Original subtitles

[ 2 Gunshots ]

- They say my generation is jaded.

Brought up in a time when there's no faith in God,

government, people... anything.

I always liked to think of myself

as more optimistic than that. [ Gunshot ]

But I have to admit, when you get in a situation like this...

- No way! - There's only 1 message

that flashes in your head

like a bright, red, burning neon sign:

[ Gasps ]

Trust no one. [ Gunshot ]

[ Phone rings ]

- I'm dying here. Can we start?

- Ready...?

- The camera loves this kid!

- State your name please.

- Holden Pryce.

- And you agree to have this interview recorded?

- Yes.

- Alright then, go ahead.

- Maybe you could try tellin' us the truth this time.

[ Door closes, echoes ]

- I graduated from Harvard last spring.

I didn't have any family there.

My mom had died the year before.

And my father...

Well, I guess I was just hoping for too much.

Don't get me wrong, he always provided well for me.

Even after he and my mom split up.

For the last eleven years,

he made sure that I went to the best prep schools,

that I got into Harvard,

that I had money to travel

during summer vacations.

When it came to money, he always came through.

But when it came to what really mattered...

that's another story.

We hadn't seen each other in over 2 years.

Then, out of the blue, he called and said

"Come to Chicago."

After travelling in Europe for a year,

I really had no place to go.

So what the hell. I thought maybe, this time,

I'd be getting more than just a cheque.

They say graduation's supposed to be a step into the future.

But I couldn't go forward until I dealt with my past.

[ Woman humming ]

Pssst!!

[ Gasps ]

- Ahh! Holden!

[ Laughs ] - Madeline!

- You scared me half to death. Come here. Come here.

Give me a hug, boy!

[ She laughs ]

You've been bad. You don't come visit us.

What's wrong with you, boy? You don't like us anymore?

- I saw the world! Travelled a bit while I was still young.

- Oh yeah, you so old now!

Oh, I missed you so much.

- It's great to see you too.

So where is he?

- Upstairs. He has a big surprise.

But he said I couldn't tell.

Better between father and son.

Go.

Go...

I'm really happy you're here. Yeah.

- So am I.

See you in a bit.

Mason?

[ Shower running ]

So what's this big surprise?

Mason?

Dad?

Um... sorry.

- Uh, close the door behind you.

- Yeah. Yeah, sorry.

[ Exhales ]

- Hey!

You little bastard!

Oh, look at you!

Oh man...

I must be gettin' old because you're all grown up!

What's this? Nikes?

You tryin' to give me a heart attack?

- They're just sneakers.

Well, if they're just sneakers, then wear mine next time!

- Alright, okay. [ Both laugh ]

- So you had a good time in Europe?

- Yeah, it was great.

- Listen, I'm sorry I couldn't make your graduation.

The union was busting my butt. They still are....

It's this whole overseas production thing...

Been going on-- - Don't sweat it.

- W-Wait. Wait, wait.

Ooh, hoh, ho...

Sweetheart?

Baby, you decent?

C'me here.

Lana...

I want you to meet my son, Holden.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- What do you think? - He's cute.

- Uh, so how long you guys been dating?

- Been dating, hell. We're married.

Holden, say hi to your new mom.

[ Chuckles ]

- Hi, son. Ha, ha.

[ Laughing ]

[ Exhales ]

- So why didn't you tell me?

- What, Lana? - Yeah.

- I wanted to surprise you. See the look on your face.

It was worth it.

You want some?

- No thanks.

- This is the best stuff on the planet.

One of these a day and I'm gonna live to be a hundred.

- Hah.

- What's the matter?

Aren't you happy for your old man?

- Yeah... I'm just a little blown away.

- Yeah.

Have you ever been to the Greek Islands?

- Yeah, my old girlfriend and I went there once.

- It's a romantic place, right?

- Yeah, very.

- We were on this deserted beach in Mykonos...

White sands, golden sunsets.

What could I do? [ Chuckles ]

I fell hard.

Plus I haven't had sex like this in years.

We had tons of wedding pictures taken. I'll show you.

It'll seem like you were there.

It was huge. Every local and tourist on the island showed up.

- Really?

- And now we gotta get ready. We're going to a fund-raiser

I'm hosting at my new corporate headquarters.

They're gonna name a wing of a museum after me.

Throw enough money around, they'll name anything after you.

Anyway...

I'm glad you're here, son.

- Me too.

[ Inhales, exhales ]

[ Applause ]

- Thank you. Thank you.

Look, it's the man who talked me into giving

all my money away to a museum.

- No, no, no, no, no. Your wife did that.

I just convinced her to help me.

- Ah, they're coming at me from all sides.

Holden, meet Harry Dupree, my lawyer.

Best damn criminal lawyer in Chicago.

- So so so,

this is the Harvard boy. - That's right.

Beats the hell out of that 2nd-rate school you went to.

- I'd hardly call Yale second rate.

- Yeah, but Harvard's Harvard.

- Glad you could join us for your father's big night.

- Yeah, me too.

- Which reminds me, I need your help.

We have to motivate our guests' "generosity".

- Honey, why don't you, uh,

show Holden around?

- Okay, I'd love to. Do some mother and son bonding.

- That's what I like to see, one big happy family.

- Ah. Champagne. - Thanks.

- So who's got the money?

- Just about everybody. I only brought in the best.

- Now wait...

You know, you have your father's good looks.

Whose heart did you break in college?

- Stacy.

But she broke my heart about a week before graduation.

- Stacy was an idiot.

- That's what you get for dating a drama major.

Uh, look, I'm really, really sorry

about barging in on you like that.

- Shhh. That'll be our secret.

It's going to be really nice having you around.

I'm so tired of hanging out with Mason's friends.

- Pretty boring, huh? - Hah!

They don't like me much. They think I'm after his money.

To hell with them.

- The most interesting aspect of this antique Navajo necklace

is its intricate design. This was a peace tribute

that one tribal leader would have given to, uh,

another chief's wife.

Opening bid is set at $150,000...

- Wow.

- Not bad.

- 150, do I hear 155? 160?

- I'll be back.

- 160 over here, yes.

170... $170,000.

Do I hear 180?

180? 190...?

Do I hear 200?

Final bid is 190.

Do I hear 200?

200. Do I hear 210? 220.

220 going once...

- Holden...

This is Nicole.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- I am so glad you came.

- Oh, are you kidding? I'm thrilled.

I never get to go out this fancy.

I'm, um, Lana's running partner.

- Oh, okay.

- I told you he was cute.

- ... the very generous Mason Pryce.

[ Applause ] - That's my cue.

- Forget Stacy.

- Stacy?

- Never mind.

- Uh, to all my friends and associates out there...

I wanna thank you for coming

and tell you now is the time to dig deep in those pockets

and purses and place your bids.

And just to get the ball rolling,

I have just bought this little trinket for my new bride.

- It's exquisite.

- It better be for what it cost.

- Can you really put a price on beauty?

- Everything has a price...

even beauty.

- Well, it's, uh, getting late.

Uh, thanks for helping me out this evening.

- Sure.

- G'night.

Mason. Goodnight.

- Yeah.

We'll talk to you soon I'm sure?

- Yeah.

- I'll walk you out.

[ Sighs ] - It's beautiful, isn't it?

- Yeah. It is.

- Good time tonight?

- I had a great time and I love my gift.

- I saw you talking to Harry.

- Yeah, I thought he did a great job with the evening.

- [ Laughs ] Yeah. Really?

It looked like more than that to me.

- What are you talking about?

- Well,

flirting with someone who works for me

makes you look so cheap.

How many times do I have to tell you that?

- Ow. You're hurting me.

- Are you sleeping with Harry? - What are you talking about?

- Are you sleeping with him?!

- Dad!

- Hey?

- What do you think?

[ Exhales ]

- Oh... don't let me see that ever again...

Baby.

- It's okay.

Good morning.

- Hey.

- These damn aphids are all over the place.

I'm going to get rid of them if it kills me.

[ Sniffs ]

- You okay?

- Sure.

- Last night... was pretty intense.

- I'll be fine.

Thanks.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Hey buddy !

Time to go!

- Hah... When did you get this?

- Last month. She's my new favourite toy.

- [ Exhales ] Whoa...

[ Chuckles ]

- You're making me nervous.

She'll dent from just you looking at it!

Let's go.

Come on. - Wow.

So what are we gonna do today?

- I have to go by the office and sign a contract,

but then, you and me are gonna hang out.

I'm taking the day off to be with my son.

So I didn't get a chance to ask you,

whaddya think of my new digs?

- It's great. It looks even bigger during the day.

- I started out with one running store in 1972

and I turned it into this.

But you see, this is why I missed all those...

all those school plays and graduations.

What?

Ah, damn it.

Union problems... this is gonna take a while.

Buddy, I think we're gonna have to cut our day short.

- It's okay.

- Yeah, well, we'll make up for it some other time though.

- No problem.

- Hey.

- Hey...

I was just looking for you.

- Wh-What happened? Your father blew you off?

- Yep. - Yeah, me too.

- Hmh... no rest for the wicked.

[ Chuckles ]

- Uh, yeah, he cancelled dinner.

- Oh, really?

- Well, let me take a shower and...

we can go have fun ourselves.

- Okay.

- Alright. - Cool.

- C'mon, I'll take you to my favourite hang out. You drive.

[ Chuckles ] - Mason will have a coronary.

- I'll handle him.

I have a lot of experience handling men like him.

C'mon. I got it under control.

[ Giggles ]

Let's go!

- You're crazy.

This is your favourite hang out?

- Dollar shots and the best juke box in town.

- Does my father know you come to this place?

- I don't tell your father everything.

What's the matter, frat boy, this place beneath you too?

[ Laughs ]

So, how do you like the car?

- It's pretty nice. Must've cost him.

- Oh no! It's closed...

- Ah, it's not a big deal. We'll go to another bar.

- I don't like other bars. Hang on.

The owner's a friend of mine who usually leaves the-- yeah!

[ Giggles ] The key!!

- This is crazy.

- Come on. I'll leave some money on the bar.

[ Laughs ]

Come on.

- Two beers.

♪ Juke box

Crazy things you do when you're a kid.

- Why an alligator?

- Because I grew up around them. Whiskey?

- No. [ Laughs ] No.

- You're gonna drink with me.

Bottoms up.

- Bottoms up.

- Why are you lookin' at me like that?

You think I wouldn't come to a place like this?

- For starters.

- Well, your father's friends don't come here.

I can be myself. And it reminds me

of the boring little town I came from.

Where all we did was get drunk...

and get laid.

Whooo!

- You gonna tell it again sometime?

Don't steal my jokes!

[ Laughing ]

- Ah, the next time I get drunk with my friends.

[ Laughing ]

- Yeah.

Gotta be drunk.

- [ Laughing ] Yeah.

- So where's this place you get drunk and laid all the time?

- Okeechobee, Florida.

You're looking at a 100% good ol' American white trash.

- Get out.

[ Laughing ]

- Yup. Half my family's been on Jerry Springer.

[ Both laugh ]

Your father's house is a long way from home.

- Yeah.

Yeah, for me too.

- Uh...

yeah... but it's a little different.

[ Laughs ]

- I didn't grow up in that mansion.

- Oh, I didn't mean to say

that you were a spoiled brat or anything.

It's just that I think that...

my sob story tops yours.

- What's your sob story?

- Oh, well.

Maybe some other time.

I'm havin' way too much fun.

[ Giggling ]

- [ Chuckles ] I think I've had enough.

- Wait ... just one more.

One more.

Well, wasn't so bad, was it?

There's somebody here.

Get the bottles

Come on, get the bottles!

[ Pulls out juke box ]

[ Laughs ]

- Oh-oh!

[ Laughing ]

We should go.

- I know.

- This is wrong.

- Yeah, I know.

- Why did you go out and stay half the night?

And why did you have to take my car?

Why couldn't you take your car?

You know what that car means to me.

- Morning you two.

- You slept well.

- I slept like a 50 year-old baby.

I had this incredible dream

that I went down to the garage

and no one had touched my little convertible.

You tell him about Nicole?

- Nicole?

- Yes, he invited her over for dinner Friday.

- Yeah, she phoned last night while you two were...

out on the town and I invited her.

I think you and Nicole might really hit it off.

- Sure. Whatever.

- Breakfast! Breakfast!

- The best cook in the State of Illinois.

Oh hey, what's that?

- Mmmm.

- Buckwheat pancakes?

And what's this? Fresh mango?

- Ahh, yeah, that's right, it's your favourite.

- Is she the best or what?

Gimme a kiss!

- I'm sorry, sir, but I'm married.

- I won't tell if you won't.

[ Laughter ]

[ Clears throat ]

- Madeline!

Madeline, you dropped something.

- What's this?

- Mmm...

- Oh my goodness. [ Laughs ]

- Happy birthday.

- You remembered?

- Happy birthday, Madeline. - Happy birthday.

- Thank you.

[ Gasps ]

A week at the spa!

Wow!

- Mm-hm... You better go get your stuff.

The limo's gonna be here at 10 o'clock.

- A limo? - Yeah.

- Thank you so much.

[ Sniffs ] Thank you.

- Oh, now, go get ready.

We'll clean up here.

She works so hard for us.

[ Door bell ] - Oop...

Well, the Limo's right on time.

Madeline!

- That was nice of your father.

- What the hell's going on?

- Nothing. I handled it.

He's never going to find out about that, ever.

It was a mistake.

It never happened.

- What never happened?

- Nothing, we were just talking about

how wonderful you are to Madeline.

- Aahh...

That's why I love you.

- Oh baby.

- Why don't we have some fun today? Make up for yesterday.

- Sure. What'd you have in mind?

- I thought you were supposed to be good at this, buddy.

C'mon man, I'm in my fifties,

you gotta cover me better than that.

Next basket wins.

You gotta keep your cool, son.

- Ooh!

- Don't you ever touch my car again.

- Are you okay?

- I'll survive.

- Why aren't you in bed?

- Mason was snoring. He took some sleeping pills.

He's got a lot on his mind.

- What is that?

- Nothing.

- He's a bastard. Okay?

He treated my mother like crap, and he does the same to you.

- I've known worse.

- Don't make excuses for him.

- I'm sorry about what happened.

I blame myself.

- I wanted it just as much as you did.

- It doesn't matter.

We have to forget about it.

- Can you really do that?

Because I can't.

- Don't...

- Then why are you here?

- Please.

[ Knock at door ]

- Hey, buddy. Uh, have you seen Lana?

- No.

- I thought I heard voices.

- I didn't hear anything.

- I guess she's downstairs watching TV.

Apparently, I snore.

Sorry. Go back to sleep.

Listen, about this afternoon...

... hah, I just have to win.

It's in my nature, I guess.

- It's okay.

- I'll see you tomorrow then.

- Bye.

Hey! I thought I heard your voice.

- Where were you?

- In the hall bathroom. I didn't want to wake you up.

Come on. Let's go to bed.

Bye. Have a good day.

How much of this is about you gettin' back at Mason?

- How about none of it.

- I don't believe you.

But... to tell you the truth, I don't care.

I understand. I know what it's like

to have a son of a bitch for a father.

Yours is...

only interested in his money,

mine was only interested in what was between his legs.

- He fooled around a lot?

- Yeah, you could say that.

He was a drunk and...

to get his kicks he would come into my room at night

and feel me up under the covers.

- I'm sorry. Your mother didn't do anything?

- Well, she was a lovely lady, just...

that she... she was his doormat.

See? I told you my sob story was worse than yours...

... but he got his.

- What do you mean?

- Well...

When my little sister turned 13 he started looking at her

the same way that he'd looked at me...

and I couldn't let him screw up her life... the way he did mine.

- What happened?

- He loved to go boatin'... in the Everglades.

Gator huntin'.

I guess if that's what you could call it.

He would chum the waters

and as the gators would come up...

to the surface, he'd shoot 'em.

He said that that was his way of relaxing. Sick bastard.

But he had a weakness.

Whiskey.

So one day...

I put a bottle of his favourite rot gut

into his lunch bucket with a pretty little note on it.

It said "From your favourite girl".

And I knew that one sip for him was... the whole bottle.

The sheriff said that

he must've passed out and fallen over.

That the glades swallowed him up cause they never found his body.

I like to think that the gators got their revenge.

Good ol' Dad...

- That's why I decided to go into broadcast journalism.

I mean, it's...

... live. It's real.

It's... exposing the truth to people.

Showing the world as it really is.

I mean you shoot it. You cut it.

And... at night it's on the nightly news.

It's really very exciting.

- And you go to school for this?

- Yes, sir. Night classes.

At the community college. Thank you...

But I'm also a part-time stringer.

I mean, you never know.

You know that story last week,

it was on WHHN about the bear that was loose?

A lot of my footage was used in that story.

It's really about being at the right place

at the right time.

- Sounds very interesting.

- Mmm. Actually this is a newfound passion.

It's not what I studied in college.

- Where'd you go undergrad?

- Emerson College in Boston.

- Holden just graduated Harvard.

And went bummin' around Europe.

On my dime.

- Mmmm, wow!

Harvard!

- Wow. But now it's time to settle down...

make something of yourself, right, Holden?

- Well, actually I've been meaning

to talk to you about that.

But um, maybe later.

- Well, we're all friends here. Speak!

- Well, um, I've become interested in Architecture.

I've been studying it in Venice,

Athens, and particularly Florence.

You know, I've given it a lot of thought

and I think I'd like to go back to school...

to become an architect.

- So you mean you want to spend more time

bumming around Europe looking at old buildings

and Cathedrals that don't mean a damn thing in the real world.

What a waste!

I've given you the best education.

I've given you the best opportunities

but it doesn't mean a damn thing unless you have a plan.

And I mean a plan you can take to the bank.

So here it is:

You can forget about school... and come and work with me.

Learn the business.

With my help and your credentials

by the time you're my age, you'll have more money

and power than God.

Now that's a plan.

And I've got an early one so I'm gonna hit it.

I assume you guys are gonna go dancing or something?

- I don't know... - Yeah, if you want.

- Sure.

- Well, just make sure he comes back in one piece.

He's got a big day tomorrow. Gonna bag his first deer.

- Oh... sounds manly.

- Are you coming?

- Yes. You two have a... good night.

Both of you.

- So... what do you wanna do?

- Want some?

- Uh, it's okay.

- What happened?

- I walked her to her car and she drove home.

- Why? She's cute. You look good together.

- [Sighing]: Cut it out!

Tonight was hard enough.

- Yeah...

- What are we doing?

This is nuts.

I have to get outta here. - Why?

- Why? He wants to control my life!

- He offered you a job.

- [ Sighs ]

Gimme a break!

He doesn't care about me or what I want.

He only cares about himself and what'll make him look good.

Don't you get it?

He'll be on my case 24/7, watching every move I make.

He'll suck the life out of me. I have to get outta here!

- What about me?

What happens to me?

I wanna be alone with you.

If it was just the two of us,

I could do this anytime I wanted.

Do you have to do this?

- What's the problem?

- I don't like hunting.

Bunch of people in the woods with guns. It's dangerous.

- Well A] No one asked you, and B] We'll be fine.

- Yeah but still... accidents happen.

- Hmmm, let's go.

[ Birds calling ]

- Beautiful day, isn't it?

- Yeah.

- So have you thought about what I said last night?

- Yeah. - Good.

Let me ask you...

Do you have any idea what the hell Lana does

while I'm at work?

- What do you mean?

- Well, I dunno, I can't reach her.

She never answers her cell phone...

I just can't seem to reach her at all these days.

Ah, don't worry about it.

Hey...

These are fresh. Big too. Must be a buck.

You follow the path. I'm gonna circle around

and chase him right back at you. Alright?

- Okay. - Okay.

Trail's gone cold. Let's move on.

[ Sighing ]

[ Heavy breathing ]

- Hey!

- How was your workout?

- Ooh! I think I overdid it a little.

- Want your shake?

- You know how to make 'em?

- I've seen you do it enough times.

- [Exhales]: You know, it's my mission

to have you drinking them by Christmas.

- Not a chance in hell. - Ha.

- I don't know how you put these things down.

- I see you're looking at the pictures.

Is that romantic, or what?

- Definitely. - Ha! Ha!

- Brings back a lot of memories of when I was there.

Beautiful place to get married.

- Yeah. That was quite a day.

- Here, Dad.

- Thanks.

Has Lana been acting strange to you lately?

- I dunno.

- I think something's up.

I can see it in her eyes.

I can hear it in her laugh.

I think she's cheating on me.

- Um... are you sure? [ Swallows ]

- No... But I'll know soon.

- Holden, what's goin' on?

Why are we meeting in a hotel room?

- He knows...

He doesn't know it's me, but he suspects

you're having an affair.

It's only a matter of time.

- We can be more discreet.

- I'm leaving.

- No...

- I can't stay.

I'm going home, packing my things and leaving tonight.

I'm sorry but it's over.

- Holden, wait...

Please... Please...

Please, sit down.

If you really wanted it to be over...

why'd you have us meet in a motel?

- Lana?

Ahh! Sh...

- Hey, dude...

You got the time?

- Yeah. It's five past ten.

- You got a buck?

[ Drops his glass ]

- Cut 27 times, stabbed 4 times

with an un-serrated blade

approximately 40 inches in length.

Murder weapon is obviously the uh... the missing sword.

- Time of death?

- Hmm? Oh, tricky. The killer cranked the air conditioning.

Closest I could say the time of death

without an autopsy,

would be somewhere between 6:30 and 8:30.

- How's 8:22, give or take?

- Yeah, that could be.

- So where's his son?

- In the study.

- How is he?

- Seems... nervous.

- Mr. Pryce? I'm Detective Lucille Clarkson.

This is Lieutenant Victor Mormino.

I know this has gotta be

a particularly difficult time for you, but...

you know we're gonna have to ask you some questions.

- We gotta fill out reports, you know, that kind of thing.

Should only take about an hour or so

and we were thinking we'd head back to the station.

Getcha out of all this.

- We'd also like to ask your stepmother some questions.

Do you have any idea where she might be?

- Is she usually out this late?

- Sometimes...

I dunno.

- Okay...

- He's over here...

- What's going on?

- After talking to my father, I left the house at about six.

Went to a movie. - Which theater?

- The Imperial.

I saw The Godfather. First one.

- Mason wasn't home when I left...

which was about five, five-thirty.

I wanted to do some shopping, so I skipped dinner

and I went to the mall.

And then on my way home, a friend of mine called...

- The show let out about 9:30.

- And it was about 7... 7... 7:45... 7:45...

when I went over to her apartment.

I'd set her up with my, my stepson

and it didn't go too well

so she wanted to talk about that.

- I drove home. Came inside.

Poured myself a brandy in the living room

then went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

[ Sniffs ] That's where I found him.

- And I stayed with Nicole...

... until about 11 o'clock and then I drove home.

- When you arrived at the house,

you didn't see anyone, hear anything?

- No.

- Do you have a contact for Ms um...

... Nicole Kashper?

- I can get that for you, yes.

- Any ideas as to...

who might've done something like this?

- No.

- No.

- The police said your place should be available

for you in the next few days.

Once they complete the crime scene investigation.

In the meantime... my house is your house.

- Lana... Lana.

- What are you doing in here? Harry could catch us.

- Where were you?

- On my way home, Nicole called. And wanted to meet.

- For what?

- She knows about us. She saw us together

on the night that we all had dinner

and videotaped us through the window.

Everything. I saw it myself.

And to make matters worse, she wants money. $100,000.

- How are we gonna....

- Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it.

- If anybody sees that tape...

- Did you tell the police anything about us?

- Of course not.

- Okay, good. So don't worry about it.

I'll protect you. Now come on.

- You'll protect me?

What do you mean, you'll protect me?

- Go!!

- I loved your father very much. He was a good man to me.

A decent person. But I cannot go back to the house now. I cannot.

- Madeline...

- Please understand.

You take care of yourself now, okay?

- I have to talk with you.

- Not here.

- Then let's go somewhere else.

- Is everything alright?

- Holden, you wanna give me a hand

with something over here please?

- You know, your father had everything in his life

except for one thing...

... his youth.

I think he saw in Lana a way to recapture some of that.

But I tell you, he was feelin' pretty vulnerable with her.

He came and saw me the other day.

He was suspectin' her of havin' an affair.

- You think Lana killed my father?

- No, her story was confirmed.

She was at Nicole Kashper's

at the time of your father's death.

No, besides, somebody her size couldn't overpower your father.

Somebody else coulda.

Someone she was involved with.

- We have to talk.

What did you mean, you would protect me?

- That I still love you

and I would never do anything to hurt you.

That I blame myself.

I should've ended it before... all of this happened.

But nobody will know what you did.

- You really think I killed him?

- Well, if you didn't... who did?

- How do I know it wasn't you?

- Because I was with you, and then I was with Nicole.

When could I have done it?

- Maybe you had some help.

- Maybe I had some help.

From who? From a lover? Someone like you?

You know, they say the eyes are the windows to the soul.

That the truth is there.

So if you're asking me to believe you...

... I'll believe you.

Listen, I'm gonna stay and talk to Harry.

- I'll wait.

- That's alright. I'll meet you back at the house.

- I remember when my father divorced my mother...

... and we moved to Connecticut,

our house was really, really quiet at night,

except for the sound of my mom crying in her bedroom.

And I hated him

for what he did...

to her...

to us.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

When my mom became ill,

he never once reached out to help her.

It was like she no longer existed to him.

My father... was a selfish

and cruel man.

Maybe deep down, I really did want him to die.

For everything...

The way he treated you.

The way he hit you.

- Hit me? Your father never hit me.

- But your arm...

- Yeah, I did that at the gym. I never said he hit me.

I know you're scared.

I understand that.

But you're gonna be okay.

Listen, I gotta go get changed.

I gotta go meet Nicole.

- I'm gonna go with you.

- No...

She'll only deal with me.

- How do I know I can trust you?

- Baby...

I'm the only one you cantrust.

- Where's the tape?

- Holden! - Get him away from me!

- Where's the tape!? - Holden!

- Give me the tape!!

- Holden, you're messing everything up!

She's going to give that tape to the police!

Is that what you want?

Let me handle this!

- Get out of here! - I want that tape!

[ Cell phone rings ]

[ Cell phone rings ]

Hello?

Thanks.

So what's up?

- Nothin'. I just wanted to see how you were doin'.

How are you doin'?

- You know.

- Yeah...

It's amazing how much you remind me of your father.

He liked old movies too.

The Godfather...

It was one of his favourites.

I saw it too, but...

I can't remember how it ended.

How did that end again?

- Harry...

I've been through a lot.

I really don't feel like talkin' about a stupid movie.

- But you just saw it... didn't you?

Oh, right...

Yeah, the projectionist that day had a problem

with the 3 o'clock showing.

All showings that day were cancelled.

You've got a lot to gain

from your father's death, don't ya?

- Gain? What are you talking about?

- The will...

You're the primary beneficiary.

- What?

Me? What about Lana?

- Yeah. She's not mentioned in the will.

So...

The real question is...

is that if you didn't do it...

... who did? And why?

- I didn't do it.

- Unless... you didn't do it for the money.

This arrived in my office this afternoon.

There's no record of who sent it.

Yeah, it looks like you have been through a lot.

As Executor...

of your father's estate,

it is my job to protect you.

And if you want me to do that

you'd better start telling me the truth.

- I was gonna end it that night.

[ Starts recorder ]

We met at a motel.

We made love one last time.

When I got home...

my father was dead.

- Lana was with you the whole time?

- No. I fell asleep. When I woke up she was gone.

- Anybody see you?

Any record of you being there?

- I paid in cash and used a fake name.

[ Sighs ]

- Okay.

We'll get somebody at the front desk

to ID you and confirm the time.

[ Exhales ]

[ Exhales ]

- When I checked out they were closed!

- Well, you need somebody to establish you bein' there,

otherwise you've got no alibi. Now think!

- Yeah, it's, uh, 5 past 10.

There was a homeless guy. He asked me the time.

He can place me there.

- Okay, we'll find him.

What about this?

- It's blackmail. Nicole Kashper made the tape.

She wants a $100,000...

that's why Lana was at her house the night of the murder.

- If she was blackmailing you why would she send me the tape?

[ Chuckles ]

Because it has nothing to do with blackmail.

[ Exhales ]

Somebody wants this affair to be made public.

The fact that you and Lana had an affair

makes you look more guilty.

- As you said I'm the sole heir.

Who gains anything from framing me?

[ Scoffs ]

If you go to jail for your father's murder,

you don't inherit his money, she gets all assets.

More than enough to inspire a murder, don't you think?

Huh?

For a Harvard boy you're not too smart.

[ Door opens ]

[ Sighs ]

- I thought you said someone Lana's size

couldn't have killed my father.

- Someone else could've done it for her.

- Who?

- Maybe you weren't her only lover.

[ Exhales ]

Look, Holden,

go home, pack your stuff,

come back and stay here. Alright?

In the meantime, I'll figure out how we're gonna handle this.

Until then...

don't confront Lana.

And do not talk to anybody

about what was discussed here, alright?

No one.

[ Starts engine ]

- It's a $100,000 for Nicole.

- And what's this for?

- Well, you can never be too careful.

- You took care of everything.

- I always do.

[ Clunking sound ]

[ Clunking sound ]

[ Bangs into table ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Panting ]

- Unh!

You want to kill me! You want to kill me now!?

- It's all over... it was a mistake!

Do you want to kill me?

- [Strained]: Stop! Stop.

Unh!

[ Gasping ] Ugh!

I saw the light.

[Sobbing]: I thought it was a prowler...

or maybe the person who killed Mason.

I was scared.

- I saw the suicide note!

- What are you talking about? - STOP IT!!

[ Sniffs ]

- Holden, you're scaring me.

- [Sobbing]: I'm so stupid!

I'm so stupid!

[Hushed]: I loved you.

Don't come any closer!

- WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH!!

IT WAS A MISTAKE!!

- Stay there.

- Give me the gun.

- Don't move.

- You're not gonna kill me...

- No...

- I love you.

[Hushed]: I love you.

- I'm... sorry.

Harry, open up!! It's Holden.

Hah... She took care of everything.

She even used my computer to write the suicide note.

- All you need to get away with murder...

is someone to take the fall.

You were meant to take the fall.

Is she still at the house?

- I dunno.

- Okay, time to go to the police.

- That's it.

That's everything.

- Alright.

Thank you very much, Mr. Pryce.

We'd, uh, like you to stay put.

- Good job, Holden.

- What about the wife? - She's missing.

- Yeah, she's missing! He probably killed her.

And if she is alive, she's the one with the alibi.

- Speaking of which, Nicole Kashper

is also M.I.A. I got 2 guys at her place,

I got 4 others making the rounds.

- My God, people!

The kid is guilty. He has no alibi and he has motive.

- What about the homeless guy?

- Agh! Give me a break, he never existed.

This kid has been spinning you this long, shaggy dog story.

You two are being suckered by this pretty boy.

Well, he isn't gonna do it to me.

I handed you an arrest warrant and I want it executed.

- Holden Pryce, you're under arrest.

You have the right to remain silent...

- What? Harry... - Anything you say...

- On your feet. - ... what's going on?

- You have the right to have an attorney present now,

and during future questioning. - Harry!

- If you cannot afford an attorney...

- What is going on!!

- You have the right to exercise these rights

at any time.

[ Phones ring ]

- She ran.

I just got confirmation from the gate attendant at O'Hare.

Lana Pryce boarded a plane to Caracas yesterday morning.

- Venezuela?

- Hah! I doubt it's coincidence

she picked the only South American country

we got no extradition treaty with.

- Well?

- You've got a deal.

[ Presses recorder ]

State your name for the record please.

- Nicole Anastasia Kashper.

- When did Lana Pryce first approach you

regarding the crime in question?

- Um, just before she introduced me to Holden Pryce

at a benefit at his father's corporate offices.

At first I told her I didn't want to do it.

But we were--

- It's okay. You've been granted immunity.

Just tell them the truth.

- Lana and I were lovers.

I, um... I thought we were in love.

That's why I agreed to go along with it.

She promised that once this was all over,

we could be together...

Away from it all...

Rich...

All I had to do

was videotape her and Holden together,

and then we would blackmail him.

- Blackmail him for what?

- His father was rich. He had a trust fund.

A big one. We could have it all.

Holden would do anything to keep the affair secret.

Then one night,

she shows up at my house, covered in blood.

She told me she'd killed Mr. Pryce.

And at first I didn't want to believe her, but...

there was all that blood.

- Did she have the murder weapon?

- No. She said....

no one would ever find it.

- What did you do next?

- I helped her wash up...

We burned her clothes.

And she told me then...

that I would have to lie to the police.

I had to be her alibi.

- Why did you come to us now?

- She told me she was going to kill Holden Pryce

and make it look like a suicide.

She said that would put an end to everything and I...

I wanted so badly to believe her.

But I was the only one who knew what had really happened.

And if she could kill 2 people she said she loved...

I might be next.

She's your killer...

not Holden Pryce.

- So what do you think the chances are

of the police finding her?

- Well, they'll try.

But it's tough if she's out of the country.

Contrary to popular belief,

most murderers are never brought to justice.

Oh, I almost forgot.

You know, the one thing that never made sense was...

how she could pull off that murder by herself.

Toxicology report.

Your father was lethally poisoned.

Tetraethyl pyrophosphate. It's an insecticide.

It's odourless, colourless.

Kills aphids.

Commonly used in gardening.

Your father was dead before the first strike of the blade.

She wanted to make it look like someone a lot stronger did it.

Someone like you.

Look, I'm really sorry for everything you've been through.

- Thanks for everything.

- Take care.

- You found it right where I hid it.

[ Breathing heavy ]

[ Gun cocks ]

I loved her...

she was everything to me...

We were going to be together forever.

- Nicole Anastasia Kashper.

[ Breathing heavy ]

- Call me Stacy, baby.

Ha, ha, ha!!

- So. How was Venezuela?

- How would I know?

Never left the Caracas airport. It's amazing

how little attention they pay to these pictures.

A little makeup, hair, the right clothes.

I walked in as Lana and out as myself in less than an hour.

My ass aches from flying so long.

Best performance of my life and nobody can ever know about it.

- That Drama Major paid off.

- Mmmmm.

What's that?

- Euh...

Take a look.

Notice anyone familiar in the background?

- What? What am I looking at?

- Look closer.

- Oh my God...

Hah! That's us.

At your father's wedding. [ Laughs ]

- Pretty wacky, huh? Another one of life's little ironies...

us stumbling into that village on that particular day.

And there he was.

My loving father and his young, new wife.

I always knew I'd kill that sonovabitch one day.

[ Giggles ]

- Aahh! Let's do it.

Murder makes me horny.

- Not yet. Not yet.

I just found the murder weapon, remember?

I'm calling the police.

- Oh, baby. Can't it wait?

- No!

We've come this far, we're sticking to the plan.

Did you get rid of the body?

- Yeah. Yeah, I got rid of it.

What a friggin' hassle!

- I love you.

- I'm... sorry.

Love's a bitch.

Ahh...

[ Exhales ]

- You okay?

- Yeah.

- Well. Worked like a charm.

So...

aren't you gonna kill her? Ha, ha...

- No.

It's your turn.

- W-Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Hacking up corpses is one thing but I...

- I killed Mason. Now it's your turn.

Either we're in this together or we're not.

Then take her out to the landfill.

- By myself?

- Oh, stop bitching!

I have to go...

Then you do what you have to do.

Baby...

It's only gonna be a little longer, okay?

Hey. Hey.

- Hmmm.

[ Exhales ]

[ Rocks sliding ]

[ Splash ]

- You stupid bitch!!

I told you to kill her

and take her to the landfill.

Not the bluffs. The landfill!

- She's gone!

No one could've survived that fall!

- [Shouting]: What if the body floats up!

- It didn't! I checked!

It disappeared! She is gone!

- Are you a complete idiot?

- I was down here.

I searched for over an hour.

I took a rowboat out in the lake.

She didn't come up, Holden.

The water's at least 50 feet deep out there...

She is never coming up!

I told you.

She's gone.

Oh my God. [ Laughs ]

You see? It must've come off when she hit.

That's all that's left.

- This is not happening.

- Come here. Come here.

The lake swallowed her up, baby.

- I'm calling the cops.

You have to get outta here.

- I'll see you at the end of the week.

I can't believe it.

[ Laughs ] We're rich.

♪ ♪

[ Breathing heavy ]

- Yes. Detective Mormino?

[ Exhales ]

Thank God you're there.

It's Holden Pryce.

I think you need to come over here.

I think I just found the murder weapon.

Yes, yes, I'm sure.

Okay. Thank you.

Yes.

Hah.

Hah.

[ Gun cocking ]

- I've been waiting for you.

[ Gunshot ] - Unh!

Aaaahh!

- Don't you...

d-dare scream, you bastard.

'cause you don't know what pain is...

[ Gasps ]

Why...?

- Oh-hah, hah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

Screw you!

- I want to know.

- You said you understood.

I was another one of his trophies. Just like you.

To me...

it was another way to get rich before I was 30.

And isn't that what Dad always wanted?

- Are you that heartless?

- And you married him for love, right?

You slept with his son!

Gimme a break.

We're all the same.

We all wanted something!

Mason wanted a little hottie

to make himself feel young.

You wanted someone to take care of you.

Me...

Hah...

I wanted everything.

- You would've gotten everything.

You would've gotten all of his money regardless.

[ Inhales ]

- But then [ Groans ] I'd have to play by the bastard's rules.

I couldn't have that.

- I loved you.

- Sorry. All you need to get away with murder

is have someone to take the fall.

You were perfect.

- Did you ever love me?

- You're never gonna know.

♪ Loud music

[ Gunshot ] - Unh!

[ Breathing heavy ]

[ Panting, groaning ]

[ Gunshot ]

- Dammit!

[ Gunshot ]

Aaahhh!

Aaagghh!

[ Chuckles ]

You bitch!

- Trust me, that fall's gonna hurt.

- Shoot me!

[ Gunshot ]

Ahh-haah...

[ Foliage swishes ]

[ Splash ]

Uhhh...

[ Footsteps ]

[ Siren ]

- Holden! Gimme your hand.

Come on.

- It was a nice service...

Your father would've been pleased.

- Yeah, it was.

- Your dad must've been a tough man to have for a father.

But deep down, I'm sure you loved him.

- Yeah.

- So where are you headed?

- Away.

Ow. Ow. Careful, baby.

- Sorry.

- Check out my new ride.

- Ooh cool, Daddy-o.

- Hey, dude.

You got the time?

- Yeah, it's, uh, 3:25

- You got a buck?

You're a saint!

- They say my generation is jaded.

Brought up in a time when there's no faith in God,

government, people... anything.

But whatever created my generation came before me.

We didn't make all this up...

our attitudes, our way of looking at life.

We learned by example.

It's a tough time to be young...

yet somehow we all learn to cope.

In the end, all you need...

is a good plan.