02x21 - Arson and Old Lace

[bunniefuu]

She is gone.

You told me
that I remind you of Greata.

You think I'm insane.

It's been six months.

Nancy is dead.

We're trapped, aren't we?

Hand over hand, and
try to keep your balance.

Keep going,
and don't look down.

...two, three.

Mr. Rathbone hasn't
left that in 22 years.

We may be spending
all of eternity here.

(MAN LAUGHING)

Joe, don't!

NARRATOR:
Tonight on the Hardy Boys,

Arson and Old Lace.

Every time
I see this headline,

I can't tell you how it
hurts, how futile it feels.

You sound as if
you've given up hope.

That's right, Frank.

It's been six months.

Nancy

is dead.

I know that now. I just couldn't
admit it to myself before.

Maybe when the
talk show airs.

It's syndicated in over 80 markets.
When your appeal goes out...

Maybe.

I can only pray that whoever
took her will see the broadcast.

Well, the station is ready
to receive any calls,

and they've got a direct tie-in
with the police department.

I don't know of
anything else I can do.

It's very nice of you to have made
the trip to Los Angeles with me.

I'm very grateful
for your company.

Do you think you can tell us
what happened again?

I don't know what good
it would do, Joe.

The police and the federal authorities
have been over everything a hundred times.

They may have
missed something.

I wish I believed that.

Al right.

Nancy was working for me.

She was doing surveillance
on a man named Paul Keller,

the president
of the Delta Corporation.

There was a client of mine who
owned some stock in that corporation.

Nancy discovered that Keller had embezzled
$50,000 from him and two other clients.

The police nailed him,
he's behind bars. That's it.

Nancy and I were having
dinner the next night.

I was paying the check, she
was out in front of the restaurant.

Somebody grabbed her. A man.

This old Chevy
screeched to a halt,

and then she was gone.

Carson, I think we can make
one last try to find Nancy.

We can start by
reviewing the evidence,

what there is
of it,

from a fresh perspective.

HELMS: Well, there's not
much here, gentlemen.

As far as I'm concerned,
you're free to examine it.

We've just switched the
case over to the inactive file.

You mean this
is all you have?

Well, this is anything and everything
we thought might be relevant to the case.

Here's the wallet that was found on the
street where Miss Drew was abducted.

Here's a notebook,

a couple of reports that she must have
been working on before the disappearance.

But I'm afraid there just
isn't anything in this stuff.

Our lab in DC went over every
item with a fine-toothed comb.

(CHUCKLING)

Fenton Hardy's kids, huh?

Say, I hear you've helped
your old man solve a few cases.

Well, we've solved
a few on our own.

Really? Well!

You know,
I've known your dad

since he was in the
New York PD. A fine man.

May I...

Oh, sure,
look through everything.

Just make sure you
leave it here when you go.

Now, I've got a lot of
other cases to attend to,

so I'm gonna
excuse myself.

You go right ahead,
you feel free.

But let me tell you
something. She is gone.

And if we can't find her, she
just doesn't exist anymore.

You know what I mean?

What's that?
Just some general notes.

There's a design
of some kind.

Wait a minute,
listen to this.

"I now know that I have only
found the tip of the iceberg.

"It appears that all of it must have
something to do with the brother."

Well, Keller had a brother,
didn't he?

Yeah,
but they checked him out.

He's a doctor or something.
He lives in Minnesota.

He hasn't seen his brother
in over 20 years.

What have you got?

Well...

This is rather light, isn't
it? What do you mean?

Didn't Carson say that the week that Nancy
disappeared, they were going to New York,

and New York was
under eight inches of snow?

Yeah, he did.

Well, who would pack this to go to
New York under eight inches of snow?

I don't know. I mean, maybe she
was packing to go somewhere on a trip

before she went
on vacation with her father.

I think we should
check it out anyway.

Well, seeing as it's the only
piece of evidence we have,

I think we should
check it out.

Well, I guess somebody's
got to go see Keller, huh?

Yeah, I'll check out
the airlines.

Well, I guess
I'm off to prison.

JOE: Mr. Keller,
I've got to talk to you.

Mr. Keller...

No, sorry.

I only met this girl once,
and I didn't even dislike her.

I was cheating people, and she
was smart enough to find me out.

Now, they do not make you
a trustee in this place

if you're suspected
of being a kidnapper.

I was under indictment
long before her disappearance.

I'm well aware of it.

Then why are you here?

Because I think
there is more.

More what?

I think that Nancy only came
across the tip of the iceberg.

I think that she may have found
more than what you were indicted for.

Well, that's
ridiculous.

COLEMAN: My client doesn't
have to answer any of your questions.

Robert Coleman,
Mr. Keller's attorney.

And he's not here
for kidnapping.

Good, then he won't mind if I
ask him a few more questions.

I mind.
Goodbye, Mr. Hardy.

One more thing.

Does this mean
anything to you?

He has nothing more
to say to you.

I can see that.

Kind of keeps you on your
toes, working here, doesn't it?

JOE: I'm telling you, Frank,
it wasn't an accident.

And you think Keller had
something to do with it?

I'm sure of it.
I'm sure of it.

You should've seen his
face when he saw this thing.

How did you
get this?

Well, I took it out
of Nancy's property bag.

Joe, this is government
evidence. You're not supposed to...

All right, what is it?

I'm not sure yet,
but it's something.

You should've seen
his face when I...

I mean, he didn't wanna talk to
me at all after he saw this thing.

And, well,
he tried to k*ll me.

Anyway, I talked
to the warden.

Apparently, he gets these
books every week from his father.

So what?
His father's dead.

I got the address. They come
from somewhere here in LA.

What did you find out?

Nancy canceled
her flight to New York.

But there was also a Nora
Dawson who was booked on a flight

to sunny, warm Southern California
the day after Nancy was kidnapped.

She never made
the flight.

Nora Dawson?

Nancy Drew?
You got it.

Okay. The answer must be
somewhere here in LA.

I'm sure of it.

I only ask that, whoever
you are, if you're watching,

if my daughter is still alive,

please,
consider giving her up,

returning her to us.

We love her very much.

Please.

Don't worry, princess.

It's only me.

Uh-uh. Now, listen, fellas,

I'd like to take the time
to stop and talk to you,

but I've got some pressing
matters to look into.

What could be more
pressing than a girl's life?

We've got an arsonist
running loose in this town.

He just torched his
seventh building last night.

Listen to this.

"Fire-bug, fire-bug,
where can you be?

"Starting your fire
so easily.

"Fire-bug, fire-bug, madman
or clown? Watch out, LA,

"you'll burn to the ground.”
Now that is cute, huh?

That's cute... Does the LAPD
always call in a federal agency

to deal with their
arson cases?

They do when they're up against
a phantom, and they have no clues,

and the city is burning
down around their ears.

We have a great lead
on Nancy Drew.

She's dead, guys.
Face it.

Well, then why hasn't
a body been found?

We just spent a million-six trying
to find Jimmy Hoffa, and not a trace.

Now I've got work to do!

You talk to me later.

Well, what do you
wanna do now?

I guess we work
on it alone.

Where do we start?

What was the return address
on those books

that were sent by
Keller's supposed father?

Uh, 497 Wilshire Boulevard.

Should we tell Dad
what we've got?

We'll tell him
where we're going.

I don't know
what we've got,

yet.

(LIVELY SWING MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

Where are you going,
Greata?

It's almost lunchtime.

You know
we always eat at 2:00.

My name isn't Greata!

It's Nancy!

Nancy Drew!

I'm not a part of your
memories. I'm a real person!

I'm
me!

You can't have that. You
can't take that away from me.

You've tried for six months,
but I've never been Greata.

Do you understand that,
Mr. Rathbone?

I've never been the person
you wanted me to be!

I know.

But you'll always be
Greata to me.

No! Let me go!

Let me go! No...

I don't seem to remember
inviting you to my table.

McCall: Just an oversight
on your part.

I'll ignore it
this time.

Do you realize, Mr. McCall, how easily I
could have you thrown out of this restaurant?

Do you realize how noisy it
would be if someone tried?

You don't give up,
do you?

Not when I'm involved
with a beautiful woman.

Just how long do you think
you can keep this up?

Keep what up?

I'm not gonna give up.

I'm gonna keep
trying to get out

until you have
to let me go, or...

Or what,
my dear Greata?

Or k*ll me.

GREAT A: I'd have fired you
the first day.

And I'm not Greata.
You know that.

That's Greata, up there.

How many times
do you have to be thanked?

Just once, with feeling.

Look, I really am expecting
someone. Just what is it you want?

How long can you live
this fantasy?

You could call me
Robert, for a start.

She was the most breathtaking
woman I'd ever seen.

Every move, every
gesture was poetry.

She was so full of
vitality, of life.

She married you, squandered
millions of your dollars,

and then left you one
morning without a note,

without one word
of goodbye.

That's the reality. That's the
woman you're mourning over.

How do you know
she left?

Everyone knows.

Everyone knows what was
reported in the newspaper,

but does everyone
know the truth?

McCall: What are you
afraid of?

GREAT A: I'm not
afraid of anything.

Suppose she is here?

Here, right now.

Right here
in this penthouse.

You mean, buried here?

Who's to say
for sure?

I never believed what
I read in the papers.

I haven't picked up
a newspaper since, uh,

the Hindenburg crash
in 1939.

That's 40 years.

So it is, so it is.

I can't say I've missed
knowing what's happened

to the rest
of the world.

Doesn't seem to have
affected my life very much.

What does affect your life?

You've cut yourself off
from reality.

You've buried yourself up here
in this little ivory tower.

(CHUCKLES)

You think I'm insane.

Not insane.

Just...

You've lost perspective
on the real world.

Do you really think

that that's the way an
empire like mine is run?

With a warped
perspective?

(LAUGHS)

"Poor old Rathbone.

"Batty as a coot!

"Sits all day,

"looking at old movies
of an old flame

"while his empire
crumbles around him."

You really believe that,
don't you?

Well, let me tell you,

I know every account
of every company I own

to the dollar.

I operate them right from this
suite, have for over 20 years.

All I need is
a telephone

and some loyal employees,

but not stupid ones.

That's when you first came
to my attention.

Your dogged pursuit
of young Keller.

My associates
wanted you k*lled.

I almost wish
they'd followed through.

No, you didn't.

Because life...

Life is equally possessed
by all of us.

And when you lose it,
it cannot be replaced.

That's why you're not
going to try to escape.

You're going to
accept it.

Accept what?

That you're going to
spend the rest of

my life
here with me.

When I die,
you're free to go,

unharmed.

So you see, it's
useless to try to escape.

Who is he?
And what does he do?

He buys and sells things.

Drugs, artifacts, contraband.

People.

There's not an ounce of
compassion in his entire body.

He's totally ruthless.

He'll k*ll you.

I won't have to escape.
They'll come for me.

Who?

The police? The FBI?

Your friends? Your family?
It's been six months.

They think you're dead.

And you are,

to them.

He has a dozen armed guards
around him at all times.

You'll never get
into that villa.

If I don't,
you may lose a daughter.

I saw her.

What? When?

Last night. At least,
I think it was her.

You were at the villa?

Watching her.
A light came on...

You told me
that I remind you of Greata.

That's why you love me.

That's why
I dressed you in lace.

Old lace.

She always wore that.

In this half-light,

you are Greata.

If you love me, and that's
why you spared my life,

then let me go!

I'll come and visit you
any time you say.

We can talk...

You're missing
the best part of the film.

GREAT A: Promise me
you'll be careful.

I'll be careful.

Don't waste those
on me.

Save them for the right man
at the right time.

I have.

Good night,

Mrs. Jordan.

I'll be seeing you.

I don't believe you will,
Mr. McCall.

Great.

Could be
any one of these.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

"Brotherhood.”
What?

"Brotherhood." Does that
mean anything to you?

Should it?

What if that's the brother that
Nancy mentioned in her notebook?

I mean, what if she didn't
finish the sentence?

What if she meant "brotherhood"”
but only got to "brother"?

What if "the tip
of the iceberg" means

that the $50,000 Keller
embezzled was just small change?

Could go all the way
to Rathbone himself.

Right, and Keller's company
used to be owned by Rathbone's.

It's one of the brotherhood
of companies.

Look at the logos, Frank.

They match
almost perfectly.

"Weldon Rathbone."

You know,
he lives in the penthouse.

So I've heard.

Well, I think we should
have a talk with him.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

(MATCH FLARES)

(expl*si*n)

You know, Frank, even
if Rathbone is involved,

it doesn't mean the
answer's up in his penthouse.

Joe, Nancy is missing.

If she's still alive,
she has to be someplace

that's so isolated
and so protected,

the police, the government and
her own father couldn't find her.

Someplace like
that penthouse.

Rathbone hasn't been
out of there in 22 years.

I know, but what
would he want with her?

I mean, the man's
got to be 70 years old.

I don't know.
Maybe he lost his daughter.

Maybe he's just
a lonely old man

who wants the company
of a beautiful young woman.

Maybe he got
tired of her.

Well, that's what
we're here to find out.

You know they're not
gonna let us in, Frank.

Joe, all I wanna do is
see the layout of the place.

I just wanna find out
how we can get to him.

We'll have enough time
before they throw us out.

(FLAMES CRACKLING)

This way.

(TYPEWRITER CLICKING)

Can I help you,
gentlemen?

We're here
to see Mr. Rathbone.

Mr. Rathbone
never sees anyone.

Can I tell him what
business it relates to?

Kidnapping.

We're investigators in the
Nancy Drew kidnapping case.

We need to see
Mr. Rathbone urgently.

Now what could that case
possibly have to do with him?

We'll speak to him
about that.

Mr. Rathbone
is a recluse.

He hasn't come into contact
with people for a number of years.

You can speak
with Mr. Coleman.

It has to be Rathbone.

COLEMAN: I'll talk to
Mr. Rathbone about this immediately.

SECRETARY: That's
out of the question.

COLEMAN: We ought to have
it cleared up by 4:00. It's all right.

(WHISPERING) That's
Keller's lawyer.

Let's go.
We'll come back later.

Joe, don't!

(GLASS SHATTERING)

(FIRE ALARM RINGING)

Frank, there's
somebody in here.

WOMAN: What's
happened to her?

(PEOPLE CHATTERING IN ALARM)

It's no use, Joe,
I can't put it out.

FRANK: Is she still
breathing? Is she alive?

(SIREN WAILING)

COP OVER MEGAPHONE:
Come on, move it back.

All right, come on!
Move it back!

You wanna move back
over there?

Clear this space out
over here!

We need some room to work.

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

(COUGHING)

You think
you can walk?

You okay?

Is there anybody else
in there?

(COUGHING)

Get her downstairs. I'm
going up to the penthouse.

Frank, you don't even know
if Nancy's up there.

Joe, we can't take that
chance. Even if she's not,

Rathbone may be the only person
in the world that knows where she is.

I don't want him
going up in flames.

Take care of her. I'll be
back. I'll catch up with you.

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

People! People, please, the
elevators may not be working.

Let's take the stairs.

Everyone, please get out. The whole
floor's gonna be on fire in a minute.

Use the stairs. I
wouldn't trust the elevator.

What have
we got?

Five floors
are burning.

The third, fourth, eighth,
twelfth and sixteenth.

Looks like
the arsonist.

They all broke out more
or less at the same time,

and the twelfth floor is
completely ablaze.

Wanna clear
this space over here?

Clear it back.
Get out of the way.

MAN: Single file, ladies
and gentlemen. Don't run.

I repeat, please
don't run...

This is Mr. Chase, the
manager of the building,

Chief Madison.

I've been here
for 25 years.

Used to work down
at the Chambers Buildings

down at Figueroa and 2nd.
You know where that is.

Mr. Rathbone owns
that one, too.

Never had
a fire before.

Even in the summer of '59,
when it got up to 107 degrees.

Do you remember that?

Sprinkler system.

The sprinkler system!

Doesn't seem to be working.

Swell.

What's above
the 16th floor?

It's Mr. Rathbone's
penthouse.

And what's this?

Well, it's a private elevator
to the penthouse.

Is the penthouse occupied?

Mr. Rathbone hasn't
left that in 22 years.

Well, he's
leaving it today.

(SIRENS WAILING)

We better get
out of here.

The whole building
is on flame.

No, Greata is still here.
We've got to save her.

We've got to save
ourselves!

Listen to him!
Please!

Princess,

we may be spending
all of eternity here.

(COUGHING)

You're crazy.

You really are
a crazy old man.

Get out!

You bet I'm going.

Frank!

Come on, the whole floor
below is on fire.

We may only be able to
make one trip in this elevator.

Get out of my way!

Don't come any closer.

Mr. Rathbone,
you have to come with us.

It'll only be a few minutes
before this floor goes up.

The film.

Mr. Rathbone.
Greata, the film.

Mr. Rathbone!
I've got to save it.

Where are the stairs
to the roof?

Here, I'll show you.

It's bolted.

Now what do we do?

The elevator.
It's the only way.

It's dead.

That was the last trip.

Oh, no.

(STRAINING)

FIREMAN: All right, men!

In here!

Put it up over here!

We've got it!

(ELECTRICITY BUZZING)

REPORTER: This is the eighth
building to go up in flames

in the space of a month.

The alarm went out...

Well, the TV station's had
quite a few calls so far.

Police are
checking them out.

So far,
they're all cranks.

I don't know what makes
people like that tick.

What about Helms?

I talked to him.

I think he's more
interested in that fire.

REPORTER: ...nor ransom notes
to the city.

There's an effort to get Weldon
Rathbone, the billionaire recluse, out...

What building was that?

The Rathbone building.

That's the building
Frank and Joe were going to!

Let's go!

MADISON: All right, take your
company to the west side stairwell and...

Please, you've
gotta help me.

My little girl
is up there.

Sally, she was waiting
for me in my office.

What office?
A dental office.

Everybody had gone, and
she was waiting for me, and...

Which is your office?

On the fourth floor.

We just lost
the elevators.

Third floor is under control, the
remaining floors are out of control.

Oh, my God!

Now, look, send Engine 14
up to the fourth floor.

We have a child may be
trapped in a dental office.

We'll do everything
we can, lady.

Now what about
the 16th floor?

It's gone. And if there's anyone
in that penthouse above it...

We're gonna find out.

(STRAINING)

I never thought
you'd find me.

I thought everyone
had given up.

I didn't give up.

Frank... Tell me about it
when we get out of here.

Rathbone!

He's insane, Frank.
He won't listen.

We're trapped, aren't we?

(ALL SHOUTING IN ALARM)

WOMAN: Now which way?

Make your way to the stairs
at the end of the hall.

It may be clear.

SALLY: Mommy! Mommy!

Do you hear something?

Mommy! Mommy!

Go out with the rest.
No, Joe, you can't!

Mommy! Mommy!

You okay?

(COUGHING)

I was never top of
my class in climbing.

Look, it's easy. Just go hand over
hand and try to keep your balance.

Keep going,
and don't look down.

Okay, you go first.
I'll be right behind you.

If I fall?

I'm gonna be
right there with you.

Look, we're
gonna get out of this.

If we don't?

We will.

We will.

Hand over hand and go
slowly. Take your time.

(SIREN WAILING)

You can't come
any closer.

My sons may be
in that building.

Well, search the crowd. We've
gotten a lot of people out so far.

But not all?
No, not all.

Oh, my God.

Fenton. Mr. Drew. What
are you two doing here?

My sons may be
in that building.

They thought they had
a lead to Nancy.

Why didn't they contact me?

Because you told them
they were on their own!

We'd better check
the crowd. Come on.

FIREMAN: All right, boys!

Hey, we're trapped
up here!

We need some help!

(COUGHING)

That's right!

What's your name?

Sally.

Have you ever jumped
off a diving board, Sally?

Okay, well, this is
gonna be just like that.

You wanna try it
with me?

Okay.

You're not scared,
are you?

No, not if you're not.

Okay.

One, two, three.

Frank, I can't go
any farther.

Put your feet
on my shoulders.

I think I'm okay now.

FIREMAN: Can you hear me?

Move it!

That was fun!

Sally!

Oh, Sally. Oh!

What can I say?
Thank you!

You're welcome.

You bet!

(BANGING)

How did you
get up here?

The elevator shaft, but
the whole thing's on fire.

This is welded shut.
Come on!

He really is insane.

They told me
there's someone inside.

Yeah, Rathbone.

You two get behind
that vent over there.

Wait here.

(COUGHING)

What are you doing
here? He's in here!

Come on!

(COUGHING)

FRANK: Rathbone?

Rathbone! RATHBONE:
I've got to save it.

I've got to save the film.

We've got to get
out of here. Come on!

You have to
get out now!

Princess.

Let's go.
Come on.

(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)

(COUGHING)

Are you all right?

It's all right.

It's okay. It's over now.

It's okay.

Joe?

Nancy!
Hi! Oh, my God.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

For what?

I did this.

I just wanted to get
back at him. At Rathbone.

I'm sorry.

There they are.

Nancy!

Dad!

You guys are all right?
You're not hurt?

We're fine.

Thank God.

Thank you, sweetheart.

You know, I've been fighting
fires for 20 years in this city

and I've hated
every one of them.

The fires
or the years?

Both.

But it's moments like that
that make it all worthwhile.

Come on.

HELMS: You know, you really
do look like Greata Delquist.

I guess you don't
remember her too well, huh?

No, I don't.

The girl you rescued
was Greata's daughter.

Her career was made and
then broken by Rathbone.

Last year, she died
in a sanitarium,

penniless.

Her daughter
wanted revenge.

Oh, she didn't want
to k*ll him.

Just wanted to ruin him, the
way he'd ruined her mother.

She wanted
his building to burn,

and we should have
seen the pattern,

because every one of the
buildings that was set fire to

had something to do with
Rathbone's brotherhood of companies.

She destroyed millions.

She almost destroyed
a lot of lives.

I'm pretty sure she'll be
placed under psychiatric care.

That's where
Rathbone should be.

Yeah, he will be,

after he stands trial for
kidnapping and embezzlement,

larceny, fraud...

You really uncovered
something, young lady.

And you guys,

you can really solve cases
on your own.

The government
is grateful.

Look, I've got to talk to Fire
Chief Madison. We'll talk later.

Six months.

This has been my home
for six months.

You were my only hope.

And you never gave up,
did you?

After all we've
been through?

We always knew
you were alive.

No,

I was her.