Original subtitles

[thunder cracking]

[rain pattering]

[man] Derek!

Derek!

[muffled screaming]

[distorted] It's coming, Derek!

[phone ringing]

-Hello? -[Spencer] Derek?

You must help...

You must watch out...

For her.

Who is this?

-[static crackling] -...in danger.

I should never have...

-[moaning] -Croft?

Is that you?

-Croft? -[static continues]

Spencer?

Answer me. Where are you?

-[dial tone] -[phone beeps]

Is everything all right?

-Shh. -[line ringing]

[woman] Hello?

Yeah, this is Derek Rayne. Is that you, Serena?

Derek, I was gonna call you in the morning.

Well, Spencer just did, but we were cut off,

and I couldn't tell where he was calling from.

So, is he there or do you know where...

That can't be.

It's impossible.

Why, what's wrong, Serena?

Spencer... Spencer died.

What?

Yesterday.

[opening theme music playing]

[Nick] Spencer Croft.

Where do I know that name from?

Well, he was Derek's roommate back at Oxford.

But guess who the proctor was just across the hall.

-Prince Charles? -Well, close.

William Sloan.

-You're kidding. -[laughs]

Wow, that must have been a hell of a study group.

I bet.

[Nick] Good morning, Derek.

-Did you sleep at all last night? -No. Not much.

I checked with the phone company

and they don't have a record of any call

coming in last night.

So, what about our own data bank?

House phone logs?

All incoming and outgoing calls

are still registered, aren't they?

Well, nothing tripped the phone registry

between 8:00 and your call

to Croft's house just after midnight.

Well, there must be some mistake.

What are we overlooking?

Maybe you just had a bad dream.

You know? Maybe the storm woke you up,

you were feeling kinda groggy.

I know what I heard.

And Spencer Croft is dead.

[William]Yes, I spoke to Serena a few hours ago.

She's still pretty upset.

Did she tell you anything more

about the circumstances of Croft's death?

No more, I'm sure, than she told you.

He was found fully-clothed in the reflecting pond

in the garden behind the house.

Cause of death was listed as drowning.

Drowning.

In a reflecting pond?

How big could it be? I don't understand it.

Nor do I...

Any more than I understand

that midnight phone call you got.

But we'll look into it ourselves.

After the memorial service on Thursday.

Are you going to be there?

Well, of course I am, Derek.

Whatever came between us over the years,

that's irrelevant now, don't you think?

I'll see you in Montreal.

[beeps]

[Rachel] Derek.

Hey, I hope I'm not intruding.

I just...

I heard about your friend. I'm so sorry.

What a terrible call to get. What a shock, huh?

When was the last time you saw him?

Eight, nine years ago.

Really? That's a long time.

Too long.

We were on a dig together in the Middle East.

Croft had met Serena at university

and insisted she come along.

We made some important discoveries.

Do you know the expression, "publish or perish?"

Of course, yes.

Well, Croft wanted to make a name for himself.

So what, he went ahead and published

and left your name off of it?

Right. We disagreed, parted company.

Next thing I knew, he and Serena were married.

And after that, we would occasionally talk,

but things were never the same.

So why would I, following his death,

pick up the phone in the middle of the night

and suddenly hear his voice?

[mutters]

And you're sure it was him?

At the time I thought so.

But there seems to be some question about that.

[Serena] I want you all to know that...

In all the years that Spencer and I were together,

the one thing that he never questioned,

and he was a man

who questioned just about everything,

was his decision to teach here, in Montreal.

To give back something of great value

to a great university.

Thank you all for sharing your memories.

We will all miss him very much.

[sobbing]

Thank you for coming.

Roger.

Oh, William.

Derek. Thank you so much for coming all this way.

I know Spencer would have been grateful.

It was the least we could do.

I'm so sorry, Serena.

Yes, well, we all let too much time pass.

We all made mistakes.

I know Spencer thought so, too.

[man] Mrs. Croft.

I'm sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know

that I have the keys to your husband's office.

And anytime you wish to collect his things,

please call me.

Yes, thank you. I'll take care of it.

I'm James Donlon,

Associate Professor of Classics.

How do you do?

Old friends of Spencer's.

William Sloan and Derek Rayne.

It's a pleasure.

Once more, Mrs. Croft,

my condolences on the death of your husband.

[sighs]

But let me say how happy I am to see

that you're getting around so well.

Are you, Mr. Donlon?

Of course.

I'm only sorry that Spencer

didn't live to see it for himself.

It was a real pleasure.

Please, drop by the department

and I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

Serena.

What an absolutely obnoxious man.

When he wasn't jockeying for promotion,

he was snooping through Spencer's affairs,

trying to figure out what he was working on,

what he was researching.

[sighs]

I hope I never have to see him again.

Why don't you let me deal with Spencer's office?

-Would you? -Absolutely.

I have a little business to take care of,

a kind of re-organization, but afterwards...

So, you'll be staying at the Legacy House, here in Montreal?

Spencer and I kept very few secrets from each other.

I know he believes strongly in your work.

In fact, sometimes I think

he regretted not having joined with you.

I'll see you again before I leave.

Yes. Thank you again.

So, Derek...

Um...

If you'd like to stay here, there's plenty of room.

Yes, I'd like that.

In fact, if you don't mind, I would like to take a look

at whatever it was

that Spencer was working on just before, uh...

Yes. I understand completely.

[light switch clicks repeatedly]

[sighs] There.

The light fixtures never worked properly. Watch your step.

I think, secretly, Spencer liked it that way.

It kept people from coming up here.

[exhales]

This was his inner sanctum.

Strange.

It feels so empty...

Without him here.

And this...

This is where he was always the happiest.

Working on whatever ancient puzzle

had yet to be solved.

So, this is where he was working that night.

Yes.

On this?

He'd become so secretive, even his writing

was in some ancient language that only he could understand.

I was never exactly sure what it was he was working on.

[chuckles]

You recognize it?

Yes.

I'm not surprised you don't.

What is it?

Unless I'm mistaken,

and it's been 20 years since I've seen it,

it's a secret code Spencer,

Sloan and I devised back at school.

A secret code?

Well, what on Earth would you have done that for?

Oh.

The vanity of youth. [laughs]

We were so sure that we would make a mark

that we decided to create a private language

just to...

Safeguard our discoveries.

So, you can translate it?

Well, it's been a long time.

And I'm sure he didn't bother to leave the key.

-The key? -To the code.

We all had one.

No, I...

I don't think I ever saw him using anything like that.

Well, he probably memorized it.

Unless he's written it down

and stashed it somewhere in here in all this...

Jumble.

It doesn't look very different

from his old room in Oxford, does it?

[chuckles and sighs]

Do you remember the night

that he lost his dissertation and...

[laughs]

He turned the whole room upside down looking for it,

and you found it in the refrigerator?

-Next to the pickles. -Yes.

[both laugh]

-Oh. -Once he admitted

that he hadn't seen it since lunch,

the rest was simple. [chuckles]

It's a pity we couldn't all have had this reunion

while Spencer was still alive.

I know he wanted to see more of you...

And William.

He was just so proud, you know?

We all were.

[Spencer, in distorted voice] Derek!

[tapping at window]

Derek!

[distorted] Such a terrible force is coming now!

-Croft. -Help me!

Help...

Croft! Don't go!

[screaming]

[dog barks distantly]

Croft.

Are you here?

They should be in the black steamer trunk.

Leather-bound journals

with "Balliol College, Oxford" stamped in front.

You sure you want me

going through your old college stuff?

You never know what I'm gonna find.

I'll take the chance.

Well, if I get lucky and find them,

I'll air express them to you right away.

Yeah, be lucky, Nick. Thanks.

Sure.

[beeps]

Last summer, Spencer went back to Greece without me.

It was the first time I was too ill

to make the trip.

Too ill? What did you have?

Well, nothing, really.

I mean, at the time,

the doctors thought it was serious,

but obviously, they were wrong.

So, this is where Spencer died, isn't it?

Yes.

He had it built.

It was the first thing he did when he got back.

He brought the plans with him.

The cornerstones are made of lodestone. Interesting.

Lodestone?

A form of iron oxide used in ancient Greece

for its magnetic properties.

Oh.

This pool is only a few feet deep.

Yes, I know.

[breathing heavily]

-[exclaims] -[growling]

Serena!

Serena.

I don't know what happened. I...

I must have fallen.

-Are you all right? -Yes, I'll be fine.

Just...

Just give me a minute.

[Serena groans softly]

[bell tolling]

-Good morning, may I help you? -I hope so.

I'm William Sloan, a colleague of Professor Croft's.

Yes, Mrs. Croft called earlier.

She said you might be stopping by.

Let me show you right in.

-Thank you. -Mmm-hmm.

Mr. Sloan,

I was, um, just packing up some of Spencer's...

-It's good to see you again. -Thank you.

Have a seat.

What an interesting desk.

Isn't it?

I remember this desk from England.

Derek and I got it for Spencer

so he could keep his important papers in one place.

Well, then it'll go to Serena along with the rest.

I'm a...

Laptop man myself.

Well, like Croft, I prefer books.

Computers... Do you mind? May I?

Please.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Egyptian Funeral Rites.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Near-Death Testimonials.

Bit unusual for a Classics scholar.

In the past couple of years,

Spencer had developed a bit of a fixation on the subject.

Questions of death and the afterlife.

I didn't realize

Croft was interested in necrology.

More than interested, Mr. Sloan.

Obsessed.

I wonder if the obsession

started around the time of his wife's illness.

Former illness.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ALS?

I thought that was irreversible.

Apparently not.

Although it is strange.

One day she's at death's door,

the next, it's her husband who's gone.

What exactly are you suggesting?

Nothing.

Seems a bit much for coincidence.

[knock on door]

Excuse me, Professor Donlon,

but you've got Professor Croft's

graduate seminar in five minutes.

-You're right. Thank you, Monica. -Okay.

I'm sorry.

Perhaps we can do this some other time.

I have to prepare for this lecture.

If I may be blunt,

there's something I don't understand.

Why are you so interested in Mrs. Croft's health?

No reason. Her recovery was...

Curious, that's all.

Still, it's none of your business, is it?

Derek, this just came for you.

Ah.

Is it the key to Spencer's code?

Yes, this is it.

I've had it sent up from San Francisco.

All I have to do now is apply it.

So, does that mean

you'll be able to translate Spencer's journal?

Well, with a little hard work.

-Spencer never made things easy. -[chuckles]

He's using fragments of an ancient language

we discovered in Alexandria.

The rest he created himself.

Oh. Sounds just like him.

Always looking for some ingenious way of...

-[Spencer, distorted] Serena. -Doing things.

Are you all right?

You look pale.

I think I'm tired.

I thought I saw someone over there.

Oh, I'm probably just hungry.

I don't think I've had much to eat since all of this happened.

-Well, let me get you something. -No, no.

It's all right. I'll get it myself.

[William] Brings it all back, doesn't it?

Papers.

The books.

Croft's fine sense of chaos.

Hmm, the only thing missing is Croft.

I keep asking myself, "Why all this secrecy?"

So far, it just sounds like a record

of his last research trip to Greece.

He must have had a reason.

If it's written in code,

there must be something he wanted only us to know.

Did you get a chance to check out the, uh, university?

I stopped by Croft's office this afternoon.

Donlon's already checking out his desk for size.

Same one we gave him, remember?

[chuckles] The one with the hidden compartment?

[laughs]

Did you get a chance to examine it?

Donlon never gave me a chance.

How's Serena?

Well, she's having a difficult time.

First, her health. Now, her husband.

Speaking of Serena's health,

Donlon says she was suffering

from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

That's ridiculous. [scoffs]

If it were true, she would be dead.

That's what I said.

But Donlon seemed certain.

Have you seen her?

Despite what's happened, she seems almost...

Radiant.

Yes, she does.

Better be careful, she is a beautiful woman.

And she's still vulnerable.

It could be awkward

if you were to become involved.

She's Spencer's wife.

Spencer's widow.

Spencer's widow, yes.

We're just friends, nothing more.

Good.

[thunder rumbling]

[gasping]

[breathing heavily]

Spencer.

Don't be afraid. I've got you.

But how? What's happening?

-Just believe in me. -I do.

[chanting in foreign language]

-[creature roars] -[Serena screams]

[grunts]

[whimpering]

No.

No! Spencer!

[sobbing]

[screams]

Serena!

[screams]

[Serena panting]

It's all right. It's all right.

Good morning.

Um...

-Monica, right? -Yes.

Yes. Yes, it is.

Oh, you're Professor Donlon's friend.

I'm afraid he's not here right now. He's, uh...

Teaching Professor Croft's graduate seminar.

-That's right. -Well, I'm actually here,

uh, just to pick up some of Spencer's papers

and things for Serena.

Oh, of course.

Professor Donlon's already boxed up most of it this morning.

-Oh, that's wonderful. -So, if you'd like me to show you...

No, no. Thank you. I think I can find what I need.

[chuckles] Thanks very much.

[clicking]

I was thinking,

the books are way too heavy to carry.

Would you like me to call down

and see if a student can help you?

Oh, no, thanks. Don't bother.

I can handle it.

Certainly.

This dream you had,

you sure you don't wanna tell me about it?

It was just a bad dream, Derek.

That's all that it was.

Yes. But I don't think you've slept since I got here.

I mean, how much longer can you go on like this?

What choice do I have?

Well, I need to know what happened the night Spencer drowned, Serena.

How can I tell you what I don't know?

Spencer had become so secretive.

[sighs] I mean, look at his journal.

It was written in code.

You weren't here when he drowned, right?

I already told you.

I was ill.

I was in bed.

I'd had a terrible nightmare.

But that's all that it was. It was a nightmare.

Was it the same nightmare you had last night?

What difference does it make? It wasn't real.

I didn't die. I didn't drown.

Spencer did.

I'm here.

I'm alive.

And your illness, what exactly did you have?

Nothing.

I already told you, I was misdiagnosed.

The doctors were wrong.

Look, I don't wanna talk about this anymore.

I understand. I'm sorry if I upset you.

It's all right.

I'll be in my room.

We got the drawing you faxed.

[William] What do you make of it?

Well, the first thing to jump out were the measurements.

-Why? -It was recorded in units

that date back to ancient Greece.

Definitely before the time of Christ.

What about the notations around the borders?

Also ancient Greek.

A Macedonian dialect

that originated just north of Thrace.

Can you translate them?

Well, it'll take some time.

But if I'm not completely crazy,

it seems to refer to some sort

of secret passageway or supernatural gate.

Alex, you're not crazy.

[chuckles]

That might make perfect sense before we're done.

Let's keep going.

All right.

[keyboard clacking]

[bell tolling]

-Hi, Monica. -Oh!

-Any messages? -You just missed your friend.

My friend?

Yeah. The one who came by

to pick up some of Professor Croft's things.

Sloan.

Mmm-hmm.

What'd he take?

Not much. A drawing, I think.

A drawing?

What kind of a drawing?

Some sort of triangle.

Why?

Was it important?

No. No.

Thank you.

I don't care what the coroner's report says.

It wasn't accidental.

So, you think that Croft was murdered?

Let's just say there are a number of inconsistencies.

Right. Like his spirit coming to Derek.

What was it he said? "Watch out for Serena."

Interesting choice of words.

"Watch out" could mean "protect,"

or, then again, it could mean "beware of."

[Rachel] Well, for Derek's sake,

let's hope it means "protect."

Speaking of Derek,

how come you're calling us instead of him?

Division of labor, Mr. Boyle. Pure and simple.

- Rachel. -Mmm-hmm.

Tell me what you know of a disease

called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Well, it's, uh, progressive,

degenerative. It results in paralysis--

Assumingit's been correctly diagnosed,

can it be reversed?

No. Unfortunately, it's fatal. Why?

Okay. Two big questions.

Could the diseaseand all its attendant symptoms

be psycho-genetically produced?

Could these symptoms in fact disappear

after an immensely traumatic experience?

Well, I can't really say either way.

I mean, not without seeing the patient,

going over the case histories, the charts--

Theoretically, could it happen?

Theoretically, anything can happen.

[knock on door]

Still awake?

Yes.

I haven't been able to sleep much since...

Spencer died.

Well, why don't you let me switch off

-some of these lights here-- -No.

I know it sounds silly, but...

I think I've developed somewhat of a fear of the dark.

[sighs]

Well, give it time. It will pass.

I keep thinking about the pond.

And how hard Spencer worked to build it.

In his journal he made it very clear.

He was building it for you.

Yes, I know. It frightens me.

As much as ALS?

Did Donlon tell you I had ALS?

Did you?

You don't recover from ALS.

I know.

I think that says

just about everything then, doesn't it?

Would you mind shutting the door on your way out?

I think I'd rather be alone just now.

I understand.

Good night.

[door closes]

[crickets chirping]

[water bubbling]

[Donlon] I knew it.

I knew he was working on something.

[water bubbling]

[gasps] Help!

[roaring]

[water splashing]

[Nick] So, it was built by Alexander the Great.

-[William] That would make it 4th century B.C. -That's right.

The reflecting pool that Croft built

is an exact copy

of the one unearthed in Macedonia.

It shouldn't really be a surprise considering he was the one

who discovered it a couple of years back.

Any idea why Alexander had the original pool built?

Well, according to Aristotle,

Alexander made a deal with what he called

the Lord of the Underworld,

to conquer the world in exchange for his soul.

Only he didn't want to live up to his part of the deal.

So, he built it as a way to escape death.

Wonder what stopped him.

Well, supposedly, the Lord of the Underworld

posted a sentry there so that he couldn't return.

Great work, you two.

I'll be in touch.

[computer beeps]

Was that just me or was that a compliment?

[clicks tongue]

I'm not sure.

I just saw Serena outside.

Has she had any sleep lately?

Insomnia. Ever since Croft died.

She hasn't eaten anything either.

Sounds as if she has one foot

in this world and one in the next.

Precisely.

So, I'm almost finished translating this,

and according to Croft, he knew she was dying.

ALS, just as you mentioned.

Incurable. He tried everything to save her.

Even building a portal to the underworld.

You mean the pool?

The one Croft drowned in.

It's an exact copy.

The original was built by Alexander the Great

as a kind of back door out of the underworld

on the outside chance

that death didn't agree with him.

So, you think he built it to save her?

He loved her.

Maybe too much.

[Serena screaming]

Derek.

[screaming]

[whimpers]

[sobbing]

[sniffs]

[indistinct chattering on police radio]

She's lying down.

I told the police what I think

they'll understand of this, which isn't much.

Well, two bodies in ten days, both drowned.

That pond was drained. I saw it myself.

Whoever or whatever did this,

they still have some unfinished business here.

[engine starts]

[Spencer, distorted] Serena.

He's coming.

[growling]

[growls]

[Derek] That's it.

What have you got?

Listen to this.

"Having forged a pathway

between this world and the next

from Alexander's own plans,

all I can do is wait.

Serena is very close now.

And as soon as she dies,

I must try to bring her back."

That was Spencer, always looking for an angle.

Trying to beat death at its own game.

To save the woman he loved. Noble cause?

How about a lost one?

He knew Alexander had failed. It was a fool's errand.

Well, he still had to try.

"If this journal is being read,

then I'm already dead.

Therefore, I have one last request.

Destroy the pool."

[sobbing]

[Spencer, distorted] Serena!

[whimpers]

"Built exactly to Alexander's specifications,

the three sides are extremely unstable.

The lodestone corner pieces

insulate them and keep them from touching.

Remove any one of these corners,

and the resulting reaction

will seal the opening forever."

So, that was Alexander's plan.

Escape from the underworld.

Seal off his pursuers, and rule the world.

Yeah.

But now, in order to save Serena,

Croft wants us to do the same.

So, what do you say? You with me?

Who are you?

[growls]

What do you want?

[roars]

[gasps] Please, I want to live.

Serena!

Serena, stop!

No!

-[screams] -[roars]

Derek!

[screams]

Derek!

[sobbing]

Derek, get out of there!

[roaring]

[screams]

[straining]

[whimpering]

-[roars] -[grunts]

Get out. Do it!

[screams]

Derek!

[roaring]

[groans]

[Serena] Derek.

[creature screeches]

[electricity crackling]

[rumbling]

[booming]

It's over now.

Really over.

Spencer's dead.

And you're alive.

He did what he did

because you were all that really mattered to him.

Try to get some sleep.

Derek...

Could you turn out the light?

Yeah.

-Good night. -'Night.

Is she asleep?

She will be.

I'm leaving for London in the morning.

I know you don't wanna hear this,

but I'm gonna say it anyway.

You did a great thing out there tonight.

It took all three of us, William.

And with you and Spencer on my side,

I knew I couldn't lose.

Feels like old times, doesn't it?

[Derek] When we lose a friend, we lose more than that.

We lose a part of ourselves,

a part of our own past.

But sometimes, we also find something new.

A deeper appreciation of the friends that remain,

and of the bonds that only time can forge.

I record this entry in the secret code

I once devised with two of my most trusted friends...

Spencer Croft

and William Sloan.

[closing theme music playing]