...I wanted to meet you, see what you're like.
I see you're a nice person. That's all.
-You're not going to hurt me, are you? -I'm not going to hurt you at all.
There's no hurting here, Danielle.
Between us there's no anger, nothing. Just a search for truth.
Did you judge me, get angry at me when you caught me smoking the grass?
No.
But your parents judged you. Got plenty angry at you, didn't they?
Yeah.
They punished you for their sins.
What did they do?
My dad... They just yelled a whole lot and...
...my mom cried...
...and my dad said I couldn't drive the Cherokee.
I'd say they punished you for their sins, and you resent that...
...and you should resent it.
But Professor do-right has a little advice for you.
You shouldn't damn them. Don't judge them.
Just forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Why do you hate my father?
I don't hate him at all. Oh, no. I pray for him.
I'm here to help him.
We all make mistakes, Danielle.
You and I have. At least we try to admit it.
Don't we?
Yeah.
But your daddy, he don't.
Every man carries a circle of hell around his head like a halo.
Your daddy, too. Every man...
...has to go through hell to reach his paradise.
You know what paradise is?
-No. -Salvation.
'Cause your daddy's not happy.
Your mommy's not happy.
And you know what? You're not happy.
-Are you? -No, I'm not.
You thought about me last night, didn't you?
Yes, I did.
I know.
You know, I think I might have found a companion...
...for that long walk to the light.
Do you mind if I put my arm around you?
It's okay.
No, I don't mind.
Okay.
Kersek, where the hell have you been? He came at my daughter at school.
You asked me to watch him nights. I'm watching nights. What happened?
My wife, Leigh, found some marijuana in one of Dani's schoolbooks.
We don't know if Cady gave it to her or what happened.
She's scared and she won't talk about it.
But this has gone far enough. It's got to stop!
-You phone the cops? -No, I didn't phone the cops.
What did you call them? "Slow, skeptical pathetic, even."
No, Leigh, that's all right. Just hold on a minute.
Kersek...
...I want to hire those three guys, you remember, the hospital job.
Consider it done, the sooner the better.
Three men are going to cost you a grand.
It's not chicken feed but you don't go with less than three.
It's better to overdo it.
You'll have the money in the morning.
We'll be on for tomorrow night. And Sam...
...you'll feel good about this.
All right.
Do you notice these young people?
They don't look very happy.
They're committed to their professions and ambitions but not to each other.
Cady, shut up and listen.
If you don't leave...
...my family alone and you don't get out of here...
...you're going to be hurting like you never dreamed.
-Could you repeat that? -I said...
...if you don't get out of here...
...you're going to be hurting like you never dreamed.
-A threat? -Yeah.
You bet your ass that's a threat.
I have thought of relocating...
...where I'd be more appreciated, California, perhaps.
...I could teach earthquake preparedness.
But then it hits me, I love New Essex, Counselor.
I mean, where else could I just casually confer with an old colleague?
We're not colleagues. Do you understand that?
-You think you're better than me. -No, I don't.
That's not the goddamned point.
Good. If you're not better than me then I can have what you have.
-What do I have? -A wife, a daughter.
I'm going to teach you the meaning of commitment.
Fourteen years ago, I was forced to make a commitment to an eight-by-nine cell...
...and now you're going to be forced to make a commitment.
You could say I'm here to save you.
Fine.
Check out the Bible, Counselor...
...the book between Esther and Psalms.
You all right?
-Is everything all right? -Yeah.
This isn't going to work, you know.
-What isn't going to work? -Locking us in, hiding us from the world.
Oh, don't be so dramatic, Dani.
-Making me stay out of school. -You're going back to school tomorrow.
And put some clothes on. You're not a kid anymore.
Why am I going back to school tomorrow? What are you going to do?
That's none of your concern, Dani.
Dad...
...he didn't force himself on me, you know.
I know you'd like to think that he did.
But I think he was...
I think he was just trying to make a connection with me.
-You know? -Now, Dani...
...I want you to listen to me.
No. Do you understand?
There will never be any connection between you...
...and Max Cady.
You understand that?
Did he touch you?
What are you laughing about?
Why are you smiling?
I'm asking you a question. Did he touch you?
Dani, wipe that smile off your face!
I'm asking you did he touch you?
Oh, wait, Dani. I'm sorry.
Wait, honey. I'm sorry.
Get out of here!
Come on.
Counselor?
Is that you?
Come out, come out, wherever you are.
I ain't no white trash piece of shit.
I'm better than you all.
I can out-learn you.
I can out-read you.
I can outthink you, and I can out-philosophize you.
And I'm going to outlast you.
You think a couple whacks to my good-old-boy gut will get me down?
It's going to take a hell of a lot more than that...
...to prove you're better than me!
"I am like God, and God like me.
"I am as large as God.
"He is as small as I.
"He cannot above me nor I beneath him be."
Silesius, 17th century.
Could you be there?
I wonder if you're here.
Ah, fuck it.
If you're here, what the fuck is the difference?
Fuck it!
-I've got Mr. Kersek on one. -Good. I'll take it.
Sam, you look tired. You get that writ?
No, we have to get into that. Let me just grab this.
-Kersek. -I'm damn sorry about last night.
That son of a bitch could survive a nuclear strike.
Hang on a second.
Tom, I'm not doing it. I pulled a fast one...
...and it's come back and bit me on the ass.
What you did was dumb. What I'm asking is no big deal. This is my daughter!
No, it's perjury. It's bullshit and I'm not doing it!
-All right? -I'll be in my office.
Who was that top criminal lawyer?
Lee Heller. We need to talk.
If word gets out how Cady bushwhacked those bastards...
...it'll be hard to get three new guys.
I don't want three new guys. You hear me?
Mr. Heller, it's Sam Bowden from Broadbent and Denmeyer.
Tom speaks very highly of you. He says you're the best, and that's what I need.
We froze our butts together in Korea. How can I help you, Sam?
It's a petition for a restraining order, but there have been complications.
I know this is short notice, but I need this injunction.
There's an ex-convict named Max Cady who's been harassing my family.
I'm sorry, Mr. Bowden. I can't continue this conversation.
-Is there a more convenient time? -The damn thing is, I have a conflict.
-What would that be? -You see...
...Mr. Cady retained my services yesterday.
-He what? -In fact, I see on my phone sheet...
...Mr. Cady called this morning, so I'm sure he'll fill me in...
But wait a minute, Lee. This man is a psychotic.
It appears I'll be seeing you at that hearing after all.
-Could you repeat that? -I said, "If you don't leave...
"...my family alone and if you don't get out of here...
"...you're gonna be hurting like you never dreamed."
-A threat? -You bet your ass that's a threat.
You need only glance at my client to know...
...that Mr. Bowden made good on his heinous and cowardly threat.
Just as God arose to judgment to save all the meek of the earth...
...I hope and pray you will do the same, sir.
Your honor...
...Mr. Cady wouldn't have surreptitiously taped our meeting...
...unless he knew that he'd...
This court does not condone...
...feuds, vendettas or vigilantism.
Let me quote our great Negro educator, Mr. Booker T. Washington.
"I will let no man drag me down so low...
"...as to make me hate him."
Yes.
I will grant the restraining order...
...not to validate the malice between you...
...but in the interest of Christian harmony.
You may not come within 500 yards...
...of Mr. Maximilian Cady...
...until such time as the court may lift the injunction.
King Solomon could not have adjudicated more wisely, your honor.
I am so offended by the Philistine tactics of Mr. Bowden...
...I petitioned the A.B.A. for his disbarment...
...on the grounds of moral turpitude.
Now, if you will excuse us, my client...
...is due back at the hospital...
...for the results of his numerous x-rays.
Kersek, I want a gun.
-I need a gun. I want a gun. -You want a gun?
Yeah, I need a gun.
-Know anything about guns? -I don't believe in them. Not in the house.
I'll get you a gun. What kind? Now, calm down.
-Something simple I can handle. -Let me see what fits you.
Forty-five... Let me see your hands.
-A .38 snub-nosed special. -All right. Good.
I can teach you how to use it.
-Great. -The first lesson is this...
...don't think of it as trying to kill a man.
-Right. -It's an extension of your fist.
You're just reaching out and knocking him down.
Boom. All right.
Later on we'll shoot some trees, okay?
That'd be great. Good.
What is it? What?
-Well, Sam... -Yeah?
I give you a gun. You pull it on Cady...
...it will dawn on you that shooting a man is different than shooting a tree.
Next thing, you know, Cady has the gun.
You'll teach me. I could handle a gun. He won't take it away.
Best-case scenario: you kill Cady dog-dead.
Fifteen years to life. Do you realize that, Counselor?
Oh, Jesus! It's all fucked up, Kersek!
I mean, the law considers me more of a loose cannon than Max Cady!
Some big-shit attorney has whipped the A.B.A.'s ethics committee into a frenzy.
There's an emergency session in Raleigh over the assault.
How did they link that to you?
I went to warn Cady. I thought it was the decent thing to do.
Maybe I'd scare him. He was wired.
Goddamn fools.
This hearing, it's real important?
Only if I want to continue to practice law.
Cady isn't expected there, is he?
Mr. Cady, he's beyond reproach.
-But you're required to be there. -Yeah.
-When is this hearing? -It's Thursday morning, 9:00.
The torture begins and lasts for two days.
You have to fly up the night before?
Right.
Cady's an opportunist. If he thinks you're gone for two days...
...that's going to be as tempting to him as shit is to a fly.
If Cady breaks into your home...
...he can be killed.
Justifiably.
But he won't show unless he's sure you won't be there.
-Have a good trip. -All right. Bye-bye.
-Call us tonight, okay? -All right.
-I didn't miss the 9:20 to Raleigh? -I'm afraid you did. There's a 10:20.
It's not that. I have some important papers for Samuel Bowden.
Was he on the 9:20?
We can't give out that information, sir.
Well, it's just...
...I guess I could send it to him overnight...
...but he might be back, for all I know, tomorrow morning, and I...
See, I...
My wife and I have been in an accident, and he's our lawyer.
If I don't get in touch with him, we could lose this case.
We've already lost our little daughter Dani.
Is...
Is there any way to know if he was on that flight and when he's returning?
It'd really help us.
He'll be back the day after tomorrow, sir.
Bless your heart.
Go on in.
Get down, Sam.
Give me a cigarette.
Slow down. You're outpacing me two-to-one since you started again.
Just keep track of how many I owe you.
-How'd it go at the airport? -We did our thing...
...but we don't know if he saw us, or if he was there.
Set the trap and we'll see.
What if we don't want to see?
-Dani! -What?
Maybe he poisoned the dog.
Sam, watch out for the windows.
You're not allowed to stand up, remember?
-Didn't Cady go after her? -You don't know Dani.
If she finds a palmetto bug in her bedroom, she takes it outside.
You know, she could never kill anything.
Even a six-foot palmetto bug?
Oh, God.
What is that?
It's monofilament line. I got it from Sam's fishing gear.
I stretch it across the windows and the doors...
...and tie it to Dani's teddy bear here.
If the bear moves a quarter of an inch, I know if the holy ghost is sneaking in.
What are you reading?
-Why? Did Kersek quit? -No.
It's just that Cady said...
You want some answers.
Me, too.
I'd like to know just how strong we are...
...or how weak.
But I guess the only way we're going to find that out is by...
...going through this.
It's just that Cady said to read the book between Esther and Psalms.
Which is which one?
The book of Job.
Job was a good man. He believed in God...
...and God tested his faith.
He took away everything he had...
...even his children.
It's hideous, this plan. I mean, barbaric.
They're crazy. My dad's turned into some kind of...
I don't know what.
Barbaric.
Listen to your father. Do what they say. What else can you do?
Leave. We could go to the houseboat...
...you know, and get lost in any inlet.
Dani, come on.
Don't stay outside.
Do you want to know what really disturbs me?
Killing this guy.
I mean, taking a man's life.
I don't know if I can live with that.
You may have to.
-Sam, just remember the plan. -I know the plan.
Damn, it's premeditated.
It makes me an accomplice, an accessory, an abettor.
It's also excessive force.
The only thing excessive we could do to Cady...
...would be to gut him and eat his liver.
That might be excessive.
Jesus Christ, Kersek, I'm serious.
No, you're scared.
But that's okay.
I want you to savor that fear.
You know, the South evolved in fear...
...fear of the Indian, fear of the slave...
...fear of the damn Union.
The South has a fine tradition of savoring fear.
What's the matter?
Don't look over!
She's making me nervous.
What would she normally do...
...if Sam wasn't around to run her home?
-She'd stay... -She'd stay over.
Well, then, she stays over.
-What? -Leigh.
I know how the dog died.
-Sam, are you dreaming? -No!
I just had the weirdest feeling he was already in the house.
Can't sleep, Miss Graciela?
Yeah. It's hot.
You know, I think it's the humidity that makes us all so thirsty.
Excuse me.
My pop was a cop.
Twenty years.
This was his favorite drink on a stakeout.
I learned that in prison. You like?
White trash piece of shit.
Stay here, Leigh.
Kersek?
Dani, go back to your room.
Lock the door.
-Don't go down there, Sam. -No, it's all right.
Dani, don't look.
Oh, my God, Graciela!
Oh, my God.
It's the piano wire.
I'm going to get this son of a bitch!
Tell him to stop!
God, he might be out here!
Listen, I've got Kersek's gun with me...
...and you'll find the piano wire that Cady used in the house.
Yeah, I know how this looks.
You're not supposed to flee a murder scene.
Listen, Lieutenant. You may not know this...
...but in the law there's something called force majeure.
It means an unforeseeable act of God...
...and it cancels all promises and obligations.
So, legally speaking, all bets are off.
You find Max Cady and we'll come back.
-What did he say? -He said we're fugitives.
-What's that mean? -It means we're doing something right.
Where's that old mongrel dog of yours, Mrs. Bowden?
Tomorrow, I'll catch some fish.
Oh, you know, you don't have to. I've got enough food to last us a week.
But it'd be nice.
Good.
It's only rain. A sheet of rain.
-What was that? -It's just a squall.
-I'll go check the anchor. -Wait, Dad. Don't go out.
No, Danielle. Everything is okay. All right?
-Yeah. We're on the river now, baby. -It's just a squall kicking.
Graciela has a brother.
I mean, she had a brother.
Oh, sweetie.
We'll get in touch with him right away.
We're making some tea.
I can't hear you. It's windy out.
What's that?
Are we moving?
'Evening, ladies.
You know my husband has a gun?
Not this gun?
-Is it this gun? -Where is he?
Resting up. He had a long difficult day.
Danielle, I told you, you can't escape your demons just by leaving home.
I didn't.
-My parents brought me here. -Of course.
Where's Sexus?
-Back at the house. -Shame.
I had hoped we could read aloud from it together.
Well, I...
-...memorized some for you. -Did you?
-Yeah. -Did you?
Well, I'm impressed.
Which part?
The part...
...you know what part, you know.
-I don't think you did your homework. -I did.
What parts were they?
The good parts?
Yeah. They were...
-Were you a good girl? -I was.
I knew you'd follow me here and...
You know me pretty well, don't you?
Yeah. I do.
You're going to know me a lot better, too.
Are you offering me something hot?
Let's get something straight here.
I spent fourteen years in an eight-by-nine cell...
...surrounded by people who were less than human.
My mission in that time was to become more than human.
You see?
Granddaddy used to handle snakes in church.
Granny drank strychnine.
You could say I had a leg-up, genetically speaking.
I'm going to forgive you, Danielle, honey.
I know that wasn't the real you, the true you.
But I would like you to wait in the hold.
Danielle, get in the hold.
-Stop! -No!
Ready to be born again, Mrs. Bowden?
A few minutes alone with me, darling, and you'll be speaking in tongues.
Excuse me, Mrs. B.
Please don't take umbrage...
...but in the plan that I have formulated...
...there's much more to it than just you and I making love.
I mean, that's just so...
...commonplace and dreary.
Here and now, we have an opportunity.
"What is that opportunity?" you ask.
Why, here and now, we have an opportunity...
...to depict and dramatize...
...both the heights and the depths...
...of a mama's true love of her daughter, if you get my meaning.
Come on out, babe. Come on, darling. Let's go.
Get out. Get up here.
This is between you and me. Leave them out of it.
This is my night, Counselor. Don't you step on my lines.
Stop!
Yes, Leigh?
Listen to me, Max.
You know, Max, since all this started...
...I've thought about you all the time.
I've tried to imagine what it must have been like for you...
...all those years, locked up in jail.
I've tried to imagine you and even your crimes...
...and how you must have felt in those moments that you did them.
See, I know about loss, Max.
I know about losing time, even losing years.
And I know it doesn't compare to jail, but...
...I can understand...
...and I could share this with you.
Because of that whatever it is that you've got planned...
...I want you to do it just with me...
...not with her...
...because...
...we have this connection.
What do you think, Counselor?
That was real eloquent, Leigh.
Brave, too.
I want to thank you for conveying to me your most powerful emotions...
...because...
...I'm going to enjoy this all the more.
Oh, my God!
The people call Samuel J. Bowden!
Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?
-Somebody's got to man the boat. -Did you swear?
-I'll do it. -Sit, Danielle.
Don't make light of your civic duty. You're the jury.
All right, I swear to tell the truth. What do you want to know?
Was a prior sexual history ever prepared in connection with my defense?
It's...
I'm sorry, Your Honor. That was argumentative.
An investigator did prepare a prior sexual history on the alleged victim...
...true?
I can ask leading questions, Your Honor. He is a hostile witness.
Would you care to tell the court what the gist was of this report?
It was fourteen years ago. I can't remember that.
How can he answer when you're hitting him?
Because he's perjuring himself. He knows damn well what it said.
-Don't you? -It said that she was promiscuous.
It said she had three different lovers in one month.
At least three! And did you show this report to the D.A.?
I found it when I started representing myself six years into my sentence!
But there it was in the court file.
Back in '77, you buried it, Counselor.
Would you care to tell the jury why?
Would you care to tell the court why?
Because I know he brutally raped her and he beat her.
Talk to me! I'm standing here!
Just because she was promiscuous doesn't justify you raping her!
You bragged that you beat two prior aggravated rapes. You were a menace!
You were my lawyer!
That report could have saved me fourteen years.
-You're probably right. -You self-righteous fuck!
I'm Virgil and I'm guiding you through the gates of Hell.
We are now in the 9th circle, the circle of traitors.
Traitors to country, traitors to fellow man...
...traitors to God!
You, sir, are charged with betraying the principles of all three!
Can you please quote for me the A.B.A.'s...
...Rules of Professional Conduct, Canon 7?
"A lawyer should represent his client..."
"Should zealously represent his client within the bounds of the law."
And I find you guilty, Counselor...
...guilty of betraying your fellow man...
...guilty of betraying your country...
...guilty of abrogating your oath...
...guilty of judging me and selling me out!
And with the power vested in me by the kingdom of God...
...I sentence you to the 9th circle of Hell!
Now you will learn about loss...
...loss of freedom, loss of humanity.
Now you and I will truly be the same, Counselor.
Danielle, get down on your knees.
Take off your clothes!
Down on your knees now!
Take off your clothes! Get down on your knees!
Don't!
Now, off with your clothes!
You, Leigh, take off your clothes. Now!
Come on!
Tonight, you'll learn to be an animal...
...to live like an animal and to die like one.
Give me your hand!
Go!
Did you forget about that restraining order, Counselor?
You're well within 500 yards!
Well, here we are, Counselor...
...just two lawyers...
...working it out!
I'm going to kill you!
You already sacrificed me, Counselor.
"On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
"Oh who will come and go with me
"I am bound for the promised land"
We never spoke about what happened...
...at least not to each other.
Fear, I suppose...
...that to remember his name or what he did...
...would mean letting him into our dreams.
And me, I hardly dream about him anymore.
Still, things won't ever be the way they were before he came.
But that's all right...
...because if you hang onto the past, you die a little every day.
And for myself...
...I know I'd rather live.
The end.
Subtitles by SOFTITLER