
            As the film opens, we see an Amish funeral procession. One of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's Amish farmers, Jacob Lapp, has passed away. His widow, Rachel (Kelly McGillis) and her 8-year old son, Samuel (Lukas Haas), later head by train to visit Rachel's sister in Baltimore, Maryland.At the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Samuel enters the washroom. Only 1 other man is in the room, but as Samuel enters the stall 2 other men enter. One of them very stealthily nods to a second, while the third stands at a sink. Seconds later the 2 men attack the third at the sink. One covers the victim's head with a coat while the second draws a switchblade and cuts the victim's throat. Samuel sees the murder through a gap in the door, and escapes the killers' detection by standing on the toilet seat inside the stall. Captain John Book (Harrison Ford) is the policeman assigned to the case. Book informs Samuel and his mother that the murdered man is a police officer.Book and his partner, Sergeant Elton Carter (Brent Jennings), question Samuel. He is unable to identify the perpetrator from mug shot photographs or a police lineup. But, while Capt. Book is on the phone with Sgt. Carter, Samuel wanders through the detective bureau office and notices a display case with trophies and a newspaper clipping inside. The newspaper clipping has a picture of highly regarded narcotics officer Lt. James McFee (Danny Glover) - and Samuel recognizes him as the man who cut the victim's throat. Book sees Samuel standing at the display case, and walks over to him. Samuel looks at Book and then points to the photograph of McFee, then nods. Not wanting to possibly alert others, Book takes Samuel's hand and lowers it, then reassuringly puts an arm around Samuel and nods, indicating his understanding.Later that night, Capt. Book visits his boss, Deputy Chief Paul Schaeffer (Josef Sommer) at his home, and advises him that Samuel has identified Lt. McFee as one of the killers. Book remembers that 4 years before, McFee had conducted a drug raid in which several gallons of a substance called P2P, an ingredient in the making of methamphetamine, were seized. When the time came for the trial, the police evidence room had no records of the P2P in inventory. It appears that the P2P was sold by McFee to drug dealers, as the total value of the substance confiscated was estimated at $22 million. Schaeffer advises Book to keep the case secret so they can work out how to move forward with it. As Book returns home, he hears footsteps behind him as he approaches the elevator in his parking garage. He turns around to see McFee standing there, walking towards him! A wild gunfight breaks out, and Book is badly wounded in the ensuing gunfight before McFee escapes. Since only Schaeffer had been told, Book realizes Schaeffer must have warned McFee and is also corrupt.Book calls Carter and orders him to remove the Lapp file from the records. Book then hides his Dodge and uses his sister's VW to return Rachel and Samuel to Lancaster County. After the Lapps' safe arrival in rural Pennsylvania, Book collapses from loss of blood in his vehicle in front of the Lapp farm.Even as Book hides out among the Amish in Lancaster County, the corrupt officers - Schaeffer, McFee, and a third man - 'Fergie' Ferguson (Angus MacInnes) - begin hunting for him. They encounter a wall of frustration as local police in Lancaster County cannot help them, since most local Amish farmers have the same last name and do not use telephones. They also pay a visit to Book's sister Elaine, but Schaeffer is satisfied that she does not know where Book and the others are. McFee warns that Sgt. Carter may pose a risk to them, and tells Schaeffer that he is 'working on' Book's partner.Impressing upon them that hospitalization will allow the corrupt officers to find him, Book is gradually tended back to health by the Amish. As Book heals, he begins to develop feelings for Rachel. He also helps the locals build a new barn. The Lapps' neighbor, Daniel Hochleitner (Alexander Godunov) had himself hoped to court her and this becomes a cause of friction. Later Rachel and John are caught dancing - an affront to the conservative Amish way of life. Rachel's father-in-law, Eli, takes her aside and warns that if she continues she could be shunned (ostracized) by the community. Rachel, in turn, feels she has done nothing wrong.The corrupt officers intensify their efforts to find Book, who is informed via a call from a payphone that Carter has been killed. While still in town, Hochleitner and the other Amish men are harassed by local punks. Book confronts the punks who are harassing them. They continue to harass Hochleitner and Book despite Book's warning, 'You're making a mistake'. Book angrily attacks one of the men, breaking his nose, and drives off the others. The fight gets noticed by the local townspeople and is reported to the police. The news reaches Schaeffer.John subsequently comes upon Rachel as she bathes, and she stands half-naked without shame before him. He walks away without a word. Soon after, the two realize they are in love, but because of the publicity the fight has gotten, Book knows he must leave. Upset, Rachel removes her bonnet, and she and John run to one another, embracing with a passionate kiss.McFee, Schaeffer, and "Fergie" Ferguson, the second killer at the train station, arrive at the Lapp farm with 12-gauge pump action shotguns and revolvers. Book, unarmed and in the barn with Samuel, sees them coming and orders Samuel to run to Hochleitner's farm for safety. The trio split up and search for Book. John tricks Fergie into the corn silo and suffocates him under tons of corn. McFee, hearing the falling corn in the silo, heads inside. Book retrieves Fergie's shotgun and blasts McFee with it, killing the murderer instantly. A crazed Schaeffer then forces Rachel and Eli out of the house at gunpoint; Eli signs to Samuel (who returned unseen upon hearing gunfire) to ring the warning bell. Schaeffer, with his .38 snubnose revolver aimed at Rachel's head, forces Book to surrender to him, and forces Rachel and Book out of the barn at gunpoint. However, the loud clanging summoned all other Amish within earshot, and Schaeffer is confronted by over 20 Amish. With so many witnesses present it is clear to Schaeffer that he cannot escape, and he gives up.As Schaeffer is taken by local police and Book prepares to leave, he shares a quiet moment with Samuel, then exchanges a silent, loving gaze with Rachel. Eli bids Book goodbye for his return to Philadelphia, saying "You be careful out among the English [i.e., non-Amish]", as he had said to Rachel at the beginning of the film, and showing Book that he now respects him like the people of his own faith. As Book drives away from the Lapp farm, he passes Hochleitner, presumably on his way to court Rachel, and exchanges an amicable wave of farewell.
    

Witness


            
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Forced March

An American Story

Iceman

The Rosary Murders


            At Boro National Bank in New York City, executive Roy Lefcourt (Josef Sommer) suddenly orders his traders to sell $100 million in shares, and, in turn, U.S. currency begins to lose value. Responding to the crisis, First New York Bank chairman Maxwell Emery (Hume Cronyn) bails out Boro National with $40 million. That night, at the World Trade Center, millionaire industrialist Charlie Winters (Garrison Lane) is stabbed to death in his Winterchem Corp. office as he discovers illicit payment instructions to First New York Bank, account 21214, and the murderer steals the revealing documents.Meanwhile, Winters' wife, former film actress Lee Winters (Jane Fonda), hosts a charity event at the National History Museum. There, First New York's Maxwell Emery offers his young protégé, Hubble 'Hub' Smith (Kris Kristofferson), a leading role at Boro National, but Hub is reluctant to rescue the bank. When Hub sees Lee Winters learn of her husband's demise, he reflects upon "the illusion of safety," and changes his mind about Maxwell's proposal.On his first day of work at Boro National, Hub plans to stabilize business by finding a customer in need of a multi-million dollar loan. Deciding to pursue Boro National's most lucrative client, Winterchem Corp., Hub attends a restaurant luncheon with Winterchem executives, including Lee Winters, who remains on the company's board after her husband's death. There, Winterchem officers announce plans to cut back company investments, but Lee insists on expansion, and proposes buying a petrochemical plant in Spain. Just then, Hub excuses himself and surreptitiously calls Lee from a restaurant telephone, reporting that her plan will never work.A little later, Lee barges into Hub's office to counter his assertions and, in return, Hub pays an unsolicited visit to Lee's townhouse that evening. There, he admits to his mistake and compliments Lee's business acumen. Hub predicts that Lee will replace her husband as chairman of Winterchem if her deal with the Spanish petrochemical company is a success, and offers her a loan of $500 million through a private agent. Boro will retain a 1% commission and the bank will be rescued.The next day, Lee realizes that Winterchem executives have secretly resolved to curtail her power, and refuse to purchase the petrochemical plant. Following Hub's instructions, Lee stages a meeting with a Japanese competitor that wants to overtake Winterchem. Fearing that Lee is selling her company stock, the Winterchem executives finally agree to the deal. Lee and Hub celebrate by making love.Sometime later, in Saudi Arabia, Lee and Hub negotiate their $500 million loan with Arab investors. Lee is startled to learn that her Winterchem stock is being used as collateral, and fears losing her company, but Hub assures his lover that Boro National will back her up. As Lee reluctantly approves the deal, Hub admits that he desires her partnership above financial gain, and they kiss.Back at Boro National in New York, Hub is perplexed by an order to "hold" $95 million in Saudi Arabian funds; customary practice permits the bank to deposit the money into a "rollover" account to earn interest. The loss of interest will cost Boro millions of dollars. Hub reports the situation to his Saudi Arabian connection, Sal Naftari (Bob Gunton), unaware that Naftari is an operative in a secret plan devised by Maxwell Emery, Hub's mentor and the chief executive at First New York Bank. Maxwell illicitly created account 21214 to conceal his practice of skimming "slush funds" from Saudi Arabian deposits at Boro National.At a clandestine meeting with Naftari, Maxwell worries that the recent $95 million hold will expose their scheme. Naftari reminds him that Charlie Winters already discovered the secret account, but they were able to silence the industrialist by killing him. The men's Saudi Arabian associate, Khalid (Paul Hecht), does not trust the value of U.S. currency, and is reluctant to rollover the $95 million, but Maxwell warns Khalid that he is "playing with the end of the world."Back at Boro National, Hub orders his traders to buy, regardless of the bank's potential demise, so the company can maintain its credibility. However, Hub's associate, Roy Lefcourt, panics and begins to pursue a bail out from the Federal Reserve. Hub convinces Roy to wait for one night. Keeping up appearances, Hub attends a banquet hosted by Lee, who has recently been named chairman of Winterchem. Lee remains unaware of the problems at Boro National, but when she later goes to her new office, she discovers a hidden cassette tape. Listening to the recorded conversation between her deceased husband, Charlie Winters, and a federal bank examiner named Mr. Fewster, Lee learns about the secret account, although no partners are identified.Back at Boro National, Hub and his team are relieved when stock markets open abroad, and reports announce that the Saudi Arabians have decided to rollover $90 million, after all. Upon discovering the balance of $5 million will be deposited in account 21214, Hub realizes that payments to First New York have been ongoing.The next day, Lee travels to Washington, D.C., to meet Jerry Fewster (Macon McCalman), and he reluctantly admits that Boro National is threatened by account 21214. However, he was bribed to keep quiet, and fears he will meet the same fate as Charlie. Lee is surprised to learn that her husband's murder was linked to his knowledge of the secret account. Although Fewster agrees to bring Lee the documents that were stolen from Charlie at the time of his death, he instead returns home to burn the file and commit suicide. Meanwhile, Hub searches Maxwell Emery's office at First New York, and breaks into the secret account records. When Lee later visits Hub's apartment, she sees a printout of the documents and secretly suspects her lover of betrayal.The next day, Hub accuses Maxwell of using him as a pawn at Boro National, keeping the bank open long enough to siphon funds from the Saudi Arabians. Maxwell admits he has been using the money to buy gold, thereby diluting the value of the U.S. dollar. However, Maxwell argues that if the scheme is exposed, the Saudi Arabians will pull their money out of the U.S. economy altogether, and the international economy will be irrevocably destabilized. Claiming that corruption is inevitable, Maxwell says he is involved in the secret operation only to make sure the Saudis remain under control.Meanwhile, Lee asks Naftari to contact the Saudis with her proposal: she will remain silent about the secret account in exchange for full possession of Winterchem. Lee wants her loan contract renegotiated, so her Winterchem shares are no longer leveraged as securities. That evening, Hub waits at Lee's apartment as she attends an opera fundraiser. Taking a telephone message for Lee, Hub learns that his lover has contacted the Saudis about the account, and has an appointment to meet their associates the following morning. He heads to the opera to confront Lee, who announces her decision to cut ties with Boro National.When Hub guides Lee to her limousine, she pushes him away, only to discover the chauffeur is an impostor, set on killing her. Hub rescues Lee and swears he did not previously know about account 21214. Meanwhile, Maxwell learns that the Saudis have withdrawn all funds from U.S. banks. As a result, the dollar depreciates and the international stock market collapses. Millions of people around the world lose their livelihood, and anarchy ensues. Maxwell commits suicide by shooting himself in his head. Operations shut down at Boro National, but Hub stays behind, determined to begin anew. Lee finds him alone, and offers to be his partner.
    

Josef Sommer

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