Spooked (Fear Itself episode)
Encyclopedia
Spooked is the second episode of the NBC
horror anthology Fear Itself
.
plays Harry Siegal, a police detective who is attempting to locate a kidnapped child. Harry finds the man who he believes is responsible and viciously beats a confession out of him. It soon becomes clear that this is not unusual behavior for Harry, who believes his methods justified in pursuit of a greater good - his motto is "Sometimes you've got to do a wrong to make things right." The suspect begs for his life, especially after Harry cuts the man's throat; the suspect eventually gives in, saying that the boy he abducted is on an upper floor of the building. He then faints, and Harry sets off in search of the kidnap victim, whom he locates in a closet.
Outside, the kidnapper is being loaded into an ambulance. Harry has no remorse for what he has done to the man in order to get the confession. The suspect's condition worsens; knowing that he will soon die, the man looks at Harry and says "You'll never forget this. I won't let you!" before dying. Since Harry did save the life of the kidnap victim (who was the son of a senator
), his punishment is relatively light; he is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. However, Harry is also fired from the police force and loses his pension.
Fifteen years later, Harry (now using the last name Bender) is a successful private detective, working with his partner James (Larry Gilliard Jr.
). Harry is approached by a woman named Meredith (Cynthia Watros
) who wants Harry to spy on her husband, whom she believes is cheating on her. Meredith says that the house where they live is directly across the street from an abandoned derelict building which will provide the perfect vantage point for Harry to spy on her husband. Harry agrees, and sets up his equipment in the building, with James monitoring from a surveillance van down the street.
As night falls (interrupted only by a gang of children holed up in the abandoned house, whom Harry quickly evicts), Harry begins to pick up signs of life in the building - lights coming on, forms moving about, even children watching TV. The problem is that only Harry seems to be able to see these things; James only sees darkness in the house. Harry insists that there is activity, and insists that James continue to monitor it. James insists that nobody has entered or left the house all night.
The next day, Harry attempts to return Meredith's money, saying that the investigation was a dead end. Harry is clearly unhinged by his experiences the previous night - he believes the abandoned house is haunted. Meredith insists that Harry continue, as she believes he can catch her husband in the act. Harry returns to the 'haunted' house, with James in tow. However, the same events play out again - Harry sees movement and activity in the house, whereas James can't find anything. James, knowing Harry's penchant for the bottle, gives up and goes home. Harry goes into the house he has been monitoring, but finds it empty, with FOR SALE signs all over.
Back in the abandoned house, Harry encounters Rory - the kidnapper he killed 15 years ago. Rory continues to haunt Harry, saying "Why are you so bad?" and insisting he didn't deserve to be killed. Harry pleads for his life, and hallucinates being back in the house across the street. He sees two children watching TV; one of them produces a gun and shows it to his brother, but the gun goes off and the other child is killed. Harry has just relived his childhood, in which he accidentally shot and killed his brother; we then see young Harry and his father burying the boy in their yard. Harry's father explains to him why they are covering up the accident - "sometimes you've got to do a wrong to make a right."
An enraged Harry flashes back to the present, and (after Rory almost convinces him to slit his own throat) realizes that Meredith must have set the whole thing up. He contacts a friend and asks him for Meredith's billing address. Harry confronts Meredith at her home, where she reveals that Rory was her brother; the whole affair was their joint revenge against Harry. She aims her gun at Harry, who takes it away and aims it at her. Meredith begs Harry to kill her, but Harry refuses. He says that he is truly sorry for his actions over the years and resolves to start over - "Things are going to be different now. I'm going to do the right thing." James, who knew that Harry had gone to Meredith's house, then bursts into the room; Meredith screams "Help me!" and James accidentally shoots Harry in the chest, mortally wounding him. James protests that it was an accident, while Harry is seen dying on the floor - finally at peace.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
horror anthology Fear Itself
Fear Itself (TV series)
Fear Itself was a horror/suspense anthology television series shot in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with some additional shooting in the city of St. Albert and the town of Devon, Alberta. It began airing on June 5, 2008 on NBC....
.
Plot
Eric RobertsEric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
plays Harry Siegal, a police detective who is attempting to locate a kidnapped child. Harry finds the man who he believes is responsible and viciously beats a confession out of him. It soon becomes clear that this is not unusual behavior for Harry, who believes his methods justified in pursuit of a greater good - his motto is "Sometimes you've got to do a wrong to make things right." The suspect begs for his life, especially after Harry cuts the man's throat; the suspect eventually gives in, saying that the boy he abducted is on an upper floor of the building. He then faints, and Harry sets off in search of the kidnap victim, whom he locates in a closet.
Outside, the kidnapper is being loaded into an ambulance. Harry has no remorse for what he has done to the man in order to get the confession. The suspect's condition worsens; knowing that he will soon die, the man looks at Harry and says "You'll never forget this. I won't let you!" before dying. Since Harry did save the life of the kidnap victim (who was the son of a senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
), his punishment is relatively light; he is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. However, Harry is also fired from the police force and loses his pension.
Fifteen years later, Harry (now using the last name Bender) is a successful private detective, working with his partner James (Larry Gilliard Jr.
Larry Gilliard Jr.
Lawrence "Larry" Gilliard, Jr. is an American character actor who has appeared in films, television series and theatre. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of D'Angelo Barksdale on the HBO drama series The Wire, a role which earned him much critical acclaim.Gilliard was born in New York City...
). Harry is approached by a woman named Meredith (Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Michele Watros is an American television actress, who also starred in films and on stage. She is known for her roles as Libby on the ABC TV series Lost, Kellie in The Drew Carey Show, Erin in Titus, and Annie Dutton in Guiding Light...
) who wants Harry to spy on her husband, whom she believes is cheating on her. Meredith says that the house where they live is directly across the street from an abandoned derelict building which will provide the perfect vantage point for Harry to spy on her husband. Harry agrees, and sets up his equipment in the building, with James monitoring from a surveillance van down the street.
As night falls (interrupted only by a gang of children holed up in the abandoned house, whom Harry quickly evicts), Harry begins to pick up signs of life in the building - lights coming on, forms moving about, even children watching TV. The problem is that only Harry seems to be able to see these things; James only sees darkness in the house. Harry insists that there is activity, and insists that James continue to monitor it. James insists that nobody has entered or left the house all night.
The next day, Harry attempts to return Meredith's money, saying that the investigation was a dead end. Harry is clearly unhinged by his experiences the previous night - he believes the abandoned house is haunted. Meredith insists that Harry continue, as she believes he can catch her husband in the act. Harry returns to the 'haunted' house, with James in tow. However, the same events play out again - Harry sees movement and activity in the house, whereas James can't find anything. James, knowing Harry's penchant for the bottle, gives up and goes home. Harry goes into the house he has been monitoring, but finds it empty, with FOR SALE signs all over.
Back in the abandoned house, Harry encounters Rory - the kidnapper he killed 15 years ago. Rory continues to haunt Harry, saying "Why are you so bad?" and insisting he didn't deserve to be killed. Harry pleads for his life, and hallucinates being back in the house across the street. He sees two children watching TV; one of them produces a gun and shows it to his brother, but the gun goes off and the other child is killed. Harry has just relived his childhood, in which he accidentally shot and killed his brother; we then see young Harry and his father burying the boy in their yard. Harry's father explains to him why they are covering up the accident - "sometimes you've got to do a wrong to make a right."
An enraged Harry flashes back to the present, and (after Rory almost convinces him to slit his own throat) realizes that Meredith must have set the whole thing up. He contacts a friend and asks him for Meredith's billing address. Harry confronts Meredith at her home, where she reveals that Rory was her brother; the whole affair was their joint revenge against Harry. She aims her gun at Harry, who takes it away and aims it at her. Meredith begs Harry to kill her, but Harry refuses. He says that he is truly sorry for his actions over the years and resolves to start over - "Things are going to be different now. I'm going to do the right thing." James, who knew that Harry had gone to Meredith's house, then bursts into the room; Meredith screams "Help me!" and James accidentally shoots Harry in the chest, mortally wounding him. James protests that it was an accident, while Harry is seen dying on the floor - finally at peace.
Deaths
- Harry Bender/Harry Siegal (Eric RobertsEric RobertsEric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
), shot in the chest by James. - Max (Jake Church), Harry's brother, shot by Harry when young.
- Rory Bemmel (Jack Noseworthy), viciously beaten to death by Harry, then he reappears as a ghost.
- Harry's Father (Tom Edwards), already dead, reappears as a ghost.