37 minutes and 15 seconds.
I'm gonna stay within a 30-mile area of the cabin.
Excuse me, miss. Yes, I'm sorry to bother you.
I'm looking for the post office.
You are? Would you like me to give you a lift?
What? Please.
Please.
Oh, shit!
Excuse me, I just-
Hi, Dad.
- What are you reading? - Nothing.
Wuthering Heights?
"Catherine, is it not sufficient that while you're at peace...
...I shall ride in the torments of hell?"
Denise.
It's romantic!
If they can put it in a book, it's not.
Romance has to be secret.
Do you have a girlfriend?
I mean, fixing the cabin...
I'm not stupid, you know.
I wouldn't blame you for cheating on Mother.
That's not a nice thing to say, is it?
Got your nose. Haven't you ever played Got Your Nose?
Don't make a face when you see it. Imagine it fixed up.
Daddy? How many stars are there?
They're infinite.
There are so many...
...and so far away...
...that they can't be counted.
You'd never get to the end.
Ever?
Ever.
You hungry?
Open the picnic basket.
It's all right. They're only spiders.
They can't hurt you.
Hey, Barney!
Hi, Stan!
Were you here at your place last night?
- Yeah, why? - I thought I heard screams.
Like a child.
I didn't hear a thing.
Have a nice day.
Miss, can you tell me how to get to the post office?
Yeah, sure.
You go straight down, about a mile.
- It's off Handley. - That's what I couldn't remember.
Thanks. Are you going that way?
- I can give you a lift. - No, it's okay. Excuse me.
3:05.
One-eighty.
- Excuse me, miss? - Go away.
- Can you tell me how to-? - Don't bother me!
3:44.
Ninety-five.
Are you having an affair?
I love you.
I love Denise.
I know you think restoring this cabin is a crazy idea...
...but what if it's not?
What if I'm learning about myself...
...realizing that if I can do this, I can do anything?
So I take a step.
I think, "Is this crazy? Should I stop?"
Then I think:
"Not yet.
There's always time to turn back...
...if I want to. " So I take another step...
...and another...
...untiI one day I realize that...
...I've crossed that line...
...and there's no turning back.
Let's get out of here.
- What? This is what we came for. - Let's go.
We didn't drive from Seattle just to go back home.
Please?
- Where do you wanna go? - Nowhere.
- Don't sulk. - I'm not sulking.
We're on vacation.
Okay.
There must be other disaster areas to go to.
- What was that? - Nothing.
- Oh, come on! No! - Shit!
Shit!
I don't believe this. I told you we needed gas.
- It happened, okay? - It's not okay.
Why are you so upset?
Nobody can see us untiI they are on top of us!
Why didn't you stop? We passed 10 places!
They can see us fine, okay, Diane?
Oh, God!
- Oh, God! No! - Just calm down.
- Should we push it? - Let's go.
I'll get the flashlight.
- Flashlight? Jesus Christ, Di! - Find it!
- What are you gonna do with it? - You go.
You'll never find anything in that mess.
- Jeff, I'll find it! - I'm going!
Jeff, don't leave me alone!
Diane?
I shouldn't have left you. I lost my head.
I don't know why I did it.
I love you.
I'm sorry.
That's 15 bucks.
Thanks.
There.
Okay, let's go home.
No, park the car. Park the car.
What?
Now repeat after me.
I...
- I... - I...
- ... Jeff Harriman... - ... Jeff Harriman...
- ... swear that the wonderful... - ... swear that the wonderful...
...the exquisite and sweet...
The potentially sweet-
The always sweet...
- ... Diane Shaver... - The always sweet Diane Shaver...
Will never be left by me again.
Till death do us part.
That makes it feel so officiaI.
- I love you. - I love you.
- You all right? - Mm-hm.
I forgot. I have a present for you.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
This is great!
I wanted to give it to you tonight, but...
I screwed it up.
"Forever, Diane. "
I don't smoke.
For you to light my cigarette.
- What? - I wanna drive.
I have to go to the bathroom. You want anything? Soda pop, beer?
Beer. That'd be great.
Diane?
What the hell is taking her so long?
Oh, the keys.
Diane?
Hey! This is the ladies' room!
Diane!
I'm looking for my girlfriend.
I've got a picture I took today. She's wearing this.
- Yes, I did see her. - When?
Half-hour ago. She was over by the lotto machine.
Was she alone? Did she talk to anyone?
You know how many people pass through here?
No cutting in line!
My girlfriend's disappeared. Has anyone seen her?
Please. Anybody?
We pulled in, we got gas. We then parked in that space.
She came into the store. That's when she disappeared.
Did you fight recently?
Wasn't a fight. It was a thing.
- A thing? - Don't you have a girlfriend?
Yeah, and if I think something's just a thing...
...you can bet she'll think it's a fight.
I'll make a report, but give it 24 hours-
No, listen to me! She has disappeared!
Something happened to her. It's not a lovers' quarreI.
I urge you to move your face back to where it was.
Now, I know you're upset.
If I get information indicating fouI play, I'll proceed.
But for now, you better go home.
That's it?
I've had him in my class. He's a complete failure.
I know, but probably not a totaI lost cause. Please, I just...
Look, he put up a new one.
I heard him on the radio. Every month he replaces the posters.
Every 30 days. You can set your watch.
He must've loved her very much.
I do admire his perseverance.
- Night of the living dead. - I'll get him.
No, this is your second double this week.
You got something more interesting? Mel Gibson doesn't call.
I know that guy.
From where, prison?
High school.
I'll go get him, okay?
Tough night?
Coffee, please.
You really think you need it? You got luggage under those eyes.
I'll bring you milk.
I don't want milk. I'd like coffee, please.
How much sleep did you get last night?
Night before, night before that?
One milk, coming up.
How long have you worked here?
Since the dawn of man.
Rita, bring me those checks.
My friend disappeared between Mount St. Helens and Seattle.
That's about 60 miles from here.
I know.
What does your friend look like?
I know this is really crazy, but I think-
If I remembered everyone who came in, I'd be a freak of nature.
She's beautiful.
Yeah, I know.
What's your name?
Jeff.
- Shit! - Don't worry about it. It's okay.
I'm not letting you get into a car like this.
There's a nice, big cot in the back.
- Let me sit for a minute- - You can't drive like this.
- You should be in bed. - I'll be all right.
What do you do now?
I was a copywriter, but I lost my job.
- I'm sorry. - No.
No, I'm writing a novel. I couldn't do that if I was still one.
Why don't you take my number?
Don't give it to strangers.
I slept with you, at least in the same room.
- That bed killed my back. - Give me your arm. Turn around.
- What are you doing? - Just relax, here.
Did it crack? Is it better?
I gotta clear more space.
Look what I found.
Why don't you talk about her anymore? She was the No. 1 topic.
What's the point? To get upset? To wind up all frustrated?
- It's weird how things just fade away. - It's not faded.
Your stuff is in the top drawer.
What's in those boxes? More crossword puzzles?
Those aren't crossword puzzles. They're anagrams.
Oh, anagrams. That's really important.
It's mostly old stuff. Just high schooI yearbooks.
- Really? Where? I wanna see. - Now?
We have some unfinished business. Don't go through my stuff. Rita!
- You okay? - No.
- What is this? It almost killed me. - It's nothing.
It's for protection.
There's a lot of psychos around.
It's loaded.
That's usually what psychos respond to, honey.
Why didn't you tell me we have a gun?
You just moved in. You also have to bang on the faucet.
Let's get one thing straight, okay?
No secrets, Jeff. In the heart, on the lips.
Rita, I need it.
Fine.
Thank you.
Come on. No more secrets, I promise, okay?
One night when you're asleep, I'm going to chuck that gun.
I'm sorry.
This is for Jeff Harriman. It's Arthur Bernard.
- On a Sunday night? - Who's he?
A publisher. I gave him my book.
- Wait! - One sec. Hold on.
I need to talk to you.
Hello? Arthur. Yes, Jeff Harriman.
I'm sorry, Jeff. I'm afraid it's not for us.
But it's very good. Very talented.
I see.
Don't look so destroyed.
We'd like you to write something else for us.
- Like an assignment? - Exactly.
That would be great.
I remember when your girlfriend's disappearance was in the news.
That was terrible.
I was in Tacoma at a wedding, and I saw your posters.
I'd forgotten all about it, but you're still looking.
- Yes, I am. - I want your story, Jeff.
The whole thing.
What do you say?
I've...
I've been trying to put that behind me.
Oh, I'm sorry. What happened?
I'm gonna be able to pay the rent now.
- He liked it? - He loved it.
That's great! That's great!
- Let's go celebrate. - Okay.
It's about us, isn't it? You can tell me. I don't mind.
Let's go to bed.
Excuse me. How much is that uniform?
What time is it?
Seven o'clock.
You have to go?
It's only one weekend a month.
Does your mom know you joined?
She filled out the application.
Go back to sleep. See you tomorrow night.
Welcome to Channel 7 News Check. I'm PauI McGraw.
Tonight my guest is the courageous and tormented Jeff Harriman.
- Welcome to our show. - Thank you.
In the years Diane's been missing, any new clues?
Have the kidnappers made any contact?
No, not at all.
And yet here you sit, year after year, trying to find her.
At least to find out what happened.
That must've cost a lot of money.
Pretty much everything I have.
Let's just say the kidnapper is watching.
Anything you'd like to say to him now?
I want to meet you.
I don't hate you. I just wanna know what happened to her.
I'm prepared to do anything to find out. Please.
I need to know.
There.
Measure on the bench.
Goggles.
Don't you value your eyes?
All right, gather around, please.
The greatest risk the research chemist faces...
...is that a contaminant is introduced...
...into the experiment...
...without his knowledge, rendering the experiment pointless.
Rita Baker.
"Once upon a time, in a wood, there lived a finch named Kiki.
With her raccoon friends, Pop and Reba...
...she went to find the source of the river. "
A children's book. Lulu the alligator. Lavender.
Oh, my God!
Room service.
Open up. The guy at the desk said you're here.
Is this what you want?
- Take it off. - Why?
I believe in giving my man what he wants. You know what?
Call me Diane. I'll treat you like shit.
Then I'll disappear!
Take it off!
Oh, my God!
No secrets? Remember, Jeff? No secrets!
I knew I could never make you understand.
Who are you?
You tell me the truth!
Did you know what you were doing when you went...
...from crying to waking up in a sweat from dreaming about her?
Mentioning her less and taking her picture off the night table...
...and putting mine there? Dancing on the balcony?
Was the whole thing planned just to throw me off?
- I didn't wanna lose you! - You're still in love with her!
I'm in love with you.
What are you saying?
I may not be as smart as you, but I'm not a dumb bitch.
- Look at this room! - No pictures except for the posters!
No mementos, just this! I love you, Rita!
I cracked the code, Jeff.
I saw the book.
You're a liar.
I tried not to come. I almost went back home...
...but if I did, I'd just pack up and go.
Why didn't you?
Because I don't know how not to fight.
Nobody in my family ever fought for anything.
They wound up on Prozac and sleeping all day...
...or dead from liver disease at 35.
That's not gonna happen to me, Jeff. I fight!
It's not her, Rita.
It hasn't been for a very long time.
Then what is it?
It's it. It's not knowing.
You know what I do? I pretend I have a choice.
Either to let her go on living wherever she is...
...and never know what happened...
...or she can be dead, and I get to find out everything.
So I let her die.
I swear to God, I wish she were dead.
You don't know what it is like to not know.
Shit.
I'm sorry. But I don't know what to do.
I do.
I haven't been to the gas station since.
I sent the manager posters. He put them up.
I never went back myself.
Then it's time you did.
Come on.
Till death do us part.
She's gone, Jeff. Gone.
You may never find out how or why. You have to accept that.
If Diane were here right now...
...I'd ask you to marry me. It's you I love, I swear.
But if it were possible to choose right now...
...I'd rather be back at this gas station...
...so I'd find out what happened.
It's not good enough.
If you ever wanna move on with your life...
...if you wanna be just alive again...
...then this is your last chance. I love you...
...but you must decide to be with me, or I'm gone.
Let her go, Jeff.
Let her go.
Diane.
"Meet me alone...
...at the yacht club. "
Hey.
Read it.
Go on. Come on.
He's watching me. I can feel it.
My fear was that he was dead.
But there are things in this letter only he could know.
Jeff, he's seen your picture in the paper.
He wants to see how far you'll go. He's loving this.
No, look. He signed it. Barney.
- You think that's his real name? - That's not the point.
You're right.
The point is, what am I doing here? It's never gonna change.
It'll just go on untiI you end up as crazy.
This letter's the first break I've had.
I can nail this fucker!
Go to the police! You can't do this on your own!
The police? They laugh at me. I'm a joke to them.
I'm starting to see their point.
- Don't do this to me, not now! - Jesus Christ, you are amazing!
Did it occur to you that she doesn't wanna be found?
Goodbye, Jeff.
Run like a coward. At least Diane was taken by force.
I am not Diane!