What time did you get back
from Vermont?
You don't wanna know.
Was it worth it?
Did he sign the contract?
- Yes.
- You're a genius. How did you do it?
I did it the old-fashioned way.
- What do you mean?
- I begged.
The boss can-
- Morning, Roy. Morning, Mary.
- Good morning.
Mary, what time
is my doctor's appointment?
I had no idea you had one.
- Coffee, Roy?
- Yeah. Are you sick?
A wolf bit me.
I just asked.
What time
is Mr. Randall's appointment?
Thanks.
You going to Alden's party tonight?
Probably.
It's a little Roman to invite everybody
over to your house...
...to let them know
whether they still have a job.
Right.
You have no doctor's appointment...
...but the doctor says he'll see you
if you come in before 12.
What I came in to say is...
...if you get the axe tonight,
I go with you.
And so do I.
Now, listen.
You need your paychecks.
I forbid you.
I forbid you to take any action
if I'm fired.
Right. Maude Waggins
is waiting in your office.
I cannot write for a conglomerate.
You'll have to protect me, Will.
First of all,
Raymond Alden isn't a conglomerate.
He's an ordinary billionaire.
And secondly...
...I'm not sure if I'm going to be here
after the takeover.
What?
What are you talking about?
You're the senior editor.
Your name, your reputation...
My reputation has been in question
ever since I told Judith Krantz...
...that no semiliterate 14-year-old
would read her fiction.
Oh, bullshit.
Sit down, Maude.
The good news is...
...the head of marketing
is my friend and protg...
...and if I leave,
he says he'll leave with me.
And since I know
they don't wanna lose him...
...it may give me some leverage.
I'll leave with you too.
How's that for leverage?
Come on.
Let's go and see your protg.
So go do what you do.
Willie, just the man I wanted to see.
- Maude Waggins.
- Do I know you?
Not yet, but you saved my life...
...because upon reading What About
Us Grills? my freshman year at Yale-
You realized you had to write.
I realized I had to stop writing...
...because I realized
that if this was talent, I had none.
But how nice that
that should stop you, and how rare.
I adore you.
I taught him to do that.
Yes, until I met Will, I used to punch
my authors on the side of the head.
Please come in.
Maude wants to go with us
if we leave.
You wouldn't know
off the top of your head...
...what her contract calls for,
would you?
She's obligated to one more book...
...and then we get a first look
at her next two.
One more book. Good.
How about an 80-page reminiscence
of all the restaurants I've loved?
Well, whatever you say. There are
no specifications in the contract.
Perfect.
I'll start eating out right now.
You are a rarity, Mr. Swinton:
a loyal man
with a great taste in authors.
Bye, Will.
- I'll see you at Jason's.
- Thank you, darling.
You are such a polished ass-kisser,
it takes my breath away.
Hey, I kiss them like I see them.
A wolf in Vermont?
I don't think so, Will.
You weren't there, Ralph.
You sure it wasn't a husky
or a German shepherd?
I mean, after all, it was night,
wasn't it? It was dark out.
Full moon.
And to answer your question,
it was a wolf.
I was staring straight at it.
You don't confuse a dog with a wolf.
I see. Whatever you say.
It's funny.
This isn't the first rabies shot...
...I've given in the last few months.
My wife's sister-in-law
up in Oneonta.
A raccoon chased her up on her porch
and bit her in the ass.
Last summer, the son of a friend...
...sustained brain damage
from a snake bite.
His kid was in front of his pool.
And the next thing you know,
he has brain damage.
- Is he all right?
- Who?
Your friend's son.
No, you idiot, he has brain damage.
I don't think of Time Warner...
...as another giant
multinational media conglomerate...
...but as a bunch
of decent caring people...
...because I just don't believe money
always implies ruthless ambition.
- Am I insane?
- I would say so, yes.
Oh, he's such a charming man.
So supposedly...
...because the rain forest
is being destroyed so rapidly...
...all these new viruses are going
to colonize throughout the world...
...and destroy vast segments
of the population.
I'm only quoting The New Yorker,
you understand.
Every upscale magazine
tries to make the case...
...that the world will end
if we have no rain forests.
Well, you could make a case
that the world has already ended.
That art is dead
and we are exhausted.
That instead of art,
we have pop culture, daytime TV...
...gay senior citizens...
...women who've been raped
by their dentists, confiding in Oprah.
An exploration, in depth, of why
women cut off their husband's penis.
Well.
- Well, time to fill up the glass.
- Yes.
- Yes.
- Yes, let's have a drink.
For God's sakes, relax. Eat something.
At least get a meal out of this.
I didn't like the food.
All that red rare meat dripping blood.
Gee, you're fun to eat with.
Mr. Alden would like to see you
on the terrace, sir...
...whenever you're ready.
Never send to know
for whom the bell tolls.
- Hello. We'll be right out.
- It toll-
We're gonna see the horses.
Will...
...just remember who you are.
Just charm the bastard.
You can be charming
when you wanna, right?
Why is he doing it this way?
He probably thinks
it's kinder face to face.
Oh, that's the funniest story
I've ever heard.
Cigar?
Don't mind if I do.
Thank you.
I want you...
...to think about Europe, Will.
Eastern Europe, particularly.
There's a whole new market
opening up there.
I think, God and currency willing...
...that the entire continent
will eventually cohere...
...both economically and culturally.
I want that to be your area.
I see.
Then my area will no longer be
editor in chief of MacLeish House...
...after the takeover?
Look, there's nothing personal.
Come on, you know that.
You're clearly a man of taste
and individuality...
...which I prize...
...but these days...
...not only in corporate America,
but all around the globe...
...taste and individuality
are actually something of a handicap.
Well, just out of curiosity...
...on what basis
did you pick my successor?
Vulgarity and conformity?
No. Drive. On the basis of hustle,
drive, and 52-carat ambition.
He nagged me day and night
till I gave him your job.
Well, for what it's worth,
here's what I've learned in 30 years:
Treat the authors as human beings.
Don't stint on review copies.
Whoa, boy.
Don't hold them to deadlines.
They'll only turn in rough drafts.
Thank you.
Thank you, I'll remember that.
You're a nice person, Will.
Thank God I replaced you.
And I hope
you give Eastern Europe a shot.
You'd better put that out.
Horses don't like it.
Why, I think I'll finish it.
- Go ahead. Good cigar, isn't it?
- Okay.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Raymond, they are beautiful.
- Spectacular. They're just spectacular.
Well, now, see now, I think so.
And you're right. This is the prize.
Fort Knox.
The black is the sire.
- Easy.
- More the dancer, wouldn't you say?
Easy, easy.
Look out there.
- Easy.
- Easy, easy, easy.
Easy, easy.
Excuse me, I...
I'm sorry.
I guess...
Listen, let's go back to the house,
have some drinks.
Oh, God.
Drink it.
Good boy.
I'm afraid...
...I finished your drink.
What are you,
the last civilized man?
I'm...
...just embarrassed.
Half the people I know
are on Thorazine...
...so your little anxiety attack
barely arouses my interest.
You're very kind.
No, I'm not.
I'm Laura Alden.
Alden's my father.
I'm Will Randall.
Nice to meet you.
You're not an easy guy to surprise,
are you?
Not tonight.
He just fired you, didn't he?
Demoted, I think, is the word.
I've been offered a choice
between no job...
...and a job no one would want.
So, what will you do?
I'll probably take the job
no one would want.
I don't have the courage
to be jobless at my age.
Old guy, huh?
Yeah. Old guy.
Well, I better get back.
Was that on purpose?
Oh, God.
No.
You're perfectly safe. I'm married.
And that makes you perfectly safe?
Well, yes.
You better clean yourself up
if you're gonna face the crowd.
Here, wipe your face. It's all sweaty.
Thank you.
There you are, dear.
All ready for company.
Thank you.
How did it go?
Come on, speak.
We've been going nuts.
Well...
...first, let me say congratulations...
...on being the new editor in chief.
I- What? Alden said that?
What did he say?
I mean-
It happened this evening,
just before the party. He called me.
Told me
he wanted me to take the job.
I said, Will Randall's editor in chief.
I mean,
I didn't even know if he was serious.
Look, Will, I didn't ask for this.
I mean, it just landed in my lap.
Say the word, I'll turn it down.
What do you think I should do?
That's up to you, Stewart.
No, Will, it's up to you.
I'll do whatever you say.
I'm afraid you're asking the one person
in the world who can't advise you.
Shit. Now I'm sorry you said that.
That son of a bitch.
Prick.
I had no idea
he was offered your job.
Why would you?
It must have been hard
to turn down Alden's offer...
...but he could have told you.
Yes.
Why didn't you say something
to him?
Why did you let him walk away
with your blessing, guilt-free?
Charlotte, please.
I can't...
I can't talk now.
May I just say one more thing about it?
The last thing?
No.
Will, come on, it's 7:30.
Give me till 8.
Will?
It's 7:40.
I asked you to give me till 8.
It's 7:40 at night, you dope.
You've been sleeping all day.
Are you all right?
How do you feel?
I feel...
...good.
So I said,
"Why assign me mastectomies...
...and new trends
in estrogen therapy?
Why can't I do the article
on genetic engineering...
...and give Pete mastectomies?"
You know what he said?
"You'll do it so much better.
You're a woman. "
I said, "That's like telling
a black food writer she can only-"
Hey. What are you doing?
I have to catch up.
I haven't eaten, I haven't drunk...
...I haven't made love in a long time.
A very long time.
You think we ought to do it
right here...
...in front of the dome of The Second
Church of Christ, Scientist?
What else can you do
without hands?
You'll see.
What was in that stew?
Thank you.
Morning.
How the fuck can you drink tequila
this early?
How the fuck did you know?
You kidding?
You can smell it a mile away.
- Oh, Mr. Randall, are you all right?
- Perfect.
I heard about Alden's decision.
I'm so sorry.
Yeah. Was Stewart just in here?
Well, not just. About an hour ago.
That's how I found out.
Are you all right?
I'm fine. Never been better.
I just wanna say, I think it sucks.
Thank you, Roy.
Are-?
What'd you do, get contacts?
Well, I'll be damned.
You've edited about 60 pages
of this manuscript since Monday.
What are you on?
Nothing.
I just caught up on my sleep.
I got 20 hours of sleep, and I feel...
...20 years younger.
And so now you can see
without your glasses?
Yeah, you've got a point.
Can't trust anybody. Even
married people can't trust each other.
Oh, thank you.
We can offer $75,000 advance
against foreign sales.
Nicole, Mike on 3.
You know what that prick says to me?
"How could you drink this early?"
I mean, I put a drop of tequila
in my coffee this morning...
...and he said he smelled it.
It doesn't make sense.
And we couldn't give them away
in South America.
He's huge in Mexico and in Japan,
so go figure.
- It's incredible.
- Fuck you. No, I'm not gonna do it.
- You hear Alden replaced Randall?
- Are you sure?
I'm absolutely positive.
It's official. Will Randall's out.
Stewart Swinton is in.
I can't take it anymore.
I just can't take it.
We'll take care of it. See you later.
I mean, who did he think he was?
Simon House or something? I mean...
Get me Gary on the phone.
You mean, like,
a manual on owning animals?
No, no, not animal possession.
Animal possession.
Demonic possession. The possession
of the spirit by an animal.
Give me a minute.
How many do you want?
One. The top one.
The most respectable.
Vijay Alezais.
Wrote Something Wild, 1948.
Old but breathing.
He's not some kind of mystic
out of the jungle, is he?
No, no. He has a string of letters
after his name.
In fact, he's Dr. Alezais.
All right. Thank you. Can you
give his number to Mary, please?
All right.
- And Gary?
- Yeah?
Don't tell people
that you had a drop of tequila...
...with your coffee this morning.
You didn't have coffee this morning.
Hi, I'm just letting you know
I got to New Haven in one piece.
I'll be home tomorrow,
after the seminar.
If you get hungry, there's still
some stew left over from last night.
Let's see if it still works,
you animal.
- Yes?
- It's Will.
I'll come down.
Hey, Will. What's going on?
What is it?
Hey, what the fuck's wrong-?
Jesus Christ.
Fuck.
What did he-?
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
I'll get dressed.
Morning, Mr. Randall.
Get out your Rolodex, Mary.
I've moved to the Mayflower.
- Okay. Is that permanent?
- Yes.
Call Legal and find out
if the deal with Alden is really closed...
...or if they're still dicking around
on points.
Then get Roy to come in here...
...and bring a list of every name author
he's ever worked with in this house.
Then get me a list...
...of every name author
that I've ever worked with.
Then call Alden. See if you can
get me an appointment...
...this afternoon at his house.
Yes, sir.
Is the worm turning, Mr. Randall?
The worm has turned
and is now packing an Uzi, Mary.
It's about fucking time, sir.
What do you want me to do?
I'll do it. Resign today?
Promise never to see Charlotte
again?
Just tell me what to do.
I want you to resign today.
Well, I can't do that.
So why did I say it?
I guess it's just a way...
...of telling you...
...how bad I feel
about being such a shit.
I love you, Will.
I know how that sounds, but I do...
...and I know how much I've hurt you,
and it kills me.
I know I can't...
You'll never forgive me, will you?
No.
Okay.
But still...
...I'd like your permission...
...to ask Alden to forget
about the Eastern European thing...
...and keep you on
as senior editorial consultant.
Will you let me do that for you?
I'm gonna get you, Stewart.
Well, I have my offer to-
The deal with Alden
is not completely closed.
- What a fucking brilliant guess.
- Mr. Alden will see you today at 12:30.
Roy, get on the phone
with your list of authors...
...and ask them if they'd like
to form a partnership with us...
...in a publishing house
of their own.
Tell them
we're leaving MacLeish House...
...because we've heard
that the new unofficial policy...
...is to push everything that sells and-
This will get them.
Bury everything
that doesn't take off like a rocket.
Tell them we've got enough investors
to get it off the ground.
- Two things.
- Go.
- How many investors do we have?
- I don't know. I haven't called anybody.
- But you want me to say it anyway?
- Yes.
- Second thing: Is any of this true?
- Not yet.
You're my god.
Mary, we'd better start calling writers.
We'll begin with Maude.
- Mr. Randall.
- Hello, Mr. Randall. Excuse me.
Don't get up.
I just wanted to tell you
that I'm turning down Eastern Europe.
Well, I more or less
thought you would.
Nice seeing you again, sir.
Come on.
Thattagirl.
Whoa, baby.
You all right? You all right?
Are you crazy? Don't you have enough
brains to stay away from animals...
...when you know they're frightened
of you?
I didn't know it was me
they were frightened of.
Are you an idiot? You nearly
stampeded the horses last Monday.
Can't you see that animals
are disturbed by your presence?
- Hey, sorry. I just wanted to say hello.
- You're not hurt, I hope.
You haven't fallen
since you were 12.
I'm fine.
Well, here you still are.
You get lost?
- No.
- We were talking.
Yes. Yes, of course.
Henry and Caroline are coming
to lunch. I told them you'd join us.
Did you?
What a pity.
I'm having lunch with...
- Will.
- Will.
It doesn't really matter to Laura
what your name is, Mr. Randall.
What is important to her
is that you're unemployed...
...and inappropriate,
and I don't approve of you.
Well, we're gonna miss your company,
my dear.
Yes, I know.
Shall we start cooking?
Your little place?
It's one of the guest houses.
I only stay here when I'm in town.
I'm sorry...
...but I just realized I have nothing
but peanut butter and jelly...
...and a carton of milk.
I'm afraid we'll have to cancel lunch.
Are you serious? Peanut butter
and jelly is mother's milk to me.
Listen, whatever you think
is going to happen isn't.
Please don't take anything for granted
because we exchanged a few words...
...the other night.
I don't take anything for granted,
Ms. Alden...
...except perhaps some small measure
of civility from my hostess.
So, what do you do?
Why do you care?
I don't.
I was just making
polite conversation.
I'd rather not discuss what I do.
You know, I think I understand
what you're like now.
You're beautiful. You think men
are only interested in you...
...because you're beautiful.
But you want them to be interested
in you because you're you.
The problem is that,
aside from that beauty...
...you're not very interesting.
You're rude. You're hostile,
You're sullen. You're withdrawn.
I know you want someone
to look past all that...
...at the real person underneath.
But the only reason that anyone
would bother to look past all that...
...is because you're beautiful.
Ironic, isn't it?
In an odd way,
you're your own problem.
Sorry, wrong line.
I am not taken aback
by your keen insight...
...and suddenly challenged by you.
Shall we have the rest of our milk
in the living room?
Are all of these you?
Yes.
My father keeps this cottage empty
just for me, so when I show up...
...I'll have a place to stay that's as far
away from him as possible.
Pictures were thrown in
by the decorator.
He had a mawkish side.
Is this you?
My mother. She died when I was 12.
I'm sorry.
And this?
My brother. He died last year.
Yes...
...I remember.
He had some kind of an accident.
No, he killed himself.
He was diagnosed
borderline schizophrenic...
...and, well,
I guess he got tired of the title.
He lived with me on and off.
Nice face.
Yeah.
Well, he was pretty nice
for a little brother.
This is really something.
Isn't it?
This is where I used to come
to bury my pets.
And this is where I realized...
...that one day I would die.
Standing right here, on this spot,
I realized...
...that one day I would be over.
I wanna tell you something.
A few days ago,
something happened to me.
I was driving in New England,
and I hit an animal.
Oh, God.
A wolf.
In New England? Are you sure?
I'm absolutely positive,
and when I tried to touch it, it bit me.
- Did you get checked for rabies?
- Yes. No, I'm fine.
But this is really
gonna sound insane.
Since it happened,
I feel as though the wolf...
...passed something along to me.
A scrap of its spirit in my blood
or something.
I don't know. Suddenly,
my senses are all incredibly acute.
I feel just so...
...great.
I'm just not the kind of person
who walks around feeling great.
I don't know. I'm different.
More alive.
Stronger.
- Well, it sounds strange, but-
- It's better than living in Bosnia.
No, no, I wasn't going to say that.
I was going to say...
...that whatever it is,
if you feel great...
...maybe you should just accept it
as a gift.
Well, I'm afraid it will have a price.
There is that.
Would you like to stay for dinner?
If it's not peanut butter and jelly,
and I don't tell my father?
Yes.
Well.
- Let's get back before it gets dark.
- Are you cold?
No, but we will be.
- What is it?
- I don't know.
- Here, sit down.
- No. I think I wanna get inside.
- Well, all right, all right.
- Sorry.
It's not that far. Lean on me.
- No.
- Come on, don't be silly.
You are talking to an
almost-professional psychiatric nurse.
Elevated, but you'll live.
Is this the same kind of attack
you had the other night?
I don't know.
Don't be upset with me...
...if I tell you this, okay?
You are beautiful.
And the nicest girl.
Are you hungry?
Can I get you something to eat?
- I can't eat.
- Then go to sleep.
Next thing you know, it'll be morning,
and I'll be at your door with coffee...
...and eggs and toast.
And bacon.
Oh, you think I can't get bacon?
Well, I just may surprise you.
- I don't know where I'm going.
- Someplace nice.
Any idea how this happened?
None.
Well, you ever sleepwalk?
Not that I know of.
It sounds like you took
a walk in your sleep...
...fell down,
and knocked yourself out.
Now, I feel some scalp lacerations
back here, Will.
And, you know,
nothing bleeds like the scalp. Okay.
I'm gonna make some arrangements
for you to have an EEG...
...and a CAT scan, which means
you'll have to spend the night.
- Out of the question.
- What?
You could have a concussion
or a possible blood clot.
No one feels this good
with a concussion and a blood clot.
Mr. Alden. So good to see you again
so soon, sir.
It's nice to see you too, Will.
Robert Keyes, my counsel.
- Counselor, nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, Mr. Randall.
- Sit down, Will. Sit down.
- Thank you.
You're deliberately goading
the top writers of this house to leave...
...and become part
of some totally improbable scheme...
...that hasn't a hope of succeeding.
And being writers,
they're too goddamn stupid to know it.
Well, you may very well be right,
Mr. Alden.
They might not succeed,
but it won't hurt them to try...
...and if they fail,
any publisher will be glad to get them.
- And you with them?
- Yes. That will be part of the deal.
But it doesn't matter whether
we start a new publishing house...
...or go to another publishing house.
At least seven first-rate writers
are going to leave MacLeish House...
...because they don't like
its policies.
And when I issue that press release,
which I intend to do in the morning...
...the reputation and value of this firm
will take a giant nosedive.
Well, you're a worse son of a bitch
than Stewart.
Yes.
But I still have
those two big drawbacks:
taste and individuality.
Maybe I can overlook them.
All right. Call it off. Keep your job.
I'd never have fired you
if I'd known you were this ruthless.
Thank you.
But before I do anything,
I want a deal memo...
...granting me additional powers
and additional monies...
...and I want it
by tomorrow morning.
- I won't agree to that.
- Oh, yes, you will.
I'd do it anyway.
What do I know about publishing?
- I'll tell Stewart.
- Don't.
Don't tell anyone
until the deal is signed.
- Then I'll tell Stewart.
- Okay.
- Were you able to reach Ms. Alden?
- Not yet.
Any appointments?
Dr. Vijay Alezais at 4.
He's called three times
to make certain you're coming.
He sounds like he's over 100.
If you wanna cancel,
you'll have to do it yourself.
I was just boiling water for tea.
Perhaps you will join me.
Come.
I won't take much of your time.
No. Take. I am not a busy man.
So you were bitten by a wolf
in Vermont...
...on March 8th.
Very auspicious.
- Very suspicious?
- Auspicious. Very auspicious.
On March 8th...
...the moon was the closest
it's been to Earth in a hundred years.
Well, that is auspicious.
What I'm curious about is...
...if my symptoms could be related...
...to the release of a chemical
caused by an animal bite.
Something that medical science
has overlooked...
...but that tribal lore might possibly-
Well, among my people, there is only
one explanation for your symptoms...
...is that you are becoming a wolf.
- But you don't believe that.
- Why not?
We must remember that man
has only been out of the jungle...
...for 25,000 years.
Please, sit down.
Thank you.
Life is mystical.
It's just that we are used to it.
Catholicism itself.
A religion so mystical...
...that even primitive tribes
can be converted to it.
The stigmata, the return after death,
the Day of Judgment, heaven and hell.
All so incredible and so ordinary.
But we are used to it.
Honey, sugar, Sweet'N Low?
Yeah, anything. Honey.
Honey.
Yep.
I don't have honey.
I just asked out of habit.
You should be visiting a shaman
who will tell you the rules.
I can only tell you the theory.
- Well, do you know any of the rules?
- Very few.
Only that the wolf rests by day
and prowls by night.
But is always present.
That he grows inside a man
he's entered until the first full moon.
And then he consumes him...
...killing all but his nature
and his heart.
Not a great prognosis.
But, of course,
not all who are bitten change.
There must be
something wild within.
An analog of the wolf.
Well, that lets me out.
Among my people...
...I'm known as the guy least likely
to have an analog of the wolf.
Your people are wrong, Mr. Randall.
Sometimes, one doesn't even need
to be bitten.
Only the passion of the wolf
is enough.
Dr. Alezais...
...what I would like to know,
and not that I subscribe to any of this-
Neither do I, really.
Only to the possibility.
But out of curiosity...
...is there supposed to be any way
to stop this metamorphosis?
Supposedly, there are herbs
and rites and amulets.
I don't know the rites.
I don't have the herbs.
But I did find something for you
when you called. Yeah, it's here.
This is one
of the most powerful amulets.
It must be worn next to the skin
and never taken off.
If it works, there is said to be
a great pain and weakness...
...while the wolf struggles to emerge
and the charm holds him at bay.
Sometimes drives him out.
I have no idea if any of it is true...
...but it's yours.
Oh, no, I...
It's a gift.
And, in return,
I would like a favor from you.
If it's in my power.
I was recently told that I'm dying.
Speaking of mystical
and terrifying experiences.
I would like you to bite me.
What?
I would like you to bite me.
I can't ask you to transform me
with your passions...
...so I ask you to honor me
with your bite...
...and I, too,
will become a demon wolf.
You'd rather be damned than die?
Damnation is not a part
of my system of beliefs.
The demon wolf is not evil...
...unless the man he's bitten is evil.
And it feels good to be a wolf,
doesn't it?
Power without guilt.
Love without doubt.
Excuse me...
...I just can't.
Okay.
I understand.
Okay.
You keep the amulet...
...and if you decide to believe...
...perhaps you will give me your gift.
It has been a privilege.
I've never seen one like you.
- Hello?
- Laura. I've been trying to call you-
Don't hang up.
Will you let me explain?
- No.
- Why?
Because, first of all, I'm not a fan
of men who mysteriously disappear.
- And second of all-
- Hey, listen to me. I had an accident.
I sleepwalked last night.
I hit my head
and knocked myself out.
And I drove to the doctor's
at 6:00 this morning.
But it didn't occur to you to come back
to the cottage and tell me?
No. No, it didn't occur to me to come
knocking on the door of your cottage...
...at 6:00 in the morning
with a scalp wound...
...and ask you
to take care of me again.
And finish drying. The sound
of that towel is driving me crazy.
Are you telling me that you hear
what I'm doing over the phone?
Yes, it's one of my new gifts.
Laura...
...please, can I see you?
Can we have dinner tomorrow?
I'm at the Mayflower.
Laura?
I'll be at your hotel
tomorrow evening at 6.
You better be there.
And you better look like you fell.
I will be, and I do.
Room 825. What did you make-?
Make me for breakfast?
"I'm not only the president
of the Hair Club for Men.
I'm also a member. "
- For Christ's sakes. Hold it right there.
- Hold it right there.
Put your hands on the cage.
Hands on the cage.
- Spread them.
- Spread your legs. Spread them.
- All right. He's clean. He's clean.
- What?
Clean. All right, put your hands
behind your back.
Hands behind your back.
Give them to me.
Hey.
Did you see that?
He got my cuffs.
- Hey, wait up.
- We ain't got any money.
- Well, we wanna borrow some money.
- Hey, wanna loan us some money?
All of you?
- Yeah.
- We all need some money.
I've got about $1000 in my wallet.
How much would you like to borrow?
Five dollars? Ten?
Cut the bullshit
and give me the wallet.
Shit! Oh, shit! Oh, shit!
Good morning, Mr. Randall.
This is Alice with your 8:00 wake-up.
You must've been a bad boy
last night.
I've been ringing you forever.
Mr. Randall?
As a matter of fact, Alice,
I was a very good boy last night.
I went to bed...
...so early, I don't even remember.
Big boys here yet?
Yes, sir. Conference room.
Deal memo in hand.
Don't even pretend
to have any doubts.
It's a pleasure
doing business with you, sir.
Will, I was just about
to come see you...
...tell you I talked to Alden
about the senior consultant position.
It's yours if you want it.
It's less pay, of course,
but so is Eastern Europe.
Well, thank you, Stewart,
but I've had a better offer.
Really?
That's wonderful. What house?
This one.
I don't understand.
It's fairly simple.
I did the same thing you did.
I nagged Alden
until he gave me your job.
When? I don't understand. When?
In my spare time.
I've had a lot of it lately.
Well, I've...
I guess...
I mean, I guess
I owe you some congratulations.
Yeah.
I guess the best man won.
Good. I'm glad, in a way. I mean...
...I couldn't have given it up,
and I didn't like the way I got it.
I hope we can work together
without rancor.
You're fired, Stewart.
Don't. Don't do it to me, Will.
It will ruin me.
I know...
...but it's best for the firm.
Give me a few months.
Let me say I quit.
No.
It wouldn't be best for the firm.
You vindictive son of a bitch.
The best thing for the firm is me.
I'm the best thing this firm has,
and you fucking know it.
This is fucking rev-
- What are you, crazy?
- No.
I'm just marking my territory,
and you got in the way.
Gee, that's funny.
Nice.
Real nice.
- Suede shoes.
- Asparagus.
Oh, God.
I'm sorry.
Will?
Please, can I talk to you...
...for a moment?
Just a moment of your time
for 16 years. That's pretty cheap.
What do you want?
I want to come back.
- No.
- I have no excuse.
I deserve anything you do to me.
I'm just...
...begging you to be kind.
Stewart become unlovable
now that he's out of my job?
I never loved Stewart.
It was a mistake, Will.
I'm going to talk to him.
Stewart never, for one moment,
meant anything to me.
And you think that makes it better?
That you betrayed me
over and over again...
...with a man that meant nothing
to you?
To know that you betrayed me
for nothing?
- Don't be such a smug ba-
- Don't touch me.
And keep away.
Hi. I thought I'd just come on up.
Have you been waiting for me?
I can't see you.
Come on, Will, open the door.
You can't do this to me twice.
Open it.
Excuse me.
I wonder if you could do me a favor.
Please go.
Why?
What's happened?
What have you done?
Where did you get those?
I want you to go.
No.
Tell me why you've done this.
It's getting late.
And I think I'm dangerous...
...especially at night.
And you're afraid that
when it gets dark, you'll attack me?
Yeah.
I think I'm turning into...
...something else.
Into the thing that bit you?
Into the wolf?
Yes.
- Tell me where the key is.
- I don't have a key.
I don't even know
where I got the handcuffs.
You don't have a key?
What was your plan? To sit chained
to the radiator till you grew paws?
God.
You almost make this seem
like it isn't happening.
I don't- I didn't...
I don't have a plan.
I didn't think past
not hurting anyone.
I don't think there's any way
to open these.
Well, you don't know
who you're dealing with.
You see...
...when you're a druggie
and a delinquent...
...and you wanna get Daddy...
...you get arrested.
You come in contact
with the criminal element of society...
...and, well, you pick up shit...
...that you think
you're never going to need.
And then you meet a guy
who chains himself to the radiator...
...and it all falls into place.
I don't...
Why do you want any...
...of this nightmare?
You mean, instead of the gaiety
and warmth of my normal life?
I don't know. Because I like you.
Because you're a good man...
...and that's very exotic to me.
I never thought I'd meet a good man
who looked at me the way you do.
- You don't know I'm a good man.
- Oh, yes, I do.
Then why is this happening?
I thought only the evil were cursed.
Oh, no, not at all.
I could have told you that.
No, the worst things
happen to the best people.
I almost had it.
You know...
...you might consider
that you're not...
...cursed at all, that you're sick.
I mean, there are brain tumors
that can cause all of your symptoms.
Tumors?
What are you saying?
Are you serious?
- Oh, yeah. Yeah.
- Oh, God, if only that could be true.
How we lower our sights.
I say...
...we get you examined for physical
causes before we take for granted...
...that you're becoming-
There we go. Okay, on your feet.
Let's get you re-handcuffed.
Well, maybe it isn't necessary.
Hands behind your back.
There.
Well, you seem pretty helpless now.
Yes.
Great.
It's interesting. What is it?
- It's a good-luck charm.
- Really?
Does it work?
Well...
...today isn't turning out too bad.
Laura.
Yes?
Nothing.
Not a thing.
- Who is it?
- Police.
Detective Sergeant Bridger, NYPD.
- Yes?
- Is William Randall here?
Why? What's wrong?
I'd rather tell Mr. Randall, ma'am.
He's in the shower.
Is it okay if I come in and wait?
- Will.
- Yeah?
There's some kind of a problem.
I understand.
I'm Will Randall,
and I'm renting this apartment.
If there were any complaints
about the noise last night-
No, Will, stop.
He's not the hotel manager.
He's a police detective.
Could I have a word with you
in private, Mr. Randall?
Well, that won't be necessary.
This is Ms. Smith, my fiance.
She can hear anything
that you have to say.
Your wife was found dead
this morning, Mr. Randall.
I'm sorry.
She was murdered
sometime late last night.
Her body was found in the park.
How was she killed?
Her throat was torn up.
- Sit down.
- No, I wanna stand up.
Would you mind telling me...
...when you saw your wife last,
Mr. Randall?
Last night.
Last night, here in the lobby.
- About 6.
- Did you argue?
Don't answer anything else, Will.
I'm just trying to clear up a fact,
Ms. Smith.
The clerk who was on last night said
Mr. Randall and his wife had argued.
So you already know they argued.
These are not straight questions.
Just refuse to answer.
Well, I would like to ask
Mr. Randall's whereabouts last night.
Certainly that's a straight question.
Mr. Randall was with me last night.
All night.
I arrived at 6:30, and I didn't leave.
You can check that with the desk.
I will.
We've taken some blood
and tissue samples from your-
The victim.
We're trying to match them
with known offenders...
...and it would really help
if you would submit some samples-
Forget it. Not without a court order.
Just a request.
Okay.
Well...
Here's my number...
...in case you wanna reach me
about anything.
Here.
I would appreciate it if you
came down to the station later today...
...and gave a statement.
Both of you.
All right.
And thank you for your cooperation.
He's got an alibi. The girl says
she was with him all night long.
Airtight?
Depends on
who the girl turns out to be.
- with her throat torn open.
Charlotte Skyler Randall...
...wife of the senior editor
of MacLeish House...
...the publishing company recently
purchased by Raymond Alden.
Police have no suspects in custody
at this time. Elsewhere in the city-
- My God.
- Yeah, stunning, isn't it?
I just hope they don't go after Will.
Will? Go after Will?
Why would they go after Will?
The husband.
That's who they go after...
...when there are no suspects
and they were separated.
That would not be great
for the stock.
Well, you don't know that, sir.
It could be a bonanza for the stock.
It's heat. It's gossip.
That's what I think publishing
is all about.
Well, you handle it
any way you think best.
You're back in marketing.
Thank you, sir.
If they do go after Will...
...and I hope to God they don't,
but if they do...
...I'd like to put in another bid
for the job.
Randall's contract gives him the right
to name his own replacement...
...and he's named Roy Macallister.
I see.
Well...
Would that contract still hold
if Will was arrested?
Yes, unless, of course,
he was convicted...
...so I guess you'll just
have to keep your fingers crossed.
I didn't mean...
Really? What did you mean?
I mean that I love Will,
and I hope to God that he's innocent...
...and if he is, screw the job...
...but if he's guilty...
...screw Roy Macallister.
It's not much farther now.
What if I killed her?
What if you killed her?
Excuse me, but aren't you
the guy I spent the night with?
I mean, you look so much like him.
I could have gone out after
you fell asleep and not remembered it.
God damn you, Will.
Why does it always
have to be the worst news?
The worst pain? The worst defeat?
- Because what if it is?
- It's not.
It's not.
Well?
They've left the hotel.
The night clerk identified the girl.
- Who is she?
- Laura Alden.
How's that for an airtight alibi?
Where are we?
We're almost home.
Jesus.
Where did the day go?
You better duck down.
- Hi, Ms. Alden.
- Hi, George.
Stay down.
Hi, Tom.
I'd be careful of the woods,
Ms. Alden.
Think we may have some wild dogs
getting past the fence.
What do you mean?
We found a deer.
Something brought him down.
Thanks. I'll be careful.
- Good night.
- Good night.
I want you to lock me up
before it gets dark.
Then what?
Then maybe it won't happen.
I don't know where else to put you
but the barn.
Everything else has windows.
The barn sounds good.
The barn sounds great.
I'm gonna beat this, Laura.
I'm gonna beat this.
Your phone is ringing.
How do you know?
I can hear it.
I'll be right back.
Hello?
- Laura Alden?
- Yes?
This is Detective Carl Bridger, NYPD.
Yes, I know who you are.
And, as you see,
we now know who you are.
Did you just dial? About how long
have you been ringing?
About two minutes. I've been trying
to reach you since you left the hotel.
What can I do for you?
You can come in tomorrow
with Mr. Randall...
...and give me the statement
that I asked for today.
All right.
Do you still want blood
and tissue samples from Mr. Randall?
Well, I'm afraid they'd be useless.
We seem to have messed up
the tissue samples...
...that we took from the body.
Why? What happened?
There was canine DNA
found in all the tissue samples.
So that could mean
that the victim was attacked...
...by some kind of animal
after she was killed...
...or it may mean
that one of the lab assistants...
...pet a dog
and she forgot to wash her hands.
So...
You scared me.
You were right.
The phone was ringing.
It was that detective, Bridger.
Well, he traced me, and he...
Now he's threatening to subpoena
the entire state of New York...
...if I don't give him
a statement tonight.
Will you be all right if I go in?
Yes.
Don't look so scared.
Maybe there's happy endings even
for people who don't believe in them.
Yeah.
I want you to know something.
I've never loved anybody this way.
I've never looked at a woman
and thought:
If civilization fails...
...if the world ends,
I'll still understand what God meant...
...if I'm with her.
Laura Alden just called.
She's coming in tonight.
It sounds like she's been crying.
Interesting. I just got a call from a guy
who says he's Randall's best friend.
- He wants to see me tonight.
- You got a busy night, pal.
The entire family of the kid whose
fingers were torn off is out there.
We got five new murders.
- What is there about a full moon?
- More light.
If a rich white boy
had had his fingers torn off...
...somebody would be in jail by now.
- I know.
- I don't know anything about that.
You're gonna have to call uptown.
- Laura Alden for Detective Bridger.
- He's running behind.
Can you sit down?
- Here, Ms. Alden, take my seat.
- No, that's all right.
- Please.
- No, I wanna stand.
You don't know me, do you?
I'm Stewart Swinton.
- No.
- I've been known to visit your father...
...but we never met.
I'm a friend of Will Randall's.
- He's the husband of-
- I know who he is.
Oh, you've met?
No, I just know the name.
Well, this is such a terrible,
terrible thing. I'm just in shock over it.
I mean, Will Randall was more
than a friend and a colleague.
He was my mentor.
- And you were his protg?
- Yes, a better word.
It's a true pleasure.
What an interesting scent you have,
Ms. Alden.
At once new and familiar.
Very familiar.
Thank you.
Were you bitten?
- What?
- Were you bitten?
What an odd question.
What a very odd question.
What made you ask
such a question?
I don't know. People, you know...
When people are bitten,
oftentimes, it's on the hand.
What are you here for?
I...
They want information
about the publishing house.
- I'm standing in for my father.
- Stewart Swinton.
Come on in.
Would you have a drink with me?
I'd really like to get to know you, and
perhaps tell you a little bit about Will.
Thank you, that's very sweet.
Of course. I'd love to.
Wonderful. Well...
- Don't break our date, now.
- Oh, I won't.
This is not easy.
Will Randall is a very close,
very dear friend of mine.
And I'm not proud
of what I'm going to say.
Charlotte Randall and I...
This is hard.
Charlotte Randall and I were
having an affair.
It just happened.
And Will found out.
- Yes.
- Going with two pilots?
- Yes.
- Will there be anyone else with you?
- There will only be the two of us.
- Great. Just the two of you.
And I'll be flying...
...with a sick friend...
...so if you would please have it
as near the gate as possible?
- That's no problem.
- Yeah. In about an hour.
- Very good then.
- Thanks.
He was like a madman.
He was a madman.
I mean, he bit me. He actually...
...urinated on my shoe.
Urinated.
He told me he would kill her,
and I didn't listen. I didn't believe him.
I blame myself.
I mean, if you have any idea...
...of pinning a first-degree murder rap
on Will, forget it.
This was true temporary insanity...
...and if Will is arrested,
I'll testify to that in his defense.
I understand. Yeah.
Is he...?
He's staying at the Alden place,
isn't he? With Ms. Alden?
- I really must find him right away.
- Why don't you ask her?
- She's outside.
- Yes, of course.
Laura Alden? Alden? Laura Alden?
She's gone. She left
right after Mr. Swinton went in.
Excuse me.
We don't need her.
Wake someone up,
and get a warrant for Randall.
This is our case.
Did he say "on his shoe"
or "in his shoe"?
George. No one gets through
without a call. No one.
All right, Ms. Alden.
Just wanted to let you know
you had some pretty restless horses...
...in the barn tonight.
Yes, yes, I know. It's all right.
Steer clear of the barn tonight, Tom.
- And will you tell the others?
- Yes, ma'am.
Can I help you, sir?
Oh, Mr. Swinton.
I didn't recognize you.
George, I'm here
to see Ms. Alden, George.
Well, I'm afraid I'll have to call. May I
ask your business with Ms. Alden?
My business is pleasure, George.
Does she look like the fuck
of the decade or what?
Back up.
Alrighty.
Hey. Hey! Hey!
Hey. Excuse me. Excuse me, sir.
- Can I help you?
- Hello.
I'm here to see Ms. Alden.
Can you tell me where to find her?
Gate didn't call
to say you were coming.
Really?
Well, I have a card...
...and an appointment. Here.
Hello, Ms. Alden.
May I call you Laura?
Laura, if you scream, I'll kill you.
I'll just break your neck, okay?
Okay.
This is a surprise.
- How did you get in?
- I smooth-talked the guard.
Well, if anyone could do it...
Now, Laura,
don't play any more games with me.
You know, don't you?
- Know what?
- What's happening to me.
- No.
- You're playing games...
...and I asked you not to.
You pretended not to know Will,
and now this. Don't.
Don't pretend anymore. You know
what happened to Charlotte...
...don't you?
All right, I do know Will...
...and I do know
what's happening to you.
Will told me, but only after I asked...
...if there were any more at home
like him.
I'm not a fool, Laura.
I know that.
If you find me so attractive...
...how about my fucking you to death
right now, darling?
- How would that be?
- I don't know. I'd have to try it first.
You're very good.
Thank you.
Why, hello, Will.
Locked you up, did she?
Will!
Is my daughter all right?
Have you found my daughter?
I thought she was with you.
Laura?
What's happening? I heard gunshots.
I was afraid to come out.
- Are you with Will Randall?
- Where's Randall?
I'm not sure. I just hung up on him.
As far as I know,
he's on his way to Teterboro Airport.
I told him I wasn't going with him...
...and he hung up on me.
- We'd like to check the cottage.
- Of course.
- What's happening?
- They think Tom shot Stewart Swinton.
What?
Laura, Tom's dead.
And George too. He was run down.
- With Stewart Swinton's car.
- He was after Will.
I knew it. At the police station,
he kept asking me where Will was.
There's a plane at Teterboro
chartered by Laura Alden.
Swinton was looking for Will Randall.
Do you remember this?
He asked us
if Randall was on the Alden estate.
When he found out that
Laura Alden was gone, he took off.
He just bolted.
All this might not...
...have happened...
...but I was so dead-set
against Will Randall...
...because he was after
my daughter.
You were just trying to save me
from a disastrous relationship.
I would have left him within a week.
He was much too tame for me.
Yeah. That's what I thought when
I saw you together at the Mayflower.
Well, I hope this time you will come in
and give us a statement.
It would be my pleasure.
Could I send you
something to drink, detective?
- Another vodka-tonic?
- Ano-?
No, thanks.
Let me know
if you change your mind.
How the hell would she know
what we've been drinking?
I can smell it.
I can smell it a mile away.