Deceptions (1990) - full transcript

(Multicom Jingle)

(dramatic jazz music)

(water splashing)

(zipper buzzing)

- Are you all packed?

- Yeah, just about.

(Adrienne moaning)

Come on, now wait a minute.

Now wait a minute, you're gonna
make me late for my plane.

You're gonna make me late for my plane.

- [Adrienne] So, be late.



- I can't, okay?

(light romantic music)

Well, on second thought.

(car engine rumbling)

(crickets chirping)

(glass shattering)

(light dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

- Pook, Jesus, you nearly
scared me to death.

Look at the mess you've made, come here.

(cat meowing)

(dramatic music)
Hey, what are you doing?

(cat hissing)

(cat growling)



(shattering)
(screaming)

(dramatic music)

(man groaning)

(door slamming)

(thudding)

(gun banging)

(body thudding)

(sighs)

Oh, my, God.

Douglas.

Oh, my, God.

And that's, that's all.

- [Nick] Mrs. Erickson,
did you have any idea

that your husband wanted to kill you?

- No, I loved him and
I thought he loved me.

- [Officer] Detective Gentry,
they're here for the body.

- Excuse me.

If forensics is finished
tell 'em to go ahead.

- Mrs. Erickson,
something bothers me here.

I gotta be honest with you.

You say your husband left this
morning on a business trip

to San Francisco, then he
comes back here tonight,

breaks in and tries to
murder you with a knife.

And yet he forgets that he
left a 357 magnum revolver

in his bedside table drawer.

Now that seems, well what
Nick, it's inconsistent.

- What are you implying?

- I'm not implying anything.

- You're saying that I
wanted to kill my husband.

- She's hysterical now.
(Adrienne sobbing)

- Mrs. Erickson, I know
what you've been through.

Maybe we oughta continue this tomorrow

when you feel a little better.

- Let me tell you something, officer.

My husband didn't know it was there.

It was at the shop being repaired.

I went and picked it up
and I forgot to tell him.

I forgot to tell him.

(Andrienne crying)

- [Dispatch] In progress,
I'll have 25 minute delays

7006 South Haverly custom weather wrap.

I need a 77, get it.

- [Dispatch] Currently 21
there's no one on your suspect.

Frequency 17 is clear.

- Way to go, Harley.

- Hey, I'm not in the comfort business,

that's for the undertaker.

I'm in the truth business.

- Yeah, well there's
not a lot to be gained

by making her into a
hostile witness either.

- If she's guilty, she's already hostile.

Just ask her husband.

- So, what do you think?

- I think she did it.

- You think everybody did it.

- Everybody did do it, they
just ain't been caught.

- Oh you've got it all figured out?

- Well, I don't know, Nick.

Maybe he left the gun in the
drawer because he was fair

minded and wanted to give
her a fighting chance.

What do you think?

- I think I'm gonna keep an open mind.

- You gotta watch that,

who knows what'll blow through there.

All the different lines come right here.

We've got cable, security, what not,

he knew which ones to cut.

Hell, it was his house.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute.

Wait a minute, I thought
you said that she did it.

Now you're telling me the
husband planned the whole thing?

(doors slamming)

- Did you ever hear of supposition?

- 12 eight 17, no.
- What?

- Supposition, you know
suppose this, suppose that.

- [Dispatch] There is no information

at the fish market received.

- Ask yourself one question.

This girl
- Meet with information over

at the fish market received.
- Is a walking wet dream.

Why would anyone wanna put a
end to something that sweet.

- You know, you're right.

She's too pretty to be innocent.

Let's fry her.
(muffled dispatch talking)

- Come on, you got my
opinion, what's yours?

- Well, I think Mrs. Erickson
is one hot lookin' woman

with a lot of money and a
lot of time to spend it.

Just my type.

- [Dispatch] 3X106 interference resending

the last name is R-O-B--

- She's your type all right.

- [Dispatch] And the D.O.B. is seven--

- She just offered her husband.

- Yeah, well at least she's single.

- [Dispatch] 307N2C returned.

(cranking)

(motorcycle engine rumbling)

(dramatic music)

6D21, John John Paul zero one four.

(dramatic music)

You got a code four.

659 roger that, you have code four--

(car engine rumbling)

(car door slamming)

(thudding)

(speed bag thudding)

(light dramatic music)

(gasping)

- No, no, they're all good.

Well I'm pleased with everything.

Well, I just thought that
there was another roll.

No, well if we could just
see some more of the room.

Uh huh.

So there is another room?

Yeah, yeah.

No, thanks a lot, no.

We really appreciate it.

Uh huh.

Yeah, all right.

What's this?

- You got enough chemicals

in that danish to preserve a fart.

The body is the temple of the soul.

You wanna take a dump in
your temple, be my guest.

- All right, you wanna
hear what we got so far?

- Not particularly.

- Douglas Erickson checked
into the Mark Hopkins Hotel

yesterday morning, 10:30 a.m..

No one at the desk can identify him.

But he did use a credit card

and he signed the guest register.

- So, what'd they find in the hotel room.

- It's what they didn't find.

No receipt for a second
set of airline tickets.

Just Erickson's bags filled with clothes.

Oh, and an appointment book.

- Oh, that's interesting.

They find anything in the book?

- I already checked.

No San Francisco appointments,

no San Francisco phone numbers,
no San Francisco contacts.

(sighs)

- You know, that just doesn't figure.

Guy plans on killing his
wife you're gonna think

he wants to come up with a better alibi.

- Well, the appointment
book doesn't prove anything.

Maybe the guy was a bad record keeper.

- Sure.

That's how he got rich?

- Okay, so one of us has
gotta go to the airport,

check on his travel reservations,

see if we can find his car.

And one of us has to go
all the way back out there

and take Mrs. Erickson's statement.

Which one do you want?

(chuckling)

- Let's.

- All right.

- Heads.

- Sorry.

(light dramatic music)

Mrs. Erickson?

(door latching)

(shoes thudding)

(water splashing)

Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

- Oh, that's all right.

I often go for a swim in the morning.

The water's cool.

It really revives you.

- It's nice.

I mean, it looks like a good life.

- Please, come in.

(sniffling)

Can I get you something to drink?

No, you're a cop and you're
on duty, so you don't drink.

Well, I need a drink.

(glasses clinking)

- Bourbon.

- I'm trying to adjust my thinking.

Trying to see things the way they are.

(sighs)

It's funny, the world
doesn't look any different.

- Mrs. Erickson, I know
how you're feeling,

and I know that stirring things up like

this can be very painful,
but I have to finish taking

your statement for our report.

- Of course.

Why don't we sit in here.

Now then, what is it that you wanna know?

- Well, you said last night
that your husband's gun

had only recently returned
from the gun shop.

When was that?

- Couple of weeks ago.

I don't remember the exact date.

I do have an invoice around
here somewhere, I can get it.

- No, no, that's not necessary.

I just need a name.

- Santa Monica Gun and
Rail, something like that.

It's on Lincoln Boulevard.

- And the owner called you?

- I imagine he's the owner.

- But he called you?

- Yes.

Is that important?

- Well, it tends to
substantiate that the gun was

in the house by circumstance,

that the time and date of its return

were not under your control.

- I don't understand.

Why is that important?

- It suggests that there
was no premeditation

involved in your husband's death.

- That man last night,
that police officer.

- Detective Kessler.

- He was so, am I under suspicion for?

- Mrs. Erickson, every
possibility is considered

in a murder investigation.

- I loved my husband, Sergeant.

I loved him, passionately.

And if he hadn't of been wearing a mask,

I don't think I could've
pulled the trigger.

- Mrs. Erickson, I know
this is painful for you,

but I have to cover this territory.

Did you ever suspect your husband,

that there was another woman?

- No.

I don't think so.

(sniffling)

I don't know what to
believe about my husband.

Not anymore.

- Mrs. Erickson, right
now it looks as though

your husband tried to
kill you in cold blood.

Now there has to be a reason for that.

I need you to help me find that reason.

- I don't know.

I don't know why my
husband didn't love me.

(Adrienne crying)

(light dramatic music)

- Mrs. Erickson, is there
anything that I can--

- [Adrienne] I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.

I've gotta get a grip on myself.

- No, it's okay, really.

Look, is there anything
that I can get for you?

Some--
- No.

No, I'll be all right.

(light dramatic music)

Oh, it's a prescription.

I take them for, I get depressed sometimes

and they calm me down.

I'm sorry, but do you think
we could finish this tomorrow?

It's just that right now I'm--

- Are you sure you're gonna be all right?

- I'm fine, believe me.

I'm fine.

(dramatic music)

- Thank you.

- [Woman] You're welcome.

- Yes, may I help you?

- Yeah, a woman bought these here

and I need to know what they are.

- All right, oh yes, Mrs. Erickson.

It's Dilaudid that's a trade name.

It's like Seconal but stronger.

- Can you tell me how many
times she's had that refilled?

- I'm afraid that's
confidential information.

(phone ringing)

- I'm a police officer.

- Oh, yes of course.

Her doctor okayed two refills this week.

You know, that's more than enough.

Is Mrs. Erickson all right?

- Yeah, yeah I think she's fine.

Thank you.
- Yes.

(light dramatic music)

(phone ringing)

- [Adrienne] You've reached the home

of Douglas and Adrienne Erickson.

We can't come to the phone right now,

but if you'll leave your name,

your number and the time you called,

Douglas or I will get back to
you as quickly as possible.

(beeping)

- [Nick] Mrs. Erickson,
Adrienne, this is Nick Gentry.

Look, I know that you're going through

a very difficult time right now.

If you need anything at all,

anything, please call me anytime.

(blowtorch hissing)

- Jesus, this guy was in deep.

Either he had a lot of money
and didn't mind losing it,

or else he was playing with
somebody else's scratch.

- Hey, check this out.

He was kiting funds from one
investment account to another.

Looks like he was trying
to cover his losses.

See this one here?

- That's it, she's open.

Hey Jack, on the dotted.

- Oh, yeah.

Thanks.

- Life insurance policy.

Douglas and Adrienne Erickson, $2,000,000.

(light dramatic music)

(answering machine squeaking)

- [Adrienne] Sergeant Gentry,
I want you to understand,

it has nothing to do with you.

It's, it's after Douglas
and what's happened.

I'm afraid it's just too late.

It's all it's--

(door slamming)

(car engine rumbling)

(car door slamming)

(door handle jiggling)

I wanted to.

I never wanted anything
as much in my life.

It's just that (sobbing), I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

(light dramatic music)

Please, don't leave me.

(crickets chirping)

(moaning)

Douglas.

What are you doing?

Stop it.

Ow, you're hurting me.

Wait, not like this.

Gently.

(dramatic music)

- What time is it?

- About 6:00.

(groaning)

Sleep well?

So, what now, officer?

- This case has gotta get wrapped up.

- I thought you said you
had it all wrapped up.

- Yeah, well there still
was some procedural things

that have to be taken care of.

And we have document every step

your husband took that night.

The only things missing are the rental car

and his return plane
ticket to San Francisco.

Until we find those, officially anyway,

this case remains open and
you are still a suspect.

- Well, you better hurry up.

- Right.

(copy machine whirring)
(humming)

Well, are you sure they
checked all the alleys?

I don't know, a rental car probably.

Something non discreet.

No.

No, no, keep it up one more day, yeah.

It's been 48 hours.

If that car was out there,
it woulda shown up by now.

You know, we could file the
report without the rental car.

- The DA will have a canary.

- Oh, fuck the DA.

- That's easier said than done.

- Hey Gentry, there's a
woman here to see you.

Mrs. Erickson.

- All right, so bring her in.

- Play your cards right,

and I bet you can slice
off a piece of that.

You're telling me you're not interested?

Well, maybe I am then?

What do you think about that?

- I think you should shut the fuck up.

(heels clicking)

- Hi.
- Hi.

- [Jack] Come on in.

- Mrs. Erickson, I'm kinda
surprised to see you here.

Sit down.

- Can I get you something?

Coffee, soft drink?

How about some herb tea,
I got some chamomile here.

- Oh, no thank you, officer.

I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name.

- Jack, Detective Jack Kessler.

- Good afternoon, Detective Kessler.

- Good afternoon, Mrs. Erickson.

(phone ringing)

- So, what brings you to
the station, Mrs. Erickson.

- Well, I decided to pay some
bills to keep my mind occupied

and I came across
something in our receipts.

Something odd.

- Uh, I'm afraid I don't understand

the significance of this.

- Well look at the box with
the license plate number in it.

Well you know some gas stations

write in the license plate number.

- Yeah.

- But this one isn't for our car.

I don't know if it means anything.

I just thought it was strange, that's all.

It was dated just last weekend.

- Mrs. Erickson, you
may have just handed us

the break we've been waiting for.

(car horn honking)

Nice and clean.

(door lock clicking)

(glove box clicking)

- [Nick] Bingo.

- Airline tickets made out to Phil Golden,

round trip from San Francisco
International to LAX and back.

One of them is expended
on the night of the 14th.

- I was right.

He didn't rent a car, he bought it.

- Careful son of a bitch, wasn't he?

- Yeah, well not careful enough.

Let's pop the truck.

(trunk squeaking)

- [Jack] Clean.

- Well I guess that
about wraps it up, huh?

- Yeah, I guess.

- What's the matter?

- Oh nothing, nothings the matter.

- Don't bullshit me, what's the matter?

- Okay, if you were married
to Adrienne Erickson,

could you bring yourself to
kill her, just for money?

Uh uh.

A guy like Douglas Erickson could've found

an easier way to turn a buck.

Now, if there was another reason,

like a girlfriend, now
that I could believe.

- Nah.

Nah, I don't buy it.

- I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking with a wife

like her at home, who needs another lady?

Well let me tell you something, pally,

people always want what they don't got.

- Here.

- Thank you.

For instance, the guy has
a beautiful woman at home,

he goes out, sleeps with dogs,

the ugliest woman he could find.

Or maybe he wants a brunette or red head,

'cause the little woman is a blonde.

- So what are you saying?

Are you saying we gotta go out

and look for his accomplice now?

We gotta go and look for
Erickson's girlfriend?

- Nah, this shit's too good,

let's go home and file this sucker.

- Right.
- Forget about it.

(muffled talking)

(phone ringing)

- Lester Fenady, can I help you?

- Detective Jack Kessler,
Mr. Fenady, from the LAPD.

Do you remember selling a roundtrip ticket

to San Francisco on
the 10th of this month?

- I sell a lot of tickets, officer.

If you could give me a number,

I'll bring it up on the computer

and maybe it'll ring a bell.

- One, D as in dog, 4971663.

- Oh yeah.

I remember this one.

Paid in cash.

- Uh, you think you can identify him?

- Nope.

- No, you just said that you remember him?

- It wasn't a man, it was a
woman, and she I can identify.

- Excuse me.

Hey Nick, post time.

- What's up?

- Case isn't closed.

(light dramatic music)

(muffled talking)

- That's her.
- You mean like this?

- You're good.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.

(sighs)

- Looks like I was wrong.

- About what?

- Erickson's girlfriend.

- Oh yeah, how's that?

- She's no dog.

(dramatic music)

- Nick.

Hi.

Is something wrong?

- No, no, there's nothing wrong.

We found the car.

- Then it's over?

This whole ugly mess is behind us.

- Yeah.

Yeah, it's over.

(water spraying)

- Are you coming?

- No, no, I don't feel like it right now.

I'm gonna relax, kinda unwind.

I'll take a shower later.

- All right.

Well, just so you know
what you're missing.

(light dramatic music)

(zipper buzzing)

Nick.
- Hm?

- Is there something
you're not telling me?

Something about Douglas?

- We think that he was seeing someone.

We just don't know who it is.

- The first time I met Douglas,

he said that I reminded him of someone.

A woman he'd gone out with before me.

Her name was Marta.

He said we looked so much alike

that we could've been sisters.

- I didn't know you smoked.

- There's a lot of things
you don't know about me.

(light dramatic music)

I was married to a man
for almost five years.

I thought I knew everything
about him, and then--

- And then he tries to kill you.

So tell me about this girl.

- Well, it was a few months
after we were married,

and this crazed woman came bursting

into the house saying
that Douglas was madly

in love with her and
that I should let him go.

She threatened me,

and when I told Douglas
about it he was furious.

He stormed out of the house,
I'd never seen him so angry.

And when he came back he said

that she'd never bother us again.

- Did she?

- No.

Nick, you should've seen
the look in her eyes.

She wasn't about to give up.

- Come on, I wanna show you something.

- That's her.

What's going on, Nick?

What did she do?

- We think she was your
husbands accomplice,

that she helped him setup an alibi.

She does look like you.

- Yes, I know.

You thought it was me?

- I didn't know what to think.

- Now?

Now, what do you think?

- I think your husband had
incredible taste in women,

but I think mine is better.

What's the matter?

- You don't know her.

You don't know how crazy she is.

- She's not gonna do anything.

- What if she comes after me?

- [Nick] She's not
going to come after you.

- She was in love with Douglas.

She blames his death
on me, I know she does.

- Look, she's not gonna do it,

but if she tries, I won't let her.

All right?

Hey, you gotta trust me, okay?

- Okay.

(phone ringing)

- Yeah?

- [Nick] Harley, it's me.

- What took you so long.

- [Nick] Yeah, I'll
tell you about it later.

- Look, I've been going
over Erickson's phone bill,

I think I got something.

- [Nick] Oh yeah, what?

- Calls made from his Beverly Hills office

to a residence in San Pedro.

All of them made after 7:00 p.m.,

most of them Tuesdays,
Wednesdays or Thursdays.

- [Nick] Our mistress.

- Bingo.

- [Nick] You got an address?

- Hey, is the Pope a communist?

- [Nick] I'll race you there.

(car engine sputtering)

- Want me to call AAA?

- No, it's just cold, that's all.

(car engine rumbling)

(light dramatic music)

(door latching)

Hey Scotti, where's Mr. Personality?

- [Scotti] Bedroom.

- Harley.

- [Jack] In here, Nick.

- I thought you might like to know

I got some dirt on Erickson's mistress.

- Oh, good.

What is it?

- Former girlfriend.

First name Marta, last name unknown.

- Who's the source?

- Mrs. Erickson, I guess
she was sitting on it.

- So, what inspired her
to become so civic minded?

- I was telling her we
had an id on the woman

who bought the return
airplane tickets she just--

- I hope you didn't tell
her who made the id.

- Now what do I look like
to you, a fucking rookie?

- But, you showed her the picture?

- Well how else was she
supposed to make the id?

- She say anything else?

- What do you mean, did
she say anything else?

Like what?

- Like how the picture just
happened to look a lot like her?

Oh, don't give me that look.

What do you think, just
because I didn't mention it,

I didn't notice it?

- Look, just what are
you getting at anyway?

So Erickson had a thing for
pretty blonde girls, huh?

Sure, Mrs. Erickson fits the sketch,

but so could any of a million
other girls living in LA.

- Whoa, whoa, okay.

Don't go getting your
nuts in an uproar here.

I'm just thinking out loud, that's all.

Okay?

- So, how's it look?

- [Scotti] Very clean.

Very clean indeed.

- You through over here?

- Aye, there's nothing there.

Ah, it's pretty good stuff.

My girlfriend uses that.

- So does Mrs. Erickson.

(gentle music)

(light dramatic music)

(romantic music)

(glasses clinking)

(muffled talking)

Bourbon, straight up.

(muffled talking)

(men chuckling)

- I'm so sorry I'm late.

The traffic was terrible
and then my car overheated.

- [Nick] What's that on your dress?

- Oh, I thought that if
I opened the radiator cap

that it would cool the car down.

I almost killed myself.

(glasses clinking)

- Here's to you.

- I was thinking today,
maybe we should take a trip.

Have you ever been to the Caribbean?

- No, I've never been to the Caribbean.

I wanted to go, but I
never got the chance.

- You can do anything you want.

- No, I can't.

I'm a cop and I'm working
on a case, remember?

- All right.

Have it your way if you want.

But, I hear St. Barts
is incredibly romantic.

- Tell me about Marta.

- I already told you.

- Tell me more.

- Like what?

- I don't know, anything, everything.

- I don't understand why.

- Adrienne, she's out there
somewhere, she's dangerous.

At the very least she's
an accomplice to a murder.

Now, I gotta find her before--

- Before she finds me.

Is that what you were gonna say?

(pager beeping)

- I'm sorry, I'm gonna
have to make this call.

Excuse me.

Yeah, Harley, what's up?

Yeah, what about him?

(light dramatic music)

Yeah, yeah.

(thudding)

I gotta go.

- What is it?

- Somebody got killed.

- Who?

- A witness in the case.

The ticket seller.

The guy who did the sketch.

The sketch of Marta.

(light dramatic music)

- [Dispatch] 10Z21 there's
no one in your suspect.

Frequency 17 is clear.

12X61, 12X61, good?

- [Woman] Units found, please stand by.

- His girlfriend found him
about a half an hour ago.

She came over and there
he was, in the tub.

- Homicide du jour.

- Accidental death.

Clean and simple.

Don't you guys try to
fuck up my case load.

- Oh shit, we wouldn't
wanna do that, would we?

You know, I think you oughta know,

this guy was a key witness

in an ongoing homicide investigation.

- The way you guys gonna
look at this, homicide?

I see it accidental death.

- How do you figure that?

- He's in the tub, reaches over
there to change the channel

and touches the boombox, it shorts out,

he can't let go of it, drags
it in the tub and fries.

- Not fry, poach maybe, but not fry.

- What did you say the
time of death here was?

- Rigor mortis ain't even set in yet.

I put time of death between 6:00, 6:30.

- [Dispatch] 459 saw a
25 minutes delay 7006

South Sanford and Carson Winthrop, any 77?

- [Dispatch] 12Z21 there's
no one in your suspect.

Frequency 17 is clear.

- Maybe it was an accident.

- [Dispatch] 161, good?

- [Dispatch] Officer can you
clearly verify your location.

- Maybe.

- [Adrienne] Nick, I
was hoping you'd come.

The water's great, why don't you come in?

- We gotta talk.

- [Adrienne] All right.

- What did you do today?

- What do you mean?

- What did you do today?

- I went to the market, I came home,

then I took a nap and then you called.

- Uh huh.

- Then I drove myself to
the restaurant to meet you.

The car overheated, I already told you.

- What time was that?

- I don't know, 5:30 or
5:45, something like that.

- Then what'd you do?

- I told you, I took the radiator cap

off and nearly killed myself.

- Oh, that's how you got
the stains on your dress,

that's what you said, right?

- That's right.

Now do you mind telling
me what this is all about?

- Did anyone see you?

- [Adrienne] Anyone see
me, what do you mean?

- Did anyone see you,
were there any witnesses?

- Witnesses?
- Yeah.

- Sure, I was right on
the San Diego Freeway,

I'd say there were a
few thousand witnesses.

Do you mind telling me just what it is

you suspect me of doing, officer?

Oh let's see, according to
your partner I'm already

a suspect in killing my
husband, so that can't be it.

Wait a minute.

You think I had something to do with

that man getting killed tonight.

Do you honestly think I'm
capable of murdering someone?

Nick.

(dramatic music)

- No.

No.

- Hi, I made you breakfast.

- Oh, I wish I could stay, but I gotta go.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

No, you're gonna make me late.

- So?

Be late.

- Oh, no.
(Adrienne groaning)

oO, no, no, no, I can't do this.

I gotta go.

(Nick chuckling)

(car engine sputtering)

- Want me to call someone?

- Oh, no, there's no time, I'll get a cab.

- Well, you can take my car.

- All right.

(light dramatic music)

(car engine rumbling)

(tires squealing)

(car horn honking)

(tires squealing)

(crashing)

(explosion booming)

(door slamming)

- Nick?

(suspenseful music)

(shotgun clicking)

(cat meowing)

You silly little kitty.

(cat meowing)

(light dramatic music)

- Harley, do you copy?

- Hear you loud and clear, pally.

- Okay.

(glass shattering)

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- Mrs. Erickson, this
is Detective Kessler,

I'm afraid I've got some bad news?

- What is it?

- It's Nick, there's been an accident.

- Oh, my, God, what happened?

- As far as we can tell,
the brakes failed and--

- Tell me what happened?

- He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mrs. Erickson?

Hello, Mrs. Erickson, can you hear me?

Mrs. Erickson?

(dramatic music)

Nick, there's something
going on with her here.

(sobbing)

- Adrienne, don't.

- Nick?

- I'm all right.

There was an accident,
I was nearly killed,

but I didn't think it was an accident.

We thought, I thought you
were trying to kill me so--

- Oh, come on for Christ's sake,

don't tell her the whole god
damn thing, what are you doing?

- You thought it was me
all along, didn't you?

- Adrienne, put the gun down.

- And what about Marta?

Oh, let's see now, she
didn't exist did she?

- Listen to me.

I'm sorry, now I believe you.

- She's just a character I
invented to mislead the police.

(dramatic music)

- [Nick] I'm not talking about
Marta, I'm talking about you.

- [Adrienne] After everything between us.

- [Nick] Adrienne, please.

- [Adrienne] You still thought.

- [Nick] Give me the gun.

- [Adrienne] You still could think.

- [Nick] Adrienne, listen to me--

- [Adrienne] You think I
could pull this trigger.

- [Nick] Adrienne, I love you.

- [Adrienne] You do, don't you?

- [Nick] Yeah, give me the gun.

- [Adrienne] Nick, behind you!

(gun banging)

(suspenseful music)

- Shit.

(dramatic music)

(gun banging)
(vase shattering)

(tires screeching)

(gun banging)

- I'll get you a drink.

- No thanks.

- Look, there isn't a hell

of a lot more I can say
at this point, is there?

- There's one thing I don't understand.

How could you have made love to me

thinking I was a murderer?

You musta had one hell of a
rationalization for that one.

But I guess it's all
part of the job, right?

- It had nothing to do with the job.

- I just don't know how you could believe.

Don't you know me?

Don't you know who I am by now?

- I said I was wrong, okay?

I'm gonna arrange for 24
hour police surveillance

of the house so that you
don't have to stay here alone.

- Nick.

I never thanked you for saving my life.

- You don't have to.

- Part of the job, right?

- Right.

- Nick.

Don't go.

(Adrienne crying)

Don't leave me.

- [Dispatch] 12X 260141, saw number one,

go ahead on number two.

- [Woman] State general 60, roger.

- [Dispatch] 12X61--

- Somebody fucked with
the distributor wire.

- [Dispatch] 12X61, you called?

- [Woman] He's a man, 415 9417 van--

- I got a call back from DMV.
- And a 459.

- Erickson's car was
sold about two months ago

at a used car lot in Santa Monica.

- [Dispatch] 12A17, go.

(dramatic music)

(cars honking)

- [Nick] I don't know,
it's not in such bad shape.

One owner.

- Yeah, one owner after another.

- Here it is.

Oh yeah, 79 brown Ford Granada,
sold June 9th, paid cash.

- Was it a woman?

- No, it was a man.

- This the guy?

- Nah, the guy who bought
the car was maybe 30.

Smaller, you know, not as
beefy lookin' as this guy.

- You got a name?

- I got the whole nine yards,

but the guy never registered the car,

it's probably bullshit.

- That's all right, we'll take it anyway.

- Beavis, Steven Beavis, 12386
Kings Road, West Hollywood.

- Actor?

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- That's the right address.

Should be the Beavis residence.

- I guess he hasn't moved in yet.

- Yeah.

(cars honking)

Yes sir.

No, I understand that,

but the thing is she shouldn't
have to leave her house.

- Look, I'll call you back.

- I know we have a manpower shortage.

Yes sir.

Yes sir, I understand.

The fuck I do.

- [Jack] Hey, where do
you think you're going?

- I'm going out to move her.

- No you're not.
- The fuck are you doing?

- Come on, get inside.

I said you're not going anywhere.

You're gonna stay here and relax.

- Oh, you're telling me to relax?

- Yeah, I'm telling you to relax.

- Don't have to.
- No you're not.

- Fuck you.
- Chill out.

- All right.

- You're too close to this thing, Nick.

You stay here.

I'll go move her.

What the fuck are you looking at?

(phone ringing)

- Hey, take care of her.

- Asshole.

(car door slamming)

The woman inside?

Mrs. Erickson?

(cat meowing)

Hey.

(whistling)

Bet you have some answers, huh?

Mrs. Erickson?

- I'm up here.

Detective Kessler.

Would you mind telling me what's going on?

Your partner said there was

gonna be 24 hour police surveillance.

- Yeah, there was and now there isn't.

I'm gonna take you some place safe.

- Detective, I really don't wanna leave

my house if it's all the same to you.

- Mrs. Erickson, if it's
all the same to you,

you're in a lot of danger right
now and if you're in danger,

that means that I'm in danger,
too, and I don't like that.

So why don't you do me a favor

and go pack a little
bag and let's get going.

- I'm looking for an actor,
his name is Steven Beavis.

- [Man] Beavis isn't
an actor, it's a part.

- A part?

- [Man] Yeah, Steven Beavis is the name

of a character in a play.

- What play?

- [Man] Velasco's Impertinence in Hell.

- Where's it playing?

- [Man] Not anywhere now.

It was at The Main Stage.

It closed a couple of months back.

Believe me, you didn't miss
anything, it wasn't very good.

- Yeah, thanks.

- I don't know Mrs. Erickson,
there's a couple of things

about your story that
I find very intriguing.

For instance, this woman,

your dead husband's girlfriend,
Marta, Marta Rocksland.

(chuckling)

That's an interesting name.

I mean, she has no driver's license,

no social security card, no bank accounts.

As far as I can make out,

you're the only one that knows about her.

- Excuse me.

- You're late, we already cast the part.

- I'm not an actor, but
I am looking for one.

A couple months ago you had

a production of Impertinence in Hell here.

I need to know the name

of the actor who played Steven Beavis.

- Paul Basque.

What do you want with him?

- You wouldn't happen to have

a picture of this guy, would ya?

- I'll look.

- Okay, here's the drill.

Do not leave this room.

If you're hungry you
can call room service,

but you're not to go outside.

Not for any reason, you got that?

You hear me?

- Loud and clear.

- If you think anything
is wrong, I mean anything,

call this number and have them

page Detective Gentry on my cell.

Know the difference between
an optimist and a pessimist?

Take a glass of water, pour out half.

Optimist thinks the glass is half full,

pessimist thinks it's half empty.

You see, it's the same way with cops.

You know the difference
between my partner and myself?

Nick is an optimist, he always tries

to see the better side of people.

Me, I'm a pessimist.

You know why pessimists have bigger noses?

- Tell me, detective.

- It helps us smell out the bullshit.

Even when we can't see it.

Have a nice day, Mrs. Erickson.

- Here it is.

- Which one is Basque?
- Here.

He's a fine actor.

- You know, I'm gonna need a
picture I can take with me.

You have anything like that?

- I'll see if I can find his eight by 10.

(dramatic music)

- Uh, this woman here.

Is she in the company?

- No, not really.

More of an associate member.

She and her husband have made
some very generous donations.

- What's her name?

- Mrs. Erickson, Adrienne Erickson.

(light dramatic music)

(cat meowing)

- Oh, God, my cat.

(dramatic music)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to forget about you.

- What are you doing here?

- That's a good question.

I think I'll ask it myself.

What are you doing here?

- I don't have to answer
any of your questions.

This is my house and I don't appreciate--

- Let's cut the bullshit, kitty cat.

I want some answers.

- Okay, Detective, what do you wanna know?

- Tell me why you killed your husband.

(Adrienne gasping)

(gun banging)

(car door slamming)

- Adrienne?

(phone ringing)

Have you seen Harley anywhere?

- Your messages are on your desk.

He was trying to get ahold of you

and some woman called a couple times.

(phone ringing)

- Homicide, Sergeant Gentry.

- [Adrienne] Nick.

- Adrienne, are you okay?

- Nick, I--

- [Nick] Where are you?

- At my house.
- What?

What are you doing there?

Where's Harley?
- It's Marta.

- Marta.

What about Marta?

- [Marta] Hello, Nick, you still there?

- Yeah, I'm listening.

- Good, then listen carefully.

If you want to see your
girlfriend in one piece,

show up here in an hour, alone.

No cops, no one.

(light dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

- Harley?

Harley.

(suspenseful music)

Adrienne.

(humming)

(gun banging)
(glass shattering)

(dramatic music)

- [Adrienne] Hold me.

- Wait a minute.

- Oh, my, God.

It's Paul Basque, from the theater.

- You are cold lady.

There never was a Marta.

You made her up.

The two of you planned this
whole thing, didn't you?

Did you fuck him, huh?

Did you fuck him?

(thudding)
(Adrienne groaning)

Slut.

What were you gonna do anyway?

You were gonna take the money

and you were gonna go
to the Caribbean, right?

Oh, that sounds nice.

That sounds real nice.

Everything you ever told me was a lie.

Yeah, you killed your
husband, you killed Fenady.

Oh, my car overheated, right.

You tried to kill me too, didn't you?

Yes, yes you did.

You pulled the distributor wires

out of my car so I'd have to use yours.

Then you cut the hydraulic lines on yours.

Didn't you?

You killed Harley, didn't you?

You bitch!
(slapping)

Bitch.

(dramatic music)

You bitch.

- Nick, I just saved your life.

I couldn't let him shoot you.

Nick, I love you.

(Adrienne sobbing)

- Adrienne.

Adrienne.

Oh, Adrienne, come here.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I didn't, I didn't think.

Adrienne, I love you.

(sniffing)

- You want me to call someone?

- Oh, there's no time, I'll get a cab.

- Well you can take my car.

My car.

Take my car, take my car.

Take my car, take my car.

Take my car, take my car,

take my car, take my car, take my car.

(dramatic music)

Nick, he made me do it.

(hushes)

- You have the right to remain silent.

If you choose to wave that right,

anything you say can and will

be used against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you can not afford an attorney,

the court will appoint one for you.

You...

(light dramatic music)

(Multicom Jingle)