Original subtitles

(crickets chirping)

(brakes squeal)

(engine stops)

(man tosses bottle, coyote howls in distance)

(exhales sharply)

Man, who farted?

(liquid sloshing)

What the...?

MAN: It's motor oil.

That's right.

Motor oil.

And this is a lighter.

Look, I know what you did, I know what you took,

so give it to me.

How do you know that, space man?

Nobody knows about that.

Now, get your ass out of here.

If it's in here and you're not telling me,

then it's gonna burn up along with you.

But if it's in here and you give it to me,

maybe we can work something out.

Hey, man, it's not in here.

Then where is it?

Where is it?!

Stand up, will you?!

Put that thing out!

It's with my partner.

And where's he?

He's got a trailer like this in the desert.

30 miles east of Kingman!

30 miles east of Kingman.

Hey, white boy, who in the hell are you?

The man who can read your mind.

Hey! Hey!

Stop!

Hey! Stop!

(screaming)

(sighs)

30 miles east of Kingman.

You say something?

What?

I asked, "Did you say something?"

You're talking gibberish.

What?

I'm talking gibberish?

Stop that. Talk to me.

I am talking to you.

And you're talking to me.

What is that?

Are you making that up?

Is that a language?

Oh, man.

Not today.

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(whispers): Hey.

Daddy?

I got to take your mom to the hospital,

have someone take a look at her.

It's almost 6:00.

When it's time, get your sister up and help her with breakfast.

I don't know how I'm gonna get you to school today,

but I'll call you from the hospital once I figure it out.

ALLISON: Joe.

Everybody on TV is talking gibberish, too.

Okay?

(sighs softly)

JOE: Don't lecture me.

I-I know exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I'm not happy about not being at that breakfast in New York,

but my wife is in the hospital.

That's nice of you.

If I knew what kind of specialist she needed,

I'd absolutely take you up on that

and I'd be making that call.

(P.A. system beeps)

WOMAN: Dr. Bender to the mental ward, please.

Dr. Bender.

Okay, thanks.

(sighs softly)

Mr. Dubois?

Yes.

Hi. I'm Dr. Natalie Salem.

I've been looking at your wife.

Is this a good time to talk?

Yes, yes, absolutely.

Please. Okay.

There we go.

She's fine, by the way.

Oh. Resting very comfortably.

Good. She's fine?

Well, she's sedated.

But, really, she's fine.

I mean, there is nothing physiologically wrong with her.

Everything works, she can hear,

she just doesn't recognize what she hears as speech.

At least as speech in a language she's familiar with.

Okay.

But she was able to read questions that I typed

on the computer and then speak back to me. Okay.

Really, she's fine.

It's a kind of hysteria, like hysterical blindness,

where a person can see, but they don't believe they can see.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Based on what I read in her file,

you've been through a lot of these things.

God...

I don't know how you do it.

Uh, what now?

There's really no actual way of treating this.

That's why I sedated her.

I'm hoping when she wakes up,

the condition will have reversed itself.

She's gonna be out for a couple more hours at least,

if you want to do something.

I, um, I have your number,

so I can call you when she's awake.

Okay, that'd be great.

And here's my number.

You never know when you might need it.

It was nice meeting you, Joe.

(birds chirping, dogs barking in distance)

Hello?

Is anybody home?

Hi, you.

Last I remember, you were driving me

to the hospital in the dark.

How did we get here?

It's amnesia.

They said that might happen 'cause of the sedative.

Uh, we've been home couple hours now.

You can't understand a word I'm saying, can you?

I don't understand a word you're saying.

My e-mail?

You sent me an e-mail?

(cell phone beeps)

Amnesia.

Oh, I'm sorry you missed work.

Oh, good, you got the girls to school.

Doctor said it will reverse itself in time.

Hysteria? You don't think it's hysteria, do you?

(sighs)

Um, I got to go pick up the girls.

School.

I get it.

Do you want the paper?

Newspaper?

Oh, newspaper.

Yeah, yeah, that'd be great.

Okay.

There you go.

Thanks.

Love you!

Hey, what are you doing?

Go say hi to your mom before you get something to eat.

Come on, Marie.

(cell phone ringing)

Hello.

This is Joe.

Mr. Burroughs? Yeah, okay, put him on.

Dad, Mom's not here.

Mom's not anywhere.

Actually, can I call him right back?

Oh, wow.

It's a pretty wild story.

Oh.

(typing)

(clears throat)

(computer chimes)

That is quite a story.

Guy in a fireproof suit, motor oil.

I think you're gonna have to get the coroner

to go back out there and take a second look.

Forensics, arson guys...

(sighs)

(typing)

Okay.

"Forensics..."

You sent me an e-mail?

I-I can't understand what you're saying.

Now, I come home, I got the kids,

I got my boss on the phone, you're nowhere to be found,

and finally I realize you sent me an e-mail.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Oh, right.

Okay, there it is.

Right above the e-mail

about foreclosure bargains in my neighborhood;

right below the one about how I can save big

on life-extending vitamins.

Joe, you're upset; I can see that.

But I know

you read the e-mail I sent about going to see my boss,

so I'm lost here.

I don't know...

I think the well is empty.

I think the reservoir of love and goodwill

and benefit of the doubt is dry.

I don't know how much longer I can do this.

I wake up every morning with a different Allison.

And somehow, I'm supposed to adjust.

My job, the kids-- somehow we're all supposed to adjust.

I'm just tired.

I'm just tired of it, Allison.

I don't know what it is.

Whatever it is, I'm sorry.

I'll fix it.

When this is over, I will fix it.

(door shuts)

(cell phone ringtone playing)

Hello. (clears throat)

Just a second, just a second.

Sorry. Honey? Honey?

I need your help. It's my boss. Can you talk to him?

(slurred): Evening, District Attorney, it's Joe.

No, it's okay. You tell me, I'll tell her.

Okay, I got it.

(typing on phone) You... were... right.

It... was... our... son.

It was...

murder.

(exhales sharply)

Are you still mad at me?

*

(man speaking gibberish)

(gibberish)

(laughs)

(entire office speaking gibberish)

(phone rings)

(ringing continues)

(sighs)

(ringing)

(ringing)

(phone continues ringing)

(people continue speaking gibberish nearby)

She's been sitting there like that all day.

DEVALOS (sighs): Well, I don't know what else to do.

I sent her three emails

telling her it's okay if she goes home.

But she insists this is where she wants to be.

She keeps thinking that this... condition that she has

is connected to something, something that's going on here,

and the sooner she can get to the bottom of it,

the sooner everything will go back to normal.

(speaking gibberish)

(people speaking gibberish)

WOMAN: It's not going to happen.

They don't seem to want my help.

Of course I explained to them who I was,

I'm trying to tell you.

They kept me waiting for over an hour,

then they told me they weren't interested.

I told you, this was a bad idea.

Anyway...

I'm coming home.

Ichi bara wu?

Ichi bara wu.

You know,

I'm sorry, I know I'm staring. It's just...

I understood every word you just said on the phone.

Except for, uh, that...

"Ichi bara wu."

You understood everything I was saying on the phone?

Yeah. And I just understood

what you just said about me understanding.

Do you by any chance speak Diné?

What is Diné?

It's the language I'm speaking to you right now.

It's the language I was speaking on the phone.

It's Navajo, it's the Navajo language.

Oh, no... I mean...

Well, I don't think so.

This is so peculiar.

I'm speaking to you in Diné and you're answering me in English.

(nervous laugh)

Forgive me. My name's Jane Livingston.

I'm a professor of anthrolinguistics

at Mesa University.

No, no, no, please, forgive me.

My name is Allison DuBois. I work here,

and the only language that I speak is English.

At least, up until yesterday morning,

when suddenly I couldn't understand anything

that anybody said.

Up until now. Up until you.

I saw the story this morning

on the news, and I thought, "My God, a murder!"

I thought... maybe I could be of some help to this investigation,

speaking the language and all?

But nobody here was interested.

Well, I'm interested.

I'm going to talk to my boss, I'm going to get you involved.

You know, I've heard of people like you.

Suddenly being able to understand a language

they've never been exposed to.

It's called xenoglossia.

Great. So it has a name?

Even now, as we're speaking, you have no awareness

that I'm speaking to you in Diné?

No. It sounds like you're speaking English.

I mean, it sounds great. Like a relief.

Frankly, it's been almost two days,

and my husband and my daughters...

they're having a hard time with the whole thing.

Well, then...

I guess maybe it was meant to be that we meet each other today.

I'm only teaching one class this semester.

So if you need any help, a translator or someone

to speak to your family on the phone...

Oh no, I couldn't do that.

Sure you could.

And we are going to work together.

You are going to get me involved.

Right?

I have devoted my adult life

to studying this beautiful language.

and these beautiful people; I want to help.

Really, I do.

Thanks.

So. Have you told her yet?

Nope. Not yet.

Told her what?

None of your beeswax, just eat.

Your sister chose not to go to gym all last week,

so now she has to stay late for detention all this week.

Wow, you are bad.

(whispering): And Mom doesn't even know!

How is she supposed to know?

She can't understand a word you tell her.

It's like talking to a dog.

Hey. What?

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Yes, Mr. District Attorney, she's here.

H-Hold on one second. Let me go into another room

so I can write down everything for her.

MARIE: How much will you give me?

For what?

You can't tell her anything. She can't hear.

I'll write her a note.

Girls, what are you talking about?

Aw. I love you, too, babe. I love both you girls.

You go for the pencil, I'll break your hand.

Give me $5.00.

Three. Deal.

Aw.

JOE: Your boss needs you to go to this address.

Was that Devalos?

Hey, Dad. You got three singles?

(cell phone rings)

Uh, hello, whoever you are, I can't talk now.

JANE: Oh, yes you can, you can talk to me.

I speak your language.

Jane! Dr. Livingston.

What are you doing?

Oh, I'm heading out to a murder scene.

Out in the desert, about 30 miles east of Kingman.

That's just off the reservation.

A lot of Navajo live out there.

Was the person who was murdered a Navajo?

I don't know.

You want company?

You won't be able to understand anyone if I'm not there, right?

I'm at the university. Come by and pick me up.

It's weird. Guy was beat to a pulp, then shot in the knee,

the shoulder, the cheek, and then got in the ankle.

All at close range.

Okay. Now what does that tell us?

Shooter couldn't make up his mind?

(door opens)

Whew. Hey, guys.

This is Dr. Jane Livingston. From Mesa University.

She's a linguist, and she knows an awful lot

about the Navajos that live in this area.

Believe it or not, if there's anything you want to say to me,

she can translate it into a language that I can understand.

It's nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you both.

Is that him?

Yeah.

If you'd like me to take a look, I might be able to identify him.

I spend a lot of time with these people. I might know him.

Well, we think we already have a lead on who the guy is.

But, uh, if you really want to...

(gasps)

(groans in horror)

Ugh. It's okay. It's okay, come on.

Let's get some fresh air.

On second thought, maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

No.

(short siren blast, people talking nearby)

(siren wailing in distance)

The detective was saying that they believe this man

and the man who was burned to death knew each other.

The detective was saying that they believe this man,

and the man who was burned to death knew each other.

Used to work on the same construction crew.

And they found this rifle

hidden under the trailer.

They're not sure if it's even connected to the murder.

MAN: Come on! Come on!

(woman screaming) Come on!

Come on! Come on! Come on!

(tires squealing)

(tires screeching)

They robbed a bank.

They worked together. They were a team.

They robbed the Deming First National Bank.

Did she do what I think she just did?

It's what she does.

ALLISON: You all right?

I don't know.

I guess.

I've never seen anyone like that before.

A bullet in the head.

Dead.

I tried to warn you.

Oh, I know.

I'm sure he lived a violent life.

It's just...

Navaho's a dying language.

Even the kids growing up on the reservations,

so few of them speak it these days.

And now two more men who did are gone.

That makes me sad.

That's ridiculous, right?

No. It's kind of tragic, actually.

(cartoon characters speaking gibberish)

(Marie giggling)

(laughing harder)

(laughing)

(phone ringing)

Hello.

Yes, she's here.

It's for you.

Hello.

Am I taking you away from something?

Hi, Jane.

I am calling in my new and unofficial capacity

as aide to Allison Dubois.

The district attorney phoned me.

Asked me if I could pass on some new info to you.

Said he would have e-mailed it, but he wasn't near a computer.

Well, cool. I have an aide. I like that.

(chuckles)

That gun they found buried beneath the trailer--

turns out it was used in the bank robbery

in Deming, New Mexico, last week.

A masked man came in with an assault rifle

and fired a warning shot into the ceiling.

Walked away with a little over a million dollars.

Oh, wow.

Also, and he said this would probably only make sense to you:

"Guess now we know what the man in the fire suit

was looking for in the trailer."

Yeah, I guess we do.

And that's all she wrote.

So, listen...

I know that this is hard for you.

Isolating and frustrating-- but for what it's worth,

even with all the blood and gore,

this has been a kick.

I never in a million years

imagined I'd meet someone like you.

And never in a million years

did I imagine I'd meet you the way I did.

So... thanks.

You know, this isn't over.

Oh, I don't know, I'm thinking it's kind of close.

I don't know why I'd say that.

You're the psychic, not me.

I guess it's a feeling I have.

And I wanted to say that to you, because I like you, Allison.

Oh, I like you, too.

All right, enough of that.

You get back to your family.

I'm getting back to my books.

This is your aide signing off.

(chuckles)

(phone beeps off)

(phone dialing)

(phone line ringing, voice mail beeps)

Hi. This is Dr. Natalie Salem.

If you're calling with a medical emergency

please hang up and dial 911.

If you need to speak with me personally,

please leave a detained message...

(phone beeps off)

ALLISON: You okay?

Everybody's tucked in.

Who was on the phone?

I was just checking my voice mail at work.

Just a work call.

It's... it's nothing. It doesn't matter.

Hey, don't say anything.

I mean, you know, I really wouldn't be able

to understand what you said if you did.

So... just listen.

I think all this is almost over--

I do.

And Jane called earlier,

and she thinks it's almost over.

Those two guys are dead.

We know what happened.

We know why.

And that's why I think it's almost over.

So who knows, I could wake up in the morning

and suddenly understand

everything everyone's saying to me.

I could wake up in the morning and we could talk.

'Cause I sense that we really need to do that.

*

Anyway, that's it.

That's all I wanted to say.

(shower running)

(water turns off)

(gasps)

I've got a squad car heading over to her home now.

As soon as they make contact with her,

we can figure out if we actually need to send

a protective detail over there.

Beyond that...

I keep calling and getting no answer.

Allison, it's not even 7:00 in the morning.

Maybe she's a sound sleeper.

Maybe she's in the shower.

This-- bludgeoning by tiki totem--

frankly there's something off about the whole thing.

It doesn't sound like something that's happening here, now.

She's a college professor.

And she really has nothing to do

with any of the things we're investigating,

save for the fact that she's a translator for you.

I can't help but think

that you're letting your imagination get the best of you.

In any event, once we've made contact with her,

I will contact you.

Why don't you go home.

Have breakfast with your family.

You'll call me as soon as you make contact?

Yes, I will call you.

Thank you.

Okay, the two of you, kiss your mother good-bye.

Oh.

See you after school, Mom.

See you after school, Mom.

Have a good day, Chicklets.

Okay, see you after school, Mom. Oh, wait, wait, wait.

Can you tell me what she's saying?

It's a recorded message. It's a voice mail greeting.

It's nothing.

Is she saying something about being sick

or being out of town?

No, just "Leave your name and number."

No.

Got to get the girls to school.

School-- I got it.

See you later. Love you, too.

(speed-dials)

Hi, this is Jane.

I'm not here right now, so please

leave a message and I'll call you back. (beep)

Hey, uh, Jane, hi. This is Allison.

Listen, I'm worried about you.

I had an awful dream.

This man that I've never seen before,

he was-- he was blond.

You were getting out of the shower.

He-he-- I think he killed you.

He hit you with this tiki thing.

It was-- it was all very Polynesian.

I don't know-- I mean...

It's so crazy.

I don't know, maybe I'm going crazy.

Can you just call me, please?

(phone beeps off)

(vacuum running)

(shower running)

(water turns off)

(dialing)

(phone ringing) (voice mail beeps)

Hi. This is Jane.

I'm not here right now so please leave a message...

(phone beeps off)

(dialing)

(sighs) (line ringing)

(voice mail beeps)

Hi, this is Jane. I'm not...

(phone beeps off)

MAN: Welcome back.

Everybody at the bar says to say good night.

Turns out, that threesome you were so excited about

isn't gonna work out.

You drugged me.

You put something in my drink.

I just sensed you weren't gonna bring me back here

and tell me what I needed to know on your own.

Was I off base?

So...

(pans clanging loudly)

Where's the money?

What money?

The money you and your friend were bragging about

grabbing from that bank the other night.

When you two were getting trashed at Colby's bar.

You know, you really ought to watch what you say,

'cause you never know who might be listening.

Wait a second.

You speak Navajo?

And five other fairly useless languages.

So I'm never gonna make a million dollars,

unless I take it from you.

So tell me where it is.

And you don't even have to do it in English.

I'm willing to work for my money.

You think I'm kidding?

How about I shoot you in the ankle?

How'd that be for a conversation starter?

(gunshot)

(screaming)

Yeah, you were laughing your pants off

about your little bank robbery the other night,

but you're not laughing now, are you?

What?

You figured you were in some college bar

with a bunch of palefaces who wouldn't understand

a word you were saying?

That was a big mistake, Tonto.

Because my friend and I were sitting right there,

and we understood just about everything.

So what do you say we stop making mistakes?

Tell me where the money is and maybe I won't kill you.

Okay.

You got nothing to say?

(cocks gun)

How about we up the ante?

How about I shoot you in your knee?

I'm gonna count to three.

One...

two... three.

(gunshot, screaming)

(phone ringing)

Hello.

Lee?

I-I can't understand you, but I can recognize your voice.

Lee, I can't understand you.

Listen, you know that man that I saw murder Jane,

the blond man?

He killed both those Navajo bank robbers.

Lee, what are you saying?

Is this about Jane?

Is-is this about Jane?

Just text me.

Text me.

(text alert tones)

(muffled): Are you coming to bed?

Are you coming to bed?

I'm going to bed.

This is a real bonanza for you, isn't it?

This is just a great cover.

And then you could totally opt out of everything

and, "hell, the little woman wouldn't understand

a word I was saying anyway."

What do you want from me?

Sorry, no comprende.

You do understand that I'm worried sick

about my friend, right?

She's just gone.

She's apparently the victim of some kind of foul play.

Do you even care that I'm upset?

That I'm worried?

Because you're making absolutely no effort

to even try to communicate.

And it's just killing me.

(sobbing quietly)

I know.

It's okay.

You'd better.

(chuckles): What are you doing?

No.

Hey, you can't get in here.

Nobody invited you in.

I'm not impressed.

Well, okay, maybe I'm a little impressed.

(chuckles)

(laughs)

I love you, too.

*

(sighs contentedly)

(man screaming)

No!

(screaming)

(car engine starts)

That was unbelievable!

It was better than getting tenure, that was...

Oh, my God, what a rush!

What a rush, what a rush!

Boom!

Can you feel the heat?

I can still feel the heat.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Say something.

Did he tell you where the money is?

(gasps)

Oh, my God.

She was in on it.

Who was in on what?

What?

Say that again.

Huh?

What?

What? Why?

Did you actually understand what I just said?

Yes. Yes!

I understand everything now.

(cell phone ringtone playing)

Hello. Hello?

Hello, is anyone there?

JANE: "Is there anyone there?" Huh.

I don't hear you looking for someone to translate.

Someone must be able to understand English again.

Jane, where are you?

Me? Let's just call it paradise.

Beautiful, tropical, non-English-speaking paradise.

Jane, I know what you did.

I know that you and the man who murdered those bank robbers

were in it together, and I told the authorities

everything I know.

I wouldn't have expected you to do otherwise.

By the way, I checked my messages.

Your calls meant a lot to me.

Especially your premonition about my untimely passing.

Soon as I checked into the house I rented,

I saw the Polynesian decor and the tiki on the dresser,

and I knew exactly what was going to happen.

My greedy boyfriend wanted all the money to himself.

The good news is, thanks to you, I was ready for him.

I know you'll be relieved to know

he's out of the picture now.

You murdered him?

I defended myself.

You helped me defend myself.

Actually, I'll miss him.

But at least I'll have

over a million dollars to keep me company.

Combien?

Disnef.

Jane, listen to me.

There's something I need to say to you,

and I need to make sure that you understand.

I hate you, Jane Livingston.

And we will find you, and we will punish you.

Oh, Allison, don't be that way.

Times are tough,

and there just aren't enough

lucrative opportunities for anthrolinguists

these days.

And teaching just doesn't pay what it should.

On the other hand, crime totally pays.

You can't run forever.

Actually, I can.

It's a shame we won't be able to stay in touch.

ALLISON: She used me.

I trusted her and she used me.

I pretty much gave her an all-access pass

to our investigation.

Some psychic.

She fooled us all, Allison.

Just a fact of life.

Sometimes we don't get to catch the bad guy.

At least not right away.

She'll want to come home-- they always do--

and when she does, we'll get her.

(Jane grunting)

You know my boyfriend's gonna be back any minute.

Oh, really?

The one you took care of?

(zipping) You should watch what you say.

You never know who might be listening.

What are you doing?

Don't do that. We can do a job together.

I'll cut you in. (chuckles)

I don't think so.

Please, no.

Don't.

(gasps)

You okay?

Bad dream?

No, no, no.

No, not this time.

Oh.

*

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Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org