Original subtitles

I sense danger here.

Well, I do hope this is what everyone is

looking for. I mean, in this next scene,

I see Datana is very uptown, being

married to a rich and famous doctor and

all. Maybe I should wear more jewelry.

Diamonds would pale by comparison, Miss

Blue.

Well, thank you very much, and Donald,

very welcome.

People, would you mind moving things

along a little faster? I've got 10 pages

to shoot today.

Oh, no. Don't tell me this is all the

dolly track we have. How am I supposed

to direct my vision without dolly track?

There it is, Tony. Another Mickey

Paradise production is almost in the

can. Few more days, it'll be a wrap.

It's nice, Mickey.

Breaks my heart. We already cast the

lead babe.

You're the producer.

You can find something for me to do,

can't you?

I don't mind telling you, Jennifer.

You're doing a simply marvelous job

portraying my late dear wife.

Why, thank you, and Tom, but I'm hoping

that my stirring performance will launch

me into another genre film. I'm tired of

the sex scenes and dumb sci-fi flicks.

Even those roles have a certain gene

with your acting skills. It's obvious to

me that gratuitous

romance

is a specialtity of yours.

Specialtity.

So is being slashed by maniacs with

chainsaws. But I don't exactly see Merl

Street doing that either.

It

certainly is a thrill watching a real

movie being made. Mr. Stein,

you see that script? They expect

Spielberg on a joke budget.

I was a little disappointed to learn my

character was dropped due to lack of

money. I mean, considering the vital

role I play in Dr. Arcane's work.

No, absolutely. I mean, I really fought

hard for you.

Excuse me, but uh who are you?

Anon, my friend. I got to talk at you

for a sec. You've got a man for a

troubled producer. This will just take a

second.

You don't have to tell me. It's toddy

being testy again. Is it

like a book you read me? Except he's not

acting this time. You won't say your

dialogue. He says it's cliche written

garbage.

I gave the writers that g those lines

myself.

No. And it's pure poetry. Believe me, it

breaks my heart he's pulling this. But

anyway, I was thinking, you know, you

being the character himself, you know,

you might be able to give him some of

the old buddy buddy sympatico talk.

I'd like to strangle him.

Knock yourself out. I I' I'd wait a

little while though. He's in your motor

home trying on wigs.

He said it was nicer than his. He wanted

it. He did, did he?

Does that smell?

Smells like gas.

The swamp is my world. It is who I am.

It is what I am. I was once a man. I

know the evil men do.

Do not bring your evil here. I warn you,

beware the wrath of

Swamp Thing.

How well did you know Todd Michael is

Dr. Arcane?

Not well. We had some contact, of

course, since he was portraying me in

this TV movie.

A movie glorifying your career.

Of course. Could there be any other

kind? Besides, I was guaranteed certain

uh

Todd Michaels wasn't doing a good acting

job in your opinion, was he?

I'm afraid I don't follow you.

Oh, nothing. Just looking for reasons

why anyone would want Todd Michaels

dead.

I'm sure I wouldn't know. I hardly knew

the man.

But you knew him long enough to hate

him. Am I correct?

Well, yes. I suppose there wasn't very

much to like about the man.

Uh yeah, it looks great. But uh I'm

still not sure I get it. It's a uh it's

a Prometheus. What?

Lo, listen to this crap. I I will not

give up. I will not I cannot let a minor

setback discourage humanity needs me.

I'm not saying this crap. Snip it, babe.

Snip it.

Cut the scene. I I don't know how Mr.

Paradise would feel about that, Dy.

And you think chicks want to see me in

this doofus lab coat? Let's show some

pecs, babe.

That's it. It's the wardrobe. Cut the

coat. Let's see a little bare arm.

Yeah.

Huh? Maybe. Maybe a little washboard

stomach. Huh? How about it? Does Does

that make the lines work for you?

Yeah. Yeah. You know, you're right. I I

think it was the clothes that was

racking me up.

Yeah. Come on. Let's do it.

Must not must not give up.

This is incredible. I can't believe how

they recreated your lab in this

warehouse.

No, your observational powers are

incredible, Graeme. This is a cheap

imitation of my lab, just like that man.

There is no way I'm wearing that wig.

I will not give up.

I will not. Cannot let a minor setback

discourage me.

Wait a minute. Where'd that accent come

from? Uh, that's an authentic German

accent. Hottie's worked very hard on it.

I don't have an authentic German accent

because I'm not a bloody German. And

where's his hair?

It's a better interpretation of the

character. I am the character. Look,

I'll be in my trailer until somebody

removes this goofball from the set.

Goofball. Just a minute. You You actor.

Sure,

Todd. It was wild, but I never met a man

that I couldn't handle.

I don't believe I got your name,

Lieutenant.

Back to Todd Michaels. So, you liked

him?

We had a thing because you already knew

that.

Did you have a reason to believe he had

other things going on?

You're extremely handsome, Lieutenant.

Do you know that? You didn't answer my

question. Love triangles lead to crimes

of passion. Was that happening here?

Well, it didn't. What Ty and I had was

pure and beautiful. There was never

anyone else. Not for either of us.

I'll just bet you're a real pistol,

Anton.

Well, that's very nice of you, Jennifer.

But the word pistol suggests a rather

limited capability. Think of me more as

uh artillery.

We just broke for dinner.

Here to join me.

I think I can do better than that. Would

you like to replace this horrid catering

food with some music, wine, and candle

light?

You like that?

Yeah. Look over my dead body, pal.

No, more like over the dinner table,

Todd. And what are you doing out of your

cave?

Look, we've got to rehearse, Jennifer.

We've got that big love scene, and I'm

not ready for it.

It's not worth it, babe. protecting your

investment paradise.

Pretty much. Toddy walks. This whole

show goes to a standstill.

Can't let him get too upset. Oh,

I wasn't thinking of upsetting him. More

like maming him or worse.

Hey, it's fine. You want to kill him? I

got options. And Charlie,

it's it's a joke, huh? He's going to be

much better now that I fired the

writers. I'm taking over the rewrite

chores myself.

I wasn't aware of your creative ability.

How tough can writing be? Huh?

We've received the final reports from

the medical examiner. Todd Michaels was

not only gassed, he was strangled,

poisoned, stabbed, shot, and mutilated

as well. What do you know about it?

Nothing.

Work for Anton Arcane, isn't that right?

I'm devoted to him.

Devoted enough to do whatever he tells

you to do.

Within limits, of course.

It's clear that Arcane and Mr. Michaels

didn't like each other. He had motive

and opportunity.

You're wrong about him, Lieutenant. Dr.

Arcane is much greater than the stupid

movies portraying him. His modesty

prevents him from telling just how great

he really is. Sure, he was angry at that

incipit twid actor. Dr. Arcane doesn't

put up with that kind of insulting

behavior from anyone.

Arcane, these script revisions are

terrific. We're going to have to reshoot

one scene, but it'll elevate the entire

movie.

Let me see those pages.

Bloody hell.

You must be joking. Me in competition

with another scientist blowing up his

lab.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Babe, calm down.

I I really like this stuff. Got my

accountants working overtime to figure

out how much it's going to cost me to

shoot it.

By the way, have you uh met my wife,

Julie? Just got into town from LA.

This is your wife.

Who's Tony?

Yes, Mickey. Who is Tony?

Uh,

no. Nobody. Nobody. Nobody. Anton's just

kidding around, aren't you? Listen,

Anton, I don't I don't know who wrote

this stuff. The pages were here when we

got here this morning. I I guess we got

some kind of Phantom working overtime

for us, huh? Damn good one, too,

wouldn't you say?

We are not going to shoot these pages,

Mickey, are we?

I mean, I doubt you'd like the outcome,

babe. What can I do? I mean, I I just

got off the phone with the studio. I I

faxed them the pages this morning, and

they they went nuts for him, huh?

In fact, they're uh they're giving us an

extra 80,000 to shoot them. Mrs.

Paradise, you must be very fond of your

dear husband.

He's wonderful.

Yes. Well, we all think so. Why? Just

the other night, he was

Hey, hey, hey, Anton. I with Totty gone,

I'm going to have to have somebody to

take his place, right? So, I mean, it

just occurred to me. I mean, you got

style, confidence, kind of the look,

huh? So, I mean, who better to play you

than you, babe? Huh? Huh?

Holland,

I need to talk to you.

Look, Hollen, this is important.

What is it, Arcane?

You know damn well what it is. The story

of you and me and that laboratory

accident showing up in this TV script.

I had nothing to do with that. I don't

want the truth revealed any more than

you do. Because if it is, I'd become a

target for every hunter and publicity

seeker. I can't allow that. Well, I can

afford it even less.

If I can find out who killed Todd

Michaels, then I'll know who the ghost

rider is. What puzzles me is the

connection between my past work and

Michaels himself.

Todd Michaels was found dead in your

motor home.

Perhaps he wasn't the intended target.

Well, what are you saying? That I was

My god, you're right.

I don't believe it.

Someone's trying to kill me.

All I know is what I've read in the

papers. I mean, I knew they were making

a movie near my house, but I haven't

been out there.

You have had a number of serious run-ins

with Dr. Arcane in the past. You've been

heard threatening him.

I'll be honest with you, Lieutenant. I

wish Anton Arcane had been esphixxiated.

Strangled, shot, and mutilated, too.

He deserves worse. And the real crime is

that you people in law enforcement have

sat on your hands, been paid off, or

looked the other way.

Ma'am, Sheriff Andrews controls this

jurisdiction. We were asked in by the

state. We just want to find out the

truth.

Well, I certainly didn't kill anyone. I

mean, I wasn't a Todd Michaels fan.

Actually hated his acting, but nobody

deserves to die like that

except Anton Arcane.

more pages. Arcane mutates people for

fun, nails the babes, and has a grudge

match with a monster he made in the

swamp. It's fabulous.

Maybe even a pilot.

Have you read this garbage? What has

happened to my character?

She is stuck in a plastic tube for years

in a coma. Forget it. Works for the

picture, babe. If it makes you feel

better, you can have first crack at my

next movie. Okay,

Mickey. No one in their right mind is

ever going to bang for me in a film

after this. I am calling my agent.

She's right. You know, it is garbage.

You really think so, sir? I mean, it it

does tell the truth about your

greatness.

Truth is for naive lovers, Graeme.

My greatness is not up for inspection,

but watch my genius at work. Mr.

Paradise, a word. Make it quick, Kane. I

got real problems. Studio problems,

network problems, girlfriend problems.

Where is casting?

I have to get to know her better.

Does the offer you made to me this

afternoon still stand?

About you playing the lead?

Sure, babe. You want it? You got it. I

mean, assuming we can meet on terms. I

was wondering if I could write a scene.

Just a small one.

Just to put my fingerprints on the

finished product, as it were.

That's it. You want You want to write a

scene? Consider it done, babe. Active

stomp on the material all the time.

Charlie, good.

Doctor, I thought you wanted nothing to

do with this.

All I want is to find out who the

murderer is. Graham, I know how to do

it.

The crew is not here. Let's have a look

around.

I've only seen Arcane's laboratory a few

times.

Well, this doesn't look a lot like it,

but it's enough.

We don't have much time. I need to find

out who's trying to kill Arcane.

Maybe it's one of his victims come back

to haunt him.

If it is, it also haunts me.

Are you sure the light falling was

intentional?

I'm not sure of anything. That's why I

had to come here. I need to sense the

area.

It's hard to explain.

Well, I'll take a look around.

I'll check the other sets.

Alec,

are you okay?

Yes. Did you get a good look at him?

No, it was too dark. But he left these.

More changes in the script.

I can get into position, Graham. But you

don't know who the killer is yet.

I will. Once the lights go out, when you

bring them out, the guilty party will be

missing.

It's a staple of English theater. Now,

go rig the generator.

Anton, could you step over here a

moment?

I wish we had talked about this scene,

Arcane, before you decided to write it.

That was just a thoughtful reflection on

my work.

I know, but I have a very tight-knit

vision of the Arcane character.

Hey, uh, Laz, um, I think we can bend a

little on the vision thing, don't you?

What's a few extra minutes in the total

concept? Huh?

The script's integrity is very

important.

Laz,

the only integrity you ought to have is

the integrity of your bank account.

Lock it up, people. We're going to make

us some art in one take.

Uh, careful there. That's uh several

thousand volts of electricity, huh?

I I've worked with electricity before.

Yeah. Well, uh you know, the ground's a

little wet. You drop one of those live

ones, we're all going to get that rich,

tingly feeling, if you know what I mean.

Huh. Yeah. Follow me. Huh? All right.

Now wait for action, Anton. I'm going to

start on the moon and then pan down to

you.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes.

On camera.

Action, Anton.

What cruel fate befell me at birth? that

my longing for fulfillment should

manifest itself in me by way of

curiosity. And yet

my mortality prevents me from finding

the ultimate answer.

Oh mystery of death, if there was only a

way to experience you without the risk,

like an actor on stage in his ultimate

performance.

Yet no actor is worthy of that role.

Todd Michaels was not worthy of that

role.

Yes, his murderer is here. And I know

who he is.

The murderer of Todd Michaels is

the lights.

Bring out the lights, Graham.

You all killed him.

Tada was an absolute creep. If anyone

deserved to die, he did.

We all had our problems with them.

Arcane.

Money problems, lady problems,

blackmail,

not to mention bad acting.

Well, that explains the multitude of

injuries on him.

We're like a family, Anton. We all get

involved. My only question is how'd you

figure it out?

Well, I didn't actually. I thought

someone was trying to kill me,

especially when the light bar fell. And

that was for Todd. He was on his mark

for once. You made him walk off.

Oh well. Well, that changes everything,

doesn't it? So, your secret's safe with

me. Well, shall we move on to scene 37

then?

Not quite. You're a dead man.

One more won't make a difference.

Actually, one more might make all the

difference in the world. I mean, just

think of the publicity.

Anton Arcane dies making the Anton

Arcane stories. It's a tabloid classic,

huh?

You got a good

It's incredible we weren't killed,

doctor.

If Holland hadn't stopped him.

Don't give him so much credit, Graham.

Good God, man. And he wasn't doing

anything for me.

You're a genius, Dr. Arane.

Yes, of course. There is one more thing.

Those rewrite pages. If I find out who

is publishing those, death will be a

welcome relief when I finish with him.

I just wanted the world to know how

great a man you really are.

For now, the truth about Arcane must

remain secret. But one day, the details

will be known.

I only hope that by then my battle will

be over and that I will again be human.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.