Proof

Previously on "Proof"...

I'd like you to find real proof of what happens after we die.

Ivan Turing.

He may be considering making a donation to this hospital.

Great.

I also know that you nearly drowned

on a trip to the far east to help victims of the most recent tsunami.

You told Ivan Turing I had a near-death experience and saw our son.

That.

I don't see us as enemies, Dr. Tyler. In fact, I...

Don't you pull that crap on me.

It's all pretty theoretical, isn't it,

what happens when we die,

unless something like this happens to you or someone you love.

You know what I mean?

Well, that's why we're here...

To find out about your experience.

Tell me about your wife.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it for you, Dr. Tyler.

I mean, there's a lot I could say about her.

She's stubborn, intense,

bit of a temper...

And by far the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Okay, well, that's true.

So, how did you two meet?

I'm sorry, but the file we were given isn't very complete.

I'm a pilot. Floatplanes, mostly.

I got this gig flying this photojournalist

to shoot some glaciers for this piece on global warming.

Total pain in the ass, if you know what I mean.

That would be Elina.

- Elena. - It's Elena.

And about halfway there, we develop engine trouble

and I have to set her down on this lake deep in the backcountry.

It took them two days and nights to find us,

and by the end of it...

You were in love?

Actually, we hated each other

more than I thought was humanly possible,

but she still demanded that we get to that photo shoot.

And then on that flight, we started laughing about it,

and, I decided to ask her out.

- I asked you out. - All right, she asked me out.

But after that,

I don't think we were apart for a minute.

- I mean, we did everything together. - Really?

I mean, you're a busy pilot, she's a photojournalist.

I mean, how the hell did you manage that?

You know, we just decided that if it was gonna be forever,

that spending time together, just the two of us, was important.

So, we made it a priority, you know?

I mean, camping, hiking,

even taking baths together, with candles.

Always lots of candles.

That's what makes it romantic.

Why is it the tough ones always turn out to be so soft and tender on the inside?

But then everything changed.

I've never been big on doctors, no offense.

We're used to it.

So, when her headaches started,

we figured it was her vision...

Allergies.

If we had known about her heart condition, her...

Atrial septal defect.

We might have had it checked sooner.

One night, she... she starts having these chest pains,

and then, I mean, she just collapsed.

I thought I'd never see her again.

I'm very sorry.

It says here in this file that your wife died in the ambulance

on the way to the hospital and they were unable to revive her.

That's right.

And then I flew up and I scattered her ashes on that backcountry lake.

But that wasn't the end, was it?

Look, it's not like how you hear.

At least it wasn't for me.

There was no weird cold spots,

no creaking floors.

I just woke up one morning, and I smelled coffee.

Coffee?

Jamaican Blue Mountain.

My personal favorite.

And, at first, I figured, you know, "I left the machine on."

But when I came into the kitchen, there was a fresh pot brewing

and there was Elena,

just sitting there sipping her tea with that beautiful smile on

that makes you feel like you're the only guy in the world.

Look, I know how it sounds.

It's crazy.

I mean, trust me, I never believed in anything like this before.

But now?

Call it whatever you want,

but Elena is here, Dr. Tyler.

I know it.

1x02 - Til' Death

Hey, Charles, got a minute?

I got four, unless you want to scrub in on my conjoined twins.

- It can wait. - No, no, no. Talk to me.

I'll just be recalling last night's risotto al funghi disaster in my head.

Dried porcini. What the hell was I thinking?

I may need a psychiatric consult.

Ah, good.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

For a patient.

He recently lost his wife, and he's been reporting seeing...

Manifestations of her.

You mean like her ghost?

Something like that.

Interesting.

Amazing organ, the brain.

Incredibly fragile and resilient at the same time.

And what you're describing in not that uncommon,

especially if there's an unusually strong bond.

- So, you think it's a coping mechanism? - It makes sense.

The brain may be re-creating the image of the lost loved one...

Her sight, sound, smell...

And the patient just has to adjust to her absence.

- Hence... - The manifestation.

My advice for him... Give it time.

We're just about ready for you, Charles.

Thanks.

- Dr. Tyler. - Dr. Barliss.

Len, I have to work late tonight.

Can you pick up Sophie after her school meeting?

Got it. No problem.

You two holding up okay?

Fine. Thanks.

What the hell is your problem?

- Sorry, Dr. Tyler. - Janel!

We... we didn't want to interrupt your run.

"We"?

Ivan thought it might be a good idea for us

to have some transportation for our investigation.

He couldn't find an old ambulance

- with "Ghostbusters" on the side? - Do you want that?

Beause I'm pretty sure that we...

- You're joking. - It's fine.

- Do you have any water? - Yes. Of course.

The next time we meet, there's a diner near here... Spengler's.

No one from the hospital ever goes there 'cause the coffee's terrible,

- the food's even worse. - I like the food there.

I-I have an update for you.

I examined the medical files that Mr. Martel gave us.

Martel, the widower. Yes. Go on.

He passed a basic physical for his job about a year ago

but nothing to indicate alcohol or substance abuse.

And I followed up with his employer about his termination.

He had a perfect record until he told someone there about seeing his dead wife.

That's when they fired him.

I imagine a lot of passengers frown on their pilots seeing ghosts.

Well, there have been many occurrences of very rational people like Mr. Martel

who have experienced apparitions, though, as we know, none of it proven.

Yeah, there's a more likely explanation,

such as hallucinations brought on by the trauma of losing a loved one.

Yeah, that makes sense,

but it might be interesting to interview these friends and neighbors

for possible verification of his account.

Unless it doesn't work that way.

Maybe there has to be some kind of connection in order to experience it.

What are you saying?

My second PhD is in quantum mechanics,

and the more you study, the more you realize how little we understand.

Particle entanglement, multiverse theory.

We're just starting to scratch the surface of what might be possible.

I don't need a connection or a degree in physics to know

that this is just a man stuck in the first stage of grief... denial.

I-I don't even remember why we took this case.

Ivan insisted.

I think it's 'cause he likes ghost stories.

You can tell Ivan that I will be choosing our cases from now on

because this one is a complete and total waste of time.

You have got to be kidding me.

What are you doing here?

This is where I work. You promised me...

Mr. Turing. So glad you could come.

I'm so glad you invited me.

You invited him?

Well, when he was considering making that generous donation,

I wasn't sure that you adequately explained all the great work that we do here,

so I thought that a tour would be helpful.

I'd like that very much.

Dr. Tyler, would you like to show me around?

- No. I'm busy. I've got rounds to make. - That really isn't a good idea at all.

That's too bad.

I was really looking forward to continuing our conversation.

I guess I brought my checkbook for nothing.

You know, actually, I'm sure that we can find someone

who can cover Dr. Tyler's rounds for her.

Enjoy your tour.

That's a gurney. That's a gurney.

Another gurney.

Janel told me about your visit with Mr. Martel.

It sounds fascinating.

Well, then you were misinformed.

You know, if this is gonna work,

you're gonna have to try to put aside your preconceptions,

as unfamiliar as that may be for you.

What is that supposed to mean?

You did agree to this, you know.

I agreed to look into what, if anything, happens after death,