Living in Fear (2001) - full transcript

(bombastic music)

(light piano music)

[Woman] Don't touch me.

Let go of me!

No!

(woman moaning)

(screams)

(light piano music)

(man grunting)

(door slams)

(engine revs)



(light piano music)

Yes, Jason, central
California is beautiful.

Now give me the real news.

[Jason] I've been trying with that guy.

I haven't had any luck yet.

Well, what's the problem?

Look, I'm gonna level with you,

Chuck and I are in a bind.

We're depending on you

to secure the next round of financing.

The whole business is riding on this.

I'm counting on you,
Jason, just make it happen.

[Jason] I'm gonna do everything I can.

Okay.



Bye, bye.

Can he do it?

I dunno.

This wasn't a good time to take off.

I didn't let you talk me
into coming to the funeral.

I shouldn't have let you
talk me into coming now.

You know, it's been a long time.

Things change.

These people never change.

That's why I didn't want
to drag you out here.

(dramatic music)

I think his church is
just up the road here.

The cemetery's behind it.

Well, we should stop
and pay our respects.

Why?

'Cause this is where
the healing starts, Chuck.

(dramatic music)

(crow caws)

You will not do this.

I forbid it!

Don't turn your back on me
when I'm speaking to you.

You wanna hit me?

Go ahead.

Remembering only the bad
isn't going to help you, Chuck.

He was a preacher, a man of God,

there must be some good
things you can say about him.

He was smart, I'll give him that.

Book smart, people smart.

Folks around here, they look up to him.

Wouldn't make a move
unless he sanctioned it.

He loved having that kind
of power over people.

I didn't know she was buried here.

Was only 19.

I was 20.

We were only married eight months.

Longer than us.

(dramatic music)

Poor child.

Lost control of her car,
drove right over a cliff.

20 years.

But I still remember that
night like it was yesterday.

First fatality I ever saw.

Sorry about your dad, Chuck.

Nobody even knew he
was dying until one day

he was almost comatose.

At least he went quick after that.

This lovely lady your wife?

Rebecca.

Lyle Pointer.

You ever meet Leo?

No.

There was nobody quite like him.

So I'm learning.

Didn't mean to bother you
but how long you in town for?

Only as long as it takes.

That's good.

No sense hanging around
stirring things up.

Well, I'll be on my way.

Have a nice day.

(suspenseful music)

Hausman.

Come to pick over your
father's bones, huh?

Missed the funeral.

Guess the reading of the
will is another story.

Nice to see you too, Gromek.

People 'round here don't forget.

They still know what you are.

It's been 20 years.

Give it a rest.

Not until you're six
feet under, like my boy.

What was that all about?

He hates me because his son
came home from the Marines

in body bag and I didn't.

I don't understand.

His son, Donnie, and
me enlisted together.

I got sent home on a medical discharge.

Yeah, you tore your knee up, so?

Well, look at what the wind blew in.

Art Sannar, I'll be damned.

You leave here in the dead of night,

don't tell anyone, don't say goodbye,

and after 20 years you can't even manage

one damned phone call. (laughs)

Good to see you.

What are you still doing in Deerfield?

I'm running the Bar and Grill.

I took it over from my dad.

I heard you're living in Los Angeles.

Yeah, I have a small
computer software company.

And people said you'd
never amount to anything.

Looks like life's been good to you

in every way though, Chuck.

Oh, this is my wife, Rebecca.

Hi, Art Sannar.

Nice to meet you.

Chuck always did end up
with the prettiest girl.

Am I right, Chuck?

What are you guys doing here?

Oh, Wilkerson told us to come by.

He says there something in Leo's will

about the money we gave him to invest.

I didn't know he was still doing that.

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah, every year like clockwork.

This year he got us to dig deep.

But he died before he told
us what happened to it.

Chuck.

Glad you could make it.

Come on in, we're about ready to start.

I have here the last will and testament

of the Reverend Leo Hausman,

summarized in a letter by him.

Which I'll read to y'all now.

Dear family and friends,

my bequeaths as stated herein,

reflect the modest means
of a man who devoted

his life to his church.

So that there'll be no misunderstanding,

it should be noted that this
money is my personal savings

and not in any way connected
to any investment funds.

To my son, Chuck,

I leave the sum of $10,000,

as well as all of my worldly possessions

whose sentimental value far
exceeds their monetary worth.

To Katrina Ford I...

Anybody seen Ms. Ford?

Probably out scaring little kids. (laughs)

To Katrina Ford, my loyal
housekeeper and cook,

I also leave the sum of $10,000.

And to Art Sannar,

because he has shown great
appreciation for them,

I leave my entire collection
of old record albums.

My final thoughts are
addressed to my investors,

Pete Gomek, Cliff Bartok, and Art Sannar,

I will not hold you in
suspense any longer,

the money is gone.

What does he mean gone?

Cliff, wait until I finish, okay?

Although I invested the
money according to plan

and with good intent,

it was a miserable failure.

We lost everything.

I am truly embarrassed and humiliated.

Nothing more I can say except, I'm sorry.

May God bless you all,

Reverend Leo Hausman.

Your dad fucked us!

I wouldn't know about that.

I haven't spoken to Leo in 20 years.

Look, I didn't know Leo,

but it doesn't make any
sense that he'd swindle you

when he was dying.

What's he gonna do with
the money once he's dead?

All I know is there was never a problem

with any investment but not
until we gave him $250,000.

That's a shame it's taken you so long

to find out Leo could let you down.

Some of us learned that a long time ago.

If you have a grievance
you can sue the estate.

Or you can call in the Feds.

You know we can't do that, Jay.

We can't have anybody
poking around our finances.

We'll handle this our own way.

I'm really sorry about all this.

Chuck, I have something here for you.

Leo made me promise to
give this to you in person.

And in private.

Why?

That I couldn't tell ya.

I just know it was very important
that it be done this way.

Tell me something,

what do you think happened to the money?

Did Leo pull a fast one?

I dunno.

I don't wanna know.

I tell ya something,

those boys are not just some
little old ladies from Iowa

looking to play the stock market.

Their tax cheaters looking
to make a quick killing.

And if Leo ever needed some
help with those investments

he sure as hell didn't call me.

Word of caution, I'd watch
myself with those others.

You know, some dogs mellow with age,

and others just keep getting meaner.

(door slams)

[Jeanine] Chuck.

Who's that?

Someone I knew in high school.

[Rebecca] Looks like she
really wants to see you.

I'll just say hi, I'll be right back.

Hey!

I been thinking about
what you said in there.

About why would Leo
con us out of our money

when he knows he's gonna die.

Maybe you're right,

maybe he did lose the money like he said.

Then again, maybe Leo
wanted to leave Chuck

a lot more than $10,000.

You don't leave a pot of gold

to a son you've been
estranged from for 20 years.

He's Leo's blood.

His only son.

I woulda done the same for mine.

Chuck told you he doesn't
know about the money.

What's it gonna take
for you to believe him?

I'd never believe him, why should I?

He's sick in the head.

That's why they tossed
him outta the Marines.

What?

They locked him up in a mental hospital.

Hey, hey, Gromek.

Leave her the hell alone.

Man never knows when to let up.

So I've noticed.

Jeanine Riker, did you meet her?

No.

A real piece of work.

Chuck's first girlfriend.

Nothing serious though.

Just a high school crush.

Didn't last too long.

Probably because he was
already making eyes at my girl.

(laughs) Anyway, I gotta get going.

Mind if I stop by later
and pick up those records?

Sure, whenever you like.

Great.

See you then.

[Rebecca] See you.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Saw you talking to Gromek.

What'd he want?

He has this idea that Leo
stole the money to give to you.

What?

I'm just telling you what he said.

Said something else too.

I mean, he told me that
you were discharged

from the Marines because you
were in a mental hospital.

Chuck?

It's true.

What do you mean it's true?

Leo wanted me to go to college

so of course I signed up for the Marines.

I knew right away I'd made a mistake.

After 18 years of living
under the same roof with Leo

I couldn't stand being
ordered around by anybody.

Unfortunately my options were limited.

I chose insanity.

What does that mean?

It means I faked it, the whole thing.

I started acting crazy, hyper
one day, paranoid the next.

Landed me in a psychiatric
hospital for a couple of months.

But it did get me outta the Marines.

And that was all I
cared about at the time.

You should've told me, Chuck.

You're absolutely right.

The truth is,

I wasn't sure you'd marry
me if you found out.

I love you too much to risk that.

(door slams)

Very nice.

The church owns all of it?

Most of the furnishings too.

My god, it's my old Mustang.

I thought Leo would've sold it

the first weekend I didn't come back.

Maybe he was saving it for you,

hoping you would.

I'm gonna go take a look.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

[Leo] You disobey me.

You're full of the devil
and I'll not have it.

Come back here!

Leave me alone.

(young Chuck crying)

Chuck, are you coming?

(door creaks)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

I'm gonna go look around.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Pray with me.

Pray for forgiveness.

Chuck, don't go.

(door slams)

Rebecca!

I'm in the kitchen.

Hey, Chuck, who cooked for
you when you were growing up?

Chuck?

Chuck?

Chuck?

[Woman] Don't blame this on me.

This is your fault and I don't
care what happens to you.

I hope you die!

I hate you!

Honey?

What's wrong?

Oh just...

Got lost in my thoughts for a minute.

It's been a hard day.

Maybe you should go sit down.

No, I'm alright.

Just a little thirsty.

Think I'll go in the kitchen
and get a glass of water.

Okay, I'm gonna go check out upstairs.

(door slams)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(laughs)

There's no food in the house.

I'll drive into town and get
a few things from the store

so we can have something
nice for dinner tonight.

No, you rest, I'll go.

You don't even know where the store is.

Besides, I was gonna take
my old car out for a spin.

Kill two birds with one stone.

You stay here and have a look around.

See if there's anything you
wanna take home to L.A. with us.

Well, there's a few things
that I'm interested in.

Anything you want.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Be back before you miss me.

(engine revs)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Alright, Jeanine, you got me here.

Now, what's this all about?

Let's just try to be nice
to each other okay, Chuck?

Like it used to be.

I don't have time for games.

Are you happy with your life, Chuck?

Jeanine, please.

I hate mine.

I should've left Deerfield when you did.

There's nothing for me here.

My husband, Stuart,

he's a...

He's an abusive son of a...

I'd leave him if I could just

scrape enough money together, you know?

But tips at Art's bar
just don't amount to much.

That's about it for
jobs around here for me.

Spit it out.

What do you want?

Like I said,

I need some money.

I don't need much, I'm not greedy.

The 10,000 that Leo left
you, that would be plenty.

Why the hell would I give you 10,000?

Because you owe me dammit!

I let you start a new life

now it's time you do the same for me.

What are you talking about?

I was there the night Mary died.

She called me.

Told me you two had a big fight.

She was high as a kite.

Asked me to come over with a couple of

ludes to help her come down.

So I drove over thinking she'd be alone.

That's when I saw you...

Coming out of the house carrying her body.

I never told anyone

'cause I didn't wanna
see you go to prison.

I was...

I was still in love with you, Chuck.

Then don't do this to me, Jeanine.

I'm doing what I have to.

I gotta get outta this town, Chuck.

You can do it without blackmailing me.

This isn't blackmail.

This is just you saying thanks
for 20 years of my silence.

And if I don't pay?

You got 10,000 you
didn't have yesterday,

maybe a lot more if you can find the money

Leo took from his friends.

There is no other money.

And I couldn't explain it to my wife,

giving you $10,000.

Could you explain to her how Mary died?

(dramatic music)

(phone beeping)

[Operator] Directory assistance.

Could I have the number

for the Deerfield sheriff's office?

(truck idling)

Let's get outta here.

Come on, let's go.

(screams)

(knife slashing)
(Jeanine grunting)

No, they didn't come onto the property.

They just sat in the
truck and they drove off.

[Sheriff] What would you
like me to do, Mrs. Hausman?

Well, I thought if
you could talk to them,

maybe you'd put them on notice.

[Sheriff] Sure, I'll be
happy to speak to them.

Yeah, I'd feel a lot safer if you did.

[Sheriff] Okay.

Thank you, Sheriff, I appreciate that.

[Sheriff] Don't worry, ma'am.

Bye, bye.

[Sheriff] Bye.

(frantic knocking)
(gasps)

I'm Mrs. Ford.

Did I frighten you?

(engine rumbles)

(door slams)

Honey, why were you gone so long?

I'm sorry, I took a
drive to clear my head.

I was worried.

Why didn't you call me on the cell?

I tried, the battery's dead.

Well.

Oh, honey.

I was worried.

We have a visitor.

Mrs. Ford.

Chuck.

We thought we'd see you
at the reading of the will.

I knew everything I needed to know.

Reverend Hausman told me.

I was with him, even at the end.

Through all that pain.

But he was very strong.

I didn't see a car out front.

You still walking around everywhere

at all hours of the night?

You only need a car if
you have places to go,

or people to see.

Well, I'm sure that Chuck would be happy

to give you a ride home.

No, I'll walk.

It's only a mile.

Well,

is there anything we can do for you?

I'm here to cook dinner,

just like always.

Oh, Mrs. Ford, that's
awfully nice of you

but you don't need to bother.

I have made dinner in that kitchen

every night for 30 years.

It's what I do.

Well, you go right ahead.

We'd be very grateful.

I guess I'll put these in the kitchen.

Why did you buy groceries?

I left plenty in the refrigerator.

Well, the food looked
spoiled so I threw it out.

What a wasteful thing to do.

(knife banging)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(door creaks)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

[Leo Voiceover] When a
father looks at his young son

he wonders what kind of man
he'll make when he's grown.

Then when his son has
finally become a man,

all the father sees is the
face of the boy he once loved.

This photo means everything to me.

Give it your careful attention son.

This is how I always picture you,

an innocent, young boy,

full of life and promise.

Just browsing

or are you looking for
something in particular?

I thought there might
be something in here

about the money.

Such as?

Where it is.

Sounds like you don't believe Leo

any more than the others do.

I wanna find the truth.

Think it's in there?

Leo's version of it anyway.

I don't know if he stole
that money but if he did,

it's a pretty good bet that
it's somewhere in this book.

And he'll tell us where he hid it

and why he did it.

(rapid knocking)

Hey there, Mrs. Ford.

How are you?

I just don't buy the story
about a bad business investment.

Leo was too smart.

The money's around somewhere.

The way I figure it,

he knew he couldn't cheat
death so he (laughs),

he cheated us just to show
he had us by the stones

even when he was in the ground.

I don't know what to tell you, Art.

I haven't seen you or Leo for 20 years.

I don't know what was
going on between you two

or the others.

But in all that time I never
got a penny out of him.

He left me the money you heard about today

and not a cent more.

Just let's say you just
happen to find the money,

what would you do with it?

(suspenseful music)

Turn it over to the
sheriff, let him handle it.

It's just an awful lot of cash.

It's tempting to...

What?

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying that...

I'd think you'd keep it.

(dramatic music)

Food's wonderful.

Paid too much for it.

The Reverend was content
with simple dishes.

I'll make sure you have clean
sheets and towels upstairs.

We're fine, I already checked.

I'll see for myself.

Another reason why
I stayed away so long.

She's tough but I bet
it took someone like her

to put up with Leo.

(Chuck chuckles)

What was that for?

Telling Art that you
wouldn't keep the money

if you found it.

I know how much we can use it right now.

That's for sure.

I don't want anything
to do with that money.

I was glad to hear that you don't either.

(suspenseful music)

(car engine rumbles)

(dog barking)

That Leo sure left you a
bunch of crap, didn't he?

No, Cliff, there's
actually some classics here.

Aint' worth the money you gave him.

That old Reverend,

he sure took us for a
bunch of chumps, didn't he?

Yeah, it sorta looks that way.

What are we doing about it?

Nothing.

What can we do?

We can look under
every rock in this town

'til we find where he hid the money.

Now, Pete, you'll just
be inviting trouble.

Better that then sitting
around here crying in our beer.

I want my money.

Yeah, you took the words
right outta my mouth.

Where do we start?

The house, that's where
we gotta look first.

What were Chuck and his wife
doing when you went up there?

Just going through Leo's things.

Picking through stuff to
take back to L.A. with them.

They could find the money?

Yeah, they could.

They could find the money and
be gone before we get there.

We better make sure that doesn't happen.

Let's get outta here.

I was just thinking about something

I saw in Leo's journal.

What?

It was a picture of
me up in my treehouse

when I was about 12 years old.

A photo of you?

(laughs) Do you realize I
haven't seen a picture of you

before the age of 21?

There's not a single one
in this entire house.

Alright, well I'll get it for you.

Don't make a mess up there.

(dramatic music)

Mrs. Ford.

Did you move a journal
from the desk up here?

Hang on, Chuck, I'll ask her.

(dramatic music)

Mrs. Ford?

Where are you going?

(suspenseful music)

Mrs. Ford!

(suspenseful music)

Where is she going?

She's got the journal.

Mrs. Ford, what are
you doing with that book?

I took care of him every
day, morning 'til night,

'til they laid him in the ground.

That money is mine!

Hang on!

Come back!

Can't let her take the journal.

Chuck, wait!

(suspenseful music)

Chuck!

Where are you?

(suspenseful music)

Chuck!

(suspenseful music)

Chuck!

Answer me!

Chuck!

Becca!

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Mrs. Ford.

Oh god!

Chuck, is she?

There's no pulse.

Oh my god, Chuck, what happened?

I don't know.

She fell and hit her head on the rocks.

I found her like that.

We better call the sheriff.

No!

We have to report this.

I can't think!

I can't think...

Chuck.

We can't call Lyle.

We can't call anybody.

There's been a death!

We have to tell somebody.

They'll think I killed her.

Why would they think that?

It was an accident.

They won't see it that way.

But it's the truth.

They don't care about the truth.

What are you talking about?

Don't you understand?

Don't you see what I'm up against

with this narrow-minded town?

Chuck, listen to me,

people are going to
think whatever they want

no matter what you and I say or do.

Okay?

Now, we can't just leave her here because

they're gonna find her body later

and it's gonna be worse.

Alright, sweetheart?

Alright.

Call the sheriff, go call the sheriff.

I'll stay with her with the light

so you can find your way back.

(dramatic music)

(phone beeping)

(car rumbling)

(door creaks)
(dramatic music)

Take the basement.

(Rebecca gasps)
(dramatic music)

Where's your husband?

None of you damned business.

I'll tell you what
is my damned business,

our money.

Now, I'm gonna search this
house from top to bottom

and if I don't find it,

I'm going to go out to he
garage, through the flowerbeds,

and tear up every shrub
and tree for a mile around.

You have no right to do this.

And Leo had no right to steal our money.

(dramatic music)

Don't do this!

Stay outta there!

Oh no!

Get your hands off of me!

You watch your hands, little lady.

(knee thuds)

(Cliff grunting)

God!

Get back here!

(suspenseful orchestral music)

What the hell happened?

She's upstairs, get her!

(gun fires)

You put that damned thing down.

Next one won't be a warning shot.

Now, get out!

Better do what she says.

I warned you boys to
stay away from here.

What about our money?

I don't care about your money.

It's not my problem.

But you keep harassing people like this

you're gonna make it my problem.

You wanna press charges?

No.

Well, it's your lucky day, boys.

Now clear outta here before
she changes her mind.

(dramatic music)

[Cliff] Just get in the truck

for crying out loud will you?

[Pete] You get in the truck.

Did you see the way...

[Cliff] I saw the way she looked.

This isn't going to do any good for you...

[Pete] I'm gonna go back there

and they're gonna make
off with all our money!

Why don't you give me the gun?

(car engine rumbles)

What the hell happened here?

Leo's charming friends paid us a visit.

[Chuck] Thank god you're alright.

You're wife might've
bagged one of those dumbasses

if I hadn't shown up when I did.

Why are you here?

I'm investigating a missing person.

Who?

You know damned well who.

It's his wife, Jeanine.

What?

You're old girlfriend?

She was supposed to go

to a friend's birthday party tonight

but she never showed up.

You know anything about it?

No.

Reason I ask is, Art told me he saw her

get into a car with you this afternoon.

I didn't say I wasn't with her.

I just said I don't know
anything about her being missing.

Did you know they were
out driving around together?

No.

I didn't tell Rebecca about it because

'cause there's nothing to mention.

I ran into Jeanine in town
and she asked for a ride home,

that's the extent of it.

Anybody see you drop her off?

I don't know, Lyle.

You seem to think I know
more than I'm telling you.

Sheriff, why so many
questions about a person

that's only been missing for a few hours?

There's a little bit more to it.

Stuart here found her scarf on
the ground behind the house,

there was blood on it.

Oh my god.

Well, maybe Stuart knows
more than he's telling.

The hell with you.

Jeanine said he was abusive to her.

You bastard!

You're a murderer and everybody knows it!

Get the hell outta my house!

[Lyle] Okay, outside.

If you've hurt my wife,

I'll kill you.

Stu, you go home and you cool down

before you do something
you're gonna regret.

If I were you I wouldn't be
pointing fingers at anybody.

Especially being the last
person to see Jeanine.

I'm sorry.

Now, I'm going back to the office.

I'll probably be in and
out the rest of the night.

If you think of anything you call me.

And if I'm not there you leave a message.

Sheriff, wait.

There's something that we need
to tell you about Mrs. Ford.

Mrs. Ford took a few
things from the house.

I guess she felt entitled.

It's upset Rebecca.

But I'd just as soon not
make a big deal out of it.

Sounds like something

you should work out between yourselves.

You're absolutely right.

I sure hope Jeanine's alright.

Me too.

(dramatic music)
(door creaks)

Why did you stop me
from telling the sheriff

about Mrs. Ford?

I had to, they were
grilling me about Jeanine,

bringing up Mrs. Ford would've
only added fuel to the fire.

Well, we can't just leave her out there.

As soon as they find Jeanine

we'll tell them about her, alright?

No, Chuck, it's not alright.

There is nothing more
that we can do for her.

She deserves a proper burial.

I know, and she'll
have one, I promise you.

But for my sake and for yours

now is not the time to let
anyone know she's dead.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

None of this would even be an issue

if you hadn't given Jeanine a ride.

I did an old friend a favor.

It was completely innocent.

I had know way of knowing
it would turn out like this.

Look,

this all will be worked out very soon.

Just hang in there with me.

I love you, Rebecca.

(suspenseful music)

What is it?

Why did Jeanine's husband
say you were a murderer?

(dramatic music)

I tried to tell you
about it back in the woods.

This town is full of people
that swear that I'm a...

A lot of people swear that
Mary's death wasn't an accident.

Is it true?

No.

We were just a couple of mixed up kids

living under the same roof with Leo.

It was a bad situation
that only got worse.

By the end we were fighting constantly.

Her drinking, her drugs,

it all got out of control.

But despite all that people liked her.

She was fun, made friends easily.

Me, they all hated.

I was the angry, young man
who wouldn't march in step.

Not to mention a former mental patient.

So when Mary died they
were all quick to believe

I killed her.

It became the gospel around here.

Truth be damned.

So that's why you left
and never came back.

Yes.

(suspenseful music)

(knife banging)

Mrs. Ford!
(dramatic music)

(gasps)

(door creaks)

Chuck!

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(dramatic music)
(Rebecca gasps)

(screams)
(shovel thuds)

Oh god.

Every year on this day
I say a special prayer,

and yet every year I'm less
sure about how it all happened.

[Leo] Mary was weak

and all those who constantly indulged her

are as guilty as she.

Her weakness was not Mary's sin,

it was her undoing.

Once she had committed
such an unforgivable sin

she should have confessed only to God,

and not to Chuck.

If only she had.

If only she had her life would have been

spared.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(dramatic music)

(engine revs)

(dramatic music)

Rebecca?

Hi.

I'm so sorry to disturb you.

Could I talk to you for a minute?

It's important.

- Sure come on in.
- Thank you.

I don't know whether it's
the town that sets the mood

or the people themselves

but whatever it is
Deerfield is one angry town.

Year in, year out, never seems to change.

If you're not part of the crowd,

it you play your own tune,

you're just asking for trouble.

Chuck found that out the hard way.

Well people can be
narrow-minded and mean

and still be right about Chuck.

(suspenseful music)

Are they?

You're asking me it Chuck killed Mary?

Yes I am.

Mary's car went over a cliff,

her system was full of drugs and alcohol,

medical examiner ruled
it accidental death.

Her parents wanted to reopen the case

but the state attorney saw
no cause to reinvestigate.

So, I don't know what I can tell you.

Tell me what you really believe.

Well, given what was going
on between Chuck and Mary

at the time I think
there's a bit more there

than meets the eye.

But Chuck a murderer?

No, I don't see it.

Course what I think doesn't matter.

Only Chuck knows the whole truth.

(suspenseful music)

I wake up and you're gone.

So was the journal in her car?

I don't know whether
to be angry or worried.

I went to see Wilkerson.

Why did you do that?

I found myself wondering
whether or not I could trust you.

Then I read this.

Go ahead.

Read it.

(suspenseful music)

You didn't show this to Wilkerson?

Depending on what he told me,

I wasn't sure if I was coming back.

And here I am,

and whether I stay or go
depends on what you tell me.

I love you, Rebecca.

Tell me the truth, Chuck.

What happened to Mary?

I want you to trust me.

I need that.

But I'm trying to protect
you from all this.

No more secrets.

It's not about that.

It's about getting you
involved in a crime.

What crime?

Mary didn't die in a car accident.

Don't touch me!

But it wasn't me, I didn't
have anything to do with it.

I wasn't even there.

It was Leo.

Tell me how could you do this?

They were upstairs arguing.

It got violent, Mary
tried to run from Leo,

and he caught her on the landing.

(Mary screaming)

He pushed her or she pulled
away, I don't know which.

(Mary thudding)

What were they arguing about?

Mary slept with Leo.

Oh god.

She told me about it that night.

She was cruel.

They were both cruel in their own way.

And to tell you the truth I
don't know who seduced who.

My wife sleeps with my father
and then throws it in my face.

Burned in my guts like a cancer.

We had it out that night,
it got vicious between us,

but I swear to god I
never laid a hand on her.

I ran outta the house before...

I jumped in my car

and I drove away.

I was so angry it was a
miracle I didn't kill myself.

When I was gone

Leo came back.

She told him everything.

That I knew that they'd slept together.

He snapped, he flew into a rage,

all that guilt turned into anger.

When I came home...

(Leo sobbing)

I found Mary at the foot of
the stairs he was beside her.

Begged for forgiveness.

From me, from god, from my dead mother.

Pleaded with me to help him.

I'd never seen him like that before.

He cried like a child.

I knew then that I had to help him.

In some strange way I felt sorry for him.

So I did the unthinkable.

I put Mary's body in her car.

And I sent it over a cliff to
make it look like an accident.

I left town the day after the funeral.

I don't know what to say.

You can start by
telling me you believe me.

I can't.

I just need a little time
to let it all sink in.

Do you even have an instinct about it

one way or the other?

No, not after everything
that's happened today.

And what about Jeanine, for God's sakes?

Why do you care about Jeanine?

I'm just trying to put it all together.

I mean did you really have
a chance meeting in town?

No.

She was trying to blackmail me.

She saw me put Mary's body in the car,

she kept quiet about it for 20 years,

she's desperate for money.

What did you tell her?

That she wouldn't get
even one dime outta me.

Trust me it's all been taken care of.

Trust you?

Those are empty words to me right now.

I don't know if you're the
man I fell in love with

or if you're...

Or if I'm what?

A murderer?

In that case.

What are you doing?

Chuck, please no.

You don't trust me?

You had better keep this with you.

I'm sorry.

Keep it pointed at me

because you never know.

Don't do this, okay?

(door creaks)

(suspenseful music)

I'm closing up, Stu.

You okay to drive?

Yeah, yeah.

Go home.

I got nobody to go home to.

Yeah, I know, Stu, it's a raw deal.

I'm sure she'll turn up.

Yeah.

In how many pieces?

Look, I can't help thinking

we wouldn't be having this conversation

if I hadn't let her leave early.

Let me ask you something.

What excuse she give
for cutting out on ya?

Said she was meeting somebody.

Chuck Hausman?

[Art] She didn't say.

But that's who it was, wasn't it?

I guess.

You saw her get in
the car with him, right?

Yeah, so?

That lying piece of garbage.

Said it was just a coincidence
he met up with her.

Said it right to my face!

Well, if that's what he said

then that's probably what happened.

Don't get all worked up, Stuart.

Now come on, don't do anything foolish.

(swing squeaking)

(suspenseful music)

(book thuds)

(suspenseful music)

What was once your refuge from me,

is not the repository of your reward.

(dramatic music)

(Chuck grunts)

(swing squeaks)

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(keys jingling)

(dramatic music)

(Rebecca gasping)

(dramatic music)

Are you alright?

What's wrong?

I found the money.

Leo hid it in the treehouse.

Really?

(dramatic music)
Wait!

What's gotten into you?

Get your hands off me!

Not until you tell me
what this is all about.

- You killed Jeanine.
- What?

I found the body in the
trunk of your old car.

This is crazy, I didn't kill her.

I don't know anything about it.

I don't wanna hear
any more of your lies!

Get away from me!

Rebecca.

Rebecca, listen to me.

I didn't kill anybody.

You gotta believe me, Rebecca.

Rebecca, I don't know
what you're talking about.

I swear.

Wait a second, wait a second!

I didn't!

Please, don't do this.

I didn't kill anybody.

(sobbing)

(tires screeching)

[Stuart] Jeanine!

You gotta die.

(rifle blasts)

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

(men grunting)

(rifle thuds)

(dramatic music)

(engine revs)

(suspenseful music)

(tires screeching)

(suspenseful music)

Art!
(knocks)

Art!

[Art] What are you doing?

Chuck killed Jeanine.

[Art] What?

I found the body back at the house.

Oh god.

I went to the sheriff's
office, he's not there.

We have to get ahold of him.

Alright, alright take it easy.

I don't know where Chuck is.

He could be coming after me right now.

You're safe here, don't worry.

Come on, come on.

Just go into my office and stay there.

I'll make sure the back door is locked.

And I'll phone Lyle.

(door slams)

(Rebecca breathes heavily)

(dramatic music)

Like you said, Lyle wasn't in his office,

and he wasn't at home either

so I left messages both places.

So what do we do now?

Just wait 'til we hear from him.

(tires screech)

That could be Lyle.

Just stay here.

(Chuck knocking)

[Chuck] Let me in, Art!

Open the damned door.

Art!

Open it up, come on!

Open the damned door, Art!

Open the door!

Art!

Hold on, hold on, I'm coming, Chuck.

Hold on, hold on.

Where is she?

Rebecca!

Calm down.

I know she's here I
saw her car out front.

(skull cracking)

(suspenseful music)

What will happen to him?

He'll finally pay for what he's done.

Look, don't you feel sorry for him.

Jeanine's not the first
person he's murdered.

Mary?

Yeah.

Yeah, he got away with that one

and he would have gotten
away with this one too

if you hadn't've found Jeanine's body

in the trunk of that old Mustang.

How do you know that?

What?

Where the body was.

It was the first thing that you told me

when you came in.

Oh, yeah, right.

Yeah.

I'm gonna try Lyle again.

(suspenseful music)

(phone beeping)

[Answering Machine] You've reached

the Deerfield Sheriff's office.

I'm not in so leave a message

and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

(machine beeps)

Yeah, Lyle, it's Art again.

Where are you, man?

This situation here is serious.

I need you to get to the Bar and Grill

as soon as possible.

(gasps)

It's not always good to be so smart.

I never told you where
I found Jeanine's body.

You wouldn't know that unless
you put her there yourself.

Sit down.

Sit down!

I did Jeanine a favor.

She was miserable, and no
one knew that more than me.

It was a mercy killing.

Pinning it on you that's the reward.

Jeannine had to die

so you'd finally get what's coming to you.

I waited 20 years for him to
pay for what he did to Mary.

My Mary!

The woman I loved and you
took her away from me.

Twice.

First when you married her

and then when you killed her.

Yeah, you never fooled me
with that phony accident.

I was with you when they
brought Mary up from the ravine.

Remember?

You never even shed a tear.

Chuck didn't kill Mary.

Leo did.

Bullshit!

Bullshit, it's bullshit!

All I wanted is for you to
take the fall for Jeanine.

Bartok and Gromek they were
supposed to find her body

but they fucked up.

Well, looks like we've got
a change in plans here.

Never a dull moment in Deerfield, Chuck.

I'll have to take care of you myself.

Now, she has to die too.

You'll never get away with this.

You called Lyle, he'll...

And he'll what?

He'll believe every word I
tell him when he gets here.

He'll believe every word.

He'll believe Chuck killed Jeanine

and you found her body.

And then you tried to tell him

and couldn't find him so
you came to me for help.

And then Chuck, he figured it all out,

so he shows up like a fucking lunatic,

busts in, grabs my gun,

and kills you before I could stop him.

And now, of course, I have
to shoot you in self defense.

Case closed.

The money.

The money, Chuck found it.

Art, thousands of dollars
and you can have it all.

You can leave Deerfield

and you can live really well forever.

But if you kill us, then the
money will be gone for good.

You're lying.

No, I'm telling you the truth.

I'm telling you the truth but
only Chuck knows where it is.

(suspenseful music)

Where is it?

Let her go and I'll tell you.

Not until the money's in my hands.

(dramatic music)

Do anything stupid and I start shooting.

You understand?

I understand.

(sirens blaring)

Damn!

Pull over.

Keep the motor running.

(siren blaring)

Hey, Lyle, what's up?

Why don't you tell me?

I don't know what you're talking about.

What are you two doing
out together at this hour?

Is there something going on
here I should know about?

Whoa, Lyle, so many questions.

(gun blasts)
(Rebecca screams)

Too many!

Get the hell outta here!

(Rebecca sobbing)
Go, step on it!

(tires screeching)

Another murder you'll
take the fall for, Chuck.

By the time we're done
you'll beg me to kill you.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Get out and untie your husband.

Try anything and she's dead.

Where is it?

In there, in a bag
wedged up the chimney.

Get it.

(suspenseful orchestral music)

Open it up, let's see.

(dramatic music)

Put it down.

And you'll share this
with Bartok and Gromek?

Just put it down and step back.

Chuck, give him the money.

Listen to your wife, Chuck.

(fist thuds)
(Art groans)

Get up!

I said get up!

You just give a reason
to pull the trigger.

I should give you what you gave Jeanine,

a way out of your misery.

Go ahead, shoot me.

You always were a coward.

I wish I could feel sorry for you.

You're pathetic.

Only a coward like
you would kill Jeanine.

- Chuck!
- Drop the gun!

Drop it!

Wait a minute, Art.

Stuart, what is this?

I want to know what's going on here.

He killed your wife.

What?

He killed Jeanine.

Why the hell would I kill Jeanine?

He's trying to frame Chuck
to avenge Mary's death.

That's a load of bull.

Use your head, Stuart.

She's his wife, she'll say
anything to get him off the hook.

It's the truth, he loved Mary,

he never forgave Chuck for
taking her away from him.

Don't listen to her, Stu.

She's lying, you know the
truth as well as I do.

He and Jeanine always had
the hots for each other.

Then why would he kill her?

It doesn't make any sense.

It doesn't make sense
because he's crazy.

He's always been crazy.

He told me what happened.

He told me he got Jeanine
alone and lost his temper

and stabbed her over and over again.

If you're hellbent on killing
me you better do it now,

but it won't change the truth.

I never touched her.

Art did it.

He killed the sheriff too in cold blood.

You've known me all my life, Stu.

You know I could never
do a thing like that.

But you know he has to
pay for what he's done.

Then call the state
police, let them handle it.

You call them and it'll all be over.

He'll walk away from Jeanine's murder

just like he walked away from Mary's.

Jeanine once told me
that you had something

to do with Mary's death.

It wasn't me.

It was Leo.

Listen to him.

Leo killed Mary.

I killed Jeanine.

Everybody's a killer but him.

He's the murderer.

And murderers deserve to die so shoot him!

[Rebecca] No!

What if he's wrong?

What if I'm innocent?

Can you look me in the
eye and pull that trigger?

Are you willing to take that chance?

You should've listened to me, Stuart.

(gun bangs)
(screams)

You're gonna be big news
in the paper tomorrow.

Front page.

You killed four people
before I could stop you.

Oh, and thanks for the money.

(gun blasts)
(Rebecca screams)

(Art gasps)

Stuart, it's alright,
just take it easy, okay?

I'm sorry.

Shh, it's okay.

I'm going for help.

Alright, Stuart, it's okay, buddy.

It's alright, it's alright.

We're gonna get you some help.

Okay?

(light orchestral music)

I guess this is goodbye
to your old hometown.

Yup.

Just one quick stop.

I'll send you a check for Mrs. Ford burial

as soon as I get back.

I'll take care of everything.

How's Stuart doing?

Oh, he's gonna be okay.

May take a little while

but that shoulder should
heal up just fine.

Tell me, what do you think
Leo did with that money?

You think he even had it?

Nothing Leo did would surprise me.

Thanks for everything.

Sure.

Thanks, Jay.

Take care of yourself, you hear?

I found something in here
that might interest you.

[Rebecca] What is it?

Last page.

Read it.

[Leo] The approach of death
changes one in profound ways.

In fact, the old me is already dead.

It was that other man who hurt you, Chuck.

And for the pain I caused you,

for the happiness I've robbed you of,

I will die broken and humbled,

and yet not without hope.

Hope that my passing can set you free.

I'm very proud of you, Chuck.

Proud of what you've become

in spite of the ordeal of
growing up with a father

who lost his way long before
you had a chance to find yours.

For my transgressions
I'm truly sorry, son.

And I ask you and God to forgive me.

There's nothing I can
do to change the past

but the future is in God's hands.

I ask him to bless you and your new wife

and give you the happiness and success

you richly deserve.

(light orchestral music)

[Rebecca] I think we did the right thing

giving that money back
to Gromek and Bartok.

[Chuck] Yeah.

And Art finally got his share too.

(light orchestral music)