The Dead Zone s02e06 Episode Script
Scars
I had the perfect life until I was in a coma for six years.
And then I woke up and found my fiancée married to another man.
My son doesn't know who I am.
Everything has changed including me.
One touch and I can see things things that happened, things that will happen.
You should see what I see.
Narrator: Previously, on "The Dead Zone" My support for Greg Stillson is founded on his vision for the future which promises to be very bright.
Johnny Smith, Greg Stillson.
Stillson: Because the day of reckoning is coming.
Greg Stillson is coming to Washington.
- You're giving up your life for this.
- This has a high priority.
So what did you think? I know these people.
They're my neighbors.
And they will applaud for apple pie and the American flag, but come election day, they will not vote for you unless you actually have something to say.
Ouch.
Find our more about her.
Sarah: Honestly, I think that you make a lot of noise and people react to noise.
I think that you're crude, uh aggressive, and bullheaded.
Good coffee.
Again, that's just as a public figure.
I don't mean to imply Of course you do, and that's fine.
I like to hear it.
I never get to hear this stuff.
And do you know why? Everyone around you is always kissing your ass? Because everyone around me is always kissing my ass.
I like to say that I am the last honest politician but I can't find any people who will be honest for me.
And that is why I'm always on the lookout for people like you.
But you don't even know me.
Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Maine.
And you want Harrison Fisher out of office, as do the rest of us.
Who do you think is going to do that? It is true I intend to shake things up.
I want to make a difference, and empower others to do the same.
How do you feel about making a difference? - Smart woman.
- Did you ask her about John Smith? Naw, I decided not to.
Old wounds, and all that.
Greg, we have to deal with this.
You really have it in for this Smith guy.
- He's asking questions about you.
- The wrong kind of questions? It's not just that.
It's like he knows what he's looking for already.
This psychic thing it really freaks you out.
All I'm saying is that we gotta deal with this.
Don't worry, Sonny.
I'm way ahead of you.
(softly) I'm way, way ahead of you.
Anything about me in there? Nope.
It's the sports section.
(laughs) Is there anything about me in there? - Can I help you, Mr.
Stillson? - No, it's Greg, please.
We've met a couple of times, just never had a proper sit down.
Gene Purdy seems to think you're the greatest thing since Christian rock.
He says, "Greg, get to know this guy.
" I'd call first, but I figured you'd sense me coming anyway.
- Doesn't work that way.
- No? How does it work? You touch someone, and you get a vision of them doing something bad? Like kidnapping a kid, or murdering some girl then you try to make it right, right? Something like that.
And at the rally, when we shook hands you had a vision of me doing something bad and now you want to make it right.
I may have done things in the past I'm not proud of, but upon reflection I realize I had good reasons and best intentions for all of them.
Whatever you saw you probably well, you probably just took out of context.
You can't see good intentions.
Can you? As if I have to justify myself to a fortune-teller.
I know what this is about.
You want a chip in the big game, and I don't blame you.
- I don't want anything from you.
- Then stop going through my closet.
I got enough to worry about with Harrison Fisher, - I don't have time to worry about you.
- Then don't.
Look, I know you've seen some awful things wicked, brutal things but you ain't seen politics up close.
And trust me, you don't want to.
(laughing) What'd you see? Do I win? Don't tell me.
Don't you tell me, Johnny.
Don't you tell me.
(theme music playing) * Oooh * * Fall in love, fall in love, fall in love * * Fall in love * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Fall in love, fall in love * * Fall in love.
* I got a bad feeling about this, Johnny.
So do I.
I got a real bad feeling about the end of the world, Bruce.
You seen my black leather case, man? Oh! Look, how do you know that? What are you talking about? You know how I know.
You told me you touched Stillson and saw Washington DC in flames, but how did it get that way? Was it a nuclear attack? Did you see Greg Stillson breathe fire down? Did you actually see him doing anything? I've been sitting here for two months, digging up the past, - trying to find a connection, clue.
- And? I'm sick of waiting.
I know this guy is linked no, he's responsible for a future atrocity that will end in apocalypse.
I just know it.
Look, if you had the chance to go back in time and kill Hitler, would you do it? Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow down, okay? No, think.
It's 1926, he still hasn't risen to power yet.
You can still get to him.
You're alone in a room with him with a gun in your hand.
- What would you do? - Did you buy a gun, John? I don't need a gun.
All I need to do is just change one small detail.
And all of life changes, right? Bruce, today I found that one detail.
Guess who showed it to me.
- I know that you're not gonna say - Greg Stillson.
He said I've got enough to worry about with Harrison Fisher, I don't have time to worry about you.
I don't know why I didn't see it before.
See what? If I can help Fisher win the election, Stillson's rise to power is shut down.
Are you sure this is how you should be using yourself? It's the only thing I've been sure about in a long time.
Man: We are two days into the debates, people, and let's face facts, we are losing.
Greg Stillson will say pretty much anything and as a result he's closing the gap in the polls.
We need to change our angle of approach.
This isn't issue versus issue, it's candidate versus candidate.
It's experience versus ignorance.
It's decorated past versus shady past.
No, let's not go there.
I've managed to stay in office for 15 years without name-calling.
It'll just look like weakness.
No, the dirtier Stillson plays, the cleaner we play.
Hey, Sylvia, what's going on here? - Just taking an application.
- An application? - Hi, John Smith.
- Yes, I know who you are.
I read the papers cover to cover every morning, Mr.
Smith.
Do you start with the funnies? Because sometimes I think - I'm the only one that does that.
- I always like Sylvia, please.
What do you want? I want to volunteer my services, Mr Phil Rogers.
I'm the party's campaign liaison.
And I can't help wondering why a local celebrity and known Stillson supporter is lurking in our offices in the middle of the debates.
I wouldn't call this lurking, Phil.
Maybe you shouldn't believe everything in the papers.
It's hard to misinterpret a photo of you and Greg Stillson hand in hand, - at a rally for his benefit - Mr.
Fisher! - Phil: Rick! - Is there a problem, Phil? Yes, Greg Stillson sent over a celebrity spy.
- That's not true, sir.
- Channel 9, you do the weather right? - Guys, guys, let the man speak.
- I'm not a spy for Stillson, sir.
I don't do the weather.
Some people call me a psychic, which is a broad term.
I have used my abilities in the past to help the police and some other people, but never for a political cause, which is why I think this is important.
We think volunteers are important, too.
Thanks for coming down.
- Congressman - Excuse me.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Smith.
The congressman's time is very limited and I'm afraid we don't have room for a psychic in our circus.
Thanks, Phil.
For the last 15 years, all it's been about is tax breaks and campaign kickbacks.
And woe to any mere mortal who stands in the way.
Mr.
Stillson, please, back your arguments up with the facts.
Fact: In August of '99 you voted yes on HR-232, which awarded 300,000 acres of North Woods to Harper Lumber, the biggest timber company in Maine and your major campaign contributor.
You didn't care that it forced a smaller logging business under.
You put 138 people out of work.
I'd have to check on that incident, but I'm sure that my vote was in the best interests of our citizens and workers.
Oh, we're all sure of that, Harry.
(applauding) Hey, what are you doing up there? I'm getting good at this.
- Uh-huh, bill 222 - Johnny: No, 232.
232.
Listen, Stillson's gonna to try to sandbag him about some logging company, and how HR-232 shut them down and put people out of work.
I'll pass it on.
Thank you for calling, Mr.
Schmidt.
Fisher for Congress.
Candidate: List of things that folks have told me are important to them.
At the top of that list, affordable prescription drugs for the elderly.
(applauding) - Come on.
Come on.
- Don't get nervous, man.
- You'll make me nervous.
- I'm not nervous.
I'm psyched.
- Psyched? - Bruce, you should have seen me today.
I walked right up there on that stage, I touched the podium and I saw everything that was going to happen.
So? That's what you always do.
Is that what you think? That I'm in control of this thing? The visions have a life of their own, man.
I work for them.
But today, up there, they worked for me.
I wonder what Purdy will think when he finds out I'm standing against his little golden boy, up there.
Forget Purdy.
What's that about? Sarah? What's she doing sitting with Stillson's people? Mr.
Stillson, please, back your arguments up with the facts.
Stillson: Fact: In August '99 you voted yes on HR-232, which awarded 300,00 acres of North Forest to Harper Timber, the largest lumber company in Maine and your major campaign contributor.
- Come on.
Come on - You didn't seem to care that it forced a smaller lumber company to go under.
Put 138 people out of work.
Well, you are right about one thing, Greg.
Aaron Harper is my primary campaign contributor.
I asked him to step in and clean up a mess.
Ajax Logging, that smaller business, had been clear-cutting the area to shreds.
I allowed Harper Lumber to annex the land under the condition that they employ selective cutting and we saved that forest.
Mr.
Harper, I believe you're in the audience tonight.
Would you stand up, please? Come on, Aaron, get up.
(cheering) Let these folks see what a corporate monster looks like.
Sylvia: Excuse me.
Congressman Fisher would like you to stop by our post-debate meeting at campaign headquarters, if you're available.
Johnny: Okay, thank you.
I don't care, Sonny.
We got a leak somewhere.
When I find it, I'm gonna plug it with my bare hands.
I looked like a fool.
Greg, there's no way he could have seen that question coming.
No way.
Thank you.
What's the fallout? Word is the night pretty much went to Fisher.
I looked like an idiot up there.
Completely unprepared.
Harder.
Your dad's not happy about you calling out Aaron Harper.
Harper doesn't care.
Harder! I think you made a bad play with John Smith, today.
So I can feel it! Go.
Go! He's all yours.
Johnny Smith Goddamn crippled freak.
I hate freaks, Sonny.
I really do.
Like that retarded chick in that movie I just wanted to strangle her.
- What was the name of that movie? - Maybe I should have a talk with him.
No.
I don't think that's necessary just yet.
We'll give him some more time.
Man: Here he is, here he is.
This is the guy! This is the guy! Get him some punch.
Get the boss in here, quickly.
You, sir, you may have some punch.
- Oh, thank you.
- No.
(applauding) You know, you could say it's a an unexplained phenomenon that Stillson's gaining on us.
I guess maybe we can use a psychic around here after all.
(distant bomb falling) (explodes) (screaming) (soldiers shouting) (gun cocks) Johnny: Get in there! Get in there! Go! Move it! Now! Now! Get in there! Go! Move! Get in there! Where are the men?! Where are the weapons?! Soldier #1: This is the place! These are the coordinates! - Keep your eyes on them! - These are civilians! Soldier #2: Everybody calm down.
- Grenade! - (automatic gunfire) Soldier: Go! Go! Johnny: Stand down! Stand down! (frantic screaming) Johnny: It was a can of corn, Mulvert! It was a can of corn! You okay? Yeah, yeah.
No, it's nothing.
What'd you guys put in the punch, anyway, huh? Sarah: I didn't know you'd be coming by.
What's up? Johnny: I wanted to ask you a question in person.
- Okay.
- Nothing serious, just I saw you last night at the debates at Town Hall.
Were you sitting with Stillson's people? Yeah, um I guess you could say that I'm working for his campaign now.
What were you doing at Town Hall? Just observing.
Because, people are saying that you joined Harrison Fisher's campaign.
- I knew that couldn't be true.
- Who told you that? It's just the word around the Stillson camp.
Has Stillson been asking you questions about me? Why would he ask questions about you? Better yet, why are you asking questions about him? Is this true, about the Harrison Fisher thing? (Sarah gasps) You have always voted against him.
And now you want to keep him in office? Since when do you even get involved like that? Let's just say I want things to stay how they are.
You're not using your ability to influence this election, are you? Because, that would be really wrong, Johnny.
I mean really wrong.
- Believe me, Sarah, I have my reasons.
- What reasons? What is it? I don't feel too good.
I'm gonna take off.
Are you okay? Bruce: Damn.
I knew you saw something last night, but not My Lai.
Johnny: On a smaller scale, that's what it felt like.
Except one guy.
He had a gun.
He was probably protecting his family.
They were all women and children.
I looked up the citation for Fisher's Bronze Star, it said the raid took out and they destroyed a weapons cache.
They reported a lie, man.
Do you realize how huge this is? We're sitting on top of a major scandal.
We gotta find somebody to corroborate we gotta get witnesses who were there.
No.
Harrison Fisher is a decorated war hero.
If the truth comes out, it's like you said, it would be a major scandal.
Big enough to kill his chances for re-election, which gives Stillson a clear path to power.
You're talking about covering up for a guy who lied about murdering innocent people.
Except, Fisher's not a bad guy.
All right? He got caught up in a bad situation.
He wasn't in command.
So you're just gonna let him off the hook? - Are you allowed to do that? - What do you mean, am I allowed? I mean, can you just ignore one of your visions? I though you worked for them.
Not when they're working against each other.
Bruce, if I want to try to change the future, I gotta let the past stay where it is.
I gotta tell you, Phil, I can't see any limit to this thing.
See the future, see the past, see our polling team fire them, we don't need them anymore.
This is the epitome of out-of-the-box thinking, sir.
The reception for the Daughters of the American Revolution! It's at the Governor's Mansion.
All the candidates will be there.
- Do you have a tux? - No way! Look, if it gets out that Harrison Fisher is consulting a psychic, we'll get laughed out of office! - Sir, please.
- Would you guys mind stepping out? I'd like to have a word with John.
- Man: Sure.
- Thank you.
Got your wallet on you, John? - Uh yeah.
- Slide it over here.
Show you a trick.
See, I can tell everything about a man by looking at his wallet.
Let's see now.
Under a year old.
Looks like department store leather.
I'm guessing you didn't buy this yourself.
- No, that was a gift.
- From your girlfriend.
- Not at that time.
- Ah Let's see you hate having driver's license photos taken just like everybody else.
$25 you travel light.
One credit card.
One Cleaves Mills Public Library card.
Frayed laminate you actually use it.
Insurance.
No pictures, but - jackpot! - Business cards are the jackpot? Each one is a story.
Sheriff CEO website designer You know what this wallet says? Here is a man whose life is stripped down unstructured and very, very complicated, because your life is more focused on other people than yourself.
In that regard, you and I are a lot alike.
I like your wallet, John.
Thanks.
I suppose you already know what's in mine.
Not without looking.
My abilities don't tell me everything.
They just kind of lead me to where I'm needed, or where I can be of use.
Oh, well you can definitely be of use around here.
But I agree with Phil that we should keep a low profile.
You should come to the reception tonight, but come alone.
And we should probably keep interaction between us to a minimum.
- Yes, sir.
I think that's best.
- (knocks) Sir, Congressman Russell is on the phone for you.
Thank you.
Well welcome aboard.
- Excuse me.
- Good day, sir.
(jazz music playing) - Hey, Johnny.
- Waitress: Champagne, sir? - There you go.
- You clean up very nicely.
Yeah, all I need is a top hat.
Come on, I'll show you around.
Over here, Patty Keenan, wife of the governor, DAR officer, puts this whole party together.
Bald guy with the baby face, Benny Sarver Mayor of Augusta.
Johnny, this gentleman with the red bowtie is Henry Chao.
- Supreme Court Justice? - Bingo.
I definitely want you to touch him later.
And here is our Congressman talking to Aaron Harper of Harper Lumber.
That guy creeps me out.
Everybody in this place creeps me out.
Hey, this is supposed to be the glamorous side of politics.
Yeah, well, glamour looks better on you than it does on me.
I think you look very debonair.
- Yeah? - Yes.
Bannerman.
Walt Bannerman.
Mr.
Bannerman.
Hey, what's he doing here? (couple moaning) (knocks) - Three minutes.
- Smith is here.
Why don't we hold this thought? Johnny, I didn't expect to see you here.
Me neither.
Nice tux.
Thank you.
Now, what in God's name do you think you're doing? I do so many things in God's name, Gene.
Which are you referring to? Is this because of something I've done? If so, there are easier ways to get my attention.
Doesn't concern you.
Faith Heritage Alliance is backing Greg Stillson for Congress - to have our - Mascot? most visible representative, besides myself, turn his back on that endorsement this concerns me.
Hey, it's a free country, Gene.
Two years ago you endorsed Harrison Fisher.
You didn't have any problems turning your back on him.
Johnny, look, I need to understand your reasons.
Hello, boys.
You tried those stuffed chicken things? Ugh! But I always have the corn-bread.
Corn-bread's good.
Reverend, may I have the honor of this dance? - Oh, I don't - Go for it, Reverend.
I think he wants to talk to me.
Thought you might like to chat, just the two of us.
Not really.
I gotta say, Smith, I'm a bit disappointed in your performance so far.
Not really living up to the hype.
You have my deepest apologies.
Now listen, I know sending you over to Fisher was a bit of a gamble but in my experience, risk provides the greatest pay off.
What did you say? Now that trick you did at the debates, that was that was good.
I don't know how you did that, but I figured you'd be of use to Fisher, but I was betting by now you'd have blown the lid off his little secret.
Whatever he did has got to be 10 times worse than anything I did.
(softly) Yeah, well I don't know what you're talking about.
Come on, Johnny.
There's no one else here.
I'm being honest with you.
I know Fisher's hiding something, I just don't know what it is.
I actually found out about a year ago, when I tracked down an ex-Nam buddy of his name of John Mulvert used to be in the Navy SEALs.
Well, by the time I got ahold of him he was a useless drunk.
But I did get excited one time when Mulvert said he wanted to spill his guts about something he wanted to get off his chest.
But I never had a chance to talk to the fat lush, 'cause he blew his brains out with a.
45.
I know it is damn shame, but it made me realize that there is an awful truth to be found.
And I knew that if I sweet-talk you just right, you'd go see Fisher.
And if you did go see Fisher, you'd see that awful truth.
'Cause 'cause that's what you do.
Yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry to break it to you, but Fisher's got nothing to hide.
And now, thanks to you, he's got nothing to worry about.
I'm gonna make sure he wins this.
(laughs) I think I can tell when somebody has something to hide, Johnny.
I don't have second sight, but my first sight's pretty solid.
I could see inside of five minutes Sarah Bannerman spread for you not long ago.
- You son of a bitch! - Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hey, easy.
You're secret's safe with me, partner.
(muffled cries) (gasps) Stand down! Stand down! You okay? Man: Who was that? (women crying) Shoot them! Kill them all! Elliman: Too much to drink? - What do you want? - We didn't get a chance to chat inside.
- I said, what do you want? - I want you off my radar.
I know my boss is having fun playing games with you, but sometimes he has too much fun playing too many games.
Maybe you should have that conversation with your boss.
I wanted to work it out between you and me.
No games.
Do not stand against Greg Stillson, or anywhere near him, or your family will suffer.
I was hoping you'd do that.
Stillson: Sorry about calling you out like that at the debate.
I certainly meant no disrespect.
Greg, one of my sayings is that I know which way the tree is going to fall, and it seems pretty clear that Fisher is going to be under it.
But I think you got a damn good chance at this office.
And I don't mind helping you out with a little boost to get you there.
- A little boost? - Yeah.
Say in the neighborhood of $6 million.
And if you look out for me on Capitol Hill, you call me anything you want in public.
Aaron, one of the main platforms I run on is campaign finance reform, so we're gonna have to keep this between you and me.
Mr.
Fisher! Mr.
Fisher.
They told me you were here.
I found something out.
- Something big.
- Have you? Aaron Harper cut a backdoor deal with Stillson.
He's giving his campaign six million bucks.
I don't know how Stillson's gonna hide it.
- I know.
- You know? I know that you know, John.
That operation was code named Hondo.
Captain Aulbach named all our operations after old Westerns.
The objective was to take down this Viet Cong outfit that was hiding weapons along the Mekong river.
Turns out there were no weapons.
No soldiers.
But you already knew that.
I saw the look in your eyes the first time we shook hands.
You looked sick and drained.
Tired.
And I recognized that look, I just didn't know from where.
And then it came to me.
It's the same one I see in the mirror every morning.
I saw what happened.
It wasn't your fault, sir.
- Mulvert opened fire - Mulvert opened fire.
He couldn't see it was a C-rat can.
It was dark those excuses are what's kept me going.
Maybe if you told the Navy they would have understood Instead, we told them a lie! We told them a lie! And then that's what all those excuses became.
And every time I try to remember them, all I can see is this one face.
The little boy.
You're the first person I've talked to about any of this outside the unit.
My wife still thinks that I deserve that Bronze Star.
My own son is in harm's way right now, because he had to follow in his father's heroic footsteps.
(laughs, pants) I've been living with this lie for so long, it feels like it's a part of me.
Like it's an extra arm that nobody can see, but I can feel and I am tired of it! I'm tired of it! (softly) I'm tired Let's talk about this.
I know you want to keep it secret, John.
If you didn't, you'd have already gone to the press with it.
If this gets to the press your campaign's over.
Your political career's over.
Collateral damage.
Casualties of war.
The casualties we'll suffer if Stillson wins the election - are 100 times worse.
- How do you know? Trust me, sir.
I know what your hell looks like, and I'm willing to stay there for as long as it takes to bring Stillson down.
Stillson: The truth is, Harrison Fisher has lost sight of what's truly important the people.
Big business is all it's about and all it's ever been about for 15 years.
We need to introduce policy that's going to protect Maine's most endangered species, the middle class.
You claim to stand against corrupt corporate influence, against serving special interests Business has no business in government.
They don't control us and we certainly don't control So then you would never accept campaign support from one of the state's largest corporations for a sum like $10 million? My contributions cap is $2,500.
That's a little rich for my blood, so I'm sorry, no.
How about $6 million? - Can I bid a dollar, Bob? - (audience laughs) So then, you would say, in good faith, that you would never accept a campaign contribution for a sum of $6 million from a big company like Culp & Belling, or ProTEK, or Harper Lumber? Absolutely not.
I'll be holding you to that, and the people will be holding you to that.
I will be watching you from the sidelines, which you may discover affords a much clearer view.
Teddy, I would like to announce that I am withdrawing from the congressional race tonight.
My my decision to withdraw is not based on any change in my commitment or dedication to the office.
It is instead deeply personal, painful, and something that I need to tell you all about because you deserve to know.
For the past 32 years I have been living a lie.
The Bronze Star I received in Vietnam was not awarded appropriately.
The true story of what happened then has been sent by me to the media and you'll all get a chance to read about it tomorrow morning.
All I wish to say tonight is that I'm sorry for deceiving you for so long as to who I am.
Because my past is a part of me.
And I have found that to deny who you are is much more painful than to confront what you hate about yourself.
It takes courage to face yourself, but I was too weak to admit how weak I was.
Guilt drove me to silence and guilt forced me to the truth.
It is something that we should embrace because it is the only weapon our morality has to wield against us when we forget ourselves.
Thank you.
Good night.
I just want to thank you for doing what I consider to be the right thing.
I knew you would.
Although when he said that crap about Harper Lumber I wanted to rip your throat out.
How did you find out about that? Did you touch Harper at the party? You can thank your lap-dog Sonny for that.
- All it takes is one touch.
- Sonny.
That boy's heart is in the right place.
He just he really needs to learn a little bit of finesse.
That's pretty forgiving for someone who cost you $6 million.
No way you could hide that money now, right? This is true, and that does hurt, but I choose to look at it this way.
It is a very, very small price to pay for the House seat.
So I think it evened out in the end.
Wouldn't you agree? No.
What makes you think this is the end? I like you, Johnny.
Now, I see why Purdy's so high on you, 'cause you see the truth.
It's as simple as that.
You know, I see the truth, too inside me.
And I know I'm right.
It's a powerful feeling to know you're right.
I mean, lots of people think it, but you and I, we know it.
- Do you know what you want? - If we go toe to toe I know how that ends, and I don't find it that interesting.
But if we go side by side, If we join forces I have no idea where that goes, but I gotta tell ya, it makes me curious.
What are you thinking? I don't think you'll find it that interesting.
You keep this paper.
(theme music playing) - No no! - Yes yes! You're grounded!
And then I woke up and found my fiancée married to another man.
My son doesn't know who I am.
Everything has changed including me.
One touch and I can see things things that happened, things that will happen.
You should see what I see.
Narrator: Previously, on "The Dead Zone" My support for Greg Stillson is founded on his vision for the future which promises to be very bright.
Johnny Smith, Greg Stillson.
Stillson: Because the day of reckoning is coming.
Greg Stillson is coming to Washington.
- You're giving up your life for this.
- This has a high priority.
So what did you think? I know these people.
They're my neighbors.
And they will applaud for apple pie and the American flag, but come election day, they will not vote for you unless you actually have something to say.
Ouch.
Find our more about her.
Sarah: Honestly, I think that you make a lot of noise and people react to noise.
I think that you're crude, uh aggressive, and bullheaded.
Good coffee.
Again, that's just as a public figure.
I don't mean to imply Of course you do, and that's fine.
I like to hear it.
I never get to hear this stuff.
And do you know why? Everyone around you is always kissing your ass? Because everyone around me is always kissing my ass.
I like to say that I am the last honest politician but I can't find any people who will be honest for me.
And that is why I'm always on the lookout for people like you.
But you don't even know me.
Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Maine.
And you want Harrison Fisher out of office, as do the rest of us.
Who do you think is going to do that? It is true I intend to shake things up.
I want to make a difference, and empower others to do the same.
How do you feel about making a difference? - Smart woman.
- Did you ask her about John Smith? Naw, I decided not to.
Old wounds, and all that.
Greg, we have to deal with this.
You really have it in for this Smith guy.
- He's asking questions about you.
- The wrong kind of questions? It's not just that.
It's like he knows what he's looking for already.
This psychic thing it really freaks you out.
All I'm saying is that we gotta deal with this.
Don't worry, Sonny.
I'm way ahead of you.
(softly) I'm way, way ahead of you.
Anything about me in there? Nope.
It's the sports section.
(laughs) Is there anything about me in there? - Can I help you, Mr.
Stillson? - No, it's Greg, please.
We've met a couple of times, just never had a proper sit down.
Gene Purdy seems to think you're the greatest thing since Christian rock.
He says, "Greg, get to know this guy.
" I'd call first, but I figured you'd sense me coming anyway.
- Doesn't work that way.
- No? How does it work? You touch someone, and you get a vision of them doing something bad? Like kidnapping a kid, or murdering some girl then you try to make it right, right? Something like that.
And at the rally, when we shook hands you had a vision of me doing something bad and now you want to make it right.
I may have done things in the past I'm not proud of, but upon reflection I realize I had good reasons and best intentions for all of them.
Whatever you saw you probably well, you probably just took out of context.
You can't see good intentions.
Can you? As if I have to justify myself to a fortune-teller.
I know what this is about.
You want a chip in the big game, and I don't blame you.
- I don't want anything from you.
- Then stop going through my closet.
I got enough to worry about with Harrison Fisher, - I don't have time to worry about you.
- Then don't.
Look, I know you've seen some awful things wicked, brutal things but you ain't seen politics up close.
And trust me, you don't want to.
(laughing) What'd you see? Do I win? Don't tell me.
Don't you tell me, Johnny.
Don't you tell me.
(theme music playing) * Oooh * * Fall in love, fall in love, fall in love * * Fall in love * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Feel no shame for what you are * * Fall in love, fall in love * * Fall in love.
* I got a bad feeling about this, Johnny.
So do I.
I got a real bad feeling about the end of the world, Bruce.
You seen my black leather case, man? Oh! Look, how do you know that? What are you talking about? You know how I know.
You told me you touched Stillson and saw Washington DC in flames, but how did it get that way? Was it a nuclear attack? Did you see Greg Stillson breathe fire down? Did you actually see him doing anything? I've been sitting here for two months, digging up the past, - trying to find a connection, clue.
- And? I'm sick of waiting.
I know this guy is linked no, he's responsible for a future atrocity that will end in apocalypse.
I just know it.
Look, if you had the chance to go back in time and kill Hitler, would you do it? Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow down, okay? No, think.
It's 1926, he still hasn't risen to power yet.
You can still get to him.
You're alone in a room with him with a gun in your hand.
- What would you do? - Did you buy a gun, John? I don't need a gun.
All I need to do is just change one small detail.
And all of life changes, right? Bruce, today I found that one detail.
Guess who showed it to me.
- I know that you're not gonna say - Greg Stillson.
He said I've got enough to worry about with Harrison Fisher, I don't have time to worry about you.
I don't know why I didn't see it before.
See what? If I can help Fisher win the election, Stillson's rise to power is shut down.
Are you sure this is how you should be using yourself? It's the only thing I've been sure about in a long time.
Man: We are two days into the debates, people, and let's face facts, we are losing.
Greg Stillson will say pretty much anything and as a result he's closing the gap in the polls.
We need to change our angle of approach.
This isn't issue versus issue, it's candidate versus candidate.
It's experience versus ignorance.
It's decorated past versus shady past.
No, let's not go there.
I've managed to stay in office for 15 years without name-calling.
It'll just look like weakness.
No, the dirtier Stillson plays, the cleaner we play.
Hey, Sylvia, what's going on here? - Just taking an application.
- An application? - Hi, John Smith.
- Yes, I know who you are.
I read the papers cover to cover every morning, Mr.
Smith.
Do you start with the funnies? Because sometimes I think - I'm the only one that does that.
- I always like Sylvia, please.
What do you want? I want to volunteer my services, Mr Phil Rogers.
I'm the party's campaign liaison.
And I can't help wondering why a local celebrity and known Stillson supporter is lurking in our offices in the middle of the debates.
I wouldn't call this lurking, Phil.
Maybe you shouldn't believe everything in the papers.
It's hard to misinterpret a photo of you and Greg Stillson hand in hand, - at a rally for his benefit - Mr.
Fisher! - Phil: Rick! - Is there a problem, Phil? Yes, Greg Stillson sent over a celebrity spy.
- That's not true, sir.
- Channel 9, you do the weather right? - Guys, guys, let the man speak.
- I'm not a spy for Stillson, sir.
I don't do the weather.
Some people call me a psychic, which is a broad term.
I have used my abilities in the past to help the police and some other people, but never for a political cause, which is why I think this is important.
We think volunteers are important, too.
Thanks for coming down.
- Congressman - Excuse me.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Smith.
The congressman's time is very limited and I'm afraid we don't have room for a psychic in our circus.
Thanks, Phil.
For the last 15 years, all it's been about is tax breaks and campaign kickbacks.
And woe to any mere mortal who stands in the way.
Mr.
Stillson, please, back your arguments up with the facts.
Fact: In August of '99 you voted yes on HR-232, which awarded 300,000 acres of North Woods to Harper Lumber, the biggest timber company in Maine and your major campaign contributor.
You didn't care that it forced a smaller logging business under.
You put 138 people out of work.
I'd have to check on that incident, but I'm sure that my vote was in the best interests of our citizens and workers.
Oh, we're all sure of that, Harry.
(applauding) Hey, what are you doing up there? I'm getting good at this.
- Uh-huh, bill 222 - Johnny: No, 232.
232.
Listen, Stillson's gonna to try to sandbag him about some logging company, and how HR-232 shut them down and put people out of work.
I'll pass it on.
Thank you for calling, Mr.
Schmidt.
Fisher for Congress.
Candidate: List of things that folks have told me are important to them.
At the top of that list, affordable prescription drugs for the elderly.
(applauding) - Come on.
Come on.
- Don't get nervous, man.
- You'll make me nervous.
- I'm not nervous.
I'm psyched.
- Psyched? - Bruce, you should have seen me today.
I walked right up there on that stage, I touched the podium and I saw everything that was going to happen.
So? That's what you always do.
Is that what you think? That I'm in control of this thing? The visions have a life of their own, man.
I work for them.
But today, up there, they worked for me.
I wonder what Purdy will think when he finds out I'm standing against his little golden boy, up there.
Forget Purdy.
What's that about? Sarah? What's she doing sitting with Stillson's people? Mr.
Stillson, please, back your arguments up with the facts.
Stillson: Fact: In August '99 you voted yes on HR-232, which awarded 300,00 acres of North Forest to Harper Timber, the largest lumber company in Maine and your major campaign contributor.
- Come on.
Come on - You didn't seem to care that it forced a smaller lumber company to go under.
Put 138 people out of work.
Well, you are right about one thing, Greg.
Aaron Harper is my primary campaign contributor.
I asked him to step in and clean up a mess.
Ajax Logging, that smaller business, had been clear-cutting the area to shreds.
I allowed Harper Lumber to annex the land under the condition that they employ selective cutting and we saved that forest.
Mr.
Harper, I believe you're in the audience tonight.
Would you stand up, please? Come on, Aaron, get up.
(cheering) Let these folks see what a corporate monster looks like.
Sylvia: Excuse me.
Congressman Fisher would like you to stop by our post-debate meeting at campaign headquarters, if you're available.
Johnny: Okay, thank you.
I don't care, Sonny.
We got a leak somewhere.
When I find it, I'm gonna plug it with my bare hands.
I looked like a fool.
Greg, there's no way he could have seen that question coming.
No way.
Thank you.
What's the fallout? Word is the night pretty much went to Fisher.
I looked like an idiot up there.
Completely unprepared.
Harder.
Your dad's not happy about you calling out Aaron Harper.
Harper doesn't care.
Harder! I think you made a bad play with John Smith, today.
So I can feel it! Go.
Go! He's all yours.
Johnny Smith Goddamn crippled freak.
I hate freaks, Sonny.
I really do.
Like that retarded chick in that movie I just wanted to strangle her.
- What was the name of that movie? - Maybe I should have a talk with him.
No.
I don't think that's necessary just yet.
We'll give him some more time.
Man: Here he is, here he is.
This is the guy! This is the guy! Get him some punch.
Get the boss in here, quickly.
You, sir, you may have some punch.
- Oh, thank you.
- No.
(applauding) You know, you could say it's a an unexplained phenomenon that Stillson's gaining on us.
I guess maybe we can use a psychic around here after all.
(distant bomb falling) (explodes) (screaming) (soldiers shouting) (gun cocks) Johnny: Get in there! Get in there! Go! Move it! Now! Now! Get in there! Go! Move! Get in there! Where are the men?! Where are the weapons?! Soldier #1: This is the place! These are the coordinates! - Keep your eyes on them! - These are civilians! Soldier #2: Everybody calm down.
- Grenade! - (automatic gunfire) Soldier: Go! Go! Johnny: Stand down! Stand down! (frantic screaming) Johnny: It was a can of corn, Mulvert! It was a can of corn! You okay? Yeah, yeah.
No, it's nothing.
What'd you guys put in the punch, anyway, huh? Sarah: I didn't know you'd be coming by.
What's up? Johnny: I wanted to ask you a question in person.
- Okay.
- Nothing serious, just I saw you last night at the debates at Town Hall.
Were you sitting with Stillson's people? Yeah, um I guess you could say that I'm working for his campaign now.
What were you doing at Town Hall? Just observing.
Because, people are saying that you joined Harrison Fisher's campaign.
- I knew that couldn't be true.
- Who told you that? It's just the word around the Stillson camp.
Has Stillson been asking you questions about me? Why would he ask questions about you? Better yet, why are you asking questions about him? Is this true, about the Harrison Fisher thing? (Sarah gasps) You have always voted against him.
And now you want to keep him in office? Since when do you even get involved like that? Let's just say I want things to stay how they are.
You're not using your ability to influence this election, are you? Because, that would be really wrong, Johnny.
I mean really wrong.
- Believe me, Sarah, I have my reasons.
- What reasons? What is it? I don't feel too good.
I'm gonna take off.
Are you okay? Bruce: Damn.
I knew you saw something last night, but not My Lai.
Johnny: On a smaller scale, that's what it felt like.
Except one guy.
He had a gun.
He was probably protecting his family.
They were all women and children.
I looked up the citation for Fisher's Bronze Star, it said the raid took out and they destroyed a weapons cache.
They reported a lie, man.
Do you realize how huge this is? We're sitting on top of a major scandal.
We gotta find somebody to corroborate we gotta get witnesses who were there.
No.
Harrison Fisher is a decorated war hero.
If the truth comes out, it's like you said, it would be a major scandal.
Big enough to kill his chances for re-election, which gives Stillson a clear path to power.
You're talking about covering up for a guy who lied about murdering innocent people.
Except, Fisher's not a bad guy.
All right? He got caught up in a bad situation.
He wasn't in command.
So you're just gonna let him off the hook? - Are you allowed to do that? - What do you mean, am I allowed? I mean, can you just ignore one of your visions? I though you worked for them.
Not when they're working against each other.
Bruce, if I want to try to change the future, I gotta let the past stay where it is.
I gotta tell you, Phil, I can't see any limit to this thing.
See the future, see the past, see our polling team fire them, we don't need them anymore.
This is the epitome of out-of-the-box thinking, sir.
The reception for the Daughters of the American Revolution! It's at the Governor's Mansion.
All the candidates will be there.
- Do you have a tux? - No way! Look, if it gets out that Harrison Fisher is consulting a psychic, we'll get laughed out of office! - Sir, please.
- Would you guys mind stepping out? I'd like to have a word with John.
- Man: Sure.
- Thank you.
Got your wallet on you, John? - Uh yeah.
- Slide it over here.
Show you a trick.
See, I can tell everything about a man by looking at his wallet.
Let's see now.
Under a year old.
Looks like department store leather.
I'm guessing you didn't buy this yourself.
- No, that was a gift.
- From your girlfriend.
- Not at that time.
- Ah Let's see you hate having driver's license photos taken just like everybody else.
$25 you travel light.
One credit card.
One Cleaves Mills Public Library card.
Frayed laminate you actually use it.
Insurance.
No pictures, but - jackpot! - Business cards are the jackpot? Each one is a story.
Sheriff CEO website designer You know what this wallet says? Here is a man whose life is stripped down unstructured and very, very complicated, because your life is more focused on other people than yourself.
In that regard, you and I are a lot alike.
I like your wallet, John.
Thanks.
I suppose you already know what's in mine.
Not without looking.
My abilities don't tell me everything.
They just kind of lead me to where I'm needed, or where I can be of use.
Oh, well you can definitely be of use around here.
But I agree with Phil that we should keep a low profile.
You should come to the reception tonight, but come alone.
And we should probably keep interaction between us to a minimum.
- Yes, sir.
I think that's best.
- (knocks) Sir, Congressman Russell is on the phone for you.
Thank you.
Well welcome aboard.
- Excuse me.
- Good day, sir.
(jazz music playing) - Hey, Johnny.
- Waitress: Champagne, sir? - There you go.
- You clean up very nicely.
Yeah, all I need is a top hat.
Come on, I'll show you around.
Over here, Patty Keenan, wife of the governor, DAR officer, puts this whole party together.
Bald guy with the baby face, Benny Sarver Mayor of Augusta.
Johnny, this gentleman with the red bowtie is Henry Chao.
- Supreme Court Justice? - Bingo.
I definitely want you to touch him later.
And here is our Congressman talking to Aaron Harper of Harper Lumber.
That guy creeps me out.
Everybody in this place creeps me out.
Hey, this is supposed to be the glamorous side of politics.
Yeah, well, glamour looks better on you than it does on me.
I think you look very debonair.
- Yeah? - Yes.
Bannerman.
Walt Bannerman.
Mr.
Bannerman.
Hey, what's he doing here? (couple moaning) (knocks) - Three minutes.
- Smith is here.
Why don't we hold this thought? Johnny, I didn't expect to see you here.
Me neither.
Nice tux.
Thank you.
Now, what in God's name do you think you're doing? I do so many things in God's name, Gene.
Which are you referring to? Is this because of something I've done? If so, there are easier ways to get my attention.
Doesn't concern you.
Faith Heritage Alliance is backing Greg Stillson for Congress - to have our - Mascot? most visible representative, besides myself, turn his back on that endorsement this concerns me.
Hey, it's a free country, Gene.
Two years ago you endorsed Harrison Fisher.
You didn't have any problems turning your back on him.
Johnny, look, I need to understand your reasons.
Hello, boys.
You tried those stuffed chicken things? Ugh! But I always have the corn-bread.
Corn-bread's good.
Reverend, may I have the honor of this dance? - Oh, I don't - Go for it, Reverend.
I think he wants to talk to me.
Thought you might like to chat, just the two of us.
Not really.
I gotta say, Smith, I'm a bit disappointed in your performance so far.
Not really living up to the hype.
You have my deepest apologies.
Now listen, I know sending you over to Fisher was a bit of a gamble but in my experience, risk provides the greatest pay off.
What did you say? Now that trick you did at the debates, that was that was good.
I don't know how you did that, but I figured you'd be of use to Fisher, but I was betting by now you'd have blown the lid off his little secret.
Whatever he did has got to be 10 times worse than anything I did.
(softly) Yeah, well I don't know what you're talking about.
Come on, Johnny.
There's no one else here.
I'm being honest with you.
I know Fisher's hiding something, I just don't know what it is.
I actually found out about a year ago, when I tracked down an ex-Nam buddy of his name of John Mulvert used to be in the Navy SEALs.
Well, by the time I got ahold of him he was a useless drunk.
But I did get excited one time when Mulvert said he wanted to spill his guts about something he wanted to get off his chest.
But I never had a chance to talk to the fat lush, 'cause he blew his brains out with a.
45.
I know it is damn shame, but it made me realize that there is an awful truth to be found.
And I knew that if I sweet-talk you just right, you'd go see Fisher.
And if you did go see Fisher, you'd see that awful truth.
'Cause 'cause that's what you do.
Yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry to break it to you, but Fisher's got nothing to hide.
And now, thanks to you, he's got nothing to worry about.
I'm gonna make sure he wins this.
(laughs) I think I can tell when somebody has something to hide, Johnny.
I don't have second sight, but my first sight's pretty solid.
I could see inside of five minutes Sarah Bannerman spread for you not long ago.
- You son of a bitch! - Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hey, easy.
You're secret's safe with me, partner.
(muffled cries) (gasps) Stand down! Stand down! You okay? Man: Who was that? (women crying) Shoot them! Kill them all! Elliman: Too much to drink? - What do you want? - We didn't get a chance to chat inside.
- I said, what do you want? - I want you off my radar.
I know my boss is having fun playing games with you, but sometimes he has too much fun playing too many games.
Maybe you should have that conversation with your boss.
I wanted to work it out between you and me.
No games.
Do not stand against Greg Stillson, or anywhere near him, or your family will suffer.
I was hoping you'd do that.
Stillson: Sorry about calling you out like that at the debate.
I certainly meant no disrespect.
Greg, one of my sayings is that I know which way the tree is going to fall, and it seems pretty clear that Fisher is going to be under it.
But I think you got a damn good chance at this office.
And I don't mind helping you out with a little boost to get you there.
- A little boost? - Yeah.
Say in the neighborhood of $6 million.
And if you look out for me on Capitol Hill, you call me anything you want in public.
Aaron, one of the main platforms I run on is campaign finance reform, so we're gonna have to keep this between you and me.
Mr.
Fisher! Mr.
Fisher.
They told me you were here.
I found something out.
- Something big.
- Have you? Aaron Harper cut a backdoor deal with Stillson.
He's giving his campaign six million bucks.
I don't know how Stillson's gonna hide it.
- I know.
- You know? I know that you know, John.
That operation was code named Hondo.
Captain Aulbach named all our operations after old Westerns.
The objective was to take down this Viet Cong outfit that was hiding weapons along the Mekong river.
Turns out there were no weapons.
No soldiers.
But you already knew that.
I saw the look in your eyes the first time we shook hands.
You looked sick and drained.
Tired.
And I recognized that look, I just didn't know from where.
And then it came to me.
It's the same one I see in the mirror every morning.
I saw what happened.
It wasn't your fault, sir.
- Mulvert opened fire - Mulvert opened fire.
He couldn't see it was a C-rat can.
It was dark those excuses are what's kept me going.
Maybe if you told the Navy they would have understood Instead, we told them a lie! We told them a lie! And then that's what all those excuses became.
And every time I try to remember them, all I can see is this one face.
The little boy.
You're the first person I've talked to about any of this outside the unit.
My wife still thinks that I deserve that Bronze Star.
My own son is in harm's way right now, because he had to follow in his father's heroic footsteps.
(laughs, pants) I've been living with this lie for so long, it feels like it's a part of me.
Like it's an extra arm that nobody can see, but I can feel and I am tired of it! I'm tired of it! (softly) I'm tired Let's talk about this.
I know you want to keep it secret, John.
If you didn't, you'd have already gone to the press with it.
If this gets to the press your campaign's over.
Your political career's over.
Collateral damage.
Casualties of war.
The casualties we'll suffer if Stillson wins the election - are 100 times worse.
- How do you know? Trust me, sir.
I know what your hell looks like, and I'm willing to stay there for as long as it takes to bring Stillson down.
Stillson: The truth is, Harrison Fisher has lost sight of what's truly important the people.
Big business is all it's about and all it's ever been about for 15 years.
We need to introduce policy that's going to protect Maine's most endangered species, the middle class.
You claim to stand against corrupt corporate influence, against serving special interests Business has no business in government.
They don't control us and we certainly don't control So then you would never accept campaign support from one of the state's largest corporations for a sum like $10 million? My contributions cap is $2,500.
That's a little rich for my blood, so I'm sorry, no.
How about $6 million? - Can I bid a dollar, Bob? - (audience laughs) So then, you would say, in good faith, that you would never accept a campaign contribution for a sum of $6 million from a big company like Culp & Belling, or ProTEK, or Harper Lumber? Absolutely not.
I'll be holding you to that, and the people will be holding you to that.
I will be watching you from the sidelines, which you may discover affords a much clearer view.
Teddy, I would like to announce that I am withdrawing from the congressional race tonight.
My my decision to withdraw is not based on any change in my commitment or dedication to the office.
It is instead deeply personal, painful, and something that I need to tell you all about because you deserve to know.
For the past 32 years I have been living a lie.
The Bronze Star I received in Vietnam was not awarded appropriately.
The true story of what happened then has been sent by me to the media and you'll all get a chance to read about it tomorrow morning.
All I wish to say tonight is that I'm sorry for deceiving you for so long as to who I am.
Because my past is a part of me.
And I have found that to deny who you are is much more painful than to confront what you hate about yourself.
It takes courage to face yourself, but I was too weak to admit how weak I was.
Guilt drove me to silence and guilt forced me to the truth.
It is something that we should embrace because it is the only weapon our morality has to wield against us when we forget ourselves.
Thank you.
Good night.
I just want to thank you for doing what I consider to be the right thing.
I knew you would.
Although when he said that crap about Harper Lumber I wanted to rip your throat out.
How did you find out about that? Did you touch Harper at the party? You can thank your lap-dog Sonny for that.
- All it takes is one touch.
- Sonny.
That boy's heart is in the right place.
He just he really needs to learn a little bit of finesse.
That's pretty forgiving for someone who cost you $6 million.
No way you could hide that money now, right? This is true, and that does hurt, but I choose to look at it this way.
It is a very, very small price to pay for the House seat.
So I think it evened out in the end.
Wouldn't you agree? No.
What makes you think this is the end? I like you, Johnny.
Now, I see why Purdy's so high on you, 'cause you see the truth.
It's as simple as that.
You know, I see the truth, too inside me.
And I know I'm right.
It's a powerful feeling to know you're right.
I mean, lots of people think it, but you and I, we know it.
- Do you know what you want? - If we go toe to toe I know how that ends, and I don't find it that interesting.
But if we go side by side, If we join forces I have no idea where that goes, but I gotta tell ya, it makes me curious.
What are you thinking? I don't think you'll find it that interesting.
You keep this paper.
(theme music playing) - No no! - Yes yes! You're grounded!