Zero Effect (1998) - full transcript

# ROMEO WAS RESTLESS,
HE WAS READY TO KILL

# HE JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW
'CAUSE HE COULDN'T SIT STILL

# JULIET WAS WAITING
WITH A SAFETY NET

# HE SAID, DON'T BURY ME,
'CAUSE I'M NOT DEAD YET

# WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THE MYSTERY DANCE

# I WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE MYSTERY DANCE

# WHY DON'T YOU SHOW ME

# 'CAUSE I'VE TRIED
AND I'VE TRIED

# AND I'M STILL MYSTIFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# WELL, I REMEMBER WHEN
THE LIGHTS WENT OUT



# AND I WAS TRYIN'
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE

# IT WAS NEVER IN DOUBT

# SHE THOUGHT THAT I KNEW,
AND I THOUGHT THAT SHE KNEW

# SO BOTH OF US
WERE WILLING

# BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DO IT

# WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THE MYSTERY DANCE

# I WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE MYSTERY DANCE

# WHY DON'T YOU SHOW ME

# 'CAUSE I'VE TRIED
AND I'VE TRIED

# AND I'M STILL MYSTIFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I WAS DOWN UNDER THE COVERS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

# TRYIN' TO DISCOVER
MY LEFT FOOT FROM MY RIGHT

# YOU CAN SEE THOSE PICTURES
IN ANY MAGAZINE



# BUT WHAT'S
THE USE OF LOOKIN'

# WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY MEAN?

# WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THE MYSTERY DANCE

# I WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE MYSTERY DANCE

# WHY DON'T YOU SHOW ME

# 'CAUSE I'VE TRIED
AND I'VE TRIED

# AND I'M STILL MYSTIFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

# I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE,
AND I'M NOT SATISFIED

IT'S AN UNCOMPROMISING
STANDARD OF HIS PRACTICE.

HE NEVER MEETS
ANY OF HIS CLIENTS.

HE DOESN'T
SPEAK WITH THEM,

OR, FOR THAT MATTER,
COMMUNICATE IN ANY DIRECT FASHION.

IT'S HIS POLICY.

BUT I AM
HIS SOLE REPRESENTATIVE,

AND HE IS
MY ONLY EMPLOYER,

AND, AS SUCH, I HAVE
FULL AUTHORIZATION

TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF
ON ALL HIS MATTERS OF BUSINESS.

I HAVE WITH ME A SIGNED
LETTER TO THAT EFFECT.

HE DOESN'T
NEGOTIATE HIS FEE.

HE WORKS AT A FLAT RATE.

UNDER SOME UNUSUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, HE'LL WORK PRO BONO.

NEVER IN BETWEEN.

I SUPPOSE I DON'T QUALIFY
FOR THE LATTER CATEGORY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD
YOUR PROPOSAL YET.

WELL, I HAVE A FEELING

THAT MINE IS NOT
A CHARITY CASE.

MOST AREN'T.

MISTER ARLO, YOU REALIZE
THIS IS ALL VERY STRANGE.

I MEAN, NOBODY
IN YOUR FIELD...

ASKS THE KIND OF MONEY
YOUR EMPLOYER DOES,

AND NOBODY COMMUNICATES
VIA A, UH...

A MESSENGER.

IT'S ALL VERY UNUSUAL.

LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT THE CASE

OF THE MAN WITH THE
MISMATCHED SHOELACES.

THIS WAS MANY YEARS AGO,
WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO HIS EMPLOY.

HE WAS CONTRACTED
TO FIND A MAN...

I'M AFRAID I CAN'T GIVE
MUCH IN THE WAY OF DETAIL...

BUT BELIEVE ME
WHEN I SAY

THAT IF THIS MAN
HAD NOT BEEN LOCATED,

OUR COUNTRY'S
GOOD DIPLOMACY

WITH A CERTAIN
ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER

MIGHT HAVE A DISTINCTLY
DIFFERENT FACE TODAY.

FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
AUTHORITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD

WERE SEARCHING AROUND
THE CLOCK FOR A FACE

WHOSE SIGNIFICANCE
IT COULDN'T FATHOM.

HE'D VANISHED
WITHOUT A TRACE.

ON THE EIGHTH MORNING
OF THE SEARCH,

I WAS CONTACTED BY A
NONPOLITICAL THIRD PARTY

WITH AN UNRELATED
PRIVATE AGENDA.

PRIOR TO THIS DAY,

MY EMPLOYER HAD NEVER HEARD
OF THIS MISSING MAN,

KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIM.

AFTER JUST ONE HOUR
OF DESK WORK,

JUST AN HOUR AFTER
ACCEPTING THE CASE,

HE PICKED UP THE TELEPHONE
AND PLACED A CALL.

GUESS WHO
ANSWERED THE PHONE?

THE MISSING MAN?

THE MAN WITH THE
MISMATCHED SHOELACES.

WITHOUT EVER
LEAVING THE HOUSE.

I'M TELLING YOU,

HE NEVER EVEN
LEAVES THE HOUSE, OK?

I MEAN, HE'S LIKE
SOME KIND OF RECLUSE,

COMPLETE FREAK.

NO SOCIAL LIFE.

IN FACT,
NO SOCIAL SKILLS.

IT'S A STRANGE
FUCKING THING.

WHEN HE'S WORKING,

SMOOTHEST OPERATOR
YOU'VE EVER SEEN...

BRAVE, SLICK, CUNNING.

CAN DO ANYTHING.

AS SOON AS HE
GETS OFF WORK,

IT'S ALL GONE.

AFRAID TO GO
TO THE DRY CLEANERS.

LITERALLY.

TOO UNCOMFORTABLE
IN HIS OWN SKIN

TO GO OUT AND EAT.

TACTLESS.

AND INEPT.

RUDE, TOO.

JUST AN ASSHOLE.

YOU COULD MEET HIM
5 TIMES

WITHOUT EVER REALIZING
IT'S THE SAME PERSON.

HE CAN TELL YOU
WHERE YOU WERE BORN,

HOW OLD YOUR MOTHER
WAS AT THE TIME,

AND WHAT YOU HAD
FOR BREAKFAST...

ALL WITHIN 30 SECONDS
OF MEETING YOU.

HE CAN ELICIT A CONFESSION
FROM A CRIMINAL

WITHOUT THEIR REALIZING
THEY'RE BEING QUESTIONED.

HOW DOES HE DO IT?

HE HAS A DEEPLY NUANCED
AND THOROUGHLY FUNCTIONAL

UNDERSTANDING
OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

TO RIVAL THE GREAT
PSYCHOANALYTICAL MINDS

OF OUR TIME.

HE UNDERSTANDS
THE CRIMINAL MIND

AS WELL AS
THE INNOCENT MIND,

THE STABLE MIND

AS WELL AS PSYCHOTIC,
SOCIOPATHIC MIND,

THE MALE AS WELL
AS THE FEMALE.

I DON'T THINK HE'S
EVER KISSED A GIRL.

HE'S, LIKE,
30-SOMETHING YEARS OLD.

WHAT DOES HE DO
WHEN HE'S NOT WORKING?

WHAT, DOES HE JUST
SIT AROUND THE HOUSE?

WHEN PRIVATE INVESTIGATION
WON ITS MOST WORTHY CHAMPION,

ACADEMIA AND THE ARTS
SUFFERED A LOSS,

A GREAT LOSS.

IN ADDITION TO HIS
MANY SCHOLARLY GIFTS,

HE'S ALSO A TERRIFICALLY
TALENTED MUSICIAN.

HE WRITES SONGS.

HE'S TERRIBLE.

HIS METAPHORS
ARE THIN,

HIS IMAGERY IS CLICHáD,

AND HIS THEMATIC
MATERIAL

IS TRITE
AND HEAVY-HANDED.

WHY DO YOU DO IT?

I LEFT THE FIRM,

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
I WAS GONNA DO...

AND I GET THIS MESSAGE
ON MY MACHINE.

HE WATCHED ME ARGUE
A CASE IN COURT.

SAID I WAS THE ONLY
PERSON FOR THE JOB.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW,
THE GUY'S NUTS, OK?

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

THE MYSTERIOUS
AND BRILLIANT DARYL ZERO.

HE CERTAINLY DOES
TAKE HIMSELF SERIOUSLY,

DOESN'T HE?

ALL RIGHT, MR. ARLO.

I'M SOLD.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

YOU TELL ME HOW IT IS

THAT MY EMPLOYER CAN BE
OF SERVICE TO YOU.

THEN I FLY BACK HOME
AND SPEAK TO HIM.

WHERE IS HOME?

NOT TO BE COY, MR. STARK,
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.

OF COURSE NOT.

YOU KNOW, MR. ARLO,

I'M NOT USED TO BEING
IN THIS POSITION...

BEING NEEDY.

I UNDERSTAND.

YES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S OF
THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE

WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO TELL YOU

NOT LEAVE
YOUR CONFIDENCE

OR THAT OF YOUR, UH...

INACCESSIBLE EMPLOYER.

THAT I CAN GUARANTEE.

MR. ARLO, I HAVE
LOST MY KEYS,

AND I NEED
TO FIND THEM.

I'M BEING BLACKMAILED,
MR. ARLO.

SO FAR, IT'S COST ME
A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY

AND MANY NIGHTS SLEEP.

I NEED
THE MATTER RESOLVED.

I NEED SOME QUESTIONS
ANSWERED,

AND I NEED TO KNOW
WHO IT IS

WHO HAS STOLEN THE KEY
TO MY SAFE DEPOSIT BOX.

MR. ARLO, GOOD
TO SEE YOU, SIR.

THANKS, RAY.

KEEP IT CLOSE,
WILL YOU?

I'LL ONLY BE ABOUT
20 MINUTES OR SO.

YOU GOT IT. WE'LL
KEEP IT UP TOP.

GREAT. HI, JOE.

# HERE I COME
A-KNOCKIN'

# A-KNOCKIN'
AT YOUR DOOR

# ON THIS OCTOBER DAY

# LET'S RUN OFF
AND GET MARRIED

# THAT'S THE ONLY THING
FOR US TO DO

# LET'S RUN OFF
AND GET MARRIED

# IF YOU LOVE ME
LIKE I LOVE YOU

# AND IF I COME
A-CALLIN'

# EVERY AFTERNOON

# WOULD YOU BE GLAD
I COME A-CALLIN'

# AND WHISTLE
A MERRY TUNE?

# AND IF I
POP THE QUESTION

# STRAIGHT FROM MY HEART

# WOULD YOU SAY

# MITCH, LET'S RUN AWAY
AND BE HAPPY?

# 'CAUSE IF YOU WOULD

# I'D SAY, OH

# LET'S RUN OFF
AND GET MARRIED

# IT'S THE ONLY THING
FOR US TO DO

# LET'S RUN OFF
AND GET MARRIED

# IF YOU LOVE ME

# LIKE I

# I

# LOVE

# YOU-OU-OU

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

YOU LIKE IT?

MM-HMM.

I HAD THE FIRST VERSE
A WHILE AGO.

BUT I JUST GOT
THAT SECOND ONE...

JUST A COUPLE
HOURS AGO.

YOU REALLY LIKE IT?

YEAH.

WHERE THE FUCK
HAVE YOU BEEN?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WHERE THE FUCK
HAVE YOU BEEN?

I'VE BEEN
WAITING FOR YOU.

I CAME STRAIGHT
FROM THE AIRPORT.

I'VE BEEN AWAKE
FOR 3 DAYS.

3.

I JUST LOVE
THOSE AMPHETAMINES.

GOT TO LOVE THEM.

GOT TO LOVE THEM.

SOUNDS HEALTHY.

IT'S GOOD FOR MY SKIN.

DID YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO
ENOUGH OF THAT STUFF

OVER A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME,

YOU GET, LIKE,

THESE CANKER SORES
ON YOUR TONGUE

AND THEY BLEED?

SEE?

THAT'S DISGUSTING.

WHAT'D THE GUY
IN PORTLAND WANT?

BLACKMAIL.

HMM. WHAT'S HIS NAME?

STARK.

GREGORY STARK...
OREGON TIMBER.

YEAH.

HE'S A VERY RICH MAN.

OLD MONEY.

BLACKMAIL, HUH?

WHAT, DID HE
KILL SOMEBODY

OR FUCK SOMEBODY?

FUCKED SOMEBODY OVER,
SOUNDS LIKE.

EMBEZZLEMENT MAYBE.

RUNS IN THE FAMILY,
I GUESS.

HIS OLD MAN, JORDAN,

HAD A BIG TAX-EVASION
SUIT AGAINST HIM IN '82.

HE WAS LEGALLY
EXONERATED,

BUT KARMACALLY
CONVICTED, APPARENTLY,

'CAUSE HE DIED RIGHT
AFTER THE ACQUITTAL.

IT WAS A MASSIVE
CORONARY.

HE ATE LIKE A PIG.

HE WAS JUST A FAT MAN.

AND GREGORY STARK
IS THE SON OF A FAT MAN.

YEAH. YOU WOULDN'T BE
THE FIRST HOUND

DOWN THIS TRAIL.

WHO?

CLEARBURG.

DAMN.

DIDN'T TURN A THING.

THAT FUCKIN' HACK.

YOU KNOW
WHAT THE TROUBLE

WITH THAT FUCKIN'
CLEARBURG IS?

HE HAS ABSOLUTELY
NO FUCKIN' TACT.

HE STINKS UP
THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND HE'S PISSED
ON ME, TOO.

HE'S JUST REPULSIVE.

OK. GREGORY STARK.

HOW DESPERATE?
SCALE OF ONE TO 10.

BORDERING ON MANIC.

DO I NEED TO GO THERE?

MM, I THINK YOU'D WANT
TO CHECK IT OUT.

THERE ISN'T TOO MUCH
TO GO ON HERE.

I'D HAVE TO GO THERE?

YEAH.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

OH, FUCK THAT SHITHEAD.

TELL HIM I'LL DO IT.

WAIT.

DON'T YOU EVEN WANT
TO HEAR WHAT IT IS?

WHAT IS IT
TODAY, HUH?

WHAT DAY IS IT?

SUNDAY.

I'LL GET ON THE PLANE
TO PORTLAND...

AT 11:15 TONIGHT.

ARRIVING PORTLAND
AT 1:32 A.M.

YOU'LL GIVE ME
THE DETAILS

ON THE WAY
TO THE AIRPORT TONIGHT.

BE HERE AT 10:00.

WHOA. WAIT A MINUTE.
TONIGHT?

CAN'T IT WAIT
TILL TOMORROW?

SO I CAN HAVE AT LEAST
ONE NIGHT WITH JESS?

NO. YOU'RE GONNA GO
TOMORROW AT 7:36 A.M.,

BECAUSE I NEED YOU
TO DRIVE ME TO THE AIRPORT

TONIGHT AT 10:00.

DO YOU WANT
THAT LOW-CAL BREAKFAST?

NO.

MY ABILITIES ARE
SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED

AND MAYBE EVEN DISABLED
RIGHT AT THE MOMENT.

UH... I GUESS I GOTTA
GET TO SLEEP RIGHT NOW.

DARYL.

I'LL SEE YOU AT 10:00.

DARYL?

DARYL?

JESS?

# TAKE MY HAND
AND LET IT BEGIN

# OPEN YOUR HEART
AND LET ME IN

# GIRL, I THINK
I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU

# AND I THINK YOU'RE
IN LOVE WITH ME, TOO

# WHO'S THIS GIRL WHOSE KISS
IS ALL I DREAM OF...

OH.

YOU'RE ALL WET.

I DON'T CARE.

THANK YOU
FOR THE FLOWERS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU WANNA COME IN?

MM-HMM.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK.

GLAD TO BE BACK.

SO, WHERE ARE YOU GONNA
TAKE ME TONIGHT?

JESUS.

HE WOULDN'T TELL ME
WHAT'S IN THE BOX.

FROM WHAT I COULD
PIECE TOGETHER,

IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME SORT
OF FINANCIAL RECORD,

BUT HE DIDN'T
WANT TO TELL ME.

SO, WHATEVER IT IS
HE'S HIDING,

HE KEEPS IT IN
A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX,

BUT THEN HE KEEPS
THE KEY TO THE BOX

CLEVERLY HIDDEN
ON HIS KEY RING

WITH HIS CAR KEYS
AND HIS HOUSE KEYS?

I'M JUST TELLING YOU
WHAT HE SAID.

SO, ANYWAY,
ABOUT A YEAR AGO...

IT'LL BE A YEAR
ON THE 12th...

HE LOSES HIS KEYS.

THEY HAD A GOLD-PLATED
SWISS ARMY KNIFE

ATTACHED TO THEM.

A COUPLE OF DAYS PASS,
HE GETS A LITTLE PANICKY.

FLIGHT 2064 TO PORTLAND.

HAROLD BURGESS.

THEN ON JUNE 23rd,

HE GETS A LETTER
AT THE OFFICE.

IT COMES FED EX,

STAMPED PERSONAL
AND CONFIDENTIAL.

SENDER'S NAME MARKED
AS "PAST DUE COLLECTIONS."

OOH, THAT'S NICE.

LASER-PRINTED,
NOT VERY LONG.

STARTS OUT, "MR. STARK,

"I HAVE EVIDENCE
LINKING YOU TO YOUR CRIME.

"YOU MAY ENTERTAIN
NOTIONS OF IMPUNITY,

BUT, IN THE END,
EVERYONE IS CULPABLE."

IT SAYS A SUCCESSION
OF $100.000 PAYMENTS

WILL BE COLLECTED.

HE GETS THESE LETTERS
WHICH LAY OUT A MAZE,

AND AT THE END OF THE MAZE,
HE MAKES THE DROP.

HE'S DONE IT
7 TIMES SO FAR.

HE GAVE ME COPIES
OF ALL THE LETTERS

WHICH ARE IN A FILE

THAT I'M PUTTING
IN YOUR BRIEFCASE

WITH THE CASE FILE.

NOW THERE'S A DROP
SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

I TOLD HIM, UNLESS HE
HEARD OTHERWISE FROM ME,

HE SHOULD PLAN
TO GO THROUGH WITH IT.

THERE'S A PRETTY SEVERE

"LACK OF INFORMATION"
PROBLEM HERE,

AND HE WON'T SAY MUCH.

WHAT'S WRONG
WITH THESE PEOPLE?

I TOLD HIM IT'S NO USE
LYING TO YOU.

EVENTUALLY, YOU ALWAYS
FIGURE IT OUT.

HE'S JUST
SLOWING THINGS DOWN.

DID YOU TELL HIM

ABOUT THE CASE OF THE GUY
WHO LIED ABOUT HIS AGE?

OF COURSE.

WAS HE IMPRESSED?

MM-HMM.

REALLY IMPRESSED?

FUCKING FLABBERGASTED.

I THINK
IF YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH

TO LOOK TRUTHFULLY,

YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU
MAYBE MOVED IN WITH HER

A LITTLE PREMATURELY.

WHAT?

YOU HEARD ME.

YOUR PROBLEMS WITH JESS
AREN'T MY FAULT.

COULD WE PLEASE NOT TALK
ABOUT THIS NOW, DARYL?

YOU'RE JUST NOT READY
TO GET MARRIED YET.

I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD
MAYBE LOOK AT THAT.

PLEASE?

ALL RIGHT.

I'M THINKING MAYBE
I SHOULD GET IN TOUCH

WITH HODGEMEYER
FOR THIS CASE.

WHAT?

RESERVATION
FOR HODGEMEYER,

MITCHELL HODGEMEYER.

THIS GUY'S GONNA BE
A PAIN IN THE ASS.

SEE IF YOU
CAN FIGURE OUT

WHICH BANK IT IS.

SO, WE GOT ONE SHOT
TO BREAK THROUGH THIS.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THAT'S ABOUT
THE SIZE OF IT.

EASY ENOUGH.

IT IS NOT
WITHOUT SERIOUS RESERVATION

THAT I SIT DOWN TO BEGIN

THE SEEMINGLY
IMPOSSIBLE TASK

OF DOCUMENTING
MY OWN METHODS.

IT ALWAYS SEEMED THAT
SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD DO IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY FAITHFUL
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE

HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST
WHATSOEVER.

AND SO I AM FORCED
TO TAKE ON THE TASK MYSELF.

WITH NO INTENTION
OF GLORIFYING

OR AGGRANDIZING
OR IMMORTALIZING MY OWN MEMORY,

BUT RATHER IN THE HOPE
THAT SUCH A MEMOIR

MIGHT SOMEDAY
BE USEFUL TO OTHERS,

I BEGIN MY EXAMINATION
OF THE METHOD.

I ALWAYS SAY
THAT THE ESSENCE OF MY WORK

RELIES FUNDAMENTALLY
ON 2 BASIC PRINCIPLES...

OBJECTIVITY AND OBSERVATION,

OR "THE 2 OBS"
AS I CALL THEM.

MY WORK RELIES
ON MY ABILITY

TO REMAIN ABSOLUTELY,
PURELY OBJECTIVE,

DETACHED.

I HAVE MASTERED
THE FINE ART OF DETACHMENT.

AND WHILE IT COMES
AT SOME COST,

THIS SUPREME OBJECTIVITY

IS WHAT MAKES ME,
I DARE SAY,

THE GREATEST OBSERVER
THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

# CARRIE, DID YA SEE ME

# JUMPIN' UP AND DOWN
IN THE FRONT ROW?

# CARRIE,
I LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE

# I LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE,
AND NOW I'M BLIND

# TAKE ME,
I'M LIVIN' SO FREE

# I JUST WANNA PUT YOU
IN MY DIARY...

OBSERVING A SUBJECT,
PARTICULARLY A CLIENT,

IN HIS OR HER OWN ELEMENT
IS USUALLY VERY TELLING.

BEHAVIOR IS ALWAYS
MORE REVEALING

THAN LANGUAGE,

IF YOU KNOW
WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

NO RAIN. WOULD YOU
BELIEVE IT?

WHAT?

YOU TALKING TO ME?

I SAID,
WOULD YOU BELIEVE

IT FINALLY
STOPPED RAINING?

OH.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING OVER THERE,

IF YOU DON'T MIND
MY ASKING?

ABOUT A LEVEL 8?

WHAT?

ARE YOU DOING
ABOUT AN 8?

NO. 7.

7?

THAT'S FUNNY.

THAT'S WHAT
I'M DOING.

HMM?

WHAT?

NOTHING. I DIDN'T
SAY ANYTHING.

NAME'S CARMINE.

NICK CARMINE.

GREG STARK.

REAL PLEASURE

TO MAKE YOUR
ACQUAINTANCE, STARK.

LIKEWISE.

WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT,
YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER,
SINCE MAXWELL'S GONE,

WE DON'T HAVE
A FAST BREAK,

AND I CAN'T
THINK OF A TEAM

THAT'S EVER GOTTEN
TO THE FINALS

WITHOUT A FAST BREAK.

THE CELTICS
OF THE MID-EIGHTIES.

THEY HAD
NO FAST BREAK.

THAT'S TRUE.

THEY WERE A SLOW TEAM.

ONE OF THE BEST
SHOOTING TEAMS

I EVER SAW.

I SHOULD KNOW.

I WENT TO SCHOOL
IN CAMBRIDGE.

THE STARKS ARE A WHOLE
DYNASTY OF CELTICS FANS.

HUH.

THIS IS MY GOOD FRIEND
GERALD AUERBACK.

NICK CARMINE.

SO, HOW WAS EVERYTHING
FOR YOU, MR. CARMINE?

TERRIFIC.

DAISY, I WAS WONDERING

IF I COULD BOOK A MASSAGE
FOR TOMORROW MORNING.

SURE. NO PROBLEM.

BETSY COMES
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

BETSY IS EXCELLENT.

AHH. HOW ABOUT 9:00?

UH, BETSY HAS
A REGULAR APPOINTMENT

EVERY MORNING AT 9:00.

HOW ABOUT 10:00?

OH. THAT'S THE TIME
I WANTED.

SORRY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
YOU BEAT ME TO IT.

ARE YOU A PARAMEDIC?

YES. HOW DID YOU
KNOW THAT?

JUST A HUNCH.

JUST A HUNCH?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
JUST A HUNCH?

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

I'M VERY INTUITIVE.

AH. GIVE THIS LADY
THE 10:00 MASSAGE.

NO. YOU TAKE IT.

I THINK YOU NEED IT
MORE THAN I DO.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT'D SHE MEAN?

UH, WHO WAS THAT?

HER NAME
IS GLORIA SULLIVAN.

SHE'S NOT MARRIED.

FANTASTIC.

WAIT AT THE END.

HELLO, STEVE ARLO.

I REALLY HOPE YOU'RE
BEING FOLLOWED.

YOU CAN'T BE
TOO CAREFUL.

BECAUSE WE NEED
TO TALK NOW.

FIRST OF ALL,

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

FINE.

GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. I JUST LEFT
STARK AT THE GYM.

SOME MAJOR REVELATIONS.
THE GUY'S A MESS.

SOMEBODY'S HOLDING
SOMETHING REALLY SERIOUS

OVER HIS HEAD,
AND I DON'T THINK

IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO
WITH MONEY.

HE DOESN'T MOVE LIKE
A WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL.

YOU SHOULD SEE
THE WAY HE WALKS.

HIS SHOULDERS RIDE
AT EAR LEVEL.

ALSO HE CUT HIMSELF
SHAVING

3 TIMES IN THE LAST
10 DAYS OR SO.

THESE ARE SYMPTOMS

OF A DEEPLY INGRAINED
PARANOID FEAR...

FEAR OF BEING FOUND OUT.

I GET ON THE TREADMILL
NEXT TO HIS,

AND I GET MY MACHINE
GOING AT HIS EXACT PACE.

EVENTUALLY I ASK HIM WHAT
LEVEL IS HE RUNNING AT.

I GUESS 8.
HE SAYS, "LEVEL 7."

I'M RUNNING AT THE SAME
SPEED HE IS, LEVEL 5.

HE'D SOONER LIE
TO A COMPLETE STRANGER

THAN TO ADMIT TO BEING
3 LEVELS BELOW MY GUESS.

AS SOON AS I TALK TO HIM,
HE RUNS THE OTHER WAY.

IT'S CONDITIONING,
THOUGH, A REFLEX.

HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T
THINK TO CONNECT ME

TO THE BLACKMAIL
BUSINESS AT ALL.

IF HE HAD SUSPECTED ME,

HE WOULD'VE REMEMBERED
MY NAME,

WHICH HE DIDN'T.

ALSO, LIKE MOST
IVY LEAGUE GRADUATES,

HE DROPS HIS ALMA MATER

WITH ALMOST NO PROMPTING
WHATSOEVER.

I SAY CELTICS,
HE SAYS CAMBRIDGE.

OH, YEAH, THE GENTLEMAN
PREFERS REDHEADS.

HE LUSTS AFTER HIS
RED-HAIRED MASSEUSE.

YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY
HE TAKES HIS MASSAGE.

IT'S MORE THAN
A LITTLE EROTICIZED.

HE DOES IT EVERY DAY
AT THE SAME TIME

WITH THE SAME WOMAN.

OH, I FOUND AN OLD E-MAIL
MESSAGE FROM CLEARBURG.

KIND OF CRYPTIC.
NOTE SAID...

K.V. ARE
OBVIOUSLY INITIALS.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE?

AH... THAT'S
THE IMPORTANT STUFF.

DARYL...

SHH. SERGIO.

SERGIO KNIGHT.

RIGHT. WHATEVER.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

WHAT'S THAT?

WHY ARE WE TALKING
ON THE PHONE?

I TOLD YOU.

WE CAN'T BE
TOO CAREFUL.

2 GUYS...

IN AN AIRPORT...

TALKING?

IT'S A LITTLE FISHY.

WELL, WHY ARE WE
EVEN IN AN AIRPORT?

WHY DON'T WE JUST LEAVE?

OK, I SEE THE CONFUSION.

SEE,
I NEED MORE RESEARCH.

I NEED YOU
TO GO BACK TO L.A.

AND GET IN THE COMPUTER
AND GET SOME THINGS.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE,

I NEED YOU TO BREAK INTO
CLEARBURG'S COMPUTER

AND PULL ANYTHING
PERTINENT.

I'VE WRITTEN OUT
ELABORATE DIRECTIONS.

THEY'RE IN AN ENVELOPE
IN THE PHONE BOOK.

IN FRONT OF YOU.

TURN TO RENTALS.

AND I'LL MEET YOU
AT THE MOTEL TONIGHT

WHEN YOU GET BACK.

WAIT A MINUTE.
ARE YOU TELLING ME

THAT INSTEAD OF CALLING ME,
YOU HAD ME FLY UP HERE

SO YOU COULD TELL ME TO GO
STRAIGHT BACK TO THE COMPUTER

AND THEN FLY BACK AGAIN
TONIGHT?

YEAH, WELL,
IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY,

AND THERE WAS NO REASON

TO RISK
THE LONG-DISTANCE LINES.

THEY'D LISTEN, YOU KNOW.

MMPFFH!

STEVE...

ARE YOU STILL THERE?

HEY, STEVE.

NO.

Daryl: HERE WE GO.

TRANSACTION INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

MR. STARK.

$100.000 CASH TRANSPORTED IN
A DISCREET BLACK LEATHER BAG

THAT YOU SHALL PROVIDE
FOR YOURSELF.

WEAR YOUR BUSINESS SUIT
AND YOUR GRAY OVERCOAT.

CARRY THE ENCLOSED PAGER

SET TO THE INAUDIBLE
VIBRATING RESPONSE.

GO ABOUT YOUR DAY PER USUAL.

GO TO THE GYM,
THEN THE OFFICE.

ARRANGE TO LEAVE
THE OFFICE AT 5 P.M.

YOUR COURSE
IS AS FOLLOWS:

NUMBER ONE... AT 5:30 P.M.,

BE AT THE INTERSECTION
OF POWELL AND GREEN

IN YOUR BENTLEY
WITH THE CASH.

2... WHEN THE CLOCK
IN YOUR CAR READS 5:34,

BEGIN DRIVING NORTHBOUND
ON POWELL.

NUMBER 3... PAGER WILL GO OFF,
DISPLAYING 6 DIGITS.

WHEN YOUR VEHICLE'S
ODOMETER

READS THE SAME OVERALL
MILEAGE, PULL OVER AND PARK.

A.S.A.P.

NUMBER 4... FUNDS IN HAND,

WALK TO
THE NEAREST BUS STOP,

SAME SIDE OF THE STREET.

GET ON THE NEXT BUS.

5... PAGER WILL DELIVER
A 3-DIGIT NUMBER.

GET OFF THE BUS
AT THE NEXT STOP,

CROSS THE STREET...

GET ON THE TRAIN
WITH THE PAINTED NUMBER

THAT CORRESPONDS
WITH THE PAGER MESSAGE.

SIT IN THE FRONT-MOST
AVAILABLE SEAT.

6... PAGER WILL DELIVER
A THIRD AND FINAL MESSAGE.

GET OFF THE TRAIN,

WALK TO THE CORRESPONDING
STREET ADDRESS.

7... UPON ARRIVAL,
ENTER THE BUILDING.

ENTER THE FIRST POSSIBLE
MEN'S ROOM.

GO TO THE TOILET STALL
FURTHEST FROM THE DOOR,

LOCK YOURSELF IN.

IN TANK OF TOILET,
FIND PLASTIC BAG.

TRANSFER CASH INTO BAG,
REPLACE IN TANK.

WALK OUTSIDE

AND TRIP THE NEAREST
FIRE ALARM,

THEN LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.

YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES
TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING

FROM THE TIME YOU ENTER.

YOU ARE NOT
TO BE ACCOMPANIED.

YOU'RE NOT TO BE FOLLOWED.

YOUR COMPLETE COOPERATION..

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
BLAH BLAH BLAH.

A FEW WORDS HERE
ABOUT FOLLOWING PEOPLE.

PEOPLE KNOW
THEY'RE BEING FOLLOWED

WHEN THEY TURN AROUND AND
SEE SOMEONE FOLLOWING THEM.

THEY CAN'T TELL
THEY'RE BEING FOLLOWED

IF YOU GET THERE FIRST.

OK, FOLKS, THAT'S
THE FIRE ALARM.

EVERYBODY HAS TO GET OUT
OF THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW.

PLEASE DO NOT RUN!

WAIT, KIDS,
JUST SLOW DOWN.

WALK. WALK.

EVERYBODY,
COME ON, FILE OUT.

EVERYONE MUST LEAVE
THE BUILDING.

WALK IN AN ORDERLY FASHION
TO THE NEAREST EXIT.

EVERYBODY OUT NOW.

THAT'S THE FIRE ALARM.

EVERYONE MUST LEAVE
THE BUILDING NOW.

LET'S GO!

LET'S GO! LET'S MOVE IT!
EVERYONE, OUT!

LEAVE YOUR BELONGINGS
AND GO TO THE CLOSEST EXIT.

LET'S GO!

LET'S GO, QUICKLY,
EVERYBODY!

GLORIA SULLIVAN.

OH. YOU ARLO?

YEAH, THAT OTHER GUY LEFT
THIS FOR YOU, THAT OLSON.

WHAT A STRANGE PERSONALITY,
THAT OLSON.

Daryl: I CAN'T
POSSIBLY OVERSTATE

THE IMPORTANCE
OF GOOD RESEARCH.

EVERYONE GOES THROUGH LIFE
DROPPING CRUMBS.

IF YOU CAN RECOGNIZE
THE CRUMBS,

YOU CAN TRACE A PATH

ALL THE WAY BACK
FROM YOUR DEATH CERTIFICATE

TO THE DINNER-AND-A-MOVIE

THAT RESULTED IN YOU
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT RESEARCH IS AN ART,
NOT A SCIENCE,

BECAUSE ANYONE WHO KNOWS
WHAT THEY'RE DOING

CAN FIND THE CRUMBS:

THE WHERES, WHATS,
AND WHOS.

THE ART IS IN THE WHYS.

THE ABILITY TO READ
BETWEEN THE CRUMBS...

NOT TO MIX METAPHORS.

FOR EVERY EVENT, THERE
IS A CAUSE AND EFFECT;

FOR EVERY CRIME,
A MOTIVE;

AND FOR EVERY MOTIVE,
A PASSION.

THE ART OF RESEARCH

IS THE ABILITY
TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS

AND SEE THE PASSION.

HEY.

HEY.

EXCUSE ME.

OK, SO YOU HAVE
TO TELL ME NOW.

YESTERDAY HOW COULD YOU TELL
THAT I WAS A PARAMEDIC?

UH, YOU REALLY
WANT TO KNOW?

YEAH.

I COULD SMELL IT.

OH. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I COULD SMELL IODINE.

THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC SCENT

THAT'S UNIQUE LARGELY
TO AMBULANCES AND HOSPITALS,

AND, UH, I... I COULD SEE

THAT YOUR HAIR HAD BEEN
WET BUT DRIED NATURALLY,

BUT SINCE I COULD SMELL
THE IODINE,

I KNEW
THAT YOU HADN'T GONE HOME

AND BATHED OR SCRUBBED DOWN
SINCE YOUR LAST SHIFT,

AND THEN I ASSUMED THAT YOU
HAD WORKED THE NIGHT BEFORE

WHEN IT WAS RAINING, AND...

AND THEN I FIGURED PARAMEDIC,
NOT DOCTOR OR NURSE.

THAT'S HOW I...

JUST KINDA GUESSED.

WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT
ABOUT, UH...

EACH PART.

HMM.

DO YOU, UH...

ENJOY THAT WORK?

SOMETIMES.

SOMETIMES?

YEAH.

IT CAN BE A THRILL.

WHEN YOU RUSH RIGHT IN
THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING,

SOME CHAOTIC MESS,

AND GET INVOLVED,

INTERVENE,

MAYBE HELP SOMEBODY,

MAYBE REVIVE
THEIR BODY.

SOME OF IT'S JUST
BORING, THOUGH.

THE HOURS ARE TERRIBLE.

12- AND 18-HOUR SHIFTS.

OK, I'M JUST RAMBLING
NOW SO...

OH, NO, THAT'S,
UH...

THAT'S...

INTERESTING TO ME.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
DO YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?

"DO YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?"

STUPID QUESTION.

WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES THAT MAKE?

NO, THAT'S OK.
UH...

I'M ONLY HERE FOR A
COUPLE OF DAYS ON BUSINESS.

SO YOU'RE WITH
THAT CONFERENCE?

YES.

SO YOU'RE AN ACCOUNTANT.

YEP.

UH, THAT'S PRETTY
EXCITING, I KNOW.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU DO THAT...

ALL THE FORMS,
ALL THE TIME.

THE FORMS GROW ON YOU.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

NICK...

I KNOW. NICK CARMINE.

DAISY, THE FRONT DESK.
SHE TOLD ME.

Woman on TV: WELL,
WE WERE EMPLOYING

THE WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED
BUCKET PRINCIPLE,

WHICH HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL IN...

WHOO... AHH!

WHAT DID I TELL YOU
ABOUT THESE CURTAINS?

AND THESE OVER HERE.

AHH.

FUCKING WHALES?

FUCK THE WHALES.

OH, I'M A MESS.

ALL THAT FUCKING
EXERCISE.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP
SNORTING THAT SHIT.

AH, IT KEEPS
MY TEETH SHARP.

SO, I WENT BACK TO L.A.

AND GOT THAT STUFF
YOU SENT ME TO GET.

BUT SINCE YOU THEN WENT
BACK TO L.A. YOURSELF,

PROBABLY DON'T NEED
THAT ANYMORE.

DID YOU SEE THAT POEM

THAT STARK WROTE
IN COLLEGE,

AN ODE TO CLARISSA?

THAT'S THE WORST POETRY
I'VE READ SINCE THE CASE

OF THE SHRINKING GYPSY
STRIPPER'S SCRIBBLINGS.

TELL ME THIS:

HOW DO YOU RHYME
"TOWARDS" AND "BIRDS"?

"DROPPING, FALLING,
DIVING TOWARDS...

2 LOVERS LOST,
PLUMMETING... BIRDS"?

THEY DON'T RHYME.

MAYBE IT'S NOT
SUPPOSED TO RHYME.

ALSO...

HOW DO YOU WRITE
A POEM

ABOUT A WOMAN
NAMED CLARISSA

AND NEVER HAVE THE NAME
IN THE POEM?

IF EVER THERE WAS A NAME

THAT DESERVED AND
BEGGED TO BE IN A POEM,

IT'S CLARISSA.

ANYWAY, I DID THAT
PHONE BOOK-DATABASE

CROSS-REFERENCE THING
YOU ASKED FOR,

AND THERE ARE 1.800 MEN
IN OREGON

WITH THE INITIALS K.V.

AND ABOUT A MILLION
IN THE UNITED STATES

THAT ARE LISTED.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

YOU HAVE ANY LUCK
ON YOUR END?

UNH...

I FOUND THE BLACKMAILER.

YOU DID?

YEAH.

HER NAME
IS GLORIA SULLIVAN.

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW
IT'S HER?

I WATCHED HER...

WALK INTO THE BATHROOM
AND GET THE MONEY.

I HAVE TO ADMIT,
I WAS A BIT SURPRISED.

I HAD A FEW GUESSES
ABOUT SUSPECTS,

BUT I NEVER...

I MEAN I DIDN'T
EVEN THINK TWICE

ABOUT THAT GIRL.

SO, UH,
WHAT'S HER DEAL?

HER DEAL?

HER DEAL IS THAT THERE
IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

OUT OF THE ORDINARY
ABOUT HER.

SHE'S A MODEL CITIZEN,

SHE'S
A COLLEGE GRADUATE,

SHE'S A GOOD PARAMEDIC,

SHE VOLUNTEERS AT A HOSPITAL
FOR THE ELDERLY,

SHE HAS NO CRIMINAL RECORD.

I MEAN, SHE'S
VERY EVEN-TEMPERED.

SHE'S FRIENDLY,

EAGER TO CHAT.

THERE'S NO NERVOUSNESS
ABOUT HER,

WHICH IS ODD
FOR A BLACKMAILER.

EVEN AT THE PICKUP
YESTERDAY, SHE'S JUST...

SHE'S VERY COOL.

SHE'S VERY COOL.

BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE
INTENSITY ABOUT HER.

SHE LOOKS YOU
RIGHT IN THE EYE,

SORT OF A SENSUAL
QUALITY.

VERY PERSONABLE.

A NICE SENSE
OF HUMOR...

AND ACTUALLY
VERY CHARMING.

CHARMING?

DID YOU JUST SAY
"CHARMING"?

YEAH.

HMM.

AND THEN GET STARK
OUT OF THE OFFICE.

MAKE PLANS FOR HIM TO PAY
AT 5:00 TONIGHT. AAH.

SO MAYBE YOU COULD, UH, GO
HOME FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS.

COUPLE OF NIGHTS?

WELL, AREN'T WE
FINISHED NOW?

YOU FOUND THE BLACKMAILER,
RIGHT?

ALL HE WANTED
WAS THE NAME.

WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

FIRST I HAVE TO FIND OUT
WHAT HER DEAL IS.

IS THIS YOUR KID?

NOPE.

JUST A RENTAL.

YOU GOT THE MONEY?

YEAH, IT'S IN THE TRUNK OF
THE CAR, THE FIRST THIRD.

BYE!

BYE!

YOU WANT A TURN?

DOES HE KNOW WHO'S
DOING THIS TO ME?

I CAN'T TELL YOU
ANYTHING YET.

NOTHING.
IT'S TOO SOON.

IT COULD INTERFERE
WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

JESUS.

OK, SO HERE'S HOW
THIS IS GONNA WORK.

DID YOU GIVE YOUR CAR
TO THE VALET OVER THERE

LIKE I ASKED?

YEAH.
GOOD.

NOW, WHEN WE GET DOWN
HERE OUT OF SIGHT,

YOU'RE GONNA GIVE ME
YOUR VALET TICKET,

AND I'M GONNA
GIVE YOU ONE.

THEN YOU'RE GONNA GO
BACK TO THE RESTAURANT.

YOU'RE GONNA ORDER
SOMETHING TO EAT.

WAIT A MINUTE, I JUST HAD
A LATE LUNCH. I'M NOT HUNGRY.

THEN ORDER
SOMETHING LIGHT,

LIKE A SALAD.

WHEN YOU'RE DONE, GIVE
THE VALET YOUR TICKET.

HE'LL BRING YOU A CAR
IDENTICAL TO YOUR OWN.

FOLLOW THE MAP
IN THE GLOVE BOX.

IT'LL LEAD YOU BACK
TO YOUR OWN CAR,

WHICH I'LL HAVE DRIVEN THERE
AND TAKEN OUR MONEY OUT OF.

THE KEYS
WILL BE IN THE VISOR.

NOW, BEFORE WE DO THIS,

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO TELL MR. ZERO

THAT MIGHT MAKE HIS JOB
A LITTLE BIT EASIER?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE,

WHAT'S IN
THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

AND WHERE IS IT?

I TOLD YOU.

THAT IS NOT PERTINENT
TO HIS TASK.

K.V.

NOW... A FEW WORDS ON
LOOKING FOR THINGS.

WHEN YOU GO LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC,

YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING IT
ARE VERY BAD...

BECAUSE, OF ALL THE THINGS
IN THE WORLD,

YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING
FOR ONE OF THEM.

WHEN YOU GO LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING AT ALL,

YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING IT
ARE VERY GOOD...

BECAUSE, OF ALL THE THINGS
IN THE WORLD,

YOU'RE SURE TO FIND
SOME OF THEM.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT
RULE...

OFTEN THE THING
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

IS RIGHT IN FRONT
OF YOUR NOSE.

Daryl:
THERE HE IS.

Steve: MMM.

I TOLD YOU ABOUT HIS THING
FOR REDHEADS, RIGHT?

GUESS WHAT COLOR HAIR
HIS SECRETARY HAS.

HMM...

RED?

MEN ARE SO PREDICTABLE.

SO DID YOU FIND
ANYTHING USEFUL?

A GOLD MINE.

FIRST OF ALL,
I GOT A FULL NAME

ON THAT BOXER THAT
CLEARBURG COULDN'T FIND.

KRAGAN VINCENT.

K.V.

IT WAS ON A LETTER
FROM OUR BLACKMAILER

TO OUR BLACKMAILEE.

"I WARN YOU ONCE,

STAY AWAY FROM
KRAGAN VINCENT."

HE SAID HE GAVE US
ALL THE LETTERS.

DIDN'T GIVE US THAT ONE.

MR. STARK APPARENTLY
DOESN'T WANT ME TO KNOW

ABOUT KRAGAN VINCENT.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHO HE IS AND WHERE.

OK. KRAGAN VINCENT.

I DID FIND ONE OTHER THING
OF INTEREST, THOUGH.

HOLY SHIT!
THOSE ARE THE KEYS.

YOU FOUND THE GOLD
SWISS ARMY KNIFE.

I KNOW.

AND THIS IS THE SAFE
DEPOSIT BOX KEY.

WHERE'D YOU
FIND THEM?

THEY WERE IN THE SOFA
UNDER THE CUSHION.

WHAT?

THEY WERE STUCK IN THE COUCH
IN HIS OFFICE.

WAS HE HIDING THEM THERE?
IS THAT POSSIBLE?

NO. NOT POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY FELL OUT
OF HIS POCKET OVER A YEAR AGO.

SO...

WHAT DO YOU MAKE
OF THIS?

I THINK, JUST AS I FEARED,

MS. SULLIVAN DOESN'T KNOW
A THING ABOUT THESE KEYS.

WHAT, THE KEYS ARE
A COINCIDENCE?

YES.

THAT'S... CONFUSING.

YUP.

HMM.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
A GOOD THING.

SURE IT IS.

IT'S GOOD
BECAUSE THE MAN

HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR
HIS KEYS FOR A YEAR,

AND I'VE FOUND THEM.

NOW I'M GONNA GO HOME,

SO TELL ME YOU'RE
NOT GONNA WANT ME

TO COME BACK HERE
TOMORROW AFTERNOON

BECAUSE I COULD CHECK OUT
THIS KRAGAN VINCENT GUY...

I WON'T NEED YOU
TOMORROW.

I'M TRUSTING YOU HERE,
DARYL.

HAVE A NICE TRIP.

# IT'S COLD AND DARK
IN MY HEART

# SAID IT'S COLD AND DARK
IN MY HEART

# MAMA

HEY.

HI. LOOK,
I KNOW THIS IS,

UM, TOTALLY
INAPPROPRIATE, BUT...

NEVER MIND.

WHAT?

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA
ASK YOU, DON'T YOU?

WHAT?

IS THERE ANY WAY

I CAN GET YOU TO LOOK
OVER MY TAX RETURNS?

YEAH.

ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU
CAN SPEAK 6 LANGUAGES

AND FLY A JETLINER,

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW
TO FILE A TAX RETURN?

IT'S NEVER COME UP.

DOES THIS HAVE TO
HAPPEN RIGHT NOW?

MMM...

NO, THAT'S A W-2.

W-W-2 IS THE SECOND
WORLD WAR.

HERE IT IS.

MY HUMBLE...

PALACE.

IT'S VERY NICE.

HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?

3 YEARS.

OH.

THAT'S...
THAT'S SOMETHING.

SO YOU GONNA NEED
A CALCULATOR?

UM...

YEAH.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

OK.

YOU'RE AN ACCOUNTANT...

SO YOU WOULD KNOW.

WHAT IS THE CORRODIUM 3
DEDUCTION?

THE CORRODIUM 3
DEDUCTION.

THAT'S A VERY
GOOD QUESTION,

BECAUSE...

THAT, IN FACT,
IS PROBABLY

THE MOST WIDELY
MISUNDERSTOOD...

DEDUCTION
IN THE BOOK.

REALLY.

INDEED.

THE CORRODIUM 3
DEDUCTION

IS AN INCENTIVE USED
BY LARGE MANUFACTURERS

WHO ARE ABLE
TO MODERATE THEIR USE

OF CLASS-3 DECAY TOXINS,

SUCH AS...
CORRODIUM AND...

MALGORIUM.

ANYTHING ELSE?

NO.

ALL RIGHT.

TIME TO GET DIRTY.

SO, ABOUT HOW LONG
IS THIS GONNA TAKE?

UM...

WELL, A L...
A LITTLE WHILE.

WELL, IF
YOU DON'T MIND,

I WAS, UH...
GONNA TAKE A NAP.

OH.

OK.

YOU SURE IT'S OK?

YEP.

I'LL JUST, UH...

BE HERE.

SO JUST YELL IF
YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE.

OK.

HOW'S IT GOIN'
OVER THERE?

JUST ANOTHER MINUTE.

I'M... RECHECKING
MY MATH.

YOU REALLY OUGHT TO TRY

TO KEEP
ALL YOUR RECEIPTS...

FOR EVERYTHING.

I KNOW.

I NEVER
REMEMBER THAT.

JUST...

PUT 'EM
IN AN ENVELOPE.

THAT'S THE THING
TO DO.

I TRY TO KEEP ALL
MY RECEIPTS, AND...

IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF HABIT NOW.

I CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH.

YOU REALLY
HELPED ME OUT THERE.

THAT'S...

REALLY
MY PLEASURE.

OK, LISTEN...

LET ME MAKE YOU DINNER.

OHHH...

NO. YOU DON'T... YOU
DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

NO, I INSIST.

JUST GONNA HOP
IN THE SHOWER REAL QUICK.

THEN I'LL MAKE US
SOME FOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

RETIRE... D.

JESUS. THAT'S
ANOTHER 7-LETTER WORD.

17 PLUS 50...

67 POINTS.

RETIRE.

WHAT?

RETIRE.

JESS, IT'S NOT
QUITE THAT SIMPLE.

WHY IS IT NOT
THAT SIMPLE, STEVE?

WHENEVER YOU SAY THAT,
IT... IT...

JUST CREEPS ME OUT.

I TOLD YOU.
IT'S NOTHING... WEIRD.

I MEAN, OK, YES,
IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD,

BUT IT'S
NOTHING CREEPY...

EXACTLY.

SO WHAT DO YOU
GET OUT OF THIS?

I MEAN, WHAT... WHAT KIND
OF A HOLD DOES THIS GUY,

WHOEVER HE IS,
HAVE ON YOU?

WELL...

HE NEEDS ME.

HE NEEDS YOU.

WHO NEEDS WHO?

I NEED YOU.

IT'S TIME TO GET
AWAY FROM HIM, STEVE.

OK.

I'LL DO IT TOMORROW
WHEN I GET THERE.

IF...

YOU...

WILL MARRY ME.

MARRY ME.

OHHH...

OHHH...

ABSOLUTELY VITAL.

THE ABILITY TO BLEND IN.

TO VERY DISCREETLY ASSIMILATE.

IT'S NOT USUALLY
VERY DIFFICULT.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS LOOK AROUND,

SEE HOW ALL THE ORDINARY PEOPLE
AROUND YOU ARE BEHAVING

AND TRY TO BEHAVE
LIKE ONE OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, WHEN
I WAS IN L.A.,

IT SEEMED LIKE
SUCH A LONELY TOWN.

EVERYBODY'S DRIVIN'
AROUND IN THEIR CARS.

NOBODY TALKS
TO EACH OTHER.

MMM...

I DON'T REALLY KNOW,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH...

UH... ABOUT THAT.

SO, WHERE YOU FROM?

ORIGINALLY?

MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA.

I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE.

DO YOU GO
BACK THERE MUCH?

NO.

DO YOU STILL HAVE
FAMILY THERE?

UH...

WE'RE NOT
REALLY IN TOUCH.

YEAH.

SO...

WHAT WERE YOU DOIN'
IN L.A.?

OH, I WAS THERE...
TWICE.

ONCE
WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

I WAS THERE WITH
MY AUNT AND UNCLE.

I WAS RAISED BY MY AUNT
AND UNCLE. THEY ADOPTED ME.

UM...

THEN LAST YEAR,
I WAS THERE SKYDIVING.

SKYDIVING?

YEAH.

UH, WHY DO YOU DO THAT?

BECAUSE I LOVE IT.

IT'S THE MOST AMAZING THING
IN THE WORLD.

AREN'T YOU AFRAID YOU'RE
GONNA DIE OR SOMETHING?

I KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

OK.

TRY AGAIN.

TAKE YOUR TIME, NOW.
REALLY SET YOURSELF.

REMEMBER TO BEND
YOUR ELBOWS A LITTLE.

A LITTLE LESS.

KEEP THE RIGHT ARM STRAIGHT
WITH THE LEFT ELBOW.

CHECK YOUR AIM AGAIN.

THEN WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY.

YOU DO THIS
ALL THE TIME?

WHENEVER I CAN.

I FIND IT
DEEPLY SATISFYING.

NICE.

YOU TRY AGAIN.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

DON'T BE AFRAID OF IT.
IT'S SAFE

JUST AS LONG
AS YOU'RE CAREFUL.

IT'S ALL ABOUT
STAYING RELAXED.

SORRY.

That's OK.

Yeah.

Just relax.

BEND THIS A LITTLE.

KEEP THIS STRAIGHT.

HIPS BACK A LITTLE.

LEAN INTO IT.

CONNECT TO IT.

CHECK YOUR AIM AGAIN.

RELAX.

NOW FIRE.

THERE YOU GO.

THAT FEEL GOOD?

SSHHH.

YEAH.

WANT TO TRY
A SHOTGUN?

SURE.

WANT TO JUST STAY
AT MY PLACE TONIGHT?

OH.

I MEAN, YOU...
YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

IT'S JUST... BUT
THE COUCH FOLDS OUT.

IT'S JUST... I WAS...
THOUGHT IT'D BE SILLY

TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY
BACK TO MY PLACE,

THEN YOU'D HAVE TO DRIVE
ALL THE WAY BACK ACROSS TOWN

JUST TO SOME
CRUMMY OLD MOTEL.

UH, WELL, UH...

OK.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

GOOD.

I'LL EVEN GIVE YOU
A RECEIPT.

YOU CAN WRITE IT OFF.

YOU KNOW MY MOTTO.

YOU ALWAYS TAKE
THE RECEIPT.

YOU SLEPT AT HER HOUSE?

SHE THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE EASIER

THAN DRIVING ALL THE WAY
BACK TO THE MOTEL.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
SLEPT AT HER HOUSE.

I... I CAN'T BELIEVE
WITH ALL THAT TIME WITH HER,

I COULDN'T TELL MORE WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN HER HEAD.

I COULDN'T TELL
WHAT SHE WAS THINKING.

WELL, THAT'S USUALLY HOW
IT IS IN THE BEGINNING.

MAYBE I'LL BE ABLE TO SEE
MORE TONIGHT AT DINNER.

YOU'RE TAKING HER
TO DINNER.

WHAT WAS I
GONNA SAY? NO?

YOU GOT ANYTHING MORE
ON KRAGAN VINCENT?

YEAH. THERE'S A
KRAGAN VINCENT SERVING TIME

AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
A LIFE SENTENCE.

PRISON RECORDS DIDN'T
SAY WHAT FOR, THOUGH.

BETTER GO FIND OUT.

ANYTHING ELSE?

WHAT IS IT?

NOTHIN'.

MMM.

AHEM.

YEAH?

ARE YOU THE OFFICER
IN CHARGE OF RECORDS?

I'M HIM.

LIEUTENANT
EARL HAGANS.

STEVE ARLO.
MIND IF I COME IN?

WHAT IS THIS REGARDING,
MR. ARLO?

I WORK FOR
A PRIVATE DETECTIVE.

THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT
SHARE RECORDS WITH P.I.s

EXCEPT BY COURT ORDER.
IT'S POLICY.

I ASSUME THAT YOU DO NOT
HAVE A COURT ORDER.

I WORK FOR A PRIVATE
DETECTIVE NAMED DARYL ZERO.

MURDER ONE IN 1972.
SINGLE COUNT.

AND GUESS WHAT
THE VICTIM'S NAME IS.

UH, LET ME GUESS.

NO, I DON'T MEAN
REALLY GUESS.

NO WAY YOU COULD
ACTUALLY GUESS.

CLARISSA.

YEAH.
CLARISSA DEVEREAU.

OF PLUMMETING BIRDS
FAME.

SEEMS LIKELY,
DOESN'T IT?

SEEMS
VERY LIKELY.

2 SHOTS. ONE TO THE HEAD,
ONE TO THE TORSO.

DOWN SHE GOES,
EXECUTION STYLE

IN HER MOTEL ROOM.

MMM. SOUNDS PROFESSIONAL.

YEAH, EXCEPT

HE MADE A COMPLETE MESS.

LEFT A TON OF EVIDENCE.
LEFT PRINTS ON EVERYTHING.

I GOT COPIES OF
THE CRIME SCENE PHOTOS.

REMEMBER THE CASE
OF THE HIRED GUN

WHO MADE WAY,
WAY TOO MANY MISTAKES?

YEAH. IT'S
A LOT LIKE THAT.

SO THEY PICK HIM UP,
THEY TRY HIM,

GIVE HIM LIFE, NO PAROLE.
OPEN AND SHUT.

EVERYBODY THINKS HE'S WORKIN'
FOR SOMEONE, BUT HE WON'T TALK,

EVEN WHEN
THEY OFFER HIM A DEAL.

AS FOR CLARISSA, SHE HAS
QUITE AN ARREST RECORD

FOR A YOUNG GIRL.

MOSTLY POLITICAL.
NEW YORK AND BOSTON.

DISTURBING THE PEACE.
PUBLIC INDECENCY.

ONE FOR BREAKING
AND ENTERING.

A REGULAR
FIRECRACKER.

A REGULAR
PLUMMETING BIRD.

AND VINCENT'S
STILL IN JAIL.

NO. HE MUST HAVE SOME
SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION,

'CAUSE HE WAS MOVED
FOR MEDICAL REASONS

A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO.WHAT?

Daryl: KRAGAN IS HER FATHER.

SHE WAS RAISED BY HIS SISTER
BECAUSE HE WAS IN PRISON.

SHE BLAMES STARK FOR
RUINING HER FATHER'S LIFE.

STARK HIRED VINCENT
TO KILL CLARISSA

FOR SOME REASON.

VINCENT GOT CAUGHT,
SPENT HIS LIFE IN PRISON.

NOW HE'S DYING THIS...
SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH.

SHE'S WATCHED HER FATHER'S
LIFE DRIP AWAY,

AND SHE'S GETTING EVEN.

SHE HAS SOMETHING...
SOME EVIDENCE OR SOMETHING

THAT TIES STARK
TO THE MURDER.

I GOTTA FIGURE OUT
WHAT IT IS,

WHERE SHE'S KEEPING IT.

TAKE ME... TO
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

IT'S... RIGHT, UP HERE.

Daryl: READY. 1, 2, 3.

UNH!

ONCE MORE.

THE BED WE JUST MOVED
IS A FULL-SIZE BED.

IN 1972, THERE WAS
NO SIZE CALLED FULL.

THEY HAD DOUBLES
AND QUEENS.

THE FULL WAS INVENTED

TO COMBINE
THE WIDTH OF A QUEEN

WITH THE SPACE-EFFICIENT
LENGTH OF A DOUBLE...

AND EVENTUALLY
REPLACED THE DOUBLE

IN MOST OF NORTH
AMERICA AND EUROPE

EXCEPT FOR QUEBEC
AND, UH, SWEDEN.

THE BED
IN THE PICTURE...

IS NOT A DOUBLE.

IT'S TOO LONG.
IT'S NOT A FULL.

IT WASN'T INVENTED.

IT IS A QUEEN.

YEAH?

WHICH MEANS
THAT THAT BED THEN

WAS LONGER
THAN THIS BED NOW.

SO SOMETIME
IN THE LAST 30 YEARS,

SOMEBODY MUST'VE
REPLACED THE BED.

HEAR THAT?

SECRET ROOM?

IT'S A PIPE.

THERE ONCE WAS A RADIANT
WATER HEATER RIGHT THERE.

SO!

KRAGAN BURSTS
INTO THE ROOM.

THE BODY WAS FOUND
FACE-UP,

SO SHE MUST'VE
BEEN FACING HIM,

WHICH MEANS THAT SHE
WAS PROBABLY STANDING

PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE
YOU'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT AWAY,
BEFORE SHE COULD SCREAM,

POW, POW. SHE'S DOWN.
SHE'S DEAD. IT'S OVER.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS,
ONCE SHE WAS DEAD...

WHY DIDN'T HE GET
THE HELL OUTTA THERE?

INSTEAD, HE PROCEEDS
TO TOUCH THE DRESSER...

THE SINK, THE DOORKNOB,
AND THE NIGHT STAND.

SO WHAT DOES THE BED
HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

IN 1972,
IT WAS AGAINST CODE

TO HAVE A HOTEL BED

2 FEET FROM A DOOR
THAT OPENS INWARDS,

7 FEET FROM A FISH TANK
OR A LAVA LAMP,

OR 3 FEET
FROM A RADIANT HEATER.

IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL,

A BED LONGER
THAN THIS ONE

AND A HEATER
OVER HERE.

THAT WOULDN'T CLEAR
2 FEET,

MUCH LESS 3, AND NO INSPECTOR
WOULD LET THAT PASS.

WHICH MEANS?

WHICH MEANS...

KRAGAN MAY HAVE
MOVED THE BED.

OH, I SEE.
SO YOU'RE PROPOSING

THAT HE BUSTS
IN THE ROOM,

SEES HER STANDING THERE,
SHOOTS HER TWICE...

MOVES THE BED.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHY WOULD ANYBODY
DO THAT?

HELLO! I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT SOME PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

THAT KRAGAN MIGHT'VE TAKEN
FROM THE CRIME SCENE

THAT HE GAVE TO HIS
DAUGHTER YEARS LATER

SO THAT SHE
COULD BLACKMAIL STARK.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IS ABSENT.

SOMETHING HAPPENED
IN HERE. I MEAN,

SOMETHING THAT INVOLVED HIM
TOUCHING THE DRESSER,

TOUCHING THE SINK,
TOUCHING THE DOORKNOB,

AND TOUCHING
THE NIGHT STAND, AND...

PROBABLY MOVING THE BED.

PROBABLY?

SOMEBODY ELSE
COULD'VE MOVED IT.

COME ON. THERE WERE
ONLY 2 OF THEM...

HIM AND HER.

EXACTLY.

STEVE. YOU NEED
TO TALK TO STARK.

WE GOT A FEW
QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

I HAD A FEELING

THAT YOU TWO WOULD
BE A GOOD MATCH.

I'M GOOD
AT READING PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU WANT
MY OPINION?

YEAH.

YOU SHOULD TRY
TO HOLD ON TO HIM.

I MEAN,
HOW OFTEN DO YOU MEET

A WEALTHY, SINGLE
ARCHITECT FROM LOS ANGELES?

DAISY...
HE'S AN ACCOUNTANT.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES. HE'S HERE FOR
THE ACCOUNTANTS CONVENTION.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED HIM
TO DO MY TAXES.

I SWEAR I THOUGHT HE SAID
HE WAS AN ARCHITECT.

QUESTION.

OHH!

SORRY TO
STARTLE YOU.OH, JESUS.

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE
THE WORD T-O-W-A-R-D-S?

YOU KNOW YOU GAVE ME
A HEART ATTACK?

I NEEDED TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH YOU RIGHT AWAY.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

I NEED TO ASK YOU SOME
QUESTIONS. JUST DRIVE.

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT.

OK. FIRST OF ALL,

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE
THE WORD T-O-W-A-R-D-S?

TOWARDS?

AND THINGS THAT HAVE WINGS
AND FLY IN THE SKY?

WHAT ARE THOSE CALLED?

YOU MEAN BIRDS?

THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY DON'T RHYME.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

NEVER MIND. OH,
THE OTHER THING WAS, UM,

WHY DID YOU KILL
CLARISSA?

I MET HER MY SOPHOMORE
YEAR. I WAS 19.

AND SHE WAS, UH,
25, I THINK.

FROM NEW YORK,
LIVING IN CAMBRIDGE.

I MET HER
AT A DEMONSTRATION.

I HAD NEVER SEEN
ANYBODY LIKE HER.

SHE LET ME WALK HER
HOME, AND SHE KISSED ME

FOR THE FIRST
AND ONLY TIME.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST, UH,
SKIP RIGHT TO THE PART

WHERE YOU DECIDE
TO KILL HER.

WATCH YOURSELF, ARLO.

MR. STARK, PLEASE
DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

SURROUNDING YOUR
CONTRACTING HER MURDER.

AFTER THAT FIRST NIGHT,
I WAS... HOOKED.

I WAS LIKE AN ADDICT.

UH, FINALLY, SHE DIDN'T
WANT TO SEE ME ANYMORE,

AND... I GUESS I GOT
A LITTLE OBSESSIVE.

UH... MY LAST YEAR
OF GRADUATE SCHOOL,

I MET MY WIFE.

AND AFTER I GRADUATED,
WE MOVED BACK HERE.

WE GOT MARRIED.

AND I WENT TO WORK WITH
MY DAD AT THE COMPANY.

AND I HAD ALL BUT
FORGOTTEN ABOUT...

CLARISSA.

THEN, IN 1972... WE'D BEEN
BACK ABOUT A YEAR...

I, UH...

GOT A LETTER FROM HER.

SHE WAS HERE...
IN PORTLAND.

THE LETTER WAS A...

IT... IT WAS
A THREATENING LETTER.

WHAT WAS IT?

I DON'T THINK THAT MAKES
A THREAD OF DIFFERENCE.

MR. STARK...

WHAT...
DID THE LETTER SAY?

SHE WAS ACCUSING ME
OF SOMETHING.

RAPE.

DID SHE WANT MONEY?

NO. SHE WANTED
TO RUIN MY LIFE.

I KNEW NO JURY WOULD
EVER CONVICT ME.

I WAS CONVINCED OF THAT.

BUT I COULDN'T TAKE
THIS KIND OF PUBLICITY,

NOR COULD MY FAMILY.
YOU CAN IMAGINE.

I SAW MY... MY WHOLE FUTURE
FLASH BEFORE MY EYES.

SO...

YOU HIRED
KRAGAN VINCENT.

HE SAID THAT
FOR $5.000...

HE COULD SOLVE
MY PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT... OFFICER.

SO, UH, WHAT'S IN
THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX?

A TAPE. A TAPE HE MADE
OF OUR MEETING. AUDIO TAPE.

MY HIRING HIM.

OUR NAMES
AS CLEAR AS DAY.

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST
DESTROY IT YEARS AGO?

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT IS.

GO ON.

WELL, ABOUT A WEEK
AFTER HE GETS CAUGHT,

A MAN SHOWS UP AT MY HOUSE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

AND HE TELLS ME THAT
KRAGAN EXPECTS ME

TO BANKROLL HIS DEFENSE.

THROUGH A MIDDLEMAN,
OBVIOUSLY.

AND HE ALSO WANTED
MONEY FOR HIS FAMILY.

AND THEN HE PLAYED ME
A COPY OF HIS TAPE.

AND SAID IF I REFUSED,

HE WOULD TURN THE TAPE
OVER TO THE POLICE.

HE THEN GAVE ME A KEY
TO A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX.

SAID AT THE END
OF 25 YEARS

WHEN KRAGAN GOT OUT
OR IF HE SHOULD DIE,

I WOULD BE GIVEN THE
LOCATION OF THE BOX.

AND IN THE MEANTIME,

I'M TO HANG ONTO
THIS KEY WITH NO LOCK

AND OUR FRIEND WOULD
HANG ONTO HIS LOCK

WITH NO KEY.

WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

SOMEONE WAS
THREATENING YOU LIKE THAT

AND BLACKMAILING YOU
LIKE THIS.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S NEVER COME UP.

WELL, IMAGINE IT.

IMAGINE SOME
OPPORTUNISTIC

PIECE OF BIRD SHIT

HAS GOT A WAY
TO COMPROMISE YOU.

WHAT DO YOU DO
ABOUT IT?

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
BUY SILENCE.

YOU CAN ONLY
RENT IT.

SO IF SOMEBODY HAS
SOMETHING ON YOU,

THEY'RE ALWAYS
GOING TO HAVE IT.

SO THE COST
HAS NO CEILING.

AND THE FEAR
HAS NO END.

THAT'S WHY...
SOME KNOWLEDGE,

SOME INFORMATION...

IT'S LIKE
A TERMINAL DISEASE.

IT'S CONTAGIOUS
AND IT'S FATAL.

Daryl: PASSION IS
THE ENEMY OF PRECISION.

FORGET THE MISNOMER...
CRIME OF PASSION.

ALL CRIME IS PASSIONATE.

THIS PASSION THAT MOVES
THE CRIMINAL TO ACT,

THAT DISRUPTS THE STATIC
INERTIA OF MORALITY.

THE CLIENT'S PASSION
FOR THIS DEAD WOMAN

HAD FACILITATED
HIS DOWNFALL.

AND THE BLACKMAILER'S PASSION
WOULD FACILITATE HERS.

WHEN YOU LIVE WITH
NO PASSION AT ALL,

OTHER PEOPLE'S PASSIONS
COME INTO GLARING RELIEF.

BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!
BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!

JESUS, WOULD
YOU STOP IT?

OH, STOP IT!
STOP IT!

JESUS! CONTROL
YOURSELF, ALL RIGHT?

CONTROL MYSELF?

IT'S FUCKING BULLSHIT, ARLO.

HAVEN'T I BEEN GOOD
TO YOU, HUH?

HAVEN'T I BEEN FUCKING
INCREDIBLY, MIND-BLOWINGLY,

FUCKINGLY, DIVINELY GENEROUS
AS A FUCKING SAINT.

YOU UNGRATEFUL FUCK!

OH, OH, HEY,
WATCH IT, ALL RIGHT?

UNGRATEFUL FUCK.

SHUT UP!

WHY?

I TOLD YOU WHY.

I CANNOT LIVE
LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I CAN'T DO IT
TO JESS,

I CAN'T DO IT
TO MYSELF,

AND I AM
SICK AND TIRED

OF WORKING FOR THE
STARKS OF THE WORLD.

THE LOWEST
SCUM OF THE EARTH!

BUYING THEIR WAY OUT
OF THEIR OWN MESSES.

THESE PEOPLE ARE
VICTIMS OF PLOTS

AND THEY NEED OUR HELP.

THIS GUY IS
A MURDERER-AT-LARGE

WHO NEEDS OUR HELP.

HEY, THEIR BUSINESS
EQUALS THEIR BUSINESS.

WE'RE NOT INVOLVED.

IT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH US.

YOU BELIEVE THAT?

YEAH, WE'RE
THE GOOD GUYS.

WHAT ARE... WHAT ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THERE AREN'T
ANY GOOD GUYS.

YOU REALIZE THAT,
DON'T YOU?

I MEAN YOU REALIZE
THERE AREN'T EVIL GUYS

AND INNOCENT GUYS.

IT'S JUST... IT'S JUST...

IT'S JUST
A BUNCH OF GUYS.

SO WHAT AM I
SUPPOSED TO DO?

JUST START TAKING
MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE.

JUST START TALKING
WITH PEOPLE.

MAYBE.

FUCK THAT.

YOU KNOW,
YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

I MEAN, YOU'RE
PROBABLY THE BEST...

EXCUSE ME?

EXCUSE ME.
YOU ARE THE BEST.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU
THAT AFTER THIS CASE...

I'M FINISHED.

I MEANT WHAT AM I
SUPPOSED TO DO...

WITHOUT YOU?

DO YOU WANT
MY HONEST OPINION?

I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE
ALL THIS MONEY THAT YOU MADE

AND MOVE TO EUROPE.

MEET A GIRL.
SEE THE WORLD.

I MEAN, REALLY
SEE THE WORLD.

DON'T OBSERVE IT.
SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

I'M THE GREATEST
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

IN THE WORLD.

UH, I'M GOING TO GO CHECK
FOR SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES

UNDER THE NAME
KRAGAN VINCENT.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW
IF THAT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK WHAT CLEARBURG
MEANT WHEN HE SAYS

THERE'S NO BOXER WITH
THE NAME KRAGAN VINCENT

IS THAT THERE'S NO BOXES
WITH THE NAME KRAGAN VINCENT.

I THINK IT'S A TYPO.

RIGHT. RIGHT. PROBABLY
USED A DIFFERENT NAME.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

WELL, THEN I THINK
I'LL GO GET A BEER

WITH MY FRIEND BILL.

I SAID I THINK.

I MEAN, YOU SHOULD
GO AND CHECK.

JUST TO MAKE SURE.

OK. FINE.

BUT I REALLY HOPE
THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME.

SORRY TO STARTLE YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?

I FOLLOWED YOU.

WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR,
THIS WAS ON THE WINDSHIELD.

IT'S ANOTHER FUCKING PAYMENT
DUE TOMORROW MORNING.

JESUS. DID YOU MAKE SURE
YOU WEREN'T FOLLOWED?

I WASN'T.

I TOLD YOU HOW TO
GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.

YOU SHOULD NOT
HAVE COME HERE.

IS HE IN THERE?

IF I WALKED IN THERE
RIGHT NOW,

WOULD MR. ZERO BE
HAPPY TO MEET ME?

HEY...

GO HOME.

RIGHT NOW.
GO HOME, OK?

MAKE THE PAYMENT
TOMORROW.

WE'RE VERY,
VERY CLOSE.

I'M SICK OF COOPERATING.

YOU KNOW, IT USED
TO BE 2 OR 3 WEEKS.

NOW IT'S EVERY
COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHY SO CLOSE TOGETHER?

MAYBE THIS GUY'S
GETTING NERVOUS.

MAYBE HE WANTS TO KILL ME.

I THINK I SHOULD
CARRY A WEAPON.

NO, YOU SHOULDN'T.

LOOK, JUST DON'T PANIC.

ALL RIGHT?

SO HOW DEDICATED
ARE YOU REALLY?

YOUR TIMING
IS IMPECCABLE.

HOW DO YOU MEAN?

NEVER MIND.

MAYBE YOU'VE GOT SOME
AMBITION OF YOUR OWN.

MAYBE YOU WANT SOMEDAY
TO, I DON'T KNOW,

HAVE YOUR OWN FIRM.

OH, YEAH, YOU'VE
GOT ME PEGGED.

THAT'S ALL I WANT IS TO
SOME DAY BE DARYL ZERO.

YEAH, WELL, I'LL
GIVE YOU $1 MILLION

IF YOU SELL OUT
YOUR BOSS.

JUST TURN OVER
YOUR SUSPECT...

NAME AND ADDRESS.

$2 MILLION.

FOR A NAME
AND AN ADDRESS.

CASH. WE CAN GO
TO THE BANK RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE WILLING TO
GIVE ME $2 MILLION

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
DO THIS THING TOMORROW?

I'M WILLING
TO GIVE YOU $5 MILLION.

HOW MUCH DOES HE PAY YOU?

$5 MILLION SO YOU CAN
KILL SOMEONE RIGHT AWAY,

INSTEAD OF A DAY LATER.

NO, NO, FOR 5 MILLION,
YOU DO IT.

SO WHAT IF I WAS TO WALK
IN THERE RIGHT NOW...

HE'S NOT IN THERE,
STARK.

WHAT IF I WANT TO
FIND OUT FOR MYSELF?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

I'LL SHOOT YOU.

REALLY, I WILL.

I HAVE A GUN
AND EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE THREATENING ME?

YEAH, I'M THREATENING
TO KILL YOU.

HEY.

# DO YOU LOVE ME?

# THINK OF ME NOW

# WHILE YOU'RE CARVING
OUT MY HEART

OK.

WHAT?

RIGHT BEFORE YOU
JUMP OFF THE PLANE.

YOU STAND THERE,

YOU GOT ALL THAT
EQUIPMENT ON,

AND YOU KNOW
WHAT TO DO.

YOU CAN'T WAIT
FOR THE RIDE.

IS THERE A TIME
WHEN YOU THINK,

"WHAT IF IT
DOESN'T OPEN?

WHAT IF THIS IS THE
LAST THING I EVER DO?"

YOU'RE REALLY STUCK ON THIS
SKYDIVING THING, AREN'T YOU?

I'M STUCK
ON WHAT IT IS

THAT MAKES YOU DO
VERY DANGEROUS THINGS.

EVEN DANGEROUS THINGS
CAN BE SAFE

AS LONG AS
YOU'RE CAREFUL.

SUCH A THING AS
KNOWING THE ODDS.

QUITTING WHILE
YOU'RE AHEAD.

QUITTING BEFORE
YOU'RE DEAD.

YOU, ME, ANYONE COULD
WALK OUT OF HERE

AND GET KILLED BY SOME
DRUNK IN A PICKUP.

I COULD SLIP IN THE SHOWER
AND BREAK MY NECK.

WHEN YOUR NUMBER'S UP,
IT'S UP.

THERE'S NO SENSE TO IT.
THERE'S NO JUSTICE.

INNOCENT PEOPLE SUFFER AND
MURDERERS GET AWAY WITH IT.

SO WHEN MY NUMBER'S UP,

WHETHER I'M WALKING
DOWN THE STREET OR...

DOING SOMETHING ELSE,

THAT WILL BE THAT.

AND UNTIL THEN, I'M JUST
GOING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO.

WHAT IS IT
YOU NEED TO DO?

I NEED TO...
TRY TO FEEL RIGHT.

Waitress: CAN I GET
YOU FOLKS ANYTHING ELSE?

NO, I THINK THAT'S IT.

DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?

NO, I'M OK.

I'LL TAKE THE CHECK.

YOU GOT IT.
BE RIGHT BACK.

WHEN I WAS
A LITTLE GIRL,

I USED TO HOPE THAT
SOMEDAY I WOULD GROW UP

TO LOOK LIKE
THAT WAITRESS.

WHAT?

MY MOTHER HAD HAIR
LIKE THAT.

MY NATURAL MOTHER.

REALLY.

YEAH.

YEAH.

GOD, I FORGOT HOW THAT WORKS.
WAIT A MINUTE.

CAN A PERSON BE CONSIDERED
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE?

LIKE IN A RAPE CASE.

HMM. MAYBE
IF THE GUY

DOESN'T KNOW
ABOUT THE KID.

YEAH. I THINK SO.

YEAH, WE THINK SO. WHY?

YOU MEAN...

SHE IS THE EVIDENCE.

SHE'S NOT
KRAGAN'S DAUGHTER.

SHE'S STARK'S DAUGHTER.

I MUST ADMIT THAT
I LIKE THIS PLACE.

WHAT?

YOU SAID THAT YOU DON'T
SPEAK TO YOUR FAMILY.

WHY NOT?

I REALIZE I'M PRYING,
BUT WHAT CAN I SAY?

I'M PRYING.

I WANNA KNOW ABOUT YOU.

UM...

JUST LOOK ME IN THE EYES
AND TALK TO ME.

ALL RIGHT.

MY FATHER WAS AN
EVIL, ABUSIVE MAN.

HE KILLED MY MOTHER.

AND WHEN SHE
WAS SLEEPING.

AND THEN HE
SLIT HIS WRISTS.

I WAS 13.

NICK.

I DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

MUCH.

I USED TO WHEN
IT HAPPENED.

AND THEN ONE DAY
I WOKE UP.

I DON'T KNOW.

EVERYTHING
WAS DIFFERENT.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU,
DEFINES YOU.

YEP.

# I DON'T BELIEVE IN
AN INTERVENTIONIST GOD

# BUT I KNOW, DARLING,
THAT YOU DO

# BUT IF I DID, I WOULD
KNEEL DOWN AND ASK HIM

# NOT TO INTERVENE
WHEN IT CAME TO YOU

# OH, NOT TO TOUCH
A HAIR ON YOUR HEAD

# LEAVE YOU AS YOU ARE

# IF HE FELT
HE HAD TO DIRECT YOU

# AND DIRECT YOU
INTO MY ARMS

SOMETIMES WHAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

IS RIGHT IN FRONT
OF YOUR NOSE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE
ALWAYS SAID.

JUST GONNA STAND
THERE WATCHING

OR ARE YOU GONNA DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

# I DON'T BELIEVE IN
THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS

# LOOKIN' AT YOU,
I WONDER IF THAT'S TRUE

# BUT IF I DID, I WOULD
SUMMON THEM TOGETHER

# AND ASK THEM
TO WATCH OVER YOU

I GOTTA GET GOING.

SO I'LL SEE YOU
AROUND 6:00 AT MY PLACE.

YEAH. AS SOON AS I'M
DONE WITH MY MEETINGS.

GOOD.

BYE.

Daryl: AT THIS POINT,
YOU WILL RECEIVE

A FINAL MESSAGE
ON THE PAGER.

GET ON THE
CORRESPONDING BUS

AND TAKE IT TO
THE END OF THE LINE.

FIND THE NEARBY
BANK OF OUTHOUSES.

IN CENTER UNIT, FIND PAIR OF
BLUE PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS.

MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT AS USUAL.

Daryl: WHEN YOU
HAVE DONE THIS,

GET BACK ON THE BUS.
DO NOT HESITATE.

DO NOT DEVIATE FROM
THE DESIGNATED COURSE.

YOU WILL BE MONITORED
AT EVERY INTERVAL.

WE ARE PREPARED TO ACT.

THE WORDS WERE SIMILAR,

BUT THERE WAS A NEW
COMPONENT THIS TIME...

DESPERATION.

WHEN YOU SPEND
ENOUGH TIME

AROUND THE CHEMISTRY
OF DESPERATION,

YOU COME TO RECOGNIZE
THE SMELL.

ONE DESPERATE ELEMENT
IS COMBUSTIBLE.

MORE THAN ONE DESPERATE
ELEMENT IS LETHAL.

SHIT.

CALL 911. HURRY UP.

ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU OK?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NAME?

WHO ARE YOU?

THAT'S RIGHT, SIR,
WHO ARE YOU?

DO YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAPPENED?

CARDIAC ARREST.

Paramedic:
ARE YOU A DOCTOR?

Man: WHAT'S THE NAME
ON THAT BOX, SIR?

THE NAME'S STARK.
GLORIA STARK.

ACCORDING
TO OUR RECORDS,

NOBODY'S BEEN TO THAT BOX
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

Daryl's Voice: SHE LOST
THE KEY. HER FATHER HAD IT.

HI. IT'S GLORIA.
I'LL CALL YOU BACK.

NICK? ARE YOU THERE?

NICK.

I'M HERE.

I'M ABOUT TO GET ON A PLANE
AND BE GONE FOREVER.

I THINK
THAT'S A MISTAKE.

YEAH, I DON'T SEE
ANY CHOICE.

WHAT IF I
COME FIND YOU?

ARE YOU SO SURE
THAT YOU COULD?

THAI AIR, FLIGHT 214
DIRECT TO BANGKOK.

DEPARTS IN HALF AN HOUR.

OK. IT'S OVER.

YOU FIGURED ME OUT.

NOBODY ELSE GOT CLOSE.

YOU KNOW HE DOESN'T
KNOW ABOUT YOU?

HE DOESN'T KNOW
HE HAS A CHILD?

I KNOW.

SHE NEVER TOLD HIM.

SHE WANTED HIM TO DENY
THAT HE'D EVER EVEN TOUCHED HER,

AND THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE,
SURPRISE, LOOK WHO'S A DADDY.

I HAD HIM.

I HAD A RAPIST
AND A MURDERER.

HE HIRES KRAGAN VINCENT.

KRAGAN DECIDES TO HIT HER
IN HER MOTEL ROOM

LATE AT NIGHT.

HE GOES IN THE ROOM,

SHOOTS HER TWICE,

BUT WHAT HE DOESN'T
REALIZE IS THAT YOU,

LESS THAN A YEAR OLD,
ARE IN THE ROOM.

HE DOESN'T SEE YOU AT FIRST

BECAUSE YOU'RE
IN A CRAWLSPACE

THAT SHE'S MADE FOR YOU

BY PULLING
THE CORNER OF THE BED

CLOSER TO THE WALL.

AND EVEN WITH
THE SILENCER ON THE GUN

AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING
SO QUICKLY,

YOU START CRYING.

HE'S GOTTA DO SOMETHING.

YOU'RE SCREAMING
YOUR LUNGS OUT NOW,

SO HE PICKS YOU UP...

AND YOU STOP CRYING.

AND ONCE HE'S GOT
THE BABY,

IT'S A DONE DEAL.

THERE HE IS,

HOLDING THE INFANT.

THAT'S WHEN HE DECIDES.

HE'D RATHER
RISK IT ALL.

HE'D RATHER RISK
LIFE IN PRISON

THAN LEAVE YOU
IN THAT ROOM.

IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOU
FROM STARK,

HE'S GOTTA GET RID OF
ALL THE EVIDENCE...

DIAPERS, DIAPER BAG...

BOTTLES, BLANKETS,

SOMETHING ON THE DRESSER,
THE SINK,

SOMETHING HANGING OFF
A DOORKNOB.

SOMETHING ON THE NIGHTSTAND.

AND HE LEAVES HIS PRINTS
EVERYWHERE.

HE LEAVES THE BODY,
TAKES THE BABY,

AND HAULS ASS
OUT OF THERE,

'CAUSE HE KNOWS
HE'S GOTTA GET YOU

TO HIS SISTER.

YOU GROW UP THINKING
VINCENT IS YOUR FATHER

AND THAT
YOU'RE BEING RAISED

BY YOUR AUNT
AND YOUR UNCLE.

THEN...
VINCENT COMES CLEAN.

HE TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT HE WOULD NEVER TELL ME
WHO IT WAS.

AND THEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO
I FIGURED THAT OUT.

MR. STARK.

SO THEN YOU START
WRITING LETTERS.

STARK PAYS,
AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

YOU GOT THE WHOLE THING.

YOU WIN.

YEAH.

YOU SAVED HIS LIFE
THIS MORNING.

I KNOW.

I GUESS A PERSON
CAN'T ESCAPE THEIR NATURE.

HOW DID YOU KNOW...

ABOUT ME?

A COUPLE THINGS.

THEN THE RECEIPT LAST NIGHT.

I KNOW.

I FORGOT TO TAKE IT.

PASSION IS THE ENEMY
OF PRECISION.

WHAT?

OH...

I GOT SLOPPY.

SO...

ARE YOU GONNA COME
LOOKING FOR ME?

ARE YOU GONNA TELL HIM
ABOUT ME

SO HE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY
COME AND KILL ME?

'CAUSE HE WILL, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW.

SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO
ABOUT THIS?

THERE'S A MAN SITTING
ON A BENCH BEHIND YOU.

OH, GOD.

IT'S OK.

RELAX.

HE HAS AN ENVELOPE.

INSIDE ARE SOME
FAKE IDENTIFICATION

AND SOME PLANE TICKETS.

FIRST ECUADOR AND THEN
WHEREVER YOU WANT.

KEEP MOVING THE FIRST
COUPLE OF MONTHS.

STAY OUT OF WESTERNIZED
COUNTRIES FOR A WHILE.

DON'T CARRY TOO MUCH
CASH ON YOUR BODY.

GIVE INCORRECT
INFORMATION EVERYWHERE.

AND NEVER USE
YOUR REAL NAME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO IF YOU KNEW
I WAS HERE,

WHY DIDN'T YOU COME
YOURSELF?

I SURE, UH...

I KNEW YOU'D BE THERE.

I'D HOPED YOU'D BE HERE.

YOU KNOW,
YOU COULD JOIN ME.

AH...

A PERSON CAN'T ESCAPE
THEIR NATURE.

OH.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

YOU'RE THE BEST
I'VE EVER SEEN.

SO ARE YOU.

I'VE...

I'VE NEVER SAID
THE WORDS BEFORE...

TO ANYONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

I LOVE YOU, TOO...

DARYL ZERO.

OH...

SO ENDS MY ACCOUNT
OF THE CASE

THAT I HAVE NAMED,
"THE CASE OF THE MAN

"WHO GOT SO STRESSED OUT
OVER HIS LOST KEYS

"THAT HE EVENTUALLY
HAD A HEART ATTACK

AND IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE
IN THE SOFA ALL ALONG."

I RETURNED THE FIRST
INSTALLMENT OF MY FEE,

AS I HAD NOT GIVEN
A COMPLETE EXPLANATION.

SOME QUESTIONS
ARE FOR ANSWERING,

OTHERS ARE BETTER LEFT
TO TORTURE AND TORMENT

FOR ALL ETERNITY.

A NAGGING ITCH
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

SEEMED REASONABLE.

ESPECIALLY SINCE
I DID SOLVE HIS PROBLEM.

HE GOT THE TAPE

THAT HE'D BEEN WAITING FOR
FOR SO LONG.

HE WOULDN'T BE THROWING
ANY MORE MONEY

DOWN THE TOILET.

AND I GAVE BACK HIS KEYS.

THIS DID IN FACT
PROVE TO BE

MY FINAL WORK EXPERIENCE

WITH MY LONG-TIME ASSOCIATE.

THOUGH I HAVE ASSURED HIM
THAT WHEN HE SOMEDAY FINDS

THAT HE CANNOT LIVE
WITHOUT ME,

HIS POSITION WILL AGAIN
BE AVAILABLE TO HIM.

HE THANKED ME

AND SUGGESTED THAT I NOT
HOLD MY BREATH.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE FUNERAL
OF THE HITMAN

WHO DIED NOT LONG AFTER
THESE EVENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

FOR SOME REASON I FELT
A CERTAIN KINSHIP

WITH THIS MAN,

WHOSE LIFE
WAS FOREVER CHANGED

AFTER HE FAILED
TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE

ABOUT THE LADY BLACKMAILER.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO
THE OTHER PARTICIPANT.

I NEVER MADE ANY ATTEMPT
TO FIND HER.

BUT IF MY SUSPICION
IS CORRECT,

THEN SHE'S FLYING
THROUGH THE SKY

EVEN AS WE SPEAK...

PLUMMETING TOWARDS THE EARTH
LIKE A FALLING BIRD,

TO QUOTE ONE OF MY
FAVORITE POETS.

AFTER INVESTIGATING HER,

I FOUND MYSELF
IN BETTER SHAPE

THAN EVER BEFORE
IN MY LIFE.

TO ME, SHE WILL ALWAYS BE

A SINGULAR,
UNFORGETTABLE EVENT.

THE ONLY TIME

I EVER TOOK LEAVE
OF MY OBJECTIVITY.

PERHAPS THE MOST ABLE
BLACKMAILER OF HER TIME,

SHE WAS AT ONCE
THE WORTHIEST OPPONENT

AND THE GREATEST ALLY...

AND THE ONLY WOMAN
I HAVE EVER...

THE ONLY WOMAN, PERIOD.

AND THOUGH I NEVER
WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED IT,

IN THE END,
SHE DID FOR ME

WHAT I HAVE DONE
FOR SO MANY.

HELPED SOLVE A PROBLEM,

FIRST BY OBSERVATION...

THEN BY CAREFUL
INTERVENTION.

IN OTHER WORDS...

THE ZERO EFFECT.

# BECAUSE I LOVE YOU

# I GET TONGUE-TIED
AROUND YOU

# I NEVER SAY
SMART STUFF AROUND YOU

# I NEVER SAY ANYTHING
AROUND YOU

# THAT MAKES YOU
WANT TO BE WITH ME

# SO BECAUSE I LOVE YOU

# I WILL NEVER BE WITH YOU

# EVERYTHING I SAY IS TRUE

# SO THERE'S NOTHING
WE CAN DO

# I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL
I'LL SAY TO YOU

# LET ME HAVE
ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# I RECOGNIZE THE LOOK

# IN MY EYES
WHEN I SEE YOU

# IT'S THE LOOK
OF ONE WHO LOVES YOU

# WHO WANTS NOTHING
EXCEPT TO BE WITH YOU

# IT IS NOT THE LOOK

# THAT OFTEN GETS RETURNED
IN KIND

# SAME OLD TALE,
AIN'T NOTHIN' NEW

# WHAT THE HELL'S
A SOUL TO DO?

# BUT MAYBE YOU
CAN HELP ME THROUGH

# BY GIVING ME
ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# ONE DANCE

# WITH YOU

# ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# WHY DO ALL THE RULES
I MAKE

# ABOUT HOW TO ACT
AROUND OTHER PEOPLE

# LIKE DON'T WRITE THEM
PRIVATE NOTES

# TRYIN' TO EXPLAIN
YOUR FOOLISH ACTIONS

# LIKE NOT HANGING AROUND

# FOR HOURS
AFTER IT'S OBVIOUS

# THAT YOUR PRESENCE
AIN'T DESIRED

# LIKE NAMES
ARE NOT IMPORTANT

# SO IF SOMEONE
FORGETS YOUR NAME

# THEY'RE FORGETTING
SOMETHING INTANGIBLE

# THAT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH YOU

# SO IT'S STUPID
TO FEEL BAD

# IF SOMEONE
FORGETS YOUR NAME

# WHY DO ALL THE RULES
THAT I MAKE

# ABOUT HOW TO ACT
AROUND OTHER PEOPLE

# ALWAYS FALL
BY THE WAYSIDE

# WHEN I GET AROUND YOU?

# THERE AIN'T NO MORE
CARROTS TO

# THAT OLD SKY
AIN'T NEVER BLUE

# THAT'S A LIE,
BUT THIS IS TRUE

# ALL I WANT'S
ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# MY BETS ARE MADE,
MY STUFF'S ASKEW

# I AIN'T HEARD
THE DUMBEST CLUE

# I JUST WANT TO
SQUEEZE ON THROUGH

# AND GET IN
ONE MORE DANCE WITH YOU

# STICK IT WHILE
THERE'S STILL SOME GLUE

# MOVE OUT SOMEWHERE
WHERE IT'S TRUE

# BEFORE I STUMBLE
SOMEPLACE NEW

# LET ME HAVE
ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# LET ME HAVE
ONE DANCE WITH YOU

# IF I...

# COME A-KNOCKIN'...

# KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR

# WOULD YOU LET ME IN

# LIKE YOU'VE DONE BEFORE?

# IF I ASK THE QUESTION

# ON THIS OCTOBER DAY

# WOULD YOU SAY

# IT'D BE A JOY WITH YOU,
MY GOOD BOY

# 'CAUSE IF YOU WILL,
I'D SAY...

# LET'S RUN OFF

# AND GET MARRIED

# THAT'S THE ONLY THING
FOR US TO DO

# LET'S RUN OFF
AND GET MARRIED

# IF YOU LOVE ME

# LIKE I LOVE YOU