Fletch Lives

The curtain opens on a most unconventional scene: investigative reporter Irwin M. Fletcher, masquerading as a waitress in drag at a Greek eatery, where he's digging into a gambling ring operating out of the restaurant. As his cover is blown, he narrowly escapes harm and returns to the office with a scoop that impresses his boss, but fails to yield the vacation reward promised. Fletcher's ire is piqued by this affront, and he promptly hangs up on a call from an attorney in Louisiana, who brings news of his great aunt's demise and bequeathment of her plantation, "Belle Isle". With a flourish, Fletcher announces his resignation, instructs his boss to ship his belongings to his new Louisiana mansion, and sets off for the Bayou State.

Upon arrival, he meets his attorney, Amanda Ross (Patricia Kalember), a stunning beauty who takes him on a tour of the dilapidated plantation, which Fletch wryly notes would require only a spot of spackling and napalm to transform into a fitting mausoleum. Their visit culminates in an introduction to Calculus Entropy (Cleavon Little), the caretaker who has been tending to the property on behalf of Fletcher's aunt, with an air of quiet intelligence that belies his rustic demeanor.

Amanda whisks Fletch away to town for a dinner appointment, where she discloses the interest of an unnamed buyer willing to part with $225,000.00 for "Belle Isle". Fletch's suspicions are piqued, and he asserts his refusal to sell. As they grow more intimate, sharing a romantic night together, murder strikes when Amanda's lifeless body is discovered by Fletch upon waking the next morning.

The local police arrive on the scene, interrogating Fletch about the tragic event, only to arrest him for allegedly "pissing off" their chief of police. Imprisoned in a cell with a transvestite necrophiliac named Ben Dover (Randall 'Tex' Cobb), who threatens to commit a heinous act against Fletch's person, our hero is rescued by Hamilton "Ham" Johnson (Hal Holbrook), an experienced attorney who secures his release. With Ham now taking up the reins of Fletch's defense, they embark on a journey together, seeking answers and justice in the face of these unexpected developments.

As Fletch settles back into his porch routine with Calculus, an unsettling scene unfolds as the Ku Klux Klan materializes, their bullhorn chants eerily half-hearted. Seizing the opportunity, Fletch dons a makeshift white sheet, introducing himself to the group as "Henry Himmler." His inquiry yields a surprising revelation: these KKK members are on a contract job, hired to eliminate an unwanted carpetbagger - none other than Fletch himself. Calculus swiftly disperses the group with his trusty shotgun, while Fletch responds in Zulu gibberish.

The next morning, real estate agent Becky Ann Culpepper (Julianne Phillips) makes another bid on Fletch's property, this time valuing it at a staggering $250,000.00. Fletch presses her for information about the mysterious buyer, but she remains tight-lipped. His curiosity piqued, Fletch decides to dig deeper, adopting an exterminator disguise to infiltrate Amanda Ross's estate once more. There, he uncovers a web of intrigue involving televangelist Jimmy Lee Farnsworth (R. Lee Ermey) and the enigmatic corporation known as "Bluebird."

As the police arrive at the scene, Fletch employs his unique brand of deception, convincing them that he's on a mission to eradicate microscopic termites with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. He escapes their clutches and returns to the plantation, where Calculus fills him in on Jimmy Lee's local celebrity status as the charismatic host of his popular television show and "Bibleland" theme park.

Intrigued by this new lead, Fletch secures a spot at one of Jimmy Lee's live tapings, earning an unexpected invitation to confess his sins and find salvation. As Fletch befriends the Reverend, he learns that the latter is desperate to expand Bibleland onto Fletch's property.

The next day, Fletch pays a visit to Ham, only to discover that the murder charges against him have been dropped due to his alleged "religious conversion" during Jimmy Lee's show. Ham also confides in Fletch about the Reverend's dubious business practices, revealing that he had swindled even Ham's own mother out of her land and plantation.

As the sun dips below the horizon, Fletch (Alan Arkin) embarks on an afternoon fishing trip with his friend Calculus, indulging in a conversation that probes the possibility of Amanda's death being a natural occurrence. Their discussion yields a consensus: the likelihood is remarkably low. Fletch's curiosity piqued, he decides to get a closer look at Amanda's body to confirm his suspicions. He enlists Calculus' help to gain access to the morgue, and under the guise of "Eldridge Cleaver" (a nod to the renowned civil rights leader), they manage to sneak in. The unsuspecting morgue operator, Ben Dover, is none the wiser as Fletch dons a sheet and lies motionless on a gurney.

Once inside the morgue, Calculus' clever ruse allows Fletch to snoop around undetected. However, his search for Amanda's body yields an unexpected discovery: it has already been cremated, sparking Fletch's conviction that she was, in fact, murdered and hastily disposed of to cover up the truth. With a burning sense of urgency, he sets out to uncover her killer.

Following their morgue escapade, Calculus and Fletch return to Belle Isle, only to find themselves witness to a devastating fire that reduces the once-grand mansion to ashes. Forced to relocate, Fletch finds himself taking up temporary residence with his friend. As they settle into their new routine, they enjoy a meal together at a local eatery, where they run into acquaintances who extend an invitation to join them on a nocturnal "coon hunting" expedition. The group's nocturnal adventures take them across the Louisiana marshlands, where they traverse properties recently acquired by the enigmatic Bluebird corporation.

As Fletch explores these barren landscapes, he unwittingly stumbles upon a treacherous terrain of sludge-filled puddles and dark secrets. A sudden gunshot sends him scrambling for cover, only to find himself in a tussle with an assailant. The sound of another shot sends the first attacker fleeing, leaving Fletch alone on the ground – but not before he recovers his prized Laker watch. Back at Calculus' abode, Fletch reveals the details of his ordeal, including the fact that someone took a shot at him. Calculus, seemingly nonplussed by the revelation, heads outside to inspect his shotgun, only to return with a tale of having spotted something and firing in the air to scare it away.

As Fletch begins his day, he's met with an unpleasant surprise - the soles of his sneakers have been ravaged by the noxious sludge he encountered during his nocturnal excursion. The realization sparks a need for external expertise, and Fletch promptly reaches out to his boss back in California. After discovering that Becky Culpepper, the real estate agent, is none other than Reverend Farnsworth's daughter, Fletch dispatches his sneakers to be thoroughly analyzed. The next morning, he pays a visit to Becky, inquiring about the status of the $250,000 offer. However, she reveals that it's no longer on the table.

Undeterred, Fletch confronts Becky with the information he's uncovered regarding her paternity, and she confesses that Reverend Farnsworth is indeed her father, although she remains skeptical about his alleged murderous tendencies. Fletch decides it's high time to re-enter the scene at Bibleland and investigate Reverend Farnsworth's activities further. Donning a disguise as a "faith-healer," he infiltrates the show, using his cunning to gain access to the backstage area.

As he inspects the computers, Fletch uncovers the secrets behind Reverend Farnsworth's seemingly supernatural ability to call specific individuals from the audience. He learns that the reverend has a sophisticated computerized system at his disposal, as well as an earpiece-fed assistant who provides him with crucial information during the show. Moreover, Fletch discovers that Reverend Farnsworth is planning to expand Bibleland beyond its current boundaries, targeting neighboring plantations in the process.

Fletch seizes the opportunity to eliminate the computer operator and delve deeper into the files. His eyes widen as he discovers that the reverend's true intentions involve not buying up properties himself, but rather acting on behalf of a mysterious corporation known as "Everest Development." Still in disguise, Fletch is summoned onto the stage, where he puts on an electrifying display of his supposed healing abilities, captivating the audience and further solidifying his cover.

As Fletch's pursuit for truth intensifies, he zeroes in on Ben Dover as his next lead. The morgue encounter having yielded little concrete evidence, Fletch decides to dig deeper by following Ben to a seedy biker bar, where the atmosphere reeks of rebellion and defiance. Disguising himself as "Ed Harley", Fletch effortlessly wins over the bikers with tales of his supposed ownership of Harley Davidson Motorcycles, earning their admiration and respect. Ben, oblivious to Fletch's true identity, invites him on a high-octane ride with his gang, much to Becky's chagrin as she straddles the back of the motorcycle. As they speed through the Mississippi countryside, Fletch's elaborate disguise momentarily falters, causing his fake mustache to come askew and revealing his true identity to Ben. The bikers, now wise to Fletch's ruse, give chase, but Becky's quick thinking and Fletch's cunning enable them to evade their pursuers. Back at her cozy abode, they clean up and regroup before Fletch makes a pivotal phone call to his boss in California. The revelation that the toxic sludge responsible for devouring his sneakers is produced by Bluebird Corporation sends Fletch on a mission to uncover more information about this mysterious entity. A single location near Louisiana, Mississippi, emerges as the only source of this noxious substance, prompting Fletch to pay it a visit in disguise once again. This time, he assumes the persona of a bellicose representative from Everest Development, securing an audience with the Bluebird factory foreman (Phil Hartman). The ensuing conversation yields crucial information about an impending shipment of toxic waste bound for Belle Isle and the true identity of the "owner" behind Everest Development.

As Fletch returns to Louisiana, he sets his sights on Hamilton Johnson, crashing a lavish party thrown by the cunning entrepreneur. With an air of nonchalance, Fletch requests a private audience, which Ham obliges, unaware of the impending revelation. Upstairs, Fletch drops a bombshell, revealing that he's onto Ham's scheme to buy his land, murder Amanda, frame him, and orchestrate a toxic waste shipment for Bibleland. Ham, caught off guard, confesses to all the allegations, fueled by his animosity towards Jimmy Lee Farnsworth for the harm inflicted on his beloved "mamma." With a twisted sense of justice, Ham aims to turn the entire Bibleland into a toxic waste dump, seeking revenge against the reverend. As tensions escalate, Ham pulls out a gun, threatening to silence Fletch forever.

But Fletch remains unfazed, knowing that he's left incriminating evidence with Becky, which would spell doom for Ham if he doesn't let him leave unharmed. Ham scoffs at Fletch's bluff, only to be confronted by the unexpected appearance of Ben, who has kidnapped Becky and been ordered by Ham to eliminate both her and Fletch. Fletch finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place until inspiration strikes. He seizes an urn containing Ham's mother's ashes and begins taunting Ham about his beloved "mamma," infuriating the would-be assassin.

As Ham becomes distracted, Fletch seizes the opportunity to snatch Becky and make a daring escape, bolting towards Bibleland just as the reverend is conducting a live taping of his show. Ben, stuck in the Tunnel of Love ride, remains oblivious to the unfolding chaos. Ham, gun in hand, bursts onto the scene, only to be foiled by the reverend's timely intervention. With Ham momentarily stunned, Fletch and Becky make their getaway, leaving Ben trapped and helpless.

As order is restored, the FBI arrives on the scene, led by Agent Calculus - or rather, Agent Goldstein, whose real identity has been shrouded in mystery for months. As tensions dissipate, Fletch can't help but remark that he's always known better of Goldstein than a backwoods simpleton. The reverend, meanwhile, sees an opportunity to rerun the show's dramatic shooting incident every day during Sweeps month, capitalizing on the chaos.

As the dust settles, Fletch shares a tender moment with Becky, hinting at the possibility of her joining him in California, as he closes the chapter on this thrilling adventure.

As Fletch returns to California, he's met with a hero's welcome at the Times newspaper, where a lavish celebration honors his explosive exposé on Bluebird and the sinister dumping of toxic waste. The party is a testament to Fletch's tenacious reporting, and it comes with a tangible reward: a well-deserved raise and a plush corner office that commands a stunning view of the city. To top it off, he receives a sizeable insurance check for $100,000, a financial windfall that stems from the blaze at Belle Isle, where the very same toxic waste had been clandestinely deposited.

Just as Fletch is basking in the glow of his professional triumph, an unexpected visitor arrives on the scene: the lawyer representing his ex-wife. The attorney bears grave news: Fletch's former spouse is demanding a significant share of the property in Louisiana as part of her alimony demands. With a calculating air, he presents Fletch with an ultimatum: sign over the property and they'll leave him be for the remainder of his life.

Fletch, ever the master manipulator, feigns deep distress at the prospect of relinquishing the property, though in reality, he's aware that the Louisiana plantation is now a blighted landscape, ravaged by the very toxic waste he'd uncovered. With a disarming smile, Fletch agrees to the lawyer's proposal, all the while keeping his newfound knowledge locked away, hidden behind a mask of nonchalance. As the camera lingers on Fletch's triumphant grin, it's clear that this cunning journalist has once again outmaneuvered those seeking to take advantage of him.