Witch Hunt (1994)

[bunniefuu]

News on Parade!

Magic comes to Tinseltown.

Not since this year's sensation,

a frozen 4 course
meal on a tray,

have people and the press been
caught up in such a frenzy.

Everybody wants more
magic in their lives.

Licensed practitioners of magic are
popping up like rabbits in a hat trick.

Don't like the look
of your house?

This licensed practitioner
will transform every room.

How's this for instant
interior decorating?

There's even
do-it-yourself magic.

Mr. and Mrs. America
are getting into the act.

Say... looks like this
youngster's really moving up.

Licensed magic practitioners and their
products may be on the up and up,

but there are others who's use
of magic is down and dirty!

Unlicensed, and underground.
They represent magic's dark side.

That raised the suspicions of
dynamic Senator Larson Crockett.

He's leading an
anti-magic crusade!

His target: Tinseltown!

Senator Crockett's convinced that
magic, licensed or unlicensed,

is un-American, infiltrating our lives,
and undermining the American family.

Why work, why worship, if there's
magic to make things easy?

For some of Hollywood's biggest stars and
studio moguls, it's time to name names!

Politicians and
prestidigitators at w*r.

Senator Crockett's political muscle
verses magic in Hollywood.

From Magic California,
this is News on Parade.

Magic.

Magic!

The word conjures
images of sloth,

degeneracy, and corruption.

I brought my committee to Los
Angeles where this plague began

- and I will not rest...
- What's he getting so worked up about?

Ah, some people have
a problem with magic.

What's to worry, I mean, it just
makes things easier, right?

Never touch the stuff myself.

Humph...that's some
lifeline you got there.

I got a good life.

Oh yeah, what's ya do?

I'm looking for somebody.

Someone in particular, or just someone
with an interesting outlook on things?

Na, somebody in particular.

He owes his ex-wife
$7,000 bucks!

He moved and forgot
to drop the lady a card.

So what, the little woman
hired you to find someone.

- What are you, a detective, or something?
- Or something.

When you find the guy,
you gonna break his legs?

Thanks for the conversation.

- Oh, thank you, and take a card.
- Don't mind if I do.

Me, I'm old fashioned

Man makes a promise, I
figure he should keep it.

You talking to me?

There's a lady who'd like to have
a few words with you, Sidney!

She got the last penny she's
ever gonna get from me.

I don't think so.

That's $7,000 bucks
back alimony to you!

Sidney, your wife and
(??) wants to see you.

It started off small,

it wasn't a conspiracy or
anything, it was like a,

it was just like a fad!

Somebody bent a spoon,

or levitated their dog.

Next thing you knew, it
was starting to spread.

Pretty soon the whole
neighborhood was doing it.

And in a little while,

it was all over the place,

like a Tupperware party

That's him, that's the louse!

You're walking pretty straight
for a man with no backbone.

I'm gonna let you two lovebirds
have some time alone.

Get in! Now!

Good luck, Sidney.

Why didn't you just sh**t me?

Still, I never
thought it was evil.

It was just natural.
It's human curiosity.

At worst, I thought
it was a crutch.

Magic can make people lazy,

and if you're not careful,

it can creep up on ya.

Instead of taking out the trash,

the trash takes out itself.

Instead of washing the dishes,
you just encourage them.

Nobody sees it happen to them,

it just happens

So it makes my
job a little tougher,

but it's nothing to
get hysterical about.

Last year, it was hula hoops,
and Senator Crockett

never held congressional
hearings about that.

Sure, I get tempted to
use it, who doesn't?

But in my business, it's
better just to work clean.

I knew a private eye

who hired a witch to
put a tail on a guy,

and the poor b*stard had to
have it surgically removed.

Some things just
aren't worth it.

Mr. Lovecraft?

I'm Kim Hudson.

You're in the movies.

Which one of my
efforts have you seen?

I don't remember the title.

You were in a bathtub
full of bubbles,

and you had your,

big toe stuck in a faucet.

Let's do it.

The name of the picture!

Let's do it.

It was a very
sophisticated comedy.

You know the part I liked best,

when the fat plumber came in.

So...

What can I do you
for, Miss Hudson?

Actually, it's Mrs. Gotlieb.

I'm married to N.J. Gotlieb.

The producer?

There's only one.

And, I have reason to believe
he's being unfaithful to me.

What sort of reason?

Nicky's producing my
new picture, Palisade.

He hired a girl for a walk-on,

but her part keeps getting

bigger and bigger.

Now, you'd have to be as dumb
as I look, not to figure it out.

Forty-five dollars a day,
plus gas and expenses.

Just give me something solid
I can take to my lawyers.

I'm sure, whatever he's up to,

it'll be cheap,

tawdry,

and decidedly third rate.

Please.

We gather together and close this circle
to repute the whispers in the darkness.

Cord stronger than a thread,

rope stronger than a cord.

A pledge,

a bond,

a sacrifice.

- Hi, Phil.
- Trudy.

Come to join the coven?

Not today, angel.

Anytime you want,
Phil. Anytime at all.

You be careful
what you wish for.

Who's that producer your
working for at Palisade?

- N.J. Gotlieb.
- That's the right one.

- I'm on my way there right now.
- You want a lift?

Thank you.

What's the story on Gotlieb?

He's short.

You have to be careful
with short men.

Their auras are compressed.

Is he the sort of man who
would cheat on his wife?

Only if it occurred to him?

What is that stuff?

You really don't want to know.

Watch your step, sir.

We all set?

I'm ready.

All right!

Hit it!

Mr. Gotlieb.

Have you got any gold
fillings in your teeth?

- What's it to you?
- Nothing,

it's just that they tend to
melt if you stand too close.

Mind your teeth.

Fair is foul and foul is fair.

Hover through the
fog, and the filthy air!

What place is this?

Aw, it's a real pleasure, Bill.

Welcome to Hollywood.

Holly...wood?

I got a couple of people
I'd like you to say hello to.

I-I, am N.J. Gotlieb.

This is Miss. Tracy Pinkem,
really something special.

Absolutely love your stuff, when Nicky
said you'd be doing my additional dialogue

Okay. Okay!

This is Malcolm Purdy.

- Head of production.
- Shakespeare, what an honor.

- Armand Vacuole, business affairs.
- How do you do.

- Ah, ah, Jim and Ted.
- Ted and Jim, actually.

Yeah, whatever!

Great writers. They'll
help you over the bumps.

Ah! Trevor Bunt,
best director in town!

And, Mr. Frank Krusnik, of
the William Morris agency.

Who are you?

Oh! I'm-I'm with the witch.

Ah, excuse me a
second, will you, Bill.

Somebody get Bill
here a parking space.

Paint over whats-his-name,
that Nobel prize guy.

Finn Macha.

Moses on a pony, if
it isn't Phil Lovecraft.

Well, how's the world
treating you, Dickface?

I thought you were in Chicago.

I miss the friendly people,

and the orange groves.

What are you doing for Gotlieb?

Privileged information.

But from one lodge
member to another,

he called me in as a security
consultant and expeditor.

I tie up loose ends.

It seems to me they're still looking
for a couple of people you expedited.

Are you still chasing naughty
husbands, Dickface?

And drying the tears of those
poor lonely wifey-poos?

Tell me something.

Honestly.

Do I look like I have
a d*ck on my face?

That's why I like you, Phil.

I like to take things apart.

See how they work.

Watches, phonographs, people.

I like to see inside.

Well,

I'll see you around, Phil.

I don't think so.

Oh, there's no doubt about it.

You and me, we've still
got business to settle.

Who was that?

It's somebody I know.

He has a sour eye.

The devil can put all manner
of mischief in an eye like that.

If it were mine,
I'd pluck it out.

Let's get outta here.

I followed Gotlieb
up to Los Feliz

I wish I had a rum punch
for every time somebody

in my business followed
a car up to Los Feliz.

Look at the motion
picture industry, friends.

Why do you think
everyone is beautiful?

Magic!

Why don't they ever get old?

Magic!

Why are their jokes
always funny?

Magic!

It was creepy up there.

I cut my lights and stayed back.

The last thing I needed
was to get turned to

stone, or end up with
the body of a goat.

Standing!

In my dressing room.

With my wardrobe lady.

Being fitted into my costume!

I'm a movie star,
she's a waitress.

How do you think
that makes me feel?

I gotta do what I think
is best for the picture.

My picture.

MY picture.

You're replacing me

with that skinny-a*s car-hop!

We're married, you crumb.
What will people think?

Don't make a big
deal out of it, Kim!

There are lots of other studios,
you'll land on your feet.

You can't do this to me.

What about our marriage?

That wasn't a marriage,
that was a license to shop.

What about my 3 year contract?!

Have your people
talk to my people.

The public won't stand for this!

The public?

What you fail to grasp is just
how replaceable you are!

You're nothing but nice
t*ts, and a pleasant smile!

You'll be forgotten before
you reach the gate!

This isn't the first time I've been
f*cked in a producer's office.

Just you.

Not Dickens.

N.J. Gotlieb.

It's Harry Schrodinger.

Five minutes!

So, he won an Oscar.

He hasn't had a
hit for five years!

But I'm willing to give the rummy
another chance, because

I'm sentimental.

Tell him he's
got 'til 5 o'clock!

Take it, or leave it!

What do you want?

I want to make my report.

- Save it. You're fired.
- I am?

You're fired. I'm fired.

Everybody's fired.

You want to know where
he went last night?

I couldn't care less.

He went to a big house in
the hills above Los Feliz.

You said he went where?

In a house on Glendower Avenue.

- That cow.
- Now, what cow would that be?

- Get that, will ya?
- No, you fired me, remember?

Yeah, it's me.

Am I in your way?

Get them out of here.

All right. Come on.

Hi.

What the hell are
you doing here?

It's go to see you too,
Bradbury. What happened?

Come on, give.

I'm a friend of the
widows. What happened?

Somebody put the big whammy on
Gotlieb and cut him down to size.

Wow!

And...

Ever see two dogs play
tug-of-w*r with a bone?

Forget the gurney, you can get
him out of here in a lunch pail.

Are you thinking of something?

I'm thinking that, according
to this lady, the last

person to see Gotlieb
before he got small

was your friend the widow.

Okay. Okay. Break it up. This is
a police investigation. Come on.

Lt. Bradbury.

Heard good things about you.

Larson Crockett.

What's being done about
this ghastly business?

We're working on it.

Good!

This is just another example
of how magic has shot its

sinister tentacles into the
motion picture industry.

I give my personal pledge that soon a new
day will dawn on a witch free America.

A more wholesome country,
as we proceed with our

Los Angeles hearings and
prepare our patriotism rally...

I thought the magic
was trouble, but now...

Now that they're trying
to outlaw the stuff...

How come I'm not so happy?

If God doesn't destroy Hollywood

He owes Sodom and
Gomorrah an apology.

As my dear friend Norman Desmond is so fond
of saying, maybe the pictures got small.

But Nicky Gotlieb
never got small.

Well, he did, actually.

But not until the very end.

When he got really small.

Onerous?

You may be the head of a studio.

You may be a big star.

In heaven, we are
all just bit players.

Under contract to the
one who discovered us.

Cecil B. DeMille.

Fatty Arbuckle.

Nicky Gotlieb.

All just walk-ons.

In the part we
were born to play.

God's little extra.

In Nicky's case,
God's very-little extra.

God's littlest extra.

But no less dear to God,
as he was dear to us.

So, farewell, N.J. Gotlieb.

We have reached
the final fade-out.

But, dear friends.

Think of it not so
much as a fade-out,

but as a dissolve
for a fair world.

We have to talk.

Awful nice, you showing
up for his funeral.

I am the widow.

Besides, it'd look
funny if I didn't come.

People might get the wrong idea.

And what idea would that be?

I wanna hire you.

You hire me. You fire me. Now
you wanna hire me again.

I think the police
think I k*lled Nicky.

- I think you're right.
- I didn't.

Uh-huh.

You believe me, don't you?

Doesn't matter what I believe,
matters what I can prove.

Well, prove it.

Oh! Well, you're
tough, aren't you?

That's me.

Are you tough enough to put your
husband in that parakeet coffin?

Don't strain yourself trying
to figure me out, Lovecraft.

Just find out who k*lled Nicky,
and get me off the hook.

Can you get the keys to his car?

His car?

The Lincoln he was
driving the other night.

Well, I can get them for you.

I'll start with that, and the
house on Glendower.

Forget about the
house on Glendower.

There's nothing there
you have to know about.

- Well, I'll decide that for myself.
- Stay clear of that place.

You know the cops are only going
to work as hard as they have to.

If the frame fits,
you're gonna wear it.

The keys to the Lincoln
will be at the house.

Somebody slipped me a
Mickey the other night.

What kind of a Mickey?

A raven landed on
the hood of my car.

And the next thing I
know, it's morning.

Ooh, nice touch!

I man, you don't see that kind of
workmanship around these days.

It's usually just frogs.

Not even toads, just frogs.

Oh, but yours...

Anyway, what was the
purpose of this Mickey?

I was following somebody.

And when you woke up,

he was gone.

And now he's dead.

- N.J. Gotlieb.
- The same.

I'm going out to look
at his car, and...

I was...

hoping that maybe
you might go with me.

Are you asking me for help?

Well, I'm asking you to
watch my back for ravens.

Okay?

I have to make a phone call.

So! What are we looking for?

I don't know.

There's sand on
the drivers side.

And none on the passengers.

He went to the beach alone?

Or he went with someone who
didn't come back with him.

Is this what you do
when you detect?

Yeah, basically.

Well, it doesn't seem
very precise to me.

What's buzzin', cousins?

What is this, a field trip?

I had to have somebody watching
my back while I was watching yours.

Besides, Trudy might
be able to help.

God knows I'm willing.

What kinda help?

Events cling to objects, and Trudy is
very good at 'hearing' their memories.

Very, very good.

You want to know what
happened to Gotlieb,

where he and his friend went?

I don't use magic.

Purist!

Who said boo about magic?

You drive the car.

I read the map. That's all.

And what are you, the chaperone?

What about my car?

We have to take this car.

This holds the memories.

It'll be our little secret.

I get the front seat!

Thanks.

Here's where I lost them.

It was raining when
they got back in the car.

Gotlieb, and...

another man.

What am I, the chauffeur?

Never mind. Keep Driving. You're
gonna have the time of your life.

They drove down the hill.

Where do I go?

West on Sunset, all
the way to the beach.

This is where they came.

Now, you can wait here.

You forget, we can help.

I found the house, didn't I?

You want me to tell
you who owns it?

Yes.

I can almost feel it.

It's definitely coming.

Well, when it hits you

would you let me know.

Want me to do that for you?

Do you mind?

All right.

I don't understand.

What?

There's nothing.

Nothing unusual?

Nothing at all.

This place has been
wiped clean, erased, its...

I've never...

It's so empty. What
happened here?

- There was a girl.
- How do you know that?

Doesn't take magic,
there's always a girl.

Trudy, let's take a
look at the bedroom.

Can I ask you something?

No.

What exactly is your
problem with magic?

I don't have a problem.

- I just don't use it.
- Why?

I've got personal reasons.

It's a pity.

Kropotkin says you have
the qualities of a Magus.

To know.

To dare.

To will.

What?

Somebody wiped the prints off the bottle
like they wiped the house of memories.

So you wouldn't know
anyone was here.

The easy thing would have been
to take the bottle and ditch it.

Unless...

Unless?

Unless...

Unless you wanted to make a show

of wiping the prints because...

you want someone know
what you were doing

Why would they do that?

You're the one that
writes screenplays.

You tell me.

Beverly Wilshire
Hotel, good morning.

Room 1209.

I'm sorry, those
calls are being held.

Would you like to leave a
message for Senator Crockett?

Oh, no, that's okay, thanks.

What was that?

Nobody's slept here.

Look at that bed.

There's not a ruffle on it.

It's perfectly smooth.

More show.

Trudy,

it's all right.

No, it's not, it's
not all right!

There's nothing here. Nothing!

Somebody sucked the
life out of this place.

It's so empty it
makes my head hurt.

It's all right, kid.
You did your best.

You don't understand.

This place is dead,
as dead as the moon.

That's not right at all.

Two rules you learn
in this business.

Get paid up front

and don't work with partners.

The bathroom wasn't
empty after all.

Someone had left a stem of
a martini glass from the bar.

More show?

It took us three hours to
get home from Malibu.

Then Trudy made us stop
to listen to a building.

Jesus!

You see that? You
see what he done?

Frisk him.

Move.

Where?

You're interested in
that house, aren't you?

In.

And sit.

Thanks.

- He polite.
- Shut up.

Watch him.

By which, I mean...

- Watch him!
- I'll watch him.

Still using zombies. I
thought that went out.

I just work here.

Don't they start to smell?

Not for three months,
depending on the weather.

You coulda put out my eye
with that cigarette gag.

Yeah.

You think burning somebody's
face is a joke, huh, sailor?

No, that's not a joke.

Two cannibals are
eating a clown.

One says

does that taste funny to you?

Now that-that-that's a joke.

Stand up, sailor.

Let's see how funny
it is with your face.

What's your name. kid?

Tyrone.

Tyrone.

You're not the sharpest
pencil in the box, are you?

Once in a lifetime...

If it ain't on the page,
it ain't on the stage.

What do I care about television.

If he's so hot for the
rights, let him have 'em.

Hey! Hey, sister! Will
you get it outta first!

♪ I put a spell on you ♪

♪ 'cause you're mine ♪

♪ You better stop
the things you do ♪

♪ I ain't lying ♪

♪ No, I ain't lying ♪

♪ You know I can't stand it ♪

♪ Your running around ♪

♪ You know better, daddy ♪

♪ I can't stand it, 'cause
you put me down ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I put a spell on you ♪

♪ Because you're mine ♪

♪ You're mine ♪

Mr. Brown, I'd like
you to meet Cherie.

Good evening, sir.

Perhaps a bit more

sophistication.

Of course.

And a little more up top.

Now you two run along.

Hello.

My name is Vivian Dart.
Welcome to my home.

Are you looking for
anything particular tonight?

Oh, I'm way past
being particular.

Then I've got exactly
what you want.

Right this way.

I don't believe I
caught the name.

Better nails today.

You're a manicurist?

Small world, isn't it?

You're getting too
old for this, Phil.

Where's my wallet?

You're leaving so soon?

You and me have got such
a lot of catching up to do.

He shouldn't be up here at all.

Vivian, will you treat the man
with a little more respect?

Phil and me are members of
the same noble profession.

What are you doing here, Macha?

Now, I've told ya,

I'm a private
security consultant.

I help Miss Dart make sure the
place runs nice and smooth.

You're a bouncer
in a wh*re house?

Cut the reunion, and
get him out of here.

I think you upset her with
that whorehouse crack.

Were you working for Dart,

or Gotlieb, when he brought
the Senator up here?

I'm not sure I know what
you're talking about, Phil.

How come I don't
trust you, Macha?

You don't trust yourself, how
do you trust anybody else?

If you ever get tired of crawling around
in the bushes, Phillip, let me know.

Always room for a man like
you in my organization.

Here's your wallet.

Who's got my g*n?

I'll keep it. You'll come
around, just you see.

Well, you seem pretty sure.

Ever wondered why it's the guy, not
the girl, that's nervous on prom night?

That's because the girl knows
how it's going to come out.

And that's the way it is
between you and me, Phillip.

I'm the girl, I know how
it's going to come out.

Call ahead next time, Vivian
will let you in the front door.

What happened out at the
beach house, Macha?

Which beach house
would that be, Phillip?

You know the one.

The one without
any fingerprints.

Kim left the house,
in her pink car,

with a pink dress,
and a purse to match.

The lady knew how
to accessorize.

I guess it was something
they taught you at the studio.

I followed her out the new freeway,
past Rosemead, to El Monte.

It was a long drive
to see a movie.

Well, you have an interesting
way of mourning, Mrs. Gotlieb.

I like to watch my pictures.

You could

run them in the screening room.

I like to watch them

big.

No problem if I
just sit here and

watch the show with you?

Well, what can I do
about it, call an usher?

Which

picture you in?

This one.

You know, that big house

on Glendower your husband
went to the night before he died?

It's a high priced cat house.

I told you to forget
about that house.

He went there with a certain
gentleman, they picked up a girl,

drove to a house
down at the beach,

made sure I couldn't follow,

after he left, something,

somebody,

made a big show of covering up.

Now, what do you
suppose that might be?

I told you once, I
don't know anything.

You don't know it all.
You know something.

You're part of this.

I'm coming up in
this part, right here.

I've kept that stupid pilot on the payroll
for years, just for a spot like this.

Why doesn't he come?

Don't try that again.

I want to be seen.

I want to be seen.

You're very good in this.

Jesus, Kim, I was going crazy.
I couldn’t find your car, and...

Popcorn?

It's okay, get in the car.

This is nice and cozy, huh?

Who is this guy?

I work for her. Who are you?

She's a friend, and that's
all you have to know.

Well, what's your name, friend?

Marie.

Marie! What a nice name.

So, ah...

tell me something, Marie,

get out to the beach much?

sh*t!

Easy.

You can't get away,
drop the g*n.

Come and get it.

- Stay down.
- He's sh**ting at us.

Get out the car.
Slowly, slowly, stay down.

Get ready. Okay, let's go.

That's six. He's out of b*ll*ts.

That was close.

She's taking your car!

Marie!

Hey!

Have a seat.

Who you calling?

I'm reporting a stolen car.

The police?

You're calling the police?
You can't do that.

Why not?

The car's not stolen.

Not really.

She just borrowed the car.

And just who is she?

A friend.

Well,

acquaintance,
more than a friend.

And what does your
acquaintance, do for a living?

I don't know.

I mean, what difference does
it make where she works.

You wanna know what I figure?

I figure she works
for Vivian Dart.

She's one of those girls from
that big house on Glendower.

I figure she's the girl that your husband
dropped at the beach house with Crockett.

Now, if that's so, why
is she so worried?

And how come she came
running to you, of all people?

You know somebody by
the name of Finn Mocha?

Who's Finn Mocha?

He was doing some consulting
work for your husband

at the same time he was
working for Vivian Dart.

I don't know him.

Well, you don't know much of
anything, do you, Mrs. Gotlieb?

Oh!

I'm not the worst
person you ever met.

Oh, I didn't say that.

Fact is...

I kind of like you.

Most of the men I meet, well...

You can pretty much
see right through them.

You're different.

Solid.

In a mature sort of way.

Yeah.

There's too many
unanswered questions

for you and me to start having
that particular conversation.

Who says?

I say.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, I'm interested!

Stay, here!

Where you going?

Oh, I don't answer your questions,
until you start answering mine.

A few hours earlier she'd
been watching a movie,

now she was a stiff.

No matter how many times
I saw it, it always got to me.

You know the story, girl
falls in with wrong crowd.

One minute she's
a fresh faced gal,

and the next, she's stuck
in the window of Saks.

Bradbury.

A couple of kids saw
her drive off the pier,

and managed to get the
license number before it sank,

I thought you might
be interested.

Take a look inside.

Foot's still on the accelerator.

Look at her face!

Suicides don't look like that.

She didn't know she was driving off a
pier. Somebody put the whammy on her.

She probably thought she
was at the Rose Parade!

Who is she, Phil?

It's your client's car, but that
ain't your client. Who is she?

She lent the car to a friend.
I don't know her name.

Come here.

You wouldn't happen to know where
your client was this evening, would you?

- I got a pretty good idea.
- Good.

She hasn't been home since
she took this wagon out.

Suppose I wanted to talk to her.

You wouldn't get all coy all
of a sudden, would you?

It's a free country, Bradbury. I mean, you
can talk to anybody that you want to.

This Kim Hudson's a pretty
good-looking woman, if you

go in for that movie
star sort of a thing.

Uh-huh.

And she's gotten herself involved
in two homicides in three days.

Are you getting near the point?

Just this...

Don't get complicated, Phil.

A man gets too complicated,
he starts to make mistakes.

I'll keep that in mind.

Good!

She's gone.

Your actress friend.

The lady has secrets.

Everybody has secrets.

Drink your coffee.

Everywhere I go in
this case is water.

Rain.

The ocean.

Swimming pools.

Water is very potent.

Water makes me nervous.

What kind of donuts are these?

Two jellies and a bear claw.

- I'll take the bear claw.
- I want the bear claw.

Then why did you
get the jelly donuts?

Half the bear claw, all right?

The raven is still with you,

at your shoulder.

I can't see it, but
I know it's there.

The question is,
who's raven is it?

Oh, it's yours.

The raven belongs to you,

as does the snake it
carries in it's beak.

I didn't tell you
about the snake.

No.

You did not.

We're looking for
Hypolyta Kropotkin.

You've found Hypolyta Kropotkin.

Hypolyta Kropotkin, I'm
here to serve you with

this summons to appear
at the special senate

subcommittee on unnatural activities,
as chaired by Senator Larson Crockett.

Duly served.

What's the big idea?

Are you Lovecraft?

Yeah, I'm Lovecraft!

The senator would
like to meet you.

I made my way up to the Pilgrimage Theater,
where Crockett was preparing his rallying.

It's where the hold the Boy
Scout Jamboree every year.

Crockett must have
felt right at home.

He didn't drink, he didn't
smoke, he didn't lust.

I couldn't figure out what
he wanted from me.

Larson Crockett.
Pleased to meet you.

Phil Lovecraft.

Heard a lot about you, Phil. Heard
a considerable lot about you.

Hope you don't mind meeting out here,
got a lot to do and precious little time.

Our support grows
bigger every day.

That's a little
premature, isn't it?

The stake?

You might say it's symbolic.

Nice centerpiece for the rally.

Of course, now that congress has
passed the capital punishment bill,

well, then, it could be
something else, couldn't it?

Why did you subpoena Kropotkin?

I take it you know she's
a card-carrying witch!

Having an office across from
her, you probably see things,

hear things,

smell things.

I'm smelling
something right now.

I thought you were the man
who didn't believe in magic?

Oh, I believe in it,

I just don't use it.

Oh, it's a gift from a friend.

Friends are a valuable commodity,
Phil, but you gotta be careful.

Don't let people get too
close. Things rub off.

A man has to very careful
of the company he keeps.

You must get very lonely.

Would you give a loaded
g*n to a child, Lovecraft?

Would you let a baby
play with a blowtorch?

Of course you wouldn't!

I love the people
of this country.

I love them enough to
protect them from sinister

forces, out to exploit
their appetites.

I want you to join
my personal staff.

Come on-board as a
full-time paid investigator.

Together, we could bring
about an end to this plague!

Well, I appreciate your
offer, but I got clients.

The Gotlieb k*lling?

There are better
uses for your talents.

How many times did
you and Gotlieb meet?

Just once.

He came by my hotel.
He wanted to talk in private,

so we drove around
for a few hours.

He told me many
disturbing things about the

influence of magic in the
motion picture business.

I tried to get him to testify
for my committee, but

he was too afraid,

not unjustifiably
as it turned out.

Well, that's too bad.

Yes, Gotlieb would have
made a very powerful witness,

but under the circumstances,
his wife will be just as effective.

As Gotlieb's widow, she
felt it was her duty to

uncover the forces of magic
corrupting the movies.

She's testifying tomorrow morning,
just before your friend Kropotkin.

Hudson's your client, isn't she?

State your name for the record.

My name is

Mrs. N.J. Gotlieb.

Be seated.

You are the widow of motion picture
producer N.J. Gotlieb, is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Did your husband ever express
to you his concern about the

pernicious influence of magic
in the motion picture business?

Oh, yes, my husband,
my late husband,

often confided in me his

growing sense of apprehension.

He felt the practitioners of magic
had an agenda that was outside

the needs and desires
of ordinary America.

You are testifying in your
husband's place this morning?

That is correct, senator.

Why is that?

Nicky,

my husband,

can no longer speak for himself.

He was...

k*lled.

m*rder*d by magic!

The woman is good!

Ah, she's gotta be good, she
doesn't have a contract anymore.

Mrs. Gotlieb.

Do you recognize the
item in this envelope?

Excuse me?

The item in this envelope,
do you recognize it?

That's Nicky's watch chain,
how did you get this?

To your knowledge, was

this chain in your husband’s
possession at the time of his death?

I guess so.

That's an interesting piece of metal at
the fob, did you give him that charm?

No.

But you know who did give it to
him, don't you, Mrs. Gotlieb?

I think it was someone
at the studio.

What was that person's name?

We're waiting, Mrs. Gotlieb?

What was the name
of that person?

Senator...

I...

think this is sort
of outside what...

I expected we would
be talking about.

The name, Mrs. Gotlieb,
give us the name.

I believe her name...

is...

Kropotkin.

Hypolyta Kropotkin.

This Kropotkin woman,
is she a practitioner?

I believe so... yes.

- But senator, I'm sure...
- The witness may step down.

- Thank you very much for your time.
- But senator.

Call the next witness.

Hypolyta Kropotkin, come
forward and be heard.

State your name for the record.

Hypolyta Lavoe Kropotkin.

Hypolyta Lavoe Kropotkin,

are you now, or have
you ever been, a witch?

Ice, cloud, river...

water is always water.

Is that a yes, or a no?

That is a yes.

Is that you in the photographs?

Yes, it is.

Who are the other
people with you?

-Those are my friends.
- Better get outta here.

Just go, go, go.

Are they not, in fact,
members of your coven?

There is nothing
shameful in a coven.

What are the circumstances of
your participation in this coven?

When, where, who else was
there? What are their names?

The names of people whose souls are
laced with magic, that is what you want?

That is what we want.

Then give me the phone
book and I'll start with the A's.

Magic is in every one of
us, it's as common as salt.

What you want to do is to prevent
people from finding it and nurture it.

Don't think you're
the first practitioner

who's tried to excuse
their behavior with this

cloudy reference
to natural magic.

Now, I'll give you
one more chance

to identify the other
members of your coven.

I decline to do so,

respectfully.

Mrs. Kropotkin, do you recognize
the item in this envelope?

It is familiar to me.

Did you give this
item to N.J. Gotlieb?

Yes.

Let the record show

that the unfortunate Mr. Gotlieb,
had this item, in his possession

when he was diminished
by supernatural means.

Did you do anything to this
stone before you gave it to him?

There is an incantation

for peace

and wisdom

and resolve in purpose.

You cast a spell on the stone.
Is that what you're saying?

A benevolent one.

A benevolent one!

I have here the laboratory report
from the FBI on this particular stone.

It concludes that there are
measurable levels of the most

pernicious and toxic magic
they have ever encountered.

More than enough to do what was
done to the unwitting Mr. Gotlieb.

What are you
suggesting, senator?

I am suggesting, my good
woman, that you are a witch,

and a practitioner.

That you gave this tainted item
to an innocent man, about

to reveal your sinister cabal,
and that man is now dead!

Hypolyta Kropotkin, we
have evidence of how

you used your shameless
and unwholesome powers.

I give you this opportunity

to recant your belief in magic,

renounce all supernatural
agents and activities,

and purge yourself
of all affiliations

with other witches, conjurers,

- and similar practitioners.
- I recant nothing.

I renounce no one.
And I need no purging!

You leave me no alternative.

Hypolyta Lavoe Kropotkin,

the Congress of the United
States of America hereby

brands you a m*rder*r,
and consort of the devil.

In keeping with the emergency
powers of the Unnatural Activity Act,

I order you to be taken
to a public place,

where you will be burned as
punishment for your crimes

and for the enlightenment
of the general population.

- Sgt. at arms, take her into custody.
- It's not right.

Motion to adjourn.

- Kropotkin!
- Lovecraft.

Crockett!

Hard ball, Mr. Lovecraft.

Kim?

You want to tell me why
you got in the pool?

Crockett set me up.

He said I'd be cleared and
everything would just go

away if I made a little speech
about the evils of magic.

I didn't know he was going to ask me
about the watch fob, or Kropotkin.

I honestly didn't know.

Now they're gonna burn her.

I thought it was
the way to fix it.

Oh, it's fixed all right.

Did they tell you that your
friend Marie is dead?

What?

They fished her out
of the bay in your car.

No, I didn't know.

Who was she?

She worked for Vivian Dart.

Marie's the girl Nicky brought to
the beach house for Crockett.

What's your
connection with Dart?

She did some work for me once.

What kind of work?

I worked in the steno pool
of that studio for six years,

saving every penny.

I went from typing scripts,

to being a star, overnight.

Vivian...

Dart, did the ah...

enchanting?

She gave me, whatever it
is, that movie stars have.

That thing we all want.

I got it!

Nobody at the studio
recognized you?

No one at the studio even
looked at me before the spell.

Gotleib didn't know?

Nobody knew.

Except Dart, and

that Irishman that
works for her.

Macha.

I had to pay him off regular.

I bet.

You met Marie...

at Darts?

She worked with Macha
and Dart on special dates.

And she does what?

Well,

when they wanted
to set someone up,

they let the sex
get a little rough.

Then Marie hits her head
or slips in the bathtub,

and drowns.

Macha shows up,

says everything can be
taken care of for a price.

The patsy pays, leaves.

Marie's free to
play another day.

So that's what happened
at the beach house.

They're shaking
down the senator,

Something goes wrong.

Presto change-o.

What's wrong with
having what you want?

I just wanted to be happy.

They got pills for that now.

Phew! Water!

Water everywhere.

You don't know everything.

You don't have the
magic in your blood.

You don't have it on your
skin every day of your life.

No,

but I used to once, a
long time ago, just once.

There were two men,

they're going out on a boat and
I needed to hear what they said.

So I hid an empty
bottle on board,

and when they came back,

I took the bottle,

and I poured the
conversation out,

and I had what I needed.

But they weren't alone on
the boat, there was a girl.

So when the cops came after 'em,

they figured the
girl had ratted.

Cops got 'em both,

but before they did,

one of 'em

had time

to take her back
out on that boat

strangle her,

and throw her body in the bay.

Am now,

the man and the bottle

has come back.

Busy, busy, busy.

Rush, rush, rush!

How'd you get up here?

You forget, somebody
showed me the back way.

Where's Mocha?

Was it your idea

or Mocha's, to set up Crockett
in the badger game?

I know it wasn't Gotlieb,

all he wanted to do was
show him a good time.

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

I'm not interested in you.

Finn Mocha!

Oh, he's something
else again, isn't he?

I'm done with Macha, that
partnership is dissolved.

I'm taking a long,
long, vacation.

Where is he?

He's leaving.

I'm a lucky man.

I don't suppose you need any help
with your luggage, do you, Vivian?

Guess not.

Watch the noise, fellas.

You know what they
say about zombies?

What?

Strong as hell,

but very bad lateral movement.

Mint?

Let's try it one more
time. Where's Mocha?

Get your flags!

Evening, Lovecraft,
glad you could make it.

How much is in there?

Oh, not so much in the
grand scheme of things.

Expediting pays pretty good.

So does discretion.

You had Gotlieb k*lled. You thought he
was the one working the badger game.

I'm afraid I went off
a little half-c*ck.

And the girl.

Loose ends, Phil.

You know how I am
about loose ends.

And, whose idea was it to

set up Kropotkin?

Mine.

The senator wanted to use
Kim, but I convinced him that

the frame would be a
better fit using the witch.

So,

this guy's

gonna blackmail you

and now you're acting
like long lost brothers.

Politics makes strange
bedfellows, I guess.

But he's a practitioner!

So?

It was all a show.

The hearings, the
press coverage.

Attacking magic. You could care
less about protecting the people.

Spend some time in congress, Phil.
You get up-to-here with the people.

Listening to their
petty complaints,

their demands, their
constant inane whining

about one thing after the next thing,
after the next thing, after the next thing!

Just because they vote for you,
they think you owe them something!

But why go after magic?

Who am I supposed to go after?

Big business?

You need something a little
different, a little outside.

Let me tell you something
about the people, Phil.

You lock any ten
of 'em in a room,

they may not elect a leader,

but I guarantee they'll
pick someone to hate.

Burn the witch,
burn the witch...

Back up! Back up!

Stay back!

Come on! Back off!

Stay back!

I'm not gonna let you burn her.

The witch will burn, and there's
nothing you can do about it.

You'd be surprised
what I can do.

Really?

Gentleman.

Did you hear everything?

Yes, sir.

What was the gist of
our conversation?

They brought money in that satchel,
they thought they could pay you off.

Well then,

you'd better arrest them.

What are you trying
to pull, Crockett?

I'd better take
that for evidence.

No one double
crosses Finn Macha!

I'm the one that sees inside.

If you don't believe
me, ask Lovecraft.

I see what's inside,
and I bring it out!

What you are is an
insignificant little Mick.

The crack of Solomon
on your heart.

Bring them both.

I don't want them
to miss the show.

What did you just do?

Someone just remarked...

This could make a great movie.
Wil, work on something, will ya?

Well, I think we have
something just as special.

Ladies and gentlemen, the next president
of the United States, Larson Crockett!

America,

is going to be...

all right!

And it's going to be all right
because of people like you!

God...

God, I love this country.

The fire we light tonight

will burn across America.

It will set fires

in every city

and every town.

Can I count on you?

Can I depend on you?

Of course I can!

We know the difference

- Between right and wrong.
- No one double-crosses Finn Macha.

And we know

our cause...

The cameras, the cameras!

The cameras? Off, now!

That feels good!

Nothing like a little fresh air!

Looks like we're
having a little party!

Well, guess who just showed up?

Hey!

What the f*ck you lookin' at?

Come on!

Time to burn the witch.

Come on, we're gonna burn her,

then we're gonna burn another one, and
another one, and another one after that.

We're gonna stack
'em up like firewood!

Come on, what's wrong
with you people?

You're pretty loud when
you want something!

Oh, Senator Crockett,

I-I deserve better.

Oh, Senator Crockett,
I deserve a better life!

Oh, Senator Crockett, I deserve TV
dinners, and T-birds, and lawns to cut!

And peace of mind.

Well, I got news for all of
you, you're not gonna get it!

I'll tell you what
you're gonna get,

porno video, and double-digit
inflation, and a designated hitter.

And wars in countries
you never even heard of!

Now that's what I call
a world without magic!

Hey!

Where you all going?!

The party just started.

I thought you wanted
me to help you out!

I thought you liked me!

Ah, f*ck it!

I'll do it myself.

Go on, arrest him!

Arrest both of them.

Your names? I want
both your names!

Let go, you!

I have friends in high places!

Come on.

Where's Macha?

I don't know. He took off when
Crockett came out of his shell.

I gotta find him. We've got
some unfinished business.

It seems he feels
the same way too.

You stay here.

You shouldn't do this alone.

Yes, I should.

Some people use magic
for gain or revenge,

But Macha... Macha
uses it out of malice.

It's not just his eye
that's sour, it's his soul.

Then I guess you better
keep the motor running.

Lovely of you to come, Phillip,
and at such short notice.

So how'd things work out
with Senator Crockett?

They're trying to
put him together.

No one double-crosses
Finn Macha.

Too bad you left before the end.

But that wasn't
the end, Phillip.

This is it, right here.

Where is she?

Where's Kim?

I haven't forgotten that
business with the bottle.

I figure,

once a man uses magic,

he may use it again.

And I want that man on my team.

I don't use magic.

We'll see.

I ask you a question.

Well, where do you
think she might be?

I'm a fan of old movies.

I like to watch them
over, and over.

And there's one I'd
like to show you.

Except, it's not that old.

Just a couple of days.

Come along, Phillip.

Here's my screening room.

And this is my movie.

- Call me Mr. President again.
- Mr. President.

Take a seat.

A wonderful thing about old
movies is you get to recast them.

Take this one for instance,
it wasn't cast right.

That's much better.

I've also done a little rewrite.

In the original,
the girl didn't die,

but considering the
new cast, she will.

Well, aren't you
going to do anything?

Think of the little lady.

Let her go.

Well, you could make me.

You could whip up some
of the Mojo Hoodoo.

Conjure up a lightning
bolt and strike me down.

You want some incentive?

No!

You have the power!

You know the words!
You know the spells!

You let one girl die
because you used magic.

Are you going to let another
one die because you won't!

Work for me, Phil.

Darling, you're about
to die of principles.

I don't use magic.

Well, the pity is,

I do.

Help me.

Water, water, everywhere.

I'm sorry, Phil, I
couldn't let you do it.

I flipped the bird.

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

You sure this is what
you want to do?

Pretty sure.

Well, the public's gonna wonder
what happened to Kim Hudson.

Well, if they want
to wonder, let 'em.

Well, thanks.

Good luck.

Bye.

Wait a second.

There's something we forgot.

What?

Wow!

A girl could last the
winter on a kiss like that.

Don't forget to write.

Oh, I won't.

Kim Hudson disappeared.

But since she never
really existed,

I figured the score was even.

It didn't matter anyway,

pretty soon another girl would
be stepping off the Highland bus,

wishing herself into a
D-cup, and her big break.

Crockett, too.

He's the kind of guy

who says he hates magic

and then goes home and
levitates chicks in the basement.

Last I heard, he was sharing a
cell with himself in San Quentin.

And so it goes.

There was usually a one-to-one ratio
between dreams and disappointments,

and no amount of magic
could change that.

It's always gonna be there if
someone wants to believe in it.

Let's face it,

everybody's gotta
believe in something.