Original subtitles

Ow! Mommy! Ow!

-Gracie, did you fall? What happened to you? -Mommy.

Mommy, my hand.

- It's okay. It's okay. -My hand.

Mommy, it hurt me. My hand. My hand.

Mommy.

Mommy.

We all lose one every now and then, Joe. It comes with the territory.

This is not a perfect world.

In a perfect world, evil loses.

It wasn't your fault.

Yes, it was.

A job. The last thing I needed was a job.

She wanted me to find her husband and help him kill a man.

It's not a perfect world.

Rickman?

Warren Rickman?

Come in.

Close the door behind you.

Who are you?

My name is Joe Keyes.

Your wife hired me to help you.

And how do I know that?

Uh...

You recognize this?

What's with the sand?

Are you afraid of fire, Mr. Keyes?

We are.

We?

People with Reds.

Fire is our enemy.

Oh. I see.

No, I don't think you do.

That's an ugly scar you have there.

Sit down, please.

You really think you're here to help me, don't you?

Life is so strange.

I gave this locket to my wife on our honeymoon,

and she gave me this Book of Psalms the night that my daughter was born.

So, here I am

with these two things.

But the two people I love most in the world, I will probably never see again.

Why not?

May I have a cigarette, Mr. Keyes?

Yeah.

What is it exactly that you do?

I protect people.

Are you any good?

You could do worse.

Why don't you think you'll see your family again?

Don't you know a setup when you see one?

No!

What is it exactly that you do?

I protect people.

Are you any good?

You could do worse.

Mr. Keyes? I'm Mrs. Rickman.

I called a couple of hours ago.

Like I told you over the phone, Mrs. Rickman, I don't do domestic.

This isn't a domestic, exactly.

Then what is it, exactly?

I want you to find my husband, Warren.

That's domestic.

And help him kill a man.

I was told you were the only man who might help me.

Told? By whom?

I'd rather not say.

Listen, if Mack Waters put you up to this...

I assure you, Mr. Keyes, Mack Waters, whoever he is, has nothing to do with this.

Monica Qwik sent me.

Okay.

Start from the beginning.

Up until a couple of weeks ago,

Warren worked for Dr. Thomas Newmeyer at Newmeyer Laboratories.

A very brilliant man. Maybe you've heard of him?

Your husband?

No, Dr. Newmeyer.

No.

Anyway, about two weeks ago, Warren quit to pursue other opportunities.

Quit or was fired?

It was a mutual decision.

So, what's the problem?

The lab burned down.

And now, Dr. Newmeyer thinks that Warren set fire to it

to cover the fact that he stole something.

Did he?

No. Of course, he didn't.

What kind of something?

I'm not sure.

But Dr. Newmeyer wants it back very badly. So badly, he's willing to kill Warren for it.

But Warren wants to kill him first.

If it comes to that.

Okay, let me see if I got this straight.

We got a couple of PhDs in biochemistry or some damn thing,

who are prowling around, looking to kill each other

over some high-tech something or other

that one supposedly stole from the other one's research lab.

That about the size of it?

I know how it sounds, but I assure you, Mr. Keyes,

Dr. Newmeyer will not stop until he's killed all three of us.

All three of you?

Aren't you concerned about your own safety?

The safety of your daughter?

Of course I am. Monica is taking care of us.

She said that you wouldn't take us on as clients.

She said you only handled the most dangerous security cases,

and only those involving men.

Would you mind telling me why?

It's not a perfect world.

I don't understand.

In a perfect world, evil loses.

Your retainer, a picture of Warren, and his current address.

Mrs. Rickman,

how can I reach you?

Monica said not to tell anyone.

Not even me?

She was pulling me back into the past.

The past I'd spent the last year trying to forget.

I'd known Lew Ramirez for more than 20 years.

More than a partner, he was a friend.

And I had very few friends left.

Over the past year I'd seen to that personally.

Hi, Lydia.

Joe. Hi.

Is Lew around?

Hey, Lew. How you doing?

I'm doing fine, Joe. How are you doing?

Good.

Well, you don't look good. Why don't you sit down?

You came to ask about the Rickmans.

I thought they might come to you.

They check out, you know.

But then, so does this guy, uh...

Newmeyer.

Now, do you want to know about this or not?

No. I don't.

I didn't think so.

-Where's Monica? -Ah.

She's the best.

If she doesn't want to be found, she won't.

Joe, you got any ideas?

My name's still on the door.

Well, that's because I...

We want you back, Joe.

It wasn't your fault.

Yes, it was.

Are you afraid of fire, Mr. Keyes?

We are.

People with Reds.

Oh, man!

Such a waste.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Warren.

You'll be happy to know that your theory on Accelerated Decay with Elevated Use

was within 0.1%.

It's quite remarkable,

but then again, you were always my best researcher.

Where is it?

You stole it from me, and I want it back.

Nobody's going to get hurt. I just want it.

You'll be happy to know that I perfected it.

I don't believe that.

I don't like this any more than you do, Warren.

We've been friends for what, 50 years?

Let's not have our friendship end...

...on such a rancorous note.

Free at last.

Don't force my hand, Warren.

It's better off in the hands of a child.

I'm gonna count to three. One...

No, Thomas.

Two...

Never.

Three.

What did he say? What did he say to you?

Where is she?

Hands on your head! Hands on your head, now!

His license says his name is Warren Rickman and that he's 68 years old.

Bag that.

Anything broken?

Nah. Just banged up.

Was I talking to you?

No, sir.

Are you still here?

Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir.

Hey, Mack.

Boy, do I have a story for you.

Yeah. I bet you do.

Waters!

Go on, get outside, Mack, before I have your butt hauled up on charges.

Get out of here.

Find out who that guy was downstairs.

And I want a statement from every hooker, drunk, and dopehead in the building.

-You hear me? -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Sorry about that, Joe.

If I'd known you were here, I'd have left Waters in the car.

You okay?

Yeah.

You know Mack's not a bad guy, Joe,

except when it comes to you.

Yeah, well, I guess I just got to take your word for that, Eldon.

Milkmen?

Didn't know there were milkmen anymore.

Well, these weren't your average, everyday milkmen.

How's that?

These guys were unstoppable.

Did they wear uniforms?

Yeah, with little patches.

I think they said, "From Moo to You."

What did you mean by unstoppable?

Well, I emptied my gun into the guy, didn't even blink.

Ah. Body armor.

I don't think so.

Well, they could have been on PCP.

I've seen guys on that stuff get hit by cars doing 50, get up and run away.

We usually find them, though.

Dead, or in an emergency room somewhere.

Cigarette?

You know, you two really need to patch things up

before you lose all your teeth.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Blah, blah, blah. Come on.

Ah.

You really shouldn't smoke, Joe.

It's bad for your health.

It takes years off your life.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

Up we go.

You know, we all lose one every now and then, Joe.

It comes with the territory.

Gets easier all the time.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call this one easy.

But then, you're not talking about this one, are you?

Where's your gun, Joe?

Your boys don't have it?

There something you're not telling me?

Probably.

You gonna stay out of this one?

Got no client.

Monica's taking care of the wife and little girl. I got no interest.

Little girl, huh?

Joe, did you tell me that Mrs. Rickman hired you this afternoon?

Yeah. She came by the office.

Doesn't sound like something Monica would let a client do.

Does it?

No matter how I turned it over in my mind,

the pieces just didn't fit.

Lew said they checked out.

What the hell did he mean by that?

I guess it was about time to find out.

Watch out, Joe. They might come back.

Hold still. I'll call an ambulance.

It's too late for that.

Who did this to you?

Satan, I think.

Joe,

he's looking for a woman

and a little girl.

Newmeyer.

You have to help Monica protect them, Joe.

You're the only one who can.

Just do it for me.

Did... Did you tell him where they are?

I couldn't.

I don't know myself.

Damn, it's good to see you again, Joe.

It's been too long.

Almost a year, hasn't it?

What?

You have to find him, Joe.

I don't know where to start.

Well, you know Monica.

The master of deception.

Did I tell you it's good to see you again, Joe?

Sergeant James.

It's Joe. I got another one for you.

Uh, just a second.

Uh, Mack? This is the wrong file.

I need a list of dairies that are out of business.

It's a dead-end. We know who did it.

It's dead when I say it is.

All right, who? Where?

It's Lew Ramirez. His office.

Oh, man.

Shot?

Yeah.

What's the chance of the murder weapon being your gun?

About 99.9.

Newmeyer again?

According to Lew.

I don't suppose you got a witness to that.

Not at the moment.

Look, Joe, there's a warrant out for your arrest.

-For? -Murder one.

It was your gun that did Rickman.

That was fast.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Waters had Ballistics run that,

that slug we pulled out of Rickman before I could stop him.

So, now I'm a prime suspect?

You're the only suspect.

What about Newmeyer?

Thomas Roy Newmeyer.

Born April 23rd, 1920, in San Diego.

Got his PhD from Harvard in 1947.

Won the Nobel Prize...

Wait, 1920?

That would make him...

Over 70. You noticed, huh?

Who... Who did I see at the hotel?

You're asking me?

Look, I already tried selling your story to the Captain,

and that dog don't hunt.

And he won't hunt unless you come up with something.

I mean, this guy is a bona fide humanitarian, and you, shall we say, ain't.

You got an address on him?

No. No, he dropped out of sight just about a week ago.

Right after his lab got burned down.

What about the milkmen?

You know how many places a man can buy a white uniform in this town?

But I'm checking the dairies. I'll see what develops.

Thanks, Eldon. I owe you one.

Hell, you owe me more than that.

I got to go.

Yeah. Yeah, keep in touch.

I'm looking for two women and a little girl? Checked in maybe an hour ago?

You checking in?

Two women and a little girl.

Look, I don't know nothing about nothing.

Do you think you could make a little more noise, Joe?

How did you find us so fast?

Fat Tony Smoller.

But he's still in the witness protection program, isn't he?

Yeah, but do you remember where we hid him?

I should. It was my idea.

The last place the mob would ever look.

A room in their own hotel.

I'm getting predictable, aren't I?

Only to me.

How long have you been watching them?

Seven, eight days. Why?

Well, you let them out this afternoon to do a little shopping.

Of course not. We've got them under lock and key since last Tuesday.

What are you doing here?

Getting lied to, mainly.

What are you talking about?

You seen them before?

Yeah, it's the Rickmans. I don't understand.

Neither do I.

Joe Keyes, Bradley Parker, my backup.

Joe.

Where is she?

Tell her you were in my office this afternoon.

I've never seen you before.

Who is he?

Mrs. Rickman.

How do you explain this?

And why does your husband carry a driver's license

that says he's 68 years old?

What do you want?

I want to know what's going on.

Who's after you? What do they want?

Where's Warren?

Warren's dead, isn't he?

What's with the locket?

She gave it to me.

I'm telling you, that woman and that little girl were in my office this afternoon.

I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Why?

Whoever came after Rickman

sent in a couple of guys dressed like milkmen to clear the way first.

-You mean Newmeyer? -No.

See, Newmeyer's like 70 years old.

This guy was 40.

Anyway, I shot one of these guys, point-blank range,

it didn't even affect him.

-Kevlar? -No.

It was like the bullets went right through him.

What do you think it was?

I don't know.

Well, if it wasn't Newmeyer, who was it?

I don't know that either.

But whoever it is, he's doing a damn good job of pushing my buttons all night long.

Listen, you know more than you're saying.

Come on, let's have it.

You won't believe me.

Lady, I'm so confused right now, I'd believe anything.

Why don't you punch her a few times while you're at it?

There's a thought.

Joe...

It's a transmitter. Come on, we have to go.

Come on. Hurry up! Come on, come on.

Newmeyer!

Come on! Get back!

Come on, let's go! Go, go, go!

Come on, Parker. We're leaving.

We can take them, Joe.

You don't understand, these guys are unstoppable.

What are you talking about?

Where to, now?

You're the brains around here, not me.

Yeah, but you keep screwing it up.

Don't think. Do! Thinking leaves a logic trail, doing doesn't.

That does it.

Why don't you just tell us what's going on?

What the hell are Reds?

The answer.

Eight years ago, Warren and I met at Newmeyer's lab.

Within a matter of weeks, we fell in love, got married, and I got pregnant.

Sounds perfect.

It was.

Except I was 50 years old at the time.

Come on, let's go.

How is that possible?

Aging, like death and disease, isn't inevitable.

We've just learned to accept the Hayflick Limit.

What's the Hayflick Limit?

The number of times a cell can reproduce without going haywire.

What we call aging.

After Gracie was born, we learned she was suffering from a number of conditions,

including clubfoot and cerebral palsy.

But she looks so normal.

That's because she is now.

About six months ago she started getting better.

We couldn't understand it. Her doctors couldn't, nobody could.

I thought it was the miracle I'd been praying for.

That is, until Newmeyer convinced Warren

to test her blood to see what was causing the change.

That's when they found the nanites.

What are nanites?

Monica, we don't have time for this.

Molecular protein machines

capable of repairing or reshaping the body, cell by cell.

They're the closest thing there is to immortality.

-We can do that? -No, we can't.

-Then where did it come from? -I don't know.

But last month, Warren and Newmeyer worked out

how to get the Deep Red to produce drones on demand,

and we all injected a set.

That's why we look so young.

Reds go through your body and repair you.

Bring you back to your optimal state, whether that's 6 or 36.

Come on, let's go.

Buckle up and hold on.

What are you doing?

Next time, buckle up.

What now?

Just drive.

You said something about Deep Reds. What are they?

Nanites come in two types: Reds, which are sterile drones that live for a few days,

and Deep Reds, which are immortal and capable of infinite reproduction.

Like a Queen Bee.

Exactly. And like a Queen Bee, there's only one Deep Red.

Gracie has it.

Which is what Newmeyer is after?

Yes.

Why didn't you just let him have it?

Because he's become pathological. He wants to kill my baby.

A Nobel Laureate?

When he worked out what we had and the power it represented, Newmeyer went a little crazy.

Imagine if you had the power to dispense immortality.

What kind of changes would that induce in you?

I don't believe any of this.

Gracie, take off your shoe.

Now, put your foot back the way it was and hold it.

Now, put it back to normal.

My God!

The problem is, the more you use them, the faster you use them up.

If Warren's Theory on Accelerated Decay with Increased Use is right,

Newmeyer's supply runs out tonight. Tomorrow at the latest.

Which is why he needs the Deep Red so desperately. To produce more drones.

He may act like Superman tonight, but tomorrow is a whole new ball game.

For me, as well.

Incredible.

Yeah.

What do we do now?

I don't know.

That's a long walk.

Would you mind taking Gracie?

Come on, sweetheart. Joe...

Damn it!

No matter how I try to extend the lifespan of these little...

You better be worth it.

Thank you.

You happy?

Whatever is going on inside that head of yours has nothing to do with that little girl.

You understand?

Yeah.

Any bourbon left?

Uh, I drank it.

Scotch?

I'm drinking it.

Do you mind not getting totally wasted while we're working?

You're working, but I'm not.

Then what are you doing here?

I don't know.

It felt good tonight, didn't it?

Knowing what the other one was going to do before they did it?

It was like old times, wasn't it?

Oh, man.

What's wrong?

Um, there's something that I haven't told you.

Yeah?

Boy, um... This is tough.

Lew's dead.

What? How?

Newmeyer.

Why has it taken you so long to come back?

I'm not back, Monica.

Why not?

I still hear her, Monica. I still hear her voice.

You have to get over it.

I can't.

Who is he?

My husband.

I didn't know you were married.

We're separated.

I'm sorry.

It happens.

Would you like to talk about it?

About a year ago, a woman and a little girl that Joe and I were protecting were murdered.

Who?

A homicide detective by the name of Mack Waters was receiving death threats

from the man he'd helped to put away. A man named James Harper.

And we offered to help watch his family.

Why Joe? Why not the police?

Joe and Mack go way back.

Harper broke in while Joe was watching the wife and daughter,

and shot all of them. Joe was the only one to survive.

That's why being around Gracie is tearing him apart.

He's never been able to get that little girl's screams out of his head.

What are you doing out here? It's not safe. Where's your mother?

I'm sorry.

You're hot because the Reds are fixing you from the inside.

It goes away after a while, when you're all fixed.

The Reds? I have them? How do you know?

They were on that cigarette you put in your mouth when you were carrying me.

I saw you twitch when they went in.

I guess your father thought he was doing me a favor.

It's too late for me.

Daddy gave them to you?

Yeah.

Listen, everything is going to be all right.

Hey, you'd better get back inside before your mother figures out you're out here.

But I've never seen the ocean before.

Why?

I guess because I was sick.

Oh.

Okay.

Stay close.

Oh, man.

What was that?

Stay here. Harper, put the girl down!

- Don't! -Oh, my God, he's got Emmy!

Gwen! Stay back!

Where's Waters? I'll put a bullet in his little girl.

EMMY: Mommy! Mommy! Please help me, Mommy!

Please, don't hurt her!

Put the girl down!

No! You put the gun down!

Please, don't hurt her! I'll kill her!

Right here, right now!

Do something, Joe! He's got my baby!

All right. All right. Please, don't hurt the little girl.

No, don't! Oh, my God, Joe!

No! Harper, No!

No!

- No!

Gracie?

Gracie?

Gracie!

Gracie!

Joe, what happened?

She wanted to see the ocean.

Gracie? Gracie, open your eyes.

She's dead.

Come on, Gracie. Wake up. Gracie?

Helen, she's dead.

You don't understand. The Reds won't let her die.

Come on, Gracie. Wake up.

Mommy?

It's all right.

Everything is going to be all right.

I hate menthols.

JANITOR: That nicotine is a mean mistress, ain't she, mister?

James.

It's me.

Joe, where are you?

Eldon, I need a favor.

Shoot.

Can you take care of some people for me?

Who?

Not until you promise to personally look after them.

Well, sure, Joe. You know I owe you that much at least. Who is it?

It's Monica and her package.

What's wrong with you?

I'm not right. I don't trust myself.

Okay, if that's the way you want it. Where are they?

No, not over the phone.

Can you meet me in Chinatown? In front of Ho Ling's in 20 minutes.

Twenty minutes. You got it.

Thanks, Eldon.

I know what time it is. I want you to meet me in front of Ho Ling's in 15 minutes.

Just do it.

You're late.

Smoke?

No.

I don't know, Eldon. Maybe I'm not doing the right thing here.

No, no, Joe, you are doing the right thing.

Believe me. Look, let me handle it.

They're at the Marina International, Bungalow 6.

Hey, don't you worry about a thing, Joe. They're in good hands.

Wait! Wait a second!

I see you're still smoking those death sticks.

Funny meeting you here.

Funny's not the word for it, Keyes.

The name is Joe, or have you forgotten?

Oh, no. I never forget the name of a friend.

Your buddy Eldon called me. Told me where you were.

You know, a half hour ago I was only dreaming of pounding your head

into the concrete.

Waters, you don't understand.

Now, I get to do it for real.

It's over, Mack.

You let them die.

I trusted you with my family, you let them die.

I'm sorry.

You think... You think I give a damn if you're sorry?

You couldn't pull the trigger, could you?

He had Emmy.

I didn't want to take the chance.

You should have gone down shooting like a man.

I did.

Not before he put a bullet in my wife and my daughter.

I did everything I could.

Are you sure?

Yes. Yes.

I'm going to blow you to hell.

I've already been there.

I'll shoot, man. I swear to God I will shoot.

Well, go ahead, Mack.

If that's what it's gonna take to convince you, go ahead.

Do it.

Go ahead, Mack. Do it!

Do it, Mack! Do it!

Forensics show up yet?

Not yet. They're on their way.

Come on.

That's right.

Give me a second, will you?

There were two women and a little girl in Bungalow 6. Have you seen them?

There was only this guy when we got here.

Mind if I take a look?

Hey, isn't there a warrant out for your arrest?

It's okay. It's handled, all right?

Waters, you got any idea what this is?

I hate computers. I don't know.

-Take it, Frank. -Thanks.

-Where are we headed? -To find Eldon.

What are you doing?

I'm retrieving my property.

We can't have people running around with unauthorized Reds in their bloodstream,

now, can we?

Gracie gave me a set, so you'd better do me first

before I learn how to use them, you son of a bitch.

Such language. Well, if you insist.

I don't have enough anesthetic to go around,

so you'll have to do without.

But that shouldn't bother a tough cookie like you, now, should it?

WATERS: I'm sorry to bother you.

No, no, no, I'm sure he's all right. Yeah, yeah.

Have you seen Eldon?

No, he left about an hour ago.

There are only a half dozen closed dairies

that haven't been gutted and sold for scrap.

Yes. Check this out.

Stealing evidence. I hope you realize my career is now officially over.

I wouldn't worry about it, Mack. Neither one of us are apt to come out of this alive.

At least take the flare gun.

Forget it.

Those won't do you a bit of good.

You saw how effective your .38 was against me.

These ain't no .38s.

You lied to me, Monica, and you wasted my time.

Well, hello, Mr. Keyes.

You're just in time for the floor show.

What do you think, partner?

At room temperature I can hold a shape for 21 minutes before I have to cool down.

But at 42 degrees Fahrenheit, I can do anything. Anything.

You can't stop this, Mr. Keyes. Nobody can.

It's all over, Doctor.

I got him.

You can't stop him with that.

How right you are.

Back off, Mr. Keyes, or I kill her.

Not with the Deep Red inside of her.

Put it down.

Put it down.

Oh, Lord...

Okay.

Okay.

Just don't... Just don't hurt her, okay?

Idiot.

-Are you all right? -Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.

-Are you sure? -Yeah. Just get the girl, all right?

Newmeyer!

I see you discovered the wonders of Reds, Mr. Keyes.

How did you get them?

Put the girl down.

You don't seem to understand, do you?

I've spent my entire life in the service of mankind.

Believe me when I tell you that Deep Red is our future.

The enhancement of our genetic destiny.

If it means the sacrifice of a little girl, so be it.

When does the killing stop, Doctor?

How many people are you willing to sacrifice in order to serve mankind?

Four?

Four hundred?

All of us?

I'm the responsible scientist here.

I'm the one who's best equipped to make this decision.

The girl is mine.

Newmeyer.

Hey.

Hey.

How's the girl?

She's okay.

Good.

It's a tough call, isn't it, Joe?

Only if you care, Mack. Only if you care.

Hey, Bill.

Give me a minute, will you?

She's dead, man.

I'm sorry, Monica.

I'm sorry it took me so long to come back to you.

Come on, let's go.

Excuse me, Sergeant?

Can I help you?

We'd like to see Joe Keyes.

I'm sorry, but nobody sees Joe Keyes except his PD.

He's being held in isolation until he answers a few questions.

But, this is his...

But nothing, lady. We have one dead police officer, one injured,

a number of dead civilians,

three witnesses that disappeared from the hospital,

and a warehouse that went up in flames.

And he won't say squat about any of it?

Nobody sees Joe Keyes until God himself says so.

I understand. I'm Joe's sister and this little girl is his daughter.

She thinks the sun rises and sets with him.

-His daughter, huh? -Mmm-hmm.

But the court's just granted me temporary custody,

and I'm taking her back to Minneapolis with me on the next flight home.

The way things are going with Joe, she may not see him for a good, long while.

Yeah, like a hundred years.

Exactly. So, I was hoping that...

Could you let her say goodbye?

No way in hell, lady.

I understand.

Do you think you could explain it to her,

why she can't, so I don't come off like the wicked stepmother?

Hi, Joe.

Cigarette?

I just quit.

Mom.

Want to see a trick I just learned?

Go ahead, Joe. It'll make a new man out of you.

Hit it!

I didn't know where we were headed.

I guess it really didn't matter.

I only knew I had an important job to do

in a less than perfect world.