Don’t Say a Word (2001)
Director: Gary Fleder
Screenplay: Anthony Peckham, Patrick Smith Kelly
Based on: Don’t Say a Word by Andrew Klavan
Stars: Michael Douglas, Sean Bean, Brittany Murphy, Guy Torry, Jennifer Esposito, Famke Janssen, Oliver Platt
Release date: September 28, 2001
Plot: In 1991, a gang of thieves steal a rare $10-million gem, but, in the process, two of the gang double-cross their leader, Patrick Koster, and take off with the precious stone.
Ten years later, on the day before Thanksgiving, prominent Manhattan private practice child psychiatrist, Dr. Nathan R. Conrad, is invited by his friend and former colleague, Dr. Louis Sachs, to examine a “disturbed” young lady named Elisabeth Burrows at the state sanatorium.
Having been released from prison two weeks earlier, Patrick and the remaining gang members break into an apartment which overlooks Nathan’s apartment, where he lives with his wife Aggie and daughter Jessie. Nathan is informed by Patrick that Elisabeth is only pretending to be insane to hide in the institution from this gang that is searching for the gem. That evening, Patrick kidnaps Jessie as a means of forcing Nathan to acquire a six-digit number from Elisabeth’s memory. As Nathan visits Elisabeth, she is reluctant at first, but he gains her trust later – especially when he reveals the situation with Jessie. Sachs admits to Nathan that the gang who kidnapped Jessie also kidnapped his girlfriend to force him to acquire the number from Elisabeth. Sachs is then visited by Detective Sandra Cassidy, who reveals to him that his girlfriend has been found dead. Meanwhile, Aggie hears Jessie’s voice and realizes the kidnappers reside in the nearby apartment. The kidnappers send one of them to kill Aggie while the others escape with Jessie, but Aggie sets an ambush and kills him.
After Nathan takes Elisabeth out of the sanatorium, she remembers certain events regarding the gang. It is revealed that Elisabeth’s father was the gang member who double crossed the others and kept the gem. However, other members of the gang later found him and ordered him to reveal where he had hidden the gem, subsequently pushing him in front of a subway train. The gang members were arrested immediately, and Elisabeth escaped with her doll in which the gem was hidden. She also remembers that the required number, 815508, is the number of her father’s grave at Hart Island and that her doll is placed beside him in the coffin. She explains that she had stowed away on a boat that was taking her father’s coffin for burial in Potter’s field on Hart Island, where the gravediggers put the doll, named Mischka, inside.
Nathan and Elisabeth steal a boat to reach Hart Island. The gang members track them down and demand that Nathan give them the number they want. Elisabeth reveals the number and Patrick orders his companion to exhume her father’s coffin after releasing Jessie. He finds the doll and the gem hidden inside it. He then decides to kill Nathan and Elisabeth, but Cassidy arrives before he can shoot them. Patrick’s companion is shot by Cassidy, but Patrick manages to wound her. Taking advantage of the confusion, Nathan takes the gem from Patrick and throws it into an open mass grave. Nathan kicks Patrick into the grave, and then triggers a collapse of its sides, filling the grave with dirt and burying Patrick alive. Nathan reunites with Aggie and Jessie, thanks Cassidy, and invites Elisabeth to live with them.
* * *
Don’t Say a Word (2001) | Transcript
MAN: Don’t get me wrong.
I love the 49ers!
Montana and Rice?
They’re Hall of Fame locks, baby.
But do they cover the spread?
Hell, no.
Not like the Giants.
Let me tell you something.
You can give me Simms and Bavaro, Meggett and L.T. any day.
Those guys are your meat and potatoes.
They fucking cover, baby.
And don’t even bring up Miami.
Don’t. ‘Cause there’s nothing in Miami.
Miami has nothing but Marino with a golden arm and some fat booty cheerleaders.
They have no running game. It’s like two virgins who can’t find the damn hole.
That’s why they get blitzed all the damn time. You understand?
I can’t believe you guys, man.
Yeah, they put up a ton of points, but they cover every other week.
So take the over and bet the fucking farm.
You understand?
The pigs, the barn, the little chickens and that tractor.
Bet all of that.
Dallas, America’s team,
my sweet Black ass.
Come on.
Try the bookies’ fucking team, right?
Everybody and their grandmother wanna bet the Cowboys.
Therefore they gotta win by two touchdowns just to cover.
And what are the odds on that happening?
Huh? So do me a favor.
Take the points and run.
Come on, guys.
All right? Unless you are a moron, retarded Saints fan.
Therefore you deserve to get cornholed on the 50yard line.
America’s sport, baby… football.
I hate football.
Talk about my sport. I can do any bet.
One minute, fellas.
[GUNS COCK] It’s showtime.
Okay, let’s do it.
That’s a nasty habit, man.
MAN #2: Go!
Everybody, down on the ground!
Down, get down on the floor!
Everybody!
Get down! Get down! Move! Let’s go!
Move!
Come on!
What are you looking at?
Get down there!
How long?
Two minutes.
I see you, granny!
Get your ass out here. Come on.
Bingo.
No cameras.
1798.
That was a bad year.
It’s 90 seconds!
Got it.
[SMALL EXPLOSION]
Upstairs.
What is that?
Nothing. Just estate junk.
One minute!
It’s not here.
It’s there.
It’s not here!
It’s there!
Fortyfive!
My God.
Thirty seconds!
Okay, come on.
[SIREN WAILING]
Break out the diamond. Let’s see that ¤10 million red beauty, baby!
Fucking right.
The surgeon general was right!
Cigarettes can kill!
Go back.
Is there a problem?
Fucking go back!
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[SIREN WAILING]
MAN #3: “The psychodynamics of compulsive stealing are well established. “An act committed to relieve a preexisting state of guilt.
“An attempt to harm an imagined enemy or a form of revenge… against those who have deprived the person of something significant… or somehow inflicted a narcissistic injury.”
But stealing panties from the girls’ locker room… there’s nothing in there.
I’ve never really been a big fan of Freud’s anyway.
I don’t know if I should say this.
I’m a professional.
I won’t say anything.
You promise to keep your word?
Okay.
You know that thing that you were doing with the panties?
Everybody does it.
Your best friends do it.
The mailman, the headmaster.
They all whack off.
And if anybody tells you they don’t, they’re lying.
My mom says I’m…
She says I’m oversexed.
TV: Now you’re dead!
[GIGGLING] [PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Hello. Hi, Daddy.
Excuse me. Who am I speaking to?
This is me.
No, my Jessie is eight years old.
The girl I’m talking to is at least 11.
Can I speak to your mother, please?
Mom.
Don’t forget the turkey.
Why don’t you have them deliver it? It’s Thanksgiving Eve, Nathan.
You might as well get the bird to fly over here.
All right, okay. Fairway, right?
What’s the cross street, 74th?
The man’s a steel trap.
[CHUCKLING]
I will be there in 10 minutes.
All right. Bye.
[PAGER BEEPING]
Go away.
[PAGER BEEPING]
Come on.
Shit!
[CAR LOCK CHIRPS]
[CAR LOCK CHIRPS]
[BELL DINGS]
Louis?
This better be a real emergency.
Ah, my hero! Look.
She’s not one of your Dalton trust fund waifs, but I think she needs your help.
I don’t know, Louis.
I don’t talk to you for days.
Then the night before Thanksgiving…
NATHAN: Jesus Christ.
Lucky guy’s still alive.
She took a razor to this orderly up in Rockland.
111 stitches to close him up.
What was the trigger?
Very good question.
Been in and out of institutions for 10 years.
I see that. Selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive behavior, posttraumatic symptoms.
Twenty different hospitalizations, twenty different diagnoses, plus an I.Q. off the charts.
Apparently saw her father killed by a subway when she was eight.
Dr. Sachs? Dr. Sachs?
What? What?
The girl who was biting the heads off pigeons, she has one of our med students in a headlock.
Call security.
Make sure the student documents the attack and gets it cosigned.
Louis, I don’t know what the hell you want from me. I got a family home waiting.
Nathan, spend 15 minutes with her.
Louis…
She’s an 18yearold girl, never hurt a fly until last week.
You and I are the only thing that stands between her and a lifetime supply of Thorazine or worse.
Wait! What do you mean, “you and I,” kemo sabe? She’s your patient.
Your case.
You’re an asshole. Okay?
You’re a big asshole for making me say this.
You’re better at this stuff than I am, okay?
You’re better, you’re better, you’re better.
Everybody knows about Nathan Conrad and the famous touch with the teens.
Come on. Elisabeth Burrows.
This is the kind of case you and I used to live for!
Before you went uptown on me.
Just kidding.
I didn’t mean it that way.
All right, look.
She needs you.
All right, she needs me.
But what’s the emergency?
Why tonight?
Because if we don’t make some progress by Monday, they’re gonna ship her to Creedmoor… and chain her to a bed for the rest of her natural life.
That’s why.
That’s why she needs you now.
Five minutes. Five minutes!
NATHAN: Arnie, Frankie, good evening.
Dr. Conrad, are you slumming tonight?
Afraid so.
You guys up for a cavity search?
I’ll pass.
But you know our friend Dr. Sachs…
He’s always ready for one.
On the gate.
What’s the new cocktail?
Haldol, droperidol and Ativan.
And she’s awake?
Oh, yes, my friend, she’s awake.
He told me to stay.
Come on, sweetheart.
NATHAN: Is she eating?
Not eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing, letting anybody touch her… or saying a word.
Dr. Sachs, he told me to stay.
I will have a word with him.
I promise, Louise.
I promise.
What’s with the heavy artillery?
Well, it took about five guys to get her off the poor fellow in Rockland.
Louis, is there anything else you want to tell me?
No.
No.
Would you open the door, please?
Are you okay?
Am I okay?
Yeah.
I’m okay.
Hello.
Elisabeth, my name is Dr. Conrad.
I’m a psychiatrist.
Word has it that you haven’t eaten for days.
Well, I can understand that.
I used to work in this hospital.
I know what the food’s like.
Elisabeth, would you mind if I took your pulse?
That means I’m gonna have to touch you.
Now that’s not supposed to happen.
True catatonics have what’s called a waxy flexibility of their limbs.
That means they stay exactly where they’re posed.
There’s more to you than meets the eye, Elisabeth.
You’re very, very good at what you do.
So is there anything you want to talk about?
Well, that’s okay.
We hardly know each other.
I know you must have been very frightened to do what you did to that guy.
I know that you were angry, because I saw those photos.
But I also know that you’re in a lot of pain.
Because nobody’s in this place without a reason.
So maybe we’ll talk next week.
ELISABETH: You want what they want.
Don’t you?
What who wants?
Elisabeth, what who wants?
[SINGSONG] I’ll never tell.
I’ll never tell.
Any of you.
Any of you.
Any of you.
♪♪ [JAZZ SHUFFLE PLAYS]
♪ I say you let me be your little dog ♪
♪ Until the big dog comes home ♪
♪ Can you let me be your little dog ♪
♪ Till the big dog comes ♪
♪ When the big dog comes ♪
♪ Don’t tell him what
the little Chihuahua done ♪♪
[DOOR LOCKS RATTLING]
♪♪ [CONTINUES]
[GASPS]
HHello?
Who are you?
Five to three, this old bag doesn’t have cable.
I need my SportsCenter. Dinner’s over!
How you doin’, Tony?
Good. How you doin’?
Nice to see you again.
You too.
Hello!
This certainly looks like the Conrad residence.
It smells like the Conrad residence.
And it is definitely overheated… like the Conrad residence.
But it doesn’t sound like the Conrad residence.
Hi, honey.
I’m looking for a little girl… about four feet two, light brown hair.
Huh.
Where did she go?
Well, if I don’t find that little girl, I’m gonna have to go downstairs and find myself another little girl.
I’ll be back in 10 minutes.
[SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS]
Hi!
Hi, Daddy.
How are you?
Look what I did in art class today.
That’s beautiful. Look at the colors.
You got such a unique vision.
It’s my vision, I swear.
Aren’t you supposed to be in bed by now?
I can’t sleep.
I have mental problems.
I see. What kind of mental problems?
I’m highly neurotic.
You’ve been in my study again.
I needed the stapler.
Go say good night to Mom.
[WHISPERING] You’re late.
[MOUTHING WORDS]
Night, Mommy.
Night, baby.
Did you brush your teeth? Can I smell?
Yeah. [EXHALES] Mmm, delicious.
I’m gonna put monkey by you on that side, and I’ll put Sally over here to keep you company.
You had a bad day.
Why do you say that?
Frown face!
If I had a frown face, it’s because it’s after 10:00 and you’re still awake.
Where were you tonight?
[SIGHS]
I was working.
Why?
Because I was helping a young girl.
All right, but that’s gonna cost ya.
All right, what’s it gonna be?
One hug… two kisses.
Two kisses?
Boy, you cut a tough deal.
Okay. Here’s one hug. Mmm.
And one kiss.
And two kisses.
Will they put Bart Simpson in the parade tomorrow?
They will put Bart Simpson in the parade if you go to sleep right now.
Okay, but I don’t think they’ll care if I go to sleep or not.
[CHUCKLES]
Good night, sweetheart. I love you.
I love you too.
[SIREN WAILING]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
Let me give you a hand there, Detective.
Thanks.
That’s beautiful.
What exactly is beautiful?
Your jacket, the leather jacket.
It’s beautiful.
Right.
Did you read about he Manhattan Bridge?
No.
Actually, it was built wrong, moves 10 feet. But it’s still standing.
Syd Simon.
I’ll see you later.
Detective Cassidy.
What can I do for you?
What have we got?
Floater, female, no I.D.
She’s maybe in her 20s.
The sloughing of her skin tells me she’s been in the water maybe two, three days.
This time of year with the water cold?
Could be longer.
Couple of three days tops.
Her hands have been tied.
They recover any rope or anything?
They’re still looking.
Another body was found, a couple days ago.
Battery Park area.
Yeah.
Victim was male, middle-aged.
Day before yesterday.
All right. I’m gonna need preliminary findings by tonight.
Dream on, Detective.
I got six, seven cases piled up.
Syd, I got important doings planned for Thanksgiving. Do me right, all right?
Tomorrow’s the best I can do.
Thank you.
First thing though.
TV NEWSCASTER: Cars have been towed, the roads plowed, so the annual Turkey Trot…
[TV CONTINUES INDISTINCT]
You can’t be distracted.
Here you are…
Immobile, totally exposed… and quite vulnerable.
I think you need a bath.
Guess what, sweetie.
What?
I already had a bath today.
You did?
Yeah.
Ah, well, you didn’t have… the Nathan Conrad fantastic special bath, did you?
No.
No, you didn’t do that.
I didn’t get that one yet.
Pretty hot? Not too hot, is it?
No, it’s nice.
Oh, good.
♪ I didn’t know a thing
about my legacy ♪
♪ When I feel like
you were there for me ♪♪
We should keep it down.
NATHAN: You’re the one that makes the noise.
♪ You are ♪
♪ My pride and joy ♪
♪ You’ve got kisses
sweeter than honey ♪
♪ And I work seven days a week
to give you all my money ♪
♪ That’s why you are my ♪
♪ Pride and joy ♪
♪ And I’m telling the world
you’re my… ♪♪
Prepare to die of delight!
Jessie, come on.
Let’s join the downhill racer.
I heard that about the “downhill racer.”
You were dreaming.
I didn’t say anything.
It was icy, you know?
I know it was, baby.
And very windy too.
It was a hell ride. Good morning.
Morning.
You think she’s still sleeping?
I don’t know. Jessie?
Jessie, come on.
The parade’s gonna start soon.
All right, I’m gonna go there all by myself.
See all those floats alone.
Jessie, come on.
Breakfast is getting cold.
Does she have a new hiding place that I don’t know about?
Probably. She’s been running around the house like a wildcat all week.
Jessie, get in here right now!
Honey, eat it up before it gets cold.
Nathan, she wouldn’t go out on the balcony, right?
[CAR HORNS HONKING, JACKHAMMERS HAMMERING, PEOPLE CHATTERING]
She’s not there.
She knows better than to go outside without asking us, doesn’t she?
Jessie, get in here right now!
TV NEWSCASTER: You get outta here and go home and enjoy your Thanksgiving.
She lost one of her socks.
What?
She’s gone.
What do you mean, “She’s gone”?
Wait…
Somebody came in.
No, no. She’s in the hallway.
Somebody took her.
Nobody took her, Nathan.
They broke in.
They cut the chain on the door.
What?
Call the police!
I can’t get a dial tone.
Get off the line.
This is an emergency.
There’s something wrong with the goddamn phone.
MAN: There is nothing wrong with the phone, Nathan.
Get off, this is an emergency.
MAN: I know.
Who is this?
We have your daughter.
What…
Who is it?
KIDNAPPER: What’s your worst fear, Nathan? What are they saying?
The first shock can buckle the knees.
Any truth in that?
Where is she?
KIDNAPPER: She’s unharmed.
Give it to me! I don’t want to have to hurt her. I want something from you.
No.
What?
Not until…
What?
…I talk to my daughter, and I know that she’s okay.
Rule number one: You do not make demands. You listen to what I tell you.
You call me back when I can talk to my daughter.
What the hell are you doing?
Aggie.
What the hell are you doing?
Listen to me.
No! Are you crazy?
Listen to me!
No! No!
Aggie, we have to make sure she’s all right.
[CRYING]
What if they don’t call back?
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Daddy?
Jessie, are you okay, sweetie?
Honey, have they hurt you?
No. Daddy, can I come home now?
Daddy!
Jessie!
MAN:
That was very brave, Nathan.
Tell me how much money you want!
I don’t want your money.
Pick up your wife before she breaks the other leg.
What? Nathan, what is it?
Don’t close the curtains.
I like the view. Good. Now. On the bureau by the door is a cell phone.
I know what you’re thinking. Don’t.
By the time you hit the “1” in 911, Jessie will be dead. Rule number two: Do not try to call or signal anyone. If you do, I will kill your daughter.
Not because I want to, but because those are the rules, do you understand?
Yes.
What?
I can see you. I can hear you. When you leave your building, wherever you go, you will be watched. So if you want to see your daughter alive, don’t say a word.
Now, tell me you understand.
I understand. Good. You have a pro bono patient. Her name is Elisabeth Burrows.
A very disturbed girl. She has a six-digit number in her head, locked away in her troubled mind. She guards it with her life.
What kind of number?
That needn’t concern you right now.
I need that number. You need your daughter back.
That is why this is happening. You’re a professional, Nathan, so am I. If we both do our jobs to the best of our abilities, by this time tomorrow, it will be like… we never even knew each other.
KIDNAPPER’S VOICE: Now, go back to Bridgeview. Take the Rover. No police, no detours. And, Nathan, Aggie will be fine. Rule number three: You have until 5:00 p.m. today.
Let’s do exactly what he says.
Nathan, why don’t we just call the police?
Because we can’t.
Nathan!
Because I believe him.
[BANGING]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Happy Thanksgiving.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Asshole.
Hey, Dr. Conrad, aren’t you and Jessie hitting the parade?
She’s got a cold.
[DOOR CLOSES]
No signs of sexual assault.
I see evidence of injury in her neck.
Signs of bleeding in the strap muscles overlying her larynx.
I don’t know, Syd. This girl does not match any of my missing persons.
Also evidence of a fracture on the left tip of her hyoid bone.
Syd, how’d she die?
No blunt instrument here.
Her neck was snapped in two.
By what?
By two hands.
[COUGHS]
By two hands.
Syd, the same technique used on this Battery Park floater?
Same dislocation of the skull.
And the splotches on the body?
Cigarette burns.
He was tortured.
Thank you.
And he had prison tats.
Okay.
I’m gonna need fingerprints and dental X-rays on our Jane Doe, pronto.
You know, this is Thanksgiving.
You’re right. You are right.
All right, well, I hope her family isn’t waiting on her to carve the turkey.
Cassidy, I’m not susceptible to your “guilty me” bullshit.
She probably helped her mom with the dishes.
Fingerprints and dentals.
Then I’m the hell outta here.
Thank you, Syd.
[HORN HONKING]
Whoa!
[HORN HONKING]
[HORN HONKING]
[HONKING CONTINUES]
Come on!
Roll down your window, sir.
Officer, I’m a doctor.
Congratulations.
You happen to notice the tuba player that rolled off your hood?
I need to get through this parade.
I need an escort to the Bridgeview Psychiatric Hospital right now.
Do I look like a freaking helicopter?
Use 57th Street like everyone else.
He’s talking to the cops.
What’ll we do?
KIDNAPPER [ON HEADSET]: Be patient. There’s a young girl who could die, so, Officer Kreidman, you can either help me save this girl… or not.
I need two guys.
The two of you. Let’s go.
Right over there.
Come on, come on.
Hold the band.
Hold the band right there.
Open those gates for me, guys.
Son of a bitch.
He just picked up a police escort and cut through the parade.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
KIDNAPPER: I like that.
What?
The police escort. I like it a lot.
You didn’t tell me the context of the number.
She knows.
Look, this girl has a decade of pathology to unravel.
Even if she knows, your 5:00 deadline is absurd.
In my experience, people are at their best when facing unreasonable deadlines.
NATHAN: You can’t just flick a switch in the girl’s head.
You have to trust me.
It does not work that way in these cases.
Look, the money’s bad, I know.
But you have family obligations. And, Nathan, don’t lose the phone.
[HORN HONKS]
[DOOR LOCK CHIRPS]
The doctor has landed.
Did he double alarm the car?
Nope.
Good. We’ve got him focused. Do you have the key to Dr. Sachs’s office?
Yeah.
Could you open it, please? Open it.
But Dr. Sachs isn’t here.
[PHONE RINGING]
I thought Nathan explained the rules very clearly. Put the cell phone back. There’s no percentage in breaking those rules.
You sick son of a bitch!
You hurt my little girl and I’ll…
You’ll do what?
You were about to say something personal.
I think.
No.
That’s good. If your husband is on his game today, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
There’s a good side to this, Aggie.
This will bring you… much closer than the occasional ski trip… or sponge bath. The remote is to your left.
Pick it up.
Pick it up!
Good. Now turn it on.
North Carolina is tops…
Try HBO.
No, I’ve seen this. Bit too violent.
Try a nice family drama.
[DOOR OPENS]
Nathan!
What are you doing here?
You’re not supposed to be here.
How’d you get in? Who let you in?
You’re supposed to be in Greenwich with Kim and her family.
Why are you here on Thanksgiving?
Why am I here? I gotta testify in a double homicide on Monday, and I thought I’d come do research.
What? You broke into my files!
Those are my per…
I would’ve given you the key, man.
Have you gone through all of this?
Well, not all of it. I just got here.
I’ve been through the master file.
It’s a swamp of misdiagnoses.
I think she’s overlaying.
Overlaying?
Louis, she is a brilliant mimic.
That’s why Rockland couldn’t figure her out. She’s highly adaptive.
She takes on the symptoms of other patients.
She’s like a counterfeit schizophrenic, maybe.
Nate, come on, I… I can’t believe it’s all smoke and mirrors.
That would place her in the malingerer’s Hall of Fame.
I gotta believe there’s some sort of genuine pathology beneath it all.
She has classic posttraumatic stress symptoms. Her P.T.S.D. is real.
Seeing her father die.
That was ground zero.
She also believes that something or somebody is after her.
And that is why she stayed institutionalized these past 10 years.
She wants to stay inside.
So 20 different hospitalizations, twenty different diagnoses.
All overlaying.
Nathan, that would make her a very, very talented young lady, wouldn’t it?
Or desperate.
Louis?
Yeah?
Does anybody know I’m treating Elisabeth Burrows besides you?
Everybody. I put it up last night after you left. Figured you might be back.
I wanted you to have clearance in case I wasn’t around.
Also reinstated your password.
Gate, please!
[SIGHS]
♪ Stars shining bright ♪
♪ Above me ♪
Elisabeth, good morning.
♪ Night breezes seem to whisper… ♪♪
Feeling better?
I brought you something.
A chocolate turkey.
The sugar will help you metabolize all those meds they’ve been giving you.
You like Thanksgiving?
It’s my favorite holiday.
Wanna touch?
Sorry?
I saw you looking.
I know what you’re trying to do.
You want to embarrass me.
It won’t work.
The other doctor?
Dr. Sachs.
Yeah.
I don’t like him.
Well, I can understand that.
Very fucking funny.
Elisabeth, there’s something important I have to ask you.
But first I want to show you something.
I have a daughter.
She’s eight… going on 18.
Her name’s Jessie.
I have some of her favorite things here.
This is Horton Hears a Who. I’ve read it to her so many times, it’s pretty worn by now.
And this. She loves to draw weird pictures of me.
[BANGING CHAIR LOUDLY]
And this…
This is Sally.
Would you like one of those?
I’ll make sure the hospital lets you keep it.
But you can only choose one. What the hell is this, Toys “R” Us?
Want me to choose for you? Choose ‘fore you lose.
For you choose ‘fore you lose for you…
Dr. Conrad?
Yes?
Get out.
No.
ELISABETH: I want you to leave. No, we’re not finished talking, Elisabeth.
I know what you’re trying to do.
You wanna embarrass me.
It won’t work.
What’s your name?
Your hair’s really long.
My hair used to be that long, but my mom made me cut it.
What’s that thing on your neck?
It’s kind of impolite not to answer someone’s question.
It’s a symbol.
What’s it mean?
No talk.
Elisabeth, there’s something I need to know.
Jessie.
Jessie?
That’s my little girl’s name.
You wanna see a picture that Jessie drew?
I’ll make you a deal.
I’ll show you the picture if you answer my question.
Is it worth just one answer?
I don’t mean a “yes” and “no” answer.
Maybe.
NATHAN: I’m gonna ask my question now, Elisabeth.
Is the man that you hurt at Rockland…
Did that have anything to do with the terrible thing… that happened to you in the subway years ago?
MAN’S VOICE: Run, honey, run!
Shit! Come on, honey, run!
[WHIMPERING]
I didn’t know what you were talking about yesterday.
MAN: Run!
I didn’t know who they were or what they wanted.
Leave.
Leave! Leave!
Now I do. I know how bad they wanted it.
I know how important it was for you to hold onto it.
Please, leave.
Leave! Leave!
I’m just asking you…
Leave! Leave!
Elisabeth…
Leave! Leave! Leave!
Elisabeth…
Get out! Leave! Leave! Leave!
Leave! Leave!
Go!
Thank you. I’m sorry.
You lost her.
She’s still got the doll, doesn’t she?
[VOMITING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Yeah?
KIDNAPPER: That went well. Look, I can gain her trust, but without more information…
I’m shooting in the dark.
The answer’s right in front of you.
I have gone through her files!
All right?
Then look closer.
You…
Nathan.
It’s 12:22.
[PHONE DISCONNECTS] I’m sure of one thing. They would have encountered quite a few venomous species.
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
TV: Check this out.
See how he’s got his tail up?
He is grumpy. He gets his stinger back over the top of his head, ready to grab. Whack! Sting! Signora Conrad?
Sofia.
Signora, who made the mess in the kitchen?
The eggs are out…
Such chaos…
What happened?
Sofia, why are you here?
The door chain is broken.
Si, la porta. I broke it. Mr. Conrad will fix it.
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
Signor Conrad asked me to cook tonight.
[PHONE RINGS]
What? What?
Il tacchino.
No, no, no. No tacchino.
[RINGING]
No telefono! No!
Just give it to me.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Excuse me. Dammelo. Grazie.
Hello.
Signora?
KIDNAPPER: Get rid of her. Sofia, uh, no… no tacchino. Oh. Sì. Grazie. Arrivederci.
Any more visitors?
No. Oh, come on, yeah. Come on, baby, take it off. Come on.
All right, suit yourself.
I have to go.
You have to call me back.
You seen this?
What’s this? “Girl found wandering on Hart Island.”
Where’d you find this?
In her file in your office.
“A young girl was found yesterday among the coffins on Hart Island.”
This is around the time that her father died.
I should run this by Child Services.
Could she have been lost or unattended?
What… That’s very bizarre.
On an island in the East River.
[SIGHS]
♪♪ [HUMMING]
I saw Sara two days ago.
She was meeting her boyfriend in the Village. Maybe she’s still with him.
She could be.
Wait one second.
[KNOCKS]
Hey, Jake. Uh, tray 57, and just her face.
Thanks.
Yeah, okay.
Come on.
It stinks in here. It smells weird.
I know it does.
Just breathe through your mouth.
I’ve never seen anyone dead before.
You’ll do fine, okay?
I’m gonna get sick.
Listen, no one in here is gonna mind. Okay?
Come on.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
Uh, listen, I’ve gotta take this.
But I’m gonna be right here. Okay?
Cassidy.
Oh. Hey, baby. Yeah.
Uh, no. You should take the 1:00 because I…
I’ll be at Penn Station by 2:00.
Make it 7:00.
I promise.
Don’t promise.
[MOUTHS WORDS] What? Yeah, I’m almost done here.
Yeah. I’m at the city morgue.
Bye.
Mmm.
That’s your N.C.I.C. on the guy with the busted neck.
Oh, I got a hit.
Leon Edwards Croft.
Jesus, what does he have, 15, 20 arrests?
Well, he’s a busy little bad guy.
Won’t be missed.
You run him for known associates?
Of course.
Am I not a paid professional?
[SCREAMS, WHIMPERS]
It’s okay.
[CRYING] Why would someone do this to Sara?
The guy with the cigarette burns, Croft, he was the driver for this crew.
Robbery said they hit banks here, Jersey, Delaware, Virginia.
No convictions till ’91.
And three of his friends just capped off a 10year jolt in Attica.
Patrick Barry Koster.
He’s the last one that got out.
November 4.
On November 4!
Did Croft drive these guys out?
I don’t know. Could be payback.
He has no priors.
There is nothing on him.
He came out of nowhere. There’s nothing.
I know.
It’s the only thing he ever got popped for. Guy’s a ghost.
He’s a ghost?
Well, I guess that’s who I need to talk to, then. Thank you.
Watch your back.
Yeah.
[DOOR OPENING]
Well, you picked Jessie’s absolutely favorite thing.
She and Sally were inseparable since they were two.
Where is she?
Where’s Jessie?
They took her.
Now she’s really scared… as scared as you were when you went after that guy at Rockland, but she’s only eight years old, Elisabeth.
She’s not as strong as you are.
She can’t protect herself as well as you can.
See, I am not just here to help you.
[MUTTERING]
I need you to help me.
Otherwise I’m not gettin’ my little girl back.
Today’s Thanksgiving.
You remember Thanksgiving?
Yes. Yes, I remember.
Who were you with?
My dad.
Just me and my dad.
NATHAN: Being strong isn’t only about protecting yourself, it’s also having the strength to let go, especially if you’re holding on to something… holding on so tightly that you don’t even know that you could have a better life.
The only way that you can help yourself… is if you go back.
[MOANS]
You have to go back to that day on the subway.
I can’t… can’t do it.
No, I can’t.
Here we go. The main event.
You can’t help my little girl unless you go back.
No, please.
Listen to me.
The men that have Jessie… are the same men that you’re frightened of.
They are the men that sent the orderly at Rockland after you.
I don’t want to hear this.
All they want is a number.
You want what they want.
They know that you know the number.
They’re gonna kill my little girl if you don’t tell me.
Stop it.
Daddy!
Is it a telephone number?
No.
An address? An account?
I don’t know.
It’s a bank account. Is it a code?
No.
Is it a place? What is it?
What…
What’s wrong? We lost the feed?
MAN: No, no, we’re good!
You leave him alone.
Your father is gone.
He is gone, and no one is gonna hurt him anymore.
My little girl is still alive.
Jessie is alive.
Dr. Conrad?
[EXHALES]
I’m scared.
[CRYING]
I know. I’m sorry.
Shit.
NATHAN: It’s okay. It’s all right.
Elisabeth.
I’ll try.
You’re okay.
Long time since breakfast, huh?
Yeah.
I wish we had some cheeseburgers.
ELISABETH:
♪ Whisper I love you ♪
♪ Birds singing in ♪
Best turkey you ever had. Be careful.
I’ll put you in the oven with it.
♪ Dream a little dream ♪♪
I love you, Daddy.
Smile. Say cheese.
♪♪ [ELISABETH HUMMING]
[MAN LAUGHING]
[SCREAMS]
♪♪ [HUMMING CONTINUES]
What’s that?
This is a fivec.c. syringe with a 10gauge needle and 500 milligrams of sodium Amytal.
What are you talking about, 500 milligrams?
Why don’t you shove a quart of Jack Daniels down her throat or stick a shotgun in her mouth?
Look. The event is obviously right beneath the surface.
She should respond beautifully to Amytal, so I’m…
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Answer it.
You answer the phone.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Now, you tell them everything’s okay… and that you’re going to plan “B.”
Everything’s okay, and we’re going to plan “B.”
It’s a drug.
[DISCONNECTS]
You knew all about the numbers, and you set me up, Louis.
I swear to God…
You tell me why, or I’ll shove this…
He’s got my fucking girlfriend!
He’s keeping Sara hostage!
He’s gonna kill her if I don’t get this number.
Your girlfriend, Louis?
Yeah.
Well, he’s got my daughter.
Oh, fuck.
He’s got my little girl.
Nathan, I didn’t know that.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t know.
You gotta get this number for this guy.
He’ll just go away.
It’s that simple.
It’s that simple.
MAN: Dr. Sachs? Dr. Sachs?
Yes?
There’s a cop here to see you.
Cop? What kind of cop?
I don’t know.
What’s he want?
She.
She didn’t say, but she’s waiting in your office.
Okay.
Tell her I’ll be right there.
Okay.
He said no cops!
He told me absolutely no cops.
Here’s what you’ve gotta do.
You have got to go down to your office.
You have to be cool.
But what…
You make her go away.
[SIREN WAILS]
KOSTER: If we don’t have it by 4:30, we go to plan “B.”
KOSTER: What is this?
Peanut butter and jelly.
What kind of jelly is it?
Hello there.
I’m Louis Sachs.
Hi. Detective Cassidy.
Hi.
Hi.
Pretty girl.
Is that your daughter?
This? No. This is not my daughter.
How can I help you today, Detective?
I’m here about this woman.
What about her?
You don’t know her?
Nope.
She worked in the hospital for five months. She was a resident here.
Really? Well, we have dozens and dozens of residents. I will tell you that.
She worked in the department you oversee, Dr. Sachs.
She did?
Mmhmm.
Well, that’s strange, because in that case I should know who she is, and I don’t.
So there’s gotta be a mistake.
When did you last see Sara?
Detective, I just told you, and I’ll tell you again, I do not know who that is.
Where are we going?
Do you have a lawyer, sir?
What?
Do you have a lawyer?
What are you talking…
You don’t know Sara, right?
No, I don’t know Sara.
But what are we talking about lawyers for?
A week ago, in Central Park, with you.
She told her roommate Vanessa all about it.
You know Vanessa, don’t you?
She knows you.
I don’t know Vanessa either.
Dr. Sachs.
I’m about to read you your rights.
My rights?
But first…
What did I do?
I want you to do me a favor.
Okay.
This is last weekend, with you, by the fountain in Central Park.
You took this picture, and this is her now.
This one you did.
This one I took.
Who do you think did better, me or you?
That’s not Sara.
That’s Sara all right.
That’s Sara, laid out in the morgue.
No, it’s not…
I work Homicide, Dr. Sachs. That’s Sara.
The morgue?
That’s a mistake.
It can’t be Sara. That’s not the deal.
That’s not the deal?
That’s not the deal.
Okay. Why don’t you tell me what the fuck the deal is?
Who is part of the deal?
Is he part of the deal?
How about him? Or him?
Or him?
Tell me who is part of the deal!
Why don’t you tell me?
He said we had until 5:00 today!
Who’s “we”?
So that’s a mistake!
That is not a mistake. Who’s “we”?
And we are so fucking close and all we need is another half hour…
[SHOUTS] Dr. Sachs, who is we?
That’s not Sara!
Why don’t you quit wasting my fucking time and tell me who is we?
Hey. You like country music?
Mmhmm.
♪ Pink toenails ♪
♪ How am I gonna get
pink toenails ♪
MAN ON TV:
Low pressure over in Virginia, and that low is getting stronger by the minute.
♪ Pink toenails
Got my pink ♪
[TV CONTINUES]
♪♪ [JESSIE SINGING IN DISTANCE]
ON HEADSET: ♪ All my girlfriends
have time for their pink toenails ♪
[TV, SINGING BOTH CONTINUE]
♪ Baby doll when you find me
sitting there in my pink… ♪♪
What did I say about noise?
Daddy’s smart little girl, aren’t you?
Better hope your mother didn’t hear that.
Go full screen on her.
Tighter.
[TV CONTINUES, INDISTINCT]
She heard.
How do you know?
She stopped breathing.
WOMAN ON INTERCOM:
Security to central supply.
[KNOCKS]
[MOUTHING WORDS]
[LOCK BUZZES]
What can I do for you, Doc?
Arnie, I need to ask you a favor.
Were you taking Burrows for a stroll?
We’re out of here.
Bring her!
Mommy, Daddy, I’m up here!
Mommy!
Mommy! Mommy!
[GRUNTING]
JESSIE: Let me outta here!
[SCREAMING]
Take care of her.
I need you to open the gates.
On whose authorization?
This is between you and me.
See, that’s why they call this place the nuthouse, Doc.
‘Cause I’d have to be basically fuckin’ nuts to let you do that.
Okay. Well, you know, I just had to ask you.
It’s okay, Arnie.
It’s just Versed.
It’s okay. It’s all right.
You’ll be all right in about an hour.
Dr. Conrad? Dr. Conrad!
Doctor…
[ALARM BEEPING]
[YELPS]
Excuse me!
Excuse me.
MAN ON INTERCOM: Emergency procedures. Officer down. We have a security breach.
Institute emergency procedures. Unit 3 and 4, seal off main entrance.
Sorry.
Come on.
TV ANNOUNCER: Check out the radar close in. Here’s Hartford. Thirty degrees.
Primarily, it is…
No!
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Central, be advised, a gold Land Rover just left Bridgeview, heading east.
Yeah. Leaving.
The driver is Nathan Conrad, wanted for questioning in connection with a homicide.
[HORN HONKING]
Have an R.M.P. respond to his residence immediately.
Oh, my God.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
Yeah.
KOSTER: What’s on your mind, Nathan?
Field trip.
[TRUCK HORN HONKS]
Wait a second.
Where are you taking Jessie?
Why are you moving her?
You’ve got 44 minutes.
Why are you moving her?
[GASPS]
NATHAN [ON PHONE]: I will get you the number. Just don’t hurt her.
Forty-three minutes.
[PANTING]
[RECORDING] You have reached New York City’s Emergency Services. Please stay on the line. Your call will be answered in the order it was received.
[YELLS]
You crippled bitch!
[KICK LANDING]
[GASPING, SHUDDERING]
Are you all right?
Yeah.
No!
This is where it happened, isn’t it, Elisabeth?
No.
When we left home, my dad and me…
I think we…
A big car, dark.
I’d never seen my dad so scared.
He grabbed my arm. We kept running and running and running. And I tried to keep up.
I tried to keep up.
He took…
Ah, you can do it.
Okay.
You can do it.
Let’s go.
I tried to keep up.
It’s okay.
Elisabeth.
There were lots of people, but my dad just pulled me through them.
I looked back. They were so fast.
They were still behind us. Now only two men.
We lost one. My dad took me around the corner.
He made me hide over here.
Okay, listen to me carefully.
You and Mishka have gotta wait right here. Right here, no matter what.
It’s gonna be all right.
Wait right here.
KOSTER: Hey, Russel! Where you been?
What’s in the bag?
What’s in the fucking bag?
ELISABETH: I could see my dad’s face when he tried to talk to them.
The bag.
KOSTER: There’s nothing in the fucking bag!
Where is it?
Where is it, Russel?
NATHAN: What’s happening now?
KOSTER: Where is it?
NATHAN: Elisabeth?
KOSTER: I don’t believe a fucking word!
[RUSSEL SCREAMS]
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
NATHAN:
Elisabeth, what do you see?
KOSTER: Where is it?
ELISABETH: The one in the red coat kept on kicking him and kicking him.
They’re asking him, “Where is it?
Where is it? Tell me where it is!”
RUSSEL: Let me up!
I’ll tell you where it is!
NATHAN: Elisabeth.
RUSSEL: Jesus. Help me up.
ELISABETH: Everybody was watching.
They were just watching, and no one would help.
No one would help.
No one. Everybody was watching, and no one would help!
NATHAN: Elisabeth, what did the man want?
What did he want?
I can almost reach him.
Elisabeth!
Daddy!
No! Daddy!
Turn around!
Hands up!
[SOBBING]
Down on your knees!
Now!
What did the man want, Elisabeth?
Did he want a number?
Elisabeth, I need to know what the man wanted.
He wants Mishka.
My doll.
NATHAN: Where is Mishka?
RUSSEL: Hang on to that. Okay, baby?
[CELL PHONE DIALING]
[PHONE RINGING]
Yeah.
KOSTER: Cutting it rather close. All right.
I have what you want.
Good. I’m listening.
I’ve decided…
I’ve decided I’m gonna deliver the number to you in person.
No time.
No choice.
You’re being brave again, Nathan.
That’s the best way to get your daughter killed.
Other than missing the deadline, which is less than three minutes away.
Rule number one: No more clock.
What?
You heard me.
I’ll meet you there.
Where? I think that you know where.
Rule number two: I want to speak to my daughter now.
Do you hear me?
I want to speak to my daughter now!
Daddy?
Pumpkin, you all right?
Yeah. Daddy, please come get me now.
I’m on my way, sweetheart.
Anything else?
Rule number three: No more phone.
Buddy! I’ve got a medical emergency.
I’ll get this back to you.
I’ll get it back to you.
[SPEAKING CHINESE]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[RINGING CONTINUES]
[PHONE RINGS]
NATHAN: Aggie?
Is she alive?
She’s fine.
Where is she?
Aggie, listen to me… What is that?
Did you call the police?
Aggie? Aggie? No. But somebody did.
Do they know what’s going on?
Not yet.
Listen.
I’m here.
Just get her back.
♪ Stars shining bright ♪
♪ Above you ♪
♪ Night… ♪♪
[BRAKES SCREECH]
MAN: Hey, fella!
What are you doin’ down there?
That’s my boat.
Where you goin’? Hey!
Hey, asshole! That’s my boat!
[MOTOR REVS]
[MAN SHOUTING]
KOSTER: Dr. Conrad.
You’re a committed man.
I wanna see her.
I want to see her now.
Grim place for a holiday, isn’t it?
[LAUGHS]
Hello, Elisabeth.
I’ve thought about you every day for the last 10 years.
Bet you thought about me too.
I know you’ve been through a lot.
So have I.
Your father let us both down.
Where’s my daughter?
You brought her here because she hasn’t given it to you.
Where are you keeping her?
She won’t give it to you.
I want to see Jessie now.
Where is my number?
You’re not getting anything until I see…
We talked about bravery today.
It’s not good.
You need to know how to use these.
I wanna see my daughter.
I think you’ve earned it.
Max!
Daddy?
Jessie?
Daddy!
Jessie! It’s all right, honey.
You’re gonna be fine.
It’s gonna be all right.
You guessed the number is a grave. Very good.
Now what?
I finish my job.
Come on, Nathan. Up the stairs.
Over there, by the table.
And Elisabeth. Not her.
Take her back outside.
Daddy?
Jessie.
You’re gonna be all right, honey.
You’re gonna be all right.
Now. Let’s see what 200 an hour can do.
Officer Peterson, nice work.
You found my car. Where is it?
It’s over there.
Okay. Where’s my guy?
Well, he smashed through a steel fence on the corrections pier, then he jacked a boat from that individual.
A boat?
Yeah. He and some girl.
[CHUCKLES] Sounds a little hinky, huh?
A boat to where?
That’s the Coast Guard’s problem.
It is not the Coast Guard’s problem.
It is my problem. It is your problem.
What is over there?
♪♪ [ELISABETH HUMMING]
Where’s the music coming from, Elisabeth?
The radio.
♪ Dream a little dream ♪
The radio?
Where?
It’s playing on the boat.
♪♪ [HUMMING]
On the boat that brought you here the first time?
Yeah.
It was cold. I was wet.
♪ Night breezes seem ♪
My eyes were burning. But I was with my dad.
How did you know which one was your dad?
They gave him a number.
Where was this number?
It was on his box.
They carved the number on top of his box.
I tried to get it open, but my fingers were numb. And I couldn’t lift it.
It was too heavy. I couldn’t put Mishka inside.
You better pray she’s lying, Nathan.
Where did Mishka go?
What happened to Mishka?
They saw…
They saw me.
NATHAN: Who saw you?
The men. The men with the music.
They were working.
They said my lips were blue. And they gave me a blanket.
I told them my dad’s inside, and I need to put her inside with him.
I needed to put Mishka in the box.
I told them.
What did they do?
They helped me.
They… They… helped me put Mishka… inside the box with him.
They let me stay with him… until… until…
[MOANS]
[SOBBING]
Until…
Until…
NATHAN: So what do you think’s gonna happen when you dig this up?
He’s gonna have you kill me and my little girl.
You like her. I can tell that.
When you’re done with us, he’ll be done with you.
Just keep walking.
[WIND HOWLING]
This boat’s for charter, not runnin’ around the goddamn sound on Thanksgiving.
Like I said, sir, it’s police business.
Now do me a favor, Captain Bligh.
Just drive the friggin’ boat.
[THUD]
Go on, Max. Open it up.
Get her out!
The girl, out!
Sit down. Sit down!
JESSIE: Daddy! Let me go!
I am going to put a bullet through your knee.
Then you’ll give me the right number.
No!
[GUNSHOTS]
[GUN COCKS]
[ELISABETH SCREAMS] No! Get off!
Get her off!
Sit down!
I’ll kill you! Forget the fucking number.
Just say hi to your dad from me.
NATHAN: She gave it to you!
She gave me nothing.
She reversed it!
She gave me nothing! Shut up!
She reversed the image in her mind!
You lying bitch!
Cognitive distortion.
She wrote it right to left.
Look. Look.
She sees it in a mirror.
Can you imagine what will happen if this is bullshit?
Central, this is Detective Cassidy from Manhattan South Homicide.
Shots fired on the northeast shore of Hart Island.
I’m en route and I need harbor and aviation.
[FABRIC RIPPING]
[EXHALES]
Ten years of my life… bought and fucking paid for.
Take care of that.
[GUN COCKS]
[YELLS]
Whoa, whoa.
I’ll kill you!
[LAUGHS]
Oh!
[SCREAMING]
Aaah!
[GUN COCKS]
You’re not like me, Nathan.
I would have killed the man who took my little girl.
CASSIDY: Police! Don’t move!
Drop your weapon!
Drop your weapon!
Go on.
I never got your name.
Patrick.
Patrick.
Are you sure…
I’m not like you?
Are you sure?
[GUN COCKS] Was this really worth it?
What?
Your life.
Absolutely.
It’s mine.
Then you go get it.
Get it!
[MOANING]
[MOANS]
[GRUNTS]
[GUN COCKS]
[HELICOPTER BLADES BEATING]
I’ll be right back, sweetie.
How you holdin’ up?
I’ve been better.
Thank you.
Let’s go. Come on.
