I'm pretty hungry. I hope we catch some fish soon. Help me wind.
Turn this one. Slowly.
- Slowly. - I am doing it slowly.
Oh Matty, look. You see that big boat?
She is the prettiest boat on Whidbey Island. The "Morning Star".
Some day I'll teach you to sail. It's the best thing there is.
- Better than fishing? - Yep. But you know what, kiddo?
I don't think I want you to grow up. What if you marry some beautiful girl?
- Who's going to sail with me then? - Dad?
Not a chance.
- Nick, we need to talk. - Always happy to talk to you, Rudy.
Hey, Warren.
- Get that notice from First Seattle? - Yeah, as a matter of fact, I did.
Then you know you've got a problem.
First Seattle is not a problem. These martinis are a problem.
Do you mind? Where were we? First Seattle...
- Mommy. - Hey, kiddo.
- How's it going? - Hand-off.
He's a sack of potatoes.
You've carried him around the whole party? We'll never marry you off.
Yes.
Picasso. Blue period.
The artist's name is Kandinsky. Wassily Kandinsky.
German, of Russian extraction. 1866-1944.
By the way, Picasso's blue period was figurative, and ended in 1904.
These watercolors are abstract, done in 1911.
Picasso.
Everyone, pipe down. I'm about to give a speech.
The sign of a good party is when I'm having a better time than anyone else.
But now is the time you ante up, for drinking my liquor, eating my food.
Spilling tomato sauce on my couch... Bobby Long.
You didn't think I saw you?
- He is insufferable. - The Small Frye School needs cash.
So while you're reaching for your cheque-books...
I'm pleased to introduce Rebecca Tingley, our ravishing headmistress.
Mr. Parsons. Thank you.
I'd like to start by introducing a few members of my valuable staff.
Our dedicated teacher, and head of admissions, Miss Angela Green.
What are you thinking about?
- Was I always as rude as I am now? - Absolutely.
Hi. Come have a seat.
- Should we break the news to her? - It's best she hears it from us.
- She's not going to be happy about it. - What's up, guys?
Close your eyes. Close them.
Stand up.
- Libby, what is your favorite thing? - Me?
Not even close.
All right, open.
I made Sean an offer.
He agreed to let us take it out for the weekend. If you like it, it's yours.
If I like it?
- We can't afford it. - Have I ever let that get in my way?
- What about Matty? - I'll take care of him. It'll be great.
- You hate to sail. - I can learn.
Generally, a wine like this needs time to breathe.
I don't think we should... wait.
I don't see land.
So where is it?
Alaska's that way, Japan is straight ahead, and Australia is off to the left.
- Where would you like to go? - Bed.
That can be arranged.
- We should do this more often. - What, buy expensive sailboats?
If this is what happens, I'll buy you another one tomorrow.
No, go away, just the two of us, with nobody else around.
I'll drink to that.
Nick?
Oh, my God... Nick?
Nick?!
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. Nick?
This is the Coastguard. Put the knife down and step away.
I... I don't know... I don't know where my husband is.
Hey, Tom. What have you got for me?
- Anything? - No.
Cutter, please don't let them give up. He's a very strong man.
The raft and life preservers are all on board.
These guys tracked the wind, the currents...
There's nothing.
The water temperature overnight was 51 degrees.
That's really cold.
- I can't breathe. - Just put your head down.
Deep breaths. Big breaths.
Mommy, look!
Hey, kiddo.
Hey, Bobby.
Hey, Libby.
Cutter asked me to come by and talk to you.
Not as an attorney, just as a friend.
The inquest was held this morning. Nick's officially been declared dead.
Libby, they determined it was a wrongful death, and you...
Jesus... You're being formally charged with his murder.
I'm here to advise you, make no statements whatsoever to the sheriff.
I'm sorry, Libby.
Cutter!
Not in front of my kid, okay?
I'm sorry, Libby. The judge denied us bail.
Can Angie keep looking after Matty? Good.
Okay...
Let's take a look at this, see what we can do.
Bobby, here's what I think happened.
I had some wine. And I fell asleep. It must have been the sun.
Maybe Nick was trying to cut a snagged line, because... -
- the knife from the galley was on deck.
And maybe the boat pitched, and he cut himself.
And he tried to come below to wake me up.
I quit these when I met Nick.
It'll be all right. I promise you.
Why don't we take a look at this First Guarantee Life?
You both bought insurance policies from the company four months ago.
- And you are the beneficiary? - I'm his wife.
- You know it's worth two million? - He wanted everything to be okay.
I'm afraid the jury may see the two million as a motive.
- Is that what they're saying out there? - No one is saying...
That I killed Nick for money?
I know we had problems, and Nick worried, but we were okay.
Two of his investors were suing him for embezzlement.
First Seattle issued a lien on all his properties, your possessions...
Nick's death erases these problems, leaving you with two million dollars.
- Do you think I killed him? - What lawyers think doesn't matter.
It matters to me.
No, of course, I don't think you killed him.
What was the condition of the radio when you had a chance to inspect it?
- The handset cord had been cut. - And as you approached the boat, -
- what did you see? - Mrs. Parsons was holding a knife.
I show you State's exhibit number four.
Mayday, mayday, this is "Morning Star".
- State your emergency. - I've been stabbed.
I'm bleeding. Jesus... My name is Nicholas Parsons.
- State your position? - I don't know.
Three miles northwest of Whidbey Island, I guess.
Oh, God!
Mrs. Parsons, you've heard the testimony,
and your explanation is that someone must have boarded the boat.
That's right.
Well, let's consider all the possibilities.
Maybe a band of pirates. Or aliens. Did aliens murder your husband?
No, aliens weren't beneficiaries in your husband's life insurance.
- Objection. The prosecutor... - Overruled.
- I told you what happened. - You told us that you were asleep.
Maybe you were sleepwalking when you stabbed him to death.
- This isn't a closing argument? - Withdrawn.
I didn't kill my husband. I loved my husband.
I did not kill my husband!
You have to believe me.
I'm sorry, Libby.
It's not your fault, Bobby.
I want to ask you something, Angie.
I'd like you to adopt my son.
- I can't do that. Not to you. - I've thought it through.
I barely survived my parents' house. I'm not going to put him there.
Money's no problem. The two million is going into a trust fund in his name.
- It isn't about money. - I know.
Matty loves you.
We can't let him become a ward of the State.
Thank you.
Hey kiddo, come see me.
You're going to stay with Angie for a while.
And you're going to have lots of fun.
I know you're going to be a good boy.
Yes, Mommy.
As soon as all this is over, -
- we'll be together again.
That's a promise, kiddo.
I love you.
I love you too.
- Who's this? - Rich bitch from Whidbey Island.
- She ain't gonna make it. - What do you think? A year?
Five cartons says she offs herself inside of six months.
- Get away from me. - Take it easy. We're your friends.
Heard you did your husband. He probably deserved it.
Mine did.
- I know what a pain it is to get here. - I taught him how to say the ABC's.
- Is that true? - Yes.
Did you learn the alphabet, sweetie? Can you tell me?
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, U, V,
W, X, Y and Z.
Now I know my ABC's
next time won't you sing with me.
- Give it up. Come on. - Get off the phone, bitch.
You're low on cigarettes. You wanna make friends? Buy another pack fast.
'Cause your personality ain't the best I've ever seen.
You're trying to reach your friend, the one with your boy?
Yeah, I can't find him. He disappeared.
If you could disappear that easy, I wouldn't be here now.
Me either.
Think. Use your head.
There's got to be a way to track him down.
- Small Frye School. Front office. - Hello, this is Angela Green.
- Angie, it's Jennifer. - It's nice to hear your voice.
I haven't got a severance cheque in a while.
Do you have my correct address and phone number?
- I'll check. Can you hold on a sec? - Yes, of course. Thank you.
Yeah, I have it right here. Tell me if this is right.
3321 Mason Street, San Francisco 94105.
The phone number is 415...
- Hello? - Angie?
- Libby, I've tried to call you. - Is Matty okay? Where is he?
- Everything is fine. - Why are you in San Francisco?
- Put him on the phone. - Why are you acting this way?
You disappeared! I haven't seen my son in a month!
- I was just about to call you. - Bullshit!
- How can you move and not tell me? - We were coming next week.
Just put Matty on the phone.
Matty, it's Mommy. Come say hi.
- Hi, Mommy. - Hello, sweetie-pie.
How are you, Matty?
I think about you all the time. I miss you so much. Are you doing okay?
I love you.
I know this has been really hard, -
- but Angie's going to bring you up to see me next week.
Yes, Mommy... Daddy!
Nick?
He was in San Francisco last night. The number is already disconnected.
No, I don't have a forwarding address. He's gone.
Don't you have investigators? Doesn't your company want its two million?
Why aren't you listening to me? I am innocent.
Put some elbow grease into it. No one wants burnt tapioca.
- Does it smell like it's burning? - You got shit for brains, girl.
You're in prison. Do you get that?
So you can forget about re-opening your case, or a jailhouse appeal.
They take years, and they're 95% unsuccessful.
So if you want my advice, and you're gonna get it, you do your time.
What are you now, a lawyer?
Once upon a time.
But they tend to disbar murderers. Here's your Christmas present...
Pay attention, this is the best advice you're ever gonna get.
You ever hear of something called double jeopardy?
It provides that no person may be tried for the same crime twice.
They say you killed your husband. They can't convict you a second time.
When you leave, track him down. When you find him, you can kill him.
You can walk right up to him, put a gun to his head and pull the trigger.
And there's nothing anybody can do about it.
Makes you feel warm and tingly all over, don't it?
That's right, keep stirring.
I got to hand it to you, honey, it's sheer hate driving you on.
The only way you'll look like that is if I staple the picture to your head.
Matty's eighth birthday, honey.
I read that even if a child is separated from its mother at birth, -
- it never forgets her voice.
You think that's true?
Of course I do.
- "I've grown these past six years." - They don't want you to be a tree.
Repeat after me: "If I could trade places with my husband, I would."
And throw in that born-again Jesus stuff.
Start with this: "I'm not sitting in front of you to make excuses..."
I'm not sitting in front of you today to try and make any excuses.
I killed my husband.
I've lived with that for six years.
But I'm a changed person.
Why should we believe you?
I can't ask you to believe me. All I can do is believe in myself.
I know that, if I'm given a chance, I can do something good with my life.
Make up for the wrong I did.
Mommy, talk to me.
Man, did you see that?
...if the people who did that showed up here...
- The man's across the hall. - Thanks.
Let's imagine that...
Come in.
- I'm Elizabeth Parsons. - What do you have in that box?
Elizabeth Parsons...
The state of Washington has granted you a conditional parole.
For three years, no fighting, no fornicating, no drinking or drugs.
- No exceptions. Do you understand? - Yes.
This is your social security card. You will find sustained employment.
You're not to carry a weapon of any kind, especially a knife.
Curfew's at 8:30.
My cell-phone number. If there's a chance you'll be five minutes late, -
- you will call me. I will have you picked up.
If you violate these conditions, your parole will be revoked by me.
You'll return to prison to serve the remainder of your sentence.
- Is this a problem for you? - No.
- Yes, it is. Want to tell me about it? - No.
- I'm gonna have trouble with you. - No, I learned my lesson...
I'm only interested in your behavior. Behave yourself. You're in room 8.
You're never going to get anywhere like that. Here...
Nice shampoo... What are you looking for?
A friend I haven't seen in a few years.
Boyfriend?
- Girl. - In that case, I'll help you.
- Does your friend have e-mail? - I have no idea.
Okay, let's do some surfing. What's your friend's name?
- Angela Green. - Zip code?
Social security number? We can run a credit report and get her address.
- She was a schoolteacher. - Done deal.
And... voila.
Maybe when this thing is finished searching -
- we could go to this bar I know and get a drink.
- What do you say? - After I check with my parole officer.
- You've been to jail? - Prison. Jail is a different thing.
What did you do, not pay your parking tickets?
I was convicted of murdering my husband.
- You're kidding, right? - No, I'm not.
Sliced and diced. Can you believe that?
- You're not kidding. - No, I said I wasn't.
But it'd be nice to have a drink. I haven't been out in a long time.
- I have this appointment... - See you.
See you.
Oh, the book. See you.
Oh, my God.
So he takes me out for dinner and feeds me escargot. Snails!
Anyway, the moment I go to bed with him, the asshole dumps me.
- You dick-sticking fuck! - You insult me by raising your voice.
I don't like being called dirty names.
- Don't do this to me. - Where were you this afternoon?
- You were on Pike St. in hot pants. - I was on my way to work!
You haven't been to work in a week. Get your stuff.
I'm sorry. I won't ever do that shit again. I promise that.
You blew off your parole, you're going back. It's that simple.
- You dirty cocksucker! - You've got a dirty mouth, Ruby.
I just want one chance! God damn you, you motherfucker!
You mean fucker! You send me back there and they'll kill me!
Fucking asshole!
Show's over. Go to sleep.
- Am I a mean son of a bitch? - She could get a second chance.
There are no second chances. This is the last-chance house.
- What's wrong with that guy? - He used to be a college something.
- A law teacher. - How can a law professor end here?
- Life's a bitch. - He got a DUI and totaled his car.
- He totaled his wife and daughter. - Nobody got killed.
When his wife got done with him, he wished he had. She took it all.
Including the kid. He hasn't seen his girl in years.
- Libby, it's wrong of you to be here. - I'm sorry, but you're my only hope.
Sharon, put that down, please.
- Libby, I'm sorry, I can't. - I want to find my son.
Matty's had six years with Angie. Think about it. Six years.
Benjamin, that's a great sandcastle.
If you come back into his life now, it'll cause more disruption and pain.
Please, just think about it.
I just want to see him, Rebecca.
Can you give me Angie's address so I can see him?
I really am sorry.
- Where's Parsons? - I don't know. Not here.
I got her. Up here!
I got her!
There she is!
Jesus Christ, Libby! What are you doing here?
Did you have a nice day at the beach?
You've pissed me off, Parsons.
Angela Green. The one who's got your kid, right?
- Could we not talk, please, Lehman? - All right.
Why'd she skip town?
With your husband who isn't dead because you didn't kill him? Bullshit.
I chopped my husband into bits and dumped him in the Pacific. Satisfied?
No! You were a lot closer to your kid three days ago than you are today.
All you had to do was wait three years. That's all. You fucking idiot.
I sat in prison for six years and thought of nothing but my son.
Did I make the right choice? I didn't have one. Fuck your curfew!
Who's that? Your daughter?
Is that a problem for you, Lehman?
I'm going up top.
Don't go anywhere.
Shit!
- Did you voluntarily give her a gun? - Come on, what do you think?
Were you drinking? It's been known to happen.
Any idea where she's gone? Well, that's about all then.
There will be an investigation into your actions today.
I wouldn't hold my breath about the prospect of keeping your job.
Thanks a lot.
I sent your father off to the VFW. He'll be playing gin for hours.
- Some things never change. - He's not as bad as he used to be.
I'm glad for you, Momma.
I always said there was good money in tomatoes.