Original subtitles

These stories are inspired by the actual case files

of the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research.

Did you hear something?

Hear what? You had too much wine, Miguel.

A sound.

In the livingroom.

Listen...

Somebody's up there.

Diego!

Miguel...

What in the name of God is it?

I don't know.

Be careful.

It's like some kind of shadow.

Diego!

Go call the police. Right away.

Scotophobia, fear of the dark.

In this age, fear of the dark seems a primitive neurosis,

a throwback to a time of superstition and unreason.

I mean, really, isn't darkness just the absence of light?

But what if absence of light becomes something more?

What if it becomes a darkness visible, an almost living, growing, absolute form,

threatening to consume our homes, our town, our world?

File number 771-10.

Case manager, Curtis Rollins's initial case log.

Federal and local authorities have placed this complaint at the highest security level.

Our team is proceeding to the site of this phenomenon.

The initial police report is fairly inconclusive.

What about the advanced video footage of the site

that Professor Alvarez has sent us?

It doesn't reveal much.

So far, there's no rational explanation for the phenomenon.

Note how it appears to be cut off by the floor.

It seems to originate under the house

and then project up through the floor.

And the professor who shot this footage didn't offer any theories?

Everything from a bizarre low-lying cloud formation

to the discovery of neutrinos to some form of black hole on Earth.

It all adds up to a dense lack of light reflection

and no apparent cause.

You know, I once did a paper on photosynthesis,

and we used to run experiments trying to reduce photon reflection.

It's basically impossible to simulate.

Alvarez's students reached only one definite conclusion.

And that was?

It appears to be growing.

Doctor Rollins.

Buenos dias.

Alejandro Alvarez.

Professor, nice to put a face ***

We've been reviewing the footage you videotaped.

That's oncredible, isn't it?

You could say that.

This is so, forgive me, indescribable, inexplicably.

Total lack of photoreflection.

Unlike anything I have ever seen or heard of.

I'm going to begin with interviews

and hopefully get a sense of what we're up against before we go inside.

I was so afraid that Diego would be swallowed up by it.

Never in my life has seen such a thing.

Total blackness.

Why did it attract him of all of us.

He's just a little boy.

No, it may not sound.

Not at all.

Just a dark wall spreading out from the floor.

Anything that went into the darkness was gone without a trace.

Anything.

Why has this happened to my home, to my family?

Out here, we don't get very many complicated investigations.

Senior Richard showed my partner and I to the room

where disturbance was.

I have been an officer of the law for 15 years,

but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

Huge blackness, like something alive.

When I saw my flashlight at it,

no light was visible through it at all.

Sir, I have seen many things in my time,

but this defies description.

Testimony from the witnesses is consistent across the board.

This event to them defies comprehension.

Yes, so the stories all seem to match.

They all describe a growing wall of blackness

impenetrable by light.

And testing, found no toxicity or buying contamination in any of them.

As a safety precaution

the family will be moved from their house indefinitely.

But Curtis, have we determined an initial case objective of this?

The Argentine government has requested identification

and termination of phenomenon.

The strongest possible terms, they want this thing gone.

What, just like that?

We don't even know what it is.

Can't we just wait until we know a little bit more about it?

I know it seems premature, but we don't have much choice.

They perceive this complaint as a threat.

Unless we can find a way to identify and control it,

we have to consider its termination.

Great.

*** this is Rollins.

10-4. I copy koud and clear, Curtis.

Visual is coming to cleanly.

We're inside and proceeding to the event site.

Any regular readings?

Negative.

Get ready, everyone.

Let's proceed with caution.

You have a visual?

It's totally opaque.

No*** penetration at all.

What are we picking up on the scans?

Minimal readings.

Displacement margins are inconclusive.

There's no chemical components.

No measurable mass.

It's almost beautiful.

Perfect.

Peter, keep your distance.

Are you reading anything out of the ordinary?

Nothing.

Except...

Confirmed.

It's getting bigger.

These are the results from the geodetic surveys,

as well as the geothermic and geomagnetic environmental scans

within 100-kilometer radius.

They all indicate a large, growing black mass

in the vicinity of the Richler Villa.

There's still nothing conclusive on a possible point of origin.

Do you know, I think we had to send in a remote probe,

see what kind of direct data we can get from within the mass itself.

I agree.

Set it up for 1600 hours.

The Argentine government is anxious to see some progress.

All right, let's keep going.

Okay.

Visuals are up, sensors online.

Anything happen yet?

****So, hazmat, no tox traces,

no abnormal concentrations of energy fields,

nothing even slightly ***

All right, everybody set ?

Probe entering the phenomenon in three,

two,

one.

Probe has entered the anomaly.

No visuals at all.

Readings are fluctuating.

Oh, we have a problem. Something's disrupting the signal.

Is it a malfunction?

Probe systems down. We've lost telemetry.

Bring it back.

I can't. It's gone.

This region has a history of geophysical and environmental phenomena.

None related in any way to this particular anomaly.

Keep digging.

But we settle about it.

- Curtis, I want to take a team and... - Enter the mass ?

Peter, we just lost a probe in there.

We need answers.

We can't afford to lose any investigators.

Well, fine. I'll go by myself.

There's no evidence we can maintain content with you.

Then we can't get you out once you've got in there.

Look, I'll suit up in the full gear.

According to the readings it should have been a problem.

There are no readings, Peter.

It's too risky.

We should just send in another probe.

Right, and then we'll just lose it again.

Look, I've logged hundreds of hours in toxic environments.

It won't be a problem. The gear will protect me, trust me.

Curtis ?

The ultimate threat this phenomenon poses overrides any of our personal safety.

Are you sure about this?

I didn't join up to play it safe.

Oh, let's keep going.

I don't know if you're being brave or just stupid.

Pasha, stop pondering the imponderables. You're back in a flash.

If you sense anything strange, zero gravity, vacuumful, anything,

you get the hell out of there, okay?

Relax.

Is the cool stuff scientists get to do?

Hello.

Hacks on, do you copy?

10, 4, copy, loud and clear.

Visuals are good.

We'll keep your vitals online. Any elevated readings and you're out of there.

Understood.

Okay, let's rock and roll.

Peter, do you copy?

Peter, answer us.

Affirmative.

This radio transmission. It's clean enough.

What do you see?

Nothing. No depth perception. Light waves aren't even registering in the environment.

Can't read the instruments.

Any sign of the probe?

I'm sorry. I can't see myself. I'm coming out.

Sorry, Curtis.

Satisfied, Peter?

Sir, I think you should see this. It's an uplink transmission.

It's being rerouted to us from headquarters via satellite.

They found the same phenomenon in China.

Same configuration as ours.

Curtis, are we talking about an outbreak?

No, not exactly.

Perhaps something much worse.

What do you mean?

Match up number one.

There's no occurrences here.

Ningbo, Gijang Province.

Ningbo is the exact polar opposite to Hohoi.

Which opens up the possibility that instead of two separate occurrences,

we could be dealing with...

One very large, very dangerous phenomenon.

Senior Rollins !

If I may ask, your investigation, how does it proceed ?

Slowly.

We are trying everything in our power to understand this manifestation.

It's a little frustrating.

Perhaps this event is something we are not meant to understand.

Why is that?

You have brought all your scientific knowledge here

and have found nothing to explain it.

These things take time.

We haven't done everything we can yet.

Believe me, we will find out what this thing is.

And you won't stop until you do. Will you?

No, Senior. We won't stop.

I admire your patience, Senior.

That you believe you can find the truth.

And you don't ?

I believe there are some things we simply cannot know.

File number 77110.

Case log update.

A Bravo team has been dispatched to study the second occurrence.

They will link their investigation to ours.

Established operations here.

Data seems to be identical to Alpha site.

Phenomenon growing at the same rate.

22.6 centimeters per hour and increasing exponentially.

According to our numbers, Juyuy will be consumed within seven days?

It's still growing.

Our projections match Alpha.

Seven days to 88% of the Ingol region in darkness.

Continue monitoring the anomaly.

Next contact in 12 hours.

Alpha team up.

We can't let this phenomenon spread.

The stakes are high.

Zero photosynthesis means zero sustainable plant life,

which means zero agriculture.

Let's not give up, Peter.

We haven't asked quite enough questions yet.

For one, why would it start here?

It is the time of the Putin Pacha.

First came the stars and board right through the living heart of our world.

Creating stone and fire.

Night and day.

Light and dark.

Power.

As old as the sun itself.

But sent to us to steal the sun away.

To bring darkness to the land.

In the local Kishwa dialect,

Pacha Mama means goddess of the Earth.

And Putin Pacha, I believe, means time of darkness.

But there's no evidence that what this woman's talking about

has anything to do with the phenomenon.

I think we should run a series of advanced eradication procedures

ELF, positive ions, acoustics.

- Flux the environment. - Absolutely.

Should we just discount the folklore angle?

I mean, the Spaniards have been writing about this stuff since the 1600s.

They recorded the Kishwa belief that eclipses

had something to do with this time of darkness.

I think there might be more of these legends than just fiction.

Tasha, it is intriguing,

but the current rate of expansion

we don't have time to chase down ancient myths.

Run the tests.

For now, let's go with the ELF.

But if all procedures fail,

we go with a linear accelerator.

File number 777110, case log update.

We've tried various eradication procedures,

temperature decrease, oxygen removal,

and microwave bombardment without success.

We are now attempting to flux the environment

with ELF transmissions.

3900 angstroms and steady.

Turn up the frequency.

It's been hours.

Still no change in the phenomenon.

Prep the PLA.

Inform evacuation of surrounding area.

Curtis.

Are you sure about this?

We have to try every option.

I know it's risky, but I don't have a choice.

As long as all the civilians are clear.

Well, it's your call.

Scares the hell out of me.

The situation is getting pretty tense.

Chinese authorities are dealing with it as a military emergency.

They've closed the area and expelled all foreign journalists.

We're working under extremely close supervision,

so there's no time to lose.

We have a green light here for the PLA Bravo team.

Understood.

Stand binding, Bull.

Case manager's log.

We've cleared the area of all personnel to protect them

from the effects of the Portable Linear Accelerator.

Erodation to commence at almost 600 hours.

PLA in position.

Request clearance to begin countdown.

Commence countdown sequence.

You're all set, Peter?

Three minutes till Linear Acceleration.

*** fingers crossed.

Hold countdown PLA. We've got a problem.

It's the probe indicators.

Hang on.

Remote probe is back online.

Alpha, this is Bravo ! Do you copy ?

Curtis, Bravo team is reporting,

but it doesn't make sense.

The phenomenon has disappeared.

Copy, Alpha team.

The anomaly has disappeared.

Shut the accelerator down now.

Bravo team confirm.

We have not repeat not run Linear Acceleration.

Do you copy?

Powering down.

Copy, Alpha team.

Sir, reading is fluctuating on all scans of the area.

Let's take a look.

Just like that.

File number 77110.

Case manager Curtis Rollins.

Final log entry.

Theories ask to the origin of the phenomenon in range

from a being of bizarre geological anomaly

to the possibility of extraterrestrial phenomena.

One theory speculates a rare non-gravitational black hole

originating inside the Earth's core.

But we have found no conclusive evidence

as to how the manifestation actually occurred.

Curtis Rollins out.

Was this phenomenon man-made or truly supernatural?

What was this growing blackness?

Well, the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research

never could determine the exact cause

of this amazing occurrence.

And was it merely an isolated event

or was it an introduction of something more to come?

Perhaps those of us who are afraid of the dark

have very good reason to be.

When I talked to you last week, I thought I made that clear.

Yeah.

No, I know. I know.

Because I promised to take my daughter to the park, that's why.

Look, why can't you organize a schedule

that gives me more than one day off at a time?

Look, look, I have to go.

Yeah, I know. I'll see you tomorrow, bye.

Mommy, I'm home!

Here you go.

Do you know what time it is?

Barbecue tips in a chocolate bar.

You've fed her candy for supper?

She also had a hamburger.

Time for bed, sweetie.

I have to be at work at seven tomorrow.

That means that Lisa has to be at the daycare at 6.30.

Mornings are hard enough as it is.

You just screwed up her whole sleep schedule.

Yeah, well, if you were a proper mother and had stayed at home

and then this scheduling crap wouldn't be a problem, would it?

Maybe she'd be better off living with me.

Mommy !

****

What's going on?

The Office of Scientific Investigation and Research

has logged hundreds of hours researching

psychokinesis, the ability to move objects without physically touching them.

Now, psychokinetic ability would, for most of us, be an extraordinary gift.

But for Elena Bostwick, an overworked single mother, trying to balance the conflicting

demands of parenthood and career,

this power, which she always took for granted, had become unwelcome.

Now when Elena lost control of her psychokinetic ability, it, in fact, became an extreme hazard,

and it came to threaten the elements in her life, which she most deeply cared about.

The safety and custody of her daughter, Lisa.

If Brian was my only problem, maybe I could hang on,

but nothing much else seems to be going right.

With the cutbacks of the hospital, I have to work double shifts.

On top of that, I have to be a mother to Lisa.

I do the laundry, make the meals, and then every so often, just to antagonize me,

Brian, he threatens to took the custody of Lisa.

That must be very upsetting.

He hasn't been part of my life for a long time now.

He's never made a single support payment.

It's a power trip.

His way of getting back at me.

Oh, no.

Now I'm afraid that if he finds out about it,

he'll use it as ammunition to take Lisa away from me.

He hates me enough to do that.

If he finds out about what ?

I can move objects around without touching them, turn things off and on.

It's never been a big deal.

I've always been able to control it.

It's just that a couple of nights ago, things went crazy, dishes exploded, glass was flying.

Lisa could have been hurt,

but you have to believe me, I would never do anything to hurt her.

I don't understand.

You move things around?

I've always kept it to myself, especially now with Lisa.

I don't want people to think that her mother's odd, some kind of freak.

Do you hear voices also?

Voices?

No, of course not.

You think I'm crazy?

Psychotic?

I don't know.

Sometimes the mind reacts to stress in odd ways.

It runs away with itself.

Delusions.

Good Lord !

Look, can't you just give me some medication to calm me down, help keep things under control?

Elena, I would like to help you, but I have never handled anything like this before.

I'm heading for work.

Elena, I know of an organization that could analyze this part of yours tested.

I work 65 hours a week, I have a little girl to take care of.

I don't have time to run off to some lab to be picked and probed.

Great, great, great, now we need a new radiator.

Cookies.

Lisa, no, not before dinner time honey.

I want cookies.

No, honey ! How about some spaghetti and meatballs, huh?

That's a good protein.

Protein !

Oh, no, no, Lisa, no, no, not the tomato sauce ! Lisa!

Just come here !

Dr. Haynes?

Yes.

This is Elena Bostwick.

That organization you told me about?

File 10106, case manager, Marian Smithy.

We're exploring claims of psychokinetic activity by Elena Bostwick, age 31.

We're examining the subject's house and immediate terrain.

Preliminary interviews are underway to be followed

with psychological and physiological assessments.

My daughter has always been special.

Had this power, I guess you'd call it, ever since she was a kid.

Don't talk about it much.

We brought her up better.

One of the surgeons was giving Elena a really hard time.

You know, wanted her to be in three places at once.

The surgeon really laid into her, suddenly the water cooler starts bubbling.

Power like that can mess up a kid's mind real good.

Then the whole tank just exploded, freaked all of us out.

Elena most of all.

I thought she'd kind of forgotten about using it, but lately she says it's been almost

on a control of wearing her plenty.

Better convincing.

Now seismic tests show no anomalous geological activity or disturbances whatsoever.

It's a solid as a rock.

The things were flying around that house,

it wasn't due to any earth tremor.

Dr. Carlyce, what's your impression of Miss Bostwick?

Excessive workload and being a single mother all adds up to massive personal tension.

Any indication of fraud or hoxes ?

She seems to be able to control certain aspects of her environment.

We still need to determine the extent of her power.

And that glass didn't break from impact.

It imploded on its own.

That's assessor abilities on the more controlled conditions.

I'll contact headquarters, set up a test site.

Thanks for taking care of Lisa while I'm gone, Dad.

Oh, she's no problem.

You sure you want to do this?

I'm not sure about anything anymore.

The only thing I know is that I need help.

Professional help.

But you kept it under control before?

Well, it's not under control now.

Bye, Dad.

Case log update.

After initial testing,

we felt it necessary to control Elena's environment down to the smallest detail.

A full range of experiments should determine the extent of the subject's power.

We'll be using a controlled IO chamber to monitor the subject's reactions during intense psychokinetic testing.

All this for me ?

Elena, we'll be with you every step of the way.

You'll be fine.

File 10106 case manager, Marian Smithy, case log update.

We've completed 16 separate phases of site testing,

including physiological and psychological stimuli,

altered environments, and electro matrix interaction.

E-L-E-N-A.

That's very impressive, Elena.

I used to do this in the playground when I was a child.

I spent a lot of time alone as a kid.

Dr. Corliss, is that with one S or two?

Two.

Thank you very much.

But there's something else I'd like you to do for me first.

Standing by.

What's this?

It's for flying debris.

We don't want you to get hurt.

I don't understand.

We need to see you

consciously create an outburst,

implode a cup and saucer like you did at home,

and we're going to monitor your bio stats.

Oh, okay.

If I can.

Anytime you're ready.

Got it on tape.

Your skills are quite powerful.

Have you always had this much control over your PK abilities?

I've never tried to do so many things before.

But we need to know exactly why the volatile outbursts happen.

We're fairly sure the outburst stem from various forms

of subconscious stress in your life.

We're going to run some more tests.

So you can help me ?

We will certainly try.

Doctor, with her PK ability, what about a level nine visual stress test?

Can she handle that, Doctor?

I believe so, as long as we can regress her into a deep enough hypnotic state.

Then let's proceed.

We'll begin tomorrow.

Hi, Dad.

I know.

I'll pay them when I get home.

Oh, and if the hospital calls again,

tell them I'll make up my shifts next week.

I know it'll have to wait.

Brian's lawyer ?

No, no, I'll deal with it when I get back.

Dad, just stall them. Please?

OK, bye.

Elena, remember you must try to stay calm.

How do these images make you feel?

Try to be specific for each picture.

Happyness.

Joy.

Pride.

Love.

Sadness.

Bitterness.

Anger.

Resentment.

Pressure.

Irritation, frustration.

It's such a hard job.

Why won't anybody give me any peace?

It is hard, isn't it?

Her heart rates increases.

Nobody wants to make it easy for you, do they?

I know.

I'm doing my best.

Oh, God, why does it all have to seem so impossible?

Elena, stay focused.

I can't.

Focus.

I can't.

I got an overload here.

We got an overload !

Oh, I can't !

- Watch out ! - Everybody down !

Oh, no, not again.

Sorry, I trashed your lab.

Well, it was worth it in a way.

It gave us some insight as to why these events occur.

Everyone reacts differently to anger.

Your psychokinetic rages are directly linked to stresses in your life.

It is possible that your subconscious accesses your PK abilities.

And the things go nuts.

That's right.

So, can you cure me?

There is really no such thing as a cure.

But we can help you to maintain control of your power.

I want this power gone. Eliminated.

Elena, I know the power terrifies you,

but it's also a part of who you are.

What you have is special.

I don't want to be special.

I want to be a mother and a nurse, a normal person.

File 10106, case log update.

Elena has been undergoing stress management training, visualization techniques,

combined with meditation exercises supervised by Dr. Corliss.

Our goal is to help her find methods by which she can maintain control over her abilities

in any given situation.

Bubbles to the surface.

Let it go.

You are working your third night shift in emergency.

They bring in a cardiac patient and severe distress.

You immediately prepare half a milligram of digoxin.

The attending physician misreads the chart

and orders you to administer triple the dosage.

He insists.

If you speak up, you lose your job.

Your daughter's welfare depends on that paycheck.

But a patient's life is on the line.

What do you do?

I would rather lose my job before allowing a patient to die.

Good. Keep breathing out.

Two, three, four.

She's worked hard.

Let's hope it pays off.

This is the big one.

Indeed.

I remember all these faces.

My friends.

I've spent so long since I saw any of them.

And you feel lonely?

Deserted?

I do.

But it's okay.

I have myself.

And Lisa.

Stand by.

Status is going out great.

That's it.

Breathe.

Relax your hands.

Open your mind.

Good work, Elena.

Case 101-0106.

Case manager Marian Smithy.

Case log update.

Day 9.

Having successfully completed 20 separate psychokinetic tests,

and stress reduction techniques,

we have concluded that Elena Bostwick's ability to control her power

is for now within acceptable margins.

She has agreed to remain in regular contact with our office.

I agree. Okay.

It's orange.

A nice gentle cat.

And how about some little whiskers?

Okay.

Sweetie, why don't you play in the other room?

Hi, Daddy.

Hey, Lisa.

There is a doorbell, you know.

Put that cigarette out.

There you go again.

Telling me what to do.

When you're in my house, yes.

I'm suing for custody of Lisa.

Do what you want.

Huh?

You want to take me to court?

Take me to court.

I have to give Lisa a bath.

Close the door behind you.

There we go.

Is everything gonna be alright, Mommy?

Yes, it will.

You won't get anything break anymore, will you?

No.

Mommy, what about Rocky?

Through her work with the OSIR, Elena Bostwick learned how to manage her anger

and in turn control her psychokinetic outbursts.

But far more importantly for Elena, she empowered herself

to deal effectively with the kinds of stresses that we all face

and ensure that her most precious loved one,

her daughter, Lisa, will always be with her.

I'm Dan Acroid for Psi Factor.