- Ryan and Micki search for a cursed mulcher which is the murder weapon of choice for a gardener's assistant.
- Lloyd arrives to bring Micki home so they can get married as planned. Micki is torn between her love and her responsibility, as the trio go after a cursed mulcher who a crooked gardener has discovered that it turns people into an amount of money based on their wealth.—Gislef
- A man named Harley O'Connor throws his mother, Mrs. O'Connor, inside a shredder while cleaning their lawn in a suburban house. Months later, Jack opens a letter from a costumer to Lewis with one hundred dollars inside and thanking for his shopping. Ryan tracks down and finds that the letter is from Harley, and the sold item is a portable shredder. They go to Haley's house and finds it is derelict, and soon they learn that Haley is interned in a mental facility. Their further investigation shows that a man named Robert "Smitty" Smith bought the apparatus in an auction. Smitty is an old man that owns a small gardening company that is working for the wealthy Mrs. Amanda Harrington arranging her garden. His low-life employee Adrian is blackmailed by a vagrant and kills him. He throws his body in the shredder and receives money from the machine. Soon he learns that more valuable the person he throws inside the shredder, more money he receives. Ryan and Micki meet Smitty and offer a large amount to him to buy the shredder, and Smitty accepts the offer. Adrian overhears the conversation, and Smitty becomes his next victim in his crime spree. Meanwhile, Lloyds visits Micki to press her to return home with him; otherwise, he will call off the wedding.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Months Earlier
At a suburban home, Mrs. O'Connor is trimming her hedges. She tells her son, Harley, to start the mulcher and come over to help her. Harley starts the mulcher up, and then kills his mother with his rake. He feeds her into the mulcher, smiling.
Now
At Curious Goods, Jack finds a letter to Lewis that he never opened, postmarked the day after Lewis died. Jack has opened it and found a $100 in it. There's also a note from the sender, thanking Lewis and saying that he's realized they both enjoy using the cutting edge of their knowledge from below. The $100 is a thank-you gift to Lewis, and the letter is sent. The postmark identifies the letter from Temple Heights. Ryan checks the manifest and finds one buyer in Temple Heights: Harley. The item sold was a 50-year old portable mulcher.
Ryan picks up the phone to call Harley, and overhears Micki on the phone talking to her fiancé, Lloyd. Ryan quietly hangs up, while Micki tells Lloyd that she knows it' been two months and he just has to trust her because she has unfinished business. Micki assures Lloyd that she still wants to marry him, figures it will take another month to finish her "business", and insists that she's not having an affair. Lloyd hangs up, and Micki breaks into tears.
Adrian is working on a rich person's yard when they drive by, splashing mud and water in Adrian's face. The woman's landscaper, Charles, goes over and helps his client, Amanda, out of the car. Amanda says that the meeting went well and the planning commission has said they can open their doors to the public the next day. She figures that her father William would have been proud, because he always wanted to give something to the city and now she's donating the lands to the city as a park. They go inside for lunch as Adrian glares at Amanda.
Smitty comes over and tells Adrian that he's doing a good job. Adrian says that he could use more money, and Smitty leads Adrian to where there's work that needs doing.
Jack and Micki go to Harley's house, but the place is long abandoned. Micki figures that there's no point investigating further and they have one less curse to recover. She tells Jack that she's sick of the "job" of recovering antiques, that they've been stuck with. Micki says that she never wanted the life, and Jack points out that he and Ryan are trapped as well, and they have a responsibility. Relenting, Micki goes into the house with Jack.
Smitty is throwing branches into the mulcher when Adrian comes over and says that he's finished. Adrian looks at the mulcher's swirling blades, fascinated, and Smitty asks if he's okay. After a moment, Adrian tears himself away from the machine and goes back to work.
Jack and Micki go into the house, while a man secretly watches them go in. Micki knocks over a board and screams in shock, and Jack finds a $5 bill nearby. Meanwhile, the man comes in wielding a crowbar. He asks Jack and Micki what they're doing there, and Jack explains that they're looking for Harley and sold an antique to him that they'd like to get back.
The neighbor has them step outside slowly and checks their business card. The man says that he looks after the place, and Harley was an accountant talking about financial futures. Several months ago Harley was locked up, after he was found with a bag of money and it was confirmed his mother was missing. Some folks say that Harley murdered his mother, and he started screaming about "the mouth of hell" when the police questioned him about his mother's disappearance. Harley attacked the police and was locked up.
On the Pierson grounds, Adrian looks at the mulcher. He tells Smitty that he'll finish up on his own so Smitty can go home early, and insists that he wants to make a good impression. A group of vagrants are sitting nearby, the leader drinking and watching the two gardeners. Smitty drives off, and Adrian goes to the mulcher. It starts up on its own and Adrian stares into the swirling blades. The vagrant leader calls to Adrian by name and comes over. He says that there's a lot of interest on Adrian on the streets, because he owes too much to the wrong people.
Adrian insists that he's good for it, and the vagrant tells him to tell the legbreakers that will come for him. He figures Adrian wants to pay him to stay quiet, and asks for $500 a week for his quiet. Adrian says that he'll kill the vagrant if he opens his mouth, and the mulcher starts up on its own. The vagrant tells Adrian that he's a pretty boy and is all talk. Adrian knocks the vagrant unconscious with the man's own bottle, then shoves him into the mulcher. Dollar bills shoot out of the other end, and Adrian gleefully pockets them, laughing.
That night at the store, Jack tells the cousins that the mulcher was sold at a police auction three months ago. A Robert Smith bought it, and Jack is trying to track him down. Ryan is worried about Micki, and says that Lloyd is a dork. Jack examines the bill he found and says that it's brand new but dated 1937. The $100 bill Harley sent to Lewis is also dated 1937 and brand new, and suggests that Harley might talk to Lewis. As for Micki, Jack tells Ryan that she'll have to work out her issues all by herself.
Micki is making herself up for bed as a man lurks outside her window. She sees the man's shadow on the drapes, goes to Ryan's room, and tell him that there's an intruder outside her window. The man breaks in through the window, and Ryan shoves him to the floor and starts choking him. Micki stops Ryan, realizing that the intruder is Lloyd. She hugs him, and Ryan introduces himself and points out that most people use the front door.
Micki has Ryan leave, and Lloyd explains that he flew out to take some dispositions. He says that he felt he didn't have a choice but to spy on Micki, to find out if there was another man in her life. Ryan listens at the door as Micki points out that Ryan is her cousin and nothing could be stranger than being involved with her. Lloyd wonders why Micki hasn't sold the shop yet, and Micki says that the store has been turning her life inside out. Her fiancé offers his legal expertise, and Micki says that it's about misplaced inventory. She says that she'll be home soon, but Lloyd tells her that he can't marry someone who isn't 100% honest with him. With that, Lloyd leaves the way he came.
The next day, Ryan visits Amanda at her home. She says that her husband deserves the credit for the beautiful grounds, and Ryan explains that he's with an antique store and wanted to buy the mulcher from Robert Smith: Smitty. Amanda directs Ryan to Smitty, and Ryan and Micki approaches the gardener. Micki is distracted by Lloyd, and doesn't believe it when Ryan says that things worked out for best between Micki and Lloyd.
The cousins talk to Smitty, who says that he has a vintage 1937 mulcher. He tells them that the mulcher isn't for sale, but agrees when Ryan offers him $2,500. Once Smitty goes to get it, Micki complains that they don't have $2,500. Meanwhile, Smitty goes to the mulcher, and Adrian calls him into the tool shed he's in to get Smitty's help. Smitty goes in, and Adrian kills him with a shovel. He then goes to get the mulcher, but when he returns he discovers that Smitty is gone.
Adrian grabs a trowel and searches for Smitty, who jumps at him. The younger man stabs Smitty to death with the trowel, then feeds Smitty's body into the mulcher and collects the bills that shoot out of the output pipe.
Jack goes to the mental hospital where Harley is locked up, and claims Lewis asked him to stop by and say hello. He shows Harley the two bills, but Harley tells Jack that he doesn't know him and orders him out. Jack tells him that Lewis is dead, getting Harley's attention, and says that he and Lewis were partners. Lewis tried to go back on his pact with Satan and was killed for it. Jack says that he wants to use the mulcher like Harley did, and he can use it out of the hospital and will share the money with Harley. Harley rambles about investing and says that if he agrees, Jack must choose more "expensive" victims. He laughs manically and twirls around in his wheelchair.
That night, Ryan and Micki return to the store and tell Jack that they found Smitty but he disappeared when he went to get the mulcher. Jack hushes them as Lloyd stands up and demands to know what's going on. Micki takes Lloyd to the basement to show him the cursed antiques.
Ryan talks to Jack, who says that the wealthier the victim, the more money the mulcher produces from them. When Jack wonders why the money is minted 1937, Ryan tells him that was when the mulcher was built. Jack wonders if Lloyd will believe Micki, but Ryan figures he won't.
Micki takes Lloyd into the vault and asks him to trust her. She insists that it's no fantasy, and tells Lloyd to put the doll down when he picks it up. It moves when Lloyd isn't looking, but Micki sees it and tells him that he has to get out. Lloyd agrees and they go upstairs to the front door. Once Lloyd leaves, Micki goes to her room. When Ryan starts to go after her, Jack tells him to give Micki some time.
The next day, Ryan and Jack go to the garden posing as volunteer gardeners. Jack checks around and confirms that Smitty never left the grounds, and suggests that Smitty is a victim. Adrian secretly watches them and listens in as they talk about Smitty.
Micki is lying on her bed, and Lloyd sneaks into the shop and comes up to her room. He says that he doesn't want to lose her.
Charles asks Adrian if he's seen Smitty, and Adrian says that Smitty is over by the shed. Charles insists on going on his own, and Adrian runs ahead of him.
Micki and Lloyd share a bottle of wine. Lloyd says that he believes Micki believes in the curse, and tells Micki that imagination is a powerful thing.
Adrian takes the mulcher out of its hiding spot in the trees and starts it up. He then goes into the shed and gets a hand scythe, as Charles arrives outside.
Lloyd asks Micki to come home with him the next day, and then they'll get things back the way they were. He figures that if Micki stays there, she wants to call off the wedding. Micki stares at Lloyd, contemplating.
Charles goes into the shed, calling for Smitty. Adrian kills him with the hand scythe then feeds him into the mulcher. Charles isn't dead, and screams as he's fed into the blades. Laughing, Adrian watches Charles die.
Micki and Lloyd kiss, and Micki tells him that she's coming home.
Amanda leads a group around the memorial for her late husband. She sees Adrian working and asks his name, and says that he's doing a fine job. As she move son with the group, Adrian takes out a bill from Charles and sniffs it, then puts it into his bag with the other bills as he looks at Amanda contemplatively.
That night, Ryan goes to the kitchen to wash up. Micki comes in humming with Lloyd, and Lloyd says that he'll pick her up the next day at noon and the plane leaves at 2. Once Lloyd goes, Ryan says that he's been pulling weeds trying to find a murderer, and Micki was in bed with Lloyd. He points out that the two of them sold some of the cursed antiques that are in the world, and Mick insists they did it in ignorance. Ryan says that they still have a responsibility, and Micki says that Ryan is only living there because he likes it. She wonders why she has to sacrifice her life for the antiques and the store, and Ryan points out that she has nothing to sacrifice except for the "snot-nosed" Lloyd. Micki slaps Ryan, who tells her that they need her to make the whole thing work out. He says that he needs her, and Micki says that she's sorry and walks out.
The next day, Ryan and Jack return to the garden. Jack checks with gardeners and confirms that there's no sign of Smitty. He realizes that Ryan is depressed and says that he'll miss Micki as well, but there's nothing they can do about it if her heart isn't in it. Ryan agrees and says that he has to do something, and they split up to search the house and grounds.
Ryan finds Adrian's bag with the bills inside, each with a 1937 date. Adrian sees Ryan and goes into the shed, and Ryan runs off to find Jack. On the way he sees Charles' discarded glasses and pockets them. He finds the mulcher hidden nearby in the trees, and Adrian finds him and stabs at him with an awl. Ryan narrowly avoids the blow and runs off, and Adrian chases him.
While passing the memorial, Ryan trips and knocks himself out when he hits his head. Adrian drags him to the gardening shed and locks the unconscious Ryan inside.
While waiting for Ryan to show up, Jack sees Micki arrive in a taxi with Lloyd. She goes over to Jack and says that she had to say goodbye before going. Jack hugs her and wishes her a safe journey, and Micki wonders where Ryan is.
Adrian recovers his awl and runs off.
When Jack tells Micki that Ryan disappeared, she insists on going to look for cousin. Lloyd figures that Jack set the whole thing up to keep Micki from leaving, and Micki points out that Jack didn't know she was coming.
Adrian drives a garden truck, towing the mulcher, to the manor. As Adrian goes up to the manor, Jack spots him and asks if he's seen Ryan. Adrian abruptly says that he hasn't and continues on his way. Jack goes the way Adrian came from, and sees the mulcher hooked up to the cart. Ryan is calling for help from the shed, and Jack hears him, runs over, and releases him. Ryan describes Adrian, and Jack realizes that he just talked to the killer, who is going after Amanda as the richest person there.
Adrian breaks into Amanda's office, and she recognizes him from earlier. He says that she can set him up for life, and Amanda screams. Micki hears the screams and runs in, while Adrian tells Amanda to shut up. She comes in with Lloyd and they see Adrian threatening Amanda, and Adrian grabs Amanda as a shield and yells at them to get back.
Adrian takes Amanda to the mulcher, and Micki and Lloyd follow them. Ryan and Jack see Adrian coming and hide behind the cart. Ryan grabs the bag of money, tells Jack to distract Adrian, and runs off. Jack yells at Adrian that they know about the mulcher and it's over, but Adrian figures that he's still a rich man. Ryan starts up the mulcher and dumps the money from the bag in. Adrian releases Amanda, jumps into the mulcher chute to grab the money and is pulled in by the blades. Micki checks on Ryan, who hugs her in relief. Nothing but blood comes out of the output chute, and Jack figures Adrian wasn't even worth a dollar.
Later at the shop, Lloyd tells Micki that they saw a tragedy. Jack and Ryan have Micki involved in something dangerous. She says that it's what she does, and she has a responsibility to get back all the things they sold. Lloyd dismisses Ryan as a commercial school dropout, while Ryan listens in while cleaning. Micki tells Lloyd that if he cared about her, he'd try to understand. She insists that at least Ryan is honest and cares, and turns away from Lloyd. Lloyd leaves, and Micki tells Ryan to leave her alone and goes up to her room.
Ryan follows Micki to her door and asks if there's anything he can do. She yells at him to leave her alone, and he goes to his room. He puts up a banner welcoming Micki home, as Micki comes in and apologizes for yelling at him. She sees the banner, smiles, and thanks Ryan.
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