Early Edition (1996) s01e18 Episode Script
Psychic
CHUCK: Let's face it.
Life's hard.
Life takes effort.
GARY: Miss Pearson.
That's just the way it is.
Miss.
Pearson, you have to get out of the water.
Most of the time there are no shortcuts.
No easy way out.
Every now and then, however, life surprises you.
Thing is, you can't go looking for the shortcuts.
They find you.
Which is why from time to time, everyone needs a wake-up call.
Hey.
In the meantime, you try to keep your head above water and just keep swimming.
And be glad that someone out there gets tomorrow's newspaper today.
(theme music playing) What are you saying? You got him a gift for no reason at all.
That's right.
You may not realize this, but I have a very generous spirit.
So are you going to open it or what? And what did I do to deserve this? Just being you.
Just A phone? Exactly what you need.
Oh, Chuck, that was sweet.
You worry about him.
Actually, it came as a bonus from my DSS hookup, and I already had two cell phones.
So I thought, "Hey, Gare.
" So it was free.
Yeah, it's the thought that counts.
There's no dial tone.
Well, you have to sign up for the service first.
You didn't buy him the service, but you gave him a phone.
What do you think, I'm made of money here? Look, Gare, all you have to do is you go into Cellular One, you sign up for your service and give them my name, and I get all three HBOs free for a year.
Oh, gee, Chuck, thanks.
That's, uh, that's, uh, that's big-hearted of you.
Don't mention it.
Come on, let's get a move on.
Oh, right.
Remember? The gym? Listen, I've got to run some errands.
Errand errand, as in going to the bank and the post office, or your kind of errand? It's a fortune-teller gas leak kind of thing.
Okay, you have fun.
I'll see you at the gym, all right? (sitar music plays) And together we take a breath.
(inhales) (exhales) I invoke the guardian spirit of Shelly Kra Kraznow.
Kraznow.
Your spirit guide tells me there is a strong, intimidating force in your life.
An authority figure? Yes.
Yes.
Mr.
Roberts.
Mr.
Roberts, exactly.
And he is your He's my boss.
Boss.
Yeah.
He criticizes me in front of the whole staff.
Hmm.
Now, I can't even bring myself to speak when I'm around him.
I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job.
Oh, shh, shh.
Hmm? Mmm.
Your spirit guide wants you to speak up tomorrow morning.
My guardian spirit is here? Yes.
Right now? Can I see it? If you have absolute faith.
I do.
Close your eyes.
I believe.
CUSTOMER: I believe.
I believe.
(slower): I believe.
Louder.
I believe.
(slams machine) CLAIRE: One more time, I believe.
I believe! (bangs machine) Your spirit guide is right behind you.
(door opens) CLAIRE: Hey! Uh, sorry to interrupt, ladies, but you're going to have to leave right now.
Hey, hey, hey.
We're right in the middle of a session here.
Yeah, well, there's a gas leak in this building.
Look, you can't just barge in in the middle of a séance.
Who do you think you are? Who are you? What is that? My guardian spirit.
What are you, with 60 Minutes? Listen, Claire, right? Claire? Yeah.
You got carbon monoxide leaking into the room, so you got to get out of here, you understand that? Listen to me, if you're not out of here in three seconds, I'm going to call the police.
Ready? One, two Two My guardian spirit's really cute.
Huh? You know, come to think of it, I'm not feeling so well myself.
Huh? Whoa, whoa.
Okay, okay.
Okay.
All right, come on, let's go outside.
Huh? Okay, come on.
Okay.
Let's go outside, get some fresh air.
We dancing? Okay, come on.
Okay.
Come on.
(siren wails) (garbled radio transmission) Hey.
Hey.
You, hey! Scrambled or poached? Huh? The egg on my face.
Look, this isn't an apology or anything, but I'm prepared to say you may have been right.
About the gas leak? I may have been right? All right, all right, all right in all probability, you were right, but what I want to know is Hey, look, apology accepted.
Wait, wait, wait.
How'd you know? How did you do it? I've got a very sensitive nose.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, that nose isn't particularly sensitive.
No, no, no this nose is more decorative.
Yeah, ma'am, I'm glad you're all right now.
And I see you're busy, and you've got a lot of people who desperately want their fortunes told.
Yeah.
Oh, there's one.
Have a nice day.
Hey! A psychic, huh? I couldn't wait to get out of there.
You should've seen the place.
It's like a three-ring circus.
People in the waiting room.
Who goes and pays money to see people like that anyway? Nut jobs.
Hey, Gare, do you happen to know if she's open on Saturdays? I don't (feigned laughter) Look, ever since the market's broke 7,000, everybody is getting rich but me.
And since you have been absolutely no help, I need an edge.
I don't think you've been listening.
She's a fraud.
But you're the real thing, aren't you? Who is that? The fraud.
We need to talk.
How did you find me? Easy you had a gym bag, this is the closest gym.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist.
I'm Chuck.
Chuck Fishman.
Hello, Chuck Fishman.
Nice to meet you.
So you're the psychic, huh? Listen, do you read palms? Because I desperately need some guidance.
Yeah, come on.
Okay, let's see.
Take a deep breath.
Oh, hon, you shouldn't even be standing here.
Well, why not? Um, did you have a, uh, a Caesar salad for lunch? Oh, my God.
That's brilliant.
How did you know? The dressing, it throws the whole reading off.
Go wash your hands.
You'll live longer.
Bye-bye.
(giggles): Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Listen, I know your secret.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You can't kid a kidder.
Carbon monoxide, it's an odorless gas.
No one can smell it.
And then I thought, "Well, maybe he knew because he's with the gas company.
" I called the gas company.
They never heard of you.
And then I realized you knew because you knew.
I'm right, aren't I? I don't know.
You're the psychic.
You tell me.
I'm not, and you know I'm not.
Oh, really.
Yeah.
You mean that incredibly looking, realistic floating ghost going across the wall, that wasn't real? I give the people what they want.
And then you take their money, good-bye.
Hey! The lady who cuts your hair and convinces you it looks good, you pay her.
I perform a service.
Why shouldn't I get paid? Will you wait up? Look, lady, what is it you want from me? I want to go into business with you.
What kind of business? The psychic business.
You're not a psychic.
I know, but you are.
You don't have to do anything but look good and be psychic.
Okay? You provide the steak.
I'll provide the sizzle.
No problem.
I've got bells, whistles, smoke and mirrors.
Where are you going? Look it, we could be a real team, you and me.
MAN: Hey, get out of here.
Like Batman and Robin and a mind, all right? Come on, what do you say? No.
No.
Man, that's just like you.
Opportunity comes knocking at the door, and you go hiding in the men's room.
What opportunity? (toilet flushing) Opening your own business.
It's about time you did something with your life, Gare.
And incorporating is a perfect way for you to hide that taxable income.
What taxable income? I don't have any taxable income.
Exactly.
It's about time you made some.
Are you going with me today? Where are we going? Over to the zoo.
What's at the zoo? I have a kid who's going to get bit by a poisonous snake.
It's, uh if it's just one bus, I can get there by 2:30, there's no problem.
Here, it's a, uh, six-foot-long black mamba snake.
It apparently managed to escape from its cage late Friday night.
Zoo officials didn't realize the snake was missing until Saturday afternoon.
They heard screams coming from a school bus in the parking lot.
Seven-year-old Jeremy Martin was bitten twice.
He's listed in guarded condition at County Hospital.
Okay.
That's enough.
What are you doing? I'm going to take a sauna.
See, I have this thing about snakes.
It's called "fear of death.
" All right.
SECURITY GUARD: If there was an animal missing, I'd have heard about it.
Look, I'm telling you there's a snake out here somewhere, a black mamba.
It got free last night.
(garbled radio transmission) Yeah, I got the guy right here.
He says La Bamba is on the lose.
Mamba, a black mamba.
I don't know what the guy's talking about, either.
Look, they've never heard of your snake, okay? I'm telling you the truth.
Of course you are.
Don't go anywhere.
I'm going to get you someone to talk to.
Hey, wait! CLAIRE: Do you have any idea how much the Psychic Friends Network gross annually? Huh? Seven figures, seven figures.
Now, I'm not saying that we can make that in the first year.
How did you find me? Easy I followed you to the El platform, you got on the Howard line.
Right, where does the Howard line go? Near the zoo.
Zoo, you're an animal lover, so am I.
But you knew that, huh? 'Cause you've got the gift.
Listen, lady, I don't have time for this.
I've got to find a snake out here on one of these buses.
See? You had a vision.
This is good, but I want you to say it like this.
I want you to say like "a poisonous serpent" and "innocent children.
" You see what I'm doing? I'm giving it some oomph, all right? If there's a snake, why aren't you doing something about it? Because I don't know which bus the snake is on.
Ah.
That one.
Huh? The snake is on that bus.
Listen, lady, I don't have time for your little act, your hocus-pocus, or whatever you This one is parked closest to the zoo.
All right? The snake house is on the other side of that wall.
It's not an act, it's logic.
(children chattering) Hey, get off that bus! Hey, come on, guys, get off the bus! Come on! Jeremy? Don't move.
Stay right where you are, all right? All right? Do you see any, uh any zoo officials out there, any security guards? No, uh-uh.
Just some kids.
You know, I really don't understand your resistance to this whole thing.
I mean, you don't have a job, right? I'm going to provide the capital.
I mean, what have you got to lose, honey? Nothing.
What do you mean, I don't have a job? How do you know I don't have two jobs? Easy those shoes.
A man with a job would not wear those shoes.
He would throw them out.
He would burn those shoes.
These shoes are not old.
Listen, lady, can I tell you something? You're driving me crazy.
Right now I'm looking for a snake, so if you don't mind.
All right, Jeremy, just hang on now.
(hissing) Gary, listen to me.
You've got to look behind you.
Behind me.
What is it? Some kind of New Age speak you people use? Gary, how could I make this clearer to you? Look behind you.
Listen, lady, I'm trying to find (hissing) (screaming) (yells) Well I've heard of these things saving people's lives, but never exactly like that.
You're lucky.
Had that snake bit two inches lower, you would have lost all your speed dials.
Yeah.
You all right? Oh, yeah, I'm doing fine.
Guess I should have taken your word, huh, about the snake? That would have been nice.
You know, if I had known what kind of business you were in, I would have taken you a little more seriously.
Huh? It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Your partner gave me a card.
Partner? CLAIRE: And it came to us, the spirit guide, the eye of Isis, in a flash of green light, and said, "Follow me through the wilderness", and I will lead you to the serpent.
" And it did exactly that.
And it can do the same thing for you.
WOMAN: Can I get a card? I don't believe this.
CLAIRE: Oh, and we don't just find reptiles, oh, no.
We can find missing pets or lost jewelry, lost loves.
You name it, we got it.
MAN: Thank you.
Oh.
Oh, good, you're here.
What are you doing? Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to my partner, my partner, the snake-finder.
The one and only, The Great Gary.
The Great Gary.
What the hell are you saying? The mastermind himself.
GARY: Look, there's been a mistake.
We need to talk Excuse me.
Claire, this isn't funny.
Is your daughter all right? Yes, she's fine.
Do you mind? What was that all about? MAN: Do you do healings? Nothing.
MAN: Do you heal? MAN: Are you available for good parties? CLAIRE: Who doesn't have a card? WOMAN: Excuse me.
Do you do past lives? Am I gonna win the lottery? Will my Elliot get into Harvard? (onlookers clamoring) MAN: Lay your hands on me (train squealing and rattling on tracks) Hey.
Slow down, will you? What's the rush? Can't we just talk about this? Come on.
You make it sound so tacky.
I make it sound tacky? The Great Gary? I didn't make that up.
All right, so we'll change it to, like, Gary The Great.
Is that better? You see, it's all in the marketing.
How do you come up with this stuff? I don't know.
Probably my Uncle Melosh.
Your who? My Uncle Melosh from Hungary.
He was a gypsy fortune-teller.
He was great.
Taught me everything I know, gave me my first crystal.
Ah, your Uncle Melos.
Oh, I don't believe it.
Melosh.
Yeah.
How do you think I came by my talent, naturally? What talent? You don't have any talent.
You're not a psychic.
Exactly.
Neither was Uncle Melosh.
He was more a like a-a student of human nature.
That was his talent.
I mean, he could sit across from a complete stranger, and in about four seconds, he could deduce what was bothering them, and tell them exactly what they wanted to hear.
(baby crying) GARY: Oh, really? And how did he do that? TRAIN ANNOUNCER: Final call.
Lots of things.
Intuition, Please stay clear of the doors.
Body language.
You know, squint of the eyes, arch of the back.
Hundreds of variables.
And people they actually buy into this stuff? Oh, yeah.
They came from all over just to spend five minutes with the man.
So what you're telling me is that you come from a long line of con artists.
See? Now you're trying to upset me.
Stop it! No.
He did have one odd gift that he taught me.
He could sniff and predict the weather.
I'm telling you the truth.
Watch.
(sniffing) In about three seconds, it's going to begin hailing.
It's not hailing.
No, not here.
In Wisconsin, it's hailing right now.
Here, it's going to be day after tomorrow, about 6:30, 6:45 a.
m.
(baby crying) Listen, lady Excuse me just a minute.
I'll be right back.
Excuse me.
You again? Look, you need to watch out for your baby.
There's something wrong.
What are you talking about? Be careful with your baby.
About what? I think you need to leave us alone.
Is that what your Uncle Melos taught you? What? To scare the hell out of total strangers to drum up business for your little psychic operation.
That's good.
Look, there was something wrong about that kid.
Oh, yeah? What's that? Nothing.
We'll probably all just get chicken pox tomorrow.
So, where were we? Where were we? Yeah.
We? Yeah.
No, we're nowhere.
You know what you are? You're a fraud, and you know what kind of fraud you are? You're the worst kind of fraud, because you prey on people.
You prey on their hopes, you prey on their dreams, you prey on their pain.
And then you take their money.
You know what I think that is? I think that's disgusting.
No.
I'm sorry.
You know what I think that is? I think it's sad.
You're not terribly interested in sugar-coating things, are you? All right, if that's the way you feel, I'm sorry I wasted your valuable time.
So, I hear you're seeing a psychic.
Chuck.
He said you were a little hard on her.
Well, you're always the one telling me not to cash in on the paper.
Believe me, that's exactly what this woman, she wanted to do.
What I'm saying is, maybe you're not that different.
You help people, she helps people.
You could cut her some slack.
No, she doesn't help anybody.
This woman she's a con artist.
She's got a she's got this electronic, uh, gizmo.
It flashes ghosts up on the wall.
Sounds like my Aunt Delia.
You got to be kidding me.
Because I can't be the only person in Chicago without a relative who's a psychic.
She wasn't a psychic.
She was a clairvoyant.
Oh.
Big difference.
You are making this up, aren't you? No.
Really.
It was a long time ago.
I was just a kid.
Oh.
Um, she used to call herself Lady Delia, and she shared this space with a barber down the street.
And every Wednesday, she would hold these séances.
For five dollars, my Aunt Deliah promised you 15 minutes with any deceased relative.
Hmm, great.
A nut case.
Every once in a while, she would let me sit in on the séances, and, uh, she had this record player that played this really weird music, incense and the whole works.
And she had this table that levitated on a pulley.
So your point is that there's a fraud in every neighborhood.
My point is, every Wednesday afternoon, people would line up around the block.
These people came back every week.
They came back every week to see a floating table and a bunch of dead relatives around it.
Oh, that's nice.
No, no, no, no.
They didn't care about that.
They knew that was a fake.
They said you could see the wires.
But they came back, Gary, every week, because my Aunt Deliah provided something.
Which was? Hope, comfort, a chance at 15 minutes remembering someone they loved.
(jazz piano playing, crowd chatter) Believe me, Gary, no one's going to Claire's to see a floating ghost.
(distant train passing) (car horn honks) (phone ringing) (groans) (phone clattering) (dial tone) Hello (phone continues ringing) (groans) (slamming phone down) What is he thinking? (ringing continues) (phone beeps on) Hello? CHUCK: This is your lucky day, pal.
I signed you up.
You're going cellular! Do you have any idea? CHUCK: Guess what I'm looking at.
HBO one, two, and three.
Every premium channel there is.
Chuck, do you have any idea what time it is? None.
I've been up all night watching movies.
(cat meows, paper thuds against door) I never have to go to a video store again.
I'm never leaving the house.
(yowls) I saw Tommy Boy three times last night.
And you know what? This movie gets better every time you see it.
(throws paper down, slams door) Hey, look, it's on again! Dubbed in Spanish! I know this kid.
I'll tape it for you, okay? The kid on the train with Claire.
(Chuck speaking Spanish) Yo, call you later.
Ask him if I should sell the house, move to someplace smaller.
(sitar music playing) Harry, did you hear that? Uh-huh.
Right.
CLAIRE: Harry says absolutely.
Yes.
Sell the house.
Move somewhere smaller.
Is he sure? Harry, are you sure? We need to talk.
Gary? WOMAN: Oh, oh.
Wait, wait.
Ask him about the car.
We need to talk now, Claire.
(turns music off) Listen.
If you'll just give me ten minutes, honey.
But Harry and me we still have a lot of things to talk about.
I know, I know, but you know what? How long has Harry been dead? Nine years.
All right, what's another ten minutes? Not gonna kill him, right? Thank you, honey.
He won't like it.
Time is money, that's what Harry used to say.
So, changed your mind, huh? Welcome back.
That little girl you touched the other day something's wrong with her.
Why? Did you come down with something? Chicken pox.
I told you.
You know what's good for that? Oatmeal.
No, it's not chicken pox, Claire.
Hmm.
Something's gonna happen to her.
Someone's gonna take her.
Oh, what? You think it's me? You think I'm going to do something to that kid? Makes sense, huh? 'Cause I'd do anything for money.
I don't know.
I didn't say that.
Yeah, but that's what you were thinking, right? You're right, Gary, you caught me.
I'm actually the ringleader of an international gang of kidnappers.
We work out of the back room here.
That's funny.
Listen, Claire.
I want to know what you know and I want to know how you know it, and I don't want any of that malarkey about body language or anything.
You know what? That's funny.
'Cause I was going to ask you the same thing.
How do you know something's going to happen to this kid? I just know.
Well, then, you don't need me, do you? Listen, Claire, it's the same kid.
Now, you're going to tell me that's just a coincidence? It is just a coincidence.
You said it yourself, Gary.
I'm a fraud, a circus act.
But you know what? This is my place of business and I want you out of here.
Leave.
(door slams) WOMAN: Oh.
(shop bell tinkling) Hmm.
Wait here, will you? Excuse me.
Jeffrey Taylor? May I help you? Uh, my name's Gary Hobson.
You don't know me, but We already get the paper.
No, actually, this is about your daughter.
Rachael? What about her? Something's going to happen to her.
She's in danger.
I don't get this.
Is this a threat? No, it's not a threat.
Something's going to happen to my daughter.
And you know this, how? Well, I just know, I Look, I don't know what this is all about, but I suggest you get off my property right now.
Mr.
Taylor, if-if I could talk to your wife Get the hell out of here right now! Let's go back downtown.
Okay.
(tires screeching) (phone ringing) (phone beeps on) Hello.
CHUCK (over phone): Gare, where are you? Listen, Chuck, I don't have time to talk right now.
Is this technology great or what? I can reach you any time of the day.
Now, what are you doing? Right now I'm watching a kid.
You know what I'm doing right now? I'm watching the World Female Snooker Championships from Luxembourg.
Luxembourg, Gary.
Now, you don't get that on regular TV.
That's good; I hope you're enjoying yourself.
Look, then, live coverage of the Iditarod from Nome, Alaska.
You want to come over? No, thank you.
Oh, fine, whatever.
Blow off your friends, even if they did get you cellular service.
Listen, Chuck, I didn't even want cellular service.
You got that? Wait a second.
Am I paying for this phone call right now? (screams) My baby! My baby's missing! Help me, get some help! My baby! Where is my baby?! So that was it? You just left.
You didn't even talk to the Taylors.
What was I supposed to say? They would have had me arrested.
Well, what about the paper? What about it? "Kid Disappears.
" That's what it says.
Hasn't changed from before.
What are you going to do? What about Claire? She didn't take that kid.
That's not what I meant.
She's not a psychic, Marissa, she's a head case.
That's it.
Well, that's the same thing people say about you.
Oh, thank you very much.
Come on, Gary, everybody needs help that little girl, her family, even you.
I mean, maybe that's why the paper sent you to Claire.
No, the reason it sent me to her is because she was about to die in her own building from a gas leak.
That's how much of a psychic Claire is.
Maybe you're missing the big picture here, Gary.
She found you at the health club.
She saw my gym bag.
Right.
And how many health clubs are in this city? She knew you were at the zoo.
She knew what bus that snake was hiding on.
And she knew you didn't have a job.
Just lucky guesses.
All of them? That's a whole lot of luck.
Marissa, it's coincidence.
She's not all there.
Sh I need some milk.
(thunder rumbling) RADIO ANNOUNCER: Good morning, it's The mayor announced today (radio clicks off) (cat meowing, paper thuds against door) Still missing.
Come on, give me something here.
(thunder rumbling) (hail falling) (groans) Claire.
Hey, Claire, wait a minute, I want to talk to you.
You know, for someone who desperately wanted me out of his life, you're sending me a lot of mixed messages.
You closed up your store.
Oh, quick, nothing gets by you.
Wait a second.
You're just going to give up? You're quitting? What about all those people in your store? I don't know, Gary, I guess they'll find a real psychic.
Okay? (sighs) Listen.
If this is about what I said on the train, I'm sorry.
Ooh, talk about an inflated sense of your own importance.
Are you seeing somebody for that? Look, you want to know the truth? The truth is that you got me thinking.
Okay? I took stock.
I mean, look at my life.
I'm 36 years old.
The big plan didn't work out.
I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a crappy little room, breathing in incense and doling out fortune cookie advice.
Okay? Just leave me alone.
You're helping people.
Oh, no, no, I'm entertaining people.
It's not exactly the same thing.
Yeah, but you make a difference.
God, please don't start believing in me now.
(horn honking, brakes screeching) Claire! Claire.
WOMAN: Hey, lady, get out of the way! Claire, stop.
Gary, I'm freezing.
Humor me.
What? Look.
I want you to look straight ahead.
Look right at the street.
All right? Now, I want you to describe to me the car that comes through that intersection next.
I don't want to play games.
Yeah, but you know, don't you? You know.
Come on, I want you to tell me.
What's the next car that comes through that intersection, Claire? Come on, Claire.
Just tell me what the next car, as it drives through, is going to be.
Come on, Claire.
Just tell me the color of the next car that comes through.
Come on, just tell me the color White! White Toyota.
Next.
Blue Volvo.
Guy on a bike.
White Nissan.
Okay, can we go now? Claire, the kid on the train, the one that's missing you felt something.
You know it, I know it.
What are you afraid of? You help people.
You can ask me that question? Claire.
Come on, Claire, what's going on? Why won't you help? (groans) WAITRESS: Yeah, thanks.
See you later.
Listen, Claire.
I tried, all right? Menu? No, thank you.
All right.
I've already tried.
About six or seven years ago, I was in the supermarket, and I run my cart right into this woman.
And I'm helping her to her feet when, boom, I'm not looking at her anymore.
I'm looking at this deserted field somewhere, and she's there, only she's not alive.
And so I try to warn her.
She looks at me like I'm nuts.
And I'm trying to tell her what I see and her kids are crying I mean, they're scared to death because I'm saying that someone's going to kill Mommy.
She can't get away from me quick enough and she calls store security and the cops come.
And I'm still talking, but nobody's listening.
They just don't want to hear it.
So what happened? I stopped talking before they wrote me off as psychotic or had me arrested.
I meant the woman what happened to the woman? I never saw her again.
I never even asked her name.
So you don't know if what you saw if that ever happened.
I mean, you know, once in a while in the papers, you read about some body, unidentified, turning up in some field somewhere, you know.
I just stopped reading the papers.
And you decided to make a living.
It's easier to be a fraud, a novelty act, especially if you're a good one.
People will pay good money to see a dancing bear.
Claire, you're the real thing.
Whatever this, uh Please don't call it a gift.
All right.
But whatever it is, I mean it's not something you can hide from.
I mean, it's not something you can, you can pretend doesn't exist.
That's something that follows you the rest of your life.
I need your help.
You know what? They're not going to listen.
I'll listen.
What if it's too late? I mean, what if I can't help? What if you can? (doorbell rings) You again! Where's my daughter?! Whoa.
Easy, easy.
It's not what you think.
I didn't take her.
You came to my house; You threatened us! It wasn't me.
What's going on? This is the guy.
The police are looking for you.
CLAIRE: Jeffrey, Jeffrey, just think about it, all right? If he took your kid, would he be here right now? If he's a kidnapper, wouldn't it be a lot easier for him to just send a note? What do you want? All we want to do is help you get Rachel back, that's it.
Call the cops.
Look, you can go ahead, but, believe me, all I'm trying to do is tell you the truth.
All we want to do is help.
Let him go.
I want to hear what they have to say.
This is Rachel's room.
Her clothes are in the dresser.
She's in this crib every night.
We haven't touched it since Do you really think you can find her? Well, we'll try.
I'll be downstairs.
Okay.
So Now what? I don't know, uh go ahead and, uh, do your thing.
My thing? I don't have a thing.
What thing? I told you I-I told you, I don't do this.
Well, look, touch some touch the crib and, you know (quietly): Okay.
No.
Try the blanket.
(sighs) (breathes deeply) (whispers): Anything? No, this is stupid.
Well, how about the baby's clothes? Fine (mutters) Nothing at all? No, I'm sorry.
This isn't working.
Listen, maybe you're not doing it right.
Okay, well, that's it.
You know what? I told you that this was a bad idea.
It's a bad idea, and you didn't believe me.
Wait a sec What are you doing? You're just going to give up? Well, yeah.
I have nothing to offer these people other than false hopes and more pain.
I can't do it.
(sighs) I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
I don't need you to worry about my feelings, but if there's anything you can do to find my daughter please, do it.
(whispers): I'm really sorry.
Maybe if you looked at her toys! Or-or the stroller! It's in the garage! GARY: I'm sorry, Mrs.
Taylor.
I don't understand.
What's wrong with you people? You build their hopes up and then you MRS.
TAYLOR: What do we do now?! Whose scarf is this? Is this yours? Elizabeth's, the nanny's.
Where is she now? Well, it couldn't be Elizabeth.
The police said they already checked her out.
MR.
TAYLOR: We let her go two months ago.
We weren't comfortable having someone live here.
MRS.
TAYLOR: We've known her for years.
She's worked for neighbors.
Elizabeth wouldn't Her apartment's a couple minutes from here.
We can be there Oh, no, no, no, no.
She's not there.
I mean, she was there, but she's not there anymore.
I mean, think about, right? That'd be the first place they'd look.
No, no, no.
She'd, she'd take Rachel somewhere safe.
A motel.
No.
No, not anymore.
I mean Okay.
All right.
All right, it makes sense, right? She'd go there overnight, overnight, right? But then she'd know they'd come looking for her and she'd want to get out of town.
She's left Chicago? Not yet.
She needs a day to spend to get her ready, to travel.
Okay.
I mean, this is a child-care professional Claire! What? Where is she? WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Local airlines flight 83-70, now departing Oh, what of the baby, what's her name? Jennifer.
(typing) (alarm trills) Northeastern flight to Hanford has been delayed one hour.
(alarm trills) (detector warbles) WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Passengers on flight 3-10 to Miami, we will now begin pre-boarding.
Passengers in first-class, those needing assistance, and those with small children may board at this time.
(toy squeaks) WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Sherry Silverman, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
Which way? All right, okay.
Uh Wait That, that way.
Come on.
You're sure, Claire? Shh (Rachel crying) Quiet.
(crying continues) Shh Okay.
Quiet (Rachel crying) Rachel?! You see her? No.
I hear her.
(Rachel crying) Can I help the next person in line, please.
Yes.
Thank you.
(Rachel crying) Hi.
Can I help you? (crying continues) MRS.
TAYLOR (distantly): Rachel! Rachel! (crying) Have a good flight.
Have you seen a woman with a baby? She's, she's got long, blonde hair.
The baby's six months old, and she's got brown hair and hazel eyes.
I'm sorry.
I don't remember.
She was just here; I heard her crying! I'm sorry.
Maybe we can get some help for you.
I think I saw them.
A woman and her baby, she just left.
She didn't get on the plane.
Where did they go? I'm sorry.
I didn't see.
Michelle! (toy squeaks) (gasps) Please, where is my baby? I'm trying.
MR.
TAYLOR: Try harder.
MICHELLE: Where is she? Baggage claim number ten.
Well, I mean, it only makes sense that, uh, if she knew you were here, she'd want to leave the airport and the nearest exit is baggage claim number ten.
(stammers) Number ten's the nearest one, so let's go to baggage claim ten.
You go downstairs.
We'll go get security.
(indistinct police radio transmission) (Rachel cooing) Elizabeth, give me my baby.
I would've taken good care of her.
I felt like she was mine.
(handcuffs click) (toy squeaks) How'd you do that? How'd you know where to find them? I didn't, you did.
Well, you're going to, anyway.
Trust me.
I'm sorry.
OFFICER: You have the right to remain silent (laughs and cries) CHUCK: Impossible things happen every day little miracles.
(static buzzes) CHUCK: Most of the time, we can't see 'em not because they're invisible but because we don't know what we're looking for.
(kicks machine) (machine powers down) Uncle Melos.
Melosh.
All right, come on.
Here's your last chance.
You and me, 50-50 all the way, what do you say? No.
I knew you were going to say that.
How'd you know that? Psychic.
Hey if anything ever comes up again, if you need me I know where to find you.
Have a nice day.
CHUCK: But maybe we're not supposed to see miracles.
We're just supposed to believe they're out there (breathes deeply) because sometimes, believing is enough sometimes believing is the miracle.
(phone ringing) Hello? Hey, bud, it's Chuck.
Oh, no kidding? Look, I was thinking about dinner tonight you and me and the satellite dish.
Uh-huh.
We got the Norwegian curling championships at eight, and after that, three Pauly Shore movies, back-to-back.
What do you say? Oh, hey, that sounds great! I'm thinking you pick up a couple of pizzas and bring 'em back.
You got a pen? What? Do I have a pen? Oh, yeah Yeah, I got a pen right here.
Yeah, go ahead.
All right.
I want pepperoni, no anchovies, sausage, pineapple Right.
You writing all this down? Oh, yeah, yeah.
I'm writing down every word.
Okay.
Maybe some of those little artichoke hearts, green peppers, no mushrooms I hate mushrooms Hey, am I going too fast for you? Gary? Gary? Gary?! Gare! Hey!
Life's hard.
Life takes effort.
GARY: Miss Pearson.
That's just the way it is.
Miss.
Pearson, you have to get out of the water.
Most of the time there are no shortcuts.
No easy way out.
Every now and then, however, life surprises you.
Thing is, you can't go looking for the shortcuts.
They find you.
Which is why from time to time, everyone needs a wake-up call.
Hey.
In the meantime, you try to keep your head above water and just keep swimming.
And be glad that someone out there gets tomorrow's newspaper today.
(theme music playing) What are you saying? You got him a gift for no reason at all.
That's right.
You may not realize this, but I have a very generous spirit.
So are you going to open it or what? And what did I do to deserve this? Just being you.
Just A phone? Exactly what you need.
Oh, Chuck, that was sweet.
You worry about him.
Actually, it came as a bonus from my DSS hookup, and I already had two cell phones.
So I thought, "Hey, Gare.
" So it was free.
Yeah, it's the thought that counts.
There's no dial tone.
Well, you have to sign up for the service first.
You didn't buy him the service, but you gave him a phone.
What do you think, I'm made of money here? Look, Gare, all you have to do is you go into Cellular One, you sign up for your service and give them my name, and I get all three HBOs free for a year.
Oh, gee, Chuck, thanks.
That's, uh, that's, uh, that's big-hearted of you.
Don't mention it.
Come on, let's get a move on.
Oh, right.
Remember? The gym? Listen, I've got to run some errands.
Errand errand, as in going to the bank and the post office, or your kind of errand? It's a fortune-teller gas leak kind of thing.
Okay, you have fun.
I'll see you at the gym, all right? (sitar music plays) And together we take a breath.
(inhales) (exhales) I invoke the guardian spirit of Shelly Kra Kraznow.
Kraznow.
Your spirit guide tells me there is a strong, intimidating force in your life.
An authority figure? Yes.
Yes.
Mr.
Roberts.
Mr.
Roberts, exactly.
And he is your He's my boss.
Boss.
Yeah.
He criticizes me in front of the whole staff.
Hmm.
Now, I can't even bring myself to speak when I'm around him.
I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job.
Oh, shh, shh.
Hmm? Mmm.
Your spirit guide wants you to speak up tomorrow morning.
My guardian spirit is here? Yes.
Right now? Can I see it? If you have absolute faith.
I do.
Close your eyes.
I believe.
CUSTOMER: I believe.
I believe.
(slower): I believe.
Louder.
I believe.
(slams machine) CLAIRE: One more time, I believe.
I believe! (bangs machine) Your spirit guide is right behind you.
(door opens) CLAIRE: Hey! Uh, sorry to interrupt, ladies, but you're going to have to leave right now.
Hey, hey, hey.
We're right in the middle of a session here.
Yeah, well, there's a gas leak in this building.
Look, you can't just barge in in the middle of a séance.
Who do you think you are? Who are you? What is that? My guardian spirit.
What are you, with 60 Minutes? Listen, Claire, right? Claire? Yeah.
You got carbon monoxide leaking into the room, so you got to get out of here, you understand that? Listen to me, if you're not out of here in three seconds, I'm going to call the police.
Ready? One, two Two My guardian spirit's really cute.
Huh? You know, come to think of it, I'm not feeling so well myself.
Huh? Whoa, whoa.
Okay, okay.
Okay.
All right, come on, let's go outside.
Huh? Okay, come on.
Okay.
Let's go outside, get some fresh air.
We dancing? Okay, come on.
Okay.
Come on.
(siren wails) (garbled radio transmission) Hey.
Hey.
You, hey! Scrambled or poached? Huh? The egg on my face.
Look, this isn't an apology or anything, but I'm prepared to say you may have been right.
About the gas leak? I may have been right? All right, all right, all right in all probability, you were right, but what I want to know is Hey, look, apology accepted.
Wait, wait, wait.
How'd you know? How did you do it? I've got a very sensitive nose.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, that nose isn't particularly sensitive.
No, no, no this nose is more decorative.
Yeah, ma'am, I'm glad you're all right now.
And I see you're busy, and you've got a lot of people who desperately want their fortunes told.
Yeah.
Oh, there's one.
Have a nice day.
Hey! A psychic, huh? I couldn't wait to get out of there.
You should've seen the place.
It's like a three-ring circus.
People in the waiting room.
Who goes and pays money to see people like that anyway? Nut jobs.
Hey, Gare, do you happen to know if she's open on Saturdays? I don't (feigned laughter) Look, ever since the market's broke 7,000, everybody is getting rich but me.
And since you have been absolutely no help, I need an edge.
I don't think you've been listening.
She's a fraud.
But you're the real thing, aren't you? Who is that? The fraud.
We need to talk.
How did you find me? Easy you had a gym bag, this is the closest gym.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist.
I'm Chuck.
Chuck Fishman.
Hello, Chuck Fishman.
Nice to meet you.
So you're the psychic, huh? Listen, do you read palms? Because I desperately need some guidance.
Yeah, come on.
Okay, let's see.
Take a deep breath.
Oh, hon, you shouldn't even be standing here.
Well, why not? Um, did you have a, uh, a Caesar salad for lunch? Oh, my God.
That's brilliant.
How did you know? The dressing, it throws the whole reading off.
Go wash your hands.
You'll live longer.
Bye-bye.
(giggles): Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Listen, I know your secret.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You can't kid a kidder.
Carbon monoxide, it's an odorless gas.
No one can smell it.
And then I thought, "Well, maybe he knew because he's with the gas company.
" I called the gas company.
They never heard of you.
And then I realized you knew because you knew.
I'm right, aren't I? I don't know.
You're the psychic.
You tell me.
I'm not, and you know I'm not.
Oh, really.
Yeah.
You mean that incredibly looking, realistic floating ghost going across the wall, that wasn't real? I give the people what they want.
And then you take their money, good-bye.
Hey! The lady who cuts your hair and convinces you it looks good, you pay her.
I perform a service.
Why shouldn't I get paid? Will you wait up? Look, lady, what is it you want from me? I want to go into business with you.
What kind of business? The psychic business.
You're not a psychic.
I know, but you are.
You don't have to do anything but look good and be psychic.
Okay? You provide the steak.
I'll provide the sizzle.
No problem.
I've got bells, whistles, smoke and mirrors.
Where are you going? Look it, we could be a real team, you and me.
MAN: Hey, get out of here.
Like Batman and Robin and a mind, all right? Come on, what do you say? No.
No.
Man, that's just like you.
Opportunity comes knocking at the door, and you go hiding in the men's room.
What opportunity? (toilet flushing) Opening your own business.
It's about time you did something with your life, Gare.
And incorporating is a perfect way for you to hide that taxable income.
What taxable income? I don't have any taxable income.
Exactly.
It's about time you made some.
Are you going with me today? Where are we going? Over to the zoo.
What's at the zoo? I have a kid who's going to get bit by a poisonous snake.
It's, uh if it's just one bus, I can get there by 2:30, there's no problem.
Here, it's a, uh, six-foot-long black mamba snake.
It apparently managed to escape from its cage late Friday night.
Zoo officials didn't realize the snake was missing until Saturday afternoon.
They heard screams coming from a school bus in the parking lot.
Seven-year-old Jeremy Martin was bitten twice.
He's listed in guarded condition at County Hospital.
Okay.
That's enough.
What are you doing? I'm going to take a sauna.
See, I have this thing about snakes.
It's called "fear of death.
" All right.
SECURITY GUARD: If there was an animal missing, I'd have heard about it.
Look, I'm telling you there's a snake out here somewhere, a black mamba.
It got free last night.
(garbled radio transmission) Yeah, I got the guy right here.
He says La Bamba is on the lose.
Mamba, a black mamba.
I don't know what the guy's talking about, either.
Look, they've never heard of your snake, okay? I'm telling you the truth.
Of course you are.
Don't go anywhere.
I'm going to get you someone to talk to.
Hey, wait! CLAIRE: Do you have any idea how much the Psychic Friends Network gross annually? Huh? Seven figures, seven figures.
Now, I'm not saying that we can make that in the first year.
How did you find me? Easy I followed you to the El platform, you got on the Howard line.
Right, where does the Howard line go? Near the zoo.
Zoo, you're an animal lover, so am I.
But you knew that, huh? 'Cause you've got the gift.
Listen, lady, I don't have time for this.
I've got to find a snake out here on one of these buses.
See? You had a vision.
This is good, but I want you to say it like this.
I want you to say like "a poisonous serpent" and "innocent children.
" You see what I'm doing? I'm giving it some oomph, all right? If there's a snake, why aren't you doing something about it? Because I don't know which bus the snake is on.
Ah.
That one.
Huh? The snake is on that bus.
Listen, lady, I don't have time for your little act, your hocus-pocus, or whatever you This one is parked closest to the zoo.
All right? The snake house is on the other side of that wall.
It's not an act, it's logic.
(children chattering) Hey, get off that bus! Hey, come on, guys, get off the bus! Come on! Jeremy? Don't move.
Stay right where you are, all right? All right? Do you see any, uh any zoo officials out there, any security guards? No, uh-uh.
Just some kids.
You know, I really don't understand your resistance to this whole thing.
I mean, you don't have a job, right? I'm going to provide the capital.
I mean, what have you got to lose, honey? Nothing.
What do you mean, I don't have a job? How do you know I don't have two jobs? Easy those shoes.
A man with a job would not wear those shoes.
He would throw them out.
He would burn those shoes.
These shoes are not old.
Listen, lady, can I tell you something? You're driving me crazy.
Right now I'm looking for a snake, so if you don't mind.
All right, Jeremy, just hang on now.
(hissing) Gary, listen to me.
You've got to look behind you.
Behind me.
What is it? Some kind of New Age speak you people use? Gary, how could I make this clearer to you? Look behind you.
Listen, lady, I'm trying to find (hissing) (screaming) (yells) Well I've heard of these things saving people's lives, but never exactly like that.
You're lucky.
Had that snake bit two inches lower, you would have lost all your speed dials.
Yeah.
You all right? Oh, yeah, I'm doing fine.
Guess I should have taken your word, huh, about the snake? That would have been nice.
You know, if I had known what kind of business you were in, I would have taken you a little more seriously.
Huh? It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Your partner gave me a card.
Partner? CLAIRE: And it came to us, the spirit guide, the eye of Isis, in a flash of green light, and said, "Follow me through the wilderness", and I will lead you to the serpent.
" And it did exactly that.
And it can do the same thing for you.
WOMAN: Can I get a card? I don't believe this.
CLAIRE: Oh, and we don't just find reptiles, oh, no.
We can find missing pets or lost jewelry, lost loves.
You name it, we got it.
MAN: Thank you.
Oh.
Oh, good, you're here.
What are you doing? Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to my partner, my partner, the snake-finder.
The one and only, The Great Gary.
The Great Gary.
What the hell are you saying? The mastermind himself.
GARY: Look, there's been a mistake.
We need to talk Excuse me.
Claire, this isn't funny.
Is your daughter all right? Yes, she's fine.
Do you mind? What was that all about? MAN: Do you do healings? Nothing.
MAN: Do you heal? MAN: Are you available for good parties? CLAIRE: Who doesn't have a card? WOMAN: Excuse me.
Do you do past lives? Am I gonna win the lottery? Will my Elliot get into Harvard? (onlookers clamoring) MAN: Lay your hands on me (train squealing and rattling on tracks) Hey.
Slow down, will you? What's the rush? Can't we just talk about this? Come on.
You make it sound so tacky.
I make it sound tacky? The Great Gary? I didn't make that up.
All right, so we'll change it to, like, Gary The Great.
Is that better? You see, it's all in the marketing.
How do you come up with this stuff? I don't know.
Probably my Uncle Melosh.
Your who? My Uncle Melosh from Hungary.
He was a gypsy fortune-teller.
He was great.
Taught me everything I know, gave me my first crystal.
Ah, your Uncle Melos.
Oh, I don't believe it.
Melosh.
Yeah.
How do you think I came by my talent, naturally? What talent? You don't have any talent.
You're not a psychic.
Exactly.
Neither was Uncle Melosh.
He was more a like a-a student of human nature.
That was his talent.
I mean, he could sit across from a complete stranger, and in about four seconds, he could deduce what was bothering them, and tell them exactly what they wanted to hear.
(baby crying) GARY: Oh, really? And how did he do that? TRAIN ANNOUNCER: Final call.
Lots of things.
Intuition, Please stay clear of the doors.
Body language.
You know, squint of the eyes, arch of the back.
Hundreds of variables.
And people they actually buy into this stuff? Oh, yeah.
They came from all over just to spend five minutes with the man.
So what you're telling me is that you come from a long line of con artists.
See? Now you're trying to upset me.
Stop it! No.
He did have one odd gift that he taught me.
He could sniff and predict the weather.
I'm telling you the truth.
Watch.
(sniffing) In about three seconds, it's going to begin hailing.
It's not hailing.
No, not here.
In Wisconsin, it's hailing right now.
Here, it's going to be day after tomorrow, about 6:30, 6:45 a.
m.
(baby crying) Listen, lady Excuse me just a minute.
I'll be right back.
Excuse me.
You again? Look, you need to watch out for your baby.
There's something wrong.
What are you talking about? Be careful with your baby.
About what? I think you need to leave us alone.
Is that what your Uncle Melos taught you? What? To scare the hell out of total strangers to drum up business for your little psychic operation.
That's good.
Look, there was something wrong about that kid.
Oh, yeah? What's that? Nothing.
We'll probably all just get chicken pox tomorrow.
So, where were we? Where were we? Yeah.
We? Yeah.
No, we're nowhere.
You know what you are? You're a fraud, and you know what kind of fraud you are? You're the worst kind of fraud, because you prey on people.
You prey on their hopes, you prey on their dreams, you prey on their pain.
And then you take their money.
You know what I think that is? I think that's disgusting.
No.
I'm sorry.
You know what I think that is? I think it's sad.
You're not terribly interested in sugar-coating things, are you? All right, if that's the way you feel, I'm sorry I wasted your valuable time.
So, I hear you're seeing a psychic.
Chuck.
He said you were a little hard on her.
Well, you're always the one telling me not to cash in on the paper.
Believe me, that's exactly what this woman, she wanted to do.
What I'm saying is, maybe you're not that different.
You help people, she helps people.
You could cut her some slack.
No, she doesn't help anybody.
This woman she's a con artist.
She's got a she's got this electronic, uh, gizmo.
It flashes ghosts up on the wall.
Sounds like my Aunt Delia.
You got to be kidding me.
Because I can't be the only person in Chicago without a relative who's a psychic.
She wasn't a psychic.
She was a clairvoyant.
Oh.
Big difference.
You are making this up, aren't you? No.
Really.
It was a long time ago.
I was just a kid.
Oh.
Um, she used to call herself Lady Delia, and she shared this space with a barber down the street.
And every Wednesday, she would hold these séances.
For five dollars, my Aunt Deliah promised you 15 minutes with any deceased relative.
Hmm, great.
A nut case.
Every once in a while, she would let me sit in on the séances, and, uh, she had this record player that played this really weird music, incense and the whole works.
And she had this table that levitated on a pulley.
So your point is that there's a fraud in every neighborhood.
My point is, every Wednesday afternoon, people would line up around the block.
These people came back every week.
They came back every week to see a floating table and a bunch of dead relatives around it.
Oh, that's nice.
No, no, no, no.
They didn't care about that.
They knew that was a fake.
They said you could see the wires.
But they came back, Gary, every week, because my Aunt Deliah provided something.
Which was? Hope, comfort, a chance at 15 minutes remembering someone they loved.
(jazz piano playing, crowd chatter) Believe me, Gary, no one's going to Claire's to see a floating ghost.
(distant train passing) (car horn honks) (phone ringing) (groans) (phone clattering) (dial tone) Hello (phone continues ringing) (groans) (slamming phone down) What is he thinking? (ringing continues) (phone beeps on) Hello? CHUCK: This is your lucky day, pal.
I signed you up.
You're going cellular! Do you have any idea? CHUCK: Guess what I'm looking at.
HBO one, two, and three.
Every premium channel there is.
Chuck, do you have any idea what time it is? None.
I've been up all night watching movies.
(cat meows, paper thuds against door) I never have to go to a video store again.
I'm never leaving the house.
(yowls) I saw Tommy Boy three times last night.
And you know what? This movie gets better every time you see it.
(throws paper down, slams door) Hey, look, it's on again! Dubbed in Spanish! I know this kid.
I'll tape it for you, okay? The kid on the train with Claire.
(Chuck speaking Spanish) Yo, call you later.
Ask him if I should sell the house, move to someplace smaller.
(sitar music playing) Harry, did you hear that? Uh-huh.
Right.
CLAIRE: Harry says absolutely.
Yes.
Sell the house.
Move somewhere smaller.
Is he sure? Harry, are you sure? We need to talk.
Gary? WOMAN: Oh, oh.
Wait, wait.
Ask him about the car.
We need to talk now, Claire.
(turns music off) Listen.
If you'll just give me ten minutes, honey.
But Harry and me we still have a lot of things to talk about.
I know, I know, but you know what? How long has Harry been dead? Nine years.
All right, what's another ten minutes? Not gonna kill him, right? Thank you, honey.
He won't like it.
Time is money, that's what Harry used to say.
So, changed your mind, huh? Welcome back.
That little girl you touched the other day something's wrong with her.
Why? Did you come down with something? Chicken pox.
I told you.
You know what's good for that? Oatmeal.
No, it's not chicken pox, Claire.
Hmm.
Something's gonna happen to her.
Someone's gonna take her.
Oh, what? You think it's me? You think I'm going to do something to that kid? Makes sense, huh? 'Cause I'd do anything for money.
I don't know.
I didn't say that.
Yeah, but that's what you were thinking, right? You're right, Gary, you caught me.
I'm actually the ringleader of an international gang of kidnappers.
We work out of the back room here.
That's funny.
Listen, Claire.
I want to know what you know and I want to know how you know it, and I don't want any of that malarkey about body language or anything.
You know what? That's funny.
'Cause I was going to ask you the same thing.
How do you know something's going to happen to this kid? I just know.
Well, then, you don't need me, do you? Listen, Claire, it's the same kid.
Now, you're going to tell me that's just a coincidence? It is just a coincidence.
You said it yourself, Gary.
I'm a fraud, a circus act.
But you know what? This is my place of business and I want you out of here.
Leave.
(door slams) WOMAN: Oh.
(shop bell tinkling) Hmm.
Wait here, will you? Excuse me.
Jeffrey Taylor? May I help you? Uh, my name's Gary Hobson.
You don't know me, but We already get the paper.
No, actually, this is about your daughter.
Rachael? What about her? Something's going to happen to her.
She's in danger.
I don't get this.
Is this a threat? No, it's not a threat.
Something's going to happen to my daughter.
And you know this, how? Well, I just know, I Look, I don't know what this is all about, but I suggest you get off my property right now.
Mr.
Taylor, if-if I could talk to your wife Get the hell out of here right now! Let's go back downtown.
Okay.
(tires screeching) (phone ringing) (phone beeps on) Hello.
CHUCK (over phone): Gare, where are you? Listen, Chuck, I don't have time to talk right now.
Is this technology great or what? I can reach you any time of the day.
Now, what are you doing? Right now I'm watching a kid.
You know what I'm doing right now? I'm watching the World Female Snooker Championships from Luxembourg.
Luxembourg, Gary.
Now, you don't get that on regular TV.
That's good; I hope you're enjoying yourself.
Look, then, live coverage of the Iditarod from Nome, Alaska.
You want to come over? No, thank you.
Oh, fine, whatever.
Blow off your friends, even if they did get you cellular service.
Listen, Chuck, I didn't even want cellular service.
You got that? Wait a second.
Am I paying for this phone call right now? (screams) My baby! My baby's missing! Help me, get some help! My baby! Where is my baby?! So that was it? You just left.
You didn't even talk to the Taylors.
What was I supposed to say? They would have had me arrested.
Well, what about the paper? What about it? "Kid Disappears.
" That's what it says.
Hasn't changed from before.
What are you going to do? What about Claire? She didn't take that kid.
That's not what I meant.
She's not a psychic, Marissa, she's a head case.
That's it.
Well, that's the same thing people say about you.
Oh, thank you very much.
Come on, Gary, everybody needs help that little girl, her family, even you.
I mean, maybe that's why the paper sent you to Claire.
No, the reason it sent me to her is because she was about to die in her own building from a gas leak.
That's how much of a psychic Claire is.
Maybe you're missing the big picture here, Gary.
She found you at the health club.
She saw my gym bag.
Right.
And how many health clubs are in this city? She knew you were at the zoo.
She knew what bus that snake was hiding on.
And she knew you didn't have a job.
Just lucky guesses.
All of them? That's a whole lot of luck.
Marissa, it's coincidence.
She's not all there.
Sh I need some milk.
(thunder rumbling) RADIO ANNOUNCER: Good morning, it's The mayor announced today (radio clicks off) (cat meowing, paper thuds against door) Still missing.
Come on, give me something here.
(thunder rumbling) (hail falling) (groans) Claire.
Hey, Claire, wait a minute, I want to talk to you.
You know, for someone who desperately wanted me out of his life, you're sending me a lot of mixed messages.
You closed up your store.
Oh, quick, nothing gets by you.
Wait a second.
You're just going to give up? You're quitting? What about all those people in your store? I don't know, Gary, I guess they'll find a real psychic.
Okay? (sighs) Listen.
If this is about what I said on the train, I'm sorry.
Ooh, talk about an inflated sense of your own importance.
Are you seeing somebody for that? Look, you want to know the truth? The truth is that you got me thinking.
Okay? I took stock.
I mean, look at my life.
I'm 36 years old.
The big plan didn't work out.
I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a crappy little room, breathing in incense and doling out fortune cookie advice.
Okay? Just leave me alone.
You're helping people.
Oh, no, no, I'm entertaining people.
It's not exactly the same thing.
Yeah, but you make a difference.
God, please don't start believing in me now.
(horn honking, brakes screeching) Claire! Claire.
WOMAN: Hey, lady, get out of the way! Claire, stop.
Gary, I'm freezing.
Humor me.
What? Look.
I want you to look straight ahead.
Look right at the street.
All right? Now, I want you to describe to me the car that comes through that intersection next.
I don't want to play games.
Yeah, but you know, don't you? You know.
Come on, I want you to tell me.
What's the next car that comes through that intersection, Claire? Come on, Claire.
Just tell me what the next car, as it drives through, is going to be.
Come on, Claire.
Just tell me the color of the next car that comes through.
Come on, just tell me the color White! White Toyota.
Next.
Blue Volvo.
Guy on a bike.
White Nissan.
Okay, can we go now? Claire, the kid on the train, the one that's missing you felt something.
You know it, I know it.
What are you afraid of? You help people.
You can ask me that question? Claire.
Come on, Claire, what's going on? Why won't you help? (groans) WAITRESS: Yeah, thanks.
See you later.
Listen, Claire.
I tried, all right? Menu? No, thank you.
All right.
I've already tried.
About six or seven years ago, I was in the supermarket, and I run my cart right into this woman.
And I'm helping her to her feet when, boom, I'm not looking at her anymore.
I'm looking at this deserted field somewhere, and she's there, only she's not alive.
And so I try to warn her.
She looks at me like I'm nuts.
And I'm trying to tell her what I see and her kids are crying I mean, they're scared to death because I'm saying that someone's going to kill Mommy.
She can't get away from me quick enough and she calls store security and the cops come.
And I'm still talking, but nobody's listening.
They just don't want to hear it.
So what happened? I stopped talking before they wrote me off as psychotic or had me arrested.
I meant the woman what happened to the woman? I never saw her again.
I never even asked her name.
So you don't know if what you saw if that ever happened.
I mean, you know, once in a while in the papers, you read about some body, unidentified, turning up in some field somewhere, you know.
I just stopped reading the papers.
And you decided to make a living.
It's easier to be a fraud, a novelty act, especially if you're a good one.
People will pay good money to see a dancing bear.
Claire, you're the real thing.
Whatever this, uh Please don't call it a gift.
All right.
But whatever it is, I mean it's not something you can hide from.
I mean, it's not something you can, you can pretend doesn't exist.
That's something that follows you the rest of your life.
I need your help.
You know what? They're not going to listen.
I'll listen.
What if it's too late? I mean, what if I can't help? What if you can? (doorbell rings) You again! Where's my daughter?! Whoa.
Easy, easy.
It's not what you think.
I didn't take her.
You came to my house; You threatened us! It wasn't me.
What's going on? This is the guy.
The police are looking for you.
CLAIRE: Jeffrey, Jeffrey, just think about it, all right? If he took your kid, would he be here right now? If he's a kidnapper, wouldn't it be a lot easier for him to just send a note? What do you want? All we want to do is help you get Rachel back, that's it.
Call the cops.
Look, you can go ahead, but, believe me, all I'm trying to do is tell you the truth.
All we want to do is help.
Let him go.
I want to hear what they have to say.
This is Rachel's room.
Her clothes are in the dresser.
She's in this crib every night.
We haven't touched it since Do you really think you can find her? Well, we'll try.
I'll be downstairs.
Okay.
So Now what? I don't know, uh go ahead and, uh, do your thing.
My thing? I don't have a thing.
What thing? I told you I-I told you, I don't do this.
Well, look, touch some touch the crib and, you know (quietly): Okay.
No.
Try the blanket.
(sighs) (breathes deeply) (whispers): Anything? No, this is stupid.
Well, how about the baby's clothes? Fine (mutters) Nothing at all? No, I'm sorry.
This isn't working.
Listen, maybe you're not doing it right.
Okay, well, that's it.
You know what? I told you that this was a bad idea.
It's a bad idea, and you didn't believe me.
Wait a sec What are you doing? You're just going to give up? Well, yeah.
I have nothing to offer these people other than false hopes and more pain.
I can't do it.
(sighs) I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
I don't need you to worry about my feelings, but if there's anything you can do to find my daughter please, do it.
(whispers): I'm really sorry.
Maybe if you looked at her toys! Or-or the stroller! It's in the garage! GARY: I'm sorry, Mrs.
Taylor.
I don't understand.
What's wrong with you people? You build their hopes up and then you MRS.
TAYLOR: What do we do now?! Whose scarf is this? Is this yours? Elizabeth's, the nanny's.
Where is she now? Well, it couldn't be Elizabeth.
The police said they already checked her out.
MR.
TAYLOR: We let her go two months ago.
We weren't comfortable having someone live here.
MRS.
TAYLOR: We've known her for years.
She's worked for neighbors.
Elizabeth wouldn't Her apartment's a couple minutes from here.
We can be there Oh, no, no, no, no.
She's not there.
I mean, she was there, but she's not there anymore.
I mean, think about, right? That'd be the first place they'd look.
No, no, no.
She'd, she'd take Rachel somewhere safe.
A motel.
No.
No, not anymore.
I mean Okay.
All right.
All right, it makes sense, right? She'd go there overnight, overnight, right? But then she'd know they'd come looking for her and she'd want to get out of town.
She's left Chicago? Not yet.
She needs a day to spend to get her ready, to travel.
Okay.
I mean, this is a child-care professional Claire! What? Where is she? WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Local airlines flight 83-70, now departing Oh, what of the baby, what's her name? Jennifer.
(typing) (alarm trills) Northeastern flight to Hanford has been delayed one hour.
(alarm trills) (detector warbles) WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Passengers on flight 3-10 to Miami, we will now begin pre-boarding.
Passengers in first-class, those needing assistance, and those with small children may board at this time.
(toy squeaks) WOMAN (over P.
A.
): Sherry Silverman, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
Which way? All right, okay.
Uh Wait That, that way.
Come on.
You're sure, Claire? Shh (Rachel crying) Quiet.
(crying continues) Shh Okay.
Quiet (Rachel crying) Rachel?! You see her? No.
I hear her.
(Rachel crying) Can I help the next person in line, please.
Yes.
Thank you.
(Rachel crying) Hi.
Can I help you? (crying continues) MRS.
TAYLOR (distantly): Rachel! Rachel! (crying) Have a good flight.
Have you seen a woman with a baby? She's, she's got long, blonde hair.
The baby's six months old, and she's got brown hair and hazel eyes.
I'm sorry.
I don't remember.
She was just here; I heard her crying! I'm sorry.
Maybe we can get some help for you.
I think I saw them.
A woman and her baby, she just left.
She didn't get on the plane.
Where did they go? I'm sorry.
I didn't see.
Michelle! (toy squeaks) (gasps) Please, where is my baby? I'm trying.
MR.
TAYLOR: Try harder.
MICHELLE: Where is she? Baggage claim number ten.
Well, I mean, it only makes sense that, uh, if she knew you were here, she'd want to leave the airport and the nearest exit is baggage claim number ten.
(stammers) Number ten's the nearest one, so let's go to baggage claim ten.
You go downstairs.
We'll go get security.
(indistinct police radio transmission) (Rachel cooing) Elizabeth, give me my baby.
I would've taken good care of her.
I felt like she was mine.
(handcuffs click) (toy squeaks) How'd you do that? How'd you know where to find them? I didn't, you did.
Well, you're going to, anyway.
Trust me.
I'm sorry.
OFFICER: You have the right to remain silent (laughs and cries) CHUCK: Impossible things happen every day little miracles.
(static buzzes) CHUCK: Most of the time, we can't see 'em not because they're invisible but because we don't know what we're looking for.
(kicks machine) (machine powers down) Uncle Melos.
Melosh.
All right, come on.
Here's your last chance.
You and me, 50-50 all the way, what do you say? No.
I knew you were going to say that.
How'd you know that? Psychic.
Hey if anything ever comes up again, if you need me I know where to find you.
Have a nice day.
CHUCK: But maybe we're not supposed to see miracles.
We're just supposed to believe they're out there (breathes deeply) because sometimes, believing is enough sometimes believing is the miracle.
(phone ringing) Hello? Hey, bud, it's Chuck.
Oh, no kidding? Look, I was thinking about dinner tonight you and me and the satellite dish.
Uh-huh.
We got the Norwegian curling championships at eight, and after that, three Pauly Shore movies, back-to-back.
What do you say? Oh, hey, that sounds great! I'm thinking you pick up a couple of pizzas and bring 'em back.
You got a pen? What? Do I have a pen? Oh, yeah Yeah, I got a pen right here.
Yeah, go ahead.
All right.
I want pepperoni, no anchovies, sausage, pineapple Right.
You writing all this down? Oh, yeah, yeah.
I'm writing down every word.
Okay.
Maybe some of those little artichoke hearts, green peppers, no mushrooms I hate mushrooms Hey, am I going too fast for you? Gary? Gary? Gary?! Gare! Hey!