The Midnight Man (1974) - full transcript

...checking by Hartel. And it's

really getting rough down there.

Sean on the corner,

one bounce pass to Milton.

Taggers are standing around.

Sean loses Graper, pass from Milton,

Sean lays it up and in.

87-89, the Anchors lead by two.

Rogers inbounds the ball

to Preston.

Ramsden steals the ball,

a beautiful pass to Milton,

up and in.

Ball via Rogers to Lawley,

dribbling down court,

checked by Sean,

shoots over Milton,

beautiful shot!

A picture play.

Alright, boys,

put the guns down.

I'm a police officer.

What do you know? A rent-a-cop

from up at the college.

You ain't even a real pig.

No gun either?

How's anyone supposed to know

you're a cop?

You got to wear this badge

where folks can see it.

I'm gonna pin this to your nose.

Alright, come on!

Hold still, everybody,

the fun's over!

OK, boys, let's get on with it.

The cash register, open it up!

Move!

- How are you?

- Fine, just fine.

- You look good.

- You look beautiful.

Everything looks beautiful.

That's where you'll be working.

Green. Lots of green.

- How's Quartz?

- In the hospital.

- What?

- He got his leg broke.

- How did it happen?

- Get in the car, I'll tell you.

Got a nurse under there?

Hey, Jim!

Goddamn.

You made it.

How about that?

But I'll be out by tomorrow.

You wouldn't be here

if you hadn't made that asshole play.

You know how it is,

once a cop, always a cop.

- Gee, it's good to see you out.

- Good to be out.

Sit down, let me look at you.

Hey, by God.

- You look just like an ex-con.

- I am.

By the way, you can start

at the college any time you want.

The sooner the better.

You got the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.

It's a horseshit job, Jim.

- Same as yours.

- Me, hell, I'm Chief.

Got me a car, an office,

don't have to wear no monkey suit.

- And you hate it.

- I had to do something.

Damn farm was eating up

all my retirement pay.

I was born down here. Hell, in those

days, a farmer could make out, but...

Mr Willinger,

you get back in bed!

Yes, ma'am.

See you, Chief.

OK, Terry,

see you same time next month.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Jimmy, what are you doing here?

- What happened?

- Could I talk to you, Mrs Thorpe?

Yeah, sure, come in.

Are you Mr Slade?

- Yes, ma'am.

- I'll be with you in a minute.

You tell him to call me back

as soon as he's off the line.

I'm sorry about this, Jimmy.

Go back to work,

I'll take care of it, OK?

- Stay cool.

- Thanks, Mrs Thorpe.

Mr Slade, you can come in now.

Pull up a chair.

- Would you like some coffee?

- No, thanks.

- Cigarette?

- Thank you, no.

- Well, how does it feel to be out?

- Feels good.

- You're staying with the Willingers?

- Yes.

Nice people.

How's Quartz getting on?

- Fine. He'll be home today.

- He's a brave man.

Hello?

Yes, Jack, I want to talk to you.

Jimmy Gill was just here.

Jack, I was there!

No, not later, right now!

Damn it.

Be back in a minute.

Morning, Linda.

Your fat-headed deputy

roughed up Jimmy Gill.

- Wait a minute.

- No. You should see that kid's face.

He probably got smart-ass.

- Virgil's a sadist and you know it!

- Virgil's got to do his job.

Anyone spits on the sidewalk,

you roust one of my people.

- Car 22's on the horn.

- Alright.

For Christ's sake, Linda, we ain't

talking about, what's-his-name...

Martin Luther King. Jimmy Gill's

been up for armed robbery.

- He's also on parole.

- Yeah, I know.

He has the same rights

as any other citizen.

OK, OK,

I'll look into it.

Alright, Jack,

but I'm warning you.

If your people keep harassing mine,

I'll take it upstairs.

Have a nice day.

That's what happens when they

put a broad in a man's job.

Broad, my ass. She's got

a bigger pecker than you have.

Mr Slade!

Mr Slade!

You seemed busy.

I know, I'm sorry.

We can talk now.

Mrs Thorpe, I think I can save you

a little time. I know the rules.

"Upon release, report to

your parole officer." I have.

"Only with their permission

can you leave the county

or change your address.

Any change in employment

must be approved.

You shall not consume

alcoholic beverages to excess.

You shall not possess

or traffic in narcotic drugs.

You shall not possess or use

any deadly weapons or firearms."

- Wait, where are we going?

- To catch my bus.

"You shall not operate any motor

vehicle without a drivers license

and the written permission

of your parole officer."

- And that about covers it.

- Except for one thing.

"You shall not associate

with former inmates

or individuals of bad character."

- I'll have to make new friends.

- I think you will.

See you.

- Good morning, Jim.

- Good morning, Sam.

- Cold night, wasn't it?

- Damn cold.

Nights like that, you should stretch

out on a cot in the boiler room.

If I did,

somebody'd steal the school.

And thou shalt not enter into

Heaven anything that defile it.

And the Lord spake unto Moses

saying,

the nakedness of thy father

or the nakedness of thy mother

shalt thou not uncover.

Mr Ewing.

I have to ask you

to turn that down.

The nakedness of thy father's

wife shalt thou not uncover.

It is wickedness.

That's the Lord's work, Mr Slade.

There've been complaints

from the girls' dormitory.

Them's the sinners that

should heed the word.

Thank you.

Damned whores.

- What are you laughing at?

- A damn fool.

No reason not to stay in shape.

You might fall

and break your other leg.

The hell I will! I'll be back on the

job next week. You watch this.

See you at the house.

Morning, sir.

- You're new here.

- Yes, sir. I started Tuesday.

I'm Dr Pritchett. How long is it

since you checked this building?

About an hour ago.

I was opening up

and I noticed that door.

Somebody's broken in.

Some tape recordings are missing.

- Are you sure?

- Yes, I locked them in the desk.

- Somebody's stolen them.

- I'll notify the Sheriff's office.

I'd rather you wouldn't.

Dean Collins doesn't like

police on the campus,

they can be a disturbing influence.

Mr Willinger's always dealt

with these things.

The tapes had no value, I don't

know why anyone would steal them.

What kind of tapes were they?

My department offers

psychological counseling.

Not as complex as psycho-therapy,

but the same technique.

A student without an appointment

can get things off his chest on tape.

- 3 tapes were left yesterday.

- Have you played them?

No, I had some papers to grade.

- Do you know whose tapes they were?

- Yes.

I jotted their names

down here someplace.

Yes. Here they are.

- One of them changed their mind.

- What do you mean?

Didn't want you to play it,

so took all three.

I doubt it. They knew if they called,

I'd destroy it without listening to it.

I've got an early class.

They'll have to be notified.

Maybe I can help.

Would you like me to tell them?

- That'd be most helpful. Thank you.

- Doctor.

Oh, shit!

Did you tell anyone you made it?

I don't tell people

I need psych counseling.

- How about your boyfriend?

- Harry?

- He doesn't know I made it.

- Did you talk about him?

He is all I talked about.

My God, now it'll be all over campus.

Jesus, Harry will kill me!

Shit!

Those tapes were supposed

to be confidential!

What the hell do I care?

It's all bullshit anyway.

You know why I made those tapes?

'Cause I like to

put that phony Pritchett on.

Think I'm worried about

that mini-skirted cheerleader

letting that Neanderthal fullback

ball her in the back of his Pontiac?

Well it just turns me on

to blow smoke up Pritchett's ass.

Once I told him I was queer

for diseased owls

and the fat creep bought it.

- Mark Antony!

- Excuse me, sir.

I really can't see anybody

breaking a lock to get my tape.

Was the lock broken?

- I'm psychic.

- You don't seem very upset.

I'm not, it was mostly poetry,

my own.

I thought Dr Pritchett might

learn something about me from it.

I think it was your tape

the thief was after.

- Why do you say that?

- You're much too cool.

The other two took it hard. I have

to believe nobody wants anything

as intimate as a talk with

a psychologist exposed.

Amazing, Mr Holmes.

There was more

than poetry on your tape.

- And you know who took it.

- Fuck off.

Natalie Clayborne?

Phillip Clayborne's daughter.

State Senator.

Pretty near runs the state,

supposed to be next in line

for governor. Loaded.

Maybe there's a blackmail angle.

Jim, them tapes is gonna

turn out to be kids' stuff.

Hell, man. This is Jordan,

it ain't Chicago.

Morning!

Don't get up.

Well, this is a wholesome

little domestic scene.

- A joy to a parole officer's heart.

- You're just in time for lunch.

No, thanks. This visit is official,

to check Mr Slade's living quarters.

Jesus, Judy, get rid of the heroin

and them broads.

Come on in.

- Who's her husband?

- Ain't one. Divorced.

- She from around here?

- Chicago.

Chicago?

She came here about a year ago.

- Who's she living with?

- You dig her, don't you?

- Don't you?

- Well, as far as I know,

she lives alone.

- What a waste.

- I agree.

Here's a present for her.

Wait till she tastes these.

I caught thirty last week.

- You've done wonders with the place.

- Thanks.

- Sure you won't stay for lunch?

- We gonna get to keep him?

For the time being.

I'll take a rain check on the lunch.

- Anytime.

- That's what you're missing.

I caught them last week. If you let

them thaw, don't refreeze them.

Yes, I will. Bye, Judy.

- Bye.

- Mr Slade.

- How's it going?

- Fine, got my driver's license.

- Good.

- Still need your written permission.

Go ahead and drive,

I'll mail it to you.

How's the job?

It's OK.

- Not exactly like police work, is it?

- No, ma'am, it's a night watch.

- Made any friends?

- Met a few people.

Any female?

Just you.

- See you at the office on Tuesday.

- Yes, ma'am.

Come on, Natalie, get in.

I've got to wait awhile.

I've got a mid-term in the morning.

Will you get in?

There's somebody I've got to see.

What have you been doing

for the last hour?

Dreaming, of a white Christmas.

OK, Clayborne, who is he?

None of your business.

Goddamn you!

You're supposed to be

back on campus by 12.

- You gonna fink on me?

- I should.

Bastard.

Hey, pour me another.

You do, and I'll break your arm.

What are you doing in town

at this hour?

- You tell me, Dick Tracy.

- You're after that tape.

Did you get it?

Miss Clayborne, why don't you

tell me who took that tape?

No.

No.

Alright, no more questions.

Come on. I'll drive you home.

You've got to be in by 12

and I've got to be at work

or we're both in trouble.

Hello?

He's just coming in, hang on.

What happened to you?

- I fell on my ass. Who's that?

- Dean Collins.

OK. Yes, sir?

What?

Is my man there?

Listen, Jim.

I'll notify the Sheriff's office.

You stand by till Casey gets there.

What is it?

- A coed's been killed.

- My God!

This is Betty Childres.

She discovered the body.

I know you've had a shock, but

if there's anything you can tell us.

I came to wake Natalie.

We had an early class.

She didn't answer when I knocked,

so I tried the door.

It was unlocked,

so I came in

and I found her like that.

How well did you know

Miss Clayborne?

I suppose I knew her

as well as anybody.

Up until a few months ago

I was her roommate.

She was a moody girl, strange.

In what way?

I don't know,

she wouldn't talk much.

- You want to go to your room, Betty?

- No, I'm alright.

- You were her roommate?

- Yes.

- Why did you leave?

- Natalie asked me to.

It wasn't me or anything like that.

She just wanted more privacy.

- She have any boyfriends?

- She saw a lot of one boy.

- Arthur King.

- Anybody else?

If there was somebody else,

she never mentioned him.

But she never let a boy

come up to the room.

- Who's Waldo Mason?

- A professor. He teaches Law.

The Sheriff is on his way up.

He'll ask you a few questions,

but don't be frightened.

- Who found her?

- Miss Childress.

- You people touch anything?

- No, Sheriff.

Alright boys, get busy.

I don't know you.

You new here?

- I'm on the midnight shift.

- I sent for Mr Slade.

Oh, yeah, Slade.

One of Linda Thorpe's parolees.

- Chicago cop, aren't you?

- Yes, sir.

- I heard about you.

- We're aware of Mr Slade's record.

- Who else is here at night?

- Just the janitor.

The gardener comes on at six.

- Dig them up.

- Yes, sir.

They sure let those kids run wild.

Ten to one she's knocked up.

- Check that out, Doc.

- Just one, please.

Get him out of here.

Close the door.

- How'd you happen to find her?

- I already told Mr Slade.

You can go.

Don't get lost,

I'd like to talk to you later.

Alright, honey,

let's start from the beginning.

- Come in, Slade.

- You wanted to talk to me.

Sit down.

Come on, sit down.

Now, you tell us about that stuff.

They's just some rags I picked out

of a trash barrel to clean up with.

Notice that stuff's been

pawed over a lot?

What would they make

of that in the big city?

- The same thing you'd make of it.

- Take a look at that.

I read the Good Book. I preach

the Gospel when the spirit moves me.

I'm innocent of crime

in the sight of the Lord.

Sit down and shut up.

He's a lay preacher from

one of them crackpot churches.

Found some religious literature

and junk,

some not so religious.

That's the filth they use to corrupt

the minds of American youth.

I show it to my congregation.

I denounce the sinners who peddle it.

I'll bet you do.

I bet you boys sit around,

cluck your tongues and get bug-eyed

and work yourselves up

into a good holy sweat.

- As God is my witness.

- You're gonna need him.

Found his prints

all over the murder room.

- Wouldn't that figure?

- Him being the janitor?

That's right.

Half the snails in that dorm

found him swiping their underwear

after they hung it out to dry.

You caught a dirty old man.

- I caught myself a murderer.

- No!

You did yourself a little window

shopping in that dorm last night.

There was a light on

in the Clayborne girl's room.

The harlot's room.

You had your eyes on that girl.

She looked all honey and innocent

on the outside,

but you knew her mind and body

were a full of sin as Satan's heart.

So you went

and knocked on the door,

told her you were there

to fix the plumbing.

Probably had a wrench in your hand

to make it more convincing.

So she let you in.

And you made your pitch.

But she called you a raunchy pervert,

not the Lord's good right hand.

And then she screamed, and you

cold-cocked her with the wrench.

No.

You gave her the punishment

the Lord intended.

No.

- Didn't you?

- No!

Take him in, Virgil.

Now all we need is the wrench.

It'll turn up somewhere.

- Can I go now, Sheriff?

- Yeah.

You don't think

that's our man?

No, I don't.

- Ten to one he is.

- You got a bet, Sheriff.

Just don't underestimate Casey,

he ain't no fool.

He won't go to trial without tying

the janitor to the murder weapon.

- He hasn't found one.

- Casey's a mean bastard.

If he has to, he'll plant a wrench

with the janitor's prints on it.

- I don't believe Ewing did it.

- Maybe not.

What do you make of this?

- What the hell is that?

- Found it in her room. It's a poem.

- What does it mean?

- I was afraid you'd ask that.

You two sound just like the old days.

You know how it is.

Once a cop...

Always a cop. I know,

that's how you broke your leg.

And that's how you

can break your parole.

Jim, she's right.

- I keep forgetting.

- Well, don't.

And if you say "once a cop"

once again...

I'm gonna hit you with this pot.

- Arthur King?

- Yeah.

Thought you might like

to have this.

What is it?

An unfinished poem

of Natalie Clayborne's.

- This isn't her handwriting.

- I copied it from her notebook.

- I thought it might be meant for you.

- Why?

It was written to a lover.

I understand you saw a lot of her.

Have you ever heard

of the generation gap?

- Yeah.

- Well, it just got wider.

Fuck off.

- That's what Natalie told me to do.

- What is this? What are you after?

- Her killer.

- The Sheriff got him.

I don't think so. I think it was

whoever she was writing to.

She sure wasn't writing it to me.

Whoever killed her,

I'd sure like to nail 'em.

Why? What's it to you?

You're no cop.

Force of habit, I guess.

Something about that kid.

She seemed... lost.

- How well did you know her?

- You mean was I balling her?

The answer's no. No one was

getting to Natalie that way.

How about this... Janus?

Janus.

The Roman god with two faces.

Whoever she was writing this to

betrayed her.

And Mytilene?

Mytilene. Greek, I think.

Natalie was hooked

on mythology.

You drive a red van, I believe.

Yeah, with a Ying Yang flag.

I drove Natalie home the night

you stranded her in Jordan City.

- Where did you go?

- Back here to cram.

- Alone?

- Yeah.

- That's bad, son. No alibi.

- What's your alibi?

- You drove her home?

- Yeah.

You were the last one to see her.

You won't like this,

but you'd make one hell of a cop.

Thanks for the information.

Professor Mason?

I wonder if I could...

Oh, you're Slade, the new man.

Come on in. Come in.

Dean Collins and I were chatting

about you last night.

You have a very interesting

background.

You investigating

the Clayborne girl's killing?

- The Sheriff is investigating.

- Yes, I understand, perfectly.

I'm something of

an amateur sleuth myself.

I read the papers,

look for clues between the lines.

Like that book, you're wondering

how it got there.

No, I know how it got here.

I was wondering why Betty Childress

took it out of Natalie's room.

And how it got into

Natalie's room in the first place.

- Excellent. Coffee?

- No, thanks.

Do go on.

Let's see your deductive powers.

This place looks like

a coed trap to me.

Natalie's been here,

you lent her this book.

Betty saw the book in her room

and realized it tied you to Natalie.

She was afraid the Sheriff might

spot it, so she brought it back.

She cared so much about you,

she was crying just now as she left.

She was jealous.

My God, a regular PhD

of a night watchman.

Listen, I teach law mostly,

but also criminology and penology,

my real interests.

How about you giving some guest

lectures? It'd be a breeze for you.

Make them question and answer

sessions if you like.

Were you playing around

with Betty Childress?

- No gentleman would answer that.

- You just did.

Touche.

How about Natalie?

Mr Slade, I am a connoisseur

of young girls.

Not statutory rape young,

but young.

However, it was Natalie

who chased after me.

- She was in love with you?

- Hell no.

Had some crazy idea

I might be her father.

Father?

I don't think

I want to get into that.

- You started the game, Professor.

- So I did.

Does that oblige me to finish it?

Natalie's mother and I,

20 years ago, were students here.

She was quite a swinger.

She left college to marry Clayborne

and gave birth to Natalie and...

killed herself

not too long afterward.

- Could you have been the father?

- I'm afraid not.

The dates make that quite impossible.

It's the craziest hang-up I ever saw.

In my judgment, not so much

that she wanted me to be her father,

she wanted Philip Clayborne

not to be.

Hated him.

Hated him.

Wouldn't take his money, lived on

a trust fund her mother left her.

Any of this helping you?

Professor,

this painting, signature K.M.

- You know whose it is?

- Karl Metterman.

He's the local Rembrandt.

He teaches part time art classes,

runs an arty-farty little gallery

down in Jordan City.

I gather you don't think

the janitor killed Natalie?

No, I don't.

Any idea who?

You, maybe.

Why me?

Natalie made a tape

for Dr Pritchett.

If she named you on it as her lover,

it'd play hell with your career.

That's rather loose talk.

You could get to be

quite a nuisance, Mr Slade.

I'm going to give you a little

free legal counsel.

As an ex-cop, I'm sure you know

that criminal libel is a felony.

And you are an ex-con

and you are on parole.

Thanks for the information

and of course, for the advice.

Did you know Slade was with

Clayborne the night of the murder?

- No.

- Well, neither did I.

- He never said a thing about it.

- Did you ask him?

Come on, you know better than that.

He should've told me. He's an ex-cop.

So what, if the janitor did it?

I'm just telling you

that when I get around to Slade

I don't want any squawks

about rousting your people.

- Mr Lamar.

- Hello, Sheriff.

Quartz? Linda Thorpe.

Has Jim Slade left?

He's not due until six,

but I wanted a word with him.

It'll keep till he gets here.

OK. See you soon.

- Problems?

- The usual.

This is a pleasant surprise.

What are you doing here?

Something not so pleasant.

Just paid my taxes.

You are coming by later, aren't you?

Of course.

- Hello.

- Hello. Am I late?

Not a bit.

Eddie Lamar, Jim Slade.

- Mr Slade.

- Lamar's. I've passed your place.

- Next time, drop in for a drink.

- I will.

- See you later.

- Bye, Eddie.

Let's walk.

- He's a good looking man.

- Isn't he?

- Boyfriend?

- He's married.

- Boyfriend?

- I like him.

I've been worried about you.

Casey says you were with the girl

the night of the murder.

She was stoned.

I drove her back to the dorm.

- Great.

- It seemed the least I could do.

Mr Slade, being a good Samaritan

is a luxury a parolee can't afford.

Especially with a mixed-up kid

like Natalie Clayborne.

You knew her?

I was her probation officer for

3 months on a marijuana rap.

I handle things like that, the Dean

keeps it out of the Sheriff's office.

Did you get to know her well?

Not really. She never talked

about herself much.

Casey's gonna give you trouble.

If it gets too rough,

I want you to come to me.

Thank you, I will.

Is that all?

- Yes, I think so. Good night.

- Good night.

Yes, Mr Slade, I've been teaching

at Jordan for the past 20 years.

And I've been painting Jordan coeds

in the nude even longer than that.

Ever since I was an art major.

But what you

really want to know

is whether it was at their request

or mine. Am I right?

No, sir. That would be

none of my business.

- Drink?

- No, thanks.

Artists do not always have

affairs with their models.

I painted Natalie because

she had a Rubinesque body,

full and satisfying,

like her mother's.

Who I also painted when

we were students here. Nude.

Did Natalie know that?

Now you're going to ask me if I

had an affair with Natalie's mother.

- No, sir.

- Yes, but it crossed your mind.

In fact, Natalie was quite

obsessed with that.

That was the real reason

she came to pose for me.

It fascinated her to think

that I might be her father.

- You ever had that problem?

- No, sir.

I didn't think so.

Good night, Mr Slade.

That's 9.75, Mrs Thorpe.

Will that be charge?

- Yes, please.

- 419 Elm, I believe.

Mrs Thorpe.

- Something wrong?

- No, nothing.

- Were you waiting for me?

- Where's your car?

I only live a block from here.

I'll walk you home. Which way?

How did you get into parole work?

How did you become a policeman?

My father was a cop

and his father before him.

Did you like it?

It's what I did best. I never

thought of doing anything else.

No dreams of fame and fortune?

You don't have to stop at detective

sergeant unless you shoot a man.

That doesn't seem like you.

A cop lives 24 hours a day

with violence.

- You get used to violence.

- Yes, you do.

I was married for three years

to a gangster.

You name the racket,

Jerry was in it.

- Must've been tough.

- Not at all.

I knew when I married him,

from the beginning.

There was plenty of money,

we lived the good life. I liked it.

- But you divorced him.

- He was an animal.

419 Elm, Leroy.

So I drifted for awhile. London,

Paris, New York, Las Vegas.

When I ran out of money,

I decided I better get to work.

Parole officer is appointive here,

not Civil Service.

I had influential friends, so my past

associations didn't get in the way.

They figured I had

so many criminal friends

I'd know how to deal with them.

Here we are.

Thanks for the company.

- Good night.

- Know what'd be nice?

If you invited me in for a drink.

Alright, Jim.

Kitchen's in there.

Hit the lights, Charlie!

- Jesus, I think you killed him.

- Well, I couldn't see.

She squirms like a worm,

juicy too.

- Where are we going to do it to her?

- In the bedroom.

- Me first.

- Like hell, Cash. I'm first.

You and Cash flip a coin

for second. I'm first.

Jesus Christ!

My God.

Are you alright?

- I'm OK.

- Let's go inside.

- I'm going to call a doctor.

- That's alright. It's just a cut.

Sit down.

Those were the same three that

beat up Quartz at Lamar's.

They got a bracelet from me and I

saw a woman in the market with it.

She must've got my address

from the clerk.

- I think they were after me.

- You?

I've been asking

too many questions.

What have you been up to?

Talking to a few people

about the Clayborne murder.

Jim, listen to me.

You're not a cop anymore.

I want you to go to Casey

and tell him everything you know

and stop behaving

like a goddamn fool.

OK.

I'm sorry, I...

I haven't even thanked you

for what you did.

It'd be nice if you'd give me

that drink you promised me.

Yes. You sit here

and I'll get dressed.

I'll take you to the hospital

to get that cut closed.

And then, you're going to Casey.

Alright.

Can't say I blame them.

Linda's a good looking broad.

- I want them guns dusted for prints.

- Now, wait a minute.

They called each

other by their first names.

Leroy, Cash and Charlie.

They weren't afraid of being made.

- Like they had connections.

- Damn you.

No hood's got connections

in this county.

I ought to lock you up.

Go ahead.

I'd probably be a lot safer.

I damn well will, unless you got

the right answers to my questions.

Where did you take the girl

after you left the bar?

Senator Clayborne's here, Sheriff.

- I'll get to you later.

- You know where to find me.

- Senator, I'm Sheriff Casey.

- My secretary, Mr Swanson.

The janitor you've arrested.

I want to see him, alone.

Yes, sir.

If you're looking for that wrench,

Sheriff's been over here already.

Yeah, I know. He gave me permission

to go through all this stuff.

Maybe I can help.

What are you looking for?

Well, you never know

what's gonna turn up.

Like a tape recording?

I think you better

have a talk with my boss.

What do you know

about that tape?

It's alright, go ahead.

I believe your daughter

was murdered for it.

So do I. And I don't believe

it was the janitor.

- Do you know what was on that tape?

- No, sir.

- Does the Sheriff?

- I don't think so.

You don't seem like

a mere night watchman.

My name is Slade, sir.

I'm an ex-cop, Homicide.

Retired?

Busted.

I did time, I'm on parole.

- I shot a man.

- In the line of duty?

In my wife's bed.

I got a letter from my daughter

post marked the day

before she was killed.

She was upset about something

she'd put on that tape.

She was afraid the thief

would try to blackmail me.

Natalie got into trouble

when she was 15,

I had the option of letting her

pay the penalty or buying her out.

I bought.

It was the kind of fix my political

enemies could make much of.

I want that tape.

I don't care how I get it.

If it's evidence in a murder case,

it'll be turned over to the D.A.

I'll worry about the D.A.

As Natalie's father, that tape

is now legally my property.

I'm not satisfied with the way

this case has been handled,

I want you to work on it.

I can't do that,

I'm a parolee.

Mr Slade, I have considerable

influence in this state

and I can be a generous man

when I get what I want.

- What time are you off duty?

- 8 a.m.

I'm staying at Colonel Cravet's

cottage on the lake. I'll expect you.

Good night.

Mr Slade.

Congratulations.

Welcome aboard.

You're gonna accept now, aren't you?

Did you hear what I said in there?

I'm not sure that's wise,

there's a lot of money in this.

More than the Senator implied.

- Money.

- I thought that'd interest you.

I suggest you and I get together

and have a coffee and a talk,

just between the two of us.

Mr Swanson.

I don't know if you're on the take

or just testing me for the Senator,

but either way, I don't like it.

Since when does a secretary

carry an automatic?

- Wait till the Senator hears.

- I won't tell him.

Good morning.

You mean good evening.

- Where's Judy?

- Playing bridge.

- Sleep well?

- Not too bad.

Your headache better?

A little better.

Just how would you like

your egg, Mr Slade?

- Alright, Quartz, let's have it.

- Well, let's see, sir.

You had a number of phone calls.

Linda Thorpe

called to express her concern

for your health.

And Sheriff Casey called and said

he'd be desolated if you left town.

And Senator Clayborne

was deeply disappointed

you couldn't make your appointment

this morning.

And I haven't heard

from them three assholes

you spent such a lovely evening with

though I'm sure their get-well cards

is on the way.

And then there were calls from

more of your conquests, Arthur King,

- Professor Mason and Dr Pritchett.

- What the hell did they want?

It seems their pads were torn apart

and they figured it was you

looking for that tape.

Karl Metterman call?

No. Why?

- Can I borrow you car?

- Sure. What's going on?

Jim!

Mr Lamar.

Mr Lamar, telephone.

- Mr Slade.

- Yes.

I'm sorry to trouble you.

I'm trying to reach Mrs Thorpe

and there's no answer at her house.

I'm looking right at her.

Linda, it's for you.

- Hello?

- Linda, I'm in a jam.

Could you meet me in front

of the Clemons Motel in 30 minutes?

Alright, Jim.

He's in some kind of trouble.

- Sorry, I have to go.

- Can I help?

No, thank you.

I think I can handle it.

I'll be back, if it's not too late.

Cut your motor, your lights.

Linda, I'd like to borrow your car.

- Where's yours?

- Too easy to spot.

- Are you at this again?

- Somebody tried to kill me tonight.

They got the wrong guy.

I'm safe as long as they think

I'm dead. I've got to lay low.

- You're going straight to Casey.

- Like hell I am.

I sound like broken record.

You're an ex-con on parole.

I break my parole, I do 3 more years.

Tonight, I nearly did no more.

Jim, please, if you go on like this

I can't help you.

I'm sorry, but it's my neck

and I've got to do it my way.

I'm not going to work tonight.

Alright.

Thanks for coming down.

Sorry I broke your date.

Date?

When I called, you were

with Eddie Lamar.

- And that bothers you?

- I guess I'm old-fashioned.

Mr Slade, you're a damn fool.

Hello?

Yes, Eddie.

No. No. It's too late for that.

I'll see you tomorrow.

What?

Yes, Eddie,

I'm going straight to bed.

Morning, Senator.

We had an appointment yesterday,

it's a little late.

It's later than you think, sir.

Your boy Swanson is dead.

He was burglarizing everybody

who knew Natalie.

He wanted to hijack that tape

and blackmail you himself.

- Who killed him?

- Probably the people who left this.

- Excuse me.

- Yes, sir.

- It's blackmail, alright.

- How much?

250,000 dollars in cash

in exchange for the tape.

I'm to be at the Jordan City

bus terminal at noon.

- This is our chance to nail them.

- Yes.

Hello?

This is Senator Clayborne.

Who's this?

I see.

Yes. Yes, I understand.

Mr Slade, I've decided

to handle this myself.

- 'Cause of that call?

- I'm going to the bank.

I want your word

you won't follow me.

Alright, Senator.

Can I see that note?

The deal's off

if I involve anyone else.

I think you better go.

Alright, sir.

If that's the way you want it.

Morning, Sheriff.

Didn't hear you knock.

- Where's your car, Quartz?

- It's funny you should ask,

it was stolen last night.

- How come you didn't report it?

- What for?

Your boys couldn't find a turd

in a cow pasture.

We found it alright, with

a bullet hole in the windshield,

blood on the seat.

- Is Slade up there?

- Got a search warrant?

You touch that phone,

I'll get my shot gun.

Your status in here

is the same as that of a prowler.

Excuse me, please.

Hello?

Oh, yeah, Dean Collins.

He's been a little under the weather,

but he'll be back tonight.

- Who's there? Casey?

- Yes, sir.

I'm at Linda Thorpe's house.

Call me back.

I'll be glad to do that, Dean.

Jack, I'd like to get my car back

before your deputies strip it.

- Hello?

- Jim, where the hell have you been?

Great.

Now you can tail him.

I promised I wouldn't.

Well, I didn't.

And Clayborne don't know me.

What about your leg?

I'm tired of sitting around.

Don't worry about me, I'll be armed.

The note only takes him

to the bus station.

- After that, we don't know.

- I'll stick to him like plaster.

Alright, keep me posted.

Where do you think you're going

with that?

Hunting.

Final call for Vanceville,

Quarry, Central, Bradtown,

Payneburg, Charleston, Washington,

Baltimore, Philadelphia.

Final call.

Vanceville, please.

That'll be a dollar ninety.

Vanceville.

Hold it, driver.

I'm on the wrong bus.

- How did it go, Senator?

- Come on in.

- Well, the bastards delivered.

- Where, sir?

Behind a fireplace

in one of those roadside parks.

I left the money, drove away,

came back in an hour.

The money was gone

and this was there.

Mr Slade,

you've been very helpful.

I'll have my office send you a check

for your time and trouble.

You've still got a dead daughter.

I can't bring Natalie back

and neither can you.

I might bring in her killer

if I knew what was on that tape.

You'd better leave.

You wanted that tape bad,

but you wouldn't have paid

unless you knew

the blackmailer had it.

He had to give you some proof

that he knew what was on that tape.

And he did. It was in that payoff

note that you wouldn't show me.

You touch that note

and I'll kill you.

I never did believe that story

about fixing a rap.

She wouldn't have hated you

for that.

She tried to convince herself

other guys were her father.

I loved Natalie.

She was the only creature

on God's earth I've ever loved.

Once, I thought I loved

her stepmother, but...

I learned to hate her.

So did Natalie.

The night it happened,

I'd been drinking heavily.

I did a lot of that in those days.

I was in bed,

Natalie came in.

She took me in her arms

to comfort me.

I don't know how it happened.

I know that I...

started to make love to her.

When I realized what I was doing,

I stopped.

Do you understand?

I stopped.

This is Lester Pearlman,

Dr Pritchett.

Why do I dig that little cheerleader?

Why do I hate that big fullback?

Last night, I...

You paid 250,000 dollars

for that tape.

It's not the one you want.

They've still got that.

Casey's got a manhunt

going for you.

I might as well

go in and face him.

What happened?

I just left Clayborne.

He paid off, but got taken.

First, we're gonna go home

and have some supper.

When Casey gets his hands on you,

God knows when I'll see you again.

- Hello?

- I want to talk to Mr Slade.

Who's calling?

Jim, Arthur King.

- Hello?

- Hello, Mr Slade?

I know who Natalie's lover was.

The key was in that poem she wrote.

- Tell me.

- No.

- Meet me and I'll lay it out for you.

- Where are you?

Wait there, it'll take me

about half an hour.

- I got to go.

- Where?

- Campus Post Office.

- Post Office?

King thinks he knows

who Natalie's lover was.

- Who?

- He didn't say.

He might have something.

- I'll try to hurry back.

- Jim...

Be careful.

Well, well, looky here. I finally

caught you with your pants down.

Bullshit. I just got here.

- What are you doing here?

- I was cruising.

Got a call somebody heard

a shot here.

- Is he dead?

- He's dead.

Who is he?

- Arthur King.

- Caught him messing with the body.

King phoned me to meet him here.

He was dead when I arrived.

Slade, the death rate in this county

has tripled since you got here.

I found Swanson's body

in that motel room.

There's a hell of a lot going on

I don't know, but I think you do.

And I'm sure as hell gonna find out.

Take him in, Virgil.

What's the charge?

Book him

for assaulting an officer.

Take his car down

and impound it.

Hell, wait a minute.

It's Linda Thorpe's car.

Hell.

Right, Jack, he had my car.

Is there a law against that?

You haven't a damn thing on him.

I'm his alibi!

King phoned him here,

I was with him.

Release him at once,

or I'll start making phone calls.

- You been sprung

- By who?

Whom.

OK, Professor, whom?

I got orders from the Sheriff

to let you out.

- How come?

- You wanna stay?

Casey?

- We was smart to steal a cop car.

- Like hell you stole it.

Virgil let you take it

before he sprung me.

See now why we gotta kill him?

No, Cash. We'll take him

back to Nell's place.

I got to return Virgil's car.

You lay off him till I get back.

He's my meat.

Nell.

So this is the stallion that done

all the damage the other night.

He don't look like much to me.

You boys ought to be ashamed.

Damn it, Nell.

You want this half-wit to kill him?

Leroy said for us to wait.

You turn him loose,

I'll give you a show.

You couldn't whip a cripple. I'd beat

you without working up a sweat.

Cash!

You think we're all mush-brained?

You're just baiting him

so we'll turn you loose to fight.

We'll just put him on ice

till Leroy gets back.

Put him in the cellar, boys.

Goddamn, it's cold.

Alright, where is he?

In the cellar.

Let's get it over with.

Hell, Leroy,

he ain't going no place.

Shit.

- Where's your pals?

- They drunk up a storm last night,

didn't hardly give me a drop.

That whole time

I was studying on you.

- I ain't as dumb as they make out.

- Sure you're dumb.

Virgil gets the gravy,

you guys do the dirty work.

He don't neither.

We got a good deal with Virgil.

We can do anything we want to

and we don't get busted as long

as we do a few things for him.

Like what?

You hold still.

I'm gonna bust your arm

at the elbow.

It'll go just like kindling.

Leroy'll skin you alive for this.

I studied on that too.

They want a cripple for the fight

and that's just what

I'm fixing to give 'em.

Where's Cash?

He killed Cash.

He shot him!

He shot him dead.

Get the dog, Charlie.

He's in the barn, Leroy.

Go in and get him, Charlie.

Damn it, Nell. He's got a gun,

he shot Cash.

Give me a hand, Charlie.

- Son of a bitch killed the dog.

- Get your ass up there!

I'll cover the back.

Leroy!

He's in the tractor shed.

Kill him, Leroy!

Come here.

Give me that bracelet.

- Go.

- You gonna shoot me in the back?

I'm going to count from one to ten.

One,

two,

three, four,

five, six,

seven, eight

nine, ten.

Morning, Slade.

We got a thumbprint off the key

to Swanson's motel room.

It was yours.

You're under arrest.

I just killed three men, Casey.

I'm in no mood for any bullshit.

Where's Virgil?

Home, I guess.

He's off this morning.

Show me.

By God, you're right.

He's taking off.

Roger. Picked her up outside

a gas station near the state line.

You took a chance

letting her go.

I figured she'd be easy to spot.

Nobody quite like her.

I wanted to give her time

to tip off Virgil.

- Wanna let me in on the rest?

- You'll have it before the day's out.

Quit gabbing,

you're gonna lose him.

Slade, you ain't very good company.

Come on!

Don't say a damn word

till I talk to my lawyer.

- What can I book him for?

- Murder. He killed Swanson.

What about him?

Murder. He killed Arthur King.

Run a test on those guns,

they'll check out.

Well, Quartz, it's almost over.

I had a lot of time to think

last night in that cellar.

I could tie Virgil in

with those rednecks,

but what about Natalie,

Arthur King and Swanson?

Then it hit me.

I knew Virgil went to Metterman's

house to shoot me not Swanson.

Somebody set me up.

There was only one man who knew

I'd gone out there in your car.

It was you, Quartz.

It was crazy, didn't make sense.

I tried to lose it in the darkness,

but it wouldn't go away.

So I went back to the beginning

to see if I could make it fit.

I started with why you went

to Lamar's the night it was held up

without Judy.

It's not your kind of place.

Unless you were there for a meeting

with one of your partners, Lamar.

The hold up was just a bad break,

it took you out of action.

But with me around, you could

still stay on top of every angle.

You'd be the first to know

if anything went wrong

and I reported to you

like an ass-kissing rookie.

The jogging was perfect.

You came here early,

stole the tapes, then you jogged.

You had those tapes in your car

the morning you did your circus act.

When I found Natalie in the bar and

brought her to campus in hysterics

you were tipped off

and came up here to calm her down.

I figure you didn't mean

to kill her, just scare her.

But she threatened to blow

the whistle. You lost your head.

You hit her, with a crutch.

You're good with those crutches,

Quartz, damn good.

Following Clayborne on the payoff,

that was a nice touch,

it really had me fooled.

Unless after you lost him,

you got off the bus,

went back to your car and picked up

the money in the roadside park

where your note told Clayborne

to leave it.

It was 5 o'clock in the morning

by then, and Cash woke me up.

I knew I'd had a bad dream.

But when we took Clayborne's

money back from Lamar this morning,

Casey dusted it for prints.

It wasn't a dream, Quartz.

They were your prints.

You want to advise him

of his rights?

You're making the arrest, not me.

He's got a new mate.

Seems happier.

Yes. They get lonely.

Even as you and I.

- What can I do for you, Mr Slade?

- Tell me about Natalie Clayborne.

I think this is the one

you're looking for.

This is Natalie Clayborne,

Doctor

and what I'm about to tell you

I have only...

I see you've heard

from Eddie Lamar's lawyer.

Yes.

By the way...

You shouldn't have bothered.

It isn't worth much.

Now, how do you like that.

I went and killed three men for it.

I had it all wrapped up

this morning.

Only problem was telling you your

boyfriend was a blackmailing murderer.

There was one thing

that still bothered me.

This tape.

Not where it was hidden,

but who'd gotten close enough

to Natalie to get her to make it.

It could've been Dr Pritchett,

he could've lied about playing it,

faked the burglary.

But yesterday morning,

Clayborne got a call

just after I delivered

the blackmail note.

And all of a sudden,

he wanted to deal me out.

It was one of the blackmailers

and they thought I was dead.

I was the only one

who knew you weren't.

You were Natalie's

probation officer.

For three months.

You're good at getting

close to people.

You got close to me

in three days.

- I fell in love.

- With who? Me?

Eddie Lamar? Quartz?

Natalie?

When Arthur King called

you knew he was on to you.

So you called Lamar

and he got to the kid before I did.

- Can I mix you one?

- No, thank you.

He said he knew who

Natalie's lover was,

the key was in the poem.

Janus was a two-faced lover,

but I couldn't figure Mytilene.

I stopped at Dr Pritchett's

on my way here.

Mytilene is the modern name

for the Greek island of Lesbos

where Sappho and her Lesbians

did their thing.

Dr Pritchett said that because of

the experiences with her father,

Natalie could be a set up

for a relationship with a woman.

I know now that the night

I found Natalie,

she'd been to see you,

trying to get that tape back.

So you called one

of your boyfriends,

Quartz,

and asked him to shut her up.

It took me so long to figure you out

because of the killers

jumping both of us

in this house.

I didn't know they were working

for me.

And neither did they.

I believe you.

Eddie Lamar was your front.

Virgil was his stooge.

When Virgil busted those three

for the hold up,

Eddie dropped the charges in return

for a little strong-arm service.

- Like getting rid of me.

- I never wanted that.

Tell me something.

Were you and Eddie

going to double cross Quartz?

I thought you had

all the answers.

Everybody was in that bed.

The victim, the killer,

the front man, me.

You were the only one

that mattered.

Baby, you're the best I've seen.

Thanks.

And you're a smart cop.

Unfortunately, a smart cop

is still just a dumb cop.

All you had to do before you ran

around arresting people

was think one step further.

You could've had 250 grand.

The tape, which Clayborne

would've gone on paying for

and you could've had me.

Jesus.

That wife of yours must've had it

tough up there on that pedestal.

You didn't say so,

but you were shocked when I said

I'd have stuck with my gangster

if he'd treated me decent.

What have you got

out of all this, Jim?

A cop's pat on the back?

Big deal.

You killed three bad guys

and pinched three more.

Four. Counting you.

Me?

What have I done?

I didn't steal any tapes.

I didn't kill that girl.

I didn't mail any blackmail notes

or pick up any payoff money.

I didn't shoot Arthur King

or Swanson

and I didn't pay those rednecks

to lean on you last night.

Conspiracy.

Maybe.

But I'll turn State's evidence

and I won't serve a day.

Morning, Jack.

Morning, Linda.

Forget your manners?

Slade, I want to talk to you.

That check Clayborne

sent you for destroying the tape...

- What about it?

- The D.A. found out

you deposited it in

Judy Willinger's account.

- She's gonna need it.

- Sure, but the D.A. don't like it.

- To hell with the D.A.

- Yeah.

He says you being the State's

star witness and all,

defense will have a field day, you

giving money to the defendant's wife.

To hell with the D.A.

Did I say that?

Slade, you don't want

to testify against Quartz.

Once a cop, always a cop.

What the hell's that

got to do with it?

You ever notice how lawyers don't

like to testify against lawyers?

Doctors against doctors?

You owe me ten bucks

because the janitor didn't do it.

I'll give you 10-1 you don't make

much of a witness against Virgil.

- If you testify at all.

- Goddamn, Slade.

Come on.

I shot the son of a bitch, didn't I?

In the leg, Casey. Not between

the eyes or in the heart

or anywhere near that badge.

Smart cop, Slade.

Somebody once told me

that a smart cop

is still just a dumb cop.

How'd you like to be one again?

I might be able to do something

about that parole.

I've got Virgil's badge on my desk

and nobody to pin it on.

Thanks, Casey.

I'll think about it.