Original subtitles

Subtitles generated by - LustyCinema.li This may have some bad and have some good news good news is that your wife is

screwing Mr. Wilson Dean Thomas here but the question now of course is who is

Delilah? She's going to be seen in every single picture for a lie. Mrs. John Q

consumer is going to feel like she knows her intimately like a favorite soap star

but we want to find a fresh face unexposed you can see with so much

riding on this, it's not the easiest job.

Picking the right girl.

It's easy as long as you pick one of my girls.

Alicia, Alicia, you know, I have to admit,

first I was skeptical, but this pajama motif,

fantastic idea.

Oh, thank you, FD.

I'm glad you decided to design lingerie and not ski wear.

I could be prancing around here in a parka.

You and Miles have done a terrific job.

Look at all these girls, so fresh, unexposed.

Excuse me, I have to see a bartender who's on a tie.

This thing looks fantastic.

I know.

Can I take a look?

How are you doing?

Give me a tall glass, thanks.

Thanks for having me.

All right, guys, what's it going to be this time?

A little paint thinner, maybe?

You guys use the cheapo stuff that she had.

Slow, comfortable, squirreled.

I'll have what she's had.

You sleep in that thing?

Yeah, I don't sleep in anything at all.

I thought I was being creative.

This is ridiculous in a pajama party.

Whoever thought of such a stupid idea?

That would be me.

Enjoy your screw.

That's Alicia Royale.

She owns the place.

Good job.

Hey, hey, hey.

You're going to break the bar.

What's the matter?

You're the only one I know.

You're like a hooker at a priest convention.

You take off on me.

I'm working, huh?

Go get some fire extinguishers.

I'll be right there.

Goddamn priest fire in the kitchen.

I'll catch you later.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

H2O from now on.

I'll take some shots.

I'm serious, Peter.

Don't fuck this contest up for me.

Darling, you didn't read the invitation.

No, I always wear this to bed, really.

Don't you ever have normal parties, Miles?

Even if I knew what normal was, what would be the point?

We need a drink.

Julia, Christ.

How much of that stuff are you going to stick up your nose?

Oh, come on, Zoe.

Who's such a Nancy Reagan?

I know.

I just don't want to see anything happen to you.

You're a sap, Zoe.

I know.

I hope Miles doesn't turn in early and see us here.

You know what? Bye.

I hope he does.

Now you're talking.

There's nothing like greasing the wheels a little.

Greasing yourself.

I just don't know what to say.

I don't know what to say. I mean, he's RC Ruby.

Zoey, he's a man. That's all you need to know.

Give us some drinks.

Yeah, please.

Yeah, those glasses are great.

And you need to slow down.

Too many powdered donuts, Roddy.

Oh, cute, Zoey. Really cute.

I have a fighting signature, all right.

I'd like you to meet my former partner, girls.

Dean Thomas.

Don't say it.

Lovely pajamas.

Thank you, RC.

People take sleepwear way too casually these days.

Oh, well, finally, someone who understands my sense of humor.

Let me get your name.

Zoe Gibson.

A Dressing Delilah girl, right?

Well, I have one right here.

The choice is perfectly clear.

You'll have to excuse D and E suffers from excessive slobbering.

It's a glandular problem.

Zoe, you know, is one of the favorites, so don't drool, okay?

Zoe, you're a cop, huh?

I mean, he's a private investigator now.

With the trench coat and Venetian blinds?

I'm a walking cliche.

I can't believe it.

A private eye, just like my camera.

Bill, if you must, I prefer Sam Spader.

I got to introduce you to Julia.

She's going to flip out.

Come on.

The wedding's in Bar Mitzvah soon.

Wall jumper?

Christ, what some guys won't do to get a look

We've got a room full of rods.

OK, buddy, let me guess.

You left your invitation in your other trousers.

Look, my girlfriend's one of the girls in there, OK?

I just want to speak to her.

Very original.

God damn it, I'm telling the truth.

OK, let's go.

In the suit, put me back five bills, all right?

I don't want to get bloody.

The party.

I'm busy.

Oh, come on.

Beluga, you've got to.

I'm Beluga. Look at me.

Think of your libido.

Very good.

Have you guys seen Juliette?

She left a while ago.

She went to go to the swims and the naps.

You don't have to prance around kissing

ass when you're Miss Juliette's emcee.

You're just pissed because she got from Miles first.

I know.

Come on.

Let's go outside.

Come on.

So Miss Julia's working overtime with the boss, huh?

Don't act so surprised.

Miles Royale is no boy scout.

She should be.

Oh my god.

My god.

Hey, just make sure that watch finds its way into an evidence bag, okay?

God, Myles, I had no idea you were so troubled.

Troubled, yeah.

You wore it a few days away. This is great. This is just great.

It's very sensitive, Myles.

Well, well, well. Look what the cap you've done.

Still making the sheep nervous?

Hey, anything with a pulse, baby. Anything with a pulse.

Zoe, this is Lieutenant Vic Morrissey.

Vic and I go back further than I care to remember.

Vic, this is Zoe Gibson.

She was with me when we found her.

It's nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

I'm going to go inside.

Take care of her.

Was there something I said?

So, buddy, I hear you wanted a nice treasure hunt.

You could say that.

Well, what can you tell me?

Well, we came to look for her.

Found her floating face down in the pool, end of story.

It's a regular broken-down, flat-foot convention here, huh?

Ah, speak for yourself, Grandpa.

Just tell me what you got before I beat it out of you.

Well, I poked her out of her room.

It's like a pharmacy in there.

Tonight's special heavy-duty pain killers.

Looks like she took a bunch, hopped in the pool,

slashed her wrist.

It was a suicide, cut and dry, so to speak.

Creative combination.

Yeah, smart.

Don't feel the pain of the wound.

Slip into Never Never Land.

Smart, but a goddamn shame.

That's the best-looking stiff I've seen

Shit, I may have to break my rule about the pulse

You should try it sometime I don't think so

Detective Thomas, I'm sorry about the mess. I may get deported. That's all right

I guess I guess you're wondering what I'm doing here how I found you

Hoping the answers are a you found me charming and a resistible and be love knows no bounds

But since it's asking a lot, I'll settle for one or the other.

Actually, it's a bit more grim, I'm afraid.

I don't believe Julia killed herself.

Slash, wrist, sleeping pills, what do you want it?

Goodbye, who will know, too?

Look, I knew her better than anybody.

It doesn't make sense.

I bet my life on that.

Go to the cops.

I do.

My career is over.

I know Alicia and Miles don't want the negative publicity

of a murder.

Why are you telling me this?

You're the only PI I know.

Well, then you're going to have to expand your social circles

because I'm not interested.

I'm not feeling sociable.

Then open a phone book.

There's millions of us listed.

Let your fingers do the work.

I need to work with someone I can trust.

What makes me so special?

I know you.

Well, not well, of course, but I think I can trust you.

What's your daily rate?

I think you'll find that adequate.

You've got a lot of disposable income for an as

of yet unemployed model.

Contrary to popular belief, we're not all fresh off

the bus from Kansas.

I've got money, family money.

Still not interested.

Forgive me for saying so, but from the looks of things,

you can't afford to turn me down.

You're right, but I'm going to anyway.

Please, Dean.

I know you're thinking, maybe there's something

I could have done to stop her, but nothing you're going to do

will bring her back.

So you're upset, and that's why you're thinking this way.

Maybe, but I need to know for sure.

There's a chance I'm right.

What's in it for you?

If you've ever had someone you really cared about taken away

like that, you wouldn't have to ask that question.

I know she didn't kill herself.

Why won't you help me?

Look, I'm small time.

Missing persons, background checks,

one pictures of your husband fooling around

with the secretary I'm the guy you call, but not for this.

But you were a cop.

That's right, past tense.

I made myself a promise, no more of the rough stuff.

My life's simple now.

Worst I see is a few broken hearts and some dirty pictures.

Sorry I couldn't help you.

Hold on to it.

Smokey, tell me something.

You're 24, gorgeous, you got money.

Why in the hell would you slash your wrists in a swimming pool?

Don't make sense to me.

It doesn't, it doesn't.

Why in the hell would anybody want to kill you?

Ratty, it's Dean.

Listen, I just called you because I want to tell you

I've been hired to look into Julia Dempsey's death.

Who hired you?

Well, let's just leave it at concerned friends and family.

I'm going to come by the office tomorrow.

OK, I'll clear you downstairs.

Thanks, pal.

I'll see you tomorrow at noon.

Come on in.

Forget it.

Zoe, what can I do for you, dear?

Well, Mrs. Royale, I'd like to bow out of the race.

I just can't prance around all week with a smile on my face.

Not after what's happened.

Zoe, I know you're hurting, dear, but we all are.

She was friendly with everyone here.

We all loved her.

But the show must go on.

Isn't that what Julia would have wanted?

Sit down.

Hey, we discovered her.

The agency meant a lot to her, as I'm sure it does to you.

We've got a band together.

Look, you could be the center of it all in a few days.

And I bet if Julia could pick anyone to be there,

I'm sure it would be you.

I miss her.

$150,000 buys a lot of time to mourn.

I know it's a lot of money, but I lost a friend, Alicia.

Maybe you don't understand what it means to become Delilah.

RC Rubio is one of the biggest designers out there.

Your face would be plastered all over the world.

Instantly, you'd be up there with Campbell, Crawford,

That should have been Julia.

Julia's gone, Zoe.

Her death had nothing to do with you.

Don't let it ruin your career.

What are you saying?

The contest is part of our representation agreement

with you.

If you bow out of the contest, you breach your contract.

We'll drop you.

I'm sorry for playing hardball with you, Zoe,

but if I don't, Myles will.

We need this account.

And it's no secret that you and Melinda

are the top two contenders.

So whoever R.C. wants, that's who I want him to have.

Yeah, OK, be right out.

Don't ruin things for yourself, huh?

It's not what Julia would want for you.

I can't count on you being at the rehearsal, right?

Yeah, you can count on it.

Where's another one?

You know what my next appointment is?

Well, I'm going to change your mind.

The money?

That's not it.

But I'll find out.

Whatever the reason.

How are you?

It's all right.

Mrs. Royale is expecting this gentleman.

Slow, comfortable screw.

Well, I'd like to think so.

You look nice in street clothes,

though I'd rather see you in pajamas.

It's not to my degree of a pleasure.

Well, when I'm not running around in my underwear,

I'm a private investigator.

I've been put on retainer to look into Julia Dempsey's murder.

You mean suicide?

We'll see.

I'm just, uh, who put you on retainer, Mr. uh?

Call me Dean.

My father's Mr. Thomas, and he's a lousy investigator.

And to answer your question, Mr. Royal,

I can't answer your question.

Let's just say it's concerned friends and family.

Mind stepping into an office with her?

Mr. Thomas, I can assure you, we all mourn her loss.

But we have a very important, very public event coming up.

And the last thing we need is some chief flatfoot

poking his nose around where it doesn't belong.

Miles, there's no need to insult him.

He's just doing his job.

That's all right, Mrs. Royale.

I'm sure my friends in the press

are interested to know that your husband is

covering up the murder of a murder.

There's been nothing to suggest her death was

anything other than a suicide.

What a scandal that could make.

Well, look, Dee.

I'd sue their asses off.

Not before that printer retraction,

which would be prominently displayed in the bottom corner

of page 16.

No need to get rough, huh, Deanie?

Look, I just want to do what I was hired to do.

No need to mention it to anybody.

This man a friend of yours?

We were partners in the force.

I can vouch for him.

If he says he'll keep his mouth shut, he will.

We all know it's a suicide, Miles.

There's no harm in letting him dispel any lingering doubts.

Can't hurt.

Roddy, would you leave us, please?

Sure thing, Mr. Royale.

Mr. Thomas, this anonymous client,

how much is he paying you?

That's confidential.

I'll pay you double.

Mr. Royale, in my business, your word is all you've got.

In mine, your reputation is all you have.

Just let me do my job, and I'll respect that.

I think we can do that.

Right, Miles?

Let me show you out.

She's been staying with us ever since she

left her boyfriend.

Take it you didn't like him.

Oh, don't get me wrong.

He's a great photographer.

It's just, well, she needed a restraining

order to keep him away.

How can I find this guy?

His name's Peter Holden.

I'll have my assistant get you his address.

How long did Julia stay with you?

Two months.

Seven weeks and six days too long, if you ask me.

It's just that my husband's generous with the girls.

Why'd you want her to leave?

As large as my estate is, it's not a hotel for wayward models.

It's my home.

I take it you'll want to see Julia's room.

You've read my mind.

I'd also like to get a copy of the guest list from the party.

Fine, I'll talk to Roddy.

If there's anything else you need.

I'll put my lips together and blow.

Roddy, this friend of yours, I want him

finished as soon as possible.

You're responsible for him in the meantime.

There are, uh, plenty of other retired cops

around looking for work.

Have I made myself clear?

Absolutely, Mr. Iowell.

Would you step in?

We need to talk.

I just got my butt chewed out by my boss.

Look, I'm sorry about you.

I don't mean to cause you any problems.

Well, you are.

So do me a favor, would you?

Walk lightly, OK?

You know, the more I think about it, the more I don't see

why she would have done it.

Julie was a mixed up kid.

A party lot, dead drugs, the whole mess.

I don't know.

I think there's more to it than that.

I am in favor of truth, justice, and the American way

as much as you are.

And I got 30 years in the force to prove it.

But my butt's on the line here.

Say no more.

I'll be quiet as a church mouse.

Ha ha ha.

It's Julie's favorite place to, oh, how should you put it?

Be compressed from the city.

Yep, I know what you mean.

Let's not start from the top.

Who do you think killed Julia?

I don't know.

I just know she didn't.

Well, whoever did it, if someone did it,

made it look like a suicide.

Now, people kill for three reasons,

greed, revenge, and jealousy.

Well, there's the whole dressing Delilah thing.

It's 150 grand plus a big contract with RC Rubio.

But that doesn't seem like enough to murder someone.

Believe me, I've seen it happen for much, much less.

But why would someone target Julia?

I thought you and Melinda were in the running as well.

Yeah, except we weren't doing it with Miles.

With Julia gone, it would be between us.

Melinda's a total airhead.

And I just can't see her doing something like that.

You'd be surprised.

How long was Julia doing Miles?

Two months ever since she left her boyfriend, Peter.

Alicia doesn't think much of him.

Oh, personally, I never liked him.

But the whole restraining order thing was bullshit.

Julie said Peter was pissed off after she

left and stayed with Miles.

You smack her around a bit?

So she claimed, but I never saw any bruises.

I think Miles did that to keep him away from her.

Yeah, one that are all to himself.

Look, I've got to go, but thanks, Dean.

I'll see you later.

Good luck, OK?

Yeah, I got to go to town.

Peter Holden?

Who are you?

Dean Thomas.

I'd like to ask you a few questions about Julia Dempsey.

You a cop?

Private investigator.

Why don't we go inside and talk, OK?

I've got a deadline.

I'll make some prints.

What are you working on?

Dog food.

Come on.

Hurry up.

I told you, I'm busy.

I'm going to do a little photography myself.

I like the way you framed all these.

Let's cut the shit, all right?

You didn't come here to talk about photography.

Fine, I'll cut to it.

My client doesn't believe that Julia killed herself.

So let's start from the beginning, all right?

How did Miles find her?

I used to take pictures of her.

Jeans, gowns, everything.

So you put together a portfolio, sent it in.

I thought it'd be good for the both of us,

an agency like that.

Well, it could do a lot for someone like me.

Yeah, I guess it could.

Come on, darling.

You want to see that gorgeous photo?

Come on.

Come on, give me those eyes.

I want to... Fuck me.

Your eyes, honey, say it with your eyes.

Fuck me.

Look, Julia, you can't use a shirt when they open your mouth, okay?

Come on, baby, just fuck me.

The thing about Julia, she was a dynamo.

Anyway, we got a letter from that prick, Miles Royale.

I mean, she got a letter.

Said she was a semi-finalist in his talent search.

What did you get?

Like I said, I got a deadline. Let's wrap this up.

Just one more question. Why'd she leave you?

I thought it'd be a good idea.

She gets signed, make a bundle of money,

then I'd be able to shoot some real stuff.

But all her problems are solved. But they were new ones.

Suddenly it was about meeting this designer and being at that party.

She started snorting coke, got an agent.

Used to be just me and her.

Now there was all these people. People?

Now that she was on her way. I couldn't even shoot her anymore.

Marial had some established guy re-shoot a goddamn portfolio of him.

Top it all off, every time I turned around, she was going places without a fucking mile.

So you got angry? Arguing?

Fuck yeah. I mean, we've been through a lot of shit together.

Something cycled.

Now, seeing my girl gallivanting around with a playboy like Miles,

I'll tell you, I don't know how I'd contain myself.

Where were you Monday night?

Where was I? Oh, I get it. I'm a suspect, right?

Spurned lover, crime of passion.

Look, you said it, not me. Just tell me where you were.

You were here, making pictures, alone.

I thought you'd love that, wouldn't you?

It just so happens I was at Miles' estate when she was killed.

You were at the party?

No, I wasn't at the fucking party, man.

I was feeling a bit low about the way things had turned out.

Got to drinking a lot.

Made my way over to see her, but the guard wouldn't let me through.

So, got into a little tiff.

What if you know so much? Why are you asking?

I'll be in touch. If you have anything you want to tell me, just give me a call.

What's up, Smalls?

I'll see you.

What's up?

On me.

Oh, this must be important. You know, it's just seeing you the other night, it's been way too long.

All right, Dean, what do you need?

What do you mean? You're insulting me.

It's the white boy beer. Give your ass away every time. Let's have it.

All right. That girl you fished out of the pool.

Mm-hmm. What did forensics say?

She probably offed herself. Why?

I've been hired to look into it.

Just in case it wasn't a suicide.

Now, you said probable.

So there's a chance.

Small. But you guys are eye-deep

in more definite cases, and she doesn't have any family

or anybody else that's raising a stake, right?

All right, one little tip anyway.

She had a gold watch on when she died.

It was fake. It wasn't waterproof.

Stopped at about 5 after 10.

And then death.

Take a few minutes for the watch to break. It helps.

Let me see the autopsy report.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Come on, man. Keep dreaming, white boy.

Come on, Nick.

Come on, Nick. Come on. I can't do that, man.

I could get my ass chewed off of this shit.

Get dramatic.

Just get the goddamn report and then tell me what's on it.

I'll smell like a ticket.

All right, fine. I'll call my guy.

All right.

Now, look, I don't want none of that nosebleed, backcourt bullshit, all right?

I want midcourt next.

All right. All right. Thank you. What a beer.

Smokey? All right, man.

What do you got so far?

Talk to the ex.

Oh, Peter Holden. Real dickhead.

He's got the motor. And get this.

His only alibi is that he was at the estate the night of the murder.

Do you think the fight with my security guard was staged?

Possibly. He could have snuck in, whacked her, snuck out,

gone around to the front gate and made noise.

That's a theory, all right, but I don't buy it.

I mean, he was a prick, but not a killer.

Well, we know when she died.

We watched up to 10-05.

Well, it helps.

We know if he came around in front before that,

it wasn't him.

And anyone who was at the party between 10 and 5

after couldn't have done it.

You'd run into your suspects, and you know it's suicide.

But how am I going to confirm who was at the party, then,

and exactly when Holden showed up?

Miles is a freak about security, especially when he has

a shindig like he had the other night.

six minutes after 10-05.

Allow a few minutes difference between her watch

and your clock.

He had time to leave the patio, slip out the way he came,

get in his car, and pull in.

Yeah, that doesn't prove he did it.

I mean, what if her watch was a little slow?

Then he wouldn't have time.

You're going to have to come up with more than that

before the guys downtown are going to get involved.

Here's the living room.

Wait a minute.

You've got to have one of the pool, right?

Yeah, well, I'm way ahead of there, kid.

As soon as everything calmed down the other night,

I went right to the tapes.

This is gonna sound a little ridiculous,

but we've been having trouble with rodents

eating through the lines at night.

I mean, the electricity, all of the estate

have been chewed through.

It's not an uncommon problem.

Electricians are in and out constantly,

and that's what I figured happened to the camera.

So I went and checked the wire.

Was it a clean cut?

Not exactly.

I mean, it could have been a squirt or something.

One of the repairs was undone.

So I'm beginning to see things your way.

Christ, did your parents ever teach you to knock first?

That's the till I met.

I thought it was open.

I just wanted to surprise you.

I thought you'd be hungry.

I am starving.

Want the last one, Tom?

Fucking thing.

My best friend dies.

They're not probably going to benefit.

You mean the stressing Delilah thing?

I wish I could bow out, but it's part of my contract.

There'll be blubbering all over the place.

It's OK.

I've never had anyone die on me before.

At least not anyone I was close with.

And not this way.

Who is she?

Five years ago, Roddy and I staked out 90% of the coke

to the Jim's iron foreman, Maria.

She was beautiful.

I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't help it.

The night before the sting, we found her in the hotel room.

I held her in my arms all the way to the hospital.

She died just as we got there.

We must have followed her back to my place.

Is that why you quit?

We never did find out who did it.

I crawled into a ball.

By the time I came out, there wasn't much left for me.

I broke a cardinal rule.

Someone died for me.

You want something to drink?

Yeah, give me, uh, give me two beers, please.

It's not the expensive kind on him.

There's Nick's.

Mid-court, son of a bitch, this better be.

Hey, Dean, that'll be eight bucks.

You got money right at check.

Thanks, Vic.

Thank you.

All right, dig this.

We know she took a lot of vitamins

before she sliced herself, right?

She had enough of that shit in her system

to knock out a horse.

So she shouldn't have even been able to get to the pool.

Not unless she was some sort of super bitch.

Or she took a body.

Not doubt it.

See, she was doing some lines that night.

We found her a little mirror and straw.

I took her down to the lab. Found a lot of that Vicodin mixed in her.

She crushed up the pills and made a nose candy cocktail.

Oh yeah, there was one other thing. Stuck in the hair they found.

Finding traces of sodium bicarbonate.

Baking soda?

Yes, it's not bad. I thought you could give me some glass.

What the hell was she doing with baking soda?

Making fucking brownies. How should I know?

Where are my tickets?

Hello, you're on the air.

Yes, I'm wondering if I can take more pills because I'm still shaking.

Still shaking.

Can you tell me what the problem is, please?

I'm shaking.

I've had 12 or 14.

Did anybody come in?

I didn't think so.

Well, if it isn't Philip Marlowe himself.

Well, if you must, I prefer Sam Spade.

Well, have you caught the bad guy yet?

You tell me, Miles.

Please, have a seat.

Did Julia ever threaten to make your affair with her public?

Would you excuse us a minute?

We have a little thing to talk about.

How'd that affair?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Spare me.

I've got a very reliable source.

Now, did she use this against you?

She handed out it, but...

But you took care of it.

If you're insinuating I had anything to do with her murder,

let me set you straight.

Yesterday, you told me it was a clear case of suicide.

Julia was a desperate girl,

clinging on to everyone and everything around her.

But I became her life raft,

and I could only go on for so long.

Alicia knows.

What'd she say?

What'd she say?

Nothing directly, but you know, Alicia, that's her style.

She just, um, she just reminded me

that the entire estate, including the agency, is hers.

What are you talking about?

I'll tell you, I was broke when I met Alicia.

She's the daughter of an oil man.

He died, and she inherited millions.

And when we got married, I had to sign

a prenuptial agreement.

You mean she gets it all?

Yeah, she can keep it all, every penny.

And she would, too.

Miles, I wasn't born yesterday.

I'm sure I'm not your first affair.

No, you're not my first.

It's the first one other people have known about.

This is so ridiculous to think you, of all people,

would ever be faithful.

It's so ridiculous.

You know something, she's put up with all the flirting

and the innuendo, but that's part of the job.

It's part of being Playboy Miles Royale.

I'm just a kid from Jersey.

I'm sorry, darling.

So, uh, you think you can keep your hands off of me, huh?

Uh, I don't know.

It's going to be tough.

Listen to these numbers.

$20 million.

That buys a lot of self-control.

I'll tell her miles everything.

What do you want?

Trips, the gifts.

Julia, uh-uh.

Stop this.

What we had was fun, fun while it lasted.

I'm not going to give you up so easily.

Don't make it worth your while.

Come on.

R.C. Rubio, you remember him?

He's been a friend of mine for years.

He'll take my suggestions if I...

He'll be Delilah, huh?

One with the fame, bonus, the contract.

See, that's a fair trade for shutting your pretty mouth.

Mr. Royale.

Sissy, I had things under control.

Mr. Royale, there's a young lady waiting to see you.

These are really lousy cigars.

See you around.

Is all yours?

Come here, sit down.

Let's have another look at that book.

Let me guess, tall, dark, and handsome.

Curse to the left.

That's me.

I knew it.

So, hi.

Any progress?

Well, I talked to Miles.

According to him, he promised Julia the Delilah

contract to shut her up.

You think he killed her just to make sure?

He did have a lot to lose if she talked.

I need to talk to Alicia first to make sure.

Very nice.

You have great form.

Thank you, Detective.

Dean, please.

I'd like to ask you a few questions if you have time.

Dean, do you want to come in the house?

No problem.

So what brings you to this neck of the woods?

Just trying to earn my money.

You swim often?

Actually, I'm scared to death of the water,

but I try to swim every day.

Well, it seems to be working.

You should try it.

That's all right.

My pool's being used as a breeding ground

for biological warfare.

Then maybe with me.

No pool hopping while on duty.

Looking for a good swimming partner?

Oh, Dean, I'm always looking for a good partner.

So, tell me, what did we find out about Julia,

that she was sleeping with my husband?

Actually, yes.

So you did know.

Miles has never been smart enough to be that discreet.

So this has happened before.

Yeah, plenty of times.

It's funny, though, Miles was actually shocked

I figured this one out.

So you told him you found out?

Two weeks ago.

He was scared shitless I was going to cut him off.

When I informed him, his secret affair

was no longer a secret.

He had no reason to fear Julia.

I mean, Miles may be an asshole sometimes,

but I don't think he'd be brave enough to kill anyone.

And as for me, I assume I'm still a suspect.

Well, the thought of killing anyone over Miles is, I'm sorry.

I hope you don't think I'm making light of this.

I'm not.

It's all right, but I am curious.

If you knew Miles was fooling around before,

why did you decide to put your foot down now?

Because in the past, Miles had the brains

to be a little more discreet.

Julia was becoming impossible.

After all, we're still married.

Well, that should put you in a pretty powerful position.

Did you put the pressure on Julia?

You obviously don't know me very well.

I like to work in a more subtle fashion.

Sorry, I don't understand.

Why do you put up with it?

Why not leave the other one with the money?

Yeah, I need him.

See, when we got married 10 years ago,

I really wanted to start an agency.

I knew very little about the business and had no contacts.

Miles, on the other hand, knew everyone.

So it was a perfect match and a perfect marriage.

Since then, I've built it up to be one of the largest

agencies in the country.

But without Miles as a figurehead, it could all crumble.

But you don't know that it will.

Well, I don't know that it won't.

In spite of all that he's put me through,

I still care about him.

I still want him to find me attractive.

Well, I think you're beautiful.

And if Miles can't see that, he's crazy

and doesn't deserve you.

That's sweet.

Come on up.

I'll just be a second.

Alicia, I don't think I should.

Oh, come on.

I'm just going to change.

I don't bite, you know.

Alicia, you're not trying to end my investigation, are you?

Detective, I think your investigation

is just beginning.

Let's get this off.

Bordy, if she took those pills in her room,

she shouldn't have been able to make it to the pool.

Well, what did the guys think?

They buried it.

It could go either way.

Well, she could have taken the pills at poolside.

They'd think that she snorted them along with a Coke.

I don't know.

It just doesn't feel right to me.

Look, kid, you've been paid already, right?

I know you want to catch the bad guy if there is one,

but, well, you look like shit is all.

I remember.

This is a job.

No, no.

This one, she was so young, beautiful.

She looks like Maria, don't you think I noticed?

We never did find out who did it, Roddy.

Don't go there.

There's nothing you can do about it.

They're two separate things.

Still have to question Melinda Fairchild.

They're shooting at the pier, right?

You won't find her out there.

She went home sick.

I sent one of my guys out to bring her back.

Your hair's a mess and I wasn't just screwing you.

I think you were dying.

Hope I didn't come at a bad time.

Wait a minute. You look familiar.

You're that private eye guy from the party, right?

The one and only.

I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.

I'm not.

I'm not.

Feeling too well?

I know.

But this is only going to take a few minutes.

Hey, darling.

Oh, well, well.

Hello, Peter.

Look, this isn't what you think.

I think that's all I need.

Thank you very much.

When Julia left, I was hurt.

I wanted to get back at her.

I guess you did.

I had nothing to do with her death, I swear.

Then what were you doing at the Royal Estate the other night?

I didn't want to get Julia back.

I wanted to see Melinda.

Peter, I told you not to come.

Why did you lie to me?

Melinda and me, we've been having a thing for a while.

Ever since Julia started slipping away,

that no one ever knew about us.

Look, I know I shouldn't have lied to you,

but Julia's already dead.

I didn't want to make her look bad.

Did you know Peter Holden was parallel parking with Melinda?

He did it, Roddy.

The son of a bitch really made his ex an ex.

Yeah, where's your proof?

Well, it's still circumstantial, but I'm gonna call Vic.

I think it's enough to open an investigation.

You know how he is.

Those reporters have the sources in the department.

The day Homicide starts poking his nose here,

it's going to be all over page one the next morning.

All right.

I'll call Vic and tell him to keep things tight over there.

Now, he won't let word out unless it

turns into something hard.

There's too much press coverage this week.

I'm already telling people you're right of yourself.

And when Vic brings his crew out here,

the Delilah Gayless tomorrow, we can wait until after.

Besides, it'll strengthen our case

if she really wins this.

OK, but how do you know she'll win?

Melinda must have known she would.

Zoe has just as good a shot.

Maybe she was fucking Miles.

I mean, it seems to me you're the only one around here who isn't.

Besides, why would she take the risk if her chances are only 50-50?

Okay, but what if she didn't?

The chance I'm going to have to take.

That's fine. I mean, it's not your funeral if you're wrong.

What's that supposed to mean?

You can take all the chances you want, and if you're right, fine.

But if you're wrong, I'm the one who's going to get canned,

and you're only going on assumptions.

I'm just trying to do the right thing.

That's the way I see it.

Listen, you know how I see it?

I see it as a guy who fucked up a long time ago

and still can't stop kicking himself in the ass for it.

I'll talk to you later.

Alicia, if you have a little time, I need to see you.

Oh, great. I want to invite you to a formal get-together.

We're having up at the house.

I don't think I can make it.

Besides, I don't have a tuxedo.

Oh, that's okay. Miles has plenty.

I mean, practically the same size.

So, what was the favor you wanted to ask?

I have very strong reason to believe that Julia was murdered.

Who killed her then?

Melinda Riley and Peter Holden.

They were having an affair.

You think they killed Julia so Melinda could win?

Sure. Peter was a spurned lover, Melinda a jealous rival.

I've seen plenty of people killed for a lot less money.

But Melinda knew she was their choice.

What do you mean? How'd she know?

I told her. Two weeks ago.

It was a close race between the three, but...

Then R.C. decided he didn't want the image for his Delilah to be so, you know, goody-two-shoes.

Said it clashed with the silks or something.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Thanks for your help.

It's Zoe. Leave a message at the tone and I'll call you back.

Zoe, it's me, Dean. Meet me at Smokey's. It's a bar on State Street.

4 o'clock.

He's over there.

How'd you know I was?

How many of you, the women you think, stop in this joint?

Thank you.

I have to make it fast.

I got to get you a hairdresser's appointment.

Got to get ready for the big night tonight.

It's everything you gave me, minus four days' charges.

What do you mean?

It's over.

Julia killed herself.

She killed herself, or you're just giving up?

I ran out of suspense.

You should be happy.

So why are you giving the money back?

Are you going to find the answer at the bottom of this?

I told you, I'm through.

If you're not satisfied, find someone else.

You're really good at this, aren't you?

Feeling sorry for yourself.

Is there a bathroom in here?

Right around the corner.

Good cake for the entire US Marine Corps.

Wait a minute.

This is baking soda?

Are you sure?

I was a Chicago fireman for 10 years.

How do you think I got my nickname?

The first Delilah for R.C. Rubio is Zoe Gibson.

Way to go, Zoe.

Yeah, yeah, I'm still here.

Will you just be there, all right?

The house.

How long do we go back?

How long do we go back?

Since the fifth grade, exactly.

So when I say you've got to trust me, then trust me.

On the list, come on, just raise the game.

I want to thank you all for coming back from the hotel

and celebrating with us.

Never before has our search for the undiscovered beauties

of the world been so fruitful.

And I want to say it wasn't an easy job

choosing our Delilah among so many beautiful,

deserving young ladies.

We're so proud to present to you

RC Rubio's Delilah for his new dressing Delilah line,

Ms. Zoe Gibson.

Thank you all so much for coming.

This means a lot to me.

Thank you to Alicia and Miles. Big time.

And I'm thrilled.

So I hope I do a good job.

You bastard.

Just wanted to say congratulations.

You deserve it.

Dear Dean, thanks for looking in all the right places.

I'll hang it in my bathroom.

Listen, I'm sorry our conversation

ended on such a sour note.

I'd like to make it up to you this weekend.

Fair enough.

Oh, call me later.

Hi, what's your name?

Well, it looks like you and Zoey are hanging off well.

I need to talk to you alone.

All right, now let's go, man, I'm taking five.

What's your name?

So what's this all about?

You know, the only thing I can remember my mother saying

after she caught my father screwing the neighbor

was I thought I knew him.

Guess I feel the same way, Roddy.

Speaking, Miss Kidd.

Now I know why you brought me to the party.

I was your alibi, wasn't I?

But you never thought for a second

I'd give a shit about the girl that washed up Dean Thomas

would look into.

I'm going to hand it to you.

Painkiller who's crushed up in the coke.

Squirrel theory was a bit weak, but enough to throw me.

But setting our watch back 20 minutes,

that was a stroke of goddamn genius.

Really threw me off.

You know, I think it's time you had your headaches down.

What the fuck are you talking about?

The one thing you didn't count on was the fire.

Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda,

also found in fire extinguishers.

The autopsy showed traces of it in Julia's hair.

You were covered in the shit.

So you think I killed her, huh?

I know you killed her.

I just can't figure out why.

Just all those years of decorating

come to think I looked up to you.

Goddamn punk, who the fuck do you

I don't think you are a luxury man.

Now, who hired you, huh?

Who the fuck was it?

Your mama.

I guess we have here what's known as a Mexican standoff.

I suggest you back off.

Now that we have a little quiet time,

I'd care to share with the class why you did this.

30 years on the force.

What I got to show for it, huh?

A coma watch and a pinch and I can't even retire.

Busted my ass and I got zipped to show for it.

So you just thought you'd kill a beautiful young...

But knock off that bullshit.

She was low life, looks or not.

Now that we have a little time, why don't you

tell me who the fuck hired you?

I did.

What the fuck are you doing?

Put the gun down now.

What, are you screwing her, kid?

Shut your goddamn mouth. Shoot him.

She's a double-crosser.

What was your deal?

Split the money 50-50, or did you get an extra 10%

for the sucker-finder's fee?

He came to me after the murder.

Said he was gonna blame it on me if I didn't cut him in.

I mean, Jesus.

He's weak, Zoe.

Why would he kill her before making a deal with you?

The question is, why did you go along with it?

I was the best prospect they found, and everyone knew it.

It was my break until Julia came along and seduced Miles.

She was going to take that from me.

You were such close friends.

It doesn't matter now.

We don't have to give him his cut.

We can take the money, baby.

Just shoot him.

Shoot me and she'll pop you too.

Look like we did each other.

Shoot him, Dean.

You don't think he'd do it?

That girl, the Colombian informant?

What was your cut, Roddy?

What are you talking about?

You killed her yourself, didn't you?

Did you, Roddy?

No, I swear.

Shoot him, Dean.

He killed your girl just like he slashed Julius' wrists.

Police! Police!

Son of a bitch.

We could have had something.

Whatever it was, I wouldn't want it with you.

Don't worry. The offer just expired.

By the way, Zoe, you're out of a job.

No, you didn't. It's gonna be all right, man. You did what you had to do.

I killed him.

Yeah, I know, but you saved my life, bro.

Mr. Royall, one more question, please.

No, thank you. Thank you. That's it. Nothing more to say.

No, Mr. Royall, please.

No comment.

Damn it, Alicia. Who let these fucking reporters in here?

No, I'm fine, Miles. Really.

Thanks for asking, though.

Hi. How you doing?

It's okay.

Listen, I'm sorry, but I didn't get the chance to thank you before.

Oh, at least I could do.

You know, I've been a pain in your ass this whole week.

Well, you've also opened my eyes.

Do you remember that little chat we had?

Well, I had a talk with Miles, and he's decided to stay

on with the agency, but we're getting a divorce.

I think ideas are better.

Yeah, you do.

So what do you say when this blows over,

we take a little vacation together, say Mexico?

I could use a good swimming partner.

I could handle that.