A Haunting - S04E03- The Calling
Rebecca Lenox leads a fairy-tale life since her recent marriage to husband Daniel, but it is not long before a family secret threatens to break up their happy home
Transcript
00:00In this world, there is real evil in the darkest shadows and in the most ordinary places.
00:15These are the true stories of the innocent and the unimaginable.
00:21Sandra Waldrop and her son Gene have always been close, sharing an interest in the occult.
00:30But when Sandra finds herself lost and alone, her fascination soon turns to obsession.
00:36As she heads down a dangerous path, Gene fears that his mother is turning against him.
00:47Between the world we see and the things we fear, there are doors.
00:54When they are opened, nightmares become reality.
01:09The supernatural realm is vast and uncharted, attracting those who seek answers beyond the
01:16physical world.
01:18But its mysteries are infinite and its power unpredictable.
01:22When toyed with, its consequences can be deadly.
01:37The year is 1965.
01:41Sandra Waldrop and her son Gene have just settled into their new home in Geneva, Ohio.
01:59Her husband, Stephen, works at a nearby engineering company.
02:02Hey.
02:03How was your day?
02:06It was fine.
02:08How about you?
02:09Everything okay here?
02:10Oh, yeah.
02:11He's the best stepfather that Gene has ever known.
02:12Great.
02:13What's for dinner?
02:14I never really knew my real father.
02:15Stephen had been my stepfather since I was two, three years old.
02:18Hey, do me a favor and take Gene inside and get him washed up for dinner.
02:22Honey, I've been working all day.
02:24I just want to get out of these clothes and relax.
02:27Hey, remember what I said before we got married?
02:31Parenting is a 24-hour job, and now you're a parent.
02:34My husband never mentioned that it bothered him that Gene wasn't his child, but I do think
02:39it did bother him some.
02:42I think he resented it a little bit.
02:44Come on, Gene buddy.
02:45Let's go inside and get him washed up.
02:46Sandra hopes that one day Stephen will be able to accept Gene as his own.
03:08Sandra unearths an old cornerstone.
03:13Someone had died on our property, and it had been an old schoolmaster that had lived there
03:19quite a few years back.
03:22She's intrigued.
03:24She had no idea that her property was once the site of an old schoolhouse.
03:27Honey, what are you doing?
03:28Come on, let's eat.
03:29I'll be right there.
03:31Gene wonders how the schoolmaster passed away.
03:37Stephen, did you know there used to be a school here?
03:44What's that?
03:45There's a cornerstone out by the side of the house.
03:47Yeah, I remember our neighbor Denise say something about that.
03:50Sandra has always believed in the existence of spirits and their interaction with the
03:54living world.
03:55How does she say he died?
03:57My interest in the occult and the supernatural has been with me all my life.
04:03There's so much that we don't know.
04:06It just fascinates me.
04:07I want to know all I can about it.
04:10Wow.
04:11Sandra, please don't start with that hocus pocus garbage again.
04:16You know, you've been spending way too much time reading those weird books again.
04:21The supernatural is kind of taboo for a lot of people.
04:24My husband was more apprehensive about those things than I was.
04:38Sandra's discovery of the cornerstone only fuels her interest in the occult.
04:47I believe if you're open to things, then maybe they can come in.
04:51Hey, it's getting late.
05:01Why don't you put that book down and get to sleep?
05:04And I bet you won't leave me alone until I do, right?
05:09You got it.
05:13I'll be right back.
05:38Over the next month, Sandra soon forgets about the old schoolmaster.
06:02And I heard these heavy boots walk across the floor.
06:04Let's go upstairs, okay?
06:07She assumes that it's Stephen, home early from work.
06:11Stephen?
06:12I'll let you play with your toys, okay?
06:53There was definitely no one there.
07:07It maybe alarmed me a little bit, but I wasn't really scared.
07:13It just really piqued my curiosity.
07:16Because of her interest in the occult, Sandra wonders if she could have invited a presence
07:23into her home.
07:24I decided that, well, maybe it was the schoolmaster that was haunting our house.
07:32I wasn't doing anything intentionally, but I could have possibly opened a door.
07:47A few years pass.
07:53Jean is now 11 years old.
07:57I'm sorry.
07:58That's okay.
07:59Boys are allowed to be boys.
08:17Get over here right now!
08:21All my friends were terrified of my dad.
08:23If they were at my house playing and they saw my dad pull up, they ran.
08:27Everybody was scared of him.
08:32You see this?
08:35This is gonna cost money.
08:36I'm sorry.
08:37I'll work it off, I promise.
08:39That goes without saying.
08:41You'll work every weekend cutting the grass until you pay for this.
08:44Jean's relationship with his stepfather never really developed.
08:48He was always angry and yelling at me.
08:50He never told me he loved me.
08:52He never said anything nice to me.
08:54That was never good enough for him.
08:56Stephen, give Jean a break.
08:57It was an accident.
08:58He was just trying to have some fun with his friends.
09:00We could all use a little more fun around here.
09:02Sandra, this is gonna cost me an arm and a leg to fix.
09:05Your son has no concept of money.
09:09Stephen's ambivalence towards Jean begins to put a strain on their marriage.
09:13I'm sorry.
09:14I meant our son.
09:17It's been a long day.
09:19Why don't you go inside and I'll be in a while to fix dinner.
09:26My husband was very critical of Jean.
09:29It was painful for me.
09:32I love my son and I wanted him to feel more comfortable at home.
09:39So how are things with you and Stephen lately?
09:42The next day, Sandra and Jean go over to their neighbor Denise's house.
09:47Hey, Jean.
09:48Can you go home and get that can of beans out of the cupboard?
09:51Okay, Mom.
09:52Okay, and hurry up because we're gonna eat soon.
10:12Ha, ha, ha.
10:13Ha, ha, ha.
10:14Ha, ha, ha.
10:15Ha, ha, ha.
10:16Ha, ha, ha.
10:17Ha, ha, ha.
10:18Ha, ha, ha.
10:19Ha, ha, ha.
10:20Ha, ha, ha.
10:21Ha, ha, ha.
10:22Ha, ha, ha.
10:23Ha, ha, ha.
10:24Ha, ha, ha.
10:25Ha, ha, ha.
10:26Ha, ha, ha.
10:27Ha, ha, ha.
10:28Ha, ha, ha.
10:29Ha, ha, ha.
10:30Ha, ha, ha.
10:31Ha, ha, ha.
10:32Ha, ha, ha.
10:33Ha, ha, ha.
10:34Ha, ha, ha.
10:35Ha, ha, ha.
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10:38Ha, ha, ha.
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10:40Ha, ha, ha.
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10:50Ha, ha, ha.
10:51Ha, ha, ha.
10:52Ha, ha, ha.
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10:54Ha, ha, ha.
10:55Ha, ha, ha.
10:56Ha, ha, ha.
10:57Ha, ha, ha.
10:58Ha, ha, ha.
10:59Ha, ha, ha.
11:00Ha, ha, ha.
11:01Ha, ha, ha.
11:02Ha, ha, ha.
11:03Ha, ha, ha.
11:04Ha, ha, ha.
11:05Ha, ha, ha.
11:07Sandra believes that Gene was visited by the schoolmaster, but she downplays the incident,
11:12not wanting to feed into his fear.
11:15She just completely wrote it off, and I began to wonder later if maybe it was my imagination.
11:21Still, Sandra is intrigued by Gene's encounter.
11:26She hopes to one day become a published author, and begins to write about his experience.
11:37After a few weeks, Gene soon forgets about his unexplainable encounter.
11:51Gene returns from his friend's house and sees that his parents are still out for the night.
12:06Mom?
12:07Mom?
12:08Mom?
12:09Mom?
12:10Mom?
12:11Mom?
12:12Mom?
12:21Mom?
12:23Mom?
12:24Steven?
12:25Mom?
12:26Steven?
12:27Steven?
12:28Is that you?
12:36Gene, stop yelling, what's going on?
12:51Tell me what happened.
12:52Tell me what's going on.
12:53Gene, it's okay, it's okay, we're home now.
12:54Stephen, do me a favor and just get out of here so I can see what's going on.
13:06It's okay, Gene.
13:09Gene tries to explain to his mother what he saw.
13:12I saw a tall, thin man, and his face was all red and disfigured, and it just terrified me.
13:18Why am I seeing these awful things?
13:21There's something I should have told you a long time ago, but I didn't.
13:25I've got something to show you.
13:36I think the person you saw was a man who had lived here a long time ago.
13:42Sandra tells him about the schoolmaster who died on their property.
13:48He knew something was going on.
13:51I felt really bad for Gene, I did, and I didn't want to see him that frightened.
13:56This man, he died right here, in our front yard?
14:01I think so.
14:03She goes on to say that she has had many encounters with his spirit and has never felt threatened by his presence.
14:10Sandra figures that Gene is just overreacting because of his age.
14:14Think of it like one of those scary movies that we like to watch.
14:18They're really scary, but in the end it's just a movie.
14:23Gene eventually accepts his mother's explanation.
14:27She made me feel so much better, and not be so afraid, because I knew that my mother was there for me.
14:34She wouldn't let anything happen to me.
14:57I love you.
15:13Although Sandra is able to comfort Gene, she wonders if there is a way to remove the spirit from the house.
15:28Honey, where are you?
15:30I'm in the living room. Just give me a second, Stephen. I'll be right up.
15:41What are you doing?
15:43I just thought I'd tidy up before I went up to bed.
15:48I'll be up in a minute.
15:50Don't take too long.
15:57I'll be right up.
16:27I love you.
16:29I love you.
16:54For weeks, Sandra has the same dream over and over again.
16:58The dreams were usually much more vivid to me than regular dreams.
17:04And she wonders what these recurring images could possibly mean.
17:09What are we doing?
17:28We're fighting all of the time, and it just doesn't seem to be getting any better.
17:35We cannot go on like this.
17:39You're right, Sandra.
17:43We have grown apart.
17:45I've been denying it for so long. I can't do it anymore.
17:52Stephen, it's over.
17:56It's over.
18:06Sandra decides to move back to Texas City, her hometown.
18:11Texas City was where I was born and raised.
18:15I had family there. I hoped that would be good for me and my son both.
18:20Sandra hasn't left Geneva in years, but suddenly, the drive becomes oddly familiar.
18:32The dream was definitely an indication that I was going to be leaving.
18:37She now realizes that her dreams are visions of the future.
18:43I thought it was so obviously prophetic.
18:50Sandra finds a small house that she can afford.
18:59What is this filthy thing doing in here?
19:04What's this?
19:10Right in the center of that floor was a star, a five-pointed star.
19:16What is it, Mom?
19:18It's a symbol. It's called a pentagram.
19:21Sandra is familiar with the pentagram, having read about it in her books on the occult.
19:26What's it mean?
19:29It means different things to different people.
19:32She also knows that people have used it to practice witchcraft.
19:36When I first discovered the pentagram, I thought, wow, there were witches here.
19:43I knew that it would just depend, you know, which way you used the star, whether it was good or bad.
19:50I wondered, was this coincidence, or had I, by some unnatural forces, come to this house?
20:02I saw it as a positive sign that maybe, maybe I was on the right path.
20:08Over the next few years, Sandra struggles with the pressures of being a single mother
20:14and has little time to focus on anything else.
20:21She takes on odd jobs to support her and Jean,
20:25but finds herself struggling to pay the mounting bills.
20:28Since my husband and I had split, I had never been able to pay the bills.
20:34Since my husband and I had split, I had never really worked.
20:38I had to support myself and my son, and I was scared.
20:45Sandra hopes to sell one of her stories to a publisher,
20:49but her dream of becoming an author is no closer to coming true.
20:54Come on.
20:56Hey.
20:57Jean is now ready to graduate high school.
20:59Hey, there's a zombie movie on tonight. You want to watch it?
21:02You know I'm not into that stuff anymore.
21:05Besides, I told you I already made plans with friends.
21:08Can I borrow the car?
21:10Jean and I were getting more distant, and that made me sad because I wanted us to be close.
21:16Just don't drive too fast, okay? See you later.
21:20See you later.
21:28With Jean no longer around, Sandra finds solace in her books on the occult,
21:33which have always given her comfort.
21:37She is immediately drawn to Wicca,
21:41an earth-based religion that worships both a male and female deity.
21:46It was positive on the female side.
21:49Women were equal on men.
21:53I think that's one of the things that attracted me.
21:57She is also intrigued by the Wiccan belief that one can create change
22:02using the energy that surrounds them.
22:16Wicca
22:32Sandra creates an altar using items that represent the four elements of nature,
22:37earth, air, fire, and water.
22:42I didn't have anybody to teach me, so I had to learn everything on my own,
22:46through books, primarily.
22:56I was hoping with Wicca that maybe I could change things.
23:02Maybe I could make things more positive in my life, in my son's life.
23:09Sandra performs her first ritual.
23:11Earth sanctions my magic tonight.
23:13She calls out to the god and goddess, asking them to help ease her growing debt.
23:19I call forth the forces of prosperity, truth, transformation, and purification.
23:30Sandra repeats the chant over and over again, channeling the energy around her.
23:35Mother goddess, father god, grant me this wish.
23:40You can actually feel like an energy.
23:43It's a sensation of like an electrical power going through your body.
23:50It's a very positive feeling of power.
24:05Wicca
24:28Weeks later.
24:31Sandra receives a letter from a magazine.
24:35They plan to publish one of her short stories, and have included a generous paycheck.
24:41When my first ritual worked, I was hooked.
24:46It made me feel like I had some kind of control over my life,
24:50that I can make things change when they go wrong.
24:55My mother just got deeper and deeper into the supernatural, and it just drove me more awake.
25:01I'd been scared to death when I was a kid, and I was afraid that something was going to happen.
25:08Good morning, Mom.
25:10Oh, Gene! I had the most incredible dream last night.
25:14Actually, I think it was a vision.
25:16My mom just started talking to me about the occult a whole lot more.
25:21I really think that this experience is a sign of things to come.
25:25It's a sign of things to come.
25:27It's a sign of things to come.
25:29It's a sign of things to come.
25:31It's a sign of things to come.
25:34The occult a whole lot more.
25:36I really think that this experience is a sign of things to come.
25:40It just seems like we were becoming two different people, and going our own ways.
25:45But enough about that.
25:47So, graduation is less than a month away.
25:51Have you started looking for a job?
25:54Sort of.
25:55Really? Well, tell me.
25:59What are you going to be doing?
26:04I signed up with the Air Force.
26:06I'm leaving just a couple days after graduation.
26:12I can't believe it.
26:14Wow.
26:15Wow.
26:16I'm proud of you, Gene.
26:19Thanks, Mom.
26:22The relationship between my mother and I had gotten so strained that I decided my best chance was to join the military,
26:28get away, clear my head, figure out the answers to life's questions myself without my mother's influence.
26:42Soon after Gene graduates, he leaves to serve in the Air Force.
26:47When Gene was in the military, I really got into Wicca
26:51and started really practicing it and doing rituals.
26:59Over the years, I've learned a lot.
27:03I'm a spiritual leader.
27:05I'm a spiritual teacher.
27:07I'm a spiritual substitute coach.
27:10And I love these things.
27:12I love these things, so much.
27:14But I can't get enough of these things.
27:23CAMPBELL'S RELATIVE
27:25Over the years, Gene slowly loses touch with his mother.
27:32After I joined the Air Force and I started to travel, I couldn't tell anybody what I
27:37was doing.
27:41I could hardly ever see my mom.
27:46After seven years in the Air Force, Gene returns home to Texas City.
27:53I was looking forward to seeing my mother and coming home, and I thought things were
27:57going to be great.
28:03He is surprised by Sandra's appearance and is unsure how to react to this unexpected
28:08change.
28:10She had black hair, black blouse, black pants.
28:13She had a necklace with a pentagram on it.
28:16I was just dazed.
28:23I'm so glad you're finally home.
28:29Looks like you remodeled while I was away.
28:34Well, let's get you set up in your old room.
28:43It's just as you left it.
28:47I, uh, remember this being here.
29:00Well, I'll leave you to unpack and dinner will be in half an hour.
29:05It was just too much for me.
29:09The way my mom looked, the way the house was.
29:12Now I have a picture of the devil in my room.
29:17My last couple of years in the military, I started to really go to church.
29:23And so by the time I got out, I was a very devout Christian.
29:29That evening, Sandra and Gene catch up over dinner.
29:35That looks and smells as good as I remember it.
29:40Well, I know it's your favorite.
29:43So, tell me, what's been happening?
29:47Well, life has always been good.
29:50I mean, it's always been good.
29:53So, tell me, what's been happening?
29:57Well, life has been great, Gene.
29:59I mean, ever since I started practicing Wicca, things have changed.
30:04And for the better.
30:05What does that mean, exactly? To study Wicca?
30:07I was concerned that she was practicing some form of magic.
30:10Even if her intentions were good, the potential for it to go wrong just is what scared me.
30:18Honey, there's nothing to be concerned about.
30:37Thank you for your blessing.
30:40My gratitude is endless.
30:43Continue to protect us, especially Gene, now that he's in your watchful eye.
30:51As I receive your energy, now you receive mine.
31:15Continue to protect us, especially Gene.
31:21As I receive your energy, now you receive mine.
31:26My gratitude is endless.
31:29As I receive your energy, now you receive mine.
31:37Thank you, Great God.
31:45Later that night...
31:50...I woke up.
32:07I thought, what was it?
32:09And I thought maybe it was just headlights shining in the window.
32:20I thought, what was it?
32:23I thought maybe it was just headlights shining in the window.
32:49Destroy her!
32:54Destroy her!
32:57Destroy her!
33:22Gene, where have you been? I've been worried sick about you.
33:26Worried sick? Really?
33:33Did you get up in the middle of the night to check on me?
33:38Because last night I was attacked.
33:41I was attacked by a woman that looked just like you.
33:44Destroy her!
33:47Gene.
33:50Gene, I have no idea what you're talking about.
33:54Mom.
33:55It wasn't me, I promise you that.
33:56Mother, I'm scared for you.
33:58I'm scared of what you've let in.
34:00You're opening doors you don't know how to close.
34:02Gene, I'm not doing anything wrong.
34:04Mom, you're in over your head. You've got to stop this right now.
34:07I don't know what to tell you other than I love you and I would never do anything to hurt you.
34:11You know this, right?
34:14I don't know anything anymore.
34:17I've got to go. I need to clear my head.
34:25Gene scours the library, hoping to find something that could explain what he experienced.
34:34I had never seen lights like these before. I wanted to know what it was.
34:40He discovers a book on the occult that refers to these paranormal phenomena as sprites.
34:49These sprites, they were a product of witchcraft.
34:53I believed that her tensions were good, but that she had let something in the house that was evil.
35:14I didn't want to go back, but I realized my mom was in trouble.
35:20I had to have the courage to go back in that house and fight for my mom,
35:23because I knew that something was trying to destroy us both.
35:28Mom?
35:33You home?
35:35We need to talk.
35:49Mom?
36:19Mom?
36:36When I saw my cross in the pentagram, I was furious.
36:41I cannot believe you, mother. You are messing with things that you cannot control.
36:47Where are you going?
36:49I'm afraid of what you've let in, and I'm not going to stick around and see what happens.
36:55I thought my mom was casting spells on me.
36:59Gene now believes that the schoolmaster was really an evil entity that his mother may have conjured up many years ago.
37:10Something came into my mother's life when I was a child and tried to show her dreams
37:14and tried to take her down a path into the occult.
37:20Mom?
37:28He cuts all ties with Sandra, realizing that there is nothing he can do to stop her.
37:35I felt that my mom was too far gone.
37:38The more I talked to her, the more I thought that she was lying to herself, lying to me.
37:44So I finally left.
37:49Mom?
37:56Sandra is devastated by Gene's angry departure.
38:00I was really upset that he thought I was causing something.
38:06I couldn't understand maybe why he would think I was doing it, because I said I was a witch.
38:13But she continues to practice Wicca, despite her son's warnings.
38:19This is a dedication to Isis.
38:25Isis is the supreme mother goddess of ancient Egypt.
38:29She is also considered the most powerful deity of the pantheon.
38:34Great goddess Isis, I dedicate myself to you.
38:39In this place of power, I open myself to your energy.
38:43Great goddess Isis, make me one with your spirit.
38:47I dedicate myself to you.
38:49Sandra prays to Isis, believing that she can guide her through this turbulent time.
38:54In this place of power, I open myself to your energy.
39:03I open myself to your energy.
39:06Great goddess Isis, make me one with your spirit.
39:10I dedicate myself to you.
39:13Great goddess Isis, I dedicate myself to you.
39:20Great goddess Isis, I dedicate myself to you.
39:35I dedicate myself to you.
39:43Great goddess Isis, I dedicate myself to you.
40:06Help me.
40:08Don't hurt me.
40:10Great goddess Isis, I dedicate myself to you.
40:14Help me.
40:20Sandra destroys the altar, hoping that it will close the door to the other side.
40:32I think they were demons.
40:34This scared me so bad that I said, that's it.
40:38I want out. I don't know what I'm doing.
40:41It was definitely something I couldn't control.
40:45You're messing with something that is beyond our comprehension.
40:55Jean and Sandra eventually reconcile their relationship, and they are closer than ever before.
41:01Now we talk almost every day, and we're trying to make up for lost time.
41:05Is that what everything else is going on?
41:07Yes, it is.
41:08Jean is now a minister and counsels people who are victims of supernatural events.
41:13Sandra finally realizes her dream and becomes a published author.
41:19She never practices Wicca again.
41:23She believes that her inexperience with practicing magic allowed these demonic entities into their lives.
41:30It's possible that my interest in the occult all my life could have opened some doors.
41:36I could have been manipulated by demons or other spirits.
41:40I just don't know. I don't know the answers.
41:51I believe that it started out as one evil spirit that just became many and tried to destroy our lives.
42:00I believe that it started out as one evil spirit that just became many and tried to destroy our lives.