male announcer: IN NEW YORK CITY'S WAR ON CRIME,
THE WORST CRIMINAL OFFENDERS ARE PURSUED
BY THE DETECTIVES OF THE MAJOR CASE SQUAD.
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES.
- THIS IS A LITERARY JOURNAL.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE, YOU CAN TAKE OUT OUR GARBAGE
BECAUSE IT AND YOUR POETRY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
[hangs up]
BORED AND TALENTLESS HOUSEWIVES
SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME IN BED WITH THEIR HUSBANDS
AND LESS ON THE POEMS R US WEBSITE.
- THEY HAVE FEELINGS, JACOB.
- NO, NO, THEY HAVE MONEY, AND WE'RE NOT A VANITY PRESS.
NOT YET.
AND BY THE WAY, YOUR LATEST EPIC...
SUCKS.
- YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP THIS, JACOB.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY DON IS COMING.
- IF IT WERE GOOD NEWS,
HE WOULD'VE TOLD US ON THE PHONE.
- THERE ONCE WAS A MAN FROM PAWTUCKET...
- HOW BAD IS IT?
- HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE DOW RECENTLY?
- DON...
- OR THE PROPOSED CUTS
AND TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS?
- YOU'RE CUTTING ALL OF OUR FUNDING.
- AS SOON AS THE ENDOWMENT BOUNCES BACK, YOU'VE GOT--
- JUST EASE HIM INTO IT, OKAY?
[sighs]
WE SHOULD GET GOING.
- WHAT'S THE POINT?
- WE'LL WORK IT OUT, JACOB.
DON SAID THE FOUNDATION WILL RECONSIDER FOR NEXT QUARTER.
WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUBLISH THIS ISSUE.
- I HATE READINGS.
- YOU LOVE READINGS.
THEY SELL SUBSCRIPTIONS,
AND YOU GET TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PIE-EYED SYCOPHANTS.
- YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T COME.
YOU COULD, UM, GO SEE DON.
HAVE A DRINK WITH HIM.
- WHY?
- HE HAS SOME DISCRETION AT THAT DAMN FOUNDATION.
YOU KNOW, TEASE HIM OR SOMETHING.
- TEASE HIM.
- WHAT DO WOMEN DO WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING
FROM A MAN THEY DON'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH?
I BELIEVE IT'S AN ANCIENT ART.
- UH...
- NEVER MIND. FORGET I SAID ANYTHING.
[chuckles]
I DON'T THINK STRAIGHT WHEN I'M DESPERATE.
COME ON, LET'S GO GET MY ASS KISSED.
- DO YOU REALLY THINK IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
- LAUREN THINKS I SHOULD START WITH STREET SCENE.
I'M LEANING TOWARDS THE LAMB.
- LAUREN?
YOU USED TO WORRY ABOUT HAROLD BLOOM.
- SHE UNDERSTANDS MY WORK,
SHE KEEPS ME FROM PUBLICLY EMBARRASSING MYSELF.
- WELL, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S A FULL-TIME JOB.
- THAT'S PART OF MY CHARM.
- NOT THE ONLY PART.
- YOU KNOW,
I HADN'T BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS READING.
- WE'RE ON. - YEAH.
- [clears throat]
GOOD EVENING.
I'M SANDRA DUNBAR,
AND I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY,
AND AN EVEN PROUDER SUPPORTER OF ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF.
THE DISTINGUISHED POET JACOB GARRETY.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING,
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...
[applause]
- A THRIVING WEED BEHIND A DOG-PROOF FENCE.
A WRITHING DOG BEHIND A SCREEN OF WEEDS.
THE STREET NEEDS PEOPLE LESS AND LESS.
THEIR BRAVE PURSUITS, THEIR WRETCHED DEEDS.
THEY THINK THE STREET IS THERE FOR THEM.
TO BEAR THEIR FEET, TO BEAR THEM ON.
"BUT BEAR WITH ME," THE PAVEMENT SAYS,
"I'M HERE AT NIGHT, I'M HERE AT DAWN.
WHEN YOU ARE HERE, AND WHEN YOU'RE GONE."
- HER WALLET WAS FOUND LYING IN THE GUTTER. NO CASH.
I.D. SAYS SHE'S LAUREN COLLINS.
22.
LIVED ON AVENUE C.
A WOMAN OVER HERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR HEARD A SCREAM AT 11:30.
BY THE TIME SHE GETS TO THE WINDOW,
THE GIRL'S DOWN, THE PERP--NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL NEED TO CANVAS
ALL THE APARTMENTS FACING THE STREET.
- YOU GOT IT. - THANK YOU.
- THANKS, JOEY.
- BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE CRANIUM.
CSU FOUND A BRICK OVER THERE.
LOOKS TO HAVE BLOOD ON IT.
- WELL, THERE'S NO PURSE. NO CASH IN THE WALLET.
- I DON'T THINK IT WAS A MUGGING.
- WELL, HER CLOTHES ARE INTACT,
BUT WE'LL CHECK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
THERE'S A STAIN ON HER DRESS--LOOKS PROMISING.
- IS THAT BRUISING ON THE SHOULDER, THERE?
- YUP. HERE AND HERE. SOMEBODY GRABBED HER.
- WELL, THEY FOUGHT,
SOMEBODY GOT MAD, AND PICKED UP A BRICK.
- SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH OF A FIGHTER.
- WHICH IS WHY SHE LOST.
KEYS ARE OUT.
WHAT'S THIS--POETRY READING. JACOB GARRETY.
THAT'S TONIGHT. 9:00 TO 11:00.
PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO TO POETRY READINGS?
- OPEN BAR RECEPTION TO FOLLOW.
- THERE YOU GO.
- NO!
GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!
I JUST WANT TO SEE IF IT'S HER!
WHO THE HELL'S IN CHARGE, HERE?
- SIR, PLEASE, CALM DOWN.
- I DON'T NEED CALM,
I JUST NEED SOMEONE TO TELL ME IF IT'S LAUREN.
- LET ME BUY YOU A CUP OF COFFEE.
- NO.
GOD, PLEASE, NO.
THIS CITY.
TURNS US INTO SAVAGES.
- DO YOU KNOW IF LAUREN WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS?
- WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS?
NO, SHE WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS.
- HOW LONG HAD SHE BEEN WORKING FOR YOU, MR. GARRITY?
- SHE WORKED WITH ME. SHE LOVED ME, AND I LOVED HER.
- I'M VERY SORRY.
- I SHOULD'VE BEEN WITH HER.
THESE DAMN READINGS.
STUDENTS, DILETTANTES,
MINISCULE MINDS WITH OVERBLOWN AMBITIONS.
- I CAN IMAGINE.
DID LAUREN LEAVE THE READING EARLY?
- LAUREN NEVER MADE IT TO THE READING.
SHE HAD TO, UH, FINISH SOME PROOFING.
- I SEE.
WELL, WHY, THEN, MAY I ASK, WERE YOU HEADING DOWN THERE
TO THE OFFICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?
- TO MEET HER.
I WAS... SUPPOSED TO MEET HER.
- BUT SHE'D LEFT.
SHE WAS OUTSIDE ON THE STREET,
OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY OFFICE WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED.
- MAYBE SHE GOT TIRED OF WAITING.
- BUT HER KEYS WERE OUT, WHICH THEY WOULD'VE BEEN
IF SHE WAS ON HER WAY IN.
SO SHE'D BEEN OUT.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE MIGHT'VE BEEN?
- MAYBE SHE FORGOT SOMETHING. HOW WOULD I KNOW?
SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT
WHEN FIRST SHE GLEAMED UPON MY SIGHT.
A LOVELY APPARITION SENT
TO BE A MOMENT'S ORNAMENT.
WORDSWORTH.
- I'M GETTING MORE PRESS CALLS ABOUT THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY.
I THOUGHT POETRY WAS DEAD.
- NO, THAT'S THEATER.
IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE MOST
DISTINGUISHED JOURNALS IN THE CITY.
- MEANING WHAT?
A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE BUY IT, A COUPLE HUNDRED READ IT?
- NO, PEOPLE LIKE TO PUT IT ON THEIR COFFEE TABLES.
MAKES 'EM FEEL SMART.
- AND NOW IT'S GIVING THE INTELLECTUALS OF THE PRESS
AN EXCUSE TO WRITE ABOUT A PRETTY GIRL
WHO GOT HER HEAD BASHED IN.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?
- UH, WELL, THE PRINTS ON THE MURDER WEAPON WERE SMUDGED,
AND WITHIN TEN FEET, CSU FOUND 56 OTHER RANDOM PRINTS.
FOOTPRINTS, SOIL SAMPLES,
AND VARIOUS BODILY FLUIDS OF HUMANS AND ANIMALS.
- DUMP A BODY ON A CITY STREET,
KEEP THE CRIME LAB BUSY FOR 1,000 YEARS.
- RODGERS FOUND SOMETHING ON THE DRESS
LIKE SEMEN.
SHE'S RUNNING IT THROUGH THE DATABASE.
- AND WE HAD COFFEE WITH JACOB GARRETY,
THE QUARTERLY'S POET IN CHIEF AND THE VICTIM'S LOVER.
NO RECORD, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE
POMPOUS ISN'T AGAINST THE LAW.
- DID HE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHO MIGHT'VE WANTED TO HURT MS. COLLINS?
- WELL, HE SORT OF RULED OUT WORDSWORTH.
THIS GUY, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE IS SAVAGELY MURDERED,
AND HE'S RECITING POETRY.
IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP FROM SMACKING HIM.
- FIND OUT IF THE VICTIM HAD ANY ENEMIES.
- THE POLICE TOLD ME SHE WAS ON HER WAY IN.
SHE'D BEEN OUT.
SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO SEE YOU.
- WHAT DID YOU TELL THE POLICE?
- NOTHING, IT'S--
IT'S NOT LIKE I THINK YOU KILLED HER.
YOU DIDN'T KILL HER, DID YOU?
- OF COURSE NOT.
I SAW HER, WE TALKED, SHE LEFT.
- ONE OF US SHOULD TELL THE POLICE.
- LOOK, I DON'T WANT THE FOUNDATION
DRAGGED INTO THE INVESTIGATION.
- OR YOUR WIFE.
- LOOK, THERE MAY BE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE QUARTERLY.
- YOU'RE OFFERING ME A BRIBE.
- I'M OFFERING YOU YOUR PRECIOUS MAGAZINE.
DO YOU WANT IT OR NOT?
- SHOULDN'T YOU BE LOOKING IN CRACK HOUSES?
OR BARS ON THE BOWERY?
THEY'RE ALL MILLION-DOLLAR CONDOS NOW.
- THE FESTER PRIZE
FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POETS.
I'M IMPRESSED. - DON'T BE.
POETS ARE JUST ONE NOTCH BELOW HOLLYWOOD
IN GIVING SELF-CONGRATULATORY TRINKETS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK YOU'LL FIND HERE.
- HELPFUL IF WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE VICTIM.
- WE EDITED A MAGAZINE.
SHE READ SUBMISSIONS,
WORKED WITH POETS, PRINTERS, READERS, CONTRIBUTORS--
- AND SENT OUT REJECTION LETTERS.
- LAUREN SCREENED OUT THE ONES THAT WERE OBVIOUSLY CRAP.
WE GET HUNDREDS OF SUBMISSIONS EVERY WEEK,
MOST OF WHICH ARE WRITTEN
BY PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER EVEN READ A POEM.
- THIS ONE SENT HIS REJECTION FORM BACK.
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
VERY NEAT. WHO'S WETHERLY?
- HE'S NOT A WRITER, HE'S A LUNATIC.
DRIVES US BOTH CRAZY.
IF I THOUGHT FOR A SECOND HE WOULD HURT LAUREN,
I WOULD HAVE KILLED THE SON OF A BITCH.
- HYPERBOLE, RIGHT?
- WELL, OF COURSE THEY WOULDN'T PUBLISH ME.
THEY WANT ME AS FAR AWAY FROM THEIR PRECIOUS QUARTERLY
AS POSSIBLE.
- AND WHY IS THAT?
- JACOB GARRETY IS A THIEF AND A FRAUD
AND I HAVE THE PROOF.
[clears throat]
HERE IS A POEM ALLEGEDLY WRITTEN
BY GARRETY,
AND HERE IS ONE OF MINE
THAT HE REJECTED FROM THE QUARTERLY.
- YOU'RE SAYING HE PLAGIARIZED YOUR POEM?
- [clears throat]
LARCENY WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE.
HE HAD THE GALL TO PUBLISH
IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT I STILL READ THE MAGAZINE.
- YEAH, I'M SORRY, MR. WETHERLY.
I DON'T SEE, UM,
THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THESE TWO, UH, POEMS.
HIS IS A LOVE POEM
AND YOURS IS ABOUT A, UH, MOSQUITO.
- THE METER. IT'S THE SAME.
DA DA. DA DA.
- MM-HMM.
DA-DA, DA-DA, DA-DA, DA-DA.
- DA DA, DA DA, DA DA. DA DA.
- DA-DA, DA-DA, DA-DA--
- DA DA. THAT'S IT. - MM-HMM.
- MR. WETHERLY,
WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT AROUND 11:30?
- HERE, WRITING...THIS.
- WRITING THIS?
- OH, I SEE.
HE SENT YOU, DIDN'T HE?
- MR. WETHERLY IS, UH, PARANOID.
- WELL, THE SHRINKS AT OSSINING WILL CLEAR THAT RIGHT UP.
- YEAH, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
THE OBJECT OF HIS PARANOIA SEEMS TO BE JACOB, NOT LAUREN.
- WELL, SECOND BEST IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AT ALL.
- POSSIBLY.
UH, YOU KNOW, BUT JACOB IS NOT HALF BAD.
"O FOR A MUSE OF BLOOD TO TELL IT,
I CURSE YOUR SOUL THAT YOU WOULD SELL IT."
- YEAH, HE SOUNDS LIKE A FUN GUY.
- "THE NIGHTS ON THE SAND UNDER GASPING ISLAND STARS,
"THE DAWN WALKS, PALM TO PALM,
"NIGHT'S LOVE-SWEAT MELTING AWAY,
"AND IN ITS PLACE, YOUR FACE, YOUR FACE,
"YOUR FACE THAT NOW, FOR CANCEROUS GOLD
IS SOLD."
HE'S WRITING ABOUT A LOVER LEAVING HIM FOR MONEY.
- LAUREN? - SHE WAS THE LOVER.
- BUT SHE HADN'T LEFT HIM.
- NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE TOLD US.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHO IN THAT WORLD
HAS TWO DIMES TO RUB TOGETHER?
- UH, THE MAGAZINE IS SUPPORTED BY A FOUNDATION.
- ME AND LAUREN.
BUT I'M A HAPPILY MARRIED MAN.
OH. EVERYBODY SAYS THAT, RIGHT?
- RIGHT.
RIGHT, AS FAR AS I KNOW,
JACOB AND LAUREN WERE THE PERFECT COUPLE.
THE TORTURED ARTIST AND THE STARSTRUCK PROTEGE.
- SOUNDS LIKE YOU SAW HIM IN ACTION.
WOULD YOU HANG AROUND THE, UH, OFFICES HERE AND THERE?
- WELL, I TRIED NOT TO.
NOW I'M ON THE TOP OF JACOB'S LIST
OF THE THINGS THAT HE ABHORS.
- WHY IS THAT?
- BECAUSE I CAN AFFORD TO BUY DINNER.
NOW JACOB THINKS THAT PEOPLE WHO ACCUMULATE WEALTH
ARE MORALLY BANKRUPT.
- SO YOU DON'T LIKE HIM, HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU.
BUT STILL YOU, YOU FOOT HIS BILLS?
- WELL, MY GRANDFATHER WHO STARTED THIS FOUNDATION
HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR POETS.
- YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS THAT LAUREN
WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANYBODY.
- NO.
NO, AND IF SHE DID, SHE'D HAVE TO HIDE IT.
OH, JACOB'S A VERY JEALOUS TYPE.
- HOW JEALOUS?
- WELL, I TOOK LAUREN FOR A CUP OF COFFEE ONE AFTERNOON
TO DISCUSS A CIRCULATION CAMPAIGN.
LAUREN TOLD ME THAT WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO THE OFFICE,
JACOB SMASHED A CHAIR ON HER DESK.
- I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME, JACOB.
WHEN A WOMAN IS MURDERED,
THE PRIMARY SUSPECT'S ALWAYS HER LOVER.
- I DIDN'T KILL LAUREN.
- WELL, OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T.
BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE THINGS GO.
THE POLICE ARE GONNA COME AFTER YOU.
YOU'VE GOTTA BE PREPARED.
- WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
SHE'S GONE, THE QUARTERLY'S GOING.
- WELL, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING I CAN DO.
I'LL TALK TO MY HUSBAND.
- YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN VERY GENEROUS.
- I BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
- YOU KNOW WHERE...
POETRY RANKS ON THE WORLD'S CONCERNS?
- WHERE?
- THERE WAS A TIME I THOUGHT POETRY COULD MATTER.
WHEN I THOUGHT MY POETRY COULD MATTER.
- I KNOW.
- YEAH. YOU DO. I KNOW THAT.
IT'S JUST...
EVERYTHING IS SO HOPELESS.
- OCCASIONALLY, I HAVE A TEMPER.
I AM A HUMAN BEING.
- WELL...
OTHER HUMAN BEINGS LOSE THEIR TEMPER
WITHOUT SMASHING OFFICE FURNITURE.
- YEAH WELL, OTHER HUMAN BEINGS GO THROUGH LIFE LIKE CATTLE.
THEIR EYES TO THE GROUND,
THEIR EMOTIONS LIMITED TO ROOTING FOR FOOTBALL TEAMS.
- WE'RE A PRETTY SORRY BUNCH, AREN'T WE?
AND TELL ME ABOUT THIS EMOTION WHEN YOU SMASHED THAT CHAIR.
- I NEEDED HELP AT THE OFFICE.
WE WERE ON A DEADLINE,
AND LAUREN WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
- BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING COFFEE WITH DON MCCALLUM.
- THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM.
- NO, THE ISSUE WAS THAT, UH,
SHE WASN'T WHERE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
JUST LIKE THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE READING.
- I ALREADY TOLD YOU SHE WAS CLOSING AN ISSUE.
- SO IF WE ASKED OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE,
WOULD THEY TELL US YOU WERE TICKED OFF
ABOUT LAUREN'S NO-SHOW?
- THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT
I HAD NO GREATER LOVE THAN LAUREN,
THAT MY LIFE ENDED WITH HERS,
THAT CIVIL SERVICE WORKERS ARE LAZY AND STUPID
AND STICK TO THE FIRST ARROW THEY PULL FROM THEIR QUIVER.
- YOU'RE NOT SCORING ANY POINTS HERE, MR. GARRETY.
- I DON'T NEED TO. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
THE POOR GIRL WAS KILLED BY A MUGGER, WASN'T SHE?
I LOVED HER.
- WHAT TIME DID THE READING END?
- UM, I DON'T KNOW. 10:30, 10:45.
THEN I HAD TO STAY AND SIP WINE WITH MY ADORING FANS.
- AH, YES.
THE STUDENTS, DILETTANTES.
UH, MINUSCULE MINDS?
- YEAH.
- "O FOR A MUSE OF BLOOD..."
YEAH, I FEEL LIKE I'VE...
I--I SWEAR I'VE, I'VE, UH, HEARD THAT BEFORE.
OH, I KNOW. OH, THAT'S THE, UH,
THAT'S THE WAY HENRY V OPENS UP, SHAKESPEARE.
IF YOU'RE GONNA STEAL-- - I DON'T STEAL.
THAT WAS A MUSE OF FIRE.
THIS IS A LITERARY ALLUSION.
NOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POETRY,
I'LL SEND YOU A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSE.
WE CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE.
- MAYBE LATER.
AS FOR LAUREN,
WHAT IF WE TOLD YOU THAT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
FOUND SOME SEMEN ON HER DRESS?
- WE'RE ADULTS.
- YOU'RE SAYING IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOURS.
- YOU'RE SAYING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY ELSE'S?
- HOW'S THIS GUY LOOKING?
- MM, TEMPER, SMASHES THINGS,
HE DENIES HIS JEALOUSY.
BUT SHE WAS A PRETTY GIRL
AND A WHOLE LOT YOUNGER THAN HIM.
- MM. - YOU DON'T AGREE.
- NO, HE'S GOT A TEMPER AND HE'S A FOOL.
- BUT?
I QUESTION HIS ARTISTIC INTEGRITY
AND HE GETS INDIGNANT.
I QUESTION LAUREN'S FIDELITY AND HE DISMISSES IT.
UH, I THINK HIS EGO'S SO BIG HE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT
SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHEATING ON HIM.
- WELL, IT WORKS BOTH WAYS.
IF SHE DID AND HE FOUND OUT...
- WHY DON'T YOU TWO FINISH THIS DEBATE
WHILE YOU GO CHECK OUT HIS ALIBI?
- I RENTED A BAR. I PAID FOR SOME DRINKS.
- DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT TIME IT ENDED?
- UM, IT WAS BEFORE 11:00. MAYBE 10:45.
BUT JACOB AND I SAT AROUND FOR A WHILE AFTERWARDS TALKING.
- WHAT DID YOU AND JACOB, UH, TALK ABOUT?
- POETRY.
- MR. DUNBAR.
DID YOU ENJOY THE POETRY READING?
- I WAS WORKING LATE.
- HMM, THAT MEANS THAT THE KNICKS WERE ON.
- IT WAS A GREAT GAME. - POETRY IN MOTION.
THE BEST KIND.
- DID JACOB SAY ANYTHING TO YOU ABOUT LAUREN?
- I DON'T THINK SO.
I KNOW HE FOUND HER USEFUL.
- USEFUL?
YOU TOLD US THAT SHE WAS THE, UH, LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
- JACOB CAN BE A LITTLE DRAMATIC.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED.
- WELL, WE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE HAD REASON
TO BE JEALOUS,
BUT YOU'RE SAYING HE DIDN'T EVEN LOVE HER.
- JACOB LOVED POETRY.
WOMEN LOVED JACOB.
WOMEN THROW THEMSELVES AT HIM.
THE RIGHT WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
READ BY THE RIGHT MAN.
IT'LL MOVE YOUR SOUL.
- HEY, THOSE, THOSE WOMEN
WHO, UH, THROW THEMSELVES AT JACOB...
CAN YOU NAME ANY?
- OH, UM...
WELL, THERE'S EMMA.
SHE WORKS AT THE BOOKSTORE ON CHARLES.
- I STILL GO HEAR HIM SPEAK WHENEVER I CAN.
THE MAN JUST HAS SOMETHING.
- I KNOW.
THE RIGHT WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
CAN MOVE YOUR SOUL. - NOT JUST YOUR SOUL.
FEEL A TINGLE UP YOUR LEG, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
MY MOM USED TO SAY SHE FELT THAT WAY
WHEN SHE HEARD PAUL MCCARTNEY SING YESTERDAY.
- MM, NO KIDDING.
BUT, UM, OSTENSIBLY, YOU GOT CLOSER TO JACOB
THAT YOUR MOM EVER DID TO PAUL MCCARTNEY.
- WHAT? ARE YOU THE SEX POLICE?
- NO, WE'RE THE REGULAR POLICE.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT LAUREN COLLINS.
SHE REPLACED YOU AS JACOB'S ASSISTANT, IS THAT RIGHT?
- THAT'S RIGHT.
- AND AS HIS GIRLFRIEND?
- I GUESS.
I HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
IT'S SO AWFUL.
- MM-HMM.
- WHAT? [scoffs]
YOU DON'T THINK I--
I LEFT BOTH POSITIONS VOLUNTARILY.
ASSISTANT AND GIRLFRIEND.
- AND WHAT ABOUT THAT OLD TINGLE UP THE LEG?
- THAT WAS ONLY FOR JACOB.
OKAY, I'M NOT EXACTLY PROUD OF THIS.
HE WAS ALWAYS CULTIVATING RICH GUYS AS DONORS.
SOMETIMES THEY NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA INCENTIVE
TO HELP OUT.
- SO JACOB ASKED YOU TO SLEEP WITH THEM.
- AND THESE RICH GUYS WHO NEEDED PERSUADING,
WAS ONE OF THEM DON MCCALLUM?
- JUST DON'T LET HIS WIFE KNOW.
HE WAS ALWAYS AFRAID SHE'D FIND OUT.
- I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE BANK.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEGLECTED TO TELL ME?
- WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? WE CAN AFFORD IT.
- $50,000 TO THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY?
- IT'S LIFE OR DEATH FOR THEM, JOHN.
- IT'S NOT THEM, SANDRA, IT'S HIM.
I'M NOT AN IDIOT.
- [laughs] OH, REALLY?
HOW CAN I TELL?
- YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THAT BUM, FINE.
I'LL GIVE YOU A HAT AND A TOKEN
AND YOU CAN PANHANDLE ON THE E TRAIN.
- YOU'RE A MORON.
- I LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD WHERE I WORK FOR MY MONEY.
AND YOU'RE NOT GIVING ANOTHER PENNY
TO THAT LEFTOVER BEATNIK FAKER AND HIS MUMBO-JUMBO MAGAZINE
THAT NOBODY READS EXCEPT YOU
AND SOME POINTY-HEAD GIRLS FROM BARNARD.
OH, THAT'S JUST GREAT.
- I WANT A DIVORCE.
- IT'S OKAY, HONEY.
I SHOULD PROBABLY TALK TO THEM IN PRIVATE.
[baby babbling]
SO WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT?
- UH, WE'RE FOLLOWING LEADS ON THE LAUREN COLLINS MURDER.
- IT TURNS OUT JACOB GARRETY
ISN'T ONLY ONE OF THE CITY'S GREATEST POETS,
HE'S ALSO ONE OF ITS GREATEST PIMPS.
- WE HEARD ALL ABOUT IT FROM EMMA COHEN.
JACOB'S FORMER ASSISTANT.
DO YOU REMEMBER HER?
- I WONDER IF YOUR WIFE DOES.
- LAUREN CAME TO SEE ME.
BUT WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE SEX.
I MEAN, NOT REALLY SEX.
WE STARTED SOMETHING WE DIDN'T FINISH.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.
JACOB WANTED HER TO, SHE DIDN'T.
AND I THINK SHE THOUGHT IF SHE SMILED AT ME NICELY,
I WOULD GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE WANTED.
- HMM. KIND OF NAIVE.
- I DOUBT SHE EVEN KNEW ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE.
AND I DON'T THINK JACOB ADVERTISED
TO HIS NEW GIRLFRIENDS THAT HE HAD WHORED OUT
THE PREVIOUS ONES.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, GO ASK HIM.
- WE CAN ASK HIM.
BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S GONNA ANSWER.
- THE GUY FROM THE FLOOR BELOW SAW HIM AT 6:00 P.M.
- WHO FOUND THE BODY? - THAT SAME NEIGHBOR.
HE CAME UP TO BORROW THE NEWSPAPER AT 6:45.
- OKAY. THANK YOU.
WELL, THAT RULES OUT DON MCCALLUM.
HE WAS WITH US.
- I COUNT SEVEN OR EIGHT STAB WOUNDS.
- LOOK AT THIS SPATTER PATTERN.
WHOEVER DID THIS WAS JUST CONSUMED WITH FURY.
- WELL, WE FOUND A BLOODY PAIR OF SCISSORS
UNDER THE DESK.
VIC SHOULD HAVE KNOWN TO KEEP HIS EYES OPEN.
- WHY?
- 'CAUSE HE'S BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE.
LOOK AT THIS.
THAT IS AN OLD KNIFE WOUND
FROM MAYBE 10, 15 YEARS AGO.
- WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT ONE POET
WOULD GET STABBED TWICE BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?
[beep]
- JOHN DUNBAR AGAIN.
YOU CAN'T HIDE FOREVER, YOU BASTARD.
ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!
FINE. [click, beep]
SANDRA'S HUSBAND.
- JOHN ISN'T HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME IN?
[crying] I'M SORRY, I'M--
I'M REALLY NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS.
- EXCUSE ME, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, MRS. DUNBAR?
- JOHN AND I ARE SPLITTING UP.
- SORRY.
- 13 YEARS DOWN THE TOILET.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME?
I NEVER COMPLAINED TO HIM ABOUT HIS CLUBHOUSE TICKETS
TO EVERY SPORT EVER INVENTED
OR HIS GOLF CLUB OR HIS CIGAR CLUB.
BUT I DONATE A FEW DOLLARS TO A POETRY JOURNAL--
- I'M AFRAID WE HAVE SOME MORE BAD NEWS FOR YOU,
MRS. DUNBAR.
- JACOB GARRETY HAS BEEN MURDERED.
- NO.
- I'M VERY SORRY.
- WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL JACOB?
- WE UNDERSTAND THAT JACOB MADE SOME OF HIS GIRLFRIENDS
SLEEP WITH POTENTIAL DONORS FOR MONEY--
- NO, NO, NO, NO. THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
JACOB DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MONEY.
HE ONLY CARED ABOUT ART.
I SAW HIM STRUGGLE OVER WORDS, OVER SYLLABLES.
JOHN COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT.
[crying aloud]
- JOHN DUNBAR AGAIN.
YOU CAN'T HIDE FOREVER, YOU BASTARD.
ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!
FINE. [click, beep]
- DID YOU EVER FIND HIM?
- YOU THINK I KILLED THAT SON OF A BITCH?
- YOU DO SOUND PRETTY ANGRY.
- ME? I'M THE HAPPIEST GUY IN THE WORLD.
- SURE. YOU DUMPED THE WIFE...
- THAT WAS HER IDEA.
AND CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE,
IT WAS THE BEST IDEA SHE EVER HAD.
- THEN WHY THE ANGRY CALLS TO JACOB?
- HE CONNED SANDRA OUT OF 100,000
OF MY HARD-EARNED DOLLARS.
50,000 EARLIER THIS YEAR. 50,000 MORE THIS WEEK.
- WASN'T IT HERS TO GIVE?
- SHE CAN DEBATE THAT WITH MY LAWYER.
SHE THINKS SHE'S LADY BOUNTIFUL.
WHEN I MET HER, SHE WAS WORKING THREE JOBS
TO PAY TUITION AT QUEENS COLLEGE.
THANK GOD FOR PRENUPS.
SHE'S TAKING OUT OF THIS MARRIAGE
EXACTLY WHAT SHE BROUGHT IN.
A NICE RACK AND 100 BUCKS.
PARDON MY FRENCH.
- SO WHAT DID JACOB DO WHEN YOU ASKED FOR THE MONEY BACK?
- NOTHING. I NEVER SPOKE WITH HIM.
- NEVER?
CAN YOU ACCOUNT FOR YOUR TIME YESTERDAY
BETWEEN 6:00 AND 7:00 P.M.?
- I WAS HAVING DINNER WITH MY GIRLFRIEND.
YOU WANT TO CALL HER? FEEL FREE.
I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.
- IF MY KID EVER TELLS ME SHE WANTS TO BE A POET,
I'LL TELL HER TO JOIN THE MAFIA INSTEAD.
NICER PEOPLE.
- SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS GUY--
THE POETRY-LOVER'S HUSBAND?
- HIS ALIBI HOLDS.
- SO YOU'RE RUNNING IN CIRCLES?
- WELL, EVEN IF IT DIDN'T,
HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A MOTIVE TO KILL JACOB,
BUT WHY LAUREN?
- JACOB WAS STABBED ABOUT 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO.
OH, HERE WE GO.
A POLICE REPORT.
"JACOB GARRETY. ASSAULT BY KNIFE 1996.
"NO CHARGES FILED.
VICTIM WAS A STUDENT AT QUEENS COLLEGE."
- QUEENS COLLEGE. THAT'S WHERE SANDRA DUNBAR WENT.
- RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME.
- MY COUSIN MAX THE ACCOUNTANT WENT TO QUEENS COLLEGE.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GO TO QUEENS COLLEGE.
- YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK YOUR COUSIN MAX THE ACCOUNTANT
RAN IN THESE SAME CIRCLES.
UM, "JACOB GARRETY, SANDRA O'BANNON."
LOOK AT THAT.
CLASS OF '96.
BOTH MEMBERS OF THE POETICS GUILD.
- I WONDER IF SHE MAJORED IN KNIFE FIGHTING.
- UM, THIS POEM I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS ABOUT LAUREN
LEAVING HIM FOR A GUY WITH MONEY.
BUT SHE DIDN'T LEAVE HIM.
"YOUR FACE THAT NOW, FOR CANCEROUS GOLD IS SOLD."
YOU KNOW, HE PUBLISHED THAT IN DECEMBER.
BUT MAYBE JACOB WROTE IT YEARS AGO.
- FOR A COLLEGE GIRLFRIEND WHO LEFT HIM
FOR A GUY WITH MONEY.
- THIS POEM IS ABOUT SANDRA.
- "THE NIGHTS ON THE SAND UNDER GASPING ISLAND STARS...
"THE DAWN WALKS... PALM TO PALM...
"NIGHT'S LOVE SWEAT MELTING AWAY...
"AND IN ITS PLACE... YOUR FACE...
YOUR FACE."
- OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT MY OUTFIT.
I DON'T DO THE POETRY THING MUCH ANYMORE.
I MEAN, BEYOND FRANNY FINDS A FARM.
- DO YOU REMEMBER JACOB AND SANDRA?
- HOW COULD I FORGET?
WE WERE ALL IN AWE OF THEM.
THEY WERE LIKE THE ZELDA AND SCOTT FITZGERALD
OF QUEENS COLLEGE.
- MEANING THEY WERE IN LOVE. - CRAZY LOVE.
THEY LIVED AND BREATHED POETRY.
- I REMEMBER SCOTT AND ZELDA
HAD A KIND OF ROCKY RELATIONSHIP.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT JACOB AND SARA--
"ROCKY" DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE.
IS "BOULDERY" A WORD? HA.
THEY WOULD HAVE THESE AMAZING FIGHTS
AND THEN THEY'D LOCK THEMSELVES IN JACOB'S BEDROOM FOR DAYS.
- WHAT WOULD THEY FIGHT ABOUT?
- SCOPE OR LISTERINE. BOXERS OR BRIEFS.
SHELLEY OR KEATS.
IT GOT REALLY CRAZY
WHEN SANDRA CAUGHT JACOB WITH THIS VISITING POETESS
FROM ROMANIA OR SOMEWHERE.
SHE PICKED UP A KNIFE FROM THIS PIZZA PLATTER
AND SHE STABBED HIM RIGHT THERE IN THE BAR.
- DETECTIVES.
- SORRY.
THE DOORMAN SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY.
THANKS.
YOU SEEMED SO UPSET THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE.
-OH, THE COP WHO CARES.
BET THERE AREN'T TOO MANY OF THOSE.
[gentle music]
*
- WOW.
- I WROTE THAT WHEN MY WIFE LEFT.
- ART.
SO MYSTERIOUS, ISN'T IT?
- WE'D BEEN TOGETHER SINCE WE WERE KIDS.
SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE A COP.
- JOHN DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE A HUMAN BEING.
I MET HIM MY SENIOR YEAR AT QUEENS COLLEGE.
- YEAH.
DIDN'T JACOB GO TO QUEENS COLLEGE?
- I KNEW HIM.
I LIKED HIM.
I MARRIED JOHN.
- HE WAS RICH, YOU WERE POOR.
- AND HERE I AM, 13 YEARS LATER,
SITTING IN THIS APARTMENT,
WITH MY HUSBAND GOD KNOWS WHERE.
AND I'M LOOKING AT A FANCY PIANO I CAN'T EVEN PLAY.
A FEW MONTHS AGO I PICKED UP A COPY OF THE QUARTERLY
AND I SAW A POEM BY JACOB.
- HMM.
- I DECIDED TO GET BACK IN TOUCH.
- I WAS GONNA BE A MUSICIAN I THOUGHT.
NOW LOOK AT ME.
I'M A MIDDLE-AGED COP WHO CAN BANG OUT
A TUNE OR TWO AT A PARTY.
I SHOULD'VE LISTENED TO MY WIFE.
I DIDN'T NEED THE PAYCHECK THAT BAD.
- JACOB WOULD'VE STARVED BEFORE HE GAVE UP HIS POETRY
FOR A PAYCHECK.
[plays bluesy riff]
*
- HOW WAS LAST NIGHT?
- WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
UM...
YEAH, WE BOTH THINK THAT JACOB GARRETY
WAS A PRINCE.
IT TURNS OUT SHE GOT BACK
IN TOUCH WITH HIM AFTER SHE SAW THAT POEM
IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE.
- SO IT WAS ABOUT HER.
- YEAH. BROUGHT IT ALL BACK.
PASSION, POETRY, POET.
EVERYTHING SHE LEFT BEHIND WHEN SHE HOOKED UP
WITH THAT OVERPAID STIFF JOHN DUNBAR.
- SHE TOLD YOU ALL THAT?
- NO. IT WAS OBVIOUS.
UM...
HEY, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO A POETRY READING?
- OH, THANKS SO MUCH.
[overlapping chatter]
- DETECTIVE.
IF I HAD KNOWN YOU WERE COMING,
I WOULD'VE ARRANGED FOR YOU TO PLAY.
- OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NO, HE'S...HE'S DOING ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.
- EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.
UH, I THINK WE ARE READY TO BEGIN.
WE ARE HERE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORK
OF JACOB GARRETY.
THOSE OF US WHO KNEW HIM PERSONALLY
WILL NEVER FORGET HIM.
- NOW I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AND READ,
SO IF YOU WILL--
UH, DETECTIVE.
- I'M NOT HERE OFFICIALLY TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ SOMETHING IF I MAY.
- A POEM?
- YES.
WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATE THE VERY TRAGIC DEATH
OF JACOB GARRETY THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT ALONG WITH MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE WHEELER.
I HARDLY KNEW JACOB.
EXCUSE ME, DON. SORRY.
UM...
YOU KNOW, WE ONLY MET HIM ON A FEW OCCASIONS.
WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING HIS DEATH
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS
AND SO WE'VE HAD AN OCCASION TO BE
SEARCHING HIS OFFICE AT THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY.
AND IN HIS DESK I FOUND...
THIS.
IT'S A POEM.
IT'S UNFINISHED.
AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT TONIGHT
WAS FITTING THAT I COME HERE AND SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU.
"THE GASPING STARS REGAIN THEIR LIGHT.
"THE NIGHTS REGARD THE LOVERS' CRIES.
"THEIR BACK, A MIRACLE.
"ALERT THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS.
"A LOVE THAT'S DEAD IS BORN AGAIN.
"THE YEARS THAT FLEW RETRACE THEIR STEPS.
"REJOICE! REJOICE!
"YOUR FACE,
YOUR FACE..."
AND THAT'S ALL.
I'M SO, SO SORRY.
HOW MOVING. ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
BUT HELP ME OUT.
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT.
IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT A LONG LOST LOVE
THAT HAS COME BACK TO LIFE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT LAUREN WAS THE GIRLFRIEND
AND SHE WAS AROUND.
BUT MAYBE THEY'D HAD AN ARGUMENT
AND SHE WAS GONE FOR A WHILE.
- IT WASN'T ABOUT HER.
- WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS THE GIRLFRIEND
AND HE TOLD ME THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
- IT WASN'T ABOUT HER!
HE DIDN'T LOVE HER.
- WELL, SANDRA, YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU SAY IT WAS A LONG LOST LOVE
AND THIS SAYS, "THE YEARS THE FLEW RETRACE THEIR STEPS."
OH, SANDRA.
IS THIS ABOUT YOU?
YOU KNEW HIM IN COLLEGE.
YOU MARRIED JOHN DUNBAR.
BUT THEN YOU CAME BACK.
- I DID.
- GOSH.
WELL, SURE.
THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
YOU'RE THE KIND OF WOMAN
THAT HE WOULD'VE LOVED VERY MUCH.
YOU HAD A HISTORY WITH EACH OTHER
AND YOU UNDERSTOOD ART
AND YOU UNDERSTOOD HIM AND...
WHAT A TRAGEDY FOR YOU.
- OH, GOD, WHY DIDN'T HE SAY SOMETHING?
OH, THAT SON OF A BITCH!
WHY DIDN'T HE JUST TELL ME?
- HE DID. HE WROTE THIS POEM FOR YOU
- NO!
WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM.
- WHEN YOU WENT TO SEE HIM?
THE NIGHT HE WAS KILLED?
OH.
WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?
- HE SAID, "GO BACK TO YOUR HUSBAND BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE."
"I DIDN'T WANT YOU.
I ONLY WANTED HIS MONEY."
- THAT'S A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE THING TO SAY.
SO YOU GOT... ANGRY, OF COURSE.
YOU GOT THOSE SCISSORS, I'M SURE.
- IT WAS THE PRESSURE.
HE WAS AFRAID THAT HE WAS GONNA LOSE THE MAGAZINE.
THAT'S WHY HE SAID IT.
HE DIDN'T-- HE DIDN'T MEAN IT.
- OH, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T.
HE WROTE THIS.
FOR YOU.
OH, MY GOD.
EVEN AFTER HE KNEW WHAT YOU'D DONE TO LAUREN.
- NO, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO REASON WITH THAT GIRL.
I--I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD
PAY FOR HER TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN EUROPE
IF SHE WOULD JUST GO AWAY,
IF SHE WOULD JUST GET AWAY FROM HIM,
BUT SHE WOULDN'T.
SHE SAID THAT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER AND THAT...
THAT I WAS OLD NEWS.
THAT I WAS...NOTHING.
A JOKE.
BUT I KNEW HE DIDN'T LOVE HER.
I KNEW THAT HE LOVED ME.
AND I WAS RIGHT.
I WAS RIGHT.
HE DID LOVE ME.
HE DID.
[sobs]
- NOTHING LIKE A GOOD LOVE POEM
TO, UH, GET THE EMOTIONS FLOWING.
- SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA TELL HER YOU WROTE IT?
- THAT'D BE CRUEL.
[siren wails]