Lucky Day (2002) - full transcript

An aspiring actress working for a courier service gets involved in the disappearance of her co-worker.

(upbeat jazzy music)

♪ Look out world ♪

♪ Coming through ♪

♪ Grass so green ♪

♪ Sky so blue ♪

♪ And this could

be my lucky day ♪

♪ Roll them dice ♪

♪ Spin that wheel ♪

♪ You're gonna see

a whole new deal ♪

♪ 'Cause this could be ♪

♪ My lucky day ♪

♪ I can feel it in the air ♪

♪ In every step I take ♪

♪ How it happens ♪

♪ I don't care ♪

♪ It's gonna be mine ♪

♪ Be graceful ♪

♪ Ring those bells ♪

♪ Start to cheer ♪

♪ We all know that

I've been here ♪

♪ For the first

time in my life ♪

♪ I can really say ♪

♪ That all those plans

I missed for me ♪

♪ Will now be only history ♪

♪ 'Cause this is gonna

be my lucky day ♪

♪ This is gonna

be my lucky day ♪

- Jack!

Jack, where are you?

I need your opinion.

Jack?

All right.

Which one?

Now think sexy.

- Well if you're after sexy,

I would stop right there.

- No, not that sexy.

- Well, how sexy

do you have to look

to work for a courier agency?

- I am going to

an audition, Jack.

I just wanna pull

out all the stops.

- Honey, you're a great actress.

I don't think you have

to run around half naked

to get a part.

- Yeah, well, it

doesn't seem to matter

how good an audition I give.

I am not getting a break.

- They told me not

to marry an actress

because the drama never

stops at the stage door.

- What is that supposed to mean?

- It means I want you to relax.

Have faith in yourself.

You'll get a part soon.

- Yeah well, I have

lost the last six parts

I tried out for.

My career has ground to a halt.

- Honey, it's a tough business.

You know that.

Just keep on trying.

- Oh god, you know what?

You don't even understand, Jack.

- I don't understand?

Because I'm only an accountant?

Is that it?

I got a novel in there

that is half finished.

It's not getting written

because I gotta put on

a damn suit everyday

and get out there and make sense

of other people's

screwed up finances.

Well, quite frankly,

our finances are

almost non-existent.

- Yeah well nobody's

stopping you from writing.

- Just the 50 hours a week

I have to put in the office

and the fact when I come home

I hardly see straight.

- Yeah well, I work too.

- Part time job at

a courier agency

barely takes care

of the phone bill.

- That is not fair!

- You know what?

The next time you start

feeling sorry for yourself

remember you're not the only one

who's feeling frustrated here.

- Oh, come on, Jack.

- I'll see you at dinner.

(Nora scoffs)

- This day's starting off well.

(scoffs)

(boat horn honks)

(sirens wailing)

(phones ringing)

- Let me run that, sir.

Pick up 505 Madison Ave.

Package on the 767 Third

Avenue, Suite 1209.

That'll be 40 minutes.

Thank you.

Bad day to come in late, girl.

The phones have been lit up

like my Uncle George

at a Christmas party.

- I'm sorry, Clara.

I can't catch a break today.

- Hey gorgeous.

- Hey!

- How's Aerolitic's own gift

to Broadway this morning, eh?

- Well, I got an

audition this afternoon.

So I am very nervous.

- Oh, come on.

A director would be

crazy not to choose you.

I keep telling you,

you look like Rita Hayworth

when she did "Gilda".

You are gonna be

a big star, kid.

- Yeah well, I wish there

were a few more directors

out there who felt

the same way you do.

(Nora sighs)

What's with you today, anyway?

You look different.

- I am different.

I woke up this morning

and I had the feeling.

First time since Evelyn died.

- You know, Bill, I don't

think I wanna hear about this.

- No, no, no.

I ain't talking about that.

I'm talking about the feeling.

Like today's my lucky day.

Every time that feeling came on,

something good always happened.

We'd get a check in the mail

or Evelyn would buy

a lottery ticket

and we'd win a few bucks.

But there was always

something good coming.

I've already bought

my lottery ticket

for today's drawing.

- Oh.

- It's gonna be a big one.

They haven't had a

winner in six weeks

and it's up to 13.5 mill.

- Wow.

That'd be some nice

Christmas presents.

- Tell me about it.

Listen, Nora, you and Jack,

well you've been

the closest thing

to family I've had in

the last couple of years.

So, whatever I win,

you're gonna see a piece of it.

(Nora laughs)

- Well, forgive me if I

don't hold my breath, huh?

- Oh yeah, you go

ahead and laugh

but you know what?

I think you should

touch my sleeve.

Maybe some of my good luck

will rub off on you on

your audition today.

- All right.

Oh yeah, I feel lucky.

- Oh, this is gonna be one sweet

I told you so, good looking.

- Hey, if you're still lucky,

here's your morning deliveries.

Shouldn't be too tough a schlep.

Everything's midtown.

- Well, lucky me.

Hey, see what I'm telling you?

It's starting already.

Keep smiling, gorgeous.

(Bill whistling)

- I've listened to

that man's whistling

every time he leaves the office

for the last 10 years.

You would think he would

update his songs by now.

- Well, hey, I like

those old show tunes.

Anyway, he's Irish-Italian.

Very theatrical.

That's why we love him.

- Maybe that's why you love him.

(Nora laughs)

- Aerolitic Express

Messengers, how can I help you?

(sirens wailing)

When did you think

it was over, Alec?

No, help me out here

'cause I really wanna know.

Did you wake up one

day and that was it?

Or was it more gradual?

I just wasn't so

charming or flawless

or young anymore.

Oh?

Because I know exactly

when I stopped loving you.

Like one of those moments

when the world's caught

in a flash of lightning

and the image is

seared onto your brain.

I remember walking

through that door,

putting down my bags,

and looking into your eyes.

Well, of course I didn't

know her name right then,

but I saw her there

just the same.

You weren't even

looking at me anymore.

- Oh wow.

(claps)

Bravo.

Excellent performance.

I'm sure it would

wow moms and pops

at dinner theaters

all over the suburbs.

But you see, what

we require here

is a professional.

One with subtly, intelligence,

and training.

(tense music)

Make a note of that.

Could somebody here, please,

just make a note of that

so that I don't have to waste

anymore of my life

listening to this?

Well?

Next.

- Hey, you know what?

That was not a dinner

theater performance.

I know this part and I have

worked very hard on it.

- Oh.

Well, obviously not hard enough.

- Look, I haven't

worked with you before

so I don't know what

your problem is,

but I saw your last two plays

and may I respectfully

suggest you deal with it

instead of dumping on other

people's talent and hard work?

Thank you so much for your time.

- Next!

(Nora sighs)

- Unbelievable.

Hmm, there goes

my acting career.

- Hey, somebody had to tell him.

Last time I auditioned for him,

he told me I'd be perfect

if he were casting

a bad biker movie.

(Nora laughs)

Look, once what you

did gets around,

they'll probably

give you an award.

- Why do we do this to

ourselves, Kristen, why?

- It's showbiz, girl.

And for the glamor, of course.

(Nora laughs)

Hey, you wanna grab a coffee?

- Oh, I'd love to but I can't.

I wanna go home and

make something special

for Jack tonight.

My nerves kinda got the

better of me this morning.

- And he got the worst.

- Yeah, something like that.

Anyway, I wanna

make it up to him.

- [Director] Next!

(woman sobbing)

- [Nora And Kristen]

Let's get out of here.

(Nora and Kristen laughing)

- You were great.

Forget him.

You're gonna be fine.

(Nora humming)

(singing in foreign language)

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- [Bill] Hi Nora, I told you so.

- Hey Bill.

What are you talking about?

- I told you this was gonna

be my lucky day and it was.

Only bigger than I figured.

- So you finally

got the lady in 216

to go out with you, huh?

- Oh, come on.

It's bigger than that.

I'm being serious here, Nora.

- Well tell me.

What is it?

- No, I wanna tell

you in person.

- You won some money on

the lottery, didn't you?

- Uh-uh.

I'm not saying anything else.

I wanna see your

face when I tell you.

Listen, how about I come

over for dinner, huh?

- Uh, Bill,

you know, I don't think

that's such a great idea.

- Oh, come on.

I promise I won't stay long

and I'll bring the wine.

I really have to

celebrate this with ya.

- Oh, all right then.

Come on over.

Hope you like penne alla vodka

- Well, I prefer pasta.

Well, listen,

anything you're making

that's fine with me.

(Nora laughs)

And Nora,

whatever we eatin',

make sure you got

a chair behind you

'cause when I tell you my news

it's gonna knock you

right off your feet.

- So you really

did win big, huh?

- Big?

Listen, on my way home

I'm gonna stop at

the cafe on 28th

and I'm gonna lay

down a bet or two.

After what happened today

I don't need another win.

But listen, when you're

running this hot,

why not keep it rolling, right?

- Well, I guess.

Now you got me really curious.

I wanna hear this.

- Uh-uh, you're gonna

have to be patient.

Listen, I only got a

couple more deliveries

and then I'll be over, okay?

How about 7:00 o'clock?

Bye, gorgeous.

- All right, bye.

Okay.

(Bill laughs)

- Oh man, oh man.

Oh.

Thanks Evelyn!

(Bill whistling)

(thunder rumbling)

(sirens wailing)

(tense music)

(thunder crashing)

Hey.

I didn't expect to

see you so soon.

So what are you doing here?

(phone ringing)

(singing in foreign language)

- [Jack] Hi, this

is Jack Barkin.

I'm out of the office right now

but if you leave a message

I'll call you back

as soon as I can.

(phone beeps)

- Hi, Jack, it's me.

It's 8:30.

I got dinner ready.

Look, I hope there's

nothing wrong.

Call me if you get this, okay?

Bye.

(horns honking)

(thunder crashing)

(tense music)

Hey sweetheart.

I was getting worried about you.

- The subway was shut down.

I couldn't catch

a cab in the rain.

- Oh god, you're soaking wet.

Here, let me, let

me just take this.

Got it.

Ew.

Oh sweetheart, look.

I'm really sorry

about this morning.

I was just so nervous

about my audition

and when I got there

I practically ripped

the guy's head off.

So, needless to say, I

don't think I got the job.

You okay?

- Walking 20 blocks in the rain

took the edge off my enthusiasm.

- Ah, yeah.

Well look, I made us

a really nice dinner.

We're having penne alla vodka

- Oh, a romantic

dinner for three?

- Yeah, well I set

a place for Bill.

Look, apparently something

really big happened

and he wanted to come

over and tell me.

I promise I won't

let him stay long.

- It's fine.

- What's the matter, Jack?

- Nothing.

Too much work.

Too much stress, I guess.

- All right then.

Tell you what.

We are not gonna wait for Bill.

Tonight there are no

audits, no phone calls,

no responsibilities,

besides complimenting

the chef, of course.

So please take a seat, sir.

Dinner will be served shortly.

(sirens wailing)

(horns honking)

- Hey guys.

- Hey.

Yeah, looks good.

(phones ringing)

- Aerolitic Express Messenger.

Please hold.

Aerolitic Express

Messenger, please hold.

It's starting already.

You know what we

need around here?

Five more messengers

and a rocket car or two.

- Have you seen Bill

yet this morning?

- That's part of the problem.

Hasn't shown up yet.

- You tried his place?

- No answer.

Been trying since 7:00.

- Yeah, I've been trying too.

You know, he didn't turn

up to dinner last night?

- I've been working

here 10 years

and he hasn't missed

a day that I've seen.

I mean, I don't know

what it would take

to put him out of action

or to miss a meal.

- I know, neither do I.

Aerolitic Express Messengers.

How can I help you?

- Normally I wouldn't

do this, Nora.

But seeing as you're

pretty well family to Bill,

I figure it's okay.

- I really appreciate

it, thank you.

And he didn't pick up

his newspaper either.

- I'm telling you, I

don't think he came back

last night at all.

I didn't see him.

Plus, he usually stops in

and takes old Mrs.

Clinger's shihtzu

out for a walk

before he turns in

and he never showed up.

(baby crying)

(Nora sighs)

(dog barks)

- You know, he didn't

turn up to work

and he hasn't checked in.

Now I'm getting really

worried about him.

Is there anybody else

he might've stayed with?

- Lady, you're the closest thing

he's got to family I've seen.

If you don't know where he is,

I don't know who would.

- Oh boy.

(soft music)

What about this?

No.

(Nora chuckles)

- For what it's worth,

I hope the old guy's okay.

He's got a good heart.

Always helping someone.

There's not a whole

lot left like him.

You know what I mean?

- Yeah, I know.

(sirens wailing)

Look, I realize that he

hasn't been gone very long.

It's just that

it's not like him.

This is a guy who hasn't

missed a day of work in years

and he never showed up

to his apartment last

night or this morning.

- Your friend a drinker?

- Yeah, he has a

drink now and then.

Look, he's not a drunk.

- No.

You said he thought this

was his lucky day, right?

So, maybe he did win a few bucks

and he decided to celebrate.

- No.

It's just not Bill.

- Maybe he met a lady

and he's still celebrating.

(Nora laughs)

- Detective, he's

almost 70 years old.

- Well, men still

celebrate at that age.

Or so I'm told.

- You're not even beginning to

take this seriously, are you?

- No, what I think is you're

taking it too seriously.

- Look, he's my friend

and he said that

he was on his way

over to my apartment

to celebrate

with me and my husband

and he never showed up

and he didn't go home.

- Look, ma'am, ma'am,

I told you I can't

take a report yet.

You know, after

48 hours elapses,

then you give me a call

and we'll take action, okay?

- Okay.

- In the meantime, you

might wanna try a few things

to find him yourself.

Like figuring out who

was the last person

to see him yesterday.

Would you know

who that would be?

- Well nobody at his apartment.

- Ah.

- Might've been one

of his deliveries.

- Ah, there you go.

You see?

Maybe one of those people

remembers something he said

about where he was going,

what he was doing, you know.

- Yeah, thanks detective.

I'll give it a try.

- Oh, and Miss Barkin?

- Mm-hmm.

- I would keep it low-key, huh?

I mean, he's only gone

for a night, you know?

You don't wanna alarm people.

- And what if something

did happen to him?

- Well now, if something

did happen to him,

well that's a whole

different ballgame now.

Then it's my job.

(Nora sighs)

- Mm-hmm.

Yeah, okay.

- [Woman] Right

away, we need them.

- Hey Marinello.

Nice to see the flakes wind

up at your desk for once.

- Oh yeah?

Who said she's a flake?

- When someone comes to us

to track down dinner guests,

I do.

- Well, maybe this dinner

guest is really in trouble.

(partner laughs)

Keep your mind open.

You might even learn how

to solve a case one day.

- Yeah.

Hey, thanks for the advice.

(Marinello laughs)

- [Jack] You went where?

- The police.

Look, Bill is missing.

I just want someone

to help me find him.

- What are you talking about?

A man misses dinner

and you're turning it

into a major crime scene?

- Jack, this is not just dinner.

He has disappeared.

He never came to

work this morning

and he didn't go

home last night.

- That's not our problem.

- He's our friend.

Of course it's our problem.

- Well, he must have

family somewhere.

(Nora sighs)

- We are all he's got.

You know that.

Jack, I just asked the police

to look into his disappearance.

Why are you making such

a big deal out of this?

- I'm not.

I just think

they're busy people.

You just can't walk in there

and treat the police

like some lost and found.

You gonna look stupid.

- What, I'm stupid to

care about a friend?

- I didn't say that.

- Oh, so caring about

a friend isn't stupid.

It's just me that's stupid.

- I didn't say that either.

- You know what?

You can be very insensitive.

- And you're not being sensible.

Calling out the Marines

because some guy

blew off a dinner engagement.

Oh honey, I didn't

mean to upset you.

- Yeah well, for somebody

who isn't trying,

you're doing a very good job.

- Look, he'll turn up.

Can you see anything

that could keep

that old guy down?

I just don't want you to go off

on some wild goose chase

when the guy's

probably just fine.

He wouldn't want

you to worry either.

You know that.

(tense music)

Tell you what.

Why don't you choose a wine

while I finish up here?

- Okay.

(upbeat music)

Would you listen to

yourself, Kristen?

Maybe Jack has a point?

Bill has no one else in the

world to worry about him

and I'm supposed to beat

myself up for caring?

I don't think so.

- Look, I'm just saying,

things are tense

between the two of you

and you obsessing about Bill

is the last thing your

relationship needs.

- I am not obsessing.

This isn't about

our relationship.

This is about Bill.

- Okay, I know, you're right.

There's nothing

you can do about it

right now anyway.

The police aren't

getting involved.

- Well, the detective I spoke to

said I should

follow up on my own.

- Oh, right.

I hate to break this to you,

but you're an actress not

a private's detective.

- Yeah well, I played

one three years ago,

did a ton of research,

fabulous reviews.

- Yeah, and I researched

being the Queen of France.

Doesn't mean they

gave me no crown.

- Look, all I'm gonna do

is look at the people

Bill might've seen

the day he disappeared and

ask them a few questions.

- Oh, like what?

Excuse me, my friend

vanished into thin air.

Did he tell you he was

thinking of vanishing?

- Isn't funny, Kristen.

- That's what they

said at my audition

for "Little Murders"

at the Shubert.

- Ha, ha, ha.

Bill said he was right

about his lucky day

and that he'd own big.

- What, the lottery?

How much?

- I don't know, just big.

- Nora, just 'cause he said it--

- He also said it

was my lucky day

and guess what?

Remember that audition I did?

The director phoned,

I got a call back.

- Oh please.

That was talent, not luck.

- Bill said that he

had a lucky feeling

and I think he won.

- Okay, so say he won.

So what?

- Well, you know how

Bill loves to talk.

He was so excited.

Maybe he talked about

it to the wrong person.

- Oh, hold up.

I don't like where

this is going.

So you're saying someone

did something to him

to get a lottery ticket?

- It's possible.

If Bill was okay, he'd have

been at my place the other night

and he'd have been at

work the next morning.

At the very least, he

would've called me, right?

- What are you planning to do?

- Well,

I put together a list

of the deliveries

Bill made on Monday afternoon.

I'm gonna go visit

them one by one

and try to get a feel

of who he might've talked to

about it being his lucky day.

- Nora, if you're

right about this,

the person you're

looking to find

might be some

psycho freak killer.

I mean, has that had any

impact on you at all?

- Yes, the thought

had crossed my mind

but I think I can

get what I need

without setting off

any alarm bells.

- Oh, really?

- Well, that's

the theory anyway.

I guess I'm gonna find out

how good an actor

I really am, huh?

- I guess.

(jazzy music)

- I'm afraid Mr. Barach is busy.

Can I connect you to

the other Mr. Barach?

Thank you.

Can I help you?

- This may seem like

a really odd question

but my dad is a courier

and he made a delivery

here Monday afternoon

and well, he's getting

very forgetful,

so when he got home he

wasn't wearing his cap

and he thought that

he maybe left it here.

- Sorry, but nobody turned

in anything like that.

- You sure?

It was a Derek Jeter souvenir.

- I straighten up here

every night at closing.

If it was here, I'd

have known about it.

- Look, I know

you're really busy

and I don't mean to bother you,

it's just my sister gave

him this cap last Christmas

and if she finds out he's

lost it she's gonna go crazy.

Maybe if you could remember

whether or not he was wearing it

when he came in, I might

be able to figure out

at what point in

the day he lost it.

- Have I seen you

somewhere before?

- Uh, no, I don't think so.

- I mean, not like this,

but are you like on

television or something?

You an actor?

- Yeah, yeah I'm an actor.

- Oh yeah, I know.

Onstage last year, off

Broadway, "Driven by the Rain."

- My god, you saw that?

- Yeah, it was a

really weird play

but you were really good.

- Yeah well, that

was a tough one.

Boy did the writing suck

but the cast was very good.

- Wow.

It's not everyday we get a

real live celebrity here.

- Well, hardly.

So, do you think

you remember him?

- We get a lot of

messengers in here.

What did your dad look like?

- He's five foot

six, graying hair,

whistles, always show tunes.

- Hey, I remember that guy.

Yeah, he's been in

here a couple times.

Came in here mid afternoon,

dropped off some documents

from the courthouse.

To tell you the truth,

I can't remember if

he had a hat on or--

- Well, did you

talk to him at all?

- No, I was on the

phone when he came in.

I just signed the

receipts and then he left.

- And could anyone else

have talked to him?

- No, door to my

desk and then out.

- Okay.

Well, thank you anyway.

- Well, it was really

nice to meet you.

- Thank you.

- Listen, could I

get your autograph?

- Yeah, sure.

(Nora laughs)

- I hope you find the hat.

You're always

welcome to come back

and it might turn up.

- That's very kind of you.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

(gentle music)

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- Hey Nora, are you okay?

- Yeah.

It's just turning

into a long day.

- Any luck?

- Well, if you call three

don't remember hims,

getting kicked out of

another two offices,

and nearly having to buy

a squeaky clean used low-mileage

car a success, then no.

- Girl, why don't

you just go home?

- Oh, I don't know.

I think I'll try a couple

more on the way home.

Way home.

But of course!

Bill said he was going to his

bookmaker on the way home.

Now, who better to tell about

how lucky he felt, right?

- Bookmakers?

Okay, that is not a good idea.

- Yeah, and who better to try

and steal someone's

lottery ticket?

- Yeah, and who better

to throw your butt

in the trunk of a car

for sticking her nose

where it don't belong?

- Hey, forget about it.

(Kristen chuckles)

Don't worry, I'll be careful.

- Nora, I can't stop

you from doing this,

but you definitely can't

stop me from worrying either.

- One more stop and

then I'm going home.

I'll call you later, okay?

Oh, and Kristen?

- What?

- Thanks for worrying.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- [Nora] Bye.

- Bye.

(tense music)

(horns honking)

(sirens wailing)

- [Man] Taxi!

- We should go soon.

All right, listen up.

We're getting ready to move.

On the signal, Terry

and me go in the front.

Unit two, cover the alley.

- [Officer] You got it.

- Aw man.

Did you put mustard

on my sandwich?

- You said you wanted

mustard on your sandwich.

- I didn't ask for mustard.

Why would I ask for mustard?

I hate mustard.

- Hey.

Check it out.

What do you figure

that's all about?

- I don't know.

But whatever she'd doing,

we don't need it right now.

- Hi there.

I was hoping you might be able

to help me with something.

- Depends.

- Well, my dad came in

here on Monday afternoon

and I was wondering if

you might've seen him.

- Well, a lot of guys

come by here, lady.

- Yeah, well his

name is Bill Reagan.

- A lot of guys don't

introduce themselves.

- He's about five foot

six, graying hair.

- Oh, you just described

about half the guys

who come in here.

- Yeah, well.

Oh, also he whistles.

He comes in here a lot.

No?

- I'm sorry, lady.

- Don't turn away from me.

I'm talking to you.

This is important.

Look, my family

is really worried.

I just need to know

if you've seen him.

Please?

- You think it's a tip off?

- I'd feel a whole lot better

if we made our move

five minutes ago.

This is starting to stink.

- Nobody saw your father

and nobody knows

anything about him.

(Nora sighs)

- All right.

- What the hell is this now?

(timer beeping)

- That's our cue.

Police, freeze!

- Away from the counter, now.

Terry, go.

- [Officer] Stay down!

(door crashing)

- [Terry] Step away

from the computer now.

Open the cage.

- You know anything

about computers?

Because mine just crashed.

Wiped the whole hard drive.

Can I put my hands down now?

(dramatic music)

(Nora gasps)

- That's far

enough, little lady.

You're not going anywhere.

- I keep trying to tell you,

I don't understand what

you're talking about.

I didn't warn anybody

about anything.

- Right.

And that's how come

you started training

for the Olympic hurdles

when Detective Miller

was trying to question you.

- Well, how am I supposed

to know he's a detective?

Look, no offense,

but he looks more like something

out the road company version

of "Wise Guys" than a cop.

He could've identified himself.

- Well, consider me identified.

Now how about telling us

what you were doing in

that betting parlor?

- I was looking for a friend.

- A pretty girl like you

has to look for friends

in a place like that?

- No, that is not what I meant.

A friend of mine disappeared

a couple of days ago.

- So what?

You started making bets

about what happened to him?

- No.

The detective I talked to

suggested that I go to the

places he may have visited

the day he disappeared

and figure out who was the

last person to talk to him.

- Which detective?

- Well, detective...

Oh, Marinello.

Detective Marinello,

he works here.

The last thing my friend said

is that he was going

there to place a bet.

- You wanna tell Marinello

to get over here now?

- Sure.

- You can get out

of here if you want.

(phones ringing)

(people chattering)

- What's going on?

- You know her?

- Yeah, she stopped by

yesterday in missing persons.

- Yeah well,

following your advice,

three months of work on

a bookmarking operation

just got blown off when

she walked into the shop.

- I didn't advise

her to go in there.

What are you talking about?

- That's not what she says

and that's not what's

going in my report.

I'll leave you two

to get reacquainted.

- Oh look, I'm really sorry.

I didn't mean to get

you into trouble.

- I'll survive.

What the hell were you

doing in that place?

- Well, it's just I

remember Bill told me

that that's where he was going

on his way to my place

and I wanted to ask

if they'd seen him.

- All right.

So you asked around, right?

Now you're finished.

- What?

I don't know.

Guess that depends

if we find Bill, huh?

- We?

Hey Miss Barkin, you're

not getting it here now.

Come on.

- I am not gonna

sit at home and wait

while my friend is

out there somewhere

hurt or worse, with

nobody trying to help him.

- Look, I'll prepare a

report on your friend

if he doesn't show

up by morning.

But as of now, you're no longer

in the detective business.

You understand that?

- No, the only thing

that I understand

is my friend is missing

and so far nobody's doing

a damn thing about it!

Am I free to go?

- Oh, please.

- Well, thank you.

(phones ringing)

(tense music)

- Yeah, I got it.

(Nora sighs)

- What do you expect me to say?

I come home, you're not here.

There's no message,

no call, nothing.

And when you finally call

you're at the police station.

- Well, it was just

a misunderstanding.

- Which wouldn't have happened

if you hadn't been

sticking your nose

into something the police

should be handling.

- Yeah well, they're not.

Nobody is except me and

Bill is still missing.

- I don't wanna hear it.

Nora, I'm busting my

chops everyday out there

trying to stay ahead of

the credit card companies

and you running

around aggravating

the police department.

- I'm just worried about Bill.

- Well worry about

us for a change.

Nora, I think you're mixing up

your priorities big time here.

- That is not fair.

- Oh funny.

That's what I keep saying.

I remember the times

when the two of us

were all we worried about.

You know the big

plans that we had,

how we're gonna work together,

how we're gonna

make it all happen.

- Nothing has changed.

Those plans are still there.

- I don't know.

Are they?

I have to get some writing done,

keep up my part of the plan.

(Nora sighs)

(upbeat music)

- This is choice.

You stir up a nest of

seasoned criminals,

the police tell you to stop,

Jack tells you to stop,

and here you are planning to get

right back into trouble.

- Well, what do

you want me to do?

Just give up?

- Given what's happened so far,

that's not a bad idea.

Nora, Bill might be missing

but you're gonna wind up

in the hospital or worse.

- So I'll be more careful.

- Don't say that.

To be more careful suggests

that you're not being

careful in the first place.

What you're being is reckless.

- Okay, so I'll be

less reckless then.

- I'm not gonna win this, am I?

Nora, this is real life.

It's not a play.

- I'm going to do this.

I have two more places to go

and then my detective

career's history, okay?

I'll see you later.

- Bye.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Nora.

- Oh, hey Chrissy.

How you doing?

What are you doing here?

- I'm just waiting

for my Grandma.

We're going shopping and

then we're gonna go to--

(concrete thuds)

(dramatic music)

(Nora yelps)

- Oh my god.

- [Chrissy] Are you okay?

- Yeah.

- Grandma, that

nearly killed her.

- You're sure you're all right?

- Yeah, I'm fine, really.

Wow, that was lucky, huh?

- You gotta be careful, dear.

Don't push it.

Anyone's luck can

turn on a dime.

- Yeah, I know what you mean.

- And an unlucky

day can be a killer.

(Nora laughs)

- You bet.

- You take care of yourself.

- Be careful.

- Okay, bye.

- Bye.

(tense music)

- Wow.

(horns honking)

(sirens wailing)

(people chattering)

(phones ringing)

- Stormwatch Insurance.

No, he's not here right now.

Can I take a message?

Uh-huh.

Yeah, okay, got it.

Bye.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Hi, I wondered if you

could help me with something.

- That's what I'm here for.

- My dad is courier and

he delivered a package

to your office Monday afternoon

and somewhere along the way

he lost his favorite cap.

(phone rings)

I was--

- Hold please.

- I was just wondering if

maybe he'd left it here

or if you'd remember him

wearing it when he came in.

- Refresh my memory.

What's he look like?

- He's five foot six,

graying hair, very talkative.

If he'd started you wouldn't

have been able to shut him up.

(Nora laughs)

Oh, also he whistles.

- Oh, yeah.

The whistler.

- Uh-huh.

- I remember him.

He's a really sweet guy.

Don't remember the cap though.

Anyway, the guy

he was talking to

isn't here right now

but he might remember.

- So he was talking to someone?

- Yeah, oh.

(phone beeps)

Are you still holding?

I'll put you through.

Yes, the package he brought in

was data for the accountant

who was working on the

audit with Mr. Moore.

- Oh.

- Your dad got all excited

when he find out

the guy was here.

So, I sent him back

to talk to him.

- An accountant?

- Yeah, he's with

Lyon's and Becker.

- Oh?

Do you remember the

name of this accountant?

- Yeah, I do.

He was pretty cute.

Half the girls in the office

had him scoped out five minutes

after he cleared the door.

His name's Jack Barkin.

(tense music)

- Uh.

So, they talked?

My dad and this Jack Barkin?

- Yeah.

Your dad said he had something

important to tell him.

So, I sent him right back there.

They were there for a while

so I guess they talked.

- Penny, have you seen

the universal life

annuity payout schedule

for last month?

- No, I haven't.

But I am gonna go

and check in the um--

- Files.

- Files.

Right.

Okay.

Oh, this is Mr. Moore.

Jack Barkin was doing

the audit with him.

So he might be able to help you.

Good luck.

- Thank you.

- Oh.

(Penny giggles)

- You know Jack?

- Well, actually I'm his wife.

- Oh well, this is a surprise.

How can I help you?

- I just had a question

about when Jack was

working here the other day.

You see, a friend

of ours is a courier

and he made a

delivery here that day

and I was just wondering

if he'd left his cap here.

- Couriers usually don't

get past reception.

- No, I know.

It's just your receptionist said

that he went in the back.

- Yeah.

Yeah, I think I

do remember a guy

going back to where

Jack was working.

An older guy I think.

What did your husband say?

- Well, I haven't been able

to talk to him about it yet.

I will.

Thank you.

- Mm-hmm.

- Hey buddy, go.

Go, go long.

Well?

Go get it, Jerry.

We don't got all day.

(boy laughs)

I swear to god, man.

Oh, I can't catch.

(boy scoffs)

Jerry, what's going

on down there, dude?

You find a girlfriend?

(boys laughing)

(tense music)

- You sure you're okay for this?

I mean, they could try

your husband again.

Maybe he's home.

- No, no.

Let's just do this, all right?

- Okay.

(tense music)

- Oh god, Bill.

(Nora crying)

- [Marinello] That's him?

- Yeah.

- Mrs. Barkin, I'm sorry.

- Yeah well, thank you

very much, detective.

It's very touching

but it's just way too late.

- Look, I know you're angry

because we weren't looking

for your friend sooner.

- You weren't looking

for him at all.

- The coroner says

he's been dead

at least 48 hours.

- Well what happened?

- Coroner says there were

no outward signs of trauma.

He looks like a heart attack.

- And when will

they know for sure?

- Well, if it was his heart,

there'd be no reason

for an autopsy.

- What?

- Miss Barkin, he

was an elderly man

who'd just been walking up

and down stairs all day.

I mean, there's no

suspected foul play here.

- No, that man was as

healthy as a horse.

- Look, come on.

Let's get out of here.

Come on, come on.

Please.

- What about the ticket?

Did you find his ticket?

- What ticket?

- Look, when I talked

to him that morning

he said it was his lucky day.

He bought a lottery ticket

and then he called me later

to tell me that he was right.

Look, I told you.

He was coming by my

place that evening

to fill me in on his good luck.

- There was no ticket.

- Don't you think

that that might be

reason enough to believe

that he was robbed

and then murdered for it?

- Whoa, whoa.

When we found Bill, his

wallet was still in his pocket

and he still had

some money in it

and he was still wearing

his watch and his ring.

That doesn't sound

like a robbery to me.

- Yeah well, I think

that somebody knew

about his lottery win

and stole it from him.

- All right.

How much did he say he won?

- Well, he didn't exactly.

- He didn't say?

- No.

- And you expect me to open

a homicide investigation

based on the suggestion

that he might've had a

winning lottery ticket

and you don't know

how much it was for

or if he cashed it

or if someone else

knew about it?

- I think that somebody

did know about it.

- Listen, I feel for you

losing your friend like this

but I have a board

full of real homicides

with real victims

and real motives

waiting for me

back at the office.

Now if you can think of anything

that would support your theory,

I'll be glad to hear it.

Otherwise, I don't have time

to investigate every

accidental death

that comes by the precinct.

(Marinello sighs)

- We done here?

- Do me a favor, will you?

Ask the coroner to do a once

over on Bill Reagan's body.

- It was natural causes.

- Mm.

Tell him to look at

it again, will you?

I got some new information.

- Am I missing something here?

When did this woman

start to become credible?

- When the guy she

was worried about

ended up in that cooler.

In my book, that's credible.

- Enough to open

an investigation?

- We'll see.

We'll see after the

autopsy comes back.

- We're investigating,

aren't we?

I know we are.

I can tell.

(sirens wailing)

(soft music)

(Nora sighs)

- Jack.

- Hey.

What's the matter?

- The police called.

They found Bill.

- Is he okay?

- He's dead, Jack.

- Oh my god.

That's terrible.

I'm sorry, honey.

I never thought.

- Jack, when did

you last see Bill?

- Why do you ask?

- I was just wondering.

- I don't know.

It must've been here

a couple of weeks ago.

We watched an old

movie after dinner.

- And you haven't

seen him since then?

Well, I mean not

even in passing?

Maybe downtown or something?

- Nora, what are you getting at?

(Nora sighs)

- I'm just trying to put some

pieces together, that's all.

- Honey, you've

been through a lot.

Why don't you sit down?

I'll fix you a drink.

- Oh boy.

- [Kristen] You didn't

tell him you knew?

- He said he didn't

see Bill that day.

- And the guy at the

insurance company said he did.

- Well, what am

I supposed to do?

Accuse him of lying?

Maybe he forgot.

- Being the last

person to see a friend

on the day he died

isn't exactly the kind of thing

that just slips somebody's mind.

There's gotta be a reason he

didn't tell you he saw Bill.

Come on.

- Yeah, I know.

I know you're right.

You know, that night

he came home late

and he was soaking wet.

When I asked him

where he'd been,

he said he had to walk home

'cause he couldn't

get a cab in the rain.

- Hmm.

- What is going on, Kristen?

- I don't know.

But if the police do

decide to investigate,

they could easily put

the facts together

and that could make trouble.

- Well, like what?

- Well, if Jack

was the last person

to see Bill alive,

did Bill tell him about

the lottery ticket?

Probably.

So Bill crosses through the park

and he dies or is murdered.

If he's murdered, whoever did it

knows exactly what

they were looking for.

- Kristen, this is my

husband we're talking about.

- Yeah but if Bill was killed,

the killer was probably

waiting for him

and who came home late

and was soaking wet?

- Oh my god.

- Nora, I'm sorry.

This is crazy.

I'm treating this like

some dumb murder mystery

I'm auditioning for.

I shouldn't be

saying these things.

- What am I gonna do?

- Talk to Jack.

What else can you do?

- Okay.

Hello, is Jack

Barkin there, please?

- [Woman] Let's go!

- Oh, well when will he be back?

This is his wife calling.

It's important that I

speak with my husband.

Do you know where he's going?

Oh okay.

Thank you.

Come on.

No, you're absolutely

right, Kristen.

I have to talk to Jack.

I have to give him a

chance to explain himself.

- Good.

Look, I'll catch up with

you later, all right?

- All right.

(dramatic music)

- Then again, he might have

a few other things to

explain while he's at it.

Nora.

Nora, stop.

You don't know what that

was about back there.

- What are you talking about?

You saw her!

She's all over him!

- Come on.

We saw two people having lunch.

Let's not turn this into

some kind of soap opera.

- It's all lies, Kristen.

First about not

having met with Bill

and now he's seeing

another woman.

I mean, all the time he says

he's spending at the library

doing research on his novel

or writing in coffee stops,

what, is he spending

it with her?

- Nora, stop it.

What we just saw

doesn't prove anything.

You gotta find out the truth

before you start throwing

away your marriage.

- Yeah.

Yeah well, that is exactly

what I'm going to do.

(tense music)

(Nora sighs)

Jack?

- [Jack] I'll be out in a sec.

- What, are you going out?

- Yeah, I'm gonna

work at the library.

- [Nora] Well, you

could work here.

- You know what?

I gotta do some research.

- Jack, I was really

hoping that we could talk.

- I won't be late.

Maybe when I get back.

- God, I'm really beginning

to hate that novel.

- Nora, don't do this.

If I don't keep up

the momentum now

I'm gonna lose it altogether.

- I just want us to

be together tonight.

It is important.

- Well, there were

plenty of nights

when I was sitting at home

and you were at drama

classes and rehearsals

and those were very

important too, right?

- Jack.

Do you still love me?

- What is that supposed to mean?

- What I said.

I need to know if

you still love me.

- Of course I do.

Look, I'll talk to you later.

(Nora sighs)

- Okay.

Jack's file.

Jack's file.

Open.

Violet Requiem, Violet Requiem.

Ah-ha.

(Nora clears throat)

Tony sensed her unease at

their current arrangement.

An arrangement, not a marriage.

- [Jack] That's how

he thought of it now.

If he thought of it at all.

Carrie's unease

was okay, though.

He had plenty of his

own to deal with.

Just that morning,

she'd come at him again,

prattling on about the man

who'd disappeared last month.

- He told her it was something--

- [Jack And Nora] The

police should be handling.

- "But they're not

handling it," she whined.

"And we're all he's got!"

Sooner or later she'd find out

how Kevin had

really disappeared.

- [Jack] And that's when

Tony would have to take

swift and final action.

(Nora sighs)

- Tony turned the full force

of his anger on her.

- [Nora And Jack] I'm

busting my chops everyday

to try to stay ahead of

the credit card companies

and you're running

around aggravating

the police department.

- She didn't get it.

Why was he making

such a big deal

out of her trying to solve

her friend's disappearance?

- [Nora And Jack] Worry

about us for a change.

- Tony said because

I think you're--

- [Nora And Jack] Mixing up

your priorities big time.

(Nora scoffs)

- [Nora] He had to

smile inwardly at that.

- [Jack And Nora] It was

just a matter of time

until she lost her life as well.

- And that's when it

would all make sense.

He'd have all the money.

And he'd have Danielle.

- [Jack And Nora]

Greed and lust,

both fulfilled with just

the squeeze of a trigger.

- Not that hard.

(Nora chuckles)

(doorbell buzzes)

Oh god.

Close, close.

All right.

(clears throat)

Hey Kristen, what is it?

- Hey, is Jack here?

- [Nora] No, why?

- You have to see this.

You're not gonna believe it.

(tense music)

- Sandra Keele got

lucky with 13...

Wait a minute, isn't that her?

Isn't that the

woman Jack was with?

- Yeah.

- Oh my god.

Greed and lust,

both fulfilled with just

a squeeze of a trigger.

- Nora, what are

you talking about?

What is it?

- I went into Jack's computer

and I read some of his novel.

All of this is in it.

- What?

- The main character

kills his wife's friend

and then plans to kill his wife.

Oh, and Kristen,

all the dialogue is from

our private conversations.

Things that we actually

said to one another.

- Oh my god.

You gotta admit

that's pretty twisted.

(Nora crying)

- You know,

we used to say

that there was a law

against keeping secrets.

That whatever we

were thinking about

we had to share

with one another.

You know, like hopes,

ideas, dreams, whatever.

And now it's like

Jack is somebody else.

The person that I have spent

the last five years

of my life with

doesn't even exist.

- Hey.

- How did it get like this?

- Listen.

I don't know what to say to you,

but if I could see

inside people's heads,

maybe my last

three relationships

might've made more sense.

Hey.

Want me to throw some

cold water on your face?

Might make you feel better.

Hmm?

Come on.

(water dripping)

No!

(dramatic music)

- And Jack was just in here.

- You better call the super.

- Yeah.

(Nora scoffs)

- That oughta do it.

Hell of a freaky break.

Who knows what

could've gone down

if your friend hadn't noticed.

- Yeah, I know.

Look, how does something

like that happen, anyway?

- Old pipes.

Maybe the joint got brittle

and something shifted.

- Inside the ceiling?

- These old buildings

are still settling.

Freaky it happening right

over the light fixture though.

If someone would've been in here

when the light was turned on,

they would've come

out extra crispy.

- Would you be able to tell

if that pipe had

been tampered with?

- Lady, I fix plumbing.

I'm not a cop.

Anyway, why would

someone screw around

with the plumbing like that?

I'm not kidding here.

Somebody could've wound up dead.

- Thank you.

Thanks very much.

(Kristen sighs)

(sirens wailing)

(horns honking)

(phones ringing)

(police radio chattering)

Detective.

- Miss Barkin.

- Hi.

- [Marinello] I didn't

expect to see you again.

- Look, I've come to ask,

no I've come to beg you

to please investigate

Bill Reagan's murder.

- Look, we've already

been through this.

- Yeah, I know.

Look, there's a lady in

the paper today, okay?

Apparently she won

Monday's lottery.

- Okay.

You came all the way down

here to tell me that?

- The ticket that she

cashed in was Bill's ticket.

- Really?

Can you at least tell me

what connection she

had to Mr. Reagan

and how she got his ticket?

(Nora sighs)

(tense music)

- Look.

All right.

I know that this

sounds weird, okay,

and you think I'm

a crazy actress

trying to make some big drama

out of this whole thing, but...

Look, I just need you to

investigate this woman, please.

- I'll do what I can.

(Nora sighs)

- Thank you.

Okay.

- There's one that fell

out of the cuckoo's nest

right on her head.

- Danny, call downtown.

See if they finished the

autopsy on Bill Reagan.

- You're buying her story?

- Let's just say I'm shopping.

- Okay.

All right.

- And see what you can turn up

on this woman who won

the lottery today.

Sandra Keele.

- All right.

Hey Doc Hogan,

how are you, good.

Listen, any more on

the Reagan autopsy?

Really?

(tense music)

All right.

Great, thanks.

Well, what do you know?

The coroner says they don't have

a definitive answer

on the autopsy

but he's found enough to

think it's suspicious.

He's ordered a full workup.

- All right.

- Where are you going?

- Well, I think we

wanna try and guess

who saw Bill Reagan last.

- Right.

- Don't you people ever give up?

You raid my club, you

don't find nothing.

Now you're dragging me down

in a bogus homicide wrap?

- You know, you're right.

A babe in the woods like you.

You're like a poster

boy for persecution.

- Well now you're getting it.

See, you should listen

to your partner.

- He's just getting warmed up.

He's got a lot more to say

about how Bill Reagan was a

regular in your betting parlor.

- Social club.

I got a lot of regulars.

- Yeah, a couple of whom

got their knees

broken last month

'cause they couldn't

cover a bet.

- Accidents happen.

You can bet on it.

- How much did Bill

Reagan owe you?

- Nothing.

I told you, I

don't know the guy.

- You don't know him?

Sure are friendly with

a guy you don't know.

And then again,

maybe not that friendly.

- Handy.

Nice advice to show us

all the evidence we need

in one neat little package.

- This isn't evidence.

This don't prove anything.

- Well, it all depends

how you present it.

This was taken Monday evening

and it makes you the last person

to see him alive.

(dramatic music)

If you have anything to say,

now might be a good time.

- Okay, so I knew the guy.

He was a nice old guy.

Gabby, but okay.

Whistled the same damn tune

every time he

walked out the door.

- So you killed him 'cause

you didn't like the tune?

- I didn't kill anyone.

- How much did he owe you?

- The guy was a

courier, delivery guy.

I don't let a guy like that

get too deep into me.

- How much?

- 200.

He goes up and down.

He cleans it up, he

goes back down again.

Hasn't cleaned it up for

a while so I was pissed

but nobody kills

anybody over 200 bucks.

- Oh yeah?

What is the going rate?

- Listen, the guy comes

in to lay a few bets.

I told him he wasn't

gonna play until he paid.

- And then he told

you about the money?

- He said it was his lucky day

and he was coming

into some cash.

He said he would pay me off

the next day in full.

- And then you got the idea

to take him off for

his ticket, huh?

- His ticket?

- Yeah, his ticket!

- The lottery ticket, remember?

- Well, he didn't say anything

about a lottery ticket.

He said he was coming

into some cash.

He left and that was it.

(phones ringing)

- Can we let this rest now?

The guy didn't know

anything about the ticket.

- Didn't seem to.

- Why are you doing this?

- Maybe I got into the job

because I used to read

mysteries as a kid.

- Guess what?

We got enough real

crimes to keep you busy.

Think about that.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Detective Marinello,

midtown south.

- The police?

- What's your name?

- Oh, I'm Penny.

What can I do for you?

- Well, I'm looking

into the death

of a courier who

made a delivery here

a couple of days ago.

His name was Bill Reagan.

- Oh my god, his death?

And that woman was just

in here asking about him.

- Right.

Well, his delivery

to this office here

was the last of his day.

Now, someone in this office

might've been the last

one to see him alive.

Do you remember anything

that could help me

with my investigation?

- All I can tell you

is what I told her,

that maybe the

accountant who was here

or maybe Mr. Moore

might've seen him.

Mr. Moore, could you come

to the reception, please?

Mr. Moore is our office manager.

I hope he'll be

able to help you.

- Thank you.

Oh, Marinello, midtown south.

- It's about that courier

that woman was asking about.

- Bill Reagan.

I'm wondering if, you know,

you might've seen him.

- I don't know what to

say to you, detective.

All I can tell you is

what I told Miss Barkin,

that I thought her husband

was the only one to talk to him.

- Wait a minute.

Her husband?

- Yeah, Jack Barkin.

He's an accountant.

He's here doing an audit.

I didn't see them together

but he went back to

where Jack was working.

Stayed there quite a while.

He seemed pretty

excited about something.

- Hmm.

Thanks Mr. Moore.

- Yeah, sure.

- Detective, if you're

investigating this,

does that mean you

think he was murdered?

- Maybe.

- But why would someone

murder an old man?

- Penny, that's exactly what

I'm trying to figure out.

(Penny sighs)

(phone ringing)

(singing in foreign language)

- Hey, gorgeous.

Today's my lucky day.

Every time that feeling came on,

something good always happened.

We would get a check in the mail

or Evelyn would buy

a lottery ticket

and we'd win a few bucks

but there was always

something good coming.

(knocking on door)

- Nora, it's me, Kristen.

Come on, I know you're in there.

Open the door.

Nora, please open the door.

Nora, please.

Open the door.

Hey.

What's happening?

I've been calling and calling.

Why aren't you

answering the phone?

- I'm sorry, Kristen.

I just want some

time to think, okay?

- Do you mind if

we think together?

Please?

- All right, come on in.

You want anything?

- No, no thanks.

So, what did Jack say

when you told him

about what we saw?

- I didn't ask him.

I couldn't do it.

- Nora, burying your

head in the sand

isn't gonna make

this all go away.

What did you tell the police?

- I asked them to

investigate Sandra Keele.

- What about Jack?

You did mention Jack.

- I can't implicate

my own husband.

- Nora, you don't get it.

If Jack is involved

and you go on

withholding information

from the police,

you become an

accessory to murder.

- We don't know any

of this for sure.

I've never asked

him face to face.

Don't I at least

owe him that much?

- Well, he lied to you before.

What's to stop him

from doing it again?

- Oh my god, Kristen.

What am I gonna do?

I still love him.

- I know.

I know.

But if it were me, I'd be

telling it to the police first.

- I can't do that.

Not yet.

(tense music)

- [Doorman] Good afternoon.

- Miss Keele?

- Yes.

- NYPD.

- What's the problem?

- Oh, no problem.

We'd just like to ask

you a few questions.

- Actually, I'm kinda busy.

- It won't take long.

We'll be out of your

hair before you know it.

- Let's go inside.

I can't imagine

why my lottery win

would be of any interest

to you, detective.

- Well 13 and a

half million dollars

always makes for

good conversation.

- It's funny.

I never thought of myself

as a particularly lucky

person before this.

- I guess people's

luck can change.

- You said you had questions.

- A few.

Where did you buy that

ticket, Miss Keele?

- I don't know.

I usually buy five

or six tickets a week

anywhere I happen

to be in the city.

- Huh.

This ticket was

purchased Monday morning.

Can you tell me where

you were on Monday?

- Uh, yes.

Um, no.

I mean, I don't usually keep

a log of where I've been.

- But surely you'd remember

where you bought this ticket.

A newspaper stand maybe?

A convenience store?

- I said I don't remember.

I'm sorry.

I don't usually expect

to be interrogated.

- Oh no, this is not an

interrogation, Miss Keele.

You'll know the difference.

(tense music)

- I won the lottery.

You're acting as if

I've committed a crime.

- If you have, 13

million dollars

would make one hell of

a motive, wouldn't it?

- A motive?

For what?

Are you accusing

me of something?

- Have you ever known a

man named Bill Reagan?

- No, why?

- What about Jack Barkin?

- I'm starting to think

I should have a lawyer

before I say anything else.

- Sometimes lawyers stop people

from making deals that'll

keep them out of prison.

Sometimes it's better for people

just to get something

off their chest.

- I'll take my

chances with a lawyer.

I'm afraid that's all

I'm going to say for now.

- Think about what

I said, Miss Keele.

You can reach me at this number.

(dramatic music)

- It's me.

I'll call you if I

want to call you.

You said this was

going to be simple.

All I had to do

was cash the ticket

and there'd be no

questions asked.

The police, they were just here

asking me questions

about where and when

I bought the ticket.

They were not fooling around.

No.

Well I don't like this.

You better do

something about it.

Okay, well think it out

and think it out fast.

Okay.

Yeah.

I love you too.

- What do you think?

- I don't know what that's

woman's got going down

but she's the guiltiest

lottery winner I've ever seen.

- Craziness is contagious, huh?

Hey, it's Marinello.

What do you have for me?

Oh yeah.

Oh, thanks.

Listen, leave a copy for

me on my desk, will you?

That was the coroner's office.

The final autopsy

results are in.

Now the original examination

didn't show any bruising

on the outside of the neck.

But when they went in

they found the fracture of the

Adam's apple and the larynx.

- You know, he's right.

It ain't over till it's over.

- Yeah.

More and more the pieces

are starting to make sense.

Let's play it out, all right.

Now, Bill Reagan, he calls Nora

and he tells her

he's hit the jackpot.

- He happens to run

into her husband

an hour later and tells

him the good news too.

- An hour after that,

someone who knows that Bill

is going to Nora's for dinner

is waiting for him in the park.

That someone kills him

and takes the ticket.

- The only problem is

can we establish a connection

between Sandra Keele

and Jack Barkin?

Maybe bring Barkin

in and sweat him.

- If I don't miss my guess,

he already knows we've

been asking questions.

He'll be ready for us.

- So what?

- I think the link between

Sandra Keele and Jack

Barkin is the ticket.

- Yeah but now the

ticket's cashed.

Dead end.

- Not quite.

Now we follow the moolah.

(tense music)

- Nora, what's going on?

Are you okay?

- You tell me, Jack.

Or would that be more prattling

on about my dead friend?

Would that make

you want to satisfy

your greed and lust with

the squeeze of a trigger?

- You went in my computer?

- Yeah.

It is quite revealing.

- Nora, you're

starting to worry me.

- I'm worrying you?

God, that's almost funny.

You have used private things

that we said to one another.

- Nora, I'm a writer.

I overhear people in the subway.

People tell me

things in the office.

And I think it's just fair

that it ends up in my book.

- Oh, and what have

people been telling you

in the office lately, hmm?

How about Bill?

Bill tell you

anything interesting?

- I told you I didn't see

Bill for over a month.

- Just for once, I would

like to hear the truth

about you, about Bill, and

about this damn lottery ticket.

- You're nuts.

I have no idea what

you're talking about.

(Nora laughs)

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Look, this is not a

good time right now.

Okay, half an hour.

All right.

I gotta go see a client.

(Nora sighs)

- [Marinello] Detective

Marinello, NYPD.

- I'm sorry.

This is a really bad time.

The bank is closing,

I have an appointment.

- We won't take up

much of your time.

Mr.--

- Igus.

I'm the branch manager.

- Yeah.

We're investigating

Sandra Keele.

You know, the woman that won

the pick seven

lottery this week.

I understand this is where

she deposited the winnings.

- That much money raised my

bank's profile overnight.

Too bad it was only

for a couple of days.

(tense music)

- What do you mean?

- Miss Keele made a

transfer this afternoon,

almost the whole balance.

- A transfer?

To where?

- Please, detective.

You must understand

I'm not allowed

to give you that information

without a warrant.

- Look, Mr--

- Igus.

- Yeah, the location

of that money

may be crucial to the outcome

of a homicide investigation.

Now if you're worried about

the prestige of your bank

you're gonna wanna be on

record as having cooperated.

- It was a numbered account

at the bank of the Cayman's.

I don't know who it

was registered to.

It might've been her or

her gentleman friend.

- Her gentleman friend?

Describe him.

- [Doorman] Good evening.

(tense music)

(knocking on door)

- Yes?

Can I help you?

- I'd like to talk to my

husband if you don't mind.

(dramatic music)

- Nora, what are you doing here?

- Oh, what's the matter, huh?

Supposed to work

out differently?

Like in your book?

- Nora, this isn't

what you think it is.

- Oh, that's right.

You just keep on lying

right up to the end.

It is so much more consistent.

It is so thorough.

So you, Jack.

- What is she talking about?

- Oh, hi.

Miss, anyway.

Remember me?

- [Penny] Yeah.

- Yeah I wanna

speak to Mr. Moore.

- Oh, I'm sorry, you

missed him by a half hour.

- Where was he going?

- He got an emergency call

and he left on a business trip.

Said he might be

gone a few days.

(tense music)

- Thanks.

- [Penny] Is this

about the murder?

- Hogan, any luck?

- Yeah, I tried his place

but his wife said he had

an emergency business trip.

- Yeah, same at his office.

- She's not expecting to

see him for at least a week.

- Listen, if he has his way,

that's the last

anybody will see him.

- Well, I'll call it in.

Alert the airports.

You wanna take a ride down

to JFK and head it up?

- No, not yet.

Meet me at Sandra

Keele's apartment, ASAP.

- Right.

(siren wailing)

- Let me get this straight.

You think we're

having an affair?

- Yeah, you're damn right I do.

- Sandra was referred to me.

She wanted advice on

handling her winnings.

- Well who better

to handle them?

You gave them to her.

- I don't know what

you're talking about

but he's telling you the truth.

- Don't even start with me.

I just wanted to be sure

before I went to the police.

- The police?

- I know everything, Jack.

I know that you

saw Bill that day

and I know that he told you

about the lottery ticket.

- Nora, I told you

I didn't see him.

- I was at the

insurance company.

There's a record of Bill

making a delivery that day.

So why didn't you tell

me you'd seen him?

Huh?

- Whoa, hold it.

I was out of the office

most of that afternoon.

- Oh, please.

- It's true.

I was doing inventory at

the collision claim center.

You can ask Dexter Moore.

He's the one who

sent me down there.

As a matter of fact,

he's the one who

referred Sandra to me

in the first place.

- What?

- I didn't know

someone had died.

I promise you, I had no idea

where the ticket came from.

He told me he won the lottery.

- Who told you?

- Dexter.

We were gonna run

away with the money.

He said he couldn't cash it in

'cause he'd have to

split it with his wife.

We had to make it

look like I won it.

- Shut up, Sandra.

Back up!

- Okay, okay, okay.

- You should've minded

your own damn business.

- Hey Dex, you're not

gonna get away with this.

- Oh yeah.

Everything was gonna be perfect.

Back up.

- All right.

- Sandra and Dex

off to the Cayman's

and then on to South America

living happily ever after

on 13 million dollars

that that simple idiot was

just begging me to steal.

- So you killed him, huh?

- What are you

planning to do with us?

- The only thing I can do now.

- Have you gone crazy?

- Maybe I have.

But you helped put me here.

You know, you are an

expensive commodity, Sandra.

How else could I afford you?

- [Sandra] You can't do this.

I won't let you.

- You're not gonna have a lot

to say about it, you know?

- Dex, you don't wanna do this.

- Please, baby, baby, please.

(gun bangs)

(glass shatters)

(dramatic music)

(Dexter groaning)

- [Nora] Come on, come on!

Move it!

Go!

(gun bangs)

(gun bangs)

(siren wailing)

- Hopefully he's here.

(Sandra yelps)

(gun banging)

(Sandra yelps)

- Go, go, go.

Go, go.

Hold it, police!

Drop it!

(guns banging)

- [Marinello] Check him out.

- You all right?

- Yeah, I think so.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

God, I didn't think

you believed me.

- Well, I still need you

to fill in some of the blanks.

- [Nora] Okay.

- You're not going

anywhere, Miss Keele.

And you're gonna do

some talking right now.

(Sandra sighs)

- Bill Reagan told friends

that his last day on this earth

was going to be his lucky day.

But Bill didn't understand

his luck wasn't

something flighty.

It wasn't something

that was there one day

and not the next.

Bill's luck was to have friends.

True friends like Nora Barkin

and her husband, Jack.

And that's a luck

that was with him

everyday of his life.

Nora.

(Nora sighs)

(somber music)

- Well, quite simply,

Bill Reagan was one of the

nicest people I ever met

and I know that we're

all gonna miss him

and it's hard to come to

terms with what happened.

But what I'd like to remember

is the best of Bill.

The little twinkle in his eye.

Those tunes he'd always whistle.

But most importantly,

the incredible

openness and affection

he had for everyone he met.

I am so grateful that I had

the pleasure to know him and um,

that at least we

all get the chance

to say goodbye to him properly.

Goodbye Bill.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Nora.

And thank you all for coming.

That concludes our service.

- Are you okay?

- Yeah.

I'm gonna miss him though.

- I know.

Well, for what it's worth,

he was very lucky to know you.

(Nora chuckles)

There's one thing I have

to get straight though.

Did you really

think I killed him?

- I don't know what I thought.

- How did we ever

get to the point

where you couldn't just ask me?

- Step by step, Jack.

I was unhappy with my life.

You were angry too.

Well, I guess that's

where we started anyway.

- You think we can change it?

I mean, back the way we were?

- Yeah.

I think we can try.

(Nora chuckles)

Oh boy.

- Let's go.

- Mm-hmm.

(soft music)

Hey, Detective Marinello.

What are you doing here?

- Well, there are some new

developments on the case

and after all

you've been through

and well, all that

you've done for the case,

I thought it was important

that I tell you in person.

- Well, is something wrong?

- It's about the lottery.

- Yeah, we managed

to retrieve the money

that Moore moved offshore

and it's all there.

I mean, give or take $100,000.

- Well, what's that

gotta do with us?

- Well, it tuns out that

your friend, Bill Reagan,

he wrote up a will

before he hit the jackpot

and, having no family,

he listed you two as

sole beneficiaries.

- Hold it.

You're saying that money--

- That 13 million dollars--

- Is ours?

- That's what I'm saying.

You were very good

friends of Bill's.

I guess this is his

way of telling you

what that friendship

meant to him.

- Oh my god.

- That much money?

You're kidding right?

- The lawyers are on it already.

- Well, I don't

know what to say.

Thank you?

- Well, I think you'd better

thank your friend Bill.

I'm just happy I got to

be the one to tell you.

Working where I do,

I don't get a chance

to deliver much good news.

- Wow.

- And Mrs. Barkin,

another thing,

I just wanted to say

when you were trying to

get us to investigate

your friend's death,

I guess I wasn't a believer.

- You weren't alone.

- As an older and wiser

cop told me one time,

you keep an open mind,

you have a better chance

of solving the crime.

- Did he say wiser?

I heard him say wiser.

- Hey Detective?

Thank you.

Thanks for believing.

(Nora chuckles)

- [Jack] Thank you, thank you.

- [Marinello] You're welcome.

- Oh my god, Jack.

That is a lot of money.

- I still can't believe it.

- Wow.

You know, this means I can

concentrate on my acting.

You don't have to work anymore

except on your novel, of course.

- Well I think I

might have to work

on a different ending now.

- Hey Bill, I don't

know if you can hear me,

but thank you.

We're gonna be thinking of you

and everyday is gonna

be our lucky day.

(Nora chuckles)

(Bill whistling)

(upbeat dramatic music)