The Piano Player (2002) - full transcript

♪♪ [ Woman Singing In French ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

♪♪ [ Ends ]

[ Man Over P.A.
Speaking Indistinctly ]

[ Man ]
Good afternoon, sir.
Sergeant Tyler.

[ Race Bell Ringing ]

This is Christo's gang.
I think you knew
the victim, Sam Latham.

Three 18-year-old prostitutes
mutilated to send him
a message.

Here I got two prosecutors...

burned to death for refusing
to accept bribes, hmm.



Look at these pictures,
Mr. Nile. Look at them.

Tell me you don't feel
embarrassed to count
Christo among your clients.

Now, we picked up
a guy last night.
We can't identify him.

But we believe
he's Christo.

We have nothing
to connect him
to any crime.

There's no legal way
we can hold him.

Mr. Nile, the word on the street is that you're laundering money for him.

You're the only person
we know who can
identify him.

[ Nile ] Captain Tyler, my relationship with my clients...

is bound by strict confidentiality,

and if you think that I'm gonna break that confidentiality for you,

you can shove it up
your fuckin' ass!

Oh! Alex.

What's happening,
baby?How are ya?



How are you,
my friend?

Good. Fine.

So?

So you can tell
your client it's done.

Good job, my friend.
Good job.

Don't blow it all at once.Don't worry.
Well, I've gotta go.

Wait. I've gotta talk
to you. It's important.
Annette!

Give me two pastis,
ma cherie.

I have a big client.
I mean, serious.

A black guy.
He's called Mlambo.

He wants his accountant to testify against some motherfucker called Christo.

Last week, the cop picked up the cunt while busting some other fucker.

The money man has the evidence to get him banged up for life.

Mlambo wants you to protect this guy.

You go and you
take care of him.

How much?Fifty thousand dollars now,

and 150,000 when
he goes to court.

Good money.

Just one thing.

It's in Cape Town.

You're kidding.

You're fucking with me,
right?

Fuck, Alex, all right,
all right. That whole thing
was 30 years ago.

Thirty years.

Wanna sleep on it?

Yeah, but...
I can't promise anything.

[ Man ] I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay here in town...

until after the trial is over.

Christo will hit us
with everything he's got
when he finds out.

I love Cape Town.
I'm not running like a rat.

[ Sighs ] For 30 years,

I only made one rule
for all my customers--

I never ask a question
I didn't want the answer to.

I managed their cash.

No books, no paper trail.

All based on trust.

Christo does not belong
to my world.

You're right, Robert, but when show time happens,

none of our partners
are gonna back you on this.

As long as you understand
you'll be alone.

I sure do, my friend.

Robert, I'll be back in my office if you need me.

Give my best to Marge.

I'll double the security
around the outside.

That's a good idea.

[ Car Alarms Blaring ]

[ Horns Honking ]

♪♪ [ Piano: Classical ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Plane Engines Roaring ]

Just so you know,
I'm head of security
for Mr. Nile.

I have no problem with that,
Mr. Farrel.

[ Horn Honking ]

Now you get out of here.

I don't know why
you're here, Mr. Laney.

But dealing with Christo
is something else, huh?

Something you Europeans
wouldn't understand.

You know, the kaffirs say
he's sangoma.

He just has to think
about killing you
and you're dead.

You don't know Africa, man.
We have different rules here.

He's a legend-- a ghost.

Up until a few days ago, the police weren't even sure he existed.

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

- I'm Robert Nile.
- Sir.

Come on.

According to some people,
you have a reputation.

While you're here,
you run your job.

You make sure that I run mine.
I run the show.

Mr. Laney,
I don't believe you've
met my assistant, Helena.

Alex, is it?

Alex Laney, sir.

Hmm, Alex Laney.
Helena Taylor. What is it?

Hello, Mr. Laney.

She said no.

Get Farrel.
That'll be all, Mr. Laney.

Thank you, sir.

[ Children Shouting
Indistinctly ]

This is a family matter.
You stay in the car.

Here. Stop here.

[ Doorbell Buzzing ]

[ Woman Panting ]

Miss Nile, I'm Alex Laney.
I work for your father.

- Pack up. We're leaving.
- I'm not! Get out of my house!

Get the fuck out of here,
otherwise I'll--

Come on. Let's go.

You're a sick man.Try to find a safe place.

- What are you talking about?
- Just do it. Trust me.

Your dad is waiting
for you.

This is for
your own good, darling.

[ Man On Walkie-Talkie, Indistinct ]

Will someone explain to me
what this is all about?

Am I your prisoner
or something? Erika.

I've had to make some
very important decisions
about my life.

And about mine as well,
it seems.I want you to understand.

Bringing you here
was for your own safety,
not to invade your privacy.

- I mean, we are in danger.
- No, you are in danger.

You're my daughter.Since when?

Erika, don't make things so difficult.

I may not be a perfect father,
but I-- I believe
in my own way...

that I did my best
to raise you.

Sending your child to a boarding
school in Switzerland doesn't
make you a respectable man.

I don't want my life
to look like yours.

Look who you've become
and who you are.

You're an embarrassment.
You're a crook.

[ Sniffles ]
Just go.

I'm sorry.

You're not even capable
of sorry! Who the fuck
do you think you are?

♪♪ [ Piano: Classical ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

- ♪♪ [ Stops ]
- We have to take Mr. Nile
into the city tomorrow.

For his deposition
at the prosecutor's office.

He has to show up
in person.

I've mapped a route
for you.

Study it.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Laney ]
What the fuck--

[ Gunshots ]

Let's go!

Come on! Let's go!
Move, move!

The judge called
several times. He wants
you to call him back.

I will.

Are you all right?

Obviously, I'm fine.
Mr. Laney.

A friend of mine wants to meet you.

[ Man Chattering Indistinctly ] ♪♪ [ Jazz ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

Glad you could come,
Mr. Laney. I'm Gatsha.

Gatsha Mlambo.

Oh, I just love
this beautiful country.

You know, here we do have
a tradition of respect and
a long history of culture.

Suzy.

[ Sighs ]

What happened today is totally
unacceptable. Robert is
a very valuable resource.

You are here
to protect him. Mr. Mlambo.

We were set up.I don't want to
hear about it.

You're here to
protect him from Christo.

South Africa doesn't play
by any rules--
[ Continues Indistinctly ]

It's very horrible
how your parents
were killed.

Sad indeed how it
happened so suddenly.

The police never did
find the killer,
did they?

I've enjoyed
our little chat, Mr. Laney.

We'll have to do it
again sometime.

[ Grunts ]

[ Man Speaking Indistinctly ]

[ Shouting ]

Eat it!

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Nile ] Give me the remote.

[ Chuckles ]
What is this? They're feeding
the guy spaghetti?

Some stranger?
Then they beat him to death.

Come on.
Christo's lost it.

Do I know this guy?
Why should I give a fuck?

Those son of a bitches
think this is gonna
scare me?

You didn't know him, sir.

He was Erika's boyfriend.

No, I--

I didn't know.

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

[ Woman ] ♪ Hey, Mr. Sandman

♪ Send me a dream

♪ Someone to lean on

♪ Someone to squeeze

♪ And we'll be perfect strangers ♪

♪ We could be holy fools

[ Sighs ]

♪ In the morning light

♪ In the morning light ♪

[ Sobs ]
Oh, my God!

You killed him!
You killed him!

You killed him!

You killed him!

Sir, where we going?

Just fuckin' drive.

♪♪ [ Rock ]

Give us a couple
of Jack Daniels.

How do you, uh,
like drinking, Mr. Laney?

Or are you one of those guys
that don't drink, don't smoke
and don't fuck?

I drink once in a while, sir.

[ Sighs ]

You saved my life
in the alley the other day.

That's something
a man like myself...

doesn't forget.

It's awkward,
your job.

Protecting a guy
like me...

for money.

It's kind of like
those girls.

I'd like to think
I provide a different
type of service, sir.

Good.

Tonight I'm gonna
relax a little bit.

Have a few drinks.

And, uh, have a little fun.

And you just, uh,
watch over me.

Ladies, over here.

Here.

You care to have
a drink with me?

[ Man ] ♪ It doesn't mean I didn't try ♪

♪ I just never know why

♪ Is it 'cause I'm all alone

♪ Baby, you're not at home

♪ And when I'm old

♪ Make me feel I'm still alone ♪

♪ Being so restless I am

♪ Beat my head against the wall ♪[ Chuckles ]

♪ Try to knock some sense All right!

♪ Down in my bones [ Indistinct Chattering ]

♪ And even though they don't show ♪ [ Girls Giggling ]

♪ The scars aren't so old [ Nile ] I know where I'm at. I know where I'm at.

Just keep driving. Keep driving.

♪ And when they go

♪ They let you know

♪ You can't put your arms around a memory ♪

♪ You can't put your arms around a memory ♪

♪ You can't put your arms around a memory ♪I know where we're at.

♪ Don't try ♪Relax, relax.

Yeah, there it is.
All right, right over here.[ Giggling ]

Hey, hey, that's good. Hey.
[ Laughing ]

Hey, hey.
[ Mutters ]

Hey, who is this?My wife.

Are you happy, huh? Melanie, are you happy now?

What do you say?

Hmm? Hmm?

[ Sighs ]
That's what you always
wanted, huh?

Me being chased
like a fuckin' rat.

Your daughter--

she thinks I'm
the worst piece of shit.

So I guess you won, huh?

Yeah.

And I'll tell you.

Promise you...

I'll ask your opinion
about whatever I do
from now on.

Starting tonight.

Which one of these two--
of these two girls,
which one should I fuck, hmm?

Shall I fuck the blonde?

Fuck the brunette?

Oh, fuck!

I can't--
I can't hear you.

I can't even fuckin' hear you.

Just go.

Sir?[ Moans ]

- Hear you.
- We should go now.

I know. I know.

Mr. Laney, thank you.

You're a good boy.

[ Retching ]

Oh, God!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Oh, man.

You got a family,
Mr. Laney?

My parents died
when I was a kid.

[ Moans ]

Yeah, my mother
abandoned me.

Split when I was seven.

God bless her.

My father--
[ Chuckles ]

Fuck, I didn't even know
who he was.

I can't stand to see--

see my daughter crying.

I've never been able
to talk to her.

Her mother-- [ Cell Phone Ringing ]

Her mother was
a great woman.

Hello?

Sir, it's Farrel.

Who?Farrel.

Yeah?

Where?

We'll be right there.

They've got Erika.

Your daddy's on his way.

Why are you doing this?

I'm gonna make a trade--
you for your father.

'Cause Christo,
he pays more.

And he's a mad bastard.

Did you see what
they did to your boyfriend?

A shame, huh?

Gag the bitch.

[ Man ] ♪ I've walked the house of New Orleans ♪

♪ They call the Rising Sun

♪ And it's been the ruin

♪ Of many boys and girls

♪ And me, sweet Lord I'm one ♪

♪ My mother was a tailor

♪ She sewed my new blue jeans ♪

This is Africa, I told you.

African rules.

Where is she?

[ Shouting ]
Where is she?

She's over there.

Drop the guns. Go.

Come on.

[ Muffled Shouts ]You okay?

♪ I'm goin' back

♪ To wear that ball and chain ♪

On the ground.
On the ground!

♪ Oh, Mother Tell your children ♪

Let's go.

♪ Not to do what I have done ♪

Go.

♪ Don't you spend your life ♪

♪ In sin and misery

♪ In the house of the Rising ♪♪

Sweetheart, it's okay.

[ Nile ]
Stop! Stop! Here!
Turn in.

Let's get rid
of this car.

It's locked.

Come on, come on.
Here we go.

Okay.

[ Engine Starts ]

Let's go. Let's go!

Let's go.

[ Groans Softly ]

[ Horn Honking ]

Oh, my God.
He's bleeding.

We cannot sleep.
He will find us.

He's been shot.

Okay. Oh, yeah.
Help me. Okay?

Pull. All right.

[ Erika ]
It's okay.

All right. All right.

Okay.

♪♪ [ Jazz ]

[ People Clapping, Shouting ]

[ Whooping ]

[ Whooping ]

[ Clapping,
Shouting Continue ]

[ People Chattering In Native Language ]

[ Woman Shouting
In Native Language ]
Oh, Robert, my boy!

Oooh, Robert!

Mama Timbabo.

My baby!
[ Whooping ]

- The ancestors have
brought you back.
- Mama?

Yes?My friend's been shot.

[ Native Language ]

What happened, Robert?

[ Native Language ]

Oh, looks like
the bullet
went right through.

Oh, man.

[ Native Language ]

You stay. Robert,
go take care of the bar.

Back to the bar, Mama.

[ Native Language ]

[ Groans ]You're gonna
be all right.

It's okay.

Is he gonna be okay?Yes, he's gonna be fine,
my child.

Oh. Get me some more
water, please.

♪♪ [ Humming ]

[ Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Humming Resumes ]

Who are you?

These are all my checks.

- All the checks I sent Mama.
- You know your mama, Robert.

- I am Robert Nile,
and you are Robert Nile.
- You're Robert Nile?

Well, all right. Nice to meet you, Robert Nile.

- Nice to meet you.
- All right. Good.
Give the kid a drink.

Don't play with guns.

Did you know that
I used to live here
a long time ago?

Huh?Nah.

All right. I need
something to drink.
I've been on the road.

Uh, water?

[ Chuckles ]

[ Whimpering ]

[ Birds Squawking ]

♪♪ [ Humming In Harmony ]

♪♪ [ Humming Continues ]

[ Shouts In Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Chanting
In Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Singing
In Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Singing Continues ]

Robert!
[ Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Singing Continues ]

♪♪ [ Singing Continues In Distance ]

[ Laughing ]

Robert. Robert, my boy. I have something special for you.

[ Chattering ]

♪♪ [ Record: "La Vie En Rose" ]

♪♪ [ Woman Singing In French ]

It's your mother's
favorite song.

♪♪ [ Continues ]

[ Crying ]

[ Dog Barking In Distance ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Shouting In Native Language ]

♪♪ [ Singing, Clapping ]

♪♪ [ Whistling ]

[ Sighs ]

Do you know
where Mr. Nile is?

Robert.Yeah.

Robert Nile.Robert.
[ Native Language ]

What?[ Repeats Phrase ]

Yeah.

[ Native Language ][ Chuckles ]

I don't--
I don't get it.[ Continues ]

What?

Um, um, well,
what is he doing?

Is he--
Ah, fishing!

Fishing. Fish.
Where?

[ Native Language ]Okay. You sure?

You sure?
Are you sure?Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[ Native Language ][ Child Chattering ]

I'm sorry.
So, fishing over there?

Okay. Thank you. Okay.

Thanks. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Damn it!

Hey!

Alex. You're working
on a Sunday.

Well, you never know.

Do you fish?

- What?
- [ Shouts ] Do you fish?

Not really.

I've got another line... if you wanna learn.

[ Laughing ]
You could go around.

Come on. Come on.
[ Continues Laughing ]

Oh, man.

[ Gasps ]Are you okay?

[ Laughs ]

[ Muttering ]

Just rock it
and throw it.

Nice.

I got one.

Oh, you do!
You do, my son!

Hey! God!

[ Laughs ] Hey!

That's good, my son.

Look. I can't get it.

Damn! Fuck it!

[ Muttering ]
Is that yours?

[ Chattering ]Can she cook?

- Can that lady cook!
- My boy.

[ Laughing ]Okay. All right now.

Your bad boy.Oh, Robert, my boy.

I'm so happy you're back.
And a granddaughter too.

[ Laughs ]
Oh, Alex.I was gone too long.

Thank you very much
for bringing him back.

Pleasure, Mama.

I proposed to her mother here
35 years ago.Mom came here?

I brought her here once.Well, she
must've loved it.

She did.
She loved it here.

I can feel her
here with us now.

[ Nile ] That's sweet.

Robert, my boy,
why are you always wearing
that dangerous thing?

Well, Mother,
it's just decoration.

I mean, Alex is the one
that's gonna take care of me.

- Oh, I hope.
- Think of it as decoration.

[ Laughing ]

That's good. So good.
So good.

What a day, huh?

[ Man ] Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir, I know.
All right, sir.
I'll do it myself.

Thank you, sir.

[ Sighs ]
We have to let him go.

Christo.

[ Laney ]
What's the game?

[ Nile ]
Five low, split the fives.Yeah. All right.

I'm there.

So?Oh, I check.

I'm in. Ten.

Come on, Dad.
You're not gonna smoke.

Let me have some.
Come on!

Come on.
It can't get worse.[ Laughing, Chattering ]

[ Gasping ]
It's hard to get this thing lit.

That's right.

I'm out. Oh.

That's right.
All right.

Okay, king, nine checks. Sir, can we--

I'm getting too old
for this stuff.

All right.
I'm gonna go to bed.Good night, Dad.

Going to bed.

Sir? Sir? Sir?

I can't believe your father
took the fucking joint.

Mr. Goat, do I know you?

[ Goat Bleating ]I'm Robert Nile.

Do you know that your ancestors
took psychedelics?

Erika, your father
is talking to a goat.

What?

Then they drank their urine
for the psychedelic properties.

You're like a brother to me.
Do you know that?

[ Laughing ] I was weaned
on goat's milk.

My mother split. You know
what I'm saying to you?

You think my daughter
loves me?

'Cause I love my daughter.

Hmm?[ Sighs ]

I'm Robert Nile.
I'm a very powerful, rich man.

And I got nothing.

[ Goat Bleats ]Yeah, I fucked up, man.

I fucked up.

Anyway, you tell your mother...

that Robert Nile's back in town,
all right?

I wanna straighten things out.

[ Goat Bleats ][ Coughs ]
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

♪♪ [ "Moonlight Sonata" ]

That was beautiful.

Thank you.

I think I better go too.

Okay.

Good night.

Good night.

♪♪ [ Resumes ]

[ Laney ]
Good night.

♪♪ [ Sonata Continues ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Man Speaking In Native Language ]

Christo, please. It's not my fault that they escaped.

[ Continues In Native Language ]

Understand.

Things didn't go the way you wanted them, Christo.

Please.

[ Native Language ]

Christo.

Christo, no. Please.

Please.

Christo, no! No, Christo!

[ Grunts, Groaning ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Choking ]

[ Horn Honking ]

That's Tyler.
Christo's been released.

I can't go back to Cape Town...
for the deposition.

So he's sending
an assistant out here...

and he'll meet us
at the end of the road.

The three of us will go.

No. Can't.

Christo.

[ Sighs, Mutters ]

[ Chattering
In Native Language ]

Now?Why are you stopping?

I thought you knew the place,
so why are we stopping here?

[ Arguing In Native Language ]

[ Bleating ]

[ Arguing Continues ]

[ Native Language ]

[ Fly Buzzing ]

[ Horn Honking ]

Everybody out!
Come on! Come on out!
To the caves!

Everybody,
to the caves!

Everybody!
Everybody out!

Out! Come on! This way!
Out! Let's go!

Come on! Come on!
Let's go! Hurry, hurry!

There's danger! Hurry! Hurry!

I'm going to take the people
up to the caves.

I'm staying, sir.
I'm staying.

Be safe.

[ Excited Chattering ]

Hello?

[ Clattering ]

[ Goats Bleating ]

[ Indistinct Wailing ]

[ Bleating Continues ]

[ Wailing Continues ]

[ Wailing Continues ]

[ Clattering ]

[ Wailing Continues ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Rooster Crowing ]

[ Rhythmic Slapping ]

[ Shouting ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Rooster Crowing ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Grunting Continues ]

[ Nile ] Christo!

Thank you, sir.

♪♪ [ Chanting ]

[ Nile's Voice ] Alex, I did something terrible.

A long time ago.

A contract Mlambo got me into.

It's something that's bothered me my entire life.

I came to this house.

I can hear it like it was yesterday.

There was a woman playing the piano.

It was beautiful.

Then I pulled out my gun
and I-- I killed 'em.

Her and her husband.

A reporter. Pissed off some politician.

I remember his face,

her screams, the blood.

But the worst thing,

the thing that's haunted me all these years,

was the eyes of the kid--

their kid-- looking up at me...

murdering his father...

after I'd killed his mother.

I never forgot your eyes, my son.

[ Sighs ]

I killed your parents.

I'd die right now
if I could go back
and make things right.

I've given this some thought.

You can take my life
right now...

and make it right.

[ Sighs ]

♪♪ [ Singing In Distance ]

[ Singers Approaching ]