anticipating the arrival of her "Redbook"
or "Sharper Image" catalogue.
What does she find instead?
She finds heartache, Mitch...
the death of love and trust.
Imagine her one day opening that.
Go ahead. Take a look.
Devastating.
Not just screwing, Mitch.
But the kind of intimate acts, oral and what not,
that could be particularly hard
for a trusting young wife to forgive
and impossible to forget.
That's just the kind of stuff the FBI could use for coercion.
So you watch yourself.
I'll try to protect you,
and I know you'll do your best to protect the firm.
So if the FBI so much as spits in your direction,
let me know before it hits the ground, won't you?
Won't you, Mitch?
Oliver wants to see you in the library. Where you been?
Let me just put my coat away.
Right now. He's been waiting.
You think you're smart, huh?
We've been informed there's somebody smarter.
You didn't get the highest score on the bar exam.
You got the second highest score.
Cheers.
Nice going.
Congratulations.
They called you, huh?
Guilty, Your Honour. I did it.
Well, it's your moment of glory.
You know, my wife missed mine, and...
she never forgave herself.
I wouldn't want that to happen to you.
That's very considerate, Avery.
Well, I thought so.
- Well done. - Quite an achievement, Mitch.
The space is great. I'll take it.
And the lease would be under...?
Greenwood Secretarial Services.
- And you are? - Doris Greenwood.
I like that suit a lot.
They're going to deliver a copier tomorrow.
I'll make sure the office is open.
I will employ such means only as are consistent
with truth and honour.
I will employ such means only as are consistent
with truth and honour.
I will maintain the confidence
and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client.
I will maintain the confidence
and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client.
I will truly and honestly conduct myself
in the practice of my profession
to the best of my skill and ability,
so help me God.
I will maintain the confidence
and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client?
The first thing I'm going to do
is violate the secrets of my clients.
Do you see any other way?
OK, then. Aren't we doing the best we can?
No.
What do you mean?
I can't...
What?
That...
That night...
That night in the Caymans when you telephoned...
You were on the beach.
What?
What did you do?
No.
You didn't.
- Who was she? - I don't know.
You don't know?
I don't even know her name.
It didn't mean anything.
Like hell it didn't. It means everything.
What did you do?
Why did you fuck some stranger on a beach
one night away from me? Who does that?
- Abby, I promise you... - What?
You can't promise anything.
Not ever. Not anymore.
Why did you tell me?
Because I couldn't stand not to.
I couldn't stand...
your not knowing.
Well, now I know.
Give me the keys.
- Wait. - Give me the keys.
I thought there were only two brothers Grimm.
Sit down, Avery.
Anthony and Joey are coming down next week.
- What for? - Your protégé’s got a brother.
So?
He didn't mention him at the interview in Boston.
I got a brother I might not mention either...
- This brother's doing time. - How do you know?
What am I, a fucking watchman?
- I get confused. - Well, don't.
All right, Avery.
We got a prison guard in Arkansas.
He tells us about a Ray McDeere doing time for manslaughter.
The Moroltos been edgy since the Kozinski and Hodges mess.
They think we're misreading McDeere.
The Moroltos are coming to take over?
- Are we misreading him? - I don't think so.
Wouldn't you lie to get a job like this?
We ought to keep him on a tight leash.
Why? You've got nothing to be suspicious about.
I get paid to be suspicious
when I got nothing to be suspicious about.
Excuse me.
You're not listening.
I'm sorry. You were talking about hours?
Listen...
I know I'm not Bendini-Lambert's most valuable client,
but I've got a legitimate complaint.
You never spent 33 hours last month on my account.
- That's what you were billed? - You don't see your bills?
No, I just... just submit my time sheet.
Where is it?
It's on file with the office manager.
You know, this overbilling's gotten so common,
nobody gives it a thought.
It's kind of like tipping.
Well... It's not policy, Mr Mulholland.
It sure seems like policy.
It's been going on over there for years.
People forget something else, too.
When somebody over there stamped this and mailed it,
you know what happened?
It became a federal offence.
You're damn right.
Each instance, punishable by...
10,000 fine.
Three to five years, each instance.
Nina, I'm going over to Mulholland's
for a half hour or so.
All righty.
- Wait a minute. - I got the beeper.
There's a way of doing this without getting disbarred
- or breaking the law. - Is that our chief concern?
Tear those up. I might not have to use them.
But I got to get that stuff in the Caymans.
- What? For the FBI? - No, for me.
They won't let you go, you said.
Somebody's going to have to get to it another way.
It has to happen fast.
I got to figure out what to do about Ray.
What?
In... in Eddie's stuff,
is there some kind of wireless recording device?
- Yes. - You can use it?
Whenever Eddie said, "My associate" - yours truly.
Did he have any high-speed camera equipment?
- Sure. - And I want a van.
Tammy, did Elvis ever find out about Eddie?
Oh, man. He loved Eddie. Are you kidding?
Hell, it was over between me and Elvis when I was 18.
We'd been married two years, and one morning at breakfast,
I just turned too old for him.
But everybody loves Elvis. The man's a panda.
He'd do anything for me.
They're off. Say Something comes away on top.
Right There's on the inside. Champagne rushes up.
Doesn't the dog ever get the bone?
Yeah. When it happens they can never get that dog to run again.
Mr Voyles wants me to tell you how much the Bureau...
A million dollars in an account in Switzerland.
IBG Bank International in Zurich.
You sure as hell turned greedy overnight.
And my brother out. Now.
Your brother's a convict, Mitch.
Then get yourself another snitch.
He's in for manslaughter.
Bar brawl. If he hadn't boxed, would've been self-defence.
It's still a felony, Mitch.
You heard me, Tarrance. My brother out now.
And make it a million and a half.
How about you kissing my ass for not indicting you
as a co-conspirator, you cocksucker?
I haven't done anything.
Who cares? I'm a federal agent. Your life is mine.
I could kick you in without even violating your civil rights.
You are agent Wayne Tarrance.
You're God damn right I am. Maybe local cops can't...
- Yeah? - Wayne Tarrance?
- Who is this? - Is this Wayne Tarrance?
- Yeah, this is Wayne Tarrance. - So is this.
"You cocksucker."
"I haven't done anything, and you know it."
"Who cares? I'm a federal agent.
"Your life is mine. I could kick you in
"and I'm not even violating your civil rights."
Now... I think you ought to reconsider.
I think I've found a way out.
Not out exactly. It's more like a way through.
It's a long shot, but it's...
Well... It's legal.
I know it's weird, but if we follow the law,
it just might save us.
You don't want to hear the plan.
Would it change anything between us?
It's just a plan.
I can't do this anymore.
I can't help you here. I can't help myself.
I've given notice at the school. I'll leave on Wednesday.
You're right. It's better if you go. It's safer.
- You have no idea. - Don't!
- I love you, Abby. - Don't you dare, sonofabitch!
- Wanna tell me your plan? - Tomorrow.
Abby, where are you going to go?
To my parents. Then I don't know.
It's not safe for you to leave unless they know why.
I know.
Somewhere... inside...
in the dark...
the firm is listening.
Shall we go and do this for the record?
I've made a decision.
My mother hasn't been well. She's having some tests.
I want to be there.
We never see each other anyway.
And I need some time to think.
Call Devasher. She's leaving him.
Knock, knock.
Bad times, huh?
Abby called Kay.
Listen... All the wives go a little nuts the first year.
She'll be back. Probably want to get pregnant.
Big help, huh?
You think I'll let this kid run the penal system?
Sir, it's the only way he'll give us the files.
Then stall on the money,
get the brother out with a subpoena, follow him,
and when we get the files, yank him back.
- Abanks' Dive Lodge. - Mr Abanks, this is McDeere.
I got to justify a client's bill before a breakfast meeting.
All the time sheets and bills are with the office manager.
- I'm not supposed to do this. - You want to wake up Avery?
I'm just trying to head off a legal action against us.
I promise. I'll have everything back in the drawer
before the office opens.
You're taller than I thought.
That's nice to hear.
There's been a change of plan.
I didn't know there was a plan.
Good, 'cause it's been changed.
Who are you, sweetheart?
Abanks' Diving Lodge.
What time has Avery chartered the boat for?
2:30.
OK. You got to keep him out long enough to copy everything.
My friends are taking him to Trinity Caves.
Should be a good six hours.
Tammy's coming down tomorrow.
I can... I can whip us up some eggs.
Last day. I don't want to be late for school.
Has Tammy left to meet Abanks?
Not till this evening.
You're running a three-ring circus.
- I hope it goes well. - It has to.
You know, isn't it amazing?
You cheated, and I'm the one who feels guilty.
Don't.
Take care.
There!
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, stop that.
Get back to the ball game. You, too, Sheila.
Boys and girls together rehearsing for later life.
What are you doing here?
Would you believe I happened to be in the neighbourhood?
No.
I heard this was your last day. Was I misinformed?
I'll be gone for a while.
I just stopped off to say goodbye. Just in case.
In case what?
In case it's more than a while.
I'm going to the Caymans tomorrow,
and I would miss saying goodbye.
Well, thank you. Have a nice trip.
Want to come?
I know. It sounds outrageous, but... think about it.
We could grab some sun,
take a dip...
drink some Havana Club.
I could give you marital advice and hit on you.
And whatever happens, I promise,
I take rejection well.
What makes you think I need marital advice?
- OK. You give me advice. - I couldn't possibly.
- I don't scuba-dive. - I can't scuba-dive either.
Really? I'd heard that you don't miss a chance.
Not this time. I've shortened the trip.
A client's coming into town.
I can't dive and fly in the same 24 hours.
- So how about it? - My mother isn't well.
They're doing some tests. That's why I'm going home.
- I'm sorry. I didn't know. - How could you possibly?
I hope she feels better. And if she does...
bring her with you.
Goodbye, Avery. Have a good flight.
Greenwood Secretarial Services.
Tammy, this is Abby McDeere.
You've got a problem. Avery's not going diving.
We're dead.
Well... How do we...
How am I gonna let Mitch know?
I'm going anyway. I gotta try. My flight's in three hours.
Mr McDeere's office. May I take a message?
Tammy, don't tell Mitch anything.
I'll just be a sec.
Prescription for Abigail McDeere.
One.
You want to go, or you want to stay here?
- Aren't you going to cuff him? - I'll take care of it.
Yeah?
Guess what I'm looking at?
Tell me.
My first sunset in six years.
- You made it? - Yeah. Yeah, I did.
I owe you, little brother.
No, you don't.
Anything from Abanks?
Last I heard, everything was set.
- It's gonna be fine. - It already is.
Be seeing you, Ray.
OK. You've spoken. Where are the files?
Where's the money?
When I get the files.
You send half now. Account number 6194408-S.
- You got that? - Yeah. 6194408-S. Yeah.
When it's there, I'll send the files.
Here's some money.
You're free, McDeere.
There's a bus stop a quarter mile.
Follow the yellow line. You're used to that.
Excuse me.
You don't seem that surprised.
I'm deeply surprised.
So am I.
Stephanie, two Havana Clubs, please.
Yes, Mr Tolar.
How'd the tests turn out?
We were worried for no reason.
Good.
I didn't think we got on in the schoolyard.
Maybe I've grown up since then.
I'd love to believe that.
- It's delicious. - Isn't it? It's like cognac.
You know, I have a bad reputation.
- What do you do? - I run around.
Why do you do that?
It's because my wife understands me.
The fact is, I love my wife.
And she's... Well, I guess she's lost interest in me.
I know I have.
And... I haven't cared for anyone since.
I'd like to, though.
I miss it.
My, you lay a lot on a girl for a first date.
Is that what this is?
This is unit "B".
We'll be pulling over at 11:15 for a 20-minute rest stop.
Mrs Sunderland, I need to speak to you about something that's...
Well, it's quite embarrassing.
You're not the only client I've called about this.
I'd like a steak, medium rare, three fried eggs over,
French fries, and coffee, please.
Well, I'll see ya, darling.
Fuck!
What's going on? We lost your brother.
Were you following him?
You trying to fuck with me? Where are you and those files?
You want the files, wire the money.
- I want them now. - I gotta go.
He knows exactly where his brother is.
Check the credit cards of every rig that got fuel
outside that diner around 11:45, whenever we lost Ray.
Couldn't be more than a dozen. He'll be on one of them.
And get me a map of Louisiana.
Get me a map of Louisiana!
Hasn't even begun to melt.
The staff was chosen for its timing.
I would do that, but I could never do that.
The buttons are too small.
It requires terrible desktermindy... dex...
Dexterity.
Amazing.
- What are you doing here? - What do you mean?
I mean, exactly what did you come here for?
I was invited.
You're not being truthful.
- Why are you doing this? - Because I'm sick.
I want you to tell me the truth.
I came to punish Mitch for letting the firm run our lives.
I came... because Mitch slept with someone else here.
Is that what you want to hear?
It's better than the alternative.
What alternative?
That you came here to see me.
Avery?
Came in about three hours ago.
- Sure he's all right? - You want to call 911?
Get the stuff, and get over here.
Keep calling him. Wake the sonofabitch up.
When you do, find me. I want that girl.
Account number 6194408-S.
Can you confirm that it's 750,000?
Absolutely. I'm fixing to get out of here now.
You got all the information?
Yeah, but, Mitch,
I've been looking at this stuff, and there's no numbers listed.
There's no numbers? No amounts?
I got paper from bank accounts from everywhere,
but there's no amounts.
I can't play this poker game and bluff.
I got to know how much they have and where.
There's a note on each one that says...
"Info held by client in my Mac." Signed AT.
Is there any other information? Is there a password?
Look on the paper, Tammy.
Wait. On the side of one, in parentheses it says,
"R-e-f," then a colon, then "Cordelia."
I got to get to Avery's computer in the morning before I leave.
- How will this look tomorrow? - The morning should be fine.
By the time they miss me, I'll be in Chicago.
OK, I'll get these to the boat.
The boat? What boat?
Later on I'll tell you what Mitch is doing.
Tell me now, Tammy.
Get the keys back in his pants, before he wakes up.
Hello?
You have to repeat that.
That's not possible.
She stole your keys and God knows what else.
Who the hell is she?
You know me. I...
Somebody I met last night.
How did she know to go after your keys?
The guys land soon. She'd better be there.
Don't.
They heard you on the phone.
Mitch sent you.
I knew he was a closet idealist.
He doesn't know I'm here...
but I did do it for him.
That's even better than getting even with him.
You got to get out of here.
What are you going to do?
Abby, the girl was a setup.
On the beach, she was a setup.
They do things like that...
just in case the usual inducements don't work.
What's going to happen? What are they gonna do to you?
Whatever it is...
They did it a long time ago.
- Get this thing out of here. - This ain't your alley.
I'm calling the Department of Traffic...
- He call? - Not yet.
Madge, Avery needs work done on the Kemmer papers.
I'll just get it off his computer.
What's with you guys? It's out of paper.
Check every God damn floor for McDeere.
The sonofabitch cut a deal.
Natisin...
Earlywine... Hemphill.
Hemphill... Wait a minute. That's Lomax's secretary.
Wayne, it's Warden Dynehart from Wrightsville prison.
Wayne, I've been questioning a guard who sent a fax
to a law firm in Memphis regarding your prisoner.
No, no, no, no!
He's not in his office. I'll check the building.
- Thank you, Madge. - You're welcome.
Mitch? We've just been looking for you.
Can you step in here, please?
Mr Tolar's office.
Yes, he's right here, Nina. Transfer him.
Mr McDeere?
Judge Tarrance for you.
One moment, please.
Hello?
Get out of there. They know. Get out.
Did you hear what I said? Get out. Get over here now.
- Can you? - I... I understand.
Come on.
Rudy, get to the front door.
Mitch. What can I do you for? Have a seat.
OK, Rudy, he's headed east up the alley.
Get him.
This way... There!
I knew they wouldn't find her.
I need him here. Get him back on that plane.
If we don't get McDeere before he talks to the feds...
- What direction was he running? - It's McDeere.
- Where are you? - Never mind. What happened?
Look, I'll send you a car. Just come on in.
- I'll tell you then. - Tell me now.
Mitch, it was a prison guard. Just come on in.
We'll place you in protective custody.
- I wouldn't feel protected. - You'll get whacked?
Do you know the Moroltos are arriving today from Chicago.
Their itinerary's in front of me.
They're coming to Memphis this afternoon.
I got their itinerary...
Northwest arrives 2:16 pm, straight to the Peabody.
The whole world's looking for you, so get here now.
I got to get lost for a few hours.
- Something I got to do. - Where are the files?
- You'll get instructions after. - After what?
He's withholding evidence.
He's got 3/4 of a million dollars of our money.
He's a fugitive. I want him.
Use the Memphis police if you have to.
It's a red ten ton, registered to Farley's Catfish Farm.
Get its routes and find that truck.
And issue APBs on Ray and Mitchell McDeere.
During the steamboat era which was peaked in the 1870s,
these great floating palaces like the Robert E. Lee,
whose model you see here, filled the Mississippi River.
The Robert E. Lee was designed for the Mississippi River...
Follow me now to the deck where the cargo
and passengers were carried.
The rollers that powered the steam engine
were here on the main deck...
Hey, Mitch. Mitch.
.. the end of the steam era and advent of the railway.
The next gallery detailing...
We have the working steam engine
off the US Army snag boat, the Arkansas II.
You light a fire underneath the boilers
The water is heated and turns it into steam.
The kids wanted me to bring them by.
Why, what's the matter? OK.
Lamar, I just saw Mitch at Mud Island Museum.
He was zipping through like a tourist. He didn't see me.
Northwest Airlines flight 264 arriving from Chicago,
gate B-1, main concourse.
- Devasher. - McDeere's on Mud Island.
Get the boys over there. I'm coming.
OK, let's get these below with the rest of them.
Abanks' Diving Lodge.
- How are my friends? - OK.
Your brother's on the plane, and Tammy's loading the ship now.
It worked out.
Your lawyer friend is dead.
He never was on the boat. He cancelled the charter.
- How did... - He drowned...
in his bathtub after the lady left.
Didn't Tammy tell you?
What... what lady? How did you get...
I don't know. Tammy's friend slipped him a Mickey Finn.
It was somebody he knew.
What are you talking about? What lady friend?
Now, wait a minute.
Mitch is asking about Abby. Isn't that her name?
Excuse me.
He's in that door. I'll go around the front.
Damn it. Where's the...
You sick sonofabitch!
I can talk. Isn't that what I'm doing?
If it's something else, please advise me, Maury.
I like learning new things at 500 an hour!
I swear, every fucking lawyer ought to be killed.
You want to meet McDeere?
For what? So you can charge me 1,000 an hour
while I'm in Joliet for 30 years?
This kid's cut a deal, and I'll bet it's a beaut.
- If I find this fucking kid... - Excuse me.
- Not now, Ruthie. - It's urgent, Mr Morolto.
Ruthie thinks it's urgent, Joey.
It's a Mr McDeere. Mr Mitchell McDeere.
He's waiting to see you.
I think Ruth is right.
I'm Mitch McDeere.
I'm your attorney... one of them, anyway.
I assume you knew, but I thought I'd mention it... in case.
Would you care to sit down?
Not really.
I want to try and...
This is just... This is...
This is very awkward.
I'm afraid my firm has behaved
in an uneth... unethical manner.
It seems that we, Bendini, Lambert & Locke...
the entire firm... has been engaged in a...
well, a... conspiracy.
We've been... overbilling our clients.
In some cases, massive overbilling.
I assure you, I had no idea
any of this was going on when I joined the firm.
I have to report this criminal behaviour.
But I can't use...
I can't use your invoices
without your written authorisation.
- Our invoices? - Tony, please, listen.
Yes, sir. Your bills.
It's important to prove that we've overbilled you.
That's it?
Pretty much.
Well, most of our clients have already agreed...
well, pretty much all... except for you,
which is why I'm here.
And this is what you've been talking to the FBI about?
You want to turn our bills...
What we charged you, I should say overcharged you.
-.. over to the government. - Yes, sir.
- Does that in any way... - No, sir.
It does not waive your rights to complete confidentiality
in any other area of the attorney/client relationship.
I'm your lawyer, gentlemen.
Whether I like it or not, I can't talk about you
even when I'm no longer your lawyer.
That would be breaking my word, my oath.
All right, Mitch.
Then what was this stealing of the files all about?
The files haven't been stolen.
They're in exactly the same place they were.
I just felt it was important for me to be thoroughly familiar
with the precise makeup and whereabouts
of all your activities...
so I prepared copies of everything.
That way you and I can communicate perfectly.
And, of course... if we have to talk to a third party,
then I know everything...
right down to the penny, pound, franc, and Deutschmark.
I know everything you know... as I should as your attorney.
And what if the firm should desire at some point
to terminate your employment?
Whatever I know, wherever I go,
I am bound by the attorney/client privilege.
I am very much like...
I would say I am exactly like a ship carrying a cargo
that will never reach any port.
And as long as I'm alive,
that ship will always be at sea, so to speak.
Yasser fucking Arafat, huh?
Never a night in the same place.
In any case, I need your written authorisation
to release your bills, like every other client has given.
You have this authorisation with you?
I do.
- Anything in there? - Nothing.
Fuck!
You got the account number?
Mitch says the money's there... 750,000.
I love your mouth.
That's not my best feature.
What is?
Where are you?
What is this? You let the Moroltos off the hook!
- They're my clients. - The Mafia's getting away.
- You're behind the times. - So? They padded their bills!
You think if they don't kill, they aren't bad.
Who's hard to find...
the killer or the lawyer who hides their money.
You want the Mafia? Get their lawyers.
Without the firm the Moroltos can't launder money.
You are so naive.
Other Bendini Lamberts will be laundering money tomorrow.
- How will you get them? - One at a time.
I'm a lawyer, and I got mine. You're the cop, Tarrance.
You get the rest.
With what? Overbilling, mail fraud? That's exciting!
It's not sexy, but it gets them 10,000
and five years in prison.
That's ten and five for each act.
Have you really looked at that?
You've got every partner on overbilling.
There's 250 acts of mail fraud there. That's racketeering.
That's minimum 1,250 years in prison
and 2.5 million in fines.
That's more than you had on Capone.
Twist this how you want. You made a deal to save your ass.
You got our 750,000, and you're still a hotshot lawyer.
That money was always for somebody else.
Yeah, I'm a lawyer with references from the firm.
You want that on your resume?
You think I'll ever turn on my ignition again without sweating?
Then I don't understand you. What'd you do it for?
- You didn't win a thing. - I won my life back.
You don't run me, and they don't run me.
Wanna know something weird? I discovered the law again.
You made me think about it.
I got through law school without doing that.
It's you at the dog track. I could've gone public with it.
- Why didn't you? - It's against the law.
OK.
How the hell did you come up with mail fraud?
It was on the bar exam.
They made me study like hell for it.
You've had a busy day.
So did you.
Why didn't you tell me the truth about your plan?
All of it... the Moroltos.
I knew you'd worry and that might make you stay...
You needed to leave.
I like what you've done to the place.
- You were going to your folks. - I was.
Some detour.
- Where are you going? - To look for you.
I guess I couldn't leave you without trying to help you.
Wanna tell me what happened?
Someday.
I think you should know that Avery was... pretty decent.
He was decent...
and corrupt and ruined and so unhappy...
Listen, Abby...
- It could've happened to you. - Did I lose you?
- You look tired. - Did I?
I've loved you all my life. Even before we met.
Part of it wasn't even you. It was just a promise of you.
But these last days...
You kept your promise.
How could you lose me?
- You think it'll make it? - Make it where?
- Boston. - What's in Boston?
We are.
And the Wong Boys... and my kids...
.. and a very small, unknown law firm...
.. with a lot of potential.
Yeah.