Last Dance

# With no warmth inside we surely will shiver

# So we sleep We sleep so satisfied

# Lay down, lay down, lay down Down and feed

# Lay down, lay down, lay down Down and feed

# Lay down, lay down, lay down

# And feed the fire

# Lay down, lay down, lay down Down and feed

# Think I'm lost with all your promises

# Think I act strange when you talk to me

Oh, that's gonna kill you.

...represent concepts. Now, what you're...

I'm sorry. Could you tell me where the chief of staff's office is, please?

- Sure. Up the stairs and to your left. - Up the stairs. Thanks.

The one nearest the front door at the crossing represents justice.

- Hi. - Hi. - I'm Rick Hayes.

- I'm here to see John Hayes. - Oh, you're John's brother.

Yeah, among other things.

- Louise, John's brother is here. - Okay.

- He's right here in the conference room. - Great.

We should take each case on its merits.

Now, we have restricted out-of-state travel...

and we've delayed the purchase of new state vehicles.

It doesn't sound like enough. We have to trim ten million...

from department spending over the next fiscal year. John?

I've requested the department trim five percent across the board, except for education.

Okay. But we're gonna have to find some additional measures.

Cutbacks? With an election next year, it might...

You want the tooth fairy to come, you're gonna have to put some teeth under the pillow.

Agreed. With what we've done, we're now in a position to take stock...

make our judgments regarding the staffing and expenditures...

and we will take a long, hard, critical look at all...

I'm just trying to figure out what kind of idiot shows up his first day of work...

late and stinking of wine.

I guess now you know.

You wanna try to explain your resume?

- What do you mean? - Well, you went to law school. Did pretty well.

Worked for Hayes Development for three years. Working for your old man?

- On and off. - Mmm.

And then there's this gaping hole.

What have you been doing with yourself for the last two years?

Well, my father passed away. Maybe you know. I helped settle his affairs.

And after that?

Um, well, after that I, uh, I did some travelling and I, I just tried some different things.

Partied for two years.

Well, call it what you want.

Okay. What do you want to do?

- What do I wanna do? - Hell, it's your call.

Your brother's the governor's chief of staff.

Well, um...

Well, while you think about it, I'll get you a desk and a subscription to Playboy.

Of course, if you're interested in actually working, I'm up to my butt here.

Yeah, I'd like to give it a try.

You know anything about this office? You know what clemency is?

Yeah, it's the power to pardon people, commute sentences.

- Whose power? - I believe, the governor's.

In this state, his sole power. He makes the final decision.

The Clemency Office makes recommendations, but we're not here to retry the case.

This is about mercy. Has the prisoner rehabilitated himself?

Will solid citizens speak out on his behalf?

Does his own mother have anything good to say?

- Will I get some kind of training for this? - Yeah, by doing it.

Well, this is it... 124 pending cases.

Everything from tax fraud to murder.

Wow. How do you keep on top of all of it?

You don't. You prioritize.

I've got death warrants coming down any day.

Obviously they come first.

Every time a death warrant is issued or reissued, we have to make a new report.

- You know anything about John Reese? - Uh, yeah, John Reese.

That's the cop killer who pleaded self-defence, right? I saw him on 60 Minutes

Right. Yeah. Big celebrity. Even wrote a book.

Every time I see him, he gives me one. Couldn't get through the damn thing.

- Well, great. I'll take Reese. - No, I've already got that one started.

Take Cindy Liggett. Look through her file.

- It's a death penalty case? - Yep.

- Get your dick wet with Liggett. - Okay.

Helen'll get you a desk and a Playboy if you change your mind.

- Slow down, slow down. - All right.

Are we there?

All right. Okay.

Well, what do you think? It's not bad, huh?

Bedroom, bathroom, office area up there...

and gourmet kitchen and swimming pool.

Never know who you'll meet down there.

- And I got you into the tennis club. - What's this?

- Oh, you'll be needing that. - I got a tux.

It's an Armani.

I thought the days of profligate spending were over, John.

Oh, don't worry about it. You're in the majors now, you gotta look the part.

Okay. Thanks.

Ah, don't look like somebody slammed your nuts in the door.

- It's... It's gonna be good. - I know.

- Wait and see. - I know.

Listen, it doesn't mean the party's over.

It's just a better class of guests.

Well, you know, her crimes, you don't think of a woman committing a crime like that.

I mean, I don't, anyway. That... That brutal.

Most of the time a woman kills, it's a crime of passion.

Usually her husband or her boyfriend.

And last time she got a stay of execution with about four days left.

- Well, when was that? - About 18 months ago.

It's all a delaying game, really.

They come up with some new constitutional theory...

and find a sympathetic judge to grant a stay, then they start appealing all over again.

Right, and they just stretch it out indefinitely.

Well, no, not this time. It looks like she's run out of arguments.

- And a lot more women are gonna be executed now. - Why's that?

Women's lobby. They all want equal treatment in the eyes of the law.

- Hey, Frances, what's up? - Where you goin', girl?

What's goin' on?

- Hey, Frances! - I'll tell you something now. Don't be like that, Frances.

- Frances! - Hey, Cindy, you checkin' out of death row?

- You don't like it here? - Hey. Hey!

...somebody. He don't need to know my personal life.

I have my own life, and just because I have a kid don't mean my life needs to stop...

and I need to stop what I need to do.

She ain't the only one raising him. The father raises him too.

Oh, yeah. On the weekends he...

And that's my business. That's my time now.

How 'bout self-respect?

Every dollar you have, these sweet and innocent-looking girls...

shamelessly tell us they are money hungry and...

I'm Rick Hayes. I'm with the Clemency Board. Would you like to have a seat?

I'm gonna be working on your report, the update, so we need to...

- No. - No?

No, we don't need to do anything.

- Well, what do you mean? - I'm not playin' your game.

Um, l... Well, I don't understand.

It's one big, sick fuckin' joke.

- How's that? - This governor doesn't give clemency.

Well, uh... What is it that you're saying here?

I'm saying you go ahead and you make your damn report...

then you give it to the governor and you let him give it serious consideration...

then you can all go ahead and kill me with a clear conscience.

Miss Liggett, maybe you can explain to me... what is it that you have to lose?

I mean, there is really no good reason for you not to cooperate.

Just give us something we can work with here. There's gotta be a...

I'm very, very proud of my 17-year-old 'cause she works and goes to school...

What'd you say your name was? Rick?

- Right. - What's that short for?

- Eric? Richard? - Richard, yeah.

- Mm-hmm. So, what's wrong with Richard? - What's wrong with Rick?

Every Rick I ever knew was a slick, two-faced motherfucker.

- I know quite a few. - Well, you just met one who isn't.

That's the first thing every slick, two-faced motherfucker tells you.

All right, Miss Liggett.

Frances.

Wanna know what the second thing they say is?

What do you got to lose?

- You should really think about this. - I have.

For about 12 years.

You take care of yourself, Rick.

Gotta bust out some cash, anything. I don't care what it is.

- What kind of presents do you get? - Gold.

I got a bedroom set, a TV, stereo...

- You got a bedroom set? - Mm-hmm.

- Did your mom ask you where it came from? - No.

Well, we don't need her cooperation anyway.

- What do you mean? - The report's required, with or without it.

Oh, man, she is a pisser.

- Sounds like she sure as hell had your number. - Yeah.

- Rick, come on. - Hey, John. - Hey, Emerson. How are you?

- Hi. - Lobbyist.

- For what? - Oil companies.

Oh.

- The Brothers Hayes. - Governor.

- John. - My brother Rick. - How are you, sir?

- Rick. Of course. - Yes.

- Mrs Governor. - Tom. - Nice to meet you.

In the governor's business we call this a "meet and greet."

Well, it wouldn't be hard to get used to.

Bart, stay right where you are. Don't have too much fun now, fellas.

The guy's in perpetual motion. He's incredible.

Hey, you know, I've been glancing at the files. He's never granted clemency, huh?

- No, not true. No. We've granted 15 pardons since I've been here... - Yeah?

- And scores of sentence reductions. - Never in a capital case.

No, not in a state where 76 percent of the voters favour the death penalty.

Well, then why the hell did you put me in a goddam useless job?

Oh, I figured if you messed up, you couldn't do much damage.

Well, you're just a condescending son of a bitch. Why is that?

- Oh, relax. Listen. - No, no, I'm... - If things work out...

- Hi there, you guys. - There's an opening in the press office, the first of the year.

- Ladies, ladies! - Rick, this is my friend Jill Venable.

- And Jill, you know John, of course. - Everyone knows John, of course.

- Hi, Jill. - Hey, yeah, I know you.

- You used to live down the street from us on Oakmont, right? - That's right.

- She's almost the girl next door. - That's sounds terrible.

- I don't remember you being so cute. - Oh, well, thanks.

- I've been working on it. - Well, it sure makes my job a lot easier.

- Your job, huh? - Yeah, I'm supposed to take you around...

and introduce you to people of power and influence.

Oh, I see. Big brother's looking out for me again?

Oh, we can start with a few corrupt committee chairmen, work our way down.

Ah, none of that. Let's get a couple of drinks and have a chat.

- Do you think your parking space could've been further away? - That's what I said. The...

- Is this it? - Yeah, it's right here.

- Ohh. John must have found this place for you. - How could you possibly guess?

'Cause he's been here seven years and still rents his furniture.

- We used to go out. - Oh?

We're just friends now. My decision.