All language subtitles for The Midnight Man (1974)

...checking by Hartel. And it's
really getting rough down there.

Sean on the corner,
one bounce pass to Milton.

Taggers are standing around.

Sean loses Graper, pass from Milton,
Sean lays it up and in.

87-89, the Anchors lead by two.

Rogers inbounds the ball
to Preston.

Ramsden steals the ball,
a beautiful pass to Milton,

up and in.

Ball via Rogers to Lawley,
dribbling down court,

checked by Sean,
shoots over Milton,

beautiful shot!
A picture play.

AIright, boys,
put the guns down.

I'm a poIice officer.

What do you know; A rent-a-cop
from up at the coIIege.

You ain't even a reaI pig.

No gun either;

How's anyone supposed to know
you're a cop;

You got to wear this badge
where foIks can see it.

I'm gonna pin this to your nose.

AIright, come on!

HoId stiII, everybody,
the fun's over!

OK, boys, Iet's get on with it.

The cash register, open it up!
Move!

-How are you;
-Fine, just fine.

-You Iook good.
-You Iook beautifuI.

Everything Iooks beautifuI.

That's where you'II be working.

Green. Lots of green.

-How's Quartz;
-In the hospitaI.

-What;
-He got his Ieg broke.

-How did it happen;
-Get in the car, I'II teII you.

Got a nurse under there;

Hey, Jim!

Goddamn.
You made it.

How about that;
But I'II be out by tomorrow.

You wouIdn't be here
if you hadn't made that asshoIe pIay.

You know how it is,
once a cop, aIways a cop.

-Gee, it's good to see you out.
-Good to be out.

Sit down, Iet me Iook at you.

Hey, by God.

-You Iook just Iike an ex-con.
-I am.

By the way, you can start
at the coIIege any time you want.

The sooner the better.

You got the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.
It's a horseshit job, Jim.

-Same as yours.
-Me, heII, I'm Chief.

Got me a car, an office,
don't have to wear no monkey suit.

-And you hate it.
-I had to do something.

Damn farm was eating up
aII my retirement pay.

I was born down here. HeII, in those
days, a farmer couId make out, but...

Mr WiIIinger,
you get back in bed!

Yes, ma'am.

See you, Chief.

OK, Terry,
see you same time next month.

-Bye.
-Bye.

Jimmy, what are you doing here;

-What happened;
-CouId I taIk to you, Mrs Thorpe;

Yeah, sure, come in.
Are you Mr SIade;

-Yes, ma'am.
-I'II be with you in a minute.

You teII him to caII me back
as soon as he's off the Iine.

I'm sorry about this, Jimmy.

Go back to work,
I'II take care of it, OK;

-Stay cooI.
-Thanks, Mrs Thorpe.

Mr SIade, you can come in now.

PuII up a chair.

-WouId you Iike some coffee;
-No, thanks.

-Cigarette;
-Thank you, no.

-WeII, how does it feeI to be out;
-FeeIs good.

-You're staying with the WiIIingers ;
-Yes.

Nice peopIe.
How's Quartz getting on;

-Fine. He'II be home today.
-He's a brave man.

HeIIo;

Yes, Jack, I want to taIk to you.
Jimmy GiII was just here.

Jack, I was there!

No, not Iater, right now!

Damn it.
Be back in a minute.

Morning, Linda.

Your fat-headed deputy
roughed up Jimmy GiII.

-Wait a minute.
-No. You shouId see that kid's face.

He probabIy got smart-ass.

-VirgiI's a sadist and you know it!
-VirgiI's got to do his job.

Anyone spits on the sidewaIk,
you roust one of my peopIe.

-Car 22's on the horn.
-AIright.

For Christ's sake, Linda, we ain't
taIking about, what's-his-name...

Martin Luther King. Jimmy GiII's
been up for armed robbery.

-He's aIso on paroIe.
-Yeah, I know.

He has the same rights
as any other citizen.

OK, OK,
I'II Iook into it.

AIright, Jack,
but I'm warning you.

If your peopIe keep harassing mine,
I'II take it upstairs.

Have a nice day.

That's what happens when they
put a broad in a man's job.

Broad, my ass. She's got
a bigger pecker than you have.

Mr SIade!

Mr SIade!

You seemed busy.

I know, I'm sorry.
We can taIk now.

Mrs Thorpe, I think I can save you
a IittIe time. I know the ruIes.

''Upon reIease, report to
your paroIe officer.'' I have.

''OnIy with their permission
can you Ieave the county

or change your address.

Any change in empIoyment
must be approved.

You shaII not consume
aIcohoIic beverages to excess.

You shaII not possess
or traffic in narcotic drugs.

You shaII not possess or use
any deadIy weapons or firearms.''

-Wait, where are we going;
-To catch my bus.

''You shaII not operate any motor
vehicIe without a drivers Iicense

and the written permission
of your paroIe officer.''

-And that about covers it.
-Except for one thing.

''You shaII not associate
with former inmates

or individuaIs of bad character.''

-I'II have to make new friends.
-I think you wiII.

See you.

-Good morning, Jim.
-Good morning, Sam.

-CoId night, wasn't it;
-Damn coId.

Nights Iike that, you shouId stretch
out on a cot in the boiIer room.

If I did,
somebody'd steaI the schooI.

And thou shalt not enter into
Heaven anything that defile it.

And the Lord spake unto Moses
saying,

the nakedness of thy father
or the nakedness of thy mother

shalt thou not uncover.

Mr Ewing.

I have to ask you
to turn that down.

The nakedness of thy father's
wife shalt thou not uncover.

lt is wickedness.

That's the Lord's work, Mr SIade.

There've been compIaints
from the girIs' dormitory.

Them's the sinners that
shouId heed the word.

Thank you.

Damned whores.

-What are you Iaughing at;
-A damn fooI.

No reason not to stay in shape.

You might faII
and break your other Ieg.

The heII I wiII! I'II be back on the
job next week. You watch this.

See you at the house.

Morning, sir.

-You're new here.
-Yes, sir. I started Tuesday.

I'm Dr Pritchett. How Iong is it
since you checked this buiIding;

About an hour ago.

I was opening up
and I noticed that door.

Somebody's broken in.
Some tape recordings are missing.

-Are you sure;
-Yes, I Iocked them in the desk.

-Somebody's stoIen them.
-I'II notify the Sheriff's office.

I'd rather you wouIdn't.

Dean CoIIins doesn't Iike
poIice on the campus,

they can be a disturbing infIuence.

Mr WiIIinger's aIways deaIt
with these things.

The tapes had no vaIue, I don't
know why anyone wouId steaI them.

What kind of tapes were they;

My department offers
psychoIogicaI counseIing.

Not as compIex as psycho-therapy,
but the same technique.

A student without an appointment
can get things off his chest on tape.

-3 tapes were Ieft yesterday.
-Have you pIayed them;

No, I had some papers to grade.

-Do you know whose tapes they were;
-Yes.

I jotted their names
down here somepIace.

Yes. Here they are.

-One of them changed their mind.
-What do you mean;

Didn't want you to pIay it,
so took aII three.

I doubt it. They knew if they caIIed,
I'd destroy it without Iistening to it.

I've got an earIy cIass.
They'II have to be notified.

Maybe I can heIp.
WouId you Iike me to teII them;

-That'd be most heIpfuI. Thank you.
-Doctor.

Oh, shit!

Did you teII anyone you made it;

I don't teII peopIe
I need psych counseIing.

-How about your boyfriend;
-Harry;

-He doesn't know I made it.
-Did you taIk about him;

He is aII I taIked about.

My God, now it'II be aII over campus.
Jesus, Harry wiII kiII me!

Shit!

Those tapes were supposed
to be confidentiaI!

What the heII do I care;
It's aII buIIshit anyway.

You know why I made those tapes ;

'Cause I Iike to
put that phony Pritchett on.

Think I'm worried about
that mini-skirted cheerIeader

Ietting that NeanderthaI fuIIback
baII her in the back of his Pontiac;

WeII it just turns me on
to bIow smoke up Pritchett's ass.

Once I toId him I was queer
for diseased owIs

and the fat creep bought it.

-Mark Antony!
-Excuse me, sir.

I reaIIy can't see anybody
breaking a Iock to get my tape.

Was the Iock broken;

-I'm psychic.
-You don't seem very upset.

I'm not, it was mostIy poetry,
my own.

I thought Dr Pritchett might
Iearn something about me from it.

I think it was your tape
the thief was after.

-Why do you say that;
-You're much too cooI.

The other two took it hard. I have
to beIieve nobody wants anything

as intimate as a taIk with
a psychoIogist exposed.

Amazing, Mr HoImes.

There was more
than poetry on your tape.

-And you know who took it.
-Fuck off.

NataIie CIayborne;
PhiIIip CIayborne's daughter.

State Senator.
Pretty near runs the state,

supposed to be next in Iine
for governor. Loaded.

Maybe there's a bIackmaiI angIe.

Jim, them tapes is gonna
turn out to be kids' stuff.

HeII, man. This is Jordan,
it ain't Chicago.

Morning!
Don't get up.

WeII, this is a whoIesome
IittIe domestic scene.

-A joy to a paroIe officer's heart.
-You're just in time for Iunch.

No, thanks. This visit is officiaI,
to check Mr SIade's Iiving quarters.

Jesus, Judy, get rid of the heroin
and them broads.

Come on in.

-Who's her husband;
-Ain't one. Divorced.

-She from around here;
-Chicago.

Chicago;

She came here about a year ago.

-Who's she Iiving with;
-You dig her, don't you;

-Don't you;
-WeII, as far as I know,

she Iives aIone.

-What a waste.
-I agree.

Here's a present for her.
Wait tiII she tastes these.

I caught thirty Iast week.

-You've done wonders with the pIace.
-Thanks.

-Sure you won't stay for Iunch;
-We gonna get to keep him;

For the time being.
I'II take a rain check on the Iunch.

-Anytime.
-That's what you're missing.

I caught them Iast week. If you Iet
them thaw, don't refreeze them.

Yes, I wiII. Bye, Judy.

-Bye.
-Mr SIade.

-How's it going;
-Fine, got my driver's Iicense.

-Good.
-StiII need your written permission.

Go ahead and drive,
I'II maiI it to you.

How's the job;

It's OK.

-Not exactIy Iike poIice work, is it;
-No, ma'am, it's a night watch.

-Made any friends ;
-Met a few peopIe.

Any femaIe;

Just you.

-See you at the office on Tuesday.
-Yes, ma'am.

Come on, NataIie, get in.

I've got to wait awhiIe.

I've got a mid-term in the morning.
WiII you get in;

There's somebody I've got to see.

What have you been doing
for the Iast hour;

Dreaming, of a white Christmas.

OK, CIayborne, who is he;

None of your business.

Goddamn you!

You're supposed to be
back on campus by 12.

-You gonna fink on me;
-I shouId.

Bastard.
Hey, pour me another.

You do, and I'II break your arm.

What are you doing in town
at this hour;

-You teII me, Dick Tracy.
-You're after that tape.

Did you get it;

Miss CIayborne, why don't you
teII me who took that tape;

No.

No.

AIright, no more questions.
Come on. I'II drive you home.

You've got to be in by 12
and I've got to be at work

or we're both in troubIe.

HeIIo;

He's just coming in, hang on.
What happened to you;

-I feII on my ass. Who's that;
-Dean CoIIins.

OK. Yes, sir;

What;

Is my man there;

Listen, Jim.
I'II notify the Sheriff's office.

You stand by tiII Casey gets there.

What is it;

-A coed's been kiIIed.
-My God!

This is Betty ChiIdres.
She discovered the body.

I know you've had a shock, but
if there's anything you can teII us.

I came to wake NataIie.

We had an earIy cIass.

She didn't answer when I knocked,
so I tried the door.

It was unIocked,
so I came in

and I found her Iike that.

How weII did you know
Miss CIayborne;

I suppose I knew her
as weII as anybody.

Up untiI a few months ago
I was her roommate.

She was a moody girI, strange.

In what way;

I don't know,
she wouIdn't taIk much.

-You want to go to your room, Betty;
-No, I'm aIright.

-You were her roommate;
-Yes.

-Why did you Ieave;
-NataIie asked me to.

It wasn't me or anything Iike that.
She just wanted more privacy.

-She have any boyfriends ;
-She saw a Iot of one boy.

-Arthur King.
-Anybody eIse;

If there was somebody eIse,
she never mentioned him.

But she never Iet a boy
come up to the room.

-Who's WaIdo Mason;
-A professor. He teaches Law.

The Sheriff is on his way up.

He'II ask you a few questions,
but don't be frightened.

-Who found her;
-Miss ChiIdress.

-You peopIe touch anything;
-No, Sheriff.

AIright boys, get busy.

I don't know you.
You new here;

-I'm on the midnight shift.
-I sent for Mr SIade.

Oh, yeah, SIade.
One of Linda Thorpe's paroIees.

-Chicago cop, aren't you;
-Yes, sir.

-I heard about you.
-We're aware of Mr SIade's record.

-Who eIse is here at night;
-Just the janitor.

The gardener comes on at six.

-Dig them up.
-Yes, sir.

They sure Iet those kids run wiId.
Ten to one she's knocked up.

-Check that out, Doc.
-Just one, pIease.

Get him out of here.

CIose the door.

-How'd you happen to find her;
-I aIready toId Mr SIade.

You can go.

Don't get Iost,
I'd Iike to taIk to you Iater.

AIright, honey,
Iet's start from the beginning.

-Come in, SIade.
-You wanted to taIk to me.

Sit down.
Come on, sit down.

Now, you teII us about that stuff.

They's just some rags I picked out
of a trash barreI to cIean up with.

Notice that stuff's been
pawed over a Iot;

What wouId they make
of that in the big city;

-The same thing you'd make of it.
-Take a Iook at that.

I read the Good Book. I preach
the GospeI when the spirit moves me.

I'm innocent of crime
in the sight of the Lord.

Sit down and shut up.

He's a Iay preacher from
one of them crackpot churches.

Found some reIigious Iiterature
and junk,

some not so reIigious.

That's the fiIth they use to corrupt
the minds of American youth.

I show it to my congregation.
I denounce the sinners who peddIe it.

I'II bet you do.

I bet you boys sit around,
cIuck your tongues and get bug-eyed

and work yourseIves up
into a good hoIy sweat.

-As God is my witness.
-You're gonna need him.

Found his prints
aII over the murder room.

-WouIdn't that figure;
-Him being the janitor;

That's right.

HaIf the snaiIs in that dorm
found him swiping their underwear

after they hung it out to dry.

You caught a dirty oId man.

-I caught myseIf a murderer.
-No!

You did yourseIf a IittIe window
shopping in that dorm Iast night.

There was a Iight on
in the CIayborne girI's room.

The harIot's room.
You had your eyes on that girI.

She Iooked aII honey and innocent
on the outside,

but you knew her mind and body
were a fuII of sin as Satan's heart.

So you went
and knocked on the door,

toId her you were there
to fix the pIumbing.

ProbabIy had a wrench in your hand
to make it more convincing.

So she Iet you in.
And you made your pitch.

But she caIIed you a raunchy pervert,
not the Lord's good right hand.

And then she screamed, and you
coId-cocked her with the wrench.

No.

You gave her the punishment
the Lord intended.

No.

-Didn't you;
-No!

Take him in, VirgiI.

Now aII we need is the wrench.
It'II turn up somewhere.

-Can I go now, Sheriff;
-Yeah.

You don't think
that's our man;

No, I don't.

-Ten to one he is.
-You got a bet, Sheriff.

Just don't underestimate Casey,
he ain't no fooI.

He won't go to triaI without tying
the janitor to the murder weapon.

-He hasn't found one.
-Casey's a mean bastard.

If he has to, he'II pIant a wrench
with the janitor's prints on it.

-I don't beIieve Ewing did it.
-Maybe not.

What do you make of this ;

-What the heII is that;
-Found it in her room. It's a poem.

-What does it mean;
-I was afraid you'd ask that.

You two sound just Iike the oId days.

You know how it is.
Once a cop...

AIways a cop. I know,
that's how you broke your Ieg.

And that's how you
can break your paroIe.

Jim, she's right.

-I keep forgetting.
-WeII, don't.

And if you say ''once a cop''
once again...

I'm gonna hit you with this pot.

-Arthur King;
-Yeah.

Thought you might Iike
to have this.

What is it;

An unfinished poem
of NataIie CIayborne's.

-This isn't her handwriting.
-I copied it from her notebook.

-I thought it might be meant for you.
-Why;

It was written to a Iover.
I understand you saw a Iot of her.

Have you ever heard
of the generation gap;

-Yeah.
-WeII, it just got wider.

Fuck off.

-That's what NataIie toId me to do.
-What is this ; What are you after;

-Her kiIIer.
-The Sheriff got him.

I don't think so. I think it was
whoever she was writing to.

She sure wasn't writing it to me.

Whoever kiIIed her,
I'd sure Iike to naiI 'em.

Why; What's it to you;
You're no cop.

Force of habit, I guess.
Something about that kid.

She seemed... Iost.

-How weII did you know her;
-You mean was I baIIing her;

The answer's no. No one was
getting to NataIie that way.

How about this... Janus ;

Janus.

The Roman god with two faces.

Whoever she was writing this to
betrayed her.

And MytiIene;

MytiIene. Greek, I think.

NataIie was hooked
on mythoIogy.

You drive a red van, I beIieve.

Yeah, with a Ying Yang fIag.

I drove NataIie home the night
you stranded her in Jordan City.

-Where did you go;
-Back here to cram.

-AIone;
-Yeah.

-That's bad, son. No aIibi.
-What's your aIibi;

-You drove her home;
-Yeah.

You were the Iast one to see her.

You won't Iike this,
but you'd make one heII of a cop.

Thanks for the information.

Professor Mason;
I wonder if I couId...

Oh, you're SIade, the new man.
Come on in. Come in.

Dean CoIIins and I were chatting
about you Iast night.

You have a very interesting
background.

You investigating
the CIayborne girI's kiIIing;

-The Sheriff is investigating.
-Yes, I understand, perfectIy.

I'm something of
an amateur sIeuth myseIf.

I read the papers,
Iook for cIues between the Iines.

Like that book, you're wondering
how it got there.

No, I know how it got here.

I was wondering why Betty ChiIdress
took it out of NataIie's room.

And how it got into
NataIie's room in the first pIace.

-ExceIIent. Coffee;
-No, thanks.

Do go on.
Let's see your deductive powers.

This pIace Iooks Iike
a coed trap to me.

NataIie's been here,
you Ient her this book.

Betty saw the book in her room
and reaIized it tied you to NataIie.

She was afraid the Sheriff might
spot it, so she brought it back.

She cared so much about you,
she was crying just now as she Ieft.

She was jeaIous.

My God, a reguIar PhD
of a night watchman.

Listen, I teach Iaw mostIy,

but aIso criminoIogy and penoIogy,
my reaI interests.

How about you giving some guest
Iectures ; It'd be a breeze for you.

Make them question and answer
sessions if you Iike.

Were you pIaying around
with Betty ChiIdress ;

-No gentIeman wouId answer that.
-You just did.

Touche.

How about NataIie;

Mr SIade, I am a connoisseur
of young girIs.

Not statutory rape young,
but young.

However, it was NataIie
who chased after me.

-She was in Iove with you;
-HeII no.

Had some crazy idea
I might be her father.

Father;

I don't think
I want to get into that.

-You started the game, Professor.
-So I did.

Does that obIige me to finish it;

NataIie's mother and I,
2O years ago, were students here.

She was quite a swinger.

She Ieft coIIege to marry CIayborne
and gave birth to NataIie and...

kiIIed herseIf
not too Iong afterward.

-CouId you have been the father;
-I'm afraid not.

The dates make that quite impossibIe.
It's the craziest hang-up I ever saw.

In my judgment, not so much
that she wanted me to be her father,

she wanted PhiIip CIayborne
not to be.

Hated him. Hated him.

WouIdn't take his money, Iived on
a trust fund her mother Ieft her.

Any of this heIping you;

Professor,

this painting, signature K.M.

-You know whose it is ;
-KarI Metterman.

He's the IocaI Rembrandt.
He teaches part time art cIasses,

runs an arty-farty IittIe gaIIery
down in Jordan City.

I gather you don't think
the janitor kiIIed NataIie;

No, I don't.

Any idea who;

You, maybe.

Why me;

NataIie made a tape
for Dr Pritchett.

If she named you on it as her Iover,
it'd pIay heII with your career.

That's rather Ioose taIk.

You couId get to be
quite a nuisance, Mr SIade.

I'm going to give you a IittIe
free IegaI counseI.

As an ex-cop, I'm sure you know
that criminaI IibeI is a feIony.

And you are an ex-con
and you are on paroIe.

Thanks for the information
and of course, for the advice.

Did you know SIade was with
CIayborne the night of the murder;

-No.
-WeII, neither did I.

-He never said a thing about it.
-Did you ask him;

Come on, you know better than that.
He shouId've toId me. He's an ex-cop.

So what, if the janitor did it;

I'm just teIIing you
that when I get around to SIade

I don't want any squawks
about rousting your peopIe.

-Mr Lamar.
-HeIIo, Sheriff.

Quartz; Linda Thorpe.
Has Jim SIade Ieft;

He's not due untiI six,
but I wanted a word with him.

It'II keep tiII he gets here.
OK. See you soon.

-ProbIems ;
-The usuaI.

This is a pIeasant surprise.
What are you doing here;

Something not so pIeasant.

Just paid my taxes.
You are coming by Iater, aren't you;

Of course.

-HeIIo.
-HeIIo. Am I Iate;

Not a bit.
Eddie Lamar, Jim SIade.

-Mr SIade.
-Lamar's. I've passed your pIace.

-Next time, drop in for a drink.
-I wiII.

-See you Iater.
-Bye, Eddie.

Let's waIk.

-He's a good Iooking man.
-Isn't he;

-Boyfriend;
-He's married.

-Boyfriend;
-I Iike him.

I've been worried about you.

Casey says you were with the girI
the night of the murder.

She was stoned.
I drove her back to the dorm.

-Great.
-It seemed the Ieast I couId do.

Mr SIade, being a good Samaritan
is a Iuxury a paroIee can't afford.

EspeciaIIy with a mixed-up kid
Iike NataIie CIayborne.

You knew her;

I was her probation officer for
3 months on a marijuana rap.

I handIe things Iike that, the Dean
keeps it out of the Sheriff's office.

Did you get to know her weII;

Not reaIIy. She never taIked
about herseIf much.

Casey's gonna give you troubIe.

If it gets too rough,
I want you to come to me.

Thank you, I wiII.

Is that aII;

-Yes, I think so. Good night.
-Good night.

Yes, Mr SIade, I've been teaching
at Jordan for the past 2O years.

And I've been painting Jordan coeds
in the nude even Ionger than that.

Ever since I was an art major.

But what you
reaIIy want to know

is whether it was at their request
or mine. Am I right;

No, sir. That wouId be
none of my business.

-Drink;
-No, thanks.

Artists do not aIways have
affairs with their modeIs.

I painted NataIie because
she had a Rubinesque body,

fuII and satisfying,
Iike her mother's.

Who I aIso painted when
we were students here. Nude.

Did NataIie know that;

Now you're going to ask me if I
had an affair with NataIie's mother.

-No, sir.
-Yes, but it crossed your mind.

In fact, NataIie was quite
obsessed with that.

That was the reaI reason
she came to pose for me.

It fascinated her to think
that I might be her father.

-You ever had that probIem;
-No, sir.

I didn't think so.

Good night, Mr SIade.

That's 9.7 5, Mrs Thorpe.
WiII that be charge;

-Yes, pIease.
-419 EIm, I beIieve.

Mrs Thorpe.

-Something wrong;
-No, nothing.

-Were you waiting for me;
-Where's your car;

I onIy Iive a bIock from here.

I'II waIk you home. Which way;

How did you get into paroIe work;

How did you become a poIiceman;

My father was a cop
and his father before him.

Did you Iike it;

It's what I did best. I never
thought of doing anything eIse.

No dreams of fame and fortune;

You don't have to stop at detective
sergeant unIess you shoot a man.

That doesn't seem Iike you.

A cop Iives 24 hours a day
with vioIence.

-You get used to vioIence.
-Yes, you do.

I was married for three years
to a gangster.

You name the racket,
Jerry was in it.

-Must've been tough.
-Not at aII.

I knew when I married him,
from the beginning.

There was pIenty of money,
we Iived the good Iife. I Iiked it.

-But you divorced him.
-He was an animaI.

419 EIm, Leroy.

So I drifted for awhiIe. London,
Paris, New York, Las Vegas.

When I ran out of money,
I decided I better get to work.

ParoIe officer is appointive here,
not CiviI Service.

I had infIuentiaI friends, so my past
associations didn't get in the way.

They figured I had
so many criminaI friends

I'd know how to deaI with them.

Here we are.
Thanks for the company.

-Good night.
-Know what'd be nice;

If you invited me in for a drink.

AIright, Jim.

Kitchen's in there.

Hit the Iights, CharIie!

-Jesus, I think you kiIIed him.
-WeII, I couIdn't see.

She squirms Iike a worm,
juicy too.

-Where are we going to do it to her;
-In the bedroom.

-Me first.
-Like heII, Cash. I'm first.

You and Cash fIip a coin
for second. I'm first.

Jesus Christ!

My God.

Are you aIright;

-I'm OK.
-Let's go inside.

-I'm going to caII a doctor.
-That's aIright. It's just a cut.

Sit down.

Those were the same three that
beat up Quartz at Lamar's.

They got a braceIet from me and I
saw a woman in the market with it.

She must've got my address
from the cIerk.

-I think they were after me.
-You;

I've been asking
too many questions.

What have you been up to;

TaIking to a few peopIe
about the CIayborne murder.

Jim, Iisten to me.

You're not a cop anymore.

I want you to go to Casey
and teII him everything you know

and stop behaving
Iike a goddamn fooI.

OK.

I'm sorry, I...

I haven't even thanked you
for what you did.

It'd be nice if you'd give me
that drink you promised me.

Yes. You sit here
and I'II get dressed.

I'II take you to the hospitaI
to get that cut cIosed.

And then, you're going to Casey.

AIright.

Can't say I bIame them.
Linda's a good Iooking broad.

-I want them guns dusted for prints.
-Now, wait a minute.

They caIIed each
other by their first names.

Leroy, Cash and CharIie.
They weren't afraid of being made.

-Like they had connections.
-Damn you.

No hood's got connections
in this county.

I ought to Iock you up.

Go ahead.
I'd probabIy be a Iot safer.

I damn weII wiII, unIess you got
the right answers to my questions.

Where did you take the girI
after you Ieft the bar;

Senator CIayborne's here, Sheriff.

-I'II get to you Iater.
-You know where to find me.

-Senator, I'm Sheriff Casey.
-My secretary, Mr Swanson.

The janitor you've arrested.
I want to see him, aIone.

Yes, sir.

If you're Iooking for that wrench,
Sheriff's been over here aIready.

Yeah, I know. He gave me permission
to go through aII this stuff.

Maybe I can heIp.
What are you Iooking for;

WeII, you never know
what's gonna turn up.

Like a tape recording;

I think you better
have a taIk with my boss.

What do you know
about that tape;

It's aIright, go ahead.

I beIieve your daughter
was murdered for it.

So do I. And I don't beIieve
it was the janitor.

-Do you know what was on that tape;
-No, sir.

-Does the Sheriff;
-I don't think so.

You don't seem Iike
a mere night watchman.

My name is SIade, sir.
I'm an ex-cop, Homicide.

Retired;

Busted.
I did time, I'm on paroIe.

-I shot a man.
-In the Iine of duty;

In my wife's bed.

I got a Ietter from my daughter

post marked the day
before she was kiIIed.

She was upset about something
she'd put on that tape.

She was afraid the thief
wouId try to bIackmaiI me.

NataIie got into troubIe
when she was 15,

I had the option of Ietting her
pay the penaIty or buying her out.

I bought.

It was the kind of fix my poIiticaI
enemies couId make much of.

I want that tape.
I don't care how I get it.

If it's evidence in a murder case,
it'II be turned over to the D.A.

I'II worry about the D.A.

As NataIie's father, that tape
is now IegaIIy my property.

I'm not satisfied with the way
this case has been handIed,

I want you to work on it.

I can't do that,
I'm a paroIee.

Mr SIade, I have considerabIe
infIuence in this state

and I can be a generous man
when I get what I want.

-What time are you off duty;
-8 a.m.

I'm staying at CoIoneI Cravet's
cottage on the Iake. I'II expect you.

Good night.

Mr SIade.
CongratuIations.

WeIcome aboard.
You're gonna accept now, aren't you;

Did you hear what I said in there;

I'm not sure that's wise,
there's a Iot of money in this.

More than the Senator impIied.

-Money.
-I thought that'd interest you.

I suggest you and I get together
and have a coffee and a taIk,

just between the two of us.

Mr Swanson.
I don't know if you're on the take

or just testing me for the Senator,

but either way, I don't Iike it.

Since when does a secretary
carry an automatic;

-Wait tiII the Senator hears.
-I won't teII him.

Good morning.

You mean good evening.

-Where's Judy;
-PIaying bridge.

-SIeep weII;
-Not too bad.

Your headache better;

A IittIe better.

Just how wouId you Iike
your egg, Mr SIade;

-AIright, Quartz, Iet's have it.
-WeII, Iet's see, sir.

You had a number of phone caIIs.
Linda Thorpe

caIIed to express her concern
for your heaIth.

And Sheriff Casey caIIed and said
he'd be desoIated if you Ieft town.

And Senator CIayborne
was deepIy disappointed

you couIdn't make your appointment
this morning.

And I haven't heard
from them three asshoIes

you spent such a IoveIy evening with

though I'm sure their get-weII cards
is on the way.

And then there were caIIs from
more of your conquests, Arthur King,

-Professor Mason and Dr Pritchett.
-What the heII did they want;

It seems their pads were torn apart
and they figured it was you

Iooking for that tape.

KarI Metterman caII;

No. Why;

-Can I borrow you car;
-Sure. What's going on;

Jim!

Mr Lamar.
Mr Lamar, teIephone.

-Mr SIade.
-Yes.

I'm sorry to troubIe you.

I'm trying to reach Mrs Thorpe
and there's no answer at her house.

I'm Iooking right at her.
Linda, it's for you.

-HeIIo;
-Linda, I'm in a jam.

CouId you meet me in front
of the CIemons MoteI in 3O minutes ;

AIright, Jim.

He's in some kind of troubIe.

-Sorry, I have to go.
-Can I heIp;

No, thank you.
I think I can handIe it.

I'II be back, if it's not too Iate.

Cut your motor, your Iights.

Linda, I'd Iike to borrow your car.

-Where's yours ;
-Too easy to spot.

-Are you at this again;
-Somebody tried to kiII me tonight.

They got the wrong guy.

I'm safe as Iong as they think
I'm dead. I've got to Iay Iow.

-You're going straight to Casey.
-Like heII I am.

I sound Iike broken record.
You're an ex-con on paroIe.

I break my paroIe, I do 3 more years.
Tonight, I nearIy did no more.

Jim, pIease, if you go on Iike this
I can't heIp you.

I'm sorry, but it's my neck
and I've got to do it my way.

I'm not going to work tonight.

AIright.

Thanks for coming down.
Sorry I broke your date.

Date;

When I caIIed, you were
with Eddie Lamar.

-And that bothers you;
-I guess I'm oId-fashioned.

Mr SIade, you're a damn fooI.

HeIIo;

Yes, Eddie.

No. No. It's too Iate for that.
I'II see you tomorrow.

What;

Yes, Eddie,
I'm going straight to bed.

Morning, Senator.

We had an appointment yesterday,
it's a IittIe Iate.

It's Iater than you think, sir.
Your boy Swanson is dead.

He was burgIarizing everybody
who knew NataIie.

He wanted to hijack that tape
and bIackmaiI you himseIf.

-Who kiIIed him;
-ProbabIy the peopIe who Ieft this.

-Excuse me.
-Yes, sir.

-It's bIackmaiI, aIright.
-How much;

25O,OOO doIIars in cash
in exchange for the tape.

I'm to be at the Jordan City
bus terminaI at noon.

-This is our chance to naiI them.
-Yes.

HeIIo;

This is Senator CIayborne.
Who's this ;

I see.

Yes. Yes, I understand.

Mr SIade, I've decided
to handIe this myseIf.

-'Cause of that caII;
-I'm going to the bank.

I want your word
you won't foIIow me.

AIright, Senator.
Can I see that note;

The deaI's off
if I invoIve anyone eIse.

I think you better go.

AIright, sir.
If that's the way you want it.

Morning, Sheriff.
Didn't hear you knock.

-Where's your car, Quartz;
-It's funny you shouId ask,

it was stoIen Iast night.

-How come you didn't report it;
-What for;

Your boys couIdn't find a turd
in a cow pasture.

We found it aIright, with
a buIIet hoIe in the windshieId,

bIood on the seat.

-Is SIade up there;
-Got a search warrant;

You touch that phone,
I'II get my shot gun.

Your status in here
is the same as that of a prowIer.

Excuse me, pIease.

HeIIo;

Oh, yeah, Dean CoIIins.

He's been a IittIe under the weather,
but he'II be back tonight.

-Who's there; Casey;
-Yes, sir.

I'm at Linda Thorpe's house.
CaII me back.

I'II be gIad to do that, Dean.

Jack, I'd Iike to get my car back
before your deputies strip it.

-HeIIo;
-Jim, where the heII have you been;

Great.
Now you can taiI him.

I promised I wouIdn't.

WeII, I didn't.
And CIayborne don't know me.

What about your Ieg;

I'm tired of sitting around.
Don't worry about me, I'II be armed.

The note onIy takes him
to the bus station.

-After that, we don't know.
-I'II stick to him Iike pIaster.

AIright, keep me posted.

Where do you think you're going
with that;

Hunting.

Final call for Vanceville,
Quarry, Central, Bradtown,

Payneburg, Charleston, Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia.

Final call.

VanceviIIe, pIease.

That'II be a doIIar ninety.

VanceviIIe.

HoId it, driver.
I'm on the wrong bus.

-How did it go, Senator;
-Come on in.

-WeII, the bastards deIivered.
-Where, sir;

Behind a firepIace
in one of those roadside parks.

I Ieft the money, drove away,
came back in an hour.

The money was gone
and this was there.

Mr SIade,

you've been very heIpfuI.

I'II have my office send you a check
for your time and troubIe.

You've stiII got a dead daughter.

I can't bring NataIie back
and neither can you.

I might bring in her kiIIer
if I knew what was on that tape.

You'd better Ieave.

You wanted that tape bad,
but you wouIdn't have paid

unIess you knew
the bIackmaiIer had it.

He had to give you some proof
that he knew what was on that tape.

And he did. It was in that payoff
note that you wouIdn't show me.

You touch that note
and I'II kiII you.

I never did beIieve that story
about fixing a rap.

She wouIdn't have hated you
for that.

She tried to convince herseIf
other guys were her father.

I Ioved NataIie.

She was the onIy creature
on God's earth I've ever Ioved.

Once, I thought I Ioved
her stepmother, but...

I Iearned to hate her.

So did NataIie.

The night it happened,
I'd been drinking heaviIy.

I did a Iot of that in those days.

I was in bed,
NataIie came in.

She took me in her arms
to comfort me.

I don't know how it happened.

I know that I...

started to make Iove to her.

When I reaIized what I was doing,
I stopped.

Do you understand;
I stopped.

This is Lester Pearlman,
Dr Pritchett.

Why do l dig that little cheerleadee;.

Why do l hate that big fullback?

Last night, l...

You paid 25O,OOO doIIars
for that tape.

It's not the one you want.
They've stiII got that.

Casey's got a manhunt
going for you.

I might as weII
go in and face him.

What happened;

I just Ieft CIayborne.
He paid off, but got taken.

First, we're gonna go home
and have some supper.

When Casey gets his hands on you,
God knows when I'II see you again.

-HeIIo;
-I want to taIk to Mr SIade.

Who's caIIing;

Jim, Arthur King.

-HeIIo;
-HeIIo, Mr SIade;

I know who NataIie's Iover was.
The key was in that poem she wrote.

-TeII me.
-No.

-Meet me and I'II Iay it out for you.
-Where are you;

Wait there, it'II take me
about haIf an hour.

-I got to go.
-Where;

-Campus Post Office.
-Post Office;

King thinks he knows
who NataIie's Iover was.

-Who;
-He didn't say.

He might have something.

-I'II try to hurry back.
-Jim...

Be carefuI.

WeII, weII, Iooky here. I finaIIy
caught you with your pants down.

BuIIshit. I just got here.

-What are you doing here;
-I was cruising.

Got a caII somebody heard
a shot here.

-Is he dead;
-He's dead.

Who is he;

-Arthur King.
-Caught him messing with the body.

King phoned me to meet him here.
He was dead when I arrived.

SIade, the death rate in this county
has tripIed since you got here.

I found Swanson's body
in that moteI room.

There's a heII of a Iot going on
I don't know, but I think you do.

And I'm sure as heII gonna find out.
Take him in, VirgiI.

What's the charge;

Book him
for assauIting an officer.

Take his car down
and impound it.

HeII, wait a minute.
It's Linda Thorpe's car.

HeII.

Right, Jack, he had my car.
Is there a Iaw against that;

You haven't a damn thing on him.
I'm his aIibi!

King phoned him here,
I was with him.

ReIease him at once,
or I'II start making phone caIIs.

-You been sprung
-By who;

Whom.

OK, Professor, whom;

I got orders from the Sheriff
to Iet you out.

-How come;
-You wanna stay;

Casey;

-We was smart to steaI a cop car.
-Like heII you stoIe it.

VirgiI Iet you take it
before he sprung me.

See now why we gotta kiII him;

No, Cash. We'II take him
back to NeII's pIace.

I got to return VirgiI's car.
You Iay off him tiII I get back.

He's my meat.

NeII.

So this is the staIIion that done
aII the damage the other night.

He don't Iook Iike much to me.

You boys ought to be ashamed.

Damn it, NeII.
You want this haIf-wit to kiII him;

Leroy said for us to wait.

You turn him Ioose,
I'II give you a show.

You couIdn't whip a crippIe. I'd beat
you without working up a sweat.

Cash!

You think we're aII mush-brained;

You're just baiting him
so we'II turn you Ioose to fight.

We'II just put him on ice
tiII Leroy gets back.

Put him in the ceIIar, boys.

Goddamn, it's coId.

AIright, where is he;

In the ceIIar.

Let's get it over with.

HeII, Leroy,
he ain't going no pIace.

Shit.

-Where's your paIs ;
-They drunk up a storm Iast night,

didn't hardIy give me a drop.

That whoIe time
I was studying on you.

-I ain't as dumb as they make out.
-Sure you're dumb.

VirgiI gets the gravy,
you guys do the dirty work.

He don't neither.

We got a good deaI with VirgiI.

We can do anything we want to

and we don't get busted as Iong
as we do a few things for him.

Like what;

You hoId stiII.

I'm gonna bust your arm
at the eIbow.

It'II go just Iike kindIing.

Leroy'II skin you aIive for this.

I studied on that too.

They want a crippIe for the fight

and that's just what
I'm fixing to give 'em.

Where's Cash;

He kiIIed Cash.
He shot him!

He shot him dead.

Get the dog, CharIie.

He's in the barn, Leroy.

Go in and get him, CharIie.

Damn it, NeII. He's got a gun,
he shot Cash.

Give me a hand, CharIie.

-Son of a bitch kiIIed the dog.
-Get your ass up there!

I'II cover the back.

Leroy!

He's in the tractor shed.

KiII him, Leroy!

Come here.

Give me that braceIet.

-Go.
-You gonna shoot me in the back;

I'm going to count from one to ten.
One,

two,

three, four,

five, six,

seven, eight

nine, ten.

Morning, SIade.

We got a thumbprint off the key
to Swanson's moteI room.

It was yours.
You're under arrest.

I just kiIIed three men, Casey.
I'm in no mood for any buIIshit.

Where's VirgiI;

Home, I guess.
He's off this morning.

Show me.

By God, you're right.
He's taking off.

Roger. Picked her up outside
a gas station near the state Iine.

You took a chance
Ietting her go.

I figured she'd be easy to spot.
Nobody quite Iike her.

I wanted to give her time
to tip off VirgiI.

-Wanna Iet me in on the rest;
-You'II have it before the day's out.

Quit gabbing,
you're gonna Iose him.

SIade, you ain't very good company.

Come on!

Don't say a damn word
tiII I taIk to my Iawyer.

-What can I book him for;
-Murder. He kiIIed Swanson.

What about him;

Murder. He kiIIed Arthur King.

Run a test on those guns,
they'II check out.

Well, Quartz, it's almost over.

l had a lot of time to think
last night in that cellar.

l could tie Virgil in
with those rednecks,

but what about Natalie,
Arthur King and Swanson?

Then it hit me.

l knew Virgil went to Metterman's
house to shoot me not Swanson.

Somebody set me up.

There was only one man who knew
l'd gone out there in your car.

lt was you, Quartz.

lt was crazy, didn't make sense.

l tried to lose it in the darkness,
but it wouldn't go away.

So l went back to the beginning
to see if l could make it fit.

l started with why you went
to Lamar's the night it was held up

without Judy.
lt's not your kind of place.

Unless you were there for a meeting
with one of your partners, Lamar.

The hold up was just a bad break,
it took you out of action.

But with me around, you could
still stay on top of every angle.

You'd be the first to know
if anything went wrong

and l reported to you
like an ass-kissing rookie.

The jogging was perfect.

You came here early,
stole the tapes, then you jogged.

You had those tapes in your car
the morning you did your circus act.

When l found Natalie in the bar and
brought her to campus in hysterics

you were tipped off
and came up here to calm her down.

l figure you didn't mean
to kill her, just scare her.

But she threatened to blow
the whistle. You lost your head.

You hit her, with a crutch.

You're good with those crutches,
Quartz, damn good.

Following Clayborne on the payoff,
that was a nice touch,

it really had me fooled.

Unless after you lost him,
you got off the bus,

went back to your car and picked up
the money in the roadside park

where your note told Clayborne
to leave it.

lt was 5 o'clock in the morning
by then, and Cash woke me up.

l knew l'd had a bad dream.

But when we took Clayborne's
money back from Lamar this morning,

Casey dusted it for prints.

lt wasn't a dream, Quartz.

They were your prints.

You want to advise him
of his rights ;

You're making the arrest, not me.

He's got a new mate.
Seems happier.

Yes. They get IoneIy.
Even as you and I.

-What can I do for you, Mr SIade;
-TeII me about NataIie CIayborne.

I think this is the one
you're Iooking for.

This is Natalie Clayborne,
Doctor

and what l'm about to tell you
l have only...

I see you've heard
from Eddie Lamar's Iawyer.

Yes.

By the way...

You shouIdn't have bothered.
It isn't worth much.

Now, how do you Iike that.
I went and kiIIed three men for it.

I had it aII wrapped up
this morning.

OnIy probIem was teIIing you your
boyfriend was a bIackmaiIing murderer.

There was one thing
that stiII bothered me.

This tape.
Not where it was hidden,

but who'd gotten cIose enough
to NataIie to get her to make it.

It couId've been Dr Pritchett,
he couId've Iied about pIaying it,

faked the burgIary.

But yesterday morning,
CIayborne got a caII

just after I deIivered
the bIackmaiI note.

And aII of a sudden,
he wanted to deaI me out.

It was one of the bIackmaiIers
and they thought I was dead.

I was the onIy one
who knew you weren't.

You were NataIie's
probation officer.

For three months.

You're good at getting
cIose to peopIe.

You got cIose to me
in three days.

-I feII in Iove.
-With who; Me;

Eddie Lamar; Quartz;
NataIie;

When Arthur King caIIed
you knew he was on to you.

So you caIIed Lamar
and he got to the kid before I did.

-Can I mix you one;
-No, thank you.

He said he knew who
NataIie's Iover was,

the key was in the poem.

Janus was a two-faced Iover,
but I couIdn't figure MytiIene.

I stopped at Dr Pritchett's
on my way here.

MytiIene is the modern name
for the Greek isIand of Lesbos

where Sappho and her Lesbians
did their thing.

Dr Pritchett said that because of
the experiences with her father,

NataIie couId be a set up
for a reIationship with a woman.

I know now that the night
I found NataIie,

she'd been to see you,
trying to get that tape back.

So you caIIed one
of your boyfriends,

Quartz,
and asked him to shut her up.

It took me so Iong to figure you out
because of the kiIIers

jumping both of us
in this house.

I didn't know they were working
for me.

And neither did they.

I beIieve you.
Eddie Lamar was your front.

VirgiI was his stooge.

When VirgiI busted those three
for the hoId up,

Eddie dropped the charges in return
for a IittIe strong-arm service.

-Like getting rid of me.
-I never wanted that.

TeII me something.

Were you and Eddie
going to doubIe cross Quartz;

I thought you had
aII the answers.

Everybody was in that bed.

The victim, the kiIIer,

the front man, me.

You were the onIy one
that mattered.

Baby, you're the best I've seen.

Thanks.

And you're a smart cop.

UnfortunateIy, a smart cop
is stiII just a dumb cop.

AII you had to do before you ran
around arresting peopIe

was think one step further.

You couId've had 25O grand.

The tape, which CIayborne
wouId've gone on paying for

and you couId've had me.

Jesus.

That wife of yours must've had it
tough up there on that pedestaI.

You didn't say so,
but you were shocked when I said

I'd have stuck with my gangster
if he'd treated me decent.

What have you got
out of aII this, Jim;

A cop's pat on the back;
Big deaI.

You kiIIed three bad guys
and pinched three more.

Four. Counting you.

Me;

What have I done;

I didn't steaI any tapes.

I didn't kiII that girI.

I didn't maiI any bIackmaiI notes
or pick up any payoff money.

I didn't shoot Arthur King
or Swanson

and I didn't pay those rednecks
to Iean on you Iast night.

Conspiracy.

Maybe.

But I'II turn State's evidence
and I won't serve a day.

Morning, Jack.

Morning, Linda.

Forget your manners ;

SIade, I want to taIk to you.

That check CIayborne
sent you for destroying the tape...

-What about it;
-The D.A. found out

you deposited it in
Judy WiIIinger's account.

-She's gonna need it.
-Sure, but the D.A. don't Iike it.

-To heII with the D.A.
-Yeah.

He says you being the State's
star witness and aII,

defense wiII have a fieId day, you
giving money to the defendant's wife.

To heII with the D.A.
Did I say that;

SIade, you don't want
to testify against Quartz.

Once a cop, aIways a cop.

What the heII's that
got to do with it;

You ever notice how Iawyers don't
Iike to testify against Iawyers ;

Doctors against doctors ;

You owe me ten bucks
because the janitor didn't do it.

I'II give you 1O-1 you don't make
much of a witness against VirgiI.

-If you testify at aII.
-Goddamn, SIade.

Come on.
I shot the son of a bitch, didn't I;

In the Ieg, Casey. Not between
the eyes or in the heart

or anywhere near that badge.

Smart cop, SIade.

Somebody once toId me
that a smart cop

is stiII just a dumb cop.

How'd you Iike to be one again;

I might be abIe to do something
about that paroIe.

I've got VirgiI's badge on my desk
and nobody to pin it on.

Thanks, Casey.
I'II think about it.