Sequoia (2014) - full transcript

[music playing]

[digital tones]

RILEY: Yeah, my mother really
wishes she could be here.

But her amateur
novel writing keeps

her in California,
instead of with

her cancer-riddled daughter.

Well, I'm happy to
help any way that I can.

RILEY: I guess, if
you could just give

me a summary of where we are.
- To you?

Or to the camera?

RILEY: Oh, uh, the camera.
Yeah, you can--



OK, well--

RILEY: --pretend she's a
real bitch if that helps.

Um, it's stage three, which
means it's invaded the nearby

structures-- in this case,
the mandible-- and also

entered the lymphatic system.

RILEY: Mm-hm.

And can you tell my
mother what the next step

would be in-- in treatment?

Well, that's not
primarily my decision.

RILEY: I mean, you'd probably,
like, remove my jaw though,

right?

Kind of-- kind of
like these people.

Well--

RILEY: That will be me someday.



That's a question for
the maxillofacial surgeon.

RILEY: Well then, can
you just say to camera

that I'm not getting
any better and that what

happens to everybody with this
disease will happen to me?

Riley, if-- as we discussed
before, no two cases are alike.

RILEY: And statistically, what?

I have a 60% chance of
being dead in two years,

even with surgery.

90% without.

We don't like to
view things that way.

RILEY: But if you did--

Well, we don't like
to view things that way.

RILEY: OK.

MAN (ON RECORDING): [inaudible]

[speaking in samoan]

Tomorrow, the coconut
leaves [inaudible].

[murmuring in samoan]

Hey, friend-- hey.

Hi.

Your-- I don't think
your buds are on.

- Sorry?
- Your buds.

I don't think they're plugged
all the way in the jack.

- Oh!
- Yeah.

Oh, crap.
Sorry about that.

No, it's all good.

And hey, I'm a big
fan of language tapes.

It's just, there's this
noise-sensitive individual

a few rows back, so--

- Oh, well--
- Yeah.

Thanks.

RILEY: Oh, I wasn't being
sarcastic, by the way.

I really do like language tapes.

Do what?

It was kind of
a thing as a kid.

I'd go to the library,
listen to dozens of them.

Hey, actually, do you mind
if I come sit next to you?

Oh, no.
You--

[stammering]
- I'm just going to come.

Is that cool?
- Um--

OK, thanks.

Uh, oh, OK.
Yeah, OK.

- So I'm guessing Indonesian?
- Hm?

Oh, the Herring Shoal.

Oh, Samoan.

Oh, gotcha, Samoan.

Probably not at
your local library.

What?

Uh, you said, when you were
a kid, you went to library.

Right, yes.
Yes, I did.

I said that.

No, no, I didn't.

That was a total lie.

The truth is, when
I was on Medicaid,

they didn't offer
mental health benefit

unless you could prove you were,
like, bat-shit fucking crazy.

So I told my shrink that I
listened to language tapes

as a kid, because I didn't
hear I love you as a child.

Did you-- so you defrauded
the US Medicaid system?

Sadly, no.

He wrote down in his report
that it seemed contrived.

Do you think it seems contrived?

Well, I can't say that I
know of anyone who would think

of doing something like that.

Thanks.

Yeah.

RILEY: You seem nice.

I'm Riley, by the way.

OGDEN: Oh, Ogden Clark.

RILEY: Oh, a pleasure to
meet you, Ogden Clark.

OGDEN: You too.
RILEY: No, really.

I'm actually like-- I'm
full of pleasure right now.

OGDEN: OK.

Thank you.
RILEY: Oh, you play the banjo.

Ah, a bit.

RILEY: Let me guess,
you probably sing too.

Sing is generous, I think.

Where are you from?

Uh-- well, I got on my
first bus a few states ago.

What about you?

Portland.

And yet, this is my seventh bus.

Fuck!

Fuck.

Well, I guess we have
some time to kill.

I tell you what,
you buy me a drink

and I will reveal
more ways I've abused

taxpayer-funded programs.

And I--

I would like that.

But-- um-- I have a
rental car waiting for me.

Oh.

Oh, then, on your way.

Nice meeting you, Ogden Clark.

Yeah, you too.

Uh, you know, I could
always just drive you in,

if you wanted.

Just if you wanted to save
a few bucks or whatever.

I don't know.

You could always be a
rapist of some sort.

[nervous laugh]

- I'm not.
- Oh, good.

Pinky swear?
- What?

You have-- you have to pinky
swear you're not a rapist.

I am serious, Ogden Clark.

Oh, yeah, well, OK.
Not--

There we go.

Not a rapist.

Let's go.

I'm actually though,
like not a rapist.

Yeah, I believe you.

I don't think a rapist
would keep telling me

they're not a rapist.

I mean, they'd just rape me.

[music playing]

OGDEN: What are you doing?

What-- what are you doing?

RILEY: Oh, uh, this is a video.

It's for my mom.
- Oh, really?

That's pretty awesome.

My mom would flip for
that kind of thing.

RILEY: Hey, Mom, this is
Ogden, the stranger from whom

I've accepted this lovely ride.

Try to appear
non-threatening so I don't

seem so-- you know-- reckless.

You're not zooming
in in my face, are you?

Is that a problem?

But don't you want to get
some of the forest stuff in?

RILEY: Oh, wow.

Look at that.

It's huge.

Well, we're not even
in the main part yet.

So we'll see what's up ahead.

RILEY: All right.

You really don't
have to film me though.

RILEY: No, I'm going to
do it the whole time.

You-- that-- cool.

[music playing]

RILEY: How about, does
anyone here speak English?

OGDEN: Don't know that one.

RILEY: Where is the bathroom?

OGDEN: Nope.

RILEY: You can't
treat me this way!

I am an American citizen!

OGDEN: I haven't
gotten that far yet.

RILEY: So what
exactly can you say,

Herring Shoal stories aside?

OGDEN: Uh, that's-- that's
pretty much it at the moment.

Oh, and, Woman!

Go fish for prawns!

RILEY: Nice.

So I assume you're planning
on getting a job at a very

aggressive seafood restaurant?

Uh, no.

Not-- not exactly.

We're-- we're bui--
building homes for the poor.

RILEY: Are we?

Yeah.

It's a part of this group
that I'm with, the Sunshine

Christian Ministries.

I see.

And is there something
wrong with that?

Hm?
No.

No, no.
No problem at all.

I mean, as long as it
isn't some, you know,

middle-class poverty cruise.

Rich boy mingles with
peasants to discover

true humanity for his art.

You know, it shows you've
romanticized suffering,

which-- look, I don't
hold the copyright to it.

But it is kind of my thing.

OGDEN: Uh, we all
romanticize suffering.

And I romanticize my own.

Yeah, I bet you do.

You don't know
anything about me.

OGDEN: Well, I know
that you're young.

I know you're smart.

I know you're pretty, kinda.

Kind of.

It's hard to find
the part where you're

overwhelmed with adversity.

- Well, I am.
- Yeah.

[chuckle] Yeah.

So what overwhelms you?

Like, deciding what
hair dye to use?

Hey, pull over.

Pull the fuck to the side.

I want to get out.

Right here!

Let me get out.

Hey, um, listen.

I know I can be a bit much.

So thanks for not
saying I'm insane.

Well, that was
before I knew you.

Wh-- hey.
Hey, wait!

Uh, do you think, maybe, I could
buy you breakfast or something

tomorrow?

Uh, actually, I'm fucked.

The little sis arriving early.

You know how it is.

Oh, OK.
Cool.

Well, maybe I could just
get your number then.

RILEY: What for?

In case, you know,
your plans change.

Hey, I'm really
glad I met you, Ogden.

Thanks for the ride and for,
you know, not being a rapist.

You're welcome.

So yeah, I better--

have a good life, Ogden Clark.

Yeah, you too!

[exasperated sigh] You too.

Stupid.

So stupid.

[rattling]

[music playing]

Tricyclic
antidepressants-- purchasable

online from the best little
drugstore in Bangalore.

In fact, if you Google
suicide, the first five hits

are online pharmacies.

Make of that what you will.

Mm, fun fact-- you never
know how long it'll

take the drugs to kick in.

It could take five hours.

Might be seven.

One last surprise,
right at the very end.

By the way, if you're ever
on Jeopardy and Alex says,

this is the number
one cause for suicide

failure in the United States.

The correct answer is,
what is changing your mind?

[snoring]

[beep]

[engine starting]

Mm.
[horn honking]

[crashing]
- Fuck!

[phone ringing]

RILEY (ON MESSAGE): Hey,
you've reached Riley.

Yeah, no one listens
to voicemails anymore.

But go for it.
[beep]

OK, well, we're back
in our comfort zone.

Because everything
is totally fucked.

The car is wrecked.

And I won't be
making your last day.

But you don't have to let
this fuck up your plans.

Just tweak the details.

Meet a guy.

Borrow a car.

You'll figure it out.

I mean, you're Riley.

And I-- I don't know
if I said this already,

but I love the shit out of you.
Truth.

[crying]

I won't be pissed if
you tell me the truth.

I said I was going to therapy.

Well, I never heard
word one about any therapy

until just now.

Yeah, my therapist
says I should ignore you.

You know, I do have a line.

It may not be what
every dad's line is--

Yeah, if anyone knows
about doing lines--

- Hey, hey--
- Get the fuck off.

No.

I need to know where in the
hell you were off to with a $200

bottle of champagne or
you're-- you're going

to find yourself grounded.
You understand?

Fine!

Fine.

I'm-- uh-- I'm not
supposed to tell you this.

But I was--

I was going down to LA.

This guy came up to me a
few days ago, this man.

And he's in the
fashion business.

And--

Van--

And he said he'd
never seen a face as--

OSCAR: No, Sa-- Savannah--
- --as beautiful as mine.

And he loved my scar.

And before I knew it, I had a
modeling career in Hollywood.

I know, I couldn't
fucking believe it either!

Don't you dare
slam that fuck--

[door slamming]

Vanny, do you remember
that '57 Strat

I said I was going to give
you as a graduation gift?

VAN: Yeah, you said it was
an unbreakable promise.

Because I was
thinking, maybe I

should donate that to the
Route 66 Museum in Barstow.

VAN: Dad--

And they'd probably put my
name on a plaque or something.

And then you and I, we
could drive down there

and check out my
name on the plaque.

You are so full of shit.

You would never give
away a '57 Strat.

I don't know.

A thing like that--

I think it should be where
everyone can enjoy it.

Tell me where you were going.

[phone ringing]

Ogh.

[ringing]

Steve Stephenson Industries.

I need you to wake up.

Something's happened.

Oscar, oh my god.

Do you know what time it is?

OSCAR (ON PHONE): It's bad.

OK, are you drunk?

If you're drunk, you should
be calling your sponsor.

OSCAR (ON PHONE): It's Riley.

OK, I'm hanging up now.

You fucking--

[phone ringing]

OSCAR (ON PHONE):
Riley's in trouble, Bev.

I think you can carve about
five seconds for that.

Five seconds, fine.

And don't do that thing
where you fucking count.

4--

OSCAR (ON PHONE): I can't talk
to you when you're like this.

3--

Van just told me Riley's
in Sequoia with a gram

and a half of tricyclics.

You know what that means, right?

A gram and a half
is a lethal dose.

- 2--
- What's going on?

OSCAR (ON PHONE):
Did you hear me?

(WHISPERING) Nothing.
Go to sleep, honey.

OSCAR (ON PHONE):
Did you hear me?

Did you hear me?

Yes, I heard you.

I heard the next half-dozen
things about to come out

of your mouth.

We need to call her.

We need to beg her.

We need to be her
supporting cast.

Because once again,
Riley staged a drama.

No, we have to get down there.

BEV (ON PHONE):
I'm curious, Oscar,

why do you think she
adopts these behaviors

in the first place?

I mean, is it possible that,
if you clap for her pity party

this morning, she's just
going to stage an encore?

OSCAR (ON PHONE):
Riley's very sick, Bev.

You know that.
BEV (ON PHONE): You know what?

I'm sick.
I am.

I am sick and tired of using
her illness for every--

for every negative--
- Defeatist.

(WHISPERING) Oh,
that's good. (SPEAKING)

Defeatist impulse that--

Listen, Bev, if you don't
want to go, that's fine.

Just let me borrow your car.

My car?

OSCAR (ON PHONE): The cab's an
hour to get here from Mariposa.

(WHISPERING) He wants
to borrow the car.

What's the matter
with his car?

What's the matter
with your car?

That's not the issue.

(WHISPERING) He
totaled it again.

Well, let him rent.

(WHISPERING) With his DUIs?

Bev, I need to
know you understand

what I'm talking about.

You know, I've got to be
in Los Banos this afternoon.

Is there anything else
I can help you with?

What do you want?

You want me to agree
to those fucking terms?

You want me to sign
the divorce papers?

I'm sorry.

What does that mean?

Does that mean you'll
accept my offer?

- Seriously?
- I think so.

Nice!

That was good, huh?

That was good.

You were very assertive.

I-- and then,
defeatist, that was good.

- Thanks.
- That was better--

Thanks, yeah.
I-- I thought it was helpful.

--than negative.

You were fine.

But I just wanted to give
you a little gas, you know?

And that-- it's--
you know, we've been

talking about with words.

And it was like it
was more accurate.

OGDEN: Hey!

I swear, I'm not stalking you.

So I realized that I
actually never answered

your question from before.

What question?

Just about where I'm from.

The answer is Texas.

Because I figured you'd
make fun of it or something.

Don't have to make fun of it.

It's Texas.

[laughs] Nice.

Hey, you mind if I
bum one of these?

[clears throat]

Thanks.

You know, you wouldn't guess it.

But there's actually
an intense debate

in the Sunshine Ministries
over these little guys.

On the one hand, Corinthians
say that your body's a temple

and that you
shouldn't pollute it.

Can I grab that lighter?

On the other hand, I don't
really care what people say.

It just looks so cool.

Hey, what--
[crying]

Don't worry about it.

Don't worry about what?

I don't need your fucking
Christian charity right now.

- I didn't--
- No, no, no.

You did your part.

You came over, made an effort.

Just leave me alone, please.

OK.

Oh fuck!

Oh, I hate emotional crying.

I wish something would
just fall on me right now.

Hey, ca-- can I--

can I maybe, like, buy
you lunch or something?

There's a place just
right over there.

You have to promise not
to recoil if I show you.

And no making a big deal of it.

OK.

You can't make light.

But if I smile, you
have to make light.

But no laughing.
You can never laugh.

What?

Did you want to--

Look.

That boy's a stage
3 osteosarcoma.

To There's a stage 4
where they saw of your jaw

and give you a chemo perm.

Or you can go to
a national park,

take a gram and a
half of tricyclics.

And that's kind of the Warp
Zone to, you know, stage 5.

You could say
something, you know.

Anything really.

I've heard it before.

Yeah, I get that a lot too.

Well, thanks for the help.

Riley, wait-- wait,
wait, wait, wait.

Still want to grab lunch?

BEV: Oh god.

Hey, Steve--

BEV: I just don't
want to [inaudible].

I think we passed it.

STEVE: Oh.

What the hell is he doing?

VAN: Remind me again
why I'm doing this?

Quality time.

Dad-- [scoffs]

Plus, I wouldn't drive
300 miles with those people

if they were driving the
last car out of hell.

--in the process
of gentrifying,

if that's the right word.
I'm just going--

I don't know if I
would say [inaudible].

Yeah.

Just want to be sure that--
- Good.

- Good?
- Yep.

OK.

STEVE: Coming in.

All right, there he is.

Oscar, how are you?

OSCAR: Steve.

Van, you're looking great.

Thanks, I'm--

I'm the homecoming queen.

Wow!
How about that.

That's great--
- She's kidding, Steve.

- Oh.
- That's how she kids.

It's a weird joke to make.

I mean, she's a pretty girl.
She--

- Shut up, Steve.
- Stop it, Oscar.

We need to hit the road.

We need to hit the road, please.
- Oscar, listen--

We don't have time for this.

Oh, you already know
what I'm going to say?

Hey, how's school?

I have a fair
idea about how long

it's going to take
you to say it?

How are your classes?

Why don't you just
get comfortable.

In the back seat
of my own car.

I will.
- Well then, it should be easy.

OK, because we're not moving--

Which I am still
making payments on.

--in which you can
conduct, yourself.

Which we appreciate,
by the way.

OK?
I am with Steve now.

And that's not going to change.
- Good, he can keep you.

And I have nothing--
Oscar, I mean this.

I have nothing but
respect for you.

You're a loser, Oscar.

And no one's judging anybody.

We all make our choices in life.
- You make me sick.

And there's no reason
we can't all just

have a pleasant ride here.
You want a snack?

Oh, yeah.

And these little put
downs, these little sarcasms

that you have for Steve--

I mean, this guy cleans
every gear of your clock.

Looks--
- Well, it's subjective.

- --intelligent, personality--
- Well, that-- that's true.

--and my god, you want to
talk about between the legs?

Oh my god, Mom!
Stop!

I'm just saying, the sooner
you stop imagining that there's

this, like, alpha
battle to be won,

the sooner we can
just all get along.

- OK.
- Great.

- Got it.
- Great.

So you guys, throw
on your seatbelts,

and we can get going.

- Seriously?
- Yeah, I'm sorry.

I can't go on a drive.

Ugh.

It's-- it's the law, Van.

Dad!

Let me hear those clicks.

STEVE: And here we go.

RILEY: This will be
ground zero here,

right off the Generals Highway.

And this is about 10
miles of gravel roads,

spiraling all the
way up to the summit.

Hanging rock?

I'm not a big fan
of the unfortunately

ironic name and all, but yeah.

My sister was supposed to drive
up early, quick bite to eat,

long good-bye, and
then off to my hanging.

She was going to film my
final harrowing moments

and get the tape
to Beverly, my mom.

Look, Riley, I know that,
like, no one can completely

know what you're going--
- No, you can't.

--through-- OK.

But this kind of thing that
you're talking about, it's--

You promised, no
Christian charity.

It wasn't going to
be Christian charity.

It was going to be more like--

Like Christian scolding.

I guess.

Nearly 1/3 of
suicide victims have

undertaken objective
analysis, favoring

the option of self-termination.

You know who told me that?

My state-funded Medicaid shrink.

He said, 1/3 of
the time, suicide

is actually understandable.

Even showed me a chart.

Can we go somewhere else?

Yeah, yeah.

Riley, I-- I want to help you.

But I just--

I guess, I don't
know exactly what

it is that you want from me.

I want you take
me up the mountain.

Oh, well, um--

I'm not sure I can do that.

Look, it'll take
an hour to get up

to the peak, two at the most.

Come on, Ogden.

Doesn't the Bible say you should
have the serenity to accept

the things you cannot
change, the courage

to change the things
you can, the wisdom

to know the difference?

I'm pretty sure that's AA.

Hey, let's not
split hairs here.

It's still
churchy-sounding advice.

My point is, you just met a girl
who said she wants to cash out.

And you've got to be thinking
if that's one of those things

you can change or not, right?

Tell you what, you
take me up to the peak,

and I will give my number and
the sexual congress it implies.

Can you not-- just stop.
Don't do that.

Hey, please.

Um, you know, Steve,
I think the speed-limit

here is actually 65, not--

Oh, good.
We're well under.

Well, I think
what Van meant is--

He knows what she meant.

Steve can be wryly humorous too.

That's right.

Wait.
Whoa.

This isn't even the right road.

Where are we going?
- Yeah, sorry.

We're taking a little
bit of a detour.

A detour?
No, no.

No detours.

We just have to drop Steve
at his interview in Los Banos.

That's got to be 50
miles out of the way!

Oh, it's well over 50, Oscar.

Bev, this is
not the time for--

Calm down.

Steve says the chances of
Riley actually going through

with this are, like, what?
5%?

10%

- They're 7%.
- See.

Statistically, she's at 7%.

I don't think
that sounds right.

Well, Steve's a
psychologist, OK?

Do you even have a job?

I thought Steve
was an efficiency

expert, like, last week.

It's a psychological
efficiency expert, Van.

Yeah, OK.

My work is mostly in
education consulting.

It's a pretty serious position.

Listen, Steve has
this theory that--

It's not-- it's
hardly a theory.

It's more of an observation.

It happens to be shaking
a few foundations.

What most people call, quote,
"mental illnesses," those

are really just learned
sets of behavior designed

to manipulate other people.

So if you say, oh,
I'm so depressed,

then everyone makes
a big fuss about you.

And they give you
all this attention,

bring you to see fancy doctors.

And then you think,
oh, this is cool.

All right.
And they keep it up.

Does that sound
like anyone we know?

Exactly.

If we remove the response
to that behavior,

then this so-called
illness suddenly

ceases to be a problem.

Because it's falling
on deaf ears.

There's no response.
- It's that simple.

STEVE: It's like
training a dog almost.

There's no-- no human is more
like a dog than a teenager.

Babies are probably
more like dogs.

But they're like puppies.

So I don't know if that counts.

Questions?

RILEY: You're driving
like a grandma.

OGDEN: You know
what, safety first.

RILEY: [mumbling]

OGDEN: What are you--

Just, eyes on the road.

But I mean, I have
some stuff there that--

--is this we got here.

No, OK.

That's-- that's not for--
- What's in here?

Let me-- that's not for--

Mm, is this what you
spend all night working on?

Funnel of my despair?

It sucks.

I know.

Thank you.

No, I didn't say that.

Although, I never did
consider the funnel to be one

of the more desperate utensils.

Will you just give
me that for a sec?

"My daydreams stretch
as wide as the sea.

But when I [inaudible]--"
- You-- no-- I--

give me that for a second.

And we'll keep it
there from now on.

[gasp] Were you
studying, like a good boy?

I don't understand why you
can't just keep your hands

to yourself, just for a second.

I know, it's annoying.

Yeah.

Yep.
- Wait.

Why did you highlight, "And
he said unto my Father,

Father, my head hurts"?

I don't know.

I just-- I don't know.

I'm-- I'm-- I--

I want to memorize this psalm.

Because I figured,
last night, when

I was driving into
the park, you know,

I should have
something for my trip.

You mean something
like, "Young

lads came out from the
city and mocked him

and said to him, go up!

Up ye bald head!"

No, no.

Something like, bless the Lord,
O my soul, who layeth the beams

of his chambers upon the water.

So--

Have you, uh, resolved the
theological contradictions yet?

What theological
contradictions?

The wives of Cain and Abel,
where did they come from?

The ban on premarital sex.

How is that a
theological contradiction?

Well, what about
Christian charity?

What if a dying woman's last
wish was to begat with you.

Wouldn't that rather
uncharitable for you not to?

Is that your last wish?

Pft, I was speaking
hypothetically.

Were you speaking
hypothetically

because that's your last wish?

Where you're asking me if
it was my last wish because I

raised the hypothetical?

Or because you think
you're irresistible.

- Irresistible.
- Wow.

I really figured
you for one of those

no-sex-before-marriage types.

Good, because you definitely
wouldn't be my last wish

if you were a virgin.

So I am your last wish?

Fuck, no!
Fuck!

OK, well, you don't
need to say it like that.

- Shit.
- I mean, it's pretty--

[exasperated sigh]

[horn honking]

STEVE: Just go
around, tough guy.

Go on.
Go ahead.

Thank you.

He's going to kill himself
is what he's going to do.

I didn't mean that.

I don't want him
to kill himself.

I just--

Hey, Steve, can I ask you
something as a psychologist?

It's psychiatrist who can
pass out the pills, Oscar.

Oh, very funny.

That's A material right there.

What I was wondering
is what you can

tell me about
commitment procedures

in the state of California.

Is it hard to do?

STEVE: Not really, not if the
patient presents a danger.

If you're talking this kind
of deal, open and shut.

What?

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is just my "you're a
terrible fucking person" face.

Look, it's not
like I want to, OK.

But sometimes, doing
things you don't want to do

is part of being a parent.

VAN: Yeah, you're a
real father-of-the-year.

OSCAR: Well, for my sins,
I'm abjectly penitent.

VAN: So did you just
decide today to reinvent

yourself as a man-of-action?

Yeah, with your
sister's life on the line,

yes, it struck me as an OK time.

Is your level of
cluelessness genetic?

Or is it just booze-induced?

Van--

What?

What's clueless about
thinking that your sister's

life is on the line?

No, no, no.
Not shrug.

Is there something
you're keeping from me?

She'll be dead by the
time you get there, OK.

So you don't have to freak out.
- Wait, wait.

What?
What?

Dead?
What?

No, no one told me-- what?

What are you talking about?
- Nothing!

Savannah!

VAN: It's just,
show's over at sunset.

The plan was she would
take her meds today.

And it would take five
or six hours to kick in.

And by the time the clock wound
down, she'd be at Hanging Rock.

People, we need to get
back on the road right now.

We're on the road.

No, Steve, I'm
afraid we're not

going to have time for whatever
it is you have going on today.

No, I'm afraid we're going
to have to make time for it.

Oscar, what exactly is it you
plan to do once you get there?

I'm curious.

She's right.

You're pretty new to this
whole man-of-action deal.

So--
- Well, I-- I--

I figured I could--

I could talk to her and--

Talk-- can you
talk on the phone?

I tried that.
She won't pick up.

She'd picked up for
Van, wouldn't she?

- Oh, hell no.
- Give me your phone.

No, I won't be
accessory to your--

- Give me your phone.
- --fraud.

- Give--
- No!

- Give-- god--
- Dad!

[chain rattling]

If it's that important,
we can always hoof it.

10 miles?

My flight's not till late.

I got the time.

503-703-5835.

Do what?

My cell?

503-703-5835?

[scoff] You weren't really
supposed to remember that,

but OK.

I was the Galing High
School Number Memory

Team captain, 2008, 2009.

That's preposterous.

You seem pretty upset.

I know that you wanted
this to go a certain way.

And it didn't go that way.

But-- but you have
to wonder if maybe

there's a reason for that.
- Ogden--

Well, I'm just--

I mean, this just gives us
a chance to slow stuff down,

to talk stuff over, you know.

And the rock's not
going anywhere.

Where-- where is the
harm in that, right?

Come on, what do
you say we just go

get some overpriced
hiking supplies

and take a trip up the mountain?

Make a day of it?

Just you and your last wish.

Ogden--

It'll be fun.

And I'll even sing the funnel
song to you on the way up.

I can't, OK.
I don't have the time.

You don't have the time?

Why-- why is it that every
time you tell me something,

I feel like I know
less than I did before.

And the thing of
it is, I can't even

imagine you could tell me
anything that would be worse

that what you've already said.

What, you think-- you think
it makes any difference to me?

If I gave two craps
about what you said,

I'd be back in the parking
lot getting some sleep.

Look, fine.

Tell me or don't tell me.

I just think it's better to
have stuff out-- out there,

you know.

Fine.

You want stuff out there?

I've already taken the pills.

[beep]

RILEY (ON MESSAGE): Hey,
you've reached Riley.

Yeah, no one listens
to voicemails any more.

But go for it.

Hey, Riley girl,
it's your dad.

I'm calling you
from Van's phone.

I thought maybe you'd pick up.

Anyway-- um-- look, I
know you don't always have

the warmest feelings for me.

And I also know I deserve that.

But I just wanted to ask you,
respectfully, to just-- uh--

think about your plans.

If it's-- if it's-- if
it's just the disease,

listen, this is a fight the
McGrady's will fucking win,

you hear me?

I'll find the best
fucking doctor.

I'll rob a bank.

But if it's-- you know--

my-- that whole
mess, I don't know.

That's hard.

All I can say is, what you
have, the thing you have,

which I, for instance, do
not, is a family behind you.

And that is not a thing
to be underestimated.

Anyway, I'm-- I'm rambling.

Just-- just call me and
tell me what you're--

yeah.

Just-- just-- just called me.

I'm sorry.

OGDEN: Do you ever
stop to think,

for a second, what something
like that might do to me?

Oh, oh yes.

And now we see that the
real victim here is you.

I saw a--
Jesus Christ.

Look, I think I saw,
somewhere near Visalia,

like, a hospital, one of
those wellness center things.

That-- that means we can still--
- What?

Ogden--

Look, th-- the drugs don't
take effect for a few hours.

You said that.

You don't fucking get it, OK.

If Ogden Clark gets cancer, it's
a blessed fucking event, right?

It's fundraisers
and prayer groups

and in front of the local paper.

It's not Medicaid and selling
your shit on Craigslist!

I haven't spoken to my mom
since this whole thing started.

My dad, well, he's generally
drunk or passed out.

Nobody hugged me or
came and held my hand.

Because nobody who didn't
just meet me gives a shit.

Nobody asked me if
I wanted to die.

And the only choice I got
was where and when and how.

And now, I don't even have that.

So--

Riley--
[engine starting]

Riley, wait.

No, don't-- Riley.
[engine revving]

Riley, Riley!

Hey!

Riley-- Riley!

[tires squealing]

[phone ringing]

Was there really a
whole club at your school

devoted to remembering numbers?

OGDEN (ON PHONE):
Look, Riley, I'm sorry.

Yeah?
What are you sorry for?

I haven't walked
in your shoes.

I-- I shouldn't have
acted like I know best.

Really?

Maybe you're just saying that
so you can get your car back.

OGDEN (ON PHONE): If you
never want to see me again,

I guess I can live with that.

There's plenty of
gas in the car, GPS

thing in the glove compartment.

But if you do come back,
I will stay with you

wherever you want to go.

OK, so, like this?

Yeah, just be sure
to keep me in focus.

Um, don't let me forget to
show you the slow-mo button.

I want the climax to feel
like a real build, you know?

OGDEN: Climax?

You know-- seizures,
hallucinations.

There's a chance I'll
foam at the mouth.

[bird screeching]

Hey, just a couple
more hours, OK?

Then, you'll drop
it off in the mail

and your work here is done.

Just-- uh-- just
show me the slow-mo.

OK, so it's this button.

Just set it there.
- OK.

[laughs]

I have no idea if that worked.

Oh my god.
OGDEN: I'll get it.

I'll get it.
I'll get it.

RILEY: So we want to
go down this path.

OGDEN: One at a time?
One at a time.

Really?

OGDEN: I'm not getting
on there with you.

Slowmotion might
not be my thing.

But this sunbeam--

Ogden's got this.

Man, this is, like, the
shakiest footage you'll get.

[guitar music]

How you holding up, Miss Van?

Fine.

Yeah?

Things at home?

They're fine.

Would you say it's a
structured kind of environment?

Or a cool, "kids can do whatever
they want" kind of place?

You're a terrible
psychologist, Steve.

STEVE: I'm not being
a psychologist, kiddo.

I'm just being a friend.

You're a creepy friend, Steve.

STEVE: You know, you shouldn't
smoke in a gas station.

Hm.

It's actually illegal.

You could blow yourself up.

OK, but if we blow up, I'm
going to be pretty mad at you.

It's funny.

You know, you remind me a bit
of myself when I was your age.

Scary, right?

Really, you shouldn't smoke.

You should put it out.

You know what the best thing
that ever happened to me was?

When I was 14, I got
sent to live with my dad.

He didn't subscribe to
"Parenting Magazine" exactly.

And he took those little
quips right out of my mouth.

What the fuck!

It was funny.

He knew this spot on
me, this little pressure

point right here.

If I mouthed off or
didn't do my chores,

Dad would just grab
that spot and just

put his hand right on there.

He'd squeeze it.

And just like you, I
would just stare at him.

I wouldn't give him
the satisfaction.

And he was just waiting for
me to say, I'm sorry, sir.

It was like a game of Chicken.

Sometimes, I thought my
shoulder would snap in half.

But I didn't say anything.

And so, he would
squeeze even harder.

Rape!

Is what you say when
someone's bothering you.

That's right, sweetie.

That's self-defense.

And that's exactly what
we're trying to get at.

Good job.
Everything's fine.

It's just kind of a drill we do.

You know, things
are about to change

for you a great deal, Miss Van.

I've seen a lot of divorces.

Oscar?

A guy with that record,
he'll be lucky if he

gets to see you once a month.

And in our house, the kids are
not the same as the adults.

My word is law.

So you might want to
think about adjusting

that little attitude of yours.

Capiche?

Glad we had this chat.

[indistinct bickering]

All right, let's go.

Let's hit the road.

You guys ready?

Chop-chop.

BEV: [inaudible]
OGDEN: So what?

This is it?

RILEY: It Looks
like the cover art

from one of my mom's
self-published books.

Is that good or bad?

Mm, well, they're
Vanity Press novels

with women named
Fern, who have so

many suitors, because
they're so effervescent.

She sends them to me too.

I'm willing them
back to her unopened.

[rumbling noise]
- Whoa, do you feel that?

[increasing rumble]

Ogden, give me
the fucking camera.

Give me the camera.

It must be like an
earthquake or something!

I've never been here--

Oh shit!

Oh, oh my--

[indistinct chatter]

[thunder]

[rain and thunder]

Can I ask-- the smoking--

is that what it's from?

Or--

Huh, no.

I took it up after I
got diagnosed last year.

It's like one of those
things, you know.

What's the point, right?

Yeah, I guess.

Come on.

[loud thunder]

You getting scared?

No.

Too scared to keep going?
Don't do that!

[laughs]

Let's go to your car.

You want to go
back to the car?

- Yeah.
- Let's go back to the car.

Do not make fun f OK?

[strumming banjo]

Can-- eh-- can you not
just look directly at me?

Just for a second?
- Yes.

OK.
Is that-- is that--

- Thank you.
- --good for you?

Yes, yes.

[banjo music]

(SINGING) My daydreams
stretch wide as the sea.

And the only sea I'm left
with is what I ring--

is what I ring from my hair.

The funnel of my despair--

the funnel of my despair.

[clapping]
Yeah, OK.

You don't need to do that.
- No.

OGDEN: No.

But be honest.

Lay it on me.

What do you think?

Are your aspirations
profession or recreational?

I don't know.

Does that mean professional,
but please don't laugh?

No, no, no.
I won't laugh.

I promise.

OGDEN: It's just, you
know what they say.

Blessed is the writer
with the drunken

mother and the abusive father.

Truth is, that is one way
that I'm not too blessed.

Oh, my heart goes out to you.

No-- sorry.

I-- I'm a little
self-absorbed I guess.

But that makes it worse.

I-- I can only write
songs about me.

And being me is--
- Is awesome.

- [laughs] Right.
- Duh.

But it's, like, too awesome.

And songs about
being too awesome

don't exactly quicken
the human heart.

So imagine you're me.
What?

I mean, that's part of why
you're hanging around, right?

To get inside my head.

I don't think that's possible.
You can't--

What?
Empathize?

Sure, you can.

Climb right in.

Play that song again.

That is OK.

I'll take a pass on this.
RILEY: No.

No, no, for real.

I mean it.

Just play it from the top.

[banjo playing]

A little faster.

Faster?

(SINGING) My daydreams stretch--

RILEY: OK, wait.

Just, no words.

It's Just-- um-- just humming.

I'll hum with you.

[banjo and humming]

(SINGING) I'm in the
funnel of despair.

[music stops]

Hm.

OK, wait, no.

I'm-- I'm a cancer
mouse, remember.

Are you creating my
last wish, Ogden Clark?

[music playing]

[horn honks]

[laughter]

BEV: So the one thing Steve has
taught me is that, if I haven't

published a novel yet, then
maybe I'm subconsciously

afraid of success.

Yeah, that's not as uncommon--
[phone vibrating]

--as people think.

BEV: And I realized, I don't
even keep an ideas journal,

right.

And I'm always saying
these really witty things

and then I just
forgot all about them.

So now, we have
this little bad boy.

If we come up with a great
line or we hear a real zinger--

BEV: Yeah

STEVE: --we just put it
right in the journal.

BEV: It's a fun thing
to do as a couple.

And you realize, like, all these
things that you come up with.

And you want to find a
place in your art for them.

- It's a treasure chest.
- You know?

You guys want to hear one?

STEVE: Yes.
- God, which one, huh?

[phone vibrating]

BEV: Let me find-- oh,
this is a good one.

I could say, in a story, right--

maybe, you have a young woman.

And she's complaining to her
grandmother about how shallow

she is.

Well then, you know, the
grandmother says to her,

time is like rain.

It deepens even the
shallowest of rivers.

- What do you guys think?
- That it's good.

[speaking samoan]

I'm not going to
fish for herring shoal,

if that's what you just said.
- No.

I said, you're very pretty.

So-- uh-- you learned,
you're very pretty.

Got big plans in Samoa, huh?

I don't know.

Well, what's your follow up?

What do you mean?

I mean, what do you do after?

I mean, just in case she doesn't
want to fish for herring shoal.

You mean, can I
spend the night?

Well, I think that is roughly
the same thing in any language.

But, um, no.

I was thinking a bit
further into the future.

You mean, like, I love you?

No.

Like, what's your favorite band?

What instrument do you play?

I mean, no one's that tied
up on hearing, I love you,

not if they're honest.
- No?

OK.

Want to know the
one thing that'll

open up girls' hearts in Samoa?

You have to learn to say this.

I approve of you.

And this is unlikely
to change, as I

set the bar comfortingly low.

I approve of you.

And that is unlikely
to change, as--

RILEY: As I set the--

--I set the bar--

--bar--

--comfortingly low.

--comfortingly low.

Yeah.

[phone beeping]

- Oh.
- Oh.

I'll get it.

M and D are on their way.

Die anywhere else.

OK, give me that.

Thank you.

Fuck.

OGDEN: M and D are on their way?

Yep, it seems so.

- What are you going to do?
- I don't know.

Offhand, I die somewhere else.

Huh.

What?

Don't look at me like that.

The storm's passed.

And you know what that means.

Onward and upward, Ogden Clark.

[engine starting]

[phone beeping]

This is a deeply
troubled person.

I hope you appreciate that.

I'm used to it.

Well, you deserve better.

- Yeah, I know.
- You do.

You deserve better.

VAN: You know, I
heard this theory

once that there's no such
thing as disturbed people.

Van--

No, I am--

I'm just trying to
grasp, you know,

the sum of Steve's
psychological contributions.

I just think that your--

your mom worked really
hard raising your kids.

And you and Riley--

the negativity-- you know,
she'd be a lot more developed

as a person if you weren't--

if you weren't
bringing her down.

God, that is-- that's really,
really interesting, Steve.

You know what would be
a lot more interesting?

If you knew what the fuck
you were talking about.

There you have it.

That's the negativity I'm
talking about, young lady.

You just keep it up.

It comes right back to you.

I can tell you that, capiche?

Hey, Steve, you know why
Riley's cancer's inoperable?

No?

Well, neither of my wonderful
parents here could bother

to get, like, a real job so
she couldn't cover the health

insurance, which meant
she was going to Medicaid

dentists who-- oops--

forgot to give her
cancer screenings

at five consecutive checkups.

So they just popped out a
couple groupies in training.

And then, when we
moved on, so did they.

And that-- that's fine.

But the upshot is,
they don't get to cry

when we fucking hate them.

Tell them what I told you.

It'll make them happy.
- Van--

- I'm going to kill myself.
- No!

E-- enough.

So you have that
to look forward to,

Steve, when I live with you.

All the trash
officially taken out.

STEVE: Bev!

You need to be reasonable.

You're being emotional.

And emotion is not your friend.

You're playing into her hands.

You're doing exactly
what she wants.

Don't you get it?

She's just trying to
get a response from you.

And you're giving it to her.

Look, I'm just saying.
Like, don't play the part.

OK, I heard you.

You're playing
right into their--

- I heard you, Steve.
- --hands, OK.

I heard you, OK?

And this is not about being
an actor in her production.

OK, I got--
thank you for the pep-talk.

This is about being a mom, OK.

OK, I got it.

I got it.

OK, you're an individual.

Do you remember that?

- Don't make me live with them?
- Mm--

STEVE: Because I'm sensing
an emotional Bev here.

And I like the reasonable one--

You think I want that?

STEVE: --the logical one's a
lot happier, and she knows it.

BEV: OK, then, you know,
maybe I just want to be--

Steve, grabbed me.

BEV: Maybe I just
wanted a hug, OK?

I mean--

What do you mean,
he grabbed you?

He just, like,
fucking grabbed my sh--

I don't know.

Just please, don't make
me live with him, OK?

Just-- I will be--

I will be good.

Please, don't make
me live with them.

What you need is the--

OK, I swear to god-- if
you don't shut the fuck up--

you can rent a car.

Bev--

The last thing that these
natives did before they

abandoned their ancestral
homeland forever was they

wrote the story of
their own destruction.

They were a peaceful tribe.

OGDEN: Riley, you OK?

GUIDE: Then the
white settlers came.

They-- they didn't have
practiced [inaudible].

How man-y of you have
seen the Sherman tree?

The big tree just down the road?

See, the [inaudible] thought
that the Sherman tree--

they called it the
[non-english] or tall spirit.

They believe that the
[non-english] could

heal their sick and wounded.

The settlers believe these
stories, the General Sherman.

And it had them spooked.

So one day, the settlers came
to the tree with saws and axes,

determined to kill
the [non-english].

But the [inaudible]
saw what was happening.

They made the white men a deal.

They said, we will leave our
ancestral homeland forever,

if you will promise
to spare the tree.

And the settlers said,
why would you do this?

Why would you make that deal?

If you leave here, don't
you know, you might die.

And the [inaudible]
said, it is not

the number of lives that
is important to us to save,

it is the amount of life.

BEV: All right, well, um, you
know how to get there, right?

I think so.

Look, I really appreciate
you understanding, Steve.

I mean, we all do.

OK, uh, bring on that
big fat contract.

Hey, give me one second.

BEV: Oscar-- Oscar--
Oscar, no!

Hey, Steve, I
need to talk to you.

I got nothing to say to you.

Do you know what
this is about?

Uh-uh.
OSCAR: Can you wait up a sec?

You trained her really
good, didn't you, Oscar?

This idea that a
man is someone you

treat like a child, not
someone you can count on

to make the tough calls.
No, sir.

No, she's going to
tell him what's best.

Where do you suppose she
got an idea like that?

Listen--

No, you don't
tell me to listen.

You listen.

You don't write to her.
You don't call her.

You don't contact her.

I don't care if Riley swallows
a "Physician's Desk Reference."

Because every time you crawl
out of your little hole,

Bev turns into
somebody I don't know.

Now, if you'll excuse
me, I have a job.

I just have to say one thing.

It's going to have to wait.

If you ever lay a hand
on my daughter again,

I will kill you.

I just want to make that clear.

I will find you.

And I will kill you.
Capiche?

I'm driving.

You know that
it's 4:45, right?

It's almost sunset.

Are you sure this is
where your business lies?

Oh god, it's him.

Is he talking to it?

Oh, I hope that's unexpected.

Well, nothing ventured, right.

H-- here, sit.
Let me--

No, no.

Actually-- um-- I was kind
of planning on flying solo.

Can I trust you to film this?

Thanks.

I think it's just something
between me and the--

the Doka chief, you know.

OK.

Hey, film--

You're the one who
was filming me earlier.

I wasn't filming
you specifically.

You here to pray?
Don't worry.

It doesn't feel as
ridiculous as I imagined.

He's more human than
my hematologist.

Harder to stump too.

Was that a--

a tree joke?

It's mostly what I've
been doing over here.

My name's Colin, by the way.
- Riley.

Let me guess,
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Oral cancer.

Wow.

I'm not usually that far off.

- How about you?
- AIDS.

I'm sorry.

Oh, don't feel sorry
for me, oral cancer Riley.

I have a five-year
survival rate, over 25%.

Yours can't be higher than what?

20%?

- 10%.
- 10%.

You know, you can always
say his cousin was in the "New

England Journal of Medicine."

It's a paper joke.

Get it?
He's in the journal?

Yes.

Wow, you're better than
I thought you'd be.

Well, I get lucky
once in a while.

I think what we tell him
is what our disease is,

why we want to
live, and how long

we want to live for-- since
we don't want to seem greedy--

and maybe something we promise
to do if we get our wish.

OK.

Great Doka Chief, hi.
I'm Colin.

I've been HIV
positive for 14 years.

My T-cell count is 185.

My viral load's 100,000.

My area code's 415.

And my prognosis is poor.

If you cured me, I would
ask for three years,

so I can see the
video my sister-in-law

will slip me of my
nephew's graduation

from elementary school.

If you can do that for
me, I will plant a tree.

Your turn.

Oh, I--

I-- I think I made a mistake.
And--

Hey, if you want
me to go, I'll go.

Nice to meet you, Riley.

You too, Colin.
COLIN: Good luck.

Hello, Tree, my
name is Riley McGrady.

And I have stage 3 oral cancer.

OK.

If you cured me, I
would want to live.

You know?

Just whatever you think.

See, there's this--
there's this missionary.

I don't want you to
get the wrong idea.

He's not like-- like the ones
who killed your Indian friends.

He's way too kind for that.

But Tree, he is--

he's a terrible songwriter.

And I just want
to help so badly.

So-- so could you do that?

Dad?

OSCAR: I told you I'd
get us here, didn't I?

Oh, you guys came.

Mom-- Mom--

Riley!
Riley!

Riley, Riley!

Come on!
Come on!

Riley, you got-- you
got to stay awake, OK?

Riley, just stay with me, OK?

We're-- we're almost there.

If you-- if you want me to
take you to the hospital,

you just say the
word, you understand?

And this car will
sprout fucking wings!

[horn honking]

You know, you don't
have to help me anymore.

You kept your word.

You're right, Mr. Large.

You should just
drop me and bounce.

I mean it.

Then, you'll never
know what happened.

Did you hear me?

I release you.

I release you, Ogden Clark.

I release you.

Riley!

[music playing]

Bless the Lord, my
soul, who layeth

the beams of his
chambers in the waters,

who maketh the
clouds his chariot,

who walketh upon the
wings of the wind--

He said to his father,
Father, my head hurts.

OGDEN: --who maketh the angels
of spirits, whose ministers of

flaming fire who laid the
foundations of the earth,

that it should not
be removed forever.

Go up, ye bald head.

OGDEN: The glory of the
Lord shall endure forever.

He looketh on the
earth, and it trembles.

He touches the hills, and they
Smoke I will sing unto the Lord

as long as I live.

Bless thou, the Lord of my soul.

Praise ye, the Lord.

Praise ye, the Lord.

Amen.

Look at me, OK.

You're going to be all right.

Come on.

Ugh!

[heavy breathing]

OK, OK, OK.

RILEY (VOICEOVER):
Memories looped in my head

as I left this morning.

It was you and
me, Daddy and Van,

racing through
the Sierra Nevada,

driving into the
mountains on our way

to Sequoia National Park.

This memory was trees and
skies and green, green valleys.

This memory is foxes
and streams and life.

[faraway beeping]

What the hell are you doing?

I-- uh-- salvaged
your pack from your bag.

Christ, Van.

It's a fucking.

Hospital.

VAN: I know.

So where are
they, Mom and Dad?

Out there,
watching your video.

Mm.

Figured I'd deliver
it to them, like I said.

You have any idea what
happened to that guy

I was with?
- Who?

Ogden Clark?

Yeah, Dad fucked
him up pretty good.

It was kind of bad
ass, I have to say.

At the climax, he was, like,
standing over him, screaming

that he's calling the
cops and having him

locked up the rest of his life.

Shit.

VAN: Our father was re-born
a man-of-action today.

It's been a big afternoon.
- Mm.

What about Ogden?

What did you do?
- Bailed.

I'm sorry I fucked up the plan.

But you know, I was thinking.

Maybe-- um-- maybe
you could stick

around at least till I'm 18.

You can't fucking
leave me with them.

Please.

I'm glad you're OK.

Hey.

It's OK.
Yeah, yeah.

Dad--

So this is what it takes
to get us all together.

What does that mean?

Well, it's just, we're--

we're together as a family.

It's-- it's nice.

Yeah, one big, happy, fucking,
family reunion in the hospital.

- Yeah, you know--
- We should make this--

- Language.
- --a tradition.

- I can't deal with this.
- No, I'm serious.

- What?
- See what you've started?

I mean, you walk in and
you start this shit.

What I started?

She did not dedicate
the video to me.

It was dedicated right to you.
- I mean, you're no super-dad.

We've discussed this here.

- I understand all--
- It's fine.

Um, if you'd excuse me.

You're disturbing
the other patients.

If you guys could
just keep it down--

This is family visiting hours.

And this is what
this family does.

So I don't--
OSCAR: Van, shut up.

BEV: Shut up?
That's great parenting.

OSCAR: I didn't mean
to say, shut up.

I said, what--

BEV: No wonder Van's
so well-adjusted.

VAN: Oh, yeah, I'm--
OSCAR: You know what--

Hello?

OGDEN (ON PHONE): Hey, I had
this idea for some lyrics.

But I just want to
run them by you first.

See, your shit stopped
being so awesome.

[bickering]

It helps, doesn't it?

OGDEN (ON PHONE): I
guess we'll find out.

[banjo music on phone]
BEV: I know.

By the way, do you know why
she dedicated the video to me?

[ongoing bickering]

[banjo music on phone]

OGDEN (ON PHONE): (SINGING)
How I feel about you.

And that will never change.

I have set that bar so low, I
will never forget your name.

[music playing]

(SINGING) My daydreams
stretch as wide as the sea.

The innocent-- to comfort
them, seems to comfort me.

And the only sea left is
what I ring out from my hair.

I'm in the funnel of despair.

And how I feel about you--

and that will never change.

I have set that bar so low, I
will never forget your name.

MAN: 1, 2, 3, 4--

[MUSIC - ALEXANDER, "A MILLION
YEARS"]