Original subtitles

The following presentation is rated TV14.

Thank you for coming.

My control says Mrs. Rotella.

Oh, John.

I'm just going to call you, buddy.

That's okay.

Hell of a way to get together, huh? Yeah.

Joe had been listed as MIA for so long.

When they positively identified his remains, you know, couldn't believe it.

Yeah, it's been a long time since Ezra's torn.

Yeah.

Looks like he got a decent burial.

Nick, this is Bob Meyer.

He and I and Joe were in the same unit.

Good to meet you. Good to meet you.

Jono tells me you, he, and Fratello couldn't stand the trouble back in high

school. He lied like a rug. Yeah, you wish.

How about the time the three of us got busted sneaking a pig into the faculty

lounge, huh?

How'd we find out it was you guys? I had big squeals.

What's up with this guy?

Joy's always the one for kidding around.

Not to mention the best damn third baseman we ever knew, huh?

Amen.

Took us to the championship.

Really? Sounds like a hell of a guy.

Hey, this is me. I gotta go. All right. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

Right here, John.

Let me see if I can get a beer sometime.

Yeah, that'd be good. Call me.

Are you still the hottest public relations guy in town?

Well, Nick, everybody needs a champion.

Even the rich and famous?

Especially the rich and famous.

I gotta go.

Yeah, me too.

Be well.

Yeah, this is John Griffin.

I'm at 2375 Maple. I'd like to report a break -in, please.

Yes, I'll wait.

Fratello? You can't run!

John?

Johnny!

You remember me?

Joe Fratello.

You can't hide.

There's only one way out. There's only one way out.

Very impressive in a Cro -Magnon sort of way.

I'll bark it till you try it.

No, thanks.

Not really my style.

Although, you know, I did read your recommendations to London House on the

applications of Zen to confrontations in the field.

Not bad.

I suppose that just goes to good as I'm going to get, huh?

I thought it was very thorough as far as it went.

Funny, see, I thought that it pretty much covered the area.

From a male perspective, absolutely.

You only left out slightly more than half the world's population.

Well, it's the only perspective I have, but don't worry. I'm working on my

feminine side.

Was there something else you wanted to say?

Not really.

Oh, except while you were bashing your bag, you had a call.

Punching, not bashing. Why didn't you give me a shout?

I did.

Twice. You were punching.

His name's John Griffin. He wants you to meet him at McRory's. Huh?

You say when?

Whenever you can get there.

Okay, thanks.

Hey. Hey, the man himself.

I didn't expect to hear from you so soon.

I haven't been down here in years.

Come down here all the time.

Helping me deal with the stress.

What's on your mind?

I'm not just seeing you at Joe's funeral and everything.

Just help me remember all the good times we had, Nick.

Yeah, we tied a few on, huh? Yeah.

Well, I owe you that 50 bucks from last year's World Series, don't I? Ah, forget

it.

Oh, it's a debt of honor. Just can't write that off.

All right, in that case, cop up the cash.

Probably the first time in my life I ever beat you out of bed. I should

the moment.

First time for everything.

Remember that night in high school?

Tried to convince me and Joe to join the Navy and become SEAL.

As I recall, you guys both thought I was certifiably psycho.

Yeah.

They would be a team.

Back -to -back, we couldn't be beat.

Oh, yeah.

All the way, baby.

Remember league final?

Eh?

High score, bottom of the ninth. You're on third. Joe's up to bat. He's just one

hit away from being the first player in league history to ever hit 400.

Only trap!

He hits the sacrifice fly, deep into center field. You score, we win.

Remember. Oh, yeah.

Still got that ball.

Nick,

do you still feel that way?

You know, about us being a team?

Sure.

In some kind of trouble?

No.

It's strange.

It's kind of like a supernatural experience.

Supernatural? Like what?

That sounds stupid. Just forget it. No, no, no, no. Tell me.

I saw Joe.

What do you mean?

You saw what? You saw Fratello's ghost?

No.

Kind of hard to say.

Kind of dark in there and everything.

Where did this happen? When?

It was in my living room.

Right after the funeral.

I came home and the place was trashed.

I thought at first somebody had robbed the place.

I went to call the police.

Just follow the report. It's what I saw.

I didn't see a thumb.

What exactly did you see?

The way I remember.

Same face.

Same uniform.

Did he say anything to you?

No. I just, uh... Remember, Johnny?

It's a weird look on his face.

I'm not snake.

How's your friend?

Uh, it's hard to say. He said he saw the ghost of... Well, he might have seen

the ghost of a friend of ours from school, Joe Fratello.

Is it the same guy who was killed during Desert Storm?

Yeah, it's the one.

And do you believe this, uh, Griffin?

To be honest, I'm not sure he knows what he saw, but I told him that I'd check

it out.

Could be some kind of latent reaction to whatever happened when he was over

there.

Could be, but seven years is a long time, dear.

True. You think it's worth your time?

Call it a debt of honor.

Griffin! Griffin!

Open up, Bob.

Johnny, let me in.

Bob, where the hell have you been?

I must have left 20 messages for you. I haven't been home.

We need to talk.

Bob, what's going on?

You think I'm not going to tell you this, Johnny?

I've seen him.

Seen who?

Fratello, that's who.

He didn't come here.

Bob, Fratello is dead. No, no, no. I swear to God, he's out there. He's after

me, Johnny. Bob, listen.

Calm down.

Now, maybe it was just a bad dream.

Same thing happened to me.

It did?

Yeah.

The other night, when I got home...

Right after the funeral? I mean, the place looked like it had been robbed.

You know, your mom played tricks on you sometimes, Bob.

Right?

I mean, I thought I saw Fratello, too.

But it was just my imagination.

Trust me.

No, it was real.

First, he came to my apartment, and now he's following me everywhere I go.

Everywhere, Bob? He showed me how he died, Johnny.

He just kept staring at me and staring at me. Now, Bob, whatever's done is

Whatever ghost is out there is only your imagination working overtime on you.

Now, Fratello died. He caught a tough break. That's the way it goes. But

got to try to go home now and forget about it.

It's over.

He's waiting for me.

Bob, listen.

You've got to try to block this stuff out of your head now. You've got to try

put it out of your mind.

If anything else happens, you pull over, you call me, and then we'll figure out

what's going on at that point. I mean, there's always got to be a rational

explanation for something.

All right?

You're all so smart about everything.

Thanks, Johnny. I knew you could help.

I'll be okay.

Bye.

Just get some sleep.

Talk about everything in the morning.

Okay?

Yeah.

Hey, Meyer.

Where you going?

Don't do this, please.

It's a rush.

What do you want from me?

Joe! Mark!

You're dead.

Joe!

Hey. You all right?

Yeah, it's this guy, Meyer. I met him a few days ago at Joe's funeral.

I thought he was with that 313th Infantry.

It's got to be the same guy.

Suicide.

Well, some people take things harder than others.

Perhaps the funeral triggered some deep -seated emotion that he wasn't able to

deal with.

Maybe, but he just didn't seem that broken up about it, you know? Certainly

enough to off himself.

Something must have really rattled him.

Nick seems in a hurry.

That with him that just drove him?

Mm -hmm.

He always go hard on himself.

It's just the way he was brought up.

If you never take the easy way out, you're always ready for the worst.

He's much tougher on himself than he is on others.

Well, that hasn't been my experience.

Well, give him time.

I've never known him not to recognize talent.

Where's the option in such a hurry?

See a friend.

The one he met at the funeral the other day.

Griffin? It appears that another member of the 313th's infantry has killed

himself.

A man named Meyer.

Coincidence, you think?

I'd say that's exactly what Nick hopes to find out.

By the way...

The precept of the Boston house has called this morning.

She's still holding a place for you, assuming you want it.

Well, I still have the unfinished business regarding my father.

Until it's resolved, I'd like the freedom to follow up any leads.

She also reminded me that legacy bylaws prevent me from allowing you to stay

here, except on official business.

Which is why I told her I was requesting your services on an as -needed basis.

I can't believe she agreed.

She didn't.

She accused me of stealing you.

But I assured her that you're much too intelligent to allow anything like that.

And if she didn't believe me, she was welcome to try and steal you back.

Do you always get what you want?

Are you kidding me?

Everybody reads that magazine, whether they want to admit it or not.

Yeah. Excuse me one second.

John Griffin.

Hey, Johnny, it's Nick. I tried calling on the way over, but I couldn't get

through. Oh, Nick, come on in.

Yeah, I'll just blow off this call. We'll get some lunch.

Sounds good.

All right.

Right.

Well, listen, my feeling is if you do the TV interview and then you do the

interview tomorrow, everybody's going to buy the book.

Yeah, buddy.

Okay.

Sure.

Okay, right. Well, give me a call after you get out.

Okay.

Great, buddy. I'll talk to you then. I gotta go.

All right, bye.

This is the ball Joe had to clinch the title.

May I tell you?

Nice dump.

Thanks.

What's up?

Did you see the paper today?

No, actually, I...

Get all my information that I need off the Internet.

Why?

That fellow you were with at Joyce's funeral, Bob Meyer, he killed himself

night.

Killed himself.

How?

Jumped off an overpass.

I think that can't be right.

I mean, I saw the guy last night. He was right here. I just saw him.

What time was that?

9 .30? 10 o 'clock you left.

He was dead by 10 .15.

John, I'm sorry.

I don't know how well you knew him.

We were in the Gulf together.

Yeah, I mean, I've been with the guy every couple months on and off, you

What do you want last night?

Money.

Apparently, the guy was playing the commodities market for a while, and

He told me that when gold futures went belly up, you know, he took a bath.

I just loaned him a couple bucks.

I didn't expect to ever get it back or anything.

Did you say anything about seeing Fratello's ghost?

A little bit of shock, though, you know.

Why don't I come back later and we can talk then?

Yeah.

Call me, Nick.

You bet.

I'll see myself out.

What the hell is this?

Good to see you, too.

What? What are you getting so defensive about? I'm just doing research.

Really? On Bob Meyer and Desert Storm? Whose idea was this?

You know, you really are something.

I could be wrong, but I thought you were the one always preaching teamwork

around here. I thought you might appreciate it if someone took the

find out where Bob Meyer and your friend Fratello were supposed to be during

Desert Storm.

Desert Storm is ancient history.

So has every other battle fought there for the last 4 ,000 years.

So what?

So Fratello died there. I thought if we knew his exact location, I might be able

to help you.

65 miles from Asbusea and 11 or 12 from the border.

And about a million miles from a real assessment of the problem.

Maybe. But back in 94, I spent the better part of the year in the Middle

cataloging ancient burial sites for the Smithsonian.

These sites might explain why Fratello's spirit is not at rest seven years after

his death.

If I find anything out, I'll give you a doubt.

Do that.

Don't worry about it. Listen, they can't turn us down.

At this point, they owe me one.

Yeah.

So listen...

Tell me again what was facts to you?

Fratello's face.

It's not possible.

Nick, there were just two faces right here on the page. I just saw him a

ago. It was horrible, Nick. All right, now calm down. I believe you.

Tell me about Fratello. Why would he want to come after you? Anything go down

between you guys?

Look, I know that this is tough on you, but there must be something, right?

You and Joe and I, we were tight. So what happened?

Nothing.

I mean, after basic, Joe was the one who requested reassignment so that we'd be

in the same unit.

You have any idea how he died?

Nick, I was the supply sergeant. The 313th was strictly backup.

Joe was part of our perimeter defense team. I mean, when things got hot, there

were a couple of Iraqi tanks that got caught behind our lines.

I mean, they hit our left flank.

Joe was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When did this happen? Where?

A couple of clicks south of a village called El Shabbat. Why?

I was just curious. I never knew the details of his death.

Nick.

Is this real or am I going nuts?

Look at this.

God only knows why it's classified.

You can get more dirt on Disneyland.

You know, what I don't understand about this is why Fratello didn't return fire.

And there he is, sitting in a bunker with three dozen M -72 anti -tank rocket

launchers sitting right there.

Conclusion of the inquiry into the death of Corporal Joseph Fratello. Weapon

malfunction.

Signed, Colonel Abrolin's commanding officer.

Weapons malfunction.

Come on.

The M72 is a single -shot disposable tube with a 99 .5 % efficiency rating.

are the chances all 36 of them went south?

Highly unlikely.

Try impossible.

Where's Colonel Rollins now?

Oh, he's still in the Army.

Stationed at the 313th.

It's Fort Gregg.

Weapons malfunction.

It happens, even in the computer age.

Tellus Bunker was part of your perimeter defense. It was docked with M72s.

All of them couldn't have malfunctioned. In combat, men do strange things.

It's not impossible that Corporal Petillo panicked.

Can you tell us anything about another soldier under your command, Bob Meyer?

Not much of a soldier, Meyer.

What about him?

He recently killed himself.

Meyer was a scrounger, always wheeling and dealing.

Never anything he could prove.

Still, the kind of thing that usually earns a man from enemies.

Was there any kind of investigation?

There were several.

We were never able to substantiate any of our suspicions.

Colonel, was there ever anyone suspected of being involved with Meyer?

Not that I remember.

Anyone in particular that concerns you?

I know the supply sergeant, John Griffin.

Griffin was always an exemplary soldier, as far as I can recall.

Is there anything else?

No, that covers it all.

Thanks for your help.

Sure.

One way up.

Away from me!

Again, huh?

Remember, Johnny, only one way up.

Gotta stop him!

No, Jack, Johnny, no way up! Joe?

Didn't I tell you? Yeah, I saw him.

You saw him. The question's why, right? I don't know.

I don't know. Suddenly there he was. You know, the look in his eyes, his face. I

saw him in his eyes.

There's got to be a reason.

Come on.

You all right?

Yeah.

When you were in a gulf, how well did you know Bob Meyer?

Work together Supply that many men for that long time you get to know him

well Is there any chance he had his fingers in the toe?

Bob Stealing you know just a little side action black

market anything's possible To be honest with you,

I was just worried about doing my job

You didn't have anything to do with your staff, did you?

I couldn't believe you asked me that.

Joe was like a brother to me, Nick.

So were you.

I'm sorry, man. I just had to hear it from you.

You'll have this.

One of a kind.

Voodoo booth at Candlestick the night the Giants won the pennant.

Split -second timing.

First Joel, then you, then me.

Two seconds apart each.

Then we all piled in.

Teamwork, baby.

Look, why don't you get some sleep?

I'll crash in the couch.

Until the spirit comes back, then I'll have to deal with me, too.

Thank you. Thank you

for

your call last night.

You and Griffin see any more of Fratello's ghost?

No. Given the way things have happened, I'd say it's nocturnal, so I told John

I'd start back tonight.

Well, we ran a background check on Meyer.

His bank records make interesting reading.

Yeah, what's the story?

Immediately following his discharge, he came in for quite a bit of money.

How much?

Mid -six figures.

But then we checked the price of M -72s in the black market.

Oh, you're kidding me.

So it cost Fatello his life, and now his spirit wants revenge.

Revenge on Meyer, right, but Griffin, what, guilt by association?

Nick, I don't know how to say this, but to have a strong chance your friend

Griffin was in deeper than you think.

Based on what, Derek?

Look, I would trust John Griffin with my life, and I'm sure that Joe felt the

same way.

Right after he got back from the Gulf?

He bought into a very established PR firm.

His full partner.

Well, he came from money. He also bought a house.

$600 ,000.

Cash.

Phil, it's not hard proof.

How did it connect with Patello?

There's something you need to see.

Just cut to the chase.

Based on the documents we downloaded from the Pentagon, I was able to

Fratello's position the day that he died.

It's in an area once known as Mesopotamia.

Sumerian cosmology would explain the supernatural occurrences.

Now, taking the location of the bunker and overlaying a map of Sumerian burial

sites, you can see the full significance.

He died in the middle of a ziggurat, temple and burial site.

According to Sumerian death rites, any spirit wrongfully killed will walk the

earth wreaking vengeance on those who betrayed him.

But why after so many years?

Maybe moving the body had something to do with it.

Rightly or wrongly, Fratello's ghost thinks Riven is guilty.

Even if it's mistaken.

That's what we have to find out.

Bring it down.

Talk to me, Johnny.

Why would Fratello Spiro want you dead?

I don't know.

Doesn't make any sense.

Doesn't it?

You want to tell me where you raised the money to buy into the PR firm, not to

mention this house?

I don't understand, Nick. Just answer me.

My dad helped me put up the money.

And the rest?

I found it myself.

You found it?

A couple hundred thousand in cash. You found it?

What the hell is this about?

Why are you doing this?

After the war ended, a number of weapons were found in the black market.

One of the hot ticket items was the M -72.

The same ones that were supposed to be in Fratello's bunker.

What are you saying? I stole him, Nick?

Did you? God dang, Nick, what do you mean by that?

It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what Fratello thinks. And if

going to change his mind, then you've got to start telling me the truth.

I am.

You still haven't answered my question.

The official report says when Fratello came under attack, he never returned

fire.

Why not?

He had all the firepower.

36 M72s still in their crates. So what happened?

Did he panic?

Did he freeze?

No, I don't think so.

No, I think he tore open one of those crates. The question is, what did he

inside?

M72s or sand?

Why are you doing this? Talk to me, Johnny.

I already told you.

Look at me. Tell me the truth. No more BS. Just the truth.

I didn't think it'd matter.

We're skimming weapons we were never going to use.

You think I wanted Fratello to die? We were in reserve.

It was supposed to happen.

But it did.

Yeah, it did.

It did.

Half dead.

How do you think I feel about it, Nick?

It's really painful for me. I think it's a lot tougher than you're aware of.

Nothing I can do about it.

You know?

He's gone.

It's over.

No, it's not.

You just don't get it, do you?

But that's your problem.

You deal with it.

Where are you going, Nick?

I need your help.

You're still out there.

I thought we were friends!

I fit for telling about the same thing!

What the hell are you doing here?

After your lapse, Griffin discovered something more. Forget it, I'm out.

you can't.

Watch me. Nick, you have to help him. Morley, you bound him. For Griffin,

got lost a long time ago.

Yes, but yours didn't. You cannot just turn your back or you're guilty of his.

Derek, don't ask me to do this. I can't.

He betrayed everything I believe in.

Well, then don't do it for him.

Do it for Fratello.

Fratello? Yes.

If Fratello succeeds in killing Griffin, he will be trapped in limbo.

doomed to walk the earth forever.

He must break the cycle.

So you tell him.

Go ahead.

Get your gun.

Lock and load.

Then do it. Turn the gun and pull the trigger.

Time to do the right thing.

Time to finish it.

Now, Johnny, now!

Now!

You're the one to kill, not me.

Pull the trigger.

No one ever would have done it.

Time to finish it.

Do it.

No.

Listen to me.

You can do this.

It's done. It's done.

I wish it were different.

But it's not.

And nothing's gonna bring you back.

Please, Joe.

Don't kill me.

Shut up, John.

You remember this?

Bottom of the night.

One hit away from the record.

But you didn't go for it.

You made the sacrifice.

And that is the Joe Fratello that I remember.

Let it go.

You son of a bitch.

Did it?

Yeah.

I did it.

But not for you.

What do you mean?

For him.

His war's over.

But yours has just begun.

To lose a friend is hard.

But the cause of his death is even harder.

Joe Fratello was a casualty of Desert Storm.

But he didn't die alone.

He took John Griffin with him.

A little bit at a time.

For the rest of his life.

I guess Plato said it best.

Only the dead know the end of war.