(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
(murmuring)
Trouble you for a light?
Sure thing.
Ooh, that's some conversation piece.
Yeah, rich uncle gave it to me.
I never even smoked it before.
Hmm.
I guess they do work better
If you put tobacco in them, don't they?
You know, I've been to hundreds
Of these-these seminars here.
This is my first time. Oh, yeah?
Hoping to get rich, young man?
Well, this might be your lucky day.
"notions and proposals."
That's me.
Oh, mind you, I'm not just an idea man.
I'm what they call a conduit.
What's a conduit do?
Well, for the last few years,
I've been looking for an unsung genius,
That raw young talent that I can really help.
You don't think men like edison,
Alexander graham bell,
That they made it on their own, do you?
They had promoters, men behind the scenes,
Movers and shakers who connected them to the money.
Conduits.
I noticed you.
You didn't say a word during the seminar,
But you've got that gleam in your eye
That tells me you're sitting on the golden egg
That's just about to hatch-- am I right?
Come on, be honest.
Well...
I am working on something.
I was trying to get my nerve up.
I haven't shown it to anybody yet.
I knew it!
Well, young man,
You'll never know if it's any good
Until you do.
Would you like to, um...
Would you like to talk about it?
And this is a lightweight laser sight,
Fully self-contained.
It controls what you might call
A miniaturized guided missile.
Accuracy?
100% at half a mile.
What's the impact?
Explodes on contact.
It's powered by highly compressed gas.
The canister clips on in back and... Yes,
And then feeds through here.
I've worked in armaments-- I know.
But I've never seen anything like this.
This-this-this is years ahead of its time.
Thanks.
Thanks, nothing.
I've been looking for this
All of my life.
I think I know just what to do.
What do you mean?
Some kind of a partnership.
Yeah?
What I have in mind...
You and I... Hey, what are you doing?
(coughs) hey.
(coughing)
Hey!
(coughing)
(gagging) (glass shattering)
(electrical crackling) (screaming)
(gunshot)
Lights!
Well, you said I'd be impressed.
It's a real barn burner, ray.
Now, my firm runs a little different than most.
There's no board of directors at the top.
There's only me.
When I say yes, it's yes.
As of today, you're on the payroll,
And this little sweetheart
Takes top manufacturing priority.
Thank you, mr. Clemens.
Man: Mr. Clemens, what about the xb-22?
It's already slated for production.
Johnnie, johnnie, I wouldn't be a good boss
Or a good friend if I wasn't honest.
The xb is a good weapon,
And your talent's appreciated.
But this one is better, isn't it?
Yes, it is,
But we're way past the prototype stage.
Mr. Clemens,
I can't tell you how happy you've made me, sir.
Good work, ray.
Good work.
Well...
Congratulations, ray.
Quite a coup you pulled off here today.
It's just the beginning.
(chuckling)
(siren wailing)
(dog barking)
(audience clapping on tv)
Man (on tv): Thank you, and welcome to guess what.
Uh, I'm your host...
Ray: Special delivery for a very beautiful lady!
Oh, my god! (laughs)
What is this?
You... Have you spent the rent money?
Forget about the rent money.
These are for you.
Ray, what are you up to?
Connie, sometimes a man's life
Can turn around in one second.
Here, let me have these.
Look at you, look at you.
Ask me if I like what you're wearing.
What do you mean?
It's-it's your old sweater.
I know, but ask me if I like it.
You like what I'm wearing?
I hate it!
And I hate this stupid apartment.
You deserve so much better.
And, baby, you're going to get it.
Do you hear me?
You're going to get it!
Connie...
(chimes tinkling)
Micki: Ryan!
Oh, there you are.
Anything happen while I was out?
Yeah.
Jack went to sleep.
No, excitement!
(giggles)
Here, it's a letter, just came for you.
Oh, no.
What is it?
It's a wedding invitation.
My dad's getting married again.
Great!
Ryan?
For as long as I've known you,
You haven't received so much as a-a phone call
Or a card from him.
Now this, and you're just going to ignore it?
Yep, that's right.
Your father's getting married!
Let's just drop it, okay?
Not unless I get a reasonable explanation.
Let's just say I don't get along with him.
I haven't talked to him in years. Why not?
I-I guess I'm a disappointment to him.
I always tried to be what he wanted,
And I just got tired of it.
I quit school and ran as far away from him as I could.
Well, maybe he's mellowed.
I mean, he's starting a new life.
You don't know him.
Ryan, as long as you keep running,
He still rules you.
Maybe it's time to make peace.
Look, you'll never know unless you try.
Besides, you could probably use a vacation,
And it's only four or five hours by car.
(sighs)
I don't know.
Looks to me like you want to.
Okay.
All right-- only under one condition.
Anything.
The invitation says I can bring a guest.
This can't be the right place.
My father's never had two dimes to rub together.
Ryan, it's the address on the card.
(sighs)
I don't get it.
Well, you'll never know
Unless you ring the doorbell.
(sighs)
(doorbell rings)
This is a mistake.
(door opening)
Hi, dad.
Ryan...
What are you doing here?
You, uh, you sent us an invitation.
I what?
He didn't; I did.
Come in.
Don't just stand out there in the cold.
I-I'm connie.
This is, uh, micki, cousin catherine's daughter.
She, uh, helps me out down at the store.
Oh, you're both welcome.
Ray: Connie,
Why didn't you tell me about this?
Ray, we are getting married.
I thought it was high time
You two buried the hatchet.
Now,
Don't you have anything to say to your son?
Nice place you've got here.
Life's coming up roses for us.
Ray, why don't you take ryan
Over to the factory?
Show him around.
He doesn't want to see a factory.
He just got here!
No, no, I'd-I'd like to see it.
For me, huh?
Hmm?
Okay, all right.
Why don't you take the bags up first?
Okay.
They'll be fine.
Looks that way.
Well, I'm getting married tomorrow night.
(laughs)
And I've got a million things to do first.
Uh, I hope you don't mind being worked to death.
What are vacations for?
Come and see the house first.
We just bought it.
Actually, the hardest part was coming up
With the laser-homing guidance system.
Once I solved that problem, the rest was easy.
It was just a matter of getting it
To the right people.
This thing sells itself.
Now, I got one more day!
After tomorrow's demonstration
For the buyers, I'm home free.
Mixing business with pleasure, huh?
Having the wedding right after the demonstration?
Look, this isn't playtime, son!
Everything I've got is riding
On this demonstration!
Everything!
It's not in the bag yet.
A man in my position always has enemies.
Enemies?
Little fish... Don't like big fish
Coming in from the outside
And gobbling up all the fish food.
There's people in this place would like to slice me up
And serve me on a plate.
John: Ray, I've been meaning to talk to you.
Speaking of which.
Are you going to be around for a while?
I'd like a word with you.
Do I know you? I'm his son, ryan.
(phone ringing)
Ah.
I'll catch up to you.
Who was that guy?
John york.
Jealous little man.
Probably from a long line of jealous little men.
That stuff starts in childhood.
A boy needs someone to look up to.
Somebody to pattern himself after.
Now, my father
Died the day I was born.
I never knew him.
But that doesn't mean that I didn't have anyone.
I had lewis vendredi.
Uncle lewis?
You never told me that.
That was sort of between us while he was alive.
Now there was a man with will and knowledge.
When I was four years old,
And I tripped over a rusty can and fell,
The-the lid was bent up and caught me right under here.
I ran up to him--
Howling, blood just running down.
Lewis put something right there,
And the cut went away,
Like it had never been there.
The blood just disappeared, like magic.
Lewis was always dirt poor,
Just lived hand-to-mouth,
But I loved him.
Well, one day,
He struck it rich overnight.
How that little store could make such a bundle,
I'll never understand.
But I do know this.
If my uncle lewis could do it,
I can do it.
(door squeaks)
(vacuum whooshing)
Oh, could you put those up
In the top of that closet, please?
Okay.
Thanks.
(vacuum whining off)
I hope that wasn't your china.
No, no, not to worry.
What's this?
That's ray's old photo album.
Oh.
Hey, there's pictures of ryan in here.
Huh.
That's ray
When he was a little boy.
(laughing) isn't he cute?!
Who's that with him?
That's his uncle lewis.
Lewis vendredi?
Uh-huh.
You know, he was the only person
Who ever gave ray a christmas present
When he was a little boy.
Connie, did lewis give him anything in later years?
No.
Oh, an old pipe.
Ray calls it his good luck charm.
This is just the beginning.
We've got all kinds of toys in the shop--
Nerve gases, stun guns.
We've got a pneumatic hypo
That can render a man unconscious
In two seconds.
And last but not least--
My little beauty--
A laser-homing
Explosive launcher.
Clip.
(high-pitched mechanical humming)
(explosion)
Just point the laser at the target,
Pull the trigger, and zap, you kill a man.
English, french, chinese-- it doesn't care.
I can't believe this came out of your head.
Why not? Don't you think I've got what it takes?
No. I'm just surprised, that's all.
Ryan, look at this.
Look at this.
This is solid.
This is real.
If this demonstration tomorrow goes the way
I think it'll go,
This will make me a rich man.
Go on, son, hold it.
No, no, I don't want to.
Come on.
No!
Oh, that's right. I forgot.
You're the artistic type.
Dad. Have you ever taken
A stand on anything in your life?
Can we not get into this?
You drop out of college to play shopkeeper.
Why uncle lewis left that place to you I'll never understand!
Is there a point to this?
Yes! You're not a kid anymore! You're a man!
You've got to do something important with your life!
Ryan...
Don't go back.
Stay here with me.
I can get you a great job.
I've got a job and a life.
What life?
You don't have a life! You're going nowhere.
If uncle lewis were here, he'd tell you the same thing.
Uncle lewis made a deal with the devil!
That's where he got all his money.
I've been running all over hell
Trying to retrieve his cursed antiques.
Trying to undo some of the damage.
So don't give me uncle lewis!
What the hell are you talking about?
Forget it. Just...
Just forget it, all right?
John: Ray,
I've got to see you.
It can wait.
John: It can't wait.
I'll be in my lab now.
Ryan, let's not leave it like this.
I'll be back.
You got five minutes, york.
I need your signature on this.
(rhythmic beeping)
What is this?
It assigns all the rights of your weapon to me.
You're going to sign this, and then fade away.
You've really gone nuts.
Yeah, I thought you might feel like that,
So I prepared a little folio for you here.
Take a look at this.
It'll be worth it to you.
Thought that might interest you.
The weapon was invented a long time
Before you came to us, ray.
And keith fielding is the name of the inventor.
There's a patent application that was never filed,
And fielding's name is on that, too.
It looks like you stole the gun, ray.
You can't prove that.
You can avoid a lot of embarrassment
If you just sign this,
And then get the hell out of here!
Oh, by the way, I've, uh...
I've got someone I'd like you to meet.
(rhythmic beeping)
Will you step in here for a moment, please?
Who-who are you?
I'm nathan fielding.
Nathan's the brother of the man
Who designed this weapon.
His brother seems to have disappeared.
I've searched every place for him--
Every company he's ever dealt with--
And I'm getting nowhere.
We're sorry about that.
If we hear anything at all, we'll contact you.
Do you mind if we, uh,
Hang on to these copies?
Oh, not at all, if it'll help.
Thank you.
Uh, mr. Dallion just wanted
To meet you for a moment.
Thank you very much.
I'll, uh... I'll just leave you with these.
Don't rush your decision.
Just don't be here when I get back.
(wind howling)
(coughing)
Help me!
(coughing)
(shouting): Help me!
(coughing)
Too late now, johnnie.
(screaming)
Too late.
(screaming)
Help!
(agonized groaning)
(screaming)
Help! Help!
Ryan!
Ryan, there's a man on fire!
Help me!
Micki: Uh, he's-he's gone!
Who's gone?
Micki, what the hell's going on?
There was a man and he was covered with smoke...
Okay, okay, okay.
Take a breath. Ease it down.
What are you doing here?
Nothing, dad. Micki just had a scare.
Why? What did you see?
What did you see?!
Hey, hey, take it easy.
Sorry. It was nothing.
I-I didn't see anything.
I got confused looking for ryan.
My imagination got the better of me.
I've got to get out of here.
¶ ¶
(keys jangle)
(handle rattles)
(knocking)
Come in.
Hi.
Ryan... I have to know more about your father.
I come back here, I feel like a kid again.
Always trying to please him,
Wanting to be what he wants me to be.
I just...
I just wish for once he'd look at me
For who I am and be proud of me, you know?
Success is a big thing with him,
Isn't it?
It's the only thing in his life.
Eh... A lot of people are like that.
Always looking for that one, big score.
It got worse after my brother died.
He... Started dragging mom and me from town to town,
From one grungy apartment to another.
If we'd just stayed in one place...
But, uh, he always had this, um...
Hunger about him.
Ambition. Ambition, I guess.
It's... Ambition can be a terrible thing.
Ryan, I just can't forget what I saw.
There was smoke, and the man was screaming.
(laughs)
It could be a practical joke.
It could be anything.
We were in a weapons factory.
It, uh, it could have been an accident.
Yeah, but what about the pipe?
Connie told me that lewis gave your father a pipe.
What about a pipe? You're talking about a pipe
That we don't know anything about.
And if there is a pipe
Is it an antique?
Did uncle lewis give it to him
Before he made the pact with the devil?
I mean, for all we know he got it from a smoke shop. Right?
Ryan, you're not even trying to...
You're talking about a pipe that you have never seen.
And if there is a pipe, he's not using it.
No way! Ryan...
Why would my father use a cursed object?
Just be... Just because he knew uncle lewis?
I mean, that's no reason to condemn him.
Give him a break, huh?
I mean, he's got, he's got a wedding,
And-and a demonstration coming up tomorrow.
I mean, he's under a lot of pressure.
Okay?
Okay.
I don't want them here!
I want them to go!
Ray, you're not making any sense. Why?
Ryan seems like a real fine young man.
Damn you. I am 54 years old!
I have worked for tomorrow all of my life!
If I blow this demonstration,
I'll be right back where I was before!
I can't divide my attention between my work
And you and ryan.
Can't you ever see my side?!
Oh, my...
(cries)
Oh, my god. Connie!
Oh, connie, I'm sorry, honey!
Please! Please, connie!
Connie, I didn't mean it!
I didn't mean it, honey! Please!
(crying)
I always thought that...
Having your dream come true would make you happy.
It hasn't.
You've changed.
You're, you're sullen and you're angry.
Honey, we'll be all right.
After tomorrow, we'll be fine, honey.
You see, the-the pressure will be off.
It's just the pressure, honey.
Connie... Connie.
Oh... Connie!
(whispers): Hello, jack.
Yes. Yes, yes, we're fine.
But, listen, something doesn't feel right.
Do you know anything about a pipe?
Connie: Give me a hand with this.
You take that end.
Oh, god!
Only five hours till my wedding.
I can't believe it.
And an hour until the demonstration.
We're a family that likes stress.
Looking for something?
Oh, um, yes.
Linen napkins.
Napkins are in the kitchen.
Thank you.
(doorbell rings)
I'll get it.
Jack, what are you doing here?
Ryan, my boy. Surprise, surprise!
It was, uh, kind of slow down at the store.
I began to think, "hey, I could use a vacation, too."
Micki! Jack.
Besides I wanted to see the old block
That this chip came off.
What's this, now? Dad, dad,
I want you meet jack marshak, a friend of uncle lewis'.
He, uh, helps us out at the store.
A friend of lewis'?
And of your son.
Though he's more than a friend.
I owe my life to him.
And this must be the bride.
I-I really didn't mean to party-crash.
Uh, I'm afraid my, uh,
Curiosity got the better of me
Is what it was.
Can you put up party streamers?
My dear, it's my one true calling.
Then here. Oh.
Does that mean that I can stay?
Oh, just try to escape.
I do have one question.
How do I get my coat off?
Ah. Sorry.
Jack: Micki.
Oh, jack, am I glad you're here.
Look, I've been doing some checking
Based on what you told me.
The manifest lists an 18th century pipe.
And although lewis did receive it,
It was never listed as sold.
He could have given it away as a present.
Jack, you realize what that means?
And all it could mean.
First order of business is to find that pipe.
Yeah, but what are we going to tell ryan?
No-no-no, nothing. Not yet.
Look, the man is his father.
I think we better keep him out of it
Until we're absolutely sure, hmm?
Hey, you never could do this.
Dad, dad, I can tie my own tie.
I doubt it. Ryan!
I want to know why you're here.
Because connie invited me, and I wanted to see you.
Don't give me that. It's true.
I thought things would be different.
Look, dad, I don't want a thing from you.
At least nothing you can buy.
Look, I hope your demonstration's a success.
I hope you make loads of money.
I, I don't want any of it.
What about the other two?
You have to ask them.
I think they're just here because they're my friends.
Marshak, what he said about...
You saved his life.
That true?
Yes. And he saved mine.
What we do is dangerous.
I don't expect you to believe
That we recover cursed antiques, but that's what we do.
Why do you do that?
I think because of you.
Me?
Yeah, ever since I was a kid,
You've always taught me right from wrong.
If you don't do it yourself,
No one's going to do it for you, right?
I'll never forget that.
Never.
Well, we-we, uh, better get a move on here
Or we'll be late for the factory.
The, uh, card key's
In that drawer over there.
I was wrong.
All the time I looked at you,
I saw that little boy.
I guess I still see you like I did when I was a kid.
You're not the little boy I was angry at.
Dad, I thought you knew everything.
I don't know anything.
I don't see it.
Let me look.
Connie! Connie!
Jack and micki, where are they?!
They went out for a bite to eat.
Why didn't you tell me?!
How long have they been gone?
Just a few minutes. Damn!
Where are you going?
You were stalling me!
You lied to me!
(car engine starting)
Dad! Dad!
(tires squealing)
Connie, can you get us into the factory?
Y-yes, I think so.
Where's your car?
Uh, it's the blue one, down there.
Oh, I'll get the keys.
(tires squealing)
Buck: Ray!
Mr. Clemens.
I'd like you to meet general jose abelar.
Sir.
Mucho gusto.
Mr. Diego esposito.
How do you do?
Gentlemen, this is ray dallion,
The man who designed the weapon system.
I-I know you've come a long way, gentlemen,
But I-I think you're in
For one hell of a show today.
I'll just go ahead and get things ready.
El va alistar las cosas.
Un poco nervioso.
A nervous man.
Well, perfectionists always are.
Perfeccionistas.
It's not gonna be in here.
Jack, what's taking you so long?
Sometimes it's a lot harder opening these cheap locks
Than it is the expensive ones.
(bell rings) did you know that?
(elevator door opens)
My god! He's coming! Jack!
(groans)
Ooh!
(grunting)
(buzzing)
(panting)
(speaking spanish)
(all laugh)
(elevator bell rings)
Bet you didn't have the turbulence
That I only have every time I fly from your country.
Hmm.
I'm sure ray will be right here.
But while we're here,
There is no better time,
Because I see that we have a moment,
And I would like to propose a toast
To general abelar.
Now, señor, here it is.
What you are about to see is the, uh,
Clemens laser homing detonation system. Sistema
De detonación.
Pregúntale al señor clemens si lo puedo probar.
The general asks if he might not,
Uh, try it out?
Certainly, señor.
It would be my pleasure.
Go right ahead.
Gracias.
¡huy, que bonito!
Esposito: ¡hermoso!
Seguro, con esto
Vamos a llegar allí al sierra
Y vamos a empezar matar toda la gente.
Da te cuenta,mira. Ah.
Anda!
(speaking spanish)
Buck: Who are you?
I'm sorry to interrupt, mr. Clemens.
Oh, we have to find ray dallion.
Is he here? I'm, uh, I'm connie.
This is ray's son, ryan.
Well, we're expecting him.
He's somewhere in the building.
(explosion)
General: ¿pero que pasa?
Ven aquí, señor clemens.
Well, why isn't he here?
This is the most important day of his life!
It means the world to him.
(grunting)
(groaning)
No! Stop!
Buck: What are you doing?
Wait! Connie: Oh!
Jack! Jack!
Wake up!
Connie: Jack!
Ray's been using the cursed pipe.
And micki's in danger, ryan.
Oh, my god.
No!
Ray!
Please!
Please don't!
¶ ¶
(coughing)
Ray!
Please don't!
I'm sorry, micki.
I'm sorry.
Give me the pipe!
Where's micki?
Son, you don't understand...
I'm not your son!
Where is she?!
(coughing)
Damn it! I mean it!
She's there.
Back there.
Ryan, it'll be all over by now.
It always takes a life.
Ryan! (coughing): Ryan!
Don't come any closer!
(coughs)
Ryan!
Oh, my god.
What have I done?
(screams)
Ryan!
(coughing)
(screams)
(screaming)
Dad... Dad!
(screaming)
Dad!
(screaming)
Dad!
Thanks for coming.
I'm sorry.
Good night.
I see.
Thank you.
Yeah, I'll...
I'll do that.
The factory people...
Say there's no sign of him.
He's just run off...
Like his father.
Connie, I'm so sorry.
I guess his dream just fell apart, didn't it?
Why did he do it, jack?
Why did he get mixed up with it?
I... I don't understand that.
Well, you know, ryan, it's such a hard thing
When a man reaches the upper limits of his life.
There's no room to maneuver.
I mean, the future is no longer a landscape of possibilities.
It's a narrow ledge over a long, dark drop.
And that's a hard thing for a proud man.
It's a hard thing for anybody.
I didn't know him at all.
Yes, ryan, you did.
And in the end, he knew you, too.
Like uncle lewis, he renounced the curse
And he paid the consequences, but with one big difference--
Your father did it for love.
(sobbing)