Original subtitles

[ticking]

[woman] They said I killed her.

I tried to explain, but nobody believed me.

Like I said,

Lydia wouldn't listen to me.

She wouldn't come.

The police said I was crazy.

I took them to the spot, but the town wasn't there.

They said I must have murdered her.

I tried to explain,

but nobody believed me.

Who are you, again?

Rachel, Miss Berman.

Rachel Corrigan.

Hmm...

Here. That's me and Lydia.

See that bracelet.

Had her name on it. I gave it to her.

We were like sisters.

How could I have killed her?

And you're sure the town was called Somerville?

Absolutely.

I remember the sign at the edge of town.

And him.

"Him"?

The one in charge.

-He scared me. -How did you get out?

I just started running.

The moon was coming down, but I just ran

as far and as fast as I could.

Oh. Here.

Oh. No, you keep it. Keep it. I got lots of them.

When they printed that, I bought up every paper I could find.

I thought I could get somebody to...

believe me.

[sighs heavily]

You new here, dear? I haven't seen you before.

Hi, Julia. My name's Kristin, remember?

Now, how would we get to Somerville, if we wanted to?

Oh, I don't know.

Our car broke down out on Route 27.

Of course, you can't get there from here.

[Rachel] She has a history of mental illness, Kristin.

She was tried for murdering her best friend.

The jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity.

She's been institutionalized most of her adult life.

The record shows repeated attempts at suicide. And now, dementia.

Yes. But the point is, she said Somerville.

That's the same name my father scribbled in the margin of that notebook they found.

That doesn't make it real.

Well, it was real enough to have Julia Berman committed.

It has to be here.

Somewhere on Route 27.

If my father went there, I have to check it out, Rachel.

Kristin, don't you think that this is becoming a little compulsive with you?

No, I don't.

Okay. Well, if you want my expertise, I'd say we're on a giant detour

chasing down on a delusion.

Well, we're only 20 miles out of the way. Plus, we're on the scenic route.

Looking for a town that isn't on any map,

while my daughter's waiting for me at home. I don't like this, Kristin.

We are so close, Rachel. I want to see for myself.

We won't take that long. I promise.

-And when there's nothing there? -Then, at least, I'll know.

Besides, I've never had a car of my own. A little extra driving could be fun.

Indulge me.

[chuckles] Oh. God.

Okay, so I'm the one who needs my head examined?

Yes. It's my problem. You're along for the ride. Bill me.

I'm gonna bill you. Big bills.

Wait, slow down.

Somerville. Population 229. I don't believe this.

It's not even on the map.

We'll be in and out of the town before you know it.

[theme music playing]

Somerville.

Very nice.

Come on, it's not so bad.

Looks pretty normal to me.

Well, I guess it depends on your definition of normal, huh.

Hey, look at this cool car.

Yeah. Look like somebody's into restoration.

Listen, I gotta call Kat. I promised her I'd be back there tonight

to help her study for her Mathexam.

We won't stay long. I promise.

As a matter a fact, I'll come back with you

and help you with Kat if you want.

You know what, that's a really lovely offer, Kristin,

but I'm gonna pass on it

because it's one of those mother-daughter things.

-You know what I mean? -Sure, I understand.

[telephone line beeping]

[thunder rumbling]

Rachel, this thing with my father is driving me crazy.

I know what you mean. I've been there.

Sorry, it's really flip of me.

I really do. I do. I know what you mean because I've been there myself.

Maybe you should try some therapy.

-Is that an offer? -[chuckles] Yeah.

I'm gonna start billing right now. 50-minute hour.

Do I need a couch to tell my story?

No, you can tell your story on the drive home.

-[phone line beeping] -[frustrated grunt]

This is a dead area. No service.

This place is empty.

[Kristin] Maybe everybody goes to bed early here.

Let's just go home, okay?

[engine splutters]

[engine spluttering]

It's dead.

I don't understand this. I just got it checked.

[sighs]

Come on, I'll buy you dinner while we wait for AAA.

No, we're not gonna wait for AAA. We're gonna call Nick.

Nick will get the helicopter and fly us out of here.

Okay, wait a minute.

Satellite transponder.

-[Rachel] Nick's idea? -Yup.

According to him, all we have to do is turn it on, and he'll come get us.

Come get us, Nick. Let's wait over here.

[music playing]

-Welcome to Somerville, ladies. -Hi,

is there a phone I could use?

-Our car broke down. -Sure. Help yourself. Right over there.

Thanks.

[man] Can I get you some coffee?

[Kristin] Coffee, yeah, that'd be great.

Slow night.

[phone line beeping]

So, this is Somerville.

Yeah, that's what they call it.

[man] What brings you?

Actually a man I used to know. Justin Adams.

Hmm...

Never heard that name around here.

Are you sure?

With a town this size... I'm positive.

[phone line beeping]

So the phone on the wall is from the Paleozoic era,

which might explain why it doesn't work, sir.

There's got to be a working phone, somewhere.

Well, we've had some phone problems for a while.

It's hard to get someone to come out here.

-[Rachel] Yeah. -How about you?

Would you like some coffee?

No, thanks. I'd really love to know where there's a phone.

Well, actually, there's one down two blocks across from the market.

Two and across. Great. Thanks.

Do you want me to come?

No. Rest. Back in five minutes.

How was Mother Russia? I heard Moscow rocks.

[Derek] Oh. Yes. Like a slow polka.

Remind me to ask the Ruling Council to move the Moscow House to Monaco.

Right.

-How are we doing here? -Well, I'm not really sure.

Kristin's tracking some woman in a psychiatric ward.

Something to do with her father

and she asked Rachel to go along to help her get into the hospital.

And Rachel agreed?

Ha!

Well, Kristin can be very persuasive.

Yes, I know.

Meanwhile, Kat called and said that Rachel hadn't showed up at home,

so I tried her cell, I couldn't get through to her.

So I called the hospital. They said that they left around 3 o' clock.

-They're not home yet? -No.

That's not like Rachel.

[automated voice] The number you have reached is out of service.

But the subscriber has traveled beyond our service area.

[sighs]

The phone doesn't work.

There's another phone booth about two blocks that way.

I'll show you, if you'd like.

That'd be good.

[Kristin] Your coffee's good.

I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

Tanaka. Sam Tanaka.

I'm Kristin. Where is everybody?

The town's dead.

Yeah, so I noticed.

[indistinct whispering]

I don't feel so well.

[grunts]

What did you do to me?

Nothing yet.

Rachel.

Welcome to Salazar.

[beeping]

It's called Carmelito State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

I spoke to the night nurse on duty and she said that Rachel and Kristin

signed in to interview a Julia Berman.

And according to the log, they signed out six hours ago.

So, at least we know they made it there,

and they were probably on the way back home. What else?

I ran a computer search. I found a trail of transactions.

Kristin used an ATM machine around Red Bluff at 4:30.

Just before six, they stopped at a gas station on Highway 27.

They used the same credit card.

Route 27 isn't exactly the quickest way home.

Maybe they took a detour. Or maybe they just got lost.

How quickly can you get us up to Carmelito?

By chopper,

probably within an hour if we push it.

Then push it. Something doesn't feel right.

All right.

Excuse me.

Is your name... Lydia?

Yes. How do you know me?

Julia Berman.

Julia.

She gave me this.

That's impossible.

"Murdered."

I don't understand.

How could she?

She's dead.

No.

She isn't dead. I was just with her.

Who are you?

Lydia, my name is Rachel Corrigan, and I'm a friend. Could you please...

just tell me about this photograph?

That's us.

With her dad's car.

The day before we came here. How did you get this?

Julia gave it to me.

She said that you two got lost.

We ran out of gas.

We saw the sign for Somerville,

so we headed into town looking for help.

She wanted to leave.

Asked me to come with her.

Oh. It all seemed so long ago.

I'm sorry.

I thought she was dead.

I feel so tired.

It's a strange night. I keep falling asleep and waking up

but morning never comes. I don't even know what time it is.

Time. It's...

Well, it's 7 o' clock.

My watch must have stopped.

They all do.

What's the date?

November 3rd. Why?

The year. What year is it?

What a strange question. It's 1950.

Kristin.

Okay, look out.

[Lydia] Oh, my God.

You broke it.

-Come on. -He's gonna make you pay.

Kristin?

Kristin, are you in here?

Sam's not going to like this at all.

You'd better talk to the police.

Yeah, the police, where are they? Where are the police?

The Town Hall. The police station's right inside.

It's right through here.

Great.

[telephone clicking]

Out of order. I could have guessed.

Where are the police around here?

Uh, I don't know. Maybe in the back.

[Rachel] Is anybody here?

Anybody here?

Hello!

Kristin.

Kristin, can you hear me?

Kristin, you gotta wake up.

No!

What are you doing?

What must be done.

No, wait! Wait!

Come back here!

Wait a minute!

Wait!

Miss Berman, we're sorry to bother you.

There were two women who came to visit you this afternoon.

Please try to remember.

Friends of ours.

We think they may have got lost on the way home.

Anything they said would help.

Did they ask you any questions?

Lydia.

I told them about Lydia.

Who's Lydia?

My best friend.

They said I killed her.

I couldn't have done that.

Two ladies.

Yeah. They asked about Somerville.

Said they wanted to go there.

I tried to stop them.

Can you tell us where Somerville is?

It's somewhere.

I know that much. But, I...

I don't know where.

What do you mean?

I could tell you where it was.

But it isn't there anymore.

I'm gonna go patch into the mainframe and see what I can download.

Why don't you tell me about Somerville the same way you told my friends?

[typewriter continues clacking]

You said she died.

That the same thing would happen to me if I didn't help you.

It would.

I don't believe you anymore.

I think Julia just walked right of town and you couldn't stop her.

Who told you that?

The woman named Rachel.

She said she spoke with Julia today. She showed me a picture.

The night is young.

The moon is bright.

So go back down, open up the diner for any other travelers

who may come our way while I finish processing

the ones we already have.

I want to leave.

Now.

How do I get out of here?

To try to escape is to die.

Believe me, I know.

[sniffles]

Why are you doing this?

Like you, I didn't want to believe.

I had to learn the hard way.

Now, go. I have much to do.

I don't understand.

You never sleep.

You never leave.

I am this place.

This place is me.

I could no more leave this place, than I could leave my own grave.

[typewriter continues clacking]

[Derek] So what have we got?

[Nick] It only appears on maps between 1946 and 1950.

Have a look.

It started as tract housing for homecoming GIs.

After the first stage of the community was erected, there was a quake,

followed by a mudslide that completely buried the town.

Boom, just like that, no more Somerville.

And what was there before '46?

Sierra-79.

Also known as the Salazar Relocation Facility.

It was a camp for Japanese Americans

detained there in World War II.

But the facility was razed in '46 and sold to developers.

An internment camp.

Yeah. And there's something else.

A pattern of disappearances along this stretch of highway

over the last 50 years, sort of like the Bermuda Triangle.

From the end of World War II.

Any common denominator?

-The date, November 3rd. -That's today.

Hey, Kristin. Are you all right?

-What the hell happened to you? -Me?

What the hell happened to you?

I don't know.

It's safe to say we're not in Kansas anymore.

I guess, "I'm sorry" doesn't cut it, huh?

Don't worry, I'm still billing you by the hour.

I think that guy at the diner put something in my coffee.

That's nothing.

You should have seen who left the diner.

-Who? -Lydia.

Lydia?

Julia Berman's Lydia?

[Rachel] You got it. In the flesh.

Unblemished by time. She hasn't aged a day.

I'm telling you. She doesn't know how long she's been here. This whole place is...

stuck in time, or out of time. I don't know.

[man] Excuse me, ladies.

You okay in there?

It's really ridiculous, isn't it? I mean, this is America.

These kinds of things are not supposed to happen here.

I'll tell you what though,

as soon as it's light, I'm calling my lawyer.

Then we'll see who's you-know-what's in a sling.

I'm Ed. Ed Barker from Crescent City.

Ed, I'm Rachel.

This is Kristin.

How did you get stuck here?

I took a wrong turn. Car broke down.

Is that your car at the gas station?

Yeah. It's brand-new. Go figure.

But how did you wind up in here?

Good question. I was over at the diner having a cup of coffee,

the next thing I know, I'm in here.

The guy who runs this place, he's nuts.

I said to him, "I'm not answering anymore questions till I get my lawyer."

I know my rights.

So he throws me in here to cool my heels

while he processes one poor sap after another.

How long have you been here?

I don't know. Too long.

I didn't even get a chance to vote today.

I haven't heard anything about the election.

Do you know who's winning?

The election?

It's gotta be Nixon.

Kennedy? [scoffs] He hasn't got a chance.

Kennedy.

I need to know, did you really see Julia today?

Lydia, Lydia, please.

I need you to listen to me, okay?

Whatever you did, I'm sure you had your own reasons for it,

reasons maybe I can't even comprehend,

but, Lydia... No, please, don't go.

Please don't leave us in here.

Just help us get out and then we can help you

get back to Julia.

I don't need your help.

Yes, you do.

You don't understand, Lydia.

The world you left behind, it's not the same.

Many of your family and your friends, they might not be there anymore.

You're wrong.

Julia and I left home this morning.

Julia is over 70 years old.

You have been trapped here, Lydia, for 50 years.

You're talking crazy.

I don't believe you.

You're just trying to scare me.

Lydia.

I'm going to get out of here

before the sun comes up.

-Lydia! -Lydia, don't leave us!

It's paperwork time, ladies. You first.

I'll uncuff her when we're done.

Let me warn you.

Cooperation in processing is mandatory.

Resistance will be dealt within the harshest possible terms.

It would hurt me to hurt you.

So, please.

Wait a minute, Rachel, we're staying together. No.

I'm gonna come back for you, okay?

We don't have a choice.

Be careful.

I spoke to the Highway Patrol.

There are several fire roads off of the main highway.

Then they confirmed that there's no such place as Somerville,

not even the ruins of the town.

Nice truck.

[Nick] Hop in.

I'm guessing you have a plan here.

It was the only thing I could rent this late at night.

I practically had to buy it from the guy.

Pretty rough terrain up where we're headed.

So I couldn't be certain it was gonna be any place

to put the chopper down.

[buzzing]

No!

-[gasps] -[bell tolling]

You answer all questions, no exceptions.

All blanks will be filled in. Do you understand?

Do you understand?

What are you doing?

You're being processed for relocation.

Is that what happened to you?

[typewriter clacking]

You were what, interned here during the war?

[Sam] They said it was for our own good.

For our own protection.

They removed us from our homes.

Time stood still in this place.

You died here?

November 3rd, 1943.

Today's November 3rd.

What? Do you do this every year?

I swore we were born American.

They saw us as the enemy.

And took away our homes.

Our money. Our lives.

In shame, my father hung himself.

My mother died in my arms.

They got her, too.

[heavy breathing]

I tired to escape.

They electrified the barbed wire.

[screaming]

The guards stood around and watched.

They made bets on how long I would last.

They buried me in a shallow grave

so that no one would ever find me.

And no one ever did.

Until they

dug up your grave when they built this place.

They released your spirit.

All I could do was think of vengeance.

Sam, that's all so long ago. It's all in the past. You gotta let it go.

Sam, you do.

You got to let it go so you move on.

[whimpers]

It's been acknowledged. Reparations have been made.

Enough!

None were made to me.

The sooner you get this done, the sooner you go back to your friend.

Date of birth, Social Security number, ethnic origin.

[Ed] What you were saying before

about leaving here and the outside world not being the same,

it was a joke, right?

It's not possible, is it?

Trust me, Ed, it's not 1960 anymore.

You're wrong. That's crazy.

I gotta get outta here.

I can't stand it.

[door unlocks]

[door opens]

Hey, how did you do that?

I don't know.

[rattling]

Listen, it's okay, I'll go get help. I'll come right back.

Anyway, assuming you're right, and it's not 1960,

Nixon won, right?

-Kennedy. -Oh. Damn.

-How about Nixon? -Ed, listen to me.

You have to be really careful out there, okay?

Be back as soon as I can, okay?

Assuming that the old lady isn't totally crackers,

what do you figure is going on here?

Well, I don't know the specifics, but if Julia was right,

whatever force is controlling Somerville,

will cause it to disappear at sunrise.

Like going into a black hole.

With Kristin and Rachel with it.

[beeping]

Well, look at this, I'm getting something

from that transponder in Kristin's car.

No wonder we couldn't pick it up before.

'Cause it's coming from some place

that doesn't really exist in the physical world.

And it's directly ahead.

This road must be the portal.

The only way in and out.

Don't drive past the sign. Stop.

We better hurry. We don't have much time.

Derek.

-Lydia. -Julia's friend.

She must have finally tried to escape.

[Rachel] What happened to Ed?

-He escaped. -[Sam] He's done it.

At last.

-[key clicks] -[engine splutters]

Come on.

Come on!

[choking]

Good night, Mr. Barker.

Where'd you learn to do that?

Postgraduate course in applied physics.

Can you do the other side, too?

-Why? -Just humor me.

This is no time to fix the plumbing.

Well, no, but, how about unfixing it?

When our good friend, Sam, gets back...

[grunts]

I want to hit him.

And I want it to really hurt.

Come on, quick, before he gets back.

-So what did he do to you out there? -That's a long story.

We're dealing with an angry spirit

of a man who died 50 years ago,

and he's got to be stopped.

-He's dead? -Yeah. Like everybody else in Somerville.

You know that sign we saw on the edge of town,

"Population: 229,"

well, that's not the number of people who live here,

that's the number of souls he's trapped.

Here he comes. Come on. Quick.

It's your turn to be processed.

I don't think so.

[grunts]

Rachel.

Come on.

-Oh. My knee. -It's all right. Got you.

-Wait, wait. -What?

Well, you said that he kept records on everyone that he trapped here.

I need to find out if my father was here. You can go and I'll catch up.

What, on roller skates?

Look, Kristin, Lydia said we've got to get out of here by sunrise.

[Kristin] No, Rachel, there's gotta be something here.

[Rachel] We're almost out of time.

-Kristin, come on. -There has to be something.

-[Rachel] Come on. -He was here.

[Kristin] He was here. He escaped.

That's great.

It's okay.

[Derek] Use the wench. We'll tie it off to the tree.

-[Nick] Right. -How much cable do you think we have?

I don't know. Maybe 100 feet or so.

Well, if this place is what I think it is,

everything beyond that sign will disappear at daybreak.

It may be the only chance we have to get away from here.

Anchor the truck to the tree.

We can use the wench and pull ourselves out.

-Back up slowly, past the sign. -All right.

[engine starts]

You're still billing me, aren't you?

Oh. Big bills. Meter running.

That's good, 'cause we don't want the evening to be a total waste.

Come on. No, we don't want that.

[both grunting]

No, Rachel, stop. Stop.

-It really hurts. -Okay.

Let's go. It's almost done.

[thunder rumbling]

Kristin. Kristin, look.

I see lights. Come on. Come on.

Is that Derek?

Yeah, it's Nick.

-Here. -I think I sprained my knee.

Rachel.

Let's move, okay?

Let's get inside of the truck.

Quickly. We don't have much time.

-[Nick] Go! Drive! -[grunts]

No!

Nick! Drive!

-[engine spluttering] -[grunts]

Hurry.

[Derek] It won't start!

[engine revs]

[Derek] Yeah, here we go!

Stop!

[Rachel] Sam! Just let it go!

No! Stop!

We're being pulled back.

No! It's time! Let go!

The portal is closing. Let go!

[screaming]

[Rachel] Let go!

[panting]

There isn't so much weight on that knee yet, come on.

-There, I got it. -Yeah.

You know, after everything we went through,

-you know what really hurts? -What's that?

I finally get a car and it gets swallowed up by a town that does't exist.

Wait till you try and file for insurance.

[laughs]

I really want to thank you for being there, Rachel.

I think you better hold off till you get my bill.

[chuckles]

No, Kristin, I'm really sorry we didn't find your father.

At least we know he didn't die.

Not there, anyway.

The truth is, if you keep him in your heart,

he's never going to be very far away.

You're right.

I'm okay.

I know.

[Rachel]It's said we are all prisoners of our own minds.

The town of Somerville was not so much a prison

as a place consumed by the rage of one man.

For Sam Tanaka, it was a short step from victim to predator.

Well, I can only hope that what happened

somehow dispersed his anger and released his soul.

[theme music playing]