Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

Beyond belief, fact or fiction.

Hosted by Jonathan Frakes.

Tonight, your challenge is to separate what

is true from what is false.

Five stories... some real, some fake.

Can you judge which are fact and which are fiction?

To find out, you must enter a world

of both truth and deception.

A world that is beyond belief.

We've all seen paintings that seem to follow

us as we move around the room.

But what do you make of a painting that

changes as we move around it.

This is a picture of a cityscape.

Look at it straight on and you see the fronts of the building.

But move around it, and the sides of the building

come into view.

How is this possible?

The ingenious artist painted this picture on a canvas

with ridges, so as you move, your perspective

constantly changes.

So be aware that while you may view our stories tonight

in one way, much like this picture,

your perspective may suddenly change.

Sound confusing?

Don't worry, you'll get the picture.

The accessories of a courtroom...

sometimes cameras are allowed in to record the proceedings.

And when cameras are not permitted,

a courtroom artist sketches the participants.

But can any artist or camera capture

absolute truth in the court.

For even under oath, only witnesses know the truth

of their own testimony.

Matt Richmond is a lawyer who cares about the truth.

He'll fight for any client... rich or poor...

as long as he is convinced of their innocence.

And concerning his latest case, in a few moments,

he's about to get the true picture.

Three months ago I

was hired by Lloyd Corbel as his defense attorney

in a capital murder case.

Corbel was accused of brutally stabbing his young wife

Corinne to death.

What do you think?

I don't know.

I couldn't read him.

Have faith.

I liked Corbel from the first day I met him.

He had an easy charm that was hard to resist.

Prosecution presented a strong case

of a jealous husband who murdered

his wife in a fit of rage.

Corbel swore he was asleep in the bedroom when his wife

Corinne was surprised by an intruder who

viciously stabbed her to death.

Corinne's parents... Doug and Beverly Weeks...

came to the trial every day.

They were certain Corbel was guilty.

I was certain he was innocent.

Madam Forewoman, has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, we have your honor.

Will the defendant please rise.

The jury had only been out for two days.

I was worried.

How do you find the defendant on the single count

of murder in the first degree?

We the jury, find the defendant, Lloyd

Russell Corbel, not guilty.

On.

Oh, my God.

We did it.

We did it.

Corbel, you are free to go.

I want to thank the ladies and gentlemen

of the jury for all their hard work on a very difficult case.

This court is dismissed.

You're a genius counselor.

No, you saved yourself, Lloyd.

It was that story you told them on the stand.

That's what turned them.

The pin star?

Yeah.

About how this was the last gift my dear Corinne

had given me, and how I would cherish

it for the rest of my life.

I saw the jury's face as you moved them all.

It was obvious that you loved her very much.

Did I really come across?

As I didn't love that slut.

Not one bit.

What did you say?

Corinne was sleeping with everybody in town.

I know she was.

I could feel it.

I could see it on her face.

I could-could smell it on her clothes.

I got a confession to make, counselor.

There was no intruder.

I killed Corinne.

It will be our little secret.

Oh, in case you're thinking about talking,

just remember, double jeopardy.

I can't be tried again.

I don't believe this.

Well, believe it.

Hey, I want you to have this, to remember me by.

Along with that fat check you're going to get.

You're a genius.

I - couldn't think straight.

What had I done?

Here he comes.

Corbel.

Please.

Mr. Corbel, what... what are your plans now?

Well, this has been a very trying ordeal,

for me, and for Corinne's parents.

I want you all to think about this.

The real killer is still out there somewhere,

and I'll be offering a reward for his capture.

But for now I would truly appreciate it

if you all would just give me a bit of time

to try and get my life back together.

And to do some grieving in private.

Thank you.

Mr. Corbel, just one more question...

It made me sick inside

to know that Corinne's parents were in so much pain

and Corbel was walking away a free man.

And then, for some reason I suddenly remembered the pen.

It disgusted me to touch it.

I didn't want it anywhere near me.

All I could think about was getting it back to him.

Corbel.

Yeah.

I don't want your pen.

I don't want anything of yours.

Well suit yourself, counsellor.

You just passed up a $1,500 pen.

Yeah, well you keep it.

You're going to need it to get the devil's autograph.

The devil's autograph.

The devil's autograph.

That's... that's funny.

It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen.

Somehow, in the fall, the pen had penetrated his chest

and pierced his heart.

Lloyd Corbel was dead.

What caused the elevator to malfunction

at that particular time?

It had never done that before or after.

And how do you explain the pen being the instrument

of Lloyd Corbel's death?

Were the fates at play here, or was it mere happenstance?

Should our writers be praised for transcribing the truth?

Or are they guilty of artistic perjury?

We'll find out that if this story is true or false

at the end of our show.

Next, see what kind of curse can make your hair

and teeth fall out on Beyond belief, fact or fiction.

Have you checked the back sections of newspapers

and magazines lately?

You'll find you can become anything

from a dental assistant to a minister

by simply purchasing a degree through the mail.

Like all such offers, some are more legitimate than others.

Charlie Lunt has been making a good living

from offering illegitimate degrees through the mail.

But his dirty little scheme is about to unravel.

And he'll soon discover that these worthless certificates

may include something Charlie never bargained for.

A curse.

Hello, I'm Charles Lunt, president and founder of NTTA,

the national technical training camp.

In just three short weeks, you'll

become a highly paid and sought after computer technician.

The costs for the entire course, only $999.95.

You have my guarantee that NTTA

diploma will get you a high paying

job in computer electronics...

in computer electronics,

or I'll personally refund your money.

I love you, Charlie.

Con artist Charlie Lunt has put together

a lot of scams in his day.

But this current one is his most successful yet.

$10,000.

Victory is sweet.

Mmm.

Good week, huh, Mr. Lunt.

Not bad but we can still do better.

Send out that new batch of diplomas?

They went out this morning.

Mmm, good girl.

Oh, you got some more letters.

They're all from people demanding their money back.

They said they couldn't find any work.

Gee, really, that's too bad.

But you can't always bet a thousand, Jamie.

Just leave them here, I'll take care of them.