States (2019) - full transcript

Sir, perdón, señor.

Uh, no... no, I una uh, passport.

Uh, es... um,

es... uh, está bien uh,

porton uh...

Wait, wait.

What the fuck is that?

What do you... what do you mean?

Uh, I'm... I'm in a little
bit of a predicament right now.

I... I don't have my passport.

I need to get back
over the border into Texas.



You said you have a car, right?

I do, I have it in the parking
right down the street.

Really need to get back there.

You have enough money
to pay for that?

'Cause, dude,
I don't wanna get in trouble.

Well, you know, I...
I would definitely pay you,

certainly, but the thing is
that I... I don't have

any money on me either
as well as having no passport.

So the problem is uh,
I would need to get the money

from my friend in a town

maybe 40, 50 miles outside
of Dallas.

Hmm.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Uh, do you have
any alien records?



Uh, illegal alien?

No.

No, like extra-terrestrial uh,
aliens like making music.

No, I sure don't.

No.

Do you mind if I ask you
a few questions?

No, go ahead.

How long have you been here?

- About 12 years.
- Oh yeah?

Have you ever been to Marfa?

Sure.

Ha... have you seen the lights?

- Yes, I have.
- Oh, man.

What do you think about them?

Uh,
I think it's either swamp gas

or uh,
mineral deposit reflections.

Oh, interesting.

So you don't think
they're extra-terrestrial?

- No, no.
- No.

- Do you believe in aliens?
- Sure, yeah.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Do you have any
like special theories

why they're here?

Uh, they're probably just
exploring like we are...

- Yeah.
- In space, right?

Would you go with them
if they asked?

Uh, it depends on for how long.

Yeah.

Yeah, like uh, are you thinking
like a month-long journey?

Or just like you know,
a couple days in space is okay?

Yeah, like a weekend getaway.

- Oh, weekend getaway, okay.
- Right.

- That's cool.
- Um...

You know, you can only take
so much probing.

Oh yeah, that's true.

That's cool.

Um, if you were looking
for aliens

where would you go?

- Oh, probably Roswell.
- Oh yeah?

It seems to be the
last place that they saw 'em.

I'm planning on
going there next.

That's what I think, too.

- Hi, there.
- Jesus, took you long enough!

Plus you fuck around
on the side streets

for like five minutes.

Sorry, um, yeah,
where are we headed?

Does the AC work?

Can you turn the AC on please?

- Oh yeah, yeah, sorry.
- Thank you.

Give me one second.

Uh, so you work at Crazy Girls?

Get a life.

You think I work at Crazy Girls?

Oh, s...
Sorry, I'm an idiot.

I just thought, 'cause
I was picking you up there...

'Cause you picked me up there

that I must work there
something?

Correlation implies causation?

Yeah, I'm an idiot, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to imply anything.

Alright.

Hmm, you keep a lot of stuff
on your floor.

What... wh... wh... what do you do?

Well, if you must know
I'm an actor.

I was at Crazy Girls

- researching a role.
- Oh.

And then this morning
I just went

- to drop something off.
- Cool.

Um, what... wh...
What was the role?

A stripper.

Oh, I'm s...

Um, yeah, I mean
I guess that makes sense like...

Yeah,
I guess that does make sense.

I... I was just curious, 'cause...

What's your name?

- Frank.
- Frank.

You ever been
to a strip club before, Frank?

Uh, no, I... I... I don't really...

Oh, bullshit.

- I call bullshit on this.
- I just...

Never stepped foot inside
a strip club?

No, I'm not really...

Oh my God, I am so not buying
that line

of like male pseudo feminist.

"Oh, I've never been
to a strip club in my life."

I would never go
to a strip club.

"It's so demeaning."

I'm sorry I feel like we got
off on the wrong foot and I just...

Uh, I didn't mean
to like insult you

or anything like that.

I feel like I'm going
around in circles.

Now, you're gonna take the 101
to the 170.

- You know where that is?
- Yeah.

You just see... you'll...
you'll see signs for it,

just keep going straight.

Where are we going again?

Just get on the highway please.

Just the 10... just take the 101
to the 170.

- Do you know where the 170 is?
- W... what... what?

- You know what the 170 is?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah,
so just take the 101 to the 170.

- What's the...
- And we'll go from there.

Destination though?

Just a second.

Just give me one second.

Are you looking
at the directions or...

Yes, Frank.

Oh yeah, all of my best friends.

So just keep getting over,

'cause we're gonna
pass that if...

Ventura or like...

Yeah, Ventura... either.

- Both of them.
- I know.

Uh, so we're kind of far...
Far out in the freeway now.

Uh, do you um, do you happen
to know where we're...

- Oh my God.
- Going?

Look at this fucking
basic ass bitch.

Look at her.

What a stupid...

Would you fuck this girl?

Do you think that shit is sexy?

Is that like cheesy bullshit
like, "Oh my God!"?

- Uh, are you just on Instagram?
- "Oh God."

- I thought you were...
- This fucking bitch...

Okay,
so I see her at an audition,

and we start following
each other on Instagram,

and then she is going
through my pictures,

and finds the one... the only
like somewhat sexy photo

I have on Instagram

and says that I have
fucking daddy issues, which is...

And then now I'm looking
at her Instagram

and there is literally a video
of her fellating

a fucking pickle

and she's gonna tell me
that I have daddy issues.

Look at her, look,
look at this, look at this.

Uh, we're eating
a fucking ice cream sundae

with a little like, "Ooh,
oh my God."

What is that? What goes in here?

"What goes in this mouth?"

Uh, okay, but that's not gonna...

Uh, you're not getting us
any closer to an address or...

- "Will you..."
- Uh...

"Will you be my daddy?

Can you tell me
where penises go?"

- Where we're going?
- "I don't know."

Hey, Buck Lee, need a ride?

Oh, yeah.

Come... come on, hop in.

Oh God, thank you.

That's okay.

Hey.

Where you coming from, pilgrim?

Uh, San Francisco,
basically, yeah.

Look at him, Mak.

Oh, he's cute.

What's your name?

- Simon.
- Simon.

Simon.

Simon, I'm Jaz.

- Oh, I'm Makenzie.
- Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you,
Jaz and Makenzie.

You're something.

No, he's precious.

Thank you.

How old are you?

Uh, 27.

That's sweet, 27.

That's a cute age.

How... how old are you?

- Yeah, same.
- Same?

- Mmhmm.
- Cool.

How long you've been doing this?

It's like three months
basically.

Let your hair grow out like that
I can tell.

- I'm... I'm writing a book a...
- Okay.

Yeah, it's poetry.

- It's a book of poetry.
- Oh, wow, poetry!

So you're an artiste, huh?

Well, I mean, yeah.

- Can I read it?
- Well, when it's...

- Well, let us read it.
- When it's done.

- Oh.
- When it's done, yeah.

- Totally.
- Okay.

Yeah, I'll... I'll sign a copy

and I'll send it right on
to you.

So where... where
did you say you're from?

Um, I'm from San Francisco.

- Oh.
- Yeah.

That's sort of a funny...
People are kind of funny there.

Yeah.

I mean, yeah, a lot...
I mean, it's great.

I mean I didn't...
I didn't grow up there.

I'm not like uh... uh, like uh,
someone from the bay, but I...

- Are you gay?
- Uh, yeah.

I mean I'm... I...
I identify as queer but, yeah.

Yeah, are you?

No, no.

No, I like cock.

Fine.

I love your hair,
I always wish I had curly hair.

Thank you.

Um, so wait.

What...
Why are you going to Salt Lake?

There is like this big reading
that happens.

This um,
it's like this major event...

Like this huge conference
of writers,

so I hitchhiked from...
From San Francisco to Salt Lake.

And I'm gonna spend
the next two weeks there

getting ready
for this weird thing

that could lead
to a lot of like...

Like you know, basically
like every major agents there

you know, like you know,
the Graywolf,

fucking Rivershead,
like they're all gonna

be watching um, the people
who are reading.

So um, this could be
a really big platform for me

and my... yeah,
like I don't know.

Well, maybe you can put
something about me in it.

Yeah, yeah, maybe.

Maybe.

I mean I've been writing
about every... everything

- I've been encountering, so...
- Okay.

Yeah, it wouldn't be
that surprising

if you two ended up in it.

Alright, welcome to Texas.

Get out the trunk.

Get out.

205, right?

Your homie's house.

Yeah.

Go get my money now.

Uh, alright, well, uh,
just give me...

Give me one second, alright?

I got... I just got to... I ta...
I got to talk to my friend, okay?

No problem, go get it.

Alright.

Alright.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, wait!

Where are you going?

Stop, stop!

Stop, wait, stop!

How'd you even try to fucking
run away from me, man?

Hello, man.

Hey.

Hey, buddy, you got any money?

Maybe you got any cigarettes.

Oh yeah, welcome, bud.

If you've seen
a couple of bucks,

get up here.

You'd be okay out here?

You sure you ain't got
a cigarette?

No, I... I... I don't smoke, man.

Actually, uh...

- Yeah?
- So...

You sure you don't any money?

Hey, hey, ta... taxi.

Can you just...
Uh, can you drive me somewhere?

Like uh, anywhere please uh,
just uh, drive.

Where you wanna go?

Uh, just... just uh... uh,
anywhere please.

I just need to...
Uh, I need get out of here.

Okay.

Where you from?

Uh, I...
I grew up in Detroit actually.

Everything is bigger in Texas.

So where did you come from?

This Eritrea, that small country
northeast Africa.

- Eritrea?
- Yes, sir.

- By uh, Ethiopia?
- Yes.

Close.

Okay.

And what brought you here?

That's a long story.

Are you familiar with this area?

- This is Dealey Plaza.
- Yeah.

- This is Dealey Plaza here?
- Yeah.

So like uh, you know, this is
where you know,

- Zapruder filmed uh, Kennedy.
- Yes.

Is there anywhere we could stop
for a minute?

I... I've uh, I've...
I've always you know...

You know, seen this since I...
I was a kid.

- I... I'd really love to uh...
- Sure.

Get out for a moment,
if you don't mind.

Sure.

I... I can't believe that uh,

that I'm looking
at this right now.

Well, that's history,
sad history, but...

- Yeah.
- It is history.

Yeah, you know I've seen the...
I've seen the videos

- and everything, but uh...
- Look like a...

He was... he was coming...
Coming down here?

Yeah, coming down here.

I... I believe it was
under that fence.

Going this way?

Yes.

So...

That's the depository.

That's the depository there.

And obviously
where we're sitting now is the...

- The knoll.
- Yes.

And then so behind me over here
is the... is the fence.

Is the fence, yeah.

I can't believe
that I'm here right now.

It's um... you know, you...
You build this picture

in your uh, in your head uh,
you know, of a place in history.

You know,
it doesn't seem someone...

To actually be there,
it doesn't seem uh,

it doesn't seem real you know,

it seems like a dream.

He really was a nice man.

Hey, where are you going?

Uh, Roswell.

I can...
I can take you towards it.

A good way.

Ursa, hey.

Oh, thank you.
Thank you for stopping.

Uh,
you can come up front if you want.

- Oh no, I'm fine back here.
- Alright.

Thank you.

- Well, this is Ursa.
- Oh.

- And I'm Joe.
- I'm Rachel.

- Yeah, nice to meet you.
- Thank you for stopping.

No problem.

It's hot outside.

You heading to
Albuquerque or something

or is Roswell the destination?

Um, Roswell is the
destination for now I guess.

I'll see,
gonna find when we get there.

When I get there.

You got any family there?

No.

Never been there.

So what's
with the tape recorder?

Are you a journalist?

No, this is just
for personal use.

What are you looking to learn?

Where to go and what to do,
but something tells me

that when I get there
I'll just know.

Know what?

I don't know, I'll just know it.

Then why are you going?

Okay,
you're gonna think I'm crazy,

you're gonna think
you picked up a crazy person,

but um, I... I've been hearing
like music in my head,

and dreams,
and I just think Roswell is

where those are leading me to.

Looking for an epiphany?

So you're gonna
go over to Debris Field

to see what's left of it?

Uh, no.

Isn't that usually where
all the alien nuts go?

Isn't that where they crashed?

Are you calling me
"an alien nut"?

You hear music.

I am an alien communicator.

What are y'all saying?

I mostly just listen,
dance sometimes.

Um, it makes me feel
more connected.

Do the aliens have
electro dance music?

Um, it's kind of like...

I think that one's taken.

Well, I'm not doing it justice.

It's hot cross buns.

Well, it doesn't actually sound
like that.

So what do you think it means?

I don't know.

It's just when I hear it,
it makes me feel...

Makes you feel free.

Feel like I can go anywhere
and do anything.

It's beautiful
that hot cross buns

make you feel that great.

Is that better?

It's sure way more
comfortable up here.

Yes, thank you.

We friends yet?

We've made contact,
we're friends now.

That's good.

Well, there is certain phenomena
that they can't explain,

'cause we don't have
the technology,

we don't have the machinery.

You know, those Marfa lights.

Uh, people see ghosts.

Uh, people go
into different dimensions,

people have
out-of-body experiences.

I've had one and I hurt myself.

I've had um,
I've had some sensations, too.

Um, and some... some...
I don't know what you call it.

Um, metaphysical
or paranormal experiences,

but um, I know they're real.

I just know that we call them
"paranormal",

because we don't
fully understand them.

Like you're gonna have
to ask yourself is

what would it take to know
for sure.

Mmhmm.

It wouldn't just
take somebody telling you.

Not only are we not alone
in the universe,

but we're not alone
on this planet.

- Half price?
- Yeah.

How much is the tour?

Alright.

Let me think about it.

There you would
see the Hollywood sign

and take pictures.

You drive this?

Nice.

This is the same kind
of girl who like complains

about people sexualizing her
on the internet.

Like, "Oh my God,
I know I posted pictures"

of my twat everywhere,
but it's not about sexuality.

I mean it is, but
not like what you think it is,

only what I think it is.

"Only I'm allowed
to sexualize myself."

Actresses like her
are exactly the reason

why there are
no interesting parts for women,

why they're all just
sex-toy victims

whose only purpose
in the story is

to cater to the male character's
fucking journey or whatever.

We always get the same
like victimy goal

where it's no matter
what you are

you are also a sex object.

Yeah,
I kinda know what you mean.

And you're both of those things.

You don't know what I mean,
you're a guy.

What?

Do you know
what I'm talking about?

I mean, yeah...

Rampant sexism
that makes most entertainment

just completely boring
and unwatchable.

Yeah, I... I totally agree
with you.

- I mean I...
- Really?

I write... I write screen...
Screenplays

and I try to write female roles
that are like actually

well-rounded and interesting.

You shitting me?

- I mean, yeah.
- You are shitting me?

Yeah, no, yeah, I... I do that.

Like I don't care about
what is in your plot.

A story with female characters
just like plot devices,

that is interesting.

I mean I agree
it's not as interesting.

I get... I guess I'm just saying
I get what you're saying.

Yeah, I'm... I'm...

You're not one of those guys
who's trying to convince me

he's not one of those guys,
are you?

No, no, I actually...
I actually do this.

Like I...
I try to write something

with real female roles and...

The problem is like that's not...

You know.

Good for you.

No, rea... I mean
sincerely we need more writers

like that
in the arena of writing.

So much mediocrity
muddying the waters.

Okay, I... I... I'm glad we're
having like a real conversation,

but like I actually need to know
um, where you're going.

Like where I'm...
Where I'm supposed

to be taking you?

So I am going to Vegas,
that's where I'm on my way to.

Uh, but you do not have
to drive me

all the way to Vegas.

You've been very generous
with your time and your car.

So as close as you feel
comfortable driving me

would be really great.

I can just get off at a...

- You want me to just drop you...
- Yeah.

At the side of the road
somewhere?

Well, not that.

I mean you know, a gas station
or something.

You know, I could probably
find someone

to hitch a ride with
from there I guess.

Between you and me,
I can't really afford an Uber

all the way to Las Vegas anyway,
so...

I mean if you were driving
to Vegas, I would love

to drive with you just
'cause uh, you know,

you seem
like a very normal person

and honestly, I've been enjoying
our conversation very much.

So that would be...
But again, no pressure.

I'm happy to get out
and find a ride

from wherever you drop me off.

It's really not a problem.

What are you thinking about?

I don't know.

A lot of... a lot of stuff.

I don't know.

I just... like everything
and nothing.

Oh my God,
you got a writer's mind.

Funny.

I'm gonna go sit back,
I'm gonna sit with Simon.

Oh my God,
you're gonna sit with Simon.

Excuse me.

Me and you.

Are you looking out the window
or you're looking at me?

I'm looking at you.

- You hear that, Kenz?
- Yeah, yeah.

Oh my God.

Simon, tell me more
about your adventure.

There... there's like very few
opportunities for poets.

Like being a poet it's like...
It's like... like the...

Like the worst uh,
creative endeavor

one could decide

- to partake in.
- Uh-huh.

Like I've done like
every sort of like coffee shop

you can do in the bay.

You know, I've like... I've been
on almost every fucking website

for emerging poets you know,
and this is my first...

Like my only opportunity
to shape my life

and push my career
into sort of lit...

Into sort of literary wor...
Wor... oh God!

The literary r... realm.

I can't speak.

The literary realm
that I'm trying to break into

you know, it's like it's a place
where I'll be taken seriously

and where like I can move
into a different direction

as a poet you know,
because like it doesn't matter

if people in like San Francisco
care about the things I write,

you know?

Like if... if like... if people
aren't gonna remember me

like what was the point?

None of that matters
unless you're...

You're pleasing
the Father first?

You consider yourself
a spiritual man?

I... I... like I consider myself
more like a philosophical man.

Okay.

What do you think happens
when you die?

Um...

I can't really say what happens,
you know?

Um, I... 'cause I haven't died.

But yeah.

Yeah, that's how I feel.

You know?

But like I love...
I love spiritual...

Are you guys spiritual or...

- Yeah.
- Feebly spiritual.

- Yeah.
- Oh, that's amazing.

- That's so cool, yeah.
- It's like a v...

It's like an energy vortex
out here

and like I'm surprised
you can't feel it.

Wow!

No, like I mean
I... like being with you guys

- will help me feel that I hope.
- Yeah, yeah.

You know,
like that's what I need right now.

We're taking you to Zion.

- Zion.
- Yeah.

The beautiful city of God.

Okay, okay.

- It's... it's like a mecca.
- Oh nice!

That's really... okay, cool,
yeah.

Just sightseeing.

- Okay.
- Yeah.

Taking in the sights.

Yeah, oh, that's...
That's totally...

That's totally fine.

Yeah, I uh... this whole thing,
it's sort of like...

It's... yeah, it's like
that's what it's about,

you know?

She's been touched.

She's been t... touched.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh my God, that's...

Oh my God, that was... thank you.

Thank you.

That's... I mean...

Hmm.

That fact that like... this is
what it's all about you know,

like... like in this
crazy fucking country,

like there is
so many different ways

to like express you know,
your love of like yourselves,

and the world,
and like your gods,

and like the fact that there are
so many different ways

- to express your faith...
- Yeah.

Like that's... dude, thank you.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Okay.

Obviously, a good one.

You know, just uh...

Just 'cause you're not...

If you wanna come
to heaven with us, you can.

Um, if you want to.

Alright.

You don't...
You don't have to go.

You don't have to go now.

Hey, man.

You alright?

Hey, you alright?

Um, well, I've been better,
to be honest.

Can I help you with something?

You... you're passed out
in the middle of a parking lot.

Uh, do you need
a ride somewhere?

I'm trying to uh...
Trying to get to a town

called "Alpine" in Texas.

Uh, I'm not going that far west,
but I'm going to West Texas

to... to linger, but you um...

I could use a companion
if you'd like to go along?

Okay.

Uh, thank you, you know so much
for uh, for helping me out here.

Giving me a ride,
waking me up and everything.

Dude, I'm glad to help out.

It's kind of what I do.

So now why are you heading
to Alpine?

Just...

Uh, well, I...
I guess you can say

I'm... I'm looking for a friend.

Or I mean somebody I thought
who was a friend.

You have to drive
like long distances

like this pretty often?

Uh, no, this is just you know,

just the enjoyment of being free

and you know,
having some vacation time.

Okay, so uh,
just kind of rambling, huh?

Yeah, I don't know exactly.

I know the direction
I'm heading,

but I'm not really sure
you know, how I'm getting into

or what I'm gonna be...

Kind of leaving it
a little bit open for magic.

See where the uh...

See where the world
kind of takes you?

Yeah.

You've got the right idea
you know,

waking up in parking lots
you know, it just...

You know, not...
Not knowing exactly

where you are.

I think you're...
You're living a good life.

You're a role model.

I mean what would you rather
be like?

Like sitting behind a desk,
answering emails

or being passed out on a...
On a grocery store parking lot?

Driving with a friend,
a new friend.

It's been happening
a little too uh,

a little too often
for my taste lately,

to be honest.

It sounds
like you're living a good life.

- I mean...
- I don't know.

I don't know if I'd say good.

I'm... I'm living a life.

Oh, it sounds like you're here
on a hero sort of thing.

You know,
I guess you got a point there,

it's a little bit of uh-

See that says, "slow down".

I think we oughta speed up.

You're behind the wheel, man.

Always.

Have you ever heard that song
" Jesus, Take the Wheel "?

- Uh, yeah.
- Yeah, Carrie Underwood.

Uh, what's with the uh,
Jesus Cross there that you got?

It's just for my back.

It helps me
kinda straighten out.

I have... I have some
back problems, lower back.

I injured my back.

So you carry that Cross with you
wherever you go?

Yeah.

Just... I keep it in my trunk.

Alright.

It just reminds me you
know, of my...

So uh, sorry, where...
We're heading uh,

towards where now?

San Antonio.

- You... you know Saint Anthony?
- Yeah, yeah.

It's a spiritual place,
it's like absolutely incredible.

You've never been there?

Oh, no, I've never been there.

Do you...
I mean I'm not in a huge hurry.

What do you think?

You wanna just like...

Have you ever seen the Alamo
or...

- No.
- Or...

No, the Alamo.

Remember the Alamo,
no, I haven't uh...

Yeah.

Hopefully, we'll get lost a bit.

It's odd uh, you
know, I've passed through uh,

Texas so many times,
I've never...

Never been down here before.

I can't uh... don't know why.

Well, I mean I think we have
pretty busy lives,

we're always trying to get
from one destination

to the other.

Excuse us.

Um, yeah,
so we don't often take time

to just linger.

So tell me again
about this person

you're trying to find.

All I know about this guy
is that he works at a record store

in a place called Alpine, Texas.

He could be lying though.

Is he a friend of yours
or a relative or...

- Well...
- What's up with that?

I uh, I don't really
know, to be honest.

I... I kind of thought
he was a friend.

I... I don't really know
if I can trust anything

about who he is
or what this guy is now?

Hmm.

Kind of you know, played me,
took all my shit,

and just left me out
in the middle of nowhere.

I got to find this fucker
somehow, you know?

Wow.
Uh, it sounds kind of angry.

Are you... this is... huh?

It makes me really mad,

- I could have...
- Right.

You know, I could have died
in that you know...

You know I need to I...

Yeah,
I'm sorry that happened to you.

- So I n...
- Like kind of.

I don't have a
lot to lose anymore.

I've got you know clothes
on my body.

- Oh, congratulations again.
- Well.

All these revelations.

So uh, you know, I guess uh,
I guess have enough

having nothing
to lose like that.

Uh, I've got the uh,
got the freedom to uh,

to give an ass-kicking
and risk the consequences.

What would you do you?

You... what do you think
I should just like let it go?

Forgive this guy?

That's a great start
or maybe a great end.

I can't say
I'm gonna consider that.

I don't know
if that's gonna work for me.

So all this talk about
like forgiveness

and things like that,
I got to ask,

are you like a religious guy,

like
am I sensing something there?

I'm religious about watching
college basketball or...

I'm religious about drinking.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Yeah.

Say what you will
about you know, what you know,

miracles and uh... you alright?

Yeah, I'm fine.

There are many historians
that you know, believe

that maybe that uh, you know,
these saints were you know,

there's some historical basis
to them existing you know,

maybe the miracles
aren't a thing.

Hmm.

But you know, these were just
you know, actual people

just kind of uh, out there
being you know,

saintly I guess or whatever.

So you know, who's to say
that you're not a saint

or that you know, there aren't
saints walking around uh,

among us, you know?

In ancient times, you...
You know, people believed

in you know,
supernatural miracles

and things like that
and you know, ma...

Okay,
look over here for a second.

Not that your story's
not important,

but isn't that cool?

A giraffe with sunglasses.

And a mad woman.

- An angry woman.
- Yeah.

Huh,
I wonder I would've seen that.

Perhaps, you're a saint.

Um, yeah, I... I guess
I don't really know

if I'm ready
to be a saint right now,

to be honest, but...

Oh look, a duck.

We have light waves, don't
we, particles that come to Earth?

- Yeah.
- Why not sound?

Sound is a particle also
and it comes like light.

So what... what we're hearing is
probably voices

of creatures to communicate
with us to decode.

Fuck me.

Hey, will you take my picture?

Uh, yeah, sure, I guess.

I wanna give it to my kid.

Alright.

Is this good?

Yeah, that's great.

- Yeah.
- Great.

Thank you.

No problem.

It's just so goddamn beautiful.

I travel a lot

and I'm really starting
to hate my fucking job.

At least I know I can come here
and take a look at this.

I don't mean
to talk your ear off.

It's like I had
a shitty childhood,

abusive dad.

I got some positive things
from my mom though.

I learned how to fight,

'cause she'd beat the shit out
of me, too.

You were gonna laugh at that,
weren't you?

I take comfort in
knowing that Mother Nature

doesn't give a shit.

We're like this big
in the big scheme of things.

Life is indifferent to us.

All my life, people always think
I should do what I'm good at.

We cover Hollywood,
West Hollywood, Beverly Hills,

Bel Air, Rodeo Drive...

But I'm really
getting sick of it.

The tour is for two hours.

Because it's not
what I really like to do.

I've got a deal right now,
I give you a $20 deal.

We are a legitimate
touring company,

you got to be careful of that.

Hollywood tours.

Who wants a Hollywood tour?

Hollywood tour?

You want a Hollywood tour?

Hollywood tours?

Hey, you want a Hollywood tour?

I do want to
do a Hollywood tour.

What do you do?

I got the whole rundown
movie stars,

classic era to present day.

What do you want? Movie stars?

How much do you charge?

Dude, you don't look
like you do tours.

You don't look... like you don't
have anything on you.

I got it all up here.

I know everything
about all the movie stars

for the silent era, classic era,
present day,

whatever you want.

You want movie stars?

But you look
like you may be dark side...

Dark side of Hollywood? Murders?

- I like dark side.
- Yeah.

- What do you charge?
- 30 bucks.

How about we do it for 20?

Make it 25.

No, how about we do it for 20
and I'll drive.

- Okay, great, let's do it.
- Alright.

Now, imagine early 20th
century, alright?

You have uh,
Eastern European Jews

escaping from the pogroms,

escaping from repression
in Europe.

They come to the United States,
they're in New York,

they get involved in showbiz,

they get involved
in movie industry,

but at the time
Edison owns all the cameras,

Edison owns all the patents,
they have to escape that.

So they go out to California.

It's an entirely new world.

No one's out here at this point.

It's cheap.

Cheap land, cheap labour,

and they envision
this entirely new thing,

Hollywood, right?

They have all this land,
build these studios,

now they can create anything,
big musicals.

So here we are.

Well, this is
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre.

This is one of the first
big grand theaters they built.

This is where they're gonna have
their big movie premieres.

So they roll out the red carpet.

You know, this is where
the red carpet comes from,

right?

They roll out the red carpet,
they had the movie stars

walking on the red carpet,
and then there's fans,

fans coming
from all over the states,

from all the country,
from all over the world.

They come here to see their...
Their idols, you know?

This is the idolatry,
this is hero worship at its...

At its... at its finest, right?

So you have people you know,
people on either side

of the red carpet.

You have people over here
on this side of the carpet,

"Oh, oh, Douglas!"

Douglas Fairbanks, right?

And then people over here,
"Oh, oh, oh!"

Mary Pickford, right?

You know,
you wanna touch your idol,

but you wanna become that idol,
you wanna live forever

just like them
up on the silver screen,

up on the silver screen
in the Egyptian Theatre,

which is the i...
This idea of ancient...

What can live forever?

Movies can live forever.

That's what they're
implying here, right?

Hollywood is here.
This is Hollywood.

This is Hollywood
at the pinnacle

where dream factories
are being built everywhere,

this is the biggest thing,

this is where
everyone's coming in.

They're busting them in, okay?

By the thousands, everyone,
wannabes, nobodies,

nobodies wanna be wannabes,
wannabes wanna be

somebody,
somebodies are nobodies,

nobodies are somebodies,
wannabes everywhere

as far as the eye can see
crowding the red carpet.

Across the way there
that's the Roosevelt Hotel.

That's the original location
they had for Academy Awards,

the Oscars, right?

The first ceremony ever.

Imagine... okay, we're back now,
we're in the late 1920s, okay?

So Hollywood's established,
right?

It's making
these big glamorous movies,

exporting them
all over the country,

all over the world,
everyone's celebrating, right?

But what does Hollywood
wanna do now?

They wanna celebrate themselves,
right?

So they get together
in a big circle jerk party

at the Roosevelt Hotel,

they all hand each other
gold statues, right?

So they're gonna
glamorize themselves

even further.

They're gonna show themselves
to be the best

at everything, right?

And does it work?

Did it ever?

Look at this.

We're gonna need a bigger boat,
right?

Yeah, here we are.

This is where they have
the Oscars now.

The Dolby Theatre.

Enough of this classic
Hollywood bullshit.

You promised me you're gonna
show me some dark sides

of this town.

Okay, okay,
we're gonna get to it.

We're gonna go to the really
fucked up places, okay?

Just keep going straight.

There is some really
fucked-up shit in Hollywood

I'm telling you.

Uh, it's really dark
and you know,

I'm seeing it up, and close,
and personal now.

I'm trying to... trying to get in
to the industry.

I'm writing screenplays
it's... you can't...

You can't do anything.

It's all about who you know.

It's important.

It's fucked up.

I'm writing
something really great.

It's gonna change
the whole world

once it finally gets made,

but right now it just gets lost
in the sea

of mediocrity,
'cause there's so many...

You just feel... you feel
like you feel the desperation,

you feel the anguish
and just everyone trying

to be discovered.

So what's your screenplay about?

Uh, it's about time travel.

Seems... that seems
like a little weird

to just drop you
at a random place.

It's totally fine.

Why are you going
to Las Vegas anyway?

Uh, to research that part.

I don't know I just had
to get out of Los Angeles,

you know?

I...

I started to feel
so stifled there.

Everything exists
in this weird LA world

that is not really a reflection
of real...

I mean do... you must know
what I'm talking about.

Do you ever feel that way?

Do you just wanna...

Just break through
the force field,

go see something else
or be somewhere else

or be someone else?

You know what I'm talking about?

So I was thinking,
we should just...

Let's just go,
let's go to Vegas.

- Uh, are you...
- Are you serious?

Yeah. Yeah, let's do it.

- You're gonna get there.
- Oh my God!

Thank you!

That was the best thing!

This is gonna be so much fun.

Oh my God! You are the best.

- Hey.
- Here you go.

Oh, thank you so much.

You're so sweet.

I do not know why my card
is not working, that's so weird.

I like just put money
in my account.

So you really don't believe
in anything?

Well...

Yeah, I mean I think it depends

on what your parameters
for belief are.

You know, like I believe in art
and like expression.

You know, for me that is
like my version of spirituality

in like the greatest sense,
like the idea that...

That like my singular voice
can like change

someone's perspective
or their politics

on like a purely
like individual level.

Man, can I get a cig off you?

It's my last one.

Oh, appreciate it. Thank you.

Can I get a light, too?

What? I'm sorry.

You want me to smoke
the cigarette for you, too?

No, that's cool, man.

Aren't you one of those
ghost hunter people?

- Ghost?
- No.

What the fuck is a ghost hunter?

I thought you was
a ghost hunter.

You're sitting
in a really ghostly spot.

You don't know?

This is a hell of a place
for a nigger to be smoking

a cigarette.

Why?

- You see that house, brother?
- Uh-huh.

Back in the day,
shit used to go down.

There was this old rich
white bitch, right?

And she had a real distaste
for niggas.

Mmhmm.

And not like the usual
white person back in the days,

like she really hated niggas.

She would host parties
on the second floor

and chop dicks off on the third.

She had a dick chopping room.

Didn't stop at chuck...
Chopping dicks

left and right, you know?

Chopping dicks left and right
right here?

Yeah,
and that was the lucky ones.

The worst ones used
to get slashed open

all in the guts, they'd take out
the gall bladder for no reason.

Anything she could take out,
she would take it out

and just see how long
they last without it.

You know what I mean?

You would think somebody
would notice

all those dicks everywhere
you know just...

You know,
when the trash bank comes

and he's got a whole bunch
of black dicks in his trash

get a whole bunch of black dicks
in the trash

and you think
maybe she gave up pretty soon.

Brother, she wanted
a long fucking tower.

You know, what got her caught?

What?

A beautiful
12-year-old baby girl.

She was trying to torture
this girl,

but this girl had a you know,
she had a will to live, right?

So she made it out,
she jumped the banister,

hit the floor
in the middle of the street.

You can't pass that shit.

And that almost got her caught,
almost.

Everywhere
there were some questions.

The fire people are like,
"Why you got little slave girls

jumping off your banister?"

She's like "Uh, you know,
how niggas be."

That's what she said, right?

She said, "You know,
how the niggas be"?

Uh, I think
that's what she said.

"You know how those niggas be
just jumping off banisters."

You know, the white slut
was saying.

"You know how niggas be
jumping off banisters."

And the cop was like,
"Yeah, we know how the niggas

be jumping off banisters."

And they let that bitch go.

You believe that shit?

So I shouldn't be
smoking cigarette right here,

just that's what you're saying.

Yeah.

A little 12-year-old girl
might actually fall out.

You know, fuck up your night up.

Yeah.

But fuck that.

If you wanna go to a real place,
it's called

"the Lafitte's Blacksmith",
you know.

And blacksmiths is nice
honest people, you know?

They had... you know?

They gave niggas horseshoes
when they needed 'em.

- Let's go.
- Let's do it.

I mean that's... that to me...

- I don't know what is more...
- Okay.

To believe in than that.

Okay, sorry to interrupt,

but if you don't wanna look
at God,

look out... look at...
Look out your window, man.

What are you looking at
out there?

You don't think
you're a part of that?

Yeah, I mean no,
I am, but it's like...

It's different though
in a way, you know?

Simon, Simon,
you are that mountain,

and Makenzie... Makenzie's Zion.

Don't you understand that?

Hmm.

No.

But like I mean...

I want to.

Good, good.

So this is gonna
be the quintessential.

West Texas town,

ranching, if someone put it
on the map,

then I guess I would, I would.

See Dolph Briscoe Jr.,
that was one of our governors.

Oh, you... you...
uh, you said that earlier

like uh, famous uh,
that's what this town is

- famous for having the...
- Yeah.

Hometown boy that went
on to become governor, huh?

Right.

You're not from Canada,
are you originally?

No, I grew up in
uh, I grew up near Detroit.

Mmhmm.

I hope you didn't take offense
to that.

Oh my God, the Kincaid.

That... that's a cool hotel.

Church's fried chicken.

I'm always drawn to things
that are religious.

Thank you for keeping me awake.

I'm kinda tired.

Yeah, I got to be
honest, I'm like kind of um,

all ready to pass out here.

Wow, what's that?

Twice the Ice.

You've got to love penguins.

Look at that Gringo,
Johnny Gringos.

I guess that's not offensive.

So uh, what now?

You know, my back still hurts.

Um, I'm thinking this is
where we maybe part ways.

I go one way and you can
kind of go the other.

I uh, just wondered
if you wanna just

take a shot of whiskey together.

Uh, so you... you're saying
I can... can uh,

crash with you here?

No, I mean I just... yeah,
I think your journey's that way

and mine's that way.

Alright, well, uh, yeah,
whiskey it is.

Let there be light.

Thank you for everything.

My pleasure.

We will be so happy.

This is great,
I'll do everything.

I'll do...
I'll do the space mission.

I'll be the best...
I will be the best for you.

You know what I wanna do?

What?

Guess.

Uh, you want to
be a motivational speaker.

No.

I wanna blog.

I wanna blog
about all the shitty bathrooms

and shitty burger joints
I see out there.

I mean you could find God
in the sky,

you could find God
in the canyon,

but I'd be goddamned
if you can't find God

in a nice burger
and a clean ass bathroom.

So where are you going next?

Hollywood.

What's in Hollywood?

Movie stars.

Do you ever wish
you could go back,

talk to your younger self,
maybe give some advice?

Yeah, I do.

Not me.

I wouldn't change
a fucking thing

about my wretched life.

Well, thanks for the picture.

So you wanted the dark
side of Hollywood, right?

It doesn't get more fucked up
than the Church of Scientology.

A lot of people say
the Manson murders

were the end of the 1960s,

because they destroyed
people's um, faith in everything

that was going on at the time.

They came here to this house
and they killed uh,

the LaBianca family,
but first they held 'em here

hostage for two days.

So we got hordes of people come
into Hollywood.

They all want to make it,
they want to be movie stars,

they wanna see themselves up
on a silver screen.

One of these people,
Elizabeth Short,

she comes in the mid-1940s

um, and she's this wannabe
who wants to be somebody, right?

And you know they call her
"Betty Short" for short uh,

and she never really makes it,
she's never a movie star,

she's never really up
on the silver screen,

but she finds fame
in a different way,

in infamy, in death.

She was murdered, cut in half,
and her body,

the two pieces of it,
were found right over there

on that grass.

This was just a field
at the time

and the press had a field day

when they found out about this,
'cause it's...

It was so sensational.

And so it's
on every newspaper's front page,

every Los Angeles tabloid has
the uh, Black Dahlia murders,

because her friends call her
the "Black Dahlia".

This brutal murder
was another sort of case

of "Oh, Hollywood
isn't the uh, innocent place"

that it seems
when you see in the movies.

It... it's actually there is
a dark underbelly uh,

and she represents that.

She is this similar...

And ehe murder
was never solved either,

so there is no resolution to it.

It's just this void of...
Of mystery and... and intrigue

and... and romance.

She found her immortality,
but only by exposing

her actual mortality.

Let's take a moment of silence

to remember Betty Short.

We have a ton to get through,
okay?

- Um, do you have time?
- Do I have time?

- Yeah.
- Not really.

Okay, well, if we don't get
to everything uh,

you can give me a call,
my address is on here as well.

I'm very neighborly,
come just knock on my door,

whatever, we can do a part 2,
we can do a part 3

if we run out of time.

Um, yeah.

Is this your business?
That's what you do?

Yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah.

I've know everything
about Hollywood,

I'm always thinking
about this stuff.

I wanna make movies,
I'm a screenwriter,

so yeah, I do this.

Well, I also like drive Uber,
Lyft, all that stuff,

to make extra money on the side,
but I'm trying to do this.

This is my, like my gig,
you know?

I wanna make it in Hollywood.

So can we go check out
some actors' homes?

Yeah,
I know where they all live.

Just name one.

Freddy Parks.

Freddy Parks.

Oh yeah, like that child actor.

Yeah, I know where he lives.

Um, yeah,
just keep going straight

and then take a right
at the next uh, chance you can.

Yeah, fucking Freddy Parks.

I haven't thought of that guy
in a while.

He's really fucked up now,
right?

He's all hooked on drugs,
he's in and out of rehab,

he owes people money, right?

You see him do
those commercials now,

'cause he's... he's uh,
well, he got gambling problems

and all kinds of stuff.

God, that's the worst, right,

the plight
of a fucking child actor, huh?

You know you think
it's everything you want, right?

You grow up, you're rich,
famous, get anything you want,

but it's... it's... it's a curse,
right?

Having... when you have
everything you want,

suddenly no one says "no" to you
and you can have everything

you know,
it's like the devil's bargain.

God, I don't envy them at all.

One day you wake up
and suddenly you're...

You're fucking you know,
you're a joke,

you're an answer
to a Trivial Pursuit question.

You... you know, you're lucky
if you don't end up fucking...

Fucking de... dead body somewhere
you know,

one of those
E! True Hollywood stories.

- That him?
- Oh holy shit!

Yeah, that's Freddy Parks.

There is Freddy Parks
right there.

There was Freddy Parks.

Fuck!

Jesus!

I got your card in case I need

to get a hold of you.

Thank you very much
for the tour.

Jesus, fucking...

Piece of shit.

Jesus, fucking God!

What the fuck am I doing?

You said you're going
to Las Vegas

to research a part?

Is that right?

Uh, yeah.

I am going to Las Vegas
to research a role.

That's... uh, I didn't get.

What?

Casting director said
that I was not believable

as a stripper.

So even though I should probably
take it as a compliment,

I never want to not book
a part like that again.

So I'm gonna go to Vegas,

gonna really research that life,

what it really means to do that
and...

And next time I'll just
knock it out of the water.

I was just saying...
oh, like I am trying

to get... get something going
in show business,

but like you got to be careful,
you know?

Like earlier what you...

You were trying to hitchhike
or something earlier.

It's just like really
fucked-up people out there.

Do you know... you know
the story of Betty Short?

Who the fuck is that?

The Black Dahlia.

Oh the chick with the smiley?

- Yeah, yeah.
- That's gnarly.

She was just like us.

She was trying to like make it
in Hollywood.

She was... she was...
She was an aspiring actress.

She wanted to be a movie star.

She did whatever it would take.

And people o...

And people offered
whatever she needed.

She would...

She was hitchhiking sometimes

and... and staying
in people's houses.

You know, the last person
who saw her alive was

giving her a ride from San Diego
to Los Angeles.

I mean...

She sounds
like a real train wreck.

Yeah,
but it's like a slippery slope.

I'm not worried.

You're really concerned
about me, huh?

Yeah.

Don't want you to get hurt.

You're cute, Frank.

Very different
from a lot of guys I normally

uh, cross paths with.

How do you mean?

Oh my God, just all these...

These alphas jockeying
to you know,

see who'll win
the pissing contest.

It's just...

I mean the idea
of having concern

for another person
outside of themself is just...

I mean there are girls
like that, too,

but I'm not trying
to date any of them.

I guess I'm not really trying
to date those guys either.

That are just the only ones
that are around.

Oh my God, it's so pathetic.

Yeah, I hate that shit.

Yeah, it's infantile.

It's men giving men a bad name.

Yeah, it's really sad.

Especially the ones
in the entertainment industry,

they are so jaded and they feel
so entitled to sex, like...

Just because they buy you
a dinner

or something like that

that that means you owe them
something.

It's just horrendous.

I mean imagine putting somebody
in a position like that

is just disgusting.

Yeah, I... I...

Just fucking makes me angry
thinking about it.

Aww!

Why would you...
why would you think

you could get away with that.

And it's they get violent.

Yeah.

It's just...

Yeah, there's no excuse for it.

Horrendous.

You're so sweet!

Oh my gosh!

People tell you that?

No, they don't.

I don't believe that.

So what should we do uh,

when we get to Vegas?

Well, I think the first order
of business

should be getting a hotel room,
don't you think?

Take care of all
of our uh, creature comforts.

Oh, look at the moon!

Found them.

Do you want some?

Uh, no, thanks.

Uh, you... you clean up well.

Well, it's a special occasion.

What the fuck are you doing?

What the fuck are you doing?

Uh, I'm sorry. I, um...

Are you fucking serious?

- I... I didn't mean to...
- Wow!

I... I was...
I just thought that...

Unbelievable, Frank.

I'm really disappointed in you.

- Wow...
- I...

You know what I...
I really thought that...

Let's just...

You were someone that I...

Could feel safe with.

- I am, like...
- Wow, it's...

- Let's just forget that that...
- No, you know what?

- I'm so sick of guys like you.
- I was just like...

With your superior
sensitive bullshit

just biding your time,

waiting for me
to let my guard down.

Go fuck yourself, Frank.

Damn!

Fucking idiot.

I'm a fucking idiot.

Fucking idiot.

Fucking idiot.

Fucking idiot.

Hey, you guys got a cigarette?

No.

Good night, Kenz.

Oh, yeah, right.

Simon, you coming in?

No.

I would, but I don't do water.

So I'm sorry.

You don't do water.

How are we gonna save you
if you don't get in the water?

Is there like another way
to save me or...

It's very symbolic

about being where you are,
when you're under the water

and then you die.

And then you come up
and you're reborn.

Again.

I'm t... I want to.

I w... I do.

I just... I can't.

- Sorry.
- Oh, come on.

I'm sorry I don't swim.

- Oh.
- Oh.

And I need you
to get in this water

with us right now.

How are we gonna save you
if you don't get wet?

I mean is there...
is that the only way?

It's the only way.

- There is another way.
- There is?

There is one other way.

Awesome, down.

I'm gonna need
you to close your eyes.

Okay, okay.

Come closer, come closer.

You... you're not gonna
pull me in, are you?

No, I'm not gonna pull you.

Come on.

I'm so scared,
I don't know what you're doing.

Okay.

Okay, is that... I... am I saved?

It's the first part.

Okay.

Okay, cool.

Simon?

Would you like to make sex
with us?

Oh, are you serious?

Yeah.

I'm so... no, I'm sorry.

I uh, I... oh God.

I don't...
I don't have sex with women.

- I'm sorry.
- Oh, come on!

Sorry,
you guys are very beautiful.

Don't be such a square.

I'm not a square.

I'm just... I'm... I'm gay.

I can drown you in our

- fuck sauce.
- What?

I can drown you
in our fuck sauce.

You guys are kidding, right?

No!

That's the deal, right?

Um, that's very funny...

Don't be so straight.

It's a modern world

and everybody has
a little gay experience

every now and then.

So maybe you should have
a straight experience with us.

Listen, I... I respect you guys
so much,

I think you guys are amazing,
but that's not...

I don't... like I can't do that.

Please, Simon.

Like what kind of Christians
are you guys?

No, Christians don't have sex.

Oh, oh, are you... are you...

I guess you're not Mormon?

- No.
- What... what?

So what... what are you exactly?

It's our own sect.

Your own set or sect?

Sect.

Sect.

And what do you
all practice exactly?

Sex.

Okay, cool.

Oh, alright.

So like I don't know what kind
of like weird freaky-deaky cult

you guys are in...

And... and that's cool,
like I said before,

like I respect all like forms
of expression, and spirituality,

and like you know what?

Like...

You guys fucking pick me up,
you guys are so sweet,

but like I can't do this.

I'm just here to witness.

- You know like I'm...
- Simon, isn't this beautiful?

Isn't this God?

Are you better than God, Simon?

No, no, I'm... listen, I'm here...

That's what it sounds
like you're saying.

So what are you writing about?

Um,
it's kind of hard to tell right now.

I don't know what it is
or what it's gonna be,

but it's still part of my...
My overall...

You writing about us?

- Uh, like not really, no...
- Oh yeah.

I'm just... just I'm expe...
Like whatever I've experienced...

- Oh!
- Somehow in there,

like the DNA of our adventure

is in here somewhere.

Still about what might narrative
is about,

like it's not exactly you guys
that I'm writing about.

- So what's the deal?
- Oh!

You get to write about us,
what do we get?

We've given you this.

So, right?

Oh.

What do we get?

I don't think our story is over,
Simon.

- Simon.
- Simon.

- Simon.
- Simon.

- Simon.
- Simon.

- Simon.
- Hey, Simon.

Simon.

What's your daddy like?

Hey, Simon.

Hey, man.

You know, we're just fucking
with you,

- right?
- Okay.

We're just trying
to get you some good material

to write about, brother.

- Alright.
- Okay?

Let's go to Salt Lake.

Hi, buddy.

1, 2, here we go.

Ooh!

Oh my God!

- That's so good.
- You like it?

- You guys are so good.
- That's cute.

Did you... who wrote that song?

That's old spiritual.

- Oh!
- Yeah.

You guys are so talented.

Oh, no, you're good.

You're the one who's talented.

Oh, you don't know that.
You don't know that.

It does... how does it go uh,

- the old song and dance?
- Oh!

In America a man becomes
who he is

- on the road.
- Yeah.

Exploration, the rush for gold.

Fortune, folly, and freedom!

That's you, right?

Uh, did you just read my um,
my book?

- No.
- No, sir.

We dreamed you.

Remember?

He was in Las Vegas,
looking at the lights,

like he'd never seen
fucking electricity in his life.

You were walking around
just wide-eyed

like a little boy.

We woke up, we knew we're gonna
come pick you up.

Mak, was like,
"We got to go get Simon."

Huh.

Huh.

Here, drink some holy water.

Just take a load off, man.

What is this?

That's holy water.

Oh, you know
what my favorite one is?

Uh, it's the one you wrote
a couple of years ago.

Um, Melvin.

- Melvin?
- That's right.

- That's your dad.
- That's your dad.

That's his dad.

Didn't your... didn't your dad
leave you as a baby...

To go be a fucking star?

Kinda like you, Simon?

You will be a fucking star.

Oh, where are we?

Oh, God!

Here.

Alright, alright, alright,
alright.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

The smile I probably should
have on seeing this first poem.

Did you have it in there then?

Or did some mellow
malevolent monster infused you

to move over and take you away
to the nearest town

to tell the tale
of how you left me?

What did it look like
in New Orleans

the first day free?

Your shabby shack town
house and your broken dreams.

Fuck!

Simon.

What it takes
to please the devil.

No, I don't believe
in the fucking devil!

You want a taste of me?

I don't believe in any of this,
alright?

What you do is fucking sick.

When you could be gliding inside
of our glorious pussy.

I write good shit,
I'm a good person.

I'm...

What did it look like?

What did it look
like in New Orleans

your first day free?

What do you say, Simon?

I just wanna go home.

Surrender to the Lord, Simon.

What lord?

The Dark Lord, silly.

No, I'm not.

Shut the fuck up!

I'm not shit! No, I'm not!

Shut the fuck up!

You're shit.
You're a fucking shit.

We can help you, Simon.

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

I'm going fucking crazy.

I'll do anything!

I'll do anything!

You are not funny like your dad.

No, I don't wanna be anything
like fucking Melvin!

What the fuck do you know
about Melvin?

You're a...

And what do you want, women?

What do you want? Tell me now!

What are you doing to me?

Were the streets
lined with pictures of me?

Or were you too
busy trying to be funny?

Hey, y'all... y'all know
what's happening here tonight?

Oh, a real comedy show tonight,
my man.

- Comedy night?
- Yeah.

- Is it like a open mic?
- Open mic.

- Yeah, yeah.
- Well.

- Yeah, anybody can do it.
- Yeah.

I'm... I'm... I'm Melvin.

- Hey, Melvin, I'm Andy.
- Andy, I'm Melvin.

How're you doing?
I'm Nature Boy.

- I'm the host of the show.
- Oh, you're hosting?

- Yeah, I'm hosting.
- Nice.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Can I get like five minutes
on your mic?

Yeah, we have space for you,
yeah.

Alright, y'all,
we got another comedian.

Uh, I just met this guy outside.

I don't know how funny he is.

I'm hoping he is.

Y'all, give it up
for Just Melvin.

Make some noise.
Make some noise, Melvin!

Melvin.

Melvin!

You guys giving it up
for Melvin, right?

That's like the only time
in my life

anybody's ever given it up
for Melvin like this.

- So fucking right...
- Melvin.

Give it up for Melvin.

Um, I'm Melvin.

Um, I just started comedy.

I um, I actually just moved
to New Orleans uh, yesterday.

- Whoa!
- I just got here.

Yeah.

I'm 25.

I think had like a...
A quarter life crisis um,

'cause I was
just going through a lot.

My girlfriend she uh...
She had a baby

about seven months ago.

And babies are expensive, right?

Yeah, thank you
for agreeing with me

and saying "yeah".

That wasn't even a joke,
this's just real life.

Babies are expensive, right?

It's fucking pressure you know,
trying to like maintain

a 9:00 to 5:00,
and be responsible,

and be a family man,

and shit,
it's a lot of pressure.

So fucking I left.

So I was like, "Fuck this."

"I'm... I'm moved
to New Orleans," you know?

Oh, man!

Women
always getting knocked down

and getting right back up.

That's... that's... that's what...
Uh, I guess that wasn't funny.

I just... I got something else
for you guys.

Um, I uh, just moved
to New Orleans like I said.

I uh, I um, just walking

through the French Quarter
earlier today.

You know, I just arrived
on Tuesday you know, um,

and I saw a bunch of just
women flashing their titties,

and drunk people walking around,
and pissing,

and shitting everywhere.

I was like, "Hell yeah,
not Mardi Gras but a Tuesday"

in New Orleans."

Yeah, I guess what that...
That's what a Tuesday

in New Orleans is like and I...
And I loved it.

New Orleans.

- Whoa!
- Ooh!

Hey, you guys... I'm... I'm Melvin

and thank you for laughing um...

Enjoy the rest of the show.

That's all?
That's all, huh?

Hey, y'all, give it up for Mel.

Yeah, Just Melvin is funny.

Oh, real funny.

What's this?

This is Jackson Square.

That's a real pretty park.

Vegas prison.

Lot of ugly shit happened here.

Like what?

Back in the day,
around the same time

I say it was a fucked-up place
back in the day, man.

You... you know they used
to hang...

Not only hang people,
they used to defile people.

Defile?

Defile, man.

They used to have this
executioner dude, man.

This guy was
like the Michael Jackson

of his time.

They get big crowds out here,
like bigger than the...

Bigger... bigger crowd
than like fucking you know,

MC Hammer could draw.

And the big ass crowd,
they hit you know,

all riled up.

You have another cigarette?

That's fucked up.
Okay, okay, I'm just...

You got a light?

Didn't you smoke
my last cigarette earlier?

Oh, yeah.

Well.

I found this one in my pock...
Oh man.

I'll share with you.

I got like...

Alright, I feel you.

The executioner,
like he had this one dude.

This is a nice...
Nice sailor guy.

He didn't want to fight
in the war, no,

he ran away from this you know,
dude as it were

when they caught his ass.

They took him here
and they broke

with a little bitty hammer,
like the smallest hammer

that could still break bones,
right?

And he's breaking
his bone, any bone, every bone,

they broke his pinky, too.

They broke the fem...
They broke everything.

And every time he screamed,

they weeped and hollered
for joy.

Happiness and joy
from the little boy's pain.

Can you believe that?

That's what our society did.

They be like, "Goddamn, man,
break some more bones."

He be like, "No,
I ain't got no more bones."

They're like, "Yes, you do."

They broke his ass bone, man.

Yeah, man,
this is Jackson Square, man.

Jackson Square.

It's a beautiful square.

You can see the roses
and the rose buds.

It's weird how grass
grows greener

where blood has been spilt.

That's deep.

I know!

Don't look at me like that.

It's been nice hanging
with you, man.

Melvin, you're a great guy.

But all these sad
asshole stories

make me wanna we get
some white pussy.

You ever had some white pussy?

Not even like some Asian pussy?

Any pussy?

What kinda pussy?

Well, I just had a baby
about seven months ago.

- Um...
- Damn!

Yeah,
but I... I left my girlfriend.

It was nice meeting you, man.

It's nice meeting you, too, man.

- Enjoy the...
- Thanks.

Enjoy the white pussy.

I'll try.

I hear it's the best.

It's alright, glows in the dark.

It's cool.

Glows in the dark?

Yeah, man, it glows in the
dark, man, a dark night.

Thank you.

- How you doing, sir?
- Good, how about you?

Uh, not too bad.

Um, listen, I'm... I'm here...
I uh,

I'm looking for this kid
named "Joe".

I heard that he worked here.

You ever um... you know,
who I'm talking about or...

No, no, no.

Um, didn't somebody like that...
You know, somebody named

- that uh, used to work here?
- No.

I'm the only person
who's ever worked here.

So you see, you own the place
uh...

Right.

Is there another record store
around I could maybe uh...

Maybe he confused it with
or something?

12 years ago, there was Mike's,
but that's... that's gone.

Nothing recent, huh?

Damn.

Any other... I mean I just
got into town,

is there any other place
I can maybe uh, check around

for this guy?

Uh, most people
who come out here

looking for answers
find something

at the Marfa lights
observation post.

You might try there.

Marfa lights observation post?

Okay, alright, thank you.

- Thank you very much.
- Sure, you're welcome.

Hi, uh, do you mind if I ask you
a few questions?

Sure.

Um, do you feel alone
in the universe?

Yeah, I feel pretty alone
in the universe.

Oh, what if I were to tell you
that we weren't alone

in the universe,
that there are aliens.

- Like here?
- Yeah, maybe.

You think they'd give me a ride?

Do you believe in aliens?

You mean like Mexicans?

Totally.

No, like extra-terrestrials.

Um, sure.

What do the Marfa lights mean
to you?

Um, I'm not sure
if they mean anything to me.

Um, I think that's it.

- Thank you.
- Sure.

I say "no", you say "regrets".

- No.
- Regrets.

- No.
- No!

I say "no", you say "regrets".

- No.
- Regrets.

- No.
- Regrets.

I say "no", you say "regrets".

- No.
- Regrets.

- No.
- Regrets.

No regrets!

I have no regrets.

Thank you.

Gracias.

Thank you.