Winter Kills

Hello, this is Yvette Malone speaking.

I'm not home just now, but if you'll be kind enough...

To leave your name and telephone number, I'll call you when I return.

Please begin at the tone.

Yvette, Nick here. Uh, I just thought I'd let you know that...

I'm still on Pa's ship off the coast of Malaysia thinking about you.

And, uh, sure is nice to hear your voice. Even if it is recorded.

well, we're getting some rough weather here, honey.

So, uh, I guess I - they want you to go up, sir.

Okay, let's go.

All right, now move your asses.

Get him to sick bay, and do it now.

Ha! Well, if it isn't mr. Keifitz.

Lookin' more like your father every day.

You came all the way out here to tell me that?

No, no, sir. I brought you an assassin.

- A what? - Yeah, well, that man that they're moving there.

He says he shot your brother. He was second rifle at City Hall.

It's an outrage to bring this man here.

You prefer the native hospital in Brunei where a man can die of athlete's foot.

I don't have the facilities. This man fell off an oil rig.

Doctor, will you leave us?

Then I take no responsibility.

That's right.

And you, out.

And you, stay.

Now, can you write? Sir?

English. Can you write English? I think so, sir.

Do your best.

Be our witness. Just write down whatever he says.

Fletcher! You hear me?

Nick Kegan is here. You understand?

I think he wants to shake your hand.

Now, what's your full name?

Arthur Turkus Fletcher.

How old are you?

Fifty-eight years.

We will hear your testimony.

I shot President Kegan.

Jesus.

How?

I was second rifle in City Hall, February 22, 1960.

I hit with both shots.

Where was the number one rifle?

Behind the wall.

I shot on the line with him.

Who hired you?

Junior. Casper Jr.

They remembered me from shooting demonstrations for the rifle association.

Said he'd push me into history.

Twenty-five thousand dollars for a morning's work.

A morning's work.

Please,

Mr. Kegan,

The rifle's in the steam pipe under the middle window in the Engleson building.

Room 903.

I left my fingerprints and all with my name taped to it...

For when the time came to prove that I killed the President.

What about Willy Arnold? The Pickering commission proved Willie Arnold shot my brother.

Nick, he's dead.

You can't run away from this.

get a hold of Miles Garner in Philly,

Have him meet me at the airport with some long underwear.

It'll be freezing there. What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna look for his rifle. Mm.

whether this guy is real or not, Pa'll understand I had to leave the ship.

- I'm sure he will. - I hope so.

You get that down?

I'll look at it.

Jesus, you print like an ape.

I'm a high school graduate.

But I've never been involved in anything like this.

Now,

You were just a little boy when President Kegan...

Was gunned down in Philadelphia.

But in the subsequent 19 years,

More than 16 people,

Who seemingly had nothing to do with that awful event,

Have died under mysterious conditions.

If what you say is true, Nick, it's gonna shake up a lot of people.

President, Congress, everyone. Especially Pa.

Does he know? No, not yet.

I guess this assassin thought nobody'd look for him, working for the President's father, huh?

We're gonna need a wrench for the steam pipe.

We'll get it from the building supervisor.

Captain Heller, this way.

Captain Heller, that's the wrong building!

Is he reliable, Miles? Captain Heller, Philadelphia's finest.

He drinks a bit, but if there's a rifle up there, he'll know how to handle it.

Captain Heller, Nick Kegan. We have no time to lose, Captain.

You say you're Nicholas Kegan? That's right.

Got any identification?

Come on. I've known Nick since he was a boy. He's tom Kegan's son.

Our late President's half-brother, okay?

You'll vouch for him? Of course, yes.

Good enough. Now, uh, what's the problem here, fellas?

It's this way, Captain.

Oh. Kegan,

We did everything possible to protect your brother here.

But you can't protect anyone against a nut.

Nine-oh-three. Damn shame.

Police, open up. Open up in there. Police.

You John Kullers?

- We'd like to have a look at your steam pipe. - My steam pipe?

We'll get a search warrant if necessary.

Search warrant for a steam pipe?

how long have you occupied these premises?

cops. Why me? Answer the question.

Four years, I don't know. Where were you on February 22, 1960.

1960? What is this? You don't remember the date President Kegan was shot?

Long island. In school. Mrs. Sayers' eighth grade English class.

Oh, yeah?

Look, hey, I got a legitimate operation here.

All right, Miles. I'll check it. Stand back.

I'm sorry.

Sorry? What for?

Now you'll have to live it all over again.

I could put it back.

You'll always know where it was.

Oh, the hell with it.

What's that? What is that? That's not mine.

You make one sound about what you saw here today,

And you'll be the sorriest little man in the sticks.

Boy, this'll stink right up to heaven.

Yeah, this is the kind of thing that rises.

Hey, take this. I don't like the way it feels.

- Where to, Captain? - Bring it to the F.B.I., wouldn't you say?

Oh, why not? They probably built it.

"They probably built it."

Miles! Miles.

Help!

Phone? Do you have-

Mr. Kegan's office. Who's calling, operator?

Yes, we will. Hello, mr. Kegan?

No, I'm sorry. Your father left for Rockrimmon last night.

I'm not sure. I'll give you Rosemary.

Yes, Nick. How nice to hear from you.

Your father's left the house already for his golf.

May I help you?

In the desert, yes.

Well, how urgent? I see.

Oh, dear. I'd better connect you with John Cerruti. Hold on.

Nick. Surprise, surprise. How are you? Where are you?

You left the boat, Nick. Left the ship. That's naughty of you.

Very bad not telling headquarters. Your father-

What? What rifle?

Uh-huh. In Philadelphia? Well, that's astonishing.

Well, it's startling. Shocking about Miles.

Listen, now where are you now? Exactly where?

Okay, follow me carefully. Do nothing. I'll handle the police. You wait for a car.

We'll pick you up and you can discuss this with your father in Rockrimmon.

And Nick, don't panic. Panic is counterproductive.

How are you, Keith? The same. Always the same.

And you, you're looking good.

Where's Pa? He's playing golf.

But he should be back any time now.

I've got to see him right away. Hey, Shogun. Shogun. Shogun.

You've been gone a long time, Nick.

Shogun forget.

Have you had dinner? No, not yet.

First, I'd like to take a look at Pa's copy of the full Pickering report.

That will only make you sad.

Sad? Now, you once told me all knowledge was good.

I don't recall. Actually, that not something I would say.

I'll go find Pa.

I'm freezing.

Sun's going down. The desert's supposed to be hot.

Quit bitching. You've been bitching all day. I don't like it.

What am I gonna do with these girls, mr. Secretary?

First they're hot, then they're cold.

When she's hot again, send her over.

I'm always hot.

Hello, Pa.

Y'all know my son, Nicholas. Hi, Nick.

all grown up, Nick.

He ain't a global figure, like his brother was. No interest.

He's a seafaring man like yourself, admiral.

Good boy. Right, Nick?

If you say so, Pa.

- You didn't tell me you were leaving the boat, son. - I had to.

What do you think these girls are doing under this blanket, son?

I don't know, Pa.

Think they're playing with my nuts?

You're awful.

I gotta talk to you, Pa.

You better believe it, boy.

...

Am I disturbing you?

Mother, what are you doing here?

Oh, shh! I'm supposed to be a secret.

I thought you were in Nantucket.

Oh, it was freezing there.

And nobody came to visit. I met this real nice man.

Pa said he just wanted my money.

So he sent for me.

It's a big secret. The newspapers, you know.

Oh, Nicholas, Cocoa's sick.

She's sick.

Aw, let me see. No, no.

No, she's not well.