MICK: I wanna help people...
... that's why I became a PI. It might make up for what I am.
Whatever you've heard, you don 't know the whole story.
I have boundaries, rules.
My friend Josef has a different philosophy.
I know you have morals and scruples.
Twenty-two years ago, I took a case that changed my life forever.
Please, help me. Someone took my daughter.
Everything's gonna be all right. You're not gonna do this.
[YELLS]
Over the years, I tried to stay close in case she needed me.
- This is Beth Turner for Buzzwire. - But she can never know what I am.
What do you like better, "Vampire slaying rocks L. A..."
There's no such thing as vampires.
Holding her in my arms, it almost feels like it could work between us.
But monsters don 't get happily ever after.
BETH: He's finally getting out, isn 't he?
JULIA: Yes, a lot of us have worked a long time for this moment.
BETH: I'm talking to my good friend Julia Stevens...
...newspaper reporter and author of the upcoming book, Wronged Man.
It's about Lee Jay Spalding, a man who spent 25 years in prison.
For a crime he didn't commit.
- And he's just won his parole, right? JULIA: Yes, thank God.
BETH: Talk about dedication.
- Have you seen this? BETH: You not only...
They're letting him out.
Knew you'd be on the warpath. I brought some blood.
Never underestimate the stupidity of humans.
Hey, cut them some slack.
I believe you used to be one before you became a vampire.
You seem pretty convinced by this guy. I mean, he was...
Hey, is that your friend? The blond?
- I'd like to meet her someday. JULIA: Sure. Arrested by a...
What? I'm just saying.
JULIA: During the last two years researching this book...
... I really got to know Lee Jay.
He is an amazing individual.
[SCOFFS]
Really a lesson to us all.
Think of it.
Twenty-five years, and he holds absolutely no grudge...
... against the men who convicted him.
I should get her to write about me.
Make me sound innocent and suffering.
- She's involved with him. - Oh, you think?
Look, humans don't know how to deal with their bad guys.
What else is new?
You wanna take matters into your own hands.
Now, come on, I got a few hours to kill.
Look, otherwise, just let the guilt go, okay?
What Lee Jay did, that wasrt your fault.
Yes, it was. You werert there.
A womars dead because of me.
MAN: I'm sorry to bust up your evening...
...but your card was in the dead girl's pocket.
- You know her? - Yeah, she was my client.
She hired me to protect her.
DESMOND: Looks like suicide.
Gun in hand, shot through mouth.
This isn't suicide.
This is murder.
Yeah?
I know who did this.
You wanna share with the rest of us?
MICK: When I finally caught up with Lee Jay...
... I was gonna kill him.
No question.
He was a dead man.
But I messed up.
MICK: You killed her.
You made it look like suicide.
Who are you?
[GROWLS]
[GRUNTING]
[GROWLING]
Oh, my God. What are you?
[SIREN WAILING]
MICK: This cop comes out of nowhere, and I didn't get to finish the job.
Lee Jay knows what I am.
Wow.
You really did mess up.
You better waste this guy.
- Not that simple. - It is.
What if he decides to go all Van Helsing and come after you?
- What's up? - Welcome back, bro.
- How you doing, bro? - Good, man. Good to see you.
- How you feeling? - Hey. Good.
What's up?
- Looks like you got a lot of reading done. - No, not reading. Research.
We're going hunting.
BETH [WHISPERS]: Mick.
[BETH WHIMPERS]
MICK: Don 't you hurt her.
Mick.
[GASPING]
I think you were having a bad dream.
I'll say.
You were talking, muttering something.
What did I say?
"Mick."
I'm sorry, Mick was in my dream.
You almost died last week. He saved you.
I understand.
I was dreaming about what happened when I was little, when I was taken.
I was in the room with the scary woman.
Only this time, Mick was there.
That's your subconscious trying to process everything, you know.
Think you should talk to someone about it?
[SIGHS]
I think I should go to work.
Do you know where I can find Beth?
- Right over there. - Thanks.
STEVE: All right, man.
Oh. Look who's slumming again.
Be reminded what a real reporter looks like.
By the time you put out your early edition...
...we've covered overnight plus follow-ups.
Please, people want news, they read the paper.
Wanna find out what celebrity passed out in their vomit...
...they read you. - Wow.
Two million visitors so far today, and counting.
- Oh, boy. - Heh-heh.
Here. For you.
It's not even in the stores yet.
BETH: I finally get to read it.
Yes, and here is an invitation to the release party.
- Steve and I are on it. - Can't wait.
We'll get plenty of B-roll, make sure we capture the whole vibe.
- I appreciate you doing this. - Forget it, you're helping me.
Lee Jay is a great human-interest story.
I can't wait for you to meet him. He's not what you would expect.
He became a sculptor in prison...
...got involved with a program to bring at-risk kids to art.
There's one thing I didn't quite understand yesterday.
Why were the cops so convinced...
...that Lee Jay was guilty of murder?
He had some priors.
He was easy even with the contaminated evidence.
- The police contaminated the evidence? - It was a PI, actually.
He almost beat Lee Jay to death. Mick St. John.
Ha. Mick St. John? Are you sure?
JULIA: Of course I'm sure, I wrote the book.
Here.
Oh, my gosh.
Do you know him?
He never returned my calls.
Yeah, I mean, the Mick St. John I know is like 30.
This happened 25 years ago.
This can't be the same guy.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
Do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with a gift that says:
"Thanks for saving me from a psycho serial killer"?
Miss Manners doesn't cover that?
Surprisingly, no, so...
Oh. Twenty-five-year-old single malt, thank you.
I thought you might wanna see this.
A friend of mine wrote it.
There was a PI involved in this case called Mick St. John.
Really?
So?
MICK: That picture was from 1950, back before I became a vampire.
When film could still capture my image.
- That's my father. - Looks more like your twin.
I inerited some strong genes.
The book says your father had a run-in with Lee Jay.
Did he ever tell you about that?
Kind of.
He told me Lee Jay was one of those individuals who can't stop themselves.
That they have to kill.
- Tell your friend she's got it all wrong. - She's a really good reporter.
- She researched this very carefully. - Tell her she got it wrong.
Okay.
And tell her to be careful.
I guess I should go.
[DOOR CLOSES]
CAM: Hey, Lee Jay.
Hey.
[TURNS OFF TORCH]
CAM: Good to be free again, huh?
Yeah, 25 years late, but good to be out.
We got that stuff you wanted.
LEE JAY: Good.
CAM: Wooden stakes. LEE JAY: Uh-huh.
CAM: We pitching a tent?
Yeah, something like that.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[CHUCKLES]
Good to see you, Bobby.
I had a feeling you'd drop by after Lee Jay.
- I should've kept in touch. - But you're here now.
Get a load of this.
LEE JAY [OVER MACHINE]: Detective Desmond, Lee Jay Spalding.
You arrested me, helped put me behind bars.
I saw you at all my parole hearings...
... always telling the board not to set me free.
Well, I want you to know that I forgive you.
It's all behind me now.
Well...
Well, when I want forgiveness, I won't be applying to Lee Jay Spalding.
- It's my fault that he's out. - It's the book's fault.
- He'll kill again, Bobby. - As soon as he finds a woman to play.
He may have already, the author.
Well, that's gonna be some honeymoon.
You still got that case file? The first wife?
DESMOND: Oh, yeah, that other so-called suicide? I got it out for you.
He wouldn't be getting out if we'd been able to admit that.
MICK: I know.
DESMOND: What are you planning now? - I got a friend, she's a reporter.
She doesn't know the real story, only what happened in the book.
Don't go doing nothing stupid.
We're senior citizens now, don't wanna break a hip.
[CHUCKLES] You be careful too.
Okay? And you call me if Lee Jay contacts you again.
God, Mick, it's good to hear your voice.
Same as ever.
Hey, what's with these muscles? How you staying so fit?
Oh, you know, diet.
Get me some of that.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Take care. - You take care, Bobby.
You take care.
MICK: When you live forever, it's disappointing how little humans change.
MAN: There they are, they're there. WOMAN: Sir.
Technology, though, it always gets better.
If I hadn 't become a vampire, I would've missed the Internet...
... TiVo, "World of Warcraft"...
[BEEPING]
...and GPS.
LEE JAY: Yeah, sure, I'll sign it.
Yeah.
Hey, you're never too young to turn your life around, all right?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Get some stuff of Lee Jay and Julia.
- Don't get in their faces... - But get their faces, roger that.
What are you doing here?
I wanted to talk to you, apologize.
That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion.
- It's a free country, right? - Right. I brought you something.
It's the case file from Lee Jay's arrest.
You need to read that.
You think this is the right place?
Open it, you need to know the truth.
I'm kind of busy now.
Beth, there you are. I want you to meet Lee Jay.
Oh, my God.
Uh... This is Mick St. John.
- You knew hi... - My father.
Yes, I tried to contact him to interview him for my book.
- He passed away. - I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks.
Well, Lee Jay, it's time, you're on.
EMCEE: I would like to say just how...
- Catch you later, Mick. - Yeah, you will.
EMCEE: We are to be participants in this momentous event.
So ladies and gentlemen, now please welcome, Lee Jay Spalding.
[APPLAUSE]
MAN 1: All right, Lee Jay. WOMAN 1: Good luck, Lee Jay.
MAN 2: That's the man.
Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, Lee Jay Spalding.
[APPLAUSE CONTINUES]
MAN 3: Hey. WOMAN 2: Whoo!
I can't tell you how great it is to be out.
And I appreciate everything all of you have done.
I see all these wonderful young faces here tonight...
...and I've worked with some of you.
And others I'm meeting, I have a message...
...because once I was you.
Don't ever let anybody hold you back.
I don't care who they are or how tough they think they are.
You look them straight in the eye, and you say, " I'm better than you...
...I'm stronger than you, and I'm going to win."
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Uh-oh. The scary one.
You might have all these people fooled, but I know what you are.
Oh, what am I?
- You're not gonna get away this time. - Oh, I know.
They say they've gotten tough on crime.
They always say that.
No.
I meant, you're not gonna be hurting any more women. I won't let you.
You know what's funny?
Because I know what you are, vampire.
You've killed more people than I have.
[MICK GROWLS, LEE JAY GRUNTS]
[GASPS]
Now, if I got this right, a stake in your heart will paralyze you.
I can put you in an art display for the whole world to see.
Maybe put you in one of my new sculptures.
[GASPS]
Oh, Mick.
[CHUCKLES]
[SCREAMS]
Back off, you stay away from me.
- You stay away from me. - Lee Jay, what happened?
- The man is crazy, the man is crazy. MAN: You all right?
LEE JAY: Mick St. John, he did this to me.
MAN: Somebody help.
Please, somebody help.
JULIA: Lee Jay.
Lee Jay, what happened?
Oh, my God, we have to get you to a hospital.
Please, I don't want any more trouble.
Um, okay, your friend? Not so good at parties.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
JULIA: Lee Jay, we should call the police.
LEE JAY: No, don't call the police. I don't wanna press charges.
He's obviously disturbed, but jail is not what he needs.
JULIA: Are you sure?
- Very nice. Is that your party personality? - I didn't do anything.
- Hate to see what you call something. - I didn't touch him.
- Yeah, right. - He did that to himself.
That's ridiculous.
The pain and blood is won'th setting me up.
It's the way he thinks. Did you read the file?
You know, with all the excitement, I haven't had a chance yet.
MICK: This guy killed two women.
And he pawned them both off as suicides.
That guy romancing your friend...
...he's a killer.
Trust me.
MICK: Llene Hannigan came to me in 1983.
An abused spouse.
I'd heard the story a hundred times.
ILENE: I went to the police, I got a restraining order.
[CRYING]
MICK: Let me guess, he ignored it.
He burned it in front of me.
He do this?
He said that if I ever tried to leave him, he would kill me.
So I bought this.
Are you ready to use that, llene?
You don't want the gun.
You don't wanna give him the chance to use it on you.
I'm gonna take care of this.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
Now, Lee Jay, I'm gonna say this once.
You ever hurt llene again, you touch a hair on her head...
...and I'm gonna come back, and I'm not gonna be so gentle.
You tell me you understand me.
I understand.
Are you sure?
I understand.
Good.
MICK: I thought I'd taken care of it, but I was young and stupid back then.
[WOMAN MOANS]
I thought violence solved everything.
Red or white?
I will take the red.
[MOANING]
I told you, not while I'm eating.
It's for your friend.
It's your answering service, says it's important.
[SIGHS]
- Yeah? DESMOND: Mick, Bobby Desmond.
You better get down here.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
MAN: I'll be right there.
DESMOND: Looks like suicide. Gun in hand, shot through mouth.
[GROWLS]
[SIREN WAILING]
[GRUNTS]
[BOOK THUDS]
MAN [OVER COMPUTER]: Get help. JULIA: Lee Jay.
Lee Jay, what happened?
Hey, you got a story in the pipeline?
Yeah, why Mick is so riled up about a 25-year-old case.
That's not a story, it's obvious.
It was his father, right?
That's the weird thing. His father wasrt a cop or a PI.
In fact, there's no record of him at all.
Well, maybe you have the wrong name.
No, I think there's something Mick isn't telling me.
Lee Jay's arresting officer, Bobby Desmond.
Maybe he can tell me why Mick's obsessed with this case.
[TYPING]
Retired, still lives in L.A.
What do you think?
Go for it.
[KETTLE WHISTLING]
BETH: So you never thought llene's shooting was a suicide either?
Why hire somebody to protect you if you plan on killing yourself anyway?
I heard Lee Jay got beat up pretty badly.
Yeah, Mick did a number on him, that's for sure.
Lee Jay had it coming to him, and everybody knew that.
- Like father, like son. - Huh?
His son has a temper.
Who does?
His son, Mick Jr., I guess. Obsessed with Lee Jay just like his dad.
No, no, no, Mick never had a son, never married.
Mick has a son. I know him.
Darling, I've known Mick St. John for over 35 years.
I'm telling you, there is no son.
The man is one of a kind.
Ask him yourself.
- He's alive? - And kicking.
He was in here just the other day, all riled up about Lee Jay's getting out.
[DESMOND SIPPING]
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[CLATTERING]
This is sad.
You have, what's the word, food issues?
How'd you get in here?
Twenty-five years inside, you get some skills.
- Put that down. - Or what, you tear my head off?
- Yeah. - But the thing is...
...I told everybody I know I was coming here to make peace.
Now, how would that look? Huh?
[SLURPING]
Oh, God, that's disgusting. How do you live like this?
So, what's the deal?
You're what? You're stronger than us, smarter.
You're the only one who seems to see through my B.S.
But maybe it's just because you get me.
We're not so different, really.
- We're nothing alike. - No?
What's it feel like when you kill somebody?
Because I know what it feels like when I do.
Hey, easy, Mick. This is your gun, Mick.
The one you keep hidden behind the desk.
Gotta be annoying using this when you could tear somebody with your teeth.
Another fake suicide, huh?
Is that the plan?
You're so smart, you tell me.
You better have the right ammunition.
Oh, I do.
Aah! Aah! Damn. Oh.
WOMAN [OVER PHONE]: 911, what is the nature of your emergency?
I've been shot.
A Mick St. John.
You know what? I see it now.
It's like your prison, isn't it?
- This whole vampire thing. - Shut up.
You can't have anybody poking around.
A girlfriend, anyone who cares.
Got a problem. Uhn!
You're a bundle of nerves.
Oh, yeah, the gun.
You leave it there, that looks bad.
You take it, that looks even worse.
[ELEVATOR DOOR OPENS]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
COP: Los Angeles Police Department.
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]
[MOCKINGLY] You made the news.
Great.
Yeah, apparently, attempted murder, the charge against you...
...carries a 25-year penalty.
A firearm enancement adds another 15. That's what they called it, enancement.
He's getting exactly what he wants.
Me in prison as payback and free rein with no one to stop him.
And you get nothing.
Look, prison is not the vampire's friend.
- No, no. - Well, look on the positive side.
In 25 years, you'd get a book deal.
Well, thank you.
You're way off your game.
- What did you say? - You heard me.
He had 25 years to plan his move. You wouldn't have seen it...
That's not even what I meant. Why didn't you kill him, Mick?
Why didn't you take this guy out? End him?
With Lee Jay alive, there's a chance the truth will come out.
- You think so? - Yeah.
You're worried what some reporter might think...
...if you'd given that guy what he deserved.
[SIGHS]
This is a chance for me to erase a regret.
I really don't see how.
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]
You're gonna have to split, you know that?
A new town, new identity.
I know a guy who does relocations. He works with a lot of vamps.
I leave, more people die?
No, man.
[ENGINE STARTS]
I'm not going anywhere.
I got word they're releasing Lee Jay in a couple of hours.
- You've gotta get over there. - Fine, boss, I'm on my way.
I wish I had a break when I was starting out.
- What do you mean? - Shooter on the lam, friend of yours.
That's lucky gift-wrapped, girl.
- Go for it. BETH: Okay, bye.
Do you think he really tried to kill Lee Jay?
- What, you don't? - No, not really.
You're kidding, right?
He attacks the guy in a public place...
...the guy ends up shot in his apartment, and then he flees.
Is there part of that that's not incriminating?
- You don't know him. - You barely do either.
There's something that Mick's not telling me.
You know, since you met that guy...
[DOORBELL RINGING]
...screwed up has started to seem normal.
Hey.
- You're Mick St. John. - Is Beth here?
No.
They're looking for you.
- I didn't shoot Lee Jay. - Then why did you run?
Why didn't you stay there and tell the police?
MICK [IN VOICEOVER]: Because I'm a vampire?
Because I'm a vampire.
Because I'm...
There's no good way to say it.
I guess I panicked.
Look, he can't be here, you know that. I'm an attorney.
- I know. - In the DA's office.
- I know. - I'm harboring a fugitive here.
- Listen, I understand this looks bad. - I'll get disbarred and jailed.
I didn't do anything, okay? This guy comes to my place...
And what? Shot himself?
Yes.
That's what Lee Jay does.
He's staged murders before.
It's all in the police file.
See for yourself, Josh.
I need to know you're telling the truth.
- I am, you know I am. - Because if you're not...
What do you need me to do?
[EXHALES]
MICK [IN VOICEOVER]: I know, I said my image couldn 't be captured.
But that was back in the days of silver emulsion and film.
Digital has changed that.
BETH: It's gonna be best if you look straight into camera.
Okay, ready? On my count.
[OVER COMPUTER] The truth is, I'm innocent.
I didn 't shoot Lee Jay Spalding.
Spalding staged the scene and shot himself.
- I can't believe this. - It sounds improbable...
... but this is a sick individual who 's done this before.
The first time was in 1982 when he faked the suicide death...
... of his first wife, Marie McCullough, who had the nerve to try to leave him.
Hey, Walt, this is Jerry.
You gotta catch this video on Buzzwire. St. John is coming clean.
MAN [OVER TV]: CDS L.A. News has just obtained this dramatic new video...
... that has surfaced on...
WOMAN: St. John boldly accused Lee Jay...
MAN: Died under suspicious...
MICK: He's a murderer, a fact suppressed from the trial...
... and omitted from the book.
- The two case files are available... - How could she?
How could Beth do this to me?
MICK: I'm not asking for sympathy.
- Hey, beautiful. - You okay?
- Yeah. - Let's get you out of here.
WOMAN 1: There he is, guys. MAN 1: Lee Jay.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
WOMAN 2: Are you feeling better?
Yeah, luckily, he missed the major arteries.
Why does Mick St. John have such a vendetta against you?
Don't ask me to understand a criminal.
What about the report you've murdered two women...
...and staged this shooting?
That would be incorrect.
- Okay, let's go. WOMAN 3: Excuse me.
- All right, no more questions. MAN 2: What about the shooting?
Would you make comments about the allegations?
JULIA: That's all. WOMAN 4: Just a few more questions.
[REPORTERS CONTINUE CLAMORING]
I can't believe how many outlets have picked this up.
Buzzwire's got the biggest syndicated feed on the net.
[WOMAN TALKS INDISTINCTLY OVER COMPUTER]
So, what's next, though?
MICK: I think it's his move next.
NEWSCASTER: Mick St. John allegedly bashed Mr. Spalding's head...
... into the glass door in the men 's room.
At this point, there is no evidence that Mick St. John...
[PHONE RINGS]
BETH: Oh, it's Julia.
[INHALES DEEPLY]
Okay, I know you must be furious...
...and I know you love him and all that, but it's true, and you had to know.
I know, Beth.
I know.
Put him on.
[GRUNTS]
Put him on.
[PICKS UP PHONE, PHONE BEEPS]
- What do you want? - You watch your tone with me.
What do you want?
You do not talk to me that way.
You forget who you're talking to.
I know what you are, Mick.
Now, here's what I want.
I want you to go to the police station, and I want you to turn yourself in.
I didn't do anything, I'm not gonna say I did.
You know what? If you feel that way about it, then Julia ends up like llene.
How do I know you won't kill her anyway?
You don't. You got one hour.
Please, help me.
Please.
You hear that?
Hard to say no, isn't it?
[LINE DISCONNECTS]
You don't turn yourself in, he is gonna kill her.
- He's gonna anyway. - We should go to the police.
- Trace the call. - We have one hour.
We need more time than that.
LEE'S VOICE: You do not talk to me that way.
You forget who you're talking to.
I know what you are, Mick.
JOSH: Look, I got a friend in public affairs.
Maybe I can get him to issue some statement that Mick's turned himself in.
Okay, okay.
JOSH: And what will you do?
MICK: All I need is some time.
Here, take this. It'll help.
- Hurry. - All right.
Hey, Josh.
Thank you.
You tried to warn me Julia was in danger.
Well, none of us wanna believe...
...that there's monsters like Lee Jay right around us.
You did.
[BEEPING]
I think I have a way of finding them.
I tagged Julia's car.
You wanna navigate?
What did he mean, "I know what you are"?
[BEEPING]
Oh, right here.
- Mick, what did he mean? - I don't know.
I don't believe you.
How about we get Julia first?
How about you finally answer a question without evading or disappearing?
- Hour's almost up. - Like that.
We all have secrets, Beth.
And that's not evading.
Right here.
Okay, stop, stop, stop.
All right, I'm going in.
Open the glove box.
Now, do you know how to use that?
Remember what I said?
Call the cops if you're not out in 10 minutes, don't come inside.
Okay.
Why does the girl always have to wait in the car?
[SIGHS]
NEWSCASTER: They booked the wrong man.
Spalding says that St. John...
Spalding has recently been released from the hospital.
Confirmed reports that fugitive Mick St. John...
... wanted in connection with the shooting of Lee Jay Spalding...
... has turned himself in to authorities at the Wilshire Division.
Well, our work here is done.
Run.
[MICK GRUNTS, JULIA SCREAMS]
Don't believe everything you see on TV.
[WHIMPERS]
Silver buckshot.
Had to special-order it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but silver's like poison to you.
[GRUNTS]
[GROANING]
The only thing more deadly to a vampire...
[SCREAMS]
...fire.
You know, I gotta admit, part of me wonders...
...what it would be like to live forever, powerful.
The last thing this world needs is an eternal you.
[SCREAMS]
[GASPS]
[GRUNTS]
[PANTING]
[NEWS REPORT PLAYING OVER TV]
I thought I told you to stay in the car.
NEWSCASTER [OVER TV]: While St. John...
LEE JAY: Don 't ever let anybody hold you back.
I don 't care who they are or how tough they think they are.
You look them straight in the eye, and you say:
"I'm better than you, I'm stronger than you...
... and I'm going to win. "
COP: Folks, you gotta go to the back. Let's go.
JULIA [CRYING]: He kidnapped me.
- He was gonna kill me. CARL: It's okay, it's okay, slow down.
Mick saved me.
I was so wrong.
- Okay, so Mick shot Lee Jay? - No.
No, I did.
Hey, hey, hey, Beth. Where you going?
Beth, get back here.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GASPING]
Mick?
You ran off again.
One second you were there and then you were gone.
Ar... Are you okay?
[PANTING]
Please leave.
Not without answers.
I keep dreaming about you.
Why?
Please don't look at me.
Oh, my God.
[GASPS]
What are you?
I'm a vampire.
Subtitles by SDI Media Group
[ENGLISH SDH]