When Cole’s Mother tells Cole about her imaginary day it is not to distract him from Crowe’s presence, but to try and comfort him; to tell him that every thing is ok. It could also be seen as a possible attempt to get Cole to tell her what is wrong.
When Cole’s Mother leaves to make pancakes this reinforces the belief that this is a session that has been set up between Cole and a psychiatrist because she could be leaving to let them talk. She looks at Crowe before she leaves which suggests she knows that he is there, but she is just wondering what Cole is staring at.
In Cole and Crowe’s mind-reading game Crowe knows some personal facts about Cole suggesting that he has spoken to Cole’s Mother. When Cole’s secret is mentioned, sinister music starts playing quietly. As they speak to each other, the camera shows them from the others point of view.
This scene displays the build-up of the relationship between Cole and Crowe. It also accentuates the belief that Crowe can speak to someone other that Cole.
Cole’s fantasy day is fulfilled later in the film, at the end of a school play. This suggests a happy ending. At the end of the play, the relationship between them has become strong enough for Cole to confide in Crowe, so Crowe has been able to help him manage his Sixth Sense. Also, Crowe has confided his marital problems to Cole, who has told him how to communicate with Anna, his wife, while she is asleep.
In the following scene Crowe arrives late for his anniversary meal. As he approaches the table the people at the table behind him laugh loudly which makes Anna look up. The audience thinks she is looking at him.
He makes a joke to try and apologise to Anna. The first time viewer sees that Anna is not impressed as she puts her head down and avoids eye contact and drinks her coffee, which makes her unable to talk to him. When Crowe sits down Anna looks at her hands as if to show him she is not interested in his excuses for being late. Crowe starts to talk incessantly about work and Anna, once again, seems uninterested and bored. As he is talking the camera moves away from Anna and focuses on Crowe. This is to show that he is becoming self-obsessed and that their relationship isn’t working.
When the bill for Anna’s meal is brought to the table, Crowe reaches out to pick it up so that he can delay her. She picks it up before him and pays for it. As she stands up she says “Happy Anniversary.” You think she is trying to hurt him but in fact she is sad because he is dead.
This scene makes the audience believe that she thinks that he is paying more attention to his job than to her. Crowe actually says that he feels he is being given a second chance. The audience assumes he means with Cole, but with the twist at the end, we realise he has a second chance to let Anna know he never put her second, then he can rest in peace.
The way other characters appear to speak and interact with him is a key device in maintaining the belief that Crowe is an ordinary man. Without this, the audience would notice that he only ever speaks to Cole.