Original subtitles

I'll say this about the Fatman: He's a sweet guy.

Listen, creep, I'm going to take you apart like a clock.

He can be tough when he has to be.

Jake Styles?

Don't ask me how

he can live the way he does on a cop's salary.

Some people do seem to like him, however.

But he's a damn good investigator, and he's mine.

He's a good guy.

Don't you forget it.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

I thought you were meeting with Mitchell tonight.

Shawn... I told you when you wanted to move back in here,

no sneaking around.

You promised that you were going to meet with Mitchell

and talk about my allowance.

I hung around the office till almost 7:00,

but, uh, his meeting didn't break,

and then I tried to get a game at the club,

but when that didn't work out...

It's not like it's not

my money. I mean, Dad left it to me.

But he left Mitchell in control of it, didn't he,

your trust?

Just like he left him in control of everything else.

I think if it was up to our older brother,

he'd have us both out there on the street.

No. No, he can't do that, can he?

No. I won't let him do that.

Don't worry.

Why don't you go up to your room, watch some TV?

Okay.

The city's ongoing campaign to stop violence

against the homeless took a step back with a brutal stabbing

late tonight on the city's Skid Row.

The name of the victim is unknown,

but residents of the area say

he was a white male about 35 years of age.

The mayor announced tonight formation

of a special task force on the killings.

Added foot patrols are planned for this part of town.

McCabe.

It's me again.

Who is this?

Don't you recognize my voice? I'm insulted. I...

I thought I'd made more of an impression,

or do you get calls from killers every night?

Well, yes, I recognize your voice.

I was just confused because you sound further away

than you did the last time.

Oh, I'm, I'm right where I've always been.

Just far enough away so that you can't catch me.

Well, you're too smart for me.

All I want to do is talk to you anyway.

Then you'll have to play fair.

Why don't you ask me what I did tonight?

Because I've been very busy.

You... went out... with your knife,

and... you killed another innocent.

Innocent? What do you know about innocent?

You put me in jail for years to rot my life away.

Wh-What was your crime?

I mean...

Oh, no.

You think you can trick me, but I'm very... smart.

I'm gonna get even,

and every time I slice one of those bums, it's for you.

Well, then, why don't you come after me?

You want to get even?

Come after me!

No. I'm going to watch you sweat, Mr. Fatman.

Shawn?

You forgot to say good night.

Sleep well.

I will.

You got great feet.

Anybody ever tell you that?

Great feet. Ooh!

This is much better.

Oh, yeah?

Prove it.

McCabe.

Don't move.

You stay right here.

J.L.

J.L.!

What's that?

Oh, Jake, you in so early?

Well, number one, I live here, and number two,

it's nearly midnight, and number three,

this music is knocking my fillings loose.

What's going on?

You know, I've been meaning to ask you.

Can't you find a decent apartment somewhere?

What do you want? What do you want exactly?

I had another phone call.

He knifed somebody else?

I just came from there.

Some poor creature who never had a chance.

The slime actually said he's doing it to get even with me.

Can you believe that?

I've seen sickos, but this guy's one of the worst.

J.L., is this, uh...

is this somebody you put away?

I got Derek going through my conviction file.

I'm pleased to say that it's a rather lengthy list, however.

What do you want me to do?

Tonight?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

You don't think I came here to talk business, do you?

Well, I assume this visit is pure sadism

unless you're hungry.

You want an omelet or something or...?

It usually improves your disposition.

Ah, gee, no thanks, Jake.

Too much cholesterol

this late in the evening, you know?

Okay. All right.

How-However, maybe some of your... pasta.

Pasta. Good.

You'll feel a lot better.

Oh, uh, Yeah?

Let me ask you something. Sure.

Uh, how about a couple

of those hot Italian sausages,

if you got any?

Okay, sure. Jake?

And would you warm up

some of that great garlic bread that you make?

A little red wine wouldn't hurt.

But don't go to any trouble.

No trouble.

Look, uh, you got any leads on this guy?

He's got to make a mistake eventually.

He already has.

He made me mad.

Didn't he, Max, hmm?

Everything under here looks okay far as I can tell.

Most likely the battery.

You want me to call the Auto Club?

No. Let him worry about it in the morning.

I'll tell you what.

I'll hike over to the hotel and catch a cab.

I can call you one. No, don't bother.

I'll be at the hotel before

they can get here, but thanks anyway.

Real sorry, Mr. Thompson.

Hey, any change, mister?

I ain't had anything to eat.

Uh, get a job.

Come on.

Hey, mister, can you help a hungry man?

Aw, come on. Give me a break.

Mitchell.

Mitchell?

Mitchell, over here.

Mitchell.

David, is that you?

David, is that you?

Yes!

Come on, come on. We got to get out of here!

I didn't know what was going on.

'Morning, Eddie. What have we got?

Hey, Jake. What's the problem?

The discos close early?

Well, it's still a secret,

but discos have been out for about five years now.

Myself, I like to stay home and cook.

Is this the same M.O. as the others?

Yeah. From what we can tell here from the entry marks,

it looks like the same knife.

One difference on this victim...

This time the killer didn't kill a bum.

Who was he?

Mitchell Thompson,

CEO, Thompson Projects.

One of the ten richest men in the city.

What about the family?

Two brothers.

We'll send somebody to tell them.

I wonder what he was doing down here.

We found these in his pocket.

His car is parked in the garage of his office six blocks away.

We don't even have a guess as to what he's doing here on foot.

You mind if I take these for a while?

No, no, no, no, Jake, Jake. Why?

These can't leave the crime scene, okay?

We gotta log these in the property room.

How about a special order of the D.A.'s office, huh?

How's that grab you?

Okay, but it's on your head.

You'd better check out the car, Jake.

I'm on it.

And maybe you should tell the family, huh?

Right.

Aah.

What's the matter with you?

My stomach's a little upset.

What's wrong? Must be something I ate.

Hey!

How about giving a handout to an unfortunate?

You got something for me?

All right, here.

What have you got?

Last night... Yeah.

I'm catching my Zs in my usual spot. Right.

I hear this terrible noise.

A car alarm.

A car alarm? In my alley, too.

What'd the car look like?

Big. Black. Shiny.

A couple of punks were giving it a custom look.

They also were very busy lifting its hubcaps.

All right. Thanks.

David Thompson?

Yes, I'm David Thompson.

Jake Styles.

I'm with the D.A.'s office.

I'm an investigator. Hi.

This is my brother, Shawn.

Shawn? Shawn, hi.

Is anything wrong?

I'm afraid so.

Your brother was murdered last night.

But why?

I mean who...?

How did it happen?

Apparently, he was walking through Skid Row last night

on his way to a hotel to catch a cab.

That's where he was stabbed.

You mean somebody mugged him?

Well, we don't think it was a robbery,

but we do think it was the same person

who killed two other men down there.

I don't understand.

I mean, I read about those killings.

They were both bums.

Well, I think when you, uh,

walk down there at night,

you're really taking your chances.

I'm very sorry.

But if somebody's murdering bums,

you don't go after somebody that looks like Mitchell.

It's just totally... Who gives a damn if the killer was confused?!

Mitchell is dead.

Your brother is dead.

And I want you to...

catch him.

You don't need to bother looking under there.

I checked it out from last night before he walked out of here.

Do you have any idea where he was going?

Of course I do. He told me.

But first, I tell him I can get the Auto Club down here to start it.

Right.

Then he says no.

He'll walk to the hotel and take a cab.

Always so impatient.

Never could wait two seconds for anything.

That's why the battery's dead.

The lights were left on.

Don't that beat all.

Man worth two, maybe three hundred million.

Makes the same dumb mistake we all do.

Um, listen, anybody else drive this car, wash it,

gas it up, anything like that?

Easy to check.

Mr. Thompson came in at 10:30 a.m.

Car sat right there until 11:40 p.m. Whoa, whoa, wait, wait.

He came in when? What time did he come in?

10:30. Why?

10:30. Mr. Thompson always came in around then.

Well, he must've been very cautious behind the wheel,

driving in broad daylight with his lights on.

You sure you're a cop?

Oh, you mean the car.

Mm.

It's just transportation.

Here are the Broadhurst depositions.

Derek, your father was governor, right?

Yes, sir.

And you had the benefit

of an overpriced education, correct?

Yes, sir, very expensive.

Then you tell me quickly, will you?

Do you think I'm stupid?

Stupid?

Sir?

Limited intelligence.

Diminished capacity.

Well, speak up.

Is this is a leading question?

Just answer it.

No. No, sir. You're brilliant.

You're the smartest man I've ever known.

I'll accept that.

Then why the hell are you trying to put something over on me?

Me? Don't lie to me, Derek. You're not up to it.

Me? I... Yes, you!

Now we both know that my birthday

is two days from now, and I smell a party.

And I don't want people jumping out of the closets

yelling, "Surprise! Surprise!"

Is it really your birthday?

Derek, if I see even so much as a cupcake with a candle on it,

I'm going to hand you your head!

What are you guys running here, a charm school?

Don't interrupt me.

I was making a vivid impression on the boy.

Will there be anything else, Mr. McCabe?

I'll let you know.

You know, you ought to try yelling at Max.

At least he can't hear you.

You come in here dressed in clothes

no honest public servant could possibly afford,

you molest my dog, and then you give me that idiot smile.

Well, let me tell you something.

You'd better have something really terrific for me.

How's this?

I know who did it.

Yeah?

Hi, Shawn. Is your brother home?

What is it?!

Well, you know, I was checking your car out here,

and, and the alarm went off.

How do you turn this thing off?

What's this all about, Styles?

Well, I've, uh... I've got something for you.

I have a murder one special I'm running.

It's a present.

Hubcaps.

Yeah.

Well, they're not just any hubcaps.

As a matter of fact, they're the very ones missing off your car.

Now, don't tell me the cops aren't efficient.

Um, listen, it's, uh, it's not that I don't appreciate a favor,

but these aren't mine.

Mine were all scratched.

Are you sure about that?

Oh, I'm positive.

That's why I got rid of them.

You know, David, you outsmarted me.

You see, I was hoping you'd say yes

because whoever owned those hubcaps murdered your brother.

I thought I had you nailed.

I really did.

Son of a gun.

What is this, some kind of joke?

No, it's no joke.

You see, I talked to a bum

in that neighborhood,

and he told me that he heard a car alarm go off that night

in the alley where he was sleeping.

He said he saw a couple of kids run off with a set of hubcaps.

Now, cars that nice that have an alarm don't park down there.

Another bum told me that he saw a big, black car drive away

right after the killing.

So, I went and talked to a friend of mine

who deals with hubcaps in the neighborhood.

That's where I got these.

So I figured if these belonged to your car,

then you killed your brother.

That may not be conclusive proof to a jury,

but I find it very persuasive.

Except for one problem.

I have an alibi.

I was here all evening.

I was working upstairs.

Shawn can vouch for that.

What about it, Shawn?

David's right.

Just like he says.

Well, I guess that's it.

Oh, anyone else with you that night?

Anybody call you at all?

Sorry.

I guess no alibi is ever really perfect, is it?

You did it, didn't you?

You actually murdered our brother.

You killed Mitchell.

Look, I know this has been tough on you.

I know you're under a terrible, terrible strain...

Don't give me poor little Shawn,

high-strung, incompetent Shawn, because I know.

I listened on the phone when you spoke to the D.A.

Why didn't you call the police then?

David, please don't do this to me.

You killed Mitchell. Just tell me the truth.

All right, I'll tell you because I trust you, Shawn.

I did kill Mitchell.

I had to.

I did it for you. I did it for us.

Don't you see? No, I don't.

Well, you have to see.

As long as Mitchell was alive, we couldn't do anything.

We were trapped.

He had all of Dad's money,

just handed it out whenever he felt like it,

making us live our lives the way he wanted.

He was always getting his way, just like when we were kids,

and he used to bully us.

Now, you remember that, don't you?

It's just you and me now,

and that's the way it should've been from the very beginning.

Oh, Shawn, you mean more to me than anything else in the world.

I had to do it... for us.

I know you'd understand.

Come on. Let's go into the house.

It's over now, I promise.

Mr. Thompson...

Mr. Thompson, I tried to reach you at home,

and you'd already left.

I tried the car phone, and there was no answer.

These men were in the office when I got in this morning.

I didn't know what to do.

They told me that they had to go in the office

and look for some things.

What are you doing?

Pursuant to this subpoena,

which I presented to the proper custodian of record...

Get to the point.

We're taking your records.

We have the right, you see, under this subpoena.

Who are you? My name is Derek Mitchell.

I work for the D.A., the district attorney, Mr. McCabe.

Yeah, well, I don't think your district attorney has...

has the right to come in here and take whatever he wants.

Lydia, I want you to get my attorney on the phone.

Do you mind telling me what's the point of this search?

Officially?

The probate court has some questions

about your brother's death.

Off the record, the D.A.'s looking for a motive for murder.

In our papers?

Yeah, well, Mr. McCabe said if you had any questions,

feel free to give him a call.

Yeah, well, I'll do a lot better than that.

How are you, huh?

Ah, you're the best dog a man ever had.

I love you, Max.

No, Max. No, Max!

No, Max.

I'm sorry. He's half deaf. Max!

That's it. Now calm down.

Be a good boy.

It looks like Max doesn't like you, Mr. Thompson.

Well, maybe you should have him trained.

He could use some manners.

Oh, I don't think that's necessary.

He's an excellent judge of character, aren't you, Max?

Now go to your bed.

Go back to your bed. Go on.

Go on.

You know, Mr. Thompson, I'm not particularly interested

in seeing that you'll get comfortable,

but why don't you sit down anyway, huh?

Are you enjoying all of this, Mr. McCabe?

Oh, not with the crime rate this high. No, sir.

You know...

I was very angry when I left my office.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

But on my way over here,

I realized

I was angry at the wrong thing.

It doesn't matter that you subpoenaed my records.

It doesn't matter that you make

preposterous allegations.

How interesting.

What matters is that you have no leads.

You're grasping for straws,

and I want you to catch my brother's killer.

Oh...

Well, don't worry, I'll catch him.

I thought I told you to hold all my...

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is for you.

It's your lawyer.

Hello? Joseph?

Hello?

Well, something happened to my call.

Oh, it got cut off?

Yeah.

Okay. Well, let's see how we did.

Hello? Joseph?

Well, something happened to my call.

Is there some point to all this?

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

I have another selection I'd like you to hear.

You think you can trick me,

but I'm very... smart.

I'm going to get even,

and every time I slice one of those bums, it's for you.

Well, what do you think?

About what?

The voices.

You think they sound similar?

No.

Well, what if we ran the second recording

through a filter? You think that might do it?

That's ridiculous.

Even if you could, you couldn't use it in court.

Well, lie detector results don't get in, either,

but the police find them encouraging just the same.

You know, I hope you have more than innuendo and speculation,

Mr. McCabe, because right now, catching my brother's killer,

it sounds like wishful thinking.

Well, Mr. Thompson,

the message units... the phone company keeps them on all calls.

So?

I thought you'd like to know

that we've subpoenaed your telephone records,

and if you were foolish enough to make a toll call to me

from your home, well, we'll know it, won't we?

If I was foolish enough, we would.

Bye.

How'd it go?

Ah, the only real pleasure in this damn business

is catching the stupid idiots who think they're so clever.

Come here, kid.

Ah...

Level with me, will you, huh?

You haven't heard anything about, uh... uh...

well, you know, uh...

a surprise birthday party for me, have you?

No, sir.

Huh.

Y-You sure?

Yes, sir. I asked around.

Everybody knows how much you hate them.

Hate them.

Don't worry.

You're safe.

I'm safe.

Hey, Shawn.

How you doing?

Hey, where are you going? Wait.

Come here.

What's the matter?

A little tense?

No.

Most people who lie to the cops are.

Don't you know how this is supposed to work?

Look, you're supposed to claim you didn't lie.

I lean on you, you crack, you tell me the truth.

That's how it works.

We can cut through all that if you just level with me.

David told me how you're trying to frame him.

I'm not gonna say anything you can use against him.

The Mozart clarinet concerto... It's one of my favorites.

Huh? It's what the Philharmonic was playing

the night your brother was murdered.

You were there.

Imagine a classical music lover

who claimed he was at home watching television.

So? I left early to meet David for dinner.

I talked to the Levins.

You know, the nice people who have seats by yours every week?

They're very fond of you, by the way,

and they said that you stayed

for the whole show, including the encore.

David said you might try something like this.

He said I shouldn't talk to you unless our lawyer's with me.

David, he was so sure.

He was so positive.

He really knows that you did it.

Maybe.

Maybe even more than maybe.

His problem is, he can't prove it.

But I'm telling you, he knows that I lied

about being with you that evening.

Shawn, I am innocent until I am proven guilty.

It's called justice.

David...

David, but he's not gonna quit.

He's just gonna chip away and chip away

until he finds something.

This was our father's desk.

Too bad you didn't really know him.

Now, there was a man of decision.

You know what he always said?

Initiative.

Seize the moment.

Go on the offensive.

That's exactly what you're gonna do, Shawn.

I'm not doing anything.

Look. So, the police are convinced that I'm guilty.

That's their wonderfully narrow point of view.

Well, just to make you feel better,

I'm gonna let you prove that they're wrong.

No, I can't.

I'm not gonna.

We're in this together now.

You're an accomplice.

The police are gonna believe

that you're just as guilty as I am.

David, I can't.

I'm afraid.

You don't know how afraid I am.

You are my brother.

Haven't I always taken care of you?

Haven't I?

Well, now it's your turn.

You have to take care of me.

I lost my temper when I was here earlier.

I'm very sorry.

I'd like to apologize.

Just what do you want?

You really think I did it, don't you?

I know you did.

Think you can prove that?

We're putting the pieces together one at a time.

Not more auto parts?

No.

But guess what I found in your records.

You found out I was broke.

More than broke.

You owed Mitchell more than two million dollars,

and you know what all those little zeroes add up to, David?

Motive.

Very shrewd.

You're really...

You're really very good at digging out the facts.

In fact, I salute you.

Let's just say, you're right.

Let's say...

I killed my brother.

What about those other poor men?

You think that I murdered

a bunch of Skid Row derelicts

so it'd look like a serial killer?

Yes.

And then you called me,

claiming to be somebody that I had sent to jail.

You don't really want to hear

how sick I think you are, do you?

Let me bet how smart you really are.

I'm gonna offer a reward,

$100,000, for any information

that leads to the conviction of my brother's killer.

It's Dewey.

Hey, man, it's Dewey, Dewey!

Hey, get off of him!

Why don't you let me play Mr. District Attorney?

Here's my case against you, all right?

You killed your brother, you got millions of dollars.

The only problem is, my only evidence is...

hubcaps.

Are you a nervous defendant?

I don't think so.

Can you imagine a jury convicting the Hubcap Killer?

I doubt it.

McCabe.

What?

Are you sure?

All right, I'll be right there.

Must be important.

Urgent call on your private line.

A knifing on Skid Row.

Same as the others?

Except this one didn't work... The victim's still alive.

This happened just now?

While we're here?

It doesn't change anything,

if that's what you're getting at.

You want to bet?

In fact, I'm gonna raise the bet.

The reward is now $200,000.

Because certainly,

this time I've got the perfect alibi... you.

Shawn, why didn't you kill him?

David, he was too strong... I tried.

But when we hit the sidewalk, he almost got the knife, and then...

Did he see you? Did anybody see you?

No.

I don't think he did.

I-I mean, I just don't know.

Who? The bum?

Did he get a good look at you?

He was too drunk... I don't think that he did.

I think we'll be all right, then.

David, I don't care how much money it is,

I just can't take any more!

Shawn, it's over!

I promise.

It's over.

Mr. Thompson,

you're under arrest.

For what?

For attempted murder.

You have the right to remain silent. It's gonna be all right.

You don't even have to talk to them.

I'll be down there with the best lawyer in town.

If you give up that right to remain silent,

anything you say can and will be used against you. David...

You have the right to speak with an attorney... David...

It's gonna be all right.

And to have the attorney present during questioning.

David...

It's gonna be all right.

Okay, McCabe, what the hell do you think you're doing?

'Evening, Charlie.

Well, if you stick around, you might like our chorus line.

I'm representing Shawn Thompson,

and I want to know why you're charging him.

Well, for starters,

I've got a very powerful motive.

You got a weapon? Not yet.

A witness?

I'm about to find out.

Hello, Charlie. Easy money tonight.

We're gonna nail your boy cold.

Here you go, Mark. You're kidding.

You're gonna put him on the stand?

To get a positive I.D., that's exactly what we're gonna do.

Take a seat.

Well, all I can say is,

I can hardly wait.

We're ready.

Please face front.

Now, sir, I want you to look very carefully at these men,

and you tell me if you recognize any one of them.

Please turn sideways, turning to your right.

Please turn in the other direction, turning to your left.

No, I... no, I-I never seen 'em before, man.

No, you don't have to decide that quickly.

Is there anybody that you want to see step forward

so that you can take a closer look?

No. Nobody looks right, you know?

You mean we came all the way down here for nothing?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay?

I tried.

Then you'll release my client.

No, not so fast, Charlie.

You're gonna have to earn your $5,000 this time.

How so?

We're going to keep your client

for further questioning... That's how so.

David.

I'm glad I ran into you, because...

I got something to say to you.

I know your brother did it tonight.

You put him up to it.

You set it up,

only now you got a big problem...

Shawn's a boy and he's weak,

and I think sooner or later he's gonna break.

I mean, if you were there, that would be different,

but alone, with the heat turned up, he's gonna fold.

A lawyer like Charlie's gonna advise him

to throw you to the dogs, cut a deal and protect himself.

And you know where that leaves you?

I'm gonna get you, David.

I'm gonna put you away.

Good night.

Oh, David...

don't tell anybody I was smoking in the elevator, huh?

Can you at least tell me how my brother is?

Look, how long can you just keep him there?

When my, when my lawyer comes out of the room,

have him call me, all right?

Aren't you gonna ask me in?

Who are you?

I know you saw me tonight.

Why don't you just make yourself at home?

Look, what do you want? Money, man.

What? For my performance.

You see, Your Honor, I was so scared.

I recognized him in the lineup, but I was afraid

they were gonna kill me if I told the truth.

But I am now.

And he's the one.

I saw his face,

and I saw the knife.

He's the one did the killing.

How much?

Hundred thousand. Tonight.

I'll do better than that.

I'll throw in a plane ticket to Florida.

It's warm there... You'll like it.

I like to travel.

Come back in two hours.

Uh-uh.

Not a chance.

My turf.

The same alley where your brother

tried to slash my partner.

No, no, no, no, no.

What's wrong? What's wrong?

I thought you liked it down there.

Thompson.

You scared me.

That's good.

Thought we were gonna meet in the alley.

It'll be all right.

I'll take the case.

No.

I'll give you the money, but I'll keep the case.

Yeah, no problem.

Freeze! Don't move!

Right there!

David... I'm surprised at you, David.

You know, I'd have bet my salary that

you'd never have gone for this trick.

But Jake had you pegged, all right...

He said that you wouldn't see through it.

He swore you wouldn't guess that I sent Pete to you.

I said, "No, he's too smart for that."

But you must have been rattled, huh?

Worried that your brother might talk?

That must've been why you went for it.

There's only one other reason.

You're not as smart as you think you are.

Hey, J.L., listen, you want to go over

to Holly's and get a steak?

It's on me, we'll celebrate... What do you think?

Somebody finally let the cat out of the bag,

and you did it, Jake... Thank you!

We get to the restaurant, and everybody jumps out

and yells, "Surprise! Happy birthday!"

What's wrong with you? It's 11:00 at night.

People have to work in the morning.

And they know if they're late, you'll fire them.

You know something? They're right.

Let's go and see how many of 'em we can fire, huh?