other dealings

(You'll get half of everything he owns.  Whatever it is, we're going to be satisfied.  We're not going to get greedy.  If we do, we'll get burned.
-- You're right.  I'm sorry darling -- I know you're right.)

Miles Hardin tells Ned Racine over the phone, "Mrs. Walker has submitted the new will you wrote up there."

Our awareness splits now, as the audience -- there's more than one thing going on here.  We have been watching a straight-line story, going forward, from event to event, from plan to carrying-out of the plan.

Now there's something else.  Something apparently happened offfscreen.  Someone re-wrote that will.  (Matty Walker, all on her own, is what we must surmise.)  She didn't want the fortune cut in half; she wanted it all.  And despite the "You're right I'm sorry darling I know you're right"), she made sure that the situation was Taken Care Of.  This person has some laser focus on the goal, and on maximizing profits.

The Next Scene is in a conference room at a law firm in West Palm.  Miles Hardin, Ned Racine, Matty Walker, Mrs. Kraft (Edmund Walker's sister, mother of little Heather), and Peter Lowenstein (Ted Danson).

HARDIN:  Mr. Lowenstein is handling the inquiry into Edmund Walker's death for the county prosecutor's office.  He has arranged for us to talk very candidly here today, off the record so to speak.

[Problem with the will:  Mr. Racine violated the rule against perpetuities.]

I knew that a probate judge in Miami would spot the mistake right away.  So I thought I'd bring it up here to Okeelanta County -- since Edmund had the residence here -- and see if I could get lucky with a judge who didn't know estate law quite so well...
(dryly, he can't resist)
Perhaps find one with the same kind of training as Mr. Racine.

Unfortunately, my plan backfired.  I ran into a judge who'd had other dealings with Mr. Racine.  A Judge Costanza.  In fact, it seems there were problems with an estate in a case four years ago.  Very different problems, it's true.  But on a will Mr. Racine prepared.  Quite a mess.  Accusations of carelessness, a malpractice suit.  I think he called it the Gorson case.

...

...It means, I'm afraid, that Edmund's will is invalid. 
(portentous tone)
Edmund Walker died intestate, as though there were no will at all.

Roz Kraft looks at Matty with panicky eyes.

MATTY
So -- what happens now?

Hardin looks her over coldly.
HARDIN
You don't know?

MATTY
(calm, in her irritation)
No.  I don't.

-- Perhaps Mr. Racine would like to tell you.

[spouse inherits everything]

MATTY
(looking dumbfounded)
My god.  You mean...it's all mine?

HARDIN
Though that was clearly not your husband's intention.  He intended Heather to benefit.

MATTY
(looking back and forth, from Miles Hardin to Mrs. Kraft)
Oh -- of course.  Of course, I understand.  Of course.

--------------------------------
________________________

Ned Racine is pretty mad.  The will was faked without his knowledge, he's getting blamed for it, and "noodged" by this other lawyer in the meeting, plus it's risky because now it looks suspicious.

("Nothing strange can happen in his life right now, Matty; not one thing out of the ordinary"....)

Still, out in the parking lot afterwards, his first words to Mrs. Walker are, "You look good in black."

---------------------
{Body Heat script.  written by Lawrence Kasdan}

-30-