"?" "?" "You can't print it!" "You'll destroy me!" "Of course I can print it, Judge, in 450 newspapers all over the country unless you declare a mistrial." "I can't do that!" "The evidence against the man on trial i-is conclusive!" "Of course if you didn't want me to use this as my lead story tomorrow," "I could always print something more favorable." ""24 years as a distinguished Federal judge."" "Everyone will know that I sold out." " I could get disbarred." " Listen, Vossberg," "I'm a journalist..." "I give the people what they want." "Now, unless you declare a mistrial, you're gonna force me to print this, your unfortunate psychiatric problem, little fetishes, your aberrations..." "You scum!" "You're not gonna do that to me or anyone else ever again." "Oh, really?" "Think it over, Your Honor." "Either you do it my way, or it's over for you... career... and family." "(sighs)" "Bring me a scotch." "(gunshot, body thuds)" "You know, one of these days, Arthur, you're gonna guess wrong." "Relax, Doyle, there's no hurry." "The judge obviously agrees he's outlived his usefulness." "(sighs)" "First the scotch." "You can get rid of the body later." "(theme music playing)" "Sports final!" "Get your paper!" "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "Home games!" "Paper!" "Get your late newspaper here, folks!" "Sports final here!" "Paper!" "Do you have a copy of yesterday's Ukiah Enterprise?" "You're in luck, my friend." "It's my hometown." "Small world." "Paper!" "Get your late newspaper here, folks!" "(in distance):" "Right over, folks!" "(man continues indistinctly)" "(electronic whirr, blipping)" "(beeping)" "(disc whirring)" "MALE VOICE:" "Good morning, Jim." "This is Washington columnist Arthur Six." "His career as a highly successful columnist and broadcaster has given him information which he uses to intimidate, blackmail and bribe." "Some of the most powerful people in business, government and the law are in his pocket." "Senator Tom Oxenford is his main adversary." "Oxenford has initiated congressional hearings." "He wants Six indicted by a grand jury on charges that Six is part of a conspiracy which has defrauded the government out of more than $500 million." "Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to find and neutralize Six's secret files, and make certain he is indicted." "As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." "This disc will self-destruct in five seconds." "Good luck, Jim." "(rapid beeping)" "(hissing)" "PHELPS:" "These are the Marblegate Apartments where Arthur Six has a penthouse on the top floor and Shannon's about to open a flower shop in the lobby." "Grant, what did you get?" "Well, getting the floor plan wasn't too difficult." "What was a bit tricky was getting these... the system charts for the building security, including camera surveillance of every room in the penthouse." "Meaning that we can tap in and monitor everything going on in the place." "Yeah." "We'll also be able to tap in to his cable system, control his television broadcast... all I need now is access to the master control room." " Max?" " Yeah, my identification's been checked." "I'm now a fully fledged security guard." "You're in." "Good." "Now, the safe in the foyer of Six's penthouse runs on a set of nylon runners that is activated by electronic pulse, and that signal is sent from the central control box you see." "Do you think the files are in there?" "Well, it does seem a little obvious, doesn't it?" "But we still have to go in and find out and be prepared either way." "(taps keys, computer beeps)" "Six has a bodyguard, a man named Doyle." "He's the only person Arthur Six trusts." "He's a former army lieutenant who was accused of murdering his wife in a fit of rage, and it was only Six's intervention that kept him from going to prison for a long, long time." "The loyalty between these two men will be hard to break." "Well, Six is showing his contempt for the congressional committee by hosting a charity benefit at his penthouse." "He calls it the Patriots' Ball." "But he'll be broadcasting his weekly television show from there, which he does on special occasions." "Yeah, and the broadcast takes place the night before the congressional committee votes on its indictment." "We want to be sure it's a party Arthur Six will never forget." "WOMAN:" "I need someone to check the air-conditioning vents in my flower shop..." "it's much too cold in there." "I'll get onto that right away, ma'am." "(beeping)" "(lock clicks)" "SIX:" "You know, Doyle, the way I see it, having half the votes in the committee still isn't enough." "I want an absolute majority." "What I really want is total vindication." "I have photographs of one senator on a cruise to Acapulco with a Hollywood actress." "Explicit photos?" "I don't think he'd want his wife to see them." " Ha!" "Use 'em." " (chuckles) Yes." " It's all yours, buddy." " Thanks." "(Max chuckles)" "?" "?" "Oh, you can also go to work on Representative Kellens, friend of the poor and elderly." "I'm sure he doesn't want his constituents to know he has gambling debts with the Syndicate" " for half a million dollars." " Anything else?" "Mm..." "let me think." "Send some flowers of condolence to Judge Vossberg's widow." "Unfortunate business." "?" "?" "(whirring)" "Jim, we're in." "Phones, surveillance, and an outside broadcast link when he does the TV program." "Good work, Grant." "JIM:" "That's the foyer of Six's apartment." "(click)" "SIX:" "There have to be other members of Oxenford's committee with something to hide." "You know, very few people come to Washington with clean hands." "You certainly made a career out of proving that." "(chuckling)" "(sighs)" "(phone rings)" " Yes?" " JIM:" "Mr. Six, my name is Wendell, Darren Wendell," "Hartford, Connecticut." "I know you're a very busy man, but..." "I'm in trouble." "It's a police matter." "I thought maybe, with your connections, you could be of some help." "You've got the wrong man, Mr. Wendell..." "I'm a journalist." "Maybe if I mentioned a mutual acquaintance..." "Tom Oxenford?" "Go on." "Senator Oxenford owes me some favors, but he's not in a position to help on this." "Mr. Six, this could be of mutual benefit." "Meet me at the Lincoln Memorial in one hour." "I'll be walking with a cane." "Who do we have in Hartford, Connecticut?" "We have, uh... an undercover detective." "You pulled some strings to help him out of a drug-trafficking mess." "Oh, yes." "Get him on the phone." "Right." "(whirring)" "Profile on a Mr. Darren Wendell." "Signed, sealed and ready whenever we get the call." "(chirping and beeping)" "(electronic hissing)" "All right, let's go." "Detective bureau, Sergeant Pine." "Hello." "This is Arthur Six." "I'd like to speak with a Detective Shepard, please." "Mr. Six." "Oh, yes, the journalist." "Uh, I'm sorry, but Shepard's out this week." "But he did mention the fact that if you ever called," "I was to help you out as best I can." "Oh, fine." "You should have a file on a Darren Wendell." "I'd like everything you have faxed to me, please." "Yes, sir." "It'll take me a couple of minutes to pull it up." "Okay?" "Bye." "(phone line clicks off)" "All right, in five minutes from now, my tawdry past will be faxed to Mr. Six." "Grant, I think it's time we find out what's in the safe." "Arthur Six Almanac." "Column for Tuesday." "Splash headline:" "Uh, corruption in federal housing projects." "Seven-state network of political payoffs, include some of the biggest names in the building and construction trades." "(laughs)" "You know, if I printed everything I knew," "I'd bring down Capitol Hill." "I mean... (laughing):" "It boggles the mind." "(laughs)" "No wonder our Mr. Wendell's so anxious." "I'll finish the column later." "Right now I have an appointment." "(chuckles quietly)" "(whistling)" "?" "?" "Mr. Six, I'm Darren Wendell." "Thank you for coming at..." "Let's cut the chitchat, Wendell." "You're in serious trouble, yes?" "SIX (laughing):" "Well, let me refresh your memory." "You were drunk, you were driving home from the club in perfect weather conditions, you lost control of the car, you crossed the center divider, you killed three very young, very innocent teenagers." "And you almost crippled yourself." "Is that warm?" "Your information is impeccable." "SIX:" "Attention to detail, Mr. Wendell." "The difference between the professional and the also-ran." "I even have sworn statements from the eyewitness to the accident and the investigating officer, so, my guess is you're looking at 30 years to life in a Connecticut penitentiary." "Now, Mr. Wendell, perhaps you should prove to me just how well you do know Tom Oxenford." "Otherwise, we're wasting our time here." "And I don't want talk." "I want real proof... real proof..." "that you can influence him." "Call me." "What's this?" "The American flag." "I pledge allegiance." "You know what I mean?" "Did Mr. Six order this?" "Hey, man, I just do what the decorator tells me to, but if you don't like it, it's gone." "I didn't tell you to get rid of it." "Yo, man, you want to make up your mind on this?" "All right." "Put it up." "(crowd chatter)" "Nice arrangement." "(chuckling)" "Ah, I'm serious." "I like your work." "Thank you." "That's very supportive." "Well, Mr. Six always gets the best, and obviously, you know your stuff." "Well, this isn't my first Washington party, and I don't intend it to be my last." "You work for him, I take it?" "Associate." "Well, Mr. Associate, I'm very busy, and I'm sure you are, so..." "Are you going to the party?" "I wasn't invited." "Maybe I can do something about that." "Hmm." "(trilling)" "Ah, Mr. Six, perhaps we could go over the security arrangements for tomorrow night." "That should have been arranged days ago." "Well, it doesn't hurt to double-check." "(door squeaks)" "(crackling, popping)" "(groaning)" "Jim!" "Something's gone wrong." "(groaning)" "Is he all right?" "He's alive." "SIX:" "Then he's lucky. 220 volts can be quite lethal." "He's obviously a pro." " Oh, we'll take care of this, Mr. Six." " SIX:" "Yeah, not yet." "I want to see what he's been looking for." "Hey!" "Hey!" "What are you looking for in the safe?" "Not now." "He needs medical treatment." "He's a thief." "He'll be treated like a thief." "(groans)" "SIX:" "What are you looking for?" "!" "I wasn't taking anything out." "I was trying to put something in." "Get him out of here." "Don't you want to at least take him down?" "Out!" "Do it." "Now." "All right, come on." " Get him out!" " The show's over." "Get out." "(Phelps sighs)" "What is it?" "What's happened?" "Vossberg's diary." "How much more incriminating can you get?" "(indistinct conversation over TV monitor in background)" "Here..." "Thanks, Shannon." "When I opened the safe, it was empty, so I went to the backup plan." "PHELPS:" "Hmm." "When I put the envelope in, that's when it hit me." "Hmm." "DOYLE (on TV):" "I want some answers, I need some answers." "Or else I could be in trouble here." "SIX:" "All right, all right." "We're being set up." "You better believe it." " MAN:" "Senator?" " MAN 2:" "Senator Oxenford, can you comment?" " MAN:" "Can you comment on them?" " MAN 2:" "Can you please, sir?" "WOMAN:" "Senator!" "Senator Oxenford, is there any truth to the rumors that members of your committee are being put under pressure to influence their vote?" "If one of those rumors were true, I'd bring charges." "WOMAN:" "Are you attempting to trace the source of those rumors?" "OXENFORD:" "I believe enough evidence has been presented to the committee to bring a grand jury indictment against Mr. Arthur Six, if each committee member votes on the evidence." "WOMAN (on TV):" "Meredith Payne, Network News..." "Well, the senator's done a good job, but he's still not sure his committee will back him up." "It's time we had a talk." "Grant, how are you doing?" "For a guy who feels like he just went ten rounds with Mike Tyson, terrific." "Is Six on his usual schedule?" "Should be having drinks at La Francois." "Then if we're gonna find the hidden file," "I think it's time we turned up the heat." "(crowd chatter, piano playing)" "The bar for you." " Fine." " Merci." " Oh." " Good-bye." "Sycophants and hypocrites." "Which reminds me... our police captain in Baltimore needs a good calling." "I think it's about time we gave him Yarmouth." "Yarmouth?" "We've been using Yarmouth for years." "Well, unfortunately, it's time to let him go." "Sometimes friends become expendable." "Walter!" "Walter!" "I'm watching you." "A phone, monsieur." "(Six laughs) Yes." "Yes?" "Oh, just a minute." "Excuse me." "Would you like a table or the bar?" "Yes." "(crowd chatter, light jazz playing on piano)" "Hi." "Mr. Doyle, isn't it?" "That's right." "(Doyle laughs)" "I admire the way that you handled the excitement of the safe today." "Oh, you like danger and excitement?" "Depends on whom I'm with." "That's why you just casually dropped in here today?" "I'm taking you up on your invitation." "Oh, right." "Patriot's Ball." "Well... that deserves a drink." "At the very least." "I'll take a rain check." "Timing's not good now." "Yeah." "Later then." "That sounds good to me." "WOMAN:" "Very charismatic, don't you think?" "MAN:" "Yes, he is." "WOMAN:" "Yes, I've always thought that." "Well... ran into somebody you knew?" "Nobody important." "Oh, they never are." "They always want something." "Don't they?" "Creatures of habit." "Oh, you know, it's always easy to find people like you." "Okay, pal." "NICHOLAS:" "You tell your friend to take it easy, Mr. Six." "And tell him just how pleased you are to see me." "(laughing):" "I don't know you." " NICHOLAS:" "Really?" " Really." "Didn't you get my message today?" "The photograph of Judge Vossberg and that unfortunate entry of his diary." "So we better talk, 'cause I have lots of pages from Vossberg's diary." "I suspect you even have a proposition for me." "You're real smooth, aren't you?" "Not as smooth as you think." "I go to the committee, you're history." "What alternative are you suggesting?" "How about 500,000 reasons why I should not take what I have to the committee?" "You're crazy." "We don't do..." "Hsst-sst-sst!" "(jazz piano continues in background)" "When do you want these 500,000 reasons?" "Tomorrow morning, right after the bank opens." "Come to my penthouse." "NICHOLAS:" "There's an underground parking lot right opposite the Constitution Tour building." "You meet me on the bottom level near the elevators." "10:30 sharp." "My associate, Mr. Doyle, will handle the transaction, okay?" "Well, as long as he brings the cash." "Gentlemen." "Arthur, we can track this guy through." "Stupid, he doesn't even know how much the stuff is worth." "(sighs)" "Let's do this the easy way." "Tomorrow we'll meet him with the payoff." "Couple of.45-caliber slugs." "20 minutes, Nicholas." " Almost there." " And, Nicholas... be careful." "NICHOLAS:" "Bring the money." "Closer." "On the ground." "(grunts)" "(shutter clicking)" "Hey!" "He's gone." " I should think so." " (chuckles)" "Good afternoon, Senator." "I'm the man who called you." "You mentioned a name." "Darren Wendell." "He was my best friend." "Yes, I know." "He died 23 years ago trying to save your life." "Operation:" "Blue Fox." "Well, that operation's still classified." "Who are you?" "Well, let's just say I'm someone who thinks" "Darren Wendell has another chance to be a hero." "But you'll have to do as I ask, without question." "Now, Grant has analyzed the exact dimensions and details of the cranial and facial structures of Arthur Six." "Well, what I've really come up with is a ram matrix, which forms those features... and then... molds them with thermoform rubber." "(hissing)" "That is incredible." "Well, Mr. Wendell," "I'm ready for a success story." "I've convinced Senator Oxenford to come to your Patriots' Ball tonight... that's a start." "Huh!" "I'll believe that when I see it." "No, no, no, he'll be there;" "he gave me his word." "Now... if you could fulfill your end of our arrangement." " All in due time." " Mr. Six, give me some idea of what you have in mind." "My whole reputation is..." "Mr. Wendell, I'm a professional." "I make sure I have every detail worked out in advance." "It's the only way to succeed." "I couldn't agree more." "All right, now, just a small jab, he'll be out like a light." "It's painless and harmless." "That's very devious." "And the anesthetic will keep him under?" " About five minutes." " Guys." "(Six whistling a tune)" "Six has some files." "And they look like the ones we faxed earlier on Darren Wendell." "Good." "Maybe we get to see where he actually keeps them." "He's shredding them." "GRANT:" "Sensible business practice." "When you're running an extortion racket, you don't want to keep evidence lying around." "What's he doing now?" "He's booting his computer." "Let's take a closer look." "I don't believe it." "He's wiping the disc, too?" "Doesn't make sense." "Well, obviously, he's not taking any chances." "He's got to have that information somewhere." "And the answer has to be in that office." "Yeah, so it's up to us." "Yes... tonight, at the Patriots' Ball." "It'll be our last chance to get at those files before the committee meets." "One way or another, we're all going to be there." "(Iow, indistinct conversations)" "(elevator chimes)" "(classical music playing)" "Okay, here he comes." "Looks like most of our important guests have arrived." "Yes, I see." "Ah." "Ah, Margaret." "How are you?" "Hi, John." "Nice to see you." "Ah, you look terrific tonight, Judy." "Mr. Six, you really should be getting ready for the broadcast." "Yes, in about five minutes." "One second." "Excuse me." "Excuse me." "It's quite a turnout, Mr. Six." "I expected Senator Oxenford to be an early arrival." "I trust he's on his way?" "Oh, he'll be here, yes." "(laughing gently):" "Hi." "?" "?" "Six will go upstairs for makeup before he goes on camera." "SHANNON:" "Senator Oxenford and his wife just arrived." "You'll have less than ten minutes." "(Nicholas' voice):" "If everything else is on schedule, that's all I'll need." "Well, I guess I'll make my entrance." "Good luck." "Senator, thank you for coming." " Deedee." " You appreciate this is not the most comfortable situation for me." "Yes, but worth it in the long run." "Yes." "Thank you." "Why don't we move over here?" "Enjoying the party?" "Oh, I just arrived." "Let me give you the grand tour." "Well, I'd like that, but I have to say hello to a few friends first." "(Phelps laughs)" "Pretty girl." "Any way you look at her." "Yes." "Well, the brightest on Capitol Hill, they say." "Maybe a little too ambitious for her own good." "Why?" "Do you know her?" "PHELPS:" "Well, I've met her a couple of times through Senator Oxenford." "She's on his staff." "One of his investigators." "Yeah." "That makes sense, doesn't it?" "Excuse me for a minute, won't you?" "So, how we doing now, okay?" "Excuse me." "I'm sorry, but we've only got 12 minutes, and makeup is waiting." "Sure, sure." "Excuse me." "I have a broadcast." " Thanks." " Mm-hmm." "It's time to go to work." "(crowd chatter)" "(gasps)" "Come on." "You're gonna take the grand tour right now." "DOYLE:" "Don't make a scene." "DOYLE:" "Come on." "(Shannon gasping)" "(Shannon gasps)" "What the hell are you doing?" "I scream, and you'll be on your way to prison." "(laughs) Oh, you can scream, darling." "I already ruined one girl's face 'cause she played me for the fool." "You might as well be the second." "(Shannon panting)" "(gasps)" "DOYLE:" "Oh." "(Doyle chuckles)" "You work for Senator Oxenford, and don't lie to me." "See, 'cause I got all the facts." "I'm not gonna lie to you, Doyle." "Don't think for a second that you've got the facts on anything." "You're being sold out by your own boss." "I'm being sold out?" "Yeah." "Somebody's got to take the fall on this investigation." "It's not gonna be Six." "Think about it." "Who's the obvious choice?" "I don't buy it." "I don't buy it, 'cause you're making this up just to save your skin." "(laughs)" "(classical music playing)" "Doyle, what are you doing here?" "It's almost time for the broadcast." "Arthur, there's something I want to discuss with you." "SIX:" "Later." "Get the girl out first." "Wait a minute." "I want to talk..." "Don't argue." "Get her out." "Come on." "I'm not through with you yet." "(door closes)" "(sighs)" "(Nicholas' voice):" "Arthur Six will be in makeup another few minutes, so I'll let Shannon stir up Doyle a little while longer." "Whew!" "It's hot under here." "Yup." "(clearing his throat)" "Hey." "Look at this." "Microchip unit." "This is where Six relayed his files." "Small, discreet." "Bright boy." "(classical musical playing, crowd chatter)" "All right." "Why should I believe you when you tell me a deal is made?" "You've seen Six do it to other people." "Why should you be any different?" "'Cause it would be a big mistake." "Are these a mistake, too?" "Your Mr. Six had them couriered to the Senate Committee this afternoon." "Oh, no." "It was all a setup." "Six had you targeted as his fall guy days ago." "Friends are always expendable." "Isn't that what he always says?" "Not me." "He's not doing this to me." "I want some answers." "Calm down, Doyle." "Don't make a scene." "Yeah, right." "What about these photographs?" "You're setting me up." "Get your priorities straight." "If I go down, that's the end of both of us." "And what the heck is that supposed to mean?" "Think it through." "If we can get the committee to believe you've been operating on your own, using me, keeping separate files..." "What?" "Then you plead the Fifth, clam up." "Even if you're indicted and convicted, what does it mean?" "Five, ten years at the most." "You'll be out in half the time." "Let me tell you something." "You're out of your mind." "I'm not going to prison." "Think it over." "(clears throat) He's not feeling well." "(computer whirring)" "(classical music playing, guests conversing)" "We have to talk." "Wendell, please, not now." "Senator Oxenford may postpone the vote tomorrow to hear a new witness." " What new witness?" " One of his people... a woman... claims she can deliver your bodyguard." "Doyle?" "Not a chance." "They have promised him immunity, and unofficially, a big payoff." "Stupid people." "They'll do you in every time." "I think he went off that way." "Excuse me, sir." "We've only got a minute twenty to air time." "Ad-lib if I'm not back." "Introduce some of the guests." "(sighs)" "(computer whirring)" "(Doyle groaning)" "(groaning continues)" "You all right?" "What?" "Well, you fainted." "(Doyle groaning)" "Where?" "(laughs)" "(classical music playing, guests conversing)" "(drum roll plays on TV)" "(upbeat patriotic-sounding TV theme song plays)" "Ladies and gentlemen of America, welcome to the Arthur Six Almanac." "Tonight is a very special program, as we are broadcasting from the luxurious penthouse of America's most respected columnist, where Mr. Six is hosting the outstanding charity event on the Washington social calendar." "Senator, I think it's about to happen." "(continuing, over TV):" "All the guests attending are distinguished senators and congressmen..." "You lying, double-crossing..." "My files were erased!" "Your files... who gives a damn about your files?" "!" "(over TV):" "I see many, many familiar faces." " DOYLE:" "Here are your files." " Don't hold back, guys." " People..." " Want some files?" "I saw these photographs." "You set me up for murder." "SIX:" "What are you talking about, Doyle?" "DOYLE:" "Let me tell you something, Arthur." "I'm not a patsy for anybody." "When I go before the committee, I'm gonna spill my guts." "I'm gonna tell 'em everything." "Senators and judges that you've bought." "When, where, how much, everything." "(elevator chimes)" "SIX:" "Don't even think of crossing me." "How could you be so stupid?" "!" "I'd crucify you." "You've murdered people." "I murdered people on your orders." "Forrest, Haslet..." "I'm gonna tell them how you forced Judge Vossberg to commit suicide right here in this penthouse." " (guests murmuring)" " SIX:" "Don't be stupid." "Who'd believe you?" "Where's your proof?" "DOYLE:" "My proof is in my head, in the brain that you don't think that I have." "But I remember everything." "Everything!" "You say one word..." "You say one word, and I'll reopen your psychiatric files." "That's if I let you live long enough to speak to anybody." "(gun cocks)" "It's the last time that you threaten anybody." "Don't be absurd." "(clicking)" "(clicks)" "Final example of your incompetence!" "(crying)" "(whispering):" "Wait a minute." "Silence." "(door opening)" "Mr. Six, you have just convicted yourself before a jury of your peers on nationwide television." "(wry, quiet laugh)" "That should close the Arthur Six Almanac permanently."