When the Bough Breaks (1986) - full transcript

- The accused has no
previous criminal record

and there's no evidence he's
a danger to the community

or will flee this court's
jurisdiction.

On the other hand, the crime
with which he stands charged

is indeed a serious one.

Bail is set at $250,000.

(crowd shouting)

- Mr. Hickle, how 'bout a statement.

- I am innocent.

- [Reporter] Mrs. Hickle!

(crowd chattering)



Is your husband innocent?

Mrs. Hickle, this way please.

Mrs. Hickle!

- You're next.

- [Reporter] Mrs. Hickle, Mrs. Hickle.

- Doctor Delaware, what
effect do you think

the release of Hickle
will have on the children?

- No comment.

- Is it true, you'll
testify in court--

- You heard the man, no comment.

- But Doctor Weller, just something.

- They let him go.

- It's just on bail, Mr. Hammers.

- How could they do this
after what he's done?



- Alleged to have done.

- This is Detective Stewart.

- You think he didn't do it?

Is that what you're saying?

Is that what the cops think?

- Nobody's saying that Mr. Hammers.

- My God, MaryAnn can't sleep.

- She's terrified and
now with him out.

- Please, this is not
the time to talk.

Can you come to my office Friday?

We'll talk there please.

- Accused child molester,
Stuart Hickle was released

today on $250,000 bail.

- I don't believe this.

Where's he get that kind of money?

- Turns out he's rich.

Don't worry about it.

- Don't worry about it?

You don't have to work with the kids

day after day.

I mean, entire families
are coming apart.

- [Reporter] What are you
gonna do with the kids?

- No comment!

- [Reporter] What are you gonna do--

- I am innocent!

- I mean, they should have
at least referred the guy

for treatment for God's sake.

- That usually comes after conviction

if he's convicted.

- What do you mean if?

- You haven't even gone to trial.

- Their parents told them.

Tell you one thing, I know
some people are going to be

very sorry that they persecuted me.

- Oh, change the channel, will ya?

Turn it off, will ya please?

- Alex, you wanna lighten up?

Robert, would you mind?

You know what I wonder about,

I wonder about the wife.

We can never pin anything on her

even though she's, where you going?

- Out into the night to
contemplate what I do

and why I do it.

- Ah, the joys of
confronting human misery.

- Kinda like surfing in a cess pool.

- Alex, do yourself a favor.

Take a break, go home.

- I've got work to do at the office.

(ominous music)

(intense music)

(slow calm music)

No, no.

Sorry about that.

- I thought you didn't
have nightmares anymore.

- I don't.

- [Woman] Alex.

- What do you want for breakfast?

- [Woman] Are there any clean towels?

- Doubt it.

- [Woman] What's happening
to this house?

No clean towels, no
soap in the shower?

- I've told you before, I don't
take peanut butter on mine.

- I'm so glad you could
make it for breakfast.

- That is disgusting.

Do you have anything
that's edible around here?

- [Woman] Alex, I'm
getting you a cleaning lady

and I will not take no for an answer.

- What can I do for ya Milo?

- Anyone special?

- An acquaintance.

- Where's your hair dryer?

- Broken.

- Oh Alex.

- Alex.

- Hi.

- Hi.

If we wait for him to introduce us,

we'll part strangers.

Milo.

- Hi, Lisa.

- Nice to meet you.

- You too.

- You need to keep her.

- Was that a proposal?

- Are you kidding?

It's tough enough just
being your friend.

- Amen.

'Scuse me.

- Certainly.

You've been hiding
something from me Alex.

- What do you want?

- Couldn't this just be a social call?

- Nope, you got that bloodhound look.

- With such intuitive powers,
you should've been a shrink.

Actually, I could use your help.

- That's great.

That's just what I need.

- I'm late for the hospital.

Oh my God.

- Police business, sorry.

- Listen, why don't you call me

when you rejoin the human race, okay?

Bye.

- Bye.

- Bye bye, nice meeting you.

- You too!

- This used to be a
colleague of yours.

A shrink named Kennedy and
this was his girlfriend,

Elaine Vargas, who it also turns out

was one of his patients.

Whoever did this really
sliced them up like sushi.

- That's lovely, ya know,
you're doing wonders

for my appetite.

- See, I think it's your
choice of breakfast food.

Anyway, I got no witnesses at all Alex

except a seven year old girl
who can't remember anything

except she saw shadows.

So naturally, I thought of you.

- What happened to
the police's vaunted

behavioral science division?

- Well, they don't know kids, you do.

- Did, Milo.

Past tense.

Thank you.

Anyway, I've had enough
blood and gore to last me

a lifetime, thank you very much.

- What are you talking about, Hickle?

That poor perv was just
trying to atone for his sins

blowing himself away in your office.

- Thank you Doctor Sturgis.

You're the cop, I'm
the shrink, remember?

- Oh yeah, then why don't
you go back to work?

- Listen, it takes a while.

I know what I'm doing.

I've got a PhD.

- Oh yeah, I forgot.

Except after six months
of retirement, six months

of licking your wounds,
you're not getting any better.

You are getting into
hot tubs, jogging,

collecting junk art.

Pretty soon, you'll be
buying yourself a guru,

but I got news for ya, Doc.

Nirvana through inertia
doesn't make it.

- That's downright inspirational Milo.

- You don't wanna talk, fine.

All I need from you is
an hour or two talking

to the kid.

She knows something she
can't remember, Alex.

I can feel it.

I just need some help getting to it.

I don't know, hypnosis maybe.

Afterward, we repair to the
restaurant of your choice

and then you can drift back
up here and I go home to Rick.

- How is Rick?

- Disgruntled 'cause I'm never there.

- Don't complain, you're lucky.

- It's true, he is every
mother's dream.

Nice Jewish doctor.

Well, what do ya say?

We get any kinda
description at all, great.

If not, hey, huh?

Huh?

- No.

- [Milo] Great.

- Slaughter house, I assume.

- Right.

Mother's the manager.

Kid's an insomniac.

Apparently, she was
sitting up in that window

when the murders took place.

- Oh, very nice, upscale.

- Wait.

(knocking)

- [Woman] Yeah?

- Mrs. Quinn?

It's Detective Sturgis.

- Oh, you're back again.

- Yes, this is Doctor
Delaware, the psychologist

I mentioned to you.

- How do you do?

- You talk to Doctor Towle
about this hypnotizing?

- Mrs. Quinn, this is
a police investigation.

- Look, I told ya before,
she didn't see nothin'.

Anyway, she lies to get attention.

- Mrs. Quinn.

- Look officer, I don't
want no trouble.

This place is all singles,
they don't like kids.

Besides, I need the job.

- I understand Mrs. Quinn.

I would still like Doctor Delaware

to talk to Melody, please?

Please?

- Melody?

- [TV] Calm down Susan.

Susan Alexander, I dare you.

- Hello Melody.

I'm Doctor Delaware,
I'm a psychologist.

Do you know what that means?

Well I'm the kind of doctor
that doesn't give shots.

What I do is I talk with
kids and we draw sometimes

and we play together

and I help them if they're
feeling sad or angry

or scared.

Would you like to play?

- Answer the doctor, Melody.

- Me too.

Maybe I could come back sometime
and we could play together.

Would you like that?

- If she's a good girl.

- I'm sure she is a good
girl, Mrs. Quinn.

- Yeah, go on back, watch TV, huh?

Go on.

Wait, it's time for your pills.

- 'Scuse me, may I see that please?

- I took her to Doctor
Towle when the teachers kept

sending home notes saying
she couldn't sit still.

Her mind wanders.

Doctor said she's hyperactive.

- Thank you.

- Don't just stand there, get
in there and watch TV, huh?

See how she is?

- Nevertheless, Mrs. Quinn,
I'd still like

Doctor Delaware to talk
with Melody some more.

Excuse me, I'll be in touch.

- What's the problem?

- She's on medication.

I can't work with her unless
I get a doctor's permission.

- Well talk to him, get
him to take her off.

- You don't talk to
Doctor Towle, you listen.

- You know him?

- He's the chief of
pediatrics at the hospital.

- Where you used to work?

- Yes.

- Great!

- No, not great.

- Why?

- He believes in the
pharmacological solution to

all of life's problems.

- Look, can't you at least
talk to him?

- Hey Milo, don't.

- Did you see the eyes on that kid?

Do me a favor, will ya?

When you go and talk to
Towle, shave, please.

Really.

- Doctor will be with you shortly.

- Thank you very much.

- Doctor Delaware.

- Yes, Doctor Towle.

She's very beautiful.

- My wife, she died very young.

- I'm sorry.

- Yes, so was I.

Please.

- Thank you.

- Hope you won't think
me abrupt if I ask you

what you're interest is
in Melody Quinn.

- No, not at all.

I've been asked by the
police to interview her

as a possible witness to a crime.

- You and I have never
had the good fortune

to work together.

Indeed, I understood you'd
retired from our staff.

- This is a favor for a
friend, Detective Sturgis.

- Ah, he investigated the
Hickle case, didn't he?

You two were all over the 6:00 news.

- Yes, yes we were.

- That was a tragedy,
particularly for the children.

- I admired your work, Alex.

May I call you Alex?

- Yes please, yes.

- Your departure from the
field of behavioral pediatrics

was a loss, a great loss.

- Thank you very much.

- I must confess, I'm a bit
surprised to find a psychologist

of your reputation making
such an unusual request.

- Why is that?

- Melody Quinn is a
severely hyperactive child.

Without her medication,
her attention span's

too short for school.

She can't sit still.

She'll develop significant
behavioral problems.

- Is there a way that you could

reduce the dosage temporarily?

- I don't like to tamper
with a winning combination.

- I see, alright alright.

Boy, she must have posed
quite a problem

to merit 60 milligrams.

- Why else would I prescribe it?

- No, no, no, I just,

well I got the impression when
I was talking to the mother

that maybe she didn't
wanna disturb the neighbors

and perhaps she was
using the medication

in a haphazard way, that's all.

- Well, I'd have to check
that but there is a social

context here.

If there's nowhere for the
girl and her mother to live,

that's hardly therapeutic, now is it?

Now it's a matter of
cost, risk, analysis.

- I'd still really appreciate
it if you'd consider

just lowering the dosage
for a few days.

- Why is this important to you?

- I would like your consent
to hypnotize Melody.

- Hypnotize.

You said interview.

- Yes I did, but the
police think that she may

remember more under hypnosis.

- Taking this child off
medication won't make her more

susceptible to hypnosis.

Her concentration would be poorer.

- I have inductions that
are specially suited

for children with short
attention spans.

- Well, anything's possible.

Of course, the question
is, is it advisable?

No, no, no, as Melody's
physician, I must insist

that she continue with
the regime that I have

prescribed for her so that
she can function normally.

- Will you consent to
hypnosis, Warren?

- I'll tell you what.

Because of my respect for
you, I'll think about it.

- He'll think about it.

- Alex?

- God, what an egomaniac.

Doctor is omnipotent.

Doctor can fix anything.

- I take it he wouldn't
give his permission.

- Doctor will think about it.

- You're worried about
the kid, aren't you?

- Yeah, you're damn right I am.

- So what now?

- I have to go back and
tell Melody we won't be

playing together after all

so she doesn't think
I just disappeared.

- You think one of Kennedy's
patients could've killed him?

- Why you asking me?

Come on.

- Come on Alex.

Just check out Kennedy's files.

See if anyone strikes
your trained eye.

You can do it in your hammock.

- Mrs. Quinn.

Hi.

Oh, I didn't expect you back so soon.

I've just come by to tell Melody

that we won't be--
- Melody.

- You're gonna have to buy her lunch

and give her her pill.

- No actually Mrs. Quinn,
you don't understand.

- You guys wanna hypnotize
her, the least you could do

is feed her.

- Shall we?

We'll be back in a couple of hours.

(playful carnival music)

Wanna go for a ride?

You don't?

How come?

- Mommy said don't be greedy.

- Well I wanna go for a ride,
so come on.

- Thanks for the bear.

- You're welcome.

- Doctor Delaware?

- Why don't you call me Alex, Melody?

- I'm supposed to take my pill now.

- Oh, right.

How do these make you feel?

- Kind of, I don't know,

funny I guess.

- I'll tell you what,
why don't we take these

a little later on, okay?

(laughter)

- Uh oh, got my bear wet.

Doctor Delaware, Alex,
you gonna hypnotize me?

- Only if you want me to.

- Will it make me think better?

- You think just fine Melody,
but it may help you remember.

Melody, I want you to
remember the night the doctor

was hurt, it's alright, it's okay.

You're safe and you're very relaxed.

But now you can see yourself,
just like being in a movie.

And you see yourself at
night, you get up from bed,

you walk towards the
window and you look out.

Now tell me what you see.

- Dark.

- Yes, it's dark outside,
what else do you see?

- Shadows.

- How many?

- Two, no three.

- That's good, can you tell
me what they look like?

- Except one of them walks funny.

- Funny, how funny?

- I don't know, just funny.

- Okay, that's very good.

Can you see anything else?

(eerie music)

Melody, what is it?

- Something else.

- Tell me.

- After the shadows,
somebody screamed.

- Don't you ever knock?

- Do you know what happens to guys

who leave their doors unlocked?

- Friends invade their privacy.

- You have no privacy, you're
a police consultant now.

- No, no thank you.

- It's official Alex, I
signed your name myself.

What happened with Melody?

- One of these shadows walked
funny and somebody screamed.

- You hypnotized her?

- Yeah and I left her my
phone number too

in case she thinks of
anything else, but I think

that's probably it.

- What about the files, you
find any likely candidates?

- Nine might qualify,
not that Kennedy was much

of a therapist.

No treatment plans, stress histories,

almost no clinical notes at
all, just sarcastic comments

on his patients.

These I categorized as
possible psychopaths.

- No, not him, not her.

- You know something I don't know?

- Yeah, while you've been
psychologizing, I've been

detecting, checking the
whereabouts of all of

Kennedy's patients.

They're all accounted for or
have alibis except these three.

Ready, let's go.

- Where are we going?

- You think I'm still into rehab?

Wrong.
- Uh huh.

- No, you see, my car just
died right in front of

your house and I could use a
ride to check out these names.

- Sure you could.

- Alex, you don't believe
me, I'm really hurt.

- Don't cry, it's not manly.

- Thank you Alex.

Oh Alex, your card.

Okay, we got a college student,
a pharmacist down in Sagas,

and a salesman in the
valley, suspects hall.

- [Alex] The valley, oh that's great.

I love Burbank in the springtime.

- It's fall and don't be provincial.

- May I assist you?

- Maurice Bruno please.

Mr. Bruno's not available.

- Who's his boss?

- That would be Mr. Gershman.

- Then that would be
who I'd like to talk to.

- May I inquire about what?

- No honey, you may not.

- Come on in.

- Behave yourself.

- Look, I'll be with
you guys in a sec, okay?

Lenny?

Lenny, I got cops here, I gotta go.

Yeah, cops.

I don't know Lenny, I don't know.

Look, you wanna ask em?

Right, right, that's what I figured.

Okay look, we got a deal here or what?

Yeah, yeah, matchbooks,
coasters, the whole schmeer.

Okay fine, that's good.

I promise delivery in three weeks.

Yeah okay right, you bet your bippy.

Okay sweetie, bye bye, gotta go.

'Scuse the glitz.

My wife and her interior decorator.

See what happens when the
gay boys dictate things?

So, tell me, what do you
want with Maury?

- Just a few questions.

- Ah, come on, you guys
can't harass him like this.

I mean, he did his time
for the bad check rap.

The court even made
him go to a shrink.

He's clean.

- Where is he, Mr. Gershman?

- Vegas.

We do a lot of business there.

- How long has he been there?

- Week, two weeks, I don't know.

I don't check on him.

- Can you get him on the phone?

- Why not?

Grace, yeah, get Maury at
the Sands for me, will you?

Yeah.

You know, you're making
a big mistake here.

- What's that?

- Whatever it is you think Maury did.

I mean, he may played a little
fast and loose in the past,

but that's all behind him now.

Besides, he's a terrific salesman.

(phone ringing)

Yeah, Maury?

What do you mean he's not there?

- You got an address?

- Look, he just switched
hotels, that's all.

- Where does he live?

- Glendale, look, this is
a guy who works

a 74 hour week and on top
of that, he volunteers

to work with kids.

- Where does he do that?

- Reverend McCaffrey's place.

That's Pueblos de los Ninos,
it's a home for homeless kids

out by Malibu.

I'm tellin' ya, you're
making a big mistake here.

- The address, Mr. Gershman.

Please.

- Looks like nobody's home.

(ominous music)

What's the matter?

- Gotta find a phone.

We need the Glendale PD.

(emergency siren)

(coughing)

Get outta here, get outta here.

Get outta here!

You know why this shakes
you up so much?

Expectations.

See, you think all that's
wrong with the world

is people got problems
and you can solve em.

- You're getting simplistic.

- What you don't understand
is that some people

don't have problems, some
people are the problem.

I worry about you Alex.

- I'm fine Milo.

- That's what you said last time.

Right after Hickle just
before you bailed out.

- I didn't bail out, I
took a sabbatical.

- If there's one thing I
learned in the military,

it was about acute stress reactions.

- Oh, what did they do?

Did they send the guys
right back into battle?

Get off my back, will ya?

- I guess what I'm trying
to say is, I'm sorry you had

to see what you did today.

- Me too.

- But don't get regressive
on me, okay?

Things happen, we gotta go on
living in the world, ya know?

You ever treat a cop?

- Father of a patient, real angry guy.

He used to like to say
that the scum out there

are like weeds, a real
bitch to get rid of

and once you do, another
one pops right back up

in the same place.

- That's what I've been
making my living at

for the last 12 years,
spreading weed killer.

I don't know what the
problem is, I could've driven

your car back.

- Wait, wait for me, wait
for me, I'll be right back.

Come on, come on, come on.

- Quiet, you have to be quiet.

You're gonna wake him up.

- Let me do it.

- I got it.

- You can't even see
what you're doing.

- Key is bent, this is the bent key.

It's the wrong lock.

- Well give me the right here.

Hang on.

- I know this guy.

- Evening gentlemen.

- Doctor Delaware, you
know Doctor Silverman.

Doctor Silverware (laughter).

- Don't you just hate
a drunk who laughs

at his own jokes?

Thank you.

- Good to see you.

- Yeah, thanks for getting him home.

- Yeah, you're welcome.

- He has no sense of
humor, but he's great.

- I love you too.

- Where are you going?

- I'm going home.

- You're welcome to stay,
you know that.

- I know, thanks.

- No, he can't stay, he cannot stay

because we have no hot tub, right?

- Yeah right.

- But we got a cold shower, come on.

- Here, take care of him, will ya?

Let go of me man.

Goodnight Milo.

Ah, how thoughtful of
you to bring my car back.

- Protect and serve is our motto.

I don't suppose you have
any tomato juice around

or anything, do you?

- Don't tell me this is a social call.

- No, as a matter of fact, it's not.

Came to compare notes.

- Well, I don't have any.

- Yeah well, a pharmacist
and a college student

both have alibis, so Bruno's it

as far as suspects go.

- He's dead, so case closed.

- Almost.

Now remember Melody
said something about

one of the shadows walked funny?

Well it turns out one of the
footprints forensics found

outside of Bruno's house
might have been from a guy

with a bad leg.

Also, when we checked
their phone records,

we found that Kennedy
and Bruno had been

talking a lot together after Bruno's

treatments were finished.

- So?

- So, is that usual?

I mean, do your patients
usually call you up

after their treatments are over?

- Sometimes.

- Every day?

- No.

- Think these calls could
have been therapeutic?

- Doubtful.

- Yeah, that's what I figured.

So, what did Kennedy the
shrink and Bruno the psycho

have to talk about?

- Don't tell me please.

- Don't worry, I can't,

it's all just coincidental
connections.

Like for example, the best
guesstimate the coroner can make

is that Bruno was killed
between 10 and 12 days ago.

- Isn't that about the
same time that Kennedy

and the Vargas woman were killed?

- Another little tasty
tidbit is that the good

Doctor Kennedy had a record.

Insurance fraud, seems like
he'd been billing MediCal

for patients in a nursing home
he never bothered to visit.

- Well there it is.

- What?

- The connection you've
been looking for.

- You gonna tell me?

- Yeah, ya big oaf.

I'll take ya out to lunch.

See you've been assuming that
Kennedy was treating Bruno.

What if he was using him instead?

- What do you mean, like
a psychopathic shrink?

- Yeah, yeah, it wouldn't
be the first time.

Maybe they were involved
in some scam together.

Maybe you should check out
their insurance claims,

their financial records,
stuff like that.

- Maybe.

- What about the Vargas woman?

- What about her?

- Well, we know that she was
having an affair with Kennedy.

Which wasn't exactly
ethical on his part

and we also know that she's
dead, maybe she wasn't

the innocent bystander.

- Oh you mean like, maybe
she was part of whatever

scam Kennedy and Bruno were running.

- Yeah I mean, what do
you know about it?

- Family lives in East LA.

If Kennedy had a file
on her, it's gone now.

- What'd she do for a living?

- Teacher, special ed.

- Where?

- West LA.

Interviewed another teacher
at their, Raquel Santos,

chicano, supposed to
be Vargas' best friend.

The way she talked, you'd
think they never even

knew each other.

I figure she's lying,
probably hates cops.

You know Alex, you ought
to be real good

at talking to teachers.

- Oh, you're good.

You're very good.

Where's she teach?

- Willow Lane Elementary.

- Miss Santos.

- Yes?

- I'm Alex Delaware, I'm
working with Detective Sturgis.

- PhD in what?

- Psychology.

- Cops don't get satisfaction,

so they send in the shrinks, huh?

- I have a few questions
I'd like to ask you

about Elaine Vargas.

- Elena, I'm sorry, I'm busy.

- I don't understand,
you're too busy to find out

who murdered your friend?

- What gives you the
right to say that to me?

It's the cops who don't care.

- No, that's not true.

- Oh and you're the
example of LA's finest?

- Listen, I'm sorry you feel this way,

but I do need some
information, that's all.

- Well, not from me.
(school bell ringing)

- Alright, fine.

Will you tell me where
Elena's family lives?

- You're gonna go into
my old neighborhood?

- If I have to, yes.

- Could you please leave?

I've got a class to teach.

- Oh well good, then we
both have something to do,

don't we?

- (sigh) They're in the book.

Under V.

- For Vargas.

- Good thinkin'.

- 'Scuse me.

- Thank you, thank you.

- 'Scuse me, I'm looking
for the Vargas family.

Cruz Vargas?

Hi, I'm Doctor Delaware,
I'm a psychologist

and I'm working with
the police on the murder

of Mrs. Vargas' daughter.

- Yeah, sure you are.

- Can you tell me where
I can find Mrs. Vargas?

- What's he want man?

- Nothing.

- I'm looking for the Vargas family.

- For what?

- Stay out of this.

Listen Doc,

why don't you take your phony concern

and stuff it back in
that fancy car of yours

before somebody gets hurt?

- Yeah.

- Listen, all I wanna do--

- What?

What, psychoanalyze us?

You wanna open us up and
see what makes us tick?

You wanna watch an old woman cry?

Is that how you get your kicks?

You sick sucker, get outta here!

- Nail him!

- Quiet!

Get outta here.

(kids shouting)

- Watch your step, come on.

- Hi.

Can I give you a hand?

- Yes, bye bye.

Did you visit the Vargas family?

- Fool that I am, yes.

- You could just dump that there.

- Well I guess I owe you an apology.

- Does this mean you'll talk to me?

- I don't know.

- Listen, we know that
Kennedy was a creep.

And we're pretty sure that
Elena was an innocent victim,

but please help us make sure.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

I saw you with the kids,
you're good with them.

- I hate the bureaucracy,
but I love what I do.

- Elena?

- Yes, Elena.

I just miss her.

- I understand.

- Do you?

I'm sorry, it's just she was
so special

and the kids loved her and
they learned so much from her.

Now she's gone.

Look, I don't think I can
do this anymore.

One of her kids was killed.

His name is Carey Namith.

He was new when she got him
and after she worked with him,

you could hardly shut him up.

He was an orphan from the pueblo.

Elena felt just like his mother.

It was a hit and run.

God, what a waste.

- Was that Pueblo de los Ninos?

- Yes, they contract
with us for special ed.

- Is that why she started
treatment with Kennedy?

- Well, she was depressed.

Kennedy changed her.

I warned he was so slimy,
but she was in love,

so she bought new
clothes and a 300ZX and--

- How could she afford that?

- Payments.

She might have let him
take advantage of her,

but she would never take any money.

She was no whore.

- No of course she wasn't, I'm sorry.

If I have any other questions,
can I get back to you?

- Yes.

- Thank you.

This kid, Carey Namith,
lived up at the pueblo.

He was a student of Elena Vargas.

And when he's killed,
she gets real depressed

and starts treatment with Kennedy.

Pretty soon, they're going
to bed together

and right after that,
Bruno volunteers to become

a member of the gentlemens
brigade up at

Pueblo de los Ninos.

- Alex, you wanna keep
your voice down?

- Why, what's the matter?

- I've created a monster.

- [Alex] What are you talking about?

- Look Alex, you've done great work

and I really appreciate it.

But now that you got
your motor running again,

you're pushing too hard.

So relax, relax.

- What are you talking about?

You asked me, remember?

- Yeah, but now I'm
asking you to back off.

Look Alex, I want this investigation,

but I want it done right.

Now I'm not the most popular
guy on the department

and there's no way I'm gonna
risk getting dumped off

this case by blindly
pointing my finger

at Reverend McCaffrey who
happens to be connected

from here to Sacramento.

- Well you can at least
check it out, can't you?

- And I will, discreetly.

Now, can I have your ID card back?

- I left it at home.

- Okay but remember, you're retired.

Alex?

- I heard you.

- Say it.

- I'm retired.

- Thank you.

(slow orchestral music)

(phone ringing)

- About time Milo.

Hello?

- [Woman] You call yourself a doctor?

You tell me you know
what you're doing?

- Who is this?

- [Woman] You know damn well
you messed with my baby's mind!

- Mrs. Quinn?
(screaming girl)

What's wrong?

- [Mrs. Quinn] Listen to her.

(screaming)

- [Melody] Get away!

- Mrs. Quinn?

Mrs. Quinn, I'll be right there.

(child screaming)

- Melody, shut up!

Hurry, please, do something!

(screaming)

- Melody, it's me, Alex.

- No more shadows.

- You see what you done to her?

- Hypnosis has nothing to
do with this, Mrs. Quinn.

- That's not what Doctor Towle said.

- Melody sweetheart, it's
okay, come on, it's okay.

You're safe, it's okay,
it's okay Melody.

It's alright.

- Alex?

- [Alex] Yes, it's me Alex.

- Alex, Alex, they came back.

- Who did, who did?

- The shadows.

- No, it was just a dream Melody.

- No, no, they were here.

- No, it was just a bad
dream sweetheart.

Now I want you to open your eyes.

Will you do that please?

Come on, open your eyes.

- Do what he says Melody.

- Sweetheart, come on, open your eyes,

come on.
(knocking)

Melody, please come on.

There you go.

Open em up.

Sweetheart.

- Take your hands off that child.

- She's just having a
nightmare, that's all.

- Caused no doubt by
your unethical meddling.

I think you better leave, Doctor.

- She doesn't need that.

- Obviously, your memory
needs polishing.

You can see why I was
reluctant to tamper

with this child's mind.

- Nobody's tampered with anything.

Please don't do that.

- What if I bring you up
before the ethics committee

of the state medical board?

- You do that doctor and
we'll have a little discussion

about the proper use of stimulant
medication with children.

- You heard the doctor, get out!

- Hold her.

- No Mommy please,
I don't like needles.

- Can I help you sir?

- Yes please, Doctor
Delaware to see Mr. Kruger.

I have a 3:00 appointment.

- Yes sir.

- Doctor Delaware, I presume?

- Yes.

- Tim Kruger.

I was expecting someone
a little older.

I understand you're retired.

- I am while I can still enjoy it.

- There's something to
be said for that.

Shall we take the tour and then

Reverend Gus will see ya at four.

- Sure.

- These are the dorms.

They were donated by
several corporations

and the murals were
painted by the kids.

From here, you get a pretty
good view of our layout.

We have 27 acres, but only
five are fully developed.

To the south is a meadow.

There'll be a vegetable
garden there this summer

and to the north is the
grove, which is perfect for

nature hikes.

Here at the pueblo, we
try to combine a structure

and reassurance of a daily
routine with a creative

environment that encourages
a healthy development.

- Well, you certainly seem
to have a handle on things.

Where'd you train?

- MAU of Oregon, counseling.

Wanted to go for a
doctorate, but no bucks.

Before that, a BA in SAC from Jetson.

- Jetson, that's up near
Seattle, right?

- You know Jetson.

- Only by reputation, that
all you students were rich.

- Not this one I'm afraid.

Went through on scholarship.

- Well, these are the dorms.

Shall we?

(coughing)

- Is that you Rodney?

Withdrawing one of our
current challenges.

Hello Rodney, what
seems to be the trouble?

- Rodney's sick.

- What kind of a sickness?

- Tummy hurt.

- Hmm, that sounds like
you should see the doctor

when he visits.

- No, no doctor!

- Alright, we'll discuss it later.

But now, it is time to get up.

Woah.

Rodney, this is a friend,
Doctor, Mr. Delaware.

- Hi Rodney.

- Rodney, be friendly or
you'll lose privileges.

Sorry about that.

He's nine going on four.

Reverend Gus doesn't believe
in taking the easy ones.

- Where do you get your kids?

- Everywhere, anywhere
they're not wanted,

cared for.

They're orphans mostly, throwaways.

Reverend Gus is a compassionate man.

Shall we?

- Yes.

- Okay, short strokes now.

- Hey Earl, say hello to
Doctor Delaware.

- How you doin', doc?

- Pretty good, yourself?

- Good thanks.

- Earl's one of my best counselors.

And Bob Hallsy, our coach.

Bob, Doctor Delaware.

- Doctor, my pleasure.

- Mine too.

- Doctor Delaware is a
perspective gentleman

if Reverend Gus approves, of course.

- Well that's great.

We can't have too many pros
working with these kids,

right Earl?

- Shall we, it's almost four.

- I guess I'll see y'all later.

- Count on it, Doc.

- By the way Bob, maybe
you could work out

a program for Rodney, something
to build his confidence?

- You bet.

- Doctor Alex Delaware, of course.

- How do you do?

- How nice to meet you.

And to introduce you to
our distinguished

board member, Judge Edwin Marks

of the Los Angeles judiciary.

- Oh, well it's an honor.

- Your reputation precedes you Doctor.

We've all admired your work
with those poor children.

- Thank you.

- Judge Marks is a member
of our gentlemen's brigade.

Ordinarily, he would be wearing
a more dashing ensemble.

But our monthly talent show is
coming up and Bobo the clown

is our most popular MC.

- I'm afraid I must go to rehearsal.

Pleasure Doctor Delaware.

- Yes, thank you.

- [Reverend] Tim, would you
show the judge out please?

- Yes sir.

- I hope I'm not
interrupting anything here.

- Oh not at all.

Matter of fact, when the judge
heard that you were coming,

he insisted on meeting
you despite his getup.

Please have a seat.

- Thank you.

- Tim tells me that you have retired.

May I ask you why?

- Oh, well I guess I
needed a change of pace,

time to sort out my values.

- Reflection can be
profoundly valuable.

However, we need good
people in your field.

Like the way you handle that
terrible daycare scandal.

Children abused, a
man's life wasted with

no possibility of salvation.

Do you think the man who
killed himself could've

been rehabilitated?

- I don't know, I don't
think the statistics

are very encouraging.

- Statistically, these
children don't have a prayer.

But with prayer and compassion

and the generosity of
people like yourself,

miracles happen here everyday.

- Well, those are some very busy men.

You must be very persuasive, Reverend.

- Not at all.

I simply recognize a basic human need,

whether it's a supervisor,
a judge, or a senator,

he has in his heart a
basic need to give.

You yourself satisfied
your own altruistic need

through your own profession
and when you stopped,

the hunger returned.

- I have to admit, I have begun
to miss working with kids.

- And here you are.

- Well, I'm certainly
impressed by your organization

and your vigor and it's
an honor to be considered

for membership with
men like Judge Marks.

- Well, then we will expect to see you

at our next orientation meeting.

I'll have my secretary
handle all the details.

- Oh, thank you for
your time Reverend.

- No, thank you.

- [Child] No, no!

Leave me alone, no!

No!

Leave me alone!

- [Man] Shut up!

- No, no!

(ominous music)

- You crazy man?

I told ya, this guy McCaffrey
was connected to people

in high places.

- They didn't suspect anything.

- Oh sure, right, the
psychologist who treated

the victims in the worst
child abuse case in the

city's history suddenly decides
to come out of retirement

by volunteering at the pueblo?

What do you think, they're stupid?

- Will you just listen to me at least?

- Alright, let's hear it.

- There's something not
right about that place.

- I'm listening.

- I admit that on the surface,
everything seems normal but--

- I need evidence, evidence.

- Alright, alright, alright,
here listen.

Tim Kruger, the head
of counseling up there

told me that he had a BA from
Jetson College in psychology

and a MA from Oregon except
he never went to Oregon

and his undergraduate
degree was in dramatic arts.

I mean, the guy was lying to me.

- Excuse me, isn't that
confidential information?

- What's your point?

- How'd you get it?

You lied to some college
admissions office, right?

I can't use that in court.

- It's the feel of the place Milo.

They've got gates, fences, I
mean, everybody's so upbeat,

so relentlessly positive, but
right underneath the surface.

- Underneath the surface what?

What, what?

- I think they may be
mistreating the kids up there.

- That's quite an accusation.

You got anything to back it up?

- I wanna talk to you Sturgis.

- Captain, I'd like you to
meet Doctor Alex Delaware.

- How do you do?

- 'Scuse us.

(phone ringing)

- What was that all about?

- Nothing, police business.

- We're talking about evidence.

- Drop it.

- What do you mean drop it?

- Look, you know what you
got here Alex?

Nothing.

All your evidence is coincidental.

Most of it questionably obtained.

- You don't believe that.

- I'll tell you what I
believe, I believe I should've

left you in retirement.

- What about all the connections Milo?

Come on man, talk to me.

- What connections?

What connections, so this kid Carey,

what's his name?
- Namith!

- So this kid Carey Namith gets killed

and his teacher is Elaine
Vargas, right?

So what?

And maybe she and this
guy Kennedy are involved

in some scam.

- What about Bruno?

- And maybe they're not.

- Well did you check
their financial records?

- Not yet.

- What about Kruger lying to me?

- What about it?

- Oh come on, Milo!

- Back off Alex!

You are messing with
people's reputations here.

Powerful people who know
how to use the system

and you don't.

- Alright, alright, what if
I could get the evidence?

- Alex, I am asking you as a friend.

No, I'm telling you,
lay off before you blow

this case and me right
outta the water!

(ominous music)

- Did Elena keep a diary
or make any tape recordings

or anything like that?

- No, not that I know of.

Why, do you think maybe
she left some evidence

the police didn't find?

- It's possible.

You think the family will talk to you?

- I don't know.

I think that talking about Kennedy

will be especially touchy.

They didn't like him.

He was older and he was an Anglo.

I think it's easier for them
to just deny the whole thing.

- How long have you been gone?

- 1,000 years.

My parents are gone and I didn't
have any family left here.

Raphael, how you doing?

Raphael's been zoned out for years.

Andy's the responsible one.

- What's he doing here?

- We just wanna talk to your Mom.

- She's not home.

- Senora?

(foreign language)

- Raquelita.

(sobbing)

(foreign language)

- He'd like to ask you some questions.

- No.

No!

- Wait here.

- You were warned man.

- She'll talk with you
but please be patient.

She's not happy about any of this.

(foreign language)

- I'm very sorry for your loss.

Please forgive me,

but did Elena have more
money right before she died?

I'm sorry but I need to ask this.

It's very important.

- No.

- Thank you.

Is there anything you can
tell me, anything at all

about your daughter's
involvement with Doctor Kennedy?

- If it hadn't been for
that (foreign language),

my daughter would still be alive.

- Mrs. Vargas, would it be alright

if I were to take a
look at Elena's things?

(foreign language)

- Thank you.

I'll take it outside.

- I'll stay with her.

(sobbing)

- Hey!

- What did I tell you?

- What the hell do you
think you're doing huh?

- I'm investigating the
death of your sister man.

- Uh uh no, you're outta here man.

Now!

(shouting woman)

Ma, I caught this dude stealing.

- He's a guest in our house.

- He's nothing!

You think he cares?

Well maybe if it was
some white chick, huh?

Some Elaine from Beverly Hills?

Well there'd be cops all
over this place, right?

But a Mexicana whose name was Elena?

Look who they send!

- Apologize.

(foreign language)

- You're dead man.

You and your coconut girlfriend.

You come back here again, you're dead!

Come on.

- I apologize.

I apologize for the
rudeness of my sons.

- No, it is for me to apologize.

- Maybe we should go.

- Damn.

- Do you think there was a tape?

- I don't know.

- Look, I know how you feel.

(slow piano)

I'll see you soon.

- Yes.

- What can I do for you?

- I'm Doctor Delaware,
I'd like to see the file

on a previous patient of mine please.

- Name?

- Carey Namith.

Hey there.

- Alex, what a surprise.

And look at you.

Does that suit and tie mean
you're back among the living?

- Semi, listen I got your messages

and I'm sorry I didn't find you.

- Oh, that's alright.

I had tickets to the ballet
and I thought maybe you'd like

to escort me, but I took
my ex instead.

- My loss, his gain.

- We might be getting back together.

And I wanted to thank
you for letting me

cry on your shoulder,
all those late evenings.

- Well you're welcome.

Listen, you have time
to have a cup of coffee?

- No, my break's not til 10.

- Come on, just a cocoa.

- But sure.

Just let me freshen up, alright?

Put it back Alex.

- It's important.

- Yeah and so is my job.

Give it to me.

Alex!

- I'll read it here, I will.

- What are you doing?

- Do you remember those
photographs you saw in my kitchen?

- And what does Doctor
Towle have to do with that?

- I don't know, maybe nothing,

but there are things going on
that I gotta find out about.

- You outta your mind?

If someone were to walk in
here right now, you would be

barred from this hospital for life!

Alex, you could lose your license.

- Just give me five
minutes, just five minutes.

- God you've changed.

You know you're back to that
same obsessive behavior.

At least before, you
were helping people.

Now, I don't--

- Lisa, I don't want you to
lose your job, but I'm gonna

read this.

Let me at least take
you out to dinner.

- Oh please don't insult me Alex.

- [Alex] Do what you have to do Lisa.

- Alex.

Five minutes in there.

- [Milo] Don't you ever give up?

- Listen to me, Carey
Namith was killed

right next to the Pueblo,
but instead of taking him

to a nearby hospital, they
drove all the way across town

to Western Pediatric where
guess who was

the attending physician, Warren Towle.

Not only that, on Towle's
personnel file,

it said that he went to Jetson College

just like Tim Kruger.

Don't ya see what's happening?

- Interesting.

- What do you mean, interesting?

Aren't you gonna check it up?

- Maybe.

- Well when?

- When I get around to it.

- Milo.

- Stay outta this Rick.

- For God's sake Milo,
when are you gonna tell him

you're off the case?

- Leave it alone.

- What happened?

- Routine reassignment.

- This never would've
happened if you weren't gay.

- That had nothing to do with it.

We've been all through that.

- He's your friend.

- Who I would like to
keep in one piece

and is perfectly capable
of messing things up.

- Messing what up?

Somebody please talk to me.

- When the press found out
that Milo was investigating

a man of the cloth,
bang, he's off the case.

- How do they know that?

- Well, a certain pediatrician
called to complain

that a certain psychologist
was terrifying

one of his patients, hypnotizing her.

Now all of this without his
consent and at the behest

of a certain detective.

Oh yes, and Towle also
mentioned in passing,

your little fishing
trip out to the Pueblo.

- How did Towle know that
unless they told him?

- Don't get excited,
it's not a conspiracy.

He's the medical consultant out there.

- Are you ki--

What's happening here?

- Nothing.

- Nothing?

Is that why the captain's sending you

on a two week vacation?

- They suspended you?

- Oh no, not yet.

At least not officially,
but they're going to

when they find out he's
going down to Mexico.

- Alright.

Elaine Vargas did pay
cash for a car and both

Kennedy and Bruno's bank
accounts took a big jump

a few months ago.

Also, the word is that
the reverend used to run

another pueblo down near Acapulco.

I'm on the eight AM flight.

- While you're in Mexico, I
am going to Jetson College.

- No!
- Yes I am.

- No, you will not go to
Jetson College!

While I'm gone, you will
stay away from Towle

and you will stay away from
the Pueblo, you got that?

Alex?

- Yes.

- Say it.

- I'm retired.

- Thank you.

My newspaper's doing an
article on intellectually

prominent small colleges
on the west coast

and you seem to be the
local historian.

So naturally, I--

- Naturally, you seem
to be enterprising

for a reporter, Mr. Roberts.

Since most of em can't write,

I assume they can't read either.

- Professor Van der Graaf.

- You consider that
intellectually prominent, do you?

- If it'll set your
mind at ease, Professor,

you can talk to my
editor in Los Angeles.

They'll be happy to confirm
my intent on this article.

Her name is Raquel Santos,
number's on the back there.

- So it is.

Tell me, if I should call
Los Angeles information

and ask for the number of the Times,

would this be the correct one?

- You win Professor, I'm sorry.

- Don't try to bluff a
bluffer, young man.

Now I propose we do a
little quid pro quo.

- Such as?

- You tell me who you
are and why you're here

and I'll tell you what pleases me.

- That's fair enough.

- You can't believe what
she'd do for grades.

- Professor, I'm working
with the police.

- I'm not interested in
your phony credentials.

Doctor of what?

- Psychology.

- An old gossip like me is
only interested in scandal.

Appeal to my baser instincts, Doctor.

- Professor, two of
your former students,

Warren Towle and Tim
Kruger are suspects

in a criminal investigation.

- What sort of investigation?

- Murder.

- Aha!

- I'm here to find out
anything I can about them.

- For instance?

- Well alright, for
example, why Tim Kruger,

a scholarship student, would lie

about his undergraduate degree.

- Kruger, a scholarship student?

We're approaching the
Kruger building, Doctor.

I'm rich but the Krugers are obscene.

As for lying, well,
that's probably genetic.

As your other suspect,
his cousin twice removed.

- I'm sorry, are they related?

- All the 200 are related
one way or another.

- What are the 200?

- I thought you read my book.

- I skimmed it.

- Well, that's typical.

Go get that old Seattle
map over there.

I'm gonna show you Brindamoor Island.

Three square miles of
innately unappealing terrain

upon which are 200
mansions and estates

rivaling any in this country.

Area in heaven!

Towle and Kruger grew
up a generation apart

on this breeding ground
by the indolence,

ignorant rich.

I grew up there myself,

no thanks to my deformity.

I was set apart, lest
instead of being just lazy,

I turned out to be
dull like Warren Towle

or vicious like Kruger.

- Why do you say vicious?

- Well, he killed a boy wrestling,

was said to be an accident

but they were dating the same girl.

Snapped his neck like a twig.

- Is there anything else you
can tell me about Doctor Towle?

- Doctor Towle?

Yes, that tells you something
about our medical schools.

I don't believe he'd
even graduated from here

if it hadn't been for
his family's money.

He didn't complete a course
his whole senior year.

- Why was that?

- Well, even fools can suffer.

His wife, a vacuous lovely girl,

drove off the Evergreen
bridge one night and drowned.

It was a genuine tragedy.

- Where was Towle at the time?

- Studying if you can believe it.

Yes, the funeral was the high
point of the social season.

I think I've got a picture
of it here somewhere.

The way Towle carried
on, you'd think he was

responsible for it.

Ha, there it is.

Hamlet like, he all but
lept into the grave.

- Well, maybe he loved her.

- Maybe he did.

- Professor, wait a minute.

Who is that?

- Edwin Marks.

- Judge Marks?

- I didn't know that he was a judge.

- This is Stuart Hickle.

- Yes, that's right.

- Oh my God, this man right here.

Was he a student there?

- Oh no, that's the Gus's McCaffrey.

He was a janitor in Towle's
married student housing.

- They were all friends.

- Not McCaffrey.

But the rest of them were.

Called themselves heads of states,

the arrogant little snots.

- Professor, I need to
find out more about

the life on Brindamoor Island.

How can I do that?

- Well, you could go there.

(intense music)

(ominous music)

- Mrs. Hickle.

Remember me, Alex Delaware?

Your husband picked my office
for his last big scene,

remember?

- How did you get here?

What do you want?

- I want the truth, Mrs. Hickle.

- Stuart is dead, there's
nothing to talk about.

- Oh no, I think there's
a lot to talk about.

- Get out!

- No.

(dog growling)

- Don't move or he'll tear you apart.

(barking)

- Mrs. Hickle.

(growling)
(shouting)

- Otto!

You see, I could have
let him kill you.

Now get out.

- I can but I'm not one
of them for God's sake.

Please talk to me.

I need your help.

- Alright.

Alright.

Come Otto.

Come in.

Stay Otto.

Sit down.

This is how I live.

I'm hiding for my life.

I'm terrified they'll find me.

- Towle, McCaffrey, Marks, who?

- All of them and others.

They were sick like Stuart.

But he wanted to
change, to expose them.

So they killed him.

- They what?

- What happened in your
office wasn't a suicide.

And Stuart wasn't the only
one who molested the children.

- Why didn't you try to stop them?

- I didn't know.

Not until later.

And Stuart, I didn't want to know.

I owed him my life.

I was a child whore
and a gutter in soul.

Starving, diseased.

He fed me.

Got me doctors.

Married me.

Brought me to America.

What did I care if he
liked to dress me up

in little girl's clothes
or when I got healthy

and started to look like a
woman, he didn't want me anymore.

He was rich, kind.

He sent me to college.

He gave me the money
to open my preschool.

I thought he had changed.

Volunteering for the
gentlemen's brigade,

giving money,

helping the children with the pueblo.

He was a very gentle man.

I didn't know that his
friends were monsters.

- How did you find out?

- Before they let him
out of jail, he told me

he wasn't the only one.

That things weren't what they seemed

with the gentlemen.

- Was your school connected
to the pueblo?

- No, that was something else.

That was the others, his friends.

They came to pick him up
in their big, shiny cars.

Rich, powerful men.

- Why didn't you tell someone?

- Who?

If I had told you that these
other men were bad too,

you wouldn't have believed me

because that's the way
people in this country think.

Nobody's bad, they're just sick.

And the police, the newspapers?

If I had gone to them
and told them that

Reverend and McCaffrey and Judge Marks

and Doctor Towle weren't
just sick, they're evil,

would they have believed me?

Would you?

- No.

- You are so innocent.

So blind.

Because you're afraid
to see that evil exists.

It kills.

- Thank you for doing this.

Did you get in touch with Milo?

- Hello.

- Hi.

- Hi!

- I'm sorry.

- That's okay.

I did, I spoke to his friend and,

he doesn't know where he is.

He checked out of the
hotel in Acapulco.

- Give me just a second.

I wanna make a phone call.

I'll be right back.

- [Phone] Hi, this is Alex
Delaware, please leave your

name and number at
the sound of the beep.

- [Milo] Alex, I hope you can hear me.

Look, this is Milo.

This call has been murder to place.

I don't know how long it's gonna last,

so I'll make it short.

We got him, we got McCaffrey.

I'm checkin' it out now,
but I'm on the way back.

Please don't do anything until then.

- [Melody] Alex, Alex,
I need to talk to you!

Mommy says we have to move in--

- [Mrs. Quinn] What are
you doing Melody?

(intense music)

- Come on, let's go.

Who are you?

- I own the building,
who the hell are you?

- Where's Melody?

- Who?

- The little girl.

- Oh, with her crazy mother.

Gone, split.

No notice, no nothin'.

She was supposed to
manage the place for me.

Left me with all the bills.

Place looks like a pigsty.

Toys, books, dirt everywhere.

- What are you saying?

- Elena must have been involved.

She paid cash for the car.

- I don't believe that.

- She teaches Carey
Namith how to speak

and the first thing out
of the poor kid's mouth

is what's happening up at the pueblo.

She must have told Kennedy
and then, together with Bruno,

they tried to blackmail McCaffrey.

- No, I still don't believe that.

- Alright, maybe she was a
victim like everybody else,

but it makes sense,
that explains the money

and it explains why
they were all killed.

They killed Carey
Namith, I'm sure of it.

- Oh my God.

- They don't want any witnesses.

We've gotta find Melody now.

- But if all she saw is shadows.

- They can't be sure of that.

- Alex, leave it to the police.

There's nothing that you
can do but you don't even

know where she is.

Where are we going?

- You're going home.

- Forget it.

- I don't want ya hurt.

- Alex!

(tires screeching)
(horn blowing)

- [Alex] Damn, damn!

- He's still there.

- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

(tires screeching)

Get down.

- You can't drive and
watch him at the same time.

- Get down!

(gunshots)

- Oh my God.

- Just hang on, hang on.

We'll be alright.

Alright, hold on, hold on.

- Alex!

- Hold on!

He's from the pueblo.

- Alex, what are you doing?

- Stay outta this, go home.

- No, I'm going with you.

- Listen, I appreciate your discretion

but I've already tried the
number on Mr. Kruger's tax form.

Excuse me, can you tell
me your name please?

So I can inform Mr. Kruger
exactly why I wasn't

able to mail this to him
and why he's gonna be

charged automatically
the interest penalty?

Thank you very much.

Wilshire Boulevard?

Thank you.

- Alex, what are you doing?

You can't follow through on this.

- Try to find Milo.

Tell him I couldn't wait.

Please just do it.

(doorbell ringing)

- What the hell do you
think you're doing?

- Where's Melody?

- Who?

- Melody Quinn.

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

- What'd you do, you kill her too?

- Who the hell do you
think you are, Doctor?

(loud groaning)

- Now Mr. Kruger, I'm gonna
ask you some questions

and you are gonna answer
them and for every answer

I don't like, you're
gonna lose a joint.

You know, elbow, knee,
places like that.

- What do you want?

- I told you, I want Melody.

- She's out to pueblo.

- Where?

- The storage sheds.

- Is she still alive?

- I don't know.

I swear I don't know!

- What about her mother?

- She's dead.

- Did you do that?

- Bob Hallsly and Earl,
they thought maybe

the kid told her something.

- Is that why you killed
Kennedy and Elena?

- I was a lookout.

Bob and Earl killed them
'cause they knew too much

about the gentlemen's brigade.

- Let's talk about the
gentlemen here for a minute.

Are they all involved?

- Only the ones who could pay.

They make a donation, tax deductible,

the reverend gives them a kid.

The rest is straight, it's a blind.

- Alright, now I know
about the blackmail.

You tell me where the tape is.

- What tape?

- The tape that Elena
made with Carey Namith

talking about the pueblo.

- We burned it.

(gunshot)

- Oh boy, you know that's gonna hurt.

- No!

Over there, a copy
there under the bed.

- Where'd you get it, Elena?

- Her brother, the hype,

he sold her out for a fix man.

- Who's with Melody?

- Towle has her on sedatives.

Unless Earl killed her.

- Well you better pray that he hasn't

'cause I'm coming back Tim.

I want you to talk to Towle.

I want you to tell him
there's been an emergency.

To meet Reverend Gus up at the pueblo.

7:30 sharp.

Tim, be convincing.

(ominous music)

Hello Doctor.

- You're making a big mistake.

- I'm gonna give you a
chance to redeem yourself.

You're gonna save a life for once

instead of destroying it.

- I'm a physician.

I've saved many lives in my day.

- Like Carey Namith's?

- You know everything?

- Oh yes, yes, cousin Tim
has been very talkative.

Why, you are a doctor
for God's sake, why?

- Yes, I am a doctor and
you have no right to talk

to me like this.

- Oh, that's perfect.

- Oh no, I need those!

I had to.

I had to, I'm a murderer.

- Get up.

- My wife.

I loved her so much and I killed her.

I didn't mean to.

We were young, we were fighting

and she slapped me and I struck back

and she fell and she hit her head

and I was trying to
help her when Gus--

- Gus what?

- He was working in the building here

and I was paralyzed and he,

he felt for her pulse

and then she was dead.

He called Stuart and Edmond

and they came and
they gave me something

to make me sleep and Gus

took her body.

(sobbing)

- Yes I know, he dumped her
off the Evergreen bridge.

Come on Doctor.

Come on please.

- I paid him money, he disappeared.

Then Stuart and Edmond, I
thought they were my friends.

After that, they made no
secret of their perversions.

Through the years, they'd
call on me to patch up

the children that they damaged.

Then Gus came back, a man of the cloth

or with a mail order divinity degree

crawling in old IOU's.

It was the same thing all over again.

I've been paying in blood ever since.

- Well, it's time to stop, Doctor.

Please get me through the gates.

I need your help.

Drive, come on, you can do it.

(eerie music)

Call him.

- Earl.

- Doc?

Geez, you scared me,
what are you doing here?

(shouting)

- Whatever you gave her,
give him twice as much.

Hurry up.

Help me with the child, will you?

- What do you want?

Oh please do give me an excuse doctor.

That's good.

Now Warren, get his
gun and give it to me.

That's good.

Well, what mischief have you
been up to tonight, Warren?

Not feeling loquacious?

That's alright.

We'll talk later.

Right now, there's
business to attend to.

- Gus, I don't think--

- That's right, you don't.

'Cause if you did think,
you'd know that this man

can cause us a lot of trouble.

I thought you had been taken care of.

Now, I'll have the
pleasure of that myself.

- Like you did with his wife?

- Shut up.

- Oh wait a minute.

I don't understand what you mean.

- She wasn't dead, was she?

Was she?

- Gus?

- Oh come on, you're a physician.

What are the odds that a
blow like that could kill?

I mean, he was the one
who examined her.

(ominous music)
- Warren,

take care of the girl.

- I can't.

- You can and you will.

Or you'll go to jail for the
rest of your life for murder.

- Gus, did you?

- She was dead!

Idiot.

- No she wasn't.

- Oh Doctor, not only
am I going to kill you,

but the police are gonna
find some wonderfully obscene

photographs of you with this child.

Warren.

- No, I won't do that.

I'm a physician.

- Not anymore.

(gunshot)

(shouting)
(intense music)

- Don't do it.

Alex, put it down.

- No, no!

- Alex, it's over man.

We got him for murder.

We got evidence from Mexico.

We got Kruger talkin' his head off.

- You don't understand man!

- I understand!

I do, you hate him.

You wanna see him dead.

But then you become
part of the problem.

- I don't care!

- Yes you do, you care.

- Alex?

- Oh God no.

- You care about her.

You care about all the
other kids up here.

- God no.

(sobbing)
- Alex, my friend,

please.

(somber music)
(sobbing)

- I'm afraid Alex.

(emergency sirens)

(police dispatch in background)

(soft music)

(gentle music)