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Submitted by Steve

POOPER:
Teddy gives up Forrest and he is caught on Jewel’s ranch, but Waller got away. Later, Forrest is released from prison, where he is picked up by Jewel and moves in with her. One day, while claiming to be running errands, he calls Detective Hunt, and after he is asked if he is okay, Forrest answers that he is about to be. He then robs four banks in one day, and after he was caught, the police noted he was smiling.

LONG VERSION:
Set in 1981 and based on a true story, Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) is a career criminal and a prison escapee from San Quentin who, along with his long-time partners Teddy (Danny Glover) and Waller (Tom Waits), are robbing banks in a five-state area. Forrest shows his gun to the bank teller, but he never holds it and says he’s never pulled the trigger. After every robbery, the tellers would tell the police that the elderly robber was a gentleman and always smiled. After one robbery, Forrest is driving on the highway when he sees a woman on the side of the road with car trouble. He pulls over pretending to help, and it works as the police drive by. Despite not helping with her truck, the woman invites Forrest to lunch. He learns her name is Jewel (Sissy Spacek), and she is a widow living on a ranch in Texas. Even though he gave her a fake name, he soon becomes drawn to Jewel, and eventually reveals to her that he is a bank robber. Forrest begins to spend more time with Jewel, who is developing feelings for him, and Forrest wants to repay her kindness by paying off her mortgage with some of his stolen money. He wants to do it anonymously, but the bank insists that she be there to sign the documents, which would spoil the surprise.

Meanwhile, Dallas Police Detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck) is investigating the latest bank robbery, and eventually learns that it’s a part of a long string of heists that has lasted over two years. He is able to compile a sketch of Forrest from the witnesses of the previous robberies, and goes on the TV news to ask for anyone to come forward if they know who he is. A short time later, the FBI take over the case, but John receives a call from a woman from San Francisco who says she knows who he is. Even though he is off the case, he flies to San Francisco and meets her. She says that Forrest Tucker is actually her father, and he was in prison when she was born, so he probably doesn’t know she or her son exist. She also says that when he is caught, she would prefer that he not be told about them, and John promises that he will honor that request. Now that he has his name, John meets with Forrest’s former attorney, who tells him that he frequently escaped prison, and the one time the police say he fired his gun, it was actually the car backfiring. While that is happening, Forrest, Teddy, and Waller are still robbing banks, and are now attempting to rob an armored truck. The trio get away with the money, but one of the security guards shoots Teddy, but he survives. As he is being treated for his wound, Teddy wonders how much longer they can continue doing this.

Now back in Dallas, John is out having dinner with his wife, but he doesn’t see that Forrest and Jewel are also eating at the same diner, but Forrest recognizes the detective. While in the restroom, Forrest goes up to John and tries to find out how the case is coming along, but John immediately recognizes Forrest and answers him with his real name, saying that it’s only a matter of time before the police catch him. After dropping Jewel off at her ranch, Forrest goes to their hideout, only to find the police there waiting for him. Teddy had given him up, and Forrest makes a run for it. His car backfires, and the police think he’s shooting at him, so they shoot back, hitting Forrest in the arm. He goes back to Jewel’s ranch, but since it’s early in the morning, he doesn’t wake her up and instead rides one of her horses. He then sees the police arrive at the ranch, and he gives himself up. While at the hospital getting his arm taken care of, Forrest learns from Detective Hunt that Waller got away, and he’ll be going back to San Quentin to finish his original sentence, plus some more time for the escape and bank robberies.

In prison, Forrest is surprised to see Jewel has come to visit him, and he tells her of the previous 16 times he escaped prison. At this time, the movie reenacts each of the 16 escapes, and some of them show a young Robert Redford from his earlier roles. He implies that there will be a 17th escape, but Jewel suggests that Forrest stay and finish his sentence. After Forrest is finally released from prison, Jewel comes to pick him up and takes him back to her ranch, and says he’s welcome to stay as long as he wants. While he’s happy to be with Jewel, he’s unhappy that he’s no longer robbing backs and has stopped smiling. One morning, Forrest tells Jewel he’s going to run some errands. He then calls John, who’s still a police detective, but he doesn’t recognize his voice. Eventually he realizes he’s talking to Forrest, but he can tell Forrest seems down and asks if he is okay. Forrest replies that he’s about to be, then hangs up and walks into a bank. The movie ends with title cards saying that Forrest robbed four banks that day, and after he was caught, the police noted that he was smiling.