Original subtitles

I've followed Tom Hale's work for the last six years.

Frankly, it's genius. Tom Hale?

Emotionally immature.

Yeah.

They're so real, Thomas.

So unforgiving.

The truth is unforgiving. Don't shoot the messenger.

Or the photographer.

Right, or the photographer.

Your photographs are quite beautiful, Mr. Vail.

You've really captured something extraordinary.

Beautiful? I never really thought I'd look quite like that.

How do you think of them?

Well, just as a record of the facts, really,

what is, what was. Excuse me for a second.

Shrimp roll?

No, thank you. Cheese ball?

No, thanks. Sweetheart, excuse me.

The babysitter just called, and little Tommy threw up after dinner.

I'm sorry. Try the sushi. It's wonderful.

Excuse us.

So sue me. I'm a photographer, not a writer.

On the other hand, it has kind of a ring to it. Little Tommy Vale.

Didn't he have a hit single in the early 60s?

You know, one day we'll have kids, and God will get you for that.

How does it feel?

Like big Tommy is gonna throw up.

Can we go?

We can't go. Don't you want people to see your work? The reaction's been terrific.

They can't see my work. Why do they have to see me?

Oh, I get it.

Everything in front of the camera's fair game,

but the man behind needs to remain invisible.

Look, if we leave, I'll buy you a steak, okay?

Later.

Potato, lots of sour cream, chives.

Tom, you can't leave your own show. This is the big break you've been waiting for.

Cheesecake for dessert.

Another 15 minutes.

I know the cheesecake.

That's the problem with marriage, no mystery.

Trust me.

He will always be a mystery.

Hey, Tom.

This is a great show, man.

Boy, this is some ego trip. Your head's being stroked so much,

you must have a stiff neck.

Are you getting off on all this?

I'm getting out as soon as possible. You gotta be kidding.

Fame and fortune is right around the corner, buddy. Hop on for the ride.

I'd die for all this attention. Well, it's just about how I'm feeling.

You love it.

Hey, a bunch of us are cut now. I'm going to go over to Club Massera.

You and Allison want to meet us? No, I'm too old to dance, Larry.

Come on. No, you're too married.

Single guys dance.

It's either that or blow-up dolls.

On the other hand, some of these art babes ain't half bad.

I'll just tell him I'm your best friend.

Maybe I'll get some of your fallout.

Watch me work.

Oh, Mr. Vale, what a powerful, magnificent show.

It's edgy, riveting, so delectably cold.

Don't promise like that if you're not going to do anything. Oh, thank you.

Now that all the food's here,

you should know you really could have bought me off for just the cheesecake.

You're that easy?

Yeah.

Isn't that why you married me?

I've spoken like a devoted carnivore.

You know what I was thinking about?

Fulfilling my every fantasy?

Besides that. I was thinking it was too bad that

your mother wasn't at the opening tonight.

I think she would have been really proud.

You know, my mother wouldn't come out for my funeral.

Or maybe that'd be something she wouldn't want to miss.

You could have called her.

What makes you think she'd even talk to me?

You could have tried.

I have tried. You know...

The opening was painful enough.

I really didn't need to hear her telling me how I drove

my father from the house and left her alone to die.

Your father was miserable and unhappy on that farm.

Your mother's not the easiest woman in the world to live with.

My mother's not the easiest person in the world to have coffee with. You know,

as far as she's concerned, when I left to follow my dreams, I somehow abandoned her.

Inspired my father.

Two months later, she's alone and... Your work's finally getting some recognition.

I just think it's sad.

Someone should have told her.

I'll send her a photograph.

I'll be right back. You okay?

Hey, Gino.

Did Allison change tables?

Excuse me?

Allison, as in my wife?

Good smile, great legs, lousy tipper?

She's not at our table. I'm sorry, sir.

I really don't know who you're talking about.

Sir, what are you, kidding?

We were just sitting between these two lamps here.

Now there's two other people at our table.

Mr. and Mrs. Charney have said that Booth reserved

every Thursday for the last 10 years. Oh, okay, okay.

I get it. This is Allison's idea of a joke, right? That's cute. Okay, I laughed.

So where is she?

Perhaps if you come to the front desk... No, no, no, Gino, Gino.

The joke's over.

So where is she?

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave the restaurant, sir.

You're serious, aren't you? What are you,

telling me you don't remember seating us at that booth

20 minutes ago? Sir, please. No, this is ridiculous.

I'm going to take it up with the Charnies.

You are a very authentic-looking older couple,

but it's time to 86 the crumpets and scones. The joke's over.

Sir, please.

Take your hands off my wife.

I'll take my hands off your wife if you'll return mine, okay?

We can take our business outside. How far are you gonna take this, Gina?

Are you gonna bust my head open?

I said we'll talk outside.

You're picking up the check.

All right, all right. Don't you think you're overplaying

your part? No, you're still breathing.

All right, so what am I supposed to do now?

I'm supposed to go back to the show and apologize for leaving early? What?

You can take a long walk off a short pier for all I care.

Just stay out of the restaurant.

I don't suppose she left the car.

I don't know.

Thank you.

Here, keep the change.

It's me. Come on, open the door. Come on, Allison, open the door.

Who are you?

What do you want?

It's not funny.

If you're not out of here in the next ten seconds, I'm gonna call the police.

What are you doing?

Come on, the joke's over. I'm cold, I'm tired.

Let me in.

Well, Newt, you're in on this, too? Come on, what

the hell is going on? Hey, Allison, you all right?

Why don't you go sleep at El Salvador? Who the hell are you supposed to be?

I'm her husband.

I'm also the guy on the trigger under this shotgun.

All right, look, conversation's over. Now, you can either turn and leave,

or I can blow a hole in your leg.

Larry!

Larry!

Come on, give me my card back.

Your ATM card has been confiscated,

and a video image of this transaction has been recorded.

You would not believe the dream I had last night.

I'll tell you one thing, I've never been so happy to wake up in all my life.

Hey, Newtie.

Go get the paper.

But you know what?

The only remaining question I have is who was the other guy?

Please, don't... Shut up and drive.

Just get out of the parking lot and go west on Warren.

Talk to me.

What do you want me to say?

Come on, Allison. What are the rules of the game here?

I don't know what you're... Who put you up to this?

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

Cut the crap.

Just cut the crap, okay? It's about the photograph, isn't it?

There's no way you could have got into my bank account,

changed the locks all by yourself. Who are they, Allison?

All right.

They told me that if I said anything, they'd kill you.

Who?

Who are they?

I don't know. Some men.

But who? Government? Military? What did they say?

That's all I know.

I didn't want to put you in this situation. I didn't have any choice.

They're watching me.

They're watching you. I am not the enemy.

Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, baby.

I'm sorry.

There's gotta be somebody we can talk to.

What do you want me to do?

Just pull over, pull over. I doubt very much they got to the cops.

What's the problem? You want to step out of the car, please, sir?

Let's move to the front of the vehicle. Place

your hands on the hood. All right. All right.

We got a call from Martinson Dry Cleaners about

someone being in the back of your car.

The person that called thought there might be some kind of problem.

There's no problem, officer.

I'm her husband, so... Is everything okay, ma'am?

Officer, please, this man hid in the back seat of my car.

I've never seen him before in my life. He's insane!

Allison, what are you saying?

Stay away from me!

Do you understand what I'm saying? Don't talk to me. Don't come to my house.

But you just... What did you expect me to say?

You're sick. You need help.

She's lying. I don't know why, but somebody is making her do this.

You've got to believe me. This woman is my wife.

You have the right to remain silent. David, they're all lying.

I know this sounds completely insane, but I'm not deluded.

I have no paranoid obsessions.

You mind if I smoke?

No, do you mind if I leave?

You mind if I leave? That's very funny. I like that.

Some of my colleagues would say that humor is the first line of defense.

But not you.

No.

I enjoy the occasional light remark.

I hate to weigh things down with a lot of theory.

It's against the rules.

Do I really have to wear this thing?

We'll get to that.

You understand why you've been brought here.

I understand the circumstances under which I was brought here.

It's the why I'm not too sure about.

According to the police report, you were accosting a woman.

A woman?

No, that's not what happened. What?

The first thing you're going to learn around here Is that to make a good impression,

you want to keep your emotions in check.

We want our residents to be even-tempered, okay?

Okay.

Now, according to the report,

you went to this woman's house and you created quite a scene. Look,

you would just listen to...

Apparently, you broke into this woman's car and you accosted her in the parking lot.

My turn.

Your turn.

Do you know my name?

Yeah. You told the police it was Thomas Vail.

Have you ever heard that name?

Are you familiar with my work?

No, should I be?

I'm a photographer.

Some of my work's been published.

So you're quite famous, then. Look, don't patronize me.

What I'm telling you is the truth.

Your truth.

You know, it's not as though I don't know how this sounds.

You know, I probably wouldn't believe it if somebody said it to me.

Doctor, the woman I've been accused of harassing is my wife.

And someone, for some reason,

has gotten to her and forced her to act like she doesn't know me.

But you have no paranoid delusions.

Call my friends.

Check me out. I intend to.

What about family?

You do have family.

Why don't you just call my friend, Larry Levy?

16, 550, Hamilton Street. You don't have to take my word for it. He's in the book.

I can give you a three-page list of names, if it'll help.

Yeah, it might.

What about parents?

Here's my mother.

But... But?

You don't want us to call your mother.

You don't want us to call your wife or your mother. No, no, you can call her.

Mrs. Jonathan Vale.

18 Frontage Road, 6.

Council Bluffs.

Hey, thought you knew it all, didn't you, Puppet Pop? What is that?

Thought that you were the special guy who saw through it. What do you want?

Beginning to lose your confidence?

Real local hatch mate, furry friend.

Just your garden variety paranoid schizophrenic next door. Name's Eddie.

How you feel?

What are you doing here?

Why, you sound like the docs. No answers, but a lot of questions.

Finally got to you, huh?

There you go again.

You know, you'll never beat them at their own game. Ain't even worth trying,

bachelor buddy. I heard you say you were some kind of photographer.

I like that.

The all-seeing, unflinching ivories. You may say crap kind of stuff.

What do you know?

It's about hidden agenda.

This is the men in the photograph.

What, you're asking me? I'm a mental patient.

Maybe they just don't like your type.

What's my type?

You know, the kind that don't buy into the program,

the kind that's always trying to look behind the curtain.

You're supposed to see the tricks, puppy. Oh, not the mirrors.

Looks like you're going to be in art class for the walk.

I talked to Dr. Bellamy.

I gave him some names. Well, there you go.

Put your faith in the medical profession. That's a plan by Blue Cross.

Listen, when he contacts my friends... You know, you listen,

candid camera who don't know dip about what he's into.

You don't have any friends.

Everything they give you, they can take back.

Everything you thought you had, you don't.

Absolute zero, gentle Jack. Bottom line.

You saying that Bellamy is in on this?

Tell you what, next time you see him, ask him about Dave Powers.

Yeah.

Don't you think you're taking a risk having me unrestrained back here?

Living on the edge brings a little excitement

into an otherwise clinically dull existence.

I have faith it will survive.

So just what is it that we're surviving?

Just a little real-world reality check. It'll be good for you and useful for me.

So you think there's a chance what I'm saying is true?

You never know.

So how do you expect to get in? I told you they changed the locks. Well,

that's where my years of training come in handy. I phoned ahead.

Good morning.

Who the hell are you? Uh, don't mind him.

He hasn't been the same since the baseball strike.

Look, if you want to put forward your claim,

you might try not acting like a mental patient. That woman doesn't work here.

I've never seen her before in my life.

Apparently she has the same reaction to you.

This is my studio. It's not open to the public.

You can't just, you can't phone ahead. That's why we're here.

To test your version against reality.

This isn't reality.

They did this. They set this up.

And that's just the kind of talk we're trying to discourage.

It's very powerful.

And these are all yours? Yeah, I shot that in Guatemala two Decembers ago,

Tiananmen Square, Bosnia, El Salvador, Seoul, South Korea. That's Bosnia.

I shot every one of these.

And you say that one of them has been stolen?

Yeah.

Around here.

Right here. Well, that should be easy enough to check.

And it was a photograph of an execution of some kind?

Excuse me, miss.

Would it be possible for us to meet the photographer?

We just want to compliment him on his work.

I'm sorry. Unfortunately, he's on an assignment right now.

Overseas.

You don't know what you're talking about! Thank you. Thank you very much.

So you believe her and not me? Put yourself in my place.

I bring you to what you tell me is your studio,

and the woman who works here doesn't even recognize you.

I know, but... What would it take to convince you?

I spent half my life here.

I know where everything is.

It's where I keep my hazardous chemicals.

My papers.

I'm telling you, somebody came in here and moved everything.

You don't want to behave like this in a public

place. I'm telling you, this is my studio.

I built half this place.

Somebody came in here and moved everything. Somebody paid that woman to sit there.

And somebody pressured your wife.

You'll never be able to find them.

You hide your negatives. There's such a thing as healthy paranoia.

Yeah.

Yes, yes, ma'am.

No.

Uh, no.

Later. Yeah, tonight. 10 o'clock at the hospital.

Yeah, okay.

So, uh... Sorry.

Where were we? Ah, the negatives.

No, they must have found them.

And you're sure you're remembering correctly?

They should have been there.

What are you feeling right now?

Confused. A little less sure of yourself?

Yeah.

Don't fight it.

Confusion isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Under the circumstances, being a little less sure of

things might just prove to be the road to recovery.

You seem down today, JC.

So many sinners, so little time.

We got your work cut out for you, huh?

I try to tell them who I am, but they don't believe me.

You, you, you believe me, don't you, Eddie?

How else could you beat me three games out of fire?

Why doesn't anyone want to hear the truth?

I'm confused, Eddie.

Well, you know, JC, confusion isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Under the circumstances, being a little less sure of

things may just prove to be the road to recovery.

Point, game, match.

Can't compete with divine forces. Hey,

you think you got a tough puppy problem of mine?

You gotta wonder what it must be like having his father.

Eddie, what is going on?

How come you know what you know?

You don't want to get inside my head, furry friend.

You've got enough problems of your own.

Just tell me what you know.

Did you ask the daring doc about Dave Powers?

No.

No, it didn't come up.

You still haven't put it together.

Put what together?

Who's the doc meeting tonight at 10?

Time for your medication.

Here's to numb.

You gotta love this place.

It's after curfew.

Listen to me, listen to me. The doctor's in on this.

He's part of it.

Just ask him.

Ask him what he was doing with my wife.

Just listen to me. Listen to me.

But, uh, hey.

I do.

And once was a man named Tom.

Tom.

Eddie. Eddie. Eddie. Eddie.

Eddie.

Eddie. Tom, you used to be so calm, and then they

came and took his name. Now everything is gone.

This old man cannot go home.

Knick, knack, patty, why give a dog his bone? Because this old man cannot go home.

Cannot go home.

Cannot go home.

Cannot go home.

Oh, no!

Here we had something of an unauthorized field trip last night.

Shut up. Shut up. You know, I don't know what's in this happy juice,

but it's about six times as much of it as you people use to quiet us down.

That would have had quite a punch.

What do you want? I want my life back, you bastard.

It's not mine to give. Well, then I may just

have to take yours, okay? Here's the deal.

We're gonna walk out of here, right down the corridor, straight out the front door,

and you're gonna behave as though you're escorting me, okay? You make one move,

you cock an eyebrow in the wrong direction. Okay, okay, I got the point. Good.

Close the door. Is this it?

They're not going to get away with this.

What time is it? How long? A few hours. I didn't give you all of it.

That may prove to be a very big mistake on your part.

You don't really think you're gonna get away with this, do you?

But I am getting away with it.

I'm just applying what I've learned in the last few days.

I mean, if a man's identity is so tenuous, so fragile, if I can't be Tom Vale,

well, I might as well be you.

How's your credit limit?

There's nowhere to go. They'll find you.

They?

And who are they, Doctor?

Or is this just the raving of a paranoid lunatic?

You have no idea what you're up against.

Then tell me.

Thanks, but death at your hands is a preferable alternative.

How'd you get to my wife?

What did it take?

That's your basic problem.

You don't seem to understand that in the end, most people choose to cooperate.

Under a great deal of threat.

You'd be surprised, would I?

How far does it go, Doctor? I suppose now that I've volunteered their names...

They're negatives.

See, that's your basic problem, Doctor. You don't seem to understand,

no matter how much you take away, everyone has something that belongs to them.

To them, and nobody else.

Everyone has something that no matter how deep you dig, you'll never get.

What happened to Dave Powers?

He lost.

Who won?

Found my chemicals.

Sulfur bromide.

Very useful in a dark room.

Also very flammable.

What do you hope to gain from this?

Levy Crichton in Maple. Good morning.

Larry Levy's office, please.

Larry Levy's office?

Hey, Susie.

Is he in?

May I tell him who's calling?

It's Tom.

Vail.

I'm sorry, Mr. Vail. He's not in. Can I take a message?

Where the hell is he in the middle of the day?

I'll be happy to take a message for him.

Yeah, yeah, no, I know, it was nuts. I got it, I got it, it's okay.

Yeah, no, I'll be there in a second.

You decent?

So this is what keeps you away from the office?

Larry, it's me, man. We gotta talk.

Larry.

Very nice.

You look like an escapemental patient.

Jeez.

There's got to be something to wear.

I'm trying to reach Mrs. Jonathan Vale.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our final descent into Des Moines Airport.

The local time is 9.52, and the local temperature is 70 degrees.

Can I help you?

I don't know. That depends. Who are you?

I'm Helen's nurse. Who are you?

Her nurse? I'm her son. What's wrong? Why does she need a nurse?

You're her son?

Didn't you know?

Your mother had a stroke six days ago.

It's me.

It's Tom.

Can you hear me?

She's in and out.

Some days are better than others.

How did this happen?

She's 73 years old.

I mean, who hired you? Who pays you?

I think if you have any questions, you'd be better off talking to my supervisor.

I'll do that. Count on it.

Sue?

I'll be right back.

Mom, it's me. It's Tom.

Tom?

Is that you? I'm right here.

I'm right here.

It's OK.

Excuse me, sir, but if you could produce some sort of identification.

Would you have in mind a birth certificate?

A driver's license will do.

Is that your rental car out there?

Yeah.

And you're driving without a license.

I told you I left it in my room. If you'll come downstairs with me,

we can clear this up. Just get out of here.

Mister, we can do it easy, or we can do it hard. I said get out of here!

Let's go. Put it away, Matt. It's not necessary.

Put it away.

Hello, I'm Father Ralph Thomas. I'm from St. Anne's.

Sue tells me that Helen is your mother.

You're from St.

Anne's.

What happened to Father Kearney?

I'm afraid he passed on about six weeks ago.

He had a good heart.

May rest in peace, but not a strong one.

I find it interesting that Helen never said anything to me about having a son.

And in six weeks, you really got to know her.

I'd say I did, actually.

We had a number of little talks.

She never mentioned you.

Yeah, well, it's me. I'm right here.

Helen, it's Ralph Thomas.

Hello, Father.

Helen, this young man has been telling us that he's your son.

Um, my son.

I was surprised because you've never mentioned him.

My son is dead.

I have no son.

Stay back, stay back.

Put the gun down, son. Nobody means you any harm.

I suppose that's what you said to Father Carney before you killed him.

Father Carney had a heart attack.

Right, and you're his replacement. You're upset, you're confused,

you don't know what you're saying. Let me have the gun. Hey,

you can cut the phony father routine right now, Padre.

I'm not buying.

Oh, my God.

You're all in this together, aren't you?

Every one of you got to my mother. You got to Father Carney.

The police.

How far does this go, huh?

What? Everyone I ever met?

Everyone I ever talked to?

Get up.

Do what he says. Come here.

Get over here.

Come here.

All right. Either one of you moves. She dies. Please, son.

I mean, I don't have a lot left to lose.

You can tell your friends.

They can't take it all.

They can't take everything. They might get to everyone I ever met,

but they won't get to me.

Hold that dial, you're on AM 38, K-dwar, Iowa's best country.

Atlanta defeated Dallas 14-3.

Windy.

Yeah, it is.

You look like somebody who needs a ride. Which

way are you headed? Which way are you going?

That way.

Well, that's where I'm going.

We're going as far as Downey, though.

Downey sounds good.

You don't mind if I smoke?

I mean, my car are my rules, right?

I ain't got all day, mister.

You know what's good for you? You won't pass up this ride.

Not too much traffic out this way. Okay, buddy.

Have it your way. Hey, hey, hey!

Tell me about it, Scout.

One hell of a long afternoon for that fella.