Cassandra's Dream Page #5

amount is a lesson in itself...

much, much more than

anything I could say.

God. I feel like

suddenly I'm in a dream.

Well, everybody makes mistakes.

We'll deal with it.

The key is you-you-you recognize

the need for help, okay?

Yeah.

So, Ian, what's on your mind?

Um...

well, you always said if I found something I

wanted to devote myself to to come to you.

- Ian's met this girl.

- Let me tell it, Terry.

I have a chance of coming in

on a surefire business deal.

Yeah, well, there's no such thing

as a surefire deal, but go on.

There's some partners want to invest in two

hotels, in your neck of the woods, actually...

in-in Los Angeles...

- and naturally, this requires an outlay of funds.

- Oh, yeah.

Which, of course, you would

get back with interest.

If the hotels show a profit.

They will, Uncle Howard.

They will.

So what kind of money

are we looking at?

70,000 or 80,000.

Possibly even 100,000.

Well, can I let my accountants have a look at

what details you have? It could be of some help.

We'll, I'll be- I'll be grateful

for any guidance, of course...

but, uh, I really

need the money soon.

And-And who is

this young woman?

Ah. Well, our plan is to move

to California. She's an actress.

I-I was gonna ask you if there were some people

you-you might be able to introduce her to.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Contacts never hurt an aspiring talent.

Oh, she would be

so grateful, as would I.

I'm obviously

just crazy about her.

I'm very close with a lot of people

in the film industry and some, uh-

- I just feel it's- it's now or never for me.

- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I understand that feeling. You-You see

a real opportunity, you really want to grab it.

Otherwise, you spend the rest of your life

wondering what might have been.

We'll both find a way

to pay you back.

Yeah, well, I, um-

I wanted to talk to you about that.

Uh, let's, um- let's- let's go under those trees.

Well, um, I think you'll agree that

family loyalty cuts both ways.

Oh, without a doubt.

And thank God I've never had

to ask you for anything...

but, uh, the time has come when,

uh, I need your help.

- Name it, Uncle Howard.

- Anything.

Well, I seem to have got

myself into a little situation.

Yes?

Well, uh, actually, it's, uh- it's-

it's more serious than that.

And, uh, after much thought,

there don't seem to be many options.

Right.

Well, there's going to be

a review in a few months...

an investigation into my, uh, business affairs,

you know, the foundation and the clinics-

and, uh, there's

a former member of staff...

who is prepared to talk about things that

could be extremely detrimental to me.

I, uh- extremely.

But surely you have

nothing to worry about.

Well, to be

quite candid, l-

I really can't allow

a colleague called Martin Burns...

to give certain evidence.

But why?

Sorry, I-I'm not following.

Well, I-I'm in a very vulnerable position

and the consequences could be dire.

Well, what are the options? Is this Martin

Burns unwilling to listen to reason?

Well, unfortunately, I've had several discussions

with him, and he just won't see it my way.

Well, why not?

Is it not just a question of money?

Well, not really. I don't think

compensation would change his mind...

and, to be quite honest,

it's not a road I really want to go down.

Well, what then?

Uh, I think Burns

has to be got rid of.

Rid of?

If there was any other solution,

and believe me, I have racked my brains-

But unless he's out of the picture...

I am looking at a very long period of time

in jail, what could be the rest of my life.

My God.

What have you done?

- Don't talk to me like that!

- I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean any disrespect.

I have made some very, very difficult

decisions to avoid being ruined.

I was aware when I made them that I was

having- that I was taking some kind of risk.

But the stakes were enormous. I shouldn't

have to talk to you about betting on risks.

I didn't mean anything.

You don't build what I've built

by always playing by the book.

- Now you'll find that out.

- Uncle Howard, he didn't mean to be rude.

You didn't question my ethics when you were,

uh-when you wanted something from me.

Look, Uncle Howard, we're

not questioning your ethics.

- I'm sure you know what you're doing.

- We're just surprised.

Oh, what? Surprised? Surprised by what?

Surprised that I need some help?

Surprised that, uh-

that-that my life could fall apart...

if this one weak sister,

this ungrateful failure...

elects to sell me out

to save his own skin?

By getting rid of him,

do- do you mean-

He cannot be allowed to testify

by whatever means are necessary.

He wants us to kill him.

But at this point,

I can see no other way.

I can't beg it. I can't buy it.

But this has to happen

in order for me to survive.

- God. God.

- Christ, be a man.

I don't want to kill anybody.

I need to know if you two can come through

for me. You're the only people I can turn to.

But there must be people who do

this sort of thing f-for a fee, I mean.

Well, I-I-I wouldn't know

how to find such a person.

And if I did, they'd

always have it over me...

or-or they'd turn out to be some

undercover policeman or something.

I mean,

I am in unfamiliar waters.

I need the help of people

who I can trust with my life.

- I cannot kill somebody.

- Oh, right.

So that's it, isn't it? It's fine

to count on me, your mother...

your father when he couldn't

put food on the table.

It's fine for you to come-

come to me for everything.

It's what you're askin', Uncle Howard.

You can see the imbalance.

Burns could have an accident.

Burns could be hit by car or-

or killed in a street mugging.

- Jesus Christ, Uncle Howard!

- Stop! Stop simpering!

What the hell is wrong with you?

You people come to me begging for favors.

"Help me, Uncle Howard.

I need money. I'm in over my head.

I made a mistake.

Help me change my life."

How can I help you? How can I attend to

your needs if I'm rotting away somewhere?

Christ, I can't believe you're

putting me through this stuff.

After what I've done for you,

it should be automatic.

Family is family.

Blood is blood.

You don't ask questions.

You protect your own.

- I can't do it!

- It's- It's not that.

I mean, this is so much more

than just a simple favor.

Don't lecture me. I wasn't born yesterday.

I realize- I know the gravity of what this-

- Oh, please, just-just forget it.

- I can't do it!

You can do it! You make it look like

an accident. It's just that you won't do it.

I've got nobody else

that I can count on.

Don't- Don't bother. Forget I asked.

Forget- Forget we know each other. Let's

have nothing more to do with each other...

because, obviously, your idea of family is,

uh- is very different from mine.

I've never seen him like that.

He was so angry. He was a different person.

- He's a crook, Ian.

- Terry, we don't know all the details.

Christ, what's he expect?

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