see ghosts Is the worst, the most dangerous thing Melinda can do right now.
Ooh.
It sounds like a classic poltergeist.
Well, whatever this classic poltergeist is, he's gotta go.
'cause of all the hauntings we've had in the hospital Sally stitch, the morgue ghost, None were this aggressive.
Don't forget what the shadows did to Bedford's mother.
That was fairly aggressive.
Wait, do you think this is shadow related? No, I think it's a mischievous Ok.
So you can cross him over? I'll try, but the baby-sitter Has to be home at midnight.
Ah, ghost hunting based on the baby-sitter's schedule.
That's what our lives have come to.
The price you pay for using living baby-sitters.
Hilarious.
Gotta go.
Bye.
Here input Chinese only Here input Chinese only No time now, tough ghost to cross over.
This is important.
I never told you to get Aiden to stop seeing ghosts.
I would never tell you or anyone else To deny your gifts.
Just back off.
I've been warned.
I know what you're trying to do.
All right, maybe I was possessed by the shadows When I told you that If I told you that.
Really? Possessed? Is that then or now? Shadows can manipulate the living and the dead.
You know that.
Once they get in your head, They can make you say and do anything.
But this is me the real me.
All right, the dead me.
But still, me.
Still Carl.
You are wasting your time.
The shadows don't want you crossing souls over.
And they don't want Aiden To follow in your footsteps.
You have powers that threaten what they can do.
You and Aiden see things other people can't, So the shadows want to consume you both.
That's why this is the worst time To make Aiden deny his powers.
You're vulnerable now! The shadows are going to use y to get to him.
You'll kw when they start to get to you.
You'll feel your powers eroding.
Already you're having trouble telling visions fr reality.
Who the hell do you think you are? I am so sick of you and everyone else Telling me what I'm supposed to do.
You don't decide what's best for me, And you sure as hell Don't decide what is best for Aiden! I decide.
Do you understand me? Me! Now go get a life of your own.
Better yet, a death of your own, and leave me alone! Do you understand? I just asked you a question.
Do you understand? Please, please, can you help me? I'm trying to find my doctor.
I don't know what's happening to me.
Look, I'm not in the mood for this right now.
Just look for a light.
Get the hell in it.
Stay in it, problem solved.
WhaII You're not dead, are you? Mr.
Fordyce, come on.
Time to go now, sir.
Let's go.
Right this way.
Why does she think I'm dead? Do I look th bad? You're annoying more people here than I am.
You know, this whole thing with your little posse has to stop.
Who are those kids, anyway? They're like my army.
They do whatever I say.
And I keep them safe.
The safest place for you is in the light.
You're funny.
Hey, how come you're the only one of them Who can see us? Ahem.
Them who? The people on the other side.
The breathers.
That's what we call you people.
Charming.
Now what about your parents? Where are they? They were so sad when they lost me.
They cried, And they cried Don't you think they'd be happier if you crossed over Instead of staying here, causing trouble? If you could get my parents to come and talk to me, I'd do whatever they wanted.
Where can I find them? My dad owns the gas station in town.
You should be careful, though.
He doesn't like to talk about losing me.
It hurts his heart.
It's not my first barbecue.
I'll try not to upset him.
Yeah, you're about a quart low.
Well, maybe that's what my car's been trying to tell me.
Yeah.
You almost gotta be a computer genius to own a car today.
You know, it used to be fun.
You know, figuring out what was wrong.
But now I just OK at a screen.
I've seen you around town, right? Yeah, I own the antiques store down the street.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, my wife loves that place.
You've got more of my money than I do.
Look, I don't want to pry, But I was wondering if we could talk about your son.
My son? Yeah, your boy.
Yeah, my wife and I can't have kids.
What's, uh, what's this about? I'm sorry, I thought you had a son named Pete.
Pete's not my son.
But you know him? Who are you? Huh? Did they send you here? What's he done now? They? I don't we want nothing To do with that kid.
Do you understand? So you're not aware that Pete passed away? I don't want to talk to you anymore.
Um, oil's on the house.
His name was Pete Murphy.
He died at the hospital last month.
Hodgkin's disease.
He was 13.
Ugh, poor kid.
And the records said that he was sent to us From the Driscoll county youth home.
So he was an orphan? Yeah.
Which means This is another haunting involving orphans.
So it's probably shadow related? Makes perfect sense.
I mean, what kids are more vulnerable Than those with no families? And I can't reunite them with anyone.
Now you said there were a lot of other kids? Yeah, he said he was trying to keep them safe.
Huh.
From the shadows? Well, we know that they like to take ghost children, So probably.
And the guy that I met today, It seemed like he was maybe a foster parent of Pete's at some point, And it didn't work out so well.
So I guess Pete just created an image Of loving parents in his mind.
Makes you want to count your blessings, huh? Uh-huh.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go there tomorrow and see if I can find out.
Good.
Oh, hey, don't take a shower tomorrow morning.
The drain's still clogged, it's nasty.
I mention this only for informational purposes, not to Yeah, I know.
Plumber told me he's going to have to come back again tomorrow, so.
I thought I saw my soldier under here.
But it was just this.
What are you doing up so late? I gotta find him, mom.
He was the general.
Enough with the soldier already.
And if I find you out of bed again, I'm gonna take all the soldiers away.
Do you understand me, mister? Now get in the bed and don't move! It's all right, buddy.
Ahem.
Your mom's under a lot of stress right now, So, umgo to bed, I'm sorry, dad.
It's OK.
Just get some sleep.
*** Yeah, I remember Pete.
Pistol Pete.
He was a force of nature.
He was a problem for you? Oh, yeah.
For everyone.
But you had to love him.
And I did.
He was always riling up all the kids.
Starting protests about the food, TV rebellions.
The kids all loved him Because he made them feel important.
Like what they wanted mattered.
At least one family adopted him.
More than one.
But it was always the same story.
I mean, he'd get placed in a family And within a month, he'd end up right back here.
He was just too much to handle.
And then he got sick? Yeah.
They tried to take care of him here, But eventually we had to put him in the hospital.
He was very alone in the world, pistol Pete.
What about his birth mother? Well, she gave him up the day he was born.
And she never looked back.
I really can't Can you just tell me where he was born? Same place he died.
Rockland memorial.
This is the toughest case I've ever seen.
Whatever's in there What is so hard about this, George? I thought clogs were your specialty.
Well, I think I may have met my Waterloo on this one.
Is that supposed to be another plumber joke? I guess it could be.
Water.
Loo.
Just unclog the drain.
You're George the plumber, not George the comedian.
Ok.
This is war! I will win! There was a polio ward for kids.
And the doctor there who gave them Halloween masks Let them play tricks on the other patients.
I guess it was to let them have some fun.
Yeah.
When did it close? That's when they must have built the second floor And the pediatric ward up there.
So where is the old one? You know, there's an abandoned wing of the hospital Down in the subbasement.
I've never seen it; I've only heard about it.
Everybody kind of steers clear of it.
Everybody, except, of course, for maybe, right, you.
Look, I can show it to you, but I've got to do some rounds right now.
Well, just point me in the right direction.
The meter's running on our baby-sitter.
All right.
First right, down the stairs.
Ok.
See ya.
Don't you know you're dead? I beg your pardon? We're not scared of you.
We know you can't hurt us.
Why would I want to hurt you? It's OK.
She's just one of the breathers.
She thinks she's alive.
Welcome to my lair.
I've always wanted to have a lair.
What's going on with you and these kids? I made them all believe they're alive.
They think the doctors and nurses are the ghosts.
And now, you.
Why? I want them to feel like they're important.
Let them feel what it's like to have some juice.
This is wrong.
I know you mean well, But you're not helping them like this.
They need to cross over, and so do you.
I protect them.
From the shadows? The cold things.
They want us.
If it wasn't for me, they would have Taken everybody here already.
And how do you keep them safe? I teach them not to be afraid.
That's why we march around the hospital Twice a day, every day.
We show them Who's boss.
This is more dangerous Than you know, Pete.
Especially for you.
Look, we don't know why, But the shadows, they go after ghost children.
I know your story.
I've been to the youth home, I know that they kept sending you back.
I know how painful it must be to No, you don't.
How would you like it if nobody wanted you? If all anybody ever saw was the bad in you, And they couldn't wait to get rid of you.
I'm no good.
That's why nobody wants me.
You're not bad.
That's not Even my own mother didn't want me.
You don't know that.
You think I couldn't break into file cabinets? I know.
Oh.
I got you.
Again.
Nobody loves me.
Boo-hoo-hoo.
Poor me.
This is my family now.
They're never going to send me back.
We're never going to split up.
This is our hospital! Did you get the book Sorry.
Did you get the book from Ned? You look terrible.
By the way, I noticed that dentist had hairy arms.
Just an observation.
Well, chalk up Another advantage to being dead.
No dental work and no more flossing.
Ok, the book.
Let's see.
*** Please, what do I have to do to convince you people? Do you want me to recount Every embarrassing thing I know about you That the shadows couldn't? Like the time I came to talk to you and you were on that website? Ok.
All right.
See if you can find anything in the book that can help us.
New things, added things.
What I think is happening is this The shadows want Melinda and Aiden, But for some reason, they're leaving Aiden alone.
Which makes me wonder if this has something to do with the shinies.
The shinies are drawn To Aiden for some reason, And the shadows hate them.
If we only knew what or who The shinies really are, Then maybe we could enlist them to protect Melinda.
It's only a matter of time before Melinda's weak enough For the shadows to control her completely.
And where will that leave Aiden? What? "and the darkness will come "and swallow them all, "unless the family of light Turns night into day.
" Well, we're going to sit down for dinner now, So if you're not done, you can just finish tomorrow.
No, no, I'm almost done, I promise.
I will be victorious.
Anyway.
I think this is my only chance to cross Pete over.
Honey, you are never going to find the birth mother.
Those records are sealed.
Not even the adopted family can get into them.
Sometimes the impossible Just takes a little bit longer.
Hmm.
I just wish I could explain this To his birth mother.
If she came with me to see Pete And told him that she loved him and wanted him And why she couldn't have kept him, If she just told him the reasons for letting him go, I know that he would cross over.
Honey, you've got a big heart.
I know you want a happy ending for this boy.
But didn't the orphanage tell you straight out That the mother didn't even want him? If you find her, what, do you want her to lie to him? If it makes him feel loved? Yes.
Are you even going to touch this? I just don't feel well.
Wow.
You're burning up.
Let me take your temperature.
No, no, no, I'm fine.
As soon as George is done upstairs I'm gonna go to bed.
You know, I'm so over this plumber.
Where did you find him, anyway? I thought you found him.
I thought you called him.
I never called any plumber.
You said you were going to call him.
I've never even seen this guy.
You're dead! You say that like it's a bad thing.
You totally took advantage of me.
How do you know that I can't tell The dead from the living right now? Word gets around.
There's more gossip than you might think on the other side.
The dead should be above that kind of thing.
I'm sorry.
Look, I'm just so happy to have a job again.
I love my work.
But you can't actually do anything.
Well, pretty much the same as when I was alive.
Get out! Just get out! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Look, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.
Let me try to make it up to you.
I hope that helps! I'm worried about my mom.
There's something not right with her.
I see lots of shadows around her.
Why can't you guys make the shadows leave my mom alone? We're too scared of them.
They're really mean.
Whom were you talking to? A ghost.
Don't tell my mom.
I won't.
But if you were talking to a ghost, How come I couldn't see it? It was my friend Cassidy.
She crossed over, and now she's a shiny.
That's who shinies are? Crossed over spirits of children? Mm-hmm.
No wonder the shadows Are so interested in child ghosts.
The shinies are scared of the shadows, But they don't have to be.
Why not? There are way more shinies than shadows.
If they ever had a war, the shinies would win.
Aiden, that's Shh.
Ok.
Found this in the drain.
Wow, thanks! Keep track of your toys in the tub, OK? Lucky break that I didn't have to pay a plumber To come and get that out.
Ok, mom.
Hey, I think I found something.
Oh, yeah? Says here there's a woman who gave birth On the same day that Pete was born.
And then she gave the baby up for adoption on the spot And left the hospital.
It was pre-arranged.
Is there a name and an address? The last name and address are blacked out.
It just says "Joan.
" Hold on.
Ah, look, business address and occupation.
She owned a beauty salon.
But that was 13 years ago.
Hey, it's worth a shot.
Look, I'm going to start by saying that I have no right to be here, And I've probably broken a couple of laws Just finding you.
But I need your help.
You don't look like you need a haircut that bad.
Or are you going to tell me I have 6 months to live? Did you give a child up for adoption January 18th, 1997, Rockland memorial hospital? Who are you? I know this must be a shock to you, but please, just hear me out.
What do you want? If I were to tell you that you have an opportunity To help this child right now, Would you take it? And I'm not talking about taking custody, Or taking responsibility.
I'm not talking about money.
But it would require A pretty big leap of faith on your part.
Is Is she in some kind of trouble or something? No, no, not Did you say, "she"? Yes.
Aren't we talking about my daughter? The child you gave up was a girl? I am really sorry.
I have the wrong person.
II'm so sorry.
Wait.
I don't know why I'm telling you this, Exceptyou seem like you're really trying to help someone.
I am.
Well, we are.
My wife and I.
There was a woman in the same room with me that day.
She gave birth 2 hours before me.
A boy.
And did she and she died While giving birth.
There was no family, No one came, so the state took custody, And the baby was sent to the same orphanage as my little girl, On the same day.
That's all I remember.
Pete's mother did not give him up for adoption, Mel.
There must have been a records mix-up later on.
She died giving birth.
She had no family, and there was no one to take care of Pete.
So the state put him in an orphanage.
Listen to what else.
She was sick, right? There was a dangerous pregnancy.
She told the doctors straight up That if anything bad were to happen, They should save Pete, Even if it meant letting her die.
So not only did she not give him up, She sacrificed her life for his.
Ok, well, that's good to know, Thanks for telling me.
Well, I thought that this would make you happy I gotta go.
Melinda? Melinda's not here.
Want to play chess? Hmm.
Maybe later.
Right now we need to talk about your mom.
She's in trouble.
She needs help, or she Well, she may not ever be the same again.
What kind of help? Do you remember When you said if there was a war with the shadows, The shinies would win? Mm-hmm.
Well, it's time for that war.
But the shinies need a leader; a general, Someone who was meant to bring them together.
Someone like you.
Why me? I think it's what the book is trying to tell us.
And the shinies are all children.
Who better to lead them than you? Well, what if I'm scared? What if I'm not brave enough? Even brave people get scared.
Do you think your mom's not scared sometimes? She is.
So am I.
But what makes a person brave Is not letting their fears stop them.
Tell me what I have to do.
Jim, something's wrong with Melinda.
She's locked herself in the store.
She won't answer the phone, she won't talk to anyone.
Dad? You need to take me to where mom is, Or something really bad is going to happen to her.
Aiden.
Aiden! Aiden! Wait here, dad, I have to do this myself.
Mom? I am not your mother.
I know that, and I want her back.
I'm giving you one more chance to leave her alone.
We're busy.
Look, Aidenhey.
It's all right, dad.
I know what to do.
Cassidy, Cassidy! Cassidy! I need all the shinies to come, right now.
They're too afraid.
I'm too afraid.
It's a school play, and he's rehearsing.
It's OK.
We're going to make the shadows go away forever.
Right now.
How? We're going to turn night into day.
Take my hand.
That makes me feel strong.
You are strong.
Hold out your other hand.
How can a local school afford that? Wow.
Melinda! Hey, baby.
Hey, baby, you all right? I'm fine.
Ok.
Where's Aiden? Oh, baby.
You are my hero.
You're my hero.
Mommy's all right now, you made the shadows let go of me.
I love you, mommy.
My mother wanted me? So much that she told the doctor If he could only save one of you, to save you.
She gave her life for yours.
That's how much you were loved.
It's time to cross over now, you don't belong here.
I can't just leave them.
They're still my family.
So, just take them with you.
And you can all stay together.
Yeah, but They're gonna know I lied about them not being dead.
They'll know that you care about how they felt.
That's all that will matter.
I see it.
It's so bright.
Your mom's probably there.
Waiting for you.
She looks just like me.
Your mother and I want you to know That you were right not to give up on our gift.
It's who you are, And it's who your mother is, and we should never I should never deny that again.
We call it a gift for a reason.
It allows us to be able to help people in ways In ways that others can't.
And we have to respect that.
Learn from it.
Take care of it.
And never hide it from each other again, OK? Deal? Deal.
Good night, son.
I meant what I said, you know.
You were my hero tonight.
Just like you are, mom.
Every day.
It was a vision, you're OK! It felt so real.
Honey, they're just getting worse and worse.
Melinda said Carl was afraid the shadows were getting in his head.
You think the shadows are messing with Melinda's head? We protect each other.
Whenever the cold things come.
The shadows.
Your son is in danger.
So what you're saying is that I can fix this If I make Aiden not see ghosts.
Or shadows.
Don't you think we owe it to Aiden to try? By changing him? If it would keep my son safe and alive, I don't care.
Watch out! I'm coming through! Look what I have! Jim, wake up.
No.
Get out of my way! It's Aiden.
He's talking to someone.
Watch out! A bomb! Come here! Watch out! What are you doing? Who are you talking to? I was doing the voices.
Oh.
Good.
We thought you were talking to somebody else.
Like who? Um, nobody.
Nobody.
Let's go to bed.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, do what your mom says, come on.
Come on, buddy, let's get up.
I feel better.
What do you mean? That there's no such thing as ghosts.
I feel better.
Well, we feel better that you feel better.
Yeah.
I hope we're doing the right thing.
We are.
It's good that Aiden was so easy to convince, And I think he's happy That he doesn't see ghosts anymore.
Still, something just doesn't feel right.
I feel like something's missing.
It's probably just less stress in the house.
Maybe more.
But I have to find it, mom! We'll look for it later.
But he was the general! He was the main soldier.
If you had put your toys away like you' supposed to, You'd be able to find them.
But the other soldiers won't know what to do without him.
Aiden, I don't want to hear anymore about it, OK? It's just a toy soldier.
But it's not! Shh.
Eh.
Don't worry, I'll take him to the bus stop.
Go ahead.
Thanks.
Oh, the drain.
In the tub.
It's clogged, sorry.
And you're telling me, why? Well, when you came back, I didn't want you 'cause it's my job to call the plumber? No, I just every time Something is broken in this house, You just throw it at me like it's my job to get it fixed.
Not really.
But I'll call the plumber.
No, forget it! I'll call.
Mom's in a bad mood.
You noticed that, too, did you? Come on.
I am so glad things are picking up.
We haven't seen that in months.
And I had to make the tremendous sacrifice Of taking a whole day off from school to help.
Oh, yeah, you're a real giver.
How's everything at the store? I don't know.
You don't know? Closed up early today.
How come? I hate that place.
What? I hate it.
It's always so hot in there.
I hate everything in it.
I'd be happy if I never had to step foot in that place again.
Mel, is everything OK? Yeah! Yeah, I'm gonna go see Jim.
Hey, good luck on the open houses.
Bye.
It's all right, everybody has their days.
No, I just feel bad.
I shouldn't have snapped at you like that.
No, I'm amazed you're as even-tempered as you are, All the stress you're usually under.
How about I take you to lunch to make up for it? Yes, that's a good idea.
Yeah, I want to talk to you about all the weird stuff That happened last night.
Hospital's becoming ghost central again.
Look, I'll file these, I'll be right back.
Ok.
Where did he go? It's not nice to hide from your nurse.
Maybe not.
But it's fun.
What's your name? Pete.
Pistol Pete, everybody calls me.
I wonder why they call you that.
Isn't the pediatric ward upstairs? I just wanted to get something to drink.
My doctor said it was OK, But I forgot to take money.
All right.
I'll make you a deal.
I will get you something to drink If you go back to room, Ok? Deal.
Oh, I can't believe you fell for it! You're a ghost.
No.
Maybe you are.
Come on, Juanita.
I was looking all over for you.
Honey, I hate to say it, but You look like you've just seen a ghost.
I did.
But I didn't know it.
I've always been able to tell the difference Between the living and the dead.
Their energy, the way that they look.
I feel it.
I always know it.
I just don't understand why this is happening.
And it's not just that.
I justI don't feel right lately.
I just don't know what to do.
Eli? Are you there? Root canal.
Did you just suggest that I get a root canal? No.
Eli, are you alright? "have to have root canal.
Have a toothache, might be fatal.
" You know, toothaches are generally not fatal.
Mm-hmm.
All right, Eli.
Go to the dentist.
I have to pick up Aiden at the bus stop anyway.
"I'll be more helpful when I'm not in excruciating pain, Or when I'm dead from the toothache.
" Well, I won't know the difference, so, bye.
This the house with the naughty drain? Oh! Uh, did my husband call you? Yep.
Upstairs bathroom tub, right? Right.
George the plumber.
Oh.
Oh, you probably don't want to shake hands After the job I just came from.
Uh-huh.
So what are we looking at? It's the bathtub drain.
Ah, I love a good clog.
It's my specialty.
It's kind of like a mystery that you have to unravel.
Tell the truth, I'm always a little disappointed If it's just a garden-variety hairball.
Where's the challenge in that? Um, OK, let's get started, 'cause then I have to pick my son up, Down at the corner.
My work is guaranteed.
If I don't fix it, you don't pay.
That way, your money doesn't go down the drain.
A little plumber humor.
You hear that? Ah, I'm so glad.
Man, I've been hearing that every night.
I thought I was going nuts.
Ah.
Where are we going, doc? Whoa! Uh, nowhere.
Um, nowhere.
I was just Repositioning you a little bit.
Oh.
We're all good.
Did you find my soldier, mom? Hmm? No, I'm sorry.
I gotta find him! We will.
I know what's it's like to have lost something.
We need to talk.
Come on, Aiden.
Melinda, I've been hearing things Melinda! You need to know what Melinda! I don't get it.
They can do heart surgery with laser beams, But to cure a toothache, You still have to sit in a torture chair And let someone actually drill Into your tooth.
Barbaric.
Yeah, I can see, this is not a good time.
I just have one question.
Why is Melinda ignoring me? Uh Talking? Me talking? I said something.
To you? No.
Ok, who? Long hair, cute, um, Pretty.
I said something to Melinda? Ouch! I hate that part.
What did I say? Um, eyes.
Circle, symbol for no.
No eyes.
Nono looking.
Nono seeing.
Nono seeing ghosts.
I told Melinda not to see ghosts.
Butsmall.
Smallsmall person.
Aiden shouldn't see ghosts? I told Melinda that? But I have no recollection of saying that! Anything like that.
There's no way The shadows.
I told Melinda they've been in and out of my head lately.
What if they made me say that? What if Eli, I don't know what's going on here, But I do know this Ok, just relax.
Convincing Aiden he can't see ghosts Is the worst, the most dangerous thing Melinda can do right now.
Ooh.
It sounds like a classic poltergeist.
Well, whatever this classic poltergeist is, he's gotta go.
'cause of all the hauntings we've had in the hospital Sally stitch, the morgue ghost, None were this aggressive.
Don't forget what the shadows did to Bedford's mother.
That was fairly aggressive.
Wait, do you think this is shadow related? No, I think it's a mischievous Ok.
So you can cross him over? I'll try, but the baby-sitter Has to be home at midnight.
Ah, ghost hunting based on the baby-sitter's schedule.
That's what our lives have come to.
The price you pay for using living baby-sitters.
Hilarious.
Gotta go.
Bye.
Here input Chinese only Here input Chinese only No time now, tough ghost to cross over.
This is important.
I never told you to get Aiden to stop seeing ghosts.
I would never tell you or anyone else To deny your gifts.
Just back off.
I've been warned.
I know what you're trying to do.
All right, maybe I was possessed by the shadows When I told you that If I told you that.
Really? Possessed? Is that then or now? Shadows can manipulate the living and the dead.
You know that.
Once they get in your head, They can make you say and do anything.
But this is me the real me.
All right, the dead me.
But still, me.
Still Carl.
You are wasting your time.
The shadows don't want you crossing souls over.
And they don't want Aiden To follow in your footsteps.
You have powers that threaten what they can do.
You and Aiden see things other people can't, So the shadows want to consume you both.
That's why this is the worst time To make Aiden deny his powers.
You're vulnerable now! The shadows are going to use y to get to him.
You'll kw when they start to get to you.
You'll feel your powers eroding.
Already you're having trouble telling visions fr reality.
Who the hell do you think you are? I am so sick of you and everyone else Telling me what I'm supposed to do.
You don't decide what's best for me, And you sure as hell Don't decide what is best for Aiden! I decide.
Do you understand me? Me! Now go get a life of your own.
Better yet, a death of your own, and leave me alone! Do you understand? I just asked you a question.
Do you understand? Please, please, can you help me? I'm trying to find my doctor.
I don't know what's happening to me.
Look, I'm not in the mood for this right now.
Just look for a light.
Get the hell in it.
Stay in it, problem solved.
WhaII You're not dead, are you? Mr.
Fordyce, come on.
Time to go now, sir.
Let's go.
Right this way.
Why does she think I'm dead? Do I look th bad? You're annoying more people here than I am.
You know, this whole thing with your little posse has to stop.
Who are those kids, anyway? They're like my army.
They do whatever I say.
And I keep them safe.
The safest place for you is in the light.
You're funny.
Hey, how come you're the only one of them Who can see us? Ahem.
Them who? The people on the other side.
The breathers.
That's what we call you people.
Charming.
Now what about your parents? Where are they? They were so sad when they lost me.
They cried, And they cried Don't you think they'd be happier if you crossed over Instead of staying here, causing trouble? If you could get my parents to come and talk to me, I'd do whatever they wanted.
Where can I find them? My dad owns the gas station in town.
You should be careful, though.
He doesn't like to talk about losing me.
It hurts his heart.
It's not my first barbecue.
I'll try not to upset him.
Yeah, you're about a quart low.
Well, maybe that's what my car's been trying to tell me.
Yeah.
You almost gotta be a computer genius to own a car today.
You know, it used to be fun.
You know, figuring out what was wrong.
But now I just OK at a screen.
I've seen you around town, right? Yeah, I own the antiques store down the street.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, my wife loves that place.
You've got more of my money than I do.
Look, I don't want to pry, But I was wondering if we could talk about your son.
My son? Yeah, your boy.
Yeah, my wife and I can't have kids.
What's, uh, what's this about? I'm sorry, I thought you had a son named Pete.
Pete's not my son.
But you know him? Who are you? Huh? Did they send you here? What's he done now? They? I don't we want nothing To do with that kid.
Do you understand? So you're not aware that Pete passed away? I don't want to talk to you anymore.
Um, oil's on the house.
His name was Pete Murphy.
He died at the hospital last month.
Hodgkin's disease.
He was 13.
Ugh, poor kid.
And the records said that he was sent to us From the Driscoll county youth home.
So he was an orphan? Yeah.
Which means This is another haunting involving orphans.
So it's probably shadow related? Makes perfect sense.
I mean, what kids are more vulnerable Than those with no families? And I can't reunite them with anyone.
Now you said there were a lot of other kids? Yeah, he said he was trying to keep them safe.
Huh.
From the shadows? Well, we know that they like to take ghost children, So probably.
And the guy that I met today, It seemed like he was maybe a foster parent of Pete's at some point, And it didn't work out so well.
So I guess Pete just created an image Of loving parents in his mind.
Makes you want to count your blessings, huh? Uh-huh.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go there tomorrow and see if I can find out.
Good.
Oh, hey, don't take a shower tomorrow morning.
The drain's still clogged, it's nasty.
I mention this only for informational purposes, not to Yeah, I know.
Plumber told me he's going to have to come back again tomorrow, so.
I thought I saw my soldier under here.
But it was just this.
What are you doing up so late? I gotta find him, mom.
He was the general.
Enough with the soldier already.
And if I find you out of bed again, I'm gonna take all the soldiers away.
Do you understand me, mister? Now get in the bed and don't move! It's all right, buddy.
Ahem.
Your mom's under a lot of stress right now, So, umgo to bed, I'm sorry, dad.
It's OK.
Just get some sleep.
*** Yeah, I remember Pete.
Pistol Pete.
He was a force of nature.
He was a problem for you? Oh, yeah.
For everyone.
But you had to love him.
And I did.
He was always riling up all the kids.
Starting protests about the food, TV rebellions.
The kids all loved him Because he made them feel important.
Like what they wanted mattered.
At least one family adopted him.
More than one.
But it was always the same story.
I mean, he'd get placed in a family And within a month, he'd end up right back here.
He was just too much to handle.
And then he got sick? Yeah.
They tried to take care of him here, But eventually we had to put him in the hospital.
He was very alone in the world, pistol Pete.
What about his birth mother? Well, she gave him up the day he was born.
And she never looked back.
I really can't Can you just tell me where he was born? Same place he died.
Rockland memorial.
This is the toughest case I've ever seen.
Whatever's in there What is so hard about this, George? I thought clogs were your specialty.
Well, I think I may have met my Waterloo on this one.
Is that supposed to be another plumber joke? I guess it could be.
Water.
Loo.
Just unclog the drain.
You're George the plumber, not George the comedian.
Ok.
This is war! I will win! There was a polio ward for kids.
And the doctor there who gave them Halloween masks Let them play tricks on the other patients.
I guess it was to let them have some fun.
Yeah.
When did it close? That's when they must have built the second floor And the pediatric ward up there.
So where is the old one? You know, there's an abandoned wing of the hospital Down in the subbasement.
I've never seen it; I've only heard about it.
Everybody kind of steers clear of it.
Everybody, except, of course, for maybe, right, you.
Look, I can show it to you, but I've got to do some rounds right now.
Well, just point me in the right direction.
The meter's running on our baby-sitter.
All right.
First right, down the stairs.
Ok.
See ya.
Don't you know you're dead? I beg your pardon? We're not scared of you.
We know you can't hurt us.
Why would I want to hurt you? It's OK.
She's just one of the breathers.
She thinks she's alive.
Welcome to my lair.
I've always wanted to have a lair.
What's going on with you and these kids? I made them all believe they're alive.
They think the doctors and nurses are the ghosts.
And now, you.
Why? I want them to feel like they're important.
Let them feel what it's like to have some juice.
This is wrong.
I know you mean well, But you're not helping them like this.
They need to cross over, and so do you.
I protect them.
From the shadows? The cold things.
They want us.
If it wasn't for me, they would have Taken everybody here already.
And how do you keep them safe? I teach them not to be afraid.
That's why we march around the hospital Twice a day, every day.
We show them Who's boss.
This is more dangerous Than you know, Pete.
Especially for you.
Look, we don't know why, But the shadows, they go after ghost children.
I know your story.
I've been to the youth home, I know that they kept sending you back.
I know how painful it must be to No, you don't.
How would you like it if nobody wanted you? If all anybody ever saw was the bad in you, And they couldn't wait to get rid of you.
I'm no good.
That's why nobody wants me.
You're not bad.
That's not Even my own mother didn't want me.
You don't know that.
You think I couldn't break into file cabinets? I know.
Oh.
I got you.
Again.
Nobody loves me.
Boo-hoo-hoo.
Poor me.
This is my family now.
They're never going to send me back.
We're never going to split up.
This is our hospital! Did you get the book Sorry.
Did you get the book from Ned? You look terrible.
By the way, I noticed that dentist had hairy arms.
Just an observation.
Well, chalk up Another advantage to being dead.
No dental work and no more flossing.
Ok, the book.
Let's see.
*** Please, what do I have to do to convince you people? Do you want me to recount Every embarrassing thing I know about you That the shadows couldn't? Like the time I came to talk to you and you were on that website? Ok.
All right.
See if you can find anything in the book that can help us.
New things, added things.
What I think is happening is this The shadows want Melinda and Aiden, But for some reason, they're leaving Aiden alone.
Which makes me wonder if this has something to do with the shinies.
The shinies are drawn To Aiden for some reason, And the shadows hate them.
If we only knew what or who The shinies really are, Then maybe we could enlist them to protect Melinda.
It's only a matter of time before Melinda's weak enough For the shadows to control her completely.
And where will that leave Aiden? What? "and the darkness will come "and swallow them all, "unless the family of light Turns night into day.
" Well, we're going to sit down for dinner now, So if you're not done, you can just finish tomorrow.
No, no, I'm almost done, I promise.
I will be victorious.
Anyway.
I think this is my only chance to cross Pete over.
Honey, you are never going to find the birth mother.
Those records are sealed.
Not even the adopted family can get into them.
Sometimes the impossible Just takes a little bit longer.
Hmm.
I just wish I could explain this To his birth mother.
If she came with me to see Pete And told him that she loved him and wanted him And why she couldn't have kept him, If she just told him the reasons for letting him go, I know that he would cross over.
Honey, you've got a big heart.
I know you want a happy ending for this boy.
But didn't the orphanage tell you straight out That the mother didn't even want him? If you find her, what, do you want her to lie to him? If it makes him feel loved? Yes.
Are you even going to touch this? I just don't feel well.
Wow.
You're burning up.
Let me take your temperature.
No, no, no, I'm fine.
As soon as George is done upstairs I'm gonna go to bed.
You know, I'm so over this plumber.
Where did you find him, anyway? I thought you found him.
I thought you called him.
I never called any plumber.
You said you were going to call him.
I've never even seen this guy.
You're dead! You say that like it's a bad thing.
You totally took advantage of me.
How do you know that I can't tell The dead from the living right now? Word gets around.
There's more gossip than you might think on the other side.
The dead should be above that kind of thing.
I'm sorry.
Look, I'm just so happy to have a job again.
I love my work.
But you can't actually do anything.
Well, pretty much the same as when I was alive.
Get out! Just get out! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Look, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.
Let me try to make it up to you.
I hope that helps! I'm worried about my mom.
There's something not right with her.
I see lots of shadows around her.
Why can't you guys make the shadows leave my mom alone? We're too scared of them.
They're really mean.
Whom were you talking to? A ghost.
Don't tell my mom.
I won't.
But if you were talking to a ghost, How come I couldn't see it? It was my friend Cassidy.
She crossed over, and now she's a shiny.
That's who shinies are? Crossed over spirits of children? Mm-hmm.
No wonder the shadows Are so interested in child ghosts.
The shinies are scared of the shadows, But they don't have to be.
Why not? There are way more shinies than shadows.
If they ever had a war, the shinies would win.
Aiden, that's Shh.
Ok.
Found this in the drain.
Wow, thanks! Keep track of your toys in the tub, OK? Lucky break that I didn't have to pay a plumber To come and get that out.
Ok, mom.
Hey, I think I found something.
Oh, yeah? Says here there's a woman who gave birth On the same day that Pete was born.
And then she gave the baby up for adoption on the spot And left the hospital.
It was pre-arranged.
Is there a name and an address? The last name and address are blacked out.
It just says "Joan.
" Hold on.
Ah, look, business address and occupation.
She owned a beauty salon.
But that was 13 years ago.
Hey, it's worth a shot.
Look, I'm going to start by saying that I have no right to be here, And I've probably broken a couple of laws Just finding you.
But I need your help.
You don't look like you need a haircut that bad.
Or are you going to tell me I have 6 months to live? Did you give a child up for adoption January 18th, 1997, Rockland memorial hospital? Who are you? I know this must be a shock to you, but please, just hear me out.
What do you want? If I were to tell you that you have an opportunity To help this child right now, Would you take it? And I'm not talking about taking custody, Or taking responsibility.
I'm not talking about money.
But it would require A pretty big leap of faith on your part.
Is Is she in some kind of trouble or something? No, no, not Did you say, "she"? Yes.
Aren't we talking about my daughter? The child you gave up was a girl? I am really sorry.
I have the wrong person.
II'm so sorry.
Wait.
I don't know why I'm telling you this, Exceptyou seem like you're really trying to help someone.
I am.
Well, we are.
My wife and I.
There was a woman in the same room with me that day.
She gave birth 2 hours before me.
A boy.
And did she and she died While giving birth.
There was no family, No one came, so the state took custody, And the baby was sent to the same orphanage as my little girl, On the same day.
That's all I remember.
Pete's mother did not give him up for adoption, Mel.
There must have been a records mix-up later on.
She died giving birth.
She had no family, and there was no one to take care of Pete.
So the state put him in an orphanage.
Listen to what else.
She was sick, right? There was a dangerous pregnancy.
She told the doctors straight up That if anything bad were to happen, They should save Pete, Even if it meant letting her die.
So not only did she not give him up, She sacrificed her life for his.
Ok, well, that's good to know, Thanks for telling me.
Well, I thought that this would make you happy I gotta go.
Melinda? Melinda's not here.
Want to play chess? Hmm.
Maybe later.
Right now we need to talk about your mom.
She's in trouble.
She needs help, or she Well, she may not ever be the same again.
What kind of help? Do you remember When you said if there was a war with the shadows, The shinies would win? Mm-hmm.
Well, it's time for that war.
But the shinies need a leader; a general, Someone who was meant to bring them together.
Someone like you.
Why me? I think it's what the book is trying to tell us.
And the shinies are all children.
Who better to lead them than you? Well, what if I'm scared? What if I'm not brave enough? Even brave people get scared.
Do you think your mom's not scared sometimes? She is.
So am I.
But what makes a person brave Is not letting their fears stop them.
Tell me what I have to do.
Jim, something's wrong with Melinda.
She's locked herself in the store.
She won't answer the phone, she won't talk to anyone.
Dad? You need to take me to where mom is, Or something really bad is going to happen to her.
Aiden.
Aiden! Aiden! Wait here, dad, I have to do this myself.
Mom? I am not your mother.
I know that, and I want her back.
I'm giving you one more chance to leave her alone.
We're busy.
Look, Aidenhey.
It's all right, dad.
I know what to do.
Cassidy, Cassidy! Cassidy! I need all the shinies to come, right now.
They're too afraid.
I'm too afraid.
It's a school play, and he's rehearsing.
It's OK.
We're going to make the shadows go away forever.
Right now.
How? We're going to turn night into day.
Take my hand.
That makes me feel strong.
You are strong.
Hold out your other hand.
How can a local school afford that? Wow.
Melinda! Hey, baby.
Hey, baby, you all right? I'm fine.
Ok.
Where's Aiden? Oh, baby.
You are my hero.
You're my hero.
Mommy's all right now, you made the shadows let go of me.
I love you, mommy.
My mother wanted me? So much that she told the doctor If he could only save one of you, to save you.
She gave her life for yours.
That's how much you were loved.
It's time to cross over now, you don't belong here.
I can't just leave them.
They're still my family.
So, just take them with you.
And you can all stay together.
Yeah, but They're gonna know I lied about them not being dead.
They'll know that you care about how they felt.
That's all that will matter.
I see it.
It's so bright.
Your mom's probably there.
Waiting for you.
She looks just like me.
Your mother and I want you to know That you were right not to give up on our gift.
It's who you are, And it's who your mother is, and we should never I should never deny that again.
We call it a gift for a reason.
It allows us to be able to help people in ways In ways that others can't.
And we have to respect that.
Learn from it.
Take care of it.
And never hide it from each other again, OK? Deal? Deal.
Good night, son.
I meant what I said, you know.
You were my hero tonight.
Just like you are, mom.
Every day.