The Clearing Page #4

so they can't trace the postmark.

After we were married and

she was pregnant with Tim,

she sometimes had this feeling

when I'd walk out of a room,

like maybe I wasn't coming back.

I traveled a lot with

the businesses then

and I think she got over it.

I don't think she suffered much.

When I asked her to marry me,

I wasn't completely sure.

I had my doubts.

But I...

I couldn't imagine

my life without her.

And that's never changed.

I think that's the same

as being sure.

You think?

I don't know.

I think it is.

We can go now.

We have a demand.

Do you recognize these?

The demand comes to

approximately $10 million.

They've requested that you,

Eileen, deliver the ransom.

It's 9.5 in diamonds,

2 karat, round D flawless.

The most common stones on

the market, easy to move.

And half a million in

non-sequential 100-dollar bills.

Why do they want my mother to go?

We can't send an

agent in her place.

They know what she looks like.

They've requested that we put the

ransom in Wayne's sports bag.

The lining's too thin for us to put

in a tracking device of any range.

I advise you not to pay the ransom

without confirmation that

your husband's all right.

Eileen, they've given us three

days to get the stones together.

Tell them you need more time.

Tell them you need proof

that your husband is alive.

Do you know how you do something

completely beyond the realm

of your normal behavior?

How?

You imagine it. Every piece of it.

Until it feels real.

Like something you do all the time.

I wasn't nervous this morning.

It was like driving to work.

The sky, the weather,

I knew what it was gonna be,

even before I opened my eyes.

They offered me money.

Real money.

And all I have to do

is bring you to them.

Tell me, Wayne,

if you were in my shoes,

wouldn't you do it?

No, I wouldn't.

Do you know what it's like

to see your wife go to work

every day instead of

float in her pool?

- No, I don't.

- Well, it stinks.

It stinks seeing your

life fall apart.

Everything you planned for,

everything you counted on.

To see it happen and not

be able to do anything,

as if you'd become invisible.

You don't know what I'm

talking about, do you?

Do you?

My mother was sick

when I was growing up.

My father worked in a mill

just like everybody else.

He should have done something

else with his life

but he accepted his

place in the world.

People would try to get him

to settle their arguments,

whatever the argument.

He was above it.

- He knew everything.

- It's a nice story...

Hey, goddamn it, listen to me!

I listened to you.

And when he got sick,

they'd come around the house,

stand by the bed

and try to brighten his mood.

And after he died,

they raised a glass to him, came by

the house to see if they could help.

And even though he was dead,

felt like he hung around.

Now, all of a sudden,

he really was dead.

He might not have lived for anybody

except my sick mother and me.

Just the two of us.

But we missed him.

Really missed him.

I don't know that

I've even got that.

So all you have to do

is just take me to them.

You think they'll let me go,

once they know I've seen your face?

What about you?

Think they're gonna let you go?

It'll be all right, Wayne.

No, it won't.

No, it won't.

You don't understand, Wayne.

I understand.

Look at you. You don't

even have any shoes on.

I understand there's

plenty of people like you.

You think this is for your wife?

You think if you steal my money,

go to some beach someplace,

your life won't be such a waste?

This is for you, Arnold.

This is what you amount to.

Because the truth is,

you can't make it yourself.

And my family is gonna

suffer because of you?

You're a piece of sh*t.

You're a miserable piece of sh*t.

- You have no right to speak to me...

- Shut up.

Just take me to whoever

it is you work for.

I'm done with you.

"This is your final chance.

Thursday, 1:
00 p.m.

"The exact location will appear in a

personal ad on the day of the drop.

"Do not involve the FBI."

What is it?

It's blood.

Let's get this to the lab for analysis.

Can you grab some evidence bags?

According to the lab report,

Wayne's white blood cells

have begun to expand

to an unsafe size.

What does that mean?

It's not a conclusive

indication that Wayne is alive.

Does that mean he's dead?

Wait.

I can't let you go, Wayne.

Mrs. Hayes. Phone call for you.

Hello?

Hello? Mrs. Hayes here.

What are you doing?

- What do you mean?

- You were told no FBI.

No. No, I told them to stay away.

You think I'm an idiot?

No. Why?

They're all over the hotel.

No, but... No, I told

them to stay away.

There's a subway station across the

street. Exit through the side.

I'll call you on a pay phone.

She just hung up.

Hold on.

She's on the move.

I don't see her.

Yes?

She made phone contact.

Did the FBI ask you

to carry anything?

- My phone.

- Get rid of it.

She dumped the phone,

west entrance of the station.

Yes.

Stop here, please.

- There's a deer-crossing sign.

- Sign?

- Do you see it?

- Yes.

Now, there's a viaduct up ahead.

Stop the car between the lights.

You drop the bag here.

Turn off the engine.

Turn on the interior lights.

I wanna hear his voice.

Do you hear me?

Eileen.

Wayne?

Eileen.

Tell them you need

proof he's alive.

- Eileen. Eileen.

- They're showing you who's in control.

I wanna hear his voice.

Do you hear me?

Eileen.

This is Wayne. Eileen, I'm fine.

Wayne?

Hello?

Wayne?

Wayne?

No!

Wait!

No!

Fuller.

Same series number?

Same place?

...like blueberries,

coffee, and look at this,

even red wine! Look at that.

Arnold?

Yes?

Don't forget the trash.

Have you ever spilt chlorine

bleach on your colored clothes?

Yeah, this is Larry

Schmidt over at Foodland.

I think I got another one of

those hundred-dollar bills.

Right.

Charlie, baker, one,

one, four, zero,

one, two, one, seven, Charlie.

Here we go. That'll do you.

$83.13 is your change.

Okay.

Thank you for shopping at Foodland.

Thank you.

It's Fuller.

Did you want us to

catch you, Arnold?

You passed several

consecutive 100-dollar bills,

in a two-week period at a store that

sees maybe a handful in a month.

I don't think you're

stupid, Arnold.

My wife won't understand.

She's not so unhappy.

Why did you wait all day?

I imagined it that way.

In the dark.

Arnold?

You know...

There is no cabin.

Arnold?

I said...

There is no cabin.

Arnold.

I couldn't have done

it in the light.

- How did you pass the time?

- We talked.

- About what?

- About our families, our wives.

Regular stuff.

And then as soon as it was dark...

"I feel about you now the

Way I did when Jill was born.

"If you love me,

I have everything I need."

Do you love me?

Yes.

Then I have everything I need.

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