- Will Randall: What do you do?
- Laura: Why do you care?
- Will Randall: I don't. I was just making polite conversation.
- Laura: I'd rather not discuss what I do.
- Will Randall: You know, I think I understand what you're like now. You're very beautiful and you think men are only interested in you because you're beautiful, but you want them to be interested in you because you're you. The problem is, aside from all that beauty, you're not very interesting. You're rude, you're hostile, you're sullen, you're withdrawn. I know you want someone to look past all that at the real person underneath but the only reason anyone would bother to look past all that is because you're beautful. Ironic, isn't it? In an odd way you're your own problem.
- Laura: Sorry. Wrong line. I am not taken aback by your keen insight and suddenly challenged by you.
- Will Randall: I've never loved anybody this way. Never looked at a woman and thought, if civilization fails, if the world ends, I'll still understand what God meant as long as I'm with you.
- Mary: Is the worm turning, Mr. Randall?
- Will Randall: The worm has turned and it is now packing an Uzi, Mary.
- Mary: It's about fucking time, sir.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: And it feels good to be a wolf, doesn't it? Power without guilt. Love without doubt.
- Will Randall: Roy, get on the phone with your list of authors and ask them if they'd like to form a partnership with us in a publishing house of their own. Tell them we're leaving MacLeish House because we've heard that the new unofficial policy is to push everything that sells and, this will get them, bury everything that doesn't take off like a rocket. Tell them we've got enough investors to get it off the ground.
- Roy: I have TWO questions; How many investors do we have?
- Will Randall: I don't know. Haven't called any yet.
- Roy: But you want me to say it anyway?
- Will Randall: Yes.
- Roy: Second thing: Is any of this true?
- Will Randall: Not yet.
- Roy: You are my God.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: The demon wolf is not evil, unless the man he has bitten is evil. And it feels good to be a wolf, doesn't it?
- Will Randall: Indeed it does.
- Stewart Swinton: What are you crazy?
- Will Randall: [after pissing on his shoes] NO! I'm just marking my territory, and you got in the way.
- Doctor: In Vermont? I don't think so, Will.
- Will Randall: You weren't there, Ralph.
- Doctor: Are you sure it wasn't a Husky or a German Shepherd? And after all, it was night, wasn't it? It was dark out.
- Will Randall: Full moon. And to answer your question, it was a wolf. It was staring straight at me, you don't confuse a dog with a wolf.
- Doctor: I see, whatever you say. You know, it's funny, this isn't the first Rabies shot I have given in the last few months. My wife's sister-in-law up in Onianca, a raccoon chased her up onto her porch and bit her in the ass. And last summer, the son of a friend of mine sustained brain damage from a snake bite. This kid was sitting in front of his pool and the next thing you know, he has brain damage.
- Will Randall: Is he all right?
- Doctor: Who?
- Will Randall: Your friend's son?
- Doctor: No, you idiot. He has brain damage.
- Charlotte Randall: Will? Please, can I talk to you? For a moment? Just a moment of your time. For 16 years, that's pretty cheap.
- Will Randall: What do you want?
- Charlotte Randall: I want to come back.
- Will Randall: No.
- Charlotte Randall: I have no excuse. I deserve anything you do to me. I'm just... begging you... to be kind.
- Will Randall: Stewart become unlovable now that he's out of my job?
- Charlotte Randall: I never loved Stewart. I was a mistake, Will. I'm going to talk to him. Stewart never, for one moment, meant anything to me.
- Will Randall: And you think that makes it better? That you betrayed me over and over again with a man that meant nothing to you? To know that you betrayed me for nothing?
- Charlotte Randall: Don't be such a smug - !
- Will Randall: Don't touch me! And keep away.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: [Will arrives at his home] I was just boiling water for tea. Perhaps you will join me. Come.
- Will Randall: I won't take much of your time.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: No, take. I'm not a busy man. So, you were bitten by a wolf in Vermont on March 8th? Hmm. Very auspicious.
- Will Randall: Very suspicious?
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Auspicious. Very auspicious. On March 8th, the moon was the closest it's been to Earth in 100 years.
- Will Randall: Oh. Well, that is auspicious. Um.. what I'm curious about is if my symptoms could be related to the release of a chemical caused by an animal bite. Something that medical science has overlooked, but that tribal lore might possibly...
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Well among my people there is only one explanation for your symptoms. It is that you are becoming a wolf.
- Will Randall: But... You don't believe that.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Why not? We must remember that man has only been out of the jungle for 25,000 years. Please sit down.
- [Will sits down]
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: life is mystical. It's just that we are used to it. Catholism itself. A religion so mystical that even primitive tribes can be converted to it. The stigmata, the return after death, the day of judgment, heaven and hell, all so incredible and so ordinary. But we are used to it. Ahhh honey, sugar, Sweet'n Low?
- Will Randall: Oh... Anything. Honey.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Honey. Here. Oh.
- [Realizes the honey is empty]
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: I don't have honey. I just asked out of habit. You should be visiting a shaman who will tell you the rules. I can only tell you the theory.
- Will Randall: Well, um, do you know any of the rules?
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: A very few. Only that the wolf rests by day and prowls by night, but is always present. That he grows inside a man he's entered until the first full moon. And then he consumes him, killing all but his nature and his heart.
- Will Randall: Not a great prognosis.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: But of course, not all who are bitten change. There must be something wild within. An analogue of the wolf.
- Will Randall: Well, that lets me out. Among my people I'm known as the guy least likely to have an analogue of the wolf.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Your people are wrong, Mr. Randall. Sometimes one doesn't even need to be bitten. Only the passion of the wolf is enough.
- Will Randall: Dr. Alezias.. um.. what I would like to know and I.. not that I subscribe to any of this.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Neither do I really. Only to the possibility.
- Will Randall: But out of curiosity, is there supposed to be any way to stop this metamorphosis?
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Uh... Supposedly there are herbs and rites and amulets. I don't know the rites. I don't have the herbs. But I did find something for you when you called. Yeah its here...
- [Takes out silver amulet]
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: this is one of the most powerful amulets, which must be worn next to the skin and never taken off. If it works there is said to be a great pain and weakness while the wolf struggles to emerge and the charm holds him at bay, sometime drives him out. I have no idea if any of it is true but it's yours.
- Will Randall: Oh no I..
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: It's a gift. And in return I would like a favor from you.
- Will Randall: If it's in my power.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: I was recently told that I'm dying. Speaking of mystical and terrifying experiences. I would like you to bite me.
- Will Randall: What?
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: I would like you to bite me. I can't ask you to transform me with your passion, so I ask you to honor me with your bite. And I too, will become a demon wolf.
- Will Randall: You'd rather be damned than die?
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Damnation is not a part of my system of beliefs. The demon wolf is not evil unless the man he's bitten in his evil. And it feels good to be wolf, doesn't it? Power without guilt, love without doubt.
- [He gets up and extends his hand so Will can bite and infect him]
- Will Randall: Excuse me. I just can't.
- Dr. Vijay Alezias: Well, I understand. You keep the amulet. And if you decide to believe, perhaps you will give me your gift. It has been a privilege. I've never seen one like you.
- Stewart Swinton: Good evening Miss Alden. May I call you Laura? Laura, if you scream, I'll kill you. I'll just... break your neck, okay?
- Detective Wade: We got five new murders. What is there about a full moon?
- Detective Bridger: More light.
- Stewart Swinton: If you find me so attractive, how about me fucking you to death right now darling, how would that be?
- Laura Alden: I don't know I'll have to try it.
- Stewart Swinton: [Will enters his office] What do you want me to do? I'll do it. Resign today? Promise never to see Charlotte again? Just tell me what to do.
- Will Randall: I want you to resign today.
- Stewart Swinton: Well, I can't do that. So why did I say it then? I guess it's just a way of.. of telling you how bad I feel about being such.. such a shit. I love you, Will. I know how that sounds but I do. And I know how much I've hurt you, and it kills me. I know I can't... You'll never forgive me will you?
- Will Randall: No.
- Stewart Swinton: Okay. But still I'd... I'd like your permission to ask Alden to forget about the Eastern European thing and keep you on as Senior Editorial Consultant. Will you let me do that for you?
- Will Randall: I'm going to get you, Stewart.
- [Will leaves his office]
- Charlotte Randall: I never loved Stewart. It was a mistake Will. I'm going to talk to him. Stewart, never for one moment, mentioned he loved me.
- Will Randall: You think that makes it better? To betray me over and over again with a man that ment nothing to you? To know you betrayed me for nothing.
- Charlotte Randall: Don't be a smug...
- Will Randall: Don't touch me! And Keep Away.
- Charlotte Randall: Will?
- Will Randall: It's 7:40! I asked you to give me til 8!
- Charlotte Randall: It's 7:40 at night, you dope! You've been sleeping all day. Are you alright? How do you feel?
- Will Randall: I feel ah, good!
- Will Randall: Ah. Mr. Alden. So good to see you again so soon, sir.
- Raymond Alden: It's nice to you too, Will. Robert Keyes, my counsel.
- Will Randall: Counselor nice to meet you.
- George: Nice to meet you, Mr. Randall.
- Raymond Alden: Sit down, Wil. Sit down.
- Will Randall: Of course.
- Raymond Alden: You're deliberately goading the top writers of this house to leave and become part of some totally improbable scheme that hasn't a hope of succeeding. And being writers, they're too goddamn stupid to know it
- Will Randall: Hmmm. Well, you may very well be right, Mr. Alden . They might not succeed, but it won't hurt them to try, and if they fail any publisher will be glad to get them.
- Raymond Alden: And you with them?
- Will Randall: Yes. That will be part of the deal. But it really doesn't matter whether we start a new publishing house or go to another publishing house. At least seven first rate writers are going to leave MacLeish House because they don't like its policies. And when I issue that press release, which I intend to do in the morning, the reputation and value of this firm will take a giant nosedive.
- Raymond Alden: Well, you're a worse son of a bitch than Stewart.
- Will Randall: Yes. But I still have those two drawbacks, taste and individuality.
- Raymond Alden: Maybe I can overlook them.
- [Gets up and looks out window and sighs]
- Raymond Alden: All right. Call it off. Keep your job. I'd never have fired you in the first place if I known you were this ruthless.
- Will Randall: Thank you. But before I do anything, I want a deal memo granting me additional powers and additional moneys and I want it by tomorrow morning.
- George: [taking off glasses] I won't agree to that.
- Raymond Alden: Oh, yes, you will. I'd do it anyway. What do I know about publishing? I'll tell Stewart.
- Will Randall: No. Don't tell anyone until the deal is signed. Then I'll tell Stewart.
- [He goes back to his office and gives Mary a thumbs up]
- Doctor: [looking into his eyes] Any idea how this happened?
- Will Randall: None.
- Doctor: Hmmm. Well do you ever sleepwalk?
- Will Randall: Not that I know of.
- Doctor: It sounds like you took a nice little walk in sleep, fell down and maybe knocked yourself out.
- [Feels the back of his head]
- Doctor: Now I feel some scalp lacerations back here, Will. And, you know, nothing bleeds like the scalp. Okay. So I'm gonna make some arrangements for you to have an EEG and a CAT scan, which means you'll have to spend a night at Mount Sinai.
- Will Randall: Out of the question.
- Doctor: What are you talking about? You could have a concussion or a possible blood clot.
- Will Randall: No one feels this good with a concussion or a blood clot.
- Laura: [Will is laying in bed as she checks his temperature] Elevated but you'll live. Is this the same kind of attack you had the other night?
- Will Randall: [weakly] I don't know. Don't be upset with me. If I tell you this, okay? You are beautiful. And the nicest girl.
- Laura: Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?
- Will Randall: I can't eat.
- Laura: Then go to sleep. Next thing you know it will be morning and I'll be at your door with coffee and eggs and toast.
- Will Randall: And bacon?
- Laura: Oh, you think I can't get bacon? Well I just may surprise you.
- Will Randall: I don't know where I'm going.
- Laura: Someplace nice.
- [she covers him with a blanket]
- Will Randall: You are such a polished ass kisser that it takes my breath away.
- Stewart Swinton: I kiss 'em like I see 'em.
- Will Randall: I did it the old fashioned way.
- Charlotte Randall: What do you mean?
- Will Randall: I begged.
- Raymond Alden: Cigar?
- Will Randall: Don't mind if I do. Thank you.
- Raymond Alden: [he lights the cigar for Will] I want you to think about Europe, Will. Eastern Europe, particularly. There's a whole new market opening up there. I think God and currency willing, the entire continent will eventually cohere, both economically and culturally. I want that to be your area.
- Will Randall: I see. Then my area will no longer be editor-in-chief of MacLeish House after the takeover.
- Raymond Alden: Look, it's nothing personal. Come on you know that. You're clearly a man of taste and individuality, which I prize. But, these days, not only in corporate America, but all around the globe, taste and individuality are actually something of a handicap
- Will Randall: Well, just out of curiosity, on what bias did you pick my successor? Vulgarity and conformity?
- Raymond Alden: Drive. On the basis of hustle, drive and 52-carat ambition. He nagged me day and night till I gave him your job.
- Will Randall: Well for what it's worth, here's what I've learned in 30 years. Treat the authors as human beings, don't stint on review copies, and don't hold them to deadlines. They'll only turn in rough drafts.
- Raymond Alden: Thank you. Thank you. I'll remember that. You're a nice person, Will. Thank God I replaced you. And I hope you give Eastern Europe a shot. You better put that out. Horses don't like it.
- Will Randall: Well, I think I'll finish it.
- Raymond Alden: Go ahead. Good cigar, isn't it?
- [He walks away while Will throw away the cigar]
- Stewart Swinton: [Will enters the bathroom] Will. I was just about to come see you, tell you I talked to Alden about the senior consultant position. It's yours if you want it. It's less pay, of course, but so is Eastern Europe.
- Will Randall: Well, thank you, Stewart, but I've had a better offer.
- Stewart Swinton: Really? That's wonderful. What house?
- Will Randall: This one.
- [Shows him the contract]
- Stewart Swinton: I don't... I don't understand.
- Will Randall: It's fairly simple. I did the same thing you did. I nagged Alden until he gave me your job.
- Stewart Swinton: When? I don't understand. When?
- Will Randall: In my spare time. I've had a lot of it lately.
- Stewart Swinton: Well.. I guess .. I mean, I guess I owe you some congratulations. I guess the best man won. Shit, I'm glad, in a way. I mean I couldn't have given it up and I didn't like the way I got it. I hope we can work together without rancor.
- Will Randall: [Unzipping his pants to urinate] You're fired, Stewart.
- Stewart Swinton: Don't do it to me, Will. It'll ruin me
- Will Randall: I know. But it's best for the firm.
- Stewart Swinton: Give me a few months. Let me say I quit.
- Will Randall: No. It wouldn't be best for the firm.
- Stewart Swinton: You vindictive son of a bitch! The best thing for the firm is me. I'm the best thing this firm has, and you fucking know it. This is fucking
- [Will urinates on his shoes]
- Stewart Swinton: what are you crazy?
- Will Randall: No. I'm just marking my territory, and you got in the way.
- Stewart Swinton: Jesus.
- [Takes seveeal paper towels from the dispenser and wipes his shoes]
- Stewart Swinton: Nice. Real nice
- [as he walks out of the bathroom]
- Stewart Swinton: Suede shoes
- Will Randall: Asparagus.
- Raymond Alden: [after watching the news about Charlotte's murder] My god.
- Stewart Swinton: Yeah, stunning, isn't it? I just hope they don't go after Will.
- Raymond Alden: Will? Go after Will? Why would they go after Will?
- Stewart Swinton: He's the husband. That's who they go after when there are no suspects, and they were separated.
- Raymond Alden: That would not be great for the stock.
- Stewart Swinton: Well, you don't know that, sir. It could be a bonanza for the stock. It's heat. It's gossip. It's what I think publishing is all about.
- Raymond Alden: Well, you handle it anyway you think best. You're back in marketing.
- Stewart Swinton: Thank you, sir. If... If they do go after Will. And I hope to god that they don't but if they do, I'd like to put another bid for the job.
- Raymond Alden: Randall's contract gives him the right to name his own replacement, and he's named Roy MacAllister.
- Stewart Swinton: I see. Well. Would that contract still hold if Will was arrested?
- Raymond Alden: Yes, unless of course he was convicted. So I guess you'll just have to keep your fingers crossed.
- Stewart Swinton: I... I didn't... I didn't mean...
- Raymond Alden: Really? What did you mean?
- Stewart Swinton: I mean that I love Will and I hope to God that he's innocent, and if he is screw the job. But if he's guilty, screw Roy MacAllister.
- Stewart Swinton: Hello, Miss Alden. May I call you Laura? Laura if you scream, I'll kill you. I'll just break your neck okay?
- Laura: This is a surprise. How'd you get in?
- Stewart Swinton: I smooth-talked the guard.
- Laura: Well if anyone could do it.
- Stewart Swinton: Now Laura, don't play anymore games with me. You know, don't you?
- Laura: Know what?
- Stewart Swinton: What's happening to me.
- Laura: No!
- Stewart Swinton: You're playing games with me and I asked you not to. You pretended not to know Will, and now this. Don't. Don't pretend anymore. You know what happened to Charlotte, don't you?
- Laura: All right. I do know Will and I do know what's happening to you. Will told me, but only after I asked if there were anymore at home like him.
- Stewart Swinton: I'm not a fool, Laura.
- Laura: I know that.
- Stewart Swinton: If you find me so attractive, how about my fucking you to death right now, darling? How would that be?
- Laura: I don't know. I'd have to try it first.
- Stewart Swinton: Oh you're very good.
- Laura: Thank you.
- [knees him in the groin]
- Stewart Swinton: Here, Miss Alden. Take my seat.
- Laura: No, that's all right.
- Stewart Swinton: Please.
- Laura: No I want to stand.
- Stewart Swinton: You don't know me, do you? I'm Stewart Swinton.
- Laura: No.
- Stewart Swinton: I've been out to visit your father several times, but we never really met. I'm a very close friend of Will Randalls. He's the husband of...
- Laura: I know who he is
- Stewart Swinton: Oh you've met?
- Laura: No, I just know the name.
- Stewart Swinton: Ah. Well this is such a terrible, terrible thing. I'm just in shock over it. Will Randall was more than a friend and a colleague, he was my mentor.
- Laura: And you were his protege?
- Stewart Swinton: Yes, a better word. It's a true pleasure
- [holds her hand]
- Stewart Swinton: What an interesting sent you have Miss Alden. At once, new and familiar, very familiar.
- Laura: Thank you.
- [Notices that his hand is bandaged]
- Laura: Were you bitten
- Stewart Swinton: What?
- Laura: Were you bitten?
- Stewart Swinton: [curiously and suspiciously tilts his head] What an odd question. What a very odd question. What made you ask such a question?
- Laura: I don't know. People... . When people are bitten, oftentimes it's on the hand.
- Stewart Swinton: What are you here for?
- Stewart Swinton: I.. they want some information about the publishing house and I'm standing in for my father.
- Detective Bridger: Stewart Swinton! Come on in.
- Stewart Swinton: Would you have a drink with me when we're done here, Miss Alden? I'd really like to get to know you and perhaps I could tell you a little about Will.
- Laura: Thank you. Thats very sweet. Of course. I'd love to.
- Stewart Swinton: Wonderful. Well.. don't break our date now.
- Laura: Oh, I won't.
- [She leaves the police station as he enters the office]
- Laura: [knocking at door] Hi. I thought I'd just come on up. Have you been waiting for me?
- Will Randall: I can't see you.
- Laura: Come on Will, open the door. You can't do this to me twice. Open it.
- [to maid]
- Laura: excuse me I wonder if you could do me a favor.
- [Maid opens the door for her]
- Will Randall: [handcuffed to the radiatior] Please go.
- Laura: Why? What's happened? What... What have you done? Where did you get those?
- Will Randall: I want you to go.
- Laura: No. Tell me why you've done this.
- Will Randall: It's getting late and I think I'm dangerous, especially at night.
- Laura: And you're afraid that once it gets dark, you'll attack me?
- Will Randall: Yeah. I think I'm turning into something else.
- Laura: Into the thing that bit you? Into the wolf?
- Will Randall: Yes.
- Laura: Tell me where the key is
- Will Randall: I don't have a key. I don't even know where I got the handcuffs.
- Laura: You don't have a key? Well, what was your plan? To sit chained to the radiator till you grew paws?
- Will Randall: [chuckling] God, you almost make this seem like it isn't happening. I don't.. I don't have a plan. I didn't think past not hurting anyone. I don't think there's any way to open these.
- Laura: Well, you don't know who you're dealing with. You see, when you're a druggie and a delinquent and you want to get Daddy, you get arrested, you come in contact with the criminal element of society, and... Well, you pick up shit.. A-ha
- [takes a paper clip from a folder to use as a picking lock]
- Laura: that you think you're never going to need, and then, one day, you meet a guy who chains himself to the radiator and it all falls into place.
- [Leans down to unlock the handcuff from the radiator]
- Will Randall: Well... Why do you want any of this nightmare?
- Laura: You mean instead of the gaiety and warmth of my normal life? I don't know. Because I like you. Because you're a good man and that's very exotic to me. I never thought I'd meet a good man who looked at me the way you do.
- Will Randall: You don't know I'm a good man.
- Laura: Oh, yes, I do.
- Will Randall: Then why is this happening? I thought only the evil were cursed.
- Laura: Oh, no, not at all. I could have told you that. No the worst things happen to the best people. Oh! I almost had it. You know, you might consider that you're not cursed at all. That you're sick. I mean, there are brain tumors that can cause all of your symptoms.
- Will Randall: Tumors? What are you saying? Are you serious?
- Laura: Oh, yeah, yeah.
- Will Randall: Oh, God. If only that could be true.
- Laura: How we lower our sights. I say.. we get you examined for physical causes before we take for granted that you're becoming
- [unlocks the handcuffs]
- Laura: There we go. Okay on your feet. Let's get you re-handcuffed.
- Will Randall: Well maybe it isn't necessary.
- Laura: Mmm-mmm. Hands behind your back
- [handcuffs him from behind]
- Laura: There. Well, you seem pretty helpless now.
- Will Randall: Yes.
- Laura: Great
- [unbuttoning his shirt she notices amulet around his neck]
- Laura: Hmmm. It's interesting. What is it?
- Will Randall: It's a good luck charm.
- Laura: Really? Does it work?
- Will Randall: Well, today isn't turning out too bad. Laura?
- Laura: Yes?
- Will Randall: Nothing. Not a thing.
- Will Randall: I want you to lock me up before it gets dark.
- Laura: Then what?
- Will Randall: Then maybe it won't happen.
- Laura: I don't know where else to put you but the barn. Everything else has windows.
- Will Randall: The barn sounds good. Barn sounds great.
- [Gripping the amulet around his neck]
- Will Randall: I'm gonna beat this, Laura. I'm gonna beat this. Your phone is ringing.
- Laura: How do you know?
- Will Randall: [smiling] I can hear it
- Laura: I'll be right back
- Laura: [answers phone] Hello?
- Detective Bridger: Laura Alden?
- Laura: Yes?
- Detective Bridger: This is Detective Carl Bridger, NYPD.
- Laura: Yes, I know who you are
- Detective Bridger: And as you see, we now know who you are.
- Laura: Did you just dial? How long have you been ringing?
- Detective Bridger: About 2 minutes, but I've been trying to reach you ever since you left the hotel.
- Laura: What can I do for you?
- Detective Bridger: You can come in tomorrow with Mr. Randall and give me the statement that I asked for today.
- Laura: All right. Um... Do you still want blood and tissue samples for Mr. Randall?
- Detective Bridger: I'm afraid they'd be useless. We seemed have messed up the tissue samples that we took from the body.
- Laura: Why? What happened?
- Detective Bridger: There was canine DNA found in all the tissue samples, so that could mean that the victim was attacked by some kind of animal after she was killed. Or it may mean that one of the lab assistants had a dog and she forgot to wash her hands. So...
- [Laura hangs up]
- Raymond Alden: Is my daughter all right? Have you found my daughter?
- Detective Bridger: I thought she was with you the whole time?
- Raymond Alden: Laura!
- Laura: [comes out wearing a black sweater] What's happening? I heard gunshots. I was afraid to come out.
- Raymond Alden: Are you with Will Randall?
- Detective Wade: Where's Randall?
- Laura: I'm not sure. I just hung up on him. As far as I know, he's on his way to Teterboro Airport. I told him I wasn't going with him and he hung up on me.
- Cop: We'd like to check the cottage.
- Raymond Alden: Of course
- Laura: What's happening?
- Raymond Alden: They think Tom shot Stewart Swinton.
- Laura: What?
- Raymond Alden: Laura, Tom's dead. And George, too. He was run down
- Detective Bridger: With Stewart Swinton's car.
- Laura: He was after Will. I... I knew it. At the police station, he kept asking me where Will was.
- Detective Wade: There's a plane at Teterboro chartered by Laura Alden.
- Detective Bridger: Stewart Swinton was looking for Will Randall. Do you remember this? He asked us if Randall was on the Alden estate.
- Detective Wade: And when he found out that Laura Alden was gone, he took off, remember? He just bolted.
- Raymond Alden: All this might not have happened, but I was so dead set against Will Randall because he was after my daughter.
- Laura: You were just trying to save me from a disastrous relationship. I would have left him within a week. He was much too tame for me.
- Detective Bridger: Yeah. That's what I thought when I saw you together at the Mayflower. Well, I hope this time you will come in and give us a statement.
- Laura: [smiling] it would be my pleasure. Could I send you something to drink, detective? Another vodka tonic?
- Detective Bridger: [confused] Another... .uh.. No, thanks.
- Laura: Let me know if you change your mind.
- Detective Bridger: [to his partner] How the hell does she know what we've been drinking?
- Laura: I can smell it. I can smell it a mile away.
- Will Randall: [outside overlooking the lake] This is really something.
- Laura: Isn't it? This is where I used to come to bury my pets. And this is where I realized that one day I would die. Standing right here on this spot, I realized that one day I would be over.
- Will Randall: I want to tell you something. A few days ago, something happened to me. I was driving in New England and I hit an animal.
- Laura: Oh, God.
- Will Randall: A wolf.
- Laura: In New England? Are you sure?
- Will Randall: I'm absolutely positive. And when I tried to touch it, it but me.
- Laura: Did you get checked for rabies?
- Will Randall: Yes. No, I'm fine. But this is really going to sound insane. Since it happened, I feel as though the wolf passed something along to me. A scrap of its spirit in my blood or something. I don't know. Suddenly my senses are all incredibly acute. I feel just so... great. I mean I'm just not the kind of person who walks around feeling great. I don't know. I'm... I'm different. More alive. Stronger.
- Laura: [laughs] Well, sounds strange, but...
- Will Randall: It's better than living in Bosnia
- Laura: No,no. I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say that, whatever it is, if you feel great, maybe you should just accept it as a gift.
- Will Randall: Well, I'm afraid it will have a price.
- Laura: There is that. Would you like to stay for dinner? If it's not peanut butter and jelly and I don't tell my father?
- Will Randall: Yes.
- Laura: Well... Let's get back before it gets dark.
- Will Randall: You cold?
- Laura: No but we will be.
- [Will groans in pain]
- Laura: What is it?
- Will Randall: I don't know.
- Laura: Here, sit down.
- Will Randall: No, I think... I think I want to get inside. Inside
- Laura: Well, all right. All right. It's not that far. Here, lean on me.
- Will Randall: No.
- Laura: [put his arm over her so he can lean on her] Oh, come on, don't be silly. You are talking to an almost professional psychiatric nurse.
- Maude: I cannot write for a conglomerate. You'll have to protect me, Will.
- Will Randall: First of all, Raymond Alden isn't a conglomerate, he's an ordinary billionaire. And secondly, I'm not sure if I'm going to be here after the takeover.
- Maude: What? What are you talking about? You're the senior editor. Your name, your reputation.
- Will Randall: My reputation has been in question ever since I told Judith Krantz that no semi-literate 14-year-old would read her fiction.
- Maude: Oh, bullshit.
- Will Randall: Sit down, Maude. The good news is, the head of marketing is my friend and protege, and if I leave he says he'll leave with me. And since I know they don't want to lose him may give me some leverage.
- Maude: I'll leave with you, too. How's that for leverage? Come on. Let's go and see your protege.
- Stewart Swinton: Willie, just the man I wanted to see. Maude Waggins?
- Maude: Do I know you?
- Stewart Swinton: Not yet, but you saved my life, because upon reading "What About Us Girls" my freshman year at Yale..
- Maude: You realized you had to write.
- Stewart Swinton: I realized that I had to stop writing because I realized that, if this was a talent, I had none.
- Maude: But how nice that should stop you, and how rare.
- Stewart Swinton: I adore you.
- [Kisses her hand]
- Will Randall: I taught him to do that.
- Stewart Swinton: Yes, until I met Will, I used to punch my authors on the side of the head. Please, come in.
- Will Randall: Maude wants to go with us if we leave. You wouldn't happen to know off the top of your head, what her contract calls for would you?
- Stewart Swinton: She's obligated to one more book and then we get a first look at her next two.
- Maude: One more book. Good. How about an 80 page reminiscent of all the restaurants I've loved?
- Stewart Swinton: Well, whatever you say. There are no specifications in the contract.
- Maude: Perfect. I'll start eating out right now. You are a rarity, Mr. Swinton. A loyal man with a great taste in authors.
- [She kisses Will goodbye]
- Maude: Bye, Will. I'll see you at Jason's.
- Will Randall: Thank you, darling
- [He opens the door for her and then turns to face Stewart]
- Will Randall: you are such a polished ass-kisser it takes my breath away.
- Stewart Swinton: Hey, I kiss them like I see them.
- Charlotte Randall: [Will comes back into the Mansion after talking to Alden] how did it go?
- Stewart Swinton: Come on, speak. We've been going nuts.
- Will Randall: Well, first let me say congratulations on being the new Editor-in-Chief.
- Stewart Swinton: I.. What? Alden said that? What did he say? I'm... It happened this evening just before the party. He called me, told me he wanted me to take the job. I said "Will Randall's editor-in-chief" I mean I didn't even know if he was serious. Look, Will, I didn't ask for this. I mean, it just landed in my lap. Say the word I'll turn it down. What do you think I should do?
- Will Randall: That's up to you Stewart.
- Stewart Swinton: No, Will, it's up to you. I'll do whatever you say.
- Will Randall: I'm afraid you're asking the one person in the world who can't advise you.
- Stewart Swinton: Shit. I'm sorry you said that.
- Detective Bridger: Your wife was found dead this morning, Mr. Randall. I'm sorry. She was murdered sometime late last night. Her body was found in the park.
- Will Randall: How was she killed?
- Detective Bridger: Her throat was torn out.
- Laura: Sit down.
- Will Randall: No, I... I want to stand up.
- Detective Bridger: Would you mind telling me when you saw your wife last, Mr. Randall?
- Will Randall: Last night. Last night, here in the lobby. About... About 6:00.
- Detective Bridger: Did you argue?
- Laura: Don't answer anything else, Will.
- Detective Bridger: I was just trying to clear up a fact, Miss Smith. The clerk who was on last night said that Mr. Randall and his wife had argued.
- Laura: So you already know they argued. These are not straight questions. Jusy refuse to answer.
- Detective Bridger: Well, I would like to ask Mr. Randall's whereabouts last night. I mean certainly that's a straight question.
- Laura: Mr. Randall was with me last night. All night. I arrived at 6:30 and I didn't leave. You can check that with the desk.
- Detective Bridger: I will. Uh... We've taken some blood and tissue samples from your... The victim. We're trying to match them up with any known offenders, and it would really help if you would submit some blood and tissue samples just to .
- Laura: Forget it. Not without a court order.
- Detective Bridger: Oh, it's just a request. Okay. Well, here's my number in case you want to reach me about anything. Here. I would appreciate it if you came down to the station later on today and gave us a statement. Both of you.
- Laura: All right.
- Detective Bridger: And thank you for your cooperation.
- Laura: [they're driving to the Alden estate] it's not much farther now.
- Will Randall: What if I killed her?
- Laura: What if you killed her? Excuse me aren't you the guy I spent the night with? You look so much like him.
- Will Randall: I could've gone out after you fell asleep and not remembered it
- Laura: Goddamn you, Will. Why does it always have to be the worst news, the worst pain, the worst defeat?
- Will Randall: Because what if it is?
- Laura: It's not.
- Gary: [over the phone] You mean, like a manual on owning animals?
- Will Randall: No, no. Not animal possession, animal possession. Demonic possession, a possession of the spirit by an animal.
- Gary: Give me a minute. How many do you want?
- Will Randall: One. The top one. The most respected one.
- Gary: Vijay Alezais? Wrote "Something Wild" 1948. Old, but breathing.
- Will Randall: He's not some kind of mystic out of this jungle, is he?
- Gary: No. No. He has a string of letters after his name. In fact, he's Dr. Alezais.
- Will Randall: All right. Thank you. Can you give his number to Mary, please?
- Gary: All right.
- Will Randall: And Gary?
- Gary: Yeah?
- Will Randall: Don't tell people that you had a drop of tequila with your coffee this morning. You didn't have coffee this morning.
- [Gary checks to see if his phone is bugged it's not]
- Will Randall: [looking at pictures on table] Are all of these you?
- Laura: Yes. My father keeps this cottage empty just for me, so when I show up I'll have a place to stay that's as far away from him as possible. Pictures were thrown in by the decorator. He had a mawkish side.
- Will Randall: [notices a picture of a woman] Is this you.
- Laura: My mother. She died when I was 12.
- Will Randall: I'm sorry.
- [Notices a picture of a young man]
- Will Randall: And this?
- Laura: My brother. He died last year.
- Will Randall: Oh, yes, I remember. He had some kind of an accident?
- Laura: No, he killed himself. He was diagnosed borderline schizophrenic. And I guess he got tired of the title. He lived with me on and off.
- Will Randall: Nice face.
- Laura: Yeah. Yeah, he was pretty nice for a little brother.
- Will Randall: Um, were you able to reach Miss Alden?
- [Eats ham from sandwich]
- Mary: Not yet?
- Will Randall: Any appointments?
- Mary: Dr. Vijay Alezais at 4:00.
- Will Randall: Oh.
- Mary: He's called three times to make certain that you're coming, and he sounds like he's over 100. If you want to cancel, you'll have to do it yourself.
- [Will laughs]
- Will Randall: [Will has been asked to talk with Mr. Alden] "Never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls"
- Charlotte Randall: Will? Just remember who you are.
- Stewart Swinton: Just charm the bastard, you can be charming when you want to.
- Will Randall: Why is he doing it this way?
- Stewart Swinton: He probably thinks it's kinder face-to-face
- Laura: [will comes from behind her] you scared me. You were right. The phone was ringing. It was that... That detective, Bridger. Well, he... . He traced me, and he... Now he's threatening to subpoena the entire state of New York if I don't give him a statement tonight. Will you be all right if I go in?
- Will Randall: [nodding] Yes. Don't look so scared. Maybe there's happy endings even for people who don't believe in them.
- Laura: Yeah.
- Will Randall: I want you to know something. I've never loved anybody this way. I've never looked at a woman and thought, "if civilization fails, if the world ends, I'll understand what God meant if I'm with her."
- [Laura locks him in the barn]
- Stewart Swinton: [giving a statement] Will Randall was a very close, very dear friend of mine. And I'm not proud of what I'm going to say. Charlotte Randall and I... This is hard. Charlotte Randall and I were having an affair. It just happened, and Will found out. He was like a madman. He was a madman. I mean, he bit me. He actually urinated on my shoe.
- Detective Bridger: [writing on notepad] Urinated.
- Stewart Swinton: He told me he would kill her, and I didn't listen. I didn't believe him. I blame myself. I mean if you have any idea of pinning a first degree murder rap on Will, forget it. This is true temporary insanity. And if Will is arrested, I'll testify to that in his defense.
- Detective Bridger: I understand.
- Stewart Swinton: Is he... He's staying at the Alden place, isn't he? With Miss Alden? I really must find him right away.
- Detective Bridger: Why don't you ask her? She's outside.
- Stewart Swinton: Yes, of course.
- Detective Bridger: Laura Alden? Alden! Laura Alden?
- Receptionist: She's gone. She left right after Mr. Swinton went in.
- Stewart Swinton: Excuse me.
- [He leaves the station]
- Detective Bridger: We don't need her. Wake someone up and get a warrant for Randall. This is our case. Did he say "on his shoe" or "in his shoe"
- Detective Wade: Laura Alden just called. She's coming in tonight. Sounds like she's been crying.
- Detective Bridger: [while typing on a typewriter] that's interesting. I just got a call from a guy who says he's Randall's best friend and he wants to see me tonight.
- Detective Wade: You got a busy night, pal. The entire family of the kid whose fingers were torn off is out there. We got five new murders. What is there about a full moon?
- Detective Bridger: More light.
- Laura: Hello.
- Will Randall: Laura I've been trying to call you
- [she hangs up he calls again]
- Will Randall: Don't hang up. Will you let me explain?
- Laura: No.
- Will Randall: Why?
- Laura: Because first of all I'm not a fan of men who mysteriously disappear in the morning.
- Will Randall: Hey listen, listen, listen to me. I had an accident, God damn it. I sleepwalked last night. I hit my head and knocked myself out, and I drove to the doctors at 6:00 this morning.
- Laura: But it didn't occur to you to come back to the cottage and tell me?
- Will Randall: No. No it didn't occur to me to come knocking on the door of your cottage at 6:00 in the morning with a scalp wound and ask you to take care of me again. And finish drying. The sound of that towel is driving me crazy.
- Laura: Are you telling me that you hear what I'm doing over the phone?
- Will Randall: Yes. It's one of my new gifts. Laura, please can I see you? Can we have dinner tomorrow? I'm at the Mayflower. Laura?
- Laura: I'll be at your hotel tomorrow evening at 6:00. You better be there and you better look like you fell.
- Will Randall: I will be and I did. Room 825. What did you...
- [she hangs up]
- Will Randall: makevme for breakfast?
- [He gets up and look at himself in the mirror]
- Will Randall: I'm not only the president of the Hair Club for Men, I'm also a member.
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