The Nest

Six forty-five AM, here on North Port.

And the temperature on the island is a bracing 62 degrees.

you're listening to WNPT, serving up a non-stop menu

of light rock, news, and white lavender.

For all you--

uh, for all you morning coffee achievers.

Seem to be having some technical difficulties.

Always good for a light laugh, in my book.

However, our intrepid engineer--

Please, stand--

Hold, please.

North Port Police.

- You beep me, Millie? - you mean woke you.

Listen, Richard, my switchboard's been buzzing with strange calls.

Item one, Roger Gordon didn't come home last night.

- And-- - Let me guess,

uh, tourist girl is missing?

That old lighthouse does it every time, doesn't it?

Anyway, I told his mom you'd check up there.

Item two, that dog at the Intec trailer is still barking.

Here's a thought-- send the dog after the Gordon kid.

Items three, four, and five-- Mrs. Pennington,

three times she calls about pages falling out of her books.

Richard! Are you still with me?

Yeah, Millie, I'm here, I'm here.

Yeah, I'm on my way to the lighthouse, okay?

That's it for now.

- oh, bite my tongue. - What is it?

The mayor's birthday is Sunday

and there's somebody, a VIP, coming in on the morning plane.

you know, a surprise.

I take it that means you'll head out there.

I'm on it, Millie.

Homer?

Hey, you want to go huntin' today, Homer?

I'm always on the hunt, Jake.

Oh, yeah.

Homer?

You got pests, Chief?

Yep.

Why, I know about pests.

If you wanna stop 'em, you gotta do one thing--

- What's that? - You gotta--

Uh.

Don't leave food out.

Thanks, Jake.

Mornin'.

- Hey, Richard. - Fair Lillian.

Chief's got pests.

Now, you leave him be, Dad.

Betcha it's bugs.

At the store, if it's not rats, it's bugs.

Rats is the worst and don't you tell me no different.

North Port's a damn floatin' cesspool, you ask me.

Do you mind, we're eating here.

Oh, sorry.

I went over to the mainland yesterday.

I wondered where you were.

I got you somethin'.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

Hmm.

Ooh.

Eh?

You're one mean piece a law enforcement, sheriff.

You bet I am.

Drop by later?

After I tame these mean streets.

Hi.

Hi.

- So, thanks a lot-- - So, if I was--

After you.

No, I don't know what to say, it's been so long.

- - How 'bout, "I missed you?"

I missed you.

You look good.

Thanks, so do you.

So, you sheriff now?

Mm-hm.

Your dad retire?

He died.

I'm sorry.

It was a while ago.

What happened to Dan's Bar?

Oh, they tore it down.

Everything's changed.

It's four years, Beth.

Richard, Richard!

Yoo hoo!

Over here.

I'm pleased that you are coming.

It certainly took you long enough.

Doesn't that Millie pass on emergency calls?

Richard, look at this, just look at this.

Kids, no respect for property.

Hi, Mrs. Pennington.

Hi, Beth.

Every single, solitary page-- torn out.

That's just mice or insects, Mrs. Pennington,

they eat the glue out of the binding.

Not in every book in the library, overnight?

Who's she-- how'd she get a ride?

Oh, my niece-- working with Mr. Perkins this summer.

So, I'll check it out.

Oh!

Hell to pay with the library committee, Richard.

Hell to pay.

Oh, say hello to your father for me, Beth.

The improvements that you and the city council asked me to make

are almost done.

But time's runnin' out.

The tourists are almost here.

They're gonna be crawlin' all over this island before we know it.

And I need capital.

Now you and Intec both promised me that money.

Loan.

Yeah, yeah, loan, money-- whatever.

I needed it three weeks ago

if I was gonna be ready for the season.

Listen, Mayor, the bottom line is this--

Without it, I gotta raise my prices.

No, you're not gonna raise your prices

and you will get the loan

when Intec wants to give it to you, and not before.

Now, look, I'm going to tell you something--

I'm gonna take the time to do this.

Intec is going to take this backward little island into the 20th century.

And I will not allow

any narrow-minded, provincial, greedy little merchant

to drive away the tourists.

You're gonna miss your lunch.

You know, Mayor,

you can't control everything on this island.

Go away, Sy.

How long are you staying?

I don't know yet.

I need to spend some time with my dad.

Want to get together tonight?

- 566 - 2728?

Okay.

Tell your dad happy birthday.

Dad?

Uh, I was looking for a book on the legal precedent--

precedent about a--

bunch of attorneys on this damned island.

You look older, Dad.

Well, you're what I wanted for my birthday.

I'm glad.

Millie, no sign of Roger at the lighthouse.

Well, I'll be dipped.

Listen, I've got five more dog complaints.

you want to check it out or should I just explain

that he's part of nature's never-ending wonder.

you know, like tripe?

On my way.

Damn it, Jake! What if I had my gun out?

Polio sneaks up on ya, Chief.

You gotta keep one eye open.

How'd you get out here so fast?

Ah, never swim in a public pool.

Only kiss a woman you trust.

Jake, we gotta talk.

Uh, yeah.

We had this discussion about other people's property, Jake.

Uh, yeah,

All right, look, this is what I want you to do--

I want you to take the boat back today.

I won't say another word about it, okay?

Today, I'll take it back today.

Thanks, Jake.

You gonna marry my daughter, Chief?

I like her, Jake.

What happened to Mom's shell collection?

I... put everything in the basement after the funeral.

I mean, you--

a little while later, you know.

Beth,

I am sorry-- I'm sorry that I couldn't help you more.

Listen to me, please.

I knew you were hurting.

I couldn't even help myself.

Beth,

I guess I just-- I guess I just don't want to lose you again, all right?

I know.

So, the gorilla looks at Lady Di and says,

"Richard, are you on your way to Intec yet?"

Hm. Since when?

Oh, God, Richard.

Who could have done that?

It's okay, you'll be all right.

Yeah, Richard.

Mayor, I just dropped by to see if Elizabeth's all right.

Uh, she's all right. What the hell do you think happened?

I don't know.

I already talked to Simpson about going out there.

He used to hunt mountain lions.

Mountain-- why, you think it's an animal?