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Narrator: ALL OVER AMERICA,
ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE BEING TORMENTED BY TERRIFYING ANIMALS,
CREATURES AND MONSTERS WHO ATTACK US AT NIGHT
IN THE SANCTITY OF OUR OWN HOMES.
[ GROWLING ]
THESE EXPERIENCES ARE ANCIENT AND UNIVERSAL.
Narrator: THE EFFECT OF SUCH ATTACKS
CAN BE DEVASTATING.
I'M GOING CRAZY WITHOUT SLEEP.
[ Crying ] IT'S JUST BAD.
IT'S JUST BAD.
Narrator: IN THIS EPISODE,
THIS BIKER BELIEVES SHE'S UNDER ATTACK
FROM A LEGION OF MICROSCOPIC BUGS.
THINGS WERE IN MY HAIR, FELT LIKE THEY HAD LOTS OF LEGS.
I WOULD FEEL THEM CRAWL FROM MY HAIR TO MY EYEBROWS.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO STOP THEM.
Narrator: THIS GRANDFATHER IS EXPERIENCING
TERRIFYING AND MONSTROUS VISIONS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HER FACE CHANGED SO MUCH,
AND IT SCARED THE DEVIL OUT OF ME.
WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND LOOKED IN THE MIRROR.
IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK.
I MEAN, I WAS TERRIBLE.
Narrator: THIS WOMAN IS BEING ASSAULTED
BY A HOST OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS.
Evans: AND THERE WAS JUST A BAND OF ANTS,
AND THEY WERE MARCHING RIGHT TOWARDS MY FACE.
THERE IS THIS SPIDER DANGLING INCHES FROM MY FACE.
IT WAS ABSOLUTE TERROR.
Narrator: ARE THESE TERRIFYING CREATURES REAL,
OR ARE THEY MONSTERS IN OUR HEAD?
A PLAGUE OF MICROSCOPIC MONSTERS
HAS DRIVEN GRANDMOTHER BECKY BAILEY TO DESPAIR.
BECKY AND HER HUSBAND, CHUCK, ARE BIKERS.
THEY LOVE RIDING THEIR HARLEYS
ALONG THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF TEXAS.
Becky: ABOUT ONCE A MONTH,
THERE'S A MOTORCYCLE RALLY THAT WE WOULD GO TO.
IT WAS EXCITING AND SCARY.
I'D COME HOME TELLING MY FRIENDS IT WAS THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE.
Narrator: IN 2004,
CHUCK AND BECKY GO ON A DREAM VACATION TO MEXICO.
IT WAS A GREAT TRIP, AND, YOU KNOW,
WITH SHOPPING IN MEXICO AND PARTYING ON THE BOAT.
Narrator: BUT THIS HOLIDAY DESTROYS BECKY'S LIFE.
SHE RETURNS WITH A CONDITION THAT PLAGUES HER TO THIS DAY.
Becky: JUST AFTER WE GOT BACK,
I REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T SLEEP VERY WELL
BECAUSE I WAS ITCHING.
MOSTLY MY SCALP, BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE, TOO.
BY THE FIFTH MORNING,
MY HAIR WAS PRACTICALLY ON TOP OF MY HEAD
FROM JUST ITCHING ALL NIGHT.
AND I TOLD CHUCK, "SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT."
I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS BEDBUGS
THAT CAME FROM THE CRUISE SHIP ON MY SUITCASE.
AND SO I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST DEAL WITH IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A TEMPORARY THING,
WITH, YOU KNOW, TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES
AND WITH AN EXTERMINATOR IN THE HOUSE -- NO PROBLEM.
WE'LL BE DONE IN A WEEK OR SO.
Narrator: BECKY IS LUCKY.
HER HUSBAND IS A PROFESSIONAL PEST EXTERMINATOR.
Chuck: I'M AN EXTERMINATOR,
OR AN URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST,
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
Becky: HE IMMEDIATELY SAID
HE COULD SPRAY AND GET RID OF THEM,
BUT I JUST WANTED IT TO BE DONE.
Narrator: DESPITE SPRAYING THE ENTIRE HOUSE,
THE BUGS RETURN.
NOW CHUCK TAKES DRASTIC ACTION.
HE BURNS ALL THE SOFT FURNISHINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Becky: I WOULD FEEL ITCHING FROM THE COUCH,
SO WE STARTED BURNING THE COUCHES
AND BURNED THE CURTAINS
'CAUSE BEDBUGS CAN GET BEHIND CURTAINS.
WE BURNED THREE BEDS.
SO, WE BURNED A LOT OF STUFF.
Narrator: DESPITE BURNING ALL THE FURNITURE IN THE HOUSE,
BECKY'S CONDITION GETS WORSE.
Becky: STARTING IN THE LATE AFTERNOON,
MY THIGHS WOULD JUST ITCH HORRIBLY.
AND I COULD FEEL CRAWLING.
AND IT WOULD JUST GET WORSE AND WORSE
AS THE EVENING WENT BY.
ONE NIGHT, I GOT INTO BED.
AND THEN AS SOON AS I LAID DOWN...
IT WOULD GET MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
IT'S LIKE THEY WERE IN THE BED WAITING FOR ME.
IT WAS JUST A HORRIBLE FEELING, AND THEY WOULD FEEL SO TINY.
THINGS WERE IN MY HAIR
AND FELT LIKE THEY HAD LOTS OF LEGS.
AND I WOULD FEEL THEM CRAWL FROM MY HAIR TO MY EYEBROWS.
THEY WOULD GET INTO MY EYES AND MY EARS AND MY NOSE...
AND EVERYWHERE ELSE ON MY BODY.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO STOP THEM.
Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF INCREASING AGITATION,
BECKY COMES TO BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS BECOME INFESTED.
Becky: I WENT TO THE DOCTOR.
HE EXAMINED MY HAIR FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS
AND THEN PRESCRIBED
PERMETHRIN CREAM AND LINDANE SHAMPOO.
IT DID NOTHING.
IN FACT, THE NEXT DAY, IT SEEMED TO MAKE IT WORSE.
IT FELT LIKE I HAD 10 TIMES MORE.
WELL, I WENT BACK.
I WAS AT HIS OFFICE AT CLOSING TIME.
I WAS IN TEARS.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, "I'M STILL ITCHING.
"I STILL FEEL CRAWLING. CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING?
SEND ME TO SOMEONE."
HE HUGGED MY NECK,
TOLD ME HE WOULDN'T BE HUGGING ME
IF HE THOUGHT I HAD SOME KIND OF BUG,
AND SENT ME ON HOME.
I CRIED ALL THE WAY TO THE PARKING LOT.
I CRIED ALL THE WAY HOME. MY DOCTOR WASN'T GONNA HELP ME.
Narrator: BECKY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT DESPITE ALL HER SUFFERING,
HER DOCTOR COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP.
SHE IS DEVASTATED.
SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED TO ME,
AND HE'S NOT EVEN GONNA LOOK.
HE'S NOT GONNA EXAMINE ME.
HE'S NOT GONNA REFER ME TO SOMEONE.
AND I GOT SUICIDAL.
Narrator: BECKY GOES ON TO SEE ANOTHER SEVEN DOCTORS,
NONE OF WHOM CAN HELP HER.
SHE TURNS TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
TO WARD OFF THE INFESTATION.
Becky: I DO A LOT OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES.
ONE OF THE THERAPIES IS CALLED ZAPPING.
IT'S RADIO WAVES, WHICH SOUNDS PAINFUL,
BUT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY FEEL ANYTHING.
IF YOU GET THE RIGHT FREQUENCY,
IT CAN SUPPOSEDLY ACTUALLY KILL PARASITES.
Narrator: THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR THIS CLAIM.
NO ANIMALS CAN BE KILLED BY RADIO WAVES.
Becky: I BATHE IN YEAST ENZYMES,
EPSON SALTS, OR SULFUR8 SHAMPOO.
I USE AN INFRARED SAUNA.
I GET IN THE MACHINE WITH IT HEATED UP,
AND LITERALLY FEEL THEM SCRAMBLING.
Narrator: WITH NO HELP FORTHCOMING FROM HER DOCTORS,
BECKY DECIDES TO INVESTIGATE HER CONDITION HERSELF.
SHE CAREFULLY COLLECTS EVIDENCE
OF THE PARASITES SHE BELIEVES ARE TORMENTING HER.
Becky: I HAVE THOUSANDS OF THINGS THAT I HAVE FOUND ON ME
THAT I'VE PUT ON SHIPPING TAPE AND LOOKED UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.
Narrator: SHE SPENDS HOURS OF EVERY DAY
HUNCHED OVER A MICROSCOPE,
ANALYZING THE SPECIMENS SHE HAS COLLECTED.
Becky: THERE WERE FOUR DIFFERENT-SIZED BUGS.
ONE WAS LIKE THE PERIOD AT THE END OF A SENTENCE,
BUT MAYBE EVEN SMALLER.
THE SECOND ONE WAS A PERIOD AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE,
BUT IT HAD LONG LEGS.
AND THEN THE OTHER TWO WERE ACTUAL BUGS
WITH A HEAD AND A BODY.
Narrator: AT THIS POINT, BECKY HAS NO IDEA
THAT 12,000 OTHER AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING
FROM THIS NEW PLAGUE OF ITCHING AND SCRATCHING
AND THAT THE SPREAD OF THIS EPIDEMIC IS SO FRIGHTENING
THAT THE THEN-SENATOR OBAMA
CALLED FOR A MAJOR INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: BIKER BECKY BAILEY BELIEVES
SHE'S BEING ATTACKED BY AN ARMY OF BUGS.
BECKY BELIEVES THAT THE BUGS ARE DEPOSITING HAIRLIKE FIBERS
THAT ARE BURSTING THROUGH HER SKIN.
I HAVE ITCHING, AND I FIND SOMETHING EVERY TIME.
IT MAY BE A THREAD OR A HAIR OR WHATEVER THEY ARE.
SOME OF THEM ARE THE BLOBS WITH A FIBER IN IT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE GRANULES THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THE SKIN.
I GUESS THEY'RE BURROWING INTO MY SKIN.
THEY LEAVE MY HAIR, AND, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE OUT IN THE OPEN, SO TO SPEAK.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO BURROW INTO MY SKIN TO BE PROTECTED.
Narrator: SHE CONVINCES HERSELF
THAT THESE BUGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER CONDITION.
TERRIFIED THAT SHE MAY PASS THESE BUGS ONTO OTHERS,
SHE BECOMES INCREASINGLY RECLUSIVE.
Becky: WELL, I WOULD NEVER GO ON AN AIRPLANE.
I WON'T GO IN A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL.
I HAVEN'T HAD A HAIRCUT IN FIVE YEARS.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE DENTIST IN SIX YEARS.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SOCIALIZE.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE 'CAUSE --
FOR THE FEAR OF SPREADING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.
Narrator: HER BIGGEST FEAR IS INFECTING HER FAMILY,
SO SHE BANS THE VERY PEOPLE SHE LOVES
FROM COMING ANYWHERE NEAR HER.
I ASKED ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
TO STAY AWAY FROM OUR HOME.
Narrator: SHE EVEN ASKED FOR HER GRANDSON
TO BE KEPT AWAY FROM HER.
[ BOY SQUEALING ]
Becky: I'VE READ THAT INFANTS ARE VULNERABLE
TO THINGS THAT ARE EVERYWHERE.
AND SO, I DIDN'T HOLD HIM.
[ Voice breaking ] I WOULD JUST DIE
IF HE STARTED HAVING SYMPTOMS.
IT WOULD JUST KILL ME.
Narrator: CHUCK HAS WITNESSED
HIS WIFE'S GROWING OBSESSION WITH BUGS
AND HER SELF-IMPRISONMENT IN THEIR HOME.
Becky: I THINK CHUCK, YOU KNOW,
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THIS,
AND HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT
AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUGS AND PARASITES.
AND SO HE PRETTY MUCH TOLD PEOPLE I HAD LOST MY MIND.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS HAVING AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN.
I THOUGHT VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT CALLING 911.
SHE SHOWED ME THINGS IN THE MICROSCOPE,
BUT I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S A LITTLE OUT OF MY LEAGUE THERE.
Narrator: IN FALL OF 2007,
BECKY MAKES A DISCOVERY THAT WILL CHANGE HER LIFE --
A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET
WHO DESCRIBE SUFFERING FROM EXACTLY THE SAME CONDITION,
THAT THEIR SKIN IS BEING TORMENTED BY PARASITES.
THEY NAME IT MORGELLONS
AFTER A 17th-CENTURY DESCRIPTION OF AN EPIDEMIC
WHERE CHILDREN IN FRANCE GREW HAIR THROUGH THEIR BACK
AND WERE SAID TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE MORGELLONS.
ACCORDING TO THE MORGELLONS RESEARCH FOUNDATION,
THERE ARE 12,000 SUFFERERS IN AMERICA.
Becky: WELL, THEY CALL IT MORGELLONS.
I'M NOT ALONE.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE DEALING WITH THIS.
AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE A NAME.
YOU CAN RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE BY USING THIS WORD.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO NOT FEEL SO ALONE IN ALL THIS,
KNOWING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.
AND IT HELPS ME MENTALLY TO KNOW THAT THE DOCTORS ARE WRONG.
Narrator: IN 2006, 40 SENATORS,
INCLUDING HILLARY CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA,
ASKED THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
TO INVESTIGATE MORGELLONS.
WHILE SUFFERERS REFER TO MORGELLONS AS A KILLER DISEASE,
MOST SCIENTISTS REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT EVEN EXISTS.
THEY BELIEVE PEOPLE LIKE BECKY
ARE IN A DELUSIONAL STATE OF MIND.
IN MY OPINION, IT'S AN INTERNAL ISSUE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH BRAIN CHEMISTRY.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
YOU'RE GETTING SOME SENSATIONS BEING TRANSMITTED
FROM THE NERVES IN THE SKIN TO THE BRAIN.
THE BRAIN INTERPRETS IT IN A CERTAIN KIND OF WAY
AND DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AN EXTERNAL CAUSE.
IT'S BEEN SPUN OUT ONTO THE INTERNET,
AND NOW ANYBODY WHO HAS SOME KIND OF ISSUE WITH THEIR SKIN
WHERE THEY'RE FEELING THINGS CAN LINK IT TO THIS.
Narrator: MORGELLONS SUFFERERS HAVE SENT DR. KIMSEY SPECIMENS
THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE PARASITES THAT TORMENT THEM.
Dr. Kimsey: I HAVE LOOKED AT SAMPLES
FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM
FOR 22 YEARS NOW.
AND YOU SEE LOTS OF FIBERS,
LOTS OF MATERIALS THAT ARE JUST STANDARD HOUSEHOLD DEBRIS,
BUT NONE OF THESE ARE ORGANISMS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY TEXTILE FIBERS,
FIBERS FROM TISSUE, LIKE KLEENEX,
THAT KIND OF MATERIAL.
SO, I SEE NO JUSTIFICATION
FOR AN "ORGANISM" THAT YOU WOULD CALL MORGELLONS.
Narrator: BUT OTHER SCIENTISTS BELIEVE
THAT MORGELLONS IS SO WIDESPREAD THAT IT MUST EXIST.
WE HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CAN REGISTER
TO BE PART OF A DATABASE.
AND WE HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10,000 AND 20,000 INDIVIDUALS
WHO'VE REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS
THAT VERY MUCH SOUND LIKE MORGELLONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES MORGELLONS.
IN FACT, THAT'S THE $100 MILLION QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE CAUSE?
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING SEVERAL YEARS
TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND.
Narrator: FINDING A COMMUNITY OF SUFFERERS
HAS GIVEN BECKY SUPPORT.
SHE'S NOW READY TO LEAVE THE PRISON SHE HAS MADE
OF HER OWN HOME.
I DIDN'T HOLD MY OWN GRANDSON FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS LIFE,
JUST TRYING TO BE CAUTIOUS.
I TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM THEIR HOUSE,
BUT THEY KEPT ENCOURAGING ME TO COME OVER, AND...
[ SNIFFLES ]
SO WITH A WHOLE LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MY SON,
I FINALLY HELD HIM ONE DAY.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I GOT TO BE GRANDMA.
AND THERE'S NO STOPPING ME NOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: 72-YEAR-OLD EMILIO ERVILONI
LIVES IN WEST BABYLON, LONG ISLAND.
AFTER WORKING FOR THREE DECADES IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS,
HE IS NOW ENJOYING HIS RETIREMENT,
SURROUNDED BY HIS CLOSE AND LOVING FAMILY,
AND CULTIVATING HIS GARDEN, WHICH IS HIS PRIDE AND JOY.
Emilio: I USED TO HAVE A BIG GARDEN.
I WAS GROWING SO MUCH THAT I COULDN'T GIVE IT AWAY.
PEOPLE WOULD SEE ME COMING WITH A BASKET OF VEGETABLES,
AND THEY WOULD LOCK THE DOOR.
AND THEY'D SAY, "HERE'S THAT CRAZY GARDENER AGAIN."
EVENTUALLY, I MADE THE GARDEN A LITTLE SMALLER AND SMALLER.
Narrator: EMILIO HAS ALWAYS BEEN BLESSED WITH ROBUST GOOD HEALTH,
EXCEPT FOR HIS EYESIGHT.
HE SUFFERS FROM A CONDITION CALLED MACULAR DEGENERATION,
WHICH MEANS THE CENTER OF HIS VISION IS BLURRED.
THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE THROUGH HIS EYES.
IN 2009,
EMILIO'S IDYLLIC RETIREMENT BEGAN TO UNRAVEL.
Emilio: I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING,
AND THE FIRST THING I DO IS,
I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE WHAT THE WEATHER IS.
AND I SEE THESE SIX BRAND-NEW BUSHES.
AND I SAY, "OH, MY GOD. SOMEBODY GAVE US A GIFT.
I TURNED AROUND, CALLED MY WIFE OVER.
I SAID, "LOOK AT THIS. WE GOT SIX BUSHES."
SO WHEN I LOOK BACK, THERE WAS FOUR.
I SAID, "OH, MY GOD. SOMEBODY STOLE TWO."
I TURNED AROUND AGAIN, AND EVERYTHING HAD DISAPPEARED.
ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS FOR A STROKE IS DOUBLE-VISION
OR SEEING THINGS THAT AREN'T THERE.
SO I SAID TO MY WIFE, "I THINK MAYBE WE OUGHT TO GO TO E.R.
AND GET A CHECKUP ON THIS."
Narrator: EMILIO IS TERRIFIED.
HE FEARS THE WORST AND RUSHES TO HIS LOCAL HOSPITAL.
Emilio: WE'RE DRIVING ALONG, AND WITHIN MINUTES,
THERE'S TREES ON THE SIDEWALK AND TREES ON THE ROADWAY.
THE TREE IS THERE,
AND WE'D JUST GO RIGHT THROUGH THEM.
I WENT INTO E.R. AND I TELL THEM THAT I'M SEEING THINGS
AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE SYMPTOMS OF A STROKE.
AND THEY PUT ME INTO A BED.
Narrator: THE DOCTORS CARRY OUT A NUMBER OF TESTS
BUT FIND NO INDICATION THAT HE HAS SUFFERED A STROKE.
EMILIO IS RELIEVED,
BUT THEN HE EXPERIENCES ANOTHER VISION.
Emilio: THEN I SEEN THIS WOMAN...
WHICH REALLY SHOOK ME.
THIS WAS THE ONE THING OUT OF ALL THE THINGS I'VE SEEN
THAT REALLY SHOOK ME UP.
I STUDIED IT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS
AND REALIZED THAT IT MUST BE MY MOTHER.
IT HAD TO BE HER BECAUSE THE FEATURES WERE SO SIMILAR.
IT WAS CLEAR AS A BELL.
I COULD SEE EVERY FEATURE.
IT WAS REALLY REAL.
IT WAS -- IT WAS REAL.
AND I COULDN'T TAKE MUCH OF IT.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY SHOOK ME UP.
I THREW THE COVERS OVER MY HEAD.
SO, THE LAST PERSON TO COME IN WAS THE CARDIOLOGIST.
Narrator: THE CARDIOLOGIST FINDS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS HEART.
"THIS IS OUT OF MY EXPERTISE."
HE SAID, "YOU SHOULD BE SEEING AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST,
SOMEBODY TO CHECK YOUR EYES."
YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE SEEING THINGS."
SO HE DISCHARGED ME.
Narrator: BACK HOME,
EMILIO OBSESSES OVER HIS TERRIFYING VISIONS.
HIS SON BILL NOTICES SOMETHING IS WRONG.
HE WAS UPSET.
HE SEEMED SAD AND OUT OF SORTS
AND, I GUESS, STILL A BIT FRIGHTENED BY THE WHOLE THING
AND NOT SURE WHAT THIS WAS,
IF THERE WAS ANY WAY TO DEAL WITH IT.
Narrator: EVERY SUNDAY,
THE ERVILONI FAMILY COME TOGETHER.
THIS DINNER IS GOING TO BE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO THE SOUTH SHORE TWO TIMES,
SO SORRY.
Emilio: I ALL HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY,
WHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY GETS TOGETHER FOR DINNER.
Narrator: EMILIO'S GRANDDAUGHTER ARRIVES LATE.
Emilio: I SEEN HER WALKING TOWARDS ME,
AND I COULD TELL THAT IT WAS MY GRANDDAUGHTER,
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HER FACE CHANGED SO MUCH,
AND IT SCARED THE DEVIL OUT OF ME.
Narrator: EMILIO WATCHES IN HORROR
AS HIS BELOVED GRANDDAUGHTER MORPHS INTO A MONSTER
IN FRONT OF HIS EYES.
I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS SCARED, VERY SCARED.
AND HE KIND OF JUMPED A LITTLE WHEN HE SAW ME...
...LIKE HE SAW A GHOST.
HER FACE WAS DISTORTED,
AND ON THE SIDE OF HER HEAD WAS THIS BALL
LIKE THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL OR A BASEBALL.
IT WAS ALL IN BLUE. I REMEMBER THE COLOR.
AND IN THE CENTER OF THE BALL WAS AN EYE.
SHE HAD NO EYES ON HER FACE.
[ GROWLING ]
IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: OVER SUNDAY LUNCH,
EMILIO ERVILONI SITS HORROR-STRUCK
AS HIS GRANDDAUGHTER TURNS INTO A MONSTER.
[ GROWLING ]
I KNEW IT WAS HER,
AND THEN WHEN I SEEN HER FACE, THAT WAS TERRIBLE!
IT REALLY SHOOK ME UP.
AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT SHE WOULD BE LIKE THAT
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
IT WAS TERRIBLE.
[ GROWLING ]
Narrator: THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS STUNNED
WHEN EMILIO SHOUTS AT HIS GRANDDAUGHTER TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
I JUST WAS SO FRIGHTENED.
I THOUGHT THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG.
AND I HID FROM HIM FOR, LIKE, THE REST OF THE DAY.
I WAS KIND OF THINKING THAT HE WAS GOING CRAZY.
Narrator: EMILIO LEAVES THE TABLE
TO SPLASH SOME WATER ON HIS FACE,
IN EFFORT TO RECOVER HIS COMPOSURE.
I WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND LOOKED IN THE MIRROR.
Narrator: HE IS CONFRONTED BY A HORRIFIC VISION.
Emilio: AND THAT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK.
I MEAN, I WAS TERRIBLE.
NOT ONLY WAS I --
HAD THE FEATURES OF THE HUNCHBACK,
BUT THE SKIN WAS A GRAYISH COLOR OF DEATH.
IT SCARED THE DEVIL OUT OF ME.
IT WAS A SHOCK. IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK.
IT RAN THROUGH MY MIND THAT THIS IS MY FUTURE.
IT WAS DEATH,
AND I FIGURED MY TIME IS UP OR VERY SHORTLY.
Narrator: NOW EVERY TIME EMILIO LOOKS AT EITHER A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY,
OR EVEN HIMSELF, HE SEES MONSTROUS VISIONS.
Emilio: I WAS VERY WRINKLED AND AGED.
AND THE ARMS WERE THE COLOR OF DEATH.
AND I SAYS, "OH, MY GOD."
SO ANYTIME I HAD TO GO BACK IN THERE,
I CRAWLED ON THE FLOOR
SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE MIRRORS.
Narrator: TO SPARE HIMSELF THE AGONY OF SEEING,
HE BEGINS TO WEAR HATS PULLED DOWN OVER HIS EYES.
Bill: A LOT OF TIMES HE'D WEAR CAPS,
BUT HE WAS WEARING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY,
ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A SOMBRERO OR SOMETHING,
LIKE OVER HIS EYES.
THEN I REALIZED THAT WHAT HE'S DOING IS,
HE'S TRYING NOT TO LOOK AT PEOPLE.
IT JUST MADE ME VERY SAD
BECAUSE HE'S LOST SO MUCH OF HIS VISION,
AND NOW HE HAS TO COVER HIS EYES AND NOT LOOK AT THINGS
BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS.
Narrator: EMILIO GOES TO SEE HIS EYE DOCTOR,
BUT THE DOCTOR CAN'T SHED ANY NEW LIGHT
ON HIS WORSENING CONDITION.
Emilio: MY OPHTHALMOLOGIST SAID, "IT'S MACULAR DEGENERATION."
I TOLD HIM I SEE THESE THINGS, AND...
AND...
MACULAR DEGENERATION. THAT'S ALL HE KNOWS.
MACULAR DEGENERATION.
Narrator: EMILIO'S SON BELIEVES
THE DOCTORS MIGHT BE HIDING THE TRUTH.
HE SUSPECTS HIS FATHER MIGHT BE LOSING HIS GRIP ON REALITY.
Bill: I MEAN, DOCTORS JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH SOMEBODY COMING IN AND SAYING, "I'M SEEING MY MOTHER,"
AND ALL KINDS OF ODD THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I ASSUME THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE A MENTAL ILLNESS,
I THINK MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DIAGNOSIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DIAGNOSE THAT.
THEY'LL SAY, "IT'S JUST PART OF MACULAR DEGENERATION."
Narrator: THE PROBLEM FOR EMILIO AND HIS FAMILY IS
THAT MACULAR DEGENERATION ONLY EXPLAINS HIS POOR EYESIGHT,
BUT NOT HIS TRAUMATIC VISIONS.
AT HIS WITS' END,
EMILIO GOES TO SEE AN EYE SPECIALIST
WHO RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS SUFFERING FROM A CONDITION
CALLED CHARLES BONNET SYNDROME.
EMILIO SUFFERS FROM
CHARLES BONNET VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS,
WHICH ARE COMMONLY EXPERIENCED
BY PATIENTS WHO HAVE VISION LOSS.
THEY SEE VERY VIVID IMAGES OF MANY TYPES OF THINGS.
THEY MIGHT BE PATTERNS, SHAPES, FORMS,
OR EVEN ANIMALS, PEOPLE.
THE MOST COMMONLY ACCEPTED HYPOTHESIS IS
SOMETHING WE CALL DEAFFERENTATION.
SO LACK OF TRUE VISUAL INPUT INTO OUR VISUAL CORTEX
ALLOWS SOMEHOW THE BRAIN TO SPONTANEOUSLY PRODUCE IMAGES.
THESE OTHER IMAGES NOW GET PLACED ON TOP OF REAL IMAGES.
IT'S NOT THE ONE OR THE OTHER.
THE BOTH ARE PRESENT --
HALLUCINATION AND THE REAL VISION.
[ GROWLING ]
Narrator: CHARLES BONNET SYNDROME
AFFLICTS OVER HALF A MILLION AMERICANS,
THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE IN OLD AGE.
HOWEVER, MOST SUFFERERS TEND NOT TO REPORT IT.
PATIENTS EXPRESS CONCERN
THAT IF THEY TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE HALLUCINATIONS,
THEY MIGHT BE ASKED TO MOVE INTO A NURSING HOME,
LOSE THEIR INDEPENDENCE, BE STARTED ON MEDICATIONS,
OR SIMPLY GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS OR A LABEL OF DEMENTIA.
Narrator: THERE IS NO CURE.
PATIENTS REPORT THAT JUST AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS THEY START,
THE HALLUCINATIONS STOP.
EMILIO EXPERIENCES TERRIFYING VISIONS FOR SIX MONTHS,
WHEN THEY SUDDENLY STOP.
EXCEPT FOR ONE.
Emilio: I DON'T SEE ANY MORE MONSTERS.
I FEEL THAT THE HALLUCINATIONS ARE GONE,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY MOTHER'S FACE
THAT I SEE CONSTANTLY.
Narrator: EMILIO IS DESPERATE TO KNOW
WHAT HIS MOTHER IS TRYING TO TELL HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING,
UNLESS SHE'S TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING.
Narrator: EVERY YEAR,
23,000 AMERICANS ARE ATTACKED BY WILD ANIMALS,
BUT ONLY A FEW ARE ASSAULTED IN THEIR OWN BED.
HEATHER EVANS HAS BEEN ATTACKED NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
BY AN ARMY OF BUGS AND A LEGION OF OTHER ANIMALS.
IN 2009,
THIS HAPPILY MARRIED MOTHER OF A NEWBORN CHILD
IS LIVING IN CALIFORNIA.
Evans: I JUST HAD MY FIRST CHILD, MY DAUGHTER, NATALIE, IN MAY.
AND THAT HAS BEEN AN ADVENTURE. AND SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE SO FAR,
AND I'M SURE IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER.
Narrator: SHE SPENDS MOST OF HER FREE TIME HIKING,
LOOKING OUT FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS TO PHOTOGRAPH.
Evans: I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE THE BUG UP INTO THE HILLS
AND JUST FIND A NICE TRAIL OR A PATH
THAT I CAN GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT PICTURES FROM.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: TWO YEARS AGO,
NATURE TOOK ITS REVENGE ON HEATHER
IN A SERIES OF BIZARRE AND TERRORIZING HALLUCINATIONS
THAT STRIKE AT NIGHT.
[ FAN WHIRRING ]
Evans: YOU START UP, AND YOU LISTEN.
SOMETHING WASN'T QUITE RIGHT.
SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.
[ GASPS ]
AND THERE WAS JUST A BAND OF ANTS
JUST CRAWLING UP OVER THE BED,
AS IF THEY WERE ON A MISSION TO GO SOMEWHERE.
AND THEY WERE MARCHING RIGHT TOWARDS MY FACE.
Narrator: HEATHER IS LYING IN HER BED, FULLY AWAKE,
WHEN SHE SEES ANTS ON HER BEDSPREAD.
Evans: THEY WERE COMING UP OVER THE EDGE OF THE BED.
THEY WERE COMING RIGHT AT ME.
THEY WERE INCHES FROM THE TIP OF MY NOSE.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY SCARY, AND I PANICKED.
I STARTED BRUSHING AT THEM AND RIPPED BACK ALL THE COVERS.
THE FEAR OF HAVING BUGS IN YOUR NIGHT CLOTHES,
IN YOUR PILLOW, IN YOUR HAIR --
IT'S GROSS.
I GOT UP AND TURNED ON THE LIGHT
AND LOOKED AT PILLOW, LOOKED AT MY NIGHTSTAND,
YOU KNOW, LOOKED UNDERNEATH
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS THERE
THAT HAD SET THAT OFF.
BUT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THERE.
[ GASPS ]
Narrator: DESPITE SEARCHING HER ENTIRE ROOM,
SHE CAN'T FIND EVEN A TRACE OF A SINGLE ANT.
Evans: WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY THERE,
IT'S SHOCKING BECAUSE IT IS THAT VIVID.
IT IS THAT REAL.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EXPECTING TO FEEL THEM.
THEN YOU'RE EXPECTING TO, YOU KNOW,
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM AFTERWARDS.
Narrator: HEATHER PUTS THE ANT HALLUCINATION
OUT OF HER MIND.
FOR A FEW WEEKS, SHE SLEEPS HAPPILY THROUGH THE NIGHT.
THEN ONE NIGHT,
SHE GETS A STRANGE AND CHILLING FEELING.
Evans: I KIND OF GOT THAT CREEPY SENSATION,
LIKE SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG HERE,
BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS.
I OPENED MY EYES...
[ GASPS ]
...AND THERE WAS A MOOSE STANDING ABOVE ME.
IT WAS JUST ITS HEAD.
IT LOOKED THE WAY THAT A MOOSE HEAD WOULD LOOK
AS IF IT WERE MOUNTED FOR DISPLAY.
IT LOOKED LIFELESS.
IT DIDN'T MOVE. IT DIDN'T BLINK.
IT WASN'T BREATHING. IT WASN'T DROOLING.
IT JUST WAS THERE AND HOVERING.
I KNEW I WASN'T DREAMING BECAUSE I WAS IN MY ROOM.
[ MOOSE BELLOWING ]
IT WAS ABSOLUTE TERROR.
AND YOU'RE SWEATING, AND YOU'RE KIND OF PARALYZED.
IT WAS JUST SO WEIRD.
IT WAS SO WEIRD THAT IT WAS SCARY.
I JUST WAS SO SCARED THAT I STARTED TO CRY.
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: HEATHER HAS WOKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
WITH A MOOSE DANGLING OVER HER HEAD.
[ MOOSE BELLOWS ]
Evans: I KNEW I WASN'T DREAMING BECAUSE I WAS IN MY ROOM.
IT WAS ABSOLUTE TERROR.
I JUST WAS SO SCARED THAT I STARTED TO CRY.
[ SOBBING ]
AND IT JUST WENT AWAY.
I MEAN, IT'S VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN.
IT'S AS IF YOU BLINKED, AND IT'S GONE.
Narrator: HEATHER CAN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THE NATURE SHE SO LOVES IS TURNING AGAINST HER.
Evans: WHY AM I SEEING THINGS IN MY ROOM THAT AREN'T THERE?
REAL THINGS -- YOU KNOW,
WE'RE NOT SEEING FREDDY KRUEGER OR JASON
OR, YOU KNOW, SOME CHARACTER OFF OF A TV SHOW.
YOU'RE SEEING REAL-LIFE THINGS IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT,
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHY.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS SEEING THEM.
YOU FEEL A LITTLE CRAZY.
[ MOOSE BELLOWS ]
I WOULD TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT IT,
AND NOBODY -- THEY'D SAY, "OH, THAT'S WEIRD.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE."
Narrator: PSYCHOLOGISTS BELIEVE BECAUSE WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS,
WE ALL HAVE UNIQUE DREAM EXPERIENCES.
THE DIFFICULTY AND THE FEELING PSYCHOTIC AND CRAZY
COMES FROM WANTING TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT IN A NEAT CONTAINER
AND MAKE IT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES.
JUST AS WE ARE INDIVIDUAL IN EVERYTHING WE DO IN OUR WAKING,
WE ARE INDIVIDUAL IN OUR SLEEPING.
AND SO, BECAUSE I HAVE AN UNUSUAL SLEEP EXPERIENCE
THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE DOESN'T MEAN I'M CRAZY.
IT JUST MEANS THAT I'VE HAD A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
Narrator: HEATHER IS SO FRIGHTENED OF BEING LABELED
THAT SHE REFUSES TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP.
Evans: I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT
BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY KNEW.
AND EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, "OH, IT'S JUST A BAD DREAM."
YOU KNOW, "YOU MUST BE DREAMING."
AND IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT
TO REALIZE, "NO, IT'S NOT A DREAM."
THERE WERE NO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
THAT SEEMED OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
THEY TALKED ABOUT NIGHT TERRORS IN GENERAL,
BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AS THOUGH IT WERE FOR CHILDREN.
THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING OUT THERE
THAT EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME.
Narrator: INSTEAD,
SHE DECIDES TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET.
SHE DISCOVERS THAT ANIMALS HAVE APPEARED IN DREAMS
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN HISTORY.
THE ANCIENT CHINESE DREAM INTERPRETERS
SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED ANTS, A VERY COMMON DREAM THEME,
BELIEVING THEY ARE A SYMBOL OF CONFORMITY.
HEATHER RECENTLY HAD A CHILD.
COULD SHE BE UNCONSCIOUSLY REBELLING
AGAINST THE NEED TO CONFORM TO SOCIETY'S BELIEFS
REGARDING THE ROLES OF A MODERN MOTHER?
SCIENTISTS HAVE IDENTIFIED A CONDITION
THAT WOULD EXPLAIN HEATHER'S VISIONS.
THEY CALL THIS HYPNAGOGIC HALLUCINATIONS --
INTENSELY VIVID DREAMS THAT OCCUR
WHEN SLEEPING AND WAKING OVERLAP.
Woman: WHEN WE FIRST RELAX IN BED
AND ARE MOVING TOWARDS SLEEP,
WE MAY HAVE VERY VIVID, CLEAR IMAGES
JUST PRESENTED TO US AS IF IT'S RIGHT IN MY FACE.
AND SO SHE IS SEEING THINGS THAT ARE PART OF HER DAILY LIFE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHE'S MOVING INTO A DREAM STATE,
SO SHE'S BEGINNING TO SEE IMAGES THAT AREN'T IN HER ROOM,
AND THERE'S A CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TWO.
Narrator: BUT IT ISN'T JUST ANTS AND MOOSE.
NOW SHE'S VISITED BY AN ENTIRE MENAGERIE OF ANIMALS.
Evans: I SAW A DEER.
I SAW A DEER ONE TIME RUN PAST THE END OF MY BED.
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT A DEER COULD BE IN MY HOUSE,
BUT JUST PAST THE SIDE OF THE BED IT WENT.
AND AT THE TIME, I WAS LIKE, "THERE'S A DEER IN MY ROOM."
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU WAKE UP
AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE LIKE,
"WELL, THERE'S NO WAY THAT A DEER COULD BE IN THE ROOM,
'CAUSE WHERE WOULD IT HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE DID IT GO?"
BUT AT THE TIME, I WAS THOROUGHLY CONVINCED
THAT A DEER HAD JUST BOUNDED PAST THE END OF MY BED.
I SAW LADYBUGS.
[ BUZZING ]
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT WAS LADYBUGS
ANY MORE THAN THE MOOSE HEAD.
I LOVE LADYBUGS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FEAR OF THEM. I THINK THEY'RE CURE.
YOU KNOW, THE ANTS --
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE EXPLAINABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE CREEPY-CRAWLY.
BUT THE LADYBUGS -- I HAVE NO IDEA.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD SEEN A MOOSE.
IT WASN'T LIKE I'D SEEN A MOOSE DOCUMENTARY
AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M HAVING DREAMS ABOUT MOOSES.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.
YOU CAN'T GET BACK TO SLEEP AFTERWARDS.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF LAY THERE
WITH THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES AFTERWARDS,
WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON.
I COULDN'T SAY WHY IT'S HAPPENING TO ME.
THERE'S NOT ANY HISTORY IN MY FAMILY.
NOBODY ELSE IN MY FAMILY IT HAPPENS TO.
SO I'M JUST THE LUCKY ONE. [ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS BELIEVE
THAT EVERY IMAGE WE SEE IN OUR DREAMS AND HALLUCINATIONS
HAS A SPECIFIC MEANING.
Woman: IT IS NOT ACCIDENTAL
THAT HEATHER IMPOSED A MOOSE HEAD IN HER DREAM.
NO IMAGE COMES ACCIDENTALLY.
IT IS THE PERFECT TARGET IMAGE THAT WE NEED
TO GAIN AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING.
WE HAVE TO STOP, ASK THE QUESTIONS,
EXPLORE THE MEANING FOR OURSELVES
AND ALSO LOOK AT UNIVERSAL MEANING
OF THOSE OBJECTS IN OUR DREAM.
Narrator: SOME NEUROSCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE
THAT DREAMS ARE PRODUCED RANDOMLY BY THE BRAIN
AND HAVE NO DEEPER MEANING.
THEY POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE SLEEP,
THE PART OF OUR BRAIN THAT INTERPRETS IMAGES OUR EYES SEE
IS SHUT DOWN.
HOWEVER, THE PART OF THE BRAIN RESPONSIBLE
FOR INTERPRETING IMAGES IS ACTIVE.
EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP,
THIS PART OF THE BRAIN IS BEING CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED
BY CHEMICALS FROM OUR NEUROTRANSMITTERS.
THESE SCIENTISTS REFUTE THE PSYCHOLOGISTS
WHO SAY OUR DREAMS ARE MESSAGES FROM OUR SUBCONSCIOUS SELVES.
THEY BELIEVE DREAMS ARE NOTHING MORE
THAN CHEMICALLY INDUCED VISIONS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER HEATHER'S BRAIN
IS PRODUCING VISIONS OF ANIMALS RANDOMLY
OR TO SEND HER A MESSAGE.
THE ONE THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT THESE ANIMALS SCARE HER.
HER DEEPEST FEAR REVOLVES AROUND A SPECIFIC ANIMAL,
AND ONE NIGHT,
THIS ANIMAL FINALLY MAKES A TERRIFYING APPEARANCE.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
[ GASPS ]
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING THERE.
BUT I WAS CONVINCED THIS TIME THAT SOMETHING REALLY WAS WRONG.
I LOOKED AGAIN,
AND THERE IS THIS SPIDER DANGLING
RIGHT THERE ABOVE MY FACE.
ITS LITTLE HANDS HOLDING ONTO THE THREAD
AS IT LOWERS ITSELF DOWN,
AND THEN THE REST OF ITS LITTLE LEGS ARE WIGGLING.
AND MY ULTIMATE FEAR IS THAT IT'S GOING TO FALL ON ME,
DROP ON MY FACE.
THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD IS,
"I DON'T WANT THIS THING TO TOUCH ME."
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
HEATHER WAKES TO A TERRIFYING CONFRONTATION WITH AN ANIMAL.
THIS TIME, A SPIDER IS DANGLING INCHES FROM HER FACE.
I NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
DO I JUMP UP FROM BED?
AM I GOING TO BAT IT OUT OF THE WAY
AND HOPE IT MAKES IT TO THE FLOOR?
I AM JUST TERRIFIED, YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.
AND THEN, WHEN I FINALLY MAKE THE MOVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT...
...IT'S GONE.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE FULL-FLEDGED PANIC --
PUSH OFF THE COVERS, JUMP UP, TURN ON THE LIGHT,
AND THEN START THE SEARCH
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE REALLY ISN'T SOMETHING THERE.
Narrator: THE ANIMAL HALLUCINATIONS
HAVE CONTINUED UNABATED.
HEATHER HAS BEEN FORCED TO CHANGE HER LIFESTYLE.
Evans: I DEFINITELY DON'T VEER OFF TRAIL
TO GO ANYWHERE WHERE I MIGHT ENCOUNTER
ANY KIND OF CREEPY-CRAWLIES.
I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT PUT MYSELF IN ANY OF A POSITION
WHERE SOMETHING MIGHT BE FALLING ON ME.
Narrator: HEATHER'S FEAR OF CREEPY-CRAWLIES
HAS EXTENDED TO HER BABY.
Evans: BEFORE I PUT HER DOWN,
I DEFINITELY JUST CHECK ALL THE CRACKS AND CREVICES
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT ANYTHING
KIND OF HIDEY-HOLING AWAY IN THERE
THAT MIGHT COME OUT AND CRAWL ON HER
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO
IF I EVER ACTUALLY FOUND A SPIDER IN MY BED.
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD PROBABLY SEND ME OVER THE EDGE.
BUT I'M PROBABLY GONNA LEAVE IT TO MY HUSBAND
TO TAKE HER OUT TO EXPLORE THE COUNTRYSIDE
SO THAT SHE DOESN'T WIND UP
WITH THE SAME KIND OF PHOBIAS THAT I DO.
AND THEN SHE CAN BE MY SPIDER-KILLER.
Narrator: WE MAY NEVER KNOW
IF THE CREATURES AND VISIONS
EXPERIENCED BY EMILIO, BECKY, AND HEATHER ARE REAL
OR SIMPLY COMING FROM
THE MYSTERIOUS REACHES OF THEIR BRAINS.
BUT WHATEVER THE ANSWER,
THEY HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING MANKIND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
AND ARE STILL LURKING,
LYING IN WAIT FOR THEIR NEXT HORRIFYING ENCOUNTER.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS