Original subtitles

I was sitting in on a lecture arden gave at harvard about Don Quixote

In which he admitted he never managed to read the novel through to the end.

And he doubted whether anyone in the audience could finish the damn thing either

You threw austin I think so. Thank you Jim

Afterwards I hung around and invited auden for tea or sherry or opium

Or something and he accepted, and did he seduced you

You old catamite no he fell asleep

You know this pope salmon was a bit off today how was your view?

Not bad

Isn't that you know he's famous. - You mean the writer.

Yes

Well they say he tried to poison his second life no

I saw you on television

Oh hawking my wares in the marketplace?

I forget what you said,

You gave that interviewer a difficult time.

She was an idiot.

Your new book. I haven't read it of course,

But it's supposed to be wonderful, so i've been told.

I told you.

I think i'll uh, do without coffee today Reg?

Let me sign for it - Thanks

My best to slim and company

I'll pass on the salutations

You know Scott?

Have a nice day sir

You're Austin Blair?

Yes

Here you go

Here I go

Connealy want you

Whatever it is i'm busy

I kind of want you now

If he saw the hand I just got doubt he'd wait

Full house

His master's voice

Guess who bought the farm?

Who

Austin Blair

Austin Blair pack writer of trash novels

Austin Blair very rich very successful hack writer for trash novels

Someone once said that's not writing that's typing

Oh he's dead

Somebody shot him some wacko

In front ofthe arts club on gramercy

What today?

45 minutes ago

Public deprived of his insights

World mourns

find out who killed him - I'd like to shake his hand

Well you can shake his hand in the morgue the psycho popped himself in the head after he offspring

Why me?

I got a hunch this will sell

You're my golden boy won the prize on the police corruption series i'm handing you this on a platter

So you're thinking this will play above the fault

At least a couple days

You do this right everybody's going to want to take us to dinner

Hey, you can't hang around here police business let's go

It's okay officer he's with the newspaper

You put my name in the paper? - Sure.

But, if you look here you can still see the blood on the pavement there

Look at all that blood it's. - Impressive.

Okay thanks so much

Spell for Crane

Spelled MC - I got it capital c Crane

Name right okay, all right - We just got an idea on the floor

And... - Well and we have to notify the family

Yeah - Protect their privacy

Right, right

So, who is it?

What's in it for me

I'll be your best friend heart you'll get my catcher's mitt

I'll let you have my two-way dick tracy wrist watch

Slice of the movie rex

Burgess... Elliot Burgess

Burgess

Hello...

This is burgess - Yes

Hello my name is David Leader I'm a reporter you

Really can't talk... I just wanted to ask you a couple

That's not possible. - No no I understand...

It's not

Yes I just wanna... - You have to pleace leave me alone

Great

Hello

Hi

Hey I thought we were meeting for lunch today

Oh I'm sorry, I was uh interviewing

Yeah, I figured something was up

So

What are you working on this time?

Austin Blair

I heard somebody shot him

Yeah, killer some rich kid

Family won't talk not even a TV

But if I can get the goods

This could be the one

Meaning?

Talk shows book deals film rights you name it

Yeah, this could be the one

I liked his books. - Whose

Austin Blair David, I liked his book

Oh please

I did they were very smart witty

He had great insight into women

Hannah his books make people magazine look like proust

When's the last time you read bruce David?

So okay, maybe I've only read the classics illustrated version

Haven't made any dinner I'm starving

This pasta, you know what this is?

there's pasta, right...

Yeah it's the one the magazine I showed you

I don't remember

Well remember you asked me to make a boys sometime

So now you made it

You're welcome

You never told me red Austin Blair

in his inner jacket pocket his pants pocket contain a set of keys

45 cents and lose change a wallet containing 51 dollars

A membership card to a musician's union membership card to the museum of modern arts

A social security card driver's license

Uh, two credit cards, no photos

And a pocket tape recorder

Austin Blair appeared on am new york earlier this week to publicize his latest novel

And a writer...

But I am transforming raw material

And people get

Well huh, capote did it and look what happened to him

Hey you!

What time is it?

How's it going?

Working on something big

The Blair killing?

Uh-huh. - You always get the good ones

Kiss my... - Good stories, the women...

Yeah but people respect you booth

Did you ever read any of blair's stuff? - Not if I could help it

Why would someone want to whack him

Ddn't like his prose style

Which got on the killer's family

Still lived at home. With his mother and his father and a sister

That he's the quiet type

Always walking little old ladies across the street

And then he hears dogs talking to him

Where'd he get the gun

He's serious this is america

Anybody can get a gun I walk into safeway I pick up a gun

I thought there might be something to finding out where he got the gun but...

What do I know

I work for another paper

I gotta get to the mom before the TV slime

Makes great copy and they love me

Oh my God!

Hello - Yes i'd like to speak to Mrs. Burgess

Who is this?

I'm a reporter for the... I'm not...

Go a spokesman for our firm will make a statement of the press at the appropriate time

Excuse me but your son just murdered...

I'm aware of what happened there will be a statement later

Do I know you?

No I'm a reporter for them... Hey give me a second okay

I've got nothing to say

Hold it wait please I want to understand

There's nothing to understand

A terrible thing happened, my brother did a terrible thing

I don't know how to live with that

I cook for them, I cook the regular dinners

And when they have company you know more than four or five

they have somebody extra tell me about Elliot

I talked already to the police

Yes I know but we have our little arrangement

And I'll bet you could remember a thing or two you forgot to tell them

Well

He'd stay up in his room long time

Sometimes most of the day

Sometimes he'd be practicing his violin

Other times nothing

You ever see a gun in his room?

I never saw a gun

He could raise hell with the father

The two of them always arguing over the sister Emma

Anybody criticize her

That boy explode screaming waving his arms

You want to pay me now

Why you're following me?

Excuse me. - You're following me

I could call the police

This is harassment it's against the law

Believe me what I do is not against the law

And yes I was following you, I want to ask you a few questions

I already told you I have nothing to say

I think you've got a lot to tell me but I'd settle for a few minutes

Look I don't want to follow you anymore I'm really terrible at it

I spotted you right away

See

I'd rather talk to you directly

No I... I can't

Why do you have to know?. - It's not me it's them.

who's them? - Everybody buying a paper it's news

Somebody and it happens to be a brother I'm very sorry that it's him but he kills somebody they want to know why

And what about you?

Me it's just a job it's my business

But if you talk to me these crowds will go away

See they're just when things put in perspective

Once the mystery is solved

Story's over

I don't have answers

I don't

Let me be the judge of that

Here you can call me

My name is David Leader

Here's my office number

Please give me a call Miss Burgess

Give me nothing better than a crap on the six o'clock new

i'm working on it

Close the door

I'm intrigued by this story I'm willing to play it out to the end

You don't have something by the end of the day make it up

Nothing major nothing outright falls but factual speculation

Factual speculation

Got me where I am today

Well I... I got an angle - On all ears

It's about justice. - Yeah

It's the concept and abstraction it can't be defined

Yet we all seek it

A wrong must be righted

Now vengeance we don't think of as one of the highest of human emotions

But if you ask me vengeance is at the heart of justice

Now it's not enough to just catch a bad guy and send him or her away

It's never enough it's got to be finished

Killing someone

That finishes it in a way

Fantasize of killing

It's not we all do it

Have you seen this movie?

Yes...

No, I don't remember

I should have rented something else

Do you think she's beautiful?

I think she's very beautiful

She's flawed she has a funny little black spot on her lip

Someone should tell her

Why don't you tell her next time you see her

You drive me one

You make me...

I knew Ellie threw Emma and then I

It's been a few weeks since we've gotten together we talk on the phone

We know each other from school and then we

Weekend together at the hamptons. - I know you.

Elliot was a very withdrawn person

Did you ever talk to him?

Always with Emma he was very protective of m.a you would have terrible fights with their father

Over emma?

Emma could be...

I should not be telling you this

No, no, no, no, please go ahead

We used to think Emma was a tease

You know she had that reputation

She would I think she's over this period now because

But she would uh lead men on she wouldn't get very serious

With any one man and she so she had this reputation

You must think um...

We used to be very close

I wouldn't want you to think badly of her

No, no

Now do you have that picture

Yeah

There it is...

Like they were a couple

Can I have this?

Thanks Ellie

so how's it coming - fine

yeah you know what you could do for me

what?

You know Austin Blair's book his latest, you read it?

Not yet

Maybe you could read it for me you know skim it tell me what it's about

What you want like a book report kind of thing

Yeah I owe you one

Try five, personally I can't stomach the guy's stuff

So what do you say? - I don't know

Thanks, I appreciate it

Hello

Hi david, how are you? - Hey kathy you know

I was just thinking about you

She's so hot, prize winner

Doesn't have time to read a book, he thinks he's such a hot shot Don Johnson

Ever noticed like the source for him is always a woman

He uses ways you only dream

David is you?

Does it sound true?

Sure

It's true

I'm gonna admit though, I'm gonna miss Austin Blair

Really

You ever see him on the talk show, he was quick

He could rip these guys apart

So it was good for laughs someone else's expense

Taxi

Excuse me

This scene runs the continuous narrative sequence

In which there's an intermingling

of god's demigods and mortals

We now pass from the reading of the ritual and the sacrifice

To...

A complex dionysia group

Which occupies the center panel

In it the God is

Reclining upon the lap of his consort ariadne

Would you all excuse me for a minute

What are you doing here?

I'm fascinated by Roman frescos really

I come to this section of the museum

This is a not lunch that's all I ask let me buy you lunch

I find it refreshing that you work in the museum once a week

your father gave you the job

My mother actually

She's on the board

Seems the bama's on the board of just about everything

I imagine you have access to our tax returns and phone records

Yep

Maybe even go looking through our garbage at night

No, no, no, I draw the line at garbage

I personally don't believe this all can be explained by just the facts

maybe none of us it explained

Maybe we would rather just... - Of course you would

But here we are in a cafeteria

I’m trying to be pleasant

That won't change anything

I’d like to know why Austin Blair I mean he's a novelist for god's sake

Nobody shoots a writer

I can't imagine anything he'd scribble out would compel someone to shoot him

Or your brother takes his own life

Elliot read everything

Novels, history, philosophy

He had a brilliant mind Mr. Leader

He was brilliant

And disturbed. - Look

I’m still trying to understand

I think we should talk again Miss Burgess

I don't think that's a good idea

I do otherwise who knows what I’ll write about your family

I have to go

Have you read this in the paper?

What they're saying about Elliot

About...

That we did nothing to stop him

as if we could

As if we were responsible

I don't wish to discuss this further

Do not give them the satisfaction dear

Okay so I looked at Blair’s book last night

A ha

Okay so it was slick but entertaining lifestyles of the decade rich and famous you know

And this woman Muriel

She's the step from this rich family

Family's very old money, very conservative

And she's the black sheep

She's always sleeping around

And getting smashed, and getting in the newspapers and embarrassing the family

Got it

But in reality, she just wants to be loved, she's even sleeping with her brother I think

Oh and I figured out who some of the other characters are supposed to be

One of them is Jackie I think

It was trashy but I liked it

Somebody left this for you

Who

Who?

Who, this woman what's he look like

What she look like?

What are you a freaking parrot

You know, I tell you this woman leaves this thing

And and you know I read the book for you

And so next time I’m not going to help you out

Jerk

Jerk

Simon little buddy, what do you want?

Let's chill out okay, I’m sorry all right thanks

Thank you for your help

It's all right

So uh you got a tape player?

Like do I have one on me

Yeah

For you, you want to borrow a tape player from me

Yes

Sorry, I don't have one

Okay tell the boss if he wants me, I’m working at home

Test, testing, one two three

October seventh

I begin these tapes as a record of the conspiracy I begin to see revealed

I will record the facts, but the facts speak for themselves

Let the facts speak for themselves

Hey

Sorry

I I’m...

What is it Elliot

it's all right I’m letting the world know

I’m setting it down

What are you talking about

I’m reading Austin Blair’s new book

Yes

He knows what's going on

October 8th

I finished Blair’s book in a rush

I saw what his intention was

Blair has in some way I’ve yet to determine been spying on our lives

He has taken our existence and for his own sinister purposes turned us into grotesques

But this will not go unanswered

Perhaps you are unaware of what is happening

Are you speaking to me Elliot?

I’m talking to you and mother

and of uh... what are we unaware?

The conspiracy to discredit this family

What conspiracy?

What do you people do all day?

All right, there's no need to be

I’m sorry I just seem to be the only person taking this seriously

He's talking about Austin Blair

The writer - You're a lawyer you should do something legally

What are you talking about?

In this piece he calls a fiction

He's written a portrait of us

Of the family in highly unflattering terms

I think we have a very solid legal case and I think we should seek damages

I haven't read this uh book

You have a copy?

I destroyed it, I burned it

Elliott don't be so metadramatic

It's in my room I’ll get it - Please finish dinner

We'll deal with this after dinner

Yes - All right

Yes, yes, yes

I called the paper they said you'd love

I wanted to work here

Did you even notice I wasn't here last night David

Did you?

Not really

We're all grown-ups here

Aren't we I’m a grown-up David

Listen I hope this important story you're working on is going well

It is

And you don't need my help

No

I know where this is going to go - You do?

This story

You're not exactly sure where it's leading and that's exciting

But I know it's about the girl David

Your stories like this are always about the girl and God, this one...

Don't throw that at me

Why not it's the truth Back off, ok?

What do you want from me?

You know what I’ve decided - What?

I don't want to be just another chapter in your big story, you know?

I'm not up for that.

Fine.

What's for dessert?

Give me a day or two, and I'll have something good.

How good?

Is every other paper in town's moving the story to the back pages?

I'm working on a source.

I've got a lead.

I've just got to play it out.

Your hunch, huh?

Now, don't get excited, but I'm working on something that could put us out in front of everybody.

I love this guy.

Why do I love this guy so much?

Because I deliver.

Lear!

What have you been up to?

Where's he been up?

Are you kidding?

Is he kidding?

I'm only doing the biggest story in town.

Austin Blair.

What about Austin Blair?

About him being shot.

Austin Blair was shot?

When's this happening?

Read something besides his sports page you work on, Ray.

Really?

Somebody shot him?

Who's Austin Blair?

You got a car why you need a car why you need a car

Taxi

Why you need a car?

Get the hell out of New York

Where you gonna go?

You hate the rest of the country - I don't appreciate it here

We should all have your problems

You know it's too bad that you work for that rag

We should be working together

You're too good to be working for another...

You know what?

What

It's lonely at the top leader

Hello

Who is it?

Delivery from Simon at the New York Lowe.

October 11th.

I present evidence to Emma.

I taped a number of appearances on these talk shows.

Look, this is...

Yeah.

I do.

Here, he admits it.

It's my job to observe and, yes,

Use people,

Their lives,

Their personal lives.

That's what makes good fiction.

Well, fiction that sells.

But then isn't what you're doing, isn't it more a job of reporting?

Oh, you could say that, of course.

But I am transforming raw material and these people get, well,

Capote did it.

Look what happened to him.

But like him.

Oh, I know these people.

I know their world.

I know their dirty little secrets.

Wouldn't you like to know what I know?

I never read his books, Elliot.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter?

He...

What's wrong with you that you don't even...

We shouldn't argue about this.

We never argue.

Yes.

I know.

I now believe I'm being followed by detectives.

Or some person seeking to do me harm.

I tried to call Austin Blair.

His number's unlisted, of course.

So now I'm going to write him, stating my objections and asking for an apology.

Perhaps he'll be a gentleman.

We're smart.

Do you have any books by Austin Blair?

Yeah.

He's very popular.

Over there is the novel.

We have some signed copies left.

Thank you

Yes.

October 13th.

Getting no response from Blair, I take action.

I go to City Hall.

May I help you?

Elliot Burgess. I'm here to see the mayor.

Mayor?

Yes, the mayor of New York City. This is where his office is.

I'd like to see him. It's very important.

I'm afraid you can't come here.

Yes, of course. I didn't make an appointment.

Perhaps I can make an appointment.

Do I need to do that?. Could you do that for me?

Well, there is an assistant available to help you.

That's terrific. That'd be great.

Can I talk to him?

Mr. Burgess, I still don't see what this has to do with the office of the mayor.

Well, I believe I said Austin Blair has hired people to follow me.

I see her from...

They follow me.

Sometimes there are two of them.

You just think I'm...

It does seem to be an overreaction.

I don't understand why a writer of Mr. Blair's reputation...

I'd like to point out that my father is a very prominent attorney in this city.

I'm aware of who your father is.

I'm also aware of how helpful he was in the mayor's re-election campaign.

Why don't you let me look into this?

I appreciate that, Mr. Adamson.

I read sections of this novel you've been ranting about, Elliot.

There are really no legal grounds for action, as far as I can see.

Besides, isn't there an Austin Blair at our club?

We all met him.

I don't remember that.

Well, I'm sure if he's a member, he would never write about us.

Thanks for taking the time to see me, Mr. Wilson.

Not at all.

Though I generally don't make it a habit to talk to the papers.

It's an unofficial club policy.

The Burgesses are members here at the club.

Yes.

No, they don't seem to make it out here to the island as often as they used to.

Now they're out here two, three weeks during summer, so...

But they come out here on occasion.

Yes, Emma, I've seen a few times.

She shows up.

Ah she's... she's a real charmer.

You've met Emma Burgess?

Yes.

I interviewed her for the story.

Oh, yes.

Yes.

What about Elliot and the...

You know, it's best not to talk too much about that one yet.

I've always thought he was a bit...

You wouldn't have a register, something like that, that tells when the family was here?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I'm sure there's a record of when they signed for meals, you know.

Well, we sent him a yearly statement.

If I could just take a look at...

Well, I don't know about this.

Members like their privacy, you know.

I understand.

But I'd really like to help out on the down payment of that sailboat you've been eyeing.

Sailboat?

Oh, yes, that one.

Well, she's a real beauty, sir.

Just a few hundred for the...

Tell me, how'd you know I was the sailing sort?

It's my job.

October 15th.

I do not know whether Blair ever met my sister or not.

It doesn't matter.

He admitted to the public at large that it was his job, his profession,

His art to turn life into fiction.

But there is a cost.

Austin Blair should know the cost of his fiction.

And he will.

I now believe that Blair is trying to fake a case against me

Or do me serious bodily harm.

Or both.

Last night about 10 o'clock, I was looking out my window

When I noticed an attractive young woman

standing at a second-story window across from me.

This woman was 20 years old.

She smiled over at me and a pointed man.

And on catching sight of me, she lifted her hand and waved it.

I could not decide if this was an involuntary motion of interest on seeing me

Or was meant as a sign of encouragement for me to start flirting with her.

A man then came inside.

It was Austin Blair.

I think the woman was a relative of Blair's

and the two of them were amusing themselves at my expense.

The fact is stranger than fiction, they say.

Is that what they say?

She wants me to know.

Know what?

What was happening in the family.

But these tapes, they only cover a week.

Maybe not.

Oh, there's more.

She's doing it just how I want.

Unless she's doing you.

We need to go somewhere.

I've read Austin Blair's novel.

I liked it very much.

Those tapes, I could have printed them.

Don't you understand? I could have done that.

But I'm breaking the rules.

I'm doing that for you.

They are everywhere now.

I know who you are.

Why are you doing this?

I said I know who you are. You work for the mayor.

I think it would be best if you went back to your table.

I recognize who you are.

Well, I'm not in my office now.

I'm trying to.

People are looking at us.

I give these facts for what they may be worth.

Called again last night on Blair.

They said he had gone, so my trouble has been in vain.

Is he at home now?

Is Blair watching me?

Blair's ignoring that my last letter is itself a confession of guilt.

A man who has done nothing wrong will listen to a man who claims that he has.

Also, the whole tone of my letter showed that my intentions were as amicable as he would let them be.

Elliot.

Yes?

I think maybe it would help if you talk with someone.

I love you, Emma.

I won't let anyone do anything to disgrace you.

I would never let them.

I know, Elliot.

I just...

Maybe it would be good if you talk with someone who doesn't know us who could be objective about all of this.

I think it...

Yeah.

Maybe I'll lie.

I haven't read this particular book.

Then I wonder how qualified you are to continue this discussion.

Well, I...

I feel I'm qualified to talk to you about this, uh...

Feeling that you're followed by agents of, uh...

Blair.

Austin Blair.

I do not know conclusively that they work for him.

I do not have proof.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

I found Elliot a very stimulating case.

Very stimulating.

Did he...

Did he ever talk about in any detail?

I mean, what it was exactly that made him feel...

Well, you know, I finally read this novel of his, of

Blair's, and I didn't understand what all the, uh...

I didn't find it particularly well-written or insightful.

Exactly.

Don't read much fiction myself.

Don't have the time.

But, Elliot...

Yes.

Elliot read to the point where fiction and fact blurred.

I tried to impress on Elliot the need to stick to the facts.

Like you do.

As a newspaper reporter, you can't print lies, can you?

No.

Of course not.

October 17th.

Here are some thoughts I've written down.

For titles.

Poems or articles.

Dreams in the dark.

Love and pain.

The vulture.

Let me see them.

Well, I haven't actually written them yet.

Poems.

But I have every intention of doing so.

Show them to me when you do.

Send them to you first.

You'll send them.

I'll show them to you.

Did I say send them?

Oh.

That's funny.

That doctor, the one that I said I've been going to?

Uh-huh.

I don't go there.

You don't?

No.

I go to the movies.

I go to the movies and then I come home.

And I practice.

I practice the violin.

I know I haven't played in a while.

Violin.

I'll play for you, though.

You love me and I say you love me.

Stop this.

October 30th.

October 30th.

They're spying on me.

Elliot.

What are you doing on the floor?

What?

Were you sleeping on the floor?

No.

It was, I was exercising. It was concentration exercises, eastern mind expansion techniques.

Oh, how interesting.

I've never done this before. I appreciate your help.

Oh, you'll need to fill out these applications for a license.

They'll take about two weeks. Not in that much of a hurry.

Don't wait for me till then.

Yeah.

It's beautiful.

It's just...

It's been some time since...

I'm sorry. Come here

Don't be sorry.

November 2.

Bliss is an effervescence. Joy a flood. Happiness is golden.

November 11.

Armed, I feel great power. I feel invincible.

This is what the common criminal must feel.

This lack of power transformed by the gun in the pocket.

Does that make me a common criminal?

I would like to talk to someone from the metropolitan section.

Who are you?

I have some information about... about a news story.

What news story?

Well, it hasn't actually happened yet.

We're all pretty busy right now. Why don't you leave me your name and phone number.

When this story actually happens, we'll get in touch with you.

Thank you

Call you later

Elliot

Do you think that that doctor has been of any help?

A great deal. He puts so much in perspective. You ought to, it costs enough.

Since when do you worry about what things cost?

I just don't like to be hustled.

He is very well respected in his feet.

If you believe in that sort of thing.

But I never had to go and talk about my childhood or my dreams to some total stranger.

I'm doing just fine. Thank you very much.

Elliot stays in the house too much.

You don't really.

I hope you don't.

I think the solution is read less fiction, more history.

I was a history major before law school.

A civil war.

Now that's a fascinating subject.

You have to look for the future.

Yes.

Maybe going back to school.

And do what?

Law.

Perhaps you could find a place in there.

No, thank you. Being an attorney doesn't appeal to me.

Elliot, you have to do something.

Maybe I'll run for office.

Political office.

That would be exciting.

He's not serious.

I talked to the mayor the other day.

No one would vote for you.

You could make them vote for me, father.

Can I help you?

Oh, where's the dining room?

Are you a member, sir?

Actually, I was wondering if I could just look at your dining room.

Well, I'm afraid it's members only, but if you know a member of the club, you could have a drink as a guest.

I'm a reporter doing a story on Austin and Blair.

Oh.

I see.

Well, I think perhaps it might.

It's all right.

He'll be my guest.

Well, thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm Reggie Shaw.

Let me get you a drink.

God knows I need one.

Well, it's dinnertime in London, so somebody must be toasting me.

Austin.

Look around you here.

The average age of the members of this club is the same as room temperature.

And we're all disgustingly rich.

We have more money than we know what to do with.

So...

Most of us marry six times or drink.

What about Blair?

Well, he only married three or four times.

And I could drink him under the table.

No, he's a nice fellow.

Actually, you know, I miss him a very great deal.

He was so wonderfully nasty.

But nasty in a very witty way.

I miss that here.

And you had lunch with him that afternoon?

That afternoon he was shot.

Yes, I did.

You know what I remember most?

What?

The poached salmon was off.

Now, the poached salmon is never off.

Should have been a warning.

How could you have known?

Well, I couldn't really.

But he did mention various letters and phone calls.

Well, he did get those sometimes.

Well, he's a public figure and someone disagrees with you.

It does happen.

Well, who knows?

Someone may be stalking you right now.

Well, me?

Somebody who doesn't especially like the way you've been nosing around so much.

Now, the thing that I have learned about the people who join clubs like this.

Yes?

They like quiet.

And they're willing to pay for it.

I don't suppose you have a price?

Everybody's got a price.

What's yours, young man?

Good lunch at a fancy private club.

With a charming old fart like me.

What are you doing?

I had a gun.

You know how easy it would be to kill you?

Really easy?

Are you robbing me of something?

Oh, no.

No, not at all.

I'm imagining what it'd be like to walk up to someone you don't know and shoot them.

Uh, I don't have a gun.

That's good for me.

Have a nice day.

Why does somebody kill?

To be God.

The power of life and death.

But then why does he kill himself?

Guilt over exercising that power.

He must punish himself.

Huh?

We all fantasize about the ability to kill.

It's normal.

The actual realization is abnormal.

But we, all of us, at some time, fantasize about killing somebody.

For example,

for example,

I might think about killing my father.

I did think about killing him.

In his eyes, I constantly fail.

No matter what, I'm a failure.

The child in me wants to kill him.

But do I?

No.

But the wish is there.

You ever want to kill somebody?

Sure.

Sure, someone I don't like.

Someone who makes more money than I do.

Someone that I think doesn't deserve the recognition they have.

Sure.

Of course, somebody could feel that way about you.

November 20th.

I have decided to confront Blair.

Are you lost in Blair?

No.

Sorry, I thought you might have been someone else.

I received a phone call today at my office.

I imagine you receive several every day.

But I suppose this pertained to me.

Well, it was from this doctor, the one you were supposedly seeing.

Now, he says you break appointments or you don't show up.

You've lied to us.

The man's an idiot.

He's a non-entity.

I think that you should talk to this person.

We are concerned about you.

I'm really very capable.

I will not be humiliated.

I have a position.

You will see this doctor tomorrow.

That's understood.

I go to another doctor so that they will feel this might deter me.

It won't.

You can fool them.

They like to hear themselves talk, the doctors.

You pay them to hear them talk.

Then you talk.

Then they talk.

And then you go home.

I'd like to recommend some medication.

Perhaps that might be just...

You think I should...

Well, let's just be safe, shall we?

See you Thursday.

I'm glad that you've seen this.

Dr. Leonard.

Yes, he's very good.

He agrees we have a case, Father.

He does.

Why couldn't God have made things move as quick as light rather than as slow as planets?

I wish I could have been introduced to Austin Blair some time ago.

Things would have turned out so differently.

I noticed something today, Father.

I noticed on a legal pad in your office that you had written your name five times to form a star.

And that once you had written your name in a circle.

That doesn't mean anything.

Ah, and also I noticed that you had a habit of writing your name on little slips of paper torn

from book margins, fly leaves, and the backs of bills.

It indicates to me a type of compulsive behavior that surprised me.

Perhaps it would help you to talk to someone about this.

The doctor has put him on medication.

Please don't whisper about me.

It's very rude.

You're right.

We're sorry.

Emma, are you going out later?

Yes.

I'm meeting a friend from school.

Oh, you remember Ann Hodges.

Oh, yes, of course.

She's a cow.

She's also rumored to be bisexual.

A bisexual bovine.

I cannot finish this food.

Can I help you?

Yes.

Does Austin Blair live here?

Yes.

Do you know what time it is?

I'm aware of the time I would like to see Austin Blair.

Well, he's not here.

Do you know who you're talking to?

Listen, get out of my face before I call the cops.

You tell him Elliot Burgess was here.

You tell him.

Idiot.

You shouldn't have this.

Feel how heavy it is?

It's much heavier than I imagined.

The man in the store said it was one of the better models.

It would do the job.

Promise me you'll never use this.

I should never have showed you.

I've lost you, Emma.

I've lost you to somebody else.

Nothing matters if I've lost you.

A man in the world who does just about as he pleases is liable to be a social outcast,

A member of the top 400, or both.

Perhaps the blue pinstripe, Elliot.

I can do this myself, Mother.

Of course.

But it's very important, the picture you give to the world.

I'm old enough to pick out my own clothes.

You'd be lost without me.

Don't patronize me, Mother.

Please, don't.

I look for Austin Blair.

In the park.

At his club.

Outside his home.

It's time.

The world is beautiful.

I carry the gun with me.

Just in case.

I'm going to talk to her.

But she's...

Trouble.

This woman sounds like trouble.

I know it's wrong, but I got to.

What's so special about this one?

If you saw her, you wouldn't ask.

Really?

Really.

I'm going to see this out.

If you were me, you would, too.

I know you.

The lawyer said I shouldn't be seeing you.

Those tapes Elliot made, you left them for me.

You have no idea.

Give me a little credit.

You left me the tapes.

You knew I'd have to listen to them all, and you knew I'd use them.

And I'll use them, but not how you meant for me to.

Shall I go on?

All right.

At first, when I figured it was you who left me the tapes, I couldn't answer a big question.

Why drop this stuff in my lap?

I couldn't see it as some compulsion to have the world know the truth.

Far from it.

After all, you'd been acting all along like I was some sort of vampire, taking your family

and your life and putting them in the papers.

It's your job, Mr. Later.

So I come back to why.

Why the tapes, and why me?

Because, to anyone listening to the tapes, they proved that Elliot was insane.

That he was convinced that Austin Blair was writing about you.

That somehow he'd found out your dirty little secrets.

And Elliot loved you too much to let that go.

But the truth is, what Elliot thought was true, was true.

What exactly is that?

That, in fact, Austin Blair was writing about you.

That you told him everything he needed.

That you slept with Blair.

Elliot wasn't fantasizing.

Not as much as you want people to believe.

You did know him.

I went out to your club.

And the record showed when you were there the summer before.

And I did a little further looking.

And I found out when Austin Blair was there too.

There were enough times in common to draw some conclusions.

You can't prove anything.

I don't have to.

I'm not a lawyer.

I'm a reporter.

I work for a newspaper.

You're guilty until proven innocent.

All I have to do is say it.

And it's true.

And I think you know that.

Which is why you left me the tapes.

But I didn't come up with the story you needed.

Why are you doing this to me?

You're just a story, Emma.

I don't believe that.

Look.

You don't either.

Why don't you get out of my life?

I'm not in your life.

It's not true.

None of what you say is true.

I...

How can you live with yourself when you do this to people?

Sometimes I can't.

Ella, you should know I've directed the firm

To continue libel proceedings against the paper.

I don't think that's necessary.

You don't?

No.

I'm taking care of this on my own.

We don't need to involve the firm.

I'll see it through and it'll be settled our way.

December 1st

I'm... in my room.

I've kept a record of what's happened on tape.

I've put down the facts and my thoughts.

I don't think that's...

It's important that everything be documented.

I'm leaving it for you.

I don't want this, Elliot.

Even if we were awarded a decision, it wouldn't be enough.

Vengeance is at the heart of justice.

I'm just completing something Blair started.

You know, Scott, what's up?

Have a nice day, sir.

You're Austin Blair?

Yes.

Here you go.

Here I go.

Yeah, it's Keneally there.

What are you doing here?

You were standing out...

No, I know I shouldn't have come here.

I had to.

I was afraid to call you.

My family...

They don't know.

About you and Blair?

No.

And they're proceeding with this lawsuit.

When what you know comes out, it's going to ruin our family.

Look, I don't care about myself.

I don't care what anybody has to say about me.

I have done these things.

I live in this world if anybody does these things.

Maybe when you have money, you get bored, huh?

Tonight with you, I want to sleep with you.

You wanted it too.

Didn't you?

Yes.

I knew that.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have come.

I knew you wanted me.

How much did you think about this happening?

Too much.

You won't let me go until you do this.

No.

It's happening

I'm thinking about taking some time off.

Time off from what?

From the paper.

I want to spend time with her.

Uhmm?

It's important I do that, you know.

So you're taking time off for the broad?

Yes.

What?

What are you saying here, Dave?

I'm saying the story is there is no story.

This kid Elliot was crazy.

He gets an idea that this book was written about him and his family and he's nuts.

And it was a waste of time.

I didn't find out anything new.

What's this about?

Is this about more money, Mr. Al?

Is this about you need to make more money?

What, the trib wants you over there?

I work for the trib.

They're scum.

You're better off staying here.

It's not about money.

You told me you were on to something.

Well, I was wrong.

I don't know.

You don't know?

You don't know what?

You on drugs?

This is a series.

It's good.

Okay, you're stuck a little.

People aren't talking.

You feel you deserve a higher salary.

It's got nothing to do with...

We've been here before, Leader.

We've reached this point.

Is the story blue ribbon or is it a bust?

You told me.

You said, give me a few days.

I got something.

I held you in reserve.

Now it's time off.

I can't finish it.

Tell me something else.

Get someone else.

God help me.

Get Simon.

Better yet, just let it die.

Oh.

Um...

The lawyer's been talking to you?

No.

Well, any libel thing, the paper, behind you, it's all...

We can beat it.

That's it.

I'm done with it.

I’m off the story

You are?

I thought you should know.

I told them there was no more story.

I don't want... I don't know what exactly. I don't want...

I'm thinking of you.

Tell my father to drop the suit.

Stop legal proceedings against the paper.

He's not.

If I refuse to testify, there is no case.

We can't do this again.

I can't.

Brenda, - I don't trust you.

It's the problem.

What if I gave you something?

What?

Something valuable.

What?

Come back to bed, Elliot.

Let's go away.

Be serious.

I am serious.

You told the paper you want time off?

Spend it with me.

I intend to.

But we can't just disappear.

How's it going to look?

Do you care how things look?

No.

The story's over.

I mean, you're finished with it, right?

Right.

And it ends with Elliot.

Elliot was crazy, just what we said.

Just like we said.

So go away with me.

I want to.

All right.

I'll make theory.

Come on.

What's this?

I'm leaving, Simon.

Another assignment, huh?

Taking some time off.

Couldn't finish that great American novel you've been struggling with, right?

Yeah, that's it.

Well, um, good luck.

Thanks.

Hey, you can have this.

It's not bad.

I quit the paper.

It was everything I ever wanted, and I just tossed it.

Funny you should bring this up.

Guess who calls me today?

Who?

Keneally.

Really?

Yeah.

Asks if I want to work with him.

Says he's always had his eye on me.

Says he thinks I could go the distance.

Offers me your job.

So I take it.

What can I say?

I congratulate you on this career move.

I do.

I gotta say, I don't know what you're doing.

Neither do I.

But it's too late.

It's out of my hands.

Hi.

We're on Northwest Flight 763.

Meet me at JFK at 4 p.m.

Everything is ready.

I bet you don't have yours at Washington Shuttle Flight 419.

There is a big change.

Hello?

I'm here to pick up some tickets, Flight 763.

Your name?

David Leader.

And one should be under Burgess, Emma Burgess.

Mr. Leader, we have your reservation,

but there's no Burgess, no Emma Burgess.

Mmm, might it be under some other name?

Check it again.

Burgess.

B-U-R-G-E-S-S.

Nothing under that.

Look, I'm meeting someone here, and there's gotta be...

Sorry.

The number you have reached is not in service at this time,

and there is no new number.

Please be sure you have checked the telephone directory

for the right number, and you are dialing correctly.

This is a recording.

The number you have reached is now ready for morning at 8.22.

All of the disasters they know are at this time.

Should I clear?

Well, I'm not quite finished.

Yes, you can clear, Jean.

We're done now.

You can take it away.