Original subtitles

Shopper crushed by snowman.

Hey, mister, watch out!

What if you knew, beyond a doubt, what was going to happen tomorrow?

What would you do?

There is no easy answer for a guy who gets tomorrow's news today.

Hey, wait a second.

Gotta run, Gary. I've got a lot of errands. What are you doing here?

Well, what does it look like? I'm shopping.

No, I mean, you didn't even tell me you were coming to town. Well, do you tell

me every time you come to Indiana?

Yes. Well, there you go. Wait, wait, wait a second.

Where's Dad?

He's in Tampa for the weekend.

What do you mean he's in Tampa?

Oh, yeah, the RV show. See, it's like a pilgrimage.

Well, where are you sleeping?

At your place, of course. Gotta go.

Bye. Hey, Mom!

No, no, no, gotta run.

I'll see you for dinner.

Why are you so upset? I'm not upset.

I think it's sweet.

No, it's not sweet. It's strange is what it is. See, my mother shows calls

before she shows up.

Something's up.

Like what?

I don't know what, do I?

Why does anything have to be up? It just sounds like your mom's an independent

woman. You're obviously having trouble with that.

Mm -hmm.

Do you have trouble with independent women, Gary?

He's having trouble.

I'd say so.

Thank you very much for the input, but I gotta go.

Where? Out.

Here we go again, him and that paper.

Well, you know, Gary, he likes to keep up on current events, that's all.

Yesterday afternoon, several employees of the Big Four sporting goods store

thwarted an attempted robbery.

This is the holdup.

Quick -thinking clerk spotted the would -be robber in the checkout line and took

what one manager described as appropriate measures.

Well, I don't believe it.

Mo?

Mo Baxter, right?

Yeah. You remember me? Gary Hobson.

No. Come on, Mo.

All those summers?

At camp?

Camp, at camp. Yeah, at camp.

At camp, uh... Womba.

Yeah.

Oh, boy.

Remember, uh... Remember, uh... Nicknames? The nicknames. I was Scooter.

Scooter, that's right. Scooter.

What was yours?

Mun.

Your nicknames. Why don't you go ahead? We're trying to catch up here.

Old times.

Mine? Oh, come on. You don't remember my nickname, Scooter?

Stinky. Stinky? Stinky.

You're Stinky. You were the kid that... Hey, well, you got me.

How's the rash?

The rash? Oh, it comes and goes.

So how's everything going, Scooter?

Great. Couldn't be better.

Come on, Mo.

Scooter.

God, listen.

Scooter, this is stinky talking to you here.

Look, now, you know, you could never lie to me.

Come on.

Open up.

She's gonna kill me. Who's gonna kill you?

Bernadette, my fiancée.

Well, you're engaged. That's great. No, it's not.

All the money I was gonna spend on her ring, I lost it.

This investment guy ripped me off.

I put all my savings in the startup company.

It sounded great on the phone.

Then what happened?

Guy lied to me. There is no company.

Phone number's been disconnected. My money's gone.

I haven't told Bernadette yet. Look, Scooter.

Look, if this woman really loves you, well, then she wouldn't care about your

money, would she?

She'd care about what's in here, yeah?

She'd care about what you have together.

You really think so? Well, of course I think so. It's Stinky talking to you

here. Doggone it, you've got to believe me on this, Scooter.

Now, listen, you... Look, I forgot. I've got an appointment. I've got to catch

it. Look, it was a really good scene. Look,

Scooter, you okay?

Yeah.

Take care.

Hey, Stinky. Huh? Come on, Mom.

Hi, it's Lois. Lois Hopson. Hey, Lois. Gary told me you were in town.

Good to see you. Is he here?

Uh, no, he's... He's out. Figures. I've just got to drop my things into his

room. Okay. Wait, wait. I want you to meet someone. Erica.

Erica Fadgett.

Lois Hopson. Gary's mom.

Nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you.

You know, he hasn't said a thing about you.

Really? Well, you know Gary. He likes to keep things to himself.

Listen, can we get you anything? Some coffee or pop?

Oh, no. I'd love to chat, but I'm already late. Hey, how's Bernie?

Uh, Bernie. Oh, Bernie. Bernie, he's fine. He says to say hello. Nice to have

met you, Erica.

Same here.

Definite family rhythm.

You're pink.

The two of them, they're always in a hurry.

Have you seen my mom?

Upstairs. She's here?

Upstairs.

By chance, say what she was up to?

Nope.

Well, you better not be on a surprise party. Oh, trust me.

She didn't say anything about that.

She's upstairs.

My mom is upstairs, right in my room.

That's when it starts.

When what starts?

Oh, you know what? You know my mom. She's going to want to see the paper,

then she's going to get involved, and then she's going to get into everything.

Hi, Gary.

Don't worry about my stuff. I left it upstairs, and I'll take care of the

hideaway when I get back.

Mom, listen. I've got to run. I'm late.

Yeah, but Mom... Bye.

Don't you hate it when you're always right? She's up to something. I'll see

later. Where are you going? Out.

Like mother, like son.

My

mom.

I know arrangements have been difficult, Lois.

But we're entering a crucial point in our relationship.

Not to be taken lightly.

From here on, there has to be trust, and only trust.

It's natural that she has second thoughts.

Even guilt.

But I really believe that this is what's best for you.

And I know in the end, you're going to thank me for not letting you walk away.

What is it?

Nothing. Stanley, would you excuse me for just a moment? Sure.

Be right back.

Lose a contact, Lynn?

What are you doing here, Gary?

I could ask you the same thing, couldn't I?

Come here, all right?

Look, Ma.

Quiet.

Have you been following me?

No. Then why are you here?

I came here to just get a beer. You own a bar.

Well, we ran out of pretzels. Jerry? So who's the guy?

What guy?

Mom.

Well, it's none of your business.

Are you?

Am I what?

You and him, or you and Dad?

Your dad has nothing to do with this.

Well, I'm sure he'll be glad to find that out.

What are you talking about? You're going to make me say it, aren't you? You're

having a...

Uh, what?

You're having an affair.

An affair?

Is that what you think? That's why you're following me? You avoid me all

and then all of a sudden I find you a bar that has sipping champagne with a

stranger. What am I supposed to think, huh? I think you should give your mother

the benefit of the doubt.

Well, okay.

Okay.

So, what's going on? Who's the guy?

None of your business.

Oh, so why don't I go ask for my belt? No, Gary, wait.

Look, do you really want to know what's going on?

Well, no, I enjoy standing in the ladies' room, Mom.

Fine, just stay here.

Let me say goodbye to Mr. Hollenbeck.

And then I will tell you all about it.

Mr. Hollenbeck, will you mind if I wait outside?

All right, so if it's not in the fair, then what is it? It's personal.

Look, this is your son talking to you. If you can't tell me, who can you tell?

I suppose you're right.

So?

So. You know how your father thinks he's the big financial genius of the family

when it's me who writes all the checks and keeps the books? Mom, what happened?

I invested some money.

Invested some money in what?

In a company. In that man that you saw back at the bar. He has a company. What

company?

I don't know, really, but it sounds really good on the phone. On the phone?

Yeah, he called me up the other day out of the blue. Wait, wait, wait.

You're telling me that you invested money on the phone with a guy you don't

know? Gary. Well, how much did you invest?

Not important.

Mom.

A lot.

I mean, our nest egg, everything your father and I saved to buy that little

cabin in the Smoky Mountains. I don't believe this.

Well, if you're going to get critical, I don't know why I bothered to tell you

in the first place. Besides, I'm going to get it back. That's why I'm here.

No, no, no. You're not going to get it back. Mom, these guys, that's not how

they work. They don't give you the money back. That's not the way they go. Come

on. Where are we going? Just come on this way.

Come on.

Help! Somebody!

A little help here, anyone?

You invested the whole nest egg?

Well, more or less. Well, which is it, more or less?

More. Hey, buddy, the lever.

Anything now.

What did Dad have to say? You know, Gary, that is the funniest story. You

tell Dad, did you? Oh, come on, I'm hanging here.

Your father's coming home from the RV show on Monday. I'll have all the money

back by then. Mom, look, I was a broker. If you wanted to invest money, why

didn't you call me? Hello?

Your heart really wasn't in that, son. What is that supposed to mean? Well, if

your true calling would have been a stockbroker, you would have been more

successful at it. I really don't believe this. But your father and I are still

very proud of you. You'd rather invest your money with some stranger than

consult your own son?

Excuse me. I can't feel my feet anymore.

Oh.

No, don't touch anything else.

Just hand me those pliers.

Thank you.

Carry on.

I think what we're going to do, we're going to go to the police. No, we're

I'm handling this. Look, this is a classic scam. The guy ripped you off.

going to the police. No, we're not.

This guy calls you at your home, which is in Indiana, right?

Yes.

And then you wrote him a check on your local bank, which is in Indiana, right?

Yes. And then you file a complaint with your local police in Indiana, right?

Not exactly.

Not exactly?

I told you the police wouldn't be any help.

Listen to your mother next time.

Listen, the guy who took her money is right here in Chicago. Show him the

conference.

Stanley Hollenbeck.

Stability Investments.

Could be a boiler room scam.

I guess I could poke around a little.

After I finish what I'm working on now.

And that would be lunch?

This isn't any help.

We'll be in touch. Thanks for your time.

You're going to have to tell Dad. He's going to find out.

Not if I get the money back first. Mom. I don't want to tell him, okay?

Look, you're not going to get the money back. The guy's a crook. He's not going

to give you a dime. And I'm telling you what, the police, they could care less.

But Dad, well, at least he'll understand.

Understand?

That I lost $30 ,000.

Yeah, he'll understand you lost $30 ,000.

$30 ,000?

See?

You invested $30 ,000 with a complete stranger over the telephone?

Yeah, you still think your dad's going to understand?

No, he's not going to. I don't understand. Where did you... I didn't

had $30 ,000.

I am not a total nincompoop, Gary. Your mother has been investing for years.

Mutual funds, municipal bonds, the occasional blue -chip stock.

I would say my overall return has averaged somewhere... over 18%.

You're kidding.

You're not kidding.

Okay, so then what happened?

I thought I was smart, but I was just smart enough to be taken by somebody

Stanley Hollenbeck.

Stanley Hollenbeck? What, this Stanley Phil, would he cold call you or

something? Yeah, I got my name over the Internet, one of those programs I use.

You buy your stocks off the Internet?

I pay brokerage fees.

Stanley was very good over the phone. He told me all about his little startup

company, how he was going to supply the computer industry.

He sent me a prospectus. I read it cover to cover.

It sounded like a sure thing, so I sent him a check.

And?

And a month later, I couldn't find the stock listed anywhere, so I called

Stanley up, and the number was disconnected, and there was no

Gary, I just got the chills, and then I got sick, and...

Then I got mad.

I suppose that's when you started tracking him.

Took me about a month, but I got him on the phone.

And? And he told me he'd meet me at this little bar that he likes, and that's

where he found us.

Well, forgive me for saying so, but you didn't seem very angry with Stanley.

He was very slick, Gary. He had an excuse for everything.

His building was flooded, and that screwed everything up. And, oh, NASDAQ

piece of paper, and that's why he wasn't listed. Oh, Mom.

I didn't say I believed him, but I had to play along.

He told me I could have my money back if that's what I wanted in the very end.

He's not going to give you your money back. He's a crook. I know that, Gary.

So now what are you going to do?

I don't know, but I'll think of something.

Don't worry about your mother, Gary. I got myself into this mess. I'll get

myself out. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm going to take a bath.

Gary, left early.

I'm handling things. Talk to you later.

being withheld by authorities.

Mom.

Marissa! Uh, listen, do you have any idea where my mother might be?

No, why?

Well, she's gonna shoot somebody.

What? You know the guy I told you about, the guy that ripped her off?

Indiana woman shoots con man?

Oh, well, I don't blame her.

Marissa, I'm trying to stop my mother from committing murder here. Gary, your

mother is not capable of murder.

Has the paper ever been wrong?

You better go.

Yeah. You, uh... Yeah, I'm gonna... I'll just... I'll find her and then, uh...

Stability Investments.

Yes, this is Stanley Hollenbeck.

Well, how you doing? You caught me on the cell phone.

Can you hear me all right?

Now, listen, as I was telling you yesterday, this is the very definition

-risk investment.

You're getting in on the ground floor. We're going to be around for a long,

time.

Mom. Gary!

What do you think you're doing?

Eating a fritter.

Get your own.

Where's the gun?

Gun? What gun?

I don't know. What is wrong with you?

Listen, I know what you're going to do.

What?

It's in the paper.

That's not me.

Come on, blonde -haired, middle -aged woman from Indiana.

Gary?

No, no, no. Listen to me here.

It's the next Silicon.

It's the future of computers.

$15 ,000 gets you.

Don't blame you, but you can't shoot Stanley.

Not yet, anyhow.

How do you know Stanley?

Well,

you're from Indiana, aren't you? Yeah, Terre Haute. How do you know that?

That's it.

How much did he get from you? Only the whole nest egg.

See, my husband was saving to buy a bass boat. It was his dream, and now I'm

afraid he's going to leave me.

Over a bass boat?

Listen, I promise you, we're going to get all of your money back.

How?

Well, listen, I tried.

I tried. I even hired a private investigator, and he found Stanley, but

couldn't get my money back.

So I borrowed Sonny's gun, and I hit the road. I didn't know what else to do.

Well, well, you're not in this alone.

No, he ripped me off, too. I'm Lois Hobson. Oh, from Hickory.

How do you know that? Oh, well, the private investigator gave me a list of

of Stanley's victims.

See, here we go.

Lois, he really cleaned you up, didn't he? A whole fleet of bath books.

Mom.

Uh -oh. Look, we're sort of in a time crunch here. Could I borrow that list?

Thank you.

Okay. Go back. Yeah. Well, you know, he just ripped me off good.

I'm so sorry.

Melvin? Hey!

Could we just pipe down?

Now.

We all know why we're here, right?

Yeah. It's because we're all morons.

Cheap. Lambs to the slaughter.

No, because we all got taken by a very slick guy.

And if we keep feeling sorry for ourselves, Mr. Nordlinger, we will not

money back.

We're all a group. We should start acting like one now.

Any plans?

Mr. Baxter?

Yeah, I have a plan. I say we stake him out, smear him with marmalade, and let

loose the fire ant. Oh, that's not productive. That's not productive at

At least I'm trying. I'm with Moe. I like his style.

Well, we all like Moe's style, but... But what? That guy ripped us off.

It's just not very realistic.

Realistic? What's realistic? It's because of that guy? My kid won't go to

Harvard now.

Man, the kid hasn't even started preschool and his life's already over.

of death's going to kill me. I still say we ought to shoot him. Oh, I'm with

you.

Hey!

No one is going to get shot.

You got any better ideas?

Of course. We need to be positive and we need to be proactive and we need a

plan. A sophisticated plan.

And you have such a plan?

No, I don't. But he does.

Huh?

Me? What did you do that for?

You were right.

I was right about what? Well, I should have come to you, Gary, for advice.

You were a stockbroker, but I got carried away.

But I'm coming to you now, son. I really need your help.

Listen, Mom, I just can't go out and buy a bunch of lottery tickets with this.

The paper doesn't work like that. I don't want you to misuse the paper. I

to get Stanley.

I want to stop him before he does this to anyone else.

Sure, it's about money, but not just mine. There's two.

Do you know, all told, he has bilked his investors out of a quarter of a million

dollars?

A quarter of a million dollars?

Yeah, so think of something.

Oh,

I'm sorry.

Hey, Mom.

What's that saying? Nobody can be conned like a con man.

You busy?

Thanks, Sam. He looks great.

Hey, if it helps you get my money back, I'll put this guy in suede and pigskin.

I don't think that'll be necessary.

What do you think, honey? I don't see what's wrong with my old suit.

I think you look great.

Let me tell you something. Classics never go out of style.

Gary, let us pick the clothes.

You can pick the cars.

The 300SL?

Oh, no. That's the only one in Chicago.

It's just for show. It's not for sale. Oh, we don't want to buy it. We want to

borrow it.

The manager would kill me.

Robert, you want your money back, don't you?

Yeah, you want your money back, don't you?

Aw, it's okay.

Now, Joanne, I don't want you to sign this unless you can tell me that you

no doubts at all.

I don't have any doubts.

I just wanted to hear you say it.

Congratulations, Joanne.

You will start making money the minute you get that check to me.

Thank you, Mr. Honbeck.

There's no reason to thank me, Joanne.

We are in this together.

Shall we?

Would you give it a rest already?

All I'm saying is that we lost 700K.

In a week? What's wrong with that?

Look, the program slipped a million last week, a million the week before. Why'd

it drop?

You know, I am sick and tired of hearing you complain. Why don't you just enjoy

it already?

Because the program is flawed.

What is this?

I don't know.

Hey, pal.

I asked the Kamchatka private reserve, huh?

Sorry, sir.

Excuse me, friend.

I share your taste in vodka. Let me pick up a round.

Well, excuse me, but do I look like somebody who needs you to buy me a

Honey.

700 stinks.

Don't mind Gary. He's in a crummy mood.

Oh, that's all right. Sounds like he had a rough day.

Anytime he doesn't clear a million before lunch, he gets like this.

I'll tell you what. I'll buy the drinks.

There you go, ma 'am. Ellen.

All right, I got it.

Buy 100 ,000 shares of Markson.

Listen, just trust me on this. It's going to split.

Yeah, and I suggest you get it rather quickly.

What's he doing here?

He didn't hear anything, did you?

Hear what?

I told you.

I hope I didn't get you into trouble.

So what if you did?

Chris. Hi, Kristen.

Stanley. Stanley Hollenbeck. Pleasure.

So, uh, you're in finance?

No. I'm in captivity. He's in finance.

Tell you the truth, all those numbers bore me to death.

Well, there sure are some big numbers.

100 ,000 shares of, what is it, Marks?

That's more like it.

Just like I called it.

I can't believe it. It's split.

Now what do you think, sweetie?

Whoopee.

That was remarkable.

Hey, pal, you mind giving me a little space here, huh?

Certainly. No problem.

Can we go now? No, we can't. I've got to make some more phone calls. Well, why

don't you do it from the car?

Because I like it here. What's your problem, anyway?

Nothing.

Your drink.

Thank you. Mind if I sit?

Well, I'd mind if you don't, but what about... Oh, don't worry.

He won't even notice.

I've never seen the two of you in here before.

Well, that's because we've been traveling.

Spent the last two months in Geneva.

Sounds nice.

Well, not really. Spent all day on the phone.

Different hours, that's all.

So he really does play the market.

Well, he doesn't play.

Well, then, uh... What's his angle?

And what your friend just did in there, calling that split. I've never seen

anything like that before, and I've seen a lot. I mean, that was a cool half

million. Really?

Whatever. It's not like I'm gonna see any of it.

It was fun at first, but guys like that, it's all about the money.

Not all guys are like that.

You gonna try and tell me you're different?

I'm not gonna try to tell you anything.

I'd show you.

How?

You give me one of his tips, I'd prove it to you.

I mean, what good is having all that money if you don't have somebody to

it with?

Especially someone like you.

I bet you tell that to all the girls.

I can honestly say that you are the first.

Hmm.

Well, I'll see what I can do.

Oh, how's it going?

Yeah, well, he's taking the bait.

He's taking the bait.

And Erica, is she doing all right?

Yeah, she's doing fine.

So, Gary, what's going on between you and her?

I'm hanging up now, Mom.

We're on. He wants the tip.

All right.

Now what?

We give him the tip.

What tip? I still don't understand how this works.

Just trust me. It's going to work.

How? Where are you getting all your information?

I still know some of the guys down at the brokerage house.

It's insider trading.

Kind of.

It's illegal, Gary.

I really don't want to talk about this right now.

Gary.

Listen, look,

I want you to take a look at the computer and pretend like you're looking

something you're not supposed to and then write it down and give it to me.

Give me a call, will you, please?

Walter?

You got a pencil?

I'm back in the market.

I hate the idea you had to give him a real stock tip. It's like giving him

money. Listen, would you relax, please?

He could be halfway to Rio by now.

Listen, I've seen guys like this on TV before. He's not going to settle for a

single score. He's going to call, believe me. What if you're wrong? What

Could be someone else.

Hello?

Hi, Stanley.

Feeling any richer?

Oh, no, it's all right. He's not here right now.

Oh, why, yes, I'd love to.

Where?

I never doubted you for a moment, so...

What is it?

Oh. I told you I like to share the wealth.

Dan.

We've probably got three of these at home already.

Not like this one.

You know, Crystal, I've been thinking.

You and I could help each other out.

Oh, you want another tip?

I thought we'd use a pair of diamond earrings to go with this.

Earrings?

How about a diamond mine?

What? You're thinking too small.

How does he do it?

Who's the star?

He is the star. What?

Well, Gary's been writing software programs for Broca since he was 15.

He came up with some sort of algorithm or something. I don't really understand

it. All I know is he's been trying to perfect it, but he's never satisfied.

He's using some kind of computer program to do this?

That's impossible.

You could say so.

Like I said, I don't really understand it. I just see all the money we make.

Can you get me a copy of the software?

He don't make copies.

We got all hardwired into that little computer of his, salt custard.

Okay, okay. Can you get me the computer?

Are you kidding?

Look, Crystal, you and me, we're the same.

We're looking for the big hit.

Your friend, he's never going to change, but you and me, we'd know what to do

with that money once we had it.

Simple.

He'd never find you. I'd take you with me.

Then I'd just be in the same boat. That's all. Different faces.

I'm tired of it.

What do you want, then?

I want my own ticket.

I want to go my own way.

What's your price?

What are you offering?

$100 ,000.

Forget it. You make that back in a week.

You tell me then.

Quarter million cash, and that's only because I like you.

Cash? It's a bargain, and you know it.

Give me two hours.

All right, meet me.

Where?

There's a bar I know called McGinty's.

I don't even know it.

Two hours.

All right.

Sully, this fax came in for you.

Well, I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Want to count it?

Oh, no, I trust you.

One other thing.

I know you've been to Geneva.

How does Tahiti sound?

No strings attached.

Tahiti? Sounds warm.

Your turn.

All right.

Oh, no.

I'm looking for Lois Hopper.

Mr. Sullivan.

Yeah? Could you come this way, please?

Wait, what? Right through this door. Could you follow me?

What?

Who did he say he was

looking for?

Well, I believe he was looking for somebody named Lewis.

Pleasant surprise.

Yeah, I just got this fax and, uh... Hey, could I interest you in some custom

-made bratwurst direct from the factory in Milwaukee?

Custom -made? Not available to the general public.

Help! Someone, police!

Oh, no!

Help! I've been robbed.

I've been robbed. He took my wallet, my keys, my passport. Go ahead. I'll keep

the sauerkraut warm.

Uh, he went that way. Uh, big guy. Dark coat.

Uh, and an eye patch.

And he limped.

What's the margin for error on this thing? It's a fixture variable.

Oh, why, yes, it is.

Which is it?

Oh, no, we've got to go.

Why? You've got to get out of here.

a guy with a... I know you. You're Stanley Hollenbeck.

Also known as Stephen Hollenbeck.

Stephen Hollis, Stanislaw Beck, and Maurice Taylor.

And who are you?

I think we should talk.

Has anyone seen my fire ants?

Someone's actually engaged to you?

Nice desk, son.

Oh, thank you.

I guess.

It's like a party.

What's the occasion?

Canadian New Year?

Right.

Like I was trying to tell you.

Came over my fax machine the other morning.

Well, he looks familiar.

Oh, yeah.

The ironical thing is I've got him handcuffed in the back of my car right

And you should hear the stories coming out of his mouth.

Something about a shooting, scam, computer program.

You know, if I were more ambitious, I might do something about this.

Thank you, detective.

Well, I think that the money's going to go into mutual funds for a while.

I think that's a very good idea.

Plus, of course, your father's already spending on an amphibious RV.

Thank you, son.

Oh, well, it was, uh, it was, it was fun.

I think it was fun.

Are you hungry?

Yes, I could eat.

So, uh, where are you going to take us for dinner?

The bus?

Yeah, I asked the girl.

Yeah, I was thinking maybe we could have some Italian.

I like Chinese.

You mean Oliver?

You don't mind, do you, Gary?

Well... He doesn't mind. He loved it.

Shall we?

series of early edition continues tomorrow at midday. While he starred in

including JFK, Blind Date, and Star Trek, John Larroquette comes to hallmark

a true story of a hotshot executive sentenced to community service that will

change his life.

One special victory next.