"Subtitles corrected by Duat" "It's very bad, Nikolai." "you can feel the push, like something leaning on the screen door trying to get in." "Mischief." "Mischief." "If I had the money..." "I'd surely be in Miami." "Sorry, angel, but I don't play the sap for anybody ...bad for business." "Hey, Lovecraft, too bad you're losing out on your fee." "With a client like this, maybe you already collected ... up-front, if you know what I mean?" "Get up, Grimaldi." "People will think you've never been socked by a dame before." "Good evening, lieutenant." "What's this?" "It's the murder weapon." "Well Bradbury at least she found a nice, clean way to bump him off." "Time was, you had to look a man in the eye before you could kill him." "Well..." "Now you can do it by tying six knots in some string." "Magic--it gives me the shakes what you can buy in ths town." "they said it would make things easier." "and it has" "lots of things" "How is it?" "Bad" "It's always bad" "There's bad and there's BAD something's coming, something ugly." "Guys like me got to clean up the mess." "Watch your back." "Thanks." "You, too, huh?" "Not all the time, just some of the time." "you know, it, uh... makes things easier." "see you, Grimaldi." "Same old Slugcraft." "same sour outlook, same stubborn streak, and you still wear that dog-puke tie!" "Bradbury was right." ""there's bad and there's BAD,"" "but what I walked into after leaving that night made the magic I' d seen look like a side show." "My name's Lovecraft." "I'm the guy who knows-- about the only guy who knows it all... and who's still breathing." "It started that night, and it started with a woman." "It always starts with a woman." "Mickey for a minute, I didn't think you would show." "Just took a little longer, that's all, sorry" "Thank you, can I buy you a drink?" "thanks, mr." "Borden, but I..." "I gotta run." "Mickey." "Mickey." "Mick." "aren't you forgetting a little something?" "mr." "Tugwell." "I understand you're in a hurry, but I thought you'd want to get paid." "oh, yeah!" "sure, mr." "Borden." "I' d really like to stay for that drink, but you understand... oh, I understand just fine." "Good night, Mickey." "I think I' ll take some air." "Tugwell!" "Announcing the 1:30 departure of the Grand San Diegan, now boarding on track six." "stopping in Long Beach," "San Clemente, La Jolla, and San Diego departing in eight minutes." "all aboard." "mr." "Bob Reed." "paging mr." "Bob Reed." "please see a ticket agent." "final call for the Grand San Diegan." "service to Long Beach..." "I had a deal!" "I held up my end!" "Let me go!" "Tell them you lost me, say I boarded before you could stop me." "Just let me go, ok?" "I' ll share the money." "Take all of it." "just let me walk out of here that's more than fair!" "Here!" "Take it!" "Booo!" "Now boarding on track three," "Union Pacific Eagle to San Bernardino." "Good morning, mr." "Lovecraft." "Good morning, mrs." "Kropotkin." "I was wondering, with your attractive desk calendar, if you'd tell me today's date." "Tuesday, April 28th" "Does this date hold any special significance for you?" "I can't say that it does" "It's the third anniversary of the death of my husband Nikolai when he died, blackbirds fell for miles around." "It's 28 days after the day you are obliged to pay me rent for the space you share with the Kropotkin Academy." "You'll get it." "I'm seeing a new client." "Say that to my face." "People who lie to witches have their eyes shrink... into black raisins." "I'm going." "I get a retainer, you get your rent." "I had better, Lovecraft, or I will call my unsympathetic brothers, who enjoy throwing furniture out of windows." "Lovecraft" "Here give these to your new client" "I'm not drumming up business for you." "28 days in arrears, Lovecraft." "a lesser woman would have called her brothers weeks ago." "and get them to give you cash" "Yes?" ""Tap and Ballroom?"" "mr." "Lovecraft, good morning" "I'm Amos Hackshaw empty your pockets, please ...do what?" "Empty your pockets, please" "Why?" "Humor a middle-aged man, mr." "Lovecraft" "Open your shirt, please listen" "Just one button." "one behind that... tie." "Any further, there's got to be a nurse here no tokens, no talismans, no fetishes you really don't use anything." "Just like I told you." "You don't believe in magic?" "I believe it, just don't use it." " Why?" " Got personal reasons." "...and they are?" "Personal" "There was a chauffeur." "His name is Larry Willis." "I fired him." "Why?" "I have a young daughter." "she's all I have now." "I loved her mother very much she wasn't a strong woman." "we moved to California for the climate we thought it would help." "It did not." "Olivia's mother died bringing her into this sorry world." "I'm dedicated to protecting her from its more unfortunate realities." "she's only 16, mr." "Lovecraft, which makes her quite vulnerable." "so she's, uh, inexperienced?" "I prefer the word "pure,"" "a purity that charms all things and blinds them to the trap and bow." "Didn't like the way Willis looked at her." "I thought removing him was enough, but he took something." "What?" "A book--an old book." "Valuable?" "The fittings and bindings might be worth a few thousand." "It holds sentimental value for me." "What kind of book?" "A treatise on certain kinds of esoteric magic it was called the Necronomicon." "It's about the same size as a large photograph album, bound in leather, finished in gold." "I want it returned quickly." "How quickly?" "Thursday." "I'm attending a conference it's crucial to my presentation." "That's the day after tomorrow ... by midnight." "A conference starting at midnight?" "If you don't think you're right for the job-- what does Willis look like?" "thin, 5' 10, sandy hair." "How old?" "26." "He lived here?" "Meadows has his address, but he hasn't been home." "It's a start." "What will you cost me, Lovecraft?" "$40 a day plus gas and reasonable expenses" "You can get cheaper, but you can't get better." "if you're looking for an edge, there are many detectives who use witchcraft." "No." "No." "you 're the man." "A retainer's customary. 100 will do." "probably spend more than that on goldfish for your squid." "It is NOT a squid." "Take the rest of the afternoon, Jeeves." "I can find my own way out." "Can I offer you a drink, mr." "Lovecraft?" "I saw the registration on your car's steering column." "Brandy?" "No." "It's a little early for me." "Quite a tie." "Oh, thanks." "Put up a fight?" "No." "I snuck up behind it." "What does my dried-up walnut of a father want with a private detective?" "It doesn't say detective on my registration." "It's on the business cards in your glove compartment." "did you rutine my tires?" "Maybe later." "what's your birth date?" "December 5th, like Martin van Buren." "Sagittarius, with 16 letters to your name... not bad." "not perfect, but not bad." "Yeah. what sign was Larry Willis born under?" "Gemini." "the twins." "should charge double for taking care of him." "Is that why my father hired you?" "To defend my honor?" "this will be easy money." "yeah?" "how come?" "No." "I don't think so." "you wouldn't want me to make it easy you don't look like the kind." "If you want something, I bet you'd work for it, really crack a sweat, know what I mean?" "you'd better take that blouse off" "Oh?" "why?" "you can't get blood stains out after they set." "After the hunt," "I take my clothes off and burn them." "You have to be naked for the ceremony." "What ceremony's that?" "Tribute to Diana, goddess of the hunt." "Oh." "Would you like to watch?" "Thanks, but I'm supposed to get my teeth cleaned this afternoon." "Well, you're different, Lovecraft." "I' ll give you that." "You're different yourself." "Am I?" "All smoke and not a lick of flame" "What makes you say that?" "Only virgins can catch unicorns, right?" "Just what I thought." "...and the radio said it's going to be clear all day." "Give it back!" "It's mine!" "God damn it." "Sounds like the choke's stuck" "It ain't neither no god damn choke." "I know what it is the little bastards" "After world war I, the only thing we brought from france was the clap this war they go off to the Pacific and bring back these god damn gremlins" "little bastards get into everything." "You live here?" "I ran it with my wife she died eight years ago, run over by a pie wagon." "Somebody live here named Larry Willis?" "Is this where I ask, "who wants to know?"" "Aw, I don't care much for dancing" "I got veins in my legs" "Wouldn't be no reward, would there?" "No" "Then he ain't here." "moved three days ago." "Can I look in his room?" "this is a rooming house, ain't a museum." "how about you rent it for, say, five minutes?" "Ever have any visitors?" "Everybody I know is dead." "I meant Willis." "Not that I ever saw." "Suppose he had any when you were out?" "I don't go out." "No ladies?" "I' d have heard." "son of a bitch!" "that's it enough's enough!" "invading the sanctity of my home!" "this is my home!" "my castle!" "I'm getting sick of this!" "I'll eliminate them one by one!" "tear them like ticket stubs!" "one by one!" "I'm going to exterminate them!" "I'm going to get you now, you..." "I know where you are!" "Know anybody by the name of Mickey?" "Mickey Mouse." "And I didn't think you'd help." "Take it!" "# come and party with the fancy guys # # where highlife thrives, a jazzy, carefree... #" "Bourbon." "Show it some water, but be discreet." "Like an orchid in the moonlight." "# hip people like us # # it's people like us # # that go to town # # go to town # # go to town #" "All right." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Has Larry Willis been in tonight?" "who?" "Larry Willis don't know the gent." "He was meeting Mickey here." "Don't know any Mickey." "Maybe you got the wrong joint." "sure you don't know Larry Willis?" "you're barking up the wrong bartender." "I don't know the gent." "like you said." "ladies and gentlemen," "Harry Borden's Dunwich Room is pleased to present the singular song styling of the one and only miss Connie Stone!" "# I'm so easy to please # # someone handsome like you # # could supply all that I need # # to satisfy me # # butter candies with cream # # and a kiss that gets lost in its steam #" "# these satisfy # # if all you can do is stand by # # while this girl's lips are lonely # # you're not the man I dream #" "# champagne magnums when chilled # # by those big things, I'm thrilled # # if they're tasty # # a deep, hearty sigh # # these satisfy #" "you still know how to wrap yourself around a song" "Phil buy you a drink?" "why not" "I'm drinking bourbon and water." "the lady will have a scotch sour." "suppose I' d changed my drinking habits." "I' d have ordered you a sour anyway, just to watch you eat the fruit." "sweet old Phil-- subtle as a flagpole." "you still cleaning other people's dirty laundry?" "I'm a private eye." "You still with Borden?" "was that a question?" "Not really." "what brings you out here?" "looking for someone." "anyone in particular?" "a chauffeur with delusions of grandeur." "I was hired to put him in his place." "Neither of us should throw rocks as far as our careers go." "here's to the job at hand." "does the upstart chauffeur have a name?" "Larry Willis doesn't ring a bell" "anybody running around here named Mickey?" "Mickey who?" "did someone put up an office building behind me?" "Harry wants to see you." "Harry wants to see me." "Harry wants to see you now." "Johnny, we shook hands." "show me a piece of paper." "come in!" "I'm not the type of man that's going to stand in somebody's way." "Go ahead and sign your record deal." "I wish you nothing but the best." "Mala dicta." "Go sign your record deal." "Been a long time, partner." "You're in a good mood." "Hey, why shouldn't I be?" "Everything's cream for me these days, strictly cream." "Have a seat." "So how's about you?" "Surviving." "Heh heh!" "still a nickel-and-dimer, huh?" "Tell me, aren't you sick of the small-time?" "Nah." "It's got special charms." "Where are your regular leg-breakers?" "Progress." "Zombies don't eat, don't complain." "Don't get ideas." "Don't they smell?" "They're good for three months, depending on the weather." "Then what?" "You get more." "30 bucks a head, 6 to a box." "...like bonbons." "so... how you doing, Phil?" "I mean, really." "Could I stand you a couple bucks?" "I'm overpowered by your generosity." "Nickel-and-dime." "You've got a nickel- and-dime outlook." "That's why you can't see the big picture." "Word is, you don't use magic." "Word's right." "You're a schmuck." "everybody uses magic." "It's 1948." "the future is here." "You don't wise up, you'll be left so far behind, it will cost 30 cents to send you a post card." "I didn't know you cared." "We go back." "So, Harry, read any good books lately?" "Am I supposed to know what you're talking about?" "I'm looking for a hot book you're telling me the way of the world." "I'm just trying to be a gracious host." "Great, but I' ve got better things to do." "Maybe you'd better be careful how you spend your time, Phil." "You never know how much you got left" "mr." "Tugwell, show my guest the way out." "hey, Lovecraft..." "Connie's looking good, isn't she?" "He knows about the book." "Maybe" "Ah, what's to do?" "I think I' ll get some air." "# I' ve erased every feeling # # that carries your name # # each response to your touch has been replaced # # but say what I may # # it's not convincing # # why do I lie to me?" "#" "# I am free from the magic # # that you used to weave # # broke the spell that you once held over me #" "# I tend to pretend # # but I'm no good at it # # why do I lie to me?" "# # it may be just my wishful thinking # # that I have this life beyond you # # you're too tough to root out of my memories # # my heart's in a fix # # there's no working through #" "# to admit to the truth # # means to face what I' ve hid # # love that came to an end #" "Connie?" "# but just won't quit # # so say what I may # # it's not convincing to me # # oh, why do I lie to me?" "#" "Connie!" "Who's Connie?" "Nobody you need to worry about." "Man like you shouldn't have to drink alone." "Just worked out that way." "My, don't we look grown-up today?" "I wanted to apologize for slapping you." "Apologize for slapping or not putting on brass knuckles?" "I'm serious." "Then why are you wearing that hat?" "Is this something I should know about?" "Having a conference with a client." "Well, you don't suppose that as long as there's a vice squad, that you could hold a conference of a less bohemian nature?" "How about breakfast?" "Isn't it late for breakfast?" "It must be morning someplace." "This is delightful." "It probably doesn't rate much next to the Brown Derby." "What makes you think I' ve been there?" "my father keeps me cooped up with his foul books and chemicals." "I never have any fun." "I had to sneak out to see you." "It's so grim." "I never even get to go out to the movies." "Daddy gets the films, and I watch them all by myself." "I never go anyplace exciting." "lonely, lonely, lonely." "sometimes I feel like Rapunzel." "who?" "Rapunzel." ""Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair--"" "like in the story." "a beautiful girl waits in a lonely tower to be rescued, but just when the prince shows up, this terrible witch strikes him blind." "the rest of the book, he walks into things." "It's awful." "My old man read me from the racing form." "Said it brought him luck." "Did it?" "Not that I ever saw." "What about this stolen book?" ""It's the shimmering black diamond of my collection."" "all he ever talks about is his collection of books." "Wish I were a book." "He'd pay more attention to me." "He have this Necronomicon long?" "No." "He brought it back from Egypt last winter." "Everything ok, folks?" "Dandy" "Can I get you something else?" "No" "Ok, then." "hey, thanks." "My compliments to the chef." "This was terribly good." "a little greasy, but better than I expected." "Stay put if anything happens, jump under a table." "Lovecraft!" "Off-limits, pal." "Just looking for somebody... pal." "What's the rush?" "I' ve got a little problem with the check." "Pay whatever you think you owe." "Look at it" "I don't want to look." "Do you think I just fell off a turnip truck?" "Who paid you?" "What's this?" "I don't know!" "Stand there, steam, if you want to stay alive!" "You cast runes at me." "If I stand this close, what happens to me happens to you." "Let me go!" "Don't!" "Don't touch it!" "Take it back." "Take it back!" "Open the freezer door!" "open it!" "I didn't know the outside world could be so fascinating." "do all police stations have the same smell?" "All the ones I know." "You're up." "It's about time." "Hurry up and wait, Slugcraft." "Old man wants to talk to you personally, but I' ll speak with the young lady." "Wait!" "I' ve got your ass, punk, so why don't you be smarter than you look and spill it?" "Save it, pal." "that doesn't buy nothing." "Your buddies can't hear you now, and if you think they'd lift a paw to help you, you're a chump." "Throw him in the cage." "God." "I hate full moons." "Plant it." "Not there you'll get hair all over your suit." "So what are we drinking to?" "Nothing." "We're just drinking." "I used to hate your guts." "You told me often enough." "Now I can't trust anyone else." "Gosh, Bradbury." "I didn't know you cared." "Everyone else has a magic wand up his ass." "I' ve got vampires in West Hollywood, salamanders in Santa Monica, black rain, red rain, fist-sized hail." "Magic is the way of the future wouldn't want to buck the future." "If this is the future, I' ll take vanilla." "I could use some help." "I'm an independent contractor now." "The department has got no beef with you, never had." "sorry" "I like being my own boss." "You got any dissatisfied customers?" "Well, some people like me better than other people." "Who doesn't like you enough to cast runes?" "Haven't a clue." "Grimaldi says you were with a skirt." "daughter of my client." "client got a name?" "...Yes" "Phil, this doesn't have to be a trip to the dentist a fellow's partner goes bad, goes on the take, that happens." "just because Harry" "I don't need a history lesson." "someone's throwing Lesser Demons at you, black magic from the Pit of Asagoth and you dont have a rabbits foot." "I can handle it." "I'm worried about bystanders." "All right." "have it your way." "I can use the overtime." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Will you have to take my fingerprints?" "No need to get your hands dirty, cupcake." "I' ve never had my fingerprints taken." "I' ve never been in a police station before, and I' ve never spoken to an actual police officer." "How's the experience shaping up for you?" "It's very stimulating." "You'll get used to it." "What did you see before the runes got there?" "Two eggs and a side of toast." "Phil, nothing in life is as funny as you think." "yeah" "Who?" "All right." "Your lawyer's here." "Lawyer?" "I don't have a lawyer." "You do now." "A pleasant evening to this fine and good company." "I'm Thaddeus Pilgrim, mr." "Lovecraft's legal adviser." "I apologize for being late, my client failed to notify me of his decision to voluntarily assist the police." "Often our courageous public officials neglect, without malice, certain constitutional boiler plate." "It's then the humble role of men like myself to point out the potential repercussions of their well-intentioned but nonetheless illegal actions." "I'm getting a headache just listening to this." "How did you know where to find me?" "You give off vibrations like a cheap radio." "miss Hackshaw." "yes, officer Grimaldi?" "I don't want you running off without signing your statement." "silly me" "Still planning to leave town, cousin Hypolite?" "As soon as possible." "Good" "Leaving town?" "I suggest you do the same." "I' ve got a job to do." "Tomorrow night, there will be an alignment, all of the wrong planets will be in the right place, the air crackles like wax paper." "things are in flux, the auras are bad." "Me, I'm going to Florida." "Nasty, very nasty." "the Necronomicon?" "I guess you've heard of it." "Must be some book." "Revelations 5: "...and I saw in the right hand"" ""of him that sat on the throne"" ""a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals"." ""and I saw a strong angel"" ""proclaiming in a loud voice,"" ""who is worthy to open the book"" ""and loose the seals thereof?"" ""and no man in heaven nor earth,"" ""neither under the earth, was able to open the book,"" ""neither to look thereon."" "the Necronomicon's in the bible?" "the end will come with the opening of a door." "the Necronomicon is the key." "Can't tell you when I' ve had a lovelier time." "Maybe next time I' ll take you to the morgue." "Could we?" "uh-oh." "Hello, daddy." "Inside!" "to your room!" "Thank you for an educational day, mr." "Lovecraft." "Don't mention it." "I hired you to remove a threat to my daughter's honor, not to replace it." "I'm distressed." "time's running out, and this is how you're pursuing your investigation." "Do I tell you how to abuse the servants?" "Willis stole the book for a man named Borden." "He did what?" "there's a link between Borden and a middleman named Mickey Locksteader." "I figured Mickey works with Willis." "Still don't think you're getting your money's worth?" "No." "Not at all, this has been most enlightening." "carry on with your inquiries." "I have every confidence in you." "The Necronomicon must be in my hands by tomorrow, midnight." "Well, I' ll leave it to you, then." "Good night." "Grimaldi, your technique stinks." "Bradbury says I'm supposed to follow you." "He didn't say anything about you not knowing." "Do me a favor." "Why?" "Because it involves a cute tomato." "It does, does it?" "what's to do?" "Keep an eye on her." "That's it?" "what do you say?" "I' ll think about it." "You do that." "Stick 'em up." "Suppose I' d been a bad guy." "I knew it was you." "How?" "I recognized the sound of your breathing." "You haven't changed, not a slice." "Hey." "It's a new suit." "Yeah, but you kept that tie." "What's wrong with my tie?" "Nothing..." "if you like vertigo." "You look good." "So do you." "You had your audience with Harry last night." "yes" "Did he say anything interesting?" "I' ve heard more intelligent sounds coming out of corduroy pants." "want a drink?" "sure" "To the good old days, whenever the hell they were." "I heard something about you at the club." "such as?" "You don't use magic." "right" "How do you expect to leave this dump?" "It seems we've had this discussion." "Everybody uses magic." "I don't." "Integrity buys you a broken car and an ugly necktie." "Phil, everybody's got to compromise." "I' ve heard that." "Then what makes you so special?" "What make me special is I'm my own man." "When I started out," "I said there were things I wouldn't do." "A lot of guys sell out." "the more who fall, the easier it gets." ""see?" "everybody compromises." "everybody cheats." "everybody uses magic"" "dump their ideals and get to the job of sticking it to their neighbor." "I say, "nuts"" "my collar may be frayed, maybe I need a shoeshine, but nobody's got a mortgage on my soul." "I own it, free and clear." "I'm not going to apologize for my life." "I'm happy the way things are." "Glad to hear it." "You can't drag around the past." "Sounds like you've got a real good grip on things." "Why did you walk back into my life?" "Why did you walk out of mine?" "because you're a wiseacre son of a bitch." "And?" "...and did you really remember the sound of my breathing?" "Good morning." "You weren't this organized when you had an apartment." "A guy on his own learns to adapt." "Phil, the other night at the club, you started to ask me" "If I knew somebody named Mickey kind of a fat guy?" "nervous around the edges?" "That could be." "There was a guy at the club named Mickey." "worked for Harry." "Doing what?" "Harry doesn't tell." "I don't ask." "I think you're looking for a dead man." "He came to the club with a book for Harry-- old leather with gold clasps." "It was the wrong one." "What do you mean?" "Harry sent Tugwell after this guy Mickey to kill him." "How do you figure that?" "You don't send Tugwell to fetch the evening paper." "Take a whiff." "What is it?" "I think it's called Grand Illusion." "Cheap or expensive?" "A real lady wouldn't wear it." "Is this Mickey?" "yeah" "Who's the skirt?" "I think her name's Lilly." "You ever talk to her?" "traded lipsticks once in the powder room dished about what rats men are" "why'd you come here last night?" "I'm pretty good at looking the other way." "I' ve been doing it most of my life." "You can walk into a lot of brick walls doing that." "Maybe I got tired of smashing my nose." "Maybe I'm just too proud and it takes me this long to admit my mistake." "Where do you go from here?" "I have an apartment." "Whose apartment?" "mine there's more we have to talk about lots more." "if you need me, I wrote down my number it's on the desk" "careful don't get burned" "Lovecraft?" "a moment?" "Hey." "Going someplace?" "the Dixie Queen out of Union Station." "Miami." "There's something I must do before I go." "Hey." "What's this?" "The left arm." "It's attached to the heart." "I don't use this stuff." "That's why I locked it on." "you are a fool, but you are a good-hearted fool." "You seek the Necronomicon?" "Yeah." "Keep the bracelet." "You'll need it." "I'll add it to next month's rent..." "If we're lucky." "You could have killed me!" "Detective Grimaldi?" "did I hurt you?" "ahh... ahh..." "I'm ok." "Come into the house." "I' ll fix you a brandy, and then you can tell me why you were lurking behind my mulberry bush." "detective Grimaldi" "Otto." "Otto." "What is your date of birth?" "Welcome!" "Welcome to Vista Bonita." "I'm Amber Peru, but I want you to call me Amber might I know your name?" "Phil Lovecraft" "It's going to be a pleasure doing business with you." "...excuse me." "# happy, happy, happy # # happy, happy, happy #" "Please forgive the interruption, but I'm here alone today." "Vista Bonita is the community of the future, the first planned housing tract designed and built through applied Industrial Thaumaturgy." "what?" "by magic and so very peaceful." "Peaceful like a graveyard." "How awfully droll." "A pal of mine worked here, a guy named Mickey Locksteader." "you're a friend of mr." "Locksteader?" "Mickey and I go way back." "mr." "Locksteader is the man behind Vista Bonita." "well, is he here?" "He left suddenly, business in the North, but don't worry." "I'm sure we can find something special and affordable for you." "I can make you the same irresistible offer" "I made his sister." "Lilly was here." "yes." "Lilly Sirwar." "a widow." "she married an indian gentleman who died tragically attempting to levitate the Woolworth Building." "What happened?" "It fell on him." "Poor kid." "Must be tough." "I' d love to look her up." "I haven't seen Lil since hector was a pup." "she's at the hotel Ashcroft." "I have the number while we're inside," "I' ll point out some modern timesaving advances here in Vista Bonita our motto is-- "Built by magic, built to last"" "hello hello, baby hello, Phil" "Is that offer of help still open?" "What did you have in mind?" "It's all set she'll meet me in the Kasbah room in 10 minutes." "You got cab fare?" "I want you out of here." "You can't get rid of me that quickly." "Ok, but stay in the lobby." "I want to have a private conversation." "Who asked you to sit down?" "my feet" "Snappy comebacks." "I like that." "It's one of the things I do best." "I bet it is." "under different circumstances, I' d, uh-- but I'm meeting someone, ok?" "You've got time for me, don't you, Lilly?" "Who the hell are you?" "You and I are going to have a private chat." "Ok." "What gives?" "what's the name of that perfume you're wearing?" "Grand Illusion." "what's it to you?" "That will teach you not to pick up strange men." "Who the hell are you?" "Let's let our hair down and talk things over." "no!" "I' ve been looking for you, Willis." "Who told you?" "I'm just adding things up." "Love Mickey... you're the only man in town Olivia doesn't chase." "It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that Lilly Sirwar's an anagram for Larry Willis." "Loosen your girdle and let's talk." "I don't need a girdle." "What have you and Mickey been up to?" "Have you seen Mickey?" "Is he all right?" "I figure he's dead." "Dead." "Have a shot." "I guess I knew that." "I didn't want to believe it." "Never should have crossed Harry Borden." "I got to leave town." "take me to Tijuana." "Long drive on a bad night what's in it for me?" "This is the biggest thing you ever got close to." "You got your ride." "Start talking." "First, give me back my hair." "So how do you fit in with Mickey?" "We met at a party about six months ago." "fag party?" "No." "Knights of Columbus." "What do you think?" "Ok, so he swept you off your feet." "His heart was as big as all outdoors." "What's Harry Borden got to do with Vista Bonita?" "he owns it, doesn't he?" "There are a half dozen fronts, but it's his." "How'd you end up driving for Hackshaw?" "Borden wanted someone trustworthy inside the Hackshaw place." "Hackshaw wanted to buy Vista Bonita for more than it was worth." "Borden wanted to know why." "So you got a chauffeur's uniform and made like Mata Hari." "You found out about Vista Bonita and the Necronomicon." "Borden wanted you to steal the book." "I did, along with a fake copy made for the insurance company." "You tried to double-cross Borden and sell the real book back to Hackshaw, but Harry made the mistake of having Mickey killed." "All we wanted was a little nest egg so we could settle down someplace." "They'll have the whole world." "Who's going to have the whole world?" "have you heard of the Old Ones?" "the outsiders, Yog-Sothoth, Cthulhu." "they're out there, shamus." "they've always been out there, waiting for someone to unlock the door." "It's in the book all right here the promise, power, and the price." "What price?" "The virgin, Lovecraft, the last of the unicorn hunters." "Olivia." "what about Olivia?" "Hold it, Lon Chaney!" "move away from the fairy!" "keep those meat hooks where I can see them." "you and the horse you rode in on." "Phil!" "I told you to stay in the lobby." "I got bored." "Come here." "Thanks for saving my life." "I' ll put it on your tab." "What now?" "I need a place to think." "I don't know about you, but I could use a drink." "I' ll fix them." "You've done enough." "Sour?" "Sour." "Those things always made my teeth hurt." "Cozy little pad, huh?" "Yeah. as far as I can see." "Take it from me." "I' ve seen the whole spread." "Know it like the back of my hand." "Why don't you freshen up, doll?" "Take a nice bubble bath." "I don't want to take a bath." "take one" "She called me from the hotel." "Don't tell me you're out of wisecracks." "It's not the way I had it pegged." "Yeah, I bet it's not." "You should be grateful, Lovecraft." "If it wasn't for her, you'd be dead." "She convinced me you'd find that book." "She's smart, and I'm smart for listening to her." "You, on the other hand... hmm." "Hand it over." "Come on, Phil." "I said hand it over." "Thanks, mr." "Tugwell." "Thanks a million." "I went to a lot of trouble to find this book." "it would have been a lot less trouble if you hadn't killed Mickey before he led us to Willis." "Wait a minute, boss." "Fair is fair." "I' ve been in your corner the whole time." "Excuse me, partner." "Boss?" "yeah?" "Can we discuss this?" "No" "I'm very disappointed" "Can't trust anybody anymore." "Trust is for suckers." "Nickel-and-dime." "Nickel-and-dime." "Taking us out for a weenie roast?" "You're a funny guy, Phil." "I' ll bet your dying words are going to be a scream." "Look at this." "she's a beauty." "See these clasps?" "Those are solid gold." "Melting them for cuff links?" "I' ll be able to melt Fort Knox." "Great." "Maybe you don't know what this is." "Are we close to Vista Bonita?" "You were always good at jigsaw puzzles." "You're lousy at living, but great with games." "That's where it has to happen" "Hackshaw's special midnight conference." "smart guy your land, his book, huh?" "don't forget the girl oh, wrong tomato, partner ahh, right." "Olivia." "last of the unicorn hunters know how hard it is to find a virgin in Hollywood?" "you got to have one try it with something else, it will blow up right in your face." "Did you call Hackshaw or he call you?" "It was my nickel." "Sounds like a great guy can't wait to meet him." "You're out of your class." "It's no time to be particular, Phillip." "If it doesn't happen tonight, it can't happen for another 666 years." "Either he cuts me in, or Olivia will go a long time before her first poke." "But you know the thing that kills me?" "Is how out of the whole phone book, he had the dumb luck to pick you." "Maybe it wasn't luck." "Maybe it's fate." "I thought you didn't believe in that stuff." "What I don't believe in is unfinished business." "It took this for us to settle accounts." "We'll settle up." "No more waking up with the shakes, thinking about you hovering over me like some god damn angel." "You'll be dead, and I' ll be on top." "That should settle things about who was smart and who was a chump." "I'm going to be immortal." "What's your split?" "All right." "Let's get the rag up on this cantata." "Don't fidget, Olivia." "Good evening, mr." "Lovecraft." "In the light of things, mr." "H.," "I can't work for you." "Too bad you've been most effective-- leading me to the book, helping us come together tonight." "The ugly at the hotel was your muscle." "Nothing must stand in the way." "I' ve spent my life in expectation of this night" "Studying, preparing, living with Olivia's mother." "Protecting Olivia from this town and her hormones." "it's been a lifelong struggle, but one human lifetime shrinks to invisibility compared to the span of the Old Ones." "Do you realize how long they've waited for me?" "Centuries." "Millennia." "How long's that in dog years?" "The wheel has turned." "Yog-Sothoth knows the gate." "that's the promise of the Necronomicon." "let the Old Ones back in, and they will make you a god." "you get to be a god." "What does Harry get?" "Tell him." "For services rendered, mr." "Borden rules the world." "What kind of world?" "The world of the unburied dead." "it will be a blasted, maimed planet, but he'll be the most important person in it." "How you like them apples?" "Enough of your flapping." "I thought this shindig had to start at midnight." "If you'll give me the book." "Nothing happens without the book, mr." "Borden." "Here we go, baby." "How about a kiss for good luck?" "sure" "Good luck, Harry." "Couldn't lay off, could you?" "you couldn't take the hint." "Not public conscience number one." "Who died and made you Jiminy Cricket?" "What was I supposed to do?" "Excuse me!" "we're on a tight schedule." "shut up, rich man!" "don't, Connie." "it won't end up like you expect." "We could have gone to the top, but you never accepted the reality of things." "and Harry could he knew an honest cop and a poor cop were the same thing you talked him into going on the take" "I didn't do it with talk." "push comes to shove, you double-cross him you think I came this far just to be Harry Borden's pet?" "god, Phil, there's so much you don't know about women last chance you can still sign on sorry, Connie." "me, too." "good-bye, Phil." "that's enough!" "amateur night is over" "sorry about the hand we couldn't have you killing our friend thanks for killing that, though." "tiny minds with pathetic, stunted dreams" "Come along, Olivia." "time to fulfill your destiny like a good girl." "Be still." "From the wells of night to the gulfs of space, ever the praises of great Cthulhu, of Tsathoggua and of Him Who Is Not Named, ever praises and abundance to the Black Goat Of The Woods-- ila na gurath--the Goat with a Thousand Young," "for Thou has seen the dark universe yawning, the lost place where black planets roll without aim." "too long hath Thou dwelt in that cold captivity, beyond the mercy of time." "The way is clear." "Return and rule." "Yog-Sothoth is the key and the guardian of the gate." "He knows where the Old Ones have trod earth's fields and that they will tread once more." "Sorcerer, Emissary, Changeling, Outsider," "Thou are the Whisper in the Dark, for a million years, the voice in man's ear." "Seducer, Shaper of foul deed and betrayal, all was prelude and preparation." "We empty our hearts in Your name." "Teacher, Master, complete us." "the things outside become the things inside." "The waiting ends, and the journey begins." "consume the darkness between the dimensions." "Cross the gulf with a single stride." "Here on this threshold is placed a gift." "This is my gift." "Come forth and receive it!" "# happy, happy, happy # # happy, happy, happy... #" "Stars align, space folds, a thousand worlds merge in a single instant." "Crack the band of formlessness take shape and come forth!" "Look!" "This is what you wanted, so look at it." "Hold on!" "Lovecraft, don't let me go!" "Help me!" "help me, Lovecraft!" "No!" "Lovecraft!" "It's all right." "It's all right." "It's ok." "It's ok." "It's ok." "It's ok." "It's all right." "The Thing's gone it's gone wh--where's daddy?" "sorry, kid" "mr." "Grimaldi's in the back of the car!" "daddy threw him in the back" "Otto!" "Are you all right?" "Grimaldi, you shouldn't ride like this in cars." "what the hell happened?" "you sure you're all right?" "Grimaldi, you son of a bitch." "I don't know what you mean." "she's only 16 years old." "Cleopatra was only 14 when she surrendered to passion." "don't tell anybody" "Grimaldi, you poor sap, don't you get it?" "You saved the world!" "they'll give you a monument." "you can have lunch at the White House, your picture on the cover of Look." "and you're worried about your wife finding out you screwed a 16-year-old virgin?" "you're married?" "you wouldn't tell anybody, would you, Phil?" "give me a break, huh?" "Otto!" "cupcake, I'm as surprised as you are surprised that you're married?" "No." "I'm surprised by you." "how's the hand?" "broken what's going on?" "you just missed the fuck that saved the world." "I miss everything." "I even miss being a god." "what happens now?" "Grimaldi takes you in for killing Borden." "we were a hell of a team, you and me." "we still could be." "maybe someday" "Phil... yeah?" "Kiss me before I faint." "Lovecraft..." "Are you all right?" "Sort of..." "I thought you were going to Miami." "There's no need to now, is there?" "I guess not." "What's that stuff?" "leaves of the adder's-tongue with distilled water and mugwort." "And that?" "mercurochrome" "I'm a witch, but I'm not a fanatic bandages I have in my office." "Kropotkin... thanks for what?" "uh, it's a long story" "I' ll get the piroshkis." "I was tired as hell, but I could afford to be tired, now that it was over-- over for a lot of people-- for Locksteader and Willis, Hackshaw and Bordon, and all over for Connie." "I needed it to be morning." "I wanted to hear doors open and cars start, and human voices talking about baseball and the weather." "I wanted to make sure that there were still folks out there with nothing up their sleeves but their arms." "They didn't know it yet, but they had a better shot at happiness than they did yesterday... 'cause today," "I' ve got the Book." "# I' ve erased # # every feeling # # that carries your name # # each # # response to your touch # # has been replaced # # but say what I may # # it's not convincing #" "# why # # do I lie # # to me?" "#" "# I am free # # from the magic # # that you used to weave # # broke # # the spell that you once # # held over me #" "# I tend to pretend # # but I'm no good at it # # why # # do I lie # # to me?" "# # it may be just my # # wishful thinking # # that I # # have this life # # beyond you # # you're too tough # # to root out of my memories # # my heart's in a fix #" "# there's no working through # # to admit # # to the truth means # # to face what I' ve hid # # love # # that came to an end # # but just won't quit #" "# so say what I may # # it's not convincing # # tell me # # oh, why # # do I lie # # to me?" "#"