11x16 - Film Flam

[bunniefuu]

Listen, Hank, I'm not stalling.

It's just that the producers
keep potchkeeing with it.

Cutting, re-cutting.

Well, there isn't
a completed print

of Cry of Destiny available.

We're sitting on an order
for 27,000 videocassettes,

up 6,000 from
yesterday, and climbing.

Cash on the line, you know.

They're getting antsy.

Plus, I got a lab blocking
time for us out of my pocket.

Yeah, this is Hank Duncan. I
want a pass for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Main gate. For
Miss Barbie Lippin.

To see Ron Seymour in casting.

Fringe benefits?

Now look, Carson,
these people don't care

if they don't get the exact
release version, you know.

Every film nut in the
world's practically drooling

to finally get a look
at Cry of Destiny.

We borrow the negative
overnight and make our own copy.

That's all we need.

I don't know. I
don't know, guys.

This past year, security's
gotten really tight.

I can't do this anymore.

Mr. Robbins.

Let me explain something, okay?

I mean, I can understand
how a guy in your position,

you may not
understand the concept,

but Hank and me, we've got
personal financial obligations.

Serious ones.

Real people ones.

All right. All right.
I'll... I'll do what I can.

Hey. This stage hasn't
worked in a month.

How come I smell coffee?

It's got to be there, Scotty.

Mr. Duncan promised
me he'd call it in.

Oh, yeah. Here we go,
Miss Lippin, here we go.

Here. Make a left and
follow the green arrow.

You'll see a sign up ahead.

Thanks, Scotty.

Morning, Scotty. Wasn't
that Hank Duncan's squeeze?

I wouldn't know, Mr. Randall.

Well, it looks to me like
office service executives

have a lot more clout
than they used to.

From Mr. Robbins himself.

He said he needs to meet with you
in his office the minute you get here.

You didn't see me, Scotty.

There's no way that I would
miss your screening, Boyce.

I don't have to be in
San Diego until Monday,

and it is the final effort of one
of the world's greatest directors.

Well, I sure hope it lives
up to your expectations.

Along with everyone else's.

Anyway, now that brings
me to your new book,

which you were generous
enough to give us first look at.

Well, my agent says that
if you show any interest,

she guarantees to be
anything but generous.

Jess, I'm
embarrassed to admit it,

but I still haven't had
a chance to read it.

Well, given all the distractions
that you've been having

with Cry of Destiny,
I'm not surprised.

Listen, I read that your daughter
discovered the unfinished footage

right here in the film vault?

Yes, she did.

And you know, Elaine was so
intrigued with the film she found,

she hunted down everything
she could on Austin Young,

including the great
man's assistant director.

She kept bugging
me until I finally said,

"Okay. Go ahead,
complete the film!"

The assistant, that
was Fritz Randall, right?

Yes, I understand he's
writing a book on Austin Young.

Yeah, the self-appointed expert
on the great man's life and death.

Yes. I remember that there
were some unanswered questions.

An accidental overdose,
according to the LAPD.

And you know how the press blows
something like that out of shape!

But you know, it's ironic.

Austin Young was a big
budget director all of his life,

then he turns around and sh**t
three quarters of Cry on a shoestring.

Dies suddenly...

And 35 years later, Monolith
Pictures spends $30 million to finish it.

Oh, try 40... Excuse me.

Boyce here.

No, no, David. There'll
be no more video pirating.

You sure?

Yeah. I've implemented
some new safeguards,

and the police assure
me they're working on it.

Yeah, well, I wish you and the
board had seen fit to fly out to see it.

Cry of Destiny is magnificent.

Yeah, well, the
same to you, David.

New York's way of
showing they care.

Oh.

No, I don't understand.

Scene 57 is the one Austin
and I were gonna sh**t when...

I know, when he
d*ed. Fritz, face it.

The boy genius wrote a
really lousy, undoable scene

in an otherwise brilliant movie,

and we're gonna live without it!

Elaine, that is a really
outrageous thing to say.

Well, try this.

I'm not asking my father
for another penny, capisci?

Come on! We got this far.

What do you say we do it right?

Carson? What in hell
do you think you're doing?

The sound of creative
differences wafting down the hall.

Carson, you're
not taking that film.

Wrong, Fritz.

Our European distributor needs a
dupe in his hands by tomorrow morning.

I'll only need this
for a few hours.

Carson, you saw
my father's memo.

We are not to let this
picture out of our sight!

She's right. We'll be
lucky to have it ready

in time for the
damned screening.

If this man does not have a
copy to show his exhibitors...

No.

Carson, out of here!

Now!

Or I call security! Get
out! All right. All right.

Okay. Now back to topic A.

I just cannot believe
that you're gonna cop out

after all that we've
been through.

Excuse me. "We"?

No.

You would still be peddling Austin
Young memorabilia out of your home

if I hadn't risked my
relationship with my father

so that "we" could
make things happen.

Now, Fritz, we'll just do a
voiceover so we can clarify the...

Austin hated
voiceovers. I hate them!

Elaine! Fritz!

You are going to
do this! Let go of me!

No, I'm not going
to. Not till... Let go!

She said, "Let go."

Darryl?

Take a hike, pal.

Okay.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Um...

I thought you had already
wrapped your picture.

Um... Oh...

They needed me to
loop a couple of lines.

Oh.

Darryl, do you have another
name besides Harding?

What do you mean?

Well, I was trying to call you

to invite you to our screening,

but you're not in the book

and Screen Actors Guild
has never heard of you.

Well, they probably
made a mistake. And...

See, my phone's not
in yet, and I just moved.

Oh!

Well, for now, let me give
you my extension number.

Darryl?

Here you go, hon.
How you doing today?

You sure look nice.

Spare ribs look good.

Oh, they sure do,
but I'm trying to quit.

You ought to be
wearing your badge, fella.

Huh? Oh!

I think I left it on my jacket.

I'm working set construction.

Stage 25.

Twenty-five?

Getting back to your book, Jess,

to add insult to embarrassment,

my secretary seems
to have mislaid it.

Any chance of sending
me another copy?

Oh, you're in luck, Boyce.

I just happen to have a few
dozen copies in my hotel suite.

Sorry to bother you two.

Ah, Boyce, legal just now
told me about the problem.

Now, this is only a rough draft,

but it'll put a positive spin
on it for tomorrow's trades.

Whoa! Slow down,
Carson, what problem?

You haven't heard? There's a
woman calling herself Audrey Young.

She claims she was adopted by
Austin Young a year before he d*ed.

Well, she says that she's the
real owner of Cry of Destiny.

She's got a lawyer.

You still don't
get it, Mr. Brown.

I am willing to offer
you a piece of my pie.

If the price is right.

Her father's will,
the adoption papers,

and the contract
he signed to star in

and direct Cry of Destiny
for this studio in 1960.

As you'll see, except for
the house in Hollywood

and the car, which
he left to Fritz Randall,

everything else was
bequeathed to me.

Now, wait a minute,

that can't possibly include a movie
that this studio hired him to make.

My father was Austin
Young, Mr. Brown,

not some wet-behind-the-ears
film school graduate

that you people can
take advantage of.

If you'll note paragraph 3,
subparagraph S of the contract,

it stipulates that
should Monolith fail

to release the film
within five years,

whether or not it is completed,

Austin Young or his heirs and assigns
become sole owner of the property.

Well, I'll need a few days for
our attorneys to look this over.

In the meantime, I'd like to
extend an invitation to both of you

to attend the screening
tomorrow evening.

Oh, that wasn't quite
the scenario I had in mind.

A court order barring
any exhibition of the film

without Miss Young's
written consent.

Well, no. I don't
have an agent yet,

but my boyfriend is a really
big deal here at the studio.

Oh.

Hank Duncan?

He's in charge
of office services.

I guess you've been
at this for a while, huh?

Have you ever heard of
the name Wee Joan Kemp?

Gee!

No.

Forty years ago,
I was a child star.

Made a million
dollars before I was 12.

Go figure, my family drank
most of it and stole the rest.

Wow.

Bummer.

That's Hollywood.
You can't let it get you.

And now, they're finally
releasing Cry of Destiny.

I got a feeling this could be
my chance for a comeback.

Excuse me.

Hi. Hey.

You got butterflies?

Kind of.

I sort of thought you'd
be here a little earlier.

Yeah. I'm sorry. I got tied up.

What? With this big
deal you can't talk about?

Hank, you're the one who said that
if we're gonna have a relationship,

we can't keep any
secrets from each other.

I know. I know. Look...

I'm sorry, I got to split.

Look, I want you to tell me all
about the audition later on, okay?

Yeah. All right.

Hank! Hank.

Remember you said to let
you know if I see anybody funny

hanging around Stage 25?

Yeah.

A guy I ran into
in the commissary.

Young, Kevin
Costner type, no ID.

He said he's working
on a set over there.

There's no construction on 25.

You get a name? Nope.

Well, get one and call me.

Got it.

David. David, will
you listen to me?

I will not let this k*ll us.

Now, assuming
Miss Young is real,

she'll want to profit from
this as much as we do.

David...

David, I've got to go!

Elaine, the answer is no. N-O.

Daddy, I'm only talking
a few thousand dollars.

Just an extra hour
on the dubbing stage.

I mean, Fritz wants to re-sh**t
the entire scene, for God's sake.

Yeah. The world's greatest
authority on Austin Young,

and he didn't know Austin
had an adopted daughter?

Now, wait a minute! I don't
like Fritz any more than you do,

but don't dump all over him

what your high-priced lawyers
should've uncovered at the get-go.

Come on, Daddy. Please?

You're right. I'm
sorry, sweetheart.

Does that mean yes?

Go, bring in your
actors for the wild lines.

Hey, now! Just make sure
the picture's ready on time.

It will be.

I knew you'd go along with it,
so I already had them come in.

Hey! You, young lady,
are really impossible!

Where do you
think I got that from?

Don't let them grind
you down, Daddy.

You got it.

Uh, Boyce... Let me guess.

Both Miss Young and the
will are the genuine article.

Well, 90% sure.

Well, Legal says it'll take several
weeks to nail the other 10%.

They're structuring a
deal with her as we speak.

The good part is
that we can go ahead

with the screening
as we scheduled.

Carson, New York's
giving me a lot of heat.

Now, what's the status on
your anti-piracy arrangement?

Oh, everything's in place.

No way anybody's gonna get
their hands on Cry of Destiny.

What?

I was just thinking,
wouldn't it be lovely

if we could make Miss Young
disappear for another 35 years?

Sorry, pal, there's no
way I can part with it

- for less than five grand.
- Five grand?

I mean, this is primo. A 1956
one-sheet in perfect condition?

Yeah, but for that price?

Hey, can I help it if Austin Young
prices are going through the roof?

Okay. Okay. Five grand.

Deal.

Oh, and make that
a certified check.

Yeah. Yeah.

I wouldn't mind one
of those for myself.

No problem. I'll have two
of them printed up and aged.

All these photos
you took of my father,

I never even knew they existed.

Oh, believe me, these
barely scratch the surface.

I hung onto them all these years

because I knew someday
he'd be rediscovered.

When my book comes out,
it's gonna blow people away.

Especially with the new
material you've been feeding me.

I just hope I can
trust it... And you.

Come on.

Do these look like the
lips of a pathological liar?

As long as I can see
your lips, I'm not worried.

It's when my back is turned.

Fritz, darling,
this is Hollywood,

where your friends
s*ab you in the chest.

Here it is.

Elaine Brown just
shipped the negative

and the soundtrack
to the studio's lab.

It'll be on the loading
dock in exactly two hours

with the print for
tonight's screening.

All right. I'll tell Manheim.

Hey, they're not gonna
miss the negative.

Now, you gotta distance
me from this, Hank.

Okay.

So I'm not in the Guild.

I managed the initiation fee,

but I just couldn't pay my dues.

But I'm gonna make it
as an actor someday.

Oh, I'm sure you will.

But, you know,
maybe I can help you.

I can talk to my father.

No! Elaine...

Look, Elaine, I really
appreciate the offer,

but I need to do this on my own.

On my talent, okay?

Okay.

Do you mind telling
me what that is?

Instant tomato soup.

I'm only budgeted
for one meal...

Sure we can handle
that. Why not?

Those two guys, I saw
them the other night.

They were with another one.

The other night? Where?

On Stage 25.

Do you know who they are?

Oh, sure.

The younger one is in
charge of office services,

name is Hank Duncan.

And the more distinguished
one is Carson Robbins,

my dad's number two man.

Hmm. His best friend.

Hmm.

What were they doing?

Nothing. Just, you
know, hanging out.

Hey, that's the guy
Scotty described.

I'd bet on it.

With Boyce's daughter?
Come on, Hank.

I don't care if he's with
Princess Di, it's him!

May I join you?

Boyce!

Hiya, Charlie!

I'm sure this isn't
at the top of your list,

but here's a copy of
my book that I promised.

Oh, thanks, Jess.

I'll get into this tonight
right after the screening.

Then, this Audrey Young,

you've come to some
agreement with her?

If you can call turning
everything you own

over to a woman
holding a g*n to your head

as coming to an agreement, yes.

New York is not
gonna be thrilled,

especially coming on top
of our security problems.

Oh, you mean, the
videotape piracy?

Yeah. It's cost the
studio tens of millions.

Between that and
the flak over Cry,

and not having a hit
picture the last year,

this entire megillah is
getting very old. You know...

I've actually been asking myself

if it's all worth the struggle.

What is it?

I was thinking of some advice
that you gave me years ago

when I was wondering if I
might try my hand at writing.

You said, "People
who don't take risks

"protect themselves
from the lows.

"The trouble is, they can
never experience the highs."

Yeah, I said...

Yes. Oh, hello, David.

No. No. No. David,
I'm well aware

it's not the best deal
we ever made, but...

Boyce, we're pulling
the plug tomorrow.

You what?

They're pulling the plug?

No, Dad, you can't
let them do that!

Honey, they're calling
your picture a money pit.

They've got a point.

About 40 million of
them, as a matter of fact.

But, my God, the heat
that this picture's generating,

plus all the advance bookings.

Oh! I reminded him!

I'm afraid it fell on deaf ears.

That's crazy.

That's crazy because they're
gonna gross more from Cry

in two weeks than they
have in an entire year

with those overblown chop-socky
turkeys they force you to make.

Plus video cassette orders!

New York's not convinced
we've choked off the pirating.

Frankly, neither am I.

Now, if we let one
bootleg master off this lot...

Oh! I'm afraid I'm not
gonna be very far behind.

Dad, I cannot believe that you're
going to roll over and play dead

for those bean counters.

Hey, who said anything
about listening to New York?

We ignore them.

The screening goes
off tonight as scheduled.

Hi, Hank.

I've been looking
all over for you.

Oh, man, what the
hell is she doing here?

Back off, will you?

Hey, babe! What do you need?

I was just wondering if this
outfit's gonna be okay for tonight.

Yeah, it's okay!
You look gorgeous!

Uh, but...

I need you to run
along right now. Okay?

And I'll pick you
up at 7:30, okay?

Sure.

You look great.

I'll take care of her, okay.

You just get that damned
negative back here on time!

No, really. Jessica and I
keep meeting over dead bodies.

What?

Well, Lieutenant Caceras
is with LAPD Homicide.

Oh, interesting
line of work, huh?

Yeah, but it's not quite as
interesting as being invited to...

Jessica, aren't those
two British actors?

So at the loading dock...

Did that have anything to do with
this big score you're gonna make?

No. No. But I'd just as
soon you didn't talk about it.

Hank. Hank. Excuse me, I
have to talk to you privately.

Um, sure. Hon...

Why don't you get me a refill?

Sure.

It's a piece of
cake, Mr. Robbins.

We'll have our very own
print by noon tomorrow.

And by tomorrow night,
$750,000 to divvy up.

I'm sorry! Great.

Bubbles.

You got it. Bubbles in
Love. Bubbles Goes West.

You know, to this day, when
one of your movies turns up on TV,

I'm hooked. Oh!

I was in Austin's
first picture on the lot

and his last, as it turned
out, Cry of Destiny.

Oh, I'll never forget
that day. I loved the guy.

I was home before
the lunch break.

I had to hear
about it from Fritz.

Well, things just sort of fell
apart after that for a lot of us.

It was nice talking
to you. Thank you.

Cheer up, Boyce. It may not
be the best deal you ever made,

but at least you didn't have
to disappoint my father's fans.

Excuse me. Enjoy the picture.

I don't suppose you
know me, Miss Young...

Wee Joan Kemp?

Sorry.

Oh, I worked with your father.

You must be very proud of him.

He was a wonderful talent.

Yes. He was.

All the same, given
the subject matter,

it's annoying that my
advance was so small.

Well, I'm sure it's the penalty
for being a first-time writer.

I think your book
sounds fascinating, Fritz.

The True Story of Austin
Young's Life and Death. Catchy.

It's just a working
title, of course,

but it's gonna be a lot more
than a coffee table book.

Here, Mr. Brown!

I have one or two things
to say about how he d*ed.

An accidental overdose?

I never for a minute
bought the official version.

Matter of fact, Jessica,

as a mystery writer, you might like
to see some of the material I have.

Oh, yes, I would,
Fritz, very much.

Excellent. Tomorrow
morning, ten-ish, my place?

Boyce knows my address.

Perfect. Good.

Ladies and gentlemen, the
screening is about to begin.

I don't suppose I have to remind
you to take along a grain or two of salt.

I was planning to
take a shaker-full.

Hmm.

It won't be too long
before we're overrun, Maria.

I want you to go with Esteban.

He'll see you safely
to the railhead.

You'll be across the
border by nightfall tomorrow.

I want to stay with you.

No, darling.

If you were to die here, it would
mean that everything we believe in,

everything I've put
my life on the line for,

would've been for nothing.

Someday, some way, Maria.

Oh, boy!

Well, Jessica, they sure don't make
them like that anymore, do they?

No, Gabe, they don't.

And I don't think they could, even
if they had 35 years to finish them.

Right!

Fritz?

Is anybody here?

Fritz?

Fritz!

I can't tell you any more
than that, Lieutenant.

I looked at Fritz toward
the end of the screening,

about 10:30, I guess.

He looked as right as rain then,

and that's the
last I saw of him.

Okay. Well, thanks for
coming by, Miss Young.

You're welcome.

So, nobody saw him
after the screening.

Randall takes in the show, ducks out
the minute it's over, and comes back here.

I don't know.

Gabe, I couldn't
help but overhear

the medical examiner's
preliminary finding

that Fritz had
taken his own life.

Well, that's the
way I'm writing it up.

Lethal dose of
sleeping pills and wine.

Gabe, finishing that
movie was Fritz's dream.

I mean, the screening was an
enormous success! Mmm-hmm.

The press, photographs!

He even had a book coming out.

I mean, how many people
would walk away from that

and then k*ll themselves?

Hey, who knows what goes on in the
heads of these Hollywood hoodoos?

Uh-oh.

I'm seeing that look, Jessica,

and I'm looking at a stack
of verifiable homicides

back on my desk, so
I'm really not anxious

to add Mr. Randall to the list.

Hmm. Randall's
photos for his book.

Too bad he never
got past page 86.

Though I have a hunch
that payoff he told you about?

It's nothing more
than Hollywood hype.

I don't know, Gabe.

I get a distinct
feeling of déjà vu.

About what? All this.

Austin Young's protégé,

an overdose of
sleeping pills in wine.

I mean, 35 years ago, Austin
Young d*ed of the same thing,

and the LAPD called
it accidental then, too!

We're talking major coincidence.

Or else Fritz Randall
had quite a sense of irony.

Or his k*ller did.

Did your men happen
to find the bottle of wine

that Fritz was drinking from?

Not yet. They're looking.

And those eyeglasses that he always
wore? I haven't seen them either.

He could've lost
them on the way home.

Oh, Joey? Would you please take
Mrs. Fletcher where she wants to go?

You got it, Lieutenant.

Thanks, Gabe. I'll be with
Boyce Brown if you need me.

250,000?

You're gonna get $250,000?

Hey! Barb, for God's
sake, keep it down!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm
just so excited for you, for us.

Yeah, I don't know. Why do I think
I probably shouldn't have told you.

Hank, this... This
business you're into,

it isn't anything

dishonest, is it?

You know, I mean,
like, against the law?

Because this deal that's going
down tonight, it's all so mysterious,

and I just thought
that... Hey, Barbie,

do I look like I need
that kind of grief?

Oh, good.

Hey. Hey. Wait a minute.

What do you mean, "Oh"?

Come on, I told you about
the bucks. What do you mean?

Well...

Just so you know,

there's a couple of guys at this
lounge I sing at over in Van Nuys,

they might be interested
in working with you.

Come on.

Why don't you tell me some
more about these guys?

Carson?

Jessica!

Fritz's glasses.

At his house, I just
noticed they were missing.

Poor Fritz. A lot of good
they'll do him now, huh?

You were at the house?
I must have missed you.

However, I did happen to see the
glass that he took his last drink from,

it was the same as the glasses
at the reception last night.

I remember seeing him bring
his into the screening room.

Oh, what does that
have to do with anything?

Well, so far, they haven't found
any wine bottles at the house.

Oh, so then he took
his glass home with him.

Oh, and left his
eyeglasses here?

Oh, I don't believe
that for a minute!

Jessica, now, it'll be in everyone's
best interests if you just...

I mean, suppose
he didn't realize

that he left them here
because he was already dead.

Jessica... I mean, perhaps
right here on this couch,

and somebody took his body
and transferred it to the house

to make it appear
that he had d*ed there.

All right. I did it. I
moved him. I moved him.

But this is not what you think.

Of course,

it was Fritz staggering up the
aisle before the end of the screening,

and he was already drugged!

I didn't... I didn't k*ll him!

Now, Boyce will tell you...

That's right, Jessica, Carson
called me about midnight,

told me what had
happened. I was furious!

Then I realized it was just
a matter of good intentions

overcoming good sense.

I was just trying to protect Boyce
and the studio and the picture.

I wasn't thinking too clearly.

Well, you said you were watching
the screening from the back...

Yeah. I was just trying
to read the audience.

And I saw Fritz coming out.

He was weaving, he had
his wine glass in his hand,

and he looked at it kind of
puzzled and just keeled over...

Losing his eyeglasses.

I sniffed the glass and
then I knew we were dealing

with more than just grapes here.

So I put the glass in my pocket

and I dragged Fritz's body
out the side door to my car.

What? Damn, if we could
just get passed this mess!

I mean, thanks to that
screening last night,

the word on Cry of
Destiny is fantastic.

New York's ecstatic, Elaine's
got a future, and now this!

Boyce, I have to tell
Lieutenant Caceras.

Excuse me.

Boyce here. ELAINE: Daddy.

Elaine? Daddy, I'm in jail.

You're where? Arrested.

Repeating patrol
request on line 11.

Daddy, they
think I k*lled Fritz!

Sweetheart, now,
don't you worry, huh?

I'll have an attorney
here before noon.

Lieutenant, could we...

You got a couple of
minutes, Mr. Brown.

So, go on, Mr. Robbins.

Well, I... Please, Jessica.

I knew that Fritz kept a house
key in the azaleas out front.

I got his body inside
and that's the whole story.

Welcome to the dumbbell
hall of fame, Mr. Robbins.

Dirty hands do not
a m*rder*r make,

but we'll need you
as a material witness,

so, as they say in the
flicks, "Don't leave town."

Well, I gotta admit, you
were ahead of me, Jessica.

No wine bottle, no eyeglasses.

We found a couple of
heavy duty sleeping pills

under Randall's
seat at the movie.

Now, Elaine Brown must've
missed his wine glass in the dark.

The point is, she got enough
of them into his glass to k*ll him.

But Elaine was not
sitting next to Fritz.

According to the
seating chart, she was.

No! She was with a
young man, Darryl Harding!

Sorry, but the guy's name is not on the
invitation list and nobody remembers him!

Gabe, I saw him!

Look, Miss Brown admits that
she and the victim were having...

What do those people call it?

Creative differences.

Is that your case?

Gabe, if that is a
motive for m*rder,

there'd be no one
left alive in Hollywood.

Besides, forensics will come up
with all the hard evidence we need.

Boyce?

I don't know what to say, Jess.
She's confused, lost, scared.

Well, I'll ride back with you.

I'll see you later, Gabe.

Hello, Arnold.

Well, hi, Mrs. Fletcher!

Oh, Miss Kemp.

Too bad about Fritz Randall.

I just heard about Elaine Brown.

The whole lot's
buzzing. Imagine.

But you know what
they say, life goes on.

I just got four scenes next week

in the new Todd Paris picture.

Oh, well, good luck!

Yeah. On good old Stage 25.

It'll be just like coming home.

Home.

Darryl?

Darryl!

Elaine is in a lot worse
trouble than you'll be

if you reveal
yourself and help her.

I wish that were
true, Mrs. Fletcher.

I like your digs.

How long have you
been living here?

Oh, a couple of months.

I lost my day job.

Had to give up my
apartment in town.

The next day, I got on
the lot for a casting call.

Found this.

I know it's not exactly the
Beverly Hills Hotel, but...

The view's pretty good.

What is it that you're
so frightened of, Darryl?

I know about some criminal
activity here at the studio.

It's pretty serious.

The negative's
back in the vault.

Her again?

Hey, hey. Relax, Manheim.
She's working for me.

You think I'd have brought
her if she wasn't okay?

$250,000 against
$750,000 in a week,

and perhaps a great deal more.

The buzz on this
picture's unbelievable.

What'd I tell you?

Orders for video cassettes are pouring
in. China, the Middle East, Europe...

I've never seen
anything like it.

Me neither.

Listen, my people need to get
the names of your people so that...

Police! Freeze!

I wouldn't, lady.

Sergeant Barbara Warshaw,
LAPD Industrial Theft.

Sorry.

Yeah. You're sorry.

Another minute, and I'd have had
the names of their overseas contacts.

Sorry, pumpkin.

No dice, Jessica.

No. Darryl Harding's
statement is obviously prejudiced

by his feelings for Miss
Brown. I've still got to hold her.

Lieutenant, telephone!

I mean, surely Hank Duncan or
Carson Robbins had more motive

to k*ll Fritz than Elaine!

Caceras, here.

I want you in my office now!

Yes, sir. Be right there.

The commissioner's
got a flea under his collar.

I can just guess
what that's about.

Well, they've admitted that Fritz
was getting wind of the piracy.

I mean, either one of them
could've dropped those pills

into his drink at the reception!

No. No, no good, Jessica.
No. The coroner indicates

the dose k*lled him
within 10 minutes.

Now, we both saw
him walking up the aisle

just before the
picture was over.

Give it a rest, Jessica. I've
got to see the commissioner.

Miss Young! Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, the law finally
caught up with me.

I'm sorry. I don't...

They wouldn't renew
my driver's license

till I paid a bunch of old
parking tickets, so I did.

Now they claim I
paid for all but one.

Hmm.

Detective Chapman,
PD is on your private line.

All but one.

Darryl? DARRYL: Yeah.

It's Jessica. Hi, Jessica.

I hope your car is in
running order. Yeah.

Oh, Mr. Brown, I just
wanted to thank you so much!

I'm sorry, but I...
I'm Joan Kemp.

The other night?
At the screening?

Oh, I know you were
as busy as all get out,

being your daughter's
picture and everything...

Of course! Wee Joan.

I'm sorry not to remember you.

Well, 35 years do take
their toll, don't they just!

And God knows you
have enough to think about,

running a whole studio, and
now this Fritz Randall thing.

But I just wanted to
say thank you again.

For the bit in the
Todd Paris picture?

Oh, well, don't thank me. You
must've given a very good reading.

Good luck.

Well, thank you. Oh, Mr. Brown,

I do think you're just
being a little bit coy.

Miss Kemp, good
luck on your picture.

Oh, same old Boyce.

I'm sorry, back in the old days,

everybody used
to call you Boyce.

You were still
running then, too.

Just what are you talking about?

Oh, back when you were
assistant producer to Austin Young.

I was never an assistant
producer to Austin Young!

You must have me mixed
up with somebody else.

Oh, Mr. Brown, I
never forget a face.

I was never even on
this lot until 10 years ago.

I have no more time for any
of your fantasies, Miss Kemp.

I was afraid of that.
The print's gone, too.

I'm not sure I even
understand the significance.

Oh, I'm not sure
that I do either.

I mean, the print that corresponds
to the number 19 negative

on this sheet is missing.

Now, why would
they both be missing

unless the k*ller didn't
want us to see them?

Could this have
anything to do with it?

Well, it just may. Number 19.

The only thing, Jessica...

Why would Fritz choose to
blow up this one particular photo?

I have a feeling it's
because he discovered

that it's the key to
Austin Young's death.

Hello, you've reached...

Oh, their answering
machine. They must be closed.

I'll get it. Okay.

Clark's photo delivery.

Oh, yes. Please, come in.

I have a delivery
for Fritz Randall.

Oh, yes. I can take it.

I'm sorry. It says that
he needs to sign for it.

Fritz, I'm afraid we
need your signature.

Of course, let's see.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you.

Jackpot, Jessica!

It's print number 19.

Of course. The scene
they were going to sh**t.

You mean, there, the assistant's
preparing the slate for the next set-up?

57, take 1.

Exactly. The first set-up
after the lunch break.

Only Austin Young d*ed
before it was ever sh*t.

I was right, Darryl. It's this blow-up
that motivated Fritz's m*rder.

And I think I know
who the culprit is.

Come on, we've got a lot to do if
we're gonna get Elaine home for dinner.

Jessica?

Over here, Boyce.

Scotty told me I'd
find you over here.

Got any plans for dinner?

I do now.

By the way, I was
able to get Elaine

the best criminal
attorney in Los Angeles.

Elaine won't be needing
an attorney, Boyce.

But, I... Shh.

And being that you
worked with Austin Young,

I knew that these particular photos
would be of special interest to you.

Of course, it'll cost
you, Miss Kemp.

How much are we talking about?

Oh, I'll let you steal it.

How's $20,000 cash?

Okay, you little creep. $20,000.

My bank's open till 7:00.
We can go there now.

Save your money, Miss Kemp,

you'll need it to pay
your defense lawyer.

Defense?

Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Brown,
what's this all about?

As you well know,
it's about that photo,

the one that you
k*lled Fritz Randall for.

The one that proves you
m*rder*d Austin Young.

Mr. Brown, please,
rescue me from this lady.

Sorry, Joan, I want to hear
what Jessica has to say.

You came in a little late on the picture,
Mrs. Fletcher, about the third reel.

Austin Young was convinced
that Cry of Destiny was a disaster.

He was suicidal and despondent.

Besides, the police have
had those stills for years.

Yes, but they never made
the connection that Fritz did,

that you were not
where you said you were

at the time of Austin
Young's death.

I'll never forget that
day. I loved the guy.

I was home before
the lunch break.

I had to hear
about it from Fritz.

Yet this enlarged
section of the photo

clearly shows you coming
out of Mr. Young's trailer

as the camera assistant was
preparing the slate for scene number 57.

Now, according to the police
report, Mr. Young collapsed and d*ed

about 10 minutes
later, around 12:15,

after ingesting the same toxic
substance that k*lled Fritz Randall.

So, I... I stopped by his
trailer for a few minutes.

It doesn't make me a k*ller.

But what made you think up
a story like that, Joan, unless...

Unless she stayed on the lot

until she found the opportunity
to visit his trailer, Boyce,

when she thought that
nobody would notice.

This is really off-the-wall.

I mean, there's no way you
can make a case against me.

I'm sure the jury will
feel differently, Joan.

Especially when they learn

that you were willing to pay Darryl
here $20,000 for that photograph.

And when they
see this, Miss Kemp.

We got a warrant and
searched your place,

and found this empty bottle
of the pills in your trash.

I'm quite sure the residue will match
those in Fritz Randall's wine glass.

My worst mistake was
thinking that Austin Young

could ever love me
the way I loved him.

He thought of me as a child.

I couldn't bear to see the woman
I knew he was making love to.

He'd hold my hand,

kiss my cheek.

I wanted him to make love to me.

He said when I grew
up, I would understand.

I still don't.

Every day at lunch, I would
pour him his glass of wine.

My very own ritual.

That day I...

I said goodbye to everyone,
and I slipped inside his trailer.

And laced his wine
with sleeping pills.

And for 35 years,
you didn't realize

you'd been photographed
leaving the m*rder scene.

Fritz kept
threatening me with it.

He said he'd go tell the police,

that it would make his
book a huge bestseller.

That no-talent sycophant!

He wasn't good enough to
polish Austin Young's boots.

The beginning of the screening,

I noticed there was an empty
seat next to Fritz, so I grabbed it.

I dropped a handful of pills into his
glass, hoping they would dissolve.

I guess they did
because by the last reel,

Fritz was telling me he
wasn't feeling so good.

He got up out of his seat
and staggered up the aisle.

Officer Russell, take her in.

Well, frankly, David, with what you
put her through on Cry of Destiny,

she may not be interested.

Will you let her
look at our offer first?

Of course, but I can't
make any promises.

Yeah. Later, David.

What? Dad, I can't stand it.

Come on, Boyce, what did he say?

Three-picture deal with
you as executive producer.

Hey, hey, hey! All right!

Oh, Dad, that is fantastic!

Whoops, I forgot the time,
my plane leaves at 3:00.

Well, I'll just go warm
up the old heap, Jessica.

Thanks.

Oh, Jess, I know this may
sound like a broken record,

but with all that's
been happening...

I know. You never got a
chance to read my book.

Well, I kind of figured
that might be the case,

so I took the liberty
of letting Elaine see it.

I read it last
night. It's great.

The only change I would make

is moving it from Northern
California to the French Riviera.

Hold it, young lady,

I mean, you've just upped the
budget by several million dollars.

Now, Dad, I would hope
that you would read the book

before you make a
judgment like that.

I don't have to, I know.

And don't forget, I've
been down that road before.