Original subtitles

to get a response out of you, don't I?

You haven't been giving the proper credence to my phone call.

And it picks blood.

Next time, it's going to be battery acid.

Am I communicating effectively?

See you tomorrow, won't I, Catherine?

Yeah. You just don't know anything about art.

Except to know that your life does not imitate it.

I admit it. I got a great deal on this.

I could have taken the client's check.

Probably would have bounced instead of bartered for this.

Genuine Kenyan fertility totem.

Probably get four figures in the museum.

Rick, do you remember this story about Jack and the beanstalk and how he traded

the beans for the cow? Yeah. You remember how that turns out?

Why does it say made in Taiwan on the bottom? Because the guy put it there to

clear customs when he brought it back from Africa. He's no dummy. That's for

sure. Hello?

Hello? Uh, Simon and son?

Uh, yes.

Hi.

I'm AJ. This is my brother, Rick. I'm Catherine Buckman, and I want to hire

Good.

I mean, that's what we do.

Work, I mean.

I mean, we...

Won't you sit down, please? Yes, please. Sit down.

He's always missed the move. Don't let it throw you.

What can I do for you?

What can we do for you?

I need bodyguards.

Somebody's been threatening you? Will a check do for an advance?

We accept anything except Kenyan fertility totems.

Never mind. A check would be lovely.

Before you start writing there, do you want to color this in a little bit, a

details? If I'm willing to pay your price, what difference does it make?

All the difference.

What my brother is endeavoring to communicate in his bumbling fashion is

order for us to do our job properly, we need to know a little bit more than

you've told us.

All right.

I'm an architect. I also own a construction company.

That new high -rise going up on Russell Avenue is my project.

On 4th Street?

Oh, that's beautiful.

Thanks.

One of my foremen, Bob Carter, somehow got it in his head that he'd earned a

promotion.

Long story short, we had a big fight, and I ended up firing him.

About a week later, there was an electrical fire at the construction

It was small, but it could have been a disaster.

And obviously, you think it was him.

I don't have any proof, but I'm sure of it.

Plus, over the last couple of days, I've received several threatening phone

calls. Have you been to the police? This all sounds pretty cut and dry.

No, thank you.

They'll just fill out a report and tell me to buy a gun.

I want to hire someone who'll do something.

Fires and threatening phone calls. I mean, the guy sounds psychotic.

I don't think so. I've seen it before.

In a week, he'll run out of steam. In two weeks, he'll be broke, hungover, and

working in Chicago or someplace.

But for the next few days, I want to make sure that he doesn't do anything

we'll both regret.

Will you help me, please?

And this is what is affectionately known as Haste Rasmus.

This is my office back here. This is the plan room.

That about completes your tour of the Buckman Construction Company.

Very impressive.

Just like its owner.

Ah, he gets like this every time there's a full moon.

Does he? Yeah.

You should see him in his fangs and his pointy little ears.

If you don't mind, there is work to be done as in checking the security of

Catherine's house.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep. I feel I really ought to stay here and get used to my new role.

Your what? My role. Your role. My role.

If I'm going to go undercover as Catherine's draft, I've got to learn how

read a blueprint, don't I?

So why don't you just run along to the house like a good boy and we'll follow

you there, right?

Big one opens the front door.

I got a question, AJ.

Mm -hmm.

Why don't you get the girl and I get the grunt work?

Oh, natural order of the universe.

Well, when you strike out, I'll be back.

Miss B?

Oh, excuse me. Hi, Russ. What's up?

Yeah, we got a little bit of a problem.

You know, that mesh for level six hasn't showed up yet.

Why not?

Did you call McKenna?

Yeah, but that's kind of like talking to the wind. He did tell me that'll be

about 24 hours.

No way.

With him, that means 48. We're pouring that secondary today.

Call the guy. Tell him to use the 3 -8s rebar and wire it together. It'll pass,

no problem.

They'll be just as sound as before, if not more so.

Yes, ma 'am.

Thanks, Russell.

Thank you, ma 'am.

Amazing.

Oh, no, it's typical.

You wouldn't believe the delays in the construction business.

No, I meant you.

You're amazing.

I mean, the way you handle that, you handle that just like...

Oh, sexism rears its ugly little head.

Well, I like a guy who at least admits it.

Well, give me a break. I've never met a lady who designed and built her own high

-rises before.

I'll take that as a compliment.

As it was meant.

You like that? You like the way I got out of that? Got my foot right out of my

mouth? So easily?

Didn't even have to say you were beautiful or anything.

Didn't your mother tell you not to tease girls?

Yes.

But she also told me always to speak the truth.

Probably messing me up for life.

Well.

Okay. Lesson number one in reading a blueprint.

You read it the right way then.

I knew that.

I like it. I mean, I like the design.

The way it soars upward.

It's the parking structure.

The way in a downward sort of way.

I think I'm in trouble here.

I certainly hope so.

Saved by the bell.

Excuse me.

I've been waiting.

You're late.

I'm not coming.

Is that a fact?

I thought last night would have stimulated your imagination.

I won't pay you anything.

You have a reputation as a bright lady.

I was hoping it was true.

Now you face the unpleasant prospect of waiting for me to strike.

Don't you agree that the anticipation is almost worse than the deed?

Stop it, both of you.

I caught him trying to break into your house. Strike in.

I was over there checking the lots when God's silly here about... Collapse of my

trachea. He's working for me, Frank. You know this guy?

This is Frank Bellino. He's my project manager. He's been with my company since

my dad ran it. He lives out and back in the guest house. Well, just who in the

hell are you?

They're private investigators I've hired, Frank.

What for?

I received some threats.

Are you kidding?

Catherine, who's been threatening you?

The foreman that you fired, Bob Carter.

Oh, no, that's crazy.

He's up in Seattle on that shopping mall job.

Tell him, Catherine, we got a card from him last week.

Can we talk?

You want to tell us just exactly what's going on here?

Catherine, we don't work for people who lie to us.

If I told you the truth, you wouldn't have taken the case.

I told the truth to the first P .I. I tried to hire.

He wouldn't touch it. He told me to go to the police.

So did the second.

And the third.

So, you decided to tell a little white lie.

Except that it turned into a big, dangerous one.

Okay, Catherine, the truth now, or we're out the door.

Someone is trying to extort money from me.

It's a fairly common thing in the construction business.

How much money?

$100 ,000 for starters.

I guess it's what you'd call an initiation fee.

Don't pay it, Catherine. Your dad never did.

I don't intend to, Frank.

That's why I hired these two.

But the stakes are going up. The threats are getting scarier.

Catherine, those other PIs that you went to were right.

All of them.

In a case like this, you have to go to the police.

The police don't know anything about our business.

I've been fighting this kind of harassment for 30 years with Catherine's

The only time we really had trouble was when we went to the police for help.

They don't have the manpower or the brains.

They're never there when somebody sets a fire or one of your welders gets bumped

off the 26th floor.

Why didn't you tell me?

Oh, I don't know, Frank. I wanted to manage it myself the way he would have

it.

Well, he didn't do it all by himself.

But he's been real proud of you for trying.

Where are you going?

I'm going down to the site.

We're going to need extra watchmen on duty there 24 hours a day.

Catherine?

Why do I get the feeling there's still something you haven't told us?

I found footprints in the flowerbed out back.

There's mud all over the sill of that French door.

I guess it would be easier if I just showed you.

Look under the rug.

He, um... He said it was

pig's blood.

He said that next time it would be battery acid.

This is crazy.

We're going to the police for this.

And they won't help.

And I won't finish my building, and I will lose everything that my father

for for 20 years. Okay, now you can't stay here.

This place is too big. There's too much glass.

I think we ought to take her to the boat. She'll be a lot safer there.

I'm going to check something out with a friend of mine.

AJ, as much as I enjoy the pleasure of your company, this is not the time for a

social visit.

Yes, ma 'am. Right away. Look, it'll only take a few minutes.

District Attorney's Office has just suggested that the most incriminating

of evidence in a murder one case may have been obtained illegally.

Therefore, I have the rest of today and this evening to scrutinize 480 pages of

deposition. Look, all I want is a little information.

I hear the other pages are good.

What do you know about corruption in the construction industry?

Locally? Yes.

Well?

I know it's become enough of a problem that a federal task force is thinking

about setting up an office here.

Why?

Idle curiosity.

Mm -hmm.

Your client's in the construction business. Has he been threatened?

Is there any chance that I could talk to someone from that task force?

Uh, no way I know of.

They won't even talk to us.

We're expected to cooperate with them in every way, and in exchange, they

usually lie to us about the color of the sky.

A .J., fair warning.

The days of the routine payoff or kickback are gone.

There's some very dangerous people in the construction business.

They play for keeps.

Rick, you really don't need to go to all that trouble. We can just order

something out.

That's no trouble at all. Just a little omelette alfredo, a touch of garlic, a

little homemade tomato sauce.

You were in the Corps?

Yeah, two tours in a row.

Rick, I'm a Marine brat.

You're kidding.

No. I grew up in Marine Corps bases. Pendleton, Quantico, Subic Bay.

Subic Bay?

Well, you must have some nightmares about that place.

My father used to make me wear my hair really short like a boy. He was

that I would be kidnapped and sold into white slavery.

He wouldn't let me wear makeup or a bra or anything.

How old were you?

Eleven. I don't blame him.

What did your dad do?

My dad graduated from Annapolis with an engineering degree.

But naturally, in the Corps, he ended up with a rifle platoon. Oh, of course,

yes. He stayed for about 15 years, but he got out early to go into business.

I would have liked him.

I beg your pardon? Your omelet's burning.

All right. Oh!

Here, quick, stick it in there. You got any ice? Yeah, at the top.

Thank you.

I guess we might as well just toss that in there, too.

Anybody home?

No.

Hi. Hi.

Gee, I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

I'll bet you do.

Rick was just showing me how to make his omelette Alfredo.

Lucky you.

Have some.

Maybe later.

Much later.

I just spoke to Lieutenant Marsh.

Lieutenant Marsh? You went to the police?

Relax. She's good people.

Catherine, this attempted extortion could be a lot more dangerous than you

realize.

Just what do you think going to the police is going to do?

Well, if you're willing to identify the man that threw the blood at you, it

could do a lot.

My father once identified an electrical contractor who threatened to burn down

his building if he didn't use his company. The police were all for it.

One of his welders even testified in open court as a corroborating witness.

That contractor got off on probation.

He didn't even lose his contractor's license.

cool down, the welder was accidentally thrown from the 26th floor.

That is why Frank hates the police as much as I do.

And that is why both of us know that going to them isn't going to do anything

but bring us more trouble.

What are you doing?

I'm leaving.

If the two of you can't protect me, then I'm going to find somebody else who

can. Slow down. Hey, hey, hey.

Just because we think you ought to go to the police doesn't mean we're not going

to protect you.

Besides, We're the last guys in town.

Now, if you're going to spend the night here... Uh... A .J. and I will split the

watch.

And in the morning, we'll decide how to handle the extortionist. Is that a deal?

Okay.

Deal.

Thanks. Yeah.

I'll take the first watch.

Let's go, Skipper.

Wake up.

It's your turn to take the next watch.

Tell me, when was the last time you had a beautiful woman sleeping on that bunk?

Alone.

Oh.

Well, I guess the last time I thought seriously about getting married.

No, no, less than 24 hours, Rick.

Yeah? Well, that's when you have those wild romantic thoughts, isn't it?

I mean, once you get to know a person, you start second -guessing yourself.

And don't tell me you haven't had the same wild romantic thoughts shredding

over your face every time you look at her.

Come on, Dr. Luth.

Are you going to lie there all night analyzing my intentions?

We're going to take the watch. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.

I'll be there in a minute.

Ooh.

Well, I think perhaps I will take my watch now and

analyze your intentions later.

and what is your intentions?

Say, I'm not good.

Say, I'm not good at all.

She's gone to ground. Our lady apparently thinks she'll be safer with a

of bodyguards.

You'll make sure she knows that's not the case.

Be a pleasure.

What is that you're whistling? The theme to the gong show?

Morning. Good morning.

You ready for some breakfast?

Actually, I'm kind of anxious to get to the construction site.

I don't know that that's such a good idea. Maybe not, but it's my idea.

Listen, I've done some thinking, and I've decided to release you both from

contract.

Why? Because I'm going to run the company the way my father ran it, and I

forced to make some decisions that go against your better judgment.

Unfortunately, that's just the way things work in the construction world.

Uncle Frank will be able to help me a lot more than I thought.

Well, wait a minute. Look, I need to stop by my house first.

If you want, I can call a taxi.

You guys are sweet.

This really wasn't necessary.

I bet you say that to all your chauffeurs.

Oh, come on, AJ. She's not like that. She's self -reliant. She's independent.

That's right.

Besides, taxis cost an arm and a leg, these days.

Like it or not, you're stuck with her.

Our dad raised us on an ascending way. Finish what you started.

I thought that was Dr. Rube.

Hey, Lincoln.

8034, copy.

8034.

Abby, what's going on? Either of you guys know Frank Bellino?

Yeah, what the hell happened? A drowning.

Gardner found him in the pool.

Right.

She's asleep, or at least she's resting.

Mom, you're a miracle worker.

Not really.

She's just plain exhausted or emotionally worn out.

I think she ought to be around her family.

Unfortunately, she's outlived them all.

Frank, Lena was sort of a second father to us, and now she really is alone.

That's a shame.

She's such a lovely person.

Yeah, she is.

I'd stay, but I don't really think it would help.

Don't worry, Mom. We've already done more than enough.

Oh, it's so awful. I don't know why people go swimming alone.

There's so many accidents.

Well, goodbye, boys.

Yes. This is your pull, man.

Heard something got stuck in the filter.

So, maybe you ought to consider paying your service fee.

Today, on time, at the proper place.

And what, the guy who broke in here?

Haven't you guessed?

You all right?

Look, both of you, you're considerate and caring, and I appreciate everything

you've done, but I won't be needing you anymore.

You're going to pay.

He's going to get everything you've got.

Damn,

you give that back!

Catherine, you do not do it this way. You go to the police, you tell them

everything, and you let them handle it.

How long is it going to take until you understand how I feel about the police?

A lot longer than it's going to take for us to let you commit murder.

Look, Catherine, you... The truth is that we both care very,

very deeply about you. You're not just another client.

I didn't ask you for that.

I hired you to protect me, and now I don't need you anymore, and I want you

of my life.

If you kill the bastard, that's going to be construed as a premeditated act, and

he and I will have to testify.

Then go ahead and do it.

Don't touch me. Don't either of you touch me.

Catherine, listen to me.

When you wake up tomorrow, you'll feel totally different, and a week from now,

you'll be horrified by what you're thinking.

is that I am responsible for Frank's death.

No.

No, you're not.

I killed him just as much as if I held his head underwater.

My ego, my stupidity.

Nobody pushes Catherine Buckman around, superwoman of the building trade.

Excuse me.

You took a stand, Catherine. It had nothing to do with ego.

A .J., he was the dearest...

Sweetest man in the world. And I loved him just as much as I loved my father.

And I don't care what you say.

It was my pig -headed stupidity that killed him. No.

Oh, AJ.

I just never thought they would do something like this.

I know you didn't.

Oh, God.

I don't care if I have to drag you kicking and screaming.

You are going to the police.

Uh -huh.

Uh -huh, I see.

Well, thanks, Mark. You guys are getting so fast, it's incredible.

Preliminary autopsy report suggests a strong possibility of death at the hands

of another.

Murder. It appears Mr. Bellino ingested psychobarbitol and was placed in the

pool when he was comatose or even dead.

Edema? Edema of the lungs.

Water, particularly fresh water, can only be absorbed by the lungs of a

who's dead or unconscious when he's immersed.

That seems to be the case in this situation, which explains why Mr.

showed no bruises or signs of a struggle.

So what are you going to do about it, Lieutenant?

Well, it's pretty hard to nail someone for murder without eyewitnesses or a

probable motive.

Bellino's killer was trying to extort Catherine.

When she refused to pay, he did the most despicable thing he could think of in

order to frighten her. That is your motive.

Okay.

Okay, now factor this in. It's possible your guy's not a freelancer, that he's

connected to a very powerful crime syndicate.

To bust him, we're going to have to start piecemeal. If we can nail him on

extortion charge, then maybe we can get him to tumble on the homicide.

Sounds good, Lieutenant, but how does that translate into reality?

I'd say that's entirely up to you, Miss Buckman.

Don't I look it?

No.

Well, just remember looks aren't everything.

You got guts, lady.

I don't have guts.

I just love Frank Bellino.

Have I ever told you I think you're a very special person?

Yes, you have.

Better get started.

I still think one of us ought to go in there with you.

AJ, we've been through all that.

Please don't make it any harder.

You sure you're all right?

It's amazing how much you two think alike.

You must be brothers or something.

If you want the honest truth,

I don't think I've ever been this nervous in my life.

It's like being on the blocks before a big swim race.

Your legs start shaking and your heart's pounding so hard it feels like it's

going to come up in your throat.

But then the whistle blows and all you can do is dive in.

So having said all that...

Here I go.

She's nice.

She's gorgeous.

And you sure can't fault her on courage.

I can see why you two guys are

Full of little arrows.

Little arrow.

Hello? I can see that.

Any

contact

yet? No, not yet.

Hello?

Is anybody here?

You look lovely.

Isn't it nice that we can meet like this?

So far away from the matting crowd.

Let's just get this over with.

Well, what I had in mind might take a little extra time.

Here's your damn money.

Take it.

You know what?

Women like you, who are used to getting their own way, turn me on.

I want to make small talk.

All you care about is the bottom line.

That ignites me.

Easy, Catherine.

Lay out a little line, a little bit at a time.

What the hell's going on?

She's handing over the money.

Go ahead.

Count it.

After today, I never want to see you again.

Pick someone else who's building a project.

Ruin their lives.

Kill someone they love.

Suddenly, the cold cookie turns articulate.

I'll tell you something.

That bothers the hell out of me.

Oh, my God.

Hey, he's made her, Rick. He's made her. Mayday, mayday.

I ought to crash you right now.

No, please.

Sure, just like in the movies.

Is this where I raise my hands?

That might be a hell of a good idea.

Just back off, or she's going to miss the happy ending.

All you're going to get is one shot.

By so much it sneezes, she's going to be dead before she hits the ground.

Don't be stupid.

She's too pretty to die for a mistake.

Now put your pieces down.

Now who's talking movies?

Look, put him down or I'll waste her. If you do, you will instantly have two

slugs inside your skull.

Resenting the fight and hearing will take several seconds to go, maybe as

as a minute.

But you'll have plenty of time to realize what's happening to you.

Just back off.

I'm warning you.

And it's going to hurt, pal.

It's going to hurt a lot.

Some people tell you that getting shot isn't all that painful.

It shocks that thing too quick.

I can tell you firsthand that's not true.

It burns.

It burns like God's own branding iron.

Don't try to head trip me.

Oh, we wouldn't do that.

I don't think we could.

A nerveless death dealer like you, well, you probably know more than we do. You

probably know more and worse.

Did you get it?

Every word.

Uh,

I'm not sure, guys. Hey, guys!

In a couple of minutes. Hi, Abigail. Ooh, sorry, Miss, Lieutenant, ma 'am.

have you got Catherine stashed?

Uh, nowhere.

What does that mean? Where is she?

Cruiser took her home an hour ago.

Nice. We get the third degree till we're brain dead.

Thank God Kathy's nightmare's over.

Amen to that, Captain.

Kathy's wonderful.

Yeah, but she likes Catherine, and so do I.

Look, Rick, I gotta tell you, now that the pressure's off, I'm looking forward

to spending some natural time with this lady under normal circumstances. Well,

that's just swell, as long as she can squeeze you in between our weekends of

sailing and fishing.

I hate to tell you this, but she doesn't like to sail. She gets seasick. No, she

doesn't. Oh, yes, she does. She loses it all over the place. No way. Oh, yes,

she told myself.

You think I'm kidding? Absolutely.

I wonder where the police cruiser is.

Rick and A .J. Simon?

What the hell's going on? You will move into the living room, please. No, I

won't. You will move into the living room now.

The hell I will.

Hey!

Let's go.

What's happening?

Catherine, are you all right?

Don't say anything, ma 'am. Not even goodbye. It's better.

Please.

Rick, AJ, I am so, so sorry.

I'll never forget you.

Okay, move it.

I wanted to tell you.

I wanted to say something.

But Linsen is apparently a bigger fish than we thought.

The FBI is hoping he'll bring down the syndicate, and Catherine's testimony is

the key.

What do you mean?

Are you saying this?

I'm afraid that's right, AJ.

Catherine is now officially a protected witness for the United States

government. Oh, that's just great. We go to all that trouble, and then they

decide she's worth protecting.

Actually, she was in touch with them all along.

Come on, I'll tell you the whole story.

What little I know there is.

Why did she lead us on if she was planning on going into protection the

time?

The Bureau approached her about the program two weeks ago. I didn't say she

accepted. I would have.

They told me Linson was just the tip of the Finnegan iceberg.

Really?

You'd give up your whole life?

Go paint houses in the Midwest under a new name? Never see your friends again?

It's a tough decision.

And a brave one.

It's one thing we did know about her.

She does have guts.

And she does.

To unrequited love.

And other hazards in the journey.

I'd hardly call it a hazard.

Okay, it's the wrong word, but it's the right emotion.

At least we have the memory untarnished.

Yeah. Let's just hope it blossoms and bears fruit.

Blossoms and bears fruit? It's the thought, Abigail.

Boy, talk about a couple of hopeless romantics. Well, it takes one to know

There.

That's something I will drink to.

Here's to hopeless romantics. Here.