(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
¶ ¶
(on tv): Good evening.
I'm winston knight, and this is pm news at 6:00.
Tonight's top story from bogotá, colombia.
A machine gun attack in broad daylight
Has left colombia's chief drug prosecutor dead
And seven others badly injured.
The assassin, riding on the back of a motorcycle,
Fired at point-blank range,
As juan miguel sandino left his office
In the ministry of justice building
In the center of the capitol city.
The others wounded were three bodyguards
And four bystanders.
The gunman escaped in afternoon rush hour traffic.
The attack comes two days after sandino announced the indictment
Of 14 key members of the medellin drug cartel,
Which controls $3 billion in annual cocaine sales.
(popping, sizzling)
(hissing)
(popping)
(water bubbling and gurgling)
(hissing, gurgling)
(deep growling)
Now, do you understand everything that I've told you?
(distant siren wailing) good.
Very good.
I want you to take this--
This is the phone number for my direct line.
I want you to call me precisely at 11:28.
Do you understand?
Good.
Very, very good.
Now, hands.
There you are.
You must project the right image.
That's the secret of success, you know.
(phone ringing in distance)
(blade sliding)
(giggling)
Look, we don't have to eat hot dogs.
We can go to a restaurant.
I do make some money at the store, you know.
I like simple things.
That's why I like you, right?
Come on.
Do you, uh, do you pick up every girl
That comes into your shop? No.
I've never done this before in my life.
Honest!
No girl's ever come into the store!
Cut it out. Cut it now?
Here we go. Ooh! Ooh-ooh!
Ah, ah, ah! Ooh-- come on, come on, let me see.
Do you think the killer will call again tonight?
I don't know, marlene.
I just don't know.
People are afraid to go to their houses at night.
He's up to what, eight killings?
Nine.
These really aren't bad for a buck.
Hey, you're getting mustard all over it.
Will you look at that smile.
Have you ever seen such a cute smile?
Yours isn't bad, either.
(laughs)
Don't you take anything seriously?
Yeah.
Some things.
¶ ¶
Who is it?
Who's there?
(sighs)
Oh... My!
(laughing): Is it really you?
Thank you for a lovely time.
I had a great time, too.
Say, it's only 11:15.
You, uh, mind if I come in?
I have to get up early.
Next time.
(both chuckle)
I am such a klutz!
(siren wailing in distance)
I think you're just fine.
(sighs)
You can keep that.
No, no, you should have this.
I have an idea.
Good night, ryan.
Good night.
(bell tolling in distance)
(laughing)
I just cannot believe
It's really you walking me home.
My friends will just not believe it!
(blade scrapes)
(gasps)
(dogs barking in distance)
Woman: No! Aah!
(screaming)
Hey!
(gasping)
(groans)
...Making this the most intensive manhunt
In the city's history.
Hundreds of calls are coming in every day,
And police say they are following up each tip,
But they admit they have no solid leads.
Chief mckinnon says, however,
That he is confident the killer will be caught
In a matter of days.
He urged all citizens to take extreme care
If they must go out at night alone.
(phone rings)
Hello.
Winston knight?
Yes.
Check the alley between lamont and grand.
Look, whoever you are, why don't you tell me about it?
You'll trace the call.
Don't hang up.
(dial tone)
Anyone who thinks
They know anything at all
That could lead to the arrest of the man
Whose voice you've just heard, please,
Call detective sergeant duncan at homicide.
I would like to say that,
If there is anything that kbla
Or myself can do to help police find the machete killer,
And put an end to these brutal, senseless murders,
It will be done.
For pm news, this is winston knight.
Good evening.
I hate to say this,
But I can't wait to see the overnights.
Why this nut would choose you to pour
His heart out to beats me.
But thank god he did, because you were
On your way to the ash heap, old boy.
So you keep telling me, phil.
But you got a reprieve.
Our ratings have shot up like a fourth of July rocket.
We couldn't have done better
If we'd planned it ourselves.
No, I guess not.
Hey, how about a drink?
I'm buying.
Sure, phil, sure.
I'll be right along.
Okay?
(moaning)
Man: Let me get this straight.
Now you say the killing took place
Around a quarter after 11:00?
Yeah, that's right.
Well, how can you be sure of that?
Well, I looked at my watch.
I was gonna come in
Uh, have some tea.
But cathy's got to work in the morning.
I looked at my watch.
I see.
And the man you saw looked like winston knight.
No, not like him, um, it was him.
Well, how do you explain the fact the station confirms
That knight was on the air
From 11:00 to 11:30?
(sighing): I can't.
What's more, the killer you saw called him on the air
At 11:28 sharp, after the killing.
What do you want me to say?
Maybe he's got a twin brother or something.
The light was pretty dim in that alley, wasn't it?
Look, you wanted to know what I saw, that's what I saw.
The first eyewitness to see the machete killer,
And this is what I come up with.
I know it sounds crazy.
Crazy's not the word for it.
Well, why don't you call him, ask him,
See if the killer said anything
About him looking like winston knight.
(keypad tones beeping)
Ross.
Yeah, you got winston knight's home phone number handy?
Mm-hmm.
Okay, great, thanks.
(sighs)
(phone ringing)
Yes?
Duncan: Uh, mr. Knight, this is
Detective sergeant duncan, homicide.
Yeah, sorry to disturb you at this time of night,
But, uh, we had an eyewitness to the killing tonight.
You did?
Yes.
How fortunate.
That's our first big break in the case, isn't it?
Who was it?
I'd rather not say.
Sergeant, no one has been more closely involved
In this case than myself, is that right?
Off the record?
Yes, of course.
Young man named ryan dalian.
Look, I know this is gonna sound bizarre,
But is there anything the killer said
That indicates he might look like you?
Is that what he said?
Yeah, swears the guy
Could be your twin brother.
(anxious laugh)
Well, you can assure him, sergeant,
That I only have a sister.
Okay, sorry to bother you.
Not at all.
Uh, thanks for all your help.
Um... Any other thoughts come to mind,
You know where to find me.
You don't believe me, do you?
Would you?
(door closes)
Sorry to drag you into all this.
It's all right.
It's not your fault.
Call me later?
(sirens wailing in distance)
I'm sorry about waking you guys up.
What makes you think you did?
Look, I know it was him.
He was this close.
Ryan, I hate to tell you this,
But I watched the 11:00 news this evening,
And I saw winston knight.
The killer called in
While he was on the air.
Well, if it wasn't him, then who was it?
Isn't that a question best left for the police?
Micki: It could have been anybody wearing a mask,
Or somebody who looks like him.
Who knows?
There has to be an explanation.
I know what you're thinking.
Ryan: Well, have we checked
The manifest? Maybe...
Don't you think, ryan, that if I'd seen winston knight's name
In the manifest I would have remembered him?
Besides, what kind of a cursed object could it possibly be?
Well, I'm going back to bed.
You have had a hard day.
Jack, are you coming?
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Yeah, in a minute.
(dog barking in distance)
So that would make it the biggest snowfall
So far this year, huh?
Well, we better all be careful.
And summing up tonight's top story,
The machete killer has claimed another victim.
Several witnesses have identified the killer
As ryan dalian.
(echoing): No!
(gasping)
(roaring)
(screaming)
(gasps)
(gasping rapidly)
Ryan, have you seen jack?
No. He's been gone all day.
You're going for a bank loan, I see.
Mm-mm. Going to see winston knight.
Ryan, I thought you were gonna let the police handle that.
I know, I know-- I just can't get him out of my head,
So I called him this morning.
I figured since I was the only witness,
I could maybe help him out.
You gonna meet him at his studio?
No, his place around 5:00.
Well, I'd go with you, but someone's got to mind the store.
Oh, that's all right; cathy's coming along.
She's a big fan of his, you know.
I think she just wants to be with you.
What can I say?
She's crazy about me.
(liquid roiling)
(loud popping)
Welcome.
You look fine.
You look just fine.
(car doors closing)
Damn, he's early.
Come into the darkroom.
(doorbell rings)
Hi. My name is ryan dalian.
Ah, yes, I'm pleased to meet you.
And this is my friend, cathy steiner.
How do you do?
Mm! I'm delighted to meet you.
(chuckles)
Please.
Won't you sit down, make yourselves comfortable?
I'm a big fan of yours.
Please, don't make me into a celebrity.
I'm just a working reporter.
Would either of you like a drink?
Uh, no, I think we're fine.
I'm glad that you called me this morning, ryan,
Because if you hadn't,
I probably would have called you.
Why?
Because you and I belong to quite a select club,
Which no one wants to join.
Unlike you, of course,
I've only dealt with this murderer via the telephone.
You've actually seen him up close.
I was thinking maybe you and I could work together.
Maybe you could help me catch him.
Make a hell of a story, ryan.
I'd give you full credit, of course.
Is something wrong?
Uh, no, no.
I just can't get over how much you look like him.
It's incredible.
Yes.
Detective duncan told me what you said.
Uh, this has taken a terrible toll on me,
I must tell you.
Having to listen to this sadistic murderer's ramblings,
Waiting for the next murder to occur.
I can't sleep at night.
Every time I try to, I have these dreadful nightmares.
I understand.
Every time the phone rings, I get sick.
I keep asking myself, "why me?"
Why am I the only one?
Of course, until you.
But because of you, ryan,
I'm beginning to understand some of it.
Obviously, this murderer has
Some fixation--
An obsession, if you will-- with my television image,
Probably based on some actual resemblance, but...
Maybe he resorted to makeup,
Possibly even to
Plastic surgery to look more like me.
Cathy: But if there's someone else
Running around who looks just like you,
Why can't the police find him?
Winston: If he's clever enough to fool you,
Don't you think he's clever enough to fool the police?
I'm sorry.
I'd love to speak with you more about this,
But you know how it is in this business.
There's always a deadline.
Could we possibly continue this later?
Some other time?
Sure. Anytime.
Thank you. Mm.
Thank you.
It was nice to meet you.
The pleasure has been all mine.
Good night.
So that was the famous winston knight.
I think he's kind of neat.
Yeah? I thought he was kind of weird.
Are you jealous?
Jealous? No.
It's that face; I can't get it out of my head.
It was him.
(sighs)
Come on.
I'll give you a ride home.
No, I have some shopping to do.
Besides, I need the exercise.
It's not far.
I'll talk to you later.
Thanks for letting me tag along.
It was exciting.
Mm.
I could think of some other exciting things to do.
Uh-huh.
Home.
(sighs)
(door shuts, car starts)
Oh, damn it, my purse.
(siren wails in distance)
(sighs)
Winston: I don't want any more witnesses.
Do you understand?
I don't need anybody corroborating
That kid's story.
Why must you always destroy me?
Because that's the way it is.
It's either you or me.
Now, you've got five hours to exist.
You know what you have to do.
Enjoy yourself.
¶ ¶
(screams)
Taxi!
Good evening.
I'm winston knight and this is pm news at 6:00.
Tonight's top story from city hall.
Council spent more than six hours today
In a raucous debate over...
So what did you think of the great winston knight?
Well, cathy was impressed.
He talked sense, he exuded confidence--
He was everything he seems to be on television.
Only...?
Only I, I don't know, he, um--
There was something creepy about him.
Like what?
Well, he, he, he...
Wouldn't answer my questions.
Every time I asked him one, he'd just blow it off.
Well, he's a reporter, remember?
He's not supposed to answer the questions.
He asks them.
Well, what have you two been up to?
Obviously, not as much as you. (laughs)
So where have you been all day?
Prospecting, and I think I struck pay dirt.
Anyway-- that talk we had last night,
It got me thinking.
I couldn't sleep anyway.
I got the manifest out and I made a list of all the objects
That could possibly make a copy of someone--
You know, things like, uh, mirrors, uh, prisms, paintings,
All that sort of thing--
And I came up with... A camera.
A picture.
Sure.
And it was sold to a guy named kahn?
Yeah, but who's kahn?
A better question would be: What is kahn?
Come on, you two.
Where's your deductive reasoning?
Kahn.
No first name,
No address.
So what are you saying?
I couldn't figure it out myself
At first, for a while anyway.
I wrote it down eight different ways.
Then it dawned on me.
It's not kahn.
¶ it's k-a-h-n. ¶
Of course, the call letters of a television station.
Right, let's go.
(keypad tones beeping)
(ringing)
Answer, damn it, please answer.
Ryan: Hi, this is ryan.
Hello, ryan, this is cathy.
We're out right now, but if you leave a message,
We'll call you when we get back.
(machine beeps)
Ryan, it's cathy.
I went back to knight's house, and you were right.
There are two winston knights and one of them had a machete.
(sighing): Th-they were arguing.
O-one of them said, um, "why must you always destroy me?"
And the other said, "it's either you or me."
Ryan, they saw me.
I'm scared.
Gunboats opened fire on two more oil tankers.
Panamanian registered freighter the assad haj
Was hit by three missiles.
It is on fire and listing badly.
How... How did you?
(panting)
No!
(screaming)
Oh, no!
No, no!
(thudding)
...While the city waits in helpless terror
For the machete killer to strike again.
In this reporter's opinion,
Much stronger measures could be taken.
(door bells jangle, door closes)
Well, it's starting to come together, ryan.
Winston knight was certainly employed by kahn...
(answering machine tape rewinding)
...Exactly at the time the camera was sold
By uncle lewis.
And he could have easily stolen it.
Yes, he could.
Cathy (over machine): Ryan, it's cathy.
I went back to knight's house, and you were right.
There are two winston knights and one of them had a machete.
(sighing): Th-they were arguing.
O-one of them said, um, "why must you always destroy me?"
And the other said, "it's either you or me."
Ryan, they saw me.
I'm scared.
Cathy...
Ryan!
Micki, stay here.
I'll go with him.
(indistinct radio communication, siren wailing)
Oh, my god.
(sobbing): N-no.
Take it easy on yourself.
I'm sorry.
The coroner's office said she died a little after 6:00.
I'm going to need a statement.
That's going to have to wait.
Look, I...
Come on, ryan.
Can't do any more good here.
Come on.
(sobbing)
(sobbing): It's... Oh, it's my fault.
It's him! I know it's him!
I should have never let her come alone.
Get ahold of yourself, ryan, it's not your fault.
There's no way in the world you could have known.
I'm gonna tell them it's knight.
It's knight! You're not going to tell anybody anything.
Look, knight has got a perfect alibi.
Damn it, he was on the air.
It's like always, ryan.
We're on our own.
Come on, my friend.
(ryan coughs)
(sobbing)
(car engine starts)
(door bells jingle)
(door opens)
(door bell jingle, door closes)
Look, just concentrate on one thing.
We've got to get that camera
And every negative he made with it.
What happened?
I'm going to get him.
I'm gonna get him! Ryan!
Oh, you killed her! I know you did!
Now, son, I don't know what you're talking about.
No. Security, security!
No, no, no, no, no, I've got it all on tape.
Cathy called me before she died.
You want to hear it? Hmm?
It's all about the duplicate.
The one that kills people? You're crazy.
Look, if you don't leave me alone,
I'm gonna have you arrested.
I'm crazy? I'm crazy?!
Give me that.
Get him! Get him!
Stop that kid! Hey, you!
(all yelling)
(grunting)
Get him! Get back here!
Get him, get him!
Pull the car open.
Get him... Give me that.
(car starts)
Stop it. Stop it.
Open this door right now.
(tires screeching)
I've got the negative!
The negative!
He was trying to burn it.
Ah, yes, the negative.
That's how he destroys the duplicate.
What are you saying?
Jack: I've been doing some research
Into the use of images in the occult.
The duplicate only has a limited life
Of about five hours.
If the negative isn't burnt before then...
Then the original dies.
You remember wha-what cathy was saying?
It's between knight and the duplicate.
If the duplicate lives too long, knight dies.
Which means if he doesn't have the negative...
I've got knight's life in my hands.
But the duplicate, with his machete,
Is still alive.
(brakes squealing) hey, watch it.
You trying to kill yourself?
(tires squealing)
No.
I want to live.
Micki: Ryan, you have to destroy it.
Jack: Wait-- no, no, no.
Not yet.
If we can hold on to that negative,
We can blackmail knight into giving us back the camera.
After all, it's his life, isn't it?
Ryan, let me have it.
No!
I don't care about the damn camera!
I've got knight's life right here in my hands.
I'm gonna see that he goes to hell with uncle lewis.
That won't bring cathy back.
Knight is the only person who knows where that camera is.
Don't you see it could fall into somebody else's hands?
Then the killing could go on and on.
Damn it, is that what you want?
Call him.
(doorbell rings)
Come in. Come in.
The negative, marshak-- where is it?
Now, you don't really think that I'm that stupid, do you?
My associates have the negative.
They'll destroy it the minute I come back, with the camera.
Then we don't have much time.
Uh-uh.
This way.
(groans)
(camera shutter clicks)
(jack groaning)
Oh!
(panting)
Now, you understand what you're to do, my friend?
Here.
You will give them this camera,
And then they will give you the negative,
Which you will then destroy.
Yes?
And then...
You'll destroy them.
Do you understand me?
Good.
Very good.
(inhales, exhales)
Go! Go! Go! Go, my friend.
I wouldn't struggle too hard to escape, mr. Marshak.
You see, you wouldn't receive a very warm welcome
When you return to the outside world
In any case.
Without moving an inch,
You're going to commit two murders.
And then, you're going to confess on live television
To being the machete murderer.
You seriously think you can get away with that?
I've gotten away with it so far.
What makes you think that things are going to change?
Oh! (grunts)
Oh, mr. Marshak, I've thought about this.
I've planned it to every detail.
You see, we're going to let your dupe
Live just long enough for you to die,
And then we're going to kill it
For being the machete murderer.
It's simple, don't you think?
But very elegant.
I think I smell a pulitzer prize.
Well, I'm sorry, but I really must be going.
I don't want to miss your capture,
Your confession.
Oh... This is going to be my finest hour.
Hello, phil? Winston.
Listen, I'm going to need you and a crew to meet me
At a small shop called curious goods.
Phil, just do it!
This is going to be the biggest story of our lives, phil--
The capture of the machete murderer.
(door squeaking)
(grunts)
Ryan, please, will you stop that?
You're driving me crazy.
I can't get it out of my head.
Knight's going to get away with murder.
Let's just wait for jack to get back with the camera,
Then we'll deal with knight.
Geez! You scared the hell out of me.
The camera!
Where's the negative?
I'll put this in the vault.
Jack, we've got the camera and the negative.
We don't have to destroy it.
I want the negative.
All right.
(thunder rumbling)
(thunder crashing in distance)
Hi, phil, dex.
What's this about the machete murderer?
It's a station manager's dream, phil.
The machete murderer is about to surrender to winston knight,
And we're going to get it all on tape.
Phil: Hey, don't kid a neurotic.
He's going to come out
Of that store a few minutes before 10:00, so just be ready.
The killer's in there? That's right.
Well, winston, we got to call the cops!
Are you crazy, phil?
Do you want to spoil the biggest moment of our careers?
Well, what, uh... What about the people in the shop? They...
Do you want this story or not, phil?
Jack, if we just hold on to the negative
For just a few more minutes.
Get it.
Okay. What's the matter with you, jack?
You're acting awful strange.
Good thing you didn't break that camera
On the way home.
It's our only chance to get the negative.
I was extra careful.
(grunting)
What's going on?!
It's not jack! It's a dupe!
He didn't know cursed objects can't break!
(blade scraping)
(door opening)
Give me that!
Phil, can you get them moving, please?
We're running out of time. I want to get some...
Give me the microphone. Give me the microphone!
Come on. Come on.
Right here.
Get the... Get the store in the background.
Have you... Have you got me?
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
This is winston knight, standing outside a store known
As curious goods, just moments away
From the capture of the notorious machete murderer.
(grunting)
Micki: Oh!
(blade whipping, clanking)
Oh! (body thuds)
As you know, this is a story that I have been following
Personally for quite some time now.
Oh!
Dupe winston: Turn around
Very slowly.
Wait. Wait...
(anxious gasping)
Give it to him.
Here it is.
(gasping)
(grunts)
Ugh!
Come on!
(blade whips)
...Tip earlier this evening
At kbla studios that the machete mur...
(groaning, grunting)
We've been keeping vigil ever since that time. Uh...
Uh, two people have managed to escape
From the building. We didn't know
That anyone was inside.
Cut the cam... Cut... Cut the camera!
Take those mics... Keep rolling!
Winston: What are you...? Give me that!
Woman: What's happening?
Winston: Give me that negative!
He's coming this way. He's coming this way.
This... This is my triumph!
This is where
I capture the machete murderer!
Give me that negative!
(gasps)
Woman: Look, he's gone!
(thunder crashes)
Man: Grab the knife.
Watch. He's got the knife...
(groaning)
I'm alive!
(groaning and gasping)
(gasps)
(groans)
(siren wailing in distance)
(thunder crashes)
How's ryan?
Oh, getting by, I guess.
He's really depressed.
Well, that figures, doesn't it?
Jack... Hmm?
How do you suppose knight first learned about the curse?
I... Would guess that uncle lewis told him.
I wonder what would've happened
If that duplicate had lived.
(shudders)
I suppose he would have behaved much the same
As, uh, knight did,
Using the camera to make an endless parade
Of mindless killers.
Oh... Well, thank goodness that camera's locked up.
Mm.
Now all we have to do is worry about ryan.
Ryan, how are you doing?
Hmm. You know, I just realized something:
It isn't the objects that are cursed, we are.
What?
Everyone that comes near us
Dies.
Oh... Micki: Ryan...
You didn't kill cathy.
Winston knight did.
And nine others before her!
Thanks to you,
There won't be any more.
There always is a lot of terrible risks
In fighting pure evil.
Think of the consequences if we didn't fight it.
Micki, uh, give me a hand
Making supper, would you?
(cathy's laugh echoing)
Ryan: Look, we don't haveto eat hot dogs.
We can go to a restaurant.
I do make some money at the store, you know.
Cathy: I like simple things.
Ryan: That's why I like you.
Cathy: Come on...