Body Brokers (2021) - full transcript

...overlooking the Pacific

New West Recovery
stands as a beacon

for holistic drug
and alcohol abuse treatment.

When you arrive at New West,
you are sure to feel safe, comfortable,

and, most importantly,
respected.

Our staff, groups,
and one-on-one therapy

will help you
to cure this condition

and bring meaning and purpose
back into your life.

You'll gain the trust back
of your loved ones

and, most importantly, the confidence
you need to deal with daily life.

Seems nice,
doesn't it?



I'm going to let you in
on a little secret.

In 2008, when the Affordable
Care Act was signed,

it required every health care provider
to cover substance abuse treatment.

Since the bill was passed,
nearly 2,000 sober livings,

100 inpatient treatment centers
and 200 detoxes

have opened up shop just
in Southern California alone.

Yeah, business
is fucking booming.

That's nearly 35,000 beds that
need to be filled each month

and almost half a million
that need to be filled a year.

Off the top of my head, that's
somewhere around $12 billion annually

and again, that's just
in Southern California.

This is what we in the treatment
industry call "the fucking gold rush."

Do you want me
to fuck with you?

Do you want me to fucking
fuck with you, bitch?



- Don't shoot.
- Put the money in the fucking bag!

Faster, faster...

- Fucking move!
- You're gonna make me fucking shoot you?

Fucking hurry
the fuck up!

I'm trying.
I'm sorry. Okay, okay.

I'm fucking done waiting.
Come on. Come on, come on!

Hey. Can I get
one of those?

- Thanks
- MAN 2: You good?

Hungry?

Um, I'll have...

That's okay.
Get whatever you want.

I'll have the Angel Fire burger
with fries and a Coke.

Mmm-hmm.

I'll do the same,
thank you.

Coffee for me, darlin'.

No problem.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

So...

what are your names?

I'm, um, Utah.

- This is Opal.
- Ha! Utah and Opal.

Those are some names.

I'm Wood.

You with a church group
or something?

- No.
- Hmm?

It just takes more than an angel fire
burger to get some pussy around here.

Opal, what the fuck?

What?

It's cool. I get it.
Can't be too careful, right?

Uh, you guys from around here?

I am.

She's from, um...
She's from Cleveland.

What... what about you?

Near Chicago.
I moved to LA, though.

Why... why are you here?

You know, came through
for some business.

How's here
compared to Cali?

Close second.

Ever been?

- Oh, we've never left Ohio.
- Uh-huh.

I went to Pittsburgh once for
a school trip. Zoo and shit.

Uh-huh.

Never seen the beach, huh?

Yeah

Yeah. So, um, how long
you guys been getting high?

Excuse me?

I'm not trying to start
any problems.

I've been there.

It wasn't that long ago I was in the
exact same situation that you guys are in.

I know what it feels like.

What kinda sick shit is this?
I fucking knew you were from a church.

I'm not with a church.

I work in treatment.

That's it.

- Opal, chill the fuck out.
- Let's get out of here.

Calm down.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- Thank you.
- No problem.

Aren't you gonna eat?

I'm not hungry anymore.

- Look, we're being stupid. You ate...
- Ugh!

- You ate the last time I did. I'm starving.
- I'm fine.

All right. I'm out.
I'll pay for the food upfront.

Here's my card.

Give me a call if you wanna
do this again.

Hey, thank you, for the burger.

No sweat, kid.

All right, great job.
You have a total of 320 points.

You're halfway through round three,
and now the questions are worth 400...

So, uh, what's up?

How'd you do it, man?

I mean, how'd you get clean?

Treatment.

Changed my old friends
and habits,

made some new ones.

It was tough, but worth it.

How'd you get to treatment?

I met a dude much like myself.

He set me up.

He set you up, what?
You... you set people up?

Is that what you do?

I could do that,

if that's what you want.

How does that work?

All right.

One, I put you on a plane.

Two, you find a new way to live
without this bullshit.

Three, start over.

That's the way this works.

Look, you said you never
saw the beach, right?

- Yeah.
- All right, this is your chance.

You could change
your whole life.

Okay, look, say you get down
there and you don't like it.

I'm willing to bet
my last dollar

all this shit
gonna be right here

waiting for you
when you get back.

That sounds like
an expensive plan.

Did I say you need money?

Did I even...
Did I even mention money?

Remember what I told
you about the affordable Care Act?

Well, what that enabled
treatment centers to do

is take just about anybody
who had coverage.

Hey, Polly, how you doing?

Yeah, yeah. Hey, listen.

Um, I got a kid here, man,
that wants to start over.

We got a bed for him?

Ah, great.
Hold on a minute.

You don't have insurance,
do you?

No.

When there is no coverage,

someone like Wood can put them
on their company plan.

You see, people like Wood are
called marketers or brokers.

Their job is to place people
like Utah in beds at facilities.

Big treatment centers run by publicly
traded companies can rely on word of mouth,

but the typical shop needs
boots on the ground. Like Wood.

All right. You bet, thanks.
All right, I'll call you back.

You're all set, buddy.
You and your girl.

I gotta talk to her.

I leave tomorrow.

Look, I know
it sounds crazy, but...

don't wait to start
the rest of your life.

This shit ain't worth it.

You fucking listening
to yourself?

You're gonna go with a stranger
to fucking California?

You don't know anything
about this guy.

But he seems okay to me.

Because he bought you
a fucking burger?

That's all the proof you need?

You're fucked.

You're fucked.

Listen, Opal,

now, I know
this sounds stupid...

But I'm tired.

You know,
I can't keep doing this.

And here comes this guy...

This could be
a fresh start for us.

Have you thought about
how this ends?

Wanna end up in fucking jail?

Or worse, dead.

What do you want?

I don't know.

But not this.

All right. Well, then go.

Get the fuck out of here.

Opal!

Please don't do this.

Get the fuck out of here.
We're fucking done.

Get your shit and leave.

Look, man, I'm sorry,
but trust me, I know, all right?

Trying to get clean with
someone else is hard as shit.

Huh.

You probably don't wanna
hear that, though, do you?

You gotta do this
for yourself, man.

Nobody else.

Probably don't wanna
hear that, either.

So you got anything on you
that I need to know about?

Yeah.

All right.

Do what you gotta do to get
rid of it before we go inside.

Yeah.

You can handle all of that?

Yeah, I'll live.

And if I don't,
just, uh,

leave me here.

Um, it looks like

Wood already sent over
your name, your birthday,

and your insurance information.

What's your DOC?

Drug of choice.

- Um, crack and... and heroin mostly.
- Okay.

DOC, enough.

And how long?

Ten years.

When was your last dose?

Don't worry,
you're not in trouble.

Around, um...

3:00 p.m. today.

All right, and any family?

No.

Anyone I can put down for an emergency
contact information just in case.

Could be an employer,
a friend.

Anybody, really.

I think that is everything
we need from you right now.

I know you're not gonna be
feeling too good soon.

So let's get you to your room.

Come on.

Bathroom's through that door.

Why don't you wash up,
get some rest.

I'll be in in a few hours
to get your vitals.

Fucking hurry
the fuck up!

You were scared.

Hey, Utah, I have some meds
for you to take, okay?

Pussy.

Utah, I need to do
some vitals, okay?

I'll be back in a couple hours.
Get some sleep.

You were scared.

Hey, Utah.

It's almost over, okay?

This city's so fucking dead
at night.

You hear that?

Nothing.

How are you feeling?

- A little better, I guess.
- Mmm-hmm?

Well, I'm Dr. White and I will be
your therapist while you're here,

if that's okay with you.

Sure.

I'm Utah.

They told me that.

I like that name.

It says here Mr. Wood
stumbled across you in Ohio?

Yeah.

He's a good fella.

I remember when he was sitting
right where you are now.

- You knew Wood?
- Sure.

I never thought he'd make it,
but he did.

How about you tell me
why you're here?

I don't know, I just...

Just tired...

I guess.

Tired is good.

Yeah.

Says here
you've been using 10 years.

Why'd you start?

'Cause the people I was around
were doing it.

People that were
looking out for me.

And were these people
your parents?

Just people.

Where are your parents?

I never knew my dad.

My mom...
died when I was 14.

I'm sorry.

How did she pass?

- Cancer.
- Oh.

I see.

So you have been on your own
for quite a while.

Yeah.

It can't have been easy.

Yeah, sometimes it wasn't.

I think I will clear you
to start attending the groups,

- if that sounds okay with you?
- Sure.

Shit just happens,
and it's like I see red,

like I'm on autopilot
or something,

and then the next thing I know
I'm in some motel room

with the blinds drawn and there's
a pile of blow in the corner

and, like, some weird person
in bed next to me.

But then...

I don't know, I just, like, stay
there, like, for days sometimes,

and then
it gets really bad. I...

I start, like, hearing things,
I don't sleep.

I start thinking, like,
I'm God's chosen drug addict,

and then I can't stop
until there's nothing left.

And what's that like
for your girls?

When you come home
from going on a run?

Um...

I mean,
they're still young.

Um, my youngest is, like...

She's just happy
to see me home.

My oldest one's...

She's, like, four now.

I can tell she definitely
knows, like, something's off.

And what's that like?

Knowing what she's seen,
what she knows at that age?

It's fucked up.

Um, my mom was like...

She was the same with me,
but I know that that's not an excuse.

I just...

I wanna be a good mom.

Like, I...

I wanna tell them
that I'm sorry.

But, like, I really mean it,

not just say I'm sorry and then do the
same fucking thing over and over again.

But...

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

It's just really hard.

Mmm-hmm.
I do know.

It's okay.

When I was out there, my son,
what I put him through,

I didn't think I could
ever forgive myself.

And I had to learn that
we can't change what we've done

or what's been done to us.

But we can change
what we do about it.

Hmm?

- Yeah.
- Mmm-hmm.

Can anyone relate
to what Tina shared?

Yeah? Mmm-hmm?

Thank you for being brave.

All righty, now, before we go,

I would like you all
to meet Utah.

Utah, you wanna
introduce yourself?

Hello.

I'm Utah, from Ohio.

And my thing is
crack and heroin.

Hi, Utah.

Nah, don't drink that,
don't drink that, don't drink that.

They put something in that.
That shit's gonna...

No, no, no, no, no.
I'm not even playing with you.

That shit is gonna make you
hard as a rock.

No joke. You do not
wanna get a chub in here.

'Cause you fuck one of these broads
and your dick is gonna fall off.

Or worse, you could end up a daddy.

You got any kids?

- No.
- Nah, you don't look like you got any kids.

I mean,
I can't talk shit.

I'm sort of a...
I'm a two-pump chump at the moment,

if you know what I mean.

Mmm.

I'm Sid.

Utah.

- You just got out of a group?
- Yeah.

Mmm.

Yeah, I don't go to that shit.

When'd you get in?

Wednesday night.

Day three.

Yeah. So they still got you on the
subs with a little Valium, huh?

I'll give you two packs
of cigarettes for a Valium.

Where you from?

- Ohio.
- Yeah, but what center?

- "Center"?
- What treatment center?

I'm not... I'm not from
a treatment center.

Okay, what? Jail, ward? What?

No, it's my first time
in treatment.

Oh, well, excuse me.

So how much
are they paying you?

What?

Are you...

Are you serious? I can't tell if
you're fucking serious or not.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Holy fucking shit!

You're like a fucking unicorn,
you know...

Tina!

Utah here is
a bonified first-timer.

He's not making
a fucking dollar.

Can you believe that shit?

I didn't take a dime this time.

Utah, if he's being an asshole,
you can come sit over here.

No, he's... he's fine.

You're a real fucking saint,
Tina, you know that?

Go fuck yourself, Sid.

Look, this whole thing
is fucking criminal, all right?

You just gotta make sure
you get yours...

UAs! Who's gotta go?

Utah, will you pee for me?

Um, yeah, sure.

All right,
I'll see you later, man.

Um...

So I got you a little something.

What!

I'm not really
supposed to do that,

but I think it helps.

Thank you.

Um...

Let's fill her up.

- I'll send a tech to come with you.
- All right.

Yellow gold.

You probably
wouldn't believe it,

but the piss in this cup is worth
more than an ounce of white truffle,

beluga caviar, platinum, gold,
or even rhino horn.

Hmm, nice color.

Each cup of piss
pays $2,000,

and each client can test
up to five times a week.

Do the math.

That's $10,000 a fucking week
of piss.

There are three phases
of treatment.

Detox.

We generally bill 4,000 a day,

with the typical stay being
between seven and ten days.

Next phase is residential.

The average stay is 60 days
at $2,000 a day.

Lastly, is outpatient.

We bill $2,500 a day for this.

So, based on a 90-day program,

detox, residential,
intensive outpatient, and UAs,

that's $300,000 per person
per 90 days.

And somewhere like New West
has 60 beds.

That's $18 million billed every
quarter, and, wait for it,

72 million billed a year.

You fucking heard me,
72 million.

Well, well, well, look at you.

Ohio boy makes good.

A little sweeter
than Lake Erie, huh?

A little.

Man, I never thought
I'd see this.

Me either.

So, what's up, man?

Nothing.

Just came to check on you,
that's all.

See how you were doing.

Okay, all right.

- All right.
- I'm good, I'm good.

You know, I've never...
I've never felt like this before.

Thirty days now.

Come on, kid,
let's go celebrate.

So what did you do
when you got out?

I mean, I can't go back
to Ohio, right?

Don't worry
about that shit, man.

One day at a time, remember?

Right.

Just keep doing the right thing.

Something will fall in your lap,
trust me.

You spoke to your girl?

No, I don't have
phone privileges yet, man.

Oh, that's right.

Really?

Only if you want to.

Thanks, man.

Don't call her here. I don't wanna
hear all that lovey-dovey bullshit.

Okay.

- Hello?
- Opal.

It's me, Utah.

What do you want?

Just wanted to check up on you.
How's everything back home?

The same shit.

You famous yet?

No.

I'm doing well, though.
I got 30 days off this shit.

I'm so happy for you.

Ah.

Did you get her?

Yeah.

Love, man.

She'll come around
when she's ready.

Until then,

you just do you.

I got your back.

Okay?

All right.

Treatment isn't any different
than any other business model.

Most comparable
is an auto mechanic shop.

Like them,
we thrive on repeat business.

If we don't do a good enough
job, they don't come back.

If we do too good of a job,
they don't come back, either.

The catch here is,

the success rate in drug
rehabilitation is under 10%.

That's why you really only need
one success story.

A poster boy.

Good morning.

For those of you who don't know
me, I'm Vin Lawler.

I am the CEO and founder
of New West Recovery.

After that,
there's no incentive to do too well.

The only upside is in keeping the
beds filled and the money rolling.

It is not easy to ask for help.

It's not easy at all.

In fact, I think it's one of the
toughest things in life to do.

A lot of you
have come close to dying.

Hell, some of you have been
brought back from the dead.

And that is some serious shit.

Serious shit.

Pardon my language.

Fifteen years ago,
I raised my hand.

And I said, "I'm done.

"I am done.

"I can't do this anymore.
I'm sick.

"I'd rather be dead."

That's why I know exactly what
it feels like to sit right there.

Or there. Or there.

I know it.

That's why it is the
greatest privilege in my life

to think that I have the chance
to help you change yours.

We are a family.

All right, today's my favorite
day, you know why?

Today is the day that we
get together once a month

and we celebrate the milestones
that you've achieved.

Because every minute sober...

is a minute won.

Give yourselves a hand.

Yeah.

Yes!

Louder. Louder.

Yes!

I've just had a hard
time with the dreams recently.

During the day it's okay.

And you think that has anything to
do with you discharging next week?

I guess.

I mean, I've been in here
nine fucking months.

And how do you feel?

I feel ready this time.

I think.

Do you have
plans for when you get out?

Things in place
to help keep you sober?

I have
a sponsor this time.

Mmm-hmm.

Some new girlfriends.

- People I can call.
- Good.

We will miss you.

But it is time for you
to make your way, huh?

Utah.

You just got your 30-day coin.
How do you feel?

I don't know,
I guess I'm...

I'm scared.

Scared of what?

To feel.

You know, the one question
I keep asking myself...

"Why should I?"

On the one hand, I've been given this
fresh start to be or do anything I want.

And, on the other,

it scares the shit out of me.

I don't know who this me is.

This new me without the drugs.

I'm with this dude all day long,

and I know nothing about him.

Utah.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Do you mind
coming with me to intake?

Sure.

Opal.

When'd you get here?

A few hours ago.

This is good.

I have to get her admitted, but I'll get
you a pass so you can come visit tomorrow.

Okay.

Now, you do
whatever she says.

I'll come by tomorrow.

Great.

- Hey.
- Hey.

I'm May.

Hey, May.

I just need to get
a little information from you

and then we can get you
into your room, okay?

Okay.

Opal, what's your drug
of choice?

So, uh, you see
your girl in there?

Yeah.

What happened?

I told you she would
come around, man.

Man, I never thought she would.

So goddamn stubborn.

We all are in the beginning.

- What's that?
- Your cut.

- My cut?
- Yeah.

My cut for what?

Well, technically,
she is your referral.

That's your half of the money.

Nah, I'm just happy she's here,
I didn't, uh...

I didn't do it
for no money.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

I'm cool, man.

All right. I get it.

No problem.

How about I just hold on to it
in case you change your mind?

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Be right here.

So, uh...

I don't know, I was thinking about
getting you a day pass for this weekend.

Thought maybe we could chill.

- Sounds good.
- Yeah?

- Yeah.
- All right.

I'll let you know.

How are you?

I know. The first three
days are the worst.

They got you on the meds?

Yeah.

- Yeah, I just took them.
- Good.

Probably made
a fucking mistake, though.

Yeah, I know
it seems that way, but...

just hang in there.

Um, we're not together,
you know.

I know, but...

I was thinking...

you know,
with a little bit of time,

and once you're better,
that we can be.

I'm only gonna be here
for a minute.

I got into some trouble...

back home, and when that shit blows
over, I'm going back.

What kind of trouble?

I hit a pharmacy
and someone got hurt.

What do you mean?

Just fucking hurt.

No one got killed
or nothing, stupid.

Who did you do it with?

- Rooster.
- With Rooster?

- What, like, Skinhead Rooster?
- Yeah.

What are you doing hanging out
with those douchebags?

Well, you left.

And I needed a partner.

Guess I should tell you...

he and I are together now.

He's laying low
at his cousin's in Michigan

and I came out here.

- Man!
- What was I supposed to do?

Wait for you?

You left me.

You ran like a fucking pussy.

You're doing that
thousand-yard gaze, man.

Shit is creepy as hell.

So what's the deal
with you, man?

What?

I get you a day pass
for the weekend.

We supposed to be chilling.

Hey, man,
do you still have that money?

Yeah. Why?

I'm thinking I'll take it.

Boy, I've never seen anyone look
so miserable counting money.

Hell's wrong with you?

Look around.
We're in California, boy.

This is the Mecca
of beautiful people.

You hung up over one?

I can't shake it.

Well, you need to get
the fuck over her, bro.

You got a pocket full of money,

ocean breeze
blowing through your hair.

You know what I mean,
come look around, man.

Life could be good
if you'd just let it happen.

So is this, uh...
Is this what you do, then?

I didn't buy that car by doing
charity work, if that's what you're asking.

Hey, man, how can I get in?

You serious?

Yeah.

You sure you ready
to leave treatment?

I think so.

You think so.

I don't fuck
with fiends, Utah.

I run a tight ship, baby.

Man, I'm done with that shit.

But you're sure, now?

You sure?
Because, I mean, listen,

a lot of what I do
is not pretty.

Now, if you've got
a weak stomach, it's okay.

I know a lot of people at food
and beverage could get you a job.

Man, I cannot work
a nine-to-five.

Me neither.

You listen to me,

you ain't gonna never have to worry
about money a day in your life.

But if you fuck up...

I don't know you.

Where's my phone?

I don't expect anything I'm
saying to change your mind, but...

you don't have to
go yet. Mmm?

I mean, there's a lot of work
still to be done.

I feel like I'm good.

A lot of people leave here
thinking that

and some are lucky enough
to make it back but most aren't.

I... I understand that.

But really, Dr. White,
I'm gonna be okay.

Sobriety is a long,
slow process, and...

I'm still working on it
every day. Hmm?

You understand
what I'm saying, Utah?

Yeah, I do.

You take care out there.

What is this?

This is day one.

- Hey, Polly.
- Hey.

I'd like you to meet
the new kid.

- Hey new kid.
- Hey.

Ain't no phone calls?

No, uh, Vin said same time
and place this afternoon.

Do you guys need anything?

- Need anything?
- I'm cool.

Yeah, we're cool.
Just gonna give him a tour.

Okay. Great. Nice to meet you.

You, too.

Sounds like a fucking
symphony, doesn't it?

What is it?

This...

is the American fucking dream.

Jacko?

Sup, baby?

Who's this squib?

This is Utah.

Utah. How much time you got?

I... I just picked up
my 30.

Ah! Freshie.

I just picked up my nine months.
Stick with the winners, huh?

Hey. Hey, I wanna show him
a phone call.

A call?

And you brought him to the king.

All right. Jacko don't play.

All right.
What do we got?

Uh...
West Virginia. Hmm?

Let's do it.

Got you, baby.

All right, Miss Thomas,
your ass is mine.

All right.

♪ West Virginia, Mountain Momma

♪ Take me home ♪

Hello. This is Jackson with
the Addiction Services Center.

How may I help you today?

Of course.

No, feel free.
I'm happy to help.

So, you see those commercials
on television?

You know the ones with
the Rick-Moranis-looking dude,

talking about, uh,

"Are you or one of your
family members struggling with addiction?"

Bullshit commercials
in the middle of the night.

- Exactly. Those are ours.
- Right?

Isn't that expensive?

We're not running them
during the Super Bowl...

That's not a bad idea.

I struggled with
the same problem.

Anyway, we run them
where and when addicts are at.

At night, in targeted states.

Ohio, West Virginia, Oklahoma.

New Jersey's a good one.

Well, ma'am,
let me ask you this.

Do you know what your son's been
using, and for how long?

Mmm-Hmm. Right.

Well, in that case,
he's definitely gonna need detox. Um...

Do you have insurance
by any chance?

That's great.

I'm gonna place you
on a brief hold,

and let me just check something
on my end.

Husband's in the union.

Booyah!

Now, see, union workers
usually have great insurance,

which means they pay most of the
treatment center's bills.

Uh, she's on hold.

He's not worried she's gonna hang up or...

She ain't hanging up.

We're saving her baby.

Look, we're in
the placement business.

Now, what he's doing is checking
to see which treatment center

will kick out the most
for the kid.

We field the calls,
sell to the highest bidder.

- Get it?
- Yeah.

All right, handsome.

Sea Breeze says 9 Gs.

Take it.

Ma'am, I'm so sorry to have kept you
waiting, but I have some good news.

I made a few calls,
called in a favor, actually,

and we have your son a bed
at one of our facilities.

- Th... That's it.
- That's it.

He just made 9 grand
in 3 minutes,

Sign me up. Where do I start?

No, no, no. Start?
No, no, no.

- You ain't working here with these idiots.
- Miracles do happen.

That's your people.

God is great.

Let's go.

Come on.

Let's go.

- Hey, Tee. How you doing, baby?
- Good.

Utah, this is Miss Tee.

I see, he's a cutie.

You boys want anything
to drink? Coffee?

No, ma'am, I'm fine. Thank you.

I'm all right. Thanks.

All right.

I'll go get him.

What the fuck
is this place, man?

Hey, just be cool, bro.
We're at work.

Dave?

Looking mighty rough there, bro.

Ready to go back?

I think I need
another day or two.

That's not how this works,
you know that.

But I have...
I have some money left.

How much?

Maybe $60.

All right, I tell you what.

I'ma give you till tomorrow,
is that okay?

Sure.

This time...

can we make it in 3 Gs?

Two.

Nice try, though.

Someone will be by
to pick you up tomorrow, okay?

- Okay.
- All right.

- Thanks, Wood.
- You got it.

Yeah. Show me.

Come over here.

Oh, I love you so...

Remember Sid?

I'm Sid.

He ain't getting
better anytime soon.

He's what we call a lifer.

Lives off the rehab shuffle.

Does his 90 days,
hits the street for a few weeks,

then comes right back
for another 90.

He's a living, breathing
ATM machine.

That's the type
you have to keep close.

You can't let them get away.

Woody...

Junior.

Hey.

Count out 2 grand for me.

Who's your friend?

Oh, this is my girl.
This is Penny.

Uh, she says
she needs a little help.

I thought I could
bring her to you.

You know,
she knows the whole deal.

Utah, you guys... They know each
other, so I mean, she's good,

Hey, Pen.

Hello.

So, Penny, you've ever been
to treatment before?

Yeah, I just got out.

Did nine months.

She wasn't even being paid.

I mean, can you believe that?

That's criminal, baby.

But you do understand that you have
to complete the whole 30 days, right?

I mean, you don't get paid
if you leave early.

Wait, I can't get something now?

Babe?

I got you, baby.

Come on, Sid's got you.

No, I mean, I told her
what the deal was.

So do you have a spot
for her or not?

Yeah.

Don't spend it all
in one place, Sid.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Uh...

You forgot something.

Not until she's admitted.

Right.

All right. Okay.
Baby, you just hang in there, okay?

And you're gonna give them
your information.

And I'm gonna go get
us a little something special, okay?

- Okay.
- Okay.

See you around.

So, um,
you have insurance, sweetheart?

Yeah.

You know which provider?

Um...

Let me see.

Here it is.

HT Platinum.

Mmm.

Fucking gold mine.

It's gonna be just fine.

Thank you.

Man, you gonna tell me
what that was?

That was good business.

So they go to treatment
for 30 days...

you get the kickback,
and then they get a piece?

That's capitalism, baby.

Some people need motivation.

I mean, you don't care
what they do with the money?

Not my business.

Because when they run out...

they go back in.

Wow.

And the house is yours.

How many people?

With a place like New West
where you was at, about 70%.

Some places, maybe more.

Does New West know?

- Vin!
- My man.

Utah, Vin. Vin, Utah.

Utah.

Slide in, bro?

How you doing?

I'm good.

Wood here keeping an eye on you?

Yeah, so far.

He says we can trust you, Utah.

Can we trust you?

Yeah.

That's for the last two weeks.

What we got here?

Ooh-wee!

Wee!

Hey, man what's this
I'm hearing about some kid

from West Virginia
being sent over to Sea Breeze?

What's that?

Who told you that?

All right. All right. All right.

Full disclosure.

Your man said six,
they offered nine.

Come on, Vin,
I run a business here, man.

- You know how it is.
- You run a business.

- Yeah. You understand.
- You're all about the money.

I mean... End of the day.

I run a business.

It's when you pick up the phone
and you call me, man.

It's called a negotiation.

Remember that.

- All right.
- All right?

- Touche. My bad.
- Okay.

We still good for next week,
though, right?

Solid.

Sure?

- All right. Come on, kid.
- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

You remember the thing
in Tustin?

Yeah.

It's back.

I thought after Orange County
we were done with that.

What happened
in Orange County?

They got greedy,
is what happened.

You see, a few years ago

Naltrexone implants became the go-to
treatment for opiate addiction.

These implants block the
opiate receptors in the brain,

thus preventing
the ability to use opiates.

Now, what some people
have begun doing

is performing these implants
on anyone they can find.

Clients at the
treatment centers,

maybe even incentivizing
or paying someone

who isn't an opiate addict
to get the procedure done.

Each one of these implants
pays out $60,000.

Most doctors can churn out
20 implants a day.

Do the math.

Lot of money
floating around. Okay?

The heat's off.
It's time to go back to work.

All right.

I've got an address.

You be there at noon tomorrow.

- Same money?
- Same. Everything's the same.

Why don't you take
the kid here, man?

Give him some lunch money.
Maybe a haircut.

Yeah, definitely a haircut.

All right, let's go.

Hey, Wood.

The shit with Sea Breeze, man,

I don't wanna ever hear
that shit again. Okay?

- All right. All right.
- All right? We're partners, man.

My word, Vin.

Utah.

Welcome to the team.

- Later, Vin.
- See you, man.

See ya.

Oh, shit.

Yeah.

Crazy, right?

Just think, eight years ago
I was homeless.

All right, man, come on.
Let me show you the best part.

So, that's your room
over there.

I mean, you know I could just
sleep on the couch, right?

I don't want your Cajun ass
dirtying up my couch.

That's yours
until you get on your feet.

- You sure?
- Yes, I'm sure.

You know, people like us,

we don't get too many
opportunities, to be honest, Utah.

These people? Shit.

They're going to get high
regardless.

I just provide a service.

Place some bodies, you know.

Don't worry about all of that.
You get some rest, okay?

Unpack. Talk to you
in the morning.

What's up, Doc?

Oh, you got to be Wood, right?

Yes, I am.

- This is Utah.
- Utah.

So why don't we, uh...
Why don't we cut to the chase?

Okay? I, uh...

Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.

Mornings are the best for me.

And if we have overflow,
which hopefully we will,

we go to my office in Torrance.

How many can you manage
in a day?

Twenty, give or take one or two.

Depending on complications
or whatever, yeah.

Listen, it's... it's a
relatively simple procedure.

You cut right here.

Okay, and... I'm sorry.

And then... and then you
put the implant in.

It's... it's...

It's 101 shit.

Yeah.

Okay. All right.

And, um, the billing?

Billing. We bill for
abdominal surgery,

and that's 60 grand
an implant, okay?

And they come like clockwork.

So we're good.

Speaking of billing,

this arrangement that we have

it's going to be
a 50-50 split, right?

Yeah. Straight down the middle.

Okay, good. So, 50-50.

Yeah.

Oh, one last thing.

What about the removals?

Yeah.

Get them coming
and going, right?

Let's make
some fucking money.

Make some money.

Utah?

Hey!

- Oh, my God.
- Oh, my God.

- How are you?
- Good.

It's so crazy
to see you... here.

- Yeah.
- Um, I...

You okay?
You look kinda lost.

I'm good.
Yeah, I am lost. Um...

Just got a new place.

So I'm, uh, trying to get
the basics, I guess.

- You want some help?
- That'd be great.

Okay. I got you.

Come on.

Um...

So it's like brand, brand-new?

Oh, yeah.

So you need
one of everything?

- I guess.
- Yeah, okay.

What else?
Have you been working?

Yeah, I found a job.

Really? That's awesome.

Stayin' sober?

Coming up on my 90 days.

Utah...

That's fucking amazing.
Good for you.

What meetings
have you been going to?

Meetings.

Oh, so you have
willpower, huh?

Nah, I haven't really
had the urge yet.

- So that's good, right?
- Yeah.

Well, you're stronger
than me.

I need a program
or I'm fucked.

Uh, okay.

I'm sold.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

- It looks like you.
- It's great.

I think it's gonna be great.

It was really good
to see you.

Maybe I'll see you around.

Wait. May, um...

Maybe you wanna...

meet up sometime?

Um...

I'm actually not supposed
to see clients

until they've been out
for two years.

You know,
it's kind of the law.

And, uh...

You know, if we had to run
into each other again, like...

I don't know, on accident?

Well...

I mean, if it was an accident then
I'd have plausible deniability.

I mean, couldn't really
be prosecuted for that.

Maybe it'll happen then.

Yeah. Maybe.

Maybe somewhere like
3rd & Colorado

tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.

Maybe somewhere like that.

Don't forget your broom.

Yeah, boy, this is the life, huh?
It's good.

Utah! What's up, homie?

What's up?

Come on and party with us, man.
We waiting on you.

Aw, man.
I didn't bring my swim trunks.

Aw, man.

All right, I'll tell you what, get in
your drawers. We ain't gonna tell nobody.

What do you think of the new clothes, man?
You like them?

Cool man, you all right.

Get some trunks.
Get in the pool.

I met them two chicks on the beach.
Crazy, right?

This ought to fit ya.

Man, one of them bitches brought that
shit over here, man. Don't even trip.

Ain't even that good, yo.

Little stepped on, but...
it'll get you buzzed.

Wanna try?

Nah, man, I'm good.

Come on, man, a little party
ain't gonna hurt nobody.

I'm cool, man.
That's all you, baby.

All right, suit yourself.

Aah!

Ooh!

Yeah, man.

All right, yo, let's go introduce
you to some of these ladies.

You know, what?
I'm actually meeting a girl tonight.

So I gotta stay on my game,
if you know what I mean.

Well, I'm proud of you, man.
Look at you, bro.

Ah, I'm fucking loving you, boy.

- Man, all right, you good?
- Yeah.

All right.

Talk to you later.

I wanna thank y'all
for comin' out here tonight.

Now, I know that
none of you sorry motherfuckers

wanna listen to me bitch about my
bullshit problems, so I'm gonna...

try to take it easy
on you tonight.

Because tonight
is a speaker meeting,

and I have invited all the way
from Long Beach...

- You made it.
- What is this?

...my good friend Wayne here
to share his story with us.

They have soup kitchen for hipsters?

So let's give him a big
welcome, shall we, please? Thank you.

Thanks, Lee.

I'm Wayne.

I'm a 5'11'' junkie with a God complex.

Hi, Wayne.

Thanks to all of you,
I have 10 years sober.

I'm, uh, from the Midwest.

Came in off the streets.

My mother died of cancer.
Never really...

knew my father.

And, uh, I wasn't always
a drug addict, but...

I never felt like
I belonged anywhere.

Never really felt like
my skin fit.

After I found drugs
and alcohol,

all my insecurities
just went away.

Everything was
in perfect harmony.

Till it wasn't.

All right, last thing we do
at every meeting is we pass out chips

to mark milestones
in our recovery.

So is there anyone here

who's celebrating up to 90 days
of their recovery tonight?

- Raise your hand.
- No.

Boys and girls...

Raise your hand,
or else I'm gonna do it for you.

Shut up. Shut up.

Going once.

Goin' twice.

Yeah, we have a winner!

How many days?

- Ninety.
- All right!

Come on down.

There you go.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Come on. There we go.

Congratulations.

Who are you?

Oh, shit, uh...

I'm Utah.
I'm a... drug addict.

- Say hi to Utah.
- Hi, Utah.

Um... 90 days.

It's crazy.

Uh, to be honest,
when I walked in,

I didn't really know
what you people were about.

But, Wayne...

what you said...

you told my story, man.

And to see you up here
with 10 years, and happy...

Well, I can't really
even fathom that.

But it gives me hope, though.

I guess I'm learning that I don't
have to do this all alone, so...

thank you all for that.

All right, Utah.

It's funny I can't really
picture you doing drugs,

or drinking
or, anything like that.

Okay.

You're quite normal.

I don't even really know
what normal is, but...

Uh...

I promise you
I earned my seat.

- Oh, yeah?
- Oh, yeah.

Just because I have a
nine-to-five, and I get paid to...

- Oh, is it something important?
- Work.

Well, you can take it
if you need to.

- I'm sorry...
- No, no, it...

It's fine, really.

- I gotta go...
- Come on. I'll walk you out.

Come on.

Wait.

- Is this your car?
- Yeah.

Marketing, huh?

I had a really
nice time tonight.

And, um...

Thank you for showing me
that meeting, that was...

surprisingly cool.

Well, maybe I'll see you
there sometime.

Yeah.

I, uh...

I think you might.

Um...

- Okay, I see how it is.
- Yeah. You know...

Figured I'd give you
one of those and...

if you need any help
you can...

give me a call.

Um...

Yeah, if...

If I have any friends
who need a...

marketer...

I'll have them call you.

Here you go, Tee Tee.
I'm sorry I was late.

Yeah, it's okay.

There's a few waiting.

Thanks, sweetie.

Hey, Utah.

What are you doing here?

Wood didn't tell you?

He's the one
who got me out here.

What do you mean?

Shit.

The day you called me...

later that night,
he gave me a call.

Said he'd give me money
to go to treatment.

Figured you knew.

Forgot to mention that.

You gonna give me my money?

Here.

Why don't you stay for a bit.

We could have some fun.

Aah!

- Don't fucking grab me.
- You're high.

Everyone here is fucking high.
You fucking stupid?

I got a guy who's gonna take it out for a few more bucks later.

Why do you fuckin' care?

The fuck?

Is that
the fuckin' cops, man?

What the fuck?
We better still be gettin' paid.

This isn't good.

Fuck!

All right, everybody out.

Man, fuck you!

Get the fuck out!

I'll find you.

- So exactly what did you see, anyway?
- I told you, man. Cops.

What kinda cops? What?

Undercover? SWAT? Sheriffs?
What kind of fuckin' cops?

The fuck if I know!
Fuckin' cops.

All right.

I spoke to Vin,
he gonna sort it all out.

Man, what the fuck
does that mean?

Wait, wait, wait.

You got something else
you wanna say?

Man, why didn't you
tell me about Opal?

What about her?

You acted like
she came out here on her own.

Not that you fuckin' called her
and fuckin' brokered her!

That young bitch
is a junkie, man.

You don't know by now?

What, you're also
a dope dealer, too?

She's over there
coppin' from Miss Tee.

She gonna get high regardless.
Okay? Regardless.

It might as well be me.

You know what? My bad.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for ever pickin' your
stupid ass up off the street!

The clothes, the money,
the cars, the house!

Oh, and by the way,
you can thank me later

for nobody finding
your stupid ass

dead in a fuckin' hotel in Ohio.

Get the fuck outta here, man!

I saw something in you.

I still see something
in you, Utah.

I mean, come on, man.
Look around, bro.

Look how we living.

Me and you got more money than
both our deadbeat dads ever had.

We brothers.
Me and you the same.

What you wanna fight me for?

Huh? Over that dumb bitch?
She don't love you.

Bro, we fam.

It's me and you.

Come here, man.
Come here.

Come on.

Hey.

I'ma call Vin.

He gonna take care
of all of this.

- All right?
- All right.

Okay.

Why are you guys here?

Hey, yo, Doc,
what the fuck happened, man?

- What? About the nurse?
- Yes.

I spoke to Vin
about that, okay?

It was a nurse, she talked to a
friend, complained she...

No, no, no. Wait, wait, wait. Don't worry
about talking to Vin, you talk to me.

What happened, bro?

I fired her. Okay?
She's gone.

She's probably illegal anyway.
So we got nothing to worry about.

So... so what are we supposed to do now?
Answer me that.

So what do we do now is you take
junior here and get the fuck out, okay?

And we just chill
for a little bit,

and we alternate between
the Torrance office, that's all.

This is what goes along
with doing this business.

All right.

I will talk to Vin,
see what he says.

Yeah. And when
you talk to Vin,

and I've given this
a lot of thought...

It's a new arrangement.

70% for me,
30% for you guys.

Excuse me?

No, excuse me.

I got a degree up
on my fuckin' wall.

All right? So I'm tired of
playin' second fiddle to a...

Seriously, two fuckin' junkies.

So you can take that back
to your fuckin' boss now.

And stop showin' up here
without an appointment.

Man.

Now, can you please
leave my clinic?

And take the retard Mongoloid
with you, please.

Come on, Junior,
get the fuck up.

Get up, kid, let's go.

Fuck you!

What happened?

What the fuck did he do?

I'm sorry, man,
I fucked up.

No, man. No, man, don't apologize.
As long as you're okay.

Just gotta be really smart
about this now, man.

You got a place to take him?

Yeah. Yeah, I know a spot.

- You know a spot?
- Yeah.

You got about five hours
before the sun comes up.

All right?

When you finish with this,
I want you to burn both your clothes.

- Everything.
- Okay.

- All right?
- Yeah.

And once you're done,
I want you to pack a bag

and I want you to get the fuck
out of here for a little bit.

I'll call my guys tomorrow,
and I'll see what's what.

- Okay?
- Yeah.

What about the kid?

He gonna be a problem?

'Cause he's the only one
who saw you do this.

Right?

And he's the one who's been
running the implants, right?

- And he knows everything.
- Look, I hear you.

All right,
I'll handle things on my end.

You just make sure
this body stays gone.

- Okay?
- Yeah.

How are you doing, kid?

- Cool.
- You cool?

I mean, did this fuck you up
a little bit?

Nah.

I like this fucking kid.

Utah, get in the car.
We got somewhere we gotta be.

See you later, Vin.

You just relax, man.

Be right back.

Man, you think
this is deep enough?

Yeah, it's deep enough.

You okay, man?

Yeah, I'm good.

Come on, let's bury this body.

Burn these
fucking clothes.

I should have told you
about Opal.

I should've told you.

You know she's gone,
though, right?

I mean...

Just ain't no saving
some people.

Yeah, I know.

Shouldn't have been doing
that coke around you either.

I can't have you going back.

You got your whole life
ahead of you.

I never meant for none
of that shit to happen, man.

Yeah, I know.

People like that...

been talking down to me
my whole life.

He's no better than us.

He's just a crook
in a white coat.

How the hell
did I find you, man?

That's adorable.

Hey, is that...

Is that who I think it is?

You fucking dog.

What are you doing here?

Meet me in the back.

You never stop surprising me.

One day you got to let me
know how that was.

I mean, she's a bit natural
for me, but I'm still curious.

Yeah. How long's Wood
letting you stay here?

He says as long as I need to.

He's a good guy.

How are you doing?

I'm all right.

Yeah? You sure?

You know, Wood said
you handled yourself real well.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, man.

That's good.

That's good. There's not
a lot of people that, uh...

can make something
of themselves, you know?

You got that. You got that thing, man.
You hear me?

Yeah.

You didn't say shit to her
about anything, did you?

Man, you think I'm stupid?

No, I don't think
you're stupid, man.

You're anything but stupid.

She shouldn't even know
I was here.

That's... That's the truth.

Why are you here?

I just want to make sure
you're being careful.

What... What does that mean?

Well, it means I think you
should take a trip, you know,

- for like, a week or so until I get... I get...
- No. No...

No, listen to me. Listen.
Hey, hey, hey.

Until I get a handle
on this shit,

make sure it blows over.
You cool?

What? What? What? Is it her?

She's not going anywhere.

She not going
anywhere, man. Just...

You just tell her you gotta go and take
care of some bullshit business at home

for a while, all right?

Hey, look at me.

Everything is fine.

Everything is fine.

She is not going anywhere,
I promise you that.

Wood already left earlier, okay?

I just think
this is a smart thing to do.

It is. It's a smart thing to do.

And you two could... You could...
You could have sex on FaceTime

or whatever the fuck you guys do.

- She'll love it. She'll love it.
- All right, all right.

All right? You're family, man.

You are family.

I'm gonna take care of you.
You understand that?

Okay?

Now I'm gonna take off.
I'm gonna send somebody by here later.

And you need to be gone.

You understand me?

I need you gone.

- Okay.
- All right.

- All right.
- I'm gonna call you later.

- I'll stay in touch.
- Okay.

All right?

All right?

Sexting, man, sexting.

Where are you going?

I got to...
I got to leave for a few days.

Is everything okay?

Yeah. Just, uh, work stuff.

What's going on in that head?

Well...

maybe you'll tell me
when you get back.

I'm gonna miss you.

I forgot to give you this.

Well, I didn't really
need it back.

I mean, this thing is,
like, ancient.

You're laughing. But it saved me when I was in there.

Oh, yeah?

Well, good, because you
definitely needed saving.

Not anymore.

Oh, yeah? Why's that?

Because I've got you now.

My savior.

Stupid.

- Come back soon, okay?
- Okay.

- How you doing, hon?
- Fine.

Can I help you?

A pack of lights, please.

Who's that?

My niece.

Leukemia. I don't know why
God lets these things happen.

I don't know. I hope it helps.

Hey.

How are you doing?

I'm all right.

I haven't... I haven't really
felt right since I've been back.

It's been rough.

You ready to come back
to work?

I think so.

Good. That's what I wanna hear.

I got someone
for you to pick up out there.

Get him on a plane,
and I'll pick you guys up tonight.

All right.
Just text me the address.

Will do. Be safe, you.

Before we go in...

do you have anything on you
I need to know about?

Yeah.

Well, you better do it now,
because this is it.

I guess
the real question is this...

How do you end
a never ending story?

That's for you all to decide.

But you'll never do
a goddamn thing about it.

So, until then,

if you or a loved one
is struggling with addiction...

give me a call.