Original subtitles

[tense music]

[gears creaking]

[calm music]

[music tensing up]

[calm music]

Josh!

Time to go.

[light playful music]

[playful giggles]

Josh?

[lightly tense music]

Josh, this isn't funny.

[door creaking]

[tense music]

Josh?

[snake hissing]

[thrilling music]

[snake rattling]

Oh!

God!

Josh, where are you?

[Josh] Here I am.

Josh, get off there right now!

First I wanna make a wish, okay?

Get down, Josh!

[ominous music]

No!

[Josh screaming]

[phone ringing]

[panting]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[Man] Hi Laura, how are you?

Who is this?

[Man] We haven't actually met, but,

my name is Gary Nicholson.

It's four in the morning.

[Gary] Oh God.

That's right, it's three hours early where you are,

I'm sorry, I forgot.

Please forgive me.

I just wanted to tell you how much

I like your book, Rumpelstiltskin.

And you don't mind I call, do you?

Well, I've never gotten a fan letter before

or fan phone call either.

You mean I'm the first, then?

Wow.

Listen, I just want to say

I think you are a great artist.

[Gary] I feel so much when I look at your pictures.

[Laura] Thanks.

[buzzing]

Listen, I gotta go.

If I wrote to you about your book,

do you think that maybe you could write me back?

Well, I don't know that,

[Gary] It's kind of hard for me to get to a phone.

Why, where do you live?

I'm in Attica,

in a prison.

What?

Yeah.

Oh, I really like the picture of you

in the back too with your son.

How come your husband isn't in it?

Is he?

Hey, I've got to hang up now.

Please, don't ever call here again, okay?

Uh huh.

It's nice talking to you too, Laura.

Okay, bye.

So, what's she like, huh?

She's really nice.

She sounded kind of lonely though, you know?

She wants me to write to her.

Well, there are a lot of lonely people, I guess.

And they're not all in the joint neither.

[Gary] A pretty lady like her shouldn't be lonely.

With her talent, and you know, good looking kid,

I should make her happy if I could.

Woman like that, I'd do anything.

[Old Man] Don't even think about it, son.

Life without parole, remember?

All right, locking them up, let's move it!

[buzzing]

What you got there, Nicholson, huh?

[buzzing]

Hey, she's not bad.

Myself, I prefer Penthouse but she'll do.

You have a dirty mind, man.

Let it go.

Life ain't enough for what you did, chump.

[gate clanging]

[light music]

[Cartoon on TV] Oh, be careful with those remotes,

that one looks dangerous!

[Cartoon on TV] Whoa!

Whoa!

Come on, sleepyhead.

[Josh] Mom, I'm watching TV!

You were watching TV.

Mom!

Josh!

We don't wanna be late.

I know it's not fair

but it's a little late for warning people.

Josh?

[dog barking and growling]

Good dog, come on, come on.

Yes sweetheart, here, come on.

You okay, hon?

I told you I don't want your boy teasing my dog!

Mr. Dooley, my son isn't the problem here

and you know it.

That dog's gonna hurt somebody one of these days.

You wouldn't hurt nobody, would you, Princess, huh?

Yes.

Josh, come on. Don't be late now.

Did he bother you, sweetheart, huh?

Oh what a poor baby.

You okay, kiddo?

I'm not scared of any dumb dog.

[car starting and dies]

So what do you want for your birthday?

Any ideas?

Bobby's mom got him a bike for his birthday.

A two wheeler.

I'll try, Josh.

Remember what we talked about?

We're gonna have to live on a--

I know, a budget for a little while.

I'm seeing your dad today.

We'll eh-- we'll talk about the bike, okay?

Okay.

I can't believe I just paid that crook

another $200 to fix this thing.

[car starting]

Yeah, the shoulder area's much better, Julie.

Thanks. I shaded it like you told me.

Well, it worked.

Professor Powell.

I understand she's quitting.

What a shame.

I wish you could hire a male model.

My students need to sketch men too.

Put it in the memo.

Jeffrey, while you're here,

the committee's meeting on Monday,

have you made your recommendations yet?

It's just, with my books being published now

and the student evaluations for my course

is the highest in the department,

I was hoping I could count on your support.

Laura, if it were up to me, I would hire you both.

But it's a committee decision.

You know, it's just terrible what's happening

with all these cutbacks.

There's just no funding for the arts anymore.

It's a national disgrace.

But I am the most qualified candidate here.

Laura, it would not be very professional of me

to stand here and compare your resume

with Diana Gibson's now, would it?

I understand you've had some personal problems with her.

Whatever the committee's decision,

I hope that you're gonna be able to rise above it.

Jeffrey, there you are.

I have been looking everywhere for you.

My father's having a little cocktail thing Monday night.

His Picasso just arrived from Sotheby's.

You will come?

Oh, I'd love to.

[Diana] Wonderful, it'll just be a few people.

Some of the trustees from the Cannes Museum

and the Publishers of Art In America.

I hope you won't find it all too stuffy.

[reading] Then the monsters all broke out of their cages.

[reading with difficulty] They snarled and-- oh man.

Hey, you can do it, come on.

They snarled and gee-nashed their teeth.

It's pronounced "nashed", Tyrone.

The G is silent.

Gnashed.

[alarm blaring]

What the hell?

[Announcer] Attention all C block inmates.

That's not a fire alarm.

It's emergency lock-down.

There's gotta be a riot.

Payback time.

Come on.

No, no, no, no. Stay out of it.

You'll lose your good time.

[inmates celebrating]

[inmates hooting and hollering]

[bashing]

Rak!

Are you all right?

-Yes! -Can you move?

You suckers!

I'm fine, big brother.

Listen.

You tell them this block is down.

I'm worried about the East Gate, okay?

-Yeah. -Go.

Central!

Central, can you hear me, Central?

You're breaking up!

Ugh!

Gimme the phone!

Move it, back off!

[panting]

We have a situation in C block.

[Central] Yeah, I know, you got a riot.

It's my brother Vince and some guards.

We're gonna lose the whole block.

[Central] We're routing all personnel to your sector.

[Rak] Send in the State Police!

[Central] We're talking to him, Rak,

just proceed to the emergency lock-down.

Listen, we have a potential escape here.

[Central] Look, we're aware of that, all right?

Isolate, contain the situation.

Don't, don't, you're only making things

worse for yourself!

[grunts]

[Central] Rak, what's going on?

Rak!

[ominous music]

[music calming down]

[panting]

[crowd shouting over each other]

[canister hissing]

[Guard] Break it off! Get out of here!

[screaming]

My hand!

[light classical music]

You look beat.

Thanks a lot.

Laura, I didn't mean it that way.

About Josh's birthday.

He wants a bike.

His heart's set on it.

And I can't afford it, Matt.

Okay.

This trial's looking a little complicated though.

It's gonna take me a while to get all these depositions

together in LA.

But if I don't get back in time,

you tell Josh that we'll pick one out

as soon as I get back.

You're going to miss his birthday party?

He's your son, Matt.

I know that.

And I miss him.

I miss you both.

You still don't know what you want, do you?

[sighing]

[crowd applauding]

Hey Laura, how's it going?

Everything's just...

[sighing] ...perfect.

[light music]

[Laura reading] There sat the poor miller's daughter

without the slightest idea how anyone

could spin straw into gold.

She thinks that's tough, she should try

getting a professorship at Lennox College.

Come on, Mom.

[reading] Suddenly, the door sprang open

and a tiny man stepped in.

"Good evening", he asked.

"Why are you sobbing?"

Wasn't she scared?

You bet.

But she was in a lot of trouble

and she was all alone,

and he was the only one in the whole wide world

who wanted to help her.

So she liked him a little?

Well, he did promise to turn all that straw into gold

and that must have seemed like a great idea at the time,

don't you think?

Hmm?

[phone ringing]

Better get it, it could be daddy.

[phone ringing on other line]

Hello?

Hello?

Hello, is anybody there?

[Laura] I can't hear you.

[tense music]

I am getting on the right bus, huh?

That's right.

There's a stopover in Denver and LA.

Don't worry, we'll get you where you're going.

Visiting somebody?

My girlfriend, Laura.

[bus hissing]

[revving]

Oh come on, the guy's a killer

and he's out there.

And it doesn't seem to me

like you're doing very much to stop him.

You're upset.

You've suffered a terrible loss.

These were Rak's.

Thought you'd want 'em.

I got him this for his high school graduation.

You know, he just wanted to be like me,

his big brother.

He never would have been a guard

if it hadn't been for me, you understand that?

Yeah.

Because now he's dead.

That scum killed him.

There were no witnesses.

The librarian was out cold by then.

We may never know who...

who killed him.

Find out who walked out here wearing Rak's uniform,

then you've got a pretty good idea.

Look.

We got a lot of bodies to sort out,

burned beyond recognition.

The FBI needs 72 hours.

They gotta pull all the fingerprints

and the dental records

and match them with the forensic evidence.

I am not about to announce a prison break to the press

scaring a lot of people

until I can tell them exactly who escaped.

I saw who was in the library that morning.

And Nicholson's the only guy sharp enough

to pull this off.

I can't jump to that conclusion.

I need proof.

We're talking about my brother!

Vince.

Let me handle the investigation, okay?

Meanwhile, I'm putting you on leave.

You have been through enough.

You should get some rest.

I'm gonna get Nicholson

then I'll get some rest.

[door slamming]

[train hooting]

[Josh] This is all girls' stuff.

Exactly.

So if you stay put and promise not to move,

there's no way you'll see what I get you.

Now don't move.

[Woman] Okay, I'll give you 15 minutes.

[Kid] Okay.

[tense music]

[toy shattering]

I didn't mean it, I swear.

Of course you didn't mean it.

People make mistakes, right?

Of course you're not responsible for the mistake.

[glass rattling]

This stuff's pretty boring, huh?

Wanna take a look around with me?

My mom told me to stay here.

Well, better do what your mom says.

[scanner beeping]

[Laura] How much is the bike?

$175, training wheels are 25 extra.

Oh, sorry, your card's been declined.

[Laura sighs]

Too bad I can't just buy the wheels.

[ominous music]

Josh, ready to go?

[Josh] What'd you get me?

Not until your birthday!

But I wanna know now!

You'll find out on Saturday,

it's more fun that way.

Well you had Nicholson,

he's a real sensitive guy, wasn't he?

He's everybody's best friend.

Well he was my friend.

And he's dead, so show some respect.

No, he's not dead.

My brother Rak is dead.

The two of you were alone with him,

the next thing you're unconscious

and he's ripping the clothes off my brother's corpse.

You got it all wrong.

He couldn't have done something like that.

He wasn't like the rest of the cons in this place.

I know.

I taught him how to read.

Besides, if he was really a murderer,

the lady that drew the Rumpelstiltskin book,

she wouldn't have liked him like she did.

What?

You mean he contacted her?

What's her name?

Oh-- I don't know. I don't remember--

Wrong answer. You try again.

Eh--

You really think he's alive, huh?

You just said he was a very smart boy, didn't you?

Look, I don't remember who wrote that book.

I never even saw it.

Come on!

Ca-- Carla, Nora something. Eh--

You know, them broads' names, they all sound alike.

Don't worry about it, old man.

I know how to find her.

What are you gonna do?

You know life's funny, ain£t' it, Jenkins?

I mean you take Nicholson.

He loved kid's books, right?

You know what he was in for?

He burned down his house

and he killed his wife and his own kid.

You don't understand.

His wife was cheating on him.

And he didn't know the boy was in the house.

So it wasn't his fault, that's what you're saying?

Huh?

He was misunderstood?

Kind of like you, huh, Jenkins?

I mean in my heart I know you didn't really

poison your own mother, did you?

[weeping] Get out of here!

Just get out of here!

Oh, a walkie talkie!

Thanks, Mom.

Happy birthday, kiddo.

[Marcy] Check this out, fellas.

Who wants a piece of King Kong's tush?

Marcy, you're a saint letting us have this party here.

Oh, hey, it's the least Elvis and I can do

for our favorite tenants.

Well I'm having you up for dinner.

You and Elvis, just as soon as I can unpack.

Now look, don't unpack for my sake, honey.

Do it for you and Josh.

It's time to check out of Heartbreak Hotel

and start living your own life, yeah?

I still can't believe I really left Matt.

I mean it all happened so fast.

Well you made the right call.

So start unpacking, girl.

And we'll enroll you in one of those

video dating services. [laughing]

[bell rings]

I'll get it.

Okay, dear.

[suspenseful music]

Josh?

Is it from Daddy?

I guess so.

It's what I always wanted.

Yeah, cool!

[Announcer] Boarding passengers in rows 11-25.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[Matt] Laura, it's me, Matt.

I just finished those depositions.

I'm sorry I missed the party.

Too busy sightseeing with Diana?

Laura.

Diana and I...

I ended it.

Can we talk?

Really talk when I get back?

Josh is outside.

I promised I'd watch him ride the bike you got him.

He's waiting.

What bike?

[dial tone ringing] Laura?

Hello?

[phone ringing]

[sighs]

[phone ringing]

[Announcer] This is the final boarding call

for Flight 823 to Lennox.

All passengers, proceed to gate 12 immediately.

[happy music]

You go pretty fast.

Fantastic.

All you!

[laughing]

Now turn around and come back here.

[dog barking]

[Josh] Keep that doggy away. Mom, I can't stop!

[Laura] Josh!

Josh, you okay?

[Laura] Oh my god.

[Mr. Dooley] Keep that bike off the sidewalk!

This dog gets scared!

[Laura] I told you you shouldn't put him around kids.

Look what you've done, he's fallen on his bike.

[Laura] It's all your fault, you're always doing this!

Get that dog out of here!

-[Laura] Take him away. -[Mr. Dooley] Come Princess.

Sorry I'm late, my car.

I told the class to begin.

Professor Howell, you got us a male model.

We pay our models by the hour.

Jeffrey, would you like me to take over her class for you?

No, actually, she's,

Oh, you're here.

Well, now I can tell you both my good news.

I convinced my father to donate

his Picasso to the college.

After all, we have a responsibility

to share great art

Of course I put it to him more

in terms of a tax write off, but--

Wow, that's wonderful!

Ha!

And so well-timed.

Excuse me.

Oh come on, let's go into my office

and talk about it.

[tense music]

Hi, I'm Laura Hendricks.

The late Laura Hendricks.

I know who you are.

They-- They told me this was your class.

I'm Nick.

Nick Goodman.

Hi.

Excuse me.

Is it something I said?

Anything I can do, Laura?

Well, if you don't mind being alone for a minute, I--

I think I need to go out and compose myself.

I understand.

So how'd I do?

[Gary] I mean, I never modeled before.

It was kinda weird.

[Laura] You mean you've never taken your clothes off

in front of total strangers before?

I guess I've lived a sheltered life.

Listen, if you're gonna model regularly

I just want you to know that I'm not always late

and I don't usually cry in class.

You must have thought I was crazy.

No, no, I just figured

you're having one of those days.

Brilliant, eccentric artist and all that.

Sometimes I think I'm having one of those lies.

I'd really like to kill my mechanic.

Maybe you should, it'll make you feel better.

[laughs]

What did you say your major was?

Criminology.

I'm finally going back to school.

I know it's a little late, but...

sometimes I think, it really is possible for

a guy to start his life over, you know?

Have a chance to get it right

and not have anything get in his way.

Don't you?

[Josh] You know what, Mom?

Maybe we should get a new car.

[Laura] Good idea.

Better go and buy some of those lottery tickets.

We could get a red one

or maybe even a new Porsche.

They don't cost a lot, do they?

It can go really fast.

You could take us to--

[ominous music]

Do you know who did this to my puppy?

Mr. Dooley, what are you talking about?

I'm talking about rat poison.

I'm talking about putting rat poison on Princess's food!

She's dead!

Go inside, Josh, now.

[Laura] Wait...

I don't know anything about this, Mr. Dooley.

[sobbing]

I'm sorry. I--

I can't believe anyone would do such a sick thing.

[Mr. Dooley sobbing]

I'm glad that dog's dead, aren't you?

No, Josh, I'm sad.

Mr. Dooley loved that dog.

And when you love something,

even if it is just a dog,

that love is the very best part of you.

Its wrong to take away something that someone loves.

Hmm?

[Sportscaster] So what we got here,

there's nobody out at the bottom of the third and three.

Yeah, well I'm working on your BMW right now.

I only have two hands.

Well, I can't do much when I'm talking on the phone

to you now, can I?

Yuppie moron.

[pan clanking]

What the hell?

You crazy?

Get your hands off that car.

What?

You gonna rob me?

Just don't hurt me.

I'll give you anything you want.

BMW, Mercedes.

This car belongs to my girlfriend.

And I don't think she should have to keep

jump-starting it all the time, do you?

[zapping] [whimpering]

I think she deserves an honest mechanic

who'll quit ripping her off.

[zapping] -Ah!

Because jump-starting the car all the time

could get dangerous.

No!

Let's just keep this little talk

to ourselves, huh?

Man to man.

I know where you live.

Sounds great.

I overhauled the whole electric system.

You have any problems, you bring it back, no charge.

Really?

Lifetime guarantee.

[chuckling]

People can really surprise you sometimes, huh?

You should have seen it, Marcy.

He didn't even make mom pay.

No kidding?

Maybe my luck's changing.

Aha!

Hi.

Hi. Hi.

I guess we're gonna be neighbors, huh?

Imagine my surprise when he gave you

as a reference.

I hope you don't mind.

I mean, it is a job and I'm new here.

I figured you've seen my good and my bad sides, right?

I guess you could say that.

Well the building's gonna be a lot safer

with Nick around.

Safe?

Didn't you say you were a student of criminology?

Oh, right.

Hey buddy, how about giving me a hand, huh?

He's not usually this shy.

It's nice to help your neighbor, Josh, come on.

Nice to have some new pants around the place.

Boy needs a father, not a lawyer.

Why do you hate Matt so much?

I'm only human.

It's just when somebody hurts a friend of mine

I get the urge to kill. [chuckling]

It's not too heavy, is it?

You're the guy from the toy store.

You hid the toy I broke.

That's right, Josh.

How come you didn't tell my mom if you know her?

Because we're buddies.

Buddies don't have to tell mom everything.

In fact, best buddies always keep a few secrets.

That's half the fun.

We are gonna be bet buddies.

Are we?

Yeah.

[lightly tense music]

Hey, kid.

How about I trade you this Rumpelstiltskin for that one?

Oh, come on, please?

Pretty please?

[lightly tense music]

You'll get a cramp like that.

The trick is to shift your weight subtly

every once in a while.

I really like that picture.

Oh?

My father owns the original.

You can pay me back with a private session

in my studio sometime.

[tense music]

Surprise!

I talked to your friend the librarian in the hospital.

You know, my brother,

he didn't make it to the hospital.

He died in the ambulance.

What are you gonna do, Vince?

Shoot me?

I didn't come all the way across the country

just to visit. Now come on.

No, no, if you're gonna do it,

do it here.

All right, doesn't matter to me where you die.

Now get on your knees.

Man, I wish my brother could see this,

my mom and dad...

you know, everybody loved Rak.

And I did too.

[gun clacking]

Come on, do it!

Shut up!

[panting and chuckling]

You know, I don't think you got the guts.

[Vince] Shut up!

[grunts]

[gasps]

[knock on door]

[Josh] Nick, are you there?

Nick, it's Josh!

[knock on door]

[panting hard]

What are you doing, Nick?

Are you in the bathroom?

Yeah, yeah.

[door creaking]

Don't come in, buddy.

Don't come in, I'll be right with you.

[Gary panting]

[tense music]

[door creaking]

Nick?

My mom said I can invite you on a picnic.

Thanks, buddy.

But I've got some...

I got some other stuff that I gotta do.

Please, you said we were buddies.

That's right.

We're buddies, Josh.

We're best buddies.

[panting]

[splashing] [frogs croaking]

I almost got one, Nick,

but it hopped away.

[Gary] You wanna catch frogs,

you gotta come out here at night

when they're all singing and jumping around.

Can we stay till it gets dark?

[Josh on the radio] Can we?

Some other day, I promise.

[sighs]

Some place you got here.

It's been abandoned for years.

I used to have this fantasy that someday

Matt and I would buy it, fix it up.

[crows cawing]

Good place to raise kids.

I get a lot of inspiration here

for the books I illustrate.

You mean, like Rumpelstiltskin?

How do you know?

Eh-- Josh told me.

He-- He's really proud of you.

[smiles]

It's been hard on Josh since his dad and I split up.

There really are some things

a boy needs a man for.

I always said I was gonna

spend more time with my son.

Somehow.

Then it was too late.

You have a son?

I did, but he...

I lost him.

My wife too.

It was this accident.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I tried to stop it, but I couldn't. I--

You shouldn't blame yourself, Nick.

But I do, every day.

I keep thinking if only--

I had another chance.

When I was little I used to think

that life was like that...

all the fairy tales I read.

Happily ever after.

I think people deserve a second chance.

Don't you?

[Josh] Mom, come here!

I wanna make a wish!

[tense music]

Josh, get down from there!

I'm not gonna fall.

Josh!

[Laura] Josh, don't you ever do that again.

He's okay.

He's okay.

He's safe with me now.

[sighs relieved]

To the bed!

[laughs]

In you go, come on.

So, who you gonna sleep with tonight, this guy?

Good night, sweetie.

When can we go back and catch frogs, Nick?

Gee, I don't know, pal.

I guess that's up to your mom.

We'll see.

Why don't you say good night?

I want Nick to read to me.

Eh-- I'd like to, buddy, but-

Please?

I think you've taken up enough

of Nick's time for one day.

I guess I could read one story.

But then it's lights out, okay pal?

[Laura smiles]

[Gary sighs]

[Gary reads] "I spun straw into gold for you!"

said the little man.

"And in return, you promised to give me

your firstborn child."

The queen pleaded with him.

He could take all the royal treasure

if only he would let her keep her child.

"I will give you three days." the little man said.

"And if by the end of that time you know my name,

then you may keep your child."

On the evening of the third day,

the little man returned.

Beginning with Casper, Melchior and Balthazar,

the Queen recited every name she knew

one after another.

To each, the little man replied

"That is not my name."

She tried Mistyribs and Legoram and Stringbones.

I think he's off in Never-Neverland.

[smiles]

I think you're the one that spun a little straw

into gold today.

For Josh.

I had a great time.

I'd like to see you again.

I'm sure Josh would too.

How about tomorrow night?

Oh, he's with his dad tomorrow.

Well...

how about you?

Eh--

I don't know. I--

The committee meets tomorrow.

I'm supposed to find out about my professorship.

I may have to throw myself off the bell tower

after I hear the news.

What, are you kidding?

You're the best teacher I've ever seen.

You're a shoo-in.

Not unless Diana Gibson gets hit by a bus.

We're going to celebrate tomorrow night, my treat.

How's eight o'clock?

Fine. [chuckles]

Eight will be great.

This is so weird, I haven't been on a date since-

Me neither.

[door closes]

Yes!

[sighs]

[Laura] Oh no.

[Professor Powell] Laura!

Oh Laura?

Laura.

Congratulations, Diana.

Well now that this is over,

I really hope that we can be friends.

If there's anything that I can do,

a letter of recommendation, anything.

If I wanted a letter of recommendation,

wouldn't I be better off asking daddy?

He seems to be the one carrying all of the clout

around here these days, isn't he?

This is neither the time nor the place, Laura.

As far as this committee is concerned,

Diana's qualifications are beyond reproach.

Now I'm sorry that we were not able to offer you

a position on the faculty.

And if you have a problem with that,

I suggest you take it up

with the grievance committee, not here.

Let's be honest, Jeffrey.

I know how this works.

Diana bought you and you just made sure

the rest of the committee went along.

You want honesty?

Well here it is.

You can't bear to face the fact

that I am simply the more qualified candidate.

All right, come on, let's go.

You can't stand it that I was educated in Europe

while you were studying art history

from a bunch of slides at Cal State.

It just kills you that I'm everything that you were not.

I thank the lord every day for that simple fact.

Obviously you all got what you justly deserve.

Someday you will too, Diana.

You can be sure of that.

Oh, you really bore me, Laura.

You can't think that those little children's books

you illustrate are any kind of inspiration

to your students?

I mean after all, this is a fine arts college,

not draw Bambi on the back of a matchbook.

Well, I am famished.

Shall we go to lunch?

Oh, by the way Mrs. Hendricks.

If you want the Mattster back, you can have him.

He bores me too.

[chatter]

[opera music]

[knock on door]

Mr. Goodman.

Did we have an appointment?

You said you wanted me to do some private modeling.

How about now?

Didn't anyone ever tell you

not to take a woman with a blowtorch by surprise?

I like to live dangerously.

[Diana] Let's get started.

[Gary] Nice setup for a college professor.

[chuckling] What can I say?

I'm not the starving artist type.

Luckily my father is a patron...

of the arts.

I understand congratulations are in order.

Thanks.

Now that you're here, you can help me celebrate.

It's ironic, isn't it?

I mean, you got this new job

and you don't really need the money.

And here's Laura Hendricks,

barely making ends meet with a son to support.

[Diana] It's really too bad, isn't it?

But we've all got problems.

Hmm.

We've all got problems.

But right now my problem is...

do I do you in clay or in bronze?

Hmm, mmm.

Definitely bronze.

[Diana grunts]

Like to play a little rough, don't you?

You like my piece?

I want you to give Laura that job.

Why would I do that?

Because if you don't, I'm gonna have to kill you.

Wouldn't you rather spank me?

[laughing]

[grunt]

[wings flapping]

[Gary] Voila!

Nick, I can't believe you did all this for me.

I hope you like Italian.

My favorite.

I didn't know what kind of wine you like.

Is red okay?

[Laura] Red's perfect.

Everything's perfect.

I figured you deserved something special

after the wonderful day you gave me yesterday.

I really needed this tonight.

Thanks.

I heard what happened.

About the professorship and everything.

Maybe we better not talk about it.

Things are gonna work out, you'll see.

Wish I could be so sure.

I'm positive.

[sighs]

I'm so scared.

Seven years of my life, and now--

I don't know what I'm going to do.

This isn't the only college in the world.

We'll go somewhere else.

Just when I needed someone,

you appear out of nowhere.

Who are you?

Where on earth did you come from?

From a...

fairy tale.

See, I told you, dreams come true.

[romantic music]

[crowd chattering]

[Woman] Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

They say there was a problem about a promotion.

Well, she was angry about being passed over

by Diana Gibson.

Did you ever hear her actually threaten

Diana Gibson at any time?

We'll they had harsh words.

I mean it's no secret that they hated each other.

But really, I can't imagine that Laura's capable

of doing something like this.

What happened?

You won't believe it.

Somebody got killed up in the studios.

Some art teacher.

Who, who is it?

I don't know, Diane something.

Oh my god.

Jeffrey!

Jeffrey, did something happen to Diana?

Oh, Laura, I think that--

Are you Laura Hendricks?

Yes, I am.

Did you know the deceased?

It's Diana?

Oh my god, what happened?

Somebody did a pretty good job on her skull

with a heavy metal object.

Can you account for your whereabouts

between five and eight p.m. last night?

Um mm

Eh-- I don't know, I was driving around, I was pretty upset.

I was home by seven, I think.

You don't think...

Why don't you come with us, Miss Hendricks,

we have a few more questions.

[Laura] Please, wait.

It's just routine, nothing to worry about.

You're making a mistake!

Watch your head.

[siren sounding]

[somber music]

Thanks, Matt.

Yeah.

Listen, I'll be by my office at five o'clock, okay?

I didn't know who else to call.

Hey, you did the right thing.

They can't hold you if they don't have evidence.

I just can't believe that Diana's...

I mean, somebody killed her.

Matt...

You know that...

Laura.

Or course I know you didn't do it.

You've got to know that.

I'll get you out of this mess, I promise.

-I've been waiting for you. -Oh!

I heard what happened.

Nick, I--

Those cops are idiots, how could they suspect you?

They think I have a motive.

They don't know you.

Not like I do.

They don't understand.

Listen, don't worry.

I'll get you out of this, I'll take care of it.

It's okay.

My husband's handling everything.

I'm meeting him in his office in a half hour.

I thought it was over between you and Matt.

I thought, after last night, I thought that...

I-- I don't know.

I can't think straight.

That's why you need me.

Please, I don't want you to see Matt anymore.

Matt is an attorney, Nick.

And right now, I need him more than I need anybody else.

I'll call you, okay?

Don't you see?

He's using this to get you back!

Evidence suggests the 31 year old victim Diana Gibson

may in fact have been murdered.

Police spokesmen indicate that there is a suspect

and they expect--

Mom!

How many times have I told you

I don't want you watching so much TV!

Diana Gibson killed?

I mean I always say what goes around comes around,

but who do you think could have done it?

Marcy, I've gotta go out again.

Can you watch Josh?

Sure, honey.

Can't I just watch till dinner?

[Laura sighs]

Why don't you play walkie talkie with Marcy?

I can't, Nick's got the other one.

Well, I'll go up and get it then.

But then I gotta run.

[knocking]

Nick?

Nick, are you there?

[knocking]

Nick, I need the walkie talkie.

[door creaks]

[tense music]

Gary Nicholson.

Nick Goodman.

Oh no.

[suspenseful music]

[phone ringing]

[Woman] Lennox Police Department, Detective Division.

I need to talk to Rivera.

Detective Rivera or Wilcox.

[Woman] Please hold.

[buzzer]

Homicide, Rivera.

You know who killed Diana Gibson?

He says his name's Nick Goodman.

He models in my class.

I found my book in his apartment

with the name Gary Nicholson in it.

He must have gotten out of--

Hold it, hold it, you lost me there.

You wanna try that again?

He called me from prison.

He said his name was Gary Nicholson

and that he liked my book.

And then I found my book in his apartment.

[Laura] Don't you see?

Oh my god, he knew I was upset about Diana, he must...

You've gotta call Attica, find out

if Gary Nicholson got out, if he escaped.

You gotta find out!

Yeah, okay, okay.

We'll call Attica.

In the meantime, why don't you come down here

with your lawyer and you can explain

the whole story in detail, okay Mrs. Hendricks?

But-- [dial tone ringing]

Oh my god, he's going after Matt.

[suspenseful music]

[rattling]

Laura, is that you?

Laura?

[tense music]

Who are you?

I'm a friend of Laura's.

How did you get in here?

Where's Laura?

You don't need to worry about Laura anymore, Matt.

I'm taking care of her now.

I'm taking care of Josh too.

Look.

I don't know who you are or what you want

but I want you out of here.

That son of yours is a hell of a kid.

But then you wouldn't know, would you?

You've been too busy with your job,

too busy screwing around.

I want you to leave, please.

A beautiful woman like Laura

needs a real man.

Somebody that she can count on,

someone who appreciates her,

someone like me.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Oh no?

I made love to Laura last night.

And one thing I can tell you,

it was better than she ever got from you.

Okay, pal, get outta here.

Laura's mine now.

She wants you out of her life for good

starting right now, you got that?

-What? -You heard me.

I want you to leave this town.

You're never gonna see Laura and Josh again.

You're nuts.

You stay away from my family.

[picking up the phone]

Now, if you don't get the hell out of here in two seconds,

I'm calling the police, you got that?

[phone dialing and ringing]

Put it down, now.

I--

I don't want to hurt you, Matt.

You're Josh's dad, he's my little buddy, but--

you give me no choice.

Look, you don't wanna do anything right now.

You don't wanna hurt Josh's dad, right?

You call yourself a dad?

A dad is someone who's always there for his kid,

somebody who teaches him how to throw a baseball.

[Gary] How to catch a fish.

But you never had the time, did you?

Did you?

Right, right, no, you're right.

[Gary] That's why I'm taking over.

That's why I have to do this.

[Matt] Laura, get back, he's got a gun!

[gun firing]

[Matt grunting]

No, get away from him. You don't need him anymore.

I'm taking care of you now.

You bastard, you maniac!

-Matt? Matt? -[Matt grunts]

Oh my god, are you hurt, you've been shot, Matt.

It's always the same no matter what I do.

I need an ambulance right away.

My husband's been shot.

I took care of you, Laura.

-[Laura] 9736 Elm Street. -[Matt] I took care of you.

That dog, the mechanic, that teacher...

I got rid of that teacher for you!

Oh, no!

Please, no.

I love you.

Why isn't that enough?

I spun straw into gold for you.

I spun straw into gold.

[Josh and Marcy laughing]

[phone ringing]

Hello, baby boy. Mommy is here.

May I have the phone please? Thank you.

Hello?

[Laura] Marcy, it's Laura.

Something's happened to Matt

but I don't want Josh to know anything's wrong, okay?

Josh, turn the TV down, would you honey?

Yeah we're just listening to the radio.

Good, now Marcy, listen to me

and do exactly as I tell you, okay?

I want you to lock your door tight.

[Laura] And I don't want you to let anyone in.

Anyone, understand?

[Marcy] Sure, honey, but,

Good, now I want you to go to the window

and look outside and tell me if the police are there.

Yes.

The azaleas are in bloom.

The police are there?

Yes.

They're gorgeous.

Now listen, you do whatever you have to do

and don't worry about Josh and me,

we'll be just fine, okay honey?

Thanks, Marcy.

Don't worry.

We've got your boy covered.

You were right about Attica, Mrs. Hendricks.

This just got faxed to us.

[tense music]

That's him.

That's Nick.

I'm supposed to get a second chance.

Bitch!

You whore!

I don't need you!

He's my son, he's my son!

[sobbing]

I didn't know he was in the house.

[cars honking]

How was I supposed to know he was at home?

[sobbing]

It's not my fault, I didn't know.

[tires screeching]

I didn't know.

I'll go get him.

I'll go get him.

He'll be safe with me.

He's my little buddy.

I'm gonna go get him.

Matt.

It's okay.

They'll get him.

Is Josh?

[Laura] He's fine.

Oh...

Don't try to talk.

I love you.

[On Radio] Charlie two, any sign of the suspect?

Yeah, right. No sign of him yet.

[On Radio] Probably halfway to LA by now.

Hey, take a look.

[Charlie] Yeah.

Brown van, that's gotta be him.

[siren blaring]

[tires screeching]

[radio chatter]

[Policeman] Right, sending the body over to the coroner now.

[radio chatter]

Better notify Attica ASAP.

I was hoping to get you to identify Nicholson's body.

Only there's not much left.

We'll have to do it with prints or something.

He was doing life for killing his wife and son.

Oh, god.

He had some sort of twisted fantasy, he wanted me--

He wanted me and Josh to be his family.

Shrinks call it compensation.

[radio chatter]

The rest of the questions can wait till tomorrow.

Let's get outta here.

Right, 10-4.

[ominous music]

He killed Diana.

He killed her, he killed her for me.

It wasn't your fault, hon.

Nobody could ever think it was your fault.

I just keep thinking what is it about me?

He-- He loved my paintings, he sought me out.

How could I be drawn to this man...

this animal?

Oh, honey, listen.

I thought I was in love with him, Marcy.

What's wrong with me?

What's wrong with me?

Laura, stop torturing yourself.

[sniffing]

Here.

Little touch of the King always helps me feel better.

[panting]

[sighs hard]

Go ahead, honey.

Let it out.

Let it out.

[Laura sobs]

It's over, he's dead.

[crickets chirping]

[lightly tense music]

[Gary on walkie-talkie] Hey, Josh.

Hey buddy, wake up.

It's me, Nick.

A bunch of lonely frogs waiting for us, pal, come on.

Hey pal, I'm waiting for you.

You about ready, buddy?

Josh, you read me, come back.

Okay Nick, I'm ready.

[Gary] Way to go, now be quiet,

we don't wanna wake anybody.

Nick?

[Gary] Right in front of you, chief.

Keep walking.

Come on, frogs are waiting for us, buddy.

You didn't wake anybody up, did you?

I wanna surprise your mom.

She said you could go to the pond, remember?

Why are you all messed up?

I got a little accident.

But hey, I can't let a couple scratches

keep me from making good on a promise, huh?

[Gary chuckles]

Hey, isn't it nice of Marcy to lend us her car?

And look who she let us bring along.

[parrot gurgles]

Elvis!

Yeah.

Yeah I know, why don't you let him out of his cage?

Nobody like to be in a cage, Josh.

Believe me.

Marcy will never let me do this by myself.

Yeah, well you're with me now.

You're gonna do a lot of stuff you never did before.

[car starts]

[ominous music]

Just tell me where the hell he is.

[Gary] Before the night was over,

the little man had once again

turned all the straw into gold.

And when the king arrived in the morning

and found everything as he had wished,

he married the miller's beautiful daughter.

She became a queen.

She scarcely gave a thought to the little man

who had helped her.

I used to read that story

'cause it reminded me of my wife.

I thought you'd be different, you'd be grateful.

I thought you of all people really understood

what that story's about!

I do.

I do understand it and I'm sorry.

And I'll make everything right between us.

It's too late.

You know how the story goes, Laura.

After all the man did for her...

he got to keep her firstborn son.

Josh is mine now.

Goodbye, Laura.

Nick, wait.

In the book, in the book, the man gave the maiden

a second chance, don't you remember?

He said if she could guess his name,

he'd give back her child.

Remember how it goes?

He said...

It's--

It's a very important part of the story.

He goes back to the palace,

[panting]

[book pages turning]

yeah she said...

the queen pleaded with the little man.

He could take all the royal treasure

if he would only let her keep her child.

But her pleading was in vain.

Then she began to weep so piteously

that at last, the little man was moved.

I will give you three days, he said.

If at the end of that time you can guess my name,

you can keep your child.

But--

But you can't guess my name.

You have to let me try, you have to do it

just like it is in the book.

But, but--

Through thickets and over clearings,

deep into the forest.

Farm.

You're at the farm.

[hangs up phone]

[frog croaking]

[laughing]

So what do you think?

You think this little guy is really a prince?

-I don't know. -[Gary chuckles]

[splashes]

-Hey, you gotta hold on to him better than that. -Sorry.

[Gary] You wanna give it a try?

Yeah.

Okay, come on.

[splashing]

But you gotta sneak up on him now.

That's right, take him by surprise.

You gotta sneak up on him.

There you go.

[parrot squawks]

I lost Elvis!

[Gary] It's okay, Josh.

Marcy's gonna kill me!

Hey, I got a great idea.

I know a way you can go up in the sky

-and look for him, come on. -Really?

Yeah.

Go on, sit on there.

Yeah.

Okay.

Mom says this thing is dangerous.

Yeah, moms always say that.

[Gary laughs]

Can you see Elvis, huh?

[Josh] Not yet.

Just keep looking. [Gary laughs]

I want off, Nick.

[Nick laughs maniacally]

Nick!

I want off!

Nick!

Not so high!

Nick, stop it!

[Nick laughs maniacally]

I want off!

Nick!

I want off!

Hey, hey, Josh.

Come on, come on.

[Josh cries]

You don't think I'd let anything happen

to my best buddy, do you, huh?

Nobody loves you more than me, Josh.

Nobody.

All right, just knock off the crying now!

Come on, grow up!

[tense music]

Josh?

[Josh] Mommy, help!

Mommy, get me out of here!

I don't like it in here!

Mommy!

God!

Please, god!

[gasping]

[Josh] Mom, help, please!

Josh, where are you?

[Josh on radio] Fooled you, Ma!

Where are you, Josh?

You okay?

Talk to me, please!

[suspenseful music]

We fooled you, mom!

Josh, you're all right.

Of course he is, Laura.

He's with me.

Nick's gonna teach me how to spin straw into gold.

Just like in your book, mom!

I'm glad you came, Laura.

You can see how it's done.

[wheel ticking]

Well--

You said I could guess your name.

You'll never guess.

You're not Nick Goodman, are you?

You're someone else.

Someone who called me once

in the middle of the night.

[panting]

You said you liked my book, remember?

You were calling from prison, from Attica?

[trembling]

You're Gary Nicholson.

She's got it all wrong.

You're not Gary, you're not Nick.

You're Rumpelstiltskin!

You didn't guess my name.

You didn't say Rumpelstiltskin!

Run, quick, Josh!

The boy's mine, those are the rules!

[Laura] He wants to hurt you!

He's not your friend, Josh, run!

Run!

[Laura] Run!

[panting]

You're not going to take my son.

Not again.

No.

Not again.

Never again.

No.

[fire crackling]

[Laura] Nick, let me out of here!

It's okay, Josh!

[door banging]

I took care of it, kid!

[Laura] Nick, open that door!

[banging]

-[banging the door] -[Laura] Nick, open the door!

Josh?

Josh?

[Laura] Open it!

[suspenseful music]

Josh?

You playing hide and seek, buddy?

[laughing] Huh?

That's a good game.

We're gonna play a lot of games together, you'll see.

We're gonna have a lot of fun, you and me.

I'm...

a great father!

Josh.

[grunting]

A woman shouldn't try to get between

a man and his son!

It'll be okay this time, Josh.

'Cause we're gonna be close, you and me.

You don't need a mother, Josh.

A boy needs a father!

[clacking]

Is that you, Josh?

Come on now, I know you're up there.

Hey, game's over, I found you.

All right, enough is enough, son!

Don't make me come up there and get you!

[intense music]

[Laura] Josh!

I expect you to come when you're called, son.

That's it, you're gonna have to learn some respect.

You're being a very bad boy, son!

I hope you don't believe what your mother said about me.

We men, we have to stick together, you know.

I'd never hurt you.

[panting]

I'd never hurt my own son.

I'd never hurt him on purpose.

It'll be okay, Josh.

'Cause we're gonna be close, you and me.

Josh?

Why are you doing this to me?

Come out!

I'm your father!

I'm your father, dammit!

[Josh gasping]

She was poisoning your mind against me.

She was turning you against me.

That's why I had to--

Ow! Oh, you little!

[Laura] Hey!

[body thudding]

Get out, you'll be okay.

Hurry.

[gasping]

Keys.

Damn, the keys!

[tense music intensifying]

[car staling]

Run, Josh, run!

[car staling]

[gasp]

[whimpering and grunting]

[Laura] No, no...

[whimpering and grunting]

[panting heavily]

[sighs]

Where is he?

[Gary] I want my son.

Leave us alone!

Dear Lord, leave us alone!

Not until I find my-

[Josh] No!

Leave my mom alone!

Son.

You're not my daddy!

Josh, get out of here, quick!

Leave my mom alone!

I hate you!

Son?

I hate you!

I hate you!

I hate you!

You don't hate me.

A son doesn't hate his father!

You're not my daddy!

Leave my mom alone, I hate you!

[Gary screaming]

[bones cracking]

[weeping]

You okay, mom?

[Laura sighs]

We're all okay now.

[Laura sighs]

[music playing]