Double Jeopardy Page #4

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As is the custom in New Orleans,

since even before

the war of Northern aggression,

we offer the ladies our first bachelor

for the auctioning block.

Our host, Jonathan Devereaux!

Where is that man?

- Hey, Jonathan.

- Thank you, Louis.

You all having a good time?

Before you is a moderately

presentable man in his 30's,

given to unhealthy thoughts

and a dissipated lifestyle.

With, and this is what'll cost you

the really big money...

absolutely no

redeeming moral virtues.

- 500.

- My cuff links cost more than that.

Do I hear 1,000?

Thank you.

2,000.

Did I hear the charming Miss Monroe?

I was starting to worry.

- I thought maybe you didn't care.

- 2,500.

2,500. We have a new bidder.

3,000.

5,000.

5,500.

We have 5,500.

Will the lady take us to six?

$10,000.

At last, someone who knows

my true value.

Miss Monroe,

the bid is to you at $10,500.

He's yours. I know he isn't worth

that much, from personal experience.

Thank you, honey.

All right, going once...

going twice... sold!

The woman in the back.

$10,000.

Would you like to come forward

and claim your prize?

Hello, Nick.

Aren't you going to give me a kiss?

I think I've earned it.

I'll make this easy for you, Nick.

An offer you can't refuse.

- You used to love a good deal.

- Let's take this someplace private.

I remember what happened

the last time we were alone.

- I'm Suzanne Monroe.

- I'm Libby, I'm his wife.

Well, Jonathan! A minute ago

a bachelor, now you're married.

You don't waste any time.

You been in New Orleans long?

I'm just picking up my child.

I'll be leaving soon.

We're putting the past behind us.

Aren't we... Jonathan?

But how long were you f***ing Angie

before you decided to get rid of me?

- Would you excuse us, please?

- Sure, go ahead.

Where is he, Nick?

You destroyed my life,

and I'll destroy yours, unless you

give me Matty. That's all I want.

Listen, let me explain something.

We were going to lose everything.

If I had guts, I'd have killed myself.

The insurance was to protect you.

So I'd be out of the picture,

and you and Matty would be okay.

I just never believed

they would convict you.

They did, Nick.

The thing with Angie happened later.

It was a nightmare. The worst

part of it was being away from you.

Is that why you killed her?

- That was an accident.

- Sorry, I'm not buying. It's bullshit.

- I will swear on the life of our son...

- Don't you f***ing dare.

Keep your hotel, your fancy accent

and new name. Just give me Matty.

- I understand...

- Now. Give him to me now!

- I can't just leave here.

- Do you think I'm stupid?

- I won't let you slip away again.

- His school is far away. Be patient.

I've been patient for six years.

I want my child.

I'll call you tomorrow.

No screwing around.

- Excuse me. Where's Mr Devereaux?

- He's at the bar, sir.

I'm sorry.

Can I offer you a drink?

- No, thank you.

- Let me guess. Scotch and soda?

I'll have a diet Coke, please.

You're on the wagon.

$10 says I'm right.

- You've never seen her before?

- I'm positive.

She believes I'm her husband,

whom she killed?

- That's pretty far-fetched.

- She has a gun and she's after you.

- Thank you. I'll alert our security.

- You do that.

The cops

have been passing these out.

No reward. Screw 'em.

- They'll be in every hotel in town.

- So much for a good night's sleep.

Take this and get out of here.

Thanks a lot.

Let's go, Lehman.

We spotted your girl.

Where's the girl, Dilbert?

- What do you think you're doing?

- I thought you were somebody else.

- Have a good evening.

- I take it that ain't her?

Mr Lehman... come in.

- May I offer you a Cuban cigar?

- No, thanks.

As you can see,

I'm alive and kicking.

- What can I do for you?

- We spotted the Parsons woman.

She got away. I came by

to find out if you'd heard from her.

- Not a peep.

- Any idea why she's fixated on you?

The world's full of crazy people,

am I right?

Truer words were never spoken.

Those are nice pictures.

Did your kids do them?

No... Those pictures are by a

very great artist named Kandinsky.

But why do I think

you already knew that?

Excuse me for a second.

- This is a business call.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

That back door leads to the kitchen.

Have the chef fix you a New Orleans

breakfast. The eggs St. Jacques.

I have your card.

Good morning.

I hope you had a nice night.

I want you to bring Matty

to Lafayette Cemetery number three.

That's an odd choice for a reunion.

It's a big tourist place.

A lot of people around.

You're a smart girl.

I can have him there by four.

- Where's Matty?

- Relax. He's nervous.

I told him he could go play inside.

There he is.

Matty, come over here, son.

- I'll get him for you.

- No.

It's something I want to do.

Matty?

Matty?

Hey, kiddo...

Hey, Matty...

Matty...

Matty, it's Mommy.

You have to learn to relax.

Why are your panties in such a twist?

You ever arrest anybody

you thought was innocent?

Nope.

There's no information on Devereaux

that's over three years old.

So he changed his name. Lots of folks

do. It don't make them criminals.

- But I'm betting he's Nick Parsons.

- But you can't prove it.

- Hey, is that long distance?

- Bill me.

Lucy, this is Travis. Get the DMV to

fax me a Washington driver's licence.

Nicholas Parsons.

I'm at the New Orleans police station.

You better talk to Mr Carruthers.

His colon is twisted in a knot.

Give me that.

I've had to cover your office.

- I think Parsons was telling the truth.

- You're not a lawprofessornow.

You're barely a parole officer.

Stop playing Mission lmpossible.

All I need is a photograph

of Nicholas Parsons.

Come back today, because tomorrow

you go before the Commissioner.

Karl, I know I'm right.

Give me a chance, okay?

I'm asking you politely.

You send me that goddamn picture!

- It's not him.

- Sometimes we all want to believe.

We forget that 99.9% of the time,

life just flat don't work out.

- Thanks, I feel a lot better now.

- Any time.

Hold it right here.

It's over, Libby.

Oh, Travis...

Messages.

- Mr Devereaux?

- Mr Lehman...

- This is really not a good time.

- I understand.

A lot of people feel that way

about me, but I have good news.

Won't take long.

Well?

It turns out I owe you an apology.

After our last conversation, I thought

she was telling the truth about you.

So I asked the Washington State DMV

to send me

a driver's licence photograph

of Nicholas Parsons.

- And?

- And this is what came up.

Well, we all make mistakes.

There's no harm done.

Then it occurred to me what

a common name Nicholas Parsons is.

It turns out there were six.

And this...

...is number three.

I never liked that picture.

So you came here to make a deal.

Otherwise you'd have gone

to the police. What's your price?

A million dollars.

It's a nice, round figure.

- All right. But I need a few days.

- No. One million dollars right now.

It's nine o'clock at night.

I can't just...

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