They're not as bad as you might think.
In fact, sometimes they're pretty good company.
Cuff up!
You can get used to just about anything in prison. Even a Palmetto bug.
I tried writing again.
Nothing came out that didn't sound bitter and cynical.
There's nothing worse than a writer who doesn't have anything to say.
That's me.
Harry Barber.
Hey, Harry.
I've got some good news. I mean some real good news.
You know what this is? This is your ticket out of here.
- Here's the judge. - Right here, Barber.
Mr. Barber, your conviction has been overturned by a federal judge.
Flipped like a buttermilk pancake.
Testimony in a related case contradicted key evidence presented at your trial.
What he's saying is someone's turned states and 'fessed up.
You were framed.
Your sentence has been commuted, effective immediately.
Don't thank me. Not much, anyway.
The paperwork has been filed. You'll be released within 24 hours.
All right!
All right.
What's wrong? You're free.
Your Honor...
I don't want to be ungrateful.
That's it, I'm done. I'm free.
This is justice. What about the two years of my life?
Two years of my life wasted because I was honest.
Because I wasn't dirty like everybody else. What about that?
You can take that up with your attorney.
No, I'm taking it up with you!
You're the justice system!
What about my... Don't turn me off!
Don't turn me off! You bastard!
I want my two years back!
I want it back!
I want it back! I want my two years!
Oh, my goodness, Harry Barber, as I live and breathe.
John Renick. Aren't you a little out of your jurisdiction?
- Maybe. - Got a cig?
Let me give you a lift.
- It'll be 105 today. - I can take a little heat.
Come on. Hop in.
I'm heading right back to Palmetto.
I ain't going to Palmetto.
Is that right? Where are you going?
Miami.
It's all over with, Harry.
Palmetto's cleaned up top to bottom. Trust me.
Yeah, I'll just bet it squeaks.
Thanks for the cig.
Wait. You're really going to Miami?
Miami, Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco. As long as it ain't Palmetto.
- What's Nina say about that? - I didn't ask.
Maybe you should.
You smell good, Harry.
Nina, I am not going back to Palmetto.
Oh, you taste good.
Nina, it's been a couple of years.
I know.
I'm going to Miami.
Shut up, Harry.
- 'Morning. - 'Morning.
Is it morning?
I don't know. I think so.
Thanks for making the coffee.
Pretty good, huh?
Strong?
Weak?
Bad.
It's been a couple years. I was looking at your...
...piece there.
The marquet?
Marquet. I don't understand how you make any money.
If you sell it for 12 bucks...
...the metal itself has gotta be worth more than that.
Well, actually...
...it's $1,200, Harry.
It's $1,200.
This is what I do now.
Yeah, I don't blame you.
Find anything?
Sure.
There's nothing I'm good at.
It'll be tough for you in this town, Mr. Barber.
Think so?
- Don't you like my bourbon? - I do.
Why don't you take it?
I don't drink.
Maybe tomorrow I'll ask why you ordered it if you don't drink.
Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you.
How'd it go today?
Humiliating.
Listen, baby, you can't expect something good just to happen overnight.
I've got my exhibition coming up.
If you want to, I have so much work to do...
I don't know how I'll ever finish. I have deliveries, I have to figure out the space...
We can maybe do it together. It might be fun.
- I could make some deliveries for you? - That'd be great.
I'd be your fucking errand boy.
I didn't mean it that way. I just thought that...
Don't think!
You worry about your scrap metal, I'll worry about Harry Barber.
I need to make a phone call.
Right over there.
Thank you.
Oh, God!
I left my handbag in there.
I was just gonna hand it in to the bartender.
How thoughtful of you.
Is there a problem, lady?
No, I left my handbag in the phone booth...
...and this gentleman was going to turn it in.
Make sure everything's there.
Yes, it's all here.
Thank you.
And thank you.
Can I buy you a drink?
- It's not necessary. - But it's customary.
Excuse me.
Another round for the gentleman.
I'll have a vodka martini with a twist.
You...
...Iost?
Do I seem lost?
No, just a little...
...out of place.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Take it any way you like it. My name's Harry Barber.
So, Mr. Barber...
How do you spend your time?
What do you mean?
I mean, what do you do?
I don't smoke.
Well, what do I do? What does anybody do? I just...
...try to survive, I guess.
Maybe you'd like to do more than just survive?
Who wouldn't?
I may know of something.
Would you be interested?
I'm interested now.
The money's good.
It's very good.
But, in exchange, there's an element of...
...risk.
Risk?
Does that worry you?
Question is, does it worry you?
If I could, I would do the job myself.
What is this job exactly?
Call me tomorrow and we'll talk some more.
I'm gonna settle the check.
I almost forgot.
I didn't.
Until tomorrow then?
I noticed your sign there.
It said help was wanted.
What kind of...
...help do you need?
The $6 an hour kind: to pump gas, cut bait...
Wow, look at that boat. "Rhea M."
Who owns that?
Fella by the name of Malroux.
Got an "x" on the end of it.
- "X" on the end of what? - His name. It's French or some such.
Oh, yeah, French.
His Christian name is Felix.
That's got an "x" on the end of it, too, by the way.
I bet you were a spelling bee champion in school.
He owns that boat and he owns that big house out on Cranleigh Key.
He bought that place?
What's a fella with all that money doing in a one-horse town like Palmetto?
Sorry.
He's a lung cancer case.
He's here for his health.
He ain't got that much longer left to live, I hear.
- And the blonde? - Mrs. Malroux.
Boat's named after her. Got another boat named Odette.
That's named after his daughter.
- Two "t's"? - Yeah.
But he don't keep her here. The boat, I mean.
Malroux.
Must be worth a fortune.
I wouldn't trade places with him for all the tea in Chinee.
He's a lung cancer case.
You still interested in this job?
No thanks, old-timer.
I think I might have a better offer.
Hi, baby.
I'll see you in about an hour.
- Where are you going? - I've got a delivery to make.
- Let me do it for you. - No, after yesterday, no way.
Let that go, first of all.
It'll make me feel like I'm contributing.
- Are you sure? - I'm sure.
Here.
Can I help you?
- Special delivery for Mrs. Malrow. - I'll take it.
She has to sign for this herself. It's a telephone order.
Okay, wait right here.
Hope I'm not disturbing you, Mrs. Malrow.
It's Malroux. No, you're not disturbing me at all.
I was just gathering some rosemary.
Hey, you!
It's okay, Donnelly, I'll handle it.
The next time you have a delivery, can you wait outside?
Yes, sir.
I like your initiative, Mr. Barber.
Just checking my facts.
And what are your facts?
That you're Rhea Malroux.
You're married to Felix Malroux.
You have a daughter named Odette...
...and that you live in the biggest house in Cranleigh Key.
Anything else?
You have a job for me.
Your facts seem to check out, Mr. Barber.
So, let's talk.
Not here.
- Do you know East Beach? - I know it.
The bungalows for rent by the water?
- I've seem them. - Rent one.
Then what?
Meet me tonight.
Give me one good reason why I should.
I can do better than that.
You have a phone call, ma'am.
Let me pay you for that then. Hundred, was it?
Two.
Give the man his money and show him the way out.
Can I use the car?
Oh, sorry.
Can I use the car?
Yeah. Sure. Wow. You sure you got a job at the marina?
- What do you mean? - Well, you look pretty swanky-do.
Yeah, well, I'm excited to be working again.
What, should I change?
No, you look really handsome. Go ahead, impress the fish.
Come here. Give me a kiss.
See you later. Have fun.
Don't do that to the fish.
Good evening, Mr. Barber.
Excuse me.
May I have a drink, please?
Vodka martini with a twist?
Bravo, Mr. Barber.
You were paying attention in class.
Are you married, Mr. Barber?
No.
Do you have a girlfriend?
Yeah.
We're living together.
How old-fashioned of you.
I didn't know we were here to discuss my personal life.
What's wrong with talking about your personal life?
- It's personal. - Pardon me.
So...
You wanted to talk with me about something, Mrs. Malroux-row?
I have a job for you.
Yeah, you, so you said.
As I mentioned, there's an element of risk involved.
- You mentioned that, yes. - You do take risks...
...don't you, Mr. Barber?
Do I?
You took a rather large risk when you took the money from my purse.
Sorry, we're all out of twist.
So, what is this job anyway, Mrs. Malroux?
My stepdaughter is going to be kidnapped.
The ransom will be $500,000.
I need someone to be the threatening voice on the telephone.
For that and collecting the ransom, I'm willing to pay ten percent.
That's $50,000.
Yeah, I can do the math.
Are you interested?
I'm no kidnapper.
I don't need you to kidnap anyone because nobody's going to be kidnapped.
My stepdaughter, Odette, is...
...simply going to disappear for a few days.
Does she know that?
It was her idea.
What do you need $500,000 for?
Your husband's rich. Why don't you just ask him for the money?
My husband believes that his daughter and I...
...should be able to manage on the allowance he provides.
I admit it's a generous allowance for...
...reasonable people.
Just so happens that neither my stepdaughter nor I are reasonable people.
May I have another drink, please?
You realize, of course, that kidnapping is a federal crime...
...and that the FBI is probably gonna get in on this?
First of all, there's not going to be any kidnapping.
Secondly, my husband will not involve the authorities.
So what makes you so sure about that?
I know my husband.
So, let me get this straight:
Girl disappears.
I make a phone call, collect the money.
I take my cut, I give you the rest, the girl goes back home...
...and everybody's happy ever after. Is that the deal?
Essentially.
That sounds easy.
It will be.
Are you a cop?
Do I look like a cop?
Answer the fucking question.
No.
- You wearing a wire? - A what?
Did you find what you were looking for?
Maybe you better check again.
I don't want you to miss anything.
In all this excitement...
...Mr. Barber, I don't remember hearing whether you were in...
...or out.
In all this excitement, I don't remember saying.
I need to know.
Time is of the essence.
I need to meet with this Odette.
That could be arranged.
Tomorrow, here.
Alone.
She's only 17.
You might need a chaperon.
You don't have to worry about me. I can behave myself.
It's not you I'm worried about.
How was it?
Well, you know, dull, tedious, boring, in no particular order.
I got the strangest call from Mrs. Wintergarden.
Who?
Mrs. Wintergarden, the woman...
...whose house you took the vase over to when you made the delivery yesterday.
She says she never got it.
You sure you had the right address?
Sure, there was no one home.
I just, you know, rang the doorbell, put it on the steps.
It's weird.
It had such a beautiful finish.
I'll call her tomorrow.
You come here. I've missed you.
I gotta take a shower.
I smell like fish.
Be right back.
Hurry up.
- Wild Bill. - Hi, Mr. Barber.
You think I could rent the bungalow a couple extra days?
Sure!
Season's been pretty slow. We got cancellations up the wahzoo.
In that case I'll take it for the weekend.
Okay. Paying cash, Mister B?
Here. No need for a receipt.
Okay. Hey, good luck.
- With what? - The writing.
Thanks.
I'm Odette Malroux.
Odette, yeah, come in, come in.
You...
Can I get you a Coke or something?
Do you have anything stronger than that?
I don't know. The law says you gotta be 21 to drink.
So?
I always obey the law.
My granddad used to wear suspenders.
So did mine.
So, is Harry Barber your real name...
...or did you make it up?
You don't like it?
No, I love it.
Sounds delicious.
It's just that you don't look like a Harry Barber.
What's a Harry Barber supposed to look like?
I don't know.
I never met one before.
Odette Malroux? What kind of a name is that?
Malroux's French.
Odette's on my mother's side.
She was from New Orleans.
Was?
She drove herself off a cliff in the Pyrenees mountains three years ago.
I'm sorry to hear that.
They never did figure out if she meant to or not.
So Rhea's your stepmother?
I'd hardly call her my stepmother. She's like a big sister.
We're only 14 years apart.
She calls you her stepdaughter.
That's her problem.
So, Odette...
- The reason I wanted you to come here... - You want to know if I'm in on this.
That's a good place to start.
Yes, what?
Yes, I'm gonna pretend to be kidnapped.
Yes, Rhea and I are gonna ask my father for 500 grand.
And, yes, he'll pay it.
Yes, yes, yes.
You mind if I ask what it is you...
...need the money for?
My father wants to send me away to boarding school.
An awful, boring Swiss school run by awful, boring Swiss nuns.
He doesn't like the idea of me being so American.
Tell him you don't want to go.
Why don't you tell him?
Why can't I ever find a match?
Look, I love my father, I really do, but...
...I'm not going away to that school.
I figure 500 grand will get me through till my 18th birthday.
Then I'll be on my own.
You think half a million might last you till you're 18?
You think it's enough?
I don't really know much about money.
Rhea came up with the amount.
So this was her idea?
I thought it up.
Do you like it?
- You ever see the inside of a jail cell? - On TV.
- They make it look pretty on TV. - I'd just say it was all a prank.
The cops won't think it's funny. Neither will I.
You're way too serious, Harry Barber. Lighten up.
- You son of a bitch, you hit me! - Get out of here before I hit you again.
- Get out of here! - No!
I don't play games when I could spend the next 20 years of my life in prison.
The cops will question you till your ears bleed.
- I'm a good liar. - I don't doubt it.
You got me right in the eye.
I'm sorry.
- Did I hurt you? - Yeah, you hurt me!
- Let me kiss it and make it better. - Get off!
I'm saying we need a story. You know, a simple story.
Let's say I meet a girlfriend Saturday night.
Let's say we're gonna have a drink and go to a movie.
Let's say my girlfriend shows up and can't find me...
...because someone grabbed me out of the parking lot.
That's not bad.
Needs work, but it's not bad.
You're losing your hair, Mr. Barber.
- How're you doing? - Oh, just peachy.
You look great. I could gobble you right up.
You invited your sister.
Don't start. Of course I invited my sister.
She's married to a cop, but he's not a cop anymore.
Once a cop always a cop. Hi, Alda.
Hi, Harry.
- Hey, baby sister. - How are you?
How are you?
- Hi, Nina. Nice work. - John. Thanks.
I've got something to tell you.
Did you hear that the Ledger's got a new owner?
I heard.
- Nice guy. We play golf on a regular basis. - So?
So...
...if that part-time marina job gets a little old, let me know.
- I could mention your name. - Don't do me any favors.
Hello, Mr. Barber.
What the hell are you doing here?
I'm just checking my facts.
Well?
I'm in.
Saturday night.
I got everything worked out. The girl knows exactly what to do.
And what do I do?
You make sure your husband...
...finds this...
...Sunday morning in the paper.
It has a lock of Odette's hair and a ransom note.
That and a phone call should convince him this is the real deal.
And then?
Then just try to act like a grief-stricken stepmother.
I'd like a Coca Cola.
Bartender.
This is for the Coke...
All right.
Fuckface, watch it!
- Fuckface? - Look what you did!
- You put a fucking dent in my door. - Look, I'm sorry.
- No, fuck sorry! You can pay for it. - Give me a break.
- I didn't dent your door. - That's 100 bucks to get fixed.
- Let it go. - I won't give you $100, young lady.
- Your deductible's more than that. - This is not good.
- Don't fuck with me, mister! - Don't screw around with me.
Have you lost your mind?
Get the wig.
Now you've done it. Come on.
Come on!
Son of a bitch!
Way to go.
- He hit my car! - So have Daddy buy you another one.
What if some jerk-off dented your door?
I'd ignore it, because now not only are we late, we have a witness.
Don't worry, he didn't see you.
- You can be sure of that. - Don't worry.
I'm worried, okay? I'm worried. I'm very, very worried.
Rhea told me you were gonna get paid $50,000 for this.
So?
You know what I said? "If he's collecting ten times that...
"...what makes you think he won't take all the money and run?"
This lipstick does not go with red hair.
Anyway, she said you wouldn't because you were predictably dishonest.
She said that?
She meant it as a compliment.
Well, Harry Barber, are you predictable?
I used to write for the Palmetto Ledger.
I don't read the newspaper.
Why doesn't that surprise me?
I was covering a none too exciting meeting in the city council...
...I stepped out back to have a smoke...
...and I noticed this brand new car out there. Expensive, foreign...
...the kind your daddy might drive, but unusual in Palmetto.
And then I see another new car.
A big Lincoln. I see another one and another one...
...and pretty soon I notice there's half a dozen shiny new cars...
...all parked in spots reserved for the city council.
What's wrong with shiny new cars?
Nothing, except I discover...
...that they just voted to allow...
...gambling boats to dock at Palmetto.
The zoning commission's in on it, the cops...
It's a big story.
I write it up. I drop it on the editor's desk. Next day I come in...
...and the owner of the paper himself calls me into his office.
I think he's gonna pin a medal on me. Instead, he hands me a box of ashes.
- All my hard work. - Cocksucker.
He tells me, "Harry, I can't print your story.
"Take the money and forget you ever knew what a gambling boat was."
Corruption at City Hall. What a shock.
The shock came when that $10,000 ended up in an account with my name on it.
Instead of a Pulitzer Prize, I end up serving two years of a four-year sentence.
And that did it, huh?
If someone offered you small bills you'd take the money and run.
- Am I right? - You're very intuitive for your age.
All right, tell me what you'll do.
- Not again. - Well, just come on.
I buy a ticket using cash in the name Anne Hardaway.
When I get to Miami, I check into the airport Holiday Inn. Yuck!
And I don't come out of my room until I hear from you.
All right, that's good.
Get going.
You know, Harry Barber...
...you don't look predictable.
But I'm not a very good judge of character.
How's that?
I bet Rhea $100 you wouldn't take the money from her purse.
And you see, I lost.
Why?
Why didn't I pull out right then and there?
I asked myself that question a thousand times.
Still I don't know why.
I understand.
I will pay.
How do you want me to hand you the money?
I'll have it by tomorrow.
Please don't hurt her. You'll get your money.
It's okay.
Thank you.
Well, I hope this...
...suits you a little better.
Oh, it's just perfect.
No, it's good, I mean, it's really good.
Mr. Barber?
Assistant DA Renick would like you to come to the courthouse.
What'd I do?
Nothing that I know, sir.
I mean, am I under arrest, or...?
Not that I know of, sir.
Come on in.
Sorry for the early wake-up call. I wanted to get you in on this as soon as possible.
Let me introduce you to my boss.
Harry Barber, District Attorney Miles Meadows. Boss...
This is Harry Barber.
How are you, Barber?
I'd be better if I knew what I was doing in the DA's office...
...at 9:00 on a Sunday morning.
Ever heard of a man named Felix Malrow?
Malroux.
With an "x", right?
I think it's French or something.
Sorry.
No smoking, public facility.
- It's against the law. - Of course.
Did you ever hear of this guy or what?
Just that he's rich.
He's very rich.
There's no law against that.
I got a call this morning from a banker acquaintance of mine.
Seems this Malroux was especially anxious to get his hands on $500,000...
...in small bills as soon as possible.
So?
Tell him about the girl.
Malrow, Malroux...
...has got a daughter. Very young, 16, 17.
She went to meet a friend last night and never came home.
Maybe she eloped.
She doesn't have a boyfriend.
Well, so maybe this Malroux is a lousy poker player.
Maybe he wants to wallpaper his bathroom.
Harry, Malroux's bodyguard is an ex-cop.
I just spoke to him. He confirmed the girl did not come home last night.
The first sign of trouble was last night.
They received a call from the girlfriend wondering where she was.
This morning, Malroux received a ransom note...
...and a lock of her hair tucked inside the Sunday paper.
There was also a phone call at midnight from someone claiming to have the girl.
That sounds convincing.
You still haven't told me what it is you called me down here for.
Sooner or later the press is gonna get a hold of this.
You know exactly what that means.
We need somebody to handle it, act as the press liaison for the DA's office.
'Course...
...you'll be on the payroll.
You're offering me a job.
So...
...why me?
Renick told me all about you.
Told me what they did to you.
We need somebody like you.
Somebody with integrity. Somebody who's incorruptible.
You know the press, you're one of them.
I don't want this thing to turn ugly, become a circus.
The stakes are too high.
Right. It's an election year.
Look, Harry...
Malroux hasn't come to us yet. That's why we can't act.
At least not officially anyway.
That's why this thing has gotta be handled very carefully.
Once the press gets this, there's no telling what might happen to the girl.
What do you say? Will you do it?
Sure. Glad to help.
Thanks for coming, Harry.
Sure.
Pleasure.
We'll set you up in here. There won't be much to do now, but...
...I got a feeling this is the calm before the storm. Okay?
Thanks.
I owe you one.
Is that gratitude?
Let's say that you and Palmetto are even now, all right?
Hello?
It's me.
Who?
Turn that damn thing down.
Is that you, Harry Barber?
We're calling the whole thing off.
What do you mean off?
I mean, off as in over, kaput, done, finished.
I think you're scared.
You're damn right. The cops know all about this.
Get your ass on a plane and get back here. Understand?
Not until you get me my money.
I'm the one calling the shots around here.
You're just the hired help.
If you don't get me my money I'll do something stupid and adolescent.
I'll call the cops and tell them what you did to me in that bungalow.
Thanks.
Something on your mind, Harry?
The girl.
Odette Malroux?
You guys act like you got the biggest...
...kidnap case since the Lindbergh baby. No offense, but...
...you might be on a wild-goose chase.
Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind.
I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up and announced it was all a big joke.
Oh, I'd like that.
What?
All right.
Our ex-cop.
The girl just phoned her father, said if he didn't pay the ransom...
...she'd be sent home one piece at a time.
Still think this is a joke?
I guess not.
I'm gonna go. I have to get my typewriter. I can't use these computers.
We can dig you up a typewriter around here, no problem.
No, that's okay. I gotta use my own. Call me superstitious.
Sure, go ahead.
- Just stick near a phone, all right? - You got it.
People I was worried would get involved are already involved.
Where can I meet you?
The beach.
Okay, I'll be there in 20 minutes.
What seems to be the problem, Mr. Barber?
How'd you get in here?
Easy.
The door was wide open.
The cops are involved.
- How did that happen? - You tell me.
For starters, that pitbull, Donnelly, is an ex-cop, or didn't you know that?
How would I?
The same way you knew that I'd take that money out of your purse.
You can't believe everything Odette says.
Yeah, speaking of...
...that silly little stepdaughter of yours is taking matters in her own hands.
- She phoned... - Her father, I know.
- How did you know? - How did you know?
You said your husband wouldn't involve the authorities.
- Yeah, well, he isn't. - Somebody has.
Well, it wasn't him.
He's a sick man. He loves his daughter. He's not about to trust the police.
What I don't understand is why the hell he'd trust you.
Get off me!
The money's there.
It's all there. It's at the house.
The president of the bank dropped it off himself.
It's $500,000!
Come on.
Unless you're not up to it.
Maybe we should call the whole thing off.
Fine.
You know, this still could work.
It's gotta be tonight.
I'll set a time and a place.
After I make the pickup, I'll call the house. Make sure that you answer.
If anybody asks, tell them you're going to see Odette.
We meet back here, we can split up the money.
Unless, of course...
...you don't trust me.
I trust you.
Just remember:
Watch what you say.
Donnelly's an ear for the police.
I'll be careful.
What took you so long?
He needed a little encouragement.
How?