Q (1982) - full transcript
New York police are bemused by a spate of reports of a giant flying lizard that has been spotted around the rooftops of New York, which they assume to be bogus until the lizard starts to eat people. An out-of-work, ex-con piano player is the only person who knows the location of the monster's nest and is determined to turn the knowledge to his advantage, but will his gamble pay off or will he end up as lizard food?
♪♪
Oh, hello again
you little creep.
Here again today!
How many times can you wash
that same dumb window?
There's my girlfriend.
I love you.
- [telephone rings]
- Oh, jeez.
Hello?
[chuckles]
No, only in black.
I can give it to you
if I call the factory.
Guess who's on my ledge again?
That little jerk.
I know you love me.
I know you love me.
[squeegee shrieks
against window]
Oh, that driving me crazy
with that squeaking.
Yeah. I'll check
with the factory
and get back to you.
Ha! I wish he'd take a walk.
[creature roars]
[chomping sound]
[screams]
Huh? Hey, what are you
looking for?
Looking for the head.
The only place I haven't looked
is up in the parapets.
Won't be much left of it.
You ever drop a cantaloupe
from 40 stories?
[engines starts]
[sirens sound]
All right, so what the hell
do you make out of all this?
Well, I figure something fell
out of one of the windows
from the floor up above
and hit him.
Sheared his head clean off.
A big shard of glass
or something like that.
There's no broken
windows up there.
Oh, shit. Maybe his head
just got loose and fell off.
Look, what do you want from me?
[customers chatter]
The entire gig shouldn't take
more than three
and a half minutes, right?
In and out.
Hey, Quinn.
Take it yes on
the cashew chicken will you?
I'm sorry,
I thought you had some.
You got to watch this guy,
you know.
I'm telling you,
he's a nervous eater.
You got to defend yourself
over here.
Now, let's talk business.
I'm strictly a wheelman.
I don't go inside.
And I don't carry a piece.
And my cut is 20%.
Oh, no, no, no.
Your cut is 12.5%.
And you haven't worked
in eight months.
Well, Quinn,
what's it going to be?
In or out?
I'll let you know.
You better let us know
real soon, Quinn.
Oh, you're not
the only action in town.
Oh! No, our friend
has other prospects here.
- I might have another job.
- Oh, yeah, huh, Quinn?
Working, yeah.
[screams]
[shutter clicks]
Better step outside, son.
You don't want to see this.
He told the bellhop
he was going to visit a museum.
What museum?
Boy, I'm telling you.
Somebody did a terrific job
on this guy with all
the right tools.
Peeled him like an orange.
Not your
ordinary psychopath, huh?
Bought a copy of "Q" Magazine
and took off.
In less than six hours,
somebody skinned him.
Flayed is the correct term
I think.
But you don't
hear it much anymore.
At least not
in that last ten centuries.
Well, if you think that's weird.
Yesterday we had a window washer
whose head just floated away
like a balloon.
♪♪ [funk music plays on radio]
[wings flap]
[male vocalist]
♪ You never show your emotions ♪
♪ You're always
Keeping it cool ♪
♪ You take your time,
There's no worry ♪
♪ Now everybody is pushing ♪
♪ They're trying
To get through ♪
♪ Dancing, dancing,
Go through the plan ♪
♪ But you know
That you're in the air ♪
♪ When you can't even trust
A friend ♪
♪ And too close to the flame ♪
[screams]
[chomping sound]
[woman screams]
♪♪ [music continues to play]
What is this?
What is this?
What... where...
[screams]
Oh, no!
Oh, my god!
Get it off!
Ahh!
Shit.
Oh, Jesus!
Hey, who's up there?
Hi.
Hey, we don't open
till six o'clock.
Oh, yeah, I know that.
But I heard that you're
looking for a musician
on Mondays and Tuesday nights.
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah, so I play a little bit.
And I thought maybe I show you.
Where did you hear that?
Oh, I just, uh...
I heard it.
Go ahead, help yourself.
- Oh, thanks.
- Do something.
All right, I will.
[laughs]
And I won't hurt the piano
like them rock signers.
They hurt pianos.
I treat them real nice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Just play something, huh?
Yeah, I will. And, you know,
this piano couldn't be hurt.
[laughs]
♪♪ [vocalizes]
♪ Go away, evil dreams ♪
♪ Leave my baby, or don't ♪
[growls]
♪ Go away evil dreams ♪
♪ Go away now ♪
♪♪ [piano play]
♪ She wakes up
Crying every night ♪
♪♪ [vocalizes]
[sighs]
Hey, uh... did you ever find
that guy's head yet?
No, I looked around.
♪♪ [vocalizes]
♪♪ [vocalizes]
♪♪ [continues to vocalize]
♪ What do you do? ♪
♪♪ [blues music plays]
[male vocalist]
♪ Two straight hearts ♪
♪ Too red wine ♪
♪ Tell me a story ♪
Hey, that's all right.
That's fine.
I got another job anyway.
Sounded okay to me.
Yeah, what the fuck
do you mean?
Yeah, what do I know?
[car horn honks]
Okay, we go in on the hour.
Give me the paper bag.
Stash this under your coat.
What are you giving me this for?
I don't take revolvers.
- Let's go.
- What do you mean?
I'm staying here,
I'm not going anywhere.
We have a deal, man.
- Not with me you don't.
- Hey, come on, dude.
You take an equal share,
then you take an equal chance.
Let's go.
Hey, Morgan,
I'm gonna wait here.
Move it. Now.
- Is it loaded?
- Come on.
Christ,
I could blow my nuts off.
[man]
Paul, who are those guys?
Put it down!
- [glass breaks]
- [gun shots]
[alarm wails]
Oh, holy shit,
no keys.
[police sirens approach]
[horn honks]
Oh, shit.
[man speaks Spanish]
Where's my fucking bag?
Come on, come on,
answer the phone.
Yes, hello,
is Howard Price there?
This is Jimmy Quinn.
I got to talk to Howard Price.
I'm a client of his.
No, well, get him on the phone.
I'm in big trouble.
I don't care if he's in
a meeting, get him on the phone.
Tell him I'm on my way
down there... not to leave.
Don't leave for lunch
or anything, okay?
Jimmy Quinn is on his way,
all right? Okay.
Hey! It's Jimmy Quinn!
Come on.
- Open up!
- [alarms wail]
Shit.
Just what I need.
[alarm continues to wail]
[man] Hey!
Hey! I hear you!
Come on out!
You get a year for this,
you fucking wacko.
Hey!
Hey, I hear you!
Ah, the hell with it.
I'm almost afraid of everything,
but I never been afraid
of heights.
Look at that.
A few minutes ago
I was in the gutters.
Now I'm top of the world.
[pants unzip]
[cries out]
[pants zip]
[creature shrieks]
[strains]
[pants]
[pigeons coo]
[workmen]
Let's go to lunch, fellas!
Come on, pack your gear,
let's go to lunch.
Hey, who got my lunch pail?
What are you looking at me for?
Look at this, it's me again.
Everything he's missing,
it's me.
Your umbrella, your ruler,
your Popsicle!
You wouldn't miss a Popsicle
in a Popsicle would you?
Come on, let's go downstairs.
We got one hour to eat.
Let's go, fellas, come on.
That's the third one this month!
Cut the shit!
You son's of bitches.
If anyone ate that sandwich,
I'm gonna shove the thermos
up your asses one at a time.
Shit.
She's says not
to let them see me blow.
What am I supposed to say?
Thank you?
And they make an asshole of me.
- [shrieks]
- [chomping sound]
You know, his wife makes
a damn good tuna sandwich.
I'm gonna stop by and see her
and tell her about it
one of these days.
[crowd chatters]
The Aztecs identified
flayed skin with
the new garments.
Young vegetation.
Let me get this straight.
You're talking about
human sacrifice now?
Willing sacrifice.
They give themselves
to the god willingly.
A ritual was performed
using various objects
to indicate cosmic events.
Culminating in blood sacrifice
to strengthen the forces
of nature.
Performed by the high priest.
And the victims,
you might call them a skin...
after they're skinned,
the high priest puts the skin
upon himself,
wearing it as like a garment.
Of course, we're talking about
the ancient Aztecs civilization,
not this North American culture
we see here.
I understand, Mexico.
The gods they prayed to.
One god, Quetzalcoatl,
the feathered flying serpent.
I can give you some interesting
books on that subject.
Well, good, I need something
to put me to sleep at night.
Now, if you think
that's what happened here,
then this case wasn't murder.
What do you call it?
Suicide possibly.
Oh, your Mr. Polly might've been
coerced in one way or another.
But you must remember blood
must be given willingly
for the god to appreciate it.
He must giveth himself, otherwise
the ritual is meaningless.
Well, they came to this museum.
I think that's very certain.
He met someone.
He was engaged in conversation.
Maybe they had
a couple of drinks.
And they went back
to his hotel room,
and they did the deed.
I find it difficult to phantom
why a guy with a wife
and two kids
and tenure at a university
would suddenly decide
to give up his life
without even a chance
to think about it.
You see, gave himself a chance.
Why else did he
come to the city?
Was there any other reason
he should be here?
Well, that's what we're trying
to determine.
You know,
that's an interesting angle.
No vacation.
No research.
Just some guy flies a thousand
miles to New York City
to give his life
on a sacrificial alter.
Maybe I should take
those books of yours.
I'm not going to be able
to sleep either
if you keep looking at those
horrible pictures.
You don't think anything
like that serpent
ever really existed do you?
Sure it did.
And the Aztecs killed for it.
Wouldn't be the first time
in history that a monster
was mistaken for a god.
And you have to figure out
which it was?
A monster or a god?
Some detective.
You don't believe in
any of this stuff do you?
Why don't you turn off
the lights?
In a minute.
Guess that's why
I have to kill it.
If I can kill,
it's not a god.
It's a good old fashion monster.
I better take
my birth control pill.
[screams]
God!
[both laugh]
Maybe it's a bird, huh?
[knock at the door]
- [Jimmy] Joanie?
- Yes.
- Come on, open up.
- Oh, okay.
Lock it.
Must've been some wild party.
So where were you all night?
What happened?
Did you get mugged?
Well, I hope you didn't go
on the job appointment
looking like this.
There wasn't any appointment.
Well, what happened?
I had an accident.
- Well, I hope you got...
- will you shut up?
Just give me a drink.
Shut up.
You know you shouldn't drink.
Never makes things any better.
I said I was sorry.
And I told you
next time you hit me,
I'll break a lamp over your head
while you're asleep.
Ah, come on,
I'm hurting.
Just one drink,
that's all I'm asking for.
Okay?
Just one, all right?
At least you haven't thrown
any punches lately.
And it wasn't my idea.
I go for Chinese with these guys
and they tell me it's going
to be easy.
- They said diamonds were easy.
- I don't want another fact.
And I told them, "you know,
I only drive. I don't go in."
They say, "you got to go in."
I say, "no, I'm not going in."
They take the keys.
So what do I do?
I got to go in.
[groans]
And then I go running around
the city with this.
Now, don't worry,
I never fired a shot.
I just ran.
I left them there.
They are not your friends!
How many times
I got to tell you?
Why do you think you got
to stick your neck out for them?
You know what?
They're probably down at
the police station right now
giving out your name
and address.
Probably saying
it's all your idea.
[sighs]
[groans]
Please, take off your pants
and let me look at your leg.
Oh, no, no.
Just leave me.
I just want to sit here.
I think I'm going crazy.
Preparing your defense
already, huh?
No! I mean, I went way up
to on this building,
75-80 stories up.
And I'm up there,
and I don't believe what I saw.
I saw a body up there.
There was somebody
murdered up there.
- What are you talking about?
- Listen to me.
I see this body.
I don't know what it is.
Yeah, I think it's a...
I think it's a woman
because there's a bracelet on.
But it has all been torn away.
I've never seen anything
like that before
in my entire life.
Are you back on something?
I knew you'd say that!
And I knew they think that.
So I ran again.
I ran twice in one day, I ran.
And kept running
till I couldn't run anymore.
Until my side hurt so much
I couldn't run anymore.
Then I go to sleep.
I go to sleep under
a god damn stair case.
I don't sleep, you know,
because try to sleep.
I can't sleep.
Come here.
- Feel better?
- I stink.
And I just want to cry.
You know, I haven't cried
since I was a little kid.
- I just want to cry.
- Go ahead, it's okay.
No, but I'm supposed
to be a man.
Christ. I don't know what
I'm supposed to be.
You know, everything I touch
on the outside turns to shit!
Maybe I am
an institutionalized person.
Maybe I can't make
it outside the slammer.
That I belong inside there
like an animal in a cage.
Right, we can have
those conjugal visits
once every four months
if we got married.
[cries out]
[whimpers]
[sighs]
Why do I stay
with a dumb ex-junkie.
I don't know. Why?
Well, I think there's a lot
of good in you somewhere.
Yeah, where?
I'm looking.
I'm looking.
I get all this evil dreams,
you know?
Evil dream!
Go up way!
And I walk upside up top
of this building.
And I see dead things
and a nest, you know?
A rat's nest.
No, well... no, it couldn't have
been a rat's nest.
It was bigger than that.
It was big.
And there was something in it
that looked like an egg.
But it couldn't have been
an egg, I mean,
there aren't any eggs...
I mean, there's no eggs
that big.
Jesus. And there's a hole
in the roof
so it can get in and get out.
So it can get in and out?
Yeah.
I just want to sleep.
When you wake up, we'll have
some nice bacon and eggs.
No eggs.
I don't want to ever see
another egg ever.
Quetzalcoatl,
I am the plume serpent.
I fly and I crawl.
Earth and air.
Mud and sky.
I have fallen,
but I will rise again.
All right, what did you
bring me down here for?
I hope it's something good.
I thought you might want
to look at this one.
What is it?
Another skinning job?
Almost as crazy.
Doctor said the heart
was removed quite carefully
and quite precisely.
Number two.
The human sacrifice theory, huh?
Well, listen.
The donor's heart
is ritually removed,
be presented to the gods.
Sure sounds like it
doesn't it?
Luckily all we have to do
nowadays is take the wafer
and drink the wine.
That's what I call
being civilized.
Personally I trust that curator
or anybody else we talked to
over there.
I think they're all
a bunch of freaks.
And one of those freaks
is probably the person
running around,
slicing people up.
Well, then what we need
is to have a run down on all
of the employees of the museum.
Everybody from the night Porter
to the security guard,
the works.
Well, what I'm
particularly interested in
is anyone who has
any medical background.
You know, someone with some
expertise with surgical tools.
Okay, captain.
Yeah, we all love you, Shepard.
[kisses]
[man screams]
So you don't think
it's a lot of baloney.
No, I think there
was basis in fact.
See, there was some
kind of giant bird creature.
And it would appear again
in nature.
But I doubt if New Yorkers
would mistaken it as a god.
Why not?
If they come to fear it enough.
What else is god
but an invisible force
that we fear.
For centuries we've tried
to make it into our image.
Give god two legs,
pair of hands,
lips, eyes.
Perhaps it's only our vanity.
I mean, we're only living in
one small second of time
in history of man kind.
Look at the tablets
of ancient Egypt.
The Babylonians,
go all the way back.
The figure of that serpent
keeps turning up all the time.
The flying serpent in places
as far away as Egypt, Mexico,
and deep in the interior
of China.
You know, perhaps at one time
the whole world was covered
with these kinds of birds.
And then they became extinct
or almost extinct.
I want to thank you
for the information.
I don't know what good
it'll do me.
I can't even pronounce
this Quetzalcoatl
much less spell it.
Well, god is a much
shorter word.
Just what do you believe?
Who knows?
I do know I'd like to get
my hands on that thing
once it's dead.
What an exhibit.
Remember the lines
for the king tut
over at the metropolitan?
Gods stuff and mounted.
Try not to damage it too much
in the taking.
Are you kidding?
Thanks for the information.
You scared the hell out of me.
[female newscaster]
Of the dozens of witnesses,
most admitted under questioning
that they saw only a shadow
or some unidentifiable form.
[man]
Open up, Quinn!
[female caster]
...A huge bird might escape detection
by maintaining high altitude.
We want to talk to you.
I said get your ass out here!
[doorbell buzzes]
Open up, Quinn!
Hey, Quinn, you got goods
that belong to us.
No, I don't.
No, listen,
I got hit by a cab.
And all the stuff
went under a truck.
I don't have a thing.
Well, then there's no reason
for you to be scared
to talk to us.
- Come on out!
- [doorbell buzzes]
[doorbell continues to buzz]
Okay, I warned you!
Now stay away!
I still got a gun!
Ha! You got a gun,
huh, Quinn?
Hey, Quinn, they don't sell guns
with nerve.
You got to use your own.
And I'll use it!
This time I'll use it!
[doorbell buzzes]
Open up, Quinn!
We won't hurt you.
[male vocalist]
♪ What do you do ♪
♪ What you do
To make my baby fear? ♪
♪ What do you do ♪
♪ What you do to make
My baby fear? ♪
♪ Go away evil dreamer ♪
♪ You better quit
Messing around ♪
♪ Because I'm gonna
Get myself a gun ♪
♪ You better quit
Messing around ♪
♪ Because I'm gonna
Get myself a gun ♪
♪ After I shoot you to pieces ♪
♪ Right under the evening sun ♪
♪ I'm gonna shoot you
To pieces ♪
♪ Right under the evening sun ♪
♪♪ [vocalizes]
Listen! Listen.
Let me tell you something.
The diamond company reported
to the insurance company
that the man that escaped
got away with a pouch
valued at $77,000.
Now, you're no crook are you,
Quinn?
- I lost it.
- Oh, yeah?
Then we're gonna hurt you.
Personally, I don't think
you can stand very much.
So you're gonna tell us
everything.
[cries out]
[grunts]
No! I'll tell you.
I'll tell you.
Yeah, I'll tell you everything.
Well, take us there, Quinn.
I'll show you where it is.
We gonna have
trouble getting in?
There's a watchman on duty.
We'll take care of the watchmen.
Excuse me, sport.
Have you seen
this guy around here
last couple of days?
- Yeah, that's him.
- When was the last time
you've seen him around here?
Couple of days ago.
He got...
- [telephone rings]
- No, no, no, that's it.
That's enough, he's out cold.
You want the jewels don't you?
Let's go.
Come on.
Come on, let's go.
You know, Quinn,
if that stuff is not here,
you and your ass
is going right down
this elevator shaft.
Personally, I'll punch a hole
in your chest.
Oh, shit.
The heights again.
What? What's up there?
This is a dome.
We're up under the needle.
There's a lot of stashes here.
You sure can hide something.
You know, we'd have never found
this place without you.
Yeah, it's a great idea
isn't it?
- Slow down, Quinn.
- Yeah, hold it, Quinn.
I got the gun right here
so don't get cute.
All right.
Don't shake up there, Quinn.
Right behind you, Quinn.
Do you like heights, Quinn?
Yeah, he likes heights
all right.
He likes heights all right.
What the shit?
What is this, Quinn, huh?
Son of a bitch.
More heights, huh?
Yeah, we got to go up one more.
Yeah, Don, our friend says
one more.
Son of a bitch.
Your ass, Quinn.
Hey, Webb,
is this fantastic, huh?
Didn't I tell you
this is an incredible place
to hide things?
Yeah, I thought of that, Dan.
Look at that sight!
Isn't that incredible!
Huh? Look!
You know, it's fantastic!
You got the whole
lower of Manhattan.
Yeah, it's incredible here!
- Yeah, yeah, he's doing fine.
- [gasps]
[roars]
He's doing great.
Hey, Quinn, is there
another way out of here?
Get it, Don!
Bring it down here!
You stay right where you are,
you hear me?
You stay right where you are.
No. I'm going up.
Hey, Don. Don!
Don, you better not
be getting slick.
I'll kill you!
Doyle's already up there.
Just keep going.
I'm sure it's up there.
- [creature roars]
- [gun fires]
Get him! Get him!
Eat him! Eat him!
[eating sounds]
Oh!
[creature roars]
Eat them!
You said you wanted
to find it, huh?
Oh, boy, did you find it.
It's not my fault.
It's not my fault.
I never killed
anybody in my life.
I didn't kill you guys.
You asked for it.
Sure as I'm standing here.
[creature roars]
40, 41, 42,
43... I am having
such a good time.
I can't begin to tell you.
47, 48,
49, 50.
You dragged me
all the way up here,
so I can watch you do push-ups.
58...
I'm having more fun
as the moments go by.
60, 61...
well, you have a wonderful time.
[roars]
Oh! Look out!
[screams]
[creature roars]
Hiya, Quinn.
Where you going, fella?
Oh, Harry,
look at what we got here.
Now, that's it.
You know the routine.
- Look, just read me my rights.
- You want your rights, huh?
- Read his rights.
- Yeah, you got the right
to remain silent, Quinn.
So shut the fuck up!
Also the right
to take you up on charges.
Should have never
turned my back on those guys.
Well, nothing was taken.
We checked
all top floor offices.
Nothing was broken into.
What do you think
those guys where after?
There must be something
of value around.
Otherwise why would they hire me
to guard the place?
I mean, they sure as hell
weren't vandals.
I mean, there was
no graffiti on the wall
or nothing like that.
Let's take a seat
down over there, all right?
Not to...
I can't remember too much.
Hey, somebody really did
a professional job
on your ass, huh?
I fell on my ass.
I'm clumsy.
Yeah, right.
I understand you bumped
into a taxi also, huh?
[chuckles]
Beautiful fucking fee,
but I'll tell you.
You know, your friends made you.
They named you
and we got an APB
out on a Doyle and a Webb.
Oh, those names don't mean
anything to me.
They don't, huh?
Come on, sweetheart.
You're not gonna tell me
you're gonna take the fall
for those guys, huh?
They said it was your idea
from the start.
Said you got them together
and then you ran out on them
and didn't even use your gun.
Shit, I only told them,
you know, I drive.
That's all I do.
I don't go in.
I told them I don't go in.
Tell what I'm going to do.
Get somebody in here
to type up your statement
so you don't have to keep
repeating it, okay.
Yeah, but I didn't say a thing.
So you better call my attorney.
Let me tell you something.
That constitution doesn't mean
a god damn thing in a prison,
you got that?
I think you miss the place,
don't you?
I think you miss it.
You like it up there.
You like the treatment,
don't you?
That's why all you guys go back,
isn't it?
Shut up!
Big black cops are worse
than the white ones.
You damn right.
You got that message,
didn't you?
[man]
An empty box or something?
Maybe it was three guys
looking for a place to stay.
Uh, listen, can I, uh...
can I go to another room,
you know, that's quieter?
- Another room, huh?
- Yeah, can't stand
all the noise in here.
Um. You know, then I'll make
a statement to you.
That's what I like.
A man who wants his privacy.
I think I might be able
to find something for you.
A nice little quiet cubicle.
Come on, get the fuck
out of here.
Come on.
Uh, Paul, let me talk to you
for a minute, will you?
Shepard,
let me see you out here.
Just a sec.
Joey, take care
of this piece, huh
[sighs]
You guys can
call this anything you want.
Mass hysteria,
anything you want.
But 43 witnesses
and they all concur, okay?
Rooftop pool,
57th street and 2nd Avenue,
luxury co-op,
a guy is snatched out
of the pool and carried away.
Joseph Peadrian,
divorced,
has a firm someplace
in the garment district.
I mean, he's snatched out
of the pool and carried off
by something that flies.
That son of a bitch
is getting bold.
You know, something I don't
quite understand.
You don't seem at all
surprised by this.
Why is that?
Maybe it's time
I showed you my report.
What is he talking about?
I'm becoming
kind of a bird watcher.
You know, birds are six times
stronger than men
for their size.
And some of them have to eat
up to seven times their weight
just to stay alive everyday.
This is a very large bird
we're talking about.
He's not putting us on?
Putting you on, huh?
Like a window washer
with his head cut off?
A construction worker?
That woman taking a nap
on a roof?
Yeah, big laugh.
Big laugh.
Hey, hey, hey.
Keep the voice down
a little bit, all right?
Here. Come on, come on,
come on.
Can we contain this a little bit
among ourselves, huh?
Yeah, well, how do you
expect to do that?
Why don't you ask
the commissioner?
How is he gonna stop a panic?
Hey, look, what about
the ritual murders?
I mean, are we off that case
or what?
Oh, will you shut up.
This is that case, get it?
I don't see how it is
the same case.
Hey! Hey. Hey.
I'll tell you what.
Fuck off, Shepard.
All right. All right.
Hey, you guys
through with me now?
Uh, yeah!
Pal, I'm sorry.
We forgot about you.
It's okay,
you can go home now.
We'll call you if we need you.
You're a little dense,
do you know that?
Would you please come over here?
Just a little
just a little.
You know, it can take us weeks
to find where this thing's
hold up.
I mean,
it could be in the woods.
Away from the city someplace.
It could be over
in Jersey someplace.
My god, with a wingspan
like you're talking about here,
that thing could fly miles
into New York City every day.
And it would do that of course
because, you know,
New York is famous
for good eating.
Bull shit.
It flew that far,
it would get spotted.
Nah, midtown Manhattan.
Moves out quickly,
takes its prey back to the nest.
Look, the thing could be
just smart enough to fly
right in line with the sun.
So when people look up at it,
it's blinded from it.
What I want to know is,
how the hell does this tie in
with the murders
and the mutilations?
Well, that's what
brought it back.
Awakened it
from its centuries of sleep.
This thing has been prayed
back into existence.
[laughs]
Right.
Okay, okay.
Before you put
the straight jacket on me...
excuse me, captain.
Read the fucking report, okay?
I got to read a fucking report.
I'll deal with your ass later.
Joe, take him downstairs.
Hold it.
You got something to say to me?
You want to talk to me, huh?
Yeah, happy hunting.
Yeah, you got
big ears also, huh?
Get him out of here.
[strains]
Ease up.
Listen, you shouldn't
done that to me.
You know,
they're gonna hear from me!
Because with
the stuff I know, man!
Right now, I am
the most important man
in New York City.
And, you know, I'm sitting
in the tank back there
thinking about it,
thinking it over.
And I'm not talking about
just burying this wrap.
More than that.
I'm talking about
tens of millions...
fifty hundred million dollars
in loses
every time this city has
to grind to a screeching halt.
And only yours truly
can prevent that.
You're talking crazy.
If you know something,
you have to tell them.
Well, sure, make them heroes?
Yeah, get promotions
and I go to the shit house
for five to ten.
You know, someone tried
to break into the apartment.
Tell me something
I don't already know.
And those two...
[chuckles]
Boy, they're no longer alive.
I took them on a little trip.
[laughs]
I mean, I set them up,
and they got it good.
Okay, so that's something
I got to square away
with the police.
That I'm not
responsible for that.
I did that in self-defense.
- Are you all right, lady?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, sure, she's fine.
- Just take it easy.
You got three more minutes.
I don't think
we're gonna need the time.
Where are you going?
Quinn, you got to do
the decent thing.
Forget your charges.
You got to tell them.
All my life I've been a nobody.
And right now
I can be somebody important.
You expect me to give that up?
What are you going to do
if somebody dies tomorrow
or the next day
or the next day?
I'm not gonna think about it.
You know, it won't be my fault.
It'll be there's if they don't
give me what I want.
I think I liked you better
as a small time crook.
I'm only asking to be a big man
for one lousy minute
for Christ's sake!
Hold it down.
I want to get a message
to the commissioner of police.
And try to get it straight.
[cries]
From the reports,
the damn thing
is growing in size.
Getting bigger every day.
Another sighting,
negative contact.
It didn't even come close.
There's no doubting
its existence now.
If I may interject, sir,
we have a very definite lead on
these ritual killings.
Traces back to the museum.
Former medical student
who is now employed...
save it, sergeant Powell.
We're here to hear what
Mr. Quinn has to say
for himself.
Well, I see we got
all the heavy weights
here today, huh?
Look, you said you wanted
to speak your peace,
now go ahead.
Mr. Quinn, I assume you brought
your attorney with you.
Oh, no.
I do my own negotiating.
This is commissioner O'Connell.
- Hello, how are you.
- Mr. Quinn.
- Jimmy Quinn.
- Would you sit
over here, please, sir?
Yeah, sure.
Hello, sir, I don't believe...
uh, Mr. Quinn, just sit here,
will you?
Now, wait a minute.
Don't push me.
You guys got the education
on me.
Got the experience.
I am just a little kid
from the streets.
I'm out there with a lot
of other guys shouting into wind
and nobody here
was listening, right?
We're listening to you now,
Jimmy.
We can't ascertain
if you're telling the truth
or not, Mr. Quinn.
Sir, don't try our Patience.
I understand that, commissioner.
You want a little credibility.
That's what
the New York Times says,
"we want credibility."
Well, what about
one of the victims,
female I think,
with a gold bracelet
on her wrist.
The kind of bracelet
that once you put on
you can't get it off.
Shepard?
Powell, what do you got?
Charm bracelet.
Yeah, that's correct.
She was sunbathing
up on her roof.
It's the only piece of jewelry
she had on.
We checked it out
with her roommate.
It's missing.
Was this ever released
to the press?
No, not to my knowledge.
Oh, come on, what, you think
I read that in the press?
Well, did I read there were
little dainty elephants?
Little itty-bitty,
dainty elephants on that chain?
Now, Mr. Quinn,
these little bitty
dainty elephants were gold.
They must've been valuable.
Why didn't you take them?
You don't strike me
as the kind of guy who'd leave
that kind of stuff lying around.
Well, I'm not the kind of guy
who plays around
with dead bodies.
Are you into that, huh?
Told them what else you saw.
A nest, big nest.
What do you want,
Polaroid shots?
We believe you, Mr. Quinn.
What's the location
of this nest?
Well, Mr. Commissioner,
you know there is nothing
in the world that is for free.
Well, no doubt you've
thought of terms.
Would you care
to let us in on them?
Yeah, sure.
And I don't need this.
I got my own little paper here.
Immunity for the job
you got me on now
and for anything else
that might crop up on me.
[chuckles]
You are beautiful,
do you know that?
You think we can give you
immunity for crimes
we don't even know about?
Yeah, didn't Ford
pardon Nixon for anything
and everything?
I'm just asking for
a Nixon-like pardon.
And if that could be arranged,
what else?
Money.
One million dollars in cash,
tax free.
Sweet Jesus Christ.
And you pay the taxes on it.
I suppose if you pay the taxes,
I got to pay the tax on the tax.
But you can work that out
with the IRS.
I have never paid tax
in my life,
and I'm not about to start now.
Excessive, the city will never
go along with that.
You paid that god damn
lottery winner
one million dollars!
And I'm saving
the big apple ten...
a hundred million dollars!
Maybe a billion dollars.
And you're gonna Welch
on one million lousy dollars?
You know,
if I had decent negotiator,
he'd be asking
ten million dollars
and you know it.
- And that's it?
- No, not exactly.
I want exclusive rights
to all the photographs
of the nest and...
of the nest and everything
else up there,
including of the remains
of the thing
once you killed it or whatever.
I want to sell them
and own them and rent them.
I own the negatives
and the book rights.
You want to make a bundle, huh?
Huh? Yeah, well, why not?
You know, a lot of murders
and crooked politicians
have done that.
So what's wrong with me?
Very well, Mr. Quinn,
we can arrange to have
the press kept out
and the police photographers
will be instructed
to surrender the negatives
to you or a representative.
What else?
Yeah, I want it all signed,
sealed, and notarized
with witnesses
and then handed over
to my lawyer in cash.
Banks are closed
until tomorrow morning.
Open one.
Hey.
A man died yesterday.
You've been sitting
on this damn information.
You could've prevented it.
How the hell does that
make you feel?
Like a hero
because I'm preventing
tomorrow's death
and the day after that
and the day after that.
So kiss my ass in public.
I'm the Johnny Carson shit.
Piss ass!
Behave yourself,
sergeant Powell.
Because I'm pissing all over you
and there's nothing
you can do about it.
I don't believe
you're sitting in here,
buying this garbage.
Sergeant Powell,
you better wait outside.
Powell, you heard what he said.
Yeah, I'll wait outside.
The stench in here is enough
to make you throw up.
And I don't want any assholes
like Powell laying
cocaine on me!
And bum repping me!
Two years, three months!
Nineteen-years-old,
I was bum repped
by a cop like Powell
because he wanted
to get a conviction.
The other one I did.
I'm all right, let me go!
I'm all right!
The next one I did,
that was legit
but the city owes me one!
You set me up in business!
All right, Mr. Quinn,
we get your point.
If it makes you feel any better.
Oh, what do you mean,
"feel any better"?
I feel great.
Do you?
Can we get the god damn
typist in here,
so we can
get started this thing?
I'll have to get the mayor's
approval on the money.
What do you mean?
You probably already got it.
I bet he authorized
a million and half...
two million, didn't he?
Didn't he?
I see you're not answering me.
While they're typing it up,
why don't you let me buy you
a cup of coffee, huh?
You buy me,
I'll buy you.
Everything should be ready
for signature in about
20 minutes.
All the units are ready to move
just as soon as we ascertain
the location.
At Mr. Quinn's convenience,
of course.
Well, all you have to do is hand
all the cash over to my lawyer
who is that dull looking fellow
in the next room.
You know,
I met you once before, Quinn.
Right here if you don't mind.
The bar in the village,
you remember that?
You were signing
some kind of scat song.
[vocalizes]
There's a big dog on the floor.
Oh, you heard me play?
Yeah, you were pretty good.
Yeah, you told me to fuck off.
Excuse me.
Madam, we're going
to have two coffees,
and I will pay the bill.
Hey.
- So you heard me play, huh?
- Sure.
You know who taught me
how to do that?
A big seven foot spook
in the box taught me that.
That big Niger maniac
who came to me.
He killed five white punks.
And he comes to me and says,
"I'm going
to teach you something, boy."
And he teaches it to me,
you know?
It's one of the best things
anyone has ever gave to me.
It's more
than you'll ever give me.
[chuckles]
Come on, Jimmy.
I've given every thing I can.
You know, I talked
to your girlfriend.
My ex,
she turned on me.
Ah, she just wanted you
to do the right thing.
Oh, come on, man.
What is a white chick doing
with a con like me?
I accept she wants
to rehabilitate me.
She wants to control me.
She can go and shake
her tambourines somewhere else.
- Thank you.
- Old Quinny is gonna
take care of himself.
Ha! Sure you are, Quinn.
Couldn't even use that gun
when you needed it
to protect yourself.
You're not much of a killer,
Jimmy.
But, you know, yesterday,
that guy up
in the swimming pool,
well, you killed him.
Shepard, how dumb
do you think I am?
You know damn well
the bird killed him.
What? You think
I trained the bird?
You're unbelievable.
You come on to me
all about my music, right?
Give me this
nice song and dance.
And then you start
laying a bum rep on me.
Who do you think I am?
No, no. No bum rap.
You say I have no nerve, huh?
Two guys up there,
Webb and Doyle.
I took them up.
You won't be able
to recognize them
because they're
all over the place.
They're in little pieces.
And I lead them up there
because they were putting
heavy pressure on me.
And I walked them
right into it.
Quinn, you're not going
to lead us into anything
like that are you?
Well, a few cops may die.
I've seen this bitch in action.
She can move anywhere
she pleases, in or out.
- In and out of what?
- The roof.
There's a hole in the roof,
and she goes into the roof.
[shutter clicks]
- Did you actually
see this thing?
- Hey, what is this?
Hey, Mousekewtiz,
get these guys out of here.
Get them out of here.
Take another photo.
No, Shepard, get them back here.
I want my photo op here.
Come on!
This city needs me now!
And get the owner
of that newspaper.
What's his name?
Murdoch!
Get Rupert Murdoch down here
with his arm around me.
Come on, sit down.
I'll be on television.
I'm going to be
on all the shows.
Yeah. You're just jealous,
Shepard.
Jealous,
what can I say?
You know, the only way you guys
get your picture in the papers
is when you get shot.
Look, you're Eisenhower, right?
This is d-day.
We're your soldiers.
Tell us what to do.
What I do is I get
a whole fleet of helicopters.
[laughs]
No, I'm with you.
Fleet of helicopters.
- Yeah, and they come...
- okay.
They come up
and they fly around.
And between them is this canvas
thing that they take it over
the top of the building.
Drop right down like...
canvassing, yeah.
Like a tent.
Like a circus tent.
Circus tent?
Is that going
to be strong enough?
Well, it'll be strong enough
to keep the mother in there,
you know, while they're
pumping shots into it.
You know, slow it down.
What?
It is a mother, you know?
I'd seen an egg there.
Boy, is it a mother!
- Egg?
- Yeah.
- There's an egg?
- Yeah.
Okay. All right,
let me get this straight.
We call up Ringling Brothers,
and we say,
"lend us a circus tent."
Of course, it's not going
to be in very good shape
when we send it back.
Yeah, well,
they can sue the city.
Yeah, why not?
Everybody else is doing it.
Like what is the building look...
it's top of it?
You want to know
the shape of it?
Yeah.
It's a cone.
Like a cone.
- Well, you know the building.
- Yeah?
It's...
Great timing.
You know, pal,
if you hadn't
walked in that door,
I would've spilled my guts
all over the table.
Shepard, give me 15 minutes
alone with her
and I'll get
any answer you want.
That's fine.
Documents are in order.
Have my client brought back up.
So I guess we got to find
somebody to tell
what's his name
that he's a rich man.
Oh, I want do that myself.
I want to talk to that bastard.
- Now, captain.
- Hmm?
Be polite.
That's the only way.
Uh, Shep.
Yes, sir.
I like you most of the time.
And that's why I'm giving you
back this report unread.
I never saw.
Never heard of Quetzal.
- Quetzalcoatl.
- Quite so.
Unless you're looking for
a sanity hearing, my dear boy.
Yes, sir.
Sir, two days ago,
you didn't even believe
this creature existed.
Now, wouldn't it be possible
for you to suspend
your disbelief
just for one
little degree further.
You are talking about
the incarnation of some
ancient Aztec god.
And it's my duty to kill it.
Now, it's much easier for me
to think of killing a bird
than a god.
So do away with that report.
A connection.
A connection between
the ritual killings...
there is no connection.
- The appearance of...
- two separate cases.
Keep them that way.
A mere coincidence.
[sighs]
I don't suppose you have
any objection if we continue
to pursue this murder
vigorously.
Not at all.
Get him without no connections,
no linkages, understand?
[grunts]
Get me that bird!
All right, come on,
let's go!
Looking good!
[officers chatter]
That's it, move in.
That's it, go, go.
All right, here we go.
We're going, all set.
Move those doors.
Okay, guys,
she's right up there.
Go on up the stairs
and keep going.
And when you hit the ladder,
keep going up the ladder,
you'll run right into it.
All right, come on.
Let's go.
Come on, easy.
Don't push me.
It's in the nest.
Where the hell is the canvas
to cover up the roof?
Oh, we didn't have
time for that.
That was a good idea though.
We got our own way
of covering the hole.
- Quinn, lead the way.
- What are you talking about?
Well, you got
your million dollars,
now you're going to earn it.
Oh, come on,
I want nothing to do with it.
Come on, go.
Come on, go.
Go, move it.
Move on up there.
Come on, let's get going.
Jesus, it's another one.
Thing brings them up here
and stashes the leftovers.
It so stinks.
I don't know why it didn't
come down after me both times.
Maybe it's using you.
Maybe it wanted you
to bring us back here.
Here.
We don't want you
to go on up there unarmed.
What are you talking about?
Why is everybody giving me
revolvers?
I mean, I don't want a gun.
I point, you go.
It's up there, go.
Okay, Quinn, I'm first,
you're second.
What do you mean?
Why do I have to go up there?
Jesus.
[whistles]
Jesus, look at that
fucking omelet.
[man over the radio]
SWAT team moving into position
below second level tower.
All other units stand fast.
[man 2]
Shepard only makes
with the jokes
when he's scared of something.
Everybody just stay
where you are, okay?
Just hold back down there.
Fry up about
500 pounds of bacon.
We're gonna have us
some breakfast.
[growls]
Get the hell up here, come on.
[roars]
Now, leave it.
The scientist will
want to look at it.
They didn't even get the bird.
They got the egg.
[laughs]
If they had done
what I told them to,
put the canvas over the top.
Hey, Quinn, come on up here.
Jesus.
I'm coming as a witness.
This trip's worth
a million bucks to me.
Hey, that's it.
That's my baby.
Hey, Shepard,
one million dollar egg.
It's just a reflex action.
That's it!
I'll meet you downstairs.
I can't believe you guys,
you know?
I told you how to do it.
You put the canvas
right over the top
and what do you do?
Well, I guess you blew
the big bucks.
What are you talking about?
Well, the money was for
the mama bird,
not the baby bird
oh, come on, man.
I told you everything I knew.
That was the deal.
You fucked up.
You let the thing get away.
I let him get away.
I told you how to do it.
Put the canvas over the top
and the thing wouldn't get away.
Yeah, you screwed yourself.
City is gonna demand
a full refund,
the unused portion of the funds.
Horse shit!
I got that in black and white.
Now, just so it's not
a complete lose.
That's for the coffee
you bought me.
Oh, come on, man.
You can't feed me
an act like that.
I had that signed.
Police commissioner signed that.
And I'll have my lawyer
sue your ass.
Okay, you do that!
You do that.
I don't know if we're gonna
honor that amenity part
of the agreement either.
It's in black and white.
You can't touch that.
And I'll have you dropped.
If you'd done what I told you,
you'd had that bird.
And here, take this
and stick it...
stick it up your...
up your brain.
Your small little brain.
Oh, yeah?
[mimics bird caw]
See you later Charlie Christian.
I'm staked out in front
of the museum.
The suspect just entered
with what it looked like
a medical bag.
Yeah, but there was
another guy with him.
Like a prearranged
meeting our something.
- Maybe another victim.
- Okay, hold your position.
I'll notify Powell and get
right over there to the museum.
Is Shepard coming?
No, no, Shepard's staying
right here in the tower.
He thinks the fucking thing
is coming back.
Okay. Hurry up.
All right, Mr. Magic,
that's the man with the bag.
What do you say we nail him?
I found out he was
a medical student at Columbia.
I knew he had to have
some scalpels around.
Pick up your money.
Let's go.
- How much did you make?
- Not much.
Bird must've been bad
for business.
[male dispatcher]
Attention all units,
suspect and possible victim
heading south.
Yellow cab,
New York, 6-7-George-4-1-Frank.
Continue surveillance.
It's by one of those
god damn lofts down there.
What the hell are waiting for?
Catch him in the act?
This is a farce.
There ain't no way we're
gonna get a conviction.
All they're gonna do
is throw him in the looney bin
along with his victim.
- I know. I know.
- Who the hell is gonna believe
a ritual sacrificial murder
in 1982.
Who the hell is gonna believe
a cop in that get up?
What the hell is
the statue of Liberty
doing up there?
Yeah, it's the original model
they used to build the statue.
The Liberty warehouse bought it
and put it up there.
How do you feel?
It's cold.
The lights will warm you up
in a bit.
That pal and the kid must be up
on the roof by now.
Let's go.
I am the plume serpent.
I crawl and I fly.
Drop that scalpel.
Leave him alone!
Let us finish in peace!
Get out!
[groans]
He was coming from me.
He was coming from me.
He's heading up to that statue!
Listen, know that all the doors
of the roof tops are locked
from the inside.
That means we got him
trapped up here.
Check the other end.
[screams]
Damn kite.
[roars]
[Powell screams]
[shrieks]
Okay, okay, so they trashed you!
Why trash up
the whole apartment?
How do you like
that asshole lawyer?
He's sending them
their money back!
No fucking loyalty!
Well, maybe you're better off
by forgetting the whole thing!
I mean, those two extra bodies
up there.
That got talked about in court.
They press charges against you.
They say you killed those two
on purpose.
Then you're on their side, huh?
Huh?
If you're through smashing up
this place,
why don't you take a walk!
Huh?
I'm sure there's a park bench
out there somewhere
that it's going to fit you!
You mean that?
Yeah. I always thought,
"well what the hell?
"This guy hurts so bad.
He's been kick around so much
that you can forgive him
almost for anything."
But I saw you, Quinn.
When you thought
you had some power
and it wasn't pretty.
And I don't want
to share in that!
So you just take a walk!
Okay, fine.
I'll send for my things.
And if you can't wait,
throw them in
the fucking incinerator.
[creature shrieks]
All right, it's coming back.
[creature roars]
[Shepard]
Load tracer ammunition.
I want to see the trajectory.
Get those guys into the basket!
[creature roars]
Look at the size of thing.
Told you, didn't I?
- Feel like saying a prayer?
- Yeah.
Let her have it!
Come on,
feel like climbing, huh?
- Not exactly.
- Ah, come on.
Well, if shooting
doesn't kill it,
I just might start
praying to it myself.
[creature roars]
Give me another magazine
up here!
[creature roars]
[screams]
[creature roars]
Shepard!
Shepard! Don't!
[cries out]
[screams]
[screams]
[shrieks]
We got that damn thing.
Shep, we did it!
We did it!
Okay, everybody hold
your positions!
Everybody stay
right where you are, all right?
Don't move.
[roars]
[shrieks]
[shrieks]
[sighs]
- Big.
- Yes.
[shrieks]
[roars]
[crowd panics]
[shrieks]
[chuckles]
I saved you all.
I saved the whole fucking city.
And what do I get for it, huh?
[knocking at the door]
Don't move, Mr. Quinn.
Don't turn around.
What are you doing?
It was meant
that we should meet.
Unit, check out the hotels
on 8th Avenue.
You guys,
across the street.
I'll go up here.
Put Quinn under
protective custody.
You are the betrayer.
And now you must
humble yourself.
What? What did I betray?
You must give yourself
to receive forgiveness.
No, I understand.
I understand.
You must make flesh holy,
so it is good as a sacrifice.
I understand.
I understand.
- I fucked up all my life.
- Shh!
With your sacrifice
and the sacrifice of the others,
the plumed serpent
will rise again.
A serpent?
A plumed serpent?
What? Do you mean
that fucking bird?
But if you say
the prayer with me,
you will have salvation.
Piss... piss on your prayer.
I ain't saying
any god damn prayers.
I never did.
I never will.
Fucking priest told me
to say my prayers.
I didn't say my fucking prayers.
Cops tell me to say my prayers.
I'm not saying my prayers.
And I ain't saying your prayers.
[speaks foreign language]
I've eaten shit from you.
I've eaten shit from city hall!
Do it!
Look, I cannot do it
until you say the prayer.
I'm not saying shit for you.
[cries out]
Hope you had your tetanus shots.
How did you find me?
We've been searching every
flea bag hotel in town
for hours.
Ever since...
This guy does not die easily.
[sighs]
I figured
our fanatic friend here
might look you up
to get you to repent your sins.
Thought he was
gonna get up again, huh?
All right, come on.
I'll take you back to your girl.
No, I'm not going by there.
What're you talking about?
Well, we're not
good for each other.
You know, she's doing me
favors all the time.
I'm getting her into trouble.
I got her in there.
What are you talking about?
She's there waiting for you.
Next time I see,
I'm gonna have a job.
- Look, you with a job?
- Yeah.
- What are you talking about?
- I'll be playing
piano somewhere.
I'm pretty good.
Yeah, what the fuck do you know?
Yeah, that's right.
What the fuck do I know?
But I know I'm not
afraid anymore.
Just your
good old fashion monster.
[roars]