( music playing faintly )
( pigeons cooing )
( music playing faintly through headphones )
( traffic humming in distance )
( phone ringing )
( grunts )
Malone.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
I'll be right there.
( camera shutter clicking )
( garbled radio transmission )
Just hang on.
What are you doing here?
My doctor cleared me last night. I'm good.
I thought you needed surgery.
I do, but I'm good to work until then.
Don't worry.
I can't help it, I do. It's all you do.
You got to take up a new hobby.
- Who's the kid? - He's the one that called in
the missing persons report.
His name's Robert Limesant. He lives downstairs in 2-A.
Apparently, he was the last one
to see John Michaels before he disappeared.
Actually, you might want to talk to him yourself.
Okay.
Hey, how are you doing?
Hey.
My name is Jack.
My partner tells me that you saw something.
The man you're looking for, yeah.
He came here to kill himself.
Well, what makes you say that?
'Cause he, he went over to that ledge there and he was about to jump.
JACK: - But he didn't? - No.
He saw something down in the street.
What'd he see?
Two men, standing by a car.
What kind of car?
It was a dark sedan, four doors.
I think maybe he knew them because he changed his mind
and he stepped off the ledge. He never even looked at me.
Just dropped his groceries
and went back downstairs.
What, to see the men?
Yeah. They talked for, like, a minute or two,
and then he got in the car.
Did he get in voluntarily,
or did they force him in?
( sighs )
I-I couldn't tell.
( soft, repetitive pattering )
( needle pattering on run-off groove )
* *
DANNY: Morning.
Hey.
I figured you could use one.
Oh, no, thanks, I'm good. You sure?
Yeah. No, I'm great. Okay.
So, uh, who's the guy?
His name's John Michaels.
He's 71 years old, recently retired
from a company called Farber Billings Insurance.
He was a claims investigator.
Worked in the same place for 38 years.
A company man.
Did two campaigns in Korea.
Got a couple of Silver Stars.
So he's a war hero, too.
Yeah. Any family?
Divorced. Couple of grown daughters.
What's with the music?
Uh...
I don't know.
It's been playing since I got here.
Huh. End of his life, and this is all the guy's got. It's sad.
All the boxes.
These his old files?
I guess he didn't know what to do with them.
Well, if he was a claims investigator,
I'm sure he made a lotta enemies. I wanna start here.
Yeah, okay.
Okay.
Nothing so far.
You know, it's weird.
The guy's lived in that apartment for 12 years,
yet nobody in the neighborhood recognizes him,
let alone remembers him getting into that car.
Yeah, well, keep looking.
Somebody's got to know him.
Where's that bag of groceries?
Taken to Forensics.
Why? Check for prints.
The usual, but, uh...
we do have photos...
right... here.
Great.
( sighs )
You know what I don't understand?
Hmm?
Why would a guy go shopping at a supermarket
just before he's going to kill himself?
Well, maybe he didn't know
he was going to kill himself. Maybe...
maybe something happened on the way home from the market.
Did we find the daughters?
Mm-mm. We're not showing
any contact in recent phone records, but...
we did find his ex-wife.
Martha Skagens.
She lives out in Larchmont.
He called her twice last week
on consecutive days, one-minute calls,
probably messages.
He got in the car with two men?
SAMANTHA: According to an eyewitness, yes.
And you don't know who they are?
We hope that you could help us with that.
I wouldn't know anything.
I understand he called you few times last week.
What was that about? Left a couple of messages.
Which you didn't return.
That's right.
How long you been divorced? 21 years.
If you don't mind, seems like a long time
for you to hold a grudge.
He's a very selfish man.
Well, come on, it's got to be more than that.
What'd he do? Cheat on you?
That's just the tip of the iceberg, but yes.
With his secretary, no less.
Mrs. Skagens, uh, what exactly did he say on his messages?
That he wanted to see me to talk,
which I had no interest in,
and then he showed up here.
John?
It's been a long time.
You look like you haven't been taking
very good care of yourself.
( sighs )
I came because there were some things I wanted to say.
Not sure I'm interested in hearing them.
For crying out loud, Martha, I'm trying to apologize.
Could you just listen?
What do you have to apologize for?
I wasn't much of a husband.
I don't know why. I just couldn't do it.
Well, if you're expecting me to forgive you now,
it's not gonna happen.
I want to contact Helen.
How do I do that?
I can't help you there.
Last I heard from her was two years ago.
She was living with some drugged-up boyfriend
in Newark. You have a phone number?
It's out of service.
What about Katherine? Would she know?
She knows as much as I do.
( sighs )
You did well for yourself, Martha.
It's no great love affair, but...
at least he's around.
Yeah.
You take care.
Hadn't seen him in 16 years,
and he comes all the way over here to say...
that he wasn't much of a husband.
And Helen is your daughter?
Helen and Katherine.
Where's Katherine?
She's a lawyer in Philadelphia,
but I doubt if she has any idea where John is.
All the same, I'd like her number, please.
Alright. Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
You were really hard on her.
Yeah, well, she was really hard on him.
Well, sounds like he deserved it.
Do I wish the old bastard was dead? You bet.
Did I do something to him?
No, I didn't.
Where were you about two days ago, at 4:00?
His name is Barry Mashburn.
His wife died about a year ago.
She was burnt to death in a fire in their house.
John Michaels was investigating the life insurance claim. He denied payment.
Why?
An electrician went to their house few months before the fire
told Mashburn that the house had electrical problems.
Unfortunately, Mashburn didn't do anything about it.
Did he confront Michaels? Yeah.
Three weeks ago he went to Farber Billings. It almost came to blows.
What car does Mashburn drive?
He doesn't own one. He's bankrupt.
He had to sell everything.
I'm checking if he rented a car,
or if one of his friends drives a dark sedan.
Okay.
Hi. Hey.
Have a lead on what might've gotten John into trouble.
What's that?
He's been hanging out a lot at a Jersey strip club.
Spent thousands on his credit card.
Sam and I are gonna go check it out.
Stay here and see if you can find his daughters.
I'll take Sam to the strip club. ( clucks tongue )
* *
( patrons chatting )
Welcome to Déjà Vu. Would you like a table?
Yeah, sure.
Right this way.
( clears throat )
Can I get you something to drink?
Uh, yeah, scotch on the rocks.
I'll just have a club soda, please.
What are you doing?
Just getting the lay of the land.
Yeah.
Hi, there.
Hey.
Are you interested in a dance?
No, not just yet. Thank you.
We could go upstairs to a private room.
I've got a special rate for couples.
What do you think, hon?
Uh, let me ask you a question.
Have you seen this man before?
You're cops?
SAMANTHA: FBI. Have you seen this man?
I'm sorry, I don't know anything.
And, uh, I shouldn't be talking to you.
Like I told you, I was just getting the lay of the land.
Yeah, whoever that guy is over there,
she seemed pretty scared of him.
I think I know why John Michaels comes here all the time.
Why? That's his daughter.
EMCEE: Let's hear it for Hope, the hot, the sexy Hope.
Next up, the beautiful Destiny.
Look, I really don't care where the hell he is, okay?
I didn't ask if you cared.
I asked what he was doing here.
He wanted to talk.
He wanted to talk? Mm-hmm.
He dropped a couple grand here last week.
Well, my time's expensive.
How'd he find you?
He's an investigator. I think it's his job.
Hmm? Well, according to his credit card,
he was here the day he disappeared.
What did he want?
He was trying to save me.
I'm begging you. This is no life for you.
I don't think that's your business.
It is my business. I'm your father.
Little late for that, don't you think?
Helen, please, come on.
You're smart. You've always been smart.
You don't need to do this.
What's going there?
Hey, I paid my time, alright?
Just back off.
Is that the guy that's got a leash around your neck?
Yeah, he's my boyfriend.
He's your boyfriend?
Yeah, he is. He's your pimp.
( laughs ): Please.
Helen, listen to me.
I've changed everything. I've set it up for you.
You could do whatever you want.
You don't have to stay here. Hey, buddy!
Get your hands off her! I can get you out.
I've got it set up... Hey!
Oh, my God. What are you doing?
Just back off. Get out!
Just get out, okay? Listen to me.
Look at me! I want you out.
I want you outta my life.
There's nothing here. So just go.
I don't wanna see you anymore. Just get outta my life.
Now, just wait... I'm not coming! Get out!
There's nothing here!
Stupid.
( sniffles )
FREDDY: So, uh...
Hope told you that?
Never mind who told us what. Just answer the question.
Look, I don't know what happened, alright?
Crazy old bat's walking around,
waving a gun all over the place.
No wonder he got into trouble.
According to the parking attendant, you followed him outside
and had a few words with him. Want to share?
Wanted to have a little chat with him.
Tell him what's what.
Hey!
Old man.
You got a problem?
Let's deal with it now and not later.
That's my daughter you're screwing around with in there.
Now I get it.
You think what she's about, you think that's on me, right?
Yeah.
I'll tell you something. Every single girl I got in there?
Major daddy complex.
It all comes back to that.
So, look, I don't know if you...
if you banged her, if you beat her,
or if you just left her.
But whatever she's got going on,
that's on you, my friend.
JACK: Then three hours later,
two guys show up to his apartment
and shove him into a car that looks suspiciously like this one.
Well, you know, the world's made up of funny coincidences.
I guess you wouldn't mind if we processed your car for prints.
Be my guest.
I am gonna nail your ass to the wall.
( music playing )
Is somebody here?
Nope. I just keep it on so that nobody breaks in.
Mm.
You're not gonna arrest me, are you?
What is this crap?
Do you think that little of yourself?
Don't go psychoanalyzing me, Pops.
What are you doing?
I'm taking a shower. You wanna join me?
You think this is some kind of game?
Isn't it?
So...
you think Freddy's little speech about daddy complexes
is what sent my father over the edge?
I don't think kicking him outta the club helped.
What, are you blaming me now?
I didn't say that.
( machine beeps ) One saved message.
Hey, hey, what are you doing?
...2:34 p.m. Shh.
JOHN MICHAELS: Hey. It's your father.
I just called to tell you...
I'm sorry for everything I ever did to you.
I should have been there for you.
I changed my life insurance policy
so that if anything happens to me, you get half.
I want you to use that money to clean yourself up.
I'm begging you, honey.
Clean yourself up.
Don't waste the rest of your life trying to punish me.
It's not worth it.
I know it's hard to believe...
but I love you.
* *
Why didn't you tell me any of this?
I don't know what you want from me.
But if Freddy sent over a couple guys to hurt my dad
then I don't know what I could've done about that.
( door opens )
What the hell is going on here?
You Katherine? Yes.
Helen, what is this?
Um...
I'm Jack. I, uh, I called you. I asked you to come.
Why was she half naked?
That's how she spends most of her life.
Look at this place. It's a dump.
Your sister's in serious trouble.
Tell me about it. But you can get help.
There are programs. You can get therapy.
I've done everything.
She will not be happy until she kills herself.
Did your father ever do anything to her?
No. Never.
Never?
You want the whole story? Yeah.
It's a cliché. Emotionally unavailable father...
uptight, frigid mother; divorce...
lousy stepfathers.
Younger one survives,
older one takes on all the crap.
Apparently he's been trying to make amends lately.
Oh, yeah?
Since he retired, he visited your mom and Hope.
Helen.
Her name's Helen.
Right. Helen.
And I was just wondering if he'd contacted you.
I haven't heard from him in six months,
since, uh... June.
Birthday call.
Christmas card.
That's pretty much what you get from him.
Well, I gotta get back to work, um...
Keep an eye on your sister.
Here's my business card. If you need me, just give me a call.
Yeah. Thanks.
Doris?
Your girls are beautiful.
Yes, they are.
I heard your wife took them to Chicago.
That you're getting divorced?
Yeah.
I'm sorry to hear that.
What are you doing here?
There are some people who are concerned about you.
Who's that?
I don't think it's important that I name names,
but... we all know that this job can take a lot outta you.
With everything that's going on in your personal life...
Why don't you just let me take care
of my own personal life, okay?
Is that any way to talk to your boss?
No, I guess not.
Look, all I'm saying...
is you're not alone, Jack.
You should know that.
Jack?
You're not going to believe this.
I've been doing this job for 14 years. I bet I will.
John Michaels and your father know each other.
As a matter of fact,
they've been talking over the past couple weeks.
Those are John Michaels' phone records.
( knocking on door )
Come in.
Hey, Dad.
Hey, Jack.
Come in.
You want something to eat? No.
Do you know a guy named John Michaels?
Yeah. Well, who is he?
An old Army buddy of mine.
You never told me you were his friend.
I know a lotta guys. You didn't know everyone I knew.
For goodness sake, what...? Have you seen him recently?
What's this about? He's missing.
I think something serious may have happened to him.
Oh, geez, I...
You know, he just retired.
He was having a tough time with that.
Was he here? Yeah.
He was here just a few days ago.
What did you guys talk about?
His daughters, mostly.
Boy, do they have it in for him.
What do you mean, have it in for him?
Well, they blame him for everything
that's gone wrong with their lives. What else is new?
What's that supposed to mean?
Well, you know.
I mean, no matter what you do, your kids end up hating you.
Is that what you told him? Is that what you think?
You think I hate you?
I don't know, I...
You want something to drink? Dad...
What do you want, beer? Scotch?
I don't hate you.
What do you want?
I never hated you.
( cell phone rings ) I got soda, too.
( ringing continues )
Malone.
WOMAN: She's dead.
What? Who is this?
Katherine Michaels.
My sister's dead.
Okay, just...
stay where you are, okay?
Don't move. I'll be right there.
I got to go.
I'll talk to you later.
( stammers )
( cries )
( crying )
I... I went to the store to get some groceries.
I was only gone 20 minutes.
When I got back, this is how I found her.
( cries )
( retches )
Where were you?
( door creaks )
( sniffles, sighs )
Hey.
The door was open.
Was it?
Yeah.
Are you alright?
Yeah. I just came back to change my shirt
and freshen up a little.
Right.
Well, preliminary forensics show that Michaels was not in Freddy Katan's car,
and Freddy was at the club when Helen was killed.
Or he could have sent someone.
I don't see why he would.
Not with us breathing down his neck.
There's gotta be something else going on.
You know, I should never have left them there.
I should have sent protection.
You didn't know, Jack.
Can I just say, uh...
you don't seem like yourself lately.
( scoffs )
I don't really feel like myself lately.
Did Dr. Harris prescribe these for you?
Mm-hmm.
Pretty strong stuff.
Oh, you're one of the people who's concerned for me.
We're all concerned for you.
Jack...
( phone rings ) Jack! Jack!
What are you doing?!
Nothing, okay? God!
I don't know what I was doing. It was just...
Yeah, Spade.
Hey, it's me.
How is he?
Uh, he's okay.
What's up?
Well, it turns out that John Michaels
had two life insurance policies.
He split one between his two daughters
and the other one went to a woman named Susan Smithwick.
Who's she?
Don't know. But she worked at a company called
Kenosha Securities.
I'm sorry to hear that. Since when?
A couple days ago.
Two men shoved him into the back of a car.
Oh, my God.
Do you know who they might be?
No.
You aware that you inherit half a million dollars if he dies?
How's that?
He changed his life insurance policy about four days ago.
You are now one of the recipients.
Why would he leave anything to me?
I was hoping you could answer that question.
No, I can't.
You said about a week ago he was here
and that you were talking. What were you talking about?
We were talking about old times, really.
I'll never understood what you saw in me in the first place.
You were smart and charismatic
and a boss.
And of course, that was sexy.
And I was married.
That was sexy, too.
I'll admit it.
You know, if I ever hurt you...
I'm sorry.
( chuckles )
I was young and stupid
and didn't know much about how
to take care of myself.
But I moved on.
I married a wonderful man and had children.
And I am going to be a grandmother soon.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
You got pictures?
My son and his wife's expecting twins, actually.
Did you ever, uh...
get remarried?
Oh, no.
Never had the stomach for it.
I'm sorry.
For what?
You seem sad.
Do you remember that case we worked on together
when we first started out?
Sure.
I never solved it.
It was almost 30 years ago.
Yeah, I know.
But I can't get it out of my head.
I never could.
That's how we got involved in the first place.
You know, long hours working on that case.
Which case?
It was a life insurance claim.
A woman gassed herself
in her car.
What was her name?
I don't remember.
But, um... John was always convinced
that the woman's husband
had killed her and made it look like a suicide.
He could just never prove it.
Wha-What the hell are you doing?
You lied to me. What?
You lied to me. What are you talking about?
I know why John Michaels came here.
He was the investigator on Mom's life insurance claim.
He came to confront you.
Yeah, that's right, that's right. You got it!
What has he got on you?
He's got nothing on me.
Look, I told him he was crazy. He's crazy!
He's crazy? I got the whole file here.
It's all here! Everything!
Your affairs with other women!
The police report from when you broke her arm.
That was an accident! He thinks differently!
You can't give it up. You still trying to pin this on me?
There's a notation here. There's a notation here, okay?
And it's new, okay? He found something new.
You got all the answers. He came here to expose you.
You sent those two men over there to get him. You sent them to kill Hope.
What did she do and know?!
I don't even know any Hope! Who were the two guys?!
Were they your Army spook buddies?!
I didn't do a damn thing!
You're both crazy!
You didn't want her, did you? You didn't want her.
She was sick and you couldn't deal with it. And you wanted her gone!
Did I ever think my life would be better without her? Sure.
Did I ever think about leaving her? Yeah!
But did I? No!
You know why?!
Because I loved her, you son of a...
You are a liar! You never loved her!
You think I'd have that picture there if I didn't love her?
My life ended the day she died!
What are you doing?
I'm arresting you.
Jack, I'm your father!
Shut up.
I need to talk to you.
Look, I'm sorry, okay?
Jack, it's not about that.
Okay, listen.
You know we've been canvassing John Michaels' neighborhood
to see if anyone saw him being pushed into that car.
Right.
There's a kid who works across the street at the deli.
He took a picture of the car.
It's a government plate.
Jack...
that's your car.
Who took my car?
( chuckles ): What are you talking about?
Somebody here stole my car, and they took him.
Took who? John Michaels!
Jack! Well, where is he? Where'd you take him?
I think you're asking the wrong questions, Jack.
Really. What questions should I be asking?
What questions?!
Jack!
Stop it now.
What the hell's going on?
The case is closed. What do you mean, it's closed?
It's closed.
Did you find him?
I'm afraid he's a lost cause.
It's not too late for you, though.
What the hell are you talking about?
What the hell is wrong with all of you?!
You're tired, Jack.
Go home.
* *
( distant traffic humming )
JOHN MICHAELS: You're late.
I been looking for you.
Well, here I am.
I thought they took you away.
Not yet.
Well, I don't understand.
You will.
What did you find out...
about my mother?
I found her suicide note.
What did it say?
This is not about her, Jack.
This is about you.
What did it say?!
It said to let go.
Let go? Let go of what?
Just let go.
Reach out to the people close to you.
I don't need anyone.
You happy with the way your life's turned out so far?
Who're you to judge my life?
You know damn well who I am.
I have no idea who you are.
For the record...
I want you to state your full name.
What? Come on,
Jackie boy, state your full name.
No! Oh, are you afraid?
Afraid of what?
Let's have it.
What the hell do you want?
Just your name.
Drop the weapon.
Vivian, what are you doing here?
Get out of here! Why?
Because this is my business!
Your business is my business. Drop the weapon.
Sooner or later, you're gonna have
to face the truth, Jack. Vivian, Vivian,
get out of here. This is who you are.
This is who you're gonna be.
I said now!
( heart pounding )
Vivian!
Viv?
( heartbeat continues )
( soft grunt, panting )
He just caught you in the side.
I think you're gonna be okay.
No, my heart...
( soft gasp )
Why didn't you just let me help you?
You're the one who's dying; I should be helping you.
( heartbeat continues )
( heartbeat stops ) Vivian... ( panting )
What'd you do to her, Jack?
I didn't do anything. there was nothing
I could do, Danny... Put the gun down, Jack.
It was... it was him.
It was him, it wasn't me. Jack, put the gun down.
Danny, believe me. I had nothing to do with this.
All you have to do is say your name. No! Jack.
put the gun down. Danny, this isn't what you think it is.
( gunshot )
I'm gonna kill you.
Did you really think you were gonna get rid of me that easily?
For the record...
( gun clicking )
...state your full name, please.
( grunts )
( panting )
Just admit to who you are...
...or this is what happens.
Say it.
Just say your name.
John Michael Malone.
Yeah.
Was that so hard?
No.
( sniffles )
But now I am alone.
No, you're not.
Like I said,
all you have to do is let go.
They're waiting for you.
( faint music playing )
( faint music continues through headphones )
( siren wails in distance )
( paper rustling )
( grunts )
( music playing faintly )
( groans )
( faint music continues )
You are a liar!
Why don't you just admit who you are?
Why didn't you just let me help you?
JACK: Danny, this isn't what you think it is!
You're not alone, Jack. Doris?
( faint music continues )
( phone ringing )
( sighs )
( ringing continues )