Angry Joe Bass (1976) - full transcript

(gentle music)

♪ Joe Bass, what are you up to ♪

♪ Joe Bass, what's on your mind ♪

♪ I wanna know where life is taking you ♪

♪ I wanna know ♪

♪ I wanna go there, too ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, where are you off to ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what will you find ♪

♪ You're a strange one ♪

♪ You're a brave new kind ♪

♪ Joe Bass, what are you hiding ♪



♪ Joe Bass, please let me in ♪

♪ Nobody knows what you are dreaming of ♪

♪ Nobody knows ♪

♪ Could be you're dreaming love ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what are you hiding ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what will you find ♪

♪ You're a strange one ♪

♪ You're a brave new kind ♪

♪ Joe Bass, I never told you ♪

♪ Joe Bass, listen to me ♪

♪ We'll find our way ♪

♪ We'll find it, you and me ♪

♪ We'll find our way ♪

♪ Our love will be the key ♪



♪ Hey, Joe, where are you off to ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what will you find ♪

♪ You're a strange one ♪

♪ You're a brave ♪

♪ New kind ♪

- Don.

- Mm-hmm?

- Let me ask you a silly question.

- Go ahead.

- Have you studied that trial transcript?

- This? I can just about
quote it in my sleep.

- Go ahead.

- Well, I guess the first
important thing I got out of it

is what happened at the boat auction.

- All right, folks,
we're gathered here today

to sell a fine boat.

(indistinct) without any liens.

There's no mortgages.
She's free and clear.

She's a fine trawler.

She's in good shape, everything about her.

She's got a 150-horsepower diesel on her.

All the rigging and everything.

There's $5,000 worth of
equipment on this boat alone.

She's been taken well care of.

She should bring somewhere
between $15,000 and $20,000.

And I'd like a nice opening bid.

Now, who will give me $5,000
to open up the bidding?

A $5,000 bid, anybody? A $5,000 bid.

Come on, folks.

This is one of the finest
boats in the harbor.

I'd like a $5,000 bid

We'll start her out at 1,000.

Anybody of y'all wanna bid 1,000?

I thank you, sir. $1,000 I have.

A 1,500. Anybody make it 1500?

A $1,500. Anybody at all?

Come on, now. Let's get her moving.

$1,500. $1,500.

I got the 1,500. $2,000.

A $2,000 bid.

Anybody wanna bet $2,000? $2,000 I have.

I thank you very much. $2,000.

- [George] Who's that guy?

- Him? That's Joe Bass.

He's an Indian fisherman.

- Bass. Oh yes.

Yes, he's applying for a
loan to rebuild his engine.

- $2,500. Aw, come on, now.

I know it's expensive these
times, but it's a fine boat.

Come on, now. $2,500.

Anybody at all?

Who'll give 25? I thank
you very much, sir.

$3,000.
- This is exciting.

- [Auctioneer] $3,000. Come on, now.

- And you're enjoying yourself, do you?

- Anybody on $3,000?

$3,000 I have. $3,000.

Now make it 3,500. 3,500

$3,500?

3,500 for this fine
boat. Come on, everyone.

It's worth way more than that. $3,500.

But you gotta...

3,500? All right, if you feel
that way, I'm gonna sell it.

Sold for $3,000.

- Well, Hanson, you stole another one.

- You didn't buy that
boat, did you, Daddy?

- Of course not, dear.

- Mister auctioneer,
do you think it's right

to take away a man's livelihood?

His personal possessions
are still on board.

- It isn't a question of rights.

It's just a question that
it's a legal auction.

The mortgage has to be
fulfilled and taken care of.

It's gotta be sold, and that's it.

There's nothing I can do about it.

- Nothing you can do about it.

- Mister auctioneer, that's
not the way of the Lord.

- Well, I don't work for the Lord.

All I'm here to do is sell a boat.

- [Bill] Morning, George.

- Oh, Bill.

- Yeah, George?

- You know that Bass character?

- Well, yeah. He fishes out of here.

- Yeah, yeah, well, uh,

he's been running around town bragging

about all the illegal fishing
he's been getting away with,

and making you look kinda foolish.

- He has, huh?

- That's right, yeah.

I bet could find him in any
number of illegal violations.

Just sniff around a bit.

You'd be doing me and
this town a big favor.

Damn commercial fishermen are ruining

the sports fishing industry in this area.

How many of those high rollers
from downstate you think

are gonna come up here if they
can't catch any lake trout?

You don't expect those
boys to squat in the dock

with cane poles and fish
for perch, now can you?

- Well, I, uh, I guess not.
I'll look into it, George.

- Yeah, you do that, Bill.

- Morning, George.

- Take care.

- Here's one.

Here's one the DNR will never see again.

Nice fat trout.

You know, it'd be really
wonderful to be able

to fish in these things again, legal.

- I doubt it.
- Yeah?

Hey, you coming down to the bar tonight?

- Yeah.

- You know, we ain't been seeing
you down at the bar lately.

Well, it's not a bad move. No, one at all.

I mean, uh, Jesus.

And we're gonna be out here
being chased by the DNR.

(both laughing)

(men chattering)

Joe.

- All right, hold it.

Hold it.

What did you toss
overboard, Bass? I heard it.

- Why don't you go swimming and find out?

- We're gonna get you,
Indian. You better believe it.

Oh, you think you're so damn smart.

Well, time's running out on you,

'cause when that new law is
passed, you see how good you are

when you got to use trap nets
like all the other fishermen.

They only fishing you'll be doing

is to get money to pay your fine.

- Anytime you wanna try it.

Now, get off my boat!

- [Dr. Ryan] Hello,
Karen. Mind if we come in?

- Hello.

- Remember I was telling
you about Dr. Kessler?

I'd like you to meet him.

- Hello, Karen. Can I
talk to you a little bit?

- [Karen] Maybe you can tell me when

I'm gonna get out of here.

Dr. Ryan won't.

- It won't be long.

Why do you think you're still here, Karen?

- Because Bill Hemmings murdered my father

and I went into shock when I found out it.

- Why do you think Bill
Hemmings killed your father?

- Bill Hemmings' wife.

- [Dr. Kessler] You knew about that?

- Didn't everybody?

- You didn't like your
father, did you, Karen?

- Look, Dr. Kessler.

I'm not in shock anymore.

And I know they don't lock
you up in a funny farm

just because you don't like your father.

He wasn't a very likable person.

- All right. You were in shock,
you're not in shock anymore.

You've accepted your father's death.

Why do you think you're still here?

- You mean these?

Well, it just seems to me

that when you're locked
up in a prison like this

and there's nothing really wrong with you,

suicide seems like the sane thing to do.

What do I have to do to get out of here?

- Carry on talking to Dr. Kessler.

Tell him about that dream of yours.

- Do we have to go through this again?

I've already told Dr. Ryan everything.

- Yes, I know, but I'd like
to hear it from you, Karen.

- I first had the dream
right after Daddy was killed.

(ominous music)

(bell chimes)

(Karen screams)

Joe.

When am I gonna see Joe?

I keep asking Dr. Ryan, and
he keeps telling me to wait.

But I wanna see him so much,

and if he doesn't wanna see me,

I think he should tell me that.

- Karen, here's what I'm gonna propose.

You tell me the whole story,

and I won't stop you from seeing Joe.

Fair enough?

- OK.

- [Dr. Kessler] All right.
How did you first meet Joe?

- Well, I first saw him at the auction,

but it was later that day
when I really met Joe.

(men chattering)

(horse neighing)

- Hey, watch where you're riding.

- What?

- Watch my nets.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

I, um...

They're kind of hard to see, you know,

with the sand and everything.

- That's OK.

- Um, didn't I see this
morning at the auction?

- Yeah, I was there.

- Isn't your name Joe Bass?

- It's what they call me.

(horse neighs)

Aren't you, uh, what's his, uh-

- I was there with my
father, George Hanson.

- Ah, George Hanson, yeah.

- My name is Karen.

I really liked the way you
stood to my father today.

- You did, huh?

They sold one of my best friends' boats.

Hey, you better get going.

Your father's flunkies are coming.

- Are you, uh, all right?

- Hello, Mr. Hemmings.

- What are you doing down
here with these Indians?

- Just out for a ride.

- Well, they're very unpredictable.

You'd better go home.

- Hi, Dad.
- Hi, sweetheart.

How are you? Have a good ride?

- Where's Mom?

- She's in her room.

- How's she feeling?

- She's upset, because,

'cause you haven't been
spending enough time with her.

(telephone ringing)
Just a moment.

Hello?

Hanson here.

Yeah, Bill, what's on your mind?

All right.

Uh-huh.

All right.

Thanks, Bill.

Karen.

What were you doing down at
the beach with that Indian?

- So he is your flunky after all.

- Karen, I don't want you
near those Indians again.

- I was only riding my
horse down by the beach.

- Karen, I don't want you
near those Indians again.

You understand me?

- Look, Dad, I'm not a baby anymore.

I oughta be able to go where I please.

- Karen, I'm not through talking with you.

- Dad, I just don't feel
like talking right now, OK?

- If it weren't for the DNR,

I guess you could call
it the perfect life.

There's not many around
lucky enough to say that.

A couple of years ago,
when the trouble started,

we might've had a chance.

We got organized,

and might've got rid of some
of that stupid legislation

they were trying to blast
through the State Senate.

There's no appeal.

They not only want the fish
for the sports fishermen,

they want the whole goddamn peninsula.

You might've noticed
all those empty houses

up and down the peninsula,
rotting in the weeds.

People used to live in 'em.

Didn't happen to have Indian blood.

At least they couldn't prove it.

Remember the Thompsons?

Four generations of fishermen.

Great family.

Now they're gone.

DNR drove 'em out. Wouldn't let 'em fish.

They tried it illegally,
but kept getting caught.

They confiscated their boats.

Whole family split up.

And you ask me why I'm so bitter?

- Karen, let me ask you a question.

- What?

- [Dr. Kessler] You still
love, Joe, don't you?

- Yes.

(birds squawking)

(gentle music)

♪ In the sudden chill of autumn ♪

♪ Red leaves on the ground ♪

♪ In cathedrals of the forest ♪

♪ Your footsteps make no sound ♪

♪ Will you really mind,
did you take my hand ♪

♪ Will you really mind
in this wonderland ♪

♪ Did you wake my sleeping heart ♪

♪ To the secrets of the skies ♪

♪ And the wisdom in your eyes ♪

♪ Did you care for me ♪

♪ Give to me ♪

♪ Make me see ♪

♪ Set me free ♪

♪ Lovingly ♪

♪ We have summoned up the sunrise ♪

♪ Golden fiery bright ♪

♪ And commanded burning sunset ♪

♪ To bring on purple night ♪

♪ To end the day ♪

♪ And hide away ♪

♪ In the murmur of the tall grass ♪

♪ The flight of every bird ♪

♪ In the quiet rains of summer ♪

♪ Your silent step is heard ♪

♪ I can feel you near,
I can sense your touch ♪

♪ You are really here,
yes, we love too much ♪

♪ How you woke my sleeping heart ♪

♪ To the wisdom of the skies ♪

♪ And the secrets in your eyes ♪

♪ You cared for me ♪

♪ Gave to me ♪

♪ Made me see ♪

♪ Set me free ♪

♪ Lovingly ♪

- I knew my father wouldn't
understand about me and Joe.

I mean, there was just no way
I could tell him how I felt.

I tried talking to Joe. I wanted
him to talk to my parents.

I thought maybe they would accept him.

But he wouldn't listen.

Maybe you could come over on Sunday.

I think it's about time
you met my parents.

- There's no way I'm gonna get into

a family thing with your folks.

It just wouldn't work.

- Couldn't you just give them a chance?

(Joe sighs)

- Yeah, it's not a bad idea.

I could get all slicked up,
put on my best pair of jeans,

the ones without the
patches, and a clean shirt.

Ah, I can see it all now.

Sitting in your father's
study, sipping brandy,

smoking cigars, talking business.

- I don't see why you
couldn't just do it for me.

- The last time I talked to your father,

he turned me down for a
$200-loan to fix my boat.

You know what he said to me?

He said, "Joe Bass,

apply for a loan with the
Bureau of Indian Affairs."

- He was just trying to help you.

- Help?

By taking his advice, I'd
be fishing out of a canoe.

- I don't see why you
couldn't just do it for me.

- Look, there are two reasons.

One, I'm a fishermen,

and two,

I'm an Indian.

♪ Wait till the sun shines, Nellie ♪

♪ And the clouds go ♪

Hey, is that you, honey?

- Yes.

Hey, hey, come on in and
say hello to your parents.

- I don't believe it.
Everyone home together.

We ought to try this more often.

- Sit down. Sit down

We'll have a, we'll have a nice long talk.

Hey.

We love you, you know that?

- And I love Joe Bass.

- No.

No.

No, that's,

that's not possible.

You haven't known him long enough.

- You two have nothing in common.

You're college educated.
You're from a good family.

He's nothing but a common
fisherman. He's middle aged.

- Look, look, we're not
racist or anything like that.

It's just that, well,

it's a good idea

for different segments of
this society not to mingle.

It never solves any problems.
It just creates them.

- I know how I feel. I know I love him.

- You're out of your head.

- George.

- Shut your yap, Sylvia.

(George laughs)

Hey, hey, you think you
know this Bass character?

You think you know him? (laughs)

Well,

he's drunk

every night,

and he's out with a
different bimbo every night.

- It's not true.

It's just not true.

- [George] Don't sell
yourself short, Karen. Please.

- Karen, don't throw your life away.

What man will want you when
that Indian's finished with you?

- I just don't even wanna
listen to either of you anymore.

You don't know what you're doing.

- Where are you going?

- I love him, and that's the way it is.

(upbeat music)

- [Karen] Have you seen Joe?

- No, I haven't seen him anymore.

What's happening?

- The second I got home,

my father started screaming
and calling me names, saying,

"Stay away from those Indians,"
making me feel ashamed.

I don't even think I
wanna go home anymore.

- You can stay at my
house tonight if you want.

- Thanks.

- Joe is a nice guy.
Give your parents time.

- Patty, you don't know my father.

He was acting like a madman.

I was so pissed off with Mom and Dad,

I think I would've just kept

going out with Joe to spite 'em.

But anyway, I wasn't
prepared for what was coming.

(engine revving)

Oh my God!

Joe.

Joe?

Oh my God. Joe.

Come on, Joe.

Wake up, wake up. Joe!

Joe. Joe.

Joe, Joe, it's me.

Joe, come on.

Joe, come on.

Joe, listen.

Come on, Joe.

Come on.

Please hurry!
(knocking at door)

- Child, what happened?

- [Karen] I don't know.

- My son, my son, in big trouble again.

(indistinct)

- Where's Daddy?

Daddy. Daddy, Joe Bass
got beat up tonight.

- Really?

How did it happen?
(telephone ringing)

- I found him on the side of the road.

I don't know. I took him home.

- Took him home?

Is he hurt bad?

- I don't know.

It was dark, but there was
blood all over the place.

- George, it's for you. It's
a Dan somebody or other.

- Uh, I'll take it in the other room.

- [Karen] That beating Joe
took was just the first

of a whole series of
hassles he went through,

and I didn't realize until
much later who was behind it.

- Put this man into custody.

We'll go down with you.

Go through the book.

So book him.

- [Karen] It was almost funny in a way.

He keeps getting arrested,

and I go around raising
money anywhere I could,

any way I could, even
from total strangers.

Then, when I got enough money
together to pay his fine,

and believe me, those
fines were always stiff,

I'd give it to Father
Ranguette, Joe's priest,

and he'd go along and get Joe out of jail.

- What's the matter?

- Patty called.

My mother's been calling all
over town, looking for me.

- Well, why didn't she call here?

- My mother would never do that.

- Why not?

- She just wouldn't do it.

- Hmm. What you want?

- I've got to go.

- You just got here.

- I know. It looks like there's
a lot of trouble at home.

- OK. I hope it's not too bad.

- I'd like to come back later.

- If you do, I'll be at the bar.

Bye-bye.

- Be nice now.

I haven't been with you or
your father for a long time.

That isn't asking too much, is it?

(car horn honking)

Oh, look who's coming.

- Hi, Mrs. Hanson.

- Well, Jim, how are you?
Haven't seen you all summer.

- What happened last year,
Jim? Flunk a couple of courses?

- No, I went to summer school

to try and get some extra credits.

How about a movie tonight?

- Sorry, I've got plans.

- Doing what?

- Cleaning the stalls.

(people yelling)

- [Bartender] Hey, hey, hey!
Get that horse outta here!

- Oh, Christ, not them again. (laughs)

- Kevin, I told you there'd be trouble

if you rode that horse in here again.

My insurance don't cover it.
- Screw you!

Who's coming home with me tonight?

- Get outta here!
- Screw you!

Who's coming home with me tonight?

(indistinct)

(people cheering)

(indistinct)

- How'd it go?

- Bad.

- These Indians.

10 years ago, they will have
cut your throat (indistinct).

Now they're carrying (indistinct).

- Well, you can come and stay with me.

- You mean that?

- Sure I mean it.

I still got a boat.

Got my nets.

Fish out there in the lake.

I can take you car of you.

- Oh, Joe. I love you.

- Joe Bass!

What are you doing, Indian,
at my place at the bar, huh?

(glass shattering)

(people shouting)

- [Bartender] Wait a minute!
Hey, whoa there, guys.

- [Man] Get him! Get him, Bass!

(people yelling)

(indistinct)

- Get 'em both outta here.

(glass shattering)

Pull 'em out. Get 'em.

Hey, fellas, cut it out!

- Let's go!

- I'm gonna quit the business.

- Cold in here.

- When the winter hits this cracker box,

you'll really know what cold is.

- Hey. What about your father.

- He's a sound sleeper.

- To the champ.

Hey, you know what?

We gotta take care of that eye.

Where's the first aid kit?

- Just dip it in some whiskey.

- I hope I made the right
decision by staying here tonight.

I have a funny feeling
I'm gonna be disowned.

- You'll be all right.

Had enough excitement for the day?

- Not quite.

(dog barking)

(glass shattering)

(glass shattering)

(gunshot banging)

(Karen screaming)

- [Karen] What's happening?

- Guess I must've made some enemies.

(gunshot banging)

(Karen screams)

Karen?

- [Man] Hey, Joe Bass!

Come on out, or we're gonna
make a shit pile of your cabin.

Come on out now.
- You OK?

- Yeah, I'm OK. Just a little flesh wound.

(gunshots banging)

- [Man] Hey, Bass! Come
over to the window!

- Karen, hold this.
- We've got something

to show you.

- Where are you going?

- [Man] We ain't gonna
shoot. White man's honor.

(explosion booming)

- Please, don't make me
go through this anymore.

I can't.

I won't.

- All right, Karen. That's enough for now.

- What are you looking so worried about?

- I don't get a clear picture of Hemmings

in this trial transcript.

What are your impressions about him?

- You want the short
version or the long one?

- Well, give me the short version.

- A simple, weak, ineffectual character.

Obvious tendency for
violence. Worked for the DNR.

- Well, if that's the short version,

you'd better give me the long one.

- Hey, Jerry, come on out here!

Come on. Hustle it up.

Lemme have your tape measure.

- Yeah. Wait a minute.

- Come on.

Well, let's take a look.

Too small.

Too small.

Too damn small.

What you got up there?

My, oh my.

You boys trying to rape the lake?

Too small.

Too damn small.

Too small, too small, too small.

Too small. Too small.

It's too small.

Too small.

Well, tell you what.

I'm not gonna write you up this time.

- Yeah, I see why. You wouldn't
be able to eat the evidence.

- Very smart, very smart. Jerry.

- Yeah, OK.

- Thanks, boys. These are
gonna be mighty tasty.

Jerry. Listen, you gotta
get it together, man.

It's the only thing they understand.

- I don't know, Bill. I don't
think this is my kinda work.

I didn't know I was gonna be a policeman.

I thought I was gonna work

in the fish hatchery when I signed it.

I studied fish production in college,

not police administration.

- Yeah, well, you ain't in
college anymore, kid, are ya?

- No, but you know.

The way you treated
those people back there,

it's incredible.

- It's a job, Jerry. It's a job.

DNR, Department of Natural Resources.

They pay your check every Friday.

Stick around here a few years

and you'll know what I'm talking about.

- Yeah, but look, these guys
are my friends, you know?

- Yeah, well, a couple of them
were my friends once, too,

until they dumped on me,

and then I get all that
flack from Washington.

Hey listen.

Tell you what.

I got some business in here.

- Yeah?

- You take the truck, drop
off those fish at Hansen's,

and I'll, uh, I'll see you in a while.

- OK, Bill.

- Hi, Sally.

- Hi there.

- How you doing?

- Just fine. How are you?

- How about getting me
a cone. Chocolate chip?

- OK.

- You know what I think?

I think you're the best
dipper they got in here.

- Really?

- Yeah, I mean, this is the real thing,

not like that Dairy Whip.

Whatever that stuff is
they sell across the river.

- Gee, you know, I tried
to get a job over there,

but they just wouldn't hire me.

They have a funny lever there, you know,

and here, my wrist gets
all bent out of shape.

- Yeah. You been working all day?

- Yeah, but I get through
in about 15 minutes.

- Yeah?

I gotta go out and check the beaver dams.

- Gee, I've never seen a beaver before.

- You're kidding.

The woods is full of them little buggers.

I have to spend one day a week
just blowing up their dams.

If I didn't, the whole
county'd be flooded out.

- But don't they get hurt like that

when you blow up their dams?

- Hurt? Jesus, yes, they get hurt.

I set off one charge.

Blew a dozen of them little
things 100 feet up in the air.

- You didn't really. That's mean.

- Well, no, I was just kidding.

You didn't believe me, did you?

- Well,

I don't know.

Just, I couldn't believe you
could do something like that.

- No, I mean, I go out there
and I climb out on the dam

and I fire off my revolver
a couple of times.

Give 'em a little advanced
warning, you know?

I mean, I don't like doing that, either.

Somebody's got to do it, though.

I mean, you don't want the
whole county flooded out, do ya?

- Gee. I'd really like
to see those beavers.

- You would?

Well, would you like to come
out with me this afternoon?

It'd be a good time.

- Well, do you think we
could get back in an hour?

- It's cutting it kinda close.

- Well, how about tomorrow?

I don't have to work until five tomorrow.

- Tomorrow?

Oh, well, yeah. Uh, well, yeah, yeah.

Um, listen, I gotta go.

But tomorrow for sure.

I'll pick you up. I gotta run.

- Bye. Hey, you didn't pay for the cone!

- Oh, Bill.

- Janet. George.

- Hi.

- Where are you folks off to?

- Bill, you're just the
man I wanted to see.

Have you taken care of that
little item we discussed?

- Why, yes, I have, George.

And I had some fresh fish
sent over to your house.

- Good, good. Nothing I
like better than fresh fish.

Well, if there's nothing else here,

your wife and I have to
check on some collateral.

- On a loan.
- Right.

- Uh-huh. Well, I'll
see her for dinner, huh?

- Oh yeah. It should just take
a few hours, right, George?

- Right.
- Yeah.

OK, see you later, honey.

(upbeat music)

- So here we are.

Now, I want you to sit right
here. I'll be right back.

- Is this where the beavers are?

- Shh! Now, come on.

If you yell and scream
and move around like that,

they're never gonna show up.

Shh!

- What's this?

- Well, sometimes it gets very cold,

and very long hours out here,

and I keep this to stay warm.

Have a little.

- (coughs) Oh, that's strong stuff.

- First one always tastes
like that. Have a little more

- What's that over there?

- That?
- Yeah.

- Well that's, uh, (clears throat)

that's a cage where they breed beavers.

- Oh.

- Listen, if we sit out here like this,

they're never gonna come around.

They're gonna see us.

We gotta go up and hide in them bushes.

- Oh, I don't know about that.

- Ah, come on. Come on, come on.

Right over here.

Now, you sit right here.

Well.

It's a lot better, isn't it?

I guess so?

- What are you doing? You're
old enough to be my father.

Hey, what's this?

What's this?
- What? That's my gun.

- I've never handled one of
those before. Show it to me.

- Ah. Hey, hey, hey!

Be careful with that. That's loaded.

You gotta have a license to
use these things, you know.

- Don't be such a chicken.
I've handled rifles before.

- Yeah, well, they're not the same.

This is a revolver, and it's
different. It's dangerous.

- Can you show me how to use it?

- Nah.

- Oh, come on. Show me how to use it.

- OK. OK.

OK, OK, site down, just like a rifle.

Hold your breath. Now squeeze.

(gunshot banging)
- Oh!

(gunshot banging)
Oh!

(Bill laughs)

- No. No.

No!

No, no, no!

No!

(girl screaming)

No, no!

Oh, no!

No, no! (screams)

Ow! Ow!

Ow!

No, no!

- Jesus Christ!

- What the hell is going on?

- I can't get rid of you!

Come on. Let's get outta here.
- Please take me back to town.

- Sure.

- No, you're going with me.

- No, I'm not.

- Shit!

- [Dr. Ryan] You've probably gathered

that there was not much love
lost between Hemmings and Joe.

And it's not difficult for an officer

of the Department of Natural Resources

to maintain that fishing
nets are of an illegal size.

But he didn't reckon on
Joe as being a fighter,

an Indian who wasn't going to
take any bull from a bully.

- Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe!

Joe! Hey, Joe!

- [Dr. Ryan] And I'm
certain he didn't know

that Joe was physically the stronger.

It's quite possible that if he hadn't been

restrained by his friends,

Joe would now be facing a murder charge,

a murder committed on that very beach.

- You just made one big mistake, Bass,

and you and your friends
are gonna regret it.

- Hemmings!

You forgot something.

(engine revving)

- A guy like Hemmings
would always feel animosity

and anxiety around a
personality like Bass.

He'd always feel that Bass

was getting the upper hand on him.

But there's still a
lot I don't understand.

- Well, let me fill you in a little more.

- All right.

- Let's back up to the point where Karen

was talking to her father on the porch.

- Karen, I'm not through talking with you.

- Dad, I just don't feel
like talking right now, OK?

- George, George, what happened?

- I'll tell you what's happened.

Your daughter's running
around with Indians.

- What? My daughter's what?

- Keep your voice down,

for Christ's sake.
- I'll talk just as loud

as I want to.

Don't walk out when talking to you!

I'll even shout if I want to!

Why do you always walk out
when I'm talking to you?

Oh, I suppose you're gonna shoot me now.

- That might be a very good idea.

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Pull!

(gunshot banging)

Dan!

- Hey, Mr. Hanson, that's
some fine shooting.

- Thanks, Dan.

- What seems to be
troubling you, Mr. Hanson?

- You know that Indian, Joe Bass,

who was bidding against me at the auction?

- I've seen him around.

I hear he's been, uh,

well, I hear he's running
around with white girls.

- That's not right. Mr. Hanson, is it?

- No. No, it's not, Dan.

Maybe there's something
you could do about it.

I'd be willing to make
it worth your while.

- OK, Mr. Hansen.

OK.

(ominous music)

(suspenseful music)

- [Joe] Ow!

- [Man] Let him have it!

- Now, we know that Hanson set
up that beating of Joe Bass,

and the attack on the cabin,

and that he didn't know that his daughter

was in there with Joe at the time.

And that attack, the attack on the cabin,

was the turning point for Joe,

'cause that's when he
started fighting back.

- Joe, where are you going?

Come back!

- Dammit, what are you doing here?

(ominous music)

(objects clattering)

Dammit, girl. I thought I
told you to get outta here!

Dammit, girl! I told
you to get outta here.

Don't need any more of this stuff.

(chainsaw buzzing)

(chainsaw buzzing)

(chainsaw revving)

- You crazy, boy,

sneaking up on a man
in the woods like that?

You crazy, boy?

You'd get yourself in trouble
out here in these woods.

The only way you'll get
rid of me is in two pieces.

(chainsaw revving)

(man screaming)

- George.

I got here as fast as I could. What's up?

- What have you been up to, Bill?

- I don't understand.

- What have you done about Bass?

- I've been watching
him. I got my eye him.

- Oh, yeah. Well, I can tell
you what Bass has been up to.

He's on his boat right
now with my daughter.

He smashed in Dan's face.

Kratowski got his leg chopped off.

He says Bass did it and
he's gonna press charges.

That's what Bass has been up to.

- You're joking.

- No, I'm not joking, Bill.

- Well, who saw him?

- What the hell difference does that make?

- All right, George.

- Oh, Bill.

You better start thinking
pretty hard about your job.

- Doing the best that I can.

- Do it better.

- [Dr. Ryan] Karen's father
was really quite a character.

After sending off his flunky,

he then drops in on his
girlfriend, the flunky's wife.

- Janet, what's wrong.

Every time we get together,
the evening starts out well,

and then you get positively morose.

- Happiness is, it's just
too much trouble, George.

I'd better learn to enjoy my misery.

You wanna tell me again

how you're gonna divorce
your wife and marry me?

- Hey.

You know I love you.

Hey, I love you.

Look, I've got to wait until
Karen is out of college.

- Ugh.

Sweet little Karen.

She just wouldn't understand. (scoffs)

George, she's not 15 anymore.

I really have heard a
lot of things about her.

- You're not telling me
anything I don't already know.

- George.

- Janet,

I need your help.

- No, no, it's on the house.

You had a rough time.

- Thanks, Bernie.

(telephone ringing)

Yeah?

It's for you.

- Hello?

Who's this?

What kinda trouble?

You did?

Who's this?

Hello?

Hello?

- Now, we assume that that phone call

came from Janet Hemmings,
Hanson's mistress.

But here's something I don't understand.

It never came out at the trial.

So we're supposed to believe
that Hanson set up a meeting

with Joe Bass and his own mistress

and have his daughter walk in on them.

That doesn't make any sense.
I mean, Joe was no fool.

He wouldn't have fallen
for a trap like that.

- If you remember, in the transcript,

the bartender said Joe had two drinks

and sobered up fast when
he got the phone call,

so we can assume he wasn't drunk.

But let's speculate.

Let's say Joe goes bursting
into the fish house,

and who should be waiting there for him?

Let me guess. Don't tell me.

Janet Hemmings, having been sent there

by Karen's father, OK?

- [Dr. Ryan] Mm-hmm. So far, so good.

- [Dr. Kessler] Well, she
comes on real strong with him.

She just loves Indians,
and she can't help herself.

Stuff like that.

She figures that if she can make it

with the biggest banker in town,

she shouldn't have any trouble
with a red-blooded Indian,

if you'll excuse the expression.

- [Dr. Ryan] Well, from you? Certainly.

- [Dr. Kessler] She
proceeds on the traditional

courtship ceremony consisting
of getting down to basics,

taking his clothes off
as quickly as possible,

and then doing the same with her own.

So now we have the two of
them alone in the fish house,

surrounded by dead fish,
the moon bright outside,

the stars twinkling.

- [Dr. Ryan] You mean in their eyes?

- [Dr. Kessler] Well, there too.

You can even have music playing

in the background if it helps.

- [Dr. Ryan] No, I don't think
Joe is much of a music lover.

What happens next?

- [Dr. Kessler] Well,
they're two young people.

Normal desires, normal
passions, nothing to lose.

Can you buy that? I don't know.

I'm not so sure I'm on the
right track. I don't know.

- No, I can't buy that. It's
out of character for Joe.

- No, that's inconsistent.

- I guess we'll never
know what really happened,

except for the last part.

Later that night,
Hemmings somehow or other

turned up at the same place.

Now, who tipped him off
and how he got there

we'll never really know,
nor does it concern us.

We just know that he'd found Janet alone.

- [Dr. Kessler] Well,
apart from the dead fish.

- [Dr. Ryan] Oh yeah. I'd
almost forgotten them.

And in a state of undress that
could easily have her in bed

with the most acute attack of influenza,

if a quirk of fate...

Is that what it's called?

- [Dr. Kessler] A quirk
of fate. I think so.

- [Dr. Ryan] If a quirk of fate

hadn't shifted the course of events.

- Give me the gun!

(gunshot banging)

Huh?

Janet?

No. Janet.

Don't die.

Don't die.

Oh, I love you so much.

I do. I love you.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.

(suspenseful music)

(car horn honking)

- [Sylvia] I cannot go to
the door in my nightgown.

- All right, all right,
all right, I'll get it.

(gunshot banging)

- [Sylvia] George?

George, are you okay?

- Have you notices the irony of this?

- No.

- That Hemmings would probably
have never gone on trial

if he hadn't confessed.

Murder number one, number
number two, no witnesses.

- But there was another murder,

and there was a witness to that murder.

Only, she doesn't remember.

Karen, that dream you
had again last night.

Very important. Was it the same as before?

- Yes.

- Now, let's see if we
can work this out together

to the end once and for
all, what do you say?

- [Karen] If it'll get me out of here.

- Very good.

Let's talk about your
relationship with Joe,

your feelings towards him.

The last time, you remember
him being arrested.

- It was really beginning
to look hopeless by then.

I was beginning to realize
how futile it all was.

He'd go to put his arms around me

and I could feel myself
recoiling from him.

There was this gulf widening between us,

and we were fighting about
the stupidest little things.

Oh, this is stupid, Joe.

Can't you get one of your
friends to pull the nets?

- They've already packed my boat with ice.

Besides, they got their
own nets to take care of.

- Don't you need help?

- You volunteering?

- No, I'm not.

You shouldn't be going out
on your boat. It's stupid.

- Look, Karen, this is my
life. Don't you understand?

- No.

I've got to go out there and pull my nets.

You coming along?

- Please don't go, Joe. It's not worth it.

I thought you were smarter than this.

- You going to come along
or are you going away?

What are you gonna do?

Shit! Here comes your old man.

- (indistinct) That son of a bitch!

Karen!

What the hell do you think you're doing,

staying out all night with this guy,

and now making a spectacle of yourself

in front of the whole town?

It's disgusting.

Hey, Indian, you get
that boat back in here.

- Ignore him, Joe. I'm not going with him.

- Listen, Indian, you get
that boat back in here.

This little girl is coming home with me.

You get that boat back in here!

- I'm going with you, Joe.

- You're not gone with her!

You get that boat back in here

or I'll have up on a kidnapping charge!

You hear me?

OK, OK. You're not gonna get
away with this, you know?

You can't go around stealing
a white man's daughter.

- All right, fisher boat. Fisherman, stop!

I'm warning you.

Do you hear me? Pull that boat over here.

- What are you gonna do, Joe?

- I oughta sink that son of a bitch.

- I'm warning you for the last time, man.

- I guess I gotta consider it a threat.

We'll be in port! I'll talk
to your agents out there!

- (indistinct) I'm not gonna
tell you again, heave through.

I'm telling you, and I'm
not gonna tell you again.

Heave through.

- He knows who you are.

- [Bill] I'm warning you, Bass.

(gunshot banging)

- Joe, stop this boat!

Joe, I think you'd better
stop. He looks serious.

Joe!
(gunshot banging)

- Hold it, Bass.

Your boat was sighted outside
the limits, Section 13,

set by the Department
of Natural Resources,

under the act passed July 2nd, 1975.

Section 14, Paragraph 5 reads as follows.

No commercial-
- Ah, come on, you guys.

I was within the boundaries.

I have a code book on my boat. Huh?

- Well, use of your vessel is
being terminated as of now,

1400 hours.

In addition to which,

you are being booked
for assault and battery,

disturbing the peace, and
assaulting a government officer.

Oh, and there was one other thing.

Cutting off Kratowski's leg.

- I did all of that?

- Impossible. He's been
with me the whole time.

- Karen, for your own good,
please stay out of this.

Jerry, cuff him.

- You gonna come peacefully, Bass,

or you gonna cause a lot
of trouble for everybody?

- Mr. Hemmings.

- Come on.

Come on.

- Taking him out. Take him out.

- [Joe] Don't forget to
get the fish iced down.

And call Father Ranguette.

He'll take care of everything.

- Once again, it was Father
Ranguette to the rescue.

I don't know what Joe and I
would've done without him.

Oh! You're finally home!

- Wow.

Come on.

Is my boat OK?

- Yeah. I went down and
checked on the boat every day.

And I got Father Ranguette
to take care of the fish,

just like you asked.

- Good.

I missed you.

- I missed you a lot.

- Ah, it's good to be home.

- You know, Joe,

was lonely, too.

- [Joe] You were?

- The next night I was supposed
to meet Joe at his place,

but I was in for a big surprise.

Hi, Bernie.
- Hi.

- Have you seen Joe?

- He was here earlier, but
I don't know where he went.

Have you tried his house?

- Yeah, but he wasn't there.

- I don't know where he went.

- OK, well, thanks anyway.

- [Bernie] OK.

(slap thwacks)
(Joe groans)

(Karen yells)

- Karen, stop. You're not being fair!

(indistinct)
- Oh!

- You little...

- Mm-hmm.

- I may have exaggerated it a little bit,

but it sure seemed like
they were ready to make it.

Anyway, the next day
things were different.

- [Joe] I remember seeing that slicker?

- [Karen] I don't think
it was at the house.

- Yeah, here it is.

(Karen giggles)

How do you feel?

I feel beautiful. I never felt
more secure about anything.

- It's easy to say things at night in bed.

But the next day, the morning,
sometimes it's difficult.

- I really know,

when I think about trying
to get along with you.

I don't care what happened.

It doesn't matter,

considering everything
we have in front of us.

- I'm sorry I have done
anything to hurt you.

It's tough pulling a
living out of the lake.

Sometimes I forget what you need.

- I love you, and I'm proud of
who you are and what you are.

I know it possesses you.

I don't care.

- We'll be OK together, huh?

- Mm-hmm.

- And what happened next?

I don't know, he went down to the,

he went to fix his nets.

- Karen, go on.

- Please, I don't want to.

- What did you see?

(suspenseful music)

Karen, this is not a dream. It's real.

(gun cocking)

- I can't. I don't wanna see.

- What happened, Karen?

- [Karen] I heard a click.

(gun cocking)

- [Dr. Kessler] Then what happened?

(gun cocking)

- Bass!

(gunshot banging)

(Karen screaming)

- He's dead.

He's dead.

- Karen, you won't have
that dream anymore.

You're a very brave girl.

(gentle music)

♪ Joe Bass, where have you gone to ♪

♪ Joe Bass, don't leave me behind ♪

♪ I'm all alone ♪

♪ This wasn't meant to be ♪

♪ I need you here ♪

♪ Why were you torn from me ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, where are you off to ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what will you find ♪

♪ You're a strange one ♪

♪ You're a brave new kind ♪

♪ Joe Bass, I'm glad I knew you ♪

♪ Joe Bass, you're with me still ♪

♪ We'll find a way ♪

♪ We'll find it, you and me ♪

♪ We'll find a way ♪

♪ Our love has been the key ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, where you off to ♪

♪ Hey, Joe, what will you find ♪

♪ You're a strange one ♪

♪ You're a brave ♪

♪ New kind ♪