American risciò (1990) - full transcript

Oh, according to the Chinese horoscope
I was born in the year of the tiger.

You are a very lucky young man.

Scott, how'd you do on your exam?
You don't want to know

Jesus Christ, Daniel.

Guy lives on the phone.

Madame moon: My dear friend,

my name is madame moon.

I am the woman you helped in
the rain about six months ago.

It took me a while to trace you.

But I wanted you to have this small gift...

Aaaagh!



Mi amor! Mi amor!

Assuncion! You scared me!
Scare you? I love you, papi!

Why don't you let me come up to your
room anymore? We'll talk later, alright?

He doesn't let me breathe!

Reverend mortomon TV:
"And I tell you my brothers..."

Reverend mortom on TV: "And
I tell you my sisters!"

The devil is waitin'!

The devil, the master of evil is waiting...

Reverend mortom: To seduce you!

Take a good look inside yourself, my friend,
and you will find there's nothing there!

There's nothing there! It's empty!

The good lord has gone.

In this weather he's probably taken off
to get himself a cold beer.

Sounds like a plan.



Hey, want a beer?

No, thanks.

Here, take a look at that.

It's a beauty.

Damn, that's a lot of phone calls.

Who's got the big mouth?

Hey, Scott, you blew it, huh?

Well, buddy, I didn't see
you as an engineer anyway.

You listening to me?

Get off my back, ok?

You wanna know something?

Probably would have pulled it off if it
hadn't been for that leg of yours.

What's my busted leg got
to do with your exam?

What's it got to do with it?

I didn't have time to study!

I had to look after you, dress you,

work your shifts on the rickshaw!

Only thing I didn't do for
you was wipe your ass.

Right, so it's my fault.

I can't help it you got shit for brains.

I was breaking my neck to
avoid that friggin' snake!

Look, cut the bullshit.
Everyone knows you were piss-ass drunk.

I'm telling you, I saw a cobra crossing the
street when I was running with the rickshaw.

Yeah right.
A cobra in coconut grove? Come on.

Hey, make it a short call.
The phone costs, you know?

Mortom on TV: "My dear
devoted followers..."

"I am your humble servant.'

"and the good lord..."

"The good lord has guided
you to follow me."

"To support me!"

"To obey me!"

"You have made me rich and powerful..."

"So that I can show you the glory of god."

Halt!

Let the reverend through! Step back!

Thank you.

God bless.

God bless.

That was a very nice meeting.

I have a terrible migraine.

You're probably tired, honey.
I'll take you home.

Reverend mortom, there's
a phone call for you.

Have whoever it is contact my secretary.

It's on your mobile phone.

It could be Jason.

No, it couldn't. Take my wife home.

I'll see you later, honey.

Reverend mortom

the package has arrived at its destination.

Bring it here.

Now.

Hey, girls, wanna ride
the American rickshaw?

Where's Daniel?

He's at home with his beers,
phone, and broken leg.

Bye! See ya later!

Yeah.

Hey, babe! Ride with me.
Give you a discount.

I'll carry you in my arms if you prefer!

Hey, tiger.

You wanna forget the book for a while?

It's forgotten.

Where we going?

Biscayne harbor

Well, here we are.

Why don't you come in
and catch your breath?

No, I really should be
getting back to work.

It's too good a chance to miss.

Come on. Take off your shoes.

This isn't exactly the form
of payment I was expecting.

I'll pay you for the rickshaw ride too.

What was that?

What was what?

That noise.

I didn't hear anything.

Oh god! You son of a bitch.

Hey, Scott!

What's the matter? The show must go on.

What'd you say?

Don't you rickshaw guys work for tips?

Is a hundred bucks enough?

Move!

No, no! Don't take that one!

No, don't take that one!

Well, was she a hot babe? What?

The little nympho.

She got it up just by looking at me.

Man, I've said it time and time again.

You're a real putz!

You get yourself a luxury lay, you pick
up a neat hundred, and what do you do?

You screw it up.

Is that the guy?

It's trashed.

Wonder what he's saying about that key.

If you ask me I think it's
some kind of message.

Yeah, but what message?

This isn't even the right cassette!

That son of a bitch
rolled me the wrong one.

So, where you going?

I'm going back to the yacht.
You think I want him jerking off to me?

Why not? Everybody else does.

What are you looking for?

I thought I saw someone dive off the boat.

Well, where is he?

Over there, man. By the other boat.

I'll radio in.

I'm in deep shit, Daniel!

The guys dead. My prints
must be all over the place.

Hey, if you didn't waste the creep,
what are you worried about?

I just told you, man! I'm busted!

My prints! My blood!
It's all over the boat!

You just finished telling me the
boat went up in flames, right?

I'll go to the cops. I'm
gonna tell them everything.

What are you? Crazy? You think the
cops are gonna believe you?

No one knows you were on that yacht apart from the girl
and you know she ain't about to go screaming to the cops.

Let's just wait and see
what the papers say.

This is the only thing connecting you to the
dead guy and we're gonna make it disappear.

Well?

We found a body.

Victim of the fire?

I don't think so, but
it's all very suspicious.

Who's the owner of the boat?

Jason mortom, the son of that TV
preacher reverend mortom.

But the body hasn't been identified yet.
It was burned to a cinder.

Anybody else on board?

Apparently, someone dived off the yacht during the fire,
but our divers have come up with a big fat zilch.

Could have been the killer.

Mortom family been informed?

They're doing it now.

It's been a hell of a day.

My horoscope said today
was gonna be a bitch.

Horoscope...

Somebody got there before me.

Yes, I know who it is.

Relax, please.

I'll get back to you.

Hey, Scott, wake up.

Hey, Scott! Wake up!

Guess who the stiff was?

Reverend mortom's son!

The body was fried, but they could identify it
because he has a thumb missing on one hand.

You guys were born the same day.
Isn't that something?

He was born June 6th, 1966?

Right!

Come on. You can tell
your old buddy, Daniel.

You didn't want to share your birthday
so you burned his ass.

You killed him.

Hey, Scott!

Don't you say that! Don't
ever say it again!

Cut it out! You're strangling me!

What are you, crazy?

Madame moon voiceover: "My dear friend..."

"My name is madame moon."

"I am the woman you helped in the
rain about six months ago..."

Hi, Scott!

Hey, the boss is really mad.

He waited til a few minutes ago.
It's a busy night tonight.

Oh, yeah. This weird looking guy
came by asking for you.

For the guy with the tiger.

What'd he want?

Dunno. He wasn't gay.
I woulda hung on to him otherwise.

Hey! What's going on?

Sir, would you like a ride?

Sure. Take me downtown.

You're Scott's friend, aren't you?

When's he coming home?

He won't be early.

I can wait.

Who are you?

I ask the questions!

I don't know nothin'!

I think you're forgetting who's
holding the aces here, pal.

Want me to break your other leg?

This little toy makes big
holes without any noise.

I had nothing to do with what Scott did.

He didn't kill Jason mortom if that's
what you want to know!

How do you know that?

I believe him.

Aww, don't you make a cute couple.

So why did he put the cassette in the oven?

I did that.

Scott took it off the guy who was filming
him while he was doing the whore.

They had a fight and Scott beat
the hell out of the creep.

And he took the wrong cassette.

So he went back to the yacht
to find the right one.

And he found the body.

Or maybe Scott killed him!

Are you a cop?

No, not quite.

I'm the guy who wasted Jason mortom.

I was looking for something on that yacht.

But I didn't leave my business card.

Your buddy did. And he got scared.

That's why he burned the yacht.

This is the cassette he was looking for.

And this little baby would put
his ass away for a long time.

Maybe the tape in the oven
is the one that I needed.

But I can't watch it now. Thanks to you.

I want you to tell me
what you saw on the tape.

And maybe we'll destroy it
just like the other one.

Who's to say you didn't duplicate it?

Maybe I did. But you don't have a choice.

You gotta trust me.

What's on the cassette?

The picture wasn't too good.

It was like... it was making
a confession or something.

The guy was holding up a key
he had hung around his neck.

A key?

Yeah, a key.

To a safe or a safety deposit
box or something like that.

Anyways, that's all I saw.

You see I kept my word.

But I think your buddy
knows where the key is.

And I certainly hope he's going
to be just as cooperative.

And just as dumb.

What happened?

There was a fire in the apartment and
the kid living there was murdered.

What?

This is the second body in two
days involved in a fire.

Poor bastard could tell us
more than the last one.

Have ballistics compare the bullet
with the one that killed Jason mortom.

Might have been fired from the same gun.

That's strange. This
dresser isn't even burned.

Female officer: Lieutenant.

So, who is this Scott Edwards?

The kid who shared the apartment
with the dead guy.

They were both part-time rickshaw
pullers in coconut grove.

Where is he now?

A woman saw him out in the street with the
rest of the crowd and then he disappeared.

Find him.

Hey, lieutenant.

Take a look at this.

I doubt we'll get anything out of this.

Well, it may just be a coincidence, but I
heard that Jason mortom was a video freak.

He liked to film sex.

Are you kidding?

Reverend mortom's son a peeping Tom?

Hmm.

Who are you?

Let's just say I'm the... milk man.

Take a walk.

It's a shame about all those missing kids.

You understand what I'm saying?

Open the door.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Shut up! I kill for a lot less.

Who's room is this?

One of the girls I work with.

She's working at the club right now.

What do you want?

You certainly look better in real life.

What?

I caught your video act
with the rickshaw kid.

You're quite an actress.

Hey, look. What do you want?

I had nothing to do with that pigs death.

I want you to continue the act.

I want you to tell the cops that the
rickshaw kid wasted Jason mortom.

Why?

I'm looking for a certain key and
I think he knows where it is.

But the little prick's disappeared.

So I figure after you point the finger
at him, he's gonna come looking for you.

But you can bet your sweet ass that I'm
gonna get to him before the cops do.

Reporter: What about the killer?
Is he a maniac?

Please.

Reporter: Is it true there
was an orgy on the yacht?

Reporter: The girl accusing
him, is she a prostitute?

Oh, come on, guys.

Is it true that the mortom murder is somehow
connected to the Daniel Blake killing?

Look, we're studying every piece of
evidence that's coming in about this case.

Ok? We'll get to you guys later.

Reporter: Could it have been a sex maniac?

We'll keep you informed as the investigation
continues. Right now let us get back to work.

The comfort and sympathy shown by you,

my friends, friends of my church,

will help my wife, Sarah, and myself

to overcome the terrible
tragedy of our son's death.

Reporter: Reverend mortom, wait! What can you tell us
about the investigation? What caused your son's death?

Reverend mortom, is it true you
and your son weren't on good terms?

I've been told to make no
statements at this time.

Mrs. mortom, I realize this is a
hard time for you but...

However, I will make one
declaration, I will make,

I, I am quite certain that divine Providence
will intervene to reveal the truth about,

about the death of our son.

Out of the way! Out of the way!

Want me to read it to you?

I'd like to sign it and go.

Could be indicted for false testimony
if you haven't told the truth.

Read it. Check to see if everything is ok.

I'm sure it's just fine.

Look, I gave you guys the facts.
I told you what I saw!

The rickshaw kid killed him.

If I hadn't gotten out of there when
I did he would have killed me too!

Where do I sign?

Right here.

Canl go?

Yeah, sure.

This way. You won't bump into the press.

Inform us of your movements. We might
have to talk to you again. Don't forget.

How could I, lieutenant?

Well, this wraps up the case.

Now all you have to do is
find the rickshaw kid.

I think your horoscope for today says to
think real hard before opening your mouth.

Maybe.

I haven't had time to read it yet.

Reporteron TV: "Police are on
the lookout for Scott Edwards.

"A student and part-time rickshaw
puller in coconut grove."

"There is reason to believe that Edwards is also
responsible for the death of Daniel Blake..."

"With whom he worked and
shared an apartment.”

"The person accusing Edwards
of killing Jason mortom..."

"Is a young strip-tease artist
named Joanna Simpson."

Go away! No talk! No!

Looks like that boy's
in a lot of trouble...

Are you finished for the day?

Lucky you.

I'll see you at home, Mary Jo.

Yeah.

What do you want?

I wanna ask you a few questions, joanne.

Come on. Let's go. Drive.

I've got nothing to say to you.
Get out or I'll scream.

You scream, I swear to god, I'm gonna
stick you with this thing, alright?

I found it in the gutter.
I'm sure you're familiar with aids!

Let's go. Drive.

Those are cops in that car.
They'll follow us.

Don't worry about it, alright?
Let's just go. Drive.

Come on! You fucking deaf? Let's go!

Are the cops following us?

No.

Go to the top floor.

Get out. We're changing cars.

Would you let me explain?

Explain what? That I'm in a
shit-load of trouble thanks to you?

Wait a minute. All I did was set
you up in front of that mirror.

I was paid to do it.
The rest of this shit is your fault.

Well, what the fuck was I supposed to do? Just go
ahead and let that porno freak film my bare ass?

They pay better. Didn't you know that?

No, I didn't know that! That's not my game!

What is your game? Killing people?

I didn't kill anybody.
You were there and you saw what happened.

You beat him to death!

I did not!
The guy was alive when we left the yacht.

I only told the police what I saw.

Bullshit! The cops are saying
you saw me kill the guy.

Scott, careful. That guy's
been looking for you.

Take it easy, man. Come on!

Don't stop! Go! Go!

This is officer kowalsky.
We've located the suspect's car.

You're not leaving this place until you've
told me everything I want to know.

You're the one that got me into this shit.

You got yourself into this shit.

You're only making things worse.
Now your'e a kidnapper, too?

Who the hell was that guy that
attacked me in the parking lot?

A guy that knows everything that
happened between you and Jason mortom.

And who wants something only you can give
him, seeing as how the other guy's dead.

I didn't kill him.

Sit down.

Killing me with that gun
would be really stupid.

It already killed Jason mortom

and probably your buddy too.

I didn't kill Daniel either!

He was my best friend, for Christ sakes!

They'll pin three murders
on you in a flash.

I can't believe you went to the cops and
told them all those lies about me.

He forced me to!
So that he could get to you.

But you were smarter than he.

And I helped you.

Why did he force you?

I mean, what does he want that only I have?

Not now, baby.

What?

Come here.

After I've taken a shower.

Take it easy. You make a move and
I might have you arrested for rape.

I thought you hated me.

I do.

Joanna: He wants to get to you
before the police do.

Scott: Why?

Joanna: He says you know what
happened to a certain key.

Scott: A key?

Some key Jason mortom
carried around with him?

Oh, I remember.
He had it on a chain around his neck.

It broke off during the fight.

I think I know where it is.

Maybe the key will get you out of this mess
if you turn it in to the police.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.
I just haven't slept in three days.

So sleep now.

Can I trust you?

Tie me to the bed.

You're sure this was the guy that followed
Edwards into the parking garage?

Francis o'Connor. Multiple killer.

Belongs to some fanatical religious sect.

One of the few survivors of the mass
suicide in Guyana in 1978

ok, I want a detailed report on the
murders of Jason mortom and Daniel Blake.

Anything that's weird and coincidental.
K, guys?

What have you got in mind?

I'm not sure. Nothing fits.
Nothing makes any sense.

For example?

The fires.

The one in the yacht and
the one in the apartment.

I mean, things don't just burst
into flames by themselves.

There's not a trace of what set them off.

What else?

Scott edwardes.

If you'd shot mortom in the yacht, would you go to your
apartment then shoot your roommate with the same gun?

No. But if the guy's a psycho...

And don't forget about the girl.
Her testimony is solid.

Scott Edwards is considered a serious and hard working
kid according to his university professors...

And the rickshaw pullers.

As far as the girl's concerned,
I think she's hiding something.

Hello?

Joanna?

I have to see you.

Right now.

Joanna.

Where've you been?

I phoned home to talk to my roommate.

I didn't want to risk it from here.

They could have put a tap on my phone.

Sweetheart,

if I was gonna screw you over,
I had all night long to do it.

Why don't you just put down that gun.

It's not your style.

What's this?

I bought you these.

The others were beginning to smell.

Forget it.
You'll never be able to find the key there.

Look at the color of the water.

Look, I gotta try. I know it's down here.

What a beautiful cat!

I wonder who it belongs to!

Uh, don't touch it.

It's only a cat.

Hey.

Huh?

Snap out of it.

This isn't just any cat.
It belongs to some old Chinese lady.

Look.

It's like he's showing me
exactly where to dive in.

Can't find it!

I guess that's it.

Scott, let's go tell
everything to the police.

They've gotta believe us.

No, I want to give it one more try.

I found it!

Joanna!

Joanna!

Mommy! Mommy!

Oh, my baby!

Never trust a whore.

Give me the key.

What key?

121 government center station.

Thank you, my friend.

This is a curious coincidence.

Scott Edwards and Jason mortom
were born on the same day.

A day that includes four sixes.

Of course!

The sixth day of the sixth month of 1966.

According to the Chinese calendar that is
the high point of the year of the tiger.

The day of maximum power.

Information you won't
find on your computer.

If you like I can lend you my book
on the Chinese horoscope.

No thanks.

Hello.

It's Scott Edwards.

This is lieutenant Morgan.

Listen, lieutenant. I'm not your killer.

I'm an innocent victim of a
god damn conspiracy going on!

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Did you trace that call?

Yes, lieutenant.
It's a pay phone down at biscayne harbor.

A cruiser's on its way.

Good.

Frank! The back way!

He's up there!

Freeze, buddy!

Stop!

We lost him.

Check the streets. He
couldn't have gone far.

Preston come with me.

What he do?

In the bedroom. One of the drawers
in that piece of furniture's open.

There was a Chinese
talisman in this drawer.

Well, it's gone. It must have been pretty
important for him to come back for it.

Do we have a picture of it?

Yes.

Good.

At last!

I was afraid I would not see you again.

You did not answer my summons.

Do not be afraid.
There is nothing to fear from me.

My cat and I have watched over
you since your birth.

The Chinese object you are holding

contains the story of your life.

And the task divine will
has entrusted to you.

It's just as I imagined.
It's an antique Chinese legend.

In the year of the tiger,

the 9,999th time that symbol
returns to the celestial sphere.

A man from the other side of the world will bring
back the stone of evil inside the urn of wisdom.

And that same urn will prevent the
stone from using its evil powers.

What sense do those Chinese legends
have today, professor Clint?

More than you might imagine.

The new generation takes increased interest
in the magic and mystic of life.

My own university classes in Chinese
mythology and mysticism

until a few years ago where almost totally ignored
and now crammed to overflowing with young students.

Scott Edward's birthday.

Right.

Comparison to the Chinese,
we walk upside-down.

I get the feeling you'll be checking
your horoscope tomorrow.

Where are you going?

Is that you, master?

I've been waiting for you.

I didn't expect to find you here, master.

Where is it?

It's in a locker at
government center station.

I'll go get it tonight.

Good.

Now all we have to do is
obliterate the Chinese witch.

Yeah.

, I am the millenary daughter of wisdom.

My life is neither time nor space.

This urn used to contain
the symbol of evil...

Taken from ten yama kings
by the terrible tai o.

It is only right that you should know what
happened in that bed such a long time ago.

A time that is not of this time,

but a time beyond the
confines of the human mind.

Past and present know
no chronological order.

I was young and beautiful.

I always had been.

For the divine wisdom in me
overcame old age and death.

That man succeeded in enchanting me.

I told him all my secrets.

Secrets entrusted to me by the gods
from the beginning of time.

I had my secrets, but I never knew love.

Until I met mortom.

He did not love me.

He loved only power, success.

He knew that he could have all that once
in possession of that stone of evil,

a sculpture in the shape of an ugly boar.

Once out of its Jade ampulla
and in impure hands,

the statue was ready, once again, to
release its terrible negative force.

The loss of the boar was putting
an end to my immortality.

Evil has a thousand faces, young man.

Seduction, the greatest ally of death.

Then what happened?

I persuaded Jason mortom to steal
the idol from his father.

Jason had your same astral characteristics,

but he was the son of evil.

Full of shameful vices.

Jason was weak compared to
his driven, immoral father.

Jason managed to obtain the idol.

But instead of returning it to me,

he spitefully blackmailed the reverend,

who sent a believer, a cold blooded killer,

to murder his own son.

And the killer took the key.

He must have given it to reverend mortom.

Not yet.

No!

No!

This is Francis.

Now it is up to you to close the
ring of antique prophecy.

You must recover the key by dawn tomorrow.

A battle you will have to
fight using your own wits.

The talisman also depicts a woman.

She will help you.

You have nothing more to fear from her.

Joanna brought us together.

Am I supposed to believe
you're on my team now?

I always have been.

The truth is full of surprises!

Scott, he's more important
to me than anything else.

You should have told me.

I would have understood.

Would you have?

I've been hurt by so many men before.
I couldn't take the chance.

Taxi!

Madame moon: I know you are here, Samuel.

But this time I can defend
myself against you.

Fu shan!

Now you will never stop me.

Now you'll never stop me.

I shall kill you.

Never. God of wisdom, help me!

I shall kill you.

God of wisdom!
Help me! Help me! Help me!

But the stone of evil is mine.

And shall remain so!

Look out!

Police!

What are you doing?

Stop him!

There's a murderer up there!
Call lieutenant Morgan!

Over herel

Oh my god!

Scott is innocent.

You would't believe the whole story.

I didn't believe what you
said then was the truth.

Try me again.

Maybe this time you'll get lucky.

No.

I can walk.

Now everything's like before.

Yes.

What about reverend mortom?

He is the last idol we must defeat.

Something he's about to
take care of for himself.

You're finished.

You may go.

Welcome, my friends.

My faithful friends. My beloved friends,

the lord has seen fit...

To subject me to a terrible test.

The loss of my only son.

Now that I weep, you weep with me...

Ok, Tom take one on the audience.

Reverend mortom: I know you weep with me!

But let us return to the scriptures.

The lord said to Samuel,

“raise yourself above pain!

And return to your flock.

They are your only children now.”

So I bathed!

I bathed the word of the lord!

And I returned to my children.

I came back to my flock. To guide,

to guide my flock.

Steve, give me a closeup
of the lady in the black.

The one who's crying.

She's the fourth one from
the end in the second row.

Reverend mortom: And god is the head
of all of us! And god is above us all!

He shines here in our hour!
What's this?

What the heck is goin on here?

Hey!

This is our house...

This is our house, my dear friends.

This is our home and because
of that I wanted to plead to you.

We need money.

Like every other house in
the land we've gotta buy...

We've gotta buy...

We've gotta buy groceries. Ha ha

we've gotta pay the...

Something wrong with this mic.

What's going on? Look at...

Hey, you!

There's something wrong with the mic.
Every time...

Hey...

She's...

Cut the god damn monitor!

The Chinese...

Cutt!

The Chinese wh-...

Will somebody tell me what's going on?

Who is putting these pictures out?

It's pointless, Samuel.

This is the end.

To have your son murdered
by a hired killer.

Lying to the world. It
wasn't enough for you.

You've run out of power, Samuel.

You're running on empty.

You're the son of all that is evil.

In my religion and yours.

There's only one kind of evil.

It's universal.

It's not true. It's not true.

She's a liar.

No, not me.

I'm the woman who loved you.

Who you robbed.

Tell them, Sarah.

Tell them I'm the Cho-

I'm the chosen one.

No, Samuel.

You are not the chosen one.

You are the devil!

You, Samuel mortom!

And I'm tired of suffering in silence!

Of suffering in your shadow!

Policel movel

nobody touch anything!

He was the devil! He was!

Let's go.

What more is there to do here?

Don't you think we outta
go thank madame moon?

Thank her for what?
For getting you and me together?

Yeah.

And me too!

And you too?!

Alright.

What are you waiting for?

What happened to her place?

It's still a beautiful view.

You who do not know life,

how can you know death?

Confucius

look!

She's left something of herself behind.