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Finals At The Stanley Hotel
Season 1 · Episode 12 · Jul 7, 2010
Location: Estes Park, Colorado
*** WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
In the final investigation, the three remaining cadets head to the Stanley Hotel, the location that inspired Stephen King's novel, The Shining. Eric, Michelle and Adam learn about the many apparitions, noises and phenomena of the hotel, then work quickly and efficiently to set up center command. With the lights out, they begin their investigation in one of the most active rooms, Room 412, where Michelle takes the lead by trying the flashlight technique: She loosens her flashlight and asks if anyone can illuminate it.
The team immediately gets results, and so try different variations in an attempt to confirm or refute a paranormal presence. By narrowing it down to a small boy, they increase the consistency of their results. They then try the technique in a room said to be haunted by Lord Dunraven, and are equally successful. They even go so far as to move it to a table, where the flashlight lights up and rolls across the surface. In Room 1302, the bachelor's quarters, they provoke the spirits and hear some frightening noises.
Soon, Tango and Steve spend some one-on-one time with each of the cadets. Tango and Adam head to the concert hall, where Adam tries a new technique: He plays a recording of piano music near the piano, and takes still photographs every fifteen seconds. Tango is impressed, and soon they hear strange noises from nearby. They investigate, and although no one is nearby, they can't confirm the source of the bumps and thumps.
Adam rejoins Eric and they enjoy further success with the flashlight and Lord Dunraven, while Michelle has her one-on-one with Steve. Although she has the keen idea to confirm Steve's claim from last time he was in that room at the Stanley - he experienced sudden cold spots - Steve's presence makes her so nervous that she makes the critical error of forgetting her EMF detector.
Then, it's time for Eric's one-on-one with Tango, and although they hear some strange noises, the pair have little success making contact with a paranormal presence.
Before you know it, it's time to wrap up. The cadets have a ton of data to analyze, but there's only one audio clip they're really excited about. They meet with Jason, and are thrilled to recount their chilling personal experiences. Eric presents their sole catch - an audio clip of someone saying "Good morning" - but Jason overrules it, saying it could be an echo from down the hall. Steve mentions that Adam missed a catch, and Adam apologizes and chalks it up to overloaded senses.
With analysis behind them, Jason asks the cadets what they think they could contribute to the TAPS family, then he, Tango and Steve head to the van to make the final and most difficult decision. All the cadets are strong, but the guys decide that Michelle, while extremely promising, hasn't reached her potential yet, and Eric, while solid, is maybe too much of a leader to really learn what TAPS has to teach. Adam, with his consistency, positivity and creativity is chosen to join the team. Everyone is grateful to have been a part of this work, but Adam is overjoyed - especially when Jason hands him the car keys and tells him he's driving the team.
