A Deadly Encounter (2004) - full transcript

You call
these tires?

Well,
the salesman did...

at least a few years back.

It needs tires, no question.

Needs more than tires.

It's very
reliable. Usually.

Usually?

Always. It's...

it's usually
always very reliable.

Why you wanna sell it?

Look, if it were a new Mercedes



I wouldn't be selling it,
but it's not and I am.

it
starts, it goes, it stops...

and I think it's a fair price.

What do you think?

Well, straight up,
I wouldn't let my dog ride in this thing.

So that's, what, no?

Please tell me
he's gonna take it?

I think he wants it,
he's just playing hardball.

Let's face it,
it's nobody's dream car.

Pour me a glass
of that, will you?

It's an embarrassment!
Dad got that new Porsche and left us with this oil burner.

It's not fair.

All right, you've made your point.
Now drop it, okay? It'll sell when it sells.

Don't you have a date
with your homework?



Vitamin C break.

Thank you.

You're welcome.
Mom, I'm 13, right?

I don't like
this conversation already.

I'm the only one of my friends
who still has a sitter.

You're also the only one of your friends whose
divorced mother has to work late nights.

I don't want you home alone at
that time of night.

So what,
now suddenly dad's gone and you don't trust me anymore?

Oh, honey, I trust you.

It's... it's the world
that I don't trust.

It's just not like it used to be
when I was a kid.

It's not even like it was
a week ago.

What's the deal? I thought
you liked Mrs. Lacey.

I like a lot of people, that's
not the point.

- Ah, didn't we have this conversation last month?
- Mom...

I know how to lock the doors,
I know how to work

the microwave
and I know how to call 911.

You want me to worry?

Ah, great...

If I worry, I can't do my work,

and if I can't work, I'm not
going to get promoted to daytime

until you're old enough
to vote. So...

if you want to have a babysitter
until you're 21,

- just keep bringing this up.
- This really bites.

What was that?

Age is only a state of mind.
I mean, Gary Miser,

he's only 13 and he already
got a girl pregnant.

Do you really wanna go there?

Hmm, bad example.

Your warden's here.

Hey, Mrs. Lacey.

Who died?

My inner child.
Mom doesn't trust me anymore.

I do too.

And I love you.

Result's the same.

He has homework, don't let
him tell you he doesn't.

- All right.
- Dinner's in the fridge and I should be home around 2:30.

Oh, the hours you keep!
I n't know how you do it.

Well, we all do what we have
to do, don't we? Eric.

Have a good night, okay?

I love you too.

♪ ♪

- Enjoy your night!
- Thank you.

- Excuse me, miss?
- I'll get your waitress.

Christine, table 18 needs you.

Oh, I need you to set table 4.

Sure.

Oh! You first.

Hey, you.

Hey.

Relax a little.
It's okay to take a breath from time to time.

You work this room
like your life depends on it.

It does. My life, Eric's,
my bank account.

Yeah, I know,
but the customers don't want to see you're working that hard.

They're here for a good time.

- You set the tone.
- What's this?

A guy slipped me 20
to give it to you.

He's a little Tom Hanks,
a little Banderas... no wedding ring.

Ah, the sensitive assassin type.

Thanks... no thanks.

Goodnight.

All right, anything else
I can do for you tonight?

You should be careful who you
ask a question like that.

No, I got it covered,
I'll see you tomorrow.

Uh, day after.
Eileen's tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Tony... have you
heard any rumours

about the day manager position?

Hmm.
I thought maybe you would have heard something from Carmichael.

No. No, nothing yet.

You know, if you moved
to the days,

I'd never see you again.

Somehow I think you'd survive.

Have a good night.

Oh, God.

Oh, God. Pfff...

Oh... God, he must be okay.
I didn't see you.

Are you okay?

I'm sorry, I didn't see you.

I... I just want to make sure
you're okay, are you...

I'm sorry, I didn't see you.
I just wanna make...

Okay. Sorry.

Ah!

What are you, crazy?

What is he doing?

Ah...

Ah!

Ah!

Ah!

Hey, it's a stop sign, lady,
not a red light!

What are you doing up?

You're home late.

It's 3 in the morning.

Yeah, I just woke
up and got hungry.

Oh, and I figured someone needed
to watch Mrs. Lacey, hmm.

All right, back to bed.

Did Mrs. Lacey tell you
she's going away for a month?

- You're kidding.
- No.

You're not. Great.

Uh, are you all right?
You don't look so good.

Bad drive home, that's all.
Okay, come on, bed.

Goodnight, mom.

Goodnight. Love you,
baby.

Me too.

Mary.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello? Is somebody there?

Soda is not breakfast.

So report me
to the nutrition police.

Where is this attitude
coming from?

It was a joke.
Where's your sense of humour?

And Gary's coming by
to ride along to school,

- if that's okay.
- Yeah, it's fine.

But you better get your books,
it's time to go.

Mom, is dad still
coming over for dinner?

As far as I know.

Got some financial things
to work out.

Is that okay with you,
him coming over?

He can do what he wants,
I don't care.

Why don't I believe that?

Whatever.

Turning into my mother.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello!

- Hey, Gary.
- Hey. Hey, Mrs. Sanders.

- Hey, Gary.
- Did you ask her?

No, no, no, not yet.

Um, mom, Gary wants
to know if I can go over

and sleep at his house
tomorrow. Is it okay?

Dad's taking us
for mini-golf and burgers.

Mrs. Sanders?

I'll think about it.

So does that mean yes?

It means I'll think about it.

Hey, rip that other sign off
the window, will you?

- But how are we ever going to...
- Just take it off,

I don't like the way it looks.

It's not like he's asking
to join a street gang.

No, I don't think kids ask their mothers permission to join a gang.

You know what I mean.
It's only a sleepover.

He's my son, maybe I should
decide that.

- Sweetheart, I was only...
- Oh, I know, you were only

doing what you always do and today is
just a little bit more than I can handle.

Could I get the check,
please? Thank you.

I don't like to see
you so wrought up.

If this thing last night...

This thing last night
was like something out

of a Stephen King novel, all
right? You don't know.

No, but I know how you are.

You've always been this way.

- What way?
- Oh, you know.

Even as I girl,
you never knew how to get mad.

You shook, you cried,
but you never got angry.

I... I've fought back.

You never really did.

You sniped, you made smart
remarks and ran for cover.

All right,
I knew there was a reason we don't have lunch together more often.

See what I mean?

Thank you.

You need some time to yourself.

Why don't you let me
take Eric for a night?

I haven't spoiled him in weeks.

You could go to a movie,
get your hair done.

At least, think about it.

- Hum...
- Ha! Ha! Ha!

Thanks for lunch.

Take care.

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Let me
give you a hand with those!

Hey, what are you doing home?

Well, we had some sort of teacher thing,
and I got off early.

Oh, so I just got
a ride home with Gary.

- Oh.
- Hey, what's for dinner?

Pork chops.

Pork chops?

Pork chops.

Yeah, dad's favourite.
You know, I don't know

why you make such
a big deal over him.

It's not like he's gonna notice.

Don't start. They were
on special.

Yeah, whatever.

So, did you see grandma today?

Yeah.

Hey, don't ruin your dinner.

Oh, some guy called
about the car.

- He seemed pretty interested.
- Good!

Maybe we can get enough for a
down payment on a car that runs.

Um, I gave him the address and
he might come by later.

You did what?

I gave him the address.
That's what you told me to do.

Did he leave a name?

No, but his number's over
there, by the phone.

We're sorry,
the number you have reached is not in service.

Please check the number
or try your call again.

This is a recording. We're
sorry, the number you...

What? Isn't he there?

No. No, he's not home.

Oh, that's no problem,
he said he might be coming by later.

Don't give out
the address anymore, okay?

What did I do?

Just don't.

So we're just supposed to sit here and
watch that car rust and rot in the driveway?

Trust me, okay?

I need you to go next door to
Gary's for a little bit, okay?

I've an errand to run,
I'll be back in a little while.

All right.

Excuse me. Hi.

I'd like to speak to
someone in charge.

Well, at the moment, that'd be me.
Something I can do for you, ma'am?

Yes. I'd like to file a report.
There was a man on the expressway last night

who chased me all the way from
Philadelphia and tried to run me off the road.

Look, this is really highway patrol's territory.
I mean, you...

Great.

Did he damage your car?

Well, no.

And he just pursued you
for no reason?

I accidentally cut him off when I was changing lanes...

Ah, well.

What? So that gives him the
right then to try to kill me?

You think he wanted to kill you?

I've had 3 phone calls
since then, hang-ups,

and I'm pretty sure
it's the same guy.

Okay, and how would
he get your phone number?

I'm trying to sell my car,
the phone number's in the window.

Did you get a licence number?

It... it was dark,
I was terrified.

But... it was a large, dark SUV.

Model?

I didn't notice.

Then can you give me
a description of the man?

The windows were tinted,
I couldn't see inside.

- But you know it was a man.
- I feel it was a man!

You feel it was a man.

Ma'am, do you have any idea how many large,
dark SUVs are on the road these days?

Okay. So you're saying that
there's nothing you can do.

Not without more to go on.
What do expect us to do?

I drive that way home
almost every night.

What if I run into him again?

Look, the odds are
1 in a million.

You can't imagine how
reassuring that is. Thank you.

Well, your mom tells me

you're going out
for the swim team.

Tryouts.
Coach thought he might be their champion freestyler.

Well, I'm impressed.

- Attaboy.
- Can I go do my homework?

There's a question I never
thought I'd hear in my lifetime.

Anything I can help with, huh?
What's the project?

It's an essay for English.

Five hundred words
about a poem by a dead guy

and it's still better
than sitting out here.

Eric...

He gets this way sometimes.

He doesn't mean anything by it.

What do you tell him
when I'm not around, Joanne?

You turn him against me?

I think you've done a pretty
good job at that yourself.

He just doesn't know how to act
around you anymore.

Neither do I.

Here, let me help you with that.

Don't,
all right? Just...

don't.

You used to complain
I didn't help.

We used to be married,

all right? Let's just

talk about what
we have to, okay?

So this wasn't just dinner, huh?

Quality time
with my adoring son?

I can't give you any more money,
if that's the agenda.

And I hate to have
to ask you for it.

You know, I am taking on every
new client that I can manage,

but my paycheck won't stretch
any farther.

If I put any more overtime in,
I might as well just move into the office!

I'm working too, Keith. In case you haven't noticed,
I've been paying my own way

- for some time, now.
- So did I say you weren't?

Eric, he's growing so fast,
he needs new clothes

every time I turn around.
And school is asking the parents

to make up for all the budget cutbacks.
He needs lunch money, gym fees...

And I've got to do something about the roof before the next rains.

- The car is on its last legs.
- So what the hell can I do?

Well, maybe if you hadn't
spent so much on that woman

- you were trying to impress...
- Don't go there.

My God, Keith, a sportscar!

I don't wanna get into that!

I was working 5 nights a week to help you keep our heads above water

and you're spending your money on another woman.
How do you think that made me feel?

How many times you want me to
say I'm sorry?

Once would be enough
if I believed it.

Is she still getting money from you?
Is that the real problem?

Look, I didn't come here
to argue with you tonight.

You know, I didn't want to argue either, Keith,
but if you were living up

to your responsibilities,
we wouldn't be doing this!

I'm not going to talk to you when you're like this.

Thanks for dinner!

Hello?

Okay...

You listen, and you listen good:

you have reached a woman who is
in no mood for this.

As far as I'm concerned,
you are an impotent coward who's hiding behind a phone line.

And if you are the jerk who chased me on the expressway last night,

may I just say,
"I hope you rot in hell!"

You'll be sorry
you said that, Joanne.

Eric, are we okay?

What do you mean?

We used to be pretty tight,
but the last couple of weeks...

Do we have to talk about this?

Is it me,
is it something at school?

You know what it is!

Dad ignores us for weeks and
then has this attitude

like we should be blood brothers or something.
I mean, who needs that?

Well, I think you do.

Listen, I know this
has been hard.

It has been hard on everybody,

but we just need to try
to get through it.

He said he'd try to get you tickets when the Phillies play the Cubs.

Would I have to go with him?

Look, I know he has hurt you,
but at least give him credit

for trying to make it up
to you, okay?

You love the Cubs.

When's the game?

Schedule's in the paper.
Unless you brought it in,

it's probably
still on the steps.

Check to see if the ad
for the car

is still running while
you're at it.

All right.

Hey, where'd these come from?

Oh, they were outside
the front door.

I guess he's trying
to make it up to you.

Hmm, how about that?

Okay, the Cubs aren't in town
for a little while.

Unless he meant he was gonna

fly me out to Chicago.

Mom?

Yeah, maybe.

Mom, have you thought any more about me staying at Gary's tonight?

You... you need
to hurry up. Get your bags,

we need to get
to school, come on.

R. I. P.

You know anybody with
these initials?

They stand
for "rest in peace," Carol.

I know, I know.

I yelled at him
on the phone last night.

He's out there.
He spoke to me.

Did you call the police?

Yeah, I think they think
that I'm a hysterical woman

who needs driving lessons.
Maybe I am. I don't know,

I can't even handle a simple
argument with my ex-husband.

Oh, hi. I'll be with
you in a minute.

Listen, you want my advice, Joanne?
Stop mourning over your ex.

If that moron ever
calls back, hang up.

Say "screw the world"
and get on with your life.

Yeah. You know,
you're right.

That is exactly the advice I needed to hear right now.
Okay.

Screw the world.

- Ooh! That's my girl friend!
- I'll call you later.

♪ ♪

Drinking on the job, now?

I need something
to get rid of this cold.

I have not been
this sick in years.

Yeah. I guess
the flu fairy noticed!

Busy night?

Not that bad.

You handle it well.

- Oh.
- 9.0

It's usually not an Olympic
event, but I do my best.

Rick Hargate. Can I buy
you a drink?

Oh, uh... no thanks,

I'm working. Sorry.

I'm sorry too.

Nice quartet.
You like jazz?

Yeah. One of the benefits
of working here.

I'm gonna...
Nice to meet you.

You too.

Right, so I have you down at 8:30 on next Friday night.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

Okay, you could not possibly
feel as bad as you look.

Thanks, I needed that.
Wanna do me a favour and close up tonight?

You're taking off?

Yeah, either
I put this cold to bed

or I die right here,
right now. Either way,

you gotta close up.

Okay, yeah, no problem.

Just... take care of yourself,
feel better.

You're a saint.

Yeah.

Santana's.

Oh... Sorry, wrong number.

Oh, damn it!

- Yeah, hello?
- Keith.

Sorry.

You said 20 min.

There's no traffic
this time of night.

Right.

You okay?

Just... feeling
a little foolish.

Where's the car?

It's in the back.

It was flat.

It was flat.

I wouldn't have made this up
to get you out

here at 2 in the morning.

If I had, I certainly would've
made sure it was flat

when you got here.

You didn't send me roses this
morning, did you?

Somebody's sending you roses?

It's not what it sounds like.

I... had a problem
the other night

on the way home from work.
I accidentally

cut somebody off and
they chased me

on the expressway and...

since then I've had a couple of
prank calls and this morning,

a dozen roses with a card
saying they're for my grave.

Well, I can see how you
thought they were from me.

Humph!

Ah! Just...

Guess I hoped they were a joke
or something, you know?

Burying the hatchet,
I don't know.

Well, a strange
sense of humour, even for me.

Joanne, I know things haven't been easy for you lately.

I mean, you got
a lot on your mind.

I'm sure it's nothing.
It's probably just

some kid with too much time on
his hands. Just ignore it.

How do you do that?

You always manage to put things

into perspective
for me, you know?

It's what I first loved
about you.

Oh, I thought it was
the way I threw a football.

Hmm. How could I tell?
You were always on the bench.

The coach would just save me
for the right time.

Hmm.

You know, um,

Eric doesn't want to admit it,
but I think he's...

hoping that we're gonna
get back together.

I don't know what to tell him.

I'd say his mother
had a good reason

for kicking me out of the house.

It's probably better
for all of us this way.

Helen, hi, it's Joanne.
I'm sorry to call so late.

I just wanted to make sure that Eric is there and that everything's okay.

Oh, thank God.

What time did you say you got
home, ma'am?

About 3, I think...
3:15, maybe.

And this is the way you found
the place?

Yes.

Did you touch anything?

A few things... maybe,

I don't know.

It's probably kids
after drug money.

- Drug money?
- Yup.

You have a son, you said.

Yeah, he's staying at a
friend's tonight.

I called, he's fine.

My son doesn't use drugs,
if that's what you're...

He doesn't even know
anybody who uses drugs.

You might be surprised.

No, I know my son. He...

I don't think this is kids looking for drug money.
- No?

No.

So you think whoever chased
you on the expressway

2 nights ago is responsible?

For the break-in, the nuisance
calls, the... the flowers?

Yes, I'd say there's a pretty good chance it's the same guy.

Can't you just do something?
I'm afraid to answer my phone!

- You don't have caller ID?
- No.

I realize that puts me in the dark ages,
but I'm sort of counting pennies these days.

Excuse me for a second.

Uh... Mrs. Sanders...

Let me guess...
there's nothing you can do.

With nothing else to go on, no.

A dark SUV, a card anyone could've written... Look,
most break-ins...

Don't tell me about
most break-ins,

tell me about this one!

Okay.
I think it's possible you're running through a string of bad luck.

- A string of bad luck.
- Yes.

The only thing I could
suggest is change

your phone number, maybe get
a dog, a security system.

Ah... I don't believe this.

For better for worse,
that's how it works.

I can put an extra patrol

on your house for the next couple of days,
if that'll make you feel better.

Yes, it would.

Okay. There's
not much more I can offer you.

We'll check around outside,
see if we can get some leads there.

Also, when you have a chance
to go through the damage,

make us a list so we know what's
missing, okay?

Okay.

Oh, and you'll want to take care of that front door right away.

Mrs. Sanders, you have another
place you can stay tonight?

Yes, I do.

Good.
Go there for tonight,

come back here and take care
of things tomorrow, okay? Oh...

and here's my card.

If you need anything, call me.

Thank you.

All right. Goodnight.

Let's go.

Well, I'm still doing it.

I'm a grown woman and here I am
running to mommy.

You know my door's always open.

Although it's too bad you
don't have Keith at home.

How can you say that, mom?

He was seeing another woman.

I'm not apologizing for him.

Whatever reason he had for that,
it wasn't good enough.

But he didn't leave you.

You might've stood your ground,
worked it out,

for Eric's sake, not your own.

Why did you end it?

Because I needed him too much.

And...

I was afraid he would
leave me for her.

Just like your father and I.

We're quite the pair, aren't we?

Well, I don't know about you,
but I'm going to try and get some sleep

with what's left of the night.

Do you...
really wish that you'd worked things out with dad?

Oh, sweetheart...

you know, life is so short.

By the time I was ready to
forgive him, it was too late.

It is not too late for you.

Goodnight.

Yeah, hello?

Hi, it's me again.

Did you get home okay?

Yeah. Well, it...

it's been an interesting
evening,

but I can tell you
about that another time.

I... I...

I just wanted to say thanks
again for what you did tonight.

You call at... 4:30
in the morning to say thanks?

Oh...

Yeah.

I know I can be bossy sometimes,

and overprotective! Ha! Ha!

But I always meant well.

I guess when your father
left I dug my claws into you

for fear I'd wind up
some foolish old woman

living alone with her cats.

You're too strong for that.

So are you, if you give
yourself the chance.

Stronger every day, now, hmm?

You really think so?

Am I ever wrong?

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Go on.

Okay. Thanks. Bye.

Hi, buddy.

- Hey.
- Hi.

How is she?

She's still unconscious,
but the doctors say she's gonna pull through.

You okay?

- Did you get much sleep lately?
- No, not really.

Couldn't if I tried.

You look pretty tired too.

- Wanna go out and get a burger?
- I'm not hungry.

Look, is there anything
I can do?

What about the guy
on the expressway?

- He went away, I guess.
- Mom?

It's nobody, sweetheart.

Well, you changed
your mind about that burger?

Mom needed you, where were you?

I was out of town,
I couldn't help it, son.

Don't call me that.

Listen, Eric, I don't want to argue, okay?
I got back as soon as I could.

You're always gone,
just like before!

You left and never thought
about us again.

That's not the way it happened.

That's exactly the way it
happened.

You think I wasn't
paying attention?

When you get older, things get
a little bit complicated, okay?

I can't expect you
to understand that.

Yeah? You don't expect much of me,
do you? You don't care about me

and you don't care about mom.

Sit down here.

You know, despite everything
that's happened,

I love your mom and I love you.

Now, maybe I wasn't
the perfect father...

Finally something
we can agree on.

Anyway, listen, your mother
is going to be fine.

You, on the other hand...

I'm gonna be fine.

Well, then, let's prove it
to the both of us.

shopping 101.

Or have you forgotten
the basics?

Pamper yourself.

How these?

Those look perfect.

They match!

How about this? Look.

If you're 12.

It's cute.

- This, on the other hand, is so you.
- Oh, my!

What?

Yeah!

What about this?

That's pretty.

Oh, beautiful.

I love those.
Oh, I wanna get these.

Okay.

You should get this.

I still think that teddy
has you written all over it.

One step at a time.
It seems like years since I've shopped

for anything more exciting
than breakfast cereal.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

What?

What's wrong?

I'm gonna get out of here.

Wait, wait, waityou've said
so yourself,

the phone calls have stopped,
this guy is out of your life,

your mother is on the mend.
She's coming home next week, right?

I can't explain it,
I just wanna go.

Ah... Joanne...

I have some dry cleaning to pick up and I wanna stop by the hospital.

- Will you come?
- Okay.

I'll get your bag.

I got it. Thank you.

Carol, I hate this.
Someone looks

twice in my direction
and I'm sure it's him.

You've had a month from hell.
I'd be paranoid too after all that.

Help yourself
to whatever's in the fridge.

Pour one for me too, okay?

Okie-dokie.

The blood was red paint.

The only fingerprints on it
were yours, Mrs. Sanders.

We're gonna go back to the store,
see what records they may keep.

Somebody may've
remembered something.

Maybe they have a
camera or something.

Anything's possible.

So that's it?

No, there's more.
We got people report back

on the car explosion. Because of all the damage,
it took some time, but...

What?

It's highly probable that
the fuel line was tampered with.

So it wasn't an accident and
now my whole family's in danger.

What am I supposed to do?

You let us worry about that.

So what's going on?
I thought I was riding home with Gary and his dad today.

- Change of plans, sorry.
- All right...

Hey, what's
with all the suitcases?

We're going away for
the weekend.

Where?

You'll see.

All right.

Mom, a high school dropout
could figure out

that there's something weird
going on. So what's up?

It's nothing.

It's a lot of things. It's...

your grandmother,
the mess I made of everything.

You and your father are
barely speaking.

Okay, no, that is not
your fault. He's the one

who just walked out.
You know what, I don't need him.

Of course you do, honey,
he's your father!

Yeah, well what about him?
Doesn't he need me?

Yes, he does.
He just doesn't know how to talk to you anymore.

Damn it! Eric, I can't
do it all.

If you want to hate your father,
then hate him.

But if you want him, you've
got to let him know.

Yeah? Well same to you!

Mom...

we're always straight
with each other, right?

So I think I deserve
to know what's going on.

There's someone after me.

I don't know who
and I don't know why.

But the police think it's too dangerous to stay in the house for a while.

The guy you were talking about
at the hospital?

Yeah.

Does dad know
we've left the house?

No.

I've told Carol
and she's gonna come by

if you need anything at all,
okay?

Just... work with me on this,
will you?

- Mrs. Sanders?
- Ah!

- Are you all right?
- Yeah.

I've checked out the room,
everything is fine. Follow me.

Okay.

Do you mind if I have
a few friends over, maybe?

We don't want anyone knowing where you are for a while, Eric.

Not even Gary?

No, honey.
No one, okay?

Just you and your mom
for a few days.

- It's important.
- Okay.

- Go on in.
- Ooh, nice.

You can rest easy here.

Just find this guy, okay?

Mrs.
Sanders, you can we're covering your home,

we're covering your phones.
If this guy so much as even blinks,

we'll get him.
You have my number in case you need to reach me?

Yeah.

- Detective Bruder.
- Yes?

Thank you.

You're welcome. Bye, Eric.

Bye, detective.

Hey, hey, hey! We got
pay-per-view! All right!

So, mom, mind if I maybe, I don't know,
order in a movie while you're at work?

Sure. Order a couple
if you want.

Yeah!

- And how does a pizza sound for dinner?
- No way!

You, like,
never let me have pizza for dinner at home!

Yeah, well, we're not at home.
Here, if you want pizza, you get pizza.

All right!

Yeah!

Eric...

just promise me you
won't answer the phone,

or open the door for anybody
but me, okay?

No problem.

Yeah.

Or the pizza dude!

Right, or the pizza dude.

Ha! Ha!

Oh, um, could you hold
on to this?

- No problem.
- Thanks.

- I'll be right with you.
- Sure.

- The Flower Pot...
- Hi! Do you know where I could find Joanne Sanders?

I'm afraid you're going to have to ask detective Bruder that question.

I'm his partner, ma'am.

You might remember me
from the station?

Hmm! You wouldn't happen to be
that dark-haired one

with the George Clooney dimples,
would you?

Ha! And here I thought
you hadn't noticed me.

Oh, I noticed.

Well, my name's sergeant Kibu,
badge number 32808.

You can call it in if it makes
you feel more comfortable.

No, no, no, that's okay.
I absolutely remember you.

So... what can I do you for?

Well, there's been
a break in the case,

but detective Bruder's in court,
I can't get in touch with him.

Mrs. Sanders said you would know
where to reach her

in case of emergency.

Hum...

I'd really appreciate it.

Well, if it'll help trap
that bastard, why the hell not.

You know, you can find her at
Santana's in Philadelphia.

She's going back there tonight.

Great.

555-7881.

- Oh... Oh, thank you so much.
- You're welcome. Bye.

♪ ♪

Yeah, it's her 1st night back.
Some coincidence, huh?

Pardon me.

Hey! Has it been like
this since I've been gone?

We did not know how valuable you were before,
but sure do now.

I want you to meet somebody.

Oh, we've met, but we weren't
formally introduced.

- Hi.
- Joanne, is it?

You 2 know each other?

Not exactly,
but we established the other night that we both like jazz.

I see it has brought you
back in.

It wasn't only the music
that brought me back.

Well, it's always good to have
a regular customer.

Nice to see you again.

Didn't sound to me
like she meant that.

Goodnight, thank you.

Santana's, may I help you?

- Hello?
- Hello, Joanne.

You should know by now you can't
get away from me.

Those earrings,
they look so good on you.

They make your eyes sparkle.

Why are you doing this to me?

Because I can.

Detective Bruder, please.
It's an emergency.

So, no mushroom,
no pepper, no onion.

Just sausage and double cheese.

Salad? Get real!
This is a vacation.

Thirty minutes? What
do I get if it takes longer?

A cold pizza, yeah, right.

Mrs. Sanders. Is he here?

Yeah. Dark sport coat
at the bar, on the left.

Got him. Are you sure?

I'm sure.

All right. You stay here,
we'll take care of him.

Follow me.

Real busy, yeah. I've got to
be back home for a change.

- How you doing, guys?
- Good, how are you? - And that's it.

Excuse me?

Detective Bruder,
Philly P.D.

Can I see some
identification, please?

What's this
all about, detective?

- Just get me a soda.
- I'm old enough to drink, officer,

if that's the problem.
- First of all, it's not officer,

it's detective. Second,
I wanna see some ID now.

Mind stepping outside
with me, Mr. Hargate,

for a few moments?
It won't take long.

- Who is it?
- Rapid Pizza.

Oh, finally! Oh, man.

- You Eric Sanders?
- Oh yeah.

I'm the hungry Eric Sanders.

So how much is it?

$12.50.

All right.
Let's see...

1... 2... 7... 12...

It had to be him.
He had to be the one.

He's a tourist, he wasn't
even in town that night.

Plus, his car comes nowhere near matching
your description for the expressway.

Look, we got his information,
but he checks out. He's not our guy.

I was so sure.

Look, Mrs.
Sanders, this may take a little more time,

but we'll get this guy,
I promise you.

You okay to get back tonight?

Yeah.

All right.

Who the hell is that?

I don't know.

I'll be right back.

I'm sorry, I know it's late.

It's worse
than that, it's early.

Is this gonna be a
regular thing with you now?

Can I come in?

Look... whatever
it is, let's do it

in the morning, okay?
Later in the morning.

It... it can't wait.
I need to talk to you.

It's really not a good
time right now, Joanne.

I've made a decision.

I don't wanna be my mother.

I don't wanna wind up
wishing I'd said something

or wanting to change something
and not being able to.

I just don't want
that to happen.

Maybe it's the hour,
but you're not making too much sense right now.

Keith?

Cindy, this is Joanne.
Joanne, this is Cindy.

Could we have created a more awkward moment if we had tried?

I was wondering
what was going on.

Just an ex-wife in the process
of making a fool of herself.

Oh...

Would you like something to drink?
- No,

thank you.

Sorry. I'm...
gonna go back to bed.

Maybe you've got a right
to be angry.

I don't need you
to tell me that.

Oh, come on, Joanne!

You know what, Keith?
I'll tell you why I came here.

I came here to tell you
I don't need you.

I don't need you to be my hero anymore,
I'm fine on my own.

Maybe not as good
as I was with you, not yet,

but I'm getting my life back together and I'm doing it myself.

No, you are not gonna make me feel guilty for this.
We're divorced.

Yeah, we are. Best news
I've had all week.

Look... I'll
call you tomorrow.

I'd rather you didn't.

Eric? Hey.

Hey, sweetie.

Are you feeling okay, baby?

What have you done with my son?

You knew it was me?

I'm disappointed,
I wanted to surprise you.

- Where's my son?
- Pick up the phone and walk toward the window.

Did you ever sell
that car of yours?

I was beginning to think
you were never gonna come home.

But you're too good a mom
for that, aren't you, Joanne?

Guess you take after your own
mom in that way.

What do you know
about my mother?

Ha! You could say
I was her mechanic.

Oh, God...

I'll do anything. I will.

Just please don't hurt my child.

He's perfectly safe, Joanne.
He's with me.

What do you want?

- I will do whatever you ask.
- I know that.

And it's a very good feeling.

Tell me what to do!

When I finish talking, I want
you to hang up the phone

and put it on the ground where I can see it.
On the carpet, there.

Then I want you to come outside,
get in your car,

throw your cell phone
into the bushes.

- Then you follow me.
- My son...

Your son?

Oh. Oh, if you do what I say,
he'll be fine.

Please don't hurt him.

There's only one way to ensure
that, Joanne.

Follow me.

I'll be watching
you every step of the way.

Put the phone down.

Do it.

Come on, Joanne, come on.

Yeah.

Now what?

Get out of the car.

I said, get out of the car!

Where's my son?
I wanna see my son.

He's fine.

- Mom! - Eric!
- For now.

What do you want?

Take the keys
out of the ignition.

Don't make me repeat myself!
Get the keys out of the ignition!

Drop 'em!

Why are you doing this?

- Aaah!
- I'm in charge now!

I ask the questions!
Do you understand me?

Okay, okay.

Tell me what you want me do to.

I want you to apologize to me.

I'm sorry.

I have to believe it.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I don't know why it is, but
I am just not buying it, Joanne.

Beg.

I want you to beg.

Please... please... please
don't hurt my son.

I know you're mad. I know... I know,
I understand, you're mad at the world.

I... Isn't there some
part of you that understands

what it's like to love somebody?
Somebody...

- I don't wanna hear it!
- Mom!

Aaah!

Mom!

Ah!

Ah!

I'm in charge now.

You won't shoot me.

I know you too well, Joanne.

Don't!

Right, kill me or I'll kill you.

Either way, it'll all be over.

- Ah!
- Aaah!

Oh, God! Oh, God!

Oh, God!

- Mom!
- Baby. Honey, it's over.

- I thought I was gonna die.
- No.

- It was so scary.
- It's over. Honey, you're okay.

- I was scared.
- Everything's okay.

He's not gonna hurt us anymore, okay?
It's over. It's over, honey.

Mom!

It's not over, Joanne!

Get in the car.

Why are you doing this?

You cut me off!