Original subtitles

What is it?

Three grand.

Cash. In my wallet.

Where is it?

How should I know?

Where is it? You can't keep gambling away everything I work for, right?

Yeah, it's me.

Yeah, I checked it out.

Everything's going to work fine.

Okay.

Hello? Hey, Charlie.

It's Reese.

How you doing?

Yeah, fine, Reese.

What's up? Where you been?

Katie said you've been gone a couple of days.

Yeah, I've been busy. Been doing a couple little business deals. Listen,

Charlie, we still going?

Hunting tomorrow?

Well, sure, if you want to.

Oh, yeah, I do. I'm looking forward to it.

All right. Look, meet the ranch around 8. We'll get an early start.

All right. I'll see you then.

I'll be okay.

It's going to be different, Katie. I promise.

It's the last time.

There's no reason for me to do that to you. And I know that.

So it stops.

As of now.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

I just, you know, sometimes...

My temper gets away from me.

I didn't mean to hurt you. I swear it.

I know.

Tell me you understand.

I understand.

Please, Katie.

I understand.

I've understood every time it's happened.

Charlie, you don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know. Oh, no, no,

that's okay. The season's winding to a close anyway.

When Reef asked me to take him hunting, it gave me an excuse to go.

Probably hit you up for money again.

Yeah, yeah, well, he usually does.

Well, the market's up. It's okay.

Hey, Dad!

Mom! Hey, you tiger!

Guess what?

Guess what? What? I'm going to go to the nursery with Aunt Kate and help plant

trees and things.

Oh, yeah? Well, don't you think you better ask her first to see if it's

Grandma said it was. I did.

I didn't think she'd mind.

Well, you ask her anyway. She'll be here any minute, okay? Okay.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Let's go over things.

I want to make sure you know what to do.

Hey.

I'm counting on you, Kate.

You've got to act the part.

You can do it.

I know you can do it.

How am I going to know you're okay?

Just watch the mail. There's going to be a postcard with nothing on it but a

return post office box number and a date.

That way you'll know I'm hiding. And I'll send it as soon as I think it's

Come here.

I know you can.

I believe in you.

Okay.

All right.

Let's go. Come on. Okay, go, go.

Hey. Hey, Reese.

I mean, what happened? It's a beautiful day for hunting, huh?

Nothing. It's a branch.

It's a branch.

Hey.

Bastard hit you again. Don't say anything. Don't spoil the day. Hey, big

Maybe we ought to take you hunting with us. You'd like that, wouldn't you, big

fella? I can't. I'm not old enough to hunt.

Good to see you, counselor.

Well, maybe your Uncle Reeves ought to teach you. How'd that be?

Jenny, would that be all right? Maybe some other time, Reeves.

Joey, go get your stuff. I'm going to take you to the nursery. Come on, Joey.

Let's go.

Hey, Charlie.

You think you're spending enough time with the kid?

Sort of seems to me like he's kind of missing a father figure.

What did you say?

Oh, I was just... I was just expressing an opinion.

I'll see you later, babe. Okay. Be careful. Hey!

Not to worry.

Extra ammo in the saddlebags, gentlemen, and water in the canteen. Good man,

Kenny. Weather channel's got high winds on the bluff later today, so be extra

careful up there. What a couple old ladies.

Reese, if you get spooked in high winds, be extra gentle with them out there.

Make sure you identify your target.

There's a lot of hunters out today.

Got it.

I got it. Let's ride.

Let me take a look at that eye again. I'm fine.

Then why are you so nervous? I'm not nervous.

You've got to do something about him. You can't go on like this.

Do what? Leave him.

Divorce him. Get a restraining order to keep him away from you. I don't want a

divorce.

I don't want your help, okay?

You hated the idea of me and Reese being together from the very beginning. You

don't even like to see it, Ginny. He is really going to hurt you one of these

days. Do you understand that?

It's not your business.

Not anymore

This

is none of your business either Kenny.

Yes, ma 'am Kenny

I'm going into town. I have some work to do.

Yes, ma 'am

Come on.

Ah!

Damn!

I almost had that one.

You okay?

You seem a little uptight.

Yeah.

Kate and me had a little argument, that's all.

Yeah, I noticed.

What the hell is that?

First your wife, now you?

This is between Kate and me.

Well, you're never gonna convince Ginny of that. I don't have to.

I'll tell you something else.

None of her business.

None of yours either.

Look, Reese, regardless of what you think of my wife... I think she's a nosy

bitch. I think she's jealous of her sister.

You just don't know when to quit, do you, Reese?

Are you going to teach me when to quit, Charlie?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm going to teach you a little bit more than hunting. How about right

now? I'm ready to learn. Come on.

You need counseling, buddy.

I'll tell you something, man.

I'm not the one that needs the counseling.

And I don't need you or your wife to teach me how to treat Kate.

Hey!

Slow down!

Oh, a sign of a body?

So this is where you think he went off?

I don't know the exact spot where he went over. I didn't see that.

I saw him floating down by the rocks.

I saw him. You don't know whether he was alive?

He was floating face down.

Jenny?

Jenny, what happened? Tell me he's okay. Please tell me he's okay. Baby, I'm

sorry. I'm so sorry. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Mrs. Williams.

I'm sorry. The divers are going to keep at it until it gets dark and tomorrow.

Listen, there is always a chance.

If they don't find a body, there is always a chance.

You and Mr. Williams came up here to go hunting this morning, is that correct?

I've got a license.

Okay.

Did you hunt with Mr. Williams often?

No, no. This was his first time. He called, said he wanted to learn.

So this was all his idea.

Yeah, yeah, he called.

Said he'd been thinking about taking up the sport, wanted to give it a try, you

know. So I lined it up for today.

So if he was all new with this, what was he doing riding on ahead of you?

We had had a little disagreement.

He got angry and rode off. I took off after him. By the time I reached the

he... You want to tell me what the argument was about?

I was offering some brotherly advice, that's all.

He didn't want to hear it. Sergeant, my sister and her husband had an argument

last night. It was nothing unusual, nothing out of the ordinary. Couples

arguments all the time.

Do you mind if I take my sister home?

Okay.

I'll call you if the situation changes.

Thank you.

Can I help you with something, sir?

What are you doing with that?

He's cleaning it.

Why that one? It wasn't used.

Needed oiling.

Has it been fired recently?

No way to tell for sure.

Why don't you leave those two with me and I'll clean them up as well.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

Something wrong, sir?

Well, there are going to be a lot of questions and investigation.

I just don't want any defense.

I thought Mr. Williams fell.

He did.

What do the rifles have to do with anything?

Mrs. Halloran may have taken some ammunition for target practice.

She didn't.

I'd have known.

Hey, Jenny. What a surprise.

Hi, Jenny. Alex. Hi, Kate. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.

No, sit. We're just having coffee. I wanted to talk to you about a legal

I can go back to the office. No big deal. No, I'd just as soon you stay and

notes. If it's a legal matter, then we want to make sure that everything's done

properly.

What's up, Kate? Can I get you anything, ma 'am? Oh, coffee, please.

I'll be right back.

This is a huge policy. I had no idea.

Reese took it out a couple of years ago after he won big in Vegas.

He was in one of the, like, take care of Katie moves.

You need an official determination of death for the insurance company to pay

on this. I was hoping that you would know what to do.

Well, I can orchestrate the procedures and do all the paperwork, but I can't

guarantee the outcome.

Oh, I know that.

There'll be a full investigation as to what happened. Of course.

Um, do you know how long that takes?

Hard to say. I'll move things along as fast as I can, but only after there's

been a private hearing and everyone is satisfied with the results will a judge

issue a determination of death ruling.

And then the insurance company will pay?

After the ruling, the insurance company has no choice.

What do you think?

There's no body.

But we have a witness in Charlie who saw the body floating in the water.

Look, I'll do whatever I can, Kate.

Let me keep this.

And as soon as I get back to the office, I'll take care of it.

Let's start a file.

We'll do a letter to Solar State Light this afternoon requesting the process

begin, okay?

Okay, right on it.

Someone wants to see you.

Come on, I'll give you a ride.

Thanks.

You know, you haven't stopped working for three hours.

There'll be nothing left for the rest of us to do. It just seems that the harder

I work, the less I think about things.

Yeah, I know. It's been tough, all the waiting, not knowing.

I keep expecting him to drive up.

I keep thinking that somehow this is all a mistake.

He's going to show up here and pick me up at the end of the day. Yeah, well,

work is a tonic, but, you know, there's...

No use killing yourself with it, is there? I mean, no matter what happens,

got to keep going.

Thanks, Martha. Sure. See you later.

Can I help you, gentlemen?

Catherine Williams.

Investigators McAfee and Logan with Solar State Life.

We're here about your husband's policy.

We're sorry about your loss, Mrs. Williams.

Thank you.

Did you know about your husband's policy, Kate?

Do you mind if I call you Kate?

Yes, I knew about the policy, and no, I don't mind if you call me Kate.

Reese told me about the policy when he took it out.

Five million?

That's a lot of money.

Especially for someone whose income was less than steady.

Do you know how your husband was able to afford such a policy?

He bought it at a time that he had a lot of cash, and he prepaid the premiums.

Do you know where he got the money to buy the policy?

I didn't ask him that.

Well, maybe he was after a winning streak in Vegas.

Well, I guess you guys have found a few things out.

Already? Well, it's not uncommon for someone with a history of gambling to

out a big policy. I mean, sometimes they feel that's insurance against the

losing streak.

His habits were well documented among the various casinos down there. I see.

Were you aware that he lost quite a bit in the last few months? I didn't keep

tabs on him.

I'm afraid that it's true. I mean, he was deeply in debt. I think it's even

to say that he might have been desperate for money.

What exactly are the two of you trying to say? It wouldn't be the first time

that someone tried to stage their own death.

to collect insurance money. My brother -in -law saw Reese floating face down in

the water.

We're not trying to imply anything or insult your husband's memory.

We have a job to do.

We're trying to do it. Then do whatever you have to do.

But my husband is dead.

And work is about the only thing that keeps me going these days, so if you

excuse me, gentlemen.

Uh, Kate, we might have to talk to you again. Would that be all right?

Of course.

I have to talk to you again. Would that be all right?

When did you get so polite?

What are you talking about? Back there?

Don't even say it. I can read what's going on in that little pea brain of

like it was a neon sign flashing on the Vegas Strip. Oh, is that so?

Yeah, that she's a good -looking babe.

That she makes the last date you had look like a Boston Terrier.

Boston Terrier. Oh, wouldn't it be a darn shame if she was up to her neck in

something crooked?

And that's what I'm thinking, huh?

Well, when you get to be doing this long as I have, young Master Logan, you get

to reading the sign.

You treat your girlfriends as good as you do this car?

Well, you know, you take care of her, she takes care of you.

Perfect relationship.

And no wonder you don't have a girlfriend.

You know what I am thinking?

You're full of it.

Ah.

The Swami knew that, too.

Can I be done? I want to watch TV.

Okay, half an hour, and then you do your homework, all right?

All right.

Hey, Grandma, do you want to watch that new show I was telling you about?

Yeah, I'll catch up with you, okay?

I'd like to propose a toast.

To Katie.

Katie, you are in our hearts, and we pray for you every day. May your world

one of happiness and love from sunrise to sunrise forever.

You're here.

Better times ahead.

Thanks, Mom.

Two investigators from Solar State Life Insurance came to see me at the nursery

today. How did it go?

Okay. He sure had a lot of people fooled, didn't he?

Fooled how?

Well, $5 million life insurance policy.

Sure fooled me.

Kate, I hope you don't mind I told Charlie about the policy.

He bought it on a whim when he was flush with gambling money.

Oh, yeah, but he could have canceled that contract at any time.

Assuming, of course, that he remembered that he had one. But I don't see a guy

like Reese forgetting about five million bucks.

Why is it so hard to believe that he kept that policy for me?

For my sake, in case something like this ever did happen. No offense, Katie, but

it just wasn't exactly his style.

He never gave a thought to anybody but himself.

I have to go.

Why don't you stay here for tonight?

Don't go back to that empty apartment, honey. No, no, I'll be fine, Mom. Katie,

you sure?

You know, it's funny, because the only honorable thing that Reith ever did to

get that insurance policy from me, now that he's dead, no one wants to give him

credit for it.

I was only asking the same questions those investigator guys are going to be

asking. Charlie, you're the key witness. You saw the body floating face down in

the water.

I know, and it makes me nervous.

They don't care what you think. They don't care what I think. They're only

to be listening to those insurance guys.

They're going to be watching her like a fox watches chickens.

I know what you're thinking.

Do you?

No, I don't think you do.

Hmm.

I hated that bastard.

And, you know, I think I even hated myself more for not doing anything about

But there was nothing any of us could do.

She was in love with him. You of all people should understand that. But I

what he was doing to her.

I begged her to leave him.

Oh, Mom, anything.

Anything to stop the beatings. Yeah, but that wasn't your responsibility.

Why not? She's my sister. I owe her that, don't I?

I am so happy that you girls are this close.

It's something that I wished for, but, Ginny, there is nothing you can do to

change what happened.

Katie's going to have to go through this on her own. She'll survive it, and then

she'll come through it, and maybe someday find someone else, God willing,

all of this will just seem like a bad memory to her.

Hey, you.

I have a date with Joey.

I love you both.

You're my girl, and nothing is less for the sight.

Nothing. Never. No.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

I've practiced this jump a dozen times.

How long till we get to you, my boss?

Two days right over those mountains.

You think we'll make it?

Don't know.

That door party's rousing. It's all ahead of us. You're very good with

aren't you, Mr. Logan?

Isn't he?

Yes, he is.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews.

Well, you should have kids of your own because you have the magic.

You know, children know when you mean them well or mean them harm.

We have to ask some questions about your daughter.

and the accident that killed your son. Oh, yes, well, I don't mind.

Kate said that she came over here that day and that she was with Joey all

afternoon. Yes, that's right.

Reese and Charlie had gone hunting up at the bluff, and she was going off to the

nursery for the day, so I suggested that she take Joey with her.

How's Joey reacting to his uncle's accident?

Well, as I said, children know when...

A person means them well or means them harm, and he had a mean streak.

Of course, it's none of my business what happens between a husband and wife.

No, that's right. No, Kate and Joey were together all afternoon, as I told you.

The whole afternoon.

I believe my daughter's waiting to see you.

I thank you for your time. Welcome. You're welcome.

getting thicker what all we did was confirm that the boy was with her all

afternoon hold this could be the old lady is lying to protect her daughter

didn't notice how mama started to wriggle after she dropped that nugget

what it means so and so the deceased was if kate had taken joey with her to the

nursery then it should be fairly easy let me have that to find eyewitnesses or

something well maybe the first thing i learned in this business well

is that human beings are capable of anything.

It doesn't have a damn thing to do with how nice they look.

I don't know. I just don't see this woman committing murder for the sake of

insurance money.

Okay. You're probably right.

Is that again?

I've seen stranger things than that.

Listen, John, why don't we split up?

You talk to the Hallerans and I'll nose around out here with the ranch hens. I

know they're expecting two of us.

Tell her I'm sick.

You don't want to speak with the Hallerans?

I read the transcripts. Well,

maybe I'll get them to loosen up.

I doubt it.

You don't think that I can interrogate without you looking over my shoulder?

She's a lawyer.

She started the paperwork. They're not going to say anything that could

jeopardize your sister's chance at the insurance money.

We'll see.

20?

You're on.

Okay.

Mrs. Holleran?

I'm from Solar State.

Oh, yes. How do you do?

We were expecting you.

My husband will be joining us shortly.

Please. Thank you.

Please have a seat.

So I understand that you initiated the paperwork.

Yes, I did. I would like to see it resolved as quickly as possible. My

has been under considerable strain.

Now, is there anything that you can tell us about that day?

I saw Reese and Kate when she dropped him off at the house to go hunting with

husband.

Then she left, and I went into town to my office. I had some work to do, and

that's where I received the call that there had been an accident.

Now, I would assume there's someone downtown that can verify that you were

the office?

You make it sound like a criminal investigation.

No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that.

That's okay.

We have a sign -in log at the building, and if you need some character

references, I'm sure I could rustle up a few.

No, I'm sure it'll be just fine.

Would you care for some lemonade?

Sure, why not?

You coming for a nature?

My name's Mac.

McAfee.

I'm an investigator with Solar State Insurance Company.

You been working here long?

Couple years.

You knew the fellow got killed the other day?

Nobody liked him much, did they?

I guess it was because of how he beat up on her.

Yeah, he shouldn't have done it.

I mean, I sure as hell wouldn't treat her like that.

You like her?

Yeah.

Sure, I like her.

What of it?

I bet you'd treat her a lot better than Williams did, wouldn't you?

You think I had a thing for her, don't you?

Give me a motive, wouldn't it?

Yeah.

No, she never looked my way.

I watch things around here.

Don't pick things up.

Now, something's bugging you, isn't it, son?

Why don't you tell me about it?

Can't hurt.

Might even make you feel better.

I'm gonna find out all the answers sooner or later.

It's what I do.

Well... That's where they brought Toki back.

Toki's the horse Williams was riding.

I was putting up the saddle, and I couldn't find the canteen I loaded up.

Now, see, I fix everything up for Mr. and Mrs. Holler when they go on a hunt.

So they don't have to do... Mrs.

Holland hunts, too?

Sometimes. Hell, she's a better shot than any of them.

Not that day, though. Said she had work to do.

Anyhow, there was no canteen in the saddlebags.

Why is that significant?

You're the investigator.

You figure it out.

Here he is.

Aren't you gorgeous?

Mr.

Holleran.

John Logan, Solar State Life.

Mr. Logan.

I understand that you were the one who saw the body in the water? Yeah, yeah.

Reese was wearing a tan vest, so I could see him fairly clearly from where I

stood on the cliff.

And you said you saw him floating face down, looking like he was dead.

Well, he looked dead to me.

But you never actually saw him float away or get carried away by the tide.

Well, no, I had a choice to make. I could stay there and watch the body all

or I could go call for help.

You see, to do that, I needed to go to the horse and get the cell phone from

saddlebag, and those few minutes, the body disappeared.

I think my husband made the right decision, don't you, Mr. Logan?

Yes, I do.

Um, now, uh, you indicated that on the day of the accident, you heard a

There were hunters up on those bluffs. We heard dozens of shots. But you never

actually saw Mr. Williams fall.

Oh, no, no. You see, he raced on ahead of me, and by the time I got there, I

his horse by itself, and I sensed something was up, and when I looked over

edge, I could see at least his body floating in the water below.

That's all I can tell you.

Hmm.

Okay.

That's it for me.

Thank you for talking to us. It's our belief.

Thank you. Pleasure.

You have a nice day.

Thank you.

Us?

What was he talking about?

What do you mean?

Well, he said, thank you for talking to us.

So, who's us?

Well, his partner wasn't feeling very well, so he said that he would wait for

him out in the car.

So?

So what?

So? What'd you learn from the rancher? Don't touch anything.

You might scratch the car.

Well, one of the guys...

that I talked to was a kid named Kenny Evering.

He worked here a couple of years.

We ought to run a check on him.

Okay. And why are we running a check on Kenny Evering?

Because he looked at me funny as we were walking by.

That's scientific.

How did you fare with the Hallorans? Learn anything new and hot?

You win.

Thank you.

So, what did we learn about Kenny Evering?

William's canteen was missing when they brought the horse back. So, what does

that tell you? I mean, he went over the cliff with the canteen. Well, if he's

riding fast on a precarious ledge, why does he take out a canteen?

All right, he stopped and he had a drink of water. I mean, he got off the horse

with the canteen in his hand and he fell over the cliff with it. Well, if he's

dismounted and standing there, then why does he fall?

Because he walks to the edge of the cliff.

He's peering over, and he loses his footing.

Charlie says that they were only apart for maybe a minute, two at the most. So,

guy rides off in a huff, fuming, then less than a minute later, he's off his

horse, taking a leisurely stroll on the edge of the cliffs, having a sip of

water from his canteen.

Loses his balance?

I don't think so.

But even if he did, wouldn't he...

throw the canteen away and grab for something to hold on to?

I don't think so.

So if that happened, then the canteen would be on the ground somewhere nearby.

Only it ain't there.

No canteen.

And what does that tell you? Nothing, maybe.

Or maybe it tells me there's something that doesn't smell quite right about all

of this.

There. Clean as a whistle.

Is Joey asleep?

He's down to sleep.

Mom, too.

In the same chair.

I didn't have the heart to wake her.

Don't wake her.

You know how she loves falling asleep in that chair.

Coming to bed?

You okay?

You seem preoccupied lately.

I was about to tell you exactly the same thing.

This whole business with... I can't breathe.

I think it's making us all a little crazy.

I'm glad he's dead.

God, what an awful thing to say.

But he was a miserable son of a bitch that ruined a lot of lives.

You've been holding that one in a long time, haven't you?

Yeah.

Do you think those insurance investigators really believe it was an

Why shouldn't they believe you?

You said so yourself. There were other hunters, other gunshots.

What if it didn't happen exactly the way I told the police that it did?

What do you think?

It's that shot, Ginny. I just keep hearing that shot over and over again in

head.

Ginny.

Mr. Logan, would you like to come inside? I can offer you something to

There's no point in sitting out here all by yourself.

Am I that noticeable?

Let's just say you were hard to miss.

Well, I'm kind of new at this job.

It's temporary, actually.

Here, let me have that.

I'm going to teach high school music. I'm a musician.

But, see, I needed money, and I saw this notice.

If you want to teach music, why don't you teach music?

That's what my friend said. He said, if you want to play, play. You want to

teach, teach.

They're right. If you have a dream, you ought to pursue it. Yeah, well, dreams

cost money. I got bills.

There's that.

Oh,

wow. This is nice.

You have a terrific sense of style.

Thank you.

My husband is, um, well, he was good with carpentry, and I did all the

decorating and landscaping. Well, that's what you do, isn't it, landscaping?

Yeah, I'm a landscape architect.

Can I offer you something to drink, Mr. Logan? Do you want a beer or wine?

Uh, iced tea, if you have it.

I'm not supposed to drink on the job.

Well, you're not a cop. You work for an insurance company.

Yeah, well, you know, the company has rules, and I sort of like to play by the

rules. Well, that's refreshing.

Here.

Thank you.

My friends call me John.

Um, you're in my house because you and your partner are trying to prevent Solar

State Life from paying my husband's insurance policy.

So I don't think we qualify as friends.

Well, if there's nothing to prove, then I'm sure that Solar State Life would be

more than happy to make good on their obligations.

In fact, if there's no complications, I'm here to ensure that they pay off in

timely manner, and I'd still love it if you called me John.

Virginia.

I was going to come by and see you, Judge. How's your sister?

That was a terrible thing that happened.

Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Oh?

Her husband bought a huge policy about six years ago, $5 million.

She's going to need a determination of death ruling.

She's on her own now. She's going to need every penny she can get.

So what would you like me to do?

Pick up the hearing off the docket? Well, I need someone I can trust.

Obviously, solar is going to balk at that amount of money.

I can't say I blame him. No.

But you know I can't influence the outcome.

Of course not. I'd never ask you to do that. I just want to make sure that Kate

gets a fair shake. That's all.

I don't want to see them drag it on week after week if there's no reason not to

pay. Well, okay, I'll have my clerk watch out for the paperwork.

I enjoy keeping those insurance boys honest.

Well, I better get back to my guests.

Always nice seeing you, Virginia.

Thank you, Eugene.

I really appreciate it.

So will Kate.

You're welcome. Bye -bye. Bye -bye, Judge.

Did you ever go hunting with everyone else?

No. They asked, but I never wanted to.

Don't believe in hunting for sport, huh? No.

Nothing so politically correct.

I was raised around guns. You know, my mom and dad are career military.

And Ginny won a Junior National Riflery Award when she was a teenager.

Really? Mm -hmm. She's an expert markswoman.

She won all these trips to travel and compete all over the place. Europe,

everywhere. God, I was as jealous as hell.

You don't strike me as someone who would enjoy shooting guns.

I'll tell you, I would have shot anything if it meant the opportunity to

I wanted to go to Rome and Venice.

You know, places like that.

I just never got the chance to do it.

Well, five million dollars would sure buy a lot of airline tickets.

Is this a formal interrogation?

Or should I have legal representation present?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that.

I guess it's obvious I'm kind of new at this job.

Yeah. It's really obvious.

Yeah. You don't really strike me as a private investigator type.

You know what happened is I entered this job ad.

And it sounded kind of romantic, you know, like Fred McMurray in Double

Indemnity.

You've never seen this movie? Oh, this is a great movie. I've seen it about a

million times. Fred McMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. See, Fred McMurray plays this

private insurance investigator.

And he falls for this sultry blonde, Stanwyck.

And she's this gorgeous murdering widow.

I'm sorry.

I did it again. I'm sorry.

It's okay.

It's okay.

It's getting kind of breezy.

Oh, no, no. Come on. I insist. Put it on.

Rhyme from the city?

You got to keep it off the finish or it works its way in.

Where were you earlier?

Oh, I don't know. I was out running around or something, doing some errands,

sure of that.

Sand and salt water also causes damage, I hear. You know anything about engines?

Yeah. My dad was a mechanic.

He said when I was 16, if I wanted a car, I'd have to build it from spare

Good for him.

I always had a squat car.

Boys in the motor pool always did the work.

Yeah? You were a cop?

15 years.

Well, that would explain it then.

Explain what?

Why you're so good with this stuff.

Oh, yeah, I'm great.

You never lose your nose for the liars and the scumbags.

Once you've smelled them, it stays that way for life.

Why'd you stop being a cop?

Long story.

Morbid nostalgia. I need food.

Food. Food.

Hey, looky here, will ya?

Check out these bank accounts.

Each one is in Reese Williams' name.

Three of them. And only one jointly with Kate.

So Mr. Williams was hiding money from the little lady.

Our heroine seems to instill secrecy in her men.

And check out these deposits right here.

Now, where does a guy like this get that kind of cash?

Gambling? Well, it wouldn't be so regular. This looks like a payment.

So this is like blackmail or extortion?

Could be.

You still think this guy accidentally fell over a cliff?

Maybe not.

Hey, listen to this.

You know the stable boy, Kenny Evering? He and Reese Williams got into a fight

three months ago, and Reese beat the hell out of this kid. And Kenny knew

they would be hunting.

He packs the horses, loads the weapons, and keeps track of the ammo.

Somebody else just arrived at the party.

You know what?

This is just like an Agatha Christie novel, isn't it?

Hey there.

Is, uh, is Kenny Evering around?

Uh, he was here a minute ago. Then he just all of a sudden mounted up and took

off. Hmm.

You know where he's headed?

No. All I know is he's supposed to be here supervising this job. Uh, when you

see him, tell him to call one of us, would you?

Uh, number's on the card there.

Yeah, well, next time you guys see him, let him know that I can use a little

help around here.

I don't think it was a coincidence somebody didn't want to do much talking.

So, did you know him personally, Colonel?

Oh, yeah. As a matter of fact, I was on the trial board at his court -martial.

Court -martial?

Yeah. He got a dishonorable discharge and a six -month sentence for beating

living daylights out of a bunkmate.

And do you remember what happened?

Well, I'm retired, son. It all started when Williams got the general's married

daughter pregnant.

General's daughter?

Brigadier General Harmon McElvey.

He was a head honcho at the base when Williams was stationed there. You know,

this goes back a few years. The general's dead now, but he was a great

Harman McKelvey was a soldier's soldier, straight as a rod. And he did not like

finding out that his daughter was being done on a regular basis by one of his

enlisted men while her husband was on assignment in Europe.

So I would assume that Williams was not well -liked. Not well -liked?

Just grass green?

Nobody had a good word to say for this son of a bitch.

So what's that got to do with beating a fellow soldier?

Williams was having the girl pay him to keep things quiet while he could arrange

an abortion.

Only the bunkmate found out about it and blew the whistle on him.

Williams didn't take too kindly to it.

He beat the guy to within an inch of his life.

Now, whatever happened to the girl?

Uh, messy divorce.

Then she went to Switzerland until things died down around here.

General McKelvey, uh, met his brother, Booker Williamson.

Switzerland, isn't that where they make cuckoo clock?

Come on, Kate's never been to Switzerland, I'll bet anything.

Kate? Who's Kate?

The general's daughter. Wrong daughter.

Virginia.

Virginia McKelvey. They called her Ginny.

Their purple past revealed.

Just kidding.

Okay, let's track this.

Williams figures that he can romance his way up the ranks, huh?

But he blows his first chance when he gets greedy. So he figures the general's

pregnant daughter has got to be worth some quick cash.

Yeah, and maybe he needs the money to cover his gambling.

Only his buddy blows the lid off, and Williams winds up with... No girl, no

money, and six months in the brig. And Jenny gets sent off to Switzerland for a

safe abortion.

And the McKelvys, they have to stay here and they have to keep things as quiet

as possible. Until Williams returns and decides to go for double or nothing.

Whoa.

What? There was no abortion.

The boy belongs to Reese.

Joey. Yeah.

You think Kate knows?

I don't know. What do you think? You're the expert on all matters, Kate. Knock

it off. How am I supposed to know that?

Okay, look.

The boy is a living reminder of everything that happened in the past.

I'd say people might be lining up to get back at this guy.

Check this out.

What's that?

I found it in the bushes about 50 yards from where William supposedly fell over

the cliff.

Now, a shotgun couldn't reach that far, but a .30 -06, no problem.

You can't prove anything with this.

There's got to be hundreds of hunters up there.

Somebody shot the guy, John.

I can feel it. I can taste it. We're talking murder here.

Where you been?

I was checking out his hind leg to make sure it was healing properly.

Those two insurance investigators were here to see you?

I didn't talk to them. No, you took off when you spotted them. I was watching.

What's the matter, Kenny?

Nothing. I didn't say anything.

Look, it was kind of stupid to run unless you have something to hide.

I was looking out for you and Mrs. Holleran.

Kenny, Mrs. Holleran and I appreciate your concern, but we don't want you

running from the investigators.

Only makes things look a lot worse.

They think somebody pushed Reese off that cliff.

Maybe shot him off.

They're only fishing for answers because they don't want to pay Kate what they

owe her.

Now, I know you had nothing to do with it.

at your own account.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

What's this?

You planning a vacation, Mac?

Oh, not me, boyo. Your lady friend.

Where'd you get this?

Those are exact duplicates of brochures discovered by a little professional

snoopin'. What, you broke into her house?

It's called investigating, sir.

The woman trusts me, and you broke into her house. What if she had come back?

I've done this a few times, you know.

You've been following us.

You don't get it, do you, boyo?

This sweet young thing just might have killed her husband for the insurance

money. It's happened before, you know, and not just in the movies. And you're

acting like you two are going to some prom.

Mac, Mac, you don't know her. I know what these brochures tell me. I know

she's not planning on sticking around here once she's got our company's money

her delicate little hands.

Well, maybe she's planning a trip, you know? Maybe she wants to get away.

Forget her troubles, you know?

No law against that, at least the last time I looked. Will you listen to

yourself? You sound like a little puppy dog.

I'm trying to keep you from following Reese Williams over that same little

cliff. Thank you very much, Mac. I can take care of myself.

I can't believe you came all the way up here just to lug these things around.

These things weigh a ton.

If I were you, I'd take advantage of the fact that I'm here.

Well, I can't pay you.

Wait a second.

That's my card.

I owe you one free dinner. That's payment enough.

So how'd you get into landscaping?

Well, while Ginny was off winning those riflery awards, I was wandering around

the post making friends with the landscaping crew.

I became sort of like their mascot.

Oh, yeah?

So, uh, did you know Reese?

Yeah. He was dating Ginny at the time.

Do you know about the two of them?

I know all about them.

I know about the court -martial and Joey.

What, are you looking for motives?

No, no, I'm just... I'm trying to figure out how, uh... how someone like you

would end up with someone like Reese.

Psychologists would say that it was, um... sibling rivalry.

I was jealous of Ginny, and I wanted what she could no longer have.

Would the psychologist be right?

To a degree, I suppose.

But there was a time when Reese and I were happy.

We were fixing up our house and making plans for the future.

He was a different person then.

And that was before... Anyway.

Do you have everything that you need, or is there something else you'd like to

ask me?

Well, I'd like to think that we're friends.

Reese's death, the insurance policy, your job.

None of those things are going to go away until after this investigation is

over, one way or the other.

There are all kinds of questions.

In your head. And I can hear them. I can feel them. Every time you look.

You think I don't know what's been going on? You tried to double -cross me.

You tried to shoot me and I got the bullet in my shoulder to prove it.

Come here.

You passed out in the kitchen last night.

Why didn't you just finish me off?

You have to get this shoulder treated.

I'm supposed to be dead, remember? I can't very well show up at some doctor's

office. Forget about the money, Reese.

You're badly wounded.

I'm not forgetting about anything.

Everybody thinks I'm dead, and we're going to keep it that way. Do you

understand? It's going to be true if that wound gets infected.

I'm not going to die from it. I survived the shot in the fall. I've been living

out in the woods for days with this damn thing in me.

We're too close to quit now.

You're going to take this bullet out of me. Reef, I can't do that. I'm not a

doctor. I'll make you a list of supplies.

I know what to do. I've trained for this, remember?

You can do it, Katie.

You can do this.

You could have killed me.

When I passed out, you had the chance.

Goddamned. She set me up. Who?

Who? Whose idea do you think this whole insurance scam was in the first place?

What do I know about legal rulings?

This was Jenny's idea from the get -go.

The bitch double -crossed me.

I don't believe you.

Nobody else knew what I was going to be doing on that cliff that day.

Nobody but the three of us.

You, me, and that lady lawyer.

If you want me to take that bullet out, then I have to convince Paul. Hey, I was

near death out there, using every trick I knew to survive.

And the only thought on my mind was about the money and the fact that you or

your sister double -crossed me.

You try anything.

You say anything to anybody. You do anything.

And I swear.

I will kill Joey.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

Jenny! Kate!

What are you doing here?

What the hell is going on?

I'm talking about Reese.

What about Reese? He showed up last night. How do you think I got this?

I was sitting down to work, and the next thing I know, Reese is there. And he's

slamming me around the room, and he wants to know why I double -crossed him,

I tried to kill him. What are you talking about? He thinks that you shot

Ginny. He's going on and on about it. That I shot him. It's a miracle that he

survived. Now, what the hell is going on?

Kate, listen to me.

Don't let him do this to us. Don't let him turn up against one another.

You shoot him. Why didn't you kill me? I did not shoot him. I did not shoot him.

You've got to believe me.

So what happens now?

Give me a minute to think.

Hi, Kate.

Everything all right, Jenny? Yeah, fine.

See you tomorrow, Alice.

Bye.

Oh, God.

Look, I will try to accelerate the process, maybe get a ruling in a week or

but you've got to keep Reese out of sight.

You're supposed to stay quiet.

He wants the money. He'll do anything he has to to get it.

Thanks.

All I know is there's a whole truckload of people who wanted to have this guy

dead.

Starting with his wife, whom he beat the hell out of on a regular basis. She

didn't do it, Mac.

Okay, now have it your way, huh?

What about his sister -in -law, Ginny? Old news. Why kill him now?

Stuff like this is never old news.

She sees it every time she looks at her son or her new husband.

She knew about the hunt.

She waits for the right moment. Blam! Pass eradicated.

Okay, the problem is, her office building is a county facility with a

sheet. There's a 24 -7 security guard out front. He signs her in, he signs her

out.

Okay.

Now, suppose Charlie Halloran decides to take matters into his own hands.

I mean, he hates the guy because of what he did to Ginny and Kate.

So they're up all alone on the cliffs. One quick shot, it's all over.

And just swinging away from the family tree.

Well, what about Kenny?

But how do you prove all this?

I'll keep working on the Hallorans.

And you keep whining and dining the merry widow.

I'm not going to do that.

What do you mean you won't?

Because I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to lie and deceive Kate like that.

It won't happen, period.

Fine.

Go have a good time.

You know, read poetry to her in the shade of a tree.

But the truth is going to come out one day and bite you whether you like it or

not.

You talk to your sister?

She said she didn't try and shoot you. She's lying.

You were taking money from them again, weren't you?

Well, I had some heavy debts, so I asked for help.

Well, that's what family's for, right?

Sit up. She says you're setting to tell Joey the truth.

He's my kid. I got every right to tell him who I am.

She's bitter.

She's jealous because I wound up with you and not with her.

He's a little boy, Reese.

It's not fair. He has a chance for a normal life with them. Well, I wasn't

really going to tell him. That was part of the deal that she came up with with

the insurance scam. I was going to take the money and keep my mouth shut, and I

agreed. I agreed. I agreed.

And now? She tried to kill me, Kate. Don't take her side. You think she cares

about you?

She has lorded it over us ever since we were married. She's got the ranch. She's

got the position.

She's got the rich husband. But she didn't get me. She's never going to

you for that, Kate.

You think she tried to kill you because of that? She knew exactly where I was

going to be and when, and she's a crack shot.

I'll tell you something. I got a message for her. She's going to get that

ruling, and she's going to get that money, or she's going to be even sorrier

than she is now that I survived.

Hey, you owe me dinner.

I thought maybe I'd come by tonight and collect down at IOU.

Um, tonight's not good. I'm working on some landscaping drawings. I'm going to

be working late.

How about tomorrow night?

I don't know.

Are you blowing me off here?

You mean to tell me I came by and lifted all those heavy pots for nothing?

Why don't you give me a phone number where I can reach you, and then I'll

you when I can get away.

Okay, thanks.

Someone from the nursery.

You've changed, Katie.

What are you talking about?

I don't know. You're different.

More sure of yourself.

Grit your teeth or something.

Wow, I don't know.

Wow.

Very impressive.

Better than any restaurant I had in mind.

Shea Cates.

Hey, terrific.

May I?

Yeah.

How did you, uh... Oh, uh, occupational hazard.

It was a swinging branch of a Northern California fir.

Oh, okay.

It's fine.

Come on, dinner's getting cold.

Okay. No more questions.

All right?

He said,

play the duet.

No,

he said, well, if you do it again, you're out of the band forever.

You're staring at me.

Don't you believe that two people can just know each other instinctively?

That's sweet.

But I think that things don't always work out the way you want them to.

Well, maybe you just don't trust your feelings is all.

I don't have a lot of practice in trusting my feelings.

I've been too busy trying not to get my face smashed in.

It wouldn't take too much investigation to figure out what our marriage was

like. Oh, I'm sorry. We don't have to go there.

Uh, I don't mind talking about it. I want to talk about it.

I just, I feel like my life is changing so fast.

I don't care about the money, John.

I really don't.

I just want a chance to start my life over and not have to be afraid of being

hurt again.

Can you understand that?

Oh.

Mac says that I can't discuss the evidence with you.

What am I a suspect?

I mean, what am I a suspect?

He found a shell from a .30 -06 near the spot where Reese fell.

They were hunting.

But he found it in a grove of bushes with a perfect vantage point. You think

Reese was shot?

I don't know what I think, but Mac thinks that he was shot and killed. Yes.

he thinks I did it, doesn't he? Oh, no, no, no, not necessarily.

There were plenty of other suspects with motives.

No, no.

Just ask the question, okay?

Because it's hanging over your head.

Now, let's just get this over with. Just ask the question.

It's not necessary.

I don't have to ask. I told you, I was raised around guns, and I can fire a

hunting rifle as well as any man I know.

But I did not shoot my husband.

And I did not kill my husband.

Now you need to ask yourself what you really believe.

Because if you don't believe that I'm telling you the truth, then you should

turn and walk out of my life and don't even think of coming back.

Katie? Kate?

Baby?

You out here?

Who's out here?

Katie? She had to go out.

Where is she?

I don't know.

You're lying.

I heard her making plans on the telephone earlier this afternoon. She's

wasting any time playing the grieving widow, is she?

Why'd you double -cross me, Jenny?

I didn't.

Somebody shot me. This shoulder isn't the result of a hunting accident.

Trust me, Reese.

If it had been me, you wouldn't be standing here right now.

I carried out my part of the bargain.

If I get the ruling, you've got to carry out yours. You take your share and you

leave forever.

What's the matter, Counselor? Don't you think I'm a man of my word? I'd have

been happy with my share. I'd have left. Somebody else didn't stick to the plan.

Kate will wire half the money to a numbered account in the Bahamas.

Reese. If you go back on your word in any way, shape, or form, I'll go to the

authorities and I will tell them exactly where to find you. No, you won't do

that. Believe me, I don't care what happens anymore.

Looks like I'm not in any position to bargain, am I? I guess not.

Looks like you won this one.

Still the same magic between us, huh, Virginia?

I wish to God you had died.

And leave Joey without a father?

Jenny, what's wrong?

He's crazy.

He thinks we're conspiring against him. I found a .30 -06 shell right near the

spot where he fell, and now they suspect that he was shot.

I don't think that they can prove anything, but I'm worried.

This whole thing is threatening to unravel.

Jenny, he said that if we tell the authorities, he'll kill Joey.

We've got to finish this now.

Kate, I think Charlie shot him.

Charlie? He's been saying things. He's been leading me with questions. I don't

know.

Somebody shot him. It wasn't you. It wasn't me.

Kate, I gotta go.

I know.

Hi.

Missed you at dinner?

How's Katie?

She's okay.

Still a little needy. She wanted to talk. We lost track of time. I'm sorry.

It's no problem.

Joey and I went to the mall, had some burgers and fries.

Charlie? Hmm?

The other night you told me that you kept hearing the gunshot.

And that you weren't sure that what happened was what you said.

I remember.

You were trying to tell me something, weren't you?

Joey and I are very close.

He's the son I've always wanted.

And I know that Reese was threatening to tell him that he was his real birth

father, and I know that you were not going to allow him to do that. Ginny,

I heard the shot, I just assumed that you took matters into your own hands.

You're afraid that I shot him.

Oh.

Yes. Charlie, I didn't. I swear it.

I... I was going to confront you. I thought that you did it.

Me? Yes, to protect me. I mean... Oh, that's so crazy.

I... You really didn't.

No, me.

I hated the son of a bitch, but I'm not going to shoot anybody.

You didn't... Kenny.

Hold on. Sure. You know how he liked Katie.

And when those insurance investigators came to question him, he bolted. He told

me that he was afraid that he was going to say something that might incriminate

one of us.

I just assumed he was talking about you.

Of course. He was trying to protect himself.

We should talk to him.

In the morning, my beauty.

You're late.

We're not doing the judge's chambers for another hour. We ought to go over this

stuff again.

Why? So we know what we're doing. I know what I'm doing.

John, John.

I need you in there today.

How the hell am I going to get the judge to listen if you and I aren't singing

the same song? I got nothing to say, Mac.

Do you work for this company?

Our job is to take these findings and convince the judge that a determination

death ruling is not in order.

I'm not going to walk in there and accuse these people of murder when we

have any hard evidence.

We're not the cops. We're not accusing anyone.

We're just trying to establish enough doubt to keep the investigation going. I

know what our job is, Mac.

We're supposed to keep solar state life from paying off on the insurance policy.

Well, I'm going to do exactly the opposite.

You're never going to make it in this company.

You don't get it, do you?

I could never live with myself if I did that to Kate.

Have you seen Kenny anywhere?

No, sir. Not since this morning at about 6. He's packing up his stuff.

Packing? Yes, ma 'am. He said there was too much heat on him around here, so he

was taken off.

He said you two knew about it, so you'd understand.

Thanks, Billy.

Thank you.

Sure. No problem.

Mr. McAfee, I have reviewed your theories and your conjectures.

and I must admit that they made for very interesting reading. Then again, so

does John Grisham.

His books, however, are works of fiction, and I believe that your

equally fanciful.

Fortunately or unfortunately, these postulations are supported by no

evidence, nothing other than the most circumstantial. What we do know for sure

is that Mr. Williams went from upon the cliff...

down to the water, face down, according to our single eyewitness.

And beyond that, there is no indication of foul play or untoward behavior on the

part of anyone involved.

I might add parenthetically, I know the family involved and can therefore bring

a personal judgment as to the character of those giving testimony.

Your Honor, I would like to lodge a formal protest on behalf of the Solar

Life Insurance Company. Mr. McAfee, you may lodge any protest you wish.

However, it is my ruling that the determination of death in this case is

consistent with the accidental fall of Mr. Williams from the cliff in question,

as indicated in the official police report.

Therefore, I hereby declare Mr. Reese Williams to be legally deceased.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

This matter is closed.

Are you happy now, boyo?

Somebody just got away with murder.

How'd it go?

It's done.

Your share is in a numbered account in First Bahamian Bank and Trust.

Here's the account number.

Wow.

What do you know?

You two girls finally did your jobs right.

I told you we could pull this off.

You promised to leave.

What's your hurry?

It's all over now.

The longer you hang around here, the more chances that someone might spot

Oh, not to worry, darling.

Besides, you and me and Jenny, we still have a little unfinished business. How

stupid do you think I am? We had a deal once, remember? Until one of you two

witches decided to try to kill me.

Reese, neither one of us.

No.

No more talk.

You call the bank.

And wire your share.

Into my account.

Call.

All right,

stop.

Get out. Get out. Come on, get out.

What are you doing?

What, you mean you haven't figured it out yet?

It was a damn good scheme right from the beginning, and it would have worked,

too, if one of you two hadn't decided to double -cross me.

So... Oh, my God.

I made it big enough for two of you.

Reese, don't be stupid. You can't kill us. You'll never get away with this. You

don't think so? Gee, I don't know. I'm just the dead guy, remember?

But I'll tell you something.

You know that insurance dick of yours? He already thinks that one of you killed

me. So by the time the two of you disappear and they discover the money's

wired down to the Bahamas, they're just going to assume the two of you took the

cash and split.

And then, if anybody ever does discover your bodies, which I doubt, and

identifies them as the once lovely McKelvey sisters, by then I'll be, well,

let's just say I'll be long gone.

Reese!

He was going to kill you. And I... Matt told me that one of you two had killed

him. And I didn't want to believe him, but I didn't know what to think. Why

didn't you say something?

I saw the bruise on your face the other night at dinner, and I thought, well,

maybe the guy still is alive.

And so I watched, because I had to know the truth.

How much did you hear?

His fall was staged.

Wasn't it?

And you withheld the truth from me until after the hearing. That's not the whole

truth, John.

You don't have to do this, Kate. Yes, I do.

The whole thing, the phony death scheme, it was my idea.

The whole thing, the grieving widow and the concerned older sister, all of it,

all of it, it was all part of an act. Ah, you?

I had to get away from him.

Do you understand? I had to get away from him. And I couldn't find any other

out. And every time that I would try to leave him, he would beat the hell out of

me and I didn't know what else to do.

And then he needed more and more money, and then finally he threatened to tell

Joey. That's when I agreed to help her. He's hurt so many people for so many

years, he wasn't going to hurt my son. I knew about the insurance policy, and I

thought maybe there was some way that we could put him in a position that he

would have to disappear from everybody's life forever in order to collect.

We agreed that I would present the scheme so he would think it was my idea.

And it almost worked.

The money is in a numbered bank account in the Bahamas.

I'll... I'll make a full statement.

I'll just handle this any way that you want to do it. I'll do anything that you

want.

I was sure you'd turn out to be a Class A investigator when you first came to

work here. Well, I'm sorry, Mac.

So am I.

I sure enjoyed working with you, though. You're a good man.

Not quite good enough.

Without a body, there wasn't much anyone could do.

Think they'll ever find him?

Chances are slim.

About five million to one. Yeah.

But you never know.

Jonah popped out of a whale.

Where are you headed?

Well, I've always wanted to see Europe.

Italy, maybe.

Venice.

Venice.

Ciao.

See ya.

Venice.

Venice.

So, is there anything else you want me to do before you leave?

I don't think so.

You have my power of attorney.

I've enough money now for Mom and Joey to live for the rest of their lives.

And I'm going to do the traveling that I always wanted to do.

Italy, I think.

I've always wanted to see Venice.

I'm going to miss you.

I love you, Kate.

You too.

It was almost a perfect plan.

Hey, it worked out right from the beginning.

Not exactly.

I never wanted anybody to get hurt, you know. It was never part of my plan.

I have something for you.

I swear on Joey's life, I did not shoot Reese and neither did Charlie.

Maybe Kenny, but he had nothing to gain.

It's over now. It doesn't really matter.

I guess we'll never figure it out.

When are you going to teach me how to shoot like you, Grandma?

Oh, someday.

Just like I taught your mama.

But guns kill, Joey.

You must never aim a gun at someone.

You have to be very, very careful.