The Mastermind (2025) Movie Script
1
[Quiet background murmurs;
Hushed atmosphere]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music fades]
[Child] Can I tell you a riddle?
You ask the first one 'cause
it doesn't matter if you know
There's three alien overlords
that could help you get off
if you give them
the right artifacts.
There's T, F and R.
T always tells the truth.
R-- F always tells lies.
And R, randomly
says truthfully or lies.
You have deciphered
their language enough
to ask them questions,
but you don't know what ozo or
ulu mean, between yes and no.
Will you ask them to find
out who is who and give
them the right artifacts?
Let's assume that,
ulu is yes.
Then it would be--
Then, you would know
that the one in the middle is R
and that one is probably T.
But just to be sure, you
ask some random question
that's super easy.
If it says the wrong answer,
then you'd know that,
that one was actually F.
But that's impossible.
So the one in the
middle has to be--
It would have to be and then the one
on the left would have to be F.
[Continues in background]
But, but that breaks the
laws of physics
and really just
the entire riddle.
So the answer is
you ask the first one
'cause you really don't know
and it doesn't matter.
[Sparse, scattered drum beats]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
Yeah, of course, we can seal it.
[Child and woman
converse indistinctly]
[Music continues]
Ask it again?
[Music fades]
Hey, Dad. Where
do otters come from?
Come on. Guess.
- Come on, guess!
- [J.B.] I don't know, buddy.
A string walks into a bar.
The bartender says,
"Hey. We don't serve strings
here. Can't you see the signs?"
[Music resumes,
obscures dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[He imitates plane
engine rumble]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music subsides]
[Protester on TV]
...mayor of the city
causing harm to students.
I think it's interesting
that faculty members
that assaulted students
aren't on trial,
that faculty members
that were on the picket
lines are on trial.
It's saying to people
that if you take action,
that the university
will take measures against you,
that what the university
approves of is silence.
[Reporter on TV] Although
Hamlin feels campus protest
has influenced international
and national affairs,
he's not sure that success
has boosted morale among
anti-war activists.
[Protester] I think
it is generally true, though,
that there is
tremendous feelings of
powerlessness, cynicism,
apathy on the part of large
numbers of people and that...
- Guys, dinner's
ready. - [Protester]
...but this is true.
Boys, go wash your hands.
[Protester] I mean, this is true
throughout the country, and...
[J.B.'s father, grunting] Yeah.
[Protester] ...that's
being struggled with because...
the war and the struggle
against the war has
moved to a new phase.
[Newscaster] Hamlin's "new
phase" has been going on now
for more than four years.
The latest resurgence began
last April 17th.
Five days later, protesters
announced their intention
to close down the university--
[J.B.'s father] I saw
Kipp's father today.
He said Kipp has
projects all over town.
[J.B.] Mm-hmm.
Kipp's doing well.
[J.B.'s father] What does
he know that you don't?
You have all his
skills, don't you?
Kipp can't hang a window.
Can't build a cabinet.
Not a nice one, anyway.
[J.B.'s father] He's the boss
of his own outfit.
Tells the whole team what to do.
[J.B.] He spends all his time
balancing books,
scheduling, on the phone.
[J.B.'s father] Those are
the task of the top man.
It's an idiotic way
to spend your time.
Well, you seem to have
a good amount of
time on your hands.
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
The paintings are all
in one small gallery
on the second floor.
The paintings come off the wall,
go into the cases, and down
to the waiting car.
The whole thing, from the
time you enter until the time
the car leaves the museum,
is roughly eight minutes.
Then you go to Denholm's.
You'll have your car on the
north side of the top level.
Ditch the hot car
and meet me back at the Echo.
I don't know, J.B.
I can't carry four
paintings alone.
[J.B.] You won't be alone.
Ronnie Gibson will be with you.
Wait.
Little Ronnie Gibson?
[J.B.] He's not a kid anymore,
and he's through selling weed.
He's doing other things now.
Trust me.
I've given it a lot of thought.
Gibson's perfect.
He's got a lot of nerve.
- [Man 2] He's nervy. I'll
give him that. - Not that
this requires a lot of nerve.
So you keep telling
us. This place is just
giving away paintings.
- [J.B.] I'd do it myself--
- Sure, you would.
I'm in there too often.
I'm too recognizable.
You know where
you're getting the car?
Got a rough idea.
Then what?
[J.B.] Then... nothing.
Then you get paid
and we all go home.
I mean, how exactly do the
paintings get spun into cash?
- You keep asking me
that. - [Man 3] You
keep not answering.
Because...
you don't need to know.
Yeah, but we're curious.
[Man 3] I want another 50
for lifting the car.
Maybe.
Yeah. Okay.
[Man 3] An enormous improvement.
Don't bullshit us, J.B.
- You got the money to pay us?
- [Woman] J.B.?
- Yeah.
- [Woman] Who's down there?
[J.B.] Uh, the guys are here.
They're leaving in a minute.
[Woman] Hmm.
Alright. I'm going to bed.
Don't forget to lock the door.
Okay.
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
- [She whispers]
That's a lot of money.
- [Music fades]
[Indistinct chatter
in the background]
I'll admit I wasn't expecting
that big of an ask.
[J.B.] I know. I know
it's a lot on top of
what I already owe you.
[He clears his
throat] The thing is...
and just hear me out.
I have a good opportunity.
I met with an architect
who's about to refurbish
a house in the West End,
and he wants all Japanese-style
cabinets throughout the house.
That's why he came to me.
He knows I'm the guy
for the job, but...
And like Dad says,
I don't need a
middleman to take a fee.
But I'd have to rent a workspace
and purchase tools
which I don't have.
That sort of thing.
It's a big, life-changing
opportunity for me.
But if I want the
job, I have to act fast
before he offers it
to someone else.
And this is real, James?
The job and the architect?
Mom, it's real.
I want to be paid back.
I'm not made of money, James.
[J.B.] No. I know,
I know.
Your father and I
would like to retire.
The minute I get paid,
it goes right back to you.
Well, that's a bit vague.
When you get a schedule
from this architect,
I want an actual payment plan.
Sure, no problem.
[J.B.'s mother]
This is between us.
- I don't want your
father to know. -
[Music resumes]
[Music continues; Train
horn blares in the distance]
[Car engine sputters]
[Engine starts]
[Music continues]
[Music continues;
Sewing machine whirs]
Thanks.
Seems like wood that precious...
I hope these people
don't have kids.
People want what they want.
[Child] Hey, is anyone
gonna make dinner?
Thanks, Terri.
[Music continues]
- [Child] Where is everybody?
- [J.B.] I don't know.
[Music concludes]
Uh-oh, looks like someone
didn't get the memo.
Which memo was that?
[Teacher] The one reminding you
about the teachers' work day.
Tommy, didn't you
give your mom the ditto?
[Tommy] I don't think I got one.
[J.B. on telephone] Did
you know the kids don't
have school today?
[Terri sighs]
[She whispers] That's
not an emergency.
[J.B.] Can you call June
and ask her to watch the boys?
I'm at work.
Call one of your friends.
Why can't they be with you?
[J.B.] I've got things to do.
What things? Like what?
[J.B.] Things. Errands.
Wait a second. Wait.
- You jerk.
- Hey, Carl, cut it out.
[Carl] I could've
suffocated in there
- if you really want to know.
- [J.B.] Come on.
You two stay out of trouble.
You hear me?
And, Tommy, don't let your
brother eat a bunch of crap.
[Whimsical carousel tune]
Meet me back
here at two o'clock.
Tommy? Two o'clock.
Okay!
[Tune fades]
[Car engine rumbles]
[J.B., sighing] Hey.
We'll settle up the rest after.
And, Larry,
you better get moving, alright?
I'm afraid you're gonna
have to take it from here.
What?
I'm afraid you're gonna
have to take it from here.
Wait a minute. You're bailing?
You can't. This is it.
Who's gonna drive?
I'm sorry.
You're sorry?
I threw in some Jersey plates
for the trouble.
Larry, I'm counting on you.
Larry!
This is real shitty, man.
Real shitty!
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Man 2] Hey.
- Where's Larry?
- Get in.
[Man 2] Oh, man.
[Music continues]
[J.B.] What?
[Man 2] What's he doing?
[J.B.] Jeez.
[Protester] Shame on you.
Sorry, lady.
[Busy chatter]
[Music continues]
- [Music stops] -
[Pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Low, indistinct muttering]
Hey. How long do you think
this is gonna take?
[Girl] Really like 10 or
15 minutes. I just need
to take a few notes.
[Pop rock music fades;
Intriguing mid-tempo
jazz music joins]
[Car engine rumbles]
Here.
No. Take them with you.
No. I got it.
Here goes nothing.
[Music subsides]
[Music and rumbling continue]
- [Music continues] -
[She speaks in French]
"All... fickle,
"false,
"talkative,
- "hypocritical,
- [Snoring nearby]
"proud and cowardly,
despicable and sensual;
"all women are treacherous,
"cunning, vain,
"curious and depraved."
[Music builds]
[Police radio chatter]
[Music subsides]
[Loudly] They're
cleaning up in there.
Oh.
[He whispers] Watch the door.
[Music continues;
Car engine rumbles]
[Music continues,
intensifies] [In French]
"...but I have loved.
"It is I who have lived,
"and not a factitious being
created by my pride and my--"
- [Girl 2, in English]
What are you doing? -
[Man 4] Shut your mouth.
Put your hands down.
Get under there.
[He whispers]
What are you doing?
Put that away.
- I can't see anything.
- [Man 4] Shut the fuck up.
Helen?
[Music stops]
[Tires screech]
Hey! Hey!
[Car engine rumbles]
Hey. Go easy, man. Easy.
Forget the window.
Get in the car.
[Tires screech, stop] Shit.
- Well, honk or something.
- [J.B.] Wait.
[Car door opens]
- [Car door slams]
- [Man 2] Oh, this isn't good.
- What the fuck?
- [Man 4] Move the car.
[Tense upbeat tempo jazz music]
[Man 4 laughs]
[Man 2] Do you
think that's funny?
Stop sign.
[Music continues]
[Music fades;
Car engine rumbles]
[Distant traffic hum]
[Car engine revs nearby]
We specifically said no guns.
You're lucky I had one.
You should have seen
that chick's face.
Hey, man, put that away.
It's all there.
[Man 4] I'll catch
you cats later.
Man. What a maniac.
I'm all revved up. You want
to get a beer or something?
Something stronger? Yeah.
Definitely something stronger.
[Car door opens;
Gagging, vomiting]
I got to get home.
It's probably good we're
not hanging out for a while.
Well, good luck
with the rest of it.
Yeah. Thanks.
Weird times, huh?
[Car engine starts; Tender
pop music plays on car stereo]
[J.B.] I said no junk food.
[Carl] I call shotgun!
[J.B.] You want me to take them?
No. We'll make it.
[Car engine revs; Lively pop
rock music plays on car stereo]
[He sighs]
She had an art assignment,
and I had my mother's car,
so the four of us
girls ended up here.
Daisy and me waited in the car
while our friends went inside.
I pulled up in the roundabout,
and that's when two men came
running out with the paintings.
The paintings were
in these big pillowcase things.
Well, suddenly there was a man
pointing a gun at us.
He was standing
just about where you are now.
I'd never even
seen a gun before.
I just, you know,
tried to stay calm.
I put the car in drive
and got out of the way
while they went speeding
out of the museum.
I'm still kind of scared.
I mean, he looked right at me.
It seems inconceivable to me...
that these abstract paintings
would be worth the trouble.
I'm not entirely convinced
they thought this through.
[J.B.'s mother] James and I
were just there.
Tommy, elbows off the table.
What a horrible thing
for those young girls.
Are you kidding?
It's probably the most
exciting thing that's
ever happened to them.
They'll be talking about it
for the rest of their lives.
[J.B.'s father] Of course...
[J.B.'s father
clears his throat]
there are dark markets.
I suppose one could...
buy any kind of commodity there.
A beautiful painting, perhaps.
That, I am afraid, is outside
my realm of expertise.
[J.B.'s mother] We're museum
members. We really ought to
start going more often.
[Car engine rumbles]
[J.B.] "Outside my
realm of expertise."
[He chuckles] Oh, man.
It's too much.
[Pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Telephone rings]
Yeah.
[J.B.'s mother] That's how
you answer the phone?
Oh. Hi, Mom.
James, I didn't want to ask
with the whole gang around,
but how are your
plans working out?
My plans?
[J.B.'s mother] Did you meet
with the architect?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
It was good.
Actually, I'm working on it now.
Can I call you later?
[J.B.'s mother] Well, your
father will be home early today.
But the job, it's a sure thing?
Yeah. Yeah, it's happening.
[J.B.'s mother] Wonderful.
I'll let you get back to it.
Okay, Mom.
[Indistinct, playful yelling
in the distance]
[United States national anthem
plays on TV]
[Objects thud]
- [Strained breathing]
- [Insects chirp]
[Pig grunts]
[Strained breathing continues]
- [He pants]
- [Pig grunts]
[Wooden ladder creaks, thuds]
[In a hushed voice] Oh, shit.
Shit.
[He pants]
[He groans, pants]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music concludes]
[Terri] James?
Yeah.
I just went out to
get some doughnuts.
What the hell happened here?
Who are you guys?
[Terri] Boys, go play outside.
Terri, you should go with them.
We won't be long.
Come on.
[Detective Long] I'm Detective
Long. This is Agent Carroll.
Yeah?
You don't look like cops.
[Detective Long] Well,
Agent Carroll's an agent
specializing in art crime.
Carroll flew in from D.C.
to help us out with this
robbery at the museum.
Oh, yeah?
[Agent Carroll] We thought
maybe you could be of some help.
How so?
[Agent Carroll] Well, you're
an art lover, aren't you?
As much as the next guy.
My parents are members
of some museums in town.
See, James, we've been told
that you're mixed up in
this robbery at the museum.
Well, that's bizarre.
Where'd you hear
something like that?
[Detective Long] Well, we
got one of the suspects
in custody right now.
Ronald Gibson?
[Agent Carroll] James,
we're giving you the
opportunity to help yourself.
We assume you might not have
understood the gravity
of removing paintings
from public spaces.
Uh, I sure don't know how
you got down this road,
but you got the wrong idea.
I'm afraid you got
some bad information.
Well, this guy Gibson,
he's in a world of trouble.
Looking at a lot of time.
You know what
this guy is telling us?
He's saying you're
the mastermind behind
this whole thing.
He says you got these paintings.
Well, that's wild. I guess...
you know, like you guys said...
he's in a tight spot and he
might say just about anything.
I don't know what his
problem is, why he'd
come up with my name.
I think you better put on some
shoes and come downtown with us.
Sure.
Let me just call my dad first.
You know my dad, Judge Mooney?
Judge Mooney? He's your father?
Yeah. He's a real stickler
for procedure and stuff.
He's gonna want to know about
a search warrant and...
Maybe this...
this Gibson kid has an
old grudge with my dad
or something, you know?
That's happened before.
Yeah. That must be it.
I'm sorry I can't help.
[Agent Carroll] Here's my number
if you want to get in touch.
I'm sure all anybody cares about
is getting those paintings back
safe and sound.
Okay?
[Door creaks]
[J.B.] Terri.
[Telephone rings]
Hello?
[Man 2] You see this shit?
What the hell? He robs a bank?
- What kind of animal
is this guy? - Yeah.
I know. Calm down.
Just give me a minute to think.
[Man 2] I'm gonna need some
more bread right away.
Oh, come on, Guy.
You and I are square.
[Guy] It's not so simple.
There's a lot of heat.
Can you come meet me?
I don't want to be talking
on the goddamn telephone.
[Door closes]
- [Terri] God damn you!
- [J.B.] Terri, Terri!
- No, no, no! -
[Metallic clank,
alarm clock goes off]
Fuck!
What'd you do that for?
[He pants]
[Alarm stops]
Terri?
Terri, are you
freaking out or...
What's going on?
I don't blame you if
you're a little freaked
out, but you just...
You have to have
a little faith in me.
I know it kind of looks bad,
but it's really, uh...
Are these clean?
I just need a little time
to get some things straight.
Get things back on track.
I mean, a little faith
will go a long way.
You're really hard
to read right now.
It'd be great
if you would say something.
You still wearing these?
[Panting continues]
I got shotgun!
- Where's Tommy?
- [Terri] He's
locked in his room.
[Pop rock music
plays inside bedroom]
Tommy?
Tommy, come on, open up!
Tommy, I know it's been
a crazy day, but...
we're gonna...
we're gonna go spend some time
at Grandma Mooney's house.
- [Tommy] Is Dad coming?
- Sure, Tommy. Sure.
Daddy's not coming right now.
Tommy, I command
you to open this door.
[Music volume increases]
[Terri] Really, James?
I'm not going, and
you can't make me.
[Music stops]
So what am I
telling your parents?
Why am I saying we're there?
Huh, you'll think of something.
- Hey, Sam.
- What's going on, J.B.?
I'm wondering if I
could borrow your car.
I'm just doing
stuff around here.
- Actually, I'm not
doing anything. -
[J.B. chuckles]
Hey, Tommy, you coming out
for baseball next year?
Think about it, okay?
We could use you on second base.
Thanks, Sam. I won't be long.
We'll be back in an hour.
No problemo .
I'm gonna talk to this guy
for ten minutes.
Then I'm taking you
to your grandparents.
Tommy, are you listening?
[J.B. sighs]
Thanks for coming, J.B.
[J.B.] Who's that?
[Unsettling upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Tommy] Dad!
Dad!
Dad!
[Tires screech]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
Are you guys cops?
[Men laugh]
[Guy] Mind if I
finish these off?
[Unsettling upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Music subsides]
[Music intensifies]
[Music concludes]
[Insects chirp]
[Birdsong]
[Driver] Honestly, I don't
think you've thought
things through enough.
No offense.
I always say...
never work with...
drug addicts,
dealers...
or wild cards.
That kid Gibson?
You have to
imagine a kid like that
is gonna be running his mouth...
bragging to anyone
who will listen...
that'll hold up a bank.
[He laughs loudly]
Wow.
Okay. You couldn't
have seen that coming.
Anyway,
for next time.
Get out of here!
[J.B.] Tommy, let's go.
[Car engine revs]
Jesus, J.B.
Man, oh, man.
- Get in.
- [Guy] What a weird nightmare.
I'm glad you gave them what
they wanted, because those
guys don't give a fuck.
Hey, man. I need a lift back!
What? Don't take it out on me!
What could I do?
This is all your fault, J.B.!
- This is all your fault, man!
- [Tires screech]
- This is on you, man!
- [Car engine revs]
Come on!
[J.B.] Tommy,
let's keep today to ourselves.
You'll be okay staying
here for a while.
Why can't I come with you?
[J.B.] 'Cause you're
gonna stay here
and look out for your mom,
go to school.
Can you get word to Coach Sam?
Let him know his car's
in the Union Station.
I'll put it in the
south parking lot,
and I'll put the key
underneath the front mat, okay?
Can you say it back to me
so I know you got it?
Tell Coach his
car's at the station.
[J.B.] Which station?
Union Station.
South parking lot.
He's in the phone book.
Coach Sam's last name
is Kuchar, with a K.
[Terri] Tommy.
[J.B.] Think about taking him up
on playing second base.
I think it'd be good for you.
[Terri] Come on, Tommy.
Come inside.
[Car door slams]
[Elegant, gloomy trumpet notes]
Good night.
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
[Man clears throat]
"Art school dropout robs museum.
"On October 14th,
"two masked men entered
the Framingham Art Museum
"in Massachusetts,
"held a teenager at gunpoint...
"beat up a museum guard,
"and made off
with four paintings
"by Arthur Dove.
"The gunman, Ronald
Gibson of Roxbury,
"was apprehended Friday
while holding up a branch
"of the Worcester
County Credit Union.
"He has been charged
with armed robbery.
"Police are looking for a car
"which was believed to have
been stolen and which carried
- "Massachusetts registration."
- [J.B.] Hey, Maude.
[Maude] Hi, James.
[Man] "Still at large
are Guy Hickey
"and James Blaine Mooney,
"son of Circuit County judge
William Mooney.
"There are warrants
out for their arrest."
Oh, man.
Is the Judge losing his mind?
Well, he's got to be.
How about an egg?
[J.B.] Sure. Thanks.
Whatever you guys are having.
[Man] We already ate.
We country folk get up early.
[J.B.] I guess I
was pretty beat.
[Man chuckles] Yeah.
Yeah, you were.
[Eggs sizzle]
Yeah, I sure do appreciate
the fact knowing that...
once in a blue moon,
someone I know and love is gonna
come along and blow my mind.
And you, sir, have
blown my mind.
No more chipping
away at the edges, huh?
This time, you've
blown it all up.
Yeah, you really
made Fred's week.
All he does is walk around
and read the paper.
But what do you say
we stop talking about
it for now? 'Cause...
I find it kind of upsetting.
Yeah, I'm good with that.
- Thanks, Maude.
- [Maude] There you go.
Okay. Thanks.
[J.B.] So, what have
you guys been up to?
Maude's been gardening.
That's kind of over now.
I've been substituting
at the middle school.
I shaved my beard.
Cool.
[Unsettling
mid-tempo drum beats]
[Drum beats continue;
Indistinct, lively
chatter on TV]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Drum beats conclude]
I thought you were asleep.
I was. Now I'm up.
It's the last one.
You want to share?
No, thanks.
So, what's going on, Maude?
You're kind of aloof.
Everything okay?
You stole those Arthur Dove
paintings for Professor
Pruitt to unload.
[He chuckles]
What?
Where'd you get that?
That red swirly sun painting.
That hung in Pruitt's office.
He was your thesis adviser.
You must have
seen it a million times.
[He chuckles]
Wow. That's strange.
He was your fence.
[J.B.] My fence?
Sounds funny coming from you.
I don't want you staying here
anymore after tonight.
I'm serious.
And don't call either.
I don't want you
talking to Fred at all.
And I want you to
leave us alone, okay?
[He exhales sharply]
That's...
That's pretty rough, Maude.
Look at the position
that you've already put us in
just by coming here.
Okay? I...
I don't want you
ruining our lives too.
I hope it works out for you
somehow. I really do. But...
Well, that's clear enough.
Good night.
[Fred] Nice threads.
- You look good.
- Really?
I feel kind of ridiculous.
No offense.
I wish you could
stay a little longer.
You sure you got to run off?
Yeah. I should.
I should make a move.
I was thinking I'd go
to Cleveland, check
in on Joe and Claire.
They're still in the
same place, right?
Far as I know.
I kind of lost
touch a little bit.
Maude and Claire,
they still talk.
Thanks, Maude.
- [Fred] Let me get the keys.
- Yeah.
Okay, okay.
Boy, oh, boy.
Sure you got
everything you need?
Yeah.
Take care of yourself, James.
Yeah. Thanks.
[She sighs]
[Indistinct, playful yelling]
[Fred] You should really think
about the farm.
Right now you're 58 miles
from the border.
My brother is about four
and a half hours northwest
once you cross over.
I'm telling you, J.B.,
it would offer you some
shelter and company.
You wouldn't be floating around
on your own,
so exposed.
Me in a commune?
[He chuckles]
Who's he got there,
a bunch of draft dodgers?
[Fred] Draft dodgers,
radical feminists, dope fiends.
Nice people.
It doesn't sound
like my kind of scene.
Anyway, I don't think
I'd do well in another country.
I'll just go to Cleveland,
drop in on Joe.
[Fred] You're not in
the papers in Canada.
Fred.
Okay. Okay.
It was an option.
[J.B.] I appreciate it. Shit.
I had too much coffee.
[Vehicle approaches]
If you want to reach me,
it's best to write me
at the general store.
Hopper's General
Store on Route 99.
They'll get it to me.
[Elegant, gloomy trumpet notes]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
Hey, man.
I was looking for
Joe and Claire.
[Neighbor] They ain't home.
They took off yesterday.
Had their car pretty loaded up.
Want me to leave a message?
That's okay.
[Unsettling
mid-tempo drum beats]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music concludes; Faint
radio jingle in the distance]
[Motel clerk] You'll have
the whole floor to yourself.
You want to settle up?
[No audible dialogue]
[Delicate, intriguing
cymbal strokes]
[Sparse, scattered drum beats]
[Music intensifies]
[Music concludes]
[Indistinct voice on payphone]
[J.B.] Uh...
I don't know, buddy.
- Is Mom around?
- [Car engine starts nearby]
[Carl] Uh, yeah. I
think she's outside.
[J.B.] Is she right outside?
[Horn honks]
[Carl's voice on payphone]
[Car engine revs, brakes squeal]
[Carl's voice on payphone]
[Vehicle approaches]
Hey.
[Man on radio] Last month the
President of the United States
said nothing you young
kids would do would
have any effect on him.
Well, I suggest to the President
of the United States--
[Radio scans]
[Cheerful pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Door opens, squeals]
[Light bulb buzzes]
[Faint TV chatter
in the distance]
[Muffled thuds in the distance]
[Indistinct chatter nearby]
[Blues music plays on jukebox]
- Oh! Hey!
- [J.B.] Sorry.
[Man] My lawyer's telling the
judge that it'd be better if
I went in the service,
saying that, uh,
they'd fix me up
and I'd be good for society
when I came out.
Oh. They had you.
Oh, man, you know,
I was okay with it.
Yeah.
I wanted to see what kind
of person I was, you know?
Was I brave? Was I a coward?
What'd you find out?
[Man] Shit, man.
I got to Parris Island and...
things get real.
[Alternative rock
music plays on jukebox]
[Woman speaks indistinctly
in a low voice]
[Woman coughs forcefully]
[Music stops]
[Gloomy mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music concludes, resonates]
[Faint rattling of helicopter
blades and gunfire on TV]
[Reporter on TV] Bravo Company,
Fifth Battalion, Seventh Cavalry
moved into Cambodia
two weeks ago
and has met with continuous
heavy enemy contact.
In 14 days
the Company has fought
against North Vietnamese forces
on 20 separate occasions.
[Rattling continues]
[Tommy on telephone]
And he hid it in the piano
- to hide it from Grandpa...
- [J.B.] Yeah?
[Tommy] ...'cause he
knew he would be mad.
- [J.B.] The Judge
is pretty mad, huh?
- [Tommy] Yeah.
It looks like he's about to
have, like, a heart attack or...
[J.B. laughs]
When are you gonna,
like, come home?
[J.B.] I'm not sure, Tommy.
Put Mom on the phone.
[Terri] Hang up, Tommy.
Things sound pretty
crazy over there.
My parents can
really be a pain, huh?
[Terri] Tommy,
hang up. I'm serious.
[Handset clicks]
Are you there?
[Terri] I'm here.
Well...
I was just calling
to let you know that I'm okay.
[Terri] Alright.
And...
I wanted to say that I'm sorry.
I know it probably doesn't...
help anything
or even mean much to you, but...
I am.
I really screwed up.
I don't have to tell you.
I know that.
I wanted to say it is all.
There's a lot I wanted to say...
things I want to tell you,
but I don't know if...
if this is a good time or...
Terri, I know it doesn't
make much sense.
But everything I've done...
it's been for you and the kids.
And me, yeah.
Yeah. Me too. True enough.
But mostly, Terri,
my intentions,
the things I've done--
three-quarters
of what I've done,
was for the good of our family.
You're so goddamn quiet.
I wish you'd yell at
me or say something.
[Terri] I'm really
happy you're okay, J.B.
I got to hang up.
I got to put the kids to bed.
It's been a hectic day.
We're all just worn out.
So I'm gonna hang up.
Terri, wait.
The thing is...
I'm kind of stuck.
I really hate to ask,
but I need a wire.
I don't need that much.
Just enough to get me
to the next place.
I don't know if that's something
you can help me with or not.
But maybe you could
ask my mother. I doubt
she'd say no to you.
[Unsettling, gloomy
trumpet note]
[Terri] I'm gonna hang up
the phone now, James.
Terri, wait.
- [Handset clicks] -
[Abrupt, high-pitched
trumpet note]
[Vehicle engine rumbles nearby]
Thank you.
The three o'clock
to Toronto, one way.
Eleven sixty-five.
One to Columbus.
[Quiet chatter in cafe]
[Protesters shout] Why don't you
try fighting for your country.
Just standing there!
- Not worth it!
- I bet you don't have a job!
- Hippie!
- Disgusting, man.
[Waitress] Gentlemen, would you
go back to your table, please.
- You make something
of yourself. - Bunch
of freeloading pigs!
[Waitress] Guys.
[Protester] They could use
a good ass kick.
- [Indistinct shouting
in the distance] - [He
sighs, bitterly]
[Busy, indistinct chatter]
[Protesters chant
in the distance]
[Lady] Hey! Hey!
Hey, help! Somebody!
That man got my purse! Stop him!
That man is a thief!
He got my purse!
Stop him!
[Heated clamoring]
[Frantic, upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Young man] Hey!
Wait!
You!
Sir.
- You dropped this.
- [J.B.] Thanks, man.
You should keep it
in your breast pocket.
[Desperate screaming, grunting]
Hey!
Hey!
[He grunts, pants]
No, no, no!
[Music builds]
Wait, wait, wait.
There's been a mistake.
[Music fades]
[Police officers
chatter indistinctly]
[Car engines start]
[Car engines rev]
[Frantic, upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music concludes]
[Quiet background murmurs;
Hushed atmosphere]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music fades]
[Child] Can I tell you a riddle?
You ask the first one 'cause
it doesn't matter if you know
There's three alien overlords
that could help you get off
if you give them
the right artifacts.
There's T, F and R.
T always tells the truth.
R-- F always tells lies.
And R, randomly
says truthfully or lies.
You have deciphered
their language enough
to ask them questions,
but you don't know what ozo or
ulu mean, between yes and no.
Will you ask them to find
out who is who and give
them the right artifacts?
Let's assume that,
ulu is yes.
Then it would be--
Then, you would know
that the one in the middle is R
and that one is probably T.
But just to be sure, you
ask some random question
that's super easy.
If it says the wrong answer,
then you'd know that,
that one was actually F.
But that's impossible.
So the one in the
middle has to be--
It would have to be and then the one
on the left would have to be F.
[Continues in background]
But, but that breaks the
laws of physics
and really just
the entire riddle.
So the answer is
you ask the first one
'cause you really don't know
and it doesn't matter.
[Sparse, scattered drum beats]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
Yeah, of course, we can seal it.
[Child and woman
converse indistinctly]
[Music continues]
Ask it again?
[Music fades]
Hey, Dad. Where
do otters come from?
Come on. Guess.
- Come on, guess!
- [J.B.] I don't know, buddy.
A string walks into a bar.
The bartender says,
"Hey. We don't serve strings
here. Can't you see the signs?"
[Music resumes,
obscures dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[He imitates plane
engine rumble]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music subsides]
[Protester on TV]
...mayor of the city
causing harm to students.
I think it's interesting
that faculty members
that assaulted students
aren't on trial,
that faculty members
that were on the picket
lines are on trial.
It's saying to people
that if you take action,
that the university
will take measures against you,
that what the university
approves of is silence.
[Reporter on TV] Although
Hamlin feels campus protest
has influenced international
and national affairs,
he's not sure that success
has boosted morale among
anti-war activists.
[Protester] I think
it is generally true, though,
that there is
tremendous feelings of
powerlessness, cynicism,
apathy on the part of large
numbers of people and that...
- Guys, dinner's
ready. - [Protester]
...but this is true.
Boys, go wash your hands.
[Protester] I mean, this is true
throughout the country, and...
[J.B.'s father, grunting] Yeah.
[Protester] ...that's
being struggled with because...
the war and the struggle
against the war has
moved to a new phase.
[Newscaster] Hamlin's "new
phase" has been going on now
for more than four years.
The latest resurgence began
last April 17th.
Five days later, protesters
announced their intention
to close down the university--
[J.B.'s father] I saw
Kipp's father today.
He said Kipp has
projects all over town.
[J.B.] Mm-hmm.
Kipp's doing well.
[J.B.'s father] What does
he know that you don't?
You have all his
skills, don't you?
Kipp can't hang a window.
Can't build a cabinet.
Not a nice one, anyway.
[J.B.'s father] He's the boss
of his own outfit.
Tells the whole team what to do.
[J.B.] He spends all his time
balancing books,
scheduling, on the phone.
[J.B.'s father] Those are
the task of the top man.
It's an idiotic way
to spend your time.
Well, you seem to have
a good amount of
time on your hands.
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
The paintings are all
in one small gallery
on the second floor.
The paintings come off the wall,
go into the cases, and down
to the waiting car.
The whole thing, from the
time you enter until the time
the car leaves the museum,
is roughly eight minutes.
Then you go to Denholm's.
You'll have your car on the
north side of the top level.
Ditch the hot car
and meet me back at the Echo.
I don't know, J.B.
I can't carry four
paintings alone.
[J.B.] You won't be alone.
Ronnie Gibson will be with you.
Wait.
Little Ronnie Gibson?
[J.B.] He's not a kid anymore,
and he's through selling weed.
He's doing other things now.
Trust me.
I've given it a lot of thought.
Gibson's perfect.
He's got a lot of nerve.
- [Man 2] He's nervy. I'll
give him that. - Not that
this requires a lot of nerve.
So you keep telling
us. This place is just
giving away paintings.
- [J.B.] I'd do it myself--
- Sure, you would.
I'm in there too often.
I'm too recognizable.
You know where
you're getting the car?
Got a rough idea.
Then what?
[J.B.] Then... nothing.
Then you get paid
and we all go home.
I mean, how exactly do the
paintings get spun into cash?
- You keep asking me
that. - [Man 3] You
keep not answering.
Because...
you don't need to know.
Yeah, but we're curious.
[Man 3] I want another 50
for lifting the car.
Maybe.
Yeah. Okay.
[Man 3] An enormous improvement.
Don't bullshit us, J.B.
- You got the money to pay us?
- [Woman] J.B.?
- Yeah.
- [Woman] Who's down there?
[J.B.] Uh, the guys are here.
They're leaving in a minute.
[Woman] Hmm.
Alright. I'm going to bed.
Don't forget to lock the door.
Okay.
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
- [She whispers]
That's a lot of money.
- [Music fades]
[Indistinct chatter
in the background]
I'll admit I wasn't expecting
that big of an ask.
[J.B.] I know. I know
it's a lot on top of
what I already owe you.
[He clears his
throat] The thing is...
and just hear me out.
I have a good opportunity.
I met with an architect
who's about to refurbish
a house in the West End,
and he wants all Japanese-style
cabinets throughout the house.
That's why he came to me.
He knows I'm the guy
for the job, but...
And like Dad says,
I don't need a
middleman to take a fee.
But I'd have to rent a workspace
and purchase tools
which I don't have.
That sort of thing.
It's a big, life-changing
opportunity for me.
But if I want the
job, I have to act fast
before he offers it
to someone else.
And this is real, James?
The job and the architect?
Mom, it's real.
I want to be paid back.
I'm not made of money, James.
[J.B.] No. I know,
I know.
Your father and I
would like to retire.
The minute I get paid,
it goes right back to you.
Well, that's a bit vague.
When you get a schedule
from this architect,
I want an actual payment plan.
Sure, no problem.
[J.B.'s mother]
This is between us.
- I don't want your
father to know. -
[Music resumes]
[Music continues; Train
horn blares in the distance]
[Car engine sputters]
[Engine starts]
[Music continues]
[Music continues;
Sewing machine whirs]
Thanks.
Seems like wood that precious...
I hope these people
don't have kids.
People want what they want.
[Child] Hey, is anyone
gonna make dinner?
Thanks, Terri.
[Music continues]
- [Child] Where is everybody?
- [J.B.] I don't know.
[Music concludes]
Uh-oh, looks like someone
didn't get the memo.
Which memo was that?
[Teacher] The one reminding you
about the teachers' work day.
Tommy, didn't you
give your mom the ditto?
[Tommy] I don't think I got one.
[J.B. on telephone] Did
you know the kids don't
have school today?
[Terri sighs]
[She whispers] That's
not an emergency.
[J.B.] Can you call June
and ask her to watch the boys?
I'm at work.
Call one of your friends.
Why can't they be with you?
[J.B.] I've got things to do.
What things? Like what?
[J.B.] Things. Errands.
Wait a second. Wait.
- You jerk.
- Hey, Carl, cut it out.
[Carl] I could've
suffocated in there
- if you really want to know.
- [J.B.] Come on.
You two stay out of trouble.
You hear me?
And, Tommy, don't let your
brother eat a bunch of crap.
[Whimsical carousel tune]
Meet me back
here at two o'clock.
Tommy? Two o'clock.
Okay!
[Tune fades]
[Car engine rumbles]
[J.B., sighing] Hey.
We'll settle up the rest after.
And, Larry,
you better get moving, alright?
I'm afraid you're gonna
have to take it from here.
What?
I'm afraid you're gonna
have to take it from here.
Wait a minute. You're bailing?
You can't. This is it.
Who's gonna drive?
I'm sorry.
You're sorry?
I threw in some Jersey plates
for the trouble.
Larry, I'm counting on you.
Larry!
This is real shitty, man.
Real shitty!
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Man 2] Hey.
- Where's Larry?
- Get in.
[Man 2] Oh, man.
[Music continues]
[J.B.] What?
[Man 2] What's he doing?
[J.B.] Jeez.
[Protester] Shame on you.
Sorry, lady.
[Busy chatter]
[Music continues]
- [Music stops] -
[Pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Low, indistinct muttering]
Hey. How long do you think
this is gonna take?
[Girl] Really like 10 or
15 minutes. I just need
to take a few notes.
[Pop rock music fades;
Intriguing mid-tempo
jazz music joins]
[Car engine rumbles]
Here.
No. Take them with you.
No. I got it.
Here goes nothing.
[Music subsides]
[Music and rumbling continue]
- [Music continues] -
[She speaks in French]
"All... fickle,
"false,
"talkative,
- "hypocritical,
- [Snoring nearby]
"proud and cowardly,
despicable and sensual;
"all women are treacherous,
"cunning, vain,
"curious and depraved."
[Music builds]
[Police radio chatter]
[Music subsides]
[Loudly] They're
cleaning up in there.
Oh.
[He whispers] Watch the door.
[Music continues;
Car engine rumbles]
[Music continues,
intensifies] [In French]
"...but I have loved.
"It is I who have lived,
"and not a factitious being
created by my pride and my--"
- [Girl 2, in English]
What are you doing? -
[Man 4] Shut your mouth.
Put your hands down.
Get under there.
[He whispers]
What are you doing?
Put that away.
- I can't see anything.
- [Man 4] Shut the fuck up.
Helen?
[Music stops]
[Tires screech]
Hey! Hey!
[Car engine rumbles]
Hey. Go easy, man. Easy.
Forget the window.
Get in the car.
[Tires screech, stop] Shit.
- Well, honk or something.
- [J.B.] Wait.
[Car door opens]
- [Car door slams]
- [Man 2] Oh, this isn't good.
- What the fuck?
- [Man 4] Move the car.
[Tense upbeat tempo jazz music]
[Man 4 laughs]
[Man 2] Do you
think that's funny?
Stop sign.
[Music continues]
[Music fades;
Car engine rumbles]
[Distant traffic hum]
[Car engine revs nearby]
We specifically said no guns.
You're lucky I had one.
You should have seen
that chick's face.
Hey, man, put that away.
It's all there.
[Man 4] I'll catch
you cats later.
Man. What a maniac.
I'm all revved up. You want
to get a beer or something?
Something stronger? Yeah.
Definitely something stronger.
[Car door opens;
Gagging, vomiting]
I got to get home.
It's probably good we're
not hanging out for a while.
Well, good luck
with the rest of it.
Yeah. Thanks.
Weird times, huh?
[Car engine starts; Tender
pop music plays on car stereo]
[J.B.] I said no junk food.
[Carl] I call shotgun!
[J.B.] You want me to take them?
No. We'll make it.
[Car engine revs; Lively pop
rock music plays on car stereo]
[He sighs]
She had an art assignment,
and I had my mother's car,
so the four of us
girls ended up here.
Daisy and me waited in the car
while our friends went inside.
I pulled up in the roundabout,
and that's when two men came
running out with the paintings.
The paintings were
in these big pillowcase things.
Well, suddenly there was a man
pointing a gun at us.
He was standing
just about where you are now.
I'd never even
seen a gun before.
I just, you know,
tried to stay calm.
I put the car in drive
and got out of the way
while they went speeding
out of the museum.
I'm still kind of scared.
I mean, he looked right at me.
It seems inconceivable to me...
that these abstract paintings
would be worth the trouble.
I'm not entirely convinced
they thought this through.
[J.B.'s mother] James and I
were just there.
Tommy, elbows off the table.
What a horrible thing
for those young girls.
Are you kidding?
It's probably the most
exciting thing that's
ever happened to them.
They'll be talking about it
for the rest of their lives.
[J.B.'s father] Of course...
[J.B.'s father
clears his throat]
there are dark markets.
I suppose one could...
buy any kind of commodity there.
A beautiful painting, perhaps.
That, I am afraid, is outside
my realm of expertise.
[J.B.'s mother] We're museum
members. We really ought to
start going more often.
[Car engine rumbles]
[J.B.] "Outside my
realm of expertise."
[He chuckles] Oh, man.
It's too much.
[Pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Telephone rings]
Yeah.
[J.B.'s mother] That's how
you answer the phone?
Oh. Hi, Mom.
James, I didn't want to ask
with the whole gang around,
but how are your
plans working out?
My plans?
[J.B.'s mother] Did you meet
with the architect?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
It was good.
Actually, I'm working on it now.
Can I call you later?
[J.B.'s mother] Well, your
father will be home early today.
But the job, it's a sure thing?
Yeah. Yeah, it's happening.
[J.B.'s mother] Wonderful.
I'll let you get back to it.
Okay, Mom.
[Indistinct, playful yelling
in the distance]
[United States national anthem
plays on TV]
[Objects thud]
- [Strained breathing]
- [Insects chirp]
[Pig grunts]
[Strained breathing continues]
- [He pants]
- [Pig grunts]
[Wooden ladder creaks, thuds]
[In a hushed voice] Oh, shit.
Shit.
[He pants]
[He groans, pants]
[Intriguing
mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music concludes]
[Terri] James?
Yeah.
I just went out to
get some doughnuts.
What the hell happened here?
Who are you guys?
[Terri] Boys, go play outside.
Terri, you should go with them.
We won't be long.
Come on.
[Detective Long] I'm Detective
Long. This is Agent Carroll.
Yeah?
You don't look like cops.
[Detective Long] Well,
Agent Carroll's an agent
specializing in art crime.
Carroll flew in from D.C.
to help us out with this
robbery at the museum.
Oh, yeah?
[Agent Carroll] We thought
maybe you could be of some help.
How so?
[Agent Carroll] Well, you're
an art lover, aren't you?
As much as the next guy.
My parents are members
of some museums in town.
See, James, we've been told
that you're mixed up in
this robbery at the museum.
Well, that's bizarre.
Where'd you hear
something like that?
[Detective Long] Well, we
got one of the suspects
in custody right now.
Ronald Gibson?
[Agent Carroll] James,
we're giving you the
opportunity to help yourself.
We assume you might not have
understood the gravity
of removing paintings
from public spaces.
Uh, I sure don't know how
you got down this road,
but you got the wrong idea.
I'm afraid you got
some bad information.
Well, this guy Gibson,
he's in a world of trouble.
Looking at a lot of time.
You know what
this guy is telling us?
He's saying you're
the mastermind behind
this whole thing.
He says you got these paintings.
Well, that's wild. I guess...
you know, like you guys said...
he's in a tight spot and he
might say just about anything.
I don't know what his
problem is, why he'd
come up with my name.
I think you better put on some
shoes and come downtown with us.
Sure.
Let me just call my dad first.
You know my dad, Judge Mooney?
Judge Mooney? He's your father?
Yeah. He's a real stickler
for procedure and stuff.
He's gonna want to know about
a search warrant and...
Maybe this...
this Gibson kid has an
old grudge with my dad
or something, you know?
That's happened before.
Yeah. That must be it.
I'm sorry I can't help.
[Agent Carroll] Here's my number
if you want to get in touch.
I'm sure all anybody cares about
is getting those paintings back
safe and sound.
Okay?
[Door creaks]
[J.B.] Terri.
[Telephone rings]
Hello?
[Man 2] You see this shit?
What the hell? He robs a bank?
- What kind of animal
is this guy? - Yeah.
I know. Calm down.
Just give me a minute to think.
[Man 2] I'm gonna need some
more bread right away.
Oh, come on, Guy.
You and I are square.
[Guy] It's not so simple.
There's a lot of heat.
Can you come meet me?
I don't want to be talking
on the goddamn telephone.
[Door closes]
- [Terri] God damn you!
- [J.B.] Terri, Terri!
- No, no, no! -
[Metallic clank,
alarm clock goes off]
Fuck!
What'd you do that for?
[He pants]
[Alarm stops]
Terri?
Terri, are you
freaking out or...
What's going on?
I don't blame you if
you're a little freaked
out, but you just...
You have to have
a little faith in me.
I know it kind of looks bad,
but it's really, uh...
Are these clean?
I just need a little time
to get some things straight.
Get things back on track.
I mean, a little faith
will go a long way.
You're really hard
to read right now.
It'd be great
if you would say something.
You still wearing these?
[Panting continues]
I got shotgun!
- Where's Tommy?
- [Terri] He's
locked in his room.
[Pop rock music
plays inside bedroom]
Tommy?
Tommy, come on, open up!
Tommy, I know it's been
a crazy day, but...
we're gonna...
we're gonna go spend some time
at Grandma Mooney's house.
- [Tommy] Is Dad coming?
- Sure, Tommy. Sure.
Daddy's not coming right now.
Tommy, I command
you to open this door.
[Music volume increases]
[Terri] Really, James?
I'm not going, and
you can't make me.
[Music stops]
So what am I
telling your parents?
Why am I saying we're there?
Huh, you'll think of something.
- Hey, Sam.
- What's going on, J.B.?
I'm wondering if I
could borrow your car.
I'm just doing
stuff around here.
- Actually, I'm not
doing anything. -
[J.B. chuckles]
Hey, Tommy, you coming out
for baseball next year?
Think about it, okay?
We could use you on second base.
Thanks, Sam. I won't be long.
We'll be back in an hour.
No problemo .
I'm gonna talk to this guy
for ten minutes.
Then I'm taking you
to your grandparents.
Tommy, are you listening?
[J.B. sighs]
Thanks for coming, J.B.
[J.B.] Who's that?
[Unsettling upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Tommy] Dad!
Dad!
Dad!
[Tires screech]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
Are you guys cops?
[Men laugh]
[Guy] Mind if I
finish these off?
[Unsettling upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Music subsides]
[Music intensifies]
[Music concludes]
[Insects chirp]
[Birdsong]
[Driver] Honestly, I don't
think you've thought
things through enough.
No offense.
I always say...
never work with...
drug addicts,
dealers...
or wild cards.
That kid Gibson?
You have to
imagine a kid like that
is gonna be running his mouth...
bragging to anyone
who will listen...
that'll hold up a bank.
[He laughs loudly]
Wow.
Okay. You couldn't
have seen that coming.
Anyway,
for next time.
Get out of here!
[J.B.] Tommy, let's go.
[Car engine revs]
Jesus, J.B.
Man, oh, man.
- Get in.
- [Guy] What a weird nightmare.
I'm glad you gave them what
they wanted, because those
guys don't give a fuck.
Hey, man. I need a lift back!
What? Don't take it out on me!
What could I do?
This is all your fault, J.B.!
- This is all your fault, man!
- [Tires screech]
- This is on you, man!
- [Car engine revs]
Come on!
[J.B.] Tommy,
let's keep today to ourselves.
You'll be okay staying
here for a while.
Why can't I come with you?
[J.B.] 'Cause you're
gonna stay here
and look out for your mom,
go to school.
Can you get word to Coach Sam?
Let him know his car's
in the Union Station.
I'll put it in the
south parking lot,
and I'll put the key
underneath the front mat, okay?
Can you say it back to me
so I know you got it?
Tell Coach his
car's at the station.
[J.B.] Which station?
Union Station.
South parking lot.
He's in the phone book.
Coach Sam's last name
is Kuchar, with a K.
[Terri] Tommy.
[J.B.] Think about taking him up
on playing second base.
I think it'd be good for you.
[Terri] Come on, Tommy.
Come inside.
[Car door slams]
[Elegant, gloomy trumpet notes]
Good night.
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
[Man clears throat]
"Art school dropout robs museum.
"On October 14th,
"two masked men entered
the Framingham Art Museum
"in Massachusetts,
"held a teenager at gunpoint...
"beat up a museum guard,
"and made off
with four paintings
"by Arthur Dove.
"The gunman, Ronald
Gibson of Roxbury,
"was apprehended Friday
while holding up a branch
"of the Worcester
County Credit Union.
"He has been charged
with armed robbery.
"Police are looking for a car
"which was believed to have
been stolen and which carried
- "Massachusetts registration."
- [J.B.] Hey, Maude.
[Maude] Hi, James.
[Man] "Still at large
are Guy Hickey
"and James Blaine Mooney,
"son of Circuit County judge
William Mooney.
"There are warrants
out for their arrest."
Oh, man.
Is the Judge losing his mind?
Well, he's got to be.
How about an egg?
[J.B.] Sure. Thanks.
Whatever you guys are having.
[Man] We already ate.
We country folk get up early.
[J.B.] I guess I
was pretty beat.
[Man chuckles] Yeah.
Yeah, you were.
[Eggs sizzle]
Yeah, I sure do appreciate
the fact knowing that...
once in a blue moon,
someone I know and love is gonna
come along and blow my mind.
And you, sir, have
blown my mind.
No more chipping
away at the edges, huh?
This time, you've
blown it all up.
Yeah, you really
made Fred's week.
All he does is walk around
and read the paper.
But what do you say
we stop talking about
it for now? 'Cause...
I find it kind of upsetting.
Yeah, I'm good with that.
- Thanks, Maude.
- [Maude] There you go.
Okay. Thanks.
[J.B.] So, what have
you guys been up to?
Maude's been gardening.
That's kind of over now.
I've been substituting
at the middle school.
I shaved my beard.
Cool.
[Unsettling
mid-tempo drum beats]
[Drum beats continue;
Indistinct, lively
chatter on TV]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Drum beats conclude]
I thought you were asleep.
I was. Now I'm up.
It's the last one.
You want to share?
No, thanks.
So, what's going on, Maude?
You're kind of aloof.
Everything okay?
You stole those Arthur Dove
paintings for Professor
Pruitt to unload.
[He chuckles]
What?
Where'd you get that?
That red swirly sun painting.
That hung in Pruitt's office.
He was your thesis adviser.
You must have
seen it a million times.
[He chuckles]
Wow. That's strange.
He was your fence.
[J.B.] My fence?
Sounds funny coming from you.
I don't want you staying here
anymore after tonight.
I'm serious.
And don't call either.
I don't want you
talking to Fred at all.
And I want you to
leave us alone, okay?
[He exhales sharply]
That's...
That's pretty rough, Maude.
Look at the position
that you've already put us in
just by coming here.
Okay? I...
I don't want you
ruining our lives too.
I hope it works out for you
somehow. I really do. But...
Well, that's clear enough.
Good night.
[Fred] Nice threads.
- You look good.
- Really?
I feel kind of ridiculous.
No offense.
I wish you could
stay a little longer.
You sure you got to run off?
Yeah. I should.
I should make a move.
I was thinking I'd go
to Cleveland, check
in on Joe and Claire.
They're still in the
same place, right?
Far as I know.
I kind of lost
touch a little bit.
Maude and Claire,
they still talk.
Thanks, Maude.
- [Fred] Let me get the keys.
- Yeah.
Okay, okay.
Boy, oh, boy.
Sure you got
everything you need?
Yeah.
Take care of yourself, James.
Yeah. Thanks.
[She sighs]
[Indistinct, playful yelling]
[Fred] You should really think
about the farm.
Right now you're 58 miles
from the border.
My brother is about four
and a half hours northwest
once you cross over.
I'm telling you, J.B.,
it would offer you some
shelter and company.
You wouldn't be floating around
on your own,
so exposed.
Me in a commune?
[He chuckles]
Who's he got there,
a bunch of draft dodgers?
[Fred] Draft dodgers,
radical feminists, dope fiends.
Nice people.
It doesn't sound
like my kind of scene.
Anyway, I don't think
I'd do well in another country.
I'll just go to Cleveland,
drop in on Joe.
[Fred] You're not in
the papers in Canada.
Fred.
Okay. Okay.
It was an option.
[J.B.] I appreciate it. Shit.
I had too much coffee.
[Vehicle approaches]
If you want to reach me,
it's best to write me
at the general store.
Hopper's General
Store on Route 99.
They'll get it to me.
[Elegant, gloomy trumpet notes]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
Hey, man.
I was looking for
Joe and Claire.
[Neighbor] They ain't home.
They took off yesterday.
Had their car pretty loaded up.
Want me to leave a message?
That's okay.
[Unsettling
mid-tempo drum beats]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues]
[Music concludes; Faint
radio jingle in the distance]
[Motel clerk] You'll have
the whole floor to yourself.
You want to settle up?
[No audible dialogue]
[Delicate, intriguing
cymbal strokes]
[Sparse, scattered drum beats]
[Music intensifies]
[Music concludes]
[Indistinct voice on payphone]
[J.B.] Uh...
I don't know, buddy.
- Is Mom around?
- [Car engine starts nearby]
[Carl] Uh, yeah. I
think she's outside.
[J.B.] Is she right outside?
[Horn honks]
[Carl's voice on payphone]
[Car engine revs, brakes squeal]
[Carl's voice on payphone]
[Vehicle approaches]
Hey.
[Man on radio] Last month the
President of the United States
said nothing you young
kids would do would
have any effect on him.
Well, I suggest to the President
of the United States--
[Radio scans]
[Cheerful pop rock music
plays on car stereo]
[Door opens, squeals]
[Light bulb buzzes]
[Faint TV chatter
in the distance]
[Muffled thuds in the distance]
[Indistinct chatter nearby]
[Blues music plays on jukebox]
- Oh! Hey!
- [J.B.] Sorry.
[Man] My lawyer's telling the
judge that it'd be better if
I went in the service,
saying that, uh,
they'd fix me up
and I'd be good for society
when I came out.
Oh. They had you.
Oh, man, you know,
I was okay with it.
Yeah.
I wanted to see what kind
of person I was, you know?
Was I brave? Was I a coward?
What'd you find out?
[Man] Shit, man.
I got to Parris Island and...
things get real.
[Alternative rock
music plays on jukebox]
[Woman speaks indistinctly
in a low voice]
[Woman coughs forcefully]
[Music stops]
[Gloomy mid-tempo jazz music]
[Music concludes, resonates]
[Faint rattling of helicopter
blades and gunfire on TV]
[Reporter on TV] Bravo Company,
Fifth Battalion, Seventh Cavalry
moved into Cambodia
two weeks ago
and has met with continuous
heavy enemy contact.
In 14 days
the Company has fought
against North Vietnamese forces
on 20 separate occasions.
[Rattling continues]
[Tommy on telephone]
And he hid it in the piano
- to hide it from Grandpa...
- [J.B.] Yeah?
[Tommy] ...'cause he
knew he would be mad.
- [J.B.] The Judge
is pretty mad, huh?
- [Tommy] Yeah.
It looks like he's about to
have, like, a heart attack or...
[J.B. laughs]
When are you gonna,
like, come home?
[J.B.] I'm not sure, Tommy.
Put Mom on the phone.
[Terri] Hang up, Tommy.
Things sound pretty
crazy over there.
My parents can
really be a pain, huh?
[Terri] Tommy,
hang up. I'm serious.
[Handset clicks]
Are you there?
[Terri] I'm here.
Well...
I was just calling
to let you know that I'm okay.
[Terri] Alright.
And...
I wanted to say that I'm sorry.
I know it probably doesn't...
help anything
or even mean much to you, but...
I am.
I really screwed up.
I don't have to tell you.
I know that.
I wanted to say it is all.
There's a lot I wanted to say...
things I want to tell you,
but I don't know if...
if this is a good time or...
Terri, I know it doesn't
make much sense.
But everything I've done...
it's been for you and the kids.
And me, yeah.
Yeah. Me too. True enough.
But mostly, Terri,
my intentions,
the things I've done--
three-quarters
of what I've done,
was for the good of our family.
You're so goddamn quiet.
I wish you'd yell at
me or say something.
[Terri] I'm really
happy you're okay, J.B.
I got to hang up.
I got to put the kids to bed.
It's been a hectic day.
We're all just worn out.
So I'm gonna hang up.
Terri, wait.
The thing is...
I'm kind of stuck.
I really hate to ask,
but I need a wire.
I don't need that much.
Just enough to get me
to the next place.
I don't know if that's something
you can help me with or not.
But maybe you could
ask my mother. I doubt
she'd say no to you.
[Unsettling, gloomy
trumpet note]
[Terri] I'm gonna hang up
the phone now, James.
Terri, wait.
- [Handset clicks] -
[Abrupt, high-pitched
trumpet note]
[Vehicle engine rumbles nearby]
Thank you.
The three o'clock
to Toronto, one way.
Eleven sixty-five.
One to Columbus.
[Quiet chatter in cafe]
[Protesters shout] Why don't you
try fighting for your country.
Just standing there!
- Not worth it!
- I bet you don't have a job!
- Hippie!
- Disgusting, man.
[Waitress] Gentlemen, would you
go back to your table, please.
- You make something
of yourself. - Bunch
of freeloading pigs!
[Waitress] Guys.
[Protester] They could use
a good ass kick.
- [Indistinct shouting
in the distance] - [He
sighs, bitterly]
[Busy, indistinct chatter]
[Protesters chant
in the distance]
[Lady] Hey! Hey!
Hey, help! Somebody!
That man got my purse! Stop him!
That man is a thief!
He got my purse!
Stop him!
[Heated clamoring]
[Frantic, upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Young man] Hey!
Wait!
You!
Sir.
- You dropped this.
- [J.B.] Thanks, man.
You should keep it
in your breast pocket.
[Desperate screaming, grunting]
Hey!
Hey!
[He grunts, pants]
No, no, no!
[Music builds]
Wait, wait, wait.
There's been a mistake.
[Music fades]
[Police officers
chatter indistinctly]
[Car engines start]
[Car engines rev]
[Frantic, upbeat
tempo jazz music]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music continues]
[Music concludes]