(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
(electric drill whirring)
I've been here
for six hours, Sandy.
Now, where the hell is he?
Look, what do you want me to say?
He's William Pratt. How am I supposed
to make a movie when my leading man
is never here? Please, Tanya.
Just go to your dressing room. Relax.
He'll be here.
Sure.
Maybe in the meantime,
you geniuses can figure out a way
to shoot the picture without him!
Okay, here's the thing, Sandy.
I checked the hotel. Well...
And his motor home-- he's vanished again.
Wonderful.
What do you-what do you want to do?
All right. That's a wrap.
ASSISTANT: Okay, people, it's a wrap.
Let's go. Let's hustle.
Close this baby down.
Shut it down. Let's go, people.
Okay, that's a wrap.
Girls, turn in your wardrobe. Thank you.
But we haven't shot anything.
Easiest 125 bucks you'll ever make.
I don't care about the money.
I was hoping to get a look at him.
Who? Pratt? (labored breathing)
Yeah. I've seen every movie he ever made.
He's incredible.
Well, looks aren't everything.
Anyway, I'm glad he's temperamental.
We get paid for another day.
Hey, do you want to grab a beer?
The grips are going over to O'Donnell's.
Sure. Oh...
I forgot my purse on the set.
Do you want me to wait?
No, it's okay. I'll catch up with you.
(labored breathing)
(metallic clattering)
(hinges creaking)
(clunking)
(running footfalls)
(loud whirring)
(screams): Stop it!
This isn't funny, you know.
(gasps)
(screaming)
(electrical zapping and crackling)
(clock chiming)
(talking quietly)
(snickering)
Well, I just can't believe
we're actually working on a William Pratt picture.
Yeah. And this rental contract's gonna make
a big difference in our bank account.
Oh, could be the start
of a whole new business for us. Yeah.
Come on, you guys.
He's one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
Not to mention one of the most handsome.
Romantic. Rich.
Famous. Mm. Yummy.
So he's rich and handsome
and talented.
I'm much more interested in how he works as an actor.
(laughing)
Give us a break, Micki.
You're just like every other woman in this country.
Daydreaming about him.
Drooling over him.
I am not!
Well, I'm not drooling.
(Ryan laughing)
(men laughing)
SANDY: You sure he's here? He's early. I saw him go
into his motor home 20 minutes ago. What are you doing to me?
We don't shoot these until Wednesday.
That's Wednesday.
He's going to drive me nuts.
What's with the cops? Why are they still here?
They said they'd be finished before we start shooting.
Why did she have to die on my set?
My insurance is already through the roof.
What the hell was she doing there, anyway?
Uh, she was in there. I don't know what...
Look, at least we're shooting. Listen, Todd,
I want you to sit on Pratt. If I lose one more day,
I'm going to hit him with a lawsuit
that will curl his hair. A lawsuit. Okay. Got you.
Uh-oh. Here comes the dragon lady now.
Well... Is our wonder boy playing hooky again?
Oh, no, no, my darling, he's getting ready for you now.
Go, go, go. Come.
I was just going to look at the rushes.
You look phenomenal.
You know, that scene that you did...
Mr. Pratt? Yeah! What is it?
We'll be ready for you in a few minutes, sir.
I'll be right there, Todd.
MAN: Is there a working best boy?
This is incredible.
TODD: Quiet, please. This will be a take.
(bell ringing)
Okay. First positions.
Let's clear, ladies. (clang)
I said quiet!
Okay, roll it.
Jack of Diamonds. Scene 43, take one. Mark!
Playback.
Action!
(gasps)
Shh...
♪ ♪
Cut! Print it! Perfect!
How was that? (bell ringing)
Beautiful.
Are these our props?
Yup. Great. Come with me.
Come.
Okay. Just put the props down here.
PRATT: Hello.
I'm Bill Pratt.
I'm, uh... Micki Foster.
RYAN: Hi.
Ryan Dallion.
You're an actress.
No. No, I'm just renting props to your movie.
Then you'll be around for a while?
TODD: Mr. Pratt,
we're ready for your close-up, please.
And Foster Geary's here to see you.
I hope we can talk later.
You get Geary off my set.
I don't do interviews,
especially with scum like that.
Right. Gotcha.
You're drooling.
Very attractive woman.
Somebody I should know about?
How did you get in here?
Well, it's good to see you, too, Bill.
I ought to have you arrested for breaking and entering.
Why so hostile?
I'm an honest reporter.
Your fans want to know more about you.
I've got nothing to say to you.
What is the big secret about your past, Bill?
I mean, nobody knows anything about the man behind the fame.
It's no mystery, Geary.
I just like my privacy. Now get out!
Up until three years ago, no one had ever heard of William Pratt.
Then, suddenly you're big box office.
All right.
You won't give me an exclusive interview,
I'll just have to go on the air with what I already know.
You don't know anything.
Security!
Just one more question.
Why would a gorgeous hunk like you
go by the name of William Pratt?
After all, that was the...
Because it's my name.
Really?
Then who is JWB?
Out.
If you, uh, change your mind about the interview,
I'll be at the Merriman until tomorrow.
You got to the top real fast, Mr. Pratt.
Let's just see how long you stay there.
(grunts)
No...
No!
Yes. Entertainment editor, please.
(TV playing in background)
Howie? Me.
I want a five-minute segment
ready to go on William Pratt for tomorrow.
(knocking on door)
Who is it?
MAN: Room service, sir.
Champagne, compliments of Mr. Pratt.
REPORTER (on TV): Our outlook for tomorrow is highs in the upper 60s...
Perfect.
Howie, better make that ten minutes. Bye.
Clouds should blow through by late afternoon.
(singsongy): Come in.
I'll take care of you later-- I'm on.
(newscast continues)
That's it for me.
And now for entertainment news, we take you...
(water running)
...our roving reporter Foster Geary.
GEARY: This is Foster Geary tearing the tinsel from Tinseltown.
You all know this star,
but what you don't know
is that he dumped his wife seven years ago.
The same wife who is now in a mental home.
Yes, Dale Miles has made himself a household name
playing the dad everybody wishes they'd had
on Not Bad For Dad.
Wouldn't it just break your heart
to learn that the man who's always home
when his TV wife and kids need him most,
never had time for the little lady
who kept the home fires burning in his real-life abode.
A story I've been able to uncover is that Dad is a cad,
running around on the missus with a gaggle of starlets
who are more than just friends.
And finally driving poor Mrs. Miles to a widescreen...
Get out of here. I told you I'd tip you later.
Today she resides in a...
Get out of here, I said.
You'll lose your job for this. Get...
...waiting for one kindly phone call...
What are you doing?
What do you want? Get out of here!
This is not funny. Get out of here now.
You may find that acceptable behavior...
What do you want here?! Get out!
...but I find that shocking.
(electrical crackling)
(screaming)
I've been waiting for you.
Waiting till you were all alone.
I don't understand. What's wrong?
You understand.
You've been doing some investigating, right, doll?
Think you know all about me?
Let go.
You're hurting me.
This is nothing.
You tell anybody what you've learned,
and I'll show you what real hurting is.
Oh. Stop it.
Stop it!
What the hell are you doing?!
Okay, cut, cut, cut!
Let's reset for take...
28. ...28.
(bell ringing)
Oh, what'd I do?
You son of a...
You were really squeezing my neck!
I was trying to help your acting.
Perfect, perfect!
Bill, can I talk to you, please?
Bill? Bill?!
How are you doing?
Fine. How are you doing?
Uh, I'm fine.
Tanya's having a few problems, though.
She's not very good, is she?
I mean, I've seen the scene so many times,
I practically know the lines myself.
Would you come with me, please?
Sandor, I got a great idea.
Look, just bear with me.
She should play Tanya's role. What?
Are you crazy? Look at her hair.
You don't even have to put a wig on her.
Bill, the wig was your idea.
It's gonna take Tanya and hour or two to cool off, right?
What have you got to lose?
Mr. Pratt, I really don't think...
Are you nuts?
The studio would have me deported.
In the time we are wasting talking about this,
we could have done it.
(quietly): If you don't like it, don't print it.
You're going to drive me to the Motion Picture Home.
Todd! Yes, sir?
Get this girl over to makeup and wardrobe.
See if we have something her size.
You can't be serious.
You can do it. I know you can.
Micki, give me a hand with this. Micki?
You've got the bones, honey.
Give me good bones, I can do anything.
Can you do anything for butterflies?
(laughs): Don't worry.
Pratt believes in you.
That's all that counts.
Is he always so charming?
I've never seen him come on to anyone
the way he was to you.
I've been on
every picture he's made, and I can tell you, honey,
that man is an iceberg.
Come on.
I'm not kidding.
You must have something very special.
Ooh.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Mm-hmm.
How we doing? Wardrobe's waiting.
She's perfect.
She's done. How do you feel?
You'll be great.
I've never been wrong yet.
Mr. Pratt,
you're looking a little shiny.
You could use a touch-up.
Sure, I'll take care of it.
Thank you, Joanne.
I, uh, thought you did everybody's makeup?
Everybody except Mr. Pratt.
Isn't that unusual?
Not really.
He's got his own makeup case.
Says it's his good luck charm.
Good luck charm?
Yeah, never lets anybody come near it.
All actors have their quirks.
Excuse me, hon.
I've got to get back to the set.
Yeah, yeah, I've gotta get back to work, too.
(bell rings)
This will be a take.
(gasps)
I've been waiting for you.
Waiting till you were alone.
I don't understand. What do you want?
You understand.
You've been doing some investigating, right, doll?
Think you know all about me?
Let go of me. You're hurting me.
(chuckles) This is nothing.
You tell anybody what you've learned,
and I'll show you what hurting is.
Is this all you want?
Not all.
Okay, cut. Cut, Bill, cut, cut, cut.
Cut. (bell ringing)
(applause and whistling)
Oh, Sandor!
Is this a star or what?
You were terrific, sweetie.
You were fantastic.
Thank you.
You understand me? Very clearly. That's it.
So tell me.
The girl's spectacular, isn't she, huh?
Great, but it's no good.
Tanya just talked to her lawyers.
We go with another actress,
they're gonna hit us with a major lawsuit.
No.
I'll go tell her thanks, and maybe next picture...
No, no, no, no, no.
I'll, uh, I'll tell her in my own way.
Micki, I don't think you should go.
Why not?
I don't know. I just think it'd be a mistake.
Why?
This guy's William Pratt.
He can go out with any woman in the world.
Why would he go out with you?
Thank you.
I didn't mean it that way.
I just don't think you should go out
with a guy until we find out a little bit more about him.
Ryan, please don't tell me how to live my life.
There's something about him, Micki.
Do you know that every one of his films,
someone dies accidentally? I've been checking!
In the Manifest.
Well, no, he's not in the Manifest, but...
Oh, what a surprise.
Ryan, this might come as a great shock to you,
but he's a lot nicer than most people,
present company included.
(car horn honking)
Look, there's my cab.
I'm gonna go to La Scala and enjoy myself.
And I really don't give a damn whether you like it or not.
Look, Micki... Micki, wait!
What was that all about? (door opens, bell jingles)
Micki's going out with William Pratt.
I tried to stop her.
Oh.
What were you doing with the Manifest?
Just looking. For William Pratt?
No wonder Micki was upset.
There's something about him, Jack, I feel it.
Is he listed?
Do you have anything to go on at all? No.
Wait a minute.
Pratt does his own makeup.
He's got a makeup kit
that's some kind of a lucky charm or something.
Makeup kit?
I've seen something like that.
Ah, there.
"Makeup case once owned by John Wilkes Booth."
Booth? The actor who shot Lincoln.
Hmm.
Who'd he sell it to?
A Jeff Amory, no address.
We gotta find him.
Yeah, in the meantime, maybe you better keep an eye on Micki.
Make sure she's never alone with Pratt.
And if you see that case...
I'll get it.
Yeah, and run.
Criticize my acting when you win one of these, Mr. Pratt.
"Tanya Sloane's Ophelia will be remembered as a milestone
in the American theater."
Top that one, pretty boy.
(knocking on door)
What?!
PRATT: It's me, Tanya.
What do you want?
What would you say if I told you I needed you tonight?
What if I said silent movies were coming back?
Go to hell.
It's true.
You're the only one who can make me look good.
You're damn right. You need me.
Just try making this picture
with that redheaded bimbo.
Don't talk about Diana like that.
You are nothing but a cheap imitation.
(breathlessly): Who are you? You're not Pratt.
Nice reading, Tanya.
Sincere, heartfelt.
You deserve an award for it.
(shrieking gasp)
(gasps)
(crackling)
(crickets chirping)
(laughing): Bill? Where are we?
We're almost there.
What are you doing? Shh, shh, shh.
I thought we were going to La Scala. Shh...
I hate surprises.
Would you care to join me?
(ship horn blasts)
This is magnificent.
Madam...
Merci.
Thanks. I think I can take care of things from here.
It's just like being in the movies.
We'll put it in our movie.
I'm sorry about today.
Oh, no, no. Don't worry.
I understand.
I mean, she does have a contract.
Yeah.
Here's to our dreams.
So, do you treat every girl like this on the first date?
No, I was waiting for you.
Well, gosh, if this what stardom is all about,
I could learn to like it.
It does have its advantages, yes.
But there's always must be a price to pay?
I mean, your privacy.
Let's just say, I had enough privacy
to last a lifetime when I was a nobody.
What, are you telling me you couldn't get a date?
Let's just say I've waited a long time
to find someone who would see me for what I am inside.
You want to know what I've always dreamed of doing?
What?
The story of "Beauty and the Beast."
Except, in my version,
when Beauty kisses the Beast, he doesn't change.
See, Beauty loves the Beast for what he is,
not what he looks like.
Right. Love overcomes everything.
Yes.
Everyone's so obsessed with physical beauty.
I just hate the way some people get shut out
simply because they don't look... right.
Bill, it sounds like a wonderful story.
To my leading lady,
in the movies,
and hopefully in life.
ANNOUNCER: ...on the mound.
Three balls to Andre Dawson.
Who's that man behind the desk?
Jack! How you been?
Long time no see.
Oh, Sig, you old pirate.
I haven't seen you since I got out of show business.
Sit down, sit down.
Some things haven't changed.
Well, how's business?
You're still booking magic acts, huh?
What can I say?
Whatever they're buying, I'm selling.
I got this midget, couldn't get arrested.
Now he's doing rock videos.
You figure.
You know, I could probably get you a gig.
Oh, thank you very much, yeah.
Sure, go back to being an escape artist at my age.
There's a lot more to escape. (laughing)
So, what can I do for you?
Does the name Jeff Amory mean anything to you?
Might of been an actor, I can't be sure of that.
Yeah, rings a bell.
He'd have been around...
oh, a few years back, anyway.
Yeah, yeah. The Geek.
Sure, I know who you mean-- The Hunchback,
Dracula's Slave.
Ugly son of a gun.
Yeah, here it is. Good actor.
But all he ever got were bit parts in, uh...
in horror movies.
Ew.
What happened to him?
You want to hear sad?
He made a picture with this young actress, Diana Lamb.
You remember her?
Nah, probably not.
Gorgeous little redhead.
She was nice to the guy, spent time with him.
They were lovers? Who knows.
One night, a few years ago,
she went up to that place at Evergreen Lake
with another guy.
What was it called? The Hideaway Cabins.
Amory found out, and followed them.
And?
And he killed the guy,
with an axe.
Oh, my God.
The poor broad ran away in the dark.
Apparently she slipped and fell off a cliff.
The next day they found Amory
holding her dead body in his arms.
Poor chump must have snapped.
Then what happened to him?
He was taken to a mental hospital.
For all I know, he's dead.
Mind if I keep this picture?
What am I going to do, book him?
Take it.
(both laughing)
You know, it's a shame.
He would've been great in that rock video with the midget.
Hey, don't let it be so long next time, eh?
Thanks for all your help, Sig. Great.
It's good to see ya.
Ryan?
Ah.
What did you find out?
Oh, plenty. Where's Micki?
I don't know. She left before I got up.
Oh, damn.
Here, look at this.
Is this Amory?
That's Amory.
He was in love with an actress called Diana Lamb.
She was a redhead, too.
He killed her lover in a fit of jealous rage with an axe.
And then he went after her.
And you think this could be Pratt?
It's possible. It's possible.
We've got to get that makeup case.
I wonder if he takes it with him
or if he leaves it at the studio.
Let's try the studio. Wait a minute.
You stay here, and if Micki calls,
you can warn her. I'll go. Yeah, good point.
What's going on?
I don't know. We should be shooting.
Stay here. I'll be right back.
What the hell is going on, Sandy?!
Where were you? I called the hotel,
they said you weren't there.
Why aren't we shooting?! Tanya's dead!
Her motor home blew up.
Must have been the propane tank.
The police are still investigating.
They want to talk to you.
The studio is not going to stop production, Sandy.
They've got too much money in this thing. They've done it.
Sandy, for God's sake, just because of an accident?
We've got an actress right here...
Accident?!
That's all we've been having!
We've got people dying all over the place.
We're shut down, Pratt! It's over!
And I'm going back to Europe.
No, Sandy.
It's not over until William Pratt says it's over.
Now, you call the studio and you tell them
to read the fine print in my contract.
If they shut down,
it's them that's finished, not my picture.
Oh, my God...
♪ ♪
Where to now?
Somewhere where nobody can find us.
(tires squealing)
Micki!
Pratt-- where is he going?
How the hell would I know?
♪ ♪
Bill, there's something...
Oh, God...
Bill?
Are you all right?
(squishing sound)
Bill, let me in. Let me help you.
(squishing sound)
Bill? Bill?
Boo! (gasps)
(laughing)
I was worried about you.
Worried I'm not the man you went to sleep with?
I'm fine.
It's just an allergy thing I get now and then.
I'm fine.
Hey, listen, uh, let's get out of here.
I know a great place up by Evergreen Lake.
What do you say?
Perfect.
JACK: Micki? (bells jingling)
She hasn't been back, Jack.
The note we left is still here.
This just isn't like her.
She's been gone for 24 hours.
We're just going to have to keep looking. Where? Where?
We've checked his hotel or any other place they might be.
She hasn't called her friends...
Wait, maybe she called here.
(tape rewinding)
MICKI: Hi. It's me. I didn't want you to worry.
Bill and I are going up to Evergreen Lake for a few days.
Be happy for me-- I think I love him.
Great.
Oh, my God! What?
Amory killed Diana Lamb and her lover
at The Hideaway Cabins, and that's at Evergreen Lake.
Come on!
Hey, what's the matter?
Nothing.
It's just this damn allergy.
Look, maybe we should go back, huh?
No, no. I'm fine.
Yeah. Fill 'er up, will ya? Yes, sir.
Have you got a washroom?
Yes, sir. It's right over there.
It's open.
Is that William Pratt?
Yeah.
Whoa.
Is he making a movie around here?
Oh, no, no. We're just driving through.
Think I could get his autograph?
I don't see why not.
Oh, great!
Come on!
Please! Please!
Come on. Come on.
Oh, God, not now.
I wonder what's keeping him.
You want me to go check and see if he's okay?
Would you mind?
No, not at all. Great.
(squishing sound, knocking on door) Sir?
Go away.
Mr. Pratt, are you all right in there?
(squishing sound)
Please, don't make me do this.
(squishing sound)
(grunts)
(loud pounding, thud)
(squishing sound)
Bill?
(glass breaking)
Oh, no...
Oh, no!
Bill?
I'm sorry.
I was just getting worried.
I'm fine. Fine. Okay.
Did you see that kid?
He was looking for your autograph.
Yeah. Yeah. He must've took off.
Probably went to sell it. (laughing)
Where are we?
I thought you loved it here.
Would you go check in for us?
Sure.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster okay?
Fine.
Room number five.
Okay.
(gasps)
(night bird calling)
Bill?
Stay away Diana, please.
Who's Diana?
What's going on?
I know you came here with him, but he doesn't love you.
I do.
I can't see you, Bill. Where are you?
He's gone.
Why are you doing this?
You're frightening me.
Pratt thought he was so perfect.
You loved him because of the way he looked.
No, no, I love you for what you are.
(sobbing): You don't know who I am.
Diana...
Diana, I'm afraid for us.
It's all right.
There's no reason to be afraid.
Just let me hold you.
No! Stay away.
If you... if you see me now, you'll leave me.
No.
I'll never do that.
Never.
Diana...
It's me-- Jeff.
Jeff?
Jeff Amory.
Stop it. Stop hiding. Let me see you.
(gasps) You said there's nothing to be afraid of, Diana.
You said you wanted to hold me.
Let me go!
Why do you want to go?!
You lied to me.
You said you loved me.
(shouts): You said you loved me!
Which cabin?
Wake the manager.
You made me hope.
You made me think that I could love someone
and be loved, for what I am inside.
And then you came here with him.
Why, Diana?
Please...
I'm not Diana.
Whoever she was, whatever she did-- it was her.
It was you!
It's too late now.
You'll never love me.
(screaming)
(choking screams)
Jeff...
Jeff, I love you!
I do. I love you. I do.
Then kiss me.
If you love me, kiss me.
You do...
You do love me.
(sobbing)
(crying)
You do...
It's all right. You do... you do...
Everything's gonna be all right.
PRATT: I love you. It's all right.
(sobs): I love you.
(crying)
You all right?
That was a very brave thing that you did, Micki.
What's gonna happen to him now?
They'll put him someplace where he'll never get out again.
Why am I crying for him anyway?
He's a murderer.
Maybe because you saw him.
I mean really saw him.
(sighs heavily)
Jack, he was so alone.
All he wanted was to be
loved for who he was, not what he looked liked.
I think we all have a little bit of that in us.
Maybe that's why he chose...
such a simple name as William Pratt.
No, Micki.
I think that was something else.
I once met a great actor
who'd made his name by playing monsters and ghouls,
and yet he was the gentlest, he was kindest man I ever met.
Who?
Boris Karloff.
But his real name was William Pratt.