"Quiet on the set." " Quiet on the set." " Scene one, take ten, marker." "And... action." "Joel Levison's office..." "No, I'm sorry, he's not in yet." "May I take a message?" " Yes, Mr Levy, I'll tell him you called." " Sandy, you never say that." "He's either in a conference, in a meeting..." "He's always in." "Who was that?" " A Larry Levy?" " I hope there was nothing in the trades." " Was there?" " I don't know, the mail's late." "Well, go get 'em." "Now!" "I want them back here before he arrives." "Griffin, hi." "A-Adam Simon." "I know we're not supposed to meet till next week but..." " I didn't realise we were meeting." " I wanted to plant a seed in your head..." "I'm booked up." "I can't hear a pitch now." " A planet of the future with two suns..." " Who plays the sons?" " No, suns." "Large solar discs." " Run it by Bonnie Sherow." "The pictures they make now are all MTV." "Cut, cut, cut." "The opening shot of Welles's Touch Of Evil was six and a half minutes long!" " Six and a half, Walter?" " Well, three or four." "He set up the whole picture with that one tracking shot." "My father was key grip." "What about Absolute Beginners?" "Man, that was an extraordinary shot!" " Never heard of it." " Julien Temple." "It's an English film." "We're talking about American movies." "Orson Welles was a master." " Hi." "A Pellegrino, please." " I've got Calistoga." " Buck, how are ya?" " Good, how you doin'?" "Good." "What do you got for me?" " OK, here it is." "The Graduate, Part Two." " Oh, good." "Now, listen, the three principals are still with us." "Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross." " Mm-hm." " 25 years later." "So are the characters,... .. Ben, Elaine and Mrs Robinson." "Ben and Elaine are married... still." "They live in a big old spooky house up in Northern California somewhere." " And Mrs Robinson lives with them." " Mm!" " Her ageing mother has had a stroke..." " Mrs Robinson?" " Yes." "She has a stroke, so she can't talk." " Is this gonna be funny?" "Dark, weird and funny, with a stroke." "Maybe it's not a stroke." "Maybe it's..." " Anyway, go on." " It's a malady of some sort." "She's in the bedroom upstairs, listening to everything." " Their daughter just graduated." " That's good." "Young blood." " 22, 23, like a junior Julia Roberts." " Julia Roberts." "Great." " What should I do with these scripts?" " Ah, that goes to Bonnie Sherow." "And find out from studio security how Adam Simon got on the lot." " OK?" " Yes, go ahead." "Julia Roberts comes home with their daughter, the graduate." "Griffin loved it." "He said to r-run it by you." " A hardy band of human survivors..." " Listen, write this down." " They have no history, only mythology..." " Listen, can you write it down?" " Whoa!" " You gotta visualise it." "Oh, man!" " Jimmy, are you OK?" "What happened?" " He oughta look where he's going." " Are you all right?" " I'd like to say my name is Jimmy Chase." "Open your eyes." "He just came out of nowhere, ran into the cart." "I never saw the guy." "Yeah, yeah, Jimmy, it's OK." " Hey, that's Adam Simon!" " How ya doin', kid?" " You all right?" " Yeah, it was good." "Rebecca DeMornay." "Actually, you're much better looking." " No, I'm not Rebecca DeMornay." " Dead ringer." "Thank you very much." " Know where Joel Levison's office is?" " The Mr Levison, head of the studio?" "It's moving." "It'll rip your heart out." "This is where we make the decisions to give a green light to a picture like that." "We're gonna go about 17 storeys high." "We'll continue using Sony products." "Domo arigato to the Sony products." "In fact, if you need someone to eat some sashimi with you, give me a ring." "Here's Levison, right here." " Good girl." " Traffic was impossible." " Morning, Joel." " Sandy, park the car, please." " Morning, Marty, Annie, Frank..." " Hi." " What are the Japs doing here?" " So, what's all this talk around here..." " .. about, er, heads will roll?" " The bank's putting the screws to us." "Harvey Goldman's son's coming out from Boston." "Reggie Goldman's a pipsqueak!" "You can't be serious." "You know, some changes are going on around here." "It's always the way." "Happened at Paramount three years ago." "Columbia's going through it now." "I hear we're looking to replace Griffin." " Griffin?" "No!" "With who?" " Berg, Kirkpatrick." "Maybe Larry Levy." "Yeah?" "Yeah, w-well, I wanna know w- why the security's so lax, that's why." "I'm in the middle of a pitch now." "OK." " Listen, go ahead." " Yeah, OK." " A TV star goes on safari to Africa." " A TV star in a motion picture?" " It would be played by a star star." " A movie star playing a television star." "Julia Roberts would be good, Dolly Parton would be good." "Right." "You know, I..." "I like Goldie." " Great, cos we have a relationship and..." " Goldie Goes To Africa." " She becomes worshipped." " Worshipped?" " Well, she's found by this tribe." " Small." "Of small people." "And this tribe worship her." "But then..." "I see, kind of like a Gods Must Be Crazy but the Coke bottle's a TV actress." "Right." "Out Of Africa meets Pretty Woman." "And she has to decide whether to stay with the TV show... .. or save this entire African tribe." " Where's Griffin Mill's office?" " Right here." " Hey, you're Martin Scorsese!" " No, but I know Harvey Keitel." "I know you do." "Hey, I loved Cape Fear." "My old man worked for Hitchcock, too." "Rope." "It's a masterpiece." "The story was no good." "He shot the whole thing without cuts." "I hate all this cut, cut." "What about Bertolucci, that great tracking shot with Winger in Sheltering Sky?" "I didn't see it." "Touch of Evil, that was the one." "Bonnie, I was here at eight o'clock." "No, you were in the commissary." "Who were you with?" " I was in with, um..." "Alan Rudolph." " What were you doing with him?" "We had a coffee and he was telling me this idea he had." "Whitney, you're my assistant." "Don't get involved with writers." "I was just listening to this amazing idea he had." "Interesting." "What's your pitch?" " Well, does political scare you?" " Political doesn't scare me." "Radical political scares me." "Political political scares me." " This is politely politically radical but..." " Is it funny?" " It's funny." " It's a funny political thing." " It's a thriller, too." " It's a thriller." " And..." "It's all at once." " So what's the story?" "Well, I want Bruce Willis." "I think I can talk to him." "It's a story about a senator, a bad-guy senator at first." "He's travelling around the country on the country's dime,... .. you know, like that Sununu used to." "So sort of a cynical, political thriller comedy?" "But it's got a heart in the right spot." " And, anyway, he has an accident." " An accident?" "Yeah, and he becomes... clairvoyant, like a psychic." "Oh, I see." "So it's kind of a psychic political thriller comedy with a heart." "With a heart." "Not unlike Ghost meets Manchurian Candidate." " Go on, go on, I'm listening." " Anyway, he starts to read minds... .. and when he gets to the President's it's blank." "Completely blank!" " Can I get you anything?" " A beer, please." " We don't have beer." " OK, wine." "Red wine, please." "Of course, someone gets killed at the end." "They always do in political thrillers." " Griffin Mill's office." " I know." "Can you put him on?" " It's an intriguing idea, Jim." " May I ask who's calling?" "We've got to get somebody really dangerous." " I'm with you there." " Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson." " Let me get back to you." " Thanks." "Bullshit, lady!" "He'll get back to me?" " Seen my Binaca anywhere?" " Do you know how often I've heard that?" " Who is this?" " If you don't get back to me..." " Who was that?" " I don't know, he didn't say." " What d'you mean, he didn't say?" " Griffin, how are you going to cast this?" "The lead character is a 50-year-old female circus performer." "A fire-eater." "Let me read the coverage." "Are we still having lunch with Aaron Camp and his people?" " Yeah, what time?" " I made it for one o'clock." " Bad day?" " He's having writer's block." "Griffin, you have a meeting with Harders and Frank South." " What time?" " At three o'clock." "I'll be here." "Put this morning's meetings in the computer." " All right." " Thanks." " Going now?" "I'll go with you." " No, I'm going to see Levison first." "Order me a Caesar salad and a Crystal Geyser." "Thanks." "OK by five?" "Thanks, Sandy." " Hi, Sandy." "Hi, Celia." " Oh, um..." "Griffin, you can't go in there, he's in a meeting!" " A dime a dozen out here." " It's all right, Celia." "Griffin, this is Reg Goldman." "You know his father, Harvey." "Yes, of course." "Hi, Reg." "From the bank in Boston, right?" " Reg is out here for a couple of weeks." " Great." "Business or pleasure?" "A little of both, I hope." "Reg is thinking of getting into production, Griffin." "Oh, really?" "Beats work, doesn't it, Griffin?" "Like to play some tennis, though." "Do you play?" "Tennis?" "No, no, no, I er..." "I'm too busy." "See, I was just asking Walter here, d'you know Meg Ryan?" "You know if she's seeing somebody?" "Um, yeah, Reg, she's married." "Shit." "What about Winona Ryder?" "Um, well, you know, actually, Walter is the guy to talk to." "Walter's got everybody's number." " Was there anything?" " Er, no, you're real busy." "I want that number, goddamnit." "I want that woman." "Oh, boy!" "What about this one here?" "Has she done anything?" "Celia..." "Griffin,... don't ask." ""Don't ask," you don't know?" "Or "Don't ask," I don't wanna know?" "Just don't ask." "Look, if it's Reggie Goldman you're concerned about, forget it." "But be nice to him, he represents a lot of money for this company." "It's not Reggie Goldman I'm worried about." " It's Larry Levy." " Larry Levy?" "Larry Levy's at Fox, isn't he?" "Huh!" "Oh, come on, Celia!" "Sandy, a call for Celia on line one." " Should I be looking for a job?" " Celia, are you there?" "Joel Levison's office." "Oh, Brad!" "Yeah." "What?" "No, we couldn't sign Anjelica Huston." "She's booked for the next two years." "Yeah, like a ghost story but that's not like Ghost." " Well, not..." " In which, maybe,..." "We should be..." "Could be called Unnatural Lives." "It's a supernatural thing." "Joel." "Griffin Mill." "Friend of Jennifer's." "No, no!" "You're Griffin Mill?" " Yes." " Really?" " Good to see you." "I'm a great fan of yours." " I have that tie." " You do?" " Mr Mill, how are you?" "OK, how are you doing, Natalie?" " Did you order for me?" " Yes." " Hi!" " Hi, everybody." " How are you?" " Lunching with the enemy." " Oh, come on!" " What's this we hear about Larry Levy?" "Larry Levy?" "If he had half a brain, he'd be dangerous." "Aaron says he's coming to the studio." "Aaron says, eh?" "Why would you believe anything he says?" "Well, he said it." "It's the authority he said it with." " Look who's over there." " Who?" "Anjelica Huston and John Cusack." " Levy?" " He's in over his head." " He's gonna drown over there." " He's quite the golden boy at Fox." "Did you see that thing on him in Variety last week?" "Oh, two pages!" "Anjelica, Griffin Mill." " Oh, hi." " Good to see you." "You're looking great." "Hello, Johnny." "Griffin Mill, big fan of yours." " Gonna be in Telluride this year?" " Yeah, probably in Park City." " Oh, great." "We'll see you there." " OK." " Ai-yi-yi!" " So, what's happening with Glass Box?" "Can we talk about something other than Hollywood?" " We're educated people." " Sure, Mr Griffin." " I'll call you later." " OK." "Shouldn't you talk to somebody about this?" " What?" " The postcards." "That's five in two weeks." " Seven, actually." " Why don't you talk to studio security?" "I'm supposed to call Walter Stuckel and say what?" ""Walter, someone's sending me poison-pen letters. "" ""Could you make me the object of more ridicule and abuse... .. now things are shaky for me here?"" "I don't think so, Jan." " I think they're coming from a writer." " Which one?" "Take your pick." " Anything else?" " Your attorney phoned." "There's a party at his house tonight." "Tell him I'm in a screening." " Not that attorney." "It's Dick Mellen." " Oh, Dick." "What time?" "Cocktails at 7.30, dinner at eight." "Oh, and Bonnie Sherow is here." " If I have to read one more goddamn..." " Send her in." "Oh, here she is" "Griffin, can we go to the Springs this weekend?" "I wanna have a massage, I wanna have a long soak in a hot mineral tub." "And I wanna have margaritas administered intravenously." "I have a party tonight at Dick Mellen's." "You wanna come?" "Oh, God!" "Movie stars and power players." " And vodka." " Sure." "It'll be an early dinner and we'll go to my place afterwards." " Can we?" " Yeah." "Brokaw looks like he has absolutely no retention." "Ted Koppel looks loose." "He goes after it, digs in and he doesn't get thrown right in." " Hi." " How are ya?" "Marlee, this is Bonnie Sherow." "She read, um, Tales Of Fury." " Oh!" " I loved it." "Yes, I read the script." "It was wonderful and you're perfect for Ariel." " I think so, too!" " Yeah!" "We were gonna make just a couple of changes in the third act." " You should set up a meeting." " Yeah." " Yeah, sure." " Yes." "Call." "You have my number?" "Yeah, absolutely." "Excuse me." "I've got to go say hello to these people here." "You don't talk about script changes at parties." "I'm sorry." " How are you?" " Don't you look beautiful!" " You know Bonnie Sherow." " B..." "Of course." "How are you, dear?" " It's good to see you." "TriStar, right?" " No, she's at the studio." "Yeah, that's... that's what I meant." "Bring Mr Mill a martini and, Bunny, how about you?" " Actually, I'll take a Ramlösa." " I'll have a martini." "OK." "One of each." "Rod Steiger's here." "Why don't you er..." "talk to him about the Rudolph project?" "He's not that hot on it, but see if you can get him to at least read it." " OK." " You know who's here?" "Harry Belafonte." " Harry!" "Come and say hello, will you?" " I love Harry Belafonte." "Harry, say hello to a couple of people." " Griffin Mill." " Hi, good to see you." "This is Bonnie Sherow." "She's just gaga over you." "I'm a big fan of yours!" "I saw you accept the Nelson Mandela Courage award." "Who's the guy in Ghostbusters, you know, the villain in Ghostbusters?" "Um..." "I..." "I..." "You got me there." "I got this, um..." "I got this postcard." "You know, harassment kind of stuff." "You know!" "I don't!" "Tell me, what are you talking about?" "Well, I..." "It's some writer I must have brushed off." "Folks, get something to eat." "There's some lovely stuff over there." "We will in a few minutes." "Thank you." " Your hands are as cold as mine now!" " I think..." "Would you like one of these?" " Um, I don't think I do." " That one, right there." "Not threats?" "!" "You talking about threats?" "N" " No." "Y" " Yes." "I don't know." "He's pissed off." "I thought writers were your long suit." "You're the writers' executive, aren't you?" "Are you pitching me a dream?" "That makes me think you're not sincerely interested." "It depends how good the dream is, Jeff." "Levy's here." "No, thank you." " Dick, Dick, what's he doing here?" " Goldblum?" "He's a friend." " No, Larry Levy." " He came with Sally." "He's a buddy of..." "What's going on with my job?" "Larry Levy, everywhere I look he's in my face." "Larry Levy's a comer." "That's what comers do, they get in your face." "You're a comer, too." "You can handle him." "Stop worrying about it." " So the rumours are true?" " Rumours are always true." "I'm always the last to hear about them." "You're the last to believe." "I've told you that before." " So am I out?" " No, but start thinking about a roommate." "Relax, you can handle this." "You can make him work for you." " Larry?" " Dick." "Sorry to crash your party." " You know everybody?" " I will before the night's out." "You will indeed." "It's a good crowd of people." " Great party, Dick." " Good." "Did you get some food?" "Not yet." "We're gonna..." "Listen to this. "He lifts her dress, she kisses him harder. "" ""He puts his hands in her underpants." "She grabs his shoulders. "" ""He pulls her dress above her waist." "He rubs against her wide, soft belly. "" ""Slowly, he pushes her panties down to her knees." "She is faint with passion. "" ""She arches her back and he lowers her down onto the buckboard. "" ""The horses snort and whinny." "They, too, seem to be feeling her passion. "" ""The camera moves in on the nostrils of the horse... .. as the buckboard begins to shake. "" "My God!" "Can you believe that?" "Steve recommended this." "He says they're really hot for it at Universal." " They're gonna have a bidding war." " I heard a pitch today that wasn't bad." " Stuck on a story point, though." " I'm the story editor." "Go." "New York City, Madison Avenue, big advertising agency." "Account executive makes a presentation to a potential client." "The client promises to get back to him." " Does it have to be advertising?" " That's not the problem." "The account executive keeps waiting for the client to call him back,... .. to tell him what he thought of the idea, to tell him if he got the job or not." "But the client never calls." "The account executive gets so pissed off and so frustrated... .. that he becomes obsessive." "He decides to drive the client crazy." " What does he do?" " He sends him threatening postcards." "Not important." "Here's the problem." "How long do you think... .. the account executive harasses the client before becoming dangerous?" "Does it have to be advertising?" " How long?" " All right." "If it were me..." " One month?" " Three months." "I don't know." "More." "Five months." "To be dangerous, five months." "That's what I thought." " Who's the writer?" " I don't know." "You don't know the writer who pitched you the idea?" "His name..." "I don't know." "It's a couple of kids." "Er,..." "TV writers." "Hm." "Can we go to bed now?" "I'm starting to wrinkle." " See you tomorrow afternoon." " Absolutely." "Burt." "Larry Levy." "If you remember me, I hope there are no hard feelings." " I was only working for Kastner." " Yeah, right." " Bye." " Take care." " Who's that?" " An exec over at Fox." "Until now, anyway." " Morning, Mr Mill." "Welcome to Geoffry's." " Hi, Susan." "How are you?" "I'm... with Joel." " Hi, Burt, Griffin Mill." " Hi, Griffin, good to see you." " Griffin, nice to see you this morning." " Hi, Charles, how are you?" " Asshole." " One of a breed." "Mm." "No, actually, he's not one of a breed." "There's a whole breed of them." "They're breeding them, actually." "Joel, your scheduling is so tight, the guy didn't even finish his breakfast." "He'd eaten." "Gets up early." " You went to Mellen's last night." " Take this, please." "Yes, I did." " How is he?" " I'd like a Vittel water." "He's fine." "You left early." "Why?" "We had to work on the er... on the museum party." " I will not work for Larry Levy." " I'm not asking you to." "I report to you." "If I have to report to Larry Levy, I quit." "You can't quit." "I won't let you quit." "You have a year and a half on your contract... .. and I will sue you for breach if you don't show up every day... .. with a smile." " Why Levy?" " Levy was available." "He's good on material, you're good with writers." "We're a team." "He's a new member of the team, that's all." "He can make us all look good." "This is a red-wine glass." "Can I have my water in a water glass, please?" " Well?" " I'll have to think about it, Joel." " I want an answer this afternoon." " Well, I have to go out to Palmdale." "Director of The Lonely Room is giving Lily a hard time." "I'll be back around five." " So call after five." " I'll get back to you." ".. you haven't died on us." "So he's still hanging on." " Griffin." " Yeah?" " Joel Levison." "Put it through?" " No, no, I'll get back to him." " Tell Joel Levison you'll get back to him?" " Yeah." "I wanna hear what he's gotta say." " How did this get here?" " With the mail." "Yeah, but this does not have a postmark." "This was hand-delivered." "Not to me." "It came with the mail." "Jimmy?" " Huh?" " You know anything about this?" " Who delivered it, where it came from?" " Mailroom?" "I wanna know how it got to the goddamn mailroom." " Find out for me, get back to me." " OK." "Sure." " You go with him." " You want me to go to the mailroom?" "Yes, I want you to go to the mailroom." "And while you're there, I would like a copy of The Lonely Room rewrites... .. in white pages, no colour." "And find out how this got in my mail." "Yes, sir." "You'll get your own phones, I take it?" "Yes, I can get my own phones, Jan." "Son of a bitch!" "Five months." "One, two, three, four, five, April." "Pitches." "Richard Fielder." "David Lucas." "Adam Silverstein." "Bill Lindstrom." "David Kahane." "Sandra Potenza." "Incoming." "Incoming." "Unreturned... .. calls." "Bill Lindstrom again." "Nancy Franklin." "Wouldn't be a woman." "David Kahane." "Bill Lindstrom." "Come on." "Sort, sort, sort, sort." "Come on." "Come on." "Kahane, Kahane, Kahane." "Lindstrom." "White pages." "Lindstrom." "Disney." "Strategic planning." "Wouldn't be him." "What was that other guy's name?" "Kahane." "Kahane." "J, K..." "Kalchime." "Kahane." ""Unproduced. " Got ya!" " Hello?" " Hello, is David Kahane there, please?" "David!" "Dave?" " Hello?" "I'm sorry, I forgot." "He's gone out." " Oh, I see." " Who's this?" " This is Griffin Mill." " Oh, the dead man." " What did you just say?" " Hm?" "Oh, nothing." " About me being a dead man." "Just, um... a nickname David has for you." "I see." "That's a funny nickname." "I suppose your husband doesn't like me very much." "I don't have a husband." "David doesn't like me very much." " David's, er... gone to the cinema." " When will he be back?" "When the film's over, I presume." " And you are...?" " June." " June...?" " Here we go." "You want my last name." "You won't be able to pronounce it." " Try me." " Gudmundsdottir." " Goodmansdotter." " Gudmundsdottir." "Goodmonsdottir." "How's that?" "Hey!" "Very good!" "Thanks." "What do people usually say?" "Oh, don't ask." "Like, anything from..." "Goodogswater to Goulashwallop." "Are you English?" "Yep." "Well, no." "No, not really." "Well, where are you kind of, sort of not from?" "Well, do you want the long story or the short one?" "The long one." "No, you'd never believe it." "The short one's..." "Iceland." "Iceland?" "I didn't know anyone came from Iceland." " I thought it was just a block of ice." " It's very green, actually." "Really?" "I thought that was Greenland." "No, Greenland's very icy, Iceland's very green." "They switched names to fool the Vikings, who tried to steal their women." "Oh, I see." "No." "Blue sea." " Red Sea." " No, no, no." "No red." " You're a painter." " How did you guess?" "So what movie did David go to see?" "Um, he went to the Rialto in Pasadena." "He always goes there." " What's showing?" " Um..." "Bicycle Thief, I think." "It's a good movie." "Have you seen it?" "No, I don't go to the movies." "You don't?" "Why not?" "Oh..." "Life is too short." "I've got to hang up now." "A ladro!" "Acchiappatelo!" "Acchiappatelo!" "Acchiappatelo!" " David Kahane." " No, you have the wrong guy, man." "David Kahane." "Griffin Mill." "Griffin Mill." "Yeah?" "Great movie, huh?" "So refreshing to see something like this... .. after all these... cop movies and... .. you know, things we do." " Maybe we'll do a remake of this." " You'd probably give it a happy ending." "Oh, no, no, we'd keep it pure." "Pure." "Right" "D'you wanna write it?" " Don't fuck with me, Mill." " I'm not." " I said that I'd get back to you, didn't I?" " Yeah." "About six months ago." " I thought you'd forgotten." " You were angry." " Maybe." " D'you wanna talk about it?" " OK." "Sure." " Great." "Let's let the studio buy us a drink." "Well, if you don't mind a place where you don't have any suck with the maitre d',... .. I know a bar down the street." "Let's go." " Have you ever been to Japan?" " # Hito to onaji koto o surunda..." "Yes, I was there once on a location scout with Steven..." "Spielberg." "I lived there for a year." " A student year abroad." " Right." "I wish I'd done that." "Well, I think about it a lot." "Never forget it." "You should write about it." "I did." "Don't you remember?" " What?" " Arigato." "My idea about the American student who goes to Japan." "That was my pitch, the one you were supposed to get back to me on." "You don't remember, do you?" "Course I remember." "You never got back to me." "Listen..." "I was an asshole." "All right?" "It comes with the job." "I'm sorry, I really am." "I know how angry you must have been." "I'll make it up to you, that's what I'm here for." "I'm gonna give you a deal, David." "I'm not gonna guarantee I'm gonna make the movie, but I am gonna give you a shot." "# Let's forget the time..." "Let's just, um..." "stop all the postcard shit, all right?" "I'm here to say that I would like... to start over." "Friends." "Fuck you, Mill." "You're a liar." "You're steppin' over the line, David." "You didn't come here to see The Bicycle Thief." "You came in five minutes before the picture ended." "Nearly tripped over my feet." "What'd you do, call my house?" "Uh?" "Did you speak to the ice queen?" "You'd like her, Mill." "She's a lot like you." "All heart" "You're on my list, pal." "Nothing's gonna change that." "See you in the next reel, asshole." "# Let's forget the time" "# That you nearly broke my heart" "# Go everywhere we've been again" "# Let's begin again... #" "# Baby, let's start again" "# Let's start over from the start... #" "Nice boat you got there, movie exec." "It's me, the writer." "You still wanna buy my story?" "I told you I'd give you a deal." "Stop by the studio and we'll work something out." "Oh, and who will I ask for?" "Larry Levy?" "What's Larry Levy got to do with this?" " How do you know about Larry Levy?" " Don't you read the trades?" "The New York Times business section?" "He's moving in, you're moving out." "They say you can't make a deal." "Yesterday's news." "Wait a minute." "Wait a minute!" "Can I borrow your mobile phone?" "Huh?" "Er, Larry Levy." "Yeah, Larry, David Kahane here." "Listen, Larry, guess who's making promises about getting pictures made." "To writers in parking lots." "Guess what dumb, son-of-a-bitch executive... .. is trying to take advantage of... of me!" "I mean, do you realise how unstoppable this guy is?" "You know, I cannot wait... .. to tell the world that when Griffin Mill can't cut the pressure at work,... .. he drives out to Pasadena... .. to pick fights with writers!" "Tell Larry Levy to give me a call." "The word is out that he's gonna start making meaningful pictures at the studio." "Let's..." "Let's forget this." "Stop all the postcard shit!" "I don't write postcards, I write scripts!" " We were both wrong, OK?" " No, you're wrong,... buddy!" "You're in over your head, that's why you're losing your job." "And then what are you gonna do?" "Huh?" "I can write." "What can you do?" "I said let's forget this." "Oh, shit!" "Mill, are you OK?" "Are you all right?" "Keep it to yourself!" "Keep it to yourself!" "Keep it to yourself." "Kahane?" "You know what's interesting?" "I mean, who's writing this new ending?" "Who wrote the new ending of Fatal Attraction?" "The audience." "A million-plus screenwriters, the audience wrote that ending." "But who's to say what it would have done if you had left the original ending?" "You can't say." "But you can say that it's done almost 300 million worldwide... .. with the ending selected from the test screen." "Larry Levy, I don't believe you've met my assistant, Whitney Gersh." " No, I haven't." "Nice to meet you." " It's a great pleasure to meet you." " Bonnie, how's your picture?" " Doing well, doing well." " How well?" " It was our first test." "Excuse me, Walter." "Um, Joel, Griffin still isn't in,... .. but I think we have to start this meeting." "OK, Celia." "Thank you." "You remember a movie called DO A?" "Sure I do." "Eddie O'Brien and Pam Britton." "Disney did a remake in '87 or '88." "Yeah, well, I think we've got pretty much the same situation." "Keep our noses clean, Walter." "It's a shame to waste the picture." "Who said we're wasting it?" "Where did that come from?" "You know what's interesting?" "We are all too busy to go and see movies." "Griffin, you're late." "They're waiting inside." "You ought to try it sometime, to actually rub shoulders with the great unwashed." "We need to give them the kind of pictures they want, not the kind these writers want to give them." "I know you guys spend a lot of time with writers... .. and, believe me, you have my deepest sympathy, but..." "Hello." "Sorry I'm late." "You certainly are." "Jan, can I talk to you, please?" "A couple of minutes in your office is fine." "Griffin, you missed the formal welcoming ceremony this morning." "You know Larry Levy." "Of course." "Hi, Larry." "Hi, Griffin." "Larry was able to get out of Fox a week earlier than he thought... .. and come aboard as of this morning." "Great." "Let's er..." "Let's start." "In fact, Larry was just in the middle of something." "Oh, no, I wasn't." "I was just killing time waiting for Griffin." "Oh." "Well, no, finish." "What were you saying?" "I was just saying I've yet to meet a writer who could change water into wine... .. and we tend to treat them..." "like that." "Not at this studio." "Million, million and a half of these scripts." "It's..." "It's nuts." "And I think avoidable." "Griffin, when was the last time you bought a ticket to see a movie?" " Actually paid your own money to..." " Last night." "In Pasadena." "The Bicycle Thief." " You went to see The Bicycle Thief?" " I love that film, it's a great film." "Art movie." "Doesn't count." "We're talking about movie movies." "Jesus, people..." "All I'm saying is there's a lot of time and money to be saved... .. if we came up with stories on our own." " Where are these stories coming from?" " Anywhere, it doesn't matter." "Um,... the newspaper." " Pick a story, any story." " All right." ""Immigrants protest budget cuts in literacy programme. "" "Human spirit overcoming economic adversity." "Sounds like Horatio Alger in the barrio." "Put Jimmy Smits in it, you got a sexy Stand And Deliver." "Next?" " Larry, this isn't my field." " Marty, it doesn't matter." " Just give it a shot." "You can't lose here." " OK." "How about "Mud slide kills 60 in slums of Chile"?" "That's good." "Triumph over tragedy, sounds like a John Boorman picture." "Slam a happy ending on it, the script will write itself." " Bonnie." "Here, give me the paper." " Gee, I don't know, Lar." "Give it a shot." ""Further bond losses push Dow down 7.15."" " I see Connery as Bond." " That's funny." "I'm glad Oliver Stone wasn't listening to you." "Where would we have been?" "We wouldn't have had to sit through Wall Street, for one thing." " What did Wall Street do worldwide?" " 70, 75, maybe 80." " $80 million, a couple of Oscars." " OK." "I think Larry's point is well taken." "Let's move on." "Griffin, can you give us an update on the Taylor Hackford project?" "Griffin?" "Yeah." "I was thinking what an interesting concept it is... .. to eliminate the writer from the artistic process." "If we can just get rid of these actors and directors, maybe we got something here" "Hello, Walter." "Make yourself at home" "Mr Mill, I understand you were kind of late coming in this morning." " You all right?" " I'm fine." "Appreciate your concern." "What can I do for you, Walter?" "Don't tell me you came here to... pitch me a story." "That's exactly what I've come to do." "It's a good one, too." "It's about a writer." "Sort of." "David Kahane." " David Kahane." "Who's David Kahane?" " Oh, you met him." "I meet a lot of writers." "Uh-huh." "But this writer that you met was murdered last night... .. behind the Rialto theatre in Pasadena." "Murdered?" "Come to think of it, Pasadena's as good a place to die as any." "So what's the story?" "25 words or less?" "OK." "Movie exec calls writer." "Writer's girlfriend says he's at the movies." "Exec goes to the movies, meets writer, drinks with writer." "Writer gets conked and dies in four inches of dirty water." "Movie exec is in deep shit." "What do you think?" "That's more than 25 words." "And it's bullshit." "Pasadena Homicide doesn't think it's bullshit." "They got a complete report." "You met Kahane at the Rialto, you got drunk with him at a Japanese restaurant." "He left before you did." "That's the last time anyone saw him alive." "Except you, maybe." "Why are you denying this?" "Oh..." "What do the police think?" "They think it's a... botched robbery." "The window of his car was busted." "He surprised someone trying to take the radio." "There was a fight, he was killed." "I didn't kill him, Walter." "But I went to see him." "I know I said I didn't, but I did." "Why'd you lie to me?" "Well,... now's not a very good time for me." "Haven't you heard the rumours?" "I'm on my way out." "Just what I need, more controversy" "It's not a good time, Walter." "Look,..." "I am in charge of studio security in every definition of the word." "It is my job to take care of a studio executive,... .. should he be er, shall we say, under suspicion of murder... .. at a time when the profits are down and the company is vulnerable for a takeover." "It is my job to keep this very, very, very, very quiet!" " You wanna help?" " Of course." "Then stop lying!" "How many meetings did you have with this guy?" " One." " Not counting last night." "Not counting last night." "Why'd you go all the way to Pasadena to meet him?" "He had an idea I was interested in, I wanted to talk to him right away." "His girlfriend, I guess she was a friend of yours, too." "Think fast!" "Jesus Christ, Walter!" "What do you think?" "What is this?" "It's called the third degree." "Don't like it?" "Wait till the police are asking questions." "I'll go to the police right now!" "You come with me!" "You're acting like someone who's guilty!" "You're not guilty." "Are you?" "For the last time, I'm not a murderer." "Bad news?" " What?" " The fax." "Is it bad news?" "No." "Business as usual." "The Hollywood system did not murder David Kahane." "Not the $98 million movie, not the $12 million actor,... .. not even the million-dollar deal that David Kahane never landed." "No, the most that we can pin on Hollywood... .. is assault with intent to kill." "Because... society is responsible... .. for this particular murder... .. and it is to society that we must look if we are to have any justice for that crime." "Because someone in the night..." "killed David Kahane... .. and that person will have to bear the guilt." "And if David were here right now, I know in my heart that he... he would have said... .. "Cut the shit, Phil!"" ""What did you learn from all of this?" "Did you learn anything?"" "And I'd say "Yeah, David, I've learned a lot,... .. we here will take it from here. "" "And the next time we sell a script for a million dollars,... .. the next time we nail some shitbag producer to the wall,... .. we'll say "That's another one for David Kahane. "" "David was working on something the day he died." "I'd like to share it with you." ""Blackness." "A mangy dog barks. "" ""Garbage-can lids are lifted as derelicts on the streets hunt for food. "" ""Buzzing, as a cheap alarm clock goes off. "" ""Interior." "Flophouse room, early morning. "" ""A tracking shot moves through the grimy room. "" ""Light streams in through holes in the yellowy window shades. "" ""Moths dance in the beams of light. "" ""Track down along the floor, the frayed rug. "" ""Stop at an old shoe. "" ""It's empty. "" "That's as far as he got." "That's the last thing he wrote." "So long, Dave." "Fade out." "Thank you." "Who are you?" "You're not a writer." "No, I'm..." "I'm Griffin Mill." "We spoke the night David..." "Oh." "Blue sea, white sea, yes." "It turned out you were right." " What?" " It was a red sea." "Oh." "Yeah." "You're the only person I know here." "Listen, I'm really sorry about David." "He was a... a talent." "You really think so?" "I always suspected he was... .. uniquely untalented." "It's nice of you to say that." "It's nice of you to come." "Really, you didn't have to." "Well, I did." "You know, I was probably the last... person to see him alive." "The police told me." "Well, not quite the last, surely?" "No." "I'm sure this is a terrible time for you." "Is there anything you need or...?" "No, really, I..." "I don't feel bad." "It's like when my parents died." "I..." "I didn't feel anything at all." "They were just gone." "Oh, I'm sure... it hasn't sunk in yet." "It was years ago." " No, I meant David." " Oh." "Oh, God!" "These people." "I don't like it here." "They're all expecting me to grieve and mourn and..." "I can't talk to them." "David's gone and... .. I'm somewhere else already." " Will you take me home?" " What?" "Will you take me home?" "Sure." "I'm right here." "They're very interesting." "I like them." " Would you like a drink?" " No, thanks." " Where do you show?" " Hm?" " What gallery?" "Who's your dealer?" " I don't have a dealer." "I couldn't sell these, they're never finished." "Bickie?" "No, thanks." "They're never finished?" "No, they're just... what I do." "For myself." "What I feel." "You ask lots of questions, Mr Mill." "You're just like the police." "That's all they did, ask questions." "They asked me a lot about you." " Did they?" " Mm-hm." "How long we've known each other, if you'd ever been to the house before." "Well, I suppose they have to ask those questions." "I don't see why." "Cos that's what police do." " Can I ask you a question?" " Sure." "Why was it so important to see David that night?" "What was so urgent?" "Well, he pitched me a story a few months ago and..." " The Japan story, right?" " Yes, the Japan story." "I liked it at the time, but it needed work, especially the ending." "I was sitting in my office that day... .. and it suddenly occurred to me how to make the ending work." "So, what was it?" " What?" " Your idea for the ending." "Up." " Up?" " Up." " What does that mean?" " As opposed to down." "Moods." "Happy as opposed to sad, hopeful as opposed to depressing." " What did you think of his ending?" " I never read it." " You never read it?" " No." "I don't like reading." " D'you like books?" " I like words." "And letters." "But I'm not crazy about complete sentences." "Hm." "What did he think?" "He walked out on me, actually." "I don't think David liked me very much." "I think he just... didn't like happy endings." "Put your face here." "Great." "What are you doing?" "You're not gonna paint me, are you?" "I might put you in one of my paintings." "There's one that I want to do of an Icelandic hero." "He's a thief and he's made of fire." " But you might not like that." " Why not?" "Because you're in the movies... .. and in the movies you can't have thieves as heroes, can you?" "I don't know about that." "We have a tradition of gangsters in the movies." "Oh, yes, but they always have to suffer for their crimes, don't they?" "We should pay for our crimes, shouldn't we?" "Oh, I think knowing you've committed a crime's suffering enough." "If you don't suffer,... .. maybe it wasn't a crime after all." "Anyway, what difference does it make?" "It has nothing to do with how things really are." "You don't really believe that, do you?" "I don't know what I believe, Mr Mill." "It's just... what I feel." "You know what you are, June whatever-your-name-is?" "You're a pragmatic anarchist." " Is that what I am?" " That's what you are." "I never was sure." "Could I just... pick this up?" "Yeah?" " Ooh, it's heavy!" " 37 ounces." "Look, look." "I wanna thank my mother, and her mother and her father's mother, who was the..." "Hello." " Hello." " Meet Detective Susan Avery." " Hello, Detective." " How d'you do?" "Sorry." "My partner." " Willa Broom." " Pleasure." "Let's go in here." "This is the first movie studio Detective Avery's been to." "Well, aside from the Universal tour." "When my family comes I always take them." "I've been out there so often, I kind of feel like I'm ready to direct." "You'd probably do better than the film grads they give cameras to nowadays." "Sorry I didn't call when I heard Kahane was dead." " Heard or read?" " Read." " Why didn't you?" " Walter asked me the same question... .. and I wish I had a better answer for it, but all I can say is I didn't think about it." "Hm." "How did you know where he was gonna be?" " His wife told me he was at the theatre." " Girlfriend." " Girlfriend." " Girlfriend." "I didn't know either of them." "I was restless, so I thought I'd go and see the movie and... .. if he was there I was gonna talk to him about a job." "So you got to the theatre, saw him and..." "We had a drink in a Japanese place he knew about." "It was a wild, incredible scene, it was like Tokyo." "He left first." "Why didn't you leave together?" "Like I said, it was incredible, I was having a great time." "Then why didn't you stay longer?" "Well, the people stopped singing and then it was just the bar and I don't drink." " You drank with him." " Well, when in Rome..." " Did you know him socially?" " No." " Been to his house?" " No." " Know anything about him personally?" " No." "Griffin, guess we're gonna let you get back to work now." " Something's bothering you." "What is it?" " Well, I..." "I just have to ask you." "Did you see him in the parking lot after you left?" "No, I parked on the street." "I drive a Range Rover, so I feel safer when it's visible." "Out on the street, who's gonna smash a window?" "Hm." "You mean, if you had a shitty car, you would have parked in the parking lot?" "If I had a shitty car, I might be a dead man." "Somehow, I think you're a little too lucky for that." "Thank you." " OK. 63 take three, mark." " Wait one second." "Now." "Action!" "No, goddamnit, Peterson, you listen to me!" "I been around a while, I got a nose." "This situation stinks." "It stinks for the company." "That's right, Peterson, the fucking CIA." "You ever heard of it?" "It's just the kind of operation those whizzkid fucks..." "You don't understand what he's going for." " I guess I don't." " So it's hard to listen to your argument." " Would you shut up, please?" " Kiss my ass." "You can't even see anything." "I have to cut because my robe caught on the drawer here." "I'm sorry." "I like this guy." "He's great." " What water is that?" " Spa water." "Can I have some Volvic, please?" "Yeah, he's great." "I heard the police came to see you about this dead writer." " Who was this guy?" " His name was David Kahane." "I never heard of him." "Did we ever hire him for anything?" "I was thinking about it." "He pitched me a story." "I went out there to talk to him about it." "Jesus!" "His ship's about to come in and some black kid wants money for crack." "I don't wanna criticise you, babe,... .. but I'm meant to be having a conversation on the phone." "Are you talking to me?" " Are the cops still bothering you?" " No." "No, I don't think so." "Well, let Stuckel handle it." "Give them passes to a screening where they can sit behind Michelle Pfeiffer." "They'll leave you alone." " Griffin?" " Yes." "Um, a guy named Joe Gillis called." "He said he wants you to meet him at the St James Club at ten on the patio." " Know who this is?" " Joe Gillis, never heard of him." "Know who Joe Gillis is?" "He's William Holden's character in Sunset Boulev ard." " The writer who's killed by the movie star." " Gloria Swanson." "All I know is, we're doing this my way." "That guy..." "Last week he said he was Charles Foster Kane." "The week before that, it was Rhett Butler." "Why would I kill my sister's husband?" "Wanna compare grosses, Bonnie?" "I was in love with him." "Griffin?" "Griffin." " Malcolm McDowell, how are you?" " Hi, how are you?" "Good to see you." "Listen, next time you bad-mouth me, have the courage to do it to my face." "You guys are all the same." " You love it there?" " It's just wonderful." "You love your career, too, don't you?" "It was a complete disaster." "Look at what happened in Heaven's Gate." "We're both concerned about your career." "One actor, I won't mention his name,..." "Where I live, I really know how people think and how they feel." "Montana will end you." "It ended Cimino in Heaven's Gate." " Griffin Mill!" "Hi." "Andy Civella." " Andy, how are you?" "I've got Andie MacDowell sitting over here." "She's so hot!" "Come and meet her." "Still in New York?" "Oh, I couldn't live here." "I'm allergic to happiness!" "Andie, Griffin Mill." " Hi." " Hi." "She's my namesake." " How are the kids doing?" " Great, thanks." " And Paul?" " Oh, he's wonderful, thank you!" "You geniuses know each other." "Tom Oakley." " Course we do." " Oh, yes." "Hi, Tom." "Hi, how are you?" "It's funny, I just ran into Malcolm McDowell in the lobby." "Oh, really?" "Roddy McDowall is related to a cousin of my brother-in-law." "Well, I'm not related to either one of them." " If I write it, I direct it." " Your last three pictures were bombs!" " One broke even." " Bombs!" "Thank you for the drink." "I have to go." "You gotta go, Andie?" "We'll walk you to the car." " No, it's OK." " Hang on, we're..." " Griffin, we'd like to buy you a drink." " I'm sorry, I..." "I can't, I'm meeting someone." "Business." " Should've talked about Habeas Corpus." " Of course, but he's a busy man." " Is there anyone waiting for me?" " No-one's asked." "Well, I'm expecting someone." "I'll, um... be out by the pool." "But he'll get back to us." "Right, Griffin?" " Griffin." " Andie!" " Oh, sorry!" "Sorry!" " Jesus, Andy, it's you." " Of course it's me." " Listen, I told you, I'm meeting somebody." "Yeah, you're meeting me." " We got some big business." " You?" "You?" "!" "Why not me?" "Jesus Christ, Andy, you think this is fucking funny?" "!" "What are you talking about?" "She'd make a great Nora." "God, I'd love to write another Doll's House for her." "Oh, did you meet Tom Oakley?" "Yes." "You mean you didn't call me?" " No, I didn't call you." " I'm sorry." "I'm r-really sorry." "Listen,..." "I really am meeting somebody." "There's no way I can hear a pitch now." "You'll have to call me tomorrow." "No, I can't do it tomorrow." "I've got a meeting at Paramount, then at Universal." "Congratulations." " If you don't hear it now, you'll lose it." " Then I lose it, all right?" "20 seconds." "When your friend gets here..." " What friend?" "Who are you talking about?" " Whoever you're gonna meet here." "25 words or less." "Absolutely." "Tom..." "No, you sit here, Tom." "Go." " District attorney's at a moral crossroads." " Tom!" "Jesus Christ!" "OK, OK, OK." "Er,... we open outside the largest penitentiary in California." "It's night." "It's raining." "A limousine comes in through the front gate,... .. past a tight knot of demonstrators holding a candlelight vigil." "The candles, under the umbrellas, make them glow like Japanese lanterns." "That's nice." "I haven't seen that before, that's good." "A lone demonstrator, black woman, steps in front of the limousine." "The lights illuminate her like a spirit." "Her eyes fix upon those of the sole passenger." "The moment is devastating between them." "He's the DA, she's the mother of the person that's being executed." " You're good." "See, I told you, he's good." " Go on." "The DA believes in the death penalty." "And the execution is a hard case." "Black, 19, and definitely guilty." "The greatest democracy in the world and" " Poor, disadvantaged, black." " More, more, more." "He swears the next person he sees to die is gonna be smart, rich and white." " You, me, whoever." " What a hook, huh?" "Beauty hook." "Cut to the chase, Tom." "Cut from the DA to an up-market suburban neighbourhood." "A couple have a fight." "He leaves in a fit, gets in a car." "It's the same rainy night." "Car spins out on the road, goes into a ravine." "The body is swept away." "When the police examine the car, they see the brakes have been tampered with." "It's murder, and the DA decides to go for the big one." "He wants the wife in the gas chamber." " But the DA falls in love with the wife." " Of course he falls in love with the wife!" "But he still puts her in the gas chamber." "Then he finds that the husband is alive,.." ".. that he faked his death!" "The DA breaks into the prison, runs down death row,... .. but he gets there too late." "The gas pellets have been dropped." "She's dead." "I tell you, there's not a dry eye in the house." " She's dead?" " She's dead." "She's dead, because that's the reality." "The innocent die." " Who's the DA?" " Ah!" "No-one." " No-one?" " No stars." "We're going out on a limb." "You know, unknown stage actors, or somebody English like whatshisname." " Why?" " Why?" "Why?" "!" "Because this story is just too damned important... .. to risk being overwhelmed by personality." "That's fine for action pictures, but this is special." "We want real people here." "We don't want people to have preconceived notions." " We want them to see a district attorney." " Bruce Willis." "No." "Not Bruce Willis, not Kevin Costner." "This is an innocent woman fighting for her life!" " Julia Roberts." " If we can get her." "Of course we can get her." "If I'm perfectly honest, if I think about it, this isn't even an American film." " It's not?" " No, no." "There are no stars,... .. no pat happy endings." "No..." "Schwarzenegger, no stick-ups, no terrorists." "This is a tough story, a tragedy, in which an innocent woman dies." "Why?" "Because... that... happens." "Habeas Corpus." "That's what we're calling it." "Produce the corpse." "What do you say, yes or no?" "That pitch was more than 25 words." "Yeah, but it's brilliant!" "What's the verdict, Griffin?" "Mr Mill, for you." " Who gave this to you?" " I received it at the front desk." "What is it?" "It's, um..." "It's from the person I was meeting." "He's not coming." " Well, do we have a shot?" " It's an intriguing idea." " Give me a call at the studio tomorrow." " Yeah!" "OK, there's a scene in Throne of Blood that has exactly the texture..." " Tom!" "Tom, just say thank you." " She has to die." " No fucking Hollywood ending." " Tom, thank you, say." "You fucking dogshit writer!" "Fucking trying to kill me!" "Oh, God." "You gave me such a scare!" "What are you doing here?" "You gave me such a fright!" "Come in." "Come on in." "What's the matter?" "You look terrible." "What's up?" "Sit down, I'll get you a drink." "Has something happened?" " Is it too late?" "I..." " No." "No, no, no." "It's not too late." "No." " I don't even know what time it is." " What's wrong?" "Who are you painting?" "Is that me?" "Yeah." "It's you." " See?" " Do you have snakes in Iceland?" "Snakes?" "I don't think so, no." " Are you afraid of snakes?" " I..." "I don't know." " I've never come close to a real one." " They scare the shit out of me." " Here, have another." " I don't usually drink." "I..." "Something happened tonight." "Yes, but, um..." "There's something else I have to tell you." "This isn't easy for me." "Yes?" "How about if I just get on with my work and... .. you talk to me when you feel like it?" "OK?" "I came very close to dying tonight." "All I could think about was you." "I don't even know you." "You came into my mind and..." "I couldn't..." "I couldn't think of anything else." "Remember that first night we spoke?" "On the phone." "I was outside these windows... .. watching you and..." "It was so exciting and so... .. new and..." ".. strange." "I can't get you out of my mind." "Are you making love to me?" "Yes, I guess I am." "Yes, I am." "I wanna make love to you." "I wanna make love to you." "It's too soon." "It's too soon, isn't it?" "It's so strange, how things happen." "David was here." "Then he left." "You arrived." "It may be just the timing, but I feel like... .. I would go... anywhere with you." "If you asked." "We mustn't hurry things." "You know, we... can't hurry things any more than we can stop them." "I think you'd better go now." "I think I'm going to cry now." "Better go." "Quick." " I'm sorry." " No, no, don't be sorry." "Just go home and... .. and get some sleep and... call me." "Tomorrow." "Invite me on a proper date." "I'd like that." " Jan. Jan!" " Yeah?" " Get me Larry Levy on the phone." " I don't think he's on the lot." "Try his car." " Isn't he at Fox?" " He used to be." "Not any more." "I pitched him something a few months ago and he hated it." " Yeah, Griffin?" " Yeah, yeah." "I've got Tom Oakley and Andy Civella here and I wouldn't be bothering you... .. if I didn't think they had an idea you should hear right away." " Hi, guys." " Hi, Larry." "Listen, the next voice you're gonna hear has got an English accent." "Tom Oakley." "I'm Andy Civella." "Hi, Andy." "I know Tom." "How are you, Tom?" "Er, very well, Larry." "And yourself?" "Fine." "What's the story?" "We open outside San Quentin." "It's night." "Kwwsshhh!" "It's raining." "A limousine enters through the front gate... .. past a tight knot of demonstrators holding a candlelight vigil." "The candles flicker under the umbrellas, which glow like Japanese lanterns." "A lone demonstrator, black woman, steps in front of the limousine." "Her eyes connect with the lone passenger." "It's a devastating moment for both of them." "Incredibly potent." "No stars." "No Schwarzenegger." "No pat Hollywood endings." "No car chases." "This is an American tragedy... .. in which an innocent woman dies." "Because that happens." "That's... reality." "Take me off the speakerphone, Griffin." "Yeah?" "I don't know. it's a really hot story but what is this bullshit no stars?" "Let me give you a tip, Larry." "Levison came to power on two movies." "They made $300 million and had no stars." "He's gonna love this, it'll remind him of his youth." "His motto used to be "No stars, just talent. "" " Has anyone else heard this?" " I don't think so, no." "We should make a deal now." "Tomorrow may be too late." "Can we get hold of Levison?" "Yeah, I'll get Levison." "When can you be back?" "I'll be there right after my AA meeting." "Oh, Larry, I didn't realise you had a drinking problem." "Well..." "I don't really, but that's where all the deals are being made these days." "See ya." "Tom, that was a hell of a pitch." "Good work." "I think you sold Larry." "Great!" "When are we gonna hear?" "Go home, put some champagne on ice, I'll give you an answer by tonight." " Jan, come in here!" " Griffin, you move in mysterious ways... .. but I like it, I like it!" "But did Levy understand, no stars?" "Yes, he particularly liked that notion." " No Hollywood ending?" " No Hollywood ending." "They looked happy." "They have a fucked-up idea that has no second act." "If I hadn't heard it myself, I never would have believed it." "Larry Levy liked it, because he's a dick-brain." "Levy will sell the idea to Levison... .. and then I will let Levison have the brilliant idea... .. of letting Larry take over the project from me." "He will?" "See, Levison can't wait to get in bed with Levy." "This piece-of-shit idea will blow up in both their faces." "And then I will step in and save the day." " Scores!" " Yes!" "Three points." "She's receiving the last rites." "The DA discovers that the husband faked his own death." "She's innocent." "He races to the penitentiary but it's too late." "The pellets are dropped." "She's dead." "He helped kill the woman he loved." " Who are the stars?" " No stars." "Just talent." "No stars?" "And what the fuck kind of ending is that?" "It's depressing." "It'll bring everybody down." "Joel, what about Terms Of Endearment, Love Story, Steel Magnolias?" "Joel, ET grossed what, Marty?" "$319 million worldwide pre-cassette... .. and not a dry eye in the house." "Depressing?" "I don't think so." "Yeah, but..." "Normally I'd agree with you but this is entirely different." "It is a matter of taking the risk, rolling the dice." "But if they come up seven, bingo!" "It's Oscar time." " Do they screw?" " Who?" "The DA, whoever it is, and the woman." "Do they screw?" "If I'm gonna be looking at jail cells and gas chambers, there has to be a little sex." "Sure, of course." "We'll get it there, no problem." "OK." "Who's gonna shepherd this thing?" "Larry?" "You seem to have a good feel for this." "Wait, Joel, this project was Griffin's." "Bonnie..." "No, I don't wanna dance at somebody else's wedding." "If it's Griffin's project, it's Griffin's project." " I just think we should write..." " Bonnie, this will have to be my call." "It's fine with me." "My plate is full, anyway." "Larry, it's yours." "Hit a home run, win an Oscar for the home team." "Griffin, I've got something else for you." " Yeah." " New York tomorrow." "Tom Wolfe's new book will be at the Sherry Netherland." "Read it and bid." "Send Bonnie." "She'll know if it's a movie." "If it is, we bid a million." " Me?" " A million's kinda high." "It's Tom Wolfe." "Why not you?" " I'm a story editor, not a vice president." " You don't wanna be a vice president?" " Bonnie, pack your bags." " That was the most amazing pitch ever." " If you don't want the responsibility..." " I'm going." " I wanna be one of your soldiers." " I'm glad you're on the team." "Bonnie's gonna be gone, I'm here for you." "Whitney, now!" "Frank, Marty, come in." " May I have a word with you?" " I have a meeting." "Find the time." "What is going on?" " What d'you mean?" " Handing Larry Levy your project." "Well, I just thought Larry had a... firm grasp on... .. the style of the piece, that's all." "The only thing Larry Levy has a firm grasp on is his dick." "I'm not Oz." "I can't do everything." "If Larry has what it takes, why shouldn't I use him?" "That way, everybody wins." " Why are you bullshitting me?" " I'm not bullshitting." "Griffin, I know you." "You've been stringing me along..." " Habeas Corpus, Griffin." " Habeas Corpus." "You've been stringing me along like one of your goddamn writers!" "What is this, getting Levison to send me to New York?" " Are you trying to get rid of me?" " I'm trying to help you!" "If you score in New York, Levison has to make you vice president." "Jesus, Bonnie, are you afraid of success?" " Are you seeing someone else?" " Oh." "Oh, that's what this is about?" "It's not just this." "It's the way you've been acting." "I just wanna know what's going on!" " Jesus Christ, Bonnie!" " You're not even looking at me, Griffin." "Look at me." "Please look at me right in the eyes and just tell me..." "No bullshit." "Is there someone else?" "No." "Have a good trip." "Our top story this evening involves Hollywood's three favourite Gs." "A glamorous, glitzy gala night out." "It is a who's who of stars, no IDs necessary." "Household names, one and all." "Leez a Gibbons reporting." "You could fire a cannon down Sunset Boulev ard now... .. and not come close to hitting a celebrity." "Everybody who is anybody is right here,... .. rubbing elbows and making big talk in this ballroom." "All the movers and shakers behind the scenes and on the screens." "Leave it to Cher to wear fire-engine red... .. when the impossible-to-come-by invitations... .. call for "Black and white only, please. "" "Hi, Teri, nice to see you." "June Gudmundsdottir." "Teri Garr." "Buck Henry." "The occasion is just as big and important as the all-star turnout." "The studio famous for the slogan "Movies, now more than ever"... .. is donating prints of 25 of its classic black-and-white films to the museum." "Now they'll be able to say "Movies, now more than ever, forever. "" "Thank you." "It's wonderful to see so many familiar and friendly faces around." "As you know, the LA County Museum has always been close to our hearts,... .. and especially the motion department..." "er, motion picture department." "Er, we're happy to make possible this donation." "Er, now I'd like to introduce the man whose idea this all was." "Griffin Mill, please." "Thank you, Joel." "Why don't you have another drink?" "I'd like to extend my thanks to the patrons of the Los Angeles County Museum." "You have long fostered the art of motion pictures... .. as a serious and valuable art form in this community." "Many people across the country and around the world... .. have for too long thought of movies as a popular entertainment... .. more than serious art." "And I'm afraid a large majority of the press supports this attitude." "We want great films with long shelf lives." "We want films by the new John Hustons, Orson Welles, Frank Capra." "We, and the other major film studios, have a responsibility to the public... .. to maintain the art of motion pictures... .. as our primary mandate." "Movies are art." "Now, more than ever." "Thank you." "Griffin, that was one hell of a job." "I couldn't have done it better myself." "I'll know all of your lines soon." " Well, are we having fun yet?" " I'm having a great time." "Is this a friend of a friend?" "How did you meet?" "How did we meet?" "Well,... at a funeral." "Isn't that right?" "At a funeral?" "Absolutely." "Excuse us." "Steve, whose daughter is he with?" "Seriously." "I'd like..." "He said she was somebody's daughter." "I wanted to know whose." "I don't know." "Don't make a scene!" "That was a good one!" "That's what I call a real date!" " Should I come in?" " Er..." "Well..." " Er..." "Well..." " Not tonight." "But soon." "Mm." "Very soon." " How about Mexico?" " Mexico?" " Neutral territory." "Acapulco." " I've never been to Acapulco." " We'll go." " Is that the thing to do?" " That's a thing to do." " Let's do it." " We'll go this weekend." " Really?" " Do I need a passport?" " Yes." "Mr Mill, Detective De Longpre, Pasadena police." "Yes, I recognise you." "Did you have a good time at the party last night?" "No, I didn't." "I'm not supposed to have a good time when I'm on duty." " Well, what do you want, Detective?" " I'd like you to come down to the station." " Why?" " To look at some pictures." " Pictures?" " Mug shots." "You know, like in the movies." " Ah, mug shots." "Yes, well..." "All right." " Will you follow me to Pasadena?" " Pasadena." " Pasadena." "Will you fasten your safety belt, please?" " Come, let's go." " No!" "Take your hands off of her!" " I want my baby." " Where's her baby at?" "Let me go!" " Ah, Mr Mill." " Hello." "How are you?" "Everybody, Mr Mill." "You remember him, he makes movies." "Have a seat, Mr Mill." "Where the fuck is he going?" "Excuse me?" "Sir?" "Mr Mill?" "Not in here." "It's my lieutenant's office." " Sorry!" " Right here." "All right now." "Er..." " Willa, could you...?" " Sorry." "Thank you." "Sorry, have a seat, Mr Mill." "Listen, um, before we start..." "Paul saw a movie last night he came in here raving about." "Paul, what was the name of that movie, they changed the lady into the chicken?" " Freaks." " Have you ever seen this?" "Tod Browning, yes." ""One of us, one of us, one of... "" "He came in doin' it!" "He was raving' about it." "He loved it." "It was thrilling for me." "Willa." "Excuse me." "Did you see where the tampons went that were here?" "Cos I can't seem to find 'em." " I didn't take 'em." " Who took 'em?" "Did he take 'em?" " I didn't take 'em." " You see this?" "Damn!" " So do you have a break in the case?" " What makes you say that?" "Well,... why else would you bring me here?" "Why else indeed?" "Paul?" "Paul, why have you brought Mr Mill in here today?" "To look at some pictures." "Willa?" "Pictures?" "Listen, could you..." "If you remember, what were you, er, wearing that night?" "I was wearing, um..." "a double-breasted suit, I believe." "Just..." "Oh." "It's all right." "You're so jumpy!" "Sit down." " I..." "I'll get it." " No, that's what she's here for." "It's OK." " Sorry." " No problem." "OK." "Can you take a look at this gentlem...?" "Where were they?" "She found them, look." "You're right." "Oh, wait a minute." "No." "These aren't mine." "Slender regular." "These are yours." "I guess you have jumbo." "Well, I do use jumbo." "These are not mine." "God!" "Just trying to help you out." "Um, look, did you see this guy...?" "Oh." "Sorry!" "Um, no." "I..." "Y-You're putting me in a terrible position here." "I would hate to get the wrong person arrested." "This is Pasadena." "We do not arrest the wrong person." "That's LA." "LA, they kick your ass and then they arrest you." "We don't do that." "Remember last year?" "What was that guy's name, on the tape?" " King." " That's it." "King." "He was the wrong guy." " Do you have a witness?" " I can't answer that!" "Well, either you have a witness or these are suspects in similar murders." "Have you been going to detective school?" "In our movie, Lonely Room, Scott Glenn plays a detective much like yourself." " Is he a black woman?" " Oh, Lily Tomlin's in that?" "Actually,I was drawing the comparison not based on race or... gender." "Speaking of which, did you go out with, er, June, er...?" " What is that woman's name?" " Gudmundsdottir." "What is it?" "Who..." "Spell it for me." " G-U-D-M-U-N-D-S-D-O-T-T-I-R." " Oh, that really helps" " Gud..." "Er, did you go out with June...?" " Gudmundsdottir." " Yeah, her." " Yes, I did." " Known each other long?" " We spoke for the first time..." " .. the night Kahane was killed." " Wow." "So you didn't know her before?" "No." "We met over the phone." "We got to talking and one thing led to another." "Did you fuck her?" " What kind of question is that?" " It's pretty direct." "Did you... fuck her?" "Well, I wouldn't answer that question without a lawyer here,... .. then I probably wouldn't even answer it." "Ask your friend." "He's been following me." "He'll probably know." "All right." "Paul,... .. did Mr Mill fuck June..." "Hootmahoorter?" "I didn't see him." " You got away with it." " What are you implying?" "Nothing." "I asked you a direct question." "Did you fuck..." "I said I wouldn't answer that question." " Why are you so hot under the collar?" " Because you're being rude." "Oh, excuse me." "But I think it's kinda soon for her to be gallivanting' around with you." "I'm there for her as a friend, Miss Avery." "Why don't you call her?" "She'd be happy to pick over the horror of what's happened... .. and tell you how we became friends" "What is this?" "Fucking Iran?" "Since when did the state tell us how long and with whom we can share our grief?" "Or do you hold June Gudmunds... dottir... .. to a special code of conduct reserved for women?" "What the fuck are you laughing at?" "!" "It's just..." "I'd like to talk to my lawyer." "Can't even say the bitch's name!" "One of us, one of us, one of us." "It's time to get yourself a real good lawyer." "I had a drink with the guy, that's all." "If you went to Pasadena with intent to kill, you could go to the gas chamber." "I went to Pasadena with the intent to hire." " So you say." " The Schecter brothers are here." " Griffin, Griffin, don't make us wait." " Who's this man?" " The travel agent called to confirm." " He grabbed the phone." " Travel agent?" " I'm going to Puerto Vallarta." " You're leaving the country." " For the weekend." " It's a risk." " Why?" "Because Larry Levy could have my office in three days." " That's what..." "Walter thinks." " You know something I don't know?" "You're pretty smooth." "I sleep at night." "You really should run a studio." " Tell a friend." " Yeah, Walter, it's been real." "We're tired of shopping it all around." "We wanna go exclusive to one studio." " Carl, what have our last pictures made?" " $105 million." "Not a lot." "But we're always under budget." " He's not listening." "Let's go to Columbia." " We already went to Columbia." "Hey, Bon." " Hey." "I got the Tom Wolfe book!" " Congratulations." " Bonnie, make him give us a deal." " We're tired of shopping around." " I thought that's how you guys liked it." " Changed our minds." " I'll talk to you later." " Levison says you're going out of town." "For the weekend." "Are you going with someone named..." "June something?" "Yes." "You took her to a party, Griffin, with several hundred of my best friends." "She's recently widowed." "You weren't in town." "So I took her." "And now you're taking her to Mexico for the weekend." "Carl, let's go." "Mom and Dad are fighting." "Guys,... have your lawyer give me a call." " You got a deal." " Yes!" " Let's go before he changes his mind." " We have witnesses." "Have a good trip." "The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only." "No parking." "Do not leave your car unattended due to the current security alert." "All unattended cars may be towed away." "For your safety..." " Um, did you bring your passport?" " Yes." "You wanna hear something funny?" "I forgot mine." "Oh, do we have to go back and get it?" "It's so stupid of me." "We'll never make another plane today." "It's all right." "Anyway, I got a better idea." " D'you like the desert?" " I've never been to the desert." "Never been to the desert?" "I know this great hideaway in Desert Hot Springs." "It's a two-hour drive." "I know the people." "We'll call ahead." "Are we hiding?" "Yeah, we're hiding." "We're hiding from everybody." "You'll like it there." "It'll remind you of Iceland." "Evening, Mr M." "You're all checked in." "Capone Villa." "You know where it is." " Yep, thanks." " You're welcome." "# Pois é" "# Do meu quarto dav a pra se ver..." "Hey, look!" "The water looks like it's steaming." "It comes out of the ground that way." "# E era tudo facil" "# De entender" "# Pois é" "# Tinha calma pra pensar" "# Era só refor²car..." "There aren't many people around." "Well, they're fully booked, actually." " There's 50 rooms, 100 people." " Where are they all?" "Hiding." "Sir?" " Banning Springs water, please." " Right away, Mr M." "Do places like this really exist?" "Only in the movies." "# E nas fun²cóes de amor" "# Pois é" "# Tudo calmo no país" "# Eu queria ser feliz" "# Só sei que um belo dia..." "Tell me about the movies you make." "Why?" "Mm..." "Because I want to know..." "what you do." "Well, I listen to stories and decide if they'll make good movies or not." "I get 125 phone calls a day... .. and if I..." "let that slip to 100,... .. I know..." "I'm not doing my job." "Oh." "Everyone that calls, they wanna know one thing." "They... want me to say yes to them and make their movie." "If I say yes to them and make their movie, they think that come New Year's,... .. it's gonna be them and Jack Nicholson on the slopes of Aspen." "That's what they think." "Problem is... .. I can only say yes, my studio can only say yes, 12 times a year." "Collectively, we hear about 50,000 stories a year." "So it's hard." "And..." "I guess sometimes I'm not nice... .. and... make enemies." "And that's what I was to David." "Enemy." "Was his story one of the 12?" "No, it wasn't." "Why?" "It lacked certain elements that we need to market a film successfully." "What elements?" "Suspense." "Laughter." "Violence." "Hope." "Heart." "Nudity." "Sex." "Happy endings." "Mainly happy endings." "What about reality?" "You're not from Iceland, are you?" "Did I say that?" "Hm." "Why don't you put me in the hot springs and see if I melt?" "Ahh..." "Mmm." "There's something you have to know." " Something I have to tell you." " That's all over." "Nothing can change that." " June..." " Mm?" " David's death..." " Mm..." "Don't." "Don't." "It's another life." "There's something you have to know." "Don't, don't say any more." "Don't." "The thing was, I was responsible." " I love you!" "Don't!" " It was my fault." "Don't!" "Don't, don't, don't, don't." "Ooh!" "Ooh!" "Mr M?" "Mr M?" "Sorry to disturb you." "There's a telephone call." "It sounds important." "A Mr Dick Mellen." "He says he's your lawyer." "Dick, how'd you find me?" "Come on, Griff, who the hell do you think you're talking to?" "Yeah." "What's going on?" " Levison's out." " Out?" "They gave him six hours to clean out his office." "Who's taken over?" "All we know is Reggie Goldman went home with the clap, or something." " So am I now in a position to...?" " I don't wanna talk about studio politics." "Why the hell didn't you mention this Kahane business?" "Kahane." "I tried to, Dick, but..." "Not hard enough." "Be at the Pasadena police station in about four hours." "Pasadena?" "What for?" "For a fucking line-up, that's what for." "They got a witness, evidently." "Look, I've found you a guy." "Gar Girard." "He's a top-flight criminal lawyer." "He's tough, he's hard-nosed." "Don't you talk to anybody else." "Just get there." " I'll be there." " Griffin, this is a tough one." "Good luck." "Thanks." "Mr Mill." "The studio's very upset about the publicity this might generate." "But I'll handle the press, police, judge and witness." "Thank you for coming without a fight." "It's in your best interest." " You sleep in that suit?" " Mill, get away from her." "She's the enemy." " Hi, Susan." "I had a lovely time at the Mint." " I can't believe you remember it." "Mr Mill, Gar Gerard." "I'm here to represent you." "Dick Mellen called me in." "They've got a witness and want you to do a line-up." "If you say no, they'll arrest you." "If you get identified, I'll get you off on bail." "Now, this witness lives across the street from the parking lot." "Even if she makes an identification, a positive ID, it was very late at night." "By the time I've finished with her, there will be a new legal standard for blindness." "This is just like they do it on television." "Don't worry about a thing." "You can see them, but they can't see you." "Just tell the truth." "Oh, I will, because I saw him clearly." "All right, Allen, fire it up." "Number one, step forward." "Make a quarter turn to the right." " Are those prescription glasses?" " You can't ask her that." " It's very hard, you know." " Oh, yeah, I know." " I don't wanna pick the wrong one." " No." "God forbid." "You just take your time." "Anybody look, er,... vaguely familiar?" "Well, you know..." "Take your time." "Number three, take one step forward." "This is not easy." "I mean, I am trying." "Just take your time." "I did see him clearly." "Tsk." "Mm..." "No, no." "I don't..." " Number four." " Look hard." "Take a good look." " I did, I did." "I am." " Quarter turn to the right." " Could I see, um,... number three again?" " Let's see number five now." " Could, could I...?" " Can she call her own numbers?" " Excuse me." " She can say who she wants to see." " Five, take one step forward." " Um,... excuse me." "Um..." "Number five." " She can call who she wants." " You're absolutely right." "No, no,... the other one." "That one." " Which one?" " Oh, oh, um..." "It's not number six." "I..." "Not number six." " Three." " What do you mean, three?" " I think she can request..." " Just a second." "What number?" "Him!" "That's him." "I'd swear on my mother's grave." " I think we're concluded here." " Th..." "Number three?" " Number three." "Yes!" " On her mother's grave." " I think we heard what she said." " Yeah, I would..." "I would say so." " Doug, take 'em out." " Number three." "Thank you." "Ma'am, may I be personal?" "Where the fuck is your mother buried?" " Everyone, let's get out of here." " Let's get out of this sauna." "I don't know who got to that witness,... .. but she wrapped up my case, picking that cop." "You're a lucky man, Mr Mill." " Goddamn it!" "No ramp again." " Witnesses can't be relied on." "Remember Witness For The Prosecution, Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power?" "You're free as a bird." "No witness, no crime." "Avery thinks you just got away with murder." "Everybody does, Mr Mill." ".. hallowed be Thy name." "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." "Give us this day our daily bread... .. and forgive us our trespasses..." ".. for Thine is the kingdom..." "You've made a wonderful movie." "It-It's perfect." "It's Oscar time, Larry." "What?" "!" "We're too late!" "Come on!" "Come on!" " Hey!" " Hit the fan!" "Get back!" " What took you so long?" " Traffic was a bitch." "It's outstanding." "The audience is gonna love it." "You..." "You sold it out!" "How could you let him sell you out?" "What about truth and reality?" "What about the way the old ending tested in Canoga Park?" "Everybody hated it." "We reshot it, now everybody loves it." "That's reality." "But you had an ending which was true!" "You didn't give it a chance!" "Who is this... person?" "Does she know about working with grown-ups?" "Bonnie, goddamnit, goddamnit." "This is a hit." "This is what we're here for." "Yeah, well, it didn't have to end this way." " I want you outta here." " Good thinkin', Larry." " I'm going over your head, Larry." " Bonnie,... you're fired." "Fuck you!" "Oh, it takes more to make it in this business than a dirty mouth." "Gentlemen, the campaign." "Two points!" "Celia, it's very important." "I need to see him right now." " No, Bonnie, he's very busy." " Celia, please!" " Bonnie!" " It's me, Bonnie, we're friends." "Bonnie, you don't understand." "I am not just me, I'm also the job." "Please!" "Please." "Please." "Oh, honey, all right, all right." "I'll try." "OK?" "Three points!" "Take that!" "Oh, Walter, stop that nonsense!" "Griffin, it's Bonnie." "She's here." "Take that!" " Did he fire her?" " Yes, sir, I guess he did." "Well, I can't see her now." "I promised I'd be home early." "Tell her I'll get back to her." "Walter, get your foot off the fucking couch." "Tell her yourself." " OK, well, could you hold, please?" " Griffin." "Griffin?" " Larry Levy's office, it's very important." " Griffin, please, can we talk about it?" "Bonnie, you'll land on your feet." "I know it." "You're a survivor." "Griffin, it's Larry Levy's office." "He says it's very important." "Put it in the front seat." "Give it a minute and transfer it to the car phone." "Yeah?" "!" "Griffin, I have Larry Levy on the line." "Larry, how did the screening go?" "How's my new ending?" "Fantastic!" "Fantastic!" "Worked like gangbusters!" " That's why you get the big bucks, Griff." " Yeah, yeah." "Stop kissing my ass, Larry." " What do you want?" "Can't this wait?" " I don't think it should." "This is hot!" "I got a writer here who's got a pitch you oughta hear." "It's a great idea." " Yeah?" "Who's the writer?" " I'll put him on the speaker." "Hold on." "Hiy a, Griff." "Remember me?" "I'm the asshole who used to be in the postcard business." " You?" " Right." "The king of suspense himself." " Remember me?" " I haven't heard from you for a while." "Well, I've been busy." "I've been writing a script." "I got inspired." "Tell him!" "You'll love this, Griffin!" "It's a Hollywood story, Griff, a real thriller." "It's about a shitbag producer, studio exec,... .. who murders a writer he thinks is harassing him." "Problem is, he kills the wrong writer." "Now he's got to deal with blackmail as well as the cops." "But... here's the switch." "Son of a bitch, he gets away with it!" "Larry, I wanna talk to him privately." "Sure thing." "This is a winner, Griffin." " He gets away with it?" " Absolutely." "It's a Hollywood ending." "He marries the writer's girl." "They live happily ever after." " Can you guarantee that ending?" " If the price is right, you got it." " If you can guarantee that, you got a deal." " I guarantee it, Griff." " What d'you call this thing, anyway?" " The Player." "The Player." "I like that." "What took you so long?" "The traffic was a bitch." "Subtitles by Jane Luchford Intelfax Media Access"