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[static crackling]
>> [distorted] CELEBRITY GHOST
STORIES.
>> I KNEW NOBODY ELSE WAS GONNA
BE SHOWING UP AT THE SUITE
THAT NIGHT, SO I LATCHED
THE DOOR.
IT WAS A REFLECTION OF SOMETHING
THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM.
AT THAT POINT, I WAS AS SCARED
AS I'VE EVER BEEN OF ANYTHING
IN MY LIFE.
>> I WAS TRULY AT MY LOWEST
POINT.
I JUST FELT SO WEAK.
>> STAND UP.
>> [gasps]
>> AT THE FOOT OF MY BED,
I SAW THIS FIGURE.
IT WAS AS THOUGH IT WAS TRYING
TO GET INSIDE OF ME.
>> NO!
>> I REALIZED THAT HE WAS GONE
FROM THIS WORLD AT 9:30
ON THAT MONDAY MORNING.
IT DIED.
I WILL NEVER DOUBT
THIS SPIRIT.
>> WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOLDEN.
BAD THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO US.
I TURNED UP MY DRIVEWAY,
AND I SEE THIS GUY--
6'2",
ABOUT 145,
BLUE JEANS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE TURNED.
[driving rock music]
♪ ♪
>> I RECOGNIZE COMPLETELY THAT
THIS WAS NOT THE VOICES
OF PEOPLE THAT I WAS WITH.
I MEAN, AT A POINT, I THOUGHT
THAT I HAD--I HAD GONE CRAZY.
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
ME THAT I'M HEARING THIS.
I USED TO TOUR
WITH ANDREW DICE CLAY.
I WAS HIS OPENING ACT.
[rimshot]
THIS WAS ABOUT 1999, 2000,
AND WE WORKED IN VEGAS.
SO ANDREW GOT A CONTRACT
AT THE STARDUST,
WHICH WAS ONE OF THOSE
REALLY OLD-SCHOOL
ORIGINAL VEGAS HOTELS WHICH,
FOR A LONG TIME,
IT WAS, LIKE, THE PLACE TO BE.
BUT THERE WAS THAT FEELING
IN THAT PLACE
THAT I DIDN'T FEEL IN ANY OF
THE OTHER VEGAS HOTELS.
IT JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS
SOMETHING HEAVY AND SOMETHING
UNCOMFORTABLE.
[glasses clink]
SO IT WAS THE NIGHT
OF OUR FIRST SHOW.
ANDREW WAS THERE
WITH HIS TWO BODYGUARDS,
KENNY AND HAPPY FACE,
AND ON THIS NIGHT,
ANDREW SAID TO ME...
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, MAN?
I'VE GOT THIS SUITE...
>> "THE SUITE THEY GIVE ME
IS NOT GONNA BE USED.
DO YOU WANT TO STAY IN IT?"
NOW, AS THE OPENING ACT,
YOU NEVER GET TO STAY
IN A SUITE, EVER.
SO I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, OF COURSE
I WANT THIS."
IT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME
I'D EVER STAYED IN A SUITE.
>> YEAH.
OF COURSE.
>> AND I WENT UP TO THE SUITE.
I GET OFF ON THE NINTH FLOOR.
THE ENTIRE FLOOR WAS VACANT.
I WAS GONNA BE JUST ME
AND A HOTEL FLOOR
FULL OF EMPTY ROOMS.
AND I GOT A SLIGHTLY CREEPY
FEELING.
I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING WATCHED
AS I WALKED DOWN THE HALLWAY.
SO I GOT INTO THIS SUITE,
AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST HOTEL
ROOM I'VE EVER BEEN IN.
I WAS THRILLED.
THERE WAS A MASSIVE LIVING ROOM.
THERE WAS A FIREPLACE.
THERE WAS A BEDROOM,
AND THERE WAS A BILLIARD ROOM
WITH A FULL POOL TABLE AND CUES
AND STICKS AND ALL THAT.
SO IT WAS EVERYTHING YOU'D WANT
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN OLDER
HOTEL, AND THE SUITE HAD
OBVIOUSLY SEEN BETTER DAYS.
THERE HAD BEEN MANY, MANY, MANY
YEARS OF PEOPLE COMING
IN AND OUT OF THIS PLACE,
AND I KNEW NOBODY ELSE
WAS GONNA BE SHOWING UP
AT THE SUITE THAT NIGHT,
SO I LATCHED THE DOOR.
THE DOOR HAD ONE OF THOSE--
LOOKS LIKE--SHAPED LIKE THAT,
AND IT CLOSES OVER THE LOCK.
SO EVEN IF SOMEBODY OPENS IT,
YOU KNOW, IT ONLY OPENS
THIS FAR.
THAT NIGHT,
THERE WAS A PART OF ME
THAT WAS EMBARRASSED EVEN ALONE
TO ADMIT THAT I WAS REALLY
UNCOMFORTABLE IN THIS ROOM
AND THAT I WAS SLIGHTLY
FRIGHTENED TO BE BY MYSELF.
SO I FOUND MYSELF JUST DOING
THINGS TO AVOID GOING TO BED.
I SHOWERED,
I PUT THE TV ON,
AND I WENT INTO
THE BILLIARD ROOM.
I WAS GONNA PLAY POOL,
BUT I JUST FELT STUPID PLAYING
IT BY MYSELF.
SO I TOOK THE BALLS.
THEY WERE IN THE POCKETS.
I TOOK THEM OUT OF THE POCKETS.
I RACKED IT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW,
I JUST GOT READY
FOR A GAME OF EIGHT BALL,
AND THEN I LEFT THE RACK
ON THE TABLE,
AND I FIGURED
I'LL PLAY IT TOMORROW.
I WAS JUST NOT EVEN THINKING
COHERENTLY.
I WAS JUST DOING SOMETHING
TO BE DOING SOMETHING.
[door slams]
AND THEN I FINALLY WENT BACK
TO THE BEDROOM,
CLOSED THE DOOR--ACTUALLY
LOCKED IT FROM THE INSIDE--
AND WENT TO SLEEP.
THREE OR FOUR HOURS LATER...
[billiard balls crack]
I WAS AWAKENED BY THE SOUND...
[billiard balls crack]
OF A CUE BALL HITTING
POOL BALLS.
THERE'S NO OTHER SOUND LIKE THAT
IN THE WORLD.
[muffled conversation]
AND I HEARD MURMURING.
SO I HAD ASSUMED
THAT JUST KENNY AND HAPPY FACE
HAD COME TO THE SUITE.
AND IT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.
I FELT LIKE I WASN'T ALONE.
I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE.
[billiard balls crack]
[billiard balls crack]
THEN I WAS KEPT AWAKE
BY THE SOUND OF THE POOL BALLS,
AND I START TO GET IRRITATED.
>> HEY, GUYS, I'M TRYING
TO SLEEP.
[billiard balls crack]
>> SO I GOT UP.
[muffled conversation]
>> HEY, COME ON, GUYS.
>> I LOOKED.
THE DOOR WAS STILL LATCHED
FROM THE INSIDE.
THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY NO WAY
ANYBODY COULD'VE GOTTEN
INTO THE SUITE.
[billiard balls crack]
AND I WAS CREEPED OUT.
[billiard balls crack]
AND I STILL COULD HEAR THE SOUND
OF THE POOL BALLS
AS I WALKED TOWARDS
THE BILLIARD ROOM.
I COULD HEAR...
[muffled conversation]
LITTLE ODD VOICES THAT I KNEW
WERE NOT KENNY, AND I KNEW
IT WAS NOT HAPPY FACE.
I WASN'T IMAGINING IT.
AND I KNOW I'M NOT CRAZY.
[muffled conversation]
I WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
THE POOL BALLS HAD BEEN
BROKEN OUT OF THE RACK.
THEY WERE ALL OVER THE TABLE.
IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY HAD
BEEN PLAYING POOL.
I FELT LIKE
I WAS IN A NIGHTMARE.
SUDDENLY I HEARD
SOMEBODY SAYING...
>> [echoing] I'M DRY.
>> "I'M DRY."
>> [echoing] MY MOUTH
IS DRY.
>> "MY MOUTH IS DRY."
SO I LOOKED TOWARDS THE WINDOW.
>> [gasping]
>> AND I SAW A REFLECTION
OF A GUY'S FACE,
JUST AN AWFUL UGLY FACE.
IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS BEING
HURT, LIKE HE WAS INVOLVED IN
A STRUGGLE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
IT WAS A REFLECTION OF SOMETHING
THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON
IN THE ROOM.
AT THAT POINT, I WAS AS SCARED
AS I'VE EVER BEEN OF ANYTHING
IN MY LIFE.
[s
>> I WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
AND I SAW A REFLECTION
OF A GUY'S FACE.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON
IN THE ROOM,
AND EVERY INSTINCT I HAD SAID,
"JUST GO.
GET OUT."
SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG.
I WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.
>> [echoing] MY MOUTH
IS DRY.
>> I WAS SO FRIGHTENED
THAT I JUST QUIETLY WALKED
OUT OF THE SUITE,
AND I WALKED DOWN TO THE CASINO.
I FOUND KENNY AND HAPPY FACE.
I TOLD THEM A LITTLE
OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
I JUST TOLD THEM THIS IS
A CREEPY, CREEPY PLACE.
AND THEY CAME BACK UPSTAIRS
WITH ME,
AND WE WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
THE VIBE OF THE ROOM WAS
DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS
WHEN I HAD WALKED OUT.
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE
GUYS BEING WITH ME.
I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WHATEVER
WAS THERE WAS THERE.
>> IF YOU THINK I'M CRAZY,
NO, I'M NOT.
>> I PACKED UP MY BAGS,
AND I WENT DOWN TO THE END
OF THE HALL WITH THOSE GUYS
AND STAYED IN THE ORIGINAL ROOM
I WAS ASSIGNED.
THE NEXT NIGHT, WE WERE DOWN
IN THE SHOWROOM.
I WAS TALKING
TO ONE OF THE USHERS.
I SAID, "I'M UPSTAIRS
IN THE TOP FLOOR
AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY."
I TOLD HIM THE SUITE,
AND HE SAID, "OH, THEY GOT YOU
IN THE EDGAR SUITE."
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WHY DO YOU CALL IT THAT?"
AND HE SAID WHEN THE MOB RAN
VEGAS, THERE HAD BEEN A ***
IN THAT SUITE,
SOMEBODY NAMED EDGAR,
AND IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN THE HOTEL
KNEW.
[billiard balls crack]
>> NICE.
THERE YOU GO.
NOW YOU'RE PLAYING SOME POOL.
>> YEAH, THAT'S IT.
>> HEY, PARTNER,
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
YOU ALL RIGHT?
HELLO.
[laughter]
>> LET'S SEE.
ARE YOU GONNA LISTEN TO ME?
>> I'M DRY.
>> WHAT'D HE SAY?
>> WHAT'D HE SAY?
>> [coughs]
>> WHAT'D YOU SAY?
>> MY MOUTH IS DRY.
>> [laughs]
>> WAIT, WHAT?
WHAT IS DRY?
>> HIS MOUTH IS DRY.
[laughter]
>> LET'S SEE WHAT HE SAYS
ABOUT THAT.
[indistinct shouting]
>> WHEN I HEARD THAT,
I WAS SO CREEPED OUT,
AND EVEN THOUGH I WORKED
THE STARDUST FOR ANOTHER
COUPLE YEARS WITH DICE,
I NEVER WENT BACK TO THAT SUITE.
THE STARDUST CLOSED IN 2006
AND WAS ULTIMATELY DEMOLISHED
BY IMPLOSION ABOUT A YEAR LATER.
[explosion]
WHAT I TOOK FROM THE EXPERIENCE
WAS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT EXISTS
THAT IS BEYOND ANYTHING
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE,
AND IT CHANGED THE WAY
I SAW THINGS.
>> [screams]
[static crackling]
>> WHEN I OPENED UP MY EYES,
THERE WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS EVIL,
AND I--
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVIL
SHOULD LOOK LIKE
OR SHOULD SOUND LIKE.
BUT I KNEW IT WAS EVIL.
I WAS JUST 18
WHEN I CAME TO NEW YORK
TO ATTEND JUILLIARD.
I WAS LIVING WITH MY AUNT...
[horn honks]
IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
MY AUNT IS VERY DEAR TO ME,
LIKE A SECOND MOMMY.
BUT IT WAS PRETTY SCARY
BECAUSE I WAS
AWAY FROM HOME
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
AND THAT'S A VERY INNOCENT AGE,
A VERY VULNERABLE AGE.
JUILLIARD WAS DIFFICULT
EMOTIONALLY.
I HAD NO IDEA OF HOW INTENSE
THE PROGRAM WAS.
YOU HAVE THIS ENTIRE CURRICULUM
LINED OUT FOR YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S START.
>> PENNY, COME ON.
TRY AGAIN.
THIS ISN'T HARD.
AGAIN.
FROM THE TOP.
EXTEND.
EXTEND.
>> THE HOURS KEPT
ARE AT LEAST 14-HOUR DAYS,
AND THAT'S EXHAUSTING.
YOU GO IN WITH ALL OF THIS
CONFIDENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE A BIG
DEAL FROM WHERE YOU COME FROM.
BUT YOU COME INTO THIS--
THIS POOL WHERE EVERYBODY
IS A BIG DEAL,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU'RE NOT.
THE SCHOOL WAS SET UP
TO STRIP YOU DOWN
TO BUILD YOU BACK UP,
AND AT THAT TIME,
I WAS GOING THROUGH
THE "STRIP YOU DOWN" PERIOD.
>> PLEASE--PENNY, TRY AGAIN.
COME ON.
STAND HERE.
SHE'S GONNA SUFFER.
SHE MAKES YOU GUYS LOOK BAD.
DO WHAT YOU CAN.
LET'S--LET'S TRY SOMETHING ELSE.
EVERYONE, DO YOU SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T REHEARSE?
YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
YOU FAIL AT EVERYTHING.
>> AFTER ABOUT A MONTH
OF THIS VIGOROUS INTENSIVE
CURRICULUM, I WAS TRULY AT
MY LOWEST POINT.
>> STAND UP, MAN UP,
AND GET UP.
>> NOT ONLY WAS I EXHAUSTED
AND EMOTIONALLY
JUST GOING THROUGH IT,
I JUST FELT SO WEAK.
SO ONE NIGHT,
I'D HAD A LONG DAY AT SCHOOL,
SO I WAS REALLY, REALLY TIRED.
AND I GO HOME
TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE.
>> HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
YOU OKAY?
>> SHE HAS DINNER ON THE SIDE
FOR ME.
I WAS SPENT.
I WAS DRAINED.
WHEN I WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT,
I WENT TO SLEEP FAIRLY QUICKLY.
[heavy, ominous music]
♪ ♪
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT...
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I FEEL THIS PRESENCE
IN THE ROOM.
I THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S MY AUNT
LOOKING AFTER ME.
SO I OPENED MY EYES...
>> [gasps]
>> AND AT THE FOOT OF MY BED,
I SAW THIS FIGURE
STARING AT ME.
IT WAS WATCHING ME,
AND IT HAD THESE HOLLOW EYES.
>> NO!
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T HAVE FLESH AND
BLOOD, BUT IT WAS ALIVE.
IT WAS TRULY ALIVE.
IT LOOKED AT ME,
AND I HEARD THIS...
[hissing]
KIND OF A--
A HISSING SOUND.
>> [hissing]
>> AND IT WAS EVIL.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I FEEL THIS PRESENCE
IN MY ROOM.
>> [gasps]
>> IT HAD THESE HOLLOW EYES.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
I MEAN, IT DIDN'T HAVE
FLESH AND BLOOD,
BUT IT WAS ALIVE.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
AND I BOLTED UP.
>> [yelps]
>> HEY!
HEY.
>> I IMMEDIATELY RAN INTO
MY AUNT'S ROOM.
>> HEARD SOMETHING...
>> YOU HEARD SOMETHING WHAT?
>> IT'S--NO--
>> AND I TOLD HER
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
SHE THOUGHT PERHAPS I HAD JUST
HAD A NIGHTMARE OR SOMETHING.
ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK
SHE BELIEVED ME.
>> IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO BED.
>> AND HER RESPONSE WAS,
"WELL, YOU WANT TO GO TO SLEEP
WITH ME?"
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS THING
TO COME BACK.
AND SO FOR THE REST
OF THE NIGHT, I STAYED UP,
MAKING SURE THIS THING
DIDN'T COME BACK.
THE NEXT MORNING,
I WAS PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED,
MENTALLY EXHAUSTED,
AND SPIRITUALLY SPENT.
I GOT UP, SHOWERED,
CAUGHT THE TRAIN,
AND WENT TO SCHOOL.
I WAS AFRAID,
AND THE FIRST THREE NIGHTS AFTER
THIS INCIDENT, I DIDN'T SLEEP
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS THING
WAS COMING BACK.
AND ABOUT THE FOURTH NIGHT,
I LET MY GUARD DOWN.
WHEN I WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT...
I WENT STRAIGHT TO SLEEP.
I WAS
DEAD ASLEEP,
AND IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT...
I FELT THE PRESENCE AGAIN.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
WHEN I OPENED UP MY EYES,
IT WAS THERE STARING AT ME.
>> [gasping]
>> AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN...
>> [hissing]
>> THIS THING CAME
RIGHT OVER ME.
>> NO!
>> AND I COULD FEEL
THE PRESSURE OF IT.
IT WAS AS THOUGH IT WAS TRYING
TO GET INSIDE OF ME.
>> [hissing]
>> IT WANTED TO BECOME ONE
WITH ME.
I WASN'T GONNA JUST LAY THERE
AND LET IT.
>> [yelping]
>> [hissing]
>> I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
I'M NOT--
I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
>> I GOT STRENGTH THAT--
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM,
AND I SAID,
"I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU."
>> I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
>> AND AS I WAS SAYING IT,
THIS THING WENT...
[hissing]
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
MY TONGUE BECAME A SWORD.
>> I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU!
[gasps]
[panting]
>> AND IT WENT AWAY.
IT JUST--PSSH!
WENT AWAY.
>> [panting]
>> I NEVER SAW IT COME.
BUT I DEFINITELY SAW IT GO.
AT THAT MOMENT, I KNEW
I HAD DEFEATED THIS THING
FOR ETERNITY.
THE NEXT MORNING,
I CALLED MY MOM,
AND I TOLD HER THE STORY,
AND UNLIKE MY AUNT,
SHE BELIEVED ME.
MY MOM SAID TO ME
SHE HAD READ ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THESE, UM, ENTITIES
THAT PREY ON YOUNG FEMALES.
SHE SAID,
"BE--BE CAREFUL.
BE VERY CAREFUL."
I WAS VULNERABLE,
AND, UM,
WHEN YOU'RE VULNERABLE,
YOU'RE EASY PREY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS THING
WAS TRYING TO DO TO ME.
I JUST KNOW THAT
I WASN'T HAVING IT.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS USED
TO ANYONE GIVING IT A FIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TEAR
A PERSON DOWN,
AND YOU'RE AT YOUR LOWEST...
>> GET UP. GET UP. GET UP.
LET'S GO.
>> THE ONLY, ONLY PLACE
YOU CAN GO IS UP,
AND IF YOU TEAR ME DOWN,
AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET UP
IS TO FIGHT YOU,
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE FIGHT
OF YOUR LIFE.
[static crackling]
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
A PRACTICING SKEPTIC.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW,
FOR WHICH I HOLD NO EXPLANATION,
AND YOU FIND OUT ONLY LATER
YOU'RE NOT AS SMART
AS YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE.
IN THE SPRING OF 1977,
I WAS HAVING GREAT LUCK.
I WAS WORKING AS AN ACTOR
IN NEW YORK CITY.
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF MY LIFE
IN THAT YEAR WAS WITH MY CAT.
I HAD THE COOLEST CAT
ON THE PLANET.
HIS NAME WAS MORTIS.
HE WAS A HUGE MALE ORANGE TABBY.
HE HAD SHOULDERS
LIKE A LINEBACKER, AND HIS HEAD
WAS LIKE A MELON.
>> AW, YES.
>> HE LOVED TO BE HELD.
HE WAS EXTREMELY AFFECTIONATE.
HE PURRED LIKE A CAMARO ENGINE.
THIS CAT WAS THE BEST FRIEND
I HAD.
[cat purring]
ONE DAY IT WAS VERY HOT,
AND I CAME HOME BETWEEN SHOWS...
>> MORTIS?
>> AND MORTIS WAS GONE.
I GO THROUGH
THE WHOLE APARTMENT,
AND I CAN'T FIND HIM.
>> MORTIS?
>> AND I'M IN THE KITCHEN,
AND I REALIZED
THE WINDOW WAS OPEN.
SO I THOUGHT HE MUST'VE GOTTEN
OUT DOWN THE FIRE ESCAPE.
YOU KNOW, AND I WAS SO UPSET.
[doorbell buzzing]
SO I STARTED CANVASSING
THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
HITTING THE BUZZERS,
AND I SPOKE TO MY LANDLADY,
MRS. CILANOTTE.
SHE SAID, "I'LL ASK AROUND.
I'LL ASK AROUND.
DON'T WORRY.
WE'LL FIND THE CAT."
WEEKS WENT BY,
AND MORTIS DID NOT COME BACK.
I WAS UPSET.
THIS CAT WAS MY ROOMMATE,
AND HE WAS MY BROTHER.
YOU FANTASIZE THAT SOME NICE OLD
LADY HAS PICKED YOUR CAT UP,
AND HE'S GONNA HAVE
A LOVELY OLD LIFE.
BUT I'D GIVEN UP
ON EVER SEEING HIM AGAIN.
ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER,
I WOKE UP AROUND 11:30
ON A MONDAY MORNING...
IN A VERY BAD STATE--
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE HEADACHE,
AND I WAS VERY NAUSEOUS.
BUT I HAD A RITUAL.
YOU COULDN'T WAKE UP WITHOUT
THAT CUP OF COFFEE
AND LIGHTING UP
YOUR FIRST CIGARETTE.
SO I GOT UP AND WALKED
INTO THE KITCHEN AREA
WITH A CIGARETTE IN MY HAND.
I HAD THOSE OLD WOODEN KITCHEN
STICK MATCHES.
AND I TOOK A MATCH
OUT OF THE BOX.
I WAS ABOUT TO LIGHT UP
THIS CIGARETTE.
SUDDENLY...
[cat meows]
>> I GOT UP AND WALKED
INTO THE KITCHEN AREA
WITH A CIGARETTE IN MY HAND,
AND I TOOK A MATCH
OUT OF THE BOX.
I WAS ABOUT TO LIGHT UP
THIS CIGARETTE, AND MY DAY
WILL BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE.
[cat meows]
SUDDENLY I HEARD MEOWING,
AND I LOOKED AND SAW MORTIS.
>> MORTIS?
>> THERE'S MY CAT.
HE'S LOOKING AT ME,
AND HE'S--HE'S MEOWING
AND CALLING TO ME.
>> MORTIS!
>> I WAS SO EXCITED.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
SO I PUT MY CIGARETTE
AND MATCHES DOWN.
I DIDN'T LIGHT UP.
>> MORTIS.
>> SUDDENLY THE FRONT DOOR
TO THE APARTMENT OPENED UP,
AND THERE'S FIREMEN,
AND THEY'RE GOING LIKE THIS
TO ME.
>> GET DOWN TO THE GROUND FLOOR
RIGHT NOW.
>> AND HE SAYS, "COME DOWN
TO THE GROUND LEVEL."
I CAN'T FATHOM FOR THE LIFE OF
ME WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I GO TO GET MORTIS.
BUT HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
>> COME ON, SIR.
COME ON.
LET'S GO. LET'S GO.
>> AND I COME OUT TO THE FRONT,
AND IT'S PANDEMONIUM OUT THERE.
[indistinct radio chatter]
MY NEIGHBOR, MR. AUGERETTO,
AUGGIE, IS ON A STRETCHER WITH
THE OXYGEN MASK ON HIS FACE.
I'M FREAKING OUT.
ONE OF THE PARAMEDICS STARTED
CHECKING MY EYES AND DOING
THE WHOLE THING.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT YOUR EYES.
LEFT.
AND RIGHT.
THAT'S IT.
>> AND I SAID, "I'M FINE.
I'M FINE. I'M FINE."
I DIDN'T FEEL FINE,
BUT I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY
TO THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING
WRONG WITH ME.
I WAS UPSET BECAUSE
I WAS SURE THAT MY CAT HAD BEEN
IN THE BUILDING.
AND I REACHED INTO MY POCKET
AND PULLED OUT A CIGARETTE.
MRS. CILANOTTE WAS THERE.
SHE CAME RUNNING OVER.
SHE SMACKS MY HAND AND SAYS,
"PUT THAT DOWN."
SHE SAID, "THERE'S A GAS LEAK.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
THERE'S A GAS LEAK HERE.
AND IF YOU LIGHT UP A CIGARETTE
HERE, YOU'RE GONNA BLOW UP
THE BUILDING."
I SAID, "OH, MY GOD."
EVENTUALLY I GOT BACK INTO
THAT BUILDING,
AND I CAN'T FIND MORTIS.
I GOT BACK INTO THE APARTMENT,
AND I WAS IN A STATE
OF BEWILDERMENT.
I KNOW WHAT I SAW,
AND I SAW HIM THERE.
BUT WHERE IS HE?
THE NEXT DAY,
MRS. CILANOTTE KNOCKS
ON MY DOOR, AND SHE SAID,
"I THINK I KNOW
WHERE YOUR CAT IS.
MY FRIEND LENA CALLED.
SHE SAW YOUR CAT
GET HIT BY A CAR.
AND SHE CALLED THE PET HOSPITAL,
AND THEY TOOK HIM AWAY."
>> NO, TELL ME.
TAKE ME.
>> SO I WENT OUT TO THE PET
HOSPITAL, AND I GOT IN THERE,
AND I DESCRIBED MY CAT
THAT HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR
YESTERDAY,
AND A YOUNG MAN SAID, "YEAH,
I'M SO SORRY.
WE HAD YOUR CAT IN HERE
EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING.
BUT HE HAD SOME PRETTY SERIOUS
INTERNAL INJURIES,"
AND HE SAID, "BETWEEN 9:00,
9:15 A.M., HE HAD DIED."
I WAS, UH,
JUST KIND OF REELING
IN DISBELIEF.
WHAT A DEVASTATING LOSS.
THAT NIGHT I REALIZED
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT
THE HOSPITAL STAFF HAD SHARED
WITH ME, THAT HE WAS GONE
FROM THIS WORLD AT 9:30
ON THAT MONDAY MORNING.
I HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN OUT
OF BED TILL 11:00,
YOU KNOW, 11:00, 11:30.
SO HE WAS GONE
WHEN I SAW HIM, YOU SEE.
HE HAD DIED.
IT SOUNDS KIND OF CORNY,
BUT I KIND OF THINK
HE HUNG AROUND THE PLANET
JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER
BECAUSE I WAS GONNA LIGHT
MY CIGARETTE, AND MY KITCHEN
WOULD'VE EXPLODED,
AND I WOULD'VE EXPLODED
INSIDE OF IT.
I KNOW WHAT I SAW,
AND I WILL NEVER DOUBT
THAT THIS SPIRIT,
THIS ANIMAL, MORTIS, MY CAT,
MY BUDDY, SAVED MY LIFE.
NO ONE WILL EVER BE ABLE
TO CONVINCE ME
OF ANYTHING ELSE.
[static crackling]
>> I THINK HE WAS--
HE WAS NOT TRYING TO HARM ME
AT ALL.
I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING
TO WARN ME.
MAYBE HE'S FOUND SOMETHING
ON THE OTHER SIDE
THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
WHEN I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT
13 YEARS OLD, I WAS A LITTLE
COUNTRY BOY FROM MEMPHIS,
TENNESSEE, AND MOVED TO CHICAGO
INTO THE HOUSING PROJECTS,
WHICH WAS A VERY ROUGH,
ROUGH AREA.
FIRST DAY I SHOWED UP,
I HAD A PAIR OF BLACK-AND-WHITE
CHECK PANTS, BLACK-AND-WHITE
CHECK SHIRT, A PAIR OF THOSE
LOW-CUT TENNIS SHOES,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS SHARP
BECAUSE EVERYTHING MATCHED.
>> HEY.
>> OF COURSE ALL THE TOUGH GUYS
IN THE PROJECTS WANTED TO BEAT
ME UP BECAUSE I WAS JUST
A COUNTRY DORK.
>> WHAT'S THE MATTER?
LET ME SEE THIS ONCE.
>> WATCH YOUR MOUTH.
>> HE'S SWELL.
>> GOT A LITTLE MAMA BOY HERE,
RIGHT?
>> YOU KNOW HOW TO MATCH.
>> HUH?
>> [laughs]
>> AND THAT'S WHEN I MET GARTH.
GARTH SHOWED UP IN ORDER TO SAVE
ME FROM GETTING MY BUTT KICKED.
>> I TOLD YOU TO NOT BRING YOUR
DUDE AROUND OUR BLOCK, MAN.
>> IT'S NOT YOUR BLOCK.
>> YOU KNOW, HE--HE PROTECTED
ME, AND HE LITERALLY
TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING.
SO WE BECAME BROTHERS
TO EACH OTHER.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER,
WE DID HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER.
GARTH WAS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST
PEOPLE I EVER KNEW--
PRACTICAL JOKER, EXTREME,
HIGHLY INTELLIGENT,
AND WISE.
[camera shutter clicks]
GARTH BECAME A PHOTOGRAPHER.
HE ENCOURAGED ME TO BE A MODEL,
AND HE DID A BUNCH OF SHOTS
OF ME.
THAT'S SORT OF HOW
MY CAREER BEGAN.
I MEAN, GARTH WAS RESPONSIBLE,
REALLY, FOR--FOR ME BEING
AN ACTOR.
WHEN MY CAREER TOOK OFF,
MOST OF MY JOBS WERE
OUT OF TOWN.
BUT WHEN I WOULD COME HOME,
IT WOULD BE--IT WOULD BE INSANE.
[upbeat funk music playing]
♪ ♪
THE PARTYING THAT WE DID WAS--
WAS QUITE INTENSE.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOLDEN.
WE WERE IMPERVIOUS TO PAIN,
IMPERVIOUS TO, YOU KNOW,
BAD THINGS.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE OLD
TIMES, MAN.
>> GET OVER HERE, MAN.
>> BAD THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN
TO US.
[glasses clink]
IT WOULD BE ONE LONG PARTY
UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE SEASON
STARTED UP AGAIN,
AND GARTH WAS ALWAYS THERE.
[static
>> WHEN MY CAREER TOOK OFF,
MOST OF MY JOBS WERE
OUT OF TOWN.
BUT WHEN I WOULD COME HOME,
IT WOULD BE--IT WOULD BE INSANE.
IT WOULD BE ONE LONG PARTY
UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE SEASON
STARTED UP AGAIN,
AND GARTH WAS ALWAYS THERE.
I DIDN'T REALLY GET TO SEE HIM
A GREAT DEAL OF THE TIME,
WHICH WAS SAD BECAUSE
THIS MAN WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR ME BEING, YOU KNOW,
THE STEVEN WILLIAMS THAT I AM.
AND A FEW YEARS LATER,
I WAS DOING A SHOW
CALLED L.A. HEAT,
AND I GOT A MESSAGE
FROM CHICAGO.
GARTH WAS VERY SICK.
IT WAS HIS LIVER.
THEY GAVE ME TIME OFF
FROM THE SHOW,
AND I FLEW IN TO CHICAGO
TO SEE HIM,
AND HE WAS VERY SICK.
>> LIKE BLUE CHECKERED PANTS.
[laughs]
>> SO WE TALKED AND LAUGHED
AND REMINISCED.
WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER
A LONG TIME.
IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO BE CLOSE
TO SOMEONE LIKE THAT FOR A--
FOR THOSE AMOUNT OF YEARS.
A WEEK OR SO LATER,
HE HAD PASSED ON,
AND IT WAS VERY SAD.
THAT JOY, THAT LAUGHTER,
THAT PRACTICAL JOKER
WAS GONE.
GARTH'S DEATH FROM HIS LIVER
DID NOT, UNFORTUNATELY,
SLOW ME DOWN.
I WOULD GO TO PARTIES
AND GET DRUNK.
MENTALLY, I'M STILL 17,
PARTYING AT, YOU KNOW,
150 MILES AN HOUR.
I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO GO OUT,
HAVE A GREAT TIME,
AND THEN SHOW UP TO WORK THE
NEXT DAY LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.
IT'S WHEN YOU GET OLDER
AND THE PHYSICAL RESULTS OF,
YOU KNOW, THIS ACTIVITY
STARTS TO SHOW,
THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT TELL YOU
YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
THREE MONTHS AFTER GARTH DIED,
ONE NIGHT,
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK
BEFORE A WEEKEND
OF HEAVY PARTYING,
AND I TURN UP MY DRIVEWAY...
AND I SEE THIS GUY.
>> HEY, MAN,
YOU'RE IN MY DRIVEWAY.
>> BUT HE REFUSED TO MOVE.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS GUY--
6'2",
ABOUT 145,
BLUE JEANS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE TURNED AND LOOKED AT ME.
IT WAS HIM:
GARTH.
THE EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE
WAS SAD,
A LITTLE BIT BROKEN-HEARTED.
AND OUR EYES
WERE ABSOLUTELY LOCKED.
I SAT THERE, AND WE LOOKED
AT EACH OTHER.
I COULDN'T MOVE.
I WAS MESMERIZED.
MY HEART IS POUNDING.
AND WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING...
HE DISAPPEARS.
SO I AM FREAKING OUT.
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT
A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION
OR A DREAM,
AND AT THAT MOMENT,
I FELT A SENSE OF IMPENDING
DOOM, JUST--A WAVE CAME OVER ME.
SOMETHING HORRIBLE
IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
I KNEW GARTH WAS TRYING
TO TELL ME SOMETHING.
HE WAS SAYING, "SLOW DOWN.
BE CAREFUL.
WATCH YOURSELF.
MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS."
HE WAS WARNING ME.
DECIDED I'D BETTER LISTEN.
GARTH WAS VERY MUCH
A PART OF CHANGING
A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.
HE TAUGHT A LOT OF US
HOW TO BE MEN.
HE WILL LIVE ON IN ALL OF US
WHO KNEW HIM UNTIL WE'RE GONE.