1
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SINGING ON RADIO] Heaven, how
you danced before.
Heaven when you eyes meet mine.
[BALL BOUNCING]
[FAINT LAUGHTER]
[SINGING] Charm everyone that
you meet.
[FOREBODING MUSIC]
[MUTTERING]
MAN: I want to see my daughter.
I want to see her now.
You gotta come in now.
ATTENDANT: Here you go,
sweetheart.
You take these now.
[FAINT LAUGHTER]
CHILD: Busted!
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
[BANGING]
[DRUMMING]
[FOREBODING MUSIC]
ATTENDANT [ON LOUDSPEAKER]: If
Dr. Smith is in the building,
will you please report to Nurse
[INAUDIBLE]..
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[WHIMPERING]
[SCREAMING]
[BANGING ON WINDOW]
Nurse!
Help!
Nurse, nurse!
Somebody help me!
Somebody help!
Hurry!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]:
Journalism 101,
the lead paragraph in any story
should answer the five W's--
who, what, where, when, and,
finally, why.
Who?
Denise Wilcox, that would be me.
What?
Writing the obituary column.
Where?
In "The Tribune" Newspaper
Building
or, to be more precise, in the
morgue of "The Tribune"
Newspaper Building, the place
where
all dead files come to rest.
When?
16 hours a day, six days a week.
Why?
[PHONE RINGING]
Because it's an important public
service.
Hello, this is Denise Wilcox
with "The Tribune."
Is this Mr. Harold Johnson?
HAROLD JOHNSON [ON PHONE]: Yes,
it is.
I'm sorry for your loss, Mr.
Johnson.
I would like to confirm a few
details of your wife's death.
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]: Why?
Because everyone deserves an
accurate
reflection of their life.
Thank you.
All right.
Got "The Trib" copies on top,
both the papers
next, then the out of towns.
[SIGH] Did you pull another all
nighter?
Yep.
Maybe, when you're finished, do
you want to go, uh, for a bite?
No, thanks.
I'm swamped.
You know, I do not know why you
work so hard.
It's just an obituary column.
Opinion noted.
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]: Why?
Because Stanley Morgan is old.
Because he pushes himself too
hard.
Because he smokes two packs a
day.
Because he thinks a square meal
is a club sandwich.
[CHOKING]
And because it's only a matter
of time.
[GRIMACING IN PAIN]
And because I desperately want
his job.
[THUMP]
[THUMP]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[TINKING]
[MECHANICAL SQUEAKING]
[GASP]
OPERATOR [ON PHONE]: 911.
[DRAWER SLAMS]
Excuse me.
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]:
Dedicated news reporter
for "The Tribune," longtime
social activist,
honored many times by the city
service, organizations.
[STEADY BEEP]
Clear.
[ZAP]
[BEEPING]
[STEADY BEEP]
[ELECTRICAL CHARGING]
Do it again.
Clear.
[GASP]
Survived by his wife and two
children.
[BEEPING]
Get those, people.
[STEADY BEEP]
Take him around, please.
[PHONE RINGING]
Denise Wilcox.
MISS KIRKWOOD [ON PHONE]: Miss
Wilcox,
this is Miss Kirkwood at City
West
Hospital returning your call.
Sorry for the delay, but the EM report just came in.
Mr. Morgan's time of death was
6:45 PM.
Thank you.
[HANGS UP]
[TYPING]
[BEEP]
You were one heck of a reporter,
Stanley, a real pro.
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
[EXOTIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[BELL JINGLES]
Ah, Miss Denise.
Hey, Mr. Lee.
Just one moment, huh?
OK.
Here, Miss Denise, one regular.
You should find nice man.
Take you out for dinner instead
of always chicken chow mein.
I know.
Here, for you, for good luck,
eh?
Thank you.
[BIRDSONG]
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
[BEEP]
ANSWERING MACHINE: You have no
new messages.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGH]
Perfect.
Hey there, Lizzie, how was your
day?
You hungry?
No?
[CHIRP]
Stanley was from the old
school.
He-- he knew the meaning of the
words tenacity,
integrity, dedication.
So here's to one heck of a
reporter.
It was a pleasure to be your
editor and your friend.
To Stanley, we will miss you.
But we will never forget you.
ALL: To Stanley.
[CROWD MURMURING]
Hey.
It was nice of you to let
Stanley's family
use the paper for the service.
Oh, he spent most of his life
in this building.
It only seemed appropriate.
Yeah.
I was wondering if you had a
chance to look
at my resume and sample pieces.
- When?
Yeah, I put them on your desk
in an envelope
marked important.
This is not the time nor the
place.
I'm sorry.
I came to your office several
times.
But you were always busy.
Excuse me.
Simon.
SIMON: Good to see you, Rog.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Simon.
Denny, hi.
You knew Stanley?
I met him at a conference last
summer.
Oh.
- You look good. - Yeah.
Yeah, right.
Black's my color.
You, come.
Hey, I've got to go.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SWOOSH]
Oh, Denny.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
Mm.
Simon.
[DOOR OPENING]
[BIRDSONG]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[THUMP]
Uh!
How's your head?
I found a body.
There's been a murder.
Yeah.
You able to talk to me?
I got to get a statement.
Yeah, yeah.
Denise Wilcox, with "The
Tribune."
Walker, there's something you
need to see.
Wait here.
I'll be right back.
Do you have an ID on the body?
What about the time of death?
Miss Wilcox, I ask the
questions around here.
Why don't you put that away?
Denny.
Listen, I heard what happened.
Are you all right?
What are you doing here?
I'm with "The Tribune."
You're taking over city news?
Well, Stanley kind of
recommended me.
You got to be kidding me.
Wow.
This is awkward.
I was in line for that job.
We're ready for your statement.
Listen, if there's anything I
can do.
Yeah.
You can find the nearest bridge
and jump.
Well, it's good to see you
haven't changed at all, Denny.
Stop calling me that.
No one's called me that since
high school.
There was a man coming from the
direction of the body.
He ran past me and bumped my
arm.
What was he wearing?
I-- I couldn't really see him.
He-- he was-- had black on.
He had a hood on.
OK.
You have no idea what color his
shoes were.
You don't know what he looked
like.
And you have no idea whether or
not you saw any blood there.
It's funny.
You're a wannabe reporter.
And all you can tell me is that
the guy had a hood on.
I don't get it.
You go for a jog at the crack of
dawn.
You trip over a dead body.
And the first thing you do when
you come to
is you pull out that thing.
You start jotting down notes.
Do you always carry that thing
with you when you go jogging?
Well, I'm a wannabe reporter.
We tend to do those kinds of
things.
What were you doing in Ramsey
Park?
I jog here all the time.
It's my regular route.
Alone?
Are you going to check out the
guy with the hood or not?
Yeah, we will.
Is there anything else you want
to tell us?
No.
That's it.
That's all I can remember.
Did you even look at the
envelope I put on your desk?
I wrote over a dozen spec
pieces--
a human interest story, an
opinion--
It's probably in there
somewhere.
You could have at least given
it due consideration.
Instead Simon just waltzes in
here?
Simon is extremely well
qualified.
He has a master's in journalism
from Champlain College, not
to mention years of solid work
experience
at two different newspapers. -
OK.
So the fact that I've worked my
butt off for the past three
years doesn't mean a thing?
Look, Denise, I know this is
frustrating for you.
Perhaps if you'd gone to college
right
after high school instead of
taking time off,
you might be further ahead in
your career.
What if I help Simon?
At least on this story--
I was the first person on the
scene.
And I found the body.
If-- if you'd called in the
story, you might have a point.
But you didn't.
The police contacted us.
So we sent Simon in to cover it.
I could write an accompanying
piece, you know,
first person narrative.
I could offer a unique
perspective.
It could be a great hook or even
a sidebar.
No.
Sorry.
There's nothing I can do.
[SIGH]
What now?
Work hard.
Pay your dues.
And your time will come.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey, Denise. Denise.
Hey.
Listen, I'm sorry.
I didn't know you wanted the
job.
You know, it doesn't matter.
I wouldn't have gotten it
anyway.
Roger doesn't think of me as a
reporter.
I'm just someone who sits in the
basement
and writes about dead people.
Remember gravy as a condiment?
What?
When we were in high school, we
used to put on everything.
Sandwiches, fries, toast.
You even ordered it on a pie
once.
We're not 16 anymore.
Hey, do you mind if I--
I join you for lunch?
As a matter of fact, I do.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Yeah, I know. I know.
ANNOUNCER [ON RADIO]:
--considerations.
He played just two games for New
York
last season before being
sidelined by tendinitis.
Also, [INAUDIBLE] months of
speculation
by naming Simon Delripple as
their new team captain.
[SEAGULLS SQUAWKING]
[RINGING]
COMPUTER: You have one new
message.
Hey.
I heard you found the chick in
Ramsey Park.
What was it like?
I mean, I've never seen a dead
body
before, except for my grandpa.
And he was embalmed. So--
Luke, I'm sorry.
I'm super busy.
Sure.
No problem.
You know, I just thought, since
they had an ID on the body,
that you might want to know.
Wait.
Who was it?
I don't know if I'm supposed to
say anything.
It's not official.
But I overheard Roger talking.
Luke, tell me.
As long as you're not too busy.
Luke, please.
The name is Rutherford, Melissa
Rutherford.
Melissa.
[EXOTIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[BELL JINGLING]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, Denise.
I hear you first time.
There was a newspaper on that
table a few days ago.
I need to find it.
We get many newspapers.
People leave them all the time.
It was in Chinese. I need to
find it.
There was an obituary.
And it had an English name.
Chinese newspaper?
You sure?
Here it is.
Here it is.
It's advertisement for herbal
skin cream.
Miss Denise, sometimes when mind
gets tired, eyes play tricks.
[FOREBODING MUSIC]
[EXOTIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[TYPING]
[CHIMING] COMPUTER: Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
IT TECH [ON PHONE]: I Department.
Hey, this is Denise in
Obituaries.
Can you look at my computer?
I keep getting these pop-ups.
IT TECH [ON PHONE]: I'll get on
it.
[CHIMING] COMPUTER: Click here.
Click here.
And can they do something about
this awful synthesized voice?
It's driving me nuts.
IT TECH [ON PHONE]: Will do.
[CHIMING]
Pier 17?
What does that mean?
May 16?
What?
That can't be right. [CHIMING]
That's tomorrow.
[CHIMING]
[DIALING]
[RINGING]
LORNA WOODS: Hello?
DENISE WILCOX [ON PHONE]: I'm
calling about Lorna Woods.
Oh, this is Lorna Woods.
Uh, this is Denise Wilcox from
"The Tribune."
Do you have a daughter or a
mother named Lorna?
No.
Listen, I'm sorry.
I was just calling to, um, make
sure you were all right.
A woman was murdered last night.
So we're asking people to be
careful.
So you, what, you pick my name
out of the phone book?
Or you're calling every woman in
town
to make sure they're all right?
Please, just be aware.
LORNA WOODS [ON PHONE]: I got to
go.
[CLICK]
[DIAL TONE]
[HANGS UP]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SWOOSH]
Uh!
[DISTORTED] How's your head?
[SWOOSH]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[TYPING]
[YAWN]
[CHIMING]
COMPUTER: Click here. Click
here.
Click here.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
DISPATCHER [ON RADIO]: Unit
29-31, confirm ATA at Pier 17.
[SIRENS]
Denise Wilcox with "The
Tribune."
What's the victim's name?
Ho, hold up.
If you had clearance, you'd
know.
Woods, Lorna Woods.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHATTER ON POLICE RADIOS]
What now?
What the hell is she doing here?
What is she doing here?
I'm sorry.
She-- she said she had
clearance.
She's never had a byline in her
life.
What's the significance of the
yellow scarf?
Is it the same material found as
the yellow flag
on Melissa Rutherford?
Could this be the same perp or a
copycat killing?
Miss Wilcox, I think it's time
for you to go home.
Next thing you know we're going
have typesetters and paperboys
on the scene.
Come on.
[SIRENS]
Hey, Denise.
Denise.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
How did you know the victim's
name?
What?
Because the police had only
found out about it
a few moments before you
arrived.
I just spent half an hour on the
phone
trying to convince my police
source that it wasn't me
who told you.
Uh, I don't know.
She's not a friend of yours?
No.
No, I barely knew her.
Oh, so you do know her.
No.
No, I only know her name.
Her mother and my mother used to
play bridge together a really
long time ago.
Who the hell do you think you
are?
Nancy Drew in high heels?
You see that picture?
That's me with the chief of
police.
It took me seven years to
establish that relationship.
And I'm not going to let you
ruin it.
You-- you can't just go running
around, flashing
your press badge and sticking
your nose
where it doesn't belong.
Is that clear?
I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.
Finding a body can be a
traumatic experience.
I think you should talk to
someone.
What do you mean, a shrink?
No, a trauma specialist.
And don't worry about the cost.
It's part of the benefit
package.
I don't need a shrink.
You could be suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder.
And it's not a suggestion.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DENISE WILCOX: The IT Tech
checked out my computer.
There's nothing wrong with it.
So what do you think is
happening?
All right.
Well, there's got to be a
logical explanation.
Maybe it was a--
a computer virus or maybe my
overactive imagination.
Or maybe I'm going crazy all
over again.
Going crazy is not an official
diagnosis.
Look, this is a waste of time.
Tell me about Simon.
There's nothing to tell.
I thought he was the love of my
life.
My mother caught us doing it and
freaked.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
She told me that I would rot in
hell
and that she would spend years
in purgatory
making up for the fact that
she'd raised a tramp.
THERAPIST: How did that make you
feel?
Oh, peachy.
How do you think it made me
feel?
She humiliated me and then told
me I could never see him again.
And that was the impetus for
the first attempt?
Yep.
I locked myself in the bathroom
and slashed my wrists.
Your mother had you committed
to Cliffcrest,
where you tried it again.
Yeah.
My mother got her wish.
THERAPIST: How so?
I never saw Simon again.
Yeah, till he showed up at "The
Trib" two days ago.
Hm.
I love sex, right?
That's why I live with a lizard.
So you never told Simon what
happened.
No.
THERAPIST: He must have wondered
why you suddenly left.
Well, I was in Cliffcrest for a
year and a half.
And when I got out, he had
graduated and moved away.
THERAPIST: What was Cliffcrest
like?
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING]
[LAUGHTER]
I don't remember.
You've-- you've blocked it out.
I prefer to call it moving on.
You treat yourself so hard,
Denise.
I mean, let your emotions out.
Laugh, cry.
Do you know I don't let it out?
Because I'm afraid if I start to
cry, I might not ever stop.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[TYPING]
Luke.
You asked me what it was like,
finding her.
It was awful.
I'm sorry.
Thanks for the papers.
I appreciate it.
Eh, don't worry about it.
Um, I'm going to the warehouse
later,
if you want anything else.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DETECTIVE WALKER: Moody, please
tell me you have something.
OFFICER MOODY [ON RADIO]: Denise
Wilcox's mother
swears she doesn't know anyone
with a daughter named Lorna.
Yeah, well, maybe she forgot.
OFFICER MOODY [ON RADIO]: Could
be.
Wilcox said they knew each other
playing Bridge.
So what?
Her mother doesn't know how to
play Bridge.
Huh.
She knew the victim's name at
the murder site.
We just barely made the
identification ourselves.
Somehow she knew.
Yeah.
That's one of the things I'm
planning to find out.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[HARD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
CLERK: Can I help you?
Yes.
Um, I was wondering if you've
ever seen this.
She's got a tattoo on her neck.
It looks like some sort of
gothic symbol.
Do you have any idea what it
means?
Why?
Do I look goth to you?
I'm kidding.
I love doing that.
I'll-- let's see it.
That's Kali.
Kali.
Kali was, like, one of the most
powerful Hindu deities ever.
Here, I'll show you.
Kali was a mother goddess, a
protectress.
But she also had a flip side.
She could be bloodthirsty.
And she often destroyed those
she was supposed to protect.
See.
Here, look.
She's got, like, four arms.
There's a sword in this hand and
a severed head in that one.
That's her destructive side.
But then this hand here, it's,
like, raised
in the symbol of, like, peace.
Extremely bipolar, if you ask
me.
You OK?
Thank you.
Hey, chill.
It's just a story.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[TYPING]
You're working late.
I just, uh, just have to get a
file.
Suit yourself.
Well, listen, Denise, you know,
I think we should clear the air
between us, you know,
especially because we have to
work together.
We don't have to work together.
You deal with the living.
I deal with the dead.
Oh, that's right.
You deal with the dead too.
As a matter of fact, you're
making
quite a name for yourself as a
hot shot crime reporter.
I'll just, uh, I'll get the
file.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHIMING]
COMPUTER: You have one new
message.
[BEEPING]
[CLATTER] [GLASS BREAKING]
What's the matter?
Nothing.
I'm-- I'm fine.
Denise, Denise!
You're not fine.
Denise, what's the matter?
What's wrong?
Please.
I don't want to be alone.
Are you sure?
[MUSIC - LINDY, "BEAUTIFULLY
UNDONE"]
[SINGING] I don't remember what
it used to be like,
the things that I'm not proud
of.
And the only reason I kept
coming back to you
was 'cause I thought I was in
love.
But I don't think about you
anymore.
And I wonder what the hell I
came here
for when I'd rather just fall
right off of your floor
and come beautifully undone.
I don't recall San Francisco at
all,
falls right from my memory.
And the only place that really
exists
is where you thought you'd found
me.
But I don't think about you
anymore.
And I wonder what the hell I
came here
for when I'd rather just fall
right off of your floor
and come beautifully undone.
Oh.
Yeah.
Oh.
Kali was worshipped by a cult
called
Thuggees, hence the word thugs.
They murdered their victims and
offered
them to her as sacrifices.
So you think these murders have
got something
to do with an ancient cult.
It's a possibility.
Kali made a rumel from the skirt
of her yellow dress.
A what?
A rumel, a yellow scarf, for
her followers
to strangle their victims with.
Have you seen Dr. Greenberg?
Do you think I'm making this
up?
Well, I think you're grabbing
at straws.
There's a million more logical
reasons
why a killer would use a scarf.
Maybe some, yeah, some
unfulfilled bondage fantasy.
Maybe it's time to throw the
police off track.
But it was yellow.
Maybe he was colorblind.
Maybe there was a sale on yellow
scarves at the Mostmart
and strangling just happens to
be his MO.
There's something else.
The morning I found Melissa
Rutherford's body,
I passed a wall on my way to
Ramsey Park.
There was graffiti on it.
It looked exactly like this, the
tattoo on Lorna Woods' neck.
See?
It's a stylized version of Kali.
Pretty far fetched.
I saw Dr. Greenberg.
And he gave me an A plus in the
sanity department.
Please, just let me look into
it.
I can't have you traipsing all
over the town
and using our name.
It'll be research only.
OK?
It won't involve the paper.
If I get a story, great.
If not, no harm done.
I can't authorize something
like that.
Denise, I'm going to pretend
this conversation didn't
happen.
You're on your own.
If I get one complaint, you're
fired.
Do you understand?
Luke, hey.
If you hear anything about
Melissa Rutherford or Lorna
Woods, would you let me know?
What's it worth to you?
[PHONE RINGING]
[BEEP]
Mailroom.
Yeah, yeah.
No, I'll look into it.
I'll be down in five minutes.
What's this? - 60 bucks.
It's all I got.
Jeez, Denise, relax.
I was joking.
Oh.
Please.
I'll see what I can do.
Thank you.
I'm going to get some air.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Oh, good, I was hoping I'd bump
into--
I thought I heard the man of
the hour.
Great job on the Woods story.
You made us proud.
Circulation is way up.
I want to discuss something with
you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK, OK.
It says here that Thuggees exist
in India.
Existed-- up until the late
1800s, that is.
Yeah, could they be in any
other areas?
Look, at this point, you
probably know a hell of a lot
more about this than I do.
We're closing in five.
DENISE WILCOX: It says here that
Thuggees are sometimes referred
to as the world's first mafia.
They traveled in large groups.
If you say so.
We're closing in five.
If someone were a follower of
Kali,
would they necessarily be part
of a group?
Or could they act on their own?
I already told you.
There are no followers.
They were outlawed, like, over
150 years ago.
But hypothetically.
You know what?
You're really starting to freak
me out.
Now, are you going to take these
with you?
Or do I have to reshelve them
too?
I'll take them.
Uh.
Well, look who showed up on my
side of the tracks.
You live around here?
It's not as bad as it looks.
Here, let me give you a hand.
Thanks.
[SIRENS]
SIMON CASTILLO: Go to occult
book stores often?
Yes.
Hindu mythology?
Symbols and their meaning?
I didn't know you were into this
new age stuff.
There's a lot about me you
don't know.
Listen, there's a coffee shop
nearby.
- Coffee keeps me awake. - Tea?
- No, thanks. - Herbal tea,
water?
Denise, we need to talk.
Look, Simon, what happened in
the morgue
was a mistake, all right?
A temporary lapse in judgment.
- Denise, please. - I was
vulnerable.
I let my guard down.
And there's nothing wrong with
letting your guard down.
Yes, there is. Because when I
do, I get hurt.
You know what? This was a
mistake.
I am fine walking on my own.
Wow, this reeks of deja vu.
There are two sides to
everything.
And everyone, apparently.
Oh, so you're just going to walk
away, just like in high school.
Come on, Denise.
You could at least give me an
explanation.
Some things are better left
unsaid.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
We're closed.
Can you come back tomorrow?
I'm with "The Tribune."
[DOOR UNLOCKING]
I wanted to ask you about that
woman that was just here,
blonde hair.
Oh, the loony?
Yeah.
[PHONE RINGING]
[BEEP]
LUKE [ON PHONE]: You done?
Almost.
LUKE [ON PHONE]: The deadline
was 10 minutes ago.
I know
COMPUTER: Click here. Click
here.
Click here.
LUKE [ON PHONE]: What's the
matter?
I got another pop-up.
LUKE [ON PHONE]: IT installed a
block.
That shouldn't be happening. - I
know, I know.
Forget it. Forget it.
[SIGH]
[TYPING]
[CHIMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
What?
All right, Jones, C. Foster.
Is that you?
[DIALING]
[PHONE RINGING]
OPERATOR [ON PHONE]: The number
you have reached
is not in service at this time.
And there is no new number.
[SIGH]
[CHIMING]
COMPUTER: Click here. Click
here.
Click here.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
[DOG BARKING]
[KNOCKING]
Hi, I'm looking for a Mr.
Foster.
He's listed as living here in
the phone book,
but he may have moved.
I'm Mr. Foster
Is your first initial C?
No, Ivan.
There's a C. Foster at this
address.
I'm too late.
I'm sorry.
He was killed two weeks ago.
We just got his body back
yesterday.
I'm a reporter with "The
Tribune."
Do you mind if I ask you a few
questions?
Sir, was he strangled?
Strangled?
It was a roadside bomb, same as
most of them.
What do you mean, most of them?
The boys in Iraq.
What the heck do you think I
mean?
Was there a yellow scarf with
his body?
What are you talking about?
Maybe there was a yellow scarf
with the body or a yellow
ribbon, like-- like a medal.
Or maybe you wore a yellow
ribbon.
What would I wear a yellow
ribbon for?
Because you were waiting for a
loved one to return from war.
What? Are you crazy?
I don't know anything about
yellow ribbons.
Just leave me alone.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[DRILLING]
Excuse me, sir.
Hi.
Just a sec.
[DRILLING]
That your car?
Yeah, I'm not here about my
car.
I'm looking for someone.
He ain't here.
I haven't told you who I'm
looking for.
Yeah, well, we're a garage.
You know, if you're collection
agency
looking for support payments or
alimony or whatever,
he ain't here.
Please, I need to find Carl
Foster.
And what would you be needing
Carl for?
I'm with "The Tribune."
It's important that I talk to
him.
That's a good one.
[LAUGHTER] Did Kenny put you up
to this?
No.
I--
Because you almost had me going
there-- for a sec.
Carl Foster.
Hey Carl, there's a lady looking
for you here.
[DOG BARKING]
[LAUGHTER]
[DOG BARKS]
[DOG BARKS]
The morning Melissa Rutherford
was killed,
I saw her obituary in a Chinese
newspaper.
I have no idea how it got there.
When I went back to look, it was
an advertisement.
And then Lorna Woods, I saw her
obituary on my computer
the morning before she died. And
I tried to tell her.
And she wouldn't listen.
So when I got something for Carl
Foster, I had to warn him
or I'd never be able to live
with myself.
So you tracked down a dog.
Oh, Ivan Foster called.
You thought you were crazy and
dangerous.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You said research only.
You said you wouldn't involve
the newspaper.
And here you go, traipsing all
over town,
dragging our name through the
mud.
And not only that, you've been
neglecting your job.
I've got here, what, four
complaints
about the obituaries.
Denise, what's going on?
I have no idea.
You've become so obsessed with
death.
You're seeing things that aren't
there.
What are you saying?
You need to take some time off.
No.
I'm fine.
It's not a suggestion.
What?
You're firing me?
I've been fair.
I've cut you slack.
I've even had you see Dr.
Greenberg.
But enough is enough.
Oh, for the record, I had Simon
check out
that little theory of yours.
Simon?
Lorna did have a tattoo.
But it wasn't some cult thing.
Her mother said it was a warrior
woman symbol.
She had just gotten out of an
abusive relationship.
And it was her way of, uh,
reclaiming her feminine power.
But it's still Kali.
Not to Lorna it wasn't.
The point is she wasn't a
Thuggee like you seem to think.
What about the graffiti near
Ramsey Park?
It was a clown picture.
No, that's impossible.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Now could you please get out of
my office?
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[RAINFALL]
[CHATTER]
Is Simon in his office?
Uh, I didn't see him in there.
Why?
[CHATTER]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS]
[KNOCKING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Can I help you?
Hi, Adele Cooke?
Are you Melissa Rutherford's
next of kin?
I'm her mother.
I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am.
Could I speak to you for a few
minutes?
Yeah, come on in.
[DOOR CLOSES]
I work the obituaries desk at
"The Tribune."
I wasn't aware "The Tribune"
was so thorough.
Actually, I'm not here
officially.
I just need to clear up a few
things for myself.
Do you have a picture of
Melissa?
Mhm, yes, right there.
[SWOOSH]
[LAUGHTER]
[SWOOSH]
Miss Wilcox, are you all right?
Did Melissa ever work at a
Cliffcrest Hospital?
Why, yes.
Until they shut it down.
But she wasn't Rutherford.
No, Cooke.
She took the name of Rutherford
when she got married.
It only lasted a little while.
But she kept the name.
She liked the sound of it.
And everyone always called her
Millie, not Melissa.
I knew her.
She saved my life.
You were a patient?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Millie was the only one who
ever cared about me.
She didn't think of me as a
crazy kid,
but somebody to help.
She was wonderful.
Yeah.
She was.
[SOBBING]
She was.
DETECTIVE WALKER: What do you
got, Moody?
OFFICER MOODY [ON RADIO]: Denise
Wilcox was
in Cliffcrest for over a year.
Nervous breakdown-- I couldn't
get any more
than that without a warrant.
DETECTIVE WALKER: I'll get that
process started.
OFFICER MOODY: I found out
something else this afternoon.
What do you got?
Before she went to Cliffcrest,
she was an honor
student, top of her class.
And guess who her boyfriend was?
Who?
OFFICER MOODY: Simon Castillo.
Interesting.
They worked together on the
high school paper.
So her ex-boyfriend gets the
job she feels
rightfully belongs to her.
But she's got to take a little
vacation at Cliffcrest.
Not a bad motive.
But murderer?
I mean, sure, she's a bit of a
whack job, but--
Come on, Moody.
Please.
She's driven, looking for a
break.
She's angry at the newspaper
because he mistreated her.
Put that together with the fact
that she
is a bit of a whack job.
Who knows what she might do?
[PHONE RINGING]
[CHATTER]
Luke, did Simon take the
picture at Ramsey park?
What picture?
The one with the clown.
I guess.
Roger asked Simon to check me
out.
Why?
Actually, I think it was the
other way around.
What?
Luke, someone is messing with
me.
And I want to know who and why.
You said if you heard anything--
All I know is that Simon said
you
had an overactive imagination
and that you've
been acting strange.
Hey, don't do anything you'll
regret.
[PHONE RINGING]
[CHATTER]
There was a picture of Kali on
the wall.
I know what I saw. [SIGH]
Look, can you sit down?
Let's talk.
Did you paint over it?
Why would I do something like
that?
To discredit me.
I mean, that's why you've been
following me around,
why you asked Roger if you could
check out my theory.
Look, that's not true, Denise.
I was trying to help.
You were afraid that I would
find
something out and get a story
and leave you out in the cold.
Come on, Denise. That's crazy.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hey, it's Simon.
Look, I'll call you back, Mom.
Uncle Roger-- I'll tell him to
give you a call.
[HANGS UP]
[SIGH]
Roger is your uncle?
Look, Denise--
Oh, all that crap about Simon
being highly qualified,
how he went straight to college.
You knew I was at "The Tribune"
all along.
[STAMMERING]
Come on, Denise.
Denise!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Denise!
Denise.
Denise.
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Denise, Denise, wait.
Denise!
How could you not tell me Roger
was your uncle?
Yeah, and how could you not
tell me about Cliffcrest?
You were a big part of my life.
And you-- you just disappear?
It takes a murder investigation
for me to find out why.
I mean, for Christ's sake,
Denise.
Why wouldn't you say something?
Because of these, Simon.
My mother made my life a living
hell after she caught us.
It seemed like there was only
one way out.
But somehow I screwed up.
I didn't die.
So she put me in a loony bin for
six months.
And when I tried again and still
didn't do it right,
they gave me another six months.
OK?
So now you know.
Do you think I don't know what
it's like, people looking at me
like I'm crazy?
I didn't want that, Simon, not
from you.
Denise, please.
No.
Please, just go away and leave
me alone.
[SIGH]
[MUSIC - LINDY, "BEAUTIFULLY
UNDONE"]
[SINGING] But I don't think
about you anymore.
And I wonder what the hell I
came here
for when I'd rather just fall
right off of your floor
and come beautifully undone.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]: Who?
Me, Denise Wilcox.
Obsessive, lonely, frustrated.
Heh.
Best friend is a lizard.
Who has only had sex once in the
last 12 years.
What?
Trying to make sense of
something
that makes absolutely no sense
at all.
Where?
Ramsey Park in Pier 17.
When?
May 15, May 16.
Why?
That's what I'm going to find
out.
[CHIMING]
[CHIMING]
127 Fraser Street.
[SWOOSH]
[SWOOSH]
DISPATCHER [ON RADIO]: All
units, all units,
armed robbery or assault in
progress,
127 Fraser Street at The Way of
the Wisdom occult shop.
Extreme caution is advised.
[RADIO CRACKLES]
This is Walker proceeding to
The Way of Wisdom.
[RADIO CRACKLES]
[SIREN BLARING]
Hello?
Hello, is anybody here?
[GASP]
Oh my god.
Oh, god.
Oh, god.
Miss Wilcox, I hope you're ready
to talk.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[ZIPPING]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
So you came here because of an
instant message that
mysteriously appeared on your
computer
telling you that Eunice
Jorgensen was going to die.
Yes.
How'd you know the victim's
real name was Eunice?
I didn't.
You got any way of showing me
this instant message?
It disappeared right after I
read it.
How come you never told us you
knew Melissa Rutherford?
I didn't remember her.
You block things out sometimes,
don't you?
Yes.
Like when you kill someone,
times like those?
No.
Are you sending yourself instant
messages telling yourself
information you already know?
No.
Denise, you're going to have to
come clean.
People are dropping like flies
around you.
And there's a link to everyone
of them.
You even hung out at the same
place as Lorna Woods.
You know you shop here.
You know you knew that lady who
just got
dragged out in a body bag.
We know you knew Melissa
Rutherford at Cliffcrest.
So you're going to have to come
clean.
I know it's hard.
We know you're emotionally
fragile.
We talked to your mother.
My mother?
Yeah.
If you want to know anything
about me,
my mother is the last person you
should be talking to.
Do you have anything to charge
me with?
I'm going home.
Wow.
[DOOR OPENS]
[SIRENS]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[TYPING]
[KNOCKING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Hey.
Uh, I heard you're on a leave of
absence.
[SIGH]
That's a polite way to put it.
Well, I brought you some--
some newspapers and some things
you might need.
Oh, thank you.
You all right?
Oh, I've been better.
Do you want to talk about it?
Yeah.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Do you always carry a bottle of
wine with you?
I thought it could be one of
those things you might need.
Mhm.
[SINGING] Oh, I can see the sea,
all the good in front of me.
The, uh, the guy at the garage,
what was his name?
Arnold Foster.
The obituary said Carl Foster.
Carl was his dog.
Ah.
That doesn't make sense, though.
If Carl was a dead dog, then
that's
a whole different other story.
But people don't write
obituaries for their dead dogs,
do they?
And the 49-year-old thing,
that's kind of weird,
although that's-- that's seven
years in dog years.
Luke.
Sorry.
I, uh, I'm just trying to help.
What if Detective Walker was
right?
I read a book once about this
guy.
He had multiple personalities.
And he committed crimes he
didn't even know about.
Denise.
Maybe that's what Kali means.
She was both a protectress and a
destroyer.
There are two sides to
everything.
[SIGH]
Luke, maybe there's a part of
me,
deep down inside, that's evil.
You're not evil.
Not you.
[SINGING ON RADIO] Dry them
undercover.
I can lose the gun.
I can be forever young, surf the
skyway, do everything my way.
Sorry.
[SINGING] But I met you.
It's the wine.
[SINGING] And you're too far
to--
I better go.
[SINGING] Once I find, I don't
know--
Hey, I'm sorry about your job.
Nepotism sucks.
Yeah.
It worked out pretty well for
Simon, didn't it?
Heh.
The murders, the bylines.
[SWOOSH]
Roger asked Simon to check me
out.
Why?
Actually, I think it was the
other way around.
It was a clown picture.
Did you paint over it?
[SWOOSH]
Luke, wait.
What?
What's up?
The murders started when Simon
got back.
He's been following me around.
But he hasn't-- he doesn't think
I notice.
I see his Jeep all the time in
my mirror.
Do you think Simon is doing
this?
I don't know.
I need to think things through.
Have a good night.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
All right.
Password.
[BEEP]
[SIGH]
[DOORBELL]
OK, Mother's maiden name,
mother's maiden name.
McDermott.
[BEEPING]
OK, hot shot, what password
would you use?
What password would you use?
Password.
Denny.
[DING]
Oh, god.
[KNOCKING]
Denise, it's Simon.
[KNOCKING]
[DOORKNOB RATTLING]
[SLAM]
Denise!
[BEEP]
[TYPING]
[BEEP]
[SIGH]
Nothing.
Denise!
What the hell?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Nickname, Hot Shot.
Favorite song, "Oh, Denise,
Shoo-be-doo, I'm
in Love with You."
Oh, god.
[CAR STARTING]
[TIRES SQUEALING]
[CHIME]
[DIALING]
DETECTIVE WALKER [ON PHONE]:
Detective
Walker, I'm not in right now.
Leave a message.
[HANGS UP PHONE]
Hello?
Is anyone there?
[ECHOING FOOTSTEPS]
[BANG]
[SLAM]
[DOORKNOB RATTLING]
[BANGING]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS]
[BEEPING]
[BANGING]
[CHIMING] COMPUTER: Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here. Click--
[CHIMING]
Oh my god.
[CHIMING]
[CHIMING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHIMING]
[CHIMING]
What?
[CHIMING]
[CHIMING]
[CHIMING]
Where are you?
What do you want?
[CHIMING]
Denise!
Denise!
[CHIMING]
[BANGING]
Denise, you in there?
[BANGING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Denise?
Stay away.
I'm warning you.
I have a knife.
I saw your apartment, Denise.
You're obsessed.
No, you're obsessed.
You use my name as a password.
What are you talking about,
Denise?
I didn't use your name.
Somebody must have changed it.
Don't lie.
You came back because you knew I
was here.
No.
No, I wanted to see you, Denise.
I wanted to know if maybe things
could work out between us.
You wanted to kill me.
This is insane.
Don't call me insane.
I saw your yearbook.
My picture is scratched out, the
rubel around my neck.
What are you talking about,
Denise?
I lost my yearbook ages ago.
[ANGRILY] Now put the knife down
and let's talk.
Stay back!
Ah!
[CLATTER]
Denise. [THUD]
Ow!
[GLASS SHATTERING]
Oh, god.
[WHIMPERING]
Oh, god.
Oh, Luke.
Denise, what's happening?
What's wrong?
- Simon. - What?
- Simon is the killer. - What?
He came after me.
I was just trying to defend
myself.
- Where? - In the morgue.
I hit him. I hit him.
I hit him hard. - OK.
Did you kill him? - I don't
know.
OK. It's OK.
All right? You stay here, OK?
I'm going to go check.
Just a sec.
Oh, god.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Oh, god.
Oh, god. I'm going to call the
police.
Whoa, whoa. Are you crazy?
No.
No, no, no, no, no. OK?
The already suspect you of the
other murders.
One more and they're going to
lock you away for good.
What am I supposed to do?
I got some money.
We can take your car. We can
drive across the border.
- No. - And we can fly somewhere
safe.
No.
Then they'll really think I did
it.
I just know that if you stay
here, with everything
stacked against you--
Denise, let me help you.
OK?
Sit down.
Sit down.
All right?
You don't have to decide
everything right now.
I can hide you.
I know somewhere safe where you
can figure it all out.
The old psychiatric hospital is
abandoned now.
You can hide there.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
And then, if you want to call
the police,
if you want to see them, we'll
go see the police.
But if not, I can help you.
And we can get away.
OK?
Give me your keys.
And I'll go get your car.
And I'll bring it around back.
And we'll drive away.
OK.
OK.
I'll be right back.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[KEY TURNING IN LOCK]
[DOOR OPENS]
[SINGING ON RADIO] Heaven, how
we finished too far.
Heaven, let your eyes be kind.
We're walking harmlessly.
[CHIMING]
[TYPING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[TYPING]
Denise, are you ready?
I wish you hadn't gone in there.
I really wish you hadn't.
Why?
I know.
I'm tenacious, Denise.
Sometimes that's a good thing.
But more often than not, that
gets you in trouble.
Like with Simon for instance,
that little romance
you had with him in high school?
It got under your skin and you
couldn't let it go.
It's hardly surprising with your
background.
Low self-esteem, a domineering
mother, an imaginary friend.
Who are you?
We had a relationship.
And you don't remember who I am?
I saved your life, Denise.
I was there when you needed me.
And you didn't even say goodbye
when you left me.
What are you talking about?
Cliffcrest.
[SWOOSH]
[BANGING]
Help!
Nurse!
Help!
Nurse, nurse!
Help!
Somebody!
Somebody help!
[SWOOSH]
You just abandoned me.
[SWOOSH]
[SWOOSH]
[SWOOSH]
But you'll need me again,
Denise.
Mark my words.
[CLATTER]
Oh, that was you?
Simon never saved you.
He only caused you pain.
Right, Denise?
Right?
Oh, don't.
[TAPE RIPPING]
Then why did you let him do
this?
Huh?
What?
Why did you let him do this?
Look at that.
See that?
That should have been me.
That should've been me.
We're going to go back where we
were happy.
What are you doing?
We're going to go back where it
was good.
Please, don't.
Come on!
[DOOR SLAMS]
[CHIMING]
[BEEPING]
Uh.
[BEEPING]
[BRAKES SCREECH]
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS]
[CAR DOOR OPENS]
Please.
You're going to love this.
Please, Luke, don't.
Shut up, Denise.
You're going to love this.
There's a place for you.
No, Luke!
[WHIMPERING]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[BEEPING]
Kali.
Yeah.
Ugliness, beauty, life, death.
Kali represents it all.
I did it for you.
I knew you'd understand.
Lorna's tattoo?
Oh, she already had that.
That's why I chose her.
There was a certain
synchronicity to it,
don't you think?
You remember this hall, Denise?
This is where we began.
It was so beautiful.
I loved who you were then.
You're so much more lovable
screwed up, Denise.
Don't do this.
[LAUGHTER]
I saw how depressed you were
that day.
And when I saw you slip past the
attendants,
I knew you were up to something.
So I followed you.
And I saw you hanging.
So then I ran for the nurse,
because I
couldn't open the door.
I loved you, Denise.
I saved you, Denise.
I saved your life.
You owe me.
You owe me.
You owed me everything.
But you gave me nothing.
Do you know how many times I
cried
myself to sleep, wondering if
you were ever coming back?
Luke, please.
I didn't know. They didn't tell
me.
They just told me it was a boy.
I didn't know.
I'm sorry.
Thank you for saving me.
Thank you for saving my life.
You needed me, Denise.
It felt so right.
I even kissed you that day.
[SWOOSH]
[SMOOCH]
[SWOOSH]
Do you want to kiss me now?
Yeah.
Come here.
It's OK.
You can kiss me Yeah.
You can touch me.
[SIGH]
Kiss me, Luke.
It's OK.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
What's the matter? - You're
cold.
You're lying.
You don't love me. - Yes, I do
love you.
No, you don't.
No. Sit down.
Get down.
Uh!
We're going to finish this.
Stay there.
With your history, the police
will have no trouble believing
that you tried it again.
Only this time, you'll succeed.
Now, one last thing--
your obituary. Write it.
No, I can't.
Dictate it to me.
Just come on.
Denise Marie Wilcox.
You have such a pretty name.
Continue, go.
Go.
Survived by her mother Ethel and
her lizard Lizzie.
Few friends, never married.
Come on, Denise.
Enjoyed solitary jobs in the
park.
Please, don't do this.
Please don't do this.
Spent her entire professional
career
in the obituary department of
"The Tribune," chronicling
the deaths of others but never
learning
how to live her own life.
How's that for poetry?
Please, don't do this.
Please, don't.
[WHIMPERING]
Through a period of deep
remorse,
she decided to take her own
life.
[SOBBING]
Please, don't.
I wanted to save you, Denise.
I wanted to set you free.
The only way you were ever going
to get over Simon
was I had to make you hate him.
And you did, didn't you?
Right?
For a moment there, when you
thought
he was behind everything, you
hated him.
Yeah.
Yeah, I thought so.
Well, I guess the only thing to
do now
is add the time of death.
No, please, don't.
2:53.
Goodbye, Denise.
Luke--
[CLATTER]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[SMOOCH]
[FABRIC RIPPING]
[THUD] - Ah!
Ah.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
Ah!
Uh!
[THUDDING]
[THWACK]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
Oh, god.
Oh.
SIMON CASTILLO: Denise!
[SOBBING]
Shh, it's all right.
It's OK.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIRENS WAILING]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[SIRENS WAILING]
DENISE WILCOX [VOICEOVER]:
Journalism 101,
the lead paragraph in any story
should answer the five W's.
Who?
Luke McCray.
What?
A series of murders.
Where?
The city of Oakville.
When?
This past month.
Why?
Tragic obsession.
Are you ready Miss Features?
[CHUCKLING]
Great story, Denise.
Great new story.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC - LINDY, "BEAUTIFULLY
UNDONE"]
[SINGING] I don't remember what
it used to be like,
the things that I'm not proud
of.
And the only reason I kept
coming back to you
was 'cause I thought I was in
love.
But I don't think about you
anymore.
And I wonder what the hell I
came
here for when I'd rather just
fall right off of your floor.
And come beautifully undone.
I don't recall San Francisco at
all,
falls right from my memory.
And the only place that really
exists
is where you thought you'd found
me.
But I don't think about you
anymore.
And I wonder what the hell I
came here for.
When I'd rather just fall right
off of your floor
and come beautifully undone.
Oh, yeah, oh.
[MUSIC PLAYING]